The inflow of foreign investment into Vietnam hit over 2.1 billion as of January 20, up 4.2 percent year-on-year, marking good signals for the country's investment attraction, the latest report from the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) showed.

Following the recovery from the end of 2021 after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many foreign-invested enterprises have stabilised and expanded their production and business activities. Thus, disbursement of foreign direct investment (FDI) also saw a positive increase of 6.8 percent to surpass 1.61 billion USD during the first month of this year, FIA said in its report.

According to the report, up to 103 new foreign-invested projects were licensed with a total registered capital of nearly 388 million USD, up 119.1 percent year-on-year in terms of the number of projects but down 70.7 percent in value.

Although registered investment capital decreased compared to the same period last year due to a lack of large-scale projects, an increase in the number of new investment projects showed the confidence of foreign investors in the country's investment environment, FIA said.

Meanwhile, 71 operating projects were allowed to raise their capital by 1.27 billion USD, up 54.3 percent in project number and nearly triple the level of capital seen in the same month last year.

Capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors stood at 443.5 million USD, up two times over the last year's corresponding month.

Among 15 sectors receiving FDI in the first month, processing and manufacturing took the lead with over 1.2 billion USD, accounting for 58.9 percent of the total FDI. Real estate came next with 472 million USD or equivalent to 22.5 percent. Administrative sectors and supporting services; wholesale and retail were the runners-up with over 221 million USD and 52.5 million USD, respectively.

As per the data, Singapore led 33 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with total investment capital of nearly 666 million USD, making up nearly 31.7 percent of the total FDI registered in the country.

The Republic of Korea ranked second with over 481 million USD, up five times year-on-year or equivalent to 30 percent of the total FDI. Mainland China came third with nearly 451 million USD, down 27 percent or 21.5 percent.

The capital city attracted the highest amount of FDI, with over 448 million USD, 29.9 times higher than last January, making up 21.3 percent of the total. The central province of Nghe An came second with 400 million USD or 19 percent thanks to two existing projects increasing their levels of capital. It was followed by Bac Ninh, Long An and Phu Tho./.
Drillmec has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana, for the establishment of Drillmec International Hub for manufacturing oil rigs and ancillary equipment in Telangana. Speaking on this occasion, Telangana Information Technology and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao said, "We feel proud and welcome Drillmec establishes its manufacturing unit in Hyderabad. The State government is committed to making the most industrial progressive state in India." "We will hand over the land and fiscal incentives as soon as possible. We are happy to get employment opportunities for the younger generation in the state. We requested Drillmec to bring entire drilling rig ecosystems to Telangana," Rao said. Drillmec SpA, a subsidiary company of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) group, a global multisector conglomerate based in Hyderabad, will be establishing its global manufacturing hub in Hyderabad, Telangana. Drillmec SpA, a global leader in oil-drilling rigs manufacturing, is proposing to invest over USD 200 million in the upcoming facility for the setting up of the global hub, which would include Manufacturing, Research and Development, and a Centre of Excellence to impart cutting-edge training to people. Simone Trevisani, CEO Drillmec SpA, said, "We are interested in future investment in the Hydrogen fuel project in India. The Hyderabad manufacturing hub will focus on rig manufacturing and ancillaries." "We have already 3 manufacturing facilities in Italy, USA (Houston), and Belarus. After considering many offers from various countries, we choose Telangana, India, as it has a progressive industrial policy and is investor-friendly," Trevisani said. Drillmec SpA is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and supply of drilling and workover rigs for onshore and offshore applications as well as a wide range of spare parts for drilling equipment. Drillmec enjoys a worldwide reputation for reliability. It is a reflection of extensive engineering development, timely deliveries and effective after-sale service. Drillmec has historically delivered close to 600 drilling rigs. It has developed many innovative designs and acquired patents globally. The company, which was incorporated under the laws of Italy having its registered office at Podenzano PC, Italy, was acquired by the MEIL group in 2020. Drillmec SpA and the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana, will float a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the setting up of an equipment manufacturing unit. Uma Maheshwar Reddy, CEO, Drillmec International, said, "This MoU is the first step towards creating a global manufacturing hub in Hyderabad. It will definitely meet the demands of the worldwide market. We have already had an order book USD 1 bn." Drillmec SpA representative said that it would be a great honour to work with the government of Telangana and the manufacturing unit would ensure energy security in the country. "We will ensure that this manufacturing hub creates employment opportunities for about 2,500 people." (ANI)
The Central government on Monday extended the suspension of biometric attendance in all its departments and ministries till February 15 or until further order. Ministry of Personnel issued the order and reiterated that the employees shall mark their attendance in the attendance registers which is maintained manually. The move was taken considering preventive measures to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. "The biometric attendance shall remain suspended till February 15, 2022, or till further orders, whichever is earlier," said the order. The order further directs all the heads of departments to ensure that all employees wear masks, at all times, and continue to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour strictly. The order has been marked to all the ministries and departments under the Government of India, Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Secretariat, PS to MoS. (PP), PSO to Secretary (Personnel) and Senior Tech, Director, National Informatics Centre, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The fresh order is an extension of a similar Office Memorandum (OM) order issued by the Ministry of Personnel on January 3 in the wake of the third wave of COVID-19. "In view of the initial signs of a surge in cases of COVID-19, the matter regulating attendance of Central Government employees has been reviewed and it has been decided as under, with immediate effect till January 31, 2022," the order issued on January 3 mentioned. Physical attendance of government servants below the level of Under Secretary was restricted to 50 per cent of the actual strength and the remaining 50 per cent shall work from home, the order read. A roster was asked to be prepared accordingly by all the departments concerned and it was further directed that all officers of the level of Under Secretary and above would attend office on a regular basis. Persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees were exempted from attending office but are required to work from home. The officers and staff are directed to follow staggered timings, to avoid over-crowding in offices from 9 am to 5.30 pm and 10 am to 6.30 pm. All officers and staff residing in the containment zone have been exempted from coming to offices till the containment zone is denotified. Those officers and staff who are not attending office and working from home are directed to be available on the telephone and other electronic means of communication at all times. The order clearly mentioned that meetings, as far as possible, shall be conducted on video conferencing and personal meetings with visitors, unless absolutely necessary in the public interest, are to be avoided. All officers and staff have to ensure strict compliance with COVID-appropriate behaviour, that is, frequent washing of hands and sanitisation, wearing a mask and face cover, observing social distancing at all times. It is advised to ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitization of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces. Head of Departments are also asked to ensure non-crowding in corridors and canteens. "All Ministries, Departments, Offices as well as the Central Government employees are directed to ensure strict compliance of instructions on COVID-19 appropriate behaviour issued by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and DoP&T from time to time," read the order. (ANI)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the union budget for 2022-23 on Tuesday at a time when India's economy is showing strong signs of recovery from the problems created by COVID-19 and the country has again emerged as among the fastest-growing economies in the world. The budget, which will be presented at 11 am on Tuesday, will be paperless like the last year. The government is expected to announce measures to boost GDP growth and strengthen infrastructure. The man on the street will keep a close eye on the proposals regarding income tax and the impact of announcements on prices of essential commodities. There has been no change in income tax slabs since 2014. Some analysts believe that the Finance Minister may announce some relief to the taxpayers. They said the basic exemption limit may be raised from the existing Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh and for senior citizens, it may be increased to Rs 3.5 lakh. There could be changes in other slabs also. According to a pre-budget survey conducted among different stakeholders by KPMG recently, the majority (64 per cent) of respondents expect an enhancement in the basic income tax exemption limit of Rs 2.5 lakh. "Our pre-budget survey indicates that relief for individual taxpayers by way of an enhancement in the basic income tax exemption limit of Rs 2.5 lakh is highly awaited. Respondents also support an upward revision in the top income slab of Rs10 lakh," said Rajeev Dimri, Partner and National Head of Tax, KPMG in India. "Although the government has taken several measures to resolve tax disputes and overhaul the tax dispute resolution framework over the past few years, further measures in this regard may help in reducing litigation. Rationalization of TDS and TCS provisions to ease compliance burdens will also be welcome," he added. The government is expected to continue its focus on the healthcare sector that is in the forefront of the fight against the COVID pandemic. Health professionals said that there is a need to further strengthen medical services in rural areas and equip tier 2-3 towns with facilities like diagnosis centres, ventilators, ICU, critical care facilities and oxygen plants. Indian Medical Association President Sahajanand Prasad Singh said that the government should increase the allocation of GDP from 1.2 per cent to 3.3 per cent. Speaking to ANI, Dr Suneeta Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals said, "The country should spend more on the healthcare system. Currently, we spend 1.15 per cent of our GDP on health care, but it needs to be 2.5 per cent soon. The Centre can also work with the private sector to be a part of this journey." Emphasizing research and development, Dr Reddy said the pandemic has shown the potential of India to become a global centre for drugs and vaccines. "Tax incentives should also be extended to R&D as this would encourage further innovation in healthcare." The realty sector is also pinning high hopes on the budget. Experts believe that the growth-oriented steps taken by the government have helped the reality sector regain momentum and more announcements in this direction can boost the market sentiment further. For MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), industry experts believe that steps should be taken to ensure hassle-free credit availability reduce the costs of doing business. Pradeep Multani, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggested extension in the timeline of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for another year till March 31, 2023. He suggested a reduction in tax on MSME firms working as proprietorship/partnerships as it will benefit the entire MSME sector.The chamber has suggested that export income should be made tax-free for MSMEs for three years and the income of large enterprises from incremental exports (Y-o-Y) be made tax-free. The tourism sector is also hoping for relaxation in taxes from the Union Budget. The tourism industry is one of the most affected sectors due to COVID-19. The government's steps to boost exports and promote manufacturing in the country are expected to get continued attention in the budget. The customary 'halwa ceremony' to mark the final stage of the budget-making exercise was not held this year due to COVID protocols. Instead, the union government distributed packed sweets among the core staff members involved in the budget-making. The budget session of parliament is being held in two parts. The first part will continue till February 11 and the second part from March 14 to April 8. (ANI)
Opposing the bail plea of Umar Khalid, an accused in Northeast Delhi Violence, Special Public Prosecutor on Monday said that Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) had prominent involvement in the case. Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad argued before Additional Session Judge Amitabh Rawat that the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) related Whatsapp group and members connected to it played a vital role in spreading the violence-related messages. Opposing the bail plea of Umar Khalid, Prasad argued that each and every protest site was managed and supervised by the JCC. Every message related to protest and chakka jaam at Jafrabad and other places were circulated and deliberated in multiple groups related to JCC, he stated. Referring to Whatsapp chats, Public Prosecutor submitted that their agenda was to put women and children at the forefront in order to avoid police action. He argued that Meeran Haider, a JCC member, visited many protest sites and he used to post the photographs on Facebook. On the other hand, the photographs of the meetings in which Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid participated, their photographs were not posted on social media. Umar Khalid told the Court that he sent only five messages in the group. Prasad said that the pattern and incidents were the same and identical in December 2019 and 2020. He said people like Sharjeel Imam, Nadeem, Arsalan, Safoora, Shezar khan and others were well informed and connected. Prasad argued that the people who were summoned by the police in connection with the 2019 violence were removed from the JCC WhatsApp group on January 24, 2020. "Asif Iqbal Tanha and Chandan Kumar were summoned by the police. On the same day, three WhatsApp groups connected with JCC were created. And these three groups played very crucial roles in circulating information, coordination and mobilisation," he added. Special Public Prosecutor argued that the information related to chakka jaam and violence at Jafrabad, issue of Kapil Mishra and roadblock at Jafrabad metro station were circulated and discussed at the same time in all the groups. The requirement of mobilisation and support were also circulated there. Prasad said this coordination and mobilisation were being done because the first phase was failed and they did not want the second phase of the protest to be failed. For this reason, people from different places were mobilising towards Jafrabad and other places. The Court has fixed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. Around 53 people lost their lives in the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi after clashes between two opposing factions over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). (ANI)
Soon after the Madras High Court handed over the probe of the death of the 17-year-old girl from Tamil Nadu's Michaelpatti village to the CBI on Monday, the BJP demanded an anti-forced conversion law in the state and accused the MK Stalin government of working on an "anti-Hindu" agenda. Notably, the case pertains to a 17-year old girl, Lavanya, from a poor background, who studied in a Christian Missionary School in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district and was allegedly being forced to convert to Christianity by her school. Allegations of torture after her refusal to convert were also levelled by the girl. According to police, the victim had consumed poisonous material on January 9 and had succumbed ten days later. Speaking to ANI, Shehzad Poonawala, BJP National Spokesperson said, "We demand that her family should be given ex-gratia and a government job and the government should make forced anti-conversion law in the state immediately." Poonawala welcomed the decision by the High Court and said that it proves the stance of his party on the matter was right. "In the case of Lavanya, the Madras High Court has given the decision today that the investigation will be done by the CBI. We welcome this decision. It has been proved today that our stance over the investigation was right. In this entire matter, instead of providing justice to the daughter's family, the government and the police are standing with the criminals," he said. The BJP spokesperson alleged that the state police did not include the purported video of the deceased in the FIR as a "dying declaration" in which she stated that she was committing suicide as she was being subjected to forced religious conversion. "The police was harassing the one who had shot this video. They are doing so because be it the DMK government or the Congress government, they have the anti-Hindu agenda. This is why they were trying to disrupt the fight for justice to Lavanya," he alleged. Raising questions over the "silence" of the Chief Minister on the matter, he said that the deceased did not speak anything against his government, yet Stalin is silent. "Why is the Chief Minister not speaking on the matter? Did her life have no value? She did not even speak a single word against the government, yet he is not speaking anything on the matter," he said. Earlier today, a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) visited Thanjavur to inquire into the suicidal death of a minor girl in the district. Earlier on Friday, the Society of Immaculate Heart of Mary moved a petition before the Madurai bench of Madras High Court on Friday in the Thanjavur's girl suicide case. In the petition, they stated that there was no forced religious conversion happening at school and no student was ever ill-treated. They also mentioned that the impleading petition has been filed only to dispel the allegations made against them and the institution and not to show anyone in a bad light. Society of Immaculate Heart of Mary is an organisation under which the school where the girl was studying functions. (ANI)
The IFSO Unit of Special Cell, Delhi Police, arrested three notorious cyber crooks from Agra in Uttar Pradesh who used to hack the WhatsApp accounts of the victims by striking a communication on Omicron booster dose. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP), IFSO, KPS Malhotra, they used to pretend as government officials and would thereby lure the victim to share the OTP through the conference call. After hacking, they used to drop distress messages on the contact list and would induce the important contacts of the victim to part away with their money, he said. A complaint was received at IFSO Unit, Special Cell, wherein the complainant alleged that he received a call from an unknown number asking him to take the booster dose. The victim was then asked to answer an incoming conference call and after getting the WhatsApp account change code, his WhatsApp was hacked and his friends and relatives received several messages. The brother of the complainant deposited Rs 50,000 in the fraudster account through UPI. During the probe, it was found that 20 more such complaints were lodged on the cyber-crime portal pertaining to this network. On the basis of the complaint, a case was registered under appropriate sections of law at PS- Special Cell, Delhi. During the course of the investigation, a technical, physical and financial analysis was undertaken and the main caller was identified to be Manish Kumar, the police said. Accordingly, the raid was conducted at Agra, Uttar Pradesh and he, along with two of his associates namely Rohit Singh and Kaushlendra Singh Tomer, was arrested. During the investigation, the kingpin Manish Kumar disclosed that about one year ago, he learnt techniques of WhatsApp hacking from Youtube and thereafter he used to cheat innocent persons on different pretexts. At this time of the Covid Pandemic, he used to call the victims impersonating himself from Vaccination Department and would ask the victims to fix dates for the booster dose, further hacking their WhatsApp and defrauding them. During the investigation, eight Accounts, four Debit Cards, one Cheque book and six mobile phones were seized, the police informed. Delhi Police further cautions the general public that the fraudsters are adopting a new modus operandi to gain control over WhatsApp and other social media accounts. The fraudsters impersonate as government officials like Omicron Vaccine registration or some other pretext and during the call, induces the victim to attend a conference call. The conference call relates to the OTP of their WhatsApp and social media account and after gaining control of WhatsApp and social media account, fraudsters raises SOS/distress calls to the contact list and ask for money transfer. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday imposed a cost of Rs 7,500 on the Centre for not filing its response on a PIL seeking directions for framing of guidelines identifying minorities at the state level as Hindus are in a minority in 10 states. A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh imposed the cost on the Centre was it was informed that the government has circulated a letter requesting an adjournment in the matter. The top court expressed displeasure over the non-filing of the affidavit by the Union of India saying the government will have to "take a stand" on the issue. It granted "one further opportunity" to it. "We grant one further opportunity of four weeks to file the counter affidavit subject to deposit of cost of Rs 7,500 to SCBA (Supreme Court Bar Association) Advocates' Welfare Fund," the Bench said while posting the matter for hearing on March 28. On January 7, the apex court had granted the "last opportunity" to the Centre to file an affidavit within four weeks. The plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said that Hindus are minorities in ten states and are not able to avail the benefits of schemes meant for minorities. In his plea, he has also challenged the validity of Section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Education Institution Act 2004 for giving unbridled power to the Centre and being manifestly arbitrary, irrational and offending. The plea said, "Direct and declare that followers of Judaism, Bahaism and Hinduism, who are minorities in Laddakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur, can establish and administer educational institutions of their choice in the spirit of the TMA Pai Ruling." The top court in the TMA Pai Foundation case had held that the state is well within its rights to introduce a regulatory regime in the national interest to provide minority educational institutions with well-qualified teachers in order for them to achieve excellence in education. The plea added, "Rational basis of declaring certain religions as minority by Central government as they have less population in the states is contravened when benefits of schemes for minority are acquired by those religious minorities in states where they are in majority and those religious communities who are actually minorities are not been given equal status." (ANI)
Sources say that Singh is likely to contest on the ticket of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Sultanpur assembly seat in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have made a resolve to make India a world power and a Vishwa Guru, I shall also be a participant in the mission and contribute to the conviction in this process of national building," reads the letter.

Singh who has also served in Uttar Pradesh police said that during his tenure it has been his endeavour that women, children and victims get speedy justice.

Talking about his tenure in ED, Singh mentioned in his letter that he "uncovered and investigated many scams of national ramification and public significance."

"This includes the investigation carried out under my auspices - 2G spectrum allocation scam, AgustaWestland helicopter deal, Aircel Maxis scam, Amrapali scam, Nokia Ponzi scam, Gomti riverfront scam - in which many white-collar criminals were sent to jail," reads the letter.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram took to Twitter to make a veiled attack without taking Singh's name.

"Taking "VRS" from the ED to join BJP, is like moving from the wholly-owned subsidiary to the parent company" tweeted Chidambaram. (ANI)
"The police nabbed the accused Jayanta Debbarma, an employee of Tripura government's Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) department acting on a tip-off," said Banoj Biplab Das, Sonamura sub-divisional police officer.

"Debbarma was arrested on Sunday night from Sonamura market located under Sepahijala district of Tripura," SDPO said.

The police have recovered 20 notes of Rs 2,000 denomination from his possession.

"We received inputs that he is carrying fake Indian currency and trying to peddle it in the local markets. Accordingly, two cops were sent to investigate the matter. Based on the findings of the investigation he was arrested", he said.

He was produced before the local court on Monday. Das said the probe is underway to trace the source of the money and whether he has any links with Bangladesh.

Sonamura is a bordering sub-division of Tripura that shares a long unfenced stretch of the International borders with Bangladesh. (ANI)
In the report titled "Pakistan Media Freedom Report - 2021", CPNE expressed concerns over tactics aimed at stifling freedom of media, freedom of expression, and access to information, The Express Tribune reported.

In 2021 alone, the report revealed, five journalists were killed in the line of duty, including Karachi-based social media activist and community journalist Nazim Jokhio, who was abducted and killed mercilessly.

At least nine journalists lost their lives due to the coronavirus pandemic, whereas two newsmen committed suicide due to the lingering unemployment, said the report.

It further stated that following 2020, the year 2021 came to be an extremely difficult year for journalists, media workers, and media organisations in Pakistan as freedom of press and freedom of expression remained under pressure, The Express Tribune reported.

CPNE also noted that the number of journalists who were harassed, tortured, and killed in the line of duty last year could be higher.

The report highlighted that many journalists had to face murder attempts, threats, lawsuits, and telephone calls from "unknown numbers", in addition to online harassment on various occasions. The family members of the affected journalists were also subjected to physical and mental torture.

The report also said that Pakistan is one of the countries, where violence against journalists is increasing and not even a single murderer has been brought to justice. (ANI)
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Ukraine's admission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would seriously undermine relations between Russia and the alliance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday.

"Everyone understands that Ukraine is not ready (to join NATO) and will not make any contribution to strengthening NATO's security," Lavrov told a Russian TV program.

Commenting on statements that NATO is defensive, the top diplomat recalled how the U.S.-led military bloc "bombed Yugoslavia for almost three months, invaded Libya in violation of a UN Security Council resolution, and behaved in Afghanistan."

Lavrov reiterated "the indivisibility of security," the principle that no state should strengthen its own security at the expense of others.

He said that Russia is sending official requests to the member countries of NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urging them to explain what they intend to do under this principle.
Last week, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) released numbers that highlighted the dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on the tourism industry in the city-state as well as the wider Southeast Asia region. Although Singapore has a well-diversified economy and tourism makes up only about four per cent of GDP before COVID, the same cannot be said of its neighbours the Philippines and Thailand. According to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism was responsible for 24 per cent and 21 per cent of GDP respectively, in those two countries, and COVID has caused much distress among those in travel-related industries. Singapore had only 330,000 international visitors in 2021, the lowest on record. It is less than two per cent of the 19.1 million tourists who came to its shores in 2019. 2020 was a better year with 2.7 million visitors but most arrived in the first two months of the year before COVID forced Singapore to close its borders. China, India, and Indonesia were the top three visitor source markets last year. Singapore saw 88,000 visitors from China, 54,000 from India, and 33,000 from Indonesia. During the last pre-COVID year, 2019, the top three sources of visitors was similar. Singapore drew 3.64 million visitors from China, 3.08 million from Indonesia, with India rounding up the top three with 1.42 million visitors. In 2019, Singapore collected SGD 27.7 billion (USD 20.4 billion) of tourism-related receipts. It managed a mere SGD 4.8 billion in 2020 and SGD 1.9 billion in 2021. STB said that while the numbers in 2020 and 2021 represent only a fraction of Singapore's tourism performance prior to the pandemic, it is encouraged by the signs of recovery. The last three quarters of 2021 saw year-on-year growth of 221 per cent in tourist arrivals compared with the same period in 2020. That it managed to receive some visitors in 2021 was mainly due to Singapore's gradual reopening as a result of the VTL (vaccinated travel lane) scheme which was launched in September last year. What also aided the tourism sector are locals who were unable or unwilling to travel overseas booking "staycations" at local hotels. Hotels managed an overall occupancy rate of between 56 to 57 per cent in 2020 and 2021. There was also a government grant to the tourism industry through Singapore Rediscover Vouchers (SRV) where each resident was given SGD 100 to spend on local attractions and experiences. STB reported that by the end of the SRV scheme on 31 December 2021, there were about 2.6 million SRV-linked transactions amounting to almost SGD 300 million, out of which SGD 180 million were vouchers redemptions and SGD 120 million paid in cash. Furthermore, Singapore residents also went on "seacations" by "cruising to nowhere" on two luxury cruise liners which started in late 2020. Singapore's cruise industry saw over 400,000 domestic passengers set sail on close to 300 cruise sailings. To further boost the cruise industry, STB is planning for cruises to other Southeast Asian countries later in the year. STB is building up a strong pipeline of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events this year. The most important of which is the Singapore Airshow in February. Other MICE events it is planning include Design Fair Asia 2022, Global Health Security Conference 2022, 60th International Young Lawyers' Congress 2022, World One Health Congress 2022, and Seafood Expo 2022. Also announced last week on Thursday (January 27) was the renewal of Singapore's contract to host Formula One Grand Prix for another seven years from this year to 2028. The duration of the contract is the longest so far and STB explained in a statement that "This will give Singapore a longer runway to capture pent-up demand as international travel recovers. It also allows STB, Singapore GP and industry partners to develop new experiences to meet the evolving interests of locals and visitors." Singapore which hosted Formula One's first-ever night race in 2008 cancelled the races in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the organisers are working with relevant government agencies and industry stakeholders to refine and implement appropriate protocols to ensure the safety of fans and participants for this year's race. There were 268,000 spectators over the three days of the 2019 event, but it is unlikely to attract the same number of fans at this year's event even as Singapore is gradually relaxing its pandemic border restrictions. Although a pre-departure rapid antigen test and an on-arrival PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test are still required currently, since January 23, visitors only need to conduct self-tests from day 2 to 7 of their arrival if they plan to leave their accommodation. There is no requirement for supervised tests. It is hoped that with the planned events and as border restrictions begin to lift, Singapore's tourism sector will soon recover. Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: "While it will take time for tourism numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels, we are encouraged by the resilience of our tourism businesses, and their commitment to preserve good jobs, transform their businesses and invest in new products and experiences. These efforts will strengthen Singapore's appeal as we prepare to welcome more international visitors." "We must anticipate setbacks and challenges even as the tourism industry recovers slowly. But I am confident that the tourism industry has learnt from its experiences and is poised to recapture demand when it returns." (ANI)
According to TASS News, the United States intends to highlight the situation around Ukraine at the United Security Council meeting.

Earlier, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that the mission had requested an open UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation on Ukraine's border and said she looks forward to direct and purposeful discussions on Monday, reported Sputnik News.

"Today, 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 behaviour against Ukraine and the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders and in Belarus," Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Thursday.

She added, "The Council's full attention is needed now, and we look forward to the direct and purposeful discussion on Monday."

In recent developments, the head of states and governments of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia met on January 26 in Paris under the Normandy format and called for an unconditional ceasefire in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

The officials reaffirmed that the Minsk agreements signed in 2014 are the basis of the work of the Normandy format, the four-party diplomatic group which was set up to resolve the conflict in the Donbas region. (ANI)
The demonstrators expressed their anger at the deplorable condition of Afghan women under Taliban rule and demanded that all Afghan protesters held by the Taliban, including women protesters must be released immediately.

Denouncing the Taliban as terrorists, protesters held Pakistan responsible for all actions of the Taliban. Protesters urged the international community to protect the rights of Afghan women.

After the fall of Kabul on August 15, the NRF remained the only defiant group led by Ahmad Masoud, the son of late former Afghan guerrilla commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who are fighting the Taliban.

Both the Islamic State and the NRF are active in the country. The Taliban are determined to suppress both groups wherever they find them, said the Afghan media.

Panjshir, the last province to resist the Taliban, surrendered on September 6. However, the NRF leader Ahmad Massoud called on the Afghans to rebel against the Taliban, Sputnik had reported.

Earlier this month, the negotiations between Afghanistan's National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Taliban ended without any results in Tehran. (ANI)
As Europe is spiralLing towards its worst security crisis in decades, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that he will try to bring together soon Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Turkey, however, could be walking a fine line because, if there is a Russian armed attack on Ukraine, it will be forced to take sides in the conflict and jeopardize its economic relations either with Moscow or Kyiv. Erdogan had said that Turkey was ready to do whatever was necessary to avoid a war. He also expressed the hope that Russia would not launch an armed attack or occupy Ukraine, stressing that there was a need for dialogue with Russia to listen to its reasonable security concerns. Speaking to reporters on January 18 Erdogan, who supports Kyiv's NATO aspirations, said, "I don't see Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a realistic option because Ukraine is not an ordinary country. It is a powerful country." The Turkish President announced that he would visit Ukraine on February 3 and will also visit Moscow soon. A Turkish diplomat said last week that both Russia and Ukraine were open to Turkey playing a role in easing tension. It should be noted that Moscow is unlikely to see Turkey as an honest broker, as Ankara has sold to the Ukrainian defense industry Bayraktar TB2 drones, which Kyiv used against pro-Russian forces in Donbas three months ago. Last December, Putin criticized Ukraine for using the uncrewed aircraft and called upon Turkey to put pressure on Kyiv not to use the Turkish drones, which in 2020 played a key role in Azerbaijan's victory over Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In a telephone call, Russian President Putin told Erdogan that Ankara was involved in a "provocative and destructive activity." Furthermore, a Kremlin spokesman stressed that Turkey's ongoing arms sales to Ukraine threatened to destabilize the region. Although Ankara knew very well that it risked angering Moscow if it continued to supply the drones to the Ukrainian government, as it did in the last months, it must have felt that its military-technical cooperation with Kyiv was far more beneficial to it. As Turkey was expelled by the United States from the F-35 joint strike fighter program, following Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, and as it has started building its own fighter plane, it found that it lacked the technology needed to manufacture the engine of the fighter. So, last October, Turkey reached an agreement with Ukrainian engine company Motor Sich for the supply to the Turkish defense company Baykar with 30 turboprop engines to use in its Akinci strike drones. According to press reports, back in 2019, the Ukrainian government bought Bayraktar drones for USD 69 million and a year later the Ukrainian defense minister and the CEO of the Turkish company that produces the Bayraktar -- signed a memorandum to establish a joint training and maintenance center in Ukraine. The technology transfers with Ukraine have helped Turkey's defense industry to bypass, party at least, the US sanctions imposed on it following the purchase of the S-400 defense system, and at the same time, Ankara found in Ukraine an eager buyer of its military hardware. This, of course, did not go down well in Moscow, which said that arms sales to Ukraine destabilize the region. Turkey has a quite complex relationship with Russia- involving cooperation in some areas and competitive, even adversarial, relations in others. In the economic field, it relies on Russian natural gas for its industry and on the millions of Russian tourists visiting Turkey who bring much-needed hard currency. In the geostrategic field, they support opposite sides in the war in Syria and Libya. However, in Syria Turkish and Russian troops carry out joint military patrols and ceasefire agreements, while Russia is building a nuclear plant in Akkuyu in Turkey. It should be noted that Ankara had criticized Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity- angering the Russian government- but on other matters, Erdogan and Putin have similar views. Erdogan's offer to play the role of mediator in the standoff in Ukraine can be seen either as a genuine effort to prevent war between two countries with which Ankara has important relations or as Erdogan's attempt to get international public attention and approval. But if war breaks out, Turkey will be one of the first countries to feel the fallout. Sinan Ulgen of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies based in Istanbul says, "If there is talk of conflict, Turkey will come under pressure also to align itself with the sanctions policy firstly, and that would be a major dilemma. The second major dilemma would be on the ongoing relationship with Ukraine, in particular, whether Turkey will continue to supply armed drones or not. And there, there is very little neutral ground, in the sense that the answer can be only 'yes' or 'no,' and both would put Turkey firmly in one camp." A similar view was expressed by Fehim Tastekin, columnist of Turkey Pulse, who points out: "Even if Ankara manages to pull off an impartial position, Turkish-Russian ties could hardly emerge unscathed from this turbulence. It is hard to imagine that Putin will ignore Turkey's sale of armed drones to Ukraine or Erdogan's description of Crimea as a "usurped" territory...Putin's capacity to bloody Turkey's nose when he deems it in Russia's interests is not in doubt."(ANI)
The number of COVID-related hospitalization in Pakistan has doubled in 45 days with the number of active covid cases surpassing one lakh, reported DAWN. Apart from that, a total of 7,978 new COVID cases and 29 deaths were reported in the country in the past 24 hours with 16 cities reporting over 10 per cent covid positivity rate. In addition to that, a total of 136 ventilators were occupied across the country, reported the newspaper. According to National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, the number of hospitalizations, which was fewer than 700 in the second week of December, has now reached 1,640 on Sunday. University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Akram has urged the government to ban corporate functions and public meetings. Notably, Pakistan is facing its fifth deadly wave of covid and the number of cases and hospitalization is on the rise. "In other words, hospitalisation depends on absolute number of positive patients. Moreover, we have faced a number of scandals such as usage of expired vaccine in Sindh and fake entries of vaccination in different districts. People should understand that vaccination is the best defence against the pandemic. On the other hand, inventory control of vaccine should also be improved," said the Vice Chancellor. He has also suggested focusing on children as they are becoming carriers of the virus, reported the newspaper. He further added, "Unfortunately, a large number of children are still unvaccinated so special focus should be given to vaccinate them. Though indoor marriages have been banned, the number of participants of outdoor marriages should be further reduced. Corporate functions and public meetings should be banned to decrease the chances of virus spread." (ANI)
The trucker protest against coronavirus restrictions continues in Canada's capital, Ottawa, for the second day in a row, reported Sputnik. "This afternoon, a large presence of police continues throughout the downtown core and the movement of protestors and trucks continues to be managed. Emergency lanes are being maintained," the Ottawa police said on Twitter. Thousands of truckers and others opposed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent public health measures gathered near Parliament Hill on Sunday, according to CBC, which said that crowds were thinning out in the evening. Meanwhile, police said that the so-called Freedom Convoy protest was expected to continue on Monday when Canada's House of Commons is expected to resume sitting after the holiday break. "Due to the ongoing demonstrations, several #OttCity services will be impacted tomorrow, January 31," Ottawa police warned on Twitter, reported the news agency. In a Sunday statement on its website, the police asked people to "avoid travel into the downtown core tomorrow" and to work from home if possible. The police also said that people will need to check if their children's school is open tomorrow if it is located in the downtown area. "Police are aware that many demonstrators have announced their intention to stay in place. This will continue to cause major traffic, noise and safety issues in the downtown core," police said, adding that they "have avoided ticketing and towing vehicle so as not to instigate confrontations with demonstrators" but "the need for de-escalation has regularly been required. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told CBC on Sunday that people have the right to protest, but the city needs to get back to normal life. "...my hope is that at some point, the police reach the conclusion that it's time to have a serious discussion about moving these people on. They can't keep blocking routes that are emergency routes, that are bus routes, that allow people to get in and out of the downtown core," Watson said, reported the news agency. According to the Ottawa law enforcement, the policing costs due to the ongoing protest are estimated at over $800,000 (Canadian dollars, or about 627,000 USD) a day. On Saturday, thousands of truckers and hundreds of other demonstrators gathered in Ottawa, in protest against the recent COVID-19 restrictions, in particular vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the US-Canada border. The truckers had started to arrive in the Canadian capital on Friday night. Police said on Sunday that they were investigating several incidents in connection with the protest, including people jumping on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the desecration of the statue of Terry Fox on Saturday. "Several criminal investigations are underway in relation to the desecration of the National War Memorial/Terry Fox statue, threatening/illegal/intimidating behaviour to police/city workers and other individuals and damage to a city vehicle," the Ottawa police said on Twitter, reported Sputnik. Trudeau and his family were moved to a different location from their home in the capital city amid the trucker protest, according to Canadian media reports. (ANI)
Pakistan is issuing identity cards to Afghan nationals across the Durand line to bring a demographic change to the territory. Ayanangsha Maitra, writing in an opinion piece in The Khaama Press said that by issuing citizenship to Afghan nationals across the Durand border, Pakistan may bring a demographic change to the territory. Pakistan's act of forcefully issuing ID cards to Afghan nationals is not just an authoritarian move but raises questions on Afghan sovereignty. The incident occurs at a time when Afghanistan is severely suffering from a slew of challenges and relying much on Pakistan to get out of the trauma. Last week, a reliable Afghan news wire published a news article which read "Luqman and Jahangir villages, in the Spin Boldak district of southern Kandahar province near the Durand Line have been issued Pakistani identity cards," reported The Khaama Press. Pakistan earlier initiated a census study in the surrounding areas of Luqman and Jahangir villages and claimed the two as their territory. When Afghan security forces attempted to stop them, it escalated into fierce battles. The Provincial government in Afghanistan is believed to have started probing the case. The Durand Line, the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is named after a British colonel from the 1890s. Albeit Pakistan and the international community recognize the Durand Line, Afghanistan has always denied accepting it formally. Thousands of Afghan villagers along the Durand Line have received a national identity card from Pakistan, all though they hold valid Afghan tazkira (national id card). Moreover, Pakistan's fencing along the border has severely affected the residents on both sides of the Durand Line. Pakistan has almost fenced the whole of its disputed 2,670-kilometer border with Afghanistan. According to the DG ISPR of Pakistan, 94 per cent of fencing is complete. Last year Pakistan set up 67 new wings of Frontier Corps Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure strict border policing. Pakistan will further establish 6 more wings, wrote Maitra. Most recently, videos were viral on social media which showed the Taliban uprooted a part of the fence along the Pak-Afghan border, demanding that the fencing had demarcated and forcefully occupied Afghan territory. Pakistan's National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf had to cancel his visit to Kabul on January 18, following a massive protest at the Kabul airport. On January 29, NSA Moeed Yusuf met with Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salaam Hanafi and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Motaqi in Kabul. There are also serious allegations that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is operating from Afghanistan. It has become a massive security threat to Pakistan, said Maitra. (ANI)
According to the police, unknown motorcyclists threw a hand grenade near Subatpur Chowk, which exploded and injured 17 people, including two traffic police constables.

Following the explosion, security officials rushed to the scene and transported the injured to the district hospital.

At least four of the injured were in critical condition, according to hospital officials.

A senior police official spoke on the law and order situation and said that the cops could be the target of the grenade attack.

"We have shifted the critically injured people to Larkana," a senior police officer added.

The injured include Abdul Rasheed, Habibullah, Kando, Haider Ali, Mohsin Ali, Abdul Rasool, Muhammad Ali, Allah Dina, Wazir Khan, Muhammad Sarwar, Rehmat Ali, Munir Ali, Anwar Ali, Faryad Ali, Muhammad Saleem, Saleem Ahmed and Shaman Ali.

The police launched an investigation however no one has yet claimed the responsibility for the grenade attack that injured police officers among others. (ANI)
According to a police spokesperson, a police squad was conducting normal checks at Bakhral Chowk when officials directed two people riding motorbikes without licence plates to stop.

Instead of halting, the bikers opened fire on the police officers.

The police spokesperson further added that the authorities were unharmed in the open fire and a suspect was arrested after being hurt by police in retaliatory fire.

Under intense security, the injured suspect was brought to a hospital. However, all accomplices of the arrested person managed to flee from the police reported the newspaper.

The police official said that none of the officers was hurt since they had taken the required precautions.

The arrested suspect was a part of a known gang operating in the Loi Bher neighbourhood, said the police.

"He had previously been sent to jail by police through courts for his involvement in three robberies and possessing illegal arms," he said.

The spokesperson said a case had been registered with the Koral police station against the suspect and other gang members.

Earlier, a grenade attack in Dera Allahyar town in Jaffarabad district of Pakistan's Balochistan injured at least 17 people, including two police officers, on Sunday, reported Dawn. (ANI)
The UK is weighing more troop deployment in Estonia amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told Sky News on Sunday said that Britain is considering deployment of extra troops to defend NATO member nations to deter Russia, reported NHK World. Truss told that the UK is offering to deploy extra troops into Estonia, providing more air support across the Black Sea and supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine. She said the move is intended to make sure Ukraine and NATO countries in the region are "in the best possible position" if Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to stage an incursion into Ukraine, reported NHK World. Moreover, Truss announced that she will visit Ukraine this week and Moscow next week as part of her diplomatic efforts to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine. But she added the UK plans to announce toughened sanctions targeting "more Russian interests that are of direct relevance to the Kremlin." UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement on Saturday, saying "If President Putin chooses a path of bloodshed and destruction, it will be a tragedy for Europe." He added, "Ukraine must be free to choose its own future." Johnson is expected to hold telephone talks with Putin in the coming days, reported NHK World. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the Ukraine conflict is set to take place on Monday (today) with Norway chairing the Security Council. The US and its allies have accused Russia of amassing troops and military equipment in preparation for an invasion of Ukraine. Washington has threatened massive sanctions should Russia decide to advance on Ukraine. However, Russia has repeatedly rejected the accusations, saying that it has the right to move its troops within its sovereign territory and is not planning to attack any country. Moscow views the allegations as a pretext for the deployment of NATO military equipment close to Russian borders. (ANI)
According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), two People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-11 fighter jets and two Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes flew into the southwest corner of the ADIZ.

Taiwan responded by sending planes, issuing radio warnings, and deploying air defence assets to keep an eye on the PLAAF planes.

Notably, an ADIZ is a zone that extends outside a country's airspace where approaching aircraft are asked to identify themselves by air traffic controllers, reported the news portal.

Except for the days of January 3, 9, 16, 21, 22, 26, and 29, China has deployed planes into Taiwan's identification zone every day this month.

According to MND data, a total of 137 Chinese jets had been spotted there in January, including 98 fighters, three bombers, and 36 spotter planes.

Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics by flying aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ on a regular basis, with the majority of incidents occurring in the southwest corner.

Gray zone tactics are defined as "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.".

Moreover, China's military jets crossed the ADIZ 961 times during 239 days in 2021 as per the MND data, reported the news portal. (ANI)
The source said that the attack occurred at around 03:05 local time (01:05 GMT on Monday). Several missiles were launched from the direction of Riyaq (also known as Rayak, a Lebanese town located east of Beirut), targeting some areas in the vicinity of Damascus.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. (ANI/Sputnik)
Sam Mort, Chief of Communication, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement for UNICEF Afghanistan, expressed concern in a Twitter post expressed concern over the decision and added that the Afghan people need every educational opportunity, reported The Khaama Press.

"Afghanistan's youth need every educational opportunity they can get. Education is the foundation of their future. Please consider. Please go the extra mile for them. Please put yourself in their shoes," tweeted Mort.

The United States State Department had announced to not continue its prestigious Fulbright Foreign Student Programme in Afghanistan for the 2022-23 academic year, an American broadcast network citing an official has reported.

According to ABC News, the news of the suspension of the program was delivered to applicants on Friday afternoon after months of delays to applicant interviews.

The decision has shocked 140 Afghan students who have won the scholarships and are still living in limbo in Afghanistan, reported The Khaama Press.

Around 960 Afghan students have been granted Fulbright scholarships over the past 18 years.

The Fulbright Program, administered by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, was established by Congress in 1946 with a goal of international relationship building by offering both grants to US citizens to study or teach abroad and to non-US citizens to study in the states, as per the television network. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter Marshall said, "We demand justice and protection of Christians from the Government of Pakistan."

A Christian priest was slain and another was wounded by gunmen on a motorcycle as they drove home from church in Peshawar, Pakistan's northwest, police authorities said on Sunday, reported the news outlet.

The clerics were said to be from the Church of Pakistan, a union of Protestant churches including the Methodists and the Anglicans, reported the news portal.

Police said that they were looking for the assailants using CCTV video. According to authorities, William Siraj, 75, was killed instantly in the attack on the city's ring road.

His colleague was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and a third cleric was uninjured in the car.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting.

In 2013, a double suicide bombing outside a church in Peshawar killed hundreds of people, making it one of Pakistan's worst assaults against Christians.

In Pakistan, minorities like Hindus, Christians, Ahmaddiyas, and Shiites are frequently harassed and persecuted. (ANI)
Addressing the Parliament joint sitting ahead of the Budget Session, the President said, "Despite challenges, we successfully airlifted our citizens, Afghan-Hindu-Sikh-minorities from Kabul as part of Operation Devi Shakti. We also brought back the two 'saroops' of Guru Granth Sahib; also supplying medical supplies to Afghanistan."

Operation Devi Shakti was an operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Afghanistan after the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul, the capital city, to the Taliban last August.

India also brought back copies of the Guru Granth Sahib to New Delhi in a special repatriation flight in December 2021.

Lauding India's efforts for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan he informed about medical supplies to the war-torn.

Meanwhile, India has supplied three tonnes of medicines to Afghanistan as part of its fourth batch of medical assistance under humanitarian aid.

The Ministry of External Affairs had also stated earlier that India stands committed to continuing its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and providing humanitarian assistance.

"We had already supplied three shipments of medical assistance, consisting of 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine and essential life-saving medicines to Afghanistan. The same was handed over to the WHO and India Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul," the statement added.

The Ministry also informed that in the coming weeks India would be supplying more batches of humanitarian assistance consisting of medicines and foodgrains for the people of Afghanistan. (ANI)
More than 1,000 people across Saudi Arabia came to Juman Park in King Abdullah Economic City to participate in the country's first yoga festival arranged by the Saudi Yoga Committee on Saturday, reported Arab News. The event included people aged 10 to 60 who participated in a variety of activities, yoga techniques, and the art of mindfulness. According to the newspaper, it all started with yoga on the lawn and participants at the festival got the opportunity to practise yoga, view various performances, observe yoga studio demos and learn about the services they offered. During the one-day event, there were almost eight hours of lessons and lectures by Saudi and worldwide yoga experts. Furthermore, many people chose to sit and rest in the shade, where mats, cushions, and rugs were available, and the day was filled with great energy and acceptance. Nouf bint Muhammad Al-Maroui, the chairperson of the Saudi Yoga Committee, said she was amazed by the number of visitors and the enthusiastic, positive reaction, reported the newspaper. In her address to visitors, she said that Saudi Arabia was witnessing a remarkable development in all sectors and also in the quality of life due to great support from the government. "The festival was a great success and I am happy that not only Saudis welcomed but also embraced our thoughts on yoga, which was the sole purpose of the event," she told Arab News. She emphasized the positive aspects of yoga in life and said, "We want to promote yoga to families and encourage it in the country. We want Saudis to start their day with yoga, which does not take more than 20 minutes a day, which anyone can easily spare." People who participated in the event also had a positive response. "What a great festival!" 38-year-old Sara Al-Madani commented. She added, "So well laid out and organized, with excellent instructors! I praise everyone, including all who attended this great day. I look forward to next year!", reported the newspaper. (ANI)
The spat between Lithuania and China has pulled European Union (EU) interests in Beijing's treatment of Lithuania as a threat to other EU nations. Luke McGee, writing in CNN said that Brussels is taking a more hardline stance on China, though there are reservations about whether doing so could prompt Beijing to retaliate in the form of trade wars or cancelled investments in Europe. On Thursday, the EU launched a case against China at the World Trade Organization, accusing Beijing of "discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania, which are also hitting other exports from the EU's Single Market." The WTO case could be just the start of the EU taking a more hardline stance on China, though there are reservations about whether doing so could prompt Beijing to retaliate in the form of trade wars or cancelled investments in Europe, said Mc Gee. Brussels sees Beijing's treatment of Lithuania as a threat to other EU nations, many of whom have deeper economic links with China and would like to deepen them further. Earlier, tiny European country Lithuania withdrew from the so-called "17+1" group, a forum in which 17 eastern and central European countries engage with China, before encouraging others to do the same. Then in November, Lithuania became the first country in Europe to allow self-ruled Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the name "Taiwan." Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius would "charter a new and promising course for bilateral relations between Taiwan and Lithuania." The move enraged Beijing, which saw it as an affront to its "One China" principle that insists Taiwan is part of China, rather than an independent sovereign territory, despite the two sides having been governed separately for over seven decades after a civil war, said McGee. As a rule, those who want a relationship with China must recognize the policy diplomatically. Lithuania says the new Taiwan office does not have formal diplomatic status and does not conflict with its One China policy. But Beijing reacted by immediately downgrading diplomatic relations with Vilnius. Lithuania also claimed that China has prevented Lithuanian goods from entering China, effectively creating a trade barrier. The Chinese government has repeatedly rejected these claims, blaming Lithuania for harming China's "core interest" and sending bilateral ties to a deep freeze. Taiwan reacted by buying up Lithuanian produce that was destined for China -- including 20,400 bottles of rum -- and pledging to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Lithuanian industry to support the country in the face of Chinese pressure. Brussels recently proposed a legal mechanism that would allow the EU to respond to economic intimidation in a "structured and uniform manner" by using a "tailor-made and proportional response for each situation" which could include tariffs, restricting imports and limiting access to the EU's internal market, reported CNN. But many of the smaller EU nations are privately skeptical that their fellow member states -- especially those who trade extensively with China -- would back them when push comes to shove. Brussels has been getting its act together on geopolitical matters lately. After years of bitter backbiting, it may be that Brexit and the pandemic have reminded EU leaders that unity in areas of mutual interest means even small nations like Lithuania can use the mechanics of the EU to stand up to one of the richest, most powerful nations on earth, China. (ANI)
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the recent violent unrest in the country as a planned attempt to seize power, with the involvement of professional militants trained abroad. He emphasized a fair national investigation into what happened and said that the alleged mistreatment of the detained would be thoroughly checked. Tokayev also emphasized that he would serve as president for a maximum of two terms, as per the Constitution of Kazakhstan, adding that there will be no changes to the legislation in this regard. This and other statements were made in an interview with a Kazakh news channel, Khabar 24. Commenting on who was responsible for the violence, Tokayev stated that the ongoing investigation should provide answers. He said: "I don't want to predict the outcome of the investigation, that would be wrong. Many of the militants, including their leaders, left Almaty, some fled into the countryside, others escaped across the border to the neighbouring countries." In relation to the initial peaceful protests that began on January 2, he said: "As for peaceful demonstrations, of course, they took place. There was no use of force against the demonstrators.". Commenting on his decision on January 7 to give the order to shoot at armed terrorists, he clarified that law enforcement agencies did not have a plan of action during the unrest and that it was necessary for the President to take responsibility, said the press release. Tokayev explained that by the time he gave the order, peaceful protesters left the streets, and only bandits remained. Commenting on the negative reaction that his order received in certain international circles, Tokayev said: "I am a career diplomat, I knew that there would be such a reaction, but the interests of the state and the security of citizens are of utmost importance for me. I was focusing on restoring order in the country, the reaction [abroad] was of least concern." In this regard, the President stated that Kazakhstan does not seek international assistance to investigate the riots, as suggested by the European Parliament resolution adopted on January 20, which Tokayev described as "biased and premature". At the same time, Kazakhstan will continue to develop its cooperation with all its international partners, including the United States and China, he said. The President also informed that the issue of him taking over as head of the Security Council on January 5 was raised with the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, adding that "there was no bargaining about the division of powers with Nazarbayev and no talk about privileges." Commenting on claims that Kazakhstan owes Russia a favour for the temporary support that Kazakhstan received from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), President Tokayev categorically stated that there were no preconditions from the Kremlin and no discussions about Kazakhstan having to return any favours. He clarified that in addition to Russian forces, the CSTO peacekeeping contingent also included military personnel from Belarus, Tajikistan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Switching to the topic of political reforms in the country, the President noted that Kazakhstan needs to reform its parliamentary and party system. He stressed that there should be several strong parties in parliament capable of developing political leaders. He said: "I am seriously deliberating reforming the parliamentary system in our country, and, of course, the party system." He confirmed that Kazakhstan will continue to follow the course of political modernisation, describing it as "his principled position". Regarding judicial reforms, the President noted that the status of the Supreme Judicial Council is being strengthened and a collegium for administrative cases is being created. Kazakhstan's law enforcement will also be substantially modernised as part of future reforms. (ANI)
The priests were returning from their Sunday prayers, reported local media.

Pastor Anwar Fazl, Chairman Aijaq TV & Eternal Life Church condemned this heinous act and asked the authorities to arrest the accused otherwise large scale protests will be carried out by the Christian community in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the most senior bishop in the Church of Pakistan, Azad Marshall, condemned the attack on a priest on Sunday urged the Pakistani government to give justice and protection to Christians, reported DW News.

Taking to Twitter Marshall said, "We demand justice and protection of Christians from the Government of Pakistan."

Police said that they were looking for the assailants using CCTV video. According to authorities, William Siraj, 75, was killed instantly in the attack on the city's ring road.

His colleague Pastor Patrick was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries where he succumbed and a third cleric was uninjured in the car.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting.

In 2013, a double suicide bombing outside a church in Peshawar killed hundreds of people, making it one of Pakistan's worst assaults against Christians.

In Pakistan, minorities like Hindus, Christians, Ahmaddiyas, and Shiites are frequently harassed and persecuted. (ANI)
Afghans seeking medical assistance have to wait for months, face unending struggles with the process and delays for a Pakistani visa. The applicants for visas said that although they filled out forms months ago, their visas are yet to be issued, reported Tolo News. Abdullah is seeking a visa for Pakistan as his young daughter is suffering from heart disease. Abdullah said he wanted to take his daughter for treatment but Pakistan's embassy in Kabul is yet to issue the visa, and they have been waiting for over four months. "Not everyone wants to visit Pakistan for tourism. Some may have problems, such as business problems and there are people who need medical care. My daughter is sick. My visa has not been issued and I have come here to ask about it at the embassy. She is suffering from heart disease," he said. Parwiz, who provides online services for Pakistan visas, said that he filled out the visa forms for around 750 applicants but none of them has received their visa yet, reported Tolo News. "Pakistan does not tell people about the fate of their visas, and it cancels them whenever it wants to, despite people spending about 80-100 dollars," he said. The Islamic Emirate said that the facilitation of visas for Afghans was one of the matters discussed with the Pakistani delegation led by National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, reported Tolo News. On Saturday, Moeed Yusuf and his accompanying delegation arrived in Kabul to discuss various matters with Islamic Emirate officials. "In the past also, some agreements were made regarding this but it didn't become practical. We will hold talks about it, as there are problems with visas on the (Pakistan) side as well as the transfer of goods," said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate said. Previously, the Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a visit to Kabul pledged to provide help facilitate the visa application process for Afghans. But visas for Pakistan apparently remain an unsolved problem for the Afghans. (ANI)
Media freedom is under increased scrutiny in Pakistan as it's facing increased intimidation from the establishment and so are the issues related to journalists' safety and security. The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) has released the "Pakistan Media Freedom 2021" at just the right time detailing how journalists, as well as media houses, faced increasing censorship, harassment, threats, intimidation, even murders and financial strangulation throughout the year alongside the government's continued attempts to exercise complete control, according to Daily Times. On the other hand, the report coincides with the broad daylight murder of a crime reporter in Lahore in front of the press club. It has buttressed the fact that journalists in Pakistan are getting increasingly prone to losing their lives amid the rising threat against them. Earlier, Hasnain Shah, a journalist, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle while sitting in his car outside the Lahore Press Club in January this year. He died on the spot. A total of 2,658 journalists have been murdered in Pakistan from 1990 to 2020. They have been targeted for exposing corruption, crime, reporting on environmental pollution and such. Pakistan remains among the five countries in the world most dangerous for journalists and last year, nearly 63 journalists were killed in Pakistan, as reported by media. Meanwhile, Pakistan Media Freedom 2021 report mentions that the government has not taken any notice of the problems of this industry. It is involved in spreading lies and fake news besides pursuing the very controversial Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). The report also very rightly notes that the pandemic alone is not responsible for the severe financial crunch faced by the media industry. This problem started long before it, and the government played a central part in this as well, as reported by Daily Times. The most important theme in the report, other than the deaths, is the government's treatment of the media. It names journalists whose shows have been blocked halfway, who've been issued notices by state institutions for their critical coverage of landmark projects, who've been taken off-air altogether because their programmes and articles offended those in power, and also those who've been issued contempt notices just for reporting the news, as reported by Daily Times. Meanwhile, though the report is to be appreciated, it would do no good for CPNE to just sit on it, so to speak, now that it has been released. Since it can reach the very top of the food chain in Islamabad, it must now press for answers, as noted by Daily Times. (ANI)
The Taliban has rejected a UN report alleging more than 100 officials and members of the security forces from the previous government were killed by the Taliban or its affiliates following the US exit from Afghanistan. This comes after reports emerged that more than 100 members of the Ashraf Ghani government, its security forces and people who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban seized power in August last year. "The MoI (Ministry of Interior) rejected a UN report seen by Reuters alleging that over 100 officials & security force members of the previous govt were killed by the Islamic Emirate or its allies after the US pullout. The Islamic Emirate has killed no one following the general amnesty," the Taliban-led MoI was quoted as saying by TOLONews. In this damning report, UN chief Antonio Guterres said that most of the deaths were reportedly resulted from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates, despite the general amnesty for those affiliated with the former government. "Despite announcements of general amnesties for former members of the Government, security forces and those who worked with international military forces, [the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan] UNAMA continued to receive credible allegations of killings, enforced disappearances, and other violations" against former government and coalition members, the report said, as quoted by Al Jazeera. Special Representatives and Special Envoys of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the UK and the US met in Oslo last Monday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. Following the meeting, the Western envoys in a statement raised concern about 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. (ANI)
Pakistan's recently released Security Policy document fails to address the core issue of how Islamabad will eradicate extremism and radicalisation, according to Global Strat View's analysis. The security policy document, which Pakistan will review yearly, had drawn attention to the danger of 'extremism' and 'radicalisation' inside Pakistan, which has grown with the blessings of civilian and military rulers. Further, Pakistan's National Security Policy seems a signal to the western nations that while their monetary assistance is welcome, they should expect no military/logistic favours or any 'strategic 'concessions. Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who unveiled that 50-page public version of the 110-page document (the latter part of the document remains classified ), makes it clear that Pakistan was not ready to allow military bases. Further, Pakistani NSP places a caveat to its desire for 'peace' with India for 100 years. Pakistan and the whole world know that India will not accept the condition put by Pakistan. So, the brouhaha over 100 years of peace with India is just nonsense or, at best, a publicity stunt by Pakistan, which is wading through a troubled economy and is desperate to restore ties with the outside world, particularly the US, as reported by Global Strat View. Earlier, Pakistan civilian leader the hawkish and mercurial late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had sown the seeds of a permanent state of animosity with India. His successors may not have repeated his words, but they quickly reverted to the hawkish position even when they occasionally strayed into making a conciliatory statement on India. Clearly, they were forced to do a U-turn by the all-powerful army which has a veto in Islamabad's foreign policy. Further, Pakistan's most precious family jewel is its nuclear stockpile built with considerable Chinese help. The National Security document has made veiled references to using its nukes against India in the event of a war emphasising the irresponsibility of Pakistan as a state, as noted by Global Strat View. (ANI)
A US Congressman has raised grave concern about the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States. Masood Khan's nomination was sent to Washington by Pakistan Foreign Office in November last year. Media reports say the US deliberately delayed the approval of Pakistan's ambassador-designate posting in Washington and sought more time for his approval. In a letter to US President Joe Biden, Congressman Scott Perry asked Biden to reject Masood's appointment, stating that Imran Khan's nomination of a bona fide "terrorist sympathizer" working to undermine US interests in the region. Congressman Perry added that Masood Khan can only be described as a "breathtaking lack of judgment at best," and "a demonstration of Islamabad's unmitigated contempt for the United States at worst." "While I am encouraged that the State Department has reportedly placed a pause on approving Masood Khan as the new Ambassador from Pakistan, a pause is not enough. I urge you to reject any diplomatic credentials presented to you by Masood Khan and reject any effort by the Government of Pakistan to install this jihadist as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States," Scott Perry said in his letter to Biden. Perry said that Masood Khan has praised both terrorists and foreign terrorist organisations - including Hizbul Mujahideen - in stark and unsettling terms. "He has encouraged young men to emulate jihadists like Burhan Wani, a former commander of Hizbul Mujahideen who dedicated his life to a holy war against India. In 2017, Khan lashed out at the United States for designating the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen for sanctions, calling those sanctions unjustifiable. In 2019, Khan willingly appeared alongside Fazlur Rehman Khalil, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) who is the founder of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), a US-designated foreign terrorist organisation," the US lawmaker added. In the letter, Perry further explained how the Ambassador-designate Masood Khan is a supporter of the terrorist groups Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as Helping Hand for Relief and Development, a group that had no qualms establishing a partnership with the foreign terrorist organization responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. (ANI)
As many as 50,000 people, including 10,000 in the year 2020 are feared to have been detained in China under a draconian surveillance law passed by the communist leadership under a "systematised, arbitrary and secret detention" policy of the country in which authorities can jail anybody for up to six months without permission, says a media report. Under Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) policy, the Chinese police can now detain anyone, native or foreign, for up to six months at a specific location without disclosing their whereabouts, The Hong Kong Post reported citing a report by Spain-based rights group Safeguard Democracy. "Anywhere between 27,000 and 56,000 people may have suffered such detention in the last seven years. Thousands more are said to be in detention as of date. In 2020 alone, over 10,000 people were detained, it is suspected, the report cited by The Hong Kong Post said. The issue of the policy of secret detention without trial was first exposed last September when China released two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, after detaining them for over a thousand days. Media reports say many of the detainees are well-known personalities who may have fallen foul of Chinese authorities. "The number includes well-known names including artist Ai Wei Wei and human rights lawyers Wang Yu and Wang Quanzhang, who were caught up in China's 2015 crackdown on human rights defenders. Other foreigners have also gone through RSDL, like Peter Dahlin, a Swedish activist and co-founder of Safeguard Defenders, and Canadian missionaries Kevin and Julia Garrett, who was accused of espionage in 2014," The Hong Kong Post reported It added that China has a parallel system of unaccounted-for detention called "liuzhi". It is reserved for communist party members, state employees and, anyone involved in public affairs. The system, introduced in 2018, has led to thousands of detentions every year since then. Citing Al Jazeera, the media outlet reported that the conditions under both RSDL and "liuzhi" have been described as tantamount to torture, and inmates are held without a right to legal counsel. Sleep deprivation, isolation, solitary confinement, beatings, and forced stress positions have been reported by survivors of both systems, according to multiple rights groups. In some cases, inmates may be placed in an infamous "tiger chair" which restricts limb movement for days at a time, according to the HK Post. Meanwhile, China refused to comment on the "terrible treatment" of the illegal detainees, the ministry of foreign affairs did comment on the detention of Canadians, Spavor and Kovrig. "The pair was suspected of endangering national security their lawful rights had been guaranteed and they were not held in arbitrary detention while their cases moved forward in accordance with the law," the Chinese foreign said. (ANI)
Kiev [Ukraine], January 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Western countries should supply more arms and financial assistance to Ukraine instead of talking about tensions on the Ukraine-Russia border, Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko said on Monday. The European Union is not unanimous about the scope of military assistance to Kiev or potential sanctions against Russia in the event of escalation around Ukraine. For example, Germany has been refusing to supply Kiev with arms. "The West's stance sometimes reminds me of a person sitting in a vehicle, watching the other person would soon be roadkilled. He waves his hand and says: when you are roadkilled, we will call for help. That's why, instead of talking, ... hault the Nord Stream, provide us with more arms from those countries who don't supply them, provide us with financial assistance in the form of monetary guarantees. We are surely thankful that arms supplies have begun," Tkachenko told the Ukrainian 1+1 TV channel. The Minister added that Western media had "finally woken up" and acknowledged that there was a war in Ukraine. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused Russia of a troop build-up near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an "invasion." Moscow repeatedly said that it was not threatening anyone and at the same time pointed to NATO's military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. (ANI/Sputnik)
According to local media, the country plans to borrow 3 billion US dollars from China and 2 billion USD from Russia and Kazakhstan.

The News International citing sources reported that the country's Finance Ministry has finalised the plan for the loan and an agreement in this regard will likely be signed with China during Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Beijing next month.

Imran Khan is set to depart for Beijing on February 3. The Pakistani Prime Minister will attend the inaugural session of the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022.

On Tuesday, a final meeting of the top Pakistani officials will take place to shape the agenda of Imran Khan's visit.

Beijing has already placed around USD 11 billion with Islamabad in the shape of commercial loans and foreign exchange reserves support initiatives, including USD 4 billion in SAFE deposits. The Chinese money is part of Pakistan's current official foreign exchange reserves recorded at USD 16.1 billion, said The Express Tribune.

Pakistan, in the last fiscal year, paid more than Pkr 26 billion in interest cost to Beijing. Notably, Pakistan paid the heavy amount only for using a USD 4.5 billion Chinese trade finance facility to repay the maturing debt.

It comes as Saudi Arabia last month granted a loan of USD 3 billion to Pakistan. The loan has been consumed by the country and the foreign exchange reserves that before the Saudi injection stood at USD 15.9 billion have already fallen to USD 16 billion by January 21, according to The Express Tribune. (ANI)
As the US appears to withdraw from its political and strategic commitment from the Middle East, China wishes to fill that void as countries such as Saudi Arabia have expanded their search for potential security partners. In recent years, pushed by its growing economy and its increasing need for oil, China has deepened its political, economic, and security partnerships with various nations in the Middle East as Beijing's longstanding position of indifference to domestic political conditions--giving it flexibility in its engagement, according to National Interest. In a recent meeting, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Saudi deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman pledged to expand their "practical cooperation" and continue "strengthening solidarity. The Sino-Saudi connection has expanded considerably over the past decade. Although Saudi Arabia remains a valuable US ally, its top trading partner is now China. And while the kingdom continues to buy most of its military from the United States, it has increasingly turned to Beijing in some areas. For example, Saudi Arabia recently purchased Chinese drones for use in its military intervention in Yemen, Trevor Filseth for the National Interest. China has also played a key role in the regional "cold war" between Saudi Arabia and Iran through its participation in the "P5+1" negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. On the other hand, Beijing will be forced to do some balancing acts as it has forged closer relations with Iran also. Further, China also backed Iranian efforts to revive the latter is 2015 nuclear deal with major powers that the US unilaterally walked out of in 2018. Meanwhile, China and Iran both subject to US sanctions signed the 25-year agreement in March 2021, bringing Tehran into China's Belt and Road Initiative. On the other hand, military relations with Iran will be tempered by China's simultaneous efforts to build bridges with other Arab governments, especially with Saudi Arabia. (ANI)
Secretary Sandhu congratulated Russia on its upcoming presidency of the UNSC in February. Both sides held wide-ranging discussions on issues on the UN Security Council agenda and related developments.

"Bilateral consultations on United Nations-related issues were held between India and Russia in New Delhi on 31 January 2022. The Indian delegation was led by Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) in MEA, while the Russian delegation was led by Ambassador Sergey Vasilyevich Vershinin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation," the MEA said in a release.

This meeting comes in the backdrop of military build-up at the Russia-Ukraine border which has been a matter of concern for the international community.

Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on issues of mutual interest at multilateral platforms. The Russian delegation briefed India on its priorities during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

Both sides also agreed to work closely together, given the common challenges faced and in keeping with their long-standing Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, MEA said.

During the visit, Sergey Vershinin also called on Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and briefed him on Russian priorities during its upcoming Presidency of the UN Security Council.

Last week, the Russian deputy foreign minister had spoken to the Indian envoy to Russia Pavan Kapoor regarding the Russian Presidency of the UNSC. (ANI)
Washington [US], January 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Washington urges its coalition partners in Syria to enhance secure detention of Islamic State fighters and repatriate their nationals and other detainees remaining in the northeast of the Arab republic, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday. In mid-January, about 200 terrorists affiliated with the IS escaped in an attack on a prison controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Syrian city of Al-Hasakah. The IS attacked the facility in order to free imprisoned fighters. On Wednesday, the SDF said that the prison was back under control, and about 1,000 remaining terrorists have surrendered. According to the latest data, 175 terrorists were eliminated and 27 SDF soldiers were killed. "We call on our partners in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, whose efforts successfully stripped ISIS of its captured territory, to improve the secure and humane detention of ISIS fighters, support rehabilitation initiatives, and urgently repatriate their nationals and other detainees remaining in northeast Syria. The U.S. government will continue its stabilization and other programs in the region to support these efforts," Price said. The US remains committed to efforts contributing to the defeat of the IS terrorists, he added. "The United States commends the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for their heroic and effective response to the sustained ISIS attack on the Hasakah detention center and the surrounding area," the statement said. On Thursday, the Syrian Military Prosecutor's office said that the events in Al-Hasakah are the result of the US project of maintaining control over northeastern Syria. According to the Syrian authorities, the international coalition led by the United States allowed IS terrorists to carry out the attack on the prison in order to show that the terrorist threat still exists in the region and thereby justify Washington's illegal presence in the country. The armed conflict in Syria has been going on since 2011 with Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces fighting different insurgent groups. In late 2017, the IS was declared defeated in Syria and Iraq, but counterterrorism operations are still underway. Washington backs the Kurdish armed formations located in the country despite protests from the Syrian government. The US military currently controls parts of the provinces of Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, Aleppo and Deir Ez-Zor, where the largest Syrian oil and gas fields are located. Damascus does not recognize the so-called autonomous administration of northern and eastern Syria and calls the presence of the US military on its territory an occupation and state piracy with the aim of outright theft of oil. (ANI/Sputnik)
"Council decides in line w/ the relevant AU instruments (AUConstitutiveAct; AUPSC Protocol; African Charter on Democracy, Elections & Governance), to suspend the participation of Burkina Faso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country," the African Union Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security said on Twitter.

Earlier this month, intense gunfire was heard in two military camps in the capital city of Ouagadougou.

According to media reports, one of the camps housed a prison where General Gilbert Diendere and other military involved in a failed 2015 coup were held.

Diendere was freed, while the president and parliament leader Alassane Bala Sakande, his potential successor, was captured by soldiers. (ANI)
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan's hope for a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has suffered a huge setback as Moscow made it clear that there will be no bilateral meets on the sidelines of Beijing's Winter Olympics scheduled in February. However, Putin will hold summit-level talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during his Olympic visit. "I would like to reiterate that there is no bilateral meetings on President Putin's schedule except for full-scale talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to Russia's news media TASS said. Peskov said, "Ceremony's organizers have to impose a number of severe restrictions both on athletes and guests, including officials, "explaining "so the Russian President's schedule for the Beijing trip doesn't include any bilateral meeting for obvious reasons. However, both the Russian President and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be in the city for the inauguration of the Winter Olympics. Earlier, Pakistan tried to push its agenda for a bilateral summit with Russia in Beijing as Imran Khan held a telephone conversation with President Putin earlier this month. Further, this is the second time plans for a bilateral has not come to fruition, Imran khan and Vladimir Putin were to meet at the sidelines for the SCO summit in Dushanbe in September 2021 but the meeting couldn't not take place in person because the Russian President pulled out the summit last minute following COVID-19 case outbreak in his inner circle. (ANI)
Amid the gas crisis in Pakistan's Sindh, the country's Provincial Minister for Industries & Commerce and Cooperative Department Jam Ikramullah Dharejo said the gas outage to industries in the province is having adverse effects on the economy and as a result, unemployment and poverty are on the rise. In a statement on Sunday, the Provincial Minister expressed concern over prolonged gas shutdown to industries said that Karachi industries are facing gas shutdown from November 21, 2021, according to The Nation newspaper. Industries are suffering due to the poor policies of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government. "The gas cut has affected the employment of thousands of people. Domestic consumers also suffer. Gas is also not available during cooking in many areas. The federal government has been creating troubles for both industrial and domestic consumers. Protests by industrialists against gas cut-off are justified," he said in the statement cited by the publication. Pakistan's province Sindh has been facing several shortages of gas, as one of the leading gas companies in Karachi had decided to suspend its supply to all the compressed natural gas (CNG) stations from December 1 last year to February 15 2022. According to Dawn, the Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) has decided to suspend gas supply across Sindh and Balochistan. In a statement, the SSGCL said gas supply to all captive power plants (CPPS) of non-export industrial units was discontinued last Friday till further orders due to this winter spike. However, all general industries, zero-rated export industries including its CPPs and fertiliser sector will continue to get the gas, Dawn had reported. (ANI) In November 2021, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar had informed that the government has arranged 11 LNG cargoes for the current month, The News International had reported. LNG trading companies have backed out of an agreement made with PLL to provide two cargoes for November for mammoth monetary gains of up to 200 per cent profit in the international spot market, according to the publication. (ANI)
Members of a student publication at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have collectively resigned citing interference from the university after receiving complaints. A student editor who resigned alleged that the university said it could not guarantee student safety if the board attributed their decision to resign to HKBU's demand to recall the magazine, according to Hong Kong Free Press. The editorial board of the student publication Jumbo announced last Friday evening that all management at its newsroom had stepped down, a month ahead of the end of their term. The board said its decision was taken as a result of attempts by the university administration to interfere with its reporting. The student publication - a subsidiary of the university's student union - reported on student affairs but also other news, such as the city's politics and protests. The resignation means the publication's upcoming editions will be put on hold until the election of the next editorial board. Two hours prior to announcing the mass resignation, the editorial board posted on Facebook saying that it will recall the latest edition of its magazine following demand from HKBU. The university also asked that the student publication remove calls for submissions from its social media platforms. In a statement announcing the resignations, the editorial board said the university had asked for "clarification" regarding its report on a flag-raising ceremony on campus in early January. It had also "made comments" to the publication's former editor-in-chief about certain terms used in its reports, including the term "wuhan virus," - a reference to Covid-19. HKBU asked that the publication stop using the phrase, according to the statement. The student protest comes in the wake of increased protest against China in Hong Kong fuelled by Beijing's National Security Law. Earlier, Beijing's National Security Law which came into effect on July 1 last year in Hong Kong envisages punishment ranging up to a life term in prison for secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign interference. (ANI)
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has accused non-resident Pakistani billionaire Farooq Zahoor of business connections with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, an indirect admission that runs contrary to claims made by the country's leadership. Sanaullah Abbasi, who is head of the country's FIA, has registered an FIR in the alleged abduction of Farooq Zahoor's daughters. The FIR states that Pakistani billionaire Zahoor is a business partner of Dawood Ibrahim. Zahoor, who lives in UAE is a very influential businessman having close relations with UAE royal family and Pak military top brass. According to Pakistani media, Zahoor is a suspect wanted in financial crimes in Norway who is now being linked with former DG FIA Bashir Memon. He has also been found attending high-profile meetings of the Imran Khan government. In a YouTube video uploaded by a Pakistani journalist Rizwan Razi, he said, "The FIR filed by Sanaullah Abbasi (FIA head) states that Zahoor is crook, international criminal and partner of Dawood Ibrahim. ...The official position of the state of Pakistan says that they know nothing about the whereabouts of Dawood Ibrahim. India says that he stays in Pakistan. But Pakistan maintains that they have no idea about this." According to Razi, now that the FIR has established the name of Farooq Zahoor in connection terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, the FIA head will face the music from the Pakistani authorities for a report that runs contrary to Pakistan's official narrative. This revelation is contrary to Pakistan's official stand which tends to refute Dawood Ibrahim's Pakistan connection. Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is India's 'most wanted' fugitive. On March 12, 1993, a series of 13 bomb explosions took place in Mumbai killing 257 people and injuring over 713 others. The attacks were planned by Dawood Ibrahim Earlier this month, India had said the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts was not just given state protection but also enjoyed five-star hospitality. This was deemed as a veiled reference to Dawood Ibrahim believed to be hiding in Pakistan. Speaking at the International Counter-Terrorism Conference 2022, India's Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti had said that linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime must be fully recognized and addressed vigorously. "Linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime must be fully recognized and addressed vigorously. We have seen the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts not just given state protection but enjoying 5-star hospitality," Tirumurti had said. (ANI)
A total of ten members of the council voted in favour of the meeting, two against, and three abstained, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported.

Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian ambassador to the UN, dismissed the US-proposed meeting as a "classic example of megaphone diplomacy."

China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun, who voted against as well, said this is "the right time calling for quiet diplomacy with more diplomatic efforts instead of microphone diplomacy or public confrontation."

Separately, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday called on all sides to refrain from provocative rhetoric on the Ukraine crisis and focus on pursuing diplomatic solutions.

"We urge and expect all actors to build on these efforts and to remain focused on pursuing diplomatic solutions by engaging in good faith," DiCarlo said during a UN Security Council meeting. "We further urge all actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions to maximize the chance for diplomacy to succeed," he added. (ANI)
The incident happened in a busy market area of the Hangu district in the country's northwestern province. Two unknown gunmen riding on a motorbike shot the policemen dead and fled the scene, Xinhua news agency reported citing the police.

The report said the two victims were associated with the traffic police department and were performing their duty on a road adjacent to the marketplace when they were attacked.

The police termed the attack an incident of targeted killing, saying that an investigation into it is underway.

A search operation has been launched in the area to get hold of the militants, the report said.

So far, no group or individual has claimed the attack. (ANI)
London [UK], January 31 (ANI/ Sputnik): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday refused calls to resign after an investigation into a string of parties held at his official residence in Downing Street during the COVID-19 lockdown found there were serious "failures of leadership and judgment." "I am going to get on with the job," Johnson told Parliament following the release of the report on the inquiry conducted by senior civil servant Sue Gray. The long-awaited report, which was published as an update because the London Metropolitan Police had asked the senior civil servant conducting the probe to make minimal reference to some of the gatherings to avoid prejudice to their own investigation, concluded that the parties held at Downing Street during the lockdown "should not have been allowed to take place." "Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify," Gray said. Johnson has been grappling with calls to resign after a series of revelations showed that several social gatherings were held at his offices throughout 2020 and 2021, flouting COVID-19 social distancing rules. Calls for him to step down from his role were renewed during the heated debate that took place in Parliament following the publication of the damning report but the prime minister said people must wait for the conclusions of the police inquiry. (ANI/Sputnik)
"Ambassador Jacobson will lead US engagement in Ethiopia," the release said. "The Secretary of State selected Ambassador Jacobson to continue the work undertaken by Ambassador [Geeta] Pasi to press for an immediate cessation of hostilities, an end to ongoing human rights abuses and violations, unhindered humanitarian access, and a negotiated resolution to the conflict in Ethiopia."

Jacobson is a career diplomat who has served as US ambassador to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kosovo. She also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs in 2017 as well as director of the State Department's Afghanistan Task Force last year.

Pasi has informed the State Department of her decision to retire and pursue other opportunities, the release said.

The State Department praised Pasi for her handling of the US embassy in Ethiopia during an exceptionally complex period. (ANI/Sputnik)
The United States on Monday added seven more individuals and two entities to its list of sanctions for their links to the Myanmar military. The sanctions by the US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) come as Myanmar is set to mark the first anniversary of the military coup on February 1. "One year after the coup, the US, along with allies in the United Kingdom and Canada, stands with the people of Burma as they seek freedom and democracy," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "We will continue to target those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence, enablers of the regime's brutal repression, and their financial supporters." The seven individuals who have been sanctioned include Union Attorney General Thida Oo; Chief Justice of Burma's Supreme Court Tun Tun Oo and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Tin Oo. The new sanctions are part of a joint move with the United Kingdom and Canada, who are each designating two Myanmar government officials, the statement said. Last week, the US government issued a business advisory to inform the public of the heightened risks associated with doing business in Burma due to increasing military control over the economy. The military came to power in Myanmar on February 1 on the pretext that the ruling National League for Democracy party had rigged the general election in November 2020. (ANI)
Citing National Defense and Security Council, Xinhua News Agency reported that Myanmar's junta on Monday formally extended the state of emergency until July 31.

The extension was made for necessary preparations for the multi-party general elections, the announcement said, according to the news agency.

The state of emergency was first declared in February 2021, after the military detained former government leaders, including the state counsellor and the president.

Myanmar's military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is the one who led a coup against an elected civilian government in 2021 and detained Aung San Suu Kyi over alleged election irregularities.

In August last year, Min Aung Hlaing declared himself Prime Minister of a newly formed caretaker government. During an address to the nation on August 1, he repeated a pledge to hold elections by 2023.

More than 1,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmar security forces with thousands of others arrested, according to the United Nations, amid a crackdown on strikes and protests which has derailed the country's tentative democracy and prompted international condemnation.

In a recent update, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said the conflict has intensified over the past month, with increased reports of army raids across Myanmar, especially in the northwest and southeast regions. (ANI)
For the first time since the takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban appointed a woman as a head of an Afghan hospital, Sputnik News Agency reported citing a source at the medical facility. According to the news agency, the Health Ministry picked Malalaya Faizi to head the obstetrics and gynaecology clinic in the capital of Kabul. After Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the international community has repeatedly expressed concern over women's rights in the country. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a recent statement said that the Taliban want to "steadily erase women and girls from public life", according to Tolo News. "Today, we are witnessing the attempt to steadily erase women and girls from public life in Afghanistan including in institutions and mechanisms that had been previously set up to assist and protect those women and girls who are most at risk," the experts had said. "We are concerned about the continuous and systematic efforts to exclude women from the social, economic, and political spheres across the country," added experts, blaming the Taliban for pushing women and girls in Afghanistan out of public life, reported Tolo News. Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate denied that it has imposed any type of restrictions on women and said that women are continuing to work in government departments. The experts have also raised concerns over the risk of exploitation of women and girls including trafficking for the purposes of child and forced marriage, sexual exploitation and forced labour, reported Tolo News. Afghan women also staged several protests in the country since the Taliban came to power to demand a slew of rights including to work and education. (ANI)
The British government on Monday published a long-awaited report into parties held at Downing Street that allegedly breached the country's COVID-19 rules, found serious "failures of leadership and judgment" by the UK government. "At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings, the risks they presented to public health and how they might appear to the public. There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did," the findings of the report said. "A number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did. There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government," the text added. Earlier UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office apologized to the royal family for holding staff parties in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral last year, when COVID-19 rules barred indoor socializing. "It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and Number 10 has apologized to the Palace," Xinhua News Agency had reported quoting a spokesperson for British Prime Minister. The prime minister had conceded: "With hindsight, I should have sent everyone back inside. I should have found some other way to thank them." Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, had raged against Johnson's "ridiculous" apology, saying the prime minister's excuse that he "did not realize he was at a party" was "offensive" to the British public. (ANI)
Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has raised its head more ferociously following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in August last year. In 2021, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgency escalated its tirade against Pakistan. Operating from bases in Afghanistan and with a growing presence inside Pakistan, the group mounted an increasing number of attacks against Pakistani security forces -- as well as against some critical Chinese interests in Pakistan as noted by the United States Institute of Peace. Therefore, Pakistani officials often implied, the US exit from Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban would limit the TTP's threat against Pakistan. On the contrary, the TTP seems to have been energized with the Taliban's takeover and looks stronger than before. The depth of the TTP-Afghan Taliban relationship became evident after the Taliban's August takeover, according to the United States Institute of Peace. Almost immediately, Taliban leadership released senior TTP leaders and a large number of fighters imprisoned by the former Afghan government. The Taliban regime also appears to have provided the TTP's top leadership with de-facto political asylum and freedom of movement within Afghanistan from which the group is directing its campaign of violence in Pakistan, as analyzed by the United States of Peace. Ever since the Taliban's takeover, the TTP has emphasized that the Afghan Taliban is not only a model insurgency but also the mothership of their movement. TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud has publicly reiterated his pledge of allegiance to Afghan Taliban leader Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada and claimed the TTP to be a branch of the Taliban in Pakistan. Meanwhile, on their part, the Taliban are evasive on the current status and future of the TTP in Afghanistan and remain non-committal on a crackdown despite the group's violence against Pakistan. The Pakistani government appears to have sought the intercession of long-standing ally Siraj Haqqani, a top Taliban leader, for talks with the TTP -- especially as the TTP's violence mounted after the Taliban took power. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan publicly took the position that a political settlement was the only way to end Pakistan's war with the TTP. The Pakistani government offered conflicting accounts regarding the logic of the negotiations and the cease-fire. At one stage, Pakistani President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan observed that Pakistan was open to amnesty for the TTP if it laid down arms and agreed to adhere to Pakistan's constitution. However, other Pakistani government ministers downplayed the idea that amnesty was on the table. Meanwhile, a Pakistani military spokesman recently stated that the cease-fire was agreed on at the request of the Afghan Taliban government, according to the United States Institute of Peace. Notwithstanding the uncomfortable reality that Pakistan's support for the Taliban contributed to the US failure in Afghanistan, the Washington government retains substantial needs for its over-the-horizon counterterrorism strategy in the region -- for which it has approached Pakistan, according to the United States Institute of Peace. Further, the growing challenge of the TTP to Pakistan creates a narrow convergence between Washington and Pakistani goals. If the threat keeps growing, it will increase Pakistan's interest in cooperation. But for now, there are limits. Pakistan is not willing to get tougher with the Taliban government on counterterrorism, including on issues that affect its own security. Pakistan's reliance on Siraj Haqqani -- who remains a designated terrorist by the US government and close to al-Qaeda -- is also a major hurdle to meaningful cooperation. Until that changes, Pakistan is likely to only offer assistance to the US government on a narrow set of targets, with restrictive and conditional terms of cooperation. Policymakers should be clear-eyed on these limits, as analyzed by the United States Institute of Peace. (ANI)
The United States and its allies are ready to engage with Russia in good faith if the latter is sincere about addressing their security concerns, President Joe Biden said on Monday, adding, "If the country chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Moscow will face swift and severe consequences." In a White House statement on Monday, the US President informed that America presented in detail the full nature of Russia's threat to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "And we made clear to the international community the full implications of that threat -- not just for Ukraine, but for core tenets of the UN Charter and the modern international order," he said. "If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our Allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith. If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences," Biden further said in the statement. He said that the US and its allies continue to prepare for every scenario. "The world must be clear-eyed about the actions Russia is threatening and ready to respond to the risks those actions present to all of us. Today's Security Council meeting is a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice: rejecting the use of force, calling for military de-escalation, supporting diplomacy as the best path forward, and demanding accountability from every member state to refrain from military aggression against its neighbours," Biden said. In recent developments, the head of states and governments of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia met on January 26 in Paris under the Normandy format and called for an unconditional ceasefire in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The officials reaffirmed that the Minsk agreements signed in 2014 are the basis of the work of the Normandy format, the four-party diplomatic group which was set up to resolve the conflict in the Donbas region. The UNSC meeting on the Ukraine conflict was held today with Norway chairing the Security Council. (ANI)
London [UK], January 31 (ANI/Sputnik): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday told lawmakers that he will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as he can amid reports that the phone conversation was cancelled. The conversation was reportedly cancelled after an investigation into a string of parties held at Johnson's official residence in Downing Street during the COVID-19 lockdown found there were serious "failures of leadership and judgment." Johnson's spokesperson said that the phone conversion may be postponed to Tuesday, the Russian news agency reported citing a UK agency. (ANI/Sputnik)
Nikiforov said, "At present, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's calendar has no visit to China. Within the next few days the President has planned meetings with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Sputnik reported citing the RBC-Ukraine.

The Kremlin last week did not rule out a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, should the latter attend the ceremony, the Russian News Agency reported.

"At the same time, we welcome the fact that Kremlin has finally begun to realize that there's no alternative to direct contacts, and has begun to talk about a bilateral meeting of presidents," Nikiforov added.

The perilous situation around Ukraine has worsened over the past several months after Russia was accused by NATO and Ukraine of building up troops near the Ukrainian border and allegedly preparing for an invasion.

Russia has consistently denied any plans to invade Ukraine, saying it has the right to move troops inside its territory, responding to what it considers threats to its national security, such as a growing NATO presence in Eastern Europe, Sputnik reported.

The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing from February 4-20. The Winter Paralympics will take place in the Chinese capital from March 4-13. (ANI)
The other issues discussed during the meeting included the topics of combating terrorism and climate change. The meeting took place a day before Russia takes charge of the UNSC Presidency.

Vershinin also had a separate meeting with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

"On January 31, Russia's Deputy FM Sergey Vershinin and Secretary West of @MEAIndia Reenat Sandhu held consultations in New Delhi on the UN issues with an emphasis on the UN Security Council agenda. Sergey Vershinin also had a separate meeting with @harshvshringla," Russian Embassy in India said in a series of tweets.

"Thorough exchange of views made it possible to address topical issues of the #UNSC work, including situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya & Myanmar, combating terrorism & climate change. Particular attention paid to the Russian presidency in the UNSC, which starts on February 1," the embassy tweeted.

Both sides reaffirmed the identity or closeness of the countries' stands on major global and regional issues.

"Sides reaffirmed identity or closeness of stands on major global & regional issues. Mutual intent expressed to further strengthening bilateral coordination in UNSC based on the UN Charter, norms & principles of international law, in line w/ the special & privileged partnership," the embassy tweeted. (ANI)
"Child pneumonia is surging in the middle of a hunger crisis that is ravaging young immune systems," Anadolu agency quoted the Save the Children's statement.

"The collapse of the health system, driven largely by frozen financial assets and withdrawn aid, comes at a deadly cost for Afghan children," read the statement.

One doctor at a hospital told the non-profit he had never seen so many cases of child pneumonia and severe malnutrition. According to the medical professional, 135 children had died in or on their way to the hospital last December, the Anadolu agency reported.

"Afghanistan's economic freefall threatens to leave more than 95 per cent of the population living in poverty," the statement said, adding that cost is the "biggest single barrier" to healthcare.

"Clinics across the country have been forced to close as wages for health workers have dried up," it said, adding "Crumbling health services is one of the direct impacts of global assets freezes and suspended development aid, both of which are choking the healthcare system," Anadolu agency reported.

It further reported that the aid agency called on the international community to unlock vital funding. Following the Taliban's takeover, Afghanistan's access to international funds was cut off.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since the Taliban took control of Kabul.

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)
Two Long Island, New York, nurses were arrested and are accused of making over $1.5 million in selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards, authorities said.

Julie DeVuono, owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in the city of Amityville, and employee Marissa Urraro are accused of handing out vaccination cards and charging $220 for adults and $85 for children, according to the Suffolk County district attorneys office.

Prosecutors said since DeVuono is a nurse practitioner and Urraro is a licensed practical nurse, the two were able to enter false information into New York's immunization database. CBS New York reported business owners near the health care facility suspected something illegal was going on when they noticed how many people were going into the building.

The nurses' scheme was foiled when an undercover detective was given a vaccine card but was never given the vaccine, authorities said.

Law enforcement then searched DeVuono's home and said they found around $900,000 in cash and a ledger showing profits of more than $1.5 million dating back to Nov. 2021.

"I hope this sends a message to others who are considering gaming the system that they will get caught and that we will enforce the law to the fullest extent," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison also criticized the nurses for their alleged actions.

"As nurses, these two individuals should understand the importance of legitimate vaccination cards as we all work together to protect public health," Harrison said.

Michael Alber, Urraro's lawyer, told the Associated Press that people should not judge his client's allegations, saying she is a well-respected nurse.

"We look forward to highlighting the legal impediments and defects of the investigation, Alber said. "Its our hope that an accusation definitely doesnt overshadow the good work Miss Urraros done for children and adults in the medical field."

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Contributing: Associated Press

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two NY nurses arrested, accused of selling fake COVID vaccine cards
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When youve been on recruiting visits to the Notre Dames and UCLAs of the world, its pretty hard not to hold them in higher regard when going through the rest of your recruiting process. Any other school is going to have a hard time competing with the history and legacy that those campuses can present.

According to 2024 four-star ATH Miles Lockhart, though, the Oregon Ducks certainly made a good case during his weekend visit to Eugene.

It was up there. It really was all the way up there with them, Lockhart said. Notre Dame is a very hard school to beat, but I think Oregon could have competed with them for sure with that visit.

Lockhart is in an interesting position when it comes to his recruitment at Oregon. There are numerous ties pulling him to Eugene, be it one of his closest friends, Cole Martin, already committing to the Ducks in 2023, or Martins father Demetrice taking the cornerbacks coaching job with the Ducks.

As a prospect with 8 offers so far and counting, he will likely have his pick of the litter over the next couple of year while he narrows down his options. Its hard to believe the Ducks, who he watched growing up, will be very far from that list.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Lockhart after his vist to Eugene and discuss his initial impressions of the Oregon campus, Dan Lannings coaching staff, and what sets the Ducks apart from other places that Miles has seen. Here is that conversation:

Overall Impressions

Question: Just in general, how do you think the visit went? What will you remember the most about your time in Eugene?

Lockhart: I think everything stood out to me, its just an amazing place to be. The facilities are just top-notch, and of any school, those facilities really impressed me the most of any school Ive really been to. And them just saying so much about how they can help develop me, and give me a career out there after school was really nice to see.

The Facilities

Question: You mentioned the facilities, who do you think stood out to you the most about them?

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Lockhart: I thought a lot of it was the technology and stuff that they have that a lot of schools Ive seen dont have. Theyre way more ahead of a lot of schools at their same level.

Neel: Thats interesting you say that because I know youve visited Notre Dame and UCLA as well. How did this visit compare to those?

Lockhart: It was up there. It really was all the way up there with them. Notre Dame is a very hard school to beat, but I think Oregon could have competed with them for sure with that visit.

Familiar Faces

Question: While on your visit who did you spend the most time with, whether coaches or players?

Lockhart: I spent a lot of time with Coach Meat [Demetrice Martin], obviously, but I also got to spend a lot of time with Coach Dillingham, the OC. I also got to spend time with No. 8, Donte Manning. I got to hang out with him a little bit.

Dan Lanning

Question: This was obviously your first time meeting Dan Lanning, what was your first impression of him like?

Lockhart: Dan Lanning, hes just a really cool guy and hes down to earth you know, and he just made everybody feel it. Hes very enthusiastic about the team and everything. Hes just got everybody hyped up, and I really think he can put Oregon where they need to be to get to a higher level. He just brings that Georgia mentality and everything from the south. I think it was a really good move to hire him.

Future Fit

Question: Youre listed as an ATH, but have you given any thought to where you would like to play down the road? Did you talk to anyone about that at Oregon?

Lockhart: I think Im gonna be a defensive guy, thats my thing. But I really think at any level I could play any position that I needed to. but I believe Ill be playing in the secondary.

Cole Martin: Oregon Recruiter No. 1

Question: You mentioned spending time with Coach Martin. Obviously, his son, Cole, is a close friend and teammate of yours who committed to the Ducks in the class of 2023. Does that type of thing impact your decision at all?

Lockhart: It definitely does, its good to know somebody there. And with Cole being one of my closest friends, I can trust that he knows what hes doing with going to school. So you know, that does weigh heavy on it, and I also do know Coach Martin as well, which is a great factor.

Surrounding Talent

Question: Its one thing to visit Oregon, but another to be asked to come on a weekend where some of the top prospects in the nation are also coming. What was that experience like?

Lockhart: It was just, it was surreal. I never thought like as a kid watching, as a younger kid watching Oregon that I was going to be in this position. Its hard to explain, but it was a very great feeling to be in there with everybody else and to know that I can be recruited by schools like that. A school that I was watching when I was younger and hoping that maybe one day I could get a chance to be there.

Upcoming Visits

Question: Do you have any upcoming visits on the schedule down the road?

Lockhart: I know Im going to Stanford camp this year, and I will most likely end up visiting after that. Im going to Oklahoma as well, and then my 7-on-7 team is going to Louisville as well.

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A 50-year-old Tri-Cities man claims a child rapist is walking free while hes the one being sent to prison for 23 years.

Clay V. Haynes says hes innocent and thats the main reason his case took more than four years  while he stood up for his rights.

How can I have remorse when I didnt do anything to a child? asked Haynes. I dont have no remorse because it didnt happen. And I dont mean to be mean, I dont mean to punish anybody.

But a Superior Court judge told Haynes that a jury thought otherwise when it decided the case on its merits and returned guilty verdicts against him for four felony sex crimes.

Spokane County Judge Annette S. Plese said Haynes deserves to spend at least 23 years and four months behind bars for raping two young girls over a six-year period.

Still, Plese  who presided over the Benton County case because of a conflict with Tri-Cities judges  rejected the prosecutors recommended exceptional sentence of 30 years.

The judge noted that Haynes ultimate release will be up to a state board, which will look at his behavior and sex offender treatment while hes locked up.

The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board could keep you indefinitely, Plese said during the sentencing hearing on Friday.

Convicted of sex crimes

Haynes convictions from a November trial include two counts of second-degree child rape and one count of third-degree child rape.

He was acquitted of first-degree child molestation and another count of third-degree child rape in an earlier trial.

The Kennewick man was charged in late 2017 after the girls disclosed to a friend they had been physically and sexually abused by Haynes and they sought counseling.

The girls told Benton County sheriffs detectives that the abuse escalated over the years, and said Haynes would be in a bad mood and take it out on others if they didnt do what he wanted, according to court documents.

Detectives tried to talk with Haynes but were told the electrician had gone to California for work. Then they got word he was in Colorado.

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A search of his rural Kennewick home reportedly turned up items that the girls said were used to abuse them.

Haynes tried to avoid trial by going to Panama but was refused entry by the Central American country.

He was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service and, after spending several months in jails in Florida, was returned to Washington.

Denied dismissal

Haynes represented himself at the trial with a court-appointed attorney to help as needed.

He tried to get the case dismissed at his sentencing hearing by saying it was a manifest injustice with an overzealous prosecutor, and argued for a much shorter prison term.

Is the court aware ... that a defendant could literally shoot somebody and get caught and admit it, and get less time than a guy convicted by hearsay with no victim? asked Haynes, interrupting the judge. Its absolutely ridiculous.

Deputy Prosecutor Anita Petra said they werent in court because Haynes abused just one person, but two, and that makes him more of a risk and more dangerous.

He committed crimes against two females, she said. They remember the abuse they suffered, what he did to their bodies, what objects he used.

Petra pointed out that Haynes manipulated the girls for years, and has been manipulating the justice system, which re-victimized the girls and caused more trauma every time the case was delayed.

They opted not to speak at sentencing, but two family friends told the judge they endured years of sexual, physical, mental, verbal and psychological abuse by Haynes.

And Haynes has yet to be a man and stand up and take responsibility, said one friend. These girls are my heroes. .... I am so proud of these young ladies, at not only how they stood up but continued on with their lives. They made amazing lives for themselves.

The defendant didnt win, as he assured them that he always would, she added. Finally, after long years of torture, judgment day is here. His manipulative bullying didnt break us.
A blast of winter weather is headed toward Columbia.

It will start overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, said Kevin Deitsch, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

"This is a major winter storm," Deitsch said. "Central Missouri will receive over 6 inches of snow. We cant rule out over a foot in some areas. It's going to be significant snowfall."

There is a chance of freezing rain or sleet Tuesday night or Wednesday, but little or no ice accumulation is expected, Deitsch said.

The heaviest snowfall is expected to arrive Wednesday night, he said.

"Its going to be a mess, especially Wednesday into Thursday," Deitsch said.

This isn't the same winter storm that struck the East Coast last week, he said.

"It's a totally different system," Deitsch said. "This is coming from the west."

More: Midweek winter storm to wreak havoc for 2,000 miles from the Rockies to the Northeast

A University of Missouri student walks on Ninth Street to Middlebush Hall during light snow in 2020.

Mizzou shifts classes online Wednesday and Thursday

All classes at the University of Missouri will be online Wednesday and Thursday, with the campus moving to remote operations due to the winter weather.

"Instructors should communicate this shift with their students as soon as possible, share plans for their classes and provide any necessary resources, such as Zoom links or online learning materials," the university wrote in an announcement Monday afternoon.

More: As Columbia snow plow crews prepare for winter storm, here are tips on parking, routes and more

"If a class has significant in-person requirements, such as laboratories or clinical classes, arrangements will be made to address the requirements at a later time."

Staff members fall into one of three categories related to remote operations:

Staff who aren't required to work on-site but can telework from home or another location are expected to do so; those who can telework but don't must take paid time off.

Staff who cannot carry out their duties online and are instructed that they aren't required to work on-site will be compensated.

Non-exempt hourly workers required to work on campus may be eligible to receive premium pay; those who are required to work but choose not to must take paid time off.

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"As always, faculty, staff and students are expected to exercise good judgement when deciding if they can travel safely to campus during inclement weather," the university wrote in its announcement.

More: Columbia Public Schools, local colleges either out of session or online Wednesday due to storm

Road crews preparing

"We're bolstering our staff with people outside the Public Works Department and with outside contractors, who are going to be available to haul off snow from downtown," said John Ogan, spokesman for the Columbia Public Works Department.

The department has adequate supplies of salt to respond to the storm, Ogan said.

"We had 5,000 tons of salt in October, and December and January have been relatively kind" until now, Ogan said.

State crews will be on state highways, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

All available crews will be out across the state working 12-hour shifts throughout the day and night, but staffing is still short across the state due to turnover and sickness, the release states.

"It may take crews longer to return roads to a mostly clear status after the storm ends later this week," MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna said.

The length of the storm is going to pose a challenge as snowfall piles on, Ogan said.

"It will simply take time for us to respond to the anticipated amount of snowfall," he said.

Temperatures also will not help with snow removal.

"High temps will top out at 20 on Thursday, with lows in the single digits, near zero, Friday morning," Deitsch said.

Ogan said he plans to follow his own advice and work from home during the storm.

"This winter storm has the potential to create extremely hazardous driving conditions for most of the state," McKenna said.

Power outage potential

The biggest threat of a power outage comes from collapsing tree limbs above power lines that are weighed down by snow, said Matt Nestor, spokesman for Columbia Water & Light.

Heavy, wet snow is expected to fall, which may accumulate a little on power lines, but freezing rain would be the bigger threat, Nestor said.

Tree-trimming crews do remediation of tree limbs near power lines in the spring and fall, he said.

"We're well-aware of what's predicted and have people on call, ready at any moment," Nestor said.

It's good to have plenty of blankets and warm clothing in the event of a power outage, he said.

Non-perishable food also should be part of the household plan, he said.

In case of a power outage, city customers should call 573-875-2555.

Sunday afternoon's outage affecting more than 1,600 customers in an area of town near Columbia Mall wasn't related to the weather, he said. That was caused by a malfunctioning breaker. It couldn't be repaired, so the power was rerouted with power restored around 8:45 p.m. Sunday, he said.

Preventing frozen pipes

Let faucets drip a little to prevent pipes from freezing, AAA Missouri recommends.

Other recommendations include knowing where your water shutoff is in case of an emergency, and keeping bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors under sinks open to let warm air circulate around pipes.

The time to prepare your home for the upcoming cold weather is right now, AAA spokesman Nick Chabarria said in a news release. Taking small steps to ensure your homes interior and exterior are ready can help you avoid high repair costs and headaches down the road.

rmckinney@columbiatribune.com

573-815-1719

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia may see 6-12 inches of snow in Missouri's winter storm
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Social Security is a lifeline for millions of retirees and other older Americans who are still in the workforce. Making sure you qualify for every dollar youve got coming to you is not a step you want to skip  and believe it or not, Social Security is not guaranteed. In fact, there are more than a half-dozen ways that you could miss out on benefits that you were counting on and that you paid for with your tax dollars.

Find Out: All You Need To Know About Collecting Social Security While Still Working

Read More: The Biggest Problems Facing Social Security

You Failed the Social Security Earnings Test

Early claimers who are still working have to pass the Social Security earnings test in order to qualify for benefits. There is no such test once you reach full retirement age. In 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) temporarily withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over $18,960, although theres a more forgiving monthly test for those entering the year of full retirement.

Find Out: The Average Social Security Check the Year You Were Born

You Came Up Short on Credits

In order to receive Social Security payments, you have to first work for a certain amount of time, pay taxes into the system and build up enough credits to qualify for benefits. In 2021, you get one credit for every $1,470 in income earned, up to one credit per quarter or four credits per year. Most people must have 40 credits to receive Social Security benefits, which means you have to work for 10 years before youre eligible.

Read More: Next Years Social Security Checks Could Get Biggest COLA Bump in 13 Years

You Have Debt That Qualifies For Garnishment

Its hard for private lenders to snatch your Social Security payments, but your benefits can be garnished to satisfy certain kinds of other debts. Among them are alimony, child support and restitution, but the states determine what constitutes a valid order for garnishment. If your benefits have been garnished for any of these reasons, contact the appropriate state agency, not the SSA.

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If you guessed that tax debt is one of the other exceptions, you would be correct. The Department of the Treasury can garnish up to 15% of your Social Security benefits every month until your tax debt is paid. The Treasury Department can also garnish your benefits for nontax debt, including any federal student loans you might have defaulted on.

Poll: Are Social Security Benefits Big Enough?

Youre Covered Under the Civil Service Retirement System

Instead of paying into Social Security, some federal employees hired before 1984 have instead been contributing to the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The CSRS was formed as part of the 1920 Civil Service Retirement Act and was replaced by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) in 1987. CSRS recipients do not receive Social Security benefits unless theyre eligible through another job or through a spouse.

Are You Doomed To Work Forever? What You Can Do If Your Social Security Isnt Enough

Youre Covered By the Railroad Retirement Act

Some railroad workers are also covered by a retirement system outside of Social Security and are ineligible for benefits. People who participate in the Railroad Retirement Act pay more of their salaries into the fund but receive higher payments when they retire  particularly career employees with at least 30 years on the job.

When Social Security Runs Out: What the Program Will Look Like in 2035

You Dont Qualify For a Divorced Spouses Benefits

Some people are eligible to receive benefits on their former spouses records, but they have to meet certain qualifications first. You must have been married for 10 years or longer and you must not be remarried, although you can still qualify if your former spouse remarries. There are other requirements, too, so if you were planning on applying for benefits on a former spouses record, make sure you qualify first.

You Moved  Like, Far  in Retirement

In most cases, you can collect Social Security in another country if you live abroad in retirement, although you have to follow strict and specific rules from both the SSA and your host country. The SSA, however, is generally forbidden from sending payments to a handful of countries, but dont worry. None of them are exactly beacons for U.S. retirees.

They include Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Some exceptions can be made for some eligible retirees in those countries, but you can never collect Social Security in Cuba and North Korea.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Reasons You Might Not Receive Social Security Benefits
A New York-based actor was fired from a drama company after she posted a Tik Tok rant about street closure for the funeral of slain cop Jason Rivera.

Jacqueline Guzman shared a video under the handle @vinylboobs, criticising the shut down most of Lower Manhattan because one cop died for probably doing his job incorrectly.

Rivera, 22, was shot along with his partner Wilbert Mora on 21 January when they were responding to a domestic disturbance call at a Harlem apartment. Rivera died that night, while Mora, 27, died on 25 January.

Mayor Eric Adams, along with thousands of police officers gathered on Friday to bid farewell to Rivera, who died in the line of duty just 14 months after he joined the New York Police Department.

Filming herself while walking down the street, Guzman, in the now-deleted video, said: We do not need to shut down most of Lower Manhattan because one cop died for probably doing his job incorrectly. They kill people who are under 22 every single day for no good reason and we dont shut down the city for them.

Like this is f**king ridiculous. This is f**king ridiculous. What if somebody is having a heart attack in this area. Nobody can get to them because its all blocked off for one f**king cop, she said.

After the video went viral, her acting company, Face to Face issued a statement condemning the insensitive video as they announced her dismissal from the group.

Face to Face Films has just been made aware of an insensitive video involving one of our members, Jacqueline Guzman. Face to Face Films does not support nor can condone these comments made about fallen Officer Rivera. As a result, she is no longer a member of our company, the company posted on its Facebook page.

The actor also drew swift condemnation from social media users.

I hope she never requires the help of an officer! These entitled brats think its ok to trash a slain officer. Bet she didnt even know the circumstances under which officers Rivera and Mora were shot! #BackTheBlue #isupporttheblue #BlueLivesMatter https://t.co/5LKgXIeF7T  Dania Alexandrino (@DaniaPeriodista) January 30, 2022

I hope she never requires the help of an officer! These entitled brats think its ok to trash a slain officer. Bet she didnt even know the circumstances under which officers Rivera and Mora were shot! wrote journalist Dania Alexandrino.

An astonishing lack of humanity, compassion and kindness mixed with an abundance of narcissism. She needs to listen to the eulogies from Jason Riveras wife and brother and maybe she might begin to understand how horrible, hurtful and self centered she sounds. https://t.co/hGGHOWcF0P  Maria Danzilo (@Maria4Dist6) January 31, 2022

An astonishing lack of humanity, compassion and kindness mixed with an abundance of narcissism. She needs to listen to the eulogies from Jason Riveras wife and brother and maybe she might begin to understand how horrible, hurtful and self-centered she sounds, wrote another user.
Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, in November 2021 in Brunswick, Georgia. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Two of Ahmaud Arbery's killers reached a plea deal with prosecutors, new court filings show.

The deal relates to federal hate crime charges brought against them.

The family attorney said: "This back room deal represents a betrayal to the Arbery family who is devastated."

The family of Ahmaud Arbery accused the Department of Justice of "betrayal" after it reached a plea deal with two of his killers.

Court filings submitted Sunday night show that Travis and Gregory McMichael reached a plea deal with prosecutors as part of the federal hate crimes investigation into them.

The two white men  along with another white man, William Bryan  were found guilty of murder in Georgia in November in a separate trial over the shooting death of Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was jogging at the time.

They were sentenced to life in prison, with the McMichaels getting no possibility of parole.

The agreements themselves about the federal hate crime investigation have not been made public.

But Lee Merritt, an attorney for Arbery's family, said the deals would allow the McMichaels to be transferred to a preferred federal facility.

Merritt said: "This back room deal represents a betrayal to the Arbery family who is devastated."

Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said in a statement cited by Axios: "The DOJ has gone behind my back to offer the men who murdered my son a deal to make their time in prison easier for them to serve."

"I have made it clear at every possible moment that I do not agree to offer these men a plea deal of any kind. I have been completely betrayed by the DOJ's lawyers."

The family plans to argue against the deal in court on Monday, Merritt said, according to Axios.

Read the original article on Insider
No child should go hungry. No person should go hungry.

With this thought in mind, attorney Maria Losavio made a $50,000 donation to the Manna House which serves free nutritional meals every day year-round to those in need with no questions asked.

She has also put out a challenge, or rather, wants to encourage other attorneys and small business owners like herself to make a donation to the Manna House. And, it doesn't have to be $50,000.

"I don't think anybody needs to match at this level, but they can," she said. "I don't care if it's $5, $50, $5,000. We all can do it. We all can do more to help out."

Losavio added that the only times during the year that people think about the Manna House are around Thanksgiving and Christmas. They forget that the Manna House's mission is year round and they need help at other times of the year.

"We're very grateful and just overwhelmed with her generosity," said Jessica Viator, executive director of the Manna House. "We don't get donations like that every day. It can really help us to further our mission of banishing hunger right here in Central Louisiana. And so we're really overwhelmed by her generosity."

Oftentimes people hear about large corporate donations, said Losavio, but small businesses that are the backbone of this community are not highlighted.

"We've got lots of programs in this community that I think are good but Manna House has been here for so long and is such a stable part of this community," Losavio said about why she chose the Manna House.

The non-profit also expanded its community reach by offering delivery services for those who don't have transportation to the facility at 2655 Lee Street.

Attorney Maria Losavio (left) presents a $50,000 to Jessica Viator, executive director of the Manna House. Losavio encourages other attorneys and small business owners to donate what they can to the Manna House. "I don't think anybody needs to match at this level, but they can," she said. "I don't care if it's $5, $50, $5,000. We all can do it. We all can do more to help out."

Those reasons played a part in her decision.

"I just felt like a good fit," she said. "I was blessed last year and had some good results in my business and I wanted to pay it forward. I think Manna House is a great non-profit for the area. And it serves the most people that would maximize the funding so that's why I picked it."

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"I was just blessed that she's been supportive of our mission," said Viator. "She knows that we've been in this community for over 32 years and making a difference. Changing one person's life at a time."

When the pandemic first hit in 2020 and schools closed down, Losavio who volunteers as CINC (Children in Need of Care) attorney, was worried about the foster children she represented. For some of the children, the only positive encouragement they got was when they received a hug or smile from a teacher or someone else in the school system. And, eating a meal at school was the only meal they ate for the day.

"So we when we shut down, and all the kids stayed home, I was extremely worried about that," she said and was grateful that the Manna House was still providing services.

As a CINC attorney, she's known clients who have used the Manna House and has seen how it helps parents or grandparents provide a meal for the children in their care.

"If COVID has taught us anything, it's that our health is precious and our values of what we consider important, we've all had to realign," said Losavio. "And how can people be healthy if they don't have something to sustain them nutritionally? This is part of an extension of that philosophy of reevaluating what you're doing with your life and prioritizing how you're spending your money and how you're spending your time."

She thought the New Year was a great way to start aligning with higher priorities.

"I know most of us want to achieve. I don't think anybody goes around saying, 'I want to be greedy' or 'I want to be selfish'," said Losavio.

In the past, she and her children have volunteered at Manna House because she thought it important for her children. The family also donated canned goods at their schools. And the Losavios used to be foster parents.

Losavio grew up in Simmsport and Lettsworth with four other siblings. She has not experienced the impoverishment level seen at the Manna House.

"I never had to go in line for food like that," she said.

But everyone experiences different levels of poverty, Losavio added.

"We were five children in our family and I know what it is to be impoverished in the level of that you can't just go spend money," she said. "I've had many people bring a box of food at our house - drop a box and not even leave a note who it was - when we were growing up. It impacts you."

She also knew that the way out of poverty was through education.

"I don't know how I knew but was instilled in me, mostly from my mother who instilled the love of reading," she said. Losavio believes if you can read and love to read, you will continue to learn throughout your life.

She was also the first in her family to graduate college. She then made sure her younger siblings were able to go to community college or a four-year college.

"My story is one, I think, of America. Hard work, education, and a lot of lucky breaks and blessings along the way," said Losavio. "Many people come into your life that just help you in one little way. They don't know they helped you as much as you know they helped you."

Financial donations can be made to the Manna House on its website, givetomannahouse.com or through the mail at P.O. Box 6011, Alexandria, LA, 71307.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Alexandria attorney hopes $50,000 Manna House donation encourages other donations
Anthony Joshua reportedly asked for more money to step aside (PA Wire)

Promoter Frank Warren says Tyson Fury labelled Anthony Joshua greedy after negotiations for him to step aside to allow Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk broke down.

Warren added Joshua had asked for an additional $5m on top of the multi-million offer already on the table.

Joshua is slated to fight Usyk in spring after losing to the Ukrainian in September which resulted in him losing his belts.

Fury had wanted his compatriot to allow him to fight Usyk in a unification bout first but talks fell apart.

Warren told talkSPORT Fight Night: When Joshua asked for an extra $5million, he said, Enough is enough, and that was it.

He said, Im not interested, hes too greedy, and that was enough. Hes a champion  Tysons not beholden to Anthony Joshua. Him and Usyk wanted to get it on, both of them wanted to get it on.

But you had two people in the middle  one was suing the WBC and the other one was asking for more and more money.

Fury publicly called Joshua greedy in a tweet when it was reported negotiations had stalled as he and Dillian Whyte had asked for more money. Whyte is scheduled to bout Fury in early 2022.

The fight would be Furys first since he defeated Deontay Wilder in October to retain his WBC title.
Jan. 31Atlanta United announced Sunday the club has loaned midfielder Ezequiel Barco to Club Atletico River Plate in the Argentina top flight for the 2022 season.

Atlanta retains Barco's contract rights beyond this season.

"Ezequiel has been an important part of our success over the last four seasons," Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said. "He helped us win three trophies and is coming off the best season of his young career. We felt that this move made sense for both Ezequiel and the club and we wish him continued success during his loan at River Plate."

Barco joined Atlanta United in January 2018 from Club Atletico Independiente after making over 50 appearances in his first two professional seasons and winning the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. In Atlanta, Barco helped the club to win MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup titles and was named an MLS All-Star in 2018 and 2019. Barco has gone on to make 107 appearances across all competitions for Atlanta, the seventh-most in club history.

He's coming off a stellar 2021 campaign where the midfielder recorded career-highs with seven goals and eight assists and was recognized on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week on six occasions. Barco has 17 goals and 17 assists in his MLS regular season career overall.

On the International stage, Barco has made 21 appearances with Argentina's youth national teams, including playing in every match of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo for Argentina.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Australia in February to meet counterparts from Japan, India and Australia to discuss Indo-Pacific coordination, the Australian government said on Monday.

The two-day meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) foreign ministers comes amid the Biden administration's concerns about China, even as tensions with Russia over Ukraine rachet up in Europe.

China has previously denounced the Quad as a Cold War construct and a clique "targeting other countries".

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne did not specify a date for the meeting, but said in a statement she looked forward to welcoming the Quad foreign ministers to Australia in coming weeks.

"We are a vital network of liberal democracies cooperating to give our region strategic choices, with a focus on practical steps to build the resilience and sovereignty of all states," Payne said.

The government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison is deepening Australia's partnerships in the region amid "strategic competition, threats to liberal international order and increasing uncertainty", she added.

Japanese media had previously reported the Quad meeting could be held virtually because of pandemic restrictions surrounding international travel. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a tweet on January 27 he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Canberra officials hope the timing of the February meeting will allow Jaishankar to recover and return a negative test.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is also expected to attend.

The Quad grouping has previously discussed boosting the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the region, supply chains for semiconductors and technology cooperation. It has also held joint naval exercises.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Pollyanna Hope, 16, isn't letting her prosthetic leg stand in the way of her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. (Toyota)

Watching her pirouette across the dance floor, theres no doubt that Pollyanna Hope could fulfil her dream one day of touring with a company like the English National Ballet.

Graceful and beautiful, this 16-year-old schoolgirl who is studying for her A-Levels has been dancing since the age of seven and is now the star and narrator of a new Toyota advert celebrating movement for all which airs on screen this week.

Her poise and confidence are even more remarkable because viewers will notice that her right leg  on which she balances faultlessly  is a prosthetic.

Pollyanna Hope and her mother, Sarah, were both involved in a bus crash in 2007 when Pollyanna was aged just two. (Supplied)

Pollyanna Hope, pictured, hopes to one day dance with a professional ballet company such as the English National Ballet. (Supplied)

Pollyanna, lost her leg in an horrific bus crash in south west London in April 2007, when she was only two years old. Her mother Sarah lost a large part of her leg and tragically, Sarah's mother Elizabeth was killed.

But the despite more than 14 surgeries and going through at least 25 prosthetic legs in her young life, Pollyanna, from Harpenden, Herts, is determined that her life-changing injuries will have no impact on her career.

"Asking me what dancing with only one leg is like, is like asking a two-legged person what its like dancing with two legs  I really couldnt say if its different because its all Ive ever known," she says.

Her inspiration to be a dancer came from a desire to be able to lead a normal life  just like her peers. "I like being graceful and wanted to do the same things as my friends," she says.

Read more: Woman risks own health by donating kidney to organ 'pool' to save mum

But there have been difficulties and having to dance on one leg, with her prosthetic, leaves her very tired. "The physical strain of it leaves me exhausted - but it always feels rewarding," she says. "What I love about dance is that Im always striving to do better, always trying to get things right. I remember joining a baby ballet class when I was little and thinking I looked pretty as a swan," she says.

She adds: "I suppose there are some challenges, such as the leg that I use en pointe does not bend at the ankle, but it simply means I have to adapt.

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"Ive never had any negative reaction from anyone Ive danced with, in fact everyone has been so encouraging. I definitely want to go into dance full-time as a professional."

Pollyanna stars in the new Toyota advert. (Toyota)

Pollyanna's expectations are clear - she wants to "flourish and be happy - and keep dancing and improving".

Already, she has made advances in the world of dance entirely on her own merits, winning places at the London Contemporary Dance School in September 2018, and the English National Ballet Youth Company in September 2021.

Her dancing has become even more advanced after a private company called Dorset Orthopaedic made a special en pointe ballet prosthesis, which she describes as 'quite cool'.

She adds: "I would love to go on to train full time in dance and then hopefully join a ballet or contemporary company."

Her advice to others is: "Go for it - there is no limit but what you think you can achieve. If you believe in yourself all else will follow."

A private company called Dorset Orthopaedic made a special en pointe ballet prosthesis for Pollyanna, which she describes as 'quite cool'. (Toyota)

But it is not only Pollyanna who has turned the dreadful accident into something more positive. In the years after the crash, Sarah and her sister Victoria, both 49, established a charity in their mother's memory - Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope - which has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for child amputees in parts of India and Africa.

Read more: How one teenager is using tech to keep herself alive

Since May 2011 Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope has provided prosthetic support to around 300 children in Sierra Leone, Liberia and India.

"I was inspired to campaign for activity blades so children like Pollyanna can be active and play with their friends," she says. "Previously, prosthetic legs which were funded by the NHS only helped amputees to walk, not run."

Pollyanna Hope's mother Sarah, pictured, along with her aunt have set up a charity in their mother's memory called Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope. (Supplied)

Hundreds of child amputees now have activity blades funded by the NHS as a result of Sarah's work and her campaigning directly resulted in the Government providing an extra 3 million for childrens activity prosthetic blades, so child amputees can lead more active lives.

Sarah, who was awarded an MBE for her campaigning work at the Queen's New Year's honours in 2021, also worked with Transport for London to ensure London bus drivers were trained to realise how simple mistakes could result in awful carnage. She appears in several safety videos now shown to all bus drivers.

Read more: 'Time's running out': Father's fight to get daughter medical cannabis

Sarah says today that she is thankful that her daughter has no recollection of the dreadful day that changed her  and her familys  life forever. And she is justifiably proud that her Pollyanna takes it "all in her stride".

"Were all so proud not only of my mothers legacy but of Pollyanna and our other children too. Watching Pollyanna on this advert will be very exciting. Shes been so grown up and mature about it but Ive been wanting to tell everyone! We cant wait to see it."
Police in both Cincinnati and Kansas City reported few issues with Bengals fans following Sunday's historic win against the Chiefs.

Cincinnati police Capt. Doug Weisman said his officers in and around the Banks mostly witnessed mass celebration paired with a cacophony of horn honking.

"There were no major incidents requiring police intervention," Weisman said.

In Kansas City, the story was the same. Sgt. Jake Becchina with the Kansas City Police Department said he was aware of only one arrest of a man from Union, Kentucky.

More: Want to see the Bengals play in the Super Bowl? Tickets are on sale, and prices are high

More: 'Super likely' CPS cancels school on Super Bowl Monday; other districts consider the move

"The Bengals fans I interacted with were all awesome," Becchina said. "Some of the best visiting fans I've experienced."

The Enquirer requested details about the arrest of the man from Union, but that information was not available at the time of publication.

Weisman said Cincinnati police are already preparing to manage the crowds for the Super Bowl on Feb. 13 and festivities that may come before or after it.

"We're ready to go!" Weisman said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Best visiting fans': Cincinnati behaved well after win
By Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden promised Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on Monday that he will soon designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, granting special status to a key friend in a turbulent region.

During a meeting in the Oval Office, Biden said he planned to notify the U.S. Congress soon of the designation, which is granted by the United States to close, non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. military.

Qatar is a good friend and reliable and capable partner. And Im notifying Congress that I will designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship. I think its long overdue," Biden told reporters with the emir sitting at his side.

Qatar is the world's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas and may divert supplies to Europe if the Ukraine conflict disrupts Russian gas deliveries to the continent.

Biden's agenda for the Oval Office also included the Iran nuclear talks and relations with Afghanistan, where Washington's interests are now represented by the small Gulf country.

Tamim was also meeting separately with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and discussing arms sales and other military issues with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, an official told reporters.

Biden said he and the emir had a lot on their agenda on Monday including strengthening commercial and investment cooperation.

He hailed a new deal that Qatar Airways Group signed with Boeing that he said will create "tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.'

Boeing Co secured a launch order from Qatar Airways for a new freighter version of its 777X passenger jet and a provisional order for 737 MAX jets in a Washington ceremony on Monday.

Biden said the United Arab Emirates defeated a ballistic missile attack launched by the Houthis from Yemen on Sunday. "We've been in daily contact with UAE to address those threats," he said.

He said he had directed the Pentagon's Austin to do everything he could to communicate the support of the United States for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and throughout the Gulf region.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Alistair Bell)




Lawyers for Bill Cosby asked the Supreme Court on Monday to turn away an appeal brought by a Pennsylvania prosecutor after the state's top court overturned the comedian's sexual assault conviction.

In court papers, Cosby argued that the justices should decline to review the ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last June that led to Cosby's release from prison.

"The narrowly tailored decision of the Cosby court is not at odds with any other case and is so factually unique that it fails to present any question that is likely to arise in the future with any regularity," Cosby's lawyers wrote in a 19-page filing.

Pennsylvania's top court ruled 4-3 that the evidence used to secure Cosby's 2018 conviction violated his due process rights after prosecutors subjected Cosby to what the court said effectively amounted to a bait-and-switch.

That ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court in November by the district attorney for Montgomery County, Pa., whose office played a central role in Cosby's sexual assault case.

The current dispute traces back to a 2005 determination by then-Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor that there was insufficient evidence to convict Cosby for the assault. Castor then promised not to charge Cosby if the comedian agreed to testify in a civil suit brought by his alleged victim, Andrea Constand.

But Castor's successor as district attorney, Risa Vetri Ferman, declined to honor the agreement. Instead, Ferman filed charges against Cosby - and used Cosby's own testimony against him to help secure a guilty verdict.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, by a bare majority, ruled that denying Cosby, 84, the benefit of Castor's non-prosecution decision would be "an affront to fundamental fairness."

Kevin Steele, the current district attorney for Montgomery County, in his petition for appeal told the Supreme Court that Castor's determination not to prosecute Cosby should not carry the legal equivalent of creating "immunity" for defendants.

"This decision as it stands will have far-reaching negative consequences beyond Montgomery County and Pennsylvania," Steele said. "The U.S. Supreme Court can right what we believe is a grievous wrong."
BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is set to make an official trip to Russia in February, said on Monday he hopes the current crisis with Ukraine will be solved "in harmony".

Bolsonaro said he does not expect to bring the matter up during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, looking to focus more on economic subjects such as agribusiness.

"If that matter comes up, it will come from the Russian president," the far-right leader said during a TV interview.

"We hope that everything will be solved with tranquility, in harmony. Brazil is a pacific country," he added.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Gabriel Araujo in Sao Paulo)
WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP)  At least a half-dozen historically Black universities in five states and the District of Columbia were responding to bomb threats Monday, with many of them locking down their campuses for a time.

Both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating, the agencies said in separate statements.

In Georgia, Albany State University warned students and faculty on social media that a bomb threat has been issued to Albany State University's academic buildings."

School officials at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told students to stay in their dormitories Monday morning. After a search for any suspicious devices, the university gave an all-clear later in the day. Normal campus operations were expected to resume Tuesday, school officials said.

At Bowie State University in Maryland, school officials told everyone on campus to shelter in place until more information was available. Explosives-detecting dogs and bomb technicians were helping campus police to sweep buildings, the state fire marshal's office said in a statement. The campus reopened later Monday after a search by local, state and federal law officers found no explosive devices, school officials said.

Howard University was also the subject of a bomb threat before dawn Monday, but later gave an all-clear to students and staff, radio station WTOP reported.

In Florida, Daytona Beach police said in a tweet that they gave the all-clear at the Bethune-Cookman campus after the school received a bomb threat. But classes were canceled and police said they were going to stay on campus for the rest of the day.

At Delaware State University, a bomb threat to that campus was made early Monday morning, and police completed a search of the campus by early afternoon and no explosives were found, university spokesperson Carlos Holmes said in an email.

We are safe, for which I am incredibly thankful, but the attempt to disrupt targeted our community because of who we serve and the mission we fulfill," Delaware State President Tony Allen said in a letter to the campus community. The impetus for such a threat cannot be ascribed to anything other than the most primitive form of racism, a form which is neither new nor unique in this country."

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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the threats are certainly disturbing and the White House is in touch with the interagency partners, including federal law enforcement leadership on this.

Were relieved to hear that Howard and Bethune-Cookman universities have been given the all-clear and will continue to monitor these reports," Psaki said, adding that President Joe Biden is aware of the threats.

Monday's bomb scares came one day before the start of Black History Month and less than a month after a series of bomb threats were made to multiple historically Black universities on Jan. 4.

We are deeply disturbed by a second round of bomb threats at HBCU campuses within a month," leaders of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus said in a statement Monday.

Learning is one of the most noble and most human pursuits, and schools are sacred places that should always be free from terror," it said. Solving these crimes and bringing those responsible to justice should be a top priority for federal law enforcement."

The statement was issued by Democratic U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina and Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill of Arkansas, who are co-chairs of the caucus.

___

Associated Press writer Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland, contributed to this report.
Prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Tilbury Docks in Essex on Monday. (PA)

Downing Street vetoed plans for bereavement bubbles during the coronavirus pandemic as it would have sent the wrong message to the public, a former No 10 official has said.

Nikki da Costa, a former aide to prime minister Boris Johnson, also said No 10 had failed as a collective to live by the spirit and the letter of the rules it was setting.

Her damning comments came as senior civil servant Sue Gray handed an update on her investigation into the Partygate scandal to No 10.

On Sunday, levelling up secretary Michael Gove apologised to everyone who stuck to the rules during lockdown.

He admitted to Channel 4s Dispatches programme that mistakes were made by people in positions of influence and prestige.

Watch: 'Partygate' inquiry asked to make 'minimal reference' to events probed by police

Writing in The Times on Monday, Da Costa, No 10s former director of legislative affairs, said: As we prepared the road map out of lockdown in 2021, I and others pushed again for a policy that had been discounted previously because infection rates were so high: to allow bereavement support bubbles for those who had lost close family, suffered miscarriage, the stillbirth of a child or neonatal death.

She said proposal was worked up as an option but was dropped three days later.

Read more: Record number of 6-17 year-olds being admitted to hospital with COVID

She said: I wasnt privy to the discussion but I was told that there was a concern that it would send the wrong message to the public  that an expansion of support bubbles would signal that everyone could relax their guard.

I would have liked us to have trusted the public and to have explained why this cohort might be allowed support first. We didnt. This was the reality of the brutality required for COVID decision-making.

According to The Times, the decision to scrap the proposed bubbles came weeks before a party was held on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral in an apparent beach of lockdown rules.

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Da Costa says she has been left angry by the attempts of some Conservatives to play down the extent of the rule-breaking, which she says doesn't reflect the scale of public outrage.

In recent weeks, allies of the PM have issued a variety of defences for the prime minister, including claims that the gatherings were "work events"; that the breaching of social distancing rules mattered less because those attending were working closely together anyway and were effectively in a bubble; and that a birthday party for Johnson was more of an "ambush" than a party.

On Monday, Simon Clarke, chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC Breakfast that Grays report into alleged lockdown parties in Downing Street could be handed to No 10 soon.

No 10 later confirmed an update had been provided to the prime minister.

A report into alleged parties at Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown is yet to be submitted. (PA)

In a controversial move, the Metropolitan Police has asked Gray to make only minimal reference to No 10 events which are subject to a criminal investigation.

Last week, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick confirmed that officers were investigating potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations at events held at Downing Street and in Whitehall in 2020.

In a statement on Friday, Scotland Yard said: For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report.

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.

But the statement was met with a barrage of criticism.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: Anything short of the full report would be a Whitehall whitewash not worth the paper it is written on.

Watch: Labour calls for swift publication of Sue Gray 'partygate' report
Boris Johnson TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

A closely-watched investigation has found the U.K. government's behavior surrounding parties held during COVID-19 lockdowns "difficult to justify."

On Monday, civil servant Sue Gray released an update on her investigation into controversial gatherings held by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and staff while COVID-19 restrictions were in effect in the U.K., and she wrote that there were "failures of leadership and judgment" by the government, The Associated Press reports.

"Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify," the investigation update said. "At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time."

Gray said "some of the events should not have been allowed to take place," and also criticized the "excessive consumption of alcohol" at the gatherings. The controversial gatherings that have been revealed in recent weeks include two held by Downing Street staff the night before Prince Philip's funeral. Gray investigated 16 different events, including a gathering for Johnson's birthday. Overall, the report was "a lot more critical than many had expected," CNN wrote, though The New York Times noted it didn't "directly implicate" Johnson himself in wrongdoing. According to AP, Gray's conclusions only relate to four of the gatherings, and her other findings are being withheld as police requested.

Johnson has resisted calls to resign over the gatherings. On Monday, he apologized and said he accepted the report's findings. "I'm sorry for the things we simply didn't get right," Johnson said, "and also sorry for the way that this matter has been handled."

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BALTIMORE  Bowie State Universitys campus is closed Monday as a result of a bomb threat, officials said.

The threat, made over the phone, is being investigated by bomb technicians at the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal. Officials planned to search campus buildings with explosive detection dogs, according to a tweet from the fire marshal.

Campus police, Prince Georges County Police and Maryland State Police were also on hand Monday morning, according to the tweet.

Classes will be held virtually Monday at the historically Black university, which welcomed students for the spring semester last Monday.

In a 7:30 a.m. tweet closing campus, Bowie State University officials advised those already on campus to shelter in place.

Around 9 a.m., the Maryland Transit Administration advised that MARC Penn Line trains would not stop at Bowie Station due to the policy activity.

As many as five other historically Black colleges also received bomb threats Monday morning, including nearby Howard University, according to a CNN report. A Washington Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson told CNN that no explosives were found at Howard. On Jan. 5, Howard University was among three campuses that received bomb threats, but no explosives were located.


Forget the dozen roses and go for a dozen cakes in a cup for Valentines Day. Order from Goodie-licious Custom Baking.

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Valentine's cakes in a cup

For Valentines Day this year, Goodie-licious Custom Baking is taking the position that if one cake is great, a dozen is absolutely fabulous, and is concocting a 12 cakes in a cup special to celebrate the sweeties.

Opt for rich and dark chocolate with three layers filled and topped with lucious chocolate mousse or the Red Velvet, with just a touch of chocolate in a scarlet cake layered with buttery vanilla buttercream. Like both? Choose the half-and-half. Each cup is topped with an edible cream rose and candy red heart, delivered in two six-packs for easy transport.

Price is $55. Call Goodie-licious at 321-305-2821 by Feb. 10 for delivery by Valentines Day. For more, see goodie-licious.com.

The music of love

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the Ditchfield Family Singers return to Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa Beach to perform Music for Life & Love, a concert of their best loved traditional and inspirational standards, with a focus on "amore."

Part of the Dr. Vernon Boushell Concert Series, the concert will be presented at 3:30 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 6, at the church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach.

The group will showcase a variety of musical styles and perform songs from the 1930s, 40s and 50s, as well as Broadway hits and inspirational favorites. With close harmonies most often compared to the Von Trapp family of Sound of Music fame, the Ditchfield Family Singers will appear exclusively at Riverside Presbyterian Church in their Brevard engagement. Music for Life & Love is a new show with costume changes and lighting effects.

Our relationship with Riverside Presbyterian Church began with the start of the Dr. Vernon Boushell Concert Series 13 years ago," said Bernice Ditchfield. "Our whole family looks forward to these February shows. This year, we'll be performing an exciting new show that features our signature close harmonies and popular songs. It's a valentine gift for the whole audience."

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Admission is free, but a free ticket is required for entrance. Reserve online at riversidepres.org or by calling 386-320-6112.

Paranormal Cirque

Argentia Portual performs the hair hang act at 'Paranormal Cirque.'

Cirque Italias traveling show for mature audiences will be at Space Coast Harley Davidson, 1440 Sportsman Lane NE, Palm Bay, from Feb. 10-21. Described as a unique creation of combined theater, circus and cabaret with a European flair, Paranormal Cirque tells an innovative horror story that merges reality with illusion. Monstrous creatures with dazzling talents will amaze guests with circus arts.

The show includes adult language and material. Tickets start at $10, and guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A special promotion offers $5 off full-priced tickets in levels 1, 2 or 3. Call 941-704-8572 or visit paranormalcirque.com.

Brew on!

Sample the best of more than 50 Central Florida breweries during the third annual Cocoa Village Brewers Bash from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at Riverfront Park.

Food trucks will have plenty of fare for sale. On stage will be Alter Ego. Pets are welcome to join their people, but only humans 21 and older are allowed to sample the brews.

The tickets, which are $50, allow for unlimited sampling from attending breweries. Purchase at Eventbrite or at the Dirty Oar Beer Company and the Village Idiot Pub, both in Cocoa Village.

Proceeds benefit nonprofit Historic Cocoa Village Main Street and the local community.

Two Enchanted Evenings

Brevard theater audiences have not one, but two, enchanted evenings ahead as the Broadway touring production of Rodgers and Hammersteins South Pacific visits the King Center for two performances at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 8 and 9.

Winner of 10 Tony Awards, the score of this memorable song-intensive musical includes brainworming classics such as Some Enchanted Evening, There is Nothing like a Dame and Bali Hai.

Love conquers all, even war and prejudice, in this sweeping tale of two sets of unlikely lovers. Set on a lush tropical island during World War II, the timeless classic features some of the most beautiful music ever composed woven into an inspiring story cherished the world over.

Tickets begin at $35. Purchase at kingcenter.com or by calling 321-242-2219. Group ticket discounts of 10 or more are available by emailing Groups@ATGuild.org.

Beatlemania in Viera

Those Fab Four boys are in town, thanks to St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care, which has invited Beatles tribute band Liverpool Live to perform the greatest hits at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4, at the USSA Space Coast Complex, 5800 Stadium Parkway, Viera.

With 8,000 outdoor seats, there's plenty of room to spread out at this family-friendly fund and awareness-raising event with tickets kept at a modest $25.

Proceeds will support the hospices programs such as pediatric palliative care and veterans services.

Buy tickets at ReflectionsLSC.org/Beatles.

Happy 90th, John Williams!

As Steven Spielberg wisely put it, Without John Williams, bikes dont really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes. There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth, we do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe.

Brevard Symphony Orchestra celebrates the wonder that is John Williams with concerts at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at the King Center. The composer reaches his 90th birthday milestone Feb. 8 of this year. The Orchestra will perform selections from many of Williams award-winning scores, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and more.

Tickets range from $19 to $49. Purchase at kingcenter.com or by calling 321-242-2219.

Viera Rock Fest takes the field

Rocking continues Friday, Feb. 5, at the USSSA Stadium with the Viera Rock Fest, which features SWITCH, a group that has opened for the likes of Rick Springfield, Vince Neil, STYX, Tears for Fears and others.

Concourse bands begin playing at 5 p.m. SWITCH takes to the stage at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $35. Skybox tickets in the Spacecoast Radio Suite are $50. Six sky boxes with food and beverage are available for $600 each. Visit vierarockfest.com.

Art happenings across Brevard

Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. Located at 1470 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District, the gallery welcomes back Linda Harrison, aka Red, for her latest pop-up show, Spirit of Red.

The exhibition, which opens with a reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4, runs through Feb. 26. Harrison is an accomplished artist who uses her art signature, Red, because the color represents strength, passion and spirit, just the elements she strives to express in her artwork.

Red embraces abstract expressionism which portrays the hidden passion, vibrancy and energy that she observes in nature.

For more information, call 321-259-8261 or visit fifthavenueartgallery.com.

Eau Gallery: Kaleidoscope, this months exhibition at Eau Gallery, explores the many facets of art with an opening reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4.

The juried show features $1,500 in prize money.

Eau Gallery is at 1429 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District.For more information, call 321-253-5553 or visit eaugallery.com.

Studios of Cocoa Beach: instructor Soubi Boski will host a workshop so both beginners and experienced painters alike can learn to loosen up their works. The class runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at the gallery, 165 Minuteman Causeway.

Souby holds a BA in Art Education from Stetson University and a MALS in Art from Wesleyan University. Since 2004 she has led workshops throughout Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Florida.

In this workshop students, who can use acrylic or oil paints, will learn how to loosen up and apply their paint in a gestural, painterly manner. Students will practice using bigger brushes, more paint and working faster.

Fee for the class is $120. Souby requests that students be vaccinated against COVID-19. For information, call 203-917-0519. Register at studiosofcocoabeach.org.

Also at Studios of Cocoa Beach this month is Turtle Mania, an exhibition of the glass art of Jamille Haddad. Skilled in all aspects of glass art, Jamilles current passion is creating various animal stand-up figures for home and workplace. Jamille has been working in glass since 1978. See the studio website for more details.

Central Brevard Art Association Spring Art Show: The annual art show and sale will be at the Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 10-11, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m . Saturday, Feb. 12.

Dozens of local artists will be displaying and selling a variety of original fine art and prints, photography, jewelry, clay, sculpture, mixed media and more. Admission is free. Visit cbaaartists.com or call 321-632-2922.

Organ music in Indian Harbour Beach

Jim Rindelaub, music director of Ascension Lutheran Church in Indian Harbour Beach, will perform in the "Winter Musical Interval with Pipes" concert on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022.

With 1512 pipes, the organ at Ascension Lutheran is a mighty musical instrument. The German-built beauty will get a workout when the Space Coast Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents Winter Musical Interval with Pipes at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 6, at the church, 1053 Pinetree Drive, Indian Harbour Beach.

Admission is free and no tickets are required. A reception follows after this concert of both classical and popular pipe organic music performed by leading professional area organists.

For information, call 321-610-8613 or 321-773-1815.

Still playing

'Almost, Maine': Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., presents the play through Feb. 20. One cold, clear, winter night, the residents of Almost, Maine find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30. Call 321-723-6935 or visit mymct.org.

Hello, Dolly!: The show is on stage at the Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne through Feb. 6. This classic musical about matchmaker Dolly Levi bursts with humor, romance, high-energy dancing and some of the most famous songs in musical theater history. Tickets are $27-34. Call 321-723-8698 or visit henegarcenter.com.

Kinky Boots: The show is on stage at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, through Feb. 13. This musical about a struggling shoe factory owner who finds inspiration in a fabulous drag performer features a Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper. Tickets are $27-$35. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.

Keepin It Kinky: The late-night drag show hosted by Jordyn Linkous is playing at Titusville Playhouses Shuler Stage through Feb. 13. Tickets are $15 for general admission, or $20 for VIP seating. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.

West Side Story: The classic musical is on stage at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., through Feb. 14. In this love story based upon Romeo and Juliet, young lovers are caught between prejudice and warring street gangs in New York City. Tickets are $17-$32. Call 321-636-5050 or visit cocoavillageplayhouse.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here's what's happening the first week in February on the Space Coast
Cabana Cortez, Sussex's newest food truck, serves authentic Mexican food. The truck's home location borders the Bugline Recreation Trail and is across the street from the post office in Sussex.

Cabana Cortez, Sussex's newest food truck, recently opened, featuring authentic Mexican food.

Owner Ann Cortez who owns the food truck with her husband, Jesse, and brother-in-law Gilbert  said the food truck serves tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Cortez said the truck offers a choice of meats, including chicken, ground beef, steak and a signature blend of ground beef and chorizo.

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"We offer a variety of sauces like red jalapeno hot sauce, green creamy guacamole sauce and a creamy sour cream with toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion and cilantro all served on authentic soft corn or flour tortillas," said Cortez.

Bordering the Bugline Recreation Trail, the food truck is across the street from the post office in Sussex. Cortez said her family owns the building and the property the food truck is on at N63 W23580 Silver Spring Drive.

Cabana Cortez, a new food truck in Sussex, borders the Bugline Recreation Trail and is across the street from the post office in Sussex at N63 W23580 Silver Spring Drive. The food truck serves authentic Mexican food.

"The location is pretty nice, and we believe the warm weather will bring even more visitors from the busy trail. Just look for the neon green taco truck parked on the north side of the street," she said.

Cortez said she is happy to be able to share her and her family's Hispanic culture with others. She said she and her family have lived in Sussex since 2004.

"Its a beautiful culture with the love of family and food intertwined, along with music. We already shared with our big, extended family and friends our love of food," she said. "We come from a large family of good cooks and bakers and host many family get-togethers where there is always an abundance of really good food because we enjoy creating, sharing and eating delicious meals."

Currently, Cabana Cortez is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at its home location along the Bugline Recreation Trail. Every week, it will post its schedule on its Facebook page. Cortez said she plans to add evenings and Sundays to accommodate the increased traffic on the Bugline Recreation Trail as the weather gets warmer and with longer daylight hours

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Cortez also said they plan to add summer events to their calendar.

"Our plan is to generate money from the taco truck to build a large patio and/or deck and also turn the building into a cafe. We are 'foodies; and love our Hispanic heritage and family recipes. Its a great location and opportunity," said Cortez.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CabanaCortez.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sussex's Cabana Cortez food truck provides authentic Mexican food
With early voting for the March 1 primary starting Feb. 14, the High Plains Republican Women held an event recently to allow Republican candidates to promote their platforms and speak with local GOP voters.

While multiple statewide representatives attended the event, the highest-profile candidate to speak was Louie Gohmert, who is currently the U.S. Representative for District 1. Gohmert is running against incumbent Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican, for the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Rep. Louis Gohmert speaks to the crowd about his reasons for seeking the position of Texas State Attorney General during a Jan. 25 reception hosted by the High Plains Republican Women.

Gohmert said his primary reason for running against Paxton, who has served in the position since 2015, was Paxton's reluctance to go after voter fraud. Specifically, Gohmert made assertions that there was fraud in Dallas County voting locations and general elections that were not pursued.

I thought our attorney general could become a national hero, but he told our state senators that he did not have evidence to convict, Gohmert said, asserting that he believed there was plenty of evidence for Paxton to go after accusations of voter fraud by seizing all equipment. Gohmert stated that action like this cost his party in 2020.

Also, Gohmert spoke of the ongoing securities fraud indictment and whistleblower suit that has been filed on behalf of four members of Paxton's former staff. The fraud indictment was leveled in 2015 and is still making its way through the court system.

Gohmert also stated he is concerned about other charges coming forth. After the primary, Paxton could not be replaced on the ballot, which, in his opinion, would help the Democratic candidate, Gohmert said.

I look back at my history and I am incredibly qualified, even more so than the current attorney general," Gohmert said. "I am running to save Texas so we can save the union.

With the announcement that state Sen. Kel Seliger will not be seeking re-election, four GOP candidates are vying for the spot.

Kevin Sparks, a Midland businessman, and candidate for State Senate in District 31, speaks to the audience at High Plains Republican Women's event on Jan. 25.

Appearing at the event in the race for State Senate District 31 were Kevin Sparks, Stormy Bradley and Tim Reid. Amarillo attorney Jesse Quakenbush, who is also running for the seat, was not present.

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Sparks is a businessman from Midland, who recently received an endorsement from the anti-abortion group Right to Life.

I believe our conservative principles and values need to be represented on all matters facing our state," Sparks said. Our businesses all across the state are being attacked by the woke culture and from government overreach and I am here to fight against that.

Stormy Bradley, a Big Spring businesswoman and candidate for State Senate District 31, speaks to the audience at the High Plains Republican Women's event on Jan. 25.

Bradley, a businesswoman from Big Spring, spoke of her values of integrity, grit and accountability and the importance of having these qualities in office. She said there is a great need in the Texas Senate for someone who understands rural areas.

There are two things that separate me from my opponents. Some of those running for office are laser-focused on one industry; accountability is the other," Bradley said.

Former FBI agent and Canyon ISD school board member Tim Reid speaks about his top three priorities in his run for Texas Senate District 31 at the Jan. 25 High Plains Republican Women's event.

Reid, a local candidate who is a former FBI agent and Canyon ISD school board member, spoke of running a campaign of common sense and civility.

Common sense says that your representatives should not only be qualified on paper, but in their life experience," he said.

He said that three of the main priorities of his campaign were public safety, public education and child welfare.

Unlike some of our other candidates, I feel we have a good basis in our area of public education, but there are areas where we need to improve," Reid said.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Candidates offer platforms during recent GOP-hosted event
Just under $662.5 million, or 64%, would go to the Department of Public Safety, with $354.2 million going to the Division of Police and another $273.5 to the Division of Fire.

The Columbus City Council is set to vote Monday on a $1.03 billion general fund budget for 2020 that still showed Mayor Andrew J. Ginther's proposal delivered last November surviving intact.

That budget, paid for overwhelmingly by city income taxes, supports 5,561 full-time-equivalent employees for this year.

Just under $662.5 million, or 64%, would go to the Department of Public Safety, with $354.2 million going to the Division of Police and another $273.5 to the Division of Fire.

The police budget for 2022 is a decrease of $26.5 million from 2021, or about a 7% drop, which officials have said is due largely to employee retirement incentives and to large legal settlements agreed to by the city council to settle lawsuits related to officer shootings. The number of uniformed police officers will drop by 33, to 1,936, while the number of firefighters is set to grow by 35 to 1,637.

The city's Public Service Department's refuse collection operation will grow by $17.7 million year over year, with $16 million budgeted for the purchase of refuse equipment, such as the city's yellow trash-collection trucks, in 2022 as a one-time expenditure from the general fund.

The mayor's office staff will comprise 52 employees costing $17.1 million, which is an increase of 14 employees from 2020. The mayor's Diversity and Inclusion Office and CelebrateOne, a program aimed at reducing premature births and eliminating sleep-related infant deaths, account for the entire increase.

Columbus city government: Ginther disbands Coleman's Department of Education, folding staff into mayor's office

The Dispatch reported in November that while 2022 budget would be the largest spending plan in city history, it will be carried out despite a projected record one-year loss of 6.3% in revenue from income taxes, now accounting for almost 80% of the city's general revenue. That is the largest decline in income-tax collections since the city created the tax in 1948.

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Ginther proposed to keep spending up by tapping the special reserve fund of almost $50.9 million, part of a $64 million windfall it received in late 2020 from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation for a rebate intended to help employers.

The spending down of cash reserves, also one of the largest in recent city history, will "allow for continued core city services and safety, affordable housing, and neighborhoods," city Budget Director Joe Lombardi said in November.

If revenues don't rebound by 2023, the city will have fewer options.

Columbus' next line of budget defense for 2023 would be its "rainy day fund," which is projected to have $89.6 million in it at the end of 2022 after another $1 million deposit this year, the budget shows. Historically, that fund has been used only "in cases of extreme fiscal distress and often over a long-term, systemic downturn," City Auditor Megan Kilgore told The Dispatch in November.

wbush@gannett.com

@ReporterBush

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus council set to pass Ginther budget that boosts spending
GAZA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Sunday said that it has started to disburse cash aid for repairing Palestinian houses in the Gaza Strip destroyed during the May 2021 Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a statement on Monday, the UN agency said 1.9 million U.S. dollars are allocated to repair 602 partially damaged houses and to support 555 families in the region through transitional shelter cash assistance from January to April 2022.

In addition, UNRWA said that its teams have contacted around 700 new families to sign up for their repair entitlement of up to 1.5 million dollars that will be disbursed through banks during next week.

In May 2021, Egypt brokered a ceasefire that ended 11 days of clashes between Israel and militant groups led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, during which around 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.

During the period, Israeli fighter jets bombed dozens of buildings, completely destroying 1,650 houses and causing severe and moderate damage to 60,000 housing units in the Gaza Strip. 
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
Hello, neighbors! It's me again, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Queens Daily.

First, today's weather:

Sunshine and not as cold. High: 31 Low: 24.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Queens:

New York Citys omicron COVID-19 cases have continued to decline over the past week, with no neighborhoods exceeding a 20 percent positivity rate or more than 540 new cases. The transmission rate as of Jan. 25, 2022, which tracks the spread of COVID-19, saw a 50 percent decrease since the week prior. The Flushing/Murray Hill/Queensboro Hill area of Queens had the highest seven-day positivity rate between Jan. 20 and 26, at roughly 16.5 percent. (AMNY) New York has done an extraordinary job bouncing back from this weekend's snowstorm, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday. The National Weather Service reported that by 2 p.m. on Saturday, 7.5 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park, 8.3 inches had fallen at LaGuardia Airport, and 10.3 had fallen at JFK Airport. Officials continue to urge New Yorkers to build additional travel time into their schedules and take extra caution on roads. (Spectrum News NY1) The affordable housing lottery is now open for 32-72 41st Street, a five-story, 25-unit residential building in Astoria, Queens. Eight units in the building are now available on NYC Housing Connect at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $78,858 to $167,570. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than Feb. 15, 2022. (New York YIMBY)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Queens:

Virtual Crossword Solving , Hosted By Queens Public Library (10:30 AM)

Black History Month: Virtual Guided Meditation, Hosted By Queens Public Library (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

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On Feb. 2, 2022, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., join a live virtual Native Artist Spotlight Panel at Queens Museum to discuss and showcase contemporary art and its influence on our history. (Facebook)

This weekend, nearly a foot of snow fell in some Queens neighborhoods. Watch a video of the storm. (CBS New York)

How long will COVID-19 vaccine immunity last? New-York Presbyterian Queens shared the latest insights from health experts. (Facebook)

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 Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.

This article originally appeared on the Queens Patch
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 members and their supporters protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates outside City Hall before a Chicago City Council meeting, on 25 October, 2021 (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times)

Last year was the deadliest period for law enforcement in nearly 100 years. But rising crime rates werent responsible for the roughly 458 officers who died in the line of duty in 2021  Covid was.

For the second year running, the coronavirus was the leading cause of death for active-duty law enforcement, killing 301 people , according to a report from the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum released last week. Thats 65 per cent more Covid fatalities than 2020, likely a result of the highly contagious Delta and Omicron variants.

"This years statistics demonstrate that Americas front-line law enforcement officers continue to battle the deadly effects of the Covid-19 pandemic nationwide," the report reads.

Police officers receive hours of medical training. Theyre called on to protect public safety. And they were among the earliest groups of people to get access to the vaccine. So why, in nearly every large police department around the country, are police unions fighting so hard to block Covid vaccine mandates?

The answer is a complicated mix of labour tensions and partisan politics, and goes back to the strange, singular position police unions occupy in American life.

Police and other New York City workers will be asked to meet a Covid mandate (Getty Images)

Unions in major metro areas around the country have pushed back against mandatory vaccines for their officers, often via lawsuit, with arguments ranging from city officials skirting the official bargaining process, to questions about the efficacy of vaccines themselves.

Many unions have often framed vaccine mandates as a staffing issue: if police officers were forced to get the vaccine, they say, cops would leave in droves.

"We have to protect jobs. Whether its one or a couple hundred. Thats our mission here, to protect jobs. Its not vaccinated versus unvaccinated," Mike Solan, president of the officers union in Seattle, told CNN. "Its about the mandate in and of itself is a problem and they need to bargain this. Jobs are on the line. Thats our purpose as a union."

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The department lost around 170 officers in 2021 , with some thought to have left because of the Covid policy. In November, the police department was found to have the highest number of employees on leave because of the policy of any department in the city.

In New York, police unions warned of chaos if officers were forced to be vaccinated and sued the city over the  irrational  mandate, even though most of the NYPDs roughly 36,000 officers have gotten the jab. Still, police unions there argued the citys policies should do more to protect religious exemptions to vaccines, and should include an alternative for unvaccinated people who submit to regular testing, like the Biden administrations proposed vaccine mandate. Nearly 7,000 officers have sought an exemption from the policy so far, according to the citys Police Benevolent Association.

Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 chief John Catanzara (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times)

In Chicago, the former head of the citys main police union died of Covid in October , and the current head of the Fraternal Order of Police has compared the vaccine mandate to Nazi Germany.

This vaccine is not a vaccine. It is a COVID treatment at best, said union chief John Catanzara, who got Covid himself, earlier this month. Far too many people who are vaccinated are getting the virus for it to be called a vaccine. That needs to stop. All we can do is continue to distance a little better, wash your hands more, and be a little smarter about how you interact with other people.

Last year, the city and the police union filed competing lawsuits and labour complaints against each other, with the police arguing the mandate wasnt negotiated in good faith and forced officers who remained unvaccinated to pay for their Covid tests. The city, meanwhile, argued the union was encouraging its members to participate in an illegal strike and resist the new policy. Police crowd-funded nearly $300,000 for a  Hold The Line Heros Fund  to support officers whose pay had been cut off for refusing the new policy.

Last month, in St Paul, Minnesota, the police won a temporary restraining order on the citys vaccine mandate. They argued they were not anti-vaccine, nor are we conspiracy theorists, but rather they saw the imposition of a vaccine mandate as a labour issue.

Mark Ross of the St Paul Police Federation told The Independent the department has been skilfully managing the pandemic since it began without missing a beat, implementing safety rules like masks, temperature checks, and prioritising answering calls when possible by phone or conducting interviews with witnesses outside, well before vaccines were available.

No St Paul police officer has died of Covid, he added, and about 80 per cent of union members are vaccinated. Given this track record, he says officers should be trusted to submit to testing if they dont get the vaccine. Vaccines merely provide a false sense of security given the raging Omicron variant, he added.

To lose even one officer to a Covid mandate that the city was going to implement without a testing option, would be far more dangerous to our community than someone that is unvaccinated and managing themselves correctly and takes steps to keep people safe, he said. Its kind of a patronising thing to say to a cop, to a person who puts their life on the line.

He also argued, bringing up a recent shooting that required multiple officers to respond, that community members dont particularly care if officers are vaccinated.

Not one person gives a rip if those officers responding to that shooting are vaccinated or not. Not even a question. Nobody cares, he said.

Protesters hang banners outside of the governor's residence in St Paul, Minnesota, after the police killing of Philando Castile, a Black man, in 2016 (Associated Press)

This presumes, however, a level of community trust in police that may not exist in the Twin Cities, however. Following the police killings of Black men like Jamar Clark and Philando Castile, both St Paul and Minneapolis have seen massive racial justice protests for years against police brutality, well before those protests spread nationwide in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Taken together, the nationwide controversy suggests something is clearly afoot in the nations police unions, who are perhaps the labour group most militantly resisting vaccine mandates, according to University of Minnesota labour historian William Jones.

Its odd that organisations designed to protect their members would be going so far out of their way to do something that clearly makes them vulnerable. Thats clearly a contradiction, he says. But it shouldnt be. Police unions are undeniably conservative, in that they are really the only major unions that have allied themselves on the right side of the political spectrum.

Its been that way since the beginning. Police were only given union rights in the 1960s. Previously, one of the main roles of urban police forces was breaking up organised labour demonstrations and strikes on behalf of businesses, and officials fretted that if cops got the right to collectively bargain, they would sympathise with the working poor too much, or go on strike themselves.

That didnt quite turn out to be the case. Once police in states across the country began winning the right to bargain in the late 1950s and 1960s, they quickly used their bargaining power to resist many reforms called for by the civil rights movement, which saw organised labour groups and racial justice protesters explicitly unite around causes like police brutality. In 1970s Philadelphia, the police union rallied behind Frank Rizzo, a former police commissioner known for his vehement opposition to racial integration, public housing, and explicit calls to vote white. In 1992 , under the tenure of David Dinkins, New York Citys first Black mayor, thousands of off-duty police officers rioted around New York City Hall and occupied the Brooklyn Bridge at a union event called to protest his plan to create a civilian review board overseeing police misconduct.

They very quickly mobilised to respond to that criticism, often allying themselves with mayors who really sort of invented the language of law and order politics that Trump has claimed to represent, Mr Jones added. You get this emergency of a hyper-politicised police unionism that skews to the right in a way that police unions had not really been able to before. To a certain extent youve seen that since. Were in a particular moment of a revival of that kind of politics.

During his campaigns for president, Mr Trump actively courted police unions with his tough on crime message, winning the endorsement of hundreds of thousands of police officers across unions nationwide.

Over time, this militant relationship with outside oversight has hardened into a culture of insularity and embattledness, according to Marcia L McCormick, a professor at Saint Louis University School of Law who studies police unions . Residency requirements, strengthened police discipline, vaccine mandates  police unions have come to see all these as restrictions imposed by outsiders who cannot understand, let alone are not brave enough to carry out, police work.

It is partly part of the culture of really reflexively resisting any changes that take away the autonomy of individual officers, she told The Independent.

And unlike many other union leaders, Professor McCormick says, the American cultural veneration of police officers, particularly on the right, means that police union leaders are extremely visible in the media during political spats. You will scarcely see a pipe-fitter or dock-worker on Fox News, but police union officials are mainstays .

Its an ironic reversal. During the 1980s, police unions were pushing extensively for personal protective equipment (PPE) out of fear of a new disease, the HIV/AIDs epidemic, with some unions arguing officers shouldnt have to render medical aid at all to those suspected of being positive. One Playboy report from 1987 captured the dynamic of the time: a group of 20 Washington DC police officers raided a gay bar, wearing masks, gloves, and bullet-proof vests.

But its not just officers who are affected by police vaccine mandates. Its the people they serve, Ms McCormick adds, people who dont have a powerful union looking after their interests and getting booked on cable news. As officers and critics alike will note, police cant do their job from behind a desk. They interact with people, often vulnerable ones, each and every day.

If the officers health is at risk, the officer can take care of themselves, she said. There just isnt the same kind of acknowledgement that the officers might be posing risks to people theyre pulling over or otherwise encountering. There hasnt been as much focus on that.

During a global pandemic, to protect and serve now means something new, more expansive. What that means to police unions is still a live question.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Gov. Ron DeSantis press secretary is facing massive backlash after she sent tweets Sunday night questioning whether pro-Nazi demonstrations in Orlando over the weekend were organized by Democratic staffers.

Her comments drew widespread condemnation from elected officials as well as a prominent South Florida rabbi who called the tweets from Christina Pushaw reprehensible.

In the now-deleted tweet, Pushaw suggested that a group of about 20 protesters who were seen wearing Nazi symbols and shouting anti-Semitic slurs Saturday afternoon could be political opponents of DeSantis trying to frame the governor in a bad light. Her tweet was a reference to several people organized by the anti-Donald Trump Republican group the Lincoln Project who posed with tiki torches during last years Virginia governors race in an attempt to smear Glenn Youngkin, who at the time was running for governor.

Do we even know if they are Nazis? Pushaw tweeted. Or is this a student like the white nationalists who crashed the Youngkin rally in Charlottesville pretending to be Dem staffers?

This isnt the first time Pushaw drew criticism for posting controversial tweets. In November, Pushaw was critical of the Republic of Georgia, a country where she previously served as a political consultant, for requiring vaccine passes for people in that country to enter places like restaurants. In doing so, she implied that the Rothschilds were behind the decision because Georgias prime minister met with a member of the family during the same time period. She later issued an apology.

After facing swift blowback on Twitter, Pushaw Sunday night followed up her initial Tweet with another post admitting that she did not know who staged the Orlando protest and stressed that Nazi symbolism and hate speech are wrong.

Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, of Temple Israel in Palm Beach and a columnist for Religion News Service, said DeSantis must condemn the comments from his own press staffer. Florida is home to one of the largest populations of Jews in the U.S.

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The very idea that the governors press representative suggesting such Neo-Nazis were fake is reprehensible, he told POLITICO. This is the time for the public to be aware of the dangers of anti-Semitic extremism and not to traffic in the denial of that extremism.

DeSantis on Monday also took shots at Democrats, saying that the incident was simply an attempt to damage him politically.

Democrats who are trying to use this as some type of political issue to smear me as if I had something to do with it, he said during a press conference in Palm Beach County. We're not playing their game.

He built a reputation during his three-terms in Congress as being staunchly pro-Israel, and during his 2018 campaign promised to be the most pro-Israel Governor in America.

Politicians of both political parties denounced the Nazi protest in Orlando. Republican Sen. Rick Scott called the incidents hateful and anti-Semitic. Republican Speaker of the Florida House Chris Sprowls called the protests a disgusting display of anti-semitism. Democratic Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Anti-semitism and hatred are not welcome in this community. Democratic Rep. Val Demings, who is running against Sen. Marco Rubio, said America had beat their disturbing ideology before.

Despite originally questioning whether they were Nazis, Pushaw tweeted on Monday morning that the Florida Highway Patrol stated that those who hung swastikas on the overpass will be prosecuted. One of the banners hung on the overpass stated Lets go Branon [sic], a reference to the GOP rallying cry against President Joe Biden.

The highway patrol noted over the weekend on its official Twitter accountthat it disbanded what it called an anti-Semitic gathering on an Interstate 4 overpass, noting it is illegal to obstruct highway traffic or hang signs on the overpass and violators will be prosecuted. The agency did not return a request Monday morning for a comment about the incident.

It is against the law to obstruct highway traffic or hang signs on the overpasses and violators will be prosecuted, it added.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office confirmed the protest took place Saturday and that a fight broke out between demonstrators and a passerby.

The group, assembled on public property, was reported by witnesses to be wearing clothing with Nazi insignia and yelling profanities and anti-Semitic slurs at vehicles passing by, read a statement for Orange County Sheriffs Office.

Salkin said that condemnations and law enforcement breaking up the demonstration are not enough, and DeSantis needs to make a public statement about his press secretarys comments.

When you consider that South Florida has the third largest Jewish population in the country, and one of [the] most significant Jewish populations in the world, such silence on his part tantamount to agreement, he said.

Yet Pushaw on Monday morning continued to post on social media about the incident, tweeting: So - If the governor himself does not issue a public statement of specific condemnation of whoever this group is, within a time period that the Left deems acceptable, he is smeared as a Nazi sympathizer by default?

Bruce Ritchie contributed to this report.
If you received money for the child tax credit in 2021, you want to keep track of one key letter -- Letter 6419 from the Internal Revenue Service.

Detroiters may be owed money from the federal government, but they need to make sure to file their taxes first to get it.

The City of Detroit and nonprofit organizations are working together to help residents access the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax credit  dollars that can help families stay out of poverty. Free help is also available for those who qualify.

"The sooner you file your returns, the sooner the refund can come back," Mayor Mike Duggan said during a Monday news briefing.

More: 2022 tax advice: How to get child tax credit cash, charitable deductions and free help

More: IRS cashed the check but asked these taxpayers to re-send returns

Families received monthly Child Tax Credit payments for six months, until December of last year. This could have amounted to $1,500 or $1,800 per child, depending on a child's age.

The second half of the tax credits can be claimed by filing 2021 income tax returns. Families may be able to get another $1,500 or $1,800 for each qualifying child. Those who did not receive the monthly payments could get a total of $3,000 or $3,600 per child, based on their age  in other words, the credits they may have missed out on last year.

"In Detroit, with that first half of the Child Tax Credit we saw over $100 million dollars flow into the pockets of Detroit families," said H. Luke Shaefer, director of the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions initiative. "Families that got the Child Tax Credit were significantly more likely to say their financial situation is better today than it was a year ago. Parents who said they spent the Child Tax Credit on paying down debt were significantly more likely to report having a more manageable debt load."

About 72% of Detroit families reported receiving monthly Child Tax Credits but there are still those parents who think they do not qualify, Shaefer said, when there is a good chance that they are eligible.

It's important for tax filers to be on the look out for a document from the Internal Revenue Service  the Letter 6419  detailing how much they received. They will need the letter to file 2022 taxes and get the maximum payments.

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Detroiters should also be aware of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can help those earning less than $57,414 reduce the taxes they owe and increase their refund. The refund amount depends on income, filing status and the number of qualifying children claimed on tax returns, according to a news release.

A single person with no kids who works and makes less than $21,430 could get as much as $1,502 back. A married couple with three kids, who files a joint return, and is making under $57,414 combined can get $6,728, the news release notes.

On average, Detroiters have claimed $56 million in earned income tax credits each year.

"Both the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit provide vital incomes for our working families and these programs ... support the needs of our children," said Darienne Driver Hudson, president and CEO of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

In December, Child Tax Credit payments kept 3.7 million children out of poverty, according to Columbia University's Center on Poverty and Social Policy.

The payments "buffered family finances amidst the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, have increased families abilities to meet their basic needs, have reduced child poverty and food insufficiency, and have had no discernible negative effects on parental employment," researchers wrote.

The number of kids in poverty was expected to increase this month absent the monthly Child Tax Credit payment. In other words, researchers estimated that 3.7 million children could be living in poverty during the beginning of the year.

Parents tended to use the monthly payments to pay off debt and school-related expenses, such as tuition, child care, supplied and transportation, according to the Census Bureau last fall.

"Families can use that pot of money that they get when they file their taxes to make investments into their future. They can invest in education or they can invest in a new car to get to work or new work clothes," Shaefer said.

HOW TO GET HELP

Free tax help is available for those making under $57,000. The City of Detroit is working with the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency and Accounting Aid Society for this service. Make an appointment by calling the United Way for Southeastern Michigan's 2-1-1 hotline or go to www.getthetaxfacts.org/.

For those filing themselves, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan can offer free guidance at www.unitedwaysem.org/taxes or by calling 1-866-698-9435 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

People can also visit www.waynemetro.org/taxes or call Wayne Metro directly at 313-388-9799.

Call the Accounting Aid Society at 313-556-1920.

"We don't want anybody to leave any money on the table. We want everyone in the city of Detroit to get what is coming to them, to get their credits, and to get their refunds," said Louis Piszker, Wayne Metro CEO.

Free Press staff writer Susan Tompor contributed to this report.

Nushrat Rahman covers issues related to economic mobility for the Detroit Free Press and Bridge Detroit as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA.

Contact Nushrat: nrahman@freepress.com; 313-348-7558. Follow her on Twitter: @NushratR. Sign up for Bridge Detroit's newsletter. Become a Free Press subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroiters can get free tax help. Here's what to know.
In this Thursday, May 27, 2021, file photo, demonstrators stand in front of the governor's mansion after a march from the state Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., protesting the death of Ronald Greene, who died in the custody of Louisiana State Police in 2019.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has scheduled a 4:30 p.m. press conference today to address a growing chorus of questions following an Associated Press report showing Edwards knew about the death of Ronald Greene following a violent arrest by State Police hours after it happened in 2019.

Edwards will first meet Tuesday with the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, which requested the meeting.

Since the beginning, the members of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus have called for transparency and accountability within this case, and we are still committed to finding out the truth," caucus Chairman Vincent Pierre of Lafayette said in a statement. "Fighting systematic issues within our criminal justice system has long been a goal for our members, and we'll continue serving as a voice for those who face injustices within our communities."

Earlier Monday Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said in a statement if the Democratic governor was complicit in a State Police coverup it "would demonstrate gross misconduct and the highest level of deceit on behalf of the governor and others."

But the questions about the timing and extent of the governor's knowledge about the Ronald Greene case were also coming from leaders of his own party.

More: Ronald Greene's mom, Black lawmakers accuse State Police coverup of reaching top brass

"It's a serious concern," House Democratic Chairman Sam Jenkins of Shreveport said in an interview with USA Today Network. "But we need to see what the governor's explanation is before we take action.

"We need to hear from him."

Greenes mother, Mona Hardin told the Associated Press Edwards should resign.

He needs to go, Hardin told AP. He was able to stand aside as all this unfolded and just remain mute. Thats shameful. ... I hate that Ive been lied to.

Greene, who was Black, died in 2019 following a brutal beating by State Police during an arrest in Union Parish near Monroe.

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His cause of death was first covered up by State Police troopers on the scene who said Greene died from injuries suffered in a car accident during their pursuit of him before the severity of his beating and investigators' records became public.

More: State Police detective blocked from charging officer in Ronald Greene death retires

The governor's staff said Edwards was notified shortly after Greene's death by State Police, saying it's standard operating procedure, but that Edwards didn't learn about potential excessive use of force claims until September 2020.

Edwards was mostly silent about the incident for two years before finally describing the killing as "criminal" in September 2021 on his monthly radio show, but still insisted "part of the things that are being described as coverups are not."

The AP report showed former State Police Superintendent Kevin Reeves, who retired in 2020 amid the escalating controversy, sent the following text to Edwards on May 10 about nine hours after Greene's in-custody death.

Good morning. An FYI, the message obtained by the Associated Press read. Early this morning, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle in Ouachita Parish. The driver fled thru two parishes in excess of 110 mph, eventually crashing. Troopers attempted to place the driver under arrest. But, a violent, lengthy struggle took place. After some time struggling with the suspect, troopers were joined by a Union Parish deputy and were able to take the suspect into custody.  The suspect remained combative but became unresponsive shortly before EMS arrived.

Schexnayder said he spoke to Republican Senate President Page Cortez of Lafayette and Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry about the AP report over the weekend.

"It's our responsibility to the people of this state to seek the truth," Schexnayder said. "It's time to find out who knew what  and when  and hold them accountable.

"The Legislature is an equal and independent branch of government meant to serve as a check and balance to the other branches. We are fully prepared to use the authority granted to us in the constitution of this state to be that check and to be that balance."

Schexnayder didn't elaborate on his plans, but his spokesman said the speaker is exploring all options.

Last year Cortez established the Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight, which has been holding hearings about the Greene killing.

Greg Hilburn covers Louisiana politics for the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Did Gov. John Bel Edwards know about coverup in Ronald Greene killing?
LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Right outside of the Super Walmart on Veterans Memorial Parkway, eagle-eyed shoppers may have noticed a new sign in the distance.

Holleys Beauty Supplies  Lafayettes newest Black beauty supply store.

LaShai Perry, owner of Holley's Beauty Supplies, stands for a photo inside her Lafayette business, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.

As guests walk into the store, they are welcomed to a myriad of colorful hair extensions and wigs that hang along the wall of the store, as well as rows of beauty care products. The inventory is aimed at ethnic hair.

Behind the counter, guests are greeted by the bubbly and excited owner, LaShai Perry, who has worked tirelessly to make her dream a reality.

More: Attica community embraces wounded veteran, who will receive donated custom home

Perry credits the Community Investment Fund of Indiana for making her dreams come true. A loan from the fund helped her make the dream a reality.

CIFI furthered my process in becoming a business owner by believing in me. CIFI reminded me that sometimes even the sky isn't the limit for those with determination and drive, said Perry.

While Perry initially opened the store to give the community another option with competitive prices, the store has also been a blessing for Perry.

Inside Holley's Beauty Supplies, 3575 Promenade Parkway, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 in Lafayette.

On top of being a business owner and a single mom, Perry is also a Navy veteran from the Iraq War. For years, shes struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from her time at war.

More: Lafayette's Lincoln Neighborhood a focus of community enhancement plan

For years, the act of raising her kids kept her motivated and her mental illness at bay, but as her babies started to leave the nest, she found it harder and harder to stay motivated.

Ever since she opened Holleys Beauty Supplies, though, the daily struggle has become easier, in large part, because, this store has been keeping me busy and not dwelling on my thoughts, said Perry.

Behind her bright smile hides the struggle Perry had to endure for years before she opened her own business.

War stories

Before Perry had any roots in Lafayette, she was lived with her mother in Chicago. She grew up in a rougher part of Chicago, Perry said, where it was common to hear about a shooting on the nightly news. Although she loved her family and her community, at age 17, Perry knew she wanted to leave.

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She joined the military in 1997.

As her first stint was ending, Perry considered if she wanted to re-enlist and make a career out of the military. Then Sept. 11, 2001, happened, and that decision was as clear as day.

After 9/11, I re-enlisted in '01. There was no way, I couldnt say good-bye, said Perry.

Although she was serving overseas, Perry decided she wanted to start a family. At 21, she got married and had her first child. She wanted to be there to raise her kids. Since she was still enlisted, though, Perry's primary duty was to her county.

For years, Perry served on different ships. During her last trip of the war, her life took a sudden turn.

Perry was aboard the USS Wasp, which is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship and the lead ship of her class. They were in charge of dropping Marines at the battlefield.

During one of her missions, Perry received a Red Cross message that her mother had lost contact of Perrys then-husband and children, and her home was going into foreclosure.

My mother said she didnt know what was going on. So, I called my nanny and she told me that my ex-husband had fired her. I didnt know what was going on, said Perry.

Inside Holley's Beauty Supplies, 3575 Promenade Parkway, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 in Lafayette.

I was flown home. And I was one of the very lucky ones because, unfortunately, 90 percent of military go through that when overseas and not many can go home.

Upon arriving home to Virginia, Perry found out that her ex-husband had taken her children to Maryland to live with his family.

On top of finding out that her children were in Maryland, Perry was also served divorce papers.

Although Perry wanted to get her children and move forward with her life, she ran into a major hurdle. Since she was actively serving overseas, Perry had lost custody of her children. For the next year, she stayed in Maryland in order to fight to get her children back.

I come from a world of single mothers and the children are with them. So, the thought of me not being the primary parent for my children scared me, said Perry.

Her time in Maryland eventually led to Perry getting an honorable medical discharged from the military, in large part due to her PTSD.

This was a major blow to her, because she wanted to make a career out of the military to support her family. At the end of the day, her children were more important to her than the military.

After getting custody of her children and settling the divorce with her ex-husband, she eventually moved back with her mother in Chicago. This time things were different.

When I first I got back to Chicago, I though everybody had changed. It took me a while to realize that I was the one that changed. I left at 17, I was now a 25-year-old grown woman, divorced with little babies and we were homeless. We didnt have anywhere to go.

With the support of her family, she tried raising her kids in Chicago. She would have her mother watch her kids as she went to work. But unfortunately, it was difficult to hold onto a job  not because she was lazy, but because of her PTSD.

During this time, shed have a hard time getting out of bed and there were a few moments where she even contemplated committing suicide.

Through the Department of Veterans Affair, she found the help that she needed, receiving therapy for her mental illness.

Perry also wanted to create a better future for her children and used that goal as her primary motivation to get out of bed every day.

She did receive public assistance and, as a disabled veteran, moved to the front of the line. She had public-assisted housing, but Perry knew that it was not where she wanted to raise her kids.

The community there was tough. I didnt want to raise my children the way I was raised. And the door opened up to move to Lafayette. I had never even heard of it, but I felt like the spirit was leading me here. And when we came here, each of us had a shopping bag. And those were the only things that we owned. Just a couple of shopping bags, said Perry.

For awhile, Perry and her kids lived in an apartment with no electricity. She didnt have that much money, and her benefits from the VA hadnt kicked in yet.

Members from River City Church, formerly known as First Assembly Church, helped keep the family afloat until her benefits kicked in.

In those first several months, that was our only source of help, and little by little I was restored. Over the years, I started getting 10 percent disability, then it was moved up to 50 percent, and now close to 100 percent, said Perry.

Before, everything Perry did was for the future of her children. Now shes facing that empty nest part of her life. Her two oldest boys, ages 20 and 18, have moved out and are starting to begin their lives.

Perrys 15-year-old daughter still lives with her, but her youngest will eventually leave the nest, too.

Perrys daughter saw the dread written all over her mothers face at the thought of her last child leaving home. Thats when her daughter recommended Perry open up a store, possibly where they could both work together.

Im almost at that empty-nest stage, and my daughter and I plan on just having a blast selling hair, make up and accessories before she leaves for college, said Perry.

When Perry heard this idea, she knew she had to make it come true, but she ran into an unexpected hurdle.

As she made calls around town, looking for assistance, she kept running into dead ends.

Perry searched online if Lafayette had some assistance for minority business owners, but her search at first resulted in no answers.

It wasnt until Perry found out about Community Investment Fund of Indiana, an organization out of Indianapolis, that aims at assisting small businesses get off their feet.

We like to assist small-business owners who are driven to succeed and dedicated to serving their community. LaShai Perry is such a person. She and her business are a perfect match with CIFIs mission to help, through a loan or other assistance, get new businesses up-and-running, said Phil Black, CIFIs executive director.

Through CIFI, Perry was able to develop her business plan with the state-run Indiana Small Business Development Center. Once everything checked out, CIFI gave her a loan to open up her business in the Concord Plaza.

Prior to opening her store, all of Perrys credit cards were paid off. In order to make her dream a reality, Perry has maxed out all of her credit cards.

I know business has been slow recently due to the weather, but I am hoping once people find out about us, theyll start to see that were here for the community, said Perry.

Holleys Beauty Supplies is located on 3575 Promenade Pkwy #1000 in Lafayette, and operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Navy veteran opens Lafayette's newest Black beauty supply store
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's delegation to the Vienna talks on the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal has "creatively and innovatively submitted its ideas in writing," and is awaiting the U.S. response in lifting sanctions.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh made the remarks at a weekly press conference, saying if the other side gives a "correct response" to Iran's "natural rights and legitimate demands" after the delegations' return to Vienna, diplomats in Vienna can "reach a reliable and lasting agreement and there will be no need for artificial deadlines," according to official news agency IRNA.

Iran is waiting for the United States to inform the other parties of the political decisions made in Washington, he said, noting that there are a number of unresolved issues in the area of removing the sanctions, which are in need of the Western side's decision.

Commenting on the latest pause in the Vienna talks, he said despite the breaks, the negotiations over the past three weeks have made significant progress in the four areas of sanctions removal, nuclear commitments, verification and giving guarantees.

He recommended the United States, in particular, focus on responding to Iran's legitimate demands and refrain from asking for anything beyond the scopes of the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The spokesman emphasized that the Islamic republic will not accept anything less than the JCPOA.

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and major countries. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, which prompted the latter to breach the deal's restrictions one year later, and advance its nuclear programs it had put a halt to.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held between Iran and other remaining parties to revive the deal. 
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog opened Monday Israel's national day at Dubai Expo 2020.

When addressing the expo on the second day of his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he said the expo is a "reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together to break down borders by connecting minds and imagining a different future."

According to Herzog, bilateral trade has topped 1 billion U.S. dollars, over 120 agreements have been signed, and a 100 million dollar bilateral R&D fund was established recently.

Saying 250,000 Israelis have already visited the UAE, the Israeli president voiced his hope that more people from the UAE will travel to Israel after the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the speech, the Israeli flag was raised and the Israeli national anthem was played, said the president's office in a statement.

As the first Israeli president to visit the UAE, Herzog departed on Sunday for the two-day trip, and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed over bilateral ties and security issues.

Israel and the UAE signed the so-called Abraham Accord, a U.S.-brokered normalization agreement, in September 2020. The UAE was the first Gulf state to agree to normalize ties with Israel, followed by Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited the UAE last December. 
Russia emphatically denied on Monday that it is planning to invade Ukraine, accusing the United States of whipping up hysteria and provoking escalation of a military conflict between the two countries for its own pernicious interests.

Discussion about the threat of war is provocative in itself, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said in comments directed at the U.S. during his open remarks at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday. You are almost calling for this, you want it to happen, youre waiting for it to happen, as if you want to make your words become a reality.

The U.S. had requested the Security Council meeting in response to the recent buildup of more than 100,000 Russian troops along the border of Ukraine, which the U.S. and NATO allies see as the precursor to a potential invasion of the independent country.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday about the situation between Russia and Ukraine. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told members of the Security Council that Russias actions represented the largest mobilization of troops in Europe in decades and warned that if Russia further invades Ukraine, none of us will be able to say we didnt see it coming. And the consequences will be horrific.

Nebenzya, however, downplayed the significance of the Russian militarys recent movements, insisting it is not the case that 100,000 troops have been deployed along the Ukrainian border.

We have never cited that figure, never confirmed that figure, he said, attempting to compare the comments made by Thomas-Greenfield to Secretary of State Colin Powells now infamous speech to the Security Council ahead of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, in which he inaccurately claimed that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction.

They didnt find any weapons, Nebenzya said, but what happened with that country is well known to one and all.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya addresses the Security Council on Monday. (Richard Drew/AP)

While the U.S. and its NATO allies have repeatedly expressed support for Ukraines right to sovereignty and have vowed to act swiftly against Russia should it move ahead with an attack, Nebenzya accused the Western nations of attempting to drive a wedge between Russia and Ukraine.

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Mondays public confrontation follows weeks of unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to deescalate tensions. Last week, the U.S. and NATO delivered written responses to a number of security demands outlined by the Kremlin. While Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the document produced by Washington offered Russia a diplomatic path forward, he made clear that this path did not include concessions on the Kremlins primary demands, including the withdrawal of NATO troops from Eastern Europe and the guarantee that Ukraine and other former Soviet-bloc countries would be prohibited from joining the alliance.

On Monday, Thomas-Greenfield cast doubt on whether Moscow is serious about finding a peaceful resolution to its stated security concerns, saying that if this is truly about Russia's security concerns in Europe, were offering them the opportunity to discuss those concerns at the negotiating table.

If they refuse to do so, she continued, the world will know why and who is responsible.

The Security Council meeting on Monday. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Despite the fiery back-and-forth, Thomas-Greenfield reiterated the Biden administrations position that the U.S. continues to believe there is a diplomatic path out of the crisis caused by Russias unprovoked military buildup.

We continue to hope Russia chooses the path of diplomacy over the path of conflict in Ukraine, but we cannot just wait and see, she said.

In a statement, President Biden called the Security Council meeting a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice: rejecting the use of force, calling for military de-escalation, supporting diplomacy as the best path forward, and demanding accountability from every member state to refrain from military aggression against its neighbors.
If you've been interviewed before, you've most likely been asked to walk a hiring manager through your resume. It might seem repetitive, since the interviewer has a copy of your resume, but the question serves a purpose.

The key to answering this question is to understand why the employer is asking it. Walk me through your resume is a conversation starter that gives the interviewer a more in-depth look into your background and skills.

If you've been interviewed before, you've most likely been asked to walk a hiring manager through your resume. It might seem repetitive, since the interviewer has a copy of your resume, but the question serves a purpose.

Tips for answering:

Keep your answer short. Provide important or additional details but keep your response to two minutes or less. Rambling for 10 minutes is a great way to lose the interviewers attention or interest.

Share details that arent on your resume. If you accomplished something special or hit an important goal, this is your chance to share it with the interviewer.

Tailor your answer. Mention specific accomplishments or experiences that line up with the position you're interviewing for. If the job is in the medical field, talk about things you learned or excelled at in a previous position in that industry.

Acknowledge resume gaps. Be open about any large gaps in employment history. Be brief, direct and positive in your explanation.

Walking yourself through your resume is a great way to prepare for an interview. While you dont want to sound too staged, this will allow you to think carefully about what to share. You can also time your answers to see if you are providing too much or not enough detail.

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Want to do a mock interview or get help polishing your resume? Stop by your nearest West Michigan Works service center to get started.

 Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works. Learn more about how they can help by visiting westmiworks.org or your local service center.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Employment Expertise: Walking an employer through your resume
Facebooks cryptocurrency is no more.

The Diem Association  a group Facebook spearheaded to launch the Diem stablecoin  said Monday it will sell its intellectual property and assets to the California bank Silvergate, a go-to firm for the crypto industry.

The announcement caps a nearly three-year odyssey on the part of Facebook and its partners to launch a digital currency, which was first dubbed Libra in 2019 until its rebranding as Diem in 2020. (Facebook has also since renamed itself as Meta.) Lawmakers and regulators in the United States and Europe ultimately derailed Diem's ambitions, stoked by fears around how such an offering on the scale of Facebook would impact the financial system and the control central banks assert over money. The so-called stablecoin  a type of cryptocurrency tied to other kinds of assets  never launched.

Diem's backers failed to move the needle even after they assembled a small army of lobbyists, rebranded the project, downplayed Facebook's involvement and pared down their ambitions for a single digital currency. Many assumed the writing was on the wall after David Marcus, Metas point person on Diem, departed the project late last year, as well as other key figures involved.

As we undertook this effort, we actively sought feedback from governments and regulators around the world, and the project evolved substantially and improved as a result, Diem Association CEO Stuart Levey said in a statement Monday. Despite giving us positive substantive feedback on the design of the network, it nevertheless became clear from our dialogue with federal regulators that the project could not move ahead. As a result, the best path forward was to sell the Diem Groups assets, as we have done today to Silvergate.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have started exploring launching their own virtual currencies  work that accelerated in part because of concerns about Diem.

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The Diem Association, then known as the Libra Association, first set up headquarters in Switzerland before abandoning those plans in May 2021 and moving to the U.S. The change didn't make life easier.

Diem had initially aimed to partner with Silvergate, a Federal Reserve-regulated bank, to issue a token tied to the value of the U.S. dollar. Last July, however, the firms were informed that neither the Fed nor the Treasury Department were comfortable blessing the project, according to people familiar with the matter.

The governments move to essentially put the project on ice stemmed in part from the ongoing effort at the time by U.S. financial agencies to draft a report that would lay out their vision for regulating stablecoins, the people said.

But Facebook's business model turned out to be the biggest problem, according to one of the sources familiar with the discussions.

The combination of a stablecoin issuer or wallet provider and a commercial firm could lead to an excessive concentration of economic power, U.S. regulators said in the stablecoin report released last year. These policy concerns are analogous to those traditionally associated with the mixing of banking and commerce, such as advantages in accessing credit or using data to market or restrict access to products.

This combination could have detrimental effects on competition and lead to market concentration in sectors of the real economy, they said.

In a statement released on Monday evening, Silvergate said it plans to use Diem's assets to launch its own stablecoin later this year.

In the digital asset industry, money moves across the globe around the clock, Silvergate CEO Alan Lane said. Through conversations with our customers, we identified a need for a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin that is regulated and highly scalable to further enable them to move money without barriers."
The family of Brenda Rawls is alleging that Bridgeport police told them they dropped the ball after not notifying them about the death of the 53-year-old after she visited a male friend.

The family of Brenda Rawls a 53-year-old Black woman who died after visiting a mans house in Bridgeport, Connecticut  is alleging that city police didnt investigate her death or take the case seriously.

Rawls, who died the same day as 23-year-old Lauren Smith-Fields who was found dead in her apartment after a date  reportedly told her family she was visiting a male acquaintances house down the street from her.

After unsuccessful attempts to reach her, the day of and after the date, several family members walked to the mans house, where they were told that Rawls was dead.

Nobody ever notified us that she died, said Rawls sister, Dorothy Rawls Washington, to NBC News. We had to do our own investigation and find out where she was.

Brenda Rawls was found dead in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the same day as Lauren Smith-Fields. Family members say city police have not investigated her death. https://t.co/yeUt7C7mPD  NBCBLK (@NBCBLK) January 29, 2022

The chilling news of Rawls comes after the Smith-Fields case, in the same city, gains major traction.

Smith-Fields was found unresponsive in her Bridgeport apartment on December 12, after she met 37-year-old Matthew LaFountain on the dating app Bumble.

LaFountain reportedly contacted police about Smith-Fields death and was not detained for questioning, Westchester News 12 reported.

After several social media campaigns, including a TikTok video detailing the incident and lack of media coverage, and outrage from the family, Bridgeport Police Department finally opened a criminal investigation into Smith-Fields death in late December.

Lauren Smith-Fields (Credit: GoFundMe/Family handout)

Rawls family notes the uncanny similarities between the two deaths, including the Bridgeport Police departments failure to investigate the men present leading up to the deaths and proper examination of the evidence.

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In Rawls case, the family had to start contacting funeral homes in search of her body after being told she passed.

They never took any opportunity to look for next of kin, said Washington of police. She said that she was advised by a funeral home to contact the state medical examiners office where the family was able to find Rawls body.

On Thursday, the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the cause of death has not been determined.

The family said they sent four letters to Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim and acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia, demanding that the city and department answer their questions about Rawlss death.

Rawls other sister, Angela Rawls Martin, claims that after she asked the police sergeant if he had searched Rawls apartment or the home she was found in, he said it was not in the police report.

In an interview, she said that the sergeant later apologized and told her that the department dropped the ball in the investigation.

Her sisters also allege that after they were given a detectives name last month, he did not respond to their numerous calls.

The family of Rawls and Smith-Fields joined together in a rally in Bridgeport on Sunday on what would have been Smith-Fields 24th birthday to call on the state to properly investigate the deaths of the women.

On Friday, the Smith-Fields family filed a notice of claim to sue the city for its police departments racially insensitive handling of the case.

On Sunday, Mayor Ganim announced the suspension of two detectives involved with investigating the deaths of Smith-Fields and Rawls.

The Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity especially in matters involving the death of a family member, Ganim said. It is an unaccepted failure that policies were not followed.

To the families, friends, and all who care about human decency that should be shown in these situations in this case, by members of the police department, I am very sorry.

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The post Family of Black woman questions Connecticut police response to death appeared first on TheGrio.
Alan Guebert

If todays California is what the rest of America will look like tomorrow, you might want to brace yourself for too little water, too much animal manure and $4.65-per-gallon gasoline.

And, weird, too, because in California these too-little, too-much and too-expensive elements have been combined to create what was thought to be a partial cure for climate change.

The first, water, is precious. The same amount of municipally-supplied water that costs $23 a month in Nebraska costs $65 a month in the Golden State. Only 20 percent of all water, however, flows to 39 million Californians; agriculture gulps the other 80 percent.

Thirsty crops, right? More like thirsty livestock: 47 percent of Californias water footprint is associated with the production of meat and dairy, reports the Sacramento-based Comstocks Magazine.

Animals and water  no matter the livestock or the state  means manure. In California, that combination also means taxpayer subsidies to build manure handling systems to capture methane generated in anaerobic digesters to be burned by vehicles or put into the natural gas grid.

That recipe sounds like a two-birds-with-one-stone solution to ags two growing problems, increased methane pollution from a deepening dependence on CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) and animal ags growing role in global climate change.

Or at least it did until manure digesters were built and monitored. Their early results were worse than poor, according to a January report on manure digesters by Reuters. In fact, the results were dismal.

In 2009, the story noted, the Obama administration and an industry group, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, pledged to reduce the industrys greenhouse gas emission by 25% by 2020 over levels in 2007, in part by expanding federal support for new digesters.

Instead, methane emissions in the sector have risen more than 15%, in part driven by growth in herd size In short, one solution  methane-making manure digesters  led to a second, bigger problem, more manure-making cows.

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Thats just basic ag economics, explained Rebecca Wolf of Food & Water Watch, an environmental watchdog group, in the Reuters story: If you start making money off of pollution, youre not going to stop polluting.

Indeed, pollution grows with digesters because livestock numbers grow with digesters.

States like Iowa, however, are choosing to ignore the acrid evidence. Recently, Iowa enacted a digester-promoting law that, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, not only doesnt worry about livestock expansion it allows Iowa animal feeding operations to exceed confinement capacity if [farmers] install an anaerobic digester to treat all manure

Uncle Sam wants in the bigger CAFOs/bigger digester game, too. The Biden Administration's still-unpassed, $1-trillion-plus Build Back Better program contains a river of federal subsidies to promote climate mitigation strategies like manure digesters in the coming years.

Some ag researchers, however, want to flatten that rising trend.

In a Dec. 14 podcast titled On biodigesters  are they a real win-win technology? three University of Iowa research professors, Silvia Secchi, Chris Jones and Dave Cwiertny, agreed that Iowas new focus on digesters as a solution to the states overwhelming livestock manure problem almost guarantees more and bigger CAFOs in Iowa and even more unmanageable manure.

If this is such a winning proposition for farmers, noted Secchi, an economist and geographer, in the episode, why should public money be spent on it; why not private investment?

Secchi goes on to add, We are rushing headlong into these so-called solutions because they have this feel-good factor like soil health but dont yet have the results to prove it.

California, however, now faces some digester indigestion. Recently, noted Reuters, Environmental groups petitioned the California Air Resources Board to make [manure digesters] ineligible for [state] credits, arguing their presumed role in combating climate change was inflated and that the credits encourage making more manure.

Which California  and the rest of the U.S. and its taxpayers  neither need nor want.

Alan Guebert is an award-winning agricultural journalist and expert who was raised on a 720-acre, 100-cow southern Illinois dairy farm.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Getting MAD, Mutually Assured Digesters, is always a bad idea
A coroners jury is set to decide Monday whether two white Billings police officers will face criminal charges for shooting and killing a Chippewa-Cree man on Indigenous Peoples Day in 2020.

We had to have a closed casket, said Tasheena Duran, sister of the man who died, Coleman F. Stump. We didnt want his kids to see that my brother had no face. He was shot that many times in the head.

On Oct. 12, 2020, Officers Ryland Nelson and Justin Bickford shot 29-year-old Stump after a 911 caller reported suspicious activity in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Billings, according to the Billings Police Department. Police to date have not said the number of shots officers fired, but the information is expected to be part of the evidence presented during Mondays inquest.

This story will be updated as information from the inquest becomes available Monday.

Stump grew up on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Duran said. He was a father of five kids. Records show hed faced misdemeanor charges and one felony criminal mischief charge in Hill County, but received a deferred sentence for the latter.

After the killing, Stumps family, Chippewa Cree tribal leaders and the advocacy organization Indian Peoples Action called for a federal investigation into the Billings Police Departments use of violence, particularly against persons of color.

The U.S. Department of Justice has not announced a plan to intervene in the Billings case and did not immediately respond to questions Friday about the possibility of investigating the Billings Police Department.

Since gaining oversight of local and state police in 1994, the DOJ has launched about 70 investigations into departments, including the Missoula Police Department in 2012 for the way it handled sexual assaults.

In a May 2021 letter to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Chippewa Cree Tribal Chairman Harlan Baker said Billings officers appear to injure people out of anger rather than a need to protect. In 2018, the Billings Gazette reported Billings had one of the highest rates of fatal police shootings among U.S. cities of its size.

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Distrust of the police, especially amongst communities of color, grows as a result, Baker wrote. And it becomes harder for the Billings Police Department to do its job.

What was reported

In a press conference the day after the shooting, Billings Police Chief Rich St. John gave an initial description of what led officers to fire at Stump.

According to St. John, four officers drove to an apartment complexs alley parking lot after someone reported suspicious activity. The caller said three people arrived in the alley in two separate cars.

When officers arrived, Stump was standing outside the cars. Officers detained him and tried to handcuff him, though St. John did not explain why Stump was detained. Stump struggled, according to St. John, and an officer used a stun gun, which had no effect.

While on the ground, St. John said Stump pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the officers. St. John said officers then fired shots, killing Stump.

Officers later found out one of the cars was stolen, but not until after Stump was shot, St. John said.

Native Americans in Montana and across the country are killed by police at a disproportionate rate, said Courtney Smith, criminal justice lead for the Montana Racial Equity Project, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that advocates equity and justice for historically marginalized, disenfranchised and oppressed peoples in Montana, according to the organizations website.

Between January 2013 and December 2021, Montana law enforcement killed 58 people, Smith said, citing data from mappingpoliceviolence.org. About 14 percent of those victims were Native American, though Native Americans make up just 6 percent of Montanas population, Smith said.

This disproportionate violence is part of the broader long-standing history of racial discrimination against the Indigenous people of this country, said Smith, who spoke with Stumps family and plans to attend the inquest.

Stumps death occurred about five months after Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, killed George Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on his neck. Floyds death prompted national protests over police violence against people of color. Convicted in 2021, Chauvin is serving a 22 year prison sentence for Floyds murder.

Like many law enforcement agencies across the country, the Billings Police Department received heavy scrutiny in the aftermath of Floyds killing. About three months before Stumps death, St. John wrote a Facebook post explaining the departments policies in response to questions about whether the Billings Police Department needed reform.

I am aware of the current climate of frustration and resentment related to abuse of authority, including the indefensible and unforgivable killing of George Floyd, St. John said in the post. I am listening to community conversations and making sure that our policies, procedures, and practices reflect the best in policing and reflect community values and an atmosphere of public trust.

Duran, however, said the department can do more to reduce how many people in its jurisdiction are killed by police. She also said she doubts a lot of what the Billings Police Department has said about the night her brother was killed. Stump wasnt a fighter, Duran said; it was far more likely he would run from police, not engage with them.

Stumps family had asked for an outside agency to investigate Stumps death, but the investigation was led by Billings Police Captain of Professional Standards Neil Lawrence. Already, Duran said she believes the inquest will favor the officers involved because she sees the prosecutors and police as on the same team.

Inquest in question

Officers have routinely been found justified in police shootings during coroners inquests in Montana, Smith said. An investigation by the Billings Gazette of 39 fatal law enforcement shootings from 2012 to 2019 showed the officers to be justified in every case even as the investigations differ, according to a July 2019 story.

The fact that state actors pick and choose the evidence presented during the coroners inquest should give anyone pause on the impartiality of the process, Smith said.

Ed Zink is the chief deputy of criminal litigation for the Yellowstone County Attorneys Office and will present evidence of what happened between officers and Stump during the inquest. His job is to present what happened based on all available evidence, and nothing is held back, he said.

I dont take an advocacy position, Zink said.

After the shooting, the Billings Police Department put officers Nelson and Bickford on leave while it investigated Stumps fatal shooting. Nelson is still employed by the department, though Bickford now works for the city in a different role, said Capt. R.D. Harper, who works in the Billings Polices Office of Professional Standards.

In 2021, Billings Police officers began wearing body cameras, though they did not have body camera equipment when Stump was killed. Since Stumps death, the department has pointed to data to show it uses force against suspects of all different races.

The Daily Montanan is a nonprofit news outlet based out of Helena covering statewide policy and politics. It is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Jury to hear inquest of Rocky Boy man shot, killed by Billings police
SANAA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition launched multiple airstrikes on military camps controlled by the Houthi militia in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Monday early morning, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

The airstrikes hit the Tabat Altelevision camp and al-Daylami military airbase in northern Sanaa, as well as the Aletha'ah camp and the first division camp at the center of the capital, said the Houthi television without providing further details.

The explosions destroyed windows of nearby houses and shook buildings across the city.

The airstrikes came a few hours after the Houthis on Sunday claimed responsibility for a fresh ballistic missile attack against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which the UAE's Defense Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed.

That was the third Houthi cross-border missile attack in less than two weeks against the UAE, a key member of the Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the Yemeni army.

The previous attacks killed three people and hit an oil facility in Abu Dhabi.

The Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia has intensified cross-border missile attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia after it had lost several strategic districts in central Yemen this month. 
By Tyler Clifford

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will not face criminal charges related to sexual harassment claims that led to his resignation last year after the last county prosecutor investigating allegations from one of several women said he had no legal basis to pursue a case.

"To be clear, this decision is based solely upon an assessment of the law and whether the People can establish a legally sufficient case under controlling precedent," Oswego County District Attorney Gregory Oakes said in a statement on Monday about accusations by Virginia Limmiatis

"In no way should this decision be interpreted as casting doubt upon the character of credibility of Ms. Limmiatis, or how harmful the acts she experienced were," Oakes said.

Cuomo resigned in August after an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded that he sexually harassed 11 women. The Democrat was in his third term as governor.

Limmiatis, who works for an energy company, last March accused Cuomo of touching her chest inappropriately at an event in 2017. She said she feared reporting him because he was a powerful figure.

The Oswego district attorney's decision does not mean Cuomo is innocent of abusing his power, an attorney for Limmiatis said in a statement.

"Not every violation of law results in a criminal prosecution," Mariann Wang, the attorney, said.

Limmiatis' claims were included in James' report, which said Cuomo violated the law and created a "toxic" workplace when he groped, kissed or made suggestive comments to women.

Cuomo has said his accusers had misinterpreted his words, gestures and demeanor.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, said on Monday that James' report was a "political hit job".

"As now five DAs have verified, none of the accusations in Tish James fraud of a report have stood up to any level of real scrutiny," he told Reuters. "As weve said since the beginning, the truth will come out."

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James' office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

James had declined to charge Cuomo after announcing the findings of her report in August.

Oakes's decision not to charge Cuomo follows similar moves by prosecutors in Manhattan, Nassau, Westchester and Albany counties.

(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York. Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Donna Bryson and Angus MacSwan)
A firefighter in California was fatally shot Monday while putting out a dumpster fire, officials said.

Capt. Max Fortuna, a veteran firefighter with the Stockton Fire Department, was killed on the job, according to a statement from Stockton Fire Chief Richard Edwards, who said he was "devastated."

Edwards said Fortuna and other firefighters were extinguishing the predawn blaze in Stockton, about 80 miles east of San Francisco, when shots rang out.

"Im devastated to report that Veteran Fire Captain Max Fortuna has succumbed to his injuries," Edwards said.

"Captain Fortuna served the City of Stockton for 21 years and leaves behind a wife and two grown children. I ask you to keep Captain Fortunas family and the Stockton Fire Department family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

Related video: Massive fire at N.C. fertilizer plant leads to emergency evacuations

Fortuna and other firefighters responded to call about a dumpster fire at about 4:45 a.m. Monday. Once they were on the scene, firefighters found a dumpster fire threatening a structure, Edwards said.

"As firefighters were extinguishing the fire, gunshots were heard, and the Fire Captain of Engine 2 had been struck," Edwards said.

Officer Joe Silva, a Stockton police spokesman, said late Monday afternoon that police had detained a 67-year-old man who is suspected in Fortunas death.

"We have the person who did the shooting in custody," Silva said.

Police Monday night said detectives arrested Robert Somerville, 67, on homicide and weapons charges in connection with the killing.

The department said in a statement that a .380-caliber handgun was recovered at the scene, but it did not detail a motive.

Somerville was being held without bail Monday night, according to online jail records. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

A motive was unknown, Silva said earlier Monday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Stockton Fire Captain Vidal 'Max' Fortuna, his family, and the entire Stockton Fire Department," Stockton police tweeted Monday.
The Florida Supreme Court has sided with Alachua County in a legal dispute with former Sheriff Sadie Darnell over the discretion sheriffs have to shift tax money within their budgets without county commission approval.

Alachua County commissioners were not pleased in 2017 when then-sheriff Darnell decided to transfer funds they had approved for vehicle fleet expenditures into a personnel funding category to cover pay increases for road deputies.

Commissioners were so displeased that they sued Darnell.

The case has been making its way through the lower courts since then, with the county losing at each level but prevailing at the highest court in the state.

Darnell retires: Darnell hands in the badge after 42 years in law enforcement

Darnell loses election: Watson defeats Darnell for sheriff

Lawsuits against Darnell: Lawsuit against Sheriff Sadie Darnell underway

Alachua County spokesman Mark Sexton explained Friday that the commission each year approves of "object lines," or general funding categories, for the sheriff to cover expenditures such as personnel costs, vehicles and the jail.

Sexton said a sheriff has much discretion about how to spend those funds within those buckets, but what caused consternation here is when Darnell spent funds that were approved for one use on another without the commissions approval.

"What she did was move money from the vehicle object line to the personnel object line and that violates state statute," Sexton said.

Darnell said Friday that she is "very puzzled" by the Florida Supreme Court ruling.

Darnell said when she was sheriff in 2017, she did transfer a couple of hundred thousand dollars from the sheriffs office vehicle fleet budget category to cover raises for road deputies, who were the only employees at the time who were not getting raises.

She said the road deputies were snubbed of the raises after former commissioner Robert Hutchinson expressed concerns that they were making misdemeanor marijuana arrests, but those were only associated with other law infractions.

Story continues

"Everybody else in the county got a raise. And (excluding road deputies) was something that was just intolerable to me," she said.

However, Sexton said Darnell chose how to prioritize expenditures in her personnel funding category, and deputies could have received raises from it.

But she instead dipped into fleet funding without the approval of the County Commission, which violates the state statute.

"And the Supreme Court decision agrees with that assessment," he said. "The board did not base her funding on marijuana arrests or anything other than sound budgeting."

Former Sheriff Sadie Darnell

The decision is expected to have wide-ranging effects over the authority of sheriffs across Florida to control their funding.

Cragin Mosteller, director of communications at the Florida Association of Counties, said Friday that the ruling sets a precedent for counties.

We think it certainly confirms what our interpretation of the law has been, which is why we filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief, she said

Mosteller said the case sets guidance for all of our counties and re-enforces what the Legislature has already stated about the role of county commissions in approving budget items for constitutional officers.

I think this case is very important to counties and local taxpayers because it is important that there are checks and balances within the system so that we can make sure that our tax dollars are being spent efficiently, and for the purposes for which they are approved, she said.

She said even though it can sometimes be difficult to reach budget compromises, the hope is that constitutional officers, like sheriffs, and county commissioners will work together to make those tough budget decisions.

"We just want to work together to make sure that its the appropriate place and the right program for the community," she said.

In a prepared statement, Alachua County said the court ruled that the countys initial position was correct and that the sheriff must request authority to move money between object levels.

This means that any significant change in the budget at the object level or above must return to the Alachua County Commission for commission approval in the same way that any part of the county budget would do," the statement said.

In their ruling, the judges concluded that "when seeking to transfer money between objects (funding categories), the sheriff must follow the budgetary amendment process established by the Legislature in Chapter 129 and that the sheriff failed to do so here.

This is a victory for good governance, stated Alachua County Commission Chair Marihelen Wheeler in a prepared statement. This community deserves accountability, transparency, and clear communication between the county, the constitutional officers, and our citizens.

Because of the election of a new sheriff in 2020, the case was renamed, with Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. becoming the defendant. However, the county has not been in conflict with Watson on this issue, the county press release said.

In fact, Watson said in a prepared statement that the Florida Supreme Courts ruling is not of concern to him.

The courts decision does not change the way we have been operating over the past year, and we will continue to do so, he said. The goal of my administration has always been to work in collaboration with the chair and Board of County Commissioners in order to serve the people of Alachua County, unimpeded, and I am confident the Alachua County Commission shares the same vision as we move forward together.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Supreme Court rules against former Alachua County sheriff
A former Hull firefighter was found dead in Hudson, New Hampshire, last week after he was reported missing in mid-December.

Hudson police Capt. David Cayot said in a news release that a person walking along power lines found Terrance "Terry" Adams' body Jan. 25.

Adams, 53, had been reported missing to the Hudson Police Department on Dec. 16, Cayot said.

Terrance Adams

"At this time the investigation is ongoing. However, it does not appear to be suspicious and there is no threat or concern for the public," he said.

An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death.

Adams, a Hull High School graduate, lived in Hudson. He was a retired Boston firefighter who graduated from Hull High School and previously worked for the Hull Fire Department.

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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Former Hull firefighter found dead in New Hampshire along power lines
Cheslie Kryst after winning Miss USA in 2019. Patrick Prather/Miss USA

Cheslie Kryst, the former Miss USA, died Sunday at the age of 30.

A police representative told Insider that Kryst jumped from her New York City apartment building.

"Her great light was one that inspired others around the world," Kryst's family said in a statement.

The former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died Sunday in an apparent suicide.

A New York City Police Department representative told Insider that Kryst jumped from the 60-story building in Manhattan where she lived.

Kryst won the Miss USA title in 2019 while representing North Carolina. She also had a legal career and worked as a TV reporter.

Her family issued a statement confirming her death.

"In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie," the statement said. "Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed, and she shined.

"Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA, and as a host on EXTRA.

"But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague  we know her impact will live on. As we reflect on our loss, the family asks for privacy at this time."

A New York City Police Department representative said Kryst killed herself Sunday morning. Benjamin Askinas/The Miss Universe Organization

A representative for Extra TV, where Kryst worked as a host, said the company was devastated by the news.

"Our hearts are broken," the statement said. "Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show, she was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff. Our deepest condolences to all her family and friends."

A source told the New York Post that Kryst left a note and said she wanted to leave everything to her mother.

Hours before her death, Kryst shared a post on Instagram with a caption that said "May this day bring you rest and peace."

Kryst was a complex-litigation attorney who worked pro bono with clients serving long sentences for low-level drug offenses. She helped free one client who had been sentenced to life in prison. She also spent years raising funds for the nonprofits Dress for Success and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

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Kryst competing in the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Miss Universe

In 2019, Kryst was part of a historic moment when Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America all went to women of color.

Kryst told Insider at the time that being part of such a group was "surreal."

"I try to think of pageants as representative of what is happening now, and where we could go," she said. "So I was glad we could set this example, because there were so many women who messaged us afterward and said, 'You've inspired me to compete in pageants.' I just think this is an important moment, and maybe people can carry this inspiration into other areas of their lives."

Kryst also used her platform to speak out about Black Lives Matter as protests against police brutality swept the US after George Floyd's murder in June 2020.

Kryst was also a complex-litigation attorney and a host for Extra TV. Benjamin Askinas/The Miss Universe Organization

"I've been waiting my whole life to advocate for causes that are important to me," she told Insider in November 2020. "And one of those is Black Lives Matter, it is racial equality, it is criminal-justice reform. And now all of those issues are at the forefront of people's minds."

"I just think, 'Wow, now I can speak out,'" she said. "And not just as Cheslie Kryst, but as the reigning Miss USA. And I think that's a really large message to be able to get across to people."

Tributes to Kryst poured in after her death, with colleagues, celebrities, and other pageant winners posting to social media.

Her law firm, Poyner Spruill, released a statement saying she was "an incredibly valuable member of our law firm community."

"Cheslie Kryst was a light that radiated every room she entered," the statement continued. "She was a passionate advocate both in and out of the courtroom."

Extra TV tweeted a link to a statement, saying, "Our hearts are broken." It added that Kryst "embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice."

The Miss Universe Organization wrote in a post that Kryst "was one of the brightest, warmest, and most kind people we have ever had the privilege of knowing, and she lit up every room she entered."

Read the original article on Insider
A former Tennessee police chief who punched a handcuffed suspect during a 2014 arrest and assaulted another in 2017 has been found guilty of excessive force.

Anthony Bean, 61, was convicted last week on all three counts, the Department of Justice announced Saturday.

In the first incident, the 2014 arrest of a suspect identified only as C.G., Bean, the Chief of the Tracy City Police Department, repeatedly punched C.G. in the face while he was handcuffed and compliant, according to prosecutors.

Three years later, Bean similarly punched another suspect, identified as F.M., in the face during another arrest.

Every person in our nation has the right to be free from unlawful abuse by police officers, including the use of excessive force during an arrest, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

This verdict makes clear that law enforcement officials who use unlawful force are not above the law. We will not stand idly by in the face of criminal misconduct by law enforcement officials in any part of the country.

Bean is due for sentencing on June 24, where he faces up to 10 years in prison on each of his three guilty charges.
Pastor Jose Hernandez, Director Pam Grindstaff and Senior Pastor Ronnie Bowers pose together at Flint Groves Baptist Church's clothing and food pantry on East Ozark Avenue Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, 2022.

The Spanish ministry at Flint Groves Baptist Church involves more than just a preacher offering a message to several dozen people in their native language each Sunday.

Senior Pastor Ronnie Bowers and the Gastonia church's Spanish-language minister, Jose Hernandez, have teamed up to help the church reach out to one of the fastest growing communities in Gaston County.

Those efforts not only support a spiritual growth, but also a physical one by providing a food bank with the assistance of Spanish-speaking members as well as other services, the two said.

"It has been an amazing experience, and it has been fun seeing different cultures on campus interact and come together," said Bowers.

Gaston County's Hispanic population increased by more than 64% over the past 10 years, from just less than 8,000 residents to more than 20,000, according to the 2020 census.

Flint Groves Baptist Church, located at 2017 E. Ozark Ave., started its Spanish ministry seven years ago to reach out to that growing group of residents that was literally in its own backyard.

"I noticed that East Gastonia has the largest number of Hispanic residents. I really wanted to spread the word of the Lord throughout and that meant bringing in underrepresented communities," said Bowers.

Volunteer Joe Harris and Bob McFalls work together inside Flint and Groves Baptist Church's clothing and food pantry on East Ozark Avenue Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, 2022.

The Spanish-speaking members of the congregation started with around 15 members and now has around 60, said Hernandez, who came to the U.S. 27 years ago from San Miguel, El Salvador, in search of work. The church as a whole counts more than 300 people as members.

"I feel really blessed about the church taking an interest in minorities. It has been a great experience," Hernandez said.

Hernandez delivers a sermon in Spanish each Sunday during a morning service that begins at 11 a.m. The Spanish-speaking group meets in another area than the main sanctuary. Mid-week Bible study in Spanish takes place at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays on the church campus.

Volunteer Beth Harris puts out clothing at the Flint Groves Baptist Church clothing and food pantry on East Ozark Avenue Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, 2022.

But preaching about Jesus only represents part of the church's evangelical efforts. The church also aims to reach people by demonstrating care to the community.

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Those who live within the church's 28054 ZIP code can receive free groceries, clothing and other household items at different times throughout the year. Those outside that immediate area can still receive help, but less frequently.

"We have flyers in Spanish and a translator that works at our food and clothing pantry every Tuesday. We are even working to obtain someone bilingual who can come more consistently," said Bowers.

While providing these services, both pastors said they have one mission, to spread the word to all communities.

"We want to make sure that people who do not speak English still receive what they need," Bowers said.

Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gastonia church increasing outreach to county's Hispanic population
George Farrell told prison staff he wanted to kill and eat his ex-girlfriend. (Reach)

An inmate told prison staff he wanted eat his ex-girlfriend and bring her severed head into a police station, a court has heard.

Prisoner George Farrell, 28, previously of Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, told officials he wanted to kill his former partner and cut off her head, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Farrell, who had already been serving a four-year sentence for burglary offences against his ex, was found guilty of making threats to kill.

He made his shocking threats in an assessment meeting with officials at HMP Northumberland.

Read more: Man charged with murdering 84-year-old mother Lesma Jackson

Prosecutor Stuart Graham told Newcastle Crown Court: "He [Farrell] talked openly about blaming his ex-partner for him being in prison.

"He stated he wanted to kill her by eating parts of her.

"Further, he claimed he wished to take her severed head to the police station, so that he could go to prison for something he had done.

"He also said he would kill his mother and daughter so they wouldn't have to know the person he had become."

Farrell denied making threats to kill and claimed what he had said had been "misconstrued" but was found guilty by a jury after a trial.

George Farrell told staff at HMP Northumberland he wanted to kill his ex-girlfriend. (Reach)

Judge Amanda Rippon said: "I am quite satisfied when he said it, he meant it.

"If he had been free to hurt her she would have been in serious difficulty, serious trouble."

Judge Rippon said Farrell should be classified as a dangerous offender and sentenced him to five years behind bars with a four-year extended licence period.

The judge told him: "You told people in the room you were going to kill her by eating parts of her and would cut her head off and take it to the police station so you could be sentenced for something you had actually done."

George Farrell was found guilty of making threats to kill. (Reach)

Read more: Smash-and-grab raider jailed over notorious 440k Rolex heist

Judge Rippon said the threats were taken "very seriously indeed" and the victim, who was informed of what happened, suffered significant distress and psychological harm.

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The judge said she accepted the threats were not made directly to the victim but that Farrell knew she would have to be told about them.

The court heard that since 2017 Farrell has committed offences of possessing a bladed article, assault, breach of restraining order and burglaries in relation to the same victim.

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CHANGCHUN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Tiger-themed products including shoes, papercraft and jewelry have found renewed favor with customers in China and beyond as the Year of the Tiger is around the corner.

Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, falls on Feb. 1 this year. Tiger is the third of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals, which also include rat, ox, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Stitching the soles, embroidering tiger patterns, sticking the whiskers... after a while, a pair of tiger-head shoes was created by 53-year-old Xu Dahang, a craftswoman for Manchu ethnic clothing in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province.

"This pair of tiger-head shoes was made for a customer from Italy. Shoes and hats bearing tiger elements have gained popularity at home and abroad ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year," said Xu, adding that many Chinese traditionally believe that the image of a tiger would protect toddlers from evil.

"Orders for tiger-themed Manchu ethnic clothes also soared 20 times since last April compared with the same period of the previous year," said Xu, who runs a garment company.

In Chinese culture, the tiger symbolizes boldness, vigor and strength that can drive away disasters and usher in auspiciousness and peace.

Tiger culture has taken root in Hunchun City, which lies in the center of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. Han Shuang, president of the city's Manchu ethnic paper-cutting association, is busy creating vivid tiger papercraft with her colleagues.

"This year, people like to buy paper-cut tiger crafts for window decorations or to display as art. We adopted different techniques to create these tigers in different shapes, combining with Chinese characters and landscapes, to meet various needs of consumers," Han said.

Shopping malls across Chinese cities are filled with tiger-shaped toys and tiger-themed backpacks, jewelry, couplets, biscuits and cakes, among others.

At the duty-free stores in south China's island province of Hainan, tiger elements and red can be seen almost everywhere. Li Chao, a tourist from east China's Zhejiang Province, bought a limited edition eye cream with red packaging featuring a tiger.

"It looks very festive, and conveys a feeling of the Chinese Spring Festival," she said.

Gifts featuring tigers are also a big hit online. On the e-commerce platform Taobao, the Palace Museum sold around 10,000 pieces of tiger-themed cup mats in January.

Since last December, the transaction volume for tiger-themed jewelry had increased 85 times year on year, while the transaction volume for home textiles, gifts and clothes had risen 31 times, 24 times and 14 times, respectively, showed data from the online marketplace JD.com in early January.

On social media video sharing platform TikTok, videos with the hashtag #yearofthetiger have been viewed more than 27 million times.

Many video bloggers put on creative makeup inspired by a tiger face, or showed their protective phone cases or clothes bearing tiger elements. "These will be all the rage," said Li Ping who is engaged in e-commerce business.

"The popularity of tiger-themed commodities can make ancient tiger culture regain its shine. Combining modern elements with traditional festival, people can savor a more authentic and interesting Spring Festival," said Li Qian, a Jilin-based writer and folklore expert. 
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie thought he was quoting Voltaire in a Twitter takedown of Dr Anthony Fauci, but his 18th-century French philosophy appeared to be a bit rusty, as he was actually quoting a paedophile neo-Nazi.

Dr Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, is a frequent target of right-wing attacks for his refusal to go along with former President Donald Trump's talking points during the coronavirus pandemic and his later lionisation among Democrats.

"You mustn't question Fauci, for he is science," Mr Massie tweeted, along with an illustration of a large hand trying to smash tired workers.

He then quoted Voltaire  or at least he thought he did.

"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize," he wrote, attributing it to the French philosopher.

You mustnt question Fauci, for he is science. pic.twitter.com/KnqCcPXWSe  Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 30, 2022

USA Today decided to fact check the quote and found that it was not Voltaire who uttered the lines, but rather Kevin Alfred Strom, an American neo-Nazi who said the line during a 1993 radio broadcast. In 2008, Strom pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse images and was charged with attempting to force a 10-year-old into a sexual relationship.

Strom's group, National Vanguard, fell apart after his conviction.

Former Clinton administration official Elaine Karmack told The Guardian that this was not just typical of Mr Massie, but of the larger Republican party as well.

The guys abominable but thats whats happening to the Republican party. Theyre flat-out nuts. Theres a piece of the Republican party that now supports violence, she said.

Even without the troubling source of the quote, Mr Massies intended point appears to be hollow; no one has ever been punished for criticising Dr Fauci. Conservative lawmakers regularly criticise the doctor without penalty. Mr Trumps former adviser, Steve Bannon, even said he would have put Dr Faucis head on a pike outside the White House to scare others into obedience to the former president, and he faced no repercussions beyond a lashing in the press.

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It was also revealed that the illustration Mr Massie used in his tweet originated as an anti-child labour editorial cartoon. Kendall Brown, a healthcare advocate, pointed out that Mr Massie's use of the cartoon was hypocritical, citing his vote to protect importers who relied on forced labour.

The bill Mr Massie voted against was intended to block the importation of products made by forced labourers in China. He was the only member of Congress to vote against the bill.

Its unclear if Mr Massie was or is currently aware of his misattribution. The post was still up on his Twitter as of Monday afternoon.

The Independent has reached out for comment.

It's not the first time his criticism of coronavirus policies has intersected with the Nazis. In August, one of his staffers quit after the congressman reportedly compared vaccine cards to Nazi policies during the Holocaust.

In Mr Massie's defence, he isn't the first person to misattribute the quote; actor John Cusack made the same mistake in 2019, but later apologised when he learned the quote's origin.
Ground zero: Greedo and Han Solo prepare to shoot one another in Star Wars: A New Hope (Disney/Lucasfilm)

Exploding Death Stars. Duelling lightsabers. Interstellar dogfights. Star Wars: A New Hope had it all. For all the spectacular and instantly iconic scenes to feature in the film, its bizarre that its most controversial set piece is also its simplest: two characters sitting down at a table, shooting the breeze before shooting at each other.

The scene occurs about 50 minutes into the film, shortly after were introduced to Harrison Fords cucumber-cool smuggler Han Solo. Han is pressed into a diner booth by the bounty hunter Greedo  an alien curiosity with big, buggish eyes and green reptilian skin. Greedo points a gun at him, explaining that hes here to collect on Hans debts to local crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Han stalls for time, all the while suavely unholstering his pistol. Then, like a coiled snake, he strikes  shooting dead his unsightly foe. The scene was everything you needed to know about Han Solo. He was no saint, no hero. This was a man who would shoot first and look damn cool doing it. At least, thats how it looked if you were watching it in 1977.

Twenty years later, this was not the case. In 1997, A New Hopes director, George Lucas, oversaw a digitally remastered and revised re-release of the original Star Wars trilogy. The majority of Lucass alterations could at best be described as benign but unnecessary  a previously deleted scene was restored with a CGI Jabba the Hutt; exploding planets were given extra visual oomph. But one change proved too much for fans to stomach.

The fateful meeting between Han and Greedo was changed to exonerate Han of all wrongdoing. Han no longer shot first. Instead, his alien foe somehow missed a shot from near-point-blank range, giving him the chance to rapidly fire in retaliation. Responses to the change ranged from diffident shrugs to incandescent rage: for some fans, this was a betrayal not just of the sanctity of the original film, but of Hans very character. The backlash ballooned into one of the biggest fan-vs-creator debates of all time. In the process, it laid the template for a new era of tortured battles between fans and creators, from Ghostbusters to Justice League.

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Subsequent re-edits of the film have tinkered with the details. A 2004 DVD release saw the two gunmen shoot almost simultaneously; the 2019 version added in some incomprehensible dialogue in which Greedo can be heard saying a gibberish word that many fans heard as maclunkey. The whole matter of who shot who first and how has become so muddied, itd take an expert Cluedo player to get to the bottom of it.

Paul Blake, the actor who played Greedo, has spoken about the scene on multiple occasions, including in an interview with the New York Daily News in 2016. Asked what his thoughts were on the Han shot first debate, he replied: It said it all in the original script. We played the scene in English and at the end of the scene, it reads, Han shoots the alien. It would be lovely to see them go back to the original version  I much preferred it, I must say. Posed the same question, Harrison Fords reply was rather more pithy: I dont care.

For his part, Lucas was clear about his reasoning for the change. I never designed Han to be a ruthless killer, he said. All the good guys shoot in self-defence. He has reiterated numerous times through the years that the Star Wars films are, first and foremost, aimed at children. The fact that so many of the franchises most ardent fans are now adults  and have been for decades  causes no small amount of friction when it comes to the tone and direction of the series itself.

Dont get cocky: Harrison Ford as Han Solo during the fateful showdown with Greedo (not pictured) (LucasFilm)

Little did anyone know at the time, but the Han shot first furore was just the first in a series of protracted disputes between factions of the Star Wars fanbase and the franchises bearded figurehead. After 1997, Lucas would continue to make changes to the original Star Wars trilogy throughout the subsequent two decades, adding in peripheral CGI characters and upgraded effects. His prequel trilogy, beginning with 1999s The Phantom Menace, was reviled by large portions of its audience for, among other things, being too juvenile in its tone. Disneys multi-billion-dollar acquisition of Star Wars in 2012 took the series out of Lucass hands and him out of the firing line, but the struggles between fans and creators continued unabated. Whether its Rian Johnsons polarising Last Jedi, JJ Abrams widely disparaged Rise of Skywalker, or the ill-fated Solo: A Star Wars Story, Disneys commitment to glutting the market with Star Wars properties has long overshadowed any of Lucass so-called transgressions. The time for clutching pearls has long passed. And yet, for many, Han shot first still stings like a laser blast to the gut.

Professor Josef Benson, author of Star Wars: The Triumph of Nerd Culture, says the franchises revolutionary approach to merchandising helped sow the seeds of anti-Lucas backlash. [With A New Hope], Lucas was interested in creating a mythology, and from the very beginning, fans wanted to take part in it, he says. As millions upon millions of action figures flooded the market, Star Wars as a mythology was making an indelible mark on the minds of a whole generation of kids. In this way, fans of the film began to feel a sense of ownership vis-a-vis the films unlike anything that had come before.

Though the initial reaction to the news that Lucas was updating and re-releasing the original trilogy was widely positive, the tide turned when they realised just what this meant for their treasured originals. For fans, this was a power move that made it clear whose world Star Wars actually was, says Benson. Many felt as though the movies were no longer Lucass to change. The so-called flaws in the films were actually what affected people the most, not unlike the cigarette lodged in one of Jackson Pollocks oil paintings.

The Alien: Paul Blake as Greedo, Hans short-lived foe (Lucasfilm)

With Lucass various re-edits now the only widely commercially available versions of A New Hope, it raises a question: who is responsible for preserving the original, charmingly blemished Star Wars experience? Some fans have taken the onus on themselves. Fan-made re-edits of the original trilogy have long circulated online, with restorations such as Harmys Despecialised Edition successfully attempting to replicate the original cuts of the films. Its far from ideal, but these sorts of unofficial backchannels are sometimes how niche or otherwise lost films endure. It seems ludicrous to class a behemoth such as Star Wars as a kind of buried cinephile curiosity, but in its authentic, original form, it is.

In the grand scheme of things, Lucass reviled re-edits arent necessarily the egregious acts of cultural vandalism theyre sometimes made out to be. Dodgy restorations have always been part and parcel of Hollywood  consider the monstrous colourisations of Laurel and Hardy films, or the decision to replace guns with walkie-talkies in the 2002 re-release of ET (a decision Steven Spielberg later walked back). The question of whether Han is a cold-blooded killer  or simply a slow-handed manslaughterer  doesnt really change the rest of the film too much. But it is a matter of principle. Its a debate that is likely to persist long after Lucas has passed on, after Disney have franchised Star Wars into its umpteenth movie trilogy, and after Son of the Mandalorian has entered its eighth season. If theres one thing these films have taught us, its that war is never truly over.
Plans to change the law have emerged in the Benefits of Brexit policy document - Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Criticising political opinions could be treated as hate speech under EU rules for broadcasters carried over into British law after Brexit, the Government fears.

Plans to change the law have emerged in a document marking the second anniversary of Britain formally leaving the EU.

It lays out the post-Brexit reforms planned by ministers, including measures for freeports, financial services legislation, farming subsidies and other sectors once regulated by Brussels.

The Benefits of Brexit policy document also states that laws requiring broadcasters to respect the Charter of EU Fundamental Rights will be rewritten.

It states: It is the Governments intention to replace the EU definition in the Communications Act 2003 with a UK specific measure over the coming months due to our concerns about the chilling effect it has on free speech."

Fear of prosecutions over political opinions

The measure is carried over from the EUs Audiovisual and Media Services Directive, which bans broadcasters and streaming services from inciting violence or hatred against people for a string of reasons.

These include sex, race, colour, ethnic and genetic features, language, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and political or any other opinion.

There are fears in government that this is too broad and that Ofcom, the media regulator, could interpret the rules in a way that could lead to hate speech prosecutions over criticism of political opinion.

There are also concerns it could lead to programme makers self-censoring to prevent possible prosecution. In 2020, episodes of comedy shows Little Britain and Fawlty Towers were removed from streaming services over the use of blackface and racial slurs.

Concerns over leftover EU legislation

Many EU laws, including the Audio Visual and Media Services Directive, were transferred wholesale into British law before Brexit took legal effect.

A taskforce - led by Lord Frost, the former Brexit negotiator - raised concerns over allowing the leftover EU legislation to remain in British law at a meeting with officials from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in January 2020.

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It said transposing EU rules into British legislation could create a myriad of problems in the future. However, with the Brexit transition period and intense trade negotiations with Brussels looming, the fears were put on the backburner.

An official analysis was ordered into the issue, but later shelved after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The broadcasting law was a piece of legislation which we didn't necessarily agree with at the time when we were in the European Union, a source said: In some quarters of the Government, there are very strong views on this.

David Jones, a former Brexit minister, said: "The Charter of Fundamental Rights no longer applies to the UK, as a consequence of our withdrawal from the EU.

It is therefore good news that the Communications Act is to be amended so as to ensure that British standards of free speech are supported and not undermined."

The Benefits of Brexit document also promises that hundreds of millions of pounds once spent on student loans for EU students on the Erasmus exchange programme will be reinvested in training British residents as part of the levelling up agenda.
Headlines in History

What was making news in our area during this week in years past? The History Museum offers these newspaper excerpts to give you an idea.

Jan. 30, 1902: An Oliver Chilled plow has created a sensation in Balanga, Bataan. Supervisor Vance, who has established quite an experimental farm near the provincial capital introduced the implement and it made him famous in the eyes of the natives. One native, who has mastered the mysteries of holding down the plow handle, has gained such notoriety throughout the province for his accomplishment that he is liable to head the granger ticket for governor of the province at the next election.  The South Bend Tribune

Jan. 31, 1916: A mass meeting of all the women interested in suffrage will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 oclock in the High school auditorium. Miss Florence Wattles, of Kokomo, Ind., who has been working in the city for the Indiana Equal Suffrage association, will preside at the meeting. Miss Wattles spent three months last fall in New Jersey and New York and will address the women on the features of the eastern campaign.  The South Bend Tribune

Feb. 1, 1922: Beautiful scenes of nature are shown upon the screen in Gods Country and the Law, James Oliver Curwoods story of the north woods which appears at the Temple theater for the last time today.  The South Bend Tribune

Feb. 2, 1930: Max Baer, age 17, of the Central Senior high school was announced as the local winner of the local Paris peace pact essay contest Saturday by W. A. Butcher, head of the history department.  The South Bend Tribune

Feb. 3, 1945: Indiana, Michigan and Illinois today remained unaffected by a war production board order prohibiting some states from using natural or mixed heating gas in amusement places. Some confusion resulted here Friday when these three states were included in a WPB order placing a 72-hour embargo on use of gas in 10 states and the District of Columbia.  The South Bend Tribune

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Feb. 4, 1958: South Bend residents and visitors have paid $1,004,443.15 since October, 1948, for the privilege of parking on downtown streets regulated by parking meters. The million mark was passed on Jan. 10, according to City Controller Frank J. Bruggner, who said the January collections were $9,051.  The South Bend Tribune

Feb. 5, 1962: The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners today decided to make a formal request to relocate the old courthouse in the Plaza Park, at the northwest corner of the Lafayette Blvd. and W. South St. The commissioners said they will make the request of the South Bend Board of Park Commissioners. The County Board said they are convinced the Plaza Park site is the best available for the courthouse that now contains the Northern Indiana Historical Society Museum.  The South Bend Tribune

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What made news the last week of January in South Bend in history
Helen George attends the British Academy Television Awards 2016 (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Helen George has hit back at trolls after she found herself being shamed for choosing to film Call The Midwife while she was pregnant.

The 37-year-old actor, who confirmed the arrival of her second child in November, made the surprising revelation that some viewers had been sending cruel messages about her choice to work during her pregnancy.

After a new episode aired on Sunday, the Trixie Franklin actor wrote: Ive seen too many ridiculous comments about my pregnancy whilst filming Call The Midwife (also thank you for the lovely comments!)

Read more: Helen George faces snobbery at auditions over Call the Midwife role

Women get pregnant, our bodies change. But we have the right to work if we choose to do so. How about just supporting it, and dont question it?

Helen George as nurse Trixie Franklin in Call The Midwife (BBC/Nealstreet Productions/Matt Towers)

One of the offending tweets, which was sent from an account that has now been deleted, had read: It's very unprofessional in my opinion, it's not as if it's filmed all year round. It's a short window. She should quit if she wants to pregnant during filming. It ruins the continuity and aesthetics of the show.

Ive seen too many ridiculous comments about my pregnancy whilst filming @CallTheMidwife1 ( also thank you for the lovely comments!) Women get pregnant, our bodies change. But we have the right to work if we choose to do so. How about just supporting it, and dont question it?  Helen George (@helen_george) January 30, 2022

George's tweet led to a chorus of fans speaking out in her defence as one commented: Funny how nobody commented on me travelling to an office everyday, but for an actress (who is probably happy doing a job they adore) its somehow an issue? People have too much time in their hands!

Georges co-star Olly Rix also condemned the tweet as he wrote: "Take a bow, Fanny. Dumbest f***ing tweet of the night."

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Helen George and partner Jack Ashton attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Elsewhere, another critic had commented: i love that helen george is so obviously pregnant like they really are trying their best to hide it but its not working too well".

This led another fan to speak out as they replied: Was obvious you were pregnant as you were absolutely blooming. However, this did not distract from the story line and we all look forward to your return for the next series. Love your character."

Helen George as nurse Trixie Franklin in Call The Midwife (BBC/Nealstreet Productions/Matt Towers)

Last year, Helen announced she had given birth to her daughter Lark with a photo of her partner and co-star Jack Ashton, who starred as Reverend Tom Hereward from series three of the hit drama series.

Watch: Call The Midwife - Season 10 trailer
Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston announced Sunday he was "completely" stepping down from church leadership as he prepares to defend himself against a charge of concealing child sex abuse.

Houston, 67, was charged last August after being accused of knowing his preacher father, Frank, allegedly abused a boy in the 1970s, but he did not come forward with the information to police and allowed his father to retire quietly.

"These allegations came as a shock to me, and it is my intention to vigorously defend them," Houston said in a statement on the Hillsong website.

During a board meeting in December, Houston was advised by Hillsong's external legal counsel that it would be best to step aside during court proceedings, according to the statement.

'I vehemently profess my innocence': Hillsong megachurch founder Brian Houston charged with concealing child sex offenses

Video: R Kelly found guilty, convicted of racketeering in sex-trafficking trial

"I have said, including in a prior statement, that I intend to fight the charge and welcome the opportunity to set the record straight," he said.

Houston and his wife, Bobbie, founded Hillsong Church in Australia in 1983. For nearly four decades, the church has grown to include celebrity attendees at locations in 30 countries.

Hillsong Church pastor Carl Lentz was fired in November 2020 after he displayed leadership issues and narcissistic behavior, Houston told "Today" in an exclusive interview last May. Lentz had relationships with celebrities including Justin Bieber, who lived at his home.

'Carl was Carl': Megachurch founder says ex-pastor Carl Lentz had 'leadership issues' in interview

I have reflected many, many times, and I'm acknowledging that mistakes have been made and that there are things where we need to get far better, much better. I'm not shrinking back from that, Houston said during the interview.

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Houston has been based in the USA in recent months, and he and his wife plan to remain "fully engaged in church life."

Contributing: The Associated Press

Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston steps down to fight court case
An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer who was caught on video punching a Shortridge High School student will avoid jail time after a judge sentenced him Monday to 363 days probation for an official misconduct conviction.

Robert Lawson was declared guilty by a jury in November of official misconduct and perjury, both felonies. He also was declared guilty of false informing, a misdemeanor. Jurors found that he made a false statement while under oath about the circumstances surrounding his confrontation with the student.

Lawson was acquitted of misdemeanor battery at the trial. The jury did not reach a verdict on a fifth charge, felony obstruction of justice, and on Monday prosecutors allowed the court to throw that charge out.

Lawson has been suspended without pay since the August 2019 incident. An IMPD spokesperson said the Civilian Police Merit Board will host a hearing to decide if Lawson should be terminated. John Kautzman, one of Lawson's attorneys, implied to the court Monday the felony conviction means Lawson will likely lose his job.

In December, Lawson's attorneys requested the court merge the convictions, arguing that Lawson was at risk of criminal jeopardy because all three stemmed from the same criminal offense. Judge Charnette D. Garner on Monday responded by vacating the charges of perjury and false informing.

His attorneys also tried to convince the judge that Lawson's felony should be converted into a misdemeanor.

They called on two witnesses to give testimony during the sentencing: an IMPD officer who was Lawson's former partner, and a former colleague who worked with Lawson at a home building company before Lawson became an IMPD officer. They testified about Lawson's character and attempted to show how being sentenced for a felony would disrupt his employment and ability to provide financially for his family.

The judge did not grant that request at sentencing but said he will receive the conversion if he successfully completes probation.

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Garner said while she had considered statements praising his character, the fact that he committed the crime as a police officer weighed heavily on her decision.

"We ask our citizens to trust our law enforcement officers," she said.

More: IMPD officer who punched Shortridge High student in 2019 guilty of official misconduct

'You wanna go to jail?'

Lawson and another IMPD officer were dispatched to Shortridge High School on Aug. 29, 2019, to help Indianapolis Public Schools Police Department officers break up a fight in a hallway between students. An aunt of one of the students arrived at the school. Officers handcuffed her nephew and IPSPD Sgt. Marzetta Jenkins walked him to meet her.

When she saw her nephew in handcuffs, she started yelling and cursing at Jenkins. She asked why her nephew was being restrained "since he was the victim," according to court documents.

As she continued yelling at officers, Lawson threatened to arrest her. "You wanna go to jail? You wanna go to jail?" he told her. Then Lawson attempted to grab her arm and she pulled away, according to video of the incident.

IMPD chief: Punch in Shortridge High School incident captured on video was 'not taught or reasonable'

Her nephew stepped in front of Lawson after she pulled away. Lawson looked at the 17-year-old and swung his right fist at him, landing a punch to the student's left neck and jaw, according to police. Then Lawson put his hands on the back of the student's neck and shoulder, and pulled him down. The student told an IMPD detective that Lawson kneed him in the chest.

No charges were filed against the student.

'Open hand palm strike'

The description of the incident that Lawson gave in sworn testimony was contradicted by spectator video and Jenkins, the IPSPD officer who witnessed the scene.

In a probable cause affidavit, Lawson claimed he advised the student's aunt she would be arrested for disorderly conduct if she didn't stop accosting him. He said he told her to put her arms behind her back. But IMPD detective John Howard, who investigated Lawson after the incident, said video shows Lawson asking the woman if she wants to go to jail.

Lawson also claimed he "threw an open hand palm strike" in his affidavit. Howard concluded that Lawson hit the student "with a closed fist with a protruding thumb, not a palm strike," according to court documents.

Lawson said in the affidavit that Jenkins stated she saw the student swing his fist at Lawson "a split second" before Lawson struck him. When Howard interviewed her after the incident, Jenkins denied that claim.

More: Indianapolis police officer on leave after video shows him appearing to strike Shortridge student

Lawson speaks at sentencing

At his Monday sentencing, Lawson read a statement expressing remorse for his actions.

"Could I have done better? Of course I could have," he said, reading from a prepared document. His hands shook as he held its pages.

"I never intended to personally mislead anyone," he added. "I've lost my job, and I've lost my pension."

Lawson told the judge he was unsure if he would appeal the sentence.

In November 2020 the student sued Lawson, Indianapolis Public Schools and the city of Indianapolis. The lawsuit is ongoing.

Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police officer who lied about punching teen gets probation
by Tichaona Chifamba

HARARE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The generality of Zimbabweans has literally abandoned most COVID-19 prevention protocols, as numbers of infections and related deaths continue to recede.

Only 45 infections and four deaths were reported on Sunday, with a positivity rate of 4.5 percent.

The country is currently under Level 2 lockdown measures, which have seen a relaxation of earlier protocols with businesses now allowed to operate at full capacity while all employees can report to work at the same time.

With schools reopening Feb. 7 after a long break which had been occasioned by a surge in infections, there will be more activity in the commuter transport sector where unregistered motor vehicles continue to be used to transport students to and from school.

Preventive measures instituted for public bars and nightclubs are apparently not working since patrons are not being asked to prove that they have received their full vaccinations for COVID-19.

It is business as usual in markets and other public places as people go about without wearing face masks and not keeping the stipulated social distance between two people.

One vendor who spoke to Xinhua at a shopping center in Harare's Highfield high-density suburb said it was difficult to conduct business, especially in the informal sector, while wearing face masks and observing the stipulated social distancing.

"First, we have to survive. We always remain wary of the police and quickly wear the masks as soon as we spot them," he said on condition of anonymity.

"Can you imagine yourself shouting for customers to look at your wares while wearing a face mask? We have to strike a balance between surviving economically and surviving healthwise," he said.

Zimbabwe's national COVID-19 coordinator Agnes Mahomva has once again advised people to relax as the pandemic, which has so far killed 5,337 people from 229,460 infections as of Jan. 30, remained a threat.

She urged those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as a preventive measure.

As of Saturday, nearly 3.3 million people had received their two doses of vaccines, while 55,381 had gone for the booster shots.

Mahomva said while the government had relaxed the measures, it was important that people remained vigilant.

"We are happy that the number of COVID-19 cases has continued to go down. We are, however, not yet out of the woods," she said.

Mahomva said the easing of lockdown measures had been necessitated by science but added that vaccination should continue.

"The virus caught us by surprise and anything can happen," she said.

"We should not relax, but continue with vaccinations and strict adherence to all COVID-19 preventive measures such as masking and sanitizing. It is important to remain vigilant," she said. 
Italys former royal family would like their crown jewels back.

More than 75 years after they given the boot from the Boot, the House of Savoy has started the formal process to get its collection of extravagant jewelry returned, according to Vanity Fair. Descendants of the abolished monarchy claim that they only want the jewels back because they hold sentimental value and not because they happen to be valued at well north of $300 million.

More from Robb Report

If you didnt know Italy had a royal family, theres a very good reason for thatthey were deposed and exiled in 1946. The House of Savoy was established in the Western Alps in the 11th century and led unification of the country in 1860. Then, in the leadup to World War II, King Victor Emmanuel III decided to ally with Benito Mussolini. We all know how that turned out, and a year after the end of the war, the Italian public voted to replace the monarchy with a republic.

Following this referendum, the disgraced royals were exiled from the county and all male descendants were forbidden from entering Italy. On their way out of the country, though, the last ruling monarch, Umberto II, deposited the familys crown jewels, which consists of 26 pieces encrusted with more than 6,000 diamonds and 2,000 pearls, in a vault at the Bank of Italy, along with a note reading, To be returned to the rightful owner.

In 2002, the exile was lifted and members of the Savoy family were allowed to return to Italy. Now, 20 years later, it seems that theyd like their collection of jewelrywhich include pieces used for state occasions as well as those purchased with public moneyback as well. Last November, the family formally declared ownership over the jewels, and last week their representative sat down for a mediation meeting with the government, according to Italys Corriere Della Sera.

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Complicating the matter could be the fact that the jewels, which have languished in the vault since they were deposited, are valued at 300 million, or about $337 million. Of course, Umberto IIs grandson, investment banker and media personality Prince Emanuele Filiberto (pictured above), told The Telegraph that his family couldnt care less about that.

Italy should do what is right and fitting and restore the jewels to my family, he said in an interview with the UK paper last week. The monetary value of the jewels doesnt interest us. What is more important is the historical and sentimental value that they have for the family.

Yes, yes, yeswho wouldnt believe that? Its not like that $300 mil could be used for any other fun family endeavorslike buying food trucks, perhaps? At any rate, one thing we are certain of: The jewels values mean this story has a few more twists and turns left in it. Stay tuned.

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Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Japanese game company Koei Tecmo, the firm behind the "Attack on Titan" video games (pictured above), wants fans to stop sending Valentine's Day and White Day chocolates to its offices. Koei Tecmo

A Japanese game company is asking fans not to send them Valentine's Day gifts meant for in-game characters.

Fans have been sending chocolates meant for fictional characters for Valentine's Day and White Day.

Game developers Koei Tecmo tweeted a statement saying all gifts will be declined this year.

A Japanese video game company is fending off gifts from fans, requesting that they not send Valentine's Day chocolates or other gifts meant for in-game characters over to their offices.

In a statement on January 26, Japanese game development firm Koei Tecmo requested that fans not send over gifts meant for their favorite in-game characters to their offices. Gifts are typically sent on Valentine's Day and White Day, Japan's "reverse Valentine's Day" on March 14, where men who receive presents are expected to return the favor.

According to Koei Tecmo's website, the company is headquartered in Yokohama but has offices in downtown Tokyo and central Kyoto.

Koei Tecmo is known for games including "A.O.T. Wings of Freedom" and "Attack on Titan 2," an action game based on the hit anime series "Attack on Titan." Some of the company's top games also feature dashing warriors, animated Japanese generals, and bikini-clad women.

In February, Koei Tecmo will release the much-hyped "Touken Ranbu Warriors," which features anthropomorphized weapons that take the form of handsome swordsmen.

"Thank you for always supporting us and our work. We want to express our thanks to those who have, in the past, sent presents to our staff and to the characters who appear in our games," the company wrote.

"Many staff members are now working from home due to COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures. After we considered the difficulties that staff may face in receiving these packages and possible health and safety concerns, this year, we will be declining presents sent for Valentine's Day and White Day," the statement read.

"We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Our employees will continue to work hard to brighten the world with our work," the company added.

Read the original article on Insider
Jet Blue passengers sleep on the floor outside a Starbucks in JFK International Airport after delays left planes stranded on the tarmac for hours. (Twitter/@mistertrev0r)

Travelers at JFK International Airport were left furious after they were "held hostage" in JetBlue airplanes that were stuck on the tarmac for hours.

The situation unfolded Sunday night. Delays compounded, and at one point approximately 20 planes were stranded on the tarmac. Some of those planes remained on the tarmac for hours as they could not access a gate.

One passenger reportedly urinated in their seats because they could not access a bathroom, and another reportedly had a panic attack.

The effected customers flooded JetBlue with complaints and criticism, alleging that the company refused to cancel its flights until the last minute, exacerbating the delay.
Shortly after Spotify announced that it would add a 'content advisory' to COVID-19 podcast episodes, Joe Rogan has issued his own response to the controversy. In a video uploaded to Instagram, he apologized to Spotify for the backlash that saw Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and other artists remove their music from the platform. He also defended his his decision to book controversial guests, while promising to "balance things out" with differing opinions.

"Some of my ideas are not that prepared or fleshed out because Im literally having them in real time, but I do my best and theyre just conversations, and I think thats also the appeal of the show," he said in the video. "Its one of the things that makes it interesting. So I want to thank Spotify for being so supportive during this time, and Im very sorry that this is happening to them and that theyre taking so much from it."

Two of his most controversial guests, Dr. Peter McCullough and Dr. Robert Malone, made multiple unproven claims related to COVID-19. Malone, for example, falsely claimed that "mass formation psychosis" is what led people to believe that vaccines are effective against COVID-19. That episode in particular led a group of over 1,000 doctors, nurses, scientists and educators to send an open letter to Spotify demanding that it create a misinformation policy.

In his video, Rogan said that those guests are "highly credentialed, very intelligent, very accomplished people, and they have an opinion that is different from the mainstream narrative. I wanted to hear what their opinion is." He also disputed the episodes being labeled "misinformation," saying that many of their opinions are shared by mainstream listeners.

Rogan has also drawn criticism for spreading COVID-19 misinformation himself. He has said that hospitals are financially motivated to record COVID as the cause of death, and has promoted the anti-parasitic treatment ivermectin as a means of treating COVID symptoms  something that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called "dangerous."

"I'm not a doctor. Im not a scientist. Im just a person who sits down and talks to people and has conversations with them," he said. "Do I get things wrong? Absolutely. I get things wrong, but I try to correct them whenever I get something wrong. Im interested in finding out what the truth is, and Im interested in having interesting conversations with people that have differing opinions. Im not interested in only talking to people that have one perspective."

Rogan said he agrees with Spotify's plan to apply advisory labels to episodes related to COVID-19, and promised to have experts with differing opinions following controversial guests. "I will do my best to try to balance out these more controversial viewpoints with other peoples perspectives so we can maybe find a better point of view," he said.
Jury selection is underway in the capital murder trial of a Plano man accused of killing a 22-year-old Fort Worth woman in her apartment near the Texas Christian University campus.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against 28-year-old Reginald Kimbro, who Fort Worth detectives believe strangled Molly Jane Matheson, a young woman who Kimbro had dated.

Molly Jane Matheson

Kimbro also is accused of another murder in Plano and several sexual assaults in North Texas.

Jury selection in the Fort Worth case will take several days because prosecutors and defense attorneys are interviewing potential jurors on an individual basis as allowed by law, court officials said..

The trial date is scheduled for March 22 in Criminal District Court No. 213 in Fort Worth.

A mistrial was previously declared during the jury selection process in August 2020. Restrictions meant to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus ended the jury selection process for Kimbros trial in 2020.

Kimbro was arrested April 24, 2017, by Fort Worth police in connection with Mathesons death. Her body was found April 10, 2017, by her mother in the shower of her Fort Worth apartment near TCU.

Police allege Kimbro, who had previously dated Matheson, raped and strangled the young woman, then washed her body, clothes and bedding in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Matheson grew up in Winter Park, Florida, before moving to Fort Worth with her family in 2010. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Arkansas. She left the school in 2015 and returned to Fort Worth.

At the time of her death in 2017, she was working as a sales manager at a womens clothing store in the University Park Village shopping center. Mathesons mother learned that she had not arrived for a scheduled shift and found her body when she went to check on her.

Mathesons death led the Texas legislature in 2019 to approve Molly Janes Law, which requires law enforcement officers investigating a sexual assault to input information into a national database which is maintained by the FBI.

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Kimbro has also been accused of attacking 36-year-old Megan Leigh Getrum of Plano as she hiked at the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.

Getrums body was found in Lake Ray Hubbard, about 30 miles away in Dallas, on April 19, 2017. Kimbro has been linked to the sexual assaults and murders of Matheson and Getrum through DNA, officials have said.

Court records show that Kimbro was also indicted by a Collin County grand jury on two counts of sexual assault stemming from the rape of a woman at a party in Allen on Jan. 19, 2014. The victim was found in the a yard lying by a fence.
Kyle Trevor Flack was sentenced to the death penalty in 2016 for the capital murder convictions of Kaylie Bailey, 21, and her daughter, Lana Bailey. He also was convicted in the deaths of Andrew Stout and Steven White.

Kansas highest court wrestled Monday with whether a man invoked his right to remain silent before making statements that were key to him being convicted of capital murder in the fatal shootings of three adults and a toddler.

Kyle Trevor Flack is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn his death sentence and convictions for capital murder and other crimes. A jury in Franklin County, about 50 miles southwest of Kansas City, found him guilty in 2016 of the April 2013 shootings of Kaylie Bailey, 21, from the Kansas City area; her 18-month-old daughter, Lana; Andrew Stout, 30, of Ottawa in Franklin County, and Steven White, 31, also from Ottawa.

The adults bodies were found on a farm, while the toddlers body was found in a suitcase in a rural creek.

Flacks state-appointed attorney for his appeal raised numerous issues both about his trial and the separate hearing in which the jury recommended the death penalty. But the Kansas Supreme Courts hearing Monday focused heavily on whether prosecutors should have been allowed to present as evidence incriminating statements Flack made about Whites murder.

Defense attorney says incriminating statements key to conviction

Capital appellate defender Clayton Perkins said prosecutors built their case against Flack on his incriminating statements. Perkins said that when officers interrogated Flack, he made statements nine times showing that he wanted to remain silent and end the interrogation, including, Take me to jail! Take me to jail! Take me to jail!

That is something that objectively reasonable officers would recognize as an invocation of these rights, Perkins told the court.

But Kristafer Ailslieger, the states assistant solicitor general, argued that before his incriminating statements, Flack never told officers explicitly that he wanted to end the interview.

It has to be clear and unambiguous, Ailslieger said, quoting the U.S. Supreme Courts standard on the issue. Which we dont have in this case.

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Flack is one of nine men on death row in Kansas, which has not executed anyone since 1965. The Supreme Court is expected to take at least several months to issue a ruling in Flacks case.

Even after Flacks trial, it wasnt clear what led to the shootings, which detectives believe happened over separate days. The defense argued that Flack, who was 28 at the time of the crimes and is now 36, suffered from a severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices throughout adulthood.

Prosecutors said they had strong circumstantial evidence linking Flack to the crimes in addition to his incriminating statements.

Supreme Court justices ponder intent to end interview vs. 'magic words'

The courts seven justices peppered both sides with questions about whether Flacks statements about wanting to be taken to jail in effect was a demand to end his interrogation so that he could remain silent and rely on his constitutional right not to incriminate himself. Officers eventually did cut off their interview.

The clear and unambiguous way to end an interview is to say, Im done talking. Were done here. Im not talking anymore, Justice Caleb Stegall said. That doesnt happen here.

Yet Justice Evelyn Wilson wondered whether Flack had to use magic words to invoke his right to remain silent.

Justice Dan Biles said the video recording of the interrogation suggested that one officer understood that Flack wanted to stop it, and she told him, Help yourself, Kyle, which seemed to be a signal to keep talking.

And Im troubled by that, Biles said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kyle Flack wants Kansas Supreme Court to overturn death sentence
Traffic travels along Sloop Point Loop Road Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The NCDOT is looking at a project to improve traffic at the intersection of Sloop Point Loop Road and Country Club Drive.

As a resident of Hampstead, Pender County Commissioner David Williams is concerned about the intersection of Country Club Drive and Sloop Point Loop Road.

It's something that state and local transportation officials are worried about, too. Williams lives on Doral Drive, a road with an entrance not too far from the intersection. The traffic problem is something he witnesses every day when leaving his house or going home.

"I do feel that something should be done there as it has gotten much more congested and dangerous," Williams stated.

An all-way stop or roundabout is probably a solution to make the area safer for drivers through a collaboration effort between the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO). It's now on a list for potential state funding.

According to NCDOT, an all-way stop is an effective and cost-efficient way to improve the safety of an intersection and reduce the risk of serious crashes. Converting intersections into all-way stops has been shown to reduce fatalities and injuries by 77%.

Roundabouts are built to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. They also help reduce the congestion and backups more typical of traditional intersections with stop signs and traffic signals.

A 2020 study shows that after roundabouts replaced 13 intersections with 55 mph speed limits, total crashed decreased by 41%, while fatal and injuries went down by 79%. Frontal impact crashes also went down 62%. Similar results were also reported after 30 more roundabouts were constructed across North Carolina.

Like us on Facebook: Head to Pender Today to join the conversation on county events and issues

Jessi Leonard, traffic engineer for NCDOT Division 3, said two potential projects are being considered for the area. The WMPO submitted Sloop Point Loop Road and Country Club Drive and Doral Drive as a proposed project for realigning an offset intersection.

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"A roundabout has come forward as the proposed treatment," Leonard stated. "The feasibility study for the roundabout is ongoing and will allow an estimate to be developed for it to compete in prioritization. Since this is not currently a funded project, we are unable to provide an expected project timeline."

Due to requests associated with Sloop Point Loop in the area of a new multi-use path, Leonard said NCDOT reviewed several intersections in the vicinity. This included Country Club Drive, Doral Drive, Strawberry Fields Way, and Middle Point Road.

"The study considered crashes and counts for both vehicles and pedestrians. Based on the findings and input from our statewide Congestion Management unit, we are pursuing an all-way stop at Sloop Point Loop Road and Country Club Drive," Leonard stated.

It's estimated that the all-way stop conversion will cost about $13,000. A proposal was submitted to compete for statewide safety funding.

"This project has not been selected for funding to date, so we are unable to provide an expected project timeline," Leonard said.

More: As traffic intensifies in 'Wreckstead,' can the U.S. 17 Hampstead Bypass arrive sooner?

More: What's coming to Pender County in 2022? Four developments to watch.

Mike Kozlosky, executive director of the Wilmington MPO, said organization submitted the project to NCDOT. The department has a prioritization process with collaboration with the WMPO. Projects with the highest score are later funded in the state's transportation program.

The intersection improvements are part of the Cape Fear Transportation Plan 2040, which is a metropolitan transportation goal for the Wilmington area. Kozlosky said there's an extensive amount of work that goes into this, which requires the plan to be updated every five years.

Traffic travels along Sloop Point Loop Road Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The NCDOT is looking at a project to improve traffic at the intersection of Sloop Point Loop Road and Country Club Drive.

When officials were studying the intersection, Kozlosky said there 11 crashes in a four-year time span.

The mission of the WMPO is to create and execute continuing corporative and comprehensive regional long range planning efforts that proactively drive transportation decisions to improve safety, connectivity, economic development, and quality of life in the Wilmington region. They are required by federal law to conduct plans and long-range goals for the area.

"It's important that we develop projects and solutions to meet the growth of the area," Kozlosky said while referring to safety project in Hampstead. "We got various needs and we need to program our dollars in an efficient and effective matter."

Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 'Dangerous' Hampstead intersection receives attention of NCDOT
I am writing to ask residents of the North Kitsap School District to support our levies. It is our schools, our teachers, and our children who will be hurt if we fail to support them.

Teachers and other education staff have described levels of social, emotional and behavioral dysfunction in students not seen prior to COVID. Many of our teachers are under severe stress due to the educational and mental health expectations placed on them. To fail levies at this time would only compound these stresses for students and staff.

Nor can we turn a blind eye to the near future. There are hundreds of new houses being built in North Kitsap. Those moving into our community as well as current residents need a school system to be proud of. The proposed levies are not new taxes; they replace those due to run out at the end of the fiscal year. Accounting for 15% of the district budget, the operating levy provides for aides, nurses, counselors, after school activities, sports and the arts, and augments maintenance, transportation and utility budgets, among other things. The facilities and technology levy will allow the district to continue maintenance improvements to buildings and prepare for the growth headed our way, continue to upgrade technology and enhance school security.

These levies are critical for ensuring quality in our schools. Your yes vote on both North Kitsap School District levy proposals will send a clear message of support to our students and staff.

Pat Bennett-Forman, Poulsbo

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Levy vote can send a message that we support students
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist was killed during an intense exchange of fire with security forces in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Monday.

The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Dossali area of North Waziristan district of the province, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The operation was carried out upon reported presence of terrorists in the area, the ISPR statement said.

Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist during the operation, the statement added.

According to the ISPR, the terrorist was involved in terrorist activities against security forces, targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom. 
A composite image showing former Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R.) Getty/Hasan Bratic/picture alliance via Getty Images

Pegasus is a powerful software from NSO Group that lets governments surveil electronics.

Israel's defense ministry stopped Saudi Arabia from using Pegasus in 2020, NYT Magazine said.

So MBS personally called Netanyahu and told him he needed to intervene, the magazine said.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene after his country blocked Saudi Arabia from accessing the powerful, Israeli-made Pegasus spyware, The New York Times Magazine reported.

Pegasus, a tool made by Israel's NSO Group for governments to spy on the electronics of terrorists and criminals, has also been used by governments including Saudi Arabia to spy on activists, state critics, and foreign officials.

In October 2020, the Israeli defense ministry declined to renew NSO's export license to a Saudi security agency, citing Riyadh's past abuse of Pegasus, the magazine said.

The lack of a new license meant that NSO could not update the Pegasus software for the Saudis, and it started crashing, the report said.

This prompted Crown Prince Mohammed to call Netanyahu, the magazine reported.

After the call, Netanyahu ordered the defense ministry to solve the issue and a new export license was granted within hours, giving Saudi authorities full use of Pegasus, the report said.

NSO, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC, and the Israeli defense ministry did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

NSO first welcomed Saudi Arabia as a client in 2017 but canceled the contract in late 2018 after the Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi was found to be murdered by Saudi state security agents.

The Post reported that the phone of Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's wife, was infected with the Pegasus software.

Despite this, Saudi Arabia's access to Pegasus was restored by NSO in early 2019, the magazine said.

In November, the US added NSO to a banned-entity list, preventing American companies from engaging with NSO.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 21-year-old Caldwell woman  who is charged with 11 felonies against children  is on the run from authorities after she failed to appear for a hearing.

Karla Ester Ramirez was arrested and charged in January 2021 with five counts of lewd conduct with children under 16 and six counts of sexual exploitation of a child, according to online court records.

Ramirez missed a change of plea hearing on Jan. 3, causing a bench warrant to be issued against her, according to online records.

We are working with local, state and federal agencies to locate Karla Ramirez and return her to the state to face court proceedings, Meridian Police Department spokesperson Kelsey Johnston told the Idaho Statesman by phone.

Johnston referred the Statesman to the Ada County Prosecutors Office for additional information. Emily Lowe, the spokesperson for the prosecutors office, did not provide any additional details.

The Ada County Prosecutors Office told KTVB that Ramirez disabled her ankle monitor before going on the run.

Ramirez had a jury trial set in November 2021, but it was canceled due to COVID-19, court records show.

Family members of the accusers have created a Facebook page, CATCH KARLA RAMIREZ, to spread awareness. They are offering $10,000 for any information that results in Ramirezs arrest.

Ramirez posted bond in February 2021. It was set at $750,000.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A day after residents in a Mexican town dominated by a drug cartel claimed soldiers fired on a protest and wounded several people, the army on Sunday said its troops were attacked.

The Defense Department said army patrols around the town and a couple of other villages in the western state of Michoacan were attacked Saturday four times with explosives, homemade armored cars and gunfire that wounded 10 soldiers.

The army accused townspeople of acting as the social base of the Jalisco drug cartel, which has been trying to make inroads into Michoacan. Soldiers detained six protesters and nine suspected cartel members while confiscating nine rifles and tactical gear with Jalisco cartel logos, the army said.

The clash occurred in an area where the Jalisco cartel is fighting a bloody turf war with gangs from Michoacan. The two sides have used trenches, sharpshooters and bombs dropped by drones in battling each other. Increasingly, civilians have found themselves on the front lines of the fighting.

The main incident involved protesters from the Jalisco-dominated town of Lomas Blancas. They say their anger stems from what they see as government policy favoring the Michoacan-based Viagras cartel. The Jalisco cartel has encouraged, and some say forced, people to join the protests.

Soldiers are in a difficult position in Michoacan. The government strategy has been to repel attempts by the Jalisco cartel to gain territory in the state, but do little or nothing about the Viagras, who set up roadblocks to extort money from inhabitants.

Soldiers have apparently been ordered just to keep rival cartels apart, but that angers townspeople in Jalisco-dominated towns like Loma Blanca, because soldiers dont prevent the Viagras from operating.

The area raises limes and cattle, and the Viagras gang has imposed a war tax on outbound shipments of those products and on inbound supplies.

Protesters, who have faced off with soldiers before, are demanding the army open the roads and act with equal force against both cartels.

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The protesters provided video of parts of the clash, showing demonstrators and soldiers engaged in shoving, shouting and rock throwing on both sides. In the video, detonations can be heard, but those may have been tear gas canisters or warning shots.

Protest organizer Jose Francisco Helizondo said several protesters were wounded by some kind of live fire.

Video of one of the men appears to show shrapnel or shotgun pellets in his leg. Officials said those wounds may have been caused by explosives.
It was strange enough when Gerson Monfort went missing around New Years Eve. He failed to show up for work and for his weekly game of dominoes with friends and wasnt answering texts or phone calls.

But his disappearance became far more troubling a little over a week later after police released a flier with his picture asking for the publics help in identifying him. Friends are baffled and worried.

The picture is him, said Monforts friend Elson Loisius. A detective called me about a week ago. Gerson has lots of friends, but hes very scared of police. I dont know why.

The flier spelled out that MIami police detectives had arrested a couple, Marie and Occius Dorsainvil, a few days earlier and charged them with armed robbery, attempted murder and kidnapping and that the then-unidentified man pictured on the flier may have additional information on the case.

Police didnt initially say if they believed Monfort, 43, was a potential victim, if he knew the couple that had been charged or had been involved in any possible crimes. On Monday, Assistant Miami Police Chief Armando Aguilar Jr., said Monfort was not a suspect, but wouldnt elaborate.

Police say the couple was involved in a case of torture and extortion. According to an arrest report from Jan. 6, the couple lured a man up to their apartment, tied him up with cords and chains for three days and threatened to murder him if he didnt fork over $50,000. He eventually got away, but not before being forced to drink a potentially lethal combination of bleach and Haitian rum.

Loisius said he believes Monfort, who lives in North Miami and has family in Haiti, disappeared on New Years Eve. The last sign of life he heard from his friend was on WhatsApp on Dec. 31 at 6:01 p.m. Over the next four days Loisius said Monfort failed to show up for dominoes at his home, didnt show up at his construction job and did not answer texts or phone calls.

Loisius said he called police on Jan. 4. A week later the flier appeared. Loisius said he was only made aware of the flier recently and that he has since spoken to a Miami detective. The detective, he said, told him the couple were not speaking with police, there appear to be other victims and that he believes Monfort knows the couple.

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The Dorsainvils remain behind bars at the Turner Guilford Knight correctional center. Police said both Dorsainvils confessed to the crimes after being read their rights. Attorney Joshua Alexander said he just recently agreed to represent the couple, but that he hasnt even had enough time to sort out what the confession consists of.

Occius Dorsainvil is facing additional charges of tampering and grand theft. According to their arrest reports, Marie Dorsainvil, 52, asked a man for a ride to her home in the 700 block of Northwest 69th Street on Dec. 28 and invited him in. It went south for the man very quickly. Occius Dorsainvil, 56, police said, was waiting inside the home with a gun. For three days the victim was alternately tied up with cord and chains while the couple threatened to shoot him if he didnt give them the money or the title to his car, police said.

Police said the man, while tied up, said he was forced to crawl to the bathroom and admit that he cheated with Marie Dorsainvil, while they recorded him. Two days later on Dec. 30, police say Occius Dorsainvil took the man to his car, placed him in the passenger seat and forced him to drink the dangerous concoction. The man told police he passed out and when he awoke, he flagged down a pedestrian.

When police found the man, who hasnt been named, he was throwing up, they said. His health status is unclear.

Though he takes some solace in the arrests, Loisius said hes still very worried about his friend. He said he has no reason to believe he would have left to visit family in Haiti without telling anyone.

Marie Paul, 47, said shes been friends with Monfort for three years and they recently lived together. She, too, last heard from him on New Years Eve, she said. She said shes worried and misses him.

I was crying at my job, she said. I had to tell my boss.
Microsofts Jan. 18 announcement that it intends to purchase Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billionwhich would mark the highest dollar amount ever paid by a tech company for an acquisitionhas rocked the video game and esports industries. The massive dollar figure, coupled with concerns about diminished competition, invites legal questions about whether the deal will satisfy U.S. regulators.

Odds are it will.

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Activision Blizzard publishes Call of Duty, Overwatch and other popular games with associated esports platforms. The company has been ranked the fifth largest publisher in North America and, according to Statista, possesses the largest share of the worldwide esports market. Microsoft absorbing Activision Blizzard would be viewed as a vertical merger, meaning the blending of two companies that provide different services in the same production chain. In contrast, when two rivals join hands, it is called a horizontal merger.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice will assess how the deal, which isnt expected to close until 2023, would affect commerce in the United States. Either agency, under federal antitrust law, can attempt to block a proposed merger or acquisition if it would substantially lessen competition, which can harm consumers through increased prices, limited choices or diminished incentives for innovation.

In 2020 the FTC sued to block Edgewell Personal Care Companys proposed $1.37 billion acquisition of main competitor, Harrys Inc. The FTC was concerned about the removal of a critical disruptive rival that has driven down prices and spurred innovation in an industry that was previously dominated by two main suppliers, one of whom is the acquirer. A week later, the two companies abandoned their deal.

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But the government sometimes loses. In 2019, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of D.C. rejected the DOJs attempt to block a vertical merger between AT&T and Time Warner. The DOJ failed to provide similar examples of past vertical mergers that were blocked. The AT&T-Time Warner merger, the court also reasoned, didnt appear likely to impact prices in a statistically significant way.

Microsoft is no stranger to antitrust worries. In 1998, the DOJ sued the tech giant for alleged monopolistic practices. Microsoft had bundled Internet Explorer with Windows and made it difficult to uninstall. These and other moves thwarted rivals, including Netscape. After losing at trial, Microsoft was set to be divided into two companies. But the company successfully appealed. Microsoft and the DOJ eventually reached a settlement that averted a breakup but called for technology sharing.

The regulatory timing for Microsoft isnt ideal. On Jan. 18, the FTC and DOJ announced a plan to more aggressively challenge measures they deem illegal. The agencies seek to modernize enforcement, especially for digital and technology products that fall under the Big Tech umbrella. Our merger guidelines, FTC Chair Lina Khan emphasized, [must] accurately reflect modern market realities and equip us to forcefully enforce the law against unlawful deals.

Microsoft, which battles Sony and Nintendo for dominance in the console space, has been an active acquirer of publishers. Earlier this year it reached a $7.5 million deal to buy ZeniMax Media, which owns Bethesda Softworks (the publisher of Fallout and other popular games).

Mindful of federal scrutiny, Microsoft has attempted to dispel worries of diminished competition. Microsoft insists that even with acquiring Activision Blizzard, it would trail Tencent and Sony as the third-largest gaming company in the world. The company further emphasizes that Apple and Google, not Microsoft, distribute mobile games and are paid by consumers for those games.

Microsoft adds that it has no intention of removing games from other platforms, a pledge worded carefullyintentions can, of course, changebut is meant to reassure not only PlayStation gamers but federal regulators, too. Meanwhile, Newzoo, a provider of games and esports analytics, estimates that Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard would significantly boost the companys share of the gaming market, though still only from 6.5% to 10.7%. Microsoft insists it partakes in a diverse and fragmentedand, by inference, competitivemarket where innovation and prices wouldnt be adversely impacted by the acquisition.

While Activision Blizzard is a leading publisher and esports provider, it is still one of many. The problematic possibility of Microsoft adding exclusives to its consoles and PCs is also not a new or unique phenomenon. Console exclusives have been around since the days of the Atari 2600. PlayStation gamers are familiar with them. Sony hasnt allowed its most popular game series, including God of War, Uncharted and Ratchet & Clank, to be sold for the Xbox or Nintendo. Those games are produced by studios that Sony launched or acquired. If Microsoft cant sell Call of Duty exclusively, why can Sony sell The Last of Us exclusively?

Thats the kind of question Microsoft hopes federal regulators ask.

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WASHINGTON  In recent days, a social media image showing a page from a second-grade yearbook at an Oregon public school in which students are masked has led to outrage from those who say children dont need to wear face coverings in the classroom.

What were doing to kids in this country is horrific, Missy Crane wrote in an article on the website of conservative radio host Wayne Dupree. I have watched as these neurotic, crazy adults push their own psychosis all over their kids.

A user on Twitter reposted the photo and took aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Bidens top medical adviser and a favorite target of right-wing rage. He needs to pay for his crimes, she wrote in reference to the photo.

2nd grade yearbook in an elementary school in Oregon. This is so sad. pic.twitter.com/2dY7dgU5r5  Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) January 23, 2022

Yet the image says at least as much about masking policies as it does about how lies and deceptions spread  and how difficult they can be to identify, leading to what researchers have described as a pandemic of disinformation.

Somehow lost in the flurry of outrage is the fact that the photo in question is nearly a year out of date. This year photos were taken outdoors without masks with the assistance of our contracted photographer, Jen McCulley, a community engagement director for Springfield Public Schools, in which the school in question is located, told Yahoo News in an email.

She added that Springfield was the largest district to safely return to in-person instruction last spring, at a time when many Democratic states and municipalities struggled to move away from remote learning.

So does the tweet constitute misinformation for leaving out crucial context? Or is that context beside the point, since children in Oregon and many other states continue to wear masks in schools? Yahoo News spoke to several experts in misinformation, asking them to reflect on the Oregon tweet as either a valid volley in the coronavirus culture wars or a deceptive effort to sway the narrative.

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Those experts widely disagreed, hinting at just how difficult it is for institutions  including media outlets and social media networks  to police content that could be misleading or outright incorrect.

Is this photo misinformation? Its in the eye of the beholder, Tim Weninger, a professor of engineering at the University of Notre Dame who studies social media, told Yahoo News in an email. In general, a big part of disinformation is presenting an image out of context. For example, talking about Russian military updates near Ukraine while showing bloody pictures from the Crimean war from a few years ago.

First grader Branson Johnston on the first day of hybrid instruction at Portland, Ore., public schools, April 1, 2021. (Carlos Delgado/AP for Portland Public Schools)

A recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that at least 78 percent of Americans have fallen subject to misinformation to some degree. The music streaming service Spotify has come under criticism this month for not doing more to curb the unscientific and potentially harmful views voiced on Joe Rogans popular podcast. On Sunday, Spotify said it would add warnings to programs about the pandemic.

Rogan was among those who helped popularize Libs of TikTok, the Twitter account that blasted out the image to its 500,000 followers on Jan. 23, as the culture wars over masks in schools appeared to be heating up once more, with even some Democrats calling for children to finally shed their coverings, now that the Omicron surge seems to be subsiding.

2nd grade yearbook in an elementary school in Oregon. This is so sad, a social media message posted by the group stated. Missing was any context other than a follow-up tweet seeming to acknowledge that Ben Edtl, an anti-lockdown activist who runs an organization called Free Oregon, was the original source for the image.

Libs of TikTok is run by an anonymous woman who did not respond to a request for comment for this article. But in an interview  her first  with Fox News in December, she said that exposing teachers was a primary goal. Its such an honor, and a little bit of a responsibility, I feel, I owe to our kids  to show everyone what these teachers are doing, she said. And when there is actually action taken  so, meaning a teacher gets fired or suspended  its a really great feeling.

Thousands of people have responded to the image of masked second graders with outrage, exasperation and dismay. This is just yet another example of how insane liberals and those that buy into the narrative truly are, went an article about the yearbook on the DC Patriot, a right-wing site dedicated to the work of conspiracy theorist Matt Couch. What in the world is the purpose of yearbook pictures if you cant see your childs face? These people have truly lost their damn minds.

An anti-vaccine-mandate rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The image appeared to materialize at the perfect moment, just as many progressives were coming around to the idea that masking children in schools may no longer be necessary. The photo confirmed those concerns, even if it did so under inaccurate pretenses. Arguably, however, the fact that children in Oregon continue to wear masks renders the lack of context irrelevant.

Michigan State misinformation expert Anjana Susarla disagrees. This tweet does seem like a case of misinformation since it is not supported by the current facts, she told Yahoo News in an email. But she added that messages like this one were bound to only reinforce already deeply held opinions.

In general, Twitter may be more polarized when it comes to pro-mask and anti-mask discourse, Susarla wrote. I think these types of tweets end up getting visibility mostly within their own echo chamber. The same could be said of messages that equate a reluctance to wear masks with reactionary politics.

No single group has a monopoly on misinformation. Anti-vaccine sentiment has long festered in the wellness community, even before the arrival of the coronavirus. And some progressive outlets continue to say that in-person schools are unsafe even though countless scientific studies and experts indicate otherwise.

Many of the same digital tools that let millions work from home or see distant relatives during the pandemic have also contributed to a politicized climate that has flummoxed public officials unsure of how to counter false and conspiratorial insinuations.

Anti-vaccine protesters at a demonstration in Albany, N.Y., on Jan. 5. (Eren Abdullahogullar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The general population has, in good faith, taken the information, including fake news, most relevant to their own personal situation and has used it to formulate their own interpretation of the pandemic, Italian researchers wrote in August 2020 in a paper about the corrosive effect that misinformation was having in the global pandemic response.

In the end, the difficulty of defining misinformation may simply speak to the fractured nature of reality in 2022, with almost any statement by a public figure subject to scrutiny from those who simply subscribe to a different set of truths.

People might mistakenly believe the picture is from this year, Dartmouth professor Brendan Nyhan, an expert on conspiracy theories, told Yahoo News in a text message. Knowing that it is from last year is relevant to the context. On the other hand, some people may still find it sad regardless of the year it was taken.

Indeed, the Libs of TikTok tweet appeared perfectly timed to exploit the growing division over masking in schools. In that narrow respect, the tweet was a resounding success.

How are vaccination rates affecting the latest COVID surge? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
An unusual investigation quietly taking place in California could lead to a resolution of the most hotly debated death row cases in the country. Last May, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a rare executive order to launch an independent investigation into the case of Kevin Cooper, an inmate who was sentenced to death in 1985 for the murders of four people in Chino Hills, California. He has been on death row in San Quentin ever since.

CBS News' "48 Hours" began reporting on the case in 2000 after receiving several letters from Cooper, claiming his innocence and asking the show to investigate: "I Kevin Cooper am an innocent man, and I am on death row waiting to be murdered for something I didn't do!"

Kevin Cooper has maintained for three decades he did not kill three members of a Chino Hills, California, family and a guest staying at their house in 1983. / Credit: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

The controversial case dates back to June 5, 1983. Doug and Peggy Ryen were found murdered in their home, along with their 10-year-old daughter Jessica, and a young neighbor, 11-year-old Christopher Hughes. It was an extraordinarily brutal crime: The victims had been stabbed 143 times with three different weapons. Somehow, the Ryen's 8-year-old son Josh, whose throat was slashed and skull fractured, managed to survive.

Peggy and Doug Ryen, left, their neighbor Christopher Hughes, top, and daughter Jessica were stabbed to death on June 5, 1983. / Credit: Mary Howell/Hughes Family

Cooper, then 25 years old, had escaped two days earlier from a nearby prison. When San Bernardino investigators discovered Cooper had been hiding out in an empty home not far from the Ryen home, he became the main suspect.

Now 64 years old, Cooper has long claimed that he was framed. Investigators, he says, mishandled, tainted and even planted evidence against him, while destroying items that pointed to other suspects. Newsom's order gave law firm Morrison & Foerster the power to conduct the probe and attorneys are analyzing the entire case file, which spans three decades.

Investigators in 1983 said they found cigarette butts that belonged to Cooper inside the Ryen's station wagon, which had been stolen. A county criminalist determined that a drop of blood in the Ryen home was consistent with Cooper's blood type.

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The trial  with a Black defendant charged in the brutal murders of a White family  sparked a racist reaction among some in the community. Outside the courthouse, crowds carried racist signs, and in one instance, a stuffed gorilla with a noose around its neck.

Cooper was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

The goal of the governor's executive order: to break a stand-off between Cooper's defense team and the San Bernardino District Attorney's office over evidence in the case, particularly the results of recent DNA tests.

"The parties," wrote Newsom, "have starkly different views regarding how the results should be interpreted and the reliability and integrity of certain evidence."

There was evidence that pointed away from a single killer. Three weapons were used in the attack: an ice pick, a hatchet and a knife. Separately, three seats in the Ryens' vehicle had been stained with blood.

And while he was being treated in a hospital after the attack, Josh Ryen, the only survivor, indicated to a sheriff's deputy that there were three men present.

Josh's account wasn't precise: He couldn't speak because of his injuries and answered questions by squeezing the sheriff deputy's hand. Plus, he gave conflicting statements regarding the race of the men, first saying they were White and in a second interview that same day, that they were Hispanic.

Prosecutors theorized Cooper killed the family to steal money and a car, but nothing appeared to be taken from the house and there was money on the kitchen counter. A towel found down the road matched a set in the Ryens' home  but when Newsom ordered it tested with other evidence in 2019, the DNA profile didn't match any of the Ryens or Cooper.

And before Cooper's trial, a woman named Diana Roper went to a substation of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office with evidence that she said connected a former boyfriend, Lee Furrow, to the murders.

Roper told deputies that on the night of the murders, Furrow had left their home wearing a tan T-shirt and jeans, but returned in bloody coveralls that she found in the closet. She turned the coveralls over to deputies, who took them and marked them as evidence. And a tan T-shirt was found on the road near the Ryen home  but when it was tested, the lab was unable to find even one full DNA profile on it that could be matched to a wearer.

On Dec. 24, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown approved new DNA testing on four pieces of evidence: the sheath, the hatchet, the tan T-shirt and an orange towel found near the Ryen home that matched ones from inside. / Credit: San Bernardino Sheriff's Department

Deputies spoke with Furrow, who denied any involvement in the murders. Later, and prior to trial, the coveralls were thrown out. They had never been tested.

Roper's statements and the discarded evidence are among the contested issues. The San Bernardino District Attorney's office dismissed Roper as an unreliable witness, and concluded Furrow had an alibi.

However, Cooper's defense attorneys have questioned from the beginning why the bloody coveralls were destroyed without testing. They believe that Furrow, a convicted killer of a young woman in an unrelated earlier case, may have been involved in the murders. Furrow has publicly and repeatedly denied any involvement. The sample from the towel didn't match Furrow, either.

Lee Furrow and Diana Roper / Credit: Diana Roper

The current investigators won't be able to talk to Roper. She, along with several other people involved in the case, including the San Bernardino County Sheriff at the time and David Negus, the public defender who represented Cooper at trial, are now deceased. But over the years, "48 Hours" has interviewed many of the key witnesses, including Roper, Negus and then-Sheriff Floyd Tidwell.

In an interview in 2000, Roper described Furrow as "Very violent. Very mean. Just evil. Evil person." She described how she found the coveralls: "It's a big walk-in closet with a door all the way through. And I looked down and here were these coveralls that I knew didn't belong there. So I looked at them and I'm kinda like, what is this? And I picked them up. And as I picked them up, the more I picked them up  then I saw the blood."

Roper did not know Cooper and said her friends warned her to keep quiet. "At the time, the people I ran around with  they just told me to keep my mouth shut. It was better a Black man than a White man. You know, that's the lifestyle I lived."

Floyd Tidwell was San Bernardino County sheriff in 1983.

When asked in 2000 about the coveralls, Tidwell said that he had only vague memories of the incident but, "I think we eliminated that pretty quick  I'm very, very vague on it. I do recall some coveralls were turned in but I think it was established very quickly that that person could not have been involved so then it's set aside." When pressed for more details, Tidwell abruptly ended the interview.

Cooper's defense attorney, David Negus, who died in July 2021, told "48 Hours" in 2000 that he believed that the blood evidence that had been used to convict his client was tainted or even planted by authorities  allegations the prosecutor's office has denied in court papers and which judges have twice ruled unfounded.

"I've always felt that the integrity of that drop of blood was questionable," Negus said. "During the trial, I didn't have the strong evidence to demonstrate that. But that was what I felt."

David Negus, Kevin Cooper's original defense attorney, died in 2021.

Negus was troubled by the claim that Cooper had killed to steal the family's car. Prosecutors' basic argument was that Cooper killed the family because he needed the car to escape, but they never charged him with theft. "To me, that never made much sense because Kevin could easily have stolen the car and driven away without killing the family," he said. And without killing them, "he would not have had a gigantic manhunt looking for him all over the world."

What's more, Negus said Cooper's story never changed. "He always said he was innocent, even though if he'd been lying to me he'd know that would have hurt his case."

After Cooper was convicted and sent to death row, Mary Howell, the mother of Peggy Ryen, began to have grave doubts about his guilt. She, too, spoke extensively to "48 Hours" over the years. She died in 2008.

Mary Howell, the mother of Peggy Ryen, told

Josh Ryen, however, has not spoken to "48 Hours" since 2003, when he said Cooper "needs to pay for his crime, so we have closure."

"Kevin Cooper is a liar," he wrote in a 2018 letter to then-Governor Jerry Brown. "He lies about everything. When he is caught in his lies, he lies more and more. He gets other people to believe in and broadcast his lies."

Cooper's request for clemency, Josh Ryen wrote, "he richly does not deserve."

Josh Ryen told "48 Hours" in that 2003 interview that, despite indicating in the aftermath of the murders that there had been three men present, he could no longer recall that. He noted that he was 8 years old at the time and said three men had been to the home earlier in the day looking for work.

When he later spoke to Moriarty, Josh Ryen, now in his late 20s, had few memories of that awful night.

Dr. Lorna Forbes, a psychiatrist who treated Josh after the murders, told "48 Hours" in 2000 that young victims who experience extreme violence like Josh often suffer silently  that their mental trauma isn't obvious to most people. "It tends to make a child be more silent and keep his feelings to himself, and a little bit more isolated while they're trying to solve this," she said.

Forbes, who died in 2014, had hoped the state would investigate and conduct whatever tests were necessary to give Josh confidence that the killer had been caught. She said it was important for him, as it is for anyone in a similar situation, to understand he wasn't the cause of it and to accept that "that every possibility has been explored to make sure that this person is the one who did it."

Dead witnesses, shifting memories, lost  or discarded  evidence: These are all parts of a puzzle that lawyers with Morrison & Foerster are trying to piece together to give guidance to the governor on what further action he should take. Newsom, who has taken no position in the case, could grant Cooper a pardon, commute his death sentence or choose to do nothing and let Cooper remain on death row.

[Read about "48 Hours'" visit to Kevin Cooper in San Quentin.]

U.K. leader Boris Johnson promises reform after release of "partygate" report

Cold temperatures in South Florida cause iguanas to pass out and fall from trees

"48 Hours" investigates case of death row inmate Kevin Cooper
SOFIA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The first case of Flurona, a double infection with both COVID-19 and flu, was confirmed in Bulgaria, the country's Health Ministry said on Monday.

The case was confirmed in the town of Yambol, about 300 km east of Sofia, where the authorities were examining samples from children aged 11-18 years, the ministry said in a press release.

Meanwhile, the share of the Omicron coronavirus variant has reached 55.1 percent of the swab samples tested in Bulgaria a mere four weeks after the first Omicron cases were confirmed in the country, according to the ministry.

To date, 941,814 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Bulgaria, including 2,602 of them in the past 24 hours, according to the ministry. 
By Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea confirmed on Monday it had launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, the same weapon it had once threatened to target the U.S. territory of Guam with, sparking fears the nuclear-armed state could resume long-range testing.

The launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was first reported by South Korean and Japanese authorities on Sunday. It was the seventh test conducted by North Korea this month and the first time a nuclear-capable missile of that size has been launched since 2017.

The United States is concerned North Korea's escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and vowed an unspecified response "designed to show our commitment to our allies," a senior U.S. official told reporters in Washington.

"It's not just what they did yesterday, it's the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month," the official said, while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.

North Korea has said it is open to diplomacy, but that Washington's overtures are undermined by its support for sanctions and joint military drills and arms buildups in South Korea and the region.

Amid a flurry of diplomacy in 2018, including summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his nuclear force complete and said he would suspend nuclear testing and launches of the country's longest-range missiles.

Kim said he was no longer bound by that moratorium after talks stalled in 2019, and North Korea suggested this month it could restart those testing activities because the United States had shown no sign of dropping its "hostile policies."

It is unclear if IRBMs such as the Hwasong-12 were included in Kim's moratorium, but none had been tested since 2017.

North Korea analysts said the tests appear aimed at securing global acceptance of its weapons programmes, whether through concessions or simply winning tired acquiescence from a distracted world.

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"The worlds distraction on other issues actually seems to be working to North Koreas benefit right now," Markus Garlauskas, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council think tank and former U.S. national intelligence officer for North Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the recent flurry of North Korean missile tests was reminiscent of heightened tensions in 2017, when North Korea conducted multiple nuclear tests, launched its largest missiles, and drew threats of "fire and fury" from the United States.

South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook visited his country's Army Missile Command on Monday to check its readiness in the face of the North Korean launches, the ministry said in a statement.

"North Koreas series of missile test-fires, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles, pose a direct and serious threat to us and a grave challenge to international peace and stability," Suh said after being briefed. "We will maintain a full military readiness posture that can respond immediately to any situation."

Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters North Korea was escalating its provocation of the international community and said its "remarkable improvement" in missile technology "cannot be tolerated".

BOOSTING MISSILE CAPABILITIES

Sunday's test "confirmed the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the produced Hwasong-12 type weapon system," North Korean state news agency KCNA reported.

State media coverage of the launch made no mention of the United States, and Kim was not reported to have attended. North Korean officials said this month the tests are for self defence and not targeted at any specific country.

Kim vowed ahead of the New Year to bolster North Korea's military capabilities in the face of international uncertainties caused by "hostile policies" by the United States and its allies.

North Korea has previously said the Hwasong-12 can carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead," and analysts estimate it has a range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles).

In August 2017, just hours after Trump told the North that any threat to the United States would be met with fire and fury, the commander of the Norths Strategic Forces said it was seriously considering a plan of enveloping fire involving a simultaneous launch of four Hwasong-12 missiles toward Guam.

That year North Korea flight-tested the Hwasong-12 at least six times, including flying it over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido twice.

KCNA said Sunday's missile launch was conducted in such a way as to ensure the safety of neighbouring countries, and that the test warhead was fitted with a camera that took photos while it was in space.

(Reporting by Josh Smith and Jack Kim; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Satoshi Sugiyama in Tokyo; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Stow Municipal Court serves 16 communities, including Northfield. The Northfield Village Council has decided to end the operations of the Northfield Mayor's Court and offenders will have their cases decided in Stow Muni Court.

NORTHFIELD  After the March 8 cases are heard, the villages mayors court will no longer operate and cases will be decided in Stow Municipal Court.

Village Council on Jan. 26 adopted a resolution to shut down operations of the mayors court, which has been in existence for many years.

The Ohio Supreme Court and Stow Municipal Court have advocated for the closure of mayors courts, and have recommended that all adult criminal and traffic charges be handled by municipal and county courts, read the legislation approved by Council.

The mayor and Council want to focus village operations and resources on providing services for village residents and businesses rather than court services for the public at large, which can be more effectively and cost efficiently handled by Stow Municipal Court.

The resolution will take immediate effect upon signing by Mayor Jennifer Domzalski.

Northfield's Mayor's Court processes certain misdemeanor citations issued by the village's Police Department. Stow Municipal Court is the village's municipal court. The mayor's court does not hear juvenile cases.

Fines and costs vary for several violations between the mayor's court and the municipal court. According to the village's website, for a barking dog citation, the mayor's court assesses $139 ($50 fine and $89 costs). The municipal court's website lists the same offense as costing $240 ($100 fine, $111 local costs and $29 state costs).

An open container is $239 in the mayor's court ($150 fine and $89 costs); in municipal court, it's $240 ($100 fine, $111 local costs and $29 state costs).

The municipal court's local costs include $65 Local Fee, $100 Computer Fee, $25 Special Projects Fee, $10 Docket Control Fee, and $1 Citizens Rewards Program Fee.

State costs include $20 Indigent Defense Support Fund Fee and $9 Victims of Crime Fund Fee.

For traffic offenses, a stop sign or red light violation is $164 ($75 fine and $89 costs) in mayor's court.

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In muni court, it would be $186 ($60 fine, $87 local costs and $39 state costs).

For the traffic offenses, local costs include $42 Local Fee, $10 Computer Fee, $25 Special Projects Fee and $10 Docket Control Fee. The $39 state costs include $9 Victims of Crime Fund Fee, $20 Indigent Defense Support Fee, $3.50 Drug Law Enforcement Fund Fee, $1.50 Indigent Driver Alcohol Treatment Fund Fee and $5 Indigent Defense Support Fund Fee.

In December after Stow City Council asked five communities in Summit County to shut down their mayors courts, Macedonia Mayor Nick Molnar announced at a Macedonia City Council meeting that he had no intention of closing that citys mayor's court.

Officials in Cuyahoga Falls and Munroe Falls also said they would not shut down their courts. Boston Heights is the other community within Stow Municipal Courts jurisdiction, and the villages website lists the dates of its court sessions through the end of 2022.

Molnar said having a mayors court is much more convenient and less expensive for local residents who face traffic citations. They dont have to drive to Stow and they dont have to pay what I feel are exorbitant fines, he said.

OTHER BUSINESS

New pay rates for certain full-time and part-time village employees were approved. Some of the rates were adjusted from amounts proposed in the legislation that was introduced at Councils Jan. 12 meeting.

The legislation sets the following salaries, with 2021 amounts in parentheses: Engineer Daniel Collins, $103,000 ($100,000); Finance Director Jennifer Potvin, $90,000 ($78,780); Police Chief John Zolgus, $86,497 ($84,801); Fire Chief Jason Buss (part-time position), $31,520 ($30,308); Law Director Brad Bryan, $35,795 general retainer ($34,418) plus $134 per hour ($130); IT consultant/finance department assistant Jay Mutter, $50 per hour; and electrician Brian Schuman, $32 per hour ($30).

Fire department full-timers will receive hourly wages ranging from $18 during their probationary period to $26.15 for a captain. Part-timers will receive between $16.94 and $21.59.

Part-time firefighters and paramedics will no longer receive a $2 per hour shift premium for hours worked from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday and for all shifts for which they are stationed at Northfield Park regardless of the day and time worked.

I am grateful to Council for approving more competitive pay rates for our part-time firefighters, said Buss.

Council authorized the finance director to impose health insurance payroll deductions effective in April for police and fire department employees who elect to remain on the current grandfathered Medical Mutual plan.

The planning commissions approval of a 13.9-foot front yard building setback variance for a single-family home to be constructed on Lowrie Boulevard was affirmed.

The request was submitted by Martin and Tabitha Stearns. A condition is that the couple provides the village with a legal description for a 20-foot storm sewer easement area outlined by the village engineer.

Also affirmed was the planning panels approval of a lot consolidation for a property on Fell Avenue owned by Judith Sabol.

Council confirmed the mayors appointments of Thomas Estergall and Cameron Dalzell to the recreation board. Their five-year terms commence in February. One rec board vacancy remains to be filled.

These two new rec board members are very enthusiastic, and I foresee a lot more great things coming out of the rec board, said Domzalski.

Contact the newspaper at newsleader@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Northfield Village to phase out mayors court in March
Novavax has asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its Covid-19 shot for emergency use, opening the door for it to become the fourth vaccine available for adults living in the U.S.

We believe our vaccine offers a differentiated option ... that can be an alternative to the portfolio of available vaccines to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic," Stanley Erck, the company's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Background: The U.S. government invested $1.6 billion in Novavax in 2020  the most it devoted to any vaccine maker at the time. But the company has lagged behind other manufacturers in readying its Covid shot for regulatory scrutiny. While federal officials have hoped that Novavax could serve as a safe and effective backup option, the company has struggled with domestic manufacturing. If authorized, the Serum Institute of India would be responsible for making the vaccine until other sites are ready.

How it stacks up: Late-stage trials in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K. showed that the shot was roughly 90 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease  although these trials were conducted before the Delta and Omicron variants began circulating widely.

Unlike Pfizer and Moderna's mRNA shots and Johnson & Johnson's viral vector vaccine, Novavax uses moth cells to brew batches of the coronavirus spike protein.

What's next: Novavax is aiming to produce at least 2 billion doses of its vaccine in 2022. The U.S. government ordered 100 million of those doses.

The company is also conducting a booster study in adults, and is evaluating its vaccine for children ages 12 to 17.
PITTSBURGH (AP)  The bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh last week showed deterioration during a September inspection that was not bad enough to require its closure, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said Monday.

The agency will not release the full inspection report, PennDOT spokesperson Alexis Campbell said, citing state and federal laws and the ongoing investigation into the Friday morning failure of the Forbes Avenue bridge over Fern Hollow Creek in Frick Park.

Campbell did provide some details about the inspection four months ago, including that there has been a 26-ton (24,000 kilo) posted weight limit on the bridge since 2014.

As with previous inspections, the Sept. 29 examination rated the steel K-frame bridge a 4 on a scale from 0 to 9, which is deemed a poor rating.

This bridges design relies on the quality of frame elements alone without any back-up support (known as redundancy) and reports show deterioration that did not warrant closure, but supported the imposition of a posted weight limit to restrict the weight of loads, Campbell said in an email.

The structure, built five decades ago, is one of six bridges with similar designs in the state. Campbell said the reasons it failed and collapsed remain unclear and are the subject of investigations.

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board was at the scene Monday as crews siphoned gasoline and brought in cranes to lift five vehicles and a municipal bus off the crumpled remains of the bridge.

By late afternoon the bus had been pulled out of the ravine, attached to a crane by three straps.

There were no fatalities in the collapse, but a few people required hospital treatment, and as of Monday one adult was still getting care inside a UPMC facility, a hospital system spokesperson said.

The daughter of a couple told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review her parents had been crossing the bridge, on their way to provide care for a relative, when their pickup truck plummeted to the ground.

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Tyrone and Velva Perrys windshield cracked and their airbags deployed, Erin Perry said. When Tyrone Perry saw the bridge buckling, he figured he was about to die.

They watched in terror as another car flew by them and a third landed just feet away.

She said the Pittsburgh couple both suffered fractured vertebrae and were in a lot of pain but good spirits. Tyrone Perry sees the collapse whenever he closes his eyes, and Velva Perry still has a feeling she is falling.

Its so outrageous that this would happen; it was like a scene from an action movie," Erin Perry said.

Natural gas lines along the bridge ruptured, causing a large gas leak and evacuation of nearby homes.

After a weekend in which the curious found their way to check out the site, city public safety officials opened an observation area Monday, connected by a trail of less than a mile to a small parking area.

The collapse occurred hours before President Joe Biden arrived in Pittsburgh to tout a federal infrastructure law that has earmarked about $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania bridge work.

Campbell said Monday $25.3 million in National Highway Performance Program funds will be spent to rebuild the bridge.

___

Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

___

This story been corrected to change the name of a federal agency to the National Transportation Safety Board, instead of the National Transportation Board.
PepsiCo Beverages North America and Frito-Lay North America grant will fund the replacement of a deteriorating flow control structure, helping to preserve freshwater and reduce saltwater intrusion in Calhoun County, Texas

PURCHASE, N.Y. --News Direct-- PepsiCo

PepsiCo Beverages North America and Frito-Lay North America are funding a $1.2 million project with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) to help improve infrastructure and replenish water supply in two Texas river basins.

PURCHASE, N.Y., January 31, 2022 /3BL Media/ - PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) and Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) announced the awarding of a $1.2 million grant to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the Texas entity focused on developing, conserving, and protecting the water resources of the Guadalupe River Basin. This is a step towards PepsiCo's ambitious effort to become Net Water Positive by 2030, which includes reducing absolute water use and replenishing back into the local watershed more than 100% of the water used at company-owned and third-party sites in high-water-risk areas. The investment will fund the replacement of two 60-year-old Goff Bayou radial gates, a deteriorating control structure located in the Guadalupe River designed to regulate periodic flooding and high tides. As a result:

Replacing the radial gates will reduce leakage and loss in the water supply system, improving the efficiency of service to the nearly 20,000 residents of Calhoun County, Texas, as well as the businesses, irrigation and wildlife areas in the approximately 10,000 square miles surrounding the basin.

Upon completion  anticipated to be January 2023  the project will have conserved an estimated 840 million to 1.81 billion gallons of freshwater per year in the diversion canal system.

The structure's resiliency to withstand extreme weather conditions and climate variability will be enhanced, helping diminish the chances of saltwater intrusion, and nearly eliminate the need to shut down the Main Pump Station pumps for extended periods of time, which can result in additional waste.

"We're proud to be partnering with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority in its commitment to conserving the local water supply that thousands of residents depend on every day," said Jason Blake, Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP at PepsiCo Beverages North America. "Replenishing regional water supplies is a crucial element of tracking toward our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) goal of becoming net water positive by 2030, specifically in areas where our company operates. With several company facilities relying on water from the San Antonio River Basin, we have a tremendous interest to help replenish the water supply and protect the natural landscape and biodiversity of the Guadalupe River Basin."

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This investment is a part of PepsiCo's North American Water Replenishment program that brings together the expertise of PBNA and FLNA to scale investment and impact of water replenishment projects where facilities are co-located in water scarce areas.

"The increased frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes along with rising sea levels has placed a growing burden on our water supplies here in Texas," said Kevin Patteson, General Manager and CEO of GBRA. "PepsiCo's investment in reviving the service life of the Goff Bayou gate structure has offered both an immediate solution for conserving water better in problematic areas, while ensuring a resilient operating mechanism that will support our efforts to protect this precious resource for another 50 years."

As part of its pep+ end-to-end business transformation that puts sustainability at the heart of PepsiCo's business, the company recognizes that watershed health and giving back water the company has used is critical to the continuity of business, and the health of communities it serves.

PBNA and FLNA each have one facility in San Antonio, both located within the drainage area of the San Antonio Watershed.

"Building a more sustainable food system is a critical part of the Frito-Lay business strategy, and water supply and quality are crucial components of our operation. PepsiCo businesses have a large presence in San Antonio and throughout Texas, which makes improvement of the overall water health of the San Antonio Watershed a key priority," said David Allen, Vice President of Sustainability, PepsiCo Foods North America. "We are committed to continuing our efforts to eliminate unnecessary water usage from our operations with a goal of reducing our water intensity year-over-year."

The GBRA partnership contributes to PepsiCo's goal of replenishing more than 100% of the water used at high-water-risk sites by 2030. In 2020 PepsiCo replenished more than 3.2 billion liters of water into local watersheds around the world by working in collaboration with local and international partners and stakeholders. Globally PepsiCo is driving multiple initiatives to help improve overall ecosystem health and biodiversity, including groundwater recharge, reforestation, landscape restoration and biodiversity improvements and wetlands restoration.

The Guadalupe-Blanco River AuthorityThe Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority was established by the Texas Legislature in 1933 as a water conservation and reclamation district. GBRA provides stewardship for the water resources in its 10-county statutory district which begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Blanco rivers, ends at San Antonio Bay, and includes Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun and Refugio counties. For more information, visit gbra.org.

About PepsiCoPepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Media contact:mediarelations@pepsico.com

SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from PepsiCo on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/pepsico-awards-1-2-million-grant-to-the-guadalupe-blanco-river-authority-to-replace-infrastructure-and-eliminate-loss-of-water-supply-in-the-guadalupe-river-and-san-antonio-river-basins-632671389
TALLINN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets met here on Monday with her Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau to discuss regional security, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and transatlantic cooperation, the Three Seas Initiative and current European Union (EU) issues.

At a joint press conference, Liimets hailed bilateral relations and cooperation on defense issues, "Poland is a very important ally for Estonia, and we appreciate highly Polish commitment to our security and defense."

She also mentioned bilateral cooperations in economic, digital areas, cyber security, and also in the EU, as well as in regional issues such as the Three Seas Initiative, voicing wishes for success to Poland's Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2022.

"In fact, we did agree that the deteriorating security environment in our part of Europe requires more cooperation and more coordination between our two countries, which are traditionally good friends and trusted allies," said Rau.

"We share common goals and interests not only in such areas as security and defense, but also in interior policies in infrastructure, which is very important for our two countries, and also energy and regional policy," he said. 
A look at the shareholders of Braemar Shipping Services Plc (LON:BMS) can tell us which group is most powerful. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. I generally like to see some degree of insider ownership, even if only a little. As Nassim Nicholas Taleb said, 'Dont tell me what you think, tell me what you have in your portfolio.

Braemar Shipping Services is a smaller company with a market capitalization of UK84m, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. In the chart below, we can see that institutions own shares in the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Braemar Shipping Services.

Check out our latest analysis for Braemar Shipping Services

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Braemar Shipping Services?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Braemar Shipping Services already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Braemar Shipping Services, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Braemar Shipping Services. Braemar Shipping Services Plc, ESOP is currently the largest shareholder, with 6.3% of shares outstanding. With 4.2% and 4.1% of the shares outstanding respectively, Unicorn Asset Management Limited and Quentin Soanes are the second and third largest shareholders. Furthermore, CEO James Christopher Gundy is the owner of 2.1% of the company's shares.

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Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 21 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

Insider Ownership Of Braemar Shipping Services

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Braemar Shipping Services Plc. Insiders own UK12m worth of shares in the UK84m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 31% stake in Braemar Shipping Services. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Braemar Shipping Services (including 1 which can't be ignored) .

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Jan. 30An Indiana County woman is being held in the county jail after being accused of stabbing a man inside her home Saturday, according to Indiana police.

Police said they were dispatched to a residence on the 1200 bock of School Street at 12:15 a.m. to investigate a report of a domestic assault.

The caller reported to dispatchers that he needed medical attention after being stabbed in his torso, police said.

The victim told investigators that he was stabbed by Chamine Ayers, 39, when a verbal argument turned physical, investigators said.

Citizens Ambulance treated the victim at the scene before he was transported to Indiana Regional Medical Center. Borough police said that Indiana University of Pennsylvania police also assisted at the scene.

Ayers is being held in the county jail awaiting arraignment on charges of aggravated assault, harassment and simple assault, police said.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@triblive.com or via Twitter .
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, is charged with defending a slew of battleground incumbent governors in November. And he says he is confident that Democrats are going to defy conventional wisdom in the midterms.

Democrats are defending governorships in some of the most contested battlegrounds in the country, including a handful like Michigan and Pennsylvania, states that President Joe Biden narrowly carried in 2020. One Democratic incumbent  Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly  is in a state that former President Donald Trump won twice. Meanwhile, Democrats are hoping to claw back seats in traditionally blue states where moderate Republican governors have thrived in recent years.

But they are fighting amid a poor political atmosphere for Democrats, with Bidens approval numbers below water in individual states and nationally.

Cooper spoke to POLITICO on the sidelines of the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington, D.C., the organizations first in-person event since the beginning of the pandemic. POLITICO also spoke with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, the chair of the Republican Governors Association.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Now that we are in the new year, how are you feeling about Democratic governors in 2022?

I feel that we are in excellent shape to increase the number of Democratic governors across the country. Our incumbent Democratic governors have been real leaders during this pandemic and have been effective at getting things done.

I think we have a number of pickup opportunities, particularly in states like the commonwealth of Massachusetts and Maryland and Arizona. And we're excited about candidates like Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Beto O'Rourke in Texas. I believe we're gonna emerge from this pandemic over the next few months and make real progress in the states across the country, and our Democratic governors are leading the way.

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You laid out the offensive targets. What do you think the top defensive battleground states are?

We're going to have to protect our incumbents, and particularly in states where Trump won or Trump was close.  We haven't lost an incumbent race since 2014. And we're seeing Republicans at war with themselves, as 11 of the 15 incumbent Republican governors have primaries. And there's a battle going on with the Trump faction of the party. So we see those as strong opportunities for Democratic candidates across the country and look forward to it.

What do you think candidates should be talking about? Any lessons learned from Virginia?

First, we know that United States senators get a lot of attention, but governors get the job done. And particularly our Democratic incumbents can talk about connecting their states with high-speed internet access, providing bonuses to frontline workers, making investments in water systems and leading their states through a difficult pandemic.

I think people can see competence in their executive leaders. So I believe that we'll be successful on that score. I also know that we've got great candidates in the states  particularly primaries that are going on in Massachusetts and Arizona and Maryland. I think we have really good opportunities for pickups. But we also know that in Pennsylvania, where we have Gov. [Tom] Wolf who's term-limited, Josh Shapiro is going to be an outstanding candidate there.

What role do you think President Biden will have in the campaign? Some likely nominees skipped events with him recently. What role will he have messaging-wise, and then on the trail?

First, we know that this U.S. Supreme Court that has three Trump appointments, is unfortunately going to be busy attacking voting rights, women's reproductive freedom, and environmental safeguards. Democratic governors will be the last line of defense. Those battlegrounds will move to state capitals and state legislatures. And that will be an important message for people across the country to make sure that those rights are protected.

But you also have Democratic governors who believe in investing in education and giving tax cuts to working families, and understanding that parents are having a difficult time with child care and that we're making investments to make their life better.

So I think it's a combination of talking about the issues that families are facing right now, but also reminding people that a large faction of the Republican Party, apparently, is going to be satisfied with an autocracy as long as their guy is in charge. That should excite people to go to the polls, and to make sure that we have leaders in place who believe in the rule of law, who believe that the person with the most votes wins. And in some of these states, you have candidates who don't believe that.

What role do you think the president will have in that? Is it him emphasizing that, is it candidates running on their own?

I believe that as we emerge from the pandemic, that people are going to realize more and more the effectiveness of the Biden administration. You know, a lot of people have counted out Joe Biden at times during his career, and he's proved them wrong. I believe that his passion for good and his perseverance will shine through at the end of the day, and people will understand the great investments that have been made.

We heard promises of an infrastructure bill every month from the Trump administration, it finally happens under Joe Biden. The American Rescue Plan has provided the vaccinations that are going to be needed to help get us through all of this. So I think that the national environment will be more positive as we get toward the election, but also recognizing that governors races are somewhat insulated from national issues.

We've seen Democratic governors time and again win in states that Trump won, myself included, and it's because that competence matters. People look at leaders who have to get things done. And if you have a [Michigan Gov.] Gretchen Whitmer giving you a refund on your auto insurance, if you have a Gov. [Laura] Kelly in Kansas cutting the tax on groceries  then those things matter to families. And I think that's why we are so optimistic this year, when conventional political wisdom would tell you that it will be a more difficult time for Democrats.

What role do you think Democratic governors have talking about what you said  the last line of defense for democracy?

I think that governors have to look at what matters most in their states, and what the people need to hear. I do believe that everyday issues of child care and looking after our seniors and investing in schools and growing jobs, that will be the primary message for most of our Democratic governors.

But we also know that if the Supreme Court moves in and strips away women's reproductive rights or voting rights or environmental safeguards, that the way those rights will be violated at the end of the day will be by state governors and legislatures. They will pass state laws outlawing abortions or cut into the rights of people at the ballot box. And if there's a Democratic governor there to veto it  like I have in North Carolina  then youre providing that last line of defense for your state.

I think that message is resonating throughout the country. I think Democrats are paying even more attention to governors races than they ever have. Because they see what happened during this pandemic, when we had President Trump, who was trying to pretend that it wasn't happening, we had Democratic governors stepping up and making the hard decisions. And now you see Democratic governors providing that last line of defense from what may be coming down from this U.S. Supreme Court. That message combination will be effective in electing Democratic governors across the country.

How about candidates talking about former President Donald Trump? Should Democrats talk about him and should they focus on him?

I think it has to be an all-of-the-above platform for Democratic governors, because we can't stop talking about investments in education and fixing our roads and bridges and getting people connected to high-speed internet, because those are the things we're actually doing.

But I do think it's important to remind people that democracy is at stake, as well. And you have someone who was trying to ignore the will of the people in a number of swing states across this country. And that matters, too. So I think all the issues will be on the table for Democratic governors.

Are governor races getting their fair share of fundraising and resources? A lot of top governor battlegrounds will also have competitive Senate races as well.

So with the critical issues weve just talked about, I do believe that people will be excited about governor's races, and I know that the DGA will raise a record amount of funds, because Democratic governors have to tell the story. I think we Democrats would love it if there were stricter campaign finance laws, and most all of us support it. But with Citizens United, you cannot unilaterally disarm. And so I think Democratic governors across the country  along with our challengers  are going to have the resources to tell the good story that they're going to be able to tell.
Antonio Costa Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

Portugal's ruling Socialist Party won an outright majority in parliament in a snap election Sunday, handing Prime Minister Antonio Costa an opportunity to pass his budget and guide the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Socialists won 117 seats in the 230-seat parliament, up from 108, giving the party its second majority in Portugal's history, BBC News reports. Costa called the election after two smaller parties bolted his coalition. Polls had suggested the Socialists would lose seats.

The main opposition Social Democrats, a center-right party, won 71 seats, while the far-right Chega party won 12 seats, making it the third-largest bloc in parliament.

Costa promised to govern for all Portuguese. "An absolute majority doesn't mean absolute power," he said. "It doesn't mean governing alone. It's an increased responsibility." He also said he would work to govern with any party except Chega.

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The IRS has announced it will soon require people to use facial recognition technology to access parts of the agencys website, and taxpayers are getting serious jitters.

The agency said it did not plan to require facial recognition for filing tax returns, CNBC reported. But by this summer, people who want to access certain information on the IRSs website  including past tax records and information about the child tax credit  will first need to record a video of their face with a computer or smartphone, then send it to the private contractor ID.me to confirm their identity.

The setup  and ID.mes $86 million contract with the IRS  has some privacy advocates worried about how well a private company will protect users images and personal data.There isnt a federal law regulating how the data can be shared, The Washington Post notes.

You go from a government agency, that at least has some obligation under the Privacy Act and other laws, to a third party, where [theres a] lack of transparency and understanding, and the potential risks go up, Jeramie Scott, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based research group, told the publication.

We havent even gone the step of putting regulations in place and deciding if facial recognition should even be used like this, he added. Were just skipping right to the use of a technology that has clearly been shown to be dangerous and has issues with accuracy, disproportionate impact, privacy and civil liberties.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said in a statement that no one should be forced to submit to facial recognition as a condition of accessing essential government services. He also tweeted that hes very disturbed by the plan.

Im very disturbed that Americans may have to submit to a facial recognition system, wait on hold for hours, or both, to access personal data on the IRS website. While e-filing returns remain unaffected, Im pushing the IRS for greater transparency on this plan. https://t.co/8l7m2OiPOI  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 21, 2022

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) called the change a bad idea that would further weaken Americans privacy.

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This is a very, very bad idea by the IRS. It will further weaken Americans privacy. And facial recognition is less accurate for darker skin individuals. The IRS needs to reverse this Big Brother tactic, NOW. https://t.co/Xmy58SagIC  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 27, 2022

There can also be substantial racial bias in facial recognition technology, according to a 2019 report from the Department of Commerce.

The departments National Institute for Standards and Technology conducted an analysis of one-to-one facial recognition algorithms, and they showed higher rates of false positives for Asian and African American faces relative to images of Caucasians. False positives  which the institute said means the software wrongly considered photos of two different individuals to show the same person  could pose a security concern.

Such failures in accuracy can result in government benefits being denied erroneously and cause unnecessary scrutiny, and it costs time and money to clear ones name, The Atlantic noted in an article last week that detailed several problems with ID.me.

An official from the Treasury Department told the Post that the department was looking into alternatives to ID.me. The IRS had previously said in a statement that the companys services would create a better user experience, and that the agency takes any reports of inequities in service seriously.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The S.S. Furnesia brought Scottish settlers to Sarasota, where the promised paradise proved elusive.

As a young Nellie Lawrie recalled some years later, there was much apprehension and plenty of tears as the Scot Colony boarded the S.S. Furnesia at the Greenock Pier.

The group was sailing from Glasgow to New York. Then, by rail and steamboat, they would reach faraway Florida and the Little Scotland awaiting them in Sarasota.

Family and friends were dockside to bid them goodbye, Auld Lang Syne was sung, and by the time the ship sailed into the darkness, tears were streaming.

Even for 1885 it was a long voyage. The November weather was cold and stormy in the Atlantic, there was engine trouble on the steam/sail ship lengthening the time of the voyage, and seasickness was common.

When colonists finally docked, quarantine officers checked them over, looking for the mark of the smallpox vaccination before allowing them ashore.

Alex Browning wrote in his memoirs that the group was met by a representative of the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company and led to the Continental Hotel across the street from the docks. Lawrie remembered it differently. According to her recollection they were left to their own devices on a late, heavily raining night. Father and Uncle John Browning went scouting along West Street, not the best street in New York. So we entered the Metropolis of America trudging thru the rainy street carrying our baggage to a second class hotel.

Coming from Scotland, then in an economic downturn, some from small towns, New York was an impressive sight indeed. Browning called it the most amazing city I had ever seen. The brilliancy of the Broadway lights made Paisley seem like a deserted village. He recalled that they walked the streets like most exemplary hayseeds, having a beer with a free lunch and marveling at the generous display of food as compared with similar conditions in the Old Country while drinking their half and half.

After the short and memorable visit, the excited colonists boarded the Mallory Lines S.S. State of Texas for the trip to Fernandina on the Atlantic coast.

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The weather there was clear and bright. Browning reminisced: Here was the tropics, sure enough; palm trees growing wild along the shore with flowers and palmettos.

In Fernandina they were beseeched by locals to stay on and make it their home; assuring that with the ship connection to New York and the rail line recently completed it would soon be a prosperous town.

But their own town was awaiting them in Sarasota, and they pushed on by way of a narrow gage railroad to Cedar Key, stopping first in Gainesville.

It was a rough and dusty ride aboard primitive train cars which were described as small and uncomfortable, with frequent stops for fuel for the wood burning engine. The women decorated the train with palm fronds and flowers.

Lawrie recalled that the 110-mile trip took 10 hours, stopping for wood, to gawk at a trained bear, and to look at an orange grove.

They spent the night in Gainesville, in small rooming houses, talking to the locals and exploring the area. Some of the men played pool. Here, too, they were asked to stay on. But after a hearty breakfast they pressed forward to Cedar Key, their small train chased after by cowboys on horses, whooping and waving their hats as they galloped along.

Their stay in Cedar Key provided a restful respite from their long journey. They were cheerfully welcomed and put up at two hotels, one, the Suwannee, was constructed of coquina.

Browning recalled that they were serenaded by African-Americans who passed the hat for tips and said Thank you kindly, when a coin was dropped in.

Lawrie wrote of the kindly southerners who put on an entertaining ball demonstrating the Virginia reel and other American dances. The favor was returned the next night as the Scots danced the Highland Fling, the Sailors Hornpipe and the Sword Dance, with one of the troop letting out a wild whoop.

It was at Cedar Key that the first inkling of trouble surfaced. They learned the disconcerting news that the lumber for their portable homes had not yet been sent on to Sarasota.

Moffat, Scotland, was a far cry from the wilderness that awaited the colony.

After two pleasant weeks filled with hunting, fishing, and mixing with the townspeople, hotel bills and food costs were mounting, and the colony was anxious to push on and begin their lives anew in Sarasota.

The side-wheel steamer, Governor Safford, had been hired for the final leg of their journey. After bidding farewell to their newly made friends, the group boarded the boat at night and set off for Sarasota.

According to Browning the Governor Safford was a small steamer with small cabins, cushion benches, no stateroom or dining room  only a galley that offered coffee, crackers and cheese.

The voyage lasted throughout the night, reaching the keys of Sarasota the next day. Along the way, Sutherland (today known as Palm Harbor), the site of another Scot Colony, was pointed out to them. According to Browning, the Duke of Sutherland purchased thousands of acres to establish a colony there.

As the long journey neared its end, it was past the Egmont Lighthouse and through Sarasota Pass. So heavily laden was the boat with cargo and passengers that it was necessary to wait for high tied to get over the sand bar, and pole between the keys.

Late in the afternoon the hopeful colony finally made landfall. What they observed from the steamers rail was distressing  no Little Scotland here, but, instead, an uninviting wilderness. As Browning put it, Of course there was much discontent, being dumped like this, in a wild country, without houses to live in; tired and hungry, one can imagine what it was like.

Some planks were laid in the water for the crestfallen group to disembark. Settlers such as the Whitakers, Abbes, Tuckers and Tatums were on hand to help them unload their belongings.

The Browning colonists and the Whitaker pioneers who were here to greet them.

Canvas tents were erected for temporary shelter, a bonfire was lit, and the distraught men, women and children commiserated with one another.

Lawrie asked one of the settlers what he thought of the land for farming. The reply was a drawled: Waal, what the (drought) dont kill, the sand flies get and what they leave the red ants get.

Ill prepared for the harsh realities of frontier life, the colony failed in short order. As Lawrie succulently summed up the situation, At last we were at our destination but not at our hearts desire.

John Hamilton Gillespie arrived in 1886 to try and save the Scots colony. He is considered the father of Sarasota.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Jeff LaHurd: Rough start for Sarasotas Scottish settlers
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Donald Trump said Saturday if he were reelected, he'd consider pardons for January 6 defendants.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday it was "inappropriate" and could embolden other violent groups.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Graham "pretends to be a friend to President Trump."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Sunday harshly criticized Sen. Lindsey Graham after he called former President Donald Trump's comments about Capitol riot defendants "inappropriate."

At a rally in Texas on Saturday, Trump said he would consider pardons for people who were charged in the January 6 attack on the Capitol if he decides to run and wins in 2024.

"We will treat them fairly," he said. "And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons."

So far 761 people have been charged in the Capitol riot, with counts that include entering restricted grounds, disorderly conduct, and assaulting police officers, among others.

During an appearance Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," Graham was asked about the comments and called them "inappropriate."

"I don't want to send any signal that it was OK to defile the Capitol," the South Carolina Republican said, adding: "There are other groups with causes that may want to go down the violent path if these people get pardoned."

Graham has consistently called for the prosecution of people who attacked the Capitol during the insurrection.

Greene, a Republican from Georgia and staunch supporter of Trump, blasted Graham in a long post on her Gab account, airing a list of grievances.

"Lindsey Graham has done nothing about J6," Greene began. She has previously visited Capitol riot defendants in jail and has complained about their living conditions. In her post, she accused Graham of doing nothing for them.

"Instead of actually doing something about the great injustice happening to pretrial Americans awaiting their day in court, Lindsey Graham turns his head to their abuse, votes for Joe Biden's nominees, votes for Joe Biden's Infrastructure bill, and then pretends to be a friend to President Trump," she wrote.



"Aren't we all sick and tired of those kind of 'friends,'" she added.

Representatives for Graham and Greene did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- At least four people reportedly died over the weekend, as a blizzard swept through parts of the U.S. East Coast.

Three of the dead were found in the snow next to their shovels on Long Island, New York, on Saturday, while a snow plow driver found an elderly woman dead inside her vehicle overnight in Uniondale, also on Long Island, according to local media.

At least a foot of snow fell in nine states from Maryland to Maine on Saturday, with the heaviest amounts near coastal areas.

Boston, capital of Massachusetts, was in the crosshairs, seeing record-tying single-day snowfall from the winter storm, with 23.6 inches falling on Saturday.

Mayor Michelle Wu said on Sunday that cleanup efforts are well underway in Boston and that schools will be open on Monday.

There are still more than 11,000 households in Massachusetts left without power as of Sunday evening, according to power outage tracking site poweroutage.us.

The total number of flight cancellations within, into, or out of the United States reached nearly 1,500 of Sunday evening, data from flight-tracking website FlightAware.com showed. More than 2,600 U.S.-related flights were delayed.

The blizzard was produced by a bomb cyclone that formed on Saturday. The large, intense midlatitude storm has low pressure at its center and an array of associated weather, from blizzards to severe thunderstorms to heavy precipitation, according to the country's national weather authority. 
LONDON (Reuters) - The findings of a British government report on a parties at Prime Minister Boris Johnson's residence during COVID lockdowns will come soon, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said on Monday.

Clarke said he did not believe that Johnson had lied about parties and said the prime minister was a good man and a good leader.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Michael Holden)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard killed an unidentified gunman who attacked its intelligence office Monday in southern Iran, near the Pakistani border, the country's state-run IRNA news agency reported.

The report said the attack happened in the town of Saravan, in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, about 1,360 kilometers (850 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran. According to the report, a local citizen was also wounded during the shootout.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack and the report did not say whether the attacker acted alone or provide any further details. It said the case is under investigation.

Sistan and Baluchistan, one of the least developed parts of Iran, has been the scene of occasional clashes between Iranian forces and various militant groups. The relationship between the predominantly Sunni residents of the region and Irans Shiite theocracy has long been fraught.

The province, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is also where a Sunni separatist group affiliated with al-Qaida and known as Jeish al-Adl, or Army of Justice, operates.

Security forces have also clashed with drug traffickers in the province, located along a major smuggling route for Afghan opium and heroin.

In March 2021, an explosion killed one person and wounded three in Saravan.

Last month, the Guard and an armed criminal gang clashed in the province, leaving three Guard members and at least five bandits dead in the district of Kourin. And in July, armed bandits shot and killed four Guard members in the province.
Eastern Ukraine  The U.N. Security Council held a meeting on Monday  called by the U.S. and over Russia's objection  to discuss the standoff on Ukraine's borders, along which Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops. The U.S. and its NATO allies have warned for weeks that President Vladimir Putin could use the forces to launch a new invasion of Ukraine as soon as February, though Putin's government denies any such intentions.

The U.S. has responded by pouring military hardware in to bolster Ukraine's forces, and NATO has deployed troops, aircraft and warships to reinforce the bloc's defenses in the region. The U.S. and its European allies won't send troops into Ukraine as it's not a NATO member, but they've warned repeatedly that any Russian forces crossing the Ukrainian border will be considered an invasion, and will draw prompt and severe sanctions against Russia.

Ukrainian envoy: We "cannot afford to panic"

As CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports, Ukrainians are determined to defend their homeland, but even with an influx of American weaponry, they're massively outgunned and outnumbered by their colossal neighbor.

Despite the odds, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have joined local defense units. Williams met some of the citizen soldiers on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital where, every Saturday, they gather and do a quick warm up before they're put through drills  training to help fight off a hypothetical Russian attack.

"I know Russians very well," Oleksei Vasilchenko told Williams. The defense unit volunteer works in marketing, but told CBS News he served in the Soviet army before Ukraine gained its independence from Moscow just over 30 years ago. "If you want peace, you should be prepared for war," he said. The defense unit volunteers include everyone from urban professionals to military veterans like Vasilchenko, to new recruits. Many are thus far armed only with plywood rifles  stand-ins for the real thing.

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Russia's hardware, on the other hand, is impressive  and Moscow has been showing it off. Putin's forces have moved fighter jets, missile systems and about 5,000 troops into Belarus, an ally and neighbor that sits on Ukraine's northern border.

Russia insists that it is merely carrying out joint military exercises there, and that there's no plan to invade Ukraine. But on Monday, the Russian military noted that the exercises were expanding with the establishment of "mobile field command posts" in Belarus. The lack of Russian command and control centers set up in the border region has been one factor noted by military analysts to suggest that Moscow is not, in fact, planning an imminent invasion.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council members on Monday that the U.S. had "seen evidence that Russia intends to expand that presence [in Belarus] to more than 30,000 troops near the Belarus-Ukraine border, less than two hours north of Kyiv, by early February."

"If Russia further invades Ukraine, none of us will be able to say we didn't see it coming," Thomas-Greenfield told the meeting, appealing to Russia to pursue a diplomatic path rather than further escalation.

Russia fired back during the meeting, accusing the U.S. and its allies of interference for criticizing Russia's military exercises and dismissing the suggestions of a possible invasion as "conjectures and unfounded accusations."

"Our Western colleagues talk about the need for de-escalation, but first of all they themselves escalate tension with rhetoric and provoke an escalation," Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said. "Talking about an impending war is provocative in itself."

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya (left) and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield (right) are seen with other diplomats during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the situation between Russia and Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, January 31, 2022. / Credit: ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS

But the drills in Belarus aside, Russia has done nothing to explain why it decided to move so many forces close to its border with Ukraine over the last year in the first place. Russian officials have said for months that the deployments are merely for exercises, and that they can do what they want when they want on their own soil.

In what appeared to be a continuation of the mixed messages coming from Moscow, even as it announced the command posts being set up in Belarus, the Russian military also said on Monday that some 6,000 troops deployed to the west of the country weeks ago, for "planned operational and combat training," had been moved back to their permanent bases. Back in the forest outside Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, the local defense unit's members remained just as uncertain about Putin's intentions as the rest of the world. But they're also determined to be ready. CBS News watched as they kept up their fitness and practiced for the possibility of urban warfare. "Everywhere here is our land, so we have to defend it," said volunteer Oleksei Ilyushan, who's a criminal lawyer during the work week. "It makes me angry, but it's not like, 'Aargh, What am I gonna do?'  It makes me angry like, to prepare myself, you know?"

Participants learn how to handle a firearm during an introductory level military and first aid training for civilians by the Azov regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine at their base in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 30, 2022. / Credit: Christopher Occhicone/Bloomberg/Getty

The U.S. has said a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be horrific and change the world, but the Biden administration has also said there's still time for President Putin to choose de-escalation.

Putin is still formulating his official response to proposals from Washington that were handed over last week as a reply to Russia's demands for "security guarantees from NATO. Moscow demanded that NATO pull its forces back from Russian border regions and reject any new bids for membership from former Soviet states  most importantly, Ukraine.

The U.S. and NATO made it clear that they would not bar any prospective new members on Russia's behalf, but they have indicated a willingness to negotiate on military exercises and weapons deployments in the region, in addition to other "trust building" actions that both sides might take to step back from the brink of war.

Putin's spokesman said Monday that the Russian leader would give his reply "as soon as he deems it necessary."

In the meantime, the U.S. and its allies were sure to try to use the public forum of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday to increase the pressure on Moscow.

The next day, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was to hold a phone call with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to the Russian ministry.

Britain's foreign and defense ministers were also expected to visit Russia next week, Moscow's ambassador in London told a Russian television station on Monday, as efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis gained urgency.

CBS News' Pamela Falk at U.N. Headquarters contributed to this report.

January 6 trials delayed by mounting evidence and COVID-19 pandemic

Aunjanue Ellis on Oscar buzz for her role as Venus and Serena's mother in "King Richard"

6-year-old dancer goes viral
MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian court has refused to impose interim measures against Samsung Electronics while an intellectual property lawsuit with Switzerland-based company SQWIN SA is ongoing, court documents showed.

SQWIN SA had previously sought a legal ban on Samsung importing and selling 61 models of smartphones in Russia in an intellectual property lawsuit pertaining to its Samsung Pay system. But the ban did not came into effect as Samsung appealed it.

In a ruling dated Jan. 27, first reported by Russian media on Monday, the Moscow Arbitration Court dismissed a claim filed by SQWIN SA asking for the interim measures, which envisage the ban on Samsung's 61 models, to be imposed.

SQWIN SA has claimed that Samsung Pay infringes its electronic payment system patent registered in Russia.

The ruling said SQWIN SA had failed to show that Samsung had acted in bad faith.

A lawyer for Samsung said SQWIN SA had not provided evidence to the court showing it had tried to monetise the invention described in the patent since registering it.

SQWIN SA declined to comment while the case is ongoing

In an October ruling a Russian court listed 61 Samsung models the company was prohibited from importing and selling in Russia, citing the patent numbers.

(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
gun and ammo





Data from 2021 shows a spike in homicides and shootings in the Seattle area last year, with 88 fatal shootings and 372 people wounded by gunfire in the county where the Pacific Northwest city is located.

In 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, King County had reported a record-breaking 69 firearm-involved homicides and 268 shooting injuries, according to data from the Shots Fired report provided by the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutor Dan Satterberg called the uptick in gun violence "a uniquely American experience in response to the pandemic," according to The Seattle Times.

Shootings were also up nationwide in 2021, with 1,405 shots-fired incidents in 2021 compared to 1,025 in 2020 and 858 in 2019, the report said.

The report also added that 62 percent of shootings in King County in 2021 took place outside of Seattle city limits, up from the four-year average of 60 percent from 2017 through 2020.

The data from the Shots Fired Project comes from 20 police departments in King County, accounting for about 79 percent of the county's total population.

Of the 460 total gunshot victims last year, 85 percent were male, and 81 percent were people of color. Twenty-eight percent were young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, the report noted.

This month, major U.S. cities have seen an increase in violent crime.

A police officer was shot in Washington, D.C., and two other officers were fatally shot in New York City, where people have also recently been pushed in front of subway trains. In Chicago, gun violence has continued to plague the city, with 22 people being shot over one weekend earlier this month.

While experts say that overall crime rates were mostly stable in 2021 after a significant increase in 2020, gun crime has increased, garnering the White House's attention.

"The president is never going to be satisfied or complacent when officers are being gunned down or when Americans have to worry about whether they can safely ride the subway or bus or even be at work," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this month.

"We've seen a surge in crime ... especially gun violence over the last two years. And the president has been aggressive in using the tools at our disposal to combat that," she added.
Activist Gary Votour, who sought the South Carolina Democratic Party nomination for governor, is switching parties.

Votour announced Monday he will run on the Labor Party ticket for governor after saying the state Democratic Party is falling short on pushing for a $15 minimum wage. Votour was the first candidate to announce he would be running for governor for the Democratic nomination.

On the way out of the party, Votour criticized former Congressman Joe Cunningham, who is leading the fundraising race in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, specifically citing Cunninghams vote against a $15 minimum wage while in Congress.

Although the S.C. Democratic Party has embraced those positions in its party platform, it now falls short of these goals by refusing to require that all candidates office running as Democratic Party candidates do so as well, Votour posted to social media. In particular, I am referring to former Congressman Cunningham who refuses to stand for a living wage of at least $15 per hour for all South Carolinians.

Votour added that byrefusing to adhere to this important party platform issue, Mr. Cunningham has created great division within the Democratic Party.

Votour said party Chairman Trav Robertson refused to disallow Cunningham from running for governor because of a possible lawsuit.

Robertson told The State Monday he doesnt know if he has the legal authority to stop Cunningham from running for governor.

Gary Votour is a wonderful human being, (and) his heart is in the right place. The fact is he simply wants whats best for people in our state and our country, Robertson said. We wish him the best of luck and we have more in agreement with Gary than we do in disagreement.

In an interview in December, Cunningham said he always supported minimum wage that is in the double digits, but the bill in Congress he voted against would have eliminated tip wages, which would have hurt hospitality workers.

Congressman Cunningham wishes Mr. Votour all the best as he continues his campaign in another party, said Trevor Maloney, Cunninghams campaign manager. In the meantime, Joe is laser-focused on defeating Henry McMaster in November so we can legalize marijuana, increase teacher pay, and raise the minimum wage to at least $12 an hour.

With Votour out of the Democratic Party race, Cunningham will face state Sen. Mia McLeod, D-Richland. Florence resident William H. Williams also is seeking the nomination.
By Nathan Allen and Michael Gore

MADRID (Reuters) - Amnesty International on Monday accused Spanish prosecutors of failing to properly investigate scores of cases linked to the COVID-related deaths of residents of nursing homes.

Accompanied by two women demanding answers after their mothers died in homes during the devastating first wave, Amnesty's Spain director Esteban Beltran said in some cases authorities closed the investigations without contacting staff or victims' families.

The state prosecutor declined to comment on the report.

The group said in a report that 89% of investigations opened by the public prosecutor last January into more than 200 cases of criminal neglect at nursing homes were dropped, without any clear consequences for those involved.

"There is a risk of absolute impunity," Beltran told reporters in Madrid.

"You can reach that conclusion (of closing a case) but first you have to properly investigate," he said, calling for prosecutors to reopen cases and for a cross-party parliamentary commission to be formed.

More than 35,000 elderly nursing home residents are suspected to have died from COVID-19, according to data from the Social Security Ministry, the bulk of them in the first months of the pandemic.

Enriqueta Lopez said her elderly mother, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, drowned in her own vomit in a home in Barcelona where nearly half the 91 residents died after coronavirus struck.

Lopez said one staff member had to care for 23 residents including her mother, who was supposed to be kept in an inclined position at all times but was found lying flat.

She said staff from a nearby health centre, who were granted access to the home, found other residents died from malnutrition or infected bedsores.

A national prosecutor dropped an investigation into the home so Lopez turned to a regional prosecutor who told her to pursue a civil case.

"We don't want a civil suit. We want to know why she died," she told Reuters. "We will never again be able to go back to who we were."

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Angela Arreba faced a similar battle for justice for her mother, Julia, who died at a Madrid nursing home in April after its operators refused to transfer her to a hospital when she tested positive for COVID-19.

"The prosecutor's obligation is to protect citizens and that's not what they're doing," she said. "They want us to move on and forget."

(Reporting by Nathan Allen, Michael Gore and Juan Medina; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Alison Williams)
Instantly upon seeing her I had assessed and passed judgement on her.

I estimated she was in her mid-to-late twenties with tattoos (tatts) all over the back of her hands, arms and those parts of her legs I could quickly see between her long nondescript skirt and ankle-high boots with socks.

Where her hair was shaved off over the right side of her scalp there were more tatts. Her long dreadlocks were dyed pink and, in her snout, hung a large nose ring with the bottom part triple the depth of the rest of the ring, hanging under her nose.

Intro



She said: Hi Im Josie. I introduced myself.

Her: and what are we doing today?

Me: Id like a Claytons haircut please.

Her: Wots zat.

I explained it was the haircut youre having when youre not having a haircut.

Her: Okay now I know. So she began.

It wasnt a good cut. I thought I emerged from the barbers chair looking more like a sheep that had had a torrid time on the shearing shed floor. But my waiting wife did not comment so maybe I didnt look as shorn as I felt although it seemed like Clayton hadnt got much of a look-in.

I comforted myself that it would be a long time before I ran the gauntlet again of drawing Josie at the barrier.

A re-think



During our brief time together, we exchanged the usual getting to know you pleasantries and my initial impression began to soften. She was an accomplished conversationalist who spoke well, had good communication and people skills, was respectful and polite. She lived with her parents and as mum had also come to like body art she was now accompanying Josie to her friends tattooist and was sporting a few tatts herself.

Life isnt always as wed like it to be. On one occasion I had to employ a temp to fill in whilst my secretary was away. She turned up on day one sporting a bare midriff.

As I sat in my office and she came in to ask me something I couldnt help but look directly at her navel at eye level. Not a good look in a solicitors office where country conservatism reigns. Her attire changed.

Man looks at the outward appearance



This experience with Josie reminded me of the prophet Samuel sent by God to Jesse of Bethlehem with the directive: I have chosen one of his sons to be king to replace King Saul (1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 1), the King having done seriously wrong.

One-by-one Jesses seven sons were paraded before Samuel and one-by-one the prophet said: The LORD has not chosen these. But there was still one more son out in the field tending the sheep. David, the youngest, was brought in.

Before the parade the LORD had said to Samuel: Do not consider his appearance or his heightThe LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7). At the conclusion of the parade God said to Samuel: Rise and anoint him [David]; he is the one. (verse 12).

I had hastily misjudged



I had done Josie a disservice although I still have a problem with nose rings, most of which have a blob at the bottom of the curve which looks like something other than part of the ring.

But she liked her outfit and worked in gainful employment, so I guess thats what ultimately matters. Furthermore, we cant look at the heart although we may sometimes hear it said that someone has a good heart or a big heart or is kind/soft hearted.

What does God want to see



as He looks at the heart? Surely, He wants to see the person who seeks God, for Jesus says: seek and you will find [Me]. (Matthew chapter 7 verse 7).

I noticed this to be true when an 84 year old friends email said: guess we will never agree on this matter so better let it rest. End of discussion. Whilst there is power in logic and in the careful choice and use of words, something much more powerful may prevail: personal preference. I dont want to. If the hearer does not want to engage with you s/he simply wont.

We were dead in our transgressionswhen we followed the ways of this worldwe have lived among people who gratify the cravings of our sinful nature and follow its desires and thoughts. (Ephesians chapter 2 verses1-3). Previously we were enemies of God in our minds. (Colossians chapter 1 verse 21).

When God looks at the heart surely He wants to see open-mindedness and hearts soft enough to say yes to Jesus who says: Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Meand you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew chapter 11 verses 28/29).

Then well clearly know who we are and where were going to. We are His and are not alone.

Not deserving heaven even though we may have searched after Him and found Him, we are still only saved to heaven by His grace. It is by grace you have been saved through faithit is the gift of God. (Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8).

The inevitable result?

Perhaps the reason for increasing social unrest in our world as it becomes more and more ungovernable is largely because: you refuse to come to Me to have life. (John chapter 5 verse 40).
Augusta County Public Schools maintains a dashboard on its website to update the community of positive COVID cases in the division.

STAUNTON  Almost two years into the COVID pandemic and Staunton City Schools still doesn't have a dashboard on its website showing positive cases in the school division. Although, according to the Virginia Department of Health, maybe that's not a concern.

Both Augusta County and Waynesboro added dashboards to their websites this academic year tracking cases reported by the school system. The two report cases by individuals schools, updating the totals daily Monday through Friday.

Neighboring school divisions in the cities of Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, and the counties of Rockingham, Rockbridge and Albemarle also have dashboards on their school websites.

Staunton, however, does not make it easy for parents to find out how many COVID cases are in schools. Staunton Superintendent Garett Smith said they had discussions with Dr. Laura Kornegay, the now retired director for the Central Shenandoah Health District, about dashboards nearly two years ago.

"Her recommendation was not to establish one," Smith said. "We still send home letters for positive cases (exposure and non-exposure) and make phone calls for contact tracing."

Laura Lee Wight, the population health manager for the Central Shenandoah Health District, said school dashboards only provide a small bit of information about how COVID is spreading in an area.

When her department works with schools, Wight said the advice is to refer back to the Virginia Department of Health dashboards on the health organization's website. On that site, information is available on overall case counts, hospitalization and death rates, and vaccination numbers by locality.

"It's important to remember that transmission is happening throughout our community," Wight said. "A lot of times individuals are exposed to COVID-19 outside of the places of work, play, learning and home. So there's multiple points of exposure for individuals, so we want people to have the most information that they can."

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More: What you can do now that Augusta County will be letting kids go maskless during the pandemic

More: Rottweiler kills 7-year-old girl in Waynesboro attack, woman also was injured

She said going to the VDH dashboards provides that information because it has all cases in a community and not just a select few places.

Asked if she saw any benefit to a school-only dashboard, Wight said she would defer that question back to the school divisions.

"In the beginning, and still now, it was really critical that individuals got accurate information," Wight said. "And they got the whole data picture. The best way for us to communicate that was through our VDH dashboard instead of pointing people to different dashboards for different scenarios in their life."

The News Leader has kept a dashboard for Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County schools this year. Data for Waynesboro and Augusta County is obtained from the dashboards in those school divisions. Meanwhile. Staunton was reporting its numbers by email to The News Leader on a weekly basis, but hasn't sent a report since Friday, Dec. 10.

Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: COVID dashboard not available in Staunton Schools 2 years into pandemic
PENNSYLVANIA  Health officials in Pennsylvania and around the region are monitoring the rise of a new subvariant of omicron, but it's unclear yet if it's of more concern than its highly transmissible parent.

The subvariant of omicron is known as BA.2, also dubbed "stealth omicron" because its particular genetic traits make it somewhat harder to detect, and evidence suggested it will spread even more quickly than its infamous parent. So far, cases of BA.2 have been found in almost half of the U.S. states.



In Pennsylvania, officials said they are looking for the variant. A case has not yet been confirmed in the state.

The latest results of sequencing from Pennsylvania have not revealed the presence of the BA.2 variant, a spokesperson for the Department of Health told Patch.

Overall, cases of omicron are decreasing in Pennsylvania, but officials say it's too early to let up.

Despite the slight decrease in cases, staffing resources are in high-demand from Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems, whose frontline healthcare workers are exhausted and in need of support while they continue to see record numbers," Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said in a statement.

This new subvariant is not considered a variant of concern, according to the World Health Organization. In countries such as Denmark, where it quickly became the dominant variant, health officials have not seen an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations or deaths.

Omicron and delta are the two variants circulating the most in Pennsylvania at the moment, according to the state's COVID dashboard, which breaks it down by variants.

The subvariant has been detected in Denmark, Britain and India, among other countries. BA.2 is widespread in Denmark and is now the dominant strain in the country of 6 million people, The Washington Post reported, but said that may be explained by the country's robust program to sequence coronavirus genomes.

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BA.2 accounts for 65 percent of new cases as the parent variant declines, Anders Fomsgaard, a virologist at Denmark's State Serum Institute, told The Post in an email.

With reporting from Patch correspondents Beth Dalbey and Carly Baldwin

This article originally appeared on the Across Pennsylvania Patch
A suspect was arrested over the weekend after police said he shot a man at a Houma business during an argument.

Max A. Leon, 18, of Orlando, Fla., is charged with attempted second-degree murder, Houma Police said.

He is accused of shooting a 33-year-old man around 8 p.m. Friday at a business in the 7700 block of Main Street.

Police said Leon entered the business and caused a disturbance. When an employee tried to escort him out, the suspect pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times, authorities said. The shooter then fled the area.

The gunshot victim was later treated at a local hospital and was expected to recover, police said.

Following an investigation, detectives linked Leon to the shooting and received information Saturday that he was at a home in the 600 block of Eliza Street.

Police took the suspect into custody without incident and he was booked into the Terrebonne Parish jail, where he is being held on $800,000 bail.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Suspect charged in Houma shooting that left one injured
Happy Lunar New Year Raleigh!

I hope you guys didn't miss me too much. Sunday was a slow news day so I took it for myself, but have no fear I've got everything you might have missed below!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 57 Low: 30.

Are you a local business owner or marketer in Raleigh? We want to start showcasing trusted businesses who can solve problems for our amazing local readers. Learn more about how it works.

Here are the top five stories today in Raleigh:

A North Raleigh sweepstakes parlor was robbed at gunpoint late Saturday night. The incident was reported around 10:50 pm. No one was injured, according to police. Officers reviewed surveillance videos of the incident involving two men armed with handguns. (CBS17) Three people were displaced after a fire badly damaged a Raleigh home on Monday morning. The fire was reported around 3:50 am and 90% of the house was damaged. The fire took 55 minutes and 34 firefighters to get under control. It was deemed an accident. No one was injured or in need of rescue from the fire. (CBS17) The Raleigh-Durham market has ranked high in yet another report. The new report from commercial real estate firm JLL ranked the area 20th for talent concentration and 25th for innovation globally. The report predicts that Raleigh-Durham and similar areas will be "best placed to respond to changes and propel the next phase of urban regeneration." (WRAL TechWire) With so much growth happening in Raleigh, expansion is a large concern for many. Head of the Raleigh Planning Department, Pat Young sat down with Spectrum News 1 to discuss the city's future. The Q&A contains a lot of valuable insight into the future of Raleigh, but some key takeaways include the importance of public comment and inputs, and the future of the city being shaped largely by private business plans. (Spectrum News 1) Another new COVID testing site opened in Raleigh Monday. The Tabernacle Baptist Church on Leesville Road is set to remain open through February 11, and will run from 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm Monday-Friday. Test results should be returned in 1-2 days. (WRAL)

From our sponsor:

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Last week, we told you about our new favorite non-alcoholic go-to  the refreshingly bitter drinks from our partners at Betera. Theyre chef-created from natural botanicals, lightly effervescent and worthy of life beyond Dry January. We mentioned that their Ginger-Orange was excellent; weve since tried Elderflower-Lime and loved it as well  light and floral with the perfect amount of zing. We're converts.

Enough of you took Betera up on their 15% discount on first orders for Patch Daily readers that theyve extended the offer for another week. Use PATCH15 at checkout. Highly recommended  try Betera here.

Today in Raleigh:

From my notebook:

2022 is year of the Tiger, and Triangle on the Cheap has put together some of the Lunar New Year celebrations you can enjoy.

Today marks the beginning of Black History Month and the Triangle has a ton of incredible places you can go to celebrate Black History. Check out WRAL's guide to exhibits tours and events in the Triangle.

Anyone who is looking to host a bike safety event can apply to receive free helmets to distribute from the state. (WLOS)

A Ukrainian church in Garner hosted a prayer service to discuss and pray for the Ukrainian border situation. (WRAL)

More from our sponsors  thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

Divorce Boot Camp  Vesta's Charlotte, NC Hub (February 2)

Taxes in Retirement Seminar (February 8)

Add your event

Loving the Raleigh Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe

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Send me a news tip or suggestion at raleigh@patch.com

Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

 CJ Fullford

This article originally appeared on the Raleigh Patch
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is refusing to bend to demands of a raucous trucker protest that has swarmed Canadas capital in an effort to force authorities to abandon Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates.

The movement has drawn thousands of people  and dozens of honking big rigs  to Ottawas famously placid core around Parliament Hill.

Over the past few days, Canadians were shocked and, frankly, disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people protesting in our nation's capitol, Trudeau told reporters Monday in his first public comments since convoys arrived in Ottawa. We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small business workers and steal food from the homeless. We won't give in to those who fly racist flags. We won't cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans.

The protests so far: The demonstrations have been nonviolent, but smaller, more menacing elements in the crowds have threatened lawmakers and journalists and to destabilize Trudeaus government.

Over the weekend, some protesters were spotted dancing and urinating on national war monuments, waving racist banners and even barging into a soup kitchen for the homeless.





Behind the movement: Organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy launched the campaign after Trudeaus government created a rule, as of Jan. 15, that requires unvaccinated truckers returning to Canada from the United States to quarantine and take Covid tests. The Biden administration installed a similar measure for reentry into the U.S. that took effect a week later.

The movements original demands included getting the Trudeau government to repeal the vaccination rule for border-crossing truckers  and cancel government Covid tracking apps and all vaccine mandates.

The convoy rumbled into Ottawa after dayslong drives from different parts of the country.

The frustrations of those fed up with two years of Covid restrictions have fueled the high-profile event. Far-right individuals have used the protests to promote their own objectives.

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The movement has also amassed a lot of cash. As of Monday,a GoFundMe campaign for the cause had brought in more than C$9.25 million from nearly 115,000 donations.

The demonstrators are threatening to disrupt downtown Ottawa for as long as necessary.

No meeting with the PM: Trudeau said he has no intention of meeting with the demonstrators.

I have attended protests and rallies in the past, when I agreed with the goals, when I supported the people expressing their concerns and their issues. Black Lives Matter is an excellent example of that, he said when asked why he was unwilling to meet with the convoy. But I have also chosen to not go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric, violence towards fellow citizens and a disrespect not just of science but of the frontline health workers and, quite frankly, the 90 percent of truckers who have been doing the right thing to keep Canadians safe to put food on our tables.

When the convoy was driving towards Ottawa last week, Trudeau said nearly 90 percent of truckers in Canada are vaccinated.

The House returns: Trudeaus message for the truckers came as the House of Commons resumed its work Monday for the first time since December. Lawmakers are returning to their parliamentary duties, though many members are appearing via virtual links.

Still, some MPs made their way into Parliament despite the protests outside.

Trudeau also announced Monday that he's tested positive for Covid. He said he has no symptoms and that he plans to continue working.

The politics of protest: Trudeau criticized his Conservative rivals  and specifically called out Leader Erin OToole  who have met with truckers in the convoy.

All politicians need to think very carefully about who they're supporting, about what messages they're putting out, Trudeau said. We have seen over the past many, many months, Conservative politicians sharing disinformation about vaccines, encouraging conspiracy theories online. And I think Erin O'Toole is going to need to reflect very carefully on how he's walking a path that supports these people who do not represent truckers, let alone the vast majority of Canadians.

OToole has denounced groupshe says are using the broader convoy movement to promote hate and racism.
Former president Donald Trump railed against his former vice president and admitted he wanted Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election outcome on 6 January last year.

Mr Trump made the remarks in a statement as a bipartisan group of senators seeks to reform the Electoral Count Act, which would explicitly make the vice presidents role ceremonial when Congress votes to certify election results. The goal is to prevent another attempt to overturn the election results as Mr Trump had hoped his vice president would.

The group of Senators includes Republican Sen Susan Collins of Maine, who voted to convict Mr Trump for inciting the riot at the Capitol.

If the Vice President (Mike Pence) had absolutely no right to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election? Mr Trump said in a statement released on Sunday.

Actually, what they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away, he said. Unfortunately, he didnt exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!

Mr Trump pressured Mr Pence to overturn the the election results when both houses of Congress convened to certify the election results  the day that hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, some of them chanting Hang Mike Pence.

NEW!



President Donald J. Trump:



If the Vice President (Mike Pence) had absolutely no right to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are... pic.twitter.com/9kz05Jwi7y  Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) January 30, 2022

Ahead of the riot, Mr Trump spoke to rally-goers at the Stop the Steal rally that he hoped Pence would take steps to stop the certification of Joe Bidens victory.

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And Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us, and if he doesn't, that will be a, a sad day for our country because you're sworn to uphold our Constitution, he said.

During the riot, Mr Trump again slammed his vice president in a tweet.

Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify, he said.
The gospel literally changed the world. It has shaped nations, given hope to millions and is tangibly seen in the lives of people today.

This gospel story has driven massive social campaigns, such as Wilberforces abolition of slavery. It has been the motivation for starting organizations, such as World Vision, the RSPCA and workers unions. It has been the driving force for individuals such as William Carey, Isaac Newton and Billy Graham. The gospel story changed our world.

The power of ideas

Ideas have power to shape behaviour. The ideas the gospel contains about a Creator reaching out to reconcile the world to Himself drive human behaviour. Theology drives practice.

This is a powerful concept to wrestle with because every aspect of our lives hinges on how we respond to it. A Christian worldview is what we believe about Jesus. This belief determines how we follow Him.

Theology with wings

An example of a theology driving behavior: people that give up everything to serve Jesus. Some show their belief in Jesus through their behaviour of giving up career progression, financial security and often moving to remote locations.

I have had friends who have given up everything to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in east Arnhem Land and PNG. The whole MAF Team bear witness to a theology with wings.

Or other friends who serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators giving up stable incomes to help with the process of translating Bibles into indigenous peoples heart language. It is the idea of this gospel that motivates their actions. Their knowledge of God drives them to bear witness to Jesus.

For someone without a Christian worldview this makes no sense at all. Why would someone waste their time, effort and finances unless there is a deep theological depth to their understanding of Jesus and His mission? Such a counter-cultural act is driven through a rich theology of Jesus being Lord of all.

Theologians over the years have given this concept various names such as a theological vision (Richard Lints). Dutch Pastor Abraham Kuyper proclaimed, There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!

The link between our beliefs and practice is part of the gospel message. It transforms every aspect of our life and overflows from a deep indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It changes the way we spend our money, how we build community, how we treat others, and the way we view our jobs. It flows out of this deep gospel conviction.

What about me?

How can we live out this faith? How can I serve my church and support people like MAF and WBT missionaries?

One outworking of this theological melee, is developing the vision that every area of life is impacted by this gospel story. From this you can consider how your behavior can be impacted by it. This may mean looking for friends or ministries you wish to support with your time or finances. It could mean to set aside specific time to pray for communities.

Or it could mean preparing a way to share this gospel story and inspire others to give their theology wings. It means making every thought captive to Christ. As people hear this gospel story it will transform the lives of many.
Donald Trump called for the biggest protests ever in Washington, DC and across the country if the prosecutors investigating him and his businesses are found to be doing anything illegal.

The former president was speaking at a rally in Conroe, Texas on Saturday, and seemed to connect the investigations to his baseless conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen from him through fraud.

If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protest we have ever had in Washington DC, in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere because our country and our elections are corrupt, Mr Trump said.

Mr Trump is facing a number of investigations in New York, Georgia, and Washington, DC where the House Select Committee investigating 6 January is looking into his actions in relation to the Capitol riot last year.

In reality, theyre not after me, theyre after you, and I just happen to be the person in the way, Mr Trump told his supporters.

The New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Manhattan district attorneys office are investigating the Trump Organization, including members of the former first family.

Ms James has said that her office has found significant evidence that the Trump Organization used false and misleading asset valuations for several of their properties.

For years, theyve been going after my company, many years, using every trick in the book in an attempt to literally, if they can, put me in jail. They want to put me in jail, Mr Trump told rallygoers.

Trump: They wanna put me in jail! pic.twitter.com/XN7P29boah  Acyn (@Acyn) January 30, 2022

Mr Trump called the prosecutors racist on several occasions, adding that theyre mentally sick and that they were guilty of prosecutorial misconduct at the highest level.

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The former president called those investigating him vicious, horrible people.

Theyre going after me without any protection of my rights by the Supreme Court or most other courts, Mr Trump claimed.

Trump claims the prosectors investigating him are racist against white people pic.twitter.com/FYIaHMdH9M  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 30, 2022

The former president has tried several times to get the Supreme Court to stop investigators from getting ahold of records and documents connected to their probes.

The court denied a request from Mr Trump this month, in which he asked that the court prevent the House Select Committee investigating 6 January from obtaining his presidential records. The court also denied a request from Mr Trump last year to shield his tax returns from public view.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that Mr Trump had defended the actions of his supporters who stormed the Capitol and brutally attacked the law enforcement officers protecting it.

She added that Mr Trump even attacked his own vice president for not, in his words, having overturned the election, and its just a reminder of how unfit he is for office.

Mr Trumps actions represent a unique and existential threat to our democracy, she said, adding that its telling that even some of his closest allies have rejected those remarks as inappropriate in the days since.

.@PressSec Jen Psaki: "[Trump's] remarks this weekend, he defended the actions of his supporters who stormed the Capitol. [...] He even attacked his own vice president for not in his words, having overturned the election, and it's just a reminder of how unfit he is for office." pic.twitter.com/S75AXQ4fad  The Hill (@thehill) January 31, 2022

If the Vice President (Mike Pence) had absolutely no right to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election? Mr Trump said in a statement on Sunday.

Actually, what they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away, he said. Unfortunately, he didnt exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!

Former Richard Nixon White House Counsel John Dean criticised Mr Trump for suggesting during the Texas rally that the 6 January insurrectionists should receive pardons.

If I run and if I win, Mr Trump said, referring to a possible 2024 presidential campaign, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. We will treat them fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.

More than 700 have been charged with a crime in the sprawling Capitol riot investigation following Trump supporters attempt to prevent Congress from certifying his 2020 electoral loss to President Joe Biden. The rioters were urged on by the lie spread by the now-former president that the election had been stolen through fraud.

Seven people died in relation to the violent siege and more than 100 police officers were injured.

Members of the far-right militia the Oath Keepers were present at the attack  11 people involved in the group have been charged with seditious conspiracy. Mr Trump himself was impeached for a second time as a result of the riot. He was once again acquitted during the Senate trial.

Ten Republicans in the House voted to impeach and seven GOP senators voted to convict. Since the threshold for conviction in the Senate wasnt reached, Mr Trump is free to stand again following his 2020 loss.

Mr Dean served as the White House Counsel in Mr Nixons administration from 1970 until 1973, but he was detained and disbarred following the Watergate scandal, during which Mr Dean gave vital testimony before Congress. The affair led to Mr Nixon leaving office in 1974.

This is beyond being a demagogue to the stuff of dictators, Mr Dean, 83, tweeted about Mr Trumps suggestion of pardoning rioters. He is defying the rule of law. Failure to confront a tyrant only encourages bad behaviour. If thinking Americans dont understand what Trump is doing and what the criminal justice system must do we are all in big trouble!

I dont want to send any signals that it was okay to defile the Capitol, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, told Face the Nation on CBS on Sunday. I want to deter what people did on January 6, and those who did it, I hope they go to jail and get the book thrown at them because they deserve it.
Demonstrators gather outside Tucson Federal Building in April 2019 to protest the planned Rosemont copper mine.

Tucson officials are trying to block operators of the Rosemont copper mine, a project the city has long opposed, from storing water in a recharge facility the city helped pay for and co-owns.

Different companies have tried for years to extract copper from the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson. And its current owner, Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals Inc, has pledged to return some of the 1.7 billion gallons of groundwater it plans to pump each year back into the aquifer.

But the company wants to use a recharge facility co-owned by Tucson, whose mayor and city council oppose the mine for environmental reasons. And now the city is considering options that include diverting water from its other recharge facilities to block Rosemont or even taking legal action.

It's not an issue of the quality of the water that they're storing in the basin, Councilmember Steve Kozachik, Ward 6, said. It is explicitly and admittedly a move to tell Rosemont  we don't want to do anything to benefit you digging a  hole in the Santa Ritas. And we're half owners of this facility and we're not letting you store your water there.

I'm not trying to be coy with them, Kozachik added. We dont support you, and we don't want you using our facility. Period. Full stop. Done.

Several groups have opposed the open-pit copper mine, including Indigenous communities, environmental groups and Pima County. They say the mine would contaminate groundwater and soils, tear up the landscape, destroy springs and streams, and ravage habitat that provides a vital sanctuary for rare animals that roam the wilds of southern Arizona.

Supporters, including several Tucson business groups, say the mine would add up to 2,500 jobs in an area with a high poverty rate for the 19 years the mine is set to operate.

In January, the Central Arizona Project board voted to allow Rosemont mine the use of the Pima Mine Road recharge facility, which CAP operates and co-owns with Tucson. The contract would allow Rosemont to store up to 1,124 acre-feet of Colorado River water  about 366 million gallons  at the facility each year from 2022 to 2032.

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Tucson believes CAP violated several procedures and is considering legal action, but Greg Adams, a senior attorney with CAP, said the goal is to maximize water storage capacity, without discriminating against water users.

If they come to us asking for a water storage agreement, as long as they have a right to use water  which Rosemont in this instance did  then we will allow them to enter into a water storage agreement with us.

Rosemont has permits to store water in two separate recharge facilities, including the Lower Santa Cruz facility, but say it wants to use the Pima Mine Road facility because its closer to the aquifer supplying the water.

We want our mitigation to be as effective as possible which, in this case, means that we want to recharge as close as possible to where we will be pumping, representatives for Hudbay Minerals Inc. wrote to The Arizona Republic in an email. The Pima Mine Road Recharge Project is much closer to our planned well field than the Lower Santa Cruz recharge facility.

Hudbay has also said they will only use the Pima Mine Road facility temporarily until it can build a different recharge facility. Jan Howard, a spokesperson for Hudbay, said the new facility is essentially adjacent to the well where the company will pump groundwater.

It's unclear when the new facility will be ready to operate. The project is under construction, but has been delayed by lawsuits, according to Howard. Its goal is to store up to 7,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water per year.

A Hudbay sign, April 24, 2019, on the proposed Rosemont Mine site.

Concerns about over-pumping

Rosemont had previously-stored water at the Pima Mine Road facility from 2006 to 2011, before Mayor Regina Romero was elected in 2019. She says now if she had been mayor then, she would have opposed the mines use of the Pima Mine Road facility.

Tuscon first learned about Rosemont's plan to store water at the Pima Mine Road recharge facility when the item appeared on the Oct. 7 CAP board meeting agenda. The city expressed concern at the mines usage of a site that it spent about $3.4 million to help build and co-owns.

After the October meeting, Hudbay decided to delay storage at the Pima Mine Road facility given the protests by Tucson officials. The company later decided to pursue plans to use the facility again and signed the contract in January.

Romero has expressed concern about the mine's operators over-pumping and contaminating groundwater. Hudbay would only put about a quarter of the water it pumps back into the aquifer, according to the city's water department, she said. The company has maintained that it will put back more water than we take out.

We live here, and despite industry claims to the contrary, we strongly believe that the Rosemont Mine project will diminish our groundwater supply and contaminate our soils and our aquifers for the predominant benefit of a private, foreign corporation, Romero said in a press release on Jan. 6.

Increased contamination of groundwater means that Tucson would have to further rely on water from the Colorado River, distributed through the CAP Canal. The river is in the middle of a historic drought and, in August, the federal government declared a first-ever shortage for the river's users.

Here in southern Arizona, we do not have a renewable surface water source, Romero said in an interview with The Republic. So groundwater and CAP water are our only options. And if we start contaminating our groundwater, we have less access to it. And the CAP water is dwindling because we have a drought. So this is very serious and very concerning to us.

The Pima Mine Road recharge facility includes five basins over 23 acres and is co-owned by the Central Arizona Project and Tucson.

Issues surround the mine

Any legal action Tucson takes would be against CAP for violating procedures specified in different agreements. But it would nonetheless add to the legal troubles the mine's owners have faced for years.

In July 2019, a federal judge blocked the mining project after claiming the U.S. Forest Service had abdicated its duty by failing to consider whether the mining company held valid unpatented mining claims. Hudbay appealed the decision and the case went to the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in 2020.

The court hasnt released a decision yet and as Hudbay waits, the company has started exploring the west slope of the Santa Rita Mountains, the Arizona Daily Star reported. The open-pit mine was planned for the east slope.

Greg Shinsky, a board member of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, a conservation group that has fought the Rosemont mine, described the exploratory operations on the west slope as mining for their investors to keep the companys stock prices high.

They're putting on a show, he said. They're drilling core samples of pockets of copper and ore, and they're saying that this is going to be a viable operation. But the real money for that is for an open pit mine on the east side of town.

Shinsky also pointed out that statistics about how many acre-feet of groundwater Hudbay plans to use for its mining operations dont include their plans for the west slope.

We really don't know how much water they're going to use, he said.

Hudbays environmental impact statement says the 5,400 acre-feet of groundwater the company would pump is only for the east slope, which doesnt include exploration activities and potential mining on the west slope.

The proposed Rosemont Mine site, April 24, 2019.

How Tucson might pursue its case

Tucsons water lawyer, Christopher Avery, said there are several agreements the city could use to pursue a case against CAP, although he hopes no legal action is necessary.

One common theme in those agreements is a legal requirement that the city and the CAP have extensive discussions about the operation of the site, he said.

A 2000 agreement says CAP should alert Tucson of its plans for the Pima Mine Road facility by July 1 each year. A different agreement requires Tucson to submit an order schedule before Oct. 1.

But CAP didnt inform Tucson about Hudbay's intent to store water until after Tucsons order deadline, and Tucsons mayor and council werent aware the company had obtained the CAP permit required to store water at a recharge facility.

Tucson officials say if they had known of the company's intent to store earlier, they would have exercised their right of first refusal, which means if theres any extra storage space, Tucson gets the first chance to top it off with water.

Under the agreement, CAP is supposed to let Tucson know by July 1 if theres any extra storage space, but that notification didnt take place until after Oct. 1 when it was already too late.

While the agreements specify July 1 and Oct. 1 deadlines, it was a formality that was often dropped.

Over the years, those rather formal terms and agreements about how the site should be operated and when notices should be provided have gone unfulfilled in some cases or fulfilled later than the deadlines that are set in the agreement, Avery said.

Jay Johnson, general counsel for CAP, said that the agency has followed the terms of the contract, which leaves room for CAP to inform Tucson of its plans after the July 1 deadline.

Adams said CAPs actions have been consistent with past negotiations.

Our underlying agreement with Tucson doesn't have any requirement that we give notice of who we're entering into the water storage agreements with as far as that pertains to Tucson, he said. So the fact that we didn't talk to them earlier was consistent with other water storage agreements that we've done with other storing partners there.

Tucson maintains it has the right to first refusal for the 2022 calendar year, since the city was never alerted about extra storage space at the Pima Mine Road facility.

The city said it will exercise its right of first refusal to prevent Rosemont from storing any water at the Pima Mine Road facility from 2023 to 2032. The city stored water at several different recharge facilities and could divert water from one of them to the Pima Mine Road facility.

This would be, if you want to use a chess metaphor, moving your rook in place to put their queen in check, Kozachik said. And so we block their move. And that's basically what this would be doing. We would be topping the facility off to block Rosemont.

Any legal action would most likely only target Rosemonts storage for 2022.

Romero and the six-person city council unanimously oppose the mine. But they havent yet met to discuss legal action in-depth with Avery, or about how much taxpayer money theyre willing to spend.

A spokesperson for Romero said the council hopes to have that discussion at one of the bi-weekly meetings in February and then decide whether its worth it. For now, Avery said hes trying to negotiate with CAP, although he hasnt yet heard from the agency since speaking at the January board meeting.

The Rosemont mine, like anything that concerns water in the desert, has been a hot issue in Tucson. Romero said every time she or the city council has taken a stance against the mine, shes received appreciative comments, calls and emails from residents.

Based on what we receive  we feel very confident that the Tucson residents also are not supportive of building Rosemont, she said. As much as we don't want to be bogged down with legal expenses, when it comes to water and the quality of water for our citizens, I am willing to go to bat and fight for the public health and the water resources of our community.

Zayna Syed is an environmental reporter for The Arizona Republic/azcentral. Follow her reporting on Twitter at @zaynasyed_ and send tips or other information about stories to zayna.syed@arizonarepublic.com.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson uses dispute over water recharge to renew Rosemont opposition
Two Bridgeport, Connecticut, police detectives have been placed on administrative leave following public outcry over the handling of death investigations of two Black women, Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls, the city's mayor announced.

Mayor Joseph Ganim extended condolences to the families of Smith-Fields and Rawls in a statement Sunday, saying he was "extremely disappointed with the leadership of the Bridgeport Police Department and find actions taken up to this point unacceptable."

Image: Lauren-Smith-Fields (Courtesy Darnell Crosland)

Smith-Fields, 23, was found unresponsive Dec. 12 in her Bridgeport apartment by a man she had met on Bumble, who called police to report that he had awakened to find her unresponsive with a nosebleed.

The family has accused the police department of being "racially insensitive," saying they were not contacted by officers about her death but by the building's landlord. The family's attorney previously told NBC News the Bumble date is not a person of interest in the case. No charges have been filed.

Last week, the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Smith-Fields' death was an accident resulting from acute intoxication due to combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine and alcohol. Following that announcement, the Bridgeport Police Department announced a criminal investigation into her death, assisted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Rawls, 53, was found dead at a Bridgeport residence the same day as Smith-Fields, and her family also said police never notified them of her death and that city police have not taken her case seriously.

Her cause and manner of death are pending.

Ganim directed the Bridgeport Police Department to put the two officers handling those cases on leave. They were identified as Detective Kevin Cronin and Detective Angel Llanos by the mayor's spokeswoman, Rowena White.

Cronin and Llanos are currently subjects of internal affairs investigations and face disciplinary action "for lack of sensitivity to the public and failure to follow police policy in the handling of these two matters," Ganim said.

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Brenda Lee Rawls. (Courtesy Dorothy Rawls)

They have been suspended from their duties and will remain on leave until the internal investigation and disciplinary cases are completed.

The mayor said a supervisory officer who was in charge of overseeing the cases has retired from the department as of Friday.

The deaths of Smith-Fields and Rawls remain under investigation and have been reassigned within the police department.

"The Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity especially in matters involving the death of a family member," Ganim said. "It is an unacceptable failure if policies were not followed."

He said Jan. 24 that he was working with the police chief to "make appropriate changes" to department policies regarding notifying family members of a death.

Darnell Crosland, the attorney for Smith-Fields' family, filed a notice of claim earlier this month accusing police of not taking the case seriously.

He called the mayor's announcement "a step in the right direction."

"The city is liable for the behavior of its police department and its officers," Crosland, who is also representing Rawls' family, said. "I am pleased that the mayor has accepted that liability publicly and has apologized to this family for the suffering they have endured."

Dorothy Rawls Washington, one of Rawls' sisters, questioned why it took so long for Ganim to comment publicly and said she believes he only did so "because he's feeling the heat."

She said Ganim has made no attempts to reach her or anyone else in her family.

"It's over a month that both of these women have passed away," Washington said Monday.

She said she believes there are more people who need to be held accountable.

"There appears to be no oversight at the Bridgeport Police Department," Washington said, adding that her family has no confidence in local police and would like the FBI, Justice Department or state to take over the investigation into her sister's death.

Bridgeport police did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.
The average asking price for a property in Bexhill-on-Sea jumped to 342,265. Photo:Getty

Bexhill-on-Sea has been named the biggest property supply hotspot in January as the number of new properties coming to market in the area nearly doubled, according to new figures.

High Peak, Derbyshire, came second in the list of new supply hotspots with an 82% increase in new sellers coming to market, while Chelmsford, Essex was third with a 58% rise in new properties for sale, January data from Rightmove (RMV.L) shows.

Hotspots are areas where more new properties are coming onto the market for sale than the same period last year.

The average asking price in Bexhill-on-Sea jumped 13% to 342,265. It takes around 35 days to usually find a buyer for the properties in that area.

Properties in High Peak command an average 278,672 while in Chelmsford asking prices are around 407,200.

Read more: UK property rents rise at fastest ever rate

St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, has the highest average asking price from all the new year supply hotspots, at 629,000. The number of new properties for sale in the area increased 36%.

At the other end of that price list is Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire. With an asking price of 200,785, it experienced a 54% increase in new properties for sale.

The average asking price in the UK stood at 341,019, in January.

The number of new listings coming to market for sale is gaining momentum. In the last week, the number of new properties for sale is up 8% in Great Britain compared to the same period last year.

The East Midlands, South East, South West, Wales and Yorkshire & The Humber all recorded an increase upwards of 10% in new homes for sale in the last week compared to the same period last year.

Read more: UK first-time buyer numbers rise at record rate

The market has picked up pace after a busy festive period, and its a really encouraging sign to see more properties start to come to market for sale. More new listings, coupled with the higher number of requests from prospective sellers to estate agents to value their home we are seeing, certainly suggests good news and positive signs we are moving towards a better balanced market in 2022, Rightmoves director of property data, Tim Bannister, said.

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Total buyer demand is up 35% within the last week compared to the same period last year.

These new sellers will be met by plenty of eager buyers, as the data shows the number of enquiries for homes for sale is even higher than this time last year. This means that while rising numbers of new homes for sale will be very welcome, buyers will face stiff competition for available properties, and should act fast when a property they like comes onto the market, Bannister added.

Watch more: How much money do I need to buy a house?
By Steve Holland, Guy Faulconbridge and Dmitry Antonov

WASHINGTON/LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States and Britain are prepared to punish Russian elites close to President Vladimir Putin with asset freezes and travel bans if Russia enters Ukraine, Washington and London said on Monday as tensions also spilled over at the United Nations.

Britain urged Putin to "step back from the brink" after the Russian build-up of troops near Ukraine stoked fears of war, and warned any incursion would trigger sanctions against companies and people close to the Kremlin.

"The individuals we have identified are in or near the inner circles of the Kremlin and play a role in government decision making or are at a minimum complicit in the Kremlin's destabilizing behavior," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said planned legislation will give London new powers to target companies linked to the Russian state.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the British warning "very disturbing," saying it made Britain less attractive to investors and would hurt British companies.

"An attack by a given country on Russian business implies retaliatory measures, and these measures will be formulated based on our interests if necessary," Peskov said.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, London has become the haven of choice for a river of money from Russia and other former Soviet republics. Transparency advocates have long called on Britain to be tougher about illicit financial flows.

PUBLIC FACE-OFF

Tensions between Russia and the United States were on display at the United Nations Security Council on Monday where the U.S.-requested meeting on Moscow's troop build-up allowed for a public face-off over the crisis.

Russia's U.N. ambassador said there was "no proof" Moscow was planning military action and that Russia had never confirmed the West's assertion that it had amassed 100,000 troops near its neighbor.

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Vassily Nebenzia said U.S. talk of war was "provocative," that Russia frequently deployed troops in its own territory, and that Ukraine's crisis was a domestic issue.

"The provocation's from Russia, not from us or other members of this council," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

China urged all parties to not aggravate the situation and said it did not view Russia's troops near the border as a threat.

Although Russia, which seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and backs pro-Russian rebels fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine, denies planning further incursion, it is demanding sweeping security guarantees including a promise NATO never admit Ukraine.

It sent a follow-up to a written proposal made by the United States last week, according to the State Department. Washington did not comment on Monday on the content of the response, saying "it would be unproductive to negotiate in public."

Meanwhile, leaders are continuing their diplomatic push with phone calls and meetings to try to defuse the situation.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set travel to Ukraine on Tuesday to meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

On a call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Putin, the pair said they wanted to maintain a dialogue on implementing the Minsk agreements regarding Donbass, a region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow has backed separatist fighters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to speak by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, a State Department spokesperson said.

RUSSIAN MONEY ABROAD

Opponents of Putin have long urged the West to clamp down on Russian money, though oligarchs and Russian officials continue to flaunt wealth at Europe's most luxurious destinations.

"Putin's cronies will no longer be able to use their spouses or other family members as proxies to evade sanctions," said a senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Sanctions would cut them off from the international financial system and ensure that they and their family members will no longer able to enjoy the perks of parking their money in the West and attending elite Western universities."

Britain has already imposed sanctions on about 180 people and 48 entities since Russia annexed Crimea, including six people it says are close to Putin. The sanctions allow Britain to bar people from entering and to freeze their assets.

The European Union, many of whose members are in NATO, has also threatened "strong political consequences and massive economic costs" for Russia over any new incursion into Ukraine.

Some NATO countries, including the United States and Britain, have sent arms to Ukraine, although they have ruled out sending troops there to fight.

Poland said it had offered neighboring Ukraine tens of thousands of munitions, and was awaiting a reply. The White House on Monday accused Russia of surging troops into Belarus, which is hosting Russian drills and borders both Poland and Ukraine.

Europe's dependence on Russian energy supplies weakens the West's hand, and the United States has asked top gas producer Qatar and other major exporters to study whether they can supply more to Europe.

U.S. President Joe Biden met with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Monday at the Oval Office and said he planned to designate the Middle Eastern nation a major non-NATO ally.

(Reporting by Steve Holland in Washington, Guy Faulconbridge in London and Dmitry Antonov in Moscow; Additional reporting by William James in London, Michelle Nichols at the UN and Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Writing by Kevin Liffey, Frank Jack Daniel and Costas Pitas; Editing by Toby Chopra, Rosalba O'Brien and Grant McCool)
The University of Florida will begin searching for its next president in March, the schools board of trustees announced Monday.

Board chairperson Mori Hosseini and vice chairperson Tom Kuntz were reelected for second terms to oversee the search. Both are former members of the state Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System. Hosseini said choosing a president is the trustees most important task.

A 15-member search committee will be named in March, and Hosseini said the panel will have big shoes to fill with the departure of president Kent Fuchs, who will remain in the job until a successor takes over. Fuchs announced at the beginning of the year he would be stepping down to become a professor, a decision he said he made last fall.

He has done such great work and has earned the right to transition to the job he loves the most, Hosseini said.

The search comes following a semester of tumult between university administration and faculty after a controversy over academic freedom led to a federal lawsuit, an accreditation investigation and a congressional inquiry.

Four of Floridas 12 public universities are searching for new presidents, and a bill is moving quickly through the Legislature that would allow the names of candidates to remain private until late stages of the process. The bill is supported by many members of the Board of Governors and search firms who see it as a way to attract better candidates who may fear retaliation in their current jobs for looking elsewhere.

The legislation has many critics among faculty and academic groups who see it as a way to limit public input and pave the way for politically connected applicants.

The bill is on the Senate calendar for second reading after passing in the education, governmental oversight and accountability, and rules committees. The House version was referred to government operations subcommittee on Jan. 20.
An F-15EX Eagle II. US Air Force photo by 1st Lt Savanah Bray

The F-15EX Eagle II recently fired an air-to-air missile over the Gulf of Mexico.

That marked a major milestone for the jet, as it was the first time this aircraft fired a weapon.

The Air Force plans to replace the aging F-15 fighters with the new Eagle II jets.

The US Air Force's newest fighter jet, the F-15EX Eagle II, recently hit a significant milestone  it fired a weapon for the first time.

The jet, which is assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron, let loose an AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile in pursuit of a BQM-167 target drone while flying over the Gulf of Mexico on January 25.

An F-15EX Eagle II preparing to fire an AIM-120D missile on January 25. This was the first live fire performed by the Air Force's newest aircraft. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven

The missile release during the Combat Archer air-to-air weapons system evaluation program marked the first time a weapon was fired from this type of fighter aircraft and came after over six months of developmental and operational flight testing, the 96th Test Wing said in a statement on the shot.

It was also the first live-fire shot for the experimental test pilot Maj. Benjamin Naumann, who flew with Maj. Mark Smith. Naumann said the shot was "another important step towards fielding the aircraft to combat units."

Colton Myers, a F-15EX test project manager with the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force, said the missile release "was an end-to-end verification of the entire weapons system, which will pave the way for more complex missile shots in the future."

The F-15EX Eagle II fires an AIM-120D missile near Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, on January 25. US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven

The Eagle II gets its name from the F-15 Eagle and the F-15E Strike Eagle that came before it.

The F-15 Eagle is an exceptional fighter aircraft built for air dominance, but as of April, when the F-15EX Eagle II was officially rolled out and given its name, 75% of the fleet was past its service life and 10% were grounded because of structural issues, the Air Force said.

The Air Force initially ordered eight Eagle II jets and plans to eventually acquire at least 144 to replace the aging fleet of F-15C/Ds, the average age of which is over 40 years old.

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The Eagle II is a two-seat aircraft, but it can be flown by a single pilot. It features fly-by-wire controls, advanced avionics, and digital cockpit displays. It also has the capacity to carry up to 30,000 pounds of air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground munitions.

Lt. Gen. Mike Loh said at the plane's unveiling ceremony in April that the new jet's capabilities would provide "significant" improvements over legacy aircraft, like an "upgrade in weapons capacity, including the ability to carry outsize weapons for these missions, and for standoff roles in the high-end fight supporting our geographic Combatant Commanders."

Read the original article on Business Insider
NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has surpassed its COVID-19 vaccination target for health workers as thousands of the employees heeded the call to take the jabs, the Ministry of Health said in an update released on Monday.

The ministry noted that 237,173 health workers in the East African nation were fully vaccinated against a target of 208,418, representing a vaccination rate of 114 percent.

The health workers, who mainly comprise doctors, nurses and clinical officers, top the list of those who are fully vaccinated among frontline workers and priority groups.

The others are teachers, security workers and the elderly.

The tutors follow with 410,393 of them fully vaccinated, against a target of 480,641, a vaccination rate of 85 percent.

The worst performing among the priority groups are the elderly, with 2.6 million of them having taken the first vaccine but only 957,767 have returned for the second, a vaccination rate of 37 percent.

In November last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) observed that only one in every four African health workers were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, leaving the bulk of the workforce on the frontlines unprotected. But Kenya has overcome this.

The country launched its COVID-19 vaccination in March 2021 after receiving a million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Since then, the East African nation has received 25 million vaccine doses from Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson as well as AstraZeneca.

Kenya has some 60,000 nurses, 13,000 doctors, over 20,000 clinical officers as well 15,000 lab technologists, according to the Ministry of Health.

Kenya has so far administered 12.1 million people, 6.5 million who are partially vaccinated.

Kenya plans to fully vaccinate 19 million adults (70 percent of the adult population) by the end of June. 
You know that feeling when youre riding a fancy brand-new rollercoaster and youre literally being smashed and banged around from side to side and never know what to expect next? Well, as cheesy as it sounds, I can think of no better analogy to describe my college experience  a rollercoast
LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in Vodafone rose 4% on Monday after reports that activist investor Cevian Capital had bought an undisclosed stake in the mobile group to encourage it to lead a consolidation drive in Europe.

Analysts and investors welcomed the move after the British company's shares languished during the two years of the pandemic, held back by competition in markets such as Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Chief Executive Nick Read, Vodafone's former CFO who has been in the top job since Oct. 2018, has called for more consolidation in Europe and said it was willing to pursue merger opportunities for its Vantage Towers infrastructure spin-out.

He has already completed 19 transactions, helping it focus on Europe and Africa.

The call for consolidation reflects a growing belief in the industry that Brussels may be more open to in-country deals to reduce the number of operators in each market, enabling them to extract greater returns and invest more in their networks.

A need to invest in networks, highlighted during the pandemic, follows many years when regulators in Europe prioritised the needs of consumers, requiring four or five operators in each market to compete and keep prices low.

The biggest players in European telecoms are Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, France's Orange and Telefonica. Vodafone reports quarterly results on Wednesday.

The Financial Times said Cevian, Europe's largest activist fund, wanted Vodafone to be more aggressive in driving consolidation in markets such as Spain, Italy and the UK.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Vodafone and Iliad were in talks to combine their businesses in Italy.

Bloomberg first reported the Cevian development. Both Vodafone and Cevian declined to comment.

Victoria Scholar, Head of Investment at Interactive Investor, said Vodafone had been sucked into a battle on price.

"Unless drastic action is taken to overhaul Vodafone, the stock looks set to continue to underperform the FTSE 100, at a time when the UK market is looking increasingly compelling from a valuation perspective, having underperformed other global indices since Brexit," she said.

The arrival of Cevian comes as activist investors take an increasing role in Britain, with reports that Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners has built a stake in Unilever, and news that Patrick Drahi now owns 18% of BT.

(Reporting by Kate Holton, Editing by Louise Heavens)
A former Washington State Patrol trooper who told off Gov. Jay Inslee over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, resigned and then became a sought-after media figure, has died, according to the State Patrol.

Trooper Robert LaMays death was announced Friday. He was 50.

According to FOX News, KIRO News Radio, Newsweek and other media sources, LaMay died after contracting COVID-19.

His former boss, State Patrol Chief John Batiste, said he was deeply saddened to hear of LaMays death Friday.

Rob served honorably for over two decades and we were disappointed to see him leave the agency this past October, Batiste said. His service to this state and agency will be long remembered and appreciated.

LaMay took early retirement in October rather than get vaccinated.

A video shows him giving his final radio call in which he tells Inslee to kiss my a**. The video went viral and LaMay soon was appearing on numerous news outlets.

This is the last time youll hear me in a patrol car and Jay Inslee can kiss my ass.



Washington State Trooper in Yakima, Wash. signs off after 22 years  fired by @GovInslee for being unvaccinated. pic.twitter.com/RGLDs5BZxg  Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 17, 2021

No statement from his family has been issued.

SESSLER ENDORSEMENT

Last summer, LaMay had said he and his family did not do vaccines and he never received any as an adult. In August, on his Facebook account, he said vaccines go against his religious beliefs. His account is no longer visible.

While 73 other commissioned officers quit the State Patrol over the mandate, none received the media celebrity status LaMay did. On Jan. 12, Jerrod Sessler, a Prosser businessman running for Congress in Washingtons 4th district, announced that LaMay had endorsed him.

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Mr. Lamay took the hearts of Americans by storm when he resigned from his position as a State Trooper because he refused to succumb to the mandates enforced upon him by a constitutionally over-extended Governor, Sessler said.

Congressional candidate Jerrod Sessler, left and former Washington State Trooper Robert LaMay.

Sessler said he would appoint LaMay to head an anti-human trafficking task force he would commission.

In the endorsement, LaMay accuses state politicians of ignoring human trafficking. He went on to say, many of whom are involved in it themselves and do not want it to go away.

LaMay joined the State Patrol in 1999 as a trooper cadet. He was commissioned in 2001.

The trooper served in Poulsbo, Bremerton, Ellensburg and, most recently, Yakima. He worked as an armorer, collision reconstructionist and as a drug recognition expert.

LaMays is the not the first high profile death to affect the State Patrol. Trooper Eric Gunderson died Sept. 26 after contracting COVID while on business for the agency six weeks earlier.

The trooper was 38 and unvaccinated but his family said he would have followed the mandate.

It is important for everyone to know, he was not a part of any anti-vaccine or political movement, Gundersons family said in a statement.

To date, 10,699 Washington residents have died of COVID.
Oregon reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 49,760 new cases. That's down 13.5% from the previous week's tally of 57,501 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Oregon ranked 39th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the slowest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week, coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 30.3% from the week before, with 3,451,287 cases reported. With 1.27% of the country's population, Oregon had 1.44% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 10 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Many counties did not report during data during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, disrupting the current and previous weeks' statistics. Week-to-week comparisons are skewed and these numbers will be unreliable even as they're accurate to what states reported.

Masks in schools: Alsea school district loses COVID-19 relief funds for ditching mask requirement

Some Oregon communities have begun reporting backlogged death records. This will make week-to-week comparisons inaccurate.

Lane County reported 4,725 cases and nine deaths in the latest week, a drop of 7% compared to the week prior. A week earlier, it had reported 5,095 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 48,811 cases and 406 deaths.

Across Oregon, cases fell in 23 counties, with the best declines in Multnomah County, with 6,649 cases from 9,032 a week earlier; in Washington County, with 6,213 cases from 7,731; and in Clackamas County, with 3,695 cases from 4,914.

>> See how Lane County compares to Oregon

Oregon ranked 20th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 76.1% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 75.3%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.

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In the week ending Sunday, Oregon reported administering another 84,110 vaccine doses, including 15,786 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 125,306 vaccine doses, including 30,545 first doses. In all, Oregon reported it has administered 7,264,234 total doses.

Within Oregon, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Sherman County with 3,202 cases per 100,000 per week; Wheeler County with 2,628; and Wasco County with 2,241. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Related: Permanent mask, vaccination rules submitted to Oregon Secretary of State's office

Adding the most new cases overall were Multnomah County, with 6,649 cases; Washington County, with 6,213 cases; and Marion County, with 5,473. Weekly case counts rose in 13 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Wasco, Malheur and Union counties.

In Oregon, 150 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 53 people were reported dead.

A total of 620,652 people in Oregon have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 6,086 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 74,333,001 people have tested positive and 884,260 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Oregon's COVID-19 hospital admissions rising

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Jan. 30.

Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Last week: 1,684

The week before that: 1,482

Four weeks ago: 922

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Last week: 170,411

The week before that: 183,931

Four weeks ago: 147,900

Hospitals in 13 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 15 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 18 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Lane County COVID cases down 7% this week
A persistent auto thief outwitted Wisconsin State Patrol troopers Sunday night, stealing and crashing two cars in Winnebago County before escaping with a third stolen vehicle.

A state trooper noticed a stolen car traveling south on Interstate 41 about 10:30 p.m. Sunday and tried to pull over the driver, according to a State Patrol news release. The driver sped away, leading the officer south on I-41, north on U.S. 45 and east on Winnebago County GG before crashing near GG and Wisconsin 76.

The driver ran from the scene as troopers and local police set up a perimeter; the person then stole a second vehicle. A brief chase ended with another crash, this time in the town of Winneconne.

The thief then stole a third vehicle, a white 2014 Ford Explorer with Wisconsin plates 178-HEZ, and fled. This time, troopers were unable to stop the driver.

Troopers did not provide a description of the thief or of the first two stolen vehicles.

Police are asking anyone with any information about the thefts or the person who committed them to call Wisconsin State Patrol at 920-929-3700.

RELATED: After water search, Oshkosh police think someone deliberately sent car into Fox River

RELATED: Oshkosh car theft, joy ride ends with 12-year-old's arrest

Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Winnebago County car thief steals 3 vehicles during police chase
When Sherwin Pilley invested in opening her own business  and recently, a new storefront bakery in Forest, she worried she would regret it.

I have two young kids and a dog and I didnt want to squander our money but its paid off. Baking is my true love. Im always tired, but I have two young kids so Ill be forever tired, she joked.

Born and raised in Boston, Pilley attended pastry school at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, where she earned an associates degree and focused on French cuisine. She later attended law school at University of California in Irvine and decided to get her bachelors from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, studying their patisserie program.

She didnt love law school as much as she thought she would  and still had an itch for baking.

I always wanted to go to law school, so it was kind of like, Why not learn how to cook? and I love French food, she said. I traveled around Europe for a bit. I loved it.

She did an internship with Bottega Louie, a French macaroon patisserie in Los Angeles.

Pilley worked a variety of jobs but was ready to get back to her first love: baking.

She studied one year at Liberty University about 15 years ago, where she was first acclimated with Lynchburg and its low cost of living, which was the deciding factor in moving to the Hill City last year with her husband and two small children.

I was still baking and honing in on all my recipes and just making sure I was still up to date with all the new trends in baking, she said. Its so surprising because if you ask anyone who owns a bakery for any sort of advice, theyre like, Pull up a chair, Ill tell you all about it.

She made her debut with Cakes and Pipers at the Forest Farmers Market last spring, where she said, she was welcomed with open and generous arms from the community.

Dorothy McIntyre, market manager of the Forest Farmers Market, said Pilley approached her last May to explore being part of the market and her upbeat personality made her a perfect fit.

From the beginning, Sherwin created a welcoming atmosphere to her little part of the market that enhanced the customers market experience, McIntyre said. So many of her baked items became instant hits. Cake pops, tarts and brownies are just a few that come to mind, and the French baguettes always sell out quickly too, which is my favorite. I know a lot of hard work and determination went into opening her bakery.

Pilley still has a presence at the market but recently opened her own storefront at 17980 Forest Road, Suite H selling cakes, pain viennois  a Vienna bread made in the shape of baguette  brioche, buttermilk biscuits, cinnamon rolls, gluten-free desserts and one of her own favorites, puff pastries.

My family is from the Caribbean, so they eat a lot of pastry, she said. All we do is eat savory, spicy things. Every morning, like, I always have a Haitian patty, which is always filled with salted cod and slivered onions.

She makes that pastry plus one with ground beef and cheddar and some sweet ones with crushed pistachios and chocolate to sell at the shop and at the market on Saturdays.

By the end of the year, she hopes to open a Haitian and Dominican food truck selling savory menu items.

I love being busy. I enjoy the excitement of it all, she said. I like to dabble.

Some of her closest friends have been made just through her business.

Christy Marker, a friend and customer of Pilleys for a year now, is from Louisiana and said she has tried many different buttermilk biscuits. The ones that Pilley makes are, she said, by far the best.

She can make anything, even if its not on the menu, but I love her baguettes and croissants as well, she said. Shes made quite a few cakes for me for various occasions. There is nothing that I have asked her to make that she said no to. And she has surpassed my expectation every single time.

Marker said it was no wonder the two became friends  Pilley has a way about her that makes everyone feel welcome.

The way she approaches you is just so warm and friendly, she said. Its like youre the only person around. She really knows how to make you feel great and is excited to see you. And everything shes making is made with love.

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An Afton man facing a felony count of racketeering was denied bond on Jan. 25 in Nelson Circuit Court.

John David Bozga, 56, requested a conditional release while awaiting trial.

Nelson County Commonwealths Attorney Daniel Rutherford said in December 2020 his office began to piece together evidence identifying an organized distribution of methamphetamine throughout Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

After a 10-month investigation, multiple individuals involved in the alleged distribution were indicted on drug-related charges. Bozga was arrested February 2021 in possession of 7 grams of meth.

Bozga told Judge Michael Doucette he had been living on his mothers property in Afton and receiving disability benefits for a mental health-related diagnosis.

Rutherford responded that it was the commonwealths impression that they could not find Bozga during this time. He said Bozga has a history of failing to appear in court, which Doucette referenced in denying bond.

Doucette cited Bozgas previous felony convictions, including drug and distribution charges. Doucette said Bozga has been charged with felony child abuse and neglect, assault and battery, possession with intent to distribute, domestic assault, grand larceny in 2014, possession of robbery tools and five probation violations in 2019.

A trial date has not yet been set, according to online court records.

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The saber rattling in Eastern Europe has 8,500 troops on alert for possible deployment. It also has military families everywhere once again facing the possibility of their loved ones going to war.

Its an enormous burden shared by too small a portion of our society, and military families very often feel forgotten.

A portion of our society doesnt really understand what military personnel and their families go through, says Master Sgt. Trent Clark, who is based at Fort Belvoir.

That too many dont understand is easily explained. Troop levels have fallen dramatically since 1990, from just over 2 million active-duty personnel to just under 1.2 million today. Consequently, our connection to military members is falling. Just 33 percent of adults aged 18-29, for example, have a family member in the military.

While military families may be out of sight to many, they should never be out of mind. According to a 2018 report from Military OneSource, 122,314 active-duty personnel are stationed in Virginia. Thats a higher number than any other state save for California, and a significant number of these people and their families live and work in our community.

We see them in stores, at the gas station, in our schools, and in our neighborhoods. Its easy to avoid talking with military families out of fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. Thats understandable, but the truth is there are a number of very simple things we can all do to support these people in these trying days.

The easiest is showing simple courtesy. Daniel Cortez is a U.S. Marine, Purple Heart recipient and has a son recently discharged from the military. So he knows what it is to deal with the stress of deployment as a Marine and as a family member on the home front.

A simple, kind word of support to a family [member], he says, works wonders. Just taking the time to call someone, or visit, means a lot, he continues. The reality of tactical advance or being in a defensive posture takes its toll on everyone  soldier and family.

Also, Cortez continues, remember that stress is compounded and PTSD triggers pulled when  discussing or viewing hawks calling for force on force.

Master Sgt. Clark shares Cortezs view of the importance of respect and kindness. Clark encourages us all to take a moment and just say thank you for the service active-duty personnel give, and the sacrifices their families make while their loved ones are deployed or preparing for deployment.

He also encourages people to consider sending care packages through the USO. If you know someone serving, or their family, you can address the package directly to that individual, even if you just know their name and rank, and the USO will get it to them, Clark says.

Volunteering to help a military family in your neighborhood is another easy way to help make their lives a bit easier. As troops prepare for deployment, and once they are gone, everyone in the military family has to take on greater responsibilities at home.

Offer to watch the children for a while, so the spouse can run errands or just catch a breath, or offer to do some lawn work. Every little bit helps.

One final thing we can all do is wear red on Fridays. The word RED is an acronym for Remember Everyone Deployed. So even if youre shy about talking with military families you may not know particularly well, simply wearing red on Fridays is a gentle reminder to them that you are thinking of them.

Every branch of the military offers a range of services to families before, during and after deployment. And of course, military families lean on one another. With fewer people serving, however, and the prospect of yet another conflict on the horizon, we all have a responsibility to help those who sacrifice so much for each of us.

Its the least we can do.

 The (Fredericksburg) Free Lance-Star

 The (Fredericksburg) Free Lance-Star
Despite concerns from critics on the states handling of publicly available COVID-19 reports throughout the pandemic, the State Auditors Office did not identify any significant concerns regarding the integrity of the data from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

State Auditor Rob Sand reviewed COVID-19 data collected and reported by the state from March 1, 2020, through May 17, 2021, as part of a COVID-19 Audit Task Force, an effort with other state auditors offices to review states coronavirus data reporting.

In the new audit published Monday, the Democratic state auditor said there were opportunities for the state to improve its public coronavirus website to increase transparency and accountability.

Overall, the integrity of COVID-19 data reported on the states website, coronavirus.iowa.gov, was supported by lab results sent to the state public health department. Any delays or late-recorded test results appear to be attributable entirely to private labs submitting results late, rather than to Iowa State government issues.

The state entered into a contract with Utah-based Nomi Health in April 2020 to create the Test Iowa initiative, a program that established free coronavirus test sites throughout the states. All test results from the program were sent to the State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa in Coralville to determine whether they were positive or negative for the novel coronavirus.

Data from Test Iowa, as well as from other labs, are published on the state-run COVID-19 dashboard, coronavirus.iowa.gov, and recorded in the Iowa Disease Surveillance System.

However, the auditors office was unable to verify whether certain data points were accurate, including hospitalizations and other related data submitted to the state.

In his report, Sand encouraged the state to add public school district and long-term care outbreak data dashboards back into the website.

With the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, it is important comprehensive data be readily available to the public and officials of entities such as school districts and long-term care facilities for purposes of analysis and decision-making, the report stated.

The state auditor also said the Iowa Department of Public Health should consider granting authorized officials access to deidentified underlying data for their agency to help them make informed decisions. For example, a superintendent of a school district should have access to de-identified data for their district, he said.

Sand also pointed to a previous audit, in July 2020, that asserted the process of reporting coronavirus test results under the $26 million Test Iowa Initiative was illegal and unnecessarily time-consuming.

The past audit found the State Hygienic Lab  instead of reporting test results directly to IDPH as required by law  reported them to a private entity that is part of the Test Iowa program.

In Mondays report, state officials cited the processing capabilities of the Iowa Disease Surveillance System, software the public health department uses to create reports of acute infectious diseases in the state. This system, as well as others in other states, failed as a result of being outdated.

In August 2020, state officials said a glitch in the Iowa Disease Surveillance System was incorrectly backdating positive and negative test results on its website. State public health officials, who had been aware of the issue for weeks, placed blame on the antiquated software that was unable to handle the massive influx of coronavirus data.

According to the audit, the system is more than 15 years old and was not designed to manage the volume and needs associated with a modern pandemic.

The glitch was fixed by Aug. 19, according to the Iowa Falls Times-Citizen, which first reported the issue.

Sand encouraged IDPH and other state officials to work with the Legislature to replace the Iowa Disease Surveillance System and other legacy software systems used by the public health agency to collect and manage data.
DES MOINES  The dough on your Caseys pizza could be rolled by a 16- or 17-year-old worker if a new proposal is passed into state law.

The Iowa-based gasoline and convenience store company has proposed legislation that would make it legal for 16- and 17-year-old workers to operate dough rollers. That is currently prohibited by state law, even though federal regulations permit the practice.

Were famous for a lot of things, but one of them is our pizza, Tom Cope, a lobbyist for Caseys, said during a legislative hearing on the proposal Monday at the Iowa Capitol.

Caseys began offering pizza in the mid-1980s and since has become the fifth-largest pizza seller in the country, according to the company. Cope said many other states where Caseys has stores, including Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, have laws that match the federal regulation that permits 16- and 17-year-olds to operate dough rollers.

Cope said the proposal could help Caseys  and any other business that rolls its own dough on-site  address a shortage of workers.

Like any other employer across the state of Iowa, were really struggling finding employees, he said.

Concerns were raised during the hearing that the legislative proposal does not contain the federal language that states those 16- and 17-year-olds cannot set up, adjust, repair or clean pizza dough rollers  only operate them. Cope said Caseys would be comfortable adding that language to the bill.

The three state lawmakers on the bills panel  two Republicans and one Democrat  said they could support the bill with that amended language. I think with the workforce shortage were having, 16- and 17-year-olds do the pizza, safely of course is important, said Sen. Dawn Driscoll, a Republican from Williamsburg.

The proposal, Senate Study Bill 3072, advanced and is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
AURORA  I am a member of Nebraska law enforcement and will be voting for Charles W. Herbster for governor in the May 10 primary. I will be doing so because I know Herbster, as governor, will have my back and will provide me the resources that my colleagues and I will need to make and keep N
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Morocco has switched on its largest desalination plant in Chtouka Aitbaha, worth $470 million, to serve the water stressed area of Agadir and the farms in its south, the agriculture ministry said.

The plant will have a daily capacity of 400,000 cubic meters of desalinated water and will help save underground water resources.

Nearly 15,000 hectares will now be irrigated by the plant instead of the scarce groundwater resources.

Morocco plans similar plants in Casablanca, Sidi Ifni, Dakhla, Safi and Nador.

This year, Morocco has earmarked 320 million dollars (3 bln dirhams) to address water shortage in drought-hit areas of Souss, Moulouya, Oum Errabia and Tensift.

Some 57% of water reserves of the country are located in 7% of its territories, hence the need for 120 more small dams to be built by 2023, according to water minister.
A high key delegation of Moroccan officials arrived in Tripoli Saturday to oversee the reopening of the kingdoms consulate in the Libyan capital after an eight-year hiatus, Libya Observer reports.

The delegation, the Libya media notes citing Libyas Foreign Ministry, includes the head of the Arab Maghreb Union Affairs and senior officials from the Moroccan Foreign Ministry.

The visit was to pave the way for the reopening of the Moroccan Consulate in Tripoli after an eight-year closure, the ministry said in a statement.

The visit is the follow-up of an agreement concluded by Foreign Minister Najla Al-Manqoush in Rabat last June and her meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, the ministry also added.

Like most countries, Morocco shut down its mission in 2014 the Libyan capital over security concerns as fighting raged among Libyan factions for the control of the country in the wake of the 2011 NATO-backed revolution that toppled and assassinated the leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The kingdom of Morocco will now join the queue of foreign countries that have reopened their foreign missions in the oil-rich country that has regained a fragile stability since March last year after the establishment of the UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU).

Rabat contributed to the frail stability as it hosted several intra-Libya talks that paved the way for the GNU establishment.

Posted by North Africa Post North Africa Post's news desk is composed of journalists and editors, who are constantly working to provide new and accurate stories to NAP readers.
Morocco continues to enhance its stockpile of vaccines against covid-19 as it prepares to reopen its borders for inbound/outbound commercial flights starting February 7.

The North African Kingdom has received over the weekend additional 1.6 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine donated by the United States through Covax program.

This new donation of Pfizer doses follows an October delivery of more than 850,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and a July shipment of over 300,000 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Furthermore, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has supplied lately to Morocco seven ultra-cold chain freezers to strengthen the countrys storage capacity of vaccines.

The U.S. military has donated a $1.5 million field hospital to help combat infectious disease outbreaks in Morocco and will, according to the US embassy in Rabat, soon donate a field Intensive Care Unit system and a mobile emergency room annex at a cost of $1.7 million.

To date, over 23 million people have been fully vaccinated in Morocco, 24.6 million received their first dose of the vaccine, while more than 4.3 million others have been boosted by a third jab.
A special program has been set up to support Moroccan beekeepers affected by the phenomenon known as Bee Colony Collapse Disorder, noted recently in some regions of the country, announced Sunday the Ministry of Agriculture.

The government has thus earmarked 130 million dirhams to take immediate measures through the support of beekeepers for the reconstruction of infected hives.

The program provides for the distribution of new colonies of bees and the launch of a national campaign to treat hives against varroasis disease as well as awareness campaigns for the benefit of beekeepers, especially with regard to good practices in beekeeping, said the ministry in a statement.

The causes of this phenomenon and ways to mitigate its effects on the beekeeping sector were examined at a working session Saturday, chaired by the headed of government.

During the meeting, the Director General of the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) made a presentation on the urgent measures taken as well as the preliminary results of research and analysis carried out by regional veterinary services, in collaboration with representatives of the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of Beekeeping. The analysis revealed that this phenomenon is new and concerns, to varying degrees, some beekeepers in some regions of Morocco.

Also, laboratory research excludes the hypothesis that a bee disease is the cause of this phenomenon that has also been observed in countries in Europe, America and Africa.

The research attributes the phenomenon to several factors, among others, the low rainfall, the decrease in the quantity and quality of food available for bees or the health status of the apiaries and the prevention methods followed.

The ONSSA has formed a committee of multidisciplinary experts to continue research and studies on this phenomenon, the statement said, noting that the Office also deepens the field surveys in collaboration with professionals in the sector to identify factors contributing to the development of this phenomenon.
An official Moroccan delegation is currently in Tripoli to oversee the reopening of the Moroccan consulate in Libya after an eight-year closure, the Libyan Foreign Ministry announced.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry announced that the Moroccan delegation arrived Saturday January 29 in Tripoli, in preparation for the reopening of the Moroccan Consulate in Tripoli.

The visit is part of the efforts of the government of national unity to support cooperation mechanisms between Morocco and Libya, and to consolidate and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry said.

Following a series of meetings held last year, the joint Libyan-Moroccan consular commission agreed on many issues, including facilitating the granting of visas for nationals of the two countries and the launch of direct flights.

Rabat contributed to restore stability in Libya as it hosted several intra-Libya talks that paved the way for the establishment of the UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU).

Libya has suffered from violence and insecurity since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Years of armed conflict have led to the closure of most foreign missions and embassies in the country.

After Libya regained a somehow stability since March last year after the establishment of the GNU, several countries have re-opened their foreign missions.
Thousands of Nebraskans against abortion gathered on the steps of the Capitol on Saturday for the 48th annual Walk for Life.

The event, organized by Nebraska Right to Life, comes just weeks after state Sen. Julie Slama proposed an anti-abortion bill that would make all abortions illegal in Nebraska if physicians can detect a heartbeat. Sen. Megan Hunt has introduced two bills that would expand abortion access in response.

Slama spoke at the event along with other Nebraska politicians including U.S. Reps. Jeff Fortenberry and Don Bacon, U.S. Sens Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, Lt. Gov. Mike Foley and several other state senators. The speakers expressed hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold a Mississippi law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks.

During arguments in December, the conservative-leaning Supreme Court indicated that it would uphold the law, and may even overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that established a nationwide right to abortion, The Associated Press reported. A decision isnt expected before June.

Participants marched from the Capitol to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Union, where they were greeted by keynote speaker Ashley Bratcher, who starred in the movie "Unplanned" and has been an anti-abortion advocate since.

During her time on set for "Unplanned," a movie about a Planned Parenthood director becoming an anti-abortion activist, Bratcher found out that her own mother was moments away from having an abortion when she was pregnant with her.

This changed everything for Bratcher.

In preparation for her role, Bratcher starting doing research on the procedure, which pushed her to advocate against abortion even more.

"Not only do I have this personal experience, but in doing research for the role and seeing what happens during that procedure, it honestly wrecked me," Bratcher said. "It made me so convicted to speak up against it and educate other people."

Now, Bratcher travels across the country to speak at anti-abortion events.

Im superexcited about how pro-life Nebraska is," she said. "I think its awesome that you legislators are able to speak up and speak out and have the support of the state."

Bratcher wasn't the only one in attendance with whose mother considered abortion. Lexi Kelly, who was among the several thousand attendees, said she had a similar story.

"I stand for the pro-life movement and believe that everyone deserves the chance to live," she said. "My mom considered having an abortion when she was pregnant with me. I wouldnt be here if she hadn't changed her mind. It really hits home."

Sandy Danek, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, also spoke at the event.

"We passionately believe in not only protecting the child in the womb, but helping those women who are in an unplanned pregnancy. We know from some of the women that have suffered abortion that it is not a good option  physically and emotionally," she said.

A small group of counterprotesters chanted and held signs in opposition to those participating in the Walk for Life.

Among them was Megan Stump, who has attended the march in counterprotest for 5 years.

"We're here to stand up for the rights of women," Stump said. "We need to keep fighting the good fight and stand up for women. To be silent is to stand aside and let it keep going. We can't do that."

Reach the writer at jebbers@journalstar.com
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.
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Uganda is aiming to become a crude oil exporter as the Uganda National Oil Company solidifies plans for a large oil field and pipeline project this year. This builds upon efforts by the government to attract greater foreign investment to the oil and gas sector. In addition, the development of a 60,000 bpd refinery will boost the countrys output. However, Uganda must strike the balance between fossil fuel development and its greenhouse gas emissions. As countries around the world curb their oil production in favor of renewable energy, as a means of decarbonizing, Uganda must manage its carbon output if it hopes to be a successful part of the next phase of international oil. TotalEnergies SE and CNOOC Ltd. have partnered with the state-owned Uganda National Oil Company(UNOC) to develop projects across the country, targeting production levels of 230,000 bpd. Output is expected to commence in 2025. The firms intend to develop two oilfields alongside a $4.2 billion pipeline that will transport crude between Uganda and Tanzanias Tanga port, based on agreements completed last year. The UNOC plans to sign a final investment decision on February 1st for the project to go ahead.

The heated pipeline is set to be the worlds longest at a length of 1440km. Its heating technology will make it possible to transport highly viscose Ugandan crude and development on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is expected to start later this year. Total owns a 62 percent stake in the pipeline project, while UNOC and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. each have 15 percent, CNOOC holds the remaining share.

As Tanzania does not produce oil itself, this will support the countrys energy security in the coming years. Oil will come from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields in Uganda, a country that is currently thought to have 6.5 billion barrels of oil reserves. However, there have been several hurdles to overcome in gaining approval for the pipeline as environmentalists have continually fought against its construction. They argue that it could be detrimental to the countries water sources and could lead to the displacement of many communities. But the potential benefits of the pipeline cannot be overlooked, with the anticipated creation of 10,000 jobs as well as significant economic benefits from the development of the oil and gas industry.

In addition to the oilfield and pipeline developments, Uganda is also investing in its refineries. A 60,000-bpd refinery is expected to be built in Kabaale in the mid-west of Uganda, although it has faced several delays to date. The Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium (AGRC), the developer of the refinery, submitted its front-end engineering design (FEED) to the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) in late 2021 and it expects the review to be complete by the end of January. However, the environmental and social impact assessment study that started in 2020 has yet to be submitted.

Related: The Inevitable Rise Of The Energy Storage Sector

Executive director of the PAU, Ernest Rubondo, explained that although the refinery appears to be behind schedule, there are plans for it to open alongside the Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields and the EACOP. "The timelines for the three projects are the same and they all have to move in tandem. But it is also important to appreciate that these businesses operate differently," he explained.

After years of debate over whether it is viable for landlocked Uganda to develop a refinery, the government finally agreed that it should be built alongside the major pipeline project, with the backing of foreign investors. This will see the country greatly develop its oil industry at a time when the African region is looking more promising for oil and gas. As many countries across Europe and North America pledge their transition away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives, oil firms are looking to Africa and the Caribbean to develop the next phase of international oil projects. The largely untapped reserves and the potential to develop less carbon-intensive operations at a low cost are making these regions highly appealing to the oil majors.

However, with oil development comes environmental responsibility. Following the recent COP26 summit, there is increasing pressure from powerful state governments and international agencies to decrease the quantity of greenhouse gas being released into the atmosphere. Institutions such as the International Energy Agency suggest the only way to achieve this is to move away from fossil fuel production. But many African countries see this moment as their time to shine, filling the production gap while demand is still high.

At present, Ugandas carbon emissions are relatively low, accounting for just 0.01% of the global output. But this figure is expected to rise as it develops its oil industry. The government has assured environmental organizations that it will implement several carbon-reducing initiatives across its oil operations. For example, it does not plan to flare or burn gas during the exploration stage, instead, it will use the gas for electricity generation or turn it into liquefied petroleum gas. Rubondo from PAU has also highlighted the plan to use solar power in the oilfields. However, until it is seen, not everyone is convinced.

Uganda has big plans for its oil industry, with backing from some of the worlds biggest oil majors. Hoping to commence works on its oilfield, pipeline, and refinery development this year, it is on track to begin output in 2025. However, as much of the rest of the world turns its back on fossil fuels for renewable alternatives, Uganda will have to implement carbon-cutting initiatives if it hopes to become - and remain - competitive on the international oil stage.



By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Amid ongoing tension between NATO and Russia around Ukraine, the head of the treaty organization Jens Stoltenberg has expressed concern about Europe's dependence on Russian gas.

"We are concerned about the energy situation in Europe because it demonstrates the vulnerability of being too dependent on one supplier of natural gas and that's the reason why NATO allies agree that we need to work and focus on diversification of supplies," Stoltenberg said on Sunday, as quoted by Reuters.

Russia's Gazprom supplies about a third of Europe's gas, with Western Europe and Turkey accounting for 78 percent of the state major's exports in 2020 and Central Europe accounting for 22 percent, according to Gazprom data.

In a bid to reduce this dependenceand get its European partners to agree to tougher sanctions on RussiaWashington scheduled talks with Qatar on alternative gas supplies. The talks are taking place today, but chances that Qatar can replace Russia as gas supplier are slim, at best. Per a recent Bloomberg report, the emirate is already pumping at capacity, and most of its gas is sold via long-term contracts in Asia.

U.S. natural gas is, alas, not really an option. Like Qatari gas, there are other buyers ahead of Europe in the queue, and the Europeans themselves are not really willing to pay the premium for U.S. LNG. There is also the issue of import capacity, which is still rather limited in the Old World.

Even Germany, the biggest buyer of Russian gas in Europe, does not have an LNG import terminal. Utility major Uniper planned to build one in Wilhelmshaven but in 2022 abandoned these plans in favor of a green hydrogen hub.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian situation is at the stage of a standoff, with both sides unwilling to make concessions to each other's demands.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Nigeria, the largest African producer in OPEC, lost an estimated $487.5 million from oil revenues as force majeure and sabotages led to a decline of 6.596 million barrels of oil in its production in December 2021, This Day outlet reported on Monday, citing data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The loss in Nigerian oil production means that the country failed to take advantage of an average $75 a barrel oil, losing nearly half a billion in proceeds.

The oil and gas sector accounts for about 10 percent of Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP), and petroleum exports revenue represents around 86 percent of total exports revenue for the African oil producer, according to OPEC.

Nigeria has been struggling with force majeure and the inability to ramp up production as part of the OPEC+ monthly increase in quotas. Its production is around 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) below what it should be under the OPEC+ agreement.

For example, Nigeria's crude oil production fell by 43,000 bpd from November to 1.338 million bpd in December 2021, according to OPEC's Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR).

Under the OPEC+ deal, Nigeria's required production for December was 1.666 million.

Not only is Nigeria losing oil revenues, but it is also the key contributor to a tighter-than-expected global oil market because of its inability to increase production.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) noted in its January monthly report earlier this month that global oil supply inched up by just 130,000 bpd in December, to 98.6 million bpd, "as outages in Libya and Ecuador and a smaller than scheduled increase from OPEC+ wiped out much of the expected growth."

OPEC+ producers delivered total gains of 250,000 bpd last month, well below the allocated amount, and were 790,000 bpd below the group's target due to under-production in Nigeria, Angola, and Malaysia. For the first time since the cuts were introduced in May 2020, Russia also pumped below its quota, the agency said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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One of the world's largest LNG exporters, Qatar, wants the European Union to restrict the resale of gas cargoes outside the EU if Qatar agrees to divert emergency supply to Europe in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a source briefed on the discussions.

The EU and the United States are looking to secure from major gas-producing countries and major energy companies additional LNG supply that would go to Europe if Russian deliveries are disrupted or interrupted in case of a conflict with Ukraine.

The U.S. Administration is in talks with energy companies and major gas-producing countries, including Norway and Qatar, about the potential for a large supply of gas to Europe.

Last week, Press Secretary Psaki said that the United States had been working to identify additional volumes of non-Russian natural gas from North Africa and the Middle East, Asia, and the United States.

"We're in discussion with major natural gas producers around the globe to understand their capacity and willingness to temporarily surge natural gas output and to allocate these volumes to European buyers," Psaki added.

Qatar, however, is seeking guarantees that cargoes would not be resold outside the EU on the spot market later, and is also asking the European Commission to resolve a probe from 2018 into Qatar's long-term supply contracts, according to the Reuters source.

"Qatar's supply wouldn't be conditional on requests. But the issues need to be dealt with to ensure long-term and short-term solutions for Europe's LNG crisis," the source told Reuters.

Qatar reportedly lacks much spare LNG cargoes, but it could divert some tankers away from Asia and into Europe, Reuters notes.

Another top LNG exporter, Australia, said last week it was ready to ship LNG cargoes to Europe to "support its friends and allies," as the U.S. is looking to raise alternative gas supply.

Meanwhile, Europe's gas storage levels dropped to below 40 percentgas storage sites across Europe are 38.99 percent fulla historically low level, data from Gas Infrastructure Europe showed. This is 15.6 percentage points below the five-year average for this time of the year.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The City of Omaha Celebrates America concert will be held July 22, though no headliner has been named yet, officials announced Monday.

The annual summer concert at Memorial Park will include a fireworks show by J&M Displays of Yarmouth, Iowa. As in years past, the concert will be free to the public. Music will kick off early evening with fireworks starting at 10 p.m.

The event was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held in August last year and featured performances from Wyclef Jean and headliner Elvis Costello and The Layabouts.

We are excited to push the concert back into the prime of Summer, said Mayor Jean Stothert. We know this years celebration will be one to remember, and we want to make sure everyone can put it on their calendar and start making plans now.

The 2022 event will also feature videos from local bands and musicians. This new addition to the show, launched last year, provides local musicians with an opportunity to submit music videos or apply for studio time to create videos. Selected videos will then be featured on video screens throughout the day and between sets. KPAO Omahas Public Access Television will package the videos and provide support for community musicians.

The event is sponsored by the Omaha Parks Foundation and managed by Vic Gutman & Associates. For more information, visit memorialparkconcert.com.

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Cpl. Daegan Pages blue eyes gaze out from beneath his tousled brown-blond locks, deflecting attention from the dirty Marine uniform. A hint of a smile creeps up from below the corners of that crazy mustache.

Flags above and below set off the name of his hometown in stylized 3D, along with a scene of the solemn Omaha crowds greeting his hearse after his death in Afghanistan.

Pages photo collage is the April image on a new calendar dedicated to the Kabul 13, the group of U.S. service members killed Aug. 26 in a suicide bombing at the gate to the Kabul airport. They were part of a Marine Corps unit working to help Afghan civilians leave the country amid Kabuls chaotic fall to Taliban insurgents.

Alan Golub, a graphic artist from Hayden, Idaho, created the collages honoring the service members because of his grief over the deaths of the 13 young Americans.

Each one was an amazing young man or young woman; each one had a story, Golub said. It shows their humanity.

He created the images in September and posted them online. Last month, he collaborated with his friend Annie Winston, a childrens book author from nearby Coeur dAlene, Idaho, to organize them into a calendar. She wrote thumbnail biographies of each of the 13 to accompany their photos. Winston and Golub extended the 2022 calendar to include January 2023 to include all of them.

Whats powerful about Alans work is the pathos. These were human beings, Winston said. We want to keep their memories alive.

An Idaho printer agreed to create 375 calendars. Golub and Winston are distributing them at no charge  in collaboration with Winstons nonprofit, Jazzed About Reading  through the website Kabul13.org. They are requesting donations, which will be given to charities designated by the families of the 13. They also hope to present calendars to each of the families in person.

They started earlier this month, when Winston traveled to Omaha. She was here to visit her daughter and to meet her newborn granddaughter.

While she was in town, Winston sought out Pages family through the memorial website they created for him, DaeganPage.org. The site also raises money for the Corporal Daegan Page Fund  set up to support causes that were important to him.

Winston said Pages mother and stepfather, Wendy and Craig Adelson, met her at the American Legion Post in Millard. She presented them with a copy of the calendar and framed prints of collages honoring Daegan and the Kabul 13.

Wendy Adelson said in an email that her family appreciated all the tributes to Daegan and did not like to single one out.

There have been so many amazing people and companies that have supported us! she said.

Winston also stopped by the west Omaha military recruiting station to drop off some calendars. By chance, she met Sgt. Donald Shelbourn, who recruited Page into the Marine Corps.

Creating the calendar has been therapeutic for Golub, 69. He had been a professional musician, real estate investor and substitute teacher before suffering a near-fatal stroke in 2016.

As part of his recovery, he began creating colorful digital images on his cellphone. To date, Golub said, he has created about 2,500 images honoring first responders, law enforcement officers and others who contribute to society.

The plan to honor the Kabul 13 took shape in the weeks after the airport bombing. He researched each of the men and women, who came from 10 different states.

He was touched when he read about how thousands of people lined the streets in Omaha to pay tribute when Pages body was brought by motorcade from Eppley Airfield to the funeral home, and a week later, from the funeral home to Omaha National Cemetery.

Daegans was my favorite one, Golub said. It was the only one where I actually used the community as part of the artwork.

Golub and Winston said they have reached out to some corporate entities  including a coffee company and a shipping firm  to help produce and distribute the calendars on a larger scale. They said they are committed to donating all proceeds to the families charities of choice.

We didnt want people to think we were doing a monetary thing, Golub said. This was my way of giving back. I am humbled to be alive to do this.

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Four candidates will be on the ballot in Tuesdays caucus for the Westside school board.

Incumbents Adam Yale and Kris Karnes are up against challengers Jessica Powell and Terry Buckman.

The district had nine candidates in the race until five dropped out in the wake of controversy sparked by a text message.

The message, sent by a Westside community member earlier this month, asked people to vote for specific candidates in an effort to get critical race theory out of the schools.

All candidates who were named, along with another challenger, withdrew their names after the message was widely circulated in social media.

The two school board seats each carry a six-year term.

Westside community members will be able to vote for up to four of the candidates at the caucus, which begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Westside High School, 8701 Pacific St. Voter sign-in begins at 6 p.m.

People can also vote early at the high school between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The four candidates with the most votes will advance to the May 10 election. The current candidates dont automatically advance to the election because voters can still write in up to four names on their ballot, whether voting early or at the caucus, according to caucus rules.

Anyone who has their name as a write-in on ballots must be nominated from the floor on the evening of the caucus and be seconded in order for their votes to be counted. A write-in candidate can either nominate or second themselves, but not both.

An interpreter will be present at the caucus for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Here are the backgrounds and goals of the four declared candidates for the Westside school board.

Jessica Powell

Powell has been a district resident for more than 16 years. She has two children in the district and works as a trust and safety specialist at a national company, she said.

She previously served as the first Black vice president and president of the parent teacher association at Westbrook Elementary, she said.

Powell said she wants to be a part of the Westside school board to provide diverse representation  not just as a Black woman, but as a single working parent.

I had a conversation with my youngest and she said, Where are the teachers who even look like me? Powell said. And it kind of hit home for me.

Powell said that while her job allows her the flexibility to make her own schedule, if elected she would make sure that public events and meetings better accommodate single, working parents.

There are people who are single and working hard who dont have a voice and who arent represented, Powell said. Those types of people are scared to want to go for a position like this because they dont feel like their voice may matter.

She said she also wants to recruit more diversity to Westsides staff; be a liaison for district employees; and ensure the district is being fiscally responsible. One initiative she wants to put in place is to create more ways for parents to pay school costs, such as using mobile services like PayPal or Cash App.

Terry Buckman

Buckman moved to the Omaha area almost a decade ago after living on the East Coast while in the Navy.

He is currently a federal civil servant for the U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha. He and his wife, Audrey, have had four kids in the district since they moved to the area.

Buckman is a certified teacher in Nebraska and is also the founder of Lango Kids Omaha, a business to teach foreign languages to young children, which has closed since the pandemic began, he said.

One of Buckmans goals, if elected, would be to incorporate civil discourse into Westsides curriculum to encourage constructive conversations, he said.

Ive seen that in education, students are afraid to have difficult conversations, and they dont want to hurt peoples feelings, he said. If we continue to have this echo chamber around us, then we are not setting them up for success.

Buckman said that if the pandemic allows it, he would like to get parents into classrooms to be involved with their childs learning. He also wants to increase the availability of on-site mental health resources for students in Westside schools.

Parents are coming home and trying to make dinner and now trying to get a son or daughter to a mental health appointment, Buckman said. There are also transportation challenges. ... Thats why we have to do it in the building.

Kris Karnes

Karnes, an incumbent, has served one six-year term on the board. She is a former board president and has served on district committees since 2014.

She has two young daughters in the district and works at First National Bank of Omaha.

Karnes said she decided to run for re-election because she wants to continue several district initiatives she has been involved in over the years.

We have seen the role school plays in our community by educating, feeding and clothing kids  I would like to keep my part in that going, she said. We have some really great things going at Westside, but theres a lot of work to be done.

Karnes said that if elected, she would be excited to continue the districts new strategic plan that was announced in the fall. She also co-chaired the first phase of the nearly $80 million facilities bond initiative in 2015 and wants to help create phase two this year.

Karnes said she also wants to focus on the implementation of WE-Side, the districts new diversity and inclusion initiative.

The kids feeling like they belong, that they are all valued members of our community  that is important, she said. We want them to feel like we are all on the same team. Thats what WE-Side is.

Adam Yale

As an incumbent, Yale is also finishing his first six-year term on the school board. He previously co-chaired the board subcommittee that hired Superintendent Mike Lucas and was one of the first members of a committee to create the WE-Side initiative.

Yale is the principal of Red Cedar Capital in Omaha and has three sons with his wife, Sarah. He said hes running for re-election to continue several initiatives he focused on in his first term, such as being fiscally responsible, recruiting exceptional staff and increasing career and academic opportunities.

Yale said he wants to continue working on the districts Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system, an approach schools use to promote school safety and good behavior.

I firmly believe there cant be academic excellence without behavioral excellence, he said. I think that is an important initiative.

Yale said he also wants to collaborate with the community to work together as the district upgrades its facilities.

I think there are a lot of fantastic things coming down for the district that I would like to continue to be a part of, he said.

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In a corner of the newly renovated Ashton Building north of downtown Omaha, Metropolitan Community College instructors and administrators have been hard at work preparing to train the first group of students who will seek new careers in information technology.

On Monday, the students, many of whom are unemployed or underemployed, will begin a 12-week course offered at no cost through the newly created Rapid IT Employment Academy. A new cohort of students will start the IT academy every month with the next cohort of students set to begin March 7.

Over the next four years, the academy expects to train a total of 360 people for a field that has a perpetual need for employees.

The academys creation was made possible by a portion of a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant also will fund similar programs in San Francisco, Dallas, Denver and Philadelphia. The funding covers students education costs, allowing them to attend the academy for free.

I would say its like a $4,000 to $6,000 education package for free if you qualify, said Robert Caldwell, a workforce training manager with Metro.

Caldwell said that qualified applicants who complete a career assessment and an intake interview, as required by the federal grant, will have priority on choosing their class schedules. Classes are offered in the days and evenings.

Loryn Miles will be among the first students in the new Metro program.

A 24-year-old Fremont native who holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice, the current Omaha resident said she became interested in an IT career after a patron of the bar she works at offered to mentor her in the field. With the help of his mentorship, Miles passed an exam and earned a certification from Cisco Systems.

The certification through Metros program, along with her previous Cisco training, will help put Miles in a strong position to land a job that fulfills the goals of Nebraskas H3 initiative: high wage, high demand and high skill.

Im definitely not scared of a challenge, Miles said.

Having the cost of her education covered will make the challenge easier.

Its just a really good opportunity, she said.

Students will learn the ins and outs of a computer and be fully qualified to help people navigate various problems. Theyll also develop knowledge in the areas of networking and cybersecurity.

Students who go through Metros Rapid IT academy are setting themselves up for a technical support career that, according to figures from the State of Nebraska, carries an average statewide salary of $48,167. In Omaha, the occupations average salary is slightly higher at $51,490.

As students advance in their careers, Caldwell said they can advance into positions that carry six-figure salaries.

IT is a pathway to a very stable, high-income career, he said.

Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in the computer and information technology occupations to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030.

Caldwell said companies urgently need IT employees, especially as more people work from home.

We have employers at the table right now ready to hire these people, he said. There is a skills gap here.

WP Engine, which has an Omaha office located in the Ashton Building, is one of those employers looking to add more employees. The company provides technical assistance to customers who rely on the WordPress platform for their website. Anand Reddy, head of talent acquisition at WP Engine, said WordPress is the framework for nearly 40% of all websites.

Reddy said WP Engine consistently hires more people every month. Metros 12-week timeline for each cohort, Reddy said, dovetails with the software companys hiring cycle.

We know were going to hire X amount (of IT employees). They know theyre graduating X amount (of IT students) every month, he said. With the way that theyre graduating people every month and the way that were hiring every month, (it) seems like a great and sustainable two-way relationship.

To qualify, individuals must be 17 years old or older, not enrolled in high school and must be unemployed, underemployed or need training to upgrade their skills. Qualified applicants also must not be enrolled in two different specialty occupations as listed under a temporary visa.

The grant that helped launch the rapid IT training program wasnt the only federal funding recently awarded to Metro. On Thursday, the college received a $248,873 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The grant was matched locally to the tune of $264,596.

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Despite an effort at compromise in the waning minutes of debate, a bill aimed at encouraging diversion for truant kids failed to overcome a filibuster in the Nebraska Legislature on Monday.

Tensions flared during the debate, both around broader justice reform efforts and around what some saw as political grandstanding.

Legislative Bill 568, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks last year, would have originally required truant youths to be sent to diversion programs that focus on the root causes of absenteeism instead of having truancy as a status offense that requires action in juvenile court.

That got the minimum number of votes needed to move to the second round of debate.

This year, Pansing Brooks introduced an amendment that left truancy as a status offense but required county attorneys to make every effort to send youths to diversion before pursuing that charge. She said it won over county attorneys, who were once against the bill.

The goal, she and supporters said, was to keep kids in school and get them the support they need to keep them out of the school-to-prison pipeline.

Were making these kids who need help feel like criminals, feel like they need to be punished, feel like theyve done something bad, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said. And this just increases the challenges these kids are facing, instead of getting them back on the path and getting them back in school, where we do have resources that those kids need.

Both versions of the bill would have increased funding for diversion programs in the state. Last year, the Supreme Court and Crime Commission predicted that money saved from truancy-only probation under the bill could be shifted to diversion programs.

Sen. John Stinner of Gering, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, called the bill the least-cost solution on Monday.

But the watered-down version of the bill was met by fierce opposition last week. Some conservative senators made arguments that it wasnt necessary, because a truancy charge is already the last resort or because local jurisdictions are handling the issue.

Opponents, in objecting to the bill, also raised concerns about a broader trend in juvenile justice policies that they see as too soft.

Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, a Republican whos running against Pansing Brooks for Congress in Nebraskas 1st District, was among the bills most vocal opponents last week. He voted to advance the measure last year, but said he expected to work with Pansing Brooks, a Democrat, on his juvenile justice concerns over the interim and it never happened.

When you look at the totality of what she has done to juvenile justice reform in Nebraska, we are compromising public safety, Flood said last week. He said he wouldnt vote for any juvenile justice reforms until we start talking about reintroducing real accountability into the system.

Monday morning, with about 40 minutes left in debate, Pansing Brooks withdrew her amendment requiring county attorneys to seek alternatives to truancy, and instead voiced support for an amendment proposed by Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte, another vocal opponent of the bill.

That amendment provided additional funding for diversion programs across the state, Pansing Brooks said. It would have taken everything out of the bill except a piece that increased funding for the states Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program from $5 million per year to $8.5 million per year. The money wouldve come from the states general fund.

She said the funding was the most important part of the bill.

This is not about one person or being soft on crime, she said. ... The goal is not to put kids in the school-to prison-pipeline, which then leads to overcrowding of our prisons.

But Groene said he wouldnt support his own amendment, saying in part that it was too late in the process.

I think a message needs to be sent that enough is enough, Groene said. Weve gone through an era here, for about 10 years, where were light on crime.

Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson likened the states approach to juvenile justice to handing out participation ribbons.

When you make a bad decision, there has to be consequences, he said. And I think thats what were getting away from over and over again.

The bill failed to overcome a filibuster on a 26-18 vote, stalling it. It takes 33 votes to end a filibuster.

Pansing Brooks said she wanted to get people on the record showing that they werent in favor of increasing money for diversion programs in their communities.

This is all fallacious, she said during debate. Were talking about party rather than people. Were talking about politics rather than people. And Im very sad about that, because we are injuring and hurting our communities, our counties outside in the state and our kids.

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Gov. Brian Kemp has already asked the state to spend $125 million on land and training costs for the new Rivian electric-vehicle plant, and now senators have filed legislation to let the company sell its trucks directly to Georgians.

The measure, Senate Bill 398  sponsored by Sen. Ben Watson, R-Savannah, and co-sponsored by Sen. Burt Jones, R-Jackson  sets up a high-stakes battle between electric-vehicle companies and the politically powerful Georgia auto dealership lobby.

It also could pit Jones, who is running for lieutenant governor with former President Donald Trump's blessing, against one of his opponents, Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, a car dealer who has received huge financial backing from the industry. Jones' family also owns car dealerships.

While the full details of the incentive package are still under wraps, Kemp's spending blueprint released earlier this month calls for $112 million for land acquisition and development at Rivian's sprawling East Atlanta Mega Site. The company's other plant is in Normal.

An additional $6.2 million would finance the design of a Quick Start training and recruitment facility, modeled after the center that the state operates at the Kia Motors plant in West Point. About $5.4 million would go toward "customized training and recruitment operations" to bolster the state's growing electric-vehicle industry.

That's just a part of the overall package that helped the state land Rivian, which promises to bring at least 7,500 good-paying jobs to the plant and generate thousands of spinoff positions.

Rivian has lobbied in recent years for legislation to allow it, and other electric-vehicle companies, to sell their cars and trucks directly to consumers in Georgia without going through a local auto dealer.

Legislation to allow such sales stalled In the House last year.

Tesla put on a strong lobbying press to get lawmakers to approve legislation in 2015 to let it sell its cars without going through local dealers. But that bill also limited Tesla to five locations statewide.

The company's dealer-free business model sparked legislative fights across the nation, pitting Tesla against franchise car dealers  represented in Georgia by the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association  that have been protected by state laws giving them exclusive rights to sell new vehicles.

The new electric-vehicle manufacturers say auto sales of all types at franchise dealers have skyrocketed since the Tesla bill passed. That, they say, shows Tesla's direct sales haven't put car dealers out of business.

But car dealers  many of whom sell less-expensive electric vehicles made by big manufacturers such as Nissan  fear allowing builders to peddle their autos directly to consumers would cost dealership jobs. And they say electric-vehicle manufacturers wouldn't do local maintenance on the autos they sell.

The Georgia Automobile Dealers Association says the state's dealer model  which employs tens of thousands of Georgians  provides added protections for consumers, such as helping to deal with manufacturer recalls.

Lawmakers who have supported the association said auto dealers have been the "backbone of the automobile industry for decades"

After the Rivian deal was announced in the fall, Lea Kirschner, CEO of the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, said, "Georgia's franchise automobile dealers and the more than 70,000 Georgians employed by dealers and their suppliers throughout the state look forward to working with Rivian to deliver their electric vehicles to consumers, when they become available, under Georgia's existing franchise dealer laws."

Rivian officials have responded by pointing to their planned $5 billion investment in the Georgia plant and the jobs the company would create, arguing that lawmakers need to give consumers more choices when buying cars.

"Dealerships and their lobbyists stand against this effort by blocking a fair and open EV market that empowers Georgia consumers," said James Chen, vice president of public policy at Rivian.

The Senate bill would allow electric-vehicle manufacturers to open unlimited locations to sell their autos  not just the five allowed for Telsa  but only if they don't currently have sales agreements with traditional car dealerships. In other words, companies  such as the big automakers  who sell their vehicles through auto dealers in Georgia now wouldn't be able to open their own sales facilities.

The bill would also say the electric-vehicle companies would have to provide maintenance services for their autos here, something several lawmakers have voiced concerns about in previous versions of the bill.

"Rivian is bringing an unprecedented multi-billion-dollar investment to Georgia in order to create 21st Century jobs and further America's technology leadership," Chen said. "It is time for Georgia's leaders to support American jobs and empower consumer choice by passing HB 398."

The auto dealers knew the legislative fight was coming even before the Rivian deal was formally announced. When the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote in November about possible incentives Rivian might seek, it mentioned the current sales law that forces manufacturers to sell its cars through Georgia dealerships.

The association's Kirschner said, "Georgia's franchise dealer model is enshrined in state law to serve consumers, keep dollars local and preserve competition.

"It shouldn't be changed for out-of-state companies seeking an unfair entry into the Georgia new vehicle market, even if they choose to build a manufacturing facility in the state."

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BLOOMINGTON  Local musical artist Noah Renken-Kapatos thrusts the challenges of mental health to the forefront in his newly released EP "Disassociation Nation."

"Obviously, the name has a lot to do with not being present in the moment, being thrown off in your head," Renken-Kapatos said. "It's a good emotional journey. Where you start is not where you end.

"This record is really a journey from track one to track seven."

Nicknamed "Great Value Jesus" for his long hair and generous disposition, 22-year-old Renken-Kapatos and friends started the psychedelic-rock group last spring ahead of what they saw as a potential live music renaissance.

The group is comprised of Renken-Kapatos, vocals; Matt Hawkins, 22, vocals and guitar; Doug Cook, 26, on bass; and Nick Saathoff, 22, on drums. Their latest EP under the Great Value Jesus name is comprised of songs Renken-Kapatos wrote and recorded over the last two years has he battled with depression and struggling relationships.

Most of the members met through classes at Heartland Community College, and since getting together they have played at several festivals and live venues in Central Illinois.

Great Value Jesus debuted their new EP on Saturday was at Nightshop in downtown Bloomington. The seven-track album can be streamed on Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp.

Renken-Kapatos said the group is likely taking a step back from live performances following the release to work on recording their upcoming full-length album. He said he expects the group to release the album sometime over the summer.

Because COVID is kicking everyones butt, I do want to give it a month and a half and see where everythings at," said Renken-Kapatos. "I think we all want this to be over with. Were coming up to that two year mark where we thought shutdown was only going to be two weeks.

While COVID is putting a damper on live music, Renken-Kapatos doesn't see that as a bad thing for now. There is still plenty of work to accomplish over the next few months, such as recording and refining their act.

We still want to get our name out there and keep making content, its just live things we think we want to hold off a bit, Renken-Kapatos said. Weve prioritized for quite sometime playing shows and making sure we can be a really good live act.

He added, "We accomplished that. I think it was the best performance in my 10 years. We make goals, and now that weve gotten our performing chunk out of it, we want to get to recording and making music videos. There are still a lot of things we could be doing during this time.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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UTICA  A bald eagle soared over Wildcat Canyon at Starved Rock State Park as a climber neared the top of a frozen waterfall.

Was the eagle wondering what the human was doing up there, 90 feet above the canyon floor, without wings?

Its not uncommon to overhear hikers coming upon the sight of ice climbers wondering the same thing or mumbling, Are they crazy?

But with proper experience, training and equipment, ice climbing can be quite safe  a lot safer than illegally scrambling off trail up the sides of canyon walls as some visitors do. The ice climbers are using ropes, safely anchored.

Rock climbing is strictly prohibited at the park, where the soft sandstone is easily broken or damaged. But regulated ice climbing is permitted  with restrictions  because the ice itself is essentially a renewable resource.

The history of ice climbing at the park goes back more than 40 years, according to long-time climber Mark Petnuch of Frankfort.

Climbers including representatives of the Chicago Mountaineering Club met with park officials in 1980 to develop a plan, he said.

Ice climbers at Starved Rock are required to register at the park maintenance building. The sign-up sheet is also a way climbers communicate what conditions they find. Another resource is the Facebook group "Midwest Ice Conditions."

Regulations have evolved over the years. Currently, ice climbing is only allowed in Ottawa, Wildcat, LaSalle and Tonti canyons.

The latter is off-limits to the general public and only open to registered climbers. But visitors can watch climbers at the other three locations. Just keep your distance so youre not hit by falling ice and dont distract the safety person, called the belayer.

Starved Rock is a terrific place for ice climbing, said Dave Everson of Orland Park. You get vertical pillars that are just beautiful for climbing.  It doesnt feel like Illinois.

Everson, who has been ice climbing for about 30 years, will be giving a presentation on ice climbing in the Midwest at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Starved Rock Visitors Center.

His daughter, Allison Everson of Homer Glen, climbed with her father in Ottawa Canyon earlier this month.

Its definitely a good challenge, she said. Youre using different strengths that you would never get to use, and being on the ice is just really awesome.

Beyond the physical and mental challenges, another attraction is the camaraderie.

The people you meet (ice climbing)  become a very small community and you just start doing life with these people, her father said. So all of a sudden youre spending weekends, youre going out west, youre doing trips.  We started on ice then go to the mountains and apply what we learn here on bigger peaks.

Another part of the allure is how the ice changes over time and even between climbs. The formation in Ottawa Canyon transformed from a single pillar to a double one with an opening in the middle in a matter of days.

Its kind of crazy. Youre around a water formation that keeps changing, said Kristen Powell of Chicago, a rock climber who recently added ice climbing to her activities. I think its cool that youre learning a different technique.

Ice climbers wear stiff boots with crampons attached to the bottom. The crampons not only have spikes pointing downward, but one or two pointing forward from their toes. They also use ice tools, called ice axes, to ascend the vertical ice.

The formations themselves form somewhat like stalactites and stalagmites in a cave, with the icicle hanging from the top eventually connecting with the cone forming at the bottom.

Long-time residents of Bloomington-Normal may remember when Upper Limits Rock Gym in Bloomington poured water down the side of its building to create ice climbs. Although they no longer do that, a place in Frankfort creates ice climbs and provides training. Find more information at chicagoicetower.com.

Another place to take lessons and get immersed in the world of ice climbing is Michigan Ice Fest, held annually in Munising, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. This year it will be Feb. 9-13. See michiganicefest.com for more details.

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McLean County Moms Demand Action kicked it off Sunday with a vigil outside the McLean County Museum of History that underscored the resilience of survivors and their commitment to change. Seven dozen attended in freezing temperatures.

Karin Irvin, co-lead for McLean County Moms Demand Action, said in advance of the event that they hoped to amplify the voices of people who have to continue living their lives after losing a loved one to gun violence.

The honorary week is slated for February because thats approximately the point at which U.S. gun deaths overtake the number of fatal shootings seen yearly in its peer countries.

We find that tragic and unacceptable that the America gun death rate is 11 times greater than that of our peer countries, Irvin added.

Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe and Normal Mayor Chris Koos both signed proclamations officially honoring National Gun Violence Survivor Week, and they were presented at the vigil.

Leaders with the Bloomington-Normal branch of the NAACP were also present at the event. Chapter president Linda Foster said youth need to be offered a better life  or a beacon of life to steer them clear of violence.

Foster said thats needed so they wont make the bad decisions, because when they end a life, their life ends, too.

Several survivors spoke at the event, including Dameca Kirkwood. She said as a survivor, I dont feel like Im surviving.

Kirkwood said we get the choice to walk and go about our days, but her son Trevonte does not because of gun violence. His life was taken Oct. 30, 2018, Kirkwood recalled with tears in her eyes.

She described the violence as senseless, adding the pain that followed was irreversible. Kirkwood had been told it gets better with time  but that hasn't happened in her experience.

You learn how to live without love, she said, and to have love in your life sometimes, for me anyways, takes me to a whole other level.

I dont have it like that anymore because of gun violence.

Saving vets

Art Rodriguez, chairman of the McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission and Normal Township trustee, said every veteran leaves the service with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Rodriguez said 22 veterans die of suicide per day, and about 68% of those deaths involve a weapon. Just one, he said, is too many.

So hes working with Veterans Affairs to raise awareness of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and to provide free gun locks to families in need.

He also encouraged people suffering from PTSD, dementia or Alzheimers disease to reach out for help.

When you see someone thats acting kind of strange, lets nip it in the bud first and stop this, Rodriguez said. We cant bring back the dead.

He also said that when he was a child, it was rare to see a murder in this town.

Police partnerships

In attendance Sunday was Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington. He told The Pantagraph the police department knows they cant do it alone.

He said: We need community engagement; we need the community to trust that we will take information thats provided and apply it to preventative strategies to hold those who are involved in violence accountable.

The chief said thats their responsibility, and theyve taken an oath to step up to that call. Simington added the men and women of the Bloomington Police Department are working hard on a daily basis to prevent violence and to hold those involved in illegal activity accountable.

Were looking to partner with anyone and everyone, including (Moms Demand Action) and others that will help bring vitality and continue with keeping this a safe community, he said. Thats first and foremost our objective.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison

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Don't forget the Four Chaplains Memorial Ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday inside the McLean County Museum of History!

VA HEALTH CARE ENROLLMENT CHANGE COMING?

America committed itself to caring for veterans' health when the first iteration of what has evolved into the National Veterans Healthcare System was created. Rules for eligibility, including the number of days of military service necessary to qualify for VA health care, have changed over the years. In 2003, Congress imposed an income means test that required a veteran who applied for VA health care to have annual household income below a means test amount. However, the House passed a bill last week that would require the VA to automatically enroll veterans who meet existing eligibility criteria for VA health care when they leave military service. The means test eligibility requirement would not apply in those circumstances. Veterans would be enrolled unless they opted out in writing. The House vote was 265-163. The Ensuring Veterans Transition Bill or EVEST ACT has similar legislation in the Senate. If this legislation becomes law, approximately 58,000 veterans who otherwise might not enroll in VA health care will automatically be enrolled, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since 2003, tens of thousands of honorably discharged veterans (most from the Vietnam era) have been and are being denied VA health care access if the veterans income level exceeds a government-imposed income means test. If you have applied for VA health care and were told you do not have access to it due to your income being above the income means test, you have probably been assigned to the VA health care Priority Group 8.

HY-VEE FUNDRAISER FOR AMERICAN LEGION POST 635

Hy-Vee grocery at 1403 Veterans Parkway in Bloomington is sponsoring a donation fundraiser for Carl S. Martin American Legion Post 635. During February, when a customer purchases a red recyclable grocery bag for $2.50, Hy-Vee will donate $1 to Post 635. When you purchase the recyclable bag, tell the cashier or service desk that you are buying the bag to support the Hy-Vee program. Help Hy-Vee make this program a great success!

VA HOME-BASED PRIMARY CARE EXPANDING

The VA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care is expanding home-based primary care, medical foster home and veteran-directed care programs at VA Medical Centers, with completion at all medical centers by the end of 2026. VA will add 58 medical foster homes and 70 veteran-directed care programs and add 75 home-based primary care teams to areas with the highest needs. These programs have shown to allow veterans to age in place, avoid or delay nursing home placement and choose the most appropriate care environment to align with each veterans needs. Browse "home-based primary care" on your computer for more detail.

Jerry Vogler is superintendent of the McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission.

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The shooting of Laquan McDonald triggered a momentous police reform effort that spawned a scathing Justice Department report and an extensive consent decree and for the first time added community members directly into Chicago police oversight.

But more than seven years later, the pace of reforms remains slow, stymied by a resistant department, an antagonistic police union and leadership that has fielded criticism for checking boxes rather than pursuing meaningful reform, critics say  all while the city is still notoriously violent and still seeing police misconduct cases.

McDonalds killer, former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, was tried and convicted and has nearly finished serving his sentence. But as the city awaits his release from prison Thursday, it reckons with a police department that while changed in some ways, is struggling with many of the same problems that contributed to the teens 2014 killing and the response to it.

When the video of McDonalds death became public, residents saw how the Police Departments official narrative vastly differed from the events that unfolded on their screens.

And despite efforts on reform, evidence of problem policing is still present. A multimillion-dollar settlement is in the works for Anjanette Young, a woman who was forced into handcuffs while undressed as police raided her home based on a bad tip. An inspector generals investigation found a troubling series of unfounded statements on the raid were made by Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration.

The video led to the police superintendents dismissal and highlighted how Chicago police officers handle officer shootings and citizen complaints, especially when they involve Black and brown residents.

Craig Futterman, a police accountability expert and law professor at the University of Chicago, pointed to some imperfect but significant changes in policing in the years since McDonalds killing, mostly due to the consent decree and lawsuits that have forced CPD to make changes. Still, the department is largely unwilling to alter its course and submit to public scrutiny, Futterman said, a failing that continues to hold it back even as it works to meet reform deadlines.

The Chicago Police Department remains resistant to change in its orientation and actually actively fights change, Futterman said.

A troubling narrative

The initial news reports of the McDonald shooting on Oct. 20, 2014, repeated a narrative put out by the Police Department and the police union: A 17-year-old Black teen had a knife, he refused to put it down, stabbed a squad cars tire and lunged at an officer.

Hes got a 100-yard stare. Hes staring blankly, Pat Camden, who was then a spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police, told the Tribune immediately after the shooting. (He) walked up to a car and stabbed the tire of the car and kept walking.

Officers were forced to defend themselves, Camden said.

The city initially declined to make video of the shooting public, doing so only after a request by journalist Brandon Smith led to a court challenge and judges order for the city to release it.

The video showed that the police narrative was flawed. Images captured the teen moving away from officers before Van Dyke shot him 16 times, including when he had already fallen to the ground.

On Nov. 24, 2015, Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder. Protesters marched in the Loop the next day.

Later, the Tribune found through a request of 3,000 pages of emails that then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuels aides knew about the video nearly a year before it was publicly released, raising questions about when the mayor and police leadership realized the exposure the case represented.

Political fallout

Emanuel declined to run for reelection in the wake of the scandal, making his announcement as Van Dyke was about to go to trial. He opposed federal intervention, saying Chicago could handle the problem on its own.

One of his first proposals was to increase the number of officers wearing body cameras. And on the same day that Emanuel fired then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, he created the Police Accountability Task Force, which was chaired by Lightfoot, who was also the president of the Chicago Police Board.

The task forces first report said that the Chicago Police Department must acknowledge its racist history and overhaul its handling of excessive force allegations before true reforms could take place. It recommended abolishing the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigated allegations of officer misconduct, and implementing a citywide reconciliation process.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability was created after the elimination of IPRA, though experts have pointed to flaws there too.

Futterman said the city should bolster the resources and independence of COPA so the police oversight agency can conduct more meaningful investigations. Investigators should be allowed access to officers after shootings without a waiting period, he said, and videos should be released within 24 to 48 hours as a matter of course.

Emanuels task force also recommended creating a community safety oversight committee, which became the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, expected to begin this year.

The community commission came out of the long work done by the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability, or GAPA, and Mecole Jordan-McBride, who worked in advocacy and community organizing, was selected as the coordinator. GAPA was made up of many community organizations across Chicago.

Jordan-McBride said that when she initially saw the video it was a shocker and provoked a lot of emotions, but it was a reminder of what communities of color, specifically Black community members, have been saying for a long time about police misconduct.

We all know that historically community members stories, and particularly, a young Black man ... their stories arent always taken as truth, she said. And so, for this case, in particular, the story that was told versus the reality of what happened was so drastically different.

Jordan-McBride said GAPA put out a report after having 19 community conversations on the North, West and South sides of the city over a six-week period. She said the communitys reactions were a pendulum swing from one end to the other, but there was a revelation that there needed to be a change in how officers interacted with community members, how they were trained and the level of support they received, and to have the departments demographics better reflect the city.

Although the city was slow to create the community commission itself, Jordan-McBride said, she said she hopes that city leaders will now give the commission every opportunity available to thrive.

Im grateful that it passed, but still, we have to do things a little bit quicker in Chicago to actually see gains while within some peoples lives, she said.

Doubts remain

Despite Emanuels initial opposition to outside input, he changed course, offering support for a federal investigation, which began in late 2015.

Calls for federal oversight of the Chicago Police Department began nearly immediately after a judge forced the city to release the McDonald video, with then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan among politicians clamoring for a Justice Department investigation.

Two years later, the Justice Department released a scathing 164-page report, detailing a broken police department plagued by a lack of accountability for officers, a pervasive code of silence and disproportionate use of force against the citys Black and Latino residents. The report not only found that police officers used force almost 10 times more often against Black citizens than white, but also that the department failed to responsibly investigate such instances.

CPD does not give its officers the training they need to do their jobs safely, effectively and lawfully, then-U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said when the 2017 report was released. It fails to properly collect and analyze data, including data on misconduct complaints and training deficiencies, and it does not adequately review use-of-force incidents to determine whether force was appropriate or lawful or whether the use of force couldve been avoided altogether.

Emanuel agreed to enter into a court-enforced agreement with the Justice Department to enact wide-ranging reforms to how the department trains its officers, keeps data and holds members accountable. U.S. District Judge Robert Dow Jr. in 2019 approved the consent decree, which mandates reforms in training, use of force, data management and transparency, community interactions, officer wellness and other areas.

It generally takes years for cities to come into full compliance with consent decrees. But the Police Department has struggled with missed deadlines and sluggish compliance, and it has faced criticism from high-ranking employees about their strategies for meeting the consent decrees requirements.

Futterman, though, noted that CPD has made some progress, mostly in response to consent-decree mandates and lawsuits. It created new training requirements that focus on de-escalation, he said, and retooled its use-of-force policies. It is also in the process of overhauling its First Amendment policies, he said, in part due to lawsuits that stemmed from police treatment of protesters in 2020.

Chicago police Superintendent David Brown has said the department is more quickly reaching reform goals set in the consent decree after a slower start.

I dont think its a small thing that we achieved 52% compliance, Brown has told the Tribune, referring to the percentage of consent decree goals that the department preliminarily met. This is significant, although we have much much more work to do to be where we want to be.

Recent reports from Maggie Hickey, the independent monitor overseeing the consent decree, have highlighted some areas of improvement. The department made progress in developing a hate-crimes policy and finalized a policy on interactions with transgender, intersex and gender-nonconforming people, a recent report said. CPD is also now delivering refresher training for its Crisis Intervention Team, which responds to calls for people in a mental-health crisis.

But experts have criticized the pace and substance of the reforms.

Cara Hendrickson, executive director of BPI Chicago, a nonprofit law and policy center, said the departments overall pace in complying with the consent decree has been slow. Hendrickson negotiated the consent decree when she worked for the Illinois attorney general.

Progress on the consent decree should proceed at a pace as if lives depend on the success of consent decree, she said. This is critical for the safety of our city.

Changing the direction of a steam liner

A prominent criticism from those who evaluate CPDs reform progress is one of culture. Less tangible than data about whether the department is meeting assigned mandates is buy-in from its leadership and the rank and file.

I think the department continues to wrestle with its willingness to make the fundamental structural changes that would be required to see the kind of fundamental change that communities have been demanding for decades, Hendrickson said. Were still waiting to see that kind of change in the department.

CPDs culture problems have been blasted by former employees, who have said the leadership is more concerned with headlines than substantive reform.

A former civilian commander who worked on reform efforts resigned last year, writing to Mayor Lightfoot that the departments leaders were unable to even feign interest in pursuing reform in a meaningful manner has made it impossible for me to remain involved. Susan Lee, a former public safety adviser to the mayor, similarly raised concerns about the departments ability to keep moving the ball forward as she resigned.

Hickey, the independent monitor, has recently echoed those concerns.

I do think the policies are being reformed and that is maybe working a little quicker than the culture being reformed, Hickey said in a Q&A in November. Im not going away anytime soon, unfortunately.

Futterman, who with activist Will Calloway pushed for the release of the dashcam video that captured McDonalds shooting, said he questioned whether the city had learned lessons from the McDonald cover-up, when officials fought the release of video of the shooting. He pointed to the similar circumstances of the botched raid at the home of Young.

Lightfoot fought release of the video, which was eventually broadcast by CBS-2.

Weve seen some real backsliding, Futterman said.

Hendrickson said the pending release of Van Dyke underscores the need for a much more robust system of accountability within CPD for police misconduct. The former officer is expected to leave prison Thursday.

She noted that the departments most recent consent-decree progress report showed that CPD was only in compliance with about 8% of its accountability provisions.

The lack of accountability was a critical finding of the U.S. Department of Justice when it issued its report, Hendrickson said. And it is the area in which CPD is perhaps the most behind in its progress in the consent decree.

Mecole Jordan-McBride said the biggest thing is that the city needs a cultural change.

Weve had a culture that has created very strained at best relationships, particularly in communities of color, she said.  ... Do I think that were probably on the cusp of cultural change? I will say yes. Would I say that we are light years from where we were six years ago? I would definitely say no, but I think that thats also very indicative of what change looks like when youre shifting something as big as the Police Department. Its like changing the direction of a steam liner.

Sheila Bedi, a Northwestern University law professor and an attorney involved in the litigation over the decree, said the video of McDonald was devastating because of not only the act of brutal violence that was caught on tape but also because it became public how many people from the Police Department were involved in lying about the shooting, showing a deep intentional cover-up at the highest levels and a lack of accountability.

Communities have been organizing around racialized police violence in Chicago for generations but there are these flashpoints of police violence that are caught on video, like the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a white police officer, Bedi said. Those flashpoints can create momentum and outcry for change.

Bedi said its a foundational issue that the culture of the Police Department still includes racism and violence, which was seen during CPDs response to uprising after Floyds killing. Since the release of the McDonald dashcam video, Bedi said, a number of officers have been caught on video engaging in violations of CPD policy who have escaped any kind of accountability.

I think the fact that Jason Van Dyke is being released from prison, its a reminder that the work of transforming policing in the city of Chicago is far from done, Bedi said.

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100 years ago

Jan. 31, 1922: There has been another serious accident on the C&A at Ocoya, between Chenoa and Pontiac. A side rod broke or came loose on the engine pulling the Chicago-bound passenger train. The train wrecked at 40 miles per hour, and engineer Harry Rhea was badly injured.

75 years ago

Jan. 31, 1947: An ice storm has shut down central Illinois. Twin City buses were forced to stop running; utility poles came crashing down under the weight of ice on the lines. In Eureka, the power went off, cutting short a lie detector test being given in the El Paso murder case.

50 years ago

Jan. 31, 1972: The Clark station at Wood and Main was robbed for the fifth time since Oct. 14. Two men took $200 and escaped with the managers clothing. They were different robbers, and none has been caught. One man stood trial for one of the holdups but the jury acquitted him.

25 years ago

Jan. 31, 1997: Rev. Bert Lancaster is retiring from Wesley United Methodist Church. He is best known for not being the movie star with the same-sounding name, riding his motorcycle, and for being the popular pastor at his church for the past 17 years. Lancaster plans an active retirement.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.
Following the bribery statement made by the former Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi on national television a week ago, a group, Ghana Watch Alliance has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the matter.



According to the Ghana Watch Alliance(GWA), a Watch Alliance(GWA), the announcement made by the former lawmaker is a clear case of corruption and must be investigated.



Portions of the petition sighted reads:



We believe that for a former minister of state to publicly sit on national television to voice out his personal bribery payments in the past with such high esteem cannot be overlooked in our quest to fight corruption in this country.



In November 2021, the Special Prosecutor invited the Juaben Municipal Chief Executive nominee, Alex Sarfo- Kantanka, for questioning over corruption and corruption-related offenses after he publicly demanded a refund of monies paid as bribes to some assembly members to entice them to endorse his candidature.



The OSP has however called on members of the public who have knowledge of the commission of corruption or corruption-related offences to lodge complaints with the OSP against any official in that regard, a statement issued on January 25, said.



Background:



Ghana has been ranked 73rd out of 180 countries in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released January 25, 2022, by Transparency International (TI) with a score of 43 out of a total of 100.



This CPI score indicates that Ghana failed to make progress in the fight against corruption in the year 2021 as the score of 43 is the same as the countrys 2020 score, Transparency International has said.











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 Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has called on the international community and donor agencies to support the government towards the transformation of the country through education.



He explained that as development partners, there was the need for them to buy into President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo's dream of transforming the nation's economy through education.



Dr Adutwum made the call when the Deputy Ambassador for Qatar, Mr Mohammed I K Al Rumaihi, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.



The call was to deepen the ties between the two nations and also work towards enhancing the development of both countries.



Educational reforms



The education minister explained the various education reforms being undertaken by the government, which were all geared towards positioning the country to be at par with other developing countries.



He mentioned science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as the focus of the government to position the country to meet the 21st-century market needs.



Dr Adutwum urged all development partners of the country to show interest and create products or areas of interest and see how they could contribute to shaping the nation's development agenda.



The deputy ambassador lauded the government for the feat chalked up so far in the various facets of the economy.



He was particularly happy with the peace prevailing in the country making the country the toast of all nations and a destination for investors.



Mr Rumaihi pledged to meet the leadership of the nation's education sector again to have a critical look at areas the two could collaborate to support for the development of the country.









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
A cross-section of visual arts students in the Ashanti Region has welcomed the introduction of the pre-engineering programme as an opportunity to express their creative skills.



According to them, the programme offers a unique opportunity for them to correct the erroneous impression that Visual Arts is meant for those who are academically weak.



Some of the students who are part of the first batch of students scheduled to begin the one-year course this month, praised the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum for the innovative initiative.



They said the Minister has proven to be a valuable asset since joining the Ministry because his vision and policies are creating opportunities for Ghanaian students, especially the less privileged and those perceived to be academically weak.



"Apart from playing instrumental role in the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy which has opened up secondary education to every eligible Ghanaian child, Dr. Adutwum is also credited for spearheading several initiatives that are transforming lives across the country", they acknowledged.



The one-year programme is designed to train and prepare some secondary school graduates without science backgrounds for enrollment into Bachelor of Science in Engineering courses at the university.



It seeks to open doors to non-science students, especially Visual Arts students who have the desire and possess the ability and have creative minds to be trained as innovative and creative engineers to drive industrialization in the country.



The programme is also designed in accordance with the Education Strategic Plan 2001-2030 which targets 60 per cent enrollment of students in tertiary education pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.



The first batch of students for the programme are expected to commence their studies at the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) and the Pentecost University.



The students reveal they have what it takes to be engineers just like their colleagues in the science disciplines because of their creativity but have always been denied the opportunity.



They, therefore, commended the Education Minister for believing in Visual Arts students despite the general perception that they were dumb and pledged to justify the opportunity given them.



Rev. Canon Francis Sencherey, Headmaster of Kumasi Anglican Senior High School, said it is a refreshing development that would benefit a lot of students who are denied the chance to pursue engineering despite having creative skills.



He commended the Minister for the bold initiative and called on Ghanaians to rally behind him to extend the programme to more universities to enable many students to access the programme.





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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 Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has presented 50 specialized hospital beds worth Ghc 250, 000 to 13 health facilities made up of CHIP Compounds, Clinics and the Nsawam Government Hospital in the Nsawam/Adoagyiri Municipality to enhance healthcare delivery by the beneficiary health facilities.



Frank Annoh-Dompreh said the health needs of the people and the general development of the country is a major priority to the government of President Akufo- Addo and he the MP hence all efforts are being made by the government to meet the health and other needs of the people.



He said discussions are ongoing between him and some health professionals in the United States of America for the construction of a Christian Teaching Hospital in Nsawam/Adoagyiri to enhance healthcare in the constituency.



The beneficiary health facilities include; Ahwerease Darmang Health Centre, Adoagyiri Zongo, Nsumia CHPS Compound, Dzankrom Zongo, Notre Dame Clinic, Fotobi, Akramah CHPs, Kwakyekrom EPI Centre, Obegyima, Kyenenkyene CHPS Compound, Old Hospital and Nsawam Government Hospital.



He assured the people of the commitment of government to continue to introduce policies to promote the wellbeing of the people and urged Ghanaians to support the e-levy to generate more revenue for development projects.



Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh also commissioned a renovated six classroom block for the James White SDA School at Nsawam in fulfilment of his pledge to the School.



The Nsawam/Adoagyiri Municipal Health Director, Mrs Eunice Abuaku commended Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh for his support to health facilities in Nsawam/ Adoagyiri.





The Headmaster of James White SDA Basic School, Mr Emmanuel Duah thanked Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh for the renovation of the classroom block.







Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Peace FM









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 aviation wing of the McDan Group of Companies, McDan Aviation has launched Ghanas first private jet charter services at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra.



The ultra-modern jet lounge, one of the first of its kind in the sub-region was inaugurated on Friday January 28, 2022, in a colorful ceremony at the Terminal One of the KIA. This follows the acquisition of a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) license from the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL).



The opening of the lounge is expected to solidify Ghanas aviation industry as one of the best in West Africa and position the country as the preferred business and investment destination in the region.



In his brief address, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel McKorley said the opening of the lounge is the beginning of greater things to come in the Ghanaian aviation industry. He said the lounge will be used to drive Ghanas vision for the industry and potentially boost the countrys tourism sector.



The goal behind this private jet lounge is to position the countrys aviation industry in amongst the best in the world. The lounge is not for McDan rather, it is for the business community and top-class executives, and this is one of the places we can be recognized amongst the leading countries when it comes to aviation, he said.



The company will kickstart its commercial private jet services with three airplanes and one helicopter, while arrangements are 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.



This, Dr. Mckorley pointed out that private jet services will cater to high-end clientele with a sense of optimizing luxury, and for corporate executives seeking to leverage quick and efficient commute for the purpose of business.

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
This matter should have easily gone to bed without any further skirmishes but the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, might just not have gotten the memo.



It was on Thursday, January 27, 2022, during the governments Townhall Meeting on the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy), at Koforidua in the Eastern Region, that the conversations on what could just be a newly propounded theory of up to 10% was incubated.



Addressing the meeting, the minister presented a defense on behalf of her employers (the government), turning all ears to perhaps what has not become the biggest outcome of that Townhall Meeting.



"E-levy is being introduced at the lowest rate for any tax in Ghana, comparatively at 1.75%. Less than 2%. In other countries, digital taxes are being introduced at the rate of up to 10%, and they're paying. That's the UK," she told the gathering.



And then curiosity took over that particular statement of hers, getting factcheckers almost immediately busy.



GhanaWeb FactCheck: Ursula Owusu's false claim on UK Digital Service Tax rate



In that address, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful did not exactly state the tax from the UK that she compared with Ghana's 1.75% E-Levy, but the GhanaWeb FactCheck desk did a quick check online to ascertain whether or not any such similar tax exists in the UK.



According to gov.uk, from April 1 2020, the government introduced a new 2% tax on the revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces which derive value from UK users.



By this tax, businesses would be liable to the Digital Services Tax when their worldwide revenues from these digital activities are more than 500 million and more than 25 million of these revenues are derived from UK users.



Additionally, the DST will ensure that there was an allowance of 25 million, which means a company's first 25 million of revenues derived from UK users will not be subject to Digital Services Tax.



The GhanaWeb FactCheck desk concluded that the minister lied.



E-Levy: Ghana is not Uganda or UK  Ursula defends her 10% UK digital tax comments



When the dust was just settling on these findings, which was equally researched by a number of other credible factchecking platforms in the country, the Minister of Communication returned with what many have deemed as a poor attempt of justification.



In a Facebook post, she wrote:



Ghana is not Uganda or UK so please lets chart our own course, learning from best practices and modifying it to suit our own purposes.



.Up to 10% means anything between 0-10%. It does not mean 10%. The UKs 2% DST falls within this range. So who is lying or ignorant ?????



Will the fact checkers, commentators and hangers on be gracious enough to admit that they got it wrong AGAIN ?? I doubt it so not holding my breadth, portions of her post said.



MFWA boss calls Ursula's UK tax defense a 'mind-boggling logic of semantics



The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah, reacted to Ursulas comments.



In a tweet, he described her comments as a mind-boggling logic of semantics.



Ursula Owusu claimed that some countries such as the UK are charging up to 10% digital tax. When @factcheck_ghana exposed her claim as completely false, guess what she says? That when she said "up to 10%" she meant from 0% to 10%. So, if UK tax on companies is 2%, she was not wrong, he wrote.



The Ursula theory of up to 10%



In a follow-up post by Sulemana Braimah, he questioned the logic behind the defense by the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, on her use of words in describing what she meant when she compared the E-Levy to the United Kingdoms Digital Services Tax (DST).



He explained that if that analogy should be right, then the 1.75% E-Levy being introduced by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government could also easily pass for the up to 10% argument.



According to our Minister of Communications, @UrsulaOw it will be correct to say that Ghana's proposed E-Levy is up to 10% since 1.75% is within the range of 0% to 10%. What a mind-boggling logic of semantics, he wrote.



E-Levy reduced to 1.5%



In the meantime, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has announced that after consultations between all the major stakeholders, the government has decided to reduce the proposed 1.75% E-Levy to 1.5%.



The Minority Members of Parliament also oppose the new 1.5% rate for the E-Levy, insisting that the only thing they will agree to is a complete scrapping of the levy.





According our Minister of Communications, @UrsulaOw it will be correct to say that Ghana's proposed E-Levy is up to 10% since 1.75% is within the range of 0% to 10%. What a mind-boggling logic of semantics.  Sulemana Braimah (@sulemana) January 30, 2022







According our Minister of Communications, @UrsulaOw it will be correct to say that Ghana's proposed E-Levy is up to 10% since 1.75% is within the range of 0% to 10%. What a mind-boggling logic of semantics.  Sulemana Braimah (@sulemana) January 30, 2022









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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that it is deploying emergency escort services to transporters of hazardous substances in the country.



Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Henry Kokofu disclosed this on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme while discussing the Apiate explosion Monday morning.



Henry Kwabena Kokofu condemned the transportation of explosives across communities without any safety measures.



He noted that the EPA has begun strict enforcement of the safety rules to safeguard the residents where the hazardous substances are carried to and fro.



He said; ''We're seriously considering emergency escort service which will immediately deploy pickups having flashlights and so forth. So, any person who will be given licence as a transporter and deals in hazardous substances, you will sign on to/subscribe to EPA escort services.''





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said it is appropriate that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has been honoured with a commemorative gold coin.

He indicated that Otumfuos contribution to the advancement of the peace and stability of the nation was well known.



"So it is appropriate that he has been so duly honoured with the minting of this coin," he said.



President Akufo-Addo said this when he received the Otumfuo commemorative gold coin at the Jubilee House in Accra last Thursday.



The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, led a delegation from the E ON 3 Group, an Accra-based business solutions provider, and some of the company's key partners to the Jubilee House to present the coin to the President.



Objective



President Akufo-Addo is one of 33 special individuals who will be presented with the gold coin to encourage them to put their weight behind the ultimate objective of the coin  to use the proceeds to establish a modern Cultural Resource Centre in Kumasi to promote activities related to traditional and customary conflict resolution in Ghana.



Important step



The President expressed concern over the fact that most often many of the things done in the country were externally induced.



"I am happy that gradually we are beginning to turn away from that image and reality," he said.



Against that background, he said, a project such as the commemorative gold coin was an important step.



He commended the E ON 3 Group for undertaking the gold coin project, saying: "More grease to your elbows; we want to see more of such developments in our country."



He also thanked the group for the gesture of presenting the gold coin to him.



Adding value



The E ON 3 Group organised the launch of the gold coin, in collaboration with the key partners, namely, the Manhyia Palace, the KLG Group, Access Bank Plc (official banking partner), Gold Coast Refinery Limited (official minting company), the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC)  which is keeping custody of the gold coins  and Coronation Insurance Company Limited (official insurance company).



Members of the delegation to the Jubilee House were the Executive Chairman of the E ON 3 Group, Mr Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori-Atta; the General Manager of the company, Mr Jesse Agyepong; the Managing Director (MD) of Access Bank, Mr Olumide Olatunji; the MD of the PMMC, Nana Akwasi Awuah; the Country Manager, Gold Coast Refinery, Mr Abraham Dwuma Odoom, and the Legal Advisor, Gold Coast Refinery, Mr Paul Asimenu.



In a brief speech, Mr Jinapor said the gold coin project had received the full backing of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.



"It is a project that the ministry supported, particularly because of your [President] vision for the minerals sector of the country, which is adding value to the mineral resources of the country," the minister explained..



He said he was proud that the gold was produced and minted in the country.



"The idea is that through this, we will be able to ramp up our efforts at adding value to our mineral resources and ensure that refined gold is traded right here in Ghana," he said.



Worthy celebration



Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr Agyepong said celebrating Otumfuo Osei Tutu was worth it.



He explained that over the years, Otumfuo had mediated in many chieftaincy disputes, and difficult political transitions, especially those of 2012 and 2016.



He noted that the invitation extended to the Asantehene to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assemblys High-Level Forum on September 13, 2019, where he spoke about his ability to use traditional methods and culture to engender peace in the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole, lent credence to his recognition as a driver of peace.



Mr Agyepong informed the President that the first of the gold coins was purchased by the KGL Group, while the second was presented to the Asantehene, adding: "We are proud to present the third coin to you."



President praised



Mr Agyepong praised President Akufo-Addo for the remarkable part he had played in resolving the intractable chieftaincy dispute in Dagbon.



"It is interesting to note that the resolution journey which started from President Kufuor to President Mills to President Mahama ended with you, for which we thank you for the tremendous support you gave the cause," he said.



Life-long project



He described the Otumfuo commemorative gold coin as a life-long project.



"Mr President, it is important to state that the gold coin is a life-long project that stands not only as a legacy to Otumfuo Osei Tutu but also an important cultural and heritage legacy to Ghana," Mr Agyepong said.



Background



The E ON 3 Group was given authorisation by the Bank of Ghana to mint the gold coin to celebrate the Asantehene for his enormous role in peace-building and national development.



Consequently, the 24 karat (99.99 per cent) fine gold was launched at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on December 12, 2021.

Source: graphiconline.com









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A young man has been nabbed stealing items from unsuspecting church goers in Lagos. The suspect identified as Ebuka Iheanacho, told those interrogating him that hes from Imo state. He also confirmed that his mother comes to the church to beg.



The items he stole were reportedly kept in a room in the church. He stole some phones and then hid a bag in a toilet in the building.



The church members interrogating him, said they will be taking him to the police station for documentation.



Watch the video below..

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The Kwadaso SDA Nursing and Midwifery Training College has commissioned a 500-bed capacity hostel facility at its Barekese campus. The new hostel is to boost female intake & accommodation on the campus which had become a challenge for the college.



The hostel facility was constructed in a record time of 12 months (November 2020  November 2021) by one of Ghanas leading construction firms with almost two decades of experience, Nickseth Construction Company Limited.



The contract sum was GHS609, 2480.04 which was fully funded by the College from its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) with support from the SDA church.



At a brief handing over and commissioning ceremony involving stakeholders of the school, Board Chair for Nickseth Constructions Limited, Dr. Godfred Owusu Boateng noted that the company believes it has a critical role in developing physical infrastructure that can stand the test of time.



Nickseth constructions company limited believes, that it has a critical role to play when it comes to the quest for global society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in fact the company will duel more on the goal number 11that seeks to talk about building cities and then making them sustainable and that is why we always want to be very very careful when projects like these are given to us.



In fact we also realized that our forefathers fought their wars with cutlasses, machete and axes they were relevant at the course of that time but the present generation our time the implements for those wars are education so if you look at sustainability and education, we position ourselves such that we want to address all of them at the same time, now we are also very passionate about the fact that education is the key to every national development so we are very much particular and we show extreme passion whenever you give us projects like these.



Dr Boateng further noted that  we put up our nice vision statement there and we dont want to renege on our promise by giving them something else so we always want to maintain our touch of excellence that has been the backbone of our company. Whenever people are trying to praise Nickseth Company limited because of our quality work then it is hinged on the touch of excellence that has been our catchword.



He used the opportunity to admonish the student and the college's authority to use the facility with care so that future generations can benefit from the project.



Now to the students who are the immediate beneficiaries of the project, we will like them to use the project sustainably because everything is about sustainability, now to management we want them to upgrade the culture maintenance because much resources have been committed into the project.



The principal of the college, Mr Daniel Attah-Tuffour, lauded the contractors of the time used to execute the project.



He used the opportunity to assure the government that the facility would train more nurses to fill vacancies under its Agenda 111 health facilities adding that Management believes, this facility will go a long way to ensure sustainable delivery of quality education for students.



The long term plan, of the school is to turn the Kwadaso campus into a training site for specialized nurses in the areas of critical care, peri-operative, emergency, public health and geriatric nursing among others.



Mr. Atta Tuffour appealed to the government to help develop the rest of 50 percent of undeveloped land to provide more infrastructure to students.



"The college needs more lecture halls and hostel for the male students," he said.



"The college would be grateful if the uncompleted three-storey hostel for males students would be completed for the College," he said.



Mr Attah-Tuffour appealed on behalf of all health training institutions if they could be rolled onto the GETfund to be able to able to benefit from projects.



The Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr Peter Yeboah, however noted the ceremony affirmed the timeless church-state partnership in health delivery.



He said CHAG was improving access to quality health service for all people living in Ghana and producing critical human resources for health for the Ghanaian health sector.



Dr Yeboah called on stakeholders including churches and communities to re-examine the responsibilities in building the necessary health infrastructure for human resources for health development in the interest of national health security.



The Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Naa Ayele Mensah, who was a special guest, said the ministry was working diligently to ensure that a quality human resource base is available to achieve the vision of a healthy population for national development.



"Nurses and Midwives play an integral part in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal Three through universal health coverage," she said.



Speaking on the theme: "Building excellence in nursing and Midwifery education in achieving universal health coverage: the role of stakeholders in infrastructure development," Ms Mensah said as a result, the government was working tirelessly to ensure that quality training, equitable distribution of a competent health workforce and improvement in health infrastructure.



The facility is to help the college absorb more graduates from the Free Senior High School Programme and thereby, reduce unemployment in the country.



The training college was established in the year 2005 as part of efforts by the Seventh Day Adventist Church to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare in Ghana and beyond and has since trained a lot of nursing and midwifery professionals who are serving in various capacities across the globe.



The Kwadaso SDA Nursing and Midwifery Training College is under government institution under the auspices of the Ghana Adventist Health Service.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, has said the fight against corruption in the country should start with the leadership.



According to him, it is only real commitment at the leadership level that will ensure Ghana is able to nip the practice in the bud.



It should start with leadership. If they are ready to fight and they mean it, that will change the status quo, the former Deputy Finance Minister said on the Key Points with Dzifa Bampoh on TV3 Saturday January 29.



His comments come after Ghana failed to make progress in its fight against corruption as stated in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released today by Transparency International (TI).



The report scored Ghana 43 out of a possible clean score of 100 and ranked the country 73 out of 180 countries/territories included in the 2021 index.



This CPI score indicates that, Ghana failed to make progress in the fight against corruption in the year 2021 as the score of 43

is the same as the countrys 2020 score. Ghanas current performance is still below 50 which is the expected average and thus leaves much to be desired.



This CPI score indicates that, Ghana failed to make progress in the fight against corruption in the year 2021 as the score of 43 is the same as the countrys 2020 score, said Ghana Integrity Initiative, the local chapter of Transparency International, in a statement.



A trend analysis of Ghanas CPI scores over the past decade, presented in the chart below shows that, the country declined by 2 points.



Equatorial Guinea, Somalia and South Sudan have the lowest scores in the region.



The 2021 index reveals that, Botswana (55), Lesotho (38), Eswatini (32), Niger (31), Nigeria (24), Comoros (20) and South Sudan (11) are all at historic lows. In the last decade, 43 countries in the region have either declined or made no significant progress, the statement added.



On the global level, Denmark (88), Finland (88) and New Zealand (88) top the chart as the least corrupt countries, while Somalia (13), Syria (13) and South Sudan (11) remain at the bottom of the corruption perception index.







Source: 3news.com









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The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the church to continue to use the pulpit and religious platforms to partner the State to fight corruption and facilitate development of the nation.



The Vice President made the call when he appeared as a Special Guest at the ordination and consecration service of Very Reverend Dr. Kotei Neequaye as the new Suffragan Bishop for the Church on Sunday, January 30, 2022.



Addressing the Congregation, Dr Bawumia touted the Anglican Church for using its platforms to preach against corruption.



"The Anglican Church has always preached against corruption and I urge them to continue to help fight the canker" he noted.



Quoting the Bible, Dr. Bawumia urged society to tackle corruption head on.



"I will like to quote two scriptures on this issue, and how it is very important to continue to do all what we can to minimise it.



"Galatians 6:8 says 'Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."



Dr. Bawumia noted that there is so much economics embedded in this scripture which is telling us not to invest in flesh through corruption. We know that the flesh will eventually rot when you die so if you are an investor will you invest in something that will eventually rot?



Furthermore, Proverbs 29:4 reads, 'A King gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it" he referenced.



Vice President Bawumia enumerated scores of policies and programmes the government has put in place to fight corruption including the digitisation of the economy through address system, ports, the Ghanacard, passport office, DVLA, GRA, SSNIT, NHIS, Lands Commission, Ghana.Gov platform, and others as evidence of Governments commitment to fighting corruption. These digitization efforts have reduced and in some cases eliminated bribery and corruption in the provision of public services.



The Vice President also alluded to the fact that the appropriate state agencies like the Office of the Special Prosecutor, CHRAJ, EOCO among others are being given the needed financial support to fight corrupt officials and agents.



He noted that in all of this, society must also play its part in the fight against society, and called for collaboration from all to make the fight easier.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The leadership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) has visited and held discussions with former President John Dramani Mahama in Accra.



Members of the CPA UK are in Accra for a Trade and Security Workshop for the UK and African parliamentarians to explore how parliaments can address trade and security issues in the context of unexpected external events such as COVID-19.



Led by the Cardiff South and Penarth Member of Parliament, Stephen Doughty, who represents the Labour Party, the delegation discussed with the former president, issues of sub-regional security, effects of COVID-19 on the economy, affirmative action and the role of women in the growth of the economy, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the worrying issue of abandoning projects started by previous governments.



Mahama commends



President Mahama commended the UK Parliament and the CPA UK for its commitment to governmental accountability.



He, however, observed that Ghana had not reached the height of democracy that the UK epitomises, where Members of Parliament could look into the face of the head of government, call him out over a wrong action and get him to feel remorseful.



On abandoning of public projects, the former President said the practice was an affront to Ghanas Constitution.



We didnt see it so brazenly in other governments. It is something that is with this particular Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, Mr Mahama said.





Source: graphiconline.com









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2022 seems to be another record breaking year for one of Ghanaian biggest gospel music exports, Empress Gifty.



The gospel music icon, who has been a blessing to Africa and a pacesetter in her genre of music, is undoubtedly the favourite of many music lovers in Ghana and Africa.



After making appreciable strides last year and rocking stages of huge musical concerts in Ghana and beyond the borders, she has now inked a new performance deal with Don Music Production, the organisers of Ghana Music Awards USA for their 2022 upcoming Nominees Announcement which is scheduled to happen on April 16, 2022, at Grand Roosevelt Ballroom, 2 Hudson Street, Yonkers, NY 10701 in the United States of America.



Aside the nominees announcement performance, Empress Gifty will mount the stage again to perform at the main event scheduled to take place on August 20, at the Lincoln Theatre.



The gospel artiste, who is expected to perform all her hit songs with her band, told The Spectator in an interview that she saw better prospects of the Ghanaian gospel music industry considering the international appeal over the years.



According to her, 2022 promises to be much more exciting beginning with this GMA-USA contract and performance opportunity, the people of USA should prepare for an experience from me and my team.



According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Music Awards-USA, Mr. Dennis Boafo, affectionately called Don D, Empress Gifty and one other popular gospel artiste were penciled for this event because of their style of performance and vocal delivery.



He believes Empress Gifty after performing on major shows in Ghana during the festive season is ready to shake the Ghanaian communities in America with her songs and dexterity on stage.



Ghana Music Awards USA is an event which seeks to reward, celebrate and recognise hardworking musical talent from Ghana by promoting Ghanaian music and culture in the diaspora.



GMA-USA is the most prioritised and patronised Ghanaian event in America.









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Researchers from Waseda University, Japan, suggest an alternate technique for measuring steady-state electrocatalytic activity more reliably over conventional transient techniques, opening up a potential route to efficient hydrogen generation from water splitting. Credit: Sengeni Anantharaj from Waseda University

Electrolysis of water or "water electrosplitting" has received a great deal of attention recently owing to its potential as a clean source of hydrogen, the oft-touted fuel of the future. However, two issues have long stood in the way: the large amount of energy lost, and the cost of electrocatalysts (catalysts used for electrolysis). Fortunately, several new kinds of electrocatalysts have made their appearance, which could potentially solve these issues.

The screening of new electrocatalysts is conventionally performed with techniques such as "linear sweep voltammetry" (LSV) and "cyclic voltammetry" (CV), which involve applying a constantly changing voltage to an electrode and monitoring the resulting current. As this current depends on the rate of oxidation or reduction occurring at the electrode, the measured current readings can be used to determine the effect of an electrocatalyst on the speed of the electrolysis reaction.

However, an obvious drawback of these techniques is that they cannot accurately record the "steady-state" response of the electrocatalyst as it does not experience a particular applied voltage long enough to do so. As a result, substantially high current readings are often recorded, which do not reflect the true catalytic activity, hindering the development of efficient electrocatalysts and promotion of the same to large-scale processes.

In a new study published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Assistant Professor Sengeni Anantharaj from Waseda University, Japan, along with his collaborators Dr. Subrata Kundu from CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India, and Prof. Suguru Noda from Waseda University have now found a way around this problem, demonstrating an alternate technique called "sampled current voltammetry" (SCV) as a more reliable indicator of electrocatalytic performance at a constant steady-state applied voltage.

"Screening catalysts accurately is just as important as developing new catalysts for all energy conversion reactions," says Anantharaj, speaking of his motivation. "Our work has highlighted a way to make accurate measurements of electrocatalytic activity previously not possible with conventional transient techniques."

Before applying the SCV technique, the researchers analyzed the errors resulting from LSV. To show the deviation in current values, they used a steady-state technique called "chronoamperometry" (CA), which is the most accurate method of all yet time consuming to measure current at constant voltages and compared it to the values obtained from LSV.

To determine the activity of electrocatalysts used in electrolysis, they measured the current readings of both the oxygen-producing and hydrogen-producing half-cell reactions. Using a stainless-steel (SS) electrode, precipitated Co(OH) 2 (cobalt hydroxide), and platinum foil as catalysts in a KOH (potassium hydroxide) solution, the researchers found that the current density readings from LSV and CA differed significantly, with the difference growing wider at higher applied voltages.

Using the same setup, they then applied the SCV technique and recorded the current densities at various fixed voltages obtained from the steady-state CA responses. "To validate the suitability of SCV, we recorded the CA responses of the SS electrode at various regularly increasing voltages for 130 seconds, within which the SS interface was able to reach a steady state," elaborates Anantharaj.

From the sampled current readings, the researchers found negligible difference compared to the steady-state CA technique, demonstrating the reliability of the SCV in correctly determining electrocatalyst's behavior at different voltages. Additionally, while the SCV is particularly useful in the search for a suitable electrocatalyst for water electrosplitting, it can be used to screen electrocatalysts accurately for any electrochemical reaction.

"By addressing the long-standing problem of catalyst performance loss when promoted from the lab to the practical processes, our work could speed up the worldwide adoption of large-scale hydrogen generation from electrolysis," comments Anantharaj.

More information: Sengeni Anantharaj et al, Worrisome Exaggeration of Activity of Electrocatalysts Destined for Steady-State Water Electrolysis by Polarization Curves from Transient Techniques, Journal of The Electrochemical Society (2022). Sengeni Anantharaj et al, Worrisome Exaggeration of Activity of Electrocatalysts Destined for Steady-State Water Electrolysis by Polarization Curves from Transient Techniques,(2022). DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ac47ec
A photogrammetry image of the tracks. The horizontal and vertical scales are in metres. Credit: Charles Helm

It's been 27 years since geologist David Roberts identified some of the oldest footprints of our species ever discovered. The trackway of three footprints was found on the surface of a cemented sand dune (called an aeolianite) near Langebaan on South Africa's west coast. The tracks were later dated to 117,000 years and were attributed to Homo sapiens; they became popularly known as "Eve's footprints."

They were airlifted to Cape Town, where they are housed in the Iziko South Africa Museum. A replica is on exhibit at the Geelbek Visitor Centre in the West Coast National Park. There has been international debate since then about whether or not "Eve's footprints" really were human tracks, due to their relatively poor level of preservation.

No further fossilized human tracks have been discovered in the area since thenbut a recent find by our research team, also near Langebaan, changes this.

These two tracks, discovered in what is today the ceiling of a small cave, are a remarkable find for three reasons. The first is that modern graffiti on aeolianite surfaces in the area around Langebaan area is prolific. In fact, graffiti was present just inches away from "Eve's footprints." A potential fossilized human tracksite on the Cape south coast near Knysna, more than 400 km to the east, was defaced by graffiti before it could be scientifically assessed.

We don't know precisely when this happened, but we know that the graffiti "artists" got to it before we did. It is therefore possible that fossil tracksites around Langebaan are rare because graffiti has obscured them.

The second reason is that human tracks registered in aeolianites are rare at a global level. The majority of such tracks are found in cave floor deposits or volcanic ash sediments; the South African sites, which were made on dunes and beaches, are an exception. And the third is that our find, made within kilometers of those Roberts discovered in 1995, supports his conclusion that a human ancestor left "Eve's footprints."

Graffiti in aeolianites at Langebaan. Some potential human tracks have been destroyed by such graffiti. Credit: Charles Helm

The tracks

Rudolf Hattingh, a speleologisthe studies cavesand member of our research team, found the two tracks on the small cave's ceiling while out exploring for caves.

They are natural casts, representing the sediment which filled in the original tracks. The original dune surface on which the tracks were made has been eroded away, and is no longer evident. They are probably of approximately the same age as "Eve's Footprints," and therefore from the Late Pleistocene epoch, which began about 126,000 years ago.

The two tracks have approximately the same orientation, and are are an appropriate distance apart (49 cm) for a walking human, which suggests that they form a short trackway segment. They are friable, vulnerable even to light touch, and their margins are not crisply definedit is possible that more detail might have been present if they had been discovered earlier.

Track length is approximately 28 cm (although this may include a heel drag), width is 13 cm, and depth is 34 cm. One of the tracks contains a possible outline of a hallux (big toe). Both tracks show an outward convexity, suggesting the presence of a medial arch. These features are all broadly consistent with a human trackmaker walking on a dry, non-cohesive dune surface.

We would have preferred a longer trackway and tracks which showed more anatomical detail morphology. Nonetheless, the identification of new probable human tracks at Langebaan, free of graffiti, is still a significant find. Although extinct members of our genus like Homo naledi and Homo helmei cannot be completely excluded, we believe the likelihood is that these tracks, like "Eve's Footprints," were made by one of our direct Homo sapiens ancestors.

Potential for more?

Although the focus of our work is on the Cape south coast, not the west coast, this discovery is a spur to keep exploring in the Langebaan area, especially in the few remaining areas that are free of graffiti.

It also inspires us to be vigilant for cliff-collapse events which may create new aeolianite exposures on this coastline. Fossil tracks are evocative: they can readily transport us back in time and lead us think what it must have been like to walk on a dune more than 100,000 years ago, near what is today known as Langebaan.

Explore further Fossil tracks reveal which birds once roamed South Africa's Cape south coast

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Why do some young men turn to crime, while others don't? An international study shows that preferences such as risk tolerance, impatience and altruism as well as self-control can predict who will commit crime. Risk-tolerant, impatient young men are more likely to commit property crime, while people with low self-control tend to commit violent, drug and sexual offenses.

According to economic theory, risk-tolerant, impatient and selfish people with a low level of education are more likely to commit crime than people who are highly educated, risk averse, patient and selfless. However, confirming this hypothesis with scientific methods isn't that easy. The education levels and socioeconomic factors of convicted criminals can be compared with those of the general population relatively easily. But assessing people's risk tolerance, patience and altruism is much more difficult.

Education main indicator for delinquency

An international team of economists has now published a study that links data on risk, time and social preferences of young men to factors such as education, income, self-control and criminal records. The findings confirm that education is the strongest indicator for determining whether young men will commit crime. Risk tolerance and impatience also significantly predict criminal behavior. Both preferences continue to play a role even if further factors such as income, area of residence, birth order, socio-economic or immigrant status are taken into account. The crime propensities of the most risk-tolerant people are 8 to 10 percentage points higher compared to the most risk-averse.

Preferences can predict type of crime

"The role that risk tolerance and patience play when it comes to crime propensity needs to be taken into account for crime prevention strategies," says UZH professor and study co-author Ernst Fehr. "The people who are most prone to commit crimes are also those who are least responsive to stricter sanctions."

Survey experiment among 5,400 young Danes

The study involved a behavioral experiment among 5,400 young Danish men aged between 15 and 20 in which they could earn the equivalent of between CHF 30 and 50. The participants had to complete a series of decision tasks, which were used to determine their risk, time and social preferences. Risk preferences indicate whether a person is more likely to choose a small but certain amount of money or go for a larger, uncertain sum. Time preferences measure a person's patience and describe their willingness to forgo a smaller payout today in favor of a larger sum at a later time. Social preferences indicate how envious or altruistic an individual is. The survey also included a question about the participants' self-assessed capacity to exercise self-control.

The study is published in PNAS.

Explore further Study finds handgun ownership and intimate partner violence history increase risk of violent crime
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Human children are known for their sensitivity to social cues (such as eye-gaze and joint attention) more so than other primates. While most research on joint attention (two people focused on the same object) has focused on children living in Western and North American countries, little is known about how caregiver-child interactions differ across cultural groups beyond infancy. To fill this gap, a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Waseda University examined caregiver-child interaction in the United States and Japan to connect the learning experiences and precise changes in cognitive development among preschool aged children.

Using the eye-tracking paradigm, the study found that children in both the United States and Japan looked at images similarly by focusing on objects before they interacted with their mothers. However, mothers in these two countries directed their children's attention differently and Japanese children shifted their attention to become more sensitive to contextual background after interacting with their mothers. These findings provide new insights into the role of social interaction and cultural diversity in the development of attention.

"Comparing caregiver-child interactions in the United States and Japan enabled the testing of cultural groups that are similar in terms of economy, education, and technology while having different cultural values," said Sawa Senzaki, associate professor of psychology and Director of Child's Lab at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. "We targeted preschoolage children because they are unlikely to exhibit culturally unique patterns of attention without parental influence. This study was the first to demonstrate changes in attention in children measured directly via eye tracking before and after engagement in social interaction with caregivers across cultures."

The study included sixty three- to four-year-old children and their mothers in the U.S. and Japan. The majority of participating mothers attained at least an associate degree. Based on parental reports, all U.S. children and mothers identified as white/European American, were born in United States, and spoke English as their first language. All the Japanese children and mothers were born in Japan and spoke Japanese as the first language.

Children were instructed to engage in a scene description task while looking at cartoon images of a rabbit against a backdrop, such as a farm or a field, on a laptop in three conditions: independently, jointly with their mothers, and then independently again. During the independent scene description task, children's gaze fixation was recorded via an eye tracker.

Verbal descriptions of the children and mothers were coded separately through object-oriented talk (focal objects and their features), and social-relation talk (for example, "The bunny wants to play with bees" and "Birds are saying hello to the bunny" instead of "There are butterflies and a bunny.")

The findings showed that mothers in the United States directed their children's attention to focal objects (such as "There butterflies and a bunny") at a higher rate than did Japanese mothers whereas Japanese mothers directed children's attention to social relations among objects (such as "The bunny wants to play with bees") more than U.S. mothers.

"Prior research tells us that children tend to focus more attention on main objects and ignore the background in a scene," said Yuki Shimizu, professor of faculty of letters, arts and sciences and Director of Cognitive and Culture Lab at Waseda University. "However, our study suggests that mothers' talk focusing on social-relations play an important role in attentional processes that may vary by different cultures. This type of research shows that everyday socialization in childhood primes attention and learning processes that may have lasting effects on cognitive development and learning."

The authors acknowledge that all U.S. participants identified as European or white American and mothers from both the U.S. and Japan were well-educated. Future studies should examine socialization practices guided by fathers and other family members, who also play significant roles in child development. Future studies should also consider similarities and differences across cultures beyond an East-West comparison

More information: Sawa Senzaki et al, Different types of focus: Caregiverchild interaction and changes in preschool children's attention in two cultures, Child Development (2022). Journal information: Child Development Sawa Senzaki et al, Different types of focus: Caregiverchild interaction and changes in preschool children's attention in two cultures,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13731
Estimated marginal impact of precarity at work and precarity of tenure on the probability of voting for established parties in the Netherlands and France. Credit: DOI: 10.1177/13607804211020321

Fears over job security and quality of work for a new class of disaffected citizensthe 'precariat'  could explain the rise of popular extremist parties across Europe, according to a new study.

Studying the 2017 national elections in France and the Netherlands, researchers discovered a link between electoral support for radical populist parties of both the right and left and 'precarity'  a lack of economic security and stable occupational identities.

Precarity also dissuaded this new class of citizenspeople who felt 'left behind' and the insecure 'squeezed middle' facing declining work and living conditionsfrom voting for traditional parties in both countries.

The state of precarity is associated with voting for radical populist parties, such as the Front National, in France, and Partij voor de Vrijheid, in the Netherlands, as well as radical left partiesfor example, La France insoumise and the Socialistische Partij (Netherlands).

Led by experts at the University of Birmingham, the international research team published its findings in Sociological Research Onlineoutlining how they measured precarity using new contributory factors such as autonomy at work, satisfaction with job advancement, work-life balance, and cognitive employment insecurity.

Researchers found two main factors that drive precarity: 'precarity at work' grouping items about subjective insecurity in working conditions; and 'precarity of tenure' which measures job insecurity.

Study lead Dr. Lorenza Antonucci, Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham, commented: "We found that the policy trend of flexibilisationand the related declining quality of work experienced by workers in France and the Netherlandshas political effects.

"Radical populist parties exploit the insecurity felt by people who make up the 'precariat,' with parties on the left proposing an anti-austerity solution to labor market insecurity and those on the right promoting a form of chauvinist labor market protection for citizens.

"Precarity of work conditions could also potentially explain populist voting in other European countries."

The study highlights 'precarity of tenure' concerns such as fear of dismissal, worries about not working hard enough and reductions in working hours. "Precarity at work' issues include not being paid for missing a day's work, lack of career advancement opportunities, work-life balance concerns, and unfulfilled salary expectations.

The researchers found that precarity at work increased the likelihood of people voting of voting for both the radical populist right and the radical left by a factor of two to three in both France and the Netherlands.

Precarity of tenure increases the odds of voters choosing the radical right in particularan effect that is particularly pronounced in France, where likelihood of voting for the radical right is raised by a factor of 7.5.

"Since 2016, scholars have been discussing the economic and cultural origins behind the so-called 'Brexit effect'the rise of populist and radical voting in Europe," added Dr. Antonucci. "We have shown that precarity, in particular the subjective insecurity of work conditions, can explain voting patterns."

Explore further European unions' support varies for precarious workers

More information: Lorenza Antonucci et al, What's Work Got to Do with It? How Precarity Influences Radical Party Support in France and the Netherlands, Sociological Research Online (2021). Lorenza Antonucci et al, What's Work Got to Do with It? How Precarity Influences Radical Party Support in France and the Netherlands,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/13607804211020321
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Numerous surveys of forest owners have found that private family forest owners in Finland value nature and biodiversity. However, such findings tell us more about the general ideals of Western culture than about forest owners as protectors of biodiversity.

A study of forest owners conducted by the University of Eastern Finland's School of Forest Sciences and Department of Geographical and Historical Studies along with the University of Helsinki's Department of Forest Sciences identified three common modes of thought that forest owners use to conceptualize maintenance of biodiversity and their own role in that process. These modes of thought also reflect different ideas about sustainable forest use among family forest owners, who hold control over the use of two thirds of Finland's forests.

Just under 40 percent of forest owners fall back on a mode of thought which calls for them to do no more to promote biodiversity than the law requires. They may agree to management measures recommended for their commercial forests by forestry professionals to appease them, but they do not perceive a genuine need for these measures.

"To this group, the problem of biodiversity loss doesn't exist, and concerns about the environment are seen as unrealistic fringe ideas held by nature conservationists. Modern ideas about sustainability are not part of this mode of thought," explains Tuomo Takala, a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland.

For the next 40 percent of forest owners, the standard measures for taking biodiversity into account in cutting operations, such as a buffer zone on the shoreline or a group of retention trees left in a clear-cut area, leave a positive feeling that they have done their part to conserve biodiversity. Habitats of endangered species can also be saved in cutting operations without any opposition as long as these habitats are known beforehand and are not too large or many.

"To this group, finding existing areas of high nature value and preserving them in an economically optimal way is precisely what is meant by conservation of biodiversity. Thanks to the best forestry in the world, there cannot be such a thing as biodiversity loss here," Takala elaborates.

In practice, these forest owners prefer to leave responsibility for conserving biodiversity to the forestry professionals planning the cuttings. This multi-objective forestry outlook is also the mainstream view of sustainable forestry in Finnish forest policy.

"We can think of it as a weak-sustainability model that approaches the different dimensions of sustainability equally in principle, but in which commercial forest use ultimately sets the framework that conservation efforts operate within."

The two modes of thought above illustrate two ways in which forest owners keep the unpleasant idea of biodiversity loss out of their sight, even if biodiversity loss in Finnish forests is well documented and frequently raised in the media. These and other manifestations of biodiversity loss denial, should be discussed morejust like climate change denial was discussed in the recent past.

Biodiversity loss is only a reality for a fifth of forest owners

One in five forest owners views the loss of biodiversity as an emergency.

"According to this mode of thought, we are quickly destroying our forest nature," Takala explains.

"According to this group, the way we use forests needs to be changed fundamentally and quickly, either voluntarily or through further regulation. Especially old-growth forests need to be removed from commercial forestry use in significant numbers. Specific sites of high nature value and areas where endangered species currently exist aren't the only things worth preservingsome sites where endangered species could settle in the coming decades should also be saved."

Considering the needs of nature gives concerned forest owners a framework within which they can plan their commercial forest use in a way that prioritizes the ecological dimension of sustainability over the commercial dimension. These forest owners take the responsibility of conserving biodiversity into their own hands. They do not outsource it to the forestry professionals who plan their cuttings, knowing that conserving biodiversity is not the primary task of these professionals.

"In this strong-sustainability mode of thought, the most impactful decisions from the biodiversity perspective have already been made before any forestry professionals enter the picture."

All the aforementioned modes of thought naturally include the conviction that they are the correct way of looking at the situation. It is important to notice that individuals cannot simply jump from one mode of thought to another at a whim.

Paying more attention to environmental concern and sensitivity

The modes of thought discussed above pervade all discussion on the environmental effects of forestry. When, for example, the EU's taxonomy, rooted in a strong-sustainability mode of thought, meets the weak-sustainability mode of thought prevalent in mainstream Finnish forest policy, conflict is inevitable. Some are in a state of emergency, while others see no problem at all.

"To understand and manage the conflicts and the polarized conversation, it's essential that we learn how to separate these two ways of conceptualizing sustainability in forest use. The idea of one sustainabilitya single goal shared by everyoneobscures our fundamental differences of conception, narrows political discussion and hamstrings our attempts to make considered decisions," Takala explains.

Understanding this difference is particularly important for those making decisions about forest use. By asking whether we and our forests are in a state of environmental emergency, and whether we need to fundamentally change how we use forests as a result, is a good way of examining our differing conceptions of sustainability.

"At the simplest level, this is about the different values and levels of environmental sensitivity people have. Too often, we still think of conflicts regarding forests and the solutions to those conflicts as simple informational challenges," the project's researchers note.

Where to start with strong-sustainability forest services?

The study found that interest in new forest services that concentrate on nature is surprisingly common among forest ownersfar more common than concern over biodiversity loss. If we want to promote strong-sustainability thinking among forest owners, we should emphasize service products that allow forest owners to examine nature in their own forests and work together with nature professionals to plan their forest use with the needs of nature as the starting point.

Additionally, it is high time to develop new forest planning and advisory services in which commercial forest use is planned in the framework of biodiversity maintenance instead of the other way around and to offer these services alongside current forestry planning and advisory products. Such strong-sustainability forest services are currently not available in Finland.

"The personal experiences produced by forest services could be an effective way of increasing people's sensitivity to environmental issues. Of course, they would also give forest owners more information about nature and their own values, but information alone is not enoughinformation about biodiversity loss is already out there for anyone to find, as long as they're prepared to take it in."

"The most important thing a strong-sustainability forest service model can achieve is getting forest owners to ask themselves what they can and are ready to do for nature."

The research was published in Forest Policy and Economics.

More information: Tuomo Takala et al, Discursive barriers to voluntary biodiversity conservation: The case of Finnish forest owners, Forest Policy and Economics (2022). Tuomo Takala et al, Discursive barriers to voluntary biodiversity conservation: The case of Finnish forest owners,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102681
Migratory species such as the European sturgeon, but also eels and salmon are particularly endangered by turbines of hydropower plants. Credit: Solvin Zankl

Hydroelectric turbines put fish at risk of severe injury during passage. To support an informed debate on the sustainability of hydropower, reliable data of turbine-induced fish mortality are pivotal. A team of researchers of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) has now provided a first global analysis in the journal Conservation Biology. On average, 22.3 percent of all fish passing through turbines got killed or showed severe, potentially lethal injuries.

Worldwide, the number of hydropower plants is rapidly increasing. In Europe, 21,000 hydropower plants are in operation, and 8,500 more are planned. However, there is a lack of knowledge about their impact on riverine fish stocks. To provide reliable estimates of turbine-related fish mortality across fish species and turbine types, the researchers have compiled and analyzed a global dataset of more than 275,000 individual fish from 75 species.

Mortality data were retrieved from field-based assessments at 122 hydropower sites of varying sizes in 15 countries worldwide. Analyzed turbine types included Kaplan, Francis, and Very-Lowhead (VLH) turbines, as well as Archimedean screws and water wheels. "Turbine-related fish mortality has generally been studied before, but mostly at single sites. Our study now provides a large, global-scale analysis, considering a wide range of fish species and turbine types. This makes such a dataset and its evaluation so unique and meaningful," explained IGB researcher Dr. Johannes Radinger, the study's lead author.

Risk depends on fish length, species and the turbines installed

Turbine-related mortality is especially critical for migratory fish species, such as salmon, sturgeons or eels, for which entire cohorts of juveniles or spawners need to migrate downstream to the sea to fulfill their life cycle thereby potentially passing turbines. But also, populations of so-called potamodromous fish (e.g. barbel, nase), i.e. species that migrate over long distances within the river systems might be affected. Here, it is particularly the cumulative effect of several hydropower plants that impacts migrating populations.

"While analyzing this global dataset, we paid particular attention to adequately account for uncertainties related to empirical estimates such as fish handling and methodological differences in fish sampling to ensure highest reliability and robustness of the determined mortality rates," said Radinger. The result: on average across all studies, one in five fish (22.3 percent) suffers fatal injuries when passing through a hydropower turbine.

How likely a fish gets injured or killed during turbine passage depends on its size, species, life stage, and other biological characteristics, among other factors. Generally, the odds for lethal effects increase with fish length, but also depend on the turbine type installed. Slower rotating turbines such as VLH turbines and water wheels are less harmful to fish compared with most conventional turbine types. However, the analysis also revealed a large variability in mortality rates for conventional turbine types, which is particularly interesting. There are in fact hydropower plants with turbine configurations that successfully reduce mortality rates.

Standards needed: Fish-protective turbines and functioning fish migration facilities

Fish-protective turbines with appropriate technical and operational configurations accompanied with functioning up- and downstream fish-migration facilities that successfully prevent fish from entering the turbines must become the gold standard. However, such plants are still very rare. The development of fish-protective turbines or an adjustment of common turbines should therefore be evaluated using standardized, controlled methods under realistic field conditions, the researchers recommended.

They also emphasized the relevance beyond Germany and Europe: Given the ongoing hydropower boom in particularly species-rich, large river systems, the need for globally adopting such a standard has never been higher. This is the only way to balance the needs for renewable energy with those of biodiversity protection and environmental enhancement of riverine ecosystems. The authors also explicitly pointed out that even highly fish-protective plants have negative impacts on river ecosystems related to e.g. interrupted sediment transport or alterations of the flow regime.

Datasets such as this one published on turbine-related fish mortality elucidate about associated ecological costs and thus contribute to an informed, holistic debate on hydropower sustainability. Finally, an assessment of the actual impacts of hydropower on fish population ecology and biodiversity conservation requires consideration of reliable data on the manifold threats it exerts.

Explore further Toward more fish-friendly hydropower plants

More information: Johannes Radinger et al, Evident but contextdependent mortality of fish passing hydroelectric turbines, Conservation Biology (2021). Journal information: Conservation Biology Johannes Radinger et al, Evident but contextdependent mortality of fish passing hydroelectric turbines,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13870
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The carbon stock in managed boreal forest landscapes is increasing, while it is relatively unchanged in less intensively utilized forests where carbon losses due to forest fires have instead been significant during 1990-2017, according to a new report by the International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA).

Boreal forestsalso called the Taigaare defined as forests growing in high-latitude environments where freezing temperatures occur for six to eight months of the year. They account for as much as 30% of the world's forests and cover about 10% of the global land area. As interest in these forests continue to grow around the world, this report by the International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) is of great significance.

"This first IBFRA insight process on Sustainable boreal forest management: challenges and opportunities for climate change mitigation addresses the impacts of climate change on forests, the role of forests in mitigating climate change, and the ways in which the forest sector can contribute to removing emissions from the atmosphere," notes Florian Kraxner, Agriculture, Forestry, and Ecosystem Services Research Group leader at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and IBFRA president.

Large-scale studies of how the atmospheric content of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) varies in time and space indicate that the northern forests are a CO 2 sink, in other words, they absorb more CO 2 than they emit into the atmosphere. The report, for the first time ever, presents a comparison of the development of forests' carbon stock over time in different parts of the boreal forest belt, which extends through Canada, the American Alaska, Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. The analysis, undertaken by 25 researchers from these six countries, as well as from IIASA, is based on the data that the countries involved have reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The study compared countries with relatively intensive forestry (Finland, Norway, and Sweden) with countries where forests are used less intensively (Canada and Russia), or not at all (boreal Alaska). The measure used to determine the intensity of forestry was based on the percentage of the forests' total carbon stock harvested each year. In Sweden and Finland, this amounted to 1.5%, compared with 0.9% in Norway, 0.3% in Canada's managed forests, and 0.1% in Russian forests. In countries with an established forestry sector, harvesting mainly takes place on a rotational basis with clear felling of planted forest.

The analysis indicated that the carbon stock increased in the countries with intensive forestry. At the same time, as harvests increased during the period 19902017, the carbon stock also increased by 35%, seen as an average over the entire forest landscape in the Nordic countries. In the countries with less intensive forestry, the changes were significantly smaller (a few percentage points more or less). In other words, the report does not support claims that unused forests provide a greater climate benefit.

"The countries' reports to the UNFCCC included estimates of changes in carbon stock in the soil. Our findings show that the carbon stock on mineral soils in the intensively managed boreal forests of Nordic countries is increasing twice as fast compared to the countries with less intensive forestry," explains senior IIASA researcher Dmitry Shchepashchenko, one of the study authors. "On the other hand, we found that significant carbon losses and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions occur from drained peatlands, but despite this, the Swedish forest soils are on average still a carbon sink. In Finland, where the proportion of peatlands is higher and where over 50% of the peatlands are drained, the emissions from peatland soils are of the same magnitude as the carbon sink of upland forest soils," he adds.

"One of the driving factors for the large differences in CO 2 uptake between managed and unused forests is the high growth rate in the managed forests, which are on average younger. Another is the large losses of carbon due to forest fires that occur much more frequently in less intensively managed or unmanaged forests," says IIASA emeritus research scholar Anatoly Shvidenko. "In Alaska, Canada, and Russia, an average of 0.50.6% of forest area burns each year, compared with 0.01% in Sweden, and even less in Norway and Finland. This amounts to at least 50 times more burning in less intensively managed forests."

The authors further point out that today's low fire frequency in Nordic countries is due to effective firefighting measures, motivated by the economic value of the trees. During the period 15001850, when timber was not valued in the same way, roughly 1% of the area burned each year. Among other things, fires were started to improve the grazing of cows, sheep, goats, and reindeer in the forests.

The analysis described in the report covers the period 1990 to 2017. Comparable data that go back further was unfortunately not available for some of the countries analyzed. The researchers say that one of the challenges they faced has been to compare data that had been collected in different ways and of different quality.

The report is the result of an assignment given to IBFRA during a ministerial meeting in Haparanda, Sweden, in 2018, which included six countries: Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.

Explore further Continuous cover forestry maintains carbon sinks of nutrient-rich drained peatland forests
The 3D trajectories of 4U 2206+54/BD+53 2790 and BD +53 2820  Gaia EDR3 2005418950349782272, a member of Cep OB1 association, in Galactocentric Cartesian coordinates in the past. Credit: Hambaryan et al., 2022.

European astronomers have observed a peculiar high-mass X-ray binary known as 4U 2206+54. Results of the research provide essential information regarding the origin of this system. The study was presented in a paper published January 19 on the arXiv pre-print repository.

X-ray binaries are composed of a normal star or a white dwarf transferring mass onto a compact neutron star or a black hole. Based on the mass of the companion star, astronomers divide them into low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs).

4U 2206+54 is an HMXB hosting a neutron star accreting from the wind of its companion, designated BD +53 2790, which exhibits a radial velocity modulation. Its orbital period of just 9.5 days is one of the shortest among the known HMXB systems.

With the strength of the surface characteristic magnetic field at a level of at least 20 trillion G, BD +53 2790 is assumed to be a magnetara rare, strongly magnetized neutron star. The donor star in this binary is a peculiar O9 V star with an overabundance of helium.

However, the origin of 4U 2206+54 remains unknown. Thus, in order to shed more light on this matter, a team of astronomers led by Valeri Hambaryan of the Astrophysical Institute and University Observatory Jena in Germany, has conducted a kinematic study of this HMXB.

"In order to identify the possible birthplace of 4U 2206+54 one needs to determine its possible membership to a stellar group either currently or in the past. The latter also requires to perform their trace back motion study in the Galaxy to test the concept: 4U 2206+54 and a stellar group or some of its members in the past were 'in the same place at the same time,'" the researchers wrote in the paper.

The study found that HMXB 4U 2206+54/BD+53 2790 and a star known as BD+53 2820 that is the brightest star of one of the subgroups of the Cepheus OB1 (Cep OB1) association were at the at the same place (about 11,200 light years away) some 2.8 million years ago. The researchers suppose that at this location and time, a supernova (SN) in a close massive binary took place and can be considered as the birthplace of the currently observed binary.

Furthermore, the studied HMXB is currently at a distance of approximately 10,100 light years and has a space velocity of 75100 km/s with respect to BD+53 2820. These parameters suggest that the progenitor of the neutron star hosted by 4U 2206+54 lost some 4 to 9 solar masses during the supernova explosion and the neutron star of this binary received a kick velocity of about 200350 km/s. The researchers estimate that the progenitor's initial mass was at a level of at least 32 solar masses.

"Our analysis of motion shows that 4U 2206+54 originates in the OB association Cep OB1, from which it escaped about 2.80.4 Myr ago due to the SN of 4U 2206+54's progenitor," the authors of the paper concluded.

More information: V. Hambaryan et al, The origin of the high-mass X-ray binary 4U 2206+54/BD +53 2790. arXiv:2201.07770v1 [astro-ph.SR], V. Hambaryan et al, The origin of the high-mass X-ray binary 4U 2206+54/BD +53 2790. arXiv:2201.07770v1 [astro-ph.SR], arxiv.org/abs/2201.07770

 2022 Science X Network
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Sara Bogard halted her dog as the two began descending the cliff down to Manchester Beach, along the Mendocino coast.

Below, scores of dead and dying birds littered the beach as far as she could see.

"The smell hit me first," said Bogard, describing the musty odor of northern fulmars scattered along the beach that mid-December morning. The smell, she recalled, was "kind of like a grandmother's closet."

What beached these offshore birds is still not known. Researchers and veterinarians who examined themboth the injured and deadsay they tended to be young and emaciated. Many had lesions on their feet, which veterinarians have identified as a papillomavirusfrom the same viral family that gives humans warts but is unique to northern fulmars.

"We don't know if it's the virus that is making these birds sick, or if it's these birds' poor condition that's allowing the virus to bloom," said Rebecca Duerr, a veterinarian for the International Bird Rescue organization, which has rehab facilities in San Pedro and Fairfield.

Resembling gulls to the untrained eye, northern fulmars are a subarctic species that spend most of their life at sea. In the summer months, they congregate on rocky outcroppings in Arctic waters and the northern Bering Sea, where they breed, lay eggs and raise their young as these frigid waters teem with nutritious preysquid, fish and crustaceans.

For the remainder of the year, the birds stay offshoreoften hugging close to fishing and whaling shipslooking for food on the surface of the ocean.

Over the last half-decade, scientists have documented unprecedented die-offs of birds, marine mammals and other creatures in the northern waters where fulmars breed each year, as The Times reported in December. Researchers say the marine food web of the Arctic and sub-Arctic has been drastically altered, possibly because of climate change that has melted ice sheets and warmed the ecosystems of this vast region.

Whether this environmental shift is contributing to the strandings of young fulmars in California is unclear, said Duerr and Corinne Gibble, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Seabird Health Program. What is known is that the last two years have been particularly lethal for these seabirds.

In 2020, International Bird Rescue and other groups recovered 251 fulmars from the California shoreline, and 262 last year. That compares with just 44 in 2019, according to Duerr and Devin Dombrowski, with the Wildlife Rescue Medical Database.

"It's not like 2003 when more than 10,000 beached along the California coast," Duerr said. "But it's definitely more than we usually see."

In mid-January, some 28 northern fulmars could be seen convalescing at the bird rescue's facility in Fairfield, northeast of San Francisco. The distinctly scented birds floated and swam in salt water pools erected outside the facility, as rehabilitating gulls and other birds flew back and forth in a large, netted aviary nearby. One gray fulmar seemed to relish the water pouring out of an out-flow tubeswimming right up to the waterfall and then scampering aside, only to repeat.

Northern fulmars are of particular interest to ornithologists because of their longevity and biology. The average lifespan for these birds is more than 30 years, but researchers have observed birds older than 50 breeding and nesting. They mate for life and begin breeding unusually late in life for a bird, at 8 to 10 years old, producing only one egg per year. Even then, if the conditions aren't goodif there isn't enough foodthey may forgo egg production.

Although often mistaken for gulls, northern fulmars have stiff wings and nostril tubes on their bills, marking them as petrels and albatrosses. While largely surface feeders, they have a powerful sense of smell and can dive 10 feet deep to find food or escape predators.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's most recent report of the breeding status and populations trends of Alaskan seabirds, populations of northern fulmars in the North Pacific have been generally declining or stable, with one exception: The colony on St. George's Island in the central Bering Sea appears to be growing.

But according to Kathy Kuletz, a bird expert with the Fish and Wildlife Service, it's difficult to assess the overall condition of fulmars because of limited access to their colonies in the last two years.

Because of the pandemic, the Fish and Wildlife Service conducted no fieldwork in 2020 and only a limited amount in 2021, with no report forthcoming, she said.

Although it is not yet clear that changes in the Arctic are a contributing factor, it is clear that young birds often have a harder time than adults securing the food they need. So it's not uncommon to find young, dead fulmars in the fallas the hatchlings try, for the fist time, to find food on their own.

Just usually not this many, said Duerr, noting that stranded fulmars have been found up and down the coast this yearas far south as San Diego and Long Beach.

The good news is that 28 birds rescued by BeachWatch volunteers on Manchester Beach have survived and gained weight, she said.

Seven were healthy enough to be released recently, and Kelly Beffa and Julie Skoglund, wildlife rescuers at International Bird Rescue, drove the young birds in the back of a minivan the roughly 60 miles from Fairfield to Doran Beach in Bodega Bay.

As kayakers paddled by, and curious beach strollers stopped to watch, the bird team released the birdstwo at a timeinto the gentle surf. The birds skippered across the small stretch of land, before opening their wings and taking flight across the bay, toward the ocean.

"It never gets old," said Skoglund, as she watched the last two take flight toward the horizon.

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Forty-four percent of American workers are employed in some of the least appealing or most dangerous jobs available, typically for low wages with little prospect for advancement. The positions have high turnover, so many employers view these jobs as expendable and put little resources into retaining these workers, creating a vicious cycle. Women, people of color, and those under 25 make up a disproportionate share of this group of workers trapped in low-wage jobs.

Amid the pandemic, the longstanding problem has worsened for employers in industries that rely on this workforcesuch as retail, hospitality, and food serviceas firms struggle to fill vacancies and retain employees. New Harvard Business School research offers a possible strategy to help businesses do well and do good. It found that if companies invested in workers and provided them training and a pathway to career advancement within the company, they'd slow the churn, improve competitiveness by keeping experienced workers and developing a more highly skilled workforce, improve staffers future job prospects, and potentially help lift millions out of poverty.

The Gazette spoke with Joseph B. Fuller '79, M.B.A. '81, co-chair of the Managing the Future of Work and the Project on Workforce at HBS, who co-authored the report with Manjari Raman, program director for Managing the Future of Work, to learn why these employees become trapped and what companies can and should do. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q&A: Joseph B. Fuller

GAZETTE: What were you hoping to better understand when you began this research?

FULLER: A large percentage of workers in the United States never succeed in developing a path that gives them economic security even though they are working. Historically, we've used phrases like "the working poor," and we've had public policy mechanisms like the Earned Income Tax Credit to try to encourage people to work. But the lack of mobility out of a low-income band is something I wanted to understand better. What are the impediments to people acquiring skills that would allow them to be more productive? Could we begin to identify the difference between people who managed to punch their way out of the low-wage trap versus people who don't?

We looked at people who started off making below 200 percent of the poverty line in the United States, or a little less than $40,000 for a household of three. Most people don't realize, but 44 percent of American workers fall into this category. We looked at workers who had escaped that group and those who hadn't. What distinguished the experience of people who had gotten a promotion or gotten a substantial wage increase versus those who hadn't? And how did employers view low-wage workers who advanced versus those who didn't? The impact of escaping the low-wage trap on someone's life is pretty material. There was a $27,000 difference in the annual earnings between those who had and those still stuck in low-wage work.

GAZETTE: What did you learn about why so many workers stay stuck in these low-wage, low-opportunity jobs despite a desire to advance?

FULLER: Where you start in the labor market, where you start accumulating experience and skills, has a pretty strong impact on how things turn out. For a lot of young workers, if you're not on a pathway that has some prospect for advancement and economic security by your mid- to late 20s, the deck will get stacked higher and higher against you. Between 18 and 24 or 25, it's very, very important that you get launched onto something that supports a decent lifestyle, family formation, economic security. Once you've got a job and start accumulating skills, the likelihood that you can get another job and accumulate more skills goes up. But if you're not employed or caught in a job that has a very low [skills] requirement, if you're frequently leaving one employer for another, either because there's a layoff or you don't like your boss or it's too hard to get to, you're continually knocked back toward the starting line. Each time you do that, it becomes that much harder to get off the low-wage carousel.

We found that the inability to accumulate new skills through work was a major factor in determining if people ended up being locked into this low-wage work trap. Once you're working, the notion that you're going to go to night school, do Harvard X, whatever, to upgrade your skills is pretty implausible. It's not a null set, but Horatio Alger stories are few and far between. We should celebrate them, but it's unrealistic to rely on heroic expressions of self-efficacy to address the challenge of upward mobility. If you're working for low wages, you probably rely on somewhat inefficient transportation, probably have a fairly long commute. Low-wage workers skew female, skew having caregiving obligations, so these are people working hard to make ends meet. Between fatigue, and other obligations, if they don't have an easily accessible way to augment their skills, which means through work, the avenues for them to acquire skills to be considered for advancement are really constrained.

This was a surprising finding: A lot of people who progressed shifted industries. They gained some basic work experience and used that as a springboard. We don't know if it's strictly sectoral, but a change in employers was often correlated with moving forward. Whether that's better skills matchingthey moved to an industry that's a better fit for their skills or to an industry that was more willing to invest in peopleor once they demonstrated the basic competence, a new employer then was prepared to make a bet on them. We don't know entirely what explains this phenomenon, but 85 percent of the people who had escaped the low-wage trap had switched industries.

GAZETTE: What are the most common barriers to advancement these workers face?

FULLER: There is no pathway, there's no program available through work that allows them to demonstrate their capabilities or to develop skills required to be considered for advancement. Either the mechanism isn't in place or access is limitedthe hours required, or the timing or location of the training, or there are out-of-pocket costs. Workers are also very nervous about making their own choices about what they should do to advance. Many want some input or direction from their employerwhat should I learn and where should I learn it?

Another big barrier is lacking someone who's taken active interest in that worker's progression. Someone in a position of greater authority, a direct supervisor who says, "You're a hard worker. Let's talk about what your ambitions are. Here are the two or three things that, if you could do them, you might get a higher-paying job in the operation." A big issue for a lot of low-wage workers is soft or social skills. It's easier to verify technical or hard skillsthey can either run that machine or they can't. But what's their capacity to deal with strangers or to work in teams with others who are unfamiliar to them? How good is their spontaneous written and oral communication? Those are skills for which there isn't a lot of training available. The absence of such skills is very often a significant barrier to advancement.

Life circumstances and the resources that a worker can bring to bear also represent big barriers. That resource could be their time. If you're leaving your toddler with your parents or a friend down the hall, you're constrained by the caregiver's schedule. And, obviously, a universal issue is the lack of financial resources.

A lack of confidence is another barrier. How do I know what I should do? Am I going to be good at that? That is why work-based learning is such an important part of the solution. Most learning and training in the United States is through school settings and a considerable number of people are intimidated by schoolthey weren't good at it, they didn't enjoy it, they're skeptical that it's going to give them anything that employers will actually value. Upskilling and reskilling is sometimes as much inhibited by the concerns and anxieties of workers as it is by structural factors.

GAZETTE: The report found a pretty wide gap between employer perceptions of how they treat their workers and the obstacles to advancement workers face versus what the workers say about these things. How much of a problem is that?

FULLER: A very important finding, and a bit of a surprise, is the disconnect inside companies, particularly larger companies, between the understanding of senior executives about what's going on, and what's happening on the shop floor. Senior management give themselves pretty high marks. They do not have any doubt that they're doing the appropriate things for their industry, appropriate for their size, for their workforce. That they're doing the right things in the right way. But many are making a classic managerial mistake. They're assuming because they established a policy and announced a plan, because they have binders on desks and posters in the cafeteria, that those policies are being implemented in a way that's consistent with their strategy and intentions.

When you go down another couple of ranks in management, that certainty becomes, "Well, we're trying. It doesn't get implemented universally as much as we'd like. It's harder than it seems." When you get down to the frontline supervisorsthe foreman, the branch manager, the store manager, and the shift supervisorwho are responsible for executing a lot of these policies, their evaluation of how frequent and detailed feedback is or how easy it is for workers to access advancement opportunities is a lot closer to reality than the chief human resources officer or the chief executive officer. In fact, the frontline supervisors' evaluation of the support offered to low-wage workers is very close to that of the workers themselves. That's hardly a surprise; they work together. But the disconnect between the senior management's impressions and the reality reported by the supervisors is huge. So, there's a big "walking the talk" issue that leads to frustration on a lot of people's parts.

GAZETTE: Employers do seem to recognize that there are huge financial and organizational costs to this churn and that it's hard to find skilled workers to fill jobs, and yet they're not ensuring their own workers get that training or education. Why not?

FULLER: The entire system is essentially predicated on the idea that eye-watering rates of turnover are inevitable. The lowest rate of turnover reported by the industries we studied was 50 percent per year. And that has all sorts of impacts. You have to design the job to be very simple because you're bringing somebody in with no experience and trying to get them productive fast. The United States has proven in recent decades to be a very good at creating large numbers of people with fairly limited job market-relevant skills.

Employers have this attitude that the cost of inertia is zero and that anything beyond what they do today is a "new cost." Many employers seem to think, "The only people I can attract for this job are basic workers, and it's not worth it to invest in them because maybe they're going to go to a different employer who can pay them better after I paid for their training." Our data doesn't support that. What it strongly suggests is that workers will be more loyal to employers who invest in creating opportunities for them, more engaged in their work. Their relationship with that employer will be stickier. Even though they've learned this new skill and could go somewhere else for higher wages, there are other considerations like, "These people have been good to me. I have more friends here. I feel confident that I know what I'm doing." And they're gratified when their supervisor says, "I'm so proud you did that. Let's talk about a next step." People tend to think of workplaces as economic contexts, and they are actually sociological contexts.

Employers are going to be facing a constrained supply of workers indefinitely. Isn't it smarter to invest in who you've got and give them upward mobility? A significant majority of the workers we polled, 74 percent, said they'd rather stay where they're working today if there were opportunities for advancement. Make that possible for them. Start slowing down this turnover carousel and build more permanence in your labor force. That's way better than going out and looking to replace half the people in your workforce every year.

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
Two trapped ions (in blue) are selected by optical tweezers (in red). A quantum gate between the ions can be implemented using electric fields. Credit: University of Amsterdam

Physicists from the University of Amsterdam have proposed a new architecture for a scalable quantum computer. Making use of the collective motion of the constituent particles, they were able to construct new building blocks for quantum computing that pose fewer technical difficulties than current state-of-the art methods. The results were recently published in Physical Review Letters.

The researchers work at QuSoft and the Institute of Physics in the groups of Rene Gerritsma and Arghavan Safavi-Naini. The effort, which was led by the Ph.D. candidate Matteo Mazzanti, combines two important ingredients. One is a so-called trapped-ion platform, one of the most promising candidates for quantum computing that makes use of ionsatoms that have either a surplus or a shortage of electrons and as a result are electrically charged. The other is the use of a clever method to control the ions supplied by optical tweezers and oscillating electric fields.

As the name suggests, trapped-ion quantum computers use a crystal of trapped ions. These ions can move individually, but more importantly, also as a whole. As it turns out, the possible collective motions of the ions facilitate the interactions between individual pairs of ions. In the proposal, this idea is made concrete by applying a uniform electric field to the whole crystal, in order to mediate interactions between two specific ions in that crystal. The two ions are selected by applying tweezer potentials on themsee the image above. The homogeneity of the electric field assures that it will only allow the two ions to move together with all other ions in the crystal. As a result, the interaction strength between the two selected ions is fixed, regardless of how far apart the two ions are.

A quantum computer consists of 'gates,' small computational building blocks that perform quantum analogs of operations like 'and' and 'or' that we know from ordinary computers. In trapped-ion quantum computers, these gates act on the ions, and their operation depends on the interactions between these particles. In the above setup, the fact that those interactions do not depend on the distance means that also the duration of operation of a gate is independent of that distance. As a result, this scheme for quantum computing is inherently scalable, and compared to other state-of-the-art quantum computing schemes poses fewer technical challenges for achieving comparably well-operating quantum computers.

Explore further Speeding-up quantum computing using giant atomic ions

More information: M. Mazzanti et al, Trapped Ion Quantum Computing Using Optical Tweezers and Electric Fields, Physical Review Letters (2021). Journal information: Physical Review Letters M. Mazzanti et al, Trapped Ion Quantum Computing Using Optical Tweezers and Electric Fields,(2021). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.260502
Coptic receipt, issued by a man called Tiberius (likely 6th century). Credit: University of Tubingen

Egyptologists have recovered more than 18,000 inscribed sherds in ancient Athribisthe remains of vessels and jars that served as writing material some 2,000 years ago. The sherds, known as ostraca, document lists of names, purchases of food and everyday objects, and even writing from a school, including lines written by pupils as a punishment. It is very rare to find such a large volume of ostraca. They were recovered during excavations led by Professor Christian Leitz of the Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES) at the University of Tubingen in cooperation with Mohamed Abdelbadia and his team from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

In ancient times, ostraca were used in large quantities as writing material, inscribed with ink and a reed or hollow stick (calamus). Such a large quantity of finds has only been made once before in Egypt, in the workers' settlement of Deir el-Medineh, near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. The ostraca now recovered provide a variety of insights into the everyday life of the ancient settlement of Athribis, nearly 200 kilometers north of Luxor.

Around 80 percent of the pot sherds are inscribed in Demotic, the common administrative script in the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, which developed from Hieratic after 600 BC. Among the second most common finds are ostraca with Greek script, but the team also came across inscriptions in Hieratic, hieroglyphic andmore rarelyCoptic and Arabic script.

They also discovered pictorial ostracaa special category, says Christian Leitz. "These sherds show various figurative representations, including animals such as scorpions and swallows, humans, gods from the nearby temple, even geometric figures."

Receipt for bread in Demotic. The loaves are distributed in multiples of 5 (often 5, sometimes 10 or 20). Many of the buyers are women. (Late Ptolemaic or early Roman period). Credit: University of Tubingen

Naughty pupils had to write lines - hundreds of these tablets were found, with the same symbol usually written on both front and back. Credit: University of Tubingen

Fragment of a school text with a bird alphabet in Hieratic. On the right, the name of the bird, and on the left, the numbers from 5 to 8, which reflect the position of the letters in the list. (Late Ptolemaic or early Roman period). Credit: University of Tubingen

Childs drawing. Credit: University of Tubingen

The contents of the ostraca vary from lists of various names to accounts of different foods and items of daily use. A surprisingly large number of sherds could be assigned to an ancient school, the research team said. "There are lists of months, numbers, arithmetic problems, grammar exercises and a 'bird alphabet'each letter was assigned a bird whose name began with that letter." A three-digit number of ostraca also contain writing exercises that the team classifies as punishment: The sherds are inscribed with the same one or two characters each time, both on the front and back.

Credit: University of Tubingen

Tubingen Egyptologists have been working in Athribis since 2003, and since 2005 as part of a 15-year research project funded by the German Research Foundation. The aim was to uncover and publish a large temple built by Ptolemy XII, the father of the famous Cleopatra VII. This project has now been completed and the temple is open to visitors. The sanctuary was built about 2000 years ago for the lion goddess Repit and her consort Min, and was converted into a nunnery after pagan cults were banned in 380 AD. Since spring 2018, excavations have been under way west of the temple at another sanctuary, and the team have come across the numerous ostraca in the rubble. The excavations are ongoing.

Credit: University of Tubingen

Excavation director Marcus Muller faces increasingly challenging tasks on site as the depth increases. In the west of the excavation area, multi-story buildings with staircases and vaults are now coming to light; the rest of the area has filled in with rubble over the centuries. The analysis of the ostraca by an international team, mostly from France and Germany, is coordinated by Sandra Lippert, head of research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in Paris. The pictographic ostraca are being investigated by Carolina Teotino at the University of Tubingen.

Explore further Advanced imaging reveals ancient inscriptions on 2,000-year-old pottery

More information: Project Website: Project Website: www.athribis.uni-tuebingen.de/
U of A assistant professor Emily Grises expertise in transit planning was key to a first-in-Canada report examining how women use public transit. Credit: John Ulan

The first report of its kind in Canada to examine how women use public transit suggests their travel needs aren't always being met by standard planning and service models.

"In a lot of transit agencies, women are the majority of riders," explained Priyanka Babbar, a master's student in the University of Alberta's School of Urban and Regional Planning.

The report involved reviews of academic literature as well as policy materials from 18 public transit systems in Canada's largest metropolitan areas.

A major issue the authors identified was a lack of gender-specific data to inform policy and planning. "When data doesn't consider women specifically, we tend to have white men as the default in a lot of our systems," said Babbar, who served as research assistant on the project to lead author Emily Grise, assistant professor in the Faculty of Science and consultant with the Edmonton Transit Service.

A grant from Infrastructure Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council sparked a collaboration between Grise, Leading Mobility and Polytechnique Montreal.

David Cooper, a principal at Leading Mobility who was responsible for compiling Canada's COVID-19 National Transit Recovery Strategy, said the existing gender-neutral approach to transit planning means decisions about transit services are often made in ways that can disproportionately affect women because the situation is considered heavily from a budgetary and ridership perspective.

"[The gender-neutral approach] looked at ridership as a wholeeveryone was one group, which is a very numeric way of looking at things," said Cooper.

The report showed that women had distinct patterns of behavior on transit: Off-peak and midday travel, short stops on trips to and from work, short-distance trips and a higher frequency of trips. This wasn't served effectively by the standard transit services and planning.

"If we don't provide a service that meets your needs, we hinder your ability to live day-to-day life," said Cooper. "If you don't have a functioning transit service for those who need it, there are so many knock-on effects down the road."

Edmonton moving in the right direction

According to Cooper, Edmonton is already taking a step in the right direction to meet the needs for off-peak travel, a higher frequency of trips and more localized trips thanks to the recently redesigned bus network, which provides a higher level of service throughout the day.

"When you start doing things like that, you improve transit for women, but you also improve transit for everyone else," he said, adding that ETS was the only one of the 18 agencies reviewed that conducts gender-based analysis in its city council reporting on transit planning. "Edmonton is ahead of the pack on this one."

Babbar said it's important to seek out data and information on women's specific travel behavior.

"If we can pinpoint where, when and how a majority of users, women, are traveling, then we can help a majority of users."

She noted that collecting more gender-specific data could involve something as simple as riders filling in their gender when they register for electronic fare payment services like Edmonton's Arc card.

"Then, every time we scan, we know what times of the day women are traveling, how long their routes are, to which destinations they're most likely to travelso just a simple user setup could provide lots of data."

There's also a clear precedent within the transit sphere for how to translate data and knowledge from academic research into meaningful policy and practice changes, Babbar said.

"A lot of literature focused on women's safety and security on transit and on harassment," she said. "From that research, we've seen transit agencies have more security guards, more lighting, helplines to call, so that research-to-practice path is there. We can now use it for other aspects of travel, too.

"We are in a great place of opportunity," she added. "Gender conversations are starting to happen more and more, so if we keep this fire underneath us and keep these conversations going, a lot of progress can be made really quickly."

Explore further Impact of COVID-19 behavioral inertia on reopening strategies for New York City transit

More information: The report is available as a PDF at The report is available as a PDF at static1.squarespace.com/static  7247/finalreport.pdf
The spread of white nose syndrome, which has killed millions of bats, is having an impact on agricultural practicesand potentially on human health. Credit: Paige Cody on Unsplash

What happens if you reintroduce wolves into certain areas? Or if bats become ill, and their population declines? How does climate change affect a particular speciesand what does that mean for human well-being?

Eyal Frank tries to answer these questions with his work at the intersection of ecology and economics. An assistant professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, he uses natural experiments from ecology and policyas well as other techniquesto estimate different pieces of the complex puzzle regarding the social cost of biodiversity losses.

Frank joined Harris School of Public Policy and the Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) in 2018. In the following Q&A, he discusses the unexpected ways that animals can impact our livesfrom the likelihood of car collisions, to changes in housing prices.

How would you explain your research?

My work is at the intersection of economics and environment, and specifically ecology. For years, I've seen academic paper after academic paper about the loss of species, and the fact that biological diversity was in freefall. Yet I wanted to see numbers attached; I wanted to know and be able to quantify the economic repercussions of ecological events. And I realized that, for the most part, those numbers didn't exist. My research seeks to fill that gap.

Using causal inference methods is not just going to matter to people who really care about panda bears and those who are dedicated watches of shows like Planet Earth; generating insights on ecology and economics has repercussions for work productivity, for agriculture, for energy use, and for much more. And it's creating a way in which social scientists can understand what ecologists are worried about, using the best of applied methods.

Tell us how bats play into this.

One day I was reading an article about white nose syndrome, which has killed millions of bats. It's important to realize that bats are incredibly important, in an ecological sense: They are powerful pollinators and important pest control agents. Ecologists acknowledge that they're vitally important, but how important are they? For obvious reasons, no review board would ever sign off on a study that randomly killed bats in order to quantify how significant they were ecologically. Yet, I realized that a natural experiment was taking place as a result of the effects of white nose syndrome.

I decided to combine different data sets that allowed me to test a key prediction in environmental economics. I found that in areas that experienced a decrease in the population of bats, farmers started using more insecticides to compensate for the reduction in biological pest control. Research since Rachel Carson's 1962 classic "Silent Spring" shows that insecticides have negative effectsincluding on infant mortality rates. So now, we can see that bats are a meaningful part of the ecosystemand we can see the important effects of not having them around.

Like bats, wolves have some terrible PR as well.

We've been looking at data from the United States on the effects of a program to reintroduce wolves into certain areas. We know that there are trade-offs: Wolves have an adverse effect on livestock, for instance, which is bad. But, on the other hand, wolves help reduce the deer population, and they deter deer from roadsides, which reduces collisions with automobiles. We're looking into using the tools of economics to try to quantify these trade-offs.

What is climate change's role in all of this?

Climate change has a big role to play, and some of my work measures that role. Let's look at the moth, L. dispar, for instance. (It was previously known by the common name "gypsy moth"; however, that name is no longer in use because it is a derogatory term.)

The moth contributes to defoliation, and there are natural boom and bust cycles. There's a fungus that keeps the moth population in check, but climate change threatens to slide the scales in favor of the moth. What will that mean?

Well, we evaluated areas that have had great outbreaks in the moth population. Using detailed defoliation maps, we estimated that housing prices decreased by 25% near defoliated areas. So, you can start to see the connectionin unexpected waysbetween climate change and people's lives.

Can you leave us with some final words?

We've done a great deal of researchnot just into bats, wolves, and gypsy moths, but also vultures and feral dogs, insects that are resistant to insecticides, and much more. The topics may seem peculiar, but I hope that my research can lead to a greater understanding of just how important ecology and wildlife arenot just for conservationists, but for all of us.

Oh, and I do hope you enjoy "The Invisible Mammal," a documentary coming out next year, which I look forward to appearing in.

Explore further High water loss during hibernation may leave bats vulnerable to population declines
Researchers in Professor Jose Avalos's lab, including graduate student Jeremy Cortez, created a new way to sort yeast strains for making biofuels. The tool breaks open a critical bottleneck, making the genetic selection process thousands of times faster and supercharging the development of advanced biofuels to help curb global greenhouse gas emissions. Credit: Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Deploying a technique that promises to supercharge the development of biofuels, researchers at Princeton University have found a way to make yeast cultures glow when producing next generation fuels that could power cars and airplanes.

The glowing cultures address a major challenge that has slowed biofuel production: developing yeast strains that produce valuable chemicals and separating them from less productive strains of yeast. Before the development of this new technique, evaluating the performance of yeast was a slow, laborious process. Researchers had to grow separate yeast strains and independently evaluate each strain's ability to produce fuel and other chemicals. This process could take days for each strain.

"The way we'd have to find better strains would be to take a few colonies, grow them overnight in cultures, and then start a fermentation process that would take between 24 and 48 hours," said lead researcher Jose Avalos, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering. "Now, we're measuring hundreds of thousands of strains per minute. This is a several-orders-of-magnitude faster way to identify better strains."

In a paper published Jan. 12 in Nature Communications, Avalos's team described how they developed the biosensor for production of the biofuels isobutanol and isopentanol in yeast. Both are alcohols with a higher energy content than ethanol, which is the dominant biofuel now used in the United States. Like ethanol, isobutanol and isopentanol are produced by Brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), a single-celled fungus commonly used in making bread, beer and other alcoholic beverages. However, these advanced biofuels have much higher compatibility with existing gasoline infrastructure, allowing them to replace more fossil fuel, and can easily be upgraded to jet fuel.

"Scientists, engineers and regulators are still examining them, but these alcohols could be completely compatible with our current gasoline infrastructure," said Avalos, the paper's senior author. "Most cars couldn't use gasoline with ethanol concentrations higher than 10 or 15 percent. However, they could use gasoline with much higher concentrations of isobutanol. So that means you could replace more gasoline with these advanced fuels."

The current research began with the challenge of speeding up the development of yeast strains for isobutanol and isopentanol production. The rate at which scientists can introduce genetic diversity in yeast greatly outpaces the rate at which they can screen each strain to find those with increased biofuel production. Researchers thus had to figure out which genes to turn on or off and what enzymes or proteins were beneficial to the process using very slow, laborious and expensive methods.

"There are millions of ways to try this until you finally find the best way that works," said Jeremy Cortez, a graduate student in molecular biology and one of the paper's authors. "It would be great if we could just tap into the celllisten to the metabolic 'talks' the various components within the cell are having among themselvesand have the biosensor tell us it's making a lot of the product, rather than having us go through these long procedures."

The researchers accomplished this by genetically engineering the cells to produce a fluorescent protein when they were making chemicals for biofuels. Scientists could then use the fluorescence as a sensor to look for production.

"We essentially harnessed this transcription factor so that when the cell is producing more biofuel, it also turns on production of a fluorescent protein," said Avalos. "It's doing what it normally does, but now we can see the cell respond to enhanced metabolic activity. We are no longer blind."

Ultimately, use of the biosensor provided the researchers the breakthrough they were looking for, one that could hasten the production of advanced biofuels and possibly help phase out the use of carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

Avalos said that biofuels can serve as a critical step as the world moves to lower carbon energy. He noted that it will be extremely difficult to electrify cars fast enough to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Also, aircraft and some other transportation modes are hard to electrify. Isobutanol can also be used to make jet fuel with a lower carbon footprint.

"The gap between how quickly we need to eliminate fossil fuels and how quickly we can electrify our fleets can be filled with biofuels," Avalos said. "Indeed, it must be done with biofuels if we hope to meet this target."

This theme of urgency is echoed by Cortez. "Climate change is happening," he said. "If biosensors can save us time, which they do, then that's the best outcome."

More information: Yanfei Zhang et al, Biosensor for branched-chain amino acid metabolism in yeast and applications in isobutanol and isopentanol production, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Yanfei Zhang et al, Biosensor for branched-chain amino acid metabolism in yeast and applications in isobutanol and isopentanol production,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27852-x
Warren County would be split into separate congressional districts under a new redistricting plan that the state Senate and Assembly are expected to vote on later this week.

Under the plan that a legislative map drawing committee released Sunday, Glens Falls and Queensbury would be drawn into a reconfigured congressional district in which U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, is the incumbent.

Moreau, Wilton and Saratoga Springs, among other Saratoga County municipalities, also would be in the district.

The rest of Warren County and all of Washington, Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties would be drawn into a reconfigured congressional district in which Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is the incumbent.

The reconfigured district would add communities to the south and southwest of the district that Stefanik currently represents and lose some communities to the northwest.

The district would lose Watertown, but would retain Antwerp and Philadelphia, two of the towns that border Fort Drum.

In Saratoga County, the town of Saratoga, Stefaniks hometown, and the towns of Day, Corinth, Edinburg and Hadley would be in the reconfigured district.

In the proposed split of Warren County, northern towns would be in a common congressional district with rural towns in the Adirondack Park.

Queensbury, partially in the Adirondack Park but more suburban in character, would be part of a congressional district that includes nine small cities in the Capital Region Council of the states economic development program: Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, Albany, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Troy, Cohoes, Watervliet and Mechanicville.

Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynn Boecher has said that she has been urging legislators to draw Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs into common congressional, state Senate and Assembly districts because they share common interests as small cities that are being revitalized.

The redistricting plan possibly could shake up the field in the four-way primary for the Democratic nomination to challenge Stefanik.

Two of the Democratic candidates, Matt Castelli and Ezra Watson, live in Wilton, which would be outside the district where Stefanik would be the incumbent.

Candidates, however, do not have to live in the district to run, only to live in the district when taking office.

The other two Democratic candidates are Bridie Farrell of North River and Matt Putorti of Whitehall.

If the plan passes the Senate and Assembly, is signed into law and withstands any legal challenges, candidates would run in the new districts in November.

Congressional district boundaries are redrawn every 10 years, based on the latest census.

The state Legislature took over the redistricting process after it rejected two proposals that the states Independent Redistricting Commission proposed.

One plan was drawn by Democratic members of the commission, and the other plan by Republican members of the commission.

After the plans were rejected, commission members said they were not able to reach agreement on a consensus plan.

The legislative map drawing committee is expected to release a proposed plan for new state Senate and Assembly Districts later this week.

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The four-member redistricting commission for Atlantic County, charged with changing voting districts for county commissioner seats in response to the results of the 2020 Census, will seek a fifth tiebreaking member.

The commission voted to do so at its first meeting last week.

Made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, the commission will determine boundaries for Atlantic Countys five voting districts.

Democratic county Chairman Michael Suleiman and Republican Chairman Keith Davis, each of whom are on the commission, will meet Tuesday with lists of acceptable names to see if they can agree on an independent addition.

Atlantic County is one of just three counties in the state that have voting districts for county office. The others are Essex and Hudson counties. All others elect their county commissioners at large, Suleiman said.

Suleiman and Davis said they will, on Thursday, send a letter to State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, asking him to appoint a fifth member  either someone they agree on or someone he appoints.

Davis said only Districts 2 and 3 need to be redrawn, as their populations have changed so much since the last Census in 2010. District 2, covering the Mainland communities of Somers Point, Linwood and Northfield as well as Longport, Ventnor and Margate, has lost population and so needs its territory enlarged.

And District 3, covering Hamilton Township and part of Egg Harbor Township, has grown too big in population so must give up some territory.

Davis, who said he would have preferred to try to agree on a new map without a fifth person involved, asked the Democrats to promise to leave District 1 intact. District 1, covering Atlantic City, Pleasantville and part of Egg Harbor Township, is a majority minority district and has an African American commissioner.

But Suleiman would not commit to that, saying all districts should be looked at to come up with a new map that will be used for a decade.

Pleasantville lawyer Jonathan Diego said during public comment he believes the commission should consider making changes to District 2 to better accommodate the growing Hispanic population in Pleasantville and give it a chance to elect representation. That would require also making changes to District 1, which now holds all of Pleasantville.

Polistina to continue judicial review

Senator Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, said last week he will continue a review committee established by former Senator Chris Brown and the Atlantic County Bar Association to help with review and recommendation of judicial candidates in Atlantic County.

We will continue to look for candidates that have undisputed integrity, a high degree of knowledge of established legal principles and procedures, an appropriate judicial temperament, and a record of service to their community, Polistina said.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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TRENTON  Another local state senator is now on board with eliminating smoking in Atlantic Citys casinos.

Senator Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, announced he is co-sponsor for a bipartisan bill that would eliminate whats often described as a loophole to New Jerseys indoor smoking ban, which permits it inside Atlantic City casinos.

Testa is the second Republican to become a sponsor.

Casino workers should have the same right to work in a safe and healthy environment as any other worker in our state, Testa said in a statement Monday.

While lawmakers are working to end smoking, the Casino Association of New Jersey has argued that doing so would turn away customers.

Banning smoking completely and permanently would have long-term financial implications for the industry and the region, placing Atlantic City casinos at a competitive disadvantage with Pennsylvania casinos where smoking is permitted, said Joe Lupo, president of the association and of the Hard Rock casino. A decline in our customer base would also cause economic hardship to a large portion of the 20,000 employees who rely on the tips and customer volume that our industry provides.

He noted that the land-based casino industry in Atlantic City saw its revenue dip to 5% below the levels of 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic hit, indicating it has not yet overcome the challenges posed by the virus.

Any policy changes that will result in decreased visitation, job loss and additional economic harm to our region should be the last thing we consider as the industry works diligently to rebuild and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Testa is the second local state lawmaker this month to support the move and sponsor the bill.

Earlier, state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, became the first Republican co-sponsor after what he said was time that we prioritize the workers health over there.

Hundreds of city casino workers are angry the bill wasnt sent to Gov. Phil Murphys desk before the end of the year. Murphy has previously said he would sign a bill to ban casino smoking.

We thank Sen. Testa for co-sponsoring this bipartisan legislation after meeting with us and hearing our concerns about our health, said Nicole Vitola, co-leader of Casino Employees Against Smokings Effects (CEASE). We have support from Republicans and Democrats, as well as legislators across New Jersey, because they recognize that its wrong to treat us differently than every other worker in our state. Senator Testa understands the urgency of our fight and we are grateful that he is joining us to get this bill across the finish line.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who three years ago placed a moratorium on executions, now is moving to dismantle the United States' largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons within two years.

The goal is to turn the section at San Quentin State Prison into a "positive, healing environment." Newsom said Monday it's an outgrowth of his opposition to what he believes is a deeply flawed system, one that "gets my blood boiling."

The prospect of your ending up on death row has more to do with your wealth and race than it does your guilt or innocence, he said. We talk about justice, we preach justice, but as a nation, we dont practice it on death row.

California, which last carried out an execution in 2006, is one of 28 states that maintain death rows, along with the U.S. government, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. While other states like Illinois have abolished executions, California is merging its condemned inmates into the general prison population with no expectation that any will face execution anytime in the near future.

"We are starting the process of closing death row to repurpose and transform the current housing units into something innovative and anchored in rehabilitation," corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters told The Associated Press.

Oregon similarly transferred its much smaller condemned population to other inmate housing two years ago.

Newsom, a Democrat, imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019 and shut down the state's execution chamber at San Quentin, north of San Francisco. Now his administration is turning on its head a 2016 voter-approved initiative intended to expedite executions by capitalizing on one provision that allowed inmates to be moved off death row.

"The underlying motive of the administration is to mainstream as many of these condemned murderers as possible," said Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which backed the initiative. "Our objective was to speed up the process."

He added he doesn't think victims are happy with the administration's decision.

"They're moving condemned murderers into facilities that are going to make their lives better and offer them more amenities, while the victims still mourn the death of their family member," Rushford said.

Corrections officials began a voluntary two-year pilot program in January 2020 that as of Friday had moved 116 of the state's 673 condemned male inmates to one of seven other prisons that have maximum security facilities and are surrounded by lethal electrified fences.

They intend to submit permanent proposed regulations within weeks that would make the transfers mandatory and "allow for the repurposing of all death row housing units," Waters said.

The ballot measure approved six years ago also required condemned inmates to participate in prison jobs, with 70% of the money going for restitution to their victims, and corrections officials said that's their goal with the transfers. By the end of last year, more than $49,000 in restitution had been collected under the pilot program.

Newsom's proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 seeks $1.5 million to find new uses for the vacant condemned housing.

It notes that death row and its supporting activities are in the same area as facilities used for rehabilitation programs for medium-security San Quentin inmates. The money would be used to hire a consultant to "develop options for (the) space focused on creating a positive, healing environment to provide increased rehabilitative, educational and health care opportunities."

San Quentin's never-used $853,000 execution chamber is in a separate area of the prison, and there are no plans to "repurpose" that area, Waters said.

California voters supported the death penalty in 2012 and 2016, though legislative opponents have said they hope to put the issue before voters again in coming years. An advisory panel to Newsom and lawmakers, the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code, in November became the latest to recommend repealing the death penalty, calling it "beyond repair."
For most people, veterinarians are the physicians for their dogs and cats. Vet services for pets being readily available in New Jersey, a new veterinary school in South Jersey probably looks to them like uneventful business/labor market news.

For a growing number of people in South Jersey who raise food animals, however, the announcement that Rowan University would create the states first School of Veterinary Medicine offers hope and relief that help is finally on the way.

Their need for more veterinarians is critical, according to the N.J. Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health (DAH). The situation in South Jersey is so bad, says the division, that the potential for animal disease outbreaks is high.

The U.S. shortage of veterinarians is felt practically everywhere  in 46 states, including New Jersey. Partly thats from a general trend of veterinarians choosing pet care jobs with better pay and working conditions than large animal care.

In this state, the nations most urbanized, there currently are two critical shortages in effect, says the Division of Animal Health. One is for public practice veterinarians to work statewide in food safety, public health and epidemiology. The DAH has hired and lost several veterinarians for this position over the past years. There has been a stronger demand for livestock veterinarians as the majority go into small animal practice (80%). They leave for better-paying positions as the cost of living in N.J. is high.

The other is a critical shortage in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties for private veterinarians in rural area food animal medicine.

Here retiring veterinarians for food animal clients arent being replaced. It is difficult to attract a new food animal veterinarian to the region due to veterinary school debt and a perceived lack of ability to establish enough income in this area, the division says. At the same time, there is an increasing desire of many small homesteads to raise their own food animals  particularly dairy cattle, poultry and small ruminants such as sheep and goats.

South Jerseys increasing and unmet need for food animal veterinarians has direct implications on the safety of the food supply; animal, human and environmental health; and the immediate community and the state, region, and nation, DAH says.

The states critical veterinarian shortage areas qualify for the federal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. That pays up to $25,000 each year towards educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in the veterinarian shortage situation for a period of three years.

The Rowan University School of Veterinary Medicine is expected to open in fall 2025 in the Sewell section of Mantua Township. Its graduates should help address the critical need for food animal vet services, and also the expected shortage of 15,000 veterinarians nationwide in the next two decades.

The payoff on the Legislatures investment of $75 million to construct the schools main facility looks like a sure thing for the regions public health and employment opportunities.
CHICAGO  Experts have raised questions about a formula used by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi to give homeowners a break due to pandemic-related unemployment, which a published report said resulted in some high-profile businesses and residents benefiting.

Kaegi's office used its own neighborhood projections on job loss versus relying on sale prices to determine the residential property value, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

For instance, Kaegi's office calculated that the low-income Chicago neighborhood of Greater Grand Crossing would see the same level of pandemic-related unemployment as the wealthy suburb of Winnetka. Residents of the Chicago neighborhood saw small increases in their taxes. At the same time, the newspaper analysis also showed Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who lives in a growing North Side neighborhood, benefitted with a lower tax bill.

"They took a gamble, and the gamble didn't turn out as they expected," Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a government watchdog group, told the newspaper. "A lot of the relief they gave was uneven and not where it was needed."

Kaegi's office blasted the newspaper analysis, saying it left out that more than 1.5 million residential and commercial properties "received a needed COVID adjustment during a life-threatening pandemic."

"The truth is, we issued COVID adjustments fairly, transparently, and by treating everyone equitably," Kaegi spokesman Scott Smith said in a statement emailed Sunday.

Kaegi also raised his own assessment on his Oak Park home, causing his tax bill to jump from $27,919 to $42,789.

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We have seen an appalling increase in law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty this past year. Its a tragedy that deserves much more attention than its getting. Seventy-three officers were murdered in the line of duty in 2021, the highest annual number since the 9/11 attacks, and the equivalent of one officer murdered every five days. Its heartbreaking to realize how many officers left home to protect and serve but didnt return to their loved ones.

Law enforcement officers are dealing with a wide range of threats at a time when the job is, in many ways, more dangerous than ever. Many of the officers killed last year died in ambush-style attacks. The dangers are very real.

In the area of Illinois covered by the FBIs Springfield Field Office, we lost five law enforcement officers last year in the line of duty. On May 19, Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim was shot while responding to a domestic disturbance call. On August 4, Brooklyn Police Officer Brian Pierce, Jr. was struck and killed by a fleeing vehicle. On October 26, Pontoon Beach Police Officer Tyler Timmins was shot while investigating a stolen vehicle. And in a 24-hour period from December 29-30, Wayne County Sheriffs Deputy Sean Riley was shot and killed after responding to assist a motorist, and Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic was shot while attempting to locate the owner of dogs left in a car.

The FBI too experienced loss in 2021. Miami Special Agents Laura Schwartzenberger and Daniel Alfin were killed while performing the difficult job of investigating crimes against children, and FBI Task Force Officer Greg Ferency of the Terre Haute, Indiana Police Department was ambushed and killed outside his FBI office.

Each law enforcement officer killed last year was a son or daughter, and many were mothers and fathers. All were beloved community members who sought to serve their fellow citizens. Each paid the ultimate price, giving their last full measure of selfless devotion to duty. We should also remember the scores of other law enforcement officers who were injured in the line of duty and survived, but whose lives are forever changed.

As we continue to mourn the loss of these brave law enforcement officers, we ask ourselves how we can make this tragic and senseless loss of life count for something. How can we honor their sacrificetheir braverytheir legacy? We do this by continuing the fight to keep violent criminals off our streets, and by ensuring there are resources, equipment, and training available to continue to do the work of law enforcement as safely as possible. But most importantly, we need to ensure the brave men and women in law enforcement know the communities they serve have their backs.

As we look back on 2021, lets honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting us. Lets commit to working together because we know it takes all of us to keep our communities safe.

David Nanz is the special agent in charge of the FBI's Springfield Field Office.

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A parolee from the East Moline Correctional Center, who also is a registered sex offender in Illinois, is charged with battering and severely injuring a 14-month-old child in Colona.

Rahsaan Malik Strawder, 38, of 710 4th St., Colona, is charged in Henry County Circuit Court with one count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. The charge is a Class X felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years.

According to a news release issued Friday but dated Thursday by Colona Police Chief Mike Swemline, Colona Police were notified by the Moline Police Department of an aggravated battery to a child that had occurred in Colona. Moline had initially taken the report believing that the incident had occurred in Moline.

Colona Police detectives met with investigators from Moline at the Moline Police Department. Interviews were conducted by both agencies.

A search warrant was obtained for Strawders home. The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit processed the scene.

The 14-month-old child was flown to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria with complications and was listed in critical condition at the time of the news release, Swemline said.

Strawder made a first appearance Friday in Henry County Circuit Court. He was being held Friday night in the Henry County Jail on a $1 million bond, or 10%. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 7 in circuit court.

Strawder was incarcerated in the East Moline after being convicted in 2016 of robbery and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm in Kane County, according to Illinois Department of Corrections electronic records. He was released from prison and placed on parole on June 25, 2021, or about seven months ago.

Strawder is required to register as a sex offender. He was convicted in 2002 in Kane County of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim age 13-16. The victim was 16 at the time, according to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry.

Strawders criminal history also includes convictions for aggravated arson, residential burglary and fraud, according to Illinois Department of Corrections electronic records.

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With an eye toward expanding research space, South Dakota Mines is seeking up to $5.25 million in state funding for the Board of Regents to acquire  on behalf of South Dakota Mines  the Ascent Innovation center located on the university's campus.

The request takes the form of Senate Bill 97, introduced by state Senator V. J. Smith (R-Brookings). The Ascent Innovation building is currently owned by Elevate Rapid City.

We rent about 12% of the floor plan there, said South Dakota Mines President James Rankin. We could probably fill that building up if we owned it.

Rankin said the university is currently using the space for the research work of Arbegast Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory, which draws funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.

We just need more space  for them and for many other projects, Rankin said.

The Ascent Innovation center opened in 2006. Elevate Rapid City now also operates the recently opened David Lust Accelerator Building, described on Elevate Rapid Citys website as an invitation to join a community of small business owners, entrepreneurs, students, freelancers, and city residents dedicated to bringing their ideas to life in Rapid City.

Rankin envisioned the Ascent Innovation center complementing the work of the David Lust Accelerator Building, with the Ascent Innovation center providing a place for technological research and the David Lust Accelerator Building helping a young company in other ways, such as entering the marketplace.

For a startup company, oftentimes you need assistance, he said, referring to the work of the David Lust Accelerator Building. You need somebody whos been an entrepreneur before, somebody who knows how to work through the system. Thats why Elevate Rapid City and the David Lust Accelerator Building are so important.

Rankin noted research projects underway at the university that he suggested could be well-suited to the Ascent Innovation center.

We have bioprocessing work that were doing with South Dakota State (University), which would take ag products and timber products and turn them into new bioproducts for marketing, he said.

He noted other projects, as well, such as research focusing on disrupting the illicit economy, or criminal economic networks, using technology. He said South Dakota Mines is working with SDSU, the University of South Dakota and Dakota State University on that project.

Were crowded into other places on campus for those and other projects, he said.

Rankin also described possible areas of scientific exploration in the coming years, such as nanotechnology and biomedical research.

Biomedical research, Rankin said, can contribute to regenerative medicine and other scientific advances.

Mike Ray, communications manager for South Dakota Mines, noted the breadth of nanotechnology research.

Nanotechnology is a broad field that could have many applications, Ray said. It could help revolutionize treatments for cancer, and it could help in the creation of new batteries or other energy storage devices.

Ray also mentioned that nanotechnology can, among other things, help create new materials that can improve the efficiency of solar cells.

Rankin added, The nano and the biomedical are just two areas (of many) on campus.

Rankin explained the sorts of renovations that the university may conduct within the Ascent Innovation center if the bill is passed. He mentioned safety measures designed for fields such as chemical engineering, chemistry and the material sciences.

It could be things like electrical symptoms or HVAC, he said. Its more infrastructure changes than cosmetic changes.

As for the timeline, Rankin said the current bill possesses an emergency clause.

If passed and signed by the governor, we would be able to start moving forward right away, he said. I think before we do any of the renovations, well have to do some planning.

Rankin stressed that current university research includes a range of contributors, including research scientists, graduate students and undergraduate students.

Youre seeing research that involves faculty members and students, he said. Youre seeing research that there will probably be innovations coming out of. Those innovations will often turn into a startup company which we want to locate in South Dakota  which means more jobs in South Dakota so that more of our graduates can stay in the state once they earn their degrees.

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A Pennington County judge dismissed two defamation lawsuits with prejudice between a Rapid City real estate investor, his sister, and the mother of his child.

The cases between Josiah LaFrance and his sister Natalie LaFrance-Slack, and LaFrance and Karli Shama were dismissed earlier this month.

A dismissal with prejudice means the same claim cannot be refiled in the same court.

According to the original complaint, Josiah alleged that both Natalie and Sharma made false statements with malice to damage his personal and professional reputations on social media.

Natalie said Monday that this is a good way to recognize that posts made online should be true and purposeful and that people should be aware there are risks involved when telling the truth. She said she maintains that she doesn't want her brother to not make a living and wants him to have the ability to pay child support and be a good father.

Josiah was sentenced to five years of probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a domestic assault charge in October. The charge stems from an Oct. 20, 2019 incident. He was also sentenced to 10 years of prison, all of which was suspended, 180 days in the county jail with 90 days suspended, and to pay court costs and a fine of $5,106.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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With 13 additional COVID-19 deaths reported Monday, January 2022 became the deadliest month since January 2021. There were 290 deaths in January 2021. The highest total since then was December 2021 with 152. The deaths reported Monday brought this January's total to 164.

The deaths include three women and 10 men. One was in his 40s, two in their 50s, two in their 60s and eight were over 70. Pennington County reported three deaths to bring the county's total to 310 since the pandemic began. Marshall County recorded two deaths and Jones County recorded its second death overall. Other deaths were reported in Butte, Corson, Dewey, Oglala-Lakota, Moody, Union and Walworth counties.

There have been 2,650 deaths in South Dakota since the pandemic began in March of 2020.

With 1,030 new infections reported between Thursday and Friday at noon, active cases in the state dropped by 1,408 to 32,239 overall. There are 393 patients in South Dakota hospitals with COVID-19. That is down 19 from Friday's report. In the Black Hills region, hospitals are treating 75 patients with COVID-19.

Pennington County led the state with 176 positive tests but active infections here still dropped by 192 to 5,555. Minnehaha County saw another decline in active cases to 7,180 with 139 new infections reported Monday. Lawrence County recorded 52 new infections and there were 40 in Meade County. Butte County recorded 26 positive tests and there were 18 in Fall River County. Oglala-Lakota County recorded 12 new infections and there were 11 in Custer County.

Brown County reported 59 new infections and there were 43 in Codington County. Lincoln County reported 38 positive tests and there were 31 in Beadle County. Clay County had 29 new cases and there were 25 in Davison, 24 in Union, 23 in Brookings, 22 in Todd, and 20 in Corson counties.

Yankton and Roberts counties each added 18 new infections and there were 16 in Charles Mix County and 14 in Hughes County.

Of the 1,030 new infections, 225 were in children under 19 and 102 were in people over 70.

There were 27 new infections reported Friday evening by the Rapid City Area Schools. According to Friday's RCAS update, there are 189 students out with COVID-19 and 37 staff members.

In addition to the active infections, there are 149 students and one staff member required to quarantine.

Rapid City Central High School has 32 active cases and Rapid City Stevens has 17 active cases.

Six other schools have at least 10 active infections  Wilson Elementary (19), Rapid Valley Elementary (15), Knollwood Elementary (12), West Middle (12), Rapid City High School (12), and Canyon Lake Elementary (11).
Dirty Dancing is returning to Mountain Lake Lodge, the Southwest Virginia resort where Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey filmed the iconic romantic movie in 1986.

But this time, its coming back in reality TV form with The Real Dirty Dancing Competition, premiering on Fox on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

In the reality TV series, eight celebrity contestants such as professional wrestler Brie Bella and actor Corbin Bleu from High School Musical will compete to be named the best Johnny and Baby dirty dancers.

Known as Kellermans Mountain House in the movie, the nearly 200-year-old Mountain Lake property is now a modern resort in the center of a 2,600-acre nature preserve, and regularly celebrates its Dirty Dancing legacy.

Viewers will see many resort venues inspired by the movie in The Real Dirty Dancing Competition, including the Main Stone Lodge, the Harvest restaurant and patio, the gazebo for salsa lessons and Babys cabin.

Viewers will be delighted to see familiar scenes and backdrops at this iconic Virginia property, while they watch their favorite stars relive some of the most memorable moments from the film, Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corp., said. Such as the iconic lake lift scene, of course.

The crew filmed on site at Mountain Lake Lodge last summer for six weeks.

They filmed with a full operating resort behind them. We were sold out. Weve been very busy throughout the pandemic. People feel safe coming to the mountains, lots of fresh air, outdoor recreation and cabins, Heidi Stone, CEO of the lodge, said.

But things havent always been so rosy at Mountain Lake Lodge.

Shortly after Dirty Dancing filmed at Mountain Lake in 1986, the owner died and created an endowment to own and operate the resort.

For decades, nothing happened and the resort began to fall into decline. It was beginning to look like the resort might even close in the early 2000s, Stone said. I came about a decade ago to help refurbish, rebrand, rebuild and see if we could save Mountain Lake.

While she couldnt provide a specific figure, Stone said several million dollars have been reinvested in the property over the past 10 years.

On the show, Stone said that viewers will see a modern Mountain Lake Lodge. The movie didnt showcase much of the property. Were also a bird sanctuary. In the summer, we have thousands of hummingbirds. The reality series shows much of the natural beauty of the property that you might miss in the film.

Fans of Dirty Dancing continue to flock to the resort for nostalgic weekends of romance. Weve seen many proposals and weddings here, Stone said.

Since the movies release, the resort has been hosting Dirty Dancing weekends where guests get to experience activities inspired by the movie, from dance lessons and guided tours of film locations, to parties, lawn games, scavenger hunts and screenings of the film. Dirty Dancing weekends typically sell out a year in advance, Stone said, with this years sessions fully booked.

This week, in honor of the premiere of The Real Dirty Dancing Competition and the 35th anniversary of the movie, Mountain Lake Lodge will be releasing reservations for Dirty Dancing weekends in 2023. Reservations can be made at www.mtnlakelodge.com or (540) 626-7121.

Mountain Lake Lodge is located in Pembroke, which is about three hours and 40 minutes from Richmond by car.

The Real Dirty Dancing premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday and will run through Feb. 22 on Fox. The show is hosted by Stephen tWitch Boss and also features celebrity contestants Tyler Cameron, Cat Cora, Howie Dorough, Antonio Gates, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes and Loni Love. For more information, visit www.fox.com/the-real-dirty-dancing.
A South Richmond apartment complex allegedly charged tenants who paid part of their monthly rent with a federal subsidy more than those who did not, according to a new housing discrimination lawsuit filed in Richmond Circuit Court.

The lawsuit was filed by Carla Berger, a former tenant of Belle Summit Apartments at 600 Cowardin Ave. Her complaint names as defendants the property owner, Richmond Overlook, LP; property manager, Virginia Beach-based The Lawson Companies; and the complexs manager at the time, Megan Goodmundson.

Defendants discriminatory conduct, if continued, will prevent Ms. Berger and others with housing vouchers from living in and/or near the City of Richmond and will deprive her and such others of benefit of living in a diverse community, Bergers lawsuit states.

Beginning in 2020, Virginias Fair Housing Law prohibited housing discrimination on the basis of source of income. The rule is meant to protect thousands of households living in poverty across the state that rely on the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8, to pay part of their rent.

Earlier this month, several local landlords settled housing discrimination lawsuits initiated by the Virginia Attorney Generals Office. A national watchdog group alleged the apartment complexes turned away potential tenants who indicated they were voucher holders.

Berger faced discrimination as she sought to renew her lease at the apartment complex she had called home since 2014, according to the lawsuit.

In December 2020, she received a written notice from the property manager about rent increases. The flier lists separate Section 8 rent for one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that were between 50% and 60% more expensive than rates for residents without a voucher, according to a notice given to tenants and filed with the lawsuit.

Two-bedroom apartments, like the one Berger lived in, would cost $860 in rent for non-voucher holders. For voucher holders, the same apartment would cost $1,373. The higher rate would have more than doubled Bergers out-of-pocket monthly cost to keep her apartment.

When Berger challenged the higher rents for voucher holders, the apartments property manager told her the complex had received Low Income Housing Tax Credits and therefore could not accept her voucher without charging higher rent, according to the lawsuit.

Facing costs she could not afford, Berger had to move from the building and out of the city. The apartment she moved to was two stories and ill-equipped to accommodate her needs as a person living with a disability, according to the lawsuit. As a result, her medical condition was aggravated and she suffered mental and emotional distress, the lawsuit states.

Berger declined an interview request through her attorney, Faith A. Alejandro of Sands Anderson. She is seeking an injunction against the defendants, as well for the court to order them to remedy the alleged discriminatory conduct and prevent it in the future. She is also seeking $75,000 in damages, plus attorney fees and costs.

Gregory D. Habeeb, a Gentry Locke attorney representing The Lawson Companies, said the property management firm was confident we handled this situation properly.

We take our legal obligations under federal, state and local law very seriously, so any time we get a complaint from a current or former tenant its a significant issue, and we want to make sure its dealt with properly. In this particular case, were comfortable that we did everything the way it was supposed to get done, Habeeb said.

These are transactions that are very tightly regulated, so we take those obligations very, very seriously. What we charge people and how we charge people is consistent with federal, state and local law and the agreements we have with the housing authority, he added.

A Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for the number of voucher holders renting at Belle Summit.

In addition to managing Belle Summit, The Lawson Companies owns the Alexander at 1090 Apartments at 1090 German School Road in South Richmond. It also has two other affordable housing projects in the works locally, according to its website: The Foundry Apartments at 946 Sledd Street near Virginia Union University and The View at Belle Isle on the 800 Block of Hull Street.
Chic-A-Sea was once a fried chicken kingdom with more than 50 franchised stores throughout Virginia.

Now, just two remain.

William Sledd, owner of the family-operated business, publicly announced that the 2702 Chestnut Ave. location in the Newport News Southeast Community was closing its doors this past weekend. The other locations at 4400 Jefferson Ave. and 1417 W. Pembroke Ave. in Hampton remain in operation.

The no-frills fast-food chain best known for its fried chicken sandwiches  above all the Big Chic  also serves up mixed greens, corn fritters and breaded and deep-fried okra.

Throughout the years, it has become not only a beloved spot for the Newport News Black community but also an integral part.

Linda Joyner, Chic-A-Seas regional manager said a combination of rising costs for products and labor shortages led to the closure.

I wish we could keep it  but we got to do what we got to do to keep from losing the other ones, she said.

Joyners late father, Wadell Parker, operated the business and brought several of his children on board including Joyner. Her twin sister, Brenda Wiggins, manages the Jefferson Avenue store and sister Maxine Fogg joined the family business to manage the Chestnut Avenue location. Parkers granddaughter, Lisa Parker, manages the West Pembroke Avenue spot.

Joyner, with the company for 50 years, said the coronavirus pandemic led to the hard decision.

Prices have tripled on us and its hurt the bottom line; they cant operate it like that, she said.

At one point the business had 35 employees between the three locations, but only has 17 now, Joyner said. Employees from the Chestnut Avenue store will merge into the other stores, she said.

Andrew Shannon, community organizer, said Chic-A-Sea has been a wonderful partner for more than three decades always helping with his annual event, Feeding 5000.

Its really devastating; its an anchor business on that corridor, Shannon said. Its a rallying cry to the community that they must support our area regional businesses.

Word of the closing spread quickly on social media and loyal customers such as Jon Kelly found themselves speechless. Kelly said he was shocked that the Chestnut Avenue location was closing because it was always the one to go to.

The real sad part is this is another Black business in downtown Newport News thats closing thats been here for years and nobody is up in arms to say, What can we do to help them? Kelly said.

Now, Kelly said he hopes the community will rally to support the two remaining Chic-A-Seas.

That is Shannons hope, too.
FALLS CHURCH  A woman who once lived in Kansas has been arrested after federal prosecutors charged her with joining the Islamic State group and leading an all-female battalion of AK-47 wielding militants.

The U.S. Attorney in Alexandria announced Saturday that Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization.

She is scheduled to make an initial appearance at U.S. District Court in Alexandria on Monday, at which time she would likely be appointed an attorney.

The criminal complaint was filed under seal in 2019 but made public Saturday after Fluke-Ekren was brought back to the U.S. on Friday to face charges. Her alleged participation in the Islamic State had not been publicly known before Saturdays announcement.

Prosecutors say Fluke-Ekren wanted to recruit operatives to attack a college campus in the U.S. and discussed a terrorist attack on a shopping mall. She told one witness that she considered any attack that did not kill a large number of individuals to be a waste of resources, according to an FBI affidavit.

That affidavit from FBI Special Agent David Robins also alleges that Fluke-Ekren became the leader of an Islamic State unit called Khatiba Nusaybah in the Syrian city of Raqqa in late 2016. The all-female unit was trained in the use of AK-47 rifles, grenades and suicide belts.

In all, the affidavit cites observations from six witnesses, including some who have been charged with terrorism offenses and some who were held at prison camps for former Islamic state members.

A detention memo filed Friday by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh says Fluke-Ekren even trained children how to use assault rifles and that at least one witness saw one of Fluke-Ekrens children, approximately 5 or 6 years old, holding a machine gun in the familys home in Syria.

Fluke-Ekren has been a fervent believer in the radical terrorist ideology of ISIS for many years, having traveled to Syria to commit or support violent jihad. Fluke-Ekren translated her extremist beliefs into action by serving as the appointed leader and organizer of an ISIS military battalion, directly training women and children in the use of AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, and suicide belts to support the Islamic States murderous aims, Parekh wrote.

According to court papers, Fluke-Ekren moved to Egypt in 2008 and traveled frequently between Egypt and the U.S. over the next three years. She has not been in the U.S. since 2011.

Prosecutors believe she moved to Syria around 2012. In early 2016, her husband was killed in the Syrian city of Tell Abyad while trying to carry out a terrorist attack, prosecutors said. Later that year, prosecutors say she married a Bangladeshi ISIS member who specialized in drones, but he died in late 2016 or early 2017.

Four months after that mans death, she again remarried a prominent Islamic state leader who was responsible for the Islamic State groups defense of Raqqa.

She told one witness in 2018 that she instructed a person in Syria to tell her family she was dead so the U.S. government would not try to find her, according to Parekhs memo.
Democrats now in the minority in the House of Delegates have discovered a form of tax relief that Gov. Glenn Youngkin doesnt support  one meant to directly benefit low-income working families.

Minutes after endorsing $1.2 billion in one-time taxpayer rebates on Monday, a House Finance subcommittee shot down a proposal to make a portion of the federal earned income tax credit refundable to low-income families, allowing them to receive the benefit even if they dont pay the full amount in off-setting taxes.

The administrations contrasting positions  delivered by Deputy Secretary of Finance Charles Kennington  struck a nerve with Del. Candi King, D-Prince William.

So what it appears is that you really oppose anything that specifically benefits low-income families, and that is extremely problematic for me and my district, King told Kennington.

If we are going to talk about lifting all boats, then the low-income boat should be one of those, she said.

Her remark drew a rebuke from Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, who then made the motion to kill the tax credit bill introduced by Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News.

Thats not a fair statement, Byron said before the subcommittee killed the bill on a 5-2 party-line vote, arguing that the governors tax relief package also would benefit low-income families.

The centerpiece of the governors $4 billion package is a one-time refund of $300 to each individual taxpayer and $600 for each couple filing jointly. It would go to anyone who paid at least that much in state income tax.

Youngkin also proposes to: double the standard deduction on state income taxes, which would reduce state revenues by more than $2 billion over two years; eliminate the sales tax on groceries, which would cut funding for local school divisions and state transportation; exempt up to $40,000 in military retirement benefits from income tax; and suspend a 5-cent increase in the gas tax for 12 months.

Separately, the administration backed off a proposal to make an expanded tax break retroactive for Virginia businesses that received emergency federal aid in the previous tax year.

Former Gov. Ralph Northam had proposed to lift the current limit of $100,000 that businesses could deduct from state income tax this year for the forgivable loans, which were tax-exempt.

Byron had included a provision in the annual tax conformity bill that would have offered the same treatment on taxes already paid for 2020, at an additional cost of $110 million in state revenue. She removed the provision in a substitute bill that the House Appropriations Committee adopted unanimously on Monday.

Democrats say the governors proposals would do less for low-income families with children, who would receive direct payment of the refundable tax credit, much as they did with the federal child tax credit paid through federal emergency aid last year. Currently, families can use the credit only to offset taxes they owe, but most states allow them to receive the remainder directly.

Were doing a lot of things for Virginia taxpayers this year. ... Lets ensure we include everyone, particularly our little ones, said Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, who called the refundable tax credit the most effective tool in our toolbox for helping low-income Virginians and their children.

In a meeting dominated by party-line votes, former House Finance Chair Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, took a bipartisan approach to Youngkins tax rebate proposal, which current Finance Chair Roxann Robinson, R-Chesterfield, introduced on behalf of the governor.

Watts said she supports the one-time tax refunds as a form of relief that would mean more to those who have less.

It is a much bigger help for someone at low income, she said, joining with Republicans on a 6-2 vote to endorse the proposal and refer it to the House Appropriations Committee to assess its effect on the state budget.

Former Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, included about $1 billion in his parting two-year budget to provide one-time refunds of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for couples. Robinsons legislation would increase the amounts to $300 and $600, respectively, at an additional cost to the state of more than $200 million.

Subcommittee Chair Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County, said the cost would be covered by the $2.6 billion revenue surplus that Virginia recorded in the fiscal year that ended on June 30.

Sullivan said he prefer to see something a little more targeted, rather than the same amount of refund to all taxpayers, regardless of income.

There are a lot of wealthy people in Virginia who really dont need $300, he said.

Former House Finance Chair Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, called the tax rebate proposal the best of the choices presently before us, and said its inclusion in Northams budget is evidence of bipartisan support for this measure moving forward.

There was no Republican support for Prices proposal to make 15% of the earned income tax credit refundable, even though she estimated the number of people in each delegates district who would benefit from it, including about 7,400 in Robinsons district in Chesterfield.

Like the tax rebate, Northam proposed making 15% of the earned income tax credit refundable in his proposed budget at a cost of more than $300 million. We need to make sure its focused on the people who need it the most, he said during his budget presentation in December.

Initially, Price had proposed to raise the threshold to 20%, which would have cost an additional $105 million over two years, but she asked the committee to amend it Monday to be consistent with Northams proposal.

The idea received public support from the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis and Voices for Virginias Children.

Weve seen how these direct payments can really help low-income families, said Emily Griffey, policy director at Voices for Virginias Children.

Price said the distinction by income is relevant to the broader effort to provide tax relief to all Virginians.

Were hearing that word all a lot, she said. I would just say that equality and equity are very different in these proposals.
Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, isnt formally announcing her candidacy in a newly drawn Senate District in Chesterfield County, but shes not backing down to two Republican candidates who contend the seat is open.

Chase, serving her second term as senator for the 11th District, said she welcomes the opportunity to represent more of her native Chesterfield in the new 12th Senate District under the legislative map that the Virginia Supreme Court approved last month.

I have no intention of retiring, she said Monday.

Chase pushed back against comments by former Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, and businesswoman Tina Ramirez suggesting that no incumbent represents the new district, which both are seeking the Republican nomination to represent. The election will be held next year, unless a federal court requires elections in all new legislative districts this year.

Sturtevant, who represented the current 10th District for one term before losing to Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, in 2019, called the 12th a brand-new, newly drawn Senate district.

There is no incumbent, though there are folks in office who happen to live there, he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch last week.

Ramirez, founder of a nonprofit foundation to promote religious freedom, also called the 12th a wholly new district.

The formation of new lines also highlights a truth that is too often forgotten: this seat belongs to the people, not to any candidate, Ramirez said earlier this month. The people will decide who is the best person to represent their conservative values.

Chase and Ramirez both had declared their candidacies last year to challenge Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, but dropped out of the race after the state Supreme Court approved a new map that moves the 7th Congressional District out of the Richmond suburbs to Northern Virginia, where it now is anchored in eastern Prince William County and the Fredericksburg area.

Ramirez finished third in a GOP primary in 2020 to challenge Spanberger, who ultimately defeated Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, for re-election to a seat that previously had been held by Republicans.

Chase dismissed Sturtevants suggestion that no incumbent lives in the new 12th, even though it includes her home and much of her current Senate district, as well as a portion of the old district he once represented.

If we use that same standard, then all seats in the Senate and House are open, she said. I dont believe that for a minute.

Chase, who finished third in a race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination last year, acknowledged she plans to run for higher office again someday, but said shes focusing on her Senate term, which is set to expire in January, 2024.

Its a little premature for people to start jockeying for what may be perceived as an open seat, she said.

Chase said that she and her husband, Michael, grew up in the Bon Air area of Chesterfield, which will become part of the new 12th.

Im going to be able to represent more of the people I grew up with, she said. Ill get to fully represent Chesterfield.

Chase first won her Senate seat in 2015 after defeating Sen. Steve Martin, R-Chesterfield, in the party primary, but she noted that she declined to challenge either Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, or Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, when it initially appeared that part of Chesterfield would be in the 5th.

I dont challenge incumbent Republicans who are doing a good job, she said.

Chase, who was censured by fellow senators last year for a pattern of unacceptable conduct and demoted in the Senates seniority rankings, has no committee assignments.

Chase said it is disappointing that two fellow Republicans  one who lost his Senate seat and the other who has never held elected office  would run against her in a new Senate district that she said mostly consists of her current district.

They should look at the numbers, she said. I think theyre going to have an uphill battle.
SHEIKH ZUWEID, Egypt, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Villagers from the town of Sheikh Zuweid in North Sinai governorate, east of Cairo, have returned to their homes after terrorism there was eradicated.

Terrorist groups spread in Egypt after the June 30 protests in 2013, especially in North Sinai, which forced many locals to flee.

Egypt has been fighting against the terrorist groups that killed hundreds of policemen, soldiers, and civilians in North Sinai. More than 1000 terrorists have been killed in the military crackdown over the past seven years.

Fierce battles between the two sides caused the displacement of the villagers in the towns of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, especially after their homes and farms were destroyed during the battles.

With the success of defeating the terrorist groups, the government allowed the residents to return to their home villages.

Sheikh Arafat Khader, tribal leader of Sheikh Zuweid, said that the residents have returned to the villages located in the south of the town, such as Abu Rafai, Al Dhaher, Abu Al-Araj and Abu Faraj, which is the gateway and entrance to Sheikh Zuweid.

In the west part of Sheikh Zuweid, families from the villages of Al-Ghara, Qabr Omair, Al-Nakhlat, Al-Khrouba also returned, he added.

However, some residents have not returned yet due to the security operations that the armed forces are still carrying out in these villages against the remnants of terrorist groups.

Abdel-Latif Zammat, a resident of Sheikh Zuweid, said that people returned with great joy, despite the destruction of their homes and farms.

"Families erected tents next to their demolished houses until they are rebuilt," Zammat told Xinhua.

Hussein Eid, another resident of Sheikh Zuweid, lamented that villagers, who were forced to leave their hometown seven years ago, were living a difficult life in Ismailia or Bir al-Abed, north of Cairo.

"Fearing the explosions, the IS kidnapping, and intimidation, we left our homes and settled in other areas," Eid, who found his home totally destroyed, told Xinhua.

Eid built a small tent for his family, next to his demolished home, while waiting for the government to pay for the reconstruction as promised.

Salman Salim, 38, who returned to his village west of Sheikh Zuweid after years of displacement, faced the same difficulties.

"We tried to live under terrorism to avoid displacement, but we could not. Death was crawling around us from every direction because of the war. My family and I fled with light luggage and left the furniture of the house," Salim told Xinhua.

He added that they went to a village in the nearby city of Bir al-Abed, leading a miserable life for seven years.

"When we returned after the villages is purified from terrorism, we did not find our homes as they were. I found my house in ruins," Salim said sadly.

The good news is, Mohamed Abdel-Fadil Shousha, governor of North Sinai, recently visited the villages, reassuring people that their demands and all the needs of services and facilities would be met.

He said that compensations will be paid to house owners for partially and completely destroyed homes, adding that more residents are returning to the rest of the villages in the area. 
By Sarah Pace

Sometimes a hero walks softly. At this time of reflections of the past year, we honor the life of Louis Henry Manarin (1932-2021).

Manarin was the former state archivist of the commonwealth of Virginia. He was the author, co-author and editor of more than a dozen books on Virginia and North Carolina history, including: The History of Henrico County co-authored by Clifford Dowdey; Henrico County Field of Honor (Volumes I and II); and The History of Henrico County(400th Anniversary Edition) co-authored by Charles H. Peple.

Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, Manarin attended Valley Forge Military Academy, received his bachelors degree from Western Maryland College and earned his Ph.D. in history from Duke University. He was awarded a doctor of letters from Western Maryland College for his achievements. For the past 50 years, he had resided in Henricos Fairfield District, developing a special interest in the county and its history.

It was generally thought that because of missing records by reason of fire and conflict, the history of Henrico County could not be written. Through extensive research and documentation from many sources, however, Manarin recorded the amazing story of Henricos journey through history.

Beginning with its origin as the Citie (sic) of Henricus in 1611, it was the second successful English settlement under direction of the Virginia Company of London. It struggled for survival on the frontier under rule within the English royal colony of Virginia and later as part of an independent fledgling nation. Manarin also wrote of the Native American inhabitants first encounter with English settlers and of the conflict that eventually rose between the two cultures.

The countys original territory extended from the Appomattox River along both sides of the James River west to the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was one of the first four cities or boroughs of the colony in 1619. In 1634 it was one of the eight original shires.

In later years, nine other counties and part of a tenth were created from Henricos lands: Goochland, Albemarle, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Amherst, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Powhatan, Nelson and part of Appomattox. Over time, a series of annexations by the city of Richmond further changed the Countys boundaries. An annexation in 1922 by Chesterfield County claimed the site of Henricus Historical Park.

The city of Richmond also was developed out of Henrico County, sharing leadership and common facilities. Richmond, at one time, used the Henrico courthouse. The Second Virginia Convention held at St. Johns Church, where Patrick Henry gave his famous Liberty or Death speech, still was under jurisdiction of Henrico County.

The Henrico courthouse and jail remained designated as in the Fairfield District of Henrico, even after the surrounding area was annexed by Richmond, until the new Henrico courthouse was built on Parham Road in 1974. The area where the Lee statue was erected in the Tuckahoe District of Henrico (later the Lee District) was annexed by Richmond in 1892.

Documentation of the families of Virginia who settled the Henrico territory was included. Many today trace their ancestry to those first settlers. Manarin wrote of the hardships of war imposed on the citizens by the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the American Civil War, the last on American soil. He also wrote of citizen participation in foreign wars.

A munitions plant was built at the end of World War I in Henrico and a ship was named the USS Henrico because its citizens participated in scrap metal drives during World War II. There was a WWII USO Center where troops were entertained at what now is Sandston Recreation Center.

Manarin wrote extensively of the evolution of the countys education, transportation, government, and economic systems and their contribution to the prosperity of our current way of life in the county.

He was a man of great faith, honor and conviction. Always freely giving of his time and knowledge, we would speak at great length relating to inquiries that Henricos historical society received.

Picking up the banner of this fallen hero of Henrico history, we carry forth Manarins legacy for the benefit of future generations. The History of Henrico County was dedicated to the children of Henrico County. His son, Tim, mentioned in his eulogy that his father still had many things he wanted to do. His daughter, Amy, is completing his last project.

Last October, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors presented Manarins family with a resolution in his honor and dedicated the meeting room at the North Park Library in his name. His wife, Jo Ann, said there is no better place of honor for him than a library. It is fitting that his final resting place is Hollywood Cemetery, among those of whom he wrote.
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, holding her family together, 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 how 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.

This is such an amazing story ... of what true grit and hard work and determination can get you, said Carol Adams, a police officer who has become a close friend.

Ibrahim, 55, was the subject of a photo-story by Richmond Times-Dispatch photojournalist Daniel Sangjib Min in 2019. It focused on her faith and perseverance and the drive she instilled in her children. The three oldest are now college graduates and working, and 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 that it would be a better place to raise her family. It has been anything but easy, but she and the children 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 kids.

She did everything she could do to make sure they were involved in the programs, Adams said. 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.
Virginia Tech will no longer require that students be vaccinated for COVID-19, a decision prompted by an opinion by new state Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Miyares, a Republican, issued his legal opinion last week, saying students should not be required to have vaccinations, reversing one of his predecessor, Democrat Mark Herring.

In a communication to the campus Monday afternoon, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands wrote that the attorney generals opinions are what the school uses to make its decisions.

Consequently, Virginia Tech will no longer require students to be vaccinated as a condition of enrollment or in-person instruction, effective immediately. Federal regulations may still require students who work in specific settings to be vaccinated, receive the booster when eligible, and upload their health information, Sands wrote.

Continuing, Sands wrote: We continue to encourage everyone in our community to be vaccinated, get a booster dose as soon as youre eligible, and report any updates to your vaccination status to the university. Vaccines remain our best protection against COVID-19 and boosters are an important tool in combatting the omicron variant. Masking and public health protocols remain fully in place. We will discontinue mandatory testing for students, but will continue to provide voluntary testing and strongly encourage testing if you are symptomatic or have been exposed to COVID-19.

Students should coordinate with Schiffert Health Center for testing, according to Sands statement, and employees should work with their local health care provider or the Virginia Department of Health.

Sands wrote that Virginia Tech is fortunate that our university community has a very high percentage of vaccinated faculty, staff, and students, which positions us well to maintain operations through the semester.

Sands also wrote he hopes the university can keep serious illness in check with cases likely peaking in the local New River Valley health district.

The health districts director, Noelle Bissell, held her regular public meeting on Monday. She said New River Valley college students are largely vaccinated and many have had COVID. She said she doesnt expect the curve of cases to be significantly impacted by the recent return of students.

Ending the statement, Sands wrote: As we approach two years of the pandemic, we have made great progress on a full return to campus, and I am proud of how far weve come together. I also understand that managing the impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives has taken a toll on everyone. Your physical and mental health is an important part of your learning experience and academic success. Please continue to take care of yourself and each other and utilize the resources available to you as we navigate the weeks ahead.

With the new Republican administration in Richmond issuing orders and opinions rolling back vaccination requirements for K-12 and higher education, schools boards and college leaders are now faced with decisions to act accordingly, or to challenge the changes.
By pieces and threads the centurylong story of the Julius Oliver familys farm on the western slope of Read Mountain continues to come together.

Their story, a Black family that rose to Roanoke County prominence despite untold obstacles, has been serialized here. More came to light since the last report a week ago thanks to a connection with Oliver relative Michelle Washington of Washington, D.C., who has researched family history.

A brief recap first. The basis of the story starts in 1881 when the farm known as Bell Grove (or Belle Grove, depending on where you look) was bought by Julius Oliver, who along with his wife Minerva , had been born into slavery. The Olivers went on to become prominent members of the community, successful farmers, and philanthropists.

Despite Bell Grove being subdivided for the Oliver heirs, successive generations of the family were still farming the same land into the 1980s.

The hard work paid on multiple levels.

I am proud to say, Michelle Washington wrote in 2004, that this property gave rise to a rather accomplished, highly educated African American family.

Family lore holds that Julius Oliver arrived on his new property bearing nothing more than a table on his back.

Although as Washington pointed out there were numerous members of the extended family who went on to great success in other areas besides agriculture  Michelle Washington and her two sisters are lawyers as was their late father, for instance  the focus here as much as possible will be the beginnings of Bell Grove.

By the way, the last 1.75 acres of the property where the homestead still stands at the intersection of Old Mountain and Shadwell roads is now owned by Frank Longaker, who lives across the road at the residence in the state Black Horse Tavern/Bellville Hotel Historic District.

Julius Oliver (not to be confused with subsequent members of later generations who had the same name) built what would eventually grow to a 200-plus acre farm from the ground up. He was the largest landowner among what were termed colored taxpayers in the Big Lick magisterial district

He built the house thats there now, Michelle Washington said last week in a telephone conversation.

The house has not been occupied for a while and Longaker is using it for storage, but for the most part the old homeplace is in decent shape for an unoccupied dwelling.

The house is separated from the road by a narrow front yard with a couple of ancient oaks framing the front along with a fully grown holly. A single story concrete pump house stands at the rear of the building.

The water came from a spring up the hill from there, said Washington, who has been researching both the maternal side (the Olivers) and paternal Washington sides of her family for years.

She was raised in D.C. but was a frequent visitor to the Roanoke Valley to visit family as a child. She recalls many visits to the farm and her bachelor great-great uncle James S.W. Oliver, the last member of the family to farm the property before he died in 1986.

Quoting from Longakers application for historic designation for the house the structure is a simple two-story, three-bay frame I-house with a stacked stone foundation, weatherboard siding, and a side-gable roof clad in standing-seam metal with a simple boxed cornice and two interior-ridge brick chimneys.

A one-story front porch extending across the front of the house was built around 1920 and includes a metal shed-type roof held upright by round wooden columns with brick piers set on a concrete foundation. An addition to the house is a two-story frame wing with an intersecting gable roof of the same metal type as the front porch.

Of Julius (Old Man, as he was known to the family according to Washington) and Minerva, details of their lives prior to Bell Grove are scarce. Anecdotally, Washington believes they were former slaves. Combing through digital Freedmens Bureau records available through the genealogy site familysearch.org, no references could be found for the Olivers.

References to others of the same name were spotted from the Danville, Mathews, and Richmond area in the Freedmen records. Were they relatives? We dont know.

The Freedmens Bureau opened in 1865 as a federal service to former slaves as they transitioned to regular citizenship. A wealth of primary document material are there so it was disappointing nothing could be found on the Olivers.

One problem with such searches are the creative spellings found for many names. Julius, for instance, was found as Julious and Minerva as Manerva in multiple sources.

Washington identified Manerva as being a common spelling shed found in her research. The name has been spelled Minerva (Tate was her maiden name) as it has reemerged in subsequent Oliver generations. That was the way Washingtons great grandmother spelled her name.

The Olivers were listed together as Julius and Minerva in the 1870 U.S. census. His occupation was farm laborer hers as keeping house. Under the column that identifies race both 45-year-old Julius and 42-year-old Minerva were identified as Black. Likewise, for both the columns cannot read and cannot write were both check marked for each spouse.

Sue Thornton, a researcher with the Salem Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, found the Olivers in another census report after 1870 in which they were listed as mulatto.

That Julius and Minerva found the success they did as illiterates is just one more aspect of an amazing story.

He signed his name with an X, confirmed Washington, who has copies of primary source legal documents he signed.

Edwina Parks at the Virginia Room of the Roanoke Public Library dug up Julius Nov. 13, 1909, obituary in The Roanoke Times. The obit is short and at the bottom of the second column from the right but its on the front page of that days edition.

Even in 1909 newspapers didnt put obits for nobodies on the front page.

If youve been wondering about something, call Whats on Your Mind? at 777-6476 or send an email to whatsonyourmind@roanoke.com. Dont forget to provide your full name (and its proper spelling if by phone) and hometown.
" " Parents of newborns often turn into polyphasic sleepers right alongside their babies, although this little one doesn't seem too interested in dozing. iStockphoto/ Thinkstock

At midnight, I woke to the sound of my baby crying, his wails blaring out of the monitor on my nightstand. As I stumbled to his room, the buzzer rang, which meant someone was downstairs trying to be let in. Wondering who in his or her right mind would want to visit parents of a newborn at midnight, I looked out the window but couldn't see anyone, figured it was a prank and ignored it.

At 3 a.m., I woke with a start, again to the sound of his cries. In the hallway, I ran into one of my two dogs, Monkey, who was crying and pacing, her nails click-click-clicking on the hardwood floors. As I wondered why, I heard a knock on my door, looked through the peephole and saw a police officer.

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"So someone is home," he said as I opened the door, squinting in the fluorescent hallway lights. "Do you know where your dog is?"

"My dogs are in here," I replied defensively.

"Are you sure about that?"

I wasn't sure about anything. I wasn't even sure I had clothes on when I opened the door, though thankfully I did. Since the birth of my son six months prior, I'd made the rough transition from a monophasic sleep schedule, sleeping in one large block overnight, to a polyphasic one, or dozing in small bouts multiple times in a 24-hour period. I was tired and fuzzy-headed all the time.

While the police officer radioed downstairs, my sleep-deprived brain struggled through a slow rewind of the evening: I remembered coming home from the vet, hauling a very tired baby, diaper bag, car seat and two 75-pound dogs up three flights of stairs and, I thought, into the apartment. I remembered getting the baby to bed, then collapsing on the couch with my husband and a frozen pizza, which I had no recollection of eating before I fell asleep. My husband woke me up to go to bed and then ...

"Hey lady? I've got your dog restrained downstairs. It was loose in the hallway. Your downstairs neighbors came home and it started barking at them through the front door. They tried to buzz and call you but you never answered, so they called us," he paused, then said with a smirk, "I've got to know: How do you not know if your own dog is in your apartment?"

Good question, but I wasn't about to explain polyphasic sleep deprivation to him while my bewildered dog waited downstairs. Rest assured, the answers can be found in the pages that follow.
Like politics and religion, discussions about the best fried chicken and its many cooking variations can lead to some heated debates (its the same story with barbecue, but well save that for another day).

This recipe from Cooks Venture easily quiets any arguments with its perfect-every-time crispy crust thanks to a double-dredge technique plus a dip in buttermilk to ensure a moist and tender interior.

Classic Fried Chicken

Yields: 3 to 4 servings

1 whole chicken (3 to 4 lbs), cut into 10 pieces (or 3-4 lbs chicken parts)

2 quarts buttermilk

6 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp paprika

2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cayenne powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried thyme

3 quarts vegetable oil (enough to thoroughly submerge your chicken, varies)

Sea salt

Extras (optional):

Honey, for serving

Hot sauce, for serving

Chef Tip: Keep your finished, fried chicken warm while you finish cooking by placing it on a cooling rack set on top of a sheet pan in a 250F oven.

Brine the chicken. In a glass bowl, thoroughly cover the chicken pieces in buttermilk; refrigerate for between a couple hours to overnight.

Temper the brined chicken. About 30 minutes before cooking, remove the buttermilk-soaked chicken from the refrigerator. Set aside to bring to room temperature.

Make the breading. While the chicken comes to room temperature, in a large bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, kosher salt, and pepper.

Double coat the chicken. Remove the marinated chicken from the buttermilk (reserve for later)letting the excess drip offand place in a separate, clean glass bowl. One at a time, dredge each piece of marinated chicken through the breading mixture, then back into the reserved buttermilk, and then once more time through the flour dredge. Set coated chicken aside on a sheet pan or plate.

Prepare and heat the oil. As you coat the chicken, heat the canola oil in a fryer or large, heavy pot until it reaches 350F.

Cook and serve the chicken. Working in batches, fry the coated chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a cooling rack set over a sheet pan and immediately season with sea salt. If desired (just before serving), drizzle with honey and hot sauce.

Chef Tip: Frying your chicken in batches prevents overcrowding in the fryer, which causes the oil temperature to drop down too low and results in a less crispy (and less delicious!) crust. Furthermore, make sure to give your oil time to heat back up to the optimal temperature in between batches.

Chef Tip: Don't toss that oil! After cookingso long as the oil has not burnedstrain cooled oil and store in an airtight container for future use.

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With its scrawny, bright-red, feather-free neck, the Transylvania Naked Neck chicken isnt going to win any beauty contests. But what this bizarre-looking bird lacks in looks it more than makes up for in the noble work its doing. Or at least thats the case at Arkansas-based Cooks Venture, a chicken farm, hatchery and processing plant with a mission to offer pasture-raised, slow-growth heirloom chickens that not only taste good but do good by the planet, the people wholl eat them and, yes, the birds themselves.

Its a big ask, but Cooks Venture CEO and Founder Matthew Wadiak is more than up for the task. As the co-founder and former COO of Blue Apron, he knows a thing or two about shaking up food production and delivery systems.

And as a professionally trained chef whos worked with culinary innovators in the United States and Italy, Wadiak has a deep appreciation and respect for thoughtfully sourced, great-tasting products.

An early interest in quality

It was that easy access to high-quality ingredients he had while working as a young chef that got Wadiak to question how he could do the same for those not in the hospitality industry. That sort of thinking of how to provide similar quality food for millions of people went into all our procurement at Blue Apron, he says. There isnt that kind of supply chain of high-quality ingredients in the U.S. that you find in Europe.

At Blue Apron, that meant working with legendary grass-fed beef farmer Bill Niman of BN Ranch to improve meat sourcing for their meal kits, which included the purchasing of whole cows  and eventually, the company itself. During his time at the meal kit company, a supply chain network of more than 250 farms was also established.

But while their meat sourcing saw great improvement, chicken remained a conundrum. I went to pretty much every company in terms of poultry in the U.S., says Wadiak of his search for a better-quality bird. He quickly came to realize that his lack of success was because more than 90 percent of all chickens in America are basically the same because there are only two breeding businesses  Aviagen Group and Cobb-Vantress, a unit of U.S. giant Tyson Foods Inc.  that had been aggregated over the course of the last 50-odd years.

Everything has become about cheap meat and poor quality, says Wadiak, citing the rise in demand for low-fat chicken breasts as one of the influencing factors in the proliferation of genetically manipulated chickens. We decided the only way to have access to better chickens was to do it ourselves.

Small and slow

And thats how Wadiak first crossed paths with Blake Evans, the grandson of the late poultry farmer and independent breeder Lloyd Peterson, originator of the internationally known Peterson male breed. Evans had been working for more than a decade with geneticist Richard Udale to create a better, more natural chicken that could thrive on pasture. In 2018, Wadiaks passion for improving the food system led him to start Cooks Venture with both Evans and Udale onboard as partners.

This leads us back to our friend, the Transylvania Naked Neck. Currently the only vertically integrated chicken producer in the country with an independent breeding business, Cooks Venture eschews the long-standing industry trend of large, fast-growing birds in favor of a smaller, slower growing one. After a decade of breeding, Cooks Ventures new breed, dubbed the Pioneer, is a three-way cross between a Heritage Transylvanian Naked Neck, a Heritage Delaware and a proprietary Peterson family breed from the 1930s. It has a naturally strong body and robust immune system (both necessary for the birds to thrive outdoors), which makes for better health  for both you and the chicken.

A taste generations in the making

Each of those three chickens were chosen for the specific traits they bring to the table  literally and figuratively  a process that can take years due to the breeding of multiple generations. Top of Wadiak and his Cook Venture partners list of must-haves for their birds was resilient immune systems and digestive health to ensure a strong frame and legs so they could thrive on pasture, snacking on insects, seeds and foliage, when theyre not inside their spacious, light-filled homes eating a non-GMO blend of feed.

And then, of course, theres taste. We want birds that are healthier and taste good, says Wadiak. Bill [Niman] told me this 20 years ago: You can have all the bells and whistles, heritage, antibiotic-free and pastured-raised and whatever. But if it doesnt taste good theres no value to it.

In the spring of 2019, Cooks Ventures first customer was Fresh Direct. In September of that year, they began selling online, directly to the consumer. Initially, we thought we were going to be in more restaurants, says Wadiak. But when Covid hit, we ended up in more retailers. Now you can buy our stuff on the Internet and all over the place and we are expanding every week into more foodservice.

Healthy animal, healthy earth

But Cooks Ventures special chickens and the humane ways in which they are raised are only part of the story. The 800 acres of forested farmland and the 70 or so buildings on it in the beautiful foothills of the Ozarks in Northwest Arkansas (where the company engages with regional crop farmers to grow feed using regenerative farming practices) is another major part of this complicated puzzle.

We are working to build diversity into the grains grown by our crop farmers, such as cover crops, lupine, hemp and peas, in order to develop soil fertility and regenerative systems on the crop land, says Wadiak. Our breed's healthy gut is able to digest a wider variety of feed, which allows us to move away from the soy- and corn-heavy feed found on most industrial chicken farms."

Additionally, Cooks Venture partnered with Restoration Agriculture Development (RAD) to plant more than 20,000 hazelnut trees across 18 farms (including their own) in the spring of 2020. Agroforestry practices like this not only help improve soil quality, but hazelnut trees, which actually look more like bushes, both feed the chickens (they love the nuts), and provide shade and protection from predators.

And Cooks Venture is just getting started. Partnerships with like-minded ranchers and farmers mean the companys been able to add grass-fed lamb and beef to their offerings, with pork coming in 2022. In the future, the company will rotate cattle, pigs and chickens on the land as well as feed crops and vegetables with the aim of measurably improving soil health  a report card that will be scannable on every meat label for concerned consumers, says Wadiak.

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Two Bridgeport detectives have been placed on administrative leave while police investigate allegations they mishandled investigations into the deaths of two Black women in December.

Detectives Angel Llanos and Kevin Cronin are on administrative leave while an internal affairs investigation is being conducted, Mayor Joe Ganim said in a statement Sunday.

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Their supervisor, whose name is not included in the statement, retired Friday.

I want you to know that I am extremely disappointed with the leadership of the Bridgeport Police Department and find actions taken up to this point unacceptable, Ganim said. After reviewing the matters even more closely and in the absence of the Police Chief, I have directed Deputy Chief [James] Baraja to immediately put on administrative leave the two officers who are the subject of a Bridgeport Police Office of Internal Affairs (OIA) Investigation and [possible] disciplinary action for lack of sensitivity to the public and failure to follow police policy in the handling of these two matters.

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He said the investigations into the deaths of Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls have been reassigned and are active.

Lauren Smith-Fields, 23, died after a man she had met recently online called police Dec. 12 to say he awoke to find Smith-Fields unresponsive. Smith-Fields family said police never notified them of her death, which they learned about more than a day later through a note left on her apartment door by her landlord.

The Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner said on Jan. 25 that Smith-Fields death was caused by acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol. The death was ruled accidental.

The family said police told them the man who called authorities was not a suspect, but did not say why. The detective eventually asked them to stop calling, they said. The family lawyer, Darnell Crosland, has notified the city of his intent to file a lawsuit accusing police of failure to properly investigate.

About 100 people attended a rally in Bridgeport Jan. 24  which would have been Smith-Fields 24th birthday  asking the state to take over the investigation.

Do you think if a white mother or father had their 23-year-old white daughter die and the last person who saw her was an older Black man that she met on a dating site, do you think that would have been handled in the exact same way? Democratic city councilwoman Maria Pereira said at the rally. Im sorry, I dont believe that.

Rawls, 53, who also was Black, died Dec. 12 after going over to a mans house who lived near her in Bridgeport, her family told NBC News.

Dorothy Rawls Washington, Rawls sister, told NBC her family members walked to the mans house Dec. 14 after days of unsuccessfully trying to contact Rawls. The man told them that he hadnt been able to wake her up and that she had died.

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Nobody ever notified us that she died, Washington said. We had to do our own investigation and find out where she was.

In his statement and in a Facebook video, the mayor suggested that the detectives may not have followed department policy and apologized.

The Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity especially in matters involving the death of a family member, Ganim said. It is an unacceptable failure if policies were not followed. To the families, friends and all who care about the human decency that should be shown in these situations in this case by members of the Bridgeport Police Department, I am very sorry.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim apologized on Facebook Sunday night for what appears to be a failure of two officers to follow department policy after two women died in December. He ordered that the officers be placed on leave and pledged a full internal investigation. (City of Bridgeport)

Ganim also thanked the attorney representing Smith-Fields family, who has been speaking out about her death for weeks, and thousands of others for reaching out asking the questions that needed to be asked and that still need answers.

I as mayor, but also as a father, cannot fully comprehend what you must be going through. I can only pledge my continued support to try to ease your pain by getting answers and holding those responsible accountable.

Crosland, who represents both families, said in a statement Monday that the city is liable for the behavior of its police department and he is pleased that the mayor has accepted that liability publicly and has apologized to this family for the suffering they have endured.

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But the mayors words took too long, he said.

Its been over a month, and in that time the family has had to grieve and advocate for justice at the same time. That is unfair and unacceptable. People from across the country and around the world heard our cries for justice yet the city of Bridgeport did not, Crosland said.

Still, he said, The mayors statement today is a step in the right direction.

Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut >

A police union leader could not be reached for comment Monday morning.

In February 2014, the department announced that Cronin had been awarded the Police Distinguished Service Medal, the departments highest service award, for establishing a pattern of distinguished service through serious incidents too numerous to mention. Police said he solved robberies, crimes with child victims and made gun arrests.

Although Ganim didnt refer to her by name, Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia has been in charge of the Bridgeport Police Department since Sept. 10, 2020, the day former Chief Armando AJ Perez, a longtime friend of Ganims, was arrested. Perez and the citys personnel director, who also was arrested, were accused of fixing the process that made him chief.

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[ Ex-Bridgeport police chief Armando Perez sent to prison for a year-and-a day in test-rigging conspiracy ]

Federal investigators found that Perez cheated on a promotional exam for the top job and repeatedly lied about it. He was sentenced to a year and a day in April 2021; former Personnel Director David Dunn also was convicted.

The former chief was expected to serve his sentence in a low-security prison camp in Pennsylvania. Perez was a confidant of Ganims and was his official city driver before the mayor himself served seven years in prison in the 2000s in an unrelated corruption scandal.

A report from The Associated press was used in this story.

Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.
OMAHA -- A Macy, Nebraska, man who strangled a woman during an assault at her home will serve time on supervised release.

Samuel Dick, 32, was sentenced Friday to time served and placed on supervised release for three years. He pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in Omaha to one count of assault of an intimate partner by strangulation.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Dick entered the woman's Macy home on Oct. 20, 2020, to retrieve clothing he had left there, began yelling at her then punched her in the head once before grabbing her by the neck with both hands and choking her while banging her head against a door. He temporarily released her, then resumed choking her again before releasing her.

Dick also had been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm for an Oct. 9, 2020, incident in which he was accused of hitting the woman in the face with a shoe. That charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

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SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has been arrested and charged with shoplifting thousands of dollars of merchandise on several occasions from Fleet Farm.

Ken Mayeaux was booked into the Woodbury County Jail Thursday on two counts of second-degree theft and two counts of third-degree theft.

According to court documents, Mayeaux stole or attempted to steal numerous items from the Sioux City store at 5858 Sunnybrook Drive on at least seven occasions dating back to August 2020.

Complaints filed in Woodbury County District Court show that on four occasions in August 2020, Mayeaux removed drills and impact wrenches worth more than $2,000 from their packaging, concealed them and left the store without paying for them. The thefts were captured on the store's surveillance video cameras.

Three other thefts are more recent. In each case, Mayeaux is accused of putting items into his cart, covering them with his jacket and leaving the store before being confronted by a loss prevention employee.

Those alleged thefts include items totaling $797 on Jan. 24, five items totaling $1,167 on Jan. 26 and 10 items totaling $1,912 on Jan. 27.

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SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man was placed on probation and must register as a sex offender after pleading guilty of having sexual contact several times with an underage girl during a four-year period.

Nathaniel Reynolds, 22, pleaded guilty Friday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of third-degree sexual abuse.

In sentencing Reynolds in accordance with a plea agreement, District Judge James Daane suspended a 10-year prison sentence and placed Reynolds on five years' probation. In addition to registering with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, Reynolds will also serve a lifetime special sex offender sentence. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be sent to prison.

Reynolds had sexual contact with the girl, beginning when she was 12 years old in April 2014 and continuing until December 2018. Reynolds would play imaginary games with the victim and have her perform sexual acts with him.

Because Reynolds was a minor when he committed the offense, he was not subject to mandatory prison sentencing for the forcible felony charge.

A second count of third-degree sexual abuse was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

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OMAHA -- A Walthill, Nebraska, man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for assaulting another man.

Matthew Moniz Jr., 33, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Omaha to 70 months in prison on one count of assault with a deadly weapon. After completing his prison sentence, Moniz will be on supervised release for three years.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Moniz and his co-defendant, Jonathan Earth, assaulted the male victim during a Dec. 16, 2019, fight in Winnebago, Nebraska. Moniz punched the victim and cut him in the face with a knife. While Earth held the victim down, Moniz stabbed the victim in the neck, causing a deep laceration.

Earth was sentenced on Dec. 20 to 63 months in prison.

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At the conclusion of a trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls Thursday, jurors found Matthew Carter, 31, guilty of one count of possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, while Carter was jailed in January 2021, he called his father and directed him to retrieve some property that Carter had hidden above the ceiling tile in his bathroom. An officer listening to the call went to Carters home and found a computer hard drive above the ceiling tile. A forensic examination of the drive revealed 60 video files containing child pornography.
Let's get caught up with today's COVID-19 news for Jan. 31, 2022.

US gives full approval to Moderna's vaccine

U.S. health regulators on Monday granted full approval to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, a shot that's already been given to tens of millions of Americans since its emergency authorization over a year ago.

The action by the Food and Drug Administration means the agency has completed the same rigorous, time-consuming review of Moderna's shot as dozens of other long-established vaccines.

The decision was bolstered by real-world evidence from the more than 200 million doses administered in the U.S. since the FDA cleared the shot in December 2020. The FDA granted full approval of Pfizers vaccine last August.

Canada prime minister tests positive for COVID

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is feeling fine and will continue to work remotely from home.

Trudeau said two of his children have COVID-19 and a test Monday revealed he has it as been infected as well. And he used a televised virtual press conference to denounce anti-vaccine protesters who filled Canada's capital to complain about COVID restrictions.

Canadians were shocked and quite frankly disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people in our nation's capital, Trudeau said. I want to be clear. We are not intimated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small businesses and steal from the homeless. We wont give in those who fly racist flags. We wont cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans.

Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes

More than a third of COVID-19 survivors by some estimates will develop such lingering problems. Now, with omicron sweeping across the globe, scientists are racing to pinpoint the cause of the bedeviling condition and find treatments before a potential explosion in long COVID cases.

Could it be an autoimmune disorder? That could help explain why long COVID-19 disproportionately affects women, who are more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases. Could microclots be the cause of symptoms ranging from memory lapses to discolored toes? That could make sense, since abnormal blood clotting can occur in COVID-19.

As these theories and others are tested, there is fresh evidence that vaccination may reduce the chances of developing long COVID.

Check out more top COVID-19 news here:

What can occur when COVID-19 turns cruise vacations into nightmarish voyages? Like the twilight zone Unexpected postcruise adventure Stranded in St. Maarten Cruise FAQs
A 16-year-old male is in critical condition after he was shot Sunday on Collins Street in Hartford, police said.

Police went to the 100 block of Collins Street just before 5 p.m. after receiving a ShotSpotter activation and found the victim, Lt. Aaron Boisvert said in an email.

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The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment and was listed in critical condition, Boisvert said.

The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Division responded and assumed the investigation, Boisvert said.

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Anyone with any information regarding the case is asked to call the HPD Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477)
On the morning her son died, Donna Faye Kiger fixed his lunch  a promise she made in the last conversation she would ever have with him.

John Mark Hendrick, 32, was starting a new job with a painting company, and Kiger said she wanted to make sure her oldest child had enough food to make it through the day.

It would be hours before she would learn that two Davidson County sheriffs deputies had shot her son to death, shortly after the mother and son last spoke on the morning of March 26, 2020. The shooting happened after a car chase, in which Hendrick was a passenger, that crossed three different counties and lasted several hours.

The deputies  Barry Lee Bartrug III and Matthew Jacob Shelton  said they had no choice but to use deadly force. They allege that the driver, Charles Justin Boothe, Hendrick and another passenger, Deven McKay Mathis, failed to follow commands and that Boothe made a movement toward the deputies.

Kiger filed a lawsuit on Aug. 27, 2020 in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of North Carolina against Bartrug and Shelton. Late last year, the lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount of money.

A month after the suit was filed, Garry Frank, the district attorney for Davidson County, cleared the deputies, concluding that their use of force was not excessive, and sought indictments against Boothe, the driver in the chase, for first-degree murder and other charges.

Under what is known as the felony murder rule, prosecutors allege Boothe is responsible for Hendricks death because he committed another felony  assaulting the two deputies with his car  when Hendrick was killed. Under the felony murder rule, Boothe could be found guilty of murder, even though he didnt fire the gun that killed Hendrick.

Kiger said the settlement isnt enough. She wants the deputies, who are now back on active duty with the Davidson County Sheriffs Office, to be held accountable in the criminal justice system.

He didnt do anything wrong that day, Kiger said about her son, who was the oldest of her four children. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Nine seconds

Kiger said she talked to her son for the last time sometime after 12:30 a.m. on March 26, 2020. She told him she would take him lunch  the roast she had cooked for dinner the night before and some drinks.

According to authorities and to the lawsuit, Hendrick was in the front passenger seat of a car Boothe was driving at 2 a.m. that morning.

Mathis was in the back seat. Boothe had just dropped off Mathis girlfriend at her house, and the three men were on Lewisville-Clemmons Road near Peace Haven Road in Clemmons. As the light turned from green to yellow, Boothe accelerated and ran through the intersection.

The car Boothe was driving was also stolen, according to arrest warrants for Boothe.

A Forsyth County sheriffs deputy tried to pull Boothe over for running through the light, but Boothe would not stop, the lawsuit said. The deputy gave chase, driving just above the speed limit, the lawsuit said.

Hendrick and Mathis begged Boothe to stop, the lawsuit said. Boothe refused, telling them he wasnt going back to prison. So the chase went through Forsyth County, with other deputies joining in.

Boothe soon entered Guilford County, where deputies there took over the chase, but as Boothe drove into Thomasville in Davidson County, Guilford County deputies decided it wasnt worth it to continue a chase into another county over a traffic issue, John Vermitsky, one of Kigers attorneys, said.

According to the lawsuit, Hendrick and Mathis were essentially hostages. They had both called 911, asking deputies to back off so they could get out. Boothe also called 911, saying he would let Hendrick and Mathis out if officers would stop chasing him, the lawsuit said.

As the chase entered Lexington, Davidson County sheriffs deputies did what is known as a pit maneuver where they crashed into Boothes car and then blocked it in, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges that Defendants Bartrug and Shelton exited their patrol vehicles and immediately began firing on the vehicle driven by Boothe, firing at least three to six shots into the passenger side of the vehicle.

All of these vehicle shots were fired towards the passenger seat, with one striking Hendrick in the forehead, killing him instantly, the lawsuit said. No warning was given before firing the deadly shots, nor was any attempt taken to avoid targeting the passengers who were clearly kept in the vehicle against their will. Instead the force was deliberately used against Hendrick, killing him and seizing the vehicle.

Kiger said she listened to the 911 calls. According to the calls she heard, the deputies never gave any commands and they started shooting within nine seconds.

The lawsuit alleged that Hendrick was maliciously executed.

Kiger said that when she finally heard from Davidson County Sheriff Ritchie Simmons about what happened to her son, he told her that they were playing a cat and mouse game with deputies, referring to Boothe, Hendrick and Mathis.

Simmons declined to comment on the allegations in the lawsuit. The shooting was not captured on body-cameras or dash cameras. The only body-camera footage came from Forsyth County sheriffs deputies who came to the scene after the shooting.

At the time of the shooting, the Davidson County Sheriffs Office did not have body or dash cameras. Simmons said there was no money for them until a $125,000 federal grant came through months after the shooting. The county had to provide matching funds. The department now has 62 body cameras for deputies who work at the jail and on patrol and who work in the departments Traffic and Criminal Enforcement Division. The department has 10 dash cameras. The department has 161 sworn officers.

The Winston-Salem Journal made a public request to County Attorney Chuck Frye for the 911 calls. Frye said in an email on Jan. 19 that he had received the request. In an email on Thursday, Frye cited state law in saying that there are certain circumstances where public records can be withheld, such as the pending criminal charges against Boothe. He said he had asked the Davidson County Sheriffs Office about its position on releasing the 911 calls. Frye did not provide any updates on the 911 calls on Friday.

Vermitsky said what stood out to him was that once the chase entered Davidson County, there was an immense escalation of the situation. The deputies had all the information they needed to get Boothe later; instead, they chased after the three men over a traffic infraction, Vermitsky said.

Frank, the district attorney, said he reviewed the SBI report and concluded that the deputies use of force was not excessive.

My review of the SBI report indicated that the conduct of the officers didnt merit any criminal charges in my opinion, he said.

Patrick Flanagan, attorney for the deputies, reiterated that the SBI investigated and turned over its report to Frank, who did not pursue any criminal charges against the deputies. He declined further comment.

Both deputies claimed what is known as qualified immunity, a legal concept created by the courts that shields law-enforcement officers from civil liability in most cases. Qualified immunity, Vermitsky said, represents a high legal bar because in many cases, the officers cant be held liable unless the court has previously ruled on the same set of facts.

If there has not been a court case with the same set of facts, the officers are not on notice, he said. The law just says they can do it and you get one free pass.

According to an October 2021 Washington Post analysis, at least 35 state bills seeking to end qualified immunity have failed.

The settlement, Vermitsky said, represented a small amount of justice for Kiger.

Unfortunately, all we have in civil systems is money, he said. We cant force reforms. I was glad that some measure of accountability was taken through force by the settlement happening . This was about getting some small measure of justice.

Everything went dark

It would take hours before Kiger found out what happened to her son on March 26, 2020. At noon that day, she got a call from someone asking if she had talked to her son. That person told her that her son had been involved with something. Kiger said she started making some calls. She called hospitals and the local jail. She called her son.

When she called Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, she said she was told her son was there having a procedure. Kiger said she and her husband drove up to Winston-Salem, where they were told Hendrick wasnt there. She wasnt allowed in the hospital because of the hospitals COVID-19 safety protocols. Then one of her daughters called and told her that there had been a shooting. One of the security guards came out, and she told him what she had heard. The security guard took her to a different part of the hospital. Someone called her and told her that her son had been shot.

The security guard was able to confirm it to her husband and her ex-husband, Hendricks father. They were told Hendrick was at Lexington Memorial Hospital. Everything around me just went dark, Kiger said. I could see everybody but I couldnt see anybody. I just fell to my knees and screamed.

Kiger is holding onto the memory of her son. Hendrick was the oldest of four children  two sons and two daughters. And they were all close, Kiger said. Hendrick grew up in Winston-Salem and attended Parkland High School. He went to Forsyth Technical Community College to try to attain a GED. He didnt finish but he was about to start a new job at a painting company. He was very family oriented, Kiger said. We were all just really close. Thats why she woke up early on March 26, 2020, to fix her son some lunch for his first day on the job he never got a chance to get to. Thats why, she said, she is continuing to push for justice for her son. She wants the deputies who shot her son in prison. She said she wants accountability. Vermitsky said Kiger wants a fair investigation and a fair prosecution. Theyve taken a part of my heart away, Kiger said. Its just a piece of me thats missing that will never be whole again, that will never be put back together again.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  Just as they do every two years, Iowa Democrats and Republicans will hold precinct caucuses next week.

Theyll be exactly same as in a presidential election year with one big difference  no presidential straw poll, said Linn County GOP Chairman Justin Wasson.

Democrats also wont be doing their slightly more involved version of a straw poll. Participation isnt likely to be as great as in a presidential election year caucus because those campaigns wont be encouraging their supporters to get to the caucuses.

However, party leaders say the absence of presidential candidates and the accompanying national and international media coverage doesnt diminish from the important work of the caucuses, which are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 7.

Both parties see the off-year caucuses as party-building opportunities. Caucus participants will elect central committee members and delegates to county conventions. Participants can indicate interest in serving on various committees and submit platform proposals. Caucuses also are an opportunity for candidates hoping to qualify get their ballot petitions signed.

Thats made more difficult by COVID-19 as many party members are reluctant to gather in large numbers.

Johnson County Democrats will conduct virtual caucuses to allow everyone to participate without risk of contracting COVID-19, said Chairman Ed Cranston of North Liberty.

We believe that our caucuses should be open to all Democrats, including those in high-risk populations, he said, adding that can be achieved with online caucuses.

Linn County Democrats will have hybrid caucuses  in-person but with an online option.

I look at these off-year caucuses as party-building events, but COVID-19 really putting a damper on that, Chairman Bret Nilles of Cedar Rapids said.

In 2014, 240 people showed up at Linn County caucuses, he said. In 2018, 640 people participated despite a blizzard that night.

A lot of it depends on whats going on in terms of peoples motivation to get out. In 2018, it was (Donald) Trump and the midterm elections, he said.

He expects in-person turnout to be closer to 200 this year because of COVID-19.

Party leaders say the Iowa Democratic Party is encouraging in-person caucuses, but at least three counties  Johnson, Woodbury and Dallas  are planning virtual caucuses.

We have lots of volunteers who have been at every caucus, but theyre not able to attend his year because of the pandemic, Cranston said. We had a committee that put together some health plans to make it as safe as possible.

He expects more people will participate in the virtual caucuses than if they were held in-person.

Democrats at the virtual options are planning a walk-through feature to allow people to sign candidate petitions, sign up to serve on central committees or run to be delegates to county conventions without being in a large gathering.

Republicans are planning in-person caucuses. Although there wont be a presidential straw poll, Johnson County GOP caucus coordinator Karen Fesler of Coralville said theres important work to do because of the midterm elections that include a U.S. Senate seat and the governors race.

Their concern is a repeat of the blizzard four years ago. Fesler and one other person were the only ones at her precinct, she recalled.

In Linn County, Wasson said two caucus sites had been closed because of weather and parking lots and sidewalks at many others had not been cleared of snow.

I think participation will be pretty good for an off-year, he said, Theres definitely energy in the party.

Schedules may vary from county to county, but in general, whether caucuses are in-person or virtual, doors open at 6 p.m. with the caucuses starting at 7 p.m.

The Woodbury County Republican Party is planning to hold in-person caucuses. County precinct boundaries and boundary numbers have changed. GOP voters wanting information on their precinct and polling location can call the Woodbury County Republican Party at 712-255-6992 or the Woodbury County Auditor at 712-279-6465.

The Woodbury County Democratic Party's caucus will be virtual due to ongoing spread of the coronavirus. For more information on the Democratic caucuses, visit woodburydems.com.

Additional Woodbury County caucus and voting information is available at elections.woodburycountyiowa.gov.

To find Republican caucus locations statewide, visit iowagop.org/2022-caucus-locations. For state Democratic Party caucuses, visit iowademocrats.org/2022-caucuses.

The Journal's Mason Dockter contributed to this report.

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A Lincoln garbage hauler is accused of negligently causing more than $200,000 damage to a limestone wall at the Nebraska State Capitol.

The building is a registered National Historic Landmark.

In a civil complaint filed this week, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Erik Fern said that on April 28, 2020, a truck owned by Uribe Refuse Services Inc. rolled down the loading ramp on the south loading dock, colliding with the west limestone wall.

He said that Uribe Refuse had been negligent for failing to maintain control of the truck, to properly engage the brake and to operate it at a safe speed.

To fix the damage, Fern said the state sought a bid for materials and labor from Masonry Construction, a contractor qualified to work on national historical landmarks.

The expected price tag to repair the damaged wall is $211,302 -- the amount the state is seeking -- plus costs, attorney fees and interest.

Uribe Refuse hasn't yet filed a response to the lawsuit.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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When Jill Mayer graduated from high school in 1999, career options felt more limited than what she sees available to todays 18-year-olds. There was a stigma, Mayer said, that if you dont get a college degree, youre not going to be able to make good money and have a long career.

But she likes to think thats changing. Mayer, 40, now runs her familys Milford-based manufacturing business, Bead Industries, and she recently took the helm as president of industry group ManufactureCT. In both roles, she puts a lot of energy into cultivating the manufacturing sectors next generation of workers and leaders.

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Kids today are smartening up, saying, Look, I dont have to go to college to be super successful, Mayer said. I wouldnt say were all the way there. Theres a long way to go on that, but at least theres awareness behind it. Building that awareness among young people is vital for the future of Connecticut manufacturing.

After a half-century of decline in the sector, local, state and federal lawmakers are working to revive Connecticuts industrial base. But without a next-generation workforce to feed those green shoots, they could dry up.

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Tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funding, much of it matched by private sector contributions, have gone into an array of education and training programs to funnel Connecticut workers into manufacturing jobs. It seems like at least once a week, a state or federal official is touting a new effort to bring industry back to Connecticut.

Indeed, many sectors are facing labor shortages as the economy heats up in the aftermath of the pandemic recession. But policymakers have homed in on manufacturing because increased factory production often leads to multiplier effects  that is, increased activity in related sectors, like the companies that source materials or provide services to the manufacturing business. If Connecticut helps boost the workforce at Groton-based submarine manufacturer Electric Boat, for example, that has the potential to drive up business for all of the companys local suppliers.

Since 2014, the states Manufacturing Innovation Fund has supported a range of programs from career activities for K-12 students to pre-apprenticeships and funding for tuition, books and transportation for high school students taking college-level courses in manufacturing. The state supports training programs in technical and comprehensive high schools, colleges and universities, the correctional system and online. The city of Hartford recently announced the creation of two walk-in Community Manufacturing Training Centers. And a portion of federal funds under the American Rescue Plan is slated for a new short-term job-training program dubbed CareerConneCT  modeled after one of Connecticuts most successful training programs, the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Boards Manufacturing Pipeline, which offers tuition-free technical instruction for people seeking jobs at Electric Boat and other advanced manufacturing companies in the region.

Still, businesses and state leaders acknowledge challenges in getting the word out. Late last year, the funds board approved plans for an advertising campaign to drive up awareness, interest and enrollment and contribute to a stronger workforce talent pipeline in the future.

The state has a long way to go. In late 2020, the Governors Workforce Council estimated that Connecticuts current manufacturing training programs could produce about 3,000 new employees a year at best. Thats half of the projected annual demand for the next several years.

Lack of awareness among young people regarding the attractiveness of manufacturing careers continues to constrain the number of people participating in education and training programs, the councils manufacturing committee found.

Millennials in CT opted for office jobs. Will Gen Z return to trade gigs?

Manufacturing enjoyed a positive reputation for much of the mid-20th century, but by the late 1990s and early 2000s, that was shifting. Union membership had declined, and young people were increasingly turned off by what they perceived as dirty, dangerous and grueling careers in a field with few opportunities for growth. And federal funding cuts led to the elimination of technical skills instruction at many comprehensive high schools.

At the same time, the information technology sector was booming, and supply chains were going global. Some U.S. factory production shifted to making high-tech products. Other operations brought in new machines and automation that boosted productivity. And many companies relocated their manufacturing facilities to parts of the world with lower labor costs. The combined factors led to a massive drop-off in Americas manufacturing workforce.

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Connecticut was no stranger to that downward trend. In the 1950s, half of all jobs in the state were in the manufacturing sector (while nationally the figure stood at 34%). Connecticuts manufacturing workforce peaked in 1967 at nearly 480,000 jobs.

Today, fewer than 160,000 people work in manufacturing in Connecticut, accounting for less than 10% of the workforce. Thats slightly higher than the national figure of 8.4%.

That generation-wide shock to the manufacturing business left physical shadows across Connecticut in the form of vacant factory properties, often situated prominently along the riverbanks, in dozens of the states towns and cities. Gen Z came of age amid the looming husks of the industrys past  looking on as many were repurposed into upscale residential and retail spaces.

Colin Cooper, the states chief manufacturing officer and chairman of the Manufacturing Innovation Funds advisory board, grew up in New Britain when it was known as the Hardware Capital of the World. Several manufacturers occupied the very large monolithic brick buildings downtown, Cooper recalled. It was so bustling, he said, you didnt want to be caught there at shift change.

By contrast, todays factory operations tend to be smaller and specialized, and theyre predominantly located in light industrial parks out in the suburbs at the end of some cul-de-sac, Cooper said. Its not front-of-mind as much as it was.

And many current K-12 students dont personally know adults who work in the field. With a much smaller cohort among Generation X and Millennials, Connecticuts manufacturing workforce skews older. More than one-third of the industrys workers are over age 55, compared to around 27% across all sectors, according to the state labor department.

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Abigail Nadeau, a high school senior studying mechanical design and engineering at Ella T. Grasso Tech in Groton, said she wasnt very familiar with the manufacturing field before she started exploring the program at school.

I only found out after I had gone into mechanical design that my grandfather was also in mechanical design, she said. I didnt know that when I joined. When Nadeau learned she was following in her grandfathers footsteps, she said her reaction was: Oh, wow!

Last summer, Nadeau interned at Electric Boat, and she hopes to work there after graduation.

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Young people entering the workforce may lack awareness about manufacturing, but that could work to the sectors advantage if they come at it with fresh eyes, industry leaders say.

Manufacturing isnt what it was a generation ago, Cooper said. Its lean, clean and green.

Its also far more technologically advanced  increasingly so in Connecticut. The states large aerospace and defense manufacturers require a high level of precision from the parts-makers in their supply chains. And the multimillion-dollar 3D printers, grinders and other computer-based machines require specialized training.

News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m >

Cooper said young people are much more comfortable with all of it.

We find that young engineers, they think in three dimensions. For several hundred years, manufacturing relied on two-dimensional blueprints, but now weve got smart models, he said. The younger generation, they just take to that.

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The onset of those new digital technologies has been referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, involving internet-connected machines, robots, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Last year, the Connecticut General Assembly established a working group tasked with making legislative proposals to help small- and mid-sized manufacturers shift over to the new regime. Led by the nonprofit Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology and consulting group CONNSTEP, the working group has been meeting with businesses for the past several months. An interim report is due in mid-March, and the groups final strategic plan is slated for October.

Economic development leaders looking to recruit businesses to Connecticut say the states high-tech manufacturing operations and highly skilled industry workforce are key competitive advantages over other states. Theyre also the reason manufacturing jobs here pay well above the average salary statewide, according to a recent analysis by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

Comprehensive high schools have begun adding back technical education options. Tuition for advanced manufacturing training programs is either partially or fully subsidized, and many companies offer reimbursement for employees who go back to school for higher education degrees. To many young adults facing years of crippling student loan payments, the option to graduate debt-free with lots of lucrative job options could be enticing.

Erica E. Phillips is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (ctmirror.org). Copyright 2022  The Connecticut Mirror.
SIOUX CITY -- Last year, Cora and Phil Haefs had a surgery scheduled to transplant one of her kidneys to him. It was cancelled. Then they made another appointment. It also was cancelled. Then another. And another.

One of the appointments, at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, was called off due to a fatal automobile accident -- the doctors and staff were suddenly diverted to the urgent, time-sensitive task of removing organs and tissues from a donor who was killed. The others were cancelled for various reasons, including staffing difficulties and the ever-present pandemic.

But finally, on Dec. 17, it happened. Over the course of roughly 2 1/2 hours, Drs. Arika Hoffman and Alexander Maskin removed one of Cora's kidneys and put it in the body of Phil, her father. Almost instantaneously, like the lights in a room after a blown fuse is replaced, the healthy kidney got to work.

"It started pumping fluid right out of the bladder immediately, which is perfect -- you can't get any better than that," Phil said. "Sometimes a kidney will 'sleep' for a day or two before it starts (functioning.) It started working right away, it was the best you could ask for."

Cora was able to go home after a few days, while Phil had to stay in Omaha into part of January for observation and to be in close proximity to the medical team, and for follow-up exams, educational classes and physical therapy.

Within days of the transplant, he was already looking markedly healthier; while on dialysis his skin had developed the mottled, thin, scabbed appearance typical of a far older person.

After he got back on his feet and back in Sioux City, Phil, 64, had big plans. He wants to build up his strength -- dialysis left him weakened. "He was thinner than paper," said Cora, 38.

And he intends to get back to work, liberated from the dialysis equipment that kept him a prisoner at home much of the day. Free of the fear that dialysis won't go well today, and the near-certainty of serious illness that follows. Confident that his rehabilitated renal system is doing what it's supposed to, on autopilot and without any complicated mechanical intervention, so that he doesn't need to worry about it.

"I'm 64, I'm almost at the age to retire, but I'm not that kind of guy, I just don't think I'm going to do that yet," he said.

Lone kidney

Phil Haefs grew up with only one working kidney. Its faulty counterpart wasn't discovered until after he turned 18, when a physical exam revealed high blood pressure -- the kidneys govern blood pressure and fluid balance -- and doctors found a kidney problem. A procedure the following year put things back in order, at least for the next 40 years or so, but he still had only one kidney.

He acknowledged that, for a time in his younger years -- when illness and old age were still in the distant future -- he wasn't as careful with his kidney as he could've been, describing himself as "rambunctious" and a "construction worker, drinker, smoking guy." Still, the kidney soldiered on and he remained in good health until time took its toll.

Around the time he turned 60, Phil's solo kidney began to weaken. After a cardiovascular procedure that didn't go well, the kidney shut down and he went on dialysis. The kidney recovered and he got off dialysis, but within two years the kidney failed again. It was permanent this time.

Kidney failure usually manifests itself as a noticeable fluid buildup, called edema, along with a host of other distressing symptoms. These are the result of the renal system failing to exchange fluids, eliminate waste and maintain the proper balance of water, salts, bodily chemicals and blood pressure. In the era before dialysis or transplants, when the condition was termed "Bright's disease," kidney failure typically resulted in death unless the patient's kidney function made an (unlikely) comeback.

For many kidney failure sufferers, fluid builds up in the lower extremities -- typically the legs and feet -- giving them a very puffy appearance, a visual hallmark of the condition.

"For me, the fluid buildup is in my face, of course," Phil Haefs said last summer, before the transplant.

He went on dialysis, but it often didn't go well and served as a constant source of distress. Though dialysis technology has made major advances in recent decades -- dialysis can be done from the comfort of home now -- it remains one of the most intensely disliked and dreaded medical interventions. Even the advanced machines of today can't always be relied on to correctly perform delicate bodily functions that healthy organs manage flawlessly.

"I mean a lot of people just deny doing (dialysis), they don't want to live that way," Phil Haefs said. "And they pass away. They'd just rather pass away than do it. Not me, though."

It took quite a while, but Cora eventually prevailed on her father to accept a transplant. Parental resistance to receiving a transplant from children is not uncommon among those who have that option, but Cora wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"A whole year before I finally gave in. I didn't want to do that to my daughter -- I mean I've lived 64 years with one kidney," he said.

The organ transplant list is notoriously long, and the wait often ends when the patient dies without having received a transplant. Prospective recipients have to be ready, always, at a moment's notice to make a mad dash to the hospital should an organ suddenly come available -- time is of the essence. But that abrupt, get-here-now call may never come.

Testing revealed Cora to be a perfect match, and she was in good health. Phil took solace in the hope that renal treatment or replacement technology will make significant advances in the coming decades, so that even if Cora's kidney falters one day, she won't have to struggle the way he did.

Whatever the long-term risks, real or perceived, Cora paid them little mind. She only wanted her father to feel better.

"If I had a million (kidneys), they could've taken them all out but one," Cora said. "I hope other people that are on dialysis get that chance."

Caring for a new kidney

Phil and Cora are determined to keep their shared renal systems alive and well for a long, long time -- ideally for as long as they themselves are around.

"The saying that they have is, 'The way to pay back a kidney transplant is to treat that kidney with respect,'" Phil said. "That's a good thing to keep in mind and that's kind of the way I've got to live life now."

Transplant recipients have to go on immunosuppressant drugs for the remainder of their lives -- the immune system can become spooked at encountering an unfamiliar person's organ and attack it, killing the organ and putting the recipient back at square one. So the immune system has to be calmed down with drugs.

"It's a lifelong commitment," Phil said.

An immune system restrained by medication leaves Phil at increased risk of infection, so he has to be careful. Fresh fruits and vegetables -- or any food item that was touched by somebody else -- has to be washed thoroughly to keep foodborne pathogens at bay. Rare or undercooked meat isn't a good idea. Vaccines are a good idea.

"I used to, I still do, like medium-rare meat, and that's out of the question because medium-rare meat can hold bacteria," Phil said.

Cora, on the other hand, has relatively few restrictions to her lifestyle, except for minor things like drinking generous portions of water every day and avoidance of certain over-the-counter pain relievers. Activities that could put stress on a kidney -- excessive drinking, smoking -- are probably better avoided. She already didn't do those things, so that's not a problem.

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SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Parkinson's disease can be a lonely and difficult disease, but a class at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA helps those diagnosed combat both the emotional and physical impacts.

The Parkinson's Disease Support Group offers education and community for those with Parkinson's, and is paired with a class called "Delay the Disease," which helps those retain physical skills that are affected.

Class instructor and group leader Dawn Welch is a health specialist at the YMCA. She said the support group addresses the mental health aspect, while the workout group helps the other physical aspects.

She said the main goal is to allow people with Parkinson's to have quality life and do their activities of daily life.

Three times a week the "Delay the Disease" group works on various movement challenges. Some areas include balance, sitting and standing, handwriting and voice volume.

The class costs $10 for 10 classes and are at 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Studies show exercise slows the progression of Parkinson's, Welch said. The timing of the class is specifically set at 11 a.m. because studies show it is the best time of the day for those with Parkinson's.

On Jan 12, the class did baseline tests, to eventually show how they have progressed on skills such as balance, sitting and standing, and walking.

Deidre Engel has been attending the classes for the last four years, starting shortly after she was diagnosed.

Engel said the class not only helps retain muscles, but it is good for morale and is challenging. Her strength and balance have improved due to the class.

Once a month, the free support group meets to discuss day-to-day issues as well as give each other support and advice. The attendees discuss anything from their diagnosis stories to ways the disease impact them.

The class also has speakers who discuss various topics regarding Parkinson's.

Welch has been leading the group for four years, and, on average, 10 people attend the meetings. Many of those individuals have attended for years. She said the group helps them cope with the disease.

On Jan. 10, the group discussed specific ways the disease impacted them, as well as how long it took for them to be diagnosed and the process of being diagnosed.

Emily Dykstra attended her first support group in January. She was diagnosed in 2018, but believes she had it for eight years prior to that. She hadn't sought help and community until now.

Dykstra struggles with day-to-day tasks such as driving, getting out of bed and remembering family member's names. She hopes the class will help her find the drive to exercise and help slow the progression.

"I'm losing my independence at the same time," Dykstra said. "Coming here is going to make a difference."

Many of those in the class agreed with Dykstra, and said the classes have helped them maintain the independence they still have.

Welch said the community members just need to take the first step. She said anyone can call her to discuss the classes and learn about how the class and support group can help.

"People think you have to be newly diagnosed or had it a long time to come. No, it can be any stages," she said.

For more information, contact the YMCA.

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States and localities are continuing to drop their mask mandates here in the U.S., but places like Hong Kong and South Korea are seeing the opposite trend. Here's that and more COVID news.
This article contains spoilers for The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window and The Woman in the Window.

Netflixs The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window may be a parody of the domestic suspense genre so popular among American readers and filmgoers, but its not a giddy or manic one. Not for the miniseriess creators Rachel Ramras, Hugh Davidson, and Larry Dorf the rapid-fire stream of gags deployed by movie satires like Scary Movie and Airplane. Instead, The Woman in the House proceeds sedately over the course of eight episodes, with only the occasional dash of broad comedy, like when the main character, Anna (Kristen Bell), fills her balloon goblet to the brim with red wine and slurps from it next to an enormous salad bowl overflowing with old corks. Plenty of viewers will find themselves wondering whether this is a spoof of the genre or a specimen of it.

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Does it work? Mostly not, but the eighth and final episode of The Woman in the House made it worthwhile for this viewer, someone all too familiar with the domestic thrillers conventions. The series appears to be the work of people who have read dozens of these books and the scripts based on them, looking for candidates for adaptation. Throughout the series, Anna browses through novels whose plots resemble the story shes trapped inside, each one with a title that obliquely references an actual bestselling book. The people responsible for the show, for better and for worse, know their domestic thrillers inside out. Unfortunately, some of their best jokes will only be noticed (let alone appreciated) by other grizzled veterans.

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It helps to understand what makes all these Woman/Girl thrillers tick. This particular subgenre launched with Paula Hawkins 2015 blockbuster novel, The Girl on the Train, and reached its apotheosis three years later with A.J. Finns The Woman in the Window, an extremely calculated exercise in what had by then become a well-established formula. In the classic premise, an isolated middle-class womanalmost always whitewho feels that her life has been broken spends too much time voyeurizing people with apparently perfect lives. But one day, as she watches, she witnesses a woman murdered. When she tries to report this crime to various authority figures, ranging from the police to her therapist, no one believes her because she drinks too much, takes mood-stabilizing medication, and has a history of mental instability. Eventually, she even comes to doubt herself, but in the end, after several twists, she is proved right.

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Its no surprise that so many hits were reliably produced using this formula. It speaks to a stew of anxieties underlying middle-class femininity, from the obsession with surface appearances of domestic perfection and with the ugly secrets lurking behind such facades to a (frankly justifiable) frustration at not being believed when trying to expose those secrets. The Woman in the House could do a lot more with this subtext, but some of its subtlest jokessuch as the gradual revelation that every catastrophe visited on Anna is the fault of her clueless husband, and yet no one, not even Anna herself, blames him for itare pleasingly sharp. They just tend to get overshadowed by dopey shtick like the recurring casserole gag, which might have been lifted from a 1960s comedy. Satire needs to be as accurate as a laser, and no woman with a house as smartly appointed as Annas would make a casserole with canned cream-of-mushroom soup.

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Its many reference points notwithstanding,The Woman in the House essentially replicates the basic plot of The Woman in the Window, padding it out to a four-hour length with a lot of irrelevant nonsense such as Annas dalliance with Rex (Benjamin Levy Aguilar), the murder victims side piece, and her attempts to revive her painting career (although the self-help books with titles like You Too Can Be an Artist are kind of funny). Surely a 90-minute feature would have had crisper pacing and more honed jokes. There are parodies of bad movie voice-over (To get to the bottom of something, sometimes you have to remind yourself that if you dont risk anything, you risk everything) and canned dialogue (It takes a big person to admit when theyre wrong), which are so close to the real thing that theyre barely recognizable as jokes.

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But the finale is weirdly perfect, taking the silly evil-teenager twist from The Woman in the Window and going full Bad Seed by making the sociopathic killer a 9-year-old girl (Samsara Yett). Theres the hilariously prolonged opening fight scene between Anna and this pint-size villain, and a baroque Easter egg in the final scene on the airplane, in which Anna is reading a thriller titled The Woman on the Cruise, when the passenger in the seat next to hers (Glenn Close!) turns up dead in the lavatory and then vanishes entirelythe storyline of Ruth Wares The Woman in Cabin 10, which takes place on a cruise ship. But most delicious is the endless chain of visitors to Annas hospital room, each one apologizing to her and telling her she was right and they were wrong. You have no idea how long Ive been waiting to hear that, she tells one of them, because this, of course, is the money shot of the Woman/Girl domestic suspense novel, the point where everyone says theyre sorry for writing the heroine off as an unstable drunk (even though she is an unstable drunk). The setup (flowers, Annas dumb joke about the Mack truck) repeats almost word-for-word, but, as with pornography, it doesnt really matter how banal the prologue is as long as you get what you really, really want. Its just too bad it takes so long to get there.
A Tennessee school board recently voted to pull the Pulitzer Prizewinning graphic novel Maus and its cat-and-mouse retelling of the Holocaust from the school curriculum. The school board members cited violence, nudity (in humanoid mouse caricatures), and profanity as the reasons. One member, Tony Allman, said: It shows people hanging. It shows them killing kids. Why does the educational system promote this kind of stuff?

The controversy this attracted seems symptomatic of a broader moment when certain parents and school boards feel emboldened to remove materials deemed offensive, especially when they concern history and racism. But this is not the first time Maus has been targeted in the classroom, and I wondered how exceptional our period truly is. Emily Knox, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says we truly are seeing a rise in book challenges around the country, and she recognizes it as connected to a larger movement she detailed in her 2015 book, Book Banning in 21st-Century America. But she says challenges like these arent only coming from the rightand that in some ways, the fallout this time is missing the point. We spoke about how to understand whats happening and what to do about it. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Aymann Ismail: As someone who watches events like this closely, how concerned should we be at this moment about books being removed in schools? Is it in fact more widespread than it usually is right now?

Emily Knox: Yes, there are way more cases than usual. The American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom say theyve never had this many people challenging books. This is more than any other time. I feel its a symptom of the shock that were going through as society. Should we be alarmed by it? Yes, but to a point. Its not that this is new. Its that the people who are bringing the challenges are able to speak to each other much more easily. Social media has exacerbated the problem a lot. So Maus was just banned in Tennessee. We might hear it gets banned in Oregon tomorrow, which would not have been true before social media. This is a phenomenon thats been around forever, but because people are able to communicate much more easily, its manifesting differently.

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In the Tennessee case, the notes from the board meeting suggest Maus was removed because of nudity (in mouse caricatures) and profanity. Some, like the books author, Art Spiegelman, suggest its actually an attempt to whitewash Holocaust history. Is it common to cite justifications that hide the real reason for it?

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What I say is that this is the discourse of censorship. Since we are a country that is dedicated to freedom, you have to come up with justifications for getting rid of something thats uncomfortable for you. So it often is hidden. In my book, I talk about all different themes that appear and what people are actually talking about. This is an obvious one, because its a bunch of mice, so I dont know what they mean by nudity. Its a weird position to take. I try and analyze the discourse and see if it reveals more than just what the words are saying.

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What do you think is the underlying fear here?

People are trying to get books like Maus banned because they are afraid that if their children read them, they will have different values than the values their parents want them to have. Thats really what this is about. People are looking at books as dangerous knowledge. In the library field, we say we never know how any individual person will react to a book. But people who ban and challenge books collectivize everybody. They say, Well, I read this book and it disturbs me. Or My child will read this book and they will be disturbed. Therefore, everybody will have this feeling about the book. We could ban books. We could ban something like The Turner Diaries, a white supremacist book from the 70s. But thats saying that everybody who reads that will end up agreeing with the author. We actually dont know. In my work, we are agnostic in terms of reading effects. I link this to the Reformation and the importance of the doctrine of sola scriptura, the idea that reading could actually save your soul. People really believe that reading has metaphysical effects.

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How do experts define book banning? Is ban a fair word for what happened in Tennessee?

There are narrow and broad definitions of banning. So there are people who argue that theyre not banning the book because you can still get it onlineits not been banned by the government. That is a very narrow definition of banning. And people who might have a broader definition of banning might say, If you vote to remove it from public circulation in a particular place, then you are banning a book. I have four Rs for censorship practices: reduction, removal, restriction, and relocation. So this is removal, which means that its not available in this particular school district, although it looks like they removed it from the classes and not the library, and those have their own nuances as to whether or not something is included in the curriculum and in the library.

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How much power should parents and school boards have over what books students read in class?

Our schools have always been sites of contestation. Were one of the only wealthy countries where you can just decide to take your children out of school and home-school them. Thats just not possible in, say, France. That just doesnt happen. Americans are true believers that education should take place in the home, and that handing children over to strangers for education is somewhat problematic. So giving your children over to strangers, and strangers are teaching about a society rife with white supremacy, you think, Well, Im a white person. What is this teacher saying about me? It suddenly becomes very personalized when people talk like this. Theyre not necessarily talking about each individual person, but the structures of the society.

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Do banning books attempts backfire, like the Streisand effect?

It depends on what level of analysis youre doing. In the Tennessee case, probably Maus will move up in sales on Amazon for a while. But that doesnt mean that the kids in Tennessee can see this incredible book. I already have a copy of Maus. I would probably buy it for myself, as a person who can afford to buy books, and I would make sure that my local library has it. But that doesnt really help the kid in Tennessee who wants to learn more about the Holocaust. The intended audience is often unable to actually get access to the book because they dont have the resources and the access thats necessary.

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What do people usually get wrong about restrictions on books in schools? What do you wish more people understood?

The main thing that people get wrong is that they think that it is irrational. They ask, How can anyone take this book out of school? But its not an irrational act. Its symbolic. And its not a right-left phenomena. There are many ways the left challenges books, but some dont see challenges the same way. There was a TERF [trans-exclusionary] book that showed up, and I watched people argue that libraries shouldnt buy it, saying it spread lies. So the way I look at it, all sides see certain knowledge as lies. Theres one side I agree with more than the other, but the idea that people are unaware of what theyre saying, I just dont find that to be true.

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Is this the biggest threat to free expression right now?

What I worry about is that before this new kerfuffle happened, there was a lot of talk in progressive circles about banning hate speech from online platforms. What we see with Maus is why those are such dangerous positions to take. When you say this person shouldnt be allowed to speak because I find their rhetoric hateful or harmful, theres no saying that wont turn back around on you. Of course, you might see your position as rational, but thats just not where we are in our society. Our society is based on white supremacydo you really want the current Supreme Court to decide what is hate speech or not? And thats what could happen. This Maus thing is very bizarre because are we getting into Holocaust denial territory? How do we want stories of the Holocaust to be told? But the stand we should take is, what do we want citizens to know? What does it mean to be knowledgeable, to be educated? These are the questions we need to ask. Its bigger than freedom of expression.
Americans seem to be turned off by Joe Bidens Supreme Court nomination strategy.

In a new ABC News/Ipsos poll of U.S. adults, more than three-quarters of respondents said Biden should consider all possible nominees to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, rather than consider only nominees who are Black women, as he has pledged to do. Even 54 percent of Democrats said theyd prefer Biden take the wide-net approach.

This may come as an unwelcome surprise to the White House, but it makes perfect sense to those of us whove been following Bidens blundering attempts to discuss race and gender in politics over the past two years.

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Though public support for affirmative action programs is on the rise, with 62 percent of U.S. adults in favor, the way Biden has talked about the value of diversity in political institutions is remarkably crass. Its no wonder that the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of his own party, are chafing at it.

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The White Houses current conundrum began during Bidens 2020 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, when he made two promises: If nominated, he would tap a woman as his running mate; and if elected, hed pick a Black woman for the Supreme Court. These pledges were meant to alleviate the perceived reluctance of Democratic votersa minority of whom are white mento choose a white man as their nominee.

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Invoking an imaginary Black woman as his desired SCOTUS pick may have helped Biden achieve his short-term goal (though I have trouble imagining the person whose objections to Biden as a candidate were easily assuaged by the race and gender of an imaginary Supreme Court nominee). At any rate, he won the Democratic nomination and, eventually, the White House. But those abstract promises needlessly tokenized the actual women who would step into those roles, dooming them to racist and sexist skepticism before they even got the nod.

As a campaign tactic, it was not only selfish but shortsighted. It gave Biden what may have felt like a boost in the moment, while creating a wide opening for criticism and doubts about the women whod contribute to his presidential legacy.

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Bidens Supreme Court promise came during a Democratic debate in South Carolina at the urging of South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress. Im looking forward to making sure theres a Black woman on the Supreme Court, Biden said in the debate. Clyburn reportedly would not endorse Biden until he made that commitment. Clyburn has credited the line with Bidens win in the South Carolina primary, powered by Black voters, which gave him the momentum he needed to secure the Democratic nomination.

Now, predictably, conservative commentators are using Bidens pledge to insinuate that anyone he picks will be underqualified for the court, just because hes choosing from a smaller pool of candidates populated entirely by Black women. National Review went further and accused the president of discriminating on the basis of race and sex, not a great start in selecting someone sworn to provide equal justice under the law.

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These kinds of bad-faith, racist objections should not be taken seriously. Presidents of both parties have historically taken race and gender into consideration when choosing Supreme Court nomineesas they should.

There are good, substantive reasons to take deliberate steps toward a judiciary that reflects the population. Diverse political institutions make more inclusive policies, for one thing. And men and white people have benefited from their own version of affirmative action for generations, in the form of racist and sexist biases that have kept other qualified individuals out of positions of power. As Sonia Sotomayor once said, in a line that was ghoulishly twisted by the right, life as a woman of color offers a richness of  experiences that brings great value to judicial decision-making.

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Bidens overly candid pledge was not bad because seeking a diverse Supreme Court is bad, but because it preemptively undersold his nominee. As my colleagues Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern wrote last week, because conservatives will assume that anyone chosen in part for her gender and race will not be the best candidate on the merits, even before she has a name, Bidens nominee will be tarnished as lesser. 

What would have been the harm in Biden simply nominating a Black woman for the court, without the premature, identity-specific fanfare? What if he hadnt told everyone, before hed even picked herindeed, before hed even been elected that shed only bested other Black women for the role, rather than the entire pool of possible nominees? Wouldnt she have been better served by the perception that Biden had also considered white men for the slot, and found them wanting in comparison?

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Only Biden has seen any potential benefit from his showboating pledge. Any way you look at it, his nominee will pay the price.

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Nobody understands this better than Kamala Harris. In the presidential debate after he promised to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, Biden said he would choose a woman as his running mate. When he eventually tapped Harris, that gimmicky pledge dulled the announcements shine. She wasnt a historic choice with a unique set of accomplishments and skillsshe was the fulfillment of a campaign promise. Ever since, Harris has struggled to overcome the notion that her primary utility to the White House lies in her lived experience as a woman of color.

Of course, any Biden running mate or SCOTUS nominee who was not a white man would have attracted racist and sexist criticism from the right. Barack Obama never said hed been searching for a Latina when he nominated Sotomayor in 2009, but that didnt stop conservatives from suggesting that her identity had given her an unearned leg up. Ilya Shapiro, now a vice president at the Cato Institute, wrote at the time that Sotomayor would not have even been on the short list if she were not Hispanic, though she had more judicial experience than any other sitting justice had at the time of their respective nominations. (Georgetown University Law Center, at which Shapiro was supposed to begin work this week, placed him on administrative leave after he tweeted last week that Bidens SCOTUS pledge would elevate a lesser Black woman over an Indian American man.)

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But if Biden hadnt prefaced his nomination of a Black woman with a disclaimer, it would be a lot easier for him to refute claims that other capable candidates were not given their due, or that the nominees identity was the most salient part of her resume. It would be a lot easier for reasonable peoplenot the knee-jerk raciststo accept a stellar nominee as a stellar nominee without doubting her qualifications. And its likely that 76 percent of the ABC News/Ipsos poll respondents would not have expressed misgivings about the process before Biden had even made his choice.

If Biden had nominated a Black woman without his self-interested pledge, any presumption that she was chosen in large part for her gender and race could have been rightly written off as sexist and racist. Instead, such belittling presumptions are taking the spotlight because, according to the president himself, they are correct.
Fifty years ago this month, one of the last Japanese soldiers from World War II finally came in from the cold. Two local hunters on the Pacific island of Guam stumbled across a hunched-over man in filthy clothing late one January afternoon as he was setting handmade shrimp traps in a remote jungle stream. The two men had lived through the brutal Japanese occupation of Guam during the war and knew exactly what they had found. Before the wild-eyed man could escape, they grabbed him, tied his hands behind his back, and marched him at gunpoint to the island authorities, who could scarcely believe the story he had to tell.

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The hunters had bagged Lance Cpl. Shoichi Yokoi of the Imperial Japanese Army. He was the last survivor of a 20,000-man Japanese garrison that U.S. forces had obliterated when retaking the American territory in 1944. He had been on the run in Guams rugged interior for nearly 28 years, first as part of a small band of stragglers and later completely on his own. He hid by day in a dank, smoky tunnel he had dug himself with a fragment of an artillery shell. By night he foraged for coconuts, cane toads, and the occasional stray cow. He was 56 years old and weighed less than 90 pounds.

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Yokois discovery in 1972 stunned the Japanese public, who had long assumed the last of the emperors imperial troops were dead or accounted for. More than 5,000 flag-waving men, women, and schoolchildren turned out on an overcast winter afternoon to cheer him when he finally returned to Tokyo. Seventy million more, the equivalent in percentage terms to 200 million Americans today, watched on live television as he shuffled to a microphone set up on the airport tarmac and delivered another shocker.

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He told his countrymen he was ashamed to have come home alive.

I first came across Yokois story while working as a reporter on Guam in the mid-1970s. At first, it was the details of his survival that floored me: His escape from the massive Allied invasion that killed 90 percent of the Japanese defenders. The deadly game of cat-and-mouse he led for literally half his life as U.S. troops and vengeful islanders hunted down survivors. His sheer will to carry on, even after the last of his companions had died.

But in recent years I have grown more interested in the broader questions his ordeal raises. What was he so ashamed about? What did the Japanese of 1972, whose new constitution forbade the use of force in resolving international disputes, whose emperor was no longer considered a god, and whose economy had become the worlds third largest, think about this time traveler from a very different past? And perhaps most important, at a moment when we Americans are consumed by questions about character, purpose, and resurgent nationalism, what kind of country produces a man who would choose to spend decades in a hot, stinking hole rather than simply give himself up?

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Even 50 years later, the answers are complicated.

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Shoichi Yokoi was born poor in the rural outskirts of the gritty industrial city of Nagoya in 1915, and grew up during one of the countrys deepest recessions. His mother walked out on her alcoholic husband when he was just 3 months old, and struggled to support her only child. Yokoi was passed from one reluctant relative to another until he was 15, when he apprenticed himself to a master tailor in Toyohashi, 40 miles southeast of Nagoya. The work was so long and the food rations so short that when Yokoi was called to his first draft physical in 1935, he flunked. For a man who would set a record of sorts for human endurance, he was off to a weak start.

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Learning how to cuff pants or handle a tape measure might not seem like the best training for a life on the run. But Yokoi used what he knew. After his army uniform rotted away in Guams tropical heat and humidity, he figured out how to tease fibers from tree bark, spin it into thread, and weave that thread into a burlap-type cloth. This he tailored into surprisingly well-fitting shirts and pants, complete with pockets, belt loops, and properly sewn buttonholes. The garments protected him from the tropical sun and clouds of mosquitoes. The process of making them, which took several months for each set, protected his sanity. It might actually have been good for my mental condition to keep myself thoroughly occupied with day-to-day business, he later wrote. I derived simple delight and satisfaction from every moment of these activities.

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His survival innovations did not stop there. Not only did he learn how to dig tunnels with primitive tools and keep them from flooding or caving in, he devised a coconut-husk filter to reduce the telltale smoke from his underground cooking fires. He also learned how to excise the poison glands of the cane toads that provided him badly needed protein, and later began to raise the giant amphibians in his tunnel, for cockroach control and companionship. He built traps for river shrimp, eels, and field mice and disguised the entrance to his tunnel with a bamboo mat that was strong enough to support a man, yet invisible to the untrained eye. He also discovered the hard way that trying to start a fire by rubbing two pieces of bamboo together could be exhausting, unless he added a small dose of gunpowder from one of his remaining bullets at just the right moment. For a less-than-robust soldier from an unpromising background, he proved a survival genius.

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When Yokoi first returned to Japan in 1972, his survival toolkit sparked such intense interest that tens of thousands of Tokyo residents lined up for hours to see it exhibited in a downtown department store. (The website of the Nagoya City Museum has a page where you can see the toolkit online.) But as the immensity of his ordeal sank in, the publics focus gradually shifted from the contents of his toolkit to the forces that had made it necessary.

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Yokoi grew up in a Japan that had a chip on its shoulder. Despite its victory over Russia in 1905 (the first time an Asian nation had defeated a Western power) and its alliance with the victors in World War I (it was the only Asian power invited to the Versailles peace talks), the countrys leaders felt disrespected. They chafed under limits the U.S. and U.K. imposed on their naval fleet and resented the racism Japanese emigrants faced in the United States, where hysteria over the yellow peril led to a 1924 ban on Japanese immigration. As Americans today well know, a sense of grievance can be a powerful motivator. Beginning in 1930, a shocking series of assassinations and attempted coups linked to ultranationalist elements in the Japanese military undermined the democratic institutions that had bloomed in the 1920s. An increasingly authoritarian regime promoted unquestioning devotion to an allegedly divine emperor and a Japan-first mentality that justified naked imperialism. In 1931, a group of right-wing Japanese army officers staged an attack on a Japanese-owned rail line in Manchuria that they then blamed on the Chinese. The incident served as a pretext to annex the entire province.

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By 1938, mounting casualties in Japans continuing war in China forced the Imperial Army to lower its physical standards far enough to snare Yokoi. Given his less-than-robust physique, he was assigned to a behind-the-lines logistical unit and sent first to China and later to Guam, where he joined in a last-ditch defense of Japans crumbling Pacific empire. When the Marines crushed his ill-trained unit on Guams beaches in 1944, he retreated with a small number of other survivors into the hilly, forested southern half of the island. The Japanese had overrun Guam within days of Pearl Harbor, making it the first U.S. soil to fall under enemy control since the War of 1812. They ran it like a concentration camp. When the surviving islanders like the two hunters discovered stragglers like Yokoi in the postwar period, they often killed them. Finding life on the surface increasingly risky, Yokoi and his steadily dwindling band moved underground beginning in the 1950s. In 1964, Yokois last two companions, with whom he had had a falling-out, died under mysterious circumstances. The Guam medical examiner would later rule they had been poisoned, probably through the ingestion of ill-prepared cycad nuts, which contain a toxin Yokoi and his companions all knew was deadly.

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Yokoi carried on alone for the next eight years, working his shrimp traps, herding his cane toads, and watching strange planes he would later learn were called jets rumble above his tunnel entrance. He couldnt help but notice none of them had Japanese markings. In his early years in the jungle, he had heard loudspeakers that claimed the war with Japan was over. But in the militaristic and ultranationalistic country that had shaped him, members of the Imperial Japanese Army were expected to fight to the death. Surrender, he was told in no uncertain terms during his early years in the army, dishonored not just the soldiers, but their families back home. In battle, this draconian edict had led to appalling casualties. Of the roughly 20,000 Japanese defenders estimated to be on Guam when the Marines boarded their landing craft the morning of July 21, 1944, U.S. forces would later count 18,382 dead. Many had died in suicidal banzai attacks that served no practical purpose. Fewer than 1,600 were taken alive. Another 150 or so fled into the bush, caught between their desire to live and their refusal to surrender. Yokoi was the last to come out alive. He hadnt surrendered, but he hadnt saved his last bullet for himself either.

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From the moment of his discovery, the American and Japanese press reveled in the Rip Van Winkle elements of Yokois story. He had never watched television, didnt know men had walked on the moon, and had never heard of the atomic bomb. He didnt know what to do with the small paper packets he found on his breakfast tray in Guam Memorial Hospitalthey were salt and pepper. He delighted reporters at his first press conference after his capture by asking if Franklin Roosevelt was still the U.S. president. Roosevelt had been dead more than 26 years.

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Yokoi was also in remarkably good shape. True, he was abnormally thin, and his underground existence had left him with a pronounced stoop it would take months to straighten out. He was also missing seven teeth, suffered from mild beriberi, and showed signs of a crushed vertebra in his lower back from a tunnel cave-in that had nearly killed him. His low caloric intake had also erased any interest in sexit would be months before he experienced an erection. He hadnt tasted salt in more than a quarter-century and rarely ate red meat. While his blood protein levels were low, he was not malnourished. By necessity, he engaged in regular exercise to gather food and firewood. And he had fastidiously boiled his drinking water and bathed nightly in his go-to fishing stream. All of which meant his heart was healthy and his body parasite-free. He was also surprisingly articulate for someone who had only talked to cane toads for the previous eight years.

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If the Japanese people were fascinated by his survival story, they were divided over what it meant. Many of his countrymen saw him as a victim of the fearsome prewar educational system that had made war seem acceptable and free thinking subversive. Neo-nationalists branded him a simple deserter. One detractor sent him a letter containing a razor blade and the suggestion he apply it to his wrists. Younger Japaneseby 1972, half the countrys population had been born since the end of the waradmired his grit, but found his sacrifice incomprehensible.

Yokoi himself provided no easy answers. Despite all that he had been through, he remained stubbornly loyal to Emperor Hirohito, the man who had sent him to die on Guam, then surrendered to the Allies, and was still on his throne when he returned. Yokoi remained vague on when he had finally realized the war was over, and what exactly had happened to his last two jungle companions. Although he rejected any suggestions he was a hero, and had grown weary of the attention he attractedtour bus companies had added stops at his home in Nagoya to satisfy the demandhe launched a low-budget parliamentary campaign in 1974 on a platform that rejected the consumerism, short skirts, and pollution of modern Japan. He lost. Badly.

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Yet this conflicted and wrinkled survivor again surprised everyone, including himself, by finding love at age 57. His family had decided he needed a wife, and hired a professional matchmaker to find one. A 44-year-old woman from Kyoto, Mihoko Hatashin, was the third candidate. Sparks flew. They married in November 1972 and honeymooned, as unlikely as it seems, on Guam. They spent the next 25 years together until Yokois death in 1997. Officially, he died of a heart attack. But he had been in a long period of decline, due to a form of Parkinsons disease that doctors linked to his long jungle ordeal, and had stopped eating. Some believe he starved himself to death to avoid becoming a greater burden on Mihoko. He was 82.

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Yokoi was not the last of the emperors soldiers to come in from the cold. Two more would eventually emerge, one a swashbuckling Japanese officer who surrendered his sword in a melodramatic ceremony in the Philippines two years after Yokois discovery, and the other an ethnic Taiwanese who had been drafted into the Japanese army and was found farming in Indonesia in late 1974. But Yokoi was the first straggler to emerge after a 12-year lull, a period when Japan had largely succeeded in putting World War II behind it, becoming a vibrant democracy. He brought the war, with all its violence and mindless devotion to extreme ideologies, back with surprising and often painful force.

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Fifty years later, the shock waves of what came to be known as the Yokoi boom still echo around Japan. The Japanese public broadcasting network NHK aired a 30-minute documentary about him in November 2021, based on a recently discovered trove of tape recordings he made shortly after his return. The reporters also tracked down Mihoko, who is now 93, and played the tapes for her.

I met with Mihoko in 2019 in Nagoya, sitting in the house she and Shoichi built in 1973 with unsolicited donations that had poured in from all over Japan. Mihoko told me her husband avoided talking about the war or his experience on Guam, although he did volunteer to cook up a panful of field mice shortly after they married. She told him she would do all the cooking from then on.

Mihoko is shown in the documentary listening as Yokoi revealed his bitterness toward the officers he felt had abandoned him and his companions on Guam, his horror at the atrocities they committed there, and his frustration in trying to explain to his countrymen what had happened to their sons, brothers, and husbands on the distant island, and why they should still care.

Japan isnt the place he thought it was, Mihoko says after a pause. I think its a place that no longer needs to hear his story.
It sounds almost like a scam, or a very aggressive legal advertisement: Gay? Discriminated against? Youyes, you!may be eligible to collect a small fortune from the federal government today.

But its no scam. The Biden administration is paying out substantial sums of money to the surviving partners of same-sex couples who were denied the right to marry. No one knows exactly how many people are eligible, though the best estimate reaches into the thousands (at a minimum), and the pot of money stretches into the millions. Unfortunately, few of these individuals know theyre entitled to these payouts, and many are elders of advanced age. So LGBTQ groups are in a race against time to identify and assist this population in vindicating their constitutional rights before its too late.

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Lambda Legal, the organization leading this campaign, laid the groundwork in two lawsuits filed during Donald Trumps presidency. Both challenged the Social Security Administrations denial of survivors benefits to individuals affected by same-sex marriage bans, which have been unenforceable since the Supreme Court found them unconstitutional in 2015s Obergefell v. Hodges. The first suit was filed on behalf of widows and widowers who could never marry because their same-sex partners died before same-sex marriages were legalized. The second was filed on behalf of widows and widowers who were married for less than nine months before their same-sex partner died. Typically, survivors benefits are only available if the marriage lasted more than nine months. But if an unconstitutional law prevented the couple from marrying until the end of one partners life, Lambda argued, the government had an obligation to alter this rule.

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In each case, a federal judge agreed that the denial of survivors benefits violated the Constitution. These judges ordered immediate payouts to the individual plaintiffs and certified nationwide class actions on behalf of every other LGBTQ person injured by this exclusionary policy. Predictably, the Trump administration dragged its feet in paying out benefits to the plaintiffs and appealed the class actions, attempting to quash them. (Scholars of the 2020 election will be interested to know that Jeffrey Bossert Clark led the appeal just weeks before plotting a coup at the Justice Department.)

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Once President Joe Biden entered the White House, however, the Department of Justice started to sing a different tune. On Nov. 1, 2021, the DOJ settled the cases, dismissing the appeals. The timing was propitious: Four months earlier, Biden fired Andrew SaulTrumps terrible commissioner of the Social Security Administrationand replaced him with Kilolo Kijakazi, an LGBTQ-friendly progressive. With Bidens officials in place, the federal government is eager to start paying out survivors benefits to victims of anti-gay discrimination.

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How much money are we talking about? The short answer is: a lot. Survivors can start collecting benefits at 60, or 50 if theyre disabled. Survivors applying for the first time will receive monthly payments moving forward; the number varies based on the deceased partners earnings, and gets higher when the recipient has reached full retirement age. As of August, it averaged around $1,250 a month. If a survivor applied previously and was denied, they will be paid a lump sum upfrontproviding retroactive benefits going back the date of their applicationin addition to the monthly checks.

How much money are we talking about? The short answer is: a lot.

A New York Times report provided a good example of how these benefits cash out. Anthony Gonzales and Mark Johnson lived together in New Mexico for 16 years before they were finally able to marry in 2013. Johnson died in 2014. Gonzales applied for survivors benefits six years ago, facing swift rejection. Recently, thanks to the settlement between Lambda and Biden, he received a $90,000 retroactive payment, as well as an $1,800 monthly check.

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Some survivors might assume they arent eligible because they never actually got married. But the Social Security Administration has trained its staff to gauge whether a survivor would have been married but for the unconstitutional marriage ban. Among other factors, they look at whether the couple was in a committed relationship, lived together or owned property together, supported each other financially, raised children together, or held a commitment ceremony. No single factor determines the outcome; its a flexible standard meant to accommodate for the restraints that anti-gay animus imposed on same-sex couples. Applicants can provide documentation, and if theyre turned down, they have an opportunity to appeal.

So far, the Social Security Administration has identified 700 people who previously applied for, and were unconstitutionally denied, survivors benefits. Lambda attorney Peter Renn told me that number only represents the tip of the iceberg, because the overwhelming majority of people who were never able to marry, understandably, never applied for benefits generally dependent on marriage, believing that to be futile. Renn said thousands of surviving same-sex partners are potentially sitting on millions of dollars in survivors benefits, for which their loved ones already paid, and which could dramatically impact their everyday lives.

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The number of eligible survivors gets smaller every year. By definition, only elders qualify for these benefits; it is quite possible that many will die before receiving the money owed to them. The responsibility to identify beneficiaries and help them claim their money now falls on the LGBTQ community and its allies.

When the Supreme Court brought marriage equality to all 50 states, it did not end the battle for same-sex couples equality under law. Both the Obama and Trump administrations tried to deny citizenship to certain children born abroad to gay American citizens. In 2020, Indianas Republican attorney general asked the Supreme Court to let states strip rights from same-sex parents, rendering them legal strangers to their own children. One year earlier, Alaska attempted to deny equal benefits to same-sex military spouses, maintaining an official policy that deemed these couples unmarried.

And, right up until 2021, the federal governments official position remained that it must abide by unconstitutional marriage bans in denying survivors benefits. It is heartening to see the Biden administration abolish this policy and provide redress to its victims. These steps will directly improve thousands of LGBTQ elders lives. They should also remind us all that no amount of money can make up for decades of cruel and unlawful anti-gay discrimination.
This piece originally appeared in Inquest, a forum for advancing decarceral ideas published by the Institute to End Mass Incarceration.

One of my first assignments as a legal journalist was covering a public conversation, at 92Y in New York City, between Justice Stephen Breyer and Harvard law professor Noah Feldman. At the time, the killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and of Eric Garner in New York City had awakened a national uprising, and I was genuinely curious about what, if anything, the consensus-building liberal on the Supreme Courtas has been Breyers reputationhad to say about any of it.

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Rereading my dispatch from that evening, on the occasion of Breyers announcement that hell soon be retiring after nearly three decades on our nations highest court, reminded me of how disappointed I was that day. I had no expectations that the justice would declare that Black lives matter. And he didnt. But Feldman did broach the subject sensibly, trying to get him to meet the moment. And Breyer, contorting himself into knots to dodge questions about how judges respond to social movements, offered a word salad that wasnt too different from his winding, hard-to-parse questions during oral argument.

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Breyer ended up throwing the ball back at Feldman, who pens a regular column about the Supreme Court. Thats your job, to write about how the great social movements influence the judges, Breyer told him. Maybe they do. And that was the end of it. Without the benefit of a case or controversy before the Supreme Court, I concluded in my report, its clear Breyer will never get to talk about Ferguson or the many things it stands for. Let others write about the great social movements. Thats none of his business.

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Looking back, maybe I was expecting too much of a jurist whose privilege and place in Washington politics leave no doubt that he has always been more than a few steps removed from popular struggle. Breyer is someone, after all, who has worked for the government his entire career. But more to the point, hes someone who has made celebrating our government and its institutions a centerpiece of his academic, jurisprudential, and personal philosophy. Little wonder, then, that he had little to say about people protesting a government that kills and cages its own people. Breyers abiding faith in government bars him from fully seeing the communities crushed by it.

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And it shows in his rulings. To put it bluntly: No liberal justice has cast more pro-government, carceral votes than Breyer has in the modern Supreme Court. In a single term nearly a decade ago, Breyer cast a vote for expanded police powers in every non-unanimous case where conservative Justice Antonin Scalia cast a vote for the person on the receiving end of those powers. In one of those cases, Breyer found himself in company that should have given him serious pause, joining Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, John Roberts, and Anthony Kennedy to form a majority of five that allowed the state to collect the DNA of anyone who is simply arrested by the police. It was Scalia, joined by the three other liberal justices, who retorted in dissent, I doubt that the proud men who wrote the charter of our liberties would have been so eager to open their mouths for royal inspection.

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Three years later, not long after Scalias death, an eight-member court issued a ruling in another Fourth Amendment case, Utah v. Strieff, that wouldve gone largely unnoticed by the mainstream press but for the thunderous dissenting opinion of Justice Sonia Sotomayor. I was sitting in the Supreme Courts pressroom when her words jumped out at me from the page. Do not be soothed by the opinions technical language, she wrote. This case allows the police to stop you on the street, demand your identification, and check it for outstanding traffic warrantseven if you are doing nothing wrong.  [It] tells everyone, white and black, guilty and innocent, that an officer can verify your legal status at any time. It says that your body is subject to invasion while courts excuse the violation of your rights. It implies that you are not a citizen of a democracy but the subject of a carceral state, just waiting to be cataloged.

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On an equally divided court, all Breyer had to do to avoid this massive erosion of rights was to vote quietly with Sotomayor or with Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote her own dissenting opinionboth of whom were joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Had the court split 44, the lower court opinionby the Utah Supreme Court, ruling against the policewould have stood. But siding once again with his four more conservative colleagues, and the government, Breyer provided the fifth vote to allow the police to, in Sotomayors words, corrode all our civil liberties and threaten all our lives.

To be fair, Breyers record on criminal justice issues like these is far removed from his reputation in some other fields, like voting rights and reproductive freedom, where he was a reliable vote for progressive causes and values. But even in those domains, one would be hard-pressed to find a case where he wrote with the kind of moral and legal clarity that Sotomayor displayed in Strieff. Last year, when Breyers activist colleagues drove a stake through the labor legacy of Cesar Chavez, his languid dissent failed to call out this anti-democratic overreachor say much of anything about the farmworker struggle the majority had all but erased. With the notable exceptions of Parents Involved v. Seattle, where Breyers dissent forcefully condemned racial segregation, and his later call to reconsider the constitutionality of the death penalty, which earned him plaudits and Scalias ridicule, he preferred cautious compromises to clarion calls.

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Many have praised this instinct, and more will in the months to come, now that Breyer has announced his intention to retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term. We will hear odes to his status as a consensus builder and a pragmatist, to his technocratic belief in government, and to his clear-eyed commitment to making our countrys laws work for its people, as President Joe Biden put it this week while making Breyers retirement official.

But Im left to wonder whether a lot of those qualities have mattered, or will matter in the coming years. Compromise and common ground got Breyer nowhere through some of the most polarizing moments during his tenureincluding the Supreme Courts choice to hand the presidency to George W. Bush, its indifference toward human rights abuses at Guantanamo and elsewhere in the post-9/11 period, and its near-destruction of one of our most important laws, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to name just a few modern lowlights.

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Breyer was in dissent in many of those cases, but did he speak up in a way that made a difference? Is there a line of concurring or dissenting opinions that future generations, our children, might read for inspiration or guidance in all the many fights to come? A marker of where he stood in the moments that mattered most? Or something that advocates can cite in their work fighting injustice? To name one example: When Donald Trump, in his first year in office, showed his true colors with a Muslim ban built on a mountain of pretext and procedure, Breyer couldnt bring himself to join Sotomayor and protest the ban for the immoral monstrosity that it was; he simply wrote a careful, studious dissent that largely avoided taking a stand for the human beings harmed by the presidents animus.

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This moment of punitive excess, democratic decay, climate emergencies, and other crises calls for taking a stand. For no more compromises. For no more bridge-building when theres a clear supermajority at the Supreme Court readyhungryto burn down many of the principles and precedents Breyer stood for, let alone those he didnt.

Whoever replaces Breyer needs to be clear-eyed about all of this in ways that he wasnt. Nowhere is the opportunity for a new direction more apparent than with respect to the enduring stain of mass incarceration, which Breyer played a role in building. Biden has an opportunity to nominate someone who isnt afraid to confront this defining social injustice as the evil that it isto call it out by name. In other words, to nominate someone who is far different from Stephen Breyer.

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To be clear, no single justice or judgeno court, for that matterwill ever end our current system of mass caging and punishment. Indeed, the Supreme Court as a whole has sanctioned a coercive system that thrives on pleas, grossly excessive sentences, and a dearth of meaningful recourse for anyone wishing to challenge their punishment or conditions of confinement. The criminal legal systemthe government that Breyer celebratesneeds all of these things to keep humming along. And so no one should harbor any illusions that Breyers replacement will get us out of the current mess. Judges are system actors. What we can hope for, at the very least, is someone who will join the court and be ready to dissent and speak to the rest of us with all shes got. Now is not the time for more compromises, or compromisers. Now is the time to meet the moment.
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates and a whole host of COVID-19 policies and they arent making lots of friends in Canadas capital. There was widespread outrage over the weekend amid reports of swastika flags among the protesters, some of whom reportedly urinated on the National War Memorial, danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and desecrated a statue of Canadian hero Terry Fox. Police said they are investigating possible criminal charges amid numerous reports of protesters threatening and harassing police and city workers as well as private citizens. The protests began as a demonstration against a vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the border into the United States. But it has since grown into a general protest against all vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions.

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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and National War Memorial are sacred sites for our country. I urge all Canadians to treat them with solemnity, out of respect for those who have fought and died for Canada.



The behaviour were seeing today is beyond reprehensible. https://t.co/g36RqNZzp7  Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) January 29, 2022

After explaining to these less than fine Canadians of the hallowed grounds upon which they trode, this was their reaction in the name of Freedom. Unsat! pic.twitter.com/Mk7VVLsfxo  Cmdre Steven Thornton (@S_Thornton_332) January 29, 2022

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In one of the most shocking reports, a homeless shelter that is located a few blocks from Parliament said a service user and a security guard were assaulted as staff had to endure lots of harassment from protesters who pressured them to provide meals. Apparently, the harassment came amid a difficulty for protesters to find places that would serve them without wearing face masks. The shelter ended up giving the protesters food to try to prevent the violence from escalating. Shepherds of Good Hope made the situation public, saying it wanted to counter the narrative that it was happy to serve the protesters. Its been super challenging for the staff  Theyre exhausted, theyre tired. And when they see people coming in and taking services from people who need them the most  Its very discouraging, Deirdre Freiheit, the president and CEO of the shelter, said.

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Friends, it's been a difficult 24 hours. Staff harassed for meals. A service user and security guard assaulted. Through it all, you have donated and filled our hearts with gratitude. Every cent will support people experiencing homelessness. Thank you. See our statement  pic.twitter.com/TYHD8r8aLo  Shepherds of Good Hope (@sghottawa) January 30, 2022

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The mayor of Ottawa is calling on the protesters to move on and let the city return to normal as downtown is clogged with parked vehicles and protesters. But organizers say they arent going anywhere and are willing to stay there for months if necessary. You have the right to protest, youve had your protest, please move on. Our city has to get back in normal stead, Mayor Jim Watson said. Several videos of protesters harassing restaurant and hotel staff have been posted to Twitter. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadians as a whole arent represented by this very troubling, small but very vocal minority of Canadians who are lashing out at science, at government, at society, at mandates and public health advice. Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world with 80 percent of its population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 40 percent have received a booster shot.

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Emily has to eat soft foods, just like her grandfather. Although shes only 18, shes missing six teeth due to her parents dental neglect, advocates say.

Her mother allegedly ignored her, excluded her from meals, and did not return urgent calls from Emilys school guidance counselor, so she left home and moved in with a friends family. Despite efforts to bring Emilys case to the attention of the state Department of Children and Families by that counselor and her friends mother starting a few weeks after her 17th birthday, DCF did not take Emily into state care until shortly before her 18th birthday. The Courant is only using Emilys first name because she was a minor when she left home.

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There was a long period of time where I couldnt understand why DCF didnt help, Emily said. I felt very alone. I didnt know what to do.  There were so many times where I didnt know if I should have just gone home and dealt with being ignored by my family.

The closer to their 18th birthday that teens get, the harder they and their advocates have to work to prove neglect to DCF, according to lawyers with the Center for Childrens Advocacy. .

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Ken Mysogland, DCFs external affairs bureau chief, said that the older the teen, the more proof DCF needs that they face imminent danger before DCF will bring them into custody.

The impact on the child may decrease as the child is older, Mysogland said. The 15-year-old is more vulnerable than the 17-year-old. Were not making a determination simply because of the childs age. Were using age as a factor in our assessment.

Three years ago, DCF changed its policy to reduce the number of children taken from their homes by increasing the wrap-around support services to families, including parenting classes, family therapy and referrals, Mysogland said.

But this does not excuse how difficult it is to get DCF to step in to help older teens, said lawyer Stacy Schleif, director of the Child Welfare Advocacy Project at CCA.

Stacy Schleif, director of the Child Welfare Advocacy Project at CCA, says, If a child is reaching out asking for assistance, thats not someone who I think should be turned away. I appreciate that DCF doesnt take children away from families easily. It seems inexcusable to not get involved sometimes. (Cloe Poisson )

Even if many of these kids can fend for themselves, at age 16 and 17, couch surfing or finding a friend to stay with until they turn 18, thats not a long-term solution to line them up for success in life. And in the meantime, they have no one to pay for their medical needs  or otherwise sign authorizations on their behalf.

DCF data from 2010 to 2020 show reports of abuse and neglect involving teens decrease gradually between ages 15, 16 and 17, yet the average percentage of substantiated cases also drops each year. In that period, DCF substantiated 43% of reports of neglect for 15-year-olds, 40% of neglect reports for 16-year-olds and just 37% for 17-year-olds.

DCF straddles a line to balance parental rights with childrens welfare.

We have to prove that the parent has abused or neglected that child to the point where the child is not safe to be there. The proof of that is difficult, said DCF Deputy Commissioner Michael Williams. Safety and neglect are the determining factors. If a child is unsafe, uncared for, they can come into care before their 18th birthday.

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Then there are teens like Emily, who said she left home and moved in with a friends family in 2020 to escape alleged neglect and emotional abuse. Her mother was angry with her and blamed her after her school guidance counselor reported parental neglect to DCF, Emily said.

The guidance counselor said she called Emilys mother repeatedly to raise multiple concerns about her wellbeing, and her calls were not returned.

Emily said that after the guidance counselor contacted DCF, her mother ignored her and excluded her from meals, and she had little to eat. Her friends mother picked her up to spend the weekend in late April, and she ended up living in their home for more than a year.

Her friends mother said she tried to get Emilys parents to take her to the dentist so an abscessed tooth could be removed or to authorize her to take her, but they refused. The friends mother asked a DCF social worker to intervene.

Within days of Emily moving into the friends mothers house, DCF got involved, but the social worker would not respond to the friends mother, she said.

By late May of 2020, Emily said, DCF staff persuaded her mother to consent to emergency dental care, and her infected tooth was removed. Since then, she has had a total of six teeth extracted because they were rotted due to dental neglect, she said. Emily needs extensive dental work but is awaiting government approval for dental implants, Schleif, the CCA lawyer, said.

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The friends mother said she had to fight hard to get Emily the care she needed. DCF is saying to me, Youve got this. They said, We dont know if DCF will want to pick up this case because shes almost 18. She had just turned 17 in March.

For months, her advocates tried to get DCF to take Emilys case, they said.

Meanwhile, Emily said, she fell into a depression and lost a lot of weight, dropping to 89 pounds.

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Emily is grateful the state petitioned a court to sever parental rights and take her into state custody because it ended nearly a year of uncertainty. Still, she wishes it hadnt taken so long.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

I feel like they could have stepped in sooner, she said. My family had so many run-ins with DCF.

Teens like Emily are entitled to a stable home. If they dont know where theyll be sleeping, that affects their education and mental health, said Martha Stone, executive director of the Center for Childrens Advocacy.

When we call DCF, in cases where older teens left home because of some kind of abuse or neglect, thats when DCF will sometimes say, No, theyre going to be turning 18 very soon; were not going to get involved. We ask them to open a case. The problem is the older kids sometimes fall through the cracks. They dont open a case because they dont have foster homes for older kids, or they dont have a place to place the kid. A lot of times, the kid finds a place to stay, Stone said. Theres no person or legal guardian to sign for them for their health, mental health or education.

Schleif said, If a child is reaching out asking for assistance, thats not someone who I think should be turned away. I appreciate that DCF doesnt take children away from families easily. It seems inexcusable to not get involved sometimes.

There are always going to be children like Emily, she said, who are better off under DCF care.

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The guidance counselor is still in touch with Emily and is glad shes attending cosmetology school and living with other young women under DCFs supervision in a program that supports young adults while theyre in school.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
Most likely, youre familiar with Watson from the IBM computer systems appearance on Jeopardy! in 2011, when it beat former champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rudder. Watsons time on Jeopardy! was fun viewing, but it was also a very savvy public debut of a product that IBM wanted to sell: Watson Health.

Watson Health was supposed to change health care in a lot of important ways, by providing insight to oncologists about care for cancer patients, delivering insight to pharmaceutical companies about drug development, helping to match patients with clinical trials, and more. It sounded revolutionary, but it never really worked. Recently, Watson Health was, essentially, sold for parts: Francisco Partners, a private equity firm, bought some of Watsons data and analytics products for what Bloomberg News said was more than $1 billion.

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On Fridays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Casey Ross, technology correspondent for Stat News, who has been covering Watson Health for years, about how Watson went from being the future of health care to being sold for scraps. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Lizzie OLeary: I look at the amount of money that went into pulling this together. Acquisition after acquisition. It was billions of dollars, and it sold for a billion in the end. Is there any way to read that as anything but a failure?

Casey Ross: Financially, certainly not. They spent way more money building this than they got back. Just the acquisitions alone cost them $5 billion. That it was sold so many years later, after so much in effort7,000 employees at one pointmeans that this will as a total failure that they needed to just cut their losses and move on.

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Why did IBM want to get into the health data business? What problem did they think Watson would help solve?

Theres a tremendous amount of information that is collected every day on the care of hundreds of millions of people. However, there is currently no way to connect that information, to link it to an individual across all the domains in which they get care, and then to develop a holistic picture of who they are, of what their diseases are, of what the best treatments are, and how to ensure that they get the best care at the lowest possible cost. There is no connectivity right now that can do that at scale. The people in the technology sector look at it and say, This has to be fixed, and were going to fix it.

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Google, Microsoft, a lot of very big companies are extremely interested in health care. What is so attractive for these big tech companies about health care?

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Its one of the biggest parts of our economy. Its a three trillion business that has legacy technology infrastructure that should be embarrassing. Tech companies are drawn to audacious challenges like this, and ones where they can makeif theyre successfula ton of money.

Thats how things are today, but the same problems have been around since the advent of digitized data. In 2012, IBM closed a deal with Memorial Sloan Kettering, one of the preeminent cancer centers in the country, to train an AI to make treatment recommendations. What was the goal? What were they trying to do?

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They were really trying to democratize the expertise of Memorial Sloan Ketterings oncologists, to make that expertise available to patients all over the world and to develop this standardized engine for providing optimal treatment recommendations, customized to a patient, in front of a doctor, thousands of miles away. It was a beautiful notion. They were trying to say, Well, lets make it more objective. Lets look at all of the data, and lets tell every physician, for this patient in front of you, this is how they should be treated.

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So you get your biopsy results, and things dont look good, but youre not just getting the expertise or the biases of your particular oncologist. Youre getting the wealth of thousands of oncologists distilled into an algorithm?

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Yes, you are getting all of that data, across so many different physicians, crunched down into a very digestible format and recommendation that could then lead to the best treatment for that patient.

Reading your reporting, it sounds like this was incredibly important to IBM. In 2015, Ginni Rometty, who was the CEO at the time, went on Charlie Rose. She said health care was our moonshot. How much of IBMs hopes were hung on this thing?

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The company made a huge bet that this could be the bridge to a different kind of future for IBM, which at the time was several years of quarterly revenue declines. They were trying to use Watson as a bridge to a different future where IBM wasnt this old guard hardware company that everybody knew so well, but was operating on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence. Health care was the biggest, the buzziest use case. This was where they were going to really show the surpassing value of their technology.

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To do that, IBM needed massive amounts of data on which to train Watson. It got that data through acquisitions, eventually spending some $5 billion buying a series of health data companies. What were those companies?

Truven, Phytel, Explorys and merge. Truven had the biggest insurance database in the nation with 300 million covered lives, Explorys provided a clinical data set of actual electronic health records kept by health systems representing about 50 million or so patients, Phytel added on top of that, and Merge had a huge imaging database. They had all this data and the idea was: Expose Watson to that, and it finds patterns that physicians and anyone else cant possibly find when looking at that data, given all the variables in it.

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Except that was not the reality. One of IBMs high-profile partnerships with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas fell apart. A doctor involved said that there wasnt enough data for the program to make good recommendations, and that Watson had trouble with the complexity of patient files. The partnership was later audited and shelved. What went wrong?

If you think about it, knowing what we know now or what weve learned through this, the notion that youre going to take an artificial intelligence tool, expose it to data on patients who were cared for on the upper east side of Manhattan, and then use that information and the insights derived from it to treat patients in China, is ridiculous. You need to have representative data. The data from New York is just not going to generalize to different kinds of patients all the way across the world.

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What was happening in a clinical setting? What was happening to patients?

Our window through the reporting was talking to physicians. We got concerns from them that the recommendations that it was giving were just not relevant. Maybe it would suggest a particular kind of treatment that wasnt available in the locality in which it was making the recommendation, or the recommendation did not at all square with the treatment protocols that were in use at the local institution or, and more commonly so, especially in the U.S. and Europe, youre not telling me anything I dont already know. That was the big credibility gap for physicians. It was like, Well duh. Yeah, I know that thats the chemotherapy I should pursue. I know that this treatment follows that one.

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You got a hold of an internal IBM presentation from 2017 where a doctor at a hospital in Florida told the company this product was a piece of shit.

Seeing that written down in an internal document, which was circulated among IBM executives, was a shocking thing to see. It really underscored the extent of the gap between what IBM was saying in public and what was happening behind the scenes.

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There were a lot of internal discussions, even a presentation, that indicated that the technology was not as far along as theyd hoped, that it wasnt able to accomplish what they set out to accomplish in cancer care. There were probably a lot of people that believed, that truly did believe, that they would get there or that it was closer than maybe some people realized. I think the marketing got way ahead of the capabilities.

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Its very hard to listen to you and not think about Theranos, even though this is not a one-to-one parallel in any way. When you are trying to move by leaps and bounds with technology in the health care sector, it feels like a reminder that all things are not created equal, that making big leaps with peoples health is a much riskier proposition.

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That underscores the central theme of this story: When you try to combine the bravado of the tech culture and the notion that you can achieve these huge audacious goals in a domain where youre dealing with peoples lives and health and the most sacrosanct aspects of their existence and their bodies, you need to have evidence to back up that you can do what you say you can do.

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Why did they continue on trying to rescue this product that they seemed to know internally was failing?

I think they had so much invested in it that it really was, for them, too big to fail. It had 7,000 employees. Theyd invested so much time and energy on marketing in the success of the product that they really needed it to succeed.

Instead, they got a fail. But Watsons fate certainly doesnt mean that AI in health care is going away. Just recently, Microsoft and a large group of hospitals announced a coalition to develop AI solutions in health care. If you had to pin down a moral to the story, is it that AI in health care isnt ready for prime time, or that IBM did it wrong?

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I think its both of those. This will be a case study for business schools for decades. When you look at what IBM did and the strategy mistakes, the tactical errors that they made in pursuing this product, they made a lot of unforced errors here. Its also true that the generation of technology that they had was nowhere near ready to accomplish the things that they set out to accomplish and promised that they could accomplish. I dont think that the failure of Watson means that artificial intelligence isnt ready to make significant improvements and changes in health care. I think it means the way that they approached it is a cautionary tale that lays out how not to do it.

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Does the failure of Watson Health make you worry that its going to shut down other avenues for innovation? Will such a spectacular belly flop impede progress?

I dont think so. There were so many mistakes that were made, that were learned from, that, if anything, it will facilitate faster learning and better decision making by other parties that are now poised to disrupt health care and make the progress that IBM failed to achieve. Theres a saying that pioneers often end up with arrows in their backs, and thats what happened here. Theyre an example, a spectacular example, of wrongheaded decision making and missteps that didnt have to happen. By learning from that, I think advancement and progress and true benefits will be faster coming.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
ARCHIVED - Icy cold and wind put 17 provinces on alert in Spain



In contrast, temperatures are set to rise along the southern coast of Spain

A total of 17 provinces across Spain have been issued with weather alerts due to wind and frigid temperatures on Monday January 31, while the Canary Islands are under warning for suspended dust, according to the State Meteorological Agency, Aemet.

In the far north of the country, it will be cloudy with generally weak rainfall, somewhat more intense and frequent in the eastern end of the Cantabrian Sea and the western Pyrenees during the second half of the day.

Throughout the day, scattered mists and fog banks are expected in Galicia, Huesca and Lleida as well as the Balearic Islands, while hazy conditions will predominate in the Canary Islands.

The temperatures will drop considerably in the north of Spain, prompting Aemet to issue yellow warnings in Teruel, Zaragoza, Segovia, Soria, Zamora, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Barcelona, Lleida and Ourense.

The outlook is considerably different in the southern part of the country, where the mercury is set to rise on Monday.

The meteorologists have activated an orange level warning, which represents a significant risk, in Huesca, Lleida, Tarragona and Castellon and a yellow warning for Teruel, Zaragoza and Girona. The wind will cause rough seas in Girona, which has an orange level warning due to coastal phenomena, as well as in Menorca and Tarragona, with yellow warnings.

Looking ahead, February will begin with a notable drop in temperatures in the southeast of the country while rain and occasional storms are expected in the Canary Islands by Wednesday.

Image: Aemet
The mountain is different from the other Small Carpathians.

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Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

An extraordinary guy said.

His name was Forest Gump.

He even run across the entire United States for no particular reason.

He was different.

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He was not of this world.

And so is Klokoc mountain.

Different from the other Small Carpathians.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/i5a6z2r41JM

Enjoy the sleepy atmosphere

Its summit is a meadowy plateau reminiscent of a steppe with scattered dwarfed trees and bushes. It looks like the forgotten parts of the Kysuce or Orava regions.

But here also the black volcanic stones lounge. You can lounge here too, and enjoy the sleepy atmosphere, which is especially enhanced in the spring and summer by the smell of the flowers.

And these flowers!

Here you will find the golden-rod, which healed the respiratory problems already in the Antiquity.

And what about the views? Gorgeous!

From here you can admire the twins, Geldek and Jelenec mountains.

The summit of Jelenec mountain is a carst felled area with several bizarre trees. Such a plateau is unusual for the Small Carpathians.

The marked hiking path to Klokoc will pass the monumental and mystic Plavecky Hrad castle, with its story, a Slovak remake of the Trojan war, involving the kidnapping of a beautiful woman and the epic struggle to free her.

You will continue under Pohanska, the sight of the largest ancient Celtic settlement in Slovakia. And thought Baborska mountain, which will test your endurance and form. Then you will cross the Amon meadow located in the Amon valley, named after Huncokar, Gazi Amon.

Here you will explore diverse carst bored holes, where salamanders hide and bats nest.

Until you finally reach the summit of Klokoc.

A step into new life

And further on the top of Vapenna mountain, the third highest mountain of the Small Carpathians.

Its massif is full of carst formations, rocky towers, and also an underground carst area with breaches and caves.

The red and green marked hiking paths lead thought the ridge of Vapenna mountain. Sometimes the beaten path vanishes in the dense beaches, sometimes you will climb over rocks.

As you find yourself on the top of Klokoc, you will see a cross with the nails.

These nails are the sorrows of people who have come before.

And if you catch the breeze atop this windy mountain, you will better be able to withstand the hurricanes of life.

And you will leave there all your suffering and problems.

You will find new joy.

Maybe you will beat a new path.

To the hill.

In the forest.

And you will step into your new life.

You will be different.

Genial.

A stranger in a room.

And you will realize, you needed to go through many moments to arrive where you are.

Everything that happened was only to bring you to the right place.

Maybe to Klokoc.

To this mountain, which looks like a stranger.

And with something in its eyes it invites us, until something in our hearts tells us, we must go there.

VaGa Agency is an incoming company concentrating on active, adventure, cycling, and sport tours in Slovakia, in the unique, authentic and safe country, far away from mass tourism; offers undiscovered and amazing places, tailored-made solutions and very professional individual guiding. For more information please visit: vaga.agency and www.vaga-camp.com.
Kids and pensioners will get tablets used in last year's census, the highest ski slope opens to skiers, and there are fewer fake banknotes.

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Good afternoon. The weekend is coming and we have prepared a quick summary of the main news of the day in our Friday, January 28, 2022 edition of Today in Slovakia. We wish you a pleasant read.

For weekend tips and reads, check out ourSpectacular Slovakia weekly roundup. This week, Peter Dlhopolec writes about unusual rock formations, 2022 concerts in Slovakia, and a Bratislava cultural centre.

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Slovak National Gallery prepares for its big move

The SNG's new look combines modern and historical features. (Source: Courtesy of SNG - Martin Deko)

The Slovak National Gallery (SNG) is gearing up 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

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.

The reconstruction of the modern extension and the construction of a new depository and other premises for the SNG, at a cost of almost 70 million, started in 2016.

Coronavirus and vaccination news

14,312 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 31,662 PCR tests performed on January 27. The number of people in hospital was 1,549, and 24 more deaths were reported. The vaccination rate is 50.81 percent; 2,794,427 people have received a first vaccine dose. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia are available here.

people were newly out of 31,662 PCR tests performed on January 27. The number of people in hospital was 1,549, and 24 more deaths were reported. The vaccination rate is 50.81 percent; 2,794,427 people have received a first vaccine dose. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia are available here. The highest number of positive results from PCR tests for coronavirus on Thursday, January 27, was in the 35-44 years age category , the National Health Information Centre (NCZI) informed.

Slovakia wants schools to remain open even if the pandemic situation in the country worsens, according to a survey presented by Education Minister Branislav Grohling (SaS). The survey showed that 82.3 percent of those polled want schools to remain open even during a worsening situation, while some 13 percent said that they should be closed, and 4.7 percent were unable to provide an opinion on the issue.

even if the pandemic situation in the country worsens, according to a survey presented by Education Minister Branislav Grohling (SaS). The survey showed that 82.3 percent of those polled want schools to remain open even during a worsening situation, while some 13 percent said that they should be closed, and 4.7 percent were unable to provide an opinion on the issue. A total of 10,586 cases of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines against Covid-19 had been reported in Slovakia up to Wednesday, January 26, the State Institute for Drug Supervision (SUKL) wrote on its website. Of these, 1,493 were serious, including seven deaths.

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Anniversary of the Day

Marian Varga playing live, 2016. (Source: Sme - Gabriel Kuchta)

Marian Varga, who was behind several Slovak firsts  including first art-rock band in then-communist Czechoslovakia, and the first original Slovak modern musical  was born on this day in 1947. He died in 2017.

Feature story for today

"When I received an invitation to speak on a radio programme about people who experienced life abroad and then returned to Slovakia, I wasn't immediately sure of what I might want to say.

"In my years working for The Slovak Spectator, I have heard countless stories of foreigners who live in Slovakia, as well as Slovaks who have returned to Slovakia from abroad. Does it even make sense to seek a single pattern in those stories?"

The Slovak Spectator's editor-in-chief reflects on homecoming  and leaving.

Slovaks often find it hard to believe someone wants to live in their country Read more

In other news

The economic sentiment in Slovakia increased again in January this year following a quite considerable drop at the end of last year. "We expect that the mood in our economy may worsen again in the coming months, due to the ongoing material crisis, but also the third wave of the pandemic," said 365.bank analyst Jana Glasova.

in Slovakia this year following a quite considerable drop at the end of last year. "We expect that the mood in our economy may worsen again in the coming months, due to the ongoing material crisis, but also the third wave of the pandemic," said 365.bank analyst Jana Glasova. 63 percent of Slovak households have savings that they can use to cover unexpected expenses or bridge a deterioration in their economic situation . A year ago, it was 69 percent of households, but, on other hand, more households now report higher savings than in the past, shows a survey by Stem/Mark.

that they can use to or . A year ago, it was 69 percent of households, but, on other hand, more households now report higher savings than in the past, shows a survey by Stem/Mark. The state will hand over some 6,000 tablets used in the 2021 census to local governments, to be used in kindergartens, schools or elderly care homes .

used in the 2021 census to local governments, to . International rail transport on the route between Bratislava-Petrzalka and Hegyeshalom in Hungary via the Hungarian village of Rajka will resume as of February 1.

on the route between and in Hungary via the Hungarian village of Rajka as of February 1. Slovakia's highest ski slope , running from an altitude of 2,190m at the Lomnicke Sedlo pass in the High Tatras will open on Saturday, January 29. The 1,240m-long treated slope ends at Skalnate Pleso.

, running from an altitude of 2,190m at the Lomnicke Sedlo pass in on Saturday, January 29. The 1,240m-long treated slope ends at Skalnate Pleso. A total of 1,162 counterfeit euro banknotes were seized in Slovakia last year. It's the lowest number since Slovakia joined the eurozone in 2009. Fake 50 and 20 notes accounted for the largest share. Last year, 1,592 counterfeit euro coins were seized, the highest number in the last five years, the National Bank of Slovakia reported. Do not miss on Spectator.sk today

A simple 'hi' to invisible people on the streets is a big help Read more

Money in your account in seconds. Instant payments are about to become reality Read more

From heroes to zeroes: Frustrated carers feel lack of public support Read more

Stress, anxiety and depression. The pandemic has affected more than Slovaks physical health Read more

Blog: Stop helping students, let them fail Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
Ruling politicians never had a better opportunity to live up to their foreign policy pledges.

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Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. Ukraine, NATO troops and a row over a defence deal expose Slovaks confusion. The latest on Omicron in Slovakia. The census reveals Slovakia is ageing  and fast. Slovakia improves its standing in a corruption perceptions index. The pandemic prompts more people to seek help from mental health specialists.

Find the PDF of the January issue of The Slovak Spectator below.

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NATO or Russia? question confuses Slovaks

Faced with the threat of a conflict involving its immediate neighbour and efforts by the government to sign a defence deal with an important ally, Slovaks are displaying their usual level of geopolitical bewilderment. Unfortunately, this is not a good time to be confused.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) and Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) are scheduled to travel to Washington this week to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the US government.

Even after its signed, the deal has a long way to go before coming into force. The Slovak parliament needs to approve it, which means the disinformation-fuelled campaign against it by opposition leaders, which has already been going on for weeks, is set to continue throughout February.

If it wasnt for the latest developments on Ukraines eastern and northern border, where around 100,000 Russian troops are now massed, this would be just another opportunity for the far-right to peddle anti-Americanism, and for Robert Fico, leader of the opposition Smer party, to test just how far he can use anti-system rhetoric to push up his popularity.
Slovaks found who to hold liable for Russia-Ukraine tensions. Slovak passport among the most powerful. More in todays digest.

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Good evening. Read the Monday, January 31, 2022 edition of Today in Slovakia to catch up on the main news of the day in less than five minutes. We wish you a pleasant read.

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NATO and the US blamed for Russia-Ukraine tensions

Illustrative stock photo (Source: TASR/AP)

Slovaks believe the US and NATO are more to blame for the tension at the Russian-Ukrainian borders than Russia.

This stems from the Focus agencys latest poll for private broadcaster TV Markiza.

The poll shows that 44.1 percent of respondents think that the US and NATO are to blame for the tension between Ukraine and Russia, while 34.7 percent say that Russia is the originator of the tension. The other 21.2 percent do not know.

The difference in attitudes is demonstrated when looking at the opinions of voters of various parties. While NATO and the US are to blame according to the supporters of far-right LSNS defectors united in Republika (90.3 percent), opposition Smer (78.6 percent), its renegades Hlas (54.1 percent), the supporters of the coalition parties have a different opinion.

Meanwhile, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry recommends Slovak citizens to limit their travel plans to Ukraine to necessary travels only, given the currently tense security situation in the country. At the same time, it does not recommend travelling to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east, to Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

People already in Ukraine are advised not to attend protests or stay in places where large crowds gather, the ministry added.

For a deeper insight into current affairs, check out our Last Week in Slovakia report published earlier today. You can sign up for the newsletter here.

Coronavirus and vaccination news

Unilabs Slovensko revealed the results of a research on the levels of antibodies after recovering from Covid. (Source: TASR)

7,796 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 15,798 PCR tests performed on January 30. The number of people in hospitals is 1,547 ; and 13 more deaths were reported on Sunday. The vaccination rate is at 50.86 percent , 2,797,234 people having received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here.

out of 15,798 PCR tests performed on January 30. The number of ; and were reported on Sunday. The vaccination rate is at , 2,797,234 people having received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. People who test positive in the Omicron wave should pro-actively contact their close contacts , i.e. people they were in touch with within two days since the sample was taken or first symptoms appeared, as stems from a manual issued by the Public Health Authority (UVZ). The reason is that the regional public health officials are unable to trace all the contacts.

, i.e. people they were in touch with within two days since the sample was taken or first symptoms appeared, as stems from a manual issued by the Public Health Authority (UVZ). The reason is that the regional public health officials are unable to trace all the contacts. About one quarter of Slovaks could have antibodies after recovering from Covid, as stems from a research of the Unilabs Slovensko company that analysed 4,221 samples. Of them, 23.62 percent had positive or limit value. As for the regions, the Banska Bystrica Region and Zilina Region were hit the most, and the Bratislava Region the least.

after recovering from Covid, as stems from a research of the Unilabs Slovensko company that analysed 4,221 samples. Of them, 23.62 percent had positive or limit value. As for the regions, the Banska Bystrica Region and Zilina Region were hit the most, and the Bratislava Region the least. The reimbursement of costs employers spent on mandatory testing of their staff members will be launched this week, the Economy Ministry said. The ministry is currently completing the form and technical support of the system.

of their staff members will be launched this week, the Economy Ministry said. The ministry is currently completing the form and technical support of the system. Rules for crossing the Slovak border will be moderated from Friday, February 4, including the rules for the self-isolation and the length of quarantine. The Slovak Spectator will offer more details on changes tomorrow morning.

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Travel information

People travelling to Bulgaria will have to present with the EU Digital Covid Certificate, the certificate proving they were fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid, or a negative PCR/antigen test result from Tuesday, February 1. Incomers need to have at least one of these documents when boarding a plane, a train or a bus travelling to Bulgaria or when entering the country, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry announced. The duty will remain in place until March 31.

Picture of the day

Nearly 690,000 primary and secondary school pupils received their half-year school report today. They will enjoy the half-year school holiday on Friday, February 4.

Pupils in Kosice received their school reports for the first half of the school year today. (Source: TASR)

Feature story for today

As soon as the non-profit organisation National Trust took over the administration of the historic Romers House in the centre of Bratislava from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2014, in order to turn the house into its headquarters, they started organising volunteer work so they could start using it as soon as possible. Volunteers discovered a historical wooden ceiling from the 1970s under plaster in a ground-floor room. The plan of the National Trust is to return the ceiling to its original beauty by the end of this year and use the house for public activities.

Renaissance house in central Bratislava gradually reveals its secrets Read more

In other news

The Slovak passport belongs to the top 10 most powerful passports , after it ranked ninth in The Henley Passport Index, which measures the strength of the passports based on how many countries and territories the passport holder can enter without a visa.

, after it ranked ninth in The Henley Passport Index, which measures the strength of the passports based on how many countries and territories the passport holder can enter without a visa. President Zuzana Caputova has authorised Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) to ratify the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the USA . The Slovak delegation led by Nad and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) is expected to travel to the US, and ratify the deal on February 3 .

(OLaNO) to . The Slovak delegation led by Nad and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) is expected to travel to the US, and . General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka did not explain his recent business trip to Russia at the session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, as there were not enough members to open it. He told journalists later that he did not violate any sanctions against Russia or any regulation. Zilinka is expected to participate in the session of the parliamentary constitutional and legal affairs committee, scheduled for tomorrow, as well.

as there were not enough members to open it. He told journalists later that he did not violate any sanctions against Russia or any regulation. Zilinka is expected to participate in the session of the parliamentary constitutional and legal affairs committee, scheduled for tomorrow, as well. Zuzana Batova is finishing as head of the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) ; she will be temporarily replaced by Peter Potucek as of tomorrow. She is leaving upon her own request, as the Health Ministry said. Batova became a target of ex-prime minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) for her uncompromising attitude during the approval process of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, and even received the White Crow award for civic courage.

; she will be temporarily replaced by Peter Potucek as of tomorrow. She is leaving upon her own request, as the Health Ministry said. Batova became a target of ex-prime minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) for her uncompromising attitude during the approval process of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, and even received the White Crow award for civic courage. The opposition Smer party led by Robert Fico is catching up to Hlas , formed by the group of Smer defectors around Peter Pellegrini. It came second in the recent poll carried out by the Focus agency for private broadcaster TV Markiza, but the difference between the two parties is only 1.5 percentage points.

, formed by the group of Smer defectors around Peter Pellegrini. It came second in the recent poll carried out by the Focus agency for private broadcaster TV Markiza, but the difference between the two parties is only 1.5 percentage points. Firefighters had to intervene in as many as 210 cases to remove the consequences of the strong wind and bad weather that hit Slovakia on Sunday. The most serious situation was in Trnava Region and Bratislava Region.

that hit Slovakia on Sunday. The most serious situation was in Trnava Region and Bratislava Region. More than 60 passenger trains operated by state-run carrier ZSSK will not be dispatched between January 31 and February 4 due to operational reasons, including the shortage of engine drivers and some technical problems at the Petrzalka station. The highest number of trains will be missing on the route between Bratislava and Trnava, in both directions. One last note: The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a first level warning against ground ice for all western Slovakia and selected districts of central Slovakia that will be in place from today, starting at 18:00, until tomorrow morning (at around 9:00). At the same time, people living in the northern districts of central and eastern Slovakia should prepare for strong wind, with a first-level warning being issued for tomorrow evening and all Wednesday.

Weather warnings issued for January 31 to February 2, 2022 (Source: SHMU)

More on Spectator.sk:

Slovakia is getting old fast Read more

Who are the most attractive employers in Slovakia? Read more

Stranger in a room: Klokoc Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
https://sputniknews.com/20220130/uae-air-defense-intercepts-ballistic-missile-launched-by-houthis---defense-ministry-1092627499.html

UAE Air Defense Intercepts Ballistic Missile Launched by Houthis - Defense Ministry

UAE Air Defense Intercepts Ballistic Missile Launched by Houthis - Defense Ministry

DOHA, January 31 (Sputnik) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) air defense systems have intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Ansar Allah (Houthi)... 30.01.2022, Sputnik International

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middle east

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The ministry said on Twitter in the early hours of Monday that the "air defense had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist group towards the country."The UAE defense ministry specified that there were no casualties.The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said after the interception that all UAE airports were operating as usual following the attack, which came in the midst of Israeli President Isaac Herzogs first visit to the United Arab Emirates.This was the third Houthi attack against the UAE since the start of January. Last Monday, the UAE air defense intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis, the remains of the missiles fell in the Abu Dhabi area. Earlier in January, several Houthi drones targeted the UAE capital including the construction site of a new airport and fuel tankers near depots of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, killing three people and injuring six others.The Houthi rebels say their attacks are a response to the UAE's involvement in hostilities against the movement in Yemen.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220131/biden-us-desires-diplomacy-but-ready-no-matter-what-happens-if-ukraine-tensions-worsen-1092644731.html

Biden: US Desires Diplomacy But 'Ready No Matter What Happens' If Ukraine Tensions Worsen

Biden: US Desires Diplomacy But 'Ready No Matter What Happens' If Ukraine Tensions Worsen

On Monday, US President Joe Biden reiterated the United States' commitment to diplomacy as tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO worsened. 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

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russia

ukraine

us

tensions

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Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, and the president continues what he referred to as "non-stop diplomacy".According to CNN, however, the purported "productive" talks were not well-received by Biden's Ukrainian counterpart. A senior Ukrainian official claimed that there is a disconnect over the difference between the two sides' risk in the event of a Russian invasion. White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne dismissed reports of a disconnect between Kiev and Washington as false.The White House confirmed they have sanction packages ready, should the situation call for it, that target Russian elites and their families. Biden Backs Move to Designate Qatar as 'Major Non-NATO Ally'On Monday, Biden said he would notify Congress of his intention to designate Qatar as a key non-NATO ally. He is said to have made the decision while meeting with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in the Oval Office. The two reportedly discussed regional security and a push for equal rights for Palestinians. Europe and several NATO allies are gripped by an energy crisis. Russia supplies over 30% of Europe's natural gas and is the continent's most crucial source of energy. With the threat of sanctions and a potential conflict over the purported buildup of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border, Europe and NATO have looked to find alternative energy exporters to meet their demand. Qatar has been one of the nations reportedly chosen to help ease Europe's energy crunch.Pentagon: Troops on 'Heightened Alert' Over Ukraine Crisis Have Not Been Given Deployment OrdersLast week, the United States military put 8,500 troops stationed in the US on "heightened alert" for deployment to Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, according to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. According to Kirby, the troops could be deployed in five days if called upon. US troops already stationed in Europe could also be called up. The majority of troops are ground forces and would be part of a NATO response force in the event, according to Washington and its allies, that Russia engaged Ukraine in a military conflict.A deployment of troops would reportedly not be a US military decision, but rather a NATO decision, according to Kirby. US Open Talks Proposal on Ukraine 'Classic Example of Megaphone Diplomacy'The US has approached the United Nations in an attempt to gain international support over their allegations that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is an imminent threat. The Kremlin has regularly denied the continuing accusations and has cited NATO's increased military presence on its borders over the past decade as a clear double standard. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, implored the UN Security Council to look at Russia's actions and not to take Kremlin statements at face value. She added, however, that diplomacy is the preferred course of action. Washington has asked Moscow to take part in a public meeting to discuss security concerns in the region.Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, called the US request for an open meeting a "classic example of megaphone diplomacy".He observed that the United States and its allies have failed to provide evidence that an attack is imminent and believes Washington is actually pushing for a worst-case scenario, armed conflict, to occur, as a means of justifying an increased global military footprint.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220131/british-police-release-two-people-detained-over-texas-synagogue-hostage-taking-1092645543.html

British Police Release Two People Detained Over Texas Synagogue Hostage-Taking

British Police Release Two People Detained Over Texas Synagogue Hostage-Taking

LONDON (Sputnik) - Two men detained in Manchester, northern England, on January 26, as part of the investigation into the hostage-taking incident in the Texas... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

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texas

release

hostages

synagogue

uk police

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Two men arrested on January 20 in Manchester and Birmingham, as well as two minors arrested in South Manchester on January 17, were also released without charge earlier.On January 15, a British citizen Malik Faisal Akram took four people hostage in the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, during Sabbath services. The hostages managed to escape and Akram, who had reportedly arrived in the United States two weeks earlier, was shot dead by police. According to reports, the hostage-taker claimed to be the brother of convicted Pakistani terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, who allegedly had ties to al-Qaeda*. The hostage-taker was reportedly demanding freedom for Siddiqui, who is now serving an 86-year sentence in a US federal prison for trying to kill American officers in Afghanistan.

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/revealed-texas-synagogue-hostage-taker-was-probed-but-cleared-by-mi5-1092347218.html

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texas, release, hostages, synagogue, uk police
The No. 1 traffic congestion chokehold in Connecticut is the I-84 and I-91 interchange. It also holds the distinction of the most congested chokehold in New England. The Bulkeley Bridge, which connects the interchange, has achieved national notoriety, ranking No. 3 in the United States for truck congestion. The neighborhoods of North Hartford and East Hartfords Meadows have been isolated by the interchange, with detrimental results for commerce and development. The aging levee systems in East Hartford and Hartford, which are in danger of collapse, only heighten the concern and underscore the urgency for action.

Congress has passed the nations largest infrastructure investment, sending billions to our state. We can now rebuild our transportation system, refortify our levees, reconnect our communities, eliminate congestion, and transform the region. Gov. Ned Lamont and commissioner Joseph Giulietti are committed to achieving these goals, and our federal delegation is working with them to bring these plans to fruition.

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Past planning mistakes have robbed our communities of their potential. East Hartfords massive interchange takes up valuable land in the South Meadows equivalent to the size of downtown Hartford, and it has blocked the community from the river and commerce. The status quo has created racial isolation in a once thriving North Hartford. The North End was cut off from the citys central business district by I-84 and is blocked from the riverfront by I-91, depriving residents of economic opportunity and downtown amenities. As a result, the 06120 in North Hartford is Connecticuts poorest ZIP code.

Interstates I-84 and I-91 in and around Hartford are among the countrys most egregious design flaws. We now have a historic opportunity to correct the injustices they caused. We can end the racial isolation, fulfill a 50-year goal to reclaim the riverfront, and build a multimodal transportation system that serves pedestrians, bicycles, cars, buses, planes and trains.

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The bipartisan infrastructure law sends $6 billion to Connecticut. This funding bolsters the Greater Hartford Mobility Study, which will advance the Harford400 proposal, a comprehensive multimodal transportation and economic development plan to revitalize the region and provide benefits for its residents. Revitalization will not happen overnight, rather it will take place one project at a time. This requires extensive outreach and engagement with the community.

Achieving the Hartford400 vision is critical to the long-term economic growth, health, and well-being of our region, and it will benefit our neighborhoods in countless ways. Without vision, there is no victory.

Heres one example: The intersection of Main and Albany by Keney Tower in Hartford will become a gateway to the North End with a new connection to Riverside Park. You will be able to walk from the new Joe Marfuggi Riverwalk on the Hartford-Windsor line all the way to Coltsville National Historical Park without ever having to see a highway.

President Joe Biden and Secretary Pete Buttigiegs plans to reconnect neighborhoods across the country make the I-84/I-91 corridor well-positioned to compete for new federal funding. President Biden delivered on his promise by signing the infrastructure bill into law, and by doing so created a path forward for Greater Hartford to transform itself. A long-envisioned hope is now becoming a reality.

Congressman John Larson represents Connecticuts 1st District.
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/denmark-not-ruling-out-military-support-to-ukraine-after-granting-millions-in-aid-1092629380.html

Denmark Not Ruling Out Military Support to Ukraine After Granting Millions in Aid

Denmark Not Ruling Out Military Support to Ukraine After Granting Millions in Aid

Earlier, Denmark contributed a frigate to the combined NATO force in the Baltic Sea and fighter jets to the air police missions over the Baltic States... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

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denmark

news

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ukraine

mette frederiksen

scandinavia

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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said she doesn't rule out supporting Ukraine with arms and military gear in case the crisis escalates, adding that she has "no principled opposition" to doing so, the newspaper Jyllands-Posten has reported.Both the opposition liberal-conservative party Venstre and the ruling Social Democrats' allies, the Socialist Liberal Party, support sending military equipment to Ukraine. The Social Liberals, yet another sidekick party, support this measure as well, yet only in coordination with the EU.The Danish prime minister also threatened Russia with sanctions "of unprecedented dimensions", should the situation in Ukraine escalate any further. Like many Western countries, Denmark sees Russia's massing of troops within its own borders as "aggression" toward Ukraine, despite Moscow having repeatedly denied plans of invasion.Yet, when asked about the chances of having Danish boots on Ukrainian soil, Frederiksen wouldn't answer. At the same time, she announced more money for the Armed Forces, should their current budget not suffice.Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited Denmark. In the course of the visit, his Danish counterpart and Frederiksen's party mate Jeppe Kofod announced that the government would allocate DKK 875 million ($131 million) to the Danish Neighbourhood Programme over the next four years, of which Ukraine will receive DKK 550 million ($82 million).Denmark previously contributed a frigate to the combined NATO force in the Baltic Sea and fighter jets tasked with air policing the Baltic States  with both steps presented as surveillance, deterrence, and "sending a signal to Russia".These steps and promised help to Ukraine both come in the wake of the US, NATO, and Russia exchanging letters on security proposals spelled out by Moscow in an effort to substantially ease the current tensions. Among other things, Washington and NATO were asked to abandon plans of NATO's eastward expansion, particularly plans to incorporate Ukraine or any other former Soviet republic into the alliance.Tensions between Russia and NATO soared following the Ukraine crisis in 2014, when Western-backed forces ousted the elected government in Kiev following a coup that also spurred Crimea into breaking off and rejoining Russia after a referendum in addition to sparking a civil conflict in the eastern part of the country.Throughout 2021 and up to the present, Western officials and media have accused Russia of a military buildup near Ukraine's borders in preparation for a possible invasion and threatened with earth-shattering sanctions. Moscow has dismissed all the allegations, instead accusing the West of artificially heightening tensions and hostilities.

https://sputniknews.com/20220119/danish-frigate-to-join-nato-force-in-baltic-sea-amid-russia-west-standoff-1092357826.html

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denmark, news, military & intelligence, europe, ukraine, mette frederiksen, scandinavia, military
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/desantis-pressured-to-denounce-spoxs-comments-suggesting-neo-nazi-rally-was-dem-staffers-1092646202.html

DeSantis Pressured to Denounce Spoxs Comments Suggesting Neo-Nazi Rally Was Dem Staffers

DeSantis Pressured to Denounce Spoxs Comments Suggesting Neo-Nazi Rally Was Dem Staffers

Comments on social media over the weekend by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spokesperson, Christina Pushaw, provoked outrage on the left after she suggested... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T21:22+0000

2022-01-31T21:22+0000

2022-01-31T21:21+0000

us

florida

demonstration

spokesperson

neo-nazi

antisemitism

ron desantis

the lincoln project

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Several anti-Semitic incidents were reported over the weekend, which came days after Holocaust Remembrance Day, which commemorates the 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Red Army, a death camp where the Nazis exterminated roughly 1 million Jews because they believed them to be racially inferior.According to local news, the group yelled profanities and anti-Semitic slurs at passing vehicles and got into at least one physical altercation with someone not affiliated with their group.The demonstration drew widespread condemnation from both major parties, including Republican Speaker of the Florida House Chris Sprowls and Democratic Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. US Sen. Rick Scott, a former Florida governor and a Republican, also condemned the demonstration. However, Pushaw had her own thoughts about things.As it happens, Florida Highway Patrol tweeted just two hours later they had disbanded an anti-Semitic gathering on the overpass over I-4.The spokesperson was referring to an October 2021 incident in which several members of the Never-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project dressed up as attendees of the August 2017 Unite the Right rally by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists held in Charlottesville, Virginia, complete with tiki torches. They then went to an event in the city hosted by Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin - now the Old Dominions governor - and stood outside his campaign bus.Many pointed out there was an inherent danger in minimizing the rise of far-right groups, not only because of the history of Nazism but also because even on the sidelines, such groups carry out hate attacks on a variety of targets, from Jews to Black people and members of the LGBTQ community.The very idea that the governors press representative suggesting such Neo-Nazis were fake is reprehensible, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, of Temple Israel in Palm Beach, told Politico on Monday. This is the time for the public to be aware of the dangers of anti-Semitic extremism and not to traffic in the denial of that extremism.The rabbi called on DeSantis to denounce his spokespersons comments. The Florida governor has claimed to be the most pro-Israel Governor in America and raised his voice last summer to condemn Vermont-based ice cream maker Ben & Jerrys for complying with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) boycott of the West Bank, which the United Nations says is illegally occupied by Israel.However, Pushaw seemed to dismiss those calls out of hand, asking on Monday, if the governor himself does not issue a public statement of specific condemnation of whoever this group is, within a time period that the Left deems acceptable, he is smeared as a Nazi sympathizer by default?She also retweeted a comment by journalist Karol Markowicz suggesting that Democrats are using Jews to try and tarnish DeSantis supposed philo-Semitic credentials, using a term commonly invoked by Christian Zionists, who support Israel because they believe Jews returning to the Levant will bring about the End of Days and their own forced conversion to Christianity.

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us, florida, demonstration, spokesperson, neo-nazi, antisemitism, ron desantis, the lincoln project
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/dissident-doctor-ecstatic-as-javid-revisits-nhs-no-jab-no-job-rule-1092640405.html

Dissident Doctor 'Ecstatic' as Javid Revisits NHS 'No Jab, No Job' Rule

Dissident Doctor 'Ecstatic' as Javid Revisits NHS 'No Jab, No Job' Rule

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid's order to unvaccinated health and social care workers  to get the vaccine or lose their jobs  is opposed by several trade... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T22:00+0000

2022-01-31T22:00+0000

2022-01-31T21:59+0000

national health service (nhs)

britain

great britain

vaccinations

sajid javid

uk

covid-19

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A doctor who refused to be vaccinated under the NHS vaccine mandate claimed vindication as the health secretary reportedly reconsidered the divisive rule. Dr. Steve James, a critical care consultant at London's Kings College Hospital, confronted Sajid Javid during the minister's visit three weeks earlier. James asserted that he did not need what he referred to as an "experimental" vaccine, claiming, instead, that he had superior natural immunity from a previous infection of the virus, and suggesting that the "science isn't strong enough" to justify a 'no jab, no job' rule for health and social care workers.The Daily Telegraph quoted an anonymous source in government who offered that Javid would meet other ministers on the COVID Operations sub-committee of cabinet to finalise a decision to drop the much-criticised mandate.The source cited the mild symptoms of the now-dominant Omicron variant of COVID-19 as a pretext for dropping the rule, set to be enforced beginning April 1, a move which some suggest could cause a staffing crisis, as one in 20 workers remain unvaccinated."For Omicron, while it is more transmissible, all the studies have shown it is less severe. That has changed the conversation about whether mandatory jabs are still proportionate," they added.James told Talk Radio's Julia Hartley-Brewer on Monday that he was "ecstatic" at the possibility of a reported U-turn, calling it "a recognition that the mandate is wrong and was wrong.""It was wrong to apply it to care home staff when Delta was predominant, and it's still wrong to apply it, even more wrong to apply it now with Omicron," the consultant suggested. Britain's biggest health care trade union, UNISON, has opposed the vaccine mandate, while some public health chiefs and industry leaders have warned against losing members of the workforce."There were always two risks to manage here: the risk of Covid cross-infection in health care settings and the consequences of losing staff if significant numbers choose not to be vaccinated," said Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers."I never thought I would need to be vaccinated," James told Sky News' Kay Burley. "I always thought healthy people wouldn't be offered the vaccine; it was going to go to vulnerable people."He said the vaccine was "still in experimental trial stages" and "has side effects that are not really clearly talked about at present," warning that "people are concerned that they are higher than are being shared.""It isn't very effective at stopping serious disease in a healthy population, because a healthy population doesn't very get serious disease from COVID," James asserted. "I will not be having a vaccination, not unless the entire landscape of COVID and the vaccine changes," he said, insisting that "vaccine mandates are wrong." James hailed the news in a social media video post when it broke on Sunday night.

https://sputniknews.com/20220131/freedom-convoy-trucker-protest-continues-in-ottawa-1092627779.html

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national health service (nhs), britain, great britain, vaccinations, sajid javid, uk, covid-19
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/hunter-biden-was-reportedly-subpoenaed-over-dealings-with-china-a-year-before-presidential-election-1092643164.html

Hunter Biden Was Reportedly Subpoenaed Over Dealings With China a Year Before Presidential Election

Hunter Biden Was Reportedly Subpoenaed Over Dealings With China a Year Before Presidential Election

Last year, the president's son revealed that there was a federal investigation into his business dealings over possible tax fraud. Hunter maintained that he... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T17:38+0000

2022-01-31T17:38+0000

2022-01-31T17:38+0000

joe biden

hunter biden

us

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Hunter Biden, his uncle James Biden, and two of their former business allies, Devon Archer and Eric Schwerin, were handed grand jury subpoenas in May 2019 over their dealings with partners in China, the New York Post reported, citing federal documents obtained by the Marco Polo non-profit.According to the documents, the subpoena filed by Delaware US Attorney David Weiss targeted the financial ties of the four with the Bank of China. The subpoena also asked the bank JP Morgan Chase to provide information about any international financial transactions of the four over the past five years.Probe Amid Democratic PrimariesThe reported subpoena was filed just a month after Joe Biden, Hunter's father, joined the race for the presidency by entering the Democratic primaries. Furthermore, the subpoena came approximately a month after Hunter Biden allegedly dropped off the notorious "laptop from hell" at a Delaware repair shop.Data recovered from the hard drive of the laptop, which was never picked up, landed in the hands of the FBI and the press. Numerous publications and tell-all books based on the data from the drive alleged that Hunter Biden had engaged in murky business deals with Chinese businesses tied to China's Communist Party. The emails from the laptop also vaguely hinted that Joe Biden might have been involved in his son's business affairs in Ukraine and possibly China as well.While it is unclear whether the FBI ever used the information from the drive, Hunter Biden himself revealed in April 2021 that he was the subject of a federal investigation over possible tax fraud. He insisted that it was the first time he had heard about being looked into by the authorities over the matter.Hunter did not elaborate on the details of the investigation, while several media reports at the time also alleged that it could be tied to his business dealings in China. The president's son insisted he was innocent and said he wouldn't be striking a plea deal. Joe Biden also expressed confidence that his son did nothing wrong.

https://sputniknews.com/20220129/hunter-biden-reportedly-hired-ex-chinese-government-researcher-as-personal-secretary-1092607275.html

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joe biden, hunter biden, us
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/in-a-rare-case-11-year-old-israeli-boy-catches-three-different-covid-variants-in-a-year--1092633196.html

In a Rare Case, 11-Year-Old Israeli Boy Catches Three Different COVID Variants in a Year

In a Rare Case, 11-Year-Old Israeli Boy Catches Three Different COVID Variants in a Year

The boy, who will celebrate his twelth birthday this week, has shared that he wishes to "stay healthy and not get infected again". 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T10:21+0000

2022-01-31T10:21+0000

2022-01-31T10:21+0000

delta

asia & pacific

india

covid-19

life under covid-19 quarantine

omicron strain

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Alon Helfgott, an eleven-year-old Israeli boy, has bravely battled three different COVID variants in a year after getting infected with Alpha, Delta, and now Omicron. Helfgott from the central Israeli city of Kfar Saba has been in quarantine three or four times since the start of the school year. After testing positive for Omicron last week, Helfgott continues to be in self-isolation. He is expected to be released from quarantine on Wednesday, the day of his 12th birthday. Sharing his experience with The Times of Israel, Helfgott said that compared to the previous strains of COVID-19 which had "pretty serious symptoms", this time he does not feel that sick. "I'm fine, feeling pretty healthy, without so many symptoms but in the Alpha (infection), I suffered from a high fever", Helfgott said. "I try to pass the time in bed or on the phone. There are really no things to do", Helfgott said. As his birthday is approaching, Helfgott shared that he wishes to "stay healthy and not get infected again". There have also been documented cases of co-infections, where people were infected with two different strains at the same time. According to a study published in the journal Nature, people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 can expect to become reinfected within one or two years, unless they take precautions such as getting vaccinated and wearing masks. The results suggest that the average reinfection risk rises from about 5 percent, four months after initial infection, to 50 percent by 17 months.

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delta, asia & pacific, india, covid-19, life under covid-19 quarantine, omicron strain
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/israeli-attorney-general-mandelblitt-ends-tenure-leaving-his-successor-to-deal-with-netanyahu-1092631792.html

Israeli Attorney General Mandelblitt Ends Tenure, Leaving His Successor to Deal With Netanyahu

Israeli Attorney General Mandelblitt Ends Tenure, Leaving His Successor to Deal With Netanyahu

In 2016, when Mandelblitt had just taken the position, it seemed that he and Benjamin Netanyahu enjoyed mutual trust and respect. But as a probe into the... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T07:12+0000

2022-01-31T07:12+0000

2022-01-31T07:12+0000

middle east

israel

attorney general

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Tuesday will be Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblitt's last day in charge of one of the country's most influential offices.During his six years in office, he has put a lot of effort into fighting corruption and assisted in opening lawsuits against a number of prominent politicians.But his tenure will not be remembered for that. Rather, it will always be linked to the indictment of one man, the one who appointed him Israel's AG, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Match Made in Heaven?In 2016, when Mandelblitt took office, it looked like a match made in heaven. He saw eye to eye with Netanyahu on the responsibilities of an attorney general and the role he would play in Israel's political scene.The two appreciated and trusted one another, and Netanyahu repeatedly stated that Mandelblitt was the most suitable candidate for the job.Crack in RelationsParallel to that the police and the prosecution have been working on collecting evidence against Netanyahu in three corruption cases against him, and when Mandelblitt started to cooperate with them, his friendly relations with the PM cracked. In November 2019, they reached a boiling point when Mandelblitt announced his decision to indict Israel's longest-serving PM.The prosecution accuses Netanyahu of buying positive press and receiving gifts from a rich donor. The former PM has always denied these allegations and has repeatedly said that the attorney general joined forces with the judiciary and the police to remove him from office.Netanyahu's narrative has been embraced by many of his loyalists, and since the indictment, conservative groups have organised a number of protests against the AG. They called him immoral and corrupt and demanded that he step down.Some elements in the nation's liberal circles haven't been pleased with him either. They thought he was too mild on the former prime minister and they believed that harder measures should have been taken.More recently, they were displeased with the plea bargain he was allegedly due to strike with the former prime minister, according to which Netanyahu would evade a prison sentence in exchange for leaving political life for the next seven years.Mandelblitt hasn't given in to any of that pressure. He continued to work, ignoring any outside noise. Now, however, as his time as AG is running out, Israel's Minister of Justice Gideon Saar will need to find a replacement, but the problem is that there isn't one yet.Successor Yet to Be AnnouncedThere are several candidates for this position. One of them is Gali Bahrav-Myara, a private sector lawyer, who has previously served as the Head of Tel Aviv's Civil Division. But her main drawback is that she lacks any experience in criminal law. Neither does she have a relevant background as an adviser, one of the main responsibilities of an AG.Two other contenders are Deputy Attorney General Roy Sheindorf and Defence Ministry legal adviser Itai Ofir, who reportedly has the backing of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Defence Minister Benny Gantz.A special committee is set to convene in February to pick the nation's 15th attorney general, a person who will head the public prosecution system, represent Israel in all legal proceedings, advise the government, and serve as the representative of public interest in all legal matters.But for many Israelis, the main duty of the new AG will be to finish what Mandelblitt started - the graft probes of Netanyahu - and to make sure that justice and truth prevail.

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Elizabeth Blade

Elizabeth Blade

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Elizabeth Blade

middle east, israel, attorney general
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/mandatory-vaccination-opponents-in-western-australia-demand-arrest-of-state-premier-reports-say-1092636109.html

Mandatory Vaccination Opponents in Western Australia Demand Arrest of State Premier, Reports Say

Mandatory Vaccination Opponents in Western Australia Demand Arrest of State Premier, Reports Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - About 200 people have gathered outside of the Perth police station in the Australian state of Western Australia to protest against mandatory... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T10:49+0000

2022-01-31T10:49+0000

2022-01-31T10:49+0000

australia

vaccination

vaccine

coronavirus

covid-19

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The state's new coronavirus regulations entered force on Monday, barring anyone who is aged at least 16 and not double-vaccinated from accessing most public venues, including hospitals and nursing homes.According to the 7News broadcaster, the protesters tried to enter the police station to present a petition demanding the arrest of McGowan and Beazley. They were denied entry on account of being unmasked, but their papers were reportedly accepted.The protest was peaceful for the most part, with only a few participants yelling at reporters.Protests against restrictions considered overly radical are not rare in Australia. While protesters claim that the restrictions constitute a breach of their freedoms, the government insists the regulations is prompted by health concerns.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220131/mercenaries-arrive-in-ukraine-disguised-as-foreign-military-instructors-lpr-head-says-1092629214.html

Mercenaries Arrive in Ukraine Disguised as Foreign Military Instructors, LPR Head Says

Mercenaries Arrive in Ukraine Disguised as Foreign Military Instructors, LPR Head Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - There are increasing numbers of mercenaries in southeastern Ukraine (Donbass), who arrive there under the guise of military instructors, the... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T04:47+0000

2022-01-31T04:47+0000

2022-01-31T05:21+0000

blackwater

ukraine

lugansk people's republic

mercenaries

donbass

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He pointed out that when Western countries say that they are sending 200 instructors to Kiev along with weaponry, to help train Ukrainian servicemen, it is likely that these trainers are narrow specialists from military companies who, in the event of a conflict escalation, may use the supplied weapons on the line of contact in Donbass.The Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for New Challenges and Threats has expressed concerns over reports of persistent activity by US private military companies (PMCs) in southeastern Ukraine.According to LPR, there are mercenaries from the Academi (Blackwater) PMC in Donbass.Tensions in the region have been escalating over the past few weeks, as the US and Britain claimed Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine. Moscow denied the allegations, calling them fake news and accusing the West of planning a provocation in Donbass. President Vladimir Putin even noted that NATO countries are "pumping" Ukraine with new weapons, which creates security threats for Russia.The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in the spring of 2014 after Donetsk and Lugansk proclaimed their independence. Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation to try to crush the independence-seeking forces in the country's east after the February 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev. The war led to the deaths of up to 31,000 people, with tens of thousands more injured, and more than 2.5 million residents being externally or internally displaced.

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blackwater, ukraine, lugansk people's republic, mercenaries, donbass
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-preparing-for-first-observations-1092628651.html

NASAs James Webb Space Telescope Preparing for First Observations

NASAs James Webb Space Telescope Preparing for First Observations

NASAs $10 billion James Webb space telescope is entering its final preparations before becoming operational. The telescope arrived at its final location... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T03:28+0000

2022-01-31T03:28+0000

2022-01-31T03:28+0000

nasa

james webb space telescope

science

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The James Webb space telescope has arrived at its final Earth-sun Lagrange Point destination. The region is some 930,000 miles from Earth and was selected by astrophysicists and NASA for being a gravitationally stable spot that allows for fuel conservation and, most importantly, is incredibly cold.The James Webb telescope is designed to operate at 45 Kelvin or the equivalent to -375 Fahrenheit and -228 Celsius. The telescope has a sunshield to remain cool, which was successfully deployed earlier this month.On Friday, Jonathan Gardner, James Webb deputy senior project scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, told those at a town hall event, "There were 50 major deployments; they have all been successful."The newly-deployed sunshield will make the Webb telescope visible from earth, even for amateur astronomers.Calibrating the telescope will take time as its performance will vary as it continues to cool down. The next step in commissioning the Webb telescope is for the science instruments to become operational.The difficulty in getting the Webb telescopes science instruments is largely down to trial and error according to Rigby.Cycle 1 is expected to begin around June 25 if everything remains on schedule and the first images from the Webb telescope will be released around that time. All commissioning data will be made public.The Webb telescope has enough fuel to be operational for an estimated 20 years, although that could change depending on a multitude of factors. Scientific proposals for Cycle 2 are due by January 2023.

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Nevin Brown

nasa, james webb space telescope, science
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/no-way-out-for-boris-johnson-as-pms-ego-converges-with-met-probe--gray-report-expert-claims-1092645988.html

'No Way Out' for Boris Johnson as PM's Ego Converges With Met Probe & Gray Report, Expert Claims

'No Way Out' for Boris Johnson as PM's Ego Converges With Met Probe & Gray Report, Expert Claims

The Metropolitan Police Service has confirmed that it is currently probing eight of 12 parties that were allegedly held at 10 Downing Street amid the UK... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T23:29+0000

2022-01-31T23:29+0000

2022-01-31T23:28+0000

theresa may

boris johnson

house of commons

scandal

british conservative party

uk parliament

uk

covid-19

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Moments after the inquiry was made public, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued an address to Parliament apologizing for the occurrence of several parties that were in violation of his government's own COVID-19 lockdown measures. The Met probe was made public via the Gray report, a government review compiled by British civil servant Sue Gray that outlined 16 social events over the past two years of the pandemic. The Gray report noted that there was a "serious failure" to observe the standards expected of government officials, including the consumption of alcohol at the workplace.The prime minister's remarks did little to silence lawmakers wishing to see the full, unredacted Gray report. UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer highlighted that, unlike Johnson and his staff, those in the UK abided by the COVID-19 mitigation measures and lockdown guidelines. He emphasized that in many cases Brits were unable to be with their loved ones in their final moments.The Labour Party leader applauded those who followed rules set by Johnson, as those individuals "saved the lives of people they will probably never meet." "By routinely breaking the rules he set, the prime minister took us all for fools. He held people sacrificing contempt. He showed himself unfit for office. His desperate denials since he was exposed have only made matters worse," Starmer said, accusing the prime minister of hiding behind the Metropolitan police probe. While Johnson initially promised to take action following the release of the Gray report, action by or against the prime minister cannot occur until after the probe is wrapped by police. "Once again, he is kicking the can into the future," Dr. Sarah Lieberman, senior lecturer in politics and international relations at Canterbury Christ Church University, told Sputnik.Lieberman highlighted that Johnson has not stated whether he would resign over the Met's inquiry. Johnson's deflection tactics are widely considered to be a key element of his persona, built on bravado and being the center of attention, according to Alistair Jones, associate professor of politics at De Montfort University in the UK. He argued that the upcoming elections may not swing in the Conservative Party's favor if Johnson remains in power. It is unclear whether this is possible, however, as lawmakers would be able to rally the necessary 54-letter threshold for a confidence ballot, and then get more than half of the 359 Tory lawmakers to vote against the prime minister.

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Evan Craighead

theresa may, boris johnson, house of commons, scandal, british conservative party, uk parliament, uk, covid-19
Performers rehearsing for the Virginia Stage Company's "The Thanksgiving Play." The play was originally written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse. It's showing from Jan. 19 through Feb. 6 at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk and was directed by Jessica Holt. (Courtesy of Crystal Tuxhorn)

Jessica Holt was researching Thanksgiving pageants for her current Virginia Stage Company production when she came across a revealing photo.

It was a scene from a 1920 play in which a group of white actors was dressed as pilgrims. Surrounding them were more white actors with painted faces and heads wrapped in feather headbands, an offensive portrayal of Native Americans.

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You can see how these were using redface in such damaging and corrosive ways, Holt said.

It was the perfect preparation for The Thanksgiving Play, which is playing through Feb. 6 at the Wells Theatre.

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The play was written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse in 2015. She is based in Santa Monica, California, and is a member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation.

The play is about performative wokeness, FastHorse said during a 2018 interview with Playwrights Horizons. The play follows four white people crafting a culturally sensitive Thanksgiving play for children during Native American Heritage Month.

The problem? The characters dont consult any Indigenous people for the show.

FastHorse writes a lot of plays that often contain depressing truths of being Indigenous in America. The satirical Thanksgiving play, she said in the interview, gave her a chance to make audiences laugh.

The play is also an opportunity for people to learn, FastHorse said. She said stage companies often tell her they cant cast her shows because they dont have enough Native actors. That isnt true, she said.

I get tired of fighting that fight, to be perfectly honest, she said during the interview. I said Fine. Im going to create a play that still deals with these Indigenous issues with all white-presenting people.

Tom Quaintance, producing artistic director at VSC, reached out to Holt last summer. He thought Holt  a white, queer, cisgender woman  had the perspective and cultural understanding to direct the play. Holt was initially hesitant since shes not Native, but the more she read, the more comfortable she felt.

This play is lampooning and making fun of white folks for 90 minutes, Holt said. You need to have the perspective of whiteness in the room because ultimately, thats what the play is about. Its about these white folks that are all trying to do the right thing and are finding the limits of white progressivism.

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To direct the performance, she read up on early Thanksgiving plays and pageants, which mystified Native Americans and melded them into one idea when in reality, theyre quite diverse.

For example, there are currently 11 tribes recognized in Virginia, including the Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi and Pamunkey. In Hampton Roads, members of the Nansemond tribe live in Suffolk and Chesapeake, while those in the Cheroenhaka Nottoway and Nottoway tribes live in Southampton County, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia website.

There are also groups like the Red Crooked Sky, a Virginia-based American Indian dance troupe, Holt said. The troupe is based in southeastern Virginia and represents a host of tribes, including Cherokee, Nansemond, Sioux, Meherrin, Osage, Seneca and Monacan.

At rehearsals. "The Thanksgiving Play" is showing through Feb. 6 at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk. (Courtesy of Crystal Tuxhorn)

Holt also worked with Courtney Mohler, a dramaturgical consultant who provides research and information to help produce more informed performances.

Mohler teaches theater at the Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and is the associate dean for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access for the universitys Jordan College of Art.

She shared scholarly articles with the cast and crew about issues such as white privilege, white identity and allyship.

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Mohler said the play is extremely funny and illustrates how American theater frequently leaves out Native American perspectives and characters, which is incredibly damaging.

For example, November kicks off the holidays for most Americans. Its also Native American Heritage Month, so the two often get pushed together in peoples minds, she said.

Like, Oh, yeah. Thanksgiving is there. And Indians are there. Thats the beginning of America, she said. Unfortunately, that story totally ignores the fact that America was not discovered by Europeans.Indigenous people were already here with civilizations and languages and cultures, their own belief systems, their own governmental systems, their own art.

That part is often overshadowed in U.S. history lessons by tales of Native people greeting Pilgrims with corn and other foods. Also erased are the diseases and genocide that killed thousands of Indigenous families.

Rehearsing for "The Thanksgiving Play," originally written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse. (Courtesy of Crystal Tuxhorn)

The play highlights issues such as white privilege, white identity and wokeness through comedy and satire, which are different, according to FastHorse and Holt.

Satire is more biting than comedy, Holt said. It doesnt let us off the hook. We are given permission to laugh with comedy; the satire means we are also laughing at ourselves. This satire deliciously roasts these four well-meaning white allies who are trying their best to tell a socially responsible Thanksgiving play that both honors Thanksgiving AND Native American Heritage Month and are epically failing.

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The play, in turn, creates a space for viewers to get over their fear of making mistakes, to laugh at themselves and learn more about how to be real allies. That means checking privilege and, in some cases, giving up that privilege.

Mohler, the consultant, said the play is humorous because the characters are desperate to do an impossible thing  produce a culturally sensitive play for elementary school students thats also accurate.

The characters either have to admit the violence that happened toward Native people or perpetuate a lie.

The characters, she said, come to a conclusion that many well-meaning allies come to.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

Audiences are really going to laugh hard and then theyll also be thinking hard about why they were laughing; thats my favorite combination.

Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com

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___

If you go

When: 2 p.m. Sundays; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturdays through Feb. 6

Where: Wells Theatre, 108 E. Tazewell St., Norfolk

Tickets: Start at $25; tinyurl.com/VSCThanksgivingTix

Details: tinyurl.com/VSCThanksgiving; 757-627-1234
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/north-korea-trying-to-amplify-provocation-with-missile-tests-japanese-defence-minister-says-1092632178.html

North Korea Trying to Amplify Provocation With Missile Tests, Japanese Defence Minister Says

North Korea Trying to Amplify Provocation With Missile Tests, Japanese Defence Minister Says

TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japanese Minister of Defence Nobuo Kishi said on Monday that North Korea's latest missile tests are aimed at steadily increasing the "level... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T06:59+0000

2022-01-31T06:59+0000

2022-01-31T08:02+0000

dprk

asia & pacific

japan

democratic republic of north korea (dprk)

hwasong-12

missile

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Sunday's launch of a Hwasong-12 missile, which had a range of 4,500 kilometres (2,796 miles), is North Korea's longest-range missile test since the test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2017.The Sunday launch was North Korea's seventh since the start of 2022.According to the South Korean military, the Hwasong-12 missile was fired from North Korea's Jagang Province toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday and flew about 800 kilometres (497 miles) with the maximum altitude reaching 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles).The same estimates were given by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who said that the missile fell outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone after around 30 minutes. The US Indo-Pacific Command said shortly after the Sunday test-firing that it posed no immediate threat to the US and its allies.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220131/the-depth-of-us-cold-war-thinking-and-murder-of-jfk-1092639532.html

The Depth of US Cold War Thinking and Murder of JFK

The Depth of US Cold War Thinking and Murder of JFK

It seems almost incredible that 30 years after the supposed end of the Cold War, we have a situation in Europe today where the United States and its NATO... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T13:48+0000

2022-01-31T13:48+0000

2022-02-02T04:21+0000

john f. kennedy

russia

columnists

us

cold war

jfk assassination

nato

jfk assassination

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Moscow says it has no intention to go to war against the United States and the 30-member NATO military bloc, nor has it plans to invade Ukraine. Yet Washington and its allies keep talking hysterically about Russia "imminently" attacking Ukraine. With such tinderbox tensions and deranged paranoia, the danger of war is lamentably all too real.The intransigence of the US and NATO to negotiate a mutual security arrangement with Russia for Europe is a clear sign that Cold War logic is still dominant among the Western powers. Russia is not viewed as a nation with which to have normal relations for trade, commerce, diplomacy and security. On the contrary, it is viewed relentlessly through a lens of hostility and enmity. Why is that?Martin Schotz, a Massachusetts-based author of a ground-breaking book on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, says the Cold War never really ended.He explains that the US national security state and its hyper-militarized economy absolutely need to have foreign enemies in order to justify their existence. This deeply entrenched logic instilled by the US ruling establishment is almost inseparable from the modern formation of the American nation-state. The Cold War which began immediately after the Second World War is a dogma that Washington imposes not just on its own people but on its NATO and European allies whose weak leaders are all too willing to comply with.American corporate capitalism is in essence a war economy. It is driven by the military-industrial complex and its outgrowths in Congress, Wall Street, myriad think-tanks and the corporate-controlled news media. It means that international relations and US foreign policy must necessarily be distorted through a prism of conflict and war. The corollary of that mentality is the reality of Washingtons war-making record over the past eight decades. No other nation comes close to its trail of criminal aggression and destruction from non-stop wars or overseas violent "interventions".Thus, the present tensions over Ukraine and alleged Russian aggression have to be viewed in the context of Washingtons permanent Cold War ideology. The same can be said with regard to US accusations against China and Taiwan. The accusations against Russia and China should be taken with a contemptuous pinch of salt since they are issued by an entity  the United States  whose war-criminal record is incomparable.Martin Schotz says there is no doubt that President Kennedy was murdered in Dallas on November 22, 1963, by the US ruling establishment because of his growing radical opposition to Cold War policy. The vast coverup from the absurd Warren Report to the ongoing blanket mass media denialism all point incontrovertibly to an orchestrated state agency.JFK called for a process of nuclear disarmament and peaceful coexistence with the Soviet Union based on recognition of mutual humanity. Such a call, however, was anathema to the US military-industrial complex and the national security state. It was in this frenzied context that the state tacitly ordered executive action to kill Kennedy.The fact that an elected US president was brutally murdered in broad daylight simply because he wanted to make peace with the Soviet Union and banish the horror of war that shows how deep and nefarious is the Cold War logic of the American ruling establishment. Now, as it was then.It is therefore totally consistent, if condemnable, that the United States continues to find ways to incite animosity with Russia, China and others even to the heinous point of risking a nuclear war. The root problem of securing a peaceful world stems from the inherent, criminal nature of the US national security state and its war-driven economy.The murder of JFK is not some distant event of wicked intrigue. It is a crime that haunts the US and the rest of the world to this day. Until the United States deals with that crime, it will never be at peace.

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john f. kennedy, russia, columnists, us, cold war, jfk assassination, nato, jfk assassination
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/ukraine-crisis-escalation-forces-boris-johnson-to-cancel-visit-to-japan-reports-say-1092631377.html

Ukraine Crisis Escalation Forces Boris Johnson to Cancel Visit to Japan, Reports Say

Ukraine Crisis Escalation Forces Boris Johnson to Cancel Visit to Japan, Reports Say

TOKYO (Sputnik) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called off his first official visit to Japan, scheduled for mid-February, over escalating tensions around... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T06:12+0000

2022-01-31T06:12+0000

2022-01-31T06:12+0000

united kingdom

boris johnson

russia

ukraine

japan

uk

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Tokyo and London were making preparations for Johnson's trip to Japan, however, the United Kingdom suggested that the visit should be cancelled, several sources specified to the news agency.On Saturday, Japanese media reported that during the visit, Johnson was planning to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss steps to tackle the pandemic and measures to create a carbon-free society, as well as the Ukrainian crisis. The meeting would be the second one after the officials' private talks at the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in November 2021.On Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss said that she was going to pay a visit to Ukraine in the coming days and added that London is cooperating with its allies to impose coordinated sanctions against Russia in the event of further escalation around Ukraine.Western countries have accused Russia of preparing an "invasion" of Ukraine, citing the buildup of troops at the border. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the allegation, saying that it has the right to move its troops within its sovereign territory and that it is not planning to attack any country.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia does not rule out the possibility that the West purposefully "pumps up hysteria" around Ukraine trying to make a provocation. The top diplomat also assumed that the "hysteria" is being promoted to cover up Kiev's breach of the Minsk agreements on the peace process in the breakaway Donbass region.

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united kingdom, boris johnson, russia, ukraine, japan, uk
https://sputniknews.com/20220131/ukrainian-ambassador-says-no-friction-in-us-kiev-relations-1092629800.html

Ukrainian Ambassador Says 'No Friction' in US-Kiev Relations

Ukrainian Ambassador Says 'No Friction' in US-Kiev Relations

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova says that despite certain differences in opinions, Washington and Kiev are not... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T05:16+0000

2022-01-31T05:16+0000

2022-01-31T05:25+0000

joe biden

russia

ukraine

us

donbass

volodymyr zelensky

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

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She added that Kiev "cannot afford to panic" but remains open and frank when it comes to talks with the United States.On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed issues relating to European security over the phone. A CNN correspondent tweeted after the talks, citing a senior Ukrainian official, that Biden allegedly told Zelensky that an invasion of Ukraine was "certain once the ground freezes" and warned the Ukrainian president that Kiev might be "sacked". White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne dismissed this claim as being false.Politico reported this past week citing sources close to the Ukrainian leader that Zelensky fears the United States is exaggerating the threat of the imminent invasion of Ukraine in order to conclude an agreement with Russia, which would give Moscow more control over the Donbass region.Former US President Donald Trump told his supporters at a Saturday rally in Conroe, Texas, that the Biden-Zelensky phone conversation "was not a good call" and that the Ukrainian president allegedly told Biden to "calm down".Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia does not rule out the possibility of the West purposefully "pumping up hysteria" around Ukraine and trying to create a provocation. Lavrov also suggested that this "hysteria" is being promoted to cover up Kiev's sabotage of the Minsk agreements.Moscow strongly denies all the accusations of escalating the situation around Ukraine or posing a threat to any country. Russia maintains that the allegations of its alleged plans for "aggressive action" against Ukraine are being used as a pretext to deploy more NATO weapons near the Russian border.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220131/un-security-council-holds-meeting-on-ukrainian-crisis-1092640142.html

UN Security Council Holds Meeting on Ukrainian Crisis

UN Security Council Holds Meeting on Ukrainian Crisis

Western countries have been threatening Moscow with sanctions, claiming that the Kremlin is planning an invasion of Ukraine. Russia, in its turn, said that the... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-31T14:49+0000

2022-01-31T14:49+0000

2022-01-31T14:49+0000

russia

ukraine

us

un

new york city

unsc

un security council (unsc)

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Sputnik comes live from New York, as the Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in Ukraine.Previously, Washington and London accused Moscow of deploying troops near the Ukrainian border. The UK even claimed that Russia is planning to install a puppet government in Kiev. Russia said those allegations were false and that the US and Britain are whipping up the "invasion" narrative for political gain. Commenting on the crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that Moscow "does not want war" and is ready to hold talks with Kiev.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More!

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Yemen's Houthis Warn UAE Citizens of Looming Airstrikes, to Avoid 'Vital Facilities'

Yemen's Houthis Warn UAE Citizens of Looming Airstrikes, to Avoid 'Vital Facilities'

DOHA (Sputnik) - The Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) that controls northern Yemen urged people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday to keep away from... 31.01.2022, Sputnik International

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The Houthi attack on Monday coincided with the day of the first-ever official visit of the Israeli president to the UAE. Earlier in the day, the UAE Defence Ministry said that the country's air defence systems downed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis which caused no casualties. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree also said that the movement attacked the UAE capital of Abu-Dhabi with several rockets and sent a number of mined drones to Dubai.The Houthis resumed airstrikes against the UAE in early January in response to its involvement in the Arab coalition which supports the Yemeni government in the conflict.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus.

In a post Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young, who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience," which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation.

"Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly," wrote Ek. "It is important to me that we don't take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them."

Ek said that the advisories will link to Spotify's fact-based COVID-19 hub in what he described as a "new effort to combat misinformation." It will roll out in the coming days, Ek said. He did not specifically reference Rogan or Young.

Rogan responded to the fallout on Sunday, saying in a video on Instagram that he was only seeking to have conversations on his podcast with people who have "differing opinions."

"I'm not trying to promote misinformation, I'm not trying to be controversial," Rogan said. "I've never tried to do anything with this podcast other than to just talk to people."

He also said that he schedules the guests on his podcast himself, and that he would try to book doctors with different opinions right after he talks to "the controversial ones." Rogan noted that he earlier sat down on the show with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the chief medical correspondent for CNN, Dr. Michael Osterholm, who is a member of President Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board, and Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine.

Rogan additionally welcomed the idea of adding advisories before podcasts related to COVID-19.

"Sure, have that on there. I'm very happy with that," he said.

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.

"Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform," an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement. "We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does."

Earlier Sunday, Nils Lofgren, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young, said he was joining Young's Spotify revolt. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise.

"We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify," wrote Lofgren in a statement.

On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young. Earlier, hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode from "The Joe Rogan Experience" in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

***
A grand jury has completed the reviews of the deaths of eight inmates, half of whom had COVID-19, and found no criminal wrongdoing.

Three of the men  David Fredrick Munsey, Robert Lewis and Jaime Rivera Jr.  had refused the vaccine when the prison offered it, according to transcripts filed recently in the Lancaster County District Court.

Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Amanda DeFreece said Munsey, 59, declined vaccination on July 15, and died of COVID-19 less than a month later, Aug. 12, at Bryan West in Lincoln.

He had just started serving a 12- to 24-year sentence out of Box Butte County on child pornography charges.

State Patrol Investigator Henry Dimitroff said Lewis, 61, initially declined, too, then asked for the vaccine after he tested positive, which by then was too late.

Lewis spent three days on a ventilator at Bryan West before he died Sept. 10.

He had been serving a two- to three-year sentence out of Platte County for possession of methamphetamine and attempted possession of a deadly weapon, and had been eligible for parole in August.

Jaime Rivera Jr., 38, who was serving 20 to 30 years for attempted sexual assault of a child, died at Bryan West the same day as Lewis.

Dimitroff said Rivera ended up on a ventilator with pneumonia and respiratory failure due to an underlying condition brought on by COVID-19.

DeFreece said a fourth inmate, 40-year-old William Lassek Jr., was admitted to the hospital eight days after testing positive at the prison, previously called the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, and ended up on a ventilator. He died there Aug. 12.

Lassek was serving 70 years to life in connection to a murder in Douglas County.

In addition to the COVID-19 related deaths, the grand jury also reviewed the deaths of three other prison inmates and one county jail inmate, all of whom had health issues, including:

* Michael Kirchhoff, 58, who died of a brain aneurysm, suddenly collapsing on the yard at the Nebraska State Penitentiary on May 22. Prison workers attempted CPR but couldn't save him. He had been serving a 10- to 12-year sentence out of Lancaster County for possession of methamphetamine, with a habitual criminal enhancement.

* Patrick Russell, 64, who had lung cancer and died April 25 at the hospital. He was serving a sentence of 110-126 years for first-degree murder in Douglas County.

* Xavier Valentine, 22, who had been diagnosed earlier in the year with an inoperable brain tumor and died Aug. 18 at the hospital. He had been serving a 10- to 30-year sentence out of Douglas County for second-degree assault and a gun charge.

* Nuha Farid, 51, who died at the hospital Sept. 13. Lancaster County Sheriff's Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said Farid had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before going into custody at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections. He was awaiting sentencing for an armed robbery at a gas station in Lincoln.

The grand jury heard the cases on Nov. 30, and a transcript of its findings later was filed with the court. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Dan Zieg said the panel reviewed a total of 35 deaths of people in law enforcement custody last year, which was double a "normal" year.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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An investigation by the state attorney generals office found that on at least five occasions from March 2016 to February 2020, Virginia Beach police showed fake lab certificates to suspects. (Couperfield // Shutterstock)

Richmond  Arguing the justice system should prioritize victims, Republicans in the House of Delegates on Friday voted down a Norfolk delegates bill banning police from using falsified documents while interrogating suspects.

How many times has this been used to find out about a murder, find out about a rape, find out about a break in? asked Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick. Arent we supposed to be using the justice system to make it just for our victims?

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Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, introduced the bill following a state investigation that found the Virginia Beach police had used forged documents to obtain confessions from suspects. Her legislation prohibited the use of fake replica documents and defined such documents as any that contained a false statement, signature, seal, letterhead, or contact information, or materially misrepresented any fact.

On Friday, Glass told the Courts of Justice subcommittee the bill would protect the integrity and reputation of Virginias forensic scientists and law enforcement.

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Jackie Glass (Courtesy Exposed Moxie)

We want to send a statement that falsifying documents is not something that is acceptable or common practice in the commonwealth, she said.

Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi also spoke out on the bills behalf, arguing that allowing police to forge documents crosses the line and damages the publics confidence in the criminal justice system.

Madison County Commonwealths Attorney Clarissa Berry opposed the bill, saying the courts will protect individual rights.

Whether or not a confession is coerced is a question for the trial court, she said.

After a discussion, the subcommittee voted 5-3 to kill the bill. The vote fell along party lines.

Virginia Beach Public Defender Cal Bain told The Virginian-Pilot he is disappointed the bill wont be moving forward. The attorney said forged documents lead to an increased likelihood of false confessions.

Victims deserve to know that the person who actually committed the crime against them is the person who was caught and punished, he wrote in an email. The use of fake and forged evidence inevitably undermines this confidence in our criminal justice system.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

Andre Hakes, president of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, hopes Democrats will try again next year.

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It doesnt seem like a controversial idea to me that this shouldnt be happening, he said Monday. Its just a terrible policy.

An investigation by the state attorney generals office found that on at least five occasions from March 2016 to February 2020, Virginia Beach police showed fake lab certificates to suspects. The documents indicated the person had been connected to a crime through DNA evidence. Forged paperwork was offered as evidence in court during at least one case.

The practice was discovered in April 2021 after a Virginia Beach prosecutor asked the Department of Forensic Science to provide a certified copy of one of the forged documents.

When asked for comment about Glasss bill, a Virginia Beach police spokesperson previously said the department has already worked to prevent this practice from recurring.

As the chief has previously indicated in a variety of media and forums, the VBPD has already put into place internal protocols to ensure that the replica use of another agencys documents will not be utilized or condoned in any investigation or interview, the spokesperson wrote. Even though now officially prohibited by policy, the actual last use of this practice was over two years ago.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com
Soon afterward, he said, he was looking for something to do in his spare time. He decided to join Trinity Volunteer Fire Department, and while hes now retired from Fiber Industries, that something to do in his spare time is still an important part of his life.

On Sunday, the members of Trinity thanked Stikeleather for his service to the department, and in true fashion for Stikeleather, the event came just 12 hours after he did what hes done for 50 years  he ran a call.

Thats nothing unusual, said Trinity Fire Chief Jason Sprinkle.

He still runs most of our calls, Sprinkle said.

Just serving finger food and cake was not enough for a man who is likely to be the face of the department on any type of call. Members of the department went to Stikeleathers home and picked him up in one of the firetrucks.

The ride and the party were surprises for Stikeleather.

Im not sure whats going on, he said when he saw the firefighters walking up to the front of his house.

Then he was escorted to the waiting truck, and took a spot in the front passenger seat for the ride back to the fire station.

As the truck came down Yadkin Valley Road back to the department, its sirens were blaring as other members, family and friends lined up outside the station to give Stikeleather the VIP treatment.

Thank you, Stikeleather said as he walked into the station to the sounds of applause. Inside, the training room was decorated in honor of Stikeleather. Fire gear from the early 1970s, along with other items of that era, were on one table.

Sprinkle said its a small gesture for a man who has given so much of his time and energy to the fire department for 50 years.

We couldnt do it without him, Sprinkle said.

He doesnt drive the trucks or fight fire anymore, Sprinkle said, but his presence on scenes is just as important as any of those who are working to put out a fire, help an injured person at a wreck or take care of a sick patient.

Hes always there to make sure we have what we need and is always asking if were OK and if we need anything, Sprinkle said. Hes a firefighter.

Stikeleather said joining the fire department when he got back from Vietnam was a way to pass the time, in between working full time and rearing two children, Marc and Laura.

In those early days, Stikeleather worked rotating shifts at Fiber, and that allowed him to answer calls when he wasnt working.

Day calls or night calls, most of the time Id get the truck and go to the call, he said.

Sprinkle said Stikeleathers dedication to his community and to the fire department is something every firefighter should strive to do.

If I try to describe Frankie in a couple of words, it would be role model, Sprinkle said.

And its not just his service to his community that makes him a role model. His service in Vietnam is also something for which he deserves recognition, Sprinkle said.

Stikeleather graduated from the first class at North Iredell High School, and as an 18-year-old, he was required to register for the draft. So when Uncle Sam came calling via a draft notice, Stikeleather wasnt surprised.

Just a couple of years after receiving his high school diploma, Stikeleather arrived in Vietnam. Within weeks of closing out his 12-month tour of duty, Stikeleather was set to head to Australia for rest and recreation. He was scheduled to leave for Sydney on June 1, 1970. Two days before he was to leave, he was involved in a firefight.

I got hit by a B-40 rocket. It exploded, and I got hit in the leg, he said.

He recovered, came home and started his civilian life, which included the fire department.

Still, there was something missing for Stikeleather. He returned home with a portion of the Purple Heart he earned  the purple ribbon. The medal was missing. It would take more than 40 years for Stikeleather to get the rest of the Purple Heart. And it arrived via mail, in a plain envelope, in 2012.

Then Veterans Service Officer Brad Stroud decided that wasnt good enough, and arranged for a ceremony at an Iredell County commissioners meeting in September 2012.

I am proud to have it, he said.

Stikeleather also said he was just as thrilled Sunday to be honored by his fellow firefighters and the people of the community who dropped by the station to express their appreciation and congratulations.

Sprinkle said the celebration was not a retirement party for Stikeleather, as the department hopes hell continue to answer the call for any more years.

We love our Frankie, he said.
A Bristol man has joined two Saltville residents in being sentenced for their roles in the trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.

On January 21, 49-year-old Robert Wayne Haislip, also known as Roberto, was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison. Haislip pleaded guilty in last August to charges of distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

According to court documents, Haislip and others had been trafficking methamphetamine from sources in Atlanta to various locations in Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, including Smyth and Washington counties.

Two of Haislip's co-defendants, 33-year-old Jayson William Firestone and Matthew Cody Mullins, 26, both of Saltville, were sentenced last October-- Firestone to 10 years and Mullins to nine years. The pair had previously pleaded guilty to distributing 50 or more grams of methamphetamine. A third co-defendant, 32-year-old Cornelia Hale, of Bassett, was also sentenced to four years in prison for her role in the conspiracy.

Court documents show that the defendants were traveling in a vehicle in Knoxville on their way to Southwest Virginia when they were stopped by police. Inside the vehicle, police found two kilograms of methamphetamine, two loaded handguns, scales and eight cellphones. The defendants admitted to law enforcement that they made twice-weekly trips to Atlanta and brought back three kilograms pf meth per trip to redistribute in Virginia.

Smyth County Commonwealth's Attorney Roy Evans, who also serves as a special assistant U.S. attorney prosecuted the case.

The DEA Washington Division, Virginia State Police, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force, Smyth County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office and Bristol, Virginia Police Department investigated.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.  Megan Boswell remains in the Sullivan County jail after a judge denied a motion to reduce her $1 million bond on Friday.

Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge James M. Goodwin denied a motion by Boswells attorney Brad Sproles to reduce her bond and give her the opportunity to be out of the Sullivan County Jail prior to her trial, which is scheduled for September.

Bowell, 22, is charged in the 2020 murder of her infant daughter Evelyn Mae Boswell. She faces 19 counts including two counts of felony murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, false reporting, failure to report a death under suspicious circumstances, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Her bond was initially set in May 2020.

Our position for filing the second bond motion is the proof has not changed. The only difference is Miss Boswell has been in continuous custody since Feb. 25, 2020, Sproles told the judge during the hearing. She is going on two years that she has been in custody. Through no fault of the state, the discovery process has taken that long due to the volume of information that was given to us.

Sullivan County District Attorney General Barry Staubus opposed the motion, saying the prosecution has been diligent, the case has a trial date, and they are working to meet all of the deadlines.

Goodwin decided to make no change to the bond, based on no new factors and on the prior evidence presented.

Boswell, who was wearing a white mask, looked straight ahead throughout the hearing. She never spoke during the hearing, only before when she was conferring with her attorney.

Asked by a reporter, Sproles said the ruling wasnt unexpected following the 17-minute hearing.

Boswells next court appearance will be April 7, when Judge Goodwin will consider a motion for a change of venue, due to the high level of pretrial publicity the case has received.

Goodwin told both sides the court has provided questionnaires to two different jury panels to try and gauge their knowledge of the case, which received worldwide media attention as it was unfolding in 2020. Evelyn Boswell, who was 15 months old, was reported missing in February 2020. Her remains were found March 6, 2020, on property owned by her grandfather. Authorities searched in multiple states.

It was made clear to the jurors that they would not be considered for the jury in this case, but we needed information, Goodwin said, adding both sides have received that information.

Asked afterward, Sproles supports moving the trial.

I think so.  Its a very high-profile case, and it seems like everybody that I talk to has an opinion, Sproles said. We want to avoid that. We want a jury that doesnt have a predisposed opinion and can make their decision based on what is presented at trial.

Sproles said he hasnt had a chance to review the questionnaires yet.

The panels the judge has given those to will not be considered for this case. Were doing that as a gauge to figure out where the level of pretrial publicity is, Sproles said. Weve just gotten them back, so it will take a little time to process those.
With mobile devices, 200MP is probably going to be the top range for a while. Companies like Samsung are working on a 600MP sensor, but improving the performance of existing tech like camera lenses should be more important. And it seems Panasonic agrees.

Recently, Panasonic revealed that it's starting to mass-produce a "Far-Infrared Aspherical Lens" that will improve the performance of cameras and sensors. This new type of lens can be produced at a low price, and Panasonic's main goal is to "contribute to the spread and higher performance of far-infrared sensor modules".

According to Panasonic, the lens would be used not just in cameras but also in far-infrared sensors for heat monitoring and in autonomous vehicles. The company didn't confirm if the new lens would be useful for mobile devices. But if it can help smartphone brands reduce the cost of phones, it would probably be implemented eventually.

What other aspects of a smartphone do you think would see an upgrade in 2022? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.
Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (left), and Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways (right), signed a major aircraft purchase deal on January 31, 2022 in Washington.

Boeing launched a new freighter jet Monday while announcing a pair of major agreements with Qatar Airways, in a boost to the still-struggling US aviation giant.

The deal with the Middle Eastern carrier was unveiled at a White House ceremony attended by top US and Qatari officials, and includes the sale of 34 777X freighters, plus options for 16 more planes in the latest incarnation of Boeing's storied dual-aisle 777 line.

Boeing said the $20 billion value of the Qatar Airways deal constitutes the largest freighter commitment in Boeing history.

The airline also reached an agreement worth nearly $7 billion for a firm order of 25 737 MAX planes plus purchase rights for another 25 planes, Boeing said.

The agreements gives a lift to Boeing, which continues to struggle with quality control problems as commercial aviation experiences a mixed recovery from the depths of the coronavirus downturn.

The announcements show that Boeing "serves a global need that in a post-Covid world will be coming back, and coming back in a significant way," Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun said at the signing.

For Qatar Airways, the deals with Boeing follow an unusual public fight with European plane maker Airbus.

Earlier this month, Airbus canceled the carrier's multi-billion-dollar order of 50 new single-aisle planes in an escalating feud over Qatar Airways' decision to ground its A350 widebody aircraft.

"Today marks a great day in the ever-building and strong relationship between Qatar Airways and Boeing," said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker.

"We certainly push Boeing hard to deliver upon our expectations, and the team at Boeing consistently strives to meet and exceed our expectations, giving the opportunity for us to be here today to launch the most significant new freighter aircraft for a generation."

The signing ceremony came as Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani visited the White House, where President Joe Biden was expected to shore up the energy back-up for European allies as Washington pressures Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

Qatar is a major natural gas exporter.

Hot cargo market

Boeing last week reported a $4.1 billion quarterly loss connected to problems with its 787 Dreamliner plane that resulted in $3.8 billion in one-time expenses. The company has suspended deliveries on the model due to a series of production problems.

The 787's woes have dampened Boeing's comeback despite a surge in deliveries of the MAX last year, which was cleared for service in late 2020 following a 20-month grounding after two fatal crashes.

On the 777X, Boeing had initially launched the program in 2013 with a plan to bring the jet into service in 2020. But the timeframe has been repeatedly pushed back. Boeing now expects the first jets for commercial service to be delivered in 2023.

The 777x cargo planes jets connected to Monday's Qatar Airways deal will be delivered starting in 2027, Boeing said.

Richard Aboulafia, an aviation expert at AeroDynamic Advisory, said cargo demand "is about the only bright spot" in the dual-aisle plane market, where activity has remained more depressed compared with single-aisle plains.

The 777X jets will be assembled at Boeing's Everett, Washington complex and will employ engines produced by General Electric, which will also be assembled in the United States, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.

She described the agreement as testament to "the thriving trade relationship between the United States and Qatar."

Boeing said the 777X Freighter order will sustain 35,000 US jobs and bolster suppliers across 38 states.

Explore further Boeing deliveries rose in 2021 but still lag Airbus

 2022 AFP
Art teacher Sarah Hager works at a computer in her classroom at Cleveland Middle School on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Albuquerque, N.M. Public school systems  which often have limited budgets and cybersecurity expertisehave become an inviting target for ransomware gangs. The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. Credit: AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio

For teachers at a middle school in New Mexico's largest city, the first inkling of a widespread tech problem came during an early morning staff call.

On the video, there were shout-outs for a new custodian for his hard work, and the typical announcements from administrators and the union rep. But in the chat, there were hints of a looming crisis. Nobody could open attendance records, and everyone was locked out of class rosters and grades.

Albuquerque administrators later confirmed the outage that blocked access to the district's student databasewhich also includes emergency contacts and lists of which adults are authorized to pick up which childrenwas due to a ransomware attack.

"I didn't realize how important it was until I couldn't use it," said Sarah Hager, a Cleveland Middle School art teacher.

Cyberattacks like the one that canceled classes for two days in Albuquerque's biggest school district have become a growing threat to U.S. schools, with several high-profile incidents reported since last year. And the coronavirus pandemic has compounded their effects: More money has been demanded, and more schools have had to shut down as they scramble to recover data or even manually wipe all laptops.

"Pretty much any way that you cut it, incidents have both been growing more frequent and more significant," said Doug Levin, director of the K12 Security Information Exchange, a Virginia-based nonprofit that helps schools defend against cybersecurity risk.

Precise data is hard to come by since most schools are not required to publicly report cyberattacks. But experts say public school systemswhich often have limited budgets for cybersecurity expertisehave become an inviting target for ransomware gangs.

Art teacher Sarah Hager poses outside her classroom at Cleveland Middle School on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Albuquerque, N.M. Public school systems  which often have limited budgets and cybersecurity expertisehave become an inviting target for ransomware gangs. The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. Credit: AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio

The pandemic also has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. School systems that have had instruction disrupted include those in Baltimore County and Miami-Dade County, along with districts in New Jersey, Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Levin's group has tracked well over 1,200 cyber security incidents since 2016 at public school districts across the country. They included 209 ransomware attacks, when hackers lock data up and charge to unlock it; 53 "denial of service" attacks, where attackers sabotage or slow a network by faking server requests; 156 "Zoombombing" incidents, where an unauthorized person intrudes on a video call; and more than 110 phishing attacks, where a deceptive message tricks a user to let a hacker into their network.

Recent attacks also come as schools grapple with multiple other challenges related to the pandemic. Teachers get sick, and there aren't substitutes to cover them. Where there are strict virus testing protocols, there aren't always tests or people to give them.

In New York City, an attack this month on third-party software vendor Illuminate Education didn't result in canceled classes, but teachers across the city couldn't access grades. Local media reported the outage added to stress for educators already juggling instruction with enforcing COVID-19 protocols and covering for colleagues who were sick or in quarantine.

Albuquerque Superintendent Scott Elder said getting all students and staff online during the pandemic created additional avenues for hackers to access the district's system. He cited that as a factor in the Jan. 12 ransomware attack that canceled classes for some 75,000 students.

The cancellationswhich Elder called "cyber snow days"gave technicians a five-day window to reset the databases over a holiday weekend.

Elder said there's no evidence student information was obtained by hackers. He declined to say whether the district paid a ransom but noted there would be a "public process" if it did.

The Cleveland Middle School, that was impacted by a recent cyberattack, is shown on Jan. 23, 2022, in Albuquerque, N.M. Cybersecurity experts say that ransomware attacks on K-12 schools have increased during the pandemic. Cyberattacks like the one that canceled classes for two days in Albuquerque's biggest school district have become a growing threat to U.S. schools, with several high-profile incidents reported since last year. Credit: AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio

Hager, the art teacher, said the cyberattack increased stress on campus in ways that parents didn't see.

Fire drills were canceled because fire alarms didn't work. Intercoms stopped working.

Nurses couldn't find which kids were where as positive test results came in, Hager said. "So potentially there were students on campus that probably were sick." It also appears the hack permanently wiped out a few days worth of attendance records and grades.

Edupoint, the vendor for Albuquerque's student information database, called Synergy, declined to comment.

Many schools choose to keep attacks under wraps or release minimal information to prevent revealing additional weaknesses in their security systems.

"It's very difficult for the school districts to learn from each other, because they're really not supposed to talk to each other about it because you might share vulnerabilities," Elder said.

Last year, the FBI issued a warning about a group called PYSA, or "Protect Your System, Amigo," saying it was seeing an increase in attacks by the group on schools, colleges and seminaries. Other ransomware gangs include Conti, which last year demanded $40 million from Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation's largest.

Albuquerque Public Schools superintendent Scott Elder poses for a photo outside of Highland High School on Aug. 11, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M. Cybersecurity experts say that ransomware attacks on K-12 schools have increased during the pandemic. Elder said getting all students and staff online during the pandemic created additional avenues for hackers to access the district's system. He cited that as a factor in the Jan. 12, 2022, cyberattack that canceled classes for some 75,000 students. Credit: AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio, File

Most are Russian-speaking groups that are based in Eastern Europe and enjoy safe harbor from tolerant governments. Some will post files on the dark web, including highly sensitive information, if they don't get paid.

While attacks on larger districts garner more headlines, ransomware gangs tended to target smaller school districts in 2021 than in 2020, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the firm Emsisoft. He said that could indicate bigger districts are increasing their spending on cybersecurity while smaller districts, which have less money, remain more vulnerable.

A few days after Christmas, the 1,285-student district of Truth or Consequences, south of Albuquerque, had its student information system shut down by a ransomware attack. Officials there compared it to having their house robbed.

"It's just that feeling of helplessness, of confusion as to why somebody would do something like this because at the end of the day, it's taking away from our kids. And to me that's just a disgusting way to try to, to get money," Superintendent Channell Segura said.

The school didn't have to cancel classes because the attack happened on break, but the network remains down, including keyless entry locks on school building doors. Teachers are still carrying around the physical keys they had to track down at the start of the year, Segura said.

In October, President Joe Biden signed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act, which calls for the federal cyber security agency to make recommendations about how to help school systems better protect themselves.

New Mexico lawmakers have been slow to expand internet usage in the state, let alone support schools on cyber security. Last week, state representatives introduced a bill that would allocate $45 million to the state education department to build a cybersecurity program by 2027.

Art teacher Sarah Hager poses in her classroom at Cleveland Middle School on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Albuquerque, N.M. Public school systems  which often have limited budgets and cybersecurity expertisehave become an inviting target for ransomware gangs. The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. Credit: AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio

Ideas on how to prevent future hacks and recover from existing ones usually require more work from teachers.

In the days following the Albuquerque attack, parents argued on Facebook over why schools couldn't simply switch to pen and paper for things like attendance and grades.

Hager said she even heard the criticism from her mother, a retired school teacher.

"I said, 'Mom, you can only take attendance on paper if you have printed out your roster to begin with,'" Hager said.

Teachers could also keep duplicate paper copies of all recordsbut that would double the clerical work that already bogs them down.

In an era where administrators increasingly require teachers to record everything digitally, Hager says, "these systems should work."

___

This version has been updated to correct that Truth or Consequence does not use the software product Synergy.

Explore further Cyber attack in Albuquerque latest to target public schools

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The view from the bridge as an F/A 18 fighter jet lands on the USS Harry S. Truman, Feb. 1, 2020. (Lolita Baldor/AP)

The Norfolk-based USS Harry S. Trumans presence in the Mediterranean Sea is a critical element in NATOs response to Russian threats to Ukraine, the alliances secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Monday.

Thats because the Truman carrier strike group is operating under Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, as part of the alliances Neptune Strike 2022 exercise.

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Trumans presence while under NATO command is a strong signal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations unity in response to any Russian moves, Stoltenberg told an online forum of The Atlantic Council.

The NATO Response Force is only one of the elements in what we do to provide credible deterrence and defense ... we also havefor instance, now we havefor the first time in decades we have a US aircraft carrier under NATO command, Stoltenbrg said.

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Im saying that we are coordinating closely what to do as NATO, and what individual NATO allies do together with all the NATO allies, he said. we are coordinating very closely all allies ... and the U.S. aircraft carrier, which originally was under U.S. command is now under NATO command.

The strike group, which deployed from Norfolk in December, has for the past week been operating in the Neptune Strike 2022 exercise, the latest phase of a two year NATO that focuses on linking command and control of a carrier strike group to NATO.

The strike group includes the carrier, nine squadrons of Naval Air Station Oceana-based Carrier Air Wing 1, the Norfolk-based cruiser USS San Jacinto, Norfolk-based destroyers USS Bainbridge, USS Cole, USS Gravely and Mayport, Fla.-based USS Jason Dunham. The Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen has been operating with group since last fall, participating in the groups Composite Training Unit Exercise, or COMPTUEX and then deploying with it from Norfolk.

Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com
A virtual reality worship service is hosted at VR Church on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. VR Church was launched by Soto in 2016 and has gained traction in the metaverse, with attendance growing rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic as many services moved online. Credit: VR Church via AP

Under quarantine for COVID-19 exposure, Garret Bernal and his family missed a recent Sunday church service. So he strapped on a virtual reality headset and explored what it would be like to worship in the metaverse.

Without leaving his home in Richmond, Virginia, he was soon floating in a 3D outer-space wonderland of pastures, rocky cliffs and rivers, as the avatar of a pastor guided him and others through computer-generated illustrations of Biblical passages that seemed to come to life as they prayed.

"I couldn't have had such an immersive church experience sitting in my pew. I was able to see the scriptures in a new way," said Bernal, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

He's among many Americanssome traditionally religious, some religiously unaffiliatedwho are increasingly communing spiritually through virtual reality, one of the many evolving spaces in the metaverse that have grown in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ranging from spiritual meditations in fantasy worlds to traditional Christian worship services with virtual sacraments in hyperrealistic, churchlike environments, their devotees say the experience offers a version of fellowship that's just as genuine as what can be found at a brick-and-mortar temple.

Pastor D.J. Soto, the lead pastor of VR Church, delivers a sermon in his home Sunday Jan. 23, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. Soto sings, preaches and performs digital baptisms in the metaverse to a growing congregation of avatars. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

"The most important aspect to me, which was very real, was the closer connection with God that I felt in my short time here," Bernal said.

The service he attended was hosted by VR Church, which was founded in 2016 by D.J. Soto, a former high school teacher and pastor at a nonvirtual church. VR Church bills itself as a spiritual community existing "entirely in the metaverse to celebrate God's love for the world."

Soto had previously felt called to church planting, or starting new physical churches. But after discovering the VR social platform AltSpaceVR, he was awakened to the possibilities of connecting in virtual reality. He set out to create an inclusive Christian church in the metaverse, an immersive virtual world that has been gaining buzz since Facebook said last October that it would invest billions in building it out.

People represented by avatars pray together during a virtual reality worship service hosted by VR Church on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. VR Church was launched in 2016 by D.J. Soto and has gained traction in the metaverse, with attendance growing rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic as many services moved online. Credit: VR Church via AP

Attendance was scant for the first year as Soto often found himself preaching to just a handful of people at a time, most of them atheists and agnostics who were more interested in debating about faith. His congregation has since grown to about 200 people, and he has ordained other ministers remotely from his Virginia home and baptized believers who are unable to leave their houses because of illnesses.

"The future of the church is the metaverse," Soto said. "It's not an anti-physical thing. I don't think the physical gatherings should go away. But in the church of 2030, the main focus is going to be your metaverse campus."

The Rev. Jeremy Nickel, an ordained Unitarian Universalist who is based in Colorado and calls himself a VR evangelist, also saw the potential to build community and "get away from the brick and mortar" when he founded SacredVR in 2017.

People represented by avatars attend a virtual reality worship service hosted by VR Church on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. VR Church was launched in 2016 by D.J. Soto and has gained traction in the metaverse, with attendance growing rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic as many services moved online. Credit: VR Church via AP

Inspired by time spent in Nepal with Tibetan Buddhists and his alternative practices studies at seminary, Nickel began with secular meditations with the aim of being inclusive for all comers. But some religiously unaffiliated members of the community were put off by the name, he noticed, so he changed it to EvolVR and more people joined.

It wasn't until the pandemic, however, that attendance soared from a few dozen to the hundreds who now attend dharma talks and meditation sessions via their chosen avatars, at times meeting at a virtual incarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist temple high in the mountains or floating weightlessly looking down at the Earth.

"One of the reasons we've become so popular is you get the meditation that you need, but you get the community also," Nickel said. "We have deep relationships, hundreds of people from around the world who know each other and wonder, 'Is your dog, OK? How's your wife?'"

People represented by avatars attend a virtual reality worship service hosted by VR Church on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. VR Church was launched in 2016 by D.J. Soto and has gained traction in the metaverse, with attendance growing rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic as many services moved online. Credit: VR Church via AP

The anonymity of virtual reality can help people feel more confident about sharing deeply personal issues, said Bill Willenbrock, who leads a Christian fellowship on the social platform VRChat with worship and counseling services for a flock of mostly teens and early 20-somethings.

"I can't even count the number of times that I've heard, 'I'm considering suicide.  It's helpful that we're in VR,'" said Willenbrock, a hospital chaplain and longtime Lutheran pastor who recently converted to Eastern Orthodoxy and calls himself a "digital missionary."

On a recent Sunday, he preached at a cavernous virtual cathedral, its long halls illuminated by light from stained-glass windows. A colorful assembly of avatars listened to the sermon: A giant banana sitting in the first pew next to another of a man in a shirt and tie, plus a mushroom, a fox, armored knights.

Pastor D.J. Soto, the lead pastor of VR Church, delivers a sermon in his home Sunday Jan. 23, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. Soto sings, preaches and performs digital baptisms in the metaverse to a growing congregation of avatars. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

At the end they took turns sharing why they came to the virtual community. Some saw it as something to complement, not replace, in-person gatherings.

A person with the username Biff Tannen, said it was convenient: "For example here in Scotland it's cold, it's wet, it's not very nice outside, but here I am sitting in this beautiful church with my heating on."

Another, represented by a robotlike avatar and the username UncleTuskle, said that "as a person with social phobia, it's easier for me to be here" than in a physical church.

Virtual reality can allow people to meet without judgement regardless of physical ability or appearance, said Paul Raushenbush, who is senior advisor for public affairs and innovation at the nonprofit Interfaith Youth Core and who hosted a VR talk show last month with religious leaders who use the technology.

Pastor D.J. Soto, the lead pastor of VR Church, removes his VR goggles after a sermon in his home Sunday Jan. 23, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. Soto sings, preaches and performs digital baptisms in the metaverse to a growing congregation of avatars. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

"What I love about it is that it's taking ... whatever technological opportunities are being offered and they're leveraging it to gather people together for positive encounters," Raushenbush said. "And they're changing lives."

Alina Delp can attest to that.

A former flight attendant who traveled across the country for years and loved to skydive, since 2010 she has been mostly confined to her home in Olympia, Washington, due to a rare neurovascular condition called erythromelalgia.

She wept the first time she attended a VR Church service, knowing immediately that she had found a home. Delp was taken by the community's judgment-free ethos and focus on "God's love rather than fear." She began to volunteer with small groups, and eventually became a pastor.

"I was given a life. ... It's the difference between endless time of sleep and television versus my ability to be productive," she said.

Pastor D.J. Soto, the lead pastor of VR Church, prepares to deliver a sermon in his home Sunday Jan. 23, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. Soto sings, preaches and performs digital baptisms in the metaverse to a growing congregation of avatars. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

Pastor D.J. Soto, the lead pastor of VR Church, delivers a sermon in his home Sunday Jan. 23, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. Soto sings, preaches and performs digital baptisms in the metaverse to a growing congregation of avatars. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

Soto baptized her in a metaverse ceremony in 2018, submerging her purple robot avatar in a pool as relatives and friends cheered her on virtually. While even many VR proponents believe such sacraments should be offered only in a physical space, to Delp it felt like a real blessing.

"Jesus is who baptized me. Jesus is who changes me," she said. "The water, or lack thereof ... doesn't have the power to change me."

Explore further Chinese tech giant Baidu tests metaverse waters with new app

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Passengers wait for their Lufthansa flight at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, May 15, 2021. The number of air passengers in Germany rebounded somewhat in 2021, but was still over two-thirds below pre-pandemic levels, official figures showed Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner,file

The number of air passengers in Germany rebounded somewhat last year but was still two-thirds below levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed Monday.

Nearly 74 million passengers last year took off from or landed at the 23 largest commercial airports in Germany, which has Europe's biggest economy, the Federal Statistical Office said. That was about 27% more than in 2020, when the pandemic hit and travel came to a near-standstill, but close to 68% fewer than in 2019, when a record of nearly 227 million passengers used German airports.

Pandemic restrictions continue to hamper the air travel recovery.

Although domestic air travel was just over a fifth of 2019 levels after dropping an additional 19% last year, passengers traveling internationally, particularly elsewhere in Europe, were up nearly one-third last year to about 69 million passengers. That was still nearly two-thirds fewer than in 2019.

Last year was a boom year for air freight. Germany's main airports saw a record 5.3 million tons of cargo last year, a nearly 13% increase over pre-crisis levels in 2019.

Explore further Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA says

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
University of Cincinnati aerospace engineering professor Daniel Cuppoletti uses an anechoic chamber covered in sound-absorbing panels to study engine and propeller noise in drones and flying cars. Credit: Andrew Higley/UC Creative

One obstacle to realizing the dream of flying cars is noiseimagine 1,000 leaf blowers intruding over your backyard barbecue.

It's not just flying cars but drones as well. Complaints about the high-pitched keening of propellers could lead to restrictions or regulations that could hamper the growth of a new commercial drone industry.

University of Cincinnati aerospace engineering students are studying solutions to dampen sound in assistant professor Daniel Cuppoletti's lab in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science. If flying cars are to succeed, Cuppoletti said, they'll have to be quiet.

UC aerospace engineering students Natalie Reed, Matthew Walker and Peter Sorensen presented papers with Cuppoletti at the Science and Technology Forum and Exposition this month in San Diego, California. Hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, it's the world's largest aerospace engineering conference.

"I'm looking at noise from a societal impact," Cuppoletti said. "These vehicles have to be imperceptible in the environment they fly in or someone will have to take the brunt of that impact."

Too often, the impact is felt in lower-income neighborhoods, he said.

University of Cincinnati assistant professor Daniel Cuppoletti and his students use laser light to study the characteristics of propellers. Credit: Andrew Higley/UC Creative

Airports across the country are the subject of tens of thousands of noise complaints per year filed by aggravated residents. In an FAA survey published last year, two-thirds of respondents said they were "highly annoyed" by aircraft noise. Noise from planes and helicopters were a far bigger annoyance than cars, trucks or neighbors, the survey found.

Likewise, engine noise is a huge concern of the military and commercial aviation. Hearing loss and tinnitus are the leading causes of medical disability claims filed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Drones don't pose the same risk for hearing loss as bigger aircraft because they're not much louder than a kitchen appliance. But the unique quality of their buzzing rotors stands out against the ambient background, which makes them irritating and distracting.

"One helicopter flying over your roof will keep you up," Cuppoletti said. "If you want 1,000 drones flying over cities in urban centers, noise will be a huge problem."

A potential aggravating factor is sheer scale. While the United States sees about 5,700 commercial aircraft flights each day, drones with their diverse applications have the potential for thousands of flights in major metropolitan areas each day.

Cuppoletti said a variety of factors affect the way people perceive sound. Aircraft noise is far less noticeable in congested cities than suburbs or countrysides. And the time of day matters as well. Evenings tend to be quieter, making aircraft more noticeable.

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science are studying ways to make drones quieter and less intrusive. Credit: Andrew Higley/UC Creative

"Studies have found that just seeing an aircraft can cause people to think they're loud," Cuppoletti siad. "There are subjective human factors you can't control."

Cuppoletti is studying how to manipulate sound from drones through engineering design. He tests sound in a room lined with sound-absorbing padding that eliminates echo.

Using an anechoic chamber, a room covered on all sides by sound-dampening material and outfitted with a suite of eight microphones, Cuppoletti tests the frequency, wavelength and amplitude of sound, among other factors that affect our perception of noise. He and his students are developing a guidebook that manufacturers of drones and flying cars can use to anticipate what their novel designs will sound like based on UC's engineering and physics experiments.

Every rotor has its own noise signature. Simply by changing the configuration of two rotors can add or reduce sound by 10 decibels or more, UC student Reed said.

She tested 16 rotor configurations for the paper she presented at the SciTech conference.

"Changing the vertical gap influences the noise. So I looked at what happens if we change the vertical or horizontal spacing," she said.

If drones are to become a daily part of life, they will have to be quieter. Aerospace engineers at the University of Cincinnati are working to do just that. Credit: Andrew Higley/UC Creative

UC student Sorensen studied differences in sound in rotors rotating in the same direction versus opposite directions: Co-rotating or counter-rotating. So far, the results are inconclusive.

With flying cars taking wildly imaginative forms on the drawing board, UC engineers hope to help create quieter designs.

"This is a very exciting time for aerospace," Cuppoletti said. "New aircraft designs are at the preliminary and conceptual design stages. We can influence what they will sound like based on decisions designers make now."

UC's sound experiments will help manufacturers make more informed design decisions, he said.

Explore further Make drones sound less annoying by factoring in humans at the design stage
A stalled vehicle is pushed from flood waters following a rainstorm in Norfolk, Va., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The increasing threat of sea-level rise on Virginia's coast means that an afternoon rainstorm can strand drivers for hours and damage cars beyond repair. The city of Norfolk is trying to do something about that. Officials have partnered with the tech firm FloodMapp and the Waze traffic app to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. Credit: Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP

The sun was shining when Kim Williams hopped in her Honda Odyssey to visit a friend at a nursing home. But an unexpected downpour on the drive back left her trapped in a maze of flooded streets.

Williams made turn after turn to avoid rising waters in a century-old neighborhood in Norfolk before shutting off her minivan.

"I knew that I would kill the car if I kept driving," Williams said of the storm from a few years ago. "I called the tow company and they said, 'We'll get to it when we can. We've got a very long list.'"

The increasing threat of sea-level rise on Virginia's coast means that an afternoon rainstorm can strand drivers for hours, delay parents from picking up children and damage cars beyond repair  all without a tropical storm on the radar.

The city of Norfolk is trying to do something about that: Officials have partnered with the tech firm FloodMapp and the Waze traffic app to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. The project is being launched at a time when cities around the world are trying to adapt to climate change. And it's an example of how new technology will likely play an increasing role.

The pilot program in Norfolk went live this month after two years of development. FloodMapp CEO Juliette Murphy said the firm's modeling has proved to be "incredibly accurate" along the streets of this low-lying city on the Chesapeake Bay.

A bus drives through flooding in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, Va., after heavy rainfall on Aug. 11, 2020. The increasing threat of sea-level rise on Virginia's coast means that an afternoon rainstorm can strand drivers for hours and damage cars beyond repair. The city of Norfolk is trying to do something about that. Officials have partnered with the tech firm FloodMapp and the Waze traffic app to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. Credit: Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP

FloodMapp feeds data from rain forecasts, tide gauges and Norfolk's terrain into an algorithm. Drivers are warned on Waze when at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) of water has likely pooled on a specific roadway. New flood information is updated every 15 minutes.

Kyle Spencer, who is helping Norfolk adapt to sea-level rise as its acting chief resilience officer, said a single storm can strand hundreds of vehicles. The plan is for Waze to eventually reroute drivers when a road floods with 12 inches (30 centimeters) of water.

The app's accuracy will improve, Spencer said, because drivers will validate Waze's warnings.

"It's kind of like a living thing," Spencer said. "The feedback loop can help make these models even better."

Norfolk, a city of nearly 250,000 people, is an ideal testing ground. It's more threatened than any other place on the Atlantic Coast by the combination of sinking land and rising seas, said Molly Mitchell, a Virginia Institute of Marine Science professor.

Water levels have risen by about 1.5 feet (.5 meters) since 1928. They're projected to rise by close to another 1.5 feet by 2050or more depending on the Earth's rising temperatures.

Neighbors help a stranded driver after her car got stuck after attempting to drive through high waters on West Princess Anne Road in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, Va., after heavy rainfall Aug. 11, 2020. The increasing threat of sea-level rise on Virginia's coast means that an afternoon rainstorm can strand drivers for hours and damage cars beyond repair. The city of Norfolk is trying to do something about that. Officials have partnered with the tech firm FloodMapp and the Waze traffic app to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. Credit: Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP

The Chesapeake Bay and the Elizabeth River form a crescent of water around three sides of the city, while other tributaries flow into its interior. During high tides, rains can overwhelm sewers and have nowhere to go but low-lying streets. Flooding affects truck traffic heading to and from port terminals. And it impedes the ability of U.S. Navy sailors to quickly reach the world's largest naval base, where piers are lined with aircraft carriers.

Marc Rabinowitz, a now-retired psychoanalyst, lost his Saab in a nor'easter several years ago. Floodwaters blocked his commute to work. He turned down a one-way street the wrong way because it looked clear.

"I got about halfway down, and water just starts filling up the car," he said. "The car clogs. It stops running. Luckily, a colleague who was walking to work starts pushing me off to the side."

Drivers also face unpredictable "rain bombs," which can dump an inch of water in 30 minutes on an isolated area.

Marc Vigeant, a project manager for a marine construction company, was caught in one in 2020 when he left work.

Water pooled around him. He searched Google Earth for higher elevation and quickly drove his Toyota Corolla to a nearby parking lot.

This image provided by Kyle Spencer, acting chief resilience officer for the city of Norfolk, shows a flooded intersection along with a screenshot of the traffic app Waze depiction of the flood area in Norfolk, Va. An Australian tech firm has partnered with the Waze traffic app and the city of Norfolk to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. Credit: Kyle Spencer via AP

"By that time, I was trapped in there," Vigeant said.

Williams, the driver stranded after a nursing home visit, said Norfolk's flooding can scuttle impromptu, but important plans.

"There have been times when I've thought to visit my mother, but it's raining," she said. "I drive one or two blocks and the water is high. And I forgo the trip."

The project in Norfolk shows how new technologies can help people adapt to climate change but it fails to address the root causes, said Jesse Goldstein, a Virginia Commonwealth University sociology professor who studies the green economy.

"It's allowing the fossil-fuel-burning economy to try and hold on a little bit longer," Goldstein said.

"The economy that makes Waze possible is creating the flooding. And now Waze is helping us adapt," Goldstein continued. "I don't say that to be holier than thou. It's just that we've got a deeply entrenched problem."

Norfolk resident Kim Williams poses with her van that got stuck on flooded roadway near her house several years ago Wednesday Jan. 19, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. An Australian tech firm has partnered with the Waze traffic app and the city of Norfolk to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

More than half of all flood-related deaths in the U.S. in recent years happened in motor vehicles, said Andrew Stober, head of public partnerships for Waze, which has 140 million monthly users worldwide.

"Making sure that people can steer clear of flooding is saving lives," Stober said.

FloodMapp was recruited to Norfolk by city officials and RISE Resilience Innovations, a Virginia-based nonprofit that finances climate-related technologies with federal and state dollars.

RISE gave FloodMapp a $300,000 grant following a contest that challenged companies to tackle the problem of navigating flooded roads.

"A lot of people say, 'Well, why hasn't this been done before?' But it's not a simple task, it's not easy,'' said Paul Robinson, the executive director of RISE.

Robinson said Norfolk is a fitting place for FloodMapp to work out any problems before entering "big markets like Philadelphia and Boston and New York."

Norfolk resident Kim Williams poses with her van that got stuck on flooded roadway near her house several years ago Wednesday Jan. 19, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. An Australian tech firm has partnered with the Waze traffic app and the city of Norfolk to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

FloodMapp, which was founded in Australia, said it's already expanding in the U.S. and plans to sell its services to transit agencies, delivery companies and utilities.

"We're seeing floods become more frequent and more severe," said Murphy, the firm's CEO. "Unfortunately, this is only getting worse."

Explore further Satellite data points to land subsidence in Cartagena

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


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Newport News  Over 15 people sat in the boardroom Friday in David Student Union, starting the one-year process to find Christopher Newport Universitys sixth president.

During its second meeting, the universitys presidential search committee met to roll out initial plans for the next 12 months.

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Board of Visitors Rector Robert Hatten appointed 15 people  including board members, faculty, staff, alumni and students  in December to serve on the committee. They are expected to seek applicants from across the country, at CNU and other institutions.

The university hired consultant Martin Baker to assist in finding a replacement for Paul Trible, who is retiring after leading CNU for 26 years.

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Baker broke down the quests timeline into five parts: planning, recruitment, applicant review, interviews and selection.

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Up until May, Baker said he and participating members will survey faculty, students and other stakeholders online and through open forums to draft an outline of an ideal candidate. The committee isnt expected to start interviewing semifinalists until late fall.

This will be challenging. History suggests that it is very difficult to find a president who can be successful succeeding a transformational president like Paul, Hatten wrote in statement to the university last September.

Trible was appointed CNUs president in 1996 after serving as a U.S. Representative for three terms and a U.S. Senator for one. Board members expressed the next president will have large shoes to fill. Hatten told Trible during the board December meeting he is an example that will be impossible to replace.

Committee members will recommend between two and five finalists to the Board of Visitors by March 2023. The group agreed candidates will only be discussed during closed session to keep applicants from withdrawing before a final decision.

CNU Chief of Staff Adelia Thompson will serve as interim president starting July 1, and Trible will take on a temporary chancellor position for the 2022-23 academic year.

The next committee meeting is slated for March 11 to discuss feedback and finalize a profile draft before presenting it to the board.

Sierra Jenkins, 229-462-8896, sierra.jenkins@virginiamedia.com
RICHMOND  Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears promised her presence in Southwest Virginia during a meeting of rural lawmakers on Jan. 27, and two of Gov. Glenn Youngkins cabinet nominees discussed plans for health and education outreach.

One of the things I kept hearing during the campaign, especially in the Southwest, is, nobody cares about us, Earle-Sears said. Everybody says that theyre going to come out and visit and do this and do that, and then we never see them again for four years.

She spoke to a gathering of the Virginia Rural Caucus, comprised of state senators and delegates from across the commonwealth who represent agrarian areas. She said:

Im always thinking you need to be among the people to hear what they want, what solutions they might bring, what are the problems.

A duty of the lieutenant governor is sitting on the board of the Center for Rural Virginia, a state-initiated nonprofit that works to advance prosperity in Virginias pastoral places.

I promise, Im going to be in the Southwest a lot, Earle-Sears said. How do you know what to advance if youre never there?

She said broadband access was an issue in Southwest Virginia when she was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2001, and it remained an issue while she campaigned in 2021.

No wonder theyre feeling left out, Earle-Sears said. So, just see what I can do. Mostly listening, and then coming back and trying to find solutions.

She listed housing affordability and Interstate 81 corridor concerns as other issues she heard in rural places along the campaign trail.

Also appearing before the caucus of rural lawmakers on Jan. 27 were two of Youngkins cabinet nominees: Aimee Guidera, selected to become secretary of education, and John Littel, appointed to become secretary of health and human resources.

We are spending a huge amount of our time on COVID issues, Littel said. The governor asked for us to focus on really trying to get to the population that is not vaccinated, and many of them live in rural communities.

He said the governor is planning events to push for more vaccinations among the 1.6 million people in Virginia who are not yet vaccinated.

Some of them are vaccine resistant and are never going to do it, Littel said. Some are just vaccine hesitant.

Littel also said priorities of the administration are to improve mental health care across the state, strengthen a sparse health care work force and examine how to improve overall health outcomes in Virginia.

On education, Guidera said the Youngkin administration is committed to ensuring excellence for every child in every community, including in rural areas.

Im hearing a lot about that, that theres a lot of folks being left behind in the rural areas, Guidera said. My commitment is we are going to be coming to the rural areas, well be listening, and were going to be doing everything possible to make sure that communities and families in rural parts of Virginia are served, and served well.
An Israeli national was sentenced to 97 months in prison in connection with operating the DeepDotWeb (DDW) clearnet website, nearly a year after the individual pleaded guilty to the charges.

Tal Prihar, 37, an Israeli citizen residing in Brazil, is said to have played the role of an administrator of DDW since the website became functional in October 2013. He pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in March 2021 and agreed to forfeit the illegally amassed profits.

DDW, until its seizure in May 2019, ostensibly served as a "news" website that connected internet users with underground marketplaces on the dark web that operate via darknets such as Tor, enabling the purchase of illegal firearms, malware and hacking tools, stolen financial data, heroin, fentanyl, and other illicit materials.

Prihar, acting in cohorts with co-defendant Michael Phan, 34, of Israel, provided direct links to illegal marketplaces and in return for advertising these links, reaped substantial profits by receiving kickbacks from the operators of the marketplaces in the form of virtual currency amounting to 8,155 bitcoins (worth $8.4 million at the time of the transactions).

"To conceal the nature and source of these illegal kickback payments, Prihar transferred the payments from his DDW bitcoin wallet to other bitcoin accounts and to bank accounts he controlled in the names of shell companies," the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) said in a release last week.

Separately, the DoJ also publicized the sentencing of an associate of the Dark Overlord hacking group for his role in possessing and selling more than 1,700 stolen identities, including social security numbers, on the dark web marketplace AlphaBay.

Slava Dmitriev, a 29-year-old Canadian citizen who was apprehended in Greece in September 2020 and extradited to the U.S. in January 2021, was awarded a jail term of three years after he pleaded guilty in August 2021 to fraud charges.

"From May 2016 through July 2017, Dmitriev sold 1,764 items on AlphaBay for approximately $100,000," the DoJ said in a press statement. "The vast majority of these items were stolen identities, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information."

In related news, law enforcement authorities in Canada seized and shut down Canadian HeadQuarters (aka CanadianHQ), a darknet marketplace that specialized in the purchase and sale of spam services, phishing kits, stolen credential data dumps, and access to compromised machines, which were used by purchasers to engage in a variety of malicious activities.

The development also follows the Europol-led takedown of VPNLab.net, a VPN provider that was used by malicious actors to deploy ransomware against more than 100 businesses and facilitate other cybercrimes, earlier this month.
Woburn, MA (01801)

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Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The owner of a northeastern North Carolina kennel has been accused of dozens of animal welfare violations after authorities seized over 60 dogs from what were called inhumane living conditions.

Currituck County officials took away the adult dogs and puppies after responding Friday to a report of stray dogs running loose on a road in Moyock. Animal control officers who arrived discovered a number of dogs in outdoor kennels that were extremely unsanitary, according to a county press release.

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Forty-seven adult dogs and 14 puppies were collected, while one adult dog discovered had died, news outlets reported. Several dogs required immediate medical care. Dogs were taken to the Currituck animal shelter.

Tim Warren, the owner of Bentwood Labradors, was charged with 61 counts of failure to provide animals with medical care, adequate food and water, and sanitary living conditions, according to the news outlets. He was also charged with violating the countys restraint ordinance; allowing animals to create a nuisance; and failing to provide veterinarian care to an animal, resulting in its death.

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A message left at the kennels phone number seeking comment Sunday from Warren wasnt immediately returned.

The Currituck shelter was taking donations to take care of the rescued group, including supplies and gift cards to pet-related stores.
GRAND ISLAND - Two drivers were serious injured following a head-on crash Sunday near Phillips.

Around 6 a.m. Sunday, an Aurora Police Department officer was traveling eastbound on I-80 near Phillips, said a Nebraska State Patrol news release. After talking with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, the officer attempted a traffic stop on a Toyota Corolla.

The driver of the Corolla then turned around and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes. The officer continued eastbound until finding a safe location to cross over to the westbound lanes of I-80.

Shortly thereafter, the officer came upon a crash that had occurred in the eastbound lanes. The Corolla had struck a Lincoln Navigator head-on in the eastbound passing lane of I-80 one mile west of the Phillips interchange, the release said.

The driver of the Corolla, an 18-year-old male, was ejected during the crash. He was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island with life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Navigator also suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to St. Francis. He was then flown to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha for further treatment.

There were four passengers in the Navigator at the time of the crash. All were treated for minor injuries, the release said.

The Hamilton County Attorneys Office has requested that NSP investigate the incident. That investigation is ongoing.
SAN FRANCISCO  On their final night together, father and daughter watched the news and traded goodnight kisses on the cheek. The next morning, Vicha Ratanapakdee was assaulted while on a walk in San Francisco and died, becoming yet another Asian victim of violence in America.

On Sunday, Monthanus Ratanapakdee will commemorate the one-year anniversary of her father's death with a rally in the San Francisco neighborhood where the 84-year-old was killed. She will be joined by hundreds of people in five other U.S. cities, all of them seeking justice for Asian Americans who have been harassed, assaulted, and even killed in alarming numbers since the start of the pandemic.

Ratanapakdee, who was raised in Thailand, feels compelled to speak out so people don't forget the gentle, bespectacled man who doted on his young grandsons and encouraged her to pursue her education in America.

"I really want my father's death to not be in vain," said Ratanapakdee, 49, a food safety inspector with the San Francisco Unified School District. "I wouldn't want anyone to feel this pain."

Asians in America have long been subject to prejudice and discrimination, but the attacks escalated sharply after the coronavirus first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. More than 10,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition from March 2020 through September 2021. The incidents involved shunning, racist taunting and physical assaults.

In San Francisco and elsewhere, news reports showed video and photos of older Asian people robbed and knocked down, bruised and stabbed on public streets. Preliminary data shows that reported hate crimes against Asian Americans in San Francisco surged from 9 victims in 2020 to 60 in 2021. Crime stats don't tell the whole story, however, as many victims are reluctant to report and not all charges result in hate crime enhancements.

High-profile victims nationally include Michelle Go, 40, who died after a mentally unstable man shoved her in front of a subway in New York City earlier this month. In March, a gunman shot and killed eight people at three Georgia massage spas, including six women of Asian descent ranging in age from 44 to 74. There's disagreement among officials whether those attacks were racially motivated, but the deaths have rattled Asian Americans, who see bias.

Organizers say Sunday's events in San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles are to honor victims, stand in solidarity and demand more attention to anti-Asian discrimination. But organizers say they also want to spark conversation in a community where both longtime Americans and newer immigrants are often lumped together as forever foreigners.

"The tiny window of visibility we had with the 'Stop Asian Hate' movement, it really was just a glimpse of what Asian Americans feel every day, that kind of pervasive disrespect and casual contempt at our parents, our languages, our families," said Charles Jung, a Los Angeles employment attorney and executive director of the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

"What we really want is to encourage Asian Americans to tell their stories," he said, "and finally break the silence."

Vicha Ratanapakdee and his wife lived with Monthanus, their oldest daughter, her husband and the couple's two sons, now 9 and 12. He was on his usual morning walk when authorities say Antoine Watson, 19 years old at the time, charged at him and knocked him to the ground. Ratanapakdee died two days later, never regaining consciousness.

"My mom told me that day was the best day for my father. He was happy to go out," said Monthanus Ratanapakdee. "But it was a bad day for us, because he never came back again."

San Francisco's district attorney, Chesa Boudin, has charged Watson, who is Black, with murder and elder abuse but not with a hate crime, frustrating the family. Watson's attorney, Sliman Nawabi, has said his client was not motivated by race, and the assault stemmed from a mental-health breakdown.

The brutal attack on Ratanapakdee, caught on surveillance video, has galvanized Thai immigrants, said Chanchanit Martorell, executive director of the Thai Community Development Center in Los Angeles, which is participating in Sunday's rally. His killing, and the overwhelming support from other Asian American communities, has made them rethink their place in the United States, she said.

"It really sparked this consciousness among Thai immigrants," she said, "that they're part of something larger."

Like in Los Angeles, organizers at the Center for Pan Asian Community Services in Atlanta say they have invited local elected leaders and community advocates to speak. Attendees will watch a recorded message from Monthanus Ratanapakdee and pause for a national moment of silence.

While there's much more to do, the country has come a long way from 1982 when two white men in Detroit upset over the loss of auto jobs to Japan fatally beat Vincent Chin, says Bonnie Youn, a rally organizer in Atlanta and board member of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

A judge sentenced the two men to probation, saying they weren't the kind of people to go to prison.

Compare that to the March 16 shootings in Atlanta and a northern suburb, Youn said, when journalists worked to make sure the Asian names of six slain women were pronounced correctly and their stories were told with sensitivity.

Monthanus Ratanapakdee says her father valued education and encouraged her over two decades ago to pursue a master's degree in business at the University of California at Berkeley. After he retired from banking, he spent time with her family in San Francisco.

She feels her father's spirit, telling her to be strong. She plans to tell fellow Asian Americans to be strong too as they unite to "raise their voice" for justice.

"We have to be one to move on together, to protect each other, and to make us equal to others," she said. "We all live under the same umbrella of 'Asian American.'"

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COLUMBIA  The South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the South Carolina Department of Revenue have announced the South Carolina Agricultural Tax Exemption (SCATE) card, a handy way for farmers to show they are eligible for certain state sales tax exemptions.

For many years, farmers have had to fill out a paper form, the ST-8F, to receive sales tax exemptions for items used in agricultural production. But after April 1, 2022, farmers will instead show their plastic SCATE card or key fob when making an exempt purchase.

Farmers have asked us to modernize the sales tax exemption process, and the new SCATE card weve developed will do just that, said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. Id like to thank Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler for his support of this new endeavor.

Were excited to assist the Department of Agriculture with this improvement, which makes the exemption process easier for both farmers and retailers, Department of Revenue Director Hartley Powell said.

State law is not changing. Farmers will still be able to receive the same exemptions as before.

The program is similar to Georgias GATE card, but unlike in Georgia, South Carolina users do not need to meet a minimum farm income threshold to be eligible.

A SCATE card costs $24 and is good for three years.

Farmers can apply for their SCATE card now at scatecard.com. Applicants will need a tax ID number (either a Social Security Number or Federal Employer Identification Number), a valid email address, and a credit card or checking account number to pay the $24 fee for the card. Cards expire three years from the date of issue.

After April 1, retailers should no longer accept the old paper form. SCDOR requires that retailers maintain evidence of exempt sales, including the SCATE card number, and report exempt sales on the Sales & Use Tax return.

Visit scatecard.com to apply for a card, verify a card number, or read the FAQ, including the full list of tax exemptions. You may also email scate@scda.sc.gov or call 803-734-2210.

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CHEYENNE (WNE)  Charges for two teenagers accused of involvement in the July shooting death of a local 14-year-old were bound over to Laramie County District Court at a preliminary hearing Friday.

Raymond M. Sanchez, 16, of Cheyenne is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Xavier Sanchez, 18, of Casper is charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

After about three hours of testimony and argument by the state and the Sanchezes attorneys, Laramie County Circuit Judge Sean Chambers found there was probable cause to send all of these charges to the countys district court, which handles felony criminal cases.

Chambers reduced Xavier Sanchezs bond from $250,000 to $100,000 cash. Raymond Sanchezs bond remains at $100,000 cash.

The judge denied requests from the defendants attorneys to modify the bonds to cash or surety. State Public Defender Diane Lozano, Raymonds appointed attorney in the case, said during the hearing that her client was in the custody of the Wyoming Department of Family Services. Xavier Sanchez is being held at the Laramie County jail.

The Sanchezes will next appear for arraignments in district court on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Information collected by CPD points to the 14-year-olds death having been the result of a gang-related conflict, or at least a conflict between two families.

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Besides the schools, degree colleges also reopened in Bengaluru (ANI)

Bengaluru: All schools and colleges in Bengaluru on Monday reopened and offline classes resumed for students of classes 1-10.

"We have reopened schools with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. LKG & UKG classes yet to be started," says Sujata, Headmistress of Government Primary School, Shivaji Nagar.

She added that it is difficult for the teachers also to teach offline. "Physical classes are necessary for a child's education and I am happy that the government has allowed the offline classes to resume", she said.

"I am happy to resume school as I can finally play with my friends," says Ayza, a student on Monday.

Besides the schools, degree colleges would also reopen in Bengaluru, stated Education Minister BC Nagesh on Saturday.

One of the teachers while speaking to ANI said, "We were missing the students in the classrooms and were waiting to start classes offline."

The educational institutions in Karnataka were earlier closed in view of the alarming rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

The Karnataka government also decided to lift the night curfew across the state from today.

Schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu, Pune, Haryana and Rajasthan would reopen for physical classes from February 1.
A Barrackpore woman returned to her house in the early hours of last Saturday and found an i
The issue of school violence has resurfaced with such an intensity that it has the nations 
In a city where tenants make up nearly half the population, Tucsonans are reacting with fear and anger to news of huge rent hikes at a seniors citizens apartment complex.

But city leaders are helpless to stop abusive price-gouging under a state law that prevents local governments from setting limits on how much landlords can charge, Mayor Regina Romero said.

The mayor said she has been getting an earful from city residents since the Arizona Daily Star reported on a San Diego apartment-flipper who has raised rents by 50% or more at several Tucson apartment complexes, including the former seniors complex at 1511 N. Craycroft Road where some tenants say they are being forced out because they cannot afford to stay. The new owner has not responded to numerous requests by the Star for comment.

Some of the calls to city hall are from seniors renting elsewhere in Tucson who worry they might be next, Romero said.

We need the state to create policies that protect vulnerable residents from obscene rate hikes, or they need to untie our hands so cities and towns can do something about it, Romero, a Democrat, said in an email interview.

Municipal governments are closest to the problem and should be able to act on these issues without state interference.

Republicans who control the states legislative agenda say rent control is not the answer. Absolutely not, Arizona House majority leader Rep. Ben Toma said in an email interview.

Toma, who owns a Century 21 real estate brokerage, said rent control would not fix the underlying problem: a pressing shortage of affordable housing because the states population has for years been growing faster than its housing supply.

He blames local land-use rules. Cities and towns have prioritized construction of single-family homes over apartment projects, which can be controversial because of neighborhood concerns about aesthetics and increased density, he said.

As housing demand increases in Arizona, so should supply; otherwise the problem will simply continue to compound, Toma said. He said there is bipartisan support for changes, and he expects several bills to be introduced this session to address housing affordability throughout the state.

But talk of future fixes is of little comfort to Tucson tenants currently caught in the squeeze. Some are facing rent hikes much higher than 50%, public records and other documents show.

Rents are rising by as much as 77% at the former Colonia de Tucson, a west-side complex occupied by seniors and families recently purchased by investors from Los Angeles and Chicago for $7.8 million with $300,000 down, land transfer records show. The previous owner, a Miami-area investor, paid $4.9 million for it 18 months ago.

A two-bedroom, one bath unit that used to rent for $675 will soon rent for $1,195 at the 84-unit complex at 1335 W. St. Marys Road. The new landlords are offering short-term leases for $950 a month  a 40% increase  until the new higher rate kicks in later this year, tenant notification letters show.

Single mom Laura Gallego, 33, a nail salon technician with three children ages 2 to 9, said she cannot afford the increase. Two of her neighbors, older tenants in their 70s and 90s, are in the same situation, she said.

Its scary, said Gallego, a Tucson native. I havent been able to sleep, and I dont know what to do.

Even the property manager said shes uncomfortable with the 77% increase.

Ann Diaz, president of Arizona 1st Realty Management, said the complex where Gallego lives was run down, and the new owners are in the process of making improvements.

The previous owner was operating at a loss, she said, and the new rent is comparable to what other landlords are charging in the area.

Even so, I feel really bad, Diaz said. But I dont set the rents; the owners do. Ive been hired to do a job, and if I dont do what my clients ask me to do, Ill be replaced by someone who will.

Diaz, who owns a handful of small Tucson rental properties, said she has not raised rents because I love my tenants. But she predicted more big rent hikes are ahead for city residents who live in buildings where current rental rates are well below market rates.

Mark Stapp, a real estate expert at Arizona State University who is opposed to rent control, said theres no short-term fix for the affordable housing shortage.

If I started building an apartment project today it would take two years until the first person could move in, he said in a phone interview.

State and local leaders need to work together on solutions, he said, because lack of affordable housing affects the overall health of communities and could also jeopardize efforts to bring new jobs and employers to Arizona, he said.

Affordable housing is a critical economic development issue, not just a social issue, he said. It doesnt make us a highly desirable place when a greater percentage of the population finds itself in this situation.

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Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or calaimo@tucson.com . On Twitter: @AZStarConsumer

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A major Arizona utility can be held liable for violating antitrust laws through its policies of charging higher rates for electricity to customers who choose to install rooftop solar panels, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments by Salt River Project that its activities  and its pricing structure  are protected by various state and federal laws.

The judges said there is sufficient evidence that could show the price structure was designed to deter the competitive threat of solar energy systems and to force consumers to exclusively purchase electricity from SRP.

Mondays ruling does not end the matter but sends the case back to a trial judge who will determine the extent of the utilitys conduct and any damages to SRP customers.

The decision, by itself, does not directly affect most other utilities in the state such as Tucson Electric Power and Arizona Public Service. Thats because, unlike SRP, they have to get approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission for their rates.

But the ruling does make it clear that all utilities can be subject to anti-trust laws if their policies and practices not approved by the commission result in deterring customers from investing in solar, said Jean Su, director of the energy justice program for the Center for Biological Diversity.

This is a game changer in the struggle to defend rooftop solar against utilities all-out war on clean, affordable, climate-resilient energy, she said.

For the first time, a federal court has said utilities can be liable under antitrust laws if they attack rooftop solar, Su said. The future for renewable energy just got a lot brighter.

An SRP spokesman, Scott Harelson, said the ruling was at least a partial victory, because certain claims were dismissed.

As to the rest, Harelson said the company is confident the rate plan "will be determined to have been rationally considered and adopted, and not in violation of any law or statute.''

According to court records, SRP at one time encouraged the use of solar energy systems, adopting a net metering system that gave customers credit for excess power they generated that could be sold to others.

That changed in 2014 when SRP adopted a new pricing plan that says solar customers who still need to be hooked up to the utility for times when solar is not available can be charged up to 65% more than under prior plans. Yet at the same time, rates for non-solar customers went up about 3.9%.

Not surprisingly, applications for solar-energy systems in SRP territory decreased by between 50 and 96%, wrote Judge Eric Miller for the appellate panel.

That resulted in a lawsuit by several SRP customers who said the utility discriminates against customers who use solar energy and makes it impossible for them to obtain any viable return on the solar systems they install, thereby eliminating any competition from solar energy.

A lower court threw out the complaint, resulting in this appeal. Miller said that ruling was in error and flew in the face of what the trial judge herself decided.

By the district courts own logic, solar-energy systems are uneconomical, at least in part, because of SRPs exclusionary conduct, Miller wrote.

The utility argued that the customers could not allege antitrust injury because they still attempted to use the market alternative that they claim SRP tried to make uneconomical. Miller said that misstates the law.

Coercive activity that prevents its victims from making free choices between market alternatives gives rise to antitrust injury, the appellate judge wrote. He said it is not necessary for someone to first prove that all competition has been driven out of the market.

Rather, the plaintiff need only show that diminished consumer choices and increased prices are the result of a less competitive market due to either artificial restraints or predatory and exclusionary conduct, Miller said.

That, he said, is exactly what the customers claim: that they were directly and economically hurt by the SRP pricing scheme, which is aimed at suppressing competition by discouraging customers from installing solar-energy systems.

SRP cannot escape liability by portraying (the customers) injury as mere collateral damage of its exclusionary conduct, the judge wrote.

The appellate court also rejected the companys claim that it is entitled to immunity because of what is known as the filed-rate doctrine. It says if a rate has been approved by an agency, antitrust challenges cannot be brought.

That might be an issue for utilities that get their rates approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission, the court found.

The problem for SRP, however, is that it does not file its rates with anyone other than itself, Miller wrote. SRPs board of directs sets rates unilaterally, unlike other Arizona utilities.

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Gov. Doug Duceys proposal to spend $1 billion over 3 years for desalinating seawater and other infrastructure will not be a one-size-fits-all plan, says the Senate president who will have to help shepherd the potentially controversial measure through a crowded legislative agenda.

Legislation to be released by Feb. 7 will set up a program to achieve short-, medium- and long-term goals for bringing Arizonas water supplies and demands into balance, said Senate President Karen Fann.

Not only will ocean water desalination plants costing billions of dollars be considered, but so will less expensive alternative supplies such as desalinating brackish Arizona groundwater and treating wastewater to drinking quality, said Fann. Any good idea will get a hearing, the Prescott Republican told the Star in an interview.

We want everybody to the table. I dont care whether they are Democrats, Republicans or anything else. If they have a good idea, lets bring them to the table, Fann said.

Advocates who have watched numerous bills to tighten up Arizonas water use, particularly in rural areas, die in past sessions without getting a hearing might scoff at Fanns assurances. But Fann insists that for one thing, she has not made up her mind as to how many desalination plants she would like to see built using Arizona tax dollars, let alone when they should be built.

She also agrees with some water researchers that cheaper ideas such as wastewater reclamation deserve full consideration, and soon.

Here is a Q&A with Fann conducted last week, edited for length: :

Are you backing Gov. Duceys desalination push? If so, why?

A: Let me be very clear about something. The governor didnt specifically say he will do A, B and C. Lets talk about what we are doing here. We need to identify short-term, mid-term and long-term goals.

What are they?

A: The short-term is low-hanging fruit. Thats what can we do to conserve water better, to the best of our ability. Some things we are doing now, like low water use toilets and showers and zeroscape landscaping.

The mid-range goals start with 75% of all water used in Arizona is for agriculture. A lot of that is on flood irrigation. Could we save water by starting to switch farmers and ranchers to drip irrigation? Two 500-acre test projects, so far, not only are they producing as much in the way of fruit, vegetables, whatever they grow there, they use 25% less water. What can we do to move farmers and ranchers as much as possible to drip irrigation?

What are the long-range goals?

A: They could be 20 years from now. It might be a desalination project. It might be working with a joint partnership with Mexico in the Gulf (of California) in the bay. We work out something with them. But thats going to be a long-range project. Its going to cost a lot of money.

If thats the direction were going to go, we need to have money set aside to do that. Maybe an international agreement, maybe an agreement with California. Those are long-range goals we have to start planning. It could be 40 years if we dont start planning for it right now.

The $1 billion the governor wants to spend over the next three years on desalination and other water infrastructure  how will it be used?

A: The $1 billion will be seed money that will kick-start these projects. Do we add to that every year? Is it going to be a revolving fund? Will we replenish it? Those are the details we need to work out.

When will we see the details of legislation youll propose?

A. The deadline to introduce bills in the Senate is Monday, Jan. 31. The House is the following Monday. We have bill folders  one under (House Speaker Rusty) Bowers name, one under my name. Were meeting two hours a week, drafting language. We will have a bill ready to propose in time.

How will this bill work?

A: Its going to set up the structure of how we are going to do it. Those on the committee, on the water authority, will be setting up short- and mid-range plans, based on best practices. This is not something that you put into the bill, to say this is what you do. You set up a structure, financing and guard rails for it. Then you let the experts come up with the details.

There will be a water authority, someone to oversee that billion dollars worth of money. Where do we put that money? Who has the authority to oversee the money? Are we going to work with public private partnerships? Work with municipalities?

Were talking about new water, existing water. Theres so many things to answer.

Theres been criticism from environmentalists and others that the state will be putting too much money and energy into desalination, and not enough into fixing existing water problems, such as unregulated pumping in rural areas thats draining aquifers.

A: First and foremost, let me say its not a one-size-fits-all-thing. There will be a number of things that get us there. This is not a this or that. This is a combination of whats going to get us to safe yield. (Safe yield is a condition in which the amount of groundwater pumped from an aquifer does not exceed the amount of water replenishing the aquifer by rainfall or other means.)

But critics say the state is allowing too much unregulated groundwater pumping.

A: What do they mean by regulation? Regulation does have different meanings to different people. I come from Prescott. Ive been working on water for 30 to 35 years already. We have people that are wanting to regulate (homeowners) exempt wells, to put a meter on them. First of all, we can only pump 35 gallons per minute (with exempt wells) to begin with. This isnt like large irrigation wells, like in other areas.

I will tell you when rural Arizona hears about others wanting to regulate exempt domestic wells, some want to talk about why is it in Phoenix that so many people have swimming pools, why the (Central Arizona Project) canal is not covered and how much water that loses to evaporation. Nobody wants to talk about that. They want to talk about regulating exempt wells.

A lot of environmentalists are more concerned about non-exempt agricultural wells, which can legally pump unlimited amounts of groundwater. Such pumping is blamed for aquifer declines in Cochise, Mohave and La Paz counties.

A: That goes directly back to what Im talking about. Can we move our farmers away from flood irrigation  to drip irrigation? Like in Israel, where they still use agricultural wells and theyre not metering, but using less water.

We are asking for $1 billion in our budget. That would be our first start (drip irrigation for farmers). In 20 years we would have the ability to do a desalination plant.

Researchers are split over seawater desalination, with some seeing it as another tool in the toolbox, while others say its way too expensive, costing at least twice as much as treating to drinking quality either wastewater or brackish water from the aquifer.

A: That (treating wastewater to drink) is a definite possibility. We need all good ideas to come to the table. What is cost effective, doable, feasible in the short-term, mid-term, long-range? Nothing is off the table, but we are going to be very careful not to do something for one group at the expense of another group. Its one for all and all for one.

How many desalination plants would you want? Is two  which is what the agencies are studying  enough? Or are more needed?

A: Id never commit on that. Im not the expert on the field to tell you. I dont know when we would be building them or what it would cost to build them, to operate them. That could be totally different 20 years from now. Who knows? In 20 years there might be a whole new desalination plant engineered that is the best thing since sliced bread.

Rep. Andres Cano, D-Tucson, has dropped a slew of water bills into the legislative hopper. One would let the state ban expansion of irrigation in an area based on projected future groundwater use. Another would bar cities, towns or counties in rural areas from approving a subdivision unless it has an adequate 100-year water supply  a requirement already on the books in Tucson and Phoenix.

A third would create water use measuring and reporting requirements for larger wells outside of urban areas. A fourth would ban the drilling of new wells in the Upper San Pedro or Verde Valley groundwater basins unless the state determines it wont interfere with ongoing court cases to determine who has water rights in those areas.

Many bills like these have died without even a vote in the past, because committee chairs wouldnt give them a hearing. Will these get a hearing this year?

A: If they are good bills, they are going to get a hearing. There are Democrat bills that have passed. Please remember, water is a big issue. You cannot have a piecemeal approach to it. You may have legislators that have great ideas. You cannot have a bill that is potentially in conflict with another bill.

Also, property rights are a huge thing here. I see a lot of bills come through; our attorneys look at it and say no, the property rights will be violated.

Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987.

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You can celebrate one brewerys anniversary while sampling creative new beers from across Tucson at Harbottle Brewing Companys SMaSHed in the Desert Beer Festival this Saturday, Feb. 5.

The event, set to take place at Harbottle, 3820 S. Palo Verde Road, will feature four teams of two breweries apiece; Harbottle and 1912, Copper Mine and Dillinger, Button and Ranch Hand out of Eloy, and Borderlands and Firetruck.

Each team will serve new collaborations made from a single malt (Vienna), a single hop (Mosaic), and any ingredients that they so choose.

Your creativity is the limit, said Michael Figueira, co-owner of Harbottle. If people want to add fruit, spices, make a sour beer, they can. They just cant use any other malts or hops.

For $30, guests will get 5-ounce blind samples of all four creations and vote for which one they like best.

They will also receive tickets for three additional tastes or one additional pint, a custom glass, access to food trucks and the opportunity to buy more tickets to try different beers offered by each of the breweries on-site.

The event will take place in the taproom, as well as in the front parking lot and the parking lot used by Chopstix Asian Diner next door.

Lucky for us, Chopstix is closed on Saturday, Figueira said. There will be plenty of room.

This will be the second time Harbottle has held the SMaSHed competition, the first taking place in March 2020, right before the world shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Figueira said the success of the first event made them want to try it again when the timing was right.

The breweries got really creative, he said. No two beers were remotely similar.

Harbottle is combining the competition with its fourth anniversary. While a chunk of its time open has been during a global pandemic, Harbottle has been making it work, Figueira said.

The lockdown in 2020 actually helped boost the brewerys sales.

We were making home deliveries of three to six crowlers each, Figueira said. Even when our taproom was closed, our regulars still stopped by every day. Instead of one to two pints, they were getting one to two crowlers to go.

The brewery purchased a new canning line, which it has used to boost distribution in Tucson and Phoenix.

In the next few months, the plan is to add a small kitchen, capable of making sandwiches, pizzas, wings and pretzels; and to build out a patio across several of the parking spaces in front of the brewery.

SMaSHed will also become a regular annual event, as long as the world stays semi-normal, Figueira said.

The festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at tucne.ws/1jhx

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Tom Gilbert Chief Photographer I joined the Tulsa World in 1988 after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma. I lived in Saudi Arabia before graduating from Broken Arrow High School. I'm married to Karen Gilbert and have three grown children. Phone: 918-581-8349 Follow Tom Gilbert 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

American Solera released a new beer that pays homage to the city of Tulsa and its hometown paper, the Tulsa World.

American Soleras co-founder and brewmaster Chase Healey brewed the beer with a new hop variety  Talus  from the Pacific Northwest. Noting that the name was similar to our great city, Tulsa, they decided to have some fun with it.

When we heard the name and it being so close to Tulsa, we knew we had to spoof it somehow. So we figured wed kind of connect it with Tulsa World paper. We do a lot with you guys. So to us, it was like a funny way to kind of just poke at you a little bit. Its nothing official, but we were just trying to be a little silly with it, Healey said.

The beer is a hazy IPA that comes in at 6.8% ABV. The new hop variety Talus is a hybrid that has big citrus notes along with pine, coconut and juicy characters, according to Healey.

Its always fun when there are new hop varieties, he said.

The beer is available at their taproom and should be available around town in a week or so. The brewery is the easiest way to find it.

American Solera, 1702 E. Sixth St., also will now be able to brew more beer. Healey ordered two 30-barrel lager tanks over a year ago, and they finally arrived. The tanks are designed to ferment lagers. Lagers are a European style of beer produced from bottom-fermenting yeast. Most tanks stand vertically, but these tanks lay on their sides, and in this case can be stacked on top of one another.

We take about six weeks on our lagers. And thats why its more important to do a larger volume because we need to spend more time on them. So to do a small amount and wait so long is silly, said Healey.

Theyre horizontal and long versus tall, and that helps with the fermentation and in the yeast character in the beer. Its a more traditional way to ferment lagers. So its kind of funny. We make some really crazy beers and use some extreme ingredients, but at the end of the day, Solero (a Golden Pilsner) is our number one-selling draft pour. So, jokes on me  people want to drink really tasty, crisp beer, and we want to give it to people. And so its a way for us to grow.

Weve gone from one 15 barrel to two 30s. So weve increased our ability to produced lagers by 400%, I guess. So the timing couldnt be perfect. Interesting with the way the world is. We ordered these things long ago last year, and then, of course, the freight to get them here was gonna cost more than the tanks themselves because shipping stuff overseas is just not cheap. So we waited patiently for the right window. Once we get them in and plugged in the timing should be just perfect, rolling into spring with a lot of really fresh, crisp beer for my brewery.

Past Beers of the Week:

Good Cause Brewings Pluto

<&underline>Nothings Left Fluffernutter Stout</&underline>

Elgin Parks Willie Mays Haze

Broken Arrow Brewing Co.s Folded Flag

Dead Armadillos Boomhauer Sour

The Cape Brewing Companys Fresh Hopped Tropical Mirage

Boxley Brewing and Bottle Co.s Stay Golden Cream Ale

Angry Scotsman and Roughtail Brewing Collab, Schwanky Bubbles pils

Dead Armadillos Tulsa Flag

Dead Armadillos Johnny Ginger

Elgin Parks Cross Czech Pils

Beers of the Week 2020

Beers of the Week 2019

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Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted bail to the husband of a 21-year-old law student who died by suicide leaving behind a note blaming him, his parents and a police officer for taking the extreme step.

Justice Gopinath P said that since the husband has spent more than 65 days in custody and the final report has been filed in the case, his continued detention was not necessary.

With this observation, the court granted him the relief subject to certain conditions which would be available in the detailed order.

The victim's parents-in-law were granted bail by the court on January 4 on which date it had denied the husband the same relief saying the allegations against him were very serious.

Subsequently, the husband had moved a second bail plea claiming that the police officer was responsible for the law student taking the extreme step.

The victim's husband and in-laws were arrested on November 24 last year and a case registered against them under Sections 304B (dowry death), 498A (dowry harassment), 306 (abetment of suicide) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

While the maximum punishment for dowry death is life imprisonment, it is three years' jail term for dowry harassment and 10 years for abetment of suicide.

In her suicide note, Mofia Parveen, the third-year law student, had alleged that the then SHO of Aluva East Police Station had misbehaved with her when she went there with her father to give her statement regarding her complaint of dowry harassment and domestic violence against her husband and in-laws.

The incident had created an uproar in the state and the officer was relieved of his charge and later suspended.

According to Mofia's father, he went to the station with his daughter to give her statement and she had made it clear before going there that she did not want her submission to be recorded in her husband's presence.

However, the officer spoke to them in her husband's presence and also spoke inappropriately and rudely to him and his daughter, the father told the media and added that it was the officer's conduct that demoralised her.

After returning home, she was worried whether police would take any action in view of the officer's conduct at the station, the father of the student had claimed and said that she hanged herself in her room later that day.
Election deadline: Early walk-in voting is available Thursday and Friday at county election boards for the Feb. 8 primary election. Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Tulsa and Union each have one school board seat requiring a primary, plus Bixby, Catoosa and Jenks are each putting a school bond package before voters.

State-bound and down: Academic teams from a dozen Tulsa area schools will compete in the OSSAA state tournament Saturday at Rose State College in Midwest City.

Local qualifying teams include Booker T. Washington, Jenks and Stillwater in 6A; Bishop Kelley and Claremore in 5A; Cascia Hall, Verdigris and Wagoner in 4A; Morris and Preston in 3A and Regent Prep and Riverfield Country Day School in 2A.

Grant opportunity: The Fund for Teachers has extended its deadline until 5 p.m. on Feb. 24 for self-designed professional development grants.

Any Oklahoma full-time teacher with at least three years of experience may apply for a grant of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a group of teachers. Since 2006, the program has provided more than $3.2 million in professional development grants for Oklahoma teachers.

The funds administrative partners include the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and the Tulsa Community Foundation.

Open house: Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics will have an informational meeting Saturday at Hideaway Pizza at 7877 E. 51st Street at 5 p.m. for students and families interested in admission for the 2022-2023 school year.

Candidate forum: Broken Arrow Young Professionals is hosting a candidate forum Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce for school board candidates for Broken Arrow Public Schools and Union Public Schools.

Vaccine clinic: Tulsa Public Schools will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Education Service Center.

COVID-19 by the numbers: Despite staff shortages continuing to force sites to shift instructional methods throughout the week, several area school districts published updated COVID-19 case counts on Friday.

Tulsa Public Schools reported 233 cases among students and 56 among employees. Campuses with 20 or more cases include Eisenhower, Booker T. Washington, Grissom and Council Oak.

Bartlesville Public Schools reported 10 positive cases among its employees and 52 among its students, including 17 students and three employees at Bartlesville High School. The district has an additional three staff and 185 students in quarantine due to close contact exposure.

Berryhill Public Schools reported 11 cases among its campuses. The district does not differentiate between staff and students in its reporting.

Bixby Public Schools reported 175 active cases among its staff and students, including 31 at Bixby Middle School.

Broken Arrow Public Schools reported 136 student cases and an additional 63 cases among its employees. The district does not differentiate among campuses in its public-facing reporting.

Collinsville Public Schools reported 14 cases among staff and 35 among its students.

Jenks Public Schools reported 95 cases among its students and an additional 28 cases among its employees.

Owasso Public Schools reported 140 cases among its students and 46 among its staff. OPS does not differentiate among sites in its public-facing reporting.

Sapulpa Public Schools reported five cases among its employees and 17 among its students.

Glenpool, Sand Springs, Skiatook and Union did not publish updated case counts by the close of business Friday.

lenzy.krehbiel-burton @tulsaworld.com

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As originally conceived in the 1950s, Tulsas expressway system was going to include two loops, one circling downtown and the other more-or-less surrounding the entire city, with multiple highways connecting them almost like spokes in a wagon wheel.

The first stretch of the Skelly Bypass, part of todays Interstate 44, opened in 1953 and was going to be part of the southern half of the outer loop. But only now, 69 years later, is Tulsa finally getting close to finishing the entire ring around the city, which has long since grown past the outer loop.

A 5-mile extension of the Gilcrease Expressway will likely open this summer after crews finish building a massive bridge across the Arkansas River near Chandler Park, west of downtown.

Why did it take so long?

For the same reason the Inner Dispersal Loop was almost never finished either.

The north and west legs of the IDL were part of the interstate highway system, which meant the federal government paid 90% of the construction costs. The rest of the inner loop, however, had to rely on local and state funding. And Tulsa couldnt find the $10 million needed to finish the project.

By 1969, construction had been dragging on for more than a decade. And Street Commissioner Robert LaFortune, who was gearing up to run for mayor the next year, went to Washington, D.C., to meet personally with the secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

LaFortune, with help from other local officials and the states congressional delegation, successfully lobbied to have the entire IDL designated as part of the interstate system. It was, after all, an offshoot of Interstate 244.

The Gilcrease Expressway, on the other hand, couldnt be rationalized as an interstate, which left Tulsa looking for another way to finance the last leg of the citys outer loop.

Looking. And looking. And looking.

It wasnt until March 2017 that LaFortunes grandson, Mayor G.T. Bynum, announced what officials described as a unique approach to funding the last leg of the highway.

A private investor would contribute about $100 million, or roughly a third of the construction costs, to build 5 miles of new, four-lane toll road beginning where the existing Gilcrease Expressway connected to I-44 just south of 51st Street in west Tulsa and ending just north of U.S. 412 at Edison Street west of downtown.

Its a little surreal, Bynum said, to be finishing a project that his grandfather had worked on in the 1960s, a decade before the current mayor was born.

It makes you wonder what projects will be left for Bynums grandchildren to finish.

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I found Ginnie Graham's recent column historically informative, primarily because she revealed that restaurant tipping in our country had racist roots (Tipping has roots in systemic racism, Jan. 23).

Although suggested tipping percentages over the years have increased from 10% to 20% to supplement low wages, tips remain inadequate in most cases and certainly in fast food restaurants.

Graham also informs us that tipping is not so prevalent in foreign countries and I found it particularly true a few years ago in South Africa, where I was visiting my daughter, who was attending the University of Cape Town.

One afternoon my daughter and I enjoyed a nice wharf side lunch and an Afrikaner young lady provided excellent service. After our meal I left a tip, but upon seeing it, our server looked at me somewhat scornfully and, as she left, said I had embarrassed her.

Wondering why, I asked my daughter, who explained that appropriate tipping in South Africa varied between 5% and 10%, but never 20%, as my $4 tip for a $20 lunch was way over the top.

Certainly the cost of living in South Africa made the size of my tip relative, but the principle remains the same. Pay restaurant staff a living wage and keep tips a reward, not a necessity.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter.

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In October last year, the World Economic Forum announced the ASEAN Digital Generation Report based on a survey of up to 90,000 respondents from six ASEAN countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. It found that 85 percent of the respondents and 87 percent of the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs believed digitalization was the path for post-pandemic economic recovery.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper talked to Malaysian Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz who is pioneering the digital transformation and the ambitious 5G roll-out in Malaysia.

It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating digital transformation in all aspects of life. What are the opportunities for digital transformation and how crucial is it for the economic recovery during this challenging time?

During the first nine months of this year 2021, our e-commerce income recorded US$190 billion. But if you look at it, with an increase close to 23 percent compared to the same period last year, the performance was attributed to the digital transformation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has boosted digital usage in Malaysia.

The increase in e-commerce also means an increase in cashless payment options. In just one year until June 2021, we have seen a jump of 89 percent to 468 million e-wallet transactions while merchant participation especially for QR payments has jumped 57 percent to one million registrations and online banking volume has improved by 36 percent to 12.1 billion transactions.

But it would be a real waste if all we got from digitalization was just easier ways to transact for goods and services. Again, I see digitalization as a means to create a more equitable society. So, for instance, digitalization can help better deliver public services to citizens in need of direct government aid. You know, we look at the government aid that we've given during this pandemic, only 1 percent was paid in cash while the main bulk of the aid was disbursed primarily on a cashless basis, including the application process which was mostly done online.

The public and private sector, businesses and services, have also moved online, making it easier to reduce leakages, fraud and corruption. If we reduce direct contact points between the recipients and the public officials, therefore, you reduce the opportunity for public officials to engage in types of behavior that we don't want to see.

In addition to that, technologies can help drive collective benefits such as poverty reduction, climate change, adaptation and mitigation. And thanks to technologies, rural entrepreneurs can plug into global markets.

How is digital transformation taking place in the Malaysian government?

In 2022, payment from the government will be 100 percent cashless. So, we are focusing on technology to ensure efficiency and productivity of the government.

Both the private sector and the public sectors hold online meetings. It has definitely increased productivity because people tend to be more focused on addressing the issues directly.

Definitely, digital transformation is here to stay in how the government conducts its business. We can have physical meetings but we are continuing to have many virtual meetings. So, this is the new normal.

The Malaysian government has recently allocated RM700 million ($167 million) next year to keep pushing for digital connectivity efforts in 47 industrial areas and 630 schools mainly in rural areas, aiming to not leave anyone behind in the digital era. Could you please elaborate that?

It's a question I get asked quite frequently. Digitalization has always been a strategic imperative for Malaysia. The COVID-19 really has highlighted the importance of digitalization for economic resilience. The digital economy is expected to make up around 23 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) and create 500,000 jobs by 2025.

Because it's such a wide range policy question, we are tackling it on a number of fronts. First, we launched our own Malaysia digital economy blueprint in February last year, which sets out various measures and targets that will be implemented in three phases until 2030. And then under this blueprint, about $5 billion will be invested through the National Digital Network over the next five years. And another $400 million will be invested by telecommunication companies to strengthen connectivity to the international submarine cable network. And further $2.6 billion will be invested to roll out 5G nationwide over a period of 10 years. And about close to $3 billion will be invested by cloud service providers over the next five years.

We also know we need to tackle the digital divide among Malaysians, including between the urban and rural areas as well as between the new and older generation. We want to ensure connectivity to schools and in industrial areas as well to attract investments this year.

Internet access is crucial because it helps reduce the wealth and income gap. No one left behind is a major concern of the government. So, digitalization must be a means to create a more equitable society and not another cause of inequality. So that's why we are approaching digitalization in a strategic and systematic manner.

Malaysia has set a target of becoming a technologically advanced, digitally-driven nation and a regional digital economy leader by 2030. Are you eyeing to overtake Singapore in the digital transformation race? If so, what are the crucial steps to achieve this goal?

The first crucial step is the infrastructure. The foundation of digitalization is the infrastructure.

We look at the people, the software and ensure that our people have the right skills, the right capabilities, and the right mindset. And we have to prepare for our future generation to continue to be relevant as we embrace technology in the next 10 years.

And thirdly, of course, as policymakers, we need to ensure that we have a cohesive and a very structured plan to ensure that we are successful in the journey towards becoming what we want to be by 2030. So, all these are meant to nurture the right ecosystem for Malaysia to be ahead in the digital space.

The government is also targeting to increase the economic sector's productivity level by 30 percent by 2030. And this will be enabled by our plan 5G deployment launched late last year. This will drive our economy and innovation, enhance global regional competitiveness for Malaysia and also accelerate the IR 4.0 and enable new digital services in the consumer and enterprise spaces.

I think that all countries, no matter developed or developing countries, have equal opportunities to benefit from digital transformation. But what are the key things to take the lead in this area?

If we look at digital transformation, comparing ourselves with the EU and the U.S., you need to understand where we are in terms of the infrastructure. Perhaps at an earlier start in 4G and even in 5G rollout are mostly demand-based rather than heavy supply. That is why Malaysia decided to embrace more supply-based technologies. So, ensuring that infrastructure is in place, everywhere, and the government takes the lead in building that infrastructure. It is also important to ensure the price of connection is affordable. At the end of the day, to make sure that the digital transformation is successful, it must be equitable and inclusive. And in that sense, it has to be affordable in the sense that all citizens are able to access the technology.

Technology has helped many countries in the world, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen how technology has accelerated a lot of new areas of cooperation but also businesses.

So, I think when you talk about digital transformation, it does allow many countries to catch up with one another faster, but it's all about innovation. It goes back to the infrastructure. If you don't have a foundation you will be left even further behind because things are changing at an accelerated speed. Every year things are moving faster and faster and faster.

What are the major challenges of digital transformation in Malaysia?

There are various challenges to digital transformation in Malaysia. Firstly, our economy is very much dependent on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which contribute 40 percent to the GDP and employ 70 percent of our population. One study has said close to 77 percent of our SMEs in Malaysia remain at the basic digitalization skill level. And this is definitely an area for us to improve. Secondly, digital adoption and e-commerce seem to be concentrated mainly on manufacturing and services in urban states in Malaysia while many states have a focus in urban cities rather than the rural states or other regions.

And thirdly, there is a big digital divide in urban and rural areas. For example, affordability of device ownership poses a challenge for remote learning, which frustrated the implementation of online learning during the pandemic. So, again, these are some of the challenges but in terms of infrastructure, we must admit that digitalization is not cheap.

In addition, a study found that 50 percent of SMEs are not prepared to adopt new norms of remote working due to difficulties related to infrastructure systems, including internet connectivity. Malaysia is tackling these issues. We are tackling these challenges.

Malaysia is seeking to narrow the rural-urban gap by boosting digital transformation at 630 schools, mostly in rural areas, in 2022. Photo: The Straits Times

How does Malaysia invest in human resources, especially young people, in order to seize opportunities brought by digital transformation? How can you promote digital literacy among the people?

Well, we look at the Malaysian digital grouping. We focus on tech-enabled innovation to deliver education for all. So, in terms of tech-enabled teaching, the pandemic has accelerated the move towards remote learning and teaching. In fact, we have recently allocated 600,000 laptops to all those people who can't afford to get laptops in universities. And we also look at digital companies collaborating with us as well. We have various digital programs to reskill and upskill.

We have the scope of various programs under them called M deck, which is to increase digital literacy among the youth, even senior citizens and those socio-economically vulnerable groups nationwide. So, we work with the Ministry of Education and with all the various state-run enterprises, technology companies, and the various other government agencies.

To build Metaverse, Facebook plans to hire 10,000 workers in Europe over the next five years. Do you think the future workforce in Malaysia, Vietnam, or other ASEAN countries will be qualified to work for Metaverse in the near future? What is the role of the government?

When I visited Indonesia late 2021, I met up with some private equities who have invested in technology companies - unicorns in Indonesia on par with other big companies, including Facebook.

I think in terms of talents and ideas of innovation, we ASEAN countries are able to compete with other countries. We have to be ready that our talent pool becomes a global talent pool, but we must try and keep them in this region.

Digital nomads are everywhere today. People are no longer securing full employment as well. They are looking at the gig economy. There are lots of gig workers today. So, you need to look at how the world is changing, how people work is changing, how people are employed is changing, how people are getting expected to get paid is changing, and therefore we need to be prepared for that.

Have you ever visited Vietnam? Are there any opportunities for the two countries to cooperate in digital transformation, digital economy and digital connectivity?

I have visited Vietnam many times. When I was CEO of CIMB Group, the bank had branches in Vietnam. I've always admired not only the beauty and vibrancy of Vietnam, but also the people's resilience and determination to excel.

And there are definitely opportunities for collaboration between our two countries. You know, I understand that during the pandemic COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese government successfully connected most hospitals online, allowing people living in remote and rural areas to enjoy better health care services, such as diagnosis or treatment. I think this is an area that Malaysia can learn and also look to further develop.

I saw in the e-Conomy SEA 2021 that Vietnams internet economy could reach $220 billion in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) by 2030, ranking second in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

Indeed, there are opportunities for both countries to work together. We want to look at expanding the bilateral trade, especially to the e-commerce segments. Other areas that may be explored between us are digital transformation and digital economy. We have positioned ourselves as one of the top cybersecurity ranking countries in the world, so we can work together with Vietnam in this field as well.

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A man from the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has been arrested for setting his boss's house on fire, resulting in the total destruction of at least 11 fishing boats and other valuable properties.

Pham Van Sang, a resident of Kien Giang Province's Kien Luong District, was apprehended Monday morning while concealing himself in Dong Nai Province, approximately 300 kilometers from the crime scene.

According to preliminary investigation, Pham Thi Hue Chi is the owner of several fishing boats at Ba Hon Port in Kien Luong District, Kien Giang, where Sang was hired a day laborer.

At 8:00 pm January 28, Sang went to Chis house to demand a cash advance in order to purchase stuffs for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday and reclaim his motorcycle, which had been used as a colleteral at a pawn shop.

Chi, on the other hand, refused to lend him more money because the suspect still owed her a substantial amount of unpaid debts.

Sang became enraged and asked for assistance from his accomplice, Huynh Kim Gia Luat, in buying a can of gasoline and a lighter.

He then poured gasoline onto Chis house and set it on fire.

Due to the large amount of oil stocked in the house in preparation for the upcoming fishing trips, the fire quickly spread to neighboring houses and then numerous fishing boats docked at Ba Hon Port.

According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the fire burned at least 11 fishing boats, damaged many properties and two temporary houses, as well as scorched three other adjacent houses.

Chi owns seven boats and a house among the damaged properties.

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The Charles A. Ray Black History Month exhibit is organized in Vietnam to spread the message about the importance of uplifting diversity in the community for national and worldwide benefits.

The exhibition, which will be open in Ho Chi Minh City until the end of February, is to honor trailblazing Black diplomats who have served in Vietnam and in the region.

The display is named for Charles A. Ray, a Black person and the first U.S. consul general in Ho Chi Minh City.

This months Black History Month events will include a diversity dialogue on fighting unconscious bias on February 16 and a closing happy hour celebration on February 28.

The message of diversity is important not only to the Black community but also to other communities such as Asians in the U.S..

"This is the first exhibit of its kind at the U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City and we hope that this is just the beginning of a wonderful and meaningful tradition, Acting Consul General Doron Bard said at the opening ceremony on January 26.

The exhibition is a compilation of knowledge about Ray and other diplomats, namely former Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Visitors are to be provided with information about inequality and challenges in Black health and wellness.

The Charles A. Ray Black History Month also recognizes the achievements of Kizzmekia Corbett and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, two African-American women leading the way in the fight against COVID-19.

Acting Consul General Doron Bard looks at information about the Black community in the United States at the Charles A. Ray Black History Month exhibition at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, January 26, 2022. Photo: Tran Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

"As we celebrate the achievements and contributions by the Black community that make the United States the nation that it is today, we also think about how far we have to go when it comes to addressing inequality and disparities within our own system, Bard said.

We are not afraid to say that we still have this path to walk because we know the distance that we have traveled.

And as a nation, we are always ready to keep working to make ourselves better."

Bintu Musa-Harry, information officer at the U.S. Consulate General, thinks it is important to initiate conversation, encourage dialogue, and work together to overcome challenges.

"It is a part of the solution we want to attend by the entire community, Musa-Harry said.

It is dialogue that we want to start and continue to have and always have together."

On the issue of discrimination against people of Asian and other communities, Musa-Harry said that dialogue about racism is not just for one community, but for everyone.

"This is not an American thing or Vietnamese thing, it's everybodys thing," she stressed.

Perhaps that is the reason why visitors were treated on January 26 to Gumbo, the famous dish first prepared by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Gumbo now becomes a feature of the diplomatic culture of America.

With no specific recipe to cook, it has a taste of familiarity with easy-to-find ingredients such as beans, vegetables, and the signature brown sauce, which is served with rice.

"It is comfort food for so many people, Musa-Harry remarked.

It reminds people of their background, their history, and their family."

Gumbo is thus considered a message of sharing and connecting people to start a dialogue.

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A 2.5-meter-tall tiger mascot statue in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province, which was created to welcome the Year of the Tiger, has captured the online community's attention due to its majestic beauty.

According to Dong Ha City Urban Environment Co. on Sunday, the city's tiger mascot statue, which was built to honor this year's zodiac animal, is being praised for its splendid and stately appearance by residents and the online community.

The tiger statue at Le Duan Park, Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre

The tiger mascot was erected on a cliff in front of Le Duan Park in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province, to enhance its natural and majestic appearance.

Thousands of people have come to take photographs of the tiger in the past two days since its presence at Le Duan Park.

Not only locals but also visitors stop at the park to admire and take pictures of this nice looking figure.

A close-up view of the tiger statue at Le Duan Park, Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre

The tiger has also gained popularity on social media, with netizens lauding it as Vietnam's most beautiful tiger mascot.

The tiger was shaped using styrofoam, then plastered with gypsum powder and finally painted with the 'lord of the jungle's' features, such as beard, teeth, and claws, to create an extremely realistic appearance.

The artisans spent 12 days completing the project.

The statue carries a message from the provincial government and locals wishing everyone a happy new lunar year.

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Home minister Mahmood Ali in the presence of Chinna Jeeyar Swami, DGP M. Mahendar Reddy and Cyberabad commissioner Stephen Ravindra inaugurates a new police station building in Shamshabad on Sunday. (DC)

Hyderabad: Home minister Mahmood Ali on Sunday inaugurated a new police station building in Shamshabad in the presence of Tridandi Sreemannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami, DGP Mahender Reddy and Cyberabad commissioner Stephen Ravindra.

The minister applauded the police department for stepping up efforts to maintain peace and security in the state.

As part of strengthening the patrolling system, around Rs 700 crore has been allocated and 28,000 posts have been filled up. Many revolutionary measures have been taken to maintain law and order in the state. Monitoring is being done by seven lakh CC cameras while 26 district police offices would be set up soon. A commissioners office has already been set up in Siddipet, he said.

He pointed out that plans were underway for a police station building and staff quarters in Shadnagar.

My Home Group chairman Jupally Rameshwar Rao, MP Ranjit Reddy, MLAs Prakash Gowd and P Mahender Reddy, and ZDP chairperson Anita Harinath Reddy were present on the occasion.
US actor Howard Hesseman best known for sitcoms WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class, has died, aged 81.

He died in Los Angeles on Saturday of complications from colon surgery, he had previously undertaken.

Agent Robbie Kass told Variety, Howard was a groundbreaking talent and lifelong friend whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his influence and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy throughout the world.

Born in Lebanon, Hesseman joined the improvisational comedy troupe The Committee in San Francisco, later working as a radio DJ, before guest roles in The Andy Griffith Show, Dragnet 1967, Soap and Sanford and Son.

With his signature long hair and handlebar moustache, he played anti-disco DJ John Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1982. Howard Hesseman won the role after being known to production company, MTM Enterprises, from his recurring guest role as Mr. Plager on MTMs The Bob Newhart Show. He was originally considered for the role of Herb Tarlek, but when he read the pilot script, he decided Johnny was the part he really wanted.

Hesseman was also well-known for a starring role as Charlie Moore on Head of the Class from 1986-1990. He also joined the long-running comedy One Day at a Time for its ninth and final season in 1982-83.

Other credits included The Rockford Files, Laverne and Shirley, Saturday Night Live, Fresh Off the Boat, Chicago Med, Mike & Molly, Psych, House, Boston Legal, That 70s Show, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, About Schmidt, This Is Spinal Tap and Halloween II.
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Mostly clear early followed by mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear early followed by mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
By Allison Brace 22

University of Dayton senior Hannah Darnell was one of two undergraduate students selected to present research at the 2021 Midwest Drosophila Conference in October at Indiana University in Bloomington. She was awarded honorable mention for her presentation.

Darnell, a biology major from Plainfield, Illinois, studied human eye development in the lab of faculty mentor Amit Singh, professor of biology, through the ISE Summer CoRPs research fellowship program.

Darnell was accepted into the ISE Summer CoRPs for the 2021 summer term and worked on Singhs team full-time outside of the traditional academic year.

She presented her research at the conference via Zoom. She also plans to present it at the Universitys Stander Symposium and the annual Drosophila Conference organized by Genetics Society of America (GSA) in San Diego in April.

Working with graduate and undergraduate researchers, Darnell spent the last year testing genetic eye development factors during various stages of a fruit flys 12-day lifespan to find the cause of a birth defect in the human eye known as small eye syndrome.

Scientists use fruit flies to model human diseases at the cellular and molecular levels because they share the same genetic machinery. The flys entire life cycle is just 12 days, which allows researchers to study the transmission of hereditary traits and investigate the genetics of disease across at least 24 generations in a year.

I first learned about Dr. Singhs work through applying for the Integrative Sciences and Engineering (ISE) CoRPs Summer Fellowship, Darnell said. I have always had an interest in human development, so Dr. Singhs research naturally piqued my interest. I applied and was accepted into the fellowship program for the summer of 2020, however, the program was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I then reached out to Dr. Singh and began doing some work in his Drosophila Development and Disease lab during the 2020-2021 school year in preparation to reapply for the ISE fellowship for the summer of 2021.

In August 2021, Singh and biology professor Madhuri Kango-Singh were awarded a $1.6 million National Institutes of Health grant to study how genes regulate three-dimensional patterning and growth during early eye development to understand the genetic basis of childhood retinal diseases and birth defects in the human eye.

The ISE Summer CoRPs program offers a 10-week immersive STEM research experience for undergraduates in a variety of disciplines. The program provides student accommodations including housing and a stipend for the duration of the experiential learning opportunity.

When Darnell began volunteering in the lab in fall 2021, she shadowed graduate assistant Anuradha Chimata Venkatakrishnan to better understand the scope of the project. She also spent time watching videos and reading about the different techniques that she would soon be using to do her own experiments in the lab.

When I began working in Dr. Singhs lab I had no knowledge or understanding of any of the functions of the lab, especially relating to the flies,'' Darnell said. I am so thankful to Anuradha for willingly taking time away from her own experiments to help make sure that I understood and was able to successfully run experiments on my own.

The project is funded by a National Institute of Health (NIH) grant led by Singh. He works alongside co-principal investigator Kango-Singh, director of the graduate program in biology.

Their goal is to gain better insights into eye formation, including birth defects associated with a particular transcription factor  a protein involved in controlling expression of other genes.

Hannah is working on understanding how a transcriptional pausing factor, Motif 1 Binding Protein (M1BP), regulates eye development using a Drosophila melanogaster eye, Singh said, using the Latin term for fruit fly. These studies have significant bearings on human eye development. Hannah is looking at the highly conserved JNK signaling pathway to see how the altering of M1BP, gene suppression, can change eye development in both flies and humans.

Both Singh and Chimata Venkatakrishnan acted as mentors throughout the fellowship, meeting weekly to talk through research, answer questions and offer support throughout the program. Mathematical modeling and statistical analysis support was provided by Muhammad Usman, professor of mathematics.

Darnell was also supported by a cohort of other students and multidisciplinary faculty teams throughout her fellowship. As a part of the program, undergraduate students from different research disciplines met weekly with Doug Daniels, chemistry professor and executive director Integrative Science and Engineering Center, and other workshop facilitators. The students engaged in professional development exercises that covered topics such as interviewing, scholarships and presenting their work. At the end of the summer, the fellows had the opportunity to present their research to a panel of peers and faculty.

I am impressed every year by the amount the CoRPs students learn, grow and achieve over the course of one summer, Daniels said. These undergraduate researchers, many of whom have never conducted independent research before, make significant progress on authentic STEM research challenges with multidisciplinary faculty teams. With substantial programming on scientific communication facilitated by subject matter experts, the students also become adept at conveying their motivation, goals and accomplishments to a range of audiences in a matter of weeks.

Darnells research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal among other research around fruit flies and human eye development.

For me, this experience has opened my eyes to a passion for research I hadnt known I had beforehand and wouldnt have found without being given the opportunity to be involved in this lab, Darnell said. Additionally, the research base that I have gained through my work in Dr. Singhs lab will help me to excel in my future education, as well as in future research in the field of genetics and human development.

Darnell plans to attend graduate school for reproductive medicine and later become an embryologist working in a fertility laboratory.

Hannah is truly passionate about biology and helping others in her community, Singh said. This opportunity of performing research in a lab will help her achieve her goal of doing biomedical research in future.

For more information, visit the Department of Biology and the Integrative Science and Engineering Center websites.
The Supreme Court of Liberia handed down two-year prison sentences to former defence chief Brownie Samukai along with deputies Joseph Johnson and James Nyuman Ndokor after they failed to return one million euros worth of stolen money from a government pension account.

Samukai, who was in court as the ruling was being read on Thursday, fled the building before he was taken to jail.

Accroding to Marvin Sackor, Liberian Deputy Inspector General for Operations: We are working with our counterparts, the National Security Agency, to get a clear understanding about the whereabouts of Samukai."

The funds were stolen from the Armed Forces of Liberia pension account during the mandate of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, when Samukai headed the defense ministry.

The three men were ordered by the court to pay a total of 500,000 within six months, but failed to do so.

Gross violation

The Supreme Courts Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh said the convicts will remain in prison until the balance amount is paid in full, with an interest rate of 20 per month, for what she termed a gross violation.

The three were found guilty of theft of property, criminal conspiracy, and misuse of public money among others for embezzlement from the Army's compulsory savings account.

The ruling means Samukai will not be allowed to serve as Senator of Lofa County.

Brownie Samukai, a staunch critic of incumbent President George Weah and a stalwart of the former ruling Unity Party, was elected during the 2020 midterm Senate election but was barred from taking his seat after he was found guilty of raiding the Army coffers.

Positive ruling for soldiers

Soldiers whose money was stolen by the three former officials have welcomed the court ruling.

The money was forcefully deducted from us monthly; surprisingly we heard the account was empty, says soldier James Wilson*.

I am happy, but I think their properties should be seized. We need the money, Wilson told RFI via telephone from the Edward Binyan Kessely Military Barracks in Monrovia.

Story continues

Samukai supporters say ruling politcally motivated

Supporters of Samukai have described the courts ruling as a plot against the senator-elect.

This is purely political! The people of Lofa are under-represented because our senator-elect has been prevented from taking his seat even though he's already paid some of the money, exclaimed Lofa resident Yanquoi Flomuku.

This refers to a payment made on Thursday of 170,000 in three separate checks, prior to the judgement.

But the court maintains as the three were convicted together, they must return the funds together.

Others insist that President George Weah and his Congress for Democratic Change party influenced the courts ruling. They maintain he also has plans for political opponents such as politician Alexander Cummings of Alternative National Congress (ANC).

Just as they used the court to keep Brownie Samukai out of the Liberian Senate, the Congress for Democratic Change intends to use the slanderous but baseless case of fraud to keep Alexander B. Cummings off the ballot paper, says Menipakei Dumoe, an ANC political activist.

However, Adolphus N.S. Weah, an independent political analyst who doubles as Chairman of the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions (CEIO) disagrees.

He says the case is purely legal, describing the ruling as a boost against corruption.

I dont see any witch hunt here, says Weah.

It sends out a bad picture for someone to illegally take away resources belonging to servicemen so we should all support the court clampdown on corruption, he told RFI in Monrovia.

While court's search for the three culprits took two years, many see the ruling as a new day in Liberia's fight against corruption.

*names have been changed
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to visit the Caribbean credit:Bang Showbiz

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to tour the Caribbean in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

The couple are set to mark the monarch's 70 years on the throne by taking a trip that would have "a focus on ecological issues", with Belize - where the queen is head of state - likely to be among their stops.

Representatives for Prince William, who once trained with the Welsh Guards in Belize, and his wife Catherine were seen last week on the Central American nation's island Ambergris Caye in what was described as an "advance party" ahead of an official visit in the spring.

A source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "Their people were very secretive and kept saying this had to be kept very quiet, but on a small island like Ambergris Caye it's impossible to keep anything quiet for very long.

"They were talking about a four-day visit to Belize in March as part of a longer trip to this part of the world. They said William and Kate might visit the Caye and also go to mainland Belize. It's all anyone here is talking about. We are so excited."

Last year, Belize's Prime Minister John Briceno refused to rule out his nation following Barbados in removing the queen as head of state.

He said: "We need to find what fits Belize best."

Prince Harry was the last high-profile royal visitor to the nation, taking a trip in 2012 to mark the queen's Diamond Jubilee.

It is likely the Belize trip for William and Catherine - who have children Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and two-year-old Prince Louis together - will form part of a bigger Caribbean tour of other Commonwealth nations such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Mumbai: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Sunday alleged that Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's family is having partnership in a wine company of a big industrialist. Because of this, Mr Raut is supporting the decision of 'sale of wine' in supermarkets, he said.

Speaking with the reporters on Sunday, Mr. Somaiya said that both daughters of Mr Raut have a partnership in Ashok Garg's Magpie group.

The BJP leader alleged that in order to serve the interests of Mr. Raut, the state cabinet has approved the sale of wine in supermarkets and grocery shops. "To benefit Mr. Raut, the state government has changed the policy and allowed wine to be sold in supermarkets," Mr. Somaiya said.

The Raut family had signed a partnership agreement on April 16, 2021 for the business with Mr Garg's Magpie Group, Mr Somaiya said.

"Post this, Mr Raut's daughter Vidhita and Purvshi became partners in the Magpie DFS PVT LTD. Thereafter Magpie Company wrote a letter to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs of the Central government on January 12, 2022, stating that its main business is wine distribution. Subsequently, the state cabinet on 27 January 2022 decided to allow the sale of wine in supermarkets and grocery stores. Magpie Company distributes wine to five-star hotels in big cities including Mumbai and Pune," he added.

Rebutting the BJP leader's allegations, Mr.Raut said, "If my family has wineries, I am ready to give it to him (Mr.Somaiya)."

The Sena leader said that Ashok Garg is his friend and being a director in the company is not an offence.
Food distribution times, sites

The Central Texas mobile food pantry will distribute free food this week. The distribution will include a variety of fresh and staple foods. Distribution sites and times are:

Wednesday  10 to 11 a.m., Veterans Affairs clinic, 4800 Memorial Drive; 10 to 11 a.m., Word of Life Family Worship Center, 193 LCR 412, Groesbeck.

Friday  10 to 11 a.m., First United Methodist Church of Mart, 701 E. Texas Ave.; 10 to 11 a.m., Kosse Community Center, 200 W. Adams St.

For more information, call 512-684-2509.

Medicare information session

An information session on Medicare will take place Feb. 17 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Area Agency on Aging, 1514 S. New Road.

Anyone with questions about the federal program is encouraged to attend.

Robertson DRT meets

The Sterling C. Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of Republic of Texas meets at 1 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church downtown campus, 1300 Austin Ave.

Call 254-855-8151 for more information.

Vaccination clinics set

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District is hosting free COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week. All vaccines will be available. Parents or a consenting adult must accompany minor children to receive the vaccine. Walk-ins are welcome, and registration is available for a scheduled appointment at covidwaco.com.

All clinics are open to the public. The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday  La Vega High School Cafeteria, 555 N. Loop 340, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday  Pilgrims Pride, 2500 E. Lake Shore Drive, 1 to 5 p.m.; Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 1624 Wooded Acres Drive, 9 a.m. to noon; South Waco Elementary School, 2104 Gurley Lane, 4 to 7 p.m.

Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com.
WATERLOO  Jared Smith, a former East High assistant principal, has been named Waterloo Community Schools next superintendent.

His hiring will become official upon approval at the regularly scheduled Feb. 14 Board of Education meeting.

Smith, 39, grew up in Waterloo and has been superintendent since 2018 of the South Tama County Community Schools, which has about 1,500 students. The districts ethnic and racial diversity is similar to the 10,100-student Waterloo Schools.

Im excited to return home one more time to lead your amazing school district, he said in a video released Monday by Waterloo Schools. Whether youre an employee, student, parent or community member please know that I will make the time to listen and to understand your perspective so we can create an amazing learning experience for our children.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Smith to our district community as our next superintendent, board president Sue Flynn said in a news release. Dr. Smith has proven himself to be an ambitious and passionate educational leader who focuses on engaging with families, recruiting exceptional teachers and staff, and promoting communities of care for students. He is also a thought leader in the field (of) education, and someone other school leaders look to for guidance and expertise.

According to the news release, in South Tama County Schools Smith has focused on creating positive work environments for employees, resulting in increased staff culture and climate scores four years in a row. He has also authored a book, written a number of articles and delivered several presentations on various issues related to educational leadership.

In addition, Smith has helped to make South Tama a top district in the state for community engagement via social media.

We actually track our metrics, he told The Courier in an interview last week. In comparison to school systems across the state, were constantly at the top or near the top of all the large districts when it comes to the number of people viewing its social media posts. Were relentless about sharing our story.

Waterloo does a pretty good job of that, he added. Thats definitely something I would continue to monitor and take it up another level if possible.

We look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on the Waterloo Community Schools moving forward, Flynn said in the news release. We truly feel like he will be a champion for our district.

Smith was one of four finalists vying to lead the district. Others included Darren Hanna, superintendent of Emmetsburg Community Schools; Stephanie Jones, Chicago Public Schools chief officer in the office of diverse learner supports and services; and Amy Kortemeyer, deputy superintendent of educational services in the Iowa City Community Schools.

Under Smiths leadership, South Tama achieved Iowas second-best four-year graduation rate for districts with a minority population of 40% or greater, the news release said. The district has also been recognized by several state and national organizations for its innovative education practices and has created eight new staff positions to focus on students social-emotional needs in recent years.

In both South Tama and Waterloo, white students are the largest group enrolled but they dont make up the majority, according to online Iowa Department of Education data.

South Tama, with 53.7% non-white students, had a graduation rate of 90.91% in 2020, 91.5% in 2019 and 95.12% in 2018. Waterloo graduated 85.77% of its seniors in 2020, 82.91% in 2019 and 84.24% in 2018. Students who are not white make up 55.5% of the districts enrollment.

Smith is a 2000 graduate of Waterloo West High School. He previously served as principal of Muscatine High School after his time at East High School from 2012 to 2016.

He started his career in 2004 as a teacher in Sarasota, Fla., and then went on to teach in the Chicago Public Schools. Smith returned to Iowa in 2008, working as an administrator for Fort Dodge Community Schools.

He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Iowa State University, a masters degree in educational leadership from National Louis University and a bachelors degree from the University of Northern Iowa.

Having lived in Waterloo for most of my life, I am highly motivated to see our students succeed, Smith said in the video. I love when I see Waterloo students thrive in the classroom, on the field, on the stage and in life.

In comments from his application included in the news release, Smith wrote: Like many Waterloo students, I didnt have things easy growing up, and I find great motivation in leading a school system where the main focus is helping students overcome unique challenges. I am also motivated to make the Waterloo Community Schools a wonderful place for employees.

We have placed a huge emphasis on the culture and climate at South Tama County, and are committed to ensuring our employees enjoy coming to work, he added. The idea that I could bring this same energy and enthusiasm around workplace morale to Waterloo is a very exciting idea, and a challenge that gets me up in the morning.

The board has been working with Grundmeyer Leader Services of Ankeny to conduct the search for the next superintendent. The process has included a community-wide survey, asking district residents to provide their input on the qualities and characteristics they would like to see in the districts new leader. The search consultants also held focus group meetings as they established desired qualifications for the position.

The board interviewed finalists Thursday following an earlier round of interviews with a larger pool of candidates Jan. 19. After meeting in closed session, the board voted 6-0 with one abstention to extend a contract offer to Smith. Board member Stacie Mills abstained.

In an interview, Flynn said Mills just needed more time to absorb all of the information before making a decision.

Although Smith has verbally accepted the new position, he is still reviewing the terms of the contract, Flynn said. Smith didnt return a phone call seeking comment before press time.

The contract is effective July 1, when current Superintendent Jane Lindaman retires. The two leaders may have some opportunities to work together before during a transition to the new superintendent.

Dr. Lindaman has offered to assist Dr. Smith in any way possible, said Flynn.

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CEDAR FALLS  There is little concern any proposed state legislation of interest to the city of Cedar Falls poses a significant threat to its local government.

The City Council and its staff were joined by its contracted public policy advocates Tom Cope and Jon Murphy of Cope Murphy + Co. and three state legislators representing different parts of the Cedar Falls-Waterloo region for an hour-long meeting Friday afternoon at the Public Safety Building.

They discussed bills under consideration during the 2022 legislative session and learned why lobbyists are watching some closely. Most, if not all, have yet to make it out of committee.

Councilors Dave Sires, Susan deBuhr and Daryl Kruse were absent.

Frankly, its been so far, said Cope as he knocked on the table, a pretty decent start of the session from a local governments standpoint. Were three weeks in.

You shouldnt have said that, quipped Murphy, as Councilor Simon Harding chimed in: Its not real wood.

Cope said clearly the top issue is Gov. Kim Reynolds proposal for reducing the state income tax.

Variations on the proposal have come from Reynolds staff, as well as the House of Representations (House Study Bill 551) and Senate (Senate Study Bill 3044). But Cope said the Senates version is the only one touching local government in any way. It appears to have a very neutral impact on local government, despite the proposal doing away with the local option sales tax.

When we say the state is going to do something and its neutral, thats pretty rare because typically what they do to local governments is not neutral, said Cope.

Were always nervous and always very cautious because it tends to move in the wrong direction, he added.

Cope also pointed to House File 2082 and its proposal for tax increment financing, which is an economic development tool utilized by the city.

But, according to Cope, the proposed legislation doesnt impact cities all that much because it only pertains to wind energy projects. Concern would arise if it were expanded to include projects involving the city.

Another bill, House File 849, affects Slum and Blight TIF Districts, of which the city has two. It would put a 20-year cap on their effectiveness, and raises concern for Cope if a project were to need more time, beyond whats proposed, to generate the desired economic activity.

Also being watched by Copes team is House File 683, a local control bill which would restrict the citys ability to determine the structure of its public safety agency. Another is House Study Bill 536, which makes an argument that building and development is too overly regulated, and we need to roll back some (storm water) regulations, Cope said.

Public record costs was the last topic on Copes list. He brought up two bills, House File 786 and Senate File 480, which prohibit local governments from charging for legal costs associated with the collection and release of records.

Its a tough bill because you have those public records advocates who are pushing for this, and believe this is an open government type of thing. But frankly, its important for us to be able to recoup that cost, Cope said.

Waverly ordinance permitting UTVs on local roads to come before City Council next month The police chief voiced concerns about the possibility in a memo to councilors, but several UTV operators have been said by the elected leaders to be pushing for the opportunity.

Before Cope and his partner gave their presentation, Sen. Eric Giddens (D-30), as well as state Reps. Bob Kressig (D-59) and Dave Williams (D-60) gave brief updates on where their attention lies at the moment in Des Moines.

For Williams, one example is in cybersecurity.

We might be headed for some legislation that would act as a strong incentive for local governments and the county to make sure they have a good cybersecurity plan, he said.

Kressig noted the focus on mental health services, especially for young school students, in light of Iowa ranking near the bottom in terms of what it is offered statewide.

It sounds like some things are taking place in the Legislature to improve that, although Id use the term baby steps, he said.

Giddens noted his work to support policy that impacts Cedar Falls Utilities, as well as public education and state schools, like the University of Northern Iowa.

Its very important that we fight hard for UNI for adequate funding, to try to help us stop the decline in enrollment, he said. We have a strong freshman class coming in right now, although when we look at the four-year picture, things arent looking great in terms of overall enrollment. But if we can continue bringing in strong freshman classes like we did this year and support that through adequate state appropriation, we can keep tuition in check, and I think we could get back on a better path for UNI.

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CEDAR FALLS  Part of a discussion Friday at the Public Safety Building between the City Council and state legislators offered a snapshot into an initiative Councilor Kelly Dunn proposed at the end of 2021.

When talks shifted to the advantages of the city and the University of Northern Iowa collaborating in backing certain state legislation, Councilor Gil Schultz noted, We would like to have, as a city, a bolstered relationship with UNI.

In stepped Dunn, who said the communication between the city and UNI always has room for improvement. On Dec. 20, she requested a work session with university officials, having not been aware of such a meeting haven taken place since she took office in August 2020.

I remember knocking on doors one time, and an older gentleman came to the door and he started complaining to me about all the money we give to UNI, said state Rep. Bob Kressig (D-59). I looked at him, and said, Well, you know what sir, why dont you work to close the school. He said, Well I cant do that. I said, Well, if you do, I just want to let you know that your property values are going to drop like a cannon ball.

(UNI is) an economic engine in this community. Its a big deal. You wouldnt believe how we have to convince people about that down there.

At the December meeting, Dunn requested university officials talk to the council about their economic development priorities.

The council unanimously supported Dunns motion. She believes the city should be collaborating with one of its more important community stakeholders and largest employer. She never shies away from pointing out the impact of the workforce shortage on the local economy.

Consensus also was reached to have university officials collaborate with councilors generally on issues of mutual concern during the upcoming legislative session.

That session has yet to be scheduled.

I feel we get a lot of information about UNI from hearsay and social media, and we may not always know whats going on, said Dunn in a telephone interview. It will be nice to sit down face to face and learn more about where theyre at on certain things.

She made clear that her motion wasnt discounting anything already happening between UNI and its city staff.

Dunn feels it would be beneficial to learn more the about citys role, if any, in decisions such as whether the Honors Cottage and the Alumni House should be demolished or preserved.

I dont pretend to know everything, and I feel thats an important quality for a leader to have, she said. Is there anything we as city leaders should know about UNI?

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HYDERABAD: BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the Dharani portal was full of bugs but the Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao did not bother to rectify.

He said the Dharani portal had served the purpose of the Chief Minister in alienating disputed lands in his favour. Sanjay Kumar was addressing a roundtable meeting organised at the party office on Sunday over the glitches being faced by the Dharani portal.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP leader Dharam Guruva Reddy said the Land Records Updation and Purification project (LURP), which was funded by the Central government under the Digital India initiative, was changed into the Dharani project by the state government.

He alleged that the state did not conduct any new land survey. It just uploaded the land project data which was already available. He alleged that the Dharani portal was launched without testing the software and its efficacy. The revenue officials did not update the category-wise details of errors in the newly issued and unissued land patta passbooks and pending Aadhaar seeding, he said adding that mistakes and photo mismatch cases on the portal were complicating the ownership details of lands. Gummiraj Kumar Reddy and Manne Narasimha Reddy who were fighting for the permanent rights to assigned lands said while the state had 24 lakh acres of assigned lands, about 14 lakhs families were cultivating the lands.

The majority of them belonged to the scheduled tribes and backward communities in the state, they said, and reminded that those who were in possession of assigned lands prior to 1958 had permanent rights over the lands.

Senior advocate Gopal who spoke on challenges faced by landowners said revenue laws in the state had several loopholes. He said the Dharani portal did not contain details about the type of lands whether they were podu lands or others. Dharani was designed to help corporate houses to acquire vast tracts of land. He said it was unfortunate that even the district collector or joint collector did not have any powers on the Dharani portal. He said a petition was being filed in High Court challenging the Pattadar Pass Book Act.

Some farmers who spoke at the roundtable meeting said the Dharani portal was displaying old landlords' names only, even though they had sold their lands. Buyers were facing problems in getting the lands transferred to their names. 20 lakh pattadars were facing issues without passbooks. They demanded that the BJP fight faulty acts and Dharani portal problems in the state.

Retired deputy collector Ram Gopal said village revenue administration had been rendered useless with the removal of patel and patwari systems. No one had any grip on the land records maintenance and administration, he lamented.
SIOUX CENTER -- 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 dollars.

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.

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Hopefully, my readers are familiar with the method of assessing the state of the human psyche in a situation of accepting the inevitable? As I have said many times, A country is like an individual human in its emotions and reactions. For humans run countries and humans make the emotional reactions behind the countries moods

The stages are and basically just five: (Yet some say eight stages and some say even just three stages? I say at least five) Stage 1  Denial;

Stage 2  Anger;

Stage 3  Bargaining;

Stage 4  Depression;

Stage 5  Acceptance.

If we project this method onto the current situation in the world, then the inevitable is the loss of the status of the world hegemonic situation by the West and the emergence of leading positions in the unification of non-European countries of the Eurasian space: Russia, China, India, Iran and their allies

The US is already entering haphazardly into the Bargaining stage. This is evidenced by the secrecy stamp on the written Answers of the United States and NATO and a request not to publicly disclose their content. And their numerous Western European partners (cronies), who do not have any subjectivity in world politics, naturally lag behind and are at the Anger stage, which is what we observe in the rhetoric of their politicians

We witness the desire to cut off ones own head in the Gaz/Gas situation in Europe. The deniable of the inevitable at hate spewed at China and Russia. The turning inwards and thinking that they can reverse the process by doing the opposite of what they themselves promoted over all these years, e.g. like open competitive commerce world wide!

We saw the Green Shoots of denial many years ago, we have watched the anger attacks on CEOs and companies of China and the anger/blame and sanction attacks on Russia/Iran and many more, now you are seeing cronies scared in Europe and the USA writing secrete letters of love/and lies to Russia

Luckily, there arent too many steps left before the Acceptance stage

God help us at the depression stage!

Will we get to acceptance stage unscathed?

Lets hope so

WtR
Gorgeous beauty, Malavika Mohanan, who is more of a mountain person, has been enjoying the crystal clear Ocean on her vacation to the Maldives.

The Master actress recently flew to the Maldives to enjoy nature. The sizzling beauty has been setting up the internet on fire by sharing her vacation pics.

Also, she shared some pics in a white dress and a video of her going on a cruise. Fans have been astonished by her killer looks in the latest images.

To talk about her movies, the actress starrer Maaran, featuring Dhanush in the lead role, is ready to release on Disney Plus Hotstar in February.

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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. &&
Alamy

During the pandemic, people living and working at home 24/7 have had more than enough time to take note of imperfections or out-of-date features in their houses. At an unprecedented rate, many Americans dove in on DIY projects or worked with professional remodeling contractors to freshen and fancify their spaces, both inside and out.



Before you join the remodeling boom, take time to research and evaluate where your redesign budget can pack the most punch. Choose upgrades where youll see the most return on your investment  both now and in the future.

How can you tell which projects are more likely to add real, lasting value to your home? A lot of it is about making smart choices, home experts say.

If youre looking to remodel to boost your homes selling price, choose finishes, colors and styles that are timeless. Opt for materials that have wide appeal. And dont get caught up in passing fads and be sure to prioritize lasting value.

You have to be wary about doing things that are too taste-specific, says Herman Chan, a top-ranked Realtor and associate broker with Golden Gate Sothebys in San Francisco. Always think about how a project might appeal to people on the open market in the long run.

Ready to make some upgrades but not sure where to start? Here are 23 projects that typically offer a great return on your investment. When done well, these projects will help boost your homes overall appraisal value  and theyll give you a lovely, freshened-up space to enjoy today and beyond.
It is true that many people in midlife  roughly defined as ages 40 to 60 or so  are stressed out, and for good reason, says David Almeida, a professor of human development and family studies at Penn State University. Midlife is a time of life where you're responsible for a lot of people, and people are relying on you, he notes. That pivotal position in the world  in families, workplaces and the community  is the reason midlife can sometimes feel like a daily crisis."

And right now, as the world continues to reel from the pandemic, Almeida says, midlife demands are on steroids.

A brief history of the midlife crisis

The term midlife crisis was born in 1965, when Canadian psychoanalyst Elliott Jaques published an academic paper called Death and the Mid-Life Crisis. In it, he wrote, At age 35 the individual has reached the summit of life and sees a declining path before him, with death at its end. This results in a crisis, stronger in some than others.  It is a period of anguish and depression.

The idea that midlife is a time of a crisis was popularized in the mid-1970s by Gail Sheehys book Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life. From there, the concept took root in popular culture  think Dudley Moore chasing a young Bo Derek in 1979s 10.

Solid research on midlife well-being was slower to emerge. But when it did, early results painted a rosier picture. People at midlife were stable or gaining in life satisfaction, according to The Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, which started publishing findings in 1999 from an initial survey of more than 7,000 people. Subsequent MIDUS reports and other studies that have followed people over time have yet to find convincing evidence that contentment drops between early adulthood and midlife, says Margie Lachman, a professor of psychology at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

Other kinds of studies, mostly from economists, paint a darker picture. These studies, which ask people of different ages to rate their life satisfaction or happiness, often on a 10-point scale, repeatedly find a distinctive pattern: Midlife adults in multiple countries report lower well-being than either younger or older adults, creating a so-called U-shaped curve in happiness.

The evidence is completely overpowering.  Its not even worth debating anymore, says David Blanchflower, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College. Blanchflower pinpoints the low point of adult happiness at about age 48.

And yet the debate continues. In a recent critique, Lachman and colleagues say evidence of the U-shaped curve is not as robust as proponents claim. For example, they say, different studies find the low point at different ages, ranging from the 30s to as old as 70.

Even if the midlife dip is real, it does not mean that all midlifers, or even average midlifers, are depressed or in crisis, Lachman points out. This kind of makes people nervous about getting older and unnecessarily worried about how bad midlife is going to be.

The stress factor: Getting worse?

In her book Did I Say That Out Loud: Midlife Indignities and How to Survive Them, Kristin van Ogtrop lists 31 reasons a midlife person might have trouble sleeping. They include children, spouses, parents, anxiety, depression, climate change, the news and free-form despair.

Van Ogtrop, 57, a former magazine editor turned literary agent who lives in Westchester County, New York, says that when she finds herself awake these days at 3 a.m., she has to ask herself, Is that midlife? Is that hormones? The pandemic?

Psychologists say its too soon to say which age group has been hit hardest by pandemic stress, but some initial surveys suggest that teens and young adults are struggling the most. The American Psychological Association's October 2021 report "Stress in America" found that 79 percent of adults from Generation Z (born in 1997 or later) reported having "experienced behavior changes in the past month as a result of stress." That compares with just 37 percent of Boomers.

In data collected before the pandemic, though, Penn State's Almeida found that midlife stress was already dramatically higher for today's midlifers than it was for previous generations at midlife  and theres every reason, he says, to think its gotten worse. In his study, people ages 45 to 64 in 2012 reported nearly 20 percent more stressful days than people the same age reported in 1995.

While younger adults were significantly more stressed than midlifers in the earlier survey, the two groups were equally stressed in the later round, Almeida says. He surmises that fallout from the Great Recession of 20072009 may have hit midlifers especially hard because of their pivotal roles in families and at work. The same thing could be happening during the pandemic, he says, as midlifers try to manage all the disruptions befalling their children, their aging parents and their workplaces. Hes analyzing new data to find out.

Theres other evidence that recent decades have been hard on some midlife Americans. Most notably, researchers have found that deaths of despair, from suicides, drugs and alcohol, have spiked among middle-aged white people, especially those with little education.

There are a lot of people who do suffer in midlife, Lachman says. But, she adds, its also true that many people consider midlife the prime of life.

Midlife change can be a good thing

Douglas LaBier, a business psychologist and psychoanalyst in Washington, D.C., says he sees many midlife patients who make productive changes in their lives. Some, he says, fit the old crisis stereotype: Struggling with unresolved pasts and uncertain futures, they escape through something that looks momentarily pleasurable  the new car, the trophy wife, drinking or drugs.

But many more people, he says, make positive changes as they start to feel a kind of longing for other dimensions of [themselves]. For one person that might mean changing careers; for another it might mean taking up woodworking. Some people get divorces that leave them happier; others find new ways to connect with spouses or partners.

Thats what happened with Earnheardt when he and his wife, both professors at Youngstown State University, found themselves enjoying date nights at home  featuring chocolate fondue and karaoke  organized by their children during the early months of the pandemic. It just snapped in me that this is what I need, this is what Ive been craving, he says. He adds that the realization has inspired him to rebalance his life to put family first.

Van Ogtrop has also done some midlife rebalancing, starting with quitting her job as editor in chief of Real Simple magazine several years ago. She quit, she says, amid deep dissatisfaction with a job that was increasingly about firing people to deal with shrinking budgets. Its hard to start a new career in your 50s, she notes, but in her case its been worthwhile.

In her book, van Ogtrop writes about other midlife hardships and annoyances, including root canals, colonoscopies, arm fat and not knowing how to use your smart phone as smartly as your kids do.

And yet, she says, shed take her 50s over her unsettled 20s any day. While everyone has really different life circumstances, she notes, her own midlife is good: With every year, Im more grateful. Im more grateful for the days I wake up and nothing hurts.

Kim Painter is a contributing writer who specializes in health and psychology. She frequently writes for AARP's Staying Sharp and previously worked as a health reporter and columnist at USA Today.
A bipartisan group of governors told President Joe Biden Monday that the country needs to "move away from the pandemic." Shoppers, in this image, wear masks in an indoor mall on December 13, 2021 in New York City.
Yemeni pro-government fighters from the UAE-trained Giants Brigade, gather on the outskirts of Ataq city, on their way to the frontline facing pro-Iran Huthi fighters, on January 28, 2022. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP)

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates said Monday it shot down a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Huthi rebels, in the third such incident this month, as Israel's president visited the country.

The defence ministry of the UAE, part of a Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Iran-backed rebels, said there were no casualties in the early morning attack.

"Air defence forces... intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Huthi terrorist group at the UAE," the ministry said, according to the official WAM news agency.

It said fragments of debris fell "outside of populated areas", without giving further details.

The ministry said it responded to the attack by destroying the missile launch site in Yemen's northern Al-Jawf region.

It also released black-and-white footage of the explosion and plumes of black smoke.

Monday's attack marks the third since a drone and missile assault that killed three oil workers on January 17. A second that was intercepted was fired at the UAE a week later.

The January 17 attack was the first deadly one on the UAE claimed by the Huthis, who have also vowed to keep up their assaults.

The latest attack took place as Isaac Herzog made the first ever visit to the UAE by an Israeli president since the two countries normalised ties in 2020.

However, a statement from his office on Monday said that he will "continue his visit as planned".

The Iran-backed Huthis began targeting UAE interests after a series of defeats on the ground in Yemen, inflicted by the UAE-trained Giants Brigade militia.

In early January, the rebels seized a UAE-flagged ship in the Red Sea, saying it was carrying weapons -- a claim denied by the Emirates.

Warning of more attacks

Rebel military spokesman Yahya Saree will announce details of a "large-scale military operation" targeting the UAE later on Monday, a Huthi statement said.

Saree "warned foreign companies, citizens and residents in the UAE that they would not hesitate to expand the targets to include more important sites and facilities", it added.

The United States denounced the latest attack.

"We condemn the latest Houthi missile attack on Abu Dhabi. While Israel's president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Huthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians," State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted.

The UAE's defence ministry said it blew up the launch site at 12:50 am UAE time (2050 GMT), exactly 30 minutes after the missile was intercepted.

The Emirates affirms its "full readiness to deal with any threats" and will "take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks", it added.

The UAE authorities said that the incident had no impact on air traffic, with flight operations proceeding normally.

And they have vowed that Huthi attacks will not become a "new normal" for the wealthy Gulf country, a trade, business and tourism hub and a major oil exporter.

"This is not going to be the new normal for the UAE," a senior Emirati official told AFP last week, on condition of anonymity.

"We refuse to acquiesce to the threat of Huthi terror that targets our people and way of life," the official added.

In 2019, the UAE withdrew its troops from Yemen but remains an influential player. It also hosts American troops and is one of the world's biggest arms buyers.

Yemen's civil war began in 2014 when the Huthis seized the capital Sanaa, prompting Saudi-led forces to intervene to prop up the government the following year.

The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people directly or indirectly and left millions on the brink of famine, according to the UN which calls it the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe.


Quarterly Activities Report

Sydney, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Directors of GoConnect Limited ( NSX:GO8 ) provide the following report for the quarter ended 31 December 2021.During the December 2021 quarter, GO8 worked closely with its legal advisor and the NSX to achieve the listing of the company's shares on the NSX. After over 5 years of absence in the trading of the company's shares on the Australian stock exchange, GO8 was officially approved to list its shares on the NSX as an investment company on 31 December 2021. The NSX listing has assisted the company to complete a critical step to be established as a strategic investment company. Growth in enterprise value of GO8 in the next 12 months is expected be organic though management will continue to look for M&A opportunities to add to growth. Since commencement of trading on the NSX on 5 January 2022, GO8 shares have traded well in terms of liquidity and market depth with support from a number of brokers.Together with its 43.8% owned associate Go Green Holdings Ltd (GGH), which GO8 co-founded in late 2015, the Group actively manages and operates a number of high growth businesses and investments. These include plant based meat sales and marketing (wholly owned by GGH), antiviral and anti-inflammatory drug development for treatment of Covid-19 via Covirix Medical Pty Ltd (about 25% owned by GGH), GGH's celebrity product endorsement and representation, crypto investment via the Group's holding in Zucoins (40,000 Zucoins owned by GGH directly, and 80,000 Zucoins owned by Covirix Medical), and development of Augmented Reality Hologram Chat technology (80% owned by GGH), a unique communication platform being developed for the Metaverse. Each of these businesses and investments has significant growth prospects and can be expected to generate substantial enterprise value for GO8 and GGH. Currently GO8 is the only listed entity within the Group sitting at the top of the Group corporate structure. The Group is nevertheless planning to seek separate listing for Covirix Medical and the plant based meat sales and marketing business during 2022.Business development at Covirix Medical has been intense in the past 2 years. The spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant since the December 2021 quarter has given the Covirix Medical team an even greater sense of urgency to deliver. Covirix Medical has discovered a class of antiviral drugs that have shown effectiveness against all variants of SARS CoV-2 due to their particular mechanism of action. The positive results are based on a series of virology tests initiated by the company in the past 12 months. Provisional patents have been filed for 12 drug candidates. Human clinical trials have been planned to take place in Nepal and India in the coming months.Covirix Medical has entered into a sole distribution agency agreement for Australia and New Zealand for a US company that specializes in diagnostic solutions including Covid PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs). The RAT has already received the EC marking from the EU regulator. Covirix Medical is currently in discussion with a number of parties to conduct significant sales to the Australian Federal and state governments, the private sector, as well as online sales. Upon success, particularly with the Australian government Covid testing strategy recently including RATs, Covirix Medical may well be able to generate cash flow from RAT sales much earlier than previously anticipated. Australian demand for RATs is likely to remain strong at least for the next 12 months. To cover the population of Australia with one RAT per person per week will require supply of over 1.35 billion RATs. Reported supply secured to date by the various Australian governments is only a fraction of this expected demand. Covirix Medical can secure significant quantity of RATs for Australia in the near term from its US supplier.The financial management policy of GO8 is to achieve a debt free balance sheet within the next 12 months. GO8 currently holds 43.8% of the issued shares of GGH which, at the recently privately traded price of $1 per share, values GO8's marketable interest in GGH at $96.174 million, equivalent to 9.09 cents per GO8 share on issue. This value has not been included or reflected in the audited accounts of GO8, in compliance with Australian Accounting Standards. However, over $4 million GGH shares offered by GO8 have been invested by professional and overseas investors since 2015. The value of GGH shares will ultimately be dependent on the underlying fundamental value of its portfolio of businesses and investments. Management of the Group has set the goal to continue to improve the enterprise value of these businesses and investments.*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:About GoConnect Limited

GoConnect Limited (NSX:GO8) has been established since August 1999 as a media communications company. Since 1999 and until 2015 when it co-founded Go Green Holdings, its core business specialised in the online delivery of interactive audio and video contents via its unique and proprietary technology.

Since 2015, GoConnect has transformed itself to an active investment company developing businesses that can leverage on the Company's expertise and long experience in communications technology and marketing.


Quarterly Activities Report

Perth, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Nanollose Limited ( ASX:NC6 ) ( FRA:N0L ) a leading biomaterials company commercialising scalable technology to create fibres and fabrics with minimal environmental impact, is pleased to provide shareholders and investors with an overview of activities for the period ending 31 December 2021 ("Quarter", "Reporting Period").Commenting on the Quarter, Nanollose Executive Chairman, Wayne Best, said: "During the December 2021 Quarter, the Company continued to work with Birla Cellulose towards finalising the first pilot spin, which has been slightly delayed due to Covid-19 related disruptions, and which we are now expecting to be completed in February. During the Quarter, Nanollose achieved a key milestone, with the completion of the penultimate step in the manufacture of NullarborTM lyocell fibre, being the first pilot scale processing of MC. We look forward to updating shareholders regarding the pilot spin shortly."OperationalPilot Production of NullarborTM FibresDuring the Reporting Period, Nanollose continued to advance towards completion of the first pilot fibre spin. Due to Covid-19 related delays, the pilot fibre spin is now anticipated to complete in February, which will mark the most important milestone yet towards the commercialisation of the Company's Tree-Free Nullarbor lyocell fibre.The Reporting Period marked the successful completion of the penultimate step in the manufacturing of Nullarbor fibre, the processing of raw MC into material suitable for use in the lyocell process. This step is a key milestone for the Company with the specific technical goals of the pilot trial being achieved as planned. The Company noted during the Quarter that final preparatory testing of the resultant processed MC identified that a small quantity of fine metal particles was introduced during the drying process. Whilst the metal particles were not ultimately able to be removed from the specific batch of MC in an efficient manner, the source of the metal particles was identified as related to an isolated event from the drying equipment, which was subsequently resolved and will not affect future work. The achievement of this processing step significantly reduced a key risk of the pilot program, with the achievement of this result at pilot scale marking the passing of another important milestone.The Company has since supplied Birla Cellulose with an additional batch of MC, and its processing in preparation for the pilot fibre spin is almost complete, and has proceeded without incident.Work is also ongoing to incorporate the information gained from these initial pilot trials into improvements in MC production in order to streamline the overall waste to fibre process. During the Reporting Period the Company continued to refine product specifications and define and further refine quality control policies and procedures, utilising knowledge gained in the leadup to the pilot spin. Refinements and further definition will be ongoing through to commercial production.Potential Offtake PartnersDuring the Reporting Period, the Company continued to advance discussions with leading fashion and textile brands that have expressed an interest in obtaining material from the Company. The Company continued to work closely with its fashion consultant, Carla Woidt, to shortlist the most suitable partners for the Company's strategy going forward.The Company has focussed on shortlisting high quality partners that have a commitment to sustainable solutions for the fashion industry's environmental challenges, and that are seeking a long-term relationship with Nanollose.The Company is looking forward to formalising these negotiations during the current quarter, following completion of the pilot spin, when it will be in a position to provide samples to selected partners for trials and testing.Joint Patent Application Update - GrasimThe Company is pleased to announce that shortly following the end of the Quarter, the Company's joint patent application (entitled High Tenacity Lyocell Fibres From Bacterial Cellulose and Method of Preparation Thereof) with Grasim Industries Limited ("Grasim") was filed globally via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).The Company is pleased with the progress being made towards finalising formal patent protection of its intellectual property, and is pleased with the continued commitment from Grasim to the success of the project.Production of First 100% NullarborTM Lyocell GarmentDuring the Quarter, Nanollose and Birla Cellulose produced a small quantity of 100% Tree-Free Nullarbor lyocell fibre, which is in the process of being converted into yarn. Working closely with Carla Woidt, Nanollose engaged one of Australia's leading fashion designers, who has designed a garment to showcase this revolutionary fibre. Nanollose has also contracted an Australian based garment manufacturer, who will use this design to transform the yarn into the Company's first garment made from 100% Nullarbor lyocell.The Company expects to be in a position to unveil the completed garment by the end of this quarter, and looks forward to having a tangible product available to showcase to the market the quality, feel, and appeal of its fibre.Internal Research and Development ProjectsDuring the Quarter, the Company continued to progress internal research and development initiatives, including improvements to the Company's Jelli GrowTM product, development of an MC-based alternative to leather, and the development of absorbency materials.The Company looks forward to updating the market on these projects as significant milestones are determined and met.Six Monthly OutlookAs Nanollose continues to progress towards the commercialisation of its next generation, Tree-Free fibres, there are several key milestones that the Company aims to achieve in the coming six months:- Undertake the first pilot spin of Nanollose's NullarborTM lyocell fibre (anticipated to occur in February).- Enter into a number of agreements to provide initial quantities of fibre from the first pilot spin to selected partners.- Continue implementing refinements into MC production and procure material to support ongoing pilot production of fibre.- Supply initial quantities of fibre, yarns, and textiles from the pilot spin to selected partners.- Commence product trials with leading global brands in the fashion and apparel industry.- Explore the use of high tenacity Tree-Free lyocell for use in the nonwoven sector as the Company seeks to commercialise NufoliumTM for nonwoven fibre applications, including personal wipes (which is a high growth market).- Undertake second and subsequent pilot processing and spins at increased scale.- Explore commercial opportunities for second and subsequent pilot spins.*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:About Nanollose Limited

Nanollose Limited (ASX:NC6) is an innovative Australian company that uses a low cost and eco-friendly fermentation process to grow fibres that could become a sustainable alternative to conventional plant-derived cellulose fibres. The Company's process, which uses streams from various large-scale industries like sugar, wine and food, has the ability to produce 'Plant-Free' Cellulose. Cellulose is the hidden building block polymer most consumers know nothing about, but forms a huge part of items used in their everyday life such as clothing, paper and hygiene products.


Quarterly Activities Report

Brisbane, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Following the $8 million capital raising completed in September 2021 for State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ), the last quarter of the 2021 calendar year has been all about following up the tantalizingly good outcomes from the Rougemont 2 core hole at Rolleston-West, and further progressing the reserves at Reid's Dome in Central Queensland. The goal is to deliver much needed natural gas to an increasingly tight domestic and worldwide gas market.QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:- Reid's Dome Gas Project advanced through production testing of Nyanda-8 and Serocold-1 wells- Rougemont-2 production test at the adjoining Rolleston West Gas Project in Central Queensland commenced to confirm producibility of gas identified by Q2 drilling- Consistent, increasing, gas flows from both Nyanda-8 and Rougemont-2 wells- Decarbonisation initiative with Rockminsolutions Pty Ltd to investigate the commercial potential for secure long term underground sequestration of CO2.This proved to be quite a challenging feat given that an increasing La Nina event delivered an exceptionally wet spring earlier than usual. Whilst there have been timing delays due to the combination of Covid and wet weather, I am pleased to report that this exploration and appraisal programme remained within budgetary constraints.At Reid's Dome (PL 231), with its inherent high gas content and proven production of gas from depths as great as 1150 metres, the Company decided to undertake remedial work at the Nyanda-8 and Serocold-1 wells. To overcome 'skin damage' the Nyanda-8 well was 'jetted', following which production testing commenced on 28 November. The impact of jetting appears to be allowing a slow and steady build up in gas production which is expected to continue to increase with ongoing pumping.At Serocold-1 the limitation arose from silting of the pumps and therefore a different solution was implemented. Non-gas producing zones, a source of sand migration, were sealed off with a foam squeeze. Initial indications of consistent production of increasing gas volumes augurs well. While the rods in the pump appear to have parted, a workover will be carried out to allow testing to resume. Serocold-1 should therefore be back on production in the first full week of February.At neighbouring Rolleston-West (ATP 2062) the focus has been on confirming the producibility of the gas identified by the Rougemont-1 and -2 coreholes with a production test of the highly permeable Rougemont-2 area. Given the high permeability of the coals around Rougemont 2 combined with the experience of the performance of CSG wells in the Bandanna coals from Fairview to Mahalo, State Gas is taking a cautious approach to pumping, drawing down the water at the slow rate of around 3 metres /day. The result is that, despite the producing coal seams being at relatively shallow depths of between 315 metres and 386 metres, the water is still about 50 metres above the top coal seam. Despite the coals being under water, it is extremely encouraging to note that Rougemont-2 is already experiencing small, steady but consistent growth in gas production. It should take another couple of weeks of dewatering before the water intersects the top coals and another couple of weeks after that before increased gas flows are expected.Given State Gas' progress to date and the consistently higher gas pricing being achieved - remembering that all of our acreage is entirely free of domestic gas reservation restrictions - the Company has completed its baseline environmental studies. These studies are the first step towards applying for environmental approvals for gas production hopefully next year.The Company has also commenced an initiative to address decarbonisation, entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with mineral exploration company Rockminsolutions Pty Ltd. The project will investigate the potential of a site on the western border of the Company's ATP 2062 to securely sequester large volumes of carbon underground through an innovative process where the carbon is converted into a mineral (ie rock) form that will be stable through millennia.*To view tables 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

Sydney, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Empire Energy Group Ltd ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) provide the quarterly report for the period ending 31st December 2021.Q4 2021 Highlights- Carpentaria-2H successfully drilled, cased, and suspended on time and on budget- 192 metres of net pay intersected through the Velkerri A, B, Intra A/B and C shales- Carpentaria-2H has been suspended awaiting fracture stimulation and flow testing to start in Q2 2022 after the wet season- Final cost for delivering Carpentaria-2H approximately $11.1 million- Empire and the Commonwealth have commenced discussions to enter into new Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program agreements to support work programs in accordance with the Federal Court decision on 23 December 2021- The Charlotte 2D seismic survey was acquired during the Quarter in EP187, demonstrating that the Velkerri shales in the Eastern prospective area are at equivalent depths to Carpentaria-2H over a greater area than previously mapped- NSAI update to Empire's Contingent and Prospective Resources Report in EP187 expected during February 2022- Gas sales and transportation MOU executed with Northern Territory Government-owned Power and Water Corporation- 12m Unlisted Options exercised which raised $3.84 million cash (gross)- Cash at the end of the quarter was $25.8 millionComments from Managing Director Alex Underwood: "I am pleased to share the results of another successful quarter with our shareholders. We drilled our first ever horizontal appraisal well in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Carpentaria-2H, on time and on budget. This is a significant milestone, given the operational and geological complexities of doing so in a remote location in an emerging basin. We look forward to sharing the results of an updated independent resource report reflecting these results in the coming weeks, and fracture stimulating the well in Q2. We are in a pivotal period for the Beetaloo Sub-basin, with at least five horizontal appraisal wells targeting the Middle Velkerri B shale either underway or planned (Empire's Carpentaria-2H, two wells recently drilled and stimulated by the Santos / Tamboran JV, and two wells planned by the Origin / Falcon JV). We continued to progress our early commercialisation strategy following the execution of an MOU with NT's Power Water Corporation, which provides for the transportation and sale of gas into the existing McArthur River Pipeline. This complements our longer term plans in partnership with APA Group to send large volumes of low CO2 gas to Australia's East Coast and to LNG export markets via Darwin. The positive progress being made across the Beetaloo comes at a critical time for global energy security. Severe energy market dislocation, characterized by energy shortages in Europe, record high gas prices and geopolitical tensions, demonstrates the critical role of gas in the energy transition and the urgent need for new sources of low CO2 supply. I am proud of the central role that the Empire team, including our employees, contractors, Board, shareholders and local stakeholders are playing in realizing the potential of the Beetaloo and the energy security it may bring to hundreds of millions of people across our region and express my gratitude to each of you for your support."*To view the full Quarterly Report with tables and figures, please visit:About Empire Energy Group Ltd

Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators.

Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006.


Waterhouse Products Contribute More Than $8M in Revenue

Sydney, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BetMakers Technology Group Limited ( ASX:BET ) ( OTCMKTS:TPBTF ) is pleased to announce that the Company has recorded additional relevant revenues of $8,255,234.52 under the commercial agreements (Commercial Agreements) with the Waterhouse Group from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021 (Vesting Period).Highlights- Revenues received by the Company during the Class B Performance Right vesting period exceeded $8.2M across the Waterhouse products- The two products, built and operated with the support of the Waterhouse Group, have helped establish BetMakers as one of the leading B2B technology providers for the racing industry.Todd Buckingham, CEO of BetMakers, commented:'We have previously flagged to the market that we are delighted with the performance of these products and the revenue result for the past six months is certainly evidence of this.' 'This deal is obviously a great result for our partners but also a fantastic result for BetMakers to now have a product fully operational in the market that, while this revenue result is great, is really only in the early stages of rolling out globally.''We are proud to be able to execute on a strategy as successfully as this and as a business, BetMakers is set to benefit from this deal significantly in the years ahead.'Tom Waterhouse, CEO of Waterhouse VC, commented:'We are delighted with the performance of the products in the market, and in particular the Managed Trading Services product, which has exceeded even our expectations.''BetMakers has taken this concept and turned it into a product, taken it to market and delivered incredible results in a very short space of time, proving they are a market leader in B2B wagering globally.''We are delighted to be a major investor in BetMakers and will continue to support the Company as a key pillar of our VC Fund.'With the acceleration of these high performing products, the Company expects the final performance payments of ~14mil options to be achieved in H2 FY22. This would finalise all equity-based payments to the Waterhouse Group relating to these core products.As a result of the current period, the Class B Performance Right issued to Waterhouse VC Pty Ltd (Waterhouse VC) vested and was converted into 45,862,414 options (Options) exercisable into ordinary shares in the Company (Shares) each with an exercise price of $0.18 and an expiry date of 28 January 2024. Waterhouse VC has elected to exercise the 45,862,414 Options and, accordingly, the Company has issued 45,862,414 Shares for a total aggregate exercise price of $8,255,234.52. A cleansing statement in respect of the Shares is set out below and an Appendix 2A in relation to the quotation of Shares will be lodged separately today.As announced by the Company on 16 July 2021, the Class A Performance right issued to Waterhouse VC vested and was converted into 34,564,921 options, which were exercised into 34,564,921 ordinary Shares of the Company. Under the Commercial Agreements, the maximum number of options which may be issued to Waterhouse VC, on conversion of all Performance Rights is 94,741,686. After conversion of the Class A and Class B Performance Rights, there are 14,314,351 remaining options (Remaining Options) available to be earned under the Commercial Agreements. Due to the success of the partnership with the Waterhouse Group, it is expected that the revenue to be generated during the 6-month period to 30 June 2022 will see the Class C Performance Right vest and convert into the Remaining Options, which would also see the Class D Performance Right lapse. There will be no further options issued under the Commercial Agreements after the Remaining Options are issued.As announced to the market on 28 January 2020, BetMakers agreed to terms to provide technology, data and services in conjunction with the Waterhouse Group for:- tomwaterhouse.com betting application to be offered to the tomwaterhouse.com 80,000 members and designed for dual purposes of offering punters access to Australian bookmakers, delivering the best price(s) in the Australian wagering market from the one application, while at the same time providing wagering operators with a low-cost customer acquisition platform.- Waterhouse global pricing and trading desk - a B2B Managed Trading Services ("MTS") solution for wagering operators that are looking to outsource their trading operations. It intends to allow any wagering operator to have an outsourced Waterhouse team, powered by BetMakers technology, manage day-to-day bookmaking across hundreds of races with a solution aimed to reduce costs for the operators with minimal risk. The Waterhouse Group can provide 'Pricing and Trading' services along with 'Minimum Guaranteed Returns' to wagering operators that use the B2B service.As set out in BetMakers' notice of general meeting dated 17 April 2020, the Company's auditor reviewed the revenue received in connection with the Commercial Agreements over the Vesting Period and produced an audit opinion confirming the amount. Accordingly, the audit opinion from PKF is attached to this announcement.Issue of performance rights under LTIPThe Company also advises that it has issued 12,050,000 unquoted performance rights, convertible into Shares subject to vesting conditions, (Performance Rights) under the Company's long term incentive plan (LTIP) to various employees of the Company associated with the US expansion. The Company believes these Performance Rights will sufficiently incentivize key staff in the US to execute on the strategy that has been established throughout the North American market.The material terms of the Performance Rights are as follows:- the Performance Rights were issued under the LTIP;- the Performance Rights will vest on achievement of certain performance and time-based hurdles; and- 2,000,000 Performance Rights will expire on 31 January 2024 and 10,050,000 Performance Rights will expire on 30 June 2025.About Betmakers Technology Group Ltd

Betmakers Technology Group Ltd (ASX:BET) (OTCMKTS:TPBTF) is an ASX-listed holding company and a global provider of online wagering products and services to both wholesale and retail markets through its various wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company operates a retail wagering business, offering consumers wagering, fantasy tournament and content products and services.


Quarterly Activities Report

Sydney, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Magnis Energy Technologies Ltd ( ASX:MNS ) ( FRA:U1P ) ( OTCMKTS:MNSEF ) is pleased to present its Quarterly Activities Report and overview of operations for the period ended 31st December 2021 ("Quarter", "Reporting Period").Highlights- Magnis' subsidiary Imperium3 New York (iM3NY) Gigawatt scale Lithium-ion Battery Plant began its semi-autonomous phase. This is an important phase during the plant's construction as batches of cells can be produced for both marketing and due diligence purposes.- At the end of December 2021, the iM3NY New York Plant Status was 51% complete and on track to be in fully automated production by 1H 2022.- Magnis' Lithium-ion technology partner, C4V has produced exciting initial results in their Extra Fast Charging battery program with 7Ah (Amp hour) commercial cells using their patented BMLMP Technology. Current results show no capacity loss after 250 cycles with 15 min charge and variable discharge rates.- The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority EFC Bus Program feedback to date has been very positive. The purpose of the program was to illustrate that C4V's Extra Fast Charging technology can be applied to State Transit Buses in New York State.- Magnis Energy Technologies shares commenced trading on the OTCQX(R) Best Market under the ticker MNSEF. The OTCQX Best Market is the highest market tier of OTC Markets on which over 11,000 U.S. and global securities trade.- Magnis signed a binding offtake agreement with Traxys Europe for the supply of graphite. The Traxys Group is a leading international physical commodity trader and merchant in the metals and natural resources sectors specialising in supply chain management of critical and technology minerals and metals. The agreement is for a 6-year period starting in late 2024 with a total of 600,000 tonnes of flake graphite covering all flake sizes*To view the full Quarterly Report with tables and figures, please visit:About Magnis Energy Technologies Limited

Magnis Energy Technologies Limited (ASX:MNS) (OTCMKTS:MNSEF) (FRA:U1P) is involved in and has strategic investments in several aspects of the electrification supply chain including manufacturing of green credentialed lithium-ion battery cells, leading edge battery technology and high quality, high performance anode materials. The company's vision is to enable, support and accelerate the green energy transition critical for the adoption of Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy Storage.
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Malibu, CA, Jan 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In this segment of The Ellis Martin Report, we speak with Don Mosher, the President of Desert Mountain Energy Corp. ( CVE:DME )( OTCMKTS:DMEHF ). The company is slated potentially to begin producing helium and generating revenue beginning Q2 of 2022 at the Holbrook Helium Project in Arizona with delivery to an end-user.Listen to the interview with Mr. Mosher and discover how the company arrived at this historic point in just 2 years, please visit:About Desert Mountain Energy Corp.

Desert Mountain Energy Corp. is a publicly traded exploration and resource company focused on the discovery and development of rare earth gas fields in the US. The Company is primarily looking for elements deemed critical to the green energy and high technology industries.


Upgrade to EP161 Contingent Resources

Sydney, Feb 1, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Tamboran Resources Limited ( ASX:TBN ) has increased EP 161 (Tamboran 25% interest) contingent resources following the successful gas flow to surface and 30-day flow testing of the Tanumbirini 2H ("T2H") and Tanumbirini 3H ("T3H") wells in early calendar year 2022. The resources are located in close proximity to the Tanumbirini well pad and cover a small portion of the EP 161 permit.Unrisked 1C contingent resources are estimated to have increased by 336 per cent to 48 billion cubic feet ("BCF") net to Tamboran (189 BCF on a gross unrisked basis), including 32 BCF (net to Tamboran) within the Mid-Velkerri "B" shale.Unrisked 2C contingent resources are estimated to have increased by 428 per cent to 153 billion cubic feet ("BCF") net to Tamboran (610 BCF on a gross unrisked basis), including 128 BCF (net to Tamboran) within the Mid-Velkerri "B" shale.The upgrade to Tamboran's contingent resources has been evaluated and certified by leading independent third-party resources certifier, Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc. ("NSAI").Tamboran plan to leverage its intellectual property to increase the size and maximise the efficiency of the fracture stimulation design within the Maverick 1H ("M1H") well, planned to be drilled during calendar year 2022. If successful, this well has the potential to result in Tamboran booking initial 2C contingent resources within the Company's 100 percent owned and operated EP 136 acreage.Tamboran Resources Limited ( ASX:TBN ) Managing Director and CEO, Joel Riddle, said:"The successful gas flow rates to surface achieved during the testing of the T2H and T3H wells have demonstrated an active hydrocarbon system within the Santos-operated EP 161 permit of the Core Beetaloo Sub-basin."Incorporating these results has delivered more than 400 per cent increase to our unrisked gross 2C contingent resources within the EP 161 permit to 610 BCF, 153 BCF net to Tamboran. Unrisked gross 1C contingent resources have increased by more than 300 per cent to 189 BCF, 48 BCF net to Tamboran. With a best estimate of approximately 12.3 TCF of unrisked prospective gas resources net to Tamboran within EP 161, additional activity has potential to add further contingent resource as we mature and de-risk our significant prospective gas resources."Our revised contingent resource estimates have been evaluated and certified by leading independent third-party resources certifier, NSAI, and further justifies the materiality of this low carbon dioxide gas resource."The updated contingent resources are in close proximity to the Tanumbirini well pad and cover an area of 91 km2, which represents 3.4 per cent of the EP 161 prospective fairway acreage or approximately 0.9 per cent of the entire EP 161 acreage."The Company remains committed to and focused on the drilling of our 100 per cent operated M1H well within EP 136, anticipated to spud in mid-calendar year 2022. The best estimate unrisked prospective gas resources net to Tamboran within EP 136 are approximately 19.0 TCF. If M1H is successful, it could result in Tamboran booking an initial contingent resource within our permit in early calendar year 2023."The estimates of contingent gas resources in the permits contained in the announcement* were prepared by Netherland, Sewell and Associates Inc., qualified resource evaluators. The resource assessment was independently carried out by John G. Hattner, Senior Vice President, and Joseph M. Wolfe, Vice President of Netherland, Sewell and Associates Inc., in accordance with the 2018 Petroleum Resource Management System (PRMS) approved by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). Mr. Hattner and Mr. Wolfe meet the requirements of Qualified Petroleum Reserve and Resource Evaluator as defined in Chapter 19 of the ASX Listing Rules. Mr. Hattner is a Licensed Professional Geophysicist in the State of Texas, USA and Mr. Wolfe is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, USA. Mr. Hattner and Mr. Wolfe have consented to the use of the resource estimates figures in the form and context in which they appear in this release. Mr. Hattner has over 41 years of relevant experience. His qualifications include an MBA from Saint Mary's College of California, Master of Science in Geological Oceanography, Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from University of Miami. Mr. Wolfe has over 13 years of relevant experience. His qualifications include a Master of Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Northwestern State University.The estimates of contingent gas resources provided in this announcement were estimated using the probabilistic methods as of 31 January 2022. Contingent resources are aggregated by summation by category. The prospective gas resources provided in this announcement were estimated using the probabilistic methods and are dependent on an unconventional gas discovery being made and were prepared as of 13 May 2021, as outlined on page 145 of the Tamboran Resources Prospectus, release to the ASX on 1 July 2021.The estimated quantities of petroleum that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project(s) relate to undiscovered accumulations. These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration appraisal and evaluation is required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially movable hydrocarbonsNumbers in this report have been rounded. As a result, some figures may differ insignificantly due to rounding and totals reported may differ insignificantly from arithmetic addition of the rounded numbers.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Tamboran Resources Limited

Tamboran Resources Ltd (ASX:TBN) is a natural gas company that intends to play a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future by developing low CO2 unconventional natural gas resources in the Beetaloo Sub-basin within the Greater McArthur Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Tamboran's key assets are a 25% working interest in EP 161 and a 100% working interest in EP 136, EP 143 and EP(A) 197 which are located in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.
DENVER  A fire raging in an underground Colorado coal field in 1883 sent so much smoke pouring from cracks in the ground that the scene was likened to burning volcanoes and the states first mining inspector deemed the blaze impossible to extinguish.

Nearly 140 years later two fires still smolder in the now-abandoned coal field near Boulder  the same area where a wildfire last month destroyed more than 1,000 homes and buildings and killed at least one person.

Its still unknown what caused the December blaze that became the most destructive in Colorado history, but Boulder County authorities have said theyre investigating the areas abandoned coal mines as one of several possible causes, along with power lines, human activity and other possibilities.

Could smoldering coal have started such a fire? History shows the answer is yes, with at least two Colorado blazes in the past 20 years blamed on mine fires that spread to the surface. And in Montana this past summer slow-burning coal reserves fanned by winds sparked a pair of blazes that burned a combined 267 square miles (691 square kilometers) on and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Across the U.S. at least 259 underground mine fires burned in more than a dozen states as of last September, according to federal Office of Surface Mining data. There are hundreds and possibly thousands more undocumented blazes burning in coal seams that have never been mined, researchers and government officials say.

Globally, such fires are also a problem, including in India, Australia and South Africa. In China, the worlds largest coal producer, an estimated 10 million to 200 million tons of the fuel annually burn or are left inaccessible by fires, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

As climate change leads to drought across larges swaths of a U.S. West already seeing longer and more destructive fire seasons, experts say smoldering coal fires will pose a continuing threat.

Such fires can be ignited by lightning, humans and even spontaneously at temperatures as low as 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), said Jurgen Brune a Colorado School of Mines engineering professor. Many are impossible to put out, slowly burning underground as the combustion feeds off a small amount of oxygen present in the coal, he said.

Covering it up and trying to take away the oxygen from the fire puts out most fires. Not for coal fires, Brune said.

Underground coal seams burn unpredictably and can break through to the surface without warning long after a fire starts, he said.

Its like trying to predict an earthquake, Brune said. With all the technology we have today they are not coming any closer to predicting them. The same goes for a coal fire.

The fires emit toxic mercury and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, and cause sinkholes when the grounds surface collapses into burned cavities below. In Centralia, Pennsylvania, the fumes and subsidence from a coal fire that started beneath the town in 1962 got so bad that more than 1,000 people eventually relocated at a cost of $42 million.

The estimated future cost to control the 200 known abandoned mine blazes across the U.S. is almost $900 million, according to the Office of Surface Mining database.

In the wake of last summers fires, local officials in Montana plan to map out burning seams across the states southeast in coming months using a federal grant. Controlling them will be difficult and could cost a minimum of $300,000 per site, said Bobbi Vannattan with the Rosebud Conservation District, which is helping to coordinate the mapping.

The problem with coal seam fires is we dont know how deep they are or how wide they are until you get in there and start digging, she said.

In Colorado, officials were monitoring at least 38 underground coal fires as of 2019.

Boulder County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Carrie Haverfield declined to specify which mines were being investigated in relation to the Dec. 30 blaze or what prompted authorities interest, which was first reported by KUSA-TV.

At least three efforts were made by authorities to quench or reduce damage from the blaze the state mine inspector first encountered more than a century ago at the abandoned Marshall Mine, located on park land in the vicinity of where investigators believe the recent fire started.

The first came in 1982, when federal officials drilled into the ground to investigate how far the fire extended and later sought to smother it with a 2-foot (60-centimeter) layer of dirt, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report.

In 2005, a small brush fire was traced back to a hot vent from the fire. Crews from Boulder removed vegetation in the area and federal officials tried to fill the vent and others with rocks to try to protect against another fire, according to the Office of Surface Mining. In 2016, after federal officials said the state had taken control of the site, workers excavated and filled in two areas where ground had subsided after fire consumed the underground coal.

When the site was visited two years later by workers for a state contractor, Tetra Tech, they found no evidence of fire  no melting snow, no smoky odors. The company recommended annual monitoring of the site because of its past erratic behavior but no new steps to abate the potential hazard.

The fires activity is very low and thus presents little potential to start a surface fire, Tetra Tech wrote in a 2019 report prepared for the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety.

Generally the responsibility of monitoring coal mine fires falls to the property owner, according to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The Marshall Mine fire sits under an open space park owned by the city of Boulder near a state highway.

Boulder officials said they dont have responsibility to do work on the fire. However, the city is required to notify the state if rangers or trail crews at the popular hiking area see smoke or shifts, city spokesperson Sarah Huntley said.

The states mining division said it was not notified of any changes at the mine fire since the 2019 report.

The state receives federal funding to help property owners monitor or mitigate abandoned coal mine fires. But the mining division cannot require any work be done at the sites, spokesperson Chris Arend said.

___

Brown reported from Billings, Montana.
FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz.  At this Army installation, nourishing the soldiers soul is just as critical as making sure the soldier is ready for his or her mission.

Thats done on Fort Huachuca by the performance and availability of a myriad of religious services for various faith groups and anyone who wants to worship.

If a religious service is not performed on the installation, chaplains will connect soldiers, their families and civilians with a source that will provide them with the spiritual program theyre looking for.

At the Chaplains Corps, the slogan is perform or provide, said Fort Huachuca Garrison Chaplain Lt. Col. Shay Worthy. The services that we can perform, we perform. We perform what we can. But we provide everything. Which means (if we cant perform something) we connect soldiers to the right source.

Anyone who comes to me as the garrison chaplain and says this is my faith, heres what I need, I can say, I cant do that for you but I can make it happen for you. 

It seems that some kind of religious or spiritual connection is being made on Fort Huachuca all the time.

Whether Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Norse Pagan, there is a religious service available at the installation, or at least a place where one can worship privately or meditate.

Last week, Worthy hosted the annual visit to Fort Huachuca of Bishop Neal J. Buckon of the Archdiocese for the Military, and both men talked about the importance of religion and spirituality in the life of a soldier.

When a young man or woman puts on the uniform and raises their hand and comes to serve our country, we dont believe that they should have to forfeit their constitutional rights, Buckon said. So we have a Chaplain Corps that guarantees the free exercise of religion.

Indeed, the first item in the Department of Defenses Instruction 1300.17, titled Religious Liberty in the Military Services, states: Establishes DoD policy in furtherance of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, recognizing that Service members have the right to observe the tenets of their religion, or to observe no religion at all.

It seems that the Army has been addressing the issue of religion and spirituality for centuries. Buckon mentioned George Washington requesting chaplains for his troops. And in a 1941 speech at Trinity College, George C. Marshall, Army chief of staff under presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and secretary of state and secretary of defense under Truman, said:

The soldiers heart, the soldiers spirit, the soldiers soul, are everything. Unless the soldiers soul sustains him he cannot be relied on and will fail himself and his commander and his country in the end.

Fort Huachuca is making sure soldiers who want nourishment for their souls get it. There are religious services on post for Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Norse Pagans, Worthy said. There is also a meditation room in the chapel available to all religious and spiritual beliefs.

The chapels on post are for everyone.

The chapels in the Army are neutral spaces, Worthy said. We provide religious support to all religions.

He explained that the main chapel on post has the stations of the cross. The latter, mostly a Christian belief, takes an individual through the different phases of the Passion of Christ, which is the arrest, trial, suffering and crucifixion of Christ. The stations are displayed inside wooden boxes that ring the chapels walls. However, the boxes can be closed so that the chapel can become a neutral space for other religious services. There are two other chapels on post, Kino Chapel and the Prosser Village Chapel.

Additionally, aside from Jewish religious services at the installation, the Army is also offering Jewish Religious Instruction on Fort Huachuca for anyone who is interested. Rabbi Benzion Shemtov, who contracts with Fort Huachuca for religious services, began teaching the classes in October, said Morgana Biddix, who works at Fort Huachucas Religious Support Office. Biddix showed two workbooks being used in the courses, one called Journey of the Soul, about the Jewish afterlife, and the other Secrets of the Bible.

It is kind of interesting that little Fort Huachuca here in Sierra Vista is providing Jewish religious education to all of the Army through this program, Worthy said.

While most of the religious services are performed by individuals the installation contracts with, Worthy said there is an active duty chaplain on post who is also a Catholic priest.

He is also a unit chaplain, he has all the responsibility of caring for his unit and the congregation, Worthy said. But we also contract with a Catholic priest who comes and helps with the services because the garrison thought it was too much for one person to handle.

Buckon mentioned that because 22 is the average age in the Army, Worthy and other chaplains at Fort Huachuca have a young adult ministry to attend to.

With a laugh, Worthy said that social media is the key to reaching his audience.

Were a huge training base, we have a lot of initial term soldiers who are younger than 22, Worthy said. Like every young adult, they are kind of seeking more. The search for significance is something we all go though.

Chaplain Col. Paul Jaedicke, a senior command chaplain and the NETCOM command chaplain at Fort Huachuca, agreed with Worthy that chaplains must connect with their soldiers by going to them.

This is a unique base because its a training base, Jaedicke said. At the end of the day, I agree with what Shay said. Our most effective means of engaging soldiers is to get to where they are. Theyre not necessarily going to come to the chapels.  When youre interacting with soldiers thats when you start to build the relationships and thats when they feel more comfortable talking to you.

I would add that we are chaplains to all, but were pastors to some. Were here for all soldiers, family members and civilians. But because of our religious faith we are only pastoring to those who give us permission to provide direct spiritual care.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  As flurries started to descend on the forest floor, a team of researchers examined a stand of sickly quaking aspen trees off U.S. Highway 180, just north of Flagstaff. To an untrained eye, the trees might have looked normal. But up close, the picture was different: The usually matte white bark was covered with thousands of tiny dark notches, giving the trunks a dull appearance, darkened, almost black.

Kristen Waring, a professor of silviculture and applied forest health at the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University, knew what to look for. She and two graduate students, Connor Crouch and Kelsey Pemberton, quickly pinpointed problem areas.

What looked like an inanimate object was actually a tiny, sap-sucking insect called oystershell scale. Its diminutive size belies the greater threat it poses to aspens and trees throughout Arizona. Colonies of the invasive creatures can encase mature trees, leading to fatal infestations. Eventually, oystershell scale populations can balloon to the point where they can kill entire stands of trees.

Waring and her fellow researchers say the threat to aspens, the most widely distributed tree in North America, is so great that there could be a future where aspens no longer grow in the Southwest. The problem is particularly acute in this region, where warmer temperatures and less precipitation already stunt aspen regeneration.

My biggest concern is that we will lose aspen out of the southwestern United States, Waring told The Arizona Republic. That, for me, I think means that scale might just be kind of the nail in the coffin in a battle weve been fighting for a long time.

For the past two years, Waring and her collaborators have been working with the U.S. Forest Service to avert that dire outcome. So far, their research has been confined to pens, or exclosures, meant to protect aspens from herbivores, like elk and cattle. The experimental exclosure Waring and her team recently visited had a section that had been cut in a process called clear-felling.

Clear-felling is different from clear-cutting because aspen trees can sprout new shoots from their roots. In this process, trees in one section of the plot are cut and stacked high into a burn pile, allowing the aspen to regenerate through root suckering, a process in which trees sprout new stems and shoots after being damaged.

These treatments temporarily reduce the tree density, which Waring and her team are hoping will mitigate oystershell scale outbreaks. Its just one strategy, among many, that theyre deploying in the battle to control the millimeter-sized insect that can literally suck the life out of trees.

They have this tiny  long, piercing, sucking mouthpart that gets inserted into the bark of aspen or other hosts, said Crouch, who was the lead author of a spring study into oystershell scale. It inserts that into the host cells and just sucks fluid from those cells.

Since researchers with the U.S. Forest Service first observed oystershell scale on aspen trees near Parks over a decade ago, the insect, OSS for short, has spread across the Mogollon Rim. At the time, scientists were just starting to see outbreaks outside of urban settings. Their numbers in natural settings were previously so low that they werent considered a problem, Waring said.

Some reports indicate OSS had been observed in lower-elevation forests as early as the 1990s. Mary Lou Fairweather, who worked for the Forest Service for over 32 years and is now semi-retired, began studying the mortality of young aspen trees at this time. She did not see OSS in regeneration areas, where fire burned through and led to recovery. She did observe OSS on aspens in a few forested areas, but mainly at lower elevations.

After almost 20 years, the insect has expanded in geography and population. In 2017, regional Forest Service staff noticed widespread infestations of an aspen-killing insect in the Coconino National Forest. Shortly after, further research also found it in the Kaibab National Forest.

That triggered a collaboration between federal agencies and NAU to study the insect. The Forest Service provided the initial funding. NAU and Forest Health Protection, a division with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, took on the research, and what they found worried everyone involved.

OSS has been observed in much of the Southwest. Whats more concerning for researchers is the pests expansion has been sudden and unexplained. They suspect it has to do with a warming climate.

We believe that the scale probably took off a few years ago because of how much the climate already changed in Flagstaff, Waring told The Republic. Because this is such a new problem for aspen, the previous work has focused on what were the current problems at the time, and nobody anticipated that scale would become this huge problem causing mortality. And so because of that, we do have more questions than answers.

To help answer some of those questions, Waring and her collaborators are studying various methods, including clear-felling, pre-commercial thinning, fire, natural predators and fungus to see how the insects respond. What theyre looking for most is a way to control OSS populations.

If we know more about how to control scale, then that will help us to maintain aspen in some areas, in addition to identifying potential refugia and protecting those areas, Waring said.

Oystershell scale has been in America for centuries. Researchers believe the insects hitched a ride on apple trees transported from Europe in the 1700s. Since then, they have mostly afflicted orchards and ornamental trees in urban areas, where homeowners and arborists can easily treat trees with pesticides, scrubbing and pruning.

With a warming climate, scientists believe OSS has been able to expand its range. Aspen trees are already stressed in Arizona. Theyre at the southern end of their range and higher temperatures with less precipitation has added pressure in an already hostile environment. As a result, trees are weaker and perhaps less able to fight off infestations.

When theres just a few oyster shell scales on the tree, that doesnt really impact the tree all that much, Crouch said. Problems start to happen when you have them all over a tree, or theyre completely surrounding a tree and can sort of cut off its nutrients.

Research into aspen mortality shows that 50-95% of the trees in aspen stands at lower elevations in Arizona have died in recent years due to things such as grazing, prolonged drought, diseases and native pests. The disappearance of aspen has been so pervasive that scientists have named the loss with an apt acronym: Sudden Aspen Decline, or SAD. Researchers have observed SAD less frequently in recent years, most likely because so many trees have already been killed, Fairweather said.

Another primary factor in the decline of aspen is that the trees are very old and have not been able to regenerate. Aspen is a relatively short-lived species and regenerates primarily through root suckering, adds Fairweather. Regeneration has been limited over the last century due to fire suppression, which allowed other species to dominate aspen forests, and also due to browsing by livestock and elk and deer.

An emerging pest species like OSS only compounds that loss, which means what aspen trees remain could die at a faster rate. Given Arizonas already hot and dry climate, researchers like Crouch say that what happens here can be a harbinger for what could happen to aspen throughout their range in the future as temperatures climb elsewhere.

Being on the southern edge of the species range, we expect aspen in Arizona to experience the effects of a warming climate earlier and more severely than more northerly parts of the species range, said Crouch. So between climate change and oystershell scale, we hypothesize that what were seeing for aspen in Arizona may be a sign of things to come for aspen in more northerly parts of its range as the climate continues to warm.

Waring says one of the best ways to control OSS is to stop it from spreading into new stands. That has been hard since there are so many unknowns about how to manage it.

One of the more harmful characteristics of OSS is its perniciousness. At only a couple of millimeters in length, they are small, so theyre hard to see. They usually occur in one area of a tree initially, a branch or stem, making them pretty inconspicuous at first.

Once theyre established, they work their way through to the trunk. But by that time, they could have laid thousands of eggs and its likely already too late to save the tree.

As an animal that gradually expands its range and population before its detected, OSS is what scientists call a sleeper species. That essentially means that they establish themselves before causing widespread damage to their host.

Their lifecycle and biology also make them hard to control. On average, the insects entire life spans just a year. Eggs are laid under the females hard oyster-like shell, which gives them their name, in late fall. There, they overwinter. The eggs hatch in the spring, feed on trees in the summer, and then disperse in early fall to breed, after which a new generation repeats the cycle.

By the time one generation is treated, another is born. And research has found that, given the right conditions, females can produce more than one brood per year.

Their knack for dispersing also makes control difficult. In addition to crawling to other host trees, OSS can be carried by strong winds or on other hosts such as animals, furthering their reach. Arizonas strong spring winds make this mode of transport especially effective when females are laying eggs.

Whats more, while oystershell scale has had the most detrimental effects on aspen, they can feed on a wide array of hardwood tree species, such as willow and cottonwood. So while treatment and research has been targeted toward aspens, the insects are able to feed on other hosts, including shrubs.

All of these challenges make treatment elusive and hard to formalize. While one solution might be right for one area, it could be useless in another. For instance, while clear-felling might work in an aspen exclosure, it might not be right for a riparian tree species.

Even more concerning, Crouchs research indicates that OSS prefers tall regeneration, trees that are generally taller than 4 feet, with a diameter of at least two inches. Theyre taller than stems, Crouch said, but not yet considered overstory. This is an underrepresented age group in Arizonas aspen forests. One of the main goals of the exclosures is to protect aspen from herbivores so new generations of trees can grow.

An OSS infestation can threaten that recovery by killing off trees in this age class, which means aspen stands could lose entire generations of trees and might not be allowed to reach their full potential.

As the biggest, oldest trees die, we need younger, healthy trees to replace them. And so if youve got four size classes  we need trees in all the size classes to replace these older trees, Waring said. So if youve only got the smallest size class, and then the oyster shell scale takes out the tall regeneration and the saplings, for example, then youve got a problem because youre not recruiting from the small regeneration into the overstory.

Similarly dire situations are being documented in trees species across the country. Eastern hemlocks are plagued by woolly adelgid aphids. Pine trees are being decimated by bark beetles. Ash trees are ravaged by emerald ash borers. And American elms were almost wiped out by Dutch elm disease.

The long-fought battles with these pest species have offered Waring and her colleagues some guidance on where to start when it comes to managing OSS. In urban areas, ornamental trees are easily treated with pesticides and fungicides. If a homeowner has a tree in their front yard, they can scrub the scale off with a scraper, said Amanda Grady, an entomologist with Forest Protection Health.

So much of this period is gathering information on how we mitigate it, like these silvicultural treatments for management, in the forest setting, because we do understand quite a bit about scale management in value trees, especially in urban areas, Grady said. But we have not evaluated how or had the chance, because its so new, to mitigate oystershell scale in aspen in the forest setting.

Silviculture treatments arent ideal in the forest for several reasons. For one, it would be time-intensive and costly to spray and cut each infested branch or tree. Second, spraying large stands of trees with chemicals could have unintended consequences for the surrounding area and its inhabitants. The effects of DDT on birds is a famous example of pesticides gone awry.

Thus far, the most promising solutions appear to be a combination of clear-felling and fire. Aspens naturally sprout new shoots when cut and oystershell can only live on a live host. When a branch is cut, the tree regenerates and the insects die.

This still leaves room for some populations to persist on lower shrubs and bushes, which is where fire comes in. Fire is a natural disturbance in Arizonas forests and early treatments in the Prescott National Forest have shown no OSS activity post-fire.

Other potential management strategies could include natural predators. Richard Hofstetter, a professor of forest entomology at NAU, and one of his graduate students, Kelsey Pemberton, are looking into which potential native insects feed on oystershell and what sort of effect they might have on infestations.

To do that, theyre taking inventory of what lives on the trees using simple sticky traps that collect bugs. Theyre also collecting scales and monitoring infested branches every two weeks, except during the winter. In addition, they hope to determine if natural predators differ between natural and urban areas.

So far, theyve found mites, ladybugs, thrips, and wasps, all predatory insects that feed on oystershell. Those insects also prey on other insects and there simply arent enough of them to have a significant impact on oystershell populations.

Another natural tactic might be fungus.

Theres a fungus called Beauveria bassiana. And its ubiquitous around the globe. Its an invertebrate pathogen. But whats interesting is the fungus can persist within a plant, Hofstetter told The Republic. So the idea is that if we can inject the fungus into plants, and it persists within them, once the insect feeds, it gets infected and dies within a few days.

While no one solution seems to be a silver bullet, if each treatment is able to dent OSS populations, that would be encouraging. It likely means that all options would have to be used in concert for effective population management. Whats needed most of all, Waring said, is more funding to conduct more research.

For instance, another potential disturbance could be cold weather. The researchers have found OSS mostly at elevations between 2,000 and 2,500 meters, or about 6,500 feet to just over 8,200 feet. They theorize this could be due to colder temperatures as elevation increases. They have also found OSS more prevalent on the north side of tree trunks, which means there could be a role that solar rays play as well.

Its still too early to definitively conclude anything without more studies. The team is working on proposals to get more funding, but to do that, they have to show that OSS is a major problem and that there is a risk of losing something. Its hard to do that with such little information.

Were going to have some really good data to begin answering some of the questions. Were still in progress because its such a new problem, Waring said.
TUCSON, Ariz.  A man who had illegally entered Arizona from Mexico has been charged with assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was trying to detain another person who also had entered the county illegally, the FBI announced Friday

Charging documents allege that Rey David Marquez-Jimenez hit the agent over the head and tackled him. As the two men struggled on the ground Marquez-Jimenez pulled out a knife and held it near the agents face and throat.

The agents hand was cut as he tried to fend off the attack, according to the criminal complaint filed by the FBI.

Marquez-Jimenez and the second person then fled but other agents caught them both.

The criminal complaint says the agent went to the area near Hereford on Wednesday after others monitoring cameras mounted on a surveillance tower spotted three people crossing into Arizona. The unidentified agent caught one person and then was assaulted.

The charging documents say Marquez-Jimenez is a Mexican citizen who was born in 1999. Assaulting a federal officer can be punished by up to three years in prison.

The federal public defender assigned to the case did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
LONDON  Hundreds of people gathered Sunday in Northern Ireland to mark 50 years since Bloody Sunday, one of the deadliest days in the conflict known as The Troubles.

Thirteen people were killed and 15 others wounded when British soldiers fired on civil rights protesters on Jan. 30, 1972, in the city of Derry, also known as Londonderry.

Relatives of those killed and injured half a century ago took part in a remembrance walk Sunday, retracing the steps of the original march. Crowds gathered at the Bloody Sunday Monument, where political leaders including Irish Premier Micheal Martin laid wreaths in a ceremony.

The names of those who were killed and wounded were read out during the 45-minute memorial service.

Britains government apologized in 2010 after an official inquiry found that the soldiers fired without justification on unarmed, fleeing civilians and then lied about it for decades. The report refuted an initial investigation that took place soon after the slayings that said the soldiers had been defending themselves against Irish Republican Army bombers and gunmen.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament on Wednesday that Bloody Sunday was one of the darkest days in our history and that the country must learn from the past.

One former British soldier was charged in 2019 in the killing of two of the protesters and the injury of four others. But prosecutors decided last year not to proceed with the case because there was no longer a prospect of conviction. Families of one of the victims have brought a legal challenge against that decision.

Martin, the Irish leader, said Sunday that there should be full accountability in all legacy issues.

I dont believe this will be any amnesty for anybody, he said after meeting with the families of victims. It is important because time is moving on too for many, many families and families need closure.

Michael McKinney, whose brother William was among the victims, criticized the British governments plans to make it harder to prosecute military veterans for alleged offenses committed years earlier.

They are trying to deny us justice because they are scared to face justice. But we want to send a very clear warning to the British government. If they pursue their proposals, the Bloody Sunday families will be ready to meet them head on, McKinney said.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins is expected to deliver a message to the affected families later Sunday.
CAIRO  Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Sudans capital and other cities across the country Sunday for the latest in a months-long string of demonstrations denouncing an October military coup that plunged the country into turmoil. At least one person was killed when security forces violently dispersed protesters, a medical group said.

Protesters, mostly young men and women, marched in the streets of Khartoum and other cities, demanding an end to the militarys takeover. They called for a fully civilian government to lead the countrys now-stalled transition to democracy.

The coup has upended Sudans transition to democratic rule after three decades of repression and international isolation under autocratic President Omar al-Bashir. The African nation has been on a fragile path to democracy since a popular uprising forced the military to remove al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019.

The protests are called by the Sudanese Professionals Association and the Resistance Committees, which were the backbone of the uprising against al-Bashir and relentless anti-coup protests in the past three months.

Footage circulated online showed people beating drums and chanting anti-coup slogans in the streets of Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman. Protesters were also seen carrying Sudanese flags and other flags with photos of protesters reportedly slain by security forces printed on them.

They marched towards the presidential palace, an area in the capital that has seen deadly clashes between protesters and security forces in previous rounds of demonstrations.

Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in at least one location in the capital. At least three people suffered injuries from rubber bullets, said activist Nazim Sirag.

The Sudan Doctors Committee, a medical group tracking casualties among protesters, said a 27-year-old protester died in a Khartoum hospital after he sustained unspecified injuries to his chest during the protests. It did not elaborate.

There were protests elsewhere in the country including the eastern city of Port Sudan, western Darfur region and Madani, the capital city of Jazira province, about 135 kilometers (85 miles) southeast of Khartoum. Madani saw a massive anti-coup protest last week.

Ahead of the protests, authorities stepped up security in Khartoum and Omdurman. They deployed thousands of troops and police and sealed off central Khartoum, urging protesters to assemble only in public squares in the capitals neighborhoods.

The United Nations mission in Sudan on Saturday warned that such restrictions could increase tensions, urging authorities to let the protests pass without violence.

Since the coup, at least 79 people have been killed and hundreds of others wounded in a widely condemned crackdown on protests, the doctors group said.

There were also mass arrests of activists leading the anti-coup protests and allegations of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, in a Dec. 19 protest in Khartoum, according to the U.N.

The upheaval in Sudan worsened earlier this month following the resignation of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was the civilian face of the transitional government over the past two years.

The prime minister, who was ousted in the October coup only to be reinstated a month later under heavy international pressure, stepped down on Jan. 2 after his efforts to reach a compromise failed.

Sundays protests came as the U.N. mission continued its consultations to find a way out of the ongoing crisis.

On Saturday, powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of the ruling Sovereign Council, and commander of the feared Rapid Support Forces, said they have accepted the U.N. efforts to resolve the crisis, but that U.N. envoy Volker Perthes should be a facilitator not a mediator.

Dagalo did not elaborate but his comments showed the challenges the U.N. mission faces to find a common ground between rival factions in Sudan.

The pro-democracy movement has insisted on the removal of the generals from power and the establishment a fully civilian government to lead the transition.

The generals, however, said they will hand over power only to an elected administration. They say elections will take place in July 2023, as planned in a 2019 constitutional document governing the transitional period.
NEW YORK  Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus.

In a post Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young, who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation.

Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly, wrote Ek. It is important to me that we dont take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.

Ek said that the advisories will link to Spotifys fact-based COVID-19 hub in what he described as a new effort to combat misinformation. It will roll out in the coming days, Ek said. He did not specifically reference Rogan or Young.

Britains Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.

Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform, an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement. We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.

Earlier Sunday, Nils Lofgren, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young, said he was joining Youngs Spotify revolt. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise.

We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify, wrote Lofgren in a statement.

On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young. Earlier, hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode from The Joe Rogan Experience in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
HELSINKI  A powerful winter storm swept through northern Europe over the weekend, killing at least four people, destroying houses and cars, closing bridges and causing flooding and halting transport while leaving thousands of households without electricity.

Storm Malik was advancing in the Nordic region on Sunday, bringing strong gusts of wind, and extensive rain and snowfall in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Malik reached the Nordic region and northern Germany late Saturday after moving in from Britain where it caused havoc with material damage and transport chaos, hitting Scotland particularly bad.

In the U.K., a 9-year-old boy in Staffordshire, England, and a 60-year-old woman in Scotland were killed Saturday by falling trees as strong winds battered northern parts of Britain.

Wind gusts of more than 100 mph (160 kph) have been reported in parts of Scotland, causing widespread disruption to transport and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power.

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said that while scores have had power reconnected, power disruptions will continue for many because another storm is due to hit the region on Sunday.

In Denmark, strong winds with heavy rain caused the temporary closure of several bridges on Saturday including the key Oeresund road and rail bridge connecting Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo.

Danish media reported that a 78-year-old woman died from severe injuries after falling in strong winds. In neighboring Germany, local media reported that a man was killed on Saturday after being hit by a billboard that was loosened by the storm.

Flooding in many parts of Denmark caused substantial material damage. Several traffic crashes caused by falling trees and flying debris were reported to police.

Southern parts of Sweden were badly hit, too, and thousands of households were without electricity by Sunday afternoon. Ferries to the Baltic Sea island of Gotland were canceled because of strong winds.

Severe damage to houses, cars and boats, among other things, were reported in Norway while heavy snowfall throughout Finland caused road crashes and disrupted bus and train traffic in parts of the country.

___

Sylvia Hui contributed to this report from London.
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 like 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.
BOSTON  The sun shone down on much of the East Coast on Sunday, a day after a vicious noreaster brought blizzard conditions to many areas, and left more than 100,000 customers without power for a stretch that could last into Monday.

Winds that had gusted to more than 80 mph on Saturday died down on Sunday, and temperatures climbed into the upper teens and 20s as people emerged from their homes to dig out.

The storm dumped snow from Virginia to Maine, but Massachusetts bore the brunt of the fury, with the neighboring towns of Sharon and Stoughton getting more than 30 inches (76 centimeters) of snow.

More than 100,000 lost power at the height of the storm, mostly in Massachusetts. That had dropped to about 35,000 by Sunday afternoon, mostly on hard-hit Cape Cod. No other states reported widespread outages.

Utility Eversource said Sunday it had 1,700 crews working to restore electricity in Massachusetts, and customers will have their power back on by the end of the day Monday, with most before then.

Authorities on Long Island reported three storm-related deaths. Suffolk County police said an elderly man fell into a swimming pool while shoveling snow in Southhold and was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts failed. Nassau County officials said two men aged 53 and 75 died in the town of Syosset while shoveling snow.

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said at a news conference that officials were not aware of any storm-related fatalities in the state.

In and around New York City, snow totals ranged from a few inches north and west of the city to more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) in Islip on Long Island, according to the National Weather Service. Warren, Rhode Island got more than 2 feet (61 centimeters), and Norwich, Connecticut finished with 22 inches (56 centimeters). Some areas of Maine and New Hampshire also received more than a foot.

Winds gusted as high as 83 mph (134 kph) on Cape Cod. Coastal towns flooded, with wind and waves battering Weymouth, south of Boston, flooding streets with a slurry of frigid water, according to video posted on social media. Other videos showed a street underwater on Nantucket and waves crashing against the windows of a building in Plymouth.

A Rhode Island couple got married as planned Saturday during the blizzard, according to broadcast reports. Sally Faulkner and Adam Irujo had been planning a wedding for 14 months, so they went through with the nuptials on the steps of the Providence Public Library in front of a few family and friends.

Forecasters watched closely for new snowfall records, especially in Boston. The Boston areas modern snowfall record for a winter storm is 27.6 inches (70 centimeters), set in 2003.

The city tied its record for biggest single-day snowfall on Saturday, with 23.6 inches (60 centimeters), the National Weather Service said.

Like most major winter storms in New England, it drew comparisons to the infamous Blizzard of 78, which paralyzed the region for days.

I was around for the Blizzard of 78, and this one was worse. The wind was tremendous, Joe Brescia, 72, said Sunday, tears streaming down his face from the bitter cold as he shoveled his sidewalk in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Bao Ha, 26, got a shock when he went outside Sunday morning.

Its funny, it didnt look so bad when I looked out the window this morning, he said as he shoveled the sidewalk in front of his home in Waltham outside Boston, which according to the National Weather Service, got 16 inches (40 centimeters) of snow. But its light, so its easy to shovel.

Climate change, particularly the warming ocean, probably influenced the strength of the storm, atmospheric researchers said.

Much warmer ocean waters are certainly playing a role in the strengthening of the storm system and increased moisture available for the storm, said University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado. But it isnt the only thing.

The storm had two saving graces: Dry snow less capable of snapping trees and tearing down power lines, and its timing on a weekend, when schools were closed and few people were commuting.

However, some school districts announced that classes were canceled Monday to allow for snow removal, including Attleboro and Quincy schools in Massachusetts. Warwick, Rhode Island, schools are going remote on Monday to accommodate snow removal.

The National Weather Service considers a storm a blizzard if it has snowfall or blowing snow, as well as winds of at least 35 mph (56 kph) that reduce visibility to a quarter-mile or less for at least three hours. In many areas, Saturdays storm met those criteria.

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Catalini reported from Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Contributing to this report were Associated Press journalists David Porter in New York City; Rodrique Ngowi in Boston; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Jeff McMillan in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; and Ron Todt in Philadelphia.
What they had fought for, hoped for, prayed and campaigned for came finally at 9:55 a.m. Jan. 24.

Senate Executive Message No. 22, signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham authorized the addition of their Second Chance bill to the governors call, paving the way for its consideration during the ongoing short 30-day legislative session that runs through Feb. 17.

Put simply, Senate Bill 43 seeks to prohibit imposing life sentences without parole on a child and to make children sentenced as adults eligible for parole after serving 15 years.

If passed, the bill would be enacted retroactively, providing but not guaranteeing a second chance for some 75 inmates now serving lengthy sentences for crimes they were convicted of when they were kids.

A similar bill passed the Senate 28-11 during last years 60-day session but died before making it through the House when the session ended. This session is half as long, and the call came nearly a week into it.

We had started to lose hope, said Jessica Brown, a founding member of the New Mexico Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, which has fought for the bill. We had already started to say, well, next year. Well keep fighting for next year. And then we got the bill on the governors call. So its go time.

For Brown and others like her, the bill is personal. She is the wife of one of the 75 inmates. Michael Brown was 16 when two teenage friends stabbed his 80-year-old grandparents to death Feb. 3, 1994, in Rio Rancho.

Although he never inflicted a single stab wound, prosecutors argued that he had prompted the attack on Marie and Ed Brown. For that, he was convicted of their murders and sentenced in 1995 to life plus 41 years. He would have been nearly his grandparents age before being eligible for parole were it not for a successful appeal that resulted in his sentence being amended in November, making him eligible for parole in February 2024. If SB 43 passes, he could be a free man this year.

Those of you who follow me are aware that I have written about Michael Brown since 2006, getting to know the man he is, the kid he was and the need to reconsider how we deal with juveniles who commit serious, deadly crimes.

Jessica Brown began reconsidering her position on juvenile justice, too, after meeting Michael, by letter and phone call, in 2014 through her best friend, whose fiance was his cellmate.

Before then, her view was colored by her family, many who are or have been in law enforcement, including her brother, State Police Officer James Archuleta, killed in a crash while on duty in 2006.

Michael, she said, opened her eyes to the way the system works  or doesnt  for juvenile offenders.

Theres so much misinformation out there, so much that harms more than it helps, she said. So much that doesnt work.

Jessica said she wasnt looking for love or a cause to champion. She was ending her marriage and just wanted someone to talk to, but at a distance, not around her daughters, then 11, 13 and 17.

She found that in Michael.

He was smart, thoughtful and kind, not hardened, not evil, not the dangerous killer some might imagine.

Their calls and correspondence developed unexpectedly into something deeper, and in 2019 they were married. Because a New Mexico marriage license requires both parties to be present, she flew to Kansas, where proxy marriages are legal, and held the ceremony by phone.

My daughters are supportive and love him, and so do my mom and grandmother, she said. Im OK with those who dont. I know what type of person Michael is.

Our conversation is interrupted by Michael, who is calling from the Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility near Clayton, a long, lonesome three-hour drive from Jessicas home in Santa Fe.

It is his second allotted 20-minute call to Jessica of the day but probably not the last.

If anybody is a good example of why SB 43 matters, its Michael. In the nearly 28 years he has spent behind bars, he has managed to remain hopeful, improving himself so that if  when  the day the prison doors swing open he is ready to rejoin the world and the world is ready to accept him.

I went from a terrible kid who took everything for granted and hurt the people I love to the man I am today, he said. I grew up. I changed. If we truly believe people can change, then we have to give people the opportunity to change. We dont throw away children under any other circumstance. We shouldnt do so here.

Attorney Denali Wilson, who has fought for Michael Browns freedom and fair sentencing for other juveniles, said there are many others like Brown who deserve the second chance SB 43 would offer.

Michael is great, but he is not exceptional, Wilson said. Ive met hundreds more like him who have turned out well despite the system, not because of it.

On Friday, the bill was passed 5-1 by the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee and moves on to the Senate Judiciary Committee before it can head to the full Senate and then the House.

The bill  sponsored by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Reps. Gail Chasey and Dayan Hochman-Vigil, all Albuquerque Democrats  would bring New Mexico in line with 25 other states and the District of Columbia, which have banned life in prison without parole for children, and the U.S. Supreme Court case law, which has largely found that sentencing juveniles to life without parole is cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.

The bill also provides juvenile offenders the opportunity for parole after 15 years, but the parole board, with input from the victims and their families, will still decide whether the inmate is sufficiently rehabilitated and no longer a risk to public safety.

The bill takes heed of brain science and demonstrates the capacity a young mind, unfinished and malleable, has for change and rehabilitation, Dr. George Davis, a child/adolescent psychiatrist and adolescent development researcher, writes in support of the bill.

Judges who sentence children as adults make impossible predictions about capacity for rehabilitation, he writes. Because brain development is incomplete in adolescence, determining future character based on teenage behavior is impossible. Fortunately, the passage of time is all that is required to know the answer.

That capacity for change is evident in Michael Brown, now 44. Since being incarcerated, he has obtained his GED, continues to take college classes, is studying to be a drug and alcohol counselor, learned to play music, weld, fix a car, create art, become a husband. He is a peer educator through UNM Project ECHO, an inmate observer who watches over suicidal inmates and a prison barber.

I understand that people are sick of crime, he said. I understand that some believe we should stay locked up. But if locking up a kid like me was supposed to be a deterrent and crime is worse than ever, it didnt work. Why not try something different, focus on education and rehabilitation and preparation to return as better, mature people into society. As adults.

With that, his 20-minute time limit is up. Perhaps soon, his time behind bars will be up as well.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A lawsuit alleges that a former director of the Old Town Boys Club in Albuquerque sexually abused a boy who was active in the organization in the 1980s and 1990s.

The suit alleges that Dominic Yannoni, director of the Old Town Boys Club during that period, sexually abused the boy for several years beginning around 1986 when the boy was in fifth grade.

Yannoni also abused numerous other boys at the club, the 2nd Judicial District Court lawsuit alleges.

The Journal was unable to contact Yannoni on Friday. Levi Monagle, an Albuquerque attorney who filed the suit on behalf of John Doe 13, said Yannoni no longer lives in New Mexico.

The suit names as defendants Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico, identified as the successor to the Albuquerque Boys Club, and its parent organization, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, an Atlanta-based nonprofit.

Mary Regas, spokeswoman for Boys and Girls Clubs of America, said in a written statement that the nonprofit was aware of the lawsuit involving allegations of abuse dating back more than 30 years ago.

All affiliate clubs adhere to safety protocols, including annual background checks, immediate reporting of alleged abuse, required safety policies and training and required references for employees changing club locations, the statement said.

We fully recognize that although these alleged incidents occurred many years ago, time does not erase any pain experienced by survivors and their families, it said.

The suit alleges the two nonprofits were negligent in supervising employees at the club and are liable for the abuse that occurred there. It seeks unspecified damages.

John Doe 13, who was born in 1976, grew up in Albuquerque and spent much of his time at the Old Town Boys Club as a boy, the suit said. The boy later was employed as a counselor at the club while still a minor, it said.

Yannoni took advantage of his position as director to abuse the boy, described as a vulnerable and impoverished child of a single mother, the suit said.

Monagle said in a phone interview Friday that Yannoni donated sizable sums of money to the Albuquerque Boys Club, the corporate entity responsible for the Old Town Boys Club.

The donations were made through Yannonis business, Amigo Bingo, in the 2000 block of 12th NW.

The boys club profited to a significant degree from Yannonis gambling operation, Monagle said.

Yannoni was hired and retained as director of the Old Town Boys Club because of the large amounts of money his gambling operations provided to Albuquerque Boys Club Inc., the lawsuit alleges.
SAN FRANCISCO  On their final night together, father and daughter watched the news and traded goodnight kisses on the cheek. The next morning, Vicha Ratanapakdee was assaulted while on a walk in San Francisco and died, becoming yet another Asian victim of violence in America.

On Sunday, Monthanus Ratanapakdee marked the one-year anniversary of her fathers death with a rally in the San Francisco neighborhood where the 84-year-old was killed. She was joined by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, local leaders and several hundred people who came out to say they would stay silent no more.

Its been traumatizing to see this again and again happen to people who look like you, said Natassia Kwan, an attorney and rally organizer. Today, were going to say its not okay for our elders and women to be pushed into subway tracks, to be killed, to be beaten. We deserve better.

Hundreds of people in five other U.S. cities joined in the national event, all of them seeking justice for Asian Americans who have been harassed, assaulted, and even killed in alarming numbers since the start of the pandemic.

Ratanapakdee, who was raised in Thailand, feels compelled to speak out so people dont forget the gentle, bespectacled man who doted on his young grandsons and encouraged her to pursue her education in America.

I really want my fathers death to not be in vain, said Ratanapakdee, 49, a food safety inspector with the San Francisco Unified School District. I wouldnt want anyone to feel this pain.

Asians in America have long been subject to prejudice and discrimination, but the attacks escalated sharply after the coronavirus first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. More than 10,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition from March 2020 through September 2021. The incidents involved shunning, racist taunting and physical assaults.

In San Francisco and elsewhere, news reports showed video and photos of older Asian people robbed and knocked down, bruised and stabbed on public streets. Preliminary data shows that reported hate crimes against Asian Americans in San Francisco surged from 9 victims in 2020 to 60 in 2021. Crime stats dont tell the whole story, however, as many victims are reluctant to report and not all charges result in hate crime enhancements.

High-profile victims nationally include Michelle Go, 40, who died after a mentally unstable man shoved her in front of a subway in New York City earlier this month. In March, a gunman shot and killed eight people at three Georgia massage spas, including six women of Asian descent ranging in age from 44 to 74. Theres disagreement among officials whether those attacks were racially motivated, but the deaths have rattled Asian Americans.

Ratanapakdee told those at the rally, Please be strong in memory of my father.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Sunday called for the release of U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.

Frerichs, a civil engineer and contractor from Lombard, Illinois, was kidnapped in January 2020 from the capital of Kabul. He is believed to be in the custody of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice, President Joe Biden said in a statement to mark the second anniversary of the kidnapping on Monday. The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable.

The statement came as Afghanistan faces a thorny humanitarian crisis following the U.S. withdrawal in August. The Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country and the foreign aid that had been flowing into the country largely halted, putting at risk the lives of millions of Afghans who could starve or freeze to death.

Charlene Cakora, Frerichs sister, issued a statement saying that her family is grateful for Bidens words.

But what we really want is to have Mark home, she said. We know the president has options in front of him to make that happen and hope Marks safe return will become a priority for him personally.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The United Arab Emirates intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemens Houthi rebels early Monday as the Israeli president visited the country, authorities said, the third such attack in recent weeks.

The attack amid President Isaac Herzogs visit only fuels the ongoing tensions affecting the wider Persian Gulf, which has seen a series of attacks as Irans nuclear deal with world powers collapsed and Yemens yearslong war raged.

As negotiators in Vienna now attempt to save the accord and Emirati-backed forces press on the Houthis, the rebels are launching their longest-range attacks yet. Those assaults represent a major challenge for the Emirates, which long has advertised itself to international businesses as a safe corner of an otherwise-dangerous neighborhood.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency reported the interception, saying that the attack did not result in any losses, as the remnants of the ballistic missile fell outside the populated areas.

It wasnt immediately clear where the missile remnants fell. The countrys civilian air traffic control agency said there was no immediate effect on air travel in the UAE, home to the long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad.

Already, the countrys top prosecutor has threatened that people who film or post images of such an incident would face criminal charges in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. That makes reporting on such incidents even more complicated for journalists.

In the absence of those videos, the Emirati Defense Ministry released black-and-white footage it described as showing the destruction of a ballistic missile launcher in Yemens al-Jawf province some 30 minutes after the attack. Another attack last week saw a similar strike launched on al-Jawf in the minutes after, leading analysts to suggest the Emiratis may receive intelligence assistance from the West for its strikes.

Al-Jawf is some 840 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi.

Houthi military spokesman Yehia Sarei wrote on Twitter that the rebels would make an announcement about an attack in the coming hours that reached into the depths of the UAE. He did not elaborate. The Houthis Al-Masirah satellite news channel later reported that airstrikes had begun targeting Sanaa, Yemens rebel-held capital.

Herzog, Israels ceremonial president in its parliamentary democracy, is in the country on a state visit. The ceremonial leader met Sunday with Abu Dhabis powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

I wish to emphasize that we completely support your security requirements and we condemn in all forms and language any attack on your sovereignty, Herzog told Sheikh Mohammed, according to his office.

Herzogs office told The Associated Press early Monday that the trip was expected to continue as planned when asked about the missile interception. Herzog was scheduled to visit Dubais Expo 2020 worlds fair Monday, which the Houthis had previously threatened to target.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the Houthi attack. While Israels president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians, Price wrote on Twitter.

In the hours after the Houthi attack early Monday, Syrian state-run media said an Israeli strike hit near Damascus. The Israeli military did not immediately acknowledge it.

Last week, a similar attack saw both Emirati and U.S. forces fire interceptor missiles to bring down a Houthi attack as the missiles came near Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi.
UNITED NATIONS  Russia accused the West on Monday of whipping up tensions over Ukraine and said the U.S. had brought pure Nazis to power in Kyiv as the U.N. Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscows troop buildup near its southern neighbor.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield shot back that Russias growing military force of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders was the largest mobilization in Europe in decades, adding that there has been a spike in cyberattacks and Russian disinformation.

And they are attempting, without any factual basis, to paint Ukraine and Western countries as the aggressors to fabricate a pretext for attack, she said.

The harsh exchanges in the Security Council came as Moscow lost an attempt to block the meeting and reflected the gulf between the two nuclear powers. It was the first open session where all protagonists in the Ukraine crisis spoke publicly, even though the U.N.s most powerful body took no action.

Hours later, the Russian government sent a written response to a U.S. proposal aimed at deescalating the crisis, according to three Biden administration officials. The officials all spoke on the condition of anonymity. A State Department official declined to offer details of the response, saying it would be unproductive to negotiate in public and that they would leave it up to Russia to discuss the counterproposal.

Although more high-level diplomacy is expected this week, talks between the U.S. and Russia have so far failed to ease tensions in the crisis, with the West saying Moscow is preparing for an invasion. Russia denies it is planning to attack. It demands pledges that Ukraine will never join NATO, a halt to the deployment of NATO weapons near Russian borders and a rollback of the alliances forces from Eastern Europe. NATO and the U.S. call those nonstarters.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the U.S. of interfering in his countrys internal affairs and seeking a classic example of megaphone diplomacy.

Thomas-Greenfield countered that the U.S. has held over 100 private meetings in the past few weeks with Russian officials and European and Ukrainian colleagues and its now time for a discussion in public.

To Russias assertion that the U.S. called the meeting to make all council members feel uncomfortable, she retorted, Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting on your border.

After the council gave a green light for the meeting, Nebenzia accused the Biden administration of whipping up tensions and rhetoric and provoking escalation.

You are almost pulling for this, he said in his speech to the council, looking at Thomas-Greenfield. You want it to happen. Youre waiting for it to happen, as if you want to make your words become a reality.

He blamed the U.S. for the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, saying it brought to power nationalists, radicals, Russophobes and pure Nazis and created the antagonism that exists between Ukraine and Russia.

Nebenzia pointedly left the council chamber as the Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya started to speak. How long Russia will pressure, will pursue a clear attempt to push Ukraine and its partners into a Kafka trap? Kyslytsva asked.

The vote on holding an open meeting passed 10-2, with Russia and China opposed, and India, Gabon and Kenya abstaining. Nine yes votes were needed for the meeting to go ahead.

The U.S. and its allies had pressed to hold the meeting Monday, the last day of Norways rotating presidency of the council, before Russia takes over Tuesday for the month of February.

Any statement or resolution by the Security Council is extremely unlikely, given Russias veto power and its ties with others on the council, including China.

After all 15 council members spoke, the U.S. and Russia sparred again, with Thomas-Greenfield saying she was disappointed in Nebenzias comments, stressing that Russian threats of aggression are provocative.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the meeting was a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice to reject the use of force and seek military de-escalation.

At the start of a White House meeting with the ruling emir of Qatar, Biden said the U.S. continues to engage in nonstop diplomacy, but we are ready no matter what happens.

The State Department on Monday ordered the departure of families of American diplomats in Belarus, where Russia is deploying troops, tanks and other materiel in what Moscow says is a military exercise.

Western officials fear Russias troop buildup could use Belarus as a jumping-off point to invade neighboring Ukraine, especially its capital, Kyiv, from the north. Tens of thousands of other Russian troops already are staged elsewhere along Ukraines borders.

Belarus officials already have pushed most U.S. Embassy staff out of the country, leaving fewer family members to be affected by Mondays order. The U.S. has also drawn down its diplomatic presence in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken are expected to speak by phone Tuesday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. A senior State Department official confirmed the Russian account.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and will also speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to step back, Johnsons office said. Johnson says he is considering sending hundreds of British troops to NATO countries in the Baltic region as a show of strength.

Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress said Monday they were still divided over some of the timing in draft sanctions legislation against Russia. A Republican push to impose sanctions on a Russian natural gas pipeline to Germany, Nord Stream 2, even before any new Russian push into Ukraine was a main sticking point, lawmakers said. The Biden administration argues for waiting after any invasion, saying sanctioning Nord Stream now could alienate an ally, Germany, and remove the deterrence power of that sanctions threat.

On Sunday, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, said that in the event of an attack, lawmakers want Russia to face the mother of all sanctions. That includes actions against Russian banks that could severely undermine the Russian economy and increased lethal aid to Ukraines military.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the administration was encouraged by the bipartisan effort in Congress to hold Russia accountable. The administration has previously expressed concern that preemptive sanctions could diminish their leverage on Russia, but the White House sounded warmer to the prospect as the Foreign Relations Committee moves to act.

Our view is that sanctions can be an effective tool of deterrence, and the deepening sell-off in Russian markets reflects our message to Russia, Psaki said

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Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

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Follow AP stories on the crisis in Ukraine at: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Talks to stave off the threat of war in Eastern Europe moved to the United Nations Security Council on Monday. Russia, a veto-wielding member of the Security Council, dismissed the meeting as a PR stunt. The diplomatic push at the U.N. comes with 100,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraines border and the Biden administration worrying that Russian President Vladimir Putin will mount some sort of invasion within weeks.

Here are things to know Monday about the international tensions surrounding Ukraine.

WHATS THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL DOING?

Russia accused the West of whipping up tensions over Ukraine and said the U.S. had brought pure Nazis to power in Kyiv as the U.N. Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscows troop buildup near its southern neighbor.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield shot back that Russias growing military force of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders was the largest mobilization in Europe in decades, adding that there has been a spike in cyberattacks and Russian disinformation.

And they are attempting, without any factual basis, to paint Ukraine and Western countries as the aggressors to fabricate a pretext for attack, she said.

The harsh exchanges in the Security Council came as Moscow lost an attempt to block the meeting and reflected the gulf between the two nuclear powers. It was the first open session where all protagonists in the Ukraine crisis spoke publicly, even though the U.N.s most powerful body took no action.

More high-level diplomacy is expected this week.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the meeting was a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice to reject the use of force, seek military de-escalation, support diplomacy and demand accountability from every member to refrain from military aggression against its neighbors.

RUSSIA SENDS COUNTERPROPOSAL TO U.S.

The Russian government has sent a written response to a U.S. proposal aimed at deescalating the Ukraine crisis, according to three Biden administration officials.

The officials all spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Russian response comes as the Biden administration continues to press the Kremlin to deescalate the growing crisis on the Ukraine border, where some 100,000 Russian troops have massed.

A State Department official declined to offer details of the response, saying it would be unproductive to negotiate in public and they would leave it up to Russia to discuss their counterproposal.

The Russian response comes less than a week after U.S. and NATO officials sent in writing proposals addressing grievances the Kremlin said must be addressed by the West.

The U.S. and NATO, however, held firm to the alliances open-door policy for membership, rejected a demand to permanently ban Ukraine from joining, and said allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable.

President Biden on Monday said the U.S. continues to engage in nonstop diplomacy to deescalate the situation.

We continue to urge diplomacy as the best way forward, but with Russia continuing its buildup of forces around Ukraine, we are ready no matter what happens, Biden said.

The U.S. on Monday ordered the departure of families of American diplomats in neighboring Belarus, after already drawing down the American presence around its embassy in Ukraine. Russia has sent troops, tanks and other materiel to Belarus for what it says are military exercises. The deployment raised fears Belarus could be a northern front in any Russian military move into Ukraine.

 Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington

BIDEN MEETS QATAR RULER TO DISCUSS GAS

President Biden met with the ruling emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the White House to discuss issues including global energy supplies as the U.S. and Europe scramble to put in place backup plans to get gas to Europe if supplies are hit by a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia supplies about 40% of the natural gas used in Europe. Natural gas future prices surged last week amid growing market fears that a potential conflict could disrupt Russian exports transiting through Ukraine to the continent.

Qatar is one of the worlds larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the U.S. is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow shutting off the flow of gas piped to Europe.

Any Russian invasion into Ukraine would almost surely trigger harsh economic sanctions from the U.S. and its European allies. That could lead to oil and gas shortages around the world and, most likely, higher energy prices that could send tremors through the global economy.

UKRAINIAN WOMEN TAKE UP ARMS

Some women in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv have vowed to take up arms to defend their nation if there is a Russian invasion and are already training in the use of military weapons.

Svetlana Putilina, the head of an organization for Muslim women in Kharkiv, spends her weekends training with other women how to aim, load and fire automatic rifles and other weapons.

Kharkiv, just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border with Russia, is Ukraines second-most populous city and some fear it could be one of the first targets in a cross-border attack.

This city has to be protected. (Russia) has a big appetite and they are taking piece by piece. This should not happen, said 55-year-old Viktoria Balesina.

Women who have already finished their military-style training arent resting. Theyve joined forces to make camouflage netting that can be sent to the front line.

POLAND OFFERS DEFENSIVE AMMUNITION TO UKRAINE

A top security official said Monday that Poland has offered to send defensive ammunition to neighboring Ukraine.

The head of Polands National Security Bureau, Pawel Soloch, said that the decision to offer the military support was taken following top-level talks with Ukraine, the United Stats and NATO allies.

Polish President Andrzej Duda recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held talks with President Joe Biden and with NATO leaders. He later discussed the situation regarding the Russia-Ukraine tension with Polands political and security leaders.

We are talking about political backing, but also about material support in the humanitarian but also in the military dimension, Soloch said.

The dozens of thousands of rounds of ammunition on offer are for defense purposes, Soloch said.

Poland is awaiting Ukraines response to the offer.

___

Follow all AP stories on Russia and Ukraine tensions at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BRUNSWICK, Ga.  A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the white man convicted of murder for fatally shooting Ahmaud Arbery, whose parents angrily objected to the deal as unfair and unjust.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood came just hours after prosecutors gave notice that son and father Travis and Greg McMichael had agreed to plead guilty to hate crime charges that they chased, threatened and killed 25-year-old Arbery because he was Black.

But Travis McMichaels sentencing hearing Monday afternoon turned emotional and contentious as federal prosecutors urged the judge to approve the deal even after Arberys parents pleaded passionately for her to deny it.

Travis McMichael would have received 30 years in federal prison to be served alongside the penalty of life in prison without parole imposed by a state court judge for the murder conviction. By pleading guilty, he would have given up the chance to appeal his federal sentence.

But Arberys family objected to a provision that sought to transfer Travis McMichael immediately to federal custody from state prison. Arberys parents argued that conditions in federal prison wouldnt be as tough for the McMichaels.

Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said she felt strongly that Travis McMichael should serve his entire sentence in a Georgia state prison.

Please listen to me, Cooper-Jones told the judge. Granting these men their preferred choice of confinement would defeat me. It gives them one last chance to spit in my face.

Wood said she was rejecting the deal because its terms would have locked her into a specific sentence. She said the Arbery family should have a say at sentencing in whatever punishment is ultimately given.

Now the question is whether Travis McMichael will withdraw the guilty plea he entered Monday, and whether Greg McMichael, who had been offered the same deal the judge denied, will still plead guilty as planned. The judge gave them both until Friday to return to the federal courthouse in Brunswick and give their answer.

The plea deals would likely have forced the McMichaels to spend decades in prison, even if they won appeals to their state convictions

The McMichaels armed themselves and chased Arbery in a pickup truck after they spotted him running in their neighborhood outside the port city of Brunswick on Feb. 23, 2020. A neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery with a shotgun.

A national outcry erupted when the graphic video leaked online two months later. Georgia was one of just four U.S. states without a hate crimes law at the time. Legislators quickly approved one, but it came too late for state hate crime charges in Arberys killing.

Despite being convicted of murder in a Georgia state court trial last November, the McMichaels and Bryan still face federal hate crimes charges that accuse them of violating Arberys civil rights and targeting him because he was Black.

Travis McMichael told the judge in a loud, clear voice Monday that he was willing to plead guilty to killing Arbery out of racial animosity.

Prosecutor Tara Lyons asked the judge to set aside the Arbery familys misgivings about the deal, saying Travis McMichaels admission would send a powerful message.

He is pleading guilty to a federal hate crime and publicly confessing to the world that this crime would not have happened had Ahmaud Arbery not been Black, Lyons said.

Lyons said she understood the Arbery familys anger and distrust of the criminal justice system. But federal prosecutors said they had consulted with attorneys for Arberys parents before signing off on any deals.

The Justice Department entered the plea agreement only after the victims attorneys informed me that the family was not opposed to it, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement.

Lee Merritt, an attorney for Arberys mother, said that was misleading. He told reporters outside the courthouse that the family had previously rejected an identical plea deal proposed by prosecutors.

The family no longer wanted to engage them concerning that point, Merritt said. They had had their answer. They (federal prosecutors) took that as a deferral.

No notices have been filed in court of a plea deal for Bryan. For now, he appears to be headed to trial next week  with or without the McMichaels, depending on whether they choose to follow through with their guilty pleas.

Wood continued preparations for trial proceedings, saying she planned to summon the first 50 potential jurors to the courthouse on Feb. 7 for questioning on whether they can serve as fair, unbiased jurors in such a highly publicized case.

During the state trial in Glynn County Superior Court, the defense argued that the white men had authority to chase Arbery because they reasonably suspected he had been committing crimes in their neighborhood. Travis McMichael testified he opened fire only after Arbery attacked him with fists and tried to grab his shotgun.

The federal judge ordered that a jury pool be chosen from throughout the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 counties, to improve odds of seating a fair and unbiased jury.
LONDON  Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic

Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the partygate scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. But he faced criticism from some of his own Conservative colleagues, who have the power to oust a leader some fear has become damaged goods. One Conservative lawmaker accused the prime minister of taking him for a fool.

I get it, and I will fix it, Johnson said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021 while the U.K. was under government-imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Gray found that failures of leadership and judgment allowed events to occur that should not have been allowed to take place.

The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the governments regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well, Gray wrote.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify, she added.

Grays glimpse inside a 10 Downing St. marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Grays conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated.

Her findings on 12 others have been withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police force, to avoid any prejudice to a criminal investigation launched last week into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules.

The force said Monday that it would be interviewing party attendees and looking at more than 300 photos and over 500 pages of documents it had received from Grays team. Anyone found guilty, including the prime minister, could face a fine.

Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philips funeral in April 2021  a service at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone.

The allegations that the prime minister and his staff flouted restrictions imposed on the country  holding bring your own booze office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays  have caused public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to call for Johnsons resignation and triggered intense infighting inside the governing party.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public had made heart-wrenching sacrifices and endured a collective trauma during the pandemic.

He said the prime minister held peoples sacrifice in contempt. He showed himself unfit for office.

Johnson can ignore opposition criticism, because the Conservatives have a large majority in Parliament. His fate rests on how Conservative lawmakers respond to his apology. Some previously said they would push for a no-confidence vote if Gray found Johnson was at serious fault or had misled Parliament with his previous insistence that no rules had been broken. If Johnson lost such a vote, he would be replaced as party leader and prime minister.

Johnson urged his critics to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation.

But one Conservative legislator, Andrew Mitchell, said in the House of Commons that Johnson no longer has my support.

Another, Aaron Bell, recalled attending his grandmothers small, socially distanced funeral in May 2020 and asked: Does the prime minister think Im a fool?

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May said that either Johnson and those around him had not read the rules, or didnt understand what they meant.  Or they didnt think the rules applied to No. 10. Which was it?

Gray did not criticize the prime minister directly, but said there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government.

That is unlikely to satisfy many of Johnsons critics, some of whom accused the government of an attempted cover-up.

This whole thing is a whitewash, there is no intent for anyone to tell the truth or be held accountable, said David Garfinkel, a member of the group COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. We have a prime minister who lies, who lies about lies and he is utterly insincere and incapable of leading.

The government initially refused to promise that it would publish Grays full findings once the police investigation is finished. But after pressure from Conservative lawmakers, Johnsons office committed to publishing her updated report.

Johnson, meanwhile, sought to change the subject from his personal woes, marking the second anniversary of Brexit on Monday by touting economic opportunities outside the European Union.

The U.K. officially left the now 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, though it remained part of the EUs economic structures for another 11 months.

Johnson announced a Brexit Freedoms Bill that the government says will slash red tape for British businesses by amending laws that were carried over from the U.K.s years as an EU member.

Johnson also plans a diplomatic push to try to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. He is expected to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone later Monday or Tuesday and to visit Ukraine on Tuesday as part of efforts to deter Russia from invading its neighbor.

Some political observers said Grays circumscribed and partial report may give Johnson at least a temporary reprieve from calls for his ouster.

Its too soon to tell, said Alex Thomas, program director at the Institute for Government think-tank.

It avoided some of the most damaging outcomes that we might have expected.  But in a way the more you read it, the more you look at the descriptions of the culture and the failings of leadership, the more damaging it was.

___

Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui and video journalist Jo Kearney contributed to this story.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Actors and others who work around firearms on film sets would be required to take a gun safety course under legislation proposed Monday at the Roundhouse  a response to the fatal Rust shooting last fall.

Republican state Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell said he introduced the proposal to ensure actors and prop personnel understand theyre handling a deadly weapon, not just a prop, during scenes with firearms.

They would have to complete hunter safety training offered by the Department of Game and Fish.

Unfortunately, to the Hollywood elite, the talk around guns is all too abstract, Pirtle said in a written statement. This is a simple bill to bring some gravity back to the use of firearms on film sets.

The proposal, Senate Bill 188, faces long odds in the 30-day session now underway. It has not been authorized by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for addition to the legislative agenda, and the session ends in 18 days.

Its introduction comes as Santa Fe authorities investigate a shooting on the set of Rust in October  when actor Alec Baldwin fired a shot that killed Halyna Hutchins, director of photography, and wounded Joel Souza, the director.

Baldwin contends he did not pull the trigger when the gun went off and that he has no idea how a live round found its way on set.

No one has been charged.

The crew was filming a Western at Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe.

Pirtle said his bill would ensure actors and prop personnel are trained in gun safety.

Anyone employed by a film production company on a set where firearms or ammunition are on site would have to have a certificate of competency in the safe handling of firearms.

I was heartbroken to learn of the tragic incident on the Rust film set, Pirtle said. Having personally used a similar revolver on film sets, I know there is no space to be cavalier with these firearms. They are not props; they are deadly weapons regardless of the context of use.

Pirtle has acted as a ranch hand and as an accountant in two Westerns: Deadman Standing and Death Alley. He used a revolver loaded with blanks in one appearance.

A spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham said the administration had not seen the bill Monday, but would review it.

In 30-day legislative sessions, approval by the governor is necessary to consider bills that do not fall into certain categories, such as budget and tax legislation.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico is currently one of roughly 30 states that do not allow for the recall of state elected officials.

But that would change under a proposed constitutional amendment that cleared its first House committee Monday when a Democratic lawmaker joined with Republicans to advance the proposal.

High-profile recall efforts have launched in other states, including in California where Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom survived a bitter recall election in October.

Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, who is one of the sponsors of this years proposal, House Joint Resolution 12, said Monday it would allow voters to take action if elected officials alienate or anger the electorate.

I really believe if people are super unhappy with someone, they should be able to recall them, Lord said.

However, some lawmakers expressed misgivings about a provision in the measure that would install the candidate with the second-highest number of votes in an election as the successor to any elected official removed from office through a recall effort.

I do think the legislation needs to be worked on  because it doesnt work in its current form, said Rep. Greg Nibert, R-Roswell.

But the proposal won approval in the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee on a 4-3 vote, when Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, joined with three GOP legislators, including Nibert, in voting in support.

In all, 19 states currently allow for recall elections of state elected officials, including Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

While New Mexico does not currently allow for recall elections targeted at statewide officials, the state Constitution does allow for recall attempts to be launched against elected county officials and school board members. State law also lays out a process for recall elections targeting certain municipal officeholders.

Elected officials in New Mexico can be removed from office only through impeachment, which requires legislative action.

Under this years recall proposal, at least 25% of voters who cast ballots in the last general election that the targeted official ran in would have to sign a petition. If the signatures were determined to be valid, a special election would then have to be held within 90 days.

The measure now advances to the House Judiciary Committee.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukraines security chief warned the West on Monday against forcing the country to fulfill a peace deal for eastern Ukraine brokered by France and Germany, charging that an attempt to implement it could trigger internal unrest that would benefit Moscow.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press that Ukraine has the capability to call up to 2.5 million people if Russia invades.

He said that about 120,000 Russian troops are concentrated near Ukraine and Moscow may stage provocations at any moment, but argued that launching a full-fledged invasion would require massive preparations that would be easily spotted.

The preparatory period that will be noticed by the entire world could take from three to seven days, Danilov said. We arent seeing it yet. We clearly understand whats going on and we are calmly preparing for it.

He deplored the decision by the U.S., Britain, Australia, Germany and Canada to withdraw some of their diplomats and dependents from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, saying the move wasnt pleasant for us and empasizing that we dont think that there is a threat right now.

U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a call Thursday that there is a distinct possibility that Russia could invade the country in February. But the Ukrainian leader played down the war fears, arguing Friday that the Russian troop buildup could be part of Moscows attempts to exert psychological pressure and sow panic.

We cant allow panic in the country, Danilov told the AP. Its very difficult for us to maintain control over the economic situation when all the media keep saying that the war will start tomorrow. Panic is a sister of defeat.

Danilov said that Ukraine has the potential to quickly and dramatically beef up its 250,000-strong military in case of a Russian offensive.

They will face a response from our society, our citizens, our military, Danilov told the AP. We can put 2 (million) to 2.5 million people under arms.

He noted that up to 420,000 Ukrainians have gained combat experience in fighting with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and up to 1 million in the nation of 41 million people have hunting licenses.

Danilov pointed at the Ukrainian Interior Ministrys announcement Monday that it had thwarted a plot to stage riots in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to achieve his goal of destroying Ukraine through internal destabilization even without an invasion.

Regrettably, we have many agents of influence of the Russian Federation here, who are behind the plans of destabilizing our country from within, he said pointing at a pro-Russian party that has a sizeable presence in Ukraines parliament.

After 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 there have stalled.

Since the start of the separatist conflict in Ukraine, Russia has been accused of sending troops and weapons to the separatists, something it has denied. It has given out over 700,000 Russian passports to people living in rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine.

I have a question: Why the West is not reacting to that? Danilov said.

He argued that Ukraine needs to revise the 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk that requires Ukraine to provide a broad autonomy to the rebel-held east and a sweeping amnesty to the rebels.

The fulfillment of the Minsk agreement means the countrys destruction, Danilov said. When they were signed under the Russian gun barrel  and the German and the French watched  it was already clear for all rational people that its impossible to implement those documents.

The agreement, which was brokered by France and Germany after a string of Ukrainian military defeats, was widely abhorred by the Ukrainian public as a betrayal of their national interests. Zelenskyy and his officials have made repeated calls for its modification.

Moscow has staunchly refused to amend the Minsk agreement and criticized Ukraines Western allies for failing to encourage Ukraine to fulfill its obligations.

Envoys from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany met Wednesday for more than eight hours in Paris to discuss ways to implement the Minsk agreement. They made no visible progress but agreed to meet again in two weeks in Berlin.

Danilov warned the West against pressuring Ukraine into fulfilling the Minsk deal, saying it would provoke dangerous instability.

If they insist on the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements as they are it will be very dangerous for our country, he said. If the society doesnt accept those agreements, it could lead to a very difficult internal situation and Russia counts on that.

He also argued that if Ukraine honors the deal it, that will allow Russia to demand the lifting of Western sanctions that were contingent on progress in implemeting the Minsk agreement.

Danilov called for negotiating a new document that could be realistically implemented, adding that it should force Putin to simply pull his troops and tanks back.

He denounced the Russian demands for NATO to bar Ukraine from ever joining the alliance, saying that the country, a former Soviet republic, has made a choice to seek to integrate into NATO and the European Union, which is reflected in its constitution. It is not a member of either bloc at this time.

No one has the right to dictate to us whether we should or shouldnt join alliances, Danilov said. Its our peoples sovereign right.

He also noted that Ukraine needs more Western weapons, saying its our only request to our partners  give us more weapons to defend ourselves.

He criticized Germany for refusing to provide Ukraine with weapons, charging that Berlin has also failed to properly apologize to Ukrainians for Nazi crimes during World War II when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.

Regrettably, they havent apologized for killing millions of our citizens, he said. They apologize to the Russians as if we were one country. They shouldnt talk about democracy then and say that they support authoritarian regimes and partner with them.

___

Follow all AP stories on tensions between Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
SANTA FE  The Senate confirmed former state Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil as secretary of New Mexicos child-welfare agency Monday on a 36-0 vote.

Vigil, a former childrens court judge, said she would make transparency and accountability a priority as she leads the state Children, Youth and Families Department, an agency that has faced whistle-blower litigation and questions about the handling of child-abuse cases.

Lawmakers said they were pleased Vigil was willing to take on such a difficult job following a distinguished legal career.

Sen. Michael Padilla, an Albuquerque Democrat who grew up in foster homes, said Vigils warm, engaging personality will be an asset at the CYFD.

I think the children of New Mexico are in much better hands, Padilla said.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the appointment of Vigil in August.

Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, said Vigil has a strong understanding of the issues and how to address them.

Shes there because she knows the work, she knows the job and she knows the struggles, Ivey-Soto said.
Instagram Celebrity

Just hours before taking her own life, the 2019 pageant winner shared an alarming social media post, which she captioned, 'May this day bring you rest and peace.'

Jan 31, 2022

AceShowbiz - Cheslie Kryst has tragically passed away. The 2019 Miss USA winner was found dead after taking her own life by jumping from her 29th-floor terrace New York City apartment. She was only 30 years old.

On Sunday, January 30, the beauty catwalk's family confirmed the tragic passing in a statement that read, "In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie." The note continued, "Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined."

"Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on EXTRA," Cheslie's family added. "But most importantly as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague -- we know her impact will live on." Her family is asking for privacy in wake of the late beauty queen's death.

Of her passing, law enforcement reported that Cheslie died on Sunday after jumping from a 60-floor building at 350 W. 42nd Street in New York City around 7:15 A.M. local time. Cheslie, who was a lawyer, reportedly lived on the ninth floor of the building and was last seen on a 29th-floor terrace.

Just hours before her death, Cheslie, who was crowned Miss USA as Miss North Carolina in May 2019, shared an alarming post on her Instagram account. Along with a stunning portrait of her, she captioned her post, "May this day bring you rest and peace," adding a red heart emoji.

Upon learning of her sudden death, many of her fellow models offered their condolences. Miss France Iris Mittenaere commented on her Instagram post, "Rest peacefully sweet Angel [broken heart emoji]." Filipino model and actress Marian Rivera left a red heart emoji, while former contestant of 2015 Miss USA penned, "Rest peacefully sister. The world will miss you and the light you shone so bright."

ExtraTV also expressed its sorrow over the death of its reporter and offered its "deepest condolences to all her family and friends" in a statement. "Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show. She was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff," so read the note.
Instagram Celebrity

Jrue Mesgan, an obsessed fan of the 'Keeping Up with Kardashians' alum, is taken into police custody after entering a home close to the reality star's $36 million Beverly Hills mansion.

Jan 31, 2022

AceShowbiz - Kylie Jenner's obsessed fan, Jrue Mesgan, has been arrested again. The male fan of the "Keeping Up with Kardashians" alum was booked for burglary at a neighbor's home and taken to jail just a month after being taken into police custody for violating a restraining order against the reality star.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ on Sunday, January 30 that Jrue was busted after entering a home close to Kylie's place in Beverly Hills. According to the outlet, the die-hard fan "drank a beer and allegedly tried to take alcohol with him."

As a result, the District Attorney has sent the case to the City Attorney for misdemeanor prosecution. The Los Angeles City Attorney subsequently hit Jrue with 11 misdemeanors, including trespassing and violation of a court order. However, Jrue's lawyer insisted that his client wasn't "competent" to stand trial.

Jrue's latest arrest came less than a month after he was charged with a misdemeanor violation of a court order for violating a previous restraining order by showing up to Kylie's $36 million estate in the exclusive part of Beverly Hills, called Holmby Hills, and buzzing the gate. However, a security guard on the property spotted Jrue and called the police.

"[Jrue] had been to the house numerous times over the last few months trying to see Kylie, so she got a stay-away order, which he violated," the outlet reported at the time. However, he was apparently released from jail after paying a $20,000 bail.

Jrue wasn't the only obsessed fan Kylie's dealing with. Last December, a man was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing after he allegedly attempted to propose to the Kylie Cosmetics founder. The 23-year-old suspect hopped a fence in the reality TV star's neighborhood in hopes of reaching her but ended up knocking on her neighbor's door.

Police were called to the scene and spoke with the individual, who had arrived with flowers. The man claimed that he intended on professing his love and proposing to Travis Scott (II)'s baby mama, who is currently expecting her second child with him.

Back in June, another male fan who attempted to confess his love for Kylie was also arrested. According to Kylie's security, the man was "familiar" but he was cooperative in the past when the security asked him to leave the property. At the time, however, the man refused to leave and put up a fight until he got a chance to see Kylie face to face.
Instagram Celebrity

Responding to the allegations, the reality star, who is going to marry her fiance Brett Randle, allegedly accuses her co-star that she 'doesn't know the facts' and that she's still 'stuck in 2019' in a direct message.

Jan 31, 2022

AceShowbiz - Madison LeCroy has shut down rumors that she and Alex Rodriguez had a fling while he was still with his ex-fiancee Jennifer Lopez. The "Southern Charm" star, who is going to tie the knot with her fiance Brett Randle, didn't waste time to slam the old allegations, which were reignited by her co-star Leva Bonaparte.

Page Six reported on Sunday, January 30 that the 31-year-old reality star, who is going to marry Brett in December this year, responded to the claims in a direct message. "Stuck in 2019 & still doesn't know the facts [laughing emoji]," she allegedly wrote.

Madison's alleged response arrived after Leva was asked in an interview with S'More Date on Friday if she believed Madison and the former MLB slugger had a rendezvous. The 42-year-old TV personality replied, "Yeah."

Madison and A-Rod's affair accusation was first brought up by her co-star Craig Conover when he defended his best friend and her ex-boyfriend, Austen Kroll. "You were flying around the country sleeping with men, married men," Craig accused her of cheating back in January 2021. Craig detailed, "Ex-MLB players. That's what you were doing during quarantine."

"You know why Austen was at my house? 'Cause you weren't talking to him! You flew to Miami to f**k an ex-MLB player," Craig fumed. Reacting to his accusations, Madison was quick to challenge, "Put me on a lie detector test. I never flew to Miami. Where's the record of that?"

In the meantime, a source close to A-Rod insisted that the athlete "doesn't know this woman." The source added, "Look, does this mean he didn't DM her and liked a photo or two? I guess not, but he doesn't know her -- and he definitely didn't hook up with her."

Madison also insisted she had "never been physical" with A-Rod and had "never met up" with him. Though so, she clarified they've "spoken on the phone," noting, "That's the truth." She stressed that they've "never had any kind of anything. Just an acquaintance."

As for now, Madison is living her best life with her soon-to-be-husband Brett. A-Rod, in the meantime, is "enjoying life" as a single man amid sightings with Dallas-based fitness competitor Kathryne Padgett.
Instagram/WENN/Instagram/Judy Eddy Celebrity

After claiming she knew her baby daddy took the 'Icy Grl' raptress on a shopping spree, the model/entrepreneur shares a video of her cozying up to the rapper

Jan 31, 2022

AceShowbiz - Saweetie has found herself in a supposed love triangle involving her, Lil Baby and Jayda Cheaves. The "Icy Grl" raptress has sparked a debate about whether or not she responded to the rapper and his baby mama's reconciliation rumors after sharing some eyebrow-raising posts.

In one of her latest Instagram Stories, Saweetie posted a picture of someone flashing her middle finger. She additionally reposted DJ Miss Milan's video in which she said, "Send him back to the street! Send him back!" with the caption that read, "Return to senderrrrr @saweetie."

Some people later clowned Saweetie over her supposed response to Baby and Jadya's alleged reconciliation. Ooh girl. "He was never yours to be sent back to the streets," one person mocked the "My Type" raptress.

"Next time get your shopping spree and don't post him lol get played in private," another told the 28-year-old femcee. A third claimed, "baby he already belonged there," while someone else echoed the sentiment as saying, "I kinda think he went back where he should have stayed and left her in the streets."

Someone else, however, thought that the haters were reaching. "Umm y'all Jayda posted that tiktok 45 minutes ago saweetie story was 2 hrs ago," one noted. Another simply said, "They reaching." One other person argued, "Saweetie always stick up her middle finger  but today it's a problem girl nobody gaf about Jayda & lil baby."

"Not only that Saweetie reposted it 3 hours ago! Also ppl wanna play dumb like she doesn't ALWAYS have her [middle finger] up in damn near all her pics smh. It's giving ppl are hella bored today," someone similarly said.

Another thought that Saweetie wasn't crying over the end of her fling with Baby as saying, "Don't understand why people are talking about Saweetie. Saweetie probably had her fun with him and moved on. Baby ain't a prize at all, he doesn't even respect Jayda." Another agreed and wrote, "Wait not y'all thinking Saweetie out here worried bout Jayda & Lil Baby, y'all crazy."

Saweetie's cryptic posts arrived around the same time Jayda posted a video of her cozying up to Baby. In the TikTok clip, the model/entrepreneur clung onto the "Drip Too Hard" rhymer before the two showed some choreographed moves.

Prior to this, Saweetie and Baby were rumored to be romantically linked after he allegedly spent nearly $100,000 on her in the Chanel store in New York back in November 2021. While the "Best Friend" raptress fueled the rumors, the Atlanta native denied it. Jadya, meanwhile, seemingly confirmed it as she claimed she knew it before the news broke on the Internet.
Kaya Ltd provides customised and personalised skin and hair care solutions through over 70 Kaya Clinics across India. Kaya delivers flawless skin and healthy hair through expert skin and hair care solutions that includes services in the areas of Acne/Acne-scar Reduction, Brightening, Pigmentation, Anti-Aging, Laser Hair Reduction, etc. along with regular beauty enhancement services.

Recently, the brand launched their new identity. This new purpose driven, Gen Z ethos inspired, digital-first brand identity reaffirms their authority in the industry and represents a shift that will boost Kaya to reach yet another pinnacle for building an expert skincare, bodycare and haircare destination of the future. The new brand narrative is inspired by its young customers  Gen Zs and Millennials. Kaya truly is Indias ultimate skin and beauty destination that curates alleviated personalisation to help customers discover products and services that are right for their unique selves.

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Samyukta Ganesh Iyer, VP and Head of Marketing, Kaya, speaks about their new brand identity and narrative, as well as the various initiatives that the brand is planning to engage with their customers.

Please tell us more about the new Kaya brand identity that was launched a few months back. What was the purpose and how do you plan to leverage the new brand identity and how will this benefit the brand?

Launched 18 years ago, Kaya is a one-of-a-kind beautiful bespoke experience crafted by our expert 100+ dermats across our 70+ clinics in 22 cities pan India. We offer 600+ services and 60+ products to help our consumers achieve all their skin desires. We are not a parlour, a spa, a salon  we are Kaya, an expert-led aesthetic world class experience for India. We have always been ahead of the curve, a visionary brand with high dermat expertise, state of art techniques and technology, innovative R&D that come together to bring the latest from the world of beauty and aesthetics.

The new brand narrative is inspired by its young customers  Gen Zs and Millenials. Being future relevant for our younger audiences is about empowering them with the freedom of choice to find their own best beautiful. Its inclusive, its individualistic, its about the culture of you do you as you know best and Kaya is here to help you every step of the way in your journey in the manner of your choosing  in-clinic, online, services, products  we have a holistic offering for all your skin desires wherever and whenever and however you would like for Kaya to be there for you. This new purpose driven, Gen Z ethos inspired, digital-first brand identity reaffirms our authority in the industry and represents a shift that will boost Kaya to reach yet another pinnacle for building an expert skincare, bodycare and haircare destination of the future.

The pandemic has disrupted every other business. What has been the impact for Kaya and how did you navigate during these times and still manage to market your product offerings?

Kaya is an omnichannel brand. We have 70+ clinics in 22+ cities. We have established presence across marketplaces like Amazon, Nykaa and Myntra. During these uncertain times, we elevated our digital experiences via collaborations  Cult Fit, Cred. Our digitisation mirrors offline customisation via an all-new AI assessment tool on the website  shop.kaya.in. The website reflects the changing expectations and aspirations of the new consumer, customized to individual needs.

Kaya has a 60+ strong world class product portfolio, crafted on the strength of processed natural ingredients and actives with guaranteed efficacy from our 100+ dermats. Our product mix pans across categories, skin types, age groups and varied self-love wishes from youth elixirs to sun protectors to super hydrators to gentle products for sensitive skin to acne fighters to fun formats like masks, peels to pampering hair and body essentials, DIY kits, Kaya has it all. Our dermats also offer web consults from the comfort of your home.

What has been the role of technology in your business? With the rapid transformation of digital, how has Kaya adapted to the digital world and brought in new technology to boost the business?

Kaya is a digital first brand and has always been highly interactive. We speak to our consumers one on one and digital offers us a great way to have deep conversations with our consumers. It opens up channels of communication to create awareness, create new standards, answer FAQs and finally allows for them to come to us into our clinics. Its a beautifully integrated system that harnesses the power of digital and online marketing to invite our consumers into our offline world to help them experience Kaya at its finest in a truly customized style.

In the personal skincare solution business, brand ambassadors and influencers play an important role. How have you leveraged their equity and expertise to build the equity of the brand further?

Kayas approach to influencer marketing is very unique, it is authentic. Our content strategy is based on communal dialogues in a 3-pronged approach: dermat speak (expert), influencer experientials (in-clinic and product immersions), and customer testimonials. This creates a very real refreshingly simple yet elevated original content experience leading to great quality creative output.

What are some of the new initiatives and marketing innovations that you have introduced to increase the footfalls in your various centres as there is still a fear among many to enter malls and beauty salons?

Kayas narrative strategy borrows from the DNA of our brand  the 3Es of social:

Empathetic Engaging Energised

Our consumer conversations are light, friendly, easy, expert driven, high levels of care oozing out of our pores (digitally speaking), so reflective of our beautiful brand Kaya. Our digital footprint on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, D2C platform are  warm, inviting, welcoming, inclusive and very informative (dermat led).

We have crafted an entire narrative around the most important theme  what happens at Kaya? What is the Kaya experience? What does Kaya Life mean? How does it make our consumers feel at every touch point as a brand that embraces all the senses to create that beautiful, luxurious and meaningfully designed experience for every Kaya consumer? This essence has been captured in a lovely campaign called Experience #TheKayaLife. A natural evolution of this campaign transcended into the digital realm taking the Kaya Life into the comfort of consumer homes via dermat consults and beautifully crafted products on our D2C: shop.kaya.in. This campaign Experience  #TheKayaLife@Home  opened up avenues for our customers to immerse in the Kaya experience 24x7.

The next stage of this campaign delved into how you can experience the safest shopping experience with #KayaSafe. An entire series that showcased our 60+ safety standards, our UVC sanitisation protocols, our digitisation journeys even in the offline space from booking appointments to payments to receiving maintenance packages at home, our 100% vaccinated staff, constant health monitoring of staff and clients to ensure the highest levels of safety in the lap of luxury.

What has been your engagement strategy with your audience? Has digital been your main focus to keep your brand top of mind?

Kaya is an expert brand. Our expertise lies with our 100+ super skinfluencers  our highly qualified dermats. Our dermats are unique  they understand skin from a deeply rooted scientific perspective and beautifully combine it with their heightened sense of aesthetic artistry. They are truly master artists at work and our consumers come to us for this unique gifted experience that is like none other!

Video has been a critical component. Our dermats are leading conversations through live sessions, reels, videos across digital platforms to showcase our experts: as our USP has always been our dermat led expertise.

Kaya truly is Indias ultimate skin and beauty destination that curates alleviated personalisation to help customers discover products and services that are right for their unique selves.
MediaOne, a Malayalam news channel, has been banned by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) for security considerations.

According to a statement from Pramod Raman, Editor of MediaOne, the government has blocked the channel for security grounds, and the channel has not received any more information about the action.

Raman further stated that the channel will move to court to challenge the government's decree.

It is for the second time that the I&B Ministry is banning MediaOne. The ministry suspended MediaOne and Asianet News for 48 hours in March 2020 for their "biassed" coverage of the Delhi riots, citing news that backed "towards a certain group," among other breaches of the Cable TV Act.

MediaOne TV is run by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, which is run by a trust helmed by the Kerala Jamaat-e-Islami. The station received its licence in September 2011 and began broadcasting on February 10, 2013.

The government is yet to divulge the details of the ban. MediaOne will take legal actions against the ban, said Raman while announcing that the channel was going off the air.
The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's order revoking Media One Channel's licence and removing the channel's name from the list of permitted channels for two days. The revoke order, to be implemented with immediate effect, is a reprieve for the Malayalam news channel as it comes hours after the I&B ban order.

Justice Nagaresh, who heard the matter, posted it on Wednesday. The court has also issued notice to Planetcast Media Services Ltd, and the union government in this regard.

Hours after the ministry suspended the telecasting of MediaOne, the channel filed a writ petition. Senior lawyer Sreekumar appeared for the channel.

Appearing for the Union Government, the Additional Solicitor General S Manu strongly opposed passing an interim order, claiming that it is not an essential service. The court, however, ruled that the broadcasting should not be stalled until a final order has been passed.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has denied the security clearance to Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited for renewal of permission for uplinking and downlinking of Media One.

A Show Cause Notice (SCN) dated 5 January 2022 was sent to the company as to why the permission granted to them for uplinking and downlinking of the channel should not be revoked or cancelled. The company, in its reply to the SCN on 19 January 2022, has mentioned that it is unaware of the grounds for denial of security clearance and requested not to initiate any further proceedings in the matter.

The I&B Ministry said in its order that the security clearance is based on security parameters of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Since the Ministry of Home Affairs has denied the security clearance, the channel cannot be allowed to operate, said the order.
With an impressive portfolio of films and series to their name, Raj Nidimoru & Krishna D.K., also known as Raj & DK, need no introduction. The incredibly talented writer-director duo have an impeccable body of work, and they will now kickstart their creative partnership with Netflix with the quirky series Guns & Gulaabs under the D2R Films production.

Inspired by the misfits of the world, Guns & Gulaabs is a story that depicts love and innocence, set in a world of crime. The series is set to uniquely blend the romance of the 90s with a crime thriller while effortlessly lacing it in humour.

Speaking about the series and their collaboration with Netflix, Raj & DK said: Netflix has always been a pioneering service offering constantly cutting edge content. And we are super thrilled to associate with them on our latest venture! Last year, we had a great outing on Netflix with our indie gem, Cinema Bandi. And now we look forward to a larger collaboration on our first Netflix series, Guns & Gulaabs. We are especially thrilled to roll out this wicked genre mash with some of the finest cast and crew from our country.

Sharing details on the announcement, Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India, said: We are delighted to partner with the finest creators Raj Nidimoru & Krishna D.K. for a series as distinct as their creative voice, Guns and Gulaabs. Bringing their unique storytelling style to Netflix, Raj & DK blend romance, crime and the inimitable humor thats signature to the duo, into Guns & Gulaabs which will captivate audiences in India and across the world.

Stay tuned for more updates on Guns & Gulaabs.

Created, Directed & Produced by Raj & DK

Written by Suman Kumar, Raj & DK, & Sumit Arora
Nippon Paint (India) Private Limited (Decorative Division) Asias leading paint manufacturer launched the advertising campaign for its product Spotless Nxt - stain repellant emulsion . The ad campaign highlight s Spotless Nxts unique Swan-back technology which makes the paint resistant to the penetration of water-borne stains and causes them to form beads. The advertisement has been created and executed by Rubecon Communications.

The ad features Nippon Paints brand mascot Blobby and actor Redin Kingsley as a funny watchman who guards the walls 24 X 7 against stains, until Blobby intervenes with Spotless Nxt. The ad is being aired on TV as well as digital platforms. The Blobby  watchman duo are also featuring in supporting social media campaigns which showcase the product and its functional features. The campaign drives home the message that with Spotless NXTs stain-resistant swan-back technology, youll never have to worry about dirtying your walls again. #WallukuWatchmanEdhuku

Some of the key features of Spotless Nxt are Stain repellancyand Ultra Low VOC which keeps the walls stain-free andclean resulting in a healthy environment. These high-performance features ensure that waterborne stains that come in contact with the walls, form into beads & roll down. This beading effect guarantees stains dont stick and can be removed easily without damaging the paint. Spotless Nxt does not emit any odour during & after painting hence reducing the risk of any irritation, headache, or nausea, etc. It also possesses excellent washability which makes the surface easier to clean.

Emphasizing the need for such an innovative product in the market, Mr. Mahesh S. Anand, President  Nippon Paint (India) Private Limited (Decorative Division) commented, We are excited to launch this new advertising campaign on Spotless Nxt featuring actor Redin Kingsley and our Spotless Nxt Blobby. We had noted a rising awareness amongst our customers about paint with specific functionalities like stain repellency. With Spotless Nxt, we wish to offer our customers a high-quality paint that is suitable for homes. With lot of time being spent indoors, this special acrylic emulsion paint will play a significant role in keeping the interiors free from household stains.

Talking about the brand campaign, Mr. Mark Titus, Director of Marketing - Nippon Paint (India) Private Limited (Decorative Division) said, Spotless Nxt is a versatile paint that can be used on interior walls, ceilings and hard and soft boards. The paint comes with numerous benefits for consumers, but most importantly it helps in trouble-free cleaning of walls and gives walls a smooth sheen finish. Adults in most families are very protective of their walls and try very hard to keep them clean and presentable, especially when their paint is not stain-repellent. Through this ad, we wanted to show the funny side of such efforts while drawing attention to Spotless Nxt, our stain repellent emulsion. Actor Redin Kingsley lends his brand of humour to the ad and the social media campaign. The ad campaign will be supported by communications across ATL, BTL and Digital programs to accelerate awareness creation.

Nippon Paint Spotless Nxt is commercially available all across India through Nippon Paints select dealer partners. To learn more about Nippons Spotless Nxt, visit https://www.nipponpaint.co.in/products/nippon-paint-spot-less-nxt/
Publicis Groupe India announced the elevation and appointment of Roopesh Pujari, to Chief Technology Officer for the market effective January 2022. In this role, Roopesh will steer the development of all technology capabilities across the Groupe in India including expansion of cloud solutions, platform integration, capability and capacity building and streamlining partners. He will work closely with the India Groupe Leadership Team and his priorities will include stronger cohesion of specialised teams across the Groupe Agencies and Practices, acceleration of both bespoke and enterprise projects that sharpen client success.

Commenting on the appointment Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe South Asia said, Given the rapidly evolving landscape around 5G, Web 3.0, Metaverse, NFTs, Blockchain, Crypto and the like, technology roadmap is central to the success of any business. The new role will aid us in futureproofing our organisation as well as enabling the right support to client strategies. And Roopesh not only brings the right experience and competence but comes in with an exemplary track-record from within our organisation.

Roopesh Pujari said, Technology is the bedrock of all growth. Over the last years, we have invested strongly in the technology capabilities across the Groupe, and I am excited to take on this opportunity that allows us to scale up tech solutions across the Groupe  from creative to content to media to experiences! With such a vast canvas I believe we will also become a super-attractive employer for talented individuals looking for true variety in exposure and experience.

Roopesh comes with 25 years of IT leadership experience in Product design/development, Core System Transformation, Enterprise Architecture, Program Management, Process Improvement and Services Management across various domains  BFSI, Manufacturing, Consulting, Publishing, Aviation/Airlines, Healthcare. He is a Mechanical engineer from Karnataka university and also a qualified MBA and MS in Strategic Finance from Indiana University, USA. Before joining Publicis Media in March 2019, he had worked extensively both in India and the US with organisations who had Fortune 500 customers across the globe including the likes of Apple, Pfizer, Dell, the US Army, Mondelez, etc. He also has a rich experience in hiring and ramping up teams in both the US and India.
TV9 Bharatvarsh, the top Hindi News channel from TV9 Network, Indias No. 1 News Network, held the latest edition of its successful political summit series Satta Sammelan - Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow.

The Summit has already set the agenda as the platform where leaders across political parties gather to debate and share their vision ahead of the elections.

The Summit held on 27th January saw the biggest names in UP politics on one stage with the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister - Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy DM Dinesh Sharma, Samjawadi Party President and former CM Akhilesh Yadav, Apna Dals c, along with other distinguished speakers across party lines.

Addressing and deliberating upon a range of topics in the political space, the leaders expressed their opinions on issues deciding the political future of the state. The Summit saw politicians field questions from the invited audience on key challenges for the state.

Speaking on Ayodhya, Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, said Our government got the identity of Ayodhya back. I dont go to Ayodhya for elections. I always go to Ayodhya out of faith, not politics. Speaking on Mathura, he added, If a mistake has been made somewhere in an outrageous way, then time will also rectify it. Every injustice has its retribution with time.

Critiquing the performance of the government, former Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav said, What is the condition of the health sector today, where are we in poverty and hunger, where do we stand in corruption? If anyone is eating the economy of our country, then it is China. We have to be careful with China in terms of economy and borders. BJP should tell where our manufacturing industry has reached and how much we are importing from China?."

Responding to the issue of Muslims being seen as a vote bank by political parties in the state, Asaduddin Owaisi, President, AIMIM said, 'I want to say that Muslims should vote for their future and not for just for making any party win. They need to vote after thinking.'

Sharing his opinion on the latest edition of this summit, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network said, The Satta Sammelan proposition has grown from strength to strength drawing on valuable insights of top leaders who have chosen this platform to air their vision for voters. The latest edition lived up to its promise with most influential political voices in the state making a profound statement about their vision for voters. The platform has thus come about to be recognized as a means for voters to be able to exercise an informed decision during the election time.
Alton, IL (62002)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Direct marketing delicious foods you have raised is exciting, but there are many steps to complete for success.

Like the duck who looks calm on the waters surface while paddling furiously underneath, the direct marketer must pay attention to proper food handling practices and have all of the legal requirements in place.

That includes obtaining proper insurance, creating a separate LLC for meat sales, and understanding processing options.

Product liability insurance is imperative, said Todd Churchill, BizOps Consulting CFO and lead of Business Strategy Services with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA).

You call your insurance agent and tell them that you want to sell meat directly to consumers, farmers markets, and restaurants, and you want to make sure you have product liability insurance  a minimum of $1 million on your farm policy, Churchill said.

Churchill has worked as a consulting CFO to over 130 businesses and non-profit organizations since 1997, including meat processing and food distribution. He founded Thousand Hills Cattle Company featuring grass-fed beef, and hes currently co-founder of Blue Nest Beef, which offers beef managed on grasslands that support birdlife. He also leads the Business Consulting practice for CLAs farm and ag clients in Minnesota.

If a farmer sells beef to a consumer who eats the beef and gets sick, the consumers health insurance company will most likely sue the farmer.

For instance, if someone becomes sick from a common food-borne pathogen or even worse  e. coli 0157:H7  and winds up in the hospital, the health insurance bill could add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Their health insurance pays that bill, but there is something in the insurance business called subrogation, which means the insurance agencies have the right to go back and find another insurance company to force them to take the claim, he said.

Even if the person who purchased the beef and is sick is your own sibling, and they would never sue you, their health insurance company will.

Typically, product liability insurance is not expensive. Companies that specialize in farm policies should know what direct marketers need.

Churchill said hes worked with many insurance companies on these types of policies.

In addition, you should ask your meat processor for a certificate of product liability insurance. This verifies that your processor has adequate product liability insurance.

Churchill says that farmers can ask to be named as an additional insurer on the meat processors policy. The meat processor isnt as likely to provide this, and it might be important to work with an expert to find what you do or dont need. An excellent resource is the Agricultural Utilization Resource Institute (AURI  auri.org) that offers science-based value-added assistance.

The next step, if youre serious about direct marketing, is to add a separate entity (LLC) for the meat-selling business. All income and expenses related to meat sales need to run through the separate meat business.

This shouldnt cost more than $1,000 to get an attorney to draw up a document and get an LLC, he said. You are going to have to open up a separate checking account. You must make sure you write out the checks to the right account and keep those things separate. This protects your farm assets from any liability (from your meat business).

The farm meat business will need documentation, too, to show that the farmer has exercised reasonable care to avoid introducing pathogens. Every product needs appropriate safe handling meat labels with safe cooking instructions on the label, the website, and on pamphlets, etc., to cook the meat properly and to what temperature to kill pathogens.

The farmers documentation will include the processors pathogen testing protocol to assure that safe food handling practices have been followed.

Always have a conversation with your processor about pathogen testing, so that you understand how much testing they do, he said. Have a written plan that shows how the farm keeps all meat products at a safe temperature.

Finally, when meat is delivered to consumers, use an infrared thermometer to show and document that the meat is kept at 40 degrees for fresh product, or at 20 degrees for frozen products.

Churchill also recommends taking a food safety course such as the ServSafe Food Manager Training program (servsafe.com or servesafe.com) that provides a certificate when the program is passed. This is a one-day course offered throughout the country primarily for restaurant and food service managers.

The fact that you have taken that class is a tremendous way to prove to a judge and jury that you exercised reasonable care when you sell beef from your farm to customers, that you have done everything a reasonable person would do to make sure it doesnt have pathogens, he said.

Farmers have three different ways to direct market livestock/meat to consumers.

The first way is using a USDA-certified plant. This allows the farmer to sell to any consumer, restaurant, or retail store in the U.S.

The second is using an equal-to state certified plant, which limits sales only to the state where the processor is located.

The third is a custom-exempt processor, which can only sell to a farmers individual customers who have purchased whole, halves, or quarters of the livestock. This product cant be sold to restaurants, retailers, or farmers markets.

COVID revealed a weak link in the meat production chain. When the labor force at the largest processors were sick, those plants couldnt operate at full capacity.

Since those difficult days that marked the beginning of the pandemic, some farmers have been wondering if there is a better way to bring meat to consumers. Being responsible and completing the above steps will protect farmers and provide the initial steps toward successfully direct-marketing meat.

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When Joe Bidens earpiece expresses, through his mouth, its firm intention to nominate a black female Supreme Court candidate, critics will say that race and sex shouldnt matter in such things. Well, dont worry  they wont.

Whoever Justice X ends up being, shell almost assuredly vote in lockstep with white Elena Kagan and Hispanic Sonya Sotomayor. Shell almost definitely vote just the way white ACLU baby Ruth Bader Ginsburg did. This just underlines, too, how superficially made any diversity choice would be.

Bidens earpieces SCOTUS pick could be a white man. He could be Asian-descent. The nominee could be purple with pink polka dots, a transgender primordial dwarf, an acromegaly sufferer with a watermelon-sized head, or an extraterrestrial who looks like Alf. It wouldnt matter. He, she, ze ,or 'it' would vote as todays Democrat picks generally do: as a rubber stamp for the leftist agenda.

Its much as with Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Leftist judges look different  they reflect the Rainbow Coalition as Jesse Jackson might say. But they all act as members of a hive mind, and their opinions are mere rationalizations designed to justify the collectives will.

This is why its so funny when commentators, black female ones included, of course, proclaim that with a black female SCOTUS justice black womens interests will finally be represented. Funnier still is that some thus opining actually believe it.

It has been said and is true that while black Americans largely support Democrats, they hold many conservative positions. For example, Californias Proposition 8, which sought to define marriage as what it is (the union of a man and woman), wouldnt have passed in 2008 if blacks had voted as other groups did. But while 51 percent of Golden State whites opposed the measure, 70 percent of blacks supported it.

(This didnt escape leftist sexual devolutionary activists notice, as some at the time threw hissy fits that included the n-word. Because, of course, liberals are never, ever racist except when they want to be.)

Whats more, a December Rasmussen poll found that black Americans reject the MUSS (Made-up Sexual Status, a.k.a. transgender) claim that there are more than two sexes by a 10 to 1 margin. Most blacks also dont consider prenatal infanticide morally acceptable (though the margin on this issue is quite slim).

If you think Bidens earpiece will choose a black female SCOTUS candidate reflecting these views, well, then I have some stock in Kamala Harriss political future to sell you. Instead, Justice X will represent what all left-wing jurists do: the primarily (though not completely) white pseudo-elite. Shell dish their swill and vote their will.

In fact, the SCOTUS pick will just be another example of a rather disgusting phenomenon. As race-obsessed black leftist Pascal Robert himself recently lamented, all the equity talk and consequent policies merely serve the class interests of a narrow section of the Black elite, a fact that is obscured through talk of a shared Black political agenda and a race-first political posture.

A typical example is a discussion sponsored by the African-American Alumni Association of the Harvard Business School called Bridging the Racial Wealth Gap by Serving on Federal Reserve Boards, Robert later writes. How a program targeting Black Harvard Business School graduates is going to change the lives of poor and working-class Black Americans is not entirely obvious.

It wont, of course, not any more than will further elevate an already privileged black female jurist (who almost assuredly benefited from affirmative action to begin with). Its all a con. Justice X sure will help fellow liberal pseudo-elites, though: Her selection is meant to placate the Democrats most loyal constituency, black women, and ensure they continue to help empower todays political plantation owners.

Some may now say that Justice X will be a Role Model. Thats a laugh. Prominent black Americans have long been plentiful and highly visible; we have black entrepreneurs, politicians, athletes, entertainers, billionaires, scientists, doctors, lawyers, judges, professors, journalists, intellectuals (and pseudo-intellectuals), diplomats, generals, a (billed as) black vice president and even have had a (billed as) black commander in chief.

The problem isnt a dearth of role models that black kids can see across the room on TV, but a lack of role models across the kitchen table. That is, approximately 73 percent of black children are born out of wedlock, and almost 58 percent live without their biological fathers according to the Census Bureau.

In fact, examining social indicators  crime rates, drug use, teen pregnancy, joblessness, etc.  informs that American blacks were faring better culturally and socially back when they had few prominent role models. This isnt to say this correlation implies causation (it doesnt), but that elevating one more black, pseudo-elite role model is only going to improve one black familys prospects: his own.

In reality, any Biden earpiece pick would be the worst of role models because hed be a living document judge; meaning, someone who tramples the Constitution and thus violates his oath. And undermining the very legal foundation of our republic harms all Americans, no matter their color.

Oh, this doesnt mean Justice X wouldnt have her pluses. Sure, shed almost certainly not reflect black womens views, not help blacks or anyone else, not be a good role model, and not abide by the Constitution. But consider other quota-filling figures. Theres Sotomayor, who called herself an affirmative action baby and proved it recently by claiming there were 100,000 American children hospitalized due to COVID (in reality, only about 3,700 were hospitalized with the disease and precious few because of it).

Then there was Bill Clintons first surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, who specialized in saying stupid things stupidly and was possibly American historys most buffoonish public official. If this affirmative-action-appointee track record is any guide, Justice X could provide substantial comic relief.

All this said, there is a tiny, ever-so-slight, outside chance that Justice X could break the Democrat nominee mold. What if she, having reached the pinnacle of her field and thus freed from career concerns, and perhaps enduring a nagging conscience and recollecting grandmas moral instruction, bucks the wokesters on matters such as the MUSS agenda and prenatal infanticide? This isnt to say she could be a Clarence Thomas (by far the best SCOTUS justice of the last many decades). But what if she becomes a swing vote, the Lefts John Roberts?

Some basic profiling informs that if any Democrat nominee would thus surprise, it would be a member of the group that voted 70 percent yea on Proposition 8 and, though supporting the men-in-dresses party, knows there are only two sexes. And then Justice X actually would, at least a bit, be helping black women.

I know, I dream. The Democrats dont tolerate ideological diversity in candidates, and the left-wing spirit of the age militates against insanity-to-sanity, pseudo-elite transition. But, boy, it sure would be a real kick in the earpiece, wouldnt it?

Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on MeWe or Parler, or log on to SelwynDuke.com.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Poland successfully, nonviolently defeated Marxism and is a model for defeating Marxism in America today. Poland, faced with the Marxist destruction of their heritage and society, created a heritage and spiritual renewal movement, which led to Solidarity and to the end of communist rule in Poland and subsequently in the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, between 1979 and 1991.

For Marxists, the destruction of Americas heritage and society is absolutely necessary. The Communist Manifesto states, Communism acts in contradiction to all past historical experience can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Therefore, the chaos in society, the chaos at the southern border, the chaos in schools, the chaos in the family, the chaos in the economy, and the chaos in workers fired over vaccine mandates are all intentional. These are manifestations of the forcible overthrow.

Karl Marx was not an atheist -- he hated God in whom he believed. Marx wrote, I wish to avenge myself against the One who rules above... We make war against all prevailing ideas of religion. Marxism is anti-God.

The terms socialism, communism, and Marxism all lead to the same collective ownership of property, resulting in the same false utopia of poverty, starvation, misery, and death. Socialism has been discredited for decades as both an economic system and a political system. Yet, it persists, as a religion. Communism is a transcendent, anti-God philosophy, and as such, is a form of religion -- an anti-God religion.

Marxist teachers indoctrinate students in the religion of communism by teaching them to hate themselves, hate one another, hate their parents, hate their country, and hate their heritage. Marxists blame societys ills and peoples personal difficulties on politically incorrect groups (i.e., traditional religious capitalists). Students are taught to view statements from such groups as forms of oppression and to stand up to evil.

Communist dogmas taught in schools are gaslighted by media and Hollywood propaganda. Five generations of indoctrinated students are now the leaders of Americas cultural institutions, which are canceling politically incorrect individuals. Big Tech participates through deplatforming and censorship of news content in social media.

A heritage and spiritual renewal movement in America, as occurred in Poland, would reestablish for the people of America their authentic history, culture, and identity. This movement engages communism by countering communist themes with traditional American spiritual and material themes at the personal level. The movement actively reminds Americans that we are a people formed by a distinctive history and culture, and if we own that again, we will have spiritual tools of resistance that Communism cannot match. Americans are not who Marxists say they are in Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, or the Zinn Education Project. Traditional Americans are not oppressors and can be heard. The indoctrination of students can be ended.

One insurmountable obstacle for communism is that it runs counter to facts and reality. The mirage of the communist religion, promising peace, unity, equity, and utopia, can be countered by applying facts and reality to its premises, exposing its fallacies, and by showing its personal effects on people. Communism has its hold on people at the personal and spiritual level, and it is at this level that material and spiritual truths can speak to people, and bring them back to reality. Truths speak to the heart and emotions, as well as to the mind and intellect.

Truth and ones relationship with the Creator provide more love, joy, peace, and meaning than does Communism. Communism hinders people from using their talents and abilities to the fullest, and from achieving their purposes in life. Communists believe that the killing and destruction required by communism are justified as the gateway to attaining a communist society and a permanent, universal utopia. Yet the utopia is a mirage, and the killing and destruction are not justified. Communism has killed 100 million people -- it is an anti-human, anti-God death cult.

Communism appeals to the basest aspects of humanity: pride, envy, selfishness, and laziness. Communism is the quintessential postmodern religion because you are your own god, and you decide what is good or evil so that you can do as you please. Communism is a choice between evil and good -- a decision made at the spiritual level.

This movement first defeats communism by reaching peoples hearts and by winning the debate. With this foundation, communism can be defeated institutionally, as was done in Poland.

On June 2, 1979, one million Poles gathered around Victory Square in Warsaw, Poland. During John Paul IIs sermon, these Poles suddenly raised their voices and sang: We want God! John Paul IIs meetings demonstrated to Poles how numerous they were, as he encouraged them not to be afraid -- God gives strength. The heritage and spiritual renewal movement laid the foundation for Solidarity. Citizens worked together in a unified manner, organized, conducted strikes, held rallies, developed strategies, provided underground media and education, and formed Solidarity for trade union representation and then political representation to change the government.

Likewise, citizens in the United States working together in an organized manner can: reclaim school boards, end Critical Race Theory, defund Marxists, and redirect universities, corporations, foundations, institutions, and government programs through BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) campaigns; practice patriotic commerce, sue media corporations for defamation, recall woke district attorneys, vote, run for office at all levels of government, pass election integrity and anti-woke legislation, share the truth, and commit to a personal nonparticipation in lies.

The spiritual element provides the essential foundation for defeating Marxism. The important organizational and political elements build on this foundation. In Poland, the heritage and spiritual renewal movement arose organically. Likewise, in the United States, 330 million people with the spirit of American ingenuity can lay this foundation, and build this movement for a free, happy, and prosperous society, grateful to its Creator.

It is time to organize and go on offense, using the successful example of Poland. The time to act is now.

Image: Leonard Szmaglik
If anyone doubted the contempt White Democrats, Black Democrats, and the mainstream media hold for Black Americans, I would refer you to President Bidens announcement regarding his Supreme Court nominee and their giddy reaction.

Every president before Biden had proudly professed that each of their nominees for the Court was the most qualified jurist available in America. With his declaration that his next nominee to the Supreme Court will be a Black woman chosen because of her race and gender, not her qualifications, President Joe Biden reinforced a 220-year Democrat Party message to everyone in the world: Do not be confused -- Black people remain inferior. They cannot achieve because of merit. I, your benevolent master, gave this to you. Black people, I dont owe you a damn thing. You owe me.

As expected, instead of confronting Biden for tainting what should be a historic occasion with racism, paternalism, and disrespect toward a Black woman who obviously deserves respect, the mainstream media verified their complicity in this plantation line of thinking by celebrating the process.

To say, I am going to nominate the most qualified candidate was too easy. Even if it was propaganda. Proclaiming that a Black woman had earned this nomination would have made this a truly joyous occasion. But no. The President had to make a point. Joe Biden is an almost eighty-year-old politician from a slaveholding state. This was old plantation White master talk. He had to let it be known that, in his opinion, no Black woman would ever be qualified for this position.

Also, there is a danger in Democrats allowing it to be perceived that any Black person could earn a position on the Supreme Court. This danger was compounded by making the nominee a Black woman. There could be unintended consequences. Black Americans might see the truth and start to believe that America had finally transcended into a post-racial society where one can succeed based on merit instead of Democrat Party handouts and cronyism. This line of thinking is contrary to everything the Democrat Party believes. This type of arrogance and rebellion cannot be allowed among Blacks. At all costs, Democrats must retain Black subservience. Blacks must understand that this nomination cannot be merit-based. Sadly, Biden believes this. Why does he believe it? The Black Democrats told him so.

Because the Black Caucus believes to the core of its marrow in the lie of Black inferiority, they see everything through the prism of race. Stressing the condition of their constituents in the Black community as evidence, it is easy to conclude none of their careers have flourished through merit. Like the old plantation slave, they owe everything they have to the benevolence of their White masters in the Democrat Party and sadly believe that no other path is possible. Their constant justification of affirmative action, quotas, and set-asides confirm their unwavering belief in the twin lies of Black inferiority and White Supremacy.

Since the 1800s, it has been understood if the Democrats have any hope of maintaining power in the United States, this condescending line of thinking must be reinforced in the Black community. The Black community must be made to believe that they can have nothing, achieve nothing, and do nothing without the grace and mercy of the White Democrat demi-gods. Because of this plantation mentality, Black Americans who are unfortunate enough to fall under the control of the Democrat Party remain at the bottom of every socioeconomic statistic in the western world. Only the dregs at the bottom of the Black community, chosen by White Democrats to control the ghettos for them, have a chance at advancement.

It is a sad fact that for Black people to believe in White supremacy, they must also believe in Black inferiority. Bidens insult is the true celebration of that relic from slavery; the artificial Democrat Party construct of White Supremacy. Why do I call it an artificial construct? Because as a Black American heir of Jesus Christ, it is impossible for me to be a victim, and no White man or any man can be superior to me. If a superior man does exist, please bring him to me, and we will put that theory to the test. Like leprechauns and ghosts, White Supremacy only exists in the minds of people that believe in it. Sadly, most Democrats believe in this fairy tale. To me, it is as silly as saying the Sun rises in the West.

I believe in brotherhood and fraternity, not the Democrat Party and a Communist concept of equality. I do not seek to be equal to anyone. To seek equality, I must compare myself to and compete with others. This exercise is futile and only exacerbates the Democrat Party practice of envy, jealousy, and hatred. I only compete with myself, never my fellow man. As Ernest Hemingway wrote, There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

Because all these Black Democrats were not chosen on merit, none of the thousands of Black Democrat elected officials feel insulted or slighted at President Biden's plantation master talk toward them and the Black community. They are confused when others are insulted. They are not embarrassed that the president of the United States intentionally said to the world that he could not find one Black woman worthy of the Supreme Court based solely on merit. Black Democrats would have been upset had he said otherwise. To keep the Blacks from getting too uppity, it had to be acknowledged that this great office had to be given to her as an example of Bidens grace and benevolence. Like children acknowledging the masters supreme power and their inferiority, the self-proclaimed unworthy Black Democrat celebrates.

This is not new for Biden. Kamala Harris was nominated as Vice-President only after one hundred inferior-minded Democrat Black men threatened Biden with loss of support if he did not choose a Black woman. The result has been catastrophic. For every other position, it was acknowledged that the person was nominated because of their qualifications, but like the salvation of Christ, it must be known and acknowledged the choice of the Black woman was the result of Bidens unearned favor and grace, not merit.

Democrats dont give these nominations to many Black people. After the nomination of Thurgood Marshall in 1967 by Democrat President Lyndon Johnson, it took fifty-five years for that stalwart supporter of Black Americans to nominate its second Black Supreme Court justice. And they did it with an insult. This isnt new. Democrats insult the Black community daily. Centuries ago, Democrats created this dysfunctional part of the Black community to satisfy only their needs. Biden is carrying on the tradition. Democrats will continue until Black Americans demand that they stop.

Presidential biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin quoted Air Force One steward Robert MacMillan on Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnsons attitude toward Black Americans. While explaining his support for the 1964 Civil Rights Act to a group of prominent Democrats, Macmillan heard him say:

These Negroes, theyre getting pretty uppity these days Now weve got to do something about this; weve got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference Ill have then ni@#ers voting Democrat for the next two hundred years.

Like LBJ, we are required to remember the little something Biden gave to Black Americans to quiet them down and keep them voting Democrat for the next two hundred years. Because, according to President Biden, Black Americans have never earned anything, it seems, except his contempt.

Image: Todd Martin
"Nurse, is the surgeon who will be operating on me considered good at his job?"

"He is the most progressive doctor I've ever known."

"But does he save lives?"

"The government has given him many prestigious awards."

"I'm going to die, aren't I?"

"It depends. What's your party affiliation?"

How far away are we from overhearing conversations like this in hospitals across America? What once would have called to mind some scene taking place behind the Soviet Union's Iron Curtain now sounds eerily descriptive of America's future. The professional practice of medicine in the United States has always been held in great esteem because it was seen as a calling that required hard work, discipline, objectivity, and dedication to truth. After two years of watching doctors all around the country mindlessly follow Commissar Fauci down his rabbit hole of politicized science, though, a lot of Americans will never see medicine the same way. Even worse, they will never entirely trust physicians again. Any profession that would seek to deny common therapeutic treatments for suffering patients, betray its bioethical obligation to fully advise patients on potential harms from experimental "vaccines" before demanding their consent, or refuse to respect the personal wishes and needs of patients has surely surrendered any pretense of a loyalty oath to, "First, do no harm." Any profession that encourages censorship of dissenting expert opinion has surely sacrificed any reputation for objectivity, integrity, or dedication to truth.

Hey, it's not all bad, though. The American Academy of Pediatrics, always looking out for the most vulnerable in society, has proved its allegiance to politically powerful teachers' unions at the expense of politically powerless children by insisting that students continue to wrap their faces in cloth all day long during the most critical stage in their lives for developing healthy language and social skills. And thousands of doctors have proved to the government that they possess the "correct" thoughts required of their new Hypocritical Oath by condemning all protests against "vaccine" mandates as needlessly spreading disease while simultaneously celebrating Black Lives Matter demonstrations as necessary for tackling the public health scourge of "white supremacy." People in white coats sure do seem obsessed with race, don't they? Anyway, a lot of ambitious doctors have demonstrated through their "woke" virtue signaling what talented political scientists they really are. Grants, promotions, and special titles will surely reward their efforts.

Alas, medicine has debased itself these last two years, so that it may join with the scoundrels of other professions, claim its spoils at the government trough, and cozy up next to the immoral apparatchiks, parasites, and bullies of the State. Add medicine's scalp to the sizable collection already taken as trophies during the last century's Marxist slaughter of reason and objectivity one profession at a time. We have public school teachers who refuse to teach, prosecutors who refuse to prosecute, judges who refuse to judge impartially, reporters who refuse to report on anything that might undermine their personal politics, and now health professionals who choose pharmaceutical patronage over patient health. The professional classes have hollowed themselves out so completely that they stand for nothing aside from whatever talking points they've been handed by the managerial enforcers of State-sanctioned "truth." Remember, citizens, nothing is correct unless it is politically correct first. To progress, we must all obey!

Taking a step back, however, it is also helpful to grasp how the Marxists have successfully smashed once-cherished professional standards and transformed white-collar vocations into shallow Potemkin professions lacking any real substance. The political left chiefly undermined professions by redefining prestige as having nothing to do with merit and everything to do with privilege. No longer could a college degree be seen as something that required hard work and study; instead, it was merely a way to separate the haves from the have-nots. No longer could a good job be seen as evidence of someone's talents; instead, it became proof of unearned privilege. No longer could rigorous professional standards be seen as elevating the most worthy; instead, any standards were viewed circumspectly as preventing the least worthy from obtaining success. The end result has been the depreciation of academic excellence, skill, work ethic, and competence. For the generations suckled on "trophies for everyone" assurances, unearned prestige has elevated the meritless.

Where merit disappeared, dogma took over. No longer does it matter how much you know but whether you know what the Marxists want you to believe. Freethinking, originality, and genius have disappeared on university campuses today because those once-treasured gifts are threats to groupthink, political correctness, and obedience. It is no surprise, then, that students lack all capacity for critical thought and that professors lack all capacity for birthing novel ideas. Science, as traditionally understood, has always been an investigatory process that almost always augments and replaces majority-held consensuses over time with paradigm shifts fashioned from the radically divergent observations of contrarian thinkers. However, when diversity of opinion is forbidden and professional careers are killed for wrongthink, then science dies, too, leaving only the mediocre consensus of fools draping themselves in the prestige of science without any inkling of what it requires. The vacuum created by no longer seeking the talented creates a space for the talentless to reign. Some of those talentless beneficiaries became medical doctors. Many of those became willing disciples of Commissar Fauci and his State decrees. You see, elevating students who never learned to think on their own means elevating professionals who follow orders, not truth.

We are left with a professional class, then, unable to perform its duties and steeped in contradiction. Colleges have been dumbed down, but degrees are important. Politicians condemn U.S. history while profiting from its triumphs. Marxists decry unearned privilege while promoting unearned privilege. What remains are "professionals" only capable of going along to get along because they've never known success any other way. Prestige factories produce cheap products that break easily and do not last. When you look around at society today, from the lowliest municipal bureaucrat to the president of the United States, it is obvious that the further Marxists have succeeded in destroying professional standards, the more guaranteed it becomes that the meritless will rise in those professions' ranks. After two years of quackery posing as science, it is clear that medicine is the latest log on the left's bonfire of reason, rationality, achievement, know-how, diligence, and faith.

Image via Max Pixel.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently came under fire for referencing the Holocaust in a speech he gave on January 23rd at the Defeat the Mandates March in D.C. After being slammed and shamed by his fellow travelers on the left -- including his liberal wife Cheryl Hines who called his comments reprehensible and insensitive -- Kennedy was forced into multiple apologies.

But what did he actually say that was so offensive? Like the boy who shouted that the emperor had no clothes, he exposed the Biden administration for its pernicious COVID policies -- and, in the process, risked losing everything from his stature as an elite, left-wing environmental activist to possibly even his marriage. That alone should make everyone stand up and take notice of what RFK, Jr. had to say.

Crackpot or Cassandra? Kennedy simply states the obvious: it is increasingly difficult to evade or escape a malign government or to even have our own thoughts about government diktats when tracking and surveillance technologies allow governments to quash dissent in ways that were not technologically achievable for past fascist regimes.

If you didnt know it was RFK, Jr. speaking, youd think the words that follow are from Rand Paul or Josh Hawley:

If you give government the license to silence its critics, you have given them the capacity to commit any atrocity they want and to obliterate all the amendments and rights of the Constitution. They took away due process rulemaking. Theyve taken away our right to be free of warrants, of searches and seizures, with this very intrusive track and trace surveillance, etc. Oh, we are watching something now that I never believed that I would see in my lifetime. And I read George Orwell and Aldous Huxley and dystopian science fiction novels warning that one day the United States would be overtaken by fascism. Fascism incidentally is defined -- Mussolini defined it -- as a merger of state and corporate power -- as orchestrated by Tony Fauci. What were seeing today -- what were seeing today is what I call turnkey totalitarianism. They are putting in place all of these technological mechanisms for control weve never seen before. Its been the ambition of every totalitarian state from the beginning of mankind to control every aspect of behavior, of conduct or thought and to obliterate dissent. None of them have been able to do it. They didnt have the technological capacity. Even in Hitlers Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in the attic like Anne Frank did. I visited, in 1962, East Germany with my father, and met people who had climbed the wall and escaped. So it was possible. Many died truly, but it was possible. Today, the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run and none of us can hide. Within five years, were going to see 415,000 low orbit satellites. Bill Gates says his 65,000 satellites alone will be able to look at every square inch of the planet 24 hours a day. Theyre putting in 5G to harvest our data and control our behavior -- digital currency that will allow them to punish us from a distance and cut off our food supply -- vaccine passports. You have a series of rights. As flawed as our government is, you can still go out and go to a bar. You can go to a sporting event. You can get on a bus or an airplane and you can travel. You have certain freedoms. You can get educated, et cetera. The minute they hand you that vaccine passport, every right that you have is transformed into a privilege contingent upon your obedience to arbitrary government dictates. It will make you a slave. [Italics added.]

I have never been a fan of RFK, Jr. and I dont agree with his stance on vaccines in general and against the pharmaceutical companies in toto.

However, public pushback against the mandates and restrictions for over two years has exposed grave flaws in our public health policies and regulatory checks and balances, calling into question the trustworthiness of the NIH, CDC, NIAID, and the FDA. We have seen firsthand the harm they can do when fully shrouded from legal responsibility and are tempted by billions.

While I do not embrace the broad-sweeping accusations against Big Pharma and vaccines that RFK, Jr and his Childrens Health Defense organization espouse or everything that he maintains in his book, it is well written, well researched, and very compelling. He could be a kook but he could also be the one guy screaming that the Earth revolves around the Sun. He might be right about some things and wrong about others.

Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, his Holocaust analogy was not inappropriate. It is perfectly acceptable to reference the Holocaust, Soviet Gulags, the Inquisition, Slavery, Jim Crow, the Killing Fields, and the Trail of Tears any time we can learn something from the comparison that opens our eyes and helps prevent other atrocities. That is the entire point of teaching and remembering.

Moreover, no one should claim ownership over some sort of entitlement to condemn wickedness. It is part of our shared history and belongs to us all. That some of us personally experienced atrocities, had family who did, or are members of a persecuted group, doesnt translate into a right to speak out that is exclusive only to the victims. To that end, forbidding people from commenting about an atrocity because they are not members of a class of victims is specious and undermines the very lessons we seek to impart. Part of the human experience is our ability to experience empathy, compassion, and understanding. We actually can put ourselves in others shoes and walk the path of another. We have imagination and pathos precisely for that. What would be the sense of every documentary, movie, and novel if it werent possible to see something through the eyes of another?

As a Jewish individual who embraces her religion and has family directly impacted by the Holocaust, I encourage people to remind others of historys horrors when apt, as long as the reference isnt gratuitous, frivolous, or dramatic for the sake of being dramatic.

Admittedly, those lines arent always clear. Nancy Pelosi called Tea Partiers Nazis. To lefties, Trump really is Hitler. But when the Holocaust or any tragedy becomes politicized, we trivialize it and that goes against everything we want to achieve by keeping the accounts alive.

Its not really hard to understand the left-wing outrage at Kennedys Holocaust comment once you grasp that the true goal is to undercut the pith of his speech -- that bureaucrats in the government, the Biden administration, and Big Pharma have colluded and lied to the public, undermined our democracy, and happen to have invasive surveillance and tracking technologies in their cache of weapons.

Image: Gage Skidmore
I am a retired chief of the New York Police Department. I have learned that after we experience something in life and we look back, we have a clearer understanding of what actually happened.

During the last two years, police officers have been vilified, assaulted, and murdered at levels we have not seen in decades. Today, our hearts are broken as our city and nation mourn and lay to rest two American heroes, police officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. It is in their honor that I reflect on how I believe we got here.

On May 25, 2020, months into the pandemic, our nation struggling with isolation, fear, and uncertainty, George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis. Riots erupted in the city, and Mayor Jacob Frey ordered the surrender of the police precinct, and all the officers were ordered to evacuate. The building was taken over by the mob, an unprecedented event in American policing. Riots spread across our country, and the anti-police rhetoric crescendoed. In New York, that July, then-mayor Bill de Blasio disbanded the NYPD's anti-crime unit. Those were the teams of plain-clothed officers who focused on violence reduction and were trained to identify and arrest people with guns. It was another signal that laws and public safety were being put on the back burner and was heard loud and clear by all, especially those who would carry guns in our streets and use them. Shootings and murders skyrocketed.

Surprised that there was no outcry over the significant increase in the number of people shot and killed, I thought it would take a horrible tragedy to get the attention of the mayor and other elected officials in our city and move them to stop tolerating lawlessness. A couple of weeks later, one-year-old Davell Gardner was shot and killed while sitting in his stroller in Brooklyn. That horrific crime would surely be the catalyst, I thought. But I was wrong.

In the months to come, the shootings and murders continued. Graffiti, a thing of the past, resurfaced all throughout our city. Cars recklessly sped through our streets and on the highways. Business owners, who had already suffered from the crippling impact of the pandemic shutdowns, helplessly watched thieves clear their shelves, fill up backpacks, and brazenly walk out of their stores. The shootings continued, including shootings at iconic locations: inside Peter Luger's Restaurant at Times Square  where a vacationing toddler was hit by a bullet. Still no outrage.

So how did protests, righteous calls for racial equality, justice for all, and being treated fairly and humanely by police officers across the nation devolve into years of gains in public safety being wiped out? To a great extent, words. And words matter.

"An attack on a police officer is an attack on society. It's an attack on all of us." For as long as I can remember, that was something multiple elected officials said every time a police officer was seriously injured or, God forbid, killed in the line of duty. But since May 2020, I have not heard it said once. It's not a slogan, not a cliche; it means something. It's profoundly true. If as a society we tolerate police officers being attacked, then it's only a matter of time before we lose everything. The fact that too many mayors and governors abandoned that important truth, while police officers were under attack, signaled those who would commit crimes that there would be no outrage if a police officer was assaulted. And they were, in record numbers. Last year, 73 police officers were murdered, the highest number since 1995 (with the exception of 2001, which included those killed on September 11, 2001).

"Reform"? Two words I never heard in the same sentence before, "police reform," were used by elected officials and social media constantly. Those words together were another pernicious signal that all police departments, and therefore all police officers, were in need of reform, as if each was inherently flawed, and therefore none was to be respected, and certainly never to be appreciated.

"Defund the Police." Those are three more words I had never heard in the same sentence before until they were painted on signs on sticks carried by demonstrators through the streets, and graffitied on the walls of government buildings. And once again, legislators followed the lead of the protesters in the streets, and as if to punish all police officers for the actions of several in Minneapolis, they took billions of dollars out of police budgets. But they forgot one simple formula: if you take money out of a bank account, you have less money. If you take money from public safety, citizens are not as safe.

There is hope because there is a way back to where we need to be. It requires three simple steps. Here they are:

Prosecutors  do your job! Do not try to change society. You are not legislators; you are put there to prosecute crimes. Absolutely carry out policies that insist on fairness and justice, but remember: the system fails, and our society will fall without you keeping your eye on public safety and the rights and welfare of all of our citizens, including crime victims.

Elected officials  find the emotional intelligence to reverse some of the legislation you have passed these last few years. It has decriminalized too many crimes and criminalized policing. Imagine if you could be immediately fired and, worse, charged with a crime for protecting yourself when being physically assaulted, because a part of your body touched any part of the chest area of the person attacking you, because of the rush to pass the "chokehold law." Turn back the legislation that makes it more difficult for police officers to do their jobs. Lives are at stake.

All of us  vote! Voting is more than a right; it's an obligation. I have a question for those who do not vote, which is about 50% of the eligible voters in a presidential election, 75% of us in local mayoral elections, and even more in the city council races. Why would you let other people make decisions that concern your safety, your family's safety, and your future? And I plead to those who do vote: always remember that your ballot has consequences.

When George Floyd was killed, there were righteous outcries for policing in our country that better serves all of its citizens, better training, better tactics, equality and fairness, and equal opportunity for all. However, the result has been many more people shot and killed, mostly non-white people, and a significant increase in deaths of police officers. Whatever your politics, no one wanted this. Too many people in positions of power have experimented with policies that have put people's lives at risk for too long. Americans in too many cities, and mostly non-white communities, are less safe today. Now is the time to stop. We owe it to them. We owe it to our children. And we owe it to men and women like Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, who lived and died protecting us.

Let this pendulum turn back to sanity. Let that be part of their legacy.

Joe Fox is a retired NYPD chief with more than 37 years of experience in law enforcement, and as a motivational speaker, author, leadership/life coach, chief of staff at Silverseal Security, U.S. Department of Justice Medal of Valor Review Board member, on the board of directors for Rockaway's 9/11/01 Tribute Park, and on the board of directors at 5Star Life Insurance Company, serving U.S. military and first responders.

Image: Official photo, courtesy of the author.
Joe Rogan, with his staggeringly huge audience, is probably a gold mine for Spotify. Neil Young's challenge to him was always stupid. But when Spotify agreed to put misinformation labels on Rogan's work, Rogan didn't tell them to jump in a lake. He agreed.

I can't listen to Rogan. I find him irritating. However, I have followed his trajectory. I noticed when he inked a $100-million deal with Spotify. It was a good deal for Spotify because Rogan's audience share leaves all other news media in the dust.

I was impressed when Rogan had Dr. Robert Malone and Peter McCullough on his show, both of whom have called out the government's and media's vaccine narrative  and rightly so: leftists claimed that COVID couldn't possibly have been a man-made virus from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Not only was that misinformation, but we now know that Fauci and the feds lied about it from the start.

I could go on, but I think you get the point: if there's misinformation out there, it's on the left, from Fauci on down. This means that Malone and McCullough were sharing information, not misinformation. They struck a blow against a narrative that ensures that the American economy falters, the middle class is destroyed, community connections are broken, kids are broken, and our society is so destroyed that the only hope for saving it would be a vast government program that breaks our constitutional free-market system once and for all.



Image: Joe Rogan. YouTube screen grab.

A few raddled old hippies (Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and some guy named Nils Lof...something or other), along with two more grifters (Harry and Meghan), insisted that Rogan had to go.

Spotify refused to kick Rogan off, but it gets no moral points for that. Rogan's a cash cow, and the old hippies aren't. As for the grifters, Spotify is probably already regretting its $25-million deal with them because it recently said it would take over handling their content.

Nevertheless, Spotify has promised to counter "misinformation" by flagging Rogan's shows about COVID and the vaccines with a disclaimer and links to counter "misinformation." In other words, it's copying Facebook and YouTube.

Rogan could have taken a stand and said if you put any label and counter-links on my content, I'm out of here. They need him, not vice versa, and a good lawyer can break any contract. But Rogan, instead, even while acknowledging that most of the mainstream narratives have been wrong, has proven to be craven:

Rogan responded to the fallout on Sunday, saying in a video on Instagram that he was only seeking to have conversations on his podcast with people who have "differing opinions." "I'm not trying to promote misinformation, I'm not trying to be controversial," Rogan said. "I've never tried to do anything with this podcast other than to just talk to people." He also said that he schedules the guests on his podcast himself, and that he would try to book doctors with different opinions right after he talks to "the controversial ones." Rogan noted that he earlier sat down on the show with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the chief medical correspondent for CNN, Dr. Michael Osterholm, who is a member of President Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board, and Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine. Rogan additionally welcomed the idea of adding advisories before podcasts related to COVID-19.

Here's his whole climb-down video:

The great thing about the last two years is that they've been clarifying. We've seen who hates America, who's a mindless follower, who's a racist, who's a fool, etc. The masks are off.
Having already established his cowardice by fleeing Ottawa before the arrival of the truck convoy, Justin Trudeau now proves the wisdom of the ancient observation that bullies are often cowards. Rather than address the demand that vaccination mandates for truckers who cross the U.S. border back into Canada be suspended, Trudeau is flipping the bird and escalating, as Hank Berrien reports in the Daily Wire:

On Sunday morning, the day after the massive Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, Canada, to protest vaccine mandates that would force unvaccinated Canadian truckers crossing into the United States to quarantine once they've returned home, the CBC reported that the Transport Minister for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government stated that there was "working being done" to implement interprovincial vaccine mandates for truckers.

On interprovincial vaccine mandates for truckers Transport Minister @OmarAlghabra tells @RosieBarton there is working being done to get us there #cdnpoli  Travis Dhanraj (@Travisdhanraj) January 30, 2022

This is such an in-your-face escalation in defiance of an obviously popular grassroots revolt that it seems to suggest Trudeau wants to provoke a reaction that would justify harsh repressive measures.

But it also hints at something else that is relevant to the situation: class antagonism. Specifically, it's the contempt felt by educated elites  the people now known as laptop class for their ability to function even in a lockdown  for the classes below them in the social order. These are the people who work with their hands, who did not make the acquisition of educational credentials the focus of their first decades of life, and the people who do not share the woke values and prejudices indoctrinated into those who hold higher education diplomas granted in the last few decades.

If those proles who spend their work lives driving trucks are going to challenge Trudeau, he'll show them who's got power and who doesn't. Writing in Wattsupwiththat, Terry Etam explains (hat tip: Clarice Feldman):

The border vaccine mandate is the straw that broke the camel's back. The convoys are the result of years of frustration. Not just frustration with this overarching elitist frame of politics, but also things like the inimitable Gerald Butts, who took to Twitter after Canada's most recent election to stand in awe of what a great job the Liberals did to hold onto power  he called it electoral efficiency; the Liberals won by focusing all their efforts on key ridings and won with the absolute minimum of national support required. That's our elite? What kind of a civic-minded person finds that a good thing? What kind of person at all finds that a good thing? And those are just a few more tips of the iceberg. Truckers are the ultimate representation of the blue-collar voice that Ottawa shuns like the plague. They will stand for photo ops all day with Greta, but will never set foot in a cab to see what the world looks like for those whose livelihood requires them to do something other than type. ... I don't know if it will end well; the knives are out for the truckers, and the media is doing a bizarre maneuver where they cover every complaint against the convoy but do not focus on the convoy itself. Leading media figure heads like CTV News personnel take to Twitter to mock the whole thing, guaranteeing there to be more fireworks. Maybe if that was the media's consistent job and role, the great unwashed masses could live with it. But it's not. A few years ago, Extinction Rebellion took to the streets to blockade various streets across the country. The media was out in full force; ten protesters at a bridge in Edmonton garnered more media attention than ten thousand trucks. No one in the media was fretting about whether emergency vehicles would get through or not, as they are with the truckers, and that is possibly the most revolting aspect of this whole media implosion  Extinction Rebellion did not care at all if no one got through. Unbelievably, the police guarded the protesters from angry citizens. Now, the trucking convoy is going to great lengths to keep channels open for emergency vehicles  and the media reports that it may not work.

I don't think the Canadian elite have a clue about the passion they have ignited in people like Gina (click for an amazing video). More than American elites, the Canadian ruling class looks to Europe for its model, which may incline them more toward aristocratic contempt for what they see as the lower orders.

My sense is that a prairie fire has been ignited in Canada, that after two years of obediently conforming to the extreme measures taken by the Canadian government (far more draconian than in the USA), the people who keep the country running have had enough. Etam seems to agree:

Interestingly, the more the media and the cultural elites try to disparage the convoy on whatever flimsy grounds they find, the stronger support gets. Support is coming in from the US, Quebec, BC and all over the world. When the laptop class takes to the media to stir inflammatory stories about how GoFundMe donations "may be a form of terrorist funding" if any violence or property damage occurs (I kid you not), the rate of donations goes up.

It's almost as if the people no longer believe the government and the media. And history offers us a clue as to where that leads.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab (cropped).
The green agenda often backfires when governments embrace it either as a means of placating militant environmentalists or as a half-assed attempt to take a shortcut to some sort of utopian future where evil petrochemicals are no longer being used. We see plenty of examples of the former, where Americans are paying far more at the gas pump because Biden shut down the Keystone Pipeline and is hobbling domestic oil and gas production, and where Germans are shivering and electricity prices are soaring because coal and nuclear power plants have been shut down.

But the latter path also carries disaster in its wake, as Sri Lanka has discovered. Al Jazeera reports:

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had imposed a total ban on agrochemicals in May [2021], saying he wanted to make Sri Lankan farming 100 percent organic.

That announcement was putting lipstick on a pig  a financial crisis.

Agricultural chemicals such as fertiliser were among the imports banned last year as authorities tried to save dwindling foreign currency reserves.

But it turns out that organic farming is not something that one can flip a switch to accomplish. It takes a lot of preparation and work to make it succeed, including knowledge and skill, which ordinary farmers, directed from above, may not have and may not be interested in acquiring. I am not against organic farming, but I appreciate the care and effort that are necessary to make it work. And even in the best of hands, yields often fall. That's why organic vegetables cost more.

So, as was predictable:

The government will pay 40,000 million rupees ($200m) to farmers whose harvests were affected by the chemical fertiliser ban, agriculture minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said on Tuesday. "We are providing compensation to rice farmers whose crops were destroyed," he told reporters. "We will also compensate those whose yields suffered without proper fertiliser." The government will spend another $149m on a price subsidy for rice farmers, he added. About a third of Sri Lanka's agricultural land was left dormant last year because of the import ban. The restrictions also led to angry protests from farmers, an important political constituency of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.



Paddy field in Sammanthurai, Ampara, Sri Lanka.

Photo credit: Anton Croos, CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Emporia, KS (66801)

Today

Rain showers this evening with numerous thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 51F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with numerous thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 51F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
The countdown has finally begun for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup. Just over a week before its launch, were now getting some confirmation about the hardware of the lineup from an unlikely source. The Samsung Exynos 2200 has made it to the list of chipsets compatible with Netflix HD, thus confirming that it will break cover with the Galaxy S22.

Netflix routinely updates its list of chipsets compatible with Netflix HD, so this revelation isnt shocking (via Android Police). Countless leaks have already told us that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S22 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip in some markets. While a few other markets (like Europe) will receive the Exynos 2200 variant. We also have an official unveiling date for the smartphone, courtesy of Samsung.

Samsung is taking reservations for the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy Tab S8

The manufacturer is now taking reservations for the next Galaxy smartphone through its website. Theres also an option for the next Galaxy tablet, which refers to the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. Customers who reserve either device also get a $50 Samsung Credit that can be spent on other Galaxy products during the pre-order period.

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Samsung will most likely dominate the news cycle in February with its top-tier smartphone and tablet lineups. Meanwhile, the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) is scheduled to take place in Barcelona between February 28  March 3. So the month of February could be pretty exciting for tech enthusiasts.

In case youre unaware, Samsung will take the wraps off three new smartphones  the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra on February 9. Being the larger and more powerful of the three, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will undoubtedly grab most of the eyeballs. Additionally, the Ultra model is also expected to bring back the iconic S Pen stylus.

Initial leaks suggest the Galaxy S22 Ultra will have a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is only marginally smaller than the 6.9-inch Galaxy Note 20.

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There will also be a dedicated silo/holder for the S Pen stylus. Samsung will likely stick with the 5,000mAh battery for the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The Galaxy S22 series will also debut Samsung One UI 4.1, which should bring incremental changes from One UI 4.
ANSAmed - Weekly diary from January 31 to February 6

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 31 - Following are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area from January 31 to February 6: MONDAY JANUARY 31 LENS (France) - EU, informal meeting of the ministers of industry and internal market (PFUE Competitiveness Council) (also scheduled tomorrow).



TRIPOLI - UN, political mission in Libya ends.



TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1 MANSOURAH (Egypt) - Hearing of the trial in front of a special tribunal against researcher and activist Patrick Zaki.



PARIS - Press conference before the exam of the proposal of a resolution asking the government to grant political asylum to Julian Assange.



WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2 VIENNA - OPEC+, meeting of ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies.



THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3 LILLE - EU, informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers (until the 4th).



FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4 No major events scheduled SATURDAY FEBRUARY 5 No major events scheduled SUNDAY FEBRUARY 6 TUNIS - Demonstration to commemorate the murder of left-wing activist Chokri Belaid in 2013. (ANSAmed).




Israel: TV launches 'pasta revolt' after price hikes Electricity, fuel also more expensive

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, JANUARY 31 - Distressed already by a fifth wave of Covid, Israelis are now facing impending price hikes announced for the start of February. They concern not only many types of food but also electrical power and fuel, which on Tuesday will reach the record price, over the past seven years, of 6,71 shekels per liter (one euro is the equivalent of 3,55 shekels).



Many social media users were up in arms and last night a commercial television, Channel 13, also called for a 'pasta revolt'. Recalling that 10 years ago a vast boycott campaign by consumers forced producers of soft white cheese to cut prices, the broadcaster yesterday targeted in particular 'penne' pasta made by local producers, a box of which costs 5,90 shekels. The price should further increase in February.



Dissatisfaction with price hikes was widely reported by newspapers and several websites. Concern was also expressed by Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman who said price increases, while the public is fighting against Covid, denounce "cynicism and irresponsibility".



He also threatened sanctions if his appeal for moderation is not acknowledged by food companies. (ANSAmed).




Kosovo: dialogue, difficult mission of EU-U.S. envoys begins Lajcak and Escobar today in Pristina, then Belgrade

(ANSAmed) - PRISTINA, JANUARY 31 - The perspective of a recovery of dialogue for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is at the center of talks that the two envoys of the EU and US, Miroslav Lajcak and Gabriel Escobar, have scheduled today with Kosovan leaders.



During their mission to Pristina, which runs until February 2 and will subsequently continue in Belgrade, the two diplomats have on the agenda meetings with the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, Premier Albin Kurti and Deputy Premier Besnik Besljimi, who is leading the Kosovan delegation with the Serbian counterpart. Also scheduled are contacts with leaders from various political forces and with representatives of international delegations present in Kosovo. Among messages that the two envoys are bringing to their mission include the need to respect agreements already reached by the sides as part of talks ongoing since 2011 with the mediation of the EU and the support of the US.



In this respect, the main issue is the Community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, a body included in an important agreement reached in Brussels in April 2013, strongly promoted by Belgrade, which however Pristina refuses to implement as it considers the institution to go against the constitution of Kosovo which bans the formation of single ethnic entities.



Pristina fears that in Kosovo something similar to the Republika Srpska, the Serbian-majority entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina, could be created. (ANSAmed).




A brief history of conservative publications in Canada  updated to 2022 (Part One) By Mark Wegierski

web posted January 31, 2022 A survey of conservative publications in Canada tells a sorry tale of short-lived efforts lacking the ideological coherence and material support necessary to make a significant impact. Any group of conservative writers and thinkers needs to be aware of the struggles of those who have gone before and to learn, if possible, from their mistakes. One of the most well-known quotations by Conrad Black concerns his promise (or threat) to establish a publication in Canada which would be a National Review North. Although Lord Black certainly created a revolution in the Canadian newspaper world, whose effects continue to be felt today, he did not manage to create a publication that could play as profound a role in Canadian politics as the early National Review played in the creation of an American conservative movement. Black never allocated the funding for a profound intellectual journal of conservative opinion in Canada (although The National Post and other Black papers partially undertook such writing). In earlier decades, The Toronto Sun (descendant of The Toronto Telegraph) had carried a number of conservative columnists (some of whom were remarkably acerbic), but lacked the consistent intellectual credentials to avoid classification by critics as a tabloid. In the 1980s, with a huge Progressive Conservative majority, there was some quickening of conservative intellectual life in Canada, but all struggled to achieve a lasting impact. The businessman William A. B. Campbell launched a magazine called International Conservative Insight, but the venture disappeared when it became apparent he wasnt going to turn a profit from this initiative. There was an attempt to produce a right-leaning newsmagazine in Ottawa called Seven Days, but it failed after a few issues. Dr. Branka Lapajne had somewhat more success with a monthly newspaper called The Phoenix, which continued for a few years before closing. There was also a brief attempt to launch a right-leaning student newspaper at the University of Toronto called The University of Toronto Magazine, but the paper faced troubles right from the start, for example over name duplication, and never managed to find its feet. Launched with great fanfare, Peter Worthingtons Influence magazine collapsed after about two years. It began with a misstep  billing itself as directed at men of influence-- and tried to sell itself as a magazine for wealthy businessmen, rather than for conservatives per se. The newsletters of the University of Toronto P.C.s, Rabble & Reaction, and of the young Ontario P.C.s, Blue Wave, were sometimes interesting but had nothing more than a local reach. The period was characterized by a variety of initiatives, none of which found a sustaining audience. Finally, there arose The Idler, a precocious journal of literary-artistic-cultural pretensions, with some sotto voce conservative philosophizing. It was in a non-glossy large-magazine format, with artistic covers in colour, the interior in black and white, and some interesting illustrations. It had a broad variety of contributors, many of whom were literary aspirants who avoided forthright political statements. The main problem with The Idler could be summed up by saying that it offered a tiny, frothy dessert confection  as opposed to the meat-and-potatoes that many conservatives were hungering for at the time. The very title seemed redolent of affectation and political inaction. Considering that it often made a point of putting down ordinary people, it never achieved much of a circulation (apparently  8,000 at the maximum). The major conservative publications of the time were the Alberta Report/B.C. Report/Western Report of the Byfield family. Alberta Report had a circulation of about 60,000; B.C. Report about 15,000 (in the province of British Columbia); and Western Report (in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba), about 5,000. Even the most successful conservative publications were limited in their readership and impact. Some of the most long-lasting publications had an economic focus. The National Citizens Coalition put out a newsletter-type publication, and the Fraser Institute produced Fraser Forum, which continually improved in physical quality. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation also publishes a magazine. The trend of short-lived and varyingly ambitious ventures continued into the early 1990s. At this time, The Idler finally folded when foundation funding was withdrawn. William D. Gairdner, the author of the bestselling The Trouble with Canada tried to launch a newsletter-type publication called Speaking Out that failed with the first issue. In Toronto, Judi McLeod, who had been a prominent Toronto Sun columnist, launched Our Toronto Free Press, a free-distribution monthly newspaper (which has subsequently become a webzine). Torontos free-distribution monthly newspaper Transforum was open to contributions from across the spectrum. There was also a free-distribution newspaper called Toronto Westend Express, in which some conservative articles appeared. Young writer Michael Taube attempted a zine called From The Right, which lasted only three issues. It was packed with interesting articles during its short lifespan. A major magazine (glossy, full-colour) open to contributions from across the spectrum was The Next City, which was supported by the Donner Canada Foundation. Gravitas (non-glossy, black-and-white, but with high-quality paper) also funded by Donner, was a brief, brave attempt at a conservative intellectual magazine of considerably greater social and political engagement than The Idler. It too failed to take off, perhaps because it was perceived to be too narrowly intellectual. The only real success among Canadian conservative publications were the Byfield newsmagazines. By the 1990s, the magazines looked in format somewhat like Time or Newsweek (glossy, full-colour covers, although mostly monochrome inside) and contained a variety of features. In summation, the 1980s was a dreadful time for conservatives in Canada  unlike in the U.S. and Britain. Living in megapolitan Toronto before the coming of the Internet, it often must have seemed to conservative thinkers that nothing belonged to them except the few cubic centimeters inside their skull (as Orwell had put it). The Idler was certainly not an answer to this dilemma. With the rise of the Reform Party in the 1990s, there was greater hope -- but attempts to create an enduring conservative intellectual magazine (Gravitas came closest to it) continued to fail. In Part Two, the author will look at how subsequent ventures fared. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Turkey: Erdogan in Abu Dhabi on February 14-15 Ankara condemns attacks against United Arab Emirates

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JANUARY 31 - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will undertake an official visit to the United Arab Emirates in two weeks. "Our president will visit Abu Dhabi on February 14 and 15", said Cavusoglu during a joint press conference with his counterpart from Bahrain Abdullatif Bin Rashid Alzayani in the capital Manama.



The Turkish minister also condemned recent attacks by Houthi rebels against the UAE and Saudi Arabia. "We have expressed solidarity to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi", he told the press conference. After mentioning "cold relations with some Gulf countries", Cavusoglu recalled that Turkey has recently inaugurated a period of detente in relations with the Emirates and that Erdogan's scheduled visit to Abu Dhabi arrives a few months after a meeting in Ankara between the Turkish president and crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan (Mbz), who visited the Turkish capital with a delegation of ministers to present an investment plan worth 10 billion dollars.



The Turkish foreign minister also mentioned a "constant process of dialogue" with Saudi Arabia, stating the objective of improving ties with Riyadh with which Turkey has had complicated relations since 2018, following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. (ANSAmed).




Boris Johnson will reaffirm his support for Ukraine with 88 million of aid for the country as he urged Russia to avoid further bloodshed.

The Prime Minister will meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyon on Tuesday, and has committed money from the UKs Good Governance Fund to help support stable governance and energy independence.

As well as supporting transparency and anti-corruption initiatives, some of the 88 million announced will go towards efforts to reduce Ukraines reliance on Russian energy supplies.

Mr Johnson said: It is the right of every Ukrainian to determine how they are governed. As a friend and a democratic partner, the UK will continue to uphold Ukraines sovereignty in the face of those who seek to destroy it.

We urge Russia to step back and engage in dialogue to find a diplomatic resolution and avoid further bloodshed.

It comes as more than 100,000 Russian troops were amassed on the Ukrainian border, and Russia President Vladimir Putin has so far resisted calls to deescalate tensions.

Downing Street said that since 2015, British Armed Forces had trained more than 22,000 Ukrainian troops, and that the UK also defends the rule of law in the country by helping to reduce corruption.

But Mr Johnson, on his visit to Kyiv, is expected to discuss a full range of strategic UK support on offer.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced plans for legislation with new powers to sanction individuals and businesses linked to the Russian state, in light of the aggression in Ukraine.

We will be able to target any company that is linked to the Russian state, engages in business of economic significance to the Russian state or operates in a sector of strategic significance to the Russian state, she told MPs.

The Ukrainian Embassy in London (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

This will be the toughest sanction regime against Russia we have ever had and it is the most radical departure in approach since leaving the EU. Those in and around the Kremlin will have nowhere to hide.

Ms Truss was due to join the PM on the trip, but tested positive for coronavirus on Monday evening.

The UK is also expected to bolster military presence in eastern Europe as part of Natos efforts to secure the region.

But British and Nato combat forces are not expected to be deployed in Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.

Around 100 British personnel are involved in a training mission in the country.

Mr Putin has denied he is planning an attack but is demanding guarantees Ukraine will never join Nato, while calling on the Western alliance to draw back its forces in eastern Europe.
Boris Johnson has caved in to pressure to concede he will ask Sue Gray to publish a fuller report into the extensive evidence she unearthed surrounding allegations of lockdown breaches in Downing Street.

The Prime Minister first batted away widespread calls, including from senior Tories, to allow the senior civil servant to produce her complete work after the Metropolitan Police imposed wide-reaching restrictions.

But as the move further threatened to drain his support on the backbenches and Scotland Yard said it had no problem with a future report, No 10 said Mr Johnson would publish her full report in the future.

The PM promised to publish the Sue Gray Report in full so Parliament and the British people could better appreciate the facts and draw their own conclusions. If the PM fails to publish the report in full then he will no longer have my support. pic.twitter.com/S7lO7xWs1l  Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) January 31, 2022

The new document could provide a flashpoint for further anger against the Prime Minister, as Scotland Yard revealed it was was handed more than 300 images and over 500 pages of information by Ms Grays team.

In a statement, a No 10 spokesperson said: Given the police have said they are investigating a number of events, it would not be appropriate to comment further while the Mets investigation is ongoing.

But, at the end of the process, the Prime Minister will ask Sue Gray to update her work in light of what is found.

He will publish that update.

Earlier in the day, Ms Gray published an update into her work but said it was not possible at present to publish a meaningful report into her discoveries surrounding events across Downing Street and wider Government.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was joined by Tory MPs in calling for the full report to be published.

Julian Lewis, the chair of the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee, said: May I advise him publicly what I have said to emissaries from his campaign team privately: that it is truly in his interest, in the Governments interest, and in the national interest that he should insist on receiving the full, unredacted report immediately, as I believe he can, and that he should then publish the uncensored version without any further delay?

But Mr Johnson replied: I think extensive legal advice has been taken on this point and Sue Gray has published everything that she thinks she can that is consistent with that advice.

Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper urged the Prime Minister to publish a report from Ms Gray immediately and in full after the police investigation.

Tobias Ellwood, the chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, tweeted: If the PM fails to publish the report in full then he will no longer have my support.

Mr Johnson was already fighting for his political future, as Tory MPs consider sending letters to the chair of the Conservative 1922 Committee calling for a vote of no confidence.

The Prime Minister faced pressure to commit to fuller findings, or risk another reason for MPs to hit the threshold of 54 letters to trigger a vote on his leadership.

Before the apparent U-turn, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told journalists: He will consider what is appropriate, obviously at the start of this he was the one that commissioned this report.

Scotland Yard was clear that its order for limits on publication only covers the events it is investigating, and for the duration of their work.

A statement from the force said: As part of the investigation it is necessary for us to contact those who attended these events to get their account.

As a result, the Met has requested that any information identified as part of the Cabinet Office investigation about these events, is not disclosed in detail.

This request only applies for the duration of our investigation and does not apply to events we are not investigating.
The Prince of Wales has suggested nations should sign up to an environmental management agreement for space after making a mess of this planet.

Charles comment came as he learnt about the UKs leading role in helping to clear space junk orbiting the Earth  a new industry estimated to be worth billions.

He chatted to engineers from the private firm Astroscale which is pioneering new technology to capture defunct satellites with the aim of removing or repairing them, likened to AA breakdown cover.

The Prince of Wales (left) speaks to Head of Operations at Astroscale Al Colebourn during a visit to Astroscale (Paul Childs/PA)

Science Minister George Freeman joined the prince at the mission control of the companys operations and announced the UK Space Agency was providing 1.7 million for 13 new projects to track and remove dangerous space debris.

When Charles later sat down with the minister and industry representatives including Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, he told them: It just occurred while were making rather a mess of this planet, that it might be useful to have an environmental management agreement for space.

The science minister said after the meeting: Astroscale is a world leading technology platform for reducing very, very damaging space debris and helping companies make sure that when their satellites die theyre removed and brought back down to earth.

Theres a huge commercial opportunity, as the sector evolves everyone will be required to have satellite maintenance and servicing contracts to show theyre not dumping rubbish in space and I think the UK could be a world leader in setting the standards and therefore the insurance market.

Since the early days of space flight in the 1950s debris has been building up around the planet and it is estimated 330 million pieces, from obsolete satellites to spent rocket bodies and much smaller objects, are orbiting Earth.

The Prince of Wales (centre) during a visit to Astroscale (Paul Childs/PA)

They pose a threat to the increasing number of new satellites being launched each year which provide vital services, including communications and climate change monitoring.

Engineers paused their work during the royal visit to their base near Didcot in Oxfordshire to chat to the future king, and Harriet Brettle, Astroscales head of business analysis, told Charles they were aiming to commercialise their services by 2024.

She added: With that were looking at providing services to satellite operators, if their satellites have failed on orbit we can be the AA, the breakdown cover, they call us up and we can go and remove their satellite safely for them.

Were looking at capturing a big chunk of the multi-billion dollar in-orbit servicing market by 2030.

Astroscale has been progressively testing the ability of its satellite to capture another it blasted into space with in March 2021, and the next phase of trials will aim to capture real space debris.

The companys managing director John Auburn stressed his fledgling industry needed an adequate policy framework from governments.

He said: Theres a commercial market and government market but to open the market we need the right policy so that industry takes it seriously.

Its a sort of chicken and egg, so if we can open the market we can create a whole new environment thats safe so we go from a throwaway culture  launch and forget  to actually bringing down failed spacecraft.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will miss a trip to Ukraine after she tested positive for coronavirus.

Ms Truss announced on Twitter on Monday night that she had tested positive and would be working from home as she isolates.

But she had been due on a visit with the Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, for a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky amid rising tensions with Russia.

(UK Parliament/PA)

Earlier, Ms Truss announced plans for legislation with new powers to sanction individuals and businesses linked to the Russian state ahead of the visit.

She also appeared in the Commons  without wearing a mask  to show the Prime Minister support during his statement on the partygate saga.

She was sat next to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who was wearing a mask, and Home Secretary Priti Patel, who was not.

Ms Truss then later attended a meeting open to all members of the parliamentary Conservative party where the PM addressed MPs and peers to rally support after what was described as a difficult day.

In a tweet, Ms Truss said: I tested positive for Covid this evening.

Thankfully Ive had my three jabs and will be working from home while I isolate.
The head of the civil service has been urged to step in and stop the Scottish Government planning for an independent Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon announced in the Programme for Government last year that civil servants would resume work on a plan for how Scotland would look outside the UK.

It emerged this week that 11 civil servants have been tasked with creating the prospectus.

On Sunday, shadow Scotland secretary Ian Murray wrote to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case  the ultimate head of the civil service in the UK  calling for an investigation that will ultimately reverse the decision.

Many would consider this is a deeply inappropriate use of public funds at any time, but not least while Scotland is still in the midst of a pandemic, when energy bills are rising and families household budgets are squeezed, the letter said.

The Scottish National Party is of course perfectly entitled to set out its plans for separation, but Scottish taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill for a prospectus which the majority have already rejected in a national referendum.

I consider this to be an inappropriate and entirely wasteful use of taxpayers money and hope that you will investigate and ultimately reverse this decision.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: It is the role of the civil service to support the elected government of the day in developing and implementing its policies.

This view was supported by former Tory MSP and constitutional law professor Adam Tomkins.

Muscular unionism was stupid, self-defeating and rightly abandoned when Whitehall flirted with it last year. Its equally stupid and self-deafeating when pushed by folk who should know better such as Ian Murray MP.  Adam Tomkins (@ProfTomkins) January 30, 2022

Im not in favour of Scottish independence and Id much rather see a Scottish Govt with very different priorities, but I dont understand this, he said on Twitter.

Civil servants exist to support their ministers and, like it or not, it is Scot Gov policy to pursue indy via a second indyref.

Prof Tomkins added: Muscular unionism was stupid, self-defeating and rightly abandoned when Whitehall flirted with it last year. Its equally stupid and self-defeating when pushed by folk who should know better such as Ian Murray MP.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office refused to be drawn on the substance of the letter, but said: The UK Government is clear that now is not the time for a further independence referendum.

Our collective priority must be responding to and recovering from the challenges the Covid pandemic has created, rather than constitutional debates.

The prospectus will replace the independence White Paper that was published before the 2014 referendum, which laid out the various policy positions that would be put in place in an independent Scotland.
Paul Turner said his daughter's driving test was cancelled because of tiny specks of pencil eraser in the car. (SWNS)

Driving examiners have been condemned for failing learner drivers before they even turn their engines on - because their cars are deemed to be too dirty.

Paul Turner said his 17-year-old daughter was left "distraught" when an examiner at Blackpool test centre failed her for having tiny pencil rubber filings on the carpet underneath the passenger seat.

The teenager, who asked not to be named, had been waiting months for the test.

Her father said she had yet to get back behind the wheel following the incident.

After the examiner refused to get in the car, her instructor asked for a second opinion, which was refused, and then the manager was contacted, also to no avail.

Turner, from St Michaels on Wyre in Lancashire, said: "It was the instructor's car and it was spotless apart from a few tiny bits of rubber from when the instructor had rubbed something out of his diary.

"The filings weren't on the seat or anywhere were the examiner would be sitting. It wasn't like there were crisp packets and empty tins everywhere.

"It's ridiculous. They spent about 10 minutes trying to discuss it and sort it out, but got nowhere.

"So she's failed without even driving the car, and there's no way of getting the money back.

"She was distraught, in floods of tears."

He added: "I can't see a reason why he couldn't get into the car.

"At the end of the day, these people are civil servants and they need to be accountable.

"There's such a backlog of people wanting to take their test, and this is making it worse."

It costs 64 to take a practical driving test and there is currently a four to five-month waiting list.

Theory tests expire after two years, adding to the woes of learners stuck on a waiting list.

Turner added: "We live in a rural community, we don't have buses coming past.

"She will be coming to the end of college in summer, and her job prospects will be limited if she can't drive."

Paul Turner's 17-year-old daughter was left distraught when her examiner failed her for having tiny pencil rubber filings on the carpet underneath the passenger seat. (SWNS)

Would-be drivers have complained that examiners at the centre, which is handling tests from across the county due to backlogs, are refusing to get in cars if they are "too dirty".

And dozens of other learners across the country have said tests are being declined if cars don't meet new Covid-safe standards set by the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA).

One driver in Norwich is said to have failed because of mud in the footwell, while others have reportedly failed because of a blade of grass and even strands of hair.

Google reviews for Blackpool test centre show at least three other people claim to have been failed because of "picky" examiners finding fault with cleanliness.

Learners have complained that examiners at the centre are refusing to get in cars if they are "too dirty".

Elizabeth Quinn wrote: "Followed the gov.uk guidance for Covid cleaning yet the examiner refused to take him on the test!

"Not sure what he was planning on doing on the floor of the back of the car where hed spotted a couple of small hairs.

"All surfaces were clean and no rubbish or unnecessary items anywhere as was recommended."

Kath Threlfall wrote: "My son got a cancellation at Blackpool for yesterday and had to do it in our car.

"Despite having complied with the cleaning requirements for Covid safety i.e. having removed rubbish and unnecessary items, and having cleaned and wiped down the dashboard and car controls, the examiner said the car wasn't clean enough and refused to do the test.

"When offered the use of a hoover by a waiting parent, he then said it was too late to do the test."

The DVSA refused to comment on individual cases and wouldn't say whether examiners at Blackpool test centre were being investigated.

Instead a spokesman said: "DVSAs priority is to protect our customers and staff and stop the spread of Covid.

Guidance has been issued that cars used on driving tests must be cleaned before the test to lessen the chance of infection.

Driving tests will not go ahead if this has not been followed to ensure public safety.

The guidance for people wishing to take a test is that you must "clear and clean the inside of your car before your test".
Co-op shop-floor workers have won a key legal argument in their equal pay dispute with the retail giant.

More than 1,600 Co-op workers have taken action against the business over complaints that they are being paid less than colleagues in the firms distribution centres.

The mostly female shop-workers have said they should receive pay similar to the mostly male distribution colleagues, who were paid up to 3 more an hour.

The Co-op has now conceded a comparability concession in the case, a step towards recognising the different roles are of equal value.

BREAKING: More than 1,600 Co-op workers, are a step closer to equal pay after the supermarket conceded that shop floor workers can compare their roles to those of their colleagues in distribution centres https://t.co/cJmOpBJnT0  Leigh Day (@LeighDay_Law) January 31, 2022

However, the supermarket group said it will continue to defend itself against the claims and believes it pays workers fairly.

It comes after a raft of similar legal cases, including at rivals Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons, where it was also decided that store workers could be compared with distribution staff.

Tom Hewitt, a solicitor in the employment team at Leigh Day, said: Leigh Day is delighted to be able to tell Co-op staff that they have cleared the first hurdle in their claims for equal pay.

We hope that Co-op recognises that they can no longer deny that the work store workers do is of equal value to that of their distribution centre colleagues.

A spokesman for the Co-op said: Our colleagues play an important role in feeding the nation and its central to the Co-ops values that we pay them fairly for the work that they do in supporting communities.

We believe that we pay our colleagues fairly for the roles that they do, and so will continue to defend these claims.
Iran pushing to increase ballistic missile range to cover Europe By Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall

web posted January 31, 2022 Newspapers worldwide headlined on January 23, 2022, Iran Launched Solid-Fuel Satellite Carrier Rocket into Space, quoting the official IRNA news agency. Within two days, however, the IRNA account was removed. No rocket left the earth, but a significant static solid-fuel engine test was carried out successfully. While negotiations in Vienna on the nuclear issue continue sluggishly without a breakthrough, Iran continues to exert pressure and threaten the negotiating partners. Moreover, Iran is more than just implying that it has other options if no arrangement is reached, including linking the advanced nuclear capabilities it has reached in the past year and its ballistic missiles that could reach Europe. A conservative Iranian newspaper close to the regime recently reported that a solid-fuel engine tested in Iran could increase Iranian missile range to 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles), threatening European countries. The newspaper also praised President Raisis government, which, unlike its predecessor, exhibits an uncompromising negotiating position with the West, particularly in the realm of developing Irans missile capabilities. Through the recent engine tests and the launch of satellites at the end of December 2021  in the midst of nuclear negotiations  Iran has made it clear that it does not intend to compromise on the issue of missile development during the nuclear deal negotiations. The New Engine, Composite Rocket, and a 5,000 Km. Range Irans Farhikhtegan newspaper reported on January 15, 2022, that Iran aspires to increase its ballistic missile range and that its development of a 5,000-km.-range missile is closer than ever. The newspaper, which belongs to the Open University (Azad-e-Islami) and is associated with the conservatives of the Iranian regime, quoted recent remarks by Brig.-Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Corps. They interpreted his remarks as an indication that Iran plans to increase its range of ballistic missiles. Gen. Hajizadeh announced a successful test of a new Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) engine called the Raafe. Hajizadeh appeared before clerics in Qoms and said that over the past two years, a series of tests had been carried out on a solid-fueled satellite launcher rocket. The commander of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Corps also revealed that the body of the new satellite launcher is of composite design, not metallic. The design and removal of liquid fuel pumps lighten the rocket, allowing for longer ranges or larger payloads. Hajizadeh added that Irans aviation and missile ability could not be curbed through assassinations, threats, and sanctions. According to the Farhikhtegan newspaper, the test indicates significant progress in the missile field. The newspaper added that, although Iran has announced that it does not want to build ballistic missiles with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers, the new engine could allow it to pass that range and even approach the 5,000 km. range. The newspaper recalled 2017 remarks by Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, to the Europeans that if they wanted to bring the issue of Irans missile capability into the nuclear talks, Tehran could increase its missile range so that the range would cover the distance between Iran and Europe.

Farhikhtegan photograph of the static engine tests. The blue flag bears the colors of the Revolutionary Guard Corps The United States considers Irans satellite launchers to be a violation of Security Council Resolution 2231, which was approved in July 2015. According to the resolution, Iran was called upon not to take any action involving ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Irans space programs, which were dormant under Rouhani, were accelerated as part of the Iranian response to the U.S. exit from the nuclear deal and now also serve as leverage for pressure on the West during the nuclear talks Irans Conservatives, the Missile Test, and the Vienna Talks Farhikhtegan, the conservative newspaper, criticized former President Hassan Rouhani, writing, While the Rouhani-led government had tried to curtail the countrys missile tests and space drills to prevent any criticism from the West during the Vienna talks, the current government does not want to find favor in the West. And, in fact, Ibrahim Raisis government sees these experiments as a means of pressure on the other side of the talks. The newspaper mentioned that the West had already made considerable efforts to bring Irans missile and regional activities into the framework of the nuclear talks in Vienna (until the end of Rouhanis government). However, Tehran, while negotiating to revive the nuclear deal, is working aggressively to remove the issue of missiles from the talks. Farhikhtegan praised the Raisi government, noting that while there appears to have been some progress in the nuclear talks, the West has not stopped threatening Iran through escalating sanctions. Therefore, Tehran insists on the core issues to persuade the West to take clearer positions. Tehrans strong emphasis on strengthening its military capability shows that as Western pressure intensifies, Iran will expand its military testing, in addition to increasing the scope of its regional campaign. On December 30, 2021, Iran launched a liquid-fueled Simorgh space launch vehicle (SLV). However, it appears that the launch failed because its satellites failed to enter into orbit. Following the launch, Iran fended off criticism in the West of the launch, arguing Iran had the right to launch satellites. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency found that the new Simorgh (Safir-2) SLV could be capable of ICBM ranges if configured as a ballistic missile. IDF Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael (Mickey) Segall, an expert on strategic issues with a focus on Iran, terrorism, and the Middle East, is a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and at Acumen Risk Advisors. Home
Online estate agent Purplebricks has swung to a loss in the last six-month period as the business lost market share to its rivals.

Purplebricks said that it had taken a 12.9 million loss before tax in the six months to the end of October, compared to a 4.3 million profit in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue meanwhile dipped 7% to 41.3 million, the business said.

The business said that it had seen a 38% drop in instructions, as it lost 0.9 percentage points of market share.

However, due to booming housing costs, the amount of revenue it made per instruction rose 15% to 1,642.

The first half was undoubtedly challenging, with the implementation of a major change to our operating model coinciding with the UK property market experiencing a substantial fall in new instructions, said chief executive Vic Darvey.

This dynamic led to a disappointing financial performance but we are confident that we now have the right levers in place to drive a stronger financial performance going forward.

The publication of the companys results for the half year had been delayed by over a month after it discovered a potentially costly problem in how it communicated to tenants.

Its lettings arm had not properly explained to tenants that their deposits had been put in a protection scheme.

This promises to prove costly for the business. However, on Monday Purplebricks revealed that it may not be as expensive as first thought.

It originally thought that tenants would claim back between 2 million and 9 million under the Housing Act. It now predicts claims will reach just 3.6 million.

Shares in the company rose 2.7% on Monday, but are down by nearly four fifths compared to a year ago.
Boris Johnson has set out plans to capitalise on Brexit and is expected to move forward with the levelling up agenda this week as he awaits the findings of the highly anticipated partygate report.

Two years to the day since the UK left the EU, the Government has launched a new Brexit Freedoms Bill as part of a drive it claims will cut 1 billion of red tape for businesses.

The long awaited Levelling Up White Paper is also expected to be published this week  although a policy trailed over the weekend was heavily criticised by the opposition.

The announcements will be seen as an attempt by Mr Johnson to steer the narrative away from toxic partygate allegations that have dominated the news agenda in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will embark on a mission to reignite faith in his premiership this week (Carl Recine/PA)

But Downing Street was in hot water again overnight on Sunday as a senior official who worked in No 10 during the pandemic lashed out at the Government over the scandal.

Writing in The Times, Nikki da Costa, who was formerly Mr Johnsons director of legislative affairs, claimed that No 10 seemed to have failed as a collective to live by the spirit and the letter of the rules it was setting.

Questions have been looming over the future of the PMs premiership as he awaits the findings of Whitehall and police inquiries into claims of lockdown-busting gatherings held in Downing Street.

No 10 had still not received a copy of the highly anticipated Sue Gray report on Sunday evening.

The PA news agency understands that is it due to be delivered in a matter of days.

It was also reported on Sunday that the Government is expected to announce a U-turn on mandatory Covid vaccinations for NHS and social care staff.

The Government is expected to announce a U-turn on mandatory Covid vaccinations for NHS and social care staff, according to reports (Jane Barlow/PA)

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has been facing pressure to scrap the requirement for health workers in England to be vaccinated by April amid fears it will lead to a major staffing crisis.

Trade minister Penny Mordaunt tweeted in response to the reports in The Telegraph: This looks promising Hope a sensible way through can be found for both health and social care.

And Conservative former minister Steve Baker said: What a relief. The right decision.

In a taster of the policies to come in its Levelling Up White Paper, the Government announced new plans at the weekend to breathe fresh life into disadvantaged communities across England.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said 20 chosen locations will be prioritised for a 1.5 billion Brownfield Fund made available from April 2022.

This looks promising. Met with local HCPs recently regarding QAs experience and alternatives to mandatory jabs. Hope a sensible way through can be found for both health and social care. https://t.co/iPqblBMUPY  Penny Mordaunt (@PennyMordaunt) January 30, 2022

But pressed on where the money was coming from, the DLUHC clarified to the PA news agency that the cash to fund the work was allocated by the Treasury last year.

Labours shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy described the regeneration funding as very small beer.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high between Russia and Ukraine, with Mr Johnson expected to speak to President Vladimir Putin and travel to the troubled region early this week.

It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnson is looking at doubling the number of troops deployed to strengthen Europes borders.

No 10 said it could send defensive weapons to Estonia while fast jets, warships and military specialists may be sent to protect Nato allies.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said a situation in which British soldiers would fight alongside Ukrainians against Russia was very unlikely (Aaron Chown/PA)

But the Foreign Secretary said on Sunday that a situation in which British soldiers would fight alongside Ukrainians against Russia was very unlikely.

The Brexit Freedoms Bill announced on Monday will affect the handling of retained EU law  Brussels-made regulations which were preserved in the UK statute book for legal continuity after the transition period ended in 2020.

The Government has previously made clear that it intends to eventually amend, replace or repeal all of the retained law that it deems not right for the UK.

But Downing Street said that under current rules, changing or scrapping regulations in the pipeline of outdated legislation would take several years because of a long-winded alteration process.

It said the new Bill will ensure that changes can be made more easily, so the UK can capitalise on Brexit freedoms more quickly.

Two years to the day since the UK left the EU, the Government has launched a new Brexit Freedoms Bill (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

No 10 did not specify exactly what provisions the Bill will contain to speed up reforms, or how it calculated that businesses would save 1 billion through the cutting of red tape.

It comes after the Foreign Secretary insisted the Government is committed to cutting taxes as the Prime Minister and Chancellor made the bold move of doubling down on plans to raise National Insurance.

Liz Truss said taxes are never popular, but significant amounts of money spent dealing with the Covid crisis need to be paid back.

She stood by the Prime Minister on Sunday, telling the BBC that he is absolutely the best person to lead the Conservative Party into the next general election.

Asked if she is tempted by the top job, she said: There is no contest. There is no discussion.

(PA Graphics)

On Saturday, Tom Tugendhat, a backbench Tory MP who has been critical of the Governments handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, became the first to announce that he intends to stand for leader if there is a contest soon.

The Independent later reported that the Chancellor was putting the final touches to a leadership bid after telling allies he believed the scandal over alleged parties in Downing Street and Whitehall could be unsurvivable for the PM.

But the newspaper cited a source close to Mr Sunak as saying these claims were totally false.
In the days since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the Supreme Court, much of the focus on his replacement has centered around the race and gender of his replacement.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly promised that his nominee will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court.

But in a new interview for Influencers with Andy Serwer, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described identity as "just the starting step when we are discussing a Supreme Court justice. Ocasio-Cortez wants to focus on other questions, notably: What is going to be that nominees worldview?

For example, she said, she'd like to know a candidate's position on voting rights or on Citizens United v. FEC, the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case that allowed outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections. Ocasio-Cortez, perhaps the most well-known liberal member of Congress, signaled she will have questions around big business interests and the high court.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrives at a news conference around the federal eviction moratorium in 2021 after the Supreme Court blocked the Biden administrations attempt to extend the moratorium. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

On the last point, some left-leaning voices in recent days have tried to elevate the relationship between big business and the Supreme Court as an issue in the upcoming nomination fight.

The author Matt Stoller, who's focused on monopoly power, and former Bernie Sanders senior adviser David Sirota contend that Breyer has been overly deferential to big business, citing his concurrence on antitrust cases over the decades that have favored the consolidation of corporate power.

Its not enough to merely get an appointee who checks some important demographic boxes," Sirota wrote last week. This moment begs for a jurist whose life experience and record shows a commitment to prioritizing American workers and the environment.

Academics have noted that the Supreme Court overseen by Chief Justice John Roberts in recent years has been one of the most business friendly ever. And it has been bipartisan with the left and right side of the bench favoring business at levels unprecedented in the last 70 years, according to a 2017 article in the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy.

AOC, as she is widely known, is in just her second term in Congress. However, she has become a widely quoted figure on all facets of Democratic politics ever since upsetting a 10-term incumbent in 2018 and at the age of 29 becoming the youngest woman to serve in the U.S. Congress.

In an interview with CNN in June, when asked if Breyer should retire, Ocasio-Cortez said she was "inclined to say yes." She won't have a direct vote on whoever Biden nominates in the weeks ahead, though.

At the moment, many of the Senators who do  including more liberal members of the Senate Judiciary committee  have so far celebrated and focused on Bidens pledge to bring more racial and gender diversity to the court.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am ready to confirm the first Black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States  Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) January 27, 2022

Ketanji Brown Jackson, who serves U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and once clerked for Breyer, has frequently come up as a possible replacement.

Other names on the reported short list include California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, who has argued issues like employment discrimination laws before the U.S. Supreme Court in the past.

South Carolina U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs has also been pushed hard by powerful Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) largely based on the argument that she has blue collar roots. One of the things we have to be very, very careful of as Democrats is being painted with that elitist brush, Clyburn told The New York Times last year. Childs was also praised Sunday by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who called her her an "awesome person."

During an appearance Sunday, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised the possible candidates as "extraordinary people."

"I dont want to put the finger on the scale for any one of the nominees," Durbin added.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rallied against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

Ocasio-Cortez, for her part, seems primed to draw at least some focus towards the business record of the next nominee in the weeks ahead. These are central questions about our democracy," she noted, "both in the financial capture of our democracy, but also the racial injustice of, and erosion of, our democracy as well.

Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

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Boris Johnson will travel to Kyiv for crisis talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky amid continuing fears over Russias military build-up, Downing Street has said.

Ahead of his visit to the Ukrainian capital, the Prime Minister will urge Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink when he speaks to the Russian president later on Monday.

Speaking during a visit to Essex, Mr Johnson said he will again tell the Russian president that an invasion of Ukraine would be an absolute disaster for the world.

The Prime Ministers visit on Tuesday, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, marks a further ratcheting up of diplomatic activity as the West seeks to convince Moscow that any military incursion against its neighbour will come at a high price.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Johnson said: What I will say to President Putin, as I have said before, is that I think we really all need to step back from the brink.

I think Russia needs to step back from the brink.

According to Western mass media there are up to 200 000 Ukrainian troops and 90 000 reservists in eastern part of Ukraine. According to the same sources there are 100 000 Russian troops on the Russian territory including rather far from #Ukraine. Any further questions?  Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) January 30, 2022

I think that an invasion of Ukraine, any incursion into Ukraine beyond the territory that Russia has already taken in 2014 would be an absolute disaster for the world, and above all it would be a disaster for Russia.

Mr Johnson said that any Russian invasion would be bitterly and bloodily resisted by the Ukrainian people.

The Prime Ministers comments came as part of a concerted diplomatic push to maintain the unity of Nato allies in the response to Russia.

Boris Johnson will urge Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink (Matt Cardy/PA)

Downing Street said Mr Johnson will urge the Russian president to take a diplomatic path and avoid a very costly military action in Ukraine.

Our aim is to continue to encourage Russia to take a diplomatic path, to de-escalate and to step back from what could be a very costly exercise if they were to follow the path of further aggression, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

He has been clear at all points that pursuing that path would be extremely costly for the Russian people and its something we want to avoid and will continue to negotiate on.

Meanwhile, Ms Truss will use a Commons statement on Monday to set out plans for a toughened sanctions regime which could be used to target senior figures linked to Vladimir Putins administration.

Mr Johnsons official spokesman said: The Russian elite should be in no doubt that we have significant powers and will take them further, which will place massive pressure on them should they continue on this path of aggression.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will set out new sanctions (Aaron Chown/PA)

In a further move, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, seen as one of Mr Putins closest partners in Nato and the European Union, is expected to travel to Moscow on Tuesday for talks which have led to concerns about the alliance being undermined.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who was in Budapest for talks with his counterparts, insisted he supports Mr Orbans visit, telling a press conference: I think its very important that President Putin hears from a country such as Hungary that they will face direct economic consequences of any instability in the east.

I dont know what the prime minister of Hungary will actually say to Putin but I think it is clear that we all are in agreement that we dont want instability, we dont want war in the east, we dont want casualties, we dont want migrant flows, we dont want high fuel prices and food prices which would inevitably follow from any actions.

The UK is expected to bolster military presence in eastern Europe as part of Natos efforts to secure the region.

But British and Nato combat forces are not expected to be deployed in Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.

Around 100 British personnel are involved in a training mission in the country.

Mr Johnson said: We have been there since 2014, training Ukrainian troops under Operation Orbital  about 21,000 we have trained.

We give lethal but defensive weaponry to Ukraine.
Boris Johnson said he will urge Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink when the pair hold crisis talks over Ukraine this week.

The Prime Minister said an invasion of Ukraine would be an absolute disaster for the world.

Mr Johnson is expected to visit the region with no sign of the tensions fuelled by the Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine easing.

Speaking to reporters in Essex, Mr Johnson said: What I will say to President Putin, as I have said before, is that I think we really all need to step back from the brink.

I think Russia needs to step back from the brink.

I think that an invasion of Ukraine, any incursion into Ukraine beyond the territory that Russia has already taken in 2014 would be an absolute disaster for the world, and above all it would be a disaster for Russia.

Mr Johnson said that any Russian invasion would be bitterly and bloodily resisted by the Ukrainian people.

The Prime Ministers comments came as part of a concerted diplomatic push to maintain the unity of Nato allies in the response to Russia.

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, seen as one of Mr Putins closest partners in Nato and the European Union, is expected to travel to Moscow on Tuesday for talks which have led to concerns about the alliance being undermined.

The Prime Minister is considering increasing the offer of UK Armed Forces to NATO, which includes:  @RoyalAirForce fast jets Increasing @BritishArmy presence in Estonia @RoyalNavy warships Ministers will meet to discuss the proposals. Read more: https://t.co/prFbtsZ83y  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) January 30, 2022

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who was in Budapest for talks with his counterparts, insisted he supports Mr Orbans visit, telling a press conference: I think its very important that President Putin hears from a country such as Hungary that they will face direct economic consequences of any instability in the east.

I dont know what the prime minister of Hungary will actually say to Putin but I think it is clear that we all are in agreement that we dont want instability, we dont want war in the east, we dont want casualties, we dont want migrant flows, we dont want high fuel prices and food prices which would inevitably follow from any actions.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is expected to visit Ukraine this week and will fly to Moscow for talks within the next fortnight.

She has promised new legislation announced to widen current sanctions so there will be nowhere to hide for Putins oligarchs if Russia invades Ukraine.

Local residents train close to Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The UK is expected to bolster military presence in eastern Europe as part of Natos efforts to secure the region.

But British and Nato combat forces are not expected to be deployed in Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.

Around 100 British personnel are involved in a training mission in the country.

Mr Johnson said: We have been there since 2014, training Ukrainian troops under Operation Orbital  about 21,000 we have trained.

We give lethal but defensive weaponry to Ukraine.
The UK High Court has been asked to help obtain evidence about the Duke of Yorks relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell from his former assistant.

Court documents reveal that Judge Lewis A Kaplan has written letters to both the Senior Master of the Queens Bench Division and the Australian Attorney General to request their assistance in acquiring evidence for the civil claim filed by Virginia Giuffre.

The judge has asked for Andrews former assistant, Robert Olney, to be quizzed on topics such as the dukes communications with Maxwell, Epstein and Ms Giuffre, and his travel to Epsteins homes.

In a separate letter to the High Court, Judge Kaplan also requested testimony from a woman who claims to have seen Andrew in Tramp nightclub.

The documents assert that Shukri Walkers evidence should include questions about the presence of the duke and Ms Giuffre at Tramp nightclub in March 2001 and any interactions the pair had.

Ms Giuffre is suing the duke for damages in her home country of the US, claiming she was trafficked by disgraced financier Epstein, Andrews friend and a convicted sex offender, to have sex with the royal when she was 17, a minor under US law, at Maxwells London home in the early 2000s.

The duke is also alleged to have sexually abused Ms Giuffre during a visit to Epsteins private island, Little St James, and on a separate occasion at the financiers Manhattan mansion.

Virginia Giuffre alleges the duke sexually assaulted her in three separate locations (Crime+Investigation screengrab/PA)

Andrew has strenuously denied all allegations.

In letters to the Australian Attorney General, Judge Kaplan requested assistance in obtaining testimony from Ms Giuffres husband Robert and her psychologist Dr Judith Lightfoot.

The judge asked for Mr Giuffres testimony to include how he met Ms Giuffre, his discussions with her about Andrew, her alleged childhood trauma and abuse, and her relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.

The letter requests Mr Giuffres testimony also include all claims Ms Giuffre has made against the duke, her alleged emotional and psychological harm and damages, her role in trafficking and recruiting young girls for Epstein and the Giuffre households finances.

In a separate letter to Dr Lightfoot, Judge Kaplan has asked her evidence to include Ms Giuffres medical treatment, her diagnosis of Ms Giuffre, matters discussed during their sessions, and claims made about Andrew.

Testimony is also sought from Dr Lightfoot about her opinions of the alleged psychological harm suffered by Ms Giuffre, theory of false memories and the consequences of her childhood trauma.

Andrew previously took the dramatic decision to face his accuser in court and become the first member of the modern royal family to submit to being cross-examined over serious allegations.

David Boies, who is representing Ms Giuffre in her lawsuit against Andrew, said his client and legal team were looking forward to confronting the royal about his denials.

Judge Kaplan has requested that the testimony of all four witnesses be completed by April 29.
Actress Melanie Lynskey is speaking out about the body shaming she's been subjected to thanks to the popularity of her new Showtime series, Yellowjackets. The "most egregious" comments, she says, are those that claim to stem from a concern for her health, not understanding that "skinny does not always equal healthy."

On Friday, Lynskey  who can currently also be seen as Leonardo DiCaprio's wife in the film Don't Look Up  responded to a since-deleted tweet from acclaimed writer Ashley C. Ford about people being in disbelief that she's not trying to lose weight and is in fact confident in her body.

"The story of my life since Yellowjackets premiered," the New Zealand actress, 44, commented. "Most egregious are the 'I care about her health!!' people."

The Coyote Ugly star, who shares a 3-year-old daughter with husband Jason Ritter, shot down the assumption that she's not active or fit.

"Bitch you don't see me on my Peloton!" she tweeted at critics. "You don't see me running through the park with my child. Skinny does not always equal healthy."

The story of my life since Yellowjackets premiered. Most egregious are the I care about her health!! peoplebitch you dont see me on my Peleton! You dont see me running through the park with my child. Skinny does not always equal healthy https://t.co/W2poMmsv1p  Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) January 29, 2022

Her tweet resonated with many, including writer Jenelle Riley, who shared her own frustration with "strangers who are bigger experts on my health than my doctor."

"I mean... it's so crazy," Lynskey responded. "Is it going to end in our lifetimes?"

I mean its so crazy. Is it going to end in our lifetimes?  Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) January 29, 2022

Jameela Jamil also tweeted her support, writing, "God I love you so much."

God I love you so much.  Jameela Jamil  (@jameelajamil) January 29, 2022

Lynskey recently shared an incident in which a member of the Yellowjackets production team asked her about her weight.

"They were asking me, What do you plan to do? Im sure the producers will get you a trainer. Theyd love to help you with this,'" she told Rolling Stone.

The body-shaming remarks drew protest from her co-stars Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci and Tawny Cypress.

In the same interview, the former Two and a Half Men star spoke about feeling overlooked following her breakthrough role in the 1994 Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures, in which she starred opposite a teenage Kate Winslet.

I was the person who was sort of just sitting there while everyone was excited about somebody prettier, Lynskey said of Winslet. She was very confident, she found it very easy to do interviews. And it was hard for me. I was so shy.

She added, "It just felt like [Kate] was somebody who knew how the world worked, and knew how to be a beautiful woman. And I felt like, Im never gonna be that. She just felt magical to me.

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ATLANTA (AP)  The prosecutor who's investigating whether Donald Trump and others broke the law by trying to pressure Georgia officials to overturn Joe Biden's presidential election victory is asking the FBI for security help after the former president railed against prosecutors investigating him.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Sunday wrote a letter to the FBI office in Atlanta asking for a risk assessment of the county courthouse and government center. She also asked the FBI to provide protective resources, to include intelligence and federal agents.

Willis last year opened an investigation into any potential attempts to improperly influence the 2020 general election in Georgia by Trump and his associates. A special grand jury is set to be seated May 2 to aid in that investigation and Willis asked the FBI to take the steps she requested well in advance of that date.

My staff and I will not be influenced or intimidated by anyone as this investigation moves forward, Willis wrote.

She added that her office has already taken steps to address security concerns considering the communications we have received from persons unhappy with our commitment to fulfill our duties. She said she's also working with county officials on the need for extra security measures as the investigation progresses.

But she said security concerns were escalated over the weekend as Trump lashed out at prosecutors looking into his actions, calling them vicious, horrible people.

If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protest we have ever had in Washington, D.C, in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere, Trump said during the Saturday night rally in Texas.

The rhetoric is especially alarming, Willis wrote, in light of statements Trump made at the same event saying that if he returns to the White House, he could give pardons to people who stormed the U.S. Capitol last year in an effort to block the certification of Bidens win.

We must work together to keep the public safe and ensure that we do not have a tragedy in Atlanta similar to what happened at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Willis wrote in the letter to the FBI.

Willis has declined to speak about the specifics of her investigation, but in a recent interview with The Associated Press, she confirmed that its scope includes  but is not limited to  a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a November 2020 phone call between U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Raffensperger, the abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta on Jan. 4, 2021, and comments made during December 2020 Georgia legislative committee hearings on the election.

In a statement earlier this month, Trump said his call to Raffensperger was perfect and said he did not say anything wrong. Graham has also denied any wrongdoing.
The Georgia prosecutor looking into former President Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election results is asking the FBI for protection after Trump called for protests of the racist prosecutors investigating him.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter to the FBIs Atlanta field office on Sunday requesting that the bureau conduct a risk assessment of the county courthouse and government center, as well as provide protective resources including intelligence and federal agents as her office ramps up its own investigation of the former president.

We must work together to keep the public safe and ensure that we do not have a tragedy in Atlanta similar to what happened at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Willis wrote in the letter, which was published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. My staff and I will not be influenced or intimidated by anyone as this investigation moves forward.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in her Atlanta office on Jan. 4. (Ben Gray/AP)

During a rally in Conroe, Texas, on Saturday night, Trump railed against ongoing probes into his efforts to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election.

If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protests we have ever had in Washington, D.C., in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere, because our country and our elections are corrupt, Trump said.

Earlier this month, Willis requested a special grand jury to aid her investigation because of what she called a lack of cooperation from witnesses, including the states Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger. Willis launched the inquiry after Trump, in a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call, urged Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes that made up Bidens winning margin in the state.

Last week a judge granted Williss request for a grand jury, which will be impaneled beginning on May 2.

Then-President Donald Trump speaks at a rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot continues to subpoena witnesses, including Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other attorneys involved in pushing baseless election fraud claims. The panel recently asked Trumps daughter Ivanka to cooperate voluntarily in its probe.

On Jan. 19, the Supreme Court denied the former presidents request to prevent the select committee from obtaining White House records concerning Trumps activities leading up to and during the insurrection.

And New York Attorney General Letitia James said earlier this month that she has uncovered significant evidence of fraud in her ongoing investigations into the Trump Organizations business practices.
Letter to the American medical establishment: WTF!?!#&*% By Greg Strange

web posted January 31, 2022 Dear American Medical Establishment (or virtually any other Western Medical Establishment): As an infuriated American citizen whos had it up to here, Im writing this letter regarding your crimes against humanity as they pertain to your response to COVID. Thats right, you read that correctly: crimes against humanity. That is not hyperbole, it is real and spot on. In fact, formal charges of crimes against humanity have indeed been filed in the International Criminal Court at the Hague, not just against Americans, but many who have perpetrated these crimes internationally. And what are those crimes? Total negligence and endless lies that led to the mostly needless deaths of going on a million Americans, millions more worldwide and the destructive turning upside-down of civilization itself.

How, in the name of God, were you so totally given over to this negligence and depravity? For the first time in modern medical history an illness came along and instead of trying to find a way to treat it, you threw up your hands and proclaimed, Theres nothing we can do, theres no way to treat it, we wont even try and well tell everybody who gets it the same damn thing, which is, stay at home and if it gets too bad, go to the hospital [and pray you make it out alive]! And then you proceeded to try and delegitimize the handful of brave and caring doctors who risked their careers by going against your contemptible negligence and successfully treated patients with, among many other things, hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, two of the safest drugs on the planet and of which billions of doses have been prescribed over many decades. And you lied and said they werent safe, or they were horse medicine, or they havent been approved for the treatment of COVID (as if that matters), or whatever. You sick bastards! And then, when the experimental and rushed vaccines came along and were causing injuries and deaths like nothing weve ever seen before, you still promoted them like there was no tomorrow while continuing to try and suppress all treatments and pretending as if natural immunity from prior infection didnt exist. You even push the experimental shots on children who have statistically a near zero chance of dying from the virus, but a far greater chance of serious side effects from the vaccine. And you havent seemed to care too much that our country has been contentiously divided between the vaxxed and the unvaxxed, the latter of which are being demonized by the former who have been carelessly throwing around a lot of very dangerous rhetoric which, given human nature, cannot lead to anything good. And all the while, you wouldnt even publicly recommend that people just beef up their vitamin D levels even though its been found to have a profound effect on the immune system and preventing hospitalization and death from COVID. It would have been so easy, so uncontroversial and could have made a huge difference, but you wouldnt even do that much. Damn you! And you went along with the dehumanizing cult of the mask, another extremely divisive issue, even though no science has ever shown that could stop an airborne respiratory virus. You just stood by and watched as people were turned into frightened, mask-wearing zombies, afraid of their own shadows and shells of their former selves. And dont even get me started on the off-topic matter of your complicity with the transgender madness that literally wants to overturn Gods created order. Your depravity, negligence and evil are incomprehensible. The negative consequences of all this are incalculable and will likely play out over decades. Besides all the obvious stuff already mentioned, you have also destroyed our ability and willingness to trust anything you say from here on out. That will also cost many lives. For example, lets say I get some type of cancer and my doctor tells me theres only one treatment which can possibly help. And lets say I go home, do some research and find some alternative treatments which he didnt mention. And then, when I bring those up he practically laughs in my face and calls them quackery. He might very well be right, but after everything Ive seen in the last two years, I have absolutely no reason to just automatically take his word for it. He, or the physicians group he works for and whose rules he must abide by, may have some hidden agenda  likely money-related or maybe just political  such that they refuse to recommend or perform any alternative treatment, even though that treatment might work. My inability to trust them turns it into guesswork on my part and that could cost me my life. So, thoroughly debased American Medical Establishment, heres what I imagine in my most unabashedly harsh fantasies: I imagine Nuremberg-style trials in which the worst offenders, from Fauci on down, are convicted for crimes against humanity. Then, I imagine them sitting in their death row cells from which they can hear the sounds of the gallows being constructed outside. Im not proud of indulging such fantasies, but you richly deserve the maximum contempt of every American who has been victimized by your criminal negligence and depravity, which is basically every American. Youre just as responsible for the needless deaths, misery, economic hardship, depression, increased substance abuse, tyranny and our general descent into madness as any persons in positions of political power because you could have set them straight, but you didnt. See, its not even remotely plausible that you just didnt know any better because the virus was so new and different. Again, there was that handful of brave doctors who did treat it, early on, with great success while for whatever malevolent reasons, you did nothing or else all the wrong things. But fortunately for you, and unfortunately for civilization, there wont likely be any Nuremberg-style trials. In fact, Id be surprised if anyone is held particularly accountable in any way beyond maybe losing their jobs. Thats because in order to hold people accountable there has to be some institution which has a high degree of legitimate moral authority  and thats what we are all out of. Every institution in this country is now effectively given over to depravity in all of its manifestations: moral, intellectual and spiritual. Between COVID, George Floyd and transgender ideology, theyre all raving mad, or else just cynically going along to get along. Either way, their moral authority has been utterly destroyed and there is no institution capable of holding people responsible in any meaningful way. So, American Medical Establishment, youll likely get off pretty much scot free for your part in one of the biggest crimes in history. One things for certain, though. All illusions of morality improving in lockstep with advances in science and technology have been shattered. It should also be realized that any calls of Never again! are purely rhetorical and essentially meaningless in a fallen world. As all serious Jews and Christians understand, no amount of scientific progress can change mans inherently fallen nature, even those who take an oath to help people and to do no harm. Your depravity, American Medical Establishment, is as boundless as anyone elses. So thanks for nothing, American Medical Establishment. Your despicable and epic fail, both medical and moral, at a time when we needed you the most will live in infamy across the centuries. But I pray to God, literally, not rhetorically, that there will be ultimate accountability and justice. Without that hope, carrying on in the face of such widespread and abject depravity would be nearly unbearable. Greg Strange can be reached at gpstrange30341@yahoo.com . (c) 2022 Greg Strange. Home
(Pantheon / Associated Press)

Two editions of Art Spiegelman's graphic novel "Maus," about his parents' experiences during the Holocaust, have become bestsellers after being banned by a Tennessee school board earlier this month.

"The Complete Maus" (1996) and "Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History" (1986) broke onto Amazon's top 20 list over the weekend and, as of Monday morning, hold the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the bestseller list, respectively. Peter Schweizer's "Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win" is currently perched in the No. 1 spot.

Spiegelman's books are in limited supply and not available for delivery from Amazon until mid-February and early March, according to the e-commerce giant.

Neither book was in the top 1,000 at the beginning of last week, the Associated Press reported.

"Maus," which was first serialized in Spiegelman's 1980 comic anthology "Raw," is set in 1940s Poland during the Holocaust and chronicles his parents' internment in Auschwitz, depicting Nazis as cats and Jewish people as mice.

Earlier this month, the McMinn County School Board in Tennessee voted to ban the book over concerns about rough language and a nude drawing of a mouse (meant to be the author's mother), according to meeting minutes posted to the district website. "Maus" was part of the eighth-grade English language arts curriculum, and its removal  sparked by a discussion about how to best teach students about the Holocaust  has drawn international attention.

Spiegelman, 73, who has grown used to his book being banned, called the recent removal "absurd" and "myopic."

Theyre totally focused on some bad words that are in the book, he told CNN last week. I cant believe the word damn would get the book jettisoned out of the school on its own, but thats really where the genuine focus seems to be.

I think theyre so myopic in their focus and theyre so afraid of whats 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 added.

The school boards decision comes amid a wave of conservative-sponsored legislation and other actions to pull books from schools, with other banned works including Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird," AP reported.

"Maus," which won a Pulitzer in 1992, is published by the recently expanded Pantheon Books, which now operates as an autonomous imprint within the Penguin Random House conglomerate.

Pantheon and Schocken's hire of Lisa Lucas in 2020 as president and publisher was seen as part of a larger push to make book publishing  and the books published  more inclusive. Lucas recently hired David Treuer to serve as the first Native American editor at a major imprint. She tweeted Sunday that she'd "love to see everyones copies of Maus."

Increased sales of "Maus" likely will help Lucas as she embarks on her second year at Pantheon, bolstering the optimism she expressed in a conversation with The Times in 2020: "People are starting to see how important books are to us culturally, and we can capture not just the energy of change, of post-pandemic  should we ever get there  but also just the energy of people remembering how vital books are to us in a moment of great duress. I think thats a nice runway into a bright future."

Asked for comment, Pantheon forwarded a bookmark Spiegelman had made for libraries in 2014. Featuring a cartoon mouse  akin to his "Maus" illustration  reading, it says: Keep your nose in a book  and keep other peoples noses out of which books you choose to stick your nose into!

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A handful of Republicans pushed back against former President Donald Trump's weekend offer to consider pardoning people convicted of joining the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, saying it showed he would "do it all again" if he regains the White House in 2024.

"Trump uses language he knows caused the Jan. 6 violence; suggests he'd pardon the Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy; threatens prosecutors; and admits he was attempting to overturn the election," U.S. Representative Liz Cheney posted on Twitter on Monday. "He'd do it all again if given the chance."

Cheney is one of just two Republicans taking part in the U.S House of Representatives' official investigation of Jan. 6.

Cheney and a few other Republicans spoke out after a weekend in which former President Trump at a Saturday rally in Conroe, Texas, offered to consider pardoning people convicted of joining the attack if elected to a second term in 2024 and called for protests against prosecutors in New York and Georgia investigating him and his company.

He followed up Sunday evening with a statement repeating his false claims that his vice president, Mike Pence, "could have overturned the Election" that Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

He also lambasted a bipartisan effort led by Republican Senator Susan Collins to reform the federal law that allows Congress members to dispute presidential election results.

Representative Adam Kinzinger, the other Republican on the Jan. 6 committee, wrote on Twitter late on Sunday that it was "time for every Republican leader to pick a side ... Trump or the Constitution, there is no middle on defending our nation anymore."

Trump's comments on targeting prosecutors led Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, who is investigating whether Trump tried to influence the state's handling of the election, to ask the FBI for additional security for her office.

She noted in a Sunday letter to the FBI's Atlanta field office that her concerns were driven by Trump's comments in Texas attacking "radical, vicious racist prosecutors" and encouraging protests in Washington, New York and Atlanta.

Trump was impeached in the House but acquitted in the Senate last year on a charge of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 attack, in which thousands of his supporters stormed the Capitol in the worst assault on Congress since the War of 1812. Cheney and Kinzinger voted for his impeachment, and Collins voted to convict him.

Fueled by Trump's false claims that his November 2020 election defeat was the result of fraud, the attackers sought to stop Congress from certifying Biden's victory and threatened to hang Pence for refusing to overturn the results. More than 700 people have been charged with joining in the assault.

Other Republicans on Sunday also rejected his remarks about pardons.

"The folks that were part of the riots and, frankly, the assault on the U.S. Capitol, have to be held accountable. There is a rule of law," New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu told CNN.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump ally, voiced his own concerns about the potential for repeated violence.

"I don't want to reinforce that defiling the Capitol was OK. I don't want to do anything that would make this more likely in the future," he told CBS.

(Reporting by David Morgan, additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis)
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) on Oct. 28, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

As House members return to Washington on Tuesday after a weeklong recess, progressives are looking toward how to recover from recent defeats.

Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from passing a pair of voting rights bills, and two Democratic senators joined every Republican in a vote to preserve the chamber's filibuster rules. A month earlier, Democrats acknowledged the collapse of President Biden's $1.7-trillion spending bill.

In a recent interview, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) talked about how progressives view Biden's presidency one year in, how Democrats should talk about the economy, what his competition bill the House is poised to take up this month will do and what to expect in his upcoming book.

Below is a transcript of the Jan. 18 interview, lightly edited for clarity:

LAT: Could you talk about what progressives were able to accomplish in 2021 and what goals the Progressive Caucus is eyeing this legislative year?

KHANNA: We had a number of critical victories. First, the child tax credit in the American Rescue Plan was an extraordinary advance on behalf of social justice. It helped cut child poverty in half. It was the first time in the country that we had monthly payments going to working families in an amount that really could help them provide education and food and clothing for kids.

Second, the stimulus checks that led to consumer demand being strong in an economic recovery, which is at full employment. No one thought that we could get to full employment by this time. That is a direct result of a rejection of austerity economics and a commitment to increasing consumer demand.

Third, I would argue the hearings that I chaired on climate with Big Oil  for the first time testifying under oath in Congress about climate disinformation and in some cases admitting the false statements of the past  has been the first time Big Oil has been held accountable, analogous to the tobacco hearings.

And then, finally, from certain provisions of the [$1-trillion] infrastructure bill [signed into law in November,] where were getting broadband, affordable broadband, to Black and brown communities and rural America, where were getting the replacement of lead pipes, where were getting massive investment in public transport and in electric grid infrastructure, I think are things that progressives have been pushing for.

I want to turn to [Democratic Sens.] Joe Manchin [of West Virginia] and Kyrsten Sinema [of Arizona] next. Manchins essentially killed [the Build Back Better Act], at least for now, and Sinema seemingly killed voting rights. Whats their place in the modern Democratic Party? How do progressives view those two, just given their role in continuing to stall some legislation that the House passes and then it goes to the Senate and usually goes nowhere?

KHANNA: Well, I have a good relationship with Sen. Manchin. Ive had a good relationship since I went to visit Beckley, W.Va., in 201[8]. In fact, the L.A. Times  it was Evan Halper at your paper. He came to West Virginia with me, and I think theres a  if you Google it, theres a whole story he wrote about my trip out there on tech jobs. So Ive since then had a cordial relationship with him. I understand that he comes from a state that [former President] Trump carried overwhelmingly, that he has a different perspective on a number of these issues, but Ive been working to see what we can do in terms of getting forward on a compromise. In fact, Im hopeful that we still may be able to get some of the key provisions of Build Back Better on climate passed. And on universal preschool.

Sinema is more enigmatic to me. I dont understand how she can be as oppositional, coming from a state that Biden carried. I dont understand her speech to the Senate on voting rights, not even having the courtesy to hear the president out before doing that. And the question Ive asked of her is: If she were in the Senate in the 1960s when the 1964 Civil Rights Act was put forward or the 65 Voting Rights Act was put forward, would she have voted no on those if it was just a 51-vote majority that would pass them or would she have then conceded that you should pass fundamental legislation like that with 51 votes?

You mentioned BBB. Are you hopeful that some of the provisions could eventually be relitigated, renegotiated and passed?

KHANNA: I think there is a good chance we can get the climate provisions, universal preschool, some of the housing provisions, some of the tax provisions in a bill that passes. And of course prescription drugs [being negotiated by Medicare.]

Do you think there are 10 Senate Republicans who agree with those policies as well?

KHANNA: Unfortunately not. Thats the sad thing here, that this is so difficult because Republicans have been oppositional on almost all of these policies.

So I know you have a book coming out soon. I think its next month. Could you talk about what readers can expect from that?

KHANNA: The book is called, Dignity in the Digital Age, and it has two main themes. One, we have to decentralize the innovation economy to create opportunity where people live. Theres $11 trillion of market cap in Silicon Valley, and were going to have 25 million digital jobs by 2025. They shouldnt all be in coastal cities like L.A., Silicon Valley, Miami, New York. We need to get those digital opportunities into rural America, into Black and brown communities. The book provides a concrete roadmap of how we can do that.

Second, we need to reform digital platforms so that they dont traffic in misinformation, in rumors and in the incitement of violence. And the book provides, again, a roadmap of how we can have new rules for digital platforms so that they can encourage deliberation and a rational exchange of ideas.

Could you take us into the book-writing process? Like how do you find time to actually write a book and also be a member of Congress and chair a subcommittee and hold these hearings?

KHANNA: I have an amazing wife. During COVID, my travel was much more limited, so I found myself, like many Americans, at home and doing things through Zoom and Facebook. That gave me the opportunity to write in the evenings, and I was able to do it. I dont think Id ever be able to do it if it werent for that year where I wasnt traveling as much.

Also, I really enjoyed it. I love being a member of Congress, but so much of being a congressperson is reacting to events, reacting to situations. You dont get much time to think and read and reflect. So writing a book, for me, was a great outlet of stepping back from it all and engaging in ideas.

Republicans always want to talk about the economy, while Democrats try to talk about legislation and policies theyre promoting. What is this conversation youre trying to have about the economy and what Democrats should be doing and talking about?

KHANNA: I still believe [the Clinton campaign catchphrase] Its the economy, stupid. Most Americans want their kids to do better. They want their kids to have a chance at economic prosperity and success. And the Democrats need a message of how were going to provide economic opportunity in the 21st century for all communities, particularly for communities that face deindustrialization and for communities that have been denied the economic prosperity of the modern economy. My vision for that is, one, to have new digital opportunities in jobs across America in communities and, two, to become a nation of producers again. We ought to mobilize the federal government in partnership with the private sector to produce semiconductors in this country, to produce advanced factories in this country. To produce so many of the materials and equipment that we needed in the pandemic that have been offshored. I believe that kind of economic message of helping communities generate wealth, making us a nation of producers, really can resonate.

Is that a message youve been willing or able to share with the White House?

KHANNA: It is. One that I continue to share with the White House. It is one that I write about in the book. Theres another book coming out by Bob Hockett called, Nation of Producers, that I believe should be required reading for every senior person at the White House, where Hockett talks about what we need to do to produce things and make things in this country again.

I have a bill Im working on with [Republican Sen.] Marco Rubio [of Florida] to be able to finance the manufacturing and production in America again in partnership with the private sector, and well be releasing that in a few months.

I believe you have another bill thats been renamed USICA (United States Innovation and Competition Act) in the Senate. Whats the status of that?

KHANNA: That was my bill with [Senate Majority Leader Charles E.] Schumer [of New York], [Republican Rep. Mike] Gallagher [of Wisconsin] and [Republican Sen.] Todd Young [of Indiana]. It will create the largest increase in federal R&D dollars since the Cold War. It has passed the Senate. Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi [of San Francisco] has said its a priority for her, and I believe she will bring it for a vote in the House in the next month. And Im working with her and my colleagues in the House to make sure we pass it and we get it to the presidents desk. Itll be the largest increase in tech research and development that weve seen since the Cold War.

So if this bill does become law, how do you explain to your constituents what itll actually do? Whats the practical impact of all this money coming and these opportunities being created?

Thats a great point. One, itll keep us ahead of China. If we want America to lead in the 21st century, we need to do this so we lead in [artificial intelligence], so we lead in quantum computing, so we lead in semiconductors, so we lead in clean technology.

Second, its going to create tech hubs not just in Silicon Valley and L.A., but in middle America and in the South, in places like St. Louis and Buffalo so that we can bring the technological innovation to midsize cities and help create a modern prosperity across our nation.

Hows Joe Biden doing as president in your mind or in the mind of progressives?

KHANNA: Hes doing well. Hes been dealt a very, very hard hand. In some ways, a harder hand than even [former President] Barack Obama was dealt. Nearly 40% of the country doesnt believe hes the legitimately elected president. The Capitol was attacked to prevent his certification. Weve had variants of COVID continue to throw a wrench in every Americans daily routine. And weve had an economy that is suffering both from supply shortages and from people who were put out of work. So in light of all of those challenges, President Biden has provided a steady hand, he has made progress with the American Rescue Plan, he has helped us get to full employment, he has distributed the vaccines, and hes working on a forward-looking agenda. So I believe hes done well.

How are members of your caucus, I guess the broader House Democratic Caucus, how do they seem to be looking toward the midterms right now? Are they optimistic, or are people resigned to the history of what happens in the first election year of a presidents term?

KHANNA: We know its going to be uphill. No one is delusional, given the challenges the country faces and given the fact that a president always has a tough time in the first midterm. But what gives us hope is we have a good record to run on on the American [Rescue] Plan, on infrastructure, and we have some very strong candidatesin the frontlines. People like [Rep.] Mike Levin [D-San Juan Capistrano], who are going to do very, very well.

Is the number of retirements were seeing from a number of House Democrats a sign of something or just a coincidence of people deciding its time for them but not necessarily reflective of a bad feeling about whats to come?

KHANNA: I think its just coincidence. I think we have a moment of generational change in Congress. A lot of younger people are coming in, and people whove had distinguished careers I think are in some cases stepping aside. Thats healthy in a democracy. A democracy depends on renewal and having new voices and new, younger leaders get a chance.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sunrun workers Aaron Newsom, left, and Tim McKibben install solar panels on the roof of a home in Granada Hills. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Rooftop solar is generating intense heat on Gov. Gavin Newsom. And hes quietly trying to cool it down.

Hes doing that by pressuring warring interest groups and the California Public Utilities Commission.

Governors and interests regularly pressure one another. Its part of the political playbook.

But the PUC is officially an independent agency. And governors arent supposed to lean on the commissioners in their policymaking. Wink, wink.

Successful governors do, of course. Theyd be negligent not to. They appoint all five members and name the president. Governors often get credit or blame for their appointees decisions.

Newsom recently appointed two new commissioners. One was his energy advisor, Alice Reynolds, whom he installed as president.

Ive never known a governor who didnt have a tremendous influence on the PUC, says Susan Kennedy, a former commissioner.

I know every major decision I ever made, I was in constant communication with the governors office.

Kennedy speaks from unusual experience. She was a top advisor to two governors of both parties, serving as Democrat Gray Davis Cabinet secretary and Republican Arnold Schwarzeneggers chief of staff. Davis placed her on the commission, and Schwarzenegger named her his top aide after they developed a close working relationship at the PUC.

The hot issue now at the PUC is its proposal to drastically reduce subsidies for homeowners who spent thousands of dollars to install rooftop solar after being promised a generous price for the electricity they generated but didnt use. That plus the fact theyd need to buy fewer kilowatts from an electricity utility made it a sweet long-term investment for those who could afford the installation.

Governors  particularly Schwarzenegger  used these financial incentives to coax homeowners into creating their own solar electricity so theyd burn less fossil-fuel-generated energy that warmed the planet.

The strategy has been highly successful. There are more than 1.3 million rooftop solar installations in California, and this state leads the nation in clean energy.

But utilities say the incentives have become way too generous, and the PUC agrees. Utilities are forced to pay rooftop solar owners several times more for their unused electricity than its worth. The kilowatts can be bought a lot cheaper from big solar farms.

Moreover, people who own rooftop solar tend to be comfortable financially. Those who dont generally have much lower incomes and are stuck paying for wealthy peoples subsidies through higher electricity rates.

The private utilities  Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric  are allowed by the PUC to earn a certain profit. If solar owners arent kicking in their fair share of the profit, non-solar customers get hit up. And thats whats happening, according to the PUC.

Utilities dont end up paying for the over-subsidies. Other customers do. And those people are poorer, says Severin Borenstein, faculty director of the UC Energy Institute. Its adding to the rise in electricity prices.

OK, but rooftop solar owners are angry. They accuse the state of reneging on a promise made years ago of a nifty deal for partially switching to green energy.

This is a bait and switch, says Jamie Court, a strategist for activist Consumer Watchdog.

Schwarzenegger, in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, declared that the PUC plan should be stopped in its tracks.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) also has weighed in, writing the new PUC president that the plan is concerning and may impact the states conservation goals as we address climate change.

Especially grating for solar owners is a PUC plan to impose a monthly fee of around $50 for generating the green energy. The fee would help pay the utilities fixed costs, such as grid maintenance and wildfire mitigation. Ordinarily, a customer would pay that money when buying a utilitys electricity. But thats being avoided by using home-generated solar energy.

The PUC calls it a grid participation charge.

Lets call it what it is: a solar tax, Schwarzenegger writes.

Everyone agrees [the subsidies] need to be reformed, says Kennedy, who adds she isnt involved in the fight. How do you keep the solar industry going but not put in something politically stupid like a tax?

Both sides are running TV ads trying to rile the public into shouting at the governor and the PUC.

Were trying to make him feel the heat and to understand that if he wants to be a climate change leader, hes going to have to lead and not be put in a position where California has the worst rooftop solar policy in America, Court says. Hes got everybody on his butt.

Newsom has urged both sides to get off their own butts and compromise. Theyve been lectured in his office by top aides.

One side includes the PUC, utilities, labor unions that install solar farm panels, and reformers. On the other side are rooftop solar owners and the companies that sell and install the panels, plus green energy advocates.

The PUC had scheduled a final decision for last week but delayed it  a sign the panel is trying to cut a deal.

Newsom is in a bind. He believes the subsidies are too generous and poor people are getting rooked. But hes worried about being tagged as anti-solar.

The governor has said very little publicly.

Theres a lot of work to do. Leave it at that, he told reporters three weeks ago. Many conversations. Lots of balls in the air.

Surely Newsom can covertly maneuver the PUC toward a compromise thats fair to solar owners, low-income ratepayers and the utilities, while expanding clean energy. And lower the temperature on himself.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
After months of tensions over Russia's massive troop buildup on Ukraine's borders, the United Nations Security Council met Monday to discuss the situation for the first time -- adjourning after over two hours of open debate.

The meeting didn't yield any action or even a joint statement, but ambassadors from the U.S. and Russia sparred in dueling remarks, trading blame for escalating the crisis.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has amassed over 100,000 troops and heavy equipment and weaponry on three sides of Ukraine, including in Russian-annexed Crimea and in Belarus, Kyiv's northern neighbor and a close Kremlin ally.

At first, Russia, backed by China, tried to block the session from moving forward by calling a vote among Security Council's 15 member states. Russia and China opposed it, three countries abstained, but ten voted to move ahead with it.

MORE: Russia has chance for 'diplomatic way out' of Ukraine crisis: US ambassador to UN

"You heard from our Russian colleagues that we're calling for this meeting to make you all feel uncomfortable. Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting on your border in the way that these troops are sitting on the border with Ukraine," said U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield. "This is not about antics. It's not about rhetoric. It's not about 'U.S. and Russia.' What this is about is the peace and security of one of our member states."

ABCs Karen Travers reports for ABC News Radio:

In her remarks, Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of "the largest -- hear me clearly -- mobilization of troops in Europe in decades" and threatening military action should its concerns about Ukraine joining NATO and NATO's troop deployments in Eastern European member states not be addressed.

PHOTO: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, addresses the United Nations Security Council, before a vote, Jan. 31, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP)

"If Russia further invades Ukraine, none of us will be able to say we didn't see it coming, and the consequences will be horrific," she added.

But Russia's envoy again denied that the Kremlin is planning to attack its neighbor, a former Soviet state and now a growing democracy -- telling the Security Council there is "no proof confirming such a serious accusation whatsoever," defending troop movements within Russia's borders as a domestic issue, and then denying there are 100,000 as U.S. and other Western officials have said.

"They themselves are whipping up tensions and rhetoric and are provoking escalation," Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said of the U.S. and its NATO allies. "The discussions about a threat of war is provocative in and of itself. You are almost calling for this. You want it to happen. You're waiting for it to happen."

Thomas-Greenfield requested to speak again to respond, saying, "I cannot let the false equivalency go unchecked, so I feel I must respond. ... The threats of aggression on the border of Ukraine -- yes on its border -- is provocative. Our recognition of the facts on the ground is not provocative."

MORE: Russia maybe 'not serious' about diplomacy on Ukraine but ball in its court: Blinken

Ukraine -- which is not a member of the Security Council, but was invited to participate -- urged Russia to respect its "sovereign right" to choose which countries it partners with.

"Ukraine will not bow to threats aimed at weakening Ukraine, undermining its economic and financial stability, and inciting public frustration. This will not happen. And the Kremlin must remember that Ukraine is ready to defend itself," Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the council.

In a sign of their increasing alignment, China was the only country to back Russia's effort to squash the public meeting. Its ambassador Zhang Jun said they oppose "microphone diplomacy of public confrontation" and believed the open discussion of the issue would add "fuel to the tension."

While the session didn't yield any results, it marks the start of another week of diplomacy between Russia and the U.S. and its allies over Ukraine.

PHOTO: Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, left, addresses the United Nations Security Council, before a vote, as United Staes Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield listens, at right, Jan. 31, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP)

"Russia heard clearly a united position from the vast majority of the council, and I hope that that will lead to a diplomatic solution," Thomas-Greenfield, a member of President Joe Biden's Cabinet, told reporters after the meeting.

Biden himself hailed the meeting as "a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice: rejecting the use of force, calling for military de-escalation, supporting diplomacy as the best path forward."

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the State Department and Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday -- the first conversation after the U.S. responding in writing last week to Russia's demands about Ukraine and NATO.

MORE: US warns Russian attack may be 'imminent,' Ukraine disagrees: Here's why

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to speak to Putin this week, days after the U.K. said it could deploy troops to protect NATO allies if Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden announced a similar position last week, putting 8,500 U.S. troops on "heightened alert" and adding Friday he could do so in the "near" future.

In a potential positive sign for diplomacy, Russia said some of its forces had pulled back from the border areas after a "preparedness check," according to the Russian Armed Forces' Southern Military District.

But it's not yet clear if the U.S. had confirmed any troops were withdrawn from the border region, and Thomas-Greenfield warned the U.S. has evidence Russia intends to expand its presence in Belarus to more than 30,000 troops -- putting them less than two hours north of Kyiv. Those deployments include short-range ballistic missiles, special forces, and anti-aircraft batteries, she added -- all of which Russia and Belarus have said are for military exercises.

ABC News's Zoha Qamar contributed to this report.

UN Security Council adjourns without action after US, Russia spar over Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis on Monday encouraged the people everyone loves to hate - tax collectors - telling them that while they will never win popularity contests, they were vital for the functioning of a fair society.

"Your work appears to be thankless ...," he told a delegation from the Agenzia delle Entrate, Italy's revenue agency, acknowledging that taxation was often seen as "putting your hands in other people's pockets."

But Francis said everyone had to pay their fair share of taxes, particularly the wealthy, so that the weakest members of society were not "crushed by the most powerful" people.

"In reality, taxation is a sign of legality and justice," he said.

Going off script, Francis praised Italy's national health care system, which is mostly free, as an example of how taxes can be well used, calling it "one of the most beautiful things" the country has.

"Defend it, because we should not fall into a health care system where one has to pay, where the poor do not have the right to anything," he said.

He praised the honesty of those who pay their taxes, denouncing tax evasion and the underground, or off-the-books, economy.

In Italy, where a comedian once joked that tax evasion is the country's most popular sport after soccer, an estimated more than 100 billion euros a year is lost to tax evasion, according to recent statistics.

Officials also estimate that Italy's underground economy - without contracts, social security contributions or taxes deducted - is worth about 200 billion euros a year, or about 11% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Francis also told the tax collectors that while they may not be showered with affection on earth, they have a patron saint in heaven. He reminded them that St. Matthew the Apostle was a publican, or tax collector in Roman times, before he decided to follow Jesus.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; additional reporting by Crispian Balmer and Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by William Maclean)
Sacrificing Ukraine amid the ongoing tensions with Russia would be a disastrous move for the West, a defence expert has told MPs.

However, the professor of strategic studies said Vladimir Putin may have miscalculated in his understanding of international support for Kiev.

Westminsters Scottish Affairs Committee heard from Professor Phillips OBrien of St Andrews University and Professor Trevor Taylor of the Royal United Service Institute on Monday.

While the session mainly focussed on the role of military bases in Scotland, the experts were also asked for their thoughts on the build-up of Russian troops around Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops are in positions along the countrys border with Russia (Pavlo Palamarchuk/AP)

Prof OBrien said: It would be disastrous to take the line that some are saying, that in a sense you should sacrifice Ukraine for realist reasons.

I think that would be devastating to Europe, if you take the largest land-sized democracy in Europe and in a sense end it.

The UKs influence on the situation would not be as great as the US, he said, but had so far been larger than other European countries.

Prof OBrien said: Is it going to match what the US can do? No, nowhere close to that.

But for a European power, clearly, the Germans dont know what theyre doing. The French also seem a little bit torn.

So, right now, the UK is the leading European power that is willing to provide some support to the Ukrainians.

Describing the Russian presidents position, he said: I think he (Putin) has miscalculated, I think hes quite stuck right now.

Maybe he expected everyone to abandon Ukraine and hed have an easy win.

An expert said it was difficult to ascertain Vladimir Putins intentions (Clive Marshall/PA)

Prof Taylor said nobody knows whats in President Putins mind but maintaining deterrence against an invasion was still important.

While the UKs contributions to Ukraine demonstrated political support they would not make a huge military difference, he said.

He stressed the role of giving the Russians a way out in resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Prof Taylor said: So I hope someones thinking about that, but its a very serious situation for Ukrainians.

I dont deeply understand why President Putins done it.

But we have to remember that he has a very different political agenda in terms of the things he cares about compared to the political agenda in a Western country, where the economy is so central.

Discussing the numbers of UK military personnel based in Scotland, Prof Taylor said they appeared to be rising.

Prof Taylor also emphasised the role of the defence industry in Scotland, such as the programme to build frigates on the Clyde and at Rosyth, while saying the Leonardo facilities in Edinburgh were enormously important to the RAFs Tempest project for new fighter jets.
A terrorist who plotted to kidnap and behead a British Muslim soldier will stay behind bars after the Parole Board decided he should not be released.

Parviz Khan was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 14 years, at Leicester Crown Court in February 2008, after pleading guilty to the plan and to the supply of equipment for terrorists on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The Parole Board said: After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the other evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Khan was suitable for release.

Four other men were sentenced alongside him  one for failing to tell police about the plot and three for helping him with his illicit supply line.

But it was Khan, who claimed to be a full-time carer for his elderly mother, who was the prime mover in the Birmingham-based terror cell.

He was claiming benefits of more than 20,000 a year during the time he plotted to snatch a serviceman off the streets and decapitate him like a pig, the court heard.

A document detailing the Parole Boards decision said the risk factors at the time of his offending included his acceptance of extremist ideology.

It added that he had problems with his self-identity and had needed the excitement and status which involvement in terrorist conspiracies had provided. This raised concerns about his ways of thinking and the decisions he made.

A subsequent conviction for violence in prison suggested possible anger management problems and difficulties in dealing with extremes of emotion.

While his behaviour in prison had been mostly positive, and he had taken part in highly specialised interventions with regard to ideological, identity and terrorism concerns, officials did not consider he was yet ready for release and Mr Khan himself recognised that he was not yet ready for release on parole licence.

Now in his early 50s, this was Khans first time in front of the board after becoming eligible for parole in February last year.

He will be considered for release again in about two years.
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Assessing Virginias hidden wind and solar costs By Paul Driessen

web posted January 31, 2022 Among Governor Glenn Youngkins first actions was Executive Order #9 initiating Virginias withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the Northeastern US carbon market that sets and enforces emission limits for coal and gas power plants. RGGI also lets utilities buy carbon credits when emissions exceed those limits, and pass costs on to families, businesses, hospitals and schools. Special interests will contest withdrawal, but the EO sets the proper tone for reforming Virginias energy system. Meanwhile, though, the 2020  Virginia Clean Economy Act  still requires that utility companies close all fossil fuel generating plants  and replace them with wind and solar power by 2045. The VCEA also stipulates that not less than 5,200 megawatts (rated capacity) of that clean, renewable power must come from offshore wind. That translates into 370 14-MW turbines, 430 12-MW turbines or 865 6-MW turbines off the Virginia coast. Construction of the first 180 has already hit cost overruns and could reach $10 billion . The offshore turbines will supposedly power 660,000 homes. But that will happen only when winds are blowing at speeds required for full rated capacity, perhaps 40-45% of the year, sporadically and unpredictably. When winds do not cooperate, Virginia will need backup power. So the VCEA says utilities must build or acquire 3,100 megawatts (megawatt-hours?) of energy storage. This likely means battery modules. If Tesla 85-kilowatt-hour modules are used, some 37,000 would be needed  to provide several hours or days of electricity requirements, depending on how widespread a blackout might be following a hurricane or other storm, or simply amid inadequate wind. Virginias carbon-free energy plan doesnt contemplate new hydroelectric or nuclear power. It mostly means thousands of onshore and offshore wind turbines and millions of solar panels , covering 10-25 times the area of Washington, DC  depending on the types of turbines and mix of wind and solar power. Hundreds of miles of new transmission lines will bring this far-flung electricity to Virginia urban centers. Threats to raptors and other birds, bats, whales, dolphins and other wildlife are significant. But the act declares that all these installations are in the public interest, because they will help combat climate change. That suggests that environmental reviews could be fast-tracked and cursory. That cannot be permitted. Indeed, the realities of wind, solar and battery power demand that any assessment of their supposed clean, renewable and sustainable virtues be global in its scope. Land use, pollution and human rights issues surrounding these highly touted energy sources affect people, habitats and wildlife all over Virginia, the USA and the world, in significant, disparate and disproportionate ways. Wind and sunshine certainly are clean, renewable and sustainable. However, harnessing them to meet societys huge and growing energy needs is not. Wind, solar and battery facilities can be deemed clean, renewable and sustainable in Virginia, if land use, scenic, wildlife, infrasound, light flicker and other impacts are ignored. However, they require greatly increased mining, fossil fuel use, emissions and environmental impacts in China and other countries that provide most of the raw materials and manufacturing for these technologies. A recent International Energy Agency report says onshore wind turbines require nine times more raw materials per megawatt than combined-cycle gas generating plants. Offshore turbines require 14 times more materials. Solar panels and backup battery modules also require prodigious amounts. Virginias 5,200 MW of offshore wind alone will require nearly 20,000 tons of copper. At an average of 0.44% copper in ore deposits worldwide, the copper alone would require mining and processing 4.5 million tons of ore, after removing some 7 million tons of overburden to reach the ore bodies. A single 3-MW onshore turbine foundation needs 600 cubic yards (1,500 tons) of concrete, plus rebar. These technologies also require vast amounts of steel, aluminum, lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth metals, plastics, fiberglass and other materials  all of which involve extensive drilling, mining, processing, manufacturing and shipping. Because the United States increasingly restricts or prohibits such activities, or regulates them into unprofitability, most of that work is now done in China or by Chinese companies in other countries  using fossil fuels, and under pollution control, mined-land reclamation, workplace safety, and child and slave labor standards far below what US laws permit. Coal and gas-fired generating units typically operate at nearly full nameplate capacity for 40 years or more; nuclear power plants for decades longer. Onshore wind turbines, solar panels and battery modules may have 15 to 20-year life spans; offshore wind turbines far less than that, because of salt corrosion. Their efficiency, electricity output and already-low reliability also decline from Day One. Virginians need to know: How much electricity will these VCEA-mandated facilities actually generate every day, week and year? Who gets to decide where they go? What are their expected life spans, especially for offshore turbines? How many could be destroyed in a hurricane, tornado or ice storm? How long will it take to repair or replace them? Where will electricity come from in the meantime? Since most of their systems and components cannot be recycled, where will the obsolescent or ruined turbines, turbine blades, solar panels, batteries, power lines and concrete foundations be disposed of? How much will the repair, replacement, removal and landfilling cost? Who will pay? How will wildlife habitats, raptors , bats, and other rare and endangered species be protected as these industrial-scale installations proliferate? What fines and penalties will be assessed for violations? How many tons of metals, minerals and other materials will be required to build all these clean economy facilities? How many tons of ore will have to be mined? How many tons of overburden removed? How much coal, oil, diesel and natural gas fuel will be involved? How much land? Will Virginia actively campaign to have more US lands opened to exploration, mining and drilling for these materials, so that Virginia and the United States are not 90-100% dependent on China, Russia and other often less-than-friendly foreign sources for these essential materials and technologies? How many African, Asian, Uighur and Latin American children and parents will work in the mines, processing plants and factories that provide these clean, green technologies? How will Virginia ensure workplace health and safety, fair living wages and human rights for them? The VCEA was promoted as a solution to dangerous manmade climate change. In evaluating the global costs and benefits of energy programs initiated under the act, how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be emitted by all these overseas operations? Under this law, Virginia will shut down some 6,000 megawatts of coal-based electricity generation. But China already had 900,000 MW of coal-fired power plants, put another 380,000 MW into operation in 2020, and is financing or building hundreds of coal and gas power plants in Asia and Africa. China alone will soon have 200 times more coal-fired generation than Virginia will eliminate  plus all the fossil fuel units it is building in other countries. Chinese units will improve peoples living standards  and build clean, renewable energy equipment for export. What specific global greenhouse gas emission, land preservation, wildlife, climate change and extreme weather benefits will the VCEA actually generate (assuming CO2 actually drives climate and weather)? A Youngkin-appointed commission could study all these matters. Its findings could help determine whether the Virginia Clean Economy Act can possibly deliver on its promised benefits; whether the global damages actually exceed any Virginia, US or global benefits; and whether the VCEA should be modified, or repealed outright. The time to act is now  before this wind, solar and battery transformation is any farther along. Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow ( www.CFACT.org ) and author of books and articles on energy, environmental, climate and human rights issues. Home
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Minister for High-Tech Industry Vahagn Khachaturyan neither confirms nor denies media reports claiming that he is the ruling partys pick for President of Armenia.

The Public Television reported Sunday evening that the Civil Contract partys Board meeting discussed the potential nomination of Khachaturyans candidacy.

It wont be appropriate for me to make any comment today, Khachaturyan told reporters. He said the issue can be discussed tomorrow, on February 1, because thats when President Sarkissians resignation will formally take effect if he doesnt retract it by then.

However, asked again to comment on the media reports that he is the ruling partys candidate, the minister said: Theoretically those reports shouldve been circulating given my characteristics, I am a citizen above the age of 40 [constitutional requirement], I have a career path, I am the Minister of High-Tech Industry, one could assume that I could be on that list given also the fact that I am a Cabinet member, a member of the political team.

Given the constitutional requirement of a candidate not being a member of any political party, Khachaturyan was asked whether or not he still is a member of the Armenian National Congress Party. According to Khachaturyan, he quit the party after the 2017 elections, but he said there might be some formal paperwork issues about that.

After President Sarkissians resignation takes effect, the Speaker of Parliament will become the Acting President until a new President is elected within a month.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations Security Council convened a meeting today to discuss the current situation around Ukraine, TASS reports.

The United States has asked the UN for holding a meeting over the Ukrainian crisis, which was approved by the Security Council in a voting. 10 countries voted in favor of, only Russia and China voted against. 3 countries abstained. A minimum of nine votes were needed to proceed with a meeting.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. A memorandum of intent was signed between the Investment Support Center of the Armenian ministry of economy and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on January 30 on the sidelines of the National Day of Armenia at the Expo 2020 Dubai, the Armenian ministry of economy said.

Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan was also attending the signing ceremony of the document.

The memorandum will become one more cornerstone in the commercial relations of Armenia and Abu Dhabi, will contribute to the strengthening of existing ties and will create new cooperation opportunities for both sides. It will make closer the economies of the two countries and will serve as a base for new joint projects, the ministry said in a statement, adding that a roadmap for the expansion of cooperation will be created soon.
The Congress, the principal Opposition, has sent feelers to other Opposition parties to unite against the government on some specific issues

New Delhi: The Opposition parties plan to corner the government on a variety of issues in the Budget Session of Parliament which starts on Monday. The Congress, the principal Opposition, has sent feelers to other Opposition parties to unite against the government on some specific issues.

The Congress has highlighted issues like the Pegasus spyware leak, the Chinese military incursions, unemployment, the state of the economy, the sale of Air India and relief for Covid-19 victims. On Friday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a virtual meeting with senior party leaders of both Houses, comprising the Congress parliamentary strategy group.

The latest Pegasus spyware revelations have come as a shot in the arm for the Congress with a New York Times report claiming the spyware was sold to India as part of an India-Israel deal. The Congress wants categorical answers from the government over its role and it will press the matter during the Budget Session.

Information technology minister Ashwani Vaishnaw has already clarified the governments position in the last sessions of Parliament. Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Speaker Om Birla on Sunday demanding that a privilege motion be moved against Mr Vaishnaw for allegedly misleading the House on the Pegasus issue. The New York Times, in its report, claimed the Indian government bought the spyware in 2017 as part of a $2 billion package for weapons.

In the light of the latest revelations by the New York Times, it appears that the Modi government has misled Parliament and the Supreme Court and lied to the people of India In view of the above, I demand that a privilege motion may be initiated against the minister of information technology for deliberately misleading the House on the Pegasus issue, the Congress leader said in his letter to the Speaker. He also alleged that the government lied to the Supreme Court when it was directly questioned about the purchase and deployment of Pegasus.

The government, however, is unlikely to accept a full debate on the Pegasus issue and might point out that a committee appointed by the Supreme Court was already looking into the matter. The spyware row had nearly washed out last years Monsoon Session, with the Opposition seeking a debate and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The unemployment figures will also be raised in the House by the Opposition parties. In the last session of Parliament, the Congress was mostly able to present a united Opposition front. In this session, several leaders will be busy as there are Assembly elections in five states.

In the first leg of the Budget Session, there will be just ten sittings till February 11, out of which the first day will be the Presidents address to both the Houses and the tabling of the Economic Survey. On Tuesday, finance minister will present the Union Budget. The motion of thanks to the Presidents address is expected to see fireworks as the Opposition leaders will be taking on the government. The government wants to see the smooth functioning of both Houses and has said it is ready to discuss issues that are raised by the Opposition parties.

Given the ongoing Covid-19 third wave, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will return to have separate sittings in shifts with members seated across both chambers of Parliament to ensure distancing norms. The Lok Sabha will take up the discussion on the motion of thanks from Wednesday and the Prime Minister is expected to reply to the debate on February 7.

Lok Sabha Secretariat officials said four days starting from February 2 have been provisionally allotted for the discussion on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address. The session is being held amid a heated election campaign in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, and Manipur -- which go to polls in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.
The report claimed that India bought the Pegasus spyware as part of a USD 2 billion defence deal with Israel in 2017

New Delhi: CPI MP Binoy Viswam on Monday submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his statement in Parliament last year on the Pegasus spyware issue.

Viswam said he submitted the notice in light of a recent New York Times report.

The report claimed that India bought the Pegasus spyware as part of a USD 2 billion defence deal with Israel in 2017.

It has triggered a major controversy with the Opposition alleging that the government indulged in illegal snooping that amounted to "treason".

The Budget Session of Parliament, which began on Monday, is expected to see the Opposition cornering the government on issues related to Pegasus snooping allegations, farmers and the border row with China

In July last year, during the Monsoon Session, Vaishnaw, who is the minister for electronics and information technology, had in Parliament said media reports on alleged snooping published a day before the start of the Monsoon Session "cannot be a coincidence" and stressed there is "no substance" behind the sensationalism.

"The press reports of 18th July 2021 also appear to be an attempt to malign the Indian democracy and its well-established institutions," he had said.

Viswam, a Rajya Sabha member, said despite the government's repeated attempts at hiding the truth, numerous pieces of evidence have been made public that point towards the government's purchase of Pegasus spyware.

The New York Times report is the latest on the list, he said.

The matter concerns grave allegations of snooping that violate Constitutional rights and safeguards, but the minister's deliberate attempt to mislead the members of Parliament constitutes a breach of privilege", the CPI MP said.
Around 230 million Indians were pushed into poverty during the last 12 months

Watching the spectacular 73rd Republic Day parade in New Delhi last week, few would have guessed that 1.3 billion Indians are in the grip of a life and death struggle with a disease for which there is still no certain cure. The only specific reference to this dark cloud looming above us was a brief snatch of conversation when Mirror Nows Srinjoy Chowdhury asked the parade commander, Lt. Gen. Vijay Kumar Mishra, about the hazards of organising such an event in the midst of a health crisis. Yet, everything depends on the pandemic. Covid-19 can erase Indias past achievements and blight the future.

If the celebrations took little notice of the peril, it did obliquely acknowledge another controversy that may be heading towards a confrontation after 75 years of Independence. The ideological tussle over the nature of the Indian State, reflected in several Constituent Assembly debates, found expression in the Republic Day tableaus featuring Sri Aurobindo, the sage of Pondicherry, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Possibly both proclaimed a yearning for a majoritarian response to Islamist Pakistan although this must remain a matter of conjecture since neither man ever specifically addressed the subject. However, the decision to drop the hymn, Abide with Me, whose haunting strains always brought the Beating Retreat ceremony to a moving end, hinted at a nationalism that has no time for the universalism of our liberal heritage.

The parade rightly paid tribute to individual achievers. The heroism of a policeman like Babu Ram who lost his life to the Kashmir terrorists or the literally high-flying Shivangi Singh, the first woman pilot in a Rafale, were among the undeniable attractions of an event that recorded national achievements and inspired pride in a sense of nationhood. But resounding boasts of Indias military might were hardly appropriate given the hardships that forced a fugitive family of Indian refugees to freeze to death on the Canadian-US border at around the same time last week: 13 million Indians seek a livelihood abroad while 110,000 of them discarded Indian nationality in September alone. Nor was harking back to brief triumphs in the 1965 and 1971 wars very diplomatic when the continuing threat of aggression along our northern border keeps alive the humiliating memories of 1962. As for gloating over the awesome display of Rafales, Gnats, MiGs and Jaguars, it recalled a British writers dismissal of the old Soviet Union as Upper Volta with missiles. Any government can buy weapons from Western merchants of death if it can rustle up the cash by depriving citizens of genuine welfare.

An honest depiction of what the government dubbed as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav should have preferred realism to bombast. In his formal address preceding the celebrations, President Ram Nath Kovind spoke of the governments unmatched resolve in battling the Covid-19 pandemic. Surely, at least one of the 25 tableaus that rumbled along Rajpath on January 26 in the wake of the stirring march past could have been devoted to this topic of crucial importance to our national survival? It could have explained what Covid-19 is all about, how it came to our shores, the two so-called Indian variants, and the labours of the doctors and nurses whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauded last year as the reincarnations of God.

Apart from the journalists question to Lt. Gen. Mishra, the pandemic that threatens to drive us into extinction was admitted only circumstantially -- by the absence of any foreign VIP as the guest of honour, smaller crowds, more space between chairs, and only a sprinkling of the masks that are essential if infection is not to run riot. The Presidents face was very properly covered throughout the ceremonies, but if the Prime Minister or home minister wore masks, this writer, square-eyed from being glued to the TV screen, failed to spot them. South Korean businessmen shaved their heads in protest against the closures and social distancing that Seoul imposed as the Omicron variant spread -- their Indian equivalents need do nothing as drastic because regulations and restrictions here are mainly for the poor and unimportant.

It will be years before the Covid-19 pandemics full toll can be measured. Around 230 million Indians were pushed into poverty during the last 12 months; those who were already grovelling below the poverty line now find themselves in even worse straits. Manufacturing lost 9.8 million jobs, while unemployment soared to 7.91 per cent in 2021 from 6.3 per cent in 2018-2019 and 4.7 per cent in 2017-18. Clearly, this further impoverishment began even before Covid-19 struck. Only a plethora of government schemes that amount to thinly camouflaged charity (the dole under various fancy names) and also buys votes managed to avoid too much visible evidence of destitution.

With an estimated 600 million internal migrants (according to Keralas Centre for Development Studies), there is no way of localising problems of poverty or health, especially since internal migration, which is born of poverty, is constantly increasing. It was 309 million in 2001 and 450 million according to the 2011 census. The rise also coincides with mounting political intolerance -- a trend that may not be unlinked to the quest for a majoritarian identity -- so that people from one part of the country are less and less welcome to live and earn a living in other areas. In one sense, India is splitting at its ethnic, linguistic and religious seams.

Officially, Covid-19 is said to have killed nearly 500,000 Indians, the worlds third highest count. Given the abysmal state of health services in the interior, this is probably a gross underestimate. New Delhi preens itself on bettering the WHOs recommendation of one doctor per 1,000 people with a 1:834 ratio. If the number of doctors has gone up miraculously since the ratio was 1:1,456, it is likely to be confined to affluent urban areas or reflect Anglo-American immigration restrictions. As for nurses, not only is 1.7 per 1,000 well below the recommendation by WHO of 3:1,000, but the quality of nursing can be shameful.

At the same time, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says India spends the most after the United States and China on its military. The defence budget of $71.1 billion (against Americas $732 billion and Chinas $261 billion) seems modest and may well be necessary but our rulers may find there is little left to defend unless they expend more thought, care and money on the welfare of humble Indians instead of squandering funds on grandiose projects to glorify a mythical India.
The researchers wanted to know if a period of 14 days was really long enough for the virus to stop being detectable

The research involved 38 Brazilian patients who were followed on a weekly basis between April and November 2020. (Photo: AP/File)

Washington: Some people infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be able to transmit the virus for longer than the recommended quarantine period, without necessarily manifesting any symptoms during the final stage of the infection, a study suggests.

The research, published recently in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, involved 38 Brazilian patients who were followed on a weekly basis between April and November 2020.

The 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, followed the patients until they tested negative twice or three times consecutively by RT-qPCR.

They found that it took a month on average for the diagnostic test to become negative.

"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," said Marielton dos Passos Cunha, first author of the research.

"Based on this result, we can say that about 8 per cent 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," Passos Cunha said.

The researchers wanted to know if a period of 14 days was really long enough for the virus to stop being detectable, concluding that it was not.

"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.

The finding 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, the researchers said.

It also reinforces the significance of vaccination, social distancing, and mask wearing, they said.

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 researchers said.

The other atypical man continued to test positive for coronavirus for 232 days, after which he tested negative three times by RT-qPCR, they said.

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 is seropositive for HIV does not mean he is more susceptible to other infections, as he has undergone the therapy since he was diagnosed," Minoprio said.

"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," he added.
Spotify has been embroiled in protests, kicked off by Neil Young, over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation

The music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus. (Photo: AP/File)

New York: Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus.

In a post Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young, who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation.

Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly, wrote Ek.

It is important to me that we don't take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.

Ek said that the advisories will link to Spotify's fact-based COVID-19 hub in what he described as a new effort to combat misinformation. It will roll out in the coming days, Ek said. He did not specifically reference Rogan or Young.

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.

Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform, an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement.

"We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.

Earlier Sunday, Nils Lofgren, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young, said he was joining Young's Spotify revolt. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise.

We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify," wrote Lofgren in a statement.

On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young.

Earlier, hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode from The Joe Rogan Experience in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
As mandated by the Congress, USCIS can issue a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas in a year

The USCIS will assign a confirmation number to each registration submitted for the FY 2023 H-1B cap and this number will be used solely to track registrations and not to track the applicant's case status in Case Status Online. (Representational Image/File Image)

Washington: The registration for the much sought-after H-1B visa for the fiscal year 2023 will begin from March 1 and the successful applicants will be randomly selected and notified online by March 31, according to the US federal immigration agency.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a statement said the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March 18, 2022.

During the period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using the online H-1B registration system, the agency said in a statement on Friday.

"If we receive enough registrations by March 18, we will randomly select registrations and send selection notifications via users' my USCIS online accounts. We intend to notify account holders by March 31," the USCIS said in the statement.

As mandated by the Congress, USCIS can issue a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas in a year. It can also issue another 20,000 H-1B visas to foreign students who have completed higher studies from a US university in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

The USCIS will assign a confirmation number to each registration submitted for the FY 2023 H-1B cap. This number will be used solely to track registrations and not to track the applicant's case status in Case Status Online.

Prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives are required to use a my USCIS online account to register each beneficiary and pay the associated USD 10 H-1B registration fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each beneficiary, it said.

Prospective applicants submitting their own registrations (US employers and US agents, collectively known as registrants) will use a registrant account. Registrants will be able to create new accounts beginning at noon Eastern on February 21.

Representatives may add clients to their accounts at any time, but both representatives and registrants must wait until March 1 to enter beneficiary information and submit the registration with the fee.

Prospective applicants or their representatives will be able to submit registrations for multiple beneficiaries in a single online session. Through the account, they will be able to prepare, edit, and store draft registrations prior to final payment and submission of each registration, it said.

An H-1B cap-subject petition, including a petition for a beneficiary who is eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may only be filed by a petitioner whose registration for the beneficiary named in the H-1B petition was selected in the H-1B registration process.
The White House acknowledged that President Joe Biden is considering a federal judge in South Carolina as a potential nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and that he may cast a wider net than the three or four names that have circulated.

Since 2010, Judge J. Michelle Childs has been a member of the United States District Court for the Southern District of South Carolina. Childs is supported by House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, a Biden supporter.

Judge Michelle Childs is Biden's Supreme Court pick

Biden nominated Childs to the US Senate. Appeal from the District of Columbia's in this month's presidential election, Circuit is the first contender the White House has formally confirmed. The Washington Post first disclosed her interest in the Supreme Court only days before her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Next month, Biden promised to appoint the nation's first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Despite the fact that a president has a lot of power to pick from, Supreme Court candidates are typically pulled from federal appeals courts. According to a source familiar with the process who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the nomination process, Biden is evaluating more than a dozen candidates for the position.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson of the DC Circuit and Associate Justice Leondra Kruger of the California Supreme Court has been floating about for months. According to the source, the White House is also considering the resignations of North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls and Sherrilyn Ifill, who is the head of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, as per USA Today.

Read Also: Mitch McConnell Warns Joe Biden Not To Outsource Supreme Court Nominee to Radical Left"

Biden considers Clyburn's choice for SCOTUS

According to the President Biden Administration, a US District Court judge from South Carolina, endorsed by US Rep. James Clyburn, is being considered to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. It was part of a bargain Biden made with Clyburn, who had previously chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and promised his support for Biden in 2020 on the condition that he publicly pledged to appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court if he was elected.

Childs had been chastised for her decision to reject a measure in South Carolina's new elections bill that would have tightened security on mail-in votes, which was thought to shift the balance in favor of Democrats, in September 2020. In a state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina legislature enacted a measure enabling all voters to vote absentee regardless of their reason. However, an amendment to eliminate a need for a witness signature failed before the 2020 election.

In a major victory for state and national Democrats who voted by mail at a greater rate than Republicans, Childs maintained the legislation but threw down the signature requirement. In early October, the Supreme Court immediately overruled it. During her confirmation hearing in the US District Court of South Carolina in 2010, Childs also showed strong respect to Congress, indicating that she may give federal politicians the benefit of the doubt on occasion, Mail Online reported.

Sen. Graham backs Biden's Supreme Court pick

Sen. Lindsey Graham has nothing but respect for Judge J. Michelle Childs of the South Carolina District Court and supports her candidacy to the Supreme Court if President Biden chooses her.

As a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she got her JD, Graham highlighted Childs' public school background. He said that Childs' nomination would make the Supreme Court "more like the country" and dismissed suggestions that it would be part of an affirmative action program.

The most important factor in Biden's nomination, he underscored, must be his qualifications, according to Fox News.

Related Article: Biden Commits To Nominating First Black Female Supreme Court Justice by End of February After Honoring Breyer

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The defence ministry of the UAE said it responded to the attack by destroying the missile launch site in Yemen's northern Al-Jawf region

Yemeni pro-government fighters from the UAE-trained Giants Brigade, gather on the outskirts of Ataq city, on their way to the frontline facing pro-Iran Huthi fighters, on January 28, 2022. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP)

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates said Monday it shot down a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Huthi rebels, in the third such incident this month, as Israel's president visited the country.

The defence ministry of the UAE, part of a Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Iran-backed rebels, said there were no casualties in the early morning attack.

"Air defence forces... intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Huthi terrorist group at the UAE," the ministry said, according to the official WAM news agency.

It said fragments of debris fell "outside of populated areas", without giving further details.

The ministry said it responded to the attack by destroying the missile launch site in Yemen's northern Al-Jawf region.

It also released black-and-white footage of the explosion and plumes of black smoke.

Monday's attack marks the third since a drone and missile assault that killed three oil workers on January 17. A second that was intercepted was fired at the UAE a week later.

The January 17 attack was the first deadly one on the UAE claimed by the Huthis, who have also vowed to keep up their assaults.

The latest attack took place as Isaac Herzog made the first ever visit to the UAE by an Israeli president since the two countries normalised ties in 2020.

However, a statement from his office on Monday said that he will "continue his visit as planned".

The Iran-backed Huthis began targeting UAE interests after a series of defeats on the ground in Yemen, inflicted by the UAE-trained Giants Brigade militia.

In early January, the rebels seized a UAE-flagged ship in the Red Sea, saying it was carrying weapons -- a claim denied by the Emirates.

Warning of more attacks

Rebel military spokesman Yahya Saree will announce details of a "large-scale military operation" targeting the UAE later on Monday, a Huthi statement said.

Saree "warned foreign companies, citizens and residents in the UAE that they would not hesitate to expand the targets to include more important sites and facilities", it added.

The United States denounced the latest attack.

"We condemn the latest Houthi missile attack on Abu Dhabi. While Israel's president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Huthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians," State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted.

The UAE's defence ministry said it blew up the launch site at 12:50 am UAE time (2050 GMT), exactly 30 minutes after the missile was intercepted.

The Emirates affirms its "full readiness to deal with any threats" and will "take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks", it added.

The UAE authorities said that the incident had no impact on air traffic, with flight operations proceeding normally.

And they have vowed that Huthi attacks will not become a "new normal" for the wealthy Gulf country, a trade, business and tourism hub and a major oil exporter.

"This is not going to be the new normal for the UAE," a senior Emirati official told AFP last week, on condition of anonymity.

"We refuse to acquiesce to the threat of Huthi terror that targets our people and way of life," the official added.

In 2019, the UAE withdrew its troops from Yemen but remains an influential player. It also hosts American troops and is one of the world's biggest arms buyers.

Yemen's civil war began in 2014 when the Huthis seized the capital Sanaa, prompting Saudi-led forces to intervene to prop up the government the following year.

The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people directly or indirectly and left millions on the brink of famine, according to the UN which calls it the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe.
by Melani Manel Perera

The construction licence was issued without any environmental impact assessment. Fishermen suffering the consequences. In some cases, there will be charges for filming and photography.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Tens of thousands of visitors have crowded the waterfront of the new port area in recent days. Some 90,000 people have poured into the marina so far since the opening of the promenade on January 10 to enjoy a walk, take photos and spend a few carefree moments.

But environmentalists have also pointed out the negative aspects of the infrastructure. Interviewed by AsiaNews, Ravindra Kariyawasam explained that the reality is frightening, "but most people do not understand it".

The expert says the new port is leading Sri Lanka's economy and environment into a deeper crisis. The Chinese company behind the project was granted a construction licence in 2016, but without first conducting an environmental impact assessment. However, a lawsuit had been filed the year before, forcing the Central Environment Authority to do its own assessment.

The licence was granted anyway and this, according to Ravindra Kariyawasam "is one of the illegal things the government has done". As a result, the environmental damage caused by the new infrastructure was never taken into account. "The people of our country, especially the fishing community, and people living in the hinterland are already experiencing the negative effects of coastal and soil erosion, sand mining and quarrying in the hinterland," the environmentalist added.

Secondly, the problems affect the city's economy: local authorities have set fees for taking photos at certain times within Port City, which is known to be part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. Payments will in fact end up in the coffers of the China Bank of Colombo.

Private events and professional and commercial filming will be allowed within the port area at certain times of the day for a fee, i.e. before opening to the public or on request. The authorities said that the fees were introduced for reasons of public safety and to provide a better service given the high rate of visitors and requests received after the opening of the promenade, which is currently open to visitors (free of charge) every day from 9am to 6pm.
by Steve Suwannarat

This is the third defeat for the Palang Pracharath Party, which replaced the military junta that seized power in 2014. Only time will tell if it marks the end of its hold on the country. The opposition slams the governments lack of democracy and its handling of the pandemic.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  Thailands main opposition party, Pheu Thai, won a landslide victory in yesterdays by-election for Bangkoks Constituency n. 9.

Only time will tell if this poll represents a trend that might undermine the rule of the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party (PRPR).

The latter leads the governing coalition under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former general who rose to power with the military coup of May 2014 and was picked as prime minister by the country s National Assembly in July 2019.

The opposition party candidate, Surachart Thienthong, received 29,416 votes, whilst the PRPRs Saralrasmi Jenjaka garnered only 7,906 votes. Even more humiliating for the ruling party, it won fewer votes that the Move Forward Party[*] (20,361) and the Kla Party[] (20,047).

This is the third defeat for the PPRP after losses in Chumphon and Songkhla provinces, won by the Democrat Party.

Yesterday's vote in the capital was a test of the governments strength ahead of two important events, namely Bangkoks gubernatorial election and an opposition confidence vote in parliament, both scheduled for next May.

Voter turnout in this by-election was around 70 per cent, which suggests renewed voters interest in politics, a sign that the system the government set up is in trouble as it is not very open to dialogue and not very tolerant of dissent.

Grassroots movement are renewing their call for greater democracy and for the military to get out of politics.

Many Thais are especially critical of the governments handling of the pandemic, which is carving deep wounds in the countrys social and economic fabric.

[*] The Move Forward Party is the latest reincarnation of the Future Forward Party, which was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2020.

[] The Kla (Dare) Party is led by economist Korn Chatikavanij, a former member of the Democrat Party, which has always been strong in Bangkok but has been in decline for some time.
Fr Giuse Tran Ngoc Thanh, a Dominican, was stabbed in front of worshippers as he administered the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the eve of the Lunar New Year. According to local police, the killer suffers from mental illness. For the local bishop, the clergyman died in the place of Christ, dispensing his forgiveness.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews/Agencies)  On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Vietnams Catholic community is mourning the death of one of its own priests, killed while performing his ministry.

Last Saturday, Fr Giuse (Joseph) Tran Ngoc Thanh, a 40-year-old Dominican, was stabbed while listening to confessions and administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the evening Mass, in the parish of ak Mot, Diocese of Kon Tum (central Vietnam).

According to a preliminary investigation by the local police, the attacker suffers from mental illness.

Fr Giuse Tran Ngoc Thanh was born in Ho Chi Minh City on 10 August 1981. After entering the Dominican order, he made his religious profession in 2010 and was ordained a priest in 2018.

He was assigned the parish of ak Mot only a few weeks ago. His murder has left the small local community with great sadness.

Some worshippers were in the church when the attack took place. Another Dominican clergyman was also injured in the attack as he tried to stop the knife-wielding man.

Bishop Aloisio Nguyen Hung Vi of Kon Tum spoke to the local community during yesterdays funeral service.

When he was hit, he said, Father Giuse stood in the place of Christ, dispensing his forgiveness. Dying at that moment, in persona Christi, must be a grace. In this pain, we also see the beauty and the nobility of the priest.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Russian-Laotian friendship goes back a long way, a legacy of Moscows ties with the local communist regime. Thanks to its infrastructure projects, Beijing now plays a dominant role in the country. Nonetheless, Russia and Laos want to renew trade and military collaboration.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  The recent visit to Laos by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov focused on the China factor.

Beijing plays a dominant role in the small Southeast Asian country, above all through the construction of strategic infrastructures.

The Chinese are currently building a railway that will connect the Laotian capital Vientiane to Kunming, in the Chinese province of Yunnan, a US$ 7 billion project that is going ahead despite the pandemic.

Laos, like other Chinese partners, is becoming an eternal debtor to China.

To counterbalance the influence of its powerful neighbour, Laos is seeking Russian support; Moscow however lacks the wherewithal it had during Soviet times, and can hardly compete with China for control of the country.

Despite the huge distance that separates Russia from Laos, relations between the two countries have always remained very close and friendly.

Minister Lavrov met with Laotian Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and President Thongloun Sisoulith on Thursday without translators, a legacy of 60 years of close ties between the Lao People's Democratic Republic and its Russian brothers, the USSR first and now the Russian Federation.

At the start of the visit, Lavrov and his Laotian counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith submitted themselves to the traditional photo op. The two officials took off their masks and warmly hugged exchanging compliments in Russian.

Before starting his career, Kommasith studied for six years at Moscow State University of International Relations and Lavrov was one of his professors.

In Soviet times, President Sisoulith studied at the Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute, now the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia in St Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), and then headed the Russian language programme at the National University of Laos.

During his rise through the ranks of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the only party allowed in the country, he never missed an opportunity to visit his second homeland, Russia.

More than any other country, the Soviet Union helped the Lao People's Democratic Republic since its founding in 1975, supplying cars, fuel, food and consumer goods.

Kommasith thanked Russia for its help in the fight against COVID-19, which remains a major challenge in the country, albeit not as great as in other countries in the region.

Back in March Laotian authorities rolled out a major vaccination campaign administering the Russias Sputnik-V vaccine.

Although facing shortages at home and a new pandemic wave, Moscow pledged to send large quantities of the vaccine to Laos.

Lavrov and Laotian leaders also discussed ways to resume trade. But military cooperation topped the agenda.

A special group of Russian deminers cleared an airstrip from more than a thousand pieces of unexploded ordnance left by the US between 1964 and 1973.

Now Moscow will help Laos upgrade the military airfield, bringing new supplies and advanced military technologies, and providing training to the countrys armed forces.
by Shafique Khokhar

The pastor was dead yesterday as he returned home after Sunday liturgy in the province closest to the border with Afghanistan. Minorities say after the ceasefire with the Taliban, the government does nothing to protect them. Archbishop Travas of Karachi: "Immediate and serious measures must be taken against those who undermine peace and harmony".

Peshawar (AsiaNews) - The entire community of Pakistan is in shock after the attack in which the Anglican Reverend William Siraj was killed yesterday in Peshawar. The clergyman was hit by gunshots fired by some motorcyclists near Ring Road while he was returning home after Sunday liturgy in a car together with the Reverend Patrick Naeem, whose coadjutor Siraj was. Reverend Naeem was also injured in the ambush. Siraj was 75 years old and was ministering in a church in Chamkani, which is located in Gulbahar district, not far from the site of the assault.

Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters, of the diocese of Peshawar and moderator of the Anglican Church of Pakistan, expressed his sorrow at the death of the cleric, saying he prayed that his martyrdom would bring blessings to the local Christian community. Bishop Sarfaraz also recalled that the Church in Pakistan has faced many challenges, but he thanked God that he continues to call priests to serve his flock.

Archbishop Benny Mario Travas of Karachi also expressed the grief of the Pakistani Catholic community over what happened in Peshawar. "All Christians are united with the Anglican Church of Pakistan at this time," he commented. This ambush," he added, "undermines peace and religious harmony throughout the country. For this reason, the archbishop asked the Pakistani government to "take immediate and serious measures, arrest the murderers and work for peace and security for all minorities".

Mahmood Khan - the prime minister of the local government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan's north-western border region) has ordered the police to take the necessary steps to arrest the perpetrators. The investigators are checking CCTV cameras in the area.

Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), everything points to a targeted attack by Islamist groups based across the border in Afghanistan, just a few dozen kilometres from Peshawar. This is a threat that minorities have been facing for a long time, as evidenced by the 2013 attack on the All Saints Church or the murders of Sikhs and Hindus targeted by Taliban death squads.

Naveed Walter blames the ambiguities of the government in Islamabad, which was well aware that after the end of the ceasefire with the Taliban there was a risk of further attacks, but did not take measures to protect minorities. "The government is trying to prove that it is in favour of a pure Islamic country. It rejects proposed laws to protect minorities, such as those on kidnappings, forced conversions and forced marriages, describing them as 'un-Islamic'". Hence the renewed call for immediate action to bring the perpetrators of this murder and those behind it to justice.
In today's headlines: a NYT investigation unveils the Indian government's purchase of Pegasus spyware, the Emirates intercept another missile from Yemen, Thailand's tourist beach is at risk from an oil spill, Bhutan's prime minister is saddened by the four Covid-19 deaths in the country so far.

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang confirmed today that it had launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile and published photographs taken from space. Yesterday's launch is considered by experts to be the most powerful and dangerous launch in five years. In total, North Korea has tested seven missiles this month.

THAILAND

Local authorities are scrambling to prevent an oil spill from reaching and damaging the coast of Ao Prao, a beach on Koh Samet, a popular tourist island. Since last Tuesday, about 50,000 litres of oil have been released into the ocean due to damage to an oil pipeline. On Friday, Mae Ramhueng beach in Rayong province reported an environmental emergency.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippine Ministry of Justice ordered law enforcement agencies to investigate a TikTok video threatening to assassinate presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Junior. Charito Zamora, head of the justice department's cybercrime unit, said his office received a tip-off about a post on Tiktok claiming to want to assassinate Marcos, who continues to lead in the polls for the 9 May presidential election.

BHUTAN

In Bhutan, only four people have died so far from the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, a doctor who continues to perform weekend surgeries after the latest death recorded this week, said that "more needs to be done" and that it is not acceptable to lose lives to a preventable disease.

INDIA - ISRAEL

A New York Times investigation, has revealed that India bought Israeli Pegasus spyware as part of a 2017 billion arms deal. The Indian government led by Narendra Modi has always denied using the spyware against opponents, activists and journalists. Months after Netanyahu's visit to New Delhi, India voted to deny observer status in the UN Economic and Social Council to a Palestinian human rights organisation. This had never happened before.

RUSSIA

At a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate victims of the siege of Leningrad, Secretary of Russia's Security Council Nikolai Patrusev and Russian Ambassador to Britain Andrei Kelin,jointly released a statement saying that Russia does not want war and is not threatening Ukraine, while all US accusations against it are utter nonsense.

TURKMENISTAN

The police section for fighting cybercrime in Turkmenistan made numerous arrests of young people in recent days in Asgabat and other cities, surprising them in some homes of people with good internet access, which is quite rare in the country, while they were playing poker and other games prohibited by local legislation.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - YEMEN

The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted a missile from Yemen during the first visit of an Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, to Abu Dhabi. Herzog will discuss bilateral security issues with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. It has not been stated where the Houthi-launched missile was headed.
Founder and producer of Aspen Real Life and Aspen Business Connect Jillian Livingston, left, beams as she addresses a crowd at a community event she organized at Aspen Chapel.
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After yelling about traffic closures during the burial of an NYPD cop who was wounded in the line of duty, a New York City actress was fired from her theater company.

Face to Face Films theatrical company released Jacqueline Guzman, who has no relation to the reporter, after shouting in a now-deleted TikTok about shutting down half of Lower Manhattan for 22-year-old NYPD Officer Jason Rivera's burial on Friday.

Actress posted a rant about police officer's funeral

When Guzman was recording herself on Friday, she remarked as she went along a barricaded-off route. She proceeded to pan the camera to the blocked road.

For the funeral at Midtown's St. Patrick's Cathedral, thousands of cops poured into the city. Earlier this month, while attending to a domestic incident in East Harlem, Rivera and his partner, 27-year-old Wilbert Mora, were shot and killed.

Throughout January, hundreds of New Yorkers, including Mayor Eric Adams, have flooded the streets to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives as a result of the crime.

Residents of the Big Apple attended vigils in East Harlem and Times Square earlier this month to remember Chinese immigrant Yao Pan Ma, 61, and Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, who were injured and killed in the assaults in East Harlem and Times Square.

After being assaulted eight months ago while collecting cans in East Harlem to generate little extra bucks for his family, Ma was just taken off life support. A homeless individual assaulted Go in a subway station in Times Square and threw her to her death on the rails.

In 2022, the Big Apple had a tremendous increase in crime at about 40%. Assaults on felonies have also increased by 12%. After implementing his enlightened policies, including lowering numerous offenses, stating that incarceration is the last option, crime has been surging in Manhattan, Mail Online reported.

Read Also: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Condemns Gang Violence Following the Murder of 8-Year-Old Girl

Who is Jacqueline Guzman?

The video was "extremely insulting, not only to the NYPD but to all New York citizens and all humanity," according to one Brooklyn detective. I feel really terrible for her if this is the only way she can receive exposure.

Guzman's acting company, Face to Face Films, as well as other personal information about her, has been shared on social media. Guzman was an actress with the film and theater company, according to Anthony Laura, the business's creator; but he declined to elaborate any details.

Guzman had shut down her social media accounts by Saturday night, according to her bio on the Face to Face site, which was later removed: "is a Cuban American actress residing in NYC, originally from Hialeah, Florida." When I called her for a comment, she didn't respond right away. Despite the fact that she had removed the video, it continued to spread on social media due to other individuals copying and reposting it, as per New York Post.

Officers Jason Rivera, 22, and Wilbert Mora, 22, were killed in a shooting in Harlem New York City while responding to an incident involving a mother and son. Last Friday, they were shot to death while attending to a domestic disturbance.

Rivera's casket was taken into St. Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday for a wake before his funeral on Friday. Hundreds of mourners gathered in the streets to pay their respects, many of them were dressed in military. The officer had only been on the job for a few months. For four years, Mora, 27, worked as a police officer. Next week, he will be buried, according to The Sun.

Related Article: New York City Mayor Eric Adams To Combat Gun Violence Through Anti-Crime Policies Following The Death of Two Police Officers

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As you can easily guess, given its a car thats been sitting for so long, this Mustang doesnt flex a mint condition, but the good news is that it checks the essential boxes for a restomod.In case youre wondering why a restomod and not a full restoration, the answer is as simple as it could be: this Mustang was born with a six-cylinder unit under the hood, and while the engine is still around, its currently locked up from sitting.The six-cylinder available on the 1970 Mustang was a 200 (3.3-liter) Thriftpower developing 120 horsepower, but at the same time, some units also came equipped with a 250 (4.1-liter) inherited from the model year 1969. This unit produced 155 horsepower on both model years.You dont have to be a rocket scientist to figure out this Mustang needs plenty of work to return to a mint condition. But eBay seller pistolgrip_70 says the car was born and raised in Texas, so you dont need to worry about salty roads and high humidity. In other words, the rust shouldnt be a critical issue, though theres some on the floor pans.The seller claims the Mustang is 100 percent, as nothing big is missing, and without a doubt, this is terrific news for someone who is willing to bring it back to the road.The VIN decodes to a 2-door Mustang that was painted in Light Ivy yellow, so in theory, the original finish might still be on the car.The bidding for this Mustang starts at $8,000, and this might be quite a problem. Given its a six-cylinder example with the engine already locked up, someone planning a full restoration might not be willing to pay that much, so itll certainly be interesting to see how high the price ends up going.
While some car manufacturers dont expect the chip crisis to come to an end too soon, market research firm IDC believes otherwise.In a recent forecast, IDC anticipates that the semiconductor supply will improve in the second half of the year before gaining more pace in 2023.In other words, the industry is currently struggling with what could be the last wave of the chip nightmare, as the global inventory should then gradually return to normal, beginning with the second half of this year.However, IDC warns this can only happen if, and this is a big if, the industry doesnt hit another major roadblock, such as unexpected shutdowns caused by the health crisis.Automotive semiconductors will continue to be a limiting constraint on the automotive market through the first half of 2022, but barring any unforeseen shutdowns or semiconductor manufacturing issues, supply should gradually improve through the second half of the year, Nina Turner, research manager with IDC's Enabling Technologies and Semiconductor team, explains Adding in the time to manufacture the vehicle, this means the automotive market will begin to improve towards the end of 2022 and into 2023 if there are no other supply chain shocks.Certainly, the forecast is good news for all carmakers out there, but on the other hand, IDC previously shared a rather worrying prediction. Due to the investments in production capacity, the industry could end up facing an oversupply of chips next year.In other words, chipmakers could end up manufacturing more semiconductors than carmakers need, and this could once again lead to other disruptions in the market. Of course, everything depends on the global health issue, so right now, no forecast should be taken for granted.
Forget honeymoons in exotic resorts  even the most opulent, high-end vacations cant compare to the uniqueness of a trip to space . Perhaps, one day, such travels will become a regular, common thing, but until then, they are still a privilege of the wealthiest and often famous people in the world. One of them could be David Beckhams oldest son. The 22-year-old is getting married this year, and rumors are saying that the newlyweds will be flying to space for the occasion.Not for the wedding itself, but rather as an ultra-expensive wedding gift offered by their friends. Sources have said that theyre considering purchasing tickets for a Virgin Galactic trip worth over $450,000 (400,000), the Mirror reports. It seems like a suitable surprise for a groom and bride who both come from wealthy backgrounds. Brooklyn is no stranger to luxurious toys, starting with the Porsche toy car he was already driving when he was nine. On the other hand, Nicola Peltz is not only a successful actress, but her father is a billionaire.These details would guarantee two spots on the VIP space flight, where David and Victoria Beckhams son could also be taking some incredible shots since his passion for photography is well known. In fact, the same sources claim that some huge brand deals with companies in the photography world are in the works.Last summer, after sir Richard Bransons infamous trip to space, prices for the Virgin Galactic commercial space flights had also skyrocketed , with various options starting at $450,000. David Beckham himself was said to have been invited to be on that pioneering flight but was too nervous. His son Brooklyn, as well as other celebrities, could be taking the plunge this year.
EV

For reasons unknown, @potus is unable to say the word Tesla https://t.co/dcBNowOgKA  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2022

I meant it when I said the future was going to be made right here in America. Companies like GM and Ford are building more electric vehicles here at home than ever before. pic.twitter.com/5E3ecA93MR  President Biden (@POTUS) January 27, 2022

????  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022

Biden is a damp ???? puppet in human form  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022

Based on this, one would be right to assume that any official discussion with automotive leaders in the United States would involve Tesla in at least some capacity. That doesnt apply where President Joe Biden is concerned, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is really taking it to heart.Last week, President Biden met with Marry Barra of General Motors and Jim Farley from Ford and ended up praising Barra for GMs contribution to his plan Build Back Better . The video included in the tweet, available at the bottom of the page, shows the two talking about plans to go fully electric and, in the process, create more jobs for Americans.The meeting did not just exclude a representative for Tesla, but even mentions of the company, which seems ironic: Biden is praising GM and Ford as leaders but Tesla is, for the time being, the undisputed leader in terms of sales. Musk is taking his frustration over it out on Twitter.Musk started by pointing out the glaring omission on Bidens part: it starts with a T, ends in A, and has ESL in the middle, he writes in one tweet. He continued with the open criticism in replies and ended up calling Biden a damp sock puppet in human form, before saying there was an unexplained reason for which the President kept ignoring Tesla.Musk also retweeted a message of support for a currently-very popular Change.org petition, which urges the President to do the right thing and acknowledge Tesla for its hard work in making EVs a possibility for Americans, and to stop manipulating the public into believing Ford and GM are leaders in this respect. As of the time of press, the petition has almost 28,000 signatures and is well on its way to becoming one of the most signed petitions on the platform. Meaning, Musk is not alone in seeing this.Of course, Bidens obvious blind spot when it comes to Tesla (or SpaceX, for that matter) is a political move. Tesla is not unionized and, to paraphrase Musk, the President is punishing the company for it by excluding it from any kind of official discussion or public acknowledgment.
The veteran of space photography still has some juice in it, and from time to time it makes the headlines as NASA releases new images captured by what once was the star of the telescope industry. The most recent, shown at the end of last week, is the one we have here, showing a trio of galaxies called NGC 7764A.Thats a bland name, perhaps just as bland as any of the three galaxies taken individually might be. But when seen from a certain angle, and in a certain way, the two at the right seem to combine into the shape of one of this Star Trek spaceship, with a central saucer sitting in front of two warp nacelles.Hubble captured this image using the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3 instruments, and NASA itself is so excited by it that says it resembles the starship known as the USS Enterprise from Star Trek!The cluster of galaxies is located 425 million light-years from Earth, in a constellation known as Phoenix. It comprises individual galaxies NGC 7764A1, NGC 7764A2, and NGC 7764A3, and two of them look like theyre involved in something of a cosmic collision, probably not unlike what our own Milky Way will have to survive once Andromeda gets here 4.5 billion years from now.And then, who knows, maybe our collision with another galaxy will look like a spaceship to some alien civilization.
kW

The school bus is called Type A and it is the manufacturers second model, with the first one, the Type D, being introduced last year. In addition to being a no-emissions vehicle, the Type A offers BYDs vehicle-to-grid technology, featuring bi-directional charging capability. What that means is that when not in use, the bus can be charged (for instance, overnight), and that clean energy can then be fed into the classroom during school hours. That way, when the bus is parked, it can keep classrooms well-lit and students and teachers plugged in, as explained by Samuel Kang, BYD Head of Total Technology Solution.With a capacity of seating up to 30 people, the Type A electric school bus is available in several length options: 26.7 ft (8.1 m), 24.5 ft (7.4 m), and 22.9 ft (6.9 m). It offers a range of up to 140 miles (225 km) on a single charge and it is equipped with an ADA liftgate capable of lifting 800 lb. (362 kg), which makes it suitable for transporting passengers with disabilities.The battery of the bus offers 150DC fast charging and 19.2 kW single-phase AC charging.As safety is of paramount importance in a school bus , the Type A comes packed with all the standard features but throws something extra into the mix: a Predictive Stop Arm that monitors approaching traffic and lets the student know when it is safe to cross the street.Theres no mention of the price of the Type A school bus but BYD encourages potential customers to contact the company for more information.
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden urged the Taliban to "immediately release" the man thought to be the group's final American captive, stating that the Taliban's control in Afghanistan will not be recognized until he is released.

The news came on the two-year anniversary of the kidnapping of Mark Frerichs, a US Navy veteran who worked as a civil engineer in Afghanistan for a decade.

Biden demands Taliban free last US hostage

This year marks the conclusion of more than two decades of war in Afghanistan, which started with the US-led invasion in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and ended with the Taliban regaining control. Before being recognized by the international world, Washington has repeatedly informed the Taliban that they must earn legitimacy.

Prisoner exchange has been proposed by Taliban negotiators in the past, with Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan tribal chieftain and suspected Taliban associate imprisoned in the United States for importing heroin into the nation, being swapped for Frerichs.

The State Department and other U.S. officials were working for Frerichs' release as the U.S. finished its pullout last August, according to White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, as per NDTV. The U.S. administration has been chastised by the family of Frerichs for not pressing harder to gain his release earlier.

He made a personal plea to Biden in a Washington Post opinion article last week which headlined, "Please bring my brother, the last American held captive in Afghanistan," which was written by his sister, Charlene Cakora. The State Department said in a statement that the United States had highlighted Frerich's issue in every meeting with the Taliban.

In a tweet, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "We urge on the Taliban to free him, and we will continue to strive to bring him home." Officials from the United States and the Taliban met for the first time since the military departure in October in Doha, Qatar, which sponsored the discussions that led to the troop drawdown.

According to the White House, the Qatari emir will visit the White House on Monday to discuss a variety of problems, including global energy security. In Kabul, Qatar represents U.S. interests, per VOA News.

Read Also: Seven Countries That Will Support Russia at the Ukraine Border, Comprises the CSTO

Pakistan, Afghanistan to address border issues

Meanwhile, a local media stated that Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to create a high-level committee to resolve border concerns as National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf finished up a two-day visit to Kabul. This comes weeks after footage appeared on social media purporting to show the Taliban removing a section of the border barrier between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On the 29th and 30th of January, Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, who also heads the Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC), paid a visit to Kabul. Yusuf called on Afghanistan's Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi and Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to "discuss the current situation in Afghanistan and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries" in an official statement posted on Twitter by Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul, Mansoor Khan.

The statement went on to say that the three key connectivity projects, the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project, and the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project, were also reaffirmed by both parties (CASA-1000).

The Taliban gained control of Kabul on August 15, and the country's economic, humanitarian, and security crises have worsened since then. Combined with the suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions against the Taliban, the country has been thrust into a full-fledged economic catastrophe, as per Big News Network.

Related Article: Taliban Urges Tajikistan, Uzbekistan To Return Afghanistan's Aircraft and Increase Wheat Price as Economic Crisis Deepens

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The original plan was to cease full control of power units to Red Bull Powertrains (RBP) in 2022, with Honda only offering engineering support at the tracks  and for this season alone. Once RBP would have been up to speed, it would have then built the engines using Honda parts at their Milton Keynes facilities.Now though, Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko has reportedly confirmed that the plan has changed and that Honda will stick around until the end of 2025, as per Autosport . The following year, in 2026, new powertrain regulations are set to come into effect.Such a decision also removes any concerns about possible quality control issues that might arise from Red Bull moving power unit manufacturing to the UK, while also freeing up RBP to focus more on its 2026 project.While details of this new arrangement have yet to be finalized, we expect Red Bull and AlphaTauris engines to continue to wear the Honda brand until 2025.The engines will be manufactured in Japan until 2025, we will not touch them at all, said Marko during an interview with Autorevue magazine. That means that the rights and all these things will remain with the Japanese, which is important for 2026 because it makes us newcomers.Fun fact: by coming in as a brand-new engine manufacturer in 2026, RBP would benefit from the concessions that are being discussed at this point, such as a higher power unit budget cap.Marko went on to suggest that winning the 2021 Drivers title has encouraged Honda to stay in Formula 1.In the course of our ever-greater successes, a certain rethinking has taken place among the Japanese. And also, that they could of course use the battery knowledge for their electrification phase.It was initially planned that they would only make our motors for 2022. Now it has been decided that this will continue until 2025, which is of course a huge advantage for us. This means we only have to make fine adjustments and calibrations, he concluded.We expect this shocking turn of events to benefit Red Bull not only in the long run, but also in 2022 and all other following seasons until 2026.
As a long-time Apple rival, Huawei has obviously been considered one of the potential competitors in this unexplored side of the market, especially as the collapse of the mobile business more or less forced the company to start looking elsewhere for bigger revenue.People familiar with the matter said on several occasions that Huawei plans to launch its own car, but so far, the Chinese tech giant has mostly focused on partnerships with traditional automakers.In other words, Huawei was in charge of the software platform powering the vehicles, as its in-house-built Harmony OS was specifically developed with an automotive experience in mind.Earlier this month, a Huawei official publicly denied any intention to build a car, explaining that the companys goal right now is to help others do it.Wang Jun, President of Huawei Smart Car Solutions BU, said during the 17th Super Car Conference in China that the tech company doesnt build cars. Its just working with partners to make them happen, which means the firm has no plan to expand beyond its software and services strategy.But of course, this doesnt necessarily mean Huaweis automotive ambitions cant eventually evolve beyond this point. In fact, dont be too surprised if Huawei is actually working on its own car already and the company is just trying to keep all details secret.On the other hand, Huawei has already partnered with several automakers for the strategy detailed above. And at some level, the company launching its very own vehicle would turn it into a rival to all these partners, more or less defeating the purpose of the collaborations in the first place.Nevertheless, the previous rumors indicate the Huawei car could eventually launch in the second half of the decade.
Radim Passer, who is a Czech millionaire with an estimated net worth of over $300 million, owns a Bugatti Chiron. He decided to push it to its limits on a German Autobahn between Berlin and Hannover a couple of months ago. He had already tried a similar stunt before with his Bugatti Veyron six years ago, but this one is faster.The Bugatti Chiron is powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine which delivers 1,479 horsepower (1,500 ps) and a maximum torque of 1,180 lb-ft (1,600 Nm). With figures like these, it can accelerate from zero to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in only 2.3 seconds, before maxing out to 261 mph (420 kph).And this Czech millionaire wanted to make sure the French hypercar maker is telling the truth. Radim Passer shared the video on his YouTube channel, where he is seen whizzing past other drivers on the highway. The footage has already been viewed by over eight million people.But, despite the fact that German highways are known to include sectors with no speed limits, he received a lot of backlash. Furthermore, the German government publicly criticized him . He replied to those claims, revealing he made the video at 4:50 am on a Sunday, when there were ten cars per ten kilometers, meaning one car per km. He had good visibility of 3-4 km ahead, and enough time to react.In theory, Passer did not break any law . But Germanys Transport Ministry reacted in a statement saying that it rejects any behavior in road traffic that leads or can lead to endangering road users.Now prosecutors are investigating the 58-year-old millionaire for his alleged illegal race, The Sun reports, and the tycoon could face up to two years in prison for it, and a hefty fine might be on the way. Meanwhile, Swiss media refers to a five-year sentence. Police spokeswoman Doreen Guenther added: "We are looking at the possibility of a banned car race."
Folks, Avonlea is a tiny home from a team whose work we've featured several times here on autoevolution, Baluchon. Why would we go through the trouble of bringing them to light several times? Simple; they have a certain something that yields beautiful and able turnkey homes. If you know nothing of this French team, then Avonlea will give you an idea of what this crew can achieve with the right amount of cash.Even though it can be considered part of Baluchon's earlier works, I chose to bring this construction to light because it gives off a feeling of a timeless little French village home. I'm not sure, but I think it's that porch with seating that's giving me this feeling, or it could be the red cedar cladding. Whatever the reason, let's dive deeper.Like other Baluchon homes, Avonlea is set up on a custom trailer with chosen paint. The manufacturer feels that two axles are enough to get you where you need to go for this tiny house.From there, Class 2 Spruce is used to create the frame and insulation added to prepare the home for colder months. Sheep wool is used under the floor, a mix of cotton, linen, and hemp in the walls, and wood fiber in the ceiling. The red cedar I mentioned is anti-UV treated, while interior paneling is natural poplar and raw white northern spruce.While there's no mention regarding the sort of electrical systems available, being a fully-equipped home, you can bet it has everything you need to run appliances, lighting systems, and water heater(s). There's also no mention of any solar capabilities, but that can be a DIY project in itself.Once you've entered the home via the porch area, you'll be stepping into a sort of living/dining room that's also filled with endless storage options. The staircase includes storage options, too, and even a pet accommodation.Heading towards the rear of Avonlea, the kitchen will be found on the right side and equipped with a sink, cooktop, microwave. A fridge can be easily hidden in the cabinetwork. The bathroom is across from the kitchen, with a standing shower, toilet, and a window for ventilation.Back to the staircase, this is how you'll be able to reach the bedroom loft above. Frankly speaking, this seems to be a loft that's a pleasure to climb into. Large lateral windows offer a view of the world around, decorative reading lights, and a headboard with storage shelves looks like the kind of place I'd really like to wake up in the morning.In the end, what really attracted my attention to Avonlea is the way different woods, textures, colors, and lighting offer a balanced habitat that isn't an eyesore and feels natural in every sense of the word.Now, one neat thing about Baluchon is that their builds can be turnkey. However, if you want to get your hands dirty, you can just pick up a frame or a DIY kit. This depends on the sort of cash and energy you have available.Overall, the DIY kit will run you 25,000 EUR (28,090 USD at current exchange rates), a completed frame is upwards of 55,000 EUR (61,800 USD), and a turnkey version can reach 95,000 EUR (106,744 USD) and up. The "and up" bit is significant as there really is no limit to how much money you can invest in your dream home In the end, I'm but a messenger here to reveal what is going on in the mobile home industry, and Avonlea seems like a construction worth noting in case you ever want to downsize your lifestyle. Just don't forget those shipping costs.
But you have to understand something about the United States Armed Forces. They don't think like normal people or have normal people sensibilities when it comes to their weapons systems. If the science exists to bring a new design off the drawing board and into reality, chances are pretty darn good that it at least reaches the prototype phase or even sees combat.Hence, why Raytheon Missiles and Defense is so proud of their new drone and missile defense system, the Phaser. Because it has tech that would have been in the realm of witchcraft in most people's minds only a short time ago. That's right, Raytheon is building energy lasers with the power to vaporize drones and defeat hypersonic missiles before they can deposit their payloads.Of course, the Phaser system is only a cog in a vast array of defense systems under Raytheon's development umbrella. A portion of a system it calls "Layered Air Defense." This consists of an array of defensive missiles, close-in-weapons systems, and directed energy weapons designed to ensure areas of operation where these systems are located remain free of enemy UAVs, manned aircraft, and ballistic missile threats.Raytheon first conducted field tests with its Phaser system at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in 2018. But these early tests were mere technological demonstrators. Now, recent official details from Raytheon Missiles and Defense detail how they plan to flesh out Phaser technology for use in a wide array of strategic and tactical applications. All at a cost to performance that will make the accountants at the Pentagon very happy indeed.Long-time military junkies may remember when the Airborne laser system was conducted using a modified Boeing 747 in the 2000s and 2010s. Raytheon's proprietary beam technology present in the Phaser project operates similarly in some aspects but also completely different in others. Allow us to explain.As anyone who actually paid attention in high school science class may remember, microwave beams and laser beams are separate forms of energy. They exist on a spectrum that ranges from the stuff that heats a disgusting TV dinner unevenly to the stuff that movies and television say will give you superpowers. But in reality, it may just kill you if you absorb enough.Raytheon claims that Phaser can effectively harness and concentrate microwave/radio waves into a form powerful enough to shoot down hypersonic ballistic missiles before they impact their targets. All while using the same principles as laser beam weapons. If successful, it would be one of the first field deployments of a non-sea-fairing beam weapons system of its kind on a field of battle.Capable of being deployed from Jeeps, HUMVEES, trucks, and potentially even aircraft, Raytheon's Phaser system has the potential to adapt microwave beam weapons to roles like long-range ballistic missile defense, attack drone swarm defense, and even airborne close-air-support aboard AH-64 Apache Helicopters."Our adversaries are coming up with increasingly sophisticated and innovative ways to attack us," said Colin Whelan, vice president of Advanced Technology for Raytheon Missiles & Defense. "We need lower-cost solutions to counter them." There may come a day that directed energy weapons traveling at light speed are the best bet as a defense against ballistic missile attacks.With hypersonic cruise missiles advancing at a break-neck pace, it's Raytheon that will bring the weapon to battle. On a battlefield unlike any before in human history. Check out Raytheon's most recent official publication on Phaser down below. Be sure to tune in again soon for more military tech and so much more on autoevolution.
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Native American voters face heightened discrimination at the ballot box like Black Americans and Latino voters, but they're often left out of the conversation about election reform despite their ability to swing crucial races.

Why it matters: Voting rights is quickly becoming a litmus test for Democratic candidates to succeed nationwide, and a top priority for the Biden administration. Some Democrats are looking to carve out specific legislation helping to preserve Indigenous voters' access.

The targeted approach comes as efforts to pass comprehensive election reform founder in Congress.

Driving the news: Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) has been working on a bill that would ensure Native Americans, Alaska Natives and voters living on tribal lands can easily register and cast their vote.

Lujan succeeded in attaching the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA) to the more comprehensive Freedom to Vote: John Lewis Act that all 50 Senate Democrats voted to support this month.

The legislation died after Democrats failed to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold for passing major legislation.

Details: If enacted, NAVRA would allow Tribes to specify the number and locations of requested voter registration sites, drop boxes and polling locations on Tribal lands, and authorize Tribal ID cards for voting purposes.

It also would also help establish state-level Native American voting task forces by authorizing $10 million to the Native American Voting Rights Task Force grant program.

What they're saying: "We know the disenfranchisement of Black and Brown voters at the ballot box is more widely known  it's being talked about, it's being debated across America," Lujan told Axios in an interview.

"What had not been taking place was including Native Americans, and the challenges that we see across the country that Native American voters are facing every day."

By the numbers: Over 1 million Native American and Alaska Native voters are not registered to vote.

34% of Native Americans are not registered  as compared to 26.5% of white Americans, according to data from the National Congress of American Indians.

The voter participation rate of American Indians and Alaska Natives is among the lowest of any ethnic group in the country, according to available data.

The turnout rate among Native American voters is up to 10 percentage points lower than the rate of other racial and ethnic groups.

Don't forget: Native Americans have been credited with helping Democrats win close races in recent years.

Joe Biden won Arizona in 2020 by 0.3%, after Navajo voters went to the polls in record numbers.

Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have credited Native American voters with helping them win in their tight re-election efforts.

The backdrop: A number of states with GOP-controlled legislatures have recently passed bills that critics argue impose new restrictions on Indigenous voters.

Arizona and Montana have passed new laws barring ballot collection important to Native American voters living in isolated regions, since they lack reliable mail service.

Last year, Arizona also passed legislation limiting where in-person ballots can be cast, despite confusion among many rural Navajo Nation residents whose precincts are a two-hour drive from their homes.

Some GOP proposals seek to impose new address requirements despite many Native Americans lacking addresses.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova sought to minimize reports of tensions between Washington and Kyiv and batted away suggestions that her government is "downplaying the risk" of a Russian invasion during an appearance Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Why it matters: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's rhetoric on the possibility of a Russian invasion has contrasted starkly at times with that of the U.S. and other allies.

State of play: President Biden has made clear that he believes a Russian invasion could be likely. But during a phone call with Biden last week, Zelensky pushed back against the U.S. assessment of an "imminent" threat.

Zelensky did so again during a press conference with foreign reporters on Friday, noting, "we don't need this panic."

The big picture: Asked by host Margaret Brennan why Zelenksy is "downplaying the risk" of invasion, Markarova replied, "We're not downplaying the risk."

"We actually see the situation the same way and we see the build-up and we also know what Russia is capable of, because they have attacked us already ...a t the same time, in order to defend our country, we cannot afford to panic."

"There is no friction," Markarova said, adding that "we can have some discussions and we can have difference of opinions. But the United States is our strategic partner, and I would even say strategic friend."

She added that U.S.-Ukraine relations over the past year have been at their "highest level" in three decades.

What they're saying: "With the United States, especially and with other partners and allies, we may have difference of opinions on when to introduce sanctions, we may have difference of opinions on some issues, but those are friendly, open and candid discussions," Markarova said.
A spokesman for Prosecutor-General Artur Davtian said on Monday that he has asked Armenias Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to allow the National Security Service (NSS) to indict and arrest Boris Bakhshiyan, who works at the court of first instead of Syunik province.

He refused to reveal the accusations which the NSS wants to bring against Bakhshiyan, citing the secrecy of the investigation and the need to show respect for the judge.

Aleksandr Azarian, the chairman of the Union of Judges of Armenia, expressed serious concern over the criminal proceedings, linking them to Bakhshiyans professional activities.

We will closely monitor further developments and come up with an appropriate statement if necessary, Azarian said in a statement.

As recently as on January 26, Bakhshiyan agreed to grant bail to Ashot Minasian, a prominent war veteran and opposition activist arrested on December 1.

Minasian and three other opposition figures were charged in November 2020 with plotting to kill Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and overthrow his government. The NSS claimed to have found large quantities of weapons and ammunition in a Syunik property belonging to Minasian.

Later in December 2021, the NSS dropped the coup charges strongly denied by all four men. But Minasian remained accused of illegal arms and was not set free until last weeks decision made by the Syunik judge.

Bakhshiyan also freed last fall two local government officials from Syunik affiliated with the main opposition Hayastan alliance. They were arrested last summer on separate charges rejected by them as politically motivated.

Erik Aleksanian, a trial attorney critical of the Armenian government, said Bakhshiyan is prosecuted because he freed the oppositionists. He claimed that the authorities want to punish him for those decisions and discourage other judges from thwarting politically motivated criminal cases.

Prosecutor-General Davtians spokesman, Gor Abrahamian, denied that. Speaking with RFE/RLs Armenian Service, Abrahamian said that the move to arrest Bakhshiyan has nothing to with Minasians release and that it stems from an incident that occurred much earlier.

In recent months, Armenian opposition groups, lawyers and some judges have accused the authorities of seeking to increase government influence on Armenian courts under the guise of judicial reforms. The authorities deny this, insisting that the reforms are on increasing judicial independence in the country.

A controversial government bill enacted last year empowered the Armenian Ministry of Justice to demand disciplinary action against judges by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a state body overseeing Armenian courts.

In a joint statement issued in early January, a dozen judges, among them Azarian, accused Justice Minister Karen Andreasian of abusing that authority to try to bully them and their colleagues known for their independence.
Tracy and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosian discussed the conflict, among other issues, at a meeting in Yerevan.

An Armenian government statement on the meeting said Matevosian praised the U.S. involvement in long-running international efforts to broker a Karabakh settlement.

Ambassador Tracy concurred with the deputy prime minister: the issue of Nagorno-Karabakhs status is not resolved and that process must be carried out under the aegis of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, added the statement.

Tracy already made such statements last year after U.S. President Joe Biden said Washington remains committed to facilitating a comprehensive Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal together with Russia and France, the two other co-chairs of the Minsk Group.

We do not see the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as having been resolved, the envoy insisted on September 13 in remarks condemned by Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry echoed President Ilham Aliyevs claims that Azerbaijans victory in the war put an end to the conflict.

Aliyev repeated those claims in early January. He also mocked the Minsk Group co-chairs and questioned the wisdom of their continued activities.

They must not deal with the Karabakh conflict because that conflict has been resolved, Aliyev told Azerbaijani television.

A senior Russian diplomat said a few days later that the U.S., Russian and French mediators should be able to resume their visits to Nagorno-Karabakh as part of their peace efforts. Armenian officials backed that statement.

The co-chairs had for decades travelled to Karabakh and met with its ethnic Armenian leadership during regular tours of the conflict zone. The visits practically stopped with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent outbreak of the Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

The mediators planned to resume their shuttle diplomacy after organizing talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in New York in September. The trip has still not taken place, however.
Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau and his family were forced to flee the country's capital of Ottawa and move to a secret location after up to 50,000 truckers gathered in protest fighting against the nation's vaccine mandate and COVID-19 lockdowns.

The scene had hundreds of truckers driving their giant vehicles into the Canadian capital of Ottawa on Saturday as part of a self-titled "Freedom Convoy" that started as a protest against the country's mandates that were enforced on people who wanted to cross the U.S. border.

Trudeau Flees Capital

The situation comes a few days after Trudeau called the truckers who were driving towards the capital a "small fringe minority." The official's remarks came before the convoy grew to hundreds of vehicles that went as long as 45 miles while making their way to the capital.

On Thursday, the movement received an endorsement from Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The tech CEO posted a message on Twitter where he said "Canadian truckers rule" and noted that the movement has transformed into a cause celebre for many people on the right of politics in the United States, Dailymail reported.

Authorities made the choice to move Prime Minister Trudeau and his family to an undisclosed location as a precaution. Two years ago, officials reported that an armed soldier drove a truck into the gates of Rideau Hall, the Prime Minister's official residence, in an attempt to reach the country's leader.

Read Also: Joe Biden Considers Judge Michelle Childs as Supreme Court Pick; President's Choice Is Predicted To Get GOP Votes

In a statement, the Canadian parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms warned that politicians in the country could be at risk from the protesters. Roughly 10,000 protesters joined the truckers while walking on foot and voicing their anger at a wave of restrictions imposed by the national and provincial governments.

An estimated 100 trucks blockaded the road that ran past the Canadian parliament building amid the protest. In a statement, Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly voiced his concern about the possibility of a lone wolf attack, saying that the demonstrations were national in scope and massive in scale, Telegraph reported.

Truck Convoy Against Vaccine Mandates

Many of the truckers parked their vehicles on the ground of the National War Memorial and danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Other protesters carried signs and flags that had swastikas and used the statue of Canadian hero Terry Fox to display their anti-vaccine statement.

Some of the demonstrators were comparing Prime Minister Trudeau's vaccine mandates to fascism with one truck carrying a Confederate flag. Many others were carrying expletive-laden signs that targeted the official for his alleged unfair mandates.

Many others who joined the protest draped the statue of Fox, a national hero who lost a leg to bone cancer as a youngster, with an upside-down Canadian flag and a sign that said "mandate freedom."

The situation comes as one of Prime Minister Trudeau's children was infected with the coronavirus, prompting the official to isolate and work remotely in the last couple of days. The truck convoy also forced police authorities to prepare for the possibility of violence and warned residents to avoid downtown, Evening Standard reported.



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A US F-35 stealth fighter worth $143 million malfunctioned when it landed on the top of the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, but the pilot ejected before it plunged into the South China Sea.

The accident happened last Monday when the US Navy was conducting operations as usual. Injured in the mishap were the pilot and six sailors on board the aircraft carrier, as seen in the leaked video of the accident.

US Stealth Fighter Crashes in the South China Sea

The F-35C was doing its usual landing procedure when the accident happened. The plane went right and dunked into the water, and the US aircraft carrier was only recently certified to operate the 5th generation fighter.

Sources said that investigation of the crash by the US Navy's 7th Fleet was confirmed on Friday, and there was no denial that the leaked social media video was the real deal, reported 9 News.

Commander Hayley Sim, public affairs officer for the 7th Fleet, said the footage seen in media had been verified.

One photo showed the plane when it was seen floating on the sea, with an open cockpit and no ejection seat. The video sequence had the fighter's approach, but it stops when it hits the flight deck.

Damage to the ship was not major, according to the navy. Since the accident, the airwing onboard has been up and running normal operations.

Lieutenant Nicholas Lingo, a 7th Fleet spokesperson, said the efforts to get the wreckage has been started, cited CNN.

Claims by analysts say that getting back the US F-35 Stealth Fighter will be complicated because China will be watching since it claims the South China Sea as its own.

Read Also: Lost RAF F-35 Fighter Starts Frantic Search for Wreckage in Mediterranean Before China or Russia Snatch Top Secret Tech

Worries over the loss of the F-35C, which has top-secret technology that the Americans believe the Chinese want to procure.

But, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it knows the US Navy has once again bungled, and the stealth fighter is not a concern to them.

China Not Interested in F-35 Fighter Retrieval

Zhao Lijian, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, gives a stinging reply to the US, claiming China will not try to acquire the downed plane.

They stated that the provocativeness of the US in the Indo-Pacific is not helping. They should strive for regional peace and stability, noted the SCMP.

Show of force is not working and proceed to elaborate on the accidents of the US in the South China Sea. The US has not been very careful to avoid the South China Sea mishaps. One of their subs, a Seawolf-class attack sub, struck a seamount that was kept from the press as a reference to the collision mentioned.

Zhao states that the accident on the carrier and its plane, which dropped in the South China Sea, is not unexpected. Stressing the US can have their plane despite accusations about an attempt to get it.

Chinese sources say the depths where the plane sank in the South China Sea, which can be as deep as 16,400 feet, will not make it easy to get it back. Success is not guaranteed due to the deep depths that make retrieval very difficult.

Retired PLA Air Force equipment expert Fu Qianshao remarked that the unit could be swept away and damaged.

Related Article: Lost F-35 Wreckage Recovered by Royal Navy from Mediterranean Sea Floor After It Sank a Mile Deep From Takeoff Accident

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Developers of the Amazon distribution center under construction next to Meadows Field Airport are being required to carry out a number of subs
Jesse Vad reports for SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. Lois Henry, SJV Waters CEO and editor, can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org.
Northern Ireland commemorates the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a tragedy where British troops opened fire and killed civil rights protesters, prompting decades-long chaos within the region.

Residents from Londonderry, also known as Derry, marked the anniversary of the tragic event five decades after the incident. The day marks the 50th anniversary of the time on Jan. 30, 1972, when a British elite parachute regiment shot 14 Catholic marchers dead on the streets of Northern Ireland's second-largest city.

50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

Relatives of the victims retraced the steps of the original march in their stage of a walk of remembrance on Sunday. For many of the people who remembered the incident, the memories of that day were still vivid.

Caroline O'Donnell said that she was looking after her five siblings, the youngest of whom was only eight months old. She said that she wanted to go and join the march but her father would not allow her, prompting her to not speak to him, Aljazeera reported.

In 2010, a judicial inquiry found that the victims of the incident 50 years ago were innocent and had posed no threat to the military. However, the commemorations come just months after prosecutors announced that the only British soldier charged with murder will not be facing trial.

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The sister of 17-year-old Kevin McElhinney, Jean Hegarty, said that their generation was slowly rotting away. She said that she wanted to see justice be delivered for her sibling who was one of the victims of the horrific incident while she was still alive.

Hegarty said that she supported legal action to be brought onto the soldier that was charged and expressed her desire to see him in a trial. In a statement, she said that while her head was saying no, her heart was saying that she wanted to believe the soldier could still face a court, CNN reported.

Horrifying Tragedy

Additionally, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, St. Eugene's Cathedral in Derry rang its bells 14 times. The number of rings portrays the number of victims of the horrific incident. It was previously reported that there were 13 initial victims and the 14th died later due to his wounds. It was also reported that 15 other people were injured during the shooting.

In a Twitter post, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said that the nation remembered the day as a memory for those who died or were injured as a result of the tragic day. The official called the incident one of the darkest days for the island. He also paid tribute to the families of the victims who he said have had their dignity and persistence in the search for truth and justice stand strong.

The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was the one that organized the march where the violence claimed the lives of the 14 victims. The British troops were believed to have committed the heinous shooting during a period of increased tension between the Catholic nationalists who wanted Northern Ireland to become a part of a unified Ireland and the Protestant unionists who were loyal to the United Kingdom, NPR reported.



Related Article: Joe Biden Demands Taliban To Free US Contractor Held Hostage in Afghanistan; President Says Release Is Not Negotiable

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Appearances of Pyrosomes on Oregon Coast Still a Big Puzzle to Scientists

Published 02/02/22 at 5:36 PM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon)  That rather robust inundation of pyrosomes along the Oregon coast may have been short-lived, as there don't seem to be any reports of new strandings of the funky little tubular creatures. Yet it's still a puzzle to scientists why they were appearing up here in the first place. (Photo above courtesy Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe)

Pyrosomes, also sometimes called sea pickles, are actually colonies of even tinier creatures all globbed together to form one larger organism. They're not a jellyfish  they're technically a tunicate, which describes a broad range of small oceanic animals that are jellyfish-like in some ways but they have nothing to do with jellies.

Earlier in January, hordes of them were found up and down the Oregon coast, with major reports coming from the Florence area especially, but sightings sporadically dramatic in places like Coos Bay, Gold Beach, Pacific City and Manzanita as well. Some areas had them scattered about in little bunches, with 100 or so in sight from any one spot on the sands, while Oregon Coast Beach Connection received dispatches from other areas indicating thousands .



Recent strandings at Florence, courtesy Mary Nulty

It's largely agreed upon that storm action early in the month brought them onshore, and with all the current calm conditions that's likely halting. But what brought them up here in the first place from their normally-warm-water habitats of California?

The same question hit researchers from 2016 through 2018 when they showed up in unprecedented numbers.

Among those still mulling over an answer is the Hatfield Marine Science Center's Jennifer Fisher, who is a research biologist with NOAA Fisheries.

I am afraid to say that their appearance is still a bit of a mystery, Fisher said. They have been been sticking around off northern California throughout 2021, so I think their appearance off Oregon now is likely due to strong winter storms transporting them north. They also washed up on Oregon beaches during the winter of 2020-2021.

Fisher thought it was entirely possible we would not see more of these purple oddballs much more on the Oregon coast this year, if at all. This may have been it for 2022.

2021 was an incredibly cold and productive year, fueled in part by an early start to the upwelling season, Fisher said. These cool ocean conditions have not favored pyrosomes in the past, and we often have a couple years of similar ocean conditions. So, if cool ocean conditions also occur in the spring/summer of 2022, I would not expect to see them in coastal Oregon waters.

A report by NOAA shows there were some sizable numbers of pyrosomes caught in nets off Newport early in 2021, but none later in summer or fall.

Back in 2017, Fisher and another NOAA researcher, Rick Brodeur, emerged as being at the forefront of knowledge about the pyrosomes and their inundation here and on the Washington coast.

Brodeur spoke to Oregon Coast Beach Connection back then, and they had what was kind of a working theory about why the pyrosomes were coming up from California in such great numbers. It was related to a steadily-warming ocean off the Oregon and Washington coast, but not a direct line, making for an intriguing lesson in the intricacies of ocean ecosystems.

It seems pyrosomes really prefer warmer oceans, and they don't like the larger sizes of phytoplankton found in the colder waters of the Oregon coast and Washington coast.

However, temps here have gotten just warm enough to alter that food source for them a bit because of things like El Nino and the blob (an area of warmer waters off the Northwest that sometimes develops). Our ocean seems to be getting finer particles of food, just the kind of tasty morsels the pyrosomes like.

When you get larger bits of food, it's called productive waters.

It's probably not the temperature that's driving them here, Brodeur told Oregon Coast Beach Connection back in 2017. They don't like productive waters. They like the more blue ocean water, with fine food particles. They don't like the plankton we have here, especially the phytoplankton. Those cells are too big for them. They don't really do as well, but they do better farther out in the ocean with the finer particles.

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Two men attempted entering the country using counterfeit documents in unrelated cases, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The first case unfolded on Jan. 14 at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. Jesus Torres-Rodriguez, of Acambaro, Guanajuato, Mexico arrived in a private vehicle as a passenger at about 7:04 p.m.

Torres-Rodriguez, 47, claimed to be a legal permanent resident and presented a legal permanent resident card bearing his name and photo to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. Torres-Rodriguez also stated he was returning to his home in Georgia.

The CBP officer referred him to secondary inspection after suspecting that the document was counterfeit. In secondary, Torres-Rodriguez identified himself as an undocumented citizen from Mexico.

Defendant admitted paying a known individual 100,000 Mexican pesos (or about $5,000) for the document and knew that misrepresenting himself as a (U.S.) lawful permanent resident is illegal, states the affidavit.

A second case occurred at about 1:21 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. Efrain Herrera-Rodriguez, 24, of San Alto, Zacatecas, Mexico arrived at the bridge as a passenger in a vehicle.

He presented his Mexican passport containing a Lincoln Tourist Visa and I-94 travel permit bearing his name and photograph to a CBP officer. He added that the document belonged to him and that he had intentions of traveling to Madisonville, Texas.

The CBP officer queried the document in the CBP database system resulting in negative findings, according to court documents. Herrera-Rodriguez was referred to secondary, where he admitted to purchasing the counterfeit visa from a friend of his for 20,000 Mexican pesos, or about $1,000. He added that a woman gave him the travel permit, states the affidavit.

Both are now facing federal charges.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, made his first on-camera comments Tuesday about FBI agents raiding his home, saying an investigation will show he did not commit any wrongdoing. He also reiterated he is not backing away from his bid for another term in the March primary.

"Let me be clear: I'm running for reelection and I intend to win," Cuellar said.

Cuellar made the remarks in a video he posted to his campaign Twitter account, showing him speaking outside his childhood home. The video came six days after FBI agents paid a visit to his Laredo home, as well as his campaign headquarters in the city. The agency said it was conducting a court-authorized law enforcement activity but did not say what it was investigating. Cuellar promised to cooperate with any probe, a promise he reiterated Tuesday while acknowledging the existence of an investigation.

"There is an ongoing investigation that will show that there was no wrongdoing on my part," Cuellar said.

ABC News has reported that a grand jury has issued subpoenas for records relating to Cuellar; his wife, Imelda; and at least one of his campaign staffers; and their ties to Azerbaijan companies. Cuellar, a member of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, has been a strong advocate for the country's interests.

The March 1 primary pits Cuellar against progressive Jessica Cisneros, who ran against him in 2020 and lost by 4 percentage points, as well as a second challenger, Tannya Benavides. After a pro-Cuellar group abandoned its TV buy on Thursday, Cuellar's campaign went up on the air over the weekend, running a spot in which he says he will "never stop fighting for South Texas." Cisneros launched her own TV campaign Tuesday morning, airing a commercial that contrasts her with Cuellar and touts her support for Medicare for All.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Police escort Pradeep Kumar Das, a former officer-in-charge of the Teknaf police station, after a court convicted and sentenced him to death in the 2020 killing of a retired army major, in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Jan. 31, 2022.

A court in southeastern Bangladesh convicted and sentenced two policemen to death Monday for gunning down a retired army major, in a case that drew international attention to numerous alleged extrajudicial killings by the nations law enforcement agencies.

The July 2020 shooting of Sinha Md. Rashed Khan at a checkpoint in Teknaf sub-district was a planned murder, Mohammad Ismail, a judge at the Coxs Bazar District and Sessions Court, ruled. He also sentenced six more defendants to life in prison in connection with the killing and acquitted seven others, according to a BenarNews correspondent who was in the courtroom.

Capital punishment for the two main accused was the expectation, which has been met. But I will be satisfied [only] on the day of the execution, Sinhas sister, Sharmin Shahriya Ferdousi, told journalists afterwards.

Of the two defendants sentenced to the gallows, Pradeep Kumar Das, a former officer-in-charge at the Teknaf police station, was found guilty of plotting Major Sinhas murder, having co-conspirators and accomplices in the act, and destroying evidence, among other charges.

The second convict condemned to hang was Liaqat Ali, a former inspector at the Baharchhara Police Investigation Center. He was found guilty of shooting Sinha and plotting to kill him, among other charges.

The retired major, who used to be on the prime ministers security detail, was killed by police personnel on July 31, 2020 at a checkpoint in Teknaf, which lies near the border with Myanmar and is notorious for cross-border drug smuggling.

The charge-sheet said the major had learned about Pradeeps role in the smuggling of pills of yaba, an illegal narcotic that is a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine. The major was trying to confirm this and that angered Pradeep, Mohammad Jahangir, an attorney for the plaintiff, told BenarNews.

At around 9 p.m. on July 31, Sinha was stopped at one of the numerous checkpoints that are in place to guard against potential militant attacks and to stop the illegal drug trade. Liaqat stopped Sinhas car a second time and pointed a pistol at him.

When Sinha stepped out of the car with his arms above his head, Liaqat shot three rounds into him, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate, a news agency of the armed forces, had said earlier.

The police initially said they had fired in self-defense, but a leaked conversation between Pradeep and Liaqat led to their arrest. Police filed two cases on Sinhas death and an alleged recovery of drugs.

Sinhas sister, Sharmin, filed another case against nine policemen, including Pradeep and Liaqat, six days after the killing.

Then, in a rare move, Bangladesh police transferred the entire 1,400-strong force out of Coxs Bazar to bring new personnel into the southern border district that hosts about a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

News of Sinhas killing caused an uproar in the country and prompted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to assure the former army mans family that justice would be served.

Give a clear message

The trial and conviction of police personnel for so-called gunfights is relatively uncommon in a country where rights groups say police as well as an elite multi-force unit known as the Rapid Action Battalion have killed hundreds with impunity. In early December, the United States imposed financial sanctions on the RAB and six of its current and former officers, saying they were responsible for serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

As many as 174 people were killed in 106 so-called gunfights during Pradeeps 33-month tenure at the Teknaf police station, according to findings by an inquiry committee formed by the home ministry after Sinhas killing.

According to a local human rights group, alleged extrajudicial killings by security forces have dramatically decreased since the Sinha killing.

For instance, last year, 80 people were killed by security forces, allegedly illegally, according to Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK). By contrast 222 people were similarly killed in 2020, with most of the deaths occurring before Sinhas killing. And a year before that, 388 people were killed in gunfights, many of which happened in Coxs Bazar, the human rights group said.

I do not believe that such a verdict would stop extrajudicial killings, Nur Khan Liton, secretary general of ASK, told BenarNews, referring to the two death sentences.

Those who run the state need to think seriously about it, they will have to give a clear message to stop such kinds of killings.
A woman inspects her ruined home in Marawi in April 2018, nearly a year after Islamic State-linked militants laid siege to the southern Philippine city.

Thousands of Marawi residents whose homes were destroyed during a battle in 2017 between pro-Islamic State militants and the Philippine military are a step closer to receiving government aid after the Senate passed a long-awaited bill on Monday to compensate them.

The Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Bill (Senate Bill 2420) would create a compensation board to evaluate the claims by people who survived the five-month siege of the southern Philippine city by hundreds of Filipino and foreign militants.

Because the House of Representatives had previously passed similar legislation, lawmakers must meet to reconcile differences in the two bills before they can send a clean bill to President Rodrigo Duterte for him to sign it into law.

The Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Bill is long overdue. I am very happy that we are finally getting closer to its passage, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who co-authored the bill, told reporters.

This aims to help our countrymen who have lost loved ones homes and jobs during the Marawi siege, she said. We also want to make sure that members of the civil society will be represented in the compensation board.

Intense fighting and bombardments destroyed much of the lakeshore city during the siege, which lasted from late May to late October 2017. As many as 1,200 IS fighters, government forces and civilians were killed.

The board would review applications from Marawi victims  about 100,000 were forced into transitional shelters established after government troops defeated the militants.

The bill spells out the method of submitting and assessing claims, details about the nine-person board that would oversee compensation, the means of resolving conflict and addressing appeals, according to staffers involved in crafting the legislation.

The House version of the bill does not compensate for loss of life and calls for the existing Task Force Bangon Marawi to serve as the key agency that would dispense funds.

Cranes loom against the skyline of war-torn Marawi, Philippines, May 11, 2021. [Jeoffrey Maitem/BenarNews]

A Senate leader is optimistic that both sides would agree on a final version.

Ralph Recto, the Senate president pro tempore, said that the legislation was long overdue, noting that by comparison, Marawi sustained more damage in 2017 than the city of Manila did during World War II.

While a U.S. law to help rehabilitate the Philippines took effect seven months after the last Japanese forces surrendered, Recto noted that it was only now that the Senate was passing the Marawi bill.

In contrast, we are passing this bill 52 months after the last hunted terrorist was killed inside the last building they hid in in Marawi, he said.

He apologized for the delay and said much of the legislative bodys work was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We owe Marawi so much that the law ordaining its rebuilding should not end up as another unfunded mandate in our nations cemetery of dead laws, Recto said.

This bill must be fully and faithfully funded as it would hasten the healing of a wounded land and a hurting people, he said. Compensating owners of destroyed properties is not only a matter of justice, it also injects the vital economic stimuli that will accelerate recovery.

Since the militant siege ended in October 2017, many Marawi residents have been unable to return to their destroyed homes because clearing operations to remove unexploded ordnance are ongoing. An NGO representing them was hopeful that the legislation would finally acknowledge their suffering.

The Senate version takes us a step closer to what we have been waiting for a long time, said Drieza Lininding, a Marawi resident whose house was destroyed and who heads the Moro Consensus Group, a non-government organization.

We can now start to rebuild whatever is left of our properties, our lives. Its like we can see the light now at the end of the tunnel, he told BenarNews. Now they should reconcile the differences for the sake of Marawi residents.

The Marawi Reconstruction Conflict Watch, an NGO that monitors rebuilding efforts, said Mondays move by the Senate was recognition of the suffering by Marawis thousands of victims.

We are one step closer to enacting the law that will help Marawi IDPs rebuild their lives, it said using an acronym for internal displaced persons and emphasizing that the state has the moral and legal obligation to ensure the citys long-term rehabilitation.
According to the Houston County Sheriff's Office, a Georgia woman was arrested this month after she reportedly grabbed lotto tickets from the office of a convenience store clerk who had just been shot dead in an armed robbery.

Approximately a week after the event, Lakiesha McGhee, who was a victim of the heist, was arrested and charged with stealing and tampering with evidence. On January 18, soon after midnight, three armed suspects entered the J&J Dollar Store and shot and killed Sabrina Renee Dollar, a 43-year-old employee.

Video shows how robbers entered a convenience store

The suspects are seen entering the store and stealing items from customers while one walks to the office on surveillance video. Dollar was reportedly shot in the upper chest and hit in the head with a firearm by the suspect. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead after a short time.

According to the sheriff's office, McGhee originally contacted 911 to report the crime but subsequently deactivated the store's security system and took the lottery tickets.

The three suspects who robbed the business are still being sought by the Houston County Sheriff's Office. For information leading to the arrest of the three perpetrators, Macon Regional Crimestoppers is offering a $10,000 prize, according to Fox News.

Deputies arrested 43-year-old Lakiesha Deshawn McGhee, of Bonaire, on Monday after uncovering evidence that McGhee took lottery tickets from the same office at the Warner Robins store where cashier Sabrina Renee Dollar lay dying, according to Houston County Sheriff's Capt. Jon Holland.

Deputies also suspect McGhee momentarily unplugged the building's security system before emergency workers arrived, according to Holland. McGhee has been accused of stealing and tampering with evidence, and he is now being held without bond in Houston County. It's unknown if she has a lawyer who can represent her in court.

McGhee contacted 911 when three unknown males entered the company, which sells lottery tickets and provides video poker, shortly after midnight on Jan. 18, but Holland did not accuse him of being involved in Dollar's shooting.

Three armed guys came into the business, presumably attempting to steal it of cash, according to video footage. One of the thieves is seen grabbing money from McGhee and another lady before a gunman enters the shop's office and shoots, as per The Charlotte Observer.

Read Also: New Jersey Political Consultant Admits To Killing Former State's Senator's Son After 8 Years in Murder-For-Hire Plot

Another shooting in Georgia

Meanwhile, the scary film shows a Georgia deputy who survived being shot by a driver before hopping into his car to pursue and apprehend the assailant. During a midnight traffic check, Deputy John Kile was shot in the chest by Zachary Lucas Olivar.

The bulletproof vest miraculously rescued the Jones County deputy, according to a Facebook post by the Sheriff's Office, which shared the clip and praised Kile for his bravery. Deputy Kile is seen pulling over a car driven by Olivar, 24, on a dark two-lane roadway in the early hours of Sunday morning in the violent footage. Olivar looks reluctant to pull over for the deputy, but his car ultimately comes to rest in the center of the road, illuminated only by his and Kile's lights.

Kile approaches the driver's window with his hands out, stating that the cop had pulled me over for no reason, according to the bodycam footage. Kile is shot in the chest by the deputy, who instructs him to get out of his car again, but he appears to resist and takes out a revolver from a towel, shooting him in the chest.

Kile screams in horror as he sprints back to his car before calling for help on his radio, according to dashcam footage. Kile is able to jump back in his car and immediately tracks after the driver when the bullet is blocked by his bullet-proof vest.

Following Olivar's arrest, backup cops use a stinger to swipe the automobile off the road before detaining him. According to officials, Olivar, who resides in Snellville, is being detained without bond at the Jones County Sheriff's Office on charges of aggravated assault, Mail Online reported.

Related Article: 8-Year-Old Chicago Girl Shot in Head During Gang Battle; Residents Raise $55,00 For the Bereaved Family

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Lao human rights and democracy activist Khoukham Keomanivong is shown in an undated photo.

A Lao human rights activist living in Thailand as a United Nations-recognized refugee is being held for deportation back to Laos, where he faces arrest for his advocacy work, Lao sources say.

Khoukham Keomanivong was arrested Saturday on a charge of overstaying his permission to be in the country and was tried Monday afternoon at the Don Mueang district court in Bangkok, an officer at the Thug Song Hong police station told Radio Free Asia (RFA), with which BenarNews is affiliated.

He was transferred to the immigration bureau after he was found guilty of overstaying his visa, the officer said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Authorities held Khoukhams one-day trial behind closed doors, citing COVID-19 concerns, and RFA reporters were not allowed inside the court building.

Court officials did not provide information on the case following the proceedings, and calls seeking comment from Thailands immigration bureau received no response on Monday.

Khoukham, one of the founders of Free Laos  a group set up in Thailand to promote human rights and democracy in Laos  is currently being held at the Suan Plu detention center pending deportation, sources said.

Angkhana Neelapaijit, a former national human rights commissioner, said she is now working with colleagues to seek bail for Khoukham.

Im working with various networks that help foreign refugees and hope to lodge a request tomorrow, she said, speaking to RFA.

In the case of UNHCR-protected individuals, the immigration authorities could grant bail with a bond and guarantor. Such individuals should not be forced to go back to face harm, she said, referring to the U.N. refugee agency.

Khoukam is a formally recognized UNHCR refugee, and under no circumstances should Thailand send him back to Laos, where he would certainly face arrest and abuse, added Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The Thai authorities should release him immediately and enable him to seek protection in a third country if that is what he wants, Robertson said.

Laos deals severely with dissidents who call for democracy and respect for human rights in the one-party communist state, and there is no doubt that he would face arrest, imprisonment, and perhaps worse if the Thais send him back into harms way in Laos.

A third country would grant asylum to Khoukham if requested by HRW, Robertson said. But we have to make sure he doesnt get sent back first.

Thailand has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war, natural disasters and human rights violations in neighboring countries.

Human rights groups, however, criticize Thailands allegedly authoritarian government for recent cases in which it returned refugees and asylum-seekers to China, where they face torture, persecution and other rights abuses.

In November, Thai authorities arrested and deported to Cambodia two activists from the banned political opposition after Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the arrest of one of them over a poem criticizing the strongman ruler on Facebook.

In August 2019, Lao democracy activist Od Sayavong vanished under mysterious circumstances in Thailand after posting a video clip online criticizing the Lao government. Listed as a person of concern by the UNHCR because of his advocacy for democracy and human rights in Laos, his whereabouts remain unknown. He was 34 years old at the time he went missing.

In early 2019, Vietnamese blogger Truong Duy Nhat was arrested by Thai Royal Police and handed over to Vietnamese police, who took him across the border into Laos, and from there back to Vietnam.

Nhat, who had been a weekly contributor to RFAs Vietnamese Service, was sentenced in 2020 to ten years in jail for abusing his position and authority in a decade-old land fraud case.

Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Pimuk Rakkanam in Bangkok contributed to this report.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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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.
SANDISFIELD  A house was destroyed but no one was injured in a fire Monday afternoon off Route 8, near the Connecticut state line, officials said.

As of 4 p.m., two pet cats were still missing.

The single-story house, at 5 Slater Lane, was reduced to embers, said Sandisfield Fire Chief Ralph Morrison.

Theres nothing left, he said.

Morrison said investigators were still sifting through the scene late into the afternoon.

At the moment, it's 'unknown causes,' Morrison said, but we're assuming it was the wood stove.

The fire was first reported at around 1:30 p.m., he said.

One of my firemen called me and asked, Do you have a burn permit on Slater Lane,  Morrison said. I said, No, I don't have any burning permits today. 

The firefighter notified the chief that he was seeing a lot of smoke coming from up the hill off Route 8, across the street from Sandisfields Fire Station No. 1.

Morrison told the firefighter to drive to the scene. He, himself, wasnt far behind.

The whole house was totally engulfed in flames, Morrison said.

The house, which included a walk-out basement, was built in the 1970s. The owner, Mary Slater, lives next door, Morrison said. It was being rented at the time. The renters had reported leaving for work at around 8 a.m.

Firefighters from Sandisfield were joined by those from Monterey, Tolland, New Marlborough and Otis, and from the Connecticut towns of Colebrook and Riverton.

Once the renters were contacted, firefighters began searching the area for the two cats, Morrison said.

We did the best we can, and it is what it is, I'm sorry to say, Morrison said. I feel bad for the family.
Business writer

Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224.
In a month, consultants must complete an analysis of how Massachusetts utilities companies can help the state meet its climate goals. If a Tuesday stakeholder meeting provides any indication of what is to come, climate groups have little faith in the process.
Gov. Charlie Baker participates in a meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House Monday to conclude the National Governors Association winter meeting, alongside other state executives including Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (center) and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (right).
Donald Trump, in a Texas rally, says that Joe Biden does not have the best US interests in mind, as his administration is guilty of betrayal on all fronts by not putting American people first.

He added that sending troops to the Ukraine border, not to the US-Texas border, represents a travesty. Instead of securing the United States, he stressed the welfare of a foreign country is more important.

Trump says Joe does not prioritize Americans

The ex-president said Biden is not concerned about America, preparing to send troops to defend a non-NATO member. Hammering the gaffe-ridden US leader for not caring to secure the US border instead, reported the Daily Mail.

He told the audience in Conroe, Texas, that the government is not servicing the nation by its actions which shows it's not American first.

Plans of sending a measly 8,500 troops to support NATO allies against a 100,000 strong Russian force at the Ukraine border are very questionable.

Trump called the decision of the White House the worst and a match for a European war. He called for the government to have more ICE officers take away all the illegal released by Biden since the start of the crisis.

Former President Donald Trump compared the White House mishandled the US foreign policy and the border crisis, not prioritizing the American people first. Republicans were given an idea of giving the current administration a real headache in the midterms coming in November, cited CNN.

Read Also: House Republicans Show Concerns on Climate Change, Clean Energy

Declaring that the GOP will be retaking major seats and restoring America, progressives and the far left have allowed rampant crime, defunding the police, and attempting to allow no IDs when voting.

Next, he added the White House will be next in 2024 but kept mum on who will challenge a current president.

Trump spoke about fake news and the cheating in 2020, and how the president is not mentally fit for the role. Biden never commanded such numbers in a rally and needs a teleprompter with a sprinkling of how massive the crowd was.

One local Texas lawmaker was impressed at the turnout and said it was the biggest crowd ever in the state. Houston last Saturday was the ground center for MAGA.

Trump supporters pay big bucks to see the 45th president

The mega-buck fundraising, which costs about $100,000 a couple, was sold, with Don jr. there at the same time with the American Freedom tour.

It drew many with his fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle and political commentator Dinesh D'Souza, all there to take potshots at Washington, noted What New 2 Day.

Held at the Montgomery County Fairground in Conroe with cars backed up a mile, the bleachers all filled up that stretched way back until the parking lot.

State senator Dawn Buckingham started the crowd with 'Let's Go Brandon!' as they warmed up.

Gov. Greg Abbott said that the 45th president eclipsed the current one and protected the border.

Trump said that Barack Obama could not do anything when Crimea was invaded, and Biden was his vice president then.

Vladimir Putin will not respect anyone who stumbles going up Air Force One. Hinting that Russia thinks Washington is weak that will never impress the Kremlin.

When Donald Trump got on the stage and said the president did not put the American people first, the party started. MAGA supporters showed the left and progressives not trifle or dare do it.

Relate Article: Sen. McCarthy Says Trump Wants Him to Be House Speaker

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable.
North Korea said Monday it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of hitting the US island of Guam.

It's the North's most major weapon launch in years, as Washington seeks to prove its commitment to its Asian allies with an undefined gesture.

As the North ramps up pressure on the Biden administration amid delayed nuclear negotiations, Sunday's launch might be a forerunner to larger provocations by North Korea, such as nuclear and long-range missile tests that represent a direct danger to the US mainland.

North Korea tested its most powerful missile since 2017

In the face of pandemic-related hardships and continuous US-led sanctions, some analysts believe North Korea's latest testing frenzy is aimed at seeking sanctions relief or world recognition as a legitimate nuclear state. They claim that if more restrictions are imposed on North Korea as a result of Sunday's launch, it may undertake more tests.

The goal of the test, according to the official Korean Central News Agency, was to check the overall accuracy of the Hwasong-12 missile that is being used by the country's military.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued two sets of images, one of the rockets rising off a launcher and flying into space, and the other of North Korea and neighboring territories, which it said were captured by a camera attached to the missile's payload. Because the photographs' legitimacy could not be verified, the Associated Press opted not to use them, according to ABC News.

Officials from the United States and South Korea have warned that the launch on Sunday might lead to the resumption of long-range missiles and nuclear bomb testing. On Sunday, South Korean and Japanese authorities initially reported the launch which they described as a danger to regional security. The test, which was at least the eighth in January and one of the busiest ever for North Korea's expanding missile program, was not reported to have been attended by leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's self-imposed embargo on testing its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles has been lifted, according to South Korean President Moon Jae-in (ICBMs). After the announcement of the moratorium in 2018, which included a halt to nuclear weapons testing and was declared amid a flurry of diplomacy and summits with then-US President Donald Trump, Kim has stated he is no longer bound by it.

Because the United States and its allies have shown no signs of abandoning their "hostile policies," North Korea hinted this month that it may resume such tests. A senior US official said on Sunday night that the US shares fears that North Korea's accelerating missile tests might be predecessors to restart nuclear and ICBM tests, while asking Pyongyang to engage in direct negotiations without restrictions, as per Mirror.

Read Also: China's Warplanes Around Taiwan Pose New Threat; US Military Aircraft Circles Island Following Alarm

US urges to talk to North Korea

A senior US official told reporters in Washington that the United States is concerned that North Korea's escalating missile tests could signal a return to nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, and promised an unspecified response "designed to show our commitment to our allies."

In 2017, when North Korea conducted three nuclear tests, launched its biggest missiles, and elicited warnings of "fire and fury" from the United States, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the latest flurry of North Korean missile testing was reminiscent of heightened tensions in 2017.

According to the North Korean state news agency KCNA, the test on Sunday "proved the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the manufactured Hwasong-12 type weapon system." The United States was not mentioned in the coverage of the launch by the state media, and Kim was not reported to have attended.

Officials from North Korea indicated this month that the tests are not aimed at any one country, but rather at self-defense. In the run-up to the New Year, Kim promised to strengthen North Korea's military capabilities in the face of the US and its allies' "hostile policies."

The Hwasong-12, according to North Korea, can carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead," with a range of 4,500 kilometers, according to experts (2,800 miles), Reuters reported.

Related Article: Kim Jong Un Visits Arms Factory as North Korea Confirms Series of Missile Launches, Vows To Bolster Diverse Arsenal

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@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Senate Bill 642, End competitive bidding on state engineering contracts: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To no longer seek competitive bids for state architectural, engineering or land surveying service contracts, and instead let officials assess and rank vendors according to specified (and potentially subjective) criteria, and then try to negotiate a fair and reasonable contract with the highest ranking firm. The bill does not establish how fair and reasonable would be defined in the absence of competitive bidding. If officials dont get the price they want they would repeat the process with the next firm on their list.

33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

Senate Bill 706, Authorize automated vehicle roadways and user fees: Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate

To authorize automated vehicle roadways" or lanes, use of which would be exclusively reserved for vehicles operating while communicating with an automated vehicle roadway system. The bill would permit the state to contract out construction and operation of such roads and permit charging tolls on them.

33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

House Bill 5541, Authorize multistate uniform bar examination: Passed 101 to 0 in the House

To establish that a uniform bar examination created and administered by a national group would fill the current Michigan mandate that lawyers be members of the state bar association, but only if Michigan officials choose to administer this uniform test in this state. The bill would also increase bar examination fees and related charges.

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

House Bill 4188, Revise school pension calculations: Passed 96 to 5 in the House

To establish procedures and standards for selecting a vendor for the defined-contribution annuity option authorized for school retirees by the 2017 pension reform law that largely replaced a persistently underfunded defined benefit pension system with 401k account employer contributions, or an annuity to be created later, which this bill would do.

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

House Bill 4277, Ban hand-held phone or electronics use while driving: Passed 75 to 26 in the House

To prohibit the use of a "mobile electronic device" including a cell phone while driving, except for hands-free or voice-activated devices, with violations subject to fines or up to 16 hours of community service for texting-while-driving, and 24 hours for a second offense. This and House Bill 4788 would also increase fines and license penalty points and authorize license suspensions for three or more violations within three years, ban driving with headphones or ear-buds, ban recording, watching or sending a video while driving, ban interacting on social media while driving and more.

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant N

102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton N

Senate Bill 145, Give tax breaks to some home buyers: Passed 86 to 16 in the House

To grant $5,000 state income tax exemptions, and $10,000 on joint returns, if the money is deposited in a specialty savings account the bill would authorize for individuals who have not bought or owned a Michigan home in the past three years (dubbed "first time home buyers"). The exemptions could be claimed for up to five years, meaning $50,000 could be exempted from state income tax liability over time by certain households. Fiscal agency analysts estimate the bill will transfer up to $19.8 million in benefits to these households, with an equivalent amount of revenue foregone by the state. A version of this proposal was vetoed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018.

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant N

102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

For the week ending Jan. 21

The House held no votes the week of Jan. 17-21 due to COVID absences, and the Senate voted on just one bill of general interest, which is described below.

House Bill 4290, Give $50,000 tax exemptions to some individual home buyers: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To grant $5,000 state income tax exemptions, and $10,000 on joint returns, if the money is deposited in a specialty savings account for individuals who have not bought or owned a Michigan home in the past three years (labeled by related bills as "first time home buyers"). The exemptions could be claimed for up to five years, meaning $50,000 could be exempted from state income tax liability over time by individuals who can afford to do so. Legislative fiscal agency analysts estimate the bill will provide up to $19.8 million in benefits for these individuals, with an equivalent amount of revenue foregone by the state. A version of this proposal was vetoed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018.
The programme will cover 5000 villages across five years

An Engagement Coordination and Arrangement (ECA) on Maternal, Adolescent, Child care and Nutrition in Kolhan division in Jharkhand was signed between National Health Mission, Tata Steel Foundation and American India Foundation (AIF) under the flagship project MANSI+ (Maternal and Neonatal Survival Initiative+) at the office of National Health Mission (NHM), Ranchi.

After a decade of successful implementation of MANSI across 1700 villages in 12 blocks across three districts of Jharkhand and Odisha, an enhanced version of MANSI viz MANSI+ is being rolled out through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand covering all 38 developmental blocks across three districts viz East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela. The programme will cover 5000 villages across five years (June 2021 - May 2026) and will reach out to approximately four million marginalised and vulnerable tribal populations in the region.

The ECA was signed by Bidyanand Sharma Pankaj, Additional Mission Director, NHM, Anupam Sarkar, Senior Program Manager, AIF and Dr Anuj Bhatnagar, Head, Public Health, Tata Steel.
Pop megastar turned fashion and beauty mogul Rihanna has opened the doors to her first Savage X Fenty store, located at a shopping mall on Las Vegas. The new store is the first of five brick-and-mortar Savage X Fenty storefronts planned for opening in the US this year, as Rihanna expands the presence of her popular lingerie brand, which she co-owns with LVMH.

Source: Savage X Fenty

Source: Savage X Fenty

Body inclusivity, scanning tech

Source: Savage X Fenty

Personalised fitting rooms

Source: Savage X Fenty

Source: Savage X Fenty

At first glance, visitors are met with a store layout inviting Instagram-worthy photo ops with pops of fuchsia-, emerald- and sapphire-hued neon lighting illuminating the space.The entire store design is modular - from its mannequin wall to its interactive spaces. Its inspired by the idea of a dollhouse. We wanted to be able to have this endless merchandising ability and to always be able to change the spaces so we can continue to deliver the best Savage experience, Savage X Fentys co-president and chief marketing officer Natalie Guzman tells Vogue Savage X Fenty is known for its size inclusivity, offering bra sizes from 32 to 46 in bands and A to H in cups, as well as underwear and sleepwear from XS to 3X. So in line with this focus, the new store houses mannequins that reflect a diverse range of body shapes, with some forms made from 3D scans of human Savage X Fenty models.The store uses body scanning technology to help shoppers find their perfect fit, addressing pain points associated with apparel sizing and bra shopping in particular.The lingerie brand partnered with Fit:Match to launch Fit Xperience, a body scanning app powered by a Lidar-backed phone present in the store that allows customers to get a 3D scan of their body and product recommendations based on what might flatter them best.In addition to the body scanning technology, Savage X Fenty's fitting rooms also feature digital kiosks that let shoppers scan their selections, check each product's price and see similar items.Furthermore, Vogue reports that shoppers are able to select different "vibe settings" inside the fitting room so they can try out their looks in the right atmosphere. Retail Dive reports that the Savage X Fenty also incorporates environmental sustainability by including biodegradable hangers made of wheat straw and shopping bags made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate.Rihanna comments in a statement, The store tells a story and is highly focused on a true experience. Every detail was curated carefully to immerse people in the brand and elevate the consumer experience, while being playful, welcoming and fun.We wanted to be able to connect with our customers in real life and give them something they have never seen before. Creating the space took a lot of imagination, married with things Ive always wanted to change about my own experiences as a customer myself, from mannequins to the Fit Xperience, to customer service.
If 2021 taught us anything, it's that we can do with all the help we can get to make it through another year of this new crazy-that-we-now-call-normal. So, Chicken Licken SoulBites has returned to serve some fresh Nuggets of Wisdom, packed with all the entertaining advice Mzansi needs to survive 2022 with our sense of humour intact.

Directed by Greg Gray of Romance Films, in collaboration with Joe Public United, the new burst of Nuggets has seen Chicken Licken return to its top trending spot on Twitter, this time with an extra tongue-in-cheek surprise. The first film stars one of South Africas most talked-about figures: celebrity artist, Rasta. Playing the role of a prospective police sketch artist being interviewed by a police chief, we follow the hilarious consequences that could come ofheeding the Nugget of Wisdom:The second film helps the nation navigate safely to the end of its Januworries with a sage new Nugget of Wisdom: no matter how tempting your cash-strapped inclination might be not to do so One of the biggest rewards of collaborating with Chicken Licken is the opportunity not only to serve the growth of the brand, but in many ways, of the nation as a whole. By creating common ground that gives us all permission to laugh together  even at ourselves  we can draw people together, rather than driving them apart, says integrated chief creative officer, Xolisa Dyeshana, Joe Public United.As promised, SoulBites Nuggets of Wisdom will continue to roll out into February across media channels, to help South Africans laugh their way out of trouble and keep things running relatively smoothly for a  dare we say it? 2022.#SoulBitesTwitter: @ChickenLickenSAFacebook: Chicken LickenYouTube: Chicken Licken SABrand: Chicken LickenGroup Chief Creative Officer: Pepe MaraisIntegrated Chief Creative Officer: Xolisa DyeshanaIntegrated Creative Director: Assaf LevyIntegrated Senior Copywriter: Michelle McKennaIntegrated Senior Art Director: Alexa CranerIntegrated Copywriter: Tlhogi SwaratlheIntegrated Art Director: Ovayo NtlabatiCreative Business Director: Amber MackeurtanAccount Manager: Sinethembe SkondeHead of TV & Radio: Di ColeDirector: Greg GrayExecutive Producer: Helena WoodfineLine Producer: Shannon McDougallDirector of Photography: Adam BentelProduction Art Director: Will BoyesStylist | Costume Design: Bridget BakerHead of Research: Maghiel van DorssenPrincipal Actors: Rasta, Mpho Molepo, Sne DladlaEditor: Ricky BoydEditing Company: Deliverance PostVisual Effects: Jean du PlessisPost-production: Chocolate TribeAudio & Sound Design: Stephen Webster, Ricky BoydSound Studio: The WorkRoom
Digital transformation has been a prevalent topic over the past few years - and has been particularly important to note during this time that Covid-19 pushed us into.

Image supplied: Jacques de Bruyn, MD at Flume

Tell us a bit more about your work and what your day-to-day looks like

How did you end up on this career path?

What is the best method to use when making people aware of your brand?

Lets talk a bit about digital marketing - what do you think it has to offer for businesses?

What challenges can digital marketing help businesses overcome?

What do you predict for 2022, in terms of digital marketing and how digital marketers work?

What advice would you give to anybody who is in the process of digital transformation?

We spoke to Jacques Du Bruyn, the digital marketing and PR MD at Flume, about digital marketing and transformation in business - and why it is important.South African digital agencies are noticing an upswing in the amount of international business knocking at the door for digital marketing services, especially development work. This is exciting and certainly something that South Africans should work collectively to embrace to build our industry together and ultimately create jobs locally, said Du Bruyn.On some advice for businesses going through digital transformation, how you can make people aware of your brand effectively, and the challenges digital marketing can assist with, Du Bruyn has some nuggets of wisdom to shareThe definition of work has changed for me personally over the years. When Flume was a small agency, work was defined by how many social media posts I put live on any given day. Today as a medium-to-large sized agency work is defined as leadership.About how I contribute to the growth of my staff, the agency and our clients. Day-to-day is therefore largely spent investing in people, investing time into meeting with clients and selling Flumes services to potential new clients.My grandfather worked in advertising and I always knew that it was something I wanted to do.As a young boy, Id always been fascinated by the ads in a print magazine. I even created my own. I didnt study digital marketing per se at university, but platforms and technology have always intrigued me and it, therefore, seemed the obvious route to combine my love for marketing with technology.Frequency. The more people see your brand the more itll be top-of-mind. Its a fairly simple concept yet we as marketers tend to overcomplicate it and overthink it.Theres so much that digital marketing can offer businesses. First and foremost it lowers the barriers of entry.A small business can enjoy success by marketing online, not only big brands and spenders. The other two compelling items are the ability to target quite specifically a specific target market and the ability to gather and understand data in order to make smarter decisions, faster.Digital marketing can help businesses overcome the challenge of wastage. Traditional media has a degree of wastage in that we cannot guarantee that only the intended audience will engage with the communication.Whereas with digital marketing we can quite specifically target the audience that we intend to reach and engage with the message, and not that, we can keep refining the targeting criteria daily.The trend weve noticed as an agency is that businesses are far more interested in integrating their digital marketing efforts than trying to focus on single-channel tactics. There was a time when the channel was the hero; brands scuttled to be on social media.However, there is a growing awareness that integrating all digital channels, platforms and technologies is what ultimately drives success online. This will inevitably change the way marketers work in that they will have to start thinking more laterally about digital technologies.First, take a step back and understand the business readiness. Digital is necessary but businesses arent always ready to transform.Employees need to be ready to handle the new processes and systems that arise from a digital process. For instance; building e-commerce probably makes sense for a B2C business but if the employees aren't trained to handle the new processes that arise from digitising a returns process then it can do more harm than good.
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.
The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that digital learning is required now, not in the future, says Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

Image source: Getty Images

Advocating for children with disabilities

Strengthening the curriculum

Rotational learning

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.The Minister has called on the education sector to 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.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.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.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs have had to face a new reality. While some businesses closed due to the pandemic, others changed the way in which they operate, introduced new products and services, and embraced new ways of reaching their clients.

Bridgit Evans, director at SAB Foundation. | Source: Supplied

Briefly tell us about the SAB Foundation.

How has your work at the SAB Foundation been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic?

Looking into the new year, what entrepreneurship trends are we likely to see?

With regards to business funding, what is the outlook for 2022?

What would you like to see changed in the current local entrepreneurship landscape?

What are your plans as the SAB Foundation for the year ahead?

What advice will you give to an upcoming entrepreneur?

As we start the new year, new entrepreneurship trends shaped by the pandemic continue to emerge - from new technologies and innovations to ever-changing customer demands and societal shifts.Bridgit Evans, director at the SAB Foundation, believes that while the pandemic may have forced many businesses to close and provoked an unprecedented downturn in the global economy, it also opened up a whole lot of new opportunities, in particular, doing business differently.I chatted to Evans about the SAB Foundation and how it supports local entrepreneurs as well as entrepreneurship and business funding trends for the year ahead and beyond.The SAB Foundation is a component of the South African Breweries Black Economic Empowerment ownership scheme that was established in 2010. The foundation focuses 100% on different kinds of entrepreneurship and our key beneficiaries are women and youth in rural areas as well as persons living with disabilities.We have three broad programmatic areas. The first one is economic empowerment through farming where we look at big, collaborative farming initiatives in disadvantaged areas. The second area we focus on is general entrepreneurship, where we try to find entrepreneurs from across the country.In the first phase, we try to help people start businesses. In the second phase, we have an 18-month long business development programme where we take in between 60 and 70 entrepreneurs a year and we put them through this programme of developing their business skills. We then assign them a mentor and also give them R200,000 grant funding each to help transition those businesses and help them become more commercially viable.We look at businesses outside major metropolitan areas and test them from seed to scale. So, if businesses perform very well in that programme and we can see that there is an opportunity to create a lot of jobs, we then will look at funding them again. Our relationships with entrepreneurs never end.The last area that we focus on is social innovation. For us, social innovation means business solutions to social problems. Our main programme is the Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards, held annually. We are looking for businesses that are trying to solve South Africa's biggest social challenges and we believe that if we help those businesses excel, they can even become the new way that the country deals with an old problem.We look at innovations in education, health, food and affordable housing. The awards prizes start at R200,000 and go up to R1.3m.It hasnt impacted us as a foundation, but it has impacted our beneficiaries. Entrepreneurs have had some very difficult times and many of them have really struggled.Business right across the country has been very, very tough in the last few years. We made R30m in Covid-19 relief funding available to make sure that the businesses we had already invested in didn't close down as a result of the pandemic.I think there have been a lot of trends that have developed around Covid-19. While it's been very tough on many businesses, it has also opened up a whole lot of new opportunities, in particular, doing business differently.Weve already seen that through our Social and Innovation Awards. There is quite a big emphasis now on delivery. Buying and selling things online has become a huge industry since the beginning of Covid-19 and that requires a whole new sector of delivery. The roads are just filling up with motorbike drivers and delivery vehicles. So yes, weve seen that industry explode over the last few years.We've seen some interesting trends develop, for example, during Covid-19, we saw a lot of companies close, particularly in the hospitality sector, but we also had brand new ones open. The other interesting trend that Covid-19 has brought is the ability to work in a different city or town to where your office is located. What we have already seen and what I think we are still going to see, is opportunities for entrepreneurs.So, in 2022 I'm hoping it's going to be a time of rebuilding and growth, and it's not going to be easy for entrepreneurs as theyve lost so much. Many of them are hanging on by a thread and I really do hope that as the world eases and people feel at ease around Covid-19 and hopefully vaccines start to become more widespread, people will be less fearful around spending.It is difficult to say. I think South Africa has an environment where there is an enterprise development space where companies and government are putting a lot of money into small businesses, and then youve got the banks and venture capital. Unfortunately, there is a big gap between these two.New businesses really struggle to get growth funding from traditional sources of finance, but I think funding entrepreneurs is not going to go away. It is only going to grow because the government and everyone recognises that it is the only thing that's going to really create jobs. I don't think it's going to be an easy funding environment because everyones spending has been tough.Well, I think there is a big missing middle when it comes to funding. Many entrepreneurs have no problem accessing, as I said, enterprise development funding as part of the corporate responsibility and Black Economic Empowerment. But when it comes to them accessing funding from big companies, they are really struggling. The banks are not playing the role they are supposed to play in terms of developing small businesses. I would like to see that gap start to close.As the SAB Foundation, we are now trying to access other finance ourselves so that we can lend into that market because we understand that the risk is not nearly as great as people think it is. We feel that if we could have great relationships with these entrepreneurs, this would also mitigate the risk.We are now going to access, hopefully, other finance so that we can lend big amounts of money to small businesses.One of our biggest plans is to lend bigger amounts to entrepreneurs and run specific innovation challenges around particular issues. In 2021, for the first time, we ran an innovation challenge around reducing harmful consumption of alcohol and this year, we are going to run it again.Our long-term dream is to take the model that we've developed successfully over the last 11 years, particularly in the social innovation space, and see if we can raise the funding to offer that opportunity in other African countries.My advice to young entrepreneurs is to really try and access as much business support as they can. One of the reasons why I admire entrepreneurs so much is because they have so much courage and confidence that they believe that they can sometimes do what other people think is impossible. That's what makes them so impressive.On the other hand, they often don't see the need for mentorship when they need it. To any young entrepreneur, find other successful business people in your area and ask if they could mentor you. Also, take advantage of the many opportunities South Africa has to offer for start-up entrepreneurs.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed a $1.5 billion fund to allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to gain sufficient resources in battling rising gun violence in New York.

The senator pushed for his proposal by saying that the new Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns that was spearheaded by Gov. Kathy Hochul will only work if the ATF has sufficient resources to "choke off crime."

$1.5 Billion ATF Fund

In a statement during a press conference in Manhattan, Schumer said that the ABCs of beating back the scourge that is gun violence depended on the ATF. It was last Sunday when the announcement of the task force with representation from more than 50 groups across New York and neighboring states was made.

The announcement came a day after two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were fatally shot with a stolen firearm. Politicians said that the goal of the task force is to take on gun trafficking and traffickers by jamming the source of their equipment. They said the group will focus resources on data-sharing, crime gun tracing, and intel gathering, the New York Post reported.

Read Also: Trump Plans To Pardon Jan. 6 Rioters if He Wins 2024 Elections Arguing It Would Be 'Fair'

Police officials said that the weapon that the suspect used in the fatal shooting of the two NYPD officers was reportedly stolen in 2017 in Baltimore. Authorities identified the suspect as Lashawn McNeil who equipped the firearm with an illegal cartridge that held up to 40 rounds of ammo.

On top of fighting against the flow of illegal firearms and ghost guns into New York, the additional fund for the ATF would allow it to support the Department of Justice's special strike force. The group would be focusing on suspects who were connected to gun crimes in New York and other regions in the United States.

Gun Violence

Additionally, Schumer's announcement of the $1.5 billion funding comes just a few days before United States President Joe Biden is set to travel to New York to meet with Mayor Eric Adams. The two officials are expected to discuss the topic of turning the tide on gun violence. Schumer said he was hopeful that Biden will also outline further plans to support the city and state in preventing gun crimes, Amny reported.

The Senate Majority Leader's proposal also comes as two local lawmakers in New York expressed their desire to give the federal government more power to fight against gun traffickers. The two officials are New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Carolyn Maloney who are working with the mothers of murdered young people.

They announced on Friday plans to reintroduce the Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act. Gillibrand said that roughly 90% of the guns used in crimes throughout New York were trafficked.

In a statement, Gillibrand said that the guns used in crimes came from outside of the state and were brought in from regions that did not have as restrictive gun laws as New York. She noted that the firearms were being trafficked up the Iron Pipeline I-95 and were being sold directly to criminals in the area, Pix11 reported.



Related Article: New York Actress Jacquelin Guzman Fired from Theater Company Following TikTok Rant Over Street Closures for Slain Cop's Funeral

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Because Prince Andrew blamed his daughter, Virginia Giuffre's father has launched an angry attack on him.

When she filed court papers, Sky Roberts said her lawsuit against the Duke of York should be thrown out because of her own bad behavior.

This would lead to accusations against his then-adolescent daughter for trafficking women for Jeffrey Epstein, he added, claiming that the Royal was being a "coward." However, based on the outcome of his daughter's case, he does not believe Prince Andrew will be imprisoned.

Virginia Giuffre's father fires back at Prince Andrew

It comes as Giuffre's lawyer prepares to question the Duke in London although he has stated that he would not seek evidence from his ex-wife, daughters, or the Queen. Even though David Boies mentioned that Prince Andrew would be uncomfortable being questioned under oath, it's possible that they'll be able to reach an agreement in the end.

In a legal lawsuit filed against Epstein, Giuffre alleges she was forced to have sex with the Royal three times when she was 17 years old. Last Monday, the Duke sent 41 denials, all of which denied any misconduct. He went on to say 40 times that he doesn't have enough knowledge to admit or refute charges, according to Mail Online.

In an effort to clear his name, Prince Andrew is calling on Kevin Spacey, the embattled actor. According to insiders, the Duke is trying to distance himself from Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of a rich pedophile who was found guilty of five out of six sex trafficking counts.

Read Also: Prince Charles, Prince William Are Shocked Prince Andrew Fights Sexual Abuse Case Despite Plea as It Would Further Humiliate the Royal Family

Prince Andrew hopes Spacey can restore Royal reputation

Since the 1980s, the Duke of York has been seen holidaying and partying with the disgraced socialite, who has also been seen at many royal properties. The Queen's second son, however, denied any suggestion that they were close friends in legal documents responding to claims made by Virginia Giuffre.

In 2002, photos of Maxwell and Spacey in the royal room of Buckingham Palace have surfaced. According to The Sun, while Andrew booked the VIP trip, he wants Spacey to convince jurors that it was him, not the Duke, who invited his friend Maxwell.

Virginia Giuffre, who was granted the authority to bring the Queen's son to trial in the United States last month, has accused the Duke of York of rape and sexual abuse.

The Queen's son gave 41 straight rejections of Guiffre's charges in his first formal answer to the court about claims brought against him last August, as well as 40 occasions in which, according to his attorneys, he lacked adequate knowledge to admit or deny the allegations.

According to people close to the Duke, he is determined to defend his name and has rejected all claims of misconduct, and sought a jury trial. At the age of 17 in 2001, Guiffre alleges she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times and then transported around the world to be exploited as a "sex slave" by the Duke's pedophile companion, the infamous late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who is now 38 years old.

"I don't have enough information to admit or deny" other allegations, including an infamous photo of himself with 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, as she was then known, at the home of his long-time friend and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell at the home of his long-time friend and convicted sex trafficker. When Prince Andrew takes testimony in the jury trial in the fall, whether in person or by video connection, according to media lawyer Mark Stephens, he will face specific sexual inquiries, Mirror reported.

Related Article: Ghislaine Maxwell Had Special Access To Royal Palace; Ex-Officer Blasts Prince Andrew's Claim That He Is Not Close with Jeffrey Epstein's Madam

@YouTube

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UK Foreign secretary Liz Truss says building Nord Stream 2 should not be allowed to continue, which German leader Olaf Scholz is not all for. She demands the German Chancellor shut down the pipeline should Russia invade Ukraine.

Joe Biden has been fear-mongering that Vladimir Putin will give the signal to invade Ukraine, though Moscow denies it.

Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to stop if there is war

Truss says that the Kremlin should not have access to its natural gas despite hesitancy by Germany to risk an energy crisis, reported the Express.

One of the reasons for Putin's deployment of Russian hardware and troops is to stop NATO expansion in eastern Europe. Due to the statement of the White House that it's another land grab like Crimea, which other experts contested.

She added that NATO and allies should prevent tension while sending weapons and troops. Berlin has largely ignored other EU members who have charged Germany, including Biden, as not with them.

Opposed to the pragmatic approach of the German Chancellor, the UK official is taking the White House's flawed approach, which is not denting Vladimir Putin, citing the Independent.

She stresses that the UK wants Berlin to be tougher on the Kremlin by using the natural gas pipeline to leverage a rollout of forces over the Ukraine border.

But, Germany does not want to risk its economy over freedom and democracy but continues building Nord Stream 2 since they are least affected by what is happening.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Asks the West to Stop Provocations at the Ukraine Border That Might Lead to Conflict

Despite what Truss and the US would say, Germany's Chancellor Scholz will not let anyone decide about the pipeline or give a definite answer to show a rollout over the border does happen, noted Euronews.

Nord Stream 2 gas supply to increase dependence on Moscow

Berlin will not say if they agree with NATO and is not budging. She added the German foreign minister had been in discussion. If there is an invasion, then it gets shut down.

The German chancellor asked for practicality to Moscow, not to rock the boat as the tensions are jack up by the US president recently.

Getting in more energy via the pipeline is what would happen if the supply is unhindered from Russia, but caution due to more dependence on Moscow will be developed.

In the early part of January, Scholz said that he's open to option about the gas pipeline building if Ukraine is invaded by Russia, which Berlin is reserved about. Saying they will be repercussions should Putin give the signal to enter Ukraine aggressively.

This week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked for proof from Russia that it will not invade Kyiv via prisoner exchange.

He added that NATO should be the one security guarantor of Ukraine in the border stand-off, saying eastern NATO countries will be subject to Moscow's tactics.

Zalesky remarked that NATO might be over its head, and the divided response of members is telling how undecided they are. He added that if fighting starts, it will be on NATO borders.

Liz Truss wants Berlin to build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, but Scholz will not commit like some other EU countries, unlike the UK, which is all in with Joe Biden's fear-mongering.

Related Article: Joe Biden Tells the EU To Antagonize Putin as He Can Shutdown Gas Supply if the Kremlin Retaliates From Ukraine Blowback

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Listed as a US asset while spearheading Zimbabwean regime change plans, billionaire Strive Masiyiwa joins a cast of technocratic zealots on Gates new board of trustees.

In a shake-up of an institution named for one of the worlds wealthiest and most influential oligarchs, Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa was appointed to the Gates Foundations board of trustees this January. He will be joined on the board by a seemingly diverse cast of corporate elites known for their embrace of technocratic and neoliberal policies.

Back in 2007, Masiryiwa helped orchestrate a failed attempt to overthrow the government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe alongside the US and the Zimbabwean opposition party it was backing, the Movement for Democratic Transition.

Both the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency were made aware of the regime change plans by the Zimbabwean telecom magnate Masiyiwa, and were advised by the US embassy in Pretoria, South Africa to share elements of the US governments strategy with him.

Masiyiwa was listed in US diplomatic cables at the time as strictly protect, meaning he was an intelligence asset and/or confidential source.

Fifteen years since the plot fizzled out, Masiyiwa has materialized at the center of another global intrigue as tech billionaire Bill Gates rearranges his foundation.

Few figures have benefited as much from the pandemic as Bill Gates. Throughout 2020, legacy media described the former Microsoft CEO and Harvard dropout in near-messianic terms, characterizing him as a champion of science-backed solutions, and the most interesting man in the world.

While the global 99% has seen its economic power eviscerated under the weight of lockdowns and other Covid restrictions, Gates has doubled his wealth since a pandemic was declared in March 2020 by the World Health Organization that counts him as a top funder. Having boasted that his investments in vaccines routinely generated financial gains exceeding 2000 percent, Gates now has the opportunity to turn the entire global population into a profit center.

The worlds fourth richest man has suffered several PR blows over the past year, however. Bad press over his divorce from Melinda French Gates and questionable behavior like his friendship with sex trafficking financier Jeffrey Epstein, as well as consternation over his refusal to share the intellectual property rights of vaccines with poor nations, appears to have inspired the Gates Foundation to announce the formation of a new board of trustees to enhance representation across gender, geography, and expertise.

On Wednesday, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman announced the foundation would be governed by a board of trustees beyond the trio of Gates, his ex-wife, Melinda, and 91-year-old billionaire Warren Buffet, who resigned in June 2021. Suzman, who aims to vaccinate 100 percent of the worlds population  ostensibly with products Gates is invested in  also plans to join the board.

The move represents an explicit recognition by Gates and [Melinda] French Gates, especially in the wake of their recent divorce, that the foundation will be well served by the addition of independent voices to help shape its work in the future, the organization stated in a press release.

Dr. Vandana Shiva to @TheGrayzoneNews: Because of the Gates Foundation, I have watched government after government fall in its sovereignty. Read this devastating expose of the medias favorite mega-billionaire by @loffredojeremy & @peopleconspire https://t.co/NJvVv0FWAH  Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) July 10, 2020

Though the foundation has flaunted its new trustees diverse backgrounds, the appointees represent a united front in support of traditional Gates goals like privatization and imperialist strong-arming behind the guise of public health.

The first trustee named by the foundation, Strive Masiyiwa, is the perfect example of the kind of activist-oligarch Gates has been drawn to; a professed global citizen spouting altruistic bromides while raking in astonishing profits.

Venture or vulture philanthropy?

As the founder of Africas Econet empire, self-exiled Zimbabwean telecom tycoon and new Gates board member Strive Masiyiwa has used his wealth to advance the cause of neoliberalism across southern Africa.

Masiyiwa is a close ally of British billionaire and green capitalist Richard Branson of Virgin, having collaborated with him on several projects, including the Carbon War Room that was founded as a mission to stimulate business-led market interventions that advance a low-carbon economy.

As Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal and this writer have documented, Branson sought to launch Enterprise Zimbabwe in partnership with fellow billionaire Pierre Omidyars Humanity United at the Clinton Global Initiative.

Enterprise Zimbabwe sought to catalyze investments from philanthropic and commercial donors to fund social development initiatives, and help Mugabe rival Morgan Tsvangirai and the coalition government to get Zimbabwe back on its feet. The shady initiative prompted then-president Mugabe to slam Branson as a vulture disguised as an angel.

As Masiyiwa noted when Branson was first launched into space, the British billionaire once invited him to meet with an organization called The Elders. This coterie of international elites would serve as a base for organizing the regime change plot in Zimbabwe.

Strive Masiyiwa with President Barack Obama " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/49162c4ebfa03657a6dfa9ff9828aa26ee82.jpg?fit=300%2C201&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/49162c4ebfa03657a6dfa9ff9828aa26ee82.jpg?fit=997%2C669&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /> Strive Masiyiwa with President Barack Obama

Gates appointee named by US as asset who spearheaded regime change operations

Zimbabwe has long been a target for regime change by the West, with its former colonial ruler, the United Kingdom, taking the lead in undermining Mugabes government. The compulsory land reforms that Mugabe presided over during the 1990s, through which farmland was seized from white Afrikaners without compensation and redistributed to landless black Zimbabweans, prompted an escalation of Western aggression against Zimbabwe.

Former South African PM Thabo Mbeki recalled being pushed during the early 2000s by then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair to accede to a military intervention in Zimbabwe. Tony Blairwas saying to the chief of the British armed forces, You must work out a military plan so that we can physically remove Robert Mugabe, Mbeki told Al Jazeera. We knew that because we had come under the same pressure that we need to cooperate in some scheme. It was a regime change scheme, even to the point of using military force and we were saying no.

In 2007, as the Zimbabwean economy sank into crisis under the weight of British and US sanctions, Branson offered to bankroll an Elders initiative to convince Zimbabwean President Mugabe to step down, according to a cable sent from the US embassy in Pretoria, South Africa to a number of governments and government agencies, including the CIA.

The Elders is an elite, pro-Western outfit that leverages financial support from an uber-wealthy advisory council to influence politics in the Global South. The 2020 advisory council included Branson and Jean Oelwang of Bransons Virgin Unite, Srik Gopal of Pierre Omidyars Humanity United, Randy Newcomb of the Omidyar Group, and Shannon Sedgwick Davis. Additional support was provided directly by Humanity United.

The Elders plan appeared to be part of an initiative presented by Masiyiwa to the US government and detailed in a January 30, 2007 diplomatic cable. According to the US embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Exiled Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa is quietly floating an idea to shift executive power from President Mugabe to a technocratic Prime Minister.

The US embassy labeled Masiyiwa strictly protect, a designation typically applied to an intelligence source or asset.

A US diplomatic cable dispatched on July 16  five days after the Elders plan was detailed  revealed new regime change activities involving Masiyiwa.

A group of exiled Zimbabwean economists and businessmen is developing plans for Zimbabwes economic recovery once an internationally-acceptable government takes office, according to South African-based businessman Strive Masiyiwa, the cable reads, adding that Masiyiwa wants to keep the initiative  particularly his involvement  confidential.

Masiyiwa believes change will come to Zimbabwe by December, likely as soon as August, although it is not clear what the change will look like, the cable stated.

Following Mugabes planned removal, the cable outlined plans focusing both on stabilizing the macroeconomic environment  code for neoliberalizing public institutions and implementation of economic austerity measures.

In the diplomatic cable, Masiyiwa is said to have observed that it would be potentially impossible to return to the days of large commercial farms, and that land will be one of the most difficult topics under a new government.

But clearly something still needed to be done, as Mugabe was attempting to repeat with business what he did with the farms.

We understand the USG has developed its own plans for Zimbabwes economic recovery phase. If appropriate, it may be useful to share elements of that strategy with Masiyiwa or members of his team to inform their thinking  and ours  in advance of the political change in Zimbabwe, the cable concluded.

Another cable describes Masiyiwa as an unofficial MDC advisor. The MDC, or Movement for Democratic Change, is the main opposition party in the country challenging the ruling socialist party.

MDC was formed as an offshoot of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), a partner of the National Endowment for Democracys Solidarity Center. The National Endowment for Democracy is an US-government funded NGO spun out of the Central Intelligence Agency which provides grants to political, media and civil society groups abroad as long as they further US foreign policy objectives.

Morgan Tsvangirai, an opposition figure once accused by the Zimbabwean government of plotting with the CIA to have Mugabe assassinated, left the ZCTU to lead the MDC.

Morgan Tsvangirai at the Council on Foreign Relations, June 10, 2009

The initial goal of the MDC was to use economic deprivation as a means of stirring up resentment against the ruling party and sparking a revolution. There was a small problem, though.

Policies that are formulated on the basis of a Western conception that sanctions would work in predominantly agrarian countries such as Zimbabwe in the same way they would work in East Europe is misplaced, Arthur Gwagwa of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Unlike in urbanized societies, where sanctions might cajole people to protest and push for reforms, conditions are different in a country such as Zimbabwe where rural based populations have other livelihood means aside from bread, therefore the absence of bread in the shops will not prompt them to stage street protests, Gwagwa said. This was the MDCs original plan that they are now backtracking on as they have realized that it doesnt work.

The Western plots to dislodge Mugabes ZANU-PF ultimately failed, and Masiyiwa wound up calling for an end to Western sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2018, several months before Mugabes death, commenting that Zimbabwe has served its prison time.

In the meantime, his influence flourished thanks to relationships with tycoons like Branson and Gates.

Minouche Shafik (far right) meets with President Barack Obama and Christine Lagarde, then-Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, on Sept. 7, 2011 " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P090711PS-0138_6185443936.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P090711PS-0138_6185443936.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /> New Gates board member Minouche Shafik (far right) meets with President Barack Obama and Christine Lagarde, then-Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, on Sept. 7, 2011

Gates appoints a baroness making no apology for her technocratic outlook

The second appointee listed by the Gates Foundation to its board of trustees is Baroness Minouche Shafik.

Shafik attended the oldest school of the United States in Africa, the Schulz American School in Alexandria, Egypt. Shafik moved to United States and United Kingdom to continue her studies and eventually graduated with a doctorate in economics from Oxford.

After leaving the university, the baroness passed through the revolving door of international financial institutions, starting with the World Bank, where she designed reform programmes for transition countries in Eastern Europe, and developed proposals for economic integration in support of the Oslo peace process in the Middle East.

Following a 15-year stint at the World Bank, during which she became its youngest vice-president, Shafik returned to the UK to work at the Department for International Development, the UKs version of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID. She eventually became the Permanent Secretary of the agency before joining the International Monetary Fund as Deputy Managing Director.

In 2014 Shafik rose to Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, where she was responsible for a balance sheet of almost $638.9 billion and served on both the Monetary Policy Committee and the Financial Policy Committee.

She left the Bank of England in 2016 to become the Director of the UKs main progenitor of neoliberal thought, the London School of Economics (LSE). A year later, she delivered an address on behalf of the Bank of England defending the role of technocratic experts in government, and arguing that elite institutions needed to restore the publics trust in them through initiatives like fact-checking websites.

Shafik is making no apology for her technocratic outlook, a Guardian profile noted in 2021.

For Shafik, neoliberal economics is not just a professional obsession; its personal. In a 2008 interview granted while she served as the Vice President of the World Bank, Shafik remarked that the particular angle that I have on development comes from the fact that my family was nationalized.

That experience of nationalization and struggling with the role of the state trying to take resources, to redistribute them, but at the same time not being very successful at it was a part of my childhood, she said.

Newly-appointed Gates Foundation trustee & International Financial Institution superstar Baroness Nemat Shafik says her "family was nationalized" & that guides her approach to development, i.e. neoliberalization. pic.twitter.com/KegwpLZIxQ  Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) January 31, 2022

Shafik oversees Gates web of public health not-so-non-profits

In April 2021, Shafik was named to the steering group of the UK governments Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP) alongside Gates Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee Sir John Bell, Aurelia Nguyen, a representative of COVAX with the Gates-backed GAVI, and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) CEO Richard Hatchett, an organization co-founded and funded by the Gates Foundation, among other pharmaceutical and financial elites.

COVAX, or COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, is a 184-country initiative which coordinates resources to send vaccines off to countries that couldnt typically afford them. Claiming to have delivered one billion doses to 144 countries, COVAX is co-led by CEPI, the Gates-funded World Health Organization, UNICEF, which is funded by the Gates Foundation, and Gavi, or the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

On Gavis about page, it states that The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a group of founding partners brought to life an elegant solution to encourage manufacturers to lower vaccine prices for the poorest countries in return for long-term, high-volume and predictable demand from those countries. That idea became Gavi.

Of the PPP partnership, which brought this constellation of Gates-supported organizations together to advise G7 governments, Melinda French Gates said in a statement published by the UK government: This partnership will enable G7 governments to create a roadmap for building a safe, secure, and equitable future for everyone. She would later deliver closing remarks at the first meeting of the organization.

Under the Recommendations section of the PPPs report to the G7, the organization suggests that governments and international organizations should also consider expanding mass adult vaccination campaigns for common diseases  both to respond to very real and pressing public health needs and to create regular demand for expanded capacity.

With grants to media outfits pushing the one-size-fits-all, vaccine-only solution and to non-governmental organizations coordinating the manufacturing of vaccines, to the Gates Foundations ownership of stock in companies that do the manufacturing, including Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, Gates has established an international Mighty Wurlitzer cranking out his preferred biomedical narrative and a vaccine manufacturing empire jabbing billions of humans for record profits.

Even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Gates said that his investments in global health organizations pushing vaccines have resulted in $200 billion for every $10 billion he has invested. We feel theres been over a 20-to-1 return, Gates told a reporter during the July 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. So if you just look at the economic benefits, thats a pretty strong number compared to anything else.

VACCINES provide Bill Gates with a 20:1 financial return!

Virtually no other legal investment on the planet is THAT profitable. If any idiots thinks that Bill Gates is a philanthropist & doing it for love of humanity, then that moron deserves to be fed dog food only..! pic.twitter.com/6ttDPl4sI8  Zaid Hamid (@ZaidZamanHamid) June 14, 2020

PPP recommended that the Gates-funded, WHO-founded COVAX take on the task of coordinating industry and G7 governments in order to keep warm vaccine manufacturing facilities.

Thomas Tierney at Harvard, May 2016 " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/maxresdefault.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/maxresdefault.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /> New Gates trustee Thomas Tierney of Bain & Company at Harvard Business School, May 2016

From corporate consultant to altruist advisor

The final listed appointee to the Gates Foundation board is Thomas J. Tierney. Like Shafik, Tierney studied economics, graduating with a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1980.

That same year, he joined one of the Big Three management consulting firms, Bain & Company, where his roles would eventually come to include Partner, San Francisco Office Head, President, CEO and Worldwide Managing Director.

Tom assumed full leadership responsibilities as Bains first worldwide managing director. Under his leadership, Bain grew its revenues six-fold while significantly expanding its global operations, Tierneys bio states.

Notoriously secretive about itself and its work for clients, Bain has over the years been labeled the KGB of Consulting, Fortune editors wrote in a 1987 profile of the company. Like religious zealots, they single-mindedly dedicate themselves to improving their customers competitive position. Business is a holy war that the client must win and the competition must lose.

Besides consulting for private companies, Bain also works with national and regional governments, city municipalities, quasi-government agencies such as development funds and trade associations as well as government-owned companies to realize their economic and social goals, according to its website.

Just what services they provide should come as no surprise to readers of this article: economic development and sector strategies, privatization, change management, etc.

Mr. Tom Tierney, Mr. Jim Collins, and General (Retired) Lloyd Austin talking about Leadership with our Cows and Firsties in PL300. Thank you gentlemen. @wpaog @westpoint_usma pic.twitter.com/rL5eclIOEY  Commandant of Cadets (@Commandant_USMA) January 26, 2018

Tierney joined the board of eBay in 2003, eventually taking over as Chairman following the departure of eBay founder Pierre Omidyar in 2015.

Tierney left Bain & Company in 2000, going on to found the Gates-funded Bridgespan Group, a non-profit management consulting firm that provides services to other non-profit organizations and NGOs.

Bridgespan is not only funded by the Gates Foundation, it provides the foundation with philanthropy consulting services. And it does the same for some of the most prominent institutions guiding the global pandemic response, from the CDC Foundation to the Ford Foundation to the Omidyar Network to The Rockefeller Foundation and the United Nations Foundation.

Additional clients under the category of strategy consulting include the Omidyar-funded pro-Israel pressure group known as the Anti-Defamation League, the Inter-American Development Bank, the CIA-linked International Rescue Committee, and the United Nations Foundation (again).

As the pandemic moves into its third year, and Gates racks up record profits, his new board of trustees will provide him the patina of racial and international diversity his foundation needs to push back on negative PR. But with their records of neocolonial plotting and technocratic zealotry, Gates board members are all but certain to stay the course of profiteering in the name of public health.
Iran nuclear plants are not the most protected from drone attacks commonly used by groups that don't need to engage personally.

Like the Fukushima reactor meltdown in Japan, it was destroyed via a drone attack with the right amount of explosives.

This scenario threatens Tehran's nuclear aspirations that are seen as serious by the west.

Iran nuclear plants vulnerable to drones

A report has found Iran's nuclear facilities are vulnerable to devastating drone attacks.

But using unmanned vehicles (UMVs) laden with explosives could lead to a critical Fukushima-style reactor meltdown.

According to former Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi, the Iran nuclear deal is not doing well due to alleged violations. Tehran is a maverick with no love for the west and considers it a significant opponent.

An examination of 22 facilities done by Dr. Bahram Ghiassee of the Henry Jackson Society think-tank considered all 21 nuclear labs except for the Fordow fuel enrichment plant in Qom, which is lodged in a mountain. All others need a good place unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to disable it, reported the Express UK.

But a weak point of the Fordow facility is the airshaft needed for ventilation and the external supply systems.

Other observations show how other facilities would be in such attacks.

A conversion plant in the Esfahan nuclear technology center deals with a vital part of the nuclear fuel cycle. The Bushehr nuclear power plant located in the Gulf, cited Ajansev.

Natanz enrichment facility is getting refurbished by getting built on a mountainside, and the former structure is supposed to be demolished an attack supposedly by Israel. It is better protected than other Iran nuclear plants.

Read Also: Iranian Authorities Reported Explosion Near Natanz Nuclear Facility As Test Fire at Mock Targets

Most of these structures could survive a light air attack, but some facilities like Bushehr have no such protection from most attacks on land or sea. In a range of 120 kilometers as most UAV operation distance, noted the Swift Headline.

Dr. Ghiassee, a nuclear specialist, stated that attacks on the cooling systems, external power supply, and electric distribution would be catastrophic. It will lead to no cooling, which caused an overheated nuclear core and spent fuel ponds like Fukushima.

The nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, was unavoidable when all three systems went down.

Previous Drone Attacks

Iran's nuclear facilities have been targeted in the past. Like the Bushehr power plant that got attacked by Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq war in 1980; with light damage. More than one attack like explosions, cyber-assault, and drone attacks as were recent.

Tel Aviv is supposed to cause these attacks on these structures; it has vowed to stop Tehran from gaining a nuclear advantage. But like revenge, the Khomeini vowed to destroy Israel.

The Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Alon Schuster said that using military means to stop enemies is needed in extreme times to protect Israel.

Incidents like targeted killings of scientists, the Natanz explosion in 2020 caused by a Mossad operation, and a cyber-attack in 2010. This computer hack would damage vital nuke centrifuges.

A suspected drone attack in June 2021 at the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company facility in Karaj, the northwestern part of Tehran.

The nuclear deal in which Barack Obama was violated and president Donald Trump threw sanctions, but certain Democrats had back channels they hid.

Based on the report about Iran's nuclear plants, which are mostly fragilely defended, only a few are well-protected but do not stop Tehran from seeking its nuclear goals.

Related article: Israeli Warplanes Practice Bombing Iranian Facilities in Coordination with the US if Deadly Force is Needed

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The search for a man missing for seven days has come to an end after he was located dead on Friday.

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The search for a man missing for seven days has come to an end after he was located dead on Friday.

William Ernest Shingoose, 30, was reported missing from the community on Jan. 20 by the Waywayseecappo Detachment of the Manitoba First Nations Police Service. At the time police and his family were concerned for his well-being.

William Shingoose

On Friday, Manitoba First Nations Police Service officers visited a different residence in the community after receiving reports of an unresponsive man.

Upon their arrival at the residence, Shingoose was located and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Shingooses death is being treated as a homicide at this time, said an RCMP Facebook post.

The RCMP is asking anyone with information on Shingooses activities between Jan. 17 and Jan. 27 to contact the Manitoba First Nations Police Service at 204-859-5070, anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The Brandon Sun spoke with Shingooses family, but they declined to comment.

RCMP Major Crime Services and RCMP Forensic Identification Services continue to investigate.

 The Brandon Sun
The Brandon Friendship Centre Healing Foundation hosted its first session centred on bringing together 60s Scoop survivors, family members and service providers Friday at the Mahkaday Ginew Memorial Centre.

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The Brandon Friendship Centre Healing Foundation hosted its first session centred on bringing together 60s Scoop survivors, family members and service providers Friday at the Mahkaday Ginew Memorial Centre.

Healing the Family Within included 60s Scoop survivors Marlene Orgeron and Jeannie White Bird sharing their harrowing experiences of being taken from their families as young children, resulting in a loss of identity and extreme trauma that has lasted for decades.

"I identify myself as a person who was involved and was part of the federal, provincial policy of forced removals of Indigenous children from their families, communities, resulting in loss of culture and heritage in a period known as the 60s Scoop," White Bird said.

She described her forced adoption as the extension of the policy "to kill the Indian in the Child," which began with the creation of residential schools in Canada. It is estimated between 20,000 and 40,000 First Nation, Metis and Inuit children were removed from their families and communities and adopted out into non-Indigenous households during the period known as the 60s Scoop.

The diaspora spread them across the world including Australia, Europe, New Zealand and United States along with Canada, she said, and in some cases, money was exchanged for the children.

Survivors of the 60s Scoop are now adults seeking to unite with their birth parents and communities and the repatriation process is underway. White Bird said they are looking for an identity and to understand where they belong.

White Bird led a sharing circle during the Healing the Family Within session detailing her experience as a 60s Scoop survivor. She was adopted out when she was nine years old but was in the system from about the age of four experiencing constant disruptions in her life.

She ended up in Pennsylvania, where she experienced extreme feelings of isolation and abuse.

"It put me in survival mode. Survival mode every day, and then always in a state of crisis," White Bird said.

Orgeron was taken from home when she was three or four. The experience of being stolen from her family left her with the inability to create roots, she said, because she grew up not knowing what it was like to feel settled, wanted and included.

Orgerons parents died in a car accident. She had been living with her aunt, uncle and sibling in a loving home before she was taken by the government and sent to New Orleans with her two brothers.

"They took me to a place that I would never have gone to in my life," Orgeron exclaimed. "I was with people who didnt know my culture, didnt understand what I had been through and frankly didnt care what the circumstances were. They were happy that they had bought this little girl for $30,000."

First Nation, Metis and Inuit children and their families have known about the 60s Scoop for decades, she said, and they appreciate Canada beginning to acknowledge and talk about this traumatic historical legacy.

"Im glad its out there. Im glad its being recognized. Im glad that the government has acknowledged their part, their agenda in doing this to Aboriginal people across Canada," Orgeron said. "We were not stupid. We were not unable to take care of our children. We were not unloving. We were capable of those things but they stole that from us."

White Bird described the provincial and federal government adoption programs as a process of forced assimilation to ensure Indigenous children were separated from their cultures, traditions and families.

"At one time I was assimilated. It almost worked," she said. "They were almost successful with me, but my spirit was too strong."

Orgeron added this separation from culture and community created a situation where children also had no desire to reconnect with their past because in some cases they felt like no longer belonged. Many survivors experience a fear of rejection when looking to reconnect, often preventing them from going home.

Orgeron added there are not a lot of records available regarding what children were taken and where they were sent for those looking to learn more.

She hopes learning stories from survivors encourages those who are unfamiliar with the experience of 60s Scoop survivors to treat those with lived experience with understanding and empathy.

It is a great time to begin these discussions, added White Bird, because the 60s Scoop acknowledgment comes at a time of growing understanding and acknowledgment of residential schools and the facilities negative impacts on Indigenous communities and Canadas history.

These discussions are also benefiting her sense of healing on her personal journey.

"I think that its the right time for me to start re-advocating for this and to being a voice for people who are not able to  the ones that are still lost, the ones who have died and the ones who just dont even realize that they are a part of it," White Bird said.

White Bird now lives in Selkirk, where she raised her two adult children. She returned to the area to reconnect with family in Rolling River First Nation after being taken to Pennsylvania.

Moving forward, the duo wants to see the 60s Scoop recognized for the genocide it was. This period of history needs to be recognized in the way residential schools are in Canada, Orgeron said, because what happened to Indigenous children during the 60s Scoop created deep individual and cultural wounds.

"We were totally taken  for me being young it was like being ripped and having nothing. I was a body looking for my soul," Orgeron said. "Every day Im reminded of the 60s Scoop and what it has done to my life and it still affects my life on a daily basis."

Reclaiming identity is possible, White Bird said, and having the potential to connect with other survivors can build momentum as they find and support each other.

Brandon Friendship Centre 60s Scoop co-ordinator Debbie Huntinghawk said Healing the Family Within is focused on creating a support network based on understanding and empathy.

It was a powerful day to participate in and she hopes it inspired people to embrace empathy and lead with their hearts in their jobs.

The session served as an intersection of different agencies, community members, advocates and 60s Scoop survivors united in helping in the healing process.

One could see the impact survivor stories had on those in attendance, Huntinghawk said. The session included a detailed history of the 60s Scoop and how it affects individuals, family and kinship ties.

The Friendship Centre Healing the Family Within program can provide counselling, cultural support, access to ceremonies, traditional parenting teachings, cultural knowledge, land-based activities, support groups, sharing/healing circles, support through the 60s Scoop claims process, advocacy and education.

"Lets move forward in a good way where we are all healing together and that theres no more pain," Huntinghawk said.

For those looking for emotional counselling, mental health counselling or crisis support the Hope for Wellness Hotline is available 24-7 at 1-855-242-3310 or at hopeforwellness.ca.

For information on the 60s Scoop claims process contact the Manitoba Merchant Law group at 1-306-653-7756.

For more information on Healing the Family Within call the Brandon Friendship Centre at 204-717-1407, email bfc60sscoop@mymts.net or bfc60sscoop1@mymts.net.

 ckemp@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebel group during the visit of Israel President Isaac Herzog in the Gulf.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, there were no losses and damages from the assault. "The remains of the ballistic missiles landed outside residential areas, the authorities tweeted, per Al Jazeera.

The missile attack happened on Monday during President Herzog's ongoing visit to the UAE. One of his spokespersons told the media that the Israeli leader and his entourage were safe and his visit would push through according to plan.

President Herzog is scheduled to visit the Dubai Expo on Monday before going back to Israel.

On Sunday, the Israeli President met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. They condemned the terrorist attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis as well as discussed security and bilateral relations with the UAE's de facto ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Reuters.

A senior official of the UAE government said that the recent attacks by the Houthis are "useless" provocations though there would be necessary consequences to protect the sovereignty and security of the Gulf country.

"Those who test the UAE are mistaken," the official, Anwar Gargash, said in a post on Twitter.

Read Also: Rights Groups Warn Biden on 'Terrorists' Label on Houthis Rebels May Impact Aid For War-Torn Yemen

US Blasts Attacks on UAE

Meanwhile, the United States Government condemned the recent attack on their ally UAE, the third assault in the last two weeks, including a strike on Abu Dhabi on January 17 that killed three civilians.

Last week, the United States issued a travel advisory that warns on the danger of continued attacks by the rebel group using missiles or drones.

"While Israel's president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians," State Department Spokesman Ned Price tweeted.

The recent missile attacks indicate the continued escalation of the war in Yemen between the Houthi rebel group and the Saudi-led coalition. The United Nations calls it "the worst humanitarian crisis."

Conflict Continues To Escalate

The Houthis launched a drone attack on January 17, killing three foreign workers in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis responded with airstrikes on the Yemeni capital that killed at least 12 people.

On January 24, the Houthis launched missiles again, but the UAE intercepted them with the help of the US, per CNN.

Following the strike, a Houthi spokesman warned that the organization would "increase their operations in the next phase," as well as advising international corporations to leave the UAE.

The UAE is a member of the Saudi-led coalition that has conflicted with the Houthi rebels, who have been backed by Iran for years.

Human rights organizations have expressed their concern with US President Joe Biden's likely re-designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as terrorists, claiming that it will obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

Meanwhile, human rights advocacy groups express disappointment on United States President Joe Biden's possible re-designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as terrorists as it would impact the delivery of relief for civilians.

Scott Paul, senior manager of humanitarian policy at Oxfam America, said in an interview that the recent position was "extremely disappointing."

"A year ago, the administration heeded our warnings - and nothing has changed since then to improve the outlook for what these designations would mean," Paul said.

Related Article: UAE Intercepts Two Missiles Launched By Yemen's Houthis Rebels; Attack Targets Business Hub

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More than 50,000 air purifiers have been delivered to government and low-fee non-government schools and a pool of retired and inactive teachers and principals have been recruited to step in when schools are short-staffed due to COVID-19 cases. Mr Merlino said staff absences would be the biggest challenge this year. But he remained confident measures were in place to ensure classrooms were safe. Masked Port Melbourne Secondary College students on Monday - their first day at school for 2022. Credit:Luis Ascui We made a commitment that wed get students back to school day one [of] term one, and thats exactly what is happening, he said. Mr Merlino visited Port Melbourne Secondary College, one of 14 new government schools opening this year.

It will eventually cater for a projected 80,000 residents in Fishermans Bend, but started small on Monday with an initial intake of 80 year 7 students. Foundation principal Anne Stout said she expected to have COVID-19 cases in the school, like most schools. The students at Port Melbourne Secondary College on Monday. Credit:Luis Ascui For us it will be about how we manage that, having testing of students and trying to pre-empt having large numbers of students come in who might be positive, Ms Stout said. Social distancing would not be difficult in a large, multi-storey school with a small cohort of students, she said.

Port Melbourne year 7 student Liam Chadwick said his new school looked amazing. I think its really cool how theyve added a lot of high-tech stuff that many schools dont have  like eventually theyll probably all get them  but I dont know how many schools have a laser cutter or 3D printers. Education Minister James Merlino at Port Melbourne Secondary College on Monday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui He said he hoped there would be no remote learning this year, so he could have a year of proper high school and no interruptions of any sort. There was a feeling of euphoria at the school gates of Chatham Primary on Monday morning, at least among parents, principal Chris Cotching said.

The families are delirious theyre back, he said. This is lifting the mood in the Surrey Hills community. Itll reverberate around the shopping strips and cafes, where people will go in and say Chatham is open for business and things are happening. Staff at the school spent two weeks preparing for this day, Mr Cotching said. Air purifiers were installed in every classroom and rapid antigen tests were stacked in readiness to be distributed to students. Staff were chipper but also quietly bracing for a possible rise in COVID-19 infections. Tomorrow will be the acid test because we will find out if weve got cases in the community, Mr Cotching said in reference to the twice-weekly voluntary rapid antigen testing of students that will begin tomorrow morning. And when that happens, the issue of staffing will be significant in terms of continuity, so there is a lot of foreboding about the next week or two.

Prep student Maddison was due to start school at Wilandra Rise Primary in Clyde North on Monday, but will instead spend the entire school week in isolation. She was the only member of her five-person household who had not tested positive to COVID-19, mother Kelly Butler said. She wont start prep now until next Monday, Ms Butler said. It is disappointing, but what can you do? This isnt going to be the last time this happens. Im sure that the kids are going to have interrupted schooling again. They have for the past two years. The hardest aspect for Maddison and for her mother has been maintaining strict physical distancing.

Loading Maddison doesnt understand why she has to stay in her room and not touch anyone, Ms Butler said. I have not been near her since last Thursday and Im getting around the house in gloves and face mask. Though most government schools had their first day on Monday, most schools in the Catholic system will welcome students on Tuesday. Resurrection Catholic Primary principal Des Noack said the later start was fortuitous, given the school was still awaiting delivery of most of its rapid antigen tests. A delivery van turned up on Saturday with 220 of the 560 tests, and we are still waiting for the remainder to be delivered today, he said.
There have been 12 new local cases of COVID-19 detected in the WA community overnight as the state opposition calls on the WA government to reopen borders on or before March 5.

Seven of the new cases have been linked to the nightclub cluster, and some have been infectious while in the community.

Over the weekend, 41,907 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered in vaccination clinics in Western Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

WA Health urges anyone who attended the Club Bootylicious event at the Library Nightclub between 9.30 pm, January 22 and 5am, January 23 to be tested immediately and isolate until they return a negative test result.

WA Health has also reported 10 new travel-related cases.
More than 200,000 workers in aged care services will receive a cash bonus within weeks in a move from Prime Minister Scott Morrison to address community anger about soaring virus infections and lift the government into a stronger position ahead of the election due by May.

Mr Morrison will promise up to $400 in a wage top-up to aged care workers this month and the same amount again in early May in a scheme timed to bolster support as senior cabinet ministers admit voters are sending them a message in a savage swing against the Coalition in published opinion polls.

More than 200,000 workers in aged care services will receive a cash bonus. Credit:iStock

The federal payment comes two days after Labor leader Anthony Albanese called for a pay rise for aged care staff and tougher regulation so every nursing home had a nurse, intensifying a political clash when 1,519 people have died in Australia with or from the coronavirus so far this year.

Mr Morrison will outline the new measures in a speech to the National Press Club that will also promise $2.2 billion in research funding for local industry while acknowledging the frustration in the community over surging infections, a shortage of test kits and an economic hit to employers.
While many Australians have opted for a sea change amid the pandemic, others can only daydream of making such a move as they settle back into work for yet another year.

Luckily, just as many are mourning the end of their summer break, Tourism Australia has ever so kindly released its annual list of the best beaches in the nation, which are sure to have you contemplating a move to greener pastures  or in this case, crystal blue waters and soft white sands.

Misery Beach, WA, has been named as the top beach in the country by Tourism Australia.

Buying a home near one of Australias top beaches does not come cheap, but some stunning, under-the-radar locations are more affordable than you might think.

Heres what it will cost you to buy near Australias best beaches for 2022:
Global music streaming service Spotify has agreed to add disclaimers pointing users to reliable coronavirus information following international furore that has caused prominent artists to quit the service and led to an emerging split in the Australian music industry

A post on the website of Deborah Conway, who produced several top hits in the 1980s and 1990s, and her partner Willy Zygier lashed what it described as a push for censorship of top podcast The Joe Rogan Experience from Canadian stars Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.

Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier issued a post on their site saying Young and Mitchell had it badly wrong on Spotify. Credit: Kristoffer Paulsen

Young and Mitchell decided they would pull their music from Spotify because of what they view as misinformation that undermines vaccines spread by Rogans podcast, which the Swedish streaming service reportedly paid about $100 million to bring exclusively to its platforms.

Kim Salmon, known for bands The Scientists and Beasts of Bourbon, backed the Canadians and said in a social media post on the weekend that he would join the boycott, albeit primarily because of grievances with Spotifys treatment of artists. Australian comedy troupe the Chaser also took aim at Rogan, changing the name of their podcast to mimic Rogans and mocking him in the episode, which drew almost 200 per cent more listeners than normal.
Singapore: There was alarm last year when Defence Minister Peter Dutton warned that Chinas push to take over Taiwan was gathering pace. It was time to have an honest conversation about the threat of war, he said, because once Taiwan was taken, the Japanese Senkaku islands were next - and then every major Australian city was within range of Chinas missiles.

The threat to Taiwan has not dissipated in the new year. Almost 40 Chinese warplanes flew towards the Taiwan Strait last Sunday, forcing Taipei to scramble fighter jets to meet them while tracking them with ground radars and air defence missiles.

Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu Credit:Daniel Ceng

The number of incursions is growing - as is the risk of accidental conflict - and Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is determined to keep international leaders talking about Taiwans situation should war come to pass.

There are three key reasons for this.
Mattarella, during his first seven-year term, used his powers several times, generally to keep Italian democracy from crashing over the guardrails. In 2018, he vetoed the creation of a government with a Euroskeptic finance minister. Last year, after a government collapse, he selected Mario Draghi as prime minister, viewing him as a competent, nonpolitical figure who could rescue Italy amid economic recession and the coronavirus. Draghi has proved to be a steady hand, and barring the unexpected, he will continue to run the country until next year, when Italy must hold elections. Draghi himself had been a candidate to replace Mattarella, but his odds faded as politicians worried about the task theyd create for themselves if they supported his cause: Theyd have to find his replacement as prime minister, and there was nobody with comparable support or clout. His elevation to the presidential palace might have even caused Italy to stumble into early elections. Italys PM Mario Draghi - another steadying hand for an unsteady group of political parties. Credit:AP Former prime minister Matteo Renzi, after a week of fruitless negotiations to find Mattarellas replacement, said on Twitter that keeping Mattarella in the presidential palace and Draghi as leader is the only way to keep Italy safe from outlandish follies and a lack of political direction. But analysts noted that a country that depends solely on two figures isnt so stable at all, and the negotiations to choose Mattarellas successor highlighted the fractures.

This is the best solution - the status quo, said Roberto DAlimonte, a political science professor at Luiss Guido Carli University. But its also a solution that reveals the frailty of this political class and a political system that is unable to decide. The process to pick an Italian president - conducted with round after round of secret balloting among 1000 grand electors - typically requires some mix of gamesmanship and dealmaking. Entering the voting, which began Monday, neither the right nor left had an outright majority, considering the small pool of independents. But there was still a chance that a unified bloc could ram through a candidate of its choice, if it persuaded some independents or picked away defectors from the other side. Lawmakers clap after Sergio Mattarella is re-elected as Italys 13th president. Credit:AP Instead, while backroom talks were slow to gain momentum, politicians cast blank ballots or abstained entirely. The left scarcely tried to suggest names, with some members perhaps preferring Mattarella all along. The right, meantime, floated name after name - a process that only revealed internal divisions. Analysts said the most damaged figure of the week might be nationalist League party leader Matteo Salvini, who on Friday night had strongly suggested that an unnamed woman would be elected president the following day, a history-making move. But he didnt have the power to make it happen. By Saturday, he seemed to concede that Mattarella was the only option.

Mattarella, a Sicilian, had been a longtime government figure before being elected to the Constitutional Court in 2011. His older brother, Piersanti, a Sicilian governor, was killed by the mafia in 1980. Mattarella had been chosen as president in 2015, after Giorgio Napolitano stepped down in the midst of his second term. Napolitano had been Italys first multi-term president, and his reelection had stemmed from a similar impasse, with bickering parties unable to find his replacement. In his re-inauguration speech, Napolitano castigated the countrys political players. Loading Mattarella is now fully entitled to serve out his next term, at which point hell be 87. But speculation is rife that he might step down beforehand, perhaps some time after the next elections. That could pave the way for Draghi - depending on his luck in a country where political fortunes can rise and fall with astonishing speed. Draghi, Europes former top central banker, has hinted that he covets the job. And as recently as a week ago, he was the favorite to replace Mattarella. Before the presidential elections, Draghis government had been operating smoothly. Hed improved investor confidence and revamped Italys plan for how to use its massive European recovery fund stimulus. He had imposed rigid coronavirus vaccination rules with minimal political blowback - all while pushing Italy to become one of the most highly vaccinated countries in Europe. Draghi also boosted Italians pride in their own government, which they have long associated with volatility and chaos.
Families of the 14 peaceful protesters shot dead by British soldiers in Northern Irelands Bloody Sunday massacre 50 years ago say the UK government remains scared that the truth about the killings will come out.

The relatives campaigning for prosecutions of the soldiers who shot the protesters in Londonderry on January 30, 1972 have the backing of the Irish government with a senior government minister calling for justice at an event commemorating the atrocity on Sunday.

The British government in 2010 apologised for the unjustified and unjustifiable killings of the 13 Catholic civil rights demonstrators and of a 14th who died later of his wounds, all shot by members of the Parachute Regiment.

Families of the victims and supporters holding crosses walk past a mural featuring the 14 victims as they take part in the 50th anniversary Bloody Sunday March to Free Derry Corne Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Credit:Getty Images

But none of those responsible for the shootings have been convicted and last July, British prosecutors announced the only soldier charged with murder will not face trial. The UK government says it will not pursue legacy prosecutions from Northern Irelands three decades of violent unrest.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the Biden administration of whipping up tensions and rhetoric and provoking escalation. You are almost pulling for this, he said, looking at Thomas-Greenfield. You want it to happen. Youre waiting for it to happen, as if you want to make your words become a reality. He blamed the US for the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, saying it brought to power nationalists, radicals, Russophobes and pure Nazis, and created the antagonism that exists between Ukraine and Russia. If they hadnt done this, then we to date would be living in a spirit of good neighbourly relations and mutual cooperation, Nebenzia said. However, some in the West just dont clearly like this positive scenario. Whats happening today is yet another attempt to drive a wedge between Russia and Ukraine.

Nebenzia pointedly left the council chamber as the Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya started to speak. How long Russia will pressure, will pursue a clear attempt to push Ukraine and its partners into a Kafka trap? Kyslytsva asked. The vote on holding an open meeting passed 10-2, with Russia and China opposed, and India, Gabon and Kenya abstaining. The vote needed nine votes to be approved. Loading US President Joe Biden said in a statement that the meeting was a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice to reject the use of force, seek military de-escalation, support diplomacy and demand accountability from every member to refrain from military aggression against its neighbours. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken didnt make any visible progress in easing the tensions at their meeting in Geneva earlier this month. They are expected to speak by phone Tuesday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. A senior State Department official confirmed the Russian account.

Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call on Thursday that there is a distinct possibility Russia could begin an incursion in February, but the Ukrainian leader 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. Zelensky said on Friday that we arent seeing any escalation bigger than before, and charged that the Russian buildup could be an attempt by Moscow to exert psychological pressure and sow panic. Russian President Vladimir Putin and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed Ukraine again in a second phone call, the Kremlin said on Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photo during their meeting at the fort of Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France in 2019. Credit:Kremlin/AP It said in a statement that both leaders have also exchanged views on Russia-proposed security guarantees. They also agreed to consider a meeting in person.

On Friday, Putin told Macron that the United States and NATOs responses to Russian proposals on security did not address Moscows principal concerns. Putin also said he did not want the situation near Ukraine to escalate. Loading British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with Zelensky, and will also speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to step back, Johnsons office said. Johnson says he is considering sending hundreds of British troops to NATO countries in the Baltic region as a show of strength. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that hysteria promoted by Washington triggers hysteria in Ukraine, where people are almost starting to pack their bags for the front line. Any formal action by the Security Council is extremely unlikely, given Russias veto power and its ties with others on the council, including China.

Speaking Sunday on ABCs This Week, Thomas-Greenfield said of Russia: Were going into the room prepared to listen to them, but were not going to be distracted by their propaganda. She said last week that council members 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. Putins friends On Friday, Chinas UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said both sides have shown willingness to continue negotiations and should be allowed to continue. The United States and the United Kingdom are prepared to punish Russian elites close to President Vladimir Putin with asset freezes and travel bans if Russia sends troops into Ukraine, the White House and British government said on Monday.

Britain urged Putin to step back from the brink after the Russian buildup of troops near Ukraine stoked fears of war, and warned any incursion would trigger sanctions against companies and people close to the Kremlin. Loading The individuals we have identified are in or near the inner circles of the Kremlin and play a role in government decision making or are at a minimum complicit in the Kremlins destabilising behaviour, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said planned legislation will give London new powers to target companies linked to the Russian state. Neither government revealed who was in their sights for sanctions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the British warning very disturbing, saying it made Britain less attractive to investors and would hurt British companies.
New York: The US judge overseeing the lawsuit alleging Prince Andrew sexually assaulted a teenager decades ago asked British and Australian authorities for assistance questioning potential witnesses in those countries.

US District Court Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan on Tuesday AEDT asked legal authorities in Australia for help with material concerning the Andrews accuser Virginia Giuffres residency there.

Prince Andrew appears at the Royal Chapel at Windsor, following the announcement of the death of his father Prince Philip last April.. Credit:PA

Andrews lawyers have cited that to argue that US courts dont have jurisdiction over her claims.

The judge said Andrew and his lawyers would bear all costs of the Australia request, highlighting the financial burden the litigation is placing on Queen Elizabeth IIs second son.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet Monday to address the rising tensions on Ukraine's border with Russia's buildup of troops which the United States and the West perceive as a threat of invasion.

All key players on the issue are expected to debate publicly on the possibility of the global impact of a possible Russian attack on Ukraine, per The Associated Press.

According to US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the actions of Russia pose a threat to global peace and security and the UN Charter. She underscored the need for the council to "squarely examine the facts and consider what is at stake" for Ukraine, Russia, Europe for the core obligations and principles of the international order" if Moscow proceeds to invade Ukraine.

Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky responded on Twitter that he had no recollection of another occasion when a member of the Security Council proposed "to discuss its own baseless allegations and assumptions as a threat to international order from someone else.

Polyansky hopes that fellow members of the UN Security Council will reject the "PR stunt," which he described as "shameful" for the UN Security Council.

According to Polyansky, Russia may begin the conference by requesting a procedural vote on whether it should proceed. Russia would require the approval of nine of the 15 members to prevent the summit from taking place.

If the meeting proceeds, the UN Security Council will be briefed by a senior UN official. Then each of its 15 members will deliver statements. Under council rules, Ukraine will also speak.

The council comprises China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, United States, Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, and United Arab Emirates.

Read Also: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Urges Locals Not To Panic, Reassures Country Can Keep Russian Threats Under Control

Russia Continues Military Buildup, Wants to Halt NATO Expansion

Russia's massing of around 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine has brought concerns to the US and its European allies of the possibility of Moscow invading the former Soviet Union republic. The Biden administration had announced its commitment to help defend Ukraine if Moscow launches an attack.

Russia, on the other hand, opposes the allegation and demands that NATO denies Ukraine membership, prohibit NATO weapons from being deployed near Russian borders, and withdraw its forces from Eastern Europe. The US and NATO rejected the demand.

The Kremlin had announced, per Al Jazeera, that Russian President Vladimir Putin will respond to counter-proposals from the US and NATO "when he considers it necessary," but no date was set as of present writing.

Russia Must Explain

The US ambassador to the United Nations vowed that the UN Security Council would press Russia hard on its military activities along the borders of Ukraine.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said that the US and other council members are unified in urging Russia to explain its real intention, per NPR report.

"We're going into the room prepared to listen to them, but we're not going to be distracted by their propaganda." ABC's "This Week program.

The UN Security Council meeting comes before the scheduled phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to Russian officials.

Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced, "Lavrov and Blinken will have a telephone conversation on Tuesday," but a face-to-face meeting is not scheduled.

Related Article: Russian Navy Live-Fire Drills in the Baltic Sea Causes NATO To Shudder, Adds Tension To Western Provocation

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P&N Group has announced a new general manager broker to kickstart their transformation towards being a broker-focused lender.

Kaine Adamson, previously their senior manager retail distribution, will become the customer-owned banks first dedicated channel manager, overseeing the interactions between P&N Group  which includes brands such as P&N Bank and BCU  and the third party channel.

The appointment of Kaine to the position of General Manager Broker and creation of a standalone Broker Division for the Group reinforces and strengthens our commitment to our broker offering and experience, said Andrew Hadley, CEO of P&N Group.

Read more: Median capital city house price passes $1m as boom continues apace

Adamson said that the customer-owned sector and the broker channel were a natural fit together.

Mortgage brokers and customer-owned banks were formed on the same principles; to provide customers with greater competition and an alternative to the major banks, he said.



Like mortgage brokers, we dont act in the interests of third-party shareholders and always seek to act in our customers best interests.

I am extremely passionate about the industry and am a strong advocate for the role brokers play in providing competition and choice to consumers.



Weve spent a long time listening to our brokers and are committed to becoming easier and more efficient to do business with, through streamlined processes which result in faster turn around times.



We are involving brokers in the design of our future operating model and process, which will ensure that were working together to provide brokers with solutions that will meet their needs.



We are extremely appreciative of the support we have received from our existing aggregator and broker partners and look forward to supporting them in the future.
Silicon Oasis (DSO) and India Innovation Hub on Monday announced a partnership with Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip and UK-headquartered investment banking company HSBC to facilitate 200 Indian to showcase their business ideas and innovations to global investors at Expo 2020 .

With this joint initiative, some of India's best Innovators and will get an opportunity to engage with their counterparts and key stakeholders at DSO and Expo 2020 Dubai, Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai, said on the occasion.

India Innovation Hub is a project of the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 where over 500 Indian will be showcased. The project provides a platform to promote start-ups and innovators of India by providing them exposure to the global investors' community through B2B events.

India Innovation Hub has made a significant contribution to the Startup ecosystem by showcasing over 240 Startups at the Expo 2020 Dubai, Puri said.

In line with the Expo 2020 Dubai theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future', the India Innovation Hub, as part of the India Pavilion, will act as a facilitator for these start-ups, providing them with a global stage to interact with investors and global counterparts for networking and partnerships, the Consulate General of India in Dubai said in a statement.

Focus areas to select startups will be Fintech, AI, cybersecurity, health and tech-enabled platforms in key priority sectors. The announcement was made at the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (DTEC), DSO's wholly-owned tech hub and coworking space, and the largest of its kind in the MENA region.

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority is a Dubai government-owned free zone that promotes modern technology-based industries with the urban master-planned community.

The partnership was announced in the presence of Dr Puri; Deputy Commissioner-General for India at Expo 2020 Dubai, Ghanim Al Falasi; Senior Vice President, Technology and Entrepreneurship, DTEC; Nishant Pitti, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com; and Nabeel Al Bloushi, Managing Director, Regional Head MENA & Turkey, Markets and Securities Services, Corporate Sales - HSBC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently declared January 16 as National Start-up Day and has called start-ups the backbone of new India.

Falasi said Dubai Silicon Oasis offers world-class facilities to start-ups and entrepreneurs, streamlining their business set-up and operations.

It is also home to more than 1,000 startups from more than 75 countries, providing a conducive business environment and collaboration platform for like-minded individuals. We look forward to playing a key role in paving the way for these 200 new Indian start-ups and facilitating their expansion into the region, he said.

Pitti said he strongly believe that Indian startups can add a lot of value to the ecosystem in the UAE.

India has emerged as an innovation hub with the world's third-largest startup ecosystem with over 40 Indian start-ups joining the Unicorn Club in 2021. Hitendra Dave, General Manager and CEO of HSBC, India said, Tech & New Age Business segment commonly called Startups' is a key target segment for HSBC India.

The Indian start-up ecosystem has over 60,000 DPIIT-registered start-ups from 628 districts across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories. India ranks in the top 50 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and is the 5th most start-up friendly country in the world (leading in Asia).

Embodying the true spirit of a self-reliant India, and despite the extreme challenges posed by the global pandemic, over 40 new unicorns came into existence in India, taking the total number of unicorns to 85, the statement 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.)
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The government on Monday said it has approved sale of loss-making Nigam Ltd (NINL) to Long Products Ltd for Rs 12,100 crore.

NINL is a joint venture of four CPSEs, namely MMTC, NMDC, BHEL, MECON and two Odisha Government PSUs, namely OMC and IPICOL. NINL has an integrated steel plant with a capacity of 1.1 million tonnes (MT), at Kalinganagar, Odisha. The company has been running in huge losses and plant is closed since March 30, 2020.

Three -- Consortium of Jindal Steel & Power Limited and Nalwa Steel and Power Ltd; JSW Steel Limited; and Long Products Limited (TSLP) -- had put in financial bids for buying NINL.



TSLP emerged as H-1 bidder, whose bid has been accepted. Letter of Intent (LoI) is being issued to TSLP inviting them to sign the share purchase agreement (SPA). At this stage, 10 per cent of the bid amount shall be paid by the successful bidder into the escrow account.

The government approves strategic buyer for NINL located in Odisha. The highest bid of Rs 12,100 crore by M /s Long Products Ltd is accepted, DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted.

NINL has huge debt and liabilities exceeding Rs 6,600 crore as on March 31, 2021, including huge overdues of promoters (Rs 4,116 crore), banks (Rs 1,741 crore), other creditors and employees.

The company has negative networth of Rs 3,487 crore and accumulated losses of Rs 4,228 crore as of March 31, 2021.

Notably, earlier this month the government handed over ownership in loss-making national carrier Air India to Tata Group for Rs 18,000 crore.

"This is the first instance of privatisation of a public sector steel manufacturing enterprise in India. The success of the transaction is a win-win situation for all. The biggest advantage of privatisation will be to the local economy of the region as the strategic buyer will be able to revive a closed plant, bring in modern technology, best managerial practices and make infusion of fresh capital, which will help in augmenting the capacity of the plant.

"Govt. of Odisha has given active support to the process of privatisation. The privatisation will help in creating new jobs in the region by creation of ancillary industries and suppliers network. Keeping in view the best interest of the serving employees, it was decided to keep the employees dues as the top most ranking liability in the Waterfall Agreement to be satisfied first before any other liability," said Ministry of Finance in a statement.



With inputs from PTI
Ltd (HPCL) on Monday reported a 63 per cent decline in third quarter net profit as it booked inventory losses.

Net profit in October-December of Rs 869 crore compared with Rs 2,355 crore for the same period last year.

"The profit was affected primarily due to the price fluctuations in Q3 2021 leading to inventory losses compared to inventory gains in the corresponding period last year," Chairman and Managing Director M K Surana told reporters here.

While refusing to give inventory loss numbers, he said the loss was on the marketing side -- meaning it sold fuel at less than its cost.

This primarily would have been due to keeping petrol and diesel prices on hold despite international oil prices jumping above USD 90 per barrel.

The firm earned USD 6.39 on turning every barrel of crude oil into fuel in October-December 2021 as against a refining margin of USD 1.87 a barrel for the same period in the previous year.

Justifying the nearly three-month-long price freeze, Surana said crude oil prices, exchange rate, product prices have been volatile. "There is a lot of ups and downs, therefore daily changes will prove to be counterproductive to the purpose of daily price changes," he said, adding rates will over a period of time align with international prices.

"There is a sensitivity to prices therefore when prices are elevated there are concerns and so we are ensuring the least inconvenience to consumers," he said.

The already volatile crude oil market witnessed sharp price fluctuations with the crude prices continuing to trade at 7-year high levels at the end of January 2022 due to concerns over supply and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

He said with the recovery gaining traction, October-December 2021 quarter saw the petroleum product consumption in India echoing the pre-COVID levels.

During the period October-December 2021, sales rose to Rs 1,03,080 crore as compared to Rs 77,113 crore for the same period of the previous financial year.

Domestic sales of petroleum products of was 27.2 million tonnes against 25.4 million tonnes during the corresponding period of 2020-21, registering a growth of 7 per cent.

The sale of petrol increased by 14.6 per cent, HSD by 7.1 per cent and LPG by 2.9 per cent. The overall demand for petroleum products during April-December 2021 period was around 97 per cent of pre-pandemic demand during April-December 2019 period.

During the October-December 2021 period, refineries processed 4.24 million tonnes of crude as compared to 4 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

Surana said HPCL is the first oil and gas company in India to place an order for an electrolyzer-based green hydrogen plant of 370 tonnes per annum capacity for its Visakh Refinery which is likely to be commissioned by December 2022.

HPCL has plans to have a green hydrogen capacity of around 24,000 tonnes per annum over a period of time.

It is also constructing a 100 kilolitre per day capacity 2G Bio ethanol refinery at Bhatinda with agri-waste as a feedstock and a 14 tonne per day capacity Compressed Bio-Gas plant at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh.

In addition, HPCL owns and operates two ethanol plants in Bihar through its subsidiary company.

HPCL has 101 MW capacity wind farms in Rajasthan and Maharashtra and a 48.80 MW solar power capacity.

(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.)
FarEye, a global platform provider transforming last-mile logistics, has announced liquidation for Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) holders worth $1.22 million via buyback. Aimed at rewarding and recognizing employees dedication and hard work in driving FarEyes growth over the last year, this is the companys second buyback and largest to date.

FarEye will be performing this buyback of vested using its cash reserves, a move that signals the confidence the management and investors share in the business, and the important role of employees in the success of FarEye.

"Our people are our greatest asset and their hard work and dedication has enabled us to grow rapidly over the past year, said Kushal Nahata, CEO of FarEye. This ESOP is our way of showing our gratitude and in turn, making our employees become partners in our success. We are dedicated to cultivating the same healthy, supportive environment as we plan to expand our team further in 2022."

In 2021 FarEye launched a revised ESOP aimed at being more employee friendly, and democratizing ESOP grants to a significant section of its over 700 employees globally. In the last year, the number of ESOP holders jumped more than 400 per cent to over 200 employees, a number that is expected to grow rapidly.

Under this liquidation, eligible employees have the opportunity to liquidate a fixed proportion of their vested for a combined value of $1.22 million. There has been no distinction made between present and past employees, as the company looks to acknowledge the contribution of all members of the FarEye family in their journey.

FarEye's first ESOP liquidation occurred last year, where the company announced the distribution of $739,000 to liquidate eligible ESOP options.

Continuing with its hyper-growth journey and expansion across the globe, FarEye plans to increase employee strength to over 1,000 this year. As an active employer and quickly growing company, FarEye has already attracted industry leaders from top brands like Microsoft, Amazon, and Dropbox to strengthen teams, enrich culture and build scalable, products. Over the last year, FarEye has hired several senior executives, including CRO Amit Bagga (Ex-President of APAC at Blue Yonder), CPO Suvrat Joshi (former executive at Dropbox, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft) and CFO Manoj Rath (Ex- Genpact, Grofers, BirlaSoft, DXC Technology). Other key hires include Arun Kumar (ex-Microsoft) as SVP Engineering and Rajat Budhiraja (VP Professional Services, ex Nagarro).

Last year, FarEye raised $100 million in Series E funding to accelerate the companys mission of empowering brands to provide Amazon Prime-like delivery experiences and redefining how products are delivered across diverse logistics networks. Today, FarEye has five global offices, and over 150 customers across more than 30 countries. FarEye's platform processes over 100 million transactions monthly, supports more than 25,000 drivers and is integrated into a network of over two million vehicles, improving billions of deliveries worldwide. The company is on a journey to achieve over 100 million transactions per day by processing petabytes of data.
Ltd and three senior officials of Fortis Hospitals paid a total of over Rs 4.34 crore to markets regulator to settle a case related to the diversion of Fortis Healthcare's funds by its promoters and related entities.

Those who have settled the proceedings are the independent directors of Fortis Hospitals -- Aditya Vij, Sandeep Puri and Balinder Singh Dhillon. Puri was also the chief financial officer of FHL and Dhillon was its non-independent director.

An investigation was initiated by in the matter of Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL) after an article published in February 2018 said its promoters have taken at least Rs 500 crore out of FHL and that its statutory auditor had refused to sign off on the company's second-quarter results until the funds were accounted for.

It was alleged that was one of the conduit entities that had aided and abetted the routing of funds from FHL, ultimately to RHC Holdings, for the benefits of the promoter entities.

The independent directors were alleged to have aided in the misuse and diversion of public shareholders' funds through three borrower for the benefit of RHC Holding and consequently, Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh.

They had allegedly failed to carry out adequate due diligence and exercise independent judgment with respect to the grant of loans/ investments by Fortis Hospitals to the three borrower .

Besides, Puri had issued a misleading CFO certificate in the annual reports of FHL during the investigation period which stated that "the financials of FHL presented true and fair view of its affairs and not containing any misleading statement".

Pending the proceedings, the applicants filed settlement applications with proposing to settle the case without admitting or denying the guilt.

Thereafter, in a meeting with Sebi's internal committee, they proposed to pay settlement charges of Rs 93.50 lakh each for Balinder Singh Dhillon and Sandeep Puri, Rs 65 lakh for Aditya Vij and Rs 1.82 crore for .

The respective amounts, after the high-powered advisory committee's recommendations and Sebi's whole-time members' approval, were remitted by them in January.

"It is hereby ordered that this settlement order disposes of the aforesaid adjudication proceedings initiated against the applicants viz. Aditya Vij, Sandeep Puri, Balinder Singh Dhillon and Religare Finvest Limited vide SCN (show-cause notice)...dated April 9, 2021," Sebi said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The countrys largest pharma player, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, which has an 8.2 per cent share of the Rs 1.67 trillion Indian market, posted an 11 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in consolidated revenues to Rs 9,814.2 crore in Q3FY22, riding on strong growth in its key markets  India and the US.





The net profit for the quarter was Rs 2,058.8 crore. The Ebitda came in at Rs 2,557.4 crore, with a resulting Ebitda margin of 26.1 per cent. The board also declared an interim dividend of Rs 7 per share. The stock ended 0.8 per cent up in days trade on the BSE at Rs 834.15 apiece.

The India formulation (drug) sales were Rs 3,167 crore, up 15 per cent over the same quarter last year, while the US formulation sales grew by 6 per cent to $397 million. For Q3FY22, the company launched 25 new products in the Indian market. The US market contributed 30 per cent to Sun Pharmas overall turnover.

For Q3, the branded formulations business in India and the emerging markets together account for about 50 per cent of the global consolidated revenues. Our global specialty revenue for the first nine months has already crossed the previous full year revenues, said Dilip Shanghvi, MD, .

In Q3, the revenue from specialty products came in at $183 million, up 21 per cent YoY.

Shanghvi added that despite rising costs, the company has achieved higher profitability. He also said the India business continues to grow faster than the market.

Research and development (R&D) investments were Rs 547 crore, up from Rs 559 crore in the same quarter previous year. Specialty R&D was around 22 per cent of the total R&D expenditure of the company.

Taro posted Q3FY22 sales of $139 million, nearly flat YoY and net profit of about $26.3 million, lower by 20 per cent over Q3 last year.
Matthias Maurer, an astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), took stunning photos of the planet recently from a height of 250 kilometers.

The images taken resemble paintings rather than the natural Earth settings.

These two photos of Earth were taken from the International Space Station (ISS).

In a tweet that accompanied the photos, Maurer, the astronaut, stated that he captured these bright pictures of the Arabian Peninsula, but he's also curious about these shapes and lines in the desert.

Seen from above, our Earth looks like a true work of art  I took these colourful pictures of the Arabian Peninsula, but I also wonder what these shapes and lines in the desert are  #EarthObservation #CosmicKiss pic.twitter.com/MwOwKxUXUg  Matthias Maurer (@astro_matthias) January 30, 2022

ESA Astronaut Capturing ad-Dahna Desert

With the curiosity left on the post, several individuals quickly responded, which is supported by a quick check at the location on Google Earth, that the dark line running across the top image looks to depict the Saudi Arabia-Kuwait border zone.

Furthermore, as reported by Digital Trends, the noticeable striking rusty reds in the second photo appear to be located around 200 miles north of the capital, Riyadh, the ad-Dahna desert near Buraydah in Saudi Arabia.

The constant shifting environment provides plenty of fantastic photo opportunities for astronauts to take advantage of during their downtime, with the space station orbiting Earth every 90 minutes or so.

The Cupola, the orbiting outpost's seven-window module that provides panoramic vistas of our planet and beyond, is where most of the Earth's images are taken.

Read Also: NASA Space Tourism Launch Delayed; Axiom Space to Build Studio in Orbit for Tom Cruise Movie

The Copula

It is reported that the Cupola, a seven window observatory module with panoramic views of Earth and space, is perhaps the most recognized element of the International Space Station (ISS).

The International Space Station astronauts usually enjoy spending their spare time there, looking dreamily out the windows and taking images of our planet's splendor.

The Cupola, however, is much more than a place for astronauts to unwind during their downtime.

It also serves as a workstation for operating the facility's robotic arm for spacewalks and spacecraft operations, making it ideal for Earth observation research.

The seven window module weighs around 1.8 tons, measures 3 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters in height.

It was manufactured by the ESA and deployed on the ISS during a Space Shuttle Endeavour mission in 2010, a decade after it was launched.

Capturing Earth Using NASA

Matthias Maurer, a current ISS occupant, shared further information about how astronauts observe Earth in a tweet this week, including the name of the mobile app that helps them locate points of interest.

Maurer, who arrived at the ISS in November, stated in a tweet that the space station astronauts utilize an app called GoISSwatch & NASA's 'World Map' software to find out where we are above Earth and not miss any great photo chances.

Where on Earth...?  To find out where we are above Earth & not miss any interesting photo opportunities, @Space_Station astronauts use an app called GoISSwatch & @NASA's "World Map" programme. These also show weather conditions & Earth observation targets for the perfect  pic.twitter.com/vOvUj1iGGa  Matthias Maurer (@astro_matthias) January 13, 2022

These also reveal weather conditions and Earth observation targets.

Digital Trends reported that the GoISSWatch app (free for iPhone and iPad) was created by GoSoftWorks and shows astronauts the space station's expected route as it orbits Earth.

The same iOS app (Android users can try this one) provides real-time time tracking of the ISS for those looking up.

The app gives enthusiasts the opportunity to see the orbital satellite for themselves and informs them when the station will pass in their area.

GoSatWatch as a fee of $10, and is a commercial edition of GoSoftWork's program that allows you to follow not just the ISS but also a slew of other spacecraft orbiting the Earth.

Users of the application also have the feature to observe SpaceX spacecraft on their way to and from the International Space Station.

If space enthusiasts are merely interested in detecting the space station, GoSoftWork's free software will suffice.

Related Article: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin To Acquire Pioneer Rover Hardware Company Honeybee: How This Could Help Them
In its second acquisition of a public sector undertaking (PSU) within a week, the Tata group has bagged a majority stake in Nigam (NINL), giving a strong push to the governments privatisation drive, showcasing the interest of marquee private sector investors in the Centres assets.

The Alternate Mechanism, comprising Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Piyush Goyal, approved the divestment of the 93.7 per cent stake held in by four central PSUs and two of the Odisha government, to Long Products (TSLP) at an enterprise value of Rs 12,100 crore.

The reserve price for the PSU was set at Rs 5,616.97 crore, and approved by the Cabinet Secretary-headed Core Group of Secretaries on Divestment. The Tata Group arm beat bids submitted by two other bidders, including a consortium of Jindal Steel & Power and Nalwa Steel and Power, and JSW Steel.

As the Centre does not directly own any stake in NINL, the sale will not lead to any divestment receipts for the exchequer.

owns a 74.91 per cent stake in Long Products. The buyer will pay 10 per cent of the bid amount which will be deposited in an escrow account. Based on the bidders demand, the government amended the earlier clause of depositing 100 per cent of the bid amount on the date of execution.

On the closure date of the transaction, shares will be transferred to the new buyer and the balance will be utilised in accordance with the waterfall agreement signed among the selling shareholders. Part-sale proceeds would be infused into the company to the extent of the liabilities, which will be set-off and the balance in the escrow account will be given to selling shareholders proportional to their shareholding.

According to the preliminary information memorandum, the amount paid by the bidder would be used towards settling labour dues, operational creditors, commercial lender debt, promoter debt and purchasing of 93.7% of shareholding of .

According to a statement, the Letter of Intent (LoI) is being issued to Tata Steel Long Products, inviting it to sign the share purchase agreement.

 represents a critical and strategic acquisition for TSLP with around one million tonne (mt) per annum of steelmaking capacity, 2,500 acres of land for future growth and iron ore reserves of around 100 mt. Tata Steel lost no time in outlining an expansion plan. The acquisition of NINL provides a significant opportunity for Tata Steel to not only restart the 1 mt per annum steel plant expeditiously but also begin work immediately to build a 4.5 mt per annum state-of-the-art long products complex in the next few years, and further expand it to 10 million tonne by around 2030, the company said.

Tata Steel said that the total consideration of Rs 12,100 crore reflects the enterprise value (including all recorded liabilities) as part of the acquisition of 93.7 per cent equity stake in NINL.

The company said that the acquisition was being financed through a combination of internal accruals and bridge loans which were expected to be paid down through internal generation of Tata Steel over the next few quarters.

The transaction is scheduled for closure within the next couple of months as per the process timelines announced by DIPAM and Government of India, Tata Steel further said.

ALSO READ: Govt approves sale of NINL to Tata Steel Long Products for Rs 12,100 cr

The biggest advantage of privatisation will be to the local economy as the strategic buyer will be able to revive a closed plant, bring in modern technology, best managerial practices and infuse fresh capital, which will help in augmenting the capacity of the plant, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

This will help in creating new jobs by creation of ancillary industries and suppliers network, the statement added.

This is the first time a public sector steel manufacturing company has been privatised in India.

The new buyer will have to retain employees of NINL for one year.

The buyer will also be bound to follow the terms of the voluntary retirement scheme applicable for central PSUs, whenever such a decision is taken.

As reported by Business Standard earlier, the government had acceded to most demands of bidders, including reducing the lock-in period for sale of assets, excluding land and mining leases to one year from the date of completion of sale, from the earlier three years proposed by the government.

The promoter of NINL is MMTC, with the PSU owning 49.78 per cent stake in the firm State-owned National Mineral Development Corporation owns 10.10 per cent, and MECON and Bharat Heavy Electricals hold 0.68 per cent each. Odisha government-owned Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) and Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) own 12 per cent and 20.47 per cent stake in NINL.

The reserve price for the PSU was set at Rs 5,616.97 crore, and approved by the Cabinet Secretary-headed Core Group of Secretaries on Divestment.

The Tata Group arm beat bids submitted by two other bidders, including a consortium of Jindal Steel & Power and Nalwa Steel and Power, and JSW Steel. As the Centre does not directly own any stake in NINL, the sale will not lead to any divestment receipts for the exchequer.

Tata Steel owns a 74.91 per cent stake in Tata Steel Long Products. The buyer will pay 10 per cent of the bid amount which will be deposited in an escrow account. Based on the bidders demand, the government amended the earlier clause of depositing 100 per cent of the bid amount on the date of execution.

On the closure date of the transaction, shares will be transferred to the new buyer and the balance will be utilised in accordance with the waterfall agreement signed among the selling shareholders. Part-sale proceeds would be infused into the company to the extent of the liabilities, which will be set-off and the balance in the escrow account will be given to selling shareholders proportional to their shareholding.

According to the preliminary information memorandum, the amount paid by the bidder would be used towards settling labour dues, operational creditors, commercial lender debt, promoter debt and purchasing of 93.7% of shareholding of NINL.

According to a statement, the Letter of Intent (LoI) is being issued to Tata Steel Long Products, inviting it to sign the share purchase agreement.

NINL represents a critical and strategic acquisition for TSLP with around 1 mtpa of steelmaking capacity, 2,500 acres of land for future growth and iron ore reserves of around 100 mt. Tata Steel lost no time in outlining an expansion plan. The acquisition of NINL provides a significant opportunity for Tata Steel to not only restart the 1 mt per annum steel plant expeditiously but also begin work immediately to build a 4.5 mtpa state-of-the-art long products complex in the next few years, and further expand it to 10 mt by 2030, the firm said.
Schools for classes 8 to 12, colleges and varsities will reopen in on February 3, Chief Minister announced on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Banerjee said flights from Delhi and Mumbai will be allowed to operate daily, instead of thrice a week.

The ban on flights from the UK to Kolkata was also lifted but passengers need to undergo RT-PCR tests, she said.

The government also allowed 75 per cent workforce to attend office, instead of the earlier 50 per cent.

The night restriction on movement of people was reduced by an hour and will no be in force from 11 pm to 5 am, Banerjee said.

Cinema Halls and auditoriums were allowed to host shows with 75 per cent capacity, she said.

"COVID-19 situation in Bengal has improved. Schools will reopen on February 3 for classes 8 to 12. Colleges, universities, polytechnics, ITIs will also restart offline classes on the same day. We are not reopening primary schools right now," Banerjee said.

"We will decide on reopening primary schools later," she added.

The restrictions will be in place till February 15.

Students' organisations that were demanding that schools and colleges be reopened welcomed the government's announcement but said that the decision was taken under pressure.

SFI state secretary Srijan Bhattacharya said the government has finally responded to the just demand after "playing with the future of lakhs of students".

"For airing the demands of ordinary students, our activists were beaten up and arrested by the police over the last few days," he alleged.

Bhattacharya said the government should now ensure that classes are held with all COVID safety guidelines.

The ABVP said the state government unnecessarily delayed making a simple decision, which would benefit students.

"Even today, at least 18 ABVP activists were taken into custody when they were going to meet Education Minister Bratya Basu in Bikash Bhavan to raise our demands. They just wanted the government to know how the students were suffering as schools and colleges were closed," ABVP national secretary Saptarshi Sarkar told PTI.

The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) said the chief minister took a timely and appropriate decision.

"The 'Paray Sikshalay' (neighbourhood classes) programme and normal classes in schools will now be held simultaneously," said TMCP state president Trinankur Bhattacharya.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With an aim to achieve 100 per cent vaccination against COVID-19 in the city, the has launched war rooms in each district to ensure that all eligible residents are fully inoculated, officials said.

These war rooms comprise a dedicated workforce whose primary role is to remind people about their impending second dose by telephoning them and ensuring that they get jabbed.

According to officials, the workforce in each district calls up around 10,000-15,000 people every day.

A senior official of the west district administration said the war room in the district has yielded good results.

He said staffers in the war room check records and call up those beneficiaries that are yet to take the second dose and request them to get inoculated on priority.

Earlier, there were nearly 5 lakh people who had not taken the second jab and now, this number has come down to just around 1 lakh. This was achieved because of continuous monitoring.

Every day, we call up about 15,000 such people and ask them to take the second dose which is overdue, the official told PTI requesting anonymity.

He said the second dose will be administered to the remaining eligible population soon as the drive is being carried out on a war footing.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on January 25 said 100 per cent of the population in Delhi had been administered the first dose while 82 per cent of them had received the second jab too.

District Magistrate (South) Sonalika Jiwani said the war room in her district makes over 10,000 phones every day.

She said the administration, with the help of IT cell, prepares a chart of the location of those who haven't yet received the second dose and a ground workforce is sent to such addresses to remind and convince the people.

Not only through calls, but our teams also visit their houses to persuade them to get the second dose administered. We also arrange special vaccination camps for their convenience, Jiwani told PTI.

She said the administration receives help from Asha workers and civil defence volunteers among others in the groundwork. Special vaccination camps are being set up with the help of NGOs, she mentioned.

District Magistrate (Southeast) Vishwendra said a similar strategy is adopted in his jurisdiction.

He said a considerable size of the population is still hesitant to take the vaccination because of various reasons and that special teams are being dispatched to their houses to persuade them and clear their apprehensions.

(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 Narendra Modi government has taken many important steps to provide better opportunities for education, health and employment to the people of "hitherto left neglected" and Ladakh, President said on Monday.

Addressing a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament at the start of the budget session, Kovind said at the "Amrit Kaal" of independence, the Centre's resolve of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" (one India, greatest India) is enabling the country to write a new chapter of development on the basis of democratic values and it is now making special efforts for the states and regions "hitherto left neglected".

"The beginning of a new era of development in and the region is a great example of this," he said.

The president said the government has started a new central sector scheme for the industrial development of at a cost of about Rs 28,000 crore.

Last year, the Qazigund-Banihal tunnel was opened to traffic and international flights between Srinagar and Sharjah have also started, he pointed out.

"Many important steps have also been taken to provide better opportunities for education, health and employment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Kovind said.

He said currently, work is in progress on seven medical colleges and two All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) -- one in Jammu and another in Kashmir. The construction of IIT, Jammu and IIM, Jammu is also going on in full swing.

Kovind said the Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation has been set up to accelerate infrastructure and economic development in the Union Territory of .

Another chapter in this development journey of is being added in the form of Sindhu Central University, he said.

Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was scrapped on August 5, 2019 and it was bifurcated into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Both the Union territories are currently under central rule.

(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.)
Parliamentary Affairs Minister on Monday said there is no need for a separate discussion on the Pegasus issue now as the matter is sub-judice.

However, if Opposition parties want they can raise any issue while speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address, he said.

Addressing reporters after an all-party meeting held virtually, Joshi said the floor leaders of 25 parties attended the meeting in which the government was represented by Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh.

Joshi said Singh sought cooperation from all parties for smooth functioning of the House during the Budget Session.

As far as the Pegasus issue is concerned, he said, there is no need for a separate discussion now, but opposition leaders are free to raise any issue while speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address.

The Budget session of Parliament began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on April 8 with a recess in-between from February 12 to March 13.

The Pegasus issue was reignited after a recent New York Times report claimed that India bought the Pegasus spyware as part of a USD 2 billion defence deal with Israel in 2017.

(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.)
Recalling the multiple beneficial schemes that the government initiated during the last year or two, President on Monday said nobody was left hungry during the pandemic induced lockdown as the government ensured free distribution of ration to 80 crore people for 19 months.

"During the corona pandemic, several countries faced food shortage but my sensitive government ensured that no poor was left hungry. The Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana provided free rations to 80 crore poor Indians for 19 months," Kovind said in his Presidential speech on the first day of the 2022.

"This is the largest free food distribution programme in the world, we have extended till March 2022. We spent Rs 2.60 lakh crore for the same," he said.

The President also congratulated the farmers, especially the 80 crore small land holding farmers who helped grow over 30 crore tonnes of food grains and over 33 crore tonnes of horticulture despite the pandemic. He also said, his government continued to help the farmers with minimum support price (MSP) buying Kharif and Rabi crops.

"Soch nayi ho to purane sansadhano se bhi naye raste banaye jaa sakte hai (If we think in an innovative manner, we can work wonders even with old resources," he said.

The President also lauded the combined efforts put in by the administration, doctors, scientists, health workers and even citizens to fight the Covid pandemic that, he said, exemplified the united power of the democracy.

He recounted the steps taken by the government vis-a-vis health sector including vaccination, and said, "Today, 90 per cent or more adults have taken at least one dose of vaccination."

The President recounted the achievements in the field of agriculture, infrastructure, education, Digital India, MSME, and also women's empowerment.

Towards the end, he reminded the Parliamentarians that "next 25 years would be spent on shaping up India that we want to see in 2047 when we celebrate 100 years of Independence."

--IANS

niv/skp/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 413 prisoners, who have been awarded the death sentence, were lodged in jails across the country till the end of 2020, according to a new central government data.

Of the total death row prisoners, 94 were sentenced to capital punishment in 2020, stated the National Crime Records Bureaus (NCRB) annual Prison Statistics India 2020.

The death sentence of 29 convicts was commuted to life imprisonment in 2020, according to the NCRB, which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A total of 94 persons were awarded death penalty during 2020 in the country. Out of 94 persons awarded with capital punishment, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan reported 15 persons each, followed by West Bengal (14), Bihar (8) and Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu (6 each), the report stated.

Out of 29 convicts whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, 24.1 per cent (seven) were reported from Maharashtra followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu (5 and 17.2 per cent), it added.

A total of 413 convicts (including 319 persons of previous years and 94 persons sentenced during the year 2020) sentenced with capital punishment were lodged in various jails, accounting for 0.36 per cent of the total convicts, the report stated.

Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest number of such convicts accounting for 12.8 per cent (53 out of 413) of total convicts sentenced with capital punishment in the country followed by Maharashtra (49, 11.9 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (40, 9.7 per cent), it noted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
continued to witness a decline in fresh infections as the state added 19,280 new positive cases on Monday taking the tally to 33,45,220, while the net recoveries stood at 31,09,526 with 25,056 positive patients getting discharged after treatment.

The state saw 20 fatalities in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 37,564.

The number of active cases, including isolation, rose to 1,98,130.

The state had reported 22,238 fresh infections yesterday.

Chennai with 2,897 new infections, Coimbatore 2,456, Chengalpattu 1,430, Tiruppur 1,425, Salem 1,101 and Erode with 1,070 cases are among the top 6 out of 38 districts in the state that accounted for maximum cases on Monday, according to a bulletin from the state department.

Four districts: Kanyakumari, Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Thiruvallur saw cases above 500 while Ariyalur, Mayiladuthurai, Perambalur, Vellore and Sivaganga districts saw cases below 100.

Two passengers each who returned from Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka added to the total 19,280 new infections today.

With 5,675 persons getting discharged today, Chennai's total recoveries mounted to 6,88,802 and the fatalities to 8,942. The metro accounted for 7,32,387 positive cases while the active cases stood at 34,643, the bulletin 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.)
Hundreds of trucks and thousands of protesters blocked the streets toward downtown Ottawa on Saturday to protest the government's vaccine mandates required to cross the Canada-US border.

The protest is part of a self-titled "Freedom Convoy 2022", which started out as a rally of truckers against the requirement that Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the US be fully vaccinated as of mid-January, Xinhua news agency reported.

After being joined by thousands of other protesters, it then turned into a demonstration against the government's overall restrictive measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The crowd gathered around the Parliament Hill, waving flags and banners and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is self-isolating after one of his children tested positive for the novel .

The increasing number of protesters prompted police to prepare for the possibility of violence. As of Saturday night, no injuries or deaths were reported.

Parliament members were advised by the head of House of Commons security, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, to "go somewhere else" if a demonstration occurred at their personal residences or constituency offices, and to "refrain from posting anything related to the demonstration on social media."

--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.)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India is likely to produce 31.45 million tonnes of sugar in 2021/22 marketing year, nearly 3.1% more than the previous estimate, as output is set to jump in the key western state of Maharashtra, a leading trade body said on Monday.

India is the world's second-biggest sugar producer and the higher output could weigh on global prices.,.

Maharashtra's sugar output is likely to rise by 10% from a year ago to a record 11.7 million tonnes in the current marketing year that ends on Sept. 30, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.

Sugar mills could divert a record 3.4 million tonnes of sugar for ethanol production, the ISMA said.

The country could export 6 million tonnes of the sweetener in the current year, down from last year's 7.2 million tonnes as New Delhi has discontinued its sugar exports subsidy this year, the trade body said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Editing by Louise Heavens)

(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.)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra release date will be coming sooner than expected, as Samsung announces its new Unpacked event for February.

According to a blog post by company president TM Roh, the tech giant will unveil its 2022 flagship phone range, which will most likely be called the Galaxy S22, at an Unpacked event.

The exact date for the Samsung Unpacked event was first rumored to be on Feb. 8 or Feb. 11, but just recently, it has been reportedly confirmed by Digital Trends, that the Samsung Unpacked event will be on Feb. 9.

Suspected Galaxy S22

The announcement for the event was accompanied by a teaser video that was also released for the new Galaxy S22.

According to GSMarena, one of their best-selling mobile devices, which was left out in 2021, is having a major comeback this year.

Although it will not be introduced as the Note line.

It is reported that the phone will adopt the lowest ever touch latency rate and a built-in stylus.

In addition to that, it is also rumored that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra specs will have a resemblance with the last Galaxy Note released, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Read Also: Apple iOS and iPadOS 15.2.1 Update, Bug Fixes: Should You Upgrade Now? Check What iOS 15.3 Can Offer

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Rumors

TechRadar stated that the February 2022 Samsung event will pave the way for 2021's successors, Samsung Galaxy S22 series.

The rumors and leaks about the device have been resurfacing thick and fast for all three devices in the line, namely Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

However, the release of the Galaxy Ultra S22 must fill the enormous shoes left by the Samsung Galaxy Note 21, which was canceled in 2021, much to the anger of Samsung devotees.

The Galaxy S22 is thus Samsung's next big flagship, and since the Galaxy Note 21 was canceled, it will be the company's first big traditional phone to come out in a year.

Although the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 with S Pen stylus support and the clamshell Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 launched at the same price as flagship phones, the Galaxy S22 is the next big Android phone for the vast majority of users.

The Unpacked 2022 Event

As reported by CNET, both in 2020 and 2019, Samsung had events in February, but they were the company's first events of the year in both years.

The S20 and S10 were presented as foldable phones, earbuds, and the company's S series, respectively.

Both of these events were followed by a new launch focused on the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Watch in August.

However, due to the global pandemic the collective still faces, numerous Samsung Unpacked events have been live-streamed recently and there is still a huge possibility that the upcoming one will almost certainly be.

Samsung's events were formerly streamed live on the company's YouTube channel as well as the company's website's homepage.

The Release

It is reported that the Unpacked event will be on Feb. 9 at 10 a.m ET Samsung will host a virtual event on its website.

During the event, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the top-of-the-line model, is set to steal the show.

According to leaks, it will be a successor to the Galaxy Note, which hasn't been updated since 2020.

This year, Samsung is anticipated to release three variants of its new phone, as it has in the past. That means a Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus, as well as the anticipated Galaxy S22 Ultra, will most likely be released.

Related Article: Samsung Galaxy S22 Rumors: New Leaks Release Early This Year from Display to Battery
Punjab Lok chief Amaridner Singh Monday predicted an "abysmal" defeat for from Amritsar East, saying the Punjab chief won from this seat in the past only with the support of the .

He also dubbed as a "farce", leader Rahul Gandhi's announcement that the party's chief ministerial face will be decided with inputs from the ground.

After filing his nomination papers from Patiala Urban and inaugurating his party office in the city, Singh termed "ridiculous" Sidhu's charge that he was behind the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) fielding Bikram Singh Majithia against the state Congress chief.

"I am not Majithia's uncle," said the PLC leader, adding that with 38 per cent of the voters in Amritsar East being Hindus and 32 per cent SCs, Sidhu's defeat was certain.

The BJP, as part of the alliance with PLC and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt), has fielded a strong candidate from the constituency, he added.

The SAD has fielded Majithia from Amritsar East seat from where Sidhu is seeking re-election in the February 20 state assembly polls.

On Rahul Gandhi's statement that the Congress would announce its chief ministerial candidate in the state after taking inputs from the ground, Singh said this was just "theatrics".

He pointed out that as per procedure, the people elect their MLAs and then the Congress Legislature Party decide on the chief minister. "So all this talk is just drama."



During a virtual rally in Jalandhar a few days ago, Gandhi had said the Congress would go to the Punjab assembly polls with a CM face which would be declared after taking inputs from party workers.

On farmers' decision to contest the upcoming assembly polls, Singh said it was their right to do so.

Singh said he had always personally always supported farmers, and pointed out that his government had announced jobs and Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the farmers who died during the agitation against the farm laws.

He exuded confidence that the PLC-BJP-SAD Sanyukt alliance will form the next government in Punjab



He said the decision to allow some of the PLC candidates to contest on the symbol was taken keeping in mind the voter demographics.

While four PLC candidates will contest on the poll symbol in urban segments, two will fight on PLC symbol in the rural constituencies, he said in the party statement.

According to the seat sharing arrangement, the BJP is fighting on 65 seats, PLC on 37 and SAD (Sanyukt) on 15.

(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 electioneering is gaining momentum, voters in Islamabad, too, are eagerly waiting for their chance to cast votes, and elect their new representative.

This Islamabad has nothing to do with Pakistan's capital, and is a village in Bijnor district, located approximately 40 km away from the district headquarters. It has a population of around 10,000, of which around 4,700 people are eligible to vote.

Despite sharing its name with the neighbouring country's capital, local people say the name 'Islamabad' has never been a cause of concern. However, they said the village needs developments and that they will vote for a candidate, who they believe, will address their concerns.

I don't know how the name 'Islamabad' came into existence. But this name is in use since the days of my great grandfather, Vijendra Singh, husband of village pradhan Sarvesh Devi, told PTI.

When asked whether the name instilled a sense of insecurity among villagers, Singh said, Never was there any sense of insecurity among the villagers over this issue and never did such a thought cross our minds. This name will continue.

Islamabad is largely inhabited by Chauhans, Prajapatis and has a Muslim population of about 400. All of the people live in peace, he said.

Villagers here cultivate sugarcane, wheat, paddy and groundnut among the other crops, he said.

On asked what the villagers would consider while casting votes, Singh said the small stretches of roads in the village are 'kuccha' and they need to be converted into 'pucca' roads.

He also said there have been problems in selling paddy to government agencies, but the issue was resolved after the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) intervened.

We also want an inter-college so that girls can study here. But we have got no assurance from anyone. These are the issues that we will keep in mind while voting, Singh, who is also an office-bearer of BKU, the organisation headed by farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, said.

On asked about the probability of candidates in the constituency, Singh said the poll contest here is three-cornered between BJP's Sushant Kumar Singh, who is also the sitting MLA, SP's Kapil Kumar and BSP's Mohammad Ghazi.

An advocate and a resident of Islamabad village, 28-year-old Aditya Prajapati said, We never had any sort of inferiority complex about the name. Yes, there have been a few instances when people in a lighter vein had asked 'oh you are from Pakistan?', but it did not go beyond this. None of the youths working outside faced any problems.

Mohammed Salman (30), an online trader and a villager, said, "We are living in this village for many generations.

He also said that Islamabad village is very close to his heart, and all the residents of the village take the name in a very positively.

Sitting BJP MLA and party candidate from Barhapur Assembly constituency Sushant Kumar Singh told PTI that there were no issues with the name of the village.

When asked to comment on the possibility of a name change, he said, Anything in this regard will be done after the elections.

Kapil Kumar, the SP candidate from Barhapur told PTI, The feeling of fear and concern had never cropped up because of the name Islamabad nor has there been any inferiority complex. The people of the village never demanded a change of name either. This name has continued after Independence.

Since coming to power, the Adityanath government has changed the names of several establishments, including those of Faizabad and Allahabad districts. They were renamed as Ayodhya and Prayagraj, respectively



The Mughalsarai Railway station was renamed as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction and the Faizabad Railway station as Ayodhya Cantonment.

On December 29, the Uttar Pradesh government renamed Jhansi Railway Station as Veerangana Laxmibai Railway Station'.

The Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7 and the results will be announced 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.)
General Secretary Vadra will campaign door to door in on Monday to seek votes for party candidate Pankhuri Pathak. This will be her first physical campaign since the Election Commission banned rallies.

The has given tickets to 40 per cent women and has sought votes for the empowerment of the fairer gender in the state. The party on Sunday released its fourth list of 61 candidates, including 24 women for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh to be held in seven phases.

So far the party has given tickets to 127 women in the state. In the first list of 125 candidates, 50 are women; the second list of 41 has 16 women; and in the third list of 89 candidates, 37 are women.

The fourth list includes candidates from Rae Bareli and Amethi. From Harchandpur, Surender Vikram Singh has been given a ticket and from Sareni, Sudha Dwivedi has been fielded. Both seats are in Rae Bareli. In Amethi from Gauriganj, Mohd Fateh Bahadur is being fielded.

The other candidates who are in the fray are -- from Hathras, Kuldeep Kumar Singh; from Kasganj, Kuldeep Pandey; from Kishni (SC) Dr Vinay Narayan Singh; from Bisalpur, Shikha Pandey.

During the release of the first list, General Secretary Vadra had said the party is fulfilling its promise of giving 40 per cent tickets to women candidates.

In the first list she said women have been chosen from diverse backgrounds. These include the mother of Unnao Rape Survivor; Poonam Pandey, an Asha Worker; Nida Ahmed, a journalist; and social activist Sadaf Jafar from Lucknow who was at the forefront of anti-CAA protests.

--IANS

miz/dpb

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Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Sunday, said that the Congress is campaigning for the assembly on the planks of jobs, income and price rise while the BJP is campaigning on riots, polarisation and Pakistan.

"Congress is campaigning in these on the planks of JOBS, INCOME and PRICE RISE BJP is campaigning in these on the planks of RIOTS, POLARISATION and PAKISTAN The difference is clear. People have to make the right choice and vote for a better future," he said in a tweet.

Assembly elections in Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases from 10 February. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

Elections in Goa and Uttarakhand will be held on February 14. Manipur will vote on February 27 and March 3. Elections in Punjab will be held on February 20.

The Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7.

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.)
The will hold a review meeting on Monday to discuss the existing ban on physical rallies in view of declining Covid cases.

The Union Health Secretary is likely to meet the poll body virtually at around 11 a.m. on Monday. The Health Secretaries of five poll-bound states - UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur - are also likely to join the virtual meeting.

The poll body will take the decision on existing restrictions on the political rallies after reviewing the curent Covid situation in the poll-bound states.

On January 22, the had extended, till January 31, the ban on physical rallies and the roadshows amid the Covid cases. The poll body had allowed for physical meetings of political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with some restrictions after the review meeting with the Health Ministry and poll-bound states in that meeting.

The assembly election in five poll-bound states are scheduled to begin from February 10. Polling in Uttar Pradesh will take place in seven phases, while Manipur will vote in two phases, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will vote for assembly election in a single phase.

--IANS

avr/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief on Monday accused Union Home minister of consistently using "caste-based terminology" during his election campaign in western Uttar Pradesh.

Chaudhary hurled the allegation days after Home Minister Shah in his meeting with a select group of Jat representatives had observed that Jats and BJP share a legacy of fighting against the Mughals.

After addressing a gathering at Maalav village near Khair told reporters that the Union Home Minister have been "constantly harping about Jats and bringing in caste issues. This is not appropriate as it lowers the level of the discourse and sidelines the main issues of farmers."



"We are fighting for the cause of farmers and nowhere do we bring the caste issue in our campaign," he said.

Seeking to strike an emotional rapport with the people of Khair while addressing the gathering at Maalav, he said, "I inherited the legacy of championing the cause of farmers from my grandfather (former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh) and I will never let you down."



He said his family had very strong roots in the Khair tehsil of Aligarh and this area, often referred to as "mini Chhaprauli", is his second home since the time of his grandfather.

He said the people of this area have very special bonds with his family and it was visible during his visit on the day itself.

Speaking to reporters shortly before leaving Aligarh, the RLD chief scoffed at the BJP for distorting history for scoring political points.

He said, "Some BJP leaders are trying to teach us history that BJP and the Jats have been together for the past 600 years."



Such statements, he alleged, show the BJP's flawed reading of history.

Replying to a question on the BJP's allegation of the party-hopping by his father Chaudhary Ajit Singh, said, "By questioning my family's political heritage, they cannot hide facts. I am in politics for serving a cause and nothing can come in my way of doing it.

Aligarh will go to the polls on February 10 in the first phase of the .

(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 regional Naga People's Front (NPF) which won four seats in the in 2017 on Monday said it would contest in 10 constituencies this time.

The also released its first list of six candidates for the election to the 60-member assembly.

In a statement, the NPF said its nominees will fight in 10 constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Tribe category.

has 20 ST constituencies and all are located in the hills. Majority of the Naga population in the state also live in hill areas.

The NPF, which had ruled the neighbouring Nagaland for several years, renominated the four MLAs who won in the last elections.

They included D Korungthang who had won the 2017 polls on a Congress ticket but joined the NPF in early January this year.

Former minister Francis Ngajokpa and ex-MLA K Pammei would be contesting from Tadubi and Tamenglong constituencies.

Retired IAS officer Ram Muivah is another contestant of the NPF, the statement said.

It said, "There is a necessity for regional political parties to come together in order to effectively address the issues confronting our people."



Meanwhile, will be contesting the for the first time and most of its candidates named in the first list are greenhorns.

The Shiv Sena's state president M Tombi Singh told PTI that the will announce its other candidates very soon.

Assembly polls will be held in the state in two phases on February 27 and March 3.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The RSS' Muslim wing has begun a door-to-door contact programme to garner the support of the minority community in favour of the BJP in Uttarakhand's 22 Assembly constituencies which have a high concentration of Muslim voters.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has also lined up a series of meetings with Muslim clerics, scholars and others from the community in these constituencies in Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun districts.

Senior leader and founder of the MRM, Indresh Kumar, presided over a meeting with the minority community members in Sitarganj on Sunday.

"He was present at two such meetings in Kashipur and Khatima on Saturday and one meeting in Rudrapur the day before," MRM national convenor and media in-charge Shahid Sayeed told PTI.

He claimed that Muslims, with a 14 per cent vote share, hold the key in 22 Assembly constituencies of which 10 are in Haridwar, nine in Udham Singh Nagar and three Dehradun.

"These constituencies have a high concentration of Muslim voters. The political atmosphere in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand will have its impact in adjacent Rampur, Moradabad, Bijnor and Bareli districts of Uttar Pradesh," Sayeed said.

A series of meetings with Muslim clerics, scholars and other eminent persons from the community has been planned in these districts, he said, adding Indresh Kumar is expected to preside over three such meetings in Roorkee, Piran Kaliyar and Bhagwanpur on February 4.

To reach out to the Muslim voters, particularly women, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch has started a door-to-door contact programme in three districts, he said.

"Our women's wing is spearheading the door-to-door contact programme. They are reaching out to the members of the community in small groups to convey the message -- 'Modi-Dhami' government is better for the future of (Muslim) women and children," Sayeed said.

They are also distributing the MRM's 'Nivedan Patra' which have listed the measures taken by the Modi dispensation and the BJP government in Uttarakhand for the welfare of the Muslim community, he said.

"We are getting a good response as the BJP governments, both at the centre and the states, have taken many measures for the welfare and empowerment of the Muslims," Sayeed.

"Muslim women have voted for the BJP in previous elections as the Modi government freed them from the pain of triple talaq by criminalising the age-old practice. Raising the age of the marriage of women is a step to empower Muslim women and their families further," he added.

Uttarakhand will go to polls on February 14 while counting of votes will take place on March 10.

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To increase voter awareness and participation in the February 20 polls, the state Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office unveiled its election mascot, "Shera", on Sunday.

Five persons with disabilities (PwDs) were specially invited on the occasion as the guests of honour.

Speaking on the launch of the poll mascot through an online event, Punjab CEO S Karuna Raju said dressed in traditional Punjabi attire, "Shera", depicting a lion, represents the rich cultural heritage of the state.

Promoted under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) project, the mascot aims to increase voter awareness and participation in the upcoming polls and promote ethical voting, according to an official statement.

As part of the SVEEP plan, posters, effigies and huge cut-outs of "Shera" will be used, besides extensively disseminating voter awareness messages on social media. This will strike a chord with youngsters in particular, Raju said.

He further said the voter awareness campaign has been conceived and executed keeping in mind Punjab's culture and the voters' preferences. Giving an example, the CEO said various "Nukkad Natak" (street plays) and performances by theatre artistes are being organised.

(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.)
Vimal Kumar, the firms founder and chief executive officer, spoke to Raghu Mohan. Edited excerpts: What has been your role in the tokenisation of cards so far? A card or token is basically a key to your bank account. Its always good to create multiple keys, or decentralised credentials, ...

Juspay Technologies is a leader in the card-tokenisation space, and is also the first certified token-requestor in India. It recently raised $50 million in Series C funding from SoftBank Vision Fund, and $10 million from existing investors VEF and Wellington Management.

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Partial view of installation artist Suh Do-ho's clay "Artland" project, which will be exhibited at the Buk-Seoul Museum of Art in northern Seoul in July / Courtesy of SeMA



By Park Han-sol



As Korea continues to rise as a cultural behemoth in the 21st century, with the streak of successes it has achieved in music, TV and films, art museums and galleries here are also eyeing to promote what they have started calling "K-art," in connection with "hallyu," or the Korean Wave.



By organizing joint exhibitions with overseas art institutions and making efforts to boost the profiles of rising and established Korean creators  especially in time for the inaugural world-renowned art fair, Frieze Seoul, in September  museums have expressed their aim to make 2022 "the new year of promoting K-art."



The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) announced in early January that it has been invited to this year's "documenta," a major international contemporary art exhibition held every five years in Kassel, Germany. During the three-month show, scheduled to kick off in June, the museum will present "2022 MMCA Asia Project in dOCUMENTA Kassel 15," featuring five Korean artists and designers to materialize its ongoing research on Asian contemporary art.



Another international event awaits the MMCA in September, when it will co-organize the exhibition, "The Space Between: The Modern in Korean Art," with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). While the country's traditional artifacts and contemporary art have been introduced and collected overseas for years, this exhibition will be the first time for Korean modern art produced from before the 1910-45 Japanese colonial era to after the 1950-53 Korean War to come into the spotlight at a major museum in the United States.



"It's truly unprecedented to present Korean modern art pieces like this at a museum abroad," MMCA Director Youn Bum-mo said at a recent press conference. "We have a very close relationship with LACMA, so hopefully, this can also lead to a future exhibition on the country's contemporary art."





Kwon Jin-kyu's terracotta sculpture "Self-portrait" (1968) / Courtesy of SeMA

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) has set forth its goals to bring global attention to two pioneering sculptors: the late Kwon Jin-kyu, who strived to achieve "Korean realism" through figurative terracotta sculptures; and Chung Seo-young, who incorporated unconventional materials found in industrialized societies  like Styrofoam and plastic  into her pieces, thus paving the way for the country's contemporary art scene during the 1990s.



"Compared to how well-known Kwon is in the Korean art scene, his international reputation remains criminally low," said Kim Hee-jin, the director of SeMA's curatorial bureau, adding that the large-scale retrospective in March in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth is part of its efforts to highlight his work on an international stage.



"And when the Frieze Seoul takes place in September, which will likely draw in many overseas visitors, the museum will showcase a retrospective of Chung  in addition to releasing an English publication about the artist's work."





An installation view of Suki Seokyeong Kang's Prix Baloise 2018 exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg in 2019 / Courtesy of Studio Suki Seokyeong Kang



This focus on the museum's role in the global promotion of Korean art has also been reflected in the Leeum Museum of Art, which reopened last October after a hiatus. The museum had only been showcasing its permanent collection since 2017, following the sudden resignation of its director Hong Ra-hee, widow of late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.



"Although Leeum is considered one of the representative contemporary art institutions of the nation, there still remains a lot to be done to further build its presence in the international art scene," Kim Sung-won, the museum's deputy director, told the press during the reopening event. "Only then can it serve as a catalyst to support Korean creators to gain global recognition."



Accordingly, the museum has unveiled its plan to resume "Artspectrum 2022" in March, a biennial exhibition series it has been organizing since 2001 to call attention to the works of emerging local artists with promising talent. A month later, it will host the first large-scale solo exhibition of visual artist Suki Seokyeong Kang, the 2018 winner of Baloise Art Prize at the Art Basel fair.





Nam June Paik's 18.5-meter-tall video tower "The More, The Better" unveiled in 1988 at the MMCA Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of MMCA



Year of Nam June Paik



Marking the 90th anniversary of Nam June Paik's birth this year, the MMCA finally began its test run to re-operate "The More, The Better," the largest video tower ever created by the video art visionary, in January.



Composed of 1,003 cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, the 18.5-meter-tall tower was first installed at the museum's Gwacheon branch in 1988, but had been switched off since 2018 due to the malfunction of its aging primary components.



After having repaired 735 monitors and replaced some with LCDs, the museum launched a trial run of the fully working installation, which will last for six months, with varying hours of operation.



In celebration of the relighting of "The More The Better," two exhibitions will be held in Gwacheon  "The More, The Better Archive" in June and "Paik Nam June Effect" in November  to share the details of the installation's three-year-long restoration process and study the father of video art's continuous influence on the present-day Korean art scene.



In November, SeMA will jointly host the exhibition, "Seoul Rhapsody," with the Nam June Paik Art Center in Gyeonggi Province to revisit the artist's substantial body of literary work and explore their nonlinear, poetic nature.



In addition to Paik, a flood of solo shows featuring renowned contemporary masters both here and abroad will take place across museums and galleries in Seoul.



Korea's first solo exhibition of Berlin-based Hito Steyerl, an influential media artist and innovator of the essay documentary, will unfold at the MMCA Seoul in April. In 2017, she topped the U.K. magazine ArtReview's annual ranking of the 100 most influential people in art, becoming the first female artist to do so.



Other notable shows will present: Suh Do-ho, an installation artist whose defining oeuvre consists of otherworldly fabric replicas of his former homes, at the Buk-Seoul Museum of Art in July; Kang Yo-bae, a first-generation artist of the 1980s political "Minjung Art" (or People's Art) movement, at Hakgojae Gaillery in August; Lee Seung-taek, a seminal figure in Korean experimental art for introducing the concepts of "non-sculpture" and "non-art," at Gallery Hyundai in May; and two iconic creators of the 20th century, innovative mobile sculptor Alexander Calder and minimalist artist Lee Ufan, at Kukje Gallery in September.





Hito Steyerl's "SocialSim" (2020) / Courtesy of the artist, New York-based Andrew Kreps Gallery and Berlin-based Esther Schipper
and Vista Equity Partners are close to buying Systems Inc in a deal that values the U.S. cloud computing company at about $13 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The deal, which could be announced as soon as early this week, came after Elliott and Vista jointly tapped the loan market to fund their cash bid for at $104 per share. Once taking private, Vista plans to merge it with Tibco, another data analytics software firm it owns.

The cash bid comes lower than where Citrix stock closed at $105.55 on Friday. Still, the price represents a premium to its lows in December. Citrix's products allow employees of to access their network remotely. However, it failed to capitalize on the rise of remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic because it spent too much on its salesforce and too little on its distribution partners, Citrix interim Chief Executive Robert Calderoni said on the company's most recent quarterly earnings call.

Citrix, Elliott and Vista did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Elliott, the hedge fund that has amassed a stake in Citrix, has been looking for partners to take the company private since last October, sources said.

While Citrix has struggled to transition to a subscription-based business, demand for its soared during the pandemic as shifted to remote working models.

Still, the company reported operating income of $84.5 million in the third quarter, down from $128.3 million a year ago, as higher operational expenses weighed.

Calderoni took over on an interim basis from David Henshall, who stepped down last month, having served as Citrix CEO since 2017. Elliott managing partner Jesse Cohn joined the Citrix board of directors in 2015 and stepped down last year.

(Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York; editing by Diane Craft)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
capped one of its busiest months of missile tests ever with the launch of its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, highlighting efforts to ensure it has reliable systems for delivering nuclear warheads.



January's testing schedule began with the launch of a new "hypersonic missile," and went on to include long-range cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles launched from railcars and airports, underscoring the nuclear-armed state's rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal amid stalled denuclearisation talks.



hasn't tested its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or nuclear weapons since 2017, but the Hwasong-12 launch signalled it could soon resume such testing, officials in South Korea and the United States said.



Here are the different types of weapons tested so far this month:



'HYPERSONIC' MISSILES



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 km 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 claimed capabilities of the missile after the first test, but said 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.



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.



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 later fired another pair of KN-23 missiles 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 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 U.S. MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and, like the KN-23, is designed to evade missile defences by flying on a flatter trajectory than traditional ballistic missiles.



LONG-RANGE CRUISE MISSILE



State media reported two long-range cruise missiles were fired on Jan. 25, 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 U.N. Security Council Resolutions, but analysts say land-attack cruise missiles can be no less a threat than ballistic missiles.

HWASONG-12



North Korea first launched the Hwasong-12 IRBM in April 2017, in a test that apinwheeleda out of control and was considered a failure by U.S. and South Korean officials.



Two more test flights that month also ended in apparent failure, with the missiles exploding seconds after launch or breaking up in flight.



The first successful flight was in May 2017, and North Korea went on to launch two more Hwasong-12s that year, flying them over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.



In Sunday's test, North Korea said it fired the missile on an elevated trajectory "in consideration of the safety of neighbouring countries."



The test "confirmed the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the produced Hwasong-12 type weapon system," KCNA said. South Korea reported the missile reached an altitude of about 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and flew to a distance of 800 km.



The Hwasong-12 has an estimated range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles), which would put the U.S. territory of Guam and the far western tip of Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain within reach, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Studies.



It can carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead," according to state media, and in 2017 North Korea threatened to use it to target Guam with "enveloping fire."

(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.)
She reported on the difficult conditions mothers and babies face just to survive in desperate . Now, a pregnant reporter has chosen Kabul as a temporary base for her uphill fight to return home because of her country's strict COVID-19 entry rules.

Charlotte Bellis, 35, is expecting her first child with her partner, freelance photographer Jim Huylebroek, a Belgium native who has lived in for two years. Bellis, who is 25 weeks pregnant with a daughter, told The Associated Press on Sunday that each day is a battle.

She said she has been vaccinated three times and is ready to isolate herself upon her return to . This is ridiculous. It is my legal right to go to New Zealand, where I have health care, where I have a family. All my support is there," she said.

Bellis first wrote about her difficulties in a column published in The Herald on Saturday. New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told the Herald his office had asked officials to check whether they followed the proper procedures in Bellis's case, which appeared at first sight to warrant further explanation.

Bellis had worked as an correspondent for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite station. In November, she resigned from Al Jazeera which is based in the Middle Eastern State of Qatar, because it is illegal to be pregnant and unmarried in Qatar. Al Jazeera did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bellis then flew to Belgium, trying to get residency there, but said the length of the process would have left her in the country with an expired visa. She said she could have hopped from country to country on tourist visas while she waited to have her baby. She said this would have meant spending money on hotels without support or health care, while she fought to return to New Zealand.

In the end, she and her partner returned to Afghanistan because they had a visa, felt welcome and from there could wage her battle to return to her home. They have a house in Afghanistan and after evaluating all of our options, returned to Kabul, she said.

Bellis said she has set herself a deadline of leaving Afghanistan once she is 30 weeks pregnant, to protect the health of herself and her baby. I am giving myself to the end of February, she said. At that time, she will still have more than a month left on her Belgium visa so that she can re-enter the country if she fails to get back to New Zealand by that time.

She said she tries to stay calm as she wages a paper war with New Zealand's quarantine system, but that she worries about how the stress she has been under will impact her baby.

I am very concerned about a premature birth and . . . also the implication of stress, she said.

Bellis has found an Afghan gynaecologist, who promised she could call her if she wakes up in the night with a problem. Bellis toured the doctor's clinic which has basic facilities, including one incubator. The doctor told her the incubator is often occupied.

Bellis has found a lawyer who is handling her case pro bono and has submitted over 60 documents to the New Zealand government, answered countless questions, only to be rejected twice for entry to her home country.

On Sunday, she received her most recent email from the New Zealand government, this one telling her to apply as a person in danger and that this will get her home, she said. Bellis said she was rejected earlier because her pregnancy didn't meet the criteria of threshold of critical time threat.

If I don't meet the threshold as a pregnant woman then who does?" she asked.

Bellis said that prior to returning to Afghanistan, she sought permission from the Taliban. She said she had feared arriving "with a little bump and not married could be problematic.

Instead, the Taliban response was immediate and positive.

I appreciate this isn't official Taliban policy, but they were very generous and kind. They said you are safe here, congratulations we welcome you'," said Bellis.

As she ponders her next move, Bellis said she is contemplating whether to take the latest option offered by New Zealand applying as a person in danger because it would exonerate the government of responsibility for her earlier rejections.

It gives them an opportunity to deny any responsibility and frankly that is not true, she said. The government's current COVID-19 policy has left how many stranded around the world with no pathways to get home.

(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 Russia on Monday agreed to deepen cooperation at the after the two sides held wide-ranging talks on issues before the global body.

Russia is set to assume the presidency of the in February.

The two sides held bilateral consultations on UN-related issues at a meeting in Delhi, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The Indian delegation was led by Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) in the MEA, while the Russian delegation was led by Ambassador Sergey Vasilyevich Vershinin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The MEA said Sandhu congratulated Russia on its upcoming Presidency of the .

"Both sides held wide-ranging discussions on issues on the UN Security Council agenda and related developments. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on issues of mutual interest at multilateral platforms," the MEA said in a statement.

"The Russian delegation briefed India on its priorities during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. Both sides also agreed to work closely together, given the common challenges faced and in keeping with their long-standing special and privileged strategic partnership," it said.

Vershinin also called on Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and briefed him on Russian priorities during its upcoming Presidency of the UN Security Council.

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confirmed Monday it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the US territory of Guam, the North's most significant weapon launch in years, as Washington plans to respond to demonstrate it's committed to its allies' security in the region.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Sunday's test of the Hwasong-12 missile was aimed at selectively evaluating the missile being produced and deployed and verify its overall accuracy.

It said a camera installed at the missile's warhead took an image of Earth from space, and the Academy of Defense Science confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness of the operation of the weapons system.

said the missile was launched toward the waters off its east coast and on a high angle to prevent it from overflying other countries. It gave no further details.

According to South Korean and Japanese assessment, the missile flew about 800 kilometers (497 miles) and reached a maximum altitude of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

The reported flight details make it the most powerful missile tested since 2017, when the country launched Hwasong-12 and longer-range missiles in a torrid run of weapons firings to acquire an ability to launch nuclear strikes on US military bases in North Asia and the Pacific and even the American homeland.

The Hwasong-12 missile is a nuclear-capable ground-to-ground weapon, whose maximum range is 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) when it's fired on a standard trajectory.

It's a distance sufficient to reach the US territory of Guam. In August 2017, at the height of animosities with the then-Trump administration, North Korea's Strategic Forces threatened to make an enveloping fire near Gaum with Hwasong-12 missiles.

In 2017, North Korea also test-fired intercontinental ballistic missiles called Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 that experts say demonstrated their potential capacity to reach the mainland U.S.

In recent months, North Korea has launched a variety of weapons systems and threatened to lift a four-year moratorium on more serious weapons tests such as nuclear explosions and ICBM launches.

Sunday's launch was the North's seventh round of missile launches in January alone, and other weapons tested recently include a developmental hypersonic missile and a submarine-launched missile.

Some experts say the boosted testing activity shows how North Korean leader is determined to modernise his weapons arsenals despite pandemic-related economic hardships and US-led international sanctions.

They say Kim also likely aims to wrest concessions from the Biden administration, such as sanctions relief or international recognition as a nuclear power.

After Sunday's launch, White House officials said they saw the latest missile test as part of an escalating series of provocations over the last several months that have become increasingly concerning.

The Biden administration plans to respond to the latest missile test in the coming days with an unspecified move meant to demonstrate to the North that it is committed to allies' security in the region, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

The official said the administration viewed Sunday's missile test as the latest in a series of provocations to try to win sanctions relief from the US.

The Biden administration again called on North Korea to return to talks but made clear it doesn't see the sort of leader-to-leader summits Donald Trump held with Kim as constructive at this time.

South Korean and Japanese officials also condemned Sunday's launch, which violated UN Security Council resolutions that bans the country from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Sunday's missile launch brought North Korea to the brink of breaking its 2018 self-imposed weapons test moratorium.

US-led diplomacy aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear program largely remains stalled since a second summit between Kim and Trump collapsed in early 2019 due to disputes over US-led sanctions on the North.

Observers say North Korea could halt its testing spree after the Beijing Winter Games begin Friday because China is its most important ally and aid benefactor.

But they say North Korea could test bigger weapons when the Olympics end and the US and South Korean militaries begin their annual springtime military exercises.

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By Yuka Obayashi and Mohi Narayan

TOKYO (Reuters) -Oil rose more than 1% on Monday to the near 7-year highs hit in the previous session, while supply concerns and political tension in Eastern Europe and the Middle East put prices on track for their biggest monthly gain in almost a year.

Brent crude rose $1.28, or 1.4%, to $91.31 a barrel at 0721 GMT, after adding 69 cents on Friday. The front-month contract for March delivery expires later in the day.

The most-active Brent contract, for April delivery, was trading at $89.62, up $1.1 or 1.2%.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude added $1.14, or 1.3%, to $87.96 a barrel, having gained 21 cents on Friday.

The benchmarks recorded their highest levels since October 2014 on Friday, $91.70 and $88.84, respectively, and their sixth straight weekly gain. They were headed for about 17% gains this month, the most since February 2021.

"Underlying anxiety about global supply shortages, coupled with ongoing geopolitical risks, have caused the market to start the week on a strong note," said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd.

"With an expectation that OPEC+ will keep the existing policy of gradual increase of production, will likely stay on a bullish sentiment this week," he said, predicting Brent to remain above $90 and WTI to head toward $90.

Major producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, have raised their output target each month since August by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) as they unwind record production cuts made in 2020.

But they have failed to meet their production targets as some members have struggled with capacity constraints.

At its Feb. 2 meeting, OPEC+ is likely to stick with a planned rise in its oil output target for March, several OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

OVERHEATING

are showing signs of overheating as traders anticipate a severe shortage of petroleum this year, Reuters columnist John Kemp said, noting that inventories were already low and there was little global spare capacity to raise production in the short term.

According to ANZ Research, with the market in deficit and inventories low, "supply constraints will likely induce a sizeable risk premium" as travel picks up after coronavirus curbs.

"Traffic in Europe is rebounding as the Omicron case numbers decline. In the U.S., gasoline demand is only 4% below 2019 levels, which is a better outcome than expected in November," it said in a note.

Tensions between Russia and the West have also underpinned crude prices. Russia, the world's second-largest oil producer, and the West have been at loggerheads over Ukraine, fanning fears that energy supplies to Europe could be disrupted.

The head of NATO said on Sunday that Europe needed to diversify its energy supplies as Britain warned it was "highly likely" that Russia was looking to invade Ukraine.

The market is on alert over the Middle East situation https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-disclose-details-new-military-operation-against-uae-tweet-2022-01-30 too after the United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi as the Gulf state hosted Israel's President Isaac Herzog in a first such visit.

Meanwhile, more than 1,400 U.S. flights were cancelled on Sunday after northeastern states were walloped a day earlier by a deadly winter storm that prompted several states to declare emergencies.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi and Mohi Narayan; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

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Oil rose on Monday as a supply shortage and political tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East put prices on track for their biggest monthly gain in almost a year.

had risen 87 cents, or 1%, to $90.90 a barrel by 1228 GMT. The front-month contract for March delivery expires later in the day. The most-active Brent contract, for April delivery, was trading at $89.03, up 51 cents, or 0.6%.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 47 cents, or 0.5%, to $87.29 a barrel.

The benchmarks recorded their highest levels since October 2014 on Friday, $91.70 and $88.84, respectively, and their sixth straight weekly gain. They were headed for about 17% gains this month, the most since February 2021.

"Today it is above all the concerns about supply outages in connection with the crisis that keep pushing prices ever further up," said Commerzbank commodities analyst Carsten Fritsch.

The head of NATO said on Sunday that Europe needed to diversify its energy supplies as Britain warned it was "highly likely" that Russia was looking to invade .

UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said "ongoing geopolitical tensions, more European countries planning to lift Covid related restrictions and renewed supply disruptions in Ecuador are supporting oil prices at the start of the week."

OCP Ecuador, the operator of the country's privately held heavy crude pipeline, suspended pumping crude on Saturday as a preventative measure after it ruptured in the Amazon, and began cleaning and repairs.

The market is also on alert over the Middle East situation https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-disclose-details-new-military-operation-against-uae-tweet-2022-01-30 after the United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi as the Gulf state hosted Israel's President Isaac Herzog in a first such visit.

For oil prices, bullish sentiment will likely prevail this week, analysts said, with an expectation that OPEC+ will keep to its existing policy of gradual production increases.

Major producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, have raised their output target each month since August by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd).

At its Feb. 2 meeting, OPEC+ is likely to stick with a planned rise in its oil output target for March, several OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

Reuters survey of 43 economists and analysts forecast Brent would average $79.16 a barrel this year, a notable increase from December's $73.57 consensus. U.S. crude was forecast to average $76.23 in 2022, versus the $71.38 forecast last month.

The oil forward curves were in deep backwardation, a market structure that encourages traders to release oil from storage and sell it promptly.

The six-month spread between Brent for March delivery versus September delivery was $6.75 on Friday, the steepest since 2013. At that time, oil prices were above $100 a barrel, a level analysts predict could be seen again this year as demand outstrips supply.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London, additional reporting by by Yuka Obayashi and Mohi Narayan in Tokyo; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Kirsten Donovan and Louise Heavens)

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The United States is concerned North Korea's escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior U.S. official said on Sunday, while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.

conducted its largest missile test since 2017 on Sunday, sending a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile soaring into space.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said a recent flurry of North Korean missile tests was reminiscent of heightened tensions in 2017, when conducted multiple nuclear tests and launched its largest missiles.

He said the latest launch took a step closer to fully scrapping a self-imposed moratorium on testing its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which it hasn't tested since 2017.

A senior official of the Biden administration was asked in a briefing for journalists whether Washington shared the concern that Pyongyang might resume ICBM and nuclear testing.

"Of course, we're concerned," he said. "It's not just what they did yesterday, it's the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month. And that follows on tests at the end of the year going back to September, of a variety of systems."

"We obviously don't want to see further testing and we've called upon to DPRK to refrain from further tests," he said, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name.

North Korea's testing spree is a major unwanted headache for the Biden administration as it seeks to head off any plans by Russia to invade Ukraine and contends with relations with China at their worst level in decades.

Under President Joe Biden, Washington has repeatedly sought talks with North Korea but has been rebuffed. North Korean leader held three summits with Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, but the talks did not realize Kim's demand for a removal of sanctions on Pyongyang.

The official said the latest North Korean test was part of an "increasingly destabilizing" pattern and in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and therefore international law.

"It requires a response," he said. "You will see us taking some steps that are designed to show our commitment to our allies ... and at the same time we reiterate our call for diplomacy. We stand ready and we are very serious about trying to have discussions that address concerns on both sides." The official did not detail the nature of the response.

Despite urging dialogue, Washington has maintained sanctions on North Korea and imposed more following recent tests and sought to encourage the U.N. Security Council to follow suit.

However, China and Russia delayed a U.S. bid to impose U.N. sanctions on five North Koreans Washington has accused of procuring goods for its weapons programs. Asked whether the United States could secure Chinese and Russian support for new sanctions, the official replied: "Our belief is that they understand their responsibilities as Security Council members to make sure that the Council's resolutions are enforced and the Council takes up its responsibility promote peace and stability in the region."

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Steve Holland. Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Sandra Maler)

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Shares of (BDL) hit a new high of Rs 507.80, on rallying 5 per cent on the BSE in Mondays intra-day trade ahead of Budget. The stock of state-owned defence company has rallied 27 per cent in the past three weeks, as compared to 4 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.

At 09:48 am; BDL traded 3 per cent higher at Rs 501, as against a 1.4 per cent gain in the benchmark index. A combined 232,000 equity shares changed hands at the counter on the NSE and BSE.

BDL, an Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) company, has forayed into the field of underwater weapon systems and air-to-air missiles and associated equipment. It is the sole supplier of SAMs, Torpedoes and ATGMs in India. It is the lead integrator for Akash weapon system for Army. BDL has also designed and developed Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) for the Indian Armed Forces (IAF).

As on December 1, 2021, BDL order book position stood at Rs 9,293 crore and key new orders in pipeline worth of Rs 15,000 crore, the company said. On December 2, the company and Indian Army signed a contract worth Rs 471.41 crore for Refurbishment of IGLA - 1M missiles.

BDL is a perfect proxy to PSU theme ahead of Budget. The stock has generated multi-year breakout on the back of rising volume, indicating start of a new bull phase. Thus, it offers fresh entry opportunity to ride next leg of secular up move, ICICI Securities said in budget top picks.

BDL has been working in collaboration with DRDO & foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for manufacture and supply of various missiles and allied equipment to Indian Armed Forces. The company has significant opportunity in expanding its order-book to Rs 23,000-25,000 crore over the next two to three years, the brokerage firm said.

In FY21 BDL did revenue of Rs 1,914 crore with same run rate. There is revenue visibility of ~four years. Order-book accretion is highly visible, as platforms already approved by DAC include SAM (Akash) and ATGM (Astra) Also, BDL is manufacturer of Agni V (ballistic and nuclear) in India, ICICI Securities said with Buy rating on the stock with target price of Rs 548.
A combination of favourable global cues and hope around the FY23 Budget helped the benchmark indices recover part of the massive losses they posted over the past two weeks.

The rose over 1,000 points, or 1.85 per cent, during intraday trade but sustained selling by overseas investors weighed on stock prices. The 30-share index ended the session at 58,014, following a gain of 814 points or 1.4 per cent. The Nifty50, on the other hand, closed the days trade at 17,340, up 238 points or 1.4 per cent.

Barring three, all the components ended in the green but technology and banking stocks and Reliance Industries led the rally.

Investors hope that the Union Budget on Tuesday will have measures to boost capital expenditure and revive consumption. The Economic Survey, which was released during market hours, was cautiously optimistic. The survey said Indias gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 8-8.5 per cent in FY23.

The survey noted the vaccination drive had covered the bulk of the adult population, and economic momentum was building up. Further, the supply-side reforms in the pipeline would have long-term benefits. It mentioned that growth projections are based on the assumption there won't be other debilitating effects of Covid, and that oil prices remain benign.

There are expectations that there will be measures to boost investments and consumption through incentives to agriculture, small industries, and infrastructure. A bit of short-covering also helped. The expectation of GDP growth is reasonable. There is nothing to suggest that the economy wont revive unless Covid plays havoc again, said U R Bhat, co-founder, Alphaniti Fintech.

Overseas investors sold shares worth Rs 3,624 crore; domestic institutions net-bought nearly the same amount. According to experts, global cues now hold more sway over the Indian market. It is difficult to fight global market cues unless the Budget is game-changing like last time. We can't ignore global factors altogether. Even if the Budget is good, the may go down but the correction may be less sharp than peers, said Andrew Holland, CEO, Avendus Capital Alternate Strategies

A relief rally globally aided the gains on Monday. The European and Asian rose, tracking gains in the US market last Friday.

Analysts predicted that monetary policy decisions by the European Central Bank and the Bank of England would help shape the market mood in the days ahead, besides the Union Budget. Investors will also be keenly tracking further evidence on economic recovery globally and locally.

Mitul Shah, head of research, Reliance Securities, said the economic survey's advance estimates of real GDP expansion of 9.2 per cent in FY22 is encouraging, despite the ongoing Covid disruptions. This implies that overall economic activity has recovered past the pre-pandemic levels. Almost all indicators show that the economic impact of the second wave in Q1 was much smaller than that experienced during the full lockdown phase in FY21, even though the health impact was more severe.

The market breadth was positive with 1,831 stocks advancing, and 1,711 declining. As many as 419 stocks were locked in the upper circuit, and 198 stocks had their 52-week high. All the sectoral indices on the BSE, barring one gained. IT and consumer durable stocks gained, and their indices rose 2.7 and 2.5 per cent, respectively. Among stocks, Infosys contributed the most to the gains and rose 3.05 per cent.
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
regulator on Monday said it has extended the time period to auction the properties of Housing Finance to February 18, in the wake of the ongoing pandemic situation in .

Earlier, the property was scheduled to be auctioned on February 4.

In addition, the regulator has extended the last date of submission of the bids to February 15, from January 31, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a notice.

"Considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation existing in the state of and for the convenience of the proposed bidders for their site visit and submission of bids, it has been decided to extend the last date of submission of the bids and date of e-auction," said.

The regulator will auction properties of Kerala Housing Finance at a reserve price of Rs 1.3 crore in order to recover investors' money. The online auction will take place between 11 am and 12 noon.

The properties to be put on sale are land parcels and flats situated in Kerala along with an Ashok Leyland AC Semi Deluxe Airbus.

Kerala Housing Finance had garnered funds from investors through the issuance of securities without complying with the regulatory norms.

Quikr Realty Ltd has been engaged by to assist it for the sale of the property, through e-auction platform, C1 India.

The intending bidders should make their own independent enquiries regarding the encumbrances, litigations, attachments, acquisition liabilities of the asset in respect of the property put on auction, prior to submitting their bid.

According to a Sebi order, Kerala Housing Finance had issued six series of secured redeemable Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) labelled A to F to 23,538 allottees and mobilised funds to the tune of Rs 158 crore during 1999-2014.

In addition, the company had allotted preference shares to a total of 1,071 investors and garnered Rs 19 crore during 2014-15 and 2015-16, as per the order.

In August 2017, Sebi had directed Kerala Housing Finance and its promoters as well as directors to refund investors' money, along with interest, within 180 days.

The move came after the regulator received a reference from National Housing Bank stating that Kerala Housing Finance raised funds from the public without complying with the regulatory requirements.

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The key benchmark indices are likely to start trade on a positive note aided by encouraging overseas cues. As of 07:40 AM, the SGX Nifty futures quoted at 17,248 indicating a likely gap-up of 100-odd points on the NSE benchmark index. Meanwhile, here are the top for trade on Monday.

Earnings Watch: Aarti Drugs, ADF Foods, Ajanta Pharma, Andhra Paper, Apar Industries, BPCL, DLF, Dwarikesh Sugar, Edelweiss Financial Services, Exide Industries, GIC Housing Finance, Godawari Power Ispat, GPT Infraprojects, HDIL, Hester Biosciences, HPCL, Integrated Technologies, Indian Oil Corporation, Jindal Saw, KEC International, KPIT Technologies, Krsnaa Diagnostics, LG Balakrishnan, Navin Fluorine International, Navneet Education, Patel Integrated Logistics, Ploy Medicure, Rama Phosphates, Shipping Corporation of India, Subex, Sun Pharma, Suven Life Sciences, Taj GVK Hotels, Tata Motors, Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals, UCO Bank, UPL, Venus Remedies, Vinati Organics and Voltamp Transformers are some of the companies to announce December quarter results today.

NTPC: The power companys Q3FY22 consolidated net profit rose 19.3 per cent to Rs 4,626.11 crore from Rs 3,876.36 crore in Q3FY21. Total income was up 19 per cent YoY at Rs 33,783.62 crore. The company declared an interim dividend of Rs 4 per share.

Kotak Mahindra Bank: The private lenders consolidated net profit increased 31 per cent YoY to Rs 3,403 crore in Q3FY22, beating street estimates, due to higher net interest income and write back of provisions. Its net interest income (NII) rose 12 per cent YoY to Rs 4,334 crore. READ MORE



Larsen & Toubro (L&T): The company reported a 17 per cent YoY decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,055 crore for Q3FY22 as high raw material costs ate into the bottom line even as net sales rose. Top line grew 11 per cent YoY to Rs 39,563 crore, with the infrastructure segment contributing the highest followed by IT & technology services and the hydrocarbon business. READ MORE



The bank reported a 117 per cent YoY surge in Q3FY22 net profit at Rs 281 crore. Net Interest Income (NII) grew 36 per cent YoY to Rs 2,580 crore, while Net Interest Margins (NIMs) declined by 28 bps to 5.9 per cent.

India: The commodity exchange companys Q3 net profit halved to Rs 34.46 crore for the quarter ended December 2021 when compared with Rs 71.80 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago. Total income declined 17.2 per cent YoY to Rs 104.06 crore.

Britannia Industries: The FMCG company reported a 18.4 per cent YoY decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 369.18 crore for Q3 impacted by rise in prices of raw material inputs. Total revenue was up 12.93 per cent YoY to Rs 3,574.98 crore.

Vedanta: The companys consolidated net profit rose 27 per cent YoY to Rs 4,164 crore in Q3FY22, on the back of strong revenues. Net sales grew 50 per cent YoY to Rs 33,697 crore. READ MORE



Dr Reddy's Laboratories: The pharma majors net profit zoomed 3,468 per cent YoY to Rs 706.50 crore in Q3FY22 on the back of a steep fall in impairment charges. Impairment charges dropped from Rs 597.2 crore in the year-ago quarter to Rs 4.7 crore in the latest quarter. Total revenue was up 7.9 per cent YoY at Rs 5,320 crore led by strong global generic sales.

Adani Total Gas: The company won three Gas supply agreements 3 each in Assam and Chhattisgarh, 4 in Maharashtra including Amravati, 1 each in Jharkhand and Odisha and 2 in Madhya Pradesh. Privatisation-bound BPCL won 4 licenses. READ MORE



Marico: The companys Q3FY22 net was up 1.6 per cent on a YoY basis at Rs 317 crore. Revenue jumped 13.43 per cent YoY to Rs 2,407 crore when compared with Rs 2,122 crore.

Central Bank of India: The banks net profit soared 69.1 per cent YoY to Rs 279 crore in Q3FY22. The lenders net interest income (NII) rose 23.25 per cent YoY to Rs 2,746 crore.

AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB): The lenders net profit rose 68 per cent YoY to Rs 302 crore in Q3FY22 on robust expansion in net interest income (NII) and normalisation in provisions. The Jaipur-based lenders net interest income (NII) rose 30 per cent YoY to Rs 820 crore in Q3, and net interest margins improved to 6.3 per cent.

Gravita India: The companys Q3FY22 net profit soared 146.8 per cent YoY to Rs 41.29 crore, on the back of 50.6 per cent surge in total income to Rs 560.47 crore.

Shriram City Union Finance: The two-wheeler financer reported 5 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 322 crore. Net interest income was up 14.6 per cent YoY at Rs 1,140 crore. On a consolidated basis, the company reported its highest disbursement of Rs 8,398 crore in the reporting quarter.

Saregama India: The company plans to invest up to Rs 750 crore in its music business to achieve a 25-30 per cent revenue growth in the next few years through organic and inorganic routes, an official said to PTI.



Textiles: The textile ministry has extended the timeline till February 14 for companies to submit their online applications under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles.
The issue received bids for 212.87 crore shares as against 12.25 crore shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Adani Wilmar received bids for 2,12,87,80,420 shares as against 12,25,46,150 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Monday (31 January 2022). The issue was subscribed 17.37 times.

The issue opened for bidding on 27 January 2022 and it will close today, 31 January 2022. The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 218-230.

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 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.

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The Australian share market finished session lower on Monday, 31 January 2022, as risk sentiments subdued on caution ahead of Reserve Bank of Australia monetary policy meeting.

At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 dropped 16.51 points, or 0.24%, to 6,971.63. The broader All Ordinaries index grew 1.95 points, or 0.03%, to 7,268.29.

Total 6 of 11 sectors ended higher despite the decline in the S&P/ASX 200 Index, with losses among financials, consumer staples, and materials stocks overshadowed gains in technology and energy stocks.

The top performing stocks in this index were ARB CORP and ZIP Co, up 7.9% and 7.5% respectively. The bottom performing stocks in this index were ANSELL LIMITED and NIB HOLDINGS LIMITED, down 14.34% and 6.03% respectively.

Shares of financials were lower, with the country's four largest lenders losing between 1.6% and 3.4%, ahead of Reserve Bank of Australia meeting on Tuesday.

Materials and resources shares went down, with BHP Group's falling 1.2% on the day its corporate unification with its London-listed entity became effective.

Rio Tinto lost 1.9%.

Shares of Ansell plunged 14.3% after the medical glove maker slashed its full-year EPS outlook on supply chain disruptions.

ECONOMIC NEWS: Australia Private Sector Credit Up 0.8% On Month In December- Australia private sector credit was up 0.8% on month in December, the Reserve Bank of Australia said on Monday, easing from 0.9% in November. On a yearly basis, credit was up 7.2%, accelerating from 6.6% in the previous month. Housing credit was up 0.7% on month and 7.4% on year, while personal credit sank 0.8% on month. Broad money gained 1.5% on month and 9.5% on year.

CURRENCY NEWS: The Australian dollar was at $0.7023 after dropping in the previous trading week from above $0.714.

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Greenpanel Industries gained 1.45% to Rs 514.35 after the company informed about the resumption of manufacturing operations at its MDF plant at Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.

On January 15, the company had informed that the aforementioned MDF plant would remain closed for a period of about 8 days (approximately) w.e.f. 17 January 2022, due to addition of new machinery (mat heating system) to speed up the production process and increase the capacity utilization.

The company had stated that it would incur an estimated expenditure of Rs 8-10 crore for addition of the above machinery and likely to result increase in production capacity of the plant from existing 3,60,000 CBM to revised 4,44,000 CBM (approximately) per annum.

The operations at the Andhra-based plant have been resumed following the installation of mat heating system.

Greenpanel Industries is India's largest manufacturer of wood panels. Its manufacturing plants in Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh make top-quality medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood, veneers, flooring and doors.

Greenpanel Industries is India's largest manufacturer of wood panels. Its manufacturing plants in Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh make top-quality medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood, veneers, flooring and doors.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Before the start of President Ram Nath Kovind's address to Parliament, DMK and Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu protested over the governor "delaying" a bill related to the Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

A Bill adopted by the Tamil Nadu assembly to exempt the state from the test is pending with the governor for his consideration.

The DMK and Congress MPs protested and raised placards before the start of the president's address.

They sat down after being asked to do so before the president began his address.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Sunday accused Navjot Singh Sidhu of doing nothing for the people of the East constituency from where the state chief is seeking re-election.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has fielded Majithia from his traditional Majitha Assembly segment as well as from the East seat.

"Navjot Singh Sidhu does not have one accomplishment to his credit during his last 18 years in . He and his wife have been part of the SAD-BJP and governments but have done nothing for East," he alleged at a public gathering here.

"That is why the people have appealed to me to contest from there and put an end to their arrogant and self-serving rule," Majithia said.

About the Aam Aadmi Party's much-touted 'Delhi Model', the SAD leader said The truth is that there is no such model."



Accusing the AAP-led Delhi government of being "riddled with failures", he alleged that it is "unable to even provide potable drinking water to the people of Delhi".

"It failed to establish a single new college or hospital. It has given only 414 government jobs and refused to regularize thousands of contractual employees. Even the promises it is making here, including giving Rs 1,000 per month to all women, have not been implemented in Delhi," Majithia claimed.

(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.)
West Bengal Chief Minister on Monday said she has blocked Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Twitter, "disturbed" by his regular posts against her government on the microblogging platform.

Banerjee also said that Dhankhar has threatened the chief secretary and the director general of police on several occasions.

Addressing a press meet here, the CM said she has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times, seeking the removal of Dhankhar.

"However, no action has been taken so far," Banerjee, who shares an acrimonious relationship with the governor, said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Instagram engineer had already packed his bags for a December vacation when his boss pulled him into a virtual meeting to talk about job goals for 2022.

Their conversation soon took an unexpected turn. Forget the goals, his boss told him. To succeed at Meta, the parent company of and Instagram, his boss said, he should instead apply to a new position in the burgeoning augmented reality and teams. Thats where the company needed people, he said.

The engineer, who had worked at Instagram for more than three years and who declined to be identified for fear of retaliation, was taken aback by essentially having to reapply for a job. He said he hasnt decided what to do.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of the company formerly known as Facebook, has upended his company ever since he announced in October that he was betting on the so-called metaverse. Under this idea, his firm  newly renamed Meta  would introduce people to shared virtual worlds and experiences across different software and hardware platforms.

Since then, Meta has pursued a sweeping transformation, current and former employees said. It has created thousands of new jobs in the labs that make hardware and software for the metaverse. Managers have urged employees who worked on social networking products to apply for those augmented reality and roles. The company has poached metaverse engineers from rivals including Microsoft and Apple. And it has officially rebranded some products, like its Oculus virtual-reality headsets, with the Meta name.

Internal recruitment for the metaverse ramped up late last year, three Meta engineers said, with their managers mentioning job openings on metaverse-related teams in December and January. Others who didnt get on board with the new mission left. One former employee said he resigned after feeling like his work on Instagram would no longer be of value to the company; another said they did not think Meta was best placed for creating the metaverse and was searching for a job at a competitor.

Of the more than 3,000 open jobs listed on Metas website, more than 24 percent are now for roles in augmented or . The jobs are in cities including Seattle, Shanghai and Zurich.





ALSO READ: The Metaverse is Mark Zuckerberg's escape hatch

The moves amount to some of the most drastic changes at the Silicon Valley firm since 2012, when Zuckerberg announced that had to shift its social network away from desktop computers and toward mobile devices. The firm restructured, focusing its energy and resources on making mobile-friendly versions of its products. The makeover was hugely successful, leading to years of growth.

But changing the companys course now is far more challenging. Meta has more than 68,000 employees, which is more than 14 times its size in 2012. Its market value has risen by more than eight times over that period to $840 billion. Its business is entrenched in online advertising and social networking. And while the shift may give Meta a head start on the internets next phase, the metaverse remains a largely theoretical concept.

The result has been internal disruption, according to nine current and former Meta employees who were not authorised to speak publicly. While some workers were excited about Metas pivot, others questioned whether the firm was hurtling into a new product without fixing issues such as misinformation and extremism on its social platforms.

Workers were expected to adopt a positive attitude toward innovation or leave, one employee said, and some who disagreed with the new mission have departed.

What the metaverse focus means for the companys existing social networking products like and Instagram remains in flux, two employees said. At Facebook and Instagram, some teams have shrunk over the last four months, they said, adding that they expected their budgets for the second half of 2022 to be smaller than in previous years.

A spokesman for Meta, which reports quarterly earnings on Wednesday, said that building for the metaverse was not the companys only priority. He added that there havent been significant job cuts to existing teams because of the new direction.

Facebooks pivot to the metaverse started in its top ranks. In September, Mike Schroepfer, the long-serving chief technology officer, said he would step down by the end of 2022. In his place, Zuckerberg appointed Andrew Bosworth, known as Boz, who has for the past few years led development on products like the Oculus headsets and Ray Ban Stories smart glasses.

Bosworths ascendancy was a sign to insiders that Zuckerberg was taking virtual reality and the metaverse seriously. The two had met at Harvard in an artificial intelligence class, when Zuckerberg was a student and Bosworth was a teachers assistant. They kept in touch after Zuckerberg dropped out of the university. Eventually, Bosworth moved to Silicon Valley to work for Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg has since turned to Bosworth for major initiatives. In 2012, Bosworth was given the task of building out Facebooks mobile advertising products. After management issues at the Oculus virtual reality division, Zuckerberg dispatched Bosworth in August 2017 to take over the initiative. The virtual reality business was later rebranded Reality Labs.

In October, the company said it would create 10,000 metaverse-related jobs in the European Union over the next five years. That same month, Zuckerberg announced he was changing Facebooks name to Meta and pledged billions of dollars to the effort.

Reality Labs is now at the forefront of the companys shift to the metaverse, employees said. Workers in products, engineering and research have been encouraged to apply to new roles there, they said, while others have been elevated from their jobs in social networking divisions to lead the same functions with a metaverse emphasis.


If early smartphone market trends are anything to go by, 2022 is going to be the year of mid-premium . In this segment, Samsung and OnePlus have already taken the early lead with the launch of the Galaxy S21 FE (review) and the OnePlus 9RT (review), respectively. Next in line is the Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi, which has recently launched in India the 11T Pro.

Whats good

There is a lot to like about the 11T Pro, and most of the things the phone is good at makes a perceptible difference in everyday use. Take for example its 10-bit 6.67-inch fullHD+ AMOLED screen. Its enhanced refresh rate (120Hz) improves everyday experience by rendering smoothly the user interface elements, transitions, and animations. The benefit of enhanced refresh rate extends to gaming performance, and together with enhanced touch sampling rate (up to 480Hz), delivers a wholesome experience in supported games. The display is good for watching videos, thanks to Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and MEMC. Rounding up the package is the 360-degree ambient light sensor and auto colour calibration tech. While the ambient light sensor automatically adjusts display brightness, the auto colour calibration tech adjusts the screen colour tone based on ambient lighting conditions.

Complementing the screen is the dual symmetrical stereo speakers powered by Dolby Atmos and tuned by Harman/Kardon. The speakers output is loud, clear, and balanced. Together with the dazzling display, the speakers work wonders in elevating the smartphones multimedia and gaming experience.

Be it smooth everyday experience, immersive multimedia experience, or playful gaming experience, every bit about the 11T Pros overall experience is made possible by the power-packed performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 system-on-chip. It is a flagship-grade chip that delivers consistent performance irrespective of the task you put it through. Equally impressive is the phones power efficiency. Powered by a 5,000 mAh battery, the phone sails through a day of regular usage with screen set to 120Hz refresh rate and dark mode enabled. Extensive power-and-graphic intensive usage depletes the battery quickly. However, the phones industry-leading 120W fast charging makes up for it  takes about 20 min to charge a completely drained out battery.

What could have been better

The Xiaomi 11T Pro is a mid-premium smartphone better than many others, but there are areas where it could have been better. Starting with design, the Xiaomi 11T Pro looks similar to the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max (review). Not that it looks dull or ugly but lacks the zing of a premium smartphone. Moreover, it is tall, bulky, and heavy. Not just the design, the choice of construction material (plastic) leaves one asking for better.

Imaging is another area where the Xiaomi 11T Pro delivers mixed results. Its 108-megapixel based triple-camera set-up on the back is good, but not flagship grade, especially in low-light conditions. In daylight scenario, the phones primary camera on the back impresses with output full of details, fine highlights and shadows, and good dynamic range. The ultra-wide-angle camera is as good in daylight conditions, but there is no colour symmetry in the photos taken by the primary and the ultra-wide-angle sensor. The tele-macro sensor boasts autofocus and it is one of the best you get in its segment, but it works best only if there is some light to brighten up the frame. Otherwise, the captured frame turns out to be dark, noisy, and grainy. As for the front camera, it is decent at best and there is not much about it to write home about.

Compensating for an underwhelming still photography competence of the Xiaomi 11T Pro is the top-notch videography capabilities. It is the only smartphone in its segment capable of recording 8K resolution videos at 30 frames-per-second and 4K 30fps videos in HDR10+ format. On top of these video recording abilities, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is loaded with several value-added features meant for improving the experience of both amateurs and pro. However, not all features support 4K resolution and the phone shifts to 1080p at 30fps without raising an alert. Not just bad integration of features, it is confusing and detrimental to the otherwise solid video capability of the smartphone.

Whats missing

The Xiaomi 11T Pro is an entry-level smartphone. Therefore, it misses out on some of the pro-grade features such as IP68 rating, wireless and reverse wireless charging, and 3.5mm audio port. Important to note, albeit the audio jack, these features are uncommon in mid-premium . However, the addition of these would have helped the Xiaomi 11T Pro justify its Pro moniker.

Verdict

Priced Rs 39,999 onwards (Base model: 8GB + 128GB), the Xiaomi 11T Pro is not just affordable but also the most feature-rich smartphone one can get in the mid-premium segment. It is brimful of premium features, including some industry-first such as 10-bit display with support for Dolby Vision, 120W fast charging solution, etc. Like all other smartphones, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is not perfect. However, the imperfections look minor in overall scheme of things. That said, the Xiaomi 11T Pro makes a solid smartphone for people to experience premium features on budget.
Getty images



Korean firms need to diversify production bases abroad



By Yi Whan-woo



Korea is being urged to sharpen its strategy to reduce economic dependence on China more than ever, as China is feared to mark its third-slowest growth performance in 2022 since its economy first started taking off in the late 1970s.



True, diversification of export markets has been taken as gospel when forging a breakthrough strategy to tackle risks associated with a heavy reliance on China, especially over Beijing's weaponization of trade in the form of export bans or consumer boycotts.



Such strategy, however, appears to have resulted in little progress, as implicitly noted by Joo Won, a senior economic researcher at Hyundai Research Institute.



"I can't think of any countermeasure that hits the spot in the short term if the Chinese economy gets worse and haunts us," he said.



Under the circumstance, other economists contacted by The Korea Times underlined a need to capitalize on the U.S.-China decoupling in supply chains.



They also suggested shifting away from an export pattern characterized with heavy sales of intermediate goods to China and instead expand sales of consumer goods.





Owners of diesel cars and trucks are lined up in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, to buy diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)  sometimes called "urea water"  in the midst of the DEF shortage over China's tightening of its export in November 2021. Korea Times file



"You can't give up on China, because it remains the world's most lucrative market, despite its rapid slowdown in growth most recently," said Jun Bo-hee, a senior researcher at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).



She went on to say, "The pullout of factories and other drastic measures to cut reliance on China will therefore be unrealistic, and it is preferred to make adjustments on our investment infrastructure in China in accordance with the changing global business environment."



The KITA economist explained this is where the U.S.-China decoupling in supply chains can come in handy for Korean businesses to restructure their China-centered factory operation and "dualize" it between the world's two largest economies.





A container ship moves down river past the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah in this photo taken in September 2021. A World Trade Organization arbitrator in January decided that China can impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the United States totaling up to $645 million a year, capping a decade-long dispute over U.S. duties on some Chinese goods. AP-Yonhap
The various indicators of employment have bounced back remarkably, after showing a decline in the first quarter of 2020-21 during the nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the 2021-22 tabled in the Parliament on Monday.

The said that because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent nationwide lockdowns, which impacted livelihoods globally, the unemployment rate for the urban sector rose to 20.8 per cent in the country in the first quarter of 2020-21.

However, following the revival of the economy in the subsequent quarters of 2020-21, the three labour market indicators, labour force participation rate (LFPR), worker population ratio (WPR) and unemployment rates (UR), showed a swift recovery.

The survey stated that the unemployment rate gradually dipped during this period to reach 9.3 per cent in Q4 of 2020-21, whereas the unemployment rate for males as well as females, aged 15 and above, recovered to the pre-pandemic levels. Both the LFPR and WPR for males as well as females, aged 15 and above, reached almost their pre-pandemic levels during the last quarter of 2020-21.

Further, data from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) suggests that not only formalisation of jobs continued during the second Covid wave, but its adverse impact by far on the formalisation of jobs was also much lower than during the first Covid wave.

In November 2021, the survey noted, the monthly net additional EPF subscriptions peaked with 13.95 lakh new subscribers, the highest in any given month since 2017.

The document noted that the allocation of funds to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has been increased to provide the necessary buffer for the unorganised labour in rural areas during the pandemic.

The demand for MGNREGS, an indicator of rural labour markets, stabilised post the second wave, and aggregate MGNREGS employment is still higher than pre-pandemic level, the survey said, adding that the demand for MGNREGS has stabilised after the second Covid wave.

During the second wave of the pandemic, the demand for MGNREGS employment reached the maximum level of 4.59 crore persons in June 2021.

Acknowledging that there is a dearth of real-time data on unemployment, Principal Economic Advisor Sanjiv Sanyal said, "We know there was a significant decline in employment during the lockdown and a significant revival till March 2021."

However, to boost employment and livelihood, the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgaar Yojana was announced as part of the 'Aatmanirbhar 3.0' package to boost the economy, increase the employment generation in the post-Covid recovery phase and incentivise the creation of new employment along with the social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during the pandemic, the noted.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian has weathered the economic shock of the pandemic well so far but there is some lagged impact in the pipeline, said the of 2021-22.

According to the survey, the is well capitalised and the overhang of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) seem to have structurally declined even allowing for some lagged impact of the pandemic.

The gross ratio of the has declined from 11.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 7.5 per cent at the end-September 2020 to 6.9 per cent at end-September 2021. Similarly, the net ratio has declined from its highs of 6 per cent in 2017-18 to 2.2 at end- September 2021.

But, over the last year (September 2020  September 2021), the stressed advances ratio of scheduled commercial banks increased from 7.9 per cent at end-September 2020 to 8.5 per cent at end-September 2021. And, the restructured Standard Advances (RSA) ratio of the banks increased from 0.4 per cent to 1.5 per cent during the same period.

Various Covid-19 related dispensations/moratoriums provided with respect to asset quality contributed towards increase in restructured assets and as a result, stressed advances ratio for the banking system increased at end-September 2021, the said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had given a six-month moratorium on repayments of loans from March 2020 to August 2020. It had also come out with two restructuring schemes wherein distressed borrowers were allowed to restructure their loans to avoid economic complications.

While the gross NPA ratio of the public sector banks decreased from 9.4 per cent at end-September 2020 to 8.6 per cent at end-September 2021. But the RSA ratio of such banks increased marginally from 10.0 per cent to 10.1 per cent during the same period on account of rise in restructured advances.

The also said that the capital adequacy ratio of the banks has continued to improve since 2015-16, with capital to risk weighted asset ratio (CRAR) of the banks increasing from 15.84 per cent at end-September 2020 to 16.54 per cent at end-September 2021 on account of its improvement for both public and private sector banks.

While the improvement in CRAR levels of public sector banks was due to capital infusion by the government alongside fund raising from the markets, the private sector banks have tapped capital from market sources. Based on the capital position as on September 30, 2021, all public sector and private sector banks maintained the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) well over 2.5 per cent.
India will comfortably meet its FY22 target on the back of a strong rebound in revenues, said the 2021-22.

"The fiscal support given to the economy as well as to the health response caused the and government debt to rise in 2020-21.

"However, a strong rebound in government revenues in 2021-22 has meant that the government will comfortably meet its targets for the year while maintaining the support, and ramping up capital expenditure," said the Survey tabled in the Parliament on Monday by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

According to it, the strong revival in revenues "means that the government has fiscal space to provide additional support if necessary".

The revenue receipts of the Central government during April- November 2021 have gone up by 67.2 per cent (YoY), as against an estimated growth of 9.6 per cent in the 2021-22 Budget Estimates.

"The tax collections have been buoyant for both direct and indirect taxes. The gross monthly GST collections have crossed Rs 1 lakh crore consistently since July 2021."

"On account of a sustained revenue collection and a targeted expenditure policy by the government of India, the for April-November 2021 has been contained at 46.2 per cent of Budget Estimates (BE) which is nearly one third of the proportion reached during the same period of the previous two years."

As per the Survey, the primary deficit during the period April to November 2021 turned up at nearly half of the level it had reached during April to November 2019.

"This implies that the government has the fiscal capacity to maintain the support, and ramp up capital expenditure when required."

(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 road network in the country has increased substantially in the current fiscal compared to previous years, the 2021-22 said.

It said that there has been a consistent increase in the construction of National Highways/roads since 2013-14 with 13,327 km of roads constructed in 2020-21 as compared to 10,237 kms in 2019-20, indicating an increase of 30.2 per cent over the previous year. In 2021-22 (till September), 3,824 kms of road network were constructed.

The extent of road construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to 36.5 km per day from 28 km per day in 2019-20, a rise by 30.4 percent as compared to the previous year.

The Survey said that the road transport is one of the most cost-effective and convenient mods of transportation in India, both for freight and passengers as it has a high penetration level with door-to-door delivery.

The importance of is widely recognised as a potent means of socio-economic integration and is vital for the economic development of the country, it said.

The road network of the country consists of National Highways, State Highways, district roads, rural roads, urban roads, and project Roads of over 63.71 lakh km of roads (Provisional) as on March 31 2019, which is the second-largest in the world, after the US with 66.45 lakh km of roads.

"The significant upturn in road construction in 2020-21 is due to the increase in public expenditure by 29.5 per cent as compared to the previous year - a reflection of the impetus given by the Government of India to a critical sector that generates employment and supports infrastructure during a pandemic year," the Survey said.

Apart from the National Highways, the government has taken measures to address village level road network through the Gram Sadak Yojana, it said.

--IANS

miz/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A meeting of the Union Cabinet will be held on Tuesday at 10

After getting the nod from the cabinet, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022-23 in a paperless form for the second time on February 1. Earlier, the Union Budget of 2021-22 was delivered in paperless form last year for the first time.

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence today and is scheduled to conclude on April 8 wherein the first part of the session will extend up to February 11, said the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Sunday.

"There will be a break from February 12 to March 13 during which the Standing Committees will examine Demands-for-Grants of Ministries/Departments and prepare reports thereon. In all, there will be 29 sittings; ten in the first part and 19 in the second part," the Lok Sabha Secretariat's press release stated.

The President will be addressing both the Houses of Parliament assembled together on January 31 at 11 am.

"Half-an-hour after President's Address, the Lok Sabha will sit for the transaction of business," the release stated.

As per the Secretariat, the Economic Survey 2021-22 will be laid by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in Lok Sabha on January 31, while the Budget will be presented by her on February 1 at 11 am.

From February 2 to February 11, the House is scheduled to sit from 4 pm to 9 pm. Thus, five hours have been scheduled per sitting during the first part of the Budget Session.

"During the first part of the session, the members will be accommodated in Lok Sabha Chamber and its Galleries (except Press Gallery) and Rajya Sabha Chamber and its Galleries (except Press Gallery)," the release informed.

As per the Secretariat, there will be two major items of business during the first part of the budget session; a discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address and a general discussion on the budget.

"The government has tentatively fixed four days for discussion on Motion of Thanks viz. February 2, 3, 4 and 7," they informed.

During the First Part of the Session after the presentation of the Budget (February 2-11), the release stated, 40 hours of normal time will be available for various Businesses such as Question, Private Members' Business, Discussion on Motion of Thanks, General Discussion on Union Budget, etc.

"Keeping in view the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic, elaborate arrangements have been made in the Lok Sabha Chamber and other parts of Parliament House Complex," the release stated.

"To ensure the norms of social distancing, members will be allotted seats in Lok Sabha Chamber (282), Lok Sabha Galleries (except Press Gallery) (148), Rajya Sabha Chamber (60) and Rajya Sabha Gallery (51)," it added.

It was also informed that arrangements have been made for COVID vaccination and testing in the Complex for Members of Parliament and other visitors.

(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 Nirmala Sitharam is set to present the paperless Union Budget for the financial year 2022-23 at 11am tomorrow. This will be her third Budget since taking over as Indias first full-time female in May 2019.

And today at 12pm, the 2022 will be tabled in Parliament.

The Survey acts as an annual report card of the economy and also contains suggestions to the government on policy matters. It is traditionally prepared by the Chief Economic Adviser.

This year however, in the absence of a chief economic adviser, the principal economic advisor and other officials are preparing the survey.

Similarly, in 2014, the was prepared by senior economic advisor Ila Patnaik and not by chief economic advisor who is usually the architect of the survey.

Meanwhile, the government on Saturday announced Dr V Anantha Nageswaran as the new chief economic adviser of the country. The post had fallen vacant after Krishnamurthy Subramanian returned to academia after completing his three-year term on December 6 last year.

The last three reports prepared under the guidance of Subramanian were way off the mark in predicting growth numbers.

Off late, making GDP projections has become tricky. The pandemic has further complicated it. Last years Economic Survey projected the growth rate of 11% for the current financial year. The first advance estimates put it at 9.2%.

In FY20, the economy contracted by 7.3% while the survey had projected a 6-6.5% growth.

A business daily -- while citing officials -- claimed that the Economic Survey could forecast the real economic growth for fiscal 2023 to be lower than the 9.2% estimated for the current financial year.

Meanwhile, the starting today with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind, will be conducted in two phases. The first part will go on till February 11. And after over a month in recess, the session will resume on March 14. It will conclude on April 8.

Just-concluded Winter Session of Parliament was a complete washout when it comes to economic bills. The government didnt table key bills including the one on privatisation of two public sector banks and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

And experts believe that the government may not table them in the first half of the due to the same challenge it had faced earlier -- the elections in five states. Despite the sale of Air India, the government looks all set to miss its disinvestment target of Rs 1.75 trillion for FY22.

Apart from the privatisation, the implementation of the labour codes and proposed reforms in the power sector are also lined up.

Another crucial bill hanging fire is Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, which experts believe is unlikely to be tabled in this session too.

Meanwhile, apart from the employment-generating measures, the governments fund allotment for the country's healthcare sector will also be keenly watched. Last year, the government had allocated just 1.8% of the GDP to health.

Opposition Congress on Friday said that it will work closely with like-minded parties during the and jointly raise matters of public importance, including farmers issues and border dispute with China.

Last year, the Budget session was cut short by 14 days in the wake of assembly elections in several states. This year too five states - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa -- are going to polls between February 10 to march 7.

With the pandemic affecting low income segments the most, near-term measures to support incomes and boost household consumption demand are expected from the budget. We may also see some populist measures as polls are in progress.

The government is also expected to take steps to generate employment at a time when Indias already low rate of workforce participation is falling.
In Budget 2021, the Centre had announced its plan to privatise two state-owned banks. But it made little progress to implement the plan on the ground. That was because it could not move legislative amendments to enable privatisation of public sector lenders  the first step towards privatisation  due to Covid-19 pandemic and disruptions in Parliament.



According to the proposed amendments that were to be moved in the winter session of Parliament, the government is to lower the minimum stake it holds in public-sector banks to 26 per cent from the previously mandated 51 per cent. The legislation also aimed at empowering the government to make a scheme for privatisation of PSBs in consultation with the RBI. The proposed legislation had provisions regarding the disqualification of directors, as well as terms and conditions for service of chairmen, whole-time directors, and boards of directors.



The government is also to consider changing the foreign direct investment limit in public-sector banks, which is 20 per cent at present.



The government has informed Parliament that the Cabinet has not taken any decision on privatisation of two state-owned lenders announced in Budget 2021-22. However, the NITI Aayog has reportedly recommended privatisation of Indian Overseas Bank and Central Bank of India.



Central Bank of India is likely to be removed from the RBIs prompt corrective action framework soon.



The Centre is also likely to infuse capital in Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank, which got out of RBIs PCA last September, to meet regulatory requirements.



Despite the pandemic, public-sector banks have reported profits in the ongoing financial year. Impressive raising of capital from the market by PSBs has made the government confident that such lenders are now self-sufficient and may not have to look to the Centre for capital in future.



PSBs recorded net profit of Rs 31,820 crore in FY21 which has been the highest in the last five financial years.



With regard to privatising one public sector insurer, the NITI Aayog has suggested privatisation of United India Insurance, the approval to which is yet to be accorded by the Cabinet. Once approved, the DIPAM would start the privatisation process of the insurer.



Besides this, the government is also looking to restructure the regional rural banking space. A panel was appointed by the Centre to suggest turning around RRBs which is learnt to have suggested segregating RRBs into categories based on the capital they require, and if infusing funds in them is feasible. The committees recommendations are with the government, and the Finance Minister may look at providing a road map to turn around regional lenders in tomorrows Budget.



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Morphoceuticals Inc., a portfolio company of Juvenescence Ltd., hailed the results of a long-term study published by its founders in Science Advances showing the successful regeneration of limbs in Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog). This is the first demonstration of functional limb regeneration in a species that does not show spontaneous regeneration of complex limbs in adulthood. Approximately 185,000 amputations, the surgical removal of a limb, are performed in the United States each year and it is expected that nearly 3.6 million people will be living with the loss of an arm or a leg by 2050. (Amputee Coalition)

Work conducted at the academic labs of Michael Levin, Vannevar Bush Professor of Biology at Tufts University and David Kaplan, Stern Family Professor of Engineering at Tufts, the co-founders of Morphoceuticals Inc., demonstrated the regrowth, marked tissue repatterning, and functional restoration of an X. laevis hindlimb following a brief, 24-hour exposure to a novel multidrug, pro-regenerative treatment delivered by a wearable bioreactor. Regenerated tissues composed of new skin, bone, vasculature, and nerves significantly exceeded the complexity and sensorimotor capacities of the studys controls.

Levin stated that Organisms such as X. laevis, whose limited regenerative capacities in adulthood mirror some of the key limitations of humans, are important models with which to test interventions and discover triggers that could restore both form and function. Kaplan added These data demonstrate our ability to successfully kickstart endogenous regenerative pathways in vertebrates; however, translation of these findings to mammals remains to be demonstrated as a next key step in this process.

Greg Bailey, MD, the CEO of Juvenescence Ltd., the seed investor of Morphocueticals, noted, Drs. Levin and Kaplan are pioneering new approaches to enable the regeneration of functioning limbs, tissues, and organs. These findings herald the first application of a new set of tools that will be further developed by Morphoceuticals and will allow us to explore new approaches to regenerative treatment in ways that are truly unique. He added that, The potential applications are aimed at one day helping patients overcome the burden of loss of organs and limbs in ways that traditional medicine cannot, and that was why Juvenescence invested and continues to be so supportive of Morphoceuticals scientific platform.

Alex Pickett, Managing Director and Head of Business Development at Juvenescence and a Director of Morphoceuticals, Inc. remarked, The long-term regenerative effects of a short exposure to a multi-drug cocktail suggest that Drs. Levin and Kaplan have been able to trigger a developmental subroutine that can be repurposed for regenerative medicine. Juvenescence is excited for Morphoceuticals to continue developing a better understanding of how bioelectric patterning contributes to development and regeneration.

Publication Reference

Murugan et al., Sci. Adv. 8, eabj2164 (2022) 28 January 2022

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj2164

About Morphoceuticals Inc.

Based in Massachusetts, Morphoceuticals Inc. is a biotechnology company co-founded by Drs. Levin and Kaplan and funded by Juvenescence Ltd. Morphoceuticals is pioneering bioelectric approaches to access anatomical programming that is a core component of our biological operating system. Using proprietary combinations of ion channel and gap junction modulators, we are focused on inducing limb regeneration, improving amputation stump health, promoting organ regeneration, and the treatment of channelopathies. For more information see: www.Morphoceuticals.com

About Juvenescence Ltd.

Juvenescence Ltd. is a life sciences company developing therapies to modify aging and increase healthy human lifespan. It was founded by Jim Mellon, Dr. Greg Bailey and Dr. Declan Doogan. The Juvenescence team consists of highly experienced drug developers, entrepreneurs, marketers and investors with a significant history of success in the pharmaceutical and consumer health sectors. The company is committed to inspiring and equipping the world to not just reimagine what it means to get older but to help people reimagine their lifetime.

Juvenescence has a broad portfolio of products in development and is driving innovation amongst four divisions: JuvRx Focused on traditional prescription medicines to modify aging and prevent diseases; JuvLife Consumer products that manage aging and help increase health span; JuvDataScience Rapidly improving the development of new drugs, artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive incredible efficiency and effectiveness in drug development; and JuvRegeneration Positioned at the frontier of cell and tissue regeneration, to address the ravages of age and disease that require new cells and tissues to be regenerated. For more information: https://www.juvlabs.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220130005011/en/
Irish businesses are growing increasingly concerned about skills shortages, the rising cost of energy, and continued economic uncertainty prompted by Covid-19, despite reporting high levels of optimism for growth in the coming 12 months. This is according to the latest Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) which surveyed 10,000 mid-market businesses globally across 29 economies, including Ireland, in the first half of 2022. Figures were based on survey of 62 Irish businesses for Grant Thornton Ireland.



This growing level of optimism is reflected in revenue forecasts with almost two-thirds (63%) of mid-sized Irish businesses expecting revenues to increase in the coming 12 months, Meanwhile, 63% of businesses are also expecting to increase the selling price of their goods and services in the same period - an increase compared to the 44% of businesses who reported increasing selling prices in the first six months of 2021.



However, a rapid bounce back in the global economy following the easing of global Covid-19 restrictions over the past six months has brought about new challenges for businesses as they too emerge from the pandemic. Responding to the International Business Report survey in the second half of 2021, 63% of businesses cited the availability of skilled workers as a barrier to growth  up from the 37% who reported this as a barrier to growth in the first half of 2021.

Similarly, in the competitive labour market at present, more than half (56%) of businesses report the cost of labour as a barrier to growth  more than double the 27% of businesses who reported this as a challenge in the first half of 2021.

Energy prices are also having a real impact on businesses potential for growth over the coming 12 months as 55% of Irish businesses reported this as a challenge to growth during the second half of 2021  up from the 33% who cited it as a barrier in the first half of the year.

Overall, economic uncertainty was reported as a concern by almost half of Irish business (48%) despite the covid-19 economic recovery underway.



International trade continues to be an important pillar of growth for many Irish businesses. Over a third (37%) of Irish businesses expect to increase exports in the coming year  a significant increase on the 15% of participants who reported this in the second half of 2020. Similarly, 35% of businesses expect to increase revenue from non-domestic markets, while 23% expect to increase the number of countries they sell to. In terms of revenue, the United Kingdom was noted as the market to bring in the highest revenue. However, the United States was identified as the key location for market opportunity.



Speaking on the findings of the Grant Thornton International Business Report, Grant Thornton Ireland Managing Partner, Michael McAteer said, "Businesses remain optimistic for the coming year as the recovery from the pandemic prompts an increase in demand but were seeing increasing concern and new challenges to growth in spite of this. Skills and talent shortages, rising energy and therefore production costs, and the increasing cost of doing business as markets return to more stable trading patterns, are of great concern."

He added, "From a labour perspective, there is a skills shortage globally in a number of sectors that represents a major challenge for businesses in terms of growth, including here in Ireland, and the lengthy visa-processing times and other red-tape hurdles have only exacerbated this issue. Rising costs of doing business, rocketing energy prices and supply chain challenges also hinder the growth prospects in a variety of sectors and industries. But with business optimism climbing to a three-year high, and many businesses insulating through new business processes and digital transformation, there is hope for businesses to continue growing in both domestic and international markets over the coming year."

Source: www.businessworld.ie




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.


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)


FILE - In this March 30, 2004, file photo, Tarawa atoll, Kiribati, is seen in an aerial view. Kiribati and several other small Pacific nations were among the last on the planet to have avoided any virus outbreaks, thanks to their remote locations and strict border controls. But their defenses appear no match against the highly contagious omicron variant. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
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Photo: The Canadian Press

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says a truck convoy that's blockaded a highway at a U.S. border crossing as part of a protest against vaccine mandates violates the province's Traffic Safety Act and must end immediately.

Kenney, who has been attending a National Governors Association meeting in Washington, says in a statement that the current blockade "is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists and could dangerously impede the movement of emergency vehicles."

He also notes that Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act gives police and prosecutors additional penalties they can levy to address blockades of highways and other infrastructure.

The blockade of the Coutts border crossing violates the Alberta Traffic Safety Act.



It is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists and could dangerously impede movement of emergency service vehicles.



This blockade must end.



My full statement: ? pic.twitter.com/VbXTQTVft8  Jason Kenney (@jkenney) January 30, 2022

The Canada Border Services Agency says the U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta., remains open despite the blockade, but RCMP say only foot traffic is able to get through.

Cpl. Curtis Peters says both lanes of Highway 4, which pass through Coutts before the border crossing, remain closed due to a convoy of trucks that have been protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

After the highway was first blocked on Saturday, Peters had said emergency vehicles were also unable to enter Coutts if they were needed.

But today he says an ambulance has been able to enter the village.

He says access to Coutts is available via a gravel road through a field that's open to passenger vehicles but not semis.

Peters says no arrests have been made so far, despite calls by some who say the protest violates the province's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.

The law, passed by Alberta's United Conservative government last year, protects railways, highways and pipelines from anyone trespassing, interfering with operations and construction, or causing damage.








Photo: Twitter

Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic.

But Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the partygate scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted.

I get it, and I will fix it, he said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021.

Gray found that failures of leadership and judgment allowed events to occur that should not have been allowed to take place.

The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the governments regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well, Gray wrote.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify, she added.

Gray's glimpse inside a 10 Downing St. marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Gray's conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated.

Her findings on 12 other events have been withheld at the request of the police, who last week launched a criminal investigation into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules. The Metropolitan Police force said it had asked for Grays report to omit the events being investigated by detectives to avoid any prejudice to our investigation.

Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021  a funeral at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone.

The cuts to Gray's report have led opponents to accuse Johnson of a whitewash.

The allegations that the prime minister and his staff flouted restrictions imposed on the country to curb the spread of the coronavirus  holding bring your own booze office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays  have caused public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to call for Johnsons resignation and triggered intense infighting inside the governing party.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public had made heart-wrenching sacrifices and endured a collective trauma during the pandemic.

The prime minister took us all for fools, he said. He held peoples sacrifice in contempt. He showed himself unfit for office.

Starmer said many British people think the prime minister should do the decent thing and resign. Of course, he wont. Because he is a man without shame.

Johnson can ignore opposition criticism, because the Conservatives have a large majority in Parliament. His fate rests on how Conservative lawmakers respond to his apology. Some previously said they would push for a no-confidence vote if Gray found Johnson was at serious fault or had misled Parliament.

Johnson urged his critics to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation.

But one Conservative legislator, Andrew Mitchell, said in the House of Commons that Johnson no longer has my support.

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May also was unimpressed. She said that either Johnson and those around him had not read the rules, or didnt understand what they meant.  Or they didnt think the rules applied to them. Which was it?

Gray did not criticize the prime minister directly, but said there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government.

It's unclear whether Gray's full findings will be published once the police investigation is finished. Johnsons spokesman, Max Blain, said the prime ministers office would discuss with police and Grays team what is suitable to publish.

Johnson could be interviewed by detectives as part of their probe and may face a fine if he is found to have breached the law.

Johnson, meanwhile, sought to change the subject from his personal woes, marking the second anniversary of Brexit on Monday by touting economic opportunities outside the European Union.

The U.K. officially left the now 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, though it remained part of the EUs economic structures for another 11 months.

Since then, U.K.-EU trade has fallen, though the upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic has obscured the economic ructions caused by the end of frictionless trade with Britains biggest economic partner.

Johnson vowed Monday to unlock the potential of Brexit, unveiling a Brexit Freedoms Bill that the government says will slash red tape for British businesses by amending laws that were carried over from the U.K.s years as an EU member.

Opponents say the bill will just make it easier for the government to change laws without Parliaments approval.

The government is also promising this week to give long-awaited details of plans to level up the country by expanding economic opportunity to neglected regions.

And Johnson plans a diplomatic push to try to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. His office says the prime minister will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone later Monday and visit Ukraine on Tuesday as part of efforts to deter Russia from invading its neighbor.

Some political observers said Gray's circumscribed and partial report may give Johnson at least a temporary reprieve from calls for his ouster.

Its a mess, said Will Walden, a former Johnson aide. Its probably bad for democracy, but inadvertently good for the PM.
I think the (truck) convoy is something the government needs to take more seriously.

Claiming that it was a fringe minority population is absolutely negligent. All across Canada, including from Vernon to Osoyoos in B.C., had protests in support of the Feedom Convoy and we arent being heard or acknowledged as Canadians by our government.

Im ready to go back to university and start learning in person and being able to breathe freely mask-free.

Rayleen Chyzzy
Photo: Save Old Growth

Commuters across Vancouver's North Shore faced disruptions Monday, as old-growth protesters blocked a section of Highway 1 near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal exit and at the south end of the Ironworkers bridge during rush hour.

Protesters blocked all southbound lanes along the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge just before 8 a.m. for about half an hour at the south end of the bridge, near the McGill Street exit.

Another group of protestors also blocked a section of Highway 1 west bound at Caulfeild Drive exit near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal about half an hour later. This portion of the protest was cleared just before 9 a.m.

The protest is by the same group who blocked traffic to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal on Wednesday (Jan. 26). One person was arrested at that demonstration.

The group, Save Old Growth, gave the B.C. government an ultimatum to halt all old-growth logging in the province earlier this month, and kicked off its traffic disruption protests Jan. 10 in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.

Save Old Growth describes itself as an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, the group behind multiple protests in Metro Vancouver and Victoria that routinely blocks traffic on major roads, off- and on-ramps, and bridges in order to draw attention to the issue of climate change and what they believe is government inaction.

According to Save Old Growth's social media accounts, the newly-formed group has been recruiting and training members since November 2021.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - This combo of booking photos provided by the Glynn County, Ga., Detention Center, shows from left, Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr.

A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the man convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery.

Arberys parents denounced the proposed deal for Travis McMichael, with mother Wanda Cooper-Jones and father Marcus Arbery emotionally asking the judge to reject agreements filed for McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael.

In rejecting the deal, U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said it would have locked her into specific terms  including 30 years in federal prison  at sentencing. Wood said that in this case it would only be appropriate to consider the familys wishes at sentencing, which the proposed deal wouldnt allow.

Travis and his lawyer asked for a 10 minute break to discuss whether he moves ahead with pleading guilty. The judge had yet to rule on his father's proposed deal.

Marcus Arbery told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick that hes mad as hell over the deal, which lawyer Lee Merritt said could enable Travis and Greg McMichael to spend the first 30 years of their life sentences in federal prison, rather than state prison where conditions are tougher.

Ahmaud is a kid you cannot replace," Arbery said. He was killed racially and we want 100% justice, not no half justice."

Cooper-Jones described the U.S. Justice Departments decision to propose the plea deal despite her objections as disrespectful.

I fought so hard to get these guys in the state prison, she said. I told them very, very adamantly that I wanted them to go to state prison and do their time. ... Then I got up this morning and found out they had accepted this ridiculous plea.

Wood continued preparations to summon summoning the first 50 potential jurors to the courthouse on Feb. 7 for questioning.

The proposed plea agreements were filed with the court late Sunday. There was no mention of a deal with their co-defendant, William Roddie Bryan. No details were disclosed in court Monday morning. Federal prosecutors didn't mention the deals in the court's morning session.

Federal deals would not affect state murder convictions in Arbery's killing. All three men were sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 7 after a trial last fall.

The hate crime charges accuse McMichaels and Bryan of violating the 25-year-old Black man's civil rights by chasing him through their neighborhood in coastal Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020. The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in one pickup truck while Bryan joined the chase in another and recorded video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery with a shotgun.

A national outcry erupted when the graphic video leaked online two months later. Georgia was one of just four U.S. states without a hate crimes law at the time. Legislators quickly approved one, but it came too late for state hate crime charges in Arbery's killing.

During the state trial in Glynn County Superior Court, the defense argued that the white men had authority to chase Arbery because they reasonably suspected he had been committing crimes in their neighborhood. Travis McMichael testified he opened fire only after Arbery attacked him with fists and tried to grab his shotgun.

The federal judge ordered that a jury pool be chosen from throughout the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 counties, to improve odds of seating a fair and unbiased jury.
Photographer Rami Hyun has photographed over 2,000 veterans from 13 countries as part of "Project Soldier." Courtesy of Rami Hyun



By Lee Gyu-lee





Photographer Rami Hyun / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

"Their time is running out," said photographer Rami Hyun, who runs "Project Soldier," which has been documenting the veterans who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War  often referred to as the "forgotten war," as it is overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War.



The coronavirus pandemic has put many people, if not most, in restricted positions, putting barriers on daily life and overseas travel. However, such disheartening obstacles did not stop Hyun from traveling and carrying out his mission to share the stories of local and overseas Korean War veterans, so that they will not be forgotten.



"Most of those veterans are in their 80s and 90s  And (as time passes by) not many will still be alive, so I'm doing my best to document as many veterans as possible," the photographer, whose real name is Hyun Hyo-jae, said in an interview with The Korea Times at the newspaper's office in Seoul, Tuesday.



"The only thing they want is to be remembered that they fought on our land. They've spent their lives as forgotten soldiers. So they are more than happy that someone is trying to give them recognition and to help keep a record of them."





A photo of Korean War veterans in the U.S. taken in Greenville, South Carolina / Courtesy of Rami Hyun



The 43-year-old photographer opened his own studio in 2010 after graduating from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and coming back to Korea.



Three years later, he came across a sergeant major while working to make a promotional video for a military unit here. The major's wish to go on a family trip for the first time after retiring from his three decades of service struck his interest.



"He said he is not ashamed of the 28 years he served in the military, but he got emotional when saying that he does regret not being there for his family because of his duty," he said. "I was shocked that a family trip could be someone's wish  And I started to feel ashamed. These soldiers are great people. So I started to look for ways to express my gratitude to them."





A group of soldiers from the 5th Army Division in Korea / Courtesy of Rami Hyun



Hence, he initiated "Project Soldier" in a way to pay respect as well as to keep a record of those who sacrificed themselves to serve their country. He started the first part of the project, "I Am a Soldier," in 2013, taking portraits of active-duty soldiers in uniform.



Despite Hyun's goodwill to help soldiers see their own greatness through the photos he took and gave them free of charge, the project received skeptical views with some people criticizing him for trying to benefit financially or win fame using the soldiers.



However, the response from the soldiers, some of whom sent him letters asking to take part in the project, fueled him through the project and led to its subsequent series: "We are Soldiers" and "We are Soldiers' Family."



Then in 2016, it was by complete chance that he ran into a Korean War veteran from the United States who was visiting the exhibition of the project.



"I just simply asked him if he was a veteran. And in that short sentence in which he introduced himself, I felt a strong emotional impact: a sense of pride," Hyun said, adding that it was nothing like what he saw in the soldiers he had met previously. "I got curious how they came to take such a strong pride in battling in a foreign country. I wondered how their look was so different than that of Koreans and wanted to ask."





Photographer Rami Hyun speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the newspaper's office in central Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Out of pure curiosity, he decided to take a trip to England in 2017, simply to meet a foreign war veteran at his house and take his photo.



"I was just going to take his portrait and leave in 30 minutes, but I ended up staying for four hours. For him, it wasn't about being photographed, but was about a young man  from the country that he fought for but that forgot about him  coming all the way over to thank him and listen to his story," Hyun said.



What was meant to be a one-time trip ended up leading to another, and developed into the fourth iteration of the project, "Searching for Korean War Veteran," to cover the war veterans around the world, including the ones here.





British Korean War veterans at the National Railway Museum York in the U.K. / Courtesy of Rami Hyun



Since then, Hyun has taken pictures of over 2,000 veterans from 13 countries. He has been traveling to different cities in the U.S and England  including two trips to the U.S. since the pandemic broke out  to take photos and deliver the framed pictures to the veterans out of his own pocket or with fundraised money.



When director Hedy Lee, who runs a video production agency in New York, got on board the project in 2019, the two also started sharing videos of their work and interviews of the veterans.



"Many veterans think of themselves as cowards because they survived the war. This is both an art project and a recordkeeping one, because the portraits capture them as veterans, not as someone's father, husband or co-worker," he said.



"The pictures capture their souls. So when I deliver the framed pictures to them, they see themselves in the pictures and realize that they are not cowards but real heroes."





Korean War veterans in Korea pose at Goseong Unification Observatory Tower in Gangwon Province, Oct. 1, 2021. Courtesy of Rami Hyun



The photographer said that seeing the veterans through the portraits of them now has a bigger impact on younger generations than looking at old war photos by letting them grasp the emotional side of the Korean War.



"The older generation gets emotional even by just looking at war photos from that time. But for the younger people, it doesn't feel relevant," he said. "But if they see the portraits of the veterans at later ages, toward the end of their lives, they can feel the veterans' emotions and value, which has a completely different weight."



Although Hyun continued on the meaningful mission for years against the odds, negative views, and even accusations that the project had political intentions, he faced a crisis when he severely injured his back during a visit to the U.S. in 2020.



"I had to stay in bed for three months. And even when my back was getting better, I almost gave up everything, because I was out of money, my back was injured, and the equipment for the photo shoot was worn out," he said.





Portraits of Korean War veterans from the U.S. / Courtesy of Rami Hyun



Just when he was about to stop, he got a call from tvN's talk show, "You Quiz on the Block," hosted by popular comedian Yoo Jae-suk. The episode that featured Hyun's story created a buzz, garnering more interest in his project from the public.



"(Before the show,) only specific people took interest in the project. But since then, more diverse people came to be familiar with it," he said.



According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there were about 1.1 million Korean War veterans alive in the U.S. as of 2020. The U.S. deployed 6.8 million service members to the war. The number of surviving veterans is expected to decline sharply to 100,000 by 2030.



Hyun emphasized that time is of the essence for Korean War veterans, adding that he has set a timeline to put his full focus into capturing the veterans until 2023.



"The year 2020 marked the 70th year since the start of the Korean War, but we couldn't do anything because of COVID-19. (The veterans) missed the chance to get their spotlight as a part of history. So we now only have 2023, which is the 70th anniversary of the war ending in an armistice," he said. "After that, not many people will remember them  even if people do, the veterans might not still be alive."





Colonel William Bill Weber, a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War / Courtesy of Rami Hyun



When asked what keeps him going, he simply answered, "It's fun."



"The satisfaction the veterans show for my photos is enormously greater than the amount of work I put in. And that's my motivation. I want my work to survive for a long time, and this recordkeeping will last forever even after the veterans' or my death," he expressed. "There are not many records left of Korean War history, and not many people know about it, like what happened during that time. I want to fill in that lost history. And I need to do it while they are still alive."



He also noted that he wants the record to share the different lives of the soldiers at the time. "Indeed, it was the battlefield and the war was horrible. But even within that, people had joy, sadness, and love," he said. "The devastating side is not the only thing we should keep records of, but we also should remember that there were lives and hopes. Because those hopes kept alive made us who we are today."



Hyun and Lee plan to travel to countries like Thailand, the Philippines and Australia, starting in March, to continue with the project.





A family photo of a Korean soldier in the 5th Army Division / Courtesy of Rami Hyun
East African Cement Co looks to DR Congo for increased cement sales

31 January 2022

East African Portland Cement Co (EAPCC) is looking to target cement sales in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).



In the past 10 years, EAPCC has been missing from the infrastructural agenda due to competition among other challenges. Now we have come up with a five year strategic plan as we want to revamp our operations, said Oliver M Kirubai, managing director at the EAPCC.

We are targeting the East African market, including the DRC. We are getting inquiries from Rwanda as well.

All the EA countries have infrastructure projects lined up. Uganda and Tanzania want to do roads and the Standard Gauge Railway. In Kenya, the growth in cement production and consumption is attributed to President Uhuru Kenyattas Agenda Four pillars including housing and manufacturing sectors, said Mr Kirubai.

Kenyan cement firms are expanding their total clinker production capacity by 70 per cent to 10.7Mta by 2023 from the current 6.3Mta as part of their strategy to expand in the EAC region. East Africa's installed cement capacity is currently estimated at 15.6Mta, of which 8.6Mta in Kenya according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

Some of the extra capacity could supply the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is set to join the EAC regional bloc this year, is a country in need of infrastructure development.

Last week, the DRC Deputy President and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula Apala PenApala said one of the things they want to do is surface infrastructure.

Published under
Caribbean Cement to pay 2% royalty fees to Cemex

ICR Newsroom By 31 January 2022

Following shareholder approval Caribbean CementCo Ltd will pay two per cent royalties to its parent company Cemex from January 2022. The agreed fee is equivalent to two per cent of net sales, half of the cap initially telegraphed to shareholders.



Caribbean Cement said in a statement that since 2017, when Cemex assumed majority control of Caribbean Cement, the plant at Rockfort has relied on Cemex's global expertise, including its safety management systems that resulted in the reduction of lost-time worker injuries from nine incidents to zero last year. It also touted low COVID-19 infection rates, 38,000h of training, consultations with 130 multidisciplinary experts over the five years as well as a 28 per cent increase in cement production due to improved operational efficiencies. In addition the company enjoyed a swing from losses to profits and debt reforms that have reduced long term borrowings from US$12bn in 2017 to US$560m as at September 2021.

"With this turnaround largely complete, CCCL is now in a position where we can formalise the relationship between the company and its parent," said Caribbean Cement, under a services and intellectual property agreement to compensate Cemex for the future use of its trademarks and financial and operational expertise.

Published under
The University of Tennessee at Chattanoogas wrestling team dropped a back and forth battle, 18-13 at Campbell to conclude its North Carolina road trip on Sunday afternoon. The Mocs were up 13-12 with two bouts remaining, but the hosts logged two decisions in the upperweight classes to complete their comeback.24th-ranked 125-pounder, Fabian Gutierrez got the Mocs on the board first for the second straight dual with a 5-2 decision. The senior logged two reversals in the second period to take a lead and secure the win.At 133 pounds, No.22 Brayden Palmer continued the 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup for the Mocs. He secured a takedown in all three periods to log his second-straight decision of the weekend.Campbells No. 27 Shannon Hanna and No. 6 Josh Heil secured narrow decisions at 141 and 149 pounds to tie the match at six heading into the fifth match of the afternoon.Weston Wichman (157) used a takedown a minute into overtime to put the Mocs on top 9-6. Drew Nicholson continued the Chattanooga success and secured the first bonus point of the match with a takedown with less than 10 seconds to go in the third period to give UTC a 7-point advantage.The Camels got back into the win column at 174 with a narrow 3-1 decision to cut their deficit to four. The hosts followed that up with a 5-0 decision at 184. Heading into the final two matches of the afternoon, the Blue and Gold led 13-12.With 10 seconds to go in the third period, Campbells Levi Hopkins scored a takedown to get a decision at 197 pounds to put the Camels on top 15-13. At the heavyweight bout, Campbells No. 26 Taye Ghadiali secured a 8-1 decision to hold on the Camels lead.The Mocs drop to 4-9 overall and 2-1 in SoCon action, while Campbell improves to 8-4, 3-0.Chattanooga returns home for its first of four matches on Friday, Feb. 4 against The Citadel at 7 p.m. The match is Military Appreciation Night. Any former or active military members will receive free admission by showing their ID.CAMPBELL 17, CHATTANOOGA 13125: No. 24 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) over No. 23 Korbin Meink (CAMP) DEC 5-3)133: No. 21 Brayden Palmer (UTC) over Domenick Zaccone (CAMP) (DEC 7-3)141: No. 27 Shannon Hanna (CAMP) over Franco Valdes (UTC) (DEC 5-2)149: No. 6 Josh Heil (CAMP) over Noah Castillo (UTC) (DEC 4-2)157: Weston Wichman (UTC) over Matthew Dallara (CAMP) (SV-1 DEC 3-1)165: Drew Nicholson (UTC) over Riley Augustine (CAMP) (MD 11-3)174: No. 17 Austin Murphy (CAMP) over Carial Tarter (UTC) (DEC 3-1)184: No. 26 Caleb Hopkins (CAMP) over Thomas Sell (UTC) (DEC 6-0)197: Levi Hopkins (CAMP) over Matthew Waddell (UTC) (DEC 6-4)HWT: No. 26 Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) over Matthias Ervin (UTC) (DEC 8-1)
An officer responded to a wellness check on Signal Mountain Road. The woman said she had aged out of foster care and was currently homeless, living in her car. She asked the officer what her options were. After speaking with her, the officer found that she had a valid housing voucher and was working a job at a Red Bank pizza place. The officer told her that at this time there are no shelter options for her but would contact her later in the afternoon while on CIT co-responder duty to get her set up for housing. The officer gave her a blanket and other options to stay safe and warm for the night.

* * *

The owner of All American Tree said he was parked underneath I-24 at 2347 Rossville Blvd. to pick up an employee. He left his vehicle to retrieve the employee from his tent and, when he returned to the vehicle, the tools in the back had been stolen. The list of stolen tools are six Stihl chainsaws and one Stihl backpack blower totaling $5,350. The man will call back when he finds more serial numbers.

* * *

A man on Cloverdale Circle said his son came up to him and said the car was leaving the driveway. He went to investigate and found it had been stolen. He used his phone to track the vehicle as it went south and stopped receiving notifications shortly after police arrived. The vehicle was entered into NCIC and BOLO'd county wide. The car did not have keys with it and will not be able to be restarted once it is stopped. Police later recovered the car at 859 Vine St. unoccupied. Prints were taken and submitted. The owner was notified and arrived on scene to take possession of the vehicle. It was cleared from NCIC.

* * *

Police responded to Fire Hall #5 at 2009 Vance Ave. to assist a citizen. Once on scene police spoke with a woman who said a friend of hers had dropped her off in the area after refusing to take her home. She was checked for any outstanding warrants and none were active at this time. She was transported to her residence without incident.



* * *

The manager of Walgreens at 2104 McCallie Ave. told police graffiti was discovered on the Walgreens sign consisting of a symbol that read "Jerrl" with a circle below it in black paint. He said that graffiti has been discovered on the building as well as two other times over the last two months. He said the incident must have happened sometime between closing at 8 p.m. and opening at 8 a.m.

* * *

A woman on Graham Street said someone broke into her 2021 Toyota 4Runner and threw everything around. Her vehicle was locked but she found no damage. She doesnt know how entry was gained. The only thing taken was her SunTrust debit card. She canceled the card and did not see any illegal transactions. The woman later called back and said she had acquired video footage of the incident. The video showed a dark, four-door sedan stop on the street. Three people of unknown race and gender got out of the vehicle and began checking vehicles. Unfortunately, the video did not capture clear enough footage of the incident to determine any identifying features of the suspects or vehicle.

* * *

A man on 7th Avenue told police a woman was inside and was looking for a man who was not there. The man said he wanted the woman to leave and wanted her trespassed. The officer spoke to the woman who said she was in the house when she walked in on two males doing things and got upset. She said when she became upset the man started pushing her out of the room. The woman didnt have any visible marks from an altercation. The woman was run through NCIC and found she had a non-extradition warrant out of Georgia. She was trespassed from the property.

* * *

A woman on Campbell Street called police and said two weeks ago she was stopped and had a fake drive out tag on her car. She said that the drive out tag that she got from T&T Motors had been stolen. She said she does not know when it was stolen. She bought the car on March 18, 2021 and has not registered it.

* * *

An employee of Dollar General at 2303 East 23rd St. told police a light-skinned black male took items from inside the store and left without paying. She showed police a photo of the suspect utilizing the store's security cameras. The employee saw the suspect had at least stolen a container of laundry detergent, however, is unsure of the other items. Police were unable to locate the suspect in the area.

* * *

Police received a phone call from the manager of the Courts at Waterford Apartments at 6220 Shallowford Road in regard to a theft in one of their storage units. A resident said he went to check his storage unit and noticed that someone had cut off his lock and stolen several tools and camping accessories. According to the victim, the loss is almost $1,800 worth of tools. No suspect information was provided. Due to the lack of serial numbers, the weapons were not listed in NCIC.

* * *

The owner of Kankus at 2413 4th Ave. said a window had been damaged on the front of the store. He told police that the damage was not there when he left, but that he does not believe anyone made entry into the store. Police saw the damage to the window as he described. He said the value of the window is approximately $700.

* * *

A man on 13th Avenue told police he heard a noise on his front porch around 10:25 p.m. He checked his security camera and saw a white female walk onto his front porch and pull on his decorative lights, breaking off a section about four feet long. The suspect then walked back to the street and drove away in an older, dark-colored minivan. The man didnt know the woman but she was the same one who attempted to steal Christmas trees from his front porch a few weeks ago.
At a time when we are being beaten down by diversity, am I the only one who thinks race takes a huge backseat when President Biden limits a seat on the Supreme Court to a black female? My definition of diversity includes everybody but from where I sit, the President has committed the unthinkable for the highest court in the land.

My dream would be to appoint the very best jurist in the country to replace the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, age 83. I dont look at color, sex, creed, ethnic heritage, or political party. I want the best possible on our highest court and, while it may well be a black woman, to mandate against all whites, all black males, all other races of well-qualified Americans is real wrong.

This is not diversity, not at all. It is blatant political favoritism.

On Sunday an ABC News/Ipsos poll revealed an overwhelming majority of Americans believe President Biden should consider all possible candidates to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, while fewer than one in four support his plans to nominate only a black woman.

Biden on Thursday reiterated that he would make good on a campaign promise to nominate a black woman at the White Houses official announcement of Justice Stephen Breyers retirement.

But, according to the latest poll, only 23 percent of Americans want the president to follow through with that commitment, while 76 percent think he should consider all possible nominees. Broken down by political party, 95 percent of Republicans opt for consider all compared to 54 percent of Democrats.

Worse, the first name bandied about is Vice President Kamala Harris. The black female has been a bitter disappointment since Biden selected her and to now push her onto the Supreme Court hardly changes her stripe. The lady is a proven detriment and the American public is repulsed by her racial whine. Her popularity polls could hardly be worse and to park her on the Supreme Court for a lifetime is evidence Ole Joe is indeed fighting with neither reason nor responsibility.

* * *

SOME OTHER THINGS I THINK ABOUT

President Joe Bidens approval rating has fallen off a cliff in Georgia, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll released Thursday that showed just one-third of registered voters approve of the Democrats job performance after year one.

According to the New York Post, the vice president, a former California senator, enjoys only a 39-percent favorability rating among registered voters, according to a poll released this week by the LA Times. Her disapproval rating stands at 53 percent.

Harris approval rating is 10 points lower than that of her predecessor, Mike Pence, a year into the Trump Administration; and a startling 55 points lower than Dick Cheneys approval ratings at the same point in the George W. Bush Administration, four months after the 9/11 terror attacks.

* * *

According to the last COVID information on the Johns Hopkins Corona dashboard (through yesterday) the state of Tennessee continues to put up record numbers. In the past week there have been 118,639 new cases reported (a record) and a testing positivity rate of 43.25 percent (also a record high). People who are fully vaccinated in our state of 6.9 million now stands at 3,631,869 (54.13 percent)

In Alabama testing positivity this week is at 38.65 percent, down from a record high of 76.85 percent a week ago. There are a record 154,729 new cases being reported.

Georgia? About the same. Testing positivity is 27.29 percent for the week with 116,843 new cases being reported.

Moral of the story? Dont let your guard down. Mask, distance, and wash your hands with real soap versus alcohol-based disinfectants.

* * *

A couple just started their Lamaze class and they were given an activity requiring the husband to wear a bag of sand - to give him an idea of what it feels like to be pregnant. The husband stood up and shrugged saying, "This doesn't feel so bad."

The instructor then dropped a pen and asked the husband to pick it up.

"You want me to pick up the pen as if I were pregnant, the way my wife would do it?" the husband asked.

"Exactly," replied the instructor.

To the delight of the other husbands, he turned to his wife and said, "Honey, pick up that pen up for me."

* * *

FROM CNN -- Ten Oath Keepers, including leader Stewart Rhodes, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to new charges, including seditious conspiracy, related to the January 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol.

Another defendant, Edward Vallejo, was not present at the hearing and did not enter a formal plea.

The Justice Department unveiled the indictment against the 11 Oath Keepers charged with sedition in early January, though most had faced other charges already. The indictment alleges that the far-right group recruited members, stocked up on weapons and organized to disrupt Congress' certification of the 2020 election and keep then-President Donald Trump in power.

- - -

DEFINITION: Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or insurrection against, established authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws.

- - -

FROM ROLLING STONE: Donald Trump on Saturday night positioned himself as a law-and-order hardliner who knew that the key to keeping the country safe was to direct the full might of the state at undocumented immigrants, potential criminals, and anyone else WHO DID NOT storm the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Near the end of a meandering, 80-plus-minute address to a Save America rally crowd in Conroe, Texas, Trump dangled the possibility of pardons for the insurrectionists who participated in a deadly breach of the Capitol aimed at disrupting the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next.

If I run, and if I win, we will treat those people from Jan. 6 fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons, because they are being treated so unfairly, Trump told a massive crowd.

royexum@aol.com
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report:

AUGUSTIN, MARIE PAULE

169 TROUT LAYNE COHUTTA, 30710

Age at Arrest: 24 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



BENTON, CAITLIN MARIE

806 TROTTER LN HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



BURNS, RICKY WINSTON

6726 ASHERTON LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 34 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

BURGLARY



BYRD, TYREKE DRESHUN

5012 IRVIN RD CHATTANOOGA, 374161923

Age at Arrest: 19 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

PROBATIONARY CAPIAS(FAILURE TO APPEAR) RESISITING

FORFEITURE CAPIAS



CLARK, DEONTE JAMAR

5232 DORSEY ST CHATTANOOGA, 37410

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OPEN CONTAINER LAW

DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE

DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE



COFFEY, ABBIE DANIELLE

271 ACORN OAKS CIR, APT 115 CHATTANOOGA, 37412

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS



COLLINS, CAREY D

3307 HILLWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 54 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

POSS.

OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCEPOSS. OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCECOLLINS, LATOYA L3006 POPE DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaAGGRAVATED ASSAULTTHEFT OF PROPERTYDALLAS, CALVIN LEE744 NIPPER DRIVE ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaCONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONSPOSS OF FIREARM DURING A FELONYDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEDEDMAN, DARIAN JUSTUSHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSSESSION OF METHDILLARD, MALEK OMARI501 E 52ND ST CHATTANOOGA, 374102004Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)EASLER, JORDAN LEE347 OLD ASCALON RD RISING FAWN, 30738Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)EDGE, STEVEN ALLEN1722 JENKINS RD CHATTANOOGA, 374213250Age at Arrest: 43 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (4TH OFFENSE)DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (5TH OFFENSE)OPEN CONTAINER LAWDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFRANKLIN, CHARLES EDWARD2009 PORTLAND ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 53 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGFRIZZELL, MAKAYLA RANA14520 STORMER RD SALE CREEK, 37304Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeFAILURE TO APPEARGASPAR, FRANCISCO ANDRES3804 13TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaLEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT (PARKED VEHICLE)OPEN CONTAINER LAWFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSEIMPROPER BACKING OF VEHICLEGODINEZ ESCOBAR, SERGIO3004 ELBERT COVE MEMPHIS, 38127Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEIMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERSGREEN, LAMICHAEL CEDRIC2130 E 27TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)HICKAMAN, JESSICA M3800 PRIVATE STREET UNIT 4 CHATTANOOGA, 37341Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIALEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT W/DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND/HINDMAN, DESTINY123 GRAVES RD SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyDRIVING ON REVOKED FOR DUIHOLLIDAY, SHAVAR DESHUN1404 SATTERWHITE ST ROANOKE,Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgePUBLIC INTOXICATIONHUDGINS, TENISHA KEONNA1909 EAST 5TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37341Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)HUNTER, LACEE392 LOWER BUNCKER HILL ROAD BIRCHWOOD, 37308Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyREGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATESDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEJOHNSON, BRANDON KEITH2125 PORTWOOD DR SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaCONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN SCHEDULE IPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAJONES, JANET DIANE920 1//2 W 37TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 54 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATION911 VIOLATION (IMPROPER USE)KROLL, DELIANA4008 WEST STUMP STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyTHEFT OF PROPERTYLAMB, TAUSHA GAIL123 MIMOSA DRIVE SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIALOCKLIN, DESMOND LAQUWAN2449 6TH AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyAGGRAVATED ASSAULTLOPEZ CANTU, NARTINANO123 MIMOSA SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDCRIMINAL IMPERSONATIONLOWERY, ANNA DEBORD129 BELREE ROAD WILDWOOD, 30757Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MERRIMAN, CHARLENE JOYCE1516ELY ROAD HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEALTERATION OF PLATESREGISTRATION VIOLATIONMILLION, ERIC A114 SIMBAS PATH GEORGETOWN, 40324Age at Arrest: 47 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaOBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAYDRIVING WRONG DIRECTION ON "ONE-WAY" ROADDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEMISENHEIMER, SETH D1335 COLLINSON FORD RD MORRISTOWN, 378141331Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDOMESTIC ASSAULT (AGG)OWENS, SHAMMAR SHIRLEY205 DELLWOOD PL APT 108 CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency:DISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONPARMENTER, DOROTHY MARIE3804 CUSCAWILLA TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: Collegedale PoliceBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)PRATT, JAVARIUS MONTEZ5011 IRVIN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaUNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A WEAPONRABON, MARCUS ALLEN1325 WILSON ROAD LOT #50 ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA COUNTY GA)RAWLINGS, BRANDON EUGENE12 MIMOSA DR CHATTANOOGA, 37343Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDOMESTIC ASSAULTRUSSELL, JASON A175 CORVIN MEADOWS LN DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyPUBLIC INTOXICATIONSCHOOCRAFT, TAYLOR EAVES8510 CHAMBERS RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)SMITH, MONTRELL T3006 POPE DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY
Governor Bill Lee released the following speech excerpts ahead of his fourth State of the State Address that will be delivered tonight at 6 p.m. CT in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol.

The 2022 address will pay homage to 225 years of statehood by building on the state slogan Tennessee  America at Its Best.

Defining America at Its Best

Today, our country faces challenges of a different kind, but I believe now more than ever, Tennessee embodies America at Its Best. And in order to ensure that, I am proposing a budget and America at Its Best policies that reinforce freedom, innovation, exceptionalism and optimism.

Guarding Freedom

In recent history, big government has attempted to take over society instead of contributing to it. Thats no way to live, and Tennessee has pushed back on that big government. In fact, Tennessee has recently been ranked as one of the top five freest states in the country.

Protecting Life, Supporting Families

My office has proposed and supported some of the soundest pro-life legislation in the country. Thanks to our partners in the legislature, we passed thoughtful laws that protected the unborn and supported expecting mothers. If the federal courts return full authority to the states, Tennessees laws will automatically provide the maximum possible protection and offer a glimmer of redemption as America reconciles our troubled past. I believe Tennessee can be a major part of that reconciliation by offering both hope and resources to families in crisis.

Fiscal Stewardship

We pay a staggering $900 million dollars per day in national debt interest payments. This is a bipartisan problem working within a broken system, but states with balanced budgets offer a guide to what could be if Washington would just act. While Washington saddles our kids with trillions of dollars of debt, Tennessees strong fiscal position allows us to instead invest on their behalf.

Powering the Economy

Make no mistake  Tennessee is Working People USA and we will do whatever it takes to train and retrain Tennesseans so that both our businesses and our families can thrive.
Hardin, Adeana Gail

Adeana Gail Hardin, 65, of Rossville, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, January 27, 2022. She was born July 20, 1956 in Whiltshire, England to the George and the late Betty Jo Holder. Adeana was a military wife of 20 years. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and was an excellent cook.



In addition to her mother, Adeana was proceeded in death by her son, Christopher A. Hardin.



Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 43 years, Wayne Hardin; sons, Jason (Heather) Hardin and Jared Hardin; father, George Holder; sisters, Brenda Maxson and Nyana (Bruce) Duck; and five grandchildren.



Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. in the Trenton Chapel of Moore Funeral Home, with Brother Chuck Romain officiating. She will be laid to rest at Ebenezer Cemetery in Bryant, Al.



The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 4 from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.



Visit www.MooreFHS.com to share expressions of sympathy and view her memorial tribute.



Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Trenton.
This combination of photos shows North Korea's military test-firing an intermediate and long-range ballistic missile Jan. 30, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Jan. 31. Yonhap





North Korea announced Monday it test-fired a Hwasong-12 "intermediate and long-range" ballistic missile (IRBM) the previous day, with Pyongyang's state media reporting that the accuracy of the weapons system "being produced and deployed" had been confirmed.







"The evaluation test-fire of Hwasong 12-type ground-to-ground intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile was conducted Sunday under a plan of the Academy of Defense Science, the Second Economy Commission and other institutions concerned," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English-language report.







The launch was aimed to "selectively evaluate the missile being produced and deployed and to verify the overall accuracy of the weapon system," it added. "It confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness of the operation of the Hwasong 12-type weapon system under production."







North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the launch.







The "highest-angle launch system" was used in consideration of the security of neighboring nations, the KCNA reported, without providing other flight details in the five-paragraph report.







The KCNA then released photos of the missile being launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL), along with an image of the Earth taken from space by a camera installed in the missile warhead.







The Hwasong-12 is classified as an IRBM with a range of 3,000-5,500 kilometers by the South Korean and U.S. military authorities. The North previously launched one in September 2017.







South Korea's military said the latest missile, fired from the Jagang Province bordering China, flew about 800 km with a maximum altitude of 2,000 km before landing in the East Sea.






The Sundance Film Festival always introduces some of the years most intriguing movie titles. Many other film festivals and events use Sundance as the starting place for where to best acquire content. However, Sundance 2022 went fully virtual this year as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Nevertheless, here are the must-see films to put on your radar from the virtual festival.

10. Blood

L-R: Takashi Ueno as Toshi and Carla Juri as Chloe | Mutressa Movies

Bradley Rust Grays Blood follows Chloe (Carla Juri) after the death of her husband. She travels to Japan to find comfort in her good friend, Toshi (Takashi Ueno). Their friendship begins to turn into something deeper, but Chloe must figure out if shes ready to fall in love again.

Blood is a slow burn that requires patience from the audience. However, Juri and Ueno deliver beautiful performances in an emotional film about love, dreams, and memory.

Blood doesnt have U.S. distribution out of Sundance 2022.

9. Speak No Evil

L-R: Sidsel Siem Koch as Louise and Morten Burian as Bjrn | Erik Molberg/Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Christian Tafdrups Speak No Evil explores the world of a Danish family after they return from a beautiful vacation in Italy, where they meet a kind Dutch family who invites them to visit. However, their positive chemistry slowly melts away during their weekend getaway. The Danish family soon discovers that there is something wrong with their new Dutch friends.

Speak No Evil places the themes of kindness and politeness within a gritty world of horror and brutality. Its deeply unnerving and uncompromising in its intentionally awkward and merciless nature. Tafdrups new film is ruthless and wont be for everyone, but it will undeniably stick with audiences.

Shudder acquired distribution rights for Speak No Evil. The movie will hit the streaming service in late 2022.

8. Fresh

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Noa | Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Mimi Caves Fresh details the world of modern dating. Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) meets the handsome and charming Steve (Sebastian Stan) in a grocery store. Everything about their romance seems perfect, but some things are too good to be true. Noa soon discovers that her new boyfriend has unusual and highly dangerous appetites.

Fresh brings a unique take to dating horror stories. Its daring, yet wildly entertaining in a way that walks the line between horror and comedy. Stan plays a marvelous psychopath, who brings a unique flair to an otherwise familiar character. Theres a lot to dig your teeth into here.

Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights for Fresh. It premieres on Hulu on March 4.

7. Nanny

Anna Diop as Aisha | Sundance Institute

Nikyatu Jusus Nanny is told from Aishas (Anna Diop) perspective. Shes an immigrant who takes a job as a nanny to save up enough money so that her young son can move to the U.S. to live with her. She takes care of a wealthy New York familys child. However, Aisha discovers that a dangerous supernatural entity threatens her pursuit of the American Dream.

Nanny scored the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic for good reason. Jusu proves herself an outstanding talent and Diops performance is flawless. It isnt as scary as its plot suggests, but its a fascinating character study and examination of the American Dream that hits hard.

Nanny doesnt have U.S. distribution yet out of Sundance 2022.

6. Framing Agnes

Zackary Drucker as Agnes | Ava Benjamin Shorr/Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Chase Joynts Framing Agnes is a documentary that introduces previously unknown stories from the archives of the UCLA Gender Clinic from the 1950s. It explores how the media portrayed transgender people over the years and how their stories historical context plays into a modern framework.

Framing Agnes employs a talk show format to explore the transcripts. Its educational, historical, and thoroughly thought-provoking. Joynt and his team successfully bring voices of the past into the present, while being careful to not speak over them or replace their narratives.

Framing Agnes doesnt have U.S. distribution yet out of Sundance 2022.

5. Navalny

Alexei Navalny | Sundance Institute

Daniel Rohers Navalny is a documentary that follows Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. The story follows him after hes the target of an assassination attempt that left him poisoned by a lethal nerve agent in August 2020. He investigates the incident as he recovers and makes plans to return to Russia to fight for whats right.

Navalny is a must-see documentary. Roher examines the modern political and social climate of Vladimir Putins corruption within the framework of a thriller. Its a nail-biting documentary that also has an emotional core in Navalnys narrative. The film won the Audience Award: U.S. Documentary and the Festival Favorite Award.

CNN Films and HBO Max commissioned Navalny and will stream on CNN Plus and HBO Max later in 2022.

4. Cha Cha Real Smooth

L-R: Cooper Raiff as Andrew and Dakota Johnson as Domino | Sundance Institute

Cooper Raiffs Cha Cha Real Smooth follows Andrew (Raiff) after he graduated college. Hes aimless with no career prospects. He begins to work as a Bar Mitzvah party host and meets a mother (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter (Vanessa Burghardt). His life will never be the same.

Cha Cha Real Smooth is undeniably charming and will connect with audiences around the world. Raiff is endlessly charismatic in his portrayal of a young mans pursuit of love as he tries to make sense of the world. Its funny, heartfelt, and further proves Raiff as a filmmaker worth tracking. The film won the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic.

Apple TV+ acquired distribution rights for Cha Cha Real Smooth out of Sundance 2022.

3. You Wont Be Alone

Noomi Rapace as Bosilka | Courtesy of Sundance Institute/Branko Starcevic

Goran Stolevskis You Wont Be Alone is set in an isolated mountain village in 19th century Macedonia. A witch named Maria (Anamaria Marinca) abducts a young woman named Nevena (Sara Klimoska). She turns her into a witch, who in turn tries to make sense of the world and what it truly means to be alive.

You Wont Be Alone is a gripping and unshakable horror delight. This folk horror film is brutal, but it has a heart along with tremendous performances by Marinca, Klimoska, Noomi Rapace, and Alice Englert. It will undoubtedly be one of the top horror movies of the year.

Focus Features acquired You Wont Be Alone, which hits theaters on April 1.

2. After Yang

Colin Farrell as Jake | Courtesy of Sundance Institute/Benjamin Loeb/A24

Kogonadas After Yang takes place in the near future. Jake (Colin Farrell) and his wife, Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith), are doing their best to raise their young daughter, Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja). Their A.I. helper, Yang (Justin H. Min), breaks down and they now must figure out what to do next.

After Yang is truly unforgettable, must-see filmmaking. It explores the themes of family, loss, and the preservation of memory. Farrell, Turner-Smith, Tjandrawidjaja, and Min all deliver beautiful performances that elevate the movies core. This is profound and philosophical filmmaking.

A24 acquired After Yang, which hits theaters on March 4.

1. The Worst Person in the World

Renate Reinsve as Julie | Sundance Institute/Kasper Tuxen

Joachim Triers The Worst Person in the World follows four years of Julies (Renate Reinsve) life. She tries to find her place in life through relationships, career aspirations, and family. However, Julie will have to face her greatest fears in order to truly discover who she is.

The Worst Person in the World hit the festival circuit last year, but Sundance understandably included it in their lineup for 2022. Its one of the best films of the last few years, presenting a movie that is funny, heart-rending, and truly authentic. Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Herbert Nordrum all deliver award-worthy performances.

Neon acquired The Worst Person in the World, which hits theaters on Feb. 4.

RELATED: 20 Best Movies of 2021 and Where to Watch Them
In the first episode of 1883, the Dutton familys ancestors are introduced. James Dutton arrives in Fort Worth, TX followed shortly by his wife, daughter, son, sister, and niece. Elsa reveals that she and her family are originally from Tennessee. From Texas, they embark on a dangerous journey with Shea Brennans company. Yellowstone fans know the Duttons eventually wind up in Montana, but what did James do for work in Tennessee?

Tim McGraw as James, Faith Hill as Margaret and Isabel May as Elsa of the Paramount+ original series 1883 | Emerson Miller/Paramount+

What did James Dutton do for work in Tennessee?

While the Dutton family in 1883 are by no means wealthy, they seem to have a decent amount of money. They are able to afford the train tickets to Texas (though not in first class) and James splurges on a nice hotel for his family before they begin their journey. The Duttons also have an adequate amount of supplies for the trip. So what exactly did James do for work in Tennessee?

James is referred to as the farmer multiple times in 1883. Farming wasnt exactly a glamorous lifestyle. However, Outsider suggests that the family likely sold their property and any livestock they owned before heading West. This would have earned the family a decent amount of money for supplies and other expenses.

James Dutton was also a Confederate soldier in 1883

Elsa also mentions that her father was a Confederate Captain in the Civil War, though he refuses to talk about it. One flashback scene shows James awaking at the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day of the Civil War. After that, he was taken prisoner for three years.

James actor Tim McGraw explained the effects of the War on his character, and why he decided to leave Tennessee afterward. I think James was really suffering from PTSD, which nobody knew about then, McGraw told Outsider.

He was in a war he didnt want to fight and battles where he lost all his men. Three years in prison during the Civil War. Then coming back, certainly, there were things going on in the South during Reconstruction and after Reconstruction  I think he was looking for an untainted part of America.

Although the War was clearly a nightmarish experience for James, it was also likely an additional source of income. James was a Confederate Captain which according to battlefields.org would have earned him a sum of around $130 per month or about $3,500 per month in todays money. James military wages combined with the income from farming probably put the Dutton family somewhere in the working class.

The Dutton family travel to Montana

Yellowstone fans know that eventually, the Duttons become the owners of the largest ranch in the United States. However, the 1883 Duttons are a long way away from their future home. In fact, as of episode 5, Sheas group has not even made it out of Texas. There are plenty of dangers ahead on the Duttons journey and the first episodes opening scene hints that not everyone will make it to Montana alive.

New episodes of 1883 release Sundays on Paramount+.

RELATED: 1883: Do You Need to Watch Yellowstone First to Understand the Prequel?
Celebrity icon Elizabeth Taylor broke into acting young and discovered her worth as a commodity while she was still a teenager. But how did telling one of Hollywoods most powerful men to go to hell show her the celebrity power she held? And what had he done that made her so angry?

Elizabeth Taylor | API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

There was a certain value to this commodity called Elizabeth Taylor

In her only interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Taylor explained how she realized there was a certain value to this commodity called Elizabeth Taylor.

It happened after an incident involving her mother and film producer Louis B. Mayer. Notably, Mayer co-founded Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and was therefore one of the most commanding men in Hollywood. Though Taylor was only 15 at the time, she said, [Mayer] was swearing at my mother and using words that I really had never heard before.

And Mayer apparently had a reputation for bad behavior, as Johnny Carson assuredly asked Taylor, He was a tyrant, wasnt he?

To her, that was seemingly a bit of an understatement. Oh, he was foaming at the mouth and carrying on like a lunatic, Taylor replied, and he was swearing at her and being so abusive.

So, the young star eventually erupted. Through pouring tears, she told Mayer, You and your studio can both go to hell.

Elizabeth Taylor realized her worth when MGM didnt end her Hollywood career

RELATED: Why Elizabeth Taylor Only Granted Johnny Carson a Single Tonight Show Interview

After storming out of Mayers office, Taylor was encouraged to go back and apologize. But she refused, instead suggesting that Mayer should apologize to her mother. Impressively, she said she never went back to his office again.

And that sort of made me realize, when they didnt fire me, that this commodity must have some value to them, she concluded. Otherwise, I would have been sacked. And I didnt care whether that happened.

Carson then noted the famous line, That actor will never work in this town again  unless, of course, we need him.

Exactly, Taylor agreed. I think I learned that when I was 15.

Elizabeth Taylors sure sense of identity helped her navigate Hollywood

Elizabeth Taylor | John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

In a Rolling Stone interview from 1987, Taylor spoke more about how Hollywood utilized her as a child actor. After making movies at 9 years old, she found the studio more like a factory than a family. But her relationship with her mother and father helped her stay true to herself.

The studio wanted to dye her black hair, pluck her naturally bushy eyebrows, and change her name to Virginia. But she said her parents wouldnt allow any of it. Their defense of those features seemingly instilled a positive idea of who she was.

I guess I must have been pretty sure of my sense of identity, she shared. It was me. I accepted it all my life and I cant explain it.

So, in the end, Taylor knew her value as an individual before she even started acting. But she learned her worth as a Hollywood commodity from that abusive experience with Louis B. Mayer.

RELATED: Elizabeth Taylor Said She Didnt Date Younger Men  They Stayed the Same Age
Josh Duggars trial in 2021 illuminated his scandals of the past. With the trial resulting in a guilty verdict, Duggar family followers are looking at Joshs wrongdoings from the early 2000s in a new light. So, what happened to Josh after he allegedly molested a few of his younger sisters? He attended a training center where he learned carpentry and went through lust counseling.

Josh Duggars scandal from the early 2000s resulted in TLC canceling 19 Kids and Counting

A CPAC conference featuring Josh Duggar speaking | Kris Connor/Getty Images

Josh Duggars scandals led to TLC canceling the Duggar family show, 19 Kids and Counting. ABC News reports Josh admitted to committing inexcusable actions in the early 2000s, and the Duggars also went to the police regarding what occurred. The reports detailed how Josh allegedly inappropriately touched a number of minors when he was a young teen, and some of them were his sisters.



After thoughtful consideration, TLC and the Duggar family have decided to not move forward with 19 Kids and Counting, TLC told ABC News in 2015. The show will no longer appear on the air.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar also released a statement at the time. Today, TLC announced that they will not be filming new episodes of 19 Kids and Counting, they said.   With Gods grace and help, Josh, our daughters, and our entire family overcame a terrible situation, found healing and a way forward. We are so pleased with the wonderful adults they have all become.

Inside the training center he attended, where he learned carpentry and went through lust counseling

ABC News reports Josh Duggar admitted to the molestation on Facebook. In 2015, he wrote about how he spoke to authorities about the situation. He also detailed how he would attend counseling.

So, what did counseling look like for Josh? The Daily Mail reported in 2015 that Josh attended a training center in Little Rock, Arkansas, run by the Institute in Basic Life Principles, a controversial religious group founded by Bill Gothard. Gothard noted the program Josh went through involved participating in the Integrity Construction Institute program. This program had young boys like Josh renovating a former hospital. This involved construction work and physical laboring tasks. Gothard noted he wanted to turn the space into a juvenile center, or a space to grow his ministry.

As for the lust counseling, Josh received one-on-one counseling to cleanse his sexual thoughts. Josh was put to work helping with the renovations and learning about carpentry and on the side being instructed spiritually, Gothard explained. This involved learning more about the seven stresses, with lust being one of them.

The training center itself has a number of resources, like child training tips books and various other manuals. A cabinet in the lobby featured photos of the students at the center. The most recent photos were from 2003. The lobby of the training center had ornate furniture, tables, and lamps atop a red velvet carpet.

Do Josh Duggars siblings support him after his 2021 trial and guilty verdict?

The Duggar family visits Extra | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

Josh Duggars trial over obtaining child sexual abuse material resulted in a guilty verdict. Currently, his legal team is working to appeal, but where do Joshs siblings stand?

The Duggar family hasnt said much in the wake of the trial, but a few of his siblings, like Joy-Anna Duggar and Jill Duggar, wrote responses to the trial on social media. The responses noted they respected law enforcement, and they didnt seem to claim Joshs innocence.

An insider who spoke to In Touch noted the family braced themselves for the worst and remain divided on the outcome. [Michelle Duggar] and [Jim Bob Duggar] are trying to stay strong, praying for Josh, [Anna Duggar], and their grandkids, the source claimed. The family is rallying, but some of the kids cant forgive their brother Josh for what he did. Theyre horrified that he didnt get help sooner.

How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.

Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook!

RELATED: Josh Duggar News: The Duggar Family Can Send Josh Food Gift Packages Containing a Family Favorite Snack
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William.

When Prince Charles becomes king, Kate will recieve numerous new titles.

Including one that has not been used by anyone since Princess Diana.

Kate Middleton | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate Middletons most commonly used title at the moment is Duchess of Cambridge. But when Prince Charles becomes king  and Prince William becomes heir to the throne  her title will change. When the time comes, Middleton will receive numerous new royal titles  including one that hasnt been used since the death of Princess Diana.

Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day

Per royal tradition, Queen Elizabeth made William the Duke of Cambridge and Kate the Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day in April 2011. Kate also received the HRH title  Her Royal Highness  which will remain with her as William ascends to the throne.

The other titles she receives in the future will be connected to her husband or granted by the Sovereign. When Prince Charles becomes king, Kate will likely drop the Duchess of Cambridge title and receive new ones.

Dr. Bob Morris  Senior Honorary Research Associate at the Constitution Unit, University College London  told Express that at least three new royal titles could be in Kates future.

Prince William will be the heir apparent

A lot of things will change in the royal family when Queen Elizabeth passes and Charles becomes king. William will become the heir apparent to the throne  a place that Charles has held for 70 years and counting  and he will inherit the Duchy of Cornwall.

This will automatically make William the Duke of Cornwall. And as his wife, Kate will hold the title of Duchess of Cornwall. As royal fans know, this is currently the title being used by Charles wife, Camilla.

Kate Middleton might also be known as the Princess of Wales

One major title that royal fans are very familiar with is Princess of Wales, which was last used by the late Princess Diana. Unlike the Duke of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales title isnt automatic for the heir apparent. It must be allocated by the Sovereign. Meaning the Princess of Wales title is not a guarantee for Kate.

When Prince Charles becomes king, his eldest son does not automatically inherit his fathers title as the Prince of Wales. However, it is likely that any delay will be short before the title is conferred, Dr. Morris explained.

Accordingly, when her husband becomes Prince of Wales, she [Kate] will become Princess of Wales as well as sharing the heirs other title of the Duke of Cornwall.

More titles from Scotland and Northern Ireland

Dr. Morris also noted that William will receive new titles that he will use in Scotland and Northern Ireland  the Duke of Rothesay and Earl of Carrick. Williams new titles will automatically make Kate the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland and the Countess of Carrick.

The royal expert also noted that for 2022, Queen Elizabeth made Camilla a Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. This means the same thing could happen to Kate under the next Sovereign.

Kate Middleton could receive the UKs most prestigious order of chivalry

Dr. Morris explained that Kate is already a senior member of the Royal Victorian Order. Which is a gift from the Sovereign like the Order of the Garter. He says its likely that Kate will receive this honor  which is the UKs most prestigious order of chivalry  when either Charles or William is king.

Finally, granted the precedent of the Duchess of Cornwalls appointment as the first spouse of the heir to be appointed to the Garter, it seems likely that the Duchess of Cambridge can also expect to be similarly appointed in due course after her father-in-laws succession, Dr. Morris concluded.

RELATED: Kate Middleton Is Ready to Be Adored Like Diana, Royal Expert Says
Illustration of an atomically-thin material layer stretched over a nanowire. It creates an energy channel for electronic quasiparticles, excited by light and guided along the channel. Their movement is made visible by ultrafast microscopy.

A highly unusual movement of light emitting particles in atomically-thin semiconductors was experimentally confirmed by scientists from the WurzburgDresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmatComplexity and Topology in Quantum Matter. Electronic quasiparticles, known as excitons, seemed to move in opposite directions at the same time. Professor Alexey Chernikovnewly appointed physicist at the Technische Universitat Dresdenand his team were able to reveal the consequences of this quantum phenomenon by monitoring light emission from mobile excitons using ultrafast microscopy at extremely low temperatures. These findings move the topic of quantum transport of excitonic many-body states into the focus of modern research. The results of this work have been published in the Physical Review Letters journal.

Light emitters in atomically-thin matter

Quantum materials studied by Alexey Chernikov and his team are only a few atoms thin. Due to extremely strong interactions in these systems, electrons come together to form new states known as excitons. Excitons behave like independent particles and are able to absorb and emit light with high efficiency. In atomically-thin layers they are stable from lowest temperatures such as minus 268 degree Celsius up to room temperature.

Regarding the current research project that focuses on the movement of excitons in ultra-thin matter, the physicist Chernikov explains: Excitons can be understood as a kind of moving light sources. Like other quantum mechanical objects, they combine both wave and particle properties, propagating through atomically-thin crystals. It means that they can store and transport both energy and information, but also convert them again to light. That makes them particularly interesting for us."

On the trail of crazy quasiparticles

Rapid movement of excitons in atomically-thin semiconductors was visualized using highly sensitive optical microscopy: First we applied a short laser pulse to the material that generated the excitons. Then we used an ultrafast detector to observe when and where the light was reemitted. When we repeated these experiments at very low temperatures, however, the movement of quasiparticles appeared rather astonishing, says Chernikov.

Moving in two directions at the same time

So far, two general types of exciton movement were broadly known to the scientific community: either the excitons jump from one molecule to another (process known as hopping)or they move rather classically like billiard balls that change their direction after random scattering events. In the ultra-thin semiconductors, however, the excitons behaved in a way that we have never seen before. In the end, the only possible explanation was that the excitons would occasionally move through closed loops in opposite directions at the same time. Such behavior was in fact known from individual electrons. However, to observe this experimentally for luminescent excitonsthat was quite unusual, notes Chernikov.

After all control experiments confirmed the result, the scientists looked for the cause of their unusual observation. A recently published theoretical work by the Russian researcher Mikhail M. Glazov from the Ioffe Institute in Saint Petersburg provided the key insight: Glazov describes how excitons in atomically-thin semiconductors can indeed move through closed, ring-like paths and enter superimposed states. This means that the excitons seem to essentially move both clockwise and counterclockwise at the same time. This effect is a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon, which does not occur for classical particles. Together with the team of Ermin Malic from the Philipps University of Marburg, who provided additional insights into the exciton dynamics, the scientists were finally able to track down this unusual behavior.

Outlook

In a collaboration with international colleagues Alexey Chernikov's team has shown a way to experimentally monitor quantum mechanical effects in the movement of interacting many-particle complexes. Research into the quantum transport of excitonic quasiparticles, however, is still at the very beginning. In the future, materials such as the ultra-thin layers examined by Chernikov could also serve as a basis for new types of laser sources, light sensors, solar cells or even building blocks for quantum computers.
The pandemic continues to disrupt the international events calendar for mechanical process engineering and analytics in 2022. Following in-depth consultation with the honorary sponsors, the Exhibition Advisory Board and many registered exhibitors, NurnbergMesse as organizer has now decided to postpone POWTECH 2022, the international Leading Trade Fair for Powder & Bulk Solids Processing and Analytics, by four weeks. It will now be held at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 27 to 29 September 2022, in parallel with FACHPACK, the European Trade Fair for Packaging, Technology and Processing.

That means we can offer the bulk solids sector an exhibition date outside the summer holidays, which is particularly convenient for our customers from southern Germany and the Mediterranean region," says Heike Slotta, Executive Director Exhibitions, NurnbergMesse. In recent days we have had in-depth discussions with the exhibitors at POWTECH and asked them about their preferred dates, says Slotta. It is extremely important for us to make this decision in conjunction with our customers  with the sector for the sector, you might say. The result of the survey was clear: The majority opted to hold it on 27-29 September 2022. By holding FACHPACK in September last year, we showed that we were able to run highly successful trade fairs even in the middle of a pandemic. Thats why were also really looking forward to holding a successful live event for the bulk solids sector.

Save the dates

In 2023, POWTECH will continue its schedule at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 26 to 28 September. FACHPACK traditionally takes a break once every three years and therefore will not be held in 2023. It will resume its normal schedule on 24-26 September 2024.
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A committee tasked with setting pay rates for elected tribal leaders said it will increase base salaries by an average of 26% per year over th
U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, Jan. 28. UPI-Yonhap





The United States is concerned North Korea's escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior U.S. official said Sunday (local time), while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.







North Korea conducted a test of one of its largest missiles Sunday, sending a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) soaring into space for the first time since 2017.







South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the recent flurry of North Korean missile tests was reminiscent of heightened tensions in that year, when North Korea conducted multiple nuclear tests and launched its largest missiles.







He said the latest launch took North Korea a step closer to fully scrapping a self-imposed moratorium on testing its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which it hasn't tested since 2017.







A senior official of the Biden administration was asked in a briefing for journalists whether Washington shared the concern that Pyongyang might resume ICBM and nuclear weapons testing.







"Of course, we're concerned," he said. "It's not just what they did yesterday, it's the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month. And that follows on tests at the end of the year going back to September, of a variety of systems."






Chickasha, OK (73018)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
After the horrors of the Second World War, global attitudes on race began to change as secular and religious leaders called for both civil rights and an end to white rule. While historians usually recount the civil rights movement in the United States with little reference to events in the wider world, religious and secular leaders of the period understood American civil rights as part of part of a larger campaign against global racism.

Attitudes of ethnic superiority were pervasive throughout the Western world, and white, colonial rule was viewed as an expression of the racist worldview. In 1942, a chorus of Protestant leaders began calling for the equality of other races in our own and other lands. In 1947, two years after the war ended, the Lutheran theologian Otto Frederick Nolde produced a series of essays arguing for global racial equality, calling for the church to lead the way:

The Christian gospel relates to all men, regardless of race, language or color.  [T]here is no Christian basis to support a fancied intrinsic superiority of any one race. The rights of all peoples of all lands should be recognized and safeguarded. International cooperation is needed to create conditions under which these freedoms may become a reality.

The call for racial equality was part of a worldwide movement that demanded freedom for all peoples of all lands. In 1948, the global community adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a watershed event in the worldwide battle against racism. American Protestant missionaries were highly influential in the language of the UDHR and became vocal proponents for religious freedom as well as global human rights. Attitudes were shifting in the Western world, and missionaries were helping lead the way. W. E. B. Du Bois, who is perhaps best known as an American civil rights activist, is more properly understood as a prophetic voice calling for an end to global racism and white oppression. Though he was an atheist, Du Bois worked alongside Western missionaries in the adoption of the UDHR in 1948 and expressed his belief that Western missionaries had an important role to play in putting an end to global racism.

Yet racism remained an acceptable sin following the Second World War, even among many evangelical Christians. The problem of the color bar was a problem among some Christian mission societies during the first half of the 20th century.

During my doctoral studies, I examined the organization that became the centurys largest Protestant mission agency on the African continent. It was in turmoil over how to handle the issue of racial integration in the 1950s. Executives balked at the suggestion by some of its missionaries that it should accept colored Evangelicals as full-fledged members of the mission community. Officials in the home office wondered aloud (mostly in closed-door meetings) how they would address the question of equal compensation as well as problems that would arise when the children of Black American missionaries wanted to attend school with the children of their white colleagues. Mission authorities suggested that perhaps they could create separate mission stations that were staffed entirely by negroes in Africa.

So some missionaries were working to change racist attitudes abroad, while others were coming to terms with such attitudes in their own ranks. But there is something else I became more aware of as I was toiling away in dusty archives: Those same changing attitudes on global human rights and white rule became a crisis for some missionaries and mission societies even as they tried to remain focused on their primary work of gospel proclamation.

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As an example, the mission I became most familiar with was forced to reposition itself due to the rise of nationalism and anti-white sentiment in the 1950s during the Mau Mau Conflict (circa 195256). The changes sweeping the African continent created political pressure to Africanize all spheres of society (including the church). In the decade that followed Kenyan independence from Great Britain (the process began in about 1958 and independence was announced in 1963), the all-white mission initially resisted pressure from African church leaders for a peaceful handover of its property and power. In spite of assurances otherwise, missionaries feared they would then be pressured to leave the country (thus ending their work).

The mission finally relinquished its authority in the 1970s after African church leaders threatened a hostile takeover, though it was not until 1980 that a complete handover had taken place due to the demands of the African churchs stalwart bishop, who grew weary of what he called the mission station mentality. (He was referring to the failure of missionaries to fully integrate with the African church.) Foreign control by whiteswhether in the nation, the church, or mission societieswas out of step with the times. Even mission organizations that were not fully on board with the changing times brought by decolonization were forced to adjust.

It is important for Western Christians who are engaged in world missions to understand that white supremacy in all its forms has been rejected by the non-Western world. During the latter 20th century, missionaries serving in the non-Western world were keenly aware of this global mood. Throughout the African continent during the second half of the 20th century, colonies rebelled against their Western masters, buoyed by the fight for human freedom and the end of global racism. As former colonies became independent, Western missionaries from various denominations, Catholic and Protestant, were forced to relinquish ecclesiastical authority.

The transitions from mission to church (referred to as devolution) in various denominations were often tense and uneven. Progressive voices within mission circles called for devolution as soon as possible. Max Warren (190477), who served as the vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge from 1936 to 1942, and the general secretary of the Church Missionary Society from 1942 to 1963, was especially persuasive in convincing the global mission community to adjust to the changes sweeping the world during decolonization.

In most cases, missionaries and mission societies responded with alacrity, preparing local leaders for positions of authority as quickly as possible, often out of concern that they would be forced to leave the country by new government regimes that might be hostile to Western workers (as in China in 1949 and the Belgian Congo in 1960).

In newly independent nations where mission societies were allowed to continue working, missionaries sometimes felt compelled to relinquish control of the church, fearing that they might be perceived as antigovernment or even racist. Conditions in South Africa were even more complex, with church and state intertwined in private and public spheres, and racial tensions continuing well past the end of apartheid (1994) up to the present day. In China and India, most Western missionaries had already been pressured to return home by 1950 due to anti-Western sentiment, and mission societies had no choice but to hand over the leadership of the church to indigenous leaders. In Latin America, while nations had experienced political freedom more than a century earlier, frustrations mounted in the middle of the 20th century over the elitism that was displayed by church hierarchy.

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Christian leaders, both Catholic and Protestant, expressed solidarity with the poor and oppressed through the espousal of liberation theology in the 1950s to the 1990s. This form of theology, drawing heavily on the Exodus motif, argued that God is on a mission to set his people free, both spiritually and politically. The rhetoric of liberation theology was often anti-Western, and some of the criticisms of liberation theologians were directed toward Western missionaries who were viewed as neocolonialists. From the 1940s through the 1990s, Western missions societies were pressured to adjust to the rapidly changing world around them. White rule in all its forms was being rejected in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

I learned about the growth of Christianity in the non-Western world during my sabbatical in Kenya in 2006, and I also learned a lot about the attitudes of non-Western Christians toward Western missionaries. A research project I undertook while in Kenya showed that Africans not only resented the legacy of Western control and racism (this did not surprise me), but they also believed that mission societies had displayed attitudes of cultural and racial superiority. Many Africans believed that the reluctance of Western missionaries to provide adequate ministerial preparation for local leaders was an expression of cultural and racial superiority.

While I was lecturing in the church history department at the Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology that year, a pastor from Ukambani (near Machakos, Kenya) came by my cottage one evening to deliver a copy of Joe de Grafts literary masterpiece Muntu. The African play was performed in 1975 at the World Council of Churches gathering in Nairobi and is now considered a classic in African literature.

In the play, the Waterpeople arrive while the sons and daughters of Africa are fighting among themselves over how to govern their own affairs. The First Water-man is a Christian missionary who has come to Africa to make converts; the second is a trader who sets up a shop for buying and selling; the third is a white settler in search of land; the fourth is a colonial administrator with plans to build a railway for exporting gold.

The Waterpeople were brandishing muskets, and even the missionary proved to be an excellent marksman. The African pastor who handed me the play explained that de Grafts work would help me understand the mindset of many Africans, especially those who were university educated. African Christians, I was to learn, remember that the Western missionary arrived along with the settler, the trader, and the colonial administratoroften on the same ships. More discerning Christians, he informed me, understood that the missionary had different aims. However, he continued, it was important for me to understand that a new generation of African leaders had emerged who would not abide anything that resembled Western superiority. The end of white rule in non-Western nations, he wanted me to understand, also meant the end of any hint of white rule in the African church.

Christians in Africa, Asia, and Latin America want (and deserve) to work with the church in the Western world as coequals in the gospel for the cause of global missions. Church leaders in the non-Western world are keenly aware of the history of subjugation that they and their forefathers have endured. They do not want to be ignored, bypassed, looked down on, or patronized by the Western churcharriving in their country to carry out their work independently as though no African, Asian, or Latin American church actually exists. They want the Western church to serve with them in common witness. They also want Western church leaders to acknowledge them, respect them, and listen to them. They want Western Christians to first understand their needs and then come and serve alongside them.

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It is easy to mistake the hospitality offered by the people of the non-Western world to Western visitors for willing subservience. But it is critical to understand that attitudes toward North Americans and Europeans have changed during the 20th century and that even hospitable hosts are aware of the long history of cultural and racial superiority.

Bishop Oscar Muriu is an influential Christian leader on the African continent who has also become a personal friend. I have been the recipient of his kind hospitality on many occasions, and he has been a guest in my home on more than one occasion. We have had many frank discussions over good meals. In a recent exchange, I was soliciting his counsel on a matter related to missions, and he opined (again) about all the white people from the West...dreaming [about missions] in the 2/3 world.

Our non-Western brethren want us to be engaged in mission, but they dont want to be ignored, especially when we are planning mission initiatives in their own backyard! As the Kenyan activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi put it in a 2015 op-ed published in the The New York Times: If you want to come and help me, first ask me what I wantthen we can work together. It is not the The White Mans Burden to save the world; it is the responsibility of the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.

Adapted from World Christianity and the Unfinished Task, by F. Lionel Young III. Used by permission of Wipf and Stock Publishers, www.wipfandstock.com.

[ This article is also available in Francais, , , and . ]

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Youre reading the English translation of the winner of Christianity Todays first ever essay contest for Christians who write in Spanish. Learn more about the competition and CTs multilingual work and check out the winning essays written originally in Portuguese French , and Indonesian

As we read the Gospels, it is evident on every page that Jesus felt deep compassion for suffering people. He always sought to respond to both their physical and spiritual needs. This was made clear even in Isaiah's prophecy of his coming:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isa. 61:1)

In Isaiah 58, we can see Gods heart with a unique clarity. God speaks with repudiation about religious acts that do not come from a heart that loves God above all things and neighbor as self.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelterwhen you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (vv. 67)

Jesus preached repentance, provided a new level of interpretation of the Old Testament, and announced the good news of salvation. In doing so, he also preached care and attention to the needy, healed the sick, and provided food for the hungry (Luke 10:2537; Mark 6:3044; Mark 8:19; John 5:118; Matt. 8:14).

Jesus even said that those who do not perform these deeds will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 25:3546).

This essay does not attempt to compare the arguments that support a merely social or a merely theological vision of the gospel. Instead, it assumes that the global church has reached a certain general agreement about the two-dimensionality of the gospel. As Rene Padillas legacy demonstrated through the integral mission model, social action and evangelism are like the two wings of an airplane.

The gospel lacks depth if it is presented only in words and without evidence of Gods power at work in his church, transforming it and leading it to carry out deeds that demonstrate Christs love in tangible ways.

However, too often, Ive seen our churches relegating compassion for the community to second place.

For decades our preachers and ministers have taught that churches exist exclusively to send souls to heaven, forgetting that the Scriptures affirm that in Christ, God reconciled all things to himself (Col. 1:20). This theological bias, alongside a general lack of passion for the gospel, has turned many churches into self-centered institutions that seek for little more than survival.

Following this logic, the vast majority of churches prioritize internal expenses, which are viewed as necessary to increase the comfort and growth of the churchthe payment of salaries, rent, current expenses, etc. Churches with greater resources even prioritize spending on luxuries that most of the worlds populationand even many of their own congregantsdo not even dream of, like air conditioning, large LCD screens, sophisticated sound systems, on-stage tablets, or a coffee lounge with leather couches.

In these churches, the logic that has deeply permeated their internal structure is that these expenses are a priority. As a result, only if there is a surplus will congregations consider allocating those resources to social causes or meeting the needs of the immediate community.

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As a pastor in a rural area in Latin America, I have been exploring different church settings and contexts for more than two decades. I often find believers who are exhausted and fed up with the same insipid practices that their churches have fallen into, as well as institutional bureaucracies that, within the church itself, limit the spreading of the gospel.

In different churches and regions, I have come across stories in which initiatives that seek for the church to have a greater influence in its immediate community are stifled by the pressure exerted by denominational hierarchy or politics or the way in which the church has been operating since its formation.

While it is true that many of these church leaders are aware of the call to missions and social action demanded by the gospel, the sad truth is that most prefer to maintain the status quo and not stir the pot with practices that take the church out of its comfort zone.

So, who can catalyze transformation in our communities through the gospel?

I can testify that many times it is the church members, those who dont necessarily have degrees in theological studies or enjoy the privileges of leadership. Common and lowly in heart people, who have managed to internalize the mission that Jesus Christ has entrusted to his church and who, without complexes or fears, are willing to obey the call and turn their own communities into mission fields.

I must say that, in the time that I have been working in the missionary field, in spite of the sorrows, Ive also enjoyed seeing and being part of ministries that managed to catalyze effective change to become expressions of love and service for their communities.

Countless times, at the end of a conference or talk, women and men have come up to me, with tears in their eyes, saying, What you are saying has always been in my heart. I have repeatedly told my pastors to give shelter to the homeless in the empty church buildings, and their answer is always Thats not what the church building is for. So I decided to shelter them in my garage.

In Nicaragua, a couple asked many times for their churchs support to organize a local mission to feed the elderly homeless, but the pastors response was: First things first. We must first allocate our budget to church salaries and expenses. There are never enough resources for the poor.

After receiving this response, they decided to leave that congregation and start what is now an amazing missionary church, where they feed children, the elderly, teenage women, and street people. The church also developed a system to produce its own resources.

If this couple had remained in that congregation where the resources were labeled even before their arrival, their call to missions would have died, or worse, as happens in thousands of churches, perhaps they would have repressed their vocation for fear of going against Gods servant, a title that in certain churches is used exclusively to denominational leaders and pastors.

In the Bible, we find many examples of how any follower of Christ can be led by God to initiate a small change, a spark that the Spirit of God can use and multiply for his glory. Think of the four who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus feet (Mark 2:112), or the young boy who offered the fish and the loaves for the miracle of multiplication (John 6:115).

In many churches, I have seen men and women rise up who no longer bare the weight of their calling for the helpless, who have the courage to obey God rather than men, and who, filled with the Holy Spirit, have built their church outside the church buildings and have been the hands of Jesus in the wounds of the most needy.

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It seems to me that this paradigm and modelas old as the church itself should inspire and guide churches to be the light of Christ within their communities. Perhaps the early church had the greatest impact in church history precisely because its members depended exclusively on the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit and did not have to struggle to preserve institutions or practices stablished by men.

In the church where I serve today, Comunidad Cristiana Shalom, located in rural Costa Rica, much of what is happening today has come forth from the initiative of hundreds of volunteers who live out the gospel. Many of us come from churches where we were told that the churchs business is only to share the gospel of salvation, not to serve the community. In many cases, longing for such interaction with the community was judged as a quest for friendship with the world.

The Lord called us to be a different church, where we do not see building up the temple as an end in itself. From the beginning, we sought to show Christ living in us through our service to others, and we made ourselves known to the community by picking up trash and cleaning rivers. Today we work with the elderly, and with abused and homeless people. The Lord was the one who united us, and today we are a mixed group formed by people who come from very diverse backgrounds, but who have in common the commitment to fulfill the Lords call to incarnate Christ in the community.

We church leaders must always have an open ear to listen to the missional passions of the congregants of the churches we serve. Sometimes we forget that, in many cases, it is the call that the Holy Spirit has placed in their hearts. We must listen to these voices and prayerfully open all the doors for the development and growth of all these ideas and opportunities to spread the gospel.

Im afraid that if evangelical churches do not go out of their comfort zone to incarnate the gospel they preach, they will end up becoming mere monuments, as has already happened to the church in different contexts and moments in history. Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (Matt. 5:13).

May our role be to become channels for the transformation of communities through simple men and women who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

If we do not, many will remain in their cathedrals of tasteless salt, while across the sidewalk you will find a follower of Christ tirelessly preaching the gospel using only a towel and a basin with water.

Roy Soto holds a bachelors degree in theology and is pastor of Iglesia Comunidad Cristiana Shalom in Costa Rica.

Translation by Diego Portillo.

[ This article is also available in espanol. ]
Youre reading the English translation of the winner of Christianity Todays first ever essay contest for Christians who write in French. Learn more about the competition and CTs multilingual work and check out the winning essays written originally in Portuguese Spanish , and Bahasa Indonesian

During a recent exchange with a colleague I knew to be quite ambitious, a few of his words stuck with me: I would rather live a difficult present with my resources than continue to save resources for an uncertain future. Who knows? The way things are going, the world may end tomorrow.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many to think that it is difficult or even impossible to continue to dream and believe in a better future.

Like my colleague, many around us have abandoned projects and are touched by various levels of depression that keep them from looking toward the future. Some have succumbed to suicide when they saw no other way or because they could not imagine living without their close family members who were tragically taken away by the virus. Many hopes have been dashed.

In my country of Benin, many businesses have been forced to cut back on work hours, which has resulted in staff layoffs. Some families have struggled to provide for their basic needs. Certain products that are now difficult to obtain.

And that is not all. The International Labor Organization announced last year that global unemployment will reach 205 million people by 2022. How can we not lose hope when faced with these challenges?

Two kinds of hope

Unlike English, which uses the word hope broadly, the French language uses two words that derive from the word esperer (to hope): espoir and esperance. Both can first refer to something hoped for. In this sense, the word espoir usually refers to an uncertain object; that is, someone who hopes for something in this way does not have the certainty that it will happen (I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow). On the other hand, esperance describes what, rightly or wrongly, is hoped for or expected with certainty. It often refers to a philosophical or eschatological object (I hope in the goodness of human beings; I hope for the return of Jesus Christ).

When we speak of espoir or esperance, we then have in mind different types of objects hoped for. This difference matters, because both terms also commonly refer to the state of mind that characterizes the hopeful. And this state of mind will be different precisely according to the object hoped for.

Having espoir for an uncertain yet better future in these difficult times may be a good thing, but it is not enough. Such hope can be disappointed and easily fade away when our wishes and expectations (our hopes) do not materialize.

The opposite is true with esperance, which is deeper than our desire and wish for an end to a crisis or a future without pain and suffering. To face the trials of life, we need peace and joy in our hearts that come from expecting certain happiness. This is what esperance is: a profound and stable disposition resulting from faith in the coming of what we expect. In this sense, it is similar in meaning to the English word hopefulness.

If we have believed in the Son of the living God, we have such a hope. It rests on the infallible promises of our God, who knows the plans he has for us, his childrenplans of peace and not misfortune, to give us a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). By using the two meanings of the word, we can say that the esperance that the fulfillment of his promises represents (the object hoped for) fills us with esperance (the state of mind).

God is for us the source of an unfailing hope. Thats reassuring! So how do we live out that hope in the midst of trials?

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A way of life

Several months ago, my sister participated in a training program in a country where the number of pandemic victims was constantly increasing. She was about to return home when many governments decided to close their airports. Exiled in a foreign land, in a country under the pressures of a pandemic, in the midst of her fears, she decided to trust in God.

A stranger helped me reach out to the organizers of the training I had attended. He put me in touch with a man of God who then provided me shelter. The times of meditation, prayer, and sharing, with my sister from a distance and with my host family, were a real support to me during the moments of general panic, she said after she returned home.

I have lived with my sister for almost six years. We have faced many situations together. The worries of one immediately become subjects of prayer for the other. She was finally able to return and resume her job, but the five months of her absence for the training and confinement, with all the uncertainties of these times, were a real test of my faith also. Yet with our hope in the Lord, I was able to overcome the loneliness, and we stood firm despite very real financial and professional challenges.

By paying attention to Gods faithfulness in times of joy or difficulty, we learn to make hope our way of life. And this prepares us.

We each have our trials of varying intensity. There are many who have been tested much more heavily than we have during this crisis, who have seen their expectations crumble. But what we have experienced on our own scale has drawn my attention to the crucial importance of an esperance-like hope.

In a CT article titled Our Nostalgia Is Spiritually Dangerous, Jeremy Sabella points out, Hope, in its full biblical sense, arises out of hardship: suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; character produces hope. This hope endures precisely because it is the work of the Spirit: hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Rom. 5:35). Hope takes root when the people of God follow the Spirits prompting to face the present trial.

Hope manifests its depth when it remains active in the midst of trials. The hope of which the Bible speaks, that which Christ has placed in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, is a constant support that will never fail.

Testimonies of hope in trials

Hope does not shelter us from the trials and difficulties of life, but it helps us overcome them with serenity and joy. Scripture reminds us of this.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations (Rom. 4:18). Who could still hope to conceive a child at the age of 100 with a 90-year-old wife? Abraham did it! Who can still hope for a future without pain and suffering? We can! For a Christian to hope in times of difficulty shows full trust in the One who promised to make all things new: God.

Job, having lost everything and living in an almost indescribable situation, expressed confidently and persistently his true hope when he said, I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth (Job 19:25). The continuation of Jobs story shows how his hope was rewarded (42:10).

Amid the fiercest storms we can imagine (rejection, persecution, etc.), the apostle Paul did not lose his hope either. Whether the situation was favorable or not, he believed and waited with patience and joy for the glorious future reserved for him. It was in the middle of these sufferings that he wrote several letters to Christians in different cities to encourage them to develop and keep their hope in the Lord. Note this excerpt addressed to the Christians of Rome who were also going through difficult times: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13).

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Hoping together

In our country, like in many others, the moments of quarantine have resulted in more online Christian meetings for prayers and encouragement. When asked what a Christian community that collectively hopes looks like, a sister in Christ told me, It looks like a strong tower, like an unshakable army!

Yes, a community filled with hope is a real support for the world in the face of trials and difficulties. It offers resistance in the face of despair and discouragement. It is a light that shines in the darkness.

I rejoice to see, like the apostle Paul, many Christian communities continuing to share the comforting message of hope, despite their various struggles. Throughout this crisis, I am grateful to have read articles from Christians like Jay Y. Kim, Anne Lecu, Kelly B. Trujillo, and many others who have taken up the pen to send their message of hope to the world. The line of witnesses of hope is not extinguished.

We are all facing this global crisis, as well as our personal problems and daily difficulties. We are all affected in one way or another, and some in terribly tragic ways. But our attitude toward it all is decisive.

My prayer is that, whatever darkness we go through, our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ will always remain alive, active, and practical. It may not be easy, but together, let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:23).

Syntyche D. Dahou is an administrative assistant. She is involved in the Groupe Biblique des Eleves et Etudiants du Benin (GBEEB), a member movement of IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students). She is passionate about Christian literature and is interested in ministry through Christian publications.

Translation completed by Sarah Buki

[ This article is also available in espanol and Francais. ]
One of Kenyas most wanted terrorists who killed Christians arrested in DRC

Security agencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo arrested one of Kenyas most wanted terrorists known for slaughtering Christians Saturday after he was captured by local youngsters, according to reports.

With the Kenyan government offering an $88,000 bounty, Rashid Mohamed Salim was captured by youths while he and two associates were going to South Africa, where he wanted to start a new life, the Kenyan news website Citizen Digital reported.

Salim, who is university educated, is also known as Chotara and Turki Salim. He was put on the Kenyan Anti-Terror Police radar last November on terrorism charges.

The youngsters handed over Salim to security forces, the persecution watchdog International Christian Concern stated.

This young man is a great terrorist. He is a very big player in the activities of slaughtering Christians in this part of Beni (Congo), a source in Beni told the Maryland-based ICC.

We have been receiving pictures and short films of him cutting the throats of Christians and the police, the source added. It is said that he is the one who captures them or has them captured via his telephone by fellow rebels when he is in the process of acting and publishes them as propaganda. He is already an Allied Democratic Forces commander.

The Islamist rebel group Allied Democratic Forces, based in Uganda, has carried out attacks on civilians and clashed with security forces in Congos Nord Kivu and Ituri provinces in recent years, killing hundreds and displacing tens of thousands of people.

Those provinces have been under a state of siege, according to Amnesty International.

Congo and Uganda launched a joint operation against ADF on Nov. 30.

As security forces have been unable to prevent Allied Democratic Forces attacks, Uganda announced last month that its soldiers will stay in the DRC for as long as needed to defeat the terrorist group.

Since his arrest, videos have emerged of Salim explaining his motivations for carrying out deadly attacks, according to ICC. When speaking of a video showing him beheading a DRC officer, he was quoted as saying that he had been given a machete by the ADF to behead the governments soldier that we had captured.

They told me to draw attention to all the people of the world that there was Islam in Congo, and they were invited to come and spread the Islamic religion so that Islam can rule the whole world, he said, according to ICC. So, I killed the FARDC soldier in the name of Allah.

ICC reports that Salim was radicalized as a teen at a popular Mosque in Mombasa, Kenya, and is believed to have recruited youth into terror groups in East Africa. He was also believed to have joined the Islamic State insurgency in Mozambique.

It is unclear if Congo will extradite Salim to Kenya.

Salims father, Mohamed Rashid, told journalists on Sunday that he had not seen his son since 2020, and the family had no idea of his sons location.

Dealing with the pain of his disappearance was difficult because we did not know about his whereabouts, Rashid was quoted as saying by Kenyans.co.

This boy went to the best schools and he performed well. He is a humble boy who loved his religion. We dont know what got into him until things got to the point where they are now.

He called for his son to be prosecuted in Kenya.

My plea to the government is to help bring him to Kenya, the father said. He should come to Mombasa so that I see him and check that he is OK then they can do their work. He should be sentenced here.
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.




Rescue workers found one more person trapped under rubble at the site of a collapsed apartment building under construction in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Monday.







The unidentified man was recovered on the 28th floor of the damaged building in Gwangju, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, as the search operation has continued for three weeks.







He is the second worker recovered from the collapsed building since a first man was found dead, Jan. 14.







Search operations for four other workers continue.







Exterior walls of the 39-story building under construction in Gwangju crumbled Jan 11, trapping six construction workers at the site. (Yonhap)


Louisville pays police officer suspended for praying outside abortion clinic $75K

The city of Louisville, Kentucky, has agreed to pay a police officer $75,000 in a legal settlement after the officer was punished for attending a pro-life demonstration outside of an abortion clinic while off duty.

Last October, Matthew Schrenger filed a complaint against Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Erika Shields and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer after being suspended for attending a prayer vigil outside EMW Womens Surgical Center last February.

The Thomas More Society, a conservative legal nonprofit representing Schrenger, issued a statement last Thursday confirming that the settlement had been reached.

Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Matt Heffron said that the punishment doled out to Schrenger was hypocritical, given that other Louisville police officers had participated in marches and demonstrations of a political nature with impunity.

The unfair discipline revealed undeniably content-based discrimination against Officer Schrengers personal pro-life views and violated his First Amendment rights, stated Heffron.

He was treated very differently than other officers who had undeniably engaged in true political protest and activism while participating in LGBT and Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

Schrenger and his father attended a prayer vigil outside of EMW Womens Surgical Center abortion clinic to participate in a pro-life event known as the 40 Days for Life.

Thomas More Society contends that Schrenger faced public scrutiny after photos emerged on a Twitter account run by abortion promoters tied to the clinic.

The police department quickly found out about Schrengers involvement in the event. The 13-year veteran of the force was accused of protesting at the clinic. He was suspended for over four months with pay, stripped of his authority and placed under investigation.

Schrenger denied the accusation that he was protesting. He maintains that the gathering he attended was peaceful and only involved praying outside the clinic before it opened.

Schrenger filed his lawsuit against Shields Fischer in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division.

The Defendants subjected the Plaintiff to suspension and related mistreatment, because the Plaintiff, while off duty, engaged in quiet prayer on a public sidewalk in front of an abortion clinic, stated the lawsuit.

The Plaintiffs right to speak freely and honestly is fully protected even if the Defendants disapprove of the Plaintiffs pro-life views. The central role of the First Amendment is to protect the right of individuals to speak of their beliefs and views, particularly when the government disapproves.

The clinic staff claimed to local media outlet WDRB that Schrengers presence, as he was in uniform and armed, was intimidating to staff members and patients. Surveillance footage showed that Schrenger arrived in his police cruiser and at one point held up a sign that reads, pray to end abortion, WDRB reports.
Pakistani pastor shot dead in ambush attack after Sunday service; mourners chant 'Long live Jesus Christ'

In what police called a terrorist act, two unidentified men followed a pastor returning home in his car after a Sunday worship service and shot him to death in Pakistans northwestern city of Peshawar, which in 2013 was the scene of one of the deadliest attacks on Christians in the country.

The pastor, identified as 75-year-old William Siraj of Shaheed-e-All Saints Church from the Church of Pakistan denomination comprising Methodist and Anglican churches, was shot twice in the abdomen as he and his colleague, identified as Pastor Patrick Naeem, were driving home from church on Sunday.

The shooting occurred near Ring Road in the citys Gulbahar area, leaving Pastor Siraj dead and Pastor Naeem injured, Pakistans Dawn newspaper reported, adding that Naeem had been discharged from the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Pastor Sirajs body had been handed over to his family.

News channels showed emergency services removing the pastor from the car as people chanted Long live Jesus Christ while carrying his body on a bed through the streets to a house, according to Reuters.

We demand justice and protection of Christians from the Government of Pakistan, tweeted Bishop Azad Marshall from the Church of Pakistan.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby also responded to the news of the attack.  We pray for the light of Christs justice, hope and peace for our sisters and brothers in the Church of Pakistan, he wrote on Twitter.

Capital City Police Officer Abbas Ahsan called it a terror attack and said, We are determined to protect minorities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces Chief Minister Mahmood Khan offered his condolences to the Christian community and the family of the deceased.

On Saturday, Pakistans interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed warned of possible terrorist strikes across the country over the next two months as security agencies had learned about sleeper cells of militant outfits in that region, The Times of India reported.

No one had claimed responsibility for the shooting as of Monday.

The countrys northwestern areas bordering Afghanistan have seen a rise in militant attacks on security forces in recent days, many of them claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is close to the Afghan Taliban, Reuters said.

In 2013, at least 81 Christians were killed after two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a church belonging to the Church of Pakistan denomination in Peshawar as hundreds of worshipers were leaving Sunday mass.

About 400 worshipers were exchanging greetings after the service at the 130-year-old All Saints Church when the two bombers, each carrying about 13 pounds of explosives, launched the attack. The walls were pockmarked with ball bearings that had been packed into the bombs to cause maximum carnage in the busy church.

There are about 70,000 Christians in Peshawar. The community accounts for about 2% of the 180 million people in Pakistan.

Muslim minorities, including Shias and Ahmaddiyas, also often face attacks by Sunni terror groups in Pakistan.
Venue Church struggles as Pastor Tavner Smith takes time off amid affair allegations

Pastor Tavner Smiths Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is seeking volunteers as several worshipers and employees have left the once-popular megachurch amid allegations Smith was intimately involved with a church staffer while in the process of divorcing his wife, Danielle.

We have some exciting opportunities coming up and we want you to know all about them. If you want to take your next step here at Venue Church, then Connection Point is for you. Connection Point is your way to join our volunteer dream team, Venue Churchs Chattanooga Campus Pastor Michael Patterson II announced in a video message played during a livestream broadcast on YouTube Sunday.

At Connection Point, youll learn more about Venue, the gifts Gods given you and how you can use your gifts to help serve right here at Venue Church.

A week earlier, the same video was played during the 9 a.m. service at the Chattanooga location, where two-thirds of the roughly 150 cushioned chairs in the church were unfilled, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.

A Facebook page critical of the church, called The Venue is NO Church, published evidence on Sunday showing that Venue Church is now only operating from the Chattanooga campus on Lee Highway. The church previously listed a campus in North Georgia. But that location is no longer listed on the churchs website.

The call for volunteers comes after at least eight church employees quit last month as a video surfaced online allegedly showing Smith kissing a female church employee who is not his wife.

The Daily Beast recently reported that Smith had also been caught last November half-naked with the same employee at his home by volunteers who had planned to cheer him up with a surprise visit.

They allegedly found the employee dressed in a towel while Smith was in his boxers. The pastor claimed that they had been making chili and hot dogs and gotten food on their clothes, the publication recounted from an interview with an unidentified volunteer.

I dont think none of us was that dumb, the volunteer told The Daily Beast. If she dropped chili on her clothes, why are you in your boxers? Was you all like, throwing chili at each other?

The former members and volunteers are still struggling with the fallout from their discovery last fall.

Everyone used to say, Venue is a cult, Venue is a cult, and I was like, No, its not, the volunteer who witnessed the chili incident said. And now as I look back, Im like, I dont think I was in a Godly place.

Smith hasnt publicly addressed the allegations against him. But he announced earlier this month that he is taking time off to get counseling and spend time with God.

In a Jan. 18 update on Smith, Patterson said: He is in great spirits.

Hes prayed up. Hes diving into the word, the Chattanooga campus pastor said. Hes getting that fever to get back out here to us.

In 2008, Smith was hired as executive student pastor at Redemption World Outreach in Greenville, South Carolina, a church led by Ron and Hope Carpenter. Smiths website lists Carpenter as his mentor. In 2012, the Smiths moved to Chattanooga and eventually launched Venue Church, which became one of the fastest-growing congregations in America.

Those who have stayed at Venue Church have pushed back on those criticizing Smith, describing staff members attempts to get Smith to step down as an insurrection, according to The Chattanooga Free Press. Two staff members who spoke with the newspaper questioned the character and credibility of those who have criticized Smith and the church, suggesting that their accusations are untrue.
Stand up, speak often: Christian leaders share ways to combat rising anti-Semitism

Amid the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide, The Christian Post spoke with two Christian leaders to get their opinions on what churches can do in response.

Last Thursday, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum held a virtual ceremony in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day held on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The event featured survivors who reflected on those targeted for extermination and others.

On this annual day of commemoration, the U.N. urges every member state to honor the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides, stated the Museum.

The observance came several days after British jihadist Malik Faisal Akram held four people hostage at a synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for around 10 hours before being killed by authorities.

Akram entered the synagogue disguised as a homeless man before he took hostages, demanding the release of al Qaeda terrorist Aafia Sidiqqui. None of the hostages were harmed.

North America, the United States, and Canada have seen the highest rates of violent antisemitic attacks in the last couple of years that have been recorded, wrote historian Bonnie K. Goodman for the Times of Israel.

In addition to the recent hostage incident, Goodman cited as examples the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that resulted in 11 deaths and the 2019 shooting at the Chabad of Poway, California, which resulted in one death and three injuries.

According to an Anti-Defamation League report published in 2021, there were over 2,000 incidents of anti-Semitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism in 2020, making it the third-highest year for such hateful activity since the group began keeping track in 1979.

The Christian Post spoke to pro-Israel Christian leaders to get their opinions on the rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S. and what churches can do in response.

Stand up  Show up

I think that the American Jewish community feels it, said Scott Phillips, executive director of Passages Israel, in an interview with CP on Friday.

Synagogue shootings, hostage situations like we had a few weeks ago, and then just everyday anti-Semitic events happening more and more, particularly since 2018.

Phillips believed that while anti-Semitism had always been around, recent technological advances such as the advent of social media had helped to strengthen the bigotry.

Generally, for thousands of years, on and off, the Jewish community has experienced this  anti-Semitism in one form or another. And so, I think its just another iteration, he noted.

In addition to the foundational reasons why anti-Semitism happens, I think the rise in social media, in Twitter, all of these types of things, that groups and people that espouse these views have a platform.

Phillips also believed that churches were not immune, pointing to such theological views as Replacement Theology as a likely source of Christian anti-Semitism.

According to Replacement Theology, also known as Supersessionism, Christians have replaced Jews as the Chosen People, and thus God has no more future plans for Israel.

To help combat the growing trend of anti-Semitism, Phillips explained to CP that he believed Christians needed to follow three steps: education, relationship, and action.

One is just being aware that anti-Semitism exists and really educating ourselves on the history of anti-Semitism and the causes of anti-Semitism, said Phillips.

I think once you have that basis, number two is relationships with the Jewish community. The local Jewish community. Reach out, have relationships that are unconditional and that are based on shared values and trust.

Phillips stressed the importance of the third step, which is to stand up, to show up, explaining how his organization reacted to the hostage crisis in Colleyville, Texas.

Passages put together with the help of local church pastors, a prayer vigil just down the street, while the hostage situation was happening. So weve got to stand up, weve got to show up, he added. Its really important to have tangible action.

Speak loudly  Speak often

The Rev. Johnnie Moore, a religious liberty activist who received the Simon Wiesenthal Center Medal of Valor for his human rights work, told CP that anti-Semitism was the worlds oldest hate.

It has always been with us, but we are definitely seeing an increase, said Moore. We are seeing a convergence of anti-Semitism from the Far Left and the Far Right enabled by social media and by powerful public figures, including members of Congress.

Moore spoke about numerous recent incidents, including a viral video of a rabbi being attacked in a parking lot, Jewish diners being assaulted in Los Angeles, and nationwide vandalism of synagogues.

Moore considered the Evangelical community in the U.S. and abroad as a global firewall against anti-Semitism, but also believed that we can do more by standing up first to anti-Semitism among Christians.

For instance, the recent comments coming from the head of the PCUSA is absolutely anti-Semitism. We also should educate ourselves about Christian anti-Semitism in history, he asserted.

As with Phillips, Moore told CP that an important way to combat anti-Semitism is to make sure our relationship with our Jewish neighbors isnt superficial.

In my case, almost weekly, I study the Hebrew Bible for one hour with a Jewish friend in Israel, me as a proud Christian and he as a proud Jew, but we have so much to learn from one another, he said.

When asked by CP as to what Christians should do to counter the rising trend of anti-Semitism in the United States, Moore responded, speak loudly, speak clearly, and speak often.
Finland puts the Bible on trial

On Jan. 24, Europe's biggest religious freedom case went to trial. A Finnish member of parliament, Paivi Rasanen, has been charged by the Finnish prosecutor general with three counts of "ethnic agitation," a hate speech provision in Finland's criminal code. Each count relates to Rasanen's respectful expression of widely-held Christian beliefs.

The first charge concerns a 2019 tweet in which Rasanen questioned the decision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (her own denomination) to partner with Helsinki's gay pride parade; this tweet also featured an image of Romans 1:24-27. Rasanen had moved on and forgotten about this tweet  until she learned that the police were investigating her over it.

On "Washington Watch," Paul Coleman, Rasanen's lawyer from Alliance Defending Freedom International, explained the process: "[Rasanen] was invited to the police station. She was interrogated, asked about her Christian beliefs, asked about what the Bible taught, about what she meant by this tweet, and then in the process of this investigation, they then started digging up many other things that she has said and written over the years. They went back almost two decades. They found a pamphlet that she wrote for her church in 2004. They extracted three minutes of a radio debate, took it out of context and used that. And they compiled all of these things together and then charged her with hate speech."

In addition to the 2019 tweet, Rasanen is also charged over comments she made on the radio in 2019 about homosexuality and over a 2004 booklet articulating her church's teaching on sexuality titled, Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relations Challenge the Christian Concept of Humanity. Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who published the booklet, is himself being charged with one count of ethnic agitation. For these acts, Rasanen, a soft-spoken 62-year-old grandmother and trained medical doctor, could end up spending two years in jail.

While the Finnish government had argued the case was not about Rasanen's use of the Bible or about her Christian faith, what took place in the courtroom yesterday told a different story. Coleman said, "The prosecutor began the day by stating that this wasn't a case about Christianity. This wasn't a case about the Bible. This wasn't a case about her beliefs and then immediately started to make it all about the Bible, all about her beliefs, all about Christianity; and I'm not kidding, began the day by reading passages of scripture, reading Old Testament verses." From his vantage point, Coleman said, "There is no question that as you sat in the courtroom today and watched this case unfold, what was on trial is really biblical teaching itself."

The case has drawn international scrutiny. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and four other Republican senators sent a letter this week to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain, urging him to raise concerns about Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola's cases with the Finnish government. The senators wrote, "We are greatly concerned that the use of Finnish law is tantamount to a secular blasphemy law. It could open the door for prosecution of other devout Christians, Muslims, Jews and adherents of other faiths for publicly stating their religious beliefs that may conflict with secular trends."

In Finland, the ability for Christians to speak biblical truth is on the line due to an overly broad hate speech provision in Finnish law. Yet, the Finnish government, like all governments, is incompetent to rule on "hate speech" because they cannot know or regulate what is in the human heart. That's on full display here. Governments should not be in the business of determining which religious beliefs are considered offensive, or even criminal.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) joined "Washington Watch" to explain why he believes people around the world should defend Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola. He said, "We have a duty to stand up for religious liberty and stand up for people to be able to speak the truth around the world. Whether it was that young man in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square, or whether it's these two individuals in particular facing this absurd prosecution in Finland for daring just to speak their faith, the truth of man and woman and their belief about marriage."

For Rasanen, this case is far bigger than herself. It's about the defense of basic human rights, for the Finnish people and people everywhere. She has stated, "I cannot accept that voicing religious beliefs could mean imprisonment. I will defend my right to confess my faith, so that no one else would be deprived of their right to freedom of religion and speech."

Paivi Rasanen is not a firebrand. She wasn't looking to cause a stir, and she didn't want this fight; the Finnish prosecutor general targeted her. Since then, Rasanen has taken up the role of a gracious advocate for free speech, including the expression of sincerely-held religious beliefs now considered culturally taboo in the West. Please pray for Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola as they await the court's ruling, that the court will ultimately side with freedom of religion and speech.

Originally published at the Family Research Council.
Pastor David Jeremiah urges Christians to be stewards of biblical truth in a 'post-truth world'

Pastor David Jeremiah of the multisite Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, warned that Christians are living in a post-truth world where biblical truth is slowly vanishing.

In part two of Stewardship, a three-part sermon series, Jeremiah, the founder of Turning Point Radio, preached that God has put Christians in charge of the Gospel as stewards of the truth, but Christians will have a harder time in life if they don't take the truth of the Bible seriously.

Jeremiah suggested that truth is "disappearing from our culture" and disappearing from "television," "magazines" and "newspapers."

We live in a post-truth world, which means the Word of God is more important than it has ever been, Jeremiah said. Post-truth means it used to be truth, but its not truth now to us. Post-truth is a word that describes our culture today.

Truth, he added, has largely become what many people make it to be. Its definition has become what people have manufactured themselves and not based upon any objective foundation.

However, Jeremiah said, Christians should know the difference between knowing what the Bible says and incorporating it in one's life.

I want the Word of God to be in your heart. ... If you dont get the Word of God in your heart, theres coming a day in the near future where you will have a very difficult time surviving as a Christian. We have got to get serious about the truth, Jeremiah continued.

Jeremiah said that as the head of a school based out of his church with 1,500 students enrolled, and as the chancellor of The Jeremiah School of Biblical Studies at Southern California Seminary, he's found that it's been challenging for him to be a steward of the truth while helping run Christian schools.

Are you watching whats going on in the schools of our nation?  We used to study reading, writing and arithmetic, Jeremiah said. But its way down the list now for all of the sociological stuff that theyre stuffing into these kids minds starting in kindergarten. And if were not careful, that can slip into our Christian school.

Jeremiah urged the congregation to pray for the Christian school as they stand in the middle and adhere to biblical truth. "By the grace of God," he declared that he'll stand like a warrior with a sword in front of the front door of the school to prevent any deviation away from biblical truth being taught.

We need to teach [students] how to think, but I have no apologies whatsoever for teaching the Word of God in our classrooms, Jeremiah maintained. For instance, did you know that History was His story? History is meaningless if you dont have God at the core of it.

You need to pray for us. This year we have had constant pressure not to stay in the center of the road when it comes to truth.

Preaching on the topic of stewardship, Jeremiah reminded his congregation and those watching online that God has ownership of everything.

Stewardship means we are managers of that which belongs to God, Jeremiah said. We are under His constant authority as we do what He tells us to do with that which belongs to Him. Its not our own. Its His. We do not manage it for ourselves. We manage it for Him.

The Bible simply is pregnant with the truth of the ownership of God, of everything that we say is ours. Isnt that interesting? We say its ours, but its Gods, he explained.

To give an example from Scripture, Jeremiah pointed the congregation to Deuteronomy 8:18, which says: But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Oftentimes, Jeremiah said, Christians do not think everything belongs to God because they believe that when they work and make money, the money becomes something that belongs to only themselves.

The Bible says you cant go to work and make money if God doesnt give you the power to do it, Jeremiah declared.

He then read from 1 Chronicles 29:12, which says: Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

And Proverbs 10:22, which states: The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

You know how you get rich, the blessing of the Lord, Jeremiah continued. And my favorite is James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Lets take a deep breath, disabuse ourselves of the great things weve accomplished and how much we have that we think is ours and realize what we have is what God has allowed us to have. What He has given to us, what He puts in our hands [is] to manage on His behalf and we become stewards of that, he added.

Stewardship, he stressed, is more than what a Christian gives, but it is how they live.

The Bible tells us that we are stewards of truth.  This is Gods truth. And Im a steward of this truth.  Is this my truth? No, its Gods truth, Jeremiah said while holding up his Bible. But God has given that truth to me, to you, to others, and He wants us to manage it on His behalf. He wants us to make sure its protected and proclaimed.

Isnt it interesting that in a day when truth is disregarded, this book still reigns, he continued, while lifting up his Bible again.

Managing time and money, giving and serving are all things that Jeremiah said Christians should take part in to be stewards of the truth.

Have you ever delivered? Have you ever been where people needed the Word of God and shared it with them and seen what happens when their lives are changed?  Stewardship is more than youre giving, its your living, Jeremiah reiterated.

If we mismanage our money, we try to make more of it.  Theres no mismanaging time. We can borrow moments.  You want to make sure you dont waste your time.  You cant manage time. You cant say to the clock, slow down, go faster.  Time goes on without anything we can do about it, he explained. Ladies and gentlemen, we only have one life to live.  Only one way to spend your time. God has given us time. He wants us to steward it.

Managing time according to Gods truth, Jeremiah said, means having a spirit of willingness to spend time serving God every day.

Time is an invisible reality created by the eternal God as a vehicle in which to fulfill His will as you travel through life.  Most of us can probably find ways to spend our time more effectively for the Kingdom, he suggested.

Jeremiah said he was a senior in high school when God called him into ministry to be a preacher. He said he remembers that his response to God was: yes. At the time, he had already been preaching at a small country church in Columbus, Ohio, every Sunday to a congregation of about 30 people.

I said yes. Did I have any idea that He would take me on the journey that Ive been on in my life? Of course not. But if I hadnt said yes, I never would have found out.  Theres an initial yes to God that opens the door to things you would never dream possible, said Jeremiah, whose in-person Sunday services average 10,000 people each week.

Every time a Christian says yes to God, it wont always result in a mega-career, Jeremiah said, but obeying Gods calling will never leave a Christian with regrets.

I am telling you that you cannot say yes to God and ever look back and be disappointed with what He does for you. He will show you what to do. If youd be willing, Jeremiah said. Are you available to God? Are you ready for God to say to you, Heres something I have equipped you to do? Will you do it? And if you say yes, get ready for a journey. Hell take you places you never dreamed.
Mel Gibson, Mark Wahlberg team up for new faith-based film, Father Stu'

The religious drama Father Stu based on actual events brings Hollywood stars Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson together on the big screen.

The Sony Pictures film, written and directed by Rosalind Ross, will hit theaters on Good Friday (April 15) with a powerful faith-based message. This film also marks Ross directorial debut.

Father Stu tells the story of boxer-turned-priest Father Stuart Long and his inspiring journey from self-destruction to redemption, the film's synopsis says.

Wahlberg, who is also a producer on the film, plays the lead character, supported by Academy Award-winner Gibson. Other actors featured in the movie include Jacki Weaver and Teresa Ruiz.

Father Stus journey from troublemaker to clergyman was inspiring to many, including me, Wahlberg said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. Rosey has done an incredible job capturing the essence of who he was and how he affected the people he met. I hope that with this film, we keep his spirit alive and continue his good works.

The faith-based film is loosely based on a true story that Wahlberg had been "developing for a number of years.

The Boston native was able to find a gap in his schedule in 2021 to move forward with making the film. Joining Wahlberg as a producer is his producing partner and manager, Stephen Levinson, along with Jordan Foss. Miky Lee and Colleen Camp are named as executive producers.

Ross, who's also an actress, has been romantically linked to Mel Gibson, with whom she shares a child.

Gibson is also working on The Passion of the Christ sequel and was selected to write and direct Wild Bunch and Lethal Weapon 5 for Warner Bros.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post in New York City, Wahlberg opened up about his faith. At the time, the Spencer Confidential actor explained how important it is for him to spend time with God.

Wahlberg revealed that he'd rather go to church on a Saturday night than see a Broadway show and said he likes to start and end each day by reflecting on his faith.

"That's what it's all about. You know, for me, it's just the way I love to start my day, finish my day," Wahlberg told CP, explaining why he decided to go to church instead of buying tickets to a see musical when he was in New York City.

"I've been very blessed and very fortunate. And it's because of the focus that I put on my faith and on my family that has allowed me to accomplish so many things. Also, with the failure and disappointment and loss, life is not easy," he emphasized.
Beware of the reality benders

Milwaukee has experienced a huge spike in car theft over the past two years. The good news is the city leadership is not taking the matter lying down and intends to combat the problem by suing the automotive manufacturers for making their cars too easy to steal.

As humor columnist Dave Barry is famous for saying: No, Im not making this up.

Evidently, Hyundai and Kia, whose cars reportedly were 2/3 of stolen vehicles in the first half of 2021, can be broken into through the back window without setting off their alarm. In a press release last month, Milwaukee Alderman Khalif Rainey claimed Hyundai and Kia, are directly responsible, in my view, for the drain on police and other city resources that have been sadly directed to deal with the rash of vehicle thefts and the havoc those thefts have brought to our city.

Hyundai and Kia are directly responsible for their cars being stolen?

This would then make the car thieves (not mentioned in Raineys statement) only indirectly responsible for the vehicle thefts? Are we to think that the car bandits are actually upstanding citizens, with no intention of malice in their heart, who are being unduly enticed and dragged into their life of crime by auto manufacturers?[1]

Welcome to another example of the reality bending and responsibility deflecting that plague our culture. What a privilege we have to live in this magical age of thinking that inverts the truth to make the criminal the victim and sinner the saint.

This kind of progressivism in America has become, at its core, the renunciation of personal responsibility and denial of reality. The bad news is since the definition of truth is that which corresponds to reality, and consequences always exist for living a lie, were looking at a rough road now and a worse one in the future.

Warning  confusion ahead

During a recent episode of Dr. Phil, conservative author and podcast host Matt Walsh debated two individuals who identify as non-binary on the topic of transgenderism. When each refused to define the term woman, the following exchange occurred:

You stood up here and said, Trans women are women. What is a woman?, Walsh asked. Womanhood is  something that I cannot define, the activist answered. But you used the word. So, what did you mean when you said, Trans women are women? I do not define what a woman is because I do not identify as a woman. Womanhood is something that is an umbrella term. That describes what?, asked Walsh. People who identify as a woman. Identify as what? A woman. What is that?, Walsh pressed.

The exchange is confounding on the one hand, but all too common on the other. After the episode aired, Walshs opponents complained in a social media post that they, have been experiencing a heightened level of anxiety to the point that weve had numerous nightmares and depression spirals over the last month.

Truth be told, theyre experiencing something philosopher J. Budziszewski described long ago in his book, The Revenge of Conscience: Those who rationalize their sins find it to be so much work that they require other people to support them in it. Hence the reason why society invented safe spaces and similar means to escape reality or those who disagree with them.

Were at the point now where simple words and phrases are being deliberately cut out of society, even down to software code, to avoid short-circuiting people. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, physicist and atheist Lawrence Krauss pokes fun at Googles language police, who are spearheading the removal in the tech world of words they deem as offensive, such as black box and (incredibly) smartphone. Krauss correctly observes, the list of terms excluded in the name of inclusion often borders on ridiculous.

The eternal alternate reality scam

Poet and Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz wrote a brilliantly-titled work called The Discreet Charms of Nihilism, where he reveals a particularly telling truth about our current society. Commenting on how Marx called religion the opiate of the people, Miloz writes, Now we are witnessing a transformation. A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death  the huge solace of thinking that for our betrayals, greed, cowardice, murders we are not going to be judged.

In keeping with that mindset, our current see-no-evil-prosecute-no-evil culture is doing everything in its power to reinforce this alternate reality scam now by not judging and punishing law-breakers. If you step back for a moment and take it all in from a big picture perspective, its a magnificently crafted plan of such deviance that it could only be orchestrated by one master maestro.

Hes the same one who told Eve when she hesitated in disobeying God, You surely will not die! (Gen. 3:4), making the judgment of God the first doctrine to ever be denied in Scripture. But unlike other reality disconnects, the consequence of this truth bending is eternal and, frighteningly, the vast majority of humanity has been suckered into swallowing it hook, line, and sinker.

C. S. Lewis masterfully describes the distinction between the wise and foolish person when he says, For the wise men of old, the cardinal problem of human life was how to conform the soul to objective reality, and the solution was wisdom, self-discipline, and virtue. For the modern, the cardinal problem is how to conform reality to the wishes of man.

Nothing but disaster occurs when you choose the latter over the former. Its a judgment and end result spelled out by the authors of Proverbs thousands of years ago:

Because I called and you refused,

I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

And you neglected all my counsel

And did not want my reproof;

I will also laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when your dread comes,

When your dread comes like a storm

And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

When distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:24-29).

[1] Its not just Milwaukee leadership having such reality disconnects. A day after governor Gavin Newsom toured a stretch of Union Pacific rail tracks in Los Angeles littered with the remains of looted packages, progressive L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon blamed railroad operators for the problem and said the railroad doesnt do enough to ensure its trains are adequately locked and protected.
Biden to allow trans-identified men in women's prisons, reversing Trump-era ban 'except in rare cases'

The United States Department of Justice has unveiled new guidance allowing male inmates at federal prisons to be housed with female prisoners.

The DOJs Federal Bureau of Prisons outlined changes to the "Transgender Offender Manual" in a 14-page document released Jan. 13. The stated purpose of the update is to ensure the Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) properly identifies, tracks, and provides services to the transgender population.

Specifically, the changes remove language inserted into the "Transgender Offender Manual" by the Trump administration. The Trump administration required the Transgender Executive Council to use biological sex as the initial determination for designation of trans-identified inmates. According to the Trump administrations approach, implemented in 2018, the designation to a facility of the inmates identified gender would be appropriate only in rare cases.

The aforementioned language has since been removed from the "Transgender Offender Manual." Additional language removed from the manual includes a statement declaring that training materials and current information on the management of transgender inmates will include information concerning best practices for maintaining the safety of transgender inmates, while also ensuring security and good order in Federal prisons and the safety of staff, inmates, and the public.

In addition to removing the language added to the "Transgender Offender Manual" by the Trump administration, the Biden administration now requires prison personnel to address trans-identified inmates using their preferred pronouns. Under the Trump administration, prison staff had the option to decide whether to address trans-identified inmates using pronouns that matched their chosen gender identity. Now, prison officials will have to either refer to trans-identified prisoners by their last name or the pronouns associated with the inmates identified gender.

Deliberately and repeatedly mis-gendering an inmate is not permitted, the guidance states.

In the absence of the Trump administration guidance assigning biological sex as the primary determining factor for the placement of a trans-identified prisoner, the designation of such inmates to prisons that either match their biological sex or chosen gender identity will be done on a case-by-case basis. The manual stresses that a transgender or intersex inmates own views with respect to his/her own safety must be given serious consideration.

The document also contains an entirely new section outlining the process trans-identified inmates must go through when seeking so-called "trans-affirming surgeries." Trans-identified inmates now have the option to submit a request for surgical intervention to their prisons warden.

Additionally, the document defines gender as a construct used to classify a person as male, female, both, or neither, adding: Gender encompasses aspects of social identity, psychological identity, and human behavior. The definition makes no mention of the role human biology plays in determining gender. The definition, one of several included in the "Transgender Offender Manual," remains unchanged from the Trump administration.

Female inmates in California have expressed opposition to a recently enacted law that allows the placement of male inmates who identify as female in womens prisons, citing concerns for the safety of the female inmates in light of the biological differences between men and women.

One female prisoner recalled an interaction between a young female prisoner and a trans-identified man in the prison yard. He spoke of getting it on with the women and he had no intentions of getting rid of his penis, she reported.

These guys have been overheard saying to one another, Stick to the plan. What exactly is the plan? she asked. We are not certain. I will not be surprised [when] the first female gets pregnant.

Another female inmate, who has suffered sexual abuse, gang rape, rape by co-defendant, [and] domestic violence, wrote about the horror of having to wait for a possible sex offender with a penis to be housed in a cell with me. She also feared being the only one left alone in the cell with someone who [has] 25 percent more muscle than me.

The Womens Liberation Front, a feminist group, publicly shared letters from these women expressing their concerns and fears as part of its effort to preserve single-sex prisons.

Just before the Bureau of Prisons unveiled the document containing updated guidance on how to deal with trans-identified inmates, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced the Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act. His legislation would forbid the Bureau of Prisons from using asserted gender identity to house inmates of one sex with inmates of the opposite sex and would withhold federal funding from state prisons that house prisoners based on their stated gender identity as opposed to their biological sex.

President Bidens plan to house male and female prisoners together will put women in danger, Cotton said in a statement. Documented cases prove that placing men  including ones who identify as female  in womens prisons puts female inmates at increased risk of sexual assault. My bill will stop the presidents ill-conceived plan and keep men and women separated in federal prison.
People watch a TV at the Seoul Railway Station showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch shown during a news program, Jan. 20. AP-Yonhap





North Korea fired what appeared to be two cruise missiles into the sea off its east coast Tuesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, days after a flurry of ballistic missile tests.







South Korea's military is assessing the launches to determine the nature of the projectiles, it said.







Such a launch would be its fifth missile test of the year, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster the country's military with cutting-edge technology at a time when talks with South Korea and the United States have stalled.







The isolated nation's largest series of missile launches since at least 2019 has prompted an expression of concern from the U.N. secretary general, and the Biden administration has applied new sanctions.







Cruise missile launches by the North are not banned under United Nations sanctions imposed on Pyongyang, which has defied international condemnation and conducted four rounds of ballistic missile tests, the most recent being Jan. 17.







China and Russia have pushed the U.N. Security Council to remove a ban on Pyongyang's exports of statues, seafood and textiles, and raise a refined petroleum imports cap.







North Korea has said it is open to talks, but only if the United States and others drop "hostile policies" such as sanctions and military exercises. (Reuters)


Pastor says deconstruction has become 'trendy,' shares how to love those struggling with doubt

As more and more Christian leaders publicly leave the faith, a pastor has weighed in on the deconstruction movement and shared how the Church can best love those struggling with doubt.

Pastor Dominic Done, who himself went through a season of deconstruction and reconstruction, is the founder of Pursuing Faith, a ministry focused on equipping Christians to successfully navigate culturally pertinent issues relating to faith, doubt and apologetics.

In a recent appearance on The Crazy Happy Podcast, a show from Daniel Fusco and the Edifi Podcast Network, Done, who also authored the book When Faith Fails, shared how Christians can help a person turn their deconstruction into reconstruction thats redemptive.

Something's happening right now and I'd say especially over this last year, even last six months, we're seeing so many people deconstruct their faith, walk away from the faith, say that they don't believe, Done said. I think in many ways it's because we don't know how to respond to doubt in our life. Part of it is bad theology, part of it is cultural assumptions that we carry into our walk with Jesus.

Done identified two dangers when it comes to doubt. The first, he said, is demonizing it and seeing it as the great enemy.

When we don't know what to do with thorny, gritty, raw, unanswered or unanswerable questions  we kind of press it down, he said. Doubt can lead to a place of sin, which is unbelief. Unbelief is a sin, but doubt is kind of the neutral space in between that can lead to a deeper faith or can lead to deeper unbelief.

The second unhealthy response to doubt is idolizing it, where its viewed as the answer.

The trendy thing right now is that weve got to deconstruct our faith, walk away from the faith, walk away from the church, he said. But the problem with that is, while I think deconstruction can be healthy if it's a  sloughing off of things that are unhealthy in our life, views of God that aren't correct, things that we've kind of taken on board that [aren't] essential to our faith  that form of deconstruction can be really healthy. But if it's just deconstruction for the sake of deconstruction, it's not going to lead you anywhere.

Following Jesus, he stressed, is truly edgy.

You want to be countercultural? You want to be different? You want to stand out? You want to be someone who's revolutionary, then follow the carpenter from Nazareth, he explained. I think there's a beauty in this secular time in which we live. There are some cracks in secularism that I think the seeds of the Gospel can be planted in.

In recent years, a number of high-profile Christian leaders and pastors have publicly left the Christian faith after a season of deconstructing, while a recent study from Gallup found that fewer than 50% of Americans belong to a church or religious organization.

Grammy-winning vocalist Kevin Max, a member of the popular Christian band DC Talk, revealed that he considers himself to be an exvangelical and explained where he is on his journey in deconstructing.

I like to call it deconstruction, reconstruction, he said. Any person that's really changing every day, which we do, you're going to deconstruct or you're going to reconstruct. So it's a combination of both of those things.

In April, Paul Maxwell, a former Desiring God writer and the author of the book The Trauma of Doctrine,announced he is no longer a Christian. Last year, Jon Steingard, the Canadian Christian rock band Hawk Nelsons lead vocalist, revealed on social media that I no longer believe in God, explaining it didnt happen overnight.

On The Crazy Happy Podcast, Done contended that while seasons of deconstruction can be helpful or even fruitful if it leads to flourishing, deconstruction for the sake of deconstruction is not.

Sooner or later you need a worldview. Sooner or later you need something that's going to keep you warm from the storm. Sooner or later you're going to need a metric that will guide your life.

The most loving thing a Christian can do for someone who is deconstructing and walking away from their faith is not judging them, but rather saying, How can I lead you through this? How can I walk with you, through your season of doubt?

Satan loves to cause us to withdraw from others to put up walls, the pastor stressed, adding: But it's in that place of secrecy that [doubt] grows, it becomes malignant. I think the healthiest way that we can work through seasons of doubt or deconstruction is in community.

To those doubting their faith, Done offered the encouragement: Youre not alone.

Open your Bible and the Bible is filled with men and women who are in that space of doubting, struggling, he said. There are so many people who are in that space  we have those people in our life that God has brought to us that we can open up with, we can share with. And from that place, then I think discernment comes.

Deconstruction can be an opportunity to grow, the pastor reiterated.

Maybe we just need to look at it as opportunity, or questions, or uncertainty or mystery. And in that place, there is room to grow, he said. Now the flip side  doubt can be toxic if we don't handle it well. Doubt can lead us to a dark place if we idolize it. And that's why I think conversations have to be had in the Church ... what is doubt, what does Scripture actually say about it, and how do we respond to it.
Police raid home of disabled woman over anti-trans posters, seize book: like the Stasi

Police in South Wales arrested a womens rights campaigner for putting up stickers and posters in defense of women and children against trans-ideology and confiscated an academic book from her home.

Womens activist Jennifer Swayne, who is disabled, calls her arrest last week for placing posters around Newport absolutely ridiculous, BBC reported, adding that she said police also took away an academic book of essays on the theory and practice of transgendering children, hundreds of stickers and loads of notes after they raided her home.

She said it was like the bloody Stasi  the state security service of the East German communist government in the 1950s.

Police in South Wales said they received six complaints about offensive posters and arrested Swayne on suspicion of criminal damage and displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, The Telegraph reported.

The posters she put up were made at home, she said.

One poster read, No child is born in the wrong body, humans never change sex. Another said, Respect womens spaces. Some posters said women were in danger in prisons from trans-identified sex offenders and called for no men in womens prisons.

I have never made a sticker with the word trans in it. This is about women at risk, she was quoted as saying.

Last June, a U.K. high court judge ruled in favor of a woman, Maya Forstater, who was fired from her job at the Center for Global Development in 2019 because she stated on social media that men could not become women.

The judge, Akhlaq Ur-Rahman Choudhury, said in the written judgment that Forstaters beliefs were protected under the Equality Act because they did not seek to destroy the rights of trans persons.

Just as the legal recognition of civil partnerships does not negate the right of a person to believe that marriage should only apply to heterosexual couples, becoming the acquired gender for all purposes within the meaning of GRA does not negate a persons right to believe, like the claimant, that as a matter of biology a trans person is still their natal sex, the judgment read in part.

In the United States, female inmates in the California prison system have said they are fearful and are at risk of being prey for men after the state began allowing men who identify as women to be transferred to womens-only prisons.

As all sex inside the prison system is deemed non-consensual by default, the influx of men in womens-only facilities only increases the risk of rapes and pregnancies, the radical feminist group Womens Liberation Front, said last July.

At a captains meeting at the Central California Womens Facility last year, a woman reportedly read a statement in which she implored prison staff for help, and said correctional officers disregarded their fears about having to share close quarters with a serial rapist.



How do we feel safe in our community? When we reach out for help we get nothing.  There has been an assault on a woman and we still are silenced. We have had our hope taken away once again. Does anyone care that we are being forced to house with 62, 250-pound men with penises that are here for brutally raping women? We have been warned by the officials in this prison, more are coming with worse charges. Where is the safety concern for us? If we say we are in fear, we are the ones locked up, the woman protested.
Teen perpetrator of Loudoun County high school sexual assaults not required to register as sex offender

The perpetrator of two sexual assaults against high school girls in Loudoun County, Virginia, has been removed from a sex offender registry following a legal defense made by a Republican member of the countys board of supervisors.

Earlier this month, Judge Pamela Brooks of the Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court ordered the teenage perpetrator of the sexual assaults at Stone Bridge High School and Broad Run High School last year to complete a sex offender treatment program and register as a sex offender. The sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School drew particular outrage after The Daily Wire reported that a boy allegedly wearing in a skirt raped a teenage girl in a girls bathroom at the school.

At a hearing Thursday, Brooks reversed her order that the teenager register as a sex offender, concluding that, This court made an error in my initial ruling. Her reversal followed a plea from one of the boys attorneys, Caleb Kershner, a Republican member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.

We are setting him up for failure, Kershner said in his closing remarks. Were not even giving this young man a chance.

Scott Smith, the father of the victim of the sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School, lamented the development in a statement: My wife and I are not just heartbroken about todays ruling, we are quite frankly mad at how the justice system and the Loudoun Commonwealths attorney have let down both our daughter, as well as the other victims of his predatory actions.

The person who committed these horrible crimes against these young women will now, due to the errors of the country prosecutor, not have to bear the permanent shame at being known as a lifetime registered sex offender, as he had been originally sentenced, he added. 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.

The sexual assault against Smiths daughter took place on May 28, as the Loudoun County School District was considering implementing a policy that would allow trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their chosen gender identity instead of their biological sex.

At a contentious June 22 school board meeting where numerous parents showed up to express their disapproval of the policy, Superintendent of Schools Scott Ziegler denied that any sexual assaults had occurred in the school districts bathrooms.

The Loudoun County School Board approved the transgender bathroom policy on Aug. 10. Two months later, the perpetrator of the sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School committed another sexual assault in a classroom at Broad Run High School. News of the sexual assaults at the two high schools first broke days later.

Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman took issue with Zieglers insistence that no sexual assaults had occurred in bathrooms in Loudoun County Public Schools. In a letter, Chapman asserted to Ziegler that you knew of the sexual assault the day it occurred.

Chapman cited a May 28 email made public by a local news outlet where Ziegler told Loudoun County School Board members that a female student alleged that a male student sexually assaulted her in the restroom earlier that day. Critics of the school district contend that the leadership covered up the sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School to prevent the transgender bathroom policy, a top priority of progressives, from derailing.

The situation in Loudoun County arguably played a role in the outcome of the 2021 Virginia elections. Republican Jason Miyares won the Attorney Generals election after vowing to open an investigation into Loudoun Countys handling of the sexual assaults. Republicans won the two other statewide contests in Virginia last year, specifically the gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial races, in addition to regaining control of the House of Delegates.

The outrage at Loudoun County Public Schools is not limited to their handling of the sexual assaults at the two high schools. Parents had previously expressed outrage over sexually explicit books containing graphic descriptions of sex acts that children were forced to read in a freshman honors English class. Outcry over exposure to sexually explicit material in schools has extended into neighboring Fairfax County and all across the U.S.

Exit polling of the Virginia gubernatorial election conducted by CNN showed that most Virginians (52%) believed that parents should have a lot of say in what schools teach their children. Republican Glenn Youngkin carried this group with 77% of the vote compared to Democrat Terry McAuliffes 22%. McAuliffe received backlash when he asserted at a gubernatorial debate that I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.

Exit polling of the other two statewide races in Virginia yielded similar findings. Miyares won 78% support among those who thought parents should have a lot of say in what schools teach as his Democratic opponent received 22% support. Seventy-seven percent of those who believe parents should have a lot of input in what schools teach supported Republican Winsome Sears for lieutenant governor, while 23% supported her Democratic opponent.
Feminist groups push for ERA's addition to Constitution as pro-life groups insist it's dead

Feminist groups are urging the Archivist of the United States to publish the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution while pro-life organizations insist that the ERA is dead.

In a statement Friday, the National Organization for Women announced that it was one of several feminist organizations participating in a virtual press conference on Thursday, which is the day they argue that the Equal Rights Amendment should take effect. Thursday marks the second anniversary of Virginias ratification of the ERA, which made it the 38th state to approve the amendment.

Speakers at the press conference will include Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Carol Jenkins of the ERA Coalition and Fund for Womens Equality, Christian Nunes of the National Organization for Women, Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority Foundation, Donna Lent of the National Womens Political Caucus and Sophia Armen of the Feminist Front.

The Equal Rights Amendment, billed by supporters as a necessary step to enshrine equal rights for women in the Constitution, was approved by Congress in 1972 but failed to take effect because three-fourths of the states did not ratify it by the seven-year deadline imposed by Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the ERA by a vote of 354-24 in 1971, far exceeding the two-thirds majority required for passage. The Senate followed suit in 1972, approving the ERA by a vote of 84-8.

From there, the ERA went to the states for ratification. While 35 states had approved the ERA at the time of its 1979 expiration, which was later extended to 1982, that number fell short of the 38 required by the Constitution for the amendment to take effect. Many conservatives attribute the defeat of the ERA to the efforts of the late conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly.

As political commentator Ann Coulter explained in an obituary she wrote for Schlafly upon her death in 2016, When Schlafly turned her attention to the E.R.A., no reasonable person would have supposed that the amendment could have been stopped. She recalled that Thirty states had approved it in the first year after it was sent to the states for ratification. Only eight more states were needed, within the next seven years.

There was little question that the E.R.A. was about to become our next constitutional amendment, she added. Coulter pointed to Schlaflys concerns that the ERA would end the female exemption from the draft as her strongest argument that resonated with the American people.

The push to ratify the ERA has gained a resurgence in recent years. Three additional states have ratified the ERA in the past decade: Nevada, Illinois and Virginia.

The attorneys general of those states have filed a lawsuit asking the Archivist of the United States to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution as the 28th Amendment. The press conference will take place two weeks after the groups participating in the press conference and other feminist organizations filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit.

Publication by the Archivist is an important step forward. To be sure, the legal effect of an amendment does not depend on any action by the Executive Branch, which has no role to play under Article V, the brief states. But the Archivists current refusal to publish the ERA is itself an inappropriate intrusion of the Executive Branch into the ratification process.

Signatories to the amicus brief made a series of statements elaborating on their point of view that the ERA is still valid. There is no time limit on equality, said Jenkins. Supporters of the ERA have fulfilled all the requirements set forth for an amendment in the Constitution so the time is now to publish the 28th amendment.

This amazing amicus brief reviews the nearly 100 years of feminist struggle for the ERA as well as its need, relevance, and popularity today, explained Smeal. It clearly makes a strong case that the ERA has met the requirements for adoption and should be certified and published in the Constitution by the National Archivist.

Last year, the House of Representatives approved a measure that would have removed the ratification deadline from the original ERA on a largely party-line vote, but the bill failed to pass the Senate. In addition to the lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of the most recent states to ratify the ERA, feminist organizations sought relief from the courts in a separate legal challenge. So far, the judicial branch has ruled against their efforts to force the archivist to add the ERA to the Constitution.

While 38 states, equivalent to three-fourths of the total, have approved the ERA at one time, five states voted to rescind their ratification of the ERA, further calling into question the insistence that three-fourths of the states have signed onto the constitutional amendment. Supporters of the ERA have dismissed the reversal of the ratifications, which occurred during the 1970s, as a political nullity.

The National Right to Life Committee, a pro-life organization that views the ERA as an effort to insert the right to abortion into the Constitution, pushed back on the analysis offered by the amendments proponents. The measure is manifestly unconstitutional  its premise is that it is possible to amend the Constitution with bait-and-switch tactics executed across generations, without a single Congress ever agreeing, by the required two-thirds votes, on the same legislative proposal, asserted NRLCs Doug Johnson.

The National Right to Life Committee had previously warned about the ERAs implication for abortion law in the U.S. in a report published early last year. Specifically, the pro-life group expressed concern that pro-abortion groups were deploying the ERA as a constitutional stealth missile to air-drop into the U.S. Constitution a provision that they believe, and pro-lifers fear, could be used to entrench and expand a constitutional right to abortion.

The pro-life organization cited a quote from NARAL Pro-Choice America maintaining that With its ratification, the ERA would reinforce the constitutional right to abortion by clarifying that the sexes have equal rights, which would require judges to strike down anti-abortion laws because they violate both the constitutional right to privacy and sexual equality. According to Johnson, The ERA is a stealth missile with a legal warhead that could be used to attack any federal, state, or local law, that in any way limits abortion.
Justice Breyers retirement, Bidens possible appointees, and why race shouldnt be a nomination factor

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, the eldest of the High Courts jurists and anchor of the Courts left bloc, is retiring.

Quick facts

Breyer is currently the longest-serving liberal justice, followed in seniority by Justice Sotomayer then Justice Kagan.

President Biden has stated he will only consider black women for Breyers replacement.

Depending on when Breyer retires, the 2022 midterms could severely impact the nomination process of Bidens appointment.

Bidens potential picks

President Biden has confirmed that he plans to appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court. Bidens appointee, while inevitably liberal, will not alter the ideological demographics of the Court, since Breyer himself is a committed liberal jurist. The only impact Bidens appointee will have is the prolonged liberal influence of that seat. Here are some names widely believed to be contenders for Breyers replacement:

Frontrunner: Ketanji Brown Jackson

Jackson currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, arguably the second most powerful court in the land and, for many past and present justices, a launching pad to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh, and the late Justice Ginsburg all served as judges on the D.C. Circuit prior to their appointment to the Supreme Court.

While Jackson has no notable record on abortion, religious liberty, or free speech, her confirmation to the D.C. Circuit received praise from NARAL Pro-Choice America:

We applaud the Senates confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her confirmation to the D.C. Circuit brings us one step closer to a judiciary that better represents the diversity of our nation and one that will uphold our most fundamental rights and freedoms  including reproductive freedom.

Notable cases shes influenced include an opinion ordering Trump administration documents to be disclosed to the January 6 committee.

Other potential nominees are California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger and South Carolina U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs, who have little-to-no influential records of voting on major polarized matters. If the Biden administration is seeking a second run, they would be foolish to appoint a justice who didnt have a record of strong liberal positions, and any appointee without a record would be wise to publicly declare their positions in the confirmation process.

Confirmation analysis

Breyer is likely to retire long enough before the midterms to avoid a potential lame-duck session expiring. In the event Republicans gain control of the Senate, replacing Breyer could mean trouble for the Biden administration. Although even with a small GOP majority, a Biden pick for SCOTUS could be successful given the likes of Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Lindsey Graham. All three senators voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to her current post on the D.C. Circuit. Collins and Graham also voted to confirm current liberal Justices Sotomayor and Kagan to the Supreme Court.

It is unclear, however, if Graham will vote to confirm a Biden appointee. Even with his confirmation record with Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson, a response he gave to Breyers retirement suggests that he will not vote in favor of a Biden appointee.

If all Democrats hang together  which I expect they will  they have the power to replace Justice Breyer in 2022 without one Republican vote in support. Elections have consequences, and that is most evident when it comes to fulfilling vacancies on the Supreme Court.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., likely invigorated by the dramatic confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, is paving the way for an expedited confirmation process:

President Bidens nominee will receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and will be considered and confirmed by the full United States Senate with all deliberate speed, he stated.



Takeaway

Isolating Supreme Court nominee qualifications to skin color isolates all other races, and thats not a good look for any party. Martin Luther King Jr. would probably agree. His dream that people not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character really collides with the decision to disqualify hundreds of candidates, including minorities, to the High Court. Maybe ensuring the appointment of a black Supreme Court justice would be understandable if it were nearer MLKs 1963 speech and a president was trying to expedite an anti-racist trajectory. Its still inconsistent with MLKs speech, but at least its more understandable.

But nearly 60 years post MLKs speech? Appointing a black justice (or any race) exclusively in 2022 is nothing more than virtue signaling. Weve had a black President, several black cabinet secretaries, black national security advisors, numerous black members of Congress, black Supreme Court justices, and a current black female Vice President.

No race should be a disqualifier. In what world is it not racist to say, Im not going to appoint you because youre Hispanic, Asian, white, etc.?

More virtue signaling came from Kimberly Tignor of the She Will Rise campaign for a black woman on the Supreme Court:

Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is the next and necessary step towards a truer form of democracy and ensuring that our unique experiences and perspectives are represented.

Since when is it a Supreme Court Justices job to entertain the unique experiences and perspectives of the citizenry? It isnt their job, it never has been their job, it never will be their job. The only perspective Supreme Court justices are to rule through is the perspective of the U.S. Constitution, not the perspectives of the citizenry.

Originally published in the Standing for Freedom Center.
Why Putin hasnt been deterred

Americans want an autonomous Ukraine to survive. They hope the West can stop Russian President Vladimir Putins strangulation of both Ukraine and NATO.

Yet Americans do not want their troops to venture across the world to Europes backyard to fight nuclear Russia to ensure that Ukraine stays independent.

Most Americans oppose the notion that Russia can simply dictate the future of Ukraine.

Yet Americans also grudgingly accept that Ukraine was often historically part of Russia. During World War II, it was the bloody scene of joint Russian-Ukrainian sacrifices  more than 5 million killed  to defeat the Nazi German invasion.

Americans publicly support NATO.

Yet most Americas privately worry that NATO has become diplomatically impotent and a military mirage, a modern League of Nations.

NATO members have a collective gross domestic product seven times larger than Russias. Their aggregate population is 1 billion. Yet the majority will not spend enough on defense to deter their weaker enemies.

The second-largest NATO member, Turkey, is closer to Russia than to the United States. Its people poll anti-American.

Germany is NATOs richest European member and the power behind the European Union. Yet Germany will soon be dependent on imported Russian natural gas for much of its energy needs.

In a recent Pew Research Center poll, 70% of Germans voiced a desire for more cooperation with Russia. Most Americans poll the exact opposite.

Worse, 60% of Germans oppose going to the aid of any NATO country in time of war. Over 70% of Germans term their relationship with the United States as bad.

We can translate all these disturbing results in the following manner: The German and Turkish people like or trust Russia more than they do their own NATO patron, America.

They would not support participating in any NATO joint military effort against even an invading Russia  even, or especially, if spearheaded by an unpopular United States.

So, assume that NATOs key two members are either indifferent to the fate of nearby Ukraine or sympathetic to Russias professed grievances  or both.

Indeed, most Americans fear that if Ukraine ever became a NATO member, Putin might be even more eager to test its sovereignty.

Putin assumes that not all NATO members would intervene to help an attacked Ukraine, as required by their mutual defense obligations under Article 5.

If they did not, Putin could then both absorb Ukraine and unravel the NATO alliance all at once.

There are more complications in the Ukrainian mess.

President Joe Biden, in wacky statements, has confirmed Putins bet that the United States is currently divided, confused, weakened, and poorly led.

Putin knows that the secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff appear more worried about white privilege and climate change than enhancing military readiness to deter enemies such as himself.

Putin sees polls that only 45% of Americans have confidence in their new politicized military.

The flight from Afghanistan, Putin further conjectures, has made the United States both less feared by enemies and less trusted by allies.

The prior failed American policy of Russian reset, the appeasement of Putins aggressions during the Obama years, together with the concocted hoax of Russian collusion, have all variously emboldened  and angered  Putin.

He knows a twice-impeached Donald Trump left office unpopular. So, he assumes with Trump gone, American deterrence against Russia also vanished.

Trumps now-rejected agenda was to increase American and NATO defenses, and pump oil and gas to crash the global price of Russias chief source of foreign exchange.

Putin was once furious that Trump unilaterally left an asymmetrical U.S.-Russia missile accord. Trump ordered lethal force to be used against large numbers of Russian mercenaries who attacked a U.S. installation in Syria. He sold offensive weapons to Ukraine. He acted forcibly in taking out terrorist enemies such as Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Islamicist Abu al-Baghdadi, and ISIS itself.

With Putins nemesis, Trump, gone, Russia assumes the appeasement years of the Obama-Biden Administration are back again. As in 2014, once more Putin is moving against his neighbors.

Finally, there is the unfortunate role of recent Ukrainian government officials. Some were deeply involved in greenlighting the Biden family grifting and profiteering to ensure massive American foreign aid.

Some Ukrainian expatriates and current government members worked with the American left to ensure the first impeachment of Trump.

Now Ukrainians are exasperated that their prior intrusions into domestic American politics have backfired with the disastrous Biden presidency  and his apparent de facto acceptance of an inevitable Russian annexation.

Where does this entire mess leave America?

In trouble.

Putin is undermining a sovereign nation, fissuring NATO, and, if successful, might continue the Ukraine slow-squeeze model in the Baltic states and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, China smiles, hoping the Ukraine blueprint can be used against Taiwan.

Exasperated Americans fear that Putin will be deterred neither by sanctions, nor by arms sales, but follows only his own sense of cost-to-benefit self-interest.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
North Korea launches what it claimed was a hypersonic missile Jan. 5, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. The North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic (IRBM) missile into the East Sea, Sunday, South Korea's military said, raising fears that Pyongyang was inching toward its threatened suspension of a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests. AP-Yonhap





North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic (IRBM) missile into the East Sea, Sunday, South Korea's military said, raising fears that Pyongyang was inching toward its threatened suspension of a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests.






BEULAH  On a cold winter day in January 2007, Benzie Bus opened its doors to the public for the first time. Over 1.2 million trips and 8.6 million miles later, officials are celebrating 15 years of service and looking forward to what the future holds.

Driver Steve Lowry, who retired on Jan. 13 after 15 years, reminisced about the first day of operations.

The roads were terrible, he recalled in a news release. We only had five vehicles and they were all parked outside, and we had to scrape about a half a foot of snow off the bus before we could get going.

These days the fleet of 22 vehicles are able to park inside the 9,000 square-foot garage.

The vision for the birth of a rural transit system was to provide independence and therefore, a better quality of life for residents in Benzie County. This includes seniors who arent able to drive, but also students, visitors, vacationers  all people from all walks of life are the beneficiaries of Benzie Bus.

When the original millage passed, we knew we were on to something special since we were the only county in Michigan that had ever passed such a millage at the first attempt, said Ingemar Johannson, one of the founding board members, in a news release. We now have a well-run system that received a national award as one of the best rural public transit systems in the country.

Going forward, Executive Director Bill Kennis, explained that changes within the organization include technology like tablets in the buses for communicating rider pick-ups, cancellations, directions and even emergency messaging.

Eighty-seven percent of the buses are propane propelled, which is leading the industry. Benzie Bus has also received $535,000 in federal funding for an E-vehicle program. Electric buses will hit the road when they are ready to meet specifications for Benzie County's rural area (150-mile range and more economical).

The pandemic hit all public transportation systems pretty hard. Benzie Bus officials are grateful for the federal assistance that allowed them to offer furlough to their employees, and to be first in Michigan to offer complimentary grocery shopping rides, pharmacy deliveries, and drop offs of laundry and mask supplies.

Riders can use an app to schedule rides and monitor pick-up times. Electronic fare payment in rider accounts have replaced punch cards. And the Crystal Lake Express Trolley (funded through the 18% federal grant) is used for festivals, weekend summer shuttles and anywhere the community needs transit.

As for the future of Benzie Bus, Kennis said, We have an amazing staff of 39 people who love serving our community. Our future services will include expanded non-emergency medical transportation services. We will continue to evolve over the coming years in order to meet the challenges and expectations of our riders and all the stakeholders.
President Moon Jae-in / Korea Times file





President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that North Korea has inched closer to scrapping its self-imposed moratorium on testing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) shortly after the North fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile.







Moon made the remark while presiding over a plenary meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) for the first time in about a year, an indication of how seriously he takes the launch of what is believed to be the longest-range missile the North has fired in recent years.







South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North's missile flew about 800 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 2,000 km. The flight data indicated that North Korea tested its biggest ballistic missile since 2017.







The launch also marked the North's seventh such show of force this month alone.







"North Korea has kept its moratorium on nuclear tests and ICBM launches so far while expressing a willingness for dialogue. But if it did fire an intermediate-range ballistic missile, we can consider it has moved closer to scrapping the moratorium," Moon was quoted as saying during the meeting.






Courtesy / Laredo Medical Center

Laredo Medical Center, together with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center (STBTC) and the Auxiliary to Laredo Medical Center, will host a community blood drive by appointment only and encourage the public to sign up now.

The drive - and donations at all STBTC donor events - are by appointment only to manage flow and avoid crowding. Donors can make an appointment online at https://bit.ly/GiveLaredo. The theme of the blood drive is Share the Love by Giving Blood.
One local organization hopes to bring out support for families and children struggling with childhood cancer in a superhero-theme race in late February.

The Smiles From Heaven helmed by the Bella Strong organization is hosting a 5K run and walk to raise awareness and funds for children struggling with childhood cancer. One of the founders and leaders of the group says as they prepare to host, they are also looking for sponsors and ways to motivate the community to come out to the event.

The SFH Superheroes 5K, that will take place at North Central Park on Feb. 26, is going to be our very first annual 5K, said Ray Sanchez, co-founder and president of Smiles From Heaven. We will be joining forces with the community to save our children from cancer, because no child should fight cancer alone. There is a saying engraved in my heart that goes like this, Sometimes real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles, and I agree 100%. Kids fighting cancer are the real superheroes.

For Sanchez, his personal superhero is his daughter Bella Sanchez, who died from pediatric cancer in April 2019. Ultimately, her death is what inspired the Sanchez family to create the Bella Strong organization and also SFH. They have gotten very active in the past year holding events to bring the community together to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer.

Their main goal is to hopefully one day see the creation of a pediatric cancer hospital in the city.

My personal superhero Bella is now in heaven, but I have committed to continue her mission here on earth by fighting alongside other little superheroes through our work with Smiles From Heaven, Sanchez said. This walk/run is to show our local cancer warriors that they are not alone, and that the community is here to fight with them.

Racers who attend the run and show their support will not just be able to showcase they are there but also will be able to win a medal if they place in the top three.

Not only the community will be able to show their support, but the best three race times in each division will have a chance to win an awesome SFH Superhero Medal, Sanchez said.

Sanchez also says 150 superhero shirts and superhero capes will be given out as well on a first-come, first-serve basis to the children and people who attend. He hopes the event is successful like others they have hosted in recent months.

The SFH president says all proceeds collected will go directly to funding some of the basic needs of the parents whose children have childhood cancer. He also mentions that people who attend the race and walk can go in their superhero attire as it would be greatly appreciated for all those that show up.

All proceeds of the event will go toward our programs to keep assisting children and their families affected by pediatric cancer and blood disorders, Sanchez said. I also want to mention that local superheroes/cancer warriors will be present at the event with their awesome costumes. We encourage the community to come in superhero attire as well.

Sanchez says as the event is still less than a month away he is also looking for active sponsors that would like to be part of the event and support the cause. He says these sponsors will be able to showcase their brand and logo while also helping facilitate funds for the good cause.

All our sponsors will be on our event T-shirts, banners and photo backdrop, Sanchez said. SFH is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that is qualified to receive tax-deductible donations.

Ultimately, however, Sanchez wants people to attend the event and show support as childhood cancer is a continuing severe problem for various families in the cities who often have to confront the issue alone and out of town. He hopes the support extends to this walk like there have been many other events where people show up in great numbers.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has supported Smiles From Heaven, Sanchez said. Because of you, we've been officially serving children and families for two years now, and we have recently been rated Top Nonprofit by Great Nonprofits, the leading platform for community-sourced stories about nonprofits. Thank you, and I hope to see everyone at the event.

The five-kilometer run and walk is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26 at North Central Park beginning at 6 a.m. for early registrants. At the moment, early registering fees are $20 and people can do so by going to their website and registering.

Sanchez says anybody interested in becoming an official sponsor for the event, they can do so by contacting Sanchez at ray.sanchez@smilesfromheaventx.org. Also, he can be contacted there for more information concerning the event and others that SFH hosts or participates in.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
With an abrupt start to his tenure as interim city manager Wednesday, Samuel Keith Selman left retirement and has started his 10-month contract. After a cordial meeting with city directors, the goal now is to take hold of the rudder and steer the city to a better place.

However, with less than a week at the helm after taking over for the departing Robert Eads, digesting all the responsibilities, the ongoing projects, state of the city and challenges is a tall task. Regardless, Selman said he has only been briefed on certain projects that are in motion, but more familiarity will come with time.

As I get more familiar with those projects, Ill be able to set those priorities and figure out which ones I need to paddle a little harder on to get going, he said.

Selman grew up in Fairhope in South Alabama and started his undergraduate studies at the University of South Alabama and Clemson University for his graduate studies. At Clemson, he graduated and majored in Urban and Regional Planning which was followed by him enlisting in the Peace Corps for two years and serving in the South Pacific at the Solomon Islands.

Once finished, the choice of where to live ultimately saw Selman choose the border at which point, he took a job as an introductory planner in the Laredo planning department on Sept. 5, 1991 and starting on Sept. 16. After an approximate 20 years with the city, he retired and went into consulting work before becoming the city manager for Clyde, Texas for four years.

After his departure from Clyde, he moved to Corpus Christi as the citys assistant city manager and oversaw several departments for another four years. However, during his tenure in Corpus he transitioned to the interim city manager.

One project Selman did note was the binational park project on the green bend of the river which will see the collaboration of both Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.

That could be a benchmark type of project, Selman said. A project like that, if really developed to its fullest, could turn Laredo into an international destination.

During the same meeting that moved forward with contracting Selman, city council also voted unanimously to work with Overland Partners Inc. to design the park.

Later on in the week, Selman shared his feelings on the citys potential, highlighting its immense value to the nation as the largest inland port on the southern border, but he also emphasized the importance of Laredos identity to the world.

There needs to be an awareness of who you are and what you are on the world scene  not the Webb County scene, not the Texas scene, not the U.S. scene, but the worlds scene, said Selman, who explained that the worlds commerce comes through Laredo and acknowledging, understanding and acting accordingly would bolster the city.

Referencing the seemingly endless-feeling I-35, Selman said commercial trucks never stop and the flow eventually leads to and from Laredo.

All in all, these points are a part of Laredos identity, and the sentiments shared coalesce with his thoughts in 2019 when he ran for the city manager position  eventually finishing second to Eads. Selman shared at the time that Laredo has to compete with other cities to attract industry, and it must regard itself as a city where people want to work, live and play. Similarly, he continued to say the city needs to focus on its image, especially along the I-35 corridor.

As for now, he is analyzing the situation and will see the city council in action during the upcoming city council meeting on Monday. There he will interact with the city council, city directors and the public, and it may very well set the tone for the rest of the meetings of 2022.

In this sense, Selman compared being a city manager to a CEO of a large-scale corporation. But he emphasized that at the core of being a city manager is public service, not customer service. For example, when one cooperation donates funds to a public work, Selman sees that as them being public oriented, but not a public service.

He explained that customers expect good customer service when going to a restaurant. In the case where they do not get the customer service they expected, they can choose to never return. That is clearly not the case for Laredo residents, and the public service offered by public servants has a higher bar to reach.

Nine out of 10 times, the person coming through your door isnt doing it because they have to, its because they want to. That person in a much more direct way is involved in providing governmental services than the person walking into the doors of McDonalds is involved in cooking that hamburger, Selman said.

With almost every department affecting every resident, the role of a city manager is making sure the ship is sailing smoothly.

To do so, he believes a city department head will have to continue making decisions and moving forward without dwelling too long on previous decisions to avoid congestion. Continuing the metaphors, he likened the decision-making experience to carrying rocks in a bag. With each rock being a decision to make, department heads will have to get information and decide before being bogged down.

Having the experience to make a decision on what to do with that rock as quickly as you can  as soon as you have enough data and information, make a decision about that rock, throw it over your head. Dont stick it back in your bag, throw it over your head and move to a different rock, Selman said. There are a lot of decisions to be made on a daily basis, made by people throughout the organization.

At the end of it all, he dispelled the conception that a city manager ends up making all the decisions. On the contrary, he said he believes a city manager should make the fewest but biggest decisions.

You have to trust the people on your team, because you cant make every decision for them, so you have to trust them to be making decisions along the way, he said. And you dont have a choice. You have to. The lack of trust is not an option.

That person is making decisions whether you know it or not, and you have to trust them because you dont have a choice. Because you are going to be held accountable for their decisions, and thats where experience comes in. Its having taken the hit for somebodys failure and trying to keep them from failing.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
Its been a little more than a week after the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the home and office of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28).

This week, Cuellar spoke to LMT in his first interview since the incident. And although the congressman did not delve into specifics concerning the case, he did shed light on how it affected him, his family and also how he continues to work in Congress amid the scandal.

Last week was tough on myself and the family, but I really appreciate the support that I have gotten from so many people on this situation, Cuellar said. As I said last week, I am fully cooperating with law enforcement and want to make sure that justice and the law is upheld. This ongoing investigation will show that there is no wrongdoing on my part.

Cuellar was asked whether he had any comment to a recent Texas Tribune article that stated the congressman has touted the vast opportunity to strengthen South Texas relationship with Azerbaijan when it came to trips for TAMIU students to be able to travel to the country to study energy, business and policy. Trips he facilitated himself.

This is an ongoing investigation, so we will be cooperating and show that there was no wrongdoing, he said.

This month, the representatives ties with Azerbaijan have generated new interest after the FBI raid. ABC News reported it was part of a federal grand jury probe. Subpoenas by the news outlet 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.

The congressman responded similarly to a question as to whether he has visited the country of Azerbaijan, which the Texas Tribune article recently stated he has traveled to the country, at least one of those times with his wife in 2013.

He also elaborated little as to whether he knew or not ahead of time of the raid at his home and office.

It has been difficult for all of us of course, but again weve got strength as a family, and we have been getting a lot of support from our friends and family members, Cuellar said.

Cuellar says his family has been able to go back to their homes and offices following the raid.

He also does not believe the FBI raid has caused his reputation to be affected whether it is locally or even with his colleagues at the House of Representatives.

They know me, they know my work, they know the work that I do, they know what I have done for many years as a state rep or as a congressman, they know the work I have created with the health insurance the Texas grant and all that, he said. So the outpouring of support from so many people in my community is personally something I want to say is humbling, and I am thankful. Personally, I want to thank them for having my back as I have had their backs for years, and I appreciate humbly that they have my back now.

The country of Azerbaijan is a ex-Soviet country with a troubled recent history on issues like corruption and civil rights, according to The Texas Tribune.

Cuellars connections to the nation have been a point of curiosity since last weeks raid. Azerbaijan has had a complex history since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

With an economy primarily based on oil and exports, since gaining independence it has developed a a reputation for corruption and dynastic leadership, according to the Tribune.

Per the outlet: 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.

The congressman would not address his connections to the nation in this weeks interview, and he says he continues to do the important work he was set out to do both at home in his district and in the capitol.

We are continuing the business of government as we are working on constituency cases, people that need help, veterans, passports and whatever they might need, Cuellar said. We are continuing all the work the way I have always had.

The congressman is in the middle of a heated campaign race. First elected to the position in 2004, he has been a fixture leading the Laredo area now for decades. But he narrowly edged challenger Jessica Cisneros in 2020 getting 51.8% of the vote, and Cisneros is back along with another challenger in Tannya Benavides for the primary, and seven Republicans also are looming for the general election in November as they will be competing in their own March primary in Ed Cabrera, Steven Fowler, Cassy Garcia, Eric Hohman, Rolando Rodriguez, Willie Vasquez Ng and Sandra Whitten.

Cuellar says he doesnt know when the investigation might finish, and if it will be complete before the primary. But with a crowded field and a looming legal case, Cuellar may be at his most vulnerable since taking over the position around 18 years ago.

This is something that is an ongoing investigation and our attorneys will handle this, so I cannot comment on (the investigations possible end) as I do not have (any) idea, Cuellar said.

As the investigation continues, the congressman says he continues to work as he has always done while focusing on his reelection campaign.

As a congressman, I have always done things the right way and will continue doing the right things, but I will tell you that I am right for re-election, Cuellar said. I am going to win this race, and we intend to be the congressman as I win re-election. Weve got a lot of work to do.

At the moment, he says he has no intentions of changing his strategy to win the upcoming March primary election. But he does say that his plan is to try to win one voter at a time as he hopes to come back from the current challenge he faces.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com

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A healthcare worker speaks with a COVID-19 patient over the phone at Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Anseong Hospital, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Lee Hyo-jin



By Lee Hyo-jin



ANSEONG, Gyeonggi Province  "How are you feeling today? Are you still coughing badly?" asks a hospital nurse who is on the phone with a COVID-19 patient at home.



The nurse went on to ask, "If the pills you took aren't working, you can either get prescription medicine after a face-to-face consultation with a doctor here, or you can ask your family to buy over-the-counter medicine. Would you like to schedule an appointment with the doctor?"



On Tuesday morning, healthcare workers, wearing headsets with microphones at an office on the second floor of Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Anseong Hospital, were busy speaking via phone with coronavirus patients.



The province-run hospital is the only medical institution providing care for coronavirus patients in Anseong, a satellite city home to about 200,000 people, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul.



A 24-hour medical team, consisting of 19 nurses and five doctors, monitors patients in home treatment through two phone calls each day and a mobile app.



At a contactless outpatient clinic on the first floor of the hospital, Jeong Hyeon-ju, an internal medicine specialist, was seeing COVID-19 patients through protective glass, using an intercom system.



Showing a chest X-ray on his monitor, he told one patient, "Do you see the cloudy area here? This seems to be the cause of your breathing difficulties. It doesn't seem so serious now, but if your symptoms worsen, we can arrange for you to get hospitalized."





Jeong Hyeon-ju, an internal medical specialist at Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Anseong Hospital, consults with a COVID-19 patient at a contactless outpatient clinic in the hospital, Jan. 25. Korea Times photo by Lee Hyo-jin



"We receive about five outpatients a day whose symptoms have deteriorated while undergoing home treatment," Jeong told the reporters during a tour of the hospital's facilities.



He added that Paxlovid, Pfizer's oral antiviral pill, which was introduced into the country on Jan. 14, has been prescribed to three patients so far.



Home treatment becomes the default as Omicron cases surge



As Korea continues to see record-breaking numbers of infections driven up by the spread of the Omicron variant, the government is seeking to shift its strategy from focusing on hospitalization to home treatment.



After it was introduced in October of last year, home-based treatment for COVID-19 patients has increasingly replaced hospitalization, which is now reserved only for patients with chronic illnesses and those aged 65 and over, who are at risk of falling into critical condition.



"Home treatment is crucial at this point of time when the Omicron variant is expected to put a strain on hospitals," said Kim Seung-il, the head of the home treatment management team at the health ministry.



In the fourth week of January, 69 percent of patients were receiving home care, and the government is seeking to increase the proportion to 90 percent in the near future.



By early February, the government also plans to increase the number of hospitals dedicated to home care to 400 nationwide from the current 369, and to secure 40 more outpatient clinics, bringing the total up to 91.



Explaining how the current home treatment system operates, Kim said, "Once a person tests positive for COVID-19, he or she is contacted by officials at the local public health center, who collect basic information from the patient via phone calls."



The information will then be handed over to the Central Disease Management Headquarters at the health ministry. Ministry officials contact the patient for an initial evaluation to determine his or her eligibility for home treatment depending on current symptoms and any underlying health conditions.



The patient will then be matched with a healthcare worker at a medical institution, who then monitors the patient two or three times per day for the next seven days.



The local government provides patients with home kits, which include a thermometer, an oximeter, medicine, diagnostic test kits and other protective equipment, as well as food and water.





This photo shows a sample of a home kit provided by Anseong public health centers to COVID-19 patients undergoing home treatment. Korea Times photo by Lee Hyo-jin
State environmental officials are conducting a survery to get an understanding of what residents know about illegal wildlife collection and trade in Connecticut.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Fish and Wildlife Division shared a survey on Facebook over the week related to the illegal trade of turtles across Connecticut. The quick, 14-question survey, the agency said, is to help experts understand what residents know about the topic and how they can better educate the general public.

Nine out of 12 of the states turtle species are currently featured on Connecticuts list of endangered, threatened and special concern species, with many species being threatened by habitat loss and collisions with vehicles.

Freshwater turtles are some of the most commonly trafficked species in the country, DEEP said.

Snapping turtles, 13 inches or bigger, can be legally trapped from July 15 through Sept. 30, with a daily limit of five turtles and a season limit of 10. Eggs and nests cannot be disturbed, and those participating in trapping must have a snapping turtle endorsement, which is available for free online or at DEEP office.

DEEP said that anyone who sees potential poaching acitity should note the exact location, what happened and who was invovled  person, vehicles and other witnesses, if applicable. Individuals should maintain a safe distance and not try to confront anyone. Instead, DEEP urged the public to call in any suspicious activity.

There are a variety of indications that someone might be involved in poaching at a location.

DEEP said among the warning signs are: people with bags poking around wetlands and along streams, cars parked near forested areas with nets or other collection equipment, unattended bags left in the woods or along a trail, sheets of metal or plywood and unmarked traps set in wetlands.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is authoritized to pay rewards for information or help in poaching or illegal wildlife trade investigations.

Anyone who sees possible poaching is asked to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service anonymous tip line at 1-844-397-8477 or email FWS_TIPS@fws.gov. The CTDEEP emergency dispatch line can also be reached at 860-424-3333. A turn in poaches hotline can also be reached by calling 1-800-842-HELP.
Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale has endorsed Republican candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer in her bid to win Harris County Judge in 2022. In true Mattress Mack fashion, the Houston business owner made the announcement by appearing in an ad Monday alongside Mealer.

"She's going to be tough on crime," McIngvale says, introducing Mealer as his friend in a clip shared to Twitter.

"Crime is exploding in Harris County," Mealer states. "If you don't want to carry a gun in your car because of car jacking, vote for me, Alexandra Mealer for Harris County Judge. I'm going to put the criminals where they're supposed to be..."

"In jail!" Mealer and McIngvale shout in unison.

In a Monday release, McIngvale called for residents to vote for Mealer in the March 1 primary, saying "she will defend the American dream for the next generation."

"Alexandra del Moral Mealer has dedicated her life to service and she is the leader who will restore law and order for Harris County," the statement read. "She will support law enforcement and will work to keep criminals off our streets."

"I am honored to have Mack's support and look forward to working with him to restore our county," Mealer said in the release.

Mealer is running against incumbent Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat who is looking to win her second term after three years in office. Hidalgo faces a host of challengers on both sides of the political aisle, including five challengers from her own party. Houston City Council candidate Georgia D. Provost; Erica Davis, chief of staff to Constable Alan Rosen; and real estate broker AR Hassan, are among the liberal opposition hoping to unseat Hidalgo.

If she is successful, the 30-year-old incumbent will face one of nine Republican candidates vying for the opportunity to challenge her in the general election come November. Potential opponents include Randy Kubosh, brother of Houston City Council member Michael Kubosh; Humble ISD board president Martina Lemond Dixon; attorney Vidal Martinez; and retired deputy sheriff Oscar Gonzales.
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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.




By David Andrzejek, head of financial services, DataStax

Theres an important and growing trend occurring in financial services business processes and practices thats upending how banks build applications and manage data. Bank product leaders are demanding instant, responsive, and personalized services, and bank technology leaders need to quickly execute a real-time data strategy.

Why? Because everywhere you look, time is being wrung out of financial processes.

For example, equity and other investment trades used to be processed and settled in three days (T+3 processing, in security trading parlance), but in September 2017 settlement was condensed to two days (T+2). The industry is currently working on T+1 settlement.

Credit card transactions seem fast at the terminal, but theyre actually much slower than they appear. Card transactions are only authorized in seconds; the actual payment settlement happens a day or two (or sometimes four!) later. Now, instant payments like Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in Europe; the RTP Network from The Clearing House in the United States and the Federal Reserves FedNow service, are fully settled with funds available in seconds.

If fully irrevocable payments are settled in seconds, it follows that fraud detection and anti-money laundering checks will need to happen in sub-second time.

As competition in financial services intensifies, banks are shifting from product-centric to customer-focused businesses. This translates into personalizing the banks digital experience to the corporate treasurer or consumer in real time, and supplying up-to-the-second information to support financial decisions in the moment.

For example, consumers want to know if they have exceeded their budget for the week or month before they place an order, and they need an immediate credit decision at checkout to buy now and pay later. Also, fintechs and some banks can now open accounts in a minute or less, which means know your customer (KYC) processes need to occur in seconds.

Instant payments, instant settlement, instant fraud checks and credit decisions, in-the-moment KYCthere is no time for time in bank processes any more.

The legacy ball and chain

Contrast todays market reality with the legacy of bank data processes, and youll understand the massive challenge bank technology teams face. Bank data processing began in the era of the classic bankers hours, when all banking was done in branches from nine oclock to four oclock. Scarce and expensive compute resources were dedicated to branch operations during open hours.

Overnight, while the bank was closed, transactions were resolved and settled into the ledger and reports were generated to serve the business. Thus the historical bedrock of bank processes was built on batch data processing and ETL. This legacy heritage is the proverbial ball and chain tied to the legs of bank engineering staff as they race to compete with fintechs, tech giants, and upstart banks.

Richer, smarter, real-time digital services

Today the bank is an app on your phone and is expected to be always available. As processing windows continue to shrink, financial services product leaders are under pressure to deliver customer journeys that can be completed from start to finish online and fully self-service.

This has product leaders thinking about all the data both the bank and the banks customers require in order to complete a task (say, to open an account, approve a transaction, or make a spending decision in the moment). Bank product leaders are thinking about how to incorporate data sources from outside the bank into their services so that decisions can be made instantly.

Product leaders designing these immediate services are causing bank technology teams to re-engineer their infrastructure for instant processing and decision making. These technology teams are modernizing bank infrastructure in part by building a real-time data layer over core transactional systems. The real-time data layer combines the abilities to capture, move, transform, and make decisions on data in sub-second time, and can accommodate both the increased volume and velocity of data, while ensuring bank services are always available.

Take Macquarie Group. The Australian financial services company understood that a key to differentiation in this brave new world is speed, so they prioritized building a data architecture, based on Apache Cassandra that could take advantage of real-time data and build real-time engagement with their customers.

This real-time data strategy underpins the banks overall modernization and digital strategy, enabling bank technology teams to deliver richer, smarter digital services by capturing and making more data, including third-party data, readily available to developers via modern APIs. Developers are building data-driven services for these instant applications, and powering algorithms that deliver instant decisions from fraud detection, credit approvals, payment processing, and more.

Competition and heightened customer expectations of instant, always-on service are driving bank leaders to think beyond just big data and execute real-time data strategies. Given the pace of change in the industry, banks need real-time data capabilities, right now.

Learn more about us here.

About David Andrzejek:

David Andrzejek, head of financial services, DataStax DataStax

David has spent 25 years helping companies adopt technology to achieve outsized business transformation results.
The Home Office has made its final grants from the delay-hit Windrush Community Fund (WCF).

A total of 27 charities and community groups have now shared in just over 500,000 to help victims of the Windrush scandal. The second and final round of 13 grants was announced late last week.

The grants will fund events to help survivors of the scandal obtain any documents they need and apply for compensation.

The WCF had previously been criticised as a funding shambles following months of delays. The Home Office was also forced to correct the record after claiming that the charity managing the Fund, Voice 4 Change England (V4CE), was still processing applications as late as last month. The department subsequently admitted that the charity had actually completed that work in July 2021.

Grant winners

Dorota Peszkowska, director of the Scotland-based Citizens Rights Project, which was awarded a grant from the WCF, said: We are keen to play our part to help those in our communities in Scotland to get the help they need. Its so important that everyone eligible for compensation is able to get it, as it could make a big difference to their lives.

The government announced that it has paid out 35m in compensation to the Windrush generation so far.

Over 100 groups applied to the second phase of the WCF. The organisations and consortia which received grants totalling 237,000 are:

African Caribbean Community Development Forum

African Health Policy Network

Citizens Rights Project

COPEF Training Skills

Croydon Black & Minority Ethnic Forum

MV Balmoral Trust Fund

Refugee and Migrant Centre

Rising Stars North West CIC

Stockwell Good Neighbours

SVGA Reading

University of Wolverhampton

The African Caribbean Leadership Company

Wellington Road Seniors Community Project

However, Civil Society News understands that at least one organisation was not told the outcome of their application before the awards were made public. They learned that decision from the government press release.

Previous incorrect claims

The Windrush scandal occurred when hundreds of Black British citizens were denied jobs, healthcare and even deported from the country under strict new immigration rules introduced after 2010.

The WCF was created in January 2021 in response to the scandal, offering up to 25,000 to charities to fund projects encouraging more victims to work with the Home Office.

At the time, it was promised that funding should be released to all successful applicants within eight weeks of application submission, but applicants to the second phase of the Fund were left waiting more than six months without a decision.

Days after the delays were first reported, V4CE accused the government of making incorrect claims about its work and asked the Home Office to clarify that the charity had no involvement in any delay processing applications. The department subsequently admitted that V4CE had completed this work last summer, not in December as it had first claimed.

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Marvin Kalb, who later worked for CBS and NBC, tells a story about being tailed when he first arrived in Moscow in 1956, to work at the US Embassy.

He decided to take a walk around Red Square on his first full day in the Russian capital. He soon noticed that he was being followed by a man in a black overcoatundoubtedly a KGB agent.

The two ended up in the department store GUM, just off Red Square. As Kalb explained in his memoir The Year I Was Peter the Great, he bought two ice cream cones there. He held one out behind him, without looking. The agent took it without a word, and the two went on, one following the other.

That was a long time ago, but apparently the Russians did not stop spying on foreign reporters after the fall of the Soviet Union. I was the Moscow Bureau chief for CBS news from 1999 to 2006. And an article earlier this month by the Russian journalist and author Andrei Soldatov, who runs a website focusing on the Russian intelligence system, agentura.ru indicated that the spying was still going on then.

According to top secret documents, he wrote, someone inside the CBS News Moscow Bureau was reporting on our activities. And the Russian counter-intelligence operatives who were monitoring us presented a letter to Vladimir Putin about one of our investigations, into the consequences of a Russian terrorist attack.

In 2002, a little after 9 pm, over 600 people were watching a performance of the Russian musical Nord-Ost at Moscows Dubrovka Theater. Dozens of Chechen guerrillas stormed the theater, wired it with explosives, and took those present hostage.

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Russian forces, faced with a tactical nightmare in rescuing the hostages, pumped a narcotic gas into the theater. The gas knocked everyone out. Russian forces then freed all of the hostages, but about 130 died in the rescue.

In October 2005, we covered the third anniversary of the hostage-taking. Many of the survivors told us that they were experiencing unusual health problems since the siege, and that Moscow health officials were not giving them much help. The ingredients in the gas were a state secret, so doctors didnt really know what they were treating.

Over the next eight months, with the help of an association of victims families, we located about 100 of the people who had breathed in the gas. We gave them a written survey about their health, and followed up with some in-person interviews. Most of the survivors reported they had health issues that went beyond typical post-traumatic stresssuch as weakened immune systems, hearing issues, and even kidney failure. We also interviewed one brave doctor who had been treating a few survivors for three years, who had some theories about how the knockout gas might have affected them. Im still proud of the story.

It is strange to see it reflected in leaked Russian intelligence documents now. The documents point to a human source in the bureau, because the information goes far beyond what a wiretap or a pull of our phone records would have shown. One of the documents on which Soldatov based his reporting all but says so. Note the usage of agenturnaya informatcia term, he recently wrote to me. It basically means they had human sources inside.

Some of the details seem wrong to me, but I dont know if thats because a human source made a mistake, intentionally misinformed the FSB, or because my memory has been clouded by the passage of fifteen years. One detail is just totally incorrect, though. The letter to Putin said the reporting had been ordered by our bosses at CBS News to time with the July 2006 G8 Summit, held in Putins home city, St. Petersburg.

The implication was that our report was an intentional attempt to ruin an important moment for Putin on the international stage. I wonder if Russian officials really thought that CBS News would take orders from the US government, as Russian media often takes orders from the officials in the Kremlin.

After Putin was informed, according to Soldatovs report, he added a handwritten note asking what measures were going to be taken about our work. It was interesting to contemplate his request about retaliation, just as that facet of his mind is in the news regarding Ukraine.

Our seven-minute report on the Dubrovka survivors ran after the G8 summit, in October 2006, around the fourth anniversary of the theater siege. It suggested that the Russian government was doing wrong by these victims of terrorism. I kept expecting to hear something from the Kremlin press servicewhich occasionally expressed its displeasure with something we did or reported. But the call never came. Soldatov suggests that the FSB lost interest in our story after the G8 Summit proceeded smoothly. In innocently delaying the pieces air date, our bosses might just have saved us from some retaliation from the Kremlin.

My former colleagues at CBS News in Moscow have been pondering since Soldatovs story ran, trying to figure out who the FSB informant might have been. Well probably never know who it was. And thats fine by me, because I really dont want anything to dampen my warm feelings for my former colleagues and the work we did therelike episodes of 48 Hours on another hostage-taking, the one at the school in the southern Russian city of Beslan, or the killing of American journalist Paul Klebnikov.

I also got a front-row seat when Mike Wallace interviewed President Putin for 60 Minutes in 2005, leading me to co-write a guidebook for young reporters with Mike in 2010 that I hope helps cement his legacy in journalism.

I used to joke that I really didnt care if the FSB spied on us, as long as our competitors at ABC and NBC News did not. Still, our experience should serve as a reminder to foreign reporters in authoritarian states like Putins Russiaand so many nations which mistrust the work of the free pressthat prying eyes are still on them. And today, an ice cream cone will not defuse the situation.

Philip Taubman, a New York Times correspondent, wrote in 1986 of the perils of reporting from Moscow. I wondered what this country, rich in natural and human resources, he wrote, might accomplish if it rid itself of suspicion and mistrust. After learning there was a mole amongst my colleagues, I now find myself wondering the same thing.

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Beth Knobel is a professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University in New York. She previously served as the Moscow Bureau Chief for CBS News, and reported for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Follow her on Twitter @bethknobel.
MARYSVILLE, Ohio (AP)  Seven people were hospitalized in critical condition Saturday after suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning at a Hampton Inn in Ohio, local officials said.

A total of 13 people were taken to local hospitals, according to WCLU Radio. Marysville Fire Chief Jay Riley told The Columbus Dispatch that the source of the carbon monoxide was unclear but everyone who was hospitalized had been in the hotels pool area.

Riley said the victims included both children and adults. He did not provide exact ages.

We did have life-threatening levels of carbon monoxide in the pool area of the hotel, and we transported several people to local hospitals. We continue the investigation into the source and glad that no one died as a result of their exposure, Riley told the radio station.

Authorities said they received a 911 call Saturday evening about a 2-year-old girl who had either fallen into the pool or was found in the pool unconscious at the Hampton Inn in Marysville. More 911 calls soon followed about unconscious people or others who reported symptoms such as dizziness and a burning in the throat, Marysville Police Chief Tony Brooks said.

The hotel was evacuated shortly after. Brooks told the newspaper that all of the injured were alive when they were transported and that seven of the patients were in critical condition.

Two others were treated at the scene, and five more later sought treatment on their own at a hospital, Brooks said.

The Dispatch could not reach any members of the hotel management late Saturday. Riley said a Hampton Inn maintenance team was en route from out of state.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
From left, Israeli ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and German ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel pose for a photo during a ceremony commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of Germany in Korea





By Kwon Mee-yoo







In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on Jan. 27, the embassies of Israel and Germany in Korea co-hosted a ceremony in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, Thursday.







In 2005, the United Nations designated Jan. 27, the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust and the embassies of Israel and Germany have jointly commemorated this day in Korea.







During the ceremony held in a hybrid format due to the pandemic in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Korea, Melanie Bono, the director of Cultural Programs East Asia at the institute, said the theme guiding the United Nations Holocaust remembrance and education in 2022 is "Memory, Dignity and Justice."







"I think that memory, dignity and justice must work together in the sense against the global context of rising anti-Semitism and increasing levels of disinformation and hate speech. Remembrance of the victims of Nazi persecution and Holocaust education remains urgent," Bono said.







German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel recognized his country's responsibility for the genocide.







"We are here today to remember and commemorate the people that were murdered and the victims that suffered the terror of the Nazi regime. During the Holocaust, atrocities in scale and nature beyond imagination were committed by Germans against Jews, but also against Roma and Sinti and many more," Reiffenstuel said.







"It is of utmost importance to keep this memory alive and to vocally oppose any attempts to distort and euphemize history, Germany as a state, but also every individual German citizen, has the responsibility to actively ensure that the Holocaust will never be forgotten and that it will never be repeated."







The ambassador also appreciated Korea's effort in taking action against anti-Semitism.







"I commend South Korea as they endorsed the international Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism last year as the first country in Asia to do so. Their efforts are exemplary and hopefully inspire other countries in the region and beyond to follow," Reiffenstuel said.







Akiva Tor, ambassador of Israel to Korea, mentioned how reflection and remembrance of the Holocaust resonate with Koreans after decades, half a world away.







"The Shoah (Holocaust) is not the most current issue and not the most pressing, but it remains at the heart of our existence. It is the nagging doubt in the middle of the night. How solid is civilization? How certain is humanity? How shatterproof is the decency of our society?" he said.







"This is why it was gratifying to see a new graphic edition of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' on prominent display at the Seoul Metropolitan Library and to view the haunting art of Marc Chagall exhibited in Gangnam. This is the culture of a great city, a place which imagines beyond itself, which perceives the enormity of a crime that occurred in another hemisphere, but it's never distant."







Many heads and staff members of foreign missions in Korea also joined the "Light a Candle" initiative and sent videos of candles being lit and the names of the victims being read as the Holocaust victims were dehumanized by having their names replaced with a serial number.







A musical performance also paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust as Korean violinist Bae Sang-eun, pianist Yoon Chul-hee and German cellist Valentin Andert performed Dmitri Shostakovich's "Piano Trio No. 2 Op. 67: III, Largo."







The Shostakovich piece is one of the most famous works of music alluding to the Holocaust and suffering of the Jewish people. Although he was not Jewish, Shostakovich's incorporation of unmistakably Jewish elements in his music is viewed as an act of resistance, giving voice to the voiceless.


Global Aerospace Hires Head of Claims

Global Aerospace has appointed Rachel Priester as director of claims  USA, effective Feb. 7.

Priester will report to Jeff Bruno, president and chief underwriting officer.

Priester has 12 years of experience in the insurance industry. She previously was a managing claims counsel for CNA Insurance. Before then, she was a managing assistant general counsel for the Hartford, the she held various roles within the law department since 2010.

Priester is a graduate of Harvard University and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Global Aerospace is an international aeronautics insurer with a US headquarters in Morris, Plains, N.J.

Cowbell Cyber Hires Claims Chief

Cowbell Cyber has appointed Theresa Le as head of claims and risk engineering and Don Palardy as lead actuary.

The Pleasanton, Calif.-based insurer, which uses artificial intelligence to continuously monitor cyber risks, said it made the two appointments as it aggressively moves into its next growth phase.

Le most recently served as vice president and cyber claims expert at Swiss Re. She has for more than a decade of experience with international and domestic cyber insurers, including AXA XL and London market syndicates, on cyber coverage, crisis management and dispute resolution strategies, Cowbell said.

Le was also senior counsel at Clyde & Co., Atheria Law and Duane Morris, where her practice included monitoring complex cyber claims.

Palaardy was previously senior pricing actuary, professional lines, for Axis Reinsurance.

Chartwell Law Adds 2 Partners

Chartwell Law appointed David A. Rich and Sean J. McCarthy as partners with its general liability and insurance coverage team in Boston.

Rich has litigated matters involving product liability claims, trucking and transportation claims, as well as design defect claims against engineers and architects concerning construction defect negligence, the insurance defense firm said in a press release. He is admitted to practice in Alabama, Massachusetts, and New York.

McCarthy has litigated matters involving general liability, professional liability, casualty defense, and commercial matters in Massachusetts. Additionally, he represents and advises construction and design professionals throughout the United States in complex claims arising from major private and public construction projects and assists insurers in complex coverage matters.

Our bench of excellent attorneys is getting even deeper and stronger and builds on our growth in 2021 with our expansion into the northwestern U.S. and the opening of our Portland, Oregon office, stated Chartwell chief communications officer Tom Strohmetz.

Berger Kahn Hires Attorney for Wildfire Team

The Berger Kahn law firm in Irvine, Calif. has hired attorney Adam Romney as senior counsel with its wildfire litigation team.

Romney has 15 years of experience in litigation, having practiced in both California and Arizona, the firm said in a press release. He obtained his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School.

Prior to joining Berger Kahn, Romney prosecuted wildfire subrogation claims against utilities and public entities, including the North Bay Fire and Camp Fire against Pacific Gas & Electric, the Thomas Fire and Woolsey Fire against Southern California Edison, and the Little Valley Fire against the state of Nevada.
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.

Insurance Journal staff
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-
Press Release

January 31, 2022 Sans medical safeguards, contact tracing, monitoring

Binay to IATF: Abrupt lifting of facility-based quarantine raises public health risks

...says govt hasn't learned from 'Poblacion Girl' case Sen Nancy Binay today said the IATF should have not abruptly lifted quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated travelers until a comprehensive and localized surveillance system is in place. According to Binay, even with the daily reported cases, the lack of real-time data essential to calculate and ascertain infections makes it difficult for the DOH and epidemiologists to enable targeted responses. "'Di pa ba tayo natuto sa nangyari doon kay 'Poblacion Girl'? Sa loob na nga ng facility eh nalulusutan pa--what more yung talagang hinayaan na nating gumala ang mga byahero galing abroad. Kulelat na nga tayo sa pandemic response, ngayon bibitawan pa natin ang border control," she noted. Binay added that the Philippines is still struggling in controlling the spread of community infections as far as Delta and Omicron variants are concerned. "Other countries are also experiencing waves of surges, and it goes without saying that relaxing border control will definitely contribute to the rise in new variants and sub-variants--not to mention the probability of severe illnesses and deaths. Minsan mapapaisip ka sa mga desisyon ng IATF kung trial and error. So, are we supposed to draw comfort from this? Is the lifting of restrictions supposed to slow down the high transmissibility rate of new variants or, in any way, be less threatening to Covid infections?" asked Binay. The IATF has suspended the "green-yellow-red list" system which is used to classify countries, territories and jurisdictions based on their COVID-19 risk levels. The lifting of facility-based quarantine is now uniform for fully-vaccinated travelers regardless of the country of origin. Effective February 1, fully-vaccinated travelers will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. HIGH PRICE TO PAY "I'm not sure if the intent is to stop the spread or government has already given up on us. The spikes will definitely be inevitable," Binay said. "It doesn't make sense that after two years since the time two Chinese travelers were confirmed to be coronavirus carriers, we are again considering relaxing border controls while averaging 20,000 cases per day. Ang hirap tanggapin na sumusuko na tayo. Siguro nga, yes it doesn't make sense anymore--when we need people in government making decisions which make sense," the senator noted. Although the number of reported deaths has been a fraction of the mortality cases during previous waves, Binay said abruptly lifting restrictions always comes at a high price. "Mistakes in policy decisions are both economically disruptive, and unnecessarily damaging. Sana natuto na tayo in the past two years. Ni wala tayong matinong serological surveillance because we don't have granular real-time data gathering systems in place. The bottomline is to learn to live with the virus and get back to as much of a normal society as possible--but not without medical safeguards, otherwise we are bordering on irresponsibility," Binay said. As of January 2022, over 54 million Filipinos of the country's 110 million population, have so far been fully vaccinated against COVID-19--still practically risking close to 50% of the population being exposed to the virus.
Rescue operations are underway to find a worker buried under a landslide at a quarry in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, in this photo, provided by fire department there, Jan. 31. Yonhap





Investigators searched a regional office of Sampyo Industry, Monday, in connection with a recent accident in a quarry that left two workers dead and one still missing.







Officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor conducted a search of the field office and vendors of Sampyo Industry in Yangju, north of Seoul. Sampyo is a local manufacturer of construction materials, including remicon and aggregate.







On Saturday, a landslide occurred on a quarry slope while three workers were drilling holes for demolition work.







Two were found dead, but one worker is still missing. Rescue operations are under way to find the remaining worker. (Yonhap)


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."


Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  Commission on Elections chairman Sheriff Abas is not interfering in what the poll body calls a division problem between Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Aimee Ferolino over the disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos.

"It's a division problem so at this point, theres really no need to go outside of the division," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told the media in a briefing on Monday.

This comes after Guanzon called on Abas to "speak up," following the delayed release of the decision of the Comelec First Division on the consolidated disqualification petitions against Marcos.

In a separate event earlier in the day, Abas said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the rift between the two, but he said he will respond to it in another forum.

"This is about the division. The division as we can see is made up of two very strong-willed women who are both coming at this from different angles," Jimenez noted.

Guanzon has released a separate opinion in favor of the petitioners seeking to disqualify Marcos over his tax conviction. She is set to retire along with Abas on Feb. 2.

RELATED: Guanzon on Marcos DQ cases: Non-filing of ITR constitutes moral turpitude

But Ferolino, the ponente in the case, has not yet penned the decision, which was supposed to be released on Jan. 17.

Guanzon called on Ferolino to step down with her, since the "integrity of the Comelec is now in question." She earlier claimed that a powerful politician may be meddling in the case.

In Ferolino's letter to Abas dated Jan. 28, she stressed the "undue rush" to issue a resolution on a "complex and highly rated case." She also said that she underwent quarantine after close contact with a COVID-positive lawyer assigned to the case.

READ: Ferolino asks Comelec chief to review Guanzon's actions on Marcos disqualification case

Jimenez said Guanzon's opinion will not be retroactive if it is released after her retirement. This means her vote could be invalidated, since she will not be an official member of the poll body by then.

"When all is said and done, this is still a case that has to be decided by a cold and impartial judge," Jimenez said. "It is important to respect the commissioners who want to maintain that integrity in their decision-making."
Among the four sexual assault victims interviewed by The Korea Times and and its sister paper Hankook Ilbo, all except Flower wished to remain anonymous. The other names used in this article are pseudonyms.  ED.



By Lee Min-young



"When I was raped, it actually took me about a month to muster up the strength to go and make my case."



After taking a deep breath, Jennifer, a sexual assault victim, broke the silence and started talking about what happened to her that night.



Acquaintance, friend and partner



"He was actually a friend. We started out as friends and we used to hang out occasionally along with mutual friends," Jennifer told The Korea Times. But, she continued, that all changed when she went out for a drink with him and he showed his true colors.



The two had an argument outside a bar and suddenly he started acting aggressively, grabbing her by the shoulder and assaulting her. "I went straight into a full-on panic attack and I just went into a manic state at that moment and just blacked out."



The next thing she knew she was being dragged to a motel. She said her body was hurting all over and she even had a bloody lip but she couldn't remember what he had done to her or how she got there.



There, Jennifer was raped by him four times.





Jennifer speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min



"I felt trapped. He wouldn't let me go. By the fourth time, I felt so exhausted and helpless that I told him to get it done and over with if this is what he really wanted."



Flower from South Africa, another victim of sexual assault, recalled a similar experience.



"We were actually dating for about a month. But I had no intention of getting physical with him yet. I was uncomfortable about it." One day the two went out on a date and since it was getting too late to take the subway, he asked her if she wanted to stay at a nearby hotel for the night and get some rest. She agreed, unaware of his real intention.



"I told him, 'I'm sorry, I don't want to do anything, I just want to sleep,' but he ignored my request. Eventually he pinned me down to the bed with force, and started to do his thing." She said that she begged him over and over again that night to stop but he wouldn't listen. "I said, 'Please, if you're going to do this, please use protection, please...' but he ignored my request to use protection."



One month later, she learned she was pregnant.





Flower, another victim of sexual assault, said she remembers waking up in a hotel room without any clothes on, completely terrified, as she didn't have any recollection of what had happened to her that night. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min



During the interview, Flower became very emotional and tearful as she spoke about becoming pregnant as a result of the rape. "This is the first time I would ever talk about this publicly. That situation changed my life completely."



Ever since, she has been dealing with anxiety and PTSD. She never came forward about the attack and swept the traumatic experience under the rug.



Fear of reporting



She told The Korea Times that there are many foreign women who have been victims of sexual violence.



"I have tons of friends that constantly tell me this ajeoshi (middle-aged man) grabbed her bum on the subway and this one tried to take pictures of her. Foreign women often don't speak up about these problems because they are scared of losing their jobs and their reputation in this country."



Jeong Jae-hyung, an inspector with the juvenile crime and gender-based violence division at the National Police Agency (NPA), says many of the victims are reluctant to come forward because of their immigration or work status among other issues. The language barrier and a lack of information can also prevent them from calling for help. "These barriers also make the women an easier target and as such are exploited by the perpetrators," he said.





Jeong Jae-hyung, an inspector with the juvenile crime and gender-based violence division at the National Police Agency, speaks to The Korea Times about sexual violence cases against foreign women. Korea Times photo by Kim-Kang-min



According to the latest data provided by the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), in 2020 a total of 2,036,075 foreigners resided in Korea  909,103 of them women. But the number of calls to the Danuri Helpline in relation to sexual assault last year was 55, just 0.5 percent of the total calls received  an indication that such crimes are vastly underreported. Only 747 cases out of 39,296 reported sexual assault cases in 2020 involved foreign victims.



Qualified, experienced translators are needed



Cases involving foreigners are usually processed by multicultural support centers, and the victims are accompanied through the investigation by an interpreter and someone with whom they have a trusted relationship. While using translation services is the one major procedural difference between foreign and Korean victims, the language barrier is still a great hurdle for them in report their cases to the police.



After Jennifer reported the crime and gave her statement to the prosecution during an investigation to bring her case to court, she struggled to describe what had happened to her despite the help of an interpreter.





The language barrier is still a great hurdle for foreign victims in reporting cases of sexual violence to police. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min



"I had to repeat myself several times and she had to fix herself (for clarification). Apparently, there was something wrong with the translation of my statement that they couldn't understand exactly how I defended myself. So the prosecutor had asked me to reenact that."



So she was put into the situation of reenacting how she was raped four separate times. This occurred in front of all present, including the alleged rapist.



Gender sensitivity



Cases involving sexual assault had all been handled by criminal affairs departments in the past. But after many women raised the issue of a lack of gender sensitivity, the NPA created separate investigation departments for women and adolescents.



Patricia said she was shocked by how some police officers handled sexual violence cases without any sensitivity. She said she had gone to the police to report a case in which a stranger had sexually harassed her at her workplace. "They were yelling my personal information to one another and I was explaining my story quietly to one officer and the other officer kind of just shouts like, 'Oh, did he hit you?', 'Did he touch you?' You know, without any tact, without any grace."





Patricia, a victim of sexual harassment, talks about her experience with the police's handling of her case. Captured from Zoom



"We call it secondary victimization. We are trying to make sure that law enforcement personnel are responding in a sensitive way when it comes to dealing with sexual assault victims," Jeong said. He said police officers are being educated to collect statements from victims using AI-based speech recognition technology to help victims feel more comfortable talking to them.



The tool automatically converts their testimony into text so that officers won't have to type down statements, which makes victims feel as if they are being interrogated.



Linda also said she had an unpleasant experience with police officers. It was late at night when a man started following her as she jogged along the street. Police officers saw and came up to her asking if she was okay which soon led to inappropriate questions. "They started asking me unnecessary questions  and I could see them eyeing me up and down because I wasn't wearing a lot of clothes because it was very hot and I was exercising."





Linda talks about her unpleasant experience with Korean police officers. Captured from Zoom



The officers asked her what kind of work she was doing and her place of residence. "They were asking me in a way that felt like they were guessing if I was up for service. I had heard there were a number of Russian prostitutes living in the neighborhood," she said as she recalled the experience.



"They said they would follow me home to make sure I get home safe. I told them I didn't want them to know where I lived and I was feeling even more unsafe because of them but they insisted and eventually did follow me home," she said.



Lack of support



"After I went through all those experiences, I felt so alone."



Flower who had been through a number of traumatic situations in which she was sexually assaulted by Korean men regretted that she did not receive professional mental help for her PTSD.



Korea has improved its support system for Korean sexual assault victims over the past several years due to greater calls for victim protection and harsher punishment for perpetrators following a number of sex crime cases that made headlines nationwide.



But foreign women are still off of the radar, leaving many helpless and lost.



"There are organizations out there but they don't focus particularly on foreign woman. They didn't have any English-speaking staff, or they say they only help Korean women," Jennifer said. Experts say society needs to make more efforts to protect the rights of every victim no matter where they come from  and change may be coming.



"As of now, we have detectives in charge who supervise every aspect of the investigation. But in the future, victims will have to be given further protection through specialized law enforcement personnel who speak their language and can better communicate with the victims," Jeong said.





There are a handful of organizations for Korean sexual assault victims but foreign women are still off their radar, leaving many helpless and lost. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min



As of now, migrant women can report an incident through the Danuri Call Center, which is staffed by professional consultants from immigrant backgrounds.



The Danuri call center has services available in 13 languages, and it is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also provides a range of information for migrant women and those from multi-ethnic households, including ways to request protection and assistance in the event of a crime.



"We're also working to better protect the rights of foreigners by working with migrant communities, law enforcement and neighborhood watch groups, while also raising awareness on safety guidelines and the resources that are available in case they need assistance," Jeong said.



Universal human rights



When Jennifer was provided with a lawyer by the government, she said she saw him only once during the investigation and did not hear from him until the ruling  when she was informed that the case had been thrown out due to a lack of evidence.



"The biggest problem with sexual violence investigations is that the victims are often left out of the loop once they have filed their charges. Criminal court cases are handled by the national judiciary, so it falls on the state to decide the fate of the assailant or defendant in question," said Choi Seung-ho, an attorney at Ondam Law based in Seoul.



"The victim's accusations merely serve as evidence in the court, but they themselves are not part of the legal proceedings. This leads to several problems for the victims. There are often left completely in the dark about the court schedule and any updates on the investigation of their assailants."





Choi Seung-ho, an attorney at Ondam Law based in Seoul, speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  Lawmakers sought syndicated estafa charges against six officials of a controversial government medical supplier over the purchase of COVID-19 response items, while the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) was deemed off the hook for overpricing allegations.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability announced on Monday recommended charges against Pharmally President Huang Tzu Yen, Director Linconn Ong, Mohit and Twinkle Dargani, Justine Garado, and Krizle Grace Mago for allegedly soliciting government contracts even if their company lacked the financial capability to meet its obligations.

The act of Pharmally officials and employees in soliciting supply contracts from the government despite full knowledge that it was grossly unqualified to do so and tantamount [to] fraudulent misrepresentation resulting in damage and disadvantage to the government, committee chairman and Diwa party-list Rep. Michael Aglipay said, quoting the committee report.

He added Pharmally gravely abused the system by taking advantage of rules under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act on the governments pandemic response and misappropriated P8.68 billion in public funds.

The panel also recommended the filing of charges for falsification of public documents against Jorge Mendoza II and Mervin Ian Tanquintic of PS-DBM. They allegedly signed inspection documents for COVID-19 supplies that came from China even before the items were delivered.

No recommendation for charges vs. Yang, Lao

Aglipay said they found no overpricing in the PS-DBM purchase of COVID-19 response supplies.

He said procedures done by the agency previously led by former PS-DBM chief Lloyd Christopher Lao to procure supplies and equipment in behalf of the Department of Health were in line with the law that guides the government's pandemic response.

Aglipay said there was "insufficient evidence" to sue Lao and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, who is the supposed financier of Pharmally which bagged billions worth of government contracts despite the company's insufficient capital.

"The evidence does not warrant or is not enough for cases to hold," Aglipay said.

Despite absolving Lao, the committee recommended the abolition of PS-DBM to streamline government functions and services.

"PS-DBM has outlived its purpose considering that all agencies now have their own procurement department and BAC (Bids and Awards Committee," the report read.

The House panel conducted investigations on the governments purchase of COVID-19 supplies from September to October last year.

The committee's recommendations will be submitted to the plenary for adoption by the House.

CNN Philippines correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion believes the Philippines is ready to fully remove the alert level system and granular lockdowns by March or April this year.

The official said the government can scrap restrictive rules on business capacity and only needs to enforce the basic health protocols against COVID-19, such as the wearing of face masks.

Concepcion said this should be the government's direction in the next coming months, urging decision makers to begin crafting a "pandemic exit plan" considering that the Omicron coronavirus is leading to fewer hospitalizations compared to other variants that hit the country.

"We have to realize that we have to move on. Down the road nakikita namin that granular lockdowns are not needed. Dito sa Omicron, kung nahawa ka ng Omicron, what you do is just stay home, self-quarantine, and get well, then you go back to work, parang normal flu," he said in a government-led briefing. "I think by March, sometime that period, palagay ko April, we will be ready to move out from alert levels."

[Translation: Down the road we see that granular lockdowns are no longer necessary. If you catch Omicron, you only have to self-quarantine and get well, like the normal flu. I think by March or April, we will be ready to move out from alert levels.]

Alert levels are raised depending on the COVID-19 situation in a specific area, restricting movement and business operations if it is suffering a case surge. Granular lockdowns, meanwhile, are put in place to restrict the movement in a specific home or street with a high concentration of cases.

NEDA chief Karl Chua said Concepcion's suggestion needs to be studied as the country eventually moves to a more endemic mindset. For now, he sees the need for the alert level system to remain in place due to the ongoing Omicron-driven surge.

"I think the proposal would merit actually some serious thinking. For the time being, since we are not yet fully out of the pandemic, this is something that I think we should presently retain," he said.

Health reform advocate Tony Leachon also told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday that before scrapping the alert level scheme, the government must first improve the health system and provide free access to COVID-19 tests to successfully measure and monitor the country's progress.

"We cannot manage what we don't measure," Leachon said. "I think its about time that we take a serious look at the indicators so we will be successful in terms of our pandemic exit plan."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  A presidential hopeful on Monday cautioned voters against electing into office candidates who would seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the people's welfare.

"For the longest time, we have witnessed how corruption, the worst form of thievery, continues to destroy our nation. And we only have ourselves to blame," Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said.

He also said that voting such people into office gives them leeway to engage in illegal activity.

"Tayo pa nga ang nagsi-shade ng kanyang pangalan sa balota. At hindi siya namimili ng nanakawin. Wala siyang pakialam kung ang kanyang ninanakaw ay ang ating mga karapatan sa edukasyon, hanapbuhay, kalusugan at maayos at masaganang pamumuhay, at higit sa lahat, ang kinabukasan ng kabataan," he said.

[Translation: We even shade their names on the ballot. And they don't pick what they steal. They don't care if what they steal is the right to education, jobs, health and a decent life, and most of all the future of the youth.]

A former Philippine National Police chief, Lacson previously said he and his running mate, Senate president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, were the best corruption-fighting team given their experience and years in public office.

On Monday's online event celebrating National Bible Day, Lacson said "deeply entrenched thievery" was the country's biggest challenge and urged voters to be more discerning.

"Just for one day, on Election Day, let us not allow ourselves to be partners of the thieves. Let us stand mightily against the evils of their actions," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  Vice President Leni Robredo will push for maximum transparency to eradicate corruption in the government if she is elected president.

In the Ikaw Na Ba? The Presidential Interviews on DZBB on Monday, the presidential aspirant said she is in favor of requiring public officials to disclose their Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). She also supports conducting lifestyle check on officials to make sure that the full picture of their assets is made known to the public.

"Kapag dinisclose ang SALN magkakaroon ang tao ng idea kung tumataas ba ang aming assets. Kung tumaas, may valid justification ba? Pero hindi ito sapat. Ang lifestyle check kailangan din gawin kasabay ng SALN, kasi ang SALN baka hindi niya nare-reflect ang kalagayan ng kayamanan ng isang public official," she said.

[Translation: If we release the SALN, the public will know if our assets are increasing. If it is going up, is there a valid justification? However, that is not enough. Lifestyle checks are necessary alongside the release of SALN. The wealth may not completely reflect the wealth of the official.]

She added that it is part of a government official's job to be transparent with their finances.

Robredo also said that she has been supporting anti-corruption efforts since she was a congresswoman when she filed the Full Disclosure Bill and People Empowerment Bill.

The Office of the Vice President has been lauded by government agencies for its transparency efforts and high audit rating, and Robredo said this is a proof that her anti-corruption stand is not merely "lip service."

"Hindi sapat na ang public officials ay matitino. Kailangan ang sistema pinipilit silang maging matino," she added.

[Translation: It's not enough for public officials to be upright. The system must also force them to be honest public servants.]

President Rodrigo Duterte has been criticized for refusing to release his SALN for 2018, 2019, and 2020. Journalists requesting for Dutertes SALN have been tossed back and forth between the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman after Ombudsman Samuel Martires imposed restrictions on public access to these documents.
Ever since the invention of film, there have been countless adaptations of plays by William Shakespeare for the screen. Classic plays like Hamlet and Othello have been brought to life by legendary filmmakers like Laurence Olivier. Joel Coen joins this group with The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Coens film is another retelling of Shakespeares classic tragedy, Macbeth. It tells the story of Macbeth (Denzel Washington), a Scottish general, who is told by three witches (all played by Kathryn Hunter) that hell become the next king of Scotland. He returns to Scotland where, at the encouragement of his wife (Frances McDormand), he murders the king of Scotland and takes over the throne. Once he captures the throne, Macbeth and his wife are consumed by guilt and paranoia, which causes Macbeth to become a tyrannical king.

This is Coens first film without the involvement of his longtime collaborator and brother, Ethan Coen. The duo created some of the most iconic films of the past 50 years, including The Big Lebowski, Fargo, No Country for Old Men and Inside Llewyn Davis to name a few. Joel is able to continue the tradition of excellent films even without the help of his brother.

The look of the film is distinct, stark and stunning.

Cinematographer and longtime Coen brothers collaborator Bruno Delbonnel and production designer Stefan Dechant have created a unique and dreamlike setting.

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Joel said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that he wanted the setting of the film to be closer to a dream than reality. The sets of the film, like the setting in Macbeths castle, are abstract and look more like the set of a play than the set of a film. Joel also stated in the interview that this was an additional intention he had in regards to the look of the film.

The lighting and camerawork of the film are on point as well. The film is shot in black and white in a 4:3 aspect ratio, giving it a claustrophobic and tight box view. The aspect ratio contributes to the feelings of dread and madness that Macbeth and his wife feel as they are swallowed by guilt. Claustrophobia and discomfort define the effect created by the cinematography.

I would be absolutely remiss if I didnt discuss the performances in the film, but what else can I say about Washington and McDormand  my favorite actress  that hasnt been said before?

Washington and McDormand brilliantly convey the madness thats devouring Macbeth and Lady Macbeth following their seize for power. Washington goes above and beyond as he portrays a paranoid king, afraid of who might be suspicious of his actions, while McDormand goes from a person salivating for power to a guilt-stricken wreck.

Hunters performance as all three of the witches who tell Macbeth his future might be the best of the film. Hunter, an English theatre veteran, gives one of the best physical performances Ive seen from an actor on film. Shes able to contort her body into strange positions. Joel said in the Los Angeles Times interview, crew members would burst into applause following the shooting of one of her scenes.

Joel has created a fresh and interesting perspective on a centuries-old play with his new film. It looks fantastic, and the performances are phenomenal. Even without the assistance of his brother, Joel is still able to deliver another classic film.

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+4 Where can you find the best hot chocolate in downtown State College? | Blog As your nose and ears freeze on the way to class and the weather forecast continues to be a 




The Japanese Embassy in Seoul has refused to accept South Korean President Moon Jae-in's Lunar New Year gift, claiming the gift's box bears an image of South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, Japanese news reports said Saturday.



Upon the refusal, the embassy lodged a protest and repeated Japan's territorial claim to the islets.



The presidential office did not make any specific comments on the issue.




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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
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01/31/2022

Photo (c) Luis Alvarez - Getty Images COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 74,333,528 (73,429,392)

Total U.S. deaths: 884,265 (881,472)

Total global cases: 375,465,073 (371,974,484)

Total global deaths: 5,665,888 (5,659,818)

Studies predict who will get long COVID

Many people have mild cases of COVID-19, especially infections caused by the Omicron variant. But some of these people find that their symptoms linger for weeks in what is known as long COVID.

Recent studies have tried to predict who will suffer from the lasting symptoms and who wont. Common factors that researchers cite include asthma, certain unhealthy gut bacteria, and autoantibodies, which are elements often associated with autoimmune conditions.

The latter may be the most significant. According to scientists, autoantibodies are present in about 60% of the people who develop long COVID.

Is the U.S. ready to get back to normal?

As we reported last week, Denmark is dropping nearly all of its COVID-19 restrictions beginning Tuesday. The countrys leader says its time to get back to normal.

With Omicron variant cases still spreading rapidly, how close is the U.S. to making a similar decision? According to ABC News, many health experts believe 2022 is the year that the U.S. learns to live with the virus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), said last week that the U.S. can get "sufficient control" over the virus so it "does not disrupt us in society, does not dominate our lives, nor prevent us [from doing] the things that we generally do under normal existence."

Spotify to add disclaimer to Joe Rogan podcast

Podcaster Joe Rogan issued a statement over the weekend saying he is happy for Spotify to add a content disclaimer to his show when he interviews people with controversial views. His statement came in response to a social media storm, led by musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, who threatened to pull their songs from the platform.

Rogan, known for booking controversial guests, set off the aging rockers when he interviewed Robert Malone, an infectious disease specialist whose views on COVID-19 have been branded as misinformation.

Rogan also said that going forward, when he interviews someone with controversial views, he will try to follow up with guests who hold opposing views.

Around the nation
1 Silk Merchants Unleashed A Plague

In 1720, the Grand Saint-Antoine sailed from Lebanon to France. It carried rich silks, which made it through the voyage just fine, and also passengers, who didn't fare so great. Nine people on the ship died, despite the ministrations of the ship doctor, who also died.

Rocky Mountain Laboratories Here is a mug shot of the killer.

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The ship finally made port at Marseille, which had protocols in place for arrivals of sick passengers, thanks to a few outbreaks of plague over the last few centuries. The ship would have to quarantine at an island. If the sick aboard recovered, then that was cool, and everyone could come ashore. If the sickness spread among them and killed them, or they succumbed to unrelated Island Madness, that wouldn't be so great for them, but France overall would be spared.

Then the silk merchants of Marseille approached the authorities and said, hey, you're putting all these people on a rock, we get that. But that doesn't mean all that precious silk has to stay locked up. After all, blankets can't transmit sickness, that's something that's never happened and never will happen. So thanks to that lobbying, the city bent the rules and unloaded the ship before sending it away. The result was the Great Plague of Marseille, which killed 100,000 people. This outbreak probably could have been avoided, considering that the continent managed to never have another outbreak of bubonic plague this big again.

Michel Serre Here's are some people sweeping up the corpses, in case you were feeling too cheery.

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We should give you a little context for that 100,000 figure. Probably, we should talk about how fewer people were alive back then than now, which makes the death toll even more horrific (at the epicenter, this plague killed 50 percent of the population). But mostly, we just want to remind you that any time up till, oh, the past two years, 100,000 was an unfathomably large number of deaths.

People used to say things like, "Yeah, the Iraq War killed a few thousand American soldiers, but the Vietnam War killed SIXTY THOUSAND American soldiers," and that would break our brains because that was a number just too big to understand. Or, we had the death toll for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, which was officially 64, but unofficially 3,000 based on excess deaths during the period, and people would think, "3,000? That's a nonsense number, let's go on calling it 64."

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So, some of you, seeing that 100,000 stat, instinctively calculate how few days the 21st century's plague would take to kill that many, and will mentally dismiss the impact accordingly. But the time will again come when 100,000 feels like an impossible death toll to get from a single outbreak. For there is no greater measure of how secure we are as a people than fear of large numbers.

Follow Ryan Menezes on Twitter for more stuff no one should see.

Top image: 32 Bit
By Lee Jong-eun





A year into his presidency, the U.S. Biden administration has yet to catch a break facing one global challenge after another. With the start of 2022, the United States confronts the escalation of military tensions between Ukraine and Russia.



Demanding NATO's agreement to ban Ukraine's NATO membership and limit NATO's deployment in Eastern Europe, Russia has recently massed its troops on the Russia-Ukraine border. In the hope of defusing the situation, the U.S. has been engaged in a series of negotiations with Russia, with Biden warning the latter would pay "a heavy price" if it invades Ukraine.



In East Asia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea's official name, has also stepped up its pressure on the Biden administration. Since the start of the year, North Korea has conducted four short-range ballistic missile tests, including two hypersonic missile launches.



On Jan. 20, the DPRK leader Kim Jung-un reportedly instructed his officials to "examine the issue of restarting all temporarily suspended activities," referring to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and nuclear tests that the regime has placed a moratorium on since the spring of 2018. Should DPRK resume the tests, there is a possibility that the regime could cross the "red line" long warned by the U.S., testing MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) ICBMs that could simultaneously target multiple U.S. cities.



While condemning North Korea's latest provocations, the Biden administration faces strategic constraints in response. While the attention is on potential military confrontation with Russia, how much commitment could the U.S. make in also confronting DPRK? Would the U.S. risk two-front military confrontations?



Since the Cold War, a two-front war has been a prospect U.S. national strategists have always dreaded. In 2018, the U.S. National Security strategy replaced the two-war strategy with a focus on preparing for one major war, most likely with China. This signifies that the security situation is different from 2017 when U.S. President Trump could threaten "fire and fury" against "little rocket man" Kim.



Even if the DPRK crosses over the U.S. red line on ICBM tests, the Biden Administration will be confronted with a dilemma in deciding the bigger security threat: Russia's military operation or DPRK's nuclear tests. Whichever answer the Biden administration picks, the U.S. response could risk dividing the U.S. alliance between European and East Asian allies.



By threatening to place the U.S. in a strategic dilemma, the DPRK regime is, intentionally or unintentionally, using the strategic opportunity presented by the Russia-U.S. conflict over Ukraine. In signaling the prospect of resuming the ICBM and nuclear tests, potentially in spring, DPRK presents an ultimatum to the Biden administration on whether to negotiate with the former or ignore the challenge and risk a two-front security crisis in Europe and Northeast Asia. After a year of diplomatic stand-off, North Korea is challenging the U.S. for a response.



How might the U.S. respond to DPRK's challenge? From the DPRK's perspective, the best scenario would be if the Biden administration negotiates with the former to mitigate the regional security tensions. The Biden administration might consider temporally placating North Korea to focus on containing the more pressing threat from Russia.



After a year of rejecting the previous Trump administration's top-down approach, the Biden administration might be compelled to agree to high-level negotiations, even resumption of letter exchanges between the heads of state. Yielding from its stance of starting diplomatic talks without pre-conditions, the U.S. might concede to several of DPRK's demands, such as a moratorium on U.S.-ROK military exercises or even marginal sanction relief.



Another possible outcome would be that the Biden administration chose to be "strategically indifferent" toward DPRK's ultimatum. U.S. policymakers have concerns concessions to DPRK would project a political image of weakness for the Biden administration, domestically and internationally. In response to the DPRK's threat, the Biden administration might dare the latter to carry out its provocations, engaging in a game of bluffing.



Even under such an outcome, if the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues into the spring, the DPRK still has a window of opportunity; the U.S. would be constrained in its retaliatory actions against the former's provocations. During the Vietnam War, U.S. administrations were restrained in their responses toward DPRK provocations, such as the capturing of the USS Pueblo and the shooting down of a U.S. EC-121 aircraft.



This year, the DPRK could use the window to continue its missile and nuclear tests and further cement its de facto nuclear power status. With the expansion of new technology and arsenal, the DPRK's bargaining leverage will increase at future arms control talks. Using the present Russia-Ukraine conflict as an opportune timeframe to risk ICBM and nuclear tests, while US retaliatory capacity is constrained, the regime could potentially achieve a state of "irreversible nuclearization."



The DPRK regime should, however, maintain a strategic caution and consider the period after the window closes. What will happen after the U.S. manages to contain the Russia-Ukraine conflict? Will the US return to confront North Korea for taking advantage of the former's strategic distractions? The DPRK might also consider the lesson from Japan's overreach during the Pacific War.



In the early period of its military expansion, the Japanese Empire avoided rigorous deterrence from the U.S., which was more focused on Europe's conflict. However, Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor provoked the U.S. to engage in a two-front war, which the latter would have been reluctant to fight in a different circumstance. In planning its strategic challenge against the U.S., the DPRK should first calculate how long the U.S. could be tied down by Russia; second, avoid an overreach that would enrage the "bald eagle" to engage in a two-front war in both Asia and Europe.





Lee Jong-eun (jl4375a@student.american.edu) is a Ph.D. candidate and is also an adjunct faculty at the American University School of International Service. Prior to this, he has served as a South Korean Airforce intelligence officer. His research specialty includes U.S. foreign policy, South Korean politics and foreign policy, alliance management and East Asian regional security.


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 
Public health agencies say KN95 masks such as this, or N95 masks, offer the best protection against the highly contagious omicron variant.
Its still early days, but if this year is anything like years past, its safe to say CISOs will have a lot to contend with, from a continuing labor shortage to the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks to an ongoing threat from nation-state actors.

However, they also have plenty of ideas on how theyll tackle those challenges.

To learn what theyre planning to do and what they want to accomplish in the months ahead, we asked CISOs across various industries to share their main objectivesor, their top resolutions, if you willfor 2022.

Heres what they say:

1. Eliminate blind spots

Suyesh Karki, CISO and VP of IT at cloud software company Domo, wants to eliminate blind spots within his tech environment because he knows that he cant protect what he cant see.

Domo Suyesh Karki, CISO and VP of IT, Domo

Its important for our security teams to have visibility into all aspects of cloud applications, on-prem applications, network, services, systems, databases, accounts, third-party providers, etc. to help fortify our cybersecurity defenses, Karki explains. Having a complete, accurate and appropriately prioritized inventory of all our hardware, software, and supply chain assets enables our security teams to take a systematic approach to knowing what needs to be safeguarded, what controls to implement to protect, defend, and respond against any adverse events, and how to identify and produce metrics that tell the full story about our current security posture.

2. Get a grip on the web of interdependence

Maarten Van Horenbeeck, CISO of software company Zendesk, cites getting a better understanding of the web of interdependence within his companys technology environment as a top goal for 2022.

Zendesk Maarten Van Horenbeeck, CISO, Zendesk

I want to understand that mesh better so I can take action and know how to better protect it, he says.

Although the complexity of that mesh has been growing for years, Van Horenbeeck says events during the past two years such as SolarWinds and Log4j have reinforced for him the criticality of understanding all the moving parts that make up his companys technology ecosystem.

To that end, Van Horenbeeck has invested in technology to gain a fuller understanding of his own companys IT environment. And while he acknowledges that getting 100% visibility into vendors code is unlikely, he still wants a more detailed understanding of how third parties and vendors interconnect with his company and what data theyre accessing so his team can design security strategies to limit the risks they might present.

3. Get a solid look into the providers IT environment

Peter Albert, CISO of the tech company InfluxData has a similar resolution, saying he wants an understanding of the complete scope of the supply chain.

InfluxData Peter Albert, CISO, InfluxData

He adds: A lot of people think supply chain might be just the companies you have contracts with, but its so much more than that.

For example, he says he wants to know what vulnerabilities are in the code used by third parties and what open source resources do vendors use that could add risk.

To further limit risk, Albert says he wants to implement more monitoring of his SaaS providers to ensure that his companys data is secure as it passes through the providers environments.

I think there has been almost a fundamental misconception in the industry around third-party providers that they will monitor our data, but what were finding is thats not true, he explains. So we have to take some of that responsibility back, and that means gathering from those providers insights into who is accessing our data.

Alberts not wasting time on this resolution. An employee has built a prototype for ingesting SaaS provider security logs while other staffers are building models to detect anomalies that could indicate security threats.

4. Do the common uncommonly well

As Booz Allen Hamilton CISO Ashley Devoto looks forward to emerging threats and a changing cybersecurity landscape, she also wants to stay laser-focused on the fundamentals as we seek to strengthen our overall cyber resilience.

Booz Allen Hamilton Ashley Devoto, CISO, Booz Allen Hamilton

More specifically, she wants to ensure she has a strong program for quickly identifying and remediating vulnerabilities; good processes for efficiently implementing patches; robust employee awareness and training; and full visibility across the IT environment.

She professes her belief in the business adage that equates success to doing the common uncommonly well. That mantra really resonates with me, she says, citing it as part of the inspiration for her resolution.

Statistics inspired Devotos 2022 aspirations, too. Hackers will continue to take the path of least resistance, so we have to be relentless on the basics. And by exceling at the basics, well be postured to repel cyberattacks with speed and agility.

Moreover, Devoto plans to develop metrics and key performance indicators to measure her teams effectiveness and improvement on handling such fundamentals.

UNOPS Niel Harper, CISO & DPO, United Nations Office for Project Services

Niel Harper, CISO and data privacy officer at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), lists a similar resolution for the year and offers a granular look at how hes going to achieve that objective.

He says he wants to focus more energy and resources on privacy and data; refine and enhance the control framework around third-party risk management; improve his enterprises protection against ransomware; and continue promoting the importance of email security to every business leader I meet.

5. Push security further left

To help ensure she and her team get the security basics right, Devoto plans to embed security requirements earlier into planning and development processes. I am prioritizing expanding our suite of preventive controls and capabilities as we take the fight upstream to thwart cyberattacks, she says, adding that she wants to get left of boom with this drive.

Shes not alone in her ambition to shift left in 2022. The 2021 Global CISO Report from software company Dynatrace found that 89% of the 700 CISOs surveyed said that microservices, containers, and Kubernetes have created application security blind spots, and 71% said theyre not fully confident that code is vulnerability-free before going live. Moreover, 85% of the surveyed security leaders said they believe application and devops teams must take more responsibility for vulnerability management to protect the organization effectively.

6. Start retiring the reliance on passwords

Grant Gibson wants this year to be the year he gets his company further way from using passwords for accessor at least further away from using passwords as the main form of authentication.

CIBR Grant Gibson, CISO, CIBR

He sees the move as a critical play for improving security.

Weve been dealing with passwords for 40 years and the one consistent theme is that they get hacked, says Gibson, CISO for CIBR, a cybersecurity think tank

Thats to be expected, he says. People still use the same password for multiple accounts, they pick easy ones to make sure they can remember them, and they write them down or store them in electronic files when systems require complex passwordsdespite frequent warnings against such practices.

Passwords are just out of control, he adds, pointing out that recent high-profile attacks involved compromised passwords.

Gibson says hes working to implement stronger identity and access management (IAM) controls that are easier for people to use yet are more secure for the enterprise, acknowledging that theres no single solution that will work best for all organizations.

Right now hes implementing multifactor authentication within his own organization so that passwords arent the only way to authenticate users, and hes exploring how to eliminate passwords altogether in the future.

The goal is to get to passwordless, he says. In the short term that means that passwords cant be the only form of authentication. But for the long term the goal really is to be completely passwordless.

7. Boost agility

Ariel Weintraubs resolution for this year is to be more agile.

Cybersecurity programs are most successful when they demonstrate resilience. The last few years have shown us that threat actors constantly evolve their tactics, looking for creative ways to circumvent conventional controls and approaches. The ability to be resilient is based on the ability to quickly pivot priorities, says Weintraub, head of enterprise cybersecurity for MassMutual and board director for One In Tech, a foundation within the IT governance association ISACA.

MassMutual Ariel Weintraub, head of enterprise cybersecurity, MassMutual

Shes already taking action.

Were moving from an annual cycle of prioritizing projects and initiatives to a continuous assessment leveraging our daily threat and vulnerability assessment capability that allows us to identify, measure, and respond to emerging threats and risks, she explains. This means not being afraid to pause or end certain initiatives and pivoting to new ones in response to the latest tactics and techniques. Ransomware operators arent afraid to take down their whole infrastructure, rebrand, and start fresh. In the same spirit, were going to be agile in the way we deliver new capabilities so that it doesnt take years to respond to new threats. Its not a failure to stop a project when its no longer relevant.

8. Build better partnerships with the business

Tightening securitys partnership with the business is Van Horenbeecks other top resolution for this year. Weve been doing this for a while, but this is this year when it really becomes the prime thing we internalize, he says, explaining that tightening securitys alignment with business will help both teams advance their goals.

Heres why:

Van Horenbeeck says many security departments, including his own, have become highly proficient at identifying and addressing top-level risks within their organizations. That, though, doesnt influence day-to-day work habits and business processes that often introduce lower-level security risks and stymie efforts to build a security-minded corporate culture.

A stronger partnership with the business will help security identify workflows that create risks. It will also help security understand why their business colleagues value those processes. That combination, along with the better relationships fostered by partnership, should help security and the business work together to find successful solutions.

Its really about focusing more on where our are partners going rather than telling them what to do, Van Horenbeeck says.

9. Take care of the team

Tony Velleca, CISO of UST and CEO of CyberProof, a UST company, plans to pay more attention to his workers this year.

UST Tony Velleca, CISO, UST

Vellecas right to be concerned: Some 84% of security professionals said theyre feeling burned out, according to the December 2021 State of Access study from software firm 1Password.

Velleca says hes looking for ways to not only retain talent but to motivate and energize them as the COVID-induced uncertainty and disruption drags on.

Like executives at many other companies, Velleca had a mostly on-site workforce that moved to remote overnight nearly two years ago. He acknowledges that the virtual environment has some benefits but at the cost of the face-to-face interactions that help people bond.

Velleca says his company plans to bring people back to the office with options to work remotely, a move he hopes will help re-energize people.

He also plans to focus on innovative projects to boost workers excitement, and hes deploying more automation to shift workers away from repetitive tasks to more engaging higher-level assignments.

10. Inspire new talent

Lena Smart, CISO of MongoDB, wants to help address securitys storied talent shortage, resolving in 2022 to recruit people to the profession.

MongoDB Lena Smart, CISO, MongoDB

I plan to continue playing an active role in mentoring and supporting the outside infosec community, Smart says.

She herself took an unconventional path into the field. She left school at 16 and skipped a university education. She got into computers and networking thanks to her own interest in the space and some encouraging employers.

Now, she says, As a CISO I often hear from my peers how difficult it is to find talent. While it certainly is competitive to fill infosec roles, weve seen really positive results from finding people with the right characteristics and helping them learn the technical ins and outs.

11. Clean house

In typical New Years fashion, Brennan P. Baybeck, vice president and CISO of Customer Services at Oracle, is planning to clear out superfluous tools and investments that arent providing value as well as identifying underutilized capabilities.

Oracle Brennan P. Baybeck, VP and CISO of customer services, Oracle

I think now is a good time to take stock and see whats available to us, what we had prior to the pandemic, things we piled on, where we have redundancies, and eliminate those processes and technologies that arent in line with the strategy, he says.
What is a DDoS attack?

A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack is when an attacker, or attackers, attempt to make it impossible for a service to be delivered. This can be achieved by thwarting access to virtually anything: servers, devices, services, networks, applications, and even specific transactions within applications. In a DoS attack, its one system that is sending the malicious data or requests; a DDoS attack comes from multiple systems.

Generally, these attacks work by drowning a system with requests for data. This could be sending a web server so many requests to serve a page that it crashes under the demand, or it could be a database being hit with a high volume of queries. The result is that available internet bandwidth, CPU and RAM capacity becomes overwhelmed.

The impact could range from a minor annoyance from disrupted services to experiencing entire websites, applications, or even entire business taken offline.

How do DDoS attacks work?

DDoS botnets are the core of any DDoS attack. A botnet consists of hundreds or thousands of machines, called zombies or bots, that a malicious hacker has gained control over. The attackers will harvest these systems by identifying vulnerable systems that they can infect with malware through phishing attacks, malvertising attacks, and other mass infection techniques. The infected machines can range from ordinary home or office PCs to DDoS devicesthe Mirai botnet famously marshalled an army of hacked CCTV camerasand their owners almost certainly don't know they've been compromised, as they continue to function normally in most respects.

The infected machines await a remote command from a so-called command-and-control server, which serves as a command center for the attack and is often itself a hacked machine. Once unleashed, the bots all attempt to access some resource or service that the victim makes available online. Individually, the requests and network traffic directed by each bot towards the victim would be harmless and normal. But because there are so many of them, the requests often overwhelm the target system's capacitiesand because the bots are generally ordinary computers widely distributed across the internet, it can be difficult or impossible to block out their traffic without cutting off legitimate users at the same time.

There are three primary classes of DDoS attacks, distinguished mainly by the type of traffic they lob at victims systems:

Volume-based attacks use massive amounts of bogus traffic to overwhelm a resource such as a website or server. They include ICMP, UDP and spoofed-packet flood attacks. The size of a volume-based attack is measured in bits per second (bps). Protocol or network-layer DDoS attacks send large numbers of packets to targeted network infrastructures and infrastructure management tools. These protocol attacks include SYN floods and Smurf DDoS, among others, and their size is measured in packets per second (PPS). Application-layer attacks are conducted by flooding applications with maliciously crafted requests. The size of application-layer attacks is measured in requests per second (RPS).

Important techniques used in all types of DDoS attacks include:

Spoofing: We say that an attacker spoofs an IP packet when they change or obfuscate information in its header that should tell you where it's coming from. Because the victim can't see the packet's real source, it can't block attacks coming from that source.

We say that an attacker spoofs an IP packet when they change or obfuscate information in its header that should tell you where it's coming from. Because the victim can't see the packet's real source, it can't block attacks coming from that source. Reflection: The attacker may craft an IP address that's spoofed so it looks like it actually originated with the intended victim, then send that packet to a third-party system, which "replies" back to the victim. This makes it even harder for the target to understand where an attack is truly coming from.

The attacker may craft an IP address that's spoofed so it looks like it actually originated with the intended victim, then send that packet to a third-party system, which "replies" back to the victim. This makes it even harder for the target to understand where an attack is truly coming from. Amplification: Certain online services can be tricked into replying to packets with very large packets, or with multiple packets.

All three of these techniques can be combined into what's known as a reflection/amplification DDoS attack, which has become increasingly common.

How to identify DDoS attacks

DDoS attacks can be difficult to diagnose. Afterall, the attacks superficially resemble a flood of traffic from legitimate requests from legitimate users. But there are ways you can distinguish the artificial traffic from a DDoS attack from the more "natural" traffic you'd expect to get from a real users. Here are four DDoS attack symptoms to watch for:

Despite spoofing or distribution techniques, many DDoS attacks will originate from a restricted range of IP addresses or from a single country or regionperhaps a region that you don't ordinarily see much traffic from.

Similarly, you might notice that all the traffic is coming from the same kind of client, with the same OS and web browser showing up in its HTTP requests, instead of showing the diversity you'd expect from real visitors.

The traffic might hammer away at a single server, network port, or web page, rather than be evenly distributed across your site.

The traffic could come in regularly timed waves or patterns.

How to stop a DDoS attack

Mitigating a DDoS attack is difficult because, as previously noted, the attack takes the form of web traffic of the same kind that your legitimate customers use. It would be easy to "stop" a DDoS attack on your website simply by blocking all HTTP requests, and indeed doing so may be necessary to keep your server from crashing. But doing that also blocks anyone else from visiting your website, which means your attackers have achieved their goals.

If you can distinguish DDoS traffic from legitimate traffic as described in the previous section, that can help mitigate the attack while keeping your services at least partially online: for instance, if you know the attack traffic is coming from Eastern European sources, you can block IP addresses from that geographic region. A good preventative technique is to shut down any publicly exposed services that you aren't using. Services that might be vulnerable to application-layer attacks can be turned off without affecting your ability to serve web pages.

In general, though, the best way to mitigate against DDoS attacks is to simply have the capacity to withstand large amounts of inbound traffic. Depending on your situation, that might mean beefing up your own network, or making use of a content delivery network (CDN), a service designed to accommodate huge amounts of traffic. Your network service provider might have their own mitigation services you can make use of.

Reasons for DDoS attacks

A DDoS is a blunt instrument of an attack. Unlike a successful infiltration, it doesn't net you any private data or get you control over your target's infrastructure. It just knocks their cyber infrastructure offline. Still, in a world where having a web presence is a must for just about any business, a DDoS attack can be a destructive weapon aimed at an enemy. People might launch DDoS attacks to knock business or political rivals offlinethe Mirai botnet was designed as a weapon in a war among Minecraft server providers, and there's evidence that the Russian security services were at one point preparing a similar attack. And while a DDoS attack isn't the same thing as a ransomware attack, DDoS attackers sometimes will contact their victims and promise to turn off the firehose of packets in exchange for some Bitcoin.

DDoS tools: Booters and stressers

And, sometimes, DDoS attackers are just in it for the moneynot money from you, but from someone who wants to take your website out. Tools called booters and stressers are available on more unseemly parts of the internet that essentially provide DDoS-as-a-Service to interested customers, offering access to ready-made botnets at the click of a button, for a price.

Is DDoS illegal?

You might see an argument that goes something like this: it's not illegal to send web traffic or requests over the internet to a server, and so therefore DDoS attacks, which are just aggregating an overwhelming amount of web traffic, cannot be deemed a crime. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the law, however. Setting aside for the moment that the act of hacking into a computer to make it part of a botnet is illegal, most anti-cybercrime laws, in the U.S., the U.K., and elsewhere, are fairly broadly drawn and criminalize any act that impairs the operation of a computer or online service, rather than specifying particular techniques. Simulating a DDoS attack with the consent of the target organization for the purposes of stress-testing their network is legal, however.

DDoS attacks today

As mentioned briefly above, its becoming more common for these attacks to be conducted by rented botnets. Expect this trend to continue.

Another trend is the use of multiple attack vectors within an attack, also known as Advanced Persistent Denial-of-Service APDoS. For instance, an APDoS attack may involve the application layer, such as attacks against databases and applications as well as directly on the server. This goes beyond simply 'flooding,' attacks says Chuck Mackey, managing director of partner success at Binary Defense.

Additionally, Mackey explains, attackers often dont just directly target their victims but also the organizations on which they depend such as ISPs and cloud providers. These are broad-reaching, high-impact attacks that are well-coordinated, he says.

This is also changing the impact of DDoS attacks on organizations and expanding their risk. Businesses are no longer merely concerned with DDoS attacks on themselves, but attacks on the vast number of business partners, vendors, and suppliers on whom those businesses rely, says Mike Overly, cybersecurity lawyer at Foley & Lardner LLP. One of the oldest adages in security is that a business is only as secure as its weakest link. In todays environment (as evidenced by recent breaches), that weakest link can be, and frequently is, one of the third parties, he says.
More than half (53%) of the IoT (internet of things) and internet of medical things (IoMT) devices used in healthcare contain critical cybersecurity risks, according to The State of IoMT Device Security report by Cynerio, which analyzed devices from more than 300 hospitals in the US.

Cynerio makes IoT and security systems for heathcare providers. For the report, more than 10 million IoT and IoMT devices were scanned. Cynerio used a connector which, when connected to a SPAN (switched port analyzer) port on the core switch of a network, collects device traffic information for each device connected to the network. This information was then analyzed by an in-house AI algorithm to help identify vulnerabilities and threats.

The report found that IV (intravenous) pumps make up 38% of a hospitals typical healthcare IoT footprint, and 73% of these pumps have at least one vulnerability that could jeopardize patient safety, data confidentiality or service availability if identified by a bad actor.

Healthcare systems have multiple attack surfaces from the very infrastructure within a hospital to the increased (if not total) digitization of medical records, says Constellation Research analyst Liz Miller. The global pandemic sweetened the pot for attackers, and it quickly became open season on networks, systems, and devices.

The report found that 79% of IoT devices are used at least once a month, while 21% may go without use for four weeks.

Unpatched devices open up big risk

Once a medical device is used for a patient, it could be in use for days or weeks at a time, says Daniel Brodie, Cynerios CTO. Many devices have operational requirements of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and an interruption, even for patching, could have serious consequences for medical workflows, patient safety, and hospital operations.

Another factor contributing to the devices missing out on timely upgrades is that a typical hospital network may host a combination of devices from different vendors and streamlining the patching and upgrading process becomes too complex to be achieved within the respective downtime windows, according to Brodie.

Almost half (48%) of the IoT devices scanned in the research used Linux as their operating system which, according to the report, leads to growing concerns as Linux is an open-source platform that has gained much popularity within the bad actors' community as it powers almost 70% of web servers worldwide.

We are seeing an increased targeting of Linux devices by ransomware groups in IoT environments, Brodie adds. The offenders understand and target their attacks, almost in a customized fashion, to a hospitals unique setup. It takes longer than a spray and pray type of attack, but the potential for payoff is much higher.

Another key finding of the report is that although only a marginal number of IoT devices in a healthcare setup run on Windows, the critical care sector overall is dominated by devices running old versions of Windows, typically older than Windows 10. These include devices used by hospital departments usually responsible for the direct care of patients like pharmacology, oncology, and labs.

Ransomware leads IoT attacks

Of the many cyberattacks targeting the healthcare space, ransomware has emerged to be the most problematic in recent times. The Cynerio report pointed out that in 2021 ransomware attacks on hospitals increased 123% year-on-year, costing a total of $21 billion from over 500 attacks. The average cost per ransomware attack has been found to be $8 million and each attack is estimated to take an organization around 287 days to fully recover.

Ransomware attacks have become more prevalent in the past two years, according to Forrester analyst Allie Mellen. Due to the nature of healthcare equipment, there can be a lot of challenges to upgrading legacy systems, given the wide array of devices.

Malware or DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks are the most frequent and tend to turn into ransomware demands. In a typical attack, the devices to go down are the ones that track patients vital signs along with the systems that compile the medical history and documentation of each patient, according to Brodie. This is quickly followed by the shutdown of communication systems including email and VOIP phones, making it hard to pass on critical information. Other systems that lose functionality during these attacks include radiology, imaging, PACS (picture archiving and communication system) machines and scanners, IV and insulin pumps, printers, and other network equipment.

Network segmentation could eliminate key vulnerabilities

The report concluded that although URGENT/11 and Ripple20 have made the most recent headlines for being the key vulnerabilities within healthcare IoT devices, they make up only about 10% of the real threat. URGENT/11 and Ripple20 refer to the group of vulnerabilities that allows attackers to circumvent firewalls and remotely take control of the devices through TCP/IP stack without user interaction.

The top vulnerabilities, according to the report, are Cisco IP Phone CVEs (common vulnerabilities and exposures), which comprised 31% of vulnerabilities detected; weak HTTP credentials, with 21% of detected vulnerabilities; and open HTTP port, with 20%.

The report recommends network quarantine and segmentation as the most effective technique to remediate the vulnerabilities, as patching is a difficult fix for IoT devices coming from different vendors. It also emphasizes that a proper balance of network connections, with a mix of the east-west (device to device) and north-south (server to device) form of segmentation, is vital to ensure safety without disrupting connectivity.

Context is important, in a healthcare environment specifically, you cant have segmentation interfering with clinical workflows or interrupting patient care, so there is definitely a balance that needs to be struck between connection and severance, Brodie says. He elaborates that, for instance, the IV pumps could be connected only to the servers at the data centers and not to other servers or devices (in a north-south segmentation maneuver) that may be more easily accessed.
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Connecticut police officers joined thousands of other officers to honor and pay tribute to a New York City police officer Friday.

Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was shot and killed Jan. 21, while answering a call about an argument between a woman and her adult son, officials said.

Police departments across the state including, Connecticut State Police, Darien, Westport, Norwalk, New Canaan and Middletown attended the service. The departments showed support for the officers, their families and the New York City police department in person and on social media.

Connecticut State Police posted, "We joined thousands in honoring fallen New York Police Officer Jason Rivera."

New Canaan posted pictures of the sea of police officers that lined the road to the church.

"Today members of the New Canaan Police Department stood shoulder to shoulder with thousands of fellow brothers and sisters from across the globe to say goodbye to @nypd Detective Jason Rivera," New Canaan Police tweeted.

Rivera and Officer Wilbert Mora, 27, were fatally wounded Jan. 21 by a gunman who opened fire on them in a hallway as they responded to a family dispute between a woman and her adult son, officials said.

On Tuesday, Mora was taken off life support at a Manhattan hospital. He was in critical condition since the shooting four days earlier. He was then moved Sunday Jan. 23, from Harlem Hospital to NYU Langone Medical Center, where he died.

Law enforcement from across the country gathered to pay tribute to the officers.

Middletown Police also offered comfort and support with their police dogs.

Officer Bodell and K9 Bear from Middletown Police were able to spend time with Detective. Riveras wife, family, friends, and co-workers to provide comfort and "making people smile in times of tragedy and crisis is what these dogs to best," they posted on facebook.
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By Peter Y. Paik




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HAMDEN  New Haven and surrounding communities had received an estimated 8 or more inches of snow by late Saturday afternoon, with the storm expected to taper off in the evening.

Most municipalities reported no major issues with power outages or motor vehicle collisions, though officials warned residents to stay off the roads so crews could finish cleaning up.

A winter storm warning was in effect throughout the day, as the National Weather Service cautioned residents 45 mile-per-hour winds were possible.

Though Fridays predictions said 1-2 feet of snow accumulation was possible, forecasted snowfall lessened overnight. On Saturday evening, officials estimated the final totals would be closer to 10 to 12 inches.

The City of New Haven has received approximately 9 inches of snow and current forecasts call for another 1-3 inches over the next couple of hours with snow ending sometime after 5 PM, Mayor Justin Elicker told residents in an email. Our Parks and Public Works crews have been working hard all day to keep roads clear. This work will continue for many hours after the snow stops falling.

The parking ban would likely remain in place until Sunday, Elicker said, adding that the city would issue updates as they became available.

Following earlier forecasts, Avelo Airlines canceled 15 weekend flights arriving and departing out of Tweed-New Haven Airport in anticipation of heavy snowfall, according to a release.

Customers with reservations to travel with us to or from HVN on Friday, January 28; Saturday, January 29; or Sunday, January 30 are eligible to change their flights for no difference in air fare, the release said.

Fog and light snowfall were recorded at Tweed at 6:53 a.m. Saturday, according to the a NWS forecast.

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.

New Haven Director of Emergency Operations Rick Fontana reported a four-vehicle collision he said took place amid poor road conditions on the Wilbur Cross Parkway. It left one person seriously injured, he said.

Otherwise, the city got through the day relatively unscathed, according to Fontana.

Fifty trucks worked to clear the roads in New Haven, he said. The crews operated in 12-hour shifts, he said, with the first shift lasting from about midnight Friday to noon Saturday.

People are listening, people are staying off the roads, which is a key element to get the roads plowed, Fontana said.

Tom McCarthy, West Havens public works commissioner, also emphasized the importance of avoiding travel.

We have no reports of trees down, he said. Our biggest issue right now is people wanting to get out and about with their lives while we still need time to push this storm back.

Public works crews have 24 hours after a storm ends to complete clean-up, according to McCarthy.

Were almost begging people to give us that response time, he said.

With a parking ban in effect until Sunday, the city was towing cars, McCarthy said.

Though winds and snow drifts made it difficult to measure snow accumulation, we are certain that its in the 10-to-12 inch range, McCarthy said.

Meanwhile, East Haven had received eight to nine inches by 4 p.m., according to Charles Coyle, the superintendent of operations for the public services department.

While he expected the snow to let up in the evening, some additional accumulation was possible, he said. Coyle did not report any major issues associated with the storm.

Late Saturday morning, Coyle had reported heavy snow.

The wind is going to be a factor all day today, he said. But were out there trying to keep up with the roads.

In southern Hamden, snowfall was light during the early morning hours, though noisy winds battered trees and kicked up snow.

The storm 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.

The road conditions worsened throughout the morning.

Its definitely coming down. Theres a lot of blowing and drifting, Mayor Lauren Garrett, who lives in northern Hamden, said at 10 a.m. 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.

Winds were strong enough to knock over the heavy garbage cans outside her home, she said.

Road conditions improved by the early evening, but Garrett advised residents to continue to avoid travel where possible.

The roads - I think theyre better than in some of the other towns  but you still dont wanna be out there until public works crews are able to get them cleaned up a little bit better, she said.

She had recently checked in with public works supervisors who were really happy that the roads dont have a lot of cars driving on them right now.

Its all going really well, Garrett said of the storm response.

In North Haven, officials estimated the town had received six inches of snow by 10 a.m. and between 10 and 12 inches by 3:30 p.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.

Residents (seemed) to be staying home and complying with the parking ban Saturday morning, Freda said.

Weve had no reports of any major accidents. Our plow drivers are out there and have been all afternoon and will be throughout the evening, he said later that day. Our goal is to have our plow drivers continue to plow even after the snowfall ends. Our goal is to ensure that by tomorrow morning the roads are safe for our residents who are looking to have Sunday travel.

This story has been updated with the correct location of the crash and to reflect more recent weather conditions.
Despite a noreaster passing through Connecticut on Saturday, dumping upwards of 22 inches in some areas, the state has still seen below average snowfall for the year.

Gary Lessor, the chief meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University said Sunday that Connecticut is about halfway through the snow season.

So far this year, Bridgeport has seen 21 inches of snow, with the normal amount at 14.3 inches, Lessor said. Last year, Bridgeport had seen 13.9 inches of snow by this time.

Hartford has seen less snow than the shoreline, according to Lessor, who said the city has seen 18.4 inches. Normally Hartford has seen 25.4 inches by now and last year, the city saw 20.3 inches.

Danbury normally sees 19.2 inches by this time in the year and has seen 17.7 inches, Lessor said.

Lessor went on to say a storm is possible this week, from Thursday into Friday. There is a chance this could be another snow storm, but it is too early to tell, especially when a storm could transition from rain to snow, Lessor said.

Despite the noreaster being passing, the cold weather will continue for the next few days. Temperatures were expected to fall into the teens overnight on Sunday and Monday, but warm into the 30s throughout the day.

Weve got a major warm up coming this week, Lessor said. Its going to be in the forties on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Gov. Ned Lamont called the noreaster a wicked New England storm, with parts of the state experiencing winds up to 48 mph on Saturday morning.

While western Connecticut saw the least snow, the blizzard dropped almost two feet of snow in southeastern Connecticut, with the weather service reporting 22 inches in Norwich, 21.5 inches in Groton and 20.5 inches in New London.

In New London County, some towns such as North Stonington, Ledyard and Montville left their parking bans in effect until Sunday morning or early afternoon to facilitate plowing and snow removal.

Significant snowfalls were also reported in New Haven and Middlesex Counties with 13 inches in Branford and 16 inches in Chester, according to the weather service.

Fairfield County saw the least snow, ranging from 5.3 inches in New Fairfield to 10.5 inches in Bridgeport, according to the weather service.

On Saturday, Connecticut State Police responded to approximately 1,212 calls for service, according to a press release.

Out of those calls, 90 were for motor vehicle accidents, 84 of which were classified as no injury and six were reported with injury. Zero accidents were reported with serious or fatal injuries. Another 208 calls were for traffic services, such as disabled or abandoned vehicles or debris in the roadway, according to state police.

There were few reports of issues through the morning on Sunday. Both the states major electricity providers, Eversource and United Illuminating, had resolved all but a handful of outages from the storm.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
TRUMBULL  One would think that after spending roughly 24 hours riding on a Peloton bike, Jim McCaffrey would be achy, exhausted and in need of massive recovery.

But on Monday, McCaffrey, 41, of Trumbull felt strong, even though he rode on his bike from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, nonstop save a few bathroom breaks and clothing changes.

Im going to go for a run today, McCaffrey, a Trumbull High School English teacher, said Monday afternoon.

After all, he had been riding for a good cause.

McCaffrey is vice president of Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer  a New Jersey-based charity that raises money for research into pediatric cancer. He got involved with the group not long after losing his 6-year-old daughter Mia to a rare form of cancer in 2017.

His grueling weekend Peloton ride was for Infinite Loves second-ever Pedal-Thon, a Peloton-themed fundraiser. The 24-hour event allows people to sign up to donate and ride their Peloton bikes for any portion of the fundraiser to help support the charity. People can also donate without riding.

The goal of this years ride was to raise $100,000 for childhood cancer research. As of Monday afternoon, McCaffrey said, at least $87,000 had been donated and donations continue to be accepted. He said more than 218 people registered for the event.

According to the Infinite Love website, childhood cancer only receives 4 percent of the National Cancer Institutes annual research budget and only three new drugs had been developed for any types of childhood cancer in the past 25 years.

Given how long he rode, McCaffrey said, some of the experience is a little blurry to him, but hes thrilled with the response.

It was an emotional experience, he said. For me, its always cathartic.

To donate to Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer and the Pedal-Thon, visit https://www.infiniteloveforkidsfightingcancer.org/pedal-thon.html
Some tenants facing eviction now have access to legal aid through Connecticuts right to counsel program, which launched Monday in 14 neighborhoods across eight municipalities.

The program is the second in the country to launch, according to a news release from the Connecticut Bar Foundation, which is overseeing the initiative. The state legislature passed a right to counsel law last year.

Its a really important advance in access to justice for tenants facing the devastating impact of evictions, said Cecil Thomas, a housing attorney at Greater Hartford Legal Aid.   The landscape in Connecticut for a very long time has been fundamentally unbalanced.

The eligible neighborhoods include ZIP codes in Bridgeport, Killingly, Hartford, New Haven, Putnam, Waterbury, West Haven and Willimantic.

The ZIP codes are: 06610, 06239, 06105, 06106, 06112, 06114, 06120, 06511, 06513, 06519, 06260, 06710, 06516 and 06226.

More than 80 percent of landlords have representation in eviction proceedings, while less than 10 percent of tenants have lawyers in their cases, according to the news release. This puts tenants at a significant disadvantage in court, advocates said.

The 14 ZIP codes eligible in the first phase of the program were selected because they have some of the highest rates of eviction in Connecticut. Historically, about a quarter of evictions in the state are brought against tenants in these ZIP codes, according to the news release.

Thats likely because they have higher concentrations of people with low incomes who are more at risk of eviction, attorneys said.

Those ZIP codes have tenants with lower incomes, said Kelsey Bannon, a housing attorney with Greater Hartford Legal Aid. I think thats part of it. We definitely see the right to counsel program as a racial justice issue, too.

Many in those neighborhoods are rent-burdened, said Lizzie Rosenthal, deputy director of the New Haven Legal Assistance Association.

An eviction really can cause a cascade of negative consequences, Rosenthal said.

Those can include possible homelessness, negative health consequences and disruption of school or work, attorneys said.

Attorneys at Greater Hartford Legal Aid, New Haven Legal Assistance Association and Connecticut Legal Services will represent eligible tenants in the ZIP codes. Those who served in the armed forces can get representation through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center regardless of location.

Tenants are eligible if they have a household income up to 80 percent of the state median income  $79,000 for a family of four. If there is more need than estimated, those who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level  $53,000 for a family of four  will be prioritized, according to the release.

The program will expand to more ZIP codes over the next few years. Legal services organizations have hired additional attorneys dedicated to housing to handle the influx of cases through the program, said Natalie Wagner, executive director for the Connecticut Bar Foundation.

There are about 25 full-time attorneys working on the first phase of the program, and Wagner said she hopes theyll each average about 100 cases per year.

The right to counsel program is funded for two years with $20 million in federal pandemic relief money and $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to increase language access and for administrative costs associated with coordinating between organizations, Wagner said.

Washington and Maryland also have right to counsel laws, although Maryland hasnt launched its program yet.

In Connecticut, landlords will be required to give information about the program when they provide notice of eviction. Courts will also send information about the program along with notices of hearings.

Evictions have been a particular concern throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as many people lost wages during shutdowns. Federal protections designed to prevent the spread of the virus by keeping people out of congregate living settings such as homeless shelters were overturned by the Supreme Court last year.

Wagner said Connecticuts eviction problem began before the pandemic.

The housing crisis has really, I would say, been brought to the forefront during the pandemic, but as we discussed during the release, four cities in Connecticut are on the list of top large cities with the highest eviction rates in the country, she said. In our tiny state, thats a big problem.

Those four cities on the Princeton University Eviction Labs list of 100 large cities with the highest eviction rates are Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury.

We have our own housing crisis that really pre-dates the pandemic, Wagner said.

Those seeking assistance can call 800-559-1565 to speak with Legal Services screeners or visit the programs website.
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BRIDGEPORT  Mayor Joe Ganim has suspended the detectives involved in investigating the deaths of two women, including Lauren Smith-Fields, last month.

In a statement and accompanying video, Ganim said he directed Deputy Chief James Baraja, who is filling in for Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia while she is away, to place both Detective Angel Llanos and Detective Kevin Cronin on administrative leave. He said both men are the subject of a Bridgeport Police Office of Internal Affairs (OIA) Investigation and disciplinary action for lack of sensitivity to the public and failure to follow police policy in the handling of these two matters.

I want you to know that I am extremely disappointed with the leadership of the Bridgeport Police Department and find actions taken up to this point unacceptable, the mayor said.

The departments handling of the Smith-Fields case and that of Brenda Lee Rawls have been questioned by the womens families.

Ganim also said the supervisory officer in charge of overseeing the cases retired from the department as of Friday.

Llanos has been with the Bridgeport Police Department since 1988 and Cronin has been with the department since 2000. Both men are now on administrative leave with pay.

Neither could be immediately reached for comment.

Last week, the departments narcotics and vice division launched a probe into the untimely death of Smith-Fields at her Plymouth Street apartment after the medical examiner ruled that she died as the result of acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol.

According to a police report, a man Smith-Fields met through the dating app Bumble called police just after 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 12 when he reported waking up and finding her on not breathing, with dried blood around her nose. The man told police the two had been drinking the night before, according to the report.

Promethazine and hydroxyzine are antihistamines described as prescription medications, while fentanyl is an opioid.

Ganim, whom the Smith-Fields family had criticized for his silence, had previously promised a full and fair internal investigation into the way the case was handled and any appropriate changes after the family said they were never notified by police of Smith-Fields death and criticized the initial police investigation. Their lawyer has announced the family intends to sue the city.

Last week, hundreds of people marched from the police department to the doorstep of the mayors office to demand answers and action in the investigation. Some of those in attendance also spoke of Rawls, another Black woman who was found dead in her home.

In Ganims statement Sunday, he expressed condolences to both Smith-Fields family and Rawls family.

In his statement, Ganim also wrote the Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity, especially in matters involving the death of a family member. It is an unacceptable failure if policies were not followed.

Additionally, he said, To the families, friends and all who care about the human decency that should be shown in these situations in this case by members of the Bridgeport Police Department, I am very sorry.

Addressing the public and Bridgeport Police Department, Ganim said insensitivity, disrespect in action, or deviation from policy will not be tolerated by me or others in this administration.

Additionally, he said his disappointment and demand for accountability in this and any other matters brought to his attention will remain until all the questions are answered to everyones satisfaction.

He said the untimely death of both Smith-Fields and Rawls are both under active investigation and have been reassigned to members of the Bridgeport Police Department for resolution.

Ganim thanked Smith-Fields familys lawyer, Darnell Crosland, the families involved in the investigation, and members of the public for asking questions.

I as mayor, but also as a father, cannot fully comprehend what you must be going through. I can only pledge my continued support to try to ease your pain by getting answers and holding those responsible accountable, he said.

Larry Dorman, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 4, which includes the Bridgeport police union, declined comment Sunday night while we gather the facts.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Llanos did not retire as the city of Bridgeport had previously reported.
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BRIDGEPORT  The suspension of detectives whose handling of the investigation into Lauren Smith-Fields death drew complaints from her family is a step in the right direction, the familys lawyer said Monday.

Mayor Joe Ganim announced on Sunday that Detective Kevin Cronin and Detective Angel Llanos were placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation for lack of sensitivity to the public and failure to follow police policy.

I want you to know that I am extremely disappointed with the leadership of the Bridgeport Police Department and find actions taken up to this point unacceptable, the mayor said in a statement announcing the actions.

Smith-Fields family said they did not find out about her Dec. 12 death until her landlord informed them more than 24 hours later.

In a prepared statement Monday, their lawyer, Darnell Crosland, called Ganims statement a step in the right direction.

The city is liable for the behavior of its police department and its officers, he said. I am pleased that the mayor has accepted that liability publicly and has apologized to this family for the suffering they have endured.

On what would have been Smith-Fields 24th birthday, Smith-Fields family and friends were joined by hundreds on a march from the police department to the Margaret Morton Government Center, where they called attention to Smith-Fields case and that of Brenda Lee Rawls, another Black woman who was found dead in her home.

Crosland, who has announced the family intends to sue the city, said that since Smith-Fields death, the family has had to grieve and advocate for justice at the same time.

That is unfair and unacceptable, Crosland said. People from across the country and around the world heard our cries for justice yet the City of Bridgeport did not.

The case has garnered widespread coverage in outlets like CNN, the New York Times, Ebony and BET, as well as social media posts from celebrities like Cardi B, who tweeted about it last week.

In Ganims statement Sunday, he expressed condolences to both Smith-Fields family and Rawls family.

In his statement, Ganim also wrote the Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity, especially in matters involving the death of a family member. It is an unacceptable failure if policies were not followed.

Additionally, he said, To the families, friends and all who care about the human decency that should be shown in these situations in this case by members of the Bridgeport Police Department, I am very sorry.

According to a police report, a man who Smith-Fields met through the dating app Bumble called police just after 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 12 when he reported waking up and finding her not breathing, with blood around her nostril. The man told police the two had been drinking the night before, according to the report.

No one has been charged with a crime and the police have not named anyone as a person of interest.

Last week, Bridgeport police announced its narcotics and vice squad would be investigating the case in addition to the departments detective bureau after the medical examiner ruled that she died as the result of acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol.

Cronin and Llanos could not immediately be reached for comment.

Larry Dorman, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 4, which includes the Bridgeport police union, declined comment Sunday night while we gather the facts.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Llanos did not retire as the city of Bridgeport had previously reported.
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As Monday marked 40 years since the disappearance of Kathleen McCormack Durst, her family says they have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Robert Dursts second wife who is seeking to inherit his real estate fortune.

At the age of 29, Kathie Durst vanished Jan. 31, 1982 after leaving a gathering with friends in Newtown. The case went cold and no charges were filed until late last year when Robert Durst was indicted in New York for the murder before he died Jan. 10.

On the anniversary of her disappearance, Robert Abrams, an attorney for Kathie Dursts family, said they have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Robert Dursts widow, Debrah Lee Charatan, who court filings show has applied to be the executor of his estate.

Robert Dursts 2010 will names Charatan as the recipient of the remaining money in the trust set up by his father, as well as his personal and real estate property.

Charatans Houston-based attorney in the probate case, Frank B. Mapel III, declined to comment Monday.

Kathies family hopes that her story will, at the very least, shine a light on the extent to which rich and powerful people are able to manipulate and control the criminal justice system, Abrams said. Robert Durst died having never been held accountable for Kathies murder.

Robert Durst reported his first wife missing to New York City police five days after she was last seen, claiming he dropped her off at the train station in Katonah, N.Y., where she boarded a train to their apartment in Manhattan. Based on Robert Dursts claim, investigators initially focused on the possibility that his wife went missing in New York City.

But without turning up any leads in Manhattan, and with Robert Durst claiming she may have run off with another man through statements issued by a spokesperson, the case went cold for nearly two decades.

Authorities said they now believe Robert Durst killed his wife the night she vanished at or near the couples home in South Salem, N.Y.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah admitted there were missed opportunities by law enforcement in 1982 that may have contributed to delay in bringing the charges in this case, during a press conference in January following Robert Dursts death. Her office released a report on the evidence in the case and an explanation about why it took nearly four decades to charge him in his wifes death.

On the anniversary of her death, we remember Kathies kindness and her compassion, Abrams said Monday. We also remember her courage. The courage that propelled her from humble beginnings through nursing school and then medical school. The courage that inspired her to stand up to her abusive husband and his powerful family. The courage that ultimately cost Kathie her life.

Robert Durst died at the age of 78 in a California state prison hospital after being convicted in September of the 2000 killing of his longtime friend, Susan Berman. During the trial, prosecutors alleged Berman was going to come forward with information in Kathie Dursts disappearance when she was killed.

Robert Durst, who was found not guilty in the killing of a Texas neighbor, was arrested in Bermans homicide after being the focus of the 2015 HBO documentary series The Jinx, which examined the deaths associated with him.

Durst was interviewed for the documentary and was caught on a live mic apparently admitting to the killings and was arrested before the shows final episode aired.

Investigators reopened the Kathie Durst case in 1999, after a tipster claimed to know the location of her remains. The lead could not be substantiated, but it reinvigorated the investigation into the disappearance, officials said.

The investigation led New York State Police to search the couples former home in South Salem and interview witnesses in the case again.

Among the new developments was that workers at the couples Riverside Drive apartment building in Manhattan claimed they were mistaken when they said they had seen Kathie Durst return the night she disappeared, records show. Investigators also determined there was no evidence Kathie Durst had made a phone call the day after her disappearance to the dean of the medical school where she was a student.

Authorities said they now believe the call was made by Berman, an author who served as a Robert Dursts spokesperson at the time, to deflect suspicion away from him.

In fall 2000, reports of the new police investigation were leaked to the media, according to the report from the Westchester District Attorneys office.

Shortly thereafter, Robert Durst fled to Galveston, Texas, where he disguised himself as a mute woman, the report stated.

In Texas, Robert Durst was implicated in the killing of Morris Black, a neighbor who died when the men got into a fight.

Authorities said Durst dismembered Blacks remains and discarded the body in trash bags. Durst was later acquitted in the killing after claiming self-defense.
ANSONIA  A city man was charged last week in connection with a December shooting on Fourth Street that critically injured a Bridgeport man, according to police.

Lt. Patrick Lynch said 20-year-old Jermaine Smalls was arrested by a warrant during a court appearance in Superior Court in Milford on Jan. 27 for his alleged role in the Dec. 15, 2021, shooting.

Smalls was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was arraigned and held on a $1 million bond. Hes next expected in court on March 31.

Smalls was initially arrested on gun and drug charges while trying to flee the scene on Dec. 15 and is also wanted in connection with an attempted murder by the New York City Police Department, Lynch said.

Smalls was named as a person of interest in the shooting shortly after it took place, police said.

Last month, an officer on patrol on Liberty Street near Fourth Street around 2 p.m. reported hearing gunfire. The officer was patrolling the area in response to some incidents of gunshots in recent weeks.

The officer, who Lynch said was about 150 feet away from the shooting, saw a man running from the area of the gunshots. Lynch said the individual, who tried to elude officers before being detained on Star Street, was identified as Smalls an Ansonia resident.

During the investigation, authorities found a handgun and clothing Smalls was allegedly wearing that he tossed aside while running from the area, Lynch said.

Shortly after the shooting, Griffin Hospital personnel reported a shooting victim had arrived for treatment. The 32-year-old Bridgeport man was shot multiple times in the upper body, Lynch said. He was transferred to another area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

Smalls was arrested that day and was found in possession of a small amount of crack cocaine, Lynch said. He was originally charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, tampering with evidence, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics with intent to sell near a school zone and interfering with an officer.

Lynch said Smalls is also the subject of a shooting investigation by the NYPD, so he was additionally charged with being a fugitive from justice on a warrant by the New York authorities that charges him with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and attempted first-degree assault.
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.


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Letters from OSPIRG, the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group, members on renewable energy.

To the editor: I have loved exploring nature my entire life, and the wonders of the PNW were arguably the biggest draw for me to move to Oregon for college. In the past few months alone, I have seen some of the prettiest sights and the coolest natural wonders. However, if action is not taken soon, people will not get to keep experiencing the wonders that Oregon (and the Earth in general) have to offer. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our Earth right now. If significant change does not occur soon, we will lose out on the potential for posterity to have successful and hopeful futures. One major issue pressing our state is the lack of renewable energy usage. We are urging Governor Brown to commit to switching to 100% renewable energy. Oregon can act as a catalyst for national change to mitigate the impacts of climate change that will continue pressing our Earth. By switching to renewable energy, there will be a significant reduction in the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (the leading cause of climate change) as fossil fuels are not being burned (Terrapass). In order for us to continue to enjoy the beautiful state that we call home, and for posterity to have the potential for a successful future, action must be taken now. The commitment to 100% renewable energy will not solve the issues of climate change, however, it is a necessary next step in the fight for the future.
The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, a union that represents the University of Oregons graduate employees, filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against UO on Jan. 10 after the school shifted its COVID-19 policies without consulting the union.

On Jan. 6, UO announced, instructors may move courses that are experiencing 20% or more COVID-related student absences to synchronous online instruction, and instructors who remain in person are required to provide recorded versions of their courses to absent students. However, the university administrators made these decisions without informing the GTFF or negotiating with it, a move that went against chapter 243.672 of Oregons Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act.

If the current case numbers are any indication, we shouldnt have started winter term in-person, but thats beside the point. Now the university is attempting to transition back to remote learning in the messiest and least committal way possible without taking the GTFF into consideration. Seeing as GEs serve as teachers in a large sum of our classes  approximately 950 GEs are teaching this term, according to the GTFFs filed complaint  we should stand alongside them until the university meets their demands.

I reached out to Saul Hubbard, the media and communications manager of UO, for an official statement regarding the current union conflict. When asked if the university would meet the unions demands, Hubbard said, the university will address the legal filing through appropriate channels. He provided no further comments regarding the current conflict between UO and the GTFF.

However, Mel Keller, president of the GTFF, was eager to discuss the issues the union currently faces.

The lack of communication during the policymaking process was definitely a problem for us at GTFF, Keller said. Being treated as if we were not a full member of the bargaining process definitely sent a signal to our membership regarding how the university sees us  as an entity to deal with after the fact, rather than to bring into discussion.

If UO wishes to continue to promote the image of an inclusive university, the administration shouldnt publicly sideline its teachers unions. The GTFF has plenty of issues with the recent change in policy outside of not being negotiated with; for instance, the requirement for teachers to videotape and post their classes for students who choose to study remotely is a drastic change to the GEs current workplace environment.

We have a number of concerns related to the recording requirement, namely the increased surveillance that would be leveled on instructors by their employer, Keller said. We want students and instructors to feel safe in the classroom sharing their opinion, and we feel that the recording policy would limit class discussion and prevent important conversations from taking place.

Asking teachers who are still learning their craft to be under the constant surveillance of their employers is absurd and counterproductive to establishing a safe learning environment for the students. To combat the out-of-touch new requirement for filmed classes, the GTFF came out with a list of demands for the university on Jan. 17, prior to their demonstration outside Johnson Hall the following day.

Our demands first and foremost ask the university to pivot to remote instruction when applicable so that students are no longer sitting in packed lecture halls, creating a health and safety risk for both students and our members, Keller said. We also are asking the university to both provide and require increased PPE for in-person workspaces.

As of Jan. 18, the UO announced they would provide KN95 masks for faculty, staff and students; but this announcement only took place after the GTFF gathered outside of Johnson Hall. However, if the university only provides safety for its students and staff after public demonstrations, this could take a while.

What is really necessary to push UO to make changes that promote safety for students and staff faster is for the student body to speak out just as actively as the GEs have been. The ASUO announced on their Instagram that they would support the GTFFs actions and demands, but theres more we can do as individuals to assist.

According to Keller, students can help the GTFF by submitting their COVID-19 stories to the GTFF Instagram, attending rallies the union holds and speaking to professors about whether they feel safe attending classes in-person.

The UO student body should take every step to stand in solidarity with our graduate employees and fellow students.
Finger on the pulse

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic , UOs graduate employee union has demanded safe and fair working conditions. Has UO listened?

Graduate teachers, students, and community members gathered outside Johnson Hall on Tuesday, January 18th to protest unsafe learning and working conditions following the increase of COVID-19 cases on the University of Oregon campus. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

It started with a meeting.

The University of Oregon and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation are in a constant state of negotiations and communications. But when Rajeev Ravisankar, the GTFF president from June 2020 to June 2021, thinks about the relationship between UO and GTFF throughout the pandemic, he thinks of the UO board of trustees meeting on March 17, 2020.

At the time, Oregon public officials called for limited indoor gatherings due to the spread of the coronavirus. But the board went through with the scheduled in-person meeting anyway. Members of several campus groups, including GTFF, held a demonstration outside the Ford Alumni Center, where the meeting took place. Four student protesters stood outside the doors in white medical suits and masks, urging the board not to hold the meeting, and two were pushed aside by the boards chairman Chuck Lillis, the Insurgent reported.

Ravisankar reflected on this day at a Jan. 21 GTFF speakout demonstration outside of Johnson Hall, UOs administration building.

The incident is representative of the thrust of UO admins response to COVID, he said to the crowd. They have steamrolled their way through the pandemic by announcing decisions as they please and arrogantly staking out a position that what they're doing is right, despite repeatedly falling short in attaining even the most basic conditions needed to ensure a safe campus.

Members of the GTFF make speeches in front of Johnson Hall on the University of Oregon campus. Graduate teachers, students, and community members gathered outside Johnson Hall on Tuesday, January 18th to protest unsafe learning and working conditions following the increase of COVID-19 cases on the University of Oregon campus. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

Ravisankar said there are four areas where UO is still lacking in the COVID-19 response: an abundance of high-quality masks, comprehensive testing and reporting mechanisms, consistent safety compliance on campus and flexibility and accommodations for workers.

UO spokesperson Saul Habbaud said UO continuously adapts to new information to respond to COVID-19 needs. Members of the UOs Incident Management Team (IMT) for COVID-19 have worked in close coordination with local, state, and federal public health agencies since February 2020, Hubbard wrote in an email. The IMT has also consistently included stakeholders from a wide range of departments across campus and consulted with student and employee groups as well as peer institutions  especially other public universities within Oregon  as it navigates COVID-19 in a university setting.

GTFF represents over 1,400 graduate employees on campus. The Emerald spoke to the three GTFF presidents who have served throughout the pandemic about COVID-19 demands like these, as well as if and how theyve been met. While its leaders say the union is not taken seriously and not included in negotiation processes, records show pressure from the union and significant UO COVID-19 decisions do have a correlation. Causation is more complicated to assess.

Mel Keller, GTFF president since October 2021 said UO will make it seem like this policy has been in the works for a while, and there was no connection or no specific pressure from the GTFF, even though the timelines would suggest differently.

Making masks accessible

GTFF has been pushing for appropriate personal protective equipment since the pandemics onset, Ravisankar said.

The union underscored the importance of personal protective equipment in an August 2020 letter to UO, saying UOs focus on plans for an in-person fall 2020 left GEs who needed to be on campus in unsafe working conditions uneven compliance with specific lab safety plans, lack of quarantine requirements when they or others return after travel, the failure of UO to provide adequate PPE, and the failure to enforce masking and other safety protocols.

UO ended up moving the fall 2020 term to mostly remote learning and made branded cloth masks available on Sept. 28, 2020 through wellness kits, which included two masks, one thermometer, one hand sanitizer and a symptom self-check sheet.

Lecture halls are starting to appear empty as several courses transition to online learning due to a rise in COVID cases at UO. After an in-person fall term, a surge in Omicron variant cases calls for more precautions as winter term begins, such as online classes. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald)

About a year later, at the beginning of the fall 2021 term, GTFF continued their demands for PPE, requesting N95s, KN95s or KF94s be provided to every GE and student with instructions on how to wear them, especially in light of CDC mask guidance for the Omicron variant.

This request went unanswered. That is, until GTFF restated the demand in a Jan. 17 letter and organized a rally outside of Johnson Hall on Jan. 18. UO announced it would offer KN95 masks that same day.

It's amazing how quickly these things happen when people come together to say, Hey, we need better, Miche Dreiling, GTFF president from June to October 2021, said.

Getting shots in arms

In the summer of 2020, much remained up in the air about the vaccine mandate.

When we were in discussions with the university about what the vaccine mandate might look like, they were very fixated on a different mandate between students and employees, Dreiling said. They said the plan did not account for GEs, who fall in the intersection between student and faculty.

Ultimately, UOs vaccine mandate, issued May 10, 2021, applied equally to students and employees.

A large sign hangs over Autzen to encourage and congratulate those who are doing their part to keep the community safe. University of Oregon begins to distribute Vaccines to Students and Faculty on April 21, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

When the time came to consider a booster shot mandate, GTFF asked UO to hold a booster clinic to ensure access. This request was listed in those same Jan. 17 demands.

In an email on Jan. 24, UO announced it will hold a walk-up booster clinic at Autzen stadium starting Jan. 25.

Operations and access

From that board of trustees meeting in March 2020 to Dec. 3, 2021, board meetings have lacked a public comment section.

This is part of the trend of excluding GEs from decision-making processes, Ravisankar said. Of the board of trustees 15 members, one is an undergraduate student and zero are graduate students.

Hubbard said UO consults with campus departments, student and employee groups and other universities to make COVID-19 decisions.

In fall 2020, GTFF requested to have significant representation in the decision-making process for reopening. UO offered a one hour meeting every other week, with an update from administration and 30 minutes for questions and input.

They will listen to our demands and engage on some of the things we bring up, but only if there is public pressure to do so, Keller said. They don't see us as a serious bargaining unit and a serious group of workers that they have to negotiate with, which is why oftentimes, the GTFF is kind of on its back foot, responding to things rather than proactively dealing with them.

From the pandemics outset, GTFF has called for fair and safe decisions  but also quick decisions.

As the union pointed out in fall 2020, maintaining an in-person posture for fall term during the past several months has sent a signal to students and other university constituents that they should be making plans for returning or moving to Eugene, despite the major threats to community safety that this poses.

In winter 2022, UO reached a record number of weekly cases: 961 cases from Jan. 3-9 followed by 631 cases Jan. 10-16 and 378 cases Jan. 17-23.

The COVID-19 spike highlighted a long-standing issue for GTFF regarding flexibility and allowing instructors to feel safe and comfortable when conditions change, Ravisankar said.

Lynette Slape / Daily Emerald

GTFF demanded UO move classes online for two weeks to mitigate the consequences of the Omicron surge in a letter on Jan. 5.

On Jan. 6, UO Provost Patrick Phillips issued an announcement that classes could be held in a hybrid format: Professors could request to hold classes virtually if over 20% of students enrolled in a course contracted COVID-19.

Onward and upward

Moving forward, the UO community needs to reflect on this pandemic experience and continue to advocate for safe and fair spaces to learn and work, Ravisankar said in his Jan. 21 speech.

Decisions are handed down, and we deal with them, for better or worse, in our departments and as individuals, he said. But we have the tools at our disposal to transform the situation. It won't happen with one or even 10 actions, but with deep organizing and through a network of on- and off-campus actors who can strategically pressure the UO admin through different channels.
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.
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Technical Forecast for the US Dollar: Neutral

The US Dollar (via the DXY Index) broke its 2021 high and moved up to its highest level since July 2020 following the January Federal Reserve meeting.

US Dollar net-long positioning increased again, holding near its most net-long level since October 2019.

The IG Client Sentiment Index s uggests that the US Dollar has mostly bullish bias against its three major counterparts.

US Dollar Rates Week in Review

The US Dollars final full week of January proved fruitful. The greenback rallied against all of its major counterparts, with the broader DXY Index adding +1.65% on the week, the best weekly performance since the second week of June 2021. Among the components of the DXY Index, USD/SEK and USD/CHF rates produced the biggest moves, adding +2.47% and +2.09%, respectively. The three biggest components of the DXY Index had strong performances, too: EUR/USD fell by -1.73%; USD/JPY added +1.35%; and GBP/USD lost -1.23%. Having cleared its 2021 high, the DXY Index is in bullish breakout territory with signs that momentum is still gathering pace.

For full US economic data forecasts, view the DailyFX economic calendar.

DXY INDEX PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (January 2021 to January 2022) (CHART 1)

Two weeks ago it was noted that support was ultimately found at a familiar area around 94.65/74, where the March 2020 low, September 2020 high, and September to early-November 2021 highs were carved out. The rebound from this critical support region saw the DXY Index retake the June, September, and October 2021 uptrend, suggesting a false bearish breakout transpired. Gains above 96.00 are eyed over the coming days as a confirmation signal that the greenback sell-off has finished. Since then, the DXY Index has rallied to its highest level since July 2020, gaining ground in seven of the past 10 trading sessions.

Bullish momentum is continuing to gather pace. The DXY Index is above its daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA envelope, which is in bullish sequential order. Daily MACD is trending higher through its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are in overbought territory. Opportunities to buy dips are eyed until the momentum profile reverts.

EUR/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (January 2021 to January 2022) (CHART 2)

Similarly, in the mid-January weekly technical forecast, it was observed that the daily candlestick on Friday [January 14] has taken the shape of a bearish outside engulfing bar, and coming in after a breakout, means its also a bearish key reversal. A move back below 1.1380 would offer a strong confirmation signal that EUR/USDs bullish breakout as failed. EUR/USD rates have since broken their 2021 lows and set a new monthly and yearly low for 2022.

Momentum is firmly bearish, with EUR/USD rates below their daily EMA envelope, which is in bearish sequential order. A mirror image of the DXY Index, the pairs daily MACD and daily Slow Stochastics have crossed below their signal line and into oversold territory, respectively. Selling rallies is the current modus operandi. Ultimately, a move to 1.1000 is eyed in the coming weeks.

IG Client Sentiment Index: EUR/USD Rate Forecast (January 28, 2022) (Chart 3)

EUR/USD: Retail trader data shows 69.57% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 2.29 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 2.15% lower than yesterday and 21.02% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 3.99% lower than yesterday and 25.90% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/USD prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger EUR/USD-bearish contrarian trading bias.

GBP/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (January 2021 to January 2022) (CHART 4)

GBP/USD rates have lost their footing rather quickly, although the technical setup is not nearly as bearish as that of EUR/USD. Nevertheless, the pair finds itself below its daily EMA envelope, which is likewise in bearish sequential order. While daily Slow Stochastics are in oversold territory, daily MACD has yet to cross below its signal line into bearish territory. A deeper setback is still possible; losses into 1.3170 are possible in the coming weeks.

IG Client Sentiment Index: GBP/USD Rate Forecast (January 28, 2022) (Chart 5)

GBP/USD: Retail trader data shows 58.15% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.39 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 1.15% lower than yesterday and 9.51% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 1.13% lower than yesterday and 28.97% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests GBP/USD prices may continue to fall.

Positioning is less net-long than yesterday but more net-long from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed GBP/USD trading bias.

USD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (January 2021 to January 2022) (CHART 6)

USD/JPY rates have swung higher once more, continuing their sideways movement that originated in October. The give-and-take between US Treasury yields and US equity markets is mainly responsible for this churn, a dance that is unlikely to end any time soon. As such, a rally back above 116.00 may be seen as an opportunity to sell into range/channel resistance, while dips below 113.50 may be viewed as an opportunity to buy near range/channel support.

IG Client Sentiment Index: USD/JPY Rate Forecast (January 28, 2022) (Chart 7)

USD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 33.49% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.99 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 8.41% lower than yesterday and 31.56% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 1.02% lower than yesterday and 17.65% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests USD/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger USD/JPY-bullish contrarian trading bias.

CFTC COT US Dollar Futures Positioning (January 2020 to January 2022) (Chart 8)

Finally, looking at positioning, according to the CFTCs COT for the week ended January 25, speculators slightly increased their net-long US Dollar positions to 36,830 contracts from 36,402 contracts. Net-long US Dollar positioning remains near its highest level since October 2019, when the DXY Index was trading above 98.00. Positioning remains overcrowded, even as the DXY Index has moved to its highest level since July 2020.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Strategist
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
Two years after we left the EU we have all kinds of reasons to celebrate our new freedoms. We are doing some very big things. We have taken back control of our money, our borders and our laws. We have done more than 60 free trade deals.

We are out of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy, and all the vexation and delay of EU procurement rules. We are delivering free ports.

We are also making a vast host of relatively smaller reforms. We have cut VAT on tampons. We are cutting air passenger duty on flights within the UK.

We are finally able to repeal the infamous Vnuk ruling of the European Court of Justice, so that you dont have to pay so much to insure a motor mower or a motorised wheelchair.

We can pass our own laws against cruelty to animals and we have brought back blue passports and crown stamps on pint glasses.

And then there is one thing we have been able to do that has immediate and far-reaching consequences.

Pictured: Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Brexit has helped the UK bounce back from Covid

Look around you. There are people without masks, and tourists coming back to Britain, and people going about their business in the G7s fastest growing economy.

We have more people on payroll employment  about 420,000  now than when the pandemic began. Youth unemployment is at record lows.

When I went out with the dog at Chequers for my morning run, I saw the contrails of eight or nine planes over Buckinghamshire  all at once. You didnt see that in lockdown.

The UK is coming out of Covid faster than virtually any other European country.

That is because we had the fastest vaccine rollout and the fastest booster rollout of any major European economy.

We were the first country in the world to license a vaccine. We were the first to get it into the arm of a patient.

And that was at least partly because of Brexit. We were only able to do so because we chose to forge our own path as an independent United Kingdom.

We chose to procure our own vaccines rather than sign up to the slower EU scheme. And we chose to accelerate the licensing of those vaccines through our own Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency rather than wait for the European Medicines Agency.

Pictured: Simran Saughall (right) administers a booster vaccine to Adam Hamilton (left) at a vaccination centre in Leeds, as the booster vaccination programme continues across the UK

It is no secret that not everyone in the EU was absolutely thrilled by the speed of the UKs progress. I seem to remember there were some adverse (and totally unjustified) comments on the efficacy of Britains AstraZeneca vaccine.

That was a great shame, because the AstraZeneca jab has been distributed, at cost, to about 2.5billion people around the world. The Oxford-invented vaccine has probably saved millions of lives.

I also remember an unedifying argument about five million doses of the vaccine that were left to languish in a plant in Holland, even though the UK had paid for them.

All that wrangling is now behind us, and the key lesson is that in the end it is impossible to hold back the UK, and impossible to stop this country taking advantage of our new freedoms  and we will go ever faster.

Our new Brexit Freedoms Bill will make it easier to get rid of retained EU law, the weird system by which EU legislation occupies a semi-sacred place on the UK statute book.

We will go forward with an independent approach. In all the new technology areas where the UK excels, in data and cyber and artificial intelligence and a huge range of other areas, as set out today.

We will continue to campaign for free trade and open markets.

And be in no doubt that this epic project is in the interests of the EU as well. As it happens, I think the Brussels machine will increasingly benefit from having the stimulus of regulatory competition from the UK.

But there is a more important point still. The UK is in many ways the EUs biggest trading partner.

We have this timezones biggest banking and financial centre where so many European businesses raise the capital they need. We are inveterate admirers and consumers of their goods and services.

And at a time of great uncertainty and peril, when 100,000 Russian troops threaten Ukraine, it is worth remembering that the UK is the second-biggest contributor to Nato.

Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with our European friends and allies. We are leading the work of preparing the right package of sanctions  tough enough to deter President Putin from what we all know would be a disastrous incursion into Ukraine.

Along with the US and Lithuania, we are one of the few countries to have taken the step of providing Ukraine with some of the weaponry  purely defensive  that the Ukrainians need.

From 2016 onwards, when I became foreign secretary, I have made it clear that this country might have left the EU  but we have emphatically not left Europe.

What do the EU countries really want or need? They need a strong, prosperous and successful UK.

That is what Brexit is helping to deliver in all kinds of ways.

That fast UK vaccine rollout was not bad for the EU. It was good, because none of us is safe until everyone is safe.

And what drives prosperity and recovery in the UK will drive recovery in the rest of Europe. It is that spirit of co-operation  that is bringing us together over Ukraine  that we need now, as we urgently address the problem of the Northern Ireland protocol.

We can find a solution that respects the EU single market, and the sovereign and territorial integrity of the UK single market  and which also addresses the need for balance under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

Now is the time for the whole of the West to come together  not to squabble over essentially theological disputes. The only person who benefits is Putin.

It is time to put aside the old divisions. Two years on, it is time to abandon the punitive and zero-sum approach.

And as we develop this post-Brexit agenda of freedom, it will be great for Britain and good for the whole of Europe.
Two years after we officially left the EU, Boris is promising us a Brucie Bonus. The PM says we will at last begin to reap the full benefits of breaking free from the suffocating embrace of Brussels.

Writing exclusively in the Mail yesterday, he pledged to scrap unwanted EU laws still lingering like a bad smell on our statute books.

We will move 'ever faster' to exploit our new-found independence. Not before time. It's been five-and-a-half turbulent years since we voted Leave. Let's hope he means it.

Boris, like Brucie, always talks a good game, good game! Now he has to deliver, provided he can survive the Downing Street partay pile-on.

Those of us who hoped we were getting a Tungsten-tipped Hard Brexit have been disappointed, to say the least, with the sluggish progress so far.

To be fair, our outstanding vaccine roll-out would not have been possible had we remained shackled to the European medicines agency.

And, yes, we have taken back control of our laws, our money and our borders  although that hasn't done us much good in Northern Ireland, or when it comes to stopping illegal cross-Channel migration.

In far too many areas, it's almost as if we never left the EU. Blue passports, pint glasses and lower VAT on tampons are scant consolation.

The Prime Minister has promised that the country can at last begin to reap the full benefits of breaking free from the suffocating embrace of Brussels. Pictured: Boris Johnson two years ago

Back in December, I described Boris's record as starting to resemble Monty Python's What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us? sketch. In reverse. So maybe it's time to use another Python analogy and look on the bright side.

The pandemic came out of a clear blue sky. There's not a country on earth which hasn't been blown off course by Covid. Fortunately, Brexit was finally done in the nick of time, before the balloon went up.

That at least gave us room to manoeuvre, shorn of the dead hand of the sclerotic Brussels bureaucracy.

As a result we have come out of lockdown quicker than any other European nation and have the fastest-growing economy in the G7. This could not have happened had Remain triumphed in 2016. History would have taken a completely different turn  and not just over Covid.

Think about it. Call Me Dave wouldn't have had to resign, and after winning his third election victory, over Jeremy Corbyn, would have handed the reins to Boy George, the architect of Project Fear.

Yes, Tory Eurosceptics would have been disgruntled but having been granted the referendum they'd been demanding for more than two decades would have had little option but to accept the result.

Pictured: Members of the public queue to receive a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at a coronavirus vaccination centre outside Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in central London

Ukip might have continued its guerilla campaign, but for them the war was over. (On referendum night, Nigel Farage thought Leave had lost and repaired gracefully to the bar.)

There would almost certainly have been no Parliamentary or legal efforts to overturn the result or force a second referendum.

Armed with a 'conclusive' 52-48 victory, Remain would have run rampant. Within days, the campaign for 'ever-closer union' would be in full swing. By now, Imperial measures would have been eliminated entirely and we'd have joined the euro.

Immigrants wouldn't have to cross the Channel in dinghies because once they'd set foot on EU soil they'd have the right to settle here legally, backed by the European courts.

The break-up of the UK would be complete, with Scotland, Wales and newly United Ireland granted full nation status within the EU.

Westminster would be reduced to a subservient talking shop, while retaining the trappings of a proper parliament.

Pictured: Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses for a photograph with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as they exchange penguins and Tim-Tam's in 10 Downing Street last year

Gina Miller would be a Baroness, sitting in the Lords, and Soubry Loo would be running the Foreign Office. Bercow's term as Speaker would have been extended for a further ten years.

Tony Blair would be President of Europe and Boris Johnson would have stood down at the 2020 election, if not before, having chosen the wrong side. His ambition to become 'World King' would have been thwarted for ever.

Viewed from this It's A Wonderful Life perspective, the current political landscape doesn't look quite as grim as it does right now.

In large part, this is down to Boris. He may be a fool, but he's our fool. And there are still some big 'Ifs' hanging over him after yesterday's Sue Gray sidestep.

But if he can survive the party debacle; if he makes good on his promise to deliver a post-Brexit Brucie Bonus; if he plays his cards right, then we'll have to admit:

Didn't he do well!

There were 882 accidents involving e-scooters including three fatalities, in the year to June 2021, according to the latest figures available. Injuries caused by these contraptions cost the NHS 1,000 a pop.

More than 500,000 are in circulation, even though it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter on public roads. Yet, bizarrely, you can use one if you hire it as part of an approved scheme. Eh?

In London, they're a menace. I've seen them weaving in and out of traffic, going the wrong way down one-way streets and cycle lanes, even riding on pavements. Playing chicken with motorists is an increasingly popular sport among teenagers.

The Government is still deciding whether to make all e-scooters legal or ban them altogether. In the meantime 'experts' have come up with a plan to make them safer.

They say the scooters should be fitted with a device which makes a sound like a tuba so pedestrians and other motorists can hear them coming.

How long before the anti-car authors of the absurd new Highway Code giving priority to cyclists make this official?

Why not insist all road users carry musical instruments. Tubas for e-scooters, trumpets for cyclists, bugles for bus drivers, saxophones for motorcyclists. Pedestrians could be kitted out like one-man bands.

You can just imagine the traffic reports. 'There's severe congestion in Central London. Seventy-six trombones on the Euston Road, 110 cornets in the Strand . . .'

Andrew Pierce reports that after turning down an invitation to Labour's 1997 'Cool Britannia' bash, Blur's Damon Albarn was pestered by Cherie Blair to have supper at No 10.

Piercey wonders mischievously if the Wicked Witch had a crush on Albarn.

Who knows? But she does live in a house, a very big house in the country  just one of many properties in the Blairs' multi-million-pound portfolio.

Woo-hoo!

Storm over Willesden Junction

Who came up with the name Storm Malik? I can only assume it was a fan of the British-Pakistani actor Art Malik.

He's best known for Jewel In The Crown and playing a Mujahideen in a Bond movie. But to my mind his finest role was as Shamy, an East End ducker-and-diver in Minder, who tries to settle a debt owed to Arthur with counterfeit notes.

Pictured: Art Malik was also well known for his role as Zubin Khan on BBC One's Holby City

Aficionados may recall this was the marvellous episode which also featured The Syrup, a person known to the police in a Roger Moore toupee, as well as Robbie Coltrane as camp coiffeur Mr Henry, who tried unsuccessfully to flog a wig to the follicly challenged Cheerful Charlie Chisholm.

Shamy decides to pay off his many creditors by stealing the master tape of a Bollywood blockbuster and flogging it to video pirates in Bombay.

Curiously, the title of the movie was Storm Over Kathmandu. Maybe that's where they got the idea of Storm Malik from. Another example of Life Imitating Minder . . .

Here's another one of those I don't know whether to file under Mind How You Go or You Couldn't Make It Up.

Zoe Wakefield, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, says officers should be allowed to take a nap while doing night shifts, to 'improve wellbeing and performance'.

Judging by the latest figures showing detection rates have fallen to an all-time low and just five per cent of burglaries are ever solved, most of us would conclude the Old Bill have been sleeping on the job for years.
Assassins tend to wear black and keep well hidden. Yesterdays wore a jacket of bright blue and positioned herself just feet from her chosen target.

Theresa May was seated two rows behind Boris Johnson when she was called by Sir Lindsay Hoyle to speak. Her expression was stern, her voice calm and methodical.

She had waited two and a half years to fire her poisoned dart at her successors jugular vein and she was in no mood to miss.

Reflecting on Sue Grays report into those boozy Downing Street parties, she summoned the most patronising tone in her vocal armoury and said: Either my right honourable friend had not read the rules or didnt understand what they meant and others around him, or they didnt think the rules applied to Number 10. Which was it?

From Labours benches there came a chorus of loud cheers but there was only stunned silence from Conservatives.

Reflecting on Sue Grays report into those boozy Downing Street parties, Theresa May summoned the most patronising tone in her vocal armoury and said: Either my right honourable friend had not read the rules or didnt understand what they meant and others around him, or they didnt think the rules applied to Number 10. Which was it?

As the PM stuttered, Mrs May narrowed those dark, impenetrable eyes and twanged a bright blue face mask back around her ears. I cant be sure but behind it may well have lurked a smile as wide as her lapels.

We were barely 20 minutes into Mr Johnsons statement and already the session was a turning into a nightmare. Weekend whispers suggested he had weathered the worst of the squall but by the time he departed the chamber nearly two hours later, it was clear his leadership had entered dangerous waters once again.

His speech hit the wrong notes. That much was clear from his backbenchers faces as soon he sat down. Glum and lifeless, every one of them.

The PM had issued an apology of sorts, admitting failures of leadership that were difficult to justify. I get it and I will fix it. As self-flagellations go, this was a light lashing.

Then came some clumsy boasting about Brexit and the vaccine rollout. Wrong gear change. It was like a DJ pumping out party classics when the mood required something infinitely more solemn.

The cocky Sir Keir Starmer of recent weeks had been packed away, replaced by a more earnest creature. He went light on detail for once and opted instead for some straightforward character defenestration.

The PM had held peoples sacrifices in contempt, he said. He had insulted the publics intelligence. He was a man without shame, who had damaged everyone and everything around him along the way.

That last barb felt close to the bone. Up in the press gallery, there was a round of surprised wind-sucking.

What gave Starmers attacks resonance was that they were heard in uninterrupted silence by Conservatives. The PM came back with a limp sally about Starmer failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions. A desperate lunge from a fighter whose battered eyes were already swelling.

He got a brief respite when the SNPs Ian Blackford chose to make the session all about himself. Having lambasted the PM for breaking the rules, he then deliberately flouted Parliamentary regulations by accusing the PM of lying.

Five times the Speaker threatened him with eviction unless he retracted. Five times Blackford refused. And so out he went, one of his whips scurrying behind like a loyal Highland terrier.

Seated next to the PMs most recent Brutus  David Davis  was Andrew Mitchell (Con, Sutton Coldfield). Never a good sign. Thick as thieves Thrasher and Basher are.

Theresa May was seated two rows behind Boris Johnson when she was called by Sir Lindsay Hoyle to speak. Her expression was stern, her voice calm and methodical

Mitchell admitted he had been a full-throated backer of the PM but now he no longer enjoys my support. The MPs expressionless face suggested a man innately comfortable doling out public beatings.

Labour repeatedly demanded that Boris resign. This is what opposition MPs do, of course. More worrying for Boris were the barbs from his own side.

Aaron Bell (Con, Newcastle-under-Lyme) furiously recalled attending his grandmothers funeral last year and not being able to hug his relatives. Does the Prime Minister think Im a fool? he asked.

Ominously, little Sir Bernard Jenkin (Con, Harwich and North Essex) reminded Labour MPs he and his colleagues needed no reminder of how to dispose of a failing leader. Gulp.

Support for the PM did arrive  not all of it necessarily welcome. We endured a lengthy, tub-thumping rant from Rob Roberts (Ind, Delyn) which prompted evident discomfiture on the Governments front bench.

Priti Patel massaged her temples wearily. Mr Roberts was suspended from the Conservative Party last year for sexual harassment. His enthusiasm for Boriss leadership at this time may not be considered entirely helpful.

At 5.23pm, deputy speaker Nigel Evans called time and the PM made a hurried dash for the exit.

A stormy meeting with the 1922 committee awaited. It was going to be a long evening.
Part of the Hwanhae Great Wall at Handong on Jeju Island in 2015 Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



Up until the latter part of the 19th century, many Western sailors regarded Jeju as a mysterious island surrounded with myths and legends, exaggerations and fabrications and steeped with danger  a place to avoid at all costs.



It does not challenge the imagination to assume that many of these seafarers were aware of the epic tale of Hamel and the wreck of the Sperwer (Sparrow Hawk) on the island in 1653. Undoubtedly, the tale morphed with each retelling and many sailors came to believe that to be cast upon Jeju was a death sentence  either from the hostile islanders or the many poisonous snakes. Despite the historical anecdotes of shipwrecked survivors in the mid-1850s through 1880, this unreasonable fear persisted  perpetuated by the occasional articles appearing in Japanese newspapers reporting alleged outrages upon shipwrecked Japanese sailors and attacks upon fishermen by the islanders. Some of these accounts claimed the helpless shipwrecked survivors were decapitated by the islanders. There was some degree of conflict between the islanders and Japanese fishermen and the outrages were committed by both parties.



In his 1888 State Department report, Charles Chaille-Long, the secretary of the American legation in Seoul, described his recent journey to Jeju Island which "has been until now terra incognito and has maintained an isolation from the world more absolute that that of [Korea] of which government it is nominally a part." He went on to add:



"Hostility to the strangers and an absolute isolation from the world without is the distinguishing characteristics of [the] islanders whose names even now is mentioned with bated breath by the ever superstitious [Koreans] to whom Quelpaert [Jeju] is almost as unknown as to the world without."





The West Gate of Jeju City photographed by Malcom F. Anderson in 1905 Overland Monthly 1914



Chaille-Long claimed his journey to the island was not for geographical research but more along the lines of ethnographical research in an effort "to determine [the islanders'] origin and their relationship to the strangely mixed people of the [Korean] mainland." But it wasn't research that inspired him  it was adventure and fame.



He boasted to the State Department that prior to his trip, "[neither] before nor since the days of Hamel had any one set foot upon the sacred soil of Quelpaert." He was the first! Which is obviously not true, but setting aside his self-aggrandizing claim, his narrative is quite interesting.



While on Jeju, he asked the islanders frequently for more information "about Hamel but all remembrances of [the Dutchman's] visit had faded with the generation which saw him."



It is a shame that Chaille-Long failed to obtain any further information about Hamel, but it is even a greater shame that he did not elaborate on the claims that the Portuguese had once established a small colony on the island. According to Chaille-Long, he had heard the stories of the former settlement but dismissed it as there was "not the slightest basis for the assertion judging from the complexion and type of the [Jeju islanders who were] absolutely Tartar and Mongol in appearance."



When Chaille-Long arrived at Jeju City he was impressed with the fortification. The entire city was surrounded by a wall six and half meters tall and a meter thick  made from black volcanic stone  and ingress into the city was through three gates which he described as "imposing structures." Unlike in Seoul, the gates of the city were never closed at night, and men and women were free to mingle in the streets as they pleased.



This was not his only comparison of Jeju with Seoul. "The homes are constructed of the same rock peculiar to [Jeju] and are thatched [] and present an air of solidity." He acknowledged that the streets were "certainly dirty but there are none of the disgusting trenches filled with the unutterable filth which characterizes the city of Seoul."





Fred Dustin's photograph of wild ponies on Jeju Island in May 1968 Robert Neff Collection



Later foreign visitors echoed his observations.



When Sten Bergman, a Swedish explorer and travel writer, visited the island in the 1930s, he wrote: "The houses of the Korean inhabitants were for the most part built of volcanic stone and were surrounded by walls of the same material. The roofs were thatched with straw generally, and to prevent the straw from blowing about it was held down by a network of straw ropes."




Tough, uncompromising, rigorous, nobody's fool  these were some of the generous plaudits afforded the senior civil servant, Sue Gray, when she was asked by the Prime Minister to undertake an inquiry into parties in Downing Street.

Above all other people in Whitehall, it was said, here was a woman who could be relied upon to tell us the unvarnished truth. And, indeed, she had previously brought to a premature end the careers of three Cabinet ministers by her damning verdicts.

Yet the much-heralded document which Sue Gray finally released yesterday was by her own admission not 'a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather'. Not a proper report at all, then.

Without adducing any significant proof, she condemned the drinking culture of No 10, and by implication the Prime Minister who had presided over it, whilst failing to unveil the evidence that had enabled her to come to this judgment.

Yet the much-heralded document which Sue Gray finally released yesterday was by her own admission not 'a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather'. Not a proper report at all, then

This was tantamount to our hearing snippets of a judge's concluding remarks at the end of a trial without having heard the details of the case. It is not how justice is supposed to be done.

What a defective report! By raising so many questions, and offering precious few answers, it severely wounded the Prime Minister without quite finishing him off. He, and No 10, are left in a state of limbo.

Even more important, this country, which is crying out for a firm and stable government, is now in a state of suspension. With crises looming at home and abroad, it feels as though the ship of State is drifting on the wide open sea with both engines emitting gusts of black smoke, and the captain partly incapacitated.

The reason offered for this unsatisfactory state of affairs is that the Metropolitan Police told Ms Gray last week that there should be 'minimal reference' in her report to the gatherings which they have begun to investigate in a process which could take weeks, if not months.

What a defective report! By raising so many questions, and offering precious few answers, it severely wounded the Prime Minister without quite finishing him off. He, and No 10, are left in a state of limbo

You might as well tell a proud Leo Tolstoy, as he handed over his manuscript of War And Peace to his publisher, to cut out any mention of battles, and steer around the subject of peace.

Out of 16 parties alleged to have taken place in No 10 or Whitehall during lockdown, Scotland Yard is examining whether 12 were in some way illegal. This did not leave much for Sue Gray to get her teeth into.

The Met is gravely at fault for effectively seizing control of her report on the eve of publication. Two months have passed since allegations of parties in No 10 started multiplying. The police had every opportunity to mount their own inquiry at an earlier stage.

They declined to do so on the grounds that they don't concern themselves with alleged violations of Covid rules 'retrospectively'. It was only when they began to have what they considered strong grounds for an investigation  presumably tipped off by Ms Gray  that they finally lumbered into action.

So, yes, Scotland Yard, and the error-prone Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, have a great deal to answer for. However, I don't believe that we should pin all the blame on them

So, yes, Scotland Yard, and the error-prone Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, have a great deal to answer for. However, I don't believe that we should pin all the blame on them.

Isn't the supposed hot-shot, high-flying civil servant Sue Gray equally at fault, possibly more so, for failing to produce a report which considered all the evidence and arrived at a reasoned conclusion?

And yet no leading politician, whether it be Boris Johnson or Sir Keir Starmer or Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, can open his mouth without showering undeserved praise on the civil servant.

The bitter truth is that she did conscientiously amass a welter of evidence after being put in charge of the inquiry. The PM's first choice, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, had to duck out on December 17 when it was alleged he had hosted his own Whitehall shindig.

And yet no leading politician, whether it be Boris Johnson or Sir Keir Starmer or Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey (pictured), can open his mouth without showering undeserved praise on the civil servant

Supported by a small team of civil servants, Ms Gray reportedly interviewed over 70 people who work in and around No 10, possibly including Boris Johnson. She trawled through WhatsApp messages and entry logs, and sifted through other digital evidence. Hundreds of photos and documents have been passed to the Met.

In fact, her inquiry seems to have been more thorough than what the Metropolitan Police have in mind, if reports that they are intending only to email fixed penalty notices to suspected miscreants are true.

Sue Gray had been asked by the Prime Minister for a full report. Why, then, did she so readily hoist the white flag when the Met asked her to step aside?

The argument that her findings might prejudice the Met's investigation is surely fallacious. The police will come to their own conclusions, after making their own inquiries. If those issued with fixed penalty notices want to challenge the fine, they will go before a magistrate, not a jury.

So if Sue Gray's report had been published in an unexpurgated form as was intended, and as the Prime Minister promised, no one would have been influenced in such a way as to cause justice to be denied.

Sue Gray had been asked by the Prime Minister for a full report. Why, then, did she so readily hoist the white flag when the Met asked her to step aside?

The Met's conditions were utterly unreasonable, and Ms Gray should have politely ignored them. There was nothing the police could have done if she had. They could hardly have arrested her for fulfilling her lawful duty as a senior civil servant.

I'm afraid that this unfortunate episode shows us that, for all her reputed fearlessness and supposed independence of thought, she has behaved like a stereotypical civil servant  readier to follow what she thinks is correct procedure rather than stick to her principles.

Her proper response to the meddling police should have been: I am going to publish my report as requested as soon as it is finished. By all means make such use of it as you wish, as part of whatever inquiries you then decide to undertake.

Until the police's shocking intervention last week, it had seemed that one way or another Ms Gray's report would provide clarity. As a result of her pusillanimity, we now face weeks or months of further uncertainty  and, for some of us, grinding boredom as this saga remains unresolved.

The Met's conditions were utterly unreasonable, and Ms Gray should have politely ignored them. There was nothing the police could have done if she had. They could hardly have arrested her for fulfilling her lawful duty as a senior civil servant

Some say that Boris Johnson has bought himself a little time, or been gifted it by Ms Gray. But what is the advantage of having a stay of execution if the Prime Minister is suspended in mid-air, unable to govern properly because he doesn't have the confidence of his party?

In fact, until the Met deign to come up with their report, not just Boris Johnson but this whole unhappy country is left dangling. This storm won't abate until the facts are established.

And what about Sue Gray's report? Will it ever be published? She has it in 'secure storage and safekeeping' and won't be showing it to anyone 'until such time as it may be required further'. What a way to run a country!

The pity is that, despite everything, I'm sure she is a person of integrity. We would have trusted her judgment. She could have delivered us from this misery. Alas, she has only ensured that it will go on.
The partial publication of the official report into various Downing Street parties at the height of lockdown was Game Of Thrones without the dragons. Even so, it leaves Boris Johnson seriously singed.

If the dragons had been included, he might easily have been burnt to a frazzle.

Despite being gutted of significant and possibly devastating detail, the reports general conclusions were damning enough.

There had been failings of leadership and judgment in Mr Johnsons No 10; there was a serious failure at the heart of government to observe standards the rest of the country was expected to meet; and many of the gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or develop in the way they did.

The report, compiled by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, complains about the excessive consumption of alcohol in Downing Street.

Her tone is scathing, at times merciless. While the British people were being held to the highest standards during lockdown, she wrote, those running the show failed to meet them.

Its clear she thinks a number of the gatherings breached lockdown guidelines, though she doesnt explicitly say so.

Sue Gray's report found there was a serious failure at the heart of government to observe standards the country was expected to meet. Pictured: the PM in the commons yesterday

Set against all that, there is not a single word of comfort for the Prime Minister in her report. Not a compensating sentence he can point to.

His only cause for relief is that the damning detail remains unpublished. By omission, the PM lives to fight another day. His resignation cannot be demanded on the basis of an investigation whose most important bits remain redacted.

But last weekends consensus among the political and media classes, that he was off the hook, has proved to be premature. This is a Prime Minister still in deep trouble.

The Gray report was gutted at the insistence of the Metropolitan Police, which last week donned its hobnail boots and belatedly waded into Partygate with what has become its hallmark stupidity.

Knacker of the Yard, in the shape of the countrys leading Keystone Cop, Cressida Dick, insisted nothing could be published that might impinge on the Mets own investigation.

The demand was a legal nonsense since were talking offences that incur fixed penalty notices, which means no judge, no jury, so theres no question of minds being contaminated in advance.

But, after an army of lawyers from across government had their say, the Cabinet Office decided to comply. The result was to delay still further the resolution of Partygate.

You might think it relatively simple to determine if there were parties in Downing Street during lockdown  and, if there were, to take appropriate action.

The 12-page report, compiled by Sue Gray (pictured), a senior civil servant and published yesterday, complains about the excessive consumption of alcohol in Downing Street

But so far this has proved beyond the finest minds of the British State, which has got its knickers in a right old twist trying to deal with it. This has suited Boris Johnson. Delay is in his interest.

Yesterday, in the House of Commons, he jumped on the cack-handed intervention of the Met to stonewall.

He used to insist we had to wait on the Gray report before he could say anything meaningful about Downing Street parties. Now we have Gray (sort of), he tells us we have to wait on the deliberations of the Met.

His strategy is as clear as it is brazen: play for time. He reckons the police will take their time (they usually do). Meanwhile, deputy heads will roll in Downing Street. Then when the Met complete their work he will say hes already dealt with those responsible.

The Prime Minister will invent all sorts of reasons for not publishing the full Gray report. He hopes the news cycle will move on  Ukraine, living standards, gas prices, national insurance rises all beckon for headline attention  and we will forget all about Partygate. Perhaps.

But many senior Tories are worried that the longer this is not defused, the more it will start to hurt  and not just Mr Johnson but the whole Tory brand.

Nor are they happy with the way hes dealing with it. Yesterday was the worst performance Ive seen of a Prime Minister with his back to the wall at the despatch box. He began by trying to be contrite.

But he could not sustain the pose and quickly descended into party political knockabout, sounding churlish and tribal in the process.

Statesmanlike or conciliatory it was not.

He promised to clean up his Downing Street operation by creating a new Office of the Prime Minister with a new permanent secretary. The idea that the pickle hes in can be dealt with by departmental reform suggests the Johnson Downing Street is already losing its grip on reality.

The Tory backbenches were not impressed. Tory grandee Andrew Mitchell joined former Cabinet minister David Davis in withdrawing his support from the PM.

Many Tory MPs are in despair, and morale is low. Normally they heckle Labour leader Keir Starmer when he mounts one of his attacks on Boris. Not yesterday. The silence was deafening.

Even SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford failed to rouse them. His pompous windbaggery can always be counted on to wind up the Tories. But they barely reacted yesterday, even when he was thrown out of the chamber for claiming Mr Johnson had misled the Commons. I suspect many Tory MPs take a similar view.

The PMs strategy of constantly kicking the ball into the long grass is fraught with risk. It was clear yesterday that a number of Tory MPs agree with the opposition parties that Gray should be published in full  and quickly.

If Starmer was to lay a motion before the Commons to that effect, he might find there was a majority for it (most Tories would just have to abstain).

Im told lawyerly Starmer isnt keen on the Commons overruling the Met. He likes to remind us  regularly  that he was once Director of Public Prosecutions. His shadow cabinet might want to remind him that hes now Leader of the Opposition.

The Gray report might get out in other ways. The dysfunctional Met has more leaks than the Titanic. Those who conclude theyre for the chop in a Johnson cull could start leaking like the Met.

And as the Prime Minister does not have the full report, some of its contents could come as something of a surprise to him.

There is every likelihood speedy publication of the full Gray report would be devastating for Mr Johnson.

The 16 parties investigated by Sue Gray would be laid out in all their gory detail, including the 12 now being looked into by the Met.

Its understood Gray even confirmed that one took place in the Johnson family flat above Downing Street on November 13, 2020  the day the PMs consigliere, Dominic Cummings was fired.

So Boris is not out of the woods yet. Playing for time might work, and he can never be underestimated as the Harry Houdini of modern British politics.

Attention spans are short these days and the news cycle noisy and rapid.

But if, in dragging things out to save his own skin, Boris also succeeds in dragging down his party, then his days could be numbered sooner than he thinks.
An Australian home stylist has shared how she and her husband created a stunning outdoor bar and an epic kid's cubby house after going viral on TikTok.

Sophie Bell, 34, and her husband Michael, designed and built two incredible Mediterranean-style adults and kids' cubby houses on their property in the hinterland behind Cabarita Beach in Northern NSW.

With rendered white walls, custom tiles, 'crazy paved' flooring and arched windows and doorways, the kid's cubby has a mini play shop and kitchen while the adult's den has a built-in bar, speakers and day bed perfect for lounging on with a cocktail.

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Home stylist, Sophie Bell has shared how she and her husband created a stunning outdoor bar and an epic kid's cubby house after going viral on TikTok

The couple designed and built two incredible Mediterranean-style adults and a kids cubby houses on their property in the hinterland behind Cabarita Beach in Northern New South Wales

With textured rendered white walls, custom tiles, 'crazy-paved' flooring and arched windows and doorways, the kid's cubby has a mini play shop and kitchen while the adult's den has a built-in bar, speakers and day bed perfect for lounging on with a cocktail

Ms Bell, who owns Peppa Hart design studio, said she had been talking about building a kid's cubby and finally found the time to do it during the state's last lockdown.

'I literally just hand drew a design on paper of how I imagined it looking and then my husband turned it into a real life structure,' she told FEMAIL.

'Once we started marking out the space we realised we would be out here 24/7 with the kids and we had nowhere to hang out while they were playing, so that's where the adults' cubby idea came about.'

Ms Bell (pictured left), who owns Peppa Hart design studio, said she had been talking about building a kid's cubby and finally found the time to do it during lockdown boredom when she gave her husband, Michael (pictured right) a design which he 'brought to life' with his handy DIY skills

The idea for the adult's den came about when Ms Bell realised she would need somewhere to relax when watching the kids play in their cubby

'The adults' cubby is right next door so we can keep an eye on what they are up to but we can enjoy some spicy margaritas while the kids are living their best life,' Ms Bell said.

To build the cubbies, two concrete slabs were laid and Mr Bell constructed frames of timber and a polystyrene-like material that is strong and easily shaped to create the arched windows and doors.

The frame was then rendered and painted white and a 'crazy pave' or flag stone floor was laid.

To build the cubbies, two concrete slabs were laid and Mr Bell constructed frames of timber and a polystyrene-like material that is strong and easily shaped to create the arched windows and door

The frame was then rendered and painted white and a 'crazy pave' or flag stone floor was laid

To finish, the bar was tiled with custom-made tiles Ms Bell designed with boutique tilers Three Balls Red that will be soon available to buy so other's can re-create Mediterranean magic in their own homes.

'Michael was adamant to make everything in there so he made the doors for the bar and handles as well,' Ms Bell said.

'(There are) a couple of speakers in the roof so we can have music playing, some beautiful light sconces on the outside that Michael made and rendered as well to complete the look.'

Ms Bell said her daughter, Peppa, 2, loves playing shops and selling us coffee and ice cream so the kids cubby was built around having a window she can open up and 'sell' things

To finish, the bar was tiled with custom-made tiles Ms Bell designed with boutique tilers Three Balls Red and there are speakers in the roof as well as a day bed.

The cubby is every kid's dream with a slide, sun deck, and mini shop and Ms Bell said her kids, Hendrix, five, and Peppa, two, have spent most days playing there since they finished the build.

'Our daughter loves playing shops and selling us coffee and ice cream so the kids cubby was built around having a window she can open up and sell us things. Inside she has her little fridge and oven,' she said.

'My son wanted a slide so there is stairs on the side of the cubby that lead to a little sun deck that the kids can hang out on and come down the slide. The slide has water connected to it as well so it becomes a fun water slide, we pop a little inflatable pool at the bottom of the slide so they splash into the water.'

Designer Sophie Bell's tips and tricks to bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your home 1. Render walls or if you are unable to render, you can use textured paint, Dulux have a great textured paint product. Having tactile surfaces really creates a level of interest on what would normally be a flat white wall. I use white paint to keep that true Mediterranean vibe, I always go for white on white vibes 2. Add soft lines and curves, niches in the walls, arched doors, arched windows, if you cannot renovate then go for curves in your styling pieces like arched mirrors 3. I look at Mediterranean style as imperfectly perfect, so choose finishes that are not perfect. For example our tapware is brass and continues to Patina over time. Adding things that don't feel shiny and modern really help bring the Mediterranean feel Sophie Bell's top tips 4. Use layers of textures in your styling to help create interest, keep your base neutral but can add deep rich colour with your textiles like cushions and art and go for natural materials like timbers, woven rugs, stone and brass 5. I personally love having big bowls of lemons and limes all over as well 6. Go for bold tiles in warm tones. 7. Ceramics in beautiful textured finishes 8. Crazy pave - I am crazy pave mad and think this really helps bring the Mediterranean feel into your home. You can do this inside and outside or just in bathrooms Advertisement

Ms Bell posted a now-viral video to TikTok of the build and the stylish end results which has been viewed more than 1.9million times and racked up hundreds of comments praising the couple's impressive DIY job.

'Your husband gets it. Keep him. This is gorgeous,' one viewer wrote.

'Where do I buy one of these husbands? They sell them on Amazon?' joked a second.

'I am obsessed with the Mediterranean/Spanish vibes,' said a third.
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Everyone has less than desirable spaces in their homes - whether it's a dated kitchen, dingy bathroom, or unloved lounge.

But these DIY enthusiasts from the UK, US, and Canada managed to transform their neglected rooms into chic and cosy spots, shown in before and after shots collated into a gallery by Bored Panda.

Among the amazing makeovers a tiny New York studio, which looks much bigger after a thoughtful makeover.

Another set of photos shows how the residents of a Newfoundland home totally overhauled their bathroom on a tiny $100 budget.

Here FEMAIL shares the best real-life room makeovers.

This tiny, sparse New York studio flat, which costs $1750 a month to rent, was carefully designed to maximise the 400 square ft of floor space, with the tenant hanging curtains from the curtain, around the bed, to create the feeling of a separate sleeping area

Restoring the hardwood floors, and adding carefully curated touches like this $400 rug from Wayfair, and vintage coffee table, transformed this Nova Scotia home. The owners say the refurbishment did not take much time or money, with painting and a week spent working on the floors their biggest investments

A Reddit user from Idaho revealed how some simple tweaks, including white paint, slick new cupboard handles, and a fresh lighting fixture transformed this bathroom from meh to modern. The work took three days and cost less than $500

It cost just $100 to refurbish this tiny bathroom in a Newfoundland home. Instead of splashing the cash, the owner relied on DIY fixes, like repainting the bathroom cabinet, and putting up a practical shelf using a plank of wood from IKEA

Trendy navy blue paint revitalised this UK home office, along with new sleek storage which helped make the space tidier. The desk is custom made to fit the room, and the black pegboard was a bargain from Amazon, costing 52

This incredible Indiana bathroom renovation bathroom cost around $6,000, with the resident all the work themselves - a major saving on the cheapest quote of $15,000. The home owners sourced all items, buying the vanity from Home Depot and the shower curtain from Overstock

The owners of this Texan home spent around $7,000 remodelling their bathroom. With that budget, they were able to install new flooring, cabinets, marble countertops, and new plumbing as well as new lighting

An amateur enthusiast took on this NY State kitchen, spending two weeks removing, sanding, and repainting the cabinet doors in an effort to brighten and modernise the space. They estimated that reworking the wood themselves saved a significant $2,000

This Norwich home has been upgraded with an ensuite bathroom refurbishment, which cost around 6,000, with the bulk of the budget being spent on labour, the vanity unit, brassware and the new green tiles

This compact Astoria apartment, which measures just 650 square ft, was largely transformed using affordable high street items, including plants, a book case from Amazon, and LOTS mirrors from IKEA, costing around $10 each

The resident of this US home spent a whole year gathering decorative pieces and the necessary furniture to transform their barren concrete patch into a covetable patio complete with string lighting and a BBQ pit
Here, FEMAIL reveals the funniest and most unfortunate mishaps

One shows a person who went to open their car door only to see it break in half

We've all had one of frustrating days when everything seems to go wrong.

But next time you're having a rough day, give a thought to these unfortunate souls who have it really bad.

Wacko Jacko has rounded up a selection of hilarious photographs from around the world by people who have experienced incredibly unlikely things going wrong.

One shows a person who went to open their car door only to see it break in half, while another shows a man who got to work on Monday morning only to notice he had two different shoes on...

Oh snow! This man from Alaska got in the car only to see his sun roof fall through and get him covered in snow

What the F! the F fell off this US man's Ford Fiesta Flame - now he drives Ford Fiesta Lame

Can I make a quick call? This crocodile at a Zoo in the US saw stole a visitors phone

Not so relaxing! Another person from the US shared this snap of their 'stress relief cream' - which didn't go as planned

Monday mind strikes again! This poor man, from the UK, headed to work on Monday morning only to find his shoes weren't matching

A car ate my keys! This person from the US saw their tyres ruined after they ran over their keys

Not very appealing! This person from the US picked up their bunch of fruit - only to be driven bananas

This one man from Sri Lanka went to get rid of his bugs - only to discover it was covered in a huge spider

So you've had a bad day! This person, believed to be from the US, saw their door fall off when they went out for the day

That sinking feeling! This scooter rider from the US dropped their vehicle into cement

Red alert! This lady from the US missed the 'wet paint' sign to discover a red backside

Birthday girl on fire! This woman from the US went to celebrate her birthday - only for hair to be set on fire

This poor person just just wanted to eat spaghetti - but more than they bargained for when their glass lid broke
Lets not wear jeans all the time this year. Were going to look back, and, of all the appearance-related regrets we have, the only one that will make us gnash our teeth (apart from having spent the best part of a decade wearing black, not having got our legs out more while we had the chance and not having worn great creamy slicks of eyeshadow while we had smooth eyelids) will be the endless wearing of jeans and only jeans.

What a waste, if you think about it. So many clothes and so often were stuck in denim.

It will be hard to break the habit. Im not much looking forward to it. But even if we have one dedicated jeans-free day  like meat-free Friday  itll open up a whole world of options. So, yes, that means any other trousers  wide, straight or gently flared, long or cropped  and it might mean a long skirt.

Shane Watson shares advice for embracing this season's long skirts trend at any occasion. Pictured: Victoria Beckham

I know. The suggestion seems not just left-of-field but positively self-sabotaging: all the effort of a skirt  finding the right top, the right tights, the right shoes or boots  plus a new layer of impracticality. But this isnt a joke dreamt up by fashion people in ivory towers who never need to go to an office. Quite the opposite.

The idea is that the new long skirt (its not long long, more like a long midi) could be an alternative to smart workwear trousers, only  and this is the reason youd bother  more appealing, less boring and different in a cool, unfussy way.

One glimpse of Matches Raey pencil skirt (225, matches fashion.com) and I was sold on the look. This skirt finishes just above the ankle; its straightish, tailored, snuggish on the hips in a navy wool mix, so nothing like a Summer-of-Love maxi in other words, more like something Jil Sander would be happy to put her name to.

This is a simple, nearly-long skirt for a modern, working woman. It may not be easier than trousers  it definitely isnt  but who cares; were making an effort to break out of a rut, and its got something.

Actresses Nathalie Emmanuel (pictured left) and Emilia Fox (pictured right) have been spotted wearing ankle-grazing skirts

Ive always loved long skirts in summer; I like their 1970s holiday romance (take me to Mamma Mia! Greece) and their unexpected elegance, providing theyre leanish and not too flouncy. Id also agree that most maxis should be left to the flower-crown-wearing generations, especially the tiered variety.

But there are always exceptions to the rule, and this hybrid skirt feels like one of those moments. OK, youre not riding your bike to work in it, but worn with chunky boots and a tailored sweater you could wear it to the office every day. If you want to dress it up, add neater boots with a medium heel, a three-quarter sleeve top, a faux-fur-collared coat (they have four or five styles in Zara) and it looks a lot like 2022 chic.

If navy seems like a backward step, then try a midi knit skirt in a dusty ginger (18, monki.com), or Vince does a wrap-effect style in camel (48, net-a-porter.com).

LONG SKIRTS: THE RULES Wear it ankle grazing.

Try a wrap effect.

Choose grey over black.

Wear with boots. Advertisement

Wraps are fine, so long as there are no fancy fastenings  its important to keep the look streamlined  but steer clear of asymmetric hems, pleating, buttons or prints: the plainer the better.

If you just dont get along with the straighter silhouette, for a similar effect try Me+Ems slim-flared maxi in ponte jersey with an elasticated waist (125, menandem.com) or Coss gently flared style (69, cosstores.com), though be warned it has an off-centre front split that finishes mid thigh. Fine until you sit down.

What you wear with your long skirt depends on where youre going, but with this much coverage below the waist (dont forget the longer midi demands a boot), youre going to want to show a bit of flesh. Exposed forearms are a good bet. Either wear shorter sleeves  a cashmere T-shirt (95, boden.co.uk) is a good option  or a silky top with three-quarter sleeves, or an open-necked shirt with the sleeves pushed up.

Once weve mastered this, we can move on to the everyday long midi dress. Theyre flying out of Me+Em already, so keep an open mind.
Sweet tooth's rejoice as a dedicated foodie has shared how you can have dessert for breakfast with her healthy strawberry cheesecake overnight oats recipe.

Australian amatuer chef Noa demonstrated how to make the cheesecake oats, which she said are low in sugar, high in protein, macro friendly and 'filled with all the good stuff', in a video posted to TikTok.

The viral chef shared the recipe after her previous clip showing the tasty breakfast idea attracted more than half a million views and hundreds of comments from people asking how to make it.

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Australian home chef Noa demonstrated how to make strawberry cheesecake overnight oats, which she said are low in sugar, high in protein, macro friendly and 'filled with all the good stuff', in a video posted to TikTok

Noa starts by combining light cream cheese, Greek yoghurt, maple syrup, milk, oats, protein powder, chia seeds and some lemon zest in a bowl and lets it sit for a few minutes to thicken.

She pours the oat mix into a jar or cup with some sliced strawberries.

For the topping, Noa melts five small squares of white chocolate and mixes it with yoghurt and a dash of milk.

Noa starts by combining light cream cheese, Greek yoghurt, maple syrup, milk, oats, protein powder, chia seeds and some lemon zest in a bowl and lets it sit for a few minutes to thicken

She tops the oats with the white chocolate mix and finishes with the crumbs from a crushed Lotus biscuit and a sliced strawberry.

The sweet breakfast treat has only 343 calories per serving.

Many of Noa's fans were quick to praise the simple and healthy breakfast dish.

For the topping, Noa melts five small squares of white chocolate and mixes it with yoghurt and a dash of milk

Recipe: Strawberry cheesecake oats Ingredients For the oats 1-2 tbs maple syrup or honey 180-220ml milk 1 tbs chia seeds 80g oats 60g Greek-style yoghurt 40g light cream cheese 20g vanilla protein Lemon zest to taste For the toppings/add-ins 20g white chocolate 3 tbs yoghurt 100g strawberries 1 Lotus Biscoff biscuit Method 1. Slice strawberries up and place a few around each jar or cup. Reserve the rest for layers 2. Add yoghurt, maple syrup or honey and cream cheese to a bowl and mix 3. Add in milk and oats, protein, chia seeds and lemon zest, mix until combined 4. Let sit and thicken for five mins or so. Adjust milk if needed 5. Divide half the oat mixture between two jars or cups. Add some strawberries to the middle and then remaining oat mix 6. For the topping, melt white chocolate in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, go again for 15 seconds at a time until melted 7. Once melted, add yoghurt and mix. To make it easier to spread, add half a tablespoon of milk and mix 8. Divide between the two jars to cover the oats 9. Decorate with a crushed Lotus Biscoff biscuit and a sliced strawberry Source: @noashealthyeats Advertisement

Noa, who goes by No's Healthy Eats online, has gained a loyal following on TikTok and Instagram for her quick and easy, decadent-looking recipes that are actually good for you

'I tried it and it was amazing. It's been a while since oats tasted this good,' one viewer said.

'Definitely trying this one! So sick of the same old morning oats!' a second wrote.

Noa, who goes by Noa's Healthy Eats online, has gained a loyal following on TikTok and Instagram for her quick and easy, decadent-looking recipes that are actually good for you.
Two American expats who moved to Australia have listed the vast differences they've noticed between the two continents that confuse them.

Hannah Shuman, who appears to be living in Sydney, noticed Aussies enjoy early morning coffee runs and are 'obsessed' with dairy.

While on the other side of the country in Perth, US expat Hollee revealed the 'strange' things she noticed about Aussie supermarkets.

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US expat Hannah Shuman, who appears to be living in Sydney, (pictured) noticed Aussies enjoy early morning coffee runs and are 'obsessed' with dairy

While on the other side of the country in Perth, US expat Hollee (pictured) revealed the 'strange' things she noticed about Aussie supermarkets

In a video titled 'Things I had to get used to in Australia', Hannah said the 'early morning culture' is unlike what she has experienced back home.

'You could go just about anywhere at 6am and you will see an entire group of people out reading a book, newspaper or drinking coffee,' she said.

The coffee in Australia is known to be incredibly different to that in the US, and Hannah said the Aussie version gave her 'the shakes' because she wasn't used to the strength.

As a result, she decided to stop drinking coffee all together.

In a video titled 'Things I had to get used to in Australia', Hannah said Australians are obsessed with coffee, cheese, shiraz wine and waking up at 6am

Next, Hannah explained she had to get used to drinking Shiraz  a popular red wine option in Australia - compared to other wines.

She also explained Aussie's obsession with cheese - particularly haloumi.

'I had to get used to how much Australians love their dairy. I am lactose intolerant so unfortunately for me it's not a good thing, but Australians love cheese - it is insane!' she said.

At supermarkets, you can purchase different kinds of pre-packaged cheese or fresh cheese from the deli.

In a video shared four days ago, Hollee had difficulty locating certain items when shopping at the supermarket. In the clip she found it 'funny' eggs and certain milk is unrefrigerated, which took her 20 minutes to find on the shelf

In a video shared four days ago, Hollee had difficulty locating certain items when shopping at the supermarket.

She found it 'funny' eggs and certain milk are unrefrigerated, which took her 20 minutes to find on the shelf.

One person commented saying: 'Long life milk isn't the same as regular milk'.

Hollee was also delightfully surprised that Aussies take reusable bags to the store as an environmentally-friendly option to plastic bags.

She laughed at the amount of Vegemite stored on shelves, which isn't sold in the US.

Both videos have gone viral and have received thousands of views and likes.

'We are out early because it's too hot to go anywhere any later,' one person commented on Hannah's video.

Another recommended she try a latte because it's 'not as strong'.
The mother of a Bunnings-mad toddler who went viral on TikTok has revealed why her daughter is such a fan of the Australian hardware store.

Renae Smiler, from Brisbane, uploaded a now-viral video online of her 15-month-old daughter Saskia snapping out of a tantrum when she was promised a trip to Bunnings.

The mum-of-two said little Saskia developed a love for Bunnings after going on multiple trips with the family while they built their house.

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Renae Smiler who's video of her 15-month-old daughter, Saskia (pictured), snapping out of a tantrum when promised a trip to Bunnings has revealed why the toddler is such a fan of the hardware store

'We moved into our new home just a month before Saskia was born, and we did all of the landscaping ourselves, so that's where it really began for her,' she told FEMAIL.

'Between that and her dad being a tradie, she has spent a lot of time at Bunnings!'

Ms Smiler said Saskia loves being pushed around in the little trolleys by her four-year-old sister Scarlett and smelling the flowers in the plant section.

The mum-of-two said little Saskia developed a love for Bunnings after going multiple trips with the family while they built their house

Ms Smiler said Saskia loves being pushed around in the little trolleys by her four-year-old sister, Scarlett, and smelling the flowers in the plant section.

'She loves the plant section, she always goes up and smells all of the flowers! However, I think it is definitely the mini trolleys that complete the shopping experience for her,' she said.

'They always put a smile on her face! She loves to sit in them so her four-year-old sister can spin her around.'

The video of Ms Smiler's unique tantrum-avoiding parenting hack has racked up more than 703,900 views since it was posted just over a week ago.

Footage shows the toddler wailing into a bedroom door before her mum asks her if she wants to go on a trip to Bunnings.

Saskia's sobs immediately turn into a smile at the mention of the hardware store, before she gleefully bounds towards the front door.

Footage shows the toddler, known as Saskia, wailing into a bedroom door before her mum asks her if she wants to go on a trip to Bunnings and her sobs immediately turn into a smile at the mention of the hardware store

'When Bunnings can soothe your one-year-old mid tantrum,' the mother wrote alongside the clip captioned 'Bunnings BIGGEST littlest fan'.

The TikTok video left social media users in stitches describing the video as the 'most Aussie thing ever'.

'I too have this reaction to a Bunnings trip,' wrote one parent.

'There is no doubt that girl is Australian because that is the most Aussie thing ever,' said another.

'My two-year-old does the same thing and every time we drive past she screams out Bunnings,' added a third.
Nigella Lawson has been mocked after sharing a picture of a steak dish that's 'so rare it could be heard mooing'.

The London-based TV cook, 62, shared a snap to Instagram on Sunday, showing an Aberdeen Angus tomahawk steak with green sauce and sides of new potatoes and salad.

But the cut of beef was bright red with other foodies quipping they thought the picture was taken before it was cooked.

'Forgot to post the glorious main course after the prawns last night: a gorgeous Meat Peter Aberdeen Angus tomahawk steak with green sauce (parsley, chives, lemon zest and juice, anchovies, chilli and olive oil); steamed new potatoes with olive oil and chives, roast onions with thyme, and castelfranco and red chicory salad out of shot.

'And I have an old-fashioned sandwich loaf ready to make luscious sandwiches with the leftovers today!' she wrote.

While the steak came from award-winning butcher Peter Hannan, many joked it was too raw to eat, with one person saying: 'It's still mooing.'

Nigella Lawson has been mocked after sharing a picture of a steak dish that's 'so rare it could be heard mooing'. The TV cook, 62, shared a snap to Instagram on Sunday, showing an Aberdeen Angus tomahawk steak with green sauce and sides of new potatoes and salad.

Another added: 'I can hear that mooing from here.'

While a third quipped: 'A good vet could save it.'

A fourth commented: 'It's still alive.'

While a fifth wrote: 'Did you forget to cook it?'

Many made the same comment, with another chipping in: 'Let us know when it's cooked.'

'I appreciate that some may like their meat like that, I am one of those that doesn't,' wrote another.

However, many liked the looks of it and asked for tips on cooking.

'Wow! That gives me inspiration for dinner tomorrow! Thank you! However, mine will not turn out as perfect as yours.' said one fan.

Another wrote: ' Can you please say how you cooked it to have this way? Thank you. It looks delicious.'

While the steak came from award-winning butcher Peter Hannan, many joked it was too raw to eat, with one person saying: 'It's still mooing.'

'That steak has been cooked to SHEER PERFECTION! The pinkness!' said another.

Nigella is no stranger to bold and unusual food and shocked fans cooking potatoes at Christmas covered in caramel.

Last September she enjoyed an ice cream sandwich and has also cooked rump steak with vodka and put bacon in her chocolate brownies.

Last week, the food writer gave the Tory MP who suggested the Prime Minister had been 'ambushed by cake' short shrift on social media, after he responded to her joke that the bizarre phrase might inspire the title of a future cook book.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns' comments sparked widespread ridicule online when he defended the Prime Minister over an alleged birthday party - with a Union Jack cake and singing - in the Cabinet Room on June 19th, 2020.

TV cook Nigella Lawson joked to followers on Twitter on Tuesday evening that she was thinking of calling her next book 'Ambushed by Cake' after Northern Ireland MP Conor Burns coined the phrase while defending the Prime Minister's alleged 56th birthday party in June 2020

The Northern Ireland minister said Mr Johnson was working in the room before people came in and presented him with the baked treat, adding: 'He, as far as I can see, he was in a sense, ambushed with a cake.'

On Twitter, Nigella found her name trending on Tuesday evening after the popular television cook suggested the phrase 'just has to be the title of my next book!'

Mr Burns responded an hour later to Ms Lawson, saying: 'Its yours if you want it! Could I include my Grannys Christmas cake recipe?'

He was given short shrift by the domestic goddess...who riposted: 'This is too meta. Plus, you think its a joke? Says it all.'
The beauty of Mount Halla in June 1989 Korea Times Archive



By Robert Neff



When Charles Chaille-Long, the secretary of the American Legation in Seoul, traveled to Jeju Island in 1888, he toyed with the idea of climbing Mount Halla, but the island's governor quickly made it clear that it was a bad idea.



According to Chaille-Long, the governor  who was fairly new to his post  complained that the islanders were "rude and very ungovernable," and would be incensed if he tried to climb the mountain.



"The mountain is sacred and the traditions require that one hundred days of sacrifices must be performed before attempting the ascent. Without this, great ills fall upon the people and the island and the crops would be certainly ruined by the rains which would surely follow."



He then cautioned, "Halla-san is sacred and in the bosom of the mountain dwell the gods of [Jeju]."



In his report to the State Department, the American wrote: "I felt sorely disappointed at this unexpected state of affairs, but when the Governor asked me not to insist upon going to the mountains, I felt that there was nothing else to do. I had to submit to what was inevitable."



Prevented from climbing the mountain, he sought out additional information from the people he interacted with  especially from an elderly islander. Rather than include the rough version he provided to the State Department, here is the polished version he published in his book several years later:



"Halla-san is the god of [Jeju]. Halla-san is the home of a great spirit. No one can ascend to the top of the mountain, it is the home of a fairy goddess whose face no one can see and live. Halla-san is the beginning of creation. There man was first created. Three men sprang up from the mountain-top  Yang-ulla, Ko-ulla, and Po-ulla  and stood in each other's presence. When they had recovered from their surprise they descended to the seashore, discussing serious things. Arrived there, lo! there appeared in the distance borne swiftly upon the waves, a huge box which fell at their feet. Three beautiful women stepped out. Yang, Ko, and Po married them, returned to Halla-san, and found there fruits, grains, fowls and animals. Thus the creation of the world, men, and beasts."





Seogwipo in the foreground with Mount Halla in the background in September 1989 Korea Times Archive



When Henry William Wilkinson, the British vice-consul, traveled to the island in mid-August 1895, his initial impressions of Jeju  and especially Mount Halla  were negative. As the Korean government steamer approached the island, he wrote:



"Here the land rose smoothly from the sea like the back of a monstrous cachalot studded with huge bosses, grey cones that seemed like ghosts of, what in truth they are, dead craters. Over Mount Auckland [Halla], whose mass might have broken the spell of this gruesome procession, hung a thick pall of clouds. The island, in its silence and awesomeness, appeared indeed such as we imagine to be, at closer quarters, the scenery of the moon."



He later added that it was not till he got ashore that this irrational horror began to lift and he was able to examine the city and its inhabitants.



Wilkinson met with the island's prefect and over dinner expressed an interest in the mountain. The Korean official graciously explained some of the "abundant traditions cluster[ed] round" the mountain and claimed the mountain was so sacred that "not more than one or two in 10,000 would have the courage to ascend to [its] top. In the past there had been Koreans brave enough to do so but "the few who returned came down in a tempest of thunder and rain."





Hiking the trails of Mount Halla in the spring of 1983 Korea Times Archive

When Wilkinson suggested that Westerners were not afraid of these superstitions and would be willing to ascend the mountain the Korean official acknowledged that they might escape the wrath of the gods, but his demeanor made it perfectly clear that such an attempt would not be tolerated and the climber might not escape the wrath of the people.



Wilkinson seemingly conceded this point. In his report, he wrote: "[There] should be little natural difficulties in climbing [Mount Halla's] sloping sides. The woods with which they are clad would probably be the chief hindrance, and the superstitious fears of the people."



Two missionaries who visited in 1899 also took an interest in the mountain. They wrote:




1000-lb Sisters star Amy Slaton has announced she is expecting a baby boy and plans to call him 'John Allen' during a gender reveal party.

The 34-year-old, from Dixton, Kentucky, who stars on the TLC reality series alongside her sister Tammy Slaton, 35, who weighs 631lbs, took to her YouTube channel to share footage from the get-together.

Amy, who used to weigh over 400 pounds before she dropped to 270 pounds, found out she was pregnant shortly after she underwent bariatric weight loss surgery last year.

She and her husband Michael Halterman welcomed their son, Gage, in November 2020.

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1000-lb Sisters star Amy Slaton (pictured) has announced she is expecting a baby boy and plans to call him 'John Allen' during a gender reveal party

Amy, who used to weigh over 400 pounds before she dropped to 270 pounds, found out she was pregnant shortly after she underwent bariatric weight loss surgery last year. She and her husband Michael Halterman welcomed their son, Gage (pictured together), in November 2020

In the sweet video, 1,000-Lb. Sisters star, while surrounded by her loved ones, sat in a chair and held up a white sign.

The poster read: It's a before the next sign underneath read: Boy!.

Amy jokingly said: I always wanted a girl, before saying: It's a boy. John Allen.

A voice behind the camera repeated: John Allen? to which Amy said John Boy.

However, a voice off-screen insisted: I aint calling him no John Boy.

Amy then signed off her video and said: So thank you all guys!

In December, Amy opened up about her fears over her second son's weight and voracious appetite while documenting her own weight loss journey on the third season of the reality series 1,000-lb Sisters.

The 34-year-old (pictured), from Dixton, Kentucky, took to her YouTube channel to share footage from the get-together

Amy stars on the TLC reality series alongside her sister Tammy Slaton, 35, who weighs 631lbs (pictured together)

'Gage is a very well-mannered baby, but I'm noticing that he's like a bottomless pit sometimes,' she told Michael on the TLC reality series.

'He eats more than I do, and it's scary because I don't want him to be 600 pounds. I do not want him to be fat.'

Amy said her son's appetite reminds her of her sister Tammy, who weighed close to 700 pounds at her heaviest.

'My son means the whole world to me, so I want what's best for him. I don't want him to struggle like me and Tammy did with our weight,' she explained. 'I want him to be a normal, healthy weight.'

The mom added that she doesn't want her son to ever have to 'worry about bullies or school or anything like that' when he is growing up.

Amy, who used to weigh over 400 pounds, also admitted that she is having a hard time caring for her son because of the excess skin that hangs off her body following her 140-pounds weight loss.

In December, Amy opened up about her fears over her second son's weight (pictured together) and voracious appetite while documenting her own weight loss journey on the third season of the reality series 1,000-lb Sisters

'Sometimes when we go places like to the park or something, I'll get so [worn] out because I'm carrying around so much excess skin,' she told her husband. 'I don't want to be a parent who has to sit on the sidelines because they hurt too much to do it.'

WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? Bariatric surgery is a variety of procedures designed to help a patient lose weight. Surgeries include reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band, or removing part of the stomach through a gastric sleeve. It also includes gastric bypass surgery, in which surgeons reroute the intestine to a small stomach pouch which shrinks the stomach. Advertisement

She explained that she wants to lose another 110 pounds and get down to 150, but the excess skin is making it harder for her to reach her goal.

Amy also shared that the excess skin on her body makes her feel more insecure now than she did when she weighed 400 pounds.

'To me, it's ugly, the way it looks,' she said, lifting her arm to show her husband the flesh hanging from it. 'It makes me feel unattractive. I just don't feel sexy with all this skin.

'I felt more confident when I was 400 pounds, but I had a lot of health problems back then,' she admitted. 'But now, I have all this excess skin and I feel like people are watching me and judging me a lot more.'

Amy told her husband that she has been researching excess skin removal surgery and found a place in Evansville that could probably help her.

She wanted to start by getting the hanging skin removed from under her chin and under her arms, saying: 'If I get all that trimmed up, that'll be one hell of a muscle.'
A frugal shopper has revealed how she spent just 163 last year on 1223 worth of food shopping in 2021 by only picking up items that were reduced.

Sharon Adams, 48, from Pontypridd, south Wales, has spent 10 years living as frugally as possible after losing her job.

Now she snags huge discounts on food items in her local supermarkets as well as collecting free foods through Olio - an app where people give away food to reduce waste.

Her incredible bargain hunting skills have seen her buy 40 worth of shopping for 2.40 that had everything included from beef mince, vegetables, turkey and even mince pies.

She even manages to pick up other reduced items including medicine for 90p and hair conditioner for 10p.

Sharon Adams, 48, from Pontypridd, south Wales, has spent the past 10 years living as frugally as possible after losing her job

The frugal shopper has revealed how she spent just 163 last year on 1223 worth of food shopping in 2021 by only picking up items that were reduced. Pictured is her haul of shopping where she picked up bargains for just 20p

Sharon always buys things with a discount - picking up pizza, beef roulade, chicken goujons and pork schnitzel for 75% off

What Sharon spent on food in 2021 Christmas Eve 2020- 2.40 Including mince, turkey, vegetables, party foods. (Freezing everything for future use) January - 14.90 Soups, orange juice, yoghurts, ready meals, garlic bread and pizza February - 13 Lidl Vegetable box (1.50 for 5kg) pate, tea bags, salads, potatoes, and yoghurts March - 15 Meats, cheese, garlic bread April - 15 Yoghurts, vegetables, pate, pastries and sausages May - 11.30 Potatoes, tomatoes, bread, mushrooms, pate, butter, cakes June - 12.30 Lidl Vegetable box, pies, mash, mince, hair conditioner, sausage rolls July - 14.75 Free Olio items including bread rolls, vegetables, cooked chicken, and fresh noodles, paid for fresh fruits from M&S and splurged on steaks and meats August - 13.30 Pastries, cooked meat, bread, fruit and pizzas from Olio September - 12 Bought reduced mince, yoghurts, naan, butter, and pasta. Lots of free food from Olio such as milk, sausage rolls and sandwiches. October - 15 Lots of free food from Olio again, paid for chocolate, butter, onions, and tomatoes. Big meat haul from Aldi November - 12.10 Lots of freebies from Olio. Reduced mince, pork pies, grapes December - 11.95 Another Christmas eve reduction haul to fill with meats, vegetables, and bread. Scotch eggs and salad as well as Olio collections of yoghurts, bread and a Jamie Oliver pasta dish TOTAL SPEND FOR 2021 163 Advertisement

Her chest freezer and fridge freezer are currently packed to the brim with meats, vegetables, bread, and other perishable items that she managed to stock up on during the Christmas Eve yellow sticker reductions at her local supermarkets.

'Yellow sticker shopping has really helped me to stretch the pennies and the pounds,' she explained.

'If I can sniff a yellow sticker reduction out, I will.

'I budget 10 a week on food shopping, and often find that I can spread that amount further.

'I tend to go to Morrisons and Asda in the evening as they always have the best reductions.

'I've barely had to buy any food this month, except for a shop that was down to 7.49 from almost 40 at Asda where I picked up various vegetables like chillies and tomatoes for 10p each and a big pack of mince for 62p.

'Other supermarkets like Aldi, I don't go to that often as its further away, but I actually went there once and managed to get 40 worth of meat for 11 as everything was 75 per cent off in the reduced section.

Sharon's chest freezer and fridge freezer are currently packed to the brim with meats, vegetables, bread, and other perishable items that she managed to stock up on during the Christmas Eve yellow sticker reductions at her local supermarkets. Pictured are items including mushrooms she bought for just 10p

Sharon snags huge discounts on food items in her local supermarkets (pictured) as well as collecting free foods through Olio - an app where people give away food to reduce waste

Her incredible bargain hunting skills have seen her buy 40 worth of shopping for 2.40 that had everything included from beef mince, vegetables, turkey and even mince pies. Pictured brioche buns, carrots and mushrooms that are reduced

Sharon recently picked up three packs of sausages for just 70p each (pictured) from her local Morrisons

In the last six months, Sharon has received more than 429 free items from Olio including sandwiches, an assortment of berries, yoghurts, bread, milk, desserts, and even a pizza or two. Pictured are reduced items R

'I go to my local McColls a lot too, and they have a lot of reductions that are usually around 10 pence each.

'I can pick up Activia yoghurts, Lurpak spreads, pies, dessert items, fresh meats and pates, and vegetables for 10p.'

In the last six months, Sharon has received more than 429 free items from Olio including sandwiches, an assortment of berries, yoghurts, bread, milk, desserts, and even a pizza or two.

Sharon recently picked up free sea bass and potatoes from Olio recently and added some tender stem broccoli which she got for 20p - meaning she had an evening dinner for just 20p

In March, Sharon's food bill was just 15. She bought meats, cheese (pictured for just 80p) and garlic bread

Her finds have also included fresh croissants (pictured), Quorn sausages and tasty desserts

In January, she bought soups, orange juice, yoghurts, ready meals, garlic bread and pizza for just 14.90. Pictured, 20p soup

Sharon regularly gets vegetable boxes from Lidl for just 1.50 for a 5kg box that includes a mix of fresh fruit and veg

Sharon's yellow sticker hauls and freebies also mean that all of her three daily meals usually amount to less than 1 per day.

She said: 'My local Tesco will donate to the Olio representative every evening with stock that hasn't been sold, including a lot of reduced, going out of date items.

'I get a lot of bread from there, and if I've already got a loaf at home, I freeze it so it doesn't go off.

'They always have lots of sandwiches from the meal deal section which I use for my lunches, as despite the date on the front, they tend not to go off straight away.

'I've probably had hundreds of sandwiches at this point.

She even manages to pick up other reduced items including medicine for 90p and hair conditioner for 10p

Sharon explained that her meals cost less than 1 because the items she puts together have either been free from Olio, or just massively reduced with yellow stickers

Sharon also puts meals together like plain pizza (pictured) and hot dogs - which she said was a 'really tasty tea'

Sharon has also picked up conditioner for 25p (pictured) and canned drinks for just 49p

Sharon often gets bread and other baked goods (pictured) and freezes them to be used later

Sharon also gives food away. She said: ''Sometimes I even have more food than I can store, so I am always happy to share it with friends who may need it.'

Sharon's yellow sticker hauls and freebies also mean that all of her three daily meals usually amount to less than 1 per day.

She said: 'Meals are always really cheap, because the items I put together have either been free from Olio, or just massively reduced with yellow stickers.

'I got sea bass and potatoes from Olio recently and added some tender stem broccoli which I got for 20p and that was the only cost for my evening meal.

'One of my favourite meals recently was a plain pizza from Olio that I added some 10p hotdogs onto, and it made for a really tasty tea.

'I find that most of my meals are pretty much free from all of the freebies I get from Olio, so there are times when I'm able to treat myself to a meal out if I can, with the budget I've got for that week.

'Sometimes I even have more food than I can store, so I am always happy to share it with friends who may need it.'

Sharon's frugal methods have also seen her get a discounted washing machine thanks to discount sites, as well as a few samples from sites she's signed up too.
A gin-lover, who estimates her collection to be worth 15,000, has 450 bottles from all over the world stashed in her cupboards.

Allison Strydom, 56, from Twickenham, London, has been collecting gin for years after falling in love with the traditional G&T which she first recalls drinking on flights back and forth from her birthplace of Cape Town.

After dropping in at a local gin distillery on a day out, Allison became more interested in how the spirit was made, and began to plan visits and outings to local distilleries, even making her own gin at several of them.

Since then, Allison's collection has grown exponentially and includes gin from all around the world.

Allison Strydom became obsessed with gin after visiting a distillery and becoming enthralled with the gin-making process

Allison has been collecting gin for the last five years and will update her followers on her finding through her personal blog, Gin Squares

Over the years, Allison has spent thousands on the collection and is continuously looking for new gin to try to review on her blog - Gin Squares.

The mum-of-two, who also works as a jewellery maker, said: 'It's cost me thousands of pounds over the years but I see it as more than a collection, because I also travel vicariously through it.

'I've been drinking gin for as long as I can remember and following the gin boom a few years ago, it became more interesting to me.

'After visiting my first distillery, I manipulated all my social life around gin and love meeting with distillers and learning about how they started making gin.

The mum-of-two has a room dedicated to her 450 bottles of gin, but insists she's not a big drinker, and will more often have a cup of tea

The most expensive bottle in the collection is from Audemus Spirits and is in a limited edition clay bottle

'I have realised that each bottle has a really interesting story behind it. Sometimes that story is about the distillers themselves but often my research uncovers legends or myths or I learn a bit of history about their location.

'I used to import a lot of gin from Europe but post-Brexit, the costs are too high, so I am no longer able to source new and interesting brands as yet unavailable in the UK.

'I have gin from around the UK and most countries in Europe, but my collection also includes gin from every continent.'

Allison has a room in her house dedicated to her gin collection, with some rarer bottles being left unopened for years.

Within Allison's gin collection, she's chosen to leave some rarer bottles unopened to preserve them

She added: 'There is a misconception that gin bloggers drink a lot. You'll usually find me on the sofa with a brew.'

The gin collecting hobby doesn't come cheap, but for Allison it's worth it to discover the hidden story.

'I have a couple of Japanese bottles that are sold out and therefore rare, but I didn't pay more than about 80 for them and that is about my limit when buying gin.

'I suspect the next most expensive bottle is one from Kenya - Procera Gin - which retails around 70-80 depending where you purchase it, I purchased mine when it was on sale for around 50, but they have other editions that retail over 100.

44N from France in a blue bottle, which celebrates Yves Klein, an artist born in Nice in 1929 who developed his own unique pigment - International Klein Blue (left). Scottish gin eenoo is inspired by Eenoolooapik was an adventurous teenage Inuit who befriended a ship's crew when they were whaling in Baffin Island in Canada (right)

'44N from France retails around 75, but can be found a bit cheaper on some websites - my bottle was gifted by the brand.

'The Source, Cardrona (New Zealand) retails between 50 and 60 - I bought direct from them at an expo here in the UK and paid 57, but it is an exceptional gin!

'When purchasing imported gin, it really does pay to shop about online as it can make a big difference to what you pay for the same bottle.

'However, I have a bespoke hand painted bottle that I won in a giveaway on Instagram and given it's a one-off piece of art, that elevates its value.

During lockdown, Allison began to work her way around her collection by doing virtual gin tours from her living room through her Instagram feed

'The brand, [Audemus] have not given me a price, but suggested it's probably north of 10 times the value of one of their normal bottles of Pink Pepper gin - if you purchased it at Fortnum & Mason.'

Likely priced at around 400-500 due to being a one-off, Allison admits she will likely never open it as she know's the gin well anyway, and has an open bottle her collection already.

During lockdown, Allison began to work her way around her collection by doing virtual gin tours from her living room where she would 'travel' the world and research different gins to post on her Instagram feed.

Allison said: 'During the first lockdown, I wasn't able to go and visit distilleries or travel abroad, so I started travelling vicariously through my gin collection and planning virtual tours around Europe, Scotland and even did 80 gin days around the world, which I posted daily.

The gin-lover sees her gin collection as a way to travel around the world and claims each bottle carries its own story, such as Melifera, from the Island of Oleron off the west coast of France (left). Dolce Vita is inspired by a story of a friendship between teenagers who met under the Clock Tower in the Piazza Umberto in Capri (right)

'I found a lot of hidden stories behind gin or their location and I love writing and researching so I decided to start a blog to share my findings.

'It's become a passion and my followers love my stories and find them interesting.

'Tasting gin is very subjective and there are enough gin reviews available.

'I like to think that I offer a different perspective on gin; show me a bottle and I'll tell you a story.

'My collection is continually growing and I dread to think how much I've spent on gin over the years. A number of the international gins I have are exclusively available through one of the largest gin subscription companies, so it's taken a lot of time to build up the collection and I'm constantly looking for new and interesting bottles to add.

'As the world opens up again, I am hoping that I can turn the virtual gin tours into real ones and visit more distilleries in person and maybe one day I'll get to publish a book on all the stories I've gathered along the way.'
Stunning new portraits of Princess Mary of Denmark posing with her husband Prince Frederik have been released by the Danish palace to celebrate the royal's 50th birthday.

The Australian-born princess donned a shimmering blue floor-length gown for the occasion, featuring a cinched waist to showcase her svelte figure and a billowing skirt.

Oozing radiance, the mother-of-four, who turns 50 on February 5, teamed her glittering ensemble - which was embellished with silver, pink and white gems - with a bright blue sash.

Stunning new portraits of Princess Mary of Denmark posing with her husband Prince Frederik (pictured) have been released by the Danish palace to celebrate the royal's 50th birthday

The Australian-born princess (pictured) donned a shimmering floor-length gown for the occasion, featuring a cinched waist to showcase her svelte figure and a billowing skirt

Adding even more glitz to her outfit, she donned an elegant ruby bracelet, as well as a silver one, and paired them with dainty drop earrings.

With her hair slicked back, Princess Mary completed her look with an eye-catching tiara, featuring ruby detailing.

Looking equally smart, Prince Frederik, who is the heir to the Danish throne, sported his military attire when posing for the portraits.

The images were posted to the royal couple's Instagram account, alongside the caption: 'On the occasion of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess' 50th birthday on Saturday, new official gala portraits of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have been taken.'

It then explained how Princess Mary's birthday will be marked with a number of events - including exhibitions at both Koldinghus and Frederiksborg Castle, as well as the opening of the Crown Princess Mary Centre at the University of Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, last week it was revealed Princess Mary's mother Henrietta 'Etta' Donaldson regularly reminded her that 'you can only be yourself' - and how those simple words have stayed with the royal.

Oozing radiance, the mother-of-four (pictured with her husband), who turns 50 on February 5, teamed her glittering ensemble - which was embellished with silver, pink and white gems - with a bright blue sash

With her hair slicked back, Princess Mary (pictured) completed her look with an eye-catching tiara, featuring ruby detailing

Princess Mary's mother tragically died from a heart condition when the royal was just 25 - three years before she met Prince Frederik.

Speaking to Eurowoman Magazine, the mother-of-four said that her mother's advice to her had been with her during her most challenging moments.

'She was absolutely right about that. I have reminded myself of those words when I have occasionally [felt like I was going to] lose myself,' she said. 'My life has offered great changes, joys and sorrows.

'There are several landmark events: The grief of losing my mother. The joy of then becoming a mother. My time at university. To meet Frederik. To get married to the Crown Prince and become the Crown Princess for Denmark and the Danish people that I love so much. And maybe to be 50 - who knows?'

The royal has no qualms about turning 50 and said age has given her a sense of being more of a 'whole person'.

Looking equally smart, Prince Frederik (pictured), who is the heir to the Danish throne, sported his military attire when posing for the portraits

The images were posted to the royal couple's Instagram account. Pictured, Prince Frederik

She said age has given her a new perspective on things and that she is now able to 'rest more' in herself and to 'dare more'.

She also plans to continue her work in under-represented and vulnerable communities this year and speak even louder on topics like violence, loneliness and grief.

'Everyone has the right to belong,' she said.

Princess Mary's mother Henrietta passed away in 1997 from a heart condition.

Princess Mary has only talked about her mother's death a few times publicly and how the tragedy had an enormous impact on her.

During a visit to a support group for young people who have experienced grief, Children, Youth and Mourning previously, Princess Mary spoke about the pain of losing her mother in her twenties.

'It happened too early,' Princess Mary said. 'It's so hard to see when it is so close and so personal, but as you get older, you learn to appreciate the time you had together as a gift.
Britain's first transgender parents have revealed their second baby is due in June after their 'angel' surrogate agreed to carry another child for them.

Hannah and Jake Graf, from south London, revealed their surrogate Laura, who gave birth to the couple's baby daughter Millie in April 2020, will deliver their second child later this year.

After sharing their plans to have a second baby in November 2020, they revealed that Laura had sadly suffered an ectopic pregnancy but fell pregnant again in September last year.

Appearing on Lorraine today, Hannah, 34, hailed Laura 'beautiful, amazing and wonderful' for aiding herself and Jake, 44, in becoming parents.

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Britain's first transgender parents Hannah and Jake Graf, from south London, have revealed their second baby is due in June after their 'angel' surrogate agreed to carry another child for them

Surrogate Laura, from Belfast, (pictured) who gave birth to the couple's baby daughter Millie in April 2020, will deliver their second child later this year

'Laura is our angel,' said Jake. 'She said directly after our first one she would help us again and she has. We did say at the beginning of last year we would try again, and it ended up being an ectopic pregnancy, which was sad for all of us.

'But we pulled back together and went again in September and miraculously we are due to have another little girl on the first of June.'

Jake said he would be 'holding his breath' until the baby's due date, admitting they have found it difficult that Laura, who is based in Belfast, lives so far away from their London home.

'I think as soon as she's out into the world, at least we can be near her,' said Jake. 'It's hard knowing our little bump is growing in Northern Ireland and we can't rub her and touch her and sing to her.'

The couple (pictured with their daughter Millie) announced they were expecting a baby via surrogate in December 2019

The couple met their daughter Millie in April after they were unable to travel over to Northern Ireland to visit Laura due to the pandemic

Television director and actor Jake transitioned in 2008 and made the decision for a fertility clinic to freeze his eggs because he's wanted to be a father since his early 20s.

The couple announced they were expecting a baby via surrogate in December 2019 after Jake stopped testosterone for about six months in order to harvest and freeze his eggs.

The couple met their daughter Millie in April and Hannah admitted that, because Laura had remained in another country during lockdown, she was initially worried about forming a bond with the baby.

'At the time I felt it was awful,' she said. 'I worried I couldn't connect, that first child you're worried you won't be able to form that bond - but we saw Millie in the first hours of her life and the bond was there immediately.'

Speaking of how Millie feels about becoming a big sister, Jake said: 'She knows the word [sister]. We're forcing lots of books on her.

'She knows what the word means. She's not even two yet, she'll get there. She won't know what hit her! But it'll be great.'

Jake and Hannah Graf (pictured) cuddled their miracle baby who was born on April 14 and said earlier this year they 'couldn't be happier nor more grateful'

Jake opened up about the support the couple has received from friends and family after coming out as trans, and the positive response they have received from the public.

'We have been incredibly fortunate with the support we have received as a trans couple from friends, family, from the public who have been very kind', he said.

'To find this wonderful woman[Laura] to help us have a family and get pregnant first time was nothing short of miraculous.'

Hannah was the highest-ranking transgender officer in the British Army before she left to begin a career in finance.

The Sandhurst-trained officer served in Afghanistan as Captain Winterbourne and came out as a transgender woman in 2013, adding that she thought coming out meant never being able to start a family.

'When I came out I thought I was making the choice not to ever have a family, to be in love or have a partner', she said.

'So to be here and to be able to tell my story openly and honestly, just two people having normal happy lives, hopefully that says to the other trans people out there that just because you're trans, it doesn't mean you can't have the same love in life as anybody.'
Six years after his wife was murdered during the Bataclan attacks of 2015, a journalist and father-of-one has said he still refuses to hate the terrorists who took her life.

Antoine Leiris' wife Helene was enjoying the Eagles of Death Metals concert when she was killed, alongside 89 other victims, when terrorists burst into the concert hall and started to shoot at random on the evening of 13 November 2015.

Over 130 people died and 400 were injured when terrorists began shooting people in the popular neighbourhoods of Bastille and Republique in Paris that same evening.

Three days after the attacks and Helene death, Antoine, now 40, shared a heartfelt post on Facebook, where he directly addressed the terror gang.

Mr Leiris said he would not give the fanatics the gift of hatred despite the fact that they had come looking for it.

In September last year, the trial of over 20 men accused of planning and carrying out the attacks began in Paris. Antoine told the Times he has attended each day of the trial and will do so until it reaches its close.

The trial, which is expected to last nine months, is the biggest in France's modern legal history and sees the 20 defendants facing sentences of up to life in prison.

French journalist Antoine Leiris shared a heartfelt message on social media after his wife Helene Muyal was killed in the 2015 Bataclan terrorist attack of 2015. Six years on, he has said she still does not hate the men who took Helene's life

Helene was enjoying the Eagles of Death Metals concert at the Bataclan when she was killed, alongside 89 other victims, when terrorists burst into the concert hall and started to shoot at random on the evening of 13 November 2015

'I have no positive feelings for those people. I cant see any excuse for them and I cant see any mitigating circumstances,' he said.

However, he said he still does not hate the terrorists who planned the attacks, in spite of seeing them everyday.

He added: 'I have the impression that if you let that feeling live in you, it will take up an immense place.'

In his new book, Antoine reveals how he tried to be a perfect father to their young son Melvil in the early days following Helene's death, but eventually found he could not get things right all the time.

Antoine, pictured in 2016, wrote two books, one titled You Will Not Have My Hate and another, now available in English, titled Life, After

YOU STOLE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE: FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ANTOINE'S LETTER, WHICH WENT VIRAL DAYS AFTER HIS WIFE WAS KILLED IN PARIS On Friday night you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you won't have my hatred. I don't know who you are and I don't want to know - you are dead souls. If this God for which you kill indiscriminately made us in his own image, every bullet in the body of my wife will have been a wound in his heart. So no, I don't give you the gift of hating you. You are asking for it but responding to hatred with anger would be giving in to the same ignorance that made you what you are. You want me to be afraid, to view my fellow countrymen with mistrust, to sacrifice my freedom for security.You have lost. I saw her this morning. Finally, after many nights and days of waiting. She was just as beautiful as when she left on Friday night, just as beautiful as when I fell hopelessly in love over 12 years ago. Of course I'm devastated with grief, I admit this small victory, but it will be short-lived. I know she will accompany us every day and that we will find ourselves in this paradise of free souls to which you'll never have access. We are two, my son and I, but we are stronger than all the armies of the world. I don't have any more time to devote to you, I have to join Melvil who is waking up from his nap. He is barely 17-months-old. He will eat his meals as usual, and then we are going to play as usual, and for his whole life this little boy will threaten you by being happy and free. Because no, you will not have his hatred either. Advertisement

He said striving for perfection was neither attainable nor something you should wish for and that he risked trapping his son and himself in a life of sadness if he did not let some joyful chaos take over their home life.

The father-of-one also recounted the cathartic experience of watching a play based on his You Will Not Have My Hate book in Paris a few years ago.

Watching the actor who was playing him in the retelling of his story, Antoine said he felt the story unfolding on stage was no longer his reality.

He added that watching his story unfold in the play motivated him to move on with his life and focus on his day-to-day with Melvil.

In the book, he shared how he struggled with lone parenthood, revealing he was overcome with guilt after blowing up at his son after he refused to do what he was told.

He said it was particularly difficult to be a single parent without anyone to let him know it was okay to make mistakes.

The father-of-one also revealed how he began dating again after Helene's death, first turning to old girlfriends for comfort, before meeting a new woman who moved in with him and his son in 2019.

However, the relationship ended and the unnamed woman moved out in 2020.

While he is not dating someone presently, he explained he feels he has a right to a life after Helene's death, and that love could happen to him again when the time is right.

He said it would take time for him to meet the right person and that he doesn't believe anyone ever really overcome their grief.

He added it is unlikely he will ever find exactly what he had with Helene with someone else, but that he is open to something new.

The father-of-one said he long debated whether he should attend the Bataclan trials currently taking place in Paris.

He explained he decided to go to be able to answer any questions his son might about the attacks and his mother's death have in the future.

But having attended four months of the trial, which is due to go on at least until May, Antoine said it helped him to understand what happened to Helene and to understand how he had reacted to her death as well.

He added the trials had lifted the veil on the areas of the attacks he had not confronted yet.

The father of Melvil, who is now seven, said he could understand and would have no chance but to accept it if his son grew up to hate the terrorists who killed his mother.

The father-of-one said he knows he is allowed to move on with his life after his wife's passing, but said he still struggles to overcome grief, and added completely overcoming it was impossible

However, while he said he was not on a mission to keep that from happening, Antoine said he would talk to his son and warn him that hate would lead him to think in circles.

How will the nine-month terror trial unfold? The trial, which is the biggest in French history, is expected to last until May 2022 and has been broken down into several stages. September 2021: Police and forensic evidence will be given

October 2021: Victims of the terror attacks will give their testimonies

November - December 2021: Officials including former French President Francois Hollande will testify, as will relatives of the attackers

January - March 2022: Each of the defendants will be questioned following the chronology of the events, from the preparations to the attacks and their aftermath. Main defendant Salah Abdeslam will be questioned multiple times

April 2022: Experts will give psychological assessments

May 2022: Closing arguments will be given by both sides before a final verdict is delivered at the end of the month Advertisement

Antoine directly addressed the terror gang who gunned down his wife in a heartfelt Facebook post on 17 November 2015.

In the post, published openly on Facebook, he told of how the gunmen had stolen the life of an exceptional person and paid tribute to the love of his life.

Helene was first reported missing through an online social media campaign to find those who had been inside the Bataclan at the Eagles of Death Metal gig, but the next day it was confirmed she had died.

Describing the gang, now known to consist of terrorists Omar Mostefai, 29, and Samy Amimour, 28, who both fled to Syria before returning to murder 89 concertgoers, Antoine wrote: I dont know who you are and I dont want to know, you are dead souls.

He added: If this God for whom you are killing blindly made us out of his image, every bullet in my wifes body would have been a wound to his heart.

He added: Of course I am overwhelmed with sadness, I will give you that, but it will be short lived.

Antoine said he would carry on as normal for the sake of his son and said that united they were stronger than all the armies in the world.

As if ending a conversation, he finished the note with: In fact, I dont have any more time to give you, I have to join Melvil who is waking up from his nap.

He is barely 17 months old. He is going to have his afternoon snack like every other day and throughout his life he will insult you by being happy and free.

Because no, you will not have his hatred either.
A Scottish mum claims she found the biggest chip shed ever seen that measured seven inches - and is now keeping the exciting find in the freezer so she can smile every tea time.

Julie-Anne Morgan, from Whitburn, Scotland, found the giant spud in a 2.89 bag of Lidl Deluxe Maris Piper chunky oven chips on Thursday while cooking dinner for her family.

The 42-year-old claims she pulled out the girthy snack that was almost as big as her head - quipping that just the one chip might fill up her husband.

It was not, however, a record breaker, with that distinction going to an 8.66in goliath found in a bag of Morrisons frozen fries in June 2021 - believed to be the world's longest chip.

Julie-Anne Morgan, 42, from Whitburn, Scotland, found a giant, seven-inch-long chip in a 2.89 bag of Lidl Deluxe Maris Piper chunky oven chips on Thursday while cooking dinner for her family

Julie-Anne said she compared the size of the super snack with that of a sausage to get a sense of how big it is

However, Julie-Anne is still delighted, saying the quirky discovery brightened her day, while joking that she might put it in a frame to admire in the future.

In funny snaps taken in her kitchen, Julie-Anne can be seen brandishing the super-sized spud product showing how its bigger than her face.

Julie-Anne Morgan said: 'When we lifted the chip out, we said "oh my god, look at the size of that".

'Its the biggest chip Ive ever seen, it was almost as big as my head.

The 42-year-old, who did not cook the chip, measured it and saw it was seven-inches long (18.5 cm-long)

'I went to make sausage and chips for a snack on Thursday night and we lifted out the bag and originally thought it was just the side of the bag.

'We measured it against another chip in the bag and its more than double the size.

'We didnt cook it - we put it back in the bag - were keeping it.

'I said we should frame it. Weve kept it in the freezer so it makes us smile every tea time.

'We probably wont find one like that again, we have no plans to cook it any time soon.'

Julie-Anne initially planned to serve her husband just the giant chip with a sausage, but the excited pair decided to put it back in the freezer so they could laugh every time they opened it.

Delighted Julie-Anne, who said the stud spud, which is bigger than her hand, 'brightened her day' joked she'll be framing it

Julie-Anne, who said the chip was so big, it could have fed her husband for dinner, even sent a cheeky tweet to Lidl

The chip enthusiast, pictured with a man believed to be her husband who wanted to keep his identity private, said she didn't cook the chip and put it back in the freezer instead, where she looks at it everyday

Julie-Anne, who bought the chips from Lidl Whitburn in West Lothian, said: 'My husband said he was wanting a plate of chips and sausage, but joked hed just have the one chip, a sausage and two beans instead.

'It made us laugh and made our night. It brightens your day things like that.

'It turned a normal Thursday into something quite exciting.

'We buy these all the time and weve never had any chips like that before.

Julie-Anne was fascinated by the girthy snack, which is nearly as long as her head and took several pictures with it

The super chip came in a 2.89 bag of chips from Lidl that Julie-Anne opened to prepare her Thursday night tea

She compared the snack to a regular chip an found it is twice the size. She sent pictures to her friends and family

'I sent the pictures to a few friends and family, they said "oh my god thats massive".

'My mum, who lives in Ireland, said "they must have really big potatoes in Scotland".

'I sent it to my sisters, my stepdaughter and my mum. They all had a big laugh over it as well.'

A Lidl spokesperson said: 'As a business, weve always been BIG on quality and Lidl on price, and it seems our Maris Piper Chunky Oven Chips are no exception.

'It is great to see another set of happy customers getting great value for money.'
A pole dancing teacher has revealed how a catfish ruined her life for more than five years by creating dozen of social media profiles and spreading lies that she was having an affair with her best friend's husband and her late mother's partner.

Sabrina Cowley, 43, from Mere, Cheshire was harassed by Matthew Hardy, 30, despite only ever meeting him once for five minutes.

Hardy set up several fake accounts taking on the identities of Sabrina's friends and then messaged he and accused her of having affairs with married men including her best friend's husband and the a partner of her late mother.

Her stress became so bad her relationship broke down and she was unable to enjoy the birth of her third child.

Speaking about Hardy, who was jailed for nine years earlier this week after he pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence and harassment, Sabina said: 'He absolutely ruined my life and dominated my thoughts for five years.

'He set up accounts pretending to me and sent messages to my friends and family and even my children.

Sabrina Cowley, 43, from Mere, Cheshire was harassed by Matthew Hardy, 30, despite only ever meeting him once for five minutes

Hardy (pictured) set up several fake accounts taking on the identities of Sabrina's friends and then messaged he and accused her of having affairs with married men including her best friend's husband and the a partner of her late mother

'He also set up accounts in my friends' names and messaged me pretending to be them.

Bizarrely, the harassment was triggered by an innocuous five-minute meeting between the pair, which Sabrina thought nothing of at the time.

'The level of research he carried out to discover small details about me was mind-blowing and it made me so afraid that he would hurt me or my family,' she explained.

'I hated letting my children out of the house, even to go to school. I barely slept and I was forever checking for him in the street. My life was completely controlled by him.'

The pair met when Sabrina went to her friend's house to drop something off, and Hardy was there.

'I said hello to Matthew and we left it at that. I didn't think any more of it.'

'But days later, he began messaging me on Facebook and accused me of having an affair with the family friend I had been to visit.

'I assured him he had got the wrong idea; the man was much older than me and married to my mum's friend. I thought it was a bit odd and left it at that.'

The pair met when Sabrina (pictured) went to her friend's house to drop something off, and Hardy was there - he then accused her of having affairs

But what followed was a barrage of messages, both from Hardy and from fake accounts of people Sabrina knew well.

In one message, she was accused of having an affair with an ex-boyfriend of her late mother.

In another, he suggested she was sleeping her best friend's husband and also with a close male friend.

She says: 'The messages were from accounts of people I was friendly with and at first there was lots of detail and they seemed genuine. Most of the time he would just make conversation before he started making really creepy suggestions.

'At first, I thought my friends were turning against me. It was really upsetting and confusing.'

A year later, Sabrina learned that Hardy had previously been convicted of harassment over social media and she became suspicious.

Sabrina, who teaches fitness and pole dancing classes, says: 'I went to the police, but I didn't feel they took me seriously.

'They suggested I try blocking him but of course he had so many fake accounts in different names, and I didn't know which were my genuine friends and which were him.

In February 2018, Sabrina gave birth to her daughter, Nancy (left and right) but the what should have been a joyous occasion was ruined by the now daily harassment from Hardy

'He was by this stage messaging my friends and work colleagues from a fake account he had set up in my name, so even if closed my social media down he was still able to stalk me.

'I had no idea what he was saying to people about me and it was very embarrassing.

'The level of information he was able to gather about me was frightening.

'He was very clever and manipulative and messaged students from my fitness class, and even the studio owner.

'He delved into my past to find people I'd lost touch with.

'He seemed to know everything about me.

What is catfishing and is it illegal? Catfishing is the phenomenon of luring someone into a relationship by creating a fictional online persona. The phrase gained popularity after the 2010 American documentary Catfish and subsequent TV show. At present catfishing is not illegal in the UK however elements of the online activity could be covered by different parts of the law. For example, someone who has duped another person out of money could be prosecuted for fraud - or in Sabrina's case harassment. Advertisement

'I became scared for my safety and for my children, I was constantly checking the street before we went out.

'I was on high alert all the time.

'I was so desperate that I even contacted Hardy directly, and his mother, to ask to be left alone.

'I asked him why he was stalking me, but he couldn't give me an answer.'

In February 2018, Sabrina gave birth to her daughter, Nancy, but the what should have been a joyous occasion was ruined by the now daily harassment from Hardy.

Her relationship broke down too under the strain.

She says: 'I suffer with endometriosis and the stress caused by Hardy made it so much worse. He was affecting my health mentally and physically.

'I contacted the police on several occasions and finally last year the case was taken up by PC Kevin Anderson rom Northwich Local Policing Unit who was absolutely wonderful.

'I was horrified to find out that Hardy had targeted many other women as well as me.'

Hardy appeared before Chester Crown Court last week in relation with the harassment against Sabrina and other women, and was jailed for nine years.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of stalking with intent to cause alarm or distress, two counts of stalking without intent to cause alarm and breaching a restraining order from 2013, which banned him from using false details on social networking sites.

He also admitted stalking a further four women, which was taken into consideration upon sentencing.

Following the sentencing, Police Constable Kevin Anderson from Northwich Local Policing Unit, said: 'Having led on this case for more than 18 months I have seen the emotional distress and turmoil that Hardy has inflicted on his victims - he did all of this while hiding behind his computer screen.

'The impact on those affected by his actions has been immense, causing some of them to change some of their daily habits, and live in constant fear that they were being watched.

'On other occasions, it caused them to lose trust in their friends and family members, and even led to the breakdown of long-term relationships.

'Thankfully, Hardy has now been held accountable for his actions, and his online activity has finally been brought to a stop.

'I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide some closure for his victims and enable then to rebuild and move forward with their lives.'
Royal fans have been given a glimpse of a young Duchess of Cambridge as she partied with her younger siblings James Middleton and Pippa Middleton.

To celebrate Kate mother's 67th birthday, the party paraphernalia business founded and run by Carole Middleton shared a throwback snap of the 'party planner extraordinaire'.

In the black-and-white photograph  which has been shared by Party Pieces before, and was reposted on the company's Instagram account today - seven-year-old Kate, now 40, dons a stripey hat at a jaunty angle while her party horn is fully stretched.

The image - which sees a beaming Carole standing front and centre - was shared alongside the caption: 'Happiest of Birthdays to the party planner extraordinaire! We hope you have the most magical day.'

Taken in 1989, two years after Party Pieces was started, the picture shows Kate was a natural in front of the camera even then.

To celebrate Kate mother's 67th birthday, the party paraphernalia business founded and run by Carole Middleton shared a throwback snap (pictured) of the 'party planner extraordinaire' today

The image - which sees a beaming Carole standing front and centre - was shared alongside the caption: 'Happiest of Birthdays to the party planner extraordinaire! We hope you have the most magical day.'

Kate cheekily aims her party horn at Mrs Middleton, then 34, along with her siblings Pippa and James, then five and two.

Wearing a belted dress, Mrs Middleton looks remarkably glamorous for an entrepreneurial mother of three young  and clearly lively  children.

Mrs Middleton started the firm in 1987, the year James was born, after she and husband Michael returned to Britain from Jordan, where they had worked for British Airways.

It grew quickly and in 1989 she began trading from a warehouse in Hungerford, Berkshire.

Within three years, it was so successful she took over dilapidated barns and sheds at Childs Court Farm in Yattendon, Berkshire, where the firm remains, employing 40 people and sending out 4,000 orders a week.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Mrs Middleton risks raising Royal eyebrows by using Marie Antoinettes Let them eat cake! cry to cash in on the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Kate, 40, left, and her family, right, at the Together at Christmas community carol service on December 8, 2021 in London

Party Pieces is selling 4.99 Best of British Cupcake Sets to celebrate the Monarchs 70-year reign, featuring the phrase on cake-toppers.

The party paraphernalia firms website does not mention the Queen directly, but does boast that each set would make a perfect addition for the Platinum Jubilee.

Its website says: Get ready for the Platinum Jubilee and celebrate all things British with our range of red, blue and white party supplies!

Our Great Britain party supplies are ideal for any patriotic occasion. From Union Jack bunting to balloons and tableware, our Great Britain party decorations will add the perfect touch.

But the firms inspiration for its decorations may ruffle Royal feathers, given the historical significance of the saying.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Mrs Middleton (pictured with her husband in 2019) risks raising Royal eyebrows by using Marie Antoinettes Let them eat cake! cry to cash in on the Queen s Platinum Jubilee

Party Pieces is selling 4.99 Best of British Cupcake Sets to celebrate the Monarchs 70-year reign, featuring the phrase on cake-toppers (pictured)

The luxury-loving French queen, who was executed by guillotine in 1793, is claimed to have had such little regard for her countrys starving masses that she said Let them eat cake! when told they had no bread.

The phrase has become shorthand for the attitudes of an out-of-touch elite, although historians say there is no evidence Marie Antoinette uttered the words.

While the current Party Pieces range may attract comment, the items on sale are unlikely to prompt the tacky jibes drawn by the trinkets sold for the Queens Diamond Jubilee ten years ago.

Then the firm offered state-carriage-shaped vases made out of cardboard, coat-of-arms cups with the words Long Live G & T and canape flags featuring crown-wearing corgis.

Royal biographer Margaret Holder told the Daily Mail: I dont think that the Queen will be annoyed about it. She has a sense of humour and the Queen is very fond of Kate.

Party Pieces, which celebrates its own jubilee  coral or jade  this year, marking 35 years in business, was approached for comment.
Divorce typically marks the end of cohesive family life and, with it, the sale of the family home. But an experimental approach growing in popularity in Britain seeks to put an end to both.

'Birdnesting' sees the divorcing couple maintain joint ownership of the family home and keep it as a base for their children.

While a traditional divorce arrangement requires the children to shuttle between their parents' homes, often leading to emotional upheaval, as well as practical issues like lost PE kits, in 'birdnesting', it is the parents who do the shuttling.

Each spouse spends time at the family home with their children and then leaves for a separate property, while the ex-spouse takes their place.

Supporters of birdnesting - so-called because bird parents take it in turns to look after their young in the nest - argue it creates greater stability for the children and can alleviate conflict between the divorcing couple, and the family as a whole.

However it also comes with significant emotional and financial drawbacks that many lawyers believe make it unrealistic as a long-term solution, although it might help with families transitioning to life after divorce.

'Birdnesting' sees the divorcing couple maintain joint ownership of the family home and keep it as a base for their children. Supporters argue it creates stability for the children of divorced parents. Stock image

Birdnesting has been popular in Sweden since the 1970s, The Economist notes, and is growing in popularity in other countries, including the UK.

Jennifer Curtis, a partner at Maguire Family Law, which has offices in Manchester, Cheshire and London, has noted a rise in the number of divorcing couples exploring birdnesting.

'It is certainly an option that more clients are considering, with a view to keeping things as amicable as possible and having the least effect on the children,' she said.

'This is something we most often see in the early stages of separation, where the parties still own the family home.'

Paul Linsell, partner and head of family law at Reading law firm Boyes Turner, said birdnesting remains a 'relatively new concept' but agreed it is 'gaining traction', with both couples and their lawyers.

He said: 'I anticipate we will continue to see growth in the use of the bird-nesting approach. especially as a short term measure when couples experience the initial physical separation.'

Is birdnesting right for YOU? Lawyers reveal the 6 questions you need to ask Are you able to communicate openly? Jennifer Curtis, of Maguire Family Law, said: As with many aspects of amicable separation, communication is key. It is important for the adults to be open and honest about their expectations. It is also important to communicate effectively with the children  it can be easy to assume that because they have one base, they will be less affected, but children still need the same reassurance about who will be picking them up from school, for example. Where will 'the nest' be? Ms Curtis said: 'Consideration needs to be given to the nest which is used  on the one hand a jointly owned property might help to achieve a balance between the parents in terms of responsibilities, but it does create the need for further dialogue. Who's doing the weekly shop? Sarah Thompson, family law partner at Keystone Law, said: 'The logistics need to be carefully worked out. Who pays for what, whats in the fridge/cupboards, who gets the weekly shop in, who does what regarding the routines for household chores? How will it impact the children? Ms Thompson said: The impact on the children also needs to be at the forefront of any decision made by separating parents  how will they feel about having their parents coming and going to the same property? How will it affect them in terms of processing and dealing with the separation of their parents? Mr Linsell added: The parents will have to consider the personalities of their children and whether it is right for them. Taking early advice on both the legal position and considering engaging a parenting expert to assess what is best for the children will likely be a sensible approach. Is it financially viable? Mr Linsell said: They will also have to consider the financial viability of such an approach given that they are likely to be financing three households to make such an approach work, rather than just two. What happens when things go wrong? Mr Linsell said: The couple will have to consider an exit strategy as there will come a time when the approach is no longer appropriate Advertisement

The primary benefit of birdnesting is the continuity it provides children, which is often lost in a traditional divorce.

Ms Curtis explained: 'It certainly has its benefits for the children in terms of stability and avoids common difficulties such as leaving PE equipment at the other parent's home and not feeling prepared for school.

'It also means that any last minute changes do not have to have a big impact on the children.

'For example, if one parent has to work late, the children will still be going back to the same home, regardless of who picks them up from school.'

This shared approach can save the family money.

'The children have all of their clothes, possessions and so forth around them,' Mr Linsell said.

'So the parents don't have to buy two of everything for the children to have in each of their homes or to shuttle key possessions back and forth.'

Sarah Thompson, family law partner at Keystone Law, noted it also saves on the emotional and financial cost of selling the family home.

Couples willing to try 'birdnesting' tend to be on friendlier terms than other divorcing couples, Ms Curtis noted.

Those who aren't on the best terms might better protect their children by 'nesting' instead of opting for an outright split.

Mr Linsell said: 'It is suggested that birdnesting shields the children from much of the fall-out of the relationship breakdown and is sometimes referred to as the parents carrying the burden of that, rather than the children.'

Samantha Jago, partner at DMH Stallard and family law expert, agreed: 'They are less likely to be exposed to parental conflict that often follows handovers on doorsteps.'

However the majority of lawyers agree birdnesting is so fraught with issues that it is typically only suitable as a short-term solution.

None interviewed for this article reported seeing an improvement in relations between the spouses as a result of birdnesting.

Charlotte Leyshon, director at Lux Family Law, in Cardiff, said she has not witnessed an uptick in birdnesting cases and was dubious it would grow in popularity.

In the cases she has come across, the approach has been unsuccessful and ultimately led to a more traditional split.

The uncertainty it creates can even have a more negative impact on children.

'Whilst the child can initially feel settled as their home routine stays the same, there is a shift in that one of their parents is suddenly not present,' she said.

Mr Linsell agreed, saying some children could find the arrangement confusing in the long-term.

He added: 'There are even some reports from abroad that cast doubt on whether the arrangement is in fact more stressful for the children involved, as it is them that have to manage the space and adapt rather than taking their cues from knowing they are in "Mum's house" or "Dad's house".'

Another major issue is the level of connection it maintains between the adults. Divorce is a time when spouses typically want to disentangle themselves, both emotionally and financially. Keeping a shared home does the opposite.

Ms Curtis explained: 'Emotionally they may need to feel a sense of "moving on" or "starting afresh" and if the nest used is the family home, this may be difficult for them to achieve.

'Consideration needs to be given to the nest which is used. On the one hand a jointly owned property might help to achieve a balance between the parents in terms of responsibilities, but it does create the need for further dialogue. Who is going to pay for the boiler to be serviced? Should the bathroom be redecorated?'

This ties into the level of trust birdnesting requires, at a time when the relationship is under enormous strain.

'They must respect each other's privacy and agree "house rules",' Ms Curtis continued. 'Neither parent wants to feel they are the one having to do all the cleaning or laundry.

Children of 'birdnesting' parents could ultimately end up more confused, lawyers claim. Stock image

'What happens to letters and parcels delivered to the 'nest'? Are both parents expected to use the same bedroom? What are the practical arrangements for household chores? There is a lot to discuss and agree on for the arrangements to work.'

Then there are the finances. Birdnesting couples must find somewhere else to live when they are not at the family home. This could be with friends or family, with a new partner, or in a separate property that has been bought or rented.

Some birdnesting parents save money by sharing the 'alternate' home, although this leads to even greater issues regarding ownership, privacy and use of space.

'It's logistically a difficult scenario to make work,' Ms Thompson said.

'You would need three properties, one for each parent and then the family home where the children are living. It's not a cheap option because that's three lots of outgoings to pay, unless the parents are living with family or friends when they're not in the family home.'

Jennifer Curtis, pictured, a partner at Maguire Family Law has noted a rise in the number of divorcing couples exploring birdnesting

The arrangement becomes even more difficult when a new partner enters the picture, as it requires them to buy into the idea of sharing a home, and even a bedroom, with an ex, even for a few days a week.

Instead couples should focus on building two separate spaces where their children can feel comfortable, claims Ms Leyson.

Those who have experienced controlling, coercive or abusive behaviour, for example, will need to cut all ties completely when they leave the relationship.

Despite this, birdnesting could still be a valuable method to employ as families navigate the choppy waters of divorce, argues Mr Linsell.

'Every family is different and there is no one-size fits all approach that is best. It is important for the individual family to explore all of the options available to them carefully and to make informed choices about what they consider to be best for them.

'For many, the financial reality is that bird nesting is unlikely to be a suitable long-term arrangement so if it is being considered then it is more likely to be a holding position while a longer term plan is formulated.

'There are also suggestions that children then transition more easily to having two separate homes in the future, having already started to adapt to the change in stages.'

Ms Thompson agrees: 'It is one of several options and will probably only suit a small number of families. I suspect it might be better suited for short to medium term arrangements rather than a long term solution.'

Ms Curtis added: 'This sort of arrangement is always going to be highly personal to the couple involved. Because of this personal nature, it is something which is most likely to grow as an option by word of mouth from parents who have found a way to successfully implement it in their household.

'There are a number of legal considerations to be born in mind, and legal advice is likely to be needed, but ultimately the success of the arrangement is likely to depend on what the parents are able to agree about the day to day matters of family life.'
Press Release

January 31, 2022 Manifestation of Senator Pia S. Cayetano

On the third reading approval of SB 2233: Foundling Recognition and Protection Act Background: the senators were discussing in plenary the ruling of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) in November 2015 on the disqualification case filed vs Sen Grace Poe "For the record, your honor, wala naman akong baong bisikleta sa trunk ng kotse ko. But we were both walking. Napalakad ako sa traffic, pero wala akong dalang bisikleta noon, although I would've biked if I had a bike." "What I'd just like to add, your honor, is that, it was truly an honor, and it is an honor for me, to be part of history, to be part of a landmark decision that honors and recognizes the rights of a child, particularly a foundling. It so happened to be in the face and person of a colleague and a good friend, Sen. Grace Poe. But it was my honor to make that difficult decision." 'And in the days and weeks and years to come, I hope that when we are faced with similar challenges, we are able to set aside politics and make the right decisions. So thank you also for that privilege, dear colleagues. I was in the SET, which was normally very boring, but that became one of the more exciting parts in our journey as a senator in the Senate. Thank you."


Tech giant urged to enhance in-company patent management, sign cross-licenses



By Baek Byung-yeul



Samsung Electronics has increasingly become a target for non-practicing entities (NPEs), also known as patent trolls, who file lawsuits against the tech giant, demanding royalties based on their patents for similar technologies, according to industry analysts, Wednesday.



Concerns have been growing that Korean companies are easy prey for these patent trolls, as seen in a recent case where Samsung was hit with a lawsuit from a former executive who had been in charge of intellectual property management of the company.



Korean companies will continue to be embroiled in such lawsuits as they are at the top of the world in terms of the number of intellectual property, the analysts said, adding that the more patents they hold, the more lawsuits against them will increase.



An NPE is a company or person holding patent rights. Instead of engaging in manufacturing or otherwise making use of their intellectual property, NPEs generate profits by patent trolling, or seeking licensing deals via negotiation.



According to data by the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency, Samsung was sued for patent infringements 403 times in the United States between 2017 and May 2021. During the same period, LG Electronics was involved in 199 cases, Hanwha and Hyundai Motor were each involved in 11 cases and SK hynix in seven cases.



The latest lawsuits Samsung is fighting are patent lawsuits filed by a company led by former Samsung Vice President Ahn Seung-ho. The executive is a U.S. patent attorney who worked for Samsung's patent law department from 2010 to 2019. After leaving the company, he established an NPE called Synergy IP and submitted 10 patent lawsuits in partnership with U.S.-based company Staton Techiya LLC.



Despite Samsung being embroiled in numerous lawsuits, this case was especially unusual, due to the direct involvement of its former executive, who had overseen the company's patent management. The patent technologies claimed by Ahn are related mainly to wireless audio technologies, applied to Samsung's smartphones, wireless earbuds and its Bixby artificial intelligence platform.



A Samsung Electronics official said, "The lawsuit was made known to the public by a court in the U.S. state of Texas. It is our principle not to discuss any legal disputes we are currently going through."



An IT industry official said that Korean tech companies  especially Samsung  that operate various businesses, such as semiconductors, smartphones, TVs and home appliances, have become easy targets for patent trolls, as these high-tech industries are intertwined with a large number of patented technologies.



"As Korean companies have secured a lot of patents, they are increasingly facing lawsuits. Moreover, Samsung is the main target of NPEs as it occupies the largest shares of many IT sectors, such as phones and chips," the official said.



To defend themselves from such lawsuits, companies here are increasing their defense capabilities by strengthening in-company patent management organizations and signing cross-licenses with global companies in various business areas.



Ryan Song, a law professor at Kyung Hee University, said that protecting patent-related rights is an important part of doing business in the West  such as in the U.S. and Europe. In this regard, Korean companies should increase their measures against patent infringement.



"Since Korea is technologically advanced and has a higher number of patent applications compared to other developed countries, many issues related to patents arise. I think the ability of Korean companies to combat infringement is not strong overall in the industry. In patent lawsuits, big law firms here lack techniques compared to overseas law firms  perhaps because they have not participated much in such areas yet," Song said.


The Prince of Wales has called on nations to sign up to an environmental deal for space after making a mess of this planet.

Prince Charles comments came as he learnt about the UKs leading role in helping to clear millions of pieces of space junk orbiting the planet, a new industry estimated to be worth billions.

He was speaking to engineers from the private firm Astroscale, which is pioneering new technology to capture defunct satellites with the aim of removing or repairing them.

The operation has been likened to AA breakdown cover for space.

Science Minister George Freeman joined the prince at the mission control of the companys operations, near Didcot in Oxfordshire, and announced the UK Space Agency was providing 1.7 million for 13 new projects to track and remove dangerous space debris.

Prince of Wales (right) is greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marjorie Glasgow, as he arrives for a visit to Astroscale

Prince Charles (pictured) appeared in good spirits today as he visited a space company in Oxfordshrie

The Prince of Wales (pictured), 73, donned a dapper grey suit and pink tie as he arrived at Japanese firm Astroscale Ltd in Didcot, to learn of the team's ground-breaking ELSA-d space mission

Sitting down with the minister and industry representatives, including Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, Charles told them: It just occurred while were making rather a mess of this planet, that it might be useful to have an environmental management agreement for space.

Mr Freeman said after the meeting: Astroscale is a world leading technology platform for reducing very, very damaging space debris and helping companies make sure that when their satellites die theyre removed and brought back down to earth.

Theres a huge commercial opportunity. As the sector evolves everyone will be required to have satellite maintenance and servicing contracts to show theyre not dumping rubbish in space, and I think the UK could be a world leader in setting the standards and therefore the insurance market.

Since the early days of space flight in the 1950s, debris has been building up around the planet and it is estimated that a shocking 330 million pieces - from obsolete satellites to spent rocket bodies and much smaller objects - are currently orbiting Earth.

They pose a threat to the increasing number of new satellites being launched each year which provide vital services, including communications and climate change monitoring.

Launched in March last year, the 200kg craft consisted of two components to perform a series of tests in space to trial the ability to retrieve junk with a magnetic mechanism. Pictured, Charles

The Prince of Wales speaks with George Freeman (centre), Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, during a visit to Astroscale Ltd in Didcot

Staff at Astroscales base told the future king that they were aiming to commercialise their services by 2024.

Harriet Brettle, Astroscales head of business analysis, told Charles: Were looking at providing services to satellite operators, if their satellites have failed on orbit, we can be the AA, the breakdown cover, they call us up and we can go and remove their satellite safely for them.

Were looking at capturing a big chunk of the multi-billion dollar in-orbit servicing market by 2030.

The company stressed that the fledgling industry needs an adequate policy framework from governments.
A woman who identifies as a wolf says that people often have 'misconceptions' about her her 'spiritual and psychological' life as a animal.

Naia Okami, 27, from Seattle, identifies as a British Columbian wolf and regards herself as an otherkin therian - a subculture who believe their soul is that of an animal, rather than a human.

In 2017, Naia came out as a transgender woman on social media and in November 2019, she revealed to her followers that she had legally changed her gender to female.

She insists that despite sometimes barking and howling like a wolf, she is aware she is physically human and maintains a 'serious job' while 'spiritually expressing herself' as an animal.

Appearing on This Morning today, Naia explained that by day she works as an online investigator for a non-profit but still occasionally 'wolfs out' in the woods to connect with her animal psyche.

Naia Okami, 27, from Seattle, identifies as a British Columbian wolf and regards herself as an otherkin therian- a subculture who believe their soul is that of an animal, rather than a human

Appearing on This Morning today, Naia explained that by day she works as an online investigator for a non-profit but still occasionally 'wolfs out' in the woods

'I don't physically believe I am a wolf,' she said. 'It's more a spiritual and psychological identification as a wolf, like I'm totally aware I'm human...but by the same token, spiritually I am a wolf.

'I think a lot of people have a misconception that I think I am physically a wolf and obviously I don't. I have a serious job, I pay my bills and taxes this is just how I spiritually express myself.'

Naia discovered she identified as an animal at a young age, revealing she began researching real-life wolves after constantly 'dream shifting' into the animal. She made her first public appearance as a wolf on US television in 2013.

Naia, pictured 'wolfing out' in the woods, discovered her identity through dreams, revealing she began researching real-life wolves after constantly 'dream shifting' into the animal

Naia explained that her identity as a wolf manifests itself in her day-to-day life by trying to connect her regular activities to her spirituality

'I am a British Columbian wolf,' she said. 'It started with dream shifting. That is when I had a dream of myself as a wolf and I could view myself in some of these dreams. I could see myself as an observer, in some of these dreams I was acting as a wolf

'I went from that to looking more about actual wolves, real life wolves. The more I looked, the more and more I began to identify in that way.'

Naia says that her identity as a wolf manifests itself in her day-to-day life by trying to connect her regular activities to her spirituality.

The segment understandably raised eyebrows among viewers who were baffled that anyone can 'identify' as a wolf

She explained: 'One of the things I do with a non-profit is investigate trafficking and child predators and I always make the joke that as a wolf I'm hunting my prey.

'When I'm in private or with my friends, sometimes I will wolf out in the woods.'

She says that while she won't act like a wolf in ordinary life, media appearances in the US have allowed her express herself more because people know her as the 'wolf girl'.

'When I was in high school, I was a lot more shamelessly expressive, she said. 'I would vocalise, I would howl, that is how I express myself, Nowadays It's a little different,' she explained.

'I can be a little more open publicly, but if I'm at work or in the grocery store I'm not going to bark or howl'.
A 6'1" transgender model has slammed the fashion industry's unhealthy body standards, revealing that she was once told she was 'too big' to walk the runway at Paris Fashion Week when she weighed just 123lbs.

Arisce Wanzer, 25, from Miami, Florida, blasted the beauty industry in a recent TikTok video, where she revealed that she was told she'd have to shed 10 pounds if she wanted to participate in Paris Fashion Week.

At the time, the model stood at over six feet tall and weighed just 123 pounds, but she was told she would have to drop down to 113 pounds if she wanted to participate in the coveted fashion event.

Arisce's admission has sparked outrage on the internet - with many people mortified over the pressure that models often face when it comes to their weight.

Speaking out: A transgender model revealed she was told she was too big to walk the runway at Paris Fashion week - despite weighing just 123 pounds

Arisce Wanzer, 25, blasted the beauty industry in a TikTok video, where she revealed that she was told she'd have to shed 10 pounds if she wanted to participate in Paris Fashion Week

At the time, the model stood over six feet tall and weighed only 123 pounds, but she was told she would have to drop down to 113 pounds if she wanted to participate in the fashion event

Arisce posted her video in response to a TikTok that another model, named Snezana Pisar, had posted, which said, 'POV: Your modeling agent says you're not skinny enough for Paris,' as she worked out in the gym.

Arisce posted her video in response to a TikTok that another model, named Snezana Pisar (pictured), had posted, which said, 'POV: Your modeling agent says you're not skinny enough for Paris'

'This is absolutely true information,' Arisce said in response. 'When modeling in New York, I was six-foot-one and 123 pounds and was told I'd have to lose 10 pounds to be considered for Paris Fashion Week.'

According to Banner Health, the average weight for a woman who is six-foot-one is 149 - 182 pounds and 166 - 202 pounds for a man.

Arisce has walked in Miami Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and Los Angeles Fashion Week over the years, and has appeared in magazines like Elle, Vogue, Vogue Italia, Forbes, and more.

The 25-year-old has also modeled for brands like TopShop and Opening Ceremony, and appeared in the Oxygen reality show Strut.

She began transitioning while attending the Art Institute of Miami at age 18.

Her clip has gained more than a million views in a matter of days, and it sparked a firestorm of responses from viewers who were not pleased.

Many took to the comment section to share their dismay, with some calling the modeling industry 'psychotic' and 'insane.'

'That's insane,' one person wrote. 'I was 120 pounds at five-foot-10 when I was all strung out. Everyone told me I looked like a skeleton and my doctor said I was underweight.'

Not OK: Arisce's admission has sparked outrage on the internet - with many people mortified over the pressure that models often face when it comes to their weight

Arisce has walked in Miami Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and Los Angeles Fashion Week over the years, and has appeared in magazines like Elle, Vogue, Vogue Italia, and Forbes

She began transitioning while attending the Art Institute of Miami at age 18

'My doctor was freaked out and told me I needed to gain weight when I was at 113 pounds at five-foot-seven,' another said. 'Jesus Christ.'

'Me thinking I'm too skinny at 120 pounds, five-foot-five,' a third comment read. 'That's literally psychotic.'

'Six-foot-one and 113 [pounds?' someone else asked. 'Even 123 [pounds] sounds like you'd need to be at a hospital. That's insane.'

A different TikTok user wrote: 'This is why I stopped buying from Victoria's Secret and Pink. I didn't see myself represented in their ads, nor did their clothes fit right.'

Firing back: Her clip has gained more than a million views in a matter of days, and it sparked a firestorm of responses from viewers who were not pleased

Many took to the comment section to share their dismay, with some calling the modeling industry 'psychotic' and 'insane'

Other models even got involved and opened up about similar experiences that they've had throughout their career

'Unreal,' another message said. 'I'm five-foot-five and my doctor said I'm too skinny at 115 pounds. One human's "dangerously skinny" is another human's career breaker.'

Other models even got involved and opened up about similar experiences that they've had throughout their career.

'I'm five-foot-10 and needed to be 108 [pounds] for Paris. I made it to Paris but also made it to organ failure,' one woman wrote.

Another added: 'I was six-foot and I weighed 125 and was told to lose 20 pounds.'

'Modeling in NYFW, I was five-foot-11 and was 130 pounds. I was only ever told I could do plus size,' someone else said.

'I'm five-foot-three and at 115 [pounds] I was told I was too fat,' a different user shared.
Queen Letizia of Spain put on a stylish display as she and King Felipe attended an exhibition opening during their first official visit to Austria.

The Spanish monarch, who spent a decade working as a TV reporter before marrying King Felipe in 2004, and her husband appeared in good spirits as they attended the opening of exhibition 'Dali -Freud' at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna today.

Looking typically polished, Letizia, 49, opted for a black-and-white checked dress for the occasion, which she paired with killer black heels and a matching clutch bag.

Putting safety first, Letizia donned a plain white face covering throughout the outing and teamed her chic look with a pair of glittering earrings.

Queen Letizia of Spain, 49, put on a stylish display as she and King Felipe attended an exhibition opening during their first official visit to Austria

The visit marks the first time Spanish monarchs have visited the Austrian capital since 2007, and it is the first official visit of King Felipe (pictured with President Alexander van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer)

According to the gallery's website, the exhibition will 'illustrate the obsession for the psychoanalytical in the work of the Surrealists'

Her brown tresses were bouncy and loose around her shoulders, while for her make-up look the mother-of-two opted for a subtle smokey eye, light eyeliner and touch of bronzer.

The visit marks the first time Spanish monarchs have visited the Austrian capital since 2007, and it is the first official visit of King Felipe.

The couple carried out the official opening of an exhibition on Dali and Freud in the Belvedere, which has been open to the public since Friday.

According to the gallery's website, the exhibition will 'illustrate the obsession for the psychoanalytical in the work of the Surrealists, particularly as it is present in Dali's surrealist pictorial world.'

Putting safety first, Letizia donned a plain white face covering throughout the outing and teamed her chic look with a pair of glittering earrings

Earlier today Queen Letizia and King Felipe took part in an opening ceremony as they arrived in the country's capital.

Looking typically polished, Letizia, 49, opted for a black-and-white checked dress for the occasion, which she paired with killer black heels and a matching clutch bag

Her brown tresses were bouncy and loose around her shoulders, while for her make-up look the mother-of-two opted for a subtle smokey eye, light eyeliner and touch of bronzer

The royal couple were greeted by the Austrian president, Alexander van der Bellen, and the First Lady Doris Schmidauer as they arrived at the Hofburg Palace.

They went on to attend a wreath laying in remembrance of the victims of National Socialism at the memorial against war and fascism.

It comes amid a busy period for the mother-of-two, who last week attended a journalism award ceremony in Madrid.

The Spanish monarch presented the Luis Carandell Awards for Parliamentary Journalism at the Senate Palace.

The royal couple took part in an official welcoming ceremony earlier today, where they were greeted by Austrian President, Alexander van der Bellen

The mother-of-two donned a somber black long-line coat with a matching scarf and bag as she arrived in Vienna today

King Felipe and Queen Letizia were welcomed by Austrian President Alexander and his wife Doris Schmidauer (pictured)

They went on to attend a wreath laying in remembrance of the victims of National Socialism at the memorial against war and fascism

The royal, whose father Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and stepmother Ana Togores are both journalists, met her husband while still a reporter and was famously asked to conduct an interview with him.

Letizia's media career was a lengthy one and began with a stint at Asturian daily paper, La Nueva Espana.

Next came a role at ABC, a popular national newspaper that enjoys the third largest circulation in Spain, before spells at EFE and Mexican publication Siglo 21, which is based in Guadelajara.

The mother-of-two opted to wear a white medical grade mask for the occasion at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna (pictured)

Queen Letizia could be seen leaning in to speak with the First Lady of Austria as they walked along a red carpet together today

It comes amid a busy period for the mother-of-two, who last week attended a journalism award ceremony in Madrid

Back in Spain a year later, she worked for the Spanish version of Bloomberg, a news channel and agency specialising in economics, before moving to CNN+.

By the time she met her husband-to-be, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where she anchored the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin.

Perhaps as a result of her reporting background, Letizia is one of the most enthusiastically pro-newspaper royals in Europe and regularly turns out for journalist charities and awards ceremonies.
Baby boys who watch TV for at least two hours a day are three times more likely to be diagnosed with autism, a study has found.

Japanese researchers compared the screen time levels of 84,000 one-year-olds against diagnoses rates aged three.

Autism rates were 3.5 times higher among boys exposed to screens for two to four hours, compared to boys who had no screen time.

And the risk of autism increased the more time the infants spent gazing at screens.

However, there was no similar link for girls.

Experts at the University of Yamanashi said their findings support limiting excessive screen time among infants.

Researchers at the Japan Environment and Childrens Study Group found boys who watched less than one hour of TV per day at one-year-old were 38 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with autism in the subsequent two years, compared to boys who did not watch any television. The risk increased to 2.16-times higher among one-year-old boys watching one to two hours per day, while it jumped to 3.48-times higher among those watching two to four hours each day. Baby boys exposed to screens for more than four hours per day were 3-times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than those who did not watch any TV

What is autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can cause a wide range of symptoms, which are often grouped into two main categories. Firstly, problems with social interaction and communication. This includes difficulty understanding and being aware of other people's emotions and feelings and/or problems taking part in, or starting, conversations. Patterns of thought are another key area, namely restricted and repetitive patterns of thought or physical movement, such as hand tapping or twisting, and becoming upset if these set routines are disrupted. It's estimated about 1 in every 100 people in the UK has ASD. More boys are diagnosed with it than girls. There is no cure for ASD, but a range of educational and behavioural support programmes can help people with the condition. Advertisement

Scientists do not know exactly what causes autism, but it is sometimes passed on to children from their parents.

And studies suggest it is more common in the children of older parents, as well as mothers who are overweight or suffer pregnancy complications.

Around one in 50 youngsters fall on the spectrum.

Affected children can find it hard to make eye contact, understand how others feel, or have a keen interest in certain topics. Autistic youngsters may also take longer to get their head around information, or repeat things.

Recent studies have spotted a link between the duration of screen time and autistic characteristics in youngsters, the team said.

And the Covid pandemic has triggered a 'rapid change' in lifestyle, increasing screen time among children worldwide.

Researchers quizzed the parents of the 84,000 babies on how long their child spent watching TV or DVDs at the age of one.

In a follow-up questionnaire, they asked parents whether their child was diagnosed with autism between two and three  when it is usually spotted.

Some 330 children (0.4 per cent) were diagnosed by their third birthday, with 251 of the cases among boys and 79 among girls.

The findings, published in journal JAMA Pediatrics, show that the proportion of boys with autism increased as screen time increased.

Compared to boys who did not watch any television, those who watched fewer than 60 minutes per day were 38 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with autism in the subsequent two years.

The odds were 2.16-times higher among boys who watched it for up to two hours per day.

Meanwhile, rates were 3.48-times higher in boys who spent up to four hours looking at screens each day.

But the same trend was not seen among girls.

The World Health Organization already says that children should not be exposed to screens during the first 12 months of their lives.

Despite the advice, the team said nine in 10 children included in the study had been exposed to screens by the time they were one.

The team said screen time could affect autism rates because electromagnetic waves emitted by screens have been shown to affect behaviour in mice.

And earlier studies suggested electronic devices stimulate molecules that have been linked with autism-like symptoms.

'In infancy when neurodevelopment is active, environmental factors such as electrical stimulation through screens and light stimulation from vision may affect neurodevelopment and de novo sequence alterations,' the researchers said.

The team said the absence of the link between screen time and autism rate among baby girls could be due to the high autism diagnosis rate among boys, which scientists have so far been unable to explain.
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Covid cases in the U.S. are continuing to fall, down to 510,871 per day as of Monday morning, but it could still be some time until America joins some of its European peers in dropping all Covid related restrictions and fully returning to a pre-pandemic 'normal.

Cases in the U.S. have dropped 28 percent over the past week, from 710,000 a week ago. Deaths, a metric that often lags a few weeks behind cases, are still rising, up 15 percent over the past week to 2,389 per day from 2,075.

The falling case levels in the U.S. have increased calls to end the remaining pandemic-related measures in the country. States like New York, that were struck hard by the variant early on, are now seeing cases dramatically decline - down more than 50 percent over the last week alone.

Dr Scott Gottlieb, former director of the Food and Drug Administration and current board member at Pfizer, said on CNBC's Squawk Box Monday that the stark drop in cases over the past few weeks is a sign it is time for the remaining Covid restrictions in the U.S. to be lifted.

'Society isn't going to tolerate these things in perpetuity. The mitigation we've adopted has to be used to deal with epidemic peaks, not be a constant way of life,' he said.

'We are going to have to be willing to withdraw these mitigations.'

A precedent has been set as well, with some of the countries that were struck hardest by the Omicron variant already laying out plans for post-pandemic life.

Earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the end of all pandemic related restrictions, including the end of mask mandates, some capacity restrictions, and work from home orders. Testing requirements for Britons to return to the nation will be dropped in the coming weeks as well. This comes after a miraculous turnaround for the nation that was struck early by the variant, and was struck so hard some officials feared the nation's hospital system would be overwhelmed.

The UK is averaging just under 90,000 Covid cases per day as of Monday morning, a far fall from the peak of over 180,000 cases earlier this month.

Denmark was among the hardest hit nations in the world by Omicron in December as well. Cases in the country are still steadily rising, up to 45,000 per day, they are clearly cresting and deaths have remained low for the Nordic country throughout the pandemic.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced last week that Covid was no longer a 'socially critical sickness' and that the country will end all pandemic-related restrictions on February 1.

With cases starting to recede in the U.S., especially along the east coast, many are hopeful America would follow as well. The CDC is still hesitant to declare America as past Covid, though.

'We know there is still much to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic. We are still seeing far too many new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,' a CDC spokesperson told CNN last week.

'As we look forward to the spring, it's important to continue practicing prevention measures that we know work - vaccinating, wearing a mask in public, indoor settings, staying home when you are sick, and washing your hands frequently.'

While cases are trending in the right direction in America, the 500,000 cases being averaged daily is still double the pre-Omicron record set in early 2021. The near 2,400 cases being averaged every day is also the most since last February, the tail-end of the nation's deadliest Covid surge.

Daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have starkly dropped off after peaking in early-January

According to CDC data, 99.75% of counties in the U.S. are considered to be of 'high' Covid transmission (red)

"Society isn't going to tolerate these things in perpetuity. The mitigation we've adopted has to be used to deal with epidemic peaks, not be a constant way of life," says @ScottGottliebMD. "We are going to have to be willing to withdraw these mitigations." pic.twitter.com/Ddyn16dRK6  Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) January 31, 2022

U.S. health officials are still weary, though the decentralized nature of the country makes it so different areas have vastly different restrictions. In New York City, for example, there is an indoor mask or vaccine mandate, while in places like Florida nearly all restrictions have been dropped all together.

UK drops pandemic measures as cases in the nation continue to fall Earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he would lift all pandemic related measures as the nation's Omicron surge was beyond its peak Work from home orders, face mask requirements and capacity restrictions in the nation have been dropped Final travel testing restrictions on Britons returning to the nation will also be lifted next month Cases in the U.K. peaked at over 180,000 per day in mid-January, before dramatically plummeting to around 80,00 a day after the Omicron-struck nation saw its surge burnout Advertisement

The CDC still deems 99.75 percent of U.S. counties - 3,214 out of 3,220 - as an area of 'high' transmission. Moving from high down to 'moderate' or 'low' transmission might be necessary for some local health officials to feel comfortable enough to lift mask mandates and the use of vaccine passports.

For some areas, specifically states along the east coast, that could be soon. Cases are dropping sharply in states that were hit the hardest and fastest during the early stages of the Omicron surge last month. New York, for example, became a global hotspot for the variant. The Empire state is now recording a 75 percent decline in daily cases over the past two weeks.

Just week over week, cases are down more than 50 percent, as the state approaches a post-Omicron Covid phase.

Other nearby states that were struck early by the variant, like neighboring New Jersey (72 percent decline in daily cases over the past two weeks), Maryland (73 percent) and Delaware (66 percent) are all seeing cases dramatically decline after a big jump last month.

States in New England have been among those hardest hit this winter as well, despite leading the nation in vaccination rate. Vermont leads the nation, having fully vaccinated 79 percent of its population as of Monday morning. The state experienced a large surge of cases in December when the vaccine-resistant Omicron variant first became entrenched in the country late last year.

Nearby Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts - all with vaccination rates upwards of 75 percent - also experienced large Covid surges last month. Rhode Island even had the worst infection rate in America for a large portion or early to mid-January.

Maskless California Dems including Gavin Newsom and Eric Garcetti break indoor mask mandate Californians were left seething after its top leaders - including Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed - were spotted maskless during an NFL game Sunday in defiance of state and local mandates. The smiling Democrats were seen posing barefaced for photographs with basketball legend Magic Johnson inside a box suite at the SoFi Stadium during yesterday's game that pitted the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers. State mask mandates require Californians to wear masks in all indoor public spaces and workplaces through February 15 regardless of vaccination status. In Los Angeles County, residents are expected to mask up in 'all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and public and private businesses'. Masks are also required at all outdoor mega events. It appears some of the photos were taken outside the boxed-in suite, but it wouldn't make much difference at the So-Fi stadium, where masks are required indoors and outdoors during events with more than 5,000 people. DailyMail.com reached out to Newsom, Garcetti, Breed and the stadium for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Magic Johnson and California Governor Gavin Newsom were among the high-profile figures spotted without masks during Sunday's NFL game in Los Angeles Advertisement

Each of these states are seeing cases decline by around 60 percent over the past two weeks now, though, as the highly infectious Omicron variant is starting to run out of steam.

The trend of declining cases has spread nationwide, though, with 41 states now recording declining cases over the past two weeks. Of the nine states that are still recording an increase of cases, none are along the east coast, and almost all are either plains states or in the Midwest.

Montana is recording the largest increase in cases over the past two weeks, with the lowly populated, less dense, state recording an 79 percent jump in cases over the past two weeks. Nearby states like Washington (55 percent increase), Idaho (46 percent), Wyoming (39 percent) and Minnesota (25 percent). Oklahoma has also recorded a 23 percent jump, along with Kentucky (32 percent) and Tennessee (11 percent).

Alaska, where cases are up 28 percent over the past two weeks, is the national leader in infection rate, as the variant has finally taken hold in the state 1,600 miles from the U.S. mainland. On average, 332 of every 100,000 residents are testing positive for the virus every day.

Washington is the only other state with an infection rate over 300 per every 100,000, up to 322 after cases began to trend upwards in recent days.

Deaths in the U.S. are still trending upwards, though, and a handful of states are still recording worrying Covid mortality figures. Nine states are recording more than one daily Covid death for every 100,000 residents.

Ohio is still the leader in Covid mortality rate, with 1.32 residents dying every day per every 100,000 residents. Other midwestern states like Indiana (1.17) and Illinois (1.12) are among the leaders as well. While Covid cases are declining across the east coast, deaths are lagging behind in some states. Connecticut (1.21), Pennsylvania (1.14), New Jersey (1.05) are among leaders in Covid mortality as well.

Across the pond, the UK is continuing to see its Covid situation better. Cases have dropped seven percent over the past week, from 95,787 last Monday to 89,176 new daily infections to start this week. Deaths and hospitalizations continued rising for a time after cases began to drop, but they have started to drop as well.

Daily deaths in the UK have fallen 3.8 percent over the past week, from 288 to 277 per day. The number of Covid hospitalizations have fallen as well, to 1,732 from 1,974, a 12.3 percent fall.

Cases are starting to drop all across the nation, and London, once a global Omicron hotspot, has largely returned to the same Covid situation from before variant's arrival.

The nation will soon receive nearly three million courses of Paxlovid, Pfizer's antiviral Covid pill that is one of the most valuable treatments for the virus available. The pill is highly effective at preventing hospitalization or death from the virus, though it has been in short supply across the world. The large purchase by the UK confirms that it will be available in the country, at least for the time being.
More than 100,000 Americans died from diabetes in 2021, the second straight year the country reached the grim milestone.

The data was released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week, and makes the condition the seventh leading cause of death for Americans.

In 2019, around 87,000 Americans died from the condition, showing a sharp increase during the two pandemic years. The CDC reports that data does not included diabetes patients whose deaths were ascribed to Covid.

As diabetes deaths increase in the U.S., the National Clinical Care Commission, a work group created by the U.S. Congress, is asking for the federal government to dedicate more resources towards treating and preventing the condition.

With around one-in-ten American adults suffering from diabetes, and one-third from prediabetes, diabetes treatment and prevention has emerged as a challenge for health officials.

The CDC reports that the United States recorded over 100,000 diabetes deaths in 2021, the second straight year that figure was eclipsed (file photo)

'The large number of diabetes deaths for a second year in a row is certainly a cause for alarm,' said Dr Paul Hsu, an epidemiologist at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health.

'Type 2 diabetes itself is relatively preventable, so it's even more tragic that so many deaths are occurring.'

In a new report, the commission said that the U.S. must adopt a more comprehensive approach to prevent more people from developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form, and to help people who are already diagnosed avoid life-threatening complications.

About 37 million Americans, or 11 percent of the population, have diabetes, and one in three Americans will develop the chronic disease in their lifetime if current trends persist, according to the commission.

The CDC also reports that around one-third of U.S. adults, or 96 million Americans, also have prediabetes - a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than recommended but not nearly at diabetic levels yet.

A report released earlier this month calls for far broader policy changes to stem the diabetes epidemic, such as promoting consumption of healthier foods, ensuring paid maternal leave from the workplace, levying taxes on sugary drinks and expanding access to affordable housing, among other areas.

'Diabetes in the U.S. cannot simply be viewed as a medical or health care problem, but also must be addressed as a societal problem that cuts across many sectors, including food, housing, commerce, transportation and the environment,' the commission wrote

The federal panel recommended Congress create an Office of National Diabetes Policy that would coordinate efforts across the government and oversee changes outside health policy.

It would be separate from the Department of Health and Human Services and could be similar to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, according to Dr William Herman, commission chairman and a professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Michigan.

'We arent going to cure the problem of diabetes in the United States with medical interventions,' Herman told Reuters.

'The idea is to pull something together across federal agencies, so they are systematically talking to one another.'

A congressional workgroup recommends that the federal government create the Office of National Diabetes Policy which will work specifically to solve this budding diabetes crisis (file photo)

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington who chairs the Senate health committee, helped create the commission in 2017 and said she is studying the recommendations closely.

'People with diabetes and other chronic illnesses were already facing challenges well before the pandemic hit, and Covid has only made these problems worse,' Murray said in a statement to Reuters.

'It is absolutely crucial to research and find solutions to better support diabetes patients and get them the care they need.'

The pandemic has proven especially deadly for people with diabetes. People with poorly controlled diabetes have at least a two-fold greater risk of death from COVID-19, according to a report.

The most common risk factor for diabetes is obesity, another condition that is becoming a massive problem in the U.S.

Data from the CDC shows that 42 percent of U.S. adults suffer from the condition where a person is so overweight they are at a serious health risk. The condition is especially a problem across the U.S. south.
Another vaccine may soon be added to America's arsenal in the fight against COVID-19, as Novavax announced it submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Covid vaccine.

The long awaited shot was expected to roll out in 2021 but faced repeated delays over the past year, which the company blames on supply issues.

Now, the company has finally prepared data to submit to regulators which shows its two-shot vaccine is 90 percent effective against the virus - though the data was collected before the discovery of the vaccine resistant Omicron variant late last year.

The jab has been lauded as the safest and most effective yet after initial trials, and it is a 'protein based' vaccine that introduces a person's immune system to inactive virus cells - similar to the flu shot and many other common vaccines - in order to mount a response.

Novavax has submitted data for its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine to the FDA in a bid to received FDA emergency use authorization to be used in the U.S. (file photo)

In clinical trials, the vaccine showed that it was 90% effective at preventing at preventing symptomatic Covid infection. Trials were performed before the emergence of the Omicron variant, though

'We're extremely proud of the work of our teams and we look forward to FDA's review of our [emergency use authorization] request,' Novavax CEO Stanley Erck said in a statement.

'We believe our vaccine offers a differentiated option built on a well-understood protein-based vaccine platform that can be an alternative to the portfolio of available vaccines to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.'

The company published Phase 3 trial findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Trials included 30,000 participants across the U.S. and Mexico, and a second 15,000 participant trial in the UK.

Both trials were conducted in late 2020 and early 2021, meaning they were before the rise of the Omicron variant. The company did not provide any information in the study or in the relevant statement about the jab's interaction with Omicron.

DailyMail.com reached out to Novavax for information about whether the shot is effective against the new strain and did not immediately receive a response.

The first trial in North America found that the vaccine had 90.4 percent effectiveness at preventing symptomatic Covid infection. The UK study found the jab had an effectiveness of 89.7 percent.

Effectiveness against Omicron may be key to whether the jab receives authorization, though, as the FDA has shown it is willing to pull approval from treatments that are effective against other strains but not this one.

Novavax notes that the most prevalent adverse reactions to the jab in trials was headaches, nausea or vomiting, myalgia, arthralgia, injection site tenderness/pain, fatigue, and malaise.

The Novavax vaccine has been highly anticipated due to its high efficacy, and more standard approach of vaccination.

Some that are fearful of the mRNA technology in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines may be willing to take.

'In the US, the primary market I think in 2022 is going to be to supply a vaccine, our normal two-dose regimen, to a lot of people who have been hesitant to get other vaccines,' Erck told CNN in November.

The vaccine can also be stored in temperatures as high as 45F, making it much easier to transport the jab - especially in developing nations.

The company faced production issues in recent months, causing the delays.

If the jab does receive FDA authorization, it will be the fourth to do so in the U.S., and the third two-shot jab.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and now the Moderna vaccine - which received approval Monday - are the only two shots that have received full approval from the FDA.

The company has also been working on a new flu shot that can be a part of the Covid vaccine regimen.
More than a million members of LV have been betrayed by the men running the mutual insurance company they own.

Yet Mark Hartigan, the chief executive, and Alan Cook, the chairman, remain in their lucrative jobs, despite being the architects of a disastrous attempt to ditch nearly 180 years of mutual history by selling out to a bunch of buyout barons.

LV's members scuppered the proposed deal with US private equity firm Bain in a vote in early December. Since then, savers and policyholders have been left in limbo.

Writing on the wall?: Alan Cook has said he will step down, but Mark Hartigan has made no such pledge

Immediately the Bain transaction was dead in the water, LV's fellow mutual insurer Royal London offered to enter exclusive talks over a mutual merger. We have as yet no detail but it would give LV customers the opportunity to keep their savings under the umbrella of mutuality.

Since then, there has been radio silence. This is unsettling. The longer LV's future remains unresolved, the greater the risk of drift, decline, and loss of momentum.

Many questions remain unanswered, including: Why are Cook and Hartigan still there? Cook has said he will step down, but there is no departure date. Hartigan has made no such pledge and incredibly, the LV board has not even ruled out paying him a bonus for last year.

It is unsatisfactory, to say the least, for members that the same duo who landed the company in this plight are still in charge. Nothing in their handling of the abortive sell-out gives much faith in their ability to resolve the mess they have created.

Indeed, they have every incentive to spin it out and carry on drawing their bulging pay packets. So too do the army of advisers who are hauling in hefty fees.

This cannot go on. The clueless twosome, Hartigan and Cook, have lost all credibility and should be replaced. Given their dismal performance on the Bain deal, it is unacceptable that LV members are forced to rely on the pair to negotiate a future path.

Independent directors on the LV board must draft in a heavyweight chairman and chief executive to act as champions for loyal members.

This is what has happened in previous debacles. At Equitable Life, the highly respected Vanni Treves was brought in as chief firefighter. Similarly, the late Lord Myners came in to the Co-op after its bank ran into trouble.

Candidates to chair LV could include Joe Garner, who is leaving as chief executive of Nationwide, where he has been a formidable champion of mutuality. Financial expert and campaigner Ros Altmann is another person of real stature.

Hartigan and Cook have shown themselves to be deeply inadequate stewards. The lack of information from inside their bunker since their plan was dismissed is in keeping with their behaviour throughout.

The deal with Bain would have involved a major shift in the ownership and culture of LV. Yet they failed to make a convincing case as to why members would benefit.

The pair claimed LV had no future as an independent  an about-turn on previous assertions that it had thriving prospects. Now they seem to have flip-flopped again and independence is again an option.

This is not just about LV but about mutuality itself. Now, more than ever, with the cost of living rising, savers and policyholders need mutuals in the name of consumer choice.
The boss of the US group buying Inmarsat has promised it is committed for the long haul and has no plans to sell off parts of the satellite company's business.

Launching a robust defence of the 5.4billion takeover, Viasat chief executive Rick Baldridge told the Daily Mail that his firm intends to create a slew of new UK jobs and invest more in Britain.

But critics said assurances must be 'cast iron' and legally binding after many disastrous UK buyouts.

Baldridge's comments come after Viasat was grilled by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng last week about potential undertakings.

The takeover is one in a line of controversial aerospace and defence deals in recent years.

There are fears Inmarsat could suffer the same fate as aerospace group Cobham, which was carved up 18 months after it was bought by US private equity firm Advent.

The Government has been so worried about the string of sell-offs it has brought in laws to protect firms in sensitive industries  including space  which include automatically screening deals.

Inmarsat is the largest provider of in-flight wi-fi for airlines and the top provider of internet connections for ships. It has 14 satellites in orbit and plans to launch another seven. Baldridge said: 'We've got a good history of making acquisitions an integral part of the company.'

He added that Viasat could sell some of Inmarsat's US operations if they do not fit into the future, but added that the company has been around for 35 years and not sold anything to date.

Viasat invested 300m in a cyber centre in Aldershot, Hampshire, last year, and does other work in the UK.

He added: 'We've already been making hundreds of millions of dollars in commitment here.

'So, you don't have to believe me and say, 'What are you going to do with this? Is this going to be the latest promise?' Look at what we've done.' But aerospace analyst Francis Tusa said any promises would need to be cast-iron, multi-year legal commitments to ensure that Inmarsat avoids Cobham's fate.

Tusa said: 'Assurances are not enough on their own. They need to check Viasat's not crossing its fingers behind its back  with too many takeovers we've seen promises that were comical.'

Inmarsat was taken private in 2019 for 4.7billion by private equity groups including Warburg Pincus, but was put up for sale last year.

Most of its 2,000-strong workforce is based in the UK.
This graphic illustration provided by Toyota Motor shows a vehicle called "Lunar Cruiser" built to explore the lunar surface. Toyota is working with Japan's space agency on the Lunar Cruiser to explore the moon, with ambitions to help people live there by 2040 and then go live on Mars, company officials said. AP-Yonhap





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 SUV. Its launch is set for the late 2020's.







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.







''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.







This photo provided by Toyota Motor shows a robotic arm developed for a vehicle called "Lunar Cruiser" to explore the lunar surface. AP-Yonhap





Gitai Japan, 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 arm's end to be changed so it can work with 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. That's 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, are set to open later this year.







Japanese fascination with the moon has been growing.







A private Japanese venture called ispace 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 Musk's Starship.







Toyota engineer Shinichiro Noda said he is excited about the lunar project, an extension of the automaker's 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.'' (AP)


The FTSE 100 has ended the day virtually flat at 7,464.4, but for the month, the bluechip index gained 1.4 per cent.

The more UK-focused FTSE 250 had a better day but a worse month - the midcap index closed up 1.3 per cent at 21,926.62 today, yet it fell by 6.6 per cent in January.

Ryanair saw losses of 96million (80million) in the final three months of 2021, with the budget airline warning it would continue to need to discount fares in the coming months amid a 'hugely uncertain outlook'.

The Irish low-cost airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, reiterated its forecast loss for its full financial year ending 31 March at 250million-450million.

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A row is brewing in the City over how companies should act in their response to climate change.

Investors, businesses and finance experts are becoming embroiled in a debate over whether firms should be more principled  even when it affects their financial performance.

Activists argue that firms are making empty environmental gestures, while on the other hand critics say firms shouldn't try to be 'woke' and should focus on profits and let the markets decide. One thing both sides are agreed on is that many companies are involved in so-called greenwashing to try to look good.

Tensions in the City surfaced last month when stock-picker Terry Smith blasted Unilever for having 'lost the plot' as it 'obsessed' over its sustainability credentials

Tensions in the City surfaced last month when stock-picker Terry Smith blasted Unilever for having 'lost the plot' as it 'obsessed' over its sustainability credentials, including talking about the 'purpose' of its Hellmann's mayonnaise.

His comments ignited a riposte from proponents of so-called ESG investing, which pushes for companies to focus on environmental, social and governance criteria.

Now experts at the Climate Accounting Project have accused businesses from oil firms to engineers of participating in 'an environmental Ponzi scheme' as they present overly optimistic forecasts to investors in their accounts.

David Pitt-Watson, a former board director of KPMG and adviser to Aviva Investors who is a member of the Project, said companies must get better at reporting the risks of climate change in their accounts, or risk running out of money and causing huge losses for shareholders when they eventually need to make crucial investments.

He said there were a 'vast number of companies that make grand statements and then ignore climate in their financial statements'.

He pointed to oil companies that are failing to take into account they may have to close down refineries, as demand for their products wanes over the coming years.

Closing down a refinery, cleaning it up and laying off the staff can cost millions  but few companies have provisioned for these enormous hits.

Airline Air France KLM was another example, Pitt-Watson added. Analysis by the Climate Accounting Project said: 'It is not apparent that any substantive consideration of climate has been built into the bulk of the numbers.'

Pitt-Watson said: 'If you turn a blind eye to climate risk, then you encourage what some have described as 'an environmental Ponzi scheme'  where profits are declared, and often bonuses paid, as though we will never have to face up to the climate challenge.

'We will not have a sustainable world unless we invest in a way which is consistent with sustainability. We must not value oil wells as though they will still be pumping oil in the same old way in 2050 and beyond.'

He added that auditors, who check companies' financial statements to make sure nothing is awry, must also play their part in ensuring climate chance is properly accounted for.

Pitt-Watson said: 'The auditors have all declared their commitment to net zero. The problem is, so far, and despite what standard-setters have asked them to do, they have not delivered. We must hope for better when accounts start to be published in 2022.'

Fashion 'greenwash' under the spotlight Setting the trend: An Asos model Retailers are being put under the microscope by the competition watchdog as part of its investigation into so-called 'greenwashing'. H&M, Asos, Reebok and Zara are all being scrutinised by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Mail understands. The watchdog is examining the retailers' claims on 'eco-friendly' and 'sustainable' ranges, to check whether consumers are being misled into buying clothes which they think are better for the planet but which in fact are little different to usual 'fast fashion' lines. A source said the watchdog 'is looking at all the big names, trying to gauge how transparent they're being with their 'green' claims'. The CMA said it was 'concerned about people being misled by environmental claims'. A spokesman said: 'Where we identify businesses which we think are 'greenwashing', we will take appropriate action.'

'Market forces will reward those who make changes'

But while the Climate Accounting Project is pushing for more regulation of companies' statements, others have argued against ramping up the burden on businesses.

Matthew Lesh, head of public policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said investors must make up their own minds on how prepared a company is for climate change.

He said: 'Companies have a legal duty to be open and honest in their accounts and must report well-understood risks.

'Nevertheless, as the pandemic has shown, there are a practically infinite known and unknown threats. We live in a world full of uncertainty that makes precise predictions about the future foolish.

'The risk presented by climate change to most businesses is largely regulatory  with governments pursuing nit-picky and costly interventions.

'Government policy, along with future demand, commodity prices and changing technologies, and the million other influences on a business' future, cannot be predicted with any certainty.'

Daniel Pryor, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, said that 'market forces will reward those who make changes and punish those who don't' when it came to considering climate change.

He added: 'If we want to tackle climate change, we should free businesses of burdensome 'green tape' and replace it with a simple, effective carbon tax.'
The teacher at the center of a controversy about a secretive LGBTQ club at a California middle school is the mother of a transgender son, DailyMail.com can disclose.

Lori Caldeira's daughter Carolann transitioned to become Jake while he was a teen and has been living as a man ever since. He is now 22.

Caldeira was suspended from her job teaching English at Buena Vista Middle School in Spreckels after she and fellow educator Kelly Baraki, 39, were recorded discussing how they stalked students online to find new recruits for their You Be You club and encouraged them to keep discussions hidden from their parents.

Then in December, mom Jessica Konen accused the pair of encouraging her daughter to think she was a trans boy when she was at the school in 2019  only for the child to return to her female persona while learning remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The You Be You club has since been shut down by the 360-student school while both Caldeira and Baraki have been suspended pending an investigation. 'The staff involved have been placed on administrative leave,' the school district said in a statement.

Lori Caldeira was suspended from her post at Buena Vista Middle School in Spreckels, California after she and fellow educator Kelly Baraki were recorded discussing how they stalked students online

Jake Caldeira-Perry (pictured center with his brothers) was born Carolann but transgendered. He is now 22

Teacher Kelly Baraki, 39, slammed the door of her home in Salinas, California, when DailyMail.com approached her and asked her to give her version of events

Both of Jake's parents supported his decision to change gender in 2017 when he was still a teenager

Konen has now launched a legal claim against the school and the two seventh-grade teachers  claiming they kept her daughters phony trans identity secret from her and hid that she had been having suicidal thoughts. The girl is now attending high school in another district.

In her court papers, Koren says her daughter, identified by her initials, A.G., found distance learning difficult 'but there was a silver lining  because A.G. was at home throughout the school day, she was no longer in the clutches of Ms Caldiera (sic) and Ms Baraki. Freed from their influence A.G. began to return to her old self.'

Now DailyMail.com can reveal Caldeiras enthusiasm for championing the LGBTQ community stems in part from her own experiences, with son Jake legally changing his gender from female in 2017.

Jake was supported in his decision to become legally male by both parents: Caldeira and her soldier ex-husband James Perry, 52, who now lives in Kansas and has remarried.

The 22-year-old  who was born Carolann - has gone on to become a sign language expert who appears to have inherited his mothers social conscience.

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show Jake volunteering alongside her at a community event promoting civic engagement in May 2019, while his social media pages show repeated likes in support of campaigning disability charity, the Association for the Deaf.

He also volunteers with the local YMCA while other photos show him taking part in a panel discussion titled The Power of Democracy in 2019.

The two teachers have been suspended from their jobs at Buena Vista Middle School

Jakes Linkedin profile shows he graduated with a qualification in American Sign Language from Sacramento City College last year and is trained in wilderness first aid.

His older brother Thomas, 25, also appears to have an interest in social issues and was photographed speaking out to defend their mother at the same school board meeting where Konen made her accusations in December last year.

Asked if Lori and Jake would consider sharing their experiences, Loris fiance of four years, Patrick Dermody, 66, angrily DailyMail.com: You dont even know her. She cant talk because of the lawsuit and this is not a story anyway.

Jake and his brothers have not returned requests for comment.

Lori, who is suspended pending an investigation into the You Be You club, has remained silent since news of Konens suit broke  as has co-defendant Baraki.

Caldeira made her comments about stalking students at the California Teachers Associations annual LGBTQ+ Issues Conference in October. She has since said they should not have been taken literally.

Baraki, who is married to a tech assistant at Buena Vista Middle School, was photographed by DailyMail.com while running errands but slammed the door of her home when approached and asked to give her version of events.

According to the parent of a former Buena Vista Middle School pupil, Caldeiras enthusiastic championing of LGBTQ rights dates back to at least 2015 when she was the subject of multiple complaints and asked to tone down discussion of the topic.

Mom Cheryl Duffar, 54, said she complained to the school repeatedly and was told Caldeira would tone down her discussions  only for them to continue.

She said: There was a lot of talk - Mrs. Caldeira did not hide her agenda whatsoever. She wore a lot of clothes with the LGBTQ stuff, she had the flags in her classroom, she had slogans in her classroom. There was just a lot of talk in the classroom about that.

I, as a parent, dont believe the classroom is the place to discuss that. Its the same thing as my religious beliefs being talked about in the classroom in public school system. Teach them history.

Duffar also told of an incident where Caldeira hosted a lunchtime assembly during which the children were expected to draw rainbows and stand under a rainbow arch to declare their support for the LGBTQ community.

She said: My son called me and said, Mom, theyre asking me to draw rainbows in the inner court and they want us to walk under the arch and announce our support for our friends that are gay.

Mom Cheryl Duffar told DailyMail.com that Caldeira (pictured) would not tone down her pro-LGBTQ stance despite being ordered to

Jessica Konen, left, with her attorney, CEO of the conservative Center for American Liberty, Harmeet Dhillon, filed a legal claim against Spreckels Union School District alleging that two teachers 'planted a seed' in her 11-year-old daughter's head that she was bisexual, then tried to convince her that she was a transgender boy

Thomas Perry, son of teacher Lori Caldeira, speaks in support of his mother during public comment at the Spreckels Union School District board meeting in December

Parent Jessica Konen speaks out against the two teachers during public comment at the school board meeting. Konen has filed a legal case against the school district

I said, you know what honey, Im uncomfortable with you doing that and Im picking you up. I went down to the school and said my son is not part of the [You Be You] club, we are not participating in that and Im taking him home.

There were probably five or six parents that did the same thing.

Duffar, who asked not to be pictured for fear of a backlash, said she has no objection to gay or trans people but resents teachers being allowed to choose what to teach kids without telling their parents.

She and a group of other parents have also joined a community group called Protect Our Kids 831 which plans to flyer future school board meetings over the issue.

Duffar said she does not want Baraki and Caldeira reinstated and is troubled over Konens allegations that they asked her daughter to lie to her.

She said: Thats the most troubling part of the whole thing to me. School clubs happen whether I agree with them or not and if a parent has chosen to put their child in the club, thats their right as a parent.

Caldeira said her 'stalking' comments at the 2021 LGBTQ+ Issues Conference, Beyond the Binary: Identity & Imagining Possibilities, in Palm Springs in late October were not to be taken literally, after her contentious remarks were recorded

Jessica Konen's case against the teachers and the school district seeks unspecified damages, claiming infliction of emotional distress, negligence and conspiracy

Im not parenting other peoples kids, I cant tell them what to do. The part about having it at lunch, not being forthcoming about who was there  like they said we dont keep attendance. To have a teacher whos with them six, seven hours a day telling them not to tell their parents  thats troubling.

If parents enroll their kids for the club and theyre OK with the things being talked about, I think thats their right. But having a child hide things from their own parents? Its not right.

Spreckels is a town of fewer than 700 people located 110 miles south of San Francisco. Buena Vista Middle School says its mission is to provide 'all students an innovative education in a traditional, small-town environment.'

Audio of her speech was leaked to author Abigail Shrier, who wrote the book Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters.

Shrier posted an article How Activist Teachers Recruit Kids quoting Caldeira as saying: 'Because we are not officialwe have no club rosters, we keep no records,

'In fact, sometimes we dont really want to keep records because if parents get upset that their kids are coming? Were like, "Yeah, I dont know. Maybe they came?" You know, we would never want a kid to get in trouble for attending if their parents are upset.'

Shrier said Caldeira and Baraki led a workshop at the conference entitled 'How We Run a GSA [Gay-Straight Alliance] in Conservative Communities.'

She wrote that Caldeira said they checked students' Google records to see if any showed interest in LGBTQ issues 'We totally stalked what they were doing,' she quoted Caldeira as saying.

The Spreckels School Board has since released a statement saying they do not support the teaching of political agendas or opinion.

The statement, which was released after the recording of Caldeira and Barakis presentation was made public in late November, read:

SUSD staff, administration and our Board of Education are committed to supporting safe, inclusive and equitable learning environments that support all students without including, sharing or promoting any political opinion or agenda.
Families face a holiday nightmare after staff at Heathrow Airport threatened to strike during next months school half-term.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that hundreds of refuelling and baggage handlers have voted to walk out for three days from Friday, February 11, in a dispute over pay.

The decision is a blow to families who have raced to book last-minute holidays abroad after two years of Covid misery. It comes as new EU rules, based on passengers vaccination or recovery status rather than their country of origin, are set to come into effect  making it easier for Britons to travel.

Menzies Aviation is among the firms responsible for refuelling British Airways aircraft at Heathrow

Staff employed by Menzies Aviation at Heathrow Airport are threatening to go on strike for more money

Menzies workers also provide baggage handling services for major carriers including American Airlines, Lufthansa, Icelandair, Qantas and Aer Lingus

The Heathrow workers are employed by Menzies Aviation, which is among the firms responsible for refuelling British Airways aircraft at Heathrow. It also provides baggage handling services for several major carriers including American Airlines, Lufthansa, Icelandair, Qantas and Aer Lingus.

Menzies is likely to struggle to find replacement staff to fill the gap because of extensive security vetting process for airport employees to combat terrorism. There may also be higher than normal absences due to employees catching Covid or having to self-isolate.

The MoS first revealed the strike threat earlier this month. More than half the 400 staff belonging to the hard-Left Unite union voted in favour.

Sources said long-haul flights were more likely to be affected because incoming aircraft would need to be fully refuelled before returning to the skies.

Unite wants retrospective pay rises for 2020 and 2021. It argues that rivals, including Swissport and Cobalt, agreed similar pay deals with their workers.

The union has previously accused Menzies of firing and rehiring 810 workers during the pandemic  laying off employees and hiring them again on worse terms.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Menzies cynically used the cover of the pandemic to fire and rehire its workers to boost long-term profits and it is now refusing to even consider a pay rise.

Unite wants retrospective pay rises for 2020 and 2021. It argues that rivals, including Swissport and Cobalt, agreed similar pay deals with their workers

Given the appalling treatment Menzies workers have received from their employer, it is little surprise that they felt they had no option but to take strike action.

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: The strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption and delays throughout Heathrow, but it is taken as a last resort and is entirely of Menziess own making.

Last night, Oli Dannatt, boss of online travel firm Ski Yodl and Sir Richard Bransons former ski instructor, said: These strikes could be another nightmare for families who have had to deal with so many changing travel restrictions in recent months.

Menzies said only a relatively small proportion of its Heathrow workers had decided to strike. It employs more than 1,200 staff at the airport. More than 200 of the 400 Unite members in Menziess workforce opted to strike, but it is unclear how many will decide to walk out next month.

Last night, a Menzies spokesman said it was very disappointed at the vote but insisted that it was confident that we will continue to provide the required services.

A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said: We are aware of an industrial action ballot for Menzies employees who support airlines operating out of Heathrow.

It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the ongoing discussions they are having with their employer.

As always, we remain in constant dialogue with all partners who operate at Heathrow and will continue to do everything we can to ensure that passengers can enjoy a safe and reliable journey.
Thirteen people who were making a trip to a church were killed when their van overturned and flipped into a ditch on a highway in western Mexico on Saturday.

Jalisco state civil protection ministry said that 10 other passengers were injured.

Seven of the victims who died were initially trapped inside the vehicle, which was found lying on its side.

The Catholic pilgrims were all identified as residents of Toluca, the capital city of the State of Mexico.

A trip to a church in the western Mexico state of Jalisco ended in tragedy Saturday when the group's passenger van overturned and flipped on a highway in Lagos de Moreno. At least 13 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others were injured

Rescue workers search the passenger van that crashed in Jalisco, Mexico, on Saturday. The tragic accident killed 13 Catholic pilgrims and injured 10 others

The group departed around 8 p.m. local time Friday for the 267 mile, five-hour drive to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Saint John of the Lakes.

The accident occurred near the city of Lagos de Moreno, on a highway that links the central states of Guanajuato and Jalisco, during a season in which Catholic pilgrims often visit a shrine in the nearby town of San Juan de los Lagos.

Local media outlet sources said the driver fell asleep behind the wheel before he lost control of the van and crashed.

Local media outlets reported that the driver lost control of the van moments before it overturned and flipped on a highway that connects that states of Guanajuato and Jalisco

Twelve of the 13 passengers were declared dead at the scene of the crash. The other victim was rushed to a local medical facility where they died while receiving medical attention

Photos released by the Jalisco state civil protection ministry show a large black van toppled onto its side in a deep rut along the highway, with what appears to be a shattered windshield.

The agency said 12 people lost their lives at the scene of the accident, including two children, and another person later died in hospital.

The Jalisco state government postponed the patron saint festivities at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos.

The church, whose construction began in 1732 and which was recognized as a basilica in 1972, will be closed to the public from Monday to Wednesday this week.
The FBI reportedly spent two years considering whether it should buy a spyware tool that would allow it to hack into any phone in the United States.

US government agencies were contacted by the NSO Group, an Israeli cyberweapons firm, multiple times between 2019 and last summer, according to the New York Times Magazine.

The firm, which has been accused of aiding human rights abuses in nations across the globe, demonstrated a new system, called 'Phantom,' during a presentation to officials in Washington, that could hack into any phone nationwide.

While the country's top law enforcement agency ultimately did not purchase or procure the spyware software, an FBI spokesperson told the Times that investment in such technologies not only helps to 'combat crime' but also, apparently, can 'protect both the American people and our civil liberties.'

Several reasons have been offered as to why the FBI decided against procuring the device-hacking tool, chief among them a series of lawsuits and controversies that persisted against the software distribution firm at the time of negotiations.

The website of Israeli company NSO Group which features Pegasus spyware, pictured in Helsinki, Finland on January 28

A view of the Israeli cyber company NSO Group branch in the Arava Desert on November 11, 2021 in Sapir, Israel

The NSO Group was being sued by Facebook/Meta over the repeated hacking of users of its messaging service WhatsApp.

That lawsuit - launched in 2019 - claims that the spyware vendor's malware was used to hack as many as 1,400 different users.

While the majority of these users were based outside of the US, at least one targeted phone was American, according to the lawsuit.

The technology presents a necessary solution for a long-standing frustration to law enforcement, namely the popularization of encrypted messaging, which oftentimes stymies government oversight of communications.

Meanwhile, other US agencies were also potentially interested in the software, including the CIA, the Secret Service, the DEA, and the US militarys Africa Command, the newspaper reports.

The cellphone of Lama Fakih, pictured, who oversees the US-based group's response for countries ranging from Syria and Israel, was targeted five times last year

Jarmo Sareva, pictured, Finland's Ambassador for Cyber Security, would not disclose the data harvested by the spyware

Ongoing revelations of misconduct within the firm have continued to be levied against them in recent weeks.

The software can seamlessly infiltrate a cell phone while allowing the operators to gain access to the device's contents, including text messages and location history.

Similarly-produced NSO software, known as Pegasus and can hack anyone's phone outside the US, has been the center of bad press as recently as last week.

That technology was reportedly bought by the US government.

Several people around the world have complained that they have been targeted by Pegasus, including the members of the Finnish Foreign Ministry.

Jarmo Sareva, Finland's Ambassador for Cyber Security, would not disclose the data harvested, but said under government protocols information transmitted by phone must be public or classified at the lowest level.

A regional director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) who investigated Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza and the Beirut port explosion also complained that she had her phones hacked.

The cellphones of Lama Fakih, who is based in Lebanon and oversees the US-based group's response for countries ranging from Syria and Israel to Myanmar and Ethiopia, was targeted five times last year, HRW said.
Two lions attacked and killed their keeper as he placed meat through their feeding window at a zoo in Iran.

The 40-year-old man, who was identified only by his family name Esfandani, had been feeding a lioness her lunch when she and another lion managed to open their cage and attack him.

Both animals then prowled around the zoo in the city of Arak, which lies south west of the capital Tehran, before being captured by police and guards, local media reported.

The two lions (pictured) managed to open their cage at the zoo in the central city of Arak, which lies south west of the capital Tehran

An employee at the zoo told state broadcaster IRIB: 'The lioness, which has been in the zoo for several years, managed to open a door of the cage, get out and then attack the 40-year-old guard who had just brought food to the pair of felines.'

He said 'the two animals managed to escape' on Sunday from their cage in the zoo.

Amid Hadi, the governor of the province said: 'Immediately after the incident, security forces took control of the zoo.'

He added that 'efforts to capture the two animals alive have been successful'.

The tragic incident is now being investigated by the authorities.

The incident comes just weeks after an escaped tiger bit off a zoo keeper's hand and attacked two others at a safari park near Tokyo.

The 10-year-old male Bengal was found roaming the Nasu Safari Park, based in the Tochigi prefecture, when staff were preparing to open.

The incident comes after an escaped tiger attacked a zoo keeper and two others at a safari park near Tokyo. (Stock image)

The animal, who measured around 6ft 6in in length, had not been properly fenced inside his enclosure the night before, Kyodo news agency reported.

When three members of staff returned the next morning, they were attacked by the creature in a corridor leading to an exhibition area.

One female worker, in her 20s, lost her hand and was taken to hospital by helicopter.

A second woman received several bites to her body while a male worker sustained injuries to the back of his head.
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An Ohio home featuring a stunning replica of the presidential Oval Office has gone on sale for $1.85 million.

The Kirtland Hills home's own replica office includes portraits, flags and furniture that are nearly identical to the original at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC.

The replica Oval Office boasts two beige couches, a coffee table covered in books, a light beige circular carpet with hardwood rings surrounding it, a hardwood desk, the presidential seal embroidered into the carpet, and maroon curtains.

Meanwhile, the original room in DC has a blue circular carpet with the presidential seal on it and cream curtains affixed to off-white walls.

 Slide me  Pictured: the replica Oval Office located in an Ohio home that was recently put up for sale, and the original Oval Office, located in Washington DC

The replica Oval Office, pictured above, showing the presidential seal embroidered onto the carpet and a hardwood desk in front of maroon curtains

The replica Oval Office is located in the attic of the Ohio home, the exterior of which is pictured above

An off-white piano and metal giraffe statue can be seen inside one of the first floor rooms

The 9,648 square foot home also has a pool table inside a game room, pictured

Pictured: another angle of the home's white piano and giraffe statues underneath a winding staircase leading to the second floor

The replica Oval Office was built in the attic of the home, located in the Cleveland suburbs. The couple reportedly spent years working on the project after retiring.

The home also features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, an in-ground pool, a game room and an elevator, according to the Zillow listing.

Jennifer Black, a realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate overseeing the sale, said the couple had visited other replicas of the Oval Office.

The exterior of the home, pictured above, located in Kirtland Hills, Ohio

The property boasts a long and winding driveway, with a wall of trees and greenery to provide privacy from the nearby street

Pictured: the back of the home taken from the property's backyard

The backyard of the home boasts an in-ground pool, pictured

The in-ground pool as seen in the rear of the Ohio home

The kitchen of the home, with maroon paint covering the walls and exposed brick elsewhere in the room

Pictured: another angle of the actual Oval Office, located in the White House in Washington DC

Before building their own, the couple took elements from several different presidents and their Oval Office arrangements into consideration for the room's design.

The 9,648-square-foot home also has a white piano and pool table, giraffe statues, a massive bathroom off the master bedroom with his-and-hers sinks and a walk-up hot tub.

Another of the six bedrooms features a bathtub in the bedroom - with each bedroom including its own private bathroom - while the home itself is hidden by a wall of trees and a long, winding driveway that obscures the property from the nearby street.

The massive bathroom located off of the home's master bedroom, featuring his-and-hers sinks and a walk-up hot tub

Pictured: a living room located inside the home's first floor

Storage space inside the Ohio home, which is now being sold for $1.85 million

One of six bedrooms in the massive, sprawling home, with this one featuring a bathtub in the middle of the bedroom

Another bedroom - of which there are six total and eight bathrooms - inside the Ohio home

Photos of the home show a dome-shaped office where the replica presidential design set is located, which is in fact a room within a room, according to the listing,

The windows of the Oval Office face outwards to the attic.

Black added that the attic replica is better suited for entertaining guests.
A Christian school in Brisbane has asked parents to sign an enrolment contract that allows it to expel a child who comes out as gay, just a week before the school year begins.

Citipointe Christian College at Carindale in Brisbane's south-east sent the extraordinary contract to parents, in which it describes homosexuality as immoral and said it will not recognise a student's claim to a gender identity.

It also states it will only acknowledge gender assignment given at birth.

'We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limiting to adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual acts, bestiality, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society,' part of the contract states.

Citipointe Christian College at Carindale in Brisbane's south-east sent an enrolment contract to parents in which it describes homosexuality as immoral and said it will not recognise a student's claim to a gender identity

Citipointe Christian College's principal, Pastor Brian Mulheran (pictured) said the school had tried to be 'clear and transparent' about its Christian beliefs in the new enrolment contract

The contract include new terms referring to a student's 'biological sex' that parents must agree to for a child to be enrolled.

'Whilst each student is individually valued and equally encouraged to pursue opportunities in both academic and co-curricular activities, I/we agree that, where distinctions are made between male and female (inclusive of, but not limited to, for example, uniforms, presentation, terminology, use of facilities and amenities, participation in sporting events and accommodation) such distinctions will be applied on the basis of the individuals biological sex,' it states.

Failure to agree to the terms will 'afford Citipointe Christian College the right to exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the Colleges doctrinal precepts including those as to biological sex...'

Failure to agree to the terms of the contract will 'afford Citipointe Christian College the right to exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the Colleges doctrinal precepts including those as to biological sex...'

A section of the contract which states that homosexual acts are 'sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society'

The issuing of the contract has sparked a change.org online petition that seeks to have the contract recalled and which currently has over 27,000 signatures.

State MP for the area Corrine McMillan also took to social media to say she was 'appalled' by the enrolment contract.

'Families seeking a Christian education should not have to contend with discrimination based on their childs gender or sexuality,' she posted.

'All policies and rules in all Queensland schools must reflect the Queensland Anti-discrimination and Human Rights Acts.'

In a statement posted on the school's website, its principal, Pastor Brian Mulheran, said the school 'has always held these Christian beliefs'.

'We have tried to be fair and transparent to everyone in our community by making them clear in the enrolment contract.

The statement said the contract allowed parents and students to make 'an informed choice' about whether they could support the school's approach to Christian education.

'Citipointe does not judge students based on their sexuality or gender identity and we would not make a decision about their enrolment in the College solely on that basis,' Pastor Mulheran claimed, in contrast to the wording of the contract.

Former Citipointe student Bethany Lau has started a change.org online petition to have the enrolment contract recalled that has so far attracted over 27,000 signatures

Citipointe Christian College offers offers classes from Prep through to Year 12

He said the school had based the contract on legal advice it had received allowing it to vary its terms because it had been established for 'religious purposes'.

Former Citipointe student Bethany Lau, who started the online petition for the contract to be recalled, said Citipointe 'is using their religious beliefs to openly discriminate against queer and trans students, as well as threatening to take away their education.'

Another former student who said he had since come out as gay said he felt compelled to sign the petition because of the truth of sexual orientation and gender identity.

'We say we need to change the narrative but we continue to live in a world that's homophobic,' he wrote.

'At a time when they should be focusing on a Covid-safe return to school and student wellbeing, this school is looking for ways to proactively harm student wellbeing and teach students how to hate each other,' another person posted.

The school offers classes from Prep to Year 12.

Queensland schools return on Monday, February 7, two weeks after the original start date, to allow more five to 11-year-old students to receive a first Covid-19 vaccine.
Two Florida deputies, who were in a romantic relationship, were found dead of a suspected murder-suicide inside a vacation rental home in St. Augustine after they were heard arguing late into the evening on Saturday.

The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office is investigating Saturday night's shooting as a murder-suicide.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Hillsborough Sheriff's Office Detective Daniel Leyden shot and killed his romantic partner before turning the gun on himself, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

He was the sole shooter, authorities said.

Leyden worked in the Criminal Investigations Division.

The victim, whose name has not been released, is also a deputy, and was assigned to Uniform Patrol District III.

The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Saturday night at a vacation rental in the 5300 block of A1A South in the resort town on the Atlantic coast about 100 miles north of Orlando.

Scene of a murder-suicide investigation in St. Augustine where two Florida deputies, who were in a romantic relationship, were found dead in this vacation rental home on Saturday night after they were heard arguing

The sheriff's office said other deputies on vacation with the couple heard them arguing from a bedroom at the St. Augustine rental followed by gunshots

The sheriff's office said other deputies on vacation with the couple heard them arguing from a bedroom at the rental followed by gunshots.

The motive is still under investigation by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said this was an isolated incident and there is no danger or threat to the public.

'Our Sheriff's Office family is still reeling from the shock of this unthinkable tragedy,' Sheriff Chad Chronister said. 'My prayers for strength and comfort are with the families and loved ones of these deputies, and every member of Team HCSO affected by this painful loss.

The HCSO Peer Support Team is in touch with immediate colleagues of both deputies involved and available as a resource to all workers.

'Violence is never a solution, and I urge any employee who is dealing with a crisis to take advantage of the many resources our agency has created over the past several years which include Peer Support, Chaplains, and a clinical psychologist,' the sheriff added.

'Help is just a phone call away.'




Lotte is taking measures to strengthen its future competitiveness through long-term investments and pursuing new businesses. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin emphasized in his New Year's address the importance of investments for future growth, saying, "It is meaningless to only produce short-term results without investing in brands, design, and IT."







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Last year, the company declared a new brand slogan, "New today, better tomorrow," proclaiming its drive to discover new growth engines for the future.







Lotte is preparing to enter the urban air mobility (UAM) business and build an integrated mobility platform that connects air and ground to provide differentiated transportation services.







Lotte aims to link the group's ground transportation, tourism and shopping infrastructure with air UAM. Lotte's diverse ground infrastructure such as department stores, large marts, and hotels are to be used as UAM vertiports or airports for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.







In November, Lotte Holdings and Lotte Rental signed a business agreement with Skyworks Aeronautics, Mobius Energy, and Incheon Metropolitan City, aiming to commercialize UAM flights in 2024.







Lotte Rental is focusing on operating a mobility platform that connects air and ground, and is reviewing the establishment infrastructure including vertiports, charging stations and terminals. Lotte Holdings plans to support the successful implementation of the flight project by utilizing the group's networks.







Lotte Data Communication, together with its subsidiary, Calibus, will implement a new concept metaverse that maximizes reality and an ultra-realistic metaverse platform that links economic activities. Lotte Data Communication participated in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, and introduced an HMD-based metaverse that combines online and offline based live-action content. (advertorial)






An off-duty correction officer was lured to a date with a woman in the Bronx and ambushed by two armed robbers who ended up in the hospital after the victim shot them Saturday night.

The unnamed officer and a young woman were sitting in a car at East 183 Street and Tiebout Avenue in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx at around 6pm, according to the New York Police Department.

The officer thought he was meeting Diamond Sanchez, 21, for a date, police sources told the New York Daily News.

They were sitting at the intersection when two men - Christopher Santana, 22, and Leonel Cuevas, 26 - walked up to them and tried to rob them, sources said.

Santana and Cuevas both ended up in the hospital after the correction officer - whose name and age have not been revealed - shot them multiple times. The pair was arrested along with the young woman, who seems to have been working against her 'date' from the very beginning.

The unnamed officer and a young woman were sitting in a car in the Bronx at 6pm on Saturday

The officer thought he was meeting Diamond Sanchez, 21, for a date, police sources said

Instead, he was ambushed by two men who brandished a weapon and tried to rob him

The unnamed officer and his 'date' were sitting in a car at East 183 Street and Tiebout Avenue in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx (above) at around 6pm Saturday

It is not known if the officer is a state or city correction officer.

On Saturday, one of the alleged robbers pulled out a gun and demanded the officer's belongings, sources told NYDN.

But the victim was armed. He shot Cuevas in the chest multiple times and shot Santana in the abdomen, back and hip, police told DailyMail.com.

When one of the two men dropped his gun, Sanchez - the correction officer's 'date' - tried to hide it, police sources said.

The alleged robbers were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital. Santana is in stable condition while Cuevas remains in critical condition as of Sunday night.

Sanchez, Santana and Cuevas were all charged with robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. Sanchez is also charged with tampering with evidence, presumably for trying to hide one of the duo's weapons.

The victim is not expected to face charges in the shooting.

Crime in New York City is up nearly 39 percent compared to this time last year. Robberies are up 33 percent and shootings are up 22.4 percent, according to the latest crime numbers from the NYPD.

Robbery in New York City has spiked by about 33% in the week ending on January 23, the NYPDs most recent data, with 944 incidents as compared to the 709 incidents reported in same duration last year

The uptick in crime continues a month into the Eric Adams administration. Adams ran for mayor of New York City on a platform of public safety as crime rose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, the young widow of rookie NYPD officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in an attack last week, said she learned of her husband's fatal shooting through the Citizen app.

Officer Rivera, 22, was shot and killed on January 21 alongside his partner Officer Wilbert Mora, 27.

Rivera died on the scene while medics battled to save Mora before he was pronounced dead on Tuesday at NYU Langone.

Their killer, Lashawn McNeil, 47 - whose mother had called the officers to her home reporting that he was threatening her - was shot in the head by a third officer after shooting Mora and Rivera, and died on Monday.

Dominique Luzuriaga Rivera (pictured) gave an emotional eulogy on in honor of her late husband Officer Jason Rivera, 22, who was killed last week alongside his partner Officer Wilbert Mora

River and Mora were ambushed when responding to a domestic violence call on January 21

Dominique Luzuriaga Rivera's 'nightmare' began when she received a notification from the Citizen app, which sends users real-time notifications about crime and police activity in the area.

'I saw that two police officers were shot in Harlem. My heart dropped,' she recalled when she spoke at her late husband's funeral service on Friday.

Hundreds of fellow officers, loved ones and NYC residents packed into the pews at St. Patrick's Cathedral and lined the streets to honor the fallen officer. The widow, wearing a silver pendant in the shape of her husband's police shield, struggled through tears as she spoke.

'I immediately texted you and asked you, 'Are you OK? Please tell me you're OK. I know that you're mad right now but just text me you're OK. At least tell me you're busy.'

A sea of police officers in their finest dress blues stood in tribute outside the church on Friday

In a panic, she checked his location on Apple's Find My iPhone when she found that he was at Harlem Hospital.

Dominique considered that he might have been waiting for a crime suspect, she explained: 'But still, nothing.'

'I called, and then called again and then called one more time. And this time I felt something wasn't right,' she added.

She then began trying to reach her husband's fellow officers when someone contacted her and told her to rush to the hospital.

'Walking up those steps, seeing everybody staring at me was the scariest moment I've experienced,' Dominique said. 'Nobody was telling me anything. Dozens of people were surrounding me. And yet I felt alone.'

'I couldn't 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. I'm here.'
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has again blasted Scott Morrison for not funding the state's latest Covid stimulus package.

In a comparison to new Australian Open champion Ash Barty, Mr Kean said the Commonwealth was failing to step up to the latest Covid challenge as small businesses face staff shortages.

'Ash Barty didn't win the Australia Open saying ''I don't need to try in the final because I had a good semi''. You have to address each of the challenges that come along,' he told ABC radio on Monday.

'A lot of small businesses across the country would say they're doing it tough. I don't think now is the right time for austerity, now is the right time to make sure we protect the fabric of the economy.'

Ash Barty (pictured) won the Australian Open on Saturday night in a historic victory

Scott Morrison (pictured with wife Jenny in Cairns on Friday) has refused to pay for NSW's latest support package

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a $1billion support package on Sunday for NSW businesses struggling during the ongoing outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

He and Mr Kean demanded extra financial support from the Commonwealth but federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg explained why he has refused to help in a series of TV and radio appearances on Monday morning.

The Treasurer said the Commonwealth has already delivered more than $63billion in economic support to NSW alone and insisted that states should fund further measures themselves.

'South Australia just yesterday announced a small business support package, they didn't come to the Commonwealth asking to go 50/50, they just did it alone,' he told the Nine network.

'Every state will do it differently. We welcome NSW making this contribution, but we recognise the federal government has done the bulk of the heaviest lifting when it comes to economic support rolled out across the country.'

Mr Frydenberg said he wanted to move away from emergency support and insisted that tough decisions would have to be made to manage the federal budget.

'You can't just keep writing the cheques,' he told the ABC.

Josh Frydenberg (pictured with Virgin Australia CEO Jane Hrdlicka at the Australian Open men's final) has refused to fund the NSW programme

Businesses have reported staff shortages due to the spread of the Omicron variant

Mr Frydenberg also noted that the Commonwealth continues to pay the full cost of pandemic leave disaster payment to people who cannot work because they are infected or isolating, a scheme that has cost taxpayers $170million in NSW alone.

On Sunday NSW Treasurer Matt Kean lashed out at the prime minister for refusing to 'step up' and support the state's latest round of stimulus.

'I'm very disappointed, I was hoping to make this announcement today standing beside the prime minister and Treasurer [Josh] Frydenberg but they're not to be found,' he said.

The NSW package involves wage subsidies for struggling businesses and targeted relief for landlords and the performing arts sector.

Eligible businesses will be provided payments every week equal to 20 per cent of their weekly payroll for the month of February, up to a maximum of $5,000.

To be eligible, businesses with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million must have experienced a 40 per cent loss in trade.
Australian drivers have taken inspiration from a 'Freedom Convoy' in Canada to drive to Canberra and protest against vaccine mandates - but Victoria's Premier has warned booster shots will soon be mandatory.

Protesters from all around the country arrived in the nation's capital on Monday as part of the 'Convoy to Canberra' demonstration.

The convoy of cars between Pheasants Nest, NSW and the capital trailed for several kilometres.

A police officer attempts to stop a vehicle from driving on the lawns of Parliament House during the protest

The truck had the words 'convoy for freedom' written on the side and carried several flags

Police monitor protesters as they gather on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra, Monday

One truck on the convoy had the words 'hands off our kids' written on the side in reference to child vaccinations

The nationwide protest mirrors the 50,000 strong truckers who travelled to Ottawa, the capital city in Canada, to demonstrate against vaccine mandates and lockdowns at the weekend.

It comes as Daniel Andrews warned booster shots may soon be required for Victorians to be considered fully-vaccinated.

'There has already been some mandating done for third doses, and there will be more,' Mr Andrews said on Sunday.

There was a significant police presence at the protests which took place on Monday

The demonstrators gathered in a group after driving from across the nation to Canberra

Some protesters stood on the lawns near Parliament House while others drove past

Many drivers left their homes in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia on Saturday to travel thousands of kilometres in their trucks, vans and SUVs.

Already several of them have been involved in separate accidents with one Land Rover caught in a five car pile-up near the Hawkesbury River.

Photos of the crash were uploaded to Facebook showing the front of a blue ute completely squashed and its back trailer lifted up with a Land Cruiser pinned underneath it.

Two drivers have already crashed their cars as a 'freedom convoy' makes its way to Canberra to protest vaccine mandates - echoing mass demonstrations in Canada

Protestors from all around the country are expected to begin arriving in the nation's capital on Monday as part of the 'Convoy to Canberra' demonstration

The nationwide protest is a direct reflection of the 50,000 strong truckers who travelled to Ottawa, the capital city in Canada, to demonstrate against vaccine mandates and Covid lockdowns

A member of the convoy said the car was a write-off and described it as a 'casualty of war'.

Protestors have flooded social media with videos showing long lines of convoys driving down highways and passing groups of cheering supporters.

One supporter said she waited with a 'tribe' on the Mount Street Bridge in North Sydney and waved Australian flags as a convoy passed underneath.

'What an amazing day,' she wrote. 'I drove over to North Sydney to wait for the convoy to come through, half thinking I'd be there solo.

'In no time at all a tribe appeared  and just kept growing (the photo was taken early on). It was an honour to be part of the boots on the ground today; spending an afternoon in the hot sun with people on the same page as me, waiting for another bunch of phenomenal humans to drive by.'

One truck driver set up a billboard on the back of the trailer to slam vaccinations for children.

'Covid-19 vaccine side effects,' it read. 'Don't risk your child.'

Supporters also waved banners as they cheered on the drivers passing by.

It comes as Victorian premier Daniel Andrews warned that booster shots may become mandatory in order for a resident to be considered fully-vaccinated

Protestors have flooded social media with videos showing long lines of convoys driving down highways and passing groups of cheering supporters

Photos of the crash were uploaded to Facebook showing the front of a blue ute completely squashed and its back trailer lifted up with a Land Cruiser pinned underneath it, and a Mercedes Benz hooked under the back bumper

One supporter said she waited with a 'tribe' on the Mount Street Bridge in North Sydney and waved Australian flags as a convoy passed underneath

Supports stand over a bridge and wave the Australian flag as a convoy passes underneath in Queensland

'God will protect our freedom fighters,' one of them read.

Another one read: 'Leave our kids alone. No jabs needed - stats prove'.

ACT Police said locals had been advised to avoid the main roads with the first wave of drivers expected to reach the city by midday.

'ACT Policing is expecting protest activity including vehicles entering the ACT via the Federal, Barton and Monaro highways this morning,' a spokesperson said.

'Further disruption may occur on Northbourne and Commonwealth Avenue later as vehicles move through the city towards Parliament House.

'The protest will be monitored by police and some impact on local traffic may occur. Drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible.'
More than 60 allies of the US have been killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban since they seized power in the wake of Joe Biden's troop withdrawal, according to the United Nations.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report the UN had received 'credible allegations' that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed.

He said that 'more than two-thirds of the deaths, just over 60, were alleged to result from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates. Around 30 more have been killed in unexplained circumstances.

Mr Guterres said the the UN political mission had also received credible allegations 'of enforced disappearances and other violations impacting the right to life and physical integrity' of former government and coalition members.

This is despite the Taliban's announcement of 'general amnesties' for those affiliated with the former government and US-led coalition forces, Mr Guterres added.

The alleged killings come after US President Joe Biden withdrew American troops from the country last year in a move that sparked anger around the world.

Last year Republicans and Democrats alike expressed their opposition to Biden's handling of the troop pull-out, especially after at least 100 American citizens were left behind so the president could keep his commitment to the Taliban to be out by the end of August.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report the UN had received 'credible allegations' that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed by the Taliban

US President Joe Biden withdrew American troops from the country last year in a move that sparked widespread criticism

It came after the Taliban took over the country on August 15 last year.

In the report, obtained by the Associated Press on Sunday, Mr Guterres said the UN political mission in Afghanistan also received 'credible allegations of extrajudicial killings of at least 50 individuals suspected of affiliation with ISIL-KP,' the Islamic State extremist group operating in Afghanistan.

Mr Guterres said human rights defenders and media workers also continue 'to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings.'

Eight civil society activists were killed, including three by the Taliban and three by Islamic State extremists, and 10 were subjected to temporary arrests, beatings and threats by the Taliban, he said.

Two journalists were also killed - one by IS - and two were injured by unknown armed men.

The secretary-general said the U.N. missions documented 44 cases of temporary arrests, beatings and threats of intimidation, 42 of them by the Taliban.

In August last year, Britain and America officially ended their military presence in Afghanistan with the final US troops flying out from Kabul's airport.

The Taliban entered Kabul on August 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country's president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled.

After a total withdrawal of troops, President Biden said the world would be watching how the Taliban behaved.

'The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments,' he said, adding that negotiations continued to keep the airport open and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Taliban initially promised a general amnesty for those linked to the former government and international forces, and tolerance and inclusiveness toward women and ethnic minorities.

Pictured: A Taliban fighter stands guard at the Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul on January 31, 2022

Pictured: Newly graduated Afghan National Army personnel march during their graduation ceremony in Kabul in 2020

However, the group have since renewed restrictions on women and appointed an all-male government, which have met with dismay by the international community.

Afghanistan's aid-dependent economy was already stumbling when the Taliban seized power, and the international community froze Afghanistan's assets abroad and halted economic support, recalling the Taliban's reputation for brutality during its 1996-2001 rule and refusal to educate girls and allow women to work.

Mr Guterres said: 'The situation in Afghanistan remains precarious and uncertain six months after the Taliban takeover as the multiple political, socio-economic and humanitarian shocks reverberate across the country.'

He said Afghanistan today faces multiple crises: a growing humanitarian emergency, a massive economic contraction, the crippling of its banking and financial systems, the worst drought in 27 years, and the Taliban's failure to form an inclusive government and restore the rights of girls to education and women to work.

The UN chief added: 'An estimated 22.8 million people are projected to be in ''crisis'' and ''emergency'' levels of food insecurity until March 2022.

'Almost 9 million of these will be at ''emergency'' levels of food insecurity -- the highest number in the world. Half of all children under five are facing acute malnutrition.'

Mr Guterres went on to report 'a significant decline' in the overall number of conflict-related security incidents as well as civilian casualties since the Taliban takeover.

The UN recorded 985 security-related incidents between August 19 and December 31, a 91 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2020, he said.

The eastern, central, southern and western regions accounted for 75 per cent of all recorded incidents, with Nangarhar, Kabul, Kunar and Kandahar ranking as the most conflict-affected provinces.

Afghans line up at the passport office in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after the Taliban take over the country

Despite the reduction in violence, Mr Guterres said the Taliban face several challenges, including rising attacks against their members.

'Some are attributed to the National Resistance Front comprising some Afghan opposition figures, and those associated with the former government,' he said.

'These groups have been primarily operating in Panjshir Province and Baghlans Andarab District but have not made significant territorial inroads' though 'armed clashes are regularly documented, along with forced displacement and communication outages.'

Mr Guterres said intra-Taliban tensions along ethnic lines and competition over jobs have also resulted in violence, pointing to armed clashes on November 4 between between Taliban forces in Bamyan city.

In the report, the secretary-general proposed priorities for the UN political mission in the current environment, urged international support to prevent widespread hunger and the country's economic collapse, and urged the Taliban to guarantee women's rights and human rights.
Mandatory vaccines for NHS and social care workers are set to be scrapped, it was revealed last night.

The decision to scrap the controversial policy comes amid warnings of crippling staff shortages if the plan was imposed on NHS and social care workers.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid is on Monday expected to meet ministers on the Covid-Operations Cabinet committee to finalise the U-Turn, reported the Telegraph.

The mandatory jab requirement was meant to come into force on April 1, meaning this Thursday would have been the last day staff could book in for a jab. On Friday those without jabs would have faced dismissal warnings and been asked to work out their notice periods until March 31.

But now, ministers are set to scrap the plan amid fears it could force the NHS to sack around 80,000 staff who remain unvaccinated. One in 20 NHS staff  the equivalent of 77,591 people  have still not had their first jab. In London, one in ten staff are unvaccinated.

The Royal College of GPs, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives had previously called on the Government to extend the deadline to prevent mass shortages in the health service.

Martin Marshall, Chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said compulsory vaccination for health professionals was 'not the right way forward'.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid is on Monday expected to meet ministers on the Covid-Operations Cabinet committee to finalise the U-Turn

But now, ministers are set to scrap the plan after one in 20 NHS staff  the equivalent of 77,591 people  have still not had their first jab. In London, one in ten staff are unvaccinated

Under the new rules, care home staff, who were required to be double jabbed or lose their jobs in November, are expected to return to work in the sector. After the mandatory vaccination laws came into effect last year, around 40,000 people lost their jobs.

Care home bosses said the government's indecision over mandatory jabs had 'devastated our workforce and brought providers to their knees'.

A senior government source told the Telegraph that ministers are U-turning on the mandatory jabs policy because the Omicron variant is much more mild than previous strains.

'Omicron has changed things,' the source said. 'When we first introduced the policy, it was delta that was the dominant variant. That was very high risk in terms of how severe it was.

'For omicron, while it is more transmissible, all the studies have shown it is less severe. That has changed the conversation about whether mandatory jabs are still proportionate.'

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'There were always two risks to manage here: the risk of Covid cross-infection in healthcare settings and the consequences of losing staff if significant numbers choose not to be vaccinated.'

Prior to the reported U-turn, NHS managers had been advised they could move unvaccinated medics from the frontline into roles which do not involve direct patient contact.

Bosses wouldn't have to help staff find 'suitable alternative employment' and redundancy payments would not be made to those who are dismissed.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) health watchdog has said it will not take action against hospitals which decide it is safer to keep unvaccinated staff in place.

Mandatory vaccines for NHS and social care workers are set to be scrapped, it was revealed last night. Pictured: Demonstrators march through London to protest against mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff on January 22

A man gets vaccinated at Gunwharf Quays on January 29 in Portsmouth

Last week Mr Javid said the policy was 'under review' and he did not want to lose a single worker to the mandate.

He hinted it may be scrapped because Omicron was less severe than Delta, meaning unjabbed workers posed less of a threat to patients.

Meanwhile, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard told a board meeting on Thursday that the compulsory jabs policy posed 'a real element of risk' to services.

She said that aiming for universal uptake was 'of course the right' objective, but added: 'At the same time, there is a real element of risk in this that local teams are facing and there's a risk for our national level targets including the expansion of the workforce, particularly in nursing.'

Speaking about the U-turn over mandatory jabs for NHS and social care staff, Nadra Ahmed OBE, who chairs the National Care Association, told the Telegraph: 'This decision epitomises the lack of foreside by the ministers in choosing to drive the implementation of this policy without producing impact assessment prior to taking it to the vote.

'Every parliamentarian who voted for it in social care needs to take responsibility for the loss of staff our sector have suffered because of an ill-thought out policy. Social care has been used as a pilot which has devastated our workforce and brought providers to their knees.'

Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group for York and North Yorkshire and boss of Saint Cecilia's Care Services said: 'It feels like a bit of a slap in the face.

'I like to think that all those staff that lost their jobs would get them back again, because we need them. It's what we argued in the beginning  the vaccine was a good thing, but it shouldn't be mandatory.

'Common sense seems to have prevailed now, but there's been a lot of heartache and sleepless nights for people  unnecessarily  in the midst of a pandemic, when we all said at the beginning that this wasn't the right approach.

'This just shows that they don't understand the difference between the NHS and social care sectors and both need to be strong to support each other. '

Professor Ted Baker, the CQC's chief inspector of hospitals in England, told The Sunday Times: 'NHS services are under enormous pressure with staffing resources critically stretched.

'We fully recognise there are concerns that the introduction of mandatory vaccination rules risk exacerbating existing staff shortages.

'New regulations requiring registered healthcare providers to only deploy fully vaccinated staff in patient-facing roles do not supersede other regulatory requirements.

'Hospital trusts may need to make difficult risk-based decisions in order to determine the safest possible approach in different circumstances.'

Mr Javid has previously expressed his disagreement at NHS workers who are against mandatory vaccination and urged the public to get boosted.

He said: 'I understand it, and obviously we have to weigh all that up for both health and social care, and there will always be a debate about it.'

Mr Javid said earlier this month it was the 'duty' of NHS workers to get the jab in order to protect patients, and insisted that he does 'not want to see anyone have to walk away from their job'.

'This is all about patient safety, we know vaccines work, we know that they reduce the risk of you being infected, so it reduces the spread of an infection,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'People whether they are in care homes or a hospital bed, they are particularly vulnerable to this virus, it could be fatal. It is our duty to everything we can to protect them.'

The Royal College of Nursing had previously said the move toward mandatory vaccination was 'an act of self-sabotage', while the Royal College Midwives warned compulsory vaccines will 'only see staffing levels fall further' and have a 'catastrophic impact'.

And the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS trusts in England, said hospitals' frontline staff would be pushed out of their roles, leading to 'more gaps in capacity at a time of intense pressure and patient demand'.

A man smiles as he holds a flare and a drum during a march in London for NHS staff against vaccine mandates for workers in the organisation on January 22

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has warned the mandate could damage care for mothers and babies. It said even before the pandemic there was a shortfall of 500 doctors and 2,000 midwives on maternity wards.

President Dr Edward Morris said: 'Maternity services require specialist staff whose skill cannot be replicated elsewhere in the NHS. The risk of doctors, midwives or maternity support workers being dismissed from frontline roles because they are unvaccinated creates a far greater risk to maternity services' ability to deliver safe, high-quality care for women.'

It comes as Britain's daily Covid cases fell 16 per cent on Sunday to their lowest level in a month and a half  while deaths rose slightly.

Latest Government statistics showed another 62,399 infections were recorded over the last 24 hours, down from 74,799 positive swabs last Sunday.

This marked the lowest daily tally since December 14 when Omicron was taking off across the UK, and the sixth day in a row that infections have dropped week-on-week.

But Sunday's cases update does not include new infections from Northern Ireland, which has likely slightly skewed the statistics.

Another 85 deaths involving the virus were also recorded on Sunday, up 13 per cent in a week. And in England latest hospitalisations ticked down eight per cent after 1,342 admissions were registered on January 28.

Britain's Covid outbreak has been gradually ticking downwards since early January, giving ministers the confidence to lift most Covid curbs aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.

Cases did appear to plateau in recent days amid the emergence of a version of Omicron that may be slightly more transmissible (BA.2), but scientists have not raised concerns over the mutant strain.

Expanding the battle against the virus, Britain on Sunday opened its vaccination drive to five and 11-year-olds who are vulnerable to the virus or live with some one who is. Eligible youngsters are being offered two doses.
Four million more Australians can now get their Covid-19 booster shots as the gap between second and third doses is cut to three months from today.

Some 16million Aussies have been made eligible for a booster with 7.6million of those having already taken up the offer.

The Government shortened the gap between second and third doses to combat the more infectious but less severe Omicron strain which emerged in November in South Africa.

Four million more Australians can now get their booster shots as the gap between second and third doses is cut to three months. Pictured: Eloa De Souza receives a Covid vaccine at Sydney Road Family Medical Practice in Balgowlah on January 10

The gap was first cut from six to five months, then to four months in early January and now to three months.

A total of 93.3 per cent of Aussies are vaccinated with at least two doses.

It comes as Health Minister Greg Hunt insisted the number of patients in hospital was 'well within the capacity in the system' despite a large Covid-19 outbreak in the eastern states.

He noted that national ICU numbers had dropped by 50 in 10 days from 417 on January 20 to 367 on January 30.

'The challenge here in Australia has been work force but the results are significantly below even the best case projections that we saw back in early December and mid-December,' he said in a press conference.

Health Minister Greg Hunt insisted the number of patients in hospital was 'well within the capacity in the system'

On Monday Victoria recorded a drop in Covid-19 cases with 10,053 new infections reported overnight while cases have remained steady in NSW.

The new cases announced in Victoria on Monday marks a dip on the 10,589 reported on Sunday. Deaths have also fallen to eight - down from 20.

NSW recorded 13,026 new Covid-19 cases - marking the fourth day in a row the state has recorded cases around the 13,000 mark. The daily death rate has also remained steady at 27.

Hospitalisations have risen in NSW to 2,779 - up from 2,663 - and dropped in Victoria to 873 - down from 889.

NSW ICU rates remain unchanged at 185 while Victoria has experienced a dip to 102 - down from 111.

NSW has recorded 13,026 new Covid-19 cases and 27 deaths while Victoria has recorded 10,053 infections and eight deaths

A leading expert says there may be a spike in Covid-19 cases as schools begin to return in some states this week, but the best thing remained that children return to the classroom.

Chair for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton says COVID-safe measures taken by schools - including hygiene practices and rapid antigen testing - would make a difference in reducing transmission.

'That should give parents confidence, particularly using rapid antigen tests,' Prof Halton told the Nine Network.

'We'll have a strategy that means for the next four weeks we will be able to surveil this and be able to tell exactly how many cases have come from schools reopening.'

More than 320,000 children will be starting school for the first time, and about 240,000 students will be starting year 12.
The US State Department marked the second anniversary of the capture of U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who was taken hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The statement, released Saturday, continues America's bipartisan call for Frerichs, a civil engineer and contractor, to be returned home to Illinois.

'Tomorrow marks two years since U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs was taken hostage,' the statement read. 'Mark is a civil engineer who was helping with construction projects for the benefit of the Afghan people when he was taken captive. Despite his innocence, he remains held hostage by the Taliban and its affiliates.'

'The United States has raised Marks case in every meeting with the Taliban, and we have been clear that the legitimacy the Taliban seek is impossible to consider while they hold a U.S. citizen hostage,' the state department added. 'His release is among our core, non-negotiable priorities. We will continue to send a clear message to Taliban leadership: immediately and safely release Mark and disavow the practice of hostage-taking.'

President Joe Biden on Sunday called for the release of Frerichs.

Frerichs, 59, a civil engineer and contractor from Lombard, Illinois, was kidnapped in January 2020 from the capital of Kabul.

He is believed to be in the custody of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

'Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice,' Biden said in a statement to mark the second anniversary of the kidnapping on Monday.

'The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable.'

Mark Frerichs has been held by the Taliban for almost two years

President Joe Biden, pictured earlier this month, on Sunday issued a statement calling for the release of civil engineer Mark Frerichs, who was taken hostage by the Taliban in January 2020

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken

Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, tweeted: 'Tomorrow marks two years since U.S. citizen Mark Frerichs was taken hostage by the Taliban.

'We call on the Taliban to release him. We will continue working to bring him home.'

Frerichs, 59, was working as a civil engineer when he was captured

The statement came as Afghanistan faces a thorny humanitarian crisis following the U.S. withdrawal in August.

The Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country and the foreign aid that been flowing into the country largely halted, putting at risk the lives of millions of Afghans who could starve or freeze to death.

Charlene Cakora, Frerichs' sister, issued a statement saying that her family is 'grateful' for Biden's words.

'But what we really want is to have Mark home,' she said.

'We know the president has options in front of him to make that happen and hope Mark's safe return will become a priority.'

Both the Biden and Trump administrations have failed to bring Frerichs home, something that's stuck in the minds of his family.

His disappearance came a month before the United States signed a peace deal with the Taliban which involved a tentative timeline for when American troops would be withdrawn.

'We want to see US troops come home, but my brother is a Navy veteran and the same Taliban we have been negotiating with have had him since January 31. We are praying President Donald Trump will not leave him behind,' Charlene Cakora, the veteran's sister, explained to CNN back in 2020

A source close with Frerichs' family said in 2020 that they have not spoken with officials about the withdrawing of the troops. The source also added that a request from the family to meet or call President Trump was denied.

The family had been in talks with the State Department and with Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation at the time.

In a series of tweets from May 2020, Khalilzad shared that he had been in talks with Afghani officials about both Frerichs and Paul Overby Jr. - an American who disappeared in the country in 2014.

Khalilzad would eventually tell reporters that the Taliban told him that they weren't holding Freirichs, with the representative asking them 'to look again, to talk to their subcommanders, that this is of the highest importance and it would be, if they did hold him, a violation of the commitments they have made to us.'

The U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, through its Rewards for Justice Office, offered a $5million reward for Frerichs' return

CNN's Jake Tapper speaks with Charlene Cakora, the sister of Mark Frerichs
A pregnant New Zealand journalist stranded in Afghanistan has ramped up her desperate fight to be allowed to return home to give birth.

Charlotte Bellis has repeatedly tried to return to home since she learned she was pregnant in September but had her application rejected twice due to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's closed border.

With her third trimester fast approaching, she applied under category 1A(i) which applies to Kiwis requiring access to time-critical medical treatment unavailable or inaccessible at their location.

Ms Bellis had her application reviewed again by Managed Isolation and Quarantine authorities on Sunday after going public, and was advised that 'more information is required before a decision can be made'.

She replied insisting she provided everything required and requested a justification for why she should not get an exemption if it was refused.

Currently 25 weeks pregnant, broadcast journalist Charlotte Bellis (pictured) hasn't given up on her desperate fight to leave Kabul and return home to New Zealand

Charlotte Bellis (pictured with partner, Belgium photographer Jim Huylebroek) wants to return home to New Zealand before the birth of her daughter due to May

'I received a letter from a generic MIQ email address suggesting I apply via a different category for an emergency spot to return to New Zealand to give birth,' Ms Bellis tweeted on Monday.

She shared a screenshot of the generic email from the quarantine agency requesting more information to ensure 'a fair and consistent process'.

The email also stated her original application was deactivated last week as the proposed travel dates weren't within the 14 day window.

Ms Bellis said she chose travel dates outside the window due to a scarcity of flights out of Kabul and to 'give us time to appeal if we were rejected'.

The email suggests Ms Bellis apply under category 1A (iii), which applies to citizens and residents 'who are in a location or situation where there is a serious risk to their safety and their only option is to return to New Zealand, taking into account advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where relevant'.

Ms Bellis would also have to provide confirmation that returning to New Zealand is the only option.

Charlotte Bellis has been urged by authorities in an email (pictured) to apply under a different category, where she would have to provide evidence that returning home is her only option

She has since replied to the email, claiming applying under the category suggested by authorities does not 'presently apply to us'.

'The cause for return continues to be the need for time-critical medical treatment which is unavailable or inaccessible in our current location,' Ms Bellis wrote.

'You have all of our information. You know our situation. I want it on the record there is no change to our circumstances, no new evidence or information you have received.'

'If you're not approving us under the category of 1A(i), please provide your justification.'

Ms Bellis argued that applying outside 14-day travel window under category of 1A(i) was permitted under the MIQ guidelines and that they would have to provide more evidence on top of 59 documents already submitted if they did reapply.

She also cited MIQ boss Chris Bunny, who told the New Zealand Herald on Saturday that pregnant women can apply under category 1A(i).

Jacinda Ardern's (pictured) strict Covid borders have hampered Charlotte Bellis' attempts to return home before giving birth to her first child in May

Prime Minister Ardern is yet to comment on Ms Bellis' plight and is in self-isolation after she was declared a close contact of a Covid case. She has tested negative so far and will stay in isolation until Wednesday.

New Zealand recorded 91 locally acquired cases on Monday. More than two thirds of the latest infections were diagnosed in Auckland.

Ms Bellis has been been flooded with online support for her efforts to return home, and was thanked for speaking out and urged by fellow Kiwis to continue the fight.

'Please continue to fight for everyone that doesn't have your profile. You are highlighting the absurdity and cruelty of the MIQ system, with multiple loopholes for the ultra wealthy, citizens or not,' one commented.

Another added: 'Many of us know people stuck overseas being treated in such a cruel way but we don't have the means to bring it attention. Thank you.'

One urged Ms Bellis consider applying under the different category suggested by the quarantine agency.

'Please take the olive branch that they are attempting to extend and look after yourself and baby by jumping through their suggested amended hoops ASAP,' one wrote.

'You can continue to highlight the absurdity and cruelty of the rules once you are safely home.'

Ms Bellis has submitted 59 documents to New Zealand officials and answered numerous questions in an attempt to secure an emergency return home.

'This just feels like such a breach of trust,' Ms Bellis told Radio New Zealand from Kabul on Sunday.

The denied applications led her to turn to the Taliban, one of the world's most oppressive regimes, and was told she could give birth there.

'We're happy for you, you can come and you won't have a problem,' Bellis said the Taliban told her, despite their view on unmarried mothers.

Charlotte Bellis says claiming applying under the category suggested by MIQ authorities does not' presently apply to us'

Ms Bellis also hasn't ruled out relocating to Belgium, the birthplace of her partner.

It's a particularly cruel twist of fate for the woman who was revered worldwide for her fearless questioning of the jihadist group's record on women's rights.

To add insult to injury, Ms Bellis warned pregnancy could be a death sentence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan because of the poor state of maternity care and lack of surgical capabilities.

Ms Bellis (believed to be pictured in Afghanistan, above) has submitted 59 documents to New Zealand officials in Afghanistan in an attempt to secure an emergency return home, but each has been rejected

'To the NZ Government, I ask what do you want me to do? I have done nothing wrong I got pregnant and I am a New Zealander,' she told News1.

'At what point did we get so bogged down in these rules we've come up with that we can't see that she's a Kiwi in need of help and she needs to come home?'

Although the spread of Covid-19 has been limited in New Zealand and just 52 deaths have been reported since the start of the pandemic, the nation still requires citizens to spend 10 days in isolation hotels run by the military.

The 'zero-Covid' policy has repeatedly come under fire and the strict self-isolation restrictions have now caused a backlog of thousands of people desperate to return home.

Ms Bellis has become one of the most high-profile Kiwis to fall victim to New Zealand's extreme border controls.

Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis (pictured) is stranded in Afghanistan and has turned to the Taliban for help as she remains unable to return to her homeland because of Jacinda Ardern's draconian Covid curbs

Ms Bellis said she has repeatedly tried to return to New Zealand since she learned she was pregnant in September

Now Jacinda Ardern is forced into self-isolation after coming into 'close-contact' with a virus carrier New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is self-isolating after coming into close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus. The exposure came on a flight from the town of Kerikeri to the largest city of Auckland. New Zealand's Governor-General Cindy Kiro was also on the Jan. 22 flight and has also gone into isolation. Both women had been in the Northland region to do some filming ahead of New Zealand's national day, Waitangi Day, on Feb. 6. 'The Prime Minister is asymptomatic and is feeling well,' her office said in a statement. 'In line with Ministry of Health advice she will be tested immediately tomorrow and will isolate until Tuesday.' New Zealand has managed to stamp out or contain the virus for much of the pandemic, and has reported just 52 virus deaths among its population of 5 million. But an outbreak of the omicron variant is starting to take hold and is expected to rapidly grow over the coming weeks. About 77% of New Zealanders are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data. That figure rises to 93% of those aged 12 and over, according to New Zealand officials. Advertisement

Writing in the New Zealand Herald on Saturday, Ms Bellis said it was 'brutally ironic' that while she had once questioned the Taliban about their treatment of women, she was now asking the same questions of her own government.

'When the Taliban offers you - a pregnant, unmarried woman - safe haven, you know your situation is messed up,' she wrote.

New Zealand's borders have been shut to foreigners since March 2020.

The government pushed back plans for a phased reopening from mid-January to the end of February out of concern about a potential Omicron outbreak, as in neighbouring Australia.

New Zealand has reported 15,910 confirmed coronavirus cases and 52 deaths among its population of five million.

Stories of citizens stranded abroad in dire circumstances have caused embarrassment for Ms Ardern and her government, but Ms Bellis's situation is particularly striking.

Last year, Bellis was working for Al Jazeera covering the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan when she gained international attention by questioning Taliban leaders about their treatment of women and girls.

In her column on Saturday, she said she returned to Qatar in September and discovered she was expecting a baby with her partner, freelance photographer Jim Huylebroek, who is a contributor to the New York Times.

She described the pregnancy as a 'miracle' after earlier being told by doctors she could not have children. She is due to give birth to a girl in May.

Pre-marital sex is illegal in Qatar and Ms Bellis said she realised she needed to leave.

She repeatedly tried to get back to New Zealand in a lottery-style system for returning citizens but without success.

She said she resigned from Al Jazeera in November and the couple moved to Mr Huylebroek's native Belgium, but she could not stay long because she was not a resident.

Writing in the New Zealand Herald on Saturday, Ms Bellis (right) said it was 'brutally ironic' that while she had once questioned the Taliban about their treatment of women, she was now asking the same questions of her own government

Covid curbs introduced by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern March 16, 2020: Mandatory self-isolation for all new arrivals, including New Zealanders into the country. March 19: All non-residents or citizens are banned from entering the country under an international border ban. March 25: Nationwide lockdown enforced, with only essential services allowed to open. At this stage, NZ has recorded 102 cases and 0 deaths. June 8, 2020: Ardern announces no new community transmissions within the past fortnight and says NZ has eliminated transmission of Covid. August-September 2020: Auckland's 1.7million residents endure two months of lockdown measures after 4 new cases are initially recorded. February-March 2021: Auckland re-enters lockdown as three new Covid cases are recorded in the community. 17 August: All of New Zealand re-enters Level 4 lockdown measures for two weeks as one new community case is recorded. October: Traffic light system is created, barring unvaccinated residents from entering businesses, gyms and barbers in 'red' or 'amber' alert areas. January 2022: Public backlash as major events and sporting fixtures are capped at a maximum of 100 people under Covid Red Alert measures. January: Ardern announces she has cancelled her own wedding after nine new Omicron cases were recorded. Advertisement

The only other place the couple had visas to live was Afghanistan.

Ms Bellis said she spoke with senior Taliban contacts who told her she would be fine if she returned to Afghanistan.

'Just tell people you're married and if it escalates, call us. Don't worry,' she said they told her.

She said she sent 59 documents to New Zealand authorities in Afghanistan but they rejected her application for an emergency return.

New Zealand's Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins told the Herald his office had asked officials to check whether they followed the proper procedures in Ms Bellis's case, 'which appeared at first sight to warrant further explanation'.

Chris Bunny, the joint head of New Zealand's Managed Isolation and Quarantine system, told the Herald that Ms Bellis's emergency application did not fit a requirement that she travel within 14 days.

He said staff had contacted her about making another application that would fit the requirements.

'This is not uncommon and is an example of the team being helpful to New Zealanders who are in distressing situations,' he wrote.

Ms Bellis said pregnancy can be a death sentence in Afghanistan because of the poor state of maternity care and lack of surgical capabilities.

She added that after talking to lawyers, politicians and public relations people in New Zealand, her case seems to be moving forward, although she has yet to be approved passage home.

Ms Ardern further tightened restrictions under the country's Covid Red Alert system, meaning a return to universal mask-wearing and stricter quarantine requirements for New Zealanders.

The PM rolled out the restrictions after just nine cases of the Omicron variant were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.

Under limits incurred by New Zealand's My Vaccine Pass, those who are unvaccinated will be unable to eat at indoor restaurants or visit gyms or hairdressers.

Any Kiwis working in health and disability, education, fire and emergency, police, defence, and corrections must be able to show proof of having vaccines.

From February 3, the wearing of bandanas, scarves or t-shirts pulled over the nose in public places such as gyms and cafes will be banned.

And under new Covid curbs enforced by Ardern, all residents must wear face masks in public areas such as shops and there are limits on gatherings to a maximum of 100 people from Monday after a cluster of Omicron cases were detected in the country.

Critics warn the extreme Zero Covid policy is 'unworkable' and could lead to more cases with greater number refusing to be tested in order to avoid the lengthy quarantine period (pictured, anti-vaxxer protesters at a Covid vaccination clinic in Auckland)

The changes mean Ardern was forced to postpone her own wedding.

Anyone testing positive must now isolate for 14 instead of ten days - and household contacts have to isolate for an additional ten days on top, leaving them to stay indoors for 24 days.

Ardern has faced a slew of criticism from campaigners and members of the public after imposing strict Covid curbs since the start of the pandemic.

International borders were promptly closed on March 19, 2020, with a nationwide lockdown enforced on March 25 after 102 cases, and no deaths, were recorded in the country.

Almost three months later on June 8, the PM announced there had been no new community transmissions within the past fortnight and says she is 'confident New Zealand has eliminated community transmission of Covid'.

But within two months, Auckland was placed under strict lockdown measures after just four new cases were recorded in the city area.

A draconian 'zero-Covid' goal was implemented across the country, with New Zealand aiming to completely eradicate the virus from its shores.

But this policy was met with ridicule as the Delta variant ripped through the world in the summer of 2021, prompting a return to multiple weeks of lockdown for Auckland's 1.7 million residents.

Critics slammed the return of draconian curbs on everyday life, pointing to the fact other countries have started to reopen despite reporting thousands of new cases.
High-profile doctor Nick Coatsworth has apologised for behind-the-scenes tension Lisa Wilkinson, after he lashed out at her for backing harsh Covid rules.

The former deputy chief medical officer is a regular on the The Project, which Wilkinson hosts, but re-tweeted posts calling her rich and privileged.

Dr Coatsworth differs with Wilkinson on her support of strict Covid rules such as NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposing 24 days of isolation on household close contacts of Covid cases.

'Lisa Wilkinson praising NZ for putting close contacts in 24 days of isolation just shows her inner city, multi-millionaire, guaranteed wage privilege,' one tweet read.

Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth is a regular on The Project but recently re-tweeted a number of posts critical of one of its hosts, Lisa Wilkinson

Ms Wilkinson has been a trenchant critic of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet for their support of relaxing Covid restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant spreading in Australia

One of the Twitter posts re-tweeted by Dr Coatsworth, suggesting Ms Wilkinson isolate herself for 24 months

Another tweet re-posted by Dr Coatsworth commented on a news story about Ms Wilkinson.

'Lisa Wilkinson is more than welcome to isolate herself - I would suggest no outside contact so no media appearances - for 24 days,' it read.

'Indeed 24 days is not safe enough - make it 24 months.'

He also retweeted a post by Carrick Ryan claiming Wilkinson 'only ever criticises one political party, which renders her opinion about as useful as a Sky News host'.

Dr Coatsworth admitted he retweeted the posts in 'a moment of weakness' and regretted being so hard on the TV presenter.

'Its not ideal  Ive got a pretty good relationship with The Project,' he told The Australian's Media Diary.

'Im sort of trying to hose it down. It was a moment of weakness when I sent out the tweets.

'Ive got nothing against her personally. I just fell into the trap of saying it on Twitter.'

Wilkinson has been a relentless critic of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet for their support of relaxing Covid restrictions as the Omicron variant arrived in Australia.

A week ago she compared Australia's approach to Omicron with New Zealand's after Ms Ardern announced the new measures.

'Wowee  24 days (in isolation)! If that doesnt give you an indication that Jacinda Ardern has looked across the ditch at our bin fire and gone, "Not doing that!" Wow!' she said.

Australia's national policy is now for Covid cases and close contacts to isolate for only seven days.

Dr Coatsworth, by contrast, has opposed zero-Covid policy and is a prominent supporter of rolling back Australia's pandemic restrictions in a highly vaccinated population.

Wilkinson criticised Dr Coatsworth in December for defending the decision by Mr Perrottet to drop the mask mandate in NSW on December 15.

'You've seen those numbers in NSW, theyre going through the roof,' she told the doctor on The Project.

'Peoples Christmases are being destroyed  because that's the state where theres no mask mandate.'

One of Dr Coatsworth's retweets reads: 'Lisa Wilkinson praising NZ for putting close contacts in 24 days of isolation just shows her inner city, multi-millionaire, guaranteed wage privilege.' NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) recently introduced up to 24 days of isolation for household close contacts of positive cases

Ms Wilkinson had criticised Dr Coatsworth in December for defending the decision by Mr Perrottet to drop the mask mandate in NSW on December 15 (Pictured: Sydney residents wearing masks)

Dr Coatsworth responded on air that instead of mandates, there should be more of a focus on 'helping people make their own decisions - good decisions - about how to protect themselves and others'.

'We're in such a different position [than 2020]. We have vaccines that work. We know that if you get a booster your immunity's back up within a week to where it was before,' he said.

'I can understand why Lisa said it,' Dr Coatsworth told the Australian about Wilkinson's comments to him in December.

'But the measures she was calling for would not have saved Christmas.'

He also tried to soften his fractious relationship with the star, saying Wilkinson was 'a good presenter, a good host'.

'Shes passionate about her views,' Dr Coatsworth said.
Childcare costs outstrip womens average wages in six out of nine English regions, analysis has revealed.

With families experiencing a cost of living crisis, campaigners say more needs to be done to help with the exorbitant fees.

Research by Labour found that families are paying 12.52 an hour for an after-school club or activity.

This is just less than the average womans salary in England which stands at just 12.93 an hour, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

With families experiencing a cost of living crisis, campaigners say more needs to be done to help with the exorbitant fees [File photo]

And it is almost one pound an hour more than a womans wage in the North East (11.54).

The costs are also higher than the median hourly salary in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands and the South West.

Only mothers in London, the South East and East of England  where women earn 16.96, 13.33 and 12.59 an hour respectively  can expect to take home more money than they pay in childcare costs.

It comes amid a cost of living crisis which has seen energy bills and grocery prices skyrocket  while wages stagnate.

Labours education spokesman Bridget Phillipson said: With the general cost of living spiralling, we need action from the Government to address the childcare crisis.

I dont believe any mothers or fathers  though it usually is mothers  should have to make the choice to give up work just to spare exorbitant childcare costs.

Childcare fees have soared during the pandemic after nurseries were forced to shut from March 2020  taking in only children of key workers during lockdowns.

A Coram Family and Childcare Trust survey found the cost of a part-time nursery place  25 hours a week  for a child under two rose by 4 per cent between 2020 and 2021. It now stands at 7,160 a year. Meanwhile, the average cost of a part-time childminder for a child under two is 6,150 a year.

Campaigning group Pregnant Then Screwed estimates there are 870,000 stay-at-home mothers in the UK who want to go back to work but cannot afford to.

Founder Joeli Brearley said: It is unfair that women have to give up careers they have worked hard for. The Government needs to urgently address the childcare crisis.
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
The Treasury was blasted last night amid extraordinary reports it rejected attempts by Britains FBI to launch a major investigation into Covid handouts fraud.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) offered to deploy specialist investigators after the Governments Bounce Back Loans and other schemes paid up to 5billion in taxpayers money to fraudsters, according to reports yesterday.

But sources claimed the Treasury rebuffed the offer to prevent embarrassment over the eye-watering losses.

The Treasury was blasted last night amid extraordinary reports it rejected attempts by Britains FBI to launch a major investigation into Covid handouts fraud. Pictured: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) said Rishi Sunaks embarrassment or ambition must not prevent all efforts being made to recover billions lost in the schemes

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Rishi Sunaks embarrassment or ambition must not prevent all efforts being made to recover billions lost in the schemes.

Ignoring advice about fraud is bad enough, but for the Chancellor to turn down support from the National Crime Agency is extraordinary, Miss Reeves said.

The Chancellor must not allow embarrassment or ambition get in the way of retrieving public money lost to criminals.

It has been claimed the NCA outlined its investigative capabilities and offered to assist in recovering the missing billions  but its offer was spurned.

The Treasury effectively said, Butt out of this, a source told the Sunday Telegraph.

The Government denied the allegations last night.

A Treasury spokesman said: We dont recognise these claims. We already work with the NCA on Bounce Back Loan Scheme fraud, who take on the most serious cases.

Fraud is totally unacceptable, and were taking action on multiple fronts to crack down on anyone who has sought to exploit our schemes and bring them to justice.

Officials have stopped or recovered nearly 2.2billion in potential fraud from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and 743million of over-claimed furlough grants, official figures show.

But the Governments anti-fraud minister resigned last week over what he described as schoolboy attempts to address losses.

Lord Agnew quit over the Governments decision to write off 4.3billion in fraudulent loans and called oversight of schemes nothing less than woeful.

He said: The failure of Government to tackle fraud felt so egregious, and the need for remedy so urgent, that I felt my only option left was to smash some crockery to get people to take notice.

Lord Agnew (pictured) quit his role as Treasury minister over the Governments decision to write off 4.3billion in fraudulent loans and called oversight of schemes nothing less than woeful

In lockdown, firms were able to get loans from commercial lenders, with a state-backed guarantee against default.

Last June the Commons public accounts committee warned fraud and error in Covid schemes had cost taxpayers more than 30billion.

The committee said in a report that up to 27billion in Bounce Back Loans may never be repaid as businesses went bust or cheated in applications, and predicted billions more in losses.

The NCA is only involved in investigating Covid subsidy frauds on an ad hoc basis, with most responsibility falling on HMRCs own specialist investigators. An NCA spokesman declined to comment.
Australian families enjoying a summer day at the beach found themselves just metres from a shark, but none of them seemed to mind.

The two-metre shark was filmed swimming through shallow water at Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, on the weekend along with a stingray right beside it.

But while one onlooker shouted a warning, the group of adults and children seemed unafraid of the shark, and some even waded towards it, in a video featured on perthisok.com.

Western Australian beachgoers react very casually to the presence of a shark just metres away from them in the water

With pounding, ominous music a video of the scene posted on TikTok shows the shark fast approaching adults and children in the water.

While some run as soon as they see the huge beast, some just keep standing in the water, looking and pointing.

Even when a man is heard shouting 'there's a shark coming for you, man!' no-one flees to higher ground.

The casual way in which most of the people in the water react to the shark is mirrored in some of the more than 100 comments the video has already got.

'Hell yes! Sharks are fine for the most part, if you can see them then you'll be fine,' wrote one commenter.

One man (pictured in the white cap) makes a run for it after seeing a shark, while almost everyone else seems to be taking it all very lightly

'When my time is up it's up. Hell yes I'd swim here it's nice & clear waters beautiful. Better than the river I swim in nowadays,' another said.

'I was just snorkelling there the other day the shark wont attack you,' said someone with great faith in sharks.

Others commented on the fact that there is also a stingray in the water.

'Nah shark's fine, it's the stingray I'm looking out for,' one said.

'This place is genuinely awesome, the rays come right up to you, like they want to be pet(ted) or something,' said another.
The average British household will pay more than 1million in tax over their lifetime, new research suggests.

The TaxPayers Alliance said paying around 1.1million in tax would mean having to work for 18 years just to pay it off.

It comes as the Prime Minister and the Chancellor were urged to rethink a planned increase in National Insurance set to go ahead in April.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak wrote a joint article to defend the tax hike, arguing it was vital to fund the country's Covid recovery, despite Conservative MPs calling for it to be delayed or scrapped.

Analysis of official statistics found the poorest households will work 24 years to pay off their tax bill, leaving 16 years of income for themselves.

It found that average households are set to pay almost 180,000 in employer and employee National Insurance contributions over a lifetime, even before the planned rise.

As the Government plans to follow through with the hike in National Insurance this April, new research by the TaxPayers' Alliance has revealed the average household will pay 1.1m in tax

John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: With the tax burden at a 70-year high, typical families are now tax millionaires.

Taxpayers already toiling half their working lives just to pay off the taxman cannot be asked to endure any further crippling tax hikes. Planned rises, like the national insurance hikes, must be scrapped.

Even before the planned rise in National Insurance contributions and council tax, the average family would pay almost 180,000 and 80,000 respectively in their lifetime.

This is alongside nearly 480,000 in income tax and 190,000 in VAT. Previous TPA research found the proposed health and social care levy would increase the average workers NIC contribution by over 430 every year.

Meanwhile the bottom 20 per cent of households, or families with a household income of 19,171, will work for almost 24 years to pay off their lifetime tax bill, the longest of any group.

The lifetime tax bill for the top 20 per cent of households, or families with an income of 137,669, would be 2,573,815 in direct and indirect taxes, which would take them 19 years to pay off.

The Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak wrote a joint article defending the 1.25 per cent increase in NI, saying it was vital to fund the Covid NHS backlog, as well as fixing the social care system

It comes as Boris Johnson was urged to think again after joining the Chancellor and vowing that the national insurance hike will go ahead in April.

The Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak wrote a joint article defending the 1.25 percentage point increase in NI, saying it was vital to fund the Covid NHS backlog, as well as fixing the social care system.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss admitted that tax rises were never popular, but said the money needed to be raised.

Senior Tory MPs called on the Prime Minister to reverse his decision because of the looming cost of living crisis.

Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said: All I can do as an MP, a backbench MP, is just to urge the Government to think again. I hope that the Government make cost of living the No 1 priority.

He called on ministers to look at different ways to raise the money that the rise is forecast to produce, such as a windfall tax on big business.

Liz Truss admitted tax rises were never popular, but said the money needed to be raised

Mr Halfon added: I just want the Government to go back to being the government that was elected in 2019 and put cutting the cost of living first and foremost, and helping struggling families across the country.

Former Cabinet minister John Redwood told BBC Radio 4s The Westminster Hour: Im going to carry on urging the Prime Minister to do the right thing. I want him to succeed.

'I strongly believe this is a dreadfully bad decision. Its bad economics, its worse politics. It is dangerous for him, for the country, for all of us.

Mel Stride, chairman of the Treasury committee, agreed, saying: I think this is the wrong decision.

Taxes are heading to their highest level since Clement Attlee (in the late 1940s) and we need to be getting them down where the opportunity arises.

The recent extra headroom in the borrowing numbers provided this opportunity which would also have helped with cost of living.

Former housing secretary Robert Jenrick has also called for the tax rise to be delayed, saying 2022 will already be exceptionally hard for families.

There had been claims the PM was wobbling on the national insurance rise, but in an article for The Sunday Times, he and Mr Sunak defended it.

John Redwood told Radio 4s The Westminster Hour the hike was a 'dreadfully bad decision'

The pair described themselves as tax-cutting Conservatives and Thatcherites, in the sense that we believe in sound money.

But they added: We must go ahead with the health and social care levy. It is the right plan. They insisted the increase was progressive because higher earners pay more, and said: There is no magic money tree.

Miss Truss said: As soon as possible, we want to be in a position to lower our tax rates, we want to drive economic growth, because ultimately that is what will make our country successful.

But we do face a short-term issue, which is that we have spent significant amounts of money dealing with the Covid crisis that does need to be paid back.

Labours levelling up spokesman Lisa Nandy called on ministers to rethink the planned rise, adding it would see incomes squeezed even more.

She said: You cant possibly hit people with more taxes at the moment. Its just simply not possible for a lot of people to survive.

Meanwhile, research showed that the NI hike will clobber firms in the constituencies of Mr Johnsons Cabinet.

More than 40,500 small firms in the seats of senior ministers face a tax bombshell of 103.6million, the research shows.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey (pictured) has said the Tories must give firms a chance to grow again after Covid as he accused the Government of 'clobbering' them with a 'crippling' tax rise

In Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Richmond constituency in Yorkshire, firms will be blighted by 5.4million worth of extra payments, the research by the House of Commons library found.

Employers in Health Secretary Sajid Javids Bromsgrove seat will be the hardest hit out of the Cabinet, with an estimated 6.7million extra tax bill.

In Boris Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, small firms face 4million in extra tax.

The Liberal Democrats, who commissioned the analysis, accused the Government last night of clobbering small firms with this crippling tax rise.

Party leader Ed Davey MP said: Hard-working people in Boris Johnsons own backyard are set to be whacked with millions of pounds of extra unfair tax. It is time to spike the hike.

The Conservatives broken promise is a manifesto betrayal, dropping a tax bombshell on small businesses that are the backbone of our communities, high streets and local economies.

'We have already lost far too many treasured shops from our high streets, and too many businesses are already drowning in tax rises and red tape.

The Conservatives must give entrepreneurs the chance to grow again instead of clobbering them with this crippling tax rise.

Has Rishi brought Boris to heel... or is Downing St dogfight set to continue?

By Jason Groves

Rishi Sunak was growing increasingly alarmed last week at Boris Johnsons public wobble over whether to press ahead with the controversial increase in national insurance.

Tory MPs, galvanised by the Daily Mails Spike the Hike campaign, were piling pressure on the Prime Minister to reopen what was a done deal to break the partys manifesto pledge on tax and pour billions more into health and social care.

And Mr Johnsons resolve appeared to be crumbling. In one interview last week, the PM refused eight times to say whether the tax rise was going ahead.

Tory MPs telling Mr Johnson that ditching the tax would help him stay in office said he was receptive to the idea.

The Chancellor planned to tackle the PM directly over the issue at a summit on the cost of living.

But with Mr Johnson tearing up his diary to hold crisis talks with mutinous MPs over the Partygate row, the summit kept being delayed.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak was seen walking his dog with his wife Akshata Murthy near Downing Street in Westminster on Sunday after defending the National Insurance increase

Privately, some Cabinet ministers were willing the rebels on. I hate it, said one. I dont think youll find many people lifting a finger to save it if we go down that route. In the Treasury, alarm bells were getting louder by the day.

A source acknowledged it was ultimately up to the PM, but warned that if the tax hike was delayed, it would never be introduced, adding: Then all youre left with is an unfunded 12 billion spending commitment.

On Friday, Mr Sunak got his chance to stage an intervention. Treasury sources dismissed suggestions that he threatened to resign.

But in a one-to-one meeting with the PM, he did not mince his words on the political and economic consequences of dropping a plan that was agreed in September after months of negotiations.

Tory MPs telling Johnson ditching the tax would help him stay in office said he was receptive

The Chancellor said public spending would have to be cut, or other taxes raised, if the hike was spiked.

He also said that, without a long-term income stream in place, the PM would struggle to credibly claim he had met his pledge to fix social care.

The truce looks an uneasy one. In their article in The Sunday Times, the two men claim to be tax-cutting Conservatives  while backing a huge tax rise. Mr Sunak has succeeded in jolting the PM back into line.

But history suggests that if Mr Johnson finds himself in a tight political spot in the coming days and weeks, the Chancellor may find the battle is not over.
Cyber attacks due to working from home have cost businesses 374million since the Covid crisis began, according to research.

A survey of 450 top finance and risk professionals at UK-listed companies found almost two-thirds of firms had suffered a cyber attack or data breach in the first 18 months of the pandemic.

Most of these companies said they had lost money or revenue as a result.

The majority of these attacks  82 per cent  could be attributed to tech issues or behaviour related to working from home, the research from software group Diligent found.

Cyber attacks due to working from home have cost businesses 374million since the Covid crisis began, according to research (stock image)

Remote working presents huge challenges for businesses security due to issues such as weak antivirus software, insecure internet connections and the use of platforms such as Zoom which can be hacked.

And it could continue to be costly for firms whose employees want to work in a hybrid shift pattern that splits time between home and the office.

Government figures in the year to March 2021 found four in ten businesses and a quarter of UK charities had experienced cyber breaches in the previous year.

Companies including Disney, Santander, Royal Bank of Scotland and FTSE 250 mining services company Weir Group have all fallen prey to hackers - though this was not related to home working.
Boris Johnson is said to be sure that he will not be thrown out as Tory leader by his MPs when Sue Gray releases her report on 'Partygate'.

The Prime Minister has been facing the threat of a coup after the allegations of lockdown being flouted in No10 fuelled unrest on the government benches.

On Sunday, it emerged that Ms Gray is understood to have been told about a 'victory party' held by friends of Mr Johnson's wife Carrie to mark the resignation of Dominic Cummings.

And to make matters worse for the PM, an ex-No10 official has revealed Mr Johnson vetoed plans to allow bereaved families to set up bubbles with their close relatives when restrictions began to ease last year.

But despite a long list of alleged No10 parties and a police probe, sources told the Mirror that the Prime Minister is 'privately reassured' he would not be forced out when Ms Gray's report is released later this week.

Boris Johnson is said to be sure that he will not be thrown out as Tory leader by his MPs when Sue Gray releases her report on 'Partygate'

On Sunday, it emerged that Sue Gray (pictured) is understood to have been told about a 'victory party' held by friends of Mr Johnson's wife Carrie to mark the resignation of Dominic Cummings

The senior civil servant's long-awaited report into up to 18 parties is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister within days.

But is has emerged that No10 staff who were found to have broken lockdown laws by attending parties may never be named under the terms of the police investigation, The Times reported.

The staff are unlikely to be publicly identified if they accept a penalty notice and do not contest the breach in court. Under police guidance, individuals are only named if they are charged and expected to appear in court.

Nikka da Costa, Boris Johnson's former director of legislative affairs

It comes as Nikka da Costa, Mr Johnson's former director of legislative affairs, wrote in The Times that the PM had shot down plans to allow bereaved families to set up bubbles with their close relatives when last year's lockdown restrictions began to ease over fears it would 'send the wrong message to the public'.

Costa said the veto came just weeks before Downing Street staff held two booze-filled leaving parties on the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

The former No10 official said she was 'angry' when she hears allies of Mr Johnson to 'get a sense of proportion' in response to allegations of No10 parties.

'If we in No 10 could be that hard-hearted because we thought it was the right thing to do, then those involved in those kinds of decisions also owed it to the country to be as hard on themselves and their own conduct,' Costa wrote.

She added: 'If No 10 failed in that as a collective, as it seems clear, it needs to be recognised as a failure of and by those at the top.'

It comes as the Mail on Sunday learned that as part of her inquiry into socialising in Mr Johnson's No 10 flat, Ms Gray has been told about a 'victory party' held by friends of Carrie.

The bash allegedly happened on the night of November 13, 2020, after Dominic Cummings had left with his belongings in a box.

He had allegedly lost a power struggle with the then Ms Symonds and other advisers.

'There was the sound of lots of banging and dancing and drinking, and a number of Abba tracks  including a triumphalist Winner Takes It All,' a source said.

A spokesman for Mrs Johnson said: 'It is totally untrue to suggest Mrs Johnson held a party in the Downing Street flat on November 13, 2020.'

In the latest twist of the lockdown party drama enveloping Westminster, it emerged that Miss Gray's probe has been told about alleged messages from Carrie Johnson offering to organise a cake for the PM's 56th birthday party in June 2020

METROPOLITAN POLICE SAYS 'MINIMAL REFERENCE' WILL BE MADE TO NO 10 EVENTS IN SUE GRAY REPORT Commander Catherine Roper, who leads the Met's Central Specialist Crime Command, said: 'My officers will now examine this material in detail to establish whether individuals attending the events in question may have breached the regulations. They will do so without fear or favour following our normal processes. '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. '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. 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. 'The offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in the issuing of a fixed penalty notice; accordingly our investigative actions will be proportionate to the nature of these offences. 'Individuals who are identified as having potentially breached these regulations will normally be contacted in writing, and invited to explain their actions including whether they feel they had a reasonable excuse. 'Following this process, and where there is sufficient evidence that individuals have breached the regulations without reasonable excuse, officers will decide if enforcement action is appropriate. 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. Recipients can pay the fixed penalty and the matter will be considered closed. '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. 'As the Commissioner said, we will not be giving a running commentary but we will continue to update when significant progress is made in the investigative process.' Advertisement

The Metropolitan Police could now investigate the party as part of its probe, and call on Mrs Johnson to provide written evidence.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that a tipsy Downing Street staffer boasted to No 10's security guards after leaving an allegedly lockdown-breaking booze-up.

The aide allegedly told security guards 'we're the only ones allowed to party' to officers as a group of people left No 10 in the early hours of the morning, according to The Sun.

A witness is claimed to have reported the jibe to Ms Gray's inquiry.

Last week the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick announced officers have launched a criminal inquiry after assessing a dossier of evidence compiled by Ms Gray.

The police inquiry will reportedly focus on eight out of 17 parties looked at by Ms Gray.

The force then clarified it was looking at potential Covid breaches that are dealt with by fixed-term penalty notices.

MPs have urged Miss Gray to release an uncensored version of her report immediately, after Scotland Yard admitted it had asked Whitehall's ethics tsar to 'water down' her document while the force conducts a criminal probe that may not conclude for months.

The highly controversial move has seen Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick accused of 'an abuse of power' by 'interfering' with the investigation and demanding that Miss Gray remove key details which are central to the row over 'parties' in No10.

It is understood that the senior civil servant will give Mr Johnson a redacted version of her report within days, rather than wait for the Met's inquiry to end.

But Conservative MPs are now urging Miss Gray to make her report available to the public in full, in a bid to 'end this madness'.

Meanwhile, Labour called for Mr Johnson to finally 'end the circus' over partygate.

Shadow minister Lisa Nandy told the Mirror: 'There are a lot of bereaved families, there are a lot of people who made huge sacrifices who deserve to hear the truth from the Prime Minister.

'If he won't put an end to this circus then that report has to come out in full so that people can judge for themselves.'

Meanwhile, speculation mounted over an expected leadership contest to replace Mr Johnson, should he be deposed.

Yesterday Tom Tugendhat became the first Conservative MP to declare his intention to run in a leadership contest.

Asked in a Times Radio interview which will air today whether he would like to be Prime Minister, the Tonbridge & Malling MP said: 'It would be a huge privilege.'

He added: 'It's up to all of us to put ourselves forward. And it's up to the electorate, in the first case parliamentary colleagues, and in the second case the party, to choose.'

The former soldier added: 'There isn't a vacancy at the moment', and insisted he had not been canvassing support.

Jeremy Hunt, the former Foreign Secretary who came second to Mr Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest, recently said his ambition to be leader had not 'completely vanished'.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are expected to be the frontrunners in a contest, with other potential contenders including Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt.
Christopher Flanigan, who taught math at Coney Island Prep, posted a photo of thousands of officers outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral for the funeral of Det. Jason Rivera, saying it was the 'ideal conditions for reciprocity'

A Brooklyn teacher who appeared to call for violence against police officers in a photo posted to Instagram during the funeral of slain New York Police Detective Jason Rivera has been fired by the school.

Christopher Flanigan, who taught math at Coney Island Prep, claims his words were 'misconstrued' and that he was only trying to show the 'vulnerability' of the massive crowd of officers who turned out to mourn the rookie cop.

The charter school didn't buy his excuse and dismissed the teacher.

'We do not condone or promote violence of any sort,' said Coney Island Prep CEO Leslie-Bernard Joseph in a statement released Sunday.

'As of this afternoon, Mr. Flanigan is no longer employed at Coney Island Prep.'

'The teachers and staff of Coney Island Prep are public servants; and like all public servants we hold ourselves to a much higher standard,' Joseph continued.

'We work hard to serve the young people in our community, and we know our police officers do as well, taking innumerable risks, to keep our city safe.'

Flanigan said that he received death threats and calls for his firing over his since-deleted post showing an overhead shot of thousands of officers outside St. Patrick's Cathedral for Friday's funeral for Rivera, 22, who was fatally shot with his partner while responding to a domestic violence call in Harlem on January 21.

Chris Flanigans since-deleted Instagram post was an overhead shot that showed a sea of officers on Fifth Avenue during Jason Riveras funeral, with the caption, '5/30/20: NYPD SUV drives into a crowd of protestors. Ideal conditions for reciprocity'

Flanigan, who taught math at Coney Island Prep, was fired on Sunday following outrage over his instagram post that appeared to encourage violence against cops. 'We do not condone or promote violence of any sort,' said Coney Island Prep CEO Leslie-Bernard Joseph in a statement released Sunday

Police officers carried the casket of slain NYPD Officer Jason Rivera into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday

Officers on motorcycles lined up outside of the cathedral for the end of the funeral

Thousands of police officers formed a sea of blue as they watched the hearse carrying Rivera's body go by

In May 2020, a video caught a police van ramming into a group of protesters in Brooklyn

Rivera, 22, was killed in the line of duty earlier this month when responding to a domestic cal



Flanigan captioned the photo in his Instagram story: '5/30/20: NYPD SUV drives into a crowd of protestors. Ideal conditions for reciprocity,' according to the New York Post.

'I was really just trying to show the vulnerability of all of these police officers being in the same place at the same time which seems like a dangerous situation for anyone that would be that gathered together,' Flanigan told the Post on Sunday.

Flanigan, who taught math at Coney Island Prep, a charter school in south Brooklyn, told the paper he took the post down Saturday morning after two friends, one of whom is a cop, 'questioned what I meant by the post.'

'I respect the NYPD. I do not condone violence,' he explained. 'A 22-year-old police officer murdered in the line of duty is reprehensible. I'm devastated by that. I'm devastated that his partner passed a week later. These are not things that sit well with me.'

Flanigan told the Post that his use of the word 'reciprocity,' was not meant to be a call for violence against cops.

'Not in the sense for people to be driving or to be doing anything similar to what the police did,' he said. 'But they put themselves in a similar position by being  all there, all together and it's similar to how the protesters were.

'That  I was trying to use that word to almost be the inverse mirror of that. The police were now the people that were gathered together and the protestors were people that were gathered together. Both in dangerous situations but by no means implying or inciting or promoting that anyone should be a danger to anyone else.'

Flanigan's post was in reference to an incident following the death of George Floyd in May 2020 in which an NYPD vehicle drove into a crowd of protestors demonstrating against police brutality in Brooklyn.

Then-Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said the cops did not use the vehicle in a forceful manner, as former Mayor Bill de Blasio called footage of the incident 'troubling' but also blamed protestors for not moving out of the way.

No injuries were reported at the time.

Cops who saw Flanigan's post, though, said they were upset that Flanigan was advocating for an unprovoked attack on officers just weeks after Rivera and his partner, Wilbert Mora, 27, were shot dead in Harlem while responding to a domestic call.

'For a school to condone an act of terrorism is reprehensible,' one Manhattan cop told the Post, noting: 'I wouldn't want him giving my own children instruction of any kind.'

And a Brooklyn officer said: ' You have a city worker wishing physical harm or worse to fellow city workers during a solemn service. It is the ultimate act of cowardice.'

Over the weekend, some on Twitter called on Coney Island Prep to fire the math teacher - who was once featured on NY1 for his musical tributes to first responders during the early days of the pandemic.

'Coney Island Prep Math teacher Christopher Flanigan encouraged violence against NY cops,' wrote Claire Balan. 'Parents watch who's influencing your kids! Do you support this @CIPrep? #FireFlanigan.'

Another Twitter user wrote directly to the school, saying: 'I assume the announcement about he termination of Christopher Flanigan's contract is forthcoming? Or do you want to destroy your school financially? Because it is either him or you at this point, but one of you is going down.'

Others shamed the school, with one person writing, 'Is this the message you want your students to receive? Is the Is kind of person you let #teach?,' while another man simply asked: 'Has Coney Island Prep fired this scumbag yet?'

People on Twitter have called for Flanigan to be fired from his job as a teacher for his remarks

Flanigan's post came as a New York City actress was let go from her theater company after ranting about street closures during the funeral.

Jacqueline Guzman was released by Face to Face Films theater company after ranting in a now-deleted TikTok about 'shutting down most of Lower Manhattan' for Rivera's funeral on Friday.

'We do not need to shut down most of Lower Manhattan because one cop died for probably doing his job incorrectly,' she says in the video.

'They kill people who are under 22 every single day for no good reason and we don't shut down the city for them, so.'

She then pans the camera to show ambulances and cop cars blocking off the streets of New York.

'This is f**king ridiculous, this is f**king ridiculous,' Guzman rants.

'What if someone having a heart attack in this area? No one can get to them because it's all blocked off for one f**king cop.'

New York City actress Jacqueline Guzman received backlash for her 'disrespectful' comments regarding street closures during NYPD Officer Jason Rivera's funeral on Friday

Her own company released a statement, calling Guzman's video 'insensitive' and that it does not 'condone' her 'comments made about fallen Officer Rivera.'

'Face to Face Films has just been made aware of an insensitive video involving one of our members, Jacqueline Guzman,' the company wrote in a statement on Facebook.

'Face to Face Films does not support nor can condone these comes made about fallen Officer Rivera. As a result, she is no longer a member of our company.'

The Cuban American later deleted all of her social media accounts.
A charity which was inspired by Prince Philip was infiltrated by Chinese intelligence officers, reports have claimed.

The foreign spies worked their way into the company of those who run FaithInvest, a charity formed out of the ashes of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, which was co-founded by the late Prince Philip in 1995 to help faiths develop environmental and conservation projects based on their own beliefs and practices.

According to the Sun newspaper, the Chinese agents met with the Prince at Windsor in 2017.

The outlet claims the intelligence officers were working through the China Taoist Association but were actually controlled by Beijing's United Front Work Department.

The UFWD was accused by MI5 this month of seeking to 'covertly interfere' with British politics in a security alert to MPs.

Reports have surfaced suggesting that a charity founded by Martin Palmer and Prince Philip (pictured together) was infiltrated by Chinese intelligence officers in 2017

The group reportedly teamed up with FaithInvest's people so they could send agents to meet with the Duke of Edinburgh in 2017, conduct operations and buy influence.

They met with Prince Philip through activities associated with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) - a charity set up by Mr Palmer and Prince Philip that was a precursor to FaithInvest, which stemmed from ARC's initiatives.

A source said: 'The United Front Work Department is used to present a more acceptable face to a fairly unpleasant regime.

'But they are also involved in ruthless intelligence and foreign interference activities as well.'

There is no suggestion Prince Philip or Mr Palmer knew the organisation had been compromised, the Sun says.

When the allegations were put to Mr Palmer, he told the Sun he had worked with groups from different faiths since the 1990s.

He added: 'The China Taoist Association has played a major role in discussions on faiths and ecology, both in China and within Chinese communities around the world.

'That is why Prince Philip, who founded ARC, met the Taoists on a number of occasions.'

Parliamentarians were told Christine Lee (pictured) has been monitored by the security services for some time but has not been arrested and is not being expelled as it stands

It comes after MI5 accused the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of seeking to 'covertly interfere' with British politics in a security alert to MPs earlier this month.

MPs were warned in a bombshell email this week to avoid contact with Coventry-based solicitor Christine Lee, 58, who has been monitored by the security services for some time and was identified by MI5 as an agent of the UFWD agency.

She has not been arrested and is not being expelled as it stands, but a warning memo was sent to all MPs and peers in Westminster by the Speaker's Parliamentary security team.

MI5 said Lee had 'facilitated' donations to British political parties and legislators 'on behalf of foreign nationals'.

In a dramatic intervention, MI5 accused the 58-year-old of working on behalf of China's powerful UFWD agency to corrupt politicians.

Yesterday it was revealed the wife of Tory peer Lord Bates shook hands with China's President Xi Jinping during a Beijing meeting of a group linked to the UFWD.

Christine Lee is pictured with Labour MP Barry Gardiner outside Houses of Parliament in 2013

Pictured: Lady Bates (circled) met and shook the hand of President Xi Jinping after applauding him at a conference of the Chinese Overseas Friendship Association (Cofa) in May 2019

Xuelin Li Bates, who has donated 206,000 to the Conservative Party since 2010, met and shook the hand of the President at a conference of the Chinese Overseas Friendship Association (Cofa) in May 2019.

The Tory donor, 60, travelled to Beijing for the meeting of Cofa's council, held twice a decade, part of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) which has responsibility for intelligence and propaganda operations worldwide.

President Xi gave a speech in which he praised attendees and offered 'sincere congratulations' on behalf of his Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, according to state media.

She applauded the President and was captured on camera shaking his hand following the speech, The Sunday Times reports.

Lady Bates married Tory peer Lord Bates in July 2012 after arriving in London in 1989 fresh out of a Chinese university and with just 50 to her name.

Lord Bates served as minister under Theresa May, David Cameron and John Major.

The couple met at a private dinner she was hosting for the Speaker of the North Korean parliament.

Lord Bates had long been interested in the secretive state and he was also a friend of its closest ally, China.

In Hidden Hand, a book published in 2020, Xuelin was named as 'a prominent influencer on China matters' and claimed she had succeeded in positioning herself close to Britain's top elites, where she could spread a 'Chinese perspective'.
A Labour MP says she is considering whether to quit the party after accusing the leadership of doing little to protect her from harassment.

Rosie Duffield, the MP for Canterbury, is set to make a decision about her future within days after a party member accused her of moving 200 miles away from her constituency to be with her partner, a documentary-maker, in Wrexham.

It follows months of harassment from some activists over her views on trans rights, which she says has been carried out in a bid to oust her.

Miss Duffield has represented Canterbury since 2017 and is the only Labour MP in the whole of Kent.

On her own: Labour's Rosie Duffield says party leaders have failed to protected her from being harassed by activists

If she does decide to quit, it would be an embarrassment for Sir Keir Starmer, who wants to attract southern voters away from the Conservatives.

The MP has expressed gender-critical views and was called transphobic after liking a tweet saying women were people with cervixes.

She said she felt unable to attend last year's Labour conference because of the controversy generated by her remarks. She says she is 'completely supportive of trans rights'.

Miss Duffield described the new allegations about her living arrangements, made in a blogpost, as 'personal, libellous, nasty and fictional c**p'.

Ms Duffield is Labour's only MP in all of Kent

'All [of this was] published [or] written by ex and current Labour members who are clearly absolutely obsessed by my private life for some reason,' she tweeted.

'I have been subjected to this rubbish for several years now. It is obsessive harassment.

'Neither the Labour party or either the former or current Leader or the Whips' Office have done anything at all to stop it, to offer me any support, help or legal assistance. I am financially unable to pursue a libel action.

'Kent police, parliamentary security team and the Speaker's Office have been helpful but it is the Labour party that have offered me no support at all since I unexpectedly became an MP five years ago. I am today considering my future in the party very carefully.'

Later she added: 'Thank you very much to all who are sending supportive messages but just to be clear, this issue in no way relates to my stance on women's rights.

'I need support from Labour in Kent and against the constant stream of fictional and factional bile that is written about me.'

A Labour party spokesman said: 'The party continues to be in touch with Rosie Duffield and has offered her advice and support.'
The Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus about the Holocaust, which was banned by a Tennessee school district over a few curse words and a nude image, has topped Amazon.com's best-sellers' list.

Art Spiegelman's poignant tale about his parents' survival against Nazi atrocities went from No. 12 on Amazon's list on Friday evening and was No. 1 by Sunday night.

The book is not available for delivery until mid-February. The Complete Maus, which includes a second volume, was at No. 3 and is also completely out of stock.

Two editions of Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus have topped Amazon's bestseller's lists

Two books of the graphic novel Maus by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman are now top of the Bestseller's list on Amazon

Pages from the graphic novel Maus by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman are pictured

Author and artist Art Spiegelman, shown in his New York studio in 2004, turned the pain of the Holocaust into a Pulitzer Prize winning comic book novel

The various editions are also dominating the top of the lists of Amazon Best Sellers in the History, Comics & Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels, Historical & Biographical Fiction Graphic Novels, and Biographies categories.

Neither book was in the top 1,000 at the start of last the week.

Recent reviews of the versions appear to credit the recent controversy for its purchase.

'Thank you McMinn County SB for being the impetus to discover this masterpiece,' one reviewer, identified as a 'WWII era history buff of many years', wrote. 'It will be a treasured addition to my WWII library.'

One Tennessee local has set up a GoFundMe in order to purchase more copies of Maus for students who have since been deprived of the book. So far, $78,000 has been raised.

Earlier this month, the McMinn County School Board in Tennessee voted to remove Maus from its curriculum due to 'inappropriate language' (eight swear words) and its 'not wise or healthy' content.

The book includes an illustration of a nude woman, according to minutes from a board meeting.

The McMinn County Board of Education voted 10-0 to remove Maus on January 10, despite educators arguing that the graphic novel is an 'anchor text' in eighth-grade English language arts instruction and the centerpiece of a months-long study of the Holocaust.

Artist and author Art Spiegelman is seen during a book signing in 2004

Published in 1991, Maus is inspired by the story of Spiegelman's parents, Vladek and Anja, who survived the Holocaust after being shipped to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. The graphic novel depicts Nazis as cats and Jewish people as mice.

Spiegelman's autobiographical book won a Pulitzer in 1992.

The Tennessee board's decision came amid a wave of conservative-sponsored legislation and other actions to pull books from schools, with other banned works including Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

The board heard from instructional supervisors and other school officials who defended the use of the book in class but were unanimously overruled.

'I went to school here 13 years. I learned math, English, reading and history. I never had a book with a naked picture in it, never had one with foul language. ... So, this idea that we have to have this kind of material in the class in order to teach history, I don't buy it,' said board member Mike Cochran.

Spiegelman, 73, called the ban 'Orwellian' in an interview with CNBC, saying that he learned about it on Wednesday, a day before Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Experts say the book has been taught at schools for nearly two decades.

The McMinn County school board in Tennessee voted 10-0 to remove 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman from the eighth grade curriculum over eight swear words and nudity

The graphic novel by Art Spiegelman (above) is inspired by the story of Art's parents

Art's father, Vladek Spiegelman (above), survived the Auschwitz concentration camp

The Holocaust Museum has defended Maus as playing a 'vital role' in educating children about the genocide. Their tweet came on Wednesday, the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day



The Holocaust Museum has defended the book and said it plays a 'vital role' in teaching about the World War II-era genocide.

The McMinn Board of Education declined to comment on the ban or how long the book has been taught at its schools.

The board members' objections centered around a drawing of a nude woman and eight swear words that appeared throughout the 296-page book, according to minutes from the meeting.

Lee Parkison, the board's director of schools, said he tried to find a workaround to the profanity.

'I consulted with our attorney, Mr. Scott Bennett. After consulting with him, we decided the best way to fix or handle the language in this book was to redact it. Considering copyright, we decided to redact it to get rid of the eight curse words and the picture of the woman that was objected to,' Parkinson said.

But Bennett told him there were copyright issues associated with censoring swear words from an artistic work.

Board member Tony Allman said the book was unacceptable with or without the redacted portions.

'Being in the schools, educators and stuff, we don't need to enable or somewhat promote this stuff. It shows people hanging, it shows them killing kids. Why does the educational system promote this kind of stuff? It is not wise or healthy,'

Instructional supervisor Julie Goodin responded: 'I can talk of the history, I was a history teacher, and there is nothing pretty about the Holocaust, and for me this was a great way to depict a horrific time in history.

'Mr. Spiegelman did his very best to depict his mother passing away and we are almost 80 years away. It's hard for this generation, these kids don't even know 9/11, they were not even born. For me this was his way to convey the message.'

Board member Tony Allman (left) suggested the book should at least be censored. 'Why does the educational system promote this kind of stuff, it is not wise or healthy,' he said

The 296-page book details the suicide of the author's mother, who also survived Auschwitz. It depicts Nazis as cats and Jewish people as mice

Melasawn Knight, also an instructional supervisor, concurred.

'People did hang from trees, people did commit suicide and people were killed, over six million were murdered,' she said.

Allman was not swayed by the argument.

'I am not denying it was horrible, brutal, and cruel. It's like when you're watching TV and a cuss word or nude scene comes on it would be the same movie without it. Well, this would be the same book without it,' Allman said.

Cochran added: 'So, my problem is, it looks like the entire curriculum is developed to normalize sexuality, normalize nudity and normalize vulgar language. If I was trying to indoctrinate somebody's kids, this is how I would do it.'

McMinn County is a heavily conservative area in southeastern Tennessee. In the 2020 election, nearly 80 percent of votes went to Donald Trump.

Maus uses a frame-tale timeline in which Art Spiegelman, in New York City in 1978, interviews his father Vladek about his experiences during the Holocaust.

'People did hang from trees, people did commit suicide and people were killed, over six million were murdered,' said one instructional supervisor while defending the use of the book

Art's mother Anja had also lived through the Nazi regime, but she killed herself when Spiegelman was 20, a story that is touched on in the book.

The novel won the Pulitzer in 1992 and has since been lauded for helping to usher in a new era of graphic novels, in which they were seen as a respectable form of adult media.

'Maus is used in schools all across the US, as I regularly have students tell me they read it before arriving at college,' said Dr. Gregory Spinner, a professor of religion at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Spinner's research focuses partly on Jewish studies and draws from graphic novels.

'It's been this way for well over a decade, probably closer to two decades,' he said.

'I can not hazard a guess as to why Maus would be banned, except to observe that if one wants to teach about the Holocaust without the subject being upsetting, then one does not actually want to teach about the Holocaust,' Spinner told DailyMail.com.

Eliyana Adler, a professor of history and Jewish studies at Pennsylvania State University, says Maus is taught in 'many college courses' as well.

Author Neil Gaiman compared the school board members to Nazis in a tweet on Wednesday

'I'm kind of baffled by this,' Spiegelman told CNBC after learning of the ban. 'It's leaving me with my jaw open, like, 'What?''

The decision drew outcry from British author Neil Gaiman, who compared the school board members to Nazis in a tweet on Wednesday.

'There's only one kind of people who would vote to ban Maus, whatever they are calling themselves these days,' Gaiman said.

The Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, tweeted about the importance of the book on Wednesday, as news of the Tennessee school board's decision traveled far beyond rural McMinn County.

'Maus has played a vital role in educating about the Holocaust through sharing detailed and personal experiences of victims and survivors,' the museum said.

'Teaching about the Holocaust using books like Maus can inspire students to think critically about the past and their own roles and responsibilities today.'

The ban comes as parents and school boards across the country debate how to teach the history of racism at schools, if at all.

Last year, the Republican-controlled Tennessee General Assembly voted to withhold funding from schools that teach 'critical race theory,' effectively banning it, according to the Tennessean.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has appointed the man who helped clean up corruption in the state to a new commission of inquiry as her government comes under siege about integrity on multiple fronts.

Tony Fitzgerald will co-chair the inquiry into the state's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) - a body he helped establish in 1989 when it was known as the Criminal Justice Commission - along with retired Supreme Court judge Alan Wilson QC.

The announcement came as Ms Palaszczuk said her government had accepted the recommendations of the bipartisan Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee (PCCC) handed down in December.

The premier's achievements in managing the Covid-19 pandemic are suddenly being overshadowed by questions about integrity, resignations of key bureaucrats and the problems that have beset the CCC in what shapes as the toughest test in her seven years in the top job.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has appointed the man who helped clean up corruption in the state, Tony Fitzgerald, to a new commission of inquiry on Monday as her government faces questions on multiple fronts about government integrity

A Queensland parliamentary committee found that the CCC chair, Alan MacSporran (pictured), had not ensured the integrity watchdog had acted with independence and impartiality at all times, leading to the new inquiry

Need for a review of CCC is 'clear'

Calls for the CCC to be investigated followed its role in the botched prosecution of eight Logan City councillors who were charged with fraud in 2019.

The charges led to the sacking of Logan City Council but were then discontinued in a Brisbane court in April last year.

The PCCC found that the CCC chair, Alan MacSporran, had not ensured the integrity watchdog had acted with independence and impartiality at all times.

MacSporran resigned last week seven weeks after the PCCC report was tabled, saying the 'relationship between myself and the PCCC has broken down irretrievably'.

'It is clear a review of the CCC is needed,' Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday.

'Who better than Tony Fitzgerald to conduct it?'

The new inquiry will take six months and work to terms of reference found in the recommendations made by the PCCC.

'We will absolutely implement whatever recommendations [the inquiry makes] but Im not going to pre-empt that,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

Tony Fitzgerald headed the inquiry that uncovered systemic corruption in the state 35 years ago and will now head a new commission of inquiry into the CCC, the anti-corruption body he helped establish

Mr Fitzgerald headed the inquiry that uncovered systemic corruption in the state 35 years ago.

That inquiry was considered to have changed attitudes to the oversight of police and politicians in Australia, after four ministers were jailed, former Police Commissioner Sir Terence Lewis was convicted of corruption and jailed, and former Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was charged with perjury for evidence given to the inquiry, although his trial was later aborted due to a hung jury.

Public servant claims political pressure

Ms Palaszczuk's government is also facing claims by public servants that they are being pressured to ignore the public interest to minimise 'political damage'.

Former state archivist Mike Summerell has released two statements in which he has called for an integrity inquiry into the government's treatment of public servants.

'If you are faced with a situation that is "negative" to the government of the day, you have the dilemma  do the right thing or put your career in jeopardy,' Mr Summerell wrote.

'Many will try everything they possibly can to find a compromise  do the right thing, minimise the political damage.

'But they know if they cause political damage, there will be a potential consequence.'

Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday that she encouraged any public servant with concerns about the government to come forward, and said Mr Summerell's concerns had been dealt with by the CCC.

'I encourage our public servants to come forward and give frank advice to government, I expect nothing less,' she said.

Ms Palaszczuk's achievements in managing the Covid-19 pandemic are suddenly being overshadowed by questions about government integrity. Pictured: Ms Palaszczuk with boyfriend Reza Adib at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in January

Integrity Commissioner claims laptop was 'wiped'

Ms Palaszczuk's government also faces questions over the recent resignation of the state's integrity commissioner, Dr Nikola Stepanov, midway through her three-year-term.

Dr Stepanov maintains Queensland's register of political lobbyists and confidentially advises politicians on integrity matters.

While Ms Palaszczuk had said Dr Stepanov's resignation was a coincidence and 'not a problem at all', it followed claims by the commissioner of interference with her office.

Queensland Integrity Commissioner, Dr Nikola Stepanov (pictured), resigned last week after expressing concerns about interference with the workings of her office

Dr Stepanov had made a complaint to the CCC that the Public Service Commission had seized and 'wiped' her laptop. Ms Palaszczuk has refused to comment on the issue while it was is being handled by the CCC, which is now itself being investigated.

The commissioner had earlier written that she was 'very concerned' about potential illegal lobbying in the state after a jump in recorded contacts between Ms Palaszczuk's government and lobbyists.

Latest Queensland Covid numbers updated

The announcement about the inquiry into the CCC came after Ms Palaszczuk had reported a drop in new Covid cases in the state to 7462 new with three deaths.

One of the deaths was a person in their 60s, one in their 80s and another in the 90s. Two had received two doses of a vaccine and one had three doses of vaccine.

Ms Palaszczuk said 33.37 per cent of 5-11-year-olds had now received a first dose of vaccine but Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said numbers had slowed and urged parents to vaccinate children ahead of the state's return to school.

Yesterday Ms Palaszczuk announced the state's return-to-schools policy when the first term of 2022 begins next Monday, February 7.

The Queensland school year was delayed two weeks to allow more five to 11-year-old children to receive a first dose of a Covid vaccine.

Masks will be mandatory for high school students and 'strongly encouraged' from year 3 upwards.

Rapid antigen tests will be available in all Queensland schools and given to the parents of children who develop symptoms in class to take at home.

Likewise, teachers who develop symptoms on site will be able to collect a rapid test from the school.

'If you are symptomatic, we want to get you home and get you tested,' Education Minister Grace Grace said on Sunday.

'We have thousands of tests available at the moment that will be ready for day one on the seventh of February.'

Masks will be mandatory for high school students and 'strongly encouraged' from year 3 upwards when Queensland schools return next Monday, February 7 after a two-week delay so more five to 11-year-olds could be vaccinated. Pictured: Brothers Louise and Harry Taylor-Bishop and sisters Olivia and Evie Kurz pose for a photo after receiving their first vaccine in Brisbane

School camps, excursions, assemblies and large gatherings will be suspended for at least the first four weeks and face-to-face staff meetings will be limited.

Visitors on school grounds will also be restricted with exceptions for parents and carers of vulnerable students, and all students in early childhood, kindergarten, prep and year 1.

Covid-19 outbreaks will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with school closures a 'last resort'.

Schools are already open for children of essential workers, and online learning returns for years 11 and 12 this week.
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.


An unvaccinated North Carolina man who needs a life-saving kidney transplant - and has been offered an organ by 100 people - has been denied the surgery by doctors because he refuses to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Chad Carswell, 38, strongly believes that getting the vaccine should be a choice and doesn't think it's very effective in preventing infection.

'I've had COVD twice so I've developed natural antibodies,' the Air Force veteran told DailyMail.com on Sunday when asked about his reasons for refusing the shot.

'A lot of scientists say I'm more safe from my natural antibodies. It's more to do with the fact that they're trying to force you to do something,' he said.

Carswell has had six heart attacks and is a double amputee. His kidney is operating at four percent capacity and he undergoes dialysis - a process that removes toxins from the blood, typically removed by healthy kidneys - three times a week.

About 100 people have offered to donate a kidney to him, he said, but he can't get a transplant at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, which requires transplant candidates to be vaccinated because they are at high risk for severe illness.

'Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's policy follows the current standard of care in the United States, which is to vaccinate all patients on waiting lists or being evaluated for transplant,' the hospital said in a statement.

Carswell's case echoes the travails faced by a gravely ill 31-year-old father-of-two in Massachusetts who was taken off the donor list for a heart transplant by a Boston hospital because he 'does not believe' in the COVID vaccine.

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Chad Carswell, 38, strongly believes that getting the vaccine should be a choice and doesn't believe it to be very effective in preventing infection

Carswell had six heart attacks, is a double amputee, and undergoes dialysis three times a week that he says leaves him exhausted

Staff at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital in Winston-Salem urged him to get the vaccine so he could have his surgery. Most hospitals in the US do not allow unvaccinated transplant candidates to undergo surgery

Carswell is on disability and dabbles in real estate and in buying and selling cars. He is a former member of the Air Force and was a general manager at a car dealership before his kidney failure got worse.

Asked about his health, Carswell told DailyMail.com: 'I'm still here so that's really all that matters.'

He said he undergoes dialysis Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

'Those days are pretty tough,' he said. 'It's getting harder. Those days are getting longer. I get it first thing in the morning. I used to come home and take a rest and have time in the afternoon to function and do stuff, and now those days are pretty much washed.'

Carswell appears to have had COVID in September.

'As soon as they did an X-ray of my chest he came in and told me its in bad shape that hes really worried about me,' he said in a Facebook post from a hospital bed.

In November, he posted a photo of three tubes of the veterinary formulation of Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug used in humans and animals in different doses.

He insisted he's not changing his mind about the COVID-19 vaccine anytime soon.

The US Centers for Disease Control maintains that all three vaccines approved in the US are safe and effective and that everyone aged 5 and up should get one 'as soon as possible.'

'A lot of people think I'm anti-vax. I'm not anti-vax. I'm I-don't-care-vax,' Carswell told DailyMail.com. 'If you choose to get it, by all means, get it. If you choose to not get it, by all means, don't get it.'

'A lot of people think I'm anti-vax. I'm not anti-vax. I'm I-don't-care-vax,' Carswell told DailyMail.com

The Air Force veteran told DailyMail.com that he fought for this country for his freedom to choose, which he's now exercising by not getting a COVID-19 vaccine

Carswell says he's had COVID twice already and has enough natural immunity to protect him. In November, he posted a photo of three tubes of the veterinary formulation of Ivermectin

Factors that can disqualify patients from organ transplants Not being vaccinated for COVID

Untreated psychological disorders, like schizophrenia, that could prevent the patient from properly caring for themselves after the transplant

A high risk of abusing alcohol after the transplant

Active cigarette smoking within six months of the prospective transplant

Substance abuse

Obesity

Severe local or systemic infection

Cancer in the last 5 years except localized skin (not melanoma) or stage I breast or prostate

HIV/AIDS

Age appropriateness (for example, heart transplant recipients should not be more than 70 years of age, according to John Hopkins University guidelines)

Inability to make a strong commitment to transplantation

Insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus with end-organ damage

Irreversible renal failure

Acute pulmonary thromboembolism

Inability to pay for transplant or post-operative care Advertisement

Carswell said friends and local businesses raised money to fund his much-needed transplant, and that more than 100 people offered to donate one of their kidneys, according to WSCO.

Doctors and nurses at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist have urged him to get the vaccine so he can get the surgery.

'That's when I politely told him theres nothing to talk about,' Carswell said. 'It wasn't up for debate, I wasn't getting it. And he told me, "You know you'll die if you don't get it," and I told him I'm willing to die,' he told WSCO.

He added: 'I was born free. I will die free. I'm not changing my mind.'

Carswell told DailyMail.com that Dr. Bob Stratta, who oversees the transplant team at Atrium Health, actually agreed with his reasons for not getting the vaccine.

'He called me and said that I was a very intelligent man and that the reasonings that I had for not agreeing with everything, he agreed with 100 percent, and that if it were up to him, he would allow me to get it,' he said.

Dr. Stratta did not immediately respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com.

COVID-19, powered by the Omicron variant, is driving the daily American death toll higher than during last autumn's Delta wave, with deaths likely to keep rising for days or even weeks.

In total there are 74,086,874 cases in the US as of Friday and 882,970 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the US has been climbing since mid-November, reaching 2,390 on Friday and surpassing a September peak of 2,100 when Delta was the dominant variant.

Now Omicron is estimated to account for nearly all the virus circulating in the nation.

And even though it causes less severe disease for most people, the fact that it is more transmissible means more people are falling ill and dying.

US COVID deaths and infections are still up due to the more contagious Omicron variant

Carswell says he's looking into other hospitals for his transplant, but new rules requiring transplant candidates to get jabbed are popping up everywhere.

'I've been told theres one in Texas and one in Florida, and then I got told that one in Florida changed their policy last week,' he told DailyMail.com.

'I've been told multiple times there was one in Texas that doesn't and then I got told there was one in Nebraska that doesn't.'

Carswell is on disability and dabbles in real estate and in buying and selling cars. He is a former member of the Air Force and was a general manager at a car dealership before his kidney failure got worse

Carswell has posted on his Facebook page about news coverage of his story multiple times

Carswell says his mom, dad, brother and close friends support his decision to remain unvaccinated.

He says his religion keeps him motivated to stand his ground.

'I was told a long time ago that you gotta stand for something,' he said. 'God tells you 360 times in the Bible, "Do not fear."'

Carswell has posted on his Facebook page about news coverage of his story multiple times.

'This journey isn't about me I've said it 1k times over if it was I would have quit a long time ago. It's about the countless messages I get telling me I help and this journey helps them,' he wrote in a post on Friday.

Last week, DJ Ferguson, who has a hereditary heart condition that causes his lungs and heart to fill with blood and fluid, was denied the life-saving heart transplant by Boston Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

DJ Ferguson, 31 (pictured) has a hereditary heart condition that causes his lungs and heart to fill with blood and fluid without intervention from intravenous medication. He has been denied a life-saving heart transplant because he refuses to get vaccinated against COVID-19

Ferguson's family is considering moving him to another hospital, but he may not be able to be moved in his condition

The hospital said it removed Ferguson from the donor list because all transplant recipients need to get the vaccine in order to 'create both the best chance for successful operation and also the patients survival after transplantation.'

However, Ferguson's father, David, said getting vaccinated is 'kind of against his basic principles' and that his son 'doesn't believe in it.'

'I think my boy is fighting pretty damn courageously and he has integrity and principles he really believes in and that makes me respect him all the more... Its his body. Its his choice.'

The hospital, which has a list of protocols for transplant candidates that includes a ban on lifestyle choices like smoking and alcohol, said requiring the COVID vaccine is common at many medical center's throughout the country.

The mortality rate for transplant recipients who fall ill with COVID is more than 20 percent, according to UCHealth.

After outcry from his family, the hospital agreed to perform open heart surgery to fit a pump that will keep him alive for another five years.
Police on Sydney's Northern Beaches are appealing for the public's help to locate a missing teenager.

Mikala Watts, aged 16, was last seen at about 8pm on Saturday, January 22 at the Narrabeen tram shed.

After failing to return home, Mikala was reported missing to officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command who began inquiries to locate her.

Mikala Watts, aged 16, was last seen at about 8pm on Saturday, January 22 at the Narrabeen tram shed

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with long blonde hair, medium build and 165cm tall.

It is not known what she was last wearing.

Mikala is believed to be in the Northern Beaches area, but family and police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Anyone with information about Mikalas whereabouts is urged to call Dee Why Police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Australia is considering giving a fourth Covid vaccine dose to certain people.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said 'older Australians and perhaps those working with vulnerable patients' are being considered for a fourth dose.

'That's still under active medical consideration, but the supplies and logistics are in place to deliver that if it's required,' he said.

Israel has already given fourth doses to 500,000 people but has still struggled with a high number of Omicron cases.

Four million more Australians can now get their booster shots as the gap between second and third doses is cut to three months. Pictured: Eloa De Souza receives a Covid vaccine at Sydney Road Family Medical Practice in Balgowlah on January 10

Four million more Australians can now get their Covid-19 booster shots as the gap between second and third doses is cut to three months from today.

Some 16million Aussies have been made eligible for a booster with 7.6million of those having already taken up the offer.

The Government shortened the gap between second and third doses to combat the more infectious but less severe Omicron strain which emerged in November in South Africa.

The gap was first cut from six to five months, then to four months in early January and now to three months.

A total of 93.3 per cent of Aussies are vaccinated with at least two doses.

It comes as Mr Hunt insisted the number of patients in hospital was 'well within the capacity in the system' despite a large Covid-19 outbreak in the eastern states.

He noted that national ICU numbers had dropped by 50 in 10 days from 417 on January 20 to 367 on January 30.

'The challenge here in Australia has been work force but the results are significantly below even the best case projections that we saw back in early December and mid-December,' he said in a press conference.

Health Minister Greg Hunt insisted the number of patients in hospital was 'well within the capacity in the system'

On Monday Victoria recorded a drop in Covid-19 cases with 10,053 new infections reported overnight while cases have remained steady in NSW.

The new cases announced in Victoria on Monday marks a dip on the 10,589 reported on Sunday. Deaths have also fallen to eight - down from 20.

NSW recorded 13,026 new Covid-19 cases - marking the fourth day in a row the state has recorded cases around the 13,000 mark. The daily death rate has also remained steady at 27.

Hospitalisations have risen in NSW to 2,779 - up from 2,663 - and dropped in Victoria to 873 - down from 889.

NSW ICU rates remain unchanged at 185 while Victoria has experienced a dip to 102 - down from 111.

NSW has recorded 13,026 new Covid-19 cases and 27 deaths while Victoria has recorded 10,053 infections and eight deaths

A leading expert says there may be a spike in Covid-19 cases as schools begin to return in some states this week, but the best thing remained that children return to the classroom.

Chair for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton says COVID-safe measures taken by schools - including hygiene practices and rapid antigen testing - would make a difference in reducing transmission.

'That should give parents confidence, particularly using rapid antigen tests,' Prof Halton told the Nine Network.

'We'll have a strategy that means for the next four weeks we will be able to surveil this and be able to tell exactly how many cases have come from schools reopening.'

More than 320,000 children will be starting school for the first time, and about 240,000 students will be starting year 12.
Ahmaud Arbery's family is furious at the Department of Justice for giving two of his killers a plea deal that sends them to a relatively cushy federal prison to serve out their life sentences instead of the state penitentiary.

Travis and Gregory McMichael are expected to plea guilty to federal hate crime charges later today in Georgia, after reaching a plea deal with the US Attorney's Office.

The deal has not been made public yet, but lawyers representing Ahmaud's family say it gives the men their preference of serving time in a federal prison.

'Federal prison is a country club when compared to state prison. Federal prisons are less populated, better funded and generally more accommodating than state prisons. These men hurriedly entered this plea deal that would allow them to transfer out of custody from GA prison,' attorney Lee Merritt tweeted.

A lawyer for the McMichaels told The Atlanta Journal Constitution that it was unfair to suggest federal prison is more comfortable.

'Anybody who tries to convince the public that one is better than the other or one is cushier than the other has no idea what its like to serve time in prison,' he said.

A judge will decide later today whether or not to accept the deal.

Wanda Cooper Jones, Ahmaud's mother, is expected to go before the judge this afternoon at a pre-trial hearing for the pair to beg them not to accept the deal.

Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael were convicted in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery

Arbery, 26, was murder in February 2020 after he was chased down by the Travis and Gregory McMichael and William 'Roddie' Bryan

Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, left, attorney Lee Merritt, second from left, attorney Ben Crump, right, and Marcus Arbery, father of Ahmaud Arbery with Reverend Al Sharpton in November 2021 at the state trial

Legal experts say it is likely they are trying to get into federal prison because they will be more closely protected there than in state prison.

Arbery's parents immediately ripped the agreement as a betrayal, calling it an 'unauthorized backroom deal' that 'is a huge accommodation to the men who hunted down and murdered' their son.

The McMichaels were convicted in November, along with William 'Roddie' Bryan, in Arbery's murder and were sentenced to serve life without parole, though Bryan was allowed to seek parole.

The trio, however, were still scheduled to stand trial for federal hate crime charges on February 7.

The details of the plea agreement were not specified when filed on Sunday. They have to be reviewed and approved by a judge. A plea does not appear to have been reached with Bryan.

However, Marcus Arbery and Wanda Cooper-Jones, in a statement put out by their attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt, have revealed some of the details of the agreement, which they say is a betrayal of their trust.

Lee Merritt, an attorney for the Arbery family, said the prison the men would now go to under the deal is like a 'country club' compared with state prison

'Both [Cooper-Jones] and [Arbery] are vehemently against this deal and expressed this directly on calls with DOJ officials today,' the statement reads.

They say the deal would allow the McMichaels to serve 30 years in a 'preferred federal prison' rather than a state penitentiary.

Cooper-Jones now says she will testify in federal court against the deal on Monday.

'The DOJ has gone behind my back to offer the men who murdered my son a deal to make their time in prison easier for them to serve,' she said.

'I have made it clear at every possible moment that I do not agree to offer these men a plea deal of any kind. I have been completely betrayed by the DOJ lawyers.'

Attorney Ben Crump speaks to the Media with Lee Merritt (second from left) outside the Glynn County Courthouse

Travis and Gregory McMichael were both sentenced to life without parole, while their neighbor William Roddie Bryan, 52, - who filmed the murder - will be eligible for parole. Judge Timothy R. Walmsley did not specify how long he would have to spend in prison - prosecutors asked that he spend at least 15 years behind bars. Typically, the minimum in Georgia is 30 years.

In handing down his sentence, Walmsley called the murder 'chilling' and 'disturbing'. He talked about the 'terror' Arbery must have felt for the five minutes the men chased him in their pick-up trucks with a shotgun and revolver.

'As we all now know based on the verdict that was handed down in this courtroom, Ahmaud Arbery was murdered. It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy on many, many levels.

'On February 23, 2020...a young man with dreams was gunned down in this community. As we understand it, he went for a run and he ended up running for his life.'

To emphasize how long the five-minute chase must have felt for Arbery, the judge sat silently for a minute in the courtroom.

'That one minute represents a fraction of the time that Ahmaud Arbery was running in Satilla Shores. The chase that occurred, occurred over a five minute period.

'When I thought about this, I kept coming back to the terror that must have been in the mind of the young man running through Satilla Shores,' he said.

'He was hunted down and shot and he was killed because individuals took the law into their own hands.'

Travis McMichael, left, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for shooting dead Ahmaud Arbery in 2020

Gregory McMichael, Travis's 66-year-old father, will also die in prison under the life without parole sentence

William Roddie Bryan, the 52-year-old neighbor who filmed the murder, was sentenced to life but he has been given the possibility of parole. Prosecutors asked that he have to serve at least 15 years behind bars

Judge Timothy Walmsley on Friday called the killing 'chilling' and 'disturbing.' He talked about the 'terror' Arbery must have felt as the men chased him in their pick-up trucks for five minutes

He then recited some of the comments made by the McMichaels after the shooting to prove that it was a 'callous' execution, and said they never showed any remorse.

'Remorse is something that's felt and demonstrated. In this case, getting back to the video, after Ahmaud Arbery fell, the McMichael's turned their backs. They walked away. This was a killing. It was callous and it occurred because confrontation was being sought.

'The most violent crime in Satilla Shores was the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

'The record speaks for itself. Greg McMichael tried to establish a narrative. He said he was 'trapped like a rat.'

Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed in Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. on February 23, 2020,one year on

'He said, "stop or I'll blow your f*****g head off."

'He told Travis "you have no choice". He also said, "If I could have gotten a shot at the guy, I would have shot him."'

Unlike the father and son, Bryan appeared to show some remorse in the days and weeks after the killing, he said.

However all three acted as vigilantes, chasing down Arbery and then murdering him because they were 'seeking confrontation.'

'Taking the law into your own hands is a dangerous endeavor. Ultimately with regard to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery it holds us all accountable. At a minimum his death should force us to consider expanding our definition of what a neighbor may be and how we treat them.

'I believe that assuming the worst in others, we show our worst character. Assuming the best in others is always the best course of action. Maybe those are the grand lessons of this case,' the judge said.

There were celebrations outside the court as the sentences were read aloud.

Earlier, Arbery's parents asked a judge to sentence his killers to life without parole on Friday at a courthouse in Georgia, saying they 'lynched him in broad daylight' and targeted him when he felt most 'free and alive'.

On February 23, 2020, the McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery, a 26-year-old black man, through a street in Satilla Shores. They said they thought he was a burglar. Travis pulled the trigger, with his father nearby. Bryan filmed the entire incident on his phone.

In November, they were all convicted of murder - which carries a mandatory life sentence. Prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty.

Gregory and Travis McMichael and their neighbor William Brian Jr were found a guilty of murder in state court on November 23 by a panel of 11 white jurors and one black juror. In compiling that jury pool, 1,000 people in the mostly-white Glynn County were called. Pictured: The moment Arbery was shot by Travis McMichael

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones celebrates as she leaves court with her family on Friday after her son's killers were sentenced to life behind bars without parole

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, center, speaks with supporters after Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 23, 2021 a woman holds portraits of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd during an event in remembrance of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones (left) and father Marcus (right) asked a judge to impose the maximum sentence possible for his killers - life without parole

Arbery's father Marcus spoke first, telling the court: 'The man who killed my son has sat in this courtroom every day next to his father. I'll never get the chance of sitting next to my son ever again. Not at a dinner table, not at a holiday, not at a wedding. I pray that no one in this courtroom has to do what we had - bury their child.'

Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones, pleaded: 'They were fully committed to their crimes - let them be fully committed for the consequences.'

She then pleaded with the judge: 'Your honor, I am standing here before you today as the mother of Ahmaud Arbery asking you to please give all three defendants who are responsible for the death of my son, the maximum punishment which I do believe is life without bars without the possible chance for parole.'

During sentencing, lawyers for the three men asked the judge to grant the men parole. That was refused for Travis McMichael and his father. Pictured: McMichael leaving the court house in shackles after being sentenced to life without parole

Greg McMichael is handcuffed and seen wearing a face mask as he's led out of the court after sentencing

William Bryan was the only convicted killer to be granted a sentence where he was given the option of parole. He's pictured being led out of the court house to serve his sentence

Ahmaud Arbery's parents, Wanda Cooper-JOnes (in blue suit) and Marcus Arbery (third from left), celebrate outside court as his three killers are jailed for life - two without the possibility of parole

The men's lawyers are asking that they be granted parole after 30 years. Prosecutors have asked the judge not to grant any of the men parole.

Cooper-Jones spoke about Ahmaud as a 'loving' baby who 'never seemed to tire of cuddles, hugs and kisses.'

His father Marcus told how he loved to run more than anything because it made him feel 'free'.

'Not only did they lynch my son in broad daylight but they killed him when he was doing what he loved more than anything - running.

'That's when he felt most alive. Most free. And they took all of that from him.

'When I close my eyes, I see his execution over and over. I'll see that for the rest of my life.

'When I became a father my life became bigger than me, it became bigger than me about my family, protecting him, protecting my boy. I know in my head that there is nothing I could have done that day to have saved my son.

'MY SON'S KILLERS HAVE NO REMORSE' - AHMAUD ARBERY'S MOTHER'S VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT I want to speak directly to my son. This verdict doesn't bring you back, but it does help bring closure to this very difficult chapter of my life. I made a promise to you the day I laid you to rest. I told you I loved you and someday, somehow I would get you justice. Son, I love you as much today as the day you were born. Raising you was the honor of my life and I am very proud of you. Your honor, these men have chosen to lie and attack my son and his surviving family. They have no remorse and do not deserve leniency. This wasn't a case of mistaken identity or mistaken fact. They chose to target my son because they didn't want him in their community they chose to treat him differently when they couldn't sufficiently scare him or intimidate him, they killed him. My young son, he was born on mothers' day of 1994. He had a smile so bright it lit up the room. He was a greedy baby and it seemed like he was always searching for something to stick in his mouth. He was always a loving baby who seemed to never tire of cuddling, hugs and kisses He loved. He never hesitated to tell me, his sister Jasmine or brother Marcus, and we loved him back, He was messy. He sometimes refused to wear socks. I wish he would have cut and cleaned his toenails before he went out for his jog that day. I guess he would have if he knew he would be murdered. My family is going to miss Ahmaud, his jokes, impersonations, his warm smile. These men deserve the maximum sentence for their crimes. Ahamud never said a word to them. He never threatened them, he just wanted to be left alone. They were fully committed to their crimes - let them be fully committed for the consequences. I'm standing here before you asking you to please give all three defendants who are responsible for the death of my son, the maximum punishment in this court which I do believe is life without bars without the possible chance for parole. Advertisement

'To save him from this evil and hate. My heart is broken and always will be.

'If I could trade places with Ahmaud, I would in a heartbeat but I can't'. I'm standing here to do what he can't - that is to fight for him. His memory, his legacy and to tell you who he was.

'That's the one thing you didn't hear in this courtroom. More than anything else, you should know who my boy was.

'We love our son and we will never have him with us to celebrate anything. Thanksgiving, Christmas...his birthday his killers should spend the rest of their lives thinking about what they took from us.

'It should be behind my bars.

'Me and my family have got to live with this for the rest of our lives. They should stay behind those bars the rest of their lives. They didn't give him a chance.'

Ahmaud's mother spoke directly to him, saying: 'This verdict doesn't bring you back. But it does help bring closure to this very difficult chapter of my life.

'I made a promise to you the day I laid you to rest.

'I told you I loved you and someday, somehow I would get you justice.

'Son, I love you as much today as the day you were born.

'Raising you was the honor of my life and I am very proud of you.'

She said none of the killers showed remorse for their actions, and deserved to die in prison.

'They have no remorse and do not deserve leniency. This wasn't a case of mistaken identity or mistaken fact.

'They chose to target my son because they didn't want him in their community.

'They chose to treat him differently.

'And when they couldn't sufficiently scare him or intimidate him, they killed him.'

Arbery, a 25-year-old avid jogger, was running through the mostly white residential neighborhood of Satilla Shores on the afternoon of Feb. 23 when the McMichaels decided to grab their guns, jump in a pickup truck and give chase.

The younger McMichael would later testify to the jury they had a hunch Arbery might be fleeing a crime.

Bryan joined the chase in his own pickup truck after it passed his driveway, and pulled out his cellphone to record Travis McMichael firing a shotgun at Arbery at close range.

Arbery had nothing on him besides his running clothes and sneakers.

The video caused outrage when it emerged months later and it became clear that none of the men involved had yet been arrested after a local prosecutor concluded the killing was justified.

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones wipes a tear from her eyes while listening to her daughter's impact statement to Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley

Ahmaud Arbery's sister Jasmine Arbery wipes a tear from her eyes while listening to her mother's impact statement to Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley during the sentencing of Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse, on January 7, 2022 in Brunswick, Georgia

Ahmaud Arbery's father Marcus Arbery, center, sits in the courtroom with other family members during the sentencing of Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse

William Roddie Bryan, 52, arrives at court in Brunswick, Georgia, on Friday to be sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery

Travis McMichael, 35, arrives in court in shackles on Friday morning to be sentenced for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. He will be at least 65 before he gets out of prison

Gregory McMichael, 66, is shown arriving at court for the 10am sentencing hearing

Gregory McMichael makes his way into court on Friday to be sentenced to life in prison

'The day has finally come that we will get justice.

'The day my family an I have prayed for... it has finally come.'

Defense attorneys then pleaded with the judge not to sentence the men to the harshest possible term.

Gregory McMichael's attorney, Laura Hogue, called him a 'man of goodness' and referred to the killing as a 'five minute chase that ended in tragedy.'

'Greg McMichael is a good man. He is not a perfect person but none of us are.

'The choices he made as a young man, all the way through to the rest of his life, to serve, not to acquire wealth, but to quietly go through the business of choosing career options to help other people.

'I say without hesitation he remains a man of goodness,' she said.
The former head of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) blasted the organization for failing to defend free speech by cherry-picking cases that don't offend or threaten other civil liberties.

Ira Glasser, who served as executive director of the ACLU from 1978 to 2001, said the organization that has defended free speech by unsavory groups like Neo-Nazis has turned into a 'partisan progressive' group.

'Before they're going to defend your free speech, they want to see what you say,' said Glasser during an appearance on Friday's episode of 'Real Time' with Bill Maher. 'What is the ACLU doing saying that?'

Glasser told Maher that the organization produced new guidelines a couple of years ago 'for their lawyers to use when deciding what free speech cases to take.'

'This is a requirement now for the national ACLU employers, that before they take a case defending someones free speech they have to make sure that the speech doesnt offend or threaten other civil liberties values.'

Ira Glasser, former head of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) appeared on 'Real Time' with Bill Maher last week and blasted the organization for failing to defend free speech by only taking cases that don't offend or threaten other civil liberties

Glasser, who is credited for turning the ACLU into a powerhouse during his 23-year reign, told Maher the organization was failing to live up to its values.

He said the organization has become more of a political partisan, a 'progressive organization' - adding that organizations have a right to change.

'The problem is, there isn't another ACLU,' he pointed out. 'And if there isn't somebody who's prepared to defend what you say... then the government gets to decide who can speak and that's the most dangerous thing of all.'

On the show, Maher said the ACLU used to be a stalwart defender of free speech and civil liberties, referencing a time where Glasser famously defended the right for a group of Neo-Nazis to march in Skokie, Illinois in 1977.

'I'm guessing the Nazis did not reflect your values,' he said to Glasser.

'That's a good guess,' Glasser responded. 'Actually, most of the speech we defended did not reflect our values. That's the point.'
A truck belonging to a 20-year-old man who is being questioned over the discovery of his girlfriend's body in a bath of acid was dumped at a Bunnings and littered with personal effects, including a religious item and duct tape.

Police seized Meraj Zafar's white Mitsubishi Fuso tipper truck with the distinctive 'MAKKAC' number plate at Bunnings, Greenacre, in south-west Sydney around 2.30pm and loaded it onto the back of a tow truck and took it away.

Almost 24 hours earlier, officers had made the grisly discovery of the body of 19-year-old Aminah Hayat in chemicals in the bath inside a ground floor flat on Pennant Hills Road North Parramatta.

Police responded to a domestic violence call at the red brick flats and were forced to don Hazmat suits to enter what was described as a 'confronting' scene.

The truck matching the police description was later found at Bunnings in Greenacre in south-west Sydney and has been seized by detectives to undergo forensic tests (pictured)

Ms Hayat's remains were removed from the premises around midnight on Sunday and forensic police have been collecting evidence from the address ever since.

Around lunchtime on Monday, officers passed an ultra violet light device through the bathroom where the victim's body was found, warning onlookers to look away because the light would 'damage your eyes'.

Police also searched rubbish bins at the flats and interviewed residents.

The man arrested over the woman's death handed himself in to police at Bankstown police station and is currently being questioned.

His Fuso tipper truck was towed from Bunnings, still with its load of dirt in the rear tray topped over with a black mesh tarpaulin.

Daily Mail Australia photographed the moment it was seized by officers late on Monday afternoon.

In the front of the man's truck, he had a roll of silver duct tape, a bottle of Yakult probiotic milk and face masks.

A green leaf-shaped air freshener hung from the rear view mirror and stuffed in with bits of paper along the dashboard was a kind of religious artefact made of wood and inscribed with Middle Eastern writing and the face of a bearded man.

A wooden plaque with a portrait of a bearded man and an inscription apparently in Arabic underneath could also be seen on top of the dashboard (pictured)

Daily Mail Australia witnessed the moment the truck was recovered by police, with a roll of duct tape and discarded surgical face masks visible in the cabin (pictured)

This afternoon's arrest came after the woman's boyfriend, 20, was arrested after a massive manhunt for a bearded truck driver spotted fleeing the scene after the grisly discovery at the western Sydney unit.

Officers broke into the couple's ground floor apartment in North Parramatta on Sunday after neighbours heard a woman scream and the victim allegedly made a call for help.

Behind a shower screen inside the dated salmon pink bathroom, horrified police allegedly found what was left of the dead woman's body in a tub filled with corrosive chemicals.

The couple moved into the rented $320-a-week two-bedroom apartment in October as boyfriend and girlfriend, and are not believed to be married.

Police arrested the man after a woman was allegedly found dead in an acid-filled bath (pictured) in a unit in Sydney's west

The couple are said to have moved into the apartment (pictured) together in October as boyfriend and girlfriend but are not believed to be married

Special Fire and Rescue Hazmat teams were called in to help with the grisly scene as detectives used specialist UV torches to hunt for clues (pictured)

Parramatta Police Area Commander Superintendent Julie Boon said police had found the body in the bathroom of the first-floor unit along with chemicals.

'The officers forced entry into the unit and inside the bathroom they found the body of a female,' she said.

'I can confirm there were chemicals found inside the bathroom of the unit. I can't confirm what they were.

'The scene was very challenging for arriving police. When they did arrive and found chemicals at the unit, they retreated and called other units.'

The woman's body was removed from the flat at midnight on Sunday.

Toiletries could be seen lined up in the bathroom window.

Evidence was seen being taken from the scene in special biohazard bags (pictured)

A 20 year old man was arrested on Monday after the body was discovered at a unit on Pennant Hills Road in North Parramatta, western Sydney, on Sunday

The woman had made a domestic violence call for help around 4.30pm on Sunday before police responded

Special Fire and Rescue Hazmat teams called in to help investigate the scene - which officers described as 'confronting'

Local George Hamilton Milner said he had heard screaming hours before police arrived on scene.

'I was in the backyard yesterday at about 2pm and I heard someone who sounded like they were about to sing then it turned into a scream, it was really abrupt then police arrived,' he said.

'We've been here for a couple of years and haven't heard of anything bad so was a bit of a shock to hear it happened across the road.'

Police used ultra violet light to examine the bathroom where the woman's body was found.

Officers issued a warning to anyone near the ground floor flat bathroom window 'do not look at it, it will damage your eyes' as the procedure, used to closely examine forensic evidence, was carried out.

An officer was seen leaving the unit with a pet cat in hand, which colleagues stroked and petted as they stood by a forensics van

Officers pat a cat that was found in the apartment where the woman's body was discovered

Police earlier said the man they were hunting had been in 'a domestic relationship' with the victim and there were no children or other people,' Superintendent Boon said.

'He may have scratches,' she added.

Three forensics vans arrived at the apartment block, a three-level red brick building on the corner of Gladstone Street, on Monday.

Up to 10 plain clothes and uniformed police were seen on site as Strike Force Jenola was launched to investigate the death.

Up to ten plain clothes and uniformed police were on site on Monday as a crime scene was established

Officers walk up the stairs to the unit that is located on the first floor of the three-storey complex

Up to 10 plain clothes and uniformed police are on site, searching the building and nearby bins for clues (pictured)

An officer with a cat carrier to temporarily house the pet cat that was found in the unit

Three forensics vans arrived at the apartment block, a three-level red brick building on the corner of Gladstone Street, on Monday

Police spoke with residents of the neighbouring flats who have declined to make any public comment.

An officer was seen leaving the unit with a pet cat in hand, which colleagues stroked and petted as they stood by a forensics van.

Another officer retrieved a cat carrier which he appeared to be cleaning for the animal.

Police have photographed a black BMW coupe parked outside and were seen sorting through garbage in wheelie bins below the building.
A planned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral was abandoned on Sunday night with just seconds to go before liftoff.

The plug was pulled with mission control's launch director calling out 'Hold! hold! hold!' over the radio after a cruise ship sailed into the 'hazard area' off the Florida coast with less than 35 seconds to run on the countdown clock.

Elon Musk-owned SpaceX said the rocket and payload were all good to go, but the Coast Guard could not keep the cruise ship out of the no-go zone, forcing the launch to be aborted.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was due to liftoff into space on Sunday evening but was abandoned with just 34 seconds to launch

All systems were 'Go' until 34 seconds prior to launch when a 'hold' was called

Coastguard informed mission control that a cruise ship, the Harmony of the Seas was in the hazard area, seen on the bottom right of the map

On a livestream of the event, SpaceX commentator Jesse Anderson explained how a cruise ship was approaching the no-go zone, and that the U.S. Coast Guard was in contact with the ship.

The rocket was supposed to be sending radar surveillance satellites from the Italian Space Agency into orbit. The launch was rescheduled to take place on Monday evening.

Three previous attempts were delayed due to poor weather, preventing the Falcon 9 from blasting off on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

There were two ships to blame that could have been the potential reason for cancellations of the launch: Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas was off the coast of Brevard County after having departed Port Canaveral Sunday afternoon while the MSC Meraviglia was still in the port channel close by.

The rocket was supposed to be sending radar surveillance satellites from the Italian Space Agency into orbit. The plan is for the launch to take place on Monday evening instead

Video shot by Nasa clearly shows Royal Carribbean's Harmony of the Seas cruise ship on the horizon

The cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet, is seen moored at a quay in the port of Miami, Florida

The U.S. Space Force has attempted to get the word out about the multiple southerly trajectory rocket launches from the Space Coast in January which meant a larger hazard area for both cruise ships and aircraft.

'The chance of a launch scrubbing due to a range violation is increased if the public is not aware of the expanded safety measures,' read a press release from the Space Force group that oversees both Cape Canaveral and Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County,

'Boaters and aircraft operators are directed to consult the advisories for each launch that contain detailed maps, coordinates, timing, and status of the area restrictions and closures. Last year, a polar launch attempt scrubbed due to a range violation when a private aircraft strayed into the restricted airspace prior to launch.'

The rocked was just seconds away from blasting off with plenty of ignition smoke already coming out of the rocket

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready for launch at pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral. The launch has been rescheduled for Monday evening

SpaceX confirmed the launch was scrapped via a Tweet and rescheduled for Monday night

SpaceX is currently on target to launch a rocket a week throughout 2022, including delivering hundreds of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.

It 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.

SpaceX tweeted a photo on Sunday afternoon before the launch was abandoned

Next-generation Starlink constellations could have as many as 42,000 Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit, says Elon Musk (pictured)

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.

SpaceX has launched three Falcon 9 rockets so far this year, with the first on January 6.

SpaceX isn't new to making bold claims, with Musk announcing in 2020 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

It would be a remarkable achievement for the space firm, building on 31 launches in 2021 carrying a combination of private and government payloads

'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 miles 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 currently on target.

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
North Korea confirmed Monday it had launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, sparking fears the nuclear-armed state could resume long-range testing.

The launch of the missile was the seventh test conducted by North Korea this mont and the first time a nuclear-capable missile of that size has been launched since 2017.

The Hwasong-12 ballistic missile is the same weapon it once threatened to target Guam with 'enveloping fire.'

The Japanese and South Korean militaries said the missile was launched 1,242 miles upwards on a lofted trajectory, apparently to avoid neighboring countries.

It traveled 497 miles before landing in the ocean between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

The United States is concerned North Korea's escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and vowed an unspecified response 'designed to show our commitment to our allies,' a senior U.S. official told reporters in Washington.

'It's not just what they did yesterday, it's the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month,' the official said, while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.

North Korea has said it is open to diplomacy, but that Washington's overtures are undermined by its support for sanctions and joint military drills and arms buildups in South Korea and the region.

The Japanese and South Korean militaries said the missile was launched 1,242 miles upwards on a lofted trajectory, apparently to avoid neighboring countries. Pictured: People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul

The flight details suggest it is the territory's longest-range ballistic missile since 2017, when it flew intermediate-range ballistic missiles over Japan and separately flight-tested three intercontinental-range ballistic missiles which showed the potential range to reach deep into the US

Sunday's test was the North's seventh round of weapons launches this month

Sunday's launch could be a prelude to bigger provocations by North Korea such as nuclear and long-range missile tests that pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland, as the North tries to further pressure the Biden administration to win sanction relief or international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state.

The flight details suggest it is the territory's longest-range ballistic missile since 2017, when it flew intermediate-range ballistic missiles over Japan and separately flight-tested three intercontinental-range ballistic missiles which showed the potential range to reach deep into the US.

The unusually fast pace of tests indicates North Korea's intent to pressure the Biden administration over long-stalled nuclear negotiations as pandemic-related difficulties unleash further shock on an economy broken by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in called an emergency National Security Council meeting where he described the test as a possible 'midrange ballistic missile launch' that brought North Korea to the brink of breaking its 2018 suspension in the testing of nuclear devices and longer-range ballistic missiles.

Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters it was clear that the missile was the longest-range weapon the North has tested since launching its Hwasong-15 ICBM in November 2017.

The launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un chaired a ruling party meeting on January 20 where senior party members made a veiled threat to lift the moratorium, citing what they perceived as US hostility and threats.

The North Korean leader in April 2018 declared that 'no nuclear test and intermediate-range and inter-continental ballistic rocket test-fire' were necessary for the North any longer as he pursued diplomacy with then-US President Donald Trump in an attempt to leverage his nukes for badly needed economic benefits.

President of South Korea shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaking about the North's missile launch

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares to answer questions from the media about the missile launch

The latest missile's flight details suggest that North Korea's moratorium is already broken, said Lee Choon Geun, a missile expert and honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute. He said the data suggests that the North tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile or possibly even a weapon approaching ICBM capacities.

In his strongest comments toward the North in years, Mr Moon said the situation around the Korean Peninsula is beginning to resemble 2017, when North Korea's provocative run in nuclear and long-range missile testing resulted in a verbal exchange of war threats between Mr Kim and Mr Trump.

Mr Moon described the North's latest tests as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a 'challenge toward the international society's efforts to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, stabilise peace and find a diplomatic solution' to the nuclear standoff.

The unusually fast pace of tests indicates North Korea's intent to pressure the Biden administration over long-stalled nuclear negotiations as pandemic-related difficulties unleash further shock on an economy broken by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons program

The North 'should stop its actions that create tensions and pressure and respond to the dialogue offers by the international community including South Korea and the United States,' Mr Moon said, according to his office.

Mr Moon, who had ambitiously pushed for inter-Korean engagement, held three summits with Mr Kim in 2018 while also lobbying to set up Mr Kim's first summit with Mr Trump in 2018, where they issued vague aspirational goals for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur. But the diplomacy derailed after the collapse of the second Kim-Trump meeting in 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea's demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

Japanese chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Sunday's missile flew for around 30 minutes and landed in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. There were no immediate reports of damage to boats or aircraft.

The latest missile's flight details suggest that North Korea's moratorium is already broken, said Lee Choon Geun, a missile expert and honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute

The US Indo Pacific Command said the US condemns North Korea's testing activity and calls on the North to refrain from further destabilising acts. It said the latest launch did not 'pose an immediate threat to US personnel, territory, or that of our allies'.

The launch came three days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday. The North also flight-tested a pair of purported long-range cruise missiles on Tuesday while vowing to strengthen its nuclear 'war deterrent' and build more powerful weapons.

Experts say the North could halt its testing spree after the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics next week out of respect for China, its major ally and economic lifeline.

But there is also expectation that the North could significantly up the ante in weapons demonstrations once the Olympics end in February to grab the attention of the Biden administration, which has been focusing more on confronting China and Russia over its conflict with Ukraine.

The launch came three days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday

'North Korea is launching a frenzy of missiles before the start of the Beijing Olympics, mostly as military modernization efforts. Pyongyang also wants to boost national pride as it gears up to celebrate political anniversaries in the context of economic struggles,' said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

'It wants to remind Washington and Seoul that trying to topple it would be too costly. By threatening stability in Asia while global resources are stretched thin elsewhere, Pyongyang is demanding the world compensate it to act like a 'responsible nuclear power,'' Mr Easley added.

North Korea has justified its testing activity as an exercise of its rights to self-defense and threatened stronger action after the Biden administration imposed fresh sanctions following two tests of a purported hypersonic missile earlier this month.

While desperate for outside relief, Mr Kim has showed no willingness to surrender the nuclear weapons and missiles he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. Analysts say Mr Kim's pressure campaign is aimed at forcing Washington to accept the North as a nuclear power and convert their nuclear disarmament-for-aid diplomacy into negotiations for mutual arms-reduction.
The parents of a 10-year-old Virginia girl who died from COVID-19 complications just days after a substitute teacher named her as a 'class nurse', say they were never told of her role.

'They made her do this job without parental consent,' Jeff Sperry said of his daughter Teresa.

Teresa Sperry was named class nurse at Hillpoint Elementary School in Suffolk on September 21. She died on September 27, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

Teresa was not vaccinated because children under the age of 12 weren't eligible for a vaccine until a month later.

Suffolk Public Schools conducted an investigation into Sperry's death, resulting in just a three-page report. The school had refused to share it with Teresa's parents, Nicole and Jeff, who were forced to file a Freedom of Information Act request.

The report did not find an instance in which Teresa came into contact with the someone at the school who may have had the virus, but her parents say the school's investigation was incomplete.

They are also angry that they were not informed that their daughter had been appointed as class nurse during the pandemic.

'Having a child walk students to the nurse during the pandemic? Jeff asked. 'It is nonsense. It is insane. Had anybody asked me or informed me, I would have said no.'

Teresa Sperry, 10, was named class nurse at Hillpoint Elementary School in Suffolk on September 21. She complained of a headache the next day and died on September 27

Nicole and Jeff Sperry (center), parents of Teresa Sperry, say school did not do thorough job of investigating death of their 10-year-old daughter

Teresa is one of 18 children under 19 who has died from COVID-19 in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

More than 250,000 children have been diagnosed with the disease, and close to 1,500 have been hospitalized with serious illnesses.

Teresa (center) was unvaccinated, as children under the age of 12 weren't eligible for a vaccine until a month later

According to the school district's report, the school nurse and the teacher, a long-term substitute, said that Teresa walked one student with an arm injury to the nurse's clinic on September 21.

Teresa walked the student back to the clinic on the same day for an inhaler.

The next day, she went to the nurse herself complaining about a headache, according to WAVY.

The nurse logged her temperature at 97.4 degrees, according to the Virginian-Pilot. Teresa rested in the clinic before she went back to class, according to a clinic referral.

As part of her job as class nurse, Teresa had also walked a student with an injured ankle to the clinic.

On September 29, Teresa's teacher wrote to Hillpoint's principal: 'She walked one student on Wednesday who twisted her ankle on the playground to the office. I had to stay outside with the other 24 students. I had her hand out band aides [sic]. I never sent her with a sick child.'

'If you print it out, it is three pages,' mother Nicole Sperry said. 'If they really wanted to do contact tracing they would have done more'

The nurse said Teresa didn't go into the clinic, according to the report. Clinic referrals state that no students with COVID symptoms were sent to the clinic between September 7 and September 23.

Suffolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III told WAVY, 'It is true that the student had the job of nurse, but that was for Band-Aids or bags of ice for kids who fell on the playground, etcetera.'

Jeff and Nicole Sperry believe the investigation wasn't thorough enough.

'I feel that the investigation report is incredibly incomplete,' the dad told the Virginian-Pilot.

'How do they know who she was around while she sat outside the nurse's clinic? They did not look at the cameras. There is nothing in it about interviewing the security guard, who would have seen my daughter going to the clinic. They did not interview anyone else that would have seen her.'

Teresa is one of 18 children under 19 who has died from COVID-19 in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Health

'If you print it out, it is three pages,' Nicole said. 'If they really wanted to do contact tracing they would have done more.'

The school did not provide the document to the parents, who had to file a FOIA request to get it.

'They could call us to ask if there was permission for them to go to her funeral, but they can't call and tell us this? This is more important than calling to see who can come to the funeral,' Jeff Sperry told WAVY.

'I want to be able to just ask her,' he added. 'But I can't. She's gone.'

The district maintains that Teresa did not come into contact with COVID at the school before she died.

'Students who attend Hillpoint Elementary School who are suspected of having COVID symptoms are reported to the nurse or office with a phone call to indicate a suspected Code C,' the school district told the Virginian-Pilot in a statement.
Parents are being warned to not post pictures of their kids going back to school online to protect them from paedophiles.

Exploitation experts say Australian families are leaving themselves open to child grooming by sharing details about their children's names, schools, or address on social media.

Using visual clues, like images of uniforms or the front of homes, predators can track down key personal information that can be used to identify or find kids.

The Australian Federal Police are urging parents to lockdown privacy settings on social media profiles to ensure personal images are only viewed by people they know and trust.

Parents are being urged to avoid posting photos of their children in school uniforms online - or other identifying information - to protect them from online predators

'The first day of school is a treasured milestone for parents and carers and a happy memory for many families,' AFP Commander for the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) Hilda Sirec said.

'However, we do urge people who are sharing those images to make sure they're using secure privacy settings on social media and only sharing them with people they know and trust.'

AFP child protection investigators regularly seize images of children in the collections of online child sex offenders.

Commander Sirec said parents would not give strangers a photo album of their kids, their names, or locations - and the same behaviour should be exercised online.

'We all need to remember that in the digital age, that is the equivalent of posting information and images of children online without the appropriate safeguards,' she said.

AFP Commander for the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) Hilda Sirec (pictured) said parents can continue to share happy snaps online, but should do so in a safe way

AFP child protection investigators regularly seize images of children in the collections of online child sex offenders (stock image)

'The more information available about a child online, the easier it can be for offenders to build a profile to groom them, or even to groom parents in a bid to access information about their children.

TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CARERS Keep your child's personal information including full name and age private

Ensure the background of photos or videos doesn't give away your address or location, (and don't post your location or 'check in')

Avoid posting photos in school uniform

Only share images of your children with people you know and trust

For community accounts, consider having a closed group with approved members and ensure you have strong privacy settings in place. Advertisement

'We have seen some offenders go to great lengths to gain access to children and in some instances, online grooming has started with information that parents and carers have shared online.'

The AFP also advises parents to avoid posting images of students at the front of homes that can identify a street or street number.

Community or school social media pages featuring children are also being urged to consider the types of images being shared and who can view them.

Commander Sirec said it is vital for parents, carers and young people to be educated about online safety.

'There are easy steps parents and carers can take to have more control over who can access their images and minimise the chance of inappropriate contact,' she said.

'If sharing content of children online, check the privacy settings and make sure that your social media accounts are using the most secure settings possible.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety, and 50 per cent don't know what to do to keep their kids safe on the internet.

The study also found just 3 per cent of parents are concerned about online grooming, while, concerningly, most believe online child sexual exploitation is too repulsive to even think about.
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.






Laurence Fox says he is successfully battling off Covid - thanks to hot toddies, over-the-counter medication and ivermectin.

The controversial actor-turned-activist, 43, contracted the virus days after posting a picture of his new T-shirt that stated 'no vaccine needed. I have an immune system'.

Today he proudly donned another short-sleeved top, this time rebelliously featuring a hand giving onlookers the middle finger above the words 'Vaccinate this'.

Fox, who has been in Mexico, doubled down on his opposition to the jab in isolation.

The father-of-two said: 'Day three of controversial horse de-wormer and Im feeling pretty much back to normal. Imagine how many lives could have been saved with the early intervention of Ivermectin.

'No money in it for big pharma though. Oh, and I REALLY like my new tee shirt.'

Mr Fox posted a picture of his new T-shirt as he said he was recovering from Covid infection

He earlier posted his Covid test result on Twitter, but at first appeared to cast doubt about whether it was accurate, questioning if 'the LFT is to be believed'.

Later he described himself as being 'so happy' to be 'joining the natural immunity club'.

The actor was mocked for revealing he was taking ivermectin, Panadol and ibuprofen to relieve his symptoms.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic medicine used to treat humans and animals for scabies, head lice and worms.

It has been prescribed billions of times worldwide and is listed as one of the World Health Organization's essential medicines list.

Despite showing promise against Covid in dozens of studies, ivermectin has been mired in controversy after being hailed as a miracle medicine by vaccine sceptics.

It is already used in around 20 countries to treat the virus  including swathes of Latin America and parts of Europe, such as Greece, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

But there have been questions over the reliability of trial data and regulators in the US, UK and EU say there is still no conclusive evidence.

Famous advocates of ivermectin include unvaccinated US podcast host Joe Rogan, who attributed his rapid Covid recovery to the drug.

He said controversial drug Ivermectin had helped him recover and get 'pretty much back to normal'

And he hit back at critics who wished that he would die when he announced he had the virus

Fox was confident on January 26 that he did not need a vaccine, according to that day's T-shirt

After catching Covid he said he urned to whisky and honey for hot toddies to battle symptoms

Last night Fox posted a picture of a bottle of Jack Daniels and honey and called it 'the final piece of the puzzle'.

Fox - who described catching coronavirus as 'A visit from Lord Covid' - said in a video online: 'I don't often read the replies to my tweets but I saw that there were loads of them.

'The thing that made me laugh the most  the absolute most  was people criticising me for taking Panadol and Ibrupofen while saying my immune system 'I thought you had an immune system mate'.

Mr Fox posted a picture of his lateral flow test on his public Twitter which showed his result

After he was mocked by some social media users he posted a video in response to some

In the one-and-a-half minute clip he gave a mocking shout-out to those who had got the jab

What is ivermectin and can it REALLY treat Covid? What is Ivermectin? Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug developed during the 1970s. It has been prescribed billions of times worldwide and is listed as one of the World Health Organization's essential medicines list. What is it used for? Today the medication is prescribed for treating scabies, head lice and rosacea. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the UK health watchdog, recommends it should also be given for round worm infections. Can it REALLY treat Covid-19? The jury is out on whether it can treat Covid. The hype started early in the pandemic when ivermectin was shown to destroy the virus in lab studies. Several dozen trials have also indicated that the pills may have some value in the pandemic - either by using them on patients with Covid, or as a preventative. But, according to a BBC investigation last year, around a third of studies advocating ivermectin's use were seriously flawed or biased in some way, making the results unreliable. Reviews by health authorities in the US, UK and EU have found there is insufficient evidence for using the drug against Covid. The first double-blind, gold-standard clinical trial into ivermectin is currently being carried out in Oxford, as part of the PRINCIPLE trial. Definitive results on the drug are expected this year. Where can I get it? Ivermectin is already used in around 20 countries  including swathes of Latin America and parts of Europe, such as Greece, Bulgaria and Slovakia. In some countries, like Mexico, the drug is available over-the-counter, while in others it can be prescribed at doctors' discretion. In the UK, health watchdogs do not recommend any clinicians prescribe the drug but, as a safe and approved medicine, it can be obtained privately. Advertisement

'So I just want to give a huge shout out to those who whenever they get a bit ill are willing to take a total novel brand new technology mRNA treatment with absolutely no data ahead of medications that have been prescribed by billions and billions of times across the world.

'I feel a bit man flu-y but that's only to be expected because you know men whinge more.

'But you know I am going to fight this and to you brave vaccine guinea pigs, I fully commend you and your desire not to take Panadol ever again or Ibruprofen, because that's some dangerous sh** - you stick to the vaccines.'

Fox also revealed he is taking ivermectin and alluded to buying it over-the-counter in Mexico.

He wrote on Twitter: 'Not only do you only have to sign a form saying you feel well to get into Mexico, but you can also buy drugs like ivermectin over the counter that the vaccinaholics don't want you to get hold of here. I'm so happy to be joining the natural immunity club. Going to have a nap.'

There has been much debate about the effectiveness of ivermectin during the pandemic after it was hailed as vaccine sceptics as a miracle cure.

The hype started early in the pandemic when ivermectin was shown to destroy the virus in lab studies.

Several dozen trials have also indicated that the pills may have some value in the pandemic - either by using them on patients with Covid, or as a preventative.

But, according to a BBC investigation last year, around a third of studies advocating ivermectin's use were seriously flawed or biased in some way, making the results unreliable.

Reviews by health authorities in the US, UK and EU have found there is insufficient evidence for using the drug against Covid.

The first double-blind, gold-standard clinical trial into ivermectin is currently being carried out in Oxford, as part of the PRINCIPLE trial.

Definitive results on the drug are expected this year.

Currently in the UK, health watchdogs do not recommend any clinicians prescribe the drug but, as a safe and approved medicine, it can be obtained privately.

Fox recently got engaged to prep school teacher Arabella Fleetwood Neagle, 28.

Miss Fleetwood Neagle apparently supports his political campaigning as she was pictured alongside him on the top deck of his Reclaim Party's battle bus during his unsuccessful bid to become London Mayor last year.

Fox  whose acting dynasty includes his father James and cousin Emilia  was dropped by his agent in 2020 after a string of social media comments.

Last year he said he could remove his children from school over his opposition to the Covid vaccination programme.

He said he would educate them at home rather than let them be vaccinated without his consent.

Fox shares custody of his boys with Miss Piper, whom he divorced in 2016.
The Project host Waleed Aly said New South Wales is in a 'shadow lockdown' due to confused government policies, with many residents scared to go to shops, cafes and gyms because they might catch Covid.

Speaking to treasurer Matt Kean after he announced his $1billion support package, Aly said people had imposed their own lite-lockdowns because the government was failing to properly manage the spread of the Omicron variant.

Restrictions lifting combined with shortages of rapid antigen tests and continued isolation requirements have disrupted business and caused supply-chain issues.

Data from the Australian Retailers Association showed up to 76 per cent of shops had staff in isolation in mid-January requiring cuts to trading hours or closing stores entirely.

'For small businesses, a couple of cases can wipe out their entire workforce,' chief executive Paul Zahra said.

The Project hosts Waleed Aly (pictured) claimed NSW was in a 'shadow lockdown' with households staying in so as not to catch Omicron and be plunged into isolation

Co-host Steve Price jumped in to say he interviewed Nationals MP Pat Conaghan on his radio show earlier in the day and played a clip of his 'blunt' assessment of Mr Kean's call for federal money to help NSW businesses.

'For Kean to say that the federal government is nowhere to be seen, in my view, is simply a reflection of his own ego,' Mr Conaghan said.

'It made me so angry. This guy has got his head so far up you-know-where he could he could give himself his own prostate inspection,' he said.

Price then made the awkward moment even more bizarre as he followed up with his own question asking Mr Kean: 'So how is your prostate?'

'Look, I'm not doctor,' Mr Kean joked.

'I'm not interested in the personality politics - I am interested in standing up for NSW small businesses: our cafes, hotels, beauty industry and tourism operators have been smashed through no fault of their own.'

The interview then wrapped up with Aly chiming back in with: 'Matt Kean thanks very much and all the best with your prostate'.

'That's got to be one of the most bizarre interview endings I've ever heard,' co-host Peter Hellier added.

While NSW remains open, retail trading is significantly down since the Omicron wave (pictured: Chinatown in Sydney on January 29)

In January, consumer spending - which reached a record $33billion in Australia in November ahead of the holiday season - has plunged again to the lowest level since Delta lockdowns.

Economist at global jobsite Indeed, Callum Pickering, said in mid-January that: 'Cautious households and supply shortages may weigh heavily on the retail sector through early 2022'.

Mr Kean has been vocal in hitting out at the federal government after he was snubbed on his $1billion business stimulus for the state.

He wants the Commonwealth to put additional money into the scheme to support businesses that have suffered a 40 per cent downturn during the summer.

But the call has been swiftly knocked back.

'Ash Barty didn't win the Australia open saying I don't need to try in the final because I had a good semi. You have to address each of the challenges that come along,' Mr Kean said.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean (pictured) said the government were 'nowhere to be found' because they refused to chip in on his $1billion support package for businesses

The premier said the Small Business Support Package had been designed to provide a lifeline to businesses hard-hit by the Omicron wave over summer (pictured, a Sydney)

'A lot of small businesses across the country would say they're doing it tough. I don't think now is the right moment for austerity, now is the right time to make sure we protect the fabric of the economy.'

'What we're trying to do now is mitigate the impact that's having not only on health but also on the economy... and it's why we are calling on the federal government to stand with us and support our small business sector, because they need help.'

He had earlier claimed the federal government was 'nowhere to be found' when he announced the $1billion package.

''I'm very disappointed, I was hoping to make this announcement today standing beside the prime minister and Treasurer [Josh] Frydenberg but they're not to be found,' he said.
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American troops have been pictured in Ukraine, training Kiev's forces to use 'bunker buster' rocket launchers amid fears President Putin is about to invade as he continues to move Russian forces to the border.

Soldiers from the Florida National Guard were seen on a firing range in Lviv, near Ukraine's border with Poland, on Sunday training Kiev's forces to use M141 Bunker Defeat Munitions - around 100 of which have been sent by Washington as part of military aid shipments aimed at deterring a Russian attack.

Around 200 guardsmen are currently deployed to Ukraine, where the US has maintained a military presence since 2015, and are tasked with providing training and support to the country's armed forces. 'Bunker buster' rockets are designed to blow apart concrete, brick and sandbag positions, and have been used by the US since 1999.

America has also sent 300 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine which are designed to tear apart Putin's tanks, with the same weapons sent from Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. The UK has sent NLAW anti-tank missiles, with British troops seen training the Ukrainians how to use them in Kiev last week.

Russia has now massed some 130,000 troops along with tanks and artillery pieces on the Ukrainian border, with Putin now manoeuvering his forces into Belarus for a training exercise that is due to take place there this week.

Videos taken at the weekend show columns of Russian T-72 tanks and other support vehicles heading through Belarus on the back of trains, with some footage captured near Kalinkavichy - around 125 miles from Kiev. More footage shows tanks travelling through Russia's far east on trains, apparently headed towards the front.

Experts warn the war games could be used to provide cover for a Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the likely target being the capital of Kiev.

Troops of the Florida National Guard, currently on deployment in Ukraine, train Ukrainian soldiers how to use M141 'bunker buster' rocket launchers designed to destroy concrete, brick and sandbag fortifications

A Ukrainian soldier practices using a 'bunker buster' rocket on a firing range in Lviv, near the border with Poland, on Sunday. The US has sent around 100 of the weapons to Ukraine as part of military aid shipments designed at deterring a Russian attack

Ukrainian troops fire American 'bunker buster' rockets on a training range in Lviv on Sunday, as the military prepares for the possibility of a Russian attack that Washington believes could happen in the next few weeks

Moscow denies that it has plans to invade Ukraine and has instead accused NATO of ramping up tensions, as the military alliance moves to counter Putin's massing of troops.

Ukraine has also sought to play down tensions and urged people to remain calm, but Washington continues to insist an invasion is 'imminent' and could come within the next few weeks as temperatures drop and the ground freezes - allowing Putin to roll his tanks across the border with relative ease.

The Kremlin has issued a list of security demands to the US and NATO including that Ukraine be banned from joining the alliance and that forces are withdrawn from ex-Soviet states. Two letters have since been sent to Moscow rejecting those demands but offering other concessions, which Putin is considering.

Amid the standoff, US and Russian diplomats are due to face off against one-another today as the UN Security Council convenes to discuss the troop build-up.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia's actions pose 'a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.'

Council members '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,' she said Thursday in announcing the meeting.

Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky responded angrily, tweeting: 'I can't recall another occasion when a SC (Security Council) member proposed to discuss its own baseless allegations and assumptions as a threat to intl (international) order from someone else. Hopefully fellow UNSC members will not support this clear PR stunt shameful for the reputation of UN Security Council.'

Polyansky's reaction indicated that Russia may start the meeting asking for a procedural vote on whether it should go ahead. To block the meeting, Russia would need support from nine of the 15 members.

A senior official in the Biden administration said the United States is in regular contact with council members and is 'confident' that there is 'more than sufficient support' to hold the meeting.

Ukrainian troops patrol through a frozen trench close to the frontlines where they have been fighting with Russian-backed rebel forces since 2014

Ukrainian troops are pictured walking through a trench, close to the frontlines with Russian-backed rebel forces

Ukrainian forces on patrol in the country's east, just a few dozen miles from where tens of thousands of Russian troops have massed amid warnings of an invasion

Ukrainian servicemen seen along the frontline outside of Svitlodarsk, Ukraine on January 30

'It goes right to the heart of the role of the Security Council itself,' the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

'This preventive diplomacy is exactly what the council is supposed to be doing, and I think member states understand that.'

Assuming the meeting goes ahead, the council will first hear a briefing by a senior U.N. official followed by statements from its 15 members including Russia, the United States and European members France, Ireland, United Kingdom and Albania. Under council rules, Ukraine will also speak.

China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun, whose country has close ties to Russia, indicated Beijing supports Moscow in opposing a council meeting.

'Both sides have shown willingness to continue their negotiations,' he told several reporters on Friday. 'Let them settle the differences through dialogue, through negotiations.'

'Russia has said clearly they have no intention to have a war' and the Security Council should 'help to deescalate the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire,' Zhang said.

The head of Russia's Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, on Sunday rejected Western warnings about an invasion.

'At this time, they're saying that Russia threatens Ukraine - that's completely ridiculous,' he was quoted as saying by state news agency Tass. 'We don't want war and we don't need it at all.'

Thomas-Greenfield said of the U.S. and the other council members on ABC's 'This Week' on Sunday: 'We're going into the room prepared to listen to them, but we're not going to be distracted by their propaganda.'

'This is a period when we want to see calm,' said Ireland's U.N. Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, whose country is serving a two-year term on the council.

'We want to see deescalation, diplomacy and dialogue. That's what we favor in relation to the current set of circumstances.'

The United States and Britain on Sunday flagged new and 'devastating' economic sanctions against Russia, as Washington and its allies step up efforts to deter any invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian citizens in the capital of Kiev take part in training run by the Ukraine National Guard as they prepare for the possibility of a Russian invasion

A woman aims a Kalashnikov rifle during training drills held by the Ukraine National Guard amid the threat of Russian attack

Civilians hold wooden replicas of Kalashnikov rifles as they take part in training exercises held by the National Guard in Kiev

Ukraine national guard hold training drills in a disused building in Kiev, with civilian volunteers holding wooden replica rifles

People take part in a military exercise for civilians conducted by veterans of the Ukrainian National Guard Azov battalion

With tensions soaring, the United States said it was prepared to push back against any 'disinformation' Moscow put forward in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years.

Russia on Monday is likely to try to block the 15-member council from holding its US-requested meeting, 'but the Security Council is unified. Our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves,' Washington's UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield told ABC News.

'We're going to go in the room prepared to listen to them, but we're not going to be distracted by their propaganda,' she said Sunday. 'And we're going to be prepared to respond to any disinformation that they attempt to spread during this meeting.'

Amid a flurry of diplomatic contacts, US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland told CBS a proposal on security issues presented last week by the US and NATO to Russia may have stirred interest in Moscow.

The proposal includes the likelihood of new talks this week between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, meanwhile, took a tough stance, saying it was crucial Washington send a powerful message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that any aggression against Ukraine would come at a very high cost.

'We cannot have a Munich moment again,' Senator Bob Menendez said on CNN. 'Putin will not stop with Ukraine.'

He indicated some penalties could be levied over actions Russia has already taken in Ukraine, including cyberattacks, but there would be 'devastating sanctions that ultimately would crush Russia' should Moscow invade.

Nuland said the White House was working closely with the Senate, and that any sanctions measures would be 'very well-aligned' with those coming from European allies. Putin 'will feel it acutely,' she said.

In London, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Britain would unveil sanctions legislation targeting 'a much wider variety' of Russian economic targets.

'There will be nowhere to hide for Putin's oligarchs,' Truss told Sky News.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to visit the region this week, and to share a call with President Putin during which he will warn against plans to invade. Truss is due to visit Moscow in the next fortnight.

It comes after Mr Johnson pledged to double the number of British troops deployed on NATO missions across Europe, which he said was designed as a warning against Russian 'hostility'.

Meanwhile Ben Wallace, British defence secretary, departed on a tour of eastern Europe to reassure allies that the UK will defend the region's interests. He was pictured in Budapest meeting Hungarian counterpart Tibor Benko on Monday, before heading to Slovenia and Croatia.

Analysts say an array of sanctions hitting Russian banks and financial institutions would not only affect daily life throughout Russia but could roil major economies in Europe and elsewhere.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is pictured speaking on state television Sunday, warning that NATO is trying to drag the country into conflict as he continues to deny plans to invade

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko meet in Budapest on Monday, part of a diplomatic tour of eastern Europe that will also take in Slovenia and Croatia

Mr Wallace and Mr Benko speak during a press conference in Budapest, as Britain prepares to double the number of troops on deployment in Europe by bolstering NATO forces

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand attend a flower-laying ceremony at a memorial to fallen defenders of Ukraine in Kiev

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand review the honour guard during a ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, at the weekend

Western leaders are pursuing a two-pronged approach, stepping up military assistance to Ukraine but also undertaking a full-court diplomatic effort to defuse the crisis.

Britain is preparing to offer NATO a 'major' deployment of troops, weapons, warships and jets, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Saturday. At the same time, he is expected to speak with Putin next week.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday welcomed the increased military support while also endorsing London's diplomatic initiative.

Canada on Sunday announced the temporary repatriation of all non-essential employees from its Kyiv embassy. And its defense minister, Anita Anand, said Canadian forces in Ukraine were protectively being moved west of the Dnieper river.

Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War.

But Russia has repeatedly denied posing a threat to the one-time Soviet republic and said Sunday it wanted 'respectful' relations with the United States.

'We want good, equal, mutually respectful relations with the United States, like with every country in the world,' Foreign Minister Lavrov told Russian TV.

Citing NATO's presence near its border, Russia has put forward security demands to Washington and the US-led military alliance.

They include a guarantee that NATO will not admit new members, in particular Ukraine, and that the United States will not establish new military bases in ex-Soviet countries.

In the face of the Russian build-up, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the West to tone down the rhetoric.

That plea, from a country also eager for Western support - particularly since Moscow seized Crimea in 2014 and began fueling a deadly separatist conflict in the country's east - has raised eyebrows in Washington.

Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova tried to reassure Americans Sunday, telling CBS that Ukraine was 'grateful for the United States,' but that after eight years of living with a constant threat from Russia, 'we cannot afford to panic.'

Kyiv's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged Russia in a tweet to pull back its forces and 'continue diplomatic engagement' if it is 'serious' about de-escalating tensions.
A pregnant New Zealand journalist stranded in Afghanistan has hit out at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government after they again brushed off her application to return home with a bureaucratic letter.

Broadcast journalist Charlotte Bellis, 35, repeatedly tried to return home after learning she was pregnant in September last year.

She submitted 59 documents to New Zealand officials in Afghanistan in an attempt to secure an emergency return home, but her bid was turned down.

The journalist decided to go public and write about her difficulties in a column published in The New Zealand Herald after she was left with no alternative but to turn to the Taliban for help.

Now, with her third trimester fast approaching, the journalist, who is 25 weeks pregnant, is once again facing further delays returning home because of New Zealand's strict closed border policy.

Ms Bellis had applied to return home under category 1A(i) of the emergency allocation application which applies to Kiwis requiring access to time-critical medical treatment unavailable or inaccessible at their location.

But the New Zealand authorities have now claimed she must apply under a different category which applies to citizens and residents 'who are in a location or situation where there is a serious risk to their safety'.

On Sunday, New Zealand's Managed Isolation and Quarantine department advised her that 'more information is required before a decision can be made'.

They went on to ask Ms Bellis to upload further evidence to her online application before adding: 'We'll get back to you as soon as we can.'

The bureaucratic letter comes after Ms Bellis warned that pregnancy can be a death sentence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan because of the poor state of maternity care and the lack of surgical capabilities.

Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis, 35, has repeatedly tried to return home after learning she was pregnant in September last year

Ms Bellis (believed to be pictured in Afghanistan) has submitted 59 documents to New Zealand officials in Afghanistan in an attempt to secure an emergency return home, but each has been brushed off

The journalist is now fast approaching her third trimester and has warned that pregnancy can be a death sentence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan because of the poor state of maternity care and lack of surgical capabilities

Ms Bellis replied to the authorities insisting she provided everything required and requested a justification for why she should not get an exemption.

On Monday she tweeted: 'I received a letter from a generic MIQ email address suggesting I apply via a different category for an emergency spot to return to New Zealand to give birth.'

She shared a screenshot of the generic email from the quarantine agency requesting more information to ensure 'a fair and consistent process'.

The email also stated her original application was deactivated last week as the proposed travel dates were not within the 14 day window.

Ms Bellis said she chose travel dates outside the window due to a scarcity of flights out of Kabul and to 'give us time to appeal if we were rejected'.

The email suggested Ms Bellis apply under category 1A (iii), which applies to citizens and residents 'who are in a location or situation where there is a serious risk to their safety and their only option is to return to New Zealand, taking into account advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where relevant'.

Ms Bellis would also have to provide confirmation that returning to New Zealand is her only option.

She has since replied to the email, claiming that applying under the category suggested by authorities does not 'presently apply to us'.

'The cause for return continues to be the need for time-critical medical treatment which is unavailable or inaccessible in our current location,' Ms Bellis wrote.

'You have all of our information. You know our situation. I want it on the record there is no change to our circumstances, no new evidence or information you have received.'

Ms Bellis argued that applying outside the 14-day travel window under category of 1A(i) was permitted under the MIQ guidelines and that they would have to provide more evidence on top of 59 documents already submitted if they did reapply.

She also cited MIQ boss Chris Bunny, who told the New Zealand Herald on Saturday that pregnant women can apply under category 1A(i).

Ms Bellis is expecting her first child with her partner freelance photographer Jim Huylebroek, who is a contributor to the New York Times.

She was initially based in Doha, Qatar, while working with the news organisation Al Jazeera but resigned from her position in November 2021 after learning she was pregnant.

She described the pregnancy as a 'miracle' after earlier being told by doctors she could not have children.

As pre-marital sex is illegal in Qatar Ms Bellis said she realised she needed to leave.

She told ABC News: 'When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to get out as soon as possible.

'I actually went to see a gynaecologist in Doha and said, you know, ''Hypothetically, if I was pregnant, would you dob me in?'' and she said, ''I wouldn't, but I can't treat you. And really, all I can say is you need to get out of here.'"

The reporter then travelled to Belgium as her partner is a Belgium native but said the length of time it would have taken to process her application would have meant she was in the country with an expired visa.

She repeatedly tried to get back to New Zealand in a lottery-style system for returning citizens but without success.

Ms Bellis said the only other place the couple had visas to live was Afghanistan and so Ms Bellis spoke with senior Taliban contacts who told her she would be fine if she returned to Afghanistan.

'Just tell people you're married and if it escalates, call us. Don't worry,' she said they told her.

Charlotte Bellis has been urged by authorities in an email (pictured) to apply under a different category, where she would have to provide evidence that returning home is her only option

Ms Bellis has since replied to the email, claiming that applying under the category suggested by authorities does not 'presently apply to us'

Charlotte Bellis (pictured with partner, Belgium photographer Jim Huylebroek) wants to return home to New Zealand before the birth of her daughter due to May

She said she sent 59 documents to New Zealand authorities in Afghanistan but they rejected her application for an emergency return.

New Zealand's Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins told the Herald his office had asked officials to check whether they followed the proper procedures in Ms Bellis's case, 'which appeared at first sight to warrant further explanation'.

Chris Bunny, the joint head of New Zealand's Managed Isolation and Quarantine system, told the Herald that Ms Bellis's emergency application did not fit a requirement that she travel within 14 days.

He said staff had contacted her about making another application that would fit the requirements.

'This is not uncommon and is an example of the team being helpful to New Zealanders who are in distressing situations,' he wrote.

Earlier this month Ms Bellis warned that pregnancy can be a death sentence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan because of the poor state of maternity care and lack of surgical capabilities.

Speaking to 1News about her situation, Ms Bellis asked: 'To the NZ Government, I ask what do you want me to do? I have done nothing wrong I got pregnant and I am a New Zealander.

'At what point did we get so bogged down in these rules we've come up with that we can't see that she's a Kiwi in need of help and she needs to come home?'

Although the spread of Covid-19 has been limited in New Zealand, the nation still requires citizens to spend 10 days in isolation hotels run by the military.

The 'zero Covid' policy has repeatedly come under fire and the strict self-isolation restrictions have now caused a backlog of thousands of people desperate to return home.

Ms Bellis has become one of the most high-profile Kiwis to fall victim to New Zealand's extreme border controls, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her government face further embarrassment over their own policies.

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Ms Bellis said it was 'brutally ironic' that while she had once questioned the Taliban about their treatment of women, she was now asking the same questions of her own government.

'When the Taliban offers you - a pregnant, unmarried woman - safe haven, you know your situation is messed up,' she wrote.

Jacinda Ardern has faced a slew of criticism from campaigners and members of the public after imposing strict Covid curbs since the start of the pandemic.

International borders were promptly closed on March 19, with a nationwide lockdown enforced on March 25 after 102 cases, and no deaths, were recorded in the country.

New Zealand has managed to keep the spread of the virus to a minimum during the pandemic and has reported 15,910 confirmed coronavirus cases and 52 deaths among its population of five million.

The government pushed back plans for a phased reopening from mid-January to the end of February out of concern about a potential Omicron outbreak, as in neighbouring Australia.

Jacinda Ardern has faced a slew of criticism from campaigners and members of the public after imposing strict Covid curbs since the start of the pandemic

Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis (pictured) is stranded in Afghanistan and has turned to the Taliban for help as she remains unable to return to her homeland because of Jacinda Ardern's draconian Covid curbs

Now Jacinda Ardern is forced into self-isolation after coming into 'close-contact' with a virus carrier New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is self-isolating after coming into close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus. The exposure came on a flight from the town of Kerikeri to the largest city of Auckland. New Zealand's Governor-General Cindy Kiro was also on the Jan. 22 flight and has also gone into isolation. Both women had been in the Northland region to do some filming ahead of New Zealand's national day, Waitangi Day, on Feb. 6. 'The Prime Minister is asymptomatic and is feeling well,' her office said in a statement. 'In line with Ministry of Health advice she will be tested immediately tomorrow and will isolate until Tuesday.' New Zealand has managed to stamp out or contain the virus for much of the pandemic, and has reported just 52 virus deaths among its population of 5 million. But an outbreak of the omicron variant is starting to take hold and is expected to rapidly grow over the coming weeks. About 77% of New Zealanders are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data. That figure rises to 93% of those aged 12 and over, according to New Zealand officials. Advertisement

But stories of citizens stranded abroad in dire circumstances have caused embarrassment for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her government.

And Ms Bellis's situation is particularly striking.

Last year, Ms Bellis was working for Al Jazeera covering the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan when she gained international attention by questioning Taliban leaders about their treatment of women and girls.

Prime Minister Ardern is yet to comment on Ms Bellis's plight and is in self-isolation after she was declared a close contact of a Covid case. She has tested negative so far and will stay in isolation until Wednesday.

On Monday New Zealand recorded 91 locally acquired cases and more than two thirds of the latest infections were diagnosed in Auckland.

After going public, Ms Bellis has been been flooded with online support for her efforts to return home, and was thanked for speaking out and urged by fellow Kiwis to continue the fight.

'Please continue to fight for everyone that doesn't have your profile. You are highlighting the absurdity and cruelty of the MIQ system, with multiple loopholes for the ultra wealthy, citizens or not,' one commented.

Another added: 'Many of us know people stuck overseas being treated in such a cruel way but we don't have the means to bring it attention. Thank you.'

One urged Ms Bellis consider applying under the different category suggested by the quarantine agency.

'Please take the olive branch that they are attempting to extend and look after yourself and baby by jumping through their suggested amended hoops ASAP,' one wrote.

'You can continue to highlight the absurdity and cruelty of the rules once you are safely home.'

Ms Bellis has submitted 59 documents to New Zealand officials and answered numerous questions in an attempt to secure an emergency return home.

'This just feels like such a breach of trust,' Ms Bellis told Radio New Zealand from Kabul on Sunday.

Ms Bellis also hasn't ruled out relocating to Belgium, the birthplace of her partner.

It's a particularly cruel twist of fate for the woman who was revered worldwide for her fearless questioning of the jihadist group's record on women's rights.

Writing in the New Zealand Herald on Saturday, Ms Bellis (right) said it was 'brutally ironic' that while she had once questioned the Taliban about their treatment of women, she was now asking the same questions of her own government

Ms Bellis said pregnancy can be a death sentence in Afghanistan because of the poor state of maternity care and lack of surgical capabilities.

She added that after talking to lawyers, politicians and public relations people in New Zealand, her case seems to be moving forward, although she has yet to be approved passage home.

This month Ms Ardern further tightened restrictions under the country's Covid Red Alert system, meaning a return to universal mask-wearing and stricter quarantine requirements for New Zealanders.

The PM rolled out the restrictions after just nine cases of the Omicron variant were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.

Under limits incurred by New Zealand's My Vaccine Pass, those who are unvaccinated will be unable to eat at indoor restaurants or visit gyms or hairdressers.

Any Kiwis working in health and disability, education, fire and emergency, police, defence, and corrections must be able to show proof of having vaccines.

From February 3, the wearing of bandanas, scarves or t-shirts pulled over the nose in public places such as gyms and cafes will be banned.

And under new Covid curbs enforced by Ardern, all residents must wear face masks in public areas such as shops and there are limits on gatherings to a maximum of 100 people from Monday after a cluster of Omicron cases were detected in the country.

Critics warn the extreme Zero Covid policy is 'unworkable' and could lead to more cases with greater number refusing to be tested in order to avoid the lengthy quarantine period (pictured, anti-vaxxer protesters at a Covid vaccination clinic in Auckland)

The changes mean Ardern was forced to postpone her own wedding.

Anyone testing positive must now isolate for 14 instead of ten days - and household contacts have to isolate for an additional ten days on top, leaving them to stay indoors for 24 days.

International borders were promptly closed on March 19, 2020, with a nationwide lockdown enforced on March 25 after 102 cases, and no deaths, were recorded in the country.

Almost three months later on June 8, the PM announced there had been no new community transmissions within the past fortnight and said she was 'confident New Zealand has eliminated community transmission of Covid'.

But within two months, Auckland was placed under strict lockdown measures after just four new cases were recorded in the city area.

A draconian 'zero-Covid' goal was implemented across the country, with New Zealand aiming to completely eradicate the virus from its shores.

But this policy was met with ridicule as the Delta variant ripped through the world in the summer of 2021, prompting a return to multiple weeks of lockdown for Auckland's 1.7 million residents.

Critics slammed the return of draconian curbs on everyday life, pointing to the fact other countries have started to reopen despite reporting thousands of new cases.
This is the first picture of a mother of four who was stabbed on death on her doorstep - as police continue to hunt her killer.

Marina Shaban, 41, suffered critical injuries and died outside a block of flats on Garrison Lane, a suburban street in Birmingham, on Friday evening.

The 'loving, caring and dedicated' mother was cared for by paramedics who were unable to revive her, and she died on the pavement before reaching hospital.

Marina's heartbroken family paid tribute to the 41-year-old and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Marina Shaban, 41, suffered critical injuries and died outside a block of flats on Garrison Lane, a suburban street in Birmingham , on Friday evening

'A loving, caring and dedicated mother with a fantastic personality and real zest for life was tragically taken from us before her time,' she said.

'She leaves behind four children and a huge family who loved, admired and cared for her deeply.

'The entire family are absolutely devastated by her death and ask that we are given space to grieve, however, urge anyone with information to please come forward.'

A post-mortem is scheduled to be carried out today to determine Marina's cause of death.'

DI Jim Colclough, of the West Midlands Police homicide unit, said: 'Our thoughts are with the woman's family at this really sad time.

'They are now being supported by specialist officers as they come to terms with what has happened.

Police are appealing for passing motorists to provide their dashcams if they were in the area that night. Pictured is a forensic officer at the scene

Inspector Harjit Ubhi from Birmingham West station said: 'This is truly a tragic incident and my heart goes out to the woman's family'

'Our investigations are in the early stages, and a scene is currently being held around Garrison Lane as we continue to forensically examine the area. So we thank members of the public for their patience.

'We know this is a busy area and we are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage or CCTV, or anyone who witnessed anything to contact us.'

On social media a witness told how she tried to help the woman. She wrote: 'Unknown if she made it or not I pray she has - this world is so messed up I hope for change.'

Inspector Harjit Ubhi from Birmingham West station said: 'This is truly a tragic incident and my heart goes out to the woman's family'

'We know this will be a huge shock to neighbours and the local community. There will be an increase in police presence around the area to offer reassurance to people with concerns.'

Anyone with information can contact police via Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log 3492 of 28/01/22.
The mostly Gen Z activists have blocked the entrance and climbed among pipes and atop tankers at the Nustar Clydebank terminal, near Glasgow, resulting in dozens of police officers being called to the scene. In videos posted on Twitter, groups of activists can be seen holding up orange banners carrying their organisation's name, while demonstrators - some as young as 17 - warn they will push on with their 'disruptive action' across the country until the UK government releases a 'meaningful' statement agreeing to their demands. It comes just days after a total of 35 people were cuffed after members of the eco-mob damaged pumps and glued themselves to the tarmac and vehicles at two petrol stations on the M25. Meanwhile, drivers were warned last night that Petrol and diesel prices could hit new records within weeks - just in time for the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday getaway in early June. One protestor told Capital Scotland News on Tuesday that the group's demand to stop investment for new oil fields that 'won't be operational for decades to come' was 'more than reasonable'. He added: 'We don't want to be here, we don't want to be inconveniencing people, we don't want to be shutting people out of their work, we don't want to have police here wasting their time with this frankly, when they have got better things to be doing... Our plan is to stay here until we are forcibly removed, and over the longer term we are going to keep doing these disruptive actions until we get a meaningful statement from the government that they're going to halt the expansion of oil and gas.' A spokesperson for the group told MailOnline there have yet to be any arrests and that many plan to protest at the Scottish site 'for several days'.
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Boris Johnson has finally been handed the Sue Gray report today as he braces to publish it and face a Commons grilling within hours.

The top civil servant has given the PM her findings on Partygate, although sources stressed that it is not her full conclusions due to a request from police.

The document is not expected to name more junior staff, and will only have 'minimal reference' to incidents under criminal investigation. It is thought Ms Gray wants to do a fuller version when Scotland Yard has completed its work, but No10 is so far refusing to commit to that.

Mr Johnson has promised to release the watered down report 'as received' at least an hour before he makes a Commons statement at 3.30pm. He will then address a meeting of the Conservative parliamentary party at 6.30pm. Downing Street revealed he spoke briefly to Ms Gray last night.

Rumours have been swirling at Westminster that key aides will have to fall on their swords, but Mr Johnson is said to feel 'reassured' that the threat of a successful coup against him by Tory backbenchers has receded.

The crisis over Ukraine also looks like overshadowing the Partygate saga, with the premier visiting the country tomorrow and demanding Vladimir Putin steps back from the brink of invasion.

He has been assisted by fledgling signs of a recovery in the polls - although the Conservatives are still trailing Labour.

And has emerged that police are likely to hand out any fixed penalty notices to lockdown breachers without making their names public - an approach that could limit embarrassment.

Mr Johnson's former adviser Will Walden said he had 'used up quite a lot of lives' on Partygate, but suggested events had 'inadvertently' fallen well for him.

But there is still the potential for the situation to flare up dramatically, with Ms Gray understood to have been told about a 'victory party' held by friends of Mr Johnson's wife Carrie in the No11 flat to mark the resignation of Dominic Cummings.

Mr Johnson has also come under fire from an ex-No10 official who says he vetoed plans to allow bereaved families to set up bubbles with their close relatives when restrictions began to ease last year.

Asked on a visit to Essex about fears the inquiry will be a 'whitewash' because of the changes, Mr Johnson said: 'You are going to have to wait and see both what Sue says and of course what the Met says.'

The Prime Minister was also questioned about reportedly telling MPs privately he thinks he has done nothing wrong.

'You're going to have to wait and see the outcome of the investigations, but of course I stick absolutely to what I've said in the past,' he told reporters at a freeport in Tilbury.

In other developments during more political chaos in Westminster:

Mr Johnson is expected to visit Ukraine tomorrow amid desperate efforts to defuse the standoff with Russia over Ukraine;

New government sanctions are being unveiled that could target oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin;

Former Cabinet minister Lord Frost has dismissed suggestions he could become the PM's new chief of staff in a 'reset' after the Partygate report, saying he does not agree with the national insurance hike;

Dominic Cummings has stepped up his attack on Mr Johnson branding him a 'babbling f***wit' and saying getting him out of No10 is like 'fixing the drains'.

An increasingly-confident Boris Johnson is bracing for the Sue Gray report today as it emerged that Downing Street lockdown breakers might never be identified by police

Sue Gray is believed to be on the verge of delivering her findings on Partygate to the PM, who has promised to publish them and make a Commons statement soon afterwards

A protest outside Downing Street in advance of the Partygate report, which is being published later

Ministers including Tory chairman Oliver Dowden have been going in and out of Downing Street today as tension rises

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (left) and Environment Secretary George Eustice were also in No10 amid signs of frantic activity behind the scenes

The issues that could take the heat off Boris over Partygate Russia threatening to invade Ukraine Vladimir Putin has massed forces on the border of Ukraine, with the UK and US convinced an invasion is imminent. Boris Johnson is expected to speak to Mr Putin later, and visit the region himself imminently. Compulsory Covid vaccination for NHS staff The government is preparing to U-turn on making vaccination mandatory for NHS staff. Health Secretary Sajid Javid is due to make an announcement later this afternoon. The topic has been a flashpoint with libertarian Tory MPs, and it will be a popular shift. Cost of living crisis Mr Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been desperately putting together a package that could ease the pain of soaring inflation and energy bills for families. The PM and Chancellor finally seemed to kill off the idea of delaying the 12billion national insurance hike beyond April over the weekend. Ministers have also played down the prospect of a ct to VAT on energy bills. But there is set to be more targeted support for the poorest households. Advertisement

The PM's official spokesman said: 'We can confirm that Sue Gray has provided an update to the Prime Minister.

'The findings will be published on gov.uk and made available in the House of Commons library this afternoon and the Prime Minister will then provide a statement to the House after people have had the opportunity to read and consider the findings.'

Downing Street said it will publish the Gray report in the full form it has received from the inquiry team, but did not commit to publish a fuller version in the future.

Asked why the release has so far been characterised as an 'update', the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'It's a reflection of the fact there is an ongoing police investigation and the Met have been clear about what their expectations are about what can or cannot be put in the public domain while that's ongoing.'

Asked whether Ms Gray will seek to publish more in the future, he said: 'Obviously we will need to consider what might be appropriate and we are discussing with the Cabinet Office team in due course about what might be appropriate, but at the moment it is unclear how the ongoing Met Police investigation might interact with any further work on that. But obviously it's something we will want to keep under review.'

Pressed on whether the public will see a fuller report after the Met investigation, the spokesman said: 'That's one of the things I can't confirm at this point simply because we need to discuss that with the Met and others about what is suitable.'

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: 'We can confirm that Sue Gray has provided an update on her investigations to the Prime Minister.'

Will Walden, who advised Mr Johnson during his time as London mayor, said Mr Johnson had 'used up quite a lot of lives' on Partygate but the report had 'landed pretty well for him'.

He told BBC Radio 4's The World At One programme: 'It's a mess. It's probably bad for democracy but inadvertently good for the PM.

'He's used up quite a lot of lives over this but I think it's landed pretty well for him.

'I think he has the benefit of seeing what appears to be a heavily redacted report, he doesn't have long to respond but he's responding to frankly what is going to be not a lot. And I suspect that can only help him.'

Nikka da Costa, Mr Johnson's former director of legislative affairs, voiced disbelief at No10 refusing to confirm that Ms Gray's full report will be published at a later date.

She predicted that if Downing Street tried to block the release Labour would call an Opposition Day debate.

'Then MPs will be whipped to oppose? And how will that be portrayed publicly? What is the strategy behind this line?' she tweeted.

Ms da Costa wrote in The Times overnight that the PM had shot down plans to allow bereaved families to set up bubbles with their close relatives when last year's lockdown restrictions began to ease over fears it would 'send the wrong message to the public'.

Costa said the veto came just weeks before Downing Street staff held two booze-filled leaving parties on the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

The former No10 official said she was 'angry' when she hears allies of Mr Johnson to 'get a sense of proportion' in response to allegations of No10 parties.

'If we in No 10 could be that hard-hearted because we thought it was the right thing to do, then those involved in those kinds of decisions also owed it to the country to be as hard on themselves and their own conduct,' Costa wrote.

She added: 'If No 10 failed in that as a collective, as it seems clear, it needs to be recognised as a failure of and by those at the top.'

The Mail on Sunday revealed that as part of her inquiry into socialising in Mr Johnson's No 10 flat, Ms Gray has been told about a 'victory party' held by friends of Carrie.

The bash allegedly happened on the night of November 13, 2020, after Dominic Cummings had left with his belongings in a box.

He had allegedly lost a power struggle with the then Ms Symonds and other advisers.

'There was the sound of lots of banging and dancing and drinking, and a number of Abba tracks  including a triumphalist Winner Takes It All,' a source said.

A spokesman for Mrs Johnson said: 'It is totally untrue to suggest Mrs Johnson held a party in the Downing Street flat on November 13, 2020.'

Nikka da Costa, Mr Johnson's former director of legislative affairs, voiced disbelief at No10 refusing to confirm that Ms Gray's full report will be published at a later date

There are fledgling signs of a Tory recovery in the polls - although the Conservatives are still trailing Labour

In the latest twist of the lockdown party drama enveloping Westminster, it emerged that Miss Gray's probe has been told about alleged messages from Carrie Johnson offering to organise a cake for the PM's 56th birthday party in June 2020

Mr Johnson arriving back at Downing Street yesterday after spending the weekend at his Chequers residence

Parties across Whitehall: A full list of all the Covid rule-busting claims Boris Johnson and the Government have been repeatedly rocked in recent months by a stream of allegations of Covid rule-busting parties held across Whitehall. Here is a list of the alleged gatherings, some of which have already been admitted to:

 May 15, 2020: Downing Street garden party The PM, his wife Carrie, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and Mr Johnson's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, were all pictured, in a photograph leaked to The Guardian, sitting around a table in the Number 10 garden, with wine and cheese in front of them. Some 15 other people were also in the photograph, but the Prime Minister has insisted this was a work meeting, saying: 'Those were meetings of people at work, talking about work.'  May 20, 2020: BYOB garden party The revelation came in an email, leaked to ITV, from Mr Reynolds to more than 100 Downing Street employees inviting them to 'bring your own booze' for an evening gathering. The PM has admitted attending the gathering, but insisted he believed it was a work event which could 'technically' have been within the rules.  June 19, 2020: Birthday party for the PM A Downing Street spokesman admitted staff 'gathered briefly' in the Cabinet Room after a meeting. A report from ITV News suggested up to 30 people attended and the PM was presented with a cake. The broadcaster suggested the PM's wife, Carrie Johnson, had organised the surprise get-together. Reports said Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of Mr and Mrs Johnson's No 10 flat, briefly attended while undertaking work in Downing Street. ITV News also reported that later the same evening, family and friends were hosted upstairs to further celebrate the Prime Minister's 56th birthday in his official residence. Number 10 said: 'This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time the Prime Minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening.'  November 13, 2020: Leaving party for senior aide According to reports at the time, Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Mr Cummings.  November 13, 2020: Johnsons' flat party There are allegations that the Prime Minister's then fiancee hosted parties in their flat, with one such event said to have taken place on November 13, the night Dominic Cummings departed Number 10. A spokesman for Mrs Johnson has called the claim 'total nonsense'.  November 25, 2020: Treasury drinks A Treasury spokesman told The Times that a number of staff had gone into the office to work on the Spending Review. He said: 'We have been made aware that a small number of those staff had impromptu drinks around their desks after the event.'  November 27, 2020: Second staff leaving do The Mirror reported that the PM gave a farewell speech to an aide at the end of November while the lockdown in England was still in place. Other reports have said the leaving do was for Cleo Watson, a senior Downing Street aide and ally of Mr Cummings.  December 10, 2020: Department for Education party The DfE confirmed a social event happened after The Mirror reported that former education secretary Gavin Williamson threw a party and delivered a short speech at an event organised at his department's Whitehall headquarters. A spokesman acknowledged that 'it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time'.  December 11, 2020: Wine fridge delivered to Downing Street for staff's 'wine-time Fridays' A fridge with the capacity for 34 wine bottles was delivered through the back door of Number 10. According to sources cited by The Mirror, the fridge became necessary for staff's 'wine-time Fridays' which were held throughout lockdown, with the Prime Minister allegedly encouraging the parties to help aides 'let off steam'. The regular social gatherings were reported to be particularly popular among staff between autumn 2020 and spring 2020 when staff were 'fatigued' with tough Covid restrictions that banned socialising. Mr Johnson was said to have attended a 'handful' of these gatherings.  December 14, 2020: Party featuring Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and staff Shaun Bailey apologised 'unreservedly' for attending the gathering at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) organised by staff on his campaign team. 'It was a serious error of judgment at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly,' he tweeted. He quit his role chairing the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee after The Mirror published a picture showing him at the gathering.  December 15, 2020: Downing Street quiz The PM appeared on contestants' screens at the quiz but has insisted he broke no rules. An image published by the Sunday Mirror showed Mr Johnson flanked by two colleagues, one draped in tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat, in Number 10. Downing Street admitted Mr Johnson 'briefly' attended the quiz after the photographic evidence emerged but insisted it was a virtual event.  December 16, 2020: Department for Transport party The Mirror reported that senior civil servants were 'boozing and dancing' at the event, allegedly planned by staff from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps' office. A DfT spokesman said: 'Fewer than a dozen staff who were working in the office had a low-key, socially distanced gathering in the large open-plan office after work on December 16, where food and drink was consumed. 'We recognise this was inappropriate and apologise for the error of judgment.'  December 17, 2020: Cabinet Office 'Christmas party' A number of outlets reported that a gathering was held in the Cabinet Office on December 17. The Times reported that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case attended the party in room 103 of the Cabinet Office, that it had been organised by a private secretary in Mr Case's team, and that it was included in digital calendars as: 'Christmas party!' The Cabinet Office confirmed a quiz took place, but a spokesman said: 'The Cabinet Secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team's office on the way to his own office.'  December 17, 2020: Leaving drinks for former Covid Taskforce head The former director-general of the Government's Covid Taskforce said she was 'truly sorry' over an evening gathering in the Cabinet Office for her leaving drinks during coronavirus restrictions days before Christmas in 2020. Kate Josephs, who is now chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said she gathered with colleagues who were in the office that day and added that she was co-operating with the probe by senior civil servant Sue Gray.  December 18, 2020: Christmas party at Downing Street The claim that kicked off the rule-breaking allegations is that a party was held for Downing Street staff on December 18. Officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged Secret Santa gifts, although the PM is not thought to have attended. Mr Johnson's spokeswoman, Allegra Stratton, quit after being filmed joking about it with fellow aides at a mock press conference.  Run-up to Christmas 2020 The Mirror reported that Mr Johnson attended a leaving do for defence adviser Captain Steve Higham before Christmas 2020. The newspaper alleged the Prime Minister made a speech but Number 10 did not respond to a request for comment and the Ministry of Defence declined.  April 16, 2021: Drinks and dancing the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral The Telegraph reported that advisers and civil servants gathered after work for two separate events on the Friday night. They were to mark the departure of James Slack, Mr Johnson's former director of communications, and one of the Prime Minister's personal photographers. Mr Slack, who left his Number 10 role to become deputy editor-in-chief of The Sun newspaper, said he was sorry for the 'anger and hurt' caused by his leaving do, while Downing Street apologised to the Queen. The Telegraph quoted a Number 10 spokesman as saying Mr Johnson was not in Downing Street that day and is said to have been at Chequers. The newspaper reported accounts from witnesses who said alcohol was drunk and guests danced to music, adding that it had been told that around 30 people attended both events combined. Advertisement

Cummings brands Boris a 'babbling f***wit' who hasn't 'got the balls' to stand up to wife Carrie in latest brutal attack Dominic Cummings has branded Boris Johnson a 'babbling f***wit' who has not 'got the balls' to stand up to his 'forceful' wife Carrie. In a rare interview, the former No10 chief swiped that the PM saw himself as a 'king' or 'Roman emperor' and only cared about big infrastructure projects that would act as monuments to himself. But he swiped that in reality the Tory leader was a 'f***wit' obsessed with 'babbling' to the media rather than 'important' policy problems. Mr Cummings said Mrs Johnson had been running a 'disastrous' shadow briefing regime from their No11 flat, and his former boss was unable to tell her 'I'm prime minister'. The intervention, in an interview with New York magazine, came as Mr Johnson awaits the verdict of top civil servant Sue Gray and the police on Partygate allegations. Mr Cummings has been instrumental in stoking the crisis for the PM, having highlighted a series of potential lockdown breaches at No10. He told the magazine that he viewed getting rid of Mr Johnson as 'an unpleasant but necessary job'. 'It's like sort of fixing the drains,' he said. The maverick ex-adviser said Mr Johnson had been useful for delivering Brexit and defeating Jeremy Corbyn in 2019. 'But after that what's the point of him and Carrie just rattling around in there and f***ing everything up for everyone and not doing the job properly?' he added. Downing Street declined to comment on the latest attack from Mr Johnson's former ally. Advertisement

The Metropolitan Police could now investigate the party as part of its probe, and call on Mrs Johnson to provide written evidence.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that a tipsy Downing Street staffer boasted to police that they 'we're the only ones allowed to party' as they left one gathering.

A witness is claimed to have reported the jibe to Ms Gray's inquiry, according to the Sun.

Last week the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick announced officers have launched a criminal inquiry after assessing a dossier of evidence compiled by Ms Gray.

The police inquiry is expected to focus on eight of the parties looked at by Ms Gray.

But the force has clarified it is looking at potential Covid breaches that are dealt with by fixed-term penalty notices.

The Times highlighted that staff are unlikely to be publicly identified if they accept a penalty notice and do not contest the breach in court.

Under police guidance, individuals are only named if they are charged and expected to appear in court.

Scotland Yard admitted last week it had asked Whitehall's ethics tsar to 'water down' her document while the force conducts a criminal probe that may not conclude for months.

The highly controversial move has seen Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick accused of 'an abuse of power' by 'interfering' with the investigation and demanding that Miss Gray remove key details which are central to the row over 'parties' in No10.

It is understood that the senior civil servant will give Mr Johnson a redacted version of her report, rather than wait for the Met's inquiry to end.

But Conservative MPs are now urging Ms Gray to make her report available to the public in full, in a bid to 'end this madness'.

Meanwhile, Labour called for Mr Johnson to finally 'end the circus' over partygate.

Shadow minister Lisa Nandy said: 'There are a lot of bereaved families, there are a lot of people who made huge sacrifices who deserve to hear the truth from the Prime Minister.

'If he won't put an end to this circus then that report has to come out in full so that people can judge for themselves.'

Despite the apparent easing of the crisis for Mr Johnson, leadership jockeying is in full swing.

Tom Tugendhat has become the first Conservative MP to declare his intention to run in a leadership contest.

Asked in a Times Radio interview whether he would like to be Prime Minister, the Tonbridge & Malling MP said: 'It would be a huge privilege.'

He added: 'It's up to all of us to put ourselves forward. And it's up to the electorate, in the first case parliamentary colleagues, and in the second case the party, to choose.'

The former soldier added: 'There isn't a vacancy at the moment', and insisted he had not been canvassing support.

Jeremy Hunt, the former Foreign Secretary who came second to Mr Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest, recently said his ambition to be leader had not 'completely vanished'.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are expected to be the frontrunners in a contest, with other potential contenders including Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt.

Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine TOMORROW in show of support for nation as he urges Vladimir Putin to 'step back from the brink' of invasion

Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine tomorrow in a show of support for the country - after warning Vladimir Putin to 'step back from the brink' of invasion.

Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister would sidestep the fallout from the Sue Gray Partygate report by travelling to Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.

That journey, made with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, will take place after an expected phone call with Putin today, as tens of thousands of Russian troops maintain their position close to the Ukraine border.

Fears of an imminent Russian incursion in Ukraine have grown in recent days, despite denials from Moscow and pleas from Zelensky to avoid stirring 'panic' over the military build-up on the border.

Mr Johnson said today he will reiterate that an invasion would be 'bitterly and bloodily resisted' by Kiev's forces - as well as having major repercussions internationally.

Speaking to reporters in Essex this morning, Mr Johnson said: 'What I will say to President Putin, as I have said before, is that I think we really all need to step back from the brink.

'I think Russia needs to step back from the brink. I think that an invasion of Ukraine, any incursion into Ukraine beyond the territory that Russia has already taken in 2014 would be an absolute disaster for the world, and above all it would be a disaster for Russia.'

Boris Johnson will urge Vladimir Putin to 'step back from the brink' in Ukraine today as he prepares to visit the region

Ukrainian civilians train to resist a Russian invasion over the weekend

Nato powers have been urging Mr Putin (pictured last week) to step back from confrontation

As well as visiting Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary will head on to Moscow for talks.

Diplomatic efforts are ramping up as Putin-backing oligarchs were warned there will be 'nowhere to hide' from new UK sanctions.

The Foreign Office is set to announce details of enhanced measures that could be used against 'strategic interests' of the Russian state.

Targets could include financial institutions and energy firms as well as Mr Putin's wealthy supporters.

Meanwhile, former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers has insisted Russia can be deterred from pushing ahead with an invasion if the West makes clear there will be 'costs'.
A French journalist has been given police protection after fronting a documentary about the impact of radical Islam on a poor town in the north of the country.

Ophelie Meunier, 34, has received death threats in the wake of documentary Zone Interdite - or 'Restricted Zone - that aired in France on January 23 looking at the influence of hardline Islamic views in the town of Roubaix, on the Belgian border.

Meunier found a restaurant where women are given cubicles to eat away from men, and a toy shop selling faceless dolls to comply with strict interpretations of Islam that forbid depicting facial features.

She also spoke to Amine Elbahi, 26, a Muslim lawyer from Roubaix who helped expose an educational institution that received 53,000 of public money to teach poor children, but was accused of spreading Islamic teachings instead.

Elbahi spoke out against the influence of radical Islam in the film, and has now been branded an 'infidel' and threatened with beheading. He is also under police guard.

News that the pair have been threatened has caused outcry in France, where many feel the secularism on which the modern-day republic was founded is under threat from religious ideologies brought in by overseas migrants.

Ophelie Meunier, 34, a French journalist, has received death threats after producing a documentary exposing the influence of radical Islam on a northern French town

The documentary uncovered a toy shop in Roubaix selling faceless dolls,

Bernard Rougier, pictured, professor of Arab civilization and society at Sorbonne Paris III University, a specialist in radical Islam, says that the faceless dolls and teddy-bears are an introduction of an ideological principle into the world of childhood

Emmanuel Macron, a centrist who is gearing up to fight a presidential election in April where he is likely to face off against a right-wing challenger, has been accused of being soft on immigration and of failing to defend French values.

Eric Zemmour, a far-right commentator and Macron rival who has twice been convicted of hate crimes for statements about Islam, was quick to align himself with Meunier after it emerged she had been threatened.

'Ophelie Meunier is in mortal danger,' he tweeted on Saturday, as the documentary began garnering widespread attention.

Amine Elbahi, 26, a Muslim lawyer from Roubaix who spoke out in the film, has also been threatened with beheading

'This is what happens when you show the French the Islamization of our country. Millions of patriots thank her for her courage.'

Valerie Pecresse, another right-wing challenger to Macron, tweeted: 'Full support for Ophelie Meunier threatened and placed under protection after the courageous investigation on Islamism.'

In a clip shared on Zone Interdite's official Twitter page ahead of the release of the full documentary, specialist in radical Islam Professor Bernard Rougier holds the faceless dolls and teddy-bears as he explains: 'It's a way to show that from childhood, you will be a better Muslim than others, and implies, others are not good or true Muslims.

'And so it is the introduction of an ideological principle into the world of childhood... in that sense it is quite worrying, yes.'

The hidden-camera footage shows the undercover reporter going into the shops selling the dolls, which also offer books with the same imagery.

A Muslim lawyer from Roubaix, Amine Elbahi, who spoke out about radical Islam in the programme, has also been placed under police protection after saying he was threatened with decapitation.

Mr Elbahi, 26, appears in several sequences of Zone Interdite - translating to Restricted Zone - which aired on the private French TV channel M6.

He has told French news channel BMFTV that his phone number circulated on social media, and 'several murder calls were broadcast'.

'I am threatened with beheading, slitting, attacking me because I held a speech of truth with my face uncovered, and in particular on the inaction of the mayor of my commune', he said.

'What I said upset people. Given the threats I am receiving my aim must have been right.'

The toy stores in Roubaix also had 'Hamza teddy bears' on offer, which did not have any facial features, amongst other toys which follow the Islamic ruling which forbids the depiction of facial features of any kind

Books for sale in the toy shop in Roubaix included titles such as 'who is Allah?' and 'Zayd, the little prince' which also featured faceless depictions of human characters

A restaurant in Roubaix is seen with booth shielded by curtains, so that female diners could eat away from the eyes of men

The restaurant where the booths were uncovered has since been closed for 'health and safety reasons', local officials say

A Roubaix, certains magasins de jouets vendent des poupees sans visage afin de respecter une version ultra-radicale de lIslam qui interdit la representation des etres humains.

 #ZoneInterdite,  Face au danger de lIslam radical, les reponses de lEtat  dimanche a 21.10 pic.twitter.com/r0EtyqeYUA  M6 (@M6) January 21, 2022

Why do hardline Islamists forbid depictions of people? The Quran, Islam's holy book, forbids idolatry - the worship of anyone or anything other than the one God, which Muslims believe to be Allah. Meanwhile Hadith - the teachings, actions, and received beliefs of the Prophet Mohammed - prohibit the depiction of humans and, depending on interpretation, other living beings. Traditionally, this has been justified on the basis that depictions of humans could easily become idols. This is why depictions of prominent religious figures - such as Mohammed and other prophets - are expressly forbidden, with many observant Muslims adhering to this rule. For example, widespread protests broke out in predominantly Muslim countries after it emerged French teacher Samuel Paty - who was subsequently beheaded - had shown cartoons of Mohammed to his pupils. But interpretations of Hadith and what exactly constitutes a depiction likely to attract worship vary widely between different branches of Islam and between scholars and clerics. The most hardline interpretations teach that any depictions of humans are haram - or forbidden. In Afghanistan, clerics recently declared shop mannequins to be haram and ordered that they be beheaded so as to remove the faces. And during ISIS's 2014 conquest of vast areas of Syria and Iraq, fighters were often seen defacing religious monuments of other Islamic sects which they believed to be idolatrous. But others take a more-relaxed view. Shia Muslims, who ISIS and other extremists view as apostates, sometimes depict Husayn - grandson of Mohammed - though not the prophet himself. Advertisement

Mr Elbahi tipped off the criminal investigation into Roubaix-based 'association' featured in the programme by M6, Ambitions et Initiatives pour la Reussite (Ambitions and Initiatives for Success).

His lawyer, Mr Jean Tamalet, says that Mr Elbahi received threats on social media, particularly on Twitter, but also texts, WhatsApp messages, and voice recordings.

In the threatening messages, he is described as 'Kafir', which translates to 'nonbeliever' or 'infidel' in Arabic.

'Kafir' has been a word used by supporters of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other Islamic extremist groups, to refer to 'Muslim and non-Muslim adversaries' through 'various propaganda materials', according to the Counter Extremism Project.

Lawyer Jean Tamalet told AFP: 'He is told that he is going to be beheaded and slaughtered. We won't let a single threat pass.

'We will file a complaint against anyone threatening this gentleman.'

Three members of the charity association, which received the council payout of 64,640, accused by prosecutors as being used for offering Islamic education, are to appear in court alongside the mayor of Roubaix on Wednesday.

French legislation states that public bodies are prohibited from contributing to religious charities, a law which is designed to uphold the secular values and views of the state.

Mayor Guillaume Delbar, 50, is facing charges of breaking this law 'by negligence' when he gave the go-ahead for the association to receive funding, but he says he may have been tricked.

The three charity members are accused of breach of trust - which they deny. They say the association never offered religious lessons.

Muriel Cuardrado, a lawyer for one of the members of the charity, said that the association had previously helped children from disadvantaged backgrounds to get the baccalaureat, the French national academic qualification pupils can get at the end of secondary school.

'When I read in the press that this is a proselytising association, it gives me stomach cramps,' she said.

Mayor Delbar said he decided to get behind the association because it 'developed a formidable programme of help for the educational success of Roubaix's children'.

He continued: 'I might have been tricked. I might have made a mistake. But the debate must not be manipulated by those who see separatists everywhere.'

Separatists is a term used by President Macron to condemn Muslims who he says are 'dividing the nation' by living in their own communities with their own rules and customs.
This is the moment a jewelry store owner in California takes the law into his own hands and defends his store from being robbed by armed thieves smashing up the displays.

It comes in the wake of shocking spike in smash and grab robberies across shoplifters' paradise California after soft policies of progressives including Los Angeles County DA George Gascon.

It's at least the third robbery attempt reported this month in the Bay Area alone, including theft attempts from a gang of hammer-wielding thugs who swiped upward of $110,000 in jewelry from a mall and a group of thieves, two of whom didn't even bother covering their faces, who filled trash bags with cosmetics at an Ulta Beauty salon.

Amazing surveillance footage shows Usman Bhatti, owner of Maaz Jewelers in Tanofran Mall in San Bruno, California, shove away a suspect who ran into his store and began breaking the display case.

In the clip Bhatti, quickly and instinctively, can then be seen pulling out a gun and scaring the culprit and five other suspects who fled the scene, away.

Speaking to FOX KTVU, the store owner said: 'Im not trying to be a hero or a macho man.

'It just happened very quick and I had no choice.'

Bhatti, who had a concealed carry permit, faced off against armed thieves on January 21.

San Bruno Police officers responded to an attempted robbery of a jewelry store around 1.06pm.

Police said five male suspects approached the store and one pulled out a crowbar to enter the jeweler's as Bhatti yelled for him to stop.

In the clip Bhatti can be seen pulling up a gun and scaring the culprit, who fled the scene, away

Police said five male suspects approached the store and one pulled out a crowbar to enter the jeweler's as Bhatti yelled for him to stop

As the burglar began to smash up glass he then turned to Bhatti, as if poised to hit him with the crowbar.

Bhatti drew a firearm at the suspect, who then ran off while another suspect pulled out a gun and pointed it a the store owner.

All five suspects fled away from the store. No one was injured and no weapons were used in the incident.

Police described the suspects as 'males in their teens to early 20s'.

Bhatti's ordeal with the armed smash-and-grab gang is one of several across California in the past year, many expressing frustration at DA Gascon's handling of criminals.

The passage of Proposition 47 in 2014 downgraded charges of property theft of less than $950 in value from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Non-violent property crimes under $950 have been downgraded to misdemeanors, while two or more people conspiring to 'cheat and defraud any person or any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal' face no more than one year in county prison, a fine of $10,000 or a combination of the two.

On Friday, the county's Registrar's Office approved a recall petition for Gascon in a bid to remove the progressive DA in favor of someone harder on crime.

Campaigners can now collect signatures to remove him from office, in their efforts to garner support from the required 10% of the county's registered voters (just over 560,000 people) by July 6, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The police release said the suspects were described as 'males in their teens to early 20s'

All five suspects fled away from the store. No one was injured and no weapons were used in the incident

Frustrated Californians have struggled to deal with Gascon's stance of the criminal justice system.

Since he was elected in 2020, juveniles aren't being charged as adults and the DA has been softer regarding misdemeanors which are related to substance abuse and mental illness.

Just last week a group of thieves, two of whom didn't even bother covering their faces, were caught on camera filling trash bags with cosmetics at an Ulta Beauty salon in Los Angeles County as a security alarm blared and fed-up shoppers groaned.

Earlier this month horrifying surveillance footage also caught a gang of hammer-wielding thugs swiped upward of $110,000 in jewelry from a California mall.

A map shows the locations of some of the major smash-and-grab robberies that have recently taken place in California

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon (left) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (right) have been criticized for their soft-on-crime policies

California's Proposition 47 - lighter sentences for thieves Proposition 47 was passed by California voters on November 5, 2014. It made some 'non-violent' property crimes, where the value of the stolen goods does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some 'simple' drug possession offenses into misdemeanors, and allows past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court. Under California law, though, if two or more person's conspire to 'cheat and defraud any person or any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal' they can face no more than one year in county prison, a fine of $10,000 or a combination of the two. Advertisement

Nine men stormed a San Jose shopping center January 3 and began smashing glass display cases at three stores as terrified employees ran for cover.

The thieves, whose faces were obscured by masks and hoodies, made off with gold necklaces and other valuables.

The spate of robberies that saw stores in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area ransacked by hordes of looters in recent months was organized on social media by people who often did not know each other, police investigating the incidents revealed last month.

'This isnt "The Godfather" by any stretch,' said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, of the string of 'smash and grab' robberies plaguing the Southern California community.

'Its the modern version of "Hey, theres a party tonight" and suddenly you have 100 kids showing up.'

Wagstaffe is one of several San Francisco prosecutors tasked with tackling the daunting task of quelling organized retail theft, as part of a newly formed coalition of prosecutors investigating the incidents.

The task force, comprised of several Bay Area attorneys, further revealed that robbers used Snapchat and other social-media apps and messaging services to coordinate their heists.

In December police in Los Angeles announced 14 arrests in connection with 11 smash-and-grab robberies at stores where nearly $340,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, but all the suspects had been released.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore had said that most of the accused robbers suspected of ransacking businesses between November 18 and 28 bailed out or met no-bail criteria, and one is a juvenile.

The news comes amidst a worry among Californians around the rise in violent crime, following the horrifying case of Brianna Kupfer, 24, who was murdered this month at the Los Angeles furniture store where she was working.

Her alleged killer Shawn Laval Smith, 31, was booked into a Los Angeles jail after he was tracked down in Pasadena a day after the Los Angeles Police Department named him as the top suspect in the random, unprovoked slaying.

According to the latest crime data on Neighborhood Scout, crime rate in San Bruno is 'considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest'.

It added: 'The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in San Bruno is 1 in 42.

The end of 2021 saw a drop in crime rate in an otherwise violent year with record high murders

Data from the Public Policy Institute of California showed an increase in property and violent crime numbers from 2020 to 2021, as well as an increase in homicides

'Based on FBI crime data, San Bruno is not one of the safest communities in America.

'Relative to California, San Bruno has a crime rate that is higher than 71% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.'

The surge of robberies comes as California Governor Gavin Newsom announced new initiatives this month to combat the rising crime rate after packages discarded by thieves near the Union Pacific tracks in downtown Los Angeles made the site look 'like a third-world country.'

Data from the Public Policy Institute of California showed an increase in property and violent crime numbers from 2020 to 2021, as well as an increase in homicides.
A mother at a Christian school which demanded parents sign a contract allowing their children to be expelled if they don't adhere to 'doctrinal precepts' about sexuality and gender has opened up in an emotional interview on The Project.

Helen Clapham Burns was also a teacher at the Citipointe Christian College in Carindale, Queensland but quit on Monday saying she couldn't continue to work for a school that would do that to children.

The contract states that homosexuality is a sin, immoral and 'destructive to human relationships and society'.

Ms Burns said on Monday's program she 'couldn't agree to be a teacher in a school that had that vocabulary and language around some of the most vulnerable kids that we interact with.'

'As an educator, my priority is to make sure that each child that I interact with feels safe. When a child tells us, with tears in their eyes, that they don't feel safe, what are we doing?' she said.

The show's hosts, notably Carrie Bickmore, looked on the verge of tears as Ms Burns gave an emotional interview.

Citipointe Christian College in Queensland (pictured) has demanded parents sign a contract agreeing that homosexuality is immoral and that students must conform to their biological sex and can be expelled if they do not

Parents are told to confirm they agree that male and female terms in respect to 'uniforms, presentation, terminology, use of facilities and amenities, participation in sporting events and accommodation' must adhere to a child's biological sex.

'At the beginning of enrolment and during enrolment, if they don't adhere to this we terminate the enrolment. I can't work for an organisation that does that to kids,' Ms Burns said.

'The extra element of being a queer kid in a Christian environment is you think you're going to hell. I don't even know how you walk through the day with that.'

She added that no child should be made to feel 'less than human'.

An emotional Ms Burns said she taught senior English classes on Monday and was shattered at having to leave her students.

'I'm heartbroken. I feel like I've let them down that I'm having to leave.'

'But I have to let those queer kids know that there are Christians out there that love them and aren't hiding behind Bible verses and are letting them know that they are safe with me.'

She added she has also been forced to rush to find a different school for her son just days out from him starting Year 11 and he 'won't get to graduate with his mates'.

Helen Clapham Burns (pictured) quit as a teacher at the school, where her children also attend, on Monday saying she could not in good conscience work for a school who used that vocabulary around vulnerable kids

A petition by former Citipointe student Bethany Lau condemning the school's contract has gained 80,000 signatures in two days.

'Citipointe is using their religious beliefs to openly discriminate against queer and trans students, as well as threatening to take away their education,' Ms Lau wrote.

Principal, Pastor Brian Mulheran released a statement on Saturday night.

'We have always held these Christian beliefs and we have tried to be fair and transparent to everyone in our community by making them clear in the enrolment contract,' the statement said.

'We are seeking to maintain our Christian ethos and to give parents and students the right to make an informed choice about whether they can support and embrace our approach to Christian education.'

'Citipointe does not judge students on their sexuality or gender identity and we would not make a decision about their enrolment in the College simply on that basis.'

The Project host Carrie Bickmore (pictured) was visibly moved by Ms Burns emotional interview

'We believe each individual is created in the image of God, with dignity and worth equal to every other person. We unequivocally love and respect all people regardless of their lifestyle and choices, even if those choices are different to our beliefs and practice.'

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said she did not support the school's position.

'Every student deserves to feel accepted and supported at school. The 'values' laid out in this document don't seem very Christian to me,' she said.

'I've raised the issue with the Attorney General around anti-discrimination laws, and I'd encourage parents, carers, or students at the school to report this to the Human Rights Commission.'
Newly graduated Afghan National Army personnel march during their graduation ceremony after a three month training program at the Afghan Military Academy in Kabul, Nov. 29, 2020. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report obtained Sunday that the world body has received "credible allegations" that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban takeover of the country Aug. 15, 2021. AP-Yonhap





A United Nations report seen Sunday says the Taliban and its allies allegedly killed more than 100 former Afghan government members, security personnel and people who worked with international forces.







The report, an advance copy of which was seen by AFP, describes severe curtailing of human rights by Afghanistan's new fundamentalist rulers. In addition to the political killings, women's rights and the right to protest have also been curbed.







"Despite announcements of general amnesties for former members of the Government, security forces and those who worked with international military forces, UNAMA continued to receive credible allegations of killings, enforced disappearances, and other violations towards these individuals," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's report said.







Since the Taliban seized Kabul on August 15, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan has received more than 100 reports of such killings that it deems credible, the report said.







More than two-thirds of those killings were "extra-judicial killings committed by the de facto authorities or their affiliates."







Additionally, "human rights defenders and media workers continue to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings," it said.







The report also detailed a government clampdown on peaceful protests, as well as a lack of access for women and girls to work and education.







"An entire complex social and economic system is shutting down," Guterres said in the report.







Afghanistan is in the grip of a humanitarian disaster, worsened by the Taliban takeover that prompted Western countries to freeze international aid and access to billions of dollars' worth of assets held abroad.







The country was almost entirely dependent on foreign aid under the previous US-backed government, but jobs have dried up and most civil servants haven't been paid for months.







No country has yet recognized the Taliban government, with most watching to see how the hardline Islamists  notorious for human rights abuses during their first stint in power  restrict freedoms.







With poverty deepening and a drought devastating farming in many areas, the United Nations has warned that half the 38 million population faces food shortages.







The U.N. Security Council last month unanimously adopted a U.S. resolution to allow some aid to reach desperate Afghans without violating international sanctions.







But there are growing calls from rights groups and aid organizations for the West to release more funds  particularly in the middle of a harsh winter. (AFP)


Burglars are escaping justice with as little as 5 per cent of their crimes ever reaching court, new data suggests.

The figures taken from the 12 months between April 2020 and 2021 are a fall on the previous year's success rate of 9.4 per cent.

Latest Home Office statistics show there were 268,000 burglaries in the period but only 14,000 were ever solved.

A total of 243,000 cases were abandoned for reasons unknown, but connected to a lack of suspects.

Analysis by The Times says of the 268,000 burglaries in 2020-21 there were 211,411 investigations were closed without a suspect identified.

The Met Police's figures said 3.8 per cent of its 40,000 burglary cases in the last year on record led to a charge, summons or community penalty.

Burglars are escaping justice with as little as 5 per cent of their crimes ever reaching court

Burglary is a crime that has a deep impact on victims with many left selling their homes

Susan Hall, chairwoman of the capital's police and crime committee, said: 'Londoners want to feel safe in their own homes.

'Mistrust in the police is at a record high, the number of burglaries solved is at a record low, the Met are not earning that trust back.

'There are more police officers in London today than at any point in almost 20 years, the resources are clearly available. Sadiq Khan, the mayor, needs to abolish the failing policy of sifting out crime that the Met think will be hard to solve.

'Crimes should not be ignored just because they are difficult to solve,' she told the Times.

It is a far cry from figure back in 2014 when police solved around 32,000 of 342,043 burglaries.

The Home Office statistics show crime in general being solved has also dropped.

Figures suggest that only one in 17 are solved, with one in 77 rapes ever leading to a charge.

Ministers are being urged to create a national policing policy that would see officers sent to the scene of every burglary across the UK, as three forces find the method cuts break-ins

As part of Operation Crooked, Northamptonshire Police force sent Christmas cards (pictured) to known burglars in the area to warn them to have a 'crime-free Christmas' last month

But some forces are above the average with their own burglary numbers.

Durham and Northumbria had a 12 per cent success rate, ahead of Suffolk with over ten.

Earlier this month MailOnline told how police forces across the UK were being urged to send officers to every burglary scene after three forces saw a dramatic drop in the number of burglaries.

Forces in Greater Manchester, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire all publicly pledged to send an officer to every burglary in a bid to tackle the number of unsolved crimes.

As the forces have confirmed the approach has produced a visible impact on the number of break-ins across their counties, ministers believe the results are evidence a national roll-out of the strategy is justified.

A Government source told the Daily Telegraph: 'This is good policing. The public expect the police to pursue available opportunities to prevent and detect crime.

'Not only do you get to speak to the victims, which is important from a reassurance point of view, but you can also pick up forensics like fingerprints. Most of these people are repeat offenders.'

Northamptonshire Police's Operation Crooked aims to make the county a 'hostile environment' for burglars and saw the force slash the number of domestic break-ins by 48 per cent, according to the Telegraph.

In two years, the number of burglaries dropped from 5,500 to 2,850.

As part of its operation, Northamptonshire Police also issued named photos and wanted appeals for six of its most prolific burglars.
Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine tomorrow in a show of support for the country - after warning Vladimir Putin to 'step back from the brink' of invasion.

Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister would sidestep the fallout from the Sue Gray Partygate report by travelling to Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.

That journey, made with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, will take place after an expected phone call with Putin today, as tens of thousands of Russian troops maintain their position close to the Ukraine border.

Fears of an imminent Russian incursion in Ukraine have grown in recent days, despite denials from Moscow and pleas from Zelensky to avoid stirring 'panic' over the military build-up on the border.

Mr Johnson said today he will reiterate that an invasion would be 'bitterly and bloodily resisted' by Kiev's forces - as well as having major repercussions internationally.

Speaking to reporters in Essex this morning, Mr Johnson said: 'What I will say to President Putin, as I have said before, is that I think we really all need to step back from the brink.

'I think Russia needs to step back from the brink. I think that an invasion of Ukraine, any incursion into Ukraine beyond the territory that Russia has already taken in 2014 would be an absolute disaster for the world, and above all it would be a disaster for Russia.'

Boris Johnson will urge Vladimir Putin to 'step back from the brink' in Ukraine today as he prepares to visit the region

Ukrainian civilians train to resist a Russian invasion over the weekend

Nato powers have been urging Mr Putin (pictured last week) to step back from confrontation

As well as visiting Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary will head on to Moscow for talks.

Diplomatic efforts are ramping up as Putin-backing oligarchs were warned there will be 'nowhere to hide' from new UK sanctions.

The Foreign Office is set to announce details of enhanced measures that could be used against 'strategic interests' of the Russian state.

Targets could include financial institutions and energy firms as well as Mr Putin's wealthy supporters.

Meanwhile, former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers has insisted Russia can be deterred from pushing ahead with an invasion if the West makes clear there will be 'costs'.

Liz Truss (pictured) has warned there will be 'nowhere to hide' from the UK's new sanctions

Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister would sidestep the fallout from the Sue Gray Partygate report by travelling to Kyiv for talks with President Zelensky on Tuesday.

Ms Truss said yesterday she will 'use diplomacy' on her visits but pledged: 'The number one thing that will stop Vladimir Putin taking action is if he understands the costs of that action.'

She warned the Kremlin that Ukrainians would 'fight hard' and that Nato would 'make sure' any incursion caused as many problems as possible for Moscow. 'This could well result in a quagmire like the Russians saw in Afghanistan or Chechnya,' she said, referring to the two disastrous Russian occupations in the 1980s and 1990s respectively.

'Any company of interest to the Kremlin and the regime in Russia would be able to be targeted,' Miss Truss told Sky News. 'So there will be nowhere to hide for Putin's oligarchs, for Russian companies involved in propping up the state.'

Mr Johnson said the measures will be 'enacted the moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukraine'.

It comes as he also announced 'an unprecedented package of support' for Nato allies in the east.

There are already more than 100 troops providing training in Ukraine as well as 900 based in Estonia and 150 in Poland. Britain is proposing to deploy a further 1,200 to Estonia and Poland this week, including Paras and Royal Marine mountain and arctic warfare specialists.

Forces will also include Apache gunships and Deep Fire missile systems as well as electronic warfare and cyber units from the Royal Signals and the Royal Marines' specialist Y Squadron.

Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are joining territorial forces to fight alongside 250,000 regular troops to defend their country. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said there are 'no plans' to deploy Nato combat troops to Ukraine.

He noted there was 'a difference' between being a full Nato member, with a mutual defence obligation between countries, and a 'strong and highly valued partner' such as Ukraine.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman told reporters today: 'I think obviously our aim is to continue to encourage Russia to take a diplomatic path to de-escalate and to step back from what could be a very costly exercise if they were to follow the path of further aggression.

'He has been clear at all points that pursuing that path would be extremely costly for the Russian people and it is something we want to avoid and will continue to negotiate.'

Sir John Sawers told the BBC's Today programme this morning that the threat of sanctions, together with the prospect of a long military struggle, could yet deter Moscow.

'We know that from watching the American forces in Iraq in 2003 a major, sophisticated army can march to the capital and depose a government,' he said.

'The really difficult thing is to hold that territory. Ukraine is the size of Germany and France put together and 100,000 Russian troops could march to Kyiv but can they hold the country?

'I think the real long-term cost to Russia would be if the Ukrainian forces fought a long-term insurgency against any Russian occupation.

'I don't think it will come to that. I don't think the Russians will go that far, frankly, because they know they cannot occupy and hold Ukraine indefinitely so it's right that we build up the cost to Russia now, make clear both from the military side and an economic side that they will pay a price, to try to deter them from the option of a major invasion.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is preparing for talks with his counterpart in Moscow this week.

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday accused Nato of trying to pull Kiev into the alliance, despite Russia massing 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. Moscow wants Nato to rule out Ukraine ever becoming a member as a condition for its withdrawal.

The head of Russia's security council, Nikolai Patrushev, said talk of a Russian invasion was 'completely ridiculous' and claimed: 'We don't want war and we don't need it at all.'
The owner of the house with a 25ft shark sticking out of its roof is fighting council plans to give it listed status because it was installed by his father as a protest against planning laws.

Magnus Hanson-Heine, 34, who inherited the now famous Headington Shark in Oxford, has reignited his late father's battle with Oxford City Council.

Bill Heine, who died in 2019, installed the rooftop sculpture in secret without permission in 1986, which began a six-year planning row with the authorities who wanted it demolished.

The council is now asking residents to comment on 17 potential new additions to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register. One of the proposed sites includes the shark house which draws hundreds of visitors each year.

But Mr Hanson-Heine, a quantum chemist, said if it was given listed status it would defeat the purpose of the sculpture, which was to 'protest against planning restrictions and censorship'.

Magnus Hanson-Heine (pictured), 34, who inherited the Headington Shark in Oxford, has reignited his late father's battle with Oxford City Council

The council is now asking residents to comment on 17 potential new additions to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register. One of the proposed sites includes the shark house which draws hundreds of visitors each year

He said: 'The nomination forms have been, let's say, lacking in that they do not really provide an option to object to the listing for listing's sake.

'They ask questions like 'do you think it adds value to the area' which most people would say, yes it does. 'They have not given the option to say no. They have not truly consulted in that sense.'

Inclusion of a building or place on the register 'helps to influence planning decisions in a way that conserves and enhances local character'. It does not place any extra legal requirements on owners.

But Magnus says he is adamant he does not want it added to Oxford City Council's list of important pieces of heritage.

He said he feared it was 'a stepping stone' towards getting it listed on a national basis, meaning more planning controls.

Bill Heine (pictured), who died in 2019, installed the rooftop sculpture in secret without permission in 1986 beginning a six-year planning row with the authorities

Mr Hanson-Heine, a quantum chemist, said if it was given listed status it would defeat the purpose of the sculpture, which was to 'protest against planning restrictions and censorship'

Oxford City Council is asking residents to comment on 17 potential additions to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register

But Mr Hanson-Heine added though 'this is academic as I have no intention of removing it'.

Mr Hanson-Heine, who works at Nottingham University, inherited the house from his late dad Bill in 2016 and it is now a star attraction on Airbnb.

Speaking to This Morning, Magnus said: 'The themes of anti-war and anti-censorship are quite important to me.

'But, ultimately, the most important thing is that everyone gets to come and decide for themselves.

'To see the sculpture and add their own meaning to it on a personal basis.'

The consultation ends on January 26 after the deadline was extended from December

How the Great White made waves in Oxford August 1986 - Great white shark erected in New High Street, Headington 1990 - Oxford city councillors refused retrospective planning permission 1992 - Secretary of state for the environment Michael Heseltine gets behind calls to keep the shark 2017 - Calls began for it to be officially listed with Oxford Heritage Asset Register and English Heritage Advertisement

Magnus said: 'My father always resisted giving any conclusive answer to the question what was the meaning of it, as it was designed to make people think for themselves, and decide for themselves what is art.

'But it was anti the bombing of Tripoli by the Americans, anti-nuclear proliferation, anti-censorship in the form of planning laws specifically.

'I see what they are trying to do and I'm sure it's very well-intentioned. But they don't view it now as what it is.

'You grow up with these things, they become part of the scenery and you lose focus of what they mean.'

A representative of Oxford City Council said: 'The Headington Shark was nominated by members of the public to be designated as a heritage asset.

'The council sent letters of notice of nomination in November to all owners of property that had been nominated so they could share their views as part of the public consultation, whether this be for or against the nomination.

'The public consultation closed on 26 January and we will now consider the responses.'

'The fact that its wrapped up in this friendly package of "theres this local landmark that everyone loves and here we are protecting it for the future", its quite compelling as a story,' he told The Sun.

'If you think of it as a tourist attraction, which I'm sure many people do, then you'll think what the council is trying to do is a good thing.

'I think its political manoeuvring at best and actually it almost feels like they are stealing my house.'

The consultation ends on January 26 after the deadline was extended from December.

A decision will then be taken as to whether the nominations should be added to the register.

For more information about the house: www.headingtonshark.com
A former BBC journalist has spoken of his heartbreak after his beloved pet dog died aged 15 after catching a vomiting and diarrhoea bug affecting hundreds of dogs across Britain.

Rory Cellan-Jones, 63, revealed that Cabbage the collie cross caught 'the gastroenteritis bug which has affected many London dogs' at the start of the year, leaving the animal 'miserable, finding no joy in life any more'.

Mr Cellan-Jones drove her to the vet on Friday morning to be put down, and the former technology correspondent 'stroked her as she quietly slipped away'.

Cabbage had been the centre of a Twitter campaign in November when her walker's van was stolen in Acton, west London - but she and five other dogs were tracked down in the abandoned vehicle.

Despite being slightly blind and very deaf, the dog had been very cheerful until her sudden illness - even after she went missing, Mr Cellan-Jones wrote in a tribute to his pet which he published with the title 'Farewell Cabbage'.

It comes amid mystery over reports of hundreds of dogs experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms - with cases in Hayling Island beach and Langstone Harbour in Hampshire, Fraisthorpe Beach in East Riding, Bridlington and Redcar beach.

The British Veterinary Association has described the illness as a 'gastroenteritis-like bug' which has been 'uncommonly violent', and despite initial reports suggesting it was spreading across the country's beaches, cases have now been reported inland.

Following the public outcry over the dogs falling ill, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that it was aware of the incidents and was communicating with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Recounting his beloved companion's final days, Mr Cellan-Jones told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'She went off her food, needed carrying up and down stairs and her back legs kept giving way when she tried to stand.

Rory Cellan-Jones, 63, revealed that Cabbage the collie cross caught 'a gastroenteritis bug which seems to be affecting many dogs' at the start of the year, leaving the animal 'miserable, finding no joy in life any more'

Mr Cellan-Jones drove her to the vet on Friday morning to be put down, and the former technology correspondent 'stroked her as she quietly slipped away'

On Saturday Mr Cellan-Jones (pictured left) tweeted: 'For me and Cabbage an early walk was an essential part of our daily routine, good for our mental and physical health. This morning I went out as normal but the park seemed very empty. Thanks so much for all your kind messages'

Dogs fall ill with mystery bug: Dozens of pets are left limp, lifeless and vomiting following beach walks A pet owner revealed that her dog was left 'lifeless' and 'limp' after a walk by a canal, amid a spate of dogs falling ill with a mystery bug this month. Nicola Jane, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, walked her six-month-old Lurcher along Hunslet canal when he became extremely poorly a few hours later. The dog was left fighting an infection in his body for five days following the walk, which nearly killed him. Nicola had also been walking a friend's dog at the time who also became ill, though it managed to recover within a day. She said that both dogs started showing symptoms within four hours of the walk and 'seemed off'. It comes amid reports of hundreds of dogs experiencing similar symptoms, sparking warnings from vets to avoid coastal walks. Cases of dogs falling ill have been reported at Hayling Island beach and Langstone Harbour in Hampshire, Fraisthorpe Beach in East Riding, Bridlington and Redcar beach. A woman's dog was left 'lifeless' and 'limp' after a walk by Hunslet canal in West Yorkshire last week Speaking about her lurcher's battle with the mystery illness, Nicola said: 'On day 3 he started to perk up, I thought the worst of it must be over and he was getting better like my friends dog. 'I was still concerned but his food started staying down so I thought he must have been on the mend. Nicola had read the stories online about what was going on at the Yorkshire coasts. She added: 'I woke up around 3am on night four, and just thought I was losing him. I thought he was dead, he was shaking and being sick, he was limp in my arms I thought he wasn't coming back from this. 'At that point in the night I took him to the emergency vet, I was really shocked with the numbers that were there. I was terrified.' Advertisement

'Worst of all she seemed miserable, finding no joy in life anymore.

'After a conversation with an extremely sympathetic vet, we decided it was time to let her go. We stroked her as she quietly slipped away. We are of course devastated.

'Cabbage was such a sweet-natured animal and had been part of our family ever since we picked her up from the Dogs Trust rescue home in 2007.

'I find myself taken aback by the extent of my grief.'

Cases of dogs falling ill had been reported on UK coastlines, with cases now said to have been found inland too.

The British Veterinary Association said this month that the illness was likely to be a virus, which results in 'gastroenteritis-like symptoms', including diarrhea and vomiting.

They said they are aware of reports, but added there is currently no evidence linking walks on the beach to the bug.

BVA President Justine Shotton told MailOnline: 'We're very sorry to hear about this case. Vets see gastroenteritis cases in dogs relatively commonly in practice and the vast majority are mild, with the animals just needing time or some supportive care to make a full recovery. Sadly, in very rare situations, it can lead to secondary complications or even death.

'At this time, we can't speculate on what might be causing the symptoms in the cases being reported from Yorkshire and other parts of the UK. While pet owners are understandably worried, the spike may be part of a normal increase in gastroenteritis that vets see during the colder months.

'Our advice to concerned owners is to contact their local vet for prompt treatment if their dog shows any signs of illness, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.'

Although many cases are more mild, there is a risk of serious illness, as happened to Duke. Dog owners are advised to contact their vets if they spot any of these symptoms.

Cabbage had a bout of a gastroenteritis-like bug a few weeks ago and had spent some time in the 'doggy hospital'.

Cellan-Jones shared a photo of Cabbage on Twitter on Saturday morning, writing: 'For 14 years she was a lovely, energetic and really smart member of our family.

'It was time for her to go but we miss her so much.'

The post accrued more than 20,000 likes and Cabbage started to trend on UK Twitter.

Cabbage already had an online following before she was stolen because Cellan-Jones regularly documented their early morning walks with pictures posted to his feed.

'At the beginning of lockdown, actually posting a picture of a day was a kind of therapy for me, because the walk was the only thing that was allowed,' he explained.

'(I think) it kind of reminded (people) everything was OK with the world when they got up.'

On Friday morning Cellan-Jones shared a final picture, writing: 'Home after a gentle stroll.'

He thanked his followers for their support, adding that the park on his daily walk this morning 'felt empty'.

BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker and broadcaster Sophie Raworth offered their condolences.

'So sorry to hear that Rory,' Walker replied, while Raworth said she 'loved Cabbage's adventures'.

Cabbage went missing after her dog walker left his van's engine running with the key in the ignition in west London and it was stolen.

Cellan-Jones quickly appealed to users online for any sightings, garnering thousands of likes and retweets.

'Something terrible has happened,' he wrote at the time.

'Our dog walker's van with our dog Cabbage in it has been stolen while he was picking up another pet... Please look out for a black Ford Transit.'

After hearing the story, Ford's press office got in touch to alert the dog walker that the van had a feature which enabled drivers to track the vehicle through an app.

'Ford would not have known about this before the age of social media,' Cellan-Jones said.

The van was located in Park Royal, around a mile-and-a-half from where four of the dogs were soon found, with the other two located the same evening.

More than 60,000 Twitter users celebrated Cabbage's safe return by liking the former journalist's celebratory tweet and photo of his dog back home.
Delays to the Covid public inquiry could see crucial evidence destroyed, activists have warned amid claims the probe is 'bottom' of the Prime Minister's to-do list.

Boris Johnson promised No10's long-awaited inquiry into the Government's handling of the Covid pandemic would start this spring.

The inquiry will have the power to compel documents to be handed over and summon witnesses to give evidence under oath.

But think-tanks have now warned it is 'impossible' that the spring deadline will be hit due to delays, feared to have been made worse by the recent Partygate scandal.

The terms of reference or scope of the official inquiry, which is expected to take two years to complete, are yet to be published.

Lobby Akinnola, a spokesperson for campaign group Covid Bereaved Families for Justice, told the Independent: 'Once the inquiry is officially set up, it becomes an offence to tamper with or destroy evidence.

'But until that happens, there's a risk of key evidence being lost. After the attempts to cover up Partygate, that is especially worrying.'

It came as Mr Johnson was handed the Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties during lockdown this afternoon. It is expected to be made public later today, although there are concerns it will be a watered down version.

Layla Moranl, Liberal Democrat MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus said: 'No matter what new scandals the Prime Minister is facing, the inquiry must begin as promised and report interim findings before the next general election.' Pictured: Boris Johnson driving a forklift today during a visit to the Tilbury Docks

The UK has one of the highest Covid deaths rates in Western Europe, with 2,283 fatalities recorded per million people, compared to 1,403 in Germany and 1,231 in Ireland

The Prime Minister announced the Covid inquiry last May.

He has faced repeated calls to speed up the inquiry, with campaigners arguing it would be better to learn lessons as quickly as possible given the Covid crisis remains ongoing.

Mr Johnson, who last week boasted that he 'got all the big calls right' during Covid, has stuck to his spring 2022 start date.

However, the matters to be investigated by the probe  which experts warn will be 'one of the most complex public inquiries ever'  are yet to be determined.

Two leading thinktanks, the Institute for Government and the King's Fund, said this makes it difficult to see how the probe will launch in the next few months.

The investigation is expected to cover key decisions, including the timing of lockdowns, whether scientific advice was followed and whether care home residents were protected.

The inquiry team will hear from Covid survivors and their families, as well as experts, but how involved they will be is uncertain.

And the structure, which could see the probe split into different stages or themes, is yet to be decided.

Sajid Javid 'scraps plans' to make Covid vaccines compulsory for NHS staff No10's rumoured U-turn on mandatory Covid vaccination for NHS workers has been 'long overdue', a medical union said today  but care home bosses are in uproar after losing nearly 40,000 staff to the policy last year. A two-jab vaccine mandate was supposed to come into force in the health service on April 1, which would have given the remaining 80,000 unvaccinated frontline NHS staff until Thursday to get their first dose. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid is said to be meeting with ministers on the Covid Operations Cabinet (Covid-O) committee later today to finalise scrapping the controversial move. The Royal College of Nursing hailed the move as coming 'just in time', with the jobs of around one in 20 frontline NHS employees hanging in the balance. On Friday, those without jabs would have faced dismissal warnings and been asked to work out their notice periods until March 31. Patricia Marquis, the RCN's director, claimed the policy made 'no sense' and could have actually 'puts patients at more risk'. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The vaccination is the right policy but forcing vaccination wasn't, not in the middle of a staffing crisis particularly.' But care bosses said the U-turn was a 'slap in the face' to tens of thousands of care home staff who lost their job over a vaccine mandate that came into force last November. The chair of the National Care Association, Nadra Ahmed, said she was 'frustrated' and 'saddened' for all staff that had 'needlessly' lost their jobs. Advertisement

Leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland made their own decisions about some restrictions, meaning these will also likely be examined.

Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Court of Appeal judge, was appointed chair of the inquiry in December.

She is working with the Prime Minister and ministers in the devolved nations on the scope of the probe.

The Scottish Government published the terms of their own inquiry at the end of last year, which will examine decision-making around imposing restrictions and the rollout of PPE and vaccines.

Emma Norris, director of research at the Institute for Government, said the delays are likely due to the 'political crisis in Government', but the probe is 'just too important to fall to the bottom of the to-do list'.

She said: 'Setting up a public inquiry is always difficult.

'But the possible scale and reach of this inquiry makes key decisions even more complicated and important than usual.'

Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus said: 'With one of the highest death tolls, the deepest economic recession in the G7, repeated errors and billions paid out in crony contracts, the government has serious questions to answer about their mismanagement of this pandemic.

'No matter what new scandals the Prime Minister is facing, the inquiry must begin as promised and report interim findings before the next general election.

'We owe it to everyone we lost to uncover the truth.'

Sir Bob Kerslake, former head of the civil service, told The Independent that he is 'concerned if the inquiry is going to be delayed'.

And Sally Warren, director of policy at the King's Fund, said it is 'impossible for the inquiry to now start its work in earnest in the spring'.

She told the newspaper: 'The public inquiry is too important to be shunted yet again to the bottom of the government's to-do list.'

A government spokesperson repeated that the Covid inquiry 'is set to begin its work in spring 2022'.

The inquiry will follow a joint report from the Commons health and science committees last year.

It found the UK had one of highest Covid death tolls in Europe, many of which could have been prevented.

The MPs said ministers were blinded by 'groupthink' among scientific advisers, who wrongly wanted to manage the spread of the virus, rather than suppress it.

They also castigated the 'chaotic' performance of the 37billion test and trace system.

Early decisions on lockdowns and social distancing rank as 'one of the most important public health failures the United Kingdom has ever experienced', the MPs said.

The UK has one of the highest Covid deaths rates in Western Europe, with 2,283 fatalities recorded per million people, compared to 1,403 in Germany and 1,231 in Ireland.
Dominic Cummings has branded Boris Johnson a 'babbling f***wit' who has not 'got the balls' to stand up to his 'forceful' wife Carrie.

In a rare interview, the former No10 chief swiped that the PM saw himself as a 'king' or 'Roman emperor' and only cared about big infrastructure projects that would act as monuments to himself.

But he swiped that in reality the Tory leader was a 'f***wit' obsessed with 'babbling' to the media rather than 'important' policy problems.

Mr Cummings said Mrs Johnson had been running a 'disastrous' shadow briefing regime from their No11 flat, and his former boss was unable to tell her 'I'm prime minister'.

The intervention, in an interview with New York magazine, came as Mr Johnson awaits the verdict of top civil servant Sue Gray and the police on Partygate allegations.

Mr Cummings has been instrumental in stoking the crisis for the PM, having highlighted a series of potential lockdown breaches at No10.

He told the magazine that he viewed getting rid of Mr Johnson as 'an unpleasant but necessary job'. 'It's like sort of fixing the drains,' he said.

The maverick ex-adviser said Mr Johnson had been useful for delivering Brexit and defeating Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.

'But after that what's the point of him and Carrie just rattling around in there and f***ing everything up for everyone and not doing the job properly?' he added.

Downing Street declined to comment on the latest attack from Mr Johnson's former ally.

In a rare interview, former No10 chief Dominic Cummings (pictured in London last week) said removing the premier from power was 'an unpleasant but necessary job'

Mr Cummings said Mrs Johnson had been running a 'disastrous' shadow briefing regime from their No11 flat, and her husband was unable to tell her 'I'm prime minister'

Boris faces calls to 'end the circus' on Partygate with Sue Gray's 'watered down' report due this week Boris Johnson is facing demands to 'end the circus' on Partygate today as he braces for Sue Gray's report - with allies hoping he has steadied the ship. The PM is gearing up for another brutal week with the senior civil servant expected to deliver her findings on lockdown breaches in Downing Street as early as tomorrow. Although Ms Gray is believed to be watering down her report at the request of Scotland Yard, any criticism could reignite the simmering revolt in the Tory ranks. The allegations before the inquiry include that Carrie Johnson's friends held an Abba 'victory party' in the No11 flat after Dominic Cummings quit. In interviews this morning, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss insisted Mr Johnson will lead the party into the next election. Asked if she was tempted to challenge for the top job, Ms Truss said: 'There is no contest. There is no discussion.' The mood among MPs has cooled significantly over the past week, after the extraordinary 'Pork Pie plot' fizzled out. In another boost for the premier, there were more fledgling signs of a Tory poll recovery. The ongoing rows have taken a huge toll on the Conservatives' popularity and that of Mr Johnson personally. But research for Opinium is the latest to suggest the party might be clawing back some ground. Labour's 10-point lead from a fortnight ago has been trimmed back to five points, with the PM's ratings coming off rock bottom. Mr Johnson is also believed to be planning a major clearout of No10 staff as part of 'Operation Save Big Dog' after the Gray report surfaces. However, he has risked a Tory backlash on another front today by vowing that the 12billion national insurance hike will go ahead in April. Advertisement

Mr Cummings said he had become disillusioned with Mr Johnson 'going on and on' about whether Big Ben would 'bong for Brexit'.

'He sees his job as just to babble to the media every day. I saw the job as actually thinking about what's important,' he said.

'And the truth is, almost all MPs agree with him and think I'm stupid.'

Mr Cummings described one episode where Mr Johnson 'said to me, ''I'm the f***ing king around here and I'm going to do what I want''...

'That's not okay. He's not the king. He can't do what he wants. Once you realize someone is operating like that then your duty is to get rid of them, not to just prop them up.'

Mr Cummings insisted Mr Johnson asked himself 'what would a Roman emperor do'.

'The only thing he was really interested in  genuinely excited about  was, like, looking at maps. Where could he order the building of things?'

He said the PM fantasised about 'monuments to him in an Augustine fashion... ''I will provide the money. I will be a river to my people. I will provide the money that builds the train station in Birmingham.'' Or whatever.

'And it will have statues to me, and people will remember me after I am dead like they did the Roman emperors.'

Explaining his own departure from No10, Mr Cummings complained that Mrs Johnson is 'very forceful' and the PM had not 'got the balls' to resist her goading.

'Carrie's in his ear, saying to him: 'All the media is portraying you as a puppet, you're the one who won the election, you should be the one who seems in charge,' the ex-aide said.

'It's all very damaging that you're seen as a sort of buffoon who Cummings boots around.' She wanted rid of me, and I also didn't want to stay in that kind of dysfunctional environment. So, the whole thing just kind of snowballed.'

Mr Cummings said it was 'perfectly reasonable' for a PM's other half 'to have views about things'.

'The problem was that she went into her own parallel briefing operation from the flat to the media, which is completely disastrous for government communications, particularly in a pandemic,' he added.

'She's very forceful and he hasn't got the balls to say to her, 'Listen, I'm prime minister and this is what I'm doing.'

'She thinks that she understands a whole bunch of things about politics and communications and whatnot. She doesn't.'
Former Brexit minister Lord Frost today ruled himself out of returning to Downing Street to help Boris Johnson over his opposition to the Prime Minister's National Insurance hike.

Some Conservative Brexiteers have called for the Tory peer and former Boris loyalist to take on the role of No 10 chief of staff after an expected clear-out over 'Partygate' allegations.

But Lord Frost, who quit last year after the Government's tax plans, said he could not return to help implement the hike hated by Tory backbenchers.

Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak used a newspaper article at the weekend to committed to imposing the increase in April despite Conservative anger and fears over a cost of living crisis.

The Prime Minister is widely expected to carry out sackings after senior civil servant Sue Gray's report into allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in No 10 is published.

Among those whose jobs are thought to be at threat is chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, which would pave a way for Lord Frost's return after his resignation in December.

However, Lord Frost said on Monday that he would 'like to make my thinking clear' given the 'mild speculation about my aspirations'.

'The PM's chief of staff & No10 team must be fully committed to delivering the Government's agenda. They can't have agendas of their own or disagree with government policy,' he tweeted.

Lord Frost, who quit last year after the Government's tax plans, said he could not return to help implement the tax hike hated by Tory backbenchers.

Mr Johnson (pictured today in Essex) and Chancellor Rishi Sunak used a newspaper article at the weekend to committed to imposing the increase in April despite Conservative anger and fears over a cost of living crisis

He reiterated his belief that 'policy change is needed if the Government is going to succeed', adding: 'In particular I don't support the decision this weekend to proceed with tax increases, so obviously I could not return to help implement it.'

Tory backbenchers and opposition MPs have urged the Government to scrap or delay the 1.25 percentage point increase to National Insurance while people face a cost of living crisis.

But the Prime Minister and Mr Sunak doubled down, insisting in an article for the Sunday Times it was 'the right plan' to help reform social care and tackle the NHS Covid backlog.

On Monday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said it would be a 'huge gamble' to instead pay for the measures through borrowing, rather than a tax rise.

On Monday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said it would be a 'huge gamble' to instead pay for the measures through borrowing, rather than a tax rise.

'There are very few easy ways to fund more spending on the healthcare system but we have to be honest with the British public that increases to our borrowing would be a very significant risk,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'I don't think it would be the fiscally responsible thing to do.'

The minister also suggested the Government would not for now be giving in to calls to cut VAT on fuel bills to help struggling families.

'We would rather target our support more closely to need,' he told Today.

'I'm not ruling it out but I'm saying it's not something at this moment in time we're leaning towards because we don't think it's a well targeted measure.'
A five-year-old girl who was raped by a stranger has been murdered by her family in a so-called 'honour killing', according to reports.

The young girl's parents allegedly killed their daughter in 'cold blood' after she was kidnapped and raped by an unidentified man in the Al-Shahba area of Syria on November 18.

The child's body was found in a garbage container in Manbij, north Syria, on January 27 before being transferred to Al Furat Hospital which lies in eastern Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) have said that Internal Security Forces have arrested several family members of the girl.

The girl's parents have denied killing their daughter and investigations are ongoing, the SOHR added.

The parents of a five-year-old girl who was raped by a stranger allegedly killed their daughter in a so-called 'honour killing' in Syria. (Stock image)

The five-year-old was kidnapped by a stranger who was riding a motorbike after she left her house to meet her father in the local olive orchards.

After a search, the girl was found near a road between the Deir Jamil and Kafr Naha villages, according to the SOHR.

It has not yet been confirmed when the girl was killed.

The SOHR has now called for the authorities to ensure the child's killers stand trial amid a spate of so-called 'honour killings' in the country.

In July last year a girl was dragged to an abandoned house and shot by her tribe in a so-called 'honour killing' after she tried to run away with her lover and refused to marry her cousin in Syria.

A video circulated online showed the young woman, who was identified as 18-year-old Eida Al-Hamoudi Al-Saeedo, being shot in a desolate village on the outskirts of the northeastern Syrian city of Al-Hasakah.

The young woman had tried to run away with her lover but her family and tribe followed her before capturing her, Akhbaralaan.net reported.

Eida, who was from the city of Al-Hasakah, had been taken to the abandoned house by her father and brother, along with other men from the Al-Sharabain tribe according to the news site Alarabiya.

She had been starved and beaten for many days before being executed by her family, according to the Violations Documentation Center in northern Syria, which identified Eida as the victim of the attack.

The young girl's body was found in a garbage container in Manbij, north Syria, on January 27

'[She was] brutally assaulted until the crime was completed by killing her with machine guns and pistols by more than one person,' a spokesperson for the organisation said.

'[The family] bragged about publishing a horrific video clip showing the murder of a girl by bullets, near an abandoned house in the countryside.'

The man who Eida had fallen in love with reportedly managed to escape from the tribe as the family 'feared a reprisal' from his family if they attacked him.

'Her sin was to love another man whom they couldn't touch fearing of reprisal between the two families,' the Violations Documentation Center said in a statement on Twitter.

Just days after the video of Eida's murder emerged on social media, a 16-year-old girl was strangled to death by her father in another so-called 'honour killing' after she was raped by a relative.

The girl was identified as Aya Muhammad Khalifo by the Violations Documentation Center in northern Syria.

Following the murders, hundreds of women protested against the 'honour killings' in the city of Hasakeh by marching down streets.

Protester Evin Bacho, a member of the Kurdish feminist group Kongra Star, said: 'We condemn these crimes in the name of tradition or religion.'
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North Korea has released images taken in space during the latest test of one of its nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.

The Hermit Kingdom said the images were taken by a camera mounted to the missile's warhead during the test, appearing to show the Korean Peninsula, far eastern coast of Russia, Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan.

The photos were released by North Korean state media today, which said the test 'confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness' of the missile.

Analysts say the rocket flew around 1,250 miles into space - five times the height of the International Space Station - during the launch, and travelled 500 miles from its launch site before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.

North Korea deliberately elevates the trajectory of its missiles during tests. Fired at a conventional angle, analysts say the weapon would be capable of hitting US military bases on the island of Guam.

Sunday's launch marked the seventh missile test North Korea has carried out this year, and involved the longest-range weapon it has tested since 2017 during the nuclear standoff between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.

North Korea has released images that it says were taken from space during the test of a Hwasong-12 nuclear-capable missile on Sunday. Centre of the frame appears to be the Korean peninsula, along wit the far eastern coast of Russia

North Korean state media says the images were taken with a camera mounted to the dummy warhead it fired on top of the Hwasong-12 rocket, which is capable of striking Guam

Analysts fear Sunday's launch could be a prelude to bigger provocations, as the North tries to pressure the Biden administration to return to negotiations over its nuclear stockpile that Trump abandoned in early 2019.

Lee Choon Geun, a missile expert and honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute, said he thinks the photos were taken from space - especially when the missile was soaring to its apogee, though he cannot independently prove there was no adjustment on the images.

While it's rare to place a camera on a weapon, Lee said North Korea likely wanted to demonstrate its technological advancement to both foreign and domestic audiences.

The Hwasong-12 missile is a nuclear-capable weapon with a maximum range of 2,800 miles when fired on a standard trajectory.

It's a distance sufficient to reach Guam, home to U.S. military bases that in past times of tensions sent advanced warplanes to the Korean Peninsula in shows of force.

In August 2017, at the height of animosities with Trump, North Korea threatened to make "an enveloping fire" near Guam with Hwasong-12 missiles.

In 2017, North Korea also test-fired intercontinental ballistic missiles called Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 that experts say demonstrated their potential capacity to reach the mainland U.S.

Some analysts say North Korea still needs to conduct additional ICBM test-flights to prove it has overcome the last remaining technological hurdles, such as protecting a warhead from the extreme heat and pressure of reentering the Earth's atmosphere.

In recent months, North Korea has launched a variety of weapons systems and threatened to lift a four-year moratorium on more serious weapons tests such as nuclear explosions and ICBM launches.

Sunday's launch was the North's seventh round of missile launches in January alone, and other weapons tested recently include a developmental hypersonic missile and a submarine-launched missile.

An image released by North Korea which shows the launch of a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which took place on Sunday

An image released by North Korean state media which appears to show the missile launch as viewed from a drone, as analysts fear tests of loner-range weapons are coming

Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea said the Hwasong-12 launch was seen as partially breaking North Korea's weapons test moratorium.

In April 2018, when North Korea suspended nuclear and ICBM tests ahead of now-dormant diplomacy with the Trump administration, Kim said North Korea didn't need to test intermediate-range missiles any longer as well.

Cheong said North Korea will likely test-launch its existing long-range missile if the United States spearheads fresh sanctions on it. Other experts said North Korea could also conduct a nuclear test.

North Korea has publicly vowed to add more powerful ICBMs and nuclear warheads in its arsenal.

They include a longer-range ICBM with precision strike capability, a solid-fuel ICBM that improves a weapon's mobility, a multi-warhead missile, a spy satellite and a super-sized warhead.

After Sunday's launch, White House officials said they saw the latest missile test as part of an escalating series of provocations over the last several months that have become increasingly concerning.

The Biden administration plans to respond to the latest missile test in the coming days with an unspecified move meant to demonstrate to the North that the U.S. government is committed to allies' security in the region, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

The official said the administration viewed Sunday's missile test as the latest in a series of provocations to try to win sanctions relief from the U.S.

The Biden administration again called on North Korea to return to talks but made clear it doesn't see the sort of leader-to-leader summits Donald Trump held with Kim as constructive at this time.

South Korean and Japanese officials also condemned Sunday's launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that bans the country from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

U.S.-led diplomacy aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear program largely remains stalled.

"Even if Washington had the bandwidth to pay more attention to the North Korean nuclear issue, Pyongyang would likely continue to refuse direct talks because of the pandemic, keep perfecting its weapons technology, and maintain its high price tag for talks," said Duyeon Kim, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security.

Observers say North Korea could suspend weapons tests during the Beijing Winter Olympics because China is its most important ally.

But they say North Korea could test bigger weapons when the Olympics end and the U.S. and South Korean militaries begin their springtime military exercises.
The family of a three-year-old who was crushed to death by the son of a former Tory minister were not told the killer was being released from prison after just three years behind bars.

Stephen Waterson, 30, was jailed for seven and a half years in 2019 after he crushed Alfie Lamb to death with a car seat.

Waterson was not due for release until 2023 and remains on licence until 2025, after being jailed at the Old Bailey for manslaughter and perverting the course of justice by lying to police, and intimidating witnesses.

But the child killer, who was 26 at the time of Alfie's death, has now been released early, after serving just over three years in jail.

In total he served three years in jail - just under half his of his prison sentence - due to the roughly one and a half years he spent on remand awaiting the trial.

But according to the Sun, Alfie's family were not told about his release on licence.

Sources told the newspaper they would receive an official apology over the miscommunication.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'This was a despicable crime and our sympathies remain with the family.

Stephen Waterson, 30, the adopted son of former Tory MP Nigel Waterson, was described by police as 'arrogant, selfish and deeply unpleasant' after he admitted manslaughter in relation to the death of three-year-old Alfie Lamb who he crushed with the seat of an Audi convertible

Pictured: Alfie Lamb with his mother Adrian Hoare, who was 23 at the time of his death. She was jailed for two years and nine months in May 2019 after being convicted of child cruelty

'Waterson has been released under probation supervision after serving the prison part of his sentence but can be returned there if he breaches the strict conditions he is under.'

'Arrogant' Waterson was returning home after shopping in South London when he reversed his electronic car seat onto Alfie Lamb who was sitting at his mother's feet in the footwell behind.

The child began crying and choking, but his mother Adrian Hoare told him to 'shut up' before Waterson put the seat forward again.

By the time the trio arrived at Waterson's home in Croydon, south London, Alfie had collapsed and stopped breathing.

He died at St Thomas' Hospital in South London from catastrophic brain damage on February 4, 2018, three days after the incident.

Alfie's mother Adrian Hoare was jailed for two years and nine months in May 2019. She was offered early release just five months later but her licence was revoked and was taken back into custody in May 2020.

Stephen Waterson (left) pictured with his father Nigel Waterson and mother Barbara

Alfie Lamb, three, (pictured) was found unresponsive and later died after a car journey in February 2018 in which he was squashed in the footwell of an Audi convertible

Waterson, the adopted son of former Tory MP Nigel Waterson, who was described by police as 'arrogant, selfish and deeply unpleasant', tried to avoid prosecution by repeatedly lying and intimidating witnesses.

He denied manslaughter during an earlier trial in which the jury were unable to reach a verdict, before pleading guilty on the first day of his retrial.

During sentencing, Old Bailey judge Mr Justice Timothy Kerr told Waterson that he was 'manipulative, dishonest, deceitful, controlling, threatening, and sometimes violent'.

The law states that, with the exception for life sentences or certain violent crimes, offenders will serve half their sentence in prison and half on licence in the community and subject to recall should they reoffend.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed Waterson had completed the prison part of his sentence and will serve the remaining time on licence under supervision.

Hairdresser Hoare, who was just 24 at the time, was jailed in May 2019 after being convicted of child cruelty.

The Audi (pictured) in which Waterson crushed Alfie by reversing his electric car seat. Alfie's mother Adrian Hoare had put him in harm's way by placing him in the footwell behind the seat

Waterson denied manslaughter during an earlier trial in which the jury were unable to reach a verdict, before pleading guilty on the first day of his retrial. Pictured: Alfie Lamb

Alfie (pictured) died at St Thomas' Hospital in South London from catastrophic brain damage on February 4, 2018, three days after his mother's boyfriend crushed him in the car

Hoare (pictured in custody) was recalled to prison last year for breaching her licence conditions. Before going back however, Hoare told a newspaper she was a 'good mum'

While her two year and nine month sentence was also cut short, she was recalled to prison last year for breaching her licence conditions.

Before going back however, Hoare, who has lived in both Gravesend and Chatham, told a newspaper she was a good mother.

Hoare, a former Northfleet School for Girls pupil, was cleared of manslaughter.

At the conclusion of the court case, Scotland Yard's detective chief inspector Simon Harding said Alfie died as the result of a 'selfish and cruel act'.

He said: 'It's hard to imagine what sort of pain anyone would go through when you are being crushed in that way. For a three-and-a-half-year-old to be crushed by something so strong and no one helping, it's a shocking way to die.

'Stephen Waterson has come across as a selfish, abhorrent individual who killed a three-and-a-half-year-old child and has never stood up and said what has happened and taken responsibility for the actions he performed on that day.'
Kremlin deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak, left, and Russian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov give a press conference at the Russian Ambassador's residence in Paris, Jan. 26. Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv committed to a fragile ceasefire in eastern Ukraine during talks in Paris, Wednesday, and agreed to continue their discussions against the backdrop of warnings that Russia may be preparing to invade its neighbor. AFP-Yonhap





Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv committed to a fragile ceasefire in eastern Ukraine during talks in Paris, Wednesday, and agreed to continue their discussions against the backdrop of warnings that Russia may be preparing to invade its neighbor.







A Russian troop build-up close to the border with eastern Ukraine has raised fears the Kremlin is planning to intervene in its pro-EU neighbor to halt NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe.







A French diplomat said that more than eight hours of discussions brokered by France and Germany had sent a "good signal."







A German government source later confirmed that the next round would take place in Berlin in the second week of February.







An aide to French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that the talks had been about resolving the separatist fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014, not the threat of a Russian invasion.







But "the question was whether the Russians wanted to signal a thaw," he said, adding that the "difficult" discussions had ultimately resulted in something positive.







"In the current circumstances, we received a good signal," he said.







For the first time since 2019, Ukraine and Russia agreed to sign a joint statement along with France and Germany about the ongoing conflict between Ukrainian forces and separatists in the east of the country.







The four nations have been working towards reaching a peace deal for eastern Ukraine since 2014 and are known collectively as the Normandy Group.







"However difficult the discussions have been since December 2019, the Normandy Group has been able to agree on several key points," the French aide said.







The joint statement committed both sides to "an unconditional respect for the ceasefire" and also said that they would meet again in two weeks' time in Berlin.







A 2014 ceasefire deal  bolstered in 2020  helped end the worst fighting over two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that has claimed some 13,000 lives.







Western countries have been concerned that Russia could use a flare up in fighting along the front between Ukrainian soldiers and separatists as a pretext to launch an invasion of its neighbor.







Chess pieces are seen in front of displayed Russian and U.S. flags in this photo taken Jan. 26. Reuters-Yonhap









The Kremlin's envoy Dmitry Kozak said the main outcome of the four-way talks was the agreement on keeping the ceasefire.







He said that "despite all the differences in interpretations, we agreed that the ceasefire (in eastern Ukraine) must be maintained by all the parties in line with the accords."







"We need a supplementary pause," he said. "We hope that this process will have results in two weeks."







He said that the Berlin talks would take place at the same level as the Paris session, adding that for the moment a summit involving heads of state was "not on the agenda."







"We hope our colleagues have understood our arguments and that in two weeks we will achieve results," said Kozak, who is also the deputy head of President Vladimir Putin's administration.







He insisted that the situation in the east of Ukraine  where pro-Russia separatists have declared breakaway regions  and the tensions along the border were "two separate issues."







Ukraine's envoy Andriy Yermak, speaking to reporters separately, said that the talks were "not easy".







"The support for the sustainable ceasefire is extremely important," he said, adding that there were differences over the interpretation of the Minsk Agreement which ended the worst of the fighting in 2014.







"The very important thing is that today's communique is the first meaningful document we managed to agree on since December 2019" when Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky met in Paris. (AFP)


Moulds has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a grey pony and failing to take reasonable steps to protect the pony from pain, suffering or injury

A primary school teacher sacked after being filmed apparently kicking and slapping a horse has arrived at court this morning and denied cruelty charges.

Sarah Moulds, 37, arrived at Boston Magistrates court today to face two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The mother-of-two, who is well known in local equestrian circles, is being prosecuted by the RSPCA but not the police or Crown Prosecution Service.

The two offences are in connection with the kicking incident following a Cottesmore Hunt meet on November 6 last year in countryside known as 'The Drift' in Gunby, Lincolnshire.

Today she denied both charges and said she wanted to be tried by a jury at crown court.

It came after footage of the horsewoman went viral and sparked outrage nationally and globally.

Mrs Moulds was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a grey pony called Bruce by kicking and hitting it. She faces a second charge of failing to take reasonable steps to protect the pony from pain, suffering or injury.

Mrs Moulds lives with her plumber husband Daniel and children and had worked as a primary school teacher.

But she lost her job last month after being suspended following the outrage.

Former primary school teacher Sarah Moulds arrives at The Boston Courthouse, Lincolnshire

Speaking on the decision to sack the popular teacher, Mowbray Education Trust Chief Operating Officer Paul Maddox said: 'I can confirm that Sarah Moulds' employment with the Trust has been terminated.

'As a Trust we are committed to ensuring the best standard of education for all of our young people and we look forward to continuing this throughout the 2021/22 academic year and beyond.'

However some social media users criticised the decision with one saying the incident was 'unrelated to teaching.'

Mrs Moulds was also a director of the Knossington and Somerby Pre-School before being axed.

It is understood she also lost her role with the local Pony Club branch.

After anti-hunt saboteurs released the clip she received death threats and was forced into hiding with her family.

At the time the RSPCA said it would 'look into complaints made about animal welfare.'

A spokesperson said: 'We understand there is a lot of interest in this incident and we would like to reassure people we will always look into complaints made about animal welfare.

Sarah Moulds appeared to kick and repeatedly slap a horse after a hunting event organised by Cottesmore Hunt, a group based in Rutland, East Midlands

The RSPCA described the incident as 'upsetting' and appealed for witnesses to get in touch. It is now prosecuting the former teacher

Mrs Moulds was a senior leader and class three team teacher at her local Somerby School (pictured) and was also a director of the Knossington and Somerby Pre-School before her termination

'However, we are unable to discuss complaints about specific people and what action may have been taken.

'We understand how frustrating that is for animal lovers but releasing information could prejudice a future prosecution.'

In the footage, a white horse trots away from the back of a trailer before it is stopped by a young rider.

A woman dressed in cream breeches and a navy jacket then grabs the reins of the animal before kicking its body and slapping it repeatedly as it tries to pull away.

The Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs, who say they use 'non-violent direct action to save wildlife,' shared the video on its Twitter page and tagged the RSPCA.

The group said that the incident took place on November 6 after a Cottesmore Hunt, one of the oldest hunts in Britain, and the incident demonstrated 'violence running through their veins.'

Mrs Moulds' animal cruelty case will now be heard at a crown court hearing next month

The Hunt said it did not condone the actions shown in the video 'under any circumstances,' adding: 'We will be reminding all of our supporters that this will not be tolerated.'

Mrs Moulds' uncle David Kirkham from Bonsall, Derbyshire, previously insisted: 'She is a very upright person, a fantastic person who absolutely loves her horses.'

He told MailOnline: 'I've seen the video but we don't know what the horse had been doing and if it was out of control. But we know it ran out onto the road and she told it off.

'She was reprimanding the horse. There was no malice intended. She is very well thought of and respected.'
A City banker has won 2million in compensation in a sexual discrimination case after colleagues left a witch's hat on her desk and kept telling her 'not now, Stacey'.

Stacey Macken, 50, sued French bank BNP Paribas, claiming that over a four year period she received hundreds of thousands of pounds less than her male peers in salary and bonuses - and managers treated her unfairly when she complained.

The 120,000-a-year finance specialist was hired by BNP Paribas in 2013, but unbeknown to her, a male recruit hired with the same job title and responsibilities was being paid 160,000, the London Central tribunal heard.

The tribunal heard in her first four years her male peer was paid more than 167,000 in bonuses compared to the 33,000 she received.

The bank claimed they had hired her as a 'junior' and that her male colleague deserved his higher salary because he was her senior.

Miss Macken was successful in her claims of sex discrimination, victimisation, and unequal pay after the tribunal ruled the leaving of a witch's hat on her desk was an 'inherently sexist act' and the regular use of 'not now, Stacey' was 'demeaning'.

Now Miss Macken, from Fulham, West London, has won 2,081,449 - one of the largest awards ever made by a British tribunal - after suing the international bank.

Stacey Macken, 50, sued French bank BNP Paribas after being belittled by her boss who kept telling her 'not now, Stacey' - a phrase he used so often that colleagues even copied it

Doctor awarded 4.5million - the 'largest sum awarded for UK discrimination case' - in 2011 A hospital trust was ordered to pay nearly 4.5million in compensation - thought to be the biggest sum ever awarded in a UK discrimination case - to a doctor who was hounded out of her job after deciding to have a baby. Obstetrician Dr Eva Michalak, who was 53 at the time of the Leeds tribunal in December 2011, suffered race and sex discrimination at Pontefract General Infirmary. The tribunal heard that senior staff hatched a plan to get rid of Dr Michalak in a secret meeting in March 2003, while she was seven months pregnant. She started receiving complaints and criticism and was accused of bullying junior doctors until her suspension in January 2006, before she was subjected to 'a lengthy and wholly unauthorised period of suspension'. Disciplinary proceedings started in May 2007, and she was dismissed in July 2008. The tribunal heard colleagues mounted a 'concerted campaign' to end her employment while she was on maternity leave, and the trust along with three senior staff members were ordered to pay her 4,452,206.60 for the sex and race discrimination. There had been repeated references made to Dr Michalak's Polish origin during meetings and telephone conversations between her colleagues, who questioned her competency because she trained in her home country, the panel said. In their judgment, they found that the disciplinary procedure used by the trust in the case was 'bogus' and Dr Michalak was dismissed 'for no good or justifiable reason'. The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust apologised to Dr Michalak. Advertisement

Employment Judge Emma Burns slammed Miss Macken's male bosses for acting 'spitefully and vindictively' and increased her compensation because the bank failed to apologise to her.

Within months of joining, Miss Macken claimed she was exposed to sexist behaviour involving one of her bosses in the Prime Brokerage team, Matt Pinnock.

His former PA, Georgina Chapman, told a tribunal: 'In October 2013, a large Halloween-style black witch's hat was left on Stacey Macken's desk after some of the Prime Brokerage team, including Matthew Pinnock, had gone drinking at the pub towards the end of the day.

'I was working later than usual (possibly around 7pm-8pm) and was packing up to leave as they came back from their drinking session. They were visibly drunk and were racing around the nearly empty office being loud and boisterous.

'I arrived at work the next morning (around 8am) and there was a witch's hat on Stacey's desk, directly in front of her computer. Stacey arrived into work around 8.45am, which was when she saw the hat and asked me if I knew who had put it there.

'I told her that I did not know, but I suspected it was one of the drunk team members, because they were the only people in that area of the office the evening before, which, combined with their drunkenness, made them most likely to have done it.

'Stacey was visibly upset and confided in me that she felt really uncomfortable working with those male colleagues, knowing that one of them had purposefully gone out of their way to leave a witch's hat on her desk.'

The tribunal heard Mr Pinnock also answered the phone to friends with the words 'hi, f***face' and 'hi, sexy' and on one occasion discussed with Miss Mackey how a friend and his wife had engaged in 'prostitution' role play.

Another boss, Denis Pihan, was accused of routinely demeaning her by replying 'not now, Stacey' when she tried to talk to him.

'When (she) asked him questions he would tend to say 'not now, Stacey', the tribunal heard. 'He did so often that the (her) colleagues made sarcastic comments about it.

'In a chat on 21 March 2016 in which Mr Pihan was being discussed one of (them) wrote ''NOT NOW STACEY:-)''.'

Miss Mackey made repeated internal complaints about her treatment, in particular relating to her pay and bonuses and eventually took the bank to a tribunal, claiming more than 4 million in compensation and back pay.

The London offices of French bank BNP Paribas where Ms Macken worked in the Prime Brokerage team

At Miss Macken's compensation hearing Judge Burns said: 'We consider the tribunal panel found that Mr Pinnock and Mr Pihan behaved spitefully and vindictively towards Miss Macken because she had raised concerns about her pay and that they did have a discriminatory motive.

'We consider the [bank] should apologise more fully from a purely moral perspective, but we decline from ordering it to do this.

Within months of joining, she claimed she was exposed to sexist behaviour involving one of her bosses in the Prime Brokerage team, Matt Pinnock

'In our judgement, for an apology to be effective it needs to be genuine and heartfelt rather than ordered... We have taken into account the bank's failure to apologise when awarding aggravated damages. We consider this is the correct approach in this case.'

Mr Pihan 'apologised for causing distress' at the tribunal but 'did not acknowledge that he personally discriminated against Miss Macken, nor did he apologise for discriminating against her'.

The bank claimed it has now adopted a 'detailed Gender Strategy and Gender Action Plan' in response to its poor gender pay gap and is 'trying to increase the number of women at senior management level'.

Miss Macken, who said her ordeal had an impact on her mental health, is also a qualified accountant who grew up in and was educated in New Zealand.

A tribunal report said of her: 'She has prioritised her 22 year career in banking over other lifestyle choices. This includes remaining single and not having children.

'She enjoyed her work and was fulfilled by it. Other than keeping her personal fitness at a high level she pursued no other hobbies or interests.'

Her claims of harassment were dismissed and she lost a claim for damages over the 'stigma' she suffered in this case.

As part of her 2 million compensation fee, Miss Macken received 51,400 to cover 'pain and suffering' caused, 35,000 to cover injury to feelings, and 15,000 in 'aggravated damages'.
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Fascinating images showing polar bears living in an abandoned weather station on a Russian island have been captured by a wildlife photographer.

Dmitry Kokh travelled more than 1,2000 miles around the coast of Chukotka in order to reach Russia's now deserted Wrangel Island, a nature reserve under Unesco protection that is known for its large polar bear population.

However after meeting with bad weather the photographer took a detour and approached the small island of Kolyuchin, which lies in the Chukchi Sea, and it was here he spotted a group of polar bears now residing inside the island's former weather station that had operated during the Soviet era before closing in 1992.

Using a drone equipped with special low-noise propellers, the wildlife photographer, who spent two years planning for his expedition, was able to capture the animals who had since made the building their home without disturbing them.

He said there were around 20 polar bears, most of them males, that he could see walking around the abandoned building, which was built in the 1930s, in scenes that he described as a 'once in a lifetime situation'.

On his blog Mr Kokh wrote: 'I always wanted to get some nice shots of polar bears, and that was the main target of our expedition. We expected to meet them mostly on Wrangel Island, famous all around the world for being the home for many bears.

'Not this year, as we found out later - maybe because of the very cold summer. But nature is always sending you something when you least expect it and when we passed through the Kolyuchin Island near the Northern coast of Chukotka, we saw some movements in the windows. And when we got close - those were bears!

'Never before they were seen in those buildings, so that was a once in a lifetime situation.'

Images captured by the photographer show polar bears sitting outside the abandoned weather station curiously looking at the drone camera while others are spotted peering out of an open window.

Incredible images show a group of polar living in an abandoned weather station on the small Russian island of Kolyuchin, which lies in the Chukchi Sea

Wildlife photographer Dmitry Kokh travelled more than 1,2000 miles to reach Wrangel Island, which is a nature reserve under Unesco protection, before taking a detour to Kolyuchin in order to get some shelter due to bad weather. It was on the island the photographer was able to catch a glimpse of the polar bears

Images show the polar bears, most of which were males, peering out of an open window and standing outside the now abandoned weather station which had operated in Soviet times and being built in the 1930s

The photographer, who spent two years planning for his expedition, was able to capture one polar bear stepping outside the former weather station - which was shut down in 1992

Mr Kokh used a drone equipped with special low-noise propellers to capture the animals residing at the former weather station and get close to the animals without disturbing them

A number of polar bears were spotted walking around the now deserted land around the former weather station in scenes which the photographer described as a 'once in a lifetime situation'

Th fascinating images showed the polar bears curiously looking at the drone camera and walking around the small island of Kolyuchin which they have made their home

Mr Kokh, who captured the scenes on a day when the region was experiencing bad weather, said there were around 20 polar bears, most of them males, that he could see walking around the abandoned building

The photographer said he had 'always wanted to get some nice shots of polar bears' and this had been the main target of his expedition

Mr Kokh discovered the large group of polar bears after detecting movement in the windows of the abandoned weather station. He later saw the animals walking on the grass outside and curiously peering out of the window
Horrifying footage of white supremacists at a neo-Nazi rally in Orlando, Florida, has emerged on social media.

The hate group shouted anti-Semitic slurs referring to Jewish people as 'the devil', expressed anti-Black sentiments and waved Nazi flags.

The clips from Saturday, including one where the group could be seen stomping on an Israeli flag and chanted about 'white power', were widely condemned online.

Those at the rally chanted hateful phrases, including 'the Jew is the devil', 'Jews rape children and drink their blood' and 'Jews brought slaves here'

The gathering took place just two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Campaign group StopAntisemitism.org tweeted photos and videos from the rally with the caption: 'A horrific anti-Semitic, anti-black rally is happening right now in Orlando, FL orchestrated by white supremacist Eddie McBride and his group NSM.

'Why are local PD allowing this?'

Those at the rally chanted hateful phrases, including 'the Jew is the devil', 'Jews rape children and drink their blood' and 'Jews brought slaves here'.

The rally, which was organized by the National Socialist Movement (NMS) was live-streamed on the American Nazi Party's site.

In one social media clip shared by user @DawneyNP the group can be seen gathering around a vehicle, with one bypasser getting punched by a man who appears to be a part of the rally.

Neo-Nazi leader Burt Colucci, circled. StopAntisemitism.org tweeted that he was 'indicted by a grand jury for disorderly conduct charges'

It was captioned: 'My son just witnessed Nazis in Orlando. He said there were dozens hanging on the corner.

'The guy getting assaulted got out of his car and pushed one of them.'

In another video shared by StopAntisemitism.org on Twitter, a man can be seen stomping on an Israeli flag.

Comments on social media also reported the group made 'monkey noises' at a Black woman who was passing by, Newsweek reported.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office told the site that they received calls about the rally in the afternoon on Saturday, where around 20 people gathered for the neo-Nazi demonstration.

The hate group shouted anti-Semitic slurs towards the Jewish community, chanted anti-Black sentiments and waved Nazi flags

A spokesperson said: 'The group, assembled on public property, was reported by witnesses to be wearing clothing with "Nazi" insignia and yelling profanities and anti-Semitic slurs at vehicles passing by.'

They added several demonstrators got into a fight with a person passing by, and an investigation is ongoing although no arrests were made.

Police said that while the office 'deplores hate speech in any form', the protesters had the First Amendment right to demonstrate.

StopAntisemitism.org's tweets also pictured neo-Nazi leader Burt Colucci as present at the demonstrations.

Last April he was arrested in Chandler, Arizona and accused of threatening to kill African Americans. He was jailed for aggravated assault, ABC15 reported.

Pictures on social media from Sunday show that a neo-Nazi group also gathered a day later, on overpasses on the Interstate 4 highway.

A tweet with photos showing Nazi flags over a bridge was captioned: 'Right now: shocking display of Nazi flags and demonstrators on multiple overpasses between downtown Orlando and Disney on I-4'.

People sharing footage were disgusted by the group's gathering. One user posting clips from the rally wrote: 'Better footage of the Florida Nazis this afternoon. DeSantis has made Florida an open and accepting place for white nationalists like this.'

Another user retweeting the videos said: 'This is disgusting. Welcome to Florida where the racist Nazis are empowered, the politicians are as crooked as they come, and the cockroaches have wings.'

Attorney Aaron Parnas also tweeted: 'With a Governor that turns a blind eye to Nazi demonstrations, I have never been so scared to be Jewish in Florida.'

The incident took place just days after vandals scrawled swastikas on the outside of Union Station in Washington D.C.

A tweet with photos showing Nazi flags over a bridge was captioned: 'Right now: shocking display of Nazi flags and demonstrators on multiple overpasses between downtown Orlando and Disney on I-4'

The graffiti was discovered Friday, with crude Nazi symbols marked on columns across the front of the massive building and several clustered around the escalator entrance to the underground D.C. Metro.

StopAntisemitism.org said on its site that NSM 'plans to hold other events, including on April 23 in Washington State, a convention of its national chapters and a public protest'.

It added that earlier this month NSM blamed losing access to the use of BlogTalk Radio on 'the Jew', and opened its own live-streaming.

According to anti-hate organization ADL, the United States has recorded its highest level of anti-Semitic abuse in 2020, in its most recent audit since it began tracking in 1979.

The group recorded more than 2,100 acts of anti-Semitic assault, vandalism and harassment; an increase of 12 per cent over the previous year.

Five fatalities were directly linked to anti-Semitic violence in the report, and 91 were targeted in physical assaults.
A growing Omicron outbreak threatens to plunge Western Australia's lucrative mining sector into chaos amid renewed calls for the state to reopen its borders.

Twelve new local cases emerged on Monday, including seven linked to a Perth nightclub cluster. A further 42 infections were reported over the weekend.

About 80 workers at BHP's Yandi iron ore mine are isolating after being identified as contacts of a rail contractor who tested positive while on site.

The contractor had returned a negative rapid antigen test last week before flying to the site in the state's north.

They felt unwell on Sunday and subsequently returned a positive PCR test.

BHP late on Monday confirmed one of the worker's colleagues had also tested positive. They have not reported any symptoms and have been in isolation.

WA's Chamber of Minerals and Energy on Monday urged Mark McGowan (pictured) to immediately implement new close contact rules which would reduce quarantine periods to seven days and remove isolation for any casual contacts

'Contact tracing and deep cleaning at site is continuing, and other close and casual contacts remain in isolation as a precaution,' a spokeswoman said.

'The health and wellbeing of our people is our top priority, and everyone impacted is being fully supported during their isolation period.'

All contacts have returned negative rapid antigen tests but must return negative PCR tests before resuming work.

The infected workers face 14 days isolation at an accommodation camp under WA's strict laws, as does another contractor who tested positive at 29Metals' Golden Grove copper and zinc mine, about 450km northeast of Perth.

WA's Chamber of Minerals and Energy on Monday urged the government to immediately implement new close contact rules which would reduce quarantine periods to seven days and remove isolation for any casual contacts.

About 80 workers at BHP's Yandi iron ore mine are isolating after being identified as contacts of a rail contractor who tested positive while on site (pictured, BHP's mine at Mount Whaleback)

Premier Mark McGowan has maintained the proposed changes won't come into effect until WA has a higher caseload.

The premier has also declined to set a new border reopening date, having backflipped on a plan to resume travel from February 5.

He has cited the need to improve WA's booster rate, currently at 36 per cent, as a key reason for keeping the borders closed.

WA's chief health officer has advised the rate will reach 75 per cent by early March, at which point there would likely be waning immunity for more vulnerable people.

Opposition Leader Mia Davies called on the premier to reopen no later than March 5.

'The opposition supports vaccinations and public health measures, including mandates that are supported by health advice,' she said.

BHP late on Monday confirmed one of the worker's colleagues had also tested positive. They have not reported any symptoms and have been in isolation (pictured, mine workers in Perth)

'But you can't ignore the fact uncertainty is crippling businesses of all sizes ... the brain-drain of bright, innovative, talented people we need for WA to thrive post-COVID has already started and our reputation as a solid and stable state has been damaged.'

Proof of double-dose vaccination is now required at virtually all public venues in WA, ranging from restaurants, cafes and pubs to gyms, play centres and even bottle shops.

The state-wide mandate, which came into effect overnight and prompted protests in the Perth CBD, applies to anyone aged 16 and above.

Customers who threaten or intimidate staff asking for proof of vaccination face up to 12 months' jail or a $50,000 fine.

Teachers and other education staff were also required to be double-dose vaccinated to work in schools as kids returned to classrooms on Monday.

Education Minister Sue Ellery said there would be teacher in front of every classroom in public schools, with about 90 staff yet to provide proof of vaccination.
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Labour MP Jack Dromey 'remade history many times over' during his political career, former prime minister Gordon Brown told mourners including Tony Blair, Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner at his funeral today.

The former leading trade unionist, who was married to party grandee and former deputy leader Harriet Harman, died aged 73 in his flat in his Birmingham constituency earlier this month.

Mr Brown, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010, paid tribute to Mr Dromey's 'irrepressible, almost boundless energy' at the funeral at St Margaret's Church in Parliament Square, Westminster, this afternoon.

He told mourners to remember his 'infectious enthusiasm', 'fighting spirit' and 'relentless optimism', adding: 'From the start, Jack had a bigger mission, born of the intensity of his idealism and the courage of his convictions.

'He saw wrongs and wanted to right them, injustices and wanted to resolve them, and where there was unfairness, there Jack always was, fighting it. He was the 'Jack of all campaigns'.

''Four quick points' he'd say when you met him, and there were usually eight. And when he said 'finally' that meant there were at least three more proposals to be acted on, as he ran a seemingly endless succession of landmark, ground-breaking, often life-changing campaigns, and made and remade history many times over.'

Sir Tony gave a Bible reading, while Mr Dromey's daughter Amy Harman read an extract from her mother's book A Woman's Work. Some had tears in their eyes as they entered the church just before noon, with cabinet ministers, broadcasters and Labour MPs in attendance.

The father-of-three, who had represented Birmingham Erdington since 2010, is understood to have died from natural causes. Born in London in 1948, he had three children with Ms Harman, the former deputy Labour leader, who announced last month she will stand down as an MP after the next general election. They married in 1982.

Mr Dromey joined the Labour frontbench as shadow housing minister in 2010 under then-leader Ed Miliband, who was also at the service.

Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, said of the funeral today: 'It was brilliant and funny and beautiful and a testimony to Jack. I just felt very much that Harriet and Jack will be very proud of their children who stood up very bravely and gave brilliant testimonies.'

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner (left) beside former prime minister Tony Blair (second from left), his wife Cherie Blair (centre) and former prime minister Gordon Brown (right) as they leave the funeral service of Labour MP Jack Dromey at St Margaret's Church in Westminster today

Former Labour leaders Mr Blair and Mr Brown pictured together outside St Margaret's Church following the ceremony today

Harriet Harman (centre), the widow of MP Jack Dromey, during his funeral at St Margaret's Church in Westminster today

Ex-prime ministers Tony Blair (left) and Gordon Brown (right) leave the funeral at St Margaret's Church in Westminster today

Former prime ministers Tony Blair (left) and Gordon Brown at the funeral of Labour MP Jack Dromey in Westminster today

Former prime minister Gordon Brown speaks at the funeral of Labour MP Jack Dromey at St Margaret's Church this afternoon

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair speaking at the funeral of Labour MP Jack Dromey at St Margaret's Church this afternoon

The funeral service at St Margaret's Church in Westminster for Jack Dromey this afternoon

Mr Dromey was husband of the party's former deputy leader Harriet Harman, who is pictured at the service today

The funeral service at St Margaret's Church in Westminster for Jack Dromey this afternoon

Members of the choir sing at the funeral service at St Margaret's Church for Jack Dromey this afternoon

The funeral service at St Margaret's Church in Westminster for Jack Dromey this afternoon

Labour leader Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner pictured arriving at the funeral of MP Jack Dromey in Westminster today

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair pictured holding hands with wife Cherie as they arrive at the funeral of Mr Dromey today

Former Labour aide Alastair Campbell smiles as he arrives at the funeral in Westminster

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Ed Balls arriving for the funeral of Labour MP Jack Dromey on Monday

Labour politicians Kim Leadbeater (left) and Ed Miliband (right) arrive for Jack Dromey's funeral in Westminster today

The pall bearers pictured carrying the coffin into the funeral of Mr Dromey at St Margaret's Church in Westminster

The pall bearers enter the funeral with the coffin of Mr Dromey on Monday morning

Mr Dromey, 73, died 'suddenly' at his flat in Brmingham. He served as the MP for Birmingham Erdington from 2010

London Mayor Sadiq Khan walks into the ceremoney at St Margaret's Church on Monday morning

Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg (right) arrived at the funeral in a black suit and tie

Wes Streeting and Lisa Nandy seen arriving at the funeral of Mr Dromey this morning

Mr Dromey was married to former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman. The couple share three children

Mr Dromey was last seen in parliament the day prior to his death, when he spoke in a Commons debate

The ceremony is taking place at St Margaret's Church in Westminster, London

Following his death, a statement from his family said: 'Jack Dromey MP died suddenly this morning aged 73 in his flat in Erdington.

'He had been a dedicated Member of Parliament for Birmingham Erdington since 2010. He was a much loved husband, father and grandfather, and he will be greatly missed.'

His son Joe also tweeted: 'Our dad - Jack - died suddenly today. We loved him so, so much. Rest in peace big man x.'

Mr Dromey, who is understood to have died from natural causes, is survived by Ms Harman, who he married in 1982, and their three children - two sons and a daughter.

He last spoke in Parliament just the day prior to his death during a debate in Westminster Hall about the Afghanistan citizens' resettlement scheme.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described Mr Dromey as 'highly respected and warmly regarded across Parliament'.

Paying tribute, he added: 'The proud son of Irish parents, Jack Dromey dedicated his life to standing up for working people through the Labour movement, becoming deputy general secretary of the UK's largest trade union and then a Labour MP.

'From supporting the strike at the Grunwick film processing laboratory, when he met Harriet, through to being elected to represent Birmingham Erdington in 2010, Jack lived his commitment to social justice every day.

'Jack was recognised for his determination to stand up for his constituents and he was highly respected and warmly regarded across Parliament.

'My thoughts and those of the whole Labour movement are with Harriet, their children and all those who knew and loved Jack.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson added: 'Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Jack Dromey MP. My thoughts are with Harriet and the family, and all those who knew him as a friend. May he rest in peace.'

Mr Dromey alongside his son Jack. Jack today tweeted: 'Our dad - Jack - died suddenly today. We loved him so, so much. Rest in peace big man'

Before his career in politics, Mr Dromey was a trade unionist who held several roles in the Transport and General Workers Union which later became Unite. Pictured, Mr Dromey in front of a trade union banner with placards supporting the Grunwick strikers in 1977

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said the MP had 'dedicated his life to the service of others' as a 'complete stalwart of the Labour and trade union movement'.

The former Labour leader said: 'He was also hugely likeable, a very popular colleague and well respected by all who worked with him.

'Cherie joins me in sending profound condolences to Harriet and all the family.'

Fellow former prime minister Gordon Brown also paid tribute to Mr Dromey as a 'great humanitarian who never stopped fighting for social justice' and said he will be 'sorely missed'.

Before his career in politics, Mr Dromey was a trade unionist who held several roles in the Transport and General Workers Union which later became Unite. He was appointed Deputy General Secretary of the union in 2004.

He joined the Labour frontbench as shadow housing minister in 2010 under then Labour leader Ed Miliband.

At the 2019 general election, Mr Dromey defended his seat by 3,601 over the Conservatives in second place.

Voters will choose a successor in March after Labour officially triggered the Birmingham Erdington by-election today.

Business in the House of Commons started with Labour chief whip Sir Alan Campbell issuing the writ for the vacant seat.

Labour confirmed the by-election will be held on March 3, as it has to take place between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ.
Armed police will be stationed on British ferries for the first time this summer amid fears they are 'extremely vulnerable' to terror attacks.

Around 40 officers from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary will be deployed to ships in Dover and Newcastle from July.

The firearms-trained guards are set to work on a rotation basis for a trial period to fix the 'weak link' in the UK's transport policing.

Checks on ferries are near non-existent, with passengers rarely searched or scanned as they are on planes or Eurostar trains.

But Britain and France signed a maritime security treaty last year meant to bolster defences against terror attacks on ships in the England Channel.

Around 40 officers from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (file photo) will be deployed to ships in Dover and Newcastle from July

What security do ferries currently have? Checks on ferries to and from Britain are near non-existent. Passengers rarely searched or scanned before boarding in the way they are on planes or Eurostar trains. Staff can ask passengers to submit themselves, their baggage and their vehicle to a security search. These are set out in the regulations of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code 2004. It gives workers the right to seize any offensive weapons they find, but these can be returned after passage. The owner has to pay 30 for storage plus however much it costs to post them, otherwise it will be destroyed by the port authority. Ports such as Dover promise these checks will take minutes providing the passenger cooperates with staff. Those who refuse to cooperate will not be granted passage. Its website adds that verbal abuse or foul language will see the police called. Meanwhile Portsmouth Port notes some people can be asked to go through metal detection arches. It says they are safe for use for people with medical implants such as pacemakers but people who are concerned can be manually checked instead. The security areas at the port ban the use of photography, including phones and dash cams in cars. The checks are authorised under the regulations set out in the Enhancing Ship and Port Facility Security. Advertisement

A senior counter-terrorism source said ships are 'extremely vulnerable' because they are 'completely unguarded'.

They told the Times: 'Ferries are the weak link when it comes to policing transport against terror attacks.

'Moving a handful of CNC officers to ferries makes sense and they will be a visible deterrent.'

A government source added to the Guardian there was 'no specific threat to passenger vessels' and the move was to stop terrorism 'no matter where it occurs'.

The policemen will be sourced from the 'glut of officers' the CNC has now nuclear facilities are being torn down across the country.

The last reactor at Hunterston B in Scotland was switched off this month and will be decommissioned.

Meanwhile the nuclear laboratory at Harwell in Oxfordshire is scheduled to be shelved in three years.

Ministers want the specialised force to develop new skills so they can assist other units more as their remit narrows.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last year looked into how they can be redeployed.

Its findings said last month: 'The preferred option being taken forward is ... [to] pursue primary legislation to both enable the CNC to offer services beyond the civil nuclear sector and more easily provide support to other police forces.'

Chairman of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority Vic Emery later said: 'We welcome the government's positive response to the consultation on CNC service expansion.

'We are pleased that the vast majority of inputs made to the consultation were supportive of the organisation's ambitions.

'Whilst the CNC's core mission will always remain the protection of civil nuclear sites and nuclear material, the proposals outlined in the consultation would also enable us to improve efficiency and greatly enhance the support we can provide to our partners and to other police forces, ensuring that the wider police service is working together to maximise public safety.

'We look forward to working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to take these proposals forward.'

The firearms-trained guards are set to work on a rotation basis for a trial period to fix the 'weak link' in the UK's transport policing (file photo)

Sarah Everard killer Wayne Couzens' old force... what is the Civil Nuclear Constabulary? The officers who will patrol British ferries from July will come from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. This is the armed police force that guards civil nuclear sites and nuclear materials in England, Scotland and Wales. It is made up of 1,600 officers and other staff at sites throughout the UK. A large part of their job is counter terrorism, or stopping terrorists gain access to or attack nuclear sites. It's website says: 'In partnership with the civil nuclear industry, national security agencies and regulatory bodies the CNC will deter any attacker whose intent is the theft or sabotage of nuclear material whether static or in transit. If an attack occurs CNC will defend that material and deny access to it. If material is seized or high consequence facilities compromised the CNC will recover control of the facility and regain custody of the material.' The CNC's reputation took a hammering last year when it emerged Sarah Everard killer Wayne Couzens worked for the force. The twisted killer was called 'the rapist' by other officers because he made female colleagues feel so uncomfortable. Meanwhile in 2019, one of its officers got slammed for doing the 'bottle top challenge' while on guard duty. The unnamed officer tried to kung-fu kick the water bottle's top with his foot as another officer held it in the air at the Dungeness nuclear power plant in Kent. The Civil Nuclear Constabulary posted the clip on Twitter but deleted it soon after. Advertisement

But ministers will need to tweak the Energy Act to broaden their powers, or grant them interim ones for the trial period.

Britain and France signed the maritime security treaty in July to try to stop terror attacks on ships in the Channel.

Part of it outlines situations where intelligence could be shared between the two countries on potential threats to help coordinate a joint response.

It will be activated once the two countries have thrashed out all the details and ratified the document.

Armed security on vessels came a step closer in 2016 when troops carried out an exercise amid heightened fears of terror attacks.

Brittany Ferries launched the trial the Mont St Michel ferry between Portsmouth and Caen.

Around 800 English and French speaking passengers were told about the security exercise, before three armed sea marshals - who work closely with the French military - swooped on the ship via helicopter.

The most notable terror attack on a ship was the Maritime Jewel, then called Limburg in 2002.

Suicide bombers killed one member of the crew and injured 12 others in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, causing 90,000 barrels of crude oil to seep into the sea.

The ship, which had been on its way between Iran and Malaysia, was towed to Dubai and fixed and continued service before being decommissioned in 2018.

A government spokesman said: 'The government will always take the strongest possible action to protect our national security and our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of our citizens.

'We are constantly developing protection for UK citizens against the threat of terrorism.

'This includes strengthening security by fully equipping law enforcement and emergency responders to respond to terrorist incidents, no matter where they occur.'
Six times as many migrants crossed the Channel by boat this month compared with the same period last year.

UK authorities intercepted or rescued 1,341 people, making the perilous journey in 46 boats.

That compares to 223 in 15 boats last year and just 87 in eight boats during the first month of 2020.

The busiest day this month saw 271 migrants arrive in Dover, Kent which was more than in the entirety of January last year.

Three migrants died in Northern France attempting to reach the UK so far this year and 'it's likely that there have been at least two more', according to charity Care4Calais.

A spokesman for the charity which supports refugees in Europe and the UK tweeted: 'All this so early in the year brings home the dangers refugees face, and the appalling fact that our government will not act to stop it.

UK authorities intercepted or rescued 1,341 people making journey in 46 boats this month

A further 30 migrants reached the UK on January 26 in Dover after crossing the channel

The busiest day this month saw 271 migrants arrive in Dover, Kent which was more than in the entirety of January 2021

'To caring people, these tragedies are unbearable; young men who have fled persecution, torture and death dying alone so far from their homes.

'The atrocious spectacle could be ended by the introduction of a system allowing refugees in France to claim asylum in the UK and and receive safe passage.'

The latest figures come amid reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given Home Secretary Priti Patel the go-ahead to develop new powers which would see every male migrant who crosses the Channel detained in a bid to contain the crisis.

According to Ms Patel, seven in ten people who make the perilous crossing to the UK are single men under 40.

She is working closely with Attorney-General Suella Braverman to establish what new powers would be needed to be approved by MPs in order to change the laws on detention.

The government is due to make an announcement next month as part of wider plans for the Royal Navy to take control of Channel crossings.

There have been no successful crossings since 39 people made the treacherous trip in one boat last Wednesday - with continuing bad weather set to scupper any attempts over the next few days.

The government says it will make an announcement next month as part of wider plans for the Royal Navy to take control of Channel crossings

Home Secretary Priti Patel says seven in ten people who make the perilous crossing to the UK are single men under 40

Home Office officials have warned that this year could see more than 65,000 people arrive in the UK by small boat

A total of 28,381 migrants made the perilous journey across the Dover Strait in flimsy boats last year - dwarfing the 8,410 who arrived in 2020.

But Home Office officials have warned that this year could see more than 65,000 people arrive in the UK by small boat.

Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration, Tom Pursglove MP, said: 'People fleeing persecution should seek safety in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives paying criminal gangs to cross the Channel.

'This Government is reforming our approach to illegal entry to the UK and asylum by making the tough decisions to end the overt exploitation of our laws and its impact on UK taxpayers.

'The public have rightly had enough of the blatant disregard of our immigration laws and we are bringing in necessary long-term*changes.

'The Nationality and Borders Bill will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introduce life sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country.
Britons today mocked the long-awaited Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties during lockdown for being a 'whitewash', with one tweeting: 'You mean it took Sue Gray all that time just to produce 8 pages of content?'

A limited version of the senior civil servant's report into the parties held between May 2020 and April 2021 was published today and condemned a 'serious failure' to observe the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government.

Social media users had earlier jokingly predicted that some of the report - which was issued at about 2.20pm today - would say 'this page is left intentionally blank'. In reality, the second page actually stated: 'This page intentionally blank'.

Others used the 'I dunno, I think that's a bit dodgy mate' Inbetweeners meme when summarising the report as a 'TLDR' version - meaning 'too long; didn't read'.

Addressing angry MPs in the House of Commons today, Mr Johnson told MPs he will overhaul the operation in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office to address the concerns raised in the report, adding: 'I get it and I will fix it.'

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford was ordered to leave the Commons for failing to withdraw claims that the Prime Minister had misled the House.

Ms Gray has been working on the report since December 17 last year, meaning it has taken more than six weeks to be published.

The Cabinet Office said that Ms Gray had provided an 'update' on her investigation to the Prime Minister, suggesting it was not the full report she was preparing before the Metropolitan Police intervened. Scotland Yard last week asked Ms Gray to make only 'minimal reference' to gatherings being investigated by its officers.

Downing Street has so far refused to commit to publishing a fuller version of Ms Gray's findings once the police investigation has concluded.

The version of Ms Gray's report published online said 'it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings, the risks they presented to public health and how they might appear to the public'.

The Downing Street garden was used for gatherings 'without clear authorisation or oversight' in a way that was 'not appropriate'. The report reveals 12 events are being investigated by the police, including a gathering in the Downing Street flat and an event to mark Boris Johnson's birthday in June 2020.

Here are some of the best memes posted following its publication this afternoon:

Earlier, Britons raised concerns over a 'whitewash' today after Sue Gray finally handed Boris Johnson a version of her inquiry into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street

. People took to social media to share joke images surrounding the news such as a '50 Shades of Sue Gray' spoof, and a Hermes 'sorry we missed you' delivery note.

Others posted pictures of a completely-redacted piece of paper and the popular Titanic 'it's been 84 years' meme in a gag about how long the report has taken.

And here are some of the memes posted before the report was revealed:
A Chicago law professor who was suspended and forced to undergo diversity training after using redacted racist and sexist slurs in a test question about a hypothetical instance of discrimination in the workplace has filed a First Amendment suit against his employer.

Jason Kilborn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, filed the suit Thursday in partnership with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), claiming the punishment doled out by the institution last year was unconstitutional.

'The only thing that will hold UIC accountable for its unconstitutional actions is a lawsuit,' Kilborn stated in the suit. 'FIRE's Faculty Legal Defense Fund gave me the strong medicine of real legal action, and UIC has given me no choice but to use it.'

Jason Kilborn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, filed the suit Thursday in partnership with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

Kilborn's filing comes more than a year after the institution suspended and launched an investigation into the educator after he posed a hypothetical question in a December 2020 exam chronicling illegal discrimination in the workplace, that used two censored slurs.

The question, according to Kilborn's suit, referenced a plaintiff being called 'a "n****r' - a profane expression for a black person - and 'b***h', as hypothetical examples of discrimination.

The slurs themselves were not fully spelled out. Instead, they were displayed by only their first letters, 'n' and 'b.' Kilborn stated that he had used that same question in previous years.

But despite keeping the words censored, Kilborn soon became embroiled in a heated controversy at the Chicago public school, after a petition was launched against the educator calling for his dismissal, due to the contents of the question.

'The only thing that will hold UIC accountable for its unconstitutional actions is a lawsuit,' Kilborn stated in the suit

Weeks later, after an internal investigation, UIC suspended Kilborn and ordered he undergo a five-week diversity training regimen in order to return to the classroom, according to the Thursday filing.

However, Kilborn says the university later backtracked and told him he would instead have to complete months-long 'training on classroom conversations that address racism.'

UICs inquiry led to additional complaints that Kilborn had used racially insensitive language in classroom discussions, such as an instance when he allegedly called African-American students at the college 'cockroaches,' which Kilborn denies.

Regarding the exam question, Kilborn said that he voluntarily sent an apology letter to his upset students, but was placed on 'indefinite administrative leave' during last year's spring semester, barred from stepping foot on campus and participating in remote school activities.

Kilborn eventually reached a shortlived resolution with UIC in July, in which the educator had agreed to alert the dean before responding to student complaints about racial issues and to audio-record his classes.

As part of that resolution, Kilborn and the university reached an understanding that the professor would not have to attend sensitivity training.

However, in November, under pressure from UICs Black Law Students Association and Jesse Jackson over the controversy, UIC backtracked on its agreement with Kilborn, ordering the legal eagle to participate in the months-long training sessions, and compelling him to write reflection papers before he can return to the teaching.

One such meeting with the Black Law Students Association allegedly went on for four hours, Kilborn's suit reveals.

According to the filing, after the meeting, one of the students in the org met with the dean - along with several other students - and falsely claimed 'that [Kilborn] had told them that he "was feeling homicidal" or "would become homicidal"' due to the controversy.

What's more, the suit attests that training materials Kilborn was provided during the anti-discrimination sessions starting in November included one of the same redacted slurs that the used in his test question.

'UIC crucifies Kilborn for using a redacted slur, then turns around and forces him into anti-racism training that uses that same slur,' said Ronnie London, head of FIREs Faculty Legal Defense Fund. 'Kilborn is effectively showing up to re-education and being handed his own text.'

'By requiring Kilborn to submit to ideological re-education, not only has UIC violated his right to academic freedom, but it has also gone back on its original agreement with Kilborn.

'Kilborn did nothing wrong to begin with, but UIC has done everything wrong,' added Wayne Giampietro, Kilborn's attorney. 'UIC has proved itself to be both illiberal and disingenuous, and its past time to follow through on our threat of legal action.'

Kilborn's filing comes more than a year after the University of Illinois Chicago (pictured) suspended and launched an investigation into the educator after he posed a hypothetical question in a December 2020 exam chronicling illegal discrimination in the workplace, that used two censored slurs

'Without communicating with [Kilborn] or any other person with firsthand knowledge,' the suit states, 'the BTAT authorized the law school dean to take the most extreme measures.'

The lawsuit names the university as a defendant, citing counts of illegal misconduct, including first, fifth, and fourteenth amendment violations, a violation of the the school's statutes, and a violation of Illinois' Violence Prevention Plan.

Kilborn, UIC, and FIRE did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
Russian army self-propelled howitzers fire during military drills near Orenburg in the Urals, Russia, Dec. 16, 2021, in this screen capture from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service. With tens of thousands of Russian troops positioned near Ukraine, the Kremlin has kept the U.S. and its allies guessing about its next moves in the worst Russia-West security crisis since the Cold War. AP-Yonhap





Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine's 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 don't 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.







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 doesn't 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 launch ''coercive acts or provocative political acts'' such as the recognition of breakaway territories inside Ukraine. He urged Putin to de-escalate the tensions.







Austin spoke alongside Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said Russian forces near Ukraine include not only ground troops and naval and air forces, but also cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as special operations troops. 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 Ukraine's armed forces are more capable today than in 2014 when Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and intervened in support of pro-Russian separatists in the eastern industrial heartland.







The comments by Austin and Milley were their first extensive public statements about Ukraine this year. The news conference itself marked a subtle shift in the administration's approach to public communications about the months-long Ukraine crisis, which until now has focused on the White House and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has spearheaded the administration's diplomatic efforts. Milley and Austin have consulted regularly in recent weeks with their counterparts in allied countries and in Ukraine but have revealed little about the content of those communications or about their views of the crisis.







Earlier Friday, the Kremlin said Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the West has failed to consider Russia's 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 amid the troop buildup near Ukraine.







Service members of the 35th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces take part in troops deployment drills in Odessa, Ukraine, in this handout picture released Jan. 28. Reuters-Yonhap





Despite that, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Thursday, that there was 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, however, sought to play down the war fears, saying Western alarm over an imminent invasion has prompted many investors in the country's financial markets to cash out.







''We don't need this panic,'' he said at a news conference. ''It costs 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. Earlier in the day, Putin held a weekly meeting of his Security Council, saying only that it would address foreign policy issues.







Putin has made no public remarks about the Western response, but Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it leaves little chance for reaching agreement.







''While they say they won't change their positions, we won't change ours,'' Lavrov told Russian radio stations in a live interview. ''I don't see any room for compromise here.''






Boris Johnson dazzled in neon orange today as he yet again donned hi-viz on a Downing Street awayday.

The Prime Minister was clothed in attire more suited to Bob the Builder as he visited Tilbury Docks this morning, as Westminster awaited the Sue Gray report into Partygate.

Wearing a brightly coloured coat and a white hard hat he posed for pictures while driving a forklift truck at the Essex container port.

He used the visit to refused to be drawn when asked whether the imminent report by civil servant Sue Gray into the gatherings would be a 'whitewash' after the Metropolitan Police requested parts be redacted.

He added: 'Of course I stick absolutely to what I've said in the past'.

And it is not the first time he has dressed this way for an official visit that takes him away from London.

Along with visits to hospitals and vaccine centres, where he is usually pictured looking businesslike in a shirt with his sleeves rolled up - a reaction to cleanliness rules - industrial sites have been a go-to under his premiership.

Boris is at the wheel: The PM driving a forklift at Tilbury Docks in Essex this morning. The Prime Minister was clothed in attire more suited to Bob the Builder (below)

On a visit to Wales on January 27, Mr Johnson said he was 'absolutely not' trying to influence the outcome

Only last week he was decked out in luminous garb for a visit to north Wales as the furore over Ms Gray's report into illicit Downing Street drinks events reached fever pitch in Westminster.

While there he spoke to reporters - as he does on almost all his visits - and flatly denied that the report was being neutered by the launch of a Scotland Yard probe into the worst excesses.

But on a visit to Wales on January 27, Mr Johnson said he was 'absolutely not' trying to influence the outcome. 'I am afraid we have got to let the independent inquiry go on,' he said, adding that the government was 'getting on with our work'.

He was speaking at Hanson Aggregates in Penmaenmawr, and also visited Orthios Eco Park in Holyhead, Anglesey, which recycles and reuses plastics waste.

Later it became clear that the intervention of the Metropolitan Police meant the report was being neutered - albeit possibly only temporarily.

Downing Street today said the limited version of the inquiry report will be published this afternoon, but would not commit to publishing a fuller report after police have finished investigating.

Asked whether the public will see a fuller report, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "That's one of the things I can't confirm at this point simply because we need to discuss that with the Met and others about what is suitable."

The Hi-Viz has also been broken out at the PM tried to sell his levelling up agenda.

He visited Selby in North Yorkshire last November as he tried to contain an all-out Tory mutiny amid claims he 'betrayed' the North by axing flagship plans to 'Level Up' rail.

The premier was accused of giving his crucial Red Wall voters 'scraps off the table' after the HS2 route to Leeds was ditched in favour of a Birmingham to East Midlands Parkway line.

The HS3 line linking Manchester and Leeds - known as Northern Powerhouse Rail - has also been shelved.

On a visit to a Network Rail hub in Yorkshire, the PM rejected as 'rubbish' claims that the changes break the 'Levelling Up' pledges in Tories' 2019 manifesto.

He argued that high speed rail was 'grindingly slow to build' and most of the benefits could be achieved more quickly.

However, Transport Select Committee chair Huw Merriman said: 'The PM promised that HS2 and Northern powerhouse Rail was not an ''either or'' option. Those in Leeds and Bradford will be forgiven for viewing it today as neither.'

He visited Selby in North Yorkshire last November as he tried to contain an all-out Tory mutiny amid claims he 'betrayed' the North by axing flagship plans to 'Level Up' rail.

That was his second adventure in hi-viz in a week. Six days previously, on November 12, he had been be-vested as he visited a branch of Travis Perkins builders merchants in his constituency.

At the time he was facing the fall-out from the Owen Paterson affair, with a damaging ideological divide emerging between his party old guard and his younger Red Wall Tories over sleaze,.

The 'Red Wall Tories', who swept into the Commons from traditional working-class areas, are said to be furious at attempts by Tory grandees to save lobbying row MP Owen Patterson.

He stood down as an MP after being censured by Parliament over his role with two firms paying him more than 100,000 per year.

And it is said to be causing a split between the younger crop of MPs and the old school Conservatives, dubbed the 'Red Trouser Tories' - a nod to the type of clothing associated with upper-class men of a certain age.

The same day it was revealed some 17 MPs - 15 Tory and two Labour - have used a loophole in parliamentary expenses rules that allows them to bill the taxpayer for the cost of renting a flat in London while making five-figure incomes from properties they own.

The wheeze - which does not break any expenses rules - has allowed them to claim more than 1.3million in the past five years, the i newspaper reported.

He drove an electric delivery vehicle during a visit to the builders merchants before telling reporters: 'I do not in any way underestimate the vital importance of the transparency of MPs working number one for their constituents and not engaging in paid advocacy.

'We have got to make sure that the standards committee is allowed to get on and do its work and the Commissioner for Standards gets on and does her work.'

Six days previously, on November 12, he had been be-vested as he visited a branch of Travis Perkins builders merchants in his constituency.

It had been all smiles in October when he used the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester as an excuse to get his helmet out.

At the time the multiple crisis he now faces had yet to kick off, and even backbench murmuring over planned tax increases were only light, as he rode high in the polls.

He joined Health Secretary Sajid Javid at a children's hospital in Leeds en route to Manchester on October 2.

Then, two days later he attempted to show there was no ideological rift between him and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

But their visit to a Network Rail site in Manchester came as the first signs of trouble were emerging over HS2.

That day Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has signalled that the eastern leg could be scrapped in favour of improving services in the North.

The Transport Secretary added to growing speculation over the future of the eastern leg of the high speed line from London, saying ministers will not 'blindly follow' plans drawn up almost two decades ago.

In an interview with the Financial Times, he signalled that a major rethink of the project between Birmingham and Leeds could be in order, with more focus on inter-connecting cities in the North and Midlands.

He attempted to show there was no ideological rift between him and Chancellor Rishi Sunak at the party conference in Manchester

He joined Health Secretary Sajid Javid at a children's hospital in Leeds en route to Manchester on October 2.

In June last year the hi-viz was taken out as Mr Johnson faced questions over the resignation/sacking of Matt Hancock for his affair with an aide.

Ahead of his June 28 visit to Johnstone;'s Paints in Yorkshire he had been accused of 'rewriting history' after he implied he sacked Mr Hancock despite initially refusing to fire the cheating minister, who was caught on camera in a passionate embrace with Gina Coladangelo.

Mr Johnson's claims ran contrary to No 10's insistence, hours after CCTV footage of the clinch emerged, that Mr Johnson considered the 'matter closed' and had 'full confidence' in Mr Hancock, who would keep his job because he had said sorry.

But after 80 Tory MPs told No 10 he had to go after they were deluged with complaints, Mr Hancock gave a video statement saying that he had quit after he breached social distancing guidance by kissing Ms Coladangelo against his office door.

In response Mr Johnson said he was 'sorry to receive' Hancock's resignation.

Visiting Yorkshire ahead of the Batley by-election, the PM suggested he had fired the Health Secretary and replaced him with Sajid Javid, adding that the Government's 'moral compass' is intact.

When asked whether Hancock's affair undermined the message about the country being 'all in it together', Mr Johnson said: 'That's right, and that's why when I saw the story on Friday we had a new Secretary of State for Health in on Saturday.'

In June last year the hi-viz was taken out as Mr Johnson faced questions over the resignation/sacking of Matt Hancock for his affair with an aide.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters at a paint factory in Batley that he fired Matt Hancock for his affair with Gina Coladangelo despite backing him when their CCTV kiss emerged (right)

In May last year Mr Johnson donned the bright colours as he enjoyed a vaccine bounce in the local elections.

He was in high-viz on a visit to Severn Trent Academy in Coventry after it was revealed he had defied political gravity as the Conservatives racked up a string of stunning election results the previous day.

Labour was thrashed in the Hartlepool by-election on May 6, with Jill Mortimer securing a majority of almost 7,000 in a seat the Tories had not held since 1964.

Tory Ben Houchen won a second term as mayor of Tees Valley in the North East, with an astonishing 73 per cent share of the vote.

And the Conservatives gained control of a series of councils, including Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Dudley, Harlow and Nuneaton and Bedworth  reversing the mid-term slump often suffered by governing parties.

The Tories also won seats across the West Midlands and the region's mayor Andy Street secured a second term in office.

Labour conceded the results were a 'shattering' blow to Sir Keir Starmer, who last night admitted his party had 'lost the trust of working people'.
A man has been charged over the alleged murder of his teenage girlfriend after her body was found inside an acid-filled bathtub in Sydney's west.

Aminah Hayat, 19, was found dead inside a ground floor apartment in North Parramatta about 4.30pm on Sunday.

Her boyfriend Meraj Zafar, 20, was arrested after presenting to Bankstown Police Station at 12.30pm Monday.

He was charged with her alleged murder later that evening, with the pair having only recently moved in together last October.

NSW Police broke into the unit on Pennant Hills Road on Sunday following calls from a worried family member, where they found Ms Hayat in the bathtub.

Meraj Zafar, 20, handed himself in to police after a manhunt for the bearded truck driver seen here and has since been charged with murder

Meraj Zafar, 20, has been charged with the alleged murder of his girlfriend Aminah Hayat, 19, after her body was discovered at a unit on Pennant Hills Road in North Parramatta (pictured), western Sydney, on Sunday

Police charged the man after a woman was allegedly found dead in an acid-filled bath (pictured) in the unit in Sydney's west

The couple are said to have moved into the apartment (pictured) together in October

Special Fire and Rescue Hazmat teams were called in to help investigate the scene (pictured on Monday) - which officers described as 'confronting'

They called in Fire and Rescue hazmat specialists to deal with the hazardous liquids and a murder investigation was launched.

Earlier on Monday, police released CCTV images of a man - alleged to be Zafar - driving a tipper truck, sporting a dark beard and sunglasses, in the hopes he could assist with inquiries.

A truck matching the police description was later found at a Bunnings in Greenacre in south-west Sydney and was seized by detectives to undergo forensic tests.

Evidence was seen being taken from the scene in special biohazard bags (pictured)

Zafar was refused bail and will appear at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday.

The couple had reportedly only lived in the apartment for a few months after moving in together late last year.

Parramatta Police Area Commander Superintendent Julie Boon said police had found her body in the bathroom of the first-floor unit along with chemicals.

'The officers forced entry into the unit and inside the bathroom they found the body of a female,' she said.

Special Fire and Rescue Hazmat teams were called in to help with the grisly scene as detectives used specialist UV torches to hunt for clues (pictured)

Up to ten plain clothes and uniformed police were on site on Monday (pictured) as a crime scene was established

'I can confirm there were chemicals found inside the bathroom of the unit. I can't confirm what they were.

'The scene was very challenging for arriving police. When they did arrive and found chemicals at the unit, they retreated and called other units.'

Local George Hamilton Milner said he was shocked by the events in the typically-quiet neighbourhood.

'We've been here for a couple of years and haven't heard of anything bad so was a bit of a shock to hear it happened across the road,' he said.

A truck matching the police description was later found at Bunnings in Greenacre in south-west Sydney and has been seized by detectives to undergo forensic tests (pictured)

A wooden plaque with a portrait of a bearded man and an inscription apparently in Arabic underneath could also be seen on top of the dashboard (pictured) of the truck

Up to 10 plain clothes and uniformed police are on site, searching the building and nearby bins for clues (pictured)

Three forensics vans arrived at the apartment block, a three-level red brick building on the corner of Gladstone Street, on Monday.

Up to 10 officers were seen scouring the scene for evidence and took away several items in bags to undergo forensic testing.

An officer was seen leaving the unit with a pet cat in hand, which colleagues stroked and petted as they stood by a forensics van.

Another officer retrieved a cat carrier which he appeared to be cleaning for the animal, with investigators later taking swabs of its paws.

Officers pat a cat that was found in the apartment where the woman's body was discovered - with investigators later swabbing its paws for evidence
Care bosses have reacted with fury to No10 plans to ditch the vaccine mandate for NHS staff, two months after the 'no jab, no job' policy forced thousands to leave the sector.

A two-jab vaccine mandate was supposed to come into force in England on April 1, which would have given the remaining 80,000 unvaccinated frontline NHS staff until Thursday to get their first dose.

But Health Secretary Sajid Javid is poised to confirm the controversial move is being scrapped later this afternoon.

Care bosses argue the U-turn shows social care was used as a 'trial run for the NHS', after a similar vaccine mandate pushed an estimated 40,000 carers out of the sector in November.

It is unclear if the vaccine requirement would also be scrapped for carers, but bosses warned they have lost 'people with years of experience and skills that we won't ever get back'.

Kari Gerstheimer, chief executive of charity Access Social Care, said: 'If mandatory vaccinations are removed for the NHS, it is essential that they are also removed for social care.'

Other care leaders said the reported policy reversal for medics 'illustrates the huge gap between NHS care and social care and the way they are treated'.

Another said it is 'disgraceful' that care homes have spent resources on disciplinary proceedings and redundancies potentially for no reason.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured this morning outside the Cabinet Office) is said to be meeting with ministers on the Covid Operations Cabinet (Covid-O) committee later today to finalise scrapping the controversial move

Nadra Ahmed (pictured left), chairwoman of the National Care Association, said she is pleased for healthcare staff, but 'frustrated' and 'saddened for the care home staff who had lost their jobs needlessly' owing to the introduction of mandatory vaccination. Mike Padgham (pictured right), chairman of the Independent Care Group, said care homes need to know whether staff who lost their jobs because they were not vaccinated can have them back

But now, ministers are set to scrap the plan after one in 20 NHS staff  the equivalent of 77,591 people  have still not had their first jab. In London, one in ten staff are unvaccinated

Boris Johnson appeared to confirm reports of a change to the NHS jab mandate today during a visit to the Port of Tilbury in Essex

A senior NHS source told the HSJ that a 'full and complete U-turn' on the NHS vaccine mandate is expected  but whether the move is being scrapped altogether, delayed, or still applies to the social care sector has not been revealed.

Unjabbed midwife feared losing her job over compulsory Covid vaccines for the NHS Erika Thompson (pictured), a unjabbed midwife from Hampshire An unvaccinated midwife feared she could lose her job due to a heart condition that made her nervous about getting the jab. Erika Thompson, from Hampshire, works at her local NHS unit when they need extra staff. But from April 1 she would not have been able to return to her post, if Covid jabs become compulsory in the health service. Ms Thompson has already had Covid and tested positive for antibodies. But she has decided not to get the jabs because she suffers from heart inflammation, saying she felt it was not worth the risk. Ms Thompson told the BBC: 'I don't want to not be a midwife anymore. I feel like it's part of who I am. 'But I also feel strongly that a mandate is not the way forward, and that it's infringing on our human rights to make these decisions.' Asked if she felt Covid posed a risk to her, the midwife said: 'Absolutely, yes 'I have had Covid and I have got natural immunity, and I think we need to ask the question why are we not considering natural immunity in this equation.' Heart inflammation  or myocarditis  is a vanishingly rare side effect of the mRNA vaccines, or those made by Pfizer and Moderna. About three cases per million doses administered are recorded, with the side effect more common among men. Charities say people with a previous history of heart inflammation should still get the vaccine. The British Heart Foundation says: 'There is currently no evidence that people with a history of myocarditis or pericarditis are at increased risk of developing (the conditions again) following the Covid vaccine. 'If in doubt, ask your helath professional for advice.' Advertisement

If the 'no jab, no job' policy was implemented, those without jabs would have faced dismissal warnings from Friday and been asked to work out their notice periods until March 31.

Scrapping the Covid vaccine mandate for the NHS will only rub salt in the wound for the care sector, where all staff had to be inoculated from November.

Care bosses railed against the move at the time, saying they were already in the middle of a staffing crisis  also with more than 100,000 vacancies  and that it would put vulnerable residents at risk.

They warned mandating jabs could kill vulnerable residents because homes would be left with 'unsafe' staffing levels.

But their calls fell on deaf ears among ministers, who instead unveiled a similar policy for the NHS.

Nadra Ahmed, chairwoman of the National Care Association, said she is pleased for healthcare staff, but 'frustrated' and 'saddened for the care home staff who had lost their jobs needlessly' owing to the introduction of mandatory vaccination.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'I think we're really happy for our NHS colleagues if this is what's going to happen because it's an unnecessary burden, and persuasion will bring us to the same outcome.

'The people who we've lost, we hope they'll think about coming back and we will do everything we can to try and encourage them to come back, but they will have found other roles and they may be happier in their other roles now and not want to move again.'

Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group, said care homes need to know whether staff who lost their jobs because they were not vaccinated can have them back.

He said: 'I think this illustrates the huge gap between NHS care and social care and the way they are treated.

'We were robbed of thousands of staff back in November when the policy came in for care and nursing home workers and nobody lifted a finger.

'But when a similar threat is levelled toward NHS staff, the policy is reversed.'

Mark Topps, a director at the National Association of Care & Support Workers (Nacas), welcomed the reports but said it is 'disgraceful' that care homes have had to spend time and money on disciplinary proceedings and redundancies potentially for no reason.

He said: 'We have lost people with years of experience and skills that we won't ever get back and it is highly unlikely these staff members will want to come back into the social care sector after the way they have been treated by Government.'

A senior Government source told The Telegraph that the U-turn in the NHS was made possible because of Omicron  which is much milder than older variants and makes two jabs significantly weaker at stopping transmission.

The NHS currently has around 100,000 vacancies, including 40,000 nurse and 9,000 doctor positions remaining unfilled.

This is equivalent to about seven per cent of the workforce, and will only get worse should all employees be required to get vaccinated.

Reports are already emerging of NHS staff leaving the health service in England, and signing up again in Scotland and Wales where jabs are not compulsory.

The RCN, Royal College of GPs and the Royal College of Midwives previously called on the Government to extend the deadline to prevent a mass exodus in the NHS.

Asked whether she would support scrapping the compulsory vaccination policy entirely, RCN director Patricia Marquis said the union 'absolutely would'.

She told BBC Radio 4: 'We've been calling for it for some time now saying that mandating these vaccines is not the way to go about getting people to have the vaccination.

'So, we absolutely would support the scrapping of the regulations.'

She said dumping mandate would come 'just in time to stop the mass exodus [of staff] that we would have seen had the policy gone forward'.

'The most important issue for us right now is the fact that there are so many nursing vacancies already,' Ms Marquis added.

'It makes no sense to risk losing thousands of registered nurses and health care support workers from both health, and also what's been lost from social care, which actually puts patients at more risk than not having nurses at all.'
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Moscow delivered a written response to U.S. proposals for deescalation as Joe Biden's ambassador to the United Nations claims Russia is poised to move 30,000 more troops to the Belarus-Ukraine border.

'We've seen evidence that Russia intends to expand that presence to more than 30,000 troops near the Belarus-Ukraine border, less than two hours north of Kyiv by early February,' U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Monday.

In light of the movements and threat posed in Eastern Europe, the U.S. on Monday ordered family members of its government employees currently in Belarus to leave the country

The State Department said: 'Due to an increase in unusual and concerning Russian military activity near the border with Ukraine, U.S. citizens located in or considering travel to Belarus should be aware that the situation is unpredictable and there is heightened tension in the region.'

She added: 'If Russia further invades Ukraine, none of us will be able to say we didn't see it coming, and the consequences will be horrific.'

Russian also provided a response to deescalation proposals from the U.S. as the world wait to see if President Vladimir Putin goes against his word and invades Ukraine.

'We can confirm we received a written follow-up from Russia,' a U.S. official told The Washington Post on Monday. 'It would be unproductive to negotiate in public, so we'll leave it up to Russia if they want to discuss their response.'

'We remain fully committed to dialogue to address these issues and will continue to consult closely with our allies and partners, including Ukraine,' the official added.

The source, however, did not provide further details about what was proposed or what Russia said in its response.

The U.S. proposals were delivered by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last Tuesday. Blinken described the U.S. proposal as something that offers Russia 'a serious diplomatic path forward.'

U.S. officials have assured, however, that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allied nations did not bow to Russia's demand that it bar ex-Soviet bloc countries from entering the 30-country military alliance.

White House Press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday: 'Russia has the power. They are the aggressor here. They have the power and ability to de-escalate, to pull their troops back from the border, to not push more troops to Belarus, to take steps to deescalate the situation on the ground.'

Russia accused the U.S. of 'whipping up hysterics' by calling for Monday's UN Security Council meeting to discuss Ukraine, a nod towards their claim that Putin does not intend to invade Ukraine.

The Kremlin also said the West wants to make 'heroes out of people who fought on the side of Hitler' in order to divide the two former Soviet states.

Across his roughly 15-minute remarks Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya issued adamant denials about Moscow's intentions while making blistering accusations about the West's true intentions.

The US called for the 15-nation meeting in New York City, which took place earlier on Monday, as the world tensely watches Putin's aggressive military buildup on Ukraine's border and various intelligence reports indicate an incursion is all but certain.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya accused the US of ginning up 'hysterics' and 'brainwashing' Ukrainians at the heated meeting. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said she was 'disappointed' but not 'surprised' by his comments and claimed Moscow is mobilizing 30,000 more troops to send to the Belarus-Ukraine border

A photograph shows tanks of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces parked in their base near Klugino-Bashkirivka village, in the Kharkiv region on January 31

A Ukrainian serviceman adjusts the strap of his weapon in a trench at a frontline position in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine on Monday, Jan. 31

Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are joining territorial forces to fight alongside 250,000 regular troops to defend their country

At the moment there are roughly 112,000 Russian ground forces on the doorstep of eastern Ukraine and in Crimea, its Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said on Monday, though earlier in the meeting Russia denied having any troops at the border at all.

'And together, with the maritime and aviation component, their number reaches about 130,000,' he added.

Thomas-Greenfield said Moscow's mobilization of troops is the largest seen 'in Europe in decades.'

As it was underway, President Biden released a statement warning of 'swift and severe' consequences if Russia invades Ukraine.

'If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our Allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith,' Biden said. 'If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences.'

After failing to stop the meeting at its outset Nebenzya tore into the US and its Western allies, accusing them of trying to provoke a war between Russia and Ukraine.

'Our Western colleagues are talking the need for de-escalation. However, first and foremost, they themselves are whipping up tensions and rhetoric and are provoking escalation,' Nebenzya said.

'You are almost calling for this, you want it to happen, you're waiting for it to happen. As if you want to make your words become a reality.'

He said Russian troops are 'not actually on the border' and that the buildup is a deployment of forces 'in our own territory.'

Nebenzya also implied the West was lying about the number of troops, which reports indicate exceeds 100,000.

A general view during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the situation between Russia and Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya delivered a 15 minute speech during which he denied Moscow was amassing troops on Ukraine's border and accused the West of trying to divide Russia and Ukraine

'Where did you get the figure of 100,000 troops that are deployed, as you state, on the Russian-Ukrainian border, although that is not the case? We have never cited that figure. We've never confirmed that figure,' he said.

He went as far as to accuse the US of 'brainwashing' Ukrainians.

'They're cultivated with Russophobia and radical thinking, leading to the belief that for Ukraine to have a bright future It mustn't establish relations with its neighbors but rather at any cost, strive to join the EU and NATO,' Nebenzya said.

'They are banning Russian, which is a native language for a significant if not the majority of people in Ukraine.'

He added: 'They are making heroes out of those people who fought on the side of Hitler, who destroyed Jews, Poles, Ukrainians and Russians.'

Nebenzya went so far as to accuse western governments of bringing 'nazis' to power in Ukraine after the country overthrew its pro-Russian government in 2014 in favor of democratically elected officials who wanted a warmer relationship with the rest of Europe.

'If our western colleagues who provoked and supported the 2014 Bloody anti-constitutional bringing to powering key of nationalist, radicals, Russophobes and pure fascists  nazis, rather, if they'd not done this, then we today would be living in a state of good neighborly relations,' he said.

Thomas-Greenfield hit back at Russia, stating she was 'disappointed' but not 'surprised' by her Kremlin colleague's searing remarks.

'I cannot let the false equivalency go unchecked. So I, I feel I must respond. Let me be clear -- there are no plans to weaken Russia, as claimed by our Russian colleague today,' she said.

'On the contrary, we welcome Russia as a responsible member of the international community, but its actions on the border of Ukraine are not responsible.

'The threats of aggression on the border of Ukraine -- yes, on its border -- are provocative. Our reactions to threats on the ground are not provocative.'

Speaking to reporters after the meeting concluded, Biden said he had a 'productive talk last week with President Zelensky and we continue to engage in nonstop diplomacy'

'We continue to urge diplomacy as the best way forward but with Russia continuing its buildup we are ready no matter what happens,' the president added.

The Security Council meeting was contentious from the outset, with the Russian ambassador calling for a vote on whether it should proceed in the first place.

The meeting was contentious from the outset, with Russia calling for a vote to shut it down

Ukraine Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said there are 112,000 Russian troops at Ukraine's border and in Crimea

But the effort failed with only Russia and China voted against it, 10 countries voting for it and Gabon, India and Kenya abstaining.

At the meeting's outset Nebenzya accused the US of trying to 'whip up hysterics' and denounced 'the myth of Russian aggression.'

He added that reports of Russia's military build up in preparation for an attack are 'unfounded accusations.'

Thomas-Greenfield challenged Nebezya's charges, declaring: 'Imagine how uncomfortable you would feel if you had 100,00 troops on your border.'

But Nebezya dismissed Thomas-Greenfield's comments as a 'hodgepodge of accusations' and compared the US's preparations for a possible war in Eastern Europe to former Defense Secretary Colin Powell's infamous 2003 speech to the United Nations that preceded the Iraq war.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Biden administration of putting out misleading information in order to foment further tensions.

'To our dismay, American media have lately been publishing a very large amount of unverified, distorted and deliberately deceitful information about what's happening in Ukraine and around it,' Peskov said according to multiple media reports.

'Hysteria hyped up by Washington is causing hysteria in Ukraine, almost to the point that people are packing their bags for the front. It's a fact. And this is the reverse side, very harmful side of the campaign which Washington is pursuing now.'

Meanwhile the Biden administration is reportedly drawing up 'specific sanctions packages' targeting Russian oligarchs and 'elites' in the Kremlin's inner circle that would be levied if Moscow invades Ukraine, it was revealed on Monday.

On Tuesday, State Secretary Antony Blinken is preparing to have a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

But behind the scenes, US officials are reportedly looking at 'a broad list of individuals' and their families to target with harsh economic penalties if Moscow moves forward, according to the Financial Times.

'Putin's cronies will no longer be able to use their spouses or other family members as proxies to evade sanctions,' senior administration officials told the outlet.

'The individuals we have identified are in or near the inner circles of the Kremlin and play a role in government decision making or are at a minimum complicit in the Kremlin's destabilising behaviour.'

They did not name specific individuals so as not to give the intended targets advance notice, but reportedly chose oligarchs with a significant financial interest in the West.

'Sanctions would cut them off from the international financial system and ensure that they and their family members will no longer be able to enjoy the perks of parking their money in the west and attending elite western universities,' the Biden officials said.

The Biden administration is reportedly looking at 'specific' sanctions packages targeting Vladimir Putin's cronies after President Biden said he wouldn't rule out sanctioning the Russian leader himself

An administration official told CNN that these were considered 'particularly vulnerable targets.'

They said the sanctions being worked out would be 'massive' in scale in order to 'atrophy Russia's ability to pursue its strategic ambitions.'

'The Russian elite should fear the consequences that would befall them should Russia further invade,' the official said.

The Russian elites to be targeted come from 'any sector of the Russian economy as identified by the Secretary of the Treasury' and include some names from a 2018 list of powerful individuals and companies designated by the Trump administration.

The Treasury's 2018 list includes 'seven Russian oligarchs and 12 companies they own or control, 17 senior Russian government officials, and a state-owned Russian weapons trading company and its subsidiary, a Russian bank' designated by the Treasury under the Trump administration,' according to the Department.

An official reportedly said he sanctions are only part of the broad swath of penalties the US is looking at should Russia invade Ukraine.

President Biden said last week he would not rule out sanctioning Putin personally, as US reports indicate an 'imminent' invasion and the United Kingdom's intelligence pointed to an alleged coup plot by the Russians in Ukraine's capital of Kiev.

Ukrainian servicemen stand next to armored personnel carrier (APC) of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces, parked in their base near Klugino-Bashkirivka village, in the Kharkiv region on January 31

Meanwhile international intelligence reports indicate an invasion by Russia could be 'imminent'

At the same time, federal lawmakers in Congress are preparing to act on their own sanctions package.

In a show of bipartisan unity, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez and ranking member Sen. Jim Risch appeared on CNN together Sunday to discuss a two-tiered approach to punishing Russia.

It would likely include measures to levy sanctions over actions Russia has already taken, such as a massive cyberattack against Ukraine's government that Kiev claims Moscow is responsible for.

They're also looking to potentially send more weapons to Ukraine on top of the lethal and defensive aid already sent.

Russia's threatening posture toward the former Soviet state has accelerated the worsening of relations between Moscow and Washington, now at their lowest point since the Cold War.

Monday will mark the highest-profile attempt by the West to deter Russia through diplomacy, as representatives of the most powerful nations in the world gather in New York.

Previous talks held between Russia and the US and its NATO allies in Europe have so far failed to break ground.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who will be at Monday's meeting, told ABC News in a television interview on Sunday: 'We've made clear that we're prepared to address our concerns, Ukrainian concerns and Russian concerns at the diplomatic table, but it cannot be done on the battlefield.'

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday accused Nato of trying to pull Kiev into the alliance, despite Russia massing 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. Moscow wants Nato to rule out Ukraine ever becoming a member as a condition for its withdrawal.

The head of Russia's security council, Nikolai Patrushev, said talk of a Russian invasion was 'completely ridiculous' and claimed: 'We don't want war and we don't need it at all.'

Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are joining territorial forces to fight alongside 250,000 regular troops to defend their country. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said there are 'no plans' to deploy Nato combat troops to Ukraine.

He noted there was 'a difference' between being a full NATO member, with a mutual defense obligation between countries, and a 'strong and highly valued partner' such as Ukraine.

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 US officials told Reuters.

Current and former US 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 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 US lieutenant general now with the Center for European Policy Analysis research institute.
The other driver told investigators that thrown a water bottle at Popper's vehicle while surpassing him

In the video, Popper can be seen waiting for the other car to go past him before firing at his vehicle 11 times

The other driver honked at Popper before tailgating him

The incident started when he cut off a fellow driver on I-95 in the Miami area

Eric Popper, 30, can be seen shooting at another driver in Florida eleven times back in June 2021

Shocking dash camera footage shows the moment a man pulls out his gun and shoots at another driver during a road rage incident on a highway in Miami.

The incident starts when 30-year-old Eric Popper decides to cut off a fellow driver on I-95 in Miami-Dade County, while singing to music playing in his car.

In the video, Popper then looks into his rearview mirror to check on the car, now tailgating him, before he reacts, saying 'Oh, f*** off' after he was honked at.

He continues to monitor the car behind him, before reaching into his Toyota Venza's center armrest and taking out his gun.

The video shows the moments Eric Popper pulled out his gun and shot at the other driver several times while traveling southbound down the highway in what the Florida Highway Patrol called a road rage incident in June of last year

He can then be seen waiting for the other driver, who was allegedly gesturing at him several times, to go past him before firing at his vehicle 11 times.

The other driver was reportedly driving a black Toyota Camry at the time of the incident, which took place on June 21, at around 7am. Both drivers were travelling southbound.

Popper, a civilian fire inspector working for the Miami Beach Fire Department, turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol after quitting his job on July 21.

He was bonded out of jail and faces felony charges including aggressive assault with a firearm that could sentence him up to 15 years in prison, if found guilty. His hearing is set for April.

Popper, a civilian fire inspector working for the Miami Beach Fire Department, turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol after quitting his job on July 21

Eric Popper, 30, worked at the the Miami Beach Fire Department at the time of the incident last year. He was arrested and charged with felony charges including aggressive assault with a firearm

The man's lawyer, Robert Gershman, told local outlets that his client acted wildly after he thought he was being shot at.

'You hear a bang on Mr. Popper's car, akin to a gunshot, which precipitated the whole incident, so in this matter, the audio and video evidence we believe exonerates him,' Gershman told NBC Miami.

'I was just shot at. My car was hit,' Popper can be heard saying on another dashboard camera video.

The other driver involved in the altercation told investigators that he threw a water bottle at Popper's vehicle while passing him.

Both the victim and Popper were pulled over after incident and called 911. Their respective vehicles were damaged by bullets from the gunfire.
Former President Donald Trump suggested for the first time Sunday night that he wanted Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election when the vice president chaired the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote count on January 6, 2021.

Trump pointed to efforts on Capitol Hill to change the Electoral Count Act, including firming up the language to make clear that the vice president is only there to count votes and can't override the will of the voters.

'Actually, what they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away,' Trump claimed. 'Unfortunately, he didn't exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!'

Trump had argued, 'If the Vice President (Mike Pence) had "absolutely no right" to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election?'

Collins, a Maine Republican, is part of a bipartisan group taking a look at making changes to the Electoral Count Act, which dictates how disputes over the vote count are handled.

Former President Donald Trump suggested Sunday night that he wanted Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election when the vice president chaired the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote count on January 6

Trump pointed to efforts on Capitol Hill to change the Electoral Count Act, including firming up the language to make clear that the vice president is only there to count votes and can't override the will of the voters

Former Vice President Mike Pence made clear that he didn't believe he had the power to pick from slates of electors when he chaired the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021 to count the electoral votes for president of the United States

Trump's statement comes after CNN reported that Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other Trump campaign officials oversaw efforts to assemble alternate slates of pro-Trump electors, hoping Pence would choose to count their votes on January 6 instead of the legitimate Electoral College members.

In the run-up to the vote count, Pence sent out a statement saying publicly that he didn't believe he had the power to pick and choose from slates of electors.

The morning of December 14, when electors met in state capitals around the country, Trump adviser Stephen Miller previewed the plan.

'As we speak, today, an alternate slate of electors in the contested states is going to vote and we're going to send those results up to Congress,' Miller said on Fox & Friends that morning.

'This will ensure that all of our legal remedies remain open,' Miller continued. 'That means if we win these cases in the courts, we can direct that these alternate electors be certified.'

On Friday, the January 6 select committee subpoenaed 14 people involved in the scheme to send fake certifications of the electoral vote to the National Archives.

The committee said that people tried to falsely declare Trump the winner in seven swing states, which were won by now President Joe Biden.

George Conway, the anti-Trump lawyer husband of former Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, took to Twitter to mock Trump's understanding of the law

'The Select Committee is seeking 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,' said the committee's chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson. '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 added that the 'existence of these purported alternate-elector votes was used as justification to delay or block the certification of the election during the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021.'

George Conway, the anti-Trump lawyer husband of former Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, took to Twitter to mock Trump's understanding of the law.

Conway said 'The Twelfth Amendment and the Electoral Count Act of 1887 already make it entirely clear that the Vice President merely opens the envelopes.'

'But sometimes we want to make laws even clearer so that even semiliterate psychopaths have a chance of understanding them,' Conway added.
The driver of the Challenger, Gary Dean Robinson, 59, pictured, of North Las Vegas , was also pronounced dead at the scene

A career criminal who blew through a red light at 100mph, killing a family-of-seven, was due in court just two days after the deadly crash.

Robinson, of North Last Vegas, had recently pleaded guilty to five speeding charges in the last 15 months.

He and his passenger Tanaga Ravel Miller, 46, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash also killed a family of seven; Fernando Yeshua Mejia, 5; Adrian Zacarias, 10; Lluvia Daylenn Zacarias, 13; Bryan Axel Zacarias, 15; Gabriel Mejia-Barrera, 23; David Mejia-Barrera, 25; and Jose Zacarias Caldera, 35.

The parents of the children, Erlinda Zacarias and Jesus Mejia Santan, were not in the van and have been left mourning their kids as well as an uncle, and two adult stepbrothers.

The family had just left Craig Ranch Regional Park and were heading to lunch at a buffet when they were hit. The family went out to eat every Saturday and their last photo together was the week before, smiling around a dinner table at a restaurant.

'Thats why they were together,' their mother Erlinda Zacarias told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Monday, saying the crash took 'everything' from them. 'And they died together. Because of negligence, innocent people died who deserved to live, who had a life full of hopes and dreams and goals.'

Robinson has a history of speeding and reckless driving as well as a more violent past.

Last December, Robinson was charged with speeding when he was traveling up to 10mph over the limit, according to court records.

He was scheduled to be in Las Vegas Municipal Court on Monday for sentencing on the speeding ticket after pleading guilty.

His past reveals the life of a career criminal, including charges of assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, drug offenses, battery - and several speeding tickets that resulted in his license having been suspended.

Robinson had an extensive criminal history, according to court records dating to 1998, when he was cited for drug possession and assault.

In 2004, Robinson was busted for selling cocaine to an undercover Las Vegas Metropolitan Police detective.

Court documents show he pleaded guilty to possession, but violated the conditions of his probation and was sent to jail for 30 days in 2007.

Robinson also pleaded guilty to battery in a domestic violence case in 2004.

Four years later, in November 2008, Robinson got into a fight with bailiffs at drug court after Judge Joe Bonaventure ordered him to be sent to jail for two days.

Robinson rushed towards the judge's bench with bailiffs Tazing him three times as he tried to flee the courtroom.

In 2008, Robinson pleaded guilty to having an open container and driving with a revoked or suspended license on the Las Vegas Strip.

And in 2017, he was charged with speeding when he had been going 20mph over the limit.

Seven members of the Zacaria family, including four children and three adults, were killed in a devastating six-car crash in North Las Vegas on Saturday, leaving their parents feeling like they have 'nothing to live for'

Among the victims were Fernando Yeshua Mejia, 5 (left), who was the baby of the family and loved karate, and Adrian Zacarias, 10 (right), who loved cooking his mother homemade meals

Erlinda Zacarias posts a photo of herself with some of her children and her husband Jesus Mejia Santan online. She said negligence killed her children, 'who deserved to live, who had a life full of hopes and dreams and goals'

One of the stepsons of Erlinda Zacarias is shown on her Facebook page. Her stepsons Gabriel Mejia-Barrera, 23, and David Mejia-Barrera, 25, were killed along with four of her young children and her brother, Jose Zacarias Caldera, 35

One of the stepsons of Erlinda Zacarias. David Mejia-Barrera was considered a hard worker and never caused any trouble, while Gabriel Mejia-Barrera was considered reversed and like collecting toys

Meanwhile, relatives are mourning the deaths of the family of seven who were killed.

Bryan Axel, 15, had dreams of being a paramedic, while Adrian loved to cook and draw, and the baby of the family Fernando Yeshua Mejia, five, loved practicing karate.

Fernando had just started in-person classes this year and his mother was often told how smart he was by his teacher.

ROBINSON'S RAP SHEET October 1998: Assault with a deadly weapon (felony) January 1999: Possession of cocaine (felony) February 2002: Disorderly conduct (misdemeanor) January 2004: Sale of cocaine (felony) March 2004: Battery, domestic violence (misdemeanor) June 2005: Drug possession (felony) November 2006: Resisting a public officer, battery, tampering with a vehicle (felony) October 2008: Open container in a vehicle, driving on a suspended/revoked license (misdemeanor) November 2008: Battery on a police officer with substantial bodily harm, battery on a police officer/school employee (felony) May 2017: Speeding, 11-20 mph over speed limit December 2021: Speeding violation, 1-10 mph over speed limit Advertisement

Adrian was in fifth grade and was described as affectionate and kind and loved talking about 'his beautiful family.' He would often offer to cook his mother a homemade meal when she arrived home from work, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Their sister Lluvia was the 'boss' of the house and wanted to go into the medical field to help the elderly. She often kept her siblings in check and made sure the bills were paid.

Bryan was a straight-A student who had dreams of being a paramedic and was popular on social media.

David Mejia-Barrera was considered a hard worker and never caused any trouble, while Gabriel Mejia-Barrera was considered reversed and like collecting toys.

The children would often spend time in the kitchen and living room cooking and watching movies, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Their living room is filled with frame photos of their children when they were little, including a photo of Bryan, Lluvia, Adrian, and Fernando wearing a little pair of angel wings.

'And now they're angels,' Erlinda told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Now the parents are mourning the loss of their children and said they have 'nothing to live for.'

'He and I have to live for each other, because we have nothing to live for. Our world has ended,' Erlinda said.

The Transportation Safety Board is now investigating the crash.

Erlinda wrote in a GoFundMe, which has raised $250,000, that the victims include her four children, two stepchildren and a brother.

'On January 29 at 3pm there was an accident at the intersection of Cheyenne and Commerce in North Las Vegas, speeding was a factor there was 6 cars involved. Out of those 6 cars 9 people lost their lives. I lost all my family, my kids 7 out of those lives lost.

'There are no words to describe my pain and suffering that I will not be able to hug my children again, my brother and 2 stepsons lost their lives also. Me and my husband are in so much pain we are asking you for help with our heart in out hands anything would be helpful thank you,' Erlinda wrote.

Her husband, Pablo Zacarias Ramirez, also confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the four minors in the minivan were his children.

'Out of those lives lost there are no words to describe my pain and suffering,' Erlinda wrote in the online fundraiser, which had already garnered more than $250,000 for the family's funeral expenses as of Tuesday morning.

'I never thought this was going to happen to me,' said Zacarias said to KNTV. 'My family is gone. All of them were together.'

Zacarias said that she spoke with her daughter just moments before the collision.

'She said, 'Mom, I'm on my way to you. I said, 'I'll be waiting here for you.' They never showed up,' she said. 'I start calling their phones  they don't answer.

'I say to everybody: thank you. Because this loss is a big loss, and I don't have no ways to take care of this, but thank you for helping us.'

'Do a service for them. That's all I can do because there's nothing else I can do,' Zacarias said.

Teens Nick Gomez and Erik Ramos brought candles and a teddy bear to the crash site on Sunday afternoon, saying Bryan Zacarias was a friend of theirs.

Zacarias was a sophomore at Rancho High School.

'He knew everybody,' another friend Alexis Lopez said. 'He was cool with everybody.'

'Right now, it's still kind of like, it's not believable,' classmate Mikey Rodriguez said. 'But I know once we're at school tomorrow it's gonna hit, because he's not gonna be there. Right now, I'm still in shock.'

The fence to a nearby vacant lot had been partially destroyed by the crash. A few candles had been placed under a sign across from the intersection as part of a makeshift memorial.

Most of the debris had been cleared from the area, as cars passed through the intersection in both directions.

'I never thought this was going to happen to me,' said Erlinda Zacarias said. 'My family is gone. All of them were together.'

Her husband, Pablo Zacarias Ramirez, left also confirmed that the four minors in the minivan were his children

Pictures of her four children who were killed are seen in her Erlinda Zacarias' home

Pictured: Erlinda Zacarias with her four children - Fernando Yeshua Mejia, 5; Adrian Zacarias, 10; Lluvia Daylenn Zacarias, 13, and Bryan Axel Zacarias, 15

Friends left candles, stuffed animals and flowers at the site of the crash on Sunday

Nick Gomez, left, and Erik Ramos pay respects for a friend who passed away in 'a mass casualty traffic collision' that killed nine people at Cheyenne Avenue and Commerce Street on Sunday

Nick Gomez, left, and Erik Ramos went to the crash site to pay tribute to a friend who was killed

A small number of tributes were left at the scene of the crash in North Las Vegas

The devastating crash occurred when Robinson sped through a red light near the intersection of Commerce Street and Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas at around 3pm on January 29, striking the Zacarias' minivan.

Their Sienna then collided with a white Ford Fusion, driven by a 31-year-old woman who remained in critical condition Sunday night, according to KVVU.

Those three vehicles were then pushed north into the westbound lanes of Cheyenne, where they struck an additional three vehicles, including a tan Chevrolet Malibu, a white Hyundai Tucson, and a white Mercedes Benz SUV.

Fifteen people were involved in the crash, and at least four people sustained injuries.

A Dodge Challenger sped through a red light at 100mph, leading to the six-car crash

Most of the vehicles ended up in a vacant lot at the northeast corner of the intersection. Pictured, a white Hyundai SUV that was involved in the collision

The crash involved a total of six cars, and 15 people. 7 occupants was travelling in the Dodge Challenger, pictured. All succumbed to their injuries

A Dodge Challenger in seen in North Las Vegas on Saturday

. Las Vegas police said the driver and his passenger were among the dead after Saturday's crash and the ages of the other victims ranged from juveniles to middle-aged adults

The wreckage of one of six cars involved in the deadly smash is loaded up onto a tow truck

Authorities get set to tow a vehicle involved a six-car crash at the scene of a fatal crash on West Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas

Rancho High School classmates of a victim of 'a mass casualty traffic collision' that killed nine people the day before visit the scene to pay respects on Sunday

Some of the vehicles struck were pushed into a vacant lot on the intersection between Commerce Avenue and Cheyenne Street

Tanaga Ravel Miller, 46, of North Las Vegas, seen above in in both pictures died while riding in a Dodge Challenger driven by Gary Dean Robinson, 59,

Friends and family grieve for Tanaga Ravel Miller, 46, of North Las Vegas, who died while riding in a Dodge Challenger driven by Gary Dean Robinson, 59, of North Las Vegas

On Sunday, friends and family members gathered at a vacant lot at the intersection where many of the vehicles were pushed in the deadly crash to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.

Teenagers Nick Gomes and Erik Ramos brought candles and a teddy bear to the crash site on Sunday afternoon saying Bryan was a friend, as classmates at Rancho High School described him to the Review-Journal as a 'funny, outgoing person' who was 'scandalous' but in a good way.

'He knew everybody,' Alexis Lopez said. 'He was cool with everybody.'

North Las Vegas Police spokesman Alexander Cuevas and Councilwoman Pamela Goynes-Brown pleaded with the community to be more careful and pay attention to speed limits to avoid senseless loss of lives

The Governor of Nevada, Steve Sisolak tweeted: 'Our hearts ache for the families & loved ones of the 9 people killed in this senseless act - Kathy & I will be keeping them in our hearts & prayers during this very difficult time.'

North Las Vegas Police are now calling the crash the deadliest wreck on valley roads in recent history.

'We have not seen a mass casualty traffic collision like this before,' North Las Vegas Police spokesman Alexander Cuevas said at a news briefing at the weekend.

'Please make this a safer community by slowing down. Pay attention to speed limits,' he added.

'A heartfelt condolences to the families and everyone affected by this horrific incident,' acting North Las Vegas Police Chief Jacqueline Gravatt said. 'It affects us as a community, as a valley and as a nation as a whole.'

North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee addressed reporters outside City Hall: 'We had an unprecedented loss of life yesterday in our community,' he said. 'We really care when something happens in the community, and this pulls the heart right out of it.'

The Governor of Nevada, Steve Sisolak tweeted: 'Our hearts ache for the families & loved ones of the 9 people killed in this senseless act - Kathy & I will be keeping them in our hearts & prayers during this very difficult time.'

North Las Vegas Councilwoman Pamela Goynes-Brown also said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are experiencing a tremendous and unnecessary loss due to a careless and senseless act.'

'At the end of the day, this was 100 percent avoidable and preventable,' said Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II who visited the crash scene.

'That is unacceptable. That's an unreasonable expectation for us to be able to go out and be about our business and not make it home. It could've been anybody. It could've been me, myself, because I actually don't live too far from here. It's very frustrating.'

Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II who visited the crash scene said the accident was '100 percent avoidable'

'My thoughts are with the families & loved ones of the nine people killed in this senseless and preventable tragedy,' Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen wrote. 'I urge all drivers to please slow down and be aware of their surroundings. We all have a responsibility to be safe and cautious on the roads.'

'My heart goes out to the families of the nine victims of this tragic crash' Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto wrote. 'Paul and I are thinking of you. Please slow down on the roads and help us keep our community safe.'

'Such a horrible, preventable accident,' Attorney General Aaron Ford wrote. 'Praying for the families of those lost. Slow down, everyone. Please.'

Early indications showed that the traffic light had been on red for some time when Robinson sped through.

Clark County Office of Traffic Safety Director Andrew Bennett noted that there were no other traffic lights in the vicinity for about half a mile.

At this time, it is not suspected that the driver of the Dodge was impaired from drugs or alcohol, according to police.

Robinson had an extensive criminal history dating back to 1998 out of Las Vegas including assault with a deadly weapon, possession of cocaine, disorderly conduct and speeding.

North Las Vegas Police is seen investigating the deadly multi-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon

The devastating crash comes amid an uptick in traffic accidents in Sin City.

Last year, Nevada reported more than 380 fatalities caused by traffic accidents, making it the deadliest year on the state's roads in 14 years.

And in Clark County, the Review-Journal reports, there was a year-on-year increase of 22 percent, with 235 deaths. About 8 percent of all cases investigated by the county coroner's office were from fatal crashes.

'So many people have moved here that our roads are crowded and sadly the drivers are being reckless and irresponsible,' Dina Lynn, who posted a tribute to the Zacarias family online, told DailyMail.com.

'We all need to be aware,' she said. 'I myself am always looking out for others as I do live here in my community and I don't take life for granted.

'It's my hope that others will remember that their choices affect us all including driving irresponsibly.'

Saturday's crash is now being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board as well as local authorities.
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This king of the jungle appears to be having a bad hair day after waking up to a ruffled royal mane.

Looking as though he had just got out of bed, this lion was pictured with his wayward lustrous locks at Glen Garriff Conservation in Harrismith, South Africa.

Photographed by Simon Needham, who was patiently waiting for the perfect moment as the conservation's largest male woke up from a cat nap.

The lion, called Tonga, can be seen looking slightly less than regal in the pictures Simon patiently waited for.

Mr Needham, who runs an Instagram page called @human.kind.photography, said: 'I shoot for many wildlife charities, this image was shot for GG Conservation in South Africa to help them promote themselves for fundraisers.

'I had to wait for Tonga to wake up from his nap but when he did he looked completely out of it so I had to capture that moment. I had to laugh, he looked dazed and confused for a second before he shook himself off.

Looking as though he had just got out of bed, this lion, called Tonga was pictured with his wayward lustrous locks at Glen Garriff Conservation in Harrismith, South Africa

Photographed by Simon Needham, who was patiently waiting for the perfect moment as the conservation's largest male woke up from a cat nap

Photographer Simon said: 'I shoot for many wildlife charities, this image was shot for GG Conservation in South Africa to help them promote themselves for fundraisers'

Simon Needham, behind the photographs, said: 'People love to see lions but when it's one that is in need of a serious haircut it certainly draws loving empathy and a giggle from people'

Researchers have found that darker manes are better at attracting females in the lion kingdom (file photo)
Hundreds of ISIS fighters are missing following a week-long attack on the largest prison in Syria holding captured jihadis.

Kurdish-led forces operating al-Sina prison in Al-Hasakah, a city in northeast Syria, said today that 400 militants are unaccounted for after they regained control of the jail on January 26 following almost a week of fighting.

Another 374 ISIS fighters were killed in the jail-break, the Syrian Defense Forces claimed, adding that 40 of their own fighters died along with 77 prison staff.

The attack marks the largest assault that ISIS has mounted since the defeat of its 'caliphate' in 2019, involving hundreds of fighters, explosive-laden cars and extensive planning that the SDF believes was carried out overseas.

Before the attack, al-Sina prison was though to house around 3,500 prisoners including captured male fighters and 800 young boys thought to have links to the group - dubbed 'Cubs of the Caliphate'.

A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces militia said that six days of fighting had ended with the group taking 'entire control' of the makeshift Ghwayran prison in the city of Hasakeh, Syria

The brazen prison break efforts by the Islamic State left more than 180 dead in what was described as the jihadists' most high-profile military operation in three years. Pictured: SDF troops deploy around Ghwayran prison (above) in Hasakeh, Syria

The attack on al-Sina began around 7pm on January 20 when a car bomb was detonated at the main gates of the jail, the SDF said today in its first detailed report on the fighting.

Jihadist fighters and suicide bombers then streamed into the prison, fighting with SDF guards and breaching internal walls in an attempt to free the prisoners.

At the same time, prisoners who appeared to have been tipped off about the timing and date of the attack launched their own assault on guards - taking some hostage and killing others, the SDF said.

ISIS fighters also drove cars full of weapons up to the prison, so that any fighters who escaped could arm themselves and continue the battle.

The jihadists had also dug tunnels in buildings surrounding the prison, an SDF press release said, to help assist in the escape plot.

Several buildings around the jail - which is actually a series of converted school buildings - were also captured by ISIS, including part of a university.

ISIS's plan was to liberate the jail, then continue to a wider attack on the surrounding neighbourhoods in order to capture government and military outposts, the SDF said.

But a force of some 10,000 SDF fighters were deployed to stop them - according to analysts at Washington's Middle East Institute - along with American and British special forces.

Members of the Syrian Defence Force militia (pictured above) began storming the prison on Monday and suffocated all supplies of food and water into the facility for two days

The SDF were aided by US troops and air support in the Syrian city. Pictured: US soldiers gather just outside the prison on January 24

They surrounded the prison and nearby neighbourhoods, fighting building-to-building for six days before declaring the area completely free of ISIS fighters.

All ISIS prisoners remaining at the jail have since been moved to a more-secure site to prevent future jail breaks, the SDF added.

As the dust settles following the attack, the US urged allied countries to repatriate citizens suspected of having links to ISIS from Syria, rather than leave them languishing in jails in the Middle East.

Around 12,000 suspected ISIS militants are still in jail in Syria, though it is not clear exactly how many of those are foreign citizens.

Another 65,000 family members associated with those fighters are also stuck in internment camps, many looking for a way to get back to countries whose governments have largely disowned them.

Washington called on its partners 'to improve the secure and humane detention of ISIS fighters, support rehabilitation initiatives, and urgently repatriate their nationals and other detainees remaining in northeast Syria.'

Senior IS leaders were captured or killed during the fighting, State Department spokesman Ned Price said today, praising the SDF 'for their heroic and effective response to the sustained ISIS attack.'

The Ghwayran prison in the city of Hasakeh, Syria was understood to hold about 3,500 IS inmates. Pictured: Inmates inside the prison in October 2019

Most nations have been reluctant to repatriate their IS suspects from northeast Syria, preferring to leave them in the custody of Kurdish authorities.

But the Kurdish administration has long warned it does not have the capacity to hold, let alone put on trial, all the IS fighters captured in years of operations.

Authorities say more than 50 nationalities are represented in Kurdish-run prisons holding more than 12,000 IS suspects.

The Kurdish administration's foreign policy chief Abdulkarim Omar said it was up to the international community to put foreign jihadists on trial or repatriate them.

The IS threat is 'like a fireball, it gets more dangerous and complicated with time,' he told AFP.

The self-declared IS caliphate, established in 2014, once straddled large parts of Iraq and Syria, a country wracked by civil war since 2011.

After five years of military operations conducted by local and international forces, IS' last rump was eventually flushed out on the banks of the Euphrates in eastern Syria in March 2019.
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A family of five, including a one-year-old baby, have been killed after after their Brazilian home was crushed in a mudslide.

Ricardo dos Santos, 40; his wife, Tatiane, and their children Richard, 12; Nicole, 10, and Tayane, aged one, were found by rescue teams at their home in the southern Brazilian city of Varzea Paulista.

The family, who all shared one bedroom, were killed when heavy rains caused a landslide on the hill above them at around 6am Sunday.

Tatiane appears to have died with baby Tayane still in her arms.

Neighbors describe the horrifying moment they saw the mudslide barreling towards the dos Santos house with no time to warn them.

'It was around 6 am. I had woken up, when out of nowhere the ravine descended from top to bottom. It was all very fast,' Reinaldo Pereira, 42, told Brazilian news outlet G1. 'There wasn't even time to scream. Many residents saw it and didn't know what to do for my friend.'

The dos Santos family had lived in the home for about six years.

'I've known Ricardo for over 30 years,' Pereira said. 'We grew up together. I've lived in this neighborhood for 39 years. I was born here. I've never seen that happen. A tragedy.'

Photos show part of the single-story home disappearing under the mud.

About 40 members of the Fire Department, along with the Sao Paulo Civil Defense and military police, dug for around eight hours before they could finally retrieve the bodies later later on Sunday, hampered by the non-stop rain.

Tatiane dos Santos (second from left) and her husband Ricardo dos Santos (second from right) were found dead inside their bedroom with their children Richard dos Santos (left), Tayane (middle) and Nicole dos Santos (right) after a landslide trapped them inside their residence in the southern Brazilian city of Varzea Paulista on Sunday

Authorities were able to locate the bodies of five family members in the bedroom of a house in Varzea Paulista, Brazil, on Sunday morning after the home was crushed by a landslide. Heavy rains since Friday produced landslides and flooding that killed 19 people in the southern state of Sao Paulo

Local officials said that half of the entire average rainfall for January, about four inches, fell in the space of 24 hours over the weekend, causing flooding and deadly landslides.

In all, Sao Paulo state authorities said 19 people, including seven children, were killed as a result of the extreme weather.

Neighbors of the dos Santos family have since been evacuated from their homes after Civil Defense and Geological Institute engineers found their homes were vulnerable to landslides.

Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria flew over the flooded areas on Sunday and said he had authorized 15 million Real ($2.79 million) of emergency aid for the impacted cities.

Firefighters search for people in the rubble of a residential area after heavy rains triggered a landslide in Franco da Rocha, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, on Monday

Firefighters and residents search for victims near houses destroyed by a landslide after heavy rains in the Sao Paulo municipality of Franco da Rocha on Sunday

The federal government said in a statement from the Ministry of Regional Development that it is monitoring the situation.

The hardest-hit municipalities around greater Sao Paulo included Aruja, Francisco Morato, Embu das Artes and Franco da Rocha.

The storms also caused damages upstate in Varzea Paulista, Campo Limpo Paulista, Jau, Capivari, Montemor and Rafard, state officials said. At least 500 families were left homeless.

Since December, heavy rains have triggered deadly floods in northeast Brazil, threatened to delay harvests and briefly forced the suspension of mining operations in the state of Minas Gerais.

A firefighter walks down stairs in a narrow pedestrian street between homes during a search for people in the rubble of a residential area after heavy rain triggered a landslide in the Sao Paulo city of Franco da Roch
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A son today landed 27million of his Rolls-Royce-driving property tycoon father's 100m fortune after winning a bitter court battle against his 'ruthless' sister.

Kevin Reeves built up vast personal wealth despite being illiterate, after using his business nous to rise from humble beginnings as an orphan who quit school aged 12.

He had four children, but his final will left 80 per cent of his millions to his Toni and Guy-trained hairdresser daughter, Louise, 35, when he died aged 71 in 2019.

His death sparked a 'bitter feud' after his second son, Bill Reeves, 47, claimed that Louise had bullied their father to change his will and leave him almost nothing.

He claimed 'Jekyll and Hyde' Louise - who he said 'likes money' and is drawn to 'flash things' - was behind their father's 'inexplicable' decision to almost completely cut him out.

He told London's High Court he enjoyed a great relationship, even offering to donate a lung when he was ill, meaning there was no reason why Kevin should leave him with so little in his last will made in 2014.

Today, a top judge handed Bill victory after finding that 'very materialistic' Louise probably 'engineered' the will and had not proved that 'illiterate' Kevin knew and approved of its contents.

Kevin Reeves built up vast personal wealth despite being illiterate, after using his business nous to rise from humble beginnings as an orphan who quit school aged 12

He had four children, but his final will left 80 per cent of his millions to his Toni and Guy-trained hairdresser daughter, Louise, 35, (pictured) when he died aged 71 in 2019

It means Bill will now scoop about 27m of his father's fortune, left to him under a previous 2012 will.

Mr Justice Michael Green rejected the claim that Louise had bullied her father, but said she had 'pulled the wool over his eyes' so he did not know what was in the will.

'I believe that Louise is a risk taker and she can be manipulative. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it,' he said.

'I believe that she was prepared to take the risk, because the prize was so great, of being found out by the deceased in relation to the 2014 will and she would have taken the consequences.'

The court heard how Kevin Reeves created a vast property investment business around Southampton.

Despite beginning with 'no privileges or advantages,' he made himself rich through 'his own ingenuity, hard work and sheer force of character,' said Louise's barrister Thomas Dumont QC.

He had four children - Louise and Bill, their estranged elder brother Mark, and half-sister Lisa Murray, who did not know her father until she was in her 20s.

In a will in 2012, Kevin planned to give 10 per cent shares of his fortune to Mark's two kids, Ryan and Ria, with the remaining 80 per cent split equally between Bill, Louise and Lisa.

But in 2014, he signed a new will, leaving Bill only about 200,000 worth of personal effects, with the rest split between his daughters, with Louise getting 80 per cent and Lisa 20 per cent.

It meant Louise would walk away with a vast personal fortune totaling up to 80m - as well as land and her father's beloved Rolls Royce Phantom.

In court during a trial of the case in November, Bill, backed by Mark's son Ryan, 24, challenged the validity of the 2014 will, with Louise and Lisa seeking to uphold it.

Bill's barrister Constance McDonnell QC argued that Louise had been 'dominant' over their father with whom she was living at the time - sometimes 'flying into rages' - and ultimately he had been worn down, given in to her and left her the 80m.

It made no sense for Kevin - for whom 'blood was thicker than water' - to change his will so drastically to cut out Bill, with whom he was so close that he had moved into an annexe next to Bill's 2.5m home in the New Forest, she said.

'It is submitted that Louise had a financial motivation for influencing her father to change his will,' she told the judge. 'Quite simply, she enjoys wealth and the trappings of wealth and power.'

Mr Justice Michael Green rejected the claim that Louise had bullied her father (pictured), but said she had 'pulled the wool over his eyes' so he did not know what was in the will

Accusing her of exercising 'undue influence' over her father, Ms McDonnell said Louise had shown herself in the witness box to be a 'capable manipulator' with a 'ruthless streak.'

'She tried, too hard, to portray a sickly-sweet relationship with her father,' said the QC.

She claimed that Louise could not prove her father's 'knowledge and approval' of the 2014 will, which so drastically changed where his fortune went after he died.

If he had even tried to read the document after it was prepared, he would have failed, since he could 'barely read.'

His illiteracy was shown in the fact he had spelled his other daughter Lisa's name incorrectly in three different ways on one document, she claimed.

He couldn't spell his own address and struggled even to copy letters and words from printed texts, she told the judge.

Ruling on the case today, Mr Justice Green said there had been no allegation of 'fraud' and rejected Bill's claim that Louise had 'unduly influenced' their father into making the will.

But despite being the main beneficiary, she had been involved in almost all of his solicitor Daniel Curnock's dealings with Kevin and was entrusted to confirm to him that her father approved of its contents once drawn up.

'I am not satisfied that Louise has established that the deceased did so radically change his mind about Bill, Ryan and Ria, so as to lead him to cut them out of his will,' he said.

'Nor was there any explanation for why he would want to reduce Lisa's share from 26.67% to 20%.

Kevin Reeves: From orphan to 100m property mogul Kevin Reeves had a tough start to life - with the court hearing how he was left as an orphan to a convent before leaving school at 12 with limited literacy skills. But through his 'ingenuity and hard work', he was able to raise up from these humble beginnings to build a 100million property empire based around Southampton. He was described in court as having a 'tough exterior', which made him a famously tough negotiator. But he was also a devoted family man, relatives said. Mr Reeves made the most of his fortune to enjoy a luxury lifestyle, owning a fleet of cars including a Rolls Royce Phantom and going on holidays to California and Las Vegas. Advertisement

'Furthermore, I believe that if there had been such a dramatic change of mind by the deceased, that it would have appeared quite differently in a contemporaneous attendance note.'

Kevin's solicitor had a duty to confirm that he really did want to change his will so drastically, he continued.

'The fact that all the arrangements for and dealings with the deceased were through Louise, except for the 11 December 2013 meeting, should have meant that Mr Curnock got specific confirmation from the deceased that those were his true instructions.'

Louise had described it as a 'big call' for her father to leave Bill out of the will, but said Kevin had told her Bill was already very well-off and that he had not been getting on with him.

'I do not accept her evidence on this,' said the judge.

'She knew full well what was in her father's will and she likely engineered it so that she would get the bulk of his estate.

'She had a good relationship with Bill at the time and indeed throughout until this dispute arose, and if this was a decision made by her father on his own, which she found out about shortly after the will was executed, she would have been likely to discuss it with Bill, particularly if she believed, as she said she did, that the deceased had told Bill.

'But there was no such discussion and that lends weight to the view that Louise knew that it had to be kept quiet.

'If Louise orchestrated the preparation and execution of the 2014 will in her favour, she must have calculated that the risk of the deceased actually being able to read the 2014 will for himself to be very small.

'She would have known that the deceased would have relied on her and Mr Curnock faithfully to record his testamentary instructions in the 2014 will.

'That is why it was so important for her to have stated in her email of 20 December 2013 to Mr Curnock that 'Dad has browsed over drafts and they seem fine'.

'That is the only record of the deceased having read the draft 2014 will and it would indicate to Mr Curnock both that the deceased could read and that he was happy with the draft will.

'Mr Curnock should obviously not have accepted Louise's word on that.

'If it is the case that the deceased could not have read the 2014 will for himself, then Louise's email was deliberately false and may have misled Mr Curnock into thinking that the deceased was able to and did read the draft will.'

He rejected the claim of undue influence against Louise, but concluded: 'I have come to the conclusion that Louise has not proved that the deceased knew and approved the contents of the 2014 will, despite being of sound mind and the will having been duly executed.'

Kevin's estate will be divided under the terms of the 2012 will, with Ryan and Ria getting 10 per cent each and Bill, Louise and Lisa sharing the rest equally.
The nation's largest police union called out White House press secretary Jen Psaki for 'belittling Americans' concerns' after she said media outlets who run segments on 'soft-on-crime policies' are living in an 'alternate universe.

'I think it's wrong - very wrong - for Ms. Psaki to suggest that violent crime in our country is of no concern or to just laugh it off,' National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Patrick Yoes said in a statement.

Psaki was speaking about a Fox News segment during an appearance on the Pod Save America podcast last week when she questioned what 'soft-on-crime consequence' even means and insisted Americans care 'more about whats happening in their lives than whats necessarily happening in every cable news chyron'.

She laughed off concerns despite a 510 percent nationwide spike in carjackings over the last year, 28 police officers being shot in January and widespread criticism of Democratic DAs including New York's Alvin Bragg who are going softer on criminals.

She said that while CNN and MSNBC were focused on Ukraine-Russia tensions, 'On Fox is Jeanine Pirro talking about soft-on-crime consequences, I mean, what does that even mean?'

'There's an alternate universe on some coverage,' Psaki said. 'What's scary about it is a lot of people watch that. They think that the president isn't doing anything to address people's safety in New York and that couldn't be further from the truth.'

Psaki then seemed to imply Americans care more about 'what's happening in their lives' than crime spikes.

'People care more about whats happening in their lives than whats necessarily happening in every cable news chyron every day,' she said.

'She may feel safe in the White House, one of the most protected buildings in the United States, but not everyone feels safe in their workplace. The world we find ourselves in is dangerous and increasingly more so,' Yoes continued.

The four hosts of the podcast all served as former Obama aides and Psaki served as Obama's deputy press secretary and deputy communications director.

At least 16 major cities across America broke a record for homicides in 2021.

Meanwhile, 28 police officers across the nation were shot in the month of January, compared to 17 in January 2020 and January 2021.

'There's an alternate universe on some coverage,' Psaki said. 'What's scary about it is a lot of people watch that. They think that the president isn't doing anything to address people's safety in New York and that couldn't be further from the truth,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said

A woman was pushed to her death at the Times Square Subway station at 9:40 AM on Jan. 15

A New York City police officer on the scene of a suspected carjacking on Broadway north of Times Square in New York on Jan. 12

Yoes said that much of the crime spike could be blamed on 'agenda-driven prosecutors who have gone rogue.'

'Under their leadership, which has been abhorrent in many cases, many violent offenders don't stay in jail - they're back on the streets and free to commit more crimes.'

Rep. Andy Biggs said on Twitter Psaki's remarks were 'completely out of touch.'

'It means because of Democratic policies like bail reform and defunding the police, there has been a record spike in murders,' said Sen. Tom Cotton, quoting a clip the press secretary's comments.

Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller called the clip 'appalling.'

'A truly appalling video. Psaki laughingly mocks those concerned over soft-on-crime consequences, as living in an alternate universe. What does that even mean? Psaki laments. Perhaps she should start by asking the NYPD heroes who lined 5th Avenue to honor their slain comrade.'

The House GOP also jumped on Psaki's remarks.

'As violent crime continues to surge across America, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mocks Americans discussing the consequences of Democrats'soft-on-crime policies.'

'What does that even mean? - Psaki said while holding back laughter,' the House Republicans wrote on Twitter.

Asked about the comments in her daily briefing Monday, Psaki said: 'What I was speaking to was a chyron on Fox News, since you raised it ,that suggested this administration is soft on crime with no basis.'

'In the American Rescue Plan there was additional funding to support local cops programs, something that every single Republican voted against,' she said. 'President Biden has proposed a significant increase in local cops programs in his budget more than the prior president,' Psaki continued.

'Thats a fact. So if those facts are uncomfortable Im sorry for people who feel they need to be critical, but the president has been a longtime advocate of addressing crime, hes never been for defunding the police. Our Department of Justice has increased funding, has put in place support for strike forces.'

President Biden is traveling to New York City to meet with Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday to discuss gun crime.

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.

The visit comes after the recent fatal shooting of two police officers. On a snowy Friday morning in New York thousands of officers lined Fifth Avenue for the funeral of Officer Jason Rivera, and even Gov. Kathy Hochul came down from Albany to attend. Sen. Chuck Schumer also made an appearance and Adams gave a eulogy.

Rivera's widow Dominique went after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in her eulogy, telling the congregation: '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 he's watching you speak through me right now.

'I'm sure all of our blue family is tired, too. But I promise, we promise, that your death won't be in vain.'

Bragg, on taking office, said offenses like marijuana misdemeanors, prostitution, resisting arrest and fare dodging will no longer be prosecuted.

Bragg instructed prosecutors to stop seeking prison sentences for crimes except for homicides, assaults resulting in serious injury, domestic violence felonies, sex offenses, public corruption, and 'major economic crimes'.

He instructed prosecutors to downgrade felonies to misdemeanors in certain cases. For instance, a suspect who would have been charged with armed robbery of a store would instead be charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, if no one was seriously injured and there was no 'genuine risk of physical harm.'

The directive comes despite New York City seeing a surge in violent crime.

Aside from the same list of offenses, Bragg's prosecutors have also been told not to seek bail requirements for suspects awaiting trial.

A memo from Bragg also outlines a number of circumstances in which charges should be downgraded, including certain cases of armed robbery and drug dealing.

Days after the two officers were shot, Adams announced a plan to stem gun violence that includes stepping up efforts to seize illegal guns.

The mayor also wants the police department to use facial recognition and other technology to identify people carrying weapons, expand cash rewards for tipsters who share information on gun-related crimes and for the city to help businesses pay to install surveillance cameras.

Meanwhile, major cities across the US have observed carjackings spike by up to 510 per cent in a 'disturbing' trend some are attributing to lax punishment and a shift in driving habits.

In Washington, D.C., where Psaki commutes to work every day, there was a 153% increase in carjackings in 2020 from the previous year, and in 2021 another 18% increase after that.

In Chicago, 1,849 carjackings were reported last year - a 510 per cent increase from the 303 vehicular hijackings in 2014, according to city data. Last year's figure represents a 30 per cent increase from the 1,413 cases reported in 2020.

Wilbert Mora, 27, (right) died on Tuesday - four days after the attack. His partner Jason Rivera, 22 (left) was killed in the shooting

A naked man in the midst of a violent rampage in a Harlem subway station in New York City

Robbery in New York City has spiked by about 33% in the week ending on January 23, the NYPDs most recent data, with 944 incidents as compared to the 709 incidents reported in same duration last year

Data from the Public Policy Institute of California showed an increase in property and violent crime numbers from 2020 to 2021, as well as an increase in homicides

The end of 2021 saw a drop in crime rate in an otherwise violent year with record high murders

New Yorks new DA unveils revised charges for crimes including armed robbery and drug dealing Among other woke proposals from Bragg's memo, the DA recommended: Robbers wielding guns or other deadly weapons to steal from stores and businesses will be prosecuted only for petty larceny - a misdemeanor - provided no victims were injured and there is no 'genuine risk of physical harm.' Armed robbery is a class B felony, usually punishable by up to 25 years in jail. Convicts who are caught with weapons other than guns will have their charges downgraded to misdemeanors, as long as they are not also charged with more serious offenses. The felony would normally see crooks jailed for seven years. Burglars who loot residential storage areas, parts of homes that are not 'accessible to a living area' and businesses located in mixed-use buildings, will be prosecuted for a minor class D felony, where they would normally face class B and class C charges punishable by up to 25 and 15 years in prison respectively. Drug dealers suspected of 'acting as a low-level agent of a seller' will only be charged with misdemeanor possession. Advertisement

City Alderman Ray Lopez weighed in on the matter, telling CNN: 'It's like the perfect storm, where all these soft on crime policies have come to a head during this pandemic.'

Meantime, New York City has seen carjacking rising by more than 350 per cent in the past three years, to 510 in 2021. Comparatively, there were 328 cases in 2020, 132 in 2019, and 112 cases in 2018, CNN reported.

Two people were pushed onto the subway tracks in New York last month in unprovoked attacks. One died as she collided with an oncoming train and the other had non-fatal injuries.

Actor Michael Rapaport captured a viral incident last week of a sticky-fingered New York resident loading up a bag of goods at Rite Aid and casually walking out.

The Upper East Side pharmacy will be closing on February 15, and 63 other locations will close in the coming months with thefts a major reason, the pharmacy chain announced in late December.

'He's walking down the street like s**t is Gucci, he looked me in the face like ''what's good.'' I was watching him the whole time! My man just went Christmas shopping in January.'

The rampant thefts follows a trend in started in crime-ridden San Francisco where thieves last year were often seen simply waltzing past security guards to sell stolen items right outside the doors of Walgreens pharmacies.

The national chain has closed 17 of its 70 San Francisco locations in the past two years because of the shelf raiders, who have swiped everything not behind lock and key. Thefts in the chain's 53 remaining stores are five times the average for their stores elsewhere in the country, according to company officials.
Former House lawmaker and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard unleashed on President Joe Biden on Monday over his promise to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court.

The Hawaiian military veteran accused Biden of playing 'identity politics' with his pledge to seat the first black female justice -- and said he did the same thing when picking Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate.

'Biden chose Harris as his VP because of the color of her skin and sex -- not qualification. She's been a disaster. Now he promises to choose Supreme Court nominee on the same criteria,' Gabbard wrote on Twitter.

She added, 'Identity politics is destroying our country.'

Biden is eyeing a list of potential candidates to replace retiring liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, who announced he'd step down last week after nearly three decades on the high court.

He's using the 83-year-old's departure to fulfill a campaign promise of appointing a black woman to the bench, prompting swift backlash from Republicans who are concerned the president is putting race and gender ahead of picking the most qualified nominee.

Gabbard took aim at Harris on Twitter on Monday morning while also accusing the Biden administration of 'destroying' the country with identity politics

But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki at her Monday news briefing compared Biden's pledge to Ronald Reagan promising to and then appointing the first female justice.

'There was no such complaint from the voices on the right who are speaking out now,' Psaki said, adding: 'but there's no question in his mind that there is a wealth of qualified, talented black women to choose from.'

She said Biden would be meeting with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin and ranking member Senator Chuck Grassley at the White House on Tuesday to get their advice on a potential pick.

Some of his top candidates reportedly include: DC Circuit Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who Biden elevated to her post last year; district Judge J. Michelle Childs, a federal official in South Carolina who has strong bipartisan support from GOP Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn, both of whom hail from her state; and Judge Leondra Kruger, an associate justice on California's Supreme Court who twice turned down the position of Solicitor General.

Also on Monday, Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz claimed Harris could be a likely nominee -- because, he said, Biden 'can't stand her.'

Both Gabbard and Harris had launched unsuccessful bids for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination

Meanwhile Ted Cruz mocked Harris by saying she could be Biden's Supreme Court nominee because he 'can't stand' to have her in the White House

Biden promised to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court if he got the opportunity, which he was given with Justice Stephen Breyer's retirement

'One of the virtues of naming her to the court is they get to get her out of the White House and um -- out of, look, the Democratic party is very that she is the presumed successor to Joe Biden, because her political negatives are so strong,' Cruz said on his podcast, the Verdict with Ted Cruz.

Late last week Republican Senator Roger Wicker heckled Biden's future nominee as an 'affirmative action' hire during an interview.

Trump administration UN Ambassador Nikki Haley posted a January 26 tweet stating 'Would be nice if Pres Biden chose a Supreme Court nominee who was best qualified without a race/gender litmus test.'

And on Sunday, GOP Senator Susan Collins told ABC's This Week that she'd be happy to see a black woman on the court but that Biden was 'politicizing' the judicial nomination process.

'I would welcome the appointment of a Black female to the court. I believe that diversity benefits the Supreme Court. But the way that the president has handled this nomination has been clumsy at best. It adds to the further perception that the court is a political institution like Congress when it is not supposed to be,' Collins said.

Meanwhile, a new poll shows that more than three quarters of Americans would prefer Biden pick the best person for the job rather than fulfilling a campaign promise.

An ABC News/Ipsos survey released Sunday shows 76 percent of respondents preferring Biden 'consider all possible nominees' compared to just 23 percent who said they want him to 'consider only nominees who are Black women, as he has pledged to do.'

Biden's promise even failed to gain much traction among Democrat voters, 54 percent of whom said they wanted the president to find the best person for the role regardless of race. The number is even smaller among nonwhite voters, at 28 percent.

But one unlikely ally the president has is Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who said even his party was making a 'real effort' to find more women and minorities for key spots.

'Put me in the camp of making sure the court and other institutions look like America. You know, we make a real effort as Republicans to recruit women and people of color to make the party look more like America. Affirmative action is picking somebody not as well qualified for past wrongs,' Graham said on CBS News this Sunday.
A 40-year-old man has been charged with killing his mother, 61, who was a pastor with a 'beautiful voice' as her Brooklyn church expressed their grief for the 'angel'.

Tracey Sydnor, the executive pastor of Upper Room Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, was on Saturday stabbed at least 15 times, with wounds to her neck, ear and hands, by her son Kenji Francis.

Francis has been charged with murder and unlawful activity-dangerous weapon, authorities confirmed on Monday.

Tracey Sydnor, pictured in a tribute post on Facebook, was on Saturday stabbed at least 15 times, with wounds to her neck, ear and hands, by her son Kenji Francis. Heartfelt tributes and photographs have flooded social media since her death

Speaking to the New York Daily News, a police source on Saturday said: 'It seems like he just snapped.'

He has no history with mental illness and has no prior arrests.

They added that a knife, thought to have been the murder weapons, was recovered from a bedroom in Sydnor's Brooklyn home on Wyona Street.

The pastor was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital, but passed away, and Francis was taken into custody at the house.

In a tribute post to the late-pastor, Yvonne Chambers wrote of Sydnor's 'love for God' on Facebook.

She said: 'I had no idea when we spoke Tuesday evening and decided to cancel our trip to Albany, Georgia that would be our last conversation. I am glad that we ended with I love you cuz. You were the consummate lady.

'You didn't hide your love for God. I am grateful for our conversations around how you knew you were called to the ministry.

Sydnor, pictured in another heartfelt post, had only been the executive pastor of the congregation for two full months, after being appointed in November

'I being tone deaf envied in a good way your beautiful voice. I am grateful we finally got to celebrate your 60th birthday.'

In another heartfelt message, Ernest L Ward III, who knew Sydnor since they were a teenager, wrote: 'She's always been so supportive. Tracey's voice was memorableI often reminisce about the songs she led.

'A true Angel on earth has returned home.'

Another tribute post to Sydnor from Terrence Read said: 'Pastor Tracey Sydnor You Will Definitely Be Missed! Im Praying For The Family As Well As My Upper Room Family!'

Sydnor had only been the executive pastor of the congregation for two full months, after being appointed in November.

She had grown up attending the church and later led its choir, the New York Daily News reported.

Bishop J. Carl Henderson offered prayers for her family during a sermon at the church on Sunday.

'God bless you and please my sister, please my brother continue to pray for the family, her children, her siblings and her extended family and our church family as a whole,' he said. 'Our church is suffering a loss.'
A man arrested in Manchester as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue siege has been released without charge.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West said officers were continuing to support US authorities with their investigation into the attack, carried out by Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn in Lancashire, on January 15.

A force spokesman said a man who was arrested in Manchester last week was released from police custody today.

The man was one of two arrested in Manchester as part of the local investigation on Wednesday. The force confirmed the other man had been released on Thursday.

Malik Faisal Akram is seen in this photo taken at a faith-based daytime outreach center in Dallas, Texas, USA, January 2, 2022

Akram, 44, was shot dead when the FBI entered the place of worship in Colleyville following a 10-hour stand-off.

He held four people hostage during the incident, but they were later released unharmed.

FBI director Christopher Wray called the stand-off an antisemitic 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 Akram's associates, his online presence, and his devices.

The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue is shown, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas, where Akram held four people hostage before being shot by FBI and SWAT teams

He 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 UK's security service MI5 in 2020 but deemed not to be a credible threat to national security, official sources confirmed.

It is not yet clear how he was able to travel to the US despite his criminal past. He is believed to have arrived at New York's JFK Airport two weeks before the attack took place.
A 2019 grand jury subpoena ordered JP Morgan to provide testimony and documents about an array of Hunter Biden's business dealings  as well as information in its files about the president's brother, James.

The subpoena, which came amid Joe Biden's presidential campaign, listed a number of Hunter Biden's business ventures, including the Rosemont Seneca partnership he formed. It also identified business partners Devon Archer and Eric Schwerin.

The the letter to JP Morgan's Indianapolis-based subpoena processing center identifies the Bank of China as the 'Originating or Beneficiary Bank' on the letter.

A nonprofit group that said it has obtained Hunter Biden's laptop says got the document from a 'whistleblower.'

Conservative news outlet Breitbart News revealed the document, which it said was provided by non-profit group Macro Polo, which was established by former Trump White House official Garrett Ziegler. Ziegler worked in the office of Trump economic advisor Peter Navarro, who ran the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.

A 2019 subpoena instructs JP Morgan to turn over financial information about Hunter Biden (pictured in 2010 as officials with his Rosemont Seneca firm met with Chinese finance executives). The subpoena came before Hunter Biden disclosed a probe of his taxes in 2020

Marco Polo says it is producing a detailed report on the laptop computer Hunter allegedly abandoned. The group's website about it calls President Joe Biden a 'Manchurian candidate' a 'Manchurian president.'

The subpoena commands the bank to appear at the J. Caleb Boggs federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware to provide testimony, and respond by June 25, 2019.

It was not immediately known how the bank responded to the subpoena. DailyMail.com has reached out to JP Morgan for comment.

Hunter Biden told CBS in December 2020 that the US Attorney's Office in Delaware was investigating his 'tax affairs.'

The network reported he had been under investigation since 2018 for possible tax fraud.

A May, 2019 subpoena to JP Morgan seeks information about Hunter Biden and his business dealings

A letter from the US attorney says it is a crime for the bank to inform a customer about a subpoena

The supboena, which the group Marco Polo says it got from a whistleblower, lists a number of Hunter Biden business entities

Vice President Joe Biden, center, buys an ice-cream at a shop as he tours a Hutong alley with his granddaughter Finnegan Biden, right, and son Hunter Biden, left on December 5, 2013 in Beijing, China while Biden was on an official visit

The group that said it obtained the subpoena is also producing a report on the laptop computer Hunter Biden allegedly abandoned

CNN reported that the probe focused on Hunter's dealings in China and people who raised potential national security concerns.

Politico reported last July that US Attorney Weiss held off on investigative actions that might appear to become a campaign issue, amid DOJ guidelines on the subject.

The subpoena lists a number of business entities: 'Owasco, Skaneateles, RSP Holdings, RSP Investments, RSTP II Alpha, RSTP II Bravo, Seneca Global Advisors, Aqaba International, Rosemont Seneca, Burisma Holdings, Bohai Harvest RST Shanghai Equity, Robinson Walker, Hudson West, European Energy and Infras Group Limited, Bladen Enterprises Limited.

Attached is a letter from Weiss that it is a crime for a financial institution to tell a customer that they are subject to a subpoena.
Marcus Collins, 22, subjected his victims to a campaign of physical and sexual abuse over a two year period between 2018 and 2020 while they were aged 18, 17, and 16

A rapist who abused three teenagers, kicking one of his pregnant partners for not making enough of a fuss of him on Valentine's Day and treating another victim 'like a dog' has been jailed for 15 years.

Marcus Collins, 22, subjected his victims to a campaign of physical and sexual abuse over a two year period between 2018 and 2020 while they were aged 18, 17, and 16.

His victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were repeatedly raped and assaulted, and Collins forced them to block their family on social media, told them what to wear and banned them from seeing their friends.

Collins was finally caught when one of his ex-partners reported him to the police after he attacked her with a mobile phone.

Guildford Crown Court heard that investigating detectives contacted two of his other former partners and discovered that they too had been subject to a string of abuse.

The court was told that Collins had once kicked his pregnant partner on Valentine's Day because she 'did not make enough of a fuss about him'. The victim could no longer feel the baby move, but thankfully the child was later born without incident.

Prosecutor Rebecca Austin told the court that Collins had manipulated the women and consistently belittled them before demanding sex.

Collins, of Farnborough, Hampshire, was convicted by a jury of eight counts of causing actual bodily harm, as well as three counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, six counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration.

Police believe he may have other victims, who they are urging to come forward.

As Judge Michael Hunter sentenced him to 15 years in jail, Collins did not react and barely blinked.

Sentencing him, Judge Hunter said: 'You have a Jekyll and Hyde character. You had two sides, a good and bad and the bad side caused so much suffering to the young women who had fallen under the spell of your good side.

'It is disturbing how you can switch your personality from one side to the other, it must be very alarming and very difficult in the circumstances for your victims to begin to defend yourselves.'

Judge Hunter ruled that Collins, who waved as he left the dock, posed a danger to society and so subjected him to an extended sentence, which means that he will have to be assessed by the parole board and then will have to serve a five year period on licence.

Collins was made subject to a restraining order against his victims for the rest of his life, as well as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Ms Austin told the Judge that Collins had assaulted and raped some of the women at his father's house.

Describing one incident she said: 'Neighbours of Collins' father had heard a woman pleading with a man.'

During Collins' seven-week trial, the jury saw messages between him and his former partner, who later reported him to the police.

Ms Austin described the messages as 'really demonstrating how he manipulated the girls and how quickly he could change from messages of love to messages of violence.'

Guildford Crown Court heard that investigating detectives contacted two of his other former partners and discovered that they too had been subject to a string of abuse

In a harrowing victim impact statement, one of the women described some of Collins' manipulation. She said: 'He made me sleep on the floor and he slept in the bed.

'I lay awake lying on top of a blanket with a dressing gown on to keep warm and when I tried to get into bed with him, he would attack me. His dad told him that he treated me like a dog, and he agreed he did.

'He encouraged me to kill myself on numerous occasions and that is why I tried to take an overdose. He would attack me in public and he would kick and punch me and then drag me along the ground, on one occasion he assaulted me with a metal baton in front of people.'

'Even though he can no longer hurt me I am still suffering for his violence.. I struggle to think about how I will have another relationship with a man and if they genuinely care for me, it will be hard to believe them.

'For the time that he is locked up I will feel safe, happy and carefree.'

One of the other women, who was aged 17 years at the time she began a relationship with Collins, told the court how he had lied about his age to her and pretended he was younger than her, before claiming 'you would never have gone out with me if you knew my real age.'

The prosecutors confirmed that Collins had preyed on the women, who were all sexually inexperienced and in their first proper relationship.

One victim said: 'Before meeting Marcus I wanted a career and I didn't want to become a mum. He has not supported me or his child since it was born. I don't see how my dreams can come true.'

Another of the victims added: 'I thought that the butterflies in my stomach were because I loved him, I now realise that it was fear. My own bedroom is a place where I should feel secure and safe, instead, it is where something horrible happened.

'Sex became horrible and painful. He said we had to do it before anything else because it was what he needed and as his girlfriend, I should care about it.

'I started to realise that our relationship was not normal, all I wanted to do was go on a date with him and be happy, instead he talked about other girls.

'I wanted me to be good enough for him and I have him to love me like I loved him. I thought he was going to be my life and I thought I would be trapped.

'I have done everything to make sure that he does not hurt anyone else again. I regret not doing something sooner.'

Defence barrister Balraj Bhatia QC told the court that Collins, who twice fired his legal team during the trial, had been only 17 at the time he started offending and 21 when he was arrested.

He added that Collins, who he claimed had a good side, had scored low on maturity testing.

However, the court heard that he still does not admit to doing anything wrong.

Any other victims are being urged to come forward to Surrey Police or independent charity Independent Domestic Abuse Services on 01737 771350 or at support@esdas.co.uk.
Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko today declared that there is no need for NATO to deploy its troops in Hungary amid tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

Benko said the Hungarian government is not explicitly against NATO deploying troops in central and eastern European countries closer to Ukraine, but stressed that Hungary is able 'to perform this task on its own' in its territory.

Benko's reluctance to accept a deployment of foreign NATO troops in its territory comes as UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace said it was vital to discourage Putin from invading Ukraine by showing NATO's willingness for combat as a deterrent.

Wallace said it was 'important to signal to Putin that the very thing he fears, that is, more NATO close to Russia, would be the consequence of invading Ukraine... This is why the UK offered NATO more ground forces, more readiness as a deterrent.'

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is expected to travel to Russia tomorrow for talks with Vladimir Putin in which he is likely to ask the Russian President for an increased gas supply.

Downing Street confirmed meanwhile that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will travel to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and to show support in the face of perceived Russian aggression.

Moscow denies planning to attack Ukraine and is demanding security guarantees including a promise by NATO never to let Kyiv join the alliance.

Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko today declared that there is no need for NATO to deploy its troops in Hungary amid tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine

Benko's reluctance to accept a deployment of foreign NATO troops in its territory comes as UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace (pictured) said it was vital to discourage Putin from invading Ukraine by showing NATO's willingness for combat as a deterrent

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) is expected to travel to Russia tomorrow for talks with Vladimir Putin (L) in which he is likely to ask the Russian President for an increased gas supply

Hungary, an eastern-European member state of NATO, enjoys relatively strong relations with Russia despite tension between the alliance and Moscow.

In his talk with Putin scheduled for tomorrow, Orban will seek to increase the amount of gas it receives from Russia, after Hungary agreed a new long-term gas supply agreement with Russia's Gazprom GAZP.MM in August.

Orban is also expected to discuss an ongoing expansion of Hungary's Paks nuclear plant, where Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom is building new reactors.

Hungary's reliance on Russia for gas imports and Russian intervention in its nuclear plant may be behind the eastern European nation's reluctance to receive foreign NATO troops.

Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine tomorrow in a show of support for the country - after warning Vladimir Putin to 'step back from the brink' of invasion.

That journey, made with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, will take place after an expected phone call with Putin today, as tens of thousands of Russian troops maintain their position close to the Ukraine border.

Fears of an imminent Russian incursion in Ukraine have grown in recent days, despite denials from Moscow and pleas from Zelensky to avoid stirring 'panic' over the military build-up on the border.

Johnson said today he will reiterate that an invasion would be 'bitterly and bloodily resisted' by Kyiv's forces - as well as having major repercussions internationally.

Speaking to reporters in Essex this morning, Johnson said: 'What I will say to President Putin, as I have said before, is that I think we really all need to step back from the brink.

Ukrainian servicemen stand next to armored personnel carrier (APC) of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces, parked in their base near Klugino-Bashkirivka village, in the Kharkiv region on January 31

A Ukrainian serviceman adjusts the strap of his weapon in a trench at a frontline position in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine on Monday, Jan. 31

'I think Russia needs to step back from the brink. I think that an invasion of Ukraine, any incursion into Ukraine beyond the territory that Russia has already taken in 2014 would be an absolute disaster for the world, and above all it would be a disaster for Russia.'

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday accused NATO of trying to pull Kyiv into the alliance, despite Russia massing 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. Moscow wants NATO to rule out Ukraine ever becoming a member as a condition for its withdrawal.

The head of Russia's security council, Nikolai Patrushev, said talk of a Russian invasion was 'completely ridiculous' and claimed: 'We don't want war and we don't need it at all.'

President Joe Biden also released a statement today warning of 'swift and severe' consequences if Russia invades Ukraine after reports emerged that his administration is looking at 'specific' sanctions targeting Putin's inner circle.

'If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our Allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith,' Biden said.

'If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences.'

President Biden said last week he would not rule out sanctioning Putin personally.
An Austrian princess today urged a judge to throw the book at her Labour donor ex husband, saying he had shown a 'willingness to lie' and 'blatant contempt' for the court overseeing the legal aftermath of their bitter 2million divorce.

Lawyers representing Archduke Franz Ferdinand's great-granddaughter Marie-Therese Hohenberg Bailey, 49, told Mr Justice Peel that Anthony Bailey, 52, was in contempt of court after she said he had failed to pay up.

They said Mr Bailey had highlighted his involvement with the Catholic Church and been made an OBE for his work as an 'inter-faith campaigner', but that his behaviour was inconsistent with the pious image he presented.

Lawyers representing Archduke Franz Ferdinand's great-granddaughter Marie-Therese Hohenberg Bailey, 49, told Mr Justice Peel that Anthony Bailey, 52, was in contempt of court after failing to pay up. They are pictured together

Mr Justice Peel is considering Ms Hohenberg Bailey's committal application at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Austrian Royalty: The House of Hohenberg The Ducal House of Hohenberg is an Austrian noble family, descended from Countess Sophie Chotek who in 1900 married Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The House of Hohenberg was established by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria when upon the couple's marriage in 1900, he made Franz Ferdinand's wife Princess of Hohenberg with the style of Serene Highness, and the specification that this name and title should also be borne by her descendants. In the event, which is widely accepted to have sparked the outbreak of World War One, Archduke Franz Ferdinand - the nephew of Emperor Franz Joseph and heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire - was shot dead along with his Serbian wife, Sophie, on June 28, 1914. The couple had three children - Sophie, Maximillian and Ernst. Advertisement

Ms Hohenberg Bailey was at the hearing. Mr Bailey was not in court but was represented by lawyers.

Barrister Chris Barnes, who led Mr Bailey's legal team, raised several issues in a written argument.

He said he understood that Mr Bailey was in Portugal.

Detail of Mr Bailey's career, and examples of his work are listed on the website www.anthonybailey.org.

The website says Mr Bailey is an interfaith campaigner for numerous charitable and religious bodies

It also features a photograph of Mr Bailey with former prime minister Tony Blair and says that, between 2002-2010, Mr Bailey advised the Department for Education on the development of the British Government's academies programme.

Detail of the litigation has emerged at previous, preliminary, hearings before different High Court judges.

A family court judge had overseen a dispute over money at private hearings in London.

Judge Sarah Gibbons had ruled that Ms Hohenberg Bailey should walk away with more than 2 million, following family court hearings in London, but she had not got 'her money', judges have heard.

Barrister Georgina Howitt, who led Ms Hohenberg Bailey's legal team, made several criticisms of Mr Bailey at today's hearing.

Ms Hohenberg Bailey was at the hearing. Mr Bailey was not in court but was represented by lawyers. They are pictured at their wedding in Salzburg in 2007

She told Mr Justice Peel, in a written case outline: 'His willingness to lie, and the blatant contempt which he has shown the court, is entirely inconsistent with the pious image which he presents to the public, in which he highlights his involvement with the Catholic Church and his OBE awarded for his work as an 'inter-faith campaigner'.'

The maximum punishment for being found to have committed contempt of court is a prison sentence for up to two years, a fine of 2,500, or both.

A one-time Tory supporter, Mr Bailey helped raise funds for both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and donated 50,000 to David Miliband's run for the Labour leadership.

Ms Hohenberg Bailey had run up around 800,000 in legal bills, Justice Holman was told at an earlier hearing.
Hundreds of JetBlue passengers spent hours stuck on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday night after a powerful winter storm dumped two feet of snow on parts of the Big Apple.

Frustrated passengers took to social media to express their anger with the airline, claiming they were being held 'hostage' overnight as the airline tried to deal with a backup in flights from the storm - causing some people to reportedly urinate in their seats and suffer panic attacks.

At one point during the night, about 20 inbound flights were scattered across the tarmac for several hours, according to the New York Post, and half a dozen were diverted to Newark International Airport because they could not get to a gate.

By Monday morning, the airport was starting to recover, with FlightAware, a website that tracks flight delays and cancelations reporting that just 5 percent of JFK's scheduled flights were canceled, with 12 percent of inbound and 9 percent of outgoing flights delayed.

JetBlue, though, was continuing to have trouble into Monday morning, with 15 percent of its scheduled flights canceled and 19 percent delayed.

A number of planes were stuck on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday due to continued delays from a massive winter storm

At one point during the night, about 20 inbound flights were scattered across the tarmac for several hours

Many flights were delayed and eventually canceled out of the airport

Customers complained online about how they were stuck sitting on planes in the tarmac for hours Sunday night, detailing how one man reportedly urinated in his seat as they waited to get into the airport, and others were having panic attacks.

Bianca Peters, a morning news anchor for FOX 5 New York, said she was stuck on the tarmac for three hours, as a fellow passenger was 'having an obvious panic attack,' and Laura Mardkha wrote that after a two hour delay, 'we've been stuck on the tarmac at JFK for 2.5 hours and have been told there' no timeline on when we can get off.

'So far, many screaming children, and one passenger had a panic attack,' she claimed in a tweet, noting she is going to need 'more than just a full refund this time.'

Taylor Emanuels also wrote on Twitter that he was stuck in a plane for up to three hours, noting that JetBlue 'really' messed up. 'Never had these problems with other airlines,' he said.

Another Twitter user, Jacki Cole posted a photo of her children sleeping on the ground near baggage claim at the airport, saying they were stuck on the tarmac for four hours with no food or water.

Twitter user Jacki Cole posted this photo of her kids sleeping on the ground, saying they were stuck on the tarmac for four hours with no food or water

Many passengers were forced to stay at the airport overnight as their JetBlue flights continued to be delayed

Many passengers had to have their flights rescheduled

Flights coming into the airport were also delayed and canceled as people tried to get home for the work week

Photos and video posted to social media also showed the chaotic scene inside the airport as crowds waited throughout the night for their flights before the start of the work week.

One Twitter user said she waited at the airport for more than eight hours, eventually boarding an aircraft without a scheduled departure time. At around 8pm she wrote that she was now 'stuck in the aircraft, have to miss work, [with] no food for my child.'

Others said they had to run through the terminal because the gate they were departing from was constantly changing, and another woman said her first flight for 1pm on Sunday was canceled, so she got another one for 7.30pm, which was canceled after an eight-hour delay. Her third flight, scheduled for 7.30am on Monday, she said, had also been delayed for two hours until she finally got on a plane.

Many on Twitter also expressed their frustrations with trying to get some answers about the delays from customer service, as they begged JetBlue for reimbursements and compensation.

The problems reportedly occurred because the airline was short-staffed and could not clear all of the snow from a powerful winter storm from its gates at Terminal Five, according to aviation expert Jason Rabinowitz.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesman for the airline explained: 'At JFK, we started operations on Saturday as planned but faced a number of conditions that have slowed the operation down.'

He said the company is 'focused on safely resuming our flight schedule' following the heavy snow and freezing temperatures affecting the northeast, noting that they 'have combined some flights today to ease those constraints and are working to rebook customers.

'It normally takes a few days to fully recover when a storm of this size significantly impacts our two largest markets of New York and Boston, and our first priority continues to be restarting safely,' the statement said. 'We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and we are working to get them on their way as quickly as possible.'

Many customers took to Twitter to demand compensation and express their frustrations

The winter storm dumped nearly two feet of snow in parts of New York, with larger accumulations reported on Long Island.

It had become a bomb cyclone on Saturday morning, meaning that it strengthened rapidly and had barometric temperatures drop more than 24 millibars within 24 hours. It later became a blizzard, with high winds and low visibility.

By early Saturday afternoon more than a foot of snow had fallen on parts of New Jersey's shore and eastern Long Island.

Boston, in the crosshairs of the 'nor'easter' tied its record for biggest single-day snowfall on Saturday, with 23.6 inches, the National Weather Service said. The Boston area's modern snowfall record is 27.6 inches, set in 2003.

New York City and Philadelphia were far from setting all-time records but still saw significant snowfall, with at least 7.5 inches in New York's Central Park and at the Philadelphia airport.

A woman pulls a child in a snow sled across Ninth Avenue in New York. The large storm hit a substantial portion of the East Coast of the United States

A person carries a shopping bag during a snow storm on the Upper West Side on Saturday in New York City

Across New York City, Coney Island reported 11 inches of snow throughout the day, so too did Howard Beach in Queens.

Almost 10 inches fell in parts of Staten Island, and 7.5 inches were reported in Central Park, according to the National Weather Service.

'Be careful, bundle up,' city's Mayor Eric Adams told residents. 'It's a good day to stay home if you don't have to go out.'

After the snow had moved out, temperatures were expected to fall to 14 degrees Fahrenheit overnight with the wind chill plunging temperatures to minus 5 degrees.

The frigid temperatures are expected to last until Tuesday. Temperatures on Monday are forecast to be slightly warmer at 18 degrees.

Those in Long Island were hit harder with 16 inches having fallen in parts of Nassau County.

Long Island MacArthur Airport in Suffolk County was under more than 22 inches, according to the weather service.

New York's Governor Hochul said the storm was a 'classic Nor'easter.'

'This is a very serious storm,' Hochul said. 'It could be life threatening. But we've prepared for this.'

Parts of Nantucket were seen to be underwater on Saturday as a winter storm lashed the region

Nantucket High School students row a canoe along a road during heavy flooding, in Nantucket, Massachusetts

Gusty winds and falling temperatures continued to plunge the East Coast into a deep freeze as people dig out after a powerful nor'easter dumped mounds of snow, flooded coastlines and knocked out power to tens of thousands on Sunday.

Dangerous wind chills were expected to fall below zero across the region on Sunday after the storm dumped snow from Virginia to Maine. Philadelphia and New York had plenty of snow, but Massachusetts bore the brunt of the storm, with the town of Sharon getting more than 30 inches of snow before the storm moved out.

Winds gusted as high as 83 mph on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It scoured the ground bare in some spots and piled the snow into huge drifts in other.

Video also showed wind and waves battering North Weymouth, south of Boston, flooding streets with frigid water while another saw waves crashing against the windows of a building in Plymouth.

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power in Massachusetts, with the failures mounting. No other states reported widespread outages.

At its peak, 120,000 customers were without power across the state. By 9pm on Saturday night 89,000 were still in the dark.

Winds gusted as high as 70mph on Nantucket and over 60mph elsewhere in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

People cross Congress Street in Boston. Forecasters watched closely for new snowfall records, especially in Boston which tied its record for biggest single-day snowfall on Saturday, with 23.6 inches, the National Weather Service said

Millions of Americans were under winter weather alerts Saturday as a nor'easter slams the Northeast

Still, the storm had two saving graces: Dry snow less capable of snapping trees and tearing down power lines, and its timing on a weekend, when schools were closed and fewer people were commuting.

Officials from Virginia to Maine warned people to stay off the roads.

Rhode Island, all of which was under a blizzard warning, banned all nonemergency road travel starting at 8am. Fierce winds blew the snow sideways for hours in Providence.

In West Hartford, Connecticut, a tractor-trailer jack-knifed on Interstate 84, closing several lanes. Massachusetts banned heavy trucks from interstate highways.

On New York's Long Island, East Hampton officials reported near-whiteout conditions, as much as 8 inches of snow by mid-morning and wind gusts of over 50mph.
Press Release

January 31, 2022 SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

MANIFESTATION - APPROVAL ON THIRD READING

Senate Bill No. 2421:

COVID-19 BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES FOR HEALTH WORKERS ACT OF 2022 Before anything else, I would like to congratulate the Sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2421, or the COVID-19 Benefits and Allowances for Health Workers Act of 2022. The approval of this bill on third reading is certainly another proof of our tireless attempt to give gratitude, through compensation, to the country's pandemic heroes. In a world already beset with countless problems, the emergence of the COVID-19 disease certainly came as an unwanted surprise. And yet, so many of our fellow Filipinos were brave enough to rise to the occasion, placing their own lives at risk to help manage the pandemic and all that came with it. Through adversity, a new word was added to our lexicon, a word that became synonymous with selflessness. 'Frontliners,' as we have come to call them. But to put it plainly and simply, they are heroes, Mr. President. Today's passage of this bill is about these frontliners. Their hard work and sacrifices are noble, and stories about them have raked in so many likes and shares not only on social media but in real life. Time and again, they have been dubbed as 'modern-day heroes', at war with an invisible opponent. But then again, as expressed in the lyrics of the song "The Warrior is A Child,": Lately, I've been winning battles, left and right. But even winners can get wounded in the fight...' And indeed, there have been so many wounds, Mr. President. The wound of not seeing their loved ones for weeks and months. The wound of testing positive for COVID-19, again and again. The wound of sleepless nights and restless days. Far too many wounds. And so today, the approval of Senate Bill No. 2421 on Third Reading is the Senate's way of helping tend to the wounds of our frontliners. In the end, a genuine act of gratitude to our heroes is to show them that they can rely on us, to ensure that they receive the compensation and benefits they deserve. Here's to healing, Mr. President. To end, let's honor and extend our utmost gratitude to every health worker who has served and who continues to serve relentlessly during this pandemic, not only today, but every day for the rest of our healthy lives. To all health workers, thank you for your service! A snappy salute to all medical frontliners! Maraming salamat po!
This is the shocking moment a Walgreens security guard in San Francisco confronted a shoplifter - taken back armfuls of stolen items out of his bags - only to let the thief walk out the door with bags still bulging.

The cellphone video, taken by a fellow shopper, ended with shoplifter kicking a display on his way out, and the guard on his knees, picking up dropped items and putting the almost-stolen goods back on the shelves.

'Can't even go to the Walgreens,' Darren Mark Stallcup, who posted the video to Twitter, wrote.

It comes in the wake of huge spike in smash and grab robberies across the US, with LA County and New York City being espeically hard hit due to the soft-on-crime policies of progressive District Attorneys George Gascon and Alvin Bragg.

In the January 29th video, the Walgreens security guard can be seen rifling through one of the thief's two plastic CVS bags in a toiletry aisle

The thief drops products from his bags, sending the guard to retrieve them while he gets away

As the guard kneels down to pick those products up, the thief slowly saunters away, looking at the stolen goods in his bag

The thief looks back at the security guard on the ground before kicking the shelf beside him, sending more toiletries tumbling to the ground in his wake

In lawless California, the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014 downgraded charges of property theft of less than $950 in value from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Non-violent property crimes under $950 have been downgraded to misdemeanors, while two or more people conspiring to 'cheat and defraud any person or any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal' face no more than one year in county prison, a fine of $10,000 or a combination of the two.

Earlier this month, fed-up California assemblyman Rudy Salas, a Democrat, introduced a bill that would lower the amount a suspect can steal before facing a felony to $400, which was the original threshold before Proposition 47 passed.

'Enough is enough, we need to fight back against the criminals who are stealing from our communities,' Salas said in a statement introducing the bill. 'We have seen the unintended consequences of Prop 47s weakening of our theft laws and I believe California voters are ready to make their voices heard on this issue again.'

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon (left) and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (right) have been criticized for their soft-on-crime policies

A map shows the locations of some of the major smash-and-grab robberies that have recently taken place in California

The law will need to pass through the state legislature and receive a majority vote from California voters on a ballot measure before becoming law.

On January 21, surveillance footage from San Bruno in Los Angeles County showed Usman Bhatti, owner of Maaz Jewelers in Tanofran Mall in San Bruno, California, single-handedly ward off thieves attempting to rob his store.

In the footage, Bhatti can be seen shoving away a suspect who ran into his store and began breaking the display case. Then, he can then be seen pulling out a gun and scaring the culprit and five other suspects who fled the scene, away.

Bhatti, who had a concealed carry permit, told FOX KTVU that he was 'not trying to be a hero or a macho man.

'It just happened very quick and I had no choice.'

On Friday, the county's Registrar's Office approved a recall petition for woke Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascon in a bid to replace him with someone harder on crime.

Campaigners can now collect signatures to remove him from office, in their efforts to garner support from the required 10% of the county's registered voters (just over 560,000 people) by July 6, the Los Angeles Times reported.

New York City has seen a similar wave of smash-and-grab robberies as new Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg faces backlash over his shockingly soft stance on crime that the progressive prosecutor revealed on earlier this month.

The end of 2021 saw a drop in crime rate in an otherwise violent year with record high murders

Data from the Public Policy Institute of California showed an increase in property and violent crime numbers from 2020 to 2021, as well as an increase in homicides

This is the moment a jewelry store owner in California takes the law into his own hands and defends his store from being robbed by armed thieves smashing up the displays.. Amazing surveillance footage shows Usman Bhatti, owner of Maaz Jewelers in Tanofran Mall in San Bruno, California, shove away a suspect who ran into his store and began breaking the display case

Bragg sent a memo to his staff announcing he 'will not seek carceral' sentences for criminals, unless they were guilty of murder or a handful of other crimes he deemed serious enough to warrant prison.

His sweeping changes call on prosecutors to ditch felony armed robbery charges and instead charge suspects with petty larceny - a misdemeanor which carries a maximum of one year in prison - even when a weapon is involved if the firearm did not 'create a genuine risk of physical harm.'

Burglaries will no longer be prosecuted as burglaries if the bandit steals from a storage unit or outdoor property that isn't connected to a 'living' dwelling, and quality-of-life crimes such as prostitution, turnstile jumping, weapons possession (of non-firearms) and marijuana possession won't be prosecuted at all.

Drug dealers will not be prosecuted for felony crimes unless they commit other offenses on top of drug dealing, and prison should be a 'last resort' - despite the mounting number of violent crimes being committed on the streets of New York by repeat offenders who have been let out of jail early.

Earlier this week, actor and comedian Mike Rappaport posted a video similar to the one taken in San Francisco, documenting a bold thief sauntered out of a Rite Aid on the Upper East side of New York City with two shopping bags full of stolen goods, calling it 'pathetic' that brazen crime continues to spiral in the Big Apple because of soft-on-crime policies.

On Sunday, Rappaport returned to the Rite Aid to find the shelves empty.

'Back in my Rite Aid,' he said in a video posted to his Instagram on Sunday. 'And there's nothing to steal because this Rite Aid like so many other Rite Aids is closing down because everybody stole everything. And the workers here don't know if they're getting jobs.

'Congratulations, losers,' the 51-year-old actor concluded in the video, which had already garnered 20,570 views in just one hour.

A similar theft at a Rite Aid in New York City went viral on TikTok in October after a woman named India, who was a security guard at the store, posted footage of thefts pilfering Halloween candy before fleeing.

People asked in the comments why she isn't stopping the thieves if she is supposed to be a security guard, to which she replied: 'Because it's illegal to touch, grab or use any physical force to stop them.'

Instead, she said, her job is to 'observe and report.'
A female Metropolitan Police officer who hid a shoebox filled with thousands of pounds in drug cash for her corrupt cop husband during a raid on their house has been spared jail - despite the money having never been retrieved.

Kashif Mahmood, 32, was jailed for eight years in May for his role in helping an organised crime group steal from their rivals in a Line of Duty-style corruption plot.

His wife Shareen Kashif, 30, was sentenced today after she admitted concealing criminal property after the cash-filled box was found under the bed of their home in Harlow, Essex, in April 2020.

She was given a 20-month sentence, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work following a hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

The court heard her husband regularly jetted off to Dubai and lived a lavish lifestyle with designer watches while working with east London gangsters.

He carried out fake police stops on cars he knew to be carrying hundreds of thousands of pounds in drug money.

Kashif, who was supported by family members in a packed public gallery in court, told police she only became aware of her husband's illegal activities a few days before the raid on their house.

She accepted in interview that she moved the box under her his instructions during the raid, but the money has never been retrieved.

Prosecutor Tom Williams told the court it is thought it would have been a significant amount.

He said: 'In the early hours of morning on 28 Apil 2020 when the police arrived at Kashif Mahmoods home address to arrest him on suspicion of misconduct in public officer and for a number of other offences.

She accepted subsequently in interview under caution that before the police could search their bedroom, she moved a box which belonged to her husband from the wardrobe under the bed.

Although she said it was moved, in fact the concealment remains effective because it was never found.

He continued: 'The sums of money involved in the transactions were enormous and the sums of money found is a number of those defendants addresses were very large.'

Shareen Kashif pictured outside Southwark Crown Court last year. She avoided an immediate custodial sentence today

Corrupt cop Kashif Mahmood was jailed for eight years in May for his role in an organised crime group

Kashif said she was 'very angry' when she became aware of her husband's illegal activities, adding she had done a 'silly and stupid thing' in helping him conceal the money.

She initially was arrested when police discovered Encrochat messages between the London gang and a co-conspirator in Dubai - where Mahmood would holiday with the crime group.

When informing the Dubai contact of Mahmood's arrest, a message from Mohsin Khan read: When they raided his house his wife managed to hide the paper they took him his phone and laptop.

The court heard that Kashif, who was on maternity leave when the raid took place, was dismissed from the Met without notice following a misconduct hearing last month.

Alan Compton QC, representing Kashif, said in mitigation that she had been ,acting under the direction of her husband'.

The barrister urged the court to not impose an immediate prison sentence on his client, who is now the sole carer of the couples three-year-old daughter.

He added that the world 'is very different' for her now than in April 2020.

Passing sentence, Judge David Tomlinson acknowledged Kashif acted spontaneously but rejected the assertion she didnt have full knowledge of her husbands criminal activity.

A significant amount of cash found at the home of Ioan Gherghel, a friend of Mahmood, who was also jailed with the corrupt officer

He said her husband's criminal conduct was plainly putting certain people in very grave physical danger.

Kashif, of Woodcroft, Harlow, was sentenced to a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Her husband was accompanied by Romanian bodybuilder Ioan Gherghel, 34, posing as his police partner, when they confiscated 850,000 from criminals in March last year.

They handed the money to 34-year-old gangster twins, Shabaz and Shazad Khan and their older brother Mohsin Khan.

Investigations by the Mets anti-corruption unit began after the French gendarmerie infiltrated the EncroChat encrypted phone network in April 2020, revealing Mahmood was using his police powers to work with the Khan gang.

Mahmood and the Khans were long-standing associates and holidayed together in Dubai.

While Mahmood was jailed for eight years, ringleader Mohsin Khan, 35, was sentenced to 16 years jail and Shazad was locked up for 15 years while Shabaz received 14 years.

Gherghel was jailed for six years.
Several historically black colleges and universities in the United States received bomb threats on Monday - with at least one caller claiming to be affiliated with the Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen.

Students were told to shelter-in-place and classes were cancelled at Albany State University in Georgia, Delaware State University in Delaware, Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana, Howard University in Washington, Bowie State University in Maryland and Bethune-Cookman University in Florida after the threats.

None of the threats turned out to be real bombs.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said his department received a 20-minute call at 4.32am on Monday, threatening Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. The school was placed on lockdown Monday morning.

The caller claimed to be affiliated with a Neo-Nazi group and claimed they had hidden seven C4 explosives in backpacks and duffel bags around the Daytona Beach campus, which they said would detonate at noon.

They also claimed there would be an active shooter on campus at 12.30pm.

'It's not clear at this point who is responsible for making the call about this unfounded threat, but it appears to be a hate group who are specifically targeting African-Americans,' the Daytona Beach Police Department wrote in a press release obtained by DailyMail.com.

A bomb threat was reported at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida around 4.32 am by a caller claiming to be affiliated with a Neo-Nazi group. The campus was searched and deemed safe by 11 am

Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, was placed on lockdown Monday morning after a bomb the threat was reported.

Young said in a Monday press conference that the caller identified himself with the Atomwaffen Division, an international right-wing extremist and Neo-Nazi terrorist organization.

Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, named for German word for nuclear weapons, is tied to at least five murders and planned terror attacks The Atomwaffen Division, named after the German word for nuclear weapons, is a right-wing extremist, Neo-Nazi terrorist organization that started in 2015 in the Southern US. The group of Neo-Nazi accelerationists believe that the world must be driven into an apocalyptic collapse so that a white ethnostate can be constructed. The group is allegedly responsible for at least five murders in the US and a number of planned terrorist attacks. Since its inception, 14 of its members have been convicted of crimes related to the group's activities, oftentimes after authorities determined they were 'mobilizing for violence.' Pictured is the Atomwaffen Division's flag Their leader, 25-year-old Kaleb Cole of Montgomery, Texas, was convicted of five federal felonies last September for mailing threatening posters to journalists and members of the Anti-Defamation League, and sometimes gluing posters to their homes. The posters told the recipients, primarily Jewish people and people of color, that they had 'been visited by [their] local Nazis.' Kaleb Cole, 25, leader of the Atomwaffen neo-Nazi group, was been convicted of five felonies for conspiracy, interfering with a federally protected activity, and mailing threatening communications The posters also featured threatening images, such as a hooded figure preparing to throw a Molotov cocktail at a house. Journalists in Seattle, Tampa and Phoenix who had covered the group were targeted. Four other members of the group were arrested in connection with the terror campaign. Atomwaffen held a presence at 2017's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Member Vasillios Pistolis, a corporal in the US Marine Corps, was recorded chanting 'White Lives Matter' and 'You Will Not Replace Us' while holding a flaming tiki torch alongside other white supremacists. On the second day of the rally, he assaulted Emily Gorcenski, a transgender woman, with a modified version of the Confederate flag that had a neo-Nazi black sun at its center. Before he was arrested, he bragged about the assault in private chats, writing, 'so to sum it up what I did Friday, dropped kicked that tr**** that made video crying.' He was imprisoned by the Marine Corps in 2018 for disobeying orders, and dishonorably discharged that year. Devon Arthurs of Tampa Palms Florida, then 18, killed two of his roommates and fellow Atomwaffen members with an assault rifle in May 2017 after they mocked his conversion to Islam. He was ultimately deemed incompetent to stand trial, and is still in treatment at Florida State Hospital. Advertisement

Police said that by 11 am they had 'cleared the campus of any bomb threat' after searching building-by-building, but added that they will remain at the campus for the rest of the day. Classes were canceled at the university.

The department said it was working with the FBI as the agency probes the spate of bomb threats at historically black colleges across the nation.

Daytona Police declined to say whether their called is suspected of making the threats to all seven colleges.

The FBI said in a statement it is 'aware of the series of bomb threats around the country and we are working with our law enforcement partners to address any potential threats.'

'Im sure everyone has heard that several other campuses around the nation experienced the same threat today,' Young said.

'But with that, knowing that we still took this threat very seriously, and we left no stone unturned to ensure the safety of the campus,' he said.

Meanwhile, a bomb threat was lodged at Bowie State University at 6am on Monday.

'Due to an emergency on campus, classes will meet virtually. Persons on campus should shelter in place until further notice,' Bowie State University said in a message on the school's website.

The college said on Twitter that the shelter-in-place order had been lifted around 2 pm.

Delaware State University said it had told employees and students not to come to campus until further notice. 'We've instructed our residential population to remain in the dormitory while a search of the campus is taking place, and that is ongoing at this point,' a university spokesman said.

Albany State University urged students not to panic, but said that on-campus classes would be suspended and campuses and dining halls would close until further notice in light of the threats.

'Rest assured that we are working with the proper authorities to thoroughly investigate this threat,' Albany State said.

Southern University and A&M updated students this afternoon, telling them that an 'all clear' had been issued by law enforcement after receiving a bomb threat this morning. Classes there will resume tomorrow, and residential students were given the go-ahead to use campus facilities.

It was the second time this month that black colleges and universities faced bomb threats. On January 5, eight historically black colleges and universities received such threats, but no suspicious packages or explosives were found.

Spelman College in Atlanta, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Florida Memorial University, Norfolk State University in Virginia, North Carolina Central University, Prairie View A&M University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Howard were all targeted in the spate of threats earlier this month.

No explosions occurred, allowing students at all eight schools to return to campus the next day for classes.

The medical campus at Charles R. Drew University, another historically-black institution, closed for a day on January 12 after a self-proclaimed white, male Neo-Nazi wrote in his threat that he 'want[ed] to show the Black population what the white man can do,' and that 'we will take back our land!'

The emailed threat alleged that three titanium nitrite sulfuric bombs had been planted around the eastern and northern parts of campus, but ultimately, no explosives were found.

Federal and local authorities were investigating the January 31 incidents. Tom Chittum, the acting deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed on Monday that the agency was on the scene to investigate bomb threats at the schools.

'It is a federal crime to use interstate facilities to make a bomb threat,' he told reporters in a call. 'ATF will provide our investigative expertise and support to that investigation. But obviously the facts are preliminary.'

The District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department said that at Howard University the 'scene was cleared without any hazardous materials being found' after a threat was reported around 4.35 am.

It is unclear whether these bomb threats are connected.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that President Joe Biden was aware of the threats, although he had not received a formal briefing on them, at a press briefing this morning.

Pictured is Charlotte Robinson Hall at Bowie University in Maryland, where a bomb threat was placed by a caller around 6 am. The college said that a shelter-in-place order had been lifted by 2 am

Maryland State Police scoured Bowie State University for explosives on Monday

A bomb threat was lodged at Bowie State University today around 6am, according to the City of Bowie Police Department

Bowie State University enforced and later lifted a shelter-in-place and made all classes remote

Albany State University said that on-campus classes would be suspended and campuses and dining halls would close until further notice in light of the threats

Southern University and A&M updated students this afternoon, telling them that an 'all clear' had been issued by law enforcement after receiving a bomb threat this morning

'These are certainly disturbing,' Psaki said, and added that the White House will continue to monitor reports and is in touch with 'interagency partners, including federal law enforcement leadership.'

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also acknowledged the spate of threats, and said it is 'aware of bomb threats received by some Historically Black Colleges and Universities.'

'We take all potential threats seriously and we regularly work with our law enforcement partners to determine the threat credibility,' the agency said.
Nearly a quarter of Americans believe there are situations where it is appropriate to engage in violent protests against the government, according to a new poll.

One in 10 Americans say that violence is justifiable 'right now.'

The sentiment on violence was almost split between Democrats and Republicans, but ideologues on both sides had a more favorable view of violence than moderates.

Nearly 23,000 individuals were surveyed between December and January by the COVID States Project. They were asked: 'Is it ever justifiable to engage in violent protest against the government?'

Six percent of respondents replied 'definitely yes,' 16% 'probably yes,' 29% answered 'probably not' and 48% 'definitely not.'

Women were far less likely than men to say violence is 'definitely' or 'probably' ever acceptable, 17%-29%, and older respondents were less likely to say so than younger respondents.

Twenty-one percent of those who identified as Democrat or lean Democrat said it is is 'definitely' or 'probably' okay to engage in violence against the government, while 25% of Republicans or Republican-leaning respondents and 22% of Independents said the same.

Broken down by ideology, 28% of liberals said it is 'probably' or 'definitely' okay to use violence, while 17% of moderates and 28% of conservatives said the same.

Republicans are significantly more likely to say violence is acceptable 'right now,' Republican men are most likely to say so. Fourteen percent of Republicans say violence against the government is acceptable 'right now,' Seven percent of Democrats say the same, as do 11% of Independents. Eighteen percent of Republican men say violence is 'probably' or 'definitely' acceptable 'right now,' and 9% of Democratic men felt the same.

And after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by right-wing protesters and a season of Black Lives Matter protests that often turned violent, recent polling has been consistent with these findings.

Covid lockdowns, vaccine mandates, progressive policies in schools and the 2020 election have spurred fiery protest movements on the right. Police brutality, criminal justice reform, racism and climate change have brought on recent movements on the left.

A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found last month that 1 in 3 Americans say violence against the government can at times be justified

Black Lives Matter protesters clash with police outside the Met Gala in New York City on Sept. 13

Pro-Trump protesters clash with police outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021

A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found last month that 1 in 3 Americans say violence against the government can at times be justified - the largest share who feel that way since the question has been asked in various polls over the past two decades.

But COVID States Project co-director David Lazer said the findings of his poll are not surprising given the way history is taught.

'You know, we begin with the American Revolution against an illegitimate government and so we are, in a sense, taught from grade school that it is at some points in history justifiable to engage in violent protest,' he said, according to NPR.
The SNP's leader in Westminster was ejected from the Commons today for refusing to withdraw criticism of Boris Johnson over Partygate.

Ian Blackford was told to leave the chamber after accusing the Prime Minister of having 'wilfully misled Parliament'.

He was given several opportunities to withdraw the word 'wilfully' - meaning it was done deliberately - by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, but refused to do so.

He then walked out the chamber as the Speaker officially ordered him from the green benches.

He clashed with the PM last week in the Commons, when the PM appeared to mock his weight.

It came as Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon waded into the row.

After the report was published she tweeted: 'The Gray report may be heavily constrained but it is nevertheless excoriating of Boris Johnson.

'He is guilty of serial failures of leadership & judgment (& has clearly misled Parliament).

'If the Tories allow him to continue as PM, they will all be complicit.'

Ian Blackford was told to leave the chamber after accusing the Prime Minister of having 'wilfully misled Parliament'. It came as Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon waded into the row.

Speaking after he was ejected, Mr Blackford said the PM should have offered his resignation to MPs, adding: 'People couldn't be with their loved ones when they were dying, couldn't be with their loved ones in care homes, couldn't hold proper funerals'

Speaking after he was ejected, Mr Blackford said the PM should have offered his resignation to MPs, adding: 'People couldn't be with their loved ones when they were dying, couldn't be with their loved ones in care homes, couldn't hold proper funerals.

'And we have a Prime Minister that we now know has presided over the culture of parties in 10 Downing Street.

'Sixteen different parties on 12 dates, as revealed in the Sue Gray report, different dates having been referred for potential criminal activity to the Metropolitan Police.

'On the basis of that - there used to be honour and dignity in public life - based on that, the Prime Minister should have offered his resignation.'

During his speech, Mr Blackford was also repeatedly asked by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to withdraw the word 'misled', after accusing Prime Minister Boris Johnson of having 'wilfully misled Parliament'.

But he refused to do so and was eventually marched out of the chamber by men with swords.

Mr Blackford had told MPs: 'So here we have it. The long-awaited Sue Gray report, what a farce. It was carefully engineered to be a fact-finding exercise, with no conclusions. Now we find it's a fact-finding exercise with no facts.

'So let's talk facts. The Prime Minister has told the House that all guidance was completely followed, there was no party, Covid rules were followed and that 'I believed it was a work event'.

'Nobody, nobody believed it then. And nobody, nobody believes you now, Prime Minister. That is the crux - no ifs, no buts - he has wilfully misled Parliament.'
The campaign to get far-Right firebrand Eric Zemmour elected President of France was thrown into chaos today after his communications chief was accused of raping an 18-year-old male work experience intern.

Judicial police confirmed on Monday that they are investigating allegations that Olivier Ubeda, Zemmour's chief communications adviser, repeatedly raped the teenager.

Mr Ubeda, who is 51 and married, vehemently denies the accusations brought by the 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

It follows claims that Mr Zemmour, 63, has himself been abusive towards young women  accusations that he too refutes as he plans to stand against Emmanuel Macron to take over as France's head of state this April.

The campaign to get far-Right firebrand Eric Zemmour elected President of France was thrown into chaos today after his communications chief Olivier Ubeda was accused of raping an 18-year-old male work experience intern. Pictured: Eric Zemmour (left) with Olivier Ubeda (centre) in Nice, France, on September 18 2021

According to information broadcast by BFM  France's most popular news channel  Mr Ubeda is set to be interviewed 'on suspicion of rapes' that started last Spring.

They continued until Autumn, while both the accused and his alleged victim were working for Mr Zemmour.

The teenager 'was manipulated without having the opportunity to oppose the communications adviser,' a source told BFM.

In turn, Mr Ubeda posted a denial on Twitter on Monday, saying he was another victim of me #MeToo  the movement that has seen powerful men regularly accused of sexual indiscretions.

Mr Ubeda wrote: 'I will only react when I know what and who we are talking about. I see the investigating officer tomorrow.

'I've not received any written summons. Just a free questioning hearing. I call that a slanderous denunciation.'

Mr Ubeda (pictured), who is 51 and married, vehemently denies the accusations brought by the 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons

Mr Ubeda also said he had been repeatedly targeted since agreeing to work for the controversial Mr Zemmour.

He said his wife had been 'fired from her job,' that the 'tax authorities are overzealous' and that now he has been 'accused of rape'.

Mr Ubeda is a high-profile PR professional in France whose previous clients have included the disgraced former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has since been convicted twice for corruption.

Eight women have so far reported sexual abuse by Mr Zemmour, with some renouncing their right to anonymity.

The married father of three who is expecting a love child with his 28-year-old campaign manager, has denied any wrongdoing and refuses to discuss the specific allegations.

Last month, Zemmour himself was found guilty of provoking racial hatred by calling child immigrants 'thieves, rapists and murderers'.

Subject to appeal, he has to pay a fine equivalent to 8000 and risks a prison sentence if he fails to do so.

Zemmour, a magazine journalist turned television pundit, has already been convicted twice on similar charges.

French far-right party Reconquete! presidential candidate Eric Zemmour attends a meeting in Chaumont-sur-Tharonne on January 28, 2022 ahead of the April 2022 presidential election in France

Despite this, he is standing to replace Emmanuel Macron as President of France in April.

Opinion polls currently put him behind in the presidential race to Mr Macron and Marine Le Pen, of the far-Right National Rally, as well as Valerie Pecresse, the Republican's candidate.

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.
Tesco is set to scrap hundreds of jobs as it axes meat, fish and deli counters in 317 stores and closes its Jacks discount chain.

The company said it will shut counters at the shops with the 'lowest demand' amid changes in customer habits.

It is understood the move will impact hundreds of workers, although the retailer did not disclose the total number of affected staff.

It added that it will shut seven of its 13 Jack's discount stores, impacting 130 jobs across the sites and its head office.

The six remaining outlets will become Tesco stores and a spokesman said people working in those six stores 'will be automatically offered in-store roles'.

Jack's - named after its founder Jack Cohen - was launched by former chief executive Dave Lewis, in 2018, as part of Tesco's attempt to take on the surging growth of German discount rivals Aldi and Lidl.

Tesco is set to scrap hundreds of jobs as it axes meat, fish and deli counters in 317 stores and closes its Jacks discount chain

Jack's - named after its founder Jack Cohen - was launched by former chief executive Dave Lewis, in 2018, as part of Tesco's attempt to take on the surging growth of German discount rivals Aldi and Lidl

Tesco said it 'learned a tremendous amount' from the business to help it understand the discount operating model, which includes much fewer lines than its traditional shops.

However, it said now 'the time is right to focus on continuing to deliver great value in our core business'.

It added that its experience with Jack's has helped its core Tesco business to be more competitive, with the supermarket chain boasting strong sales and gaining share from rivals since the pandemic hit in early 2020.

Tesco UK and Republic of Ireland chief executive Jason Tarry said: 'Our Jack's brand will continue to be sold across Booker and our symbol brands, bringing great value and quality to even more customers.

'We want to thank our Jack's colleagues for all they have done and taught us.

'Our priority is to find roles within our wider business for all the colleagues who want to stay with us.'

Tesco said it will shut counters at the shops with the 'lowest demand' amid changes in customer habits

In 2019, Tesco undertook a major restructuring process which impacted around 9,000 workers and included the closure of counters in 90 stores

Tesco said in the 279 stores where there is 'local customer demand' for meat, fish or hot deli counters, they will continue offering counter services.

But in the 317 stores where Tesco sees its lowest demand, the counters will be closed and the space will be 'repurposed'.

A spokesman said there will be no redundancies as a result of the counter changes 'as affected colleagues will be offered alternative roles'.

In 2019, Tesco undertook a major restructuring process which impacted around 9,000 workers and included the closure of counters in 90 stores.
German police have arrested two suspects after a female police officer and her male colleague were shot dead.

The 24-year-old female officer and her 29-year-old male colleague were killed by gunshots to the head at around 4.20am this morning during a routine traffic stop.

Westpfalz regional police said the officers were on a rural road in Ulmet, near the Kusel district of western Rhineland-Palatinate state.

Police have named one of the arrested as Andreas Johannes Schmitt, 38, who runs a local bakery and business selling game.

Schmitt is not believed to have any links to extremism. German police have not named the other suspect, who is believed to be 32 years old.

Police have named one of the arrested as Andreas Johannes Schmitt, 38, (pictured) who runs a local bakery and business selling game

At the time of the incident in the early hours of this morning, the officers had radioed in to say there was game in the boot of a car.

They told other officers that they would be conducting a search of the car. Another radio message a short time later told officers that they were under attack.

Both officers requested urgent back-up at the scene and when police arrived, they found the 24-year-old dead.

The 29-year-old was severely injured and died of his injuries a short time later.

The officers killed have not been named but one of them is believed to have been a female trainee.

At the time of the incident in the early hours of this morning, the officers had radioed in to say there was game in the boot of a car. Pictured: German police at the scene in Ulmet, Germany

Pictured: The police cordon in Ulmet, Germany

Officers had launched a huge manhunt earlier to find the suspects, warning that they could be armed.

Unconfirmed reports said that one of the suspects held a gun licence and been involved in a hit-and-run, according to the Telegraph.

German police released a description of Schmitt with a photograph as they found his identity documents near the scene.

It is unusual for German police to name suspects.

Strict privacy laws mean they can only be identified if there is a danger to public safety or police have exhausted other means of finding them

Police officers secure the scene in Ulmet, Germany (pictured)

Officers had launched a huge manhunt earlier to find the suspects, warning that they could be armed. Pictured: Armed officers at the scene in Ulmet, Germany

The shooting, for which the motive remains unclear, has sent shockwaves through Germany.

The crime was likened to an 'execution' by interior minister Nancy Faeser and said it showed 'that police officers risk their lives every day for our security.'

German police had earlier closed off roads and deployed helicopters and sniffer dogs in the hunt for the perpetrator.
While the Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Ukraine, it is believed a few thousand have remained

British ex-pats in Ukraine have spoken of their fears of being caught in conflict if Russian President Vladimir Putin sends his troops over the border.

Some are furiously working out evacuation plans, while others have pledged to fight alongside their Ukrainian neighbours if the Russians invade.

While the Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Ukraine, it is believed a few thousand have remained.

Ken Stewart, 54, his heavily-pregnant wife Tetiana, 36, and daughter Yaryna, three, live in a village called Bucha, between Kyiv and the Belarus border, so would be right in the path of a Russian invasion force if, as feared, the tanks crossed there.

The IT specialist from Edinburgh moved to Ukraine 15 years ago.

Ken Stewart, 54, his heavily-pregnant wife Tetiana, 36, and daughter Yaryna, three, live in a village called Bucha, between Kyiv and the Belarus border, so would be right in the path of a Russian invasion force if, as feared, the tanks crossed there

Ken Stewart, 54, with his wife Tetiana, 36, and their daughter Yryna, 3, at their home in Ukraine

He took part in the Maidan protests in 2013 and was standing next to someone who was shot dead by suspected police undercover agents.

His multi-national band The Bad Names performed for protesters at the time. He plays guitar.

He told MailOnline: 'It is worrying as we are about to have our second child. The plan is to go to a private hospital nearby. My wife is booked in there already for a few days.

'But if Russian troops do come down from Belarus and encircle Kyiv, even though we live outside, we are right in the area where they will be.

'If Russian tanks do roll towards us and into my village it will of course make me very angry. I have my life here.

'Our plan is to head west if we can, where it will be much safer, with no checkpoints and that sort of thing.

Mr Stewart took part in the Maidan protests in 2013 and was standing next to someone who was shot dead by suspected police undercover agents

Mr Stewart told MailOnline: 'It is worrying as we are about to have our second child. The plan is to go to a private hospital nearby. My wife is booked in there already for a few days'

'Ideally we'd probably go to Lviv or we can get to the Polish border in about five hours.

'Yes, we have stocked up on food but we have not gone over the top.

'There are jerry cans of petrol in the car so we have planned to leave if we have to.

'My wife is due to give birth very soon and I am monitoring the situation constantly listening to the news, monitoring it on my phone.

'People here are very stoical about the situation but that doesn't mean it won't happen to you so you have to make plans.

'They don't want to talk about it or think about it. Others here say they believe they will come as in the Russians will come here.'

Mr Stewart's multi-national band The Bad Names performed for protesters at the time. He plays guitar

Magazine publisher Peter Dickinson, 45, wife Susanna, 39, and children Nina, 11, and 14-year-old Elizabeth were also making plans to flee Kyiv.

Peter - who settled in the Ukrainian capital after he worked for the British Council 20 years ago - said: 'All the talk among the British community here is about the Russians and we are all preparing to get our children to safety as a first priority.

'That will mean stocking up on food, fuel, batteries and and candles in case power is cut and we find ourselves having to join refugees heading west if there's a no-fly zone.

'We have lived under this threat for a long time but there is now genuine fear that bombs and missiles might start falling on Kiev and we'll have to get out.'

Mr Dickinson is originally from Amersham, in the UK and also works as Ukraine editor with the US think tank the Atlantic Council.

He and his Ukrainian wife are preparing for the worst.

Magazine publisher Peter Dickinson, 45, (pictured) wife Susanna, 39, and children Nina, 11, and 14-year-old Elizabeth were also making plans to flee Kyiv

He added: 'My life is here, my family, my business and my home so these are difficult choices.

'But the priority is the safety of my loved ones.

'We are talking about a potential armageddon and we just do not know what might happen.'

He has stockpiled food and fuel, even installed a new generator in case of power cuts.

'We have looked at what we would do if there is an attack and if it's possible we would try to fly out.

'Otherwise sible we would head west in the car but it may not be possible to cross into the EU if there is a refugee crisis.

'We are also looking into heading for safety in the mountains.

'The idea of an invasion does seem extreme but we are prepared, with candles, torches, a generator and all of that.

Ukrainian servicemen stand next to armored personnel carrier (APC) of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces, parked in their base near Klugino-Bashkirivka village, in the Kharkiv region on January 31

'We are extremely lucky as we are slightly outside Kyiv and have our own water supply.

'My number one priority in all of this is my wife and kids but I also don't want to disrupt their lives if I don't have to.

'If our lives are in danger, however, of course we will have to run.

'Ukraine is undergoing an incredible test right now.

'Putin understands he is losing Ukraine and that he cannot reverse that trend. He knows this so maybe he feels he has to do something.'

On Saturday, many ex-pats will join a multi-national 'flag march' through Kyiv to demonstrate their support for Ukraine.

A Ukrainian serviceman adjusts the strap of his weapon in a trench at a frontline position in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine on Monday, Jan. 31

One of the organisers, Sean Kelly, 53, a father-of-two from Oxford living in Kiev for 26 years said: 'I'm disgusted by what Vladimir Putin is doing to our friends in Ukraine and will do everything in my power to support them.

'He has painted himself into a corner to the point where everyone here is expecting and attack at any moment.

'And if that happens I would be willing to take up arms and fight for Ukraine - I would do anything I can to help them.'

Logistics company boss Sean, married to Ukrainian-born Natalia with children Oliver, two, and Elizabeth, seven, plans to escape the country via Odessa, and take a ferry across the Black Sea to Turkey.

'Lots of other Brits are planning to take the shorter overland route west to Poland but I'm sure there will be chaos at that border if bombs start falling and flights out are stopped.

'But once my children are safe I'll head back to support Ukrainians in whatever way I can.

'There's no words for 'bully' in the Ukrainian or Russian language but that's exactly what Putin is and the free world has to stand up to people like him.

'The backing Boris Johnson and Britain are giving to the people of Ukraine is fantastic and locals love us so much some bars offer Brits free beer and food.

'They are tough people who will give Putin's forces a lot more than they bargained for and deserve our support.'

Ironically, as hundreds of Britons prepared to leave yesterday, notorious 'war tourist' 21-year-old Miles Routledge from Birmingham arrived in Kiev.

Thrill-seeker Routledge has amassed more than 60,000 followers on Twitter by visiting dangerous destinations 'for fun'.

The student  heavily criticised for claiming a seat on one of the evacuation flights from Kabul last year, has since travelled to terror hotspots in South Sudan.

He said yesterday: 'I'm not worried.

'If I die then it's no longer an issue, if I'm alive then I'm in the green.

'If the country gets invaded, I'm leaving through a neighbouring country or a last-minute flight out.'
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed a months-long investigation into claims that he grabbed a woman's chest at a work event as a 'farce' on Monday, after an upstate district attorney dropped his sexual harassment case.

Oswego County District Attorney Gregory Oakes had been investigating whether the former governor could be criminally charged after Virginia Limmiatis claimed he touched her breasts during an event in 2017.

He ruled on Monday that there is not 'sufficient legal basis' to bring charges against Cuomo, releasing a photo that shows him apparently reaching for her shoulder - effectively ending the last of five criminal investigations of the former governor.

'After a thorough review of the available evidence and applicable law, the Oswego County District Attorney's Office has concluded that there is not a sufficient legal basis to bring criminal charges against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo based upon the allegations of unwanted physical contact made by Virginia Limmiatis.'

In a statement, a spokesman for the former governor, Rich Azzopardi, hailed Oakes' decision.

'Enclosed you will find the photos of what the Oswego District Attorney has been "investigating" for months,' he said, 'demonstrating what a farce this has been from the beginning.'

'As now five DAs have verified, none of the accusations in Trish James' fraud of a report have stood up to any level of real scrutiny.

'This has always been a political hit job to further the Attorney General's own ambitions, which both reeks of prosecutorial misconduct and has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars.

'As we've said since the beginning, the truth will come out.'

Virginia Limmiatis, left, claimed the former governor grabbed her breast at an event in 2017, but a photo released by the Oswego District Attorney on Monday shows him apparently trying to grab her shoulder, and not touching her breast

A criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alleged inappropriate touching of a woman's chest was dropped on Monday

In a statement, Cuomo's spokesperson called the investigation a 'farce' that 'has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars'

Cuomo's attorney, Rita Glavin, also said in a statement: 'The photographic evidence that the AGs report hid from the public indisputably showed that Gov. Cuomo did not act improperly.

'Truth and the rule of law prevailed, not politics or mob mentality.'

But Oakes made clear in his statement that his dropping of the case did not exonerate Cuomo.

'This decision is based solely upon an assessment of law and whether the People can establish a legally sufficient case under controlling precedent,' he said. 'In no way should this be interpreted as casting doubt upon the character or credibility o Ms. Limmiatis, or how harmful the acts she experienced were.'

He told the New York Post that he has worked Special Victims cases for 20 years and believes Limmiatis' description of events.

'In no way should this be a positive reflection on Andrew Cuomo,' Oakes said. 'This decision is not an exoneration.'

Limmiatis' attorney, Marriann Wang, also told WHAM that the lack of criminal prosecution does not mean Cuomo is innocent, and said his behavior toward Limiatis was an abuse of power.

'Not every violation of law results in criminal prosecution,' she said. 'This decision does not mean Cuomo acted appropriately or lawfully towards Ms. Limmiatis or any of the other women who came forward, or that he didn't cause them significant harm.'

Virginia Limmiatis, 55, came forward with her allegations that Cuomo touched her inappropriately after he used his office to deny similar claims

Limmiatis said she was originally afraid to come forward with the allegations due to Cuomo's power, but had spoken to friends and family about his alleged behavior

Limmiatis, 55, a National Grid employee from Syracuse, accused Cuomo of running his fingers on the lettering that ran across the chest of her shirt and brushed her chest a second time after joking that he had spotted a spider at an event in May 2017. She was one of 11 women who came forward to allege the former governor sexually harassed them.

She told the Post on Monday: 'Cuomo not only touched my chest inappropriately, but whispered in my ear afterwards to make up a patently ridiculous excuse to cover up his behavior.

'I immediately spoke to multiple people about what Cuomo had done to me, precisely because I was so disturbed and upset by it,' Limmiatis continued.

'At the same time, I did not report him publicly because he was the governor and I was fearful of him.'

Limmiatis only decided to come forward with her allegations after hearing the then-governor proclaim in March that he never 'touched anyone inappropriately,' according to Attorney General Letitia James' report in August.

In an ensuing investigation, Oakes said he believed her story but said it 'would be impossible to establish all the necessary elements to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt.'

'After watching her prior testimony and talking with her, I found her to be reliable and reasonable, seemingly motivated only by an earnest desire to do the right thing, and she was plainly upset by her interaction with then-Governor Cuomo as she expressed immediately to friends and family,' he told the New York Post.

'Knowing that the then-Governor would use his bully pulpit to deny the allegations and perhaps attempt to discredit her, he nevertheless stepped forward to tell her truth during the Attorney General's investigation.

'She has made herself further available to my office,' Oakes noted, adding: 'I commend her bravery and respect her courage.'

Oswego County District Attorney Gregory Oakes announced on Monday there was not 'sufficient legal basis' to bring charges against Cuomo

Four other criminal cases against the former governor (pictured in April) were also dropped within the past two months

Oakes' decision to drop the case comes after other District Attorneys throughout the state - including in Nassau, Westchester, Albany and Manhattan counties - decided to drop their investigations of the former governor.

The district attorneys began looking into the governor's alleged actions after Letitia James released findings in August showing that Cuomo had broken 'multiple state and federal laws' by sexually abusing several women while he was in office.

But last month, prosecutors in two districts said Cuomo would not face criminal charges after two women, including a state trooper, alleged that he planted unwanted kisses on their cheeks.

And earlier this month, a Manhattan District Attorney said he will not file any charges against Cuomo in the nursing home scandal and the Albany County District Attorney's Office announced the case against Cuomo by former staffer Brittany Commisso - who also claimed the governor groped her breasts - would no longer be pursued due to a technicality.

An attorney representing Limmiatis and fellow Cuomo accuser Alyssa McGrath - who claimed he ogled her body, called her and her and another co-worker 'mingle mamas' and asked about her lack of a wedding ring - said at the time that while they were disappointed in the outcome, they were not surprised.

'Unfortunately, our penal laws and system frequently do not properly punish the acts of so many abusive men in power,' their lawyer Mariann Wang said in a statement.

'Cuomo's conduct was nonetheless unlawful and deeply harmful to the women who were subjected to it, as the Attorney General and Assembly found in their reports.

'My clients remain grateful for those investigations and above all to the other women who had the courage to come forward. Cuomo and men like him should not be in positions of power.'
A Florida boy, 15, has been charged with aggravated assault after an incident where he was shot in the back while fleeing a cop - leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.

Vito Corleone-Venisee, who shares his name with Marlon Brando's iconic mobster in The Godfather, is also facing counts of possession of a firearm by a minor, resisting arrest and failing to appear in court in connection with an attempted burglary and a robbery.

On the night of January 16, Corleone-Venisee was riding with two others in a black 2021 Dodge Challenger when Miami-Dade police, who were out looking for a stolen Dodge sedan, attempted to pull over the muscle car at Northwest 56th Street and Northwest 22nd Avenue.

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Vito Corleone-Venisee, 15, was left paralyzed from the neck down after being shot by a Miami-Dade police sergeant during a scuffle following a traffic stop

The incident took place on January 16, when police looking for a stolen car attempted to pull over a Dodge Challenger occupied by the teen and two others

The Dodge sped away and crashed into a tree, after which Corleone-Venisee and the vehicle's other occupants fled on foot

The driver of the Dodge Challenger, who police say was Corleone-Venisee, sped away from the scene along with the driver of a stolen Dodge Charger, which was traveling nearby, reported Miami Herald.

Police followed in pursuit of both vehicles, but the Charger was able to get away.

Meanwhile, the Challenger crashed through a fence and slammed into a tree, causing it to come to a stop.

Corleone-Venisee and the other two occupants of the vehicle fled on foot, according to police.

A veteran Miami-Dade police sergeant gave chase and some kind of a scuffle ensued between him and the 15-year-old, who was said to have been armed with a handgun.

During the tussle, the officer shot Corleone-Venisee, who was later transported to a hospital suffering from paralysis from the neck down.

Police said Corleone-Venisee was armed when he got into a scuffle with a sergeant. A photo taken at the scene shows a handgun on the ground

An assault rifle was found inside the wrecked Dodge Challenger, which police claim the 15-year-old was driving during the traffic stop

The boy's attorney, Jarlens Princilis, claimed in an interview with WSVN that his client was shot in the back of the neck while trying to run away, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said that was not the case.

The FDLE, which is in charge of investigating the officer-involved shooting, would not say where Corleone-Venisee was actually hit.

Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said the sergeant confronted the teen who was 'armed, shots were fired, the subject was struck.'

FDLE said three firearms were sized at the scene, including a black handgun that was found on the ground, an assault rifle and another gun that were discovered inside the wrecked Dodge.

Local10 reported that Corleone-Venisee has a criminal record dating back to 2017, when he was just 11 years old, and it included arrests on multiple charges of attempted burglary, dealing in stolen property, robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor.
A dad who stabbed his four-year-old son his son to death wants to be released back into the community, a court has heard.

It's been almost eight years since David Janzow killed his son Luca, 4, while affected by bipolar disorder in Adelaide.

He was subsequently found not guilty by reason of mental incompetence and ordered to spend the rest of his life in a secure mental health facility.

In 2018, Janzow was granted supervised day release from James Nash House and later sought to have the supervision relaxed.

David Janzow (left) stabbed his little boy Luca (centre) to death in July 2014 and later was found not guilty by reason of mental incompetence. The pair are pictured with Luca's mum

His legal team have asked the Supreme Court to consider releasing Janzow from the mental health facility and continue receiving psychological treatment in the community, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

It's understood Janzow has spent time in Ashton House, which is regarded as a 'step down' facility for James Nash House inpatients.

The facility has lower security and aims to help patients readapt to society.

'This is our application for discharge from James Nash House to reside at a certain address,' his counsel Stephen Ey told the court on Monday.

'The court should already have the annual report about my client's health, and we're asking for another report.'

Luca Janzow (pictured) was just-four-years-old when his life was tragically cut short

Prosecutors told the court they didn't object.

'That report will probably take about two months (to complete), and the prosecution requires only one report given the circumstances of this case,' Lucy Boord said.

During Janzow's trial in 2015, it was revealed he had previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had an extensive history with depression.

Janzow remains remanded at a mental health facility will reappear in court in April.
A version of this piece first appeared on Common Sense

My family is liberal and not at all religious.

Depending on where you grew up, that fact can either be a non-event or a defining part of who you are.

In Queen Creek, Arizona, it meant everything.

I was regularly taunted by kids in my class who said that non-believers like me were going straight to hell.

My mom took our Obama-Biden campaign sticker off our car after the second time it got keyed and I remember hearing the n-word in elementary school after Obama's election.

In sixth grade, I learned that a friend's mom wouldn't let her play with me if she knew I didn't go to her church so I hid defining characteristics about myselfmy three sisters and I had only ever been to church for my Catholic aunt's weddingin order to not be completely lonely.

I couldn't wait to get out.

I dreamed of going to Harvard, but was enamored with all of the old, storied New England schools.

I loved watching 'The Daily Show' with Jon Stewart and reading The Atlantic. I fantasized about finally feeling like I belonged.

So I worked hard in school.

I have a single mom and we don't have a lot of money, so I knew that I would have to score a near-full scholarship.

When I graduated high school at 16, my mom didn't want to send me so far away so young.

The people at Bryn Mawr (above) were the wealthiest and most liberal I had ever encountered.

I enrolled in my local school, Arizona State University, and we both agreed that I could transfer out after my freshman year.

I arrived on Bryn Mawr's campus, a Seven Sisters school in Pennsylvania, in the Fall of 2019.

I was overjoyed.

The campus was gorgeous, and, to this day, it is probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen in real life.

There were gothic towers and acres of manicured lawns. I was eager to join the other nerdy girls and to find friends I'd have for life.

I'd gone to underfunded, overcrowded public schools my whole life and this was my first experience with small classes and teachers who seemed to love teaching.

I took a poetry class where the professor would sing folk songs to us in the hallway as we made our way into class.

I learned to write short stories from an Italian instructor who compared writing to preparing homemade pasta.

I had been nervous about not being able to keep up academically, but the calculus class I took that first year was easier than the one at ASU.

Socially, it wasn't entirely what I expected.

The people at Bryn Mawr were the wealthiest and most liberal I had ever encountered.

During my first week on campus, a girl I met suggested over dinner that 9/11 was justified because the United States had meddled in Middle East politics.

She went on to say that the 9/11 memorial should be changed so as to show more respect to Muslims.

One of the girls in my hall casually mentioned that Michelle Obama had been in a spin class she had taken in the Hamptons that summer.

At first, I thought she was kidding.

I joined a sketch comedy group, which often started meetings by asking members to answer a question.

One day, the question was 'How is your semester going?'

A few people answered directly, and then one girl said 'I'm having a great semester, but I totally acknowledge that some students, especially BIPOC students, face a lot of challenges on campus.'

Then, every person after her prefaced their answer by saying that students who aren't white were probably having a worse semester than them.

I didn't sit around with my friends all night arguing about big questions like I thought I would.

It was assumed that we all agreed on the answers.

But I made friends, and I loved my classes.

I went to parties at nearby colleges, and I was making plans to study abroad in Ireland, which, as someone who had only left my home state twice, was a huge deal for me.

That was supposed to be in the Fall of 2020, but of course it never happened.

I remember talking about the coronavirus on the way home from a party with my friend, a self-professed germaphobe, in January of 2020.

She asked if I thought we should be worried. I told her that as a campus we should be more worried about binge drinking, and we both laughed.

I thought that would be the end of it.

Weeks later, Bryn Mawr announced that my spring semester would be held online.

The next few months were the worst of my life.

While many of my classmates retreated to their big houses on the East Coast or their family's second homes, I moved home to our apartment in Tempe.

I've been at Hillsdale for three weeks, and life here is blissfully normal. I have sorority sisters. We get together and study and play board games. The student union and dining hall are packed. (Above) Campus of Hillsdale College, a private conservative liberal arts college, in Hillsdale, Michigan

There were two bedrooms between the five of us; myself, my mom, and my three younger sisters.

At the time, I didn't even have a desk where I could do my schoolwork and, regardless, I couldn't escape the distraction of my younger siblings. Their schools were closed, too.

There was no library or coffee shop open to decamp to, and the internet in our building was shaky. But the poor connection was not my biggest problem.

It was finding the motivation to attend online class as I watched everything I'd worked for evaporate.

Bryn Mawr's Covid safety precautions for Fall 2020 were announced in July.

They included, but were not limited to, isolating for 10 days prior to returning to campus and quarantining for two weeks upon arrival, living alone in a single dorm room, canceling all sporting events, weekly PCR testing, eating cafeteria take-out in our dorms, and wearing masks at all times, indoors and out.

The masks could only be taken off with the door closed in our dorm room, or 'outside in an area where you will not encounter others.'

If you did test positive, you were even further isolated to a dorm at the edge of campus, and food would be left at a drop-off point.

I wanted to be at school, but why would I spend my days 1,600 miles away from my family, with no clubs or activities, eating alone in my dorm room, avoiding all social interaction?

So I stayed home for the entirety of my junior year, except for a trip back to campus to empty my room, and put my thingsabout $300 worth of clothes, bedding, and notebooksin a storage unit nearby.

I hoped I'd be back on campus soon. By the time I went to retrieve my things, the bill for the storage unit totaled well over $1,200.

Those two semesters at home hadn't been kind to me.

I didn't really keep in touch with my Bryn Mawr friends; gazing at their mansions through a glitchy Zoom made me feel like an outsider.

When we did talk, they obsessed over how scared they were of the virus and how many precautions they were taking, as though it was some kind of competition.

Instead of sharing my thoughts and experiences, I stayed silent because I feared their criticism and eventually dropped off.

I started sleeping a lot, but only during the day. I became scared of the dark. I lost my appetite, and 20 pounds along with it. There was nothing left to look forward to.

I stopped logging on to school, and my As and Bs turned to Fs.

Ultimately, I decided to withdraw.

The stakes of leaving were high.

I had to walk away from my $75,000 scholarship, my friendseverything.

After a few weeks of being overcome with uncertainty, I started looking for schools that were more aligned with my values.

I quickly discovered that almost every school that was operating even remotely normally was overtly religious.

That was really hard for me to wrap my brain around given I had a somewhat fixed view of conservatives being rigid and intolerant.

Yet, here I was, confronted with the fact that these religious institutions were, in practice, far more aligned with my values like individual liberty, critical inquiry, and diversity of thought than the place that explicitly claimed to be those things.

In my admissions interview for Hillsdale, a small school of less than 1,500 students, founded by Baptists in Michigan, I praised Christopher Hitchensa staunch and unapologetic atheistas one of my intellectual heroes.

I disclosed that I was not religious.

I debated with my interviewer about whether math was invented or discovered.

And they wanted me anyway.

When I received that acceptance letter in November for the Spring 2022 semester, I cried.

I've been at Hillsdale for three weeks, and life here is blissfully normal.

I have sorority sisters. We get together and study and play board games.

The student union and dining hall are packed.

No one asks anyone else's vaccine status.

There are no mask mandates, and no mandatory Covid testing.

You'll see an occasional student in a mask but no one thinks anything of it.

Students and staff I've encountered disagree on the utility of masks and the danger of Covid, but it's rarely the focus of conversation and certainly not the organizing principle of anyone's life.

It feels like someone finally turned off the fire alarm that had been blaring for nearly two years.

I went to office hoursin personthe other day for one of my new classes, a required course about classic literature and I got into an interesting debate with a professor.

Upon sharing an idea that directly refuted his interpretation of a line from Genesis, which I had never read before, he said, 'That's a great point. Why didn't you share that in class?'

'I didn't want to be argumentative,' I told him.

'Be argumentative,' he said emphatically.

Of course, there's a serious social learning curve.

I curse a lot, my classmates, generally, don't.

I get a lot of invitations to church services and Bible study, which I politely turn down.

There is a distinct lack of PDA on campus. But I do not feel judged for thinking differently.

Someone on Twitter cited my migration to Hillsdale as an example of following an ideology to my own peril.

I think just the opposite happened; I rejected an ideology and it set me free.

When I stopped being scared to say what I really thought and surrounded myself with people who put their principles into practice, I was able to begin really thinking for myself.

There's an alternate universe where Covid doesn't exist, where I stay at Bryn Mawr and am never forced to learn these lessons or to confront my own limitations.

I graduate believing that deep down there was something wrong with me for not seeing the world the way my peers did, and feeling ashamed for not being brave enough to voice my dissent.

I am the same fearful girl I was at 10, who pretended to go to church so she could make friends.

My advice to upcoming high school seniors is this: try not to buy into the idea that any prestigious institution or affiliation will determine your future success.

Credentials are no longer the proxy for knowledge that they once were; the internet has removed the gatekeepers of even the most specialized information.

You don't have to go to a particular collegeor even college at allto have a meaningful experience.

Real growth isn't about your GPA or the letters after your name; it's about choosing discomfort and challenge rather than going along.

These past few years have introduced a lot of potential for regret and embarrassment, but instead, I was forced to embody the values I had previously only performed, like honesty and courage.

In that respect, I'm glad this all happened. I know what I really believe. And I'm not afraid anymore.
Rachel Maddow will be taking a weeks-long hiatus from her $30million-a-year hosting job at MSNBC to make movies and podcasts.

The TV host renewed her contract last year, agreeing to stay on at the network until 2024 after initially flirting with the idea of leaving for good.

On Monday, however, Business Insider reported she would be leaving the show temporarily this year to focus on the other projects, that include a movie directed by Ben Stiller.

While she takes a break from her eponymous show, it will air with a rotation of anchors to fill her spot.

Among her projects is a film adaptation of her podcast and book Bag Man, that Ben Stiller has signed on to produce, according to Business Insider.

Rachel Maddow is expected to announce tonight that she is taking a break from her MSNBC show to make films and podcasts, including a movie with Ben Stiller

Maddow, who recently revealed she had been diagnosed with skin cancer, will serve as an executive producer.

Maddow is expected to announce the news to viewers on Monday night.

It was reported last year that Maddow might not return to the show which she has been at the helm of for 12 years.

She switched agents, hiring Endeavour CEO Ari Emanuel and the company President Mark Shapiro, to help negotiate the new contract.

Emanuel said last year: 'Nothing has been decided. We are deep into it with NBCUniversal and Rachel has an excellent relationship with them.

'We dont comment on employee matters.'

The new movies venture will be alongside her former MSNBC boss Phil Griffin.

Stiller previously signed on as the director of the film adaptation of Maddow's book.
An illegal immigrant accused of killing a woman in a hit-and-run car crash in Texas in November 2020 is no longer facing deportation after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas changed rules to lower the number of removals.

Heriberto Fuerte-Padilla was driving drunk in November 2020 when he caused a car crash, killing 19-year-old Adrienne Sophia. The accused tried to flee the scene but was caught by police.

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially wanted authorities to deport Fuerte-Padilla after Texas issued its punishment, the federal agency changed its mind because the individual does not qualify for priority deportation under Mayorkas' new rules issued in September 2021.

Under Mayorkas' recently updated rules, according to The Washington Times, many deportation requests were canceled for illegal immigrants who are accused, charged, pleaded guilty to felony charges of evading arrest or even those who have already been convicted of drunk driving, drug possession or domestic assault.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Texas that these detainers  or requests for deportation  are no longer considered 'priority lifts', indicating they aren't seen as important targets under Mayorkas' rules.

Mayorkas developed the new rules so the two major immigration enforcement agencies, ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), have to give a break to those illegal immigrants with less severe criminal records.

More serious crimes, according to Mayorkas, include illegal immigrants who pose a national security or public safety risk or who are recent border jumpers.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas created new rules that changes the priority of what illegal immigrant criminals to deport. The rules will see an illegal immigrant accused of killing a 19-year-old woman in a hit-and-run car crash in Texas in November 2020 no longer facing deportation

Detainers were previously a routine practice where ICE would ask U.S. law enforcement to turn over illegal immigrants once they completed their prison or jail time for deportation. The practice, however, became more controversial over the last 10 years.

Many jurisdictions, now known as sanctuary cities or states, now refuse to cooperate with detainers.

ICE battled sanctuary jurisdictions during the Biden and Trump administration, claiming they were releasing dangerous criminals into the country. With the new rules under Mayorkas, ICE is now canceling detainers and forcing states to release illegal immigrants with criminal records.

Mayorkas insisted being in the country illegally is not reason enough to be deported.

'The fact an individual is a removable noncitizen therefore should not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them,' the DHS head told immigration enforcement agents and officers.

'We will use our discretion and focus our enforcement resources in a more targeted way. Justice and our country's well-being require it,' he added.

Migration at the southern border has hit record numbers since Joe Biden took office and installed Mayorkas as head of addressing national security, which includes overseeing agencies that deal with the border the U.S. shares with Mexico.

In the year since becoming president, CBP has encountered at least 2 million migrants trying to enter the U.S. at the southern border.

Mayorkas admitted this month that the southern border is in the worst state he's ever seen  even preceding Biden taking office.

Federal court filings show the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry are challenging Matorkas' rules, presenting several examples of canceled detainers.

Arizona, Montana and Ohio are also challenging the rules in a separate hearing schedule for the middle of February before a federal judge in Ohio.

In the year since Joe Biden became president, Customs and Border Protection has encountered at least 2 million migrants trying to enter the U.S. at the southern border

Mayorks claims illegal immigrants who pose public safety risks are causing the most headache and says those enforcing the law at the southern border need to balance criminal convictions against other factors, such as how long an illegal immigrant has been in the country.

Regarding the case of Fuerta-Padilla, authorities claim the accused was driving drunk at 1:30 p.m. on a Sunday when his Dodge pickup truck smashed into a Mazda driven by Adrienne Sophia Exum, who was 19 at the time of the crash.

The impact ejected Exum, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, from her car and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fuerte-Padilla, a Mexican migrant, tried to flee the scene but was chased down by an off duty police officer.

Another example of a canceled detainer, detailed by Texas and obtained by the Times, is the case of Jose Godoy Vasquez.

Vasquez, who is an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, has several convictions spanning from drunk driving in 2013 and drug possession and domestic violence from 2019 to 2021. His current sentence runs through 2025.

ICE previously had a detainer request on Vasquez, but told Texas last month it is being canceled under Mayorkas' new priorities.

A third case, according to state records, involved a man named Nay Thar from Thailand, who was convicted of drug possession in 2017, drunken driving and fleeing police in 2018 and sneaking contraband into prison in 2020.

State records indicate he was released this month but his deportation request was canceled.

Biden put Vice President Kamala Harris in charge of addressing the migration crisis, but quickly her office rebranded her role to looking into 'root causes' in Northern Triangle nations that lead to mass migration to the U.S.

Many have criticized Harris for not doing enough to quell the prevailing crisis facing America's southern border.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz continued to hint that he would jump in the 2024 presidential race, but likely only if former President Donald Trump decided not to run.

'The race in '24 will very much hinge on whatever President Trump decides to do,' Cruz told NBC News for a profile that came out Monday about the Texas Republican's presidential ambitions. 'President Trump is going to make his decision whether or not he runs, or nobody else is going to make that decision for him. And I expect that everyone else will react accordingly when he does make that decision.'

Last month, he answered, 'absolutely, in a heartbeat,' when asked by the Truth Gazette if he'd run for president in 2024.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz continued to hint that he would jump in the 2024 presidential race, but likely only if former President Donald Trump decided not to run

'There's a reason historically that the runner-up is almost always the next nominee,' Cruz said, calling the 2016 campaign 'the most fun I've ever had in my life.'

In recent history, Democrat Hillary Clinton became the Democratic nominee in 2016 after losing her party's primary to former President Barack Obama in 2008.

Similarly, now Sen. Mitt Romney ran in the Republican primary in 2008 and lost, only to earn his party's nomination in 2012. The late Sen. John McCain ran in 2000 and lost, and then won his party's nomination in 2008.

However, all three lost their general election races.

That being said, now President Joe Biden mounted presidential bids twice before the 2020 race - in 1988, with his bid derailed due to a plagiarism scandal, and in 2008, dropping out after the Iowa caucuses only to be later selected by Obama as the Illinois senator's running mate.

Former President Donald Trump still has a firm grip on the Republican Party, with 49 per cent of registered voters saying they'd select him in a GOP primary, versus the 2 per cent who would select Cruz

Cruz argued that the runner-up had an advantage because 'you come in with just an enormous base of support.'

But recent polling shows the firm grip Trump still has on his party.

In a Politico/Morning Consult survey, 49 per cent of registered voters said they'd back Trump in a GOP primary, while just 2 per cent selected Cruz.

Former Vice President Mike Pence performed second best after Trump, garnering 13 per cent, while Romney attracted 4 per cent.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is getting a lot of 2024 buzz, was not included in that survey.

'I don't think he would run against Trump,' a person close to Cruz told NBC News. 'I don't know that Trump's going to run. But if Trump doesn't run, I'm quite certain he will run.'

If Trump doesn't run, his endorsement will be the most potent of any Republican to select an heir-apparent from the pack.

Cruz has made good with the now ex-president.

He went from fighting with Trump over social media comments the real estate investor made about Cruz's wife, Heidi, to being one of his top allies in Congress during the Republican's White House tenure.

And Cruz, and Sen. Josh Hawley, were the leaders in the Senate on January 6 to object to the Electoral College vote count.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has tested positive for coronavirus, hours after she was sat inches away from Boris Johnson in the Commons.

The minister was set to travel to Kyiv, Ukraine, with the Prime Minister on Tuesday in a show of support for the country.

But Ms Truss will miss that trip after she tested positive and will be working from home as she isolates.

The Foreign Secretary tweeted: 'I tested positive for Covid this evening.

'Thankfully Ive had my three jabs and will be working from home while I isolate.'

Earlier today, Ms Truss had been sat on the front bench of the Commons, inches away from Mr Johnson as he delivered a half-apology after the Sue Gray report condemned 'failures of leadership and judgment' in Downing Street.

Ms Truss, who was not wearing a face mask, was sat beside Home Secretary Priti Patel and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has tested positive for coronavirus, hours after she was sat inches away from Boris Johnson in the Commons

The minister was set to travel to Kyiv, Ukraine , with the Prime Minister on Tuesday in a show of support for the country. But those plans will have to change after Ms Truss tweeted that she has Covid

Earlier, Ms Truss announced plans for legislation with new powers to sanction individuals and businesses linked to the Russian state ahead of the visit.

After appearing in the Commons, Ms Truss then later attended a meeting open to all members of the parliamentary Conservative party where the PM addressed MPs and peers to rally support after what was described as a "difficult day".

The Foreign Secretary had been due on a visit with Mr Johnson on Tuesday, for a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky amid rising tensions with Russia.

Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister would sidestep the fallout from the Sue Gray Partygate report by travelling to Kyiv.

That journey, which was supposed to be made with Ms Truss, will take place after an expected phone call with Putin today, as tens of thousands of Russian troops maintain their position close to the Ukraine border.

Fears of an imminent Russian incursion in Ukraine have grown in recent days, despite denials from Moscow and pleas from Zelensky to avoid stirring 'panic' over the military build-up on the border.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss making a statement on Russia and Ukraine, in the House of Commons in London on January 31

As well as visiting Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary had planned to head on to Moscow for talks.

Diplomatic efforts are ramping up as Putin-backing oligarchs were warned there will be 'nowhere to hide' from new UK sanctions.

The Foreign Office is set to announce details of enhanced measures that could be used against 'strategic interests' of the Russian state.

Targets could include financial institutions and energy firms as well as Mr Putin's wealthy supporters.

Meanwhile, former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers has insisted Russia can be deterred from pushing ahead with an invasion if the West makes clear there will be 'costs'.
A beloved fire captain has been shot dead in California while battling a dumpster blaze and his alleged killer has been taken into custody.

Captain Max Fortuna, 47, was brought to a local hospital in Stockton, between San Francisco and Sacramento, where he succumbed from his injuries at around 11a.m.

He is survived by his wife and two grown children.

Robert Somerville, 67, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. The Stockton Police Department told DailyMail.com that a motive was not immediately clear and they could not name the suspect at this time.

'This is my worst nightmare as a fire chief,' Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards said. 'My message to my firefighters is to be strong, my heart breaks with you but we will get through this.'

Fortuna was a 22-year veteran on the Stockton Fire Department. Both retired and active firefighters met at the Fire Department's center station to honor the victim.

'Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job,' Stockton Professional Firefighters union President Mario Gardea said. 'I don't know too many other firefighters that enjoyed the job as much as him.'

The shooting remains under investigation, officials said. It remains unknown whether Fortuna was randomly or deliberately shot. The gun used by the suspect was found at the scene of the shooting.

Captain Max Fortuna, 47, had been a firefighter at the Stockton Department for 22 years when he was shot in the early hours of Monday morning while putting out a dumpster fire

PICTURED: The suspected shooter, Robert Somerville, 67, was arrested soon after police arrived at the scene at about 5am

Stockton police shared a photograph of the gun used in the shooting of fire captain Max Fortuna, 47

At the time of the tragedy, the Stockton Fire Department was responding to a call at 4.45 a.m. on Monday morning concerning a dumpster fire in the area of Aurora Street and Washington Street.

Gunshots were heard and Fortuna was hit while extinguishing the blaze. His fellow firefighters tried to save his life before taking him to the hospital.

'The Stockton Fire Department is a brotherhood, it's a sisterhood,' Mayor Kevin Lincoln said during a press conference. 'As a city, we will do everything that we can under our will and our power to support this family and to support our fire department.'

'Once again, firefighters are part of our public safety family, and this hits all of us hard,' said Officer Joe Silva of the Stockton Police Department. 'This just shows the dangers of our job. Right now, our thoughts and prayers are going out to the firefighter's family and all of our firefighters here in the city of Stockton.'

Police said at the public event that they do not expect there to be any additional suspects in the incident.

A Stockton Fire Department vehicle is parked at the location where a firefighter was shot while working a fire in Stockton, California, on Monday
A man has been charged over the deaths of two men whose blooded bodies were found in a inner-Sydney boarding house.

Police were called to a terrace on Cleveland Street, Redfern shortly before midnight on Saturday night and found the bodies of Steven Finlay, 52 and his boyfriend Mitch Watson, 32, inside a unit.

The State Crime Commands Homicide Squad set up Strike Force Menlow to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

A man, 41 was arrested at a unit in Redfern on Monday following extensive inquiries.

Steven Finlay (pictured) was found dead alongside his partner, Mitch Watson

The scene at the boarding house in Redfern on Sunday

Police seized a number of items from the Cleveland Street townhouse to be forensically examined.

The man was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with two counts of murder.

He was refused bail and will appear at Central Local Court on Tuesday.

Police will allege in court the men were known to each other.

One neighbour recalled he heard men fighting in the unit prior to police finding the bodies of Mr Finlay and Mr Watson.

'It was like he punched his mate at the wall and I woke up and said 'what the f**k are you doing, stop it',' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'I heard bang bang bang, then it went dead quiet and the police came. They're always fighting, I hear it.'

'There was blood. A lot of blood. All on his arm. It looked like his arm had gone through glass. He had his phone in his hand, poor bugger,' he said.

Another local said Mr Finlay had lived there for a few years.
A man who allegedly walked into a service station stark naked but for sunglasses and thongs has been charged by police.

NSW Police confirmed a 48-year-man from Bexley North in Sydney had been issued with a notice to attend court on a charge of wilful and obscene exposure in a public place.

In footage shared widely on social media, a naked man is seen walking into the BP Edgecliff petrol station after he had filled up his car at the bowser.

Wearing sunglasses and thongs and carrying a wallet, the unmasked man is seen to approach the counter, tap on to pay and exit the store.

In footage shared widely on social media, a naked man allegedly walked into the BP Edgecliff service station in Sydney's eastern suburbs to pay for fuel after he had filled up his car

The clothes-free man was first seen filling up his car at the service station in Sydney's eastern suburbs

CCTV footage capture the man paying via tap-and-go. A 48-year-old man from Bexley North has been charged with wilful and obscene exposure in a public place and will appear in a Sydney court in February

It is still not clear why the man was naked during the fuel run.

BP Australia has declined to comment on the incident.

A picture of the incident was first posted on Twitter by Kyle Sandilands' manager, Bruno Bouchet, on January 29.

'Real life version of that dream you have when youre completely starkers in public,' Bouchet posted with the photo of the man entering the service station.

The man is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on February 25.
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

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Labor and unions have blasted Scott Morrison's $800 bonus payments to aged care workers (pictured)

Labor and unions have blasted Scott Morrison's $800 bonus payments to aged care workers, describing the move as a 'cheap and nasty' election stunt.

Bill Shorten called the payments a 'sugar hit' and said instead salaries must increase to stop aged care workers on $22 an hour earning less Bunnings team members who get $25.

'The base rates are around $22 an hour. Before tax. I mean you can earn more at Bunnings and I am happy for the Bunnings workers but we have to treat the aged-care workers better,' the former Labor leader told the Today show on Tuesday.

'The base rate is what has to go up otherwise we are going to struggle to attract people to the industry.

'If you have to look after some of the most vulnerable people, some of who might have challenging conditions in residential care, is $22 an hour before tax enough? I think it isn't.'

In a $209million cash splash announced by Scott Morrison on Tuesday, aged care workers will get two bonus payments of up to $400 in February and May to stop them leaving the sector which is ravaged by Covid outbreaks and staff shortages.

Health Services Union national president Gerard Hayes said the move was not nearly enough to address systemic issues in the aged care sector, which was the subject of a damming royal commission report released last year.

'We have a sustained crisis that has been brewing for years  yet all we get is more short term political management, more kicking the can down the road, more denial of reality,' Mr Hayes said.

'When will this government grow up?

'Mr Morrison's latest ploy is cheap and nasty. We're into our third year of this pandemic, and an exhausted aged care workforce is barely holding on.'

United Workers Union aged care director Carolyn Smith also said the payments were not enough.

'The aged care industry is at an absolute breaking point, and I am not sure these bonuses will fix the systemic issues in the industry,' she said.

'Aged care workers are struggling with low pay, understaffing and the poor rollout of Covid-19 response by Scott Morrison. The fact that workers are still not receiving regular RATs and adequate PPE is indicative of the federal government's failure in this area.

'Although we do welcome Scott Morrison's admission that aged care wages needed to be substantially improved, something we have been saying for a long time now.'

In a $209million cash splash announced by Scott Morrison on Tuesday, aged care workers will get two bonus payments of up to $400 in February and May to stop them leaving the sector

Former PM Kevin Rudd also joined the pile-on, writing: 'Morrison has consistently underfunded aged care - a 100% federal responsibility. Even after heart-breaking Royal Commission findings & more than 1,000 Covid deaths in aged care, nothing has changed. They just can't be trusted because they just don't care.'

Labor's aged care services spokeswoman Clare O'Neil called the move 'an act of cynical politicking' with the second round of payments due just before the federal election.

'If Scott Morrison gave a stuff about aged-care workers he would be doing something more than giving them a pay rise that only lasts up until the next election,' she told the ABC.

'A pay rise that lasts up until the next election... will not do anything more than hold this thing together by a thread.'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the PM was trying to 'buy' the support of aged care workers.

But Superannuation Minister Jane Hume defended the timing, saying the government has provided support to aged care workers throughout the pandemic.

'We provided the aged care workforce with a bonus payment back in 2020 in recognition of the increased work and demands on the time they faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic,' she told the ABC.

'The pandemic has lasted longer than anticipated and this does exactly that.'

'There is demand on their time, they've been doing increased shifts, they've had to have a surge capacity workforce imposed upon them as well just to maintain the status quo,' Senator Hume said.

The senator said permanent increase to wages would increase the cost of aged care.

'We want to make sure this is a sustainable system going into the future,' she said.

More than 400 Covid deaths this year have been in aged care facilities, amounting to about a third of more than 1,160 overall fatalities.

With AAP
A judge has rejected a plea deal for Ahmaud Arbery's killers on federal hate crime charges, with Travis McMichael admitting for the first time that he chased him down because he was black before fatally shooting him.

On Monday, Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael changed their plea to guilty at a hearing in the U.S. District Court in Brunswick, Georgia, after reaching a deal with federal prosecutors on Sunday night.

Travis McMichael pleaded guilty to using a gun in his attempt to apprehend Arbery because of his 'race and color,' resulting in Arbery's death.

But in a ruling this afternoon, the judge rejected the terms of the deal after Arbery's mother and other family members begged her to.

Under the agreements of the deal, the court would have imposed a 30-year sentence on Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael, and it would run concurrent with the life sentences they are already serving as a result of their murder convictions.

The McMichaels were both sentenced to life without parole for murdering Arbery, while their neighbor William Roddie Bryan, 52, - who filmed the murder - was also sentnced to life but will be eligible for parole in 15 years.

'Having considered all that was said today, and looking at the law that governs these agreements, it is my decision to reject the plea agreement in this case,' U.S. District Judge Lisa G. Wood said on Monday.

'I am not comfortable with accepting the terms of the plea agreement,' she added.

Arbery's family was furious at the Department of Justice for giving two of his killers the plea deal that would have sent them to a relatively cushy federal prison to serve out their life sentences instead of the state penitentiary.

In an emotional plea to the court, Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones said: 'I'm asking on behalf of his family, on the behalf of his memory, and on behalf of fairness that you do not accept this plea.'

She added that the deal would give the men their preference of serving time in a federal prison.

'I don't need them to say that they were motivated by hate. That does me no good. That does my family no good. I've heard enough from Travis McMichael.'

She added that McMichaels' testimony at the murder trial 'followed me through the Christmas holiday'.

'For once, listen to me. It is not right. It is not just. It is wrong. Please listen to me. The state of Georgia already gave these men exactly what they deserve.'

Arbery's father, Marcus Arbery, told the court: 'They killed my son because hes a black man.'

Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael were convicted in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery

Arbery, 26, was murder in February 2020 after he was chased down by the Travis and Gregory McMichael and William 'Roddie' Bryan

Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, left, attorney Lee Merritt, second from left, attorney Ben Crump, right, and Marcus Arbery, father of Ahmaud Arbery with Reverend Al Sharpton in November 2021 at the state trial

At court on Monday, Assistant US Attorney Tara M. Lyons told the court that Travis McMichael's racial motivations were pre-established due to his license plate which had an image of an old Georgia flag with a Confederate symbol on it.

'He had made assumptions about Ahmaud Arbery that he would not have made, if Ahmaud Arbery had been white.'

She added that McMichael also 'associated black skin with criminality.'

'While race and color need not be the sole cause of a defendant's actions [under the statute], they must be a 'but-for' cause,' Lyons said.

Legal experts said the men likely tried to get into federal prison because they will be more closely protected there than in state prison.

'Federal prison is a country club when compared to state prison. Federal prisons are less populated, better funded and generally more accommodating than state prisons. These men hurriedly entered this plea deal that would allow them to transfer out of custody from GA prison,' attorney Lee Merritt tweeted earlier on Monday.

A lawyer for the McMichaels told The Atlanta Journal Constitution that it was unfair to suggest federal prison is more comfortable.

'Anybody who tries to convince the public that one is better than the other or one is cushier than the other has no idea what it's like to serve time in prison,' he said.

After hearing news of the deal, Abery's parents immediately called it a betrayal, and said it was an 'unauthorized backroom deal' that 'is a huge accommodation to the men who hunted down and murdered' their son.

The McMichaels were convicted in November, along with William 'Roddie' Bryan, in Arbery's murder and were sentenced to serve life without parole, though Bryan was allowed to seek parole.

The trio, however, were still scheduled to stand trial for federal hate crime charges on February 7.

The details of the plea agreement were not specified when filed on Sunday. A plea does not appear to have been reached with Bryan.

However, Marcus Arbery and Wanda Cooper-Jones, in a statement put out by their attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt early Monday morning, have revealed some of the details of the agreement, which they say is a betrayal of their trust.

Lee Merritt, an attorney for the Arbery family, said the prison the men would now go to under the deal is like a 'country club' compared with state prison

'Both [Cooper-Jones] and [Arbery] are vehemently against this deal and expressed this directly on calls with DOJ officials today,' the statement reads.

They said the deal would allow the McMichaels to serve 30 years in a 'preferred federal prison' rather than a state penitentiary.

'The DOJ has gone behind my back to offer the men who murdered my son a deal to make their time in prison easier for them to serve,' she said earlier on Monday.

'I have made it clear at every possible moment that I do not agree to offer these men a plea deal of any kind. I have been completely betrayed by the DOJ lawyers.'

Attorney Ben Crump speaks to the Media with Lee Merritt (second from left) outside the Glynn County Courthouse

Travis and Gregory McMichael were both sentenced to life without parole, while their neighbor William Roddie Bryan, 52, - who filmed the murder - will be eligible for parole. Judge Timothy R. Walmsley did not specify how long he would have to spend in prison - prosecutors asked that he spend at least 15 years behind bars. Typically, the minimum in Georgia is 30 years.

In handing down his sentence, Walmsley called the murder 'chilling' and 'disturbing'. He talked about the 'terror' Arbery must have felt for the five minutes the men chased him in their pick-up trucks with a shotgun and revolver.

'As we all now know based on the verdict that was handed down in this courtroom, Ahmaud Arbery was murdered. It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy on many, many levels.

'On February 23, 2020...a young man with dreams was gunned down in this community. As we understand it, he went for a run and he ended up running for his life.'

To emphasize how long the five-minute chase must have felt for Arbery, the judge sat silently for a minute in the courtroom.

'That one minute represents a fraction of the time that Ahmaud Arbery was running in Satilla Shores. The chase that occurred, occurred over a five minute period.

'When I thought about this, I kept coming back to the terror that must have been in the mind of the young man running through Satilla Shores,' he said.

'He was hunted down and shot and he was killed because individuals took the law into their own hands.'

Travis McMichael, left, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for shooting dead Ahmaud Arbery in 2020

Gregory McMichael, Travis's 66-year-old father, will also die in prison under the life without parole sentence

William Roddie Bryan, the 52-year-old neighbor who filmed the murder, was sentenced to life but he has been given the possibility of parole. Prosecutors asked that he have to serve at least 15 years behind bars

Judge Timothy Walmsley on Friday called the killing 'chilling' and 'disturbing.' He talked about the 'terror' Arbery must have felt as the men chased him in their pick-up trucks for five minutes

He then recited some of the comments made by the McMichaels after the shooting to prove that it was a 'callous' execution, and said they never showed any remorse.

'Remorse is something that's felt and demonstrated. In this case, getting back to the video, after Ahmaud Arbery fell, the McMichael's turned their backs. They walked away. This was a killing. It was callous and it occurred because confrontation was being sought.

'The most violent crime in Satilla Shores was the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

'The record speaks for itself. Greg McMichael tried to establish a narrative. He said he was 'trapped like a rat.'

Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed in Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. on February 23, 2020,one year on

'He said, 'stop or I'll blow your f*****g head off.'

'He told Travis 'you have no choice'. He also said, 'If I could have gotten a shot at the guy, I would have shot him.''

Unlike the father and son, Bryan appeared to show some remorse in the days and weeks after the killing, he said.

However all three acted as vigilantes, chasing down Arbery and then murdering him because they were 'seeking confrontation.'

'Taking the law into your own hands is a dangerous endeavor. Ultimately with regard to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery it holds us all accountable. At a minimum his death should force us to consider expanding our definition of what a neighbor may be and how we treat them.

'I believe that assuming the worst in others, we show our worst character. Assuming the best in others is always the best course of action. Maybe those are the grand lessons of this case,' the judge said.

There were celebrations outside the court as the sentences were read aloud.

Earlier, Arbery's parents asked a judge to sentence his killers to life without parole on Friday at a courthouse in Georgia, saying they 'lynched him in broad daylight' and targeted him when he felt most 'free and alive'.

On February 23, 2020, the McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery, a 26-year-old black man, through a street in Satilla Shores. They said they thought he was a burglar. Travis pulled the trigger, with his father nearby. Bryan filmed the entire incident on his phone.

In November, they were all convicted of murder - which carries a mandatory life sentence. Prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty.

Gregory and Travis McMichael and their neighbor William Brian Jr were found a guilty of murder in state court on November 23 by a panel of 11 white jurors and one black juror. In compiling that jury pool, 1,000 people in the mostly-white Glynn County were called. Pictured: The moment Arbery was shot by Travis McMichael

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones celebrates as she leaves court with her family on Friday after her son's killers were sentenced to life behind bars without parole

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, center, speaks with supporters after Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 23, 2021 a woman holds portraits of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd during an event in remembrance of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones (left) and father Marcus (right) asked a judge to impose the maximum sentence possible for his killers - life without parole

Arbery's father Marcus spoke first, telling the court: 'The man who killed my son has sat in this courtroom every day next to his father. I'll never get the chance of sitting next to my son ever again. Not at a dinner table, not at a holiday, not at a wedding. I pray that no one in this courtroom has to do what we had - bury their child.'

Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper Jones, pleaded: 'They were fully committed to their crimes - let them be fully committed for the consequences.'

She then pleaded with the judge: 'Your honor, I am standing here before you today as the mother of Ahmaud Arbery asking you to please give all three defendants who are responsible for the death of my son, the maximum punishment which I do believe is life without bars without the possible chance for parole.'

During sentencing, lawyers for the three men asked the judge to grant the men parole. That was refused for Travis McMichael and his father. Pictured: McMichael leaving the court house in shackles after being sentenced to life without parole

Greg McMichael is handcuffed and seen wearing a face mask as he's led out of the court after sentencing

William Bryan was the only convicted killer to be granted a sentence where he was given the option of parole. He's pictured being led out of the court house to serve his sentence

Ahmaud Arbery's parents, Wanda Cooper-JOnes (in blue suit) and Marcus Arbery (third from left), celebrate outside court as his three killers are jailed for life - two without the possibility of parole

The men's lawyers are asking that they be granted parole after 30 years. Prosecutors have asked the judge not to grant any of the men parole.

Cooper-Jones spoke about Ahmaud as a 'loving' baby who 'never seemed to tire of cuddles, hugs and kisses.'

His father Marcus told how he loved to run more than anything because it made him feel 'free'.

'Not only did they lynch my son in broad daylight but they killed him when he was doing what he loved more than anything - running.

'That's when he felt most alive. Most free. And they took all of that from him.

'When I close my eyes, I see his execution over and over. I'll see that for the rest of my life.

'When I became a father my life became bigger than me, it became bigger than me about my family, protecting him, protecting my boy. I know in my head that there is nothing I could have done that day to have saved my son.

'MY SON'S KILLERS HAVE NO REMORSE' - AHMAUD ARBERY'S MOTHER'S VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT I want to speak directly to my son. This verdict doesn't bring you back, but it does help bring closure to this very difficult chapter of my life. I made a promise to you the day I laid you to rest. I told you I loved you and someday, somehow I would get you justice. Son, I love you as much today as the day you were born. Raising you was the honor of my life and I am very proud of you. Your honor, these men have chosen to lie and attack my son and his surviving family. They have no remorse and do not deserve leniency. This wasn't a case of mistaken identity or mistaken fact. They chose to target my son because they didn't want him in their community they chose to treat him differently when they couldn't sufficiently scare him or intimidate him, they killed him. My young son, he was born on mothers' day of 1994. He had a smile so bright it lit up the room. He was a greedy baby and it seemed like he was always searching for something to stick in his mouth. He was always a loving baby who seemed to never tire of cuddling, hugs and kisses He loved. He never hesitated to tell me, his sister Jasmine or brother Marcus, and we loved him back, He was messy. He sometimes refused to wear socks. I wish he would have cut and cleaned his toenails before he went out for his jog that day. I guess he would have if he knew he would be murdered. My family is going to miss Ahmaud, his jokes, impersonations, his warm smile. These men deserve the maximum sentence for their crimes. Ahamud never said a word to them. He never threatened them, he just wanted to be left alone. They were fully committed to their crimes - let them be fully committed for the consequences. I'm standing here before you asking you to please give all three defendants who are responsible for the death of my son, the maximum punishment in this court which I do believe is life without bars without the possible chance for parole. Advertisement

'To save him from this evil and hate. My heart is broken and always will be.

'If I could trade places with Ahmaud, I would in a heartbeat but I can't'. I'm standing here to do what he can't - that is to fight for him. His memory, his legacy and to tell you who he was.

'That's the one thing you didn't hear in this courtroom. More than anything else, you should know who my boy was.

'We love our son and we will never have him with us to celebrate anything. Thanksgiving, Christmas...his birthday his killers should spend the rest of their lives thinking about what they took from us.

'It should be behind my bars.

'Me and my family have got to live with this for the rest of our lives. They should stay behind those bars the rest of their lives. They didn't give him a chance.'

Ahmaud's mother spoke directly to him, saying: 'This verdict doesn't bring you back. But it does help bring closure to this very difficult chapter of my life.

'I made a promise to you the day I laid you to rest.

'I told you I loved you and someday, somehow I would get you justice.

'Son, I love you as much today as the day you were born.

'Raising you was the honor of my life and I am very proud of you.'

She said none of the killers showed remorse for their actions, and deserved to die in prison.

'They have no remorse and do not deserve leniency. This wasn't a case of mistaken identity or mistaken fact.

'They chose to target my son because they didn't want him in their community.

'They chose to treat him differently.

'And when they couldn't sufficiently scare him or intimidate him, they killed him.'

Arbery, a 25-year-old avid jogger, was running through the mostly white residential neighborhood of Satilla Shores on the afternoon of Feb. 23 when the McMichaels decided to grab their guns, jump in a pickup truck and give chase.

The younger McMichael would later testify to the jury they had a hunch Arbery might be fleeing a crime.

Bryan joined the chase in his own pickup truck after it passed his driveway, and pulled out his cellphone to record Travis McMichael firing a shotgun at Arbery at close range.

Arbery had nothing on him besides his running clothes and sneakers.

The video caused outrage when it emerged months later and it became clear that none of the men involved had yet been arrested after a local prosecutor concluded the killing was justified.

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones wipes a tear from her eyes while listening to her daughter's impact statement to Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley

Ahmaud Arbery's sister Jasmine Arbery wipes a tear from her eyes while listening to her mother's impact statement to Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley during the sentencing of Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse, on January 7, 2022 in Brunswick, Georgia

Ahmaud Arbery's father Marcus Arbery, center, sits in the courtroom with other family members during the sentencing of Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse

William Roddie Bryan, 52, arrives at court in Brunswick, Georgia, on Friday to be sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery

Travis McMichael, 35, arrives in court in shackles on Friday morning to be sentenced for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. He will be at least 65 before he gets out of prison

Gregory McMichael, 66, is shown arriving at court for the 10am sentencing hearing

Gregory McMichael makes his way into court on Friday to be sentenced to life in prison

'The day has finally come that we will get justice.

'The day my family an I have prayed for... it has finally come.'

Defense attorneys then pleaded with the judge not to sentence the men to the harshest possible term.

Gregory McMichael's attorney, Laura Hogue, called him a 'man of goodness' and referred to the killing as a 'five minute chase that ended in tragedy.'

'Greg McMichael is a good man. He is not a perfect person but none of us are.

'The choices he made as a young man, all the way through to the rest of his life, to serve, not to acquire wealth, but to quietly go through the business of choosing career options to help other people.

'I say without hesitation he remains a man of goodness,' she said.
A majority of Americans now believe it is time to accept that COVID will stick around and we should move on with our lives amid declining COVID cases - as the number of people who think President Joe Biden is doing a good job handling the pandemic continues to decline.

A Monmouth University poll released on Monday found that a whopping 70 percent of Americans agree with the sentiment that 'COVID is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives,' including 78 percent of those who report having had COVID and 65 percent of those who say they have not yet been infected.

Only about a third of the 794 randomly identified Americans surveyed between January 20 and January 24 said they felt the country will get the pandemic under control, and life will return to normal by the end of the year, while 28 percent believe a return to normalcy will never happen.

Meanwhile, just 43 percent of the respondents said Biden has done a good job in handling the pandemic, while 53 percent say he has done a bad job.

That marks the first time since the New Jersey-based university began conducting the monthly survey last year that Biden's ratings have been underwater. Just one month ago, the university reports, views on the president's handling of the virus was evenly split, and before that it was consistently positive.

But now COVID cases are continuing to decline throughout the country, and just over half of the respondents supported reinstating mask and social distancing mandates, while less than half of the public supported vaccine mandates.

'Americans' worries about COVID haven't gone away,' said Patrick Murray, the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. 'It seems more to be a realization that we are not going to get this virus under control in a way that we thought was possible just last year.'

A Monmouth University poll released Monday found that a whopping 70 percent of Americans believe 'It's time we accept that COVID is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives'

January's poll also marked the first time in a year that a majority of those surveyed disapproved of President Joe Biden's handling of the pandemic. He is seen here removing a KN95 face mask before speaking during a meeting with the Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have starkly dropped off after peaking in early-January

The poll comes as COVID cases in the United States are continuing to fall, with just 510,871 cases per day reported as of Monday morning, a drop of 28 percent over the week before.

The falling case levels in the U.S. have increased calls to end the remaining pandemic-related measures in the country. States like New York, that were struck hard by the variant early on, are now seeing cases dramatically decline - down more than 50 percent over the last week alone.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former director of the Food and Drug Administration and current board member at Pfizer, said on CNBC's Squawk Box Monday that the stark drop in cases over the past few weeks is a sign it is time for the remaining COVID restrictions in the U.S. to be lifted.

'Society isn't going to tolerate these things in perpetuity. The mitigation we've adopted has to be used to deal with epidemic peaks, not be a constant way of life,' he said.

'We are going to have to be willing to withdraw these mitigations.'

A precedent has been set as well, with some of the countries that were struck hardest by the Omicron variant already laying out plans for post-pandemic life.

Earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the end of all pandemic related restrictions, including the end of mask mandates, some capacity restrictions, and work from home orders. Testing requirements for Britons to return to the nation will be dropped in the coming weeks as well. This comes after a miraculous turnaround for the nation that was struck early by the variant, and was struck so hard some officials feared the nation's hospital system would be overwhelmed.

The UK is averaging just under 90,000 COVID cases per day as of Monday morning, a far fall from the peak of over 180,000 cases earlier this month.

But the Centers for Disease Control remains hesitant to declare America as past the pandemic. It still deems 99.75 percent of U.S. counties - 3,214 out of 3,220 - as an area of 'high' transmission.

'We know there is still much to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic. We are still seeing far too many new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,' a CDC spokesperson told CNN last week.

'As we look forward to the spring, it's important to continue practicing prevention measures that we know work - vaccinating, wearing a mask in public, indoor settings, staying home when you are sick, and washing your hands frequently.'

While cases are trending in the right direction in America, the 500,000 cases being averaged daily is still double the pre-Omicron record set in early 2021. The near 2,400 cases being averaged every day is also the most since last February, the tail-end of the nation's deadliest COVID surge.

In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, experts questioned the need for COVID vaccines - prompting some artists to take their music off of Spotify, which houses his podcast

And when comedian Joe Rogan recently featured two experts on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, who questioned the need for vaccine mandates, he was met with backlash.

In the aftermath, artists Neil Young and Joni Mitchell removed their music from Spotify, which streams Rogan's podcast, to protest over its spread of what Young described as 'deadly misinformation about COVID'.

The streaming service later announced it would start adding an advisory content warning to any of Rogan's episodes concerning COVID.

But Rogan has since said he was only seeking to have conversations with people who have 'differing opinions.'

'I'm not trying to promote misinformation, I'm not trying to be controversial,' Rogan said, before pointing out that many facts about COVID which are now widely accepted would have been seen as misinformation just months ago.

Rogan argued that vaccinated people can still carry and spread COVID - something which in the earlier days of the pandemic was widely thought not to be true.

He also said that he schedules the guests on his podcast himself, and that he would try to book doctors with different opinions right after he talks to 'the controversial ones.'

'I've never tried to do anything with this podcast other than to just talk to people,' he said.
Britain will plant its flag on the world stage again as it untangles itself from 40 years of EU membership, Boris Johnson has declared.

In a report on how the Government will take advantage of Brexit, the Prime Minister vowed to 'seize the incredible opportunities that our freedom presents'.

The Benefits Of Brexit paper sets out how ministers hope to target 1billion of business savings by making changes to inherited EU regulations.

Mr Johnson said Britain will use the benefits of being out of the bloc to 'build back better than ever before'.

In a report on how the Government will take advantage of Brexit, the Prime Minister vowed to 'seize the incredible opportunities that our freedom presents'. Pictured: The Prime Minister speaks during a statement at the House of Commons today

He writes in a foreword to the report: 'This is a hugely exciting time for our country, one filled with potential and opportunity.'

Officials are reviewing all retained EU laws to assess which of them should be scrapped.

Mr Johnson wrote: 'Untangling ourselves from 40 years of EU membership, keeping what works, changing what doesn't, supporting new industries, reinvigorating older ones and firmly planting the British flag on the world stage once again.

'The bolder we are, the greater the gains will be for us all.

'And-as this document demonstrates-this is a government that possesses the ambition and determination the UK needs to succeed now and for many years to come.'

The 102-page report lays out how the UK will forge new regulations, pledging to 'use our new freedom to act quickly and nimbly' in a bid to create 'better markets'.

Other changes, including digitising trade documents, are proposed in a bid to save billions of pounds for British businesses.

In the rush to leave the bloc, the UK left in place almost all existing EU laws.

Although they can be overturned, ministers complain it is a laborious process, with primary legislation needed to change even minor details.

Officials are already reviewing all retained EU laws to assess which bits should be scrapped - but have warned that reforms will take years unless their special status is ended.

Downing Street has said it will bring forward a Brexit Freedoms Bill to make it easier to amend outdated EU law.
NSW has recorded 12,818 new Covid cases as the state announced it would all reinstate all elective surgery from the start of next week.

The state also recorded 30 more Covid-related deaths - compared to 26 the day before - in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday night.

The new cases, which mark a 1.6 per cent decrease on Monday's 13,026 infections, include 7,913 rapid antigen test results and 4,905 from PCR swabs.

Victoria meanwhile recorded 11,311 new cases, a 12.5 per cent rise from the day before, and 34 deaths with the virus.

There are 2,749 patients with the virus in NSW hospitals, down from 2,779 on Monday. In Victoria, the number of cases admitted to hospital fell from 873 to 851.

In NSW, there are 186 Covid patients in the ICU - up from 185 the day before - while in Victoria there are 106 patients in intensive care, up from 102 on Monday.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday announced elective surgeries requiring an overnight stay will return to all of the state's public and private hospitals from February 7.

Those surgeries were suspended on January 10 as the state battled against the latest wave of cases and the rising number of Covid patients in hospital.

NSW has recorded 12,818 new Covid cases - a 1.6 per cent decrease on Monday's 13,026 infections. Pictured are pedestrians in Darling Harbour in the Sydney CBD in January

'We thought that... we could bring that back in mid-February but we've been able to bring that forward and that's incredibly important,' he said on Tuesday.

'I think (that) is a testament to the strength of our health system.'

Elective procedures will resume at 75 per cent capacity in private and public hospitals.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said rules could be eased as NSW's Covid hospital admission rate was less than the government's worst-case scenario.

'I'm sorry some people have had to have their surgery delayed but it was in your interests,' he said.

'It was in the interests of the entire community that we made sure we had the space in our hospitals.'

Mr Perrottet also vowed to keep children in the classroom, but said 'it won't be all smooth sailing'.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in Sydney on Tuesday. He has reinstated elective surgery for all public and private hospitals across the state from February 7

Catholic school children returned to school on Monday but most state pupils started on Tuesday, testing the government's new Covid-19 protocols for face-to-face teaching amid the Omicron outbreak.

About eight million rapid antigen tests have been distributed to schools to prepare for the school year.

Teachers and students are required to test for Covid-19 twice weekly, year groups will be segregated, ventilation has been improved, children have been getting vaccinated and high school students and teachers must wear masks.

More than 78 per cent of students aged 12-15 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine while nearly 40 per cent of children aged 5-11 have had one dose.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced electives surgeries will resume from February 7 (file image)

Of the eligible population, 44.7 per cent of people in NSW have had a booster shot.

Unions say school cleaners have been excluded from the government's Covid-safe plan.

The United Workers Union, The Parenthood and the NSW Teachers Federation are calling on the premier to include them in the testing regime.

Judith Barber, who cleans schools on the north coast, says cleaners stepped up at the beginning of Covid for additional cleaning to keep schools safe.

HOW VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL WORK Parents in NSW will get a $500 voucher for each primary school child to help with before and after school care costs, as students head back to classrooms this week. They will be able to apply for the vouchers through Service NSW from February 28, similar to the Dine and Discover program that was rolled out last year to stimulate the hospitality industry. The $500 will cover the parent gap fee - the remaining cost that is usually covered by parents after the Commonwealth-funded child care subsidy is applied. Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the vouchers would cover up to 60 before and after school care sessions. 'These vouchers are all about providing affordable access to care for families, particularly after a tough two years that have disrupted access to school and BASC,' she said. Advertisement

'As essential workers we were required to be vaccinated to keep working in schools, but now we're not seen to be important enough to be included in the rollout of RATs in schools,' she said.

Mr Perrottet on Monday unveiled a new voucher scheme to help NSW parents with the cost of out-of-school care.

He said the scheme - which will give parents $500 vouchers to help with the cost of before and after school care - would help families 'balance work and family life'.

The vouchers will be available from February 28 through the Service NSW app.

More to come
Admissions to psychiatric hospitals among cannabis users have soared 74 per cent since the drug was effectively decriminalised in Scotland six years ago, figures show.

They rocketed from 1,191 in 2015/16 to 2,067 last year.

It comes after Scottish police changed guidance in January 2016 so those found possessing cannabis could be issued with a warning rather than face prosecution.

The number of prosecutions halved over the period.

Last year, a record 1,263 new patients in Scotland sought hospital treatment for psychiatric disorders blamed on cannabis, including schizophrenia.

The NHS figures will add pressure on the UK Government to resist calls to decriminalise cannabis.

According to NHS figures, admissions to psychiatric hospitals among cannabis users have soared 74 per cent since the drug was effectively decriminalised in Scotland six years ago

A previous Public Health Scotland report stated psychiatric admissions for cannabis users doubled between 2014 and 2020.

It said: There has been a notable increase in the percentage of... stays attributed to [cannabis]... increasing from 9 per cent in 2014/15 to 18 per cent in 2019/20.

Research has previously shown a strong link between cannabis and mental illness.

One US study found that cannabis-linked psychosis admissions are 2.5 times higher in areas where the drug has been legalised.

Harvard Medical School studied 246 new psychosis patients aged 16 to 35 and found 78 per cent had used cannabis.

Professor Jonathan Chick, of Castle Craig Hospital, a private rehabilitation centre in Peeblesshire, said: The eye has been taken off the ball with cannabis.

Last year, a record 1,263 new patients in Scotland sought hospital treatment for psychiatric disorders blamed on cannabis, including schizophrenia which has been linked to cannabis use

'We do need to worry about the numbers of young people presenting with psychosis and schizophrenia because of it.

Were dealing with both dependence and psychosis. Often, where there has been a second or third psychotic breakdown, there has been hospital or police involvement because of incidents of self-harm or harm to others.

These patients have terrifying thoughts. It is a paranoid psychosis where they cant even go into the street without misinterpreting thoroughly innocuous cues as malevolent. It is a horrible experience.

He added: In some cases, people have used cannabis for 20 years and got by up till that point  but typically psychosis will occur within the first three to four years.

'Sometimes the damage is permanent, in which case the treatment for schizophrenia involves living and working in safer environments and medication.
An 18-year-old Indiana University student has been charged with raping a female co-ed in a dormitory bathroom where she was vomiting after she told the man she was too drunk to consent to sex with him.

Samuel Elliott turned himself over to the police last week and was booked into the Monroe County jail on a single count of rape stemming from an incident that allegedly took place at the Teter-Thomson residence hall nearly two months ago.

According to a probable cause affidavit cited by The Herald-Times, the victim, who has not been named, was initially reluctant to press charges against Elliott, but her friends convinced her to report the incident, including one who had collected a used condom from the scene of the alleged rape and preserved it as evidence.

Elliott was released from jail on January 26 after posting 10 per cent of his $25,000 bond. He is due back in court on February 4.

Samuel Elliott, 18, has been arrested and charged with rape for allegedly attacking a female Indiana University student on December 2 after a night of drinking

Court documents allege that seven Indiana University students were drinking alcohol at the third-floor dormitory lounge on December 2, 2021.

After a resident assistant arrived and told the revelers to leave, they decamped to one of the rooms and continued drinking. The accuser later said she became highly intoxicated after ingesting Pink Whitney vodka and other alcoholic beverages for three hours.

Feeling ill from the alcohol, the woman lay down on the floor and said Elliott tried to touch her inappropriately, reported Fox 59.

When she went to the bathroom to vomit, she told the authorities that Elliott followed her and asked her to have sex with him.

According to the affidavit, the woman told the 18=year-old that she far was too drunk to consent to sex.

The accuser told police that Elliott raped her as she was vomiting in a bathroom at Teter-Thompson residence hall (pictured)

As she was throwing up in the toilet, the woman said Elliott dropped his pants and raped her.

Later, Elliott allegedly told the female students to keep what had happened a secret and walked her to her room, where she confided in a friend about the alleged assault.

According to the affidavit, that friend then walked over to the bathroom and found a used condom, which he placed inside a plastic bag and stored in his refrigerator.

For several days, the alleged victim resisted going to the authorities, but her friends eventually persuaded her to speak out.

The woman reported the suspected rape to the police on December 6, and her friend then turned over the refrigerated condom.

A warrant for Elliott's arrest was issued on January 20, and he was jailed just over a week later.
The family of a young mother who drowned in a tragic Australia Day boating accident has blamed the government for failing to address safety concerns in the area.

Emily, a 33-year-old mother-of-two from Camden in Sydney's west, died after the tinny she was riding in with her partner, two children and father capsized after hitting a weir in the Nepean River.

Only a few days later another boat flipped with three adults and two children on board, sending one to intensive care.

Emily's mother Bev said the accident was '100 per cent prevantable' and the government's failure to replace yellow safety buoys led to her daughter's death.

'That should have been addressed immediately and my daughter wouldn't have to lose that battle,' she told the Daily Telegraph.

Emily (pictured), a 33-year-old mother-of-two from Camden, died after the tinny she was riding with her partner, two children and father capsized after hitting a weir in the Nepean River

WaterNSW, who are responsible for the river, confirmed the buoys were missing during their monthly inspection on January 25, a day before Emily's death.

'Those buoys are going to be replaced, they'll be replaced by next Tuesday,' Water Minister Kevin Anderson said.

The buoys created an exclusion zone in the river, forcing boats to slow down and ensure no chance of a collision, but the missing markers have instead resulted in two horror accidents in less than a week and third this month.

Mr Anderson appeared on Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning saying he was 'pretty cranky' they hadn't been replaced faster.

He said they were looking to implement a permanent line of buoys to warn boaters of the weir.

'You said a plan was put in place to immediately replace them, but it wasn't that immediate, this young lady died the following day, there were no buoys there,' the 2GB Radio host said.

'Does that concern you that it takes so long when you're talking about a life saving measure?'

Mr Anderson agreed it was concering.

'That's why I'm pretty cranky it took so long to get those marker buoys back there but they are there now, and we will be having discussions in the coming days,' Mr Anderson said.

Pictured: Emily's boat after it capsized from hitting a weir on the Nepean River that was not properly marked by safety buoys

He suspects a flood in the area on January 18 was responsible for washing away the buoys, but confirmed a line of marker buoys had gone missing more than a year ago and replaced by two solitary buoys.

WaterNSW has installed interim markers while the buoys are being replaced.

Bev called back in to 2GB following Mr Anderson's interview on Tuesday morning, saying she was 'angry' with his response.

'I knew the buoys were washed away a year ago. They didn't just discover anything,' she said.

'I found a picture of the Nepean River a year ago, there is a string of buoys that go right across. There is nothing now. Locals have said they're gone.

'Everyone is passing the buck and it's making me very, very angry'.

Emily's mother Bev (pictured) said the accident was '100 per cent prevantable' and the government's failure to replace yellow safety buoys led to her daughter's death

Bev remembered her daughter as a 'wonderful mum' and 'extremely giving person', saying she was prompted to speak out to prevent future tragedies from occurring.

'I thought the only possible silver lining was that it'd never happen again  so (Sunday) I got the shock of my life,' she said, referring to the second incident.

'I don't want them to go through what we have.'
Sue Gray took aim at the Metropolitan Police yesterday for preventing her from providing a 'meaningful report' on 12 lockdown parties at Downing Street - as detectives sift through 300 pictures including some said to feature Boris Johnson.

She revealed that she and her Cabinet Office team had interviewed more than 70 individuals for her inquiry into the lockdown-busting events.

After examining emails, WhatsApp messages and texts of No 10 staff, she collected more than 300 images and more than 500 pages of information that she has handed to the Metropolitan Police.

The Prime Minister is believed to appear in some of the 300 photos now in the hands of the Met. One report said that Mr Johnson was pictured in front of some wine bottles.

Sue Gray (pictured) took aim at the Metropolitan Police yesterday for preventing her from providing a 'meaningful report' on parties at Downing Street

Boris Johnson speaking during a statement following an update on a report by Sue Gray in to parties at Downing Street during Covid-19 lockdowns, in the House of Commons on January 31

But she was forced to publish a radically scaled-down version of her report into what happened after Scotland Yard asked her to make only 'minimal reference' to the gatherings that it, too, is investigating.

Miss Gray insisted her 12-page document  which does not include any details or names  should be referred to as an 'update' rather than her complete report.

In it, she said it was 'not possible at present to provide a meaningful report' setting out all she discovered.

Boris Johnson said 'sorry' in the Commons today after being hit with damning revelations in the Sue Gray report

The top civil servant's findings (right) have been released disclosing that police are now investigating eight bashed as potentially criminal lockdown breaches. They include a gathering in the Cabinet Room for Mr Johnson's 56th birthday in June 2020, said to have been organised by wife Carrie (left)

She wrote: 'As a result of the Metropolitan Police's investigations, and so as not to prejudice the police investigative process, they have told me that it would only be appropriate to make minimal reference to the gatherings on the dates they are investigating.

'Unfortunately, this necessarily means that I am extremely limited in what I can say about those events and it is not possible at present to provide a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather.'

The Mail understands she has drafted a longer report setting out what happened at each party, ready to be dusted off once the police investigation finishes.

Sue Gray has finally delivered her findings on Partygate to the PM - but made clear she wants to release more information after the police probe completes

In a brutal intervention, Theresa May (left) also said Mr Johnson either 'didn't read the rules' or thought they 'didn't apply' to No10. 'Which is it?' she demanded. Keir Starmer (right) shot back that it is now clear Mr Johnson himself is under criminal investigation, branding him a 'man with no shame'

Behind closed doors yesterday, she made her firm desire that her findings see the light of day clear to No 10 after it was suggested that they may not.

Scotland Yard said it was 'necessary' to contact those involved in the alleged parties to get their account  and that it was vital that evidence about these events was 'not disclosed in detail' in advance.

Insisting this was a 'standard approach', a spokesman added: 'This request only applies for the duration of our investigation and does not apply to events we are not investigating.

Mr Johnson arriving back at Downing Street yesterday after spending the weekend at his Chequers residence

There are fledgling signs of a Tory recovery in the polls - although the Conservatives are still trailing Labour

The reason this request is necessary is that in any investigation officers seek independent accounts from each individual, as free from the influence of others' recollections as possible.

'Officers would also avoid providing details of their investigation in advance to those they contact so individuals are not tempted to shape their accounts according to what is in the public domain.'

Since Mr Johnson ordered the Cabinet Office inquiry into Whitehall lockdown breaches seven weeks ago, No 10 has repeatedly vowed to publish a full report.

But yesterday, the Prime Minister initially refused to commit to this after Scotland Yard has concluded its probe.

Downing Street suggested the public may not even be told if Mr Johnson is fined for breaching lockdown.

However, following a backbench backlash, the PM retreated and promised the full report would be made public.

In the Commons yesterday, he had failed to commit to this, telling MPs: 'What we've got to do is wait for the police to conclude their inquiries.

'At that stage I will take a decision about what to publish.'

Tory former minister Tobias Ellwood warned that if the PM did not publish the report in full 'he will no longer have my support'.

Shortly before 6pm, No 10 announced it had U-turned on its U-turn and would release Miss Gray's complete report.

No 10 said: 'It would not be appropriate to comment while the Met's investigation is ongoing.

'At the end of the process, the Prime Minister will ask Sue Gray to update her work in light of what is found.

'He will publish that update.'
The judge in Prince Andrew's US sex case approved requests last night for four people to be formally interviewed in the UK and Australia.

As the case moves ahead, British legal authorities must help with the request from accuser Virginia Roberts to interview his former equerry, Major Robert Olney.

Her lawyers, David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, want to ask Major Olney about Andrew's dealings with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

As the case moves ahead, British legal authorities must help with the request from accuser Virginia Roberts to interview his former equerry, Major Robert Olney. Pictured: Andrew, Roberts and Maxwell

They also want to talk to a woman, Shukri Walker, who says she saw Miss Roberts with Andrew at a London nightclub in 2001, after which Miss Roberts claims she had to have sex with him.

Mark Stephens CBE, of London law firm Howard Kennedy, said of the request by Miss Roberts  now married as Mrs Giuffre  to conduct interviews in the UK: 'It's obviously closing the net around Andrew.'

The Duke's requests were filed at the Australian attorney general's office. His US lawyer, Andrew Brettler, wants testimony from Mrs Giuffre's husband Robert about her alleged role in Epstein's sex-trafficking operation.

He also wants to interview her therapist, Dr Judith Lightfoot.

Her lawyers, David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, want to ask Major Olney (pictured) about Andrew's dealings with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Mrs Giuffre, 38, is suing Andrew in New York for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She claims that at 17 she was loaned to the Duke for sex by Epstein.

Andrew strongly denies her allegations. However, Judge Kaplan rejected his request last month to have the case dismissed.

After the decision the Duke was stripped of most of his remaining royal patronages and military titles which were returned to The Queen.

The requests for help from foreign legal authorities were filed in mid January and were approved yesterday (Mon) by Judge Kaplan.

They cite the Hague Convention on taking of evidence abroad in civil matters as the basis on which they must be carried out.

The request states that they should be filed with the Senior Master in the Foreign Process Section at the High Court in London.

Once the request is received, Ms Roberts' lawyers from Boies Schiller Flexner in the UK will make an application for further details about assistance, the letter states.
Ministers were last night accused of undermining public confidence in Covid vaccines after scrapping the requirement for health and social care workers to be jabbed.

Sajid Javid performed an '11th-hour' U-turn amid warnings the mandate would lead to crippling staff shortages, with up to 80,000 NHS employees facing the sack.

The Health Secretary told MPs it was 'no longer proportionate' to require vaccination as a condition of employment under law because Omicron is 'intrinsically less severe' than Delta, which was the dominant strain at the time the measures were announced.

High vaccine uptake across the country also means there is 'greater population protection', he added.

However, health leaders warned that the move risks sending a message that vaccines are no longer important  potentially hitting uptake among the wider population.

Sajid Javid performed an '11th-hour' U-turn amid warnings the mandate would lead to crippling staff shortages, with up to 80,000 NHS employees facing the sack

Why did I have to leave job I loved? Louise Akester had her employment contract terminated after she refused to be vaccinated Former care worker Louise Akester said she was 'absolutely over the moon' that the compulsory jab rule for care staff is to be scrapped. Last November Miss Akester, 36, had her employment contract terminated after she refused to be vaccinated. Miss Akester, who had worked at the Alderson House care home in Hull for three years, posted an emotional video of herself weeping after her final shift. 'I don't think it ever should have got as far as it did,' she said. 'It shouldn't have been mandated for us in the first place. We didn't deserve to lose our jobs, we should've had the freedom of choice. It was just heartbreaking, absolutely soul-destroying. 'We were never given the opportunity to save our jobs.' She said she had missed her colleagues and patients over the last three months as she dealt with the stress of losing her job. Miss Akester, who hopes to return to the care sector soon, opposed getting jabbed at first because she was concerned about the side effects. But she said the requirement resulted in her being 'even more against the vaccine'. Advertisement

The chief executives of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, Matthew Taylor and Chris Hopson, said NHS leaders were frustrated at the '11th-hour' policy change.

In a joint statement they said: 'They recognise the reasons the Government has given for the changes, the risk to services and the different risk from Omicron compared to previous variants.

'But there will be concern at what this means for wider messaging about the importance of vaccination for the population as a whole.'

It came as care home bosses told how they were 'frustrated' for staff who had already lost their jobs for refusing jabs.

An estimated 40,000 people were fired when the legal requirement for care home staff to be fully vaccinated came into effect in November.

The sector already had 100,000 vacancies and there are fears many workers will never return.

Nadra Ahmed, of the National Care Association, told BBC Breakfast she was 'frustrated' and 'saddened' for all the people who may have lost their jobs needlessly, adding that 'the impact has been devastating'.

She said: 'Social care is on its knees and we just do not have people walking through the doors.'

But responding to reports of the U-turn, which at the time had not been confirmed, she said: 'I think we're really happy for our NHS colleagues if this is what's going to happen because it's an unnecessary burden, and persuasion will bring us to the same outcome.'

Meanwhile, Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: 'The Government is in an impossible and extremely regrettable position. Its back-pedalling risks sending mixed messages to the public and giving power to the anti-vax movement.

However, losing so many staff would be too big a price to pay for pushing ahead with the policy, especially given the existing shortages.'

Conservative former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had concerns about impact the U-turn would have for future vaccine programmes for health staff.

He said: 'My concern is that having marched the NHS to the top of the hill, having actually won a very important patient safety argument, we are now doing a U-turn. What will happen the next time the Secretary of State wanted to introduce an important vaccine, for example for flu, and make it mandatory?'

Care home boss Niccii Gillett believes the 'damage has already been done' despite the U-turn on mandatory Covid jabs for workers in her sector

Former care worker Louise Akester said she was 'absolutely over the moon' that the compulsory jab rule for care staff is to be scrapped

Miss Akester, who had worked at the Alderson House care home in Hull for three years, posted an emotional video of herself weeping after her final shift having had her contract terminated after refusing to get vaccinated

It's too late for us  the damage is done Care home boss Niccii Gillett believes the 'damage has already been done' despite the U-turn on mandatory Covid jabs for workers in her sector. Six of her 36 staff at Elmfield House Residential Home in Woking, Surrey, resigned in November after refusing to be vaccinated  including two who had worked there for seven years. An estimated 40,000 care home workers lost their jobs due to the complusory jabs policy but it now looks like they will be able to return. Miss Gillett said: 'I welcome the rule change but it leaves a bitter taste as for three months care homes have been short of staff. 'I have had to get rid of six members of staff due to the jab requirement. The damage has already been done. I was fortunate that the staff that did leave gave me plenty of notice to find cover. But we didn't want to lose them in the first place.' She believes the policy should have been more consistent. 'It shouldn't have been one rule for care homes, and one rule for hospitals,' she said. Advertisement

And Liberal Democrat health spokesman Daisy Cooper MP added: 'Sadly, this U-turn comes too little too late with valued carers already being kicked out of the sector and many care homes unable to staff family visits over the Christmas period.'

The jab requirement for NHS workers was due to come into force in April, making this Thursday the last day staff could get their first dose to be fully vaccinated in time.Mr Javid said this will now be paused while the Government holds a two-week consultation on repealing the law, which was passed last year.

The Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of GPs had all pushed for the requirement to be delayed, with warnings of a 'catastrophic' impact if ministers ploughed ahead.

The 40,000 fired care staff will be able to return to work in the sector if vaccines are no longer mandatory, although they are unlikely to secure the pension and redundancy benefits that come with continuity of employment.

But bosses fear many of these workers could be lost for good, with one charity accusing the Government of using the sector as 'the trial run for the NHS'. Patricia Marquis of the Royal College of Nursing said: 'This climbdown by Government has come too late for those social care staff who have already lost their jobs.

'To risk thousands more nursing staff being sacked in the middle of a staffing crisis was never in the interests of patients' safety. Vaccination is hugely important but this was the wrong policy, especially as it added to the current pressure on NHS and care services.'

Mr Javid defended the initial policy, saying he 'makes no apology for it' and revealed that since September there had been a 'net increase of 127,000' people working across the NHS who have 'done the right thing and got jabbed', and a net increase of 32,000 people vaccinated in social care.

But he acknowledged that there will always be some who will walk away from their jobs over getting the jab, adding: 'We have to consider the impact on the workforce in NHS and social care settings, especially at a time when we already have a shortage of workers and near full employment across the economy.'

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson said yesterday that he believed it was 'absolutely clear' that NHS and social care workers should still get vaccinated.
A Brisbane man charged with a string of offences in relation to sexually abusing children in the Philippines and online exploitation offences will spend at least four years behind bars.

John Joseph Power was sentenced to a maximum of eight years jail with a non-parole period of four in Brisbane District Court on Monday, almost a year after he pleaded guilty to 17 offences.

The man, 57, was initially charged in late September 2019 for being in possession of child exploitation material found on his phone after he returned to Australia from a trip to the Philippines.

Five children in the Philippines were later rescued and removed from further harm as a result of Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) investigations.

A Brisbane man who groomed and sexually abused young girls during a trip to the Philippines in 2019 has been sentenced (stock image)

The matter was referred to AFP and Brisbane Joint-Anti Child Exploitation Team investigators who further examined Power's electronic devices.

Investigators uncovered evidence Power had abused children during trips to the Philippines after communicating with them from Australia via social media.

As a result of the investigation, the AFP International Command in the Philippines referred intelligence to authorities in the Philippines and the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC).

A PNP investigation resulted in the rescue of five child victims in the Visayas region of the Philippines in December 2019.

The youngest of Power's victims was a 10 year-old girl.

The court heard Power used WhatsApp to groom a 16-year-old girl in the Philippines and arranged to meet her when he arrived there in August 2019.

The girl was 'significantly corrupted' by Power as she 'recruited' other young girls to talk to and meet with him, the Courier Mail reported.

The court also heard Power would have sexually explicit conversations with the girls online and demanded 'pornographic material' from them.

John Joseph Power was sentenced to eight years jail in Brisbane District Court on Monday

When he arrived in the Philippines, Power invited the 16-year-old and two other teen girls to a unit to engage in sexual activities several times over a month long period, where he took photos and videos of them in various positions.

The 16-year-old girl also connected Power with a 10-year-old girl who was bought a mobile phone to communicate with him, the court heard.

Power was intercepted by ABF officials when he returned to Brisbane on September 29, 2019, where 115 photos and videos of child exploitation material and evidence was found on his phone, laptop and camera.

Each of Power's victims issued harrowing victim impact statements.

AFP Constable Sharlene Hamblin said international borders were not a deterrence to the AFP when it came to protecting children from exploitation and abuse.

'We have strong partnerships in the Philippines and we all have the same goal of stopping those people who seek to harm children and ending the cycle of abuse,' she said in a statement on Tuesday.

John Joseph Power was intercepted by Australian Border Force officers when he returned to Australia following a month
The European Space Agency's ExoMars orbiter has captured a stunning photo of a Martian crater that looks like a tree stump with concentric rings.

The bird's eye view of the tree-mendous crater was snapped last June by the CaSSIS camera onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO).

TGO blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in southern Kazakhstan in 2016 and has been circling the red planet for nearly four years.

Just like the rings in a slice of tree wood, the crater has jagged fractures thought to have been caused by the expansion and contraction of water ice.

The crater is situated in the northern plains of Acidalia Planitia, which may have once been home to a vast ocean.

This odd geological feature on the surface of Mars could easily be mistaken for a tree stump with characteristic concentric rings

TGO (depicted here in an artist's impression) arrived at Mars in 2016 and began its full science mission in 2018

ACIDALIA PLANITIA: THE SITE OF A VAST ANCIENT OCEAN? Acidalia Planitia is a vast and largely flat plain that is part of Mars' vast northern lowlands. It's visible as a dark splotch even from Earth telescopes. Scientists are debating the likelihood that the northern plains once contained a large ocean or other bodies of water, probably ice-covered. Acidalia Planitia is covered by fields of boulders that can reach up to several metres in height, making driving a rover in this area difficult. Source: NASA/Planetary Soceity Advertisement

Acidalia Planitia is covered by fields of boulders that can reach up to several metres in height, making driving a rover in this area difficult.

In the 2015 film The Martian, fictional astronaut Mark Watney drives across Acidalia Planitia in an attempt to be rescued after being stranded on Mars.

ESA revealed that the unusual image was taken by the CaSSIS camera onboard TGO on June 13, 2021 in the vast northern plains of Acidalia Planitia, centred at 51.9N/326.7E.

The interior of this particular crater is filled with deposits that are probably rich with water ice, likely dating back millions of years.

'This feature could easily be mistaken for a tree stump with characteristic concentric rings,' the ESA said. 'It's actually an impressive birds-eye view into an ice-rich impact crater on Mars.

'Tree rings provide snapshots of Earth's past climate and, although formed in a very different way, the patterns inside this crater reveal details of the Red Planet's history, too.'

One of the notable features in the crater deposits is the presence of quasi-circular and polygonal patterns of fractures.

These features are likely a result of seasonal changes in temperature that cause cycles of expansion and contraction of the ice-rich material, eventually leading to the development of fractures.

Topographical map generated from MOLA data including feature boundaries. Acidalia Planitia is the central, northernmost feature characterized by dark blue, low elevation land

In the 2015 film The Martian, fictional astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon, pictured) drives across Acidalia Planitia in an attempt to be rescued after being stranded

EXOMARS DISCOVERS 'SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER' THREE FEET BELOW MARS' SURFACE (ESA) announced on in December 20201 that it has found 'significant amounts of water' hiding in Mars's Grand Canyon. The discovery was made by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which spotted the water just three feet below the surface of the Valles Mariners  a massive canyon system that stretches more than 2,400 miles across the dusty Martian landscape. 'We found a central part of Valles Marineris to be packed full of water  far more water than we expected,' Alexey Malakhov, also of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and co-author of the study, said in a statement. Read more: ESA's ExoMars finds water hiding below Mars' surface Advertisement

What's thought to be water-ice deposits in the crater were likely laid down during an earlier time in Mars' history when the inclination of the planet's spin axis allowed such deposits to form at lower latitudes than it does today.

Just like on Earth, Mars' tilt gives rises to seasons, but unlike Earth its tilt has changed dramatically over long periods of time.

ESA's ExoMars programme comprises two missions. The first, TGO, arrived at Mars in 2016 and began its full science mission in 2018.

TGO was accompanied by the failed Schiaparelli lander, which crashed on the Martian surface due to a premature release of the parachute.

Schiaparelli is now no more than a crusty black spot surrounded by rusty red sand.

The second, comprising a UK-built rover called Rosalind Franklin and a surface platform, is planned for later this year.

Named after the London-born scientist and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, Rosalind Franklin should blast into space in September 2022 from southern Kazakhstan.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, at the company's UK facility in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, the rover will be able to drill 6.5 feet (2 metres) below the surface, gathering samples from regions not affected by radiation.

The rover is the first to honour a woman scientist on its flagship discovery craft.

Earlier this month, the UK Space Agency confirmed Rosalind Franklin has passed its latest round of tests and is on course to blast off for the Red Planet in September.

The Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover has passed its latest round of tests, and is on course to blast off for the Red Planet in September, the UK Space Agency confirmed

Image captured by High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the diffuse dark material from the Schiaparelli crash

If this goes to plan, ESA will become only the fourth agency to operate a vehicle on another world  following the Soviet Union, NASA and China.

Understanding the history of water on Mars and if this once allowed life to flourish is at the heart of ESA's ExoMars missions.

'The rover bearing Rosalind Franklin's name will drill down to two metres into the surface to sample the soil, analyse its composition and search for evidence of past  and perhaps even present  life buried underground,' ESA says.
They are the far-away 'ice giants' of our solar system that to the naked eye each glow a slightly different shade of blue.

But now the mystery of why Uranus appears paler than Neptune's deeper, cobalt hue may have finally been solved.

The answer, scientists say, lies in the fact Uranus has a haze layer in its atmosphere that is roughly double the thickness of Neptune, giving it the much lighter colour.

University of Oxford-led researchers termed this the Aerosol-2 layer, which they said would look whitish at visible wavelengths.

It acts to lighten the appearance of the seventh planet from the sun, in a similar way to how tracing paper over a picture makes vibrant colours seem more milky.

'This explains why Uranus is a paler blue colour than Neptune,' said the study's lead author Patrick Irwin, of the University of Oxford.

The mystery of why Uranus (left) appears pale blue and Neptune (right) a deeper, cobalt hue may have finally been solved. The answer, scientists say, lies in the fact Uranus has a haze layer in its atmosphere that is roughly double the thickness of Neptune, giving it a paler colour

The thicker Aerosol-2 layer lightens the appearance of Uranus (shown in the diagram above), in a similar way to how tracing paper over a picture makes vibrant colours seem more milky

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT URANUS? Uranus was discovered by William Herschel in 1781 and is named after the Greek god of the sky Ouranos. It is 1.84 billion miles from the Sun and orbits every 84 years. It's biggest moons are Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon. It turns on its axis once every 17 hours and 14 minutes. It has the coldest temperatures of any planet in the solar system with a minimum temperature of -371F. It has a set of dark very thin coloured rings surrounding it. Advertisement

Both Uranus and Neptune have hydrogen, helium and methane in their skies, although hazes formed of other chemicals are also thought to exist at different altitudes, too.

The researchers believe these are likely created when methane is broken by ultraviolet radiation from the sun, before being remade into larger hydrocarbons.

It is this methane that also gives both Neptune and Uranus their blue appearance, according to the study's authors, because methane absorbs red light and leaves blue to be reflected back.

The researchers created models of the atmospheres of both worlds by using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories, as well as information from the Voyager 2 spacecraft.

In their study, they wrote: 'The visible and near-infrared spectra of the solar system's 'ice giants', Uranus and Neptune, have fascinated planetary astronomers for many years.

'The atmospheres of the ice giants are observed to have similar atmospheres with similar tropospheric temperature profiles.'

They added: 'Both planets appear blue or bluish-green to the naked eye, in contrast to the more yellowish appearance of Jupiter and Saturn.

The researchers created models of the atmospheres of both worlds by using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories, as well as information from the Voyager 2 spacecraft. View of Uranus captured by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986

Voyager 2 images of Neptune observed in August 1989 are pictured in the compilation above

'We now know this blueness comes from a combination of this higher abundance of gaseous methane, which has strong absorption bands in the infrared and red portion of the visible spectrum.'

The researchers explained that their modelling found Uranus' atmosphere to be significantly thicker than that of Neptune.

This, they said, 'explains why Uranus appears to have a paler blue colour to the human eye than Neptune'.

Naomi Rowe-Gurney, who researches the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, told the New Scientist: 'Seeing both planets successfully compared directly in analysis is rare.

'The authors state that future observations will help to answer remaining questions and I am sure that the James Webb Space Telescope will help with this during the planned observations of both planets within the first year of operations.'

The research has been published in the journal Earth and Planetary Astrophysics.
NASA's asteroid monitoring system has been upgraded, and can now scan the entire night sky in its mission to detect and warn of incoming space rocks.

Based at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy (IfA), the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) has been operational since 2017.

The original telescope array involved a pair of observatories on Hawai'i, but this has since been expanded to the southern hemisphere, with telescopes in South Africa and Chile helping in the hunt for dangerous celestial objects.

'An asteroid that hits the Earth can come at any time from any direction, so ATLAS is now all the sky, all the time,' said ATLAS Principal Investigator John Tonry.

While NASA knows the location and orbit of 28,000 asteroids, there are thought to be thousands more undetected, that could cause regional wide devastation if one were to hit the planet - the new telescope gives NASA a three week warning.

Experts are working on a range of measures that could deflect, or destroy a space rock, but it is estimated six months would be needed minimum for a large rock.

Chilean engineers and astronomers installing the ATLAS telescope at El Sauce Observatory, which brings the southern sky into view for the Hawai'i-led astronomers

The two new telescopes are at the Sutherland Observing Station in South Africa, and the El Sauce Observatory in Chile.

They were selected for their view of the southern sky, and the time difference from Hawai'i, as it is daytime in Hawai'i when it is night time in South Africa and Chile.

They join the two existing northern-hemisphere telescopes that make up the ATLAS network, found on Haleakala, and Maunaloa.

The four-telescope ATLAS system is now the first survey for hazardous asteroids capable of monitoring the entire dark sky every 24 hours.

Sutherland ATLAS station during construction in South Africa. This brings the total of ATLAST telescopes up to four, giving a full view of the sky every 24 hours

The original telescope array involved a pair of observatories on Hawai'i, but this has since been expanded to the southern hemisphere, with telescopes in South Africa and Chile helping in the hunt for dangerous celestial objects

ATLAS: AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR SPACE ROCKS HEADING TO EARTH The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) is a NASA-backed project to scan the sky for incoming space rocks. It has made up of four robotic observatories, two in Hawai'i, one in Chile and one in South Africa. It is built as an 'early warning system' to let astronomers know if there is a previously undetected space rock heading for the planet. It can detect 65ft diameter rocks with 24 hours notice, and 65ft rocks with three weeks notice. It is developed and operated by the University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy - with each telescope 0.5m. It can image the entire night sky every 24 hours, and has found over 700 near Earth objects since 2017. Other astronomers have used the data to look for other temporary objects in the night sky, including exploding stars. Advertisement

They might not be the largest telescopes, but combined, can image an area of the night sky 100 times larger than the full moon from a single exposure.

The system is now able to provide 24 hours notice of a 65ft diameter asteroid - that is large enough to destroy an entire city.

Larger asteroids, over 330ft in diameter, can be detected further from the Earth, meaning NASA can give up to three weeks warning. These larger objects are capable of regional level devastation.

An asteroid that size could be capable of producing 10 times the level of destruction experienced when the Hunga Tonga volcano erupted.

The original two telescopes were funded under a 2013 grant from NASA's Near-Earth Objects Observations Program, now part of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, and have been operational since 2017.

After several years of successful operation in the University of Hawai'i approached NASA for funds to build two more telescopes in the southern hemisphere.

They had to remotely manage the development of the new telescopes, due to Covid-19, and faced delays caused by problems with the global supply-chain.

The South African telescope found its first near-Earth object on January 22, dubbed 2022 BK - which was a 330ft asteroid that poses no threat to the Earth.

Since it became operational in 2017, the ATLAS array has discovered more than 700 near-Earth asteroids, as well 66 comets - none pose any short or mid-term threat.

These discoveries include 2019 MO and observations of 2018 LA, two very small asteroids that actually struck the Earth.

The system is specially designed to detect objects that approach very close to Earth, closer than the moon which is 240,000 miles away.

'The need to observe the southern hemisphere sky and expand the time zone coverage of ATLAS, together with the pristine skies and local human resources of Chile, made it ideal for one of the new telescopes,' said Alejandro Clocchiatti, co-leader of ATLAS-Chile.

Future upgrades and near Earth object monitoring will be able to give NASA a detailed warning of an impending asteroid hit, to avoid scenes like this one. Artists impression

ATLAS on Maunaloa, Hawaii Island was one of the first two telescopes to make up the array

In South Africa, ATLAS joins an array of world-class telescopes at the SAAO's Sutherland Observing Station, led by the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).

'We are excited to join the ATLAS network and to become part of the global effort to identify potentially hazardous asteroids,' said ATLAS-Sutherland lead Dr Nic Erasmus.

'The additional spin-off of other astronomical transient discoveries that ATLAS offers is also perfectly commensurate with the SAAO's flagship Intelligent Observatory project that aims to modernize, fully robotise, and interconnect the diverse telescopes on our plateau in order to achieve rapid follow-up observations of all transients in the southern night sky,' he explained.

Although ATLAS is funded specifically to search for NEOs, data from the ATLAS telescopes have become one of the preeminent surveys for other phenomena.

For example, astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have been able to use ATLAST data to search for exploding stars and 'short lived events'.

This includes short radio bursts from the likes of Neutron Stars, as well as supernova events in distant parts of the universe.

ATLAS on Haleakala, Maui, along with Maunaloa, detected more than 700 near Earth objects, and that number is expected to increase thanks to the two new observatories

While the two new ATLAS telescopes have begun early science operations, they are not yet fully operational, the team explained.

Depending on weather, several weeks to months are needed to completely calibrate the system for maximum sensitivity and reliability. After that, the ATLAS system will typically discover a new close-approaching NEO every few days.

The new ATLAS telescopes join existing ground-based surveys as well as other next-generation ground-based NEO detection systems in the works.

According to Larry Denneau, ATLAS Co-Principal Investigator, NEO-hunting, and asteroid warning systems, rely on global cooperation.

'The enhanced ATLAS complements the existing ground-based NEO search programs, namely UH's own Pan-STARRS and the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona.

'All these systems have different specialties, and together they are working to keep us safe from hazardous asteroids that could strike anywhere from days to decades into the future.'

ATLAS currently provides a few hours to a few weeks notice, although recent studies have suggested NASA would need at least six month notice to deal with a life threatening space rock - of about 330ft in diameter.
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The remains of Oxford University's so-called 'lost college' have been uncovered by archaeologists nearly 500 years after the building was abandoned.

It was one of many Catholic religious facilities to be looted or destroyed during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s.

The Tudor monarch worked to separate the English Church from the Catholic Church because he wanted to free himself from his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, who had not provided him with a male heir.

The Pope continuously refused an annulment so Henry VIII created an independent Church of England, of which he was the head, and set about ordering the closure of monasteries loyal to the Papacy in Rome.

St Mary's College, which was founded in 1435 but lasted barely 100 years, had been intended as a base for Augustinian canons to study.

But delays hampered construction until Cardinal Wolsey  Henry VIII's chief adviser  intervened in the 1520s.

After this, work proceeded quickly, but the building was then disbanded and quickly fell into a state of disrepair as a result of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541.

When Cardinal Wolsey fell from power and was executed due to Henry VIII's creation of the 'Anglican Church' so he could get divorced, the college was abandoned in the 16th century.

The remains of Oxford University's so-called 'lost college' have been uncovered by archaeologists nearly 500 years after the building was abandoned

The college was one of many Catholic religious facilities to be looted or destroyed during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s. Archaeologists excavating the site ahead of the planned erection of 30 student flats have now found part of the lost college's building works

WHY IS IT KNOWN AS OXFORD'S LOST COLLEGE? Oxford University's St Mary's College has been described as the 'lost Augustinian college' because of its relative obscurity. It existed for only 106 years, between 1435 and 1541, and was situated on what is now New Inn Hall Street. However, nothing remains of the Augustinian-run college above ground except for a single gateway. It was one of many Catholic religious facilities to be looted or destroyed during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s. Advertisement

However, archaeologists excavating the site ahead of the planned erection of 30 student flats have now found part of the lost college's building works.

A massive limestone foundation is believed to have supported a wall to a very significant stone building.

Experts say it likely belonged to one of the buildings that formed St Mary's College, which became known as 'Oxford's lost college' because of its relative obscurity, possibly the south range of the cloister.

Senior project manager for Oxford Archaeology Ben Ford said: 'We are hoping to shed light not only on the layout of the "lost college" of St Mary's, but also discover evidence that tells us about the lives of some of medieval Oxford's most powerful Norman families who probably lived at the site.'

Butchered animal bones and charcoal have been found nearby, possibly from the St Mary's College kitchens.

The Frewin Hall complex where excavations are taking place had been continuously occupied since the 11th century, with evidence of a house built for a wealthy owner in the Norman period.

Ford added: 'Frewin Hall has a stone vaulted basement which dates from Norman times and is one of the oldest buildings still in use in Oxford.

'If we are really lucky, we may uncover signs of even older everyday life, from Oxford's earliest years when it was first built as a heavily-defended town on the Thames, guarding the border between Saxon and the Viking held lands.'

Excavators have also uncovered a 17th century stone flagon, a bone comb, silver penny and ornately decorated medieval floor tiles.

r Llewelyn Morgan, a fellow at Brasenose College, said: 'We are excited by the remarkable glimpses of St Mary's College and the longer history of Frewin that the archaeologists are revealing.

'It has been a place of education for 600 years, and our beautiful new building will continue that tradition.'

A massive limestone foundation is believed to have supported a wall to a very significant stone building. Experts say it likely belonged to one of the buildings that formed St Mary's College, which became known as 'Oxford's lost college' because of its relative obscurity, possibly the south range of the cloister
As cats were domesticated 10,000 years ago, their brains got smaller, according to a new study that backs up similar findings in dogs, rabbits and humans.

A combined team of researchers from the University of Vienna in Austria, and National Museums Scotland, compared cranial capacity in multiple types of cats.

They found that modern domestic cats have smaller brains than both European and African wildcats, and hybrids of domestic cats and European wildcats have brains that are between those of the two parent species.

Earlier studies have shown similar reduction in brain size in other domesticated animals, including rabbits and dogs, when compared to wild ancestors.

The team say this reduction is likely because the animals faced far fewer threats than in the wild, so the brain cells involved in processing threat aren't as necessary.

Even human brains seem to have reduced in size over the past 28,000 years, down 5 per cent compared to Neanderthals, with the change happening as we went from hunter gatherers, to farmers and into civilizations.

As cats were domesticated 10,000 years ago, their brains got smaller, according to a new study that backs up similar findings in dogs, rabbits and humans. Stock image

Reduced brain size, compared with wild individuals, is thought to be an important feature of domestication of mammal species.

This is often cited as 'domestication syndrome', likely caused by threats being reduced, alongside other factors requiring less active brains.

The problem, the team behind this study explained, is that brain size comparisons are often based on old, inaccessible literature.

In some cases the original researchers drew comparisons between domestic animals and wild species that are no longer thought to be their true ancestor.

A combined team of researchers from the University of Vienna and National Museums Scotland, compared cranial capacity in multiple types of cats. Stock image

PEOPLE HAVE KEPT ANIMALS AS PETS FOR MILLENNIA Pets have been a companion to humans for millennia. The story of exactly how animals became domesticated is much debated and often only glimpsed at from scraps of fossils and DNA. Scientists agree that dogs were the first domestic animal, tamed and used for their work or meat. A study published by University of Maine in 2011 found evidence dogs were being bred, and, eaten, by humans in Texas 9,400 years ago. A more recent study in 2017 found dogs were domesticated in a single event by humans living in Eurasia. Dr Krishna Veeramah, from Stony Brook University, said: 'We've found evidence that dogs were domesticated 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. 'Dogs could have been domesticated twice but our conclusion was there is no evidence for dual domestication. 'We would argue that finding evidence for only one domestication event is a big deal, because it is very important to helping us understand how domestication works.' His research found that dogs evolved to be a separate species from wild wolves sometime between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago. But it's not known if they were the first pets, and kept for companionship. Another study compared genomes, or complete genetic codes, of modern domestic and wild rabbits to see how long it had taken them to diverge. Using the known mutation rate of certain biomolecules as a 'molecular clock' they found it was not possible to pin down rabbit domestication to a single date or event. Instead, the creation of tame buns appeared to be a cumulative effect stretching back to Roman times and possibly the Stone Age. Advertisement

To find a true comparison, the researchers went back to the beginning, attempting to replicate studies on cranial volumes in domestic cats that were published in the 1960s and 1970s, comparing wildcats, domestic cats and their hybrids.

Most research into domestication of wild animals by humans has led to evidence of smaller brains when compared to wild ancestors, having previously been shown to be the case in dogs, sheep and rabbits.

To understand brain size changes, the team took measurements of the cranial capacity of a large number of domestic cats - finding an average size.

They did the same with African wildcats, known to be the ancestor of modern house cats, finding domestic cats have 'much smaller brains' than their forebears.

They then looked to determine whether this change in brain size was linked to domestication, as had already been seen in other animals, or some other cause.

To do this they also measured the cranial capacity of a number of European wildcats, as well as hybrid animals between wild and domestic cats.

The size of the European wildcat's brain sat somewhere between domestic house cats and wild African cats, the researchers discovered.

The reason behind the reduction in brain size has previously been shown to be linked to an easier life, including reduction in threats and risk from predators.

Studies have shown that the neural crest cells, brain cells involved in responding to threat, are less prevalent in domestic animals than in their wild cousins.

This, the Austrian team suggest, is because they face far fewer threats than animals having to survive in the wild.

'Apart from replicating these studies, we also present new data on palate length in cat skulls, showing that domestic cat palates are shorter than those of European wildcats but longer than those of African wildcats.

'Our data are relevant to current discussions of the causes and consequences of the 'domestication syndrome' in domesticated mammals.'

The palate is a shelf at the back of the throat, and studies suggest that the snout should get shorter through domestication, but this wasn't the case.

The findings aren't new, but do act to reinforce the idea that as animals face reduced threat, and live in more comfortable surroundings, our brains become smaller.

'Brain size comparisons are often based on old, inaccessible literature and in some cases drew comparisons between domestic animals and wild species that are no longer thought to represent the true progenitor species of the domestic species in question,' the researchers wrote.

They disputed some old theories, suggesting that cats are only 'semi-domesticated' compared to dogs, which are seen as dependant on humans.

To understand brain size changes, the team took measurements of the cranial capacity of a large number of domestic cats - finding an average size

They believe that cats have proved themselves to be useful in the past, including on farms and ships, and their link to humans is about more than an 'easy ride'.

The authors have called for more research into cats, to find out how domestication has changed them over the past ten millennia.

'We must always acknowledge that we are comparing a now (or recently) living population of wild animals to the domestic form, and not the true ancestral population,' the scientists explained.

'This will always be a confounding factor since we rarely have access to the ancient population that produced our domestic animals (although ancient DNA can partially ameliorate this issue for genetic comparisons).'

The research has been published in Royal Society Open Science.
The January window closes tonight in the Premier League and around Europe, with clubs across the continent desperately trying to finish off their transfer business.

Newcastle have been battling to sign Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United and French wonderkid Hugo Ekitike. Reims have accepted their 33m bid but the 19-year-old wasn't convinced that a move to the Premier League is right for him at this stage of his career.

Elsewhere, Everton have completed the loan signing of Donny van de Beek after announcing Frank Lampard as their new manager. Tottenham also announced moves for Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur while there are question marks over Dele Alli's future. And, of course, there are bound to be some surprises between now and the window closing at 11pm. Sportsmail brings you all the latest as it happens.
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In ten years, Stand Up Paddleboarding  or SUPing, if you must  has grown from almost nothing to become a global success story. The Covid-19 lockdown significantly boosted its healthy outdoorsy appeal. Its a safe, easy-to-learn low-impact activity that gets you up close with nature. Its also a fabulous workout for your core and burns plenty of calories.

A study conducted by Arizona State University found that a 63-kilo man paddleboarding for an hour burns an average of 385 calories; a woman of the same weight burns 436 calories.

Multiply that for a few hours, and it would be wise to replace some of those calories. On a new, full-day winter SUP safari in frozen Northumberland, you can do just that.

Carlton Reid went on a River Tyne paddleboarding safari with CBK Adventures. His group is pictured here starting out from Hexham Bridge

Carlton is pictured here activating his core and burning some calories. In ten years, Stand Up Paddleboarding has grown from almost nothing to become a global success story

Campfire calories. Think griddle-grilled sausages. Think roasted tomatoes and freshly brewed coffee. Think charcoal-baked bananas oozing with melted chocolate.

And all cooked from a scenic pebble-strewn spit beside the River Tyne near Hexham.

How about you make the coffee? watersports guide David Calvert asked me.

Cooking tasks were allotted to all on the trip. There were only four of us as this was a warm-up for the full-on trips that CBK Adventures will be running over the winter months; the actual trips are for eight participants.

The food on the paddleboarding trip? Think charcoal-baked bananas oozing with melted chocolate [pictured],' says Carlton

We were wearing toasty drysuits, so any impromptu dip into the cold river wouldnt trouble us. Not that any of us fell in  the Tyne was calm and, even though this was only my second time on a paddleboard, my wobbles were kept to a minimum. (These wobbles must have activated my core, though, because I ached for days afterwards.)

David took the time to critique my paddling technique, showing me how to dig deep into the water to gain the utmost efficiency from each stroke.

We had been equipped with top-flight paddles and boards from UK SUP brand Red Paddle Co, all four inflatables laden with food stores and cooking equipment. David carried the most, including Red Paddle Cos watertight, insulated barrel, out of which came a delicatessens-worth of gourmet food and drink.

'The sausages are that-a-way': CBK operations director David Calvert is pictured here on the spit of land where the food was served

This was to be a leave-no-trace trip with the campfire being a fold-away affair from Canadian newbie Wolf and Grizzly  the compact system, a recent Kickstarter hit, uses a clever collapsible frame, fold-out grill, and aluminium fire-pit base.

We got the giggles getting the kindling to light with a Wolf and Grizzly sparking stick, a ferrocerium rod that, appropriately enough, can spark a fire even when wet. (The sticks wrist cord even contains a jute strip for use as emergency kindling.)

While I brewed up, the others set up the griddle to start roasting the vegan and meat sausages and chopped garlic and mushrooms to sizzle in the frying pan. (The bananas and melted chocolate came later, thrust into the dying embers of our spent fire.)

Refuelled for the return trip we packed away and helped each other zip up our drysuits. We had earlier stripped to the waist because it had been a warm winters day, but these flat-water trips will go out in all weathers, with the location only decided a few days in advance.

Some could start here in Hexham; others will start and finish on the Northumbrian coast, depending on the strength of the prevailing wind.

Even though this was only my second time on a paddleboard, my wobbles were kept to a minimum, says Carlton

The group are pictured here heading back to Hexham. 'With drysuits provided, this is a trip that foul weather wont curtail, and I should imagine the colder it gets, the more welcoming the hot coffee will be,' writes Carlton

The unseasonably warm sunshine meant we hadnt needed a taut nylon tarp to shield us from rain, but David acted out how, in rough weather, he would wedge two of the paddleboards to fashion a windbreak.

Just before we landed back in Hexham, I asked for permission to try out the effectiveness of the drysuit. Duly cleared, I jumped in  my uncovered head let me know that the Tyne was as cold as expected, but, pleasingly, there was no ingress of river water into the Michelin-man suit.

Air-pockets helped me bob to the surface, my base layers still warm and dry.

With drysuits provided, this is a trip that foul weather wont curtail, and I should imagine the colder it gets, the more welcoming the hot coffee will be, and how much more delicious the campfire-cooked food will taste.

Save me some sausages, Ill be back when theres snow on the ground.
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Standing on the roof of Istanbuls Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, my tour guide strides confidently ahead, announcing: We will be Bond girls.

Shuddering as I remember the scene in which 007 actor Daniel Craig roars on a motorbike over the ancient rooftops in the film Skyfall, I follow suit, treading gingerly so that I dont slide down a chimney stack. But my nervousness soon disappears as I find myself mesmerised by views over Istanbul. Amazing, isnt it? says my guide.

I was on a weekend break to expore this melting point of East and West straddling Europe and Asia, an ancient and modern city with a cultural heritage derived from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires.

Licence to thrill: The Mail on Sunday's Claudia Joseph headed to the roof of Istanbuls Grand Bazaar, which features in Skyfall starring Daniel Craig

Pictured is Craig as Bond in the Grand Bazaar. The opening scene see hims involved in a dramatic motorbike chase

I was determined to see some of Istanbuls iconic sights and follow in the illustrious footsteps of no fewer than three James Bonds  Sean Connery in 1963s From Russia With Love, Pierce Brosnan in 1999s The World Is Not Enough and Craig in 2012s Skyfall.

My first port of call was to the walled city of the former Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire under Constantine the Great. A cacophony of sound of muezzins calling the faithful to prayer and a riot of colourful Turkish carpets jostled with silk abayas and glazed pottery as we walked through the entrance  Istanbul is truly one of the few places in the world that touches all your senses.

The 15th Century maze of shops in the Grand Bazaar and Eminonou Square gave way to fragrant displays in the covered Spice Market, both of which were locations for the high-speed car and motorbike chase in Skyfalls opening scene.

Claudia visited Hagia Sophia, a cathedral converted into a mosque, that features in a riveting foot chase during From Russia With Love

Turkish treasure: A highlight of Claudia's trip was feasting her eyes on the 19th Century Dolmabahce Palace

An essential visit was to the Hagia Sophia, built in 537 and the greatest cathedral in Christendom until the Turks took Constantinople in 1453 and turned it into a mosque. It also features in a 007 film, in a riveting foot chase during From Russia With Love.

Other highlights were the ancient subterranean Serefiye Cistern and the 19th Century Dolmabahce Palace, built by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid I for five million gold lira, the equivalent of $1.9 billion today. It houses the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world. Given more time, the 15th Century Topkapi Palace would have been on my list. Its renowned for its exquisite Iznik tiles and Ottoman carving as well as an emerald-encrusted dagger made famous in the 1964 heist film Topkapi.

But we did make a pitstop at the Pandeli restaurant, which played host to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1971. Amid brilliant blue-tiled walls we dined on exquisite oven-baked sea bass.

While the Royals stayed on board the Royal Yacht Britannia during their visit to the city, and Craigs Bond checked in to the Park Hyatt, I stayed at the more cosmopolitan Shangri-La Bosphorus, a sister hotel to one in The Shard skyscraper in London.

Located on the European side of the Strait of Istanbul, the 186-room hotel is inspired by the Dolmabahce Palace and echoes the citys mixture of European, Asian and Turkish design, with marble walls, glittering chandeliers and cosmopolitan art.

For those who want to experience the wow factor, the hotel has its own Rolls-Royce Ghost limousine with a chauffeur to take guests around the city and unlock the best of Istanbul.

Its all-day restaurant, IST TOO, has an outdoor terrace which overlooks the Bosphorus, where you can idle away the hours watching ships cruise past and sample mezzes and pides  traditional flatbreads and kebabs.

Claudia stayed at the Shangri-La Bosphorus, a sister hotel to one in The Shard skyscraper in London

But the Shangri-Las showpiece restaurant is the award-winning Shang Palace, where six chefs create an authentic Cantonese experience to rival anywhere in the world.

Another luxurious treat at Shangri-La was a visit to CHI, The Spa, for a traditional Turkish bath, or hammam. After a pummeling, a dousing and a scrubbing, it ended with a relaxing massage with lavender oil, designed to restore balance and harmony to the mind and body.

Cleanliness is next to godliness, my therapist joked as she walked me along the candlelit hallway. Its the entrance to Heaven. Mr Bond surely would have approved.
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It's the television event of the year, and Married At First Sight's season nine premiere certainly didn't disappoint on Monday night.

The episode kicked off with plenty of drama as Gold Coast operations manager Tamara Djordjevic clashed with Sydney hospitality specialist Brent Vitiello just minutes after saying 'I do'.

But the most awkward moment came later in the ceremony when judgmental Tamara, 29, turned on Brent, 33, after finding out he worked at a nightclub - which turned out to be only half true.

Mismatch: Married At First Sight's season nine premiere kicked off with plenty of drama as Gold Coast operations manager Tamara Djordjevic (left) clashed with Sydney hospitality specialist Brent Vitiello (right) just minutes after saying 'I do'

Fussy bride Tamara was immediately disappointed by her affable groom when they met at the altar.

'He does seem like an average kind of guy. Average just isn't for me. I'm not average. I don't do average,' the surgically enhanced blonde told producers.

Just moments after exchanging vows, Tamara asked Brent where he lived and what he did for a living.

Tamara was lost for words when Brent told her he worked at a popular Sydney nightclub, which she assumed meant he was a party boy.

Not what she ordered: Fussy bride Tamara was immediately disappointed by her affable groom when they met at the altar

Complaint: 'He does seem like an average kind of guy. Average just isn't for me. I'm not average. I don't do average,' she said

While Brent's line of work occasionally requires him to go to nightclubs, he is actually an events manager who previously ran a successful business in Dubai.

When he clarified this point, Tamara was visibly relieved - but the worst was yet to come for the newlyweds.

Later, when the couple sat down for dinner with two friends, a frustrated Tamara called out Brent for his lack of etiquette when he used the wrong fork.

'You don't seem to know much about your cutlery,' she snapped.

'You might like things one way and I like them the other way, but my way has to be the right way,' she added.

Not acceptable! The most awkward moment came later in the ceremony when judgmental Tamara, 29, turned on Brent, 33, after finding out he worked at a nightclub - which turned out to be only half true

Not impressed! Later, when the couple sat down for dinner with two friends, a frustrated Tamara called out Brent for his lack of etiquette when he used the wrong fork

Tamara went on to insist: 'You'll learn very quickly that I always wear the pants in a relationship.'

She then shocked her husband by saying she could never date someone who works in retail because it's 'below her'.

Brent and his best man Levi Neufeld later went for a private chat to discuss how things were going.

Snob: 'You might like things one way and I like them the other way, but my way has to be the right way,' she told him

Farcical: Later in the evening, Tamara berated Brent for a minor mistake while cutting their wedding cake, but the tattooed hospitality worker refused to say sorry - which drove her mad

Brent said he was horrified by Tamaras snobbery and decided to test her by refusing to apologise or make excuses the next time she criticised him.

Later in the evening, Tamara berated him for a minor mistake while cutting their wedding cake, but the tattooed hospitality worker refused to say sorry - which drove her mad.

Their spat descended into a farce as Brent refused to apologise to his wife for handing her a knife the wrong way.

When producers asked him what he thought about his bride, Brent said he'd married a 'psychopath'.

No apologies! Their spat descended into a farce as Brent refused to apologise for handing his wife a knife the wrong way

Nightmare: When producers asked him what he thought about his bride, Brent said he'd married a 'psychopath'

Things went more smoothly for Melbourne-based salesman Anthony Cincotta and executive assistant Selin Mengu, who hit it off as soon as they laid eyes on each other.

The couple connected within seconds of meeting for the first time, and were relieved to discover they both had children from previous relationships.

'Wow, she is my bride... I must have died and have gone to heaven. I can't take my eyes off her,' 38-year-old Anthony said with a twinkle in his eye.

The experts got it right! Things went more smoothly for Melbourne-based salesman Anthony Cincotta (right) and executive assistant Selin Mengu (left), who hit it off as soon as they laid eyes on each other

A blended family in the making? The couple connected within seconds of meeting for the first time, and were relieved to discover they both had children from previous relationships

'This is my family... this is your family.... it's happening,' he whispered to his bride as they started to giggle.

Selin also told producers she was pleasantly surprised with her match, adding: 'Seeing his kind eyes means everything. Immediately I feel that spark.'

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
The Project enjoyed a much-needed ratings boost after last Tuesday's on-air clash between Peter van Onselen and Carrie Bickmore.

The show's audience jumped by 50,000 viewers the day after the two hosts' tense stand-off over former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, reports The Australian.

The leap in viewers came after Bickmore and van Onselen's argument dominated news headlines and became a trending topic on Twitter overnight.

The Project enjoyed a much-needed ratings boost after last Tuesday's on-air clash between Peter van Onselen (left) and Carrie Bickmore (right)

Channel 10 execs were reportedly thrilled by the ratings spike and have told PvO he is welcome to fill in for Waleed Aly and Hamish Macdonald whenever he likes.

The rift between van Onselen and his colleagues was exposed last Tuesday when he called Tame 'ungracious, rude and childish' in a column for The Australian.

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 Bickmore and guest journalist Amy Remeikis.

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 this criticism from his colleagues, TV commentator Rob 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.

Channel 10 execs were reportedly thrilled by the ratings spike and have told PvO (pictured) he is welcome to fill in for Waleed Aly and Hamish Macdonald whenever he likes

Mr McKnight, the editor-in-chief of TV Blackbox, 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.

It comes after leading TV commentator Rob McKnight (pictured) said he would be surprised to see van Onselen return to The Project after he was criticised so viciously by his colleagues

The saga began last 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 last 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?'

Van Onselen 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,' he 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 1401 votes

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'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?'
Shia LaBeouf appears to be working on some sort of home improvement project.

The actor was spotted making his way out of a Home Depot in the Pasadena neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday.

And from the looks of the messy outfit he was wearing, that project has likely included some sort of painting, although on this day he did not appear to buy any paint products.

Hands on home improvement: Shia LaBeouf, 35, was seen walking out of a Home Depot in the Pasadena neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday

The Transformers star, 35, was seen making his way around the home improvement retailer, casually grabbing a number of items, in a black hoodie, seemingly doused in paint and/or spackling.

He also wore matching sweatpants that also had remnants of paint splattered on the front and back.

In keeping with his casual work ensemble, LaBeouf donned a pair of Nike sneakers that also looked like they had been worn during some home improvement projects.

Work clothes: The Transformers star was seen at the home improvement retailer, dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants that were seemingly doused in paint and/or spackling

The Los Angeles native appears to be going with the shaggy look, with a grown out beard and mustache combo that was slightly unkempt.

After paying for about a half dozen small items, The Peanut Butter Falcon star made his way outside for the walk to his parked vehicle, while still wearing a protective mask, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He would pull off the face mask off by the time he made it to his car for the ride back home.

Not pictured with LaBeouf was his 'pregnant' fiancee, Mia Goth.

The couple are rumored to be expecting their first child together, so there's more than a possibility that he could be working on their pending bundle of joy's bedroom.

The couple have been seen out together, a number of times recently, where the mom-to-be tried to cover up her possible baby bump by wearing oversized shirt.

Safety first: The actor wore a face mask in the store, and then pulled it off before arriving back at his parked vehicle

The British model and actress met LaBeouf on the set of the erotic art film, Nymphomaniac, in 2012, and eventually got married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas in October 2016.

LaBeouf filed for divorce in 2018, but it's been unclear if the union was actually fully dissolved, or even legally binding, especially after a Twitter account for Clark County, Nevada, tweeted that the actors merely had a non-binding commitment ceremony with the Elvis impersonator.

After reportedly doing the 'on-and-off' relationship, the pair have seemingly been back 'on' as a couple since March 2020.
Brendan Cole was the delighted recipient of the first nine in this year's series of Dancing On Ice.

The ballroom dancer, 45, graced the rink with professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer, 25, on Sunday night as they exhibited their efforts to Shallow from A Star Is Born.

The closing dance of the evening earned them an overall score of 33.5, with Diversity choreographer Ashley Banjo awarding them the one-point away from perfection.

Dancing On Ice: Brendan Cole snatched the first nine of the series with partner Vanessa Bauer on sunday - in the wake of wife Zoe feeling 'p****d off at times' during his stint on the show

Meanwhile Oti Mabuse scored 8.5 and Jayne Torvill and Chris Dean opted for 8.

The New Zealand native said: 'It's so beautiful to be on the ice. I watch Vanessa, I watch these skaters doing such beauty. I love it. That was a lovely one.'

Of his mark, Ashley, 33, enthused: 'I had to go there. I know that we are really early on in the competition but for me, it was the interpretation of the music. Elegantly and beautifully performed for me.'

Routine: The ballroom dancer, 45, graced the rink with professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer, 25, on Sunday night as they exhibited their efforts to Shallow from A Star Is Born

Chris, 63, described Brendan's skating as 'sublime and smooth', but expressed his desire for more content and choreography.

Oti, 31, chimed: 'Sometimes I feel like less is more. It wasn't full of choreography but it was beautiful, I felt like you were telling a story. Some things can't be taught and chemistry and emotion is one of them and the two of you have that.'

It was 'beautifully skated' in the opinion of Jayne, 64, but agreed with her skating partner's suggestions for improvement.

Experience: The New Zealand native said: 'It's so beautiful to be on the ice. I watch Vanessa, I watch these skaters doing such beauty. I love it. That was a lovely one'

Brendan's second skate comes after it was reported that his wife of eleven years has been feeling 'anxious and emotional and p***ed off at times' during his Dancing On Ice stint.

While wife Zoe, 37, has been 'fully supportive' of her spouse's decision to partake in the show, she is said to have described herself as a 'Dancing On Ice widow'.

According to The Sun, the former Strictly star rented an apartment in the same block as Vanessa near the Slough Ice Arena, despite his Bucks home being just a 40-minute drive away.

Challenge: Brendan's second skate comes after it was reported that his wife of eleven years has been feeling 'anxious and emotional and p***ed off at times' during his Dancing On Ice stint

Meanwhile, Zoe and their children Aurelia, nine, and three-year-old Dante were holidaying in their Mallorca holiday home, where the strains of solo parenting had been claimed to take their toll.

A friend of the blogger's told the publication: '[Zoe] is fully supportive of Brendans decision to do Dancing On Ice, but it has not been easy looking after the kids by herself for so long while he is skating.

'She has felt anxious and emotional, and p***ed off at times. She has said in the past months that she feels like a Dancing On Ice widow.'

Emotions: While Zoe, 37, has been 'fully supportive' of her spouse's decision to partake in the show, she allegedly described herself as a 'Dancing On Ice widow'

Residence: According to The Sun, the former Strictly star rented an apartment in the same block as Vanessa near the Slough Ice Arena

However, the source confirmed that Brendan had been 'checking in' on his family while they were abroad, adding: 'She doesnt believe he would cheat on her - she would not be with him if she did. But she has found the past few months challenging.'

Last month, following a family getaway, Zoe penned on social media: 'The last three months of solo parenting in a foreign land and heaps of moving around over the last few weeks were starting to take their toll, so to get away was very welcome.'

Since Zoe has returned to the UK, Brendan has reportedly moved out of the apartment and is commuting between their home and the ice rink.

Tough: A friend of the blogger's told the publication: '[Zoe] is fully supportive of Brendans decision to do Dancing On Ice, but it has not been easy looking after the kids by herself'

And while his wife may have been absent for his debut skate earlier this month, sources are adamant Zoe will attend in the coming weeks.

She is said to be 'grateful' for the work Vanessa is putting in with Brendan - but it can be hard for her to 'see them so close.'

The source concluded that the mother-of-two would be 'happy' if Brendan was 'a bit more restrained' when he's with Vanessa on camera.

MailOnline contacted Brendan's representatives for comment.

Brendan impressed the judges with the 'best first performance ever' as he topped the leaderboard with a total of 30.5 out of 40 points during the Dancing On Ice launch.

Although he and Vanessa achieved an incredible score for his first routine, he received some backlash online as many viewers pointed out his professional dancer background.

While it was a successful evening for Brendan, it was a different story for TV presenter Ria Hebden and partner ukasz Rozycki, who landed in the skate off after securing 24.5 points.
Jessica Alves was bound to command attention on Saturday evening as she made quite the comeback to the London nightlife.

The television personality, 38, had been in her native Brazil but makes it known through her Instagram bio that she is based in England's capital, where she painted the town red over the weekend as she headed out with friends.

Every inch the lady in red, Jessica's ample cleavage was spotlighted in a figure-hugging playsuit, which she completed with thin tights and pointy black heels.

Lady in red: Jessica Alves left little to the imagination on Saturday as she made an eye-popping return to the London nightlife in a scarlet wrap playsuit

The Brazilian-British star is always one for a chic outfit addition and Saturday's was a Comfort Furs authentic jacket, the ideal choice for the chilly temperatures.

Jessica styled her bleach blonde locks poker straight and let the tresses tumble past her bust.

Makeup was not applied in halves, as she touched up her cheeks with blush and ensured her green eyes were drawn out by thick lashes and a flick of winged eyeliner.

Return: The television personality, 38, had been in her native Brazil but makes it known through her Instagram bio that she is based in England's capital

Cosy: The Brazilian-British star is always one for a chic outfit addition and Saturday's was a Comfort Furs authentic jacket, the ideal choice for the chilly temperatures

Duo: Accompanying her to private members club The London Reign in Piccadilly was good friend Alex, who looked slick in all black

Accompanying her to private members club The London Reign in Piccadilly was good friend Alex, who looked slick in all black.

Jessica let her fans in on the night out with some cocktail-indulging Instagram Stories, where she let her hair down and immersed herself into opulence and sensuous glamour.

Last weekend, Jessica ensured she caught the eye of onlookers as she put on a very busty display at the airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil before heading to the UK.

Fun: Jessica let her fans in on the night out with some cocktail-indulging Instagram Stories where she let her hair down

The OnlyFans influencer was spotted wearing a denim underbust corset which she teamed with a pair of matching skintight denim jeans.

Ensuring she made the most of her incredibly ample assets, the reality star wore a white top with a plunging neckline under a denim jacket.

She completed her look with a pair of pink high-heeled shoes before heading into the terminal with her suitcases.

She has spent the past five months in Brazil after buying a house in Sao Paulo with her OnlyFans earnings.
Gwyneth Paltrow was the main attraction of a new post shared to her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop's Instagram account on Sunday.

The 49-year-old actress donned a white robe with her initials as she showed off the results of her GOOPGLOW overnight peel.

The mom-of-two looked fresh-faced and had her long blonde strands pulled into a neat bun as she snapped a full-length selfie in her bathroom mirror.

Fresh-faced: Gwyneth Paltrow showed off the results of her GOOPGLOW overnight peel on Sunday, in a new post shared to her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop's Instagram account

The mogul also showed off her dark manicure and pedicure, as she went barefoot for the occasion.

'Sunday mood  GP and a few us have a ritual every week where we use our overnight peels to deeply exfoliate and brighten our skin. The results the next morning (and all week) is glowy skin,' the caption of the photo read.

Paltrow recently shared a similar post where she sported the same bathrobe and showed off her fresh face while promoting the brand's exfoliating jelly.

Working: The actress, 49, recently shared a similar post where she sported the same bathrobe and showed off her fresh face while promoting the brand's exfoliating jelly

In the closeup snap she presents the glowing results on her skin, as she gazes into the camera with her blue eyes.

Appearing to have just gotten out of the shower, her blonde tresses are wet and parted in the middle.

The mogul also accessorized the look with two tiny silver earrings on the upper portion of her earlobe.

Social media star: Paltrow has also been busy keeping up with social media trends, and posted her 'Not My Name' challenge online last week

Paltrow launched Goop in September 2008, as a weekly e-mail newsletter offering wellness and lifestyle advice and insight into the star's life.

The company's name was inspired by author Peter Arnell, who reportedly told the star that all successful internet companies have double O's in their name.

Goop has expanded through the years, creating a website and branching off into e-commerce, pop-up shops, wellness summits, a print magazine, a podcast and recently a Netflix docuseries.

Iconic: The star shared her other 'names' from her most popular movies, including her role as Margot Tenenbaum in the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums

Big roles: She also posted snaps as Marge Sherwood from the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, and as Tracy Mills in David Fincher's 1995 film Se7en

Pepper: The actress also included her role as Pepper Potts from Iron Man

Aside from promoting her brand, Paltrow has also been busy keeping up with social media trends.

She recently posted a video doing the 'Not My Name' challenge - where actors share their most famous roles to the Ting Tings' 2008 hit song That's Not My Name.

The star shared her other 'names' from her most popular movies, including her role as Margot Tenenbaum in the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums.

She also posted snaps as Marge Sherwood from the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, and as Tracy Mills in David Fincher's 1995 film Se7en, where she starred alongside ex-boyfriend Brad Pitt.

Paltrow played his wife in the movie, and the two actors dated for three years after.

What a catalog! With an endless catalog of classic movies and shows, she also chose to post her role as Viola from Shakespeare in Love, and Georgina Hobart from the Politician

Sweet: The star seemed to leave the two most important roles for last, adding mom and CEO to the list at the end

She also included Pepper Potts, from Iron Man, Viola from Shakespeare in Love, and Georgina Hobart from the Politician.

The star seemed to leave the two most important roles for last, adding mom and CEO to the list at the end.

Paltrow shares daughter Apple, 17, and son Moses, 15, with ex-husband Chris Martin, 44.

The couple married on December 5, 2003. Paltrow filed for divorce from the British musician, 44, in April 2015, after 10 years of marriage.
Former Home and Away actress Sam Frost is reportedly double vaccinated.

Sam, 32, who joined the cast as Jasmine Delaney in 2017, quit the Channel Seven soap in December, two months after revealing she hadn't had the Covid vaccine.

But her co-star Lynne McGranger told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa on Monday that Sam was now fully vaccinated, meaning she could potentially return to the show.

Seven Productions has a policy requiring all cast and crew be vaccinated against Covid; however, sources said last year Sam's exit was unrelated to the mandate.

Change of heart: Former Home and Away actress Sam Frost is reportedly double vaccinated

'There was some issues of course with getting vaccinated but I'm here to tell you she is double vaccinated, now possibly boosted as well,' Lynne revealed.

She added: 'She needed to be with her family and they're down in Melbourne, but the door is definitely open for her to come back, and I'm sure as we speak she is in negotiations with producers.'

Sam, a former Bachelorette, filmed her last scenes for Home and Away last month at Sydney's Eveleigh Studios.

The actress then moved to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family.

Exit: Sam, who played nurse Jasmine Delaney since 2017, quit the Channel Seven soap in December, two months after revealing she she hadn't had the Covid vaccine

Sam sparked backlash in October when she revealed she hadn't had the Covid jab, and also compared restrictions on the unvaccinated to 'segregation'.

She said in a tearful Instagram video: 'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation.

'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason.

'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.'

The door is open: Her co-star Lynne McGranger (right) told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa on Monday that Sam was now fully vaccinated, meaning she could potentially return to the show

Sam then said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision.

She added tearfully: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you.

'And you're too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, "Well it's none of your damn business why I'm not! And there's good reasons why I'm not and I don't want you to judge me."'

After facing criticism for her video, Sam deactivated her main Instagram account and blocked all comments on the account for her mental health charity Believe.

Channel Seven later announced Sam's exit from Home and Away in December.

While a vaccine mandate is in place for Home and Away cast and crew, a network source said her departure was not related to this policy.
She was known for her physical resemblance to Kim Kardashian during her stint on Married At First Sight in 2019.

But Martha Kalifatidis has now condemned the reality TV superstar, accusing Kim and her famous siblings of setting 'horrible' beauty standards.

She blasted the Kardashians during an Instagram Q&A on Sunday, saying they have set a 'sick' example for a generation of young women.

'They have set a horrible standard of beauty': Martha Kalifatidis (left, with boyfriend Michael Brunelli) has mocked her former idol Kim Kardashian for editing her Instagram photos

Despite once being nicknamed 'Kmart Kim', the 33-year-old influencer made it clear she no longer aligns herself with the Kardashian aesthetic.

'The dumbest thing is we compare ourselves to what we see on online, which isn't even real,' she responded to a fan who asked how she was able to be so confident.

'Whether it's online or in a magazine... we're programmed to think [edited images] are normal when they're not.'

Not impressed: She blasted the Kardashians during an Instagram Q&A on Sunday, saying they have set a 'sick' example for a generation of young women

Gaffe: Martha also reposted one of Kim's recent Instagram snaps that featured a glaring error caused by a warp tool, adding the caption: 'Perfect bodies aren't perfect... Lol'

She continued: 'As much as I love the Kardashian/Jenner gang, I think they have set a horrible standard of beauty and a sick trend when it comes to body modification.

'Social media is also a very toxic place for self-esteem and confidence!'

Martha then reposted one of Kim's recent Instagram snaps that featured a glaring error caused by a warp tool, adding the caption: 'Perfect bodies aren't perfect... Lol.'

Doppelganger: Martha (left) was known for her physical resemblance to Kim Kardashian (right) during her stint on Married At First Sight in 2019

These posts are a major about-turn for Martha, who told A Current Affair in early 2019 she was flattered by comparisons to Kim Kardashian.

'Everyone's inspired by Kim... She's hot!' she said at the time.

That same year, she told NW magazine she'd had extensive surgery to achieve her 'LA look', including a breast enlargement, nose job, Botox and filler.

'I don't have fillers in my lips  but I do have them in other places on my face... and I've had my boobs done... like 10 years ago now,' she explained.

Seeing double: These latest posts a major about-turn for Martha, who told A Current Affair in early 2019 she was flattered by comparisons to Kim Kardashian

Proud: During her stint on MAFS three years ago, Martha embraced her 'Kmart Kim' nickname

Kim, 41, made headlines last week when she rushed to delete a photo from Instagram in which her leg looked obviously edited.

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star posed in a swimsuit for a gallery of photos taken while on holiday in the Bahamas with SNL comedian Pete Davidson.

However, eagle-eyed followers noticed her back leg appeared distorted in one image, with an unnatural curve behind her knee.

As soon as she started receiving comments about the Photoshop gaffe, Kim wiped the photo from the gallery.
Lisa Vanderpump suffered a broken leg in two places above the ankle and was hospitalized following a horseback riding accident in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The 61-year-old Bravo beauty had been riding a horse at The Paddock Riding Club in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles in the incident, according to TMZ.

The English socialite's horse reared up and bucked her off in the incident, a source told the outlet.

On the mend: Lisa Vanderpump, 61, suffered a broken leg in two places above the ankle and was hospitalized following a horseback riding accident in Los Angeles on Sunday. She was seen on the series Pooch Perfect last year

The reality star's body careened over the horse's head and she landed directly on her back, an eyewitness told TMZ.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum was dealing with major pain in the wake of the incident and had a bruised back, a source told the outlet.

Vanderpump was transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance, and her husband Ken Todd was with her as she was slated to undergo surgery, a source told the outlet.

The source added that Vanderpump's long-term prognosis with the injury was positive, as she's expected to heal.

Vanderpump was pictured with her horse Prince Tardon in an Instagram post last year

The RHOBH alum was seen riding her horse in November of 2019

'I wish her a speedy recovery so the two can ride again soon,' Vanderpump's publicist Phil Lobel told Dailymail.com in a statement Sunday.

Lobel said that the horse Vanderpump was riding in the incident is named Prince Tardon, and that she acquired the stallion 'about 7 years ago' after seeing the horse at the show Cavalia in Orange County, California.

'She has owned and ridden horses her entire life and the producers gave her a tour of the stables at the show, and introduced her to Tardon, a horse they were about to retire,' Lobel said.

Lobel said that 'riding is one of constant joys in [Vanderpump's] life,' and that Prince Tardon 'even understands Lisas commands in French,' adding, 'Its a mutual admiration.'
She recently confirmed her new relationship with Byron Bay artist Todd Clare.

And Zac Efron's ex girlfriend Vanessa Valladares proved the pair are still going strong as they visited Bunnings in Lismore over the weekend.

Vanessa and Todd were seen indulging in a great Aussie tradition by grabbing food from the hardware store's sausage sizzle.

She's just like us! Zac Efron's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Valladares wore a bikini top as she enjoyed a sausage sizzle at Bunnings with her Byron Bay artist boyfriend Todd Clare over the weekend

Vanessa turned heads in her revealing outfit, which consisted of a red bikini top worn beneath an open black and white blazer.

She paired the look with a pair of white trousers and black leather shoes.

She travelled light for the shopping expedition, carrying a takeaway coffee and her phone on a strap.

Peep show! Valladares turned heads in her revealing outfit, which consisted of a red bikini top worn beneath an open black and white blazer

She travelled light for the shopping expedition, carrying a takeaway coffee and her phone on a strap

While inside the store, the retail assistant wisely masked up.

Her Byron Bay artist beau meanwhile went casual in blue jeans and a crumpled navy shirt.

The newly-minted couple appeared to share a cap during the outing, with Todd wearing the white accessory into the store, while Vanessa wore it on the way out.

Happy: The couple appear to be going strong after confirming their relationship last month

Got the blues? Her Byron Bay artist beau meanwhile went casual in blue jeans and a crumpled navy shirt

Vanessa and Todd stopped to grab a sausage sandwich each as they left the store with their purchases.

Todd appeared to have bought a couple of pieces of timber and some pest control devices for cockroaches and vermin.

Byron Bay bombshell Vanessa beauty unveiled a new look on Instagram earlier this month, showing her own artistic side.

Vanessa, who for years has favoured a skimpy bikini babe look, opted for a more unconventionally cool look.

Purchases: Todd appeared to have bought a couple of pieces of timber and some pest control devices for cockroaches and vermin

Good idea: The couple later indulged in a great Aussie tradition by grabbing food from the hardware store's sausage sizzle

The brunette bombshell wore a long-sleeve black and white top along with a matching floor-length skirt.

She finished her look with a blunted bob hairstyle under a cap.

Vanessa packed on the PDA with her new man during a steamy beachside date earlier this month.

Share and share alike: The newly-minted couple appeared to share a cap during the outing, with Todd wearing the white accessory into the store, while Vanessa wore it on the way out.

Snags: Vanessa and Todd stopped to grab a sausage sandwich each as they left the store with their purchases

In September, she posted a photo of the shirtless hunk painting what appeared to be her living room.

The post came several months after the model's split from Baywatch star Zac.

According to various reports, Zac, 34, was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June 2020, and the pair hit it off straight away.

Two months later, in August, Daily Mail Australia revealed Zac had cancelled his scheduled return flight to Los Angeles because he 'didn't really want to go back'.

Within weeks, the genetically blessed couple had moved in together in Byron Bay.

A new start: Byron Bay bombshell Vanessa beauty unveiled a new look on Instagram earlier this month, showing her own artistic side

Changing it up: Vanessa, who for years has favoured a skimpy bikini babe look, opted for a more unconventionally cool look

Zac confirmed their relationship in September 2020 when they were spotted holding hands in public.

But it was revealed in April last year they had called it quits, with Zac's friend Kyle Sandilands announcing on his KIIS FM radio show: 'I can confirm [the break-up], after speaking with him yesterday.'

He also stated Zac had been dating Vanessa for much longer than reported.

Ex files: According to various reports, Zac, 34, was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June 2020, and the pair hit it off straight away

There was speculation at the time Zac and Vanessa had known each other three years before their 'official' first meeting at Byron Bay's General Store cafe.

Kyle, who is good pals with Zac, revealed on live radio it wasn't just a rumour.

'They've been together for a lot longer than people realise,' he said.

'I don't know where they met, but it wasn't recent. It's been going for a little while, but I don't know exactly how long.'
Kourtney Kardashian was seen embracing her inner racer in a series of snaps that were shared on Sunday to her Instagram account.

The 42-year-old reality television personality in the photos appeared to be enjoying her time behind the wheel as she sped around while driving a vintage car.

The influencer, who was also seen holding the hand of her fiance, Travis Barker, wrote a short message in the caption for her roughly 161 million followers that read: 'Daddy had a Buick and Mama loved to ride.'

Speeding off: Kourtney Kardashian was seen embracing her inner racer in a series of snaps that were shared to her Instagram account on Sunday

Kardashian wore a reflective leather jacket that shone brightly while she took her partner's car out for a ride.

The social media powerhouse also donned a pair of fishnet leggings that conformed tightly to her curvy hips.

The entrepreneur sported a set of black gloves, and she gave her fans a better look at one of them while she held her fiance's hand.

Her gorgeous brunette locks were cut short and fell towards her shoulders in the shots.

Dressed for the occasion: Kardashian wore a reflective leather jacket that shone brightly while she took her partner's car out for a ride

Covering up: The entrepreneur sported a set of black gloves, and she gave her fans a better look at one of them while she held her fiance's hand

Kardashian and Barker, 46, initially became acquainted nearly a decade ago and remained friends for several years.

The social media personality was previously in a long-term relationship with her partner, Scott Disick, with whom she shares three children.

The Blink-182 drummer was formerly married to Melissa Kennedy, although they called off their year-long marriage in 2002.

He went on to tie the knot with Shanna Moakler, and the two welcomed a pair of children before they divorced in 2008.

Starting off strong: Kardashian and Barker, 46, initially became acquainted nearly a decade ago and remained friends for several years; they are seen in June

Kardashian and Barker initially sparked dating rumors last January when he left several flirty comments on one of her Instagram posts.

The pair were widely reported to have started a relationship that same month, and they went Instagram official on Valentine's Day.

The two remained very close after then and were often featured in each other's social media posts.

The drummer went on to pop the big question to his now-fiancee while they took a trip to Montecito, California this past October.

Making it official: The drummer went on to pop the big question to his now-fiancee while they took a trip to Montecito, California this past October

Shortly before he became engaged to Kardashian, Barker sat down for an interview with Nylon where he noted that she had been able to convince him to conquer his fear of flying after being involved in a plane crash in 2008.

He expressed: 'I'm invincible when I'm with her. Its like I never dreamed, I never even considered flying again.'

The musician then noted that he had become so invested in his relationship that he was more than happy to take a trip with his now-fiancee at a moment's notice.

'I said, "Well, when the day comes you want to fly, I'm telling you I'll do it with you. I would do anything with you. And just give me 24 hours' notice." And that's what she did,' he stated.

Serious achievement: Shortly before he became engaged to Kardashian, Barker sat down for an interview with Nylon where he noted that she had been able to convince him to conquer his fear of flying after being involved in a plane crash in 2008

Kardashian later shared a black-and white shot of herself posing and sticking her tongue out of her mouth to her Instagram Stories.

The influencer opted for a dressed-down ensemble, as she solely sported a sleeveless top, a short skirt and a set of heeled shoes.

She also edited a set of bat wings onto her back and a pair of horns onto her forehead before sharing the photo.
Tammin Sursok declared January 'isn't her month' in an Instagram post on Sunday.

The actress, 38, took to her Stories to reveal that she got stung by a hornet and shared close-up footage of her very swollen leg.

Tammin, who previously shared that her husband Sean McEwen, 45, is still experiencing Covid symptoms one year after almost dying from the virus, said that the producer 'might end up going to the hospital' as he's 'not feeling great'.

'It can only go up from here': Tammin Sursok (pictured), 38, declared in an Instagram Stories post on Sunday that January 'isn't her month' as she got stung by a hornet - and revealed husband Sean McEwen 'might go to the HOSPITAL' as his Covid symptoms continue

Dressed casually and filming from her home, the former Home and Away star updated her fans on her disastrous January.

'I got stung by a hornet today. So I must have p**sed someone off in January,' she began.

'January just doesn't seem to be my month but I'm manifesting that February is going to be amazing, because I think that if you get it all the f**k out in January it can only go up from here.'

Eventful: 'I got stung by a hornet today. So I must have p**sed someone off in January,' the former Home and Away star began

Outlook: The Los Angeles-based star then shared a close-up look at her very swollen leg and said that she's trying 'to think positive'

The Los Angeles-based star then shared a close-up look at her very swollen leg and said that she's trying 'to think positive'.

Hours later on Monday, Tammin returned to her Instagram Stories to give an update on husband Sean's condition, after feeling 'sick in bed' and mustering a little energy.

'So Sean's going to the doctor right now. He might end up going to the hospital. He's not feeling great. So [I'm] just keeping it together,' she said.

Recovery: Hours later on Monday, Tammin returned to her Instagram Stories to give an update on husband Sean's condition, after feeling 'sick in bed' and mustering a little energy. Pictured: Tammin and Sean, 45

Concerning: 'So Sean's going to the doctor right now. He might end up going to the hospital. He's not feeling great. So [I'm] just keeping it together,' she said

Over the weekend, Tammin told her Instagram fans that Sean has a 'high fever and his feet feel like they're burning'.

Tammin said she was initially worried her husband may again be sick with the virus but his test returned a negative result.

'The good news is his PCR test came back negative so that's a massive sigh of relief but we're still now in a saga where we have no idea what's going on,' she said.

Symptoms: Over the weekend, Tammin told her Instagram fans that Sean has a 'high fever and his feet feel like they're burning'. 'He has those weird Covid toes... If you've had Covid there's like burning in your feet. No appetite, no eating but no loss of taste and smell,' she said

Tammin explained: 'His fevers gets really high in the middle of the night and then they sort of break in the morning.'

'He has those weird Covid toes... If you've had Covid there's like burning in your feet. No appetite, no eating but no loss of taste and smell.'

It comes after Tammin told fans in a series of Instagram Stories the day prior that she has 'PTSD' after she almost lost Sean to the disease last year.

'He had a rough last night. Fevers and sweating. I think the worst part for me is like PTSD, from last year. It's exactly this time last year,' she said in a video.

Unwell: It comes after Tammin told fans in a series of Instagram Stories the day prior that she has 'PTSD' after she almost lost producer and writer Sean to Covid-19 last year

'I would say he's definitely doing better this time around. So that's a positive. But it's hard for your brain not to go down that other route'.

Late last year, the Neighbours actress paid tribute to her husband on their 10-year wedding anniversary and revealed he'd come close to succumbing to the virus.

She wrote: 'To dear Sean, on our 10 year wedding anniversary. We almost lost you a year ago. I remember driving down the street and my heart started breaking.

'I don't remember a memory without you in it. Without loving you, without us laughing or surviving or dreaming or needing each other. My memories are you.'
She previously revealed she had been at the receiving end of cruel body shaming trolls.

Yet Laura Adlington proudly hit back at her critics as she stripped down to a bikini for the first time in her life while holidaying in Mexico on Sunday.

The Great British Bake Off finalist, 32, was inundated with praise from her friends and followers as she posed in a leopard print two-piece after finally becoming 'at peace' with her body.

'It's not a perfect body, but it's mine': Great British Bake Off's Laura Adlington proudly wore a bikini for the first time on Sunday after sharing her heartbreak over fat shaming trolls

Laura radiated confidence in the sun soaked snap as she posed on the shoreline while clad in a bandeau two-piece.

She captioned the image: 'Today I wore a bikini on the beach for the first time ever.

'And, for the first time in my entire life, I can honestly say I feel at peace with my body, instead of at war with it.

'Its not a perfect body but its mine, and I want to feel the sun on it  #selflove #bodyacceptance #bodyconfidence.'

Perfect: The Bake Off finalist, 32, was inundated with praise from her friends and followers as she posed in a leopard print two-piece after finally becoming 'at peace' with her body

Last week, the baker revealed she was building up the confidence to wear a bathing suit in public as she snapped a selfie in a swimming costume.

She explained: 'I'm feeling a bit nervous today about being in a swimming costume around the pool, but Im trying to remind myself that holidays are a privilege, and that I deserve to be here and take up space.

'Ive even packed a couple of bikinis!! Ive told myself it doesnt matter if I wear them. But Im hoping I can build up the courage to as I have never worn one in all my 32 years.'

One to watch: Laura reached the final of Great British Bake Off in 2020 and previously admitted she considered having a gastric bypass prior to making her TV debut

Laura went on to admit she was feeling emotional after launching a body positive podcast, explaining: 'I am scared and nervous about the reaction, but Im really hoping it resonates with some of you and makes you feel less alone.

'In it, I talk about my childhood, what it was like for me growing up fat, and the complex relationship I have with food and my body image.'

Laura, who previously revealed shed considered a gastric sleeve ahead of her Bake Off debut, started the podcast as a response to the shocking body shaming messages she received after her TV debut.

Proud: Last week, the baker revealed she was building up the confidence to wear a bathing suit in public as she snapped a selfie in a swimming costume

She explained: 'I'm feeling a bit nervous today about being in a swimming costume around the pool, but Im trying to remind myself that holidays are a privilege'

Last year, Laura explained she had been left 'heartbroken' by some of the horrific comments sent her way, but insisted: 'I'm not going to let some d**khead who doesn't know the difference between "your" and "you're" get me down.'

The blonde beauty shared a string of nasty comments, including one she said 'broke' her that read: 'You will never have kids as your a whale. Probably the reason you haven't had them yet.' [sic]

Responding, Laura told her followers that she 'felt absolutely heartbroken somebody could be so cruel' but 'then remembered the 99.9% of messages I get from you which are supportive and kind'.

Her response read in full: 'This vile message broke me yesterday. It was so personal, especially the baby comment, and I felt absolutely heartbroken somebody could be so cruel.

'It made me want to delete my account and hide away. But then I remembered the 99.9% of messages I get from you which are supportive and kind.

'Thank you to those of you who do message, who like and comment and are supportive. It really does mean so much.

'I like helping people and I know how hard it is to feel comfortable in a plus size body and find nice clothes.

'That's why I share what I do. Thanks to those of you that get it.'

She concluded: 'And don't worry, I'm not going to let some d**khead who doesn't know the difference between "your" and 'you're' get me down.'

Awful: Last year, Laura explained she had been left 'heartbroken' by some of the horrific comments sent her way as she shared screenshots of the messages

Laura previously opened up to the Daily Mail about being diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder at the age of 24.

Revealing she has been on anti-anxiety medication for five years, Laura was initially unsure whether she should apply to Bake Off 2020 and didn't know if she could deal with the process and attention.

She explained she almost didn't apply because she was worried about how the social media trolls would deal with a 'bigger girl' appearing on a baking show.

But Laura decided to overcome her fears, saying: 'I decided I'd had enough self-loathing  I don't need to deal with other people's opinions of my size.'
She became a mother for the first time after welcoming daughter Janie in April 2020 with her husband Joshua Jackson.

And on Sunday, Jodie Turner-Smith, 35 showed off her sensational physique in a tropical print bikini as she relaxed on a sunlounger.

The actress took to Instagram to share a snap of herself in the colourful halterneck swimwear set, which displayed her washboard abs and ample cleavage.

Wow! On Sunday, Jodie Turner-Smith, 35 showed off her sensational physique in a tropical print bikini as she relaxed on a sunlounger

Jodie showed off her natural beauty in the jaw-dropping shop, as she gazed into the camera with her piercing eyes.

Her stunning natural curls were still wet and her body was drying off from spending time cooling off in some water.

Anne-Boleyn star Jodie and Dawson's Creek alumnus Joshua started dating in 2018 before quietly marrying in December 2019.

Just four months later, the newlyweds welcomed their daughter Janie, who they've done their best to keep out of the public eye.

First-time mum: She became a mother for the first time after welcoming daughter Janie in April 2020 with her husband Joshua Jackson

Last year, Jackson appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he revealed that Jodie had proposed to him.

'She asked me on New Year's Eve,' he told the host. 'We were in Nicaragua - it was very beautiful, incredibly romantic, we were walking down the beach, and she asked me to marry her.'

It was truly a whirlwind engagement being that it occurred just two months into their relationship.

Joshua gushed that his decision to accept Jodie's proposal was the 'best choice I ever made.'

The lovely engagement story was met with criticism, which prompted the Little Fires Everywhere actor to fireback at 'racist and misogynist' critics in a Refinery29 interview.

'So I accidentally threw my wife under the bus because that story was told quickly and it didn't give the full context and holy Jesus, the internet is racist and misogynist,' began Jackson.

He clarified that although he'd accepted Turner-Smith's proposal, he also wanted to perform a proposal of his own.

'What I didn't say in that interview was there was a caveat, which is that I'm still old school enough that I said, "This is a yes, but you have to give me the opportunity" to propose as well.'

Watch the iconic series Dawson's Creek, on Stan in Australia.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has begged fans to stop commenting on her body, saying it's 'really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look'.

The actress, 35, pleaded with her social media followers 'if you have an opinion about my body please, please don't share it with me' in an impassioned post via her Instagram page on Sunday night.

Alongside a mirror selfie, the Derry Girls star wrote: 'Hello! So just a thing- if you have an opinion about my body please, please don't share it with me.

Stop: Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has begged fans to stop commenting on her body, saying it's 'really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look'

'Most people are being nice and not trying to be offensive but I am just one real life human being and it's really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look being sent directly to you every day.

'If you have an opinion about me that's ok, I understand I'm on TV and that people will have things to think and say but I beg you not to send it to me directly.

'Anyways here's a pic of me in my hotel in NY about to go to SNL, it's unrelated to this post but delighted with my hair in it.'

The Irish actress shot to fame portraying Clare Devlin in Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, before taking on the role of Penelope Featherington, the youngest Featherington daughter, in Netflix smash hit period drama Bridgerton in 2020.

Star: The Irish actress, 35, (right) plays Penelope Featherington, the youngest Featherington daughter, in Netflix smash hit period drama Bridgerton in 2020

Last year, Nicola explained her displeasure at being asked about her shape, saying 'every time I'm asked about my body in an interview it makes me deeply uncomfortable'.

In a series of tweets, she wrote: 'Can we please stop asking women about their weight in interviews, especially when it completely irrelevant.

'I'm seeing a lot of interviews from 10 years ago where people go "Oh weren't the questions so inappropriate!" unfortunately it's still happening.

'Every time I'm asked about my body in an interview it makes me deeply uncomfortable and so sad I'm not just allowed to just talk about the job I do that I so love,' she wrote.

Speaking out: The Derry Girls star pleaded with her social media followers in an impassioned Instagram post on Sunday night (pictured at London Fashion Week in September 2021)

'It's so reductive to women when we're making great strides for diversity in the arts, but questions like that just pull us backwards.'

The actress explained she is 'not a body positivity activist' and said her image is not something she defines herself by.

She added: 'Also, and I mean this in the nicest way ah possible, I'm not a body positivity activist, I'm an actor I would lose or gain weight if an important role requirement.

'My body is the tool I use to tell stories, not what I define myself by. So yeah, it's 2021 it would be nice if we didnt have to keep having this conversation.'

In 2018, Nicola penned a comment piece for The Guardian, detailing the pain of being described as 'a fat girl' and 'overweight little girl' by a theatre critic in recent years.

She wrote: 'I'm very lucky to get to use my body to become all these fascinating women. But the prism through which my body is viewed is inescapable.

'I know I'm not alone; women in my industry are put under constant scrutiny for their looks. It affects male actors as well  I had messages from them  but the vast majority of feedback was from women.

'Something in our society tells us that women's bodies are fair game for scrutiny in a way that men's simply are not.'

Season two of Bridgerton will air on Netflix from March 25.
They rose to fame on the ITV dating show Love Island.

Yet Kaz Crossley and Ellie Brown swapped the sunny shores of Majorca for the chilly streets of London as they headed for dinner at The Standard hotel in London for a friends birthday on Sunday.

Kaz, 27, wowed as she flaunted her toned abs and ample cleavage in an orange cut-out crop top and pencil skirt.

Wow! Love Island's Kaz Crossley forwent underwear in a very racy co-ord as she enjoyed a night out at The Standard hotel in London with catsuit-clad Ellie Brown on Sunday

Going underwear-free in her racy ensemble, she completed the look with open toe white heels and a matching leather handbag.

Ellie, 23, also put her enviable physique on display as she donned a skintight brown jumpsuit which she paired with clear heels.

Keeping accessorises to a minimum she sported a beige handbag and a slew of silver rings.

The blonde beauty looked radiant as she styled her locks in beachy waves and her glam makeup enhanced her flawless features.

Stunning: Kaz, 27, wowed as she flaunted her toned abs and ample cleavage in an orange cut-out crop top and pencil skirt

It comes after Kaz revealed she and her mother spent Christmas apart after she tested positive for Covid-19.

The influencer admitted she had 'lost all motivation' as she told how she and her mum had planned on spending the festive period in Thailand together.

Kaz tested positive just before the flight so told her mother, who is Thai, to go without her, hoping she could join her towards the end of the trip.

However, Thailand announced new travel measures meaning Kaz had to remain at home while her mother stayed in Thailand.

Looking good: Ellie showed off her enviable physique in a skintight brown jumpsuit which she paired with pointed toe heels

Taking to Instagram, Kaz shared a snap with her mother along with their WhatsApp conversation when she learned of Thailand's new restrictions.

In the messages, Kaz told how they were planning on spending Christmas with the children at Wor. Watthana, a Muay Thai gym Kaz is involved with.

She wrote: 'Have fun, love you! Will book hotel for you xx hopefully see you soon xx'.

Thailand is limiting quarantine-free travel to the country amid concerns over the Omicron variant.

So sad: It comes after Kaz revealed she and her mother spent Christmas apart after she tested positive for Covid-19

Kaz wrote: 'My mum tested negative so I told her to go without me, she suffered very badly from COVID last year and I didn't want to risk it again'

Alongside the post, Kaz wrote: 'Had a lot of people sharing how their Christmas plans have been ruined this year.

'So here's mine.. I had planned to take my mum to Thailand for Christmas and spend it with all my kids at @watthanaya on Christmas Day.

'She has never been to Isaan before and I just knew she was going to fall in love with them all. Just before my flight, I tested positive.

'My mum tested negative so I told her to go without me, she suffered very badly from COVID last year and I didn't want to risk it again.

Oh dear: Taking to Instagram, Kaz shared a snap with her mother along with their WhatsApp conversation when she learned of Thailand's new restrictions

'She also tested negative arriving into Thailand. I've spent the last week and a half in isolation.

'I thought I could wait it out and hopefully catch her by the end of her trip but Thailand has announced new entry measures today.

'Soooo many people are in the same boat as me! It's so s**t! I don't even know what to post these days I've lost all motivation but I just thought I would keep it real with you guys.

'If you swipe I've shared some of your stories too. I'm so sorry if you are feeling this way! We're all in this together.'
Married At First Sight's highly anticipated ninth season premiered on Monday night.

And during a segment where hunky hospitality entrepreneur Brent Vitiello was introduced to viewers, footage of Channel Nine's Covid-19 news bulletins was aired.

While it was a move by producers to signify the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the 33-year-old's event business in Dubai, viewers found it rather bizarre.

'It's not a spoiler alert, we all lived it!' Married At First Sight ran Covid-19 NEWS BULLETINS during Monday's premiere episode and viewers found it bizarre. Producers ran footage of newsreader Georgie Gardner (pictured) reading out startling Covid-19 statistics

The beginning of the segment saw Brent describing his high-flying life abroad.

'Running events in Dubai was a whole different life. It was mayhem in parts but it was also a lifestyle that you didn't think was possible,' he said in a piece to camera.

'And it escalated into a full blown agency. Photography, videography, advertising marketing for major hotels.... and then this pandemic hit.'

High-flying event manager: A segment saw hunky hospitality entrepreneur Brent Vitiello (pictured), 33, introduced to viewers. Running the news bulletins was a move by producers to signify the devastating impact the pandemic has had on Brent's event business in Dubai

Industry downfall: 'The hospitality industry completely shut down. I lost up to six figures and then lost my businesses. And then I had to come home,' Brent said in a piece to camera

The camera then showed Channel Nine's Covid-19 news bulletins with newsreaders Georgie Gardner and Peter Overton, where they revealed startling statistics.

After capturing hospital workers in hazmat suits and the exteriors of quarantine hotels, Brent went on to reveal the financial devastation the pandemic caused him.

'The hospitality industry completely shut down. I lost up to six figures and then lost my businesses. And then I had to come home,' he said.

Brent described having his work taken away as like losing a 'chunk' of himself and said it was a 'hard transition' returning to Sydney where he 'felt like a stranger'.

Serious scenes: The camera then showed Channel Nine's Covid-19 news bulletins with newsreaders Peter Overton (pictured). Footage captured hospital workers in hazmat suits and the exteriors of quarantine hotels

Found it bizarre: Viewers at home flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the Covid-19 bulletins. 'Why do we need the news recap?? Like we hadn't heard of COVID!?' one sarcastically posted

Viewers at home flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the Covid-19 bulletins.

'Why do we need the news recap?? Like we hadn't heard of COVID!?' one sarcastically posted.

Another said, 'The news recap of Covid was not needed as SPOILER ALERT. We all lived it.'

One viewer also wrote, 'That Covid montage was cool! Like we really needed that reminder of what's happened to all of us in the world.'

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Lauren Goodger's love rival Amy Gilbert shared a cryptic snap on Sunday night as she told fans she was incomparable.

Amy delighted her followers with a sexy selfie captioned 'don't compare [bullseye emoji]' in which she posed in a plunging crop top and hot pants.

She shared the image with her 4000 followers just moments after Lauren also took to Instagram to post a sweet bump snap.

'Don't compare': Lauren Goodger's love rival Amy Gilbert shared a cryptic sexy snap on Instagram on Sunday... moments after the pregnant TOWIE star posted bump shot

Former TOWIE star Lauren, who is expecting her second child with ex Charles Drury, cradled her baby bump in a sweet shot while cuddled up to daughter Larose, six months.

She had shared the shot on the Instagram account set up in her baby daughter's name, and captioned it: '@babylarose.x first bday party happy 1st Birthday Roman.'

The posts come after it was revealed Lauren's ex Charles had a fling with Amy in November 2021, while the couple were on a brief break.

Lauren, who has revealed she is 17 weeks pregnant with their second child, kicked Charles out of their home earlier this month after his fling came to light.

Moments earlier: Former TOWIE star Lauren, who is expecting her second child with ex Charles Drury, cradled her baby bump in a sweet shot while cuddled up to daughter Larose

Lauren admitted last week that she could reconcile with Charles after confirming her pregnancy.

While the couple, who only got together in October 2020, have had a rocky romance, Lauren has now admitted she hasn't ruled out getting back together with the 24-year-old in the future.

Asked by New! Magazine if this feels like the 'final break-up this time,' an optimistic Lauren replied: 'Not really. It's weird  men are weird!'

She added though that she now has 'more self-respect, because if you're not treating me how I should be treated, then you're not here. Who knows what's going to happen next week, next month. But I just know you can't come and go when children are involved.'

She also admitted that her love for the father of her children 'will never go'.

The reality star explained that the exes still need to work out 'a co-parenting schedule'.

'What we're doing now is different to what I've done before because last time we broke up we'd talk or see each other. Every day he was coming round, which I don't think is fair, so this is a learning game,' she explained.

Expecting: Lauren is 17 weeks pregnant with her second child with ex Charles Drury, who she kicked out of their home earlier this month after his fling came to light

Amy previously took to her Instagram Stories as news of Lauren's pregnancy broke, to brand Charles 'a disgusting excuse of a man'.

The model wrote: 'Wouldn't usually come on social media to voice my opinion but after today I feel like I had too.'

Addressing Charles she continued: 'Now this all makes so much sense why you ran off so quickly, why you was so brash and evil that you wanted me to make my decision so quickly so it suited YOU, you wouldn't support me because it would 'ruin your whole life.'

'Everything was about YOU, you made me feel so alone. You really are a disgusting excuse of a 'man'.'

An insider told MailOnline that Charles knew Lauren was pregnant with their second child when he had a fling with Amy during their brief split in November.

Amy has claimed that Charles reached out to her during their break and they began sleeping together before he reunited with Lauren.

Charles has admitted to the steamy tryst which he has labelled a 'mistake', and said: 'I was stupid and things happened'.

Amy has claimed that Charles reached out to her via direct message on Instagram and invited her to his home in east London for sex, before spending a weekend together.
Rylan Clark shed light on his feelings over his public image and his boozy antics during an appearance on Alan Carr's podcast on Monday.

The TV star, 33, appeared on the Chatty Man host's Lifes A Beach podcast, where he laid bare his fears that he could be seen as 'an a**ehole' to the public and also discussed his drunken holiday antics in a candid chat.

The release of the backdated interview comes just one day after Rylan received an outpouring of support from a legion of stars in the wake of the release of a video showing him 'demanding gear' during a night on the town.

Open and honest: Rylan Clark shed light on his feelings over his public image and his boozy antics during an appearance on Alan Carr's podcast on Monday

Alan's podcast features stars chatting about their holiday experiences, past trips and upcoming jaunts, peppered with anecdotes about their lives.

Rylan, who announced his divorce from husband Dan Neal in June last year, spoke about his reluctance to complain 'because of his job', as he admitted he lives in fear of 'being called an a**ehole' or being sold out to the press.

He said: 'I am not a complainer. I get embarrassed if I complain. If I go to a restaurant and it's s**t I say let's just pay it and go. I think that's because of my job. I'm so worried, so if I say "This is disgusting", they'll say "That Rylan was an a**ehole"'.

Additionally, Rylan detailed what he likes to drink on holiday, saying if he flies with British Airways, dependent on class, he will 'try everything', while also revealing he was drunk on his return flight from Dubai after X Factor Judges' Houses in 2012.

Cheers! He was asked about his holiday drinks of choice as well as speaking about his reluctance to complain

While Alan did not specify when the chat was recorded, the release is timely following the Rylan's appearance in the news and on social media over the weekend.

In The Sunday Mirror video, Rylan was seen saying 'give me the f**king gear' however upon spotting he was being filmed, Rylan promptly remarked: 'Delete that now or I will f*****g kill you!', though the star was smiling at the time.

There is no suggestion Rylan obtained or took drugs.

On his concerns over complaining, he went on: 'I just go with the flow. I can't complain and I get embarrassed if I'm with someone and they moan...

'If I've spent a bit of money on a villa or something and it was running alive with cockroaches I'd say find me somewhere else that's different...

Filmed: The release of the backdated chat comes just one day after Rylan received an outpouring of support from a legion of stars in the wake of the release of a video showing him 'demanding gear' during a night on the town (pictured leaving Claridge's on Saturday)

'But if it's a meal in a restaurant of something and it's not great [I don't say anything]. If the chicken is pink fine, send it back but I'm not a complainer. I'd rather pay it and get McDonald's on the way home...

'We always have it in the back of our mind that someone's gonna go 'a**ehole' and it could be completely valid.'

It comes weeks after Rylan admitted he was a 'danger to himself' following the breakdown of his marriage to husband Dan last year, which saw him take a highly-publicised step away from the spotlight.

He fleetingly touched on his divorce in the chat, as Alan asked: 'Why don't you buy your own plane?', before he simply stated: 'Divorce babes', in a nod to Adele's return to the spotlight and now famous line when asked about her new album.

Alan mused that he imagines Rylan enjoys a glass of champagne before moving on to gin and tonics and then a panini during plane journeys.

Honest: The TV star, 33, appeared on the Chatty Man host's Lifes A Beach podcast, where he laid bare his fears that he could be seen as 'an a**ehole' to the public and also discussed his drunken holiday antics in a candid chat

Rylan then went into discussing his Judges' Houses stay at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, where he detailed their return to the UK.

He said: 'Actually I was staying in a royal residence. We really lucked out our year, we had full shebang. That's when X Factor had a bit of money...

'I will tell you a little thing that p**sed me off slightly. You check in on the first class lounge, go left on the plane, you do a bit of filming at the bar then they send you to economy! To be fair I was drunk on the plane.'

He also embellished on his time at Judges' Houses, including an anecdote about drinking with the late Caroline Flack and production crew/

He regaled: 'We stayed at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. I was a little dreamer and I'd never been anywhere like that and I'll never forget that the night after we performed, we were split in to two groups of three...

An honour: He revealed he was drunk on his return flight from Dubai after X Factor Judges' Houses in 2012

'God bless Caroline Flack, she was with us and she was a friend of all of ours and she was with us and we were all in the pool and producers and we all had a laugh and it was unreal like there were butlers and you'd say can I get a vodka and coke please...

'They'd be like of course and they'd bring you a bottle of Absolut and a bottle of coke and I'd be like can I have a normal one and they say no that's what they'd do here....

'Then they had a Hermes toiletries and on the last day the brought me a massive box of them that I slid in my case!'

When asked about his other drinking and travelling antics, he said: 'Depends what airline I'm on, If I'm on British Airways good luck to them all. If I'm on a nice class I do like a little bit of this and a bit of that.

'If I'm on the old Rylan [Ryan Air] or EasyJet, I am hoodie up ordering the cheese and ham panini and I order that as soon as I sit down otherwise I'm sitting there with a Nature Valley bar' before joking: 'I'm famous!...

Sweet: Rylan was his usual dazzling self on the cheek podcast

'I don't care if Julia and her six kids want a toastie! I'm like Samara from The Ring jumping out of that well going down the aisle saying stick that in the microwave darling!'

In another anecdote from his marriage, he went on: 'Two or three years ago I went to Tel Aviv for Eurovision. I don't know how to say this without sounding dirty but I was walking around with a semi most of the time!...

'It was door to door looks. I mean stunning. Cant wait to go back! But obviously I was married at the time so it was never anything like that. But you can look! I was looking around thinking everyone is so beautiful around here I do not fit in.'

He then detailed a story about his manager - who is of Iranian descent - being stopped at customs.

Wow! The TV personality won huge support from stars in the wake of the video's release

Recalling his honeymoon, he said: 'I don't mind travelling, I've been to the Maldives - went on my honeymoon but it was the nicest place...

'I've seen photos and obviously they're very beautiful but until you go somewhere like that - and i was very lucky to go there - oh my good god. the photos look like Dagenham compared to what its like in real life...

'That's no shade to Dagenham I lived there for a year. Its just beautiful but to me somewhere like that is a special treat like honeymoon or anniversary....

'It's such a f**king long flight. I'm happy with a bit of Spain - Canaries - four hours I'll deal with it, I wouldn't mind going to Iceland.'

If you have been affected by anything in this article and need support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Stephanie Davis has revealed her 'blood started to boil' when she discovered her stalker left presents for her son Caben, five.

The TV personality, 28, has had a tough time in recent months as she was tormented by the obsessed fan who sent her gifts.

Speaking on Monday's episode of This Morning, Stephanie detailed how the stalker, 43-year-old Alex Boston, was convinced they should be together.

Interview: Stephanie Davis has revealed her 'blood started to boil' when she discovered her stalker left presents for her son Caben, five

The actress said: 'As soon as he mentioned Caben - and he left presents for Caben - my blood started to boil. I was really scared.

'I was a single mum, living at home on my own - petrifying. I had to leave my home with Caben - our safe place was violated.'

In her first TV interview about the terrifying experience, Stephanie told hosts Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes it started in March last year.

She said: 'There were daffodils left outside my drive. That was the first time it started. My little boy Caben saw them and said, "Mummy, can we take them inside?"

Terrifying: The TV personality, 28, has had a tough time in recent months as she was tormented by the obsessed fan who sent her gifts

'And I didn't think anything of it, so I let him put them in the plant pot. Now, on reflection, if he was watching me, he [the stalker] saw that as a sign of acceptance and it just carried on.'

She added: 'The daffodils kept coming back. I started checking my Instagram messages, I never really look in my requests.

'Then I started to see fake accounts, constant. I can't tell you how many there were. I'd block them and he'd make another one. There were lengthy messages and disturbing, that's when I started to notice.'

Phillip said the stalker was sending Stephanie seven-page letters and then Stephanie caught him on CCTV.

Ordeal: Speaking on Monday's episode of This Morning, Stephanie detailed how the stalker, 43-year-old Alex Boston, was convinced they should be together

She revealed: 'My whole routine was disturbed. In my mum's house were my brothers, my dad, my nan because she's got dementia.

'I was in bed with my mum one night, with Caben in another bed another night, it was horrible, not being able to go to your home or just to get clothes.

'I was literally looking over my shoulder. Every time the wind blew, I was constantly filled with anxiety.'

Phillip asked what it does to your head and Stephanie replied: 'Terrible, terrible. I think it definitely had a big impact to my mental health.

'I struggle with my mental health anyway, but when that happened my anxiety was through the roof.

'I was constantly having panic attacks, I couldn't sleep, I was up and kept checking in on Caben, panicking, imagining he wasn't there, going through all those motions.'

The actress said: 'As soon as he mentioned Caben - and he left presents for Caben - my blood started to boil. I was really scared'

On how her stalker managed to get away with it for so long, Stephanie said: 'The police were checking the letters in forensics and there were no fingerprints on there.

'He'd worn gloves and he put a blocker to the cameras on the street, so it cut out when he walked past I felt like I was in The Bodyguard. It was like living in a horror film.'

Phillip asked how he was caught and Stephanie explained: 'One of the letters, he messed up and left a fingerprint.'

And on Boston being convicted to 28 weeks in prison, Stephanie said, 'I feel relieved. I slept for the first time in a long time.

'I still think it'll take a while even when I left my house yesterday, I've got a rustley plant at the end of my drive and it [scared me].'

Scary: In her first TV interview about the terrifying experience, Stephanie told hosts Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes it started in March last year

The actress' stalker, Alex Boston, pleaded guilty on November 12 to stalking Stephanie, however he failed to turn up to sentencing on December 22.

Stephanie previously told how she first noticed that someone was watching her when a delivery of handpicked daffodils was left outside the home where she lives with her son.

At first, Stephanie brushed off any harrowing thoughts and thought maybe her mother Pauline Davis had left the flowers outside her door.

However after Pauline confirmed she was not the gift giver and more presents began to arrive at the property, Stephanie began to worry.

Talking about some of the gifts received, Stephanie told the Mirror: 'He left a big bag of stuff that obviously he picked for me. What freaked me out was there was a little leopard print number - on reflection it makes me feel sick - as I thought he obviously looked at that, gone out and got it, and thought that it would look good on me.

Creepy: The gifts continued to arrive for Stephanie but the stalker would also bring gifts for her son Caben

Stephanie said that she knew the person leaving the gifts was the same culprit, because they continued to leave bunches of daffodils with the gifts.

One present was a plant, which was accompanied by a message which read: 'grow this to grow our love.', while making declarations of love and admitting that he wanted to be a father to her son Caben.

Stephanie, who was in a relationship with Oliver Tasker at the time, asked her then boyfriend if he was sending the gifts - however she said he seemed offended and confirmed that it wasn't him either.

The gifts left Stephanie feeling paranoid and she began to question whether it was someone she knew in her local area, including a man who had repeatedly been asking her out on a date.

A CPS spokesman said: 'Between April 2020 and July 2021, Boston stalked Ms Davis by bombarding her with messages via social media, delivering letters and gifts, and loitering outside her home address.'

Boston, of Moreton in Wirral, Merseyside, was identified through his Instagram account and fingerprint evidence on the letters, the CPS said.

When his address was searched more letters intended for Stephanie were found.
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James Mathison has slammed Channel Nine for 'glorifying alcohol' after Ash Barty encouraged the panel to enjoy a beer with her live on-air, after her Australian Open win on Saturday night.

On Sunday, the former Australian Idol host, 44, made his feelings clear in a Twitter post, where he suggested 'glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can't even celebrate success without booze on live TV'.

Barty, 25, encouraged the commentary team including Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik to have a Corona with her after her win against America's Danielle Collins.

Controversial: James Mathison, 44, SLAMMED Channel Nine on Sunday for 'glorifying alcohol' in a Twitter post after Ash Barty encouraged the panel to enjoy a beer live on-air after her Australian Open win. Pictured in April 2019

'Our glorification and glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can't even celebrate success without booze on live TV,' Mathison wrote.

'It's bizarre. Imagine if this was in Canada and the broadcaster hoisted a joint onto their new champion?'

Mathison's controversial Tweet was received with mixed reactions, with a debate ensuing online.

Celebratory drink: Barty (pictured), 25, encouraged the commentary team including Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik to have a Corona with her after her win against America's Danielle Collins

His view: On Sunday, the former Australian Idol host made his feelings clear in a Twitter post, where he suggested 'glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can't even celebrate success without booze on live TV'

'It was so uncomfortable to watch,' one agreed, along with one who said it was 'incredibly jarring'.

Another joked that Channel Nine was 'staying classy', while one said it felt 'bizarre and unnecessary'.

However Mathison copped some backlash with one writing, 'didn't look or feel awkward to me, it's a celebration after all!!'

Panel: Barty is pictured with the Channel Nine panel following her victory

'Looks like Ash quite enjoyed her beer. It was her best friend who offered it,' one also added.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.

In September, it was revealed Mathison is now working in an Amazon distribution warehouse following years in the spotlight.

The married father-of-two was pictured pushing trolleys at the warehouse on Sydney's Northern Beaches at the time - a stark difference to life in the early 2000s, where he co-hosted Australian Idol for six years alongside Osher Gunsberg.

Fierce debate: Mathison's controversial Tweet was received with mixed reactions, with a debate ensuing online

Mathison was pictured working at one of the retail giant's distribution centres alongside other casual employees.

He rarely discusses his personal life on social media and has not disclosed his employment at Amazon, which opened its first Australian 'fulfilment centre' in Melbourne in December 2017.

He instead uses Twitter to share his political opinions, including advocating for action on climate change and the legalisation of psychedelics.

Mathison's career change comes after he called fame 'hollow' and 'dangerous' in an interview before stepping away from the spotlight.

Reflecting on the cut-throat TV industry in 2017, he also told the You've Gotta Start Somewhere podcast there weren't many opportunities once he quit Australian Idol.

Household name: Mathison began his television career as a reporter for the now defunct music station Channel [V] 2001. He was appointed co-host of Australian Idol in 2003, alongside Gunsberg, then known by his stage name Andrew G, saying until 2009. Both pictured in 2005

'Say you're a plumber or an accountant and you lose your job, you go to Seek and look for another job. Try doing that when you're a radio [or TV] presenter,' he said.

Mathison began his television career as a reporter for the now defunct music station Channel [V] 2001.

He was appointed co-host of Australian Idol in 2003, alongside Gunsberg, then known by his stage name Andrew G.

Mathison quit the Channel 10 singing competition in 2009 and became a part-time panellist on The Project during the show's early years.

Politics: Mathison tried to enter politics in 2016 by running as an independent candidate in the federal seat of Warringah, which was held by then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but failed to win with just 11.4 per cent of the primary vote

He defected to Channel Seven in 2012, becoming a film critic for Weekend Sunrise.

Over the years, he has made appearances on Celebrity Apprentice, Studio 10 and most recently SBS's Celebrity Mastermind.

Mathison tried to enter politics in 2016 by running as an independent candidate in the federal seat of Warringah, which was held by then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but failed to win with just 11.4 per cent of the primary vote.

He is married to Carlie Fowler, the head of brand at fashion label Camilla and Marc, and they have two children together, Luca and Celeste.
She exercises every day for one hour, often sharing her workouts to social media.

And, Eva Longoria, 46, showed off her toned physique in stylish swimwear as she posed for the cover of the March 2022 edition of Women's Health.

The Desperate Housewives actress admitted: 'Sometimes people are scared to be themselves, but I am who I am,' as she spoke about being confident enough to show her true self to the world.

Cover star: Eva Longoria, 46, showed off her toned physique in stylish swimwear as she posed for the cover of the March 2022 edition of Women's Health

For one gorgeous photograph, Eva posed in a white ribbed bandeau bikini top and coordinating bottoms as she gazed over her shoulder at the camera.

Another stunning shot showed the star in a low cut striped sparkling thong swimsuit, with her leg hitched up to offer up a glimpse of her toned behind.

Speaking to the publication about being radically honest, Eva explained: 'I don't really have an attitude like, "Let me put this facade up for social media but be another way in life."

'Sometimes people are scared to be themselves, but I am who I am,' added Eva, who is a doting mum to three-year-old son Santiago with husband Jose Baston.

Scorching hot! One stunning shot showed the star in a low cut striped sparkling thong swimsuit, with her leg hitched up to offer up a glimpse of her toned behind

Addressing her her nonnegotiable, go-to coping mechanism: one hour of working out, every day, Eva admitted: 'I really work out for my mental health.

'I do very heavy weights. I feel like my body changes the most when I do thatI wear a heart rate monitor, and I can see my heart rate spike from just doing a heavy bicep curl.'

The actress also explained why she loves rebounding - the technical term for trampoline workouts - which she got into in 2020, stuck at home and looking to shake up her exercise routine.

Out soon! The March 2022 issue of Women's Health featuring Eva Longoria hits newsstands nationwide on February 8

Eva revealed: 'It makes me present. You really have to focus on the routine and memorize the movements. They switch sides a lot, which can throw you off, so you have to be on top of it. I love that.'

The mother-of-one also opened up about cooking, which she calls 'therapeutic,' and dabbling with more plant-based ingredients.

She explained: 'I grew up on a ranch where we ate what was on the landwhen it was squash season, we ate squash for three months.

'It gave me such an appreciation for where food comes from: It comes from the ground.

'Beans are a big source of protein for us. I love making portobello tacos and jackfruit tacos, and cauliflower fried rice.'

And Eva revealed that her favorite snack foods are: 'Olives, pretzels, popcorn, potato chips - that's my jam.'

Discussing her career, Eva spoke about flexing her skills behind the camera for Flamin' Hot, her first feature film as a director.

She gushed: 'It's a project that is so close to my heart, a true labor of love. What's incredible is that the studio allowed me to hire who I needed to hire behind the camera. It was Latino or Latina, all the way down the line.'

The March 2022 issue of Women's Health featuring Eva Longoria hits newsstands nationwide on February 8.
June Brown led the celebrity tributes to EastEnders star Leonard Fenton on Monday after the news broke that he passed away on Saturday aged 95.

Leonard, who played Dr Harold Legg in the BBC soap, appeared in the first episode in February 1985, with his last scenes airing in 2019.

Several of his scenes were with June, as his character was a close friend of Dot Cotton, who entertained her hypochondria and seemingly endless list of ailments.

'He was a charming man in all ways': EastEnders' June Brown led tributes to 'polite and kind' co-star Leonard Fenton after the Dr Legg star died aged 95 (pictured on set in 2019)

June, 91, described her former co-star as a 'charming and kind' man as she penned a heartfelt tribute to her co-star.

She wrote: 'I first met Leonard as Dr Legg when I joined the cast of EastEnders as Dot, his hypochondriac patient, in 1985.

'He was a charming man in all ways, first as a person and then as an actor, extremely polite and kind.

'I enjoyed working with him enormously for many years and missed him when he retired.'

Close co-star: Several of his scenes were with June, as his character was a close friend of Dot Cotton, who entertained her hypochondria and seemingly endless list of ailments (pictured filming their last scenes together in 2019)

Lovely: June, 91, described her former co-star as a 'charming and kind' man as she penned a heartfelt tribute to her co-star

Dr Legg was written out of the soap in emotional scenes which aired in 2019, after he had returned to tell Dot that he had terminal cancer.

Referencing their final scenes together, June concluded: 'I was glad that I'd been with him for his last scene with Dot at his bedside and my thoughts are with his devoted family.'

Natalie Cassidy, who played Sonia Fowler in the soap, also paid tribute, releasing a statement that read: 'I had the pleasure to work with Leonard. He was utterly charming, continuously joked with me and loved talking about his past.

'I feel honoured that our paths crossed. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.'

Heartbroken: Natalie Cassidy (left) who played Sonia Fowler in the soap and Gillian Taylforth (right) who played Kathy Beale both touched on the late star's charm and good stories

Tragic: Cheryl Fergison (Heather Trott) wrote, 'Sad news Leonard Fenton (Dr Legg) has passed away  @bbceastenders casting the best in great characters  lovely man and talented actor'

Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Beale) said: 'Im so sorry to hear the very sad news about Leonard. He was a lovely, charming man who was so kind and always told the most wonderful stories.

'I send my love and condolences to his family. RIP dear Leonard.'

In an Instagram post, Cheryl Fergison (Heather Trott) wrote: 'Sad news Leonard Fenton (Dr Legg) has passed away  @bbceastenders casting the best in great characters  lovely man and talented actor.'

Leonard was best known for playing Walford's original GP, appearing on the BBC soap from its very first episode in 1985, until his character was killed off in 2019.

Tragic loss: Following the news of his passing, EastEnders paid tribute to Leonard on the soap's official social media channel

Paying their respects: Tributes poured in for the actor after his death was announced on Monday

His death was announced by his family on Monday afternoon in a statement that read: 'The family of the actor Leonard Fenton are heartbroken to announce his death at the age of 95 on Saturday January 29.

'Best known for his role as Dr Legg on EastEnders, Leonards acting career spanned more than 60 years.'

It continued: 'He worked in TV and film and his long stage career included time at the National Theatre and most recently the Royal Shakespeare Company.

'He felt privileged to have worked with some of the greats of the theatre, including Samuel Beckett, Orson Welles and Jonathan Miller.'

The statement concluded: 'His passion for painting and singing pre-dated his acting career and was equally as important to him. He will be missed beyond words by his family.

'We feel incredibly lucky to have been able to be with him as his health worsened towards the end - a privilege denied to so many during these tough times.'

An EastEnders spokesperson added: 'We are deeply saddened to hear that Leonard has passed away.

A statement from his family read: 'He will be missed beyond words by his family. 'We feel incredibly lucky to have been able to be with him as his health worsened towards the end' (pictured in 2009)

'Since appearing in the very first episode of EastEnders, Leonard created a truly iconic character in Doctor Legg who will always be remembered. Our love and thoughts are with Leonards family and friends.'

His career in acting spanned over fifty years and saw him appear in a total of 267 episodes of EastEnders.

Leonard and his wife, cellist Madeline Thorner, had four children together.

The EastEnders Twitter account marked the actor's passing, posting: 'Dr Harold Legg. An #EastEnders icon from the very first episode. Heres to Leonard Fenton for his wonderful presence over the decades. #EastEnders.'

First appearance: Leonard quickly became a fan favourite when he appeared in the Square as one of the original 23 characters invented by the creators of EastEnders

Leonard's character was killed off on EastEnders in 2019, with the emotional storyline seeing him lose his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Harold had returned to Albert Square to spend his final moments with none other than his longtime friend Dot.

Dot realised the end was in sight for Dr Legg when he was brought back to the square and she saw the frail state he was in.

Sharing touching moments as Harold drifted away, the doctor held his father's pendant in his hand before his grip loosened and he passed away.

On working with Leonard again when he rejoined the show last year, June, said: 'It's been eleven years since Dot last visited her favourite doctor, Doctor Legg, and it's an utter delight to be working with Leonard Fenton again.'

One of the show's original characters, Leonard portrayed the medical doctor in regular and recurring roles up until 1997, before appearing in short cameos in the early 2000s.

Gushing over his surprising return, the star said: 'I am very happy to be back at EastEnders and am looking forward to working with June and the rest of the cast and crew again.'

Happier times: Leonard and his wife, cellist Madeline Thorner, had four children together (pictured in 2001)

Raised in east London, Leonard trained to be a civil engineer at King's College London and worked as an army engineer during World War II, and continued to do for five years after until he decided to pursue acting.

Leonard was awarded a scholarship to London's prestigious Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and went to forge a successful acting career spanning over fifty years.

As well as his EastEnders role, the actor also appeared in films such as Robin Hood Junior (1975), Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984), and the British horror movie The Zombie Diaries (2006).

In December 2004, at the age of 78, Leonard made his directorial debut with After Chekhov, which was performed in the Soho Theatre Studio.
Salma Hayek took a break from her glam looks and let her natural beauty shine in a no make-up on selfie Sunday.

The 55-year-old actress posted to her 20 million Instagram followers a picture of her self in a bikini top which was still damp from the water.

'#selfiesunday #nomakeup,' the Eternals actress captioned her post. Her skin looked ageless as she stared into the distance as the picture was taken.

Natural beauty: The 55-year-old actress posted to her 20 million Instagram followers a picture of her self in a bikini and still damp from the water

Beautiful both ways! On the left she is seen with no makeup on and on the right the star is heavily made up for the 10th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala 2021 held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in November 2021 in Los Angeles

It appears this selfie came from a recent trip Salma went on. The actress posted a shot on Tuesday of herself in the same bikini, leaning up against the rock behind her.

'If you forgot to make your new years resolutions, its still January. I made mine but Im adding to the list,' she captioned the post before repeating herself in Spanish.

The Mexico native brought in her new year on a tropical vacation as she updated her followers throughout her stay.

In the cold water: It appears this selfie came from a recent trip Salma went on. The actress posted a shot on Tuesday of herself in the same bikini, leaning up against the rock behind her

She posted a picture of herself in scuba gear equipment before taking the dive into the 'cold water'.

'Some people run to visit the fish,' Salma captioned her diving post, as she zipped up her wetsuit on a small diving boat.

While it's not clear exactly who was on the New Year's trip with Salma, it could have been her husband, businessman Francois-Henri Pinault.

Before the dive: 'Some people run to visit the fish,' Salma captioned her diving post, as she zipped up her wetsuit on a small diving boat

With the fish: She posted a picture of herself in scuba gear equipment before taking the dive into the 'cold water'

The pair got engaged in 2007 and had their first daughter, Valentina, shortly afterwards. They married on Valentine's Day in 2009.

Their marriage also made Hayek the step-mother of Pinault's three children which he has from three previous relationships.

They are: 24-year-old Francois, 21-year-old Mathilde and 15-year-old Augustin. They all carry their father's last name.

The star came out with four movies last year titled House of Gucci, Eternals, Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard and Bliss.
They welcomed their sixth child together, a daughter named Athena, in August.

And on Monday, Paris Fury, 32, looked stunning in a pink top and skin-tight jeans as she stepped out with husband Tyson, 33, in Manchester.

Heavyweight champion of the world Tyson was left with their newborn baby whilst his wife went shopping with their elder daughters in the city centre.

Gorgeous: On Monday, Paris Fury, 32, looked stunning in a pink top and skin-tight jeans as she stepped out with husband Tyson, 33, in Manchester

Paris wore a 70s inspired baby pink and fuchsia swirl print top boasting a high-neckline and long sleeves featuring small bell cuffs.

The Loose Women star strolled along in her tight indigo jeans and metallic gold brogues, while carrying her belongings in a pink cross-body bag.

Tyson proudly promoted himself on his clothing, wearing a Gypsy King branded tracksuit jacket and matching bottoms, as well as a Tyson Fury bobble hat.

The boxer - who has been married to Paris since 2008 - was every inch the doting daddy as he pushed baby Athena in her pram and bent down to coo at her.

Daddy duty: Heavyweight champion of the world Tyson was left with their newborn baby whilst his wife went shopping with their elder daughters in the city centre

The family outing comes just weeks after Paris revealed that she's been subjected to vile racist abuse since joining the Loose Women panel.

She appeared several times on the ITV daytime show in the past before it was announced in 2020 that she's be joining as a regular panellist.

But despite being a hit with bosses and viewers alike, Paris has been targeted by nasty trolls who taken aim at her traveller background, branding her a 'dirty gy**o'.

In her new book Love and Fury, she wrote of the harsh remarks: 'If a stranger from cyberspace tells me that dirty gy**os shouldn't be on television, it's in one ear, out the other.'

Bless: The boxer was every inch the doting daddy as he pushed baby Athena in her pram and bent down to coo at her

The horrendous trolling comes after Paris recently revealed that she was once barred from entering a cinema for being 'a gypsy', but insisted that the term is not offensive to her despite it being deemed as an 'insult'.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain last month she said: 'Gypsy is a race - it's a race of people - so it's not an insult in any way.

'But the problem is, for hundreds of years, there's been that real derogatory term that if you're a gypsy, you're a problem, you're an outcast.

'That has been lingering on to this day, and I've suffered racial terms, I've faced those problems. Even as a kid being refused entry to a cinema.

'It's not an insult and for people who find it hard to say, "You're a gypsy", it should never be an insult and never be a hard word to use.'
Kate Hudson has been heading out alone in New York City for the past few days as she does press for her new business endeavor, In Bloom.

But on Monday the Almost Famous actress was seen with some good company when exiting the Greenwich Hotel.

The 42-year-old daughter of Overboard actress Goldie Hawn was with her fiance Danny Fujikawa and their daughter Rani Rose, age three.

Party of three: Kate Hudson on Monday was seen with some good company when exiting the Greenwich Hotel

Mom looked bundled up for the snowy weather in a black and white hounds tooth coat with a wide collar.

Beneath that she had on a thick blue dirt with matching slacks, adding beige UGG boots with black straps.

Hudson also wore her blonde hair in braided pigtails as she wore sunglasses and flashed her engagement ring from Danny.

All together now: The 42-year-old daughter of Overboard actress Goldie Hawn was with her fiance Danny Fujikawa and their daughter Rani Rose

What stood out was the Bride Wars star's blue beanie cap and her funky, multicolored purse.

Her mini-me daughter Rani had on a black dress over leggings and black boots. She also modeled a pair of light pink heart shaped sunglasses.

And the little girl held on to her light pink bear that had a blanket as a body.

Chic: Mom looked bundled up for the snowy weather in a black and white hounds tooth coat with a wide collar. But it was Rani who stood out in her heart shaped sunglasses

One step behind mom and daughter was Danny who wore an elegant camel colored coat with dark buttons.

He also modeled a blue sweatshirt and green slacks with blue sneakers and added a green beanie cap.

His mask was a hunter green color as he skipped the sunglasses.

The patriarch: One step behind mom and daughter was Danny who wore an elegant camel colored coat with dark buttons

The family seemed headed out for lunch as on Monday afternoon Kate shared an image of the three getting hot tea.

Danny had on the same hat but Kate was in a beige cardigan.

This sighting comes after Kate finally admitted she had dated her You, Me And Dupree co-star Owen Wilson.

Hands-on mommy: The Crossroads graduate held hands with her child as she carried a funky purse on her shoulder

Tea time for the Fujikawas: The family seemed headed out for lunch as on Monday afternoon Kate shared an image of the three getting hot tea. Danny had on the same hat but Kate was in a beige cardigan

On Thursday's Drew Barrymore Show, the blonde beauty confirmed that she had romanced the 53-year-old romantic comedy prince.

'Ive been there with a Wilson,' the Bride Wars actress told her talk show host pal Drew.

Kate and Owen dated from 2006 until 2007 but were very quiet about their romance, only posing together for the red carpet of their film You, Me And Dupree.

Around the time of their split in 2007 Owen tried to commit suicide; later he said he was very depressed at the time and his brother Andrew stayed with him, helping him get back on his feet.

The Drew Barrymore Show conversation about Owen began when Drew said she first met Kate when they 'were young and wild.'

A kiss in Manhattan: Kate shared this kissing photo and said NYC is always good to them

Yes, it is true: Hudson dated Owen Wilson but has never admitted to it. But on Thursday's Drew Barrymore Show, the blonde beauty confirmed that she had romanced him

They worked together on a film: Kate made the movie You, Me And Dupree with Owen; seen at the premiere in 2006

Fun on set: Here Owen and Kate are seen during a scene from the comedy from 2006

Kate interjected: 'Oh yeah. I think it was at a bar restaurant. Chez Jays in Santa Monica with a Wilson.'

Drew, 46, then clarified: 'With Luke Wilson. And you were doing [the 2003 film] Alex & Emma together, I think, and I was dating him but I think he was also dating other people. It was an open relationship, we were young.'

Drew and Luke made the movie Home Fries together and reportedly dated from 1997 until 1999.

That is when Kate offered: 'Ive been there with a Wilson too.'

Quiet: Kate and Owen dated from 2006 until 2007 but were very quiet about their romance

Wild times: The Drew Barrymore Show conversation about Owen began when Drew said she first met Kate when they 'were young and wild.' Seen in 2007 in NYC

Drew did not prod any further about Kate's romance with Owen.

She instead said the good ole days were indeed good: 'Its so fun because when you are young its low stakes. We are just young, we are having fun. We are just playing, acting, hanging out.'

Barrymore finished with: 'You are not taking it all so seriously, and it was fun. We had the best time.'

Hudson then agreed it was the 'best time.'

They had a thing: In the late 1990s, Drew was seeing Luke Wilson, Owen's brother

Kate has had an interesting romantic life. She was wed to Chris Robinson and engaged to Matt Bellamy. She also dated Heath Ledger, Dax Shepard, Alex Rodriguez, Lance Armstrong and Derek Hough.

Hudson is now engaged to Danny Fujikawa with whom she has daughter Rani Rose.

The daughter of Goldie Hawn then discussed how she looked up to Drew during her early years.

'You have been in the spotlight your whole life and as a little girl looking at actresses, Drew is one of them where you are like, for any young girl my age it was like Drew Barrymore,' said Kate.

Mutual admiration society: The daughter of Goldie Hawn then discussed how she looked up to Drew during her early years. 'You have been in the spotlight your whole life and as a little girl looking at actresses, Drew is one of them where you are like, for any young girl my age it was like Drew Barrymore,' said Kate

The Raising Helen star then shared: 'I remember sitting and like I used to get people saying, "Oh you kind of look like Drew Barrymore." Which is why I ended up doing you on SNL.

'They were like, "Can you do Drew Barrymore?" And I was like, "I dont think so." But she did.

The SNL skit saw Will Ferrell play Host James Lipton on Inside The Actors Studio as Kate played a red headed Drew.
Irina Shayk did her best to keep warm on the frigid streets of New York City Monday.

The actress, 35, stepped out in a thick black coat, black beanie, leggings and knee-high boots as she made her way down the snowy sidewalks.

Shayk made some of the walk alone, but she also held hands with her daughter for part of the trip as well.

Not walking alone: Irina Shayk was seen in all black as she held hands with her daughter Lea in NYC on Monday

Irina looked ready for a night out in all black.

Not only were her clothes black but she also held a black designer bag and wore dark sunglasses that completely obscured her green eyes.

While the top of her head was covered by her warm headgear, her brown locks extended far beyond the beanie and continued down past her shoulders.

Her daughter was much more colorful.

Lea, four, wore a bright red beanie with a large fluffy ball on top of it. Her plaid, puffy coat was crisscrossed with gray, black, white and red lines.

Very famous parents: Shayk shares Lea, four, with Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper who she was in a relationship with from 2015 to 2019

She donned red leggings and tiny black boots that barely extended past her ankle while she walked through the concrete jungle with her mom.

Shayk shares Lea with Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper who she was in a relationship with from 2015 to 2019.

She and Bradley are such close co-parents that they have made sure to live just blocks apart in Greenwich Village in order to raise their daughter.

All-black everything: The actress, 35, stepped out in a thick black coat, black beanie, leggings and knee-high boots as she made her way down the snowy sidewalks

Bundled up: Shayk did her best to keep warm on the frigid streets of New York City

'Hes a full-on, hands-on dad - no nanny,' Irina told Highsnobiety last year. 'Lea went on holiday with him for almost two weeks - I didnt call them once.'

The mother of one added: 'Me and her father are very strict. When she finishes eating, she gets up from the table, takes her plate, says "thank you." Without "please" or "thank you" shes not getting anything.'

Irina noted: 'Its hard, because she has so many toys. I had one doll, and I still have this doll. Blonde, blue eyes, big Russian doll.'

The Soviet-born fashionista explained: 'My grandma used to make clothes for her. And I always explain: "Look, this is my doll. I had only one." Or sometimes: "You have this candy. I used to have candy only for Christmas."

Irina's dating history includes Cristiano Ronaldo and last year she was briefly linked to Kanye West in the wake of his split from Kim Kardashian.
Daisy Lowe turned heads in an eye-catching outfit as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Sunday with her boyfriend Jordan Saul.

The model, 33, showed off her incredible figure in a pair of tiny black hotpants and a flimsy red unbuttoned blouse as she headed out for the day.

The bombshell teamed her ensemble with black calf-length socks and punky leather boots, while injecting a touch of glamour with an envy-inducing Chanel quilted bag.

Stepping out in style: Daisy Lowe turned heads in a pair of tiny black hotpants and a flimsy red unbuttoned blouse as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Sunday

Daisy, the daughter of rocker Gavin Rossdale and fashion designer Pearl Lowe, went make-up free as she linked arms with her property developer beau of 18 months, Jordan.

The model's day out comes after she celebrated her 33rd birthday on Friday by making a rare appearance with her father, 56, and half-brothers Kingston, 15, Zuma, 13, and Apollo, seven, who Gavin co-parents with ex-wife Gwen Stefani.

The group headed to Universal Studios Hollywood to toast the occasion, with Daisy later posting a series of sweet family images on her Instagram page.

Alongside the gallery, she wrote: 'Turning 33, a full of love, laughter and way too much delicious food photo dump.'

Cute couple: The model, 33, teamed her ensemble with calf-length socks and punky leather boots as she headed out with her property developer boyfriend of 18 months, Jordan Saul

The family's history is somewhat complicated, with Daisy and Gavin only finding out he was her father when a paternity test uncovered the truth in 2004 following a one-night stand with Daisy's mother Pearl years previously.

In her memoir All That Glitters, Pearl, 51, wrote that Gavin, who had been Daisy's godfather, had a cold response to the request for a paternity test.

Pearl said: 'I received a letter from him implying that I was trying to ruin his life and pointedly accusing me of messing up my own.'

She added that after the paternity test 'Daisy persevered with Gavin, determined to forge some kind of relationship, and things did get better. From time to time, he would ask her round to his house.'

Modern family: The beauty's day out comes after she celebrated her 33rd birthday on Friday with her father Gavin Rossdale, 56, and half-brothers Kingston, 15, Zuma, 13, and Apollo, seven

Gang's all here: The group headed to Universal Studios Hollywood to toast the occasion, with Daisy later posting a series of sweet family images on her Instagram page

A few years later in 2010 Daisy later told the London Evening Standard: 'I now have a really good relationship with my father.

'It's been blossoming for the past year but it really happened over Christmas. We got to spend time together.

'He's got two beautiful kids who I really adore and his wife is gorgeous.'

At the time Gavin was married to his No Doubt bandmate Gwen Stefani, 52, a relationship that ended in divorce in 2016.
She is known for showing off her stunning physique on catwalks and red carpets alike.

And Josephine Skriver sent temperatures soaring once again in her latest shoot for Keen magazine in LA.

The Danish model, 28, smouldered while working her best angles, stripping down to just a pair of acid-wash jeans in one artful shot before straddling a motorbike.

Wow: Josephine Skriver sent temperatures soaring once again in her latest shoot for Keen magazine in LA

Smouldering: The Danish model, 28, smouldered while working her best angles, stripping down to just a pair of acid-wash jeans in one artful shot before straddling a motorbike

Slipping into a snakeskin miniskirt and white cowboy boots, the bombshell looked sensational while hunched over the dirt bike.

Other images saw Josephine slip into a sweeping black bodysuit and knee-high boots.

She was also seen pushing the Honda through the dirt while gazing into the distance.

Over summer, Josephine spoke about balancing her personal and professional lives during an interview with Savior Flaire.

Stunning: Other images saw Josephine slip into a sweeping black bodysuit and knee-high boots

The runway star noted that she was still in the process of figuring out what meant most to her.

Specifically, she expressed that she was trying to measure out all of her 'top priorities. It has taken me a few years to learn to put my well-being and happiness above most other things in my life.'

She went on to note that her fast-paced lifestyle has hampered her efforts, although she was still determined to find her ideal balance.

So chic: She was also seen pushing the Honda through the dirt while gazing into the distance

Candid: Over summer, Josephine spoke about balancing her personal and professional lives during an interview with Savior Flaire

'Happiness starts with you and being happy with yourself. With my career and busy schedule, it's still a learning curve to regularly find time for myself,' she said.

She added, 'Some weeks, I have to buckle down and power through. Other weeks, I'm really good at prioritizing ''me time'' and taking the time to find inner peace and take a deep breath.'

Skriver concluded the interview by remarking that she wanted to see more kindness in the world, as her career had taught her the value of treating other people with respect.

'We don't get much time here, so while we are, we should show compassion, empathy, and love as much as we possibly can,' she said.
Jessica Alves looked sensational as she flaunted her draw-dropping figure in a new photoshoot.

The television personality, 38, put on a very busty display as she went braless in a caramel-hued dress with a deep plunging neckline.

OnlyFans creator Jessica showed off her long slender leg through a thigh-high split and her underwear was visible through the sheer material of the garment.

All eyes on her: Jessica Alves, 38, looked sensational as she flaunted her draw-dropping figure in a caramel-hued dress with a deep plunging neckline in a new photoshoot

Always one to look glamorous, the star's dress was embellished with dazzling rhinestones to match sparkling tassels that hung down at the front.

Brazilian-British Jessica wore a pair of eye-catching heels to add a few inches to her stature and sported lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty facial features.

Her long mane of blonde hair tumbled down onto her shoulders and back and she accessorised with a pair of elegant pendulum earrings.

In style: The television personality put on a very busty display as she went braless in the garment

All made up: Jessica sported lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty facial features for the shoot

Strike a pose: OnlyFans creator Jessica showed off her long slender leg through a thigh-high split and her underwear was visible through the sheer material of the garment

Sharing some of the pictures on her Instagram page on Monday, Jessica posted some heartfelt words about love by late American author, activist, civil rights leader Coretta Scott King.

She wrote: 'Love is such a powerful force. Its there for everyone to embrace - that kind of unconditional love for all of humankind.

'That is the kind of love that impels people to go into the community and try to change conditions for others, to take risks for what they believe in. #love #jessicaalves #valentines #beauty #fashion #photography.'

Eye-catching: Always one to look glamorous, the star's dress was embellished with dazzling rhinestones to match sparkling tassels that hung down at the front

Jessica added: 'To love is to recognise yourself in another.'

And sharing the words of American journalist and author Elizabeth Gilbert, she wrote: 'To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.'

Media personality Jessica returned from Brazil earlier this month after buying a house in Sao Paulo with her OnlyFans earnings.

Warming sentiment: Sharing some of the pictures on her Instagram page on Monday, Jessica posted some heartfelt words about love

The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate recently revealed she is considering having voice feminisation surgery, after undergoing sex reassignment surgery at the start of 2021, having come out publicly as transgender in 2020.

She said: 'I think that it is the only thing that gives away the fact that I am a transgender.

'My body and looks are very feminine but when a guy chats to me at a bar, or gym the third question is "are you trans?".

'I say, "yes I am", then the guy walks away. It is very frustrating.

'Also, when I answer the phone people refer to me using male pronouns and that feels like a knife in my heart.'

The reality star said she is dealing with her feelings by going to therapy.

She explained: 'When I dream sometimes I see my former self and my former image causes me discomfort and distress, I am unable to see images of my former self or watch a video of my former self without getting angry and agitated.

'The therapy helps to erase the image but not the experiences and the moments that I lived as Rodrigo Alves.'
Lottie Moss looked incredible as she flaunted her enviable physique in a slew of Instagram snaps from her sun-soaked getaway to Antigua on Monday.

The model, 24, left little to the imagination while slipping her frame into a skimpy white bikini which showcased her cleavage.

She framed her face with an oversized pair of black sunglasses and smouldered up a storm while leaning against a nearby tree at the swanky Galley Bay Resort & Spa.

Hot stuff: Lottie Moss looked incredible as she flaunted her enviable physique in a slew of Instagram snaps from her sun-soaked getaway to Antigua on Monday

Completing her look with a comfy pair of beige slides, Kate Moss's half-sister paraded her toned pins around the resort, where rooms cost up to 500 per night.

Her gorgeous blonde tresses had been tied up into a sleek bun and she exhibited her impressive collection of tattoos during the amateur photoshoot.

In her caption, the influencer wrote: 'Island gaaaaal @galleybayresort.'

Sizzling: The model, 24, left little to the imagination while slipping her frame into a skimpy white bikini which showcased her cleavage

Eye-popping: She framed her face with an oversized pair of black sunglasses and smouldered up a storm while leaning against a nearby tree at the swanky Galley Bay Resort & Spa

Having a blast! In her caption, the influencer wrote: 'Island gaaaaal @galleybayresort'

It comes after Lottie teased a plethora of sultry content earlier this week, including an hour-long live stream and topless snaps on OnlyFans.

She recently made her profile free to subscribers after the pictures from the site were leaked by a former friend - but according to The Mirror, she is charging 25 for a 60-minute live show and as little as 7.50 to bare her assets.

On Wednesday, the blonde bombshell penned on the X-rated site: 'did my FIRST EVER live stream!! .

'I did a try on haul, got topless, took a little smoke break, AND showed off some of my favorite toys[sic]if you missed it thats okay, check your DMs to watch the entire HOUR of it[sic]'.

Her bio also teases: 'I am PROUD to be on this platform [sic] come say hi to me [sic]'.

She recently revealed that the content had been shared online by an 'evil' ex pal, leaving her in tears.
Erika Jayne got a brief reprieve from the ongoing embezzlement case against her and her estranged husband Tom Girardi when she was dismissed from the Illinois-based suit last week.

However, the case against the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star will be refiled in her home state of California, revealed lawyer for the plaintiff Jay Edelson on Twitter.

Edelson is confident he has uncovered enough evidence to hold Erika accountable for her alleged involvement in 'Tom's ponzi scheme' and vowed not to stop 'pursing' the reality star.

Still in hot water: Erika Jayne is 'not off the hook' in the embezzlement case against her and estranged husband Tom Girardi, the attorney for the plaintiff said on social media

'We have not stopped pursuing @erikajayne, just switching courts.' Edelson penned in a series of tweets. 'We believe we can prove she benefitted from Tom's ponzi scheme. Her lawyer is --again- misleading the public.'

The attorney's social media messages were in response to headlines reporting that Erika had been dismissed from the case in Illinois courts. While she had, in fact been dismissed, the move was only done so that the case could be refiled in a different court.

'The suit is being refiled in California (to avoid fights over jurisdiction),' he tweeted clarifying the situation. 'No chance we are letting @erikajayne off the hook, especially given the evidence we have found. All money will go fully to the victims until they are made whole.'

Edelson later provided a statement on the matter to People explaining that his team has uncovered more information as well as some 'unaired footage' from Bravo that may be included in the new filing once it is reviewed.

'We have not stopped pursuing @erikajayne, just switching courts,' lawyer Jay Edelson penned in a series of tweets. 'We believe we can prove she benefitted from Tom's ponzi scheme. Her lawyer is --again- misleading the public.'

'That should happen over the next few weeks,' Edelson said. 'We are very much looking forward to presenting the full facts of Erika's relationship to Tom's Ponzi scheme, including how much money she made off the backs of the widows and orphans of the Lion Air crash.'

Last week court documents obtained by Us Weekly revealed that the claims against the 50-year-old television star had been 'dismissed without prejudice', meaning they could be refiled at a later date.

Erika and her estranged husband Tom were both accused of misappropriating $2 million in settlement funds from families of Lion Air Flight 610 crash victims.

Girardi, who's a former attorney, was also accused of mismanaging several other clients' finances.

Brief relief: Erika Jayne was officially dismissed from her estranged husband Tom Girardi's fraud and embezzlement lawsuit in Illinois but the case will be refiled against her in California

Despite claims that she was aware of Tom's mishandling of money, Erika has adamantly denied knowing of any wrongdoing.

The lawsuit against the former spouses was filed in December 2020, one month after Erika filed for divorce from Tom after 20 years of marriage.

On Saturday the entertainer briefly appeared on Instagram to repost a sentiment from a fan.

Along with a photo of the blonde bombshell the fan wrote 'She's gonna remember those who were with her and those who were against her. Get em, EJ.'

Back in November Erika broke down in tears as she filmed a reunion episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.

'The suit is being refiled in California (to avoid fights over jurisdiction),' he tweeted clarifying the situation. 'No chance we are letting @erikajayne off the hook, especially given the evidence we have found. All money will go fully to the victims until they are made whole.'

She was grilled for most of the show by host Andy Cohen, 53, about the headline-making scandal.

Erika continued to defend herself against any suggestion that she knew about Tom's alleged dealings and she said if she knew, she wouldn't be on a reality show.

Girardi has been in a conservatorship since last year and cannot answer for himself. His former law firm, Girardi & Keese, filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and he was disbarred last year.

He had his license to practice law revoked in March 2021 after the Los Angeles Times reported that he had been sued more than 100 times and had been the subject of numerous bar complaints alleging financial malfeasance involving millions of dollars owed to clients, including female cancer victims and a burn victim.

This latest development follows news that the reality TV personality was asked to relinquish a pair of $1.4 million diamond earrings gifted to her by Girardi.

The trustee in the Girardi & Keese bankruptcy case claimed the disbarred lawyer used money from a client trust account at his former law firm to purchase the jewelry from M&M Jewelers in 2007.

In court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Erika's attorney said the reality star 'innocently' received the earrings from Girardi 15 years ago and said she has agreed to 'hold and not transfer or sell' the jewelry and 'provide the earrings to a third party escrow to be held in trust' until an investigation has been complete.
We Don't Talk About Bruno from the 2021 animated movie Encanto has hit the number one spot on the Billboard 100 chart.

The catchy song was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and is sung by Encanto cast members Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz.

But the tune won't be able to win an Oscar this year because it was not submitted for the race. Instead, the film's song Dos Oruguitas was entered.

Good job: We Don't Talk About Bruno from the 2021 animated movie Encanto has hit the number one spot on the Billboard 100 chart

Star studded: The catchy song was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and is sung by Encanto cast members Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz

It is the second song from a Disney animated movie to ever hit number one.

The last time it happened was in 1993 with the Aladdin song A Whole New World from Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle.

According to MRC Data, Bruno drew 34.9 million U.S. streams (up 8%) and 1.5 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 239%) and sold 12,300 downloads (up 32%, aided by 69-cent discount pricing in the iTunes Store in the Jan. 21-27 tracking week.

Not happening: But the tune won't be able to win an Oscar this year because it was not submitted for the race

Good numbers: According to MRC Data, Bruno drew 34.9 million U.S. streams (up 8%) and 1.5 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 239%) and sold 12,300 downloads (up 32%, aided by 69-cent discount pricing in the iTunes Store in the Jan. 21-27 tracking week

We Don't Talk About Bruno has done so well, it has even surpassed Let It Go from the animated classic Frozen that starred Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel.

Let It Go won an Oscar in 2014 and went to number five on the charts.

The song was sun by Menzel, the actress who played Elsa in the movie, which was about two sisters who learn to grow closer after the death of their parents.

But We Don't Talk About Bruno has made it to number one, four spots higher than Let It Go.

The man behind the music: Lin-Manuel seen here in November 2021

The song We Don't Talk About Bruno is 'a gossip-esque song about Bruno Madrigal the rejected uncle of the Madrigal family - and one of three children born to Alma and Pedro Madrigal - whose gift for prophecy has left him estranged from the rest of his family; the family members explain why they do not talk about Bruno,' according to wikipedia.

The film is about the Madrigals family that lives in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto.

The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel but she becomes the family's last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

The film also stars John Leguizamo (who plays Bruno), Wilmer Valerrama and Maluma.

The movie was released in the US on November 24, 2021.

The film is also a hit: Encanto's soundtrack has done well overall as it has topped the Billboard 200 ranking, and the film has been a hit, making over $222million globally

Disney animated films have a history of producing top selling hit songs.

Previous Disney hits include A Whole New World from the film Aladdin. That was sung by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle and it made the number one spot in 1993.

Then there was Can You Feel the Love Tonight from Elton John. That was for The Lion King and it made the number four spot in 1994.

Also a hit was Colors of the Wind from Vanessa Williams. That was for the film Pocahontas in 1995. It made it to number four.

Frozen in the past: Let It Go from the animated classic Frozen made it only to the number five spot, while We Don't Talk About Bruno is at number four

We Don't Talk About Bruno won't be nominated for an Oscar because it was not submitted.

Instead, the Spanish-language ballad song Dos Orguitas was entered.

It is on the shortlist of 15 contenders for best original song, which was taken by members of the music branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences from a longer list of 84 eligible songs.

On February 8, the list will be shortened to 15 eligible songs.

The winner will be revealed on March 27.
She was dubbed 'the bride from hell' after cruelly rejecting her groom on Monday's season premiere of Married At First Sight.

And - unsurprisingly - it looks like Tamara Djordjevic may not go the distance with her on-screen husband Brent Vitiello.

The operations manager, 29, was spotted without her wedding ring while running errands in Brisbane just hours before her nuptials aired on TV.

Spoiler alert! Married At First Sight's 'bride from hell' Tamara Djordjevic was spotted without her wedding ring in Brisbane on Monday, just hours before her nuptials aired on TV

Her ring finger was conspicuously bare, and while she did have a ring on her middle finger, it wasn't the same one Brent gave her when they exchanged vows.

She looked professional in a short checkered skirt and sleeveless white blouse.

In another sign the mismatched couple have called it quits since filming their wedding in September, Tamara made a solo appearance on the Today show on Tuesday.

Brent was nowhere to be seen as Tamara spoke to hosts Allison Langdon and David Campbell live via video link from the Gold Coast.

She awkwardly dodged a question about her husband's absence, saying he wasn't there because he'd slept in - despite it being 8:24am.

Gone! Her ring finger was conspicuously bare, and while she did have a ring on her middle finger, it wasn't the same one Brent Vitiello gave her when they exchanged vows

Work meeting? She looked professional in a short checkered skirt and sleeveless white blouse

Not looking good: In another sign the mismatched couple have called it quits since filming their wedding in September, Tamara made a solo appearance on the Today show on Tuesday

We're not buying it! Brent was nowhere to be seen as Tamara spoke to hosts Allison Langdon (centre) and David Campbell (left) live via video link from the Gold Coast. She awkwardly dodged a question about her husband's absence, saying he wasn't there because he'd slept in

Married At First Sight's season nine premiere certainly didn't disappoint on Monday.

The episode kicked off with plenty of drama as Tamara clashed with Sydney hospitality specialist Brent, 33, just minutes after saying 'I do'.

But the most awkward moment came later in the ceremony when judgmental Tamara turned on Brent after finding out he worked at a nightclub - which turned out to be only half true.

Mismatch: Married At First Sight's season nine premiere kicked off with plenty of drama as Gold Coast operations manager Tamara (left) clashed with Sydney hospitality specialist Brent (right) just minutes after saying 'I do'

Fussy bride Tamara was immediately disappointed by her affable groom when they met at the altar.

'He does seem like an average kind of guy. Average just isn't for me. I'm not average. I don't do average,' the surgically enhanced blonde told producers.

Just moments after exchanging vows, Tamara asked Brent where he lived and what he did for a living.

Tamara was lost for words when Brent told her he worked at a popular Sydney nightclub, which she assumed meant he was a party boy.

Not what she ordered: Fussy bride Tamara was immediately disappointed by her affable groom when they met at the altar

Complaint: 'He does seem like an average kind of guy. Average just isn't for me. I'm not average. I don't do average,' she said

While Brent's line of work occasionally requires him to go to nightclubs, he is actually an events manager who previously ran a successful business in Dubai.

When he clarified this point, Tamara was visibly relieved - but the worst was yet to come for the newlyweds.

Later, when the couple sat down for dinner with two friends, a frustrated Tamara called out Brent for his lack of etiquette when he used the wrong fork.

'You don't seem to know much about your cutlery,' she snapped.

'You might like things one way and I like them the other way, but my way has to be the right way,' she added.

Not acceptable! The most awkward moment came later in the ceremony when judgmental Tamara, 29, turned on Brent, 33, after finding out he worked at a nightclub - which turned out to be only half true

Not impressed! Later, when the couple sat down for dinner with two friends, a frustrated Tamara called out Brent for his lack of etiquette when he used the wrong fork

Tamara went on to insist: 'You'll learn very quickly that I always wear the pants in a relationship.'

She then shocked her husband by saying she could never date someone who works in retail because it's 'below her'.

Brent and his best man Levi Neufeld later went for a private chat to discuss how things were going.

Snob: 'You might like things one way and I like them the other way, but my way has to be the right way,' she told him

Farcical: Later in the evening, Tamara berated Brent for a minor mistake while cutting their wedding cake, but the tattooed hospitality worker refused to say sorry - which drove her mad

Brent said he was horrified by Tamaras snobbery and decided to test her by refusing to apologise or make excuses the next time she criticised him.

Later in the evening, Tamara berated him for a minor mistake while cutting their wedding cake, but the tattooed hospitality worker refused to say sorry - which drove her mad.

Their spat descended into a farce as Brent refused to apologise to his wife for handing her a knife the wrong way.

When producers asked him what he thought about his bride, Brent said he'd married a 'psychopath'.

No apologies! Their spat descended into a farce as Brent refused to apologise for handing his wife a knife the wrong way

Nightmare: When producers asked him what he thought about his bride, Brent said he'd married a 'psychopath'

Things went more smoothly for Melbourne-based salesman Anthony Cincotta and executive assistant Selin Mengu, who hit it off as soon as they laid eyes on each other.

The couple connected within seconds of meeting for the first time, and were relieved to discover they both had children from previous relationships.

'Wow, she is my bride... I must have died and have gone to heaven. I can't take my eyes off her,' 38-year-old Anthony said with a twinkle in his eye.

The experts got it right! Things went more smoothly for Melbourne-based salesman Anthony Cincotta (right) and executive assistant Selin Mengu (left), who hit it off as soon as they laid eyes on each other

A blended family in the making? The couple connected within seconds of meeting for the first time, and were relieved to discover they both had children from previous relationships

'This is my family... this is your family.... it's happening,' he whispered to his bride as they started to giggle.

Selin also told producers she was pleasantly surprised with her match, adding: 'Seeing his kind eyes means everything. Immediately I feel that spark.'

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
Sheridan Smith's new Channel 5 drama The Teacher received rave reviews for its first gripping instalment on Monday night.

For her latest role, the actress, 40, portrays Jenna Garvey, a popular teacher with a chaotic private life.

The opening episode saw Jenna accused of sleeping with 15-year-old student Kyle Hope (Samuel Bottomley) after a night out celebrating her promotion.

'Many BAFTAs are coming your way!': Sheridan Smith's new Channel 5 drama The Teacher received rave reviews for its first instalment on Monday night

One impressed viewer said that 'many BAFTAs would be coming their way' as he joined TV fans to rejoice in the edge-of-the-seat viewing.

Others piled the praise onto the 'very talented' Sheridan, while one fan said they enjoyed catching glimpses of Bradford, where the drama is set.

'Sheridan Smith has an unbelievable ability to choose the best shows!' someone else chimed.

Trouble: For her latest role, the actress, 40, portrays Jenna Garvey, a popular teacher with a chaotic private life - who is accused of sleeping with 15-year-old student Kyle Hope (Samuel Bottomley)

Well-received: One impressed viewer said that 'many BAFTAs would be coming their way' as he joined TV fans to rejoice in the edge-of-the-seat viewing

Jenna's carefree nightclub antics were played out in blurred segments, becoming more distorted as she larked around with Kyle on the dancefloor.

A fellow staff member urged her to leave but to no avail, as Jenna was insistent on staying, telling her 'Kyle Hope is here!'

Jenna and Kyle were seen heading into a toilet cubicle before the montage cut.

Having fun: Jenna's carefree nightclub antics were played out in blurred segments, becoming more distorted as she larked around with Kyle on the dancefloor

Trouble ahead? A fellow staff member urged her to leave but to no avail, as Jenna was insistent on staying, telling her 'Kyle Hope is here!'

No recollection: Jenna and Kyle were seen heading into a toilet cubicle before the montage cut

The next morning, things were no longer fun and games for the hazy-minded teacher as she attempted to piece together the events from the night before - while discovering an open condom packet.

Things then took a turn for the worst when Jenna was asked to leave school premises after reports of inappropriate behaviour.

To Jenna's utmost shock and horror, a police officer arrived to put her in cuffs.

Oh no: Things then took a turn for the worst when Jenna was asked to leave school premises after reports of inappropriate behaviour

Of being accused of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, she protested: 'I would never do anything like that. That's not me.'

The dramatic conclusion to the first episode saw Kyle's mother berating Jenna, branding her a b***h while slamming her car window with a bag.

The four-part drama also features Emmerdale's Kelvin Fletcher, Small Axe's Cecilia Noble and My Mad Fat Diary's Sharon Rooney as fellow teachers.

Protesting: To Jenna's utmost shock and horror, a police officer arrived to put her in cuffs

Speaking to the Radio Times, Sheridan said of her characterisations: 'I love playing people who are flawed and complex like Jenna. I always want to make a character likeable because I want to find the heart in them, no matter how flawed someone is'.

She went on to explain that after having her son Billy, 20 months, in lockdown, she was 'gripped' by the script and determined to work on the show.

She said: 'We'd all been in lockdown, I'd had my son and I'd been reading lots of different scripts. Then this one came along and I was gripped...

Venture: The four-part drama also features Emmerdale's Kelvin Fletcher (pictured) Small Axe's Cecilia Noble and My Mad Fat Diary's Sharon Rooney as fellow teachers

'Jenna is such a complex character, there are so many layers to her and I love the fact that you don't know if she's telling the truth or not.'

'All these twists and turns came along in the story that I did not expect, and I couldn't put it down, which is rare  I read it all in one go...

'I really wanted to do the show  initially the dates weren't working, but I couldn't stop thinking about this script. Things moved around so it didn't clash anymore, and it felt like a sign.'

The Teacher starts at 9pm tonight on Channel 5. Also stream on My5.
The Korean zombie drama All of Us Are Dead has topped Netflix's global streaming charts.

The action-packed series shot straight to No. 1 in more than 25 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, France and Japan.

It narrowly missed the top spot in the United States, coming in at No. 2 behind Kristen Bell's black comedy murder-mystery The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.

Chart topper: The Korean zombie drama All of Us Are Dead has topped Netflix's global streaming charts

All of Us Are Dead centres around a high school that becomes ground zero for a zombie outbreak, and stars Squid Game actress Lee Yoo-mi.

Yoo-mi played Ji-yeong, a.k.a. Player No. 240, in the blockbuster Korean drama and become a fan favourite with viewers despite her supporting role in the show.

'All of Us Are Dead tells the story of a group of students trapped in their school amid a zombie outbreak, forced to band together for survival,' Netflix said in a statement.

Aussie hit: The action-packed series shot straight to No. 1 in more than 25 countries, including Australia and New Zealand

'With thousands of students immediately contaminated (depicted in the most realistic and heart-racing visuals), it leaves only a few remaining alive on campus,' it continues.

'This series revolves around these students who are linked by a desire to survive along with betrayal and friendship in its most unlikely forms.'

Fans have been in a frenzy ever since the trailer for the series premiered.

Star power: All of Us Are Dead centres around a high school that becomes ground zero for a zombie outbreak, and stars Squid Game actress Lee Yoo-mi (pictured)

'Korean films are absolutely terrifying... love them. Train to Busan has to be one of the finest horror films ever,' commented one fan.

'South Korea really does do zombies movies/shows the best. The acting and makeup is always so cool and not cringey. Also this trailer low key reminds me of the anime High School of the Dead,' wrote another.

'Finally, a show where people know how zombies work and defend themselves,' added a third.
Nicole O'Brien ensured she was the centre of attention as she made her way to IT restaurant in London on Monday night.

The Too Hot To Handle star, 26, flashed her bronzed legs in a black minidress which she wore beneath a a sheer mesh layer featuring the Playboy logo.

She continued her look with a quirky black-and-green blazer and added inches to her enviable physique with a pair of charcoal boots.

Hot stuff: Nicole O'Brien flashed her bronzed legs in a black minidress and a green two-tone blazer as she made her way to IT restaurant in London on Monday night

Carrying around her essentials in a black leather handbag, the reality star accessorised with a collection of delicate gold necklaces.

She completed her look with a pair of chunky gold hoop earrings and tied her luscious ginger locks into a sleek top bun.

Turning the streets of Mayfair into her very own street-side fashion show, the influencer certainly caught the attention of onlookers.

Nicole, who appeared on series one of the Netflix hit, has returned to London after jetting to Dubai for a sun-soaked getaway to kick off the New Year.

Stunning: Carrying around her essentials in a black leather handbag, the reality star accessorised with a collection of delicate gold necklaces

Gorgeous: She completed her look with a pair of chunky gold hoop earrings and tied her luscious ginger locks into a sleek top bun

What a pair! Turning the streets of Mayfair into her very own street-side fashion show, the influencer certainly caught the attention of onlookers as she held hands with her pal

During her stay, she shared a very busty snap of her in a black bikini while posing on a balcony.

While Nicole did not find love on the Netflix show, she went on to date her co-star Bryce Hirschberg after the show wrapped, making their relationship public last April.

They called it quits later in the year due to the travel restrictions posed by COVID-19, as Bryce lives in Marina Del Rey, California, and Nicole calls the UK home.

A representative for Bryce, 30, told People at the time: 'I can confirm that Bryce and Nicole decided mutually to split early last week after months of trying to make a long-distance relationship work.'

Bryce also made a statement: 'After the many failed attempts to reunite due to quarantine and border restrictions, we decided that moving on and remaining friends would be our best option for the time being.

'Nicole is so lovely and if under less unusual circumstances I'm sure that we could've had an amazing relationship! I wish her the best because she deserves it.'
The Hellertown Area Library 409 Constitution Ave, Hellertown. The Lower Saucon Township Council is contemplating withdrawing annual funding from the Hellertown Area Library. If a funding agreement isn't reached, residents of Lower Saucon Township could be left without a home library service in the future. (Monica Cabrera / The Morning Call)

The Hellertown Area Librarys decision not to accept Lower Saucon Townships $50,000 donation toward 2022 operating expenses has created more uncertainty over where Lower Saucon residents will be able to go to borrow books, magazines or DVDs, and take in programs and services.

The township, which has been part of the borough-based library since 2014, opted in January not to renew an agreement. Instead, council voted 4-1 to pay the $50,000 donation to Hellertown and make another $50,000 contribution to neighboring Southern Lehigh Public Library.

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But a state library expert said joining a new library isnt that simple.

For any switch like this, said Mark Sullivan, a library district consultant, the library that is being courted would have to change bylaws, check with the [Pennsylvania] Office of Commonwealth Libraries to see about redistributing state aid, and would have to understand what the municipality is expecting for their donation and what extra services the library would be obligated to offer.

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Thats not all: Lower Saucons switch to Southern Lehigh could be complicated because it would involve exiting Northampton County for a Lehigh County library, as well as moving into a different state-designated library district, said Sullivan, who is based at Allentown Public Library.

The state has 29 districts, including three that cover the 15 libraries in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Lower Saucon would be switching from the Bethlehem District to the Allentown District.

Officials at Commonwealth Libraries, who fall under the Pennsylvania Department of Education, did not return messages last week seeking comment, though department spokesperson Kendall Alexander said the Hellertown-Lower Saucon library dispute should be handled locally.

Lower Saucon officials have not said what their next move might be, and Sullivan said without a concrete decision, its hard to hypothesize.

Lower Saucon Council voted 4-1 Jan. 19, with Priscilla deLeon dissenting, to contribute $50,000 to the Hellertown library, less an installment payment for January, instead of approving a written agreement worth more than $500,000 over five years. Council also approved a motion to consider a lawsuit against the library if access is denied to township residents.

On Wednesday, Hellertown Council President Thomas Rieger said the library board voted to reject the balance of Lower Saucons $50,000 donation. Borough council then approved giving additional money to the library.

At a special meeting Monday evening, Borough Council unanimously formalized a new, two-year, transitional agreement between the borough and library, hours before the previous contract was due to expire. In a second vote, members unanimously allocated an emergency $75,000 payment to the library from American Rescue Plan funds.

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Rieger previously said library officials told him that Lower Saucon residents would have library services through the end of February as much as they can under state library law.

At the meeting, Rieger said the library and borough want library services to continue for veterans and those 18 and younger, though said it would be at the librarys discretion, and depend on what it can do under state library laws.

[ Hellertown Area Library rejects Lower Saucons $50,000 donation. Council president says borough, library dont need township ]

Last fall, Hellertown Council adopted a five-year agreement with the library, effective Jan. 1. However, Lower Saucon Council took no action on the agreement in December, and rejected the contract Jan. 19, over the protests of more than two dozen township residents who urged council to remain with the library. The meeting drew a packed house in council chambers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 Ali Houpt and son Lincoln, 7, support the Hellertown Library on Wednesday during a Lower Saucon Township Council meeting. Some residents are concerned the township will stop paying for access to the Hellertown Area Library and they will lose its services. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call )

Township residents said they value the borough librarys staff, materials and services. But some on Lower Saucon Council said they want greater accountability of how residents dollars are spent at the library, and that they wanted to give residents an option in library services.

Hellertown Borough officials said those issues were not addressed in previous meetings about the library.

Library law

Pennsylvanias 1961 Library Code established the 29 districts based on regional population hubs, Sullivan said. The biggest library per district was appointed a district center, meant to be a resource for smaller area libraries, he said.

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The Bethlehem District, whose hub is the Bethlehem Area Public Library, also includes Hellertown and libraries in Nazareth and Northampton. The Southern Lehigh library is part of the Allentown District, which takes in nine libraries from Lehigh County and five in Carbon County. The Easton District, with Easton Area Public Library as its base, takes in facilities in Northampton and Monroe counties.

The district center is a strong local library serving the people of its community and a source of assistance to the citizens and local libraries within its district, according to the 2003 Handbook for Public Library Trustees published by Commonwealth Libraries.

Library disagreements among communities are not unprecedented, according to Sullivan. Freemansburg opted out of the Bethlehem Area library about 30 years ago over costs, meaning residents there are considered an unserved area, he said.

Bethlehem Township officials also weighed pulling out of Bethlehem, and the issue of funding the Easton Area Public Library, which gets most of its money from a tax via the school district, has been hotly debated.

Hellertowns library, which does not receive money from Saucon Valley School District, has relied on dollars from the borough and Lower Saucon, with the rest coming from state aid, fees, donations and other sources.

Lower Saucon Township was formerly part of the Bethlehem Area Public Library system, but left it to join the Hellertown library about eight years ago, following debate between residents who wanted a closer library and those who felt the Bethlehem library system provided better value.

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Residents in Freemansburg, Lower Saucon or any community lacking library access can sign up at any facility for a fee, Sullivan said. He said while there is no state standard or requirement, libraries statewide have typically charged about $40 per year.

Morning Call journalist Anthony Salamone can be reached at asaalamone@mcall.com.

LOCAL LIBRARIES

First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings >

Allentown District (Lehigh/Carbon counties):

Allentown, Catasauqua, Coplay, Dimmick (Jim Thorpe), Emmaus, Lehighton, Lower Macungie, Palmerton, Parkland, Slatington, Southern Lehigh and Whitehall. (Panther Valley and Weatherly are non-state aided libraries in Carbon County.)

Bethlehem District (Northampton County):

Bethlehem, Hellertown, Nazareth and Northampton

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Easton District (Northampton/Monroe counties):

Easton, Mary Meuser (Wilson), Bangor, Eastern Monroe, Barrett Friendly, Pocono Mountain, Western Pocono, Clymer (Pocono Pines)

Source: Mark Sullivan, Allentown District library consultant
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Hyderabad: Task force officials from Hyderabad city police interrogated Nigerian drug kingpin Tony for about three hours on Sunday and mainly asked him about his money transactions.

Tony is being questioned at the Panjagutta police station about the network of couriers, including women, to supply cocaine.

It was revealed that Chukwu Ogbonna David, alias Tony, was transacting money through his friend Imrans account, sources said.

Sundays investigation revealed that a woman from Mumbai served as a mule and had supplied drugs to his customers.

His contact list and call details revealed that he was using two mobiles, one of which had a Nigerian sim card for communicating with his agents abroad. It was also established that the mules travel in private cars or buses to avoid security checks, sources said.

Tony, along with seven other businessmen, was arrested by the Hyderabad police early this month in a drug trafficking case. Efforts are on to nab around 15 more businessmen who had dealings with his agents.

We are accessing data from the mobile phones of Tony and NRI trader Chalasani Venkat. We have found photos, phone numbers and chats with businessmen. Tony has catered only to his regular clients and has been careful with new customers. Even with regular clients, a chain of middlemen connected him with the consumers, said the official.
VIJAYAWADA: The state government is restarting the Corona care centers across 13 districts to render effective service to C-patients in view of the surge in infections. Nearly 200 covid care centers have been readied and nodal officers appointed while more beds were arranged in government and private hospitals as a precautionary measure.

Covid infections largely increased in recent days, following which the government re-imposed the night curfew in AP.

As many as 28,342 beds were arranged in 186 covid care centers, of which the highest number of 3,917 beds were available in 23 CCCs in East Godavari district followed by 3m429 beds in 17 CCCs in Guntur, 3,375 beds in 14 CCCs in Chittoor, 3,100 beds in 14 CCCs in Kurnool, 2,190 beds in 15 CCCs in Anantapur, 1,944 beds in 10 CCCs in Nellore, 1,644 beds in 12 CCCs in Prakasam, 1,630 beds in 16 CCCs in West Godavari, 1,604 beds in 15 CCCs in Visakhapatnam, 1,590 beds in 10 CCCs in Kadapa, 1,140 beds in 12 CCCs in Vizianagaram and 1,134 beds in 12 CCCs in Srikakulam district.

As many as 8,616 ICU beds, 34,804 oxygen beds and 11,335 ordinary beds were arranged in 219 government hospitals and 397 private hospitals in 13 districts for use in emergency conditions.

Many have, of late, started getting infected, showing fever and other symptoms of Omicron and are recovering in five to ten days time. Patients S Anjaiah and D Ramu said their whole families were hit, having body aches, fever, cough, dry mouth, headache, fatigue, cold, sneezing and night sweats. They took the treatment and recovered in a week.

Covid special officer, Dr Vinod Kumar said the spread was fast but adverse effects were less this time. Those who did not get Covid vaccines and those with co-morbidities faced health issues now.

AP public health director Dr. Hymavathi said the 36th fever survey has started to identify people with Covid symptoms and treatment would be given to the affected. The affected were put in home isolation and are monitored by ANMs and Asha workers.
This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access.

HARRISBURG  Teams representing Gov. Tom Wolf, state Republican lawmakers, and other groups of Pennsylvanians spent much of Thursday explaining to a judge why their proposed congressional map is the best, widely agreeing on the basics but differing on how to weigh factors like partisan fairness.

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Their testimony kicked off at least two days of hearings in Commonwealth Court on district lines that could affect the balance of power in Washington for the next decade.

The state court system is set to pick the next map just days after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a proposal sent to him by the Republican-controlled legislature. Because of Pennsylvanias sluggish population growth over the past decade, the state will lose one of its 18 seats.

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Anticipating that Wolf and the General Assembly would be unable to agree on a map in time to keep the May primary on track, two suits filed in December asked Commonwealth Court to take over the redistricting process.

In response, the court issued a Jan. 30 deadline to complete the map while also soliciting proposals from the petitioners, Wolf, top lawmakers, and other approved parties in preparation to take over the process. In total, 14 maps were submitted.

The court could rule as soon as this weekend. But first, each of the 14 proposals will get a thorough airing in front of Judge Patricia McCullough, elected in 2009 as a Republican. Her ruling will likely be appealed to the state Supreme Court, which has a 5-2 Democratic majority.

Heres a recap of what happened on Day 1, with rolling updates from Day 2.

The Carter petitioners map

The first map examined Thursday was offered up by a group of citizens who live in densely populated areas.

Jonathan Rodden, a political science professor at Stanford University, drew a proposal that hews closely to the existing map. That map was implemented by the state Supreme Court in 2018 after the justices threw out Republican-drawn districts they found were drawn for partisan benefit.

Because the high court deemed the current congressional map selected as exemplary, Rodden wanted to create a proposal as similar as possible while adjusting it for population changes.

Despite significant population change, 87% of residents would stay in the same district as the current map.

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Read the submitted analysis here.

The Gressman petitioners map

The second map was offered by the Gressman petitioners, a group of mathematicians and scientists from across the state.

The petitioners designed the map to perform optimally in all four base criteria  compactness, contiguity, equal population, and minimal county splits  while considering other redistricting principles such as partisan fairness and minority representation.

If the court chooses our plan, the court doesnt have to choose between Democrats and Republicans, said Jessica Amunson, the lawyer representing the petitioners. The court doesnt have to choose between the legislative branch and the executive branch.

Read the submitted analysis here.

The Wolf map

A map submitted on behalf of Wolf was released to the public earlier this month. It fulfills the required criteria outlined by the state Supreme Court and emphasizes partisan fairness.

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Expert witness Moon Duchin, an associate professor of mathematics at Tufts University, said Wolfs map does better in partisan fairness overall than all other proposed maps.

Read the submitted analysis here.

The state Republican lawmakers map

This map was passed through the legislative process, initially drawn by Amanda Holt  a noted redistricting advocate and former Lehigh County Commissioner  and championed by state Rep. Seth Grove (R-York).

Wolf vetoed it earlier this week, criticizing the maps lack of partisan fairness and the way it split areas such as Philadelphia and Luzerne County.

Republican lawyers and experts emphasized that partisan fairness can only be achieved by diminishing other criteria, as Republicans have an inherent geographical advantage in Pennsylvania. All the proposed maps perform comparably to the current congressional map, which the state Supreme Court deemed exemplary, in neutral metrics.

Read the submitted analysis here.

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The House Democrats Map

Submitted by state Rep. Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia), the House Democrats map has a slightly higher level of splits than average and a slightly lower level of compactness than the median of proposals in total. It has the strongest partisan lean toward Democrats among all the proposed maps.

The brief filed alongside the map states that the map fulfills the base neutral criterias outlined by the state Supreme Court, but it does not explain any further.

Read the submitted analysis here.

U.S. Rep. Reschenthaler et al. (1)

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R., Pa), who represents the 14th District, submitted two maps, both of which fulfilled base neutral criteria. His maps had the smallest number of county splits amongst all the proposed maps and a slightly above average level of compactness.

Legal counsel for Reschenthaler argued that the court should have a strict interpretation of the requirements in a congressional map, emphasizing that political boundaries such as counties, townships, and municipalities should not be split if it can be avoided.

Our Constitution has some very specific adjectives in it: Absolutely necessary, said Matthew Haverstick, the lawyer representing the Reschenthaler intervenors. Theres only [two maps] that split counties in the least amount.

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The counsel also argued that maps should reflect Pennsylvanias natural political geography, which favors Republicans despite the creation of district lines that put the political parties on even footing while still fulfilling base neutral criteria, likening it to gerrymandering.

These formulas are attempts to overcorrect for a very specific partisan purpose, said Haverstick. The natural inclination of Pennsylvanians is to elect Republicans based on political geography, again, not based on malice or intent, just based on where they live.

U.S. Rep. Reschenthaler et al. (2)

The second Reschenthaler map performs nearly identically to the first in all base neutral criteria, with only a slight decrease in compactness. The map mostly changes in the 12th and 13th Districts, which encompass the Delaware and Chester County regions.

The expert witness brought by the Reschenthaler group cited his experience as a Republican campaign director across the state, critiquing the real-world impact of mathematical models that measure partisan fairness.

I think all the experts are brilliant individuals and these mathematical models have some extraordinary features  but the problem with what they testified about is, whats the power of their models, said Keith Naughton, a well-known Republican political consultant.

Read the submitted analysis here.

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Senate Dems 1

The Senate Democrats map complies with the neutral redistricting criterion, with special attention to maintaining a majority-minority district. It still had a partisan lean favoring Republicans, but did better in fairness than the map proposed by Republican legislators.

The map performed comparably in the other base neutral criteria, though it had a slightly higher level of splits than average and a level of compactness that was below the median of the proposed maps.

Legal counsel for the Senate Democrats spent much of their allotted time dissuading the court from using the Republican lawmakers map that was vetoed by Wolf.

Theyre asking you to do more than simply pick a map and in that instance, theyre asking you to promote the legislature over the executive branch in the normal legislative process, said Marco Attisano, the lawyer representing the Senate Democrats. The map put forward by the Republican legislators failed the democratic process.

Read the submitted analysis here.

Senate Dems 2

The legal brief for the Senate Democrats proposals notes their second map is a variation on the first that prioritizes greater minority representation in its 2nd District. The map has a slight Democratic lean, and creates one more competitive district than the median of the proposed maps.

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It performs similar to the first map by the Senate Democrats in terms of number of splits and compactness.

Read the submitted analysis here.

Maps without Testimony :

The Draw the Lines Map

Draw the Lines PA, a project by good-government group Committee of Seventy, encourages people to get involved in the redistricting project by creating maps. The project assessed over 1,500 submitted maps and included over 7,000 different participants. After this process, it proposed a final version of the congressional map that has more splits than the House Republican map, but is more compact, has more competitive districts, and has a better partisan fairness score.

Wolf highlighted the map as an example of a congressional map that fulfilled redistricting requirements he had previously outlined  such as partisan fairness  while improving upon neutral redistricting criteria.

Read the submitted analysis here.

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The Khalif Ali, et al. Map

This map was drawn by a group of citizens connected with good-government groups such as the League of Women Voters PA, Common Cause PA, and Fair Districts PA. They based their map on the Governors plan, but made modifications to communities of interest in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg.

Notably, this map is the only one drawn using data that reallocates incarcerated people to their last known home address rather than the facility where they are incarcerated, mirroring a decision made in the legislative redistricting process.

The map has a slightly higher number of county splits than the other proposed maps, an average level of compactness, and a significant partisan bias in favor of Republicans.

Read the submitted analysis here.

Voters supported by Pa. GOP (Leslie Osche, et al., represented by Thomas King III, call themselves Citizen Voters)

The primary goal of this group was to reunite counties that were previously split by the 2018 congressional map implemented by the state Supreme Court, such as Washington, Butler, and Centre Counties. The participants also aim to keep communities of interest in one congressional district.

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The map scores about average on compactness and has a close to median amount of county splits, with a slight Republican bias.

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Read the submitted analysis here.

Republican voters (Haroon Bashir, Valerie Biancaniello, Tegwyn Hughes, and Jeffrey Wenk)

This map was submitted by a group of Republican voters who deemed themselves the mirror image of the Carter petitioners. In particular, they argue that neutral redistricting criteria must be subordinate to any other criteria, including partisan fairness.

The map has an average level of compactness in regards to the proposed maps, and has a similarly average number of county splits.

Read the submitted analysis here.

Concerned Citizens for Democracy

Concerned Citizens for Democracy, a good-government group, submitted a map to the court without a brief. The map had four competitive districts, the highest number among all the proposed maps, and scores fairly well in partisan fairness.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Monday said that certain aspects in relation to the killing of an RSS worker, who was hacked to death in November last year in Palakkad district, require to be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The high court said that some of the accused in the case had hideouts outside the state and therefore, "let CBI enquire into it".

Justice K Haripal said that certain concerns about the case were also raised by the state's police chief recently and therefore, the CBI can also investigate the matter.

The court was hearing a plea moved by the slain RSS worker's wife seeking handing over of the case to CBI.

The state, opposing the plea, said its final report was almost ready and that only one of the 18 accused remains to be arrested.

It said that the whereabouts of the sole absconding arrest have been ascertained and he would be arrested soon.

It further said that a final report was likely to be filed on or before February 10.

"Why do you (police) want to hurry? Let the CBI enquire, what is your problem? There were hideouts outside the state's boundaries. I am of the view that there are certain aspects here which require investigation by the CBI," Justice Haripal said.

However, as the state sought more time, the court listed the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the lawyer, appearing for the petitioner, said the state be asked to place a copy of the final report before the high court so that the wife can modify her plea accordingly.

A Sanjith (27) was hacked to death on November 15 last year while he was taking his wife to her workplace.

Police later arrested several persons, including an officer bearer of the Popular Front of India (PFI), in the case.

It had said that the arrested PFI office bearer was directly involved in the killing of Sanjith who was hacked to death in front of his wife.

The BJP and Sangh Parivar organisations have alleged that the activists of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political offshoot of PFI, were behind the broad daylight murder.
The CNS will also review the arrangements being made for the Presidential Fleet Review to be held on February 21. (Representational image: DC)

Visakhapatnam: The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar, accompanied by his wife Kala Hari Kumar, will arrive in Visakhapatnam on February 1. This will be his maiden visit to the Eastern Naval Command after taking over the office on November 30, 2021.

The CNS will also review the arrangements being made for the Presidential Fleet Review to be held on February 21.

The Admiral R. Hari Kumar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1983 and has specialized in gunnery and missile systems. The Admiral has commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, INS Nishank, INS Kora, INS Ranvir and INS Viraat.

His Flag appointments include Commandant of Naval War College at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Chief of Staff Western Naval Command , Controller Personnel Services and Chief of Personnel at naval headquarters.

The Flag Officer was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2010, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
The GHMC has begun recarpeting of the road dug up over 30 days ago in Dayanand Nagar, Malakpet following report exposing the negligent attitude of the concerned authorities. (P.Surendra/DC)

Hyderabad: Reacting to an article published in these columns on Sunday, titled Civic body digs up road, neglects it later in Dayanandnagar Colony, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials inspected the unpatched road in the morning hours.

On their directions, the contractors acted swiftly and laid half of the six-inch high BT road within a few hours. As some of the residents got up to see half of the road already laid, it came as a pleasant surprise and they called up and informed other residents of the colony. It is unbelievable the road was dug on December 27 last year and since then left unpatched. We tried our best to see that the road was laid, and finally we lost hope. But within hours of the newspaper hitting the stands, the road was laid.

On behalf of Dayanandnagar Colony residents, I would like to thank Deccan Chronicle, P. Ramadevi, a resident who voiced her protest to this newspaper, said. After inspection, the officers immediately called up the private contractors and instructed them to lay the road within two days and left.

According to Prem Kumar, another resident, Rs 12 lakh was sanctioned for laying the road.

I spoke to the contractor and he said our representative and GHMC officials were very serious about laying the road. The contractor told me by Monday the road will be completed, P. Santosh, one of the residents, said.
Endowment minister Vellampalli Srinivas, MLC Talasila Raghuram and MLA Aalla Rama Krishna Reddy were present on the occasion at the camp office.  DC Image/C. Narayana Rao

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of his death anniversary, also obser-ved as Martyrs Day.

Endowment minister Vellampalli Srinivas, MLC Talasila Raghuram and MLA Aalla Rama Krishna Reddy were present on the occasion at the camp office.

Later, the endowment minister along with MLC Lella Appi Reddy and other party leaders have garlanded the portrait and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at YSRC central office at Tadepalli.

Speaking on the occasion, minister Vellampalli Srinivas said the non-violent fight waged by Mahatma Gandhi against the British is ideal for everyone. India is now a free nation because of the sacrifices made by the great freedom fighter, he added. He said Jagan Mohan Reddy is a true Gandhian as he has set up Village / Ward Secretariats in the state to achieve Grama Swarajyam.
Watching the spectacular 73rd Republic Day parade in New Delhi last week, few would have guessed that 1.3 billion Indians are in the grip of a life and death struggle with a disease for which there is still no certain cure. The only specific reference to this dark cloud looming above us was a brief snatch of conversation when Mirror Nows Srinjoy Chowdhury asked the parade commander, Lt. Gen. Vijay Kumar Mishra, about the hazards of organising such an event in the midst of a health crisis. Yet, everything depends on the pandemic. Covid-19 can erase Indias past achievements and blight the future.

If the celebrations took little notice of the peril, it did obliquely acknowledge another controversy that may be heading towards a confrontation after 75 years of Independence. The ideological tussle over the nature of the Indian State, reflected in several Constituent Assembly debates, found expression in the Republic Day tableaus featuring Sri Aurobindo, the sage of Pondicherry, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Possibly both proclaimed a yearning for a majoritarian response to Islamist Pakistan although this must remain a matter of conjecture since neither man ever specifically addressed the subject. However, the decision to drop the hymn, Abide with Me, whose haunting strains always brought the Beating Retreat ceremony to a moving end, hinted at a nationalism that has no time for the universalism of our liberal heritage.

The parade rightly paid tribute to individual achievers. The heroism of a policeman like Babu Ram who lost his life to the Kashmir terrorists or the literally high-flying Shivangi Singh, the first woman pilot in a Rafale, were among the undeniable attractions of an event that recorded national achievements and inspired pride in a sense of nationhood. But resounding boasts of Indias military might were hardly appropriate given the hardships that forced a fugitive family of Indian refugees to freeze to death on the Canadian-US border at around the same time last week: 13 million Indians seek a livelihood abroad while 110,000 of them discarded Indian nationality in September alone. Nor was harking back to brief triumphs in the 1965 and 1971 wars very diplomatic when the continuing threat of aggression along our northern border keeps alive the humiliating memories of 1962. As for gloating over the awesome display of Rafales, Gnats, MiGs and Jaguars, it recalled a British writers dismissal of the old Soviet Union as Upper Volta with missiles. Any government can buy weapons from Western merchants of death if it can rustle up the cash by depriving citizens of genuine welfare.

An honest depiction of what the government dubbed as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav should have preferred realism to bombast. In his formal address preceding the celebrations, President Ram Nath Kovind spoke of the governments unmatched resolve in battling the Covid-19 pandemic. Surely, at least one of the 25 tableaus that rumbled along Rajpath on January 26 in the wake of the stirring march past could have been devoted to this topic of crucial importance to our national survival? It could have explained what Covid-19 is all about, how it came to our shores, the two so-called Indian variants, and the labours of the doctors and nurses whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauded last year as the reincarnations of God.

Apart from the journalists question to Lt. Gen. Mishra, the pandemic that threatens to drive us into extinction was admitted only circumstantially -- by the absence of any foreign VIP as the guest of honour, smaller crowds, more space between chairs, and only a sprinkling of the masks that are essential if infection is not to run riot. The Presidents face was very properly covered throughout the ceremonies, but if the Prime Minister or home minister wore masks, this writer, square-eyed from being glued to the TV screen, failed to spot them. South Korean businessmen shaved their heads in protest against the closures and social distancing that Seoul imposed as the Omicron variant spread -- their Indian equivalents need do nothing as drastic because regulations and restrictions here are mainly for the poor and unimportant.

It will be years before the Covid-19 pandemics full toll can be measured. Around 230 million Indians were pushed into poverty during the last 12 months; those who were already grovelling below the poverty line now find themselves in even worse straits. Manufacturing lost 9.8 million jobs, while unemployment soared to 7.91 per cent in 2021 from 6.3 per cent in 2018-2019 and 4.7 per cent in 2017-18. Clearly, this further impoverishment began even before Covid-19 struck. Only a plethora of government schemes that amount to thinly camouflaged charity (the dole under various fancy names) and also buys votes managed to avoid too much visible evidence of destitution.

With an estimated 600 million internal migrants (according to Keralas Centre for Development Studies), there is no way of localising problems of poverty or health, especially since internal migration, which is born of poverty, is constantly increasing. It was 309 million in 2001 and 450 million according to the 2011 census. The rise also coincides with mounting political intolerance -- a trend that may not be unlinked to the quest for a majoritarian identity -- so that people from one part of the country are less and less welcome to live and earn a living in other areas. In one sense, India is splitting at its ethnic, linguistic and religious seams.

Officially, Covid-19 is said to have killed nearly 500,000 Indians, the worlds third highest count. Given the abysmal state of health services in the interior, this is probably a gross underestimate. New Delhi preens itself on bettering the WHOs recommendation of one doctor per 1,000 people with a 1:834 ratio. If the number of doctors has gone up miraculously since the ratio was 1:1,456, it is likely to be confined to affluent urban areas or reflect Anglo-American immigration restrictions. As for nurses, not only is 1.7 per 1,000 well below the recommendation by WHO of 3:1,000, but the quality of nursing can be shameful.

At the same time, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says India spends the most after the United States and China on its military. The defence budget of $71.1 billion (against Americas $732 billion and Chinas $261 billion) seems modest and may well be necessary but our rulers may find there is little left to defend unless they expend more thought, care and money on the welfare of humble Indians instead of squandering funds on grandiose projects to glorify a mythical India.
Drillmec SpA, an oil-drilling rigs manufacturing company, has proposed to invest over $200 million in the upcoming facility. The hub would include manufacturing, R&D, and a centre of excellence to impart training.

Drillmec entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Telangana department of industries & commerce on Monday for the purpose. Both would together float a Special Purpose Vehicle for setting up the unit.

"We are interested in future investment in the Hydrogen fuel project in India. The Hyderabad manufacturing hub will focus on rig manufacturing and ancillaries. We have three manufacturing facilities already in Italy, USA (Houston), and Belarus. After considering many offers from various countries, we choose Telangana, India, as it has a progressive industrial policy and investor-friendly, Simone Trevisani, CEO Drillmec SpA, said.

Speaking on the occasion, industries, commerce minister KT Rama Rao said, "We will hand over the land and fiscal incentives as soon as possible. We are happy to get employment opportunities for our state's youth. We requested Drillmec to bring entire drilling rig ecosystems to Telangana."

Drillmec was incorporated under the Italian laws with registered office at Podenzano PC, Italy. It was acquired by MEIL in 2020.
Oil rose more than 1 per cent on Monday to near 7-year highs hit in the previous session, while supply concerns and political tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East put prices on track for their biggest monthly gain in almost a year.

Brent crude rose $1.07, or 1.2 per cent, to $91.10 a barrel at 0325 GMT, after adding 69 cents on Friday. The front-month contract for March delivery expires later in the day.

The most-active Brent contract, for April delivery, was trading at $89.51, up 99 cents or 1.1 per cent.

US West Texas Intermediate crude added $1.07, or 1.2 per cent, to $87.89 a barrel, having gained 21 cents on Friday.

The benchmarks recorded their highest levels since October 2014 on Friday, $91.70 and $88.84, respectively, and their sixth straight weekly gain. They were headed for about 17 per cent gains this month, the most since February 2021.

"Underlying anxiety about global supply shortages, coupled with ongoing geopolitical risks, have caused the market to start the week on a strong note," said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd.

"With an expectation that OPEC+ will keep the existing policy of gradual increase of production, oil prices will likely stay on a bullish sentiment this week," he said, predicting Brent to remain above $90 and WTI to head toward $90.

Major producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, have raised their output target each month since August by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) as they unwind record production cuts made in 2020.

But they have failed to meet their production targets as some members have struggled with capacity constraints.

At its Feb. 2 meeting, OPEC+ is likely to stick with a planned rise in its oil output target for March, several OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

Overheating

Oil prices are showing signs of overheating as traders anticipate a severe shortage of petroleum this year, Reuters columnist John Kemp said, noting that inventories were already low and there was little global spare capacity to raise production in the short term.

According to ANZ Research, with the market in deficit and inventories low, "supply constraints will likely induce a sizeable risk premium" as travel picks up.

"Traffic in Europe is rebounding as the Omicron case numbers decline. In the US, gasoline demand is only 4 per cent below 2019 levels, which is a better outcome than expected in November," it said in a note.

Tensions between Russia and the West have also underpinned crude prices. Russia, the world's second-largest oil producer, and the West have been at loggerheads over Ukraine, fanning fears that energy supplies to Europe could be disrupted.

The head of NATO said on Sunday that Europe needs to diversify its energy supplies as Britain warned it was "highly likely" that Russia was looking to invade Ukraine.

The market is on alert over the Middle East situation https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-disclose-details-new-military-operation-against-uae-tweet-2022-01-30 too after the United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi as the Gulf state hosted Israel's President Isaac Herzog in a first such visit.

Meanwhile, more than 1,400 US flights were cancelled on Sunday after the US northeast states were walloped a day earlier by a deadly winter storm that prompted several states to declare emergencies.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday presented the Economic Survey that details the state of the economy ahead of the government's Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2022. It projects an 8-8.5 per cent growth rate for the Indian economy in the 2022-23 fiscal year (April 2022 to March 2023). This compares to 9.2 per cent GDP expansion projected by the National Statistical Office (NSO). Stay tuned for latest updates.
The idea of disinvestment, an annual exercise where the government sets a disinvestment target for select PSUs, was first introduced in the 1991 interim Budget by the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh as the country was moving towards a more liberal, global and private sphere.

Disinvestment or divestment can be defined as the government's action of selling or liquidating its stake in a public sector unit asset or subsidiary. This is done when PSUs start turning into liabilities and start showing a negative rate of return, in turn putting pressure on the government resources. In such cases, disinvestment helps bring down the financial burden being imposed by inefficient PSUs on the public finances, raise money and put the proceeds to better use.

The government had last year approved a policy of strategic disinvestment of public sector enterprises that provided a clear roadmap for disinvestment in all non-strategic and strategic sectors. The guideline for implementation of new public sector enterprise policy for CPSEs was notified on December 13, 2021.

After the 1991 reforms, there was a transition in thinking about the public and private sector, the Economic Survey 2022 pointed out.

"The term disinvestment was used first time in Interim Budget 1991. However, the policy on disinvestment gathered steam under the Government of PM Vajpayee, when a new Department of Disinvestment was created in 1999, which became a full Ministry in 2001... The process of disinvestment continued intermittently over the next decade 2004-2014," the Survey stated.

Since 2016, the government has given in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of 35 CPSEs and/or subsidiaries/units/joint ventures of CPSEs and IDBI Bank. "In order to realise the mission of New, Self-reliant India, there was a need to redefine public sector participation in business enterprises and to encourage private sector participation in all sectors, the Survey said.

Also read: Economic Survey forecasts 8-8.5% growth in FY23

Stating that there has been an emphasis on disinvestment in the last five years, the Survey said that after 2014, the disinvestment policy was renewed with stake sales in PSEs such as Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd (REC), Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL), Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Ltd (HSCC), National Projects Construction Corporation Ltd (NPCC), THDC India Ltd and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd.

New Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) Policy for Atmanirbhar Bharat was notified on February 4, 2021. The policy intends to minimise the presence of the government in the PSEs across all sectors of the economy, the Survey said.

Besides, there have been successful listing of PSEs like IRCTC, HUDCO, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, General Insurance Corporation, New India Assurance Company Ltd, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and RailTel on the stock market.

So far, the government has received Rs 9,330 crore (as on January 24, 2022) from disinvestment of CPSEs through Offer for Sale (OFS) route and sale of shares through the stock exchange. The Economic Survey also said the CPSE stocks have gained traction among investors.

The government earlier this month handed over ownership rights in national carrier Air India to Tata Group for Rs 18,000 crore. The amount includes the takeover of the debt burden of Rs 15,300 crore and another Rs 2,700 crore in cash. "This progress on privatisation of Air India is particularly important, not only in terms of garnering disinvestment proceeds but also for boosting the privatisation drive," the Survey said.

This is the first privatisation in 20 years and will pave the way for the sale of more CPSEs, which are lined up for sale -- BPCL, Shipping Corporation, Pawan Hans, IDBI Bank, Concor, BEM and RINL.

(With DH/agency inputs)

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Violence broke out on the Jnanabharati Campus of Bangalore University on Monday morning after the city police resorted to hitting protesting student activists of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP) with lathis (sticks).

The activists were protesting against the delay in issuance of marks cards for almost two years by the University.

Student leaders told DH that several students, especially females who were protesting, were severely hurt and have been hospitalised.

"There was another protest led by a different students' organisation and they wanted us to call off our protests. But when we refused, they tried to attack us and the police resorted to lathi charge," Tejas Reddy, one of the protesting students and a member of the ABVP said.



While the ABVP was protesting against the delay in issuance of marks cards, another organisation comprising Bangalore University Post Graduate and Research Scholars was protesting condemning the recent incident of a district judge asking officials to remove the photo of Dr BR Ambedkar during the 73 Republic Day programme in Raichur.

According to protesting students, a female student was profusely bleeding from the head after she was allegedly beaten up by the police during the lathi charge. However, the jurisdictional police officials denied any such incident.

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Press Release

January 31, 2022 HONTIVEROS' BILL PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF FOUNDLINGS PASSES ON THIRD AND FINAL READING The Senate on Monday afternoon approved a proposed measure that will protect the rights and welfare of deserted and abandoned children. Authored and sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senate Bill No. 2233 presumes a foundling a natural-born Filipino citizen granting him or her rights and protection under Philippine laws at the moment of birth. "Masaya ako na sa nalalabing session days ay nabigyang-pansin na i-angat ang karapatan at kapakanan ng mga batang inabandona. They were once lost. Now, they are found. I laud the Senate's commitment to ensure that these children are rescued from the risk of statelessness and to finally establish their identity," Hontiveros said. Under the Foundling Recognition and Protection Act, a foundling who is found in the Philippines or the country's embassies, consulates, and territories, shall be presumed a natural-born Filipino citizen. The bill also seeks to establish the right of a foundling to government programs and services, such as registration, facilitation of documents for adoption, education, protection, nourishment, care, among others. "The utmost motivation of this bill is the best interest of the child. Hindi lang pagkakaroon ng pamilya ang ipinagkakait sa mga batang ito, kundi ang karapatan na magkaroon ng pangalan, nasyonalidad at maka-access sa programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno. This is the gap that we are trying to fill in," Hontiveros added. As of December 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded at least 6,580 certificates of Foundling. On the other hand, there are 1,473 foundlings who are legally available for adoption from 2009 to October 2021 based on the data of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Hontiveros also emphasized the concept of a "Safe Haven" included in one of the provisions of the bill which will protect infants from further harm when their biological parents leave them in unsafe places. "Maraming mga sanggol ang mas mapapahamak pa dahil iniwan lang sa basurahan o sa public comfort room. The act of parents should not be prejudicial to the welfare of the child. The parents will be given immunity from lawsuit when he or she hands over an infant thirty days old and younger to 'safe haven' institutions such as licensed child care or placing agency, health care facilities or DSWD residential care centers," she said. Hontiveros then urged the immediate passage of the bill into law, recognizing the government's duty to provide protection to every child, regardless of his or her status or circumstances of birth. "Tapusin na natin ang paghihirap ng mga batang ito. Paghihirap na hindi naman nila ginusto o pinili. Bawat bata ay may karapatang magkaroon ng nationality na magiging daan para mabigyan siya ng programa at serbisyo para sa kanyang magandang kinabukasan." she concluded.
The man killed in a Sunday shooting in Allentown, the citys first homicide this year, has been identified as a 24-year-old city resident.

Ronny Del Rosario was pronounced dead at 5:03 a.m. Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest after being shot about 4:20 a.m. in the 1700 block of South Fourth Street, according to the Lehigh County coroners office.

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An unidentified person with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds arrived at a local hospital a short time after officers responded to the shooting, police said. Police said Sunday they believe the shootings are related.

Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.
The EC has extended its ban on rallies, roadshows till Feb 11 with some exemptions. Meanwhile, India is bracing for its Budget Session starting today. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has filed his nomination from Mainpuri's Karhal seat, while Punjab CM Channi filed his papers to fight from the Bhadaur seat. Modi trains his guns on SP chief Akhilesh at a virtual rally, saying dreams find those who are asleep. Stay tuned for live updates.
An opinion poll telecast on Sunday predicted that Congress has an upper hand in Punjab and Goa while it is a neck-and-neck fight between Congress and BJP in Uttarakhand while BJP has an edge in Manipur.

According to the India TV-Ground Zero Research Team Opinion Poll, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur are heading for a hung assembly while Congress may scrape through in Goa though it can also return an Assembly where no single party or coalition can cross the majority-mark.

In the 117-member Punjab Assembly, Congress is predicted to win 50-52 seats, which is 7-9 seats less than the majority mark. Contrary to popular perception, the survey puts Akali Dal (30-32 seats) ahead of AAP (29-31) in Punjab while the BJP-Amarinder Singh coalition may win just 1-3 seats.

Read | Opinion polls predict BJP's return, a stronger SP in UP

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is the popular choice for Chief Ministership with 37% approval rate followed by AAP chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann (27%) and Akali Dal's Sukhbir Badal 15%. Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is placing himself as Congress face, is at a distant fourth with 9% votes.

Congress coalition is likely to win 17-21 seats in 40 member Goa Assembly. In a best case scenario of 21 MLAs, it can form the government on its own while BJP is predicted to win 14-18 seats. Trinamool Congress alliance may win 2-4 seats while AAP may win up to two seats and 'others' one.

Though the BJP is down as per the survey, its Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has the best approval rate with 27% followed by Congress' Digambar Kamat 17%, BJP Minister Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane 12% and Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai 8%.

Uttarakhand is likely to throw a cliffhanger sort of contest where both the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress are in neck-and-neck race with both predicted to win 33-35 seats in an Assembly of 70. AAP may win one while others may get two.

Congress' Harish Rawat leads the race for Chief minister garnering 44% votes in the survey but closely followed by the present Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of BJP getting 42%. BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni got an approval rate of just 3%.

In Manipur, BJP may fall short of the magic number of 31 in a House of 60. The saffron party is predicted to win 26-30 seats while Congress may get to 22-26. NPF may get 3-7 seats while NPP may get 1-3 seats.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh leads the chief ministerial race with 37% while Congress rival Okram Ibobi Singh got 34% approval rate.

India TV-Ground Zero Research Team Opinion Poll

Punjab: 117 seats

Cong: 50-52 (45% votes)

Akali Dal: 30-32 (22%)

AAP: 29-31 (28%)

BJP+: 1-3 (5%)

Others: 1-3 (9%)

Goa: 40 seats

Cong+: 17-21 (35%)

BJP: 14-18 (31%)

TMC+: 2-4 (12%)

AAP: 0-2 (10%)

Others: 0-1 (12%)

Uttarakhand: 70 seats

Cong: 33-35 (46%)

BJP: 33-35 (45%)

AAP: 0-1 (4%)

Others: 0-2 (3%)

Manipur: 60 seats

BJP: 26-30 (39%)

Cong: 22-26 (37%)

NPF: 3-7 (11%)

NPP: 1-3 (4%)

Others: 0-2 (9%)

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In the streets around a revered religious site of Mathura where a temple and mosque stand side-by-side, the handful of Muslim restaurants that remain are mostly empty or shuttered.

A ban on meat last year by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, who issued the order on religious grounds, has decimated their trade.

Yogi Adityanath, up for re-election in the state next month, has turned his attention to the temple itself, suggesting he will champion the Hindu cause in a long-running dispute with Muslims over who owns the site.

The issue has become a central part of the ruling party's campaign to extend its grip on power in Uttar Pradesh, home to 20 crore people and the bellwether of national politics.

Hindus and Muslims have argued for decades over who should control the site, echoing other disputes in India that have, on occasions, flared into deadly riots between the two communities.

Also Read | Congress was missing before polls, is missing now, has accepted defeat in UP: Smriti Irani

While communal violence in India is sporadic, clashes erupted across the country in early 2020 over a citizenship law that Muslims said was discriminatory. Dozens of people died.

Now mention of the Mathura dispute during campaign rallies and on social media has the city's Muslims worried, according to interviews with more than 20 residents.

"An old case which has been settled ... is being revived because we have a new, triumphalist Hinduism," said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of several books on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist movement.

"There is a greater emphasis on playing the temple card."

Opinion polls suggest that BJP will win the vote in Uttar Pradesh, despite broad discontent over the economy and the government's handling of the pandemic.

The chief minister, seen by some analysts as a potential successor to Modi, has cast the ballot as "80 per cent versus 20 per cent", figures he did not fully explain. The percentages closely match the Hindu and Muslim share of the population across the state.

Adityanath's office did not respond to a request for comment on the situation in Mathura.

'Nothing to fear'

The BJP swept to power in Uttar Pradesh on a Hindu-first agenda in 2017, and did not field a single Muslim candidate. Indians vote for powerful state legislatures separately from nationwide parliamentary elections.

That victory reflected the party's dominance nationally, since Modi stormed to power in 2014 after appealing to the Hindu majority.

The main opposition Congress party complains that by putting Hindus first, he and the BJP discriminate against minorities and risk stoking violence. Modi has defended his record and says his economic and social policies benefit all Indians.

Jamal Siddiqui, head of the BJP's minority commission, said the party was working to increase the number of minority candidates in Uttar Pradesh and the four other states going to the polls next month.

"I hope the minority community will participate both in elections and in government," he told Reuters. "The Modi government has protected religious sites for all religions. Now, instead of being afraid of saffron, Muslims are coming closer."

Suspicion of the BJP among Muslims in Mathura had been caused by misleading claims from opposition parties, Siddiqui added.

Also Read | They care only for their 'nani' in Italy: Adityanath on Rahul, Priyanka

Among the holiest cities in Hinduism, Mathura, some 150 km south of New Delhi, is believed to be the birthplace of Krishna, one of the most important Hindu deities.

A temple standing on the reputed site of his birth was razed and replaced by a mosque, known as the Shahi Eidgah, in the 17th century during the Islamic Mughal empire. A Hindu temple complex built in the 1950s now backs on to the mosque.

An agreement was brokered in 1968 to settle the use of the land, and the two structures stood like "two sisters" until legal action to demolish the mosque began in 2020, said Z. Hassan, president of the trust that runs the Eidgah.

"I have been here for 55 years. I have not felt tension between Hindus and Muslims," he said. "Only in the last few years this idea has come that there are two communities."

The case, brought to a local court by several Hindu priests, says the 1968 agreement was fraudulent.

"This land is very important to us," said Vishnu Jain, the lawyer acting for the petitioners. "I don't believe in any kind of dialogue. There is only one compromise which can happen  that they will be out of this property."

Both sides expect the case to last for years.

The local dispute has been taken up by Adityanath and several other BJP leaders during campaigning.

He told a rally last month that work on constructing a temple in Mathura, along the lines of a similar development in Ayodhya, was "in progress", without giving more detail.

Ayodhya was the scene of communal violence in 1992 and 1993 in which more than 2,000 people died, after a mob demolished the 16th century Babri Masjid mosque that many Hindus claimed was on the birthplace of Lord Rama - another important deity.

A court ruling allowing the construction of a temple on the site of the Babri Masjid was a major campaign issue in the 2019 general election, when the BJP increased its majority.

'The Land is Ours'

Many Hindu residents of Mathura support plans to reclaim the land from the mosque.

"The land is ours and should be given back," said Bipin Goswami, an 19-year-old with his face daubed saffron with sandalwood paste.

Local authorities mobilized thousands of security personnel in December after fringe Hindu groups announced an attempt to place a statue of Krishna inside the mosque on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid's destruction.

The attempt failed, but at the mosque, ringed with barbed wire and lookout towers since the early 1990s, police now check the ID cards of everyone entering the complex.

Aved Khan, a 30-year-old Muslim who has a food cart in Mathura, said he changed the name of his business from Srinath Dosa to American Dosa Corner after a group of men demanded that he stop using a Hindu name.

"You are Muslim, how can you have this name?" one of the men asked, tearing down the stall's signs, according to a police report of the incident in August.

Rajesh Mani Tripathi, national president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Dal - a hardline Hindu group that was also behind the attempt to install the statue - told Reuters he was one of the men involved in the altercation.

"If he was Muslim then he should write his name on the banner and should not cheat people by mentioning a Hindu name," he said.

Muslims in Mathura also complained about Adityanath's decision in September to ban meat within a 3 km radius of the temple.

At the empty Royal Restaurant, one of the few in the area remaining open, cooks fashion traditional lamb kebabs and chicken tikka out of soya.

"Before the BJP there was no tension here," said Sajid Anwar, standing before his shuttered Labbaik Restaurant.

Anwar said there was no demand for vegetarian food among Muslims. He is waiting for the election results before deciding whether to close permanently.

"If Yogi returns, I will have to find another trade."

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised on Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a "serious failure" to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic.

But Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the partygate scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted.

"I get it, and I will fix it, he said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021.

Gray found that "failures of leadership and judgment allowed events to occur that should not have been allowed to take place."

"The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the government's regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well, Gray wrote.

Also read: UK 'partygate' report condemns 'failures of leadership'

"Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify, she added.

Gray's glimpse inside a 10 Downing St. marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Gray's conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated.

Her findings on 12 other events have been withheld at the request of the police, who last week launched a criminal investigation into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules. The Metropolitan Police force said it had asked for Gray's report to omit the events being investigated by detectives to avoid any prejudice to our investigation."

Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021  a funeral at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone.

The cuts to Gray's report have led opponents to accuse Johnson of a whitewash.

The allegations that the prime minister and his staff flouted restrictions imposed on the country to curb the spread of the coronavirus  holding bring your own booze office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays  have caused public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to call for Johnson's resignation and triggered intense infighting inside the governing party.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public had made "heart-wrenching sacrifices and endured a collective trauma during the pandemic.

"The prime minister took us all for fools, he said. He held people's sacrifice in contempt. He showed himself unfit for office.

Starmer said many British people think the prime minister should do the decent thing and resign. Of course, he won't. Because he is a man without shame."

Johnson can ignore opposition criticism, because the Conservatives have a large majority in Parliament. His fate rests on how Conservative lawmakers respond to his apology. Some previously said they would push for a no-confidence vote if Gray found Johnson was at serious fault or had misled Parliament.

Johnson urged his critics to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation.

But one Conservative legislator, Andrew Mitchell, said in the House of Commons that Johnson no longer has my support.

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May also was unimpressed. She said that either Johnson and those around him had not read the rules, or didn't understand what they meant.  Or they didn't think the rules applied to them. Which was it?"

Gray did not criticize the prime minister directly, but said there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government."

It's unclear whether Gray's full findings will be published once the police investigation is finished. Johnson's spokesman, Max Blain, said the prime minister's office would discuss with police and Gray's team what is suitable to publish.

Johnson could be interviewed by detectives as part of their probe and may face a fine if he is found to have breached the law.

Johnson, meanwhile, sought to change the subject from his personal woes, marking the second anniversary of Brexit on Monday by touting economic opportunities outside the European Union.

The UK officially left the now 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, though it remained part of the EU's economic structures for another 11 months.

Since then, UK-EU trade has fallen, though the upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic has obscured the economic ructions caused by the end of frictionless trade with Britain's biggest economic partner.

Johnson vowed Monday to unlock the potential of Brexit, unveiling a Brexit Freedoms Bill that the government says will slash red tape for British businesses by amending laws that were carried over from the UK's years as an EU member.

Opponents say the bill will just make it easier for the government to change laws without Parliament's approval.

The government is also promising this week to give long-awaited details of plans to level up the country by expanding economic opportunity to neglected regions.

And Johnson plans a diplomatic push to try to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. His office says the prime minister will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone later Monday and visit Ukraine on Tuesday as part of efforts to deter Russia from invading its neighbor.

Some political observers said Gray's circumscribed and partial report may give Johnson at least a temporary reprieve from calls for his ouster.

It's a mess, said Will Walden, a former Johnson aide. It's probably bad for democracy, but inadvertently good for the PM."

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Vaccine mandates have been divisive ever since the first rollout two centuries ago, and they continue to split public opinion today as governments scramble to inoculate populations against coronavirus.

With Austria set to become the first country in Europe to impose Covid-19 vaccinations on Friday, AFP looks at vaccine orders in Europe -- and whether they work:

In Austria, those who do not become vaccinated against Covid under the new mandate will face a 600-euro ($670) fine.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets almost weekly to protest the decision.

In other countries, the authorities have flip-flopped on whether to impose a direct mandate or implement alternative measures to penalise the unjabbed.

Alos Read | Experts suggest change in India's Covid-19 strategy as vaccination coverage reaches 75%

But doctor and philosopher Anne-Marie Moulin, who advises vaccine policy in France, said hesitant governments can give the impression, true or not, of political motivations -- not just health concerns -- behind the measures.

And in France, even though no direct mandate exists, many have accused their government of infringing on their civil liberties.

There is evidence, meanwhile, that mandates may end up driving people away from jabs, while leaving people the choice can have positive results.

In September, when UK media reported the government was considering requiring health workers to get Covid-19 jabs, physician and vaccine expert Peter English warned that taking choice away could stimulate backlash.

"Most health care workers already choose to be vaccinated... and, as long as they are given the time required to get vaccinated, they do so," he commented at the time.

Also Read | Two years on, new variants mar India's battle against coronavirus

He said some of those not yet jabbed were hesitant, while very few held "irrational, faith-like anti-vaccine beliefs".

"You are unlikely... to shift the latter's beliefs, but you may be able to persuade the hesitant," he said, adding that a mandate risked hardening the undecided against jabs.

By some estimates, Sweden has managed to vaccinate over 90 percent of its population with no mandate.

And other Scandinavian countries also report high levels of vaccination without imposing consequences.

In France, jabs against Covid are not obligatory, but the state has imposed a compulsory vaccination pass to access most social activities, thus punishing the unvaccinated by barring them from places like restaurants and museums.

Historian Laurent-Henri Vignaud insisted, however, it was very different from a law requiring vaccination.

"In one case you're saying, 'the protective state is... telling you what you must do'," he told AFP of the option that was rejected.

"And in the other you're saying, 'do what you want, but your choice will be the difference between whether you can participate fully in social activities or not'."

Sweden was one of the first countries to impose a vaccine mandate in the early 19th century to contain a deadly smallpox outbreak.

Europe had for decades been ravaged by the highly contagious disease, which causes fever and a horrifying skin rash, and can lead to death.

Sweden lost as many as 300,000 lives between 1750 and 1800, before the world's first smallpox vaccine became widespread.

The Nordic nation imposed vaccines in 1816, and by the end of that century had become the first country to eradicate the disease.

The British government followed suit in 1853 with the "United Kingdom Vaccination Act", which required parents to vaccinate babies against smallpox within their first three months or face fines.

Across the Channel, French soldiers fighting the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 suffered huge losses due to smallpox and were ultimately defeated by their better-vaccinated adversaries.

But it would still take decades of parliamentary arguing for France to decide to make smallpox jabs mandatory for babies, in the country's first such law, in 1902.

In the United Kingdom, meanwhile, a major shift in public opinion had caused the government to backpedal and pass a new law in 1898 that allowed people to refuse jabs for moral reasons.

Protests against jabs, which were not as consistently safe or effective as today's vaccines, had begun as soon as Britain's mandate was imposed decades earlier.

The government eventually relented after thousands of parents were prosecuted for refusing the jab as part of a peaceful but hugely popular movement in the city of Leicester.

"By the time France opted to impose vaccination at the start of the 20th century, England had abandoned the idea and never went back," Moulin told AFP.

Today, Sweden and the United Kingdom have some of the laxest vaccine requirements in Europe.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he has tested positive for Covid-19, but is "feeling fine" and will continue working remotely.

The announcement came in a tweet in which he urged everyone to "please get vaccinated and get boosted".

This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. Im feeling fine  and Ill continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines. Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 31, 2022

Trudeau said on Thursday that he was going into isolation for five days after finding out the previous evening he had been in contact with someone who tested positive. He told The Canadian Press on Friday that person was one of his three children.

Trudeau previously isolated at home in the early months of the pandemic after his wife tested positive.

Canada has one of the world's highest rates of vaccination against the coronavirus  shots which are primarily designed to keep those who become infected from falling seriously ill.

The announcement followed a weekend of protests in Canada's capital, Ottawa, against vaccine mandates, masks and lockdowns. Some demonstrators travelled in truck convoys and parked on the streets around Parliament Hill, blocking traffic.

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Pakistan's Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani resigned on Monday after backlash over his absence from the house, which allowed the government to narrowly manage to get a controversial bill passed from the opposition-dominated upper house.

Gilani, the 69-year-old Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader, was among eight opposition senators who had skipped last Friday's Senate session during voting on the crucial State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill.

Also Read: Cash-strapped Pakistan looks to secure $3-billion loan from China

Opposition parties, of which the PPP is a part, enjoy a comfortable majority in the upper house but the government presented the bill on a day when eight opposition Senators were absent, which helped it pass the bill with a slim majority of one vote.

Gilani was criticised because due to his absence the vote was tied at 42 in support of the bill and an equal number of senators opposing. It created an opportunity for the Chairman Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, to use his decisive vote in the favour of the government and the bill was passed.

"I want to thank Gilani and the PPP (for support)," Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said after the bill was passed.

Leader of the House in the Senate, Wasim Shehzad, in his tongue-in-cheek style thanked Gilani in the house and quoted a verse that there should be a reason if he (Gilani) was absent during voting.

Also Read: The cost of Taliban takeover for Pakistan

Gilani was sacked as prime minister in 2012 after his conviction by the Supreme Court for disobeying its orders and banned from politics for five years. He returned to the house only last year and the criticism proved too much for him.

"I am not astonished by the harsh words from my opponents, but I am astonished by the silence of my well-wishers," Gilani said in a speech in the Senate on Monday.

"If ministers would have said something, it would have been an honour for me. But some turncoats are saying that I helped the government and I am saying that (the government) won because of your votes," he said, apparently referring to Information Minister Chaudhry who was part of the PPP when Gilani was the prime minister.

During the speech, he also lashed out at the Chairman for using his vote and ended his address by announcing his resignation as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

Gilani said that he had already sent his resignation to his party to announce his replacement.

The bill passed was a key condition of the International Monetary Fund to consider the release of $1 billion out of a $6 billion bailout package.

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India on Monday avoided siding with the United States and refrained from supporting its move to hold a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss Russias military build-up around Ukraine.

Moscow sent a senior diplomat to New Delhi just hours before Russia sought a procedural vote at the UNSC to decide if the council should go ahead and hold the meeting proposed by the US.

India, currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC, finally abstained from voting on the proposal mooted by the US to hold the meeting of the council on the crisis over Ukraine in the wake of massive troop build-up by Russia. The US move, however, succeeded as it was supported by the two other permanent members of the UNSC  France and the United Kingdom  as well as seven non-permanent members. Russia and China, which are also permanent members of the council, voted against the move.

Kenya and Gabon, the two other non-permanent members, also abstained from voting, like India.

T S Tirumurti, India's envoy to the UN, told the Security Council that India was in favour of finding a solution that could provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions over Ukraine, taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

His statement and New Delhis decision to abstain from voting at the Security Council subtly signalled that India would not align with the US on the issue and would not take a position directly opposed to that of Russia.

It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue, said Tirumurti, articulating New Delhis position at the UNSC.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russias permanent representative to the UN, thanked India, Gabon and Kenya for abstaining from voting as well as China for voting against the proposal by the US to go ahead with the meeting of the Security Council.

India decided against siding with the US at the Security Council just hours after Russia sent one of its senior diplomats to seek its support. Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Government of India, hosted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vasilyevich Vershinin in New Delhi. Both sides held wide ranging discussions on issues on the UN Security Council agenda and related developments. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on issues of mutual interest at multilateral platforms, according to a press-release issued by the MEA in New Delhi.

Vershinin briefed Sandhu on Russias priorities during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

Russia will take over as the president of the UN Security Council for the month of February on Tuesday. The meeting between Sandhu and Vershinin saw the two sides agreeing to work closely together, given the common challenges faced and in keeping with the long standing special and privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, according to Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the MEA in New Delhi.

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A Pakistani court on Monday acquitted media tycoon Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman in a 34-year-old case related to a land he allegedly acquired illegally in collusion with ousted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who has been declared a "proclaimed offender" in the case.

Rehman, the owner of Pakistan's largest media group Jang, which includes some of the country's biggest newspapers and the Geo television network, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in March 2020 in the case and was subsequently released on bail by the apex court in November the same year.

Also Read: Gilani resigns as Leader of Oppn in Pak Senate after backlash over his absence from house

On Monday, an Accountability Court in Lahore acquitted Rehman after the prosecution failed to prove the charges against him, a court official told PTI. He said Rehman had filed an acquittal petition in the case.

Two other accused -- former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director Humayun Faiz Rasool and former director (land) Mian Bashir -- have also been acquitted. Former prime minister Sharif had not applied for his acquittal. Since Sharif did not respond to any of NABs summons and questions in this case, he has been declared a proclaimed offender, the official said.

Sharif, 72, had left for London in November 2019 after the Lahore High Court granted him a four-week permission to go abroad for treatment.

According to the anti-graft body NAB, Rahman was allotted 54 plots (each measuring one kanal or 5,445 sq ft) in H-block of Jauhar Town Phase-II Lahore being the holder of general power of attorney on behalf of Hidayat Ali and Hikmat Ali by then Punjab chief minister Nawaz Sharif in 1986 in violation of the relevant laws/rules.

Also Read: Afghan soil would not be used against neighbours, Taliban govt assures Pak NSA during Kabul visit

It said the suspects in collusion with one other had also included two streets in the allotted land, thus making the total allotted land to Rahman 59 kanals (approx 3.21 lakh sq ft).

The land of common passage (street) could not be sold to any person according to the law.

NAB said Sharif and the two LDA officers misused their authority in allotting the "precious land" along the Lahore canal to Rahman in violation of the rules.

Rahman claimed that he had bought the land in question from a private party and no illegality had been committed in this respect.

Rehmans media group has been critical of Prime Minister Imran Khan who before coming to power in 2018 had declared that he would send him (Rehman) behind bars for his corruption (tax evasion and defamation).

Sharif had submitted an undertaking to the court to return to Pakistan citing his record of facing the law and justice within four weeks or as soon as he was declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors.

Sharif was also given bail in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving a seven-year prison sentence in Kot Lakhpat Jail. His party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), says Sharif will return to the country when he fully gets recovered from heart and other medical issues.

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Portugal's center-left Socialist Party won a third straight general election Sunday, official results showed, returning it to power as the country prepares to deploy billions of euros (dollars) of European Union aid for the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an election that took place amid a surge of coronavirus cases blamed on the omicron variant, and with around 1 million infected voters allowed to leave home to cast their ballots, the Socialists elected at least 106 lawmakers in the 230-seat parliament.

With 98.5 per cent of votes counted, the Socialists had 41 per cent of the vote, compared with 28 per cent for its main rival, the center-right Social Democratic Party, which took at least 65 parliamentary seats. Thirty-one seats were still to be allocated.

It was still unclear whether the Socialists would reach 116 lawmakers, allowing it to enact legislation alone, or whether it would fall short of that number and need to cut deals for the support of smaller parties.

That result could potentially grant the Socialists as many as 116 seats in the 230-seat parliament, allowing it an overall majority to push through its legislation without forming alliances with smaller parties.

The poll did not take into account the approximately 1.5 million people, out of an electorate of 10.8 million eligible voters, who live abroad and can vote by mail.

Separate exit polls published by three other Portuguese television channels also gave the Socialists a victory.

The stakes are high for the next administration: Portugal, a country of 10.3 million people and the poorest in Western Europe, is poised to begin deploying 45 billion ($50 billion) of aid as a member of the European Union to help spur the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Two-thirds of that sum is intended for public projects, such as major infrastructure, giving the next government a financial bonanza. The other third is to be awarded to private companies. A parliamentary majority would smooth the next government's path in allocating those funds in a country whose economy has struggled to gain traction since the turn of the century.

Sunday's early elected was convened after parliament last November rejected the minority Socialist government's spending plan for 2022.

The Socialist Party, which has governed for the past six years, and the Social Democratic Party are Portugal's two main parties. They have alternated in power for decades.

Chega! (Enough!), a populist and nationalist party founded less than three years ago, appeared to have collected 5 per cent to 8 per cent of Sunday's vote, the RTP poll estimated. That might give it as many as 13 lawmakers, up from only one in the last parliament.

The poll indicated the Left Bloc may have captured 3 per cent to 6 per cent of the vote, with 3 per cent to 5 per cent going to the Portuguese Communist Party.

Turnout was between 46 per cent to 51 per cent, according to the exit poll. At the last election in 2019, the turnout was 48.6 per cent.

About 1 million people over 18 were in home confinement Sunday due to Covid-19 infections, health authorities said. They were exceptionally allowed out to cast their ballots.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in an election-eve address to the nation, urged people to vote, declaring it's a way of saying that ... nothing, and nobody, can silence our voice.

He said the coming years would be marked by leaving behind a painful pandemic (and) an urgent rebuilding of the economy.

Since it came to power in 2015, the Socialist Party had relied on the support of their smaller allies in parliament  the Left Bloc and the Portuguese Communist Party  to ensure the annual state budget had enough votes to pass. But two months ago their differences, especially over public health spending and workers' rights, were insurmountable, leaving Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa short of votes to pass his party's plan.

The Socialists promised to increase the minimum monthly wage, earned by more than 800,000 people, to 900 ($1,020) by 2026. It is currently 705 ($800). The Socialists also want to start a national conversation about working four days a week instead of five.

Portugal's economy has been falling behind the rest of the 27-nation EU since 2000, when its real annual gross domestic product per capita was 16,230 euros ($18,300) compared with an EU average of 22,460 ($25,330). By 2020, Portugal had edged higher to 17,070 ($19,250) while the bloc's average surged to 26,380 ($29,750).

The Social Democratic Party had pledged income tax cuts and more help for private companies, cutting corporate taxes from the current 21 per cent to 17 per cent by 2024.

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On the second anniversary of the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic to our shores, we are sadly not close to seeing the end in sight. Although the miracle of the vaccines a year ago gave us hope, the regrettable attitudes of our fellow citizens have overshadowed that hope.

We rely on trained pilots to fly airliners, and captains to steer cruise ships, not politicians. Yet, instead of relying on public health experts to guide us through this perilous time, we let politicians interfere at all levels, from governors, legislatures and school boards, none of whom have the knowledge or expertise to focus on the public safety, and even curtail what could provide a modicum of mitigation, such as masks.

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The economy is important, but if a significant portion of people end up either dead or with lingering long-term health impairment, the costs will outweigh any short-term benefits.

When will we realize that the common good is as important as the selfish focus on individual actions?

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Ibolya Balog

Allentown

The Morning Call encourages community dialogue on important issues. Submit a letter to the editor here or email letters@mcall.com.

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Lalu Prasads RJD and the Congress, old allies in Bihar who have not been very comfortable in each other's company, are engaged in a fresh spat over two dozen seats in the state legislative council for which elections are scheduled in a couple of months.

The two parties had fallen out with each other in October last year when the RJD unilaterally decided to contest by-elections for two assembly seats, evoking strong protest from the Congress which vowed to go it alone in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections which will be held a year later.

After the by-polls were comfortably won by Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U), the Congress-RJD bickering subsided, triggering speculations that the two largest constituents of the Grand Alliance may have sorted out differences.

Also Read: Bihar: A wake-up call from Indias youth

However, recently Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition who virtually calls the shots in the RJD, founded and headed by his father, gave ample hints of the contempt for the Congress which has repeatedly been called out for its poor strike rate in the assembly polls.

The five-party Grand Alliance had won 110 seats, falling short of the magic mark by 12. This was largely blamed on the Congress which had contested 70 but could win only 19.

When Tejashwi Yadav was asked about the legislative council polls, he said the RJD would contest these apne dam par (on its own strength).

He also said the Left has been taken on board and, when asked about Congress, remarked dismissively, "we have made it clear that we support them on the national level. What more can be asked for".

This evoked predictable outrage from the Congress which has been feeling that personal equations between Sonia Gandhi and Lalu Prasad notwithstanding, things are not the same with the next generation.

"Tejashwi Yadav is a big leader (bade neta). He should tell us who he is trying to help in Bihar," said MLC and AICC media panelist Prem Chandra Mishra in remarks dripping with sarcasm.

Also Read: Jobless Indian youngsters accuse government of 'playing with our lives'

He said "the Congress has suffered the most because of the alliance with RJD. But it has valued the ideological opposition to BJP-led NDA more than its own electoral prospects. Tejashwi Yadav may announce that he seeks to contest 2024 Lok Sabha polls, on his own, if he is so convinced of his own prospects".

Notably, in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA had swept Bihar and the RJD had drawn a blank. The Congress, for long considered a spent force in the state, had managed to grab one seat.

Amid turmoil in the Grand Alliance, the NDA has finalised its own seat-sharing formula though it has not prevented chinks in the ruling coalition's armour from coming to the fore.

State minister Mukesh Sahni, who heads the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), has cried foul over the "disrespect" shown to him.

He said the NDAs formula of BJP contesting 12 seats and JD(U) settling for 11, leaving one for LJP faction of Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras "shows they do not think much of me".

"But I will demonstrate what the Nishad community is capable of. The VIP will contest all 24 seats," said Sahni, indicating a bumpy ride ahead for the NDA.

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The economic distress caused by the Covid-19 crisis may further push dropout of girls, trafficking and child marriage in Assam - more so in the interior villages along the Indo-Bhutan border and in the riverine areas, Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) has said.

"Many living in the interior villages close to Indo-Bhutan work as migrant labourers in the neighbouring country. But as Bhutan prohibited entry of outsiders for long due to Covid-19 crisis, many lost jobs. They did not get jobs locally due to the lockdown and its aftermath. This has caused so much economic distress that many such migrants labourers are struggling to run their families. As they can't meet their basic needs, education of their children may be the worst sufferer. As education of the girls are always neglected in such families with low literacy, many girls may be stopped from going to schools. Many many be married off early as that would reduce the economic burden on their parents. Similarly, human traffickers may take advantage of the situation and take the girls out with the promise of providing them jobs or education," Naba Bujarbaruah, a member of ASCPCR, who is in-charge of education, told DH.

Read more: West Bengal allows schools, colleges, varsities to reopen from Feb 3

The commission made a field inspection of some interior villages along the Indo-Bhutan border in western Assam after 40 children, inlcluding 16 girls were rescued from Sikkim in July 2021. The children were taken out by some "middlemen" in the villages with the promise of jobs and education, but they were rescued, police had said. The children belong to Adivasi, Bodo, Nepali and Koch Rajbongshi communities. Police have rescued nearly 200 children from Assam in the past one year from the clutches trffickers or while being taken out from the state taking advantage of the economic crisis being faced by their families.

He said studies have found that drop out of girls is more among students between class five to nine.

"The situation is worrisome in many such villages in Chirang, Kokrajhar, Baksa and Udalguri districts. The commission has already initiated a pilot project for awareness meets in 679 villages in Baksa district involving the ASHA workers, labour department, education department, police and other agencies," he said.

According to a statement tabled in the Parliament by the union education ministry in 2020, Assam registered 10.01 per cent dropout in primary classes (I to V) and 33.7 per cent in secondary classes during 2017-18.

Bujarbaruah said riverine areas or the chars as they are locally called may see a rise in child marriage cases as schools have remained shut for long due to Covid-19 cases and poverty and joblessness have become acute.

"Child marriage has been rampant among Muslims living in the riverine areas. This has been one of the major challenges in the state for a long time. But the situation may further worsen given the fact that many such people lost their livelihood due to Covid-19 crisis," he said. Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara and parts of Kokrajhar has already reported increase in cases of child marriage since the first lockdown was imposed in March 2020.

"We have already held meetings with religious leaders such as imams to check child marriage. As the imams are respected in their society, they can encourage people to stop child marriage. The initiative has already helped prevent some incidents of child marriage, particularly in Dhubri and Barpeta," Bujarbaruh said.

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Trinamool Congress is taking its fight against West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to Parliament with its Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandhyopadhyay telling President Ram Nath Kovind to remove him from the post for the sake of Parliamentary democracy, in what is seen as a worsening relationship between the ruling party and him.

The party is also planning to move a Substantive Motion against the Governor in Rajya Sabha criticising his actions, sources said, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee upped the ante by blocking Dhankar on Twitter.

Bandyopadhyay made the remarks when the President was returning from the Central Hall of Parliament after his customary address to a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the start of Budget Session.

As he was walking out of the Central Hall, sources said, the President greeted Bandyopadhyay. The Trinamool leader told the President, please remove the West Bengal Governor for the sake of Parliamentary democracy. Allow us to restore Parliamentary democracy. The President did not respond to the veteran Trinamool leader.

Bandyopadhyay said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu was also with the President when he made the remarks.

Sources said the Trinamool is planning to raise the issue in both the Houses of Parliament in the coming days. While Trinamool leaders did not reveal the plans, sources said a senior Congress leader has conveyed that his party would support them if they bring a motion against the Governor in Parliament.

The Trinamool Congress government and the Governor had been at loggerheads for some time and the latest round of confrontation came after Dhankar remarked that Bengal has become a gas chamber of democracy. The Governor has been attacking the state government on a variety of issues.

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A week after police claimed a "Maoist" was gunned down in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, a senior official on Monday said preliminary investigation into the incident suggested the deceased tribal did not have any association with the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and he was probably killed in cross-firing.

Following an encounter between state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and rebels on the intervening night of January 23 and 24 near Bharanda village of the district, police had said they had recovered the body of a male "ultra" along with a muzzle-loading gun.

The deceased was later identified as Manu Ram Nureti, a native of Ghotiya village, and his kin, including a brother who is a policeman, claimed he was innocent and had no links with Maoists.

After the incident, an FIR was registered and a probe initiated, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Nureti along with his three friends had gone into the forest near Bharanda for wildlife hunting on January 23 night. They were carrying three muzzle-loading guns, bows and arrows. Suddenly, a gunfight broke out at around 1:30 am on January 24 between a team of the DRG, which was out on patrol duty, and ultras. Nureti was probably killed in cross-firing, he said. Prima facie, his association with the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) has not been established, the senior IPS officer added.

Statements of the three persons accompanying Nureti at the time of the gunfight were also recorded and they established the tribal villager was caught in cross-firing, Sundarraj said. Of them, two persons submitted their muzzle-loading guns (one each), which they used for hunting, to police on Monday, the IG said.

Nureti's family has admitted that he had gone into the forest for hunting armed with muzzle-loading guns, he claimed, adding further investigation into the matter was underway. As per norms, the Narayanpur collector has also ordered a separate magisterial inquiry into the incident.

In November last year, Nureti had applied for the post of constable in the ongoing recruitment for Bastar Fighters, a specialised unit of the Chhattisgarh police being raised in every district of the Naxal-hit Bastar region, police said. His elder brother, Rainu Nureti, a former Naxal who surrendered in 2011, had joined the DRG in 2014, they said.

Rainu Nureti, posted as a constable in Narayanpur DRG, had earlier said his brother was preparing to join the police force and had no association with Maoists. Soon after the gunfight, in a letter to the Narayanpur collector, the deceased's wife and local villagers had demanded a probe into the incident. Then the Narayanpur police had said such allegations are leveled under pressure from Naxals.

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Students graduating from colleges with 60 per cent marks would be roped in for a paid internship by the West Bengal government for a year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday.

Announcing the 'Students Internship Programme 2022', Banerjee said 6,000 students will get the opportunity every year at a monthly remuneration of Rs 5,000 each.

Residents of West Bengal who complete graduation, including those from polytechnics and ITIs, with 60 per cent marks will be eligible to apply, she said.

Those applying should be below 40 years, she added

"The state government will rope in 6,000 interns, make them acquainted with the government schemes and teach them how to implement those. They will get a remuneration of Rs 5,000 per month," Banerjee announced after getting the cabinet approval.

Applications will be accepted online and a selection board headed by the chief secretary will select the candidates, she said.

"Names of students who do not get the chance in a particular year will be kept for selection the next year. This will be done in coordination with the Education Department," the chief minister said.

"Selected students will be deputed in different state government offices, district-level offices on the basis of their location. A certificate will be given after the completion of the internship. This is our attempt to build a better human being," she said.

The state cabinet also gave its approval for changing the policy to recruit one member of each family who gives land for the Deucha Pachami coal mine project in Birbhum district.

"They will be appointed as senior or junior constable as per their qualification. We have already approved 5,100 posts for the same," Banerjee said, adding that 139 families have agreed to give land for the project.

Land will be taken only from those who are willing, she said.

"We have got 1,000-acre land of our own. We will give alternate land to those who will give land for the project, apart from pattas and compensation," the chief minister stressed.

The cabinet also gave its nod for the formation of 'Jai Hind Bahini' in four zones -- Jangalmahal, Siliguri, Kolkata and Barrackpore.

'Jai Hind Bahini', the members of which will wear a uniform similar to that of Subhas Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Fauj, will spread the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Banerjee said.

"We will train them to become better human beings. The dress of Azad Hind Fauj will be the dress of Jai Hind Bahini so that the next generation remembers Netaji. The force will also spread teachings of Swami Vivekananda," she said.

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With more than 75% of Indias adult population fully vaccinated, public health experts on Sunday suggested modifications of Covid-19 strategies such as free distribution of good quality masks to the poor and using hospitalisation numbers instead of test positivity for guiding public health action in future.

The experts also flagged the importance of betterment of the primary health care delivery system to tackle any upcoming surge rather than short term strategies like movement restrictions and school closure.

Good quality masks should be supplied free of cost to low-income families with explanations of benefits provided by health workers and community volunteers, K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India told DH.

Many others agree with Reddy on having a policy to make good quality masks freely available to people. The poorer section of the society either reuse ordinary surgical masks or normal cloth masks, whose protective ability is lower than N95 or similar masks.

Also Read | Two years on, new variants mar India's battle against coronavirus

Using effective masks has not been easy, at least in part because there has been no policy to make high-efficiency reusable masks freely available, observed Satyajit Rath, a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Pune.

The Union government on Sunday announced that more than 75% of Indias 94.47 crore eligible population is now fully vaccinated. Also 60% of the adolescents belonging to the 15-18 years of age and peak of the third wave seems to have been crossed ten days ago.

On January 20, India logged more than 3.47 lakh fresh cases, which is the highest in the ongoing surge as the number of daily counts continues to slide since then. Over 2.34 lakh new cases have been recorded all over the country even as more than 500 districts still register a test positivity ratio of 5% and above.

More than test positivity rates, which are affected by many variables, numbers of seriously ill persons needing hospitalisation should guide our assessment of pandemic severity at this point. Wherever there are many persons requiring hospitalisation, stricter restrictions may be enforced. Elsewhere, we may resume normalcy in stages, said Reddy.

165   ! In the nation's collective fight against #COVID19 under PM @NarendraModi Ji's dynamic leadership,  now has strong protective shield of over 165 crore vaccine doses.#SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine pic.twitter.com/SbdwQHOtth  Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) January 29, 2022

Experts are unanimous on resumption of offline classes in schools and colleges, on which the Union government is expected to make a policy announcement soon. While a few states have begun to open up the schools, there are many others, which didnt.

If there are any lessons from two years of the ongoing pandemic it is that temporary measures such as restrictions of movement and closure of schools are stop gap interventions. Strong primary health care delivery systems will determine the future course of such public health emergencies, said Oommen John, a senior public health researcher at the George Institute of Public Health, here.

Many of the restrictions such as night curfews, weekend curfews and limiting occupancy of public transport to 50% capacity were not based on any scientific evidence, he said.

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Accusing the central government of "reneging" on promises made to farmers on agitation against three contentious bill last year, farmer bodies on Monday carried out demonstrations, marches, and effigy burning in a number of states and threatened to "resume the agitation", observing a "betrayal day (vishwasghaat divas)", an event that coincided with the beginning of crucial Budget Session of Parliament ahead of polls in five states.

In a memorandum addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind that was submitted to the District Collectors, SDMs and ADMs in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tripura, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said it "warns the BJP government against challenging the farmers' patience, and declares that if the promises are not fulfilled at the earliest, the farmers would be left with no option but to resume the agitation".

Read | Kovind highlights Modi govt's initiatives for farmers

The SKM said that as the Head of the State, it is the Presidents constitutional obligation to protect the interests of the farmers, the largest section of the country. In what could be a trouble for the ruling BJP in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the SKM has decided to continue with its "Mission Uttar Pradesh and campaign across the state to punish and defeat BJP". Farmer bodies will announce the new phase of the Mission with a press conference on February 3.

"This is betrayal of farmers. There has been no withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers, no compensation for martyred farmers, no committee on MSP, no conversation on power...GoI should answer on these," tweeted Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, exhorting the farmers of the country to "be ready for a long-drawn struggle."

In Western UP, which has been one of the centres of the year-long farm agitation that was called off in December end last year after the government to withdraw the three contentious farm laws and fulfill other key demands of the farmers, a revival of farmer protest is the last thing that the ruling party in the state can afford.

Samajwadi Party, which is emerging as the main Opposition to the BJP in UP has already allied with the Jat party RLD, a combination that drastically altered the political outcome in the region. A campaign by farmer bodies will further exacerbate the problems for the party as such.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have kept their focus on the region. After Shah held a meeting with Jat leaders and reached out to RLD days back after starting a door to door campaign from Kairna, Modi on Monday, addressed voters in Shamli, Muzaffarnagar,Baghpat, Saharanpur and Gautambudh Nagar through 'Jan Chaupal'.

Warning the government against committing this "fraud against the farmers", the memorandum reminded "due to the tireless efforts of the farmers, despite the lockdown and the economic slowdown, the agricultural production of the country has increased continuously. Playing tricks with farmers can be disastrous for the whole country. Of the written assurances made by the Government of India in the letter to Samyukta Kisan Morcha on December 9, 2021, not one of the promises has been fulfilled."

*Government of India continues with its falsehoods related to the current MSP (announcement) regime, and the cost concept being used for announcing such MSPs with the Economic Survey report 2021-22. The cost concept being used continues to be A2+Family Labour, ignoring C2 cost of production, denying farmers their true entitlement,"the statement said.

It dubbed a false claim that the crop diversification has happened with the "empty promises of meagre MSPs" being declared.

"However, farmers do know that such diversification is indeed possible if MSP is legally guaranteed as an entitlement for all crops including oilseeds, millets and pulses. That is one of the key reasons that SKM also demands a legally guaranteed MSP," the memoranda issued jointly by farmer leaders Darshan Pal, Hannan Mollah, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shivkumar Sharma 'Kakkaji', Yudhvir Singh and Yogendra Yadav, said.

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The Centre on Monday opposed in the Supreme Court a contention that people were losing their jobs and rations allegedly due to the Covid-19 vaccine mandates issued by various states and authorities.

"Nobody is losing anything, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai which was hearing a matter also related to disclosure of data on clinical trials of the vaccines.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Dr Jacob Puliyel, who is a former member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, said people were losing their jobs and rations due to vaccine mandates. Besides, they are not able to move around freely as a result of it, he said.

Read more: Vaccination vs punishment: How jab mandates divide

The bench said it might not be possible for this court to decide issues related to vaccine mandates because there may be numerous situations.

The court, however, agreed to consider the main petition related to disclosure of trial data on vaccines.

The Union government had earlier told the top court, in a separate case, that its guidelines do not envisage any forcible Covid-19 vaccination without obtaining consent of the concerned individual.

It reiterated its stand that no person can be vaccinated against his or her wishes.

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that no "moral policing" can be allowed if two adults are willing to stay together by way of marriage or a live-in relationship. Justice Nandita Dubey made the observation on January 28 while disposing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Jabalpur resident Guljar Khan, who stated that he had married Arti Sahu (19) in Maharashtra and she had willingly converted to Islam.

Khan had alleged in his plea that Sahu was forcibly taken away by her parents to Varanasi and illegally detained. Sahu was produced before the court on January 28 through video-conferencing from the Advocate General's office.

The HC noted that the state has raised an objection in view of provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021. It is vehemently argued (by the government's counsel) that any marriage performed in contravention of Section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 2021 shall be deemed null and void where no person shall convert for the purpose of marriage and any conversion in contravention, the court further noted.

Also Read | Live-in relationships part and parcel of life now, says Allahabad HC

The HC in its order said, No moral policing can be allowed in such matters where the two major persons are willing to stay together whether by way of marriage or in a live-in relationship, when the party to that arrangement is doing it willingly and not forced into it."

The high court noted that the woman clearly stated that she had married the petitioner and wants to stay with him. She is a major person and her age is not disputed by any of the parties, the court said.

"The Constitution gives a right to every major citizen of this country to live her or his life as per her or his own wishes, the HC observed. Under the circumstances, the objection raised by the counsel for the state and her prayer to send the corpus (Sahu) to Nari Niketan is rejected, the court said in its order.

It also directed the counsel for the state and police authorities to hand over the woman to her husband and to see that both of them reach their home safely. The police authorities are also directed to see that in future also the woman and her husband are not threatened by her parents, the court said.

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As the Parliament's Budget Session started during an election season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said polls keep happening but MPs should keep in mind that the Budget and related proceedings during this period draw a blueprint for the coming year and they should make it fruitful.

Talking to reporters just before the proceedings started, he said there are a lot of opportunities for the country. There is confidence instilled in the world for India due to its economic progress, Covid-19 vaccination programme and 'Made in India' initiatives.

Track live updates of Budget Session in Parliament here

"Elections keep coming. It is true that elections have an impact on (Parliament) Sessions and debates. But I request all MPs that elections will go on but the Budget Session draws a blueprint for an entire year and therefore, it is very important. The more fruitful we make this session, there will be better opportunities in the coming year to take the country to new economic heights," he said.

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Goa will be going to the polls between February 10 and March 7 while the counting of votes will be on March 10.

He expressed hope that all parties will discuss issues with an open mind in Parliament to take the country to new "heights of development".

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As of Jan. 26 Russia has more than 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine. Although a former Soviet Bloc country of the USSR, Ukraine is now an independent democratic country.

The U.S. is in a reactive mode where we should be proactive. I believe we should take two actions immediately.

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First, impose sanctions immediately. President Biden said economic sanctions will be imposed if Russia attacks, but we should impose the sanctions now and tell Putin the sanctions will be removed only after all troops are removed. After all, the troop buildup has had no negative consequences for Russia so far.

Second, hold a vote of all NATO countries to admit the Ukraine immediately. Ukraine wants to be a member, and now is the perfect time to do it. This would send the message, per the NATO charter, that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on all.

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Both of these actions are nonmilitary. These two actions will put Putin on the defense. Sometimes you have to poke the bear.

Ed Sokalski

Salisbury Township
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condoled the loss of lives in a road accident in Kanpur and asked party workers to help those in need.

At least six people reportedly died and several others were injured when an electric bus lost control in Kanpur and ran over bystanders.

Also Read | 6 dead after electric bus runs over bystanders in Kanpur

In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, "The road accident in Kanpur is very unfortunate. My condolences to all those who lost their dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of all those who are injured".

"My appeal to Congress workers to help in every possible way," he also said.

Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condoled the loss of lives in the accident and wished early recovery of the injured.

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All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has said power sector workers will hold a nationwide protest against privatisation policies on Tuesday.

"On the call of National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees & Engineers (NCCOEEE) Power Employees & Engineers across the country will hold protest demonstrations against privatisation policies of Central Government," an AIPEF statement said.

According to the statement, NCCOEEE has also decided that core committee leaders of NCCOEEE will meet the Punjab Governor on February 1 and hand over a memorandum to him against the privatisation of Chandigarh UT Power Department.

NCCOEEE core committee office bearers will address the strike rally of Puducherry power employees on February 2 at Puducherry.

AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey said, "On-call of NCCOEEE about 1.5 million Power Employees & Engineers across the country will hold nationwide protest/ demonstrations on February 1 at all district headquarters and projects against privatisation policies of Central Government".

The main demand of Power Employees & Engineers are - withdraw Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021, scrap decision of privatisation of profit-making power departments of Union Territories  Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli Daman & Diu and Puducherry, integrate all unbundled power utilities in states like KSEB Ltd in Kerala and HPSEB Ltd in Himachal Pradesh, implement old pension scheme for all power employees recruited after unbundling of SEBs, regularise all outsourced power employees as the Telangana government has done, he added.

Dubey said that NCCOEEE core committee leaders will reach Chandigarh on February 1 to support UT Power Employees Strike against privatisation. The leaders will meet the governor on February 1 and submit a memorandum to him against the privatisation of the profit-making power department of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh Power Department is earning profit for the last seven years.

Profit of the year 2020-2021 stood at Rs 257 crore, and line losses in Chandigarh are only 09.2 per cent. Tariff of Chandigarh is also cheaper as compared to Punjab and Haryana.

He said privatisation of such profit-making utility is not acceptable.

Puducherry Power Employees & Engineers are resorting to indefinite strike from February 1 against privatisation of profit-making Puducherry Power Departments, the statement said.

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The Ahmedabad district police on Sunday detained more than 100 people from Pirana village for protesting against construction of a wall inside the 14th century Sufi shrine of Imam Shah Bawa. Once famous as a place of communal harmony, the shrine has turned into a major dispute between Hindus and Muslims over control of its management for the past several decades.

More than 100 Muslim residents of Pirana village, about 20 km from Ahmedabad city, stormed the shrine premises after learning of construction of the wall in the place of barbed wire fencing. The wire fencing had first appeared in 2003 after Hindus and Muslims followers of Pir Imam Shah Bawa clashed. The fencing segregated the entire campus into two areas controled by Hindus and Muslim followers.

Locals said that as word spread of construction of the concrete wall in place of wire fencing, the villagers rushed to the spot. The local police bundled them into several police vehicles and kept them under detention at various police stations before releasing them later in the night.

Among the protesters were 64 women and 69 men, mostly from Pirana village. Ahmedabad district superintendent of police Virendra Singh Yadav said that the wall was being constructed following the permission of the collector. He said that police detained the villagers briefly to maintain law and order.
"Afghans had broken the shackles of slavery," remarked Pakistan's Prime Minister M Imran Khan triumphantly on August 16, 2021, as the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan. In less than six months, the cruel realities of the Taliban rule are staring Pakistan in the face. The Taliban's victory has encouraged Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terror groups to intensify their violent activities, increasing the threats of extremism and sectarianism. Despite its multiple promises, the Afghan Taliban has refused to restrain the TTP from continuing its attacks against the Pakistani security forces.

The TTP's attacks have now reached Pakistan's heart. It assaulted a police party on January 17 in Islamabad, killing one cop and injuring two. Ironically, on December 17, as Pakistan convened an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers meeting to seek humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, armed clashes took place between the Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on fencing the border. Previous Afghan governments had also objected to the border fencing, yet there had not been the use of force in recent times. Also, these clashes occurred, despite the Taliban forces being under the control of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) favourite, Sirajuddin Haqqani.

The Imran Khan government had termed the TTP attacks earlier as the handiwork of India and the Afghan Intelligence under the nationalist government. With both removed from Kabul, why are these attacks continuing now? Another calculation made by the Pakistan government was that a friendly government in Kabul would help it check the reverberating Pashtun nationalism. Events have belied that expectation.

Some Pakistani critics have asked if there has been a significant policy failure by the Pakistani state in gauging the affinity between the Afghan Taliban and TTP? Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Bajwa, recently remarked that the Afghan Taliban and TTP were the "two sides of the same coin", implying that neither can be trusted.

The Taliban victory has come at a considerable price for Pakistan. According to Imran Khan, Pakistan suffered over 80,000 casualties, displacement of 3.5 million of its nationals and lost over $150 billion in economy claims. Its support to the Taliban has led to the souring of relations with its major partners, including the US, European countries, China and others. Angry at Pakistan's duplicitous role, US President Joe Biden has not spoken to the Pakistan prime minister after taking over. The US has cut down most of its security and economic assistance to Pakistan.

Pakistan's relations with China have come under strain as Islamabad is unable to provide foolproof security to the Chinese project personnel against the TTP attacks. Due to deceleration in economic growth, China has curtailed funding for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by about 55 per cent from $105 billion in 2019 to about $47 billion in 2021, which has also impacted financing for Pakistani projects. With little investment coming from other sources, Pakistan is on its knees to manage its economy.

Pakistan's isolation and economic vulnerabilities prompted Imran Khan to announce a New Security Policy (NSP) with a geo-economic vision at its centre with considerable fanfare. But critics say the NSP offers only platitudes without any strategy or roadmap for implementation. It sounds like the Pakistan prime minister's clarion call of "Naya Pakistan". The publicly released version of the NSP has nothing new on identifying the problems or their execution.

The Taliban 2.0 rule remains as regressive as that of the Taliban 1.0 except for some publicity garnering rhetoric. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid recently stated, "If the world does not want to be threatened from Afghanistan, they must recognise us." Some critics say that the Taliban does not embrace the idea of "governing for the people". To them, the role of the state is to bring the people into the fold of "true Islam" rather than to protect or serve them.

While the UN is planning an $8 billion aid programme for Afghanistan and the US has issued some exemptions to its officials and the UN to deal with the Taliban, monitoring aid reaching the Afghan people remains a sticky issue. A European delegation told the Taliban Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Muttaqi, at the Oslo talks (January 23-25, 2022) that humanitarian aid would be tied to an improvement in the human rights situation, including access of girls to schools.

Unless the Taliban moves away from its primitive orthodox beliefs and provides reasonable governance, the country is unlikely to see improvement in food, health and essential services or attain a modicum of stability and security. Without the latter, investments or infrastructure building for improved connectivity with the Central Asian countries and others will remain a pipe dream.

Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf remarked on January 26 that the "Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan and organised terrorist networks were operating there"; he was "not completely optimistic" about the Taliban government anymore. Thus, Pakistan's frustrations with the Taliban have started setting in and if the Taliban continues to behave like a terror group instead of a responsible government, the Pakistanis would increasingly question if the cost of rearing this child was worth the outcome and was it not a monumental failure of the ISI?

(Yogesh Gupta is a former ambassador)
Pastry chef Nick Malgieri was scrolling through a food blog when he came upon a recipe for panettone, a puffy sweet bread that the author said conjured up fond memories of Christmases spent with his Italian grandmother.

But it quickly became clear that the instructions were all too familiar.

"I started reading the recipe and I said, 'This is my recipe!'" he recalled in an interview with AFP.

Malgieri's unpleasant experience was unfortunately not a one-time thing. After decades of work and 12 published cookbooks, the American expert baker has seen his work all over the internet -- reproduced without his consent on numerous sites.

In Pics | 10 Superfoods that will keep you super healthy

Some of his recipes have even been claimed by other chefs and included in their cookbooks. In one, he says he found a copy of his "food processor puff pastry, practically word for word."

Plagiarism has become widespread in the food world. It is difficult to curb, and even more difficult to prosecute.

Given that the cookbook with Malgieri's puff pastry recipe had a small circulation and likely minimal profits, Malgieri's publishing house opted not to even file a complaint.

When chefs do look to the US courts for relief, the chances of getting recognition of their copyright or a monetary settlement are seen as remote, because recipes are generally not protected under intellectual property laws.

"A recipe is just a listing of ingredients and simple instructions," New York-based attorney Lynn Oberlander, who specializes in the area, told AFP.

"How can you copyright, for example, scrambled eggs?"

Also Read | For a modern Indian twist to food...

Were that a possibility, she says, given there are not an infinite number of ways to prepare the dish, a chef could ultimately keep another from including the dish in a cookbook.

The only hope for chefs wishing to protect their concoctions may rest in recipes that include "enough original literary expression," either in the instructions or in the historical narrative, to be considered unique, Oberlander says.

As recipe plagiarism has multiplied in recent years, cookbook authors have done just that, using "more descriptive stuff" in their written work, according to Jonathan Bailey, a consultant on plagiarism issues.

The only risk? Readers sometimes find the extra verbiage "annoying," he says.

Last October, a recipe scandal rocked the culinary world.

Singaporean chef and author Sharon Wee accused Elizabeth Haigh of having "copied or paraphrased" recipes and other passages from her 2012 book "Growing Up in a Nonya Kitchen," which recounted her experiences cooking with her mother.

Wee said she was "distressed" by the incident, which resulted in Haigh's book "Makan" being withdrawn from circulation.

But in a business where the reinvention of classic dishes is commonplace, where does inspiration by another chef's work end and plagiarism begin?

In France in the 1980s, chef Jacques Maximin wanted to launch a group that would protect chefs' creations, to fill the legal loopholes.

His proposal prompted a firestorm of criticism from top chefs.

Paul Bocuse said he was "perplexed" by Maximin's idea, saying all chefs "take inspiration from others" and admitting he had "nicked" the idea for one of his signature dishes from "an old guy" in France's Lower Ardeche region.

There is still significant disagreement on the issue.

There have been calls on some food blogs to end plagiarism, with explicit instructions on how to correctly credit the work of another chef.

"The internet has made plagiarism a sport," Malgieri says, with some recipes cropping up on "20 or 30" blogs at the same time.

What Indians ordered the most in 2021 - In Pics

For Kelli Marks, an Arkansas pastry chef who sells wedding cakes in the Little Rock area via her website, most food bloggers have no illusions about the idea that some of their content might eventually show up elsewhere.

When she wrote her first book last year, she said she was careful to "go through and check my recipes" to make sure she was only sharing ideas that she herself had created from scratch -- a process her publishers requested.

Marks says she does not believe she has yet been the victim of plagiarism, but she is always on alert; she refuses to put some of her recipes online.

"They're so important to me, and I would hate for someone else to take something I've created," she said.

Check out the latest DH videos here:
Released: January 31, 2022

Harrisburg, PA  Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter today said a state-directed healthcare strike team was deployed this weekend at Crozer Health facilities in the southeast region. The team included registered nurses and respiratory therapists provided through General Healthcare Services (GHR) under a contract with the Department of Health.

Across the state we are seeing the highest number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than two years ago, Klinepeter said. The Wolf Administration is working simultaneously on a multilayered approach across the healthcare continuum to relieve the strain to ensure people who need care can get it.

As our dedicated staff continue to provide high-quality care for our patients, it is extremely meaningful for all of us to know that additional resources are on the way to get through this surge, Crozer Health CEO Peter Adamo said. We appreciate the support from the Department of Health and Wolf Administration.

The department is contracting for health care professionals through GHR, which is focusing its staff engagement and recruitment on healthcare professionals from outside of Pennsylvania to avoid heightening current staffing limitations within the state.

State strike team members, which may include physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and respiratory therapists, provide short-term staffing assistance for seven to 14 days. Hospitals will be responsible for managing day-to-day work assignments for state strike team members.

I am pleased that we are able to authorize Crozer Healths request for staffing assistance, Klinepeter said. We want to ensure hospitals and healthcare workers are ready to care for everyone who comes in now and we want hospitals to develop their own longer-term sustainable staffing solutions. We know that staffing resources are scarce and will be prioritized to address the most acute needs and maximize system-wide impact.

We applaud and appreciate this temporary solution because the catastrophic staffing crisis we have in our hospitals and healthcare facilities could jeopardize our entire healthcare system and put our communities at risk, said Matthew Yarnell, President of Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania. Deployment of the strike teams demonstrates the importance of tackling the staffing crisis and taking measures to lift the burden on our frontline nurses and caregivers. We look forward to working on longer-term solutions.

This staffing assistance is separate from the federal strike teams deployed to hospitals in Scranton and York and extended into March.

Last week, Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation that appropriates $225 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the healthcare workforce in Pennsylvania. The bill and state-directed strike teams for hospitals are part of the multi-layered approach the Wolf Administration is taking to address and mitigate the current crisis in Pennsylvania. Additional initiatives include:

Overseeing additional free COVID-19 testing sites currently operating in Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Fayette, Monroe, Somerset, and Venango counties through a partnership between the department and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI).

Ensuring in-person learning continues by offering K-12 school districts free weekly COVID-19 services at no cost to participating schools through the departments of Health and Education, in partnership with Concentric by Gingko Bioworks.

Educating counties, municipalities, and health systems about the federal reimbursement available to them for eligible COVID-related expenses including activities such as setting up their own community-based testing sites.

Meeting with manufacturers to offer incentives to increase production of COVID-19 tests to meet the growing demand from the private sector to require the public to produce negative COVID-19 tests for travel, public events, dining, and more.
SDLP Foyle MLA, Sinead McLaughlin, has said she was proud that party leader and Foyle MP, Colum Eastwood, named Soldier F in Parliament last year, but stated that she was ashamed he had to do so.

Ms McLaughlin made her remarks in the Member's Statements session at the Assembly in Stormont today, 24 hours after the Bloody Sunday 50th anniversary commemoration had taken place in Derry.

Colum Eastwood had in 2021, and under the protection of Parliamentary privilege, to reveal the full name of Soldier F.

While his decision drew criticism from the unionist parties, his actions were widely supported by other  including the Bloody Sunday families.

Ms McLaughlin said: I am proud that my MP and party leader stood on the floor of Westminster and named Soldier F. But I'm also ashamed that he had to do so as the UK Government had decided to put justice beyond the reach of the Bloody Sunday families.

Soldier F went on an uncontrolled killing spree in my home town in January 1972. He deserves recognition for his murderous acts.

How does an amnesty help to draw a line under their (the families') pain and suffering? Callous and heartless barely even covers it.

I know people who will listen and say, 'but what about?'. The murder of one person never justifies the murder of another, and, I must stress, there is a higher burden of responsibility for State forces to obey the law and act with humanity.

They are acting in my name  the Provisional IRA never did.

So I say clearly, the Parachute Regiment on Bloody Sunday carried out murder on the streets of Derry. And those who have erected Parachute Regiment flags on lampposts are making a statement that is unwelcome across all of our communities.

And I ask everyone to remember the names of those who died  who died simply for seeking civil rights and justice. May we all overcome.

Earlier, Ms McLaughlin had expressed her thanks to the families and the Bloody Sunday Trust for organising last week's commemoration.

She added: I stand today with pride to thank the Bloody Sunday families and the Bloody Sunday Trust for organising an impressive and inclusive fiftieth commemoration event.

It was an important milestone for the people of Derry and it was important too that it was dignified and respectful and it was all of that.

What happened that day was unspeakable. Innocent civilians were slaughtered on the streets of my city. Families, friends and neighbours were left in turmoil.

It was unlawful  plain and simple. Despite this, the families have been forced into spending a lifetime fighting for justice that continues to be denied to them.

The injustice of Bloody Sunday is in the heart and soul of our people in Derry. This trans-generational trauma cannot simply be wiped away at the behest of the British Prime Minister who want to abandon justice through his Legacy Reform proposals.

Reconciliation requires sustained effort and considered approaches that engage directly with those most affected. This is how we can build a brighter future together.

Also speaking at Member's Statements was Ms McLaughlin's fellow Foyle MLA, Padraig Delargy of Sinn Fein who, after his statement, poignantly listed the names of those who had been killed and ended by reaffirming the innocence of Gerard Donaghy whom the British Army had claimed 50 years ago had been armed with nail bombs.

Beforehand, Mr Delargy told the Assembly: I am proud to be from the Bogside and I'm proud to be from Derry. But this (past) weekend, more than ever, I'm proud to represent Derry.

Sinn Fein MLA for Foyle, Padraig Delargy: "As a representative of a new generation, we are forever indebted to them. We will remember them and we will speak their names with pride."

To stand with the families of Bloody Sunday whose dignity, courage and resolve reverberates and struggles across the world.

For fifty years, the Bloody Sunday families have marched, campaigned and demanded truth and justice. The people of Derry and Ireland have stood with them, but some of their demands remain unmet.

The British Government are intent on preventing any prosecution through an amnesty for British soldiers who murdered 14 innocent men and boys on the streets of Derry and injured another 17.

Accountability also lies with the British army generals and with successive British Governments who oversaw the murders and denied opportunities for justice.

On the monument on Rossville Street, the following words are etched: 'Their epitaph is in the continuing struggle for democracy'.

The men, women and children who marched on that day, marched for civil rights. They marched for democracy. They marched to ensure that future generations would never again be treated as second class citizens.

But fourteen of them never got the opportunity to enjoy the equality which they helped to achieve.

As a representative of a new generation, we are forever indebted to them. We will remember them and we will speak their names with pride.
Well known County Derry author Seamus McRory, a native of Lissan parish, south Derry, was a founder member of the SDLP, leaving active politics in the mid 70s.

His sixth book, Born to Lead was published in 2019.

In his book 'The Dove of Peace', published in 2013, Seamus wrote a trilogy of prose poems around his memories of Bloody Sunday, which he describes as an 'awful time in Irish and Derry history'.

The poems were entitled 'The March', 'The Funeral' and 'Vindicated'.

In 'The Funeral', Seamus recalls the train journey from Belfast to Derry and back again on the poignant occasion of the funeral of the Bloody Sunday victims which he attended in the company of three other young teaching colleagues from the school he was teaching in at the time.

Seamus started his teaching career in St Aidans Christian Brothers Primary School on the Whiterock Road in Belfast.

He recalls, "From 1969 onwards owing to increasing civil unrest, sectarian killings and mass destruction of properties, the everyday quality of life for everyone gradually worsened, allowing for very little normal social interaction."

THE FUNERAL

by Seamus McRory

Sitting, silently, uneasily in an old battered railway carriage

From Belfast to Derry,

We journeyed to Irelands most discriminated city

On its saddest, most poignant occasion.



The previous evening thirteen coffined young men

Were brought from their devastated homes,

Along winding lamp lit pathways,

In solemn, separate processions to St Marys Church in Creggan.



All night large crowds from Derry, Donegal, Tyrone and beyond

Came to pay their prayerful respects,

To a truly courageous group of innocent men,

Cruelly cut down in the prime of life.



The panoramic view of the River Foyle

Nestled snugly beneath the church when we arrived at the hilltop.

Thousands of worried, tearful mourners thronged the nearby rain-laden streets

On that cold, dismal February morning.



All Nationalist Ireland, official and ordinary,

Were there in massive numbers.

Most others were then either unable or unwilling

To appreciate the intensity of the communal hurt felt by their fellow citizens.



Thirteen identical coffins, placed side by side,

Facing the altar in the churchs sanctuary

Was an overwhelming, disconcerting experience,

Too difficult to accept, too emotional to control.



Why, oh why, had anyone been asked

To bear such a huge personal burden?

Why, oh why, did a continuously downtrodden community

Have to suffer such humiliation, such tragedy?



Though entirely incidental,

The beautiful liturgical music of the Requiem Mass

Blended perfectly with the natural and incremental weeping of the bereaved

As the ceremony unfolded.



When the roll call of the deceased was read

We realised, for the first time, the vast significance of what had happened.

Suddenly, an eerie silence descended as priests and people

United in spiritual recollection.



The finality of death was never so stark, never so heartbreaking

As the haunting, lyrical strains of Nearer My God To Thee

Accompanied the mortal remains of the victims

On their last trip - to the cemetery.



We returned to the train station for our homeward journey.

Cold in body and colder in spirit.

Somewhere between Coleraine and Ballymoney

The future of our troubled land became crystal clear.



A catalytic moment had arrived.

No one who could have prevented all of this

Really understood the complexities,

The various challenges of the orange and the green, the differences between Britain and Ireland.



The course of the conflict was now altered, irretrievably

And not for the better.

Violence and counter violence, not consultation and consensus,

Would be the more likely future scenario.



Many more years of terrible tragedies, appalling atrocities surely awaited.

Before people of real vision could emerge

To mend broken hearts, change contrasting minds

In the process of uniting a divided people.
Gerry McMonagle can still see it clearly. Barely 15 years of age, McMonagle - now a Sinn Fein Councillor based in Letterkenny - was living in his native Derry on January 30, 1972.

The date and the day remain engrained on the minds and in the hearts of those who were in the Maiden City on an afternoon known since as Bloody Sunday.

Thirteen young men lost their lives wen British soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians attending a civil rights march in the city. A 14th died months later from injuries sustained and a further 15 were injured.

On the day, McMonagle remembers carrying Hugh Gilmore, one of those fatally wounded, into the Rossville Flats.

I remember quite clearly, McMonagle told Donegal Live at a solidarity vigil held in Letterkenny to mark the 50th anniversary of the atrocity.

I remember being on the march from the Creggan, down to the Bog and the Brandywelll. We were going up Rossville Street watching what was going on and, all of a sudden, the paratroopers came driving in from Little James Street, demounted from their jeeps and immediately started shooting; first rubber bullets and then live rounds.

Everyone started running everywhere.

McMonagle can almost paint the picture as he recalls the fear and the noise of gunfire that rang around the banks of the Foyle.

Ramelton men out in solidarity to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday

We were in and out of houses trying to escape it, he said. Then, there was a lull. It seemed to just start up all over again.

You were seeing people who you knew, shot dead: My neighbour, Barney McGuigan, who lived at the top of our street; Michael Kelly; young (William) Nash; James Wray; Gerald Donaghy; Hugh Gilmore, we actually helped carry into the Rossville Flats. It was just unbelievable.

The British government is pressing on with its plan to ban Troubles-era prosecutions, which would grant amnesty to those involved in killings, including those responsible for the Bloody Sunday massacre.

McMonagle said: The search for truth and justice continues. The paratroopers responsible need to be brought to trial and the legislation theyre trying to put through Westminster must be stopped.

Soldier F, in particular, must be brought before the courts.

You can still hear and see the emotions in the voices of the Bloody Sunday families.

The people of Derry will never forget this and I dont believe the people of Ireland will. Thats why there is so much support for the Bloody Sunday families.

We are still here and we still support. We still feel the pain. Until there is justice for those families, we will be out and will still do events like this.
Derry and Strabane District Council will be lighting the city red this week to mark Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke's (NICHS) National Heart month.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Alderman Graham Warke, has facilitated the lighting of the city's Council offices on Strand Road in the charity's signature colour on Tuesday February 1.

Mayor Warke said: "I am pleased to light up Council buildings in Derry and Strabane to mark National Heart Month and to help raise funds and awareness of cardiovascular health.

"There isn't a family in our City and District who haven't been directly affected by heart disease and it remains the biggest single cause of premature deaths here.

"Many heart and circulatory diseases are caused by risk factors that we can alleviate with changes to behaviour so I would urge people to make a conscious effort to cut down on smoking and poor eating habits this month and increase your physical activity."

For the whole month of February NICHS encourages people to think about their cardiovascular health and the steps they can take towards a healthier, stronger heart such as eating healthily and getting active.

NICHS works with people of all ages across the country, delivering vital care and prevention services and carrying out extensive research into how to prevent these conditions, alongside 'on the ground' support.

The charity is hosting a Red Dress Fun Run this month, proudly supported by MACE, which is a five kilometre run or walk event that aims to raise funds and awareness for heart disease.

Last year, the Red Dress Fun Run went virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, with hundreds of participants taking part in their local area raising vital funds to combat heart disease.

This year, the event returns to its home venue of Stormont Estate, however the virtual element remains with the charity encouraging participants who cannot make it to the main event to complete 5K their way during the month of February.

Jackie Trainor, Director of Income Generation at NICHS said: "We are so grateful for the support of Alderman Graham Warke as we look forward to the Red Dress Fun Run 2022.

"Today there are over 335,000 people living with a chest, heart or stroke condition in Northern Ireland - many of these people will live in the Derry City and Strabane area.

"NICHS has been by the side of the local community since 1946 and we hope local people will join us at the Red Dress Fun Run 2022 to show their support for our work in our special 75th anniversary year."

Jackie is urging family members of every generation, age and ability to sign up to the event: "Please support us by running, walking, dancing, skipping or wheeling 5K with us on Sunday 27th February at 11am at Stormont Estate, or, if you can't make the live event you can do 5K your way any day, or days, in February," she continued.

"Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the fun - even the family pooch."

The charity is also inviting primary school pupils to join in the fun by hosting their own fun run anytime this February, with participating schools receiving a certificate of thanks and prizes up for grabs.

If you have been inspired to step up to the challenge you can sign up to the Red Dress Fun Run at: www.nichs.org.uk/RedDressRun.

You can find out more about getting your primary school involved at: www.nichs.org.uk/ PSRedDressFunRun
SDLP Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, has insisted that young people are paying the price for the DUP's Brexit idiocy.

Mr Durkan stated that routes into university education were now less attractive to prospective students in Derry and the rest of the North thanks to funding cuts.

He was speaking after it emerged heard that the Department for Economy (DfE) have been considering measures including cutting university places, increasing tuition fees by nearly 60 per cent and abolishing the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) to make up a 65m shortfall after the department lost 100m in EU funding.

The DUP Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons had told the Assembly last week: The draft Budget presented by the Finance Minister (Conor Murphy) would result in a cut, in real terms, to my Department of eight per cent in year one, rising to 13 per cent in year three and totalling 259 million across the three years.

There has been much focus on EU replacement funding. Clearly, regardless of that, many areas of work in my Department would be impacted by the Finance Ministers draft Budget.

The Budget would not allow my Department to stand still let alone to support economic recovery from the pandemic by investing in skills, innovation, tourism and green growth.

Less than one third of my Departments pressures relate to key DfE services previously funded from the UK Governments contribution to Europe. That funding has not gone, but will flow directly to Northern Ireland from the UK Government rather than through the European Union.

The UK Government made a commitment that they would replace, at a minimum, the level of EU funding that flowed into Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Durkan claimed that the DUP had been making a mess of this department for the last 15 years and that their fanatical pursuit of the hardest Brexit possible had accelerated the DfE to the position it finds itself in today.

He said: The proposals brought forward by the Department for Economy have caused serious alarm amongst our young people and the higher education sector.

The DUP have made a mess of this department for the last 15 years and now it looks as though their fanatical pursuit of the hardest Brexit possible will result in a huge funding shortfall and their plan is to pass the cost for this onto our young people.

Every person in the North should be able to pursue their education to whatever level they wish and fulfil their full potential. Cutting apprenticeship training, university places, and Education Maintenance Allowance, while raising tuition fees will create serious barriers to education in the North.

It will also result in less people receiving qualifications, with a knock-on effect for our entire economy.

We were told by the DUP and other Brexit cheerleaders that leaving the UK would result in huge funding becoming available to spend on public services  the opposite has proved true and vital funding has been lost.

To remove this funding is to close the door on the futures of so many young people here who rely on these provisions to further their studies. They should not be forced to pay the price of DUP failure.

In response to Mr Durkan, a spokesperson for the DfE said: As was stated at the time, the figures given in the briefing to the Economy Committee were for planning purposes only, based on the draft Budget settlement.

No final decisions have been made on future funding for higher education, including tuition fees and student numbers.

It is a matter for the Executive as a whole to decide on Departmental budget allocations following the public consultation on the draft Budget.
Vivo has also started teasing the T1 series on its website through a microsite that will reveal the key features of the phone ahead of its launch on February 9

Vivo T1( 19900 at Croma) 5G is confirmed to launch on February 9, clashing with the Redmi Note 11 series launch in India. Vivo is gearing up to introduce a new smartphone series in India called the T1 series which could be based on the lineup by the same name that launched in China last year along with the T1x. Though it remains unknown whether Vivo is planning to launch a second phone in the T1 series.

Vivo has also started teasing the T1 series on its website through a microsite that will reveal the key features of the phone ahead of its launch on February 9. Interestingly, the microsite suggests that the Vivo T1 will be powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset instead of the Snapdragon 778G seen on the China models. Vivo will start revealing key specs of the T1 from February 3 onwards and it will be sold on Flipkart.

Vivo T1 expected specifications

The Vivo T1 that launched in China in 2021 features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ LCD display that supports upto 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10. The phone has a plastic built and has a punch-hole notch cutout for the 16MP selfie camera upfront.

Vivo launched the T1 in China with Snapdragon 778G but as the Vivo India website suggests, the phone could be powered by the Snapdragon 695 instead.

As for the cameras, the T1 has a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degree FOV and a 2MP macro camera.

There is a side-mounted fingerprint reader and the T1 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 44W fast charging.
Subscriber content preview

Make sure you have a life plan as well as a financial plan.



By LIZ WESTON

NerdWallet

The late Pamela Hixon of Leipsic, Ohio, was eager to retire from her job running a hospice agency. Soon after she quit, however, Hixon spiraled into depression and anxiety. She sought help from counselors and her pastor, but it wasn't enough. Six months after retiring, she took her own life.

She lost purpose, she lost significance, she lost a sense of meaning in her life, says her son Tony Hixon , a Findlay, Ohio-based wealth manager who wrote about the experience and how it transformed his financial planning practice in a book, Retirement Stepping Stones: Find Meaning, Live with Purpose, and Leave a Legacy.





. . .
HGS to acquire Diversify Offshore, Australia

Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS) said on Saturday that its subsidiary, HGS International Mauritius, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100-per cent equity stake in Diversify Offshore Staffing Solutions Pty Ltd. (Diversify), Australia. "The transaction is expected to close within the next few days," HGS said in a statement.

Diversify is an Australian enterprise, providing value-added BPM services, with delivery operations in Philippines. It provides differentiated consumer engagement solutions to its impressive roster of over 50 clients, 70 per cent of whom are in the Australia and New Zealand region and the others in the US. It has had a robust CAGR of 39 per cent over the last five years despite the recent pandemic, HGS said.

For the year ending 30 June 2022, it is expected to report revenues of around $A26.5 million. It is a profitable business and this acquisition will be margin accretive to HGS.

Part of the multi-billion-dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS is a global player in optimising customer experience lifecycle, digital transformation, and business process management, HGS combines automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence with deep domain expertise focusing on digital customer experiences, back-office processing, contact centres, and HRO solutions. employs around 18,800 employees across 34 delivery centres in six countries, For the year ended 31 March 2021, HGS had revenues of $ 753.9 million.

With the acquisition of Diversify, HGS will open up ANZ as a new market, with the addition of a significant number of clients from that region and supplement its portfolio in the US. While most of its current offshore footprint is in the Philippines, this will open up the gates for ANZ offshoring to HGS Indian operations.

The asquisition bolsters HGS portfolio of back-office and non-voice business in domains like digital marketing, finance and accounts, IT services, etc. Combining these two organisations brings in synergies to improve the profitability of the operations. The complementarity of time zones between Australia and North America is expected to improve the asset utilisation for HGS.

The 1,100+ employees of Diversify will join HGS . Partha Desarkar, executive director and group CEO, HGS, said, "We expect robust business synergies to be generated by this acquisition. ANZ is a very attractive market for high-growth, value-added and margin-accretive businesses. As a result of this partnership, a large number of experienced domain experts in verticals such as professional services, retail, and telecommunications will soon become a part of HGS. This also expands our footprint in Philippines with four new delivery centres.

He added, Australian firms are increasing their digitalisation efforts to become more competitive, develop new ways of digital-led customer engagement, while enabling remote working models. "We believe our foray into ANZ through this acquisition provides a huge opportunity for HGS to cater to the digital needs of Diversifys clients through our solutions in analytics, automation, AI, and Cloud Telephony, Desarkar added.

Angela Vidler, Managing Director of Diversify, said,The partnership with a global organisation like HGS provides the resources to us and paves the way to drive significantly higher levels of growth. It enhances our brand promise of delivering the most innovative, value-added, and efficient solutions to our clients. We are excited about the partnership with the opportunities it offers and will continue to work with our clients to improve their business.
BrahMos Aerospace successfully test-fires BrahMos missile with enhanced capability

BrahMos Aerospace on Thursday successfully test-fired supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, with increased indigenous content and improved performance, from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha coast.

The launch was conducted, at 10:30 hrs on 20 January 2022, in close coordination with the teams of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In this text-book flight, the missile followed the predicted trajectory meeting all mission objectives, says a defence ministry release.

The flight test is a major milestone in the way forward for BrahMos programme. The highly manouverable missile cruised at supersonic speed for its maximum range and all mission objectives were met says the release.

The missile, which is equipped with advanced indigenous technologies, followed a modified optimal trajectory for enhanced efficiency and improved performance. The missile with the modified control system has been fine tuned to achieve an enhanced capability. This flight test was monitored by all the sensors of the range instrumentation, including telemetry, radar and electro-optical tracking systems deployed across the eastern coast and the down range ships.

With the Air Force equipping its front-line Sukhoi-30 fighters with BrahMos missiles, the country upgraded its capabilities to keep a watch on the strategically-important Indian Ocean Region and deliver an offensive option swiftly, if necessary.

India has already developed an extended range BrahMos missile that can hit targets at a range of more than 400 km by tweaking the configuration of the existing weapon. Increasing the missiles range became possible after Indias induction into the Missile Technology Control Regime in June 2016. India is also laying the groundwork to develop a high-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets more than 800 km away.

Teams from DRDO and NPOM, Russia participated in the test. BrahMos Aerospace, the joint venture between DRDO and NPOM, Russia, has been continuously upgrading the powerful, highly versatile BrahMos to increase its effectiveness and lethality against sea and land targets. BrahMos is the potent missile weapon system already inducted into the armed forces.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh complimented the Brahmos, DRDO teams and industry for the successful flight test.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and chairman DRDO, G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the scientists and engineers for continuously putting efforts to maximise the weapon systems efficiency and increased focus on indigenous content. Director General, BrahMos Atul D Rane congratulated the joint teams of NPOM, Russia and DRDO teams involved in the test.
EPFO added 1.39 million net subscribers in November

The provisional payroll data of Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) released on 20 January 2022 shows the addition of 1.39 million net subscribers during November 2021, which is an increase of around 2.85 lakh subscribers, or about 25.65 per cent increase over the previous month.

Year-on-year comparison of payroll data also shows an increase of around 3.84 lakh in net payroll additions in November 2021 compared to 1.01 million net subscribers added during the November 2020.

Of the total 1.39 million net subscribers added during the month, 8.28 lakh new members have come under the social security cover of EPFO for the first time. Approximately 5.67 lakh net subscribers exited but rejoined EPFO by changing jobs within the establishments covered under the purview of EPF and MP Act, 1952. The subscribers opted to continue their membership with EPFO by transferring their PF accumulations from previous to present PF account instead of applying for final withdrawal.

Age-wise comparison of payroll data shows that the age-group of 22-25 years has registered the highest number of net enrolments with 3.64 lakh additions during November, 2021. Age-group of 18-21 also registered a healthy addition of around 2.81 lakh net enrolments. Age-groups of 18-25 years have contributed around 46.20 percent of total net subscriber additions in November, 2021. Members of these age-groups are usually fresh hands, entering into the job market following education signifies a crucial stage on application of academic learning and possibility of advancement.

Pan India comparison of payroll figures highlights that the establishments covered in the states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are in the lead by adding approximately 8.46 lakh subscribers during the month, which is around 60.60 per cent of total net payroll addition across all age groups.

Gender-wise analysis indicates that net share of female subscribers during the month is 2.95 lakh, which is almost 59,005 more than the number of subscribers added during October 2021 when 2.36 lakh net females participated the organised workforce with an increase of 24.97 per cent.

Industry-wise payroll data indicates that expert services category (consisting of manpower agencies, private security agencies and small contractors etc) constituted 41.48 per cent of total subscriber addition during the month. In addition, growing trend in net payroll additions has been noted in industries like building and construction industry, textiles, schools, restaurants, cement etc.

The payroll data is provisional since the data generation is a continuous exercise, as updation of employee record is a continuous process. The previous data hence gets updated every month. From the month of May-2018, EPFO has been releasing payroll data covering the period November 2017 onwards says the labour ministry release.
Murugappa Group acquires 70% stake in Cellestial E-Mobility; plans invest Rs350 cr in EV business

Murugappa Group company TI Cycles of India (TII) has acquired 70 per cent stake in Hyderabad-based electric vehicle start-up Cellestial E-Mobility for Rs161 crore through a combination of primary and secondary purchase of shares.

TI Cycles had, in December 2021, announced its entry into the electric vehicle market with the Montra brand, which caters to the last-mile commute, last-mile delivery and personal mobility vehicle segments.

TII has also announced plans to infuse initial capital of up to Rs350 crore into the new subsidiary for clean mobility through a combination of equity, preference and debt instruments.

Cellestial is a start-up engaged inter alia in the design and manufacture of e-tractors. The electric tractor developed by Cellestial offers several advantages like a swappable battery and lower total cost of ownership compared to current IC tractors. Besides, these e-tractors will also result in lower CO2 emissions, promote green farming, and will take a step towards a circular economy.

The formation of a separate subsidiary and acquisition of a controlling stake in Cellestial will enable the company to bring required focus to the emerging growth opportunities in electric vehicles. These new EV products along with the existing product portfolio of bicycles and e-bicycles will further strengthen the companys efforts towards climate change and sustainability, MAM Arunachalam, chairman, Murugappa Group, said.
Biomass utilisation in thermal power plants to help reduce stubble burning in northern states

The national mission on use of biomass in energy production has seen encouraging results with active participation of farmers and biomass pellet makers, according to the union power ministry. The establishment of the Sustainable Agrarian Mission on use of Agro Residue in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) will go a long way in reducing stubble burning by farmers and also reducing air pollution while increasing the income of farmers, says the ministry.

Two farmers training and awareness programmes held at Faridabad, Haryana and Nangal, Punjab in October 2021 witnessed active participation by the farmers wherein they were sensitised on negative impact of crop residue burning on the soil productivity and avenues to supplement their income by participating in the value chain of biomass co-firing in TPPs, says a ministry release.

Union power secretary last week chaired the second meeting of steering committee for the Sustainable Agrarian Mission on use of Agro Residue in Thermal Power Plants.

Part of the national mission on use of biomass in energy production, the power secretary reviewed the status of bio-mass co-firing and progress of the actions being taken to promote the co-firing in coal-based thermal power plants in the meeting.

The establishment of the National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants, will help to reduce stubble burning and also reduce carbon footprint of thermal power plants while increasing the income of farmers. The agro-residue/ biomass earlier considered as a waste product has now begun to produce carbon-neutral electricity. In turn, farmers are getting additional income by selling the stubble/biomass for conversion into torrefied/ non-torrefied biomass pellets.

Ministry of Power (MoP) has constituted a steering committee under the chairmanship of power secretary for overall monitoring of the mission and to facilitate the mission on inter-ministerial issues/constraints.

The ministrys policy paper on Biomass Utilisation for Power Generation through Co-firing in Coal based Power Plants, issued in October 2021, mandates all thermal power plants in the country to use 5 to 10 per cent biomass along with coal for power production. The policy has started showing promising results.

As of date, approximately 59,000 tonnes of biomass has been co-fired in thermal power plants in the country, while tenders for short term and long term procurement of 12 million tonnes are at different stages of processing. Out of this, the biomass co-fired in the NCR region stands at 21,000 tonnes and tenders floated in the region are for about 5.50 million tonnes. Contracts have already been awarded for more than 1.1 million tonnes of biomass pellets.

NTPC has emerged as a leader in biomass use, having co-fired approximately 58,000 tonnes of biomass, while tendering a total of 10.7 million tonnes over short-term and long-term basis. Among the state governments, Haryana State Genco has been able to co-fire around 550 tonnes of biomass in two of its stations and float tenders worth 1.1 million tonnes.

Some of the public and private generating companies have also started co-firing small quantities of biomass in Punjab, UP and Maharashtra. The results so far are encouraging and there is still a long way to go before the country can achieve its target of 5-10 per cent co-firing in all plants in the country. The power ministry expects to achieve this with active participation of all central/state Gencos and independent power producers (IPPs).

The governments efforts in transforming the problem of stubble burning into a solution of power production with lower carbon footprints, would continue to bear fruit with the active participation of farmers, pellet manufacturers and power plants in the country. This would yield additional income for farmers, whilw also playing a big role in achieving clean energy transition of the country.
Govt to support search for indigenous alternatives to mobile operating systems iOS, Android: minist

The government is planning to come up with a policy that will facilitate an ecosystem that will help the creation of an indigenous operating system which would be an alternative to Google's Android and Apple's iOS, union minister of state for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday.

At present, Google's Android and Apple's iOS are the two operating systems driving the hardware ecosystem in almost all mobile phones, the minister pointed out.

There is no third one. Therefore, in a lot of ways there is tremendous interest in MeitY and in the Government of India to even create a new handset operating system. We are talking to people. We are looking at a policy for that, Chandrasekhar said.

He said the government is looking for capabilities within start-up and academic ecosystems for development of an indigenous operating system (OS).

The operating system is the main software of any computer and mobile device that weaves in the entire hardware and software system for effective functioning of the OS.

'If there is some real capability then we will be very much interested in developing that area because that will create an alternative to iOS and Android which then an Indian brand can grow,' Chandrasekhar said.

The minister said that most of the policies and policy tools are being re-looked at in the context of reimagining goals and ambitions.

'Important is to have clear goals. Once we have clear goals and what is that we have to achieve then all the policies and actions will be consistent with it,' Chandrasekhar said.

He along with minister for communications and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw released the second volume of Vision Document on Electronics Manufacturing prepared by the industry body ICEA whose members include Apple, Lava, Foxconn, Dixon etc.

The document details a road map for achieving $300 billion electronics manufacturing in the country by 2026 against the current level of $75 billion.

This report is very precise which talks about where $300 billion will come, what industry has to do and what the government needs to do. This is an example of how industry and government should set targets for the country. The manufacturing will be $300 billion and exports worth $120 billion will happen. This is the government of India's objective now, Chandrasekhar said.

At present, India's electronics export is valued at around $15 billion.

The minister said it is the desire of the Prime Minister and the goal for the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) to create domestic champions in each of the leading product categories.

The prime minister, he said, has cleaned up the financial market and India has become one of the largest recipients of foreign direct investment as well as equity.

The number of foreign banks have increased in India. For the first time, the stock market and public markets are financing and investing in technology start-ups and companies. That kind of transformation has happened. Today Lava, Dixon or Boat or any of these companies have the ability to raise capital, equity which they did not have six years ago, the minister said.

He said that the production-linked incentive scheme will continue to encourage various manufacturing segments and it will depend on the definition of technology product and which ministry should govern it.
New guidance, published after Ireland eased the vast majority of Covid-19 rules, calls on employers to take a phased return to the workplace.

The guidance, published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, comes after the Government announced the ending of a broad swathe of Covid-19 restrictions earlier this month.

The document says that employers should consult with workers and worker representatives on the phased return to workplaces.

Some workers may be anxious about the physical return to the workplace and in such instances, the employer should discuss and engage with the individual concerned and endeavour to provide supports where available.

The Government has also called on employers, in consultation with their employees, to start to develop or finalise their long-term arrangements for blended or remote working and draft legislation has been published to formalise this.

The document also instructs employers and businesses to continue to follow public health advice in the weeks and months ahead.

As part of the phased approach to the return to physical workplaces, employers and workers are called upon to be supportive of continued good practices, built up over the past two years, which support a safe working environment for all, the document, called the Transitional Protocol, notes.

The guidance for employers, the document notes, will continue to be updated and reviewed alongside talks between the Government, trade unions and employer representatives.

As a phased return to the workplace commences, workers may be particularly concerned about returning to the physical workplace and employers should consult and address concerns where appropriate, the document notes.

As part of the guidance, the Government is asking employers to keep a Covid-19 response plan in place, as well as maintaining policies and procedures to identify and isolate workers with symptoms of Covid-19.

According to the document: While the need to maintain a contact log with details of workers and visitors to a workplace has been removed, employers may need to provide attendance information as appropriate in the event the local Department of Public Health has to investigate an outbreak.

In terms of physical distancing, the guidance notes: Employers may choose to maintain some of the practices or arrangements that were in place based on the Work Safely Protocol for the period of transition back to office working.

In meetings, events or training, the continued focus on hand and respiratory etiquette and adequate ventilation are all measures that may continue.
The three-and-a-half-year jail term handed down to an Italian global crime gang member who helped launder hundreds of thousands of euro in fraud cash was not excessively unduly lenient, the Court of Appeal has found.

Giuseppe Diviccaro (47), of Addison Drive, Glasnevin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to knowingly contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation within the State on dates between June 21, 2018 and July 17, 2020.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) claimed almost 1m obtained by fraud had been laundered through Irish bank accounts by the international crime gang to which Diviccaro belonged.

Diviccaro had also pleaded guilty to offences of money laundering on dates between June 22, 2018 and April 6, 2019. He has three previous convictions in Italy, including convictions for damaging a public building and making a false statement regarding his own identification.

At his sentence hearing, Detective Garda Angela Gavin had told Fionnuala O'Sullivan BL, prosecuting, that the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau became interested in the emerging trend of bank accounts being opened in Italian names in Ireland which were then receiving money from invoice redirect frauds.

Det Gda Gavin said the head of the Bureau formed the view that these people were part of an international criminal organisation that had been laundering the proceeds of fraud through accounts in Ireland since early 2018.

She said well over 1m had thought to have been stolen as of April 2020, with substantially more stolen since.

Diviccaro had opened seven bank accounts with seven separate banks into which fraudulently obtained funds were transferred and then moved out very quickly.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told last July that while most of the accounts were opened using a legitimate Italian ID card, the defendant used the same fraudulent utility bill that had been used by a large number of other persons of interest.

The court was told more than 200,000 was transferred into these accounts, with approximately 70 per cent of those funds being quickly transferred or withdrawn.

Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Diviccaro to five years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions including that he leave the jurisdiction within 14 days of his release and not return for 15 years.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later appealed the sentence on the grounds it was unduly lenient.

Ms OSullivan, for the DPP, told the Court of Appeal that the sentence imposed by Judge Greally had been excessively unduly lenient.

Diviccaro would not be subject to a supervision order when he leaves custody because he must leave this jurisdiction when his jail term ends, counsel explained.

This is not a stand-alone money laundering fraud, but has a criminal organisation in the background, Ms OSullivan added.

Counsel also told the court that the maximum sentence for money laundering was 14 years and a higher headline sentence in this case should have been considered by the sentencing judge.

We are not dealing with one count of money laundering. This became an enterprise, an enterprise which lasted two years, and that is a significant aggravating factor, she said.

James Dwyer SC, for Diviccaro, compared his clients role in the offending to a drugs mule who takes all the risk for low reward.

A central component in sentencing is the role of the accused, he said.

This person has to be seen as the front man, who allows his identity to be used and is easily detected. He is not the brains of the operation, he is the sacrificial lamb and he will be detected every time, counsel explained.

The sentence imposed on his client, Mr Dwyer added, was entirely appropriate.

Refusing the DPPs application, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham, presiding, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, said on Friday, January 28, the sentence imposed was well within Judge Greallys discretion and the court would not interfere.
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Duncan, OK (73533)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Some may be severe, especially this evening. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 61F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Some may be severe, especially this evening. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 61F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
A nationwide survey carried out by the Irish Second-Level Students Union (ISSU) has found that over two-thirds of 6th year students favour a hybrid Leaving Cert model.

Talks are ongoing between unions, the Department of Education and the State Examinations Commission regarding what form this years exam will take.

A hybrid model would see teachers give grades based on estimated marks.

However, both major teaching unions, The Association of Secondary Teachers (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) are in favour of holding a traditional Leaving Cert.

Louth representative for the Louth branch of the ISSU, Eva Grace, told the Democrat:

Two weeks ago, the Irish Second-Level Students Union called on every secondary school student in the country to fill out a survey regarding Covid-19 in schools and the State Examinations 2022.

This survey received 40,900 responses from students in the seven days that it was live, and 1 in 3 responses from 6th Year students in Ireland.

From this we can see that we have a clear mandate from students to advocate for a hybrid model with 68% of our survey respondents ranking it as their first preference.

We are calling on the Department of Education to implement a hybrid-model style of State Examinations to account for student and teacher absenteeism, the severe mental health pressures that the pandemic has put on students, and the harsh disruptions of classes and learning over the past several years.

We have worked with students over several platforms to gain this feedback through the survey to hear their concerns, and an overwhelming number of students are in favour of these hybrid model exams.

These past few years have not been normal for studentsin fact, Junior Cycle students like myself have never had an uninterrupted year of secondary school -, so why are we expected to have normal examinations this year? she concluded.
Lawyers for former Defence Forces soldier Lisa Smith today (Monday January 31) challenged the basis for her arrest on her return to Ireland.

The Co Louth woman, 39, has pleaded not guilty to charges of membership of so-called Islamic State and providing funds to benefit the group.

Legal representatives for Ms Smith challenged the legality of her arrest under the Offences Against the State Act 1939, after she returned to Ireland in 2019.

Defence counsel Michael OHiggins asked judges in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to consider whether the anti-terrorism legislation under which Ms Smith was arrested could be applied to alleged offences carried out extra-territorially, beyond Ireland.

Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane rejected any such proposed interpretation, saying that different pieces of anti-terrorism legislation needed to be read together.

He also said that what the court should instead consider is what the Garda who made the arrest believed at the time of the arrest of Ms Smith, noting that suspicions may change over the course of an investigation.

The court had earlier heard from the Irish police officer who met Lisa Smith on her return to Ireland in December 2019.

Taking questions from prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane, Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane confirmed the details of Ms Smiths arrival in Dublin Airport in December 2019, as well as her subsequent arrest and charging.

Smith is charged under Section Six of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, which makes it an offence to join a foreign unlawful organisation.

It is alleged that, between October 28 2015 and December 1 2019 at a location outside the State, she was a member of a terrorist group styling itself the Islamic State.

She has also been accused of financing terrorism by sending 800 euro (670) in assistance via a Western Union money transfer to a named individual in 2015.

The trial resumes at 2pm tomorrow (Tuesday February 1).
Almost a quarter of Irish consumers want to reduce their impact on the planet  with many planning to borrow more and reduce the volume of products they buy this year, a survey shows.

A post-Christmas guilt trip on overconsumption has motivated 23% of people to commit to act more sustainably in 2022, according to community sharing app OLIO.

Topping the list is a pledge to purchase fewer things and buy or borrow more second-hand goods (37%), while 7% say they want to stop buying brand new items altogether.

A further 7% want to reduce single-use plastic and another 5% plan to eat less meat.

The survey, conducted among OLIOs 45,000-plus users in Ireland, shows money is not the primary motivation to change our ways.

A total of 26% said they were driven to reduce their consumption to protect the planet  almost double the number (14%), who wanted to save cash.

Nearly 30% said they wanted to lead a more environmentally friendly life, with a further 15% saying they want a simpler life.

Users of the free OLIO app  launched here in November to combat soaring food waste  can now use the new Borrow feature, allowing them to list commonly used household items available for their neighbours to borrow.

It covers items from breadmakers to board games and lawnmowers to leaf blowers.

While calling next door to borrow an air mattress may depend on how we get on with our neighbours, more than half (54%) feel comfortable doing so  possibly, the research found, because people became more connected with their community during Covid lockdowns.

A third, however, are still unsure about borrowing from and lending to those living closest to them.

According to the Global Footprint Network, were consuming resources as if we have 1.75 planets  and are on track to consume as if we have three planets by 2030, and five planets by 2050. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out this is completely unsustainable, said Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of OLIO.

Whilst re-engineering the global economy might be out of any one individuals reach, borrowing instead of buying isnt.

The survey shows that just because we can buy new goods, often at the touch of a button, it doesnt mean we have to, added Ms Clarke.

Its heartening to see in Ireland that there is a healthy growing awareness of sustainability and the power of borrowing from a neighbour or a friend, or looking for used goods, rather than constantly buying new.

Borrowing something as simple as a lawnmower removes the need for the raw materials, the manufacturing and labour, packaging, transport and pollution which are part and parcel of buying a new one.

Most of us have lots of useful items dotted around the house that we barely use - the new OLIO Borrow feature means that you can now make these items available for your neighbours to borrow for short periods of time, which feels great.

The survey also showed that the vast majority of Irish OLIO users (69%) believe borrowing and sharing goods will make a significant difference, with just 6% saying it will not and a quarter (25%) unsure.
The City of Beverly is talking about rezoning this area to allow multifamily residential buildings that could prompt some redevelopment of properties.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China Shenhua Energy Company Limited, one of the country's biggest coal producers, said its net profits are expected to jump by 28 percent in 2021 due to higher coal sales and prices, among others.

Net profits from last year are likely to reach around 50.3 billion yuan (about 7.9 billion U.S. dollars), up 11.1 billion yuan from 2020, according to a company statement filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Rising coal sales, and higher selling prices of coal and polyolefins contributed to the increase of the company's profits.

However, greater production costs and lower investment returns, among other factors, held back more significant profit growth, the statement noted. 
EBRD and ILX launch Institutional Co-Investment Programme to mobilise 500 million of European pension fund capital

Investments to be in climate finance and other areas supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals

EBRD committed to mobilising more private sector finance; ILX a key partner in catalysing new investment

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and ILX Management (ILX) have agreed a partnership to mobilise 500 million of European pension fund capital. The investments will be made to support the transition to more sustainable, low-carbon economies across the EBRD regions. ILX will be investing on behalf of European pension providers, such as APG Asset Management.

Under the new partnership, the EBRD and ILX, an Amsterdam-based emerging market asset manager, will launch an Institutional Co-Investment Programme. It will have a target of 500 million over the next five years, supporting the EBRDs ambition to double private co-financing by 2025 with a focus on climate action.

The programme offers investors the opportunity to benefit from the EBRDs long-standing track record of successfully investing in key economic sectors across central Europe to Central Asia, the Western Balkans and the southern and eastern Mediterranean region. All investments are climate and SDG-linked while offering attractive risk-adjusted returns, combined with robust environmental, social and governance (ESG) safeguarding.

This Institutional Co-Investment Programme brings the EBRD two important benefits: a new and reliable source of funding for its B loans and increased engagement with institutional investors who share a long-term vision and set of impact goals for each of the underlying projects.

The Netherlands largest pension provider, APG Asset Management, recently committed US$ 750 million as a cornerstone investor to ILX Fund I. Following APGs first-close commitment, ILX is aiming for a total fund size of US$ 1 billion for ILX Fund I.

ILX received grant funding for its development phase by KfW, the German Development Bank, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They strongly support the role that ILX will play in mobilising significant institutional private capital for the leading multilateral development banks and other development finance institutions in support of their SDG and climate-finance-related investments in emerging markets.

Jurgen Rigterink, First Vice President at the EBRD, commented: The Institutional Co-Investment Programme is a landmark initiative and a testimony of the EBRDs commitment to substantially advancing its private sector mobilisation agenda. The cooperation with ILX provides the EBRD with the opportunity to partner with leading European pension funds in co-financing the Banks important SDG and climate-finance-related projects. ILX plays a key bridging role between institutional investors and development finance institutions to enable a critical market expansion in addressing our SDG and climate-related challenges.

Manfred Schepers, co-founder and CEO of ILX, said: We are delighted to have established this partnership with the EBRD. The launch of the Institutional Co-Investment Programme demonstrates the EBRDs strong commitment to engaging actively with European institutional investors and ILX as a key partner in its mobilisation effort. We look forward to this long-term co-financing partnership and working closely with the EBRD in supporting and financing its SDG and climate-mitigation and adaptation projects across the economies where it invests.

Christian Kleboth, Head of Loan Syndications at the EBRD, echoed these comments: We are proud to enter this cooperation with ILX and its Dutch pension fund investors. It enables us to crowd in substantial amounts of private institutional investor long-term capital and thereby leverage the EBRDs SDG and climate financing capacity even further.
Kosovo, Moldova and Albania have the most progressive laws outside the EU

Better insolvency data help to attract investors to secondary NPL markets

Forty jurisdictional profiles include publicly available insolvency reporting

Read the report

Tomorrow, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will launch its Business Reorganisation Assessment Report, a new and comprehensive analysis of insolvency and business reorganisation laws and practices in the economies where it operates.

Part of the report is dedicated to the resolution of non-performing loans (NPLs) and the relationship between NPLs and corporate reorganisation in bankruptcy.

The reports findings will be discussed in a series of online public events over three days from 1 to 3 February, opened by EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso.

Register for the EBRD insolvency report events via Glueup.

The report measures the effectiveness of formal legislative restructuring procedures and highlights best practices to prevent financial distress.

Why do we need governments to adopt a progressive approach to insolvency? First of all, to support post-Covid-19 recovery. Laws that allow a debtor business to reach a consensus with creditors can help it weather a liquidity crisis, says EBRD General Counsel Michael Strauss. Second, no foreign investor wants to risk a bankruptcy nightmare in a jurisdiction with medieval ideas on debt. Third, transparent data on insolvencies support more data-driven policymaking, he says.

The EBRD report confirms that all the economies in which the Bank invests have a legal framework for business reorganisation in distress, whereby companies experiencing financial difficulties and their creditors are able to find a solution to keep the company going rather than wind it down. This allows companies to repay their debts over time, so that creditors typically recover more value.

The report, prepared by Catherine Bridge Zoller of the Banks Legal Transition Programme team and Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal from Queen Mary University of London, ranks economies according to how supportive their legal rescue framework is.

European Union (EU) Member States take the top four spots, with Kosovo in a surprise fifth place and Moldova and Albania also making the top 10.

Indeed, Kosovos legal frameworks are of such high quality that only a lack of transparent data on insolvency prevented it from coming first, ahead of Greece, Poland, Lithuania and Romania.

This shows that even an economy that is poorer than its neighbours can introduce progressive legislation, said Catherine Bridge Zoller, Senior Counsel on the EBRD Legal Transition team and one of the reports co-authors. We at the EBRD are committed to working with national authorities to improve the insolvency legal framework and help make their economies as competitive as possible.

The report also identifies challenges and makes policy recommendations, pointing out, for example, that voluntary restructuring or workouts are uncommon in many economies. Around half the economies do not yet have hybrid reorganisation procedures to allow debtors fast and efficient access to the courts.

Bankruptcy procedures, even those aimed at reorganisation and not liquidation, still carry a considerable negative stigma, the report notes.

This report tells an important story of attitudes to business rescue across a wide range of emerging markets, says co-author Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal, a Professor in Banking and Finance Law at Queen Mary University of London. It is not just of interest to academics and lawyers, but also to investors in non-performing assets who want to understand their likely recoveries in a distressed scenario.

The EBRD report urges national governments to provide more long-term solutions for business rescue. This includes enabling more flexibility in business reorganisation and supporting hybrid procedures, where the terms of the reorganisation are negotiated out of court.

The report, published on the Reorganisation Assessment website, profiles 40 separate jurisdictions (38 economies), mapping all of the reorganisation tools in each national bankruptcy system and analysing what bankruptcy data are available. The general availability of data and the degree of transparency are poor in a large number of economies in the southern and eastern Mediterranean and Central Asian regions.

In a chapter dedicated to NPLs, the report finds that in Kosovo and Moldova, business reorganisation tools are helping to address the issue. Survey respondents cited better insolvency and enforcement regimes, better out-of-court restructuring practices and a more developed secondary market for NPLs.

The assessment, launched at the start of the Covid-19 crisis, is based on a survey of 500 experts from nearly 60 countries, mainly lawyers, but also bankers and accountants.

The EBRDs work on insolvency is supported by the European Commission, the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals, and investment councils in selected jurisdictions.
A male in his late teens is appearing before a special sitting of Cork District Court this afternoon in relation to an aggravated burglary.

Gardai have charged a man in his late teens in relation to an aggravated burglary which occurred on John Redmond Street, Cork, on Tuesday, 25 January 2022.

Shortly before 9pm on 25 January, Gardai were alerted to an incident at a private residence on John Redmond Street, and, upon arrival at the scene, a male, aged in his late teens, was discovered with apparent stab wounds.

He was taken from the scene by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he is receiving ongoing treatment.

Following inquiries by investigating Gardai, a man, aged in his late teens, was arrested on 28 January and taken to Mayfield Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

He has since been charged in relation to this incident and is appearing before a special sitting of Cork District Court this afternoon.
Cork-based broadcaster Gareth OCallaghan is set to return to the airwaves with a new radio show.

The well-loved broadcaster will host Gareth O'Callaghan At The Weekend on Irelands Classic Hits Radio from February 12.

The show will air Saturday mornings from 10am to 2pm and will feature a blend of classic hits, presented in OCallaghans inimitable style.

Mr OCallaghan had announced his retirement in 2018, following his diagnosis with the neurodegenerative illness, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

Since last being on air in 2018, Mr OCallaghan has been busy, having recently completed his seventh book.

In September 2020, Mr OCallaghan married his partner Paula Delaney in Cork Registry Office, and the couple live in Cork.

Mr OCallaghan said he was very excited to get back to broadcasting after a three-and-a-half-year break.

I can't wait to get back to the studio and get back on-air, he said.

I'm invigorated, feeling great and positive about the future.

I want to share this positivity with all the listeners and am so looking forward to getting behind the mic once again, the veteran broadcaster said.

Mr OCallaghan began his career in 1979 working in pirate radio, and among his many broadcasting achievements, he presented Gareth O'Callaghan in the Afternoon on 2FM for over 15 years to a listenership of over 275,000.

He also launched Brendan OCarrolls original radio play, Mrs Browns Boys, and for nine years between 2009 and 2018 he presented his show on Classic Hits Radio.

Kevin Branigan, CEO of Ireland's Classic Hits Radio said he was delighted to welcome back to the station one of the most influential voices in modern Irish radio.

Gareths enthusiasm is infectious and we're looking forward to welcoming him back, Mr Branigan said.

Gareth O'Callaghan At The Weekend will air Saturday mornings 10am to 2pm, starting on February 12.
Gathering petition signatures is an act as old as democracy itself. It is direct and easy to understand: Sign the petition to show your support. Sign the petition and the person or issue will be placed on the ballot for everyone to decide on. Many of us have signed or circulated petitions for issues or candidates that we believe in.

It is reasonable for voters to assume that signing petitions is not a final act. In most cases, they could expect that a candidate would find their way onto the ballot during an election or that a proposal would be voted on at a later time.

However, this is not always the case and is why I feel it necessary to issue this Public Service Announcement.

The new in-vogue petition to circulate is for Citizen-Initiated Legislation and they are handled differently than how you might expect from a traditional ballot proposal petition. The biggest difference is that Citizen-Initiated Legislation petitions may never come before the voters of Michigan. If enough valid signatures are collected and the Legislature approves of the new law, it becomes State Law. It bypasses the Governor, who would not be given the opportunity to veto the bill.

You might be asking yourself why these are being circulated right now. The answer is surprisingly simple: The Republicans control the State Legislature, but not the Governors Office. They know, and have seen, that Governor Whitmer will veto hyper-partisan legislation that they want to see enacted into law. They know that the issues are not popular enough, and would be defeated if put to a vote of the entire state. So they have found a way to exploit a loophole in State Law and get their hardcore supporters and those who dont know the difference between a Ballot Initiative and Citizen-Initiated Legislation to assist.

The Republican Party is trying to get these extreme measures passed urgently because they know that their days in control of the State Legislature are numbered.

The Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission created, for the first time in our history, district maps for the State House and State Senate that were not gerrymandered and influenced by partisan chicanery. The Michigan GOP has had a stranglehold on the State Senate for 38 years thanks to their control over the redistricting process for the previous four mapmaking sessions.

Now, in the face of these new maps, which are much likelier to see Senators that are representative of Michigans political makeup, the GOP is scorching the earth and supporting these initiatives so that they can pass them before they lose this November.

Republicans and their operatives are paying petition circulators to parachute in from other states (the one in this video clearly states that he just arrived from Florida) to get people to sign these petitions by any means necessary.

These petition circulators are also comfortable lying because they were caught red-handed during a previous petition drive for the since-passed Unlock Michigan proposal and were never charged or prosecuted.

In the case of Secure MI Vote, one of the many petitions that circulators are pushing: The bills have already been vetoed by the Governor, and now the GOP is trying to get it done by cutting her and the Voters of Michigan out of the process.

The takeaway here is be VERY careful when you are approached to sign petitions. Know that these circulators may lie to you, they may try to get you to sign out of empathy to get them paid. There are a number of sleazy tactics that are (or should be) illegal.

Read the petition language fully and be absolutely sure that you know the full extent of what a petition would do, or else we may be stuck with a law that was sponsored by big Republican donors and passed by a vindictive Legislative majority.

Also, I would be remiss if I didnt ask that voters DECLINE TO SIGN the Secure MI Vote petition, as it will do anything but make our elections secure.

For those that witness petition circulators who are lying to voters, decline to sign their petitions and report the activity by calling 517-481-2165.

If you have any election questions or concerns, I can always be reached @BarbByrum on Twitter or [email protected].

[CC image credit: Nick Youngson via Pix4free.org]
As global travel restrictions are lifted, were all itching for an adventure  but, before you head to the beach, the mountains, or a new city, take the time to plan a trip thats both enjoyable and sustainable.

While traveling has many benefits  among them a greater appreciation for other cultures, and an important diversion from our daily lives  the travel methods, food, accommodations, and activities involved can be environmentally harmful. A 2018 study conducted by the University of Sydney found that 8% of global carbon emissions come from travel, and its estimated that a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions will come from flying by 2050.

Many people support the idea of sustainable travel, but few report a willingness to engage in responsible tourism if it is inconvenient. Luckily, there are many ways to travel responsibly without compromising your trip. Use this guide to help make decisions about your destination, travel methods, and activities before booking your next vacation.

Choose Sustainable Destinations

Visit and support the economies of places that are doing important conservation work or prioritize sustainability by sourcing energy from renewables, disposing of waste properly, maintaining good public transportation, etc. Palau  a Micronesian island country  for example, won the IBT Earth Award in 2019 for its commitment to conservation and sustainability. All tourists who visit the island must sign the Palau Pledge, promising they will respect both the people and the ecosystems of the island. Other recognized sustainable cities include Ljubljana, Slovenia; Vancouver, Canada; Portland, Oregon; Bengaluru, India; Copenhagen, Denmark; Freiburg, Germany, and Singapore.

Consider also visiting locations that are recovering from natural disasters  like Puerto Rico, building back after Hurricane Maria  to support their economy.

Travel by Train, Bus, or Public Transportation

Twenty-nine percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, according to the EPA, which includes the energy-intensive flights we take to and from our vacation destinations.

Staying closer to home is, of course, the best way to cut down on travel-related greenhouse gas emissions. For shorter trips, instead of taking flights to faraway places for only a few days, explore nearby destinations that you can reach by other means of transportation, like buses and trains. Buses are more fuel-efficient than single-occupancy vehicles, as are passenger rails, which are 3 times more efficient per mile for each passenger than driving a car.

Traveling by boat is, unfortunately, not a sustainable option. Cruise ships generate at least 3-4x more carbon dioxide emissions per passenger than commercial flights, according to a 2017 study. In fact, while aboard a cruise ship, the carbon footprint of passengers is roughly three times higher than it would be on land.

If you do fly  since, realistically, we still must in many circumstances.  avoid layovers and trips that require multiple flights in each direction. Takeoff and landing require much more power than cruising, so the more flights you take, the greater your carbon footprint.

Before booking your transportation, compare the energy consumption of your trip by various means of travel on ecopassenger.org to make an informed decision about how to transport yourself as sustainably as possible.

Consider Carbon Offsets

To mediate the impact of their trip, some travelers choose to purchase carbon offsets.

Carbon offsets are just what they sound like: a way for individuals and companies to theoretically offset the emissions they produce by contributing to projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. Examples of offset projects include tree-planting initiatives that will create carbon sinks, improving the energy efficiency of buildings so less heating and air conditioning is needed, and renewable energy projects, like building wind farms. For an offset to be legitimate, it must be permanent, verifiable, and additional, meaning that this work would not have occurred without the money provided.

Unfortunately, these projects are not always legitimate and can even have negative consequences for the communities theyre based in. For example, a reforestation project might consist of monocropped trees that dont support a biodiverse ecosystem. It can also take decades for a tree to mature enough to capture the amount of carbon promised from an offset purchase. Many projects are also carried out in faraway places  often in poorer countries in the Global South  so consumers dont see what their money is actually going towards.

Some airlines offer consumers the option to offset their emissions, and travelers can add an offset to their cart when booking their flight. Research the airline and their current offset projects before purchasing to ensure that its legitimate. You can sidestep this complication, however, by donating to a project on your own. Find projects vetted by trusted organizations that evaluate offset projects, like the Climate Action Reserve, Cool Effect, and Gold Standard. Calculate your emissions and then purchase an offset accordingly.

Smaller, more local offset projects are also an option, like the Finger Lakes Climate Fund, which funds home insulation projects for families in the Finger Lakes region that wouldnt otherwise be able to afford it. The better insulation lowers their heating/cooling bills and requires less energy.

While a decent option for travelers in some circumstances, offsets are controversial. Critics argue that consumers wont reduce the amount they fly if they perceive offsets as a get-out-of-jail-free card for emissions, which will lead us to believe that we can continue business as usual regarding our emissions. In reality, if the aviation sector were considered a country, its emission would rank sixth in the world: a major indicator of the breadth of this source of greenhouse gases.

Pack Better

Before heading out, pack your bags more mindfully to minimize your trips environmental impact. Resist the temptation to purchase a whole new wardrobe for your trip. Instead, shop secondhand for the items you need  like better shoes or more weather-appropriate clothing  or borrow from friends and family. Likewise, instead of buying new travel-sized toiletries every time you head out on a trip, refill reusable (or already-used) travel bottles with body products to bring along.

On vacation, its easy to slough off the things we do for the planet every day, but be sure to pack the waste-free supplies you use in your normal life: water bottles, to-go coffee mugs, grocery bags, straws, silverware, and napkins. Youll likely encounter even more disposables while traveling than in your daily life, so have these items on hand so youre not generating waste in your wake. Look into collapsible options for silverware and beverage containers if space is a concern.

Choose Responsible Activities

Sustainable travel isnt just about conservation and reducing emissions, but about being cognizant of your impact on the community you are visiting. Support green businesses and choose experiences that support conservation efforts in the area while on your trip, like visiting a Marine Protected Area, going on nature tours and excursions led by nonprofits or groups that preserve land, and engaging in activities that respect ecosystems and animals. Especially on trips centered around viewing wildlife, choose organizations that acknowledge and address how the presence of humans can impact the feeding, breeding, and migrating of animals when booking an activity. Check to see if they are a member The International Ecotourism Society  which requires that their organizations follow certain criteria related to sustainability  or if they have other accreditations.

Be sure that the money you spend on vacation is going to the community youre visiting, rather than large companies centered elsewhere. Support businesses that employ local people and prioritize workers rights, like eating at a restaurant run by local people, shopping for souvenirs at a small business, or hiring a local guide rather than an international tour company that brings in their own workers. If you do use a tour company, look up their sustainability efforts, or ask them before booking.

Stay in Accredited Accommodations

Eco-friendly hotels are becoming more and more popular, and options for sustainable accommodations are growing. If youre not up for going hotel- or rental-less and camping under the stars, look up the sustainability efforts of your accommodation options, and research places that use green energy, serve local food, etc. Some hotels and rentals might have different stamps or seals of sustainability on their promotional materials, like a LEED certification. Learn whether the accommodations certification has been recognized by the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) to see if its legitimate. On Bookdifferent.com, users can also search accommodations and calculate their projected nightly carbon footprint at each location.

Utilize Bike Shares and Public Transportation

Think ahead about how youll get around while on vacation. Its great to purchase a legitimate offset or stay in a LEED-certified building, but that can all be undone by renting and driving a car for hours every day while youre away. Research public transportation in cities and plan your excursions around what you can reach by bus or train when possible. Biking is another option to transport yourself and explore the city; find out whether bike rentals are available, either for the entirety of your stay or for a few hours

Linnea graduated from Skidmore College in 2019 with a Bachelors degree in English and Environmental Studies, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Along with her most recent position at Hunger Free America, she has interned with the Sierra Club in Washington, DC., Saratoga Living Magazine, and Philadelphias NPR Member Station, WHYY.
A volcanic mountain landscape with lava plateaus and white coral sand beaches rimmed with blue-green sea, the Galapagos archipelago is inhabited by more than 180 species found nowhere else on Earth. The first recorded visitor to the group of islands was Tomas de Berlanga, fourth Bishop of Panama, who happened upon it on his way to Peru in 1535. Insulae de los de Galopegos, or Islands of the Tortoises, as it was named in the 1570 world atlas of Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius, has been capturing the imagination of scientists and visitors ever since.

Recently, Ecuador created an extensive new marine reserve north of the Galapagos islands to protect sea turtles, sharks and other migratory species. The new reserve, called Hermandad, which means brotherhood in Spanish, forms a Pacific corridor as far as Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica, Phys.org reported. The reserve adds more than 20,000 square miles to the already existing 50,200-square-mile Galapagos Marine Reserve that has been protected since 1998.

Ecuadors President Guillermo Lasso said the creation of the Hermandad Marine Reserve is a clear message for the world, and described it as a new relationship with the Earth, a new understanding of what constitutes progress for humanity, reported Phys.org.

President Lasso celebrated the opening of the Hermandad Marine Reserve with a ribbon-cutting ceremony using ribbon made from materials gathered during coastal cleanups in the Galapagos. Plans are being made by authorities for additional protected areas in Panama and Colombia, which would create an international marine biosphere reserve.

In 1835, English naturalist Charles Darwin disembarked from the sailing ship H. M. S. Beagle, captained by Robert FitzRoy on its return trip across the Pacific after a charting voyage around South America. In September and October of that year, Darwin explored four of the more than a dozen major islands of the Galapagos  San Cristobal, Floreana, Isabela and Santiago  where he collected specimens.

Darwins discoveries in the Galapagos were of great importance in the development of his Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, Darwin said,  by far the most remarkable feature in the natural history of this archipelago is that the different islands to a considerable extent are inhabited by a different set of beings

The Galapagos archipelago is a Natural World Heritage Site that is home to more than 2,900 marine species, reported Phys.org. There is a prohibition on industrial fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which is the second-largest in the world.

The Ecuadorian government announced its decision to create the new reserve at COP26 in Glasgow in order to focus the eyes of the world on the need to protect our oceans, Ecuadors Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition said in a statement emailed to EcoWatch. However, technically the proposal had been worked on for several years based on scientific confirmation of an underwater mountain range that threatened migratory species use in their route, also known as the migravia, between the Galapagos and Cocos Island.

According to the Galapagos Conservancy, many of the species found in the Galapagos islands are endemic  that is, they are found nowhere else on Earth. In fact, about 80 percent of the land birds and 97 percent of the land mammals and reptiles are unique to the islands, as are more than 30 percent of the flora and more than 20 percent of the marine animal species. These include the Galapagos penguin  the only species of penguin found in the Northern Hemisphere  the flightless cormorant, the marine iguana and the Galapagos giant tortoise.

The new Hermandad Marine Reserve is a biological corridor for more than 20 migratory species that face different levels of threat, such as sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, etc., Ecuadors Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition said in the statement to EcoWatch. They are species that travel between the two protected areas: the Galapagos and Cocos Island (Costa Rica). They head through this space following the underwater mountain range that provides them with food. Some Galapagos species have been found in this area, such as sea lions, albatrosses and Galapagos sharks that leave the archipelago to feed.

President of Columbia Ivan Duque, who attended the dedication event, expressed that the eventual joining of the Malpelo islands of Columbia and the Coiba islands of Panama with the marine reserve would benefit the migration of species, as Phys.org reported. He also stated that the new reserve would ensure the survival of 40 percent of the marine species in the world.

We may be a small territory but the planet is also ours, President Lasso said, reported Phys.org.

The seas are great regulators of the global climate taking care of them is not naive idealism, it is a vital necessity, Lasso said.
By Brett Wilkins

Wildlife advocates on Monday accused the Trump administration of willful ignorance after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act after 45 years of protection, even though experts say the animals are far from out of the proverbial woods.



USFWS announced the rule change  one of over 100 regulatory rollbacks recently pushed through by the Trump administration  in October. The move will allow state authorities to treat the canines as predators and kill or protect them according to their laws. In South Dakota, for example, hunters, trappers, landowners, and livestock producers are now permitted to kill gray wolves after obtaining the necessary paperwork, which includes a predator/varmint, furbearer, or hunting license. Landowners on their own property and minors under the age of 16 are exempt from licensing requirements.

In neighboring Minnesota, gray wolves will retain a higher level of protection in the northern part of the state  owners of livestock and other animals can kill wolves that pose an immediate threat  while in the southern two-thirds of the state people can shoot wolves that they believe pose any threat to livestock, as long as they surrender the carcass. In Oregon, on the other hand, wolves remain protected throughout the state, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hunting and trapping of wolves remains prohibited statewide.

Last September, Common Dreams reported that an analysis of deregulation in some Western states revealed that a record-breaking 570 wolves, including dozens of pups, were brutally killed in Idaho over a recent one-year period. Tragically, we know how this will play out when states manage wolves, as we have seen in the northern Rocky Mountain region in which they were previously delisted, Samantha Bruegger, wildlife coexistence campaigner for WildEarth Guardians, said in reaction to Mondays delisting.

Bruegger cited the Idaho killings, as well as the situation in Washington, where last year the state slaughtered an entire pack of wolves due to supposed conflicts with ranching interests, as proof that without federal protections, wolves are vulnerable to the whims and politics of state management. Mondays delisting comes despite the enduring precarity of wolf populations throughout much of the country. According to the most recent USFWS data, there are only 108 wolves in Washington state, 158 in Oregon, and 15 in California, while wolves are functionally extinct in Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.

These meager numbers lay the groundwork for a legal challenge planned by WildEarth Guardians with a coalition of conservation groups to be filed later this month, said Bruegger. Lindsay Larris, wildlife program director at WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement that the delisting of gray wolves is the latest causality of the Trump administrations willful ignorance of the biodiversity crisis and scientific facts. Even with [President Donald] Trumps days in office dwindling, the long-term impact of illegitimate decisions like the wolf delisting will take years to correct, Larris added. Guardians is committed to challenging this decision in court, while working across political channels to ensure wolves receive as much protection as possible at the state level in the interim.

Reposted with permission from Common Dreams.
By Andy Rowell

As new Hurricane Maria brings devastation to Puerto Rico, the governor of the island, Ricardo Rossello, has asked Donald Trump to declare the U.S. territory a disaster zone.

He has said that Maria could be the most damaging hurricane to hit the country in more than 100 years.

With maximum recorded wind speeds of 140 mph and rainfall of up to 25 inches or even higher, Mike Brennan, a senior hurricane specialist from the U.S. National Hurricane Center has also warned locals of flash-flooding and punishing rainfall. He added that the storm would remain very dangerous for the next couple of days.

Rainfall is going to continue to be a problem there even after Marias center begins to move away, Brennan said. Everybody there should be prepared to stay safe the rest of the day and into tomorrow morning.

In nearby Dominica, the principal advisor to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, said The island has been devastated. The housing stock significantly damaged or destroyed  The country is in a dazeno electricity, no running wateras a result of uprooted pipes in most communities and definitely to landline or cellphone services on island, and that will be for quite a while.

As Maria follows on after Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, there is rising anger in the Caribbean about hurricanes and climate change.

There is no one left on the Antigua and Barbuda islands after previous Hurricane Irma effectively destroyed the islands infrastructure and housing with 185 mph winds. All the inhabitants had to be evacuated.

The islands prime minister, Gaston Browne, told IPS on his way to the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York. Climate change is real. We are the victims of climate change because of the profligacy in the use of fossil fuels by the large industrialized nations.

He added: These nations, that have contributed to global warming and sea level rise, have an obligation to assist in the rebuilding of these islands  Our common humanity, as citizens of a common space, called planet Earth mandates a spirit of empathy and cooperation among all nations, large and small.

The climate deniers in the Trump administration though dont want to talk about climate change or how our changing climate is making hurricanes more powerful.

Last week, Donald Trump said: Weve had bigger storms than this. And if you go back into the 1930s and the 1940s and you take a look weve had storms over the years that have been bigger than this.

The EPA Administrator Scott Polluting Pruitt added Now isnt the time to talk about climate change.

But now is the time to talk about climate change. It certainly looks like our changing climate is playing a part, as 2017 looks set to be an unprecedented hurricane season.

According to the meteorologist Eric Holthaus, who tweeted:

Just one other year in recorded history has there been two U.S. Cat 4+ landfalls (1992, Andrew & Iniki). There's been three in 2017 (so far) https://t.co/HSGfAk9dN1  Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) September 20, 2017

There is still uncertainty if Maria will hit the U.S. coastline, but if it does, history will be made. And we are only in September.

The Washington Posts Chris Mooney wrote an article Wednesday entitled: Whats scary about 2017s hurricanes isnt just their strength. Its how fast theyre achieving it.

According to Mooney: Rapid strengthening tends to happen when waters are warm, when that warm water is deep, when the atmosphere is moist and when theres little adverse wind flow that could disrupt the storm, according to research papers on the topic and interviews with experts.

And our changing climate is warming the waters and adding more moisture to the atmosphere.

So now is the time to talk about climate change. Pure and simple.
CANBERRA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Popular support for the Australian government has slumped to its lowest level in more than three years.

According to the first Newspoll of 2022, which was published by News Corp Australia on Sunday night, the opposition Labor Party leads the governing Coalition 56-44 on a two-party preferred basis.

It represents a 6-point shift from Labor's 53-47 lead in the last poll of 2021 and represents the opposition's biggest lead over the government since September 2018.

The poll found that primary support for Labor has increased to 41 percent while the Coalition's vote fell to 34 percent -- the lowest figure since August 2018 when Prime Minister Scott Morrison deposed his predecessor Malcolm Turnbul as the Coalition leader.

The poll revealed widespread frustration with the federal government's handling of the wave of Omicron COVID-19 infections.

Morrison's net approval rating, which is calculated by subtracting the disapproval rating from the approval rating, collapsed 11 points to -19, the lowest since early 2020.

His lead over Labor leader Anthony Albanese as voters' preferred PM fell from 9 points in December to just 2.

Despite the poor result for the Coalition, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declared Morrison was the right person to lead the government to the election.

"Scott Morrison has done a really really good job, in very, very difficult times and he will be the first Prime Minister to go to an election after serving a full term since John Howard," he told Nine Network TV. 
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It holds the record for the fastest naturally aspirated piston-powered vehicle, a mark made 50 year after its debut and following two aborted attempts and an extensive renovation, and now it's ready for a new owner. Mecum on Saturday will auction the famed 1968 Challenger 2 Streamliner, which Danny Thompson piloted to 448.757 mph on Aug. 12, 2018, at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Estimates say the Challenger should fetch between $900,000 and $1.5 million.

The 32-foot car has a pretty epic backstory. It was developed by Hall of Fame driver and engineer Mickey Thompson, with financing and engineering help from the team behind the Ford GT40 Mark IV Le Mans race car, as a successor to the four-engine Challenger, which he raced to 406.6 mph at Bonneville in 1960 in a run made unofficial because the car broke on its return run. Plans to make a go at an official record in the Challenger 2 in 1968 were dampened, literally, by rain and flooding, then scuttled again 20 years later when Thompson and his wife were murdered in front of their California home.

Thompsons son, Danny Thompson, pulled the streamliner from storage on the 50th anniversary of the Challenger I run to begin an eight-year restoration and update the car to meet the requirements of the Southern California Timing Association.

Most notably, Danny Thompson replaced the old Ford 427 single overhead cam engines with a pair of Hemi V8s, each driving a set of wheels and running on a mix of 87% nitromethane and 13% methanol, juicing combined output from 1,800 horsepower to 5,000. It employs twin three-speed gearboxes to connect the engines through twin triple-disk clutches, two belt-drive engine connectors and a pair of specially built extreme heavy-duty magnesium quick-change differentials.

It retains the original suspension designed by Kar Kraft, formerly of Brighton, Michigan, with a one-off set of ultra-high-speed shocks, and it got aluminum wheels fitted with special tires made of rubber and prototype nylon weave with banded steel reinforcements to handle the heavy centrifugal loads. It also received four carbon-ceramic disc brakes and dual parachutes, new engine mounts, cockpit controls, steering system, fresh air tanks, steering wheel-mounted air shifters and a fire suppression system. Finally, it wears a new coat of blue paint on its aluminum body.

Awesome though the car may be, its difficult to envision much of a market for the 5,800-pound streamliner, which measures 32 feet in length, 36 inches wide and 37 inches high at the canopy. Prospective customers would seem to be either people with too much money and ego, or some mad scientist speed demon willing to take another stab at the land speed record and possessing financial backing. Well find out this weekend whether anyone steps up to the plate.

Related Video:
The tech news cycle has been dominated this weekend by Spotify as it continues to deal with the fallout from its decision to back Joe Rogan. Last week, Neil Young offered the streaming service an ultimatum, saying it either cracked down on COVID-19 misinformation, pumped out by Rogans podcast and others, or hed quit. Spotify decided to back Rogan, which prompted Joni Mitchell to withdraw her music from the platform in solidarity. (Both Mitchell and Young were childhood survivors of polio, and both know the real danger of vaccine misinformation.)

Subsequently, a number of high-profile figures have registered their unease, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Brene Brown. Yesterday, Brown said that she would pause releasing new episodes of her two Spotify-exclusive podcasts until further notice. And Spotifys own COVID-19 guidelines were subsequently leaked, which revealed the (very) wide latitude the company offers to podcasts on its service. (Spotifys also apparently cool with climate denial, as evidenced by a very recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.)

To try to address the issue, Spotify has announced that it will add a content advisory to any podcast episodes discussing COVID-19. Rogan himself has released a video statement saying that he felt justified in inviting COVID-deniers onto his show, but was sorry for the trouble he had caused Spotify. He also promised to balance things out by booking guests with different opinions in future.

-Dan Cooper

The biggest news stories you might have missed

Workers with half a dose will be put on unpaid leave.

T-Mobile has confirmed reports that its corporate employees will face termination if they are not vaccinated for COVID-19. The carrier, following in the footsteps of tech giants like Google, is mandating that workers get protected against the pandemic, or face termination. Employees who have had their first jab, meanwhile, will be placed on unpaid leave until they get their second dose. As always, a number of exemptions and caveats apply, but it looks like many companies are done tiptoeing around the issue.

Continue Reading.

Theres a word for this, Im sure.

Jack Sweeneys Twitter bots use public data to track the whereabouts of public figures private jets. His most famous is ElonJet which, quelle surprise, tracks the takeoff and landing patterns of Elon Musks personal plane, and has more than 203,000 followers. Musk, naturally, wasnt thrilled at its existence, and offered Sweeney $5,000 to take the bot down. Sweeney, however, was looking for something closer to $50,000 to help him get through college. But you dont become a billionaire by handing out cash to people, and so Musk reportedly broke off comms with the 19-year-old.

Continue Reading.

Dr. Laurie Leshin already laid the groundwork for the Artemis program.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Dr. Laurie Leshin has accepted the role as head of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, making her the first woman to lead the famous lab. Leshins background includes a tour of duty at the Goddard Space Flight Center, and a stint as deputy associate administrator at NASAs Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Her work helped lay the groundwork for the Artemis and commercial spaceflight programs, and she helped craft the Mars sample return missions.

Continue Reading.

The (supposed) benefit? Faster trade settlements.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has given a thumbs up to the Boston Security Token Exchange (BSTX), a blockchain-based stock exchange. When it launches later next year, you wont immediately be able to trade crypto stocks with the BSTX, but its backers are hoping to broaden its toolset in future. BSTX says that the benefit of blockchain is to speed up trade settlements between parties, a process that can currently take up to two days at a time.

Continue Reading.
Enid, OK (73701)

Today

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Enid News & Eagle On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community This story is part of special series that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays through April 2022. The sections are designed to feature individuals, businesses and organizations in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma working for the betterment of the region and its residents.

On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community: ALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

ENID, Okla.  During the ongoing COVID pandemic that continues to infect thousands of Oklahomans, Integris Bass Baptist Health Center in Enid continues to care for its patients while bringing in new doctors and specialized equipment.

Chief Hospital Executive Kurt DeVaney said Integris doctors and staff are dedicated to continuing efforts to mitigate spread of the virus and maintain quality of care for patients who need services not related to COVID-19.

An ongoing pandemic

As we head into 2022, our focus is on the current COVID-19 surge and taking care of as many patients as possible, DeVaney said. This new variant has hit our hospital hard, and we have continued to see a rise in the number of COVID-positive patients in our facility.

Despite these challenges, we continue to be vigilant in our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus through limited visitation, strict PPE polices and a commitment to cleanliness and sanitization. We are doing everything we can to keep our patients, caregivers and visitors safe. We are staying up-to-date with recommended treatments for the different COVID variants.

The first two weeks of January this year saw 119,000 new cases of COVID-19 across the state, according to figures from Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Devaney quote I am continually impressed with how hard everyone works, keeps their spirits up and continues to provide great care to the citizens of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, even as the surges keep coming.  Chief Hospital Executive Kurt DeVaney

The latest information from OSDH estimates the current Omicron variant of COVID-19 makes up 90% of the positive cases in the state, DeVaney said.

So we have switched to administering the types of monoclonal antibody treatments shown to be effective against the Omicron variant, he said, a process that is different from treatment of the previous prevalent Delta variant.

Compassionate care

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, DeVaney credits the hospitals staff for the quality of care they have maintained during such trying and challenging times.

Throughout the pandemic, our caregivers have done an amazing job taking care of very sick patients, and they have made a lasting impact through saving lives, DeVaney said. We continue to provide as much support as we can for our caregivers as they care for a hospital full of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, along with an incredibly busy emergency department.

I am continually impressed with how hard everyone works, keeps their spirits up and continues to provide great care to the citizens of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, even as the surges keep coming.

He asked those with non-emergency issues, or who need COVID-19 testing but are without symptoms, to avoid the emergency department if possible. Those who need COVID-19 testing can receive it through either of Integris Urgent Care facilities or other places such as the Garfield County Health Department.

Looking ahead

Last year showed everyones resilience as we dealt with the unknown related to COVID-19, DeVaney said. Our main priority this year is keeping that resilience going and looking forward to continued growth. As an organization, we have some exciting things happening in 2022.

Bret Hains, D.O., joined the general surgery team in 2021, and new personnel and equipment are on tap to arrive in the coming months, he said.

We have signed an ear, nose and throat doctor who will be moving to Enid mid-year from South Carolina, he said. We also recently purchased a new Davinci Xi surgical robot. This state-of-the-art technology allows our surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures that have been proven to dramatically reduce the amount of time a patient spends in the hospital after surgery.

We are in the process of evaluating other technology and equipment that will permit more specialists, and sub-specialists, to consult on our patients while they are in the hospital, allowing for enhanced levels of care.

Continuing its mission

As the states largest not-for-profit and Oklahoma-owned health care system  with hospitals, specialty clinics, family care practices and centers of excellence  Integris Health continues to serve Oklahomans across the state.

Locally, Integris Meadowlake has been awarded the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience, and the Integris urgent care facility has been voted Enids Best Urgent Care by Enid News & Eagle Readers Choice voters.

Labor and delivery nurse Linda Suderman was recognized as a finalist in the neonatal category at the March of Dimes Heroes in Action Gala.

The hospitals triennial Joint Commission Accreditation is coming up, and in 2021 the mammography services was re-accredited through the American College of Radiology.

The Integris Bass Baptist Health Center campus in Enid includes 207 licensed beds throughout its three facilities.

The hospital is the only nonprofit, faith-based hospital in Enid, having served the Enid area longer than any other general hospital, according to Integris officials.

Enids Integris offers acute care and diagnostic services, skilled nursing and cancer centers, a state of the art Heart and Vascular Institute, a cardiac catheterization laboratory, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery options, geriatric behavioral health services, OB/GYN services, home health services and occupational health services.

The Integris Health mission, Partnering with people to live healthier lives, has been and continues to be the guiding principle in which we look to in making everyday decisions that impact this hospital, our patients, caregivers and community, DeVaney said.
Enid News & Eagle On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community This story is part of special series that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays through April 2022. The sections are designed to feature individuals, businesses and organizations in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma working for the betterment of the region and its residents.

On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community: ALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

ENID, Okla.  Rural Health Projects began in 1989 with the goal of improving access to and quality of health care services in rural Oklahoma. Thirty years later, that goal remains part of its diversified mission statement.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of RHP becoming a 5013 organization, said Executive Director Allison Seigars. The nonprofit began as an Area Health Education Center (AHEC).

There are AHECs in every state, Seigars said, but most people have never heard of them. Their role is to recruit, train and retain health professionals for underserved areas, like rural communities. They do some community education, but thats not their main role.

Seigars quote We did a community needs assessment before designing the program, Seigars said. The grant is helping us create a healthier environment for the people who live in Garfield County.  Rural Health Projects Executive Director Allison Seigars

Rural Health Projects is now an umbrella organization for a variety of grants and contracts. The AHEC, for example, is actually an Oklahoma State University program that contracts with RHP for administration. Currently, the programs include an outreach to Marshall Islanders in Enids rural population, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trusts (TSET) Healthy Living Program, HIV care, programs for seniors and, the main focus for now, a COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence program that aims to reduce vaccine hesitancy in 11 Northwest Oklahoma counties.

A team of approximately 15 full-time employees works to meet a myriad of needs with available funds. Seigars said the bulk of RHPs funding comes via HRSA grants  funding awarded by the Health Resources & Services Administration, a federal office. The organization also has designed programs using the TSET Healthy Living 2.0 grant program, the goal of which is to improve health by preventing or reducing tobacco use, improving nutrition and increasing physical activity in an effort to decrease premature death in Oklahoma.

We did a community needs assessment before designing the program, Seigars said. The grant is helping us create a healthier environment for the people who live in Garfield County.

RHP does provide health education to rural Oklahomans, but the majority of its work is not with the general public  its programmatic and advocatory. Staff also aggregate information about resources related to social determinants of health: jobs, transportation, food, clean water, safe housing, etc. They have access to a My Care platform that helps clients research available resources.\In its role as the contracting administrator of the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma, RHP also organizes the annual Oklahoma Rural Health Conference  all are welcome to attend  in the fall of each year. Seigars said a date has not been chosen for the 2022 conference.
Enid News & Eagle On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community This story is part of special series that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays through April 2022. The sections are designed to feature individuals, businesses and organizations in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma working for the betterment of the region and its residents.

On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community: ALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

ENID, Okla.  St. Marys Regional Medical Center CEO Krista Roberts has a simple message for the Enid community as the COVID 19 pandemic enters its third year: While COVID remains center stage, keep up your checkups and screenings with your family physicians so you wont have to go to St. Marys.

Cancer still happens, Roberts said. Heart attacks are still happening. There are still falls and strokes. Health care did not stop because of the pandemic. You need to take care of your health care needs. We cant take that for granted. If youre seeing some things you dont think are right, go seek a medical professional.

She urged those who are not COVID symptomatic to reevaluate where they are turning when it comes to testing for the virus, as that is impacting care in emergency rooms in Enid.

People wanting such tests should not come to the hospitals emergency room if they are not ill. Often the hospital has had to keep patients in the emergency department until a room becomes available.

Roberts quote Cancer still happens. Heart attacks are still happening. There are still falls and strokes. Health care did not stop because of the pandemic. You need to take care of your health care needs. We cant take that for granted. If you're seeing some things you dont think are right, go seek a medical professional.  St. Marys Regional Medical Center CEO Krista Roberts

Tests for COVID should be done at facilities such as the Garfield County Health Department if at all possible, she said.

Those showing signs of COVID  shortness of breath, fever, fatigue  are encouraged to seek emergency care at the health facilities.

Careers and COVID

The pandemic has created a historical challenge for Roberts and her staff as they have had to concentrate on COVID precautions. Several new launches could be delayed because of the emphasis on COVID safety, Roberts said.

Staff recruitment will be a high priority for 2022 to fill vacancies occurring in the health care field.

Were always looking for opportunities to talk with students about careers in the health field, Roberts said. We just want to make sure the next generation of health care workers is in the pipeline. Its a great field with many, many opportunities.

The competition for physicians is intense, Roberts said.

In a physician, were looking at what the needs of the medical staff are and what are the needs of the community, she said. We are looking for someone who might have grown up in rural Oklahoma and would like to practice in a community our size as opposed to Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

Roberts works closely with the hospitals community partners to sell the prospective physician on Enid.

The quality of life is very important, she said. We want to show what Enid has to offer. The physician is looking for a professional and personal fit.

The same is true for nursing, and in this case the hospital can draw from at least three local pools  Northern Oklahoma College Enid, Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid and Autry Technology Center.

Roberts said St. Marys has done well in its recruiting. She said the hospital does try to recruit personnel with ties to the community or who want to work in a rural areas.

An emphasis on recruitment fits in with St. Marys and other hospitals first priorities of late, which fall under the umbrella of maintaining current services during a pandemic.

Were trying to maintain our staff for the core services, Roberts said. We are trying to help our staff physically and emotionally endure the challenge of this pandemic. We have never experienced a pandemic of this magnitude or duration. Its extremely challenging with this being the third year. We just have to continue to work with the surges.

St. Marys has been able to get away from absolute patient isolation that was a technique used by health care facilities during the first months of the pandemic in 2020.

COVID-19 patients are allowed one visitor at a time. The rest of the patient population is allowed two visitors.

Were continuing to social distance, Roberts said.

Taking on cancer

The hospitals cancer unit, located on the fifth floor of the Parkview building, across the hospital to the west, has not been affected by the pandemic.

The cancer unit is very strong and going well, Roberts said. We have been able to separate them from the hospital population and have been able to meet the patients needs.

Roberts doesnt see the cancer unit expanding in 2022, but there are opportunities to educate the public about its attributes since it opened in 2019, only to be overshadowed by the pandemic the next year.

Marketing director Heidi Hughes said there is talk of not a grand reopening, per se, but a re-education of the community.

We want to re-educate the community on the improvements we have made since it was made available, Hughes said.

State-of-the-art facilities

Roberts said she does hope to see expansion in technology, a highlight of which has been the DaVinci Surgical System and Robotic Surgical Assistant (ROSA), a robotic system launched last year that is used in the ever-expanding orthopedic field.

Were seeing more expanded utilization of that technology, Roberts said. The more cases they do, the more we educate family and friends from those procedures.

The robotic system has a precise surgical cut of the bone, and surgeons are seeing some excellent outcomes, especially in terms of recovery, definitely.

The cardiac care catheterization lab upgrades have provided great benefit to the cardiologists, Roberts said.

She said St. Marys is fortunate to have a 22-bed cardiac inpatient rehab facility.

There are some future plans for this facility, Roberts said, but at this point, were not ready to let it out of the bag yet.

The new HD laparoscopic towers in surgical suites have provided an upgrade in all the high-definition equipment and have improved the visual fields for the physicians.

The hospitals wound care unit was recognized by Healogics, the nations largest provider of advanced wound services last July.

The hospital has installed a new stealth navigation system for neurosurgery under the guidance of Dr. Barry Pollard.

A 15-bed inpatient adult behavioral unit has filled a void needed in the areas mental health treatment, Roberts said.

That unit has done some remarkable things and has had some great outcomes, Roberts said.

Roberts said the hospital has made its own commitment to maintain the mental health of its employees dealing with the stresses of the pandemic.

We have remained committed to our employees, Roberts said. Just like any other employer in the community, we do have employees out with illness. It has impacted our staffing.

National accreditation

St. Marys has achieved clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction rates of higher than 92% and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 92% within 28 median days, according to a press release from St. Marys.

Of 555 facilities available for the Center of Distinction, 278 received the honor.

St. Marys has full accreditation of all services surveyed by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditation facility for health care organizations in the United States. St. Marys was recognized in 2013 as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission.

The hospital received an A grade in the Fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital.

We have gotten a lot of awards on the national level, Roberts said. That is a direct reflection of our culture and commitment from all of our team members and medical staff. We try to tout the latest medical technology available to ensure people can continue to get high quality health care in Enid.

St. Marys will continue to emphasize rural and small town hospitality.

We treat patients like family, Roberts said. We might treat someone for a cardiac condition and maybe another different diagnosis later. We have been focused on helping those who have been directly involved on the front lines during the pandemic and supplying what needs they may have.
Enid News & Eagle On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community This story is part of special series that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays through April 2022. The sections are designed to feature individuals, businesses and organizations in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma working for the betterment of the region and its residents.

On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community: ALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

Hisey quote The key to starting yoga is simple: Pause and take a deep breath, focus on the things around you that bring you joy and then exhale.  yoga instructor Meg Hisey

ENID, Okla.  Yoga. The word alone evokes the feelings of calm and peace.

According to Psychology Todays Dr. Marlynn Wei, a psychiatrist and therapist in New York City, more than 90% of people who start yoga do so for physical exercise, improved health or stress management.

However, she cited studies that have found most yoga students have a change of heart regarding why they practice yoga, going from the mindset of exercise to enjoying the spirituality of self-reflection, an awareness of self or a sense of fulfilling their potential.

I love yoga because of all the benefits it brings, said yoga instructor Meg Hisey of Fly Fitness, an Enid fitness studio.

Yoga instructor Kristina Roberts-Wahl, who owns Rosebuds, an aerial yoga studio in North Enid, agreed.

They both cited the following health benefits of traditional yoga:

 Reduces stress and anxiety

 Boosts confidence and self-esteem

 Strengthens muscles, including the heart

 Tones the body

 Improves flexibility

 Promotes better sleep, better posture, and better circulation

 Balances hormones

 Connects mind, body, and spirit

Powers of yoga

The quieting of the mind  meditation  is another perk of yoga.

While all types of movement are healthy for your body, the practice of being still and focusing your attention is so beneficial for your mind, Hisey said.

American Osteopathic Association concurs: Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness; increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the mind; centers attention; and sharpens concentration.

Aerial yoga has additional benefits including decompression of the spine, joint support, deep tissue massage, circulatory system detox and body awareness, said Roberts-Wahl.

And the great thing about yoga is anyone can do it. There are no limits based on age, current health conditions or fitness levels. Whether you are young or old, overweight or fit, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body.

Roberts-Wahl added that you dont have to be a seasoned yogi familiar with the terminology or poses to begin practicing yoga.

Its a fun, full-body workout not to be taken too seriously, she said.

Getting started

Roberts-Wahl began practicing yoga five years ago, getting certified as an instructor not long after, and opened Rosebuds, 4215 N. 4th, in 2018. She will host certification training this March for those interested in teaching aerial yoga.

Hisey encourages folks to try out yoga in 2022.

Start the new year off making yourself a priority and start making healthy changes for your mind and body, she said.

Hisey started her own journey into yoga 10 years ago, certifying as an instructor six years into it. She owned Balance Yoga + Barre in Enid; the physical studio closed at the end of last year. Hisey now teaches public and private classes at Fly Fitness Studio, 315 W. Cherokee, and hosts yoga retreats.

Yoga can be done in the comfort of home with free videos on YouTube or at one of the local studios, either privately with an instructor or with others in a class setting. Classes generally are limited to 10 or less people to allow for individual guidance.

For newcomers to yoga, the following is recommended when practicing:

 Wear comfortable clothing, a fitted shirt and leggings or stretch pants.

 Remove jewelry and shoes.

 Use a mat (most studios will provide one if you dont have your own).

 Avoid eating a large meal prior to practice.

Have an open mind

Rosebuds also offers a free community class once a month for people to come and see if aerial yoga is for them. Those interested can watch its Facebook page for information.

The key to starting yoga is simple, Hisey said. Pause and take a deep breath, focus on the things around you that bring you joy and then exhale.
Cheslie Kryst, the 30 year-old former Miss USA, has passed away.

Kryst was found outside the Orion Condumminum building in Manhattan on Sunday morning. An article on The Hollywood Reporter shared that the Police have confirmed that Kryst died by suicide. In her time on earth, before, during, and after recieving the Miss USA title, Kryst was an inspiration. She once described:

"Pageant girls are supposed to be model-tall and slender, don bouffant hair, and have a killer walk. But my five-foot-six frame won with six-pack abs, earned after years of competing in Division I Track and Field, and a head of natural curls in a time when generations of Black women have been taught that being 'too Black' would cost them wins in the boardroom and on pageant stages."

Her family and friends are heartbroken by her untimely passing. The family has asked for privacy during this time. A statement released shared the love that all felt for the incredible Cheslie Kryst. It read:

"In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie...Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined. Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on EXTRA. But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague - we know her impact will live on."

Her work family at Extra, where Kryst worked as a correspondant, also shared a heartfelt message.

"Our hearts are broken. Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show, she was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff. Our deepest condolences to all her family and friends."

Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Cheslie Kryst.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 extended festival greetings to the Chinese people with stunning video footage captured by a camera on its orbiter to snap selfies above the red planet on Monday, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The video published by the China National Space Administration showed that the orbiter's 3000N engine, propellant tank, attitude control engine and other components were all in good conditions.

It also offered a view of the sun's reflection casting on the orbiter, a Chinese national flag shining on the spacecraft and the ice cap on the red planet's north pole.

As of Monday, the Tianwen-1 orbiter has been working in orbit for 557 days at a distance of around 325 million km from Earth.

The Mars rover Zhurong has been operating for 255 Martian days and has driven a total of 1,524 meters on the surface of the planet.

Since its launch on July 23, 2020, the Mars mission has sent back 600 GB of raw scientific data, according to the space administration.

The Tianwen-1 will soon have its first anniversary in orbit, as it reached Mars on Feb. 10 last year. 
Migration, climate change mitigation and the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic are expected to be the main themes discussed by European and African leaders at the upcoming EUAfrican Union summit in Brussels. Ahead of the summit, the bloc has sought to play up its contribution of Covid vaccines and status as one of the largest donors to the COVAX vaccine sharing initiative, as well as proposing its 300 billion Global Gateway program. But trust is fragile not least because the EUs rhetoric of a partnership of equals has rung increasingly hollow following the EUs handling of the pandemic. There is a lingering perception that Europe shut its borders, without consultation, after South African scientists discovered the Omicron variant late last year. When it comes to the plan for a green transition and the need to reduce carbon emissions, both sides agree on that front, though African leaders want guarantees that the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will not apply to their companies. If the EU imposes it immediately then it will kill infant African industries, said one insider to the negotiations.

Meanwhile, pandemic-mandated lockdowns saw a drop in migrant crossings from North Africa in 2020, but numbers increased again last year. Migration waves from Africa should be stopped rather than encouraged, and security needs to be improved [in the region] in order to achieve that, Hungarys Peter Szijjarto recently insisted. However, African leaders are unlikely to agree to any new commitments to readmit failed migrants with agreeing on new systems of legal pathways and exchange programs at all levels. The frustration on the African side is that Europe is a fortress that is very difficult to get into, particularly for young Africans, said the EU source.There has also been some disquiet at the francophone heavy focus by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President Charles Michel, both of whom have been driving the EUs diplomatic effort ahead of the summit. In December, the pre-summit gatherings in Brussels hosted by Michel invited Senegals President Macky Sall, Congo-Kinshasas Felix Rwandas Paul Kagame, and African Union Commission boss Moussa Faki Mahamat, all coming from francophone countries, none of them representing major African states. Conspicuous by their absence were representatives from Nigeria and South Africa, the continents two main diplomatic and political players.

Meanwhile, ministers from Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger have cancelled joint talks with the EU at the last minute on Wednesday (26 January) favoring bilateral meetings with the blocs chief diplomat Josep Borrell. The latter refused to comment on reasons why the joint meeting had been cancelled amid chaos in the Sahel region following a series of military coups in Burkina Faso and Mali that have put the EUs defense and security mission, Takouba, at risk of collapse. The the EUs Takouba and French-led Operation Barkhane mission have sought to provide military support for the Sahel regions governments against Islamic State insurgents. This series of meetings allowed us to take stock of the very worrying situation in the Sahel region and of the latest events in Burkina Faso and Mali and the spreading threat to neighboring countries, said Borrell. The European Union intends and hopes to stay engaged in Mali and the Sahel but not at any cost I asked the minister to provide concrete guarantees to ensure the effectiveness of our support missions, the EUs top diplomat added.
A Nashville company has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit that alleged it refused to allow a nurse to wear a scrub skirt for religious reasons at a San Antonio detention facility.

Wellpath, which provides health care services to state and federal correctional facilities, agreed to pay $75,000 to resolve the complaint brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The agency enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.

After Wellpath offered Malinda K. Babineaux a nursing position in 2019 at the former Central Texas Detention Facility in downtown San Antonio, she asked if she could wear a scrub skirt rather than scrub pants to comply with her religious beliefs. She is an Apostolic Pentecostal Christian who believes she is forbidden from wearing pants or other types of mens apparel.

Wellpath refused Babineauxs request and rescinded its job offer, the EEOC alleged in a lawsuit filed in September 2020 in San Antonio federal court. Babineaux filed an intervening complaint in the case in March.

The parties filed court papers announcing the settlement Friday. It requires a judges approval.

Wellpath strongly denies the EEOCs and intervenors allegations, and Wellpath states that it engaged in the interactive process with intervenor and concluded that the requested accommodation created an undue hardship on Wellpath, according to the joint motion for a consent decree.

On ExpressNews.com: Feds sue after nurse allegedly prohibited from wearing scrub skirt at San Antonio facility

A Wellpath spokeswoman said Monday the company had no comment.

The EEOC had sued Wellpath for unspecified financial damages on behalf of Babineaux, including back pay and future monetary losses, and pain and suffering. It also sought punitive damages.

Besides the $75,000 payment to Babineaux, the settlement requires Wellpath to institute a policy addressing requests for religious accommodations and to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of religion.

Wellpath also has to provide at least an hour of training annually on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to managers who hire and fire and human resources staff in Texas. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. The consent decree has a two-year duration.

The company employs about 15,000 people in 34 states and in Australia, providing medical and behavioral health care services to almost 300,000 patients in residential treatment facilities, civil commitment centers, and local, state and federal correctional facilities, its website says.

The Central Texas Detention Facility closed in 2020 after housing federal pretrial inmates for decades downtown. It had been operated by the GEO Group, a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in Florida. The facility was demolished last year.

In an April court filing, Wellpath said it was told by GEO that Babineaux would not be permitted in the detention facility while wearing a skirt. As a result, Wellpath terminated the hiring process.

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Wellpath said it maintains policies that allow for accommodation of religious beliefs unless it causes an undue hardship on the business.

Babineaux wears an almost ankle-length skirt and long sleeves as part of her religious beliefs, EEOC attorney Philip Moss said in an interview after the suit was filed.

Allowing Mrs. Babineaux to wear a scrub skirt would not have caused a hardship to (Wellpath) or its client as Mrs. Babineaux could fully perform the duties of the position while wearing a scrub skirt, the EEOC said in its complaint. In fact, Mrs. Babineaux has worn a scrub skirt for several years while working in medical settings in correctional facilities.

Employers are required to reasonably adjust their dress codes to accommodate the religious beliefs of applicants or employees unless the actions would constitute an undue hardship, the EEOC has said.

Some Apostolic Pentecostal denominations encourage members to dress modestly, including full-length skirts or dresses for women at all times. Women also dont cut their hair or wear makeup.

Babineauxs legal team included attorneys at Stanford Law Schools Religious Liberty Clinic.

pdanner@express-news.net
Historic ranch land in Helotes that abuts the 1,000-acre Rancho Diana Natural Area hit the market earlier this month.

According to the San Antonio Current, who first reported the listing, the land was given as payment to an attorney who help South Texas revered Maverick family  yes, the same one from which the word 'maverick' originates  win a legal battle that went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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The 2,270-square-foot home sites on an 18-acre 1890s ranch and is listed for $1.8 million. The home includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Theres also an oversized workshop, a cool historic water cistern and flex use detached structure, listing agent Julie Alexander said on the San Antonio Board of Realtors website.

The main house has been updated and features an open kitchen with an island bar. Theres an oversized fireplace. The living room has panoramic views of the property, which overlooks the ridge and the valley of endless trees and blue skies, Alexander said.

Outside the main patio has a barbecue pit large enough to roast a pig, Alexander said.

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AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (AP)  Two nurses on Long Island are accused of forging COVID-19 vaccination cards and pocketing more than $1.5 million from the scheme, prosecutors and police said.

Julie DeVuono, the owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in Amityville, and her employee, Marissa Urraro, are both charged with felony forgery, and DeVuono also is charged with offering a false instrument for filing. Both were arraigned Friday.

Urraro's lawyer, Michael Alber, urged people not to rush to judgment about the allegations and said his client is a well-respected nurse.

We look forward to highlighting the legal impediments and defects of the investigation, he said Saturday. Its our hope that an accusation definitely doesnt overshadow the good work Miss Urraros done for children and adults in the medical field.

FACT CHECK: U.S. senator falsely claims athletes 'dropping dead' after vaccine

A messages seeking comment was left with DeVuono's attorney.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said DeVuono and Urraro handed out fake vaccination cards, charging $220 for adults and $85 for children. DeVuono, a nurse practitioner, and Urraro, a licensed practical nurse, entered the false information into the state's immunization database, he said.

Prosecutors said the nurses forged a fake card showing a vaccine was given to an undercover detective but never administered the vaccine to the detective.

SPOTTING THE FAKES: Is your at-home COVID-19 test real?

Law enforcement officers searched DeVuono's home and said they seized about $900,000 in cash and a ledger showing profits of more than $1.5 million from the scheme, which began in November 2021.

I hope this sends a message to others who are considering gaming the system that they will get caught and that we will enforce the law to the fullest extent, Tierney said in a statement with other officials.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison added, As nurses, these two individuals should understand the importance of legitimate vaccination cards as we all work together to protect public health.
In January, the Texas COVID-19 positivity rate  the percentage of tests with positive results  soared to its highest peak yet amid the onset of the highly transmissible omicron variant.

With the most recent surge in cases came a renewed reliance on testing.

During the holiday season, Texans scrambled to secure at-home tests and testing appointments, draining local pharmacies stock and putting a strain on the states already worn-out health care system. With some of the major testing sites that had opened during the early months of the pandemic now closed, Gov. Greg Abbott on New Years Eve called on the federal government to roll out more testing sites across the state.

In the situation that were in now with omicron, theres a lot more demand for tests than there are tests available. Theyre nearly impossible to buy now in most places, said Dr. Rodney Young, regional chair of family and community medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

To address the latest testing shortages and help stave off the winter surge, the federal government has started distributing free at-home tests and plans to do the same with N95 masks.

More Information Mental health For mental health support related to COVID-19, call the state's 24/7 toll-free support line at 833-986-1919 or text "COVID" to 832-479-2135. You also reach a trained crisis counselor through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 800-273-8255 or texting 741741. See More Collapse

The COVID-19 news cycle can get a little hectic, making it hard to keep track of what help is available and to whom. Heres the latest on what Texans need to know about the free tools available from the federal government to fight the virus.

What is the federal governments at-home COVID-19 test shipping program?

The Biden administration has launched covidtests.gov, where people can order rapid at-home antigen tests free of charge. The program was launched in an effort to expand testing capacity in the U.S. as demand for testing products has soared, according to senior White House officials.

Officials said the Biden administration is focused on increasing the manufacturing of tests and has streamlined the Food and Drug Administration authorization process for COVID-19 tests.

In total, the Biden administration said it will be purchasing 1 billion at-home tests to ship to U.S. households. During the Jan. 19 site launch, a half a billion tests were made available to order. The cost for the tests is covered through the American Rescue Plan, according to the Department of Defense.

The U.S. Postal Service has not yet revealed how many tests have been ordered through the new website, but an Axios-Ipsos poll released Jan. 25 estimated that more than 2 in 5 people in the U.S. already have ordered tests from the site.

During a Jan. 28 news conference, Jeff Zients, the White Houses coronavirus response coordinator, said demand for the tests was high the first few days of the sites launch.

We already have millions of completed orders through the website, and those numbers keep increasing each and every day, Zients said.

How can I order the tests?

The only information required to request the tests when you visit covidtests.gov is your name and address. Orders are limited to one per household, and each order can contain up to four tests. Orders should take up to seven to 12 days to ship once placed. Tests will be delivered through the U.S. Postal Service, and recipients can track their orders by email.

To receive additional help to place an order, call 800-232-0233. Help is offered daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central time. For people with disabilities who need help placing orders, call 888-677-1199 for assistance. That phone line is operable on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time.

Tests are available to residents living in single- and multifamily homes or units. According to the USPS, in some limited cases, addresses may not be recognized as multi-family by USPS. Also, in some instances, units not registered as separate addresses may not be recognized by the system. If you are running into an issue placing your order because you believe an order has already been placed using your address, file a service request or contact USPS at 800-275-8777 to resolve the issue.

Tests can also be delivered to a residential post office box, according to the USPS.

What are the benefits of at-home testing?

It usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes to receive results from rapid at-home tests, but be sure to closely follow instructions that accompany your COVID-19 test. Though not as accurate as lab-based PCR tests  which are able to detect the virus in smaller amounts of genetic material  at-home antigen tests can be a critical piece of solving the pandemic puzzle, Young said. They eliminate the hurdle of having to schedule or wait days for test results and can prompt those who test positive to isolate and prevent virus spread, he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if an individual tests positive while at home, they should stay at home or isolate for at least five days, and if they are suffering a severe bout of the virus they should isolate for 10 days.

When should I take an at-home test?

At-home tests can be taken at any time, but there are certain time frames you may want to keep in mind.

If you have a limited supply and want to preserve your stock, you should test yourself before attending a gathering with people outside your home and if you have been in close contact with someone whos tested positive for COVID-19, Young said.

The CDC also recommends testing if you are showing symptoms related to COVID-19 such as fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue or a sore throat. Antigen tests perform best when someone is symptomatic and their viral load is high, according to the CDC.

Regardless of whether your COVID-19 vaccination is up to date, its also recommended to get tested at least five days after being in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, even if you are not exhibiting any symptoms, according to the CDC.

Where can I get a test while I wait for my delivery?

A patchwork of places offers tests across the state, with many at no cost, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, recent demand has made access to testing limited.

Major pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS offer testing but require visitors to schedule appointments ahead of time. And be aware that some stores and pharmacies that sell at-home tests may limit the number of tests youre able to purchase. Texans also can check with their city and county governments online to see if theyre operating any local test sites. In San Antonio, residents can check covid19.sanantonio.gov/Home.

The federal government announced in January that it would open testing sites across the state in at least six counties. Sites have already opened up in Tarrant, Hidalgo and Cameron counties. More are expected in Bexar, Dallas and Harris counties, though its not clear when they will open. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not return a request for comment on when these additional sites would open.

Texans wanting to visit federal testing sites in their area are urged to register ahead of time. Some sites may require you to book an appointment online. Visit doineedacovid19test.com to register.

Will my insurance reimburse me for my at-home COVID-19 test expenses?

Since Jan. 15, private insurers are required to cover the costs of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month per insured individual, following directives from the Biden administration.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, this means that a family of four could obtain up to 32 at-home tests per month at no cost.

Check with your insurer to see if providers (stores, pharmacies or online retailers) are in their network so that you can obtain at-home tests as a covered expense.

People with private insurance who paid for at-home tests out of pocket or out of network can also submit a claim for reimbursement with their insurance company. Make sure to keep any receipts or documentation to help with this process.

Specific guidance from some private insurers  UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna and Humana  can be found on their websites.

Contributed photo

How will the federal governments N95 mask program work?

As of the last week of January, the Biden administration will make about 400 million N95 masks available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the U.S., according to the Associated Press. The masks will be free.

This is the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history, Zients said during the White Houses Jan. 28 news conference. Weve already shipped millions of these masks out. And across the coming days, masks will begin to be available at local pharmacies and community health centers across the country.

Why is the federal government giving away N95 masks?

The program was announced following recent updated guidance from the CDC stating that N95 masks offer the highest level of protection against the virus compared to other types of face coverings, such as cloth and disposable masks.

N95 masks have more efficient engineering through multiple layers that allows them to, in a pretty reliable way, filter (about) 95 percent of those things that might pass through them that could infect you, Young said.

Omicron is more likely to pass through single-layer cloth masks or neck gaiters, Young said, making N95, K95 and surgical masks the preferred choices in terms of protection.

Young said the nation is in a good spot in terms of mask availability and emphasized the importance of continuing to use them as well as incorporating other recommended practices.

All of us to some extent or another have the tools for social distancing and hand-washing and common sense (to avoid) crowded areas, especially during times where the pandemic activity is off the charts high like it is right now, he said. Thats a commonsense measure that any of us can take.

Disclosure: Humana, Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have been financial supporters of the Texas Tribune. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Classical music: In a concert titled Spectra, the Soli Chamber Ensemble explores how culture influences music created across North America. The concert will feature the premiere of San Antonio composer Brian Bondaris Planetscape. 7 p.m. Monday, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place. $15-$25, solichamberensemble.com.

Art: Centro Cultural Aztlan is opening its 45th annual Segundo de Febrero exhibit, which deals with the continuing impact of the Treaty of Hidalgo in 1848 on Mexican American history and culture. The show features works by Fernando Andrade, Kat Fajardo, Hector R. Garza, Ruth Guajardo and Zeke Pena, among others. Reception 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg, Suite 103. Exhibit runs through March 3. Free, centroaztlan.org.

Concert: Fusing soul, blues, rock and hip hop, Grammy-winning Austin guitar hero Gary Clark Jr. has used his music to express everything from his experiences with racism to the gratitude he feels toward his mother. The award-winning title track to his 2019 album This Land is Clark at his angriest: A righteous indignation seeps into every note. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle. $50-$80, tobincenter.org.

Streaming: Will Arnett (Arrested Development) stars in the offbeat sitcom Murderville, the U.S. version of a hit British series. He plays police detective Terry Seattle, who attempts to solve a crime each week with the help of guest stars such as Conan OBrien and Ken Jeong. Complicating matters greatly is the fact that the celebrity guests dont get a script and must improv their way through each episode. Premieres Thursday on Netflix.

Lionsgate

Movie: Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson team up in Moonfall, a big-budget sci-fi action flick from director Roland Emmerich. In a plot possibly inspired by Despicable Me, they play astronauts who mount a desperate rescue mission when the moon is mysteriously knocked out of orbit. Opens Friday in theaters.

Jazz: Jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater will bring her distinctive sound to the Carver Community Cultural Center. On her most recent album, 2017s Memphis  Yes, Im Ready, she put her own spin on such songs as Dont Be Cruel, The Thrill is Gone and Try a Little Tenderness. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jo Long Theatre, Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry. $40, thecarver.org.

Staff writers Jim Kiest, Deborah Martin and Austin Taylor contributed to this report.
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A lot of hard work went into making Walk on the River, a 2018 documentary exploring the history and contributions of Black people in San Antonio.

So it means a lot to director Born Logic Allah when viewers share with him the discoveries they made while watching it.

I think that most of the people that have seen it, and weve had to opportunity to show it to quite a few people, everyone always says they learned something from it, Allah said. They learn a lot of new things from it just because the history of the African American community hasnt been highly publicized.

It definitely makes the work worthwhile. It took a long time to put it together.

Walk on the River will be screened Saturday during the Beautifully Black Film Series at Slab Cinemas Arthouse at Blue Star.

Angela Martinez, who runs Slab Cinema with her husband, Rick, curated the series with artist Barbara Felix. Felix also curated an art exhibit in the space tied to the festival.

Beautifully Black Film Series Where: Arthouse at Blue Star, 134 Blue Star. Admission: Tickets cost $10 to most screenings. Three are free: "Texas Film Shorts" and "A Walk on the River." Tickets and info:slabcinemaarthouse.com. Schedule Feb. 3-4: "Texas Film Shorts," 6 p.m. Feb. 5: "A Walk on the River, 2 p.m.; "The Wiz," 4:30 p.m; "Carmen Jones," 7 p.m. Feb. 6: "Mandabi," 5 p.m.; "Black Orpheus," 8 p.m. Feb. 10: "A Raisin in the Sun," 7 p.m. Feb. 11: "Do the Right Thing," 7 p.m.; "Paris is Burning," 9:30 p.m. Feb. 12: "Loving," 4 p.m.; "Moonlight," 7 p.m. Feb. 13: "Black Orpheus," 5 p.m.; "City of God," 8 p.m. Feb. 17: "Cooley High," 7 p.m. Feb. 18: "The Story of a Three Day Pass," 7 p.m.; "Car Wash," 9:30 p.m. Feb. 19: "I Am a Dreamer", 2 p.m. Feb. 20: "City of God," 5 p.m.; "Touki Bouki," 8 p.m. Feb. 24: "The Killer of Sheep," 7 p.m. Feb. 25: "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," 7 p.m.; "The Brother from Another Planet," 9:30 p.m. Feb. 26: "I Am a Dreamer," 2 p.m.; "Daughters of the Dust," 4:30 p.m.; "Us," 7 p.m. Feb. 27: "Touki Bouki," 5 p.m.; "Black Girl, 8 p.m. See More Collapse

On ExpressNews.com: SA artist Kaldric Dow goes 3D in first public art piece

The film lineup was culled from a lengthy wish list.

We couldnt stop listing films, Martinez said. We just got so excited.

Some of the films were tough to find, she said, including Killer of Sheep, Charles Burnetts 1977 film about a slaughterhouse worker and his family that the New York Times described 30 years after it was made as an American masterpiece, independent to the bone.

Other films in the series include Carmen Jones, the 1954 adaptation of Bizets opera Carmen for which Dorothy Dandridge became the first Black woman to be nominated for a best actress Oscar; Cooley High, the influential 1975 film about the lives of four Black high school seniors who live in a housing project in Chicago; and The Brother from Another Planet, John Sayles 1984 science-fiction film about a mute alien pursued by bounty hunters in Harlem.

The series runs from Thursday through Feb. 24.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
Editor's note: This story originally published in 2021.

As easy as it is for me to toss half-empty bottles of sauce and jars of random pickled things from the refrigerator, I rarely let go of shelf-stable canned goods. And in a recent move, I did something I rarely do: look at the expiration dates.

And with that, the question was begged: What the heck is an expiration date, anyway? Well, as it turns out, not much. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, except for infant formula, product dating is not required by Federal regulations.

All those little numbers on the side of your canned goods, bags of rice, cartons of eggs, jugs of milk and so on are, essentially, a suggestion from the manufacturer providing a time frame in which they believe the product will be in peak quality. And the best part for all of my fellow food hoarders out there is those dates are not an indicator of the products safety, as per the USDA.

So why does this matter? Food waste is easily the biggest reason.

On ExpressNews.com: See what recipes were creating and cooking here. Bookmark the page!

The National Resources Defense Council (an international environmental advocacy organization) says in America a full 40 percent of the food produced here winds up in the garbage. That adds up to a whopping $218 billion worth every year. And a significant portion of that is because more than 80 percent of Americans misinterpret date labels and throw food away prematurely, under the misconception that its necessary to protect their families health, according to a report by foodindustry.com.

fcafotodigital /Getty Images

There are four types of dating on food products to be aware of, and they all serve a different function. Fortunately, the USDA has made them all clear. The following is their take on those digits.

A Best if Used By/Before date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

A Sell-By date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.

A Use-By date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below.

A Freeze-By date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

None of this is to say food doesnt spoil, regardless of the date on the package. But the USDAs advice is to trust your nose and not a calendar: Spoiled foods will develop an off odor, flavor or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten.

If youre hesitant about eating something lingering in your fridge or cupboards, there are some resources out there to help you make more informed decisions about their safety.

The USDAs FoodKeeper app is a good place to start. Its a database of food items with guidelines on how long a product should remain safe in both unopened and opened packages. Once youve searched for your specific item, the app then allows you to sync the recommended discard date to your smartphones calendar to give you a reminder to toss it out.

On ExpressNews.com: Busting the myth that wood cutting boards are less sanitary than plastic.

The website stilltasty.com provides similar information with a wider range of items available to search from. Both resources held some surprising details.

The guideline for milk, which is highly perishable, is five to seven days beyond the date on the container. Eggs will stay good for three to five weeks past the date on the carton. Butter can safely live in the fridge for up to two months past its purchase date.

More interesting to me as a person whos managed to amass a collection of about a half-dozen cans each of sweetened condensed milk and chipotles in adobo sauce is just how long those will last in their unopened cans: a year past the purchase date for the milk and up to five whole years for the chipotles.

Again, trust your nose and use some common sense with all of these.

nobtis /Getty Images / iStockphoto

Spoiled milk products will make themselves painfully obvious  as anyone whos taken a regrettable sip of coffee dashed with rancid cream will know.

Any cans that are rusty or bulging should be tossed.

Mold on hard cheeses can be safely cut away (cut at least an inch off below the moldy part) but mold on just about anything else can be problematic. And yes, this means its not advised to scrape off the mold on top of ancient jelly and keep making PB&Js.

If all this talk of spoiled food hasnt soured your appetite, weve been cooking up a party here this week. Try any of the following Buffalo sauce inspired dishes as an alternative to wings for your Super Bowl spread.

Recipe: Buffalo Mexican Street Corn Corn on the Cob

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Queso Fundido

Recipe: Buffalo Hummus

Recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen
Rusty Taco

San Antonios far North Side will soon be home to the citys first location of the trendy Georgia-based chain Rusty Taco. The new spot, which is located in the Bulverde Marketplace near the intersection of Bulverde Road and Loop 1604, is slated to open Feb. 8.

Rusty Taco serves a menu of more than 20 breakfast and street tacos. Breakfast offerings include egg and cheese tacos topped with proteins such as brisket, jalapeno sausage, bacon, chorizo and more. Street taco options include picadillo, Baja-style shrimp, roasted pork, smoked brisket, black beans and others.
JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Personnel of security forces raided a hideout of kidnappers in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province and rescued a man, said a statement of provincial administration released here Monday.

Police in Behsoud district launched the operations, according to the statement on Sunday night, and as a result, a man was set free from the hostage of kidnappers.

The statement did not mention if anyone has been arrested.

This is the second kidnapped man who has been released by security forces over the past two days in war-torn Afghanistan.

A man was rescued following a crackdown in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Sunday and five persons have been arrested in connection with the abduction, according to officials. 
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Hill Country Headlines: Top stories from the booming region, delivered to your inbox

Before the bidding began at the Kendall County Junior Livestock auction, Madeline Barber gave the auctioneer a handwritten note.

I would like to give back to the people who saved my life, she wrote, and give other children the chance to live and do what they want.

It said she was donating 100 percent of her earnings from the pigs shed raised to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, where she was treated for brain cancer five years ago.

After the broker read the note, an estimated crowd of more than 600 people cheered and applauded the teen, nicknamed Maddie. Standing on stage at the Kendall County Youth Agriculture & Equestrian Center in Boerne, her eyes widened as multiple bid cards rose in the air for her second-place hog.

Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News

Maddies family looked on with pride. Her mother, Tally Barber, 45, wept at the crowds generous outpouring. Four minutes later, the bids totaled $30,500.

The day before the show, Maddie asked her father, Travis Barber, 44, if he was OK with her plan. Absolutely! he said.

Madeline, youre a special young lady, the auctioneer said. What a phenomenal drive.

The Boerne-Champion High School junior smiled as the crowd rose to their feet, clapped, whooped and whistled in support of her goodwill gesture.

Thats just Maddie, her father said. She recognized she had an opportunity to raise funds. None of this would have happened without this community. The livestock community is a very giving community.

On ExpressNews.com: Lost your fur baby? San Antonios pet detectives are on the case

Maddie and her family talked about the recent whirlwind of media coverage about her donation on their Hill Country farm. In the distance, the hogs snorts and squeals echoed from the one-story steel barn across the Barbers property.

Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News

I was super excited, Maddie, 17, said. I literally dropped my jaw and looked at my mom and said, Whoa!

Maddie is a National FFA organization officer and member of the National Honor Society. She began raising hogs in the eighth grade. A friends older sister wanted to show animals, but she didnt have a place to raise them. So the Barbers invited the girls to use their barn and land. Maddie joined her friends and began showing pigs in 4-H competitions.

Maddie and her brother, Ryan, 15, feed their hogs, a Cross, a Duroc and two Yorkshires, before school. After school, the siblings pour out feed for the pigs, brush and condition them and walk them around the rustic land. Raising livestock and studies take up much of Maddies time, but theres always time to listen to her favorite artist, Taylor Swift.

Before raising livestock, she played volleyball, a pastime that came to a halt in 2017. Maddie began to have intense headaches that caused nausea. Her pediatrician Juan Ferreris accompanied the family when she had MRI scans.

Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News

Maddie was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor of the cerebellum at the base of the skull that controls motor skills.

When your child is diagnosed with cancer, there are just words you never think that youre going to hear, Tally Barber said, and it takes your breath away.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Bond Girls find support during chemotherapy radiation treatments

On July 3, 2017, Maddies first surgery took place at The Childrens Hospital of San Antonio.

Then began a year-long treatment at St. Jude. Maddie had radiation treatment and occupational, physical and speech therapies each day. Her mother said the doctors and hospital staff were fantastic with the care of their daughter.

They didnt just look at treating the cancer  they treat the whole child, Tally Barber said. They provided support for her brother and took care of the whole family. I dont have the words to say how appreciative we are.

Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News

Whenever Maddie missed the familys dogs  Chloe, Nikki, and Penny  her brother would FaceTime her so she could spend as much time seeing her pets.

Maddie missed her seventh-grade year of school and remotely took classes for eighth grade. She remembers days of shorn hair and sessions where she relearned motor functions and how to speak.

Shes been cancer-free since 2018. She travels to St. Jude in Memphis for a check-up and scans every six months.

The recent auction wasnt the first time the Boerne community rallied to support Maddie and her family. When word spread about Maddies diagnosis, residents started a Maddie Strong campaign four years ago. They blanketed the town with blue ribbons and sent her care packages.

Maddies first-grade teacher, Krista Kimball, and her students sent a box of sunshine filled with envelopes she could open each day. The teens kindergarten teacher, Kathy Hefley, made Maddie Strong T-shirts. And the principal and music teacher at her former elementary school sent videos of them singing to her.

We had amazing support from our community, Tally Barber said. They couldnt do enough to love on Maddie and love on us. It was wonderful.

On ExpressNews.com: The odds were not in his favor: San Antonio man survives COVID-19 but pays a price

Since his children have been involved with FFA, Travis Barber said theyve taken on leadership roles and their confidence has grown.

Now, Maddie uses her left hand to guide her pigs even though shes right-handed. The tumor caused the loss of mobility on her right side, but shes fought to regain full motion and balance.

Her agriculture teachers, Cheyanne Waltman and Tori Thornton, were at the show barn for their students surprise offering, cheering her on.

That truly is Maddie, Thornton said. She doesnt ask for anything and wants to give back to St. Jude - the reason that we can spend time with her today.

The teen is one of 103 active members in the schools FFA program.

Its been amazing to be a part of, Waltman said, and have those moments with Maddie. Shes always there to lend a hand. If we need anything, shes there.

Maddie is interested in agriculture and possibly attending Texas A&M University. Throughout her journey, shes strived to uphold the FFA creed, not through words, but deeds. She embraces all of the tenets, especially the line, less need for charity and more of it when needed.

That, Maddie said, is what I would like to live by.

vtdavis@express-news.net
Brackenridge High School cheerleaders lined the entrance to the parking lot, waving and applauding the cars that trickled in for the first of seven town hall meetings on the search for a new San Antonio Independent School District superintendent.

ROTC cadets welcomed attendees at the door and showed them to their spaced-out chairs in the cafeteria. The schools mariachi ensemble serenaded the roughly 40 community members and SAISD staff who showed up. Others joined online.

The district is hosting the meetings  which will continue through Friday, led by search firm JG Consulting  to get people to describe the attributes they want to see in the next superintendent.

Many who spoke said they wanted attributes very much like those of the last superintendent, Pedro Martinez, who departed at the end of September to take over the Chicago public school system.

My hopes for the district are that we continue on the path that weve been on for the last seven or eight years, Robert Sipes said at the gathering held in Jefferson High School on Wednesday. His son, who attends Jefferson, was able to find programs he was interested in, and the district could retain students and attract new ones by continuing to innovate with those options, he said.

Pedro Martinez was very, very involved with the students, with the meetings. ... And thats somebody that we need, said Sara Hernandez, a parent of two recent SAISD graduates and two current students.

Another thing I do wish to look for in the next person is that he supports every program at the school; if IB is not for you, you know what, heres another program, she added, referring to International Baccalaureate, a college prep curriculum taught worldwide.

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On ExpressNews.com: Steep challenge  but a few advantages  await San Antonio ISDs next leader

The first round of five meetings concluded Friday, with two more coming Wednesday at Edison High School and Friday at Highlands High School. The meetings will continue to be streamed online, and an online survey is still open for those wishing to provide feedback.

James Guerra, president and CEO of JG Consulting, who asked the audience questions, said his goal is to get a better understanding of what the community sees as the best fit for the district before narrowing down candidates.

This is critically important, he said. We are going to develop a leadership profile that reflects the comments and the feedback that we are receiving.

Finding a perfect fit for any district can be a challenge, but especially now that the coronavirus pandemic has simultaneously shifted the nature of what it means to be an educator while increasing the demand for experienced leaders, Guerra said.

Superintendents are leaving in mass exodus right now, Guerra said. Just in Texas alone there are 60 superintendent vacancies. ... So the talent pool is changing literally overnight. But this is a very desirable place, a very desirable city, so we anticipate theres going to be no shortage of talent for the board to consider.

SAISD board President Christina Martinez said the board shares Guerras emphasis on figuring out what qualities in a superintendent rise to the top in the eyes of the community. Each of the seven meetings was scheduled in a district represented by each trustee, who mostly have listened from the audience, taking notes.

Next Monday, trustees will hold a special meeting to discuss what they learned at these meetings and through surveys from the search firm.

That evening, our goal is to come up with the job description and all of the final, most important attributes for the superintendent. And then the job will be posted the following day, Martinez said.

By weeks end, 1,074 community members had answered the online survey, about 172 had attended town halls in person and 122 joined online.

Amid a wide range of comments, speakers often repeated a couple of traits: the need for the next superintendent to be bilingual and familiar with the demographics they would serve. The need for community inclusion and the need for fiscal transparency also came up frequently.

Some said they would like to see somebody local lead the district, and maybe even a woman, for a change.

Martinez said the board is confident it can recruit strong candidates from across the state and the nation, even in the midst of the pandemic.

We have been a board that has been bold in our decisions over the last few years, Martinez said. The other thing we have going for us is that we are a really great board. ... All of us show up to the board meetings really ready to work and to work in partnership with the superintendent. And I think that means a lot to somebody who is looking from the outside in.

danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH
A 40-year-old inmate at Bexar County Jail is dead after an alleged assault by two other inmates on Sunday morning, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office.

The assault occurred in a unit where active Mexican Mafia gang members are housed. The victim and the two suspects involved in the incident are all in the group.

The victim had reported that he was uncomfortable in his living unit. While the officer was gathering information, inmates Ernesto Tavera, 50, and Brandon Lerma, 28, appeared to hack the locking mechanism of their cell door, opened it and ran to the officers station to assault the victim.

The unit officer immediately called for help. The officer opened a sliding door, allowed the victim to exit, and quickly shut the door, stopping the suspects from continuing their assault.

Jailers quickly detained Tavera and Lerma.

Jailers noticed that that the victim sustained multiple stab wounds. They began life-saving measures, and the victim was transported to the medical section of the jail and then to an area hospital.

The inmate was pronounced dead at about 7 a.m. Sunday.

The Texas Rangers are handling the death investigation. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has been notified of the incident. BCSO Internal Affairs and the Public Integrity Unity are also conducting separate but concurrent administrative investigations.

Additional charges for Lerma and Taverna will be filed by the Texas Rangers.

BCSO

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office has not released the victims name. He was booked on Aug. 6 for aggravated robbery and an out-of-county warrant for assault causing bodily injury.

Tavera was booked on Nov. 9 for possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest.

Lerma was booked on Sept. 12 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury of a family member.

claire.bryan@express-news.net
U.S. Army North is sending five medical teams to support COVID-strained hospitals in Maine and Maryland and to expand support in Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.

Acting at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the San Antonio-based command said it would add 115 military medical personnel, including doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists, to its ongoing efforts across the country.

As we have seen at other times during the pandemic, a rise in hospitalizations from COVID-19 starts at different times in different locations, Lt. Gen. John R. Evans Jr., Army Norths commander, said in a prepared statement.

Our long-established relationship with FEMA in each of its 10 regions allows us to approach this volatility from a position of strength and, in partnership with federal, state and local authorities and civilian hospital staff, alleviate the suffering of those hardest hit, he said.

Army North, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has dispatched military medical personnel to civilian hospitals across the country to cope with COVID surges throughout the pandemic.

The command has deployed more than 10,000 troops to help civilian health care providers since the pandemic began in March 2020, filling gaps in COVID-19 care and assisting overworked doctors and nurses.

Data maintained by the Mayo Clinic shows the average positive test rate in Maine and Maryland stood at 17.5 percent and 17.1 percent, respectively, this past Wednesday. That was down from 21.1 percent in Maine on Jan. 12 and 28.9 percent for Maryland on Jan. 9. Hospitalizations often lag behind newly reported cases.

Army North will send a 15-member Air Force team to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and a 40-member Navy team to Maryland, where it will support Adventist HealthCare Alternate Care Site in Takoma Park.

A 20-soldier team from the Army will support Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich. It is joining five other teams in Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Muskegon and Wyandotte.

In Minnesota, a 20-member Army team will work at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. That team will be in addition to support that previously was dispatched to Minneapolis and St. Cloud, missions that recently ended.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Twenty more soldiers will go to Ohio, where theyll support Summa Health Systems Akron Campus. Another team is already in Cleveland.

In addition to those missions, a joint Defense Department effort now includes teams working in 10 states  one each in Texas, Arizona, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation, two in New Mexico and Pennsylvania, and three in New York.

As the omicron variant sparked a sharp increase in coronavirus cases nationwide, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Dec. 30 approved the activation of 1,000 military medical personnel to support the federal COVID-19 response mission. They will join around 400 other military medical specialists already activated to provide assistance to civilian hospitals.

All of the 115 Army North personnel are from the recently assigned additional forces. In total, 275 of them now are supporting or soon will support hospitals.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio-based Army North sends its first monoclonal antibody infusion team to Utah

In addition to supporting hospitals, Army North also helped with federal vaccination efforts starting in early February and administered around 5 million vaccines in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands last year.

sigc@express-news.net
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Crowds gathered Sunday at Cassiano Park on the citys West Side to jubilantly celebrate the 84th anniversary of the 1938 Pecan Shellers Strike and American labor leader Emma Tenayuca, the San Antonio woman who led that organized effort.

The strike, now regarded as a historically significant event, pressed for higher wages and better working conditions for San Antonios 12,000 pecan shellers, who were paid only pennies per pound for their manual labor in work facilities that lacked plumbing and were poorly ventilated.

Texas Poet Laureate Carmen Tafolla and Tenayucas niece, San Antonio attorney Sharyll Teneyuca, paid tribute to the late labor leader as they described how the strike changed conditions in the pecan-shelling industry, in which the workers were mostly Mexican-American women, Tejanas and refugees from the Mexican Revolution.

Robin Jerstad / Contributor

In 1938, most San Antonio juries had no Mexican-Americans on them, Tafolla told listeners. Most Mexican-Americans didnt vote at that time because they couldnt afford to pay a poll tax. Lunch counters, restaurants and swimming pools were still segregated.

At the time, many Mexican-Americans were struggling to feed themselves and their families as ripple effects from the Great Depression continued to be felt. The Mexican Revolution had sent tens of thousands of exiles to San Antonio  most arrived here with nothing, Tafolla said. They resided in poor living conditions, with no running water or sanitation.

Our public health among the Mexican-Americans of town was horrible, Tafolla said. A fever or flu could mean death for the whole family.

San Antonio had the highest rate of deaths from tuberculosis in the nation, as well as the highest infant mortality rate in the country at the time, Tafolla said.

Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad

In this environment, many of the Mexican immigrants and the majority of Mexican-Americans in San Antonio worked in the pecan shelling industry. At the time, it was the citys largest industry. Even so, the workers were maybe making a couple dollars a week, Sharyll Teneyuca said.

The pecan shellers fought back when employers decided to cut their rock-bottom wages.

At that time, it was just too much  These people were barely surviving on what little they made, Sharyll Teneyuca said.

The pecan shellers unanimously elected Emma Tenayuca as their strike leader. At the time, she was 21 years old. She had previously participated in a separate strike waged by cigar workers on Buena Vista Street  an activity for which she was arrested  in 1933 when she was only 16 years old.

She wasnt a pecan sheller  she was a concerned citizen known for speaking up, Tafolla said. She also had a gift for organizing movements.

The pecan shellers strike began Jan. 31, 1938. Two-thirds of citys pecan shellers participated in its first day. The strike led to better pay, which was further improved when Congress established a minimum wage later that year, according to the Texas State Historical Associations Handbook of Texas.

Emma Tenayuca also helped establish a soup kitchen that continued to feed families throughout the strike.

She eventually had to leave San Antonio because no one would give her a job due to her activism. She went on to become a teacher and returned to San Antonio years later. She died in 1999.

She was really kind of written out of history, her niece said.

Tafolla and Sharyll Teneyuca are writing an expansive biography documenting Emma Tenayucas life and contributions. They previously published a childrens book about her quest for justice.

We cannot and will not allow for these struggles of the working class, of women and of all people of color to be forgotten, said San Antonio District 5 City Councilwoman Teri Castillo.

pohare@express-news.net| Twitter: Peggy_OHare
Dustin Safranek /DUSTIN SAFRANEK Courtesy / Chip Roy and Ricardo Villarreal. File photos Chip Roy and Ricardo Villarreal. File photos

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy is one of the most conservative members of Congress and someone with whom we have many policy disagreements. The two-term representative of Congressional District 21 can be divisive and polarizing. We think Roy takes the wrong side on many votes.

But to his credit, Roy voted to certify Joe Bidens presidential election, and he has also called on indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to resign. While Roy did not respond to our request for an Editorial Board meeting, we did meet with two of his primary opponents, who told us the election was stolen and expressed concern Roy had voted to certify. In this light, Chip Roy gets our recommendation in the Republican primary for District 21, which extends from Austin to San Antonio, and across a vast stretch of the Hill Country.
Neighbors in Monticello Park near Woodlawn Lake on San Antonios near Northwest Side said they dont want to be moved into a new City Council district, citing a longstanding relationship with the District 7 office that helps represent their interests.

Together, we have worked to bring resources for infrastructure improvements in our neighborhoods, Woodlawn Lake Park, Fredericksburg Road Deco District corridor and drainage improvements, said Bianca Maldonado, speaking for the Monticello Park Neighborhood Association and the Woodlawn Lake Community Association.

Woodlawn Lake Park is the heart of District 7 and is a defining urban core gathering and recreational space since District 7 was created.

City Council members appointed a redistricting advisory committee to recommend boundary changes for council districts that account for population changes over the last decade. Its a new way for the city to handle the once-a-decade process called redistricting.

Residents concerns came on the heels of a preliminary map, drawn by an outside law firm as an example, that shifted Woodlawn Lake and parts of Monticello Park from District 7, represented by Ana Sandoval, to District 1, represented by Mario Bravo.

The neighbors explained their opposition to a potential move to the redistricting advisory committee as members prepare to draw up draft plans for a new City Council map next month.

Outside attorneys advised the committee that its primary responsibility is to balance the population in each district so that each is roughly even. Most North Side districts will have to shrink, while some inner-city districts will grow.

But doing so will create a domino effect, and committee members will need to consider the effects even the slightest boundary adjustments could have on community and minority representation.

Theyre not proposals or recommendations. They were purely just examples of what minimal changes look like, said Tony Resendez, attorney with law firm Walsh Gallegos Trevino Kyle and Robinson. Also, to (help) get the discussion going.

On ExpressNews.com: Your City Council district may change. Heres what that means for San Antonio neighborhoods

Jordan Ghawi, representing District 1 on the committee, said he plans to meet with any neighborhood associations affected by boundary changes. While the committee wants to keep those organizations together, he said, its likely that some may have to be split.

He also said he hasnt heard any support from the District 1 office for removing Woodlawn Lake from District 7.

Yall can put the pitchforks away because I dont think anyone from D1 is advocating or supporting the absorption of Woodlawn Lake, Ghawi said. I know that is a gemstone of your district  it is a cultural landmark.

Community assets, economic engines

The redistricting advisory committee held its third meeting Saturday morning at the District 5 senior center near Roosevelt Park. Members were scheduled to adopt a resolution laying out criteria for how they should draw a new City Council map and how to handle public comment and map proposals from residents.

But the committee punted the resolution for another week, with members saying it needed to address how they will make decisions about community assets.

What are we going to hold dear as we talk about lines? Because at the end of the day, we are not equal, we are not equitable with respect to assets in the community, the things that are important, said Frances Gonzalez, a District 7 appointee on the committee.

Not every district has strong parks or employment centers, Gonzalez said.

Carlton Soules, appointed to represent District 10, wanted the committee to consider a better balance of economic generators in the city to give more council members representation  although he acknowledged it could prove controversial.

He said the East Sides District 2 could expand to take in the Convention Center downtown and that Districts 3 and 5 could take parts of downtown, while District 1  which currently holds much of downtown  moves north to capture more population growth.

I would be more comfortable, as we pour billions of dollars into the downtown area, having multiple council members have a seat at the table, Soules said. I say that from District 10 because were mainly middle-class, older neighborhoods with declining commercial corridors. I know what its like not to have any of the major assets.

Dwayne Robinson, representing District 2, said it sounded like a good idea but that the committee needs to dive into those discussions further.

On ExpressNews.com: Do you know who represents your interests in San Antonio? That could change

Soules also wanted members to consider how much they grow the districts with smaller populations, such as the West Sides District 5 and the North Sides District 1. Both are well below the required 10 percent deviation from the ideal population size.

Even if the committee brings those smaller districts up in size, they may still have a negative deviation, while populous North Side districts 8, 9 and 10 have positive deviations.

That puts us in a situation where several districts, perpetually, decade after decade, are overrepresented in population  which dilutes their vote, Soules said.

The committee could do extra work now to more evenly balance the districts population so the shifts arent as dramatic next decade.

Frank Garza, appointed to represent District 3, said the 2020 census will already be 3 years old by the time a new City Council map is used in the 2023 city election.

I guarantee the deviations for 8, 9 and 10 are going to be above that, Garza said. Because the natural growth is occurring in those districts.

The redistricting advisory committee will meet next at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pre-K 4 SA North, 3635 Medical Drive.

Members will begin to draw their own draft City Council maps Feb. 14.

megan.stringer@express-news.net
The claim: In New York state, if youre white, you have to go to the back of the line to get medical help.  Donald Trump

The former president made the claim at a Jan. 15 rally in Arizona, in reference to a guidance memo from the state health department about COVID treatments.

Trump went further: The left is now rationing life-saving therapeutics based on race, discriminating against and denigrating, just denigrating white people to determine who lives and who dies. If youre white, you dont get the vaccine, or if youre white you dont get therapeutics.

PolitiFact rating: Pants of Fire! There is no evidence that white New Yorkers who are sick with COVID-19 and have other risk factors are being denied treatment because patients of other races are receiving it. The Department of Health memo instructs health care providers to consider several factors when distributing COVID-19 treatments that are in short supply. Race and ethnicity are factors to consider because the risk of death for Black and Hispanic COVID-19 patients is twice as high as for their white peers.

Discussion

About PolitiFact PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse

New York States guidance for distribution of COVID-19 treatments has been a hot topic in conservative media and also the subject of lawsuits by a Cornell University law professor and a pro-Trump advocacy group.

The memo addressed the recent authorization of oral antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid, as well as a severe shortage of those treatments and monoclonal antibodies. It warned that supplies of oral antivirals will be extremely limited initially, and that only one monoclonal antibody product is effective against the omicron variant, the dominant variant in New York.

The state told health care providers to prioritize the therapies for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised regardless of their vaccination status, or those 65 and older and not fully vaccinated with at least one risk factor for severe illness.

Patients have to meet other criteria for oral antiviral treatment, including being at least 12 years old, testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, having mild to moderate symptoms, not being hospitalized for those symptoms, and being able to start the treatment within five days of starting symptoms. Other criteria include having a medical condition or other factors that increase their risk for severe illness. Non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.

We asked the state Department of Health about Trumps statement that white people have to go to the back of the line to get treatment.

No one in New York who is otherwise qualified based on their individual risk factors will be turned away from life-saving treatment because of their race or any demographic identifier, said spokesperson Erin Silk. These are neither qualifications nor requirements for treatments.

The risk factors include medical conditions, age, and vaccination status. The state included non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she said. The CDC has recognized that COVID-19 mortality rates are higher among certain demographic groups, including senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals and non-white/Hispanic communities.

CDC data show that compared to white people, the risk of death from COVID-19 is nearly twice as high for Black people and twice as high for Hispanic and Latino populations. Adjusted for age, those who are Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaska Native are at least twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as their white counterparts, according to the health care research organization KFF.

White people who are immunocompromised still receive treatment under the guidance, said S. Matthew Liao, director of the Center for Bioethics in the School of Global Public Health at New York University.

David Larsen, a public health professor at Syracuse University, said New York considers being Black and Hispanic a pre-existing condition. But that does not mean the state is withholding treatment from white New Yorkers.

When health authorities talk about scarce resources, such as these COVID treatments, they want to distribute them in a way that will provide the most benefit, said Erika Martin, an associate professor and applied health policy researcher at the University at Albany. In this instance, the way to do that is to distribute them to people at the highest risk for severe disease.

Other fact-checkers have also found no evidence for Trumps statement and that he wrongly interpreted New Yorks policy.
Press Release

January 31, 2022 Lacson Cautions vs Electing 'Thieves' into Power More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/lacson-cautions-vs-electing-thieves-into-power The thieves in the streets pick their victims. The thieves in government are picked by their victims. Using this irony, Partido Reporma chairman and presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson appealed to Filipinos Monday to be discerning in casting their votes on May 9. "Ang magnanakaw sa kalsada, pumipili ng nanakawan at nanakawin: biktimang walang laban upang agawin ang kanyang gamit - alahas man o salaping pinaghirapan, o anumang mahalagang ari-arian. Samantala, ang magnanakaw sa gobyerno, mamamayang Pilipino ang pumipili tuwing sasapit ang halalan. Tayo pa nga ang 'nagsi-shade' ng kanyang pangalan sa balota. At hindi siya namimili ng nanakawin. Wala siyang pakialam kung ang kanyang ninanakaw ay ang ating mga karapatan sa edukasyon, hanapbuhay, kalusugan at maayos at masaganang pamumuhay, at higit sa lahat, ang kinabukasan ng kabataan (The thieves in the streets pick their victims and take their valuables. The thieves in government are picked by the people who mark their names in the ballots on Election Day. They rob their victims of so much more - their education, livelihood, health and the future of the youth)," he said in his message for National Bible Day 2022. "For the longest time, we have witnessed how corruption, the worst form of thievery, continues to destroy our nation. And we only have ourselves to blame. I hope and pray that this day - the National Bible Day shall serve as a reminder," he added. Lacson cited a passage in the Bible from the Book of John, Chapter 10, Verse 10, where Jesus Christ said "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." "These words speak of our greatest challenge as a nation: the deeply entrenched thievery that steals and kills and destroys-- a sin contrary to the law of God, so does the act of anyone who joins the thief by keeping a blind eye on his selfish act," he said. He added that if Filipinos are not careful in choosing their leaders, they may end up worse off in the next six years because of such thieves. "Just for one day, on Election Day, let us not allow ourselves to be partners of the thieves. Let us stand mightily against the evils of their actions. Let us continue to feed our spirit with the wisdom of God's words and express our gratitude for the Light of Christ that guides our path against the wicked and towards the good," he said. Lacson stressed his administration will prioritize a massive internal cleansing of the bureaucracy - to rid the government of thieves who victimize those they swore to serve. He and his vice presidential candidate, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, have promised to fix the lives of Filipinos by fixing the ills in government (Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Aayusin ang Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino), and to go after thieves especially in government (Uubusin ang Magnanakaw).
A staff member disinfects tractors on a ship delivering relief supplies to Tonga, Jan. 28, 2022. (Photo by Wang Lei/Xinhua)

GUANGZHOU, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A flotilla comprised of two ships of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy departed from a port in south China's Guangzhou City Monday to deliver China's disaster relief supplies to the South Pacific island nation of Tonga.

This relief mission follows China's delivery of multiple batches of emergency supplies to Tonga, which was hit by disasters resulting from a massive volcano eruption earlier this month and its ensuing tsunami.

Weighing approximately 1,400 tonnes, the latest supplies include mobile homes, tractors, electricity generators, water pumps, water purifiers, food and medical supplies. 

Members of People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fasten tractors on a ship delivering relief supplies to Tonga, Jan. 30, 2022. (Photo by Xue Chengqing/Xinhua)

Relief supplies are transferred onto a ship waiting to depart for Tonga, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2022. (Photo by Xue Chengqing/Xinhua)

Relief supplies are transferred onto a ship waiting to depart for Tonga, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 29, 2022. (Photo by Xue Chengqing/Xinhua)

Relief supplies are transferred onto a ship waiting to depart for Tonga, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2022. (Photo by Xue Chengqing/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 28, 2022 shows relief supplies being transferred onto a ship waiting to depart for Tonga, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo by Yin Zheng/Xinhua)

A ship loaded with relief supplies departs from a port in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, for Tonga, Jan. 31, 2022. (Photo by Zhou Yancheng/Xinhua)
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Last year, former President Donald Trump appeared to develop a keen interest in the inner workings of the Texas Legislature, blasting out endorsements of down-ballot Republicans, praising legislators for their election audit bills and, at one point, accusing House Speaker Dade Phelan of weak RINO leadership.

Trumps surprisingly sharp knowledge of Texas legislative minutiae sparked questions about who was feeding him information, and speculation immediately turned to one of Trumps closest allies in the state, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, whose interests seemed to align with a number of Trumps emailed statements.

Patrick twice served as chair of Trumps campaign in Texas, and he skipped the start of the 2019 legislative session to meet with Trump officials at the White House. And on Saturday, Patrick headlined a big-dollar fundraiser luncheon with Trump in Houston.

During a rally in Conroe hours later, Trump made clear that the lieutenant governor was the driving force behind some of his endorsements last year, telling the crowd that Patrick had called to seek his public support for certain candidates.

I said, Absolutely, Dan. Whatever you want, Dan, Trump recalled, adding that Patrick has gotten a hell of a lot of endorsements from him. He also praised the quality of Patricks recommended candidates.

IN-DEPTH: Trump presides over partisan lovefest at Texas MAGA rally

Trump, whose support is thought to carry weight among Republican primary voters, did not specify which endorsements had been prompted by Patrick, and he did not indicate that the lieutenant governor was behind any of his statements related to the Legislature and election bills. A spokesman for Patrick did not immediately respond to questions about Trumps comments.

Logan Spence, Patricks former campaign manager and chief of staff, who now works as a lobbyist in Austin, said Patrick communicates with Trump about the border and other Texas-specific issues.

I know they talk, have conversations, and sometimes the lieutenant governor would want to alert him about something, whats happening at the state level, that he may not be aware of, or his people may not be aware of, Spence said. Just trying to give the Texas conservative perspective to the president, I think, was a role that Dan was happy to fill.

Last October, the Dallas Morning News reported, Trumps political strategist, Allen Blakemore, spurred the former president to endorse Republican Pete Flores for an open Senate district  one redrawn with new boundaries that now extend to Flores home in Pleasanton. But Blakemore told the Morning News he was unaware of what prompted Trumps other recent involvement in Texas politics, including an endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Kevin Sparks.

TEXAS PRIMARIES: Trump wades deeper into Texas politics with 20 endorsements in March 1 primaries

Sparks, a Midland oilman, was running at the time against state Sen. Kel Seliger, the lone Senate Republican to vote against a Trump-supported audit bill. Shortly after that vote, Trump slammed Seliger as a RINO  a slur that stands for Republican in name only, typically used to cast GOP officials as insufficiently conservative  and said he was not helpful to our great MAGA Movement.

Patrick, who has publicly clashed with Seliger a number of times, had not weighed in on the primary, though he had recently told the Permian Basin Petroleum Association that the Senate was missing members with expertise in oil and gas. Seliger worked for years in the steel industry, while Sparks is the president of a family-owned oil and gas company in Midland.

Weeks later, Seliger announced he was not seeking re-election to his district, which had been redrawn to include more area in the Permian Basin, where Sparks lives, and remove a chunk of the Panhandle near Seligers hometown of Amarillo. Days after Seligers announcement, Patrick endorsed Sparks.

Last September, Trump pressed Gov. Greg Abbott  who controls the agenda during special sessions of the Legislature  to give lawmakers permission to consider House Bill 16, a proposal that would have empowered candidates and party chairs to request audits of the 2020 election and future contests.

Soon after, the Texas secretary of states office announced a full and comprehensive forensic audit of the 2020 election in four Texas counties, including Dallas, Harris and Tarrant  the states three largest counties, all of which voted for Biden. Earlier that month, Abbott had also signed a sweeping Republican-backed elections bill into law.

Still, Trump continued to push for the audit bill, though he had won Texas by 5.6 percentage points in 2020. He has falsely insisted the narrow margin  it was the closest win for any Republican presidential nominee in Texas since 1996  was caused by fraud.

Although some minor cases of voter fraud have been identified in Texas and elsewhere, multiple academic studies, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons Election Fraud Unit and an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department under Trump have yet to discover evidence of fraud on the scale alleged by Trump and some other Republicans.

Weeks before Trumps pressure campaign ensued, Patrick had made clear his support for election audit legislation, listing it as one of his priorities for the third special session of the year, even as Abbott declined to place it on the agenda of items to consider. Still, the Patrick-led Senate pushed ahead, passing an audit bill that would ultimately stall in the House.

With the clock running out on the session, Trump slammed Phelan for the Houses inaction on the audit bill and a separate proposal to stiffen the criminal penalty for illegal voting, which would have reversed a provision of the recent election overhaul bill.

Texans are tired of Phelans weak RINO leadership in the State House. Texas is a very red state, even more than people know, Trump said in a statement.

If the audit bill didnt pass soon, Trump added, we look forward to seeing him in the Texas primary.

The session ended without an audit bill, and Phelan did not receive an opponent in the Republican primary or general election.

Cayla Harris contributed to this report.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
GREENWICH  A sailing program could be headed back to Greenwich Point this summer, but it would need public support to continue.

The newly formed Greenwich Sailing School Inc. won the bid to provide sailing services to residents. It plans to do business as the Tods Point Sailing School and operate out of the Chimes Building at Greenwich Point.

Bill King, a nearly 40-year Greenwich resident and one of the leaders of the new program, said it was important to keep sailing at Greenwich Point after the sudden end of Greenwich Community Sailing last year.

The program has been a mainstay of the available summer programs for Greenwich juniors and adults, King said. On average, 800 residents participate in the instructional program each year. Many more take advantage of kayak and small sailboat rentals. The program also employs 25 to 30 Greenwich high school and returning college students each season.

Its not just important to us, it is important to the community, he said.

Blaize Levitan, the towns assistant director of Parks and Recreation, said the five-year contract was not yet finalized with Greenwich Sailing School Inc. so could not comment. Levitan said the town would make a formal announcement once a partnership was official.

The selected program would satisfy the towns stated goals and was evaluated by a team that included town staff and representatives from the Board of Parks and Recreation and the Old Greenwich Yacht Club, Levitan said.

King said the startup budget is $75,000  and he said he hoped the public would be willing to help pay part of it. There are some funding commitments in place, but there is still ... a way to go.

There are startup costs associated with a program of this type and size and much of that cost is on the front end, King said. Donations and spreading the word are a great way to help at the moment.

Among the costs are website development, insurance, deposits for the purchase and delivery of safety boats, safety equipment and  most critically  a fleet of boats, he said.

This is not Kings first time organizing a sailing club. In 1998, he was among those  along with the Town of Greenwich and the Old Greenwich Yacht Club  who formed the original Greenwich Community Sailing program.

In 1999, Greenwich Community Sailing earned national recognition from U.S. Sailing as Best New Community Sailing program, he said. When we learned that the current operators of the program did not plan to return for the 2022 season, we wanted to make sure this tremendous program continued to serve the Greenwich Community.

King said the newly formed company is applying for nonprofit status and plans to go live with a website soon. Once it is up, residents can get details of the program and register for courses.

Currently, interested residents can email GreenwichSailingSchool@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list, get information about how to donate, send in questions and find out about summer jobs.

First Selectman Fred Camillo celebrated the proposed partnership in his weekly email blast, calling it an important community service.

Greenwich Sailing School Inc. was selected through the towns bidding process, which is run through the Purchasing Department.

A community sailing program has been an important service based at Greenwich Point Park for over two decades, the town said in its bid proposal request. The school should provide instructional opportunities from beginner to advanced levels and should have programs targeted for both young and adults.

For the past 24 years, Greenwich Community Sailing had operated out of the Chimes Building. But last November, the town and GCS could not come to an agreement on a new lease. The Chimes Building is scheduled to undergo renovation and restoration with construction slated to begin this fall.

GCS general manager Jane Pimentel said she was unable to keep operating because of the uncertainty over the lease agreement.

Our relationship with the town has reached a point where we are no longer able to run a sustainable business, Pimentel wrote on the programs website in November. GCSs main priority has always been providing accessible boating experiences to our community and we would have kept the doors open if it was at all feasible.

The town said it was taken by surprise by Pimentels decision. The Parks and Recreation Department vowed to have a sailing program this summer. Bids were accepted through December, with Kings bid accepted.

It is the full intent of the town and our partner to have a sailing school this summer at Greenwich Point, Levitan said. To make this happen, we expedited the RFP process, including fast-tracking document development and interview scheduling. We have an active partnership and are in constant communication so the program doesnt miss a summer. The first selectman also issued a call to action on how the community can help get the program up and running.

Levitan said they would keep the program running even as the work on the Chimes Building begins later this year.

The town has made a clear commitment to find a temporary location for the sailing program to operate while the Chimes Building is closed, which is estimated to impact one full season, Levitan said. Through our active partnership, this is something that will work well for all parties involved.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
The government has rejected calls for compensation to be issued to farmers who have been forced to cull pigs as a result of on-farm backlogs caused by staff shortages in pork plants.

Defra farming minister Victoria Prentis ruled out support for farmers in England despite over 35,000 healthy pigs culled and disposed of due to the crisis.

The pig sector has persistently called for compensation as a result of the worsening backlog on farms caused by labour shortages in key processing sites.

The National Pig Association (NPA) warned that many farmers had 'exhausted' contingency plans and had ran out of space.

The trade body is seeking a compensation package from Defra to reflect the financial losses pig farmers are incurring as a result of factors out of their control.

The plea for support in England comes as tranches of compensation were made available to pig producers in Scotland and Northern Ireland late last year.

Mrs Prentis was recently asked by shadow farming minister Daniel Zeichner on a potential compensation package for English pig farmers "in regard to the culling of healthy pigs due to capacity restraints at abattoirs."

But the Defra farming minister responded by saying that the government "does not provide financial support for the culling of animals".

"Responsibility for animal welfare on the farm remains with the owner/keeper, who should have contingency plans in place to ensure the welfare of their animals."

Her comments echoed those made by Defra Secretary George Eustice, who told the EFRA Committee last year that shortages in pork plants represented a 'business risk' to producers and therefore costs arising from it would not qualify for compensation.

Mrs Prentis said she and Mr Eustice have "frequent discussions with the pig sector on the unique challenges the sector has faced this past year" and pointed out that Defra provided a package of support measures in October.

These included temporary work visas for up to 800 pork butchers, and Private Storage Aid (PSA) and Slaughter Incentive Payment (SIP) schemes to facilitate an increase in the throughput of pigs through abattoirs.

However, the NPA warned that these had "barely any impact so far on improving throughput in pork plants and reducing the backlog".

Mrs Prentis said Defra, with AHDB, was working to identify new export markets for pork, while AHDB and Quality Meat Scotland suspended the statutory levy for a month.

"The government will continue to monitor the evolving situation and work closely with the industry through this challenging period," she said.
A new working group is being set up to help small woodland owners and farmers with clearing up after Storm Arwen, which battered the UK two months ago.

The move comes after meetings between public forestry agencies and the private sector to assess the scale of damage after the storm, and identify capacity issues in the worst affected areas.

There are fears that the powerful winter storm destroyed around 4,000 hectares of woodland in Scotland alone.

The working group, whose membership will soon be formulated, will prepare advice on what small woodland owners and farmers need to do to clear the fallen trees.

Part of this will include providing information to them on what species of tree may be best placed for replanting.

Scotland's Environment Minister Mairi McAllan attended the latest meeting (27 January) organised by Scottish Forestry and trade body CONFOR.

She said more could be done to help out small woodland owners and farmers, many of whom "will not have encountered such a devastating storm."

Storm Arwen might have happened last year but its effects will be felt by many for some time to come," the Minister said.

I am impressed how the major players in the forestry sector are working together in such a collaborative way.

"This co-ordination of action is needed and I would like to thank the industry for their pragmatic way of dealing with the storms aftermath.

With targeted advice, we can help farmers and small owners manage the aftermath, whilst creating more resilient woodlands for the future.

Previous forestry meetings in the wake of Storm Arwen have taken place to support the situations in the north east and south of Scotland, as well as the north of England, which was also badly affected.

Andy Leitch, deputy chief executive of trade forestry body Confor added: The whole wood supply chain is working collectively to understand what specific support woodland owners, both large and small, need in the wake of the storm.

The first priority is making forests and woods safe, then understanding how and when to remove the windblown wood safely and to coincide with market demand.

"That involves close cooperation between foresters, woodland owners and wood processors - and that cooperation is progressing well."

Scottish Forestry has been fast tracking felling permissions which are linked to clearing up after the storm.

It would normally take up to six weeks to process a Felling Permission however Scottish Forestry is turning these around in about 10 days.

Around 238 applications have been received so far and 155 approved to date.
An MP has raised the threat to the future of ploughing matches and charity tractor-runs as rule changes on red diesel usage looms.

Gordon MP Richard Thomson asked the Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg for a debate on scrapping the rules instead of farmers being expected to flush their fuel tanks and change diesel type.

On the floor of the House of Commons, Mr Thomson explained that ploughing matches and tractor runs were important parts of rural life in the north-east of Scotland.

The SNP MP added that they bought the community together and allowed for the transfer of skills in the agricultural community.

A rule change is expected to be introduced by the Treasury from 1 April that will forbid the use of red diesel in vehicles for such purposes.

The move is part of wider measures to ensure the UK reaches its net zero ambitions by 2050.

But organisers of ploughing matches and charity tractor runs have raised fears for the continued existence of these events due to the move.

"Could we have a debate in government time to discuss the deleterious impact of that rule change?" Mr Thomson said in the House of Commons on 27 January.

"Farmers, rather than flushing their tanks, may simply not take part, to the detriment of all."

He added: "Can we have that debate to discuss how we might perhaps flush this unnecessary rule change instead of asking farmers to do the same with their tanks?"

Mr Rees-Mogg responded saying he had a great deal of sympathy, and revealed that a late cousin of his was a ploughing match competitor in Somerset.

Commenting after the exchange, Mr Thomson said: Extracting sympathy from the Leader of the House is rarely an easy task but it seems to have helped that Jacob Rees-Mogg had a family member keen on ploughing matches so knew something of the subject.

I trust that when he makes the promised approach to the Treasury that he too will be lobbying for a change of direction on this ill-thought out policy.

"The very real threat to charity fundraising and also the skills-development aspect of competitive ploughing matches is something we do not want to see jeopardised.
BAMAKO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- France's ambassador to Mali, Joel Meyer, has been ordered to leave Mali within 72 hours, a statement released by Mali's Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization said on Monday.

"The French ambassador in Bamako was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation who informed him of the government's decision inviting him to leave the national territory within 72 hours", specified the document.

"This measure follows the hostile and outrageous comments made recently by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the recurrence of such comments by the French authorities towards the Malian authorities, in spite of repeated protests", said the Malian government while condemning and rejecting these remarks contrary to the development of friendly relations between nations.

The Malian government reiterated its willingness to maintain dialogue and pursue cooperation with all of its international partners, including France, in mutual respect and on the basis of the principle of non-interference, in accordance with the legitimate aspirations of the Malian people, according to the statement.

Relations have been very tense between Bamako and Paris since the announcement of the withdrawal of Operation Barkhane and the decision of the Malian authorities to join forces with the services of other partners in the fight against terrorism.

Last December, Mali had already expelled the representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Bamako, Hamidou Boly, for "actions incompatible with his status". 
Northern Irish farmers have highlighted their frustration with the local government over its 'lack of action' in developing bovine viral diarrhoea measures.

Figures show the number of BVD cases in Northern Ireland continue to rise while the Republic of Ireland moves towards 'BVD freedom'.

A highly contagious disease, BVD is one of the most common and costly affecting cattle in Europe.

Infection can result in a wide range of clinical signs including, reproductive problems, including failure to conceive, abortion and birth defects.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said it was 'extremely disappointed' in DAERA and its 'lack of progress to date' in combatting it.

Recent figures have highlighted that for the eighth month in a row, the rolling annual animal prevalence of BVD in Northern Ireland has increased.

The figures show that more than half of BVD positive cattle are being kept for longer than four weeks.

UFU deputy president William Irvine said they showed a 'very troubling' picture, while farmers in Republic of Ireland were closer to eradicating the disease.

It comes as trading requirements will change as soon as the Irish programme is officially recognised by the EU, and will be expanded when BVD freedom is achieved.

To help improve the BVD situation here as quickly as possible, were urging DAERA to take the steps weve been calling for to drive BVD to eradication," he said.

"Any farmer who has a BVD positive (PI) among their herd, must remove the animal with immediate effect to prevent further spread.

"To help initiate this response as soon as a positive BVD test result is received, weve been lobbying DAERA for further restrictions against any herd which does not promptly remove PIs.

"However, weve been extremely frustrated by a lack of progress to date. This needs to be improved immediately.
A two-day dispersal sale of 700 pedigree Holsteins from the Clywedog herd will go ahead next month, described by auctioneers as 'one of the UK's best kept secrets'.

The sale will be held on behalf of Rhys and Huw Jones at Old Llwyn Onn Farm, Wrexham on 24 and 25 February, Harrison & Hetherington (H&H) announced.

Day one of the sale will comprise 320 milking animals and 180 heifer calves up to six months of age, the auctioneer explained.

Day two will see 200 youngstock selling with in-calf, bulling and heifer calves down to six months of age.

Notably, a large percentage of the herd and most of the in-calf heifers carry pregnancies by female sexed sires.

Glyn Lucas, H&H senior pedigree dairy auctioneer, said the Clywedog pedigree Holstein herd was 'one of the UKs best kept secrets'.

"This complete dispersal sale offers the modern kind of cow that the modern milk producer appreciates.

The cows are powerful and exhibit outstanding width of rump and chest, and are in excellent body condition.

"The production records on two times a day milking is impressive and the potential these cows have to increase on a three times a day or robotic management system is exciting.

"In addition, all of the animals going under the hammer have been tested for export.

At the most recent milk recording in mid-January, the herd averaged 41kgs at 4.42% butterfat and 3.31% protein with somatic cell count of 63.

Day one of the sale will comprise 320 milking animals and 180 heifer calves up to six months of age

The herd has exceptional fertility with the current calving interval running at 378 days and the current days in milk is 134 days.

The latest classification saw 17 new Excellent cows, 39 new Very Good cows, 14 new Very Good milking heifers and 24 new Good Plus heifers.

The sale will have a total of 41 Excellent, 141 Very Good and 138 Good Plus animals in the sale.

Herd health status is exemplary with IBR, BVD and Lepto protocols all managed in conjunction with farm vet, Rob George from Nantwich Farm Vets.

Additionally, the herd has never had a case of TB and all animals are tested for export.

Giving further background, owner and breeder Rhys Jones said: We established our pedigree herd in 1990 and have worked hard over the years to create high yielding, long-lasting herd of beautiful cows.

"Our mission has been to produce high type cows, and to that end we have selected the best genetics from Cogent and Semex."

He added: "The stock is in excellent condition, they have been looked after with loving care and I know that the animals will go on to do very well.

However, the time has come for Huw and I to ease off; I will soon be 64 and its time to hang up my hat.

"We have taken great pride in producing a herd with long lasting cows and heifers and we will both get a lot of satisfaction in watching our breeding develop in herd around the UK.
More than a dozen universities which offer courses in agriculture are collaborating in setting out the farming industry's future research priorities.

Sixteen universities have agreed to establish the new Agricultural Universities Council (AUC) which will engage with the government on policy.

The initiative responds to calls for more joined-up research as the UK agricultural industry goes through a rapid post-Brexit transition.

The AUC's first project will be to map existing agricultural research capacity across the UK for the first time in a decade.

It will also work with farmers, as well as food firms, environmental, welfare and community groups, to shape future research priorities.

The council will create a report addressing the highest priority areas for research investment relating to agriculture.

It will identify where the UK most needs to strengthen agricultural research capability, and recommend how universities can work more efficiently and effectively.

The project will start in February 2022, and will report in the autumn.

Professor Rob Edwards, from Newcastle University, who chairs the AUC, said: We already have a wealth of expertise and facilities for agricultural education and research across the UK.

"But we can make even more of it, with more benefit for farming and the public, if we coordinate our efforts."

The AUCs work to agree joint research priorities is being supported by the Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture (CEIA).

Professor Tom MacMillan, from the CEIA, said farmers and the wider industry had 'longstanding concerns' about the impact of publicly-funded research.

"Some of this frustration is shared by scientists, particularly when they find themselves competing for research grants when it would make more sense to collaborate.

"At this hugely challenging time for farming, it is really refreshing that so many leading research institutions are teaming up to help address this.

Defra Secretary George Eustice announced the partnership on Thursday 27 January at the Royal Agricultural University, which is one of the members of the AUC.

Other members include Aberystwyth University, Cranfield University, Harper Adams University, Hartpury University, Newcastle University, Queens University Belfast, SRUC, University of Edinburgh, University of Hertfordshire, University of Leeds, University of Lincoln, University of Nottingham, University of Reading, University of Warwick, and Writtle University College.
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Vidyut Jammwal donated a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs to Ekaveera Kalaripayattu Academy with a promise of supporting and promoting the students for the rest of his life. The Academy endeavours to mentor kids learning the ancient discipline of Kalaripayattu. A young student named Neelakandan of the academy, took to his Twitter to express his gratitude to the Khuda Haafiz actor. On his Twitter handle, the young martial artist said, Extremely grateful and honored! Met @VidyutJammwal in Mumbai and he has supported Ekaveera Kalaripayattu academy with a huge contribution of 5 lakh rupees. This will go a long way in helping us achieve our dream of promoting Kalaripayattu across India.

Jammwal congratulated Neelakandan and his father who runs the said academy. The actor gifted him an 'I Train Like Vidyut Jammwal' customised T-shirt.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Monday release December figures for industrial production, retail sales and housing starts, setting the pace for a modest day in Asia-Pacific economic activity. In November, industrial production was up 7.0 percent on month and 5.1 percent on year, while retail sales rose 1.2 percent on month and 1.9 percent on year and housing starts were up 3.7 percent on year. Australia will provide December figures for private sector credit; in November, credit was up 0.9 percent on month and 6.6 percent on year. Thailand will release December results for its industrial production, current account and coincident index. In November, industrial production was up an annual 4.84 percent, while the current account surplus was $0.3 billion, while the coincident score was 127.5. Hong Kong will see December data for retail sales; in November, sales were up 4.2 percent on year. Finally, most of the regional bourses are closed on Monday for the Lunar New Year, including South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. 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.
Among the new capabilities, Rapyd will now offer customers company incorporation in Hong Kong, business accounts, credit cards, and payments services from a single platform

HONG KONG and LONDON, Jan. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-Service company announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Hong Kong-based Neat, a cross-border trade enabling platform for SMBs and startups.

Rapyd's global payments network supports more than 900 payment methods in over 100 countries and global payouts in over 200 countries making it uniquely suited to support entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) looking to incorporate, get online, and access new markets quickly and inexpensively. Its easy-to-use API-based platform simplifies complex cross-border payments processes which are critical for businesses looking to engage in global trade. Neat's services, capabilities, and licenses will be integrated into Rapyd's platform providing an easy-to-use online global trade solution optimized for SMBs, entrepreneurs, and growing companies.

With the integration of Neat into the Rapyd Global Payments Network, users will now be able to:

Incorporate new companies in minutes, streamline receivables and payables in a single venue, starting with Hong Kong and soon in other trade-friendly markets around the world

and soon in other trade-friendly markets around the world Offer real-time high-value payments in Hong Kong via FPS, CHATS, and SWIFT

via FPS, CHATS, and SWIFT Accelerate payments to suppliers across Greater China

Empower smart business and employee spending via virtual and physical Visa cards

Provide eligible businesses with fast working capital through an in-wallet credit line

"Completing the acquisition of NEAT represents a significant step forward in expanding our platform's global capabilities for small and medium businesses," said Arik Shtilman, CEO and co-founder of Rapyd. "As SMBs have evolved into increasingly complex and ambitious enterprises, the tools they require must advance as well in order to keep pace with the demands of this new wave of 'micro-multinationals.' We will continue to add more tools to our network in order to continue to support these growing businesses."

About Rapyd

Rapyd is the fastest way to power local payments anywhere in the world, enabling companies across the globe to access markets quicker than ever before. By utilizing Rapyd's unparalleled payments network and fintech as a service platform, businesses and consumers can engage in local and cross-border transactions in any market. The Rapyd platform is unifying fragmented payment systems worldwide by bringing together 900-plus payment methods in over 100 countries. Rapyd's investors include Stripe, General Catalyst, Oak HC/FT, Coatue, Tiger Global, Durable Capital, Target Global, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Altimeter Capital, BlackRock Funds and Tal Capital. To learn more about the company that is accelerating the fintech as a service revolution, visit www.rapyd.net, read our blog, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Neat

Neat, a Rapyd company, makes the world of international trade more accessible to entrepreneurs, SMEs, and ambitious young companies from across the globe. Its purpose-built, financial services platform enables businesses to quickly, simply, and securely incorporate and open an account in Hong Kong, allowing them to receive and transfer multi-currency funds at competitive rates, issue Visa corporate cards to employees, integrate with accounting and payment gateways, and more. The application process is fully online and can be completed in just 15 minutes - no paperwork, no mandatory travel, no inflated fees, high exchange rates, hefty minimum balances, or lengthy waiting times. Learn more at https://www.neatcommerce.com.

Media contact:

Raanan Loew

Headline Media

+1-347-897-9276

raanan@headline.media
A lorry drives out of the Hong Leng Huor Dry Port on the western suburb of Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Jan. 13, 2022. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

RCEP has signaled the Asia Pacific's collective commitment to mutual prosperity, peaceful co-existence, and a comprehensive post-pandemic recovery grounded on free and rules-based trade, the official said.

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement, which took effect on Jan. 1, has affirmed the resurgence of multilateralism, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said.

He made the remarks during the opening of a two-day virtual seminar on RCEP on Thursday, which was attended physically by the leaders of the foreign ministry and via video conference by heads of Cambodia's diplomatic mission and consular office abroad, according to a ministry's press statement released on Friday.

"He (Sokhonn) further highlighted that its entry into force has signaled the Asia Pacific's collective commitment to mutual prosperity, peaceful co-existence, and a comprehensive post-pandemic recovery grounded on free and rules-based trade," the statement said.

The signing ceremony of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement is held via video conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov. 15, 2020. (VNA via Xinhua)

The seminar aimed to support the realization of RCEP's full potential by strengthening the knowledge and understanding among the ministry's leaders, officials and diplomats vis-a-vis the agreement.

Sokhonn also underlined the important roles of Cambodia's missions abroad in leveraging and supporting the successful implementation of Cambodia's new Investment Law, RCEP, the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the Cambodia-Korea FTA to facilitate the promotion and diversification of trade, attract foreign direct investment, and enhance national economic potential.

RCEP was signed on Nov. 15, 2020 by the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the bloc's five FTA partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, making it the world's biggest trade deal, according to the statement.

RCEP covers approximately 30 percent of the world's population, accounts for about 30 percent of global gross domestic product, and represents some 28 percent of global trade, it added. 
- Acquisition to open up ANZ as a new client market

- Addition of 1,100+ domain experts and four delivery centers in Philippines

BANGALORE, India, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS) (Listed on NSE and BSE, India) has announced that its subsidiary, HGS International Mauritius, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% equity stake in Diversify Offshore Staffing Solutions Pty Ltd. (Diversify), Australia. The transaction is expected to close within the next few days.

Diversify is an Australian enterprise, providing value-added BPM services, with delivery operations in Philippines. It provides differentiated consumer engagement solutions to its impressive roster of over 50 clients, 70% of whom are in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) region and the others in the US. It has had a robust CAGR of 39% over the last 5 years despite the recent pandemic. For year ending 30thJune 2022, it is expected to report revenues of around AUD 26.5 million. It is a profitable business and this acquisition will be margin accretive to HGS.

With the acquisition of Diversify, HGS will open up ANZ as a new market, with the addition of a significant number of clients from that region. It will also supplement its portfolio in the US. While most of its current offshore footprint is in the Philippines, this will open up the gates for ANZ offshoring to HGS's Indian operations. It bolsters HGS's portfolio of back-office and non-voice business in domains like Digital Marketing, Finance and Accounts, IT services, etc. Combining these two organizations brings in synergies to improve the profitability of the operations. The complementarity of time zones between Australia and North America is expected to improve the asset utilization for HGS.

"We are very excited to welcome the 1,100+ employees of Diversify into the HGS family. We expect robust business synergies to be generated by this acquisition. ANZ is a very attractive market for high-growth, value-added and margin-accretive businesses. As a result of this partnership, a large number of experienced domain experts in verticals such as professional services, retail, and telecommunications will soon become a part of HGS. This also expands our footprint in Philippines with four new delivery centers," said Partha Desarkar, Executive Director and Group CEO, HGS.

He added, "Today, Australian firms are increasing their digitalization efforts to become more competitive, develop new ways of digital-led customer engagement, while enabling remote working models. We believe our foray into ANZ through this acquisition provides a huge opportunity for HGS to cater to the digital needs of Diversify's clients through our solutions in analytics, automation, AI, and Cloud Telephony."

"The partnership with a global organization like HGS provides the resources to us and paves the way to drive significantly higher levels of growth. It enhances our brand promise of delivering the most innovative, value-added, and efficient solutions to our clients. We are excited about the partnership with the opportunities it offers and will continue to work with our clients to improve their business," said Angela Vidler, Managing Director of Diversify.

About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS)

A global leader in optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, digital transformation, and business process management, HGS is helping its clients become more competitive every day. HGS combines automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence with deep domain expertise focusing on digital customer experiences, back-office processing, contact centers, and HRO solutions. Part of the multi-billion-dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a "globally local" approach. Post the Healthcare divestment, HGS has around 18,800 employees across 34 delivery centers in six countries, making a difference to some of the world's leading brands across verticals. For the year ended March 31, 2021, HGS had revenues of Rs. 55,889 million (US$ 753.9 million). Visit https://hgs.cx to learn how HGS transforms customer experiences and builds businesses for the future.

About Diversify Offshore Staffing Solutions Pty Ltd.

Diversify is an Australian owned offshore solutions provider, working with medium, large, and listed businesses to provide access to digitally-empowered global workforces in Manila, Philippines. We help companies fulfill their business objectives through the implementation of highly successfully offshoring strategies. With over 1,100 staff servicing clients in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Europe, we are committed to partnering with the fastest-growing companies in the world to build, develop, and nurture outstanding offshore teams that will drive their business growth.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736627/HGS_Logo.jpg

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Findings are expected to inform portfolio company's innovative approach to Regenerative Medicine

Morphoceuticals Inc., a portfolio company of Juvenescence Ltd., hailed the results of a long-term study published by its founders in Science Advances showing the successful regeneration of limbs in Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog). This is the first demonstration of functional limb regeneration in a species that does not show spontaneous regeneration of complex limbs in adulthood. Approximately 185,000 amputations, the surgical removal of a limb, are performed in the United States each year and it is expected that nearly 3.6 million people will be living with the loss of an arm or a leg by 2050. (Amputee Coalition)

Work conducted at the academic labs of Michael Levin, Vannevar Bush Professor of Biology at Tufts University and David Kaplan, Stern Family Professor of Engineering at Tufts, the co-founders of Morphoceuticals Inc., demonstrated the regrowth, marked tissue repatterning, and functional restoration of an X. laevis hindlimb following a brief, 24-hour exposure to a novel multidrug, pro-regenerative treatment delivered by a wearable bioreactor. Regenerated tissues composed of new skin, bone, vasculature, and nerves significantly exceeded the complexity and sensorimotor capacities of the study's controls.

Levin stated that "Organisms such as X. laevis, whose limited regenerative capacities in adulthood mirror some of the key limitations of humans, are important models with which to test interventions and discover triggers that could restore both form and function". Kaplan added "These data demonstrate our ability to successfully 'kickstart' endogenous regenerative pathways in vertebrates; however, translation of these findings to mammals remains to be demonstrated as a next key step in this process."

Greg Bailey, MD, the CEO of Juvenescence Ltd., the seed investor of Morphocueticals, noted, "Drs. Levin and Kaplan are pioneering new approaches to enable the regeneration of functioning limbs, tissues, and organs. These findings herald the first application of a new set of tools that will be further developed by Morphoceuticals and will allow us to explore new approaches to regenerative treatment in ways that are truly unique." He added that, "The potential applications are aimed at one day helping patients overcome the burden of loss of organs and limbs in ways that traditional medicine cannot, and that was why Juvenescence invested and continues to be so supportive of Morphoceuticals' scientific platform."

Alex Pickett, Managing Director and Head of Business Development at Juvenescence and a Director of Morphoceuticals, Inc. remarked, "The long-term regenerative effects of a short exposure to a multi-drug cocktail suggest that Drs. Levin and Kaplan have been able to trigger a developmental subroutine that can be repurposed for regenerative medicine. Juvenescence is excited for Morphoceuticals to continue developing a better understanding of how bioelectric patterning contributes to development and regeneration."

Publication Reference

Murugan et al., Sci. Adv. 8, eabj2164 (2022) 28 January 2022

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj2164

About Morphoceuticals Inc.

Based in Massachusetts, Morphoceuticals Inc. is a biotechnology company co-founded by Drs. Levin and Kaplan and funded by Juvenescence Ltd. Morphoceuticals is pioneering bioelectric approaches to access anatomical programming that is a core component of our biological operating system. Using proprietary combinations of ion channel and gap junction modulators, we are focused on inducing limb regeneration, improving amputation stump health, promoting organ regeneration, and the treatment of channelopathies. For more information see: www.Morphoceuticals.com

About Juvenescence Ltd.

Juvenescence Ltd. is a life sciences company developing therapies to modify aging and increase healthy human lifespan. It was founded by Jim Mellon, Dr. Greg Bailey and Dr. Declan Doogan. The Juvenescence team consists of highly experienced drug developers, entrepreneurs, marketers and investors with a significant history of success in the pharmaceutical and consumer health sectors. The company is committed to inspiring and equipping the world to not just reimagine what it means to get older but to help people reimagine their lifetime.

Juvenescence has a broad portfolio of products in development and is driving innovation amongst four divisions: JuvRx- Focused on traditional prescription medicines to modify aging and prevent diseases; JuvLife- Consumer products that manage aging and help increase health span; JuvDataScience- Rapidly improving the development of new drugs, artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive incredible efficiency and effectiveness in drug development; and JuvRegeneration- Positioned at the frontier of cell and tissue regeneration, to address the ravages of age and disease that require new cells and tissues to be regenerated. For more information: https://www.juvlabs.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220130005011/en/

Contacts:

Jacqueline Jeha, MPH

+1.401.374.0955

media@morphoceuticals.com
Quetzal Capital Plc

("Quetzal" or the "Company")

Update on TAP Global

Quetzal is pleased to announce that Tap Global Limited ("TAP"), a leading regulated fully integrated Crypto-Fiat exchange service provider with associated neo banking platform, has launched an additional ten assets that are now available for trading to registered users. These new tradeable assets include some 'stable coins' which lays the foundation for TAP to offer 'interest bearing' deposits, through staking yields, with the help of Decentralised Finance ("DeFi").

Users now have access to the following additional crypto assets on the TAP trading platform:

Tether USD

USDC

Decentraland

XRP

Solano

Cardano

Dogecoin

Shiba

Polkadot

Chainlink

These new assets are in addition to the assets currently available on TAP which are:

Bitcoin

Ethereum

Litecoin

Huobi

XTP

Users will benefit from the same trading functionality with these new assets that they currently already enjoy, including the ability to trade any two crypto assets using TAP's proprietary, AI powered middleware which automatically and seamlessly, filters through multiple exchanges in real time, to achieve the best trading rates.

John Taylor, Chairman of Quetzal Capital, said:

"The progress that the team at TAP is making is extremely impressive and the addition of these ten extra crypto assets follows an intense period of trials and validation activities. The incorporation of a number of stable coins now lays the firm foundations for users to deposit assets in 'earn wallets' which we are confident will lead to an explosion of new users. This, added to the recently announced capability to on-board corporate clients, ensures that the TAP platform is developing incredibly quickly, all executed within the strict regulatory umbrella of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission."

The Company, as announced on 3 December 2021, agreed to subscribe for Convertible Loan Notes ("CLNs") of 1 each in TAP, amounting to 1,500,000. Further to this, the Company has the right to subscribe for additional CLNs up to a further 500,000 CLNs of 1 each at any point before 31 May 2022. Should the CLNs convert they will do so at a 50% discount to the valuation of TAP at a conversion event which would involve the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of TAP Global by Quetzal.

TAP Global has also signed a call option in favour of Quetzal, that gives Quetzal the right to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of TAP Global, subject to certain terms being agreed on a Sale and Purchase Agreement ("SPA"). One such term will be the achievement of a minimum valuation for TAP Global of 26.5m as a result of any conversion event.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

Enquiries:

Quetzal Capital Plc

Fungai Ndoro: +44 (0) 203 813 0175

AQSE Growth Market Corporate Adviser

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Guy Miller / Mark Anwyl

Tel: +44 (0) 207 469 0930

About TAP:

TAP Global is a leading regulated fully integrated Crypto-Fiat exchange service provider with associated neo banking platform. TAP Global's mission is to create a seamless and fully regulated bridge that links fiat banking, traditional assets and crypto markets (including mainstream crypto currencies such as Bitcoin, ETH, NFTs and other upcoming Defi protocols). Built on its exchange foundation, TAP Global also offers consumer and corporate crypto-fiat banking services and Defi Yield products. Tap Global is one of only a handful of operators which are fully regulated.

TAP Global is licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission under the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) with license No. 25532. It is an innovative and fully integrated provider of fiat banking and crypto settlement.

TAP Global was founded by Arsen Torosian, a serial fintech entrepreneur and David Carr who has launched numerous fintech products over the last 17 years.

TAP's Website can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.tap.global/gb-en
Versiuslaunched in Poland as CMR expands presence across region

Salve Medica Medical Centre in Poland is the first hospital in Poland to acquire Versius for use in urology programme

Poland set to serve as a hub for CMR in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region, as demand for Versius continues to grow

Cambridge, United Kingdom.31 January 202200:01 (GMT). CMR Surgical - the global surgical robotics business - has today announced the introduction of the Versius Surgical Robotic System in Poland at Salve Medica Medical Centre in Lodz, the third largest city in Poland. At Salve Medica, Versius is being used in urology, with plans to expand into general surgery and gynaecology as part of a multispecialty robotics programme. Salve Medica has also become CMR's first reference centre for Versius in Poland.

There is significant growth in the surgical robotics market in Poland, where it is estimated to reach almost PLN 680 million by 2026. The degree of market development, healthcare financing and macroeconomic developments in Poland will continue to be a driver for further adoption of surgical robotic systems, with a total of around 50 installations of robotic systems expected by the end of 2026.1

The introduction of Versius into the Polish market is a significant milestone for CMR in the region, with Poland set to serve as a hub for CMR in Central and Eastern Europe. As a reference centre for Versius, Salve Medica will host Versius demonstrations for other surgeons from across the region, as well as training programmes for surgical teams from Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries who acquire Versius.

Per Vegard Nerseth, Chief Executive Officer of CMR Surgical said: "We are delighted to have introduced Versius in a hospital such as Salve Medica, a hospital with a strong background in robotic surgery. As we continue our expansion into Central and Eastern Europe, CMR's presence in Poland will be an integral part of that growth. I am extremely glad that Salve Medica's patients and surgeons are benefiting from the capabilities of Versius."

Ewelina Barylska, Director of the Salve Medica hospital said: "I am very proud that we were the first centre in Poland to perform operations using the Versius robot and provide the first reference centre to train surgeons from all over Central and Eastern Europe. It is the future of medicine that is unfolding before our eyes. In that moment, surgeons at Salve Medica received tools suitable for the 21st century. This type of a technological solution increases precision and accuracy for our surgeons. For patients, this means shorter hospital stays and faster recovery time. We consider it a great honour."

Dr Mateusz Jobczyk, Urologist, Salve Medica Medical Centre said: "With Versius, we have taken the next step to bring our patients into the future of surgery. I am pleased that we are entering into this next stage of robotic surgery and that Salve is the first to adopt this new technology in Poland. The small size and modularity of the robotic arms have given us versatility in our port placement for surgery, allowing us to perform more urological keyhole procedures robotically. We are excited to be opening up the benefits of robotic surgery to more of our patients."

At Salve, Versius is currently being used across a range of urological procedures, including radical prostatectomies.

The introduction of Versius in Poland follows CMR's expansion into a number of markets across Europe, Middle East, India and Australia where the system is being used to perform surgical procedures across a range of surgical specialities including gynaecology, colorectal surgery, thoracic surgery general surgery and urology. Medico Systems is the exclusive distributor agent in Poland who will support CMR in addressing the growing demand for Versius in Poland.

- ENDS -

Media Contacts:

If you wish to see more, please contact CMR Surgical at:

Press Office, CMR Surgical

T +44(0) 1223 755801

Epressoffice@cmrsurgical.com

Notes to editors:

The Versius Surgical Robotic System

Versius resets expectations of robotic surgery. Versius fits into virtually any operating room set-up and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, increasing the likelihood of robotic minimal access surgery (MAS). The small, portable and modular design of Versius allows the surgeon to only use the number of arms needed for a given procedure.

Biomimicking the human arm, Versius gives surgeons the choice of optimised port placement alongside the dexterity and accuracy of small fully-wristed instruments. With 3D HD vision, easy-to adopt instrument control and a choice of ergonomic working positions, the open surgeon console has the potential to reduce stress and fatigue and allows for clear communication with the surgical team. By thinking laparoscopically and operating robotically with Versius, patients, surgeons and healthcare professionals can all benefit from the value that robotic MAS brings.

But it's more than just a robot. Versius captures meaningful data with its wider digital ecosystem to support a surgeon's continuous learning. Through the Versius Connect app, Versius Trainer and CMR clinical registry, Versius unleashes a wealth of insights to ultimately improve surgical care.

About CMR Surgical Limited

CMR Surgical (CMR) is a global medical devices company dedicated to transforming surgery with Versius, a next-generation surgical robot.

Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, CMR is committed to working with surgeons, surgical teams and hospital partners, to provide an optimal tool to make robotic minimal access surgery universally accessible and affordable. With Versius, we are on a mission to redefine the surgical robotics market with practical, innovative technology and data that can improve surgical care.

Founded in 2014, CMR Surgical is private limited company backed by an international shareholder base.

References

Rynek robotyki chirurgicznej w Polsce 2021. (https://files.mypmr.pro/77c25107da615b53e8354ff8706d852354d54dd0.Pdf)Prognozy (https://files.mypmr.pro/77c25107da615b53e8354ff8706d852354d54dd0.Pdf) rozwoju (https://files.mypmr.pro/77c25107da615b53e8354ff8706d852354d54dd0.Pdf) na (https://files.mypmr.pro/77c25107da615b53e8354ff8706d852354d54dd0.Pdf) lata (https://files.mypmr.pro/77c25107da615b53e8354ff8706d852354d54dd0.Pdf)2021-2026 (https://files.mypmr.pro/77c25107da615b53e8354ff8706d852354d54dd0.Pdf)





Attachment
January 31, 2022: Oslo, Norway, PGS is awarded a 4D contract in the Gulf of Mexico. A Ramform Titan-class vessel is scheduled to commence acquisition late February and complete late March.



"We are very pleased with this 4D contract award in the US Gulf of Mexico, which historically has been a MultiClient market.With our Ramform acquisition platform and superior multi-sensor GeoStreamer technology we will provide the client with high-quality 4D seismic data," says President & CEO in PGS, Rune Olav Pedersen.

FOR DETAILS PGS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication

Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35





PGS ASA and its subsidiaries.

The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2020. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect.

--END--




LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or "the Company") (TSXV:OMI)(AIM:OMI), a South American-focused gold developer and explorer, is pleased to announce the results for the second quarter ended November 30, 2021 ("Q2 22" or the "Quarter"). All dollar figures are stated in US$ unless otherwise noted. The unaudited condensed interim financial statements of the Company for the quarter ended November 30, 2021 and the related management's discussion and analysis have been filed and are available for review on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. They are also available on the Company's website at www.orosur.ca.

A link to the PDF version of the financial statements is available here: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0621A_1-2022-1-30.pdf

A link to the PDF version of the MDA is available here: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0621A_2-2022-1-30.pdf

Highlights of the Second Quarter Results for 2021/22

Colombia

As announced on September 7, 2021, the Company was informed by its Colombian Joint Venture ("JV") partner, Minera Monte Aguila SAS ("Monte Aguila") that it had elected to exercise its right to assume operatorship of the Anza Project in Colombia. Monte Aguila is a 50/50 JV between Newmont Corporation ("Newmont") (NYSE:NEM, TSX:NEM) and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico") (TSX:AEM), and is the vehicle by which these two companies jointly exercise their rights and obligations with respect to the Exploration Agreement with Venture Option ("Exploration Agreement") over the Anza Project.

The Anza Project is now in its fourth year of Phase 1 during which time a further US$4.0 million is required to be spent pursuant to the Exploration Agreement.

While Monte Aguila manages the Anza Project, Minera Anza will continue to be the 100% owner of the licences, until such time as Monte Aguila has met its financial obligations with respect to the Exploration Agreement and elected to move to Phase 2 by September 2022.

Uruguay

In Uruguay, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Loryser, continues to focus its activities on the implementation of the Creditors Agreement and the sale of its Uruguayan assets. Loryser is also continuing with the reclamation and remediation of the tailings dam.

As part of the Creditors Agreement, Orosur issued 10,000,000 Orosur common shares, in December 2019, to a trust for the benefit of Loryser's creditors. On September 10, 2021 the Company announced that it had been informed by the San Gregorio Trust that it had successfully sold its entire shareholding of 10 million common shares in the Company, which amount will be applied to meet Loryser's obligations under the Creditors Agreement.

Good progress is being made on the sale of Loryser's other assets including plant and equipment. The proceeds from all of these sales will be used to pay liabilities in Uruguay in connection with the aforementioned Creditors Agreement.

Financial and Corporate

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost method except for certain financial assets and liabilities which are accounted for as Assets and Liabilities held for sale (at the lower of book value or fair value) and Profit and Loss from discontinuing operations. This accounting treatment has been applied to the activities in Uruguay and Chile.

On October 15, 2021 the Company announced that it had received approval to transfer its listing from the TSX to the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company believes that the transfer will provide it with operational efficiencies, with lower costs and with a reporting regime which is closer to that of the AIM market, whilst allowing shareholders to have continued trading liquidity in Canada.

On November 30, 2021, the Company had a cash balance of US$5,329k (May 31, 2021 US$6,958k). As at the date of this announcement the Company had a cash balance of US$4,964k.

Post the period end, on January 14, 2022, the Company announced that it had entered into a joint venture with Meridian Mining UK Societas in relation to the Ariquemes tin project in Rondonia state in north west Brazil. The JV terms are largely in line with those indicated in the Letter of Intent ("LOI") signed and announced on July 7, 2021.

For further information, please contact:

Orosur Mining Inc

Louis Castro, Chairman,

Brad George, CEO

info@orosur.ca

Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Joint Broker

Jeff Keating / Caroline Rowe

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 470 0470

Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker

Andy Thacker

JamesPope

Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050

Flagstaff Strategic and Investor Communications

Tim Thompson

Mark Edwards

Fergus Mellon

Tel: +44 (0) 207 129 1474

orosur@flagstaffcomms.com

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

About Orosur Mining Inc.

Orosur Mining Inc. (TSX-V: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a minerals explorer and developer focused on identifying and advancing projects in South America. The Company currently operates in Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the exploration plans in Colombia and Brazil and the funding from Newmont/Agnico of those plans, Newmont/Agnico's decision to continue with the Exploration and Option agreement, the ability for Loryser to continue and finalize with the remediation in Uruguay, the ability to implement the Creditors' Agreement successfully as well as continuation of the business of the Company as a going concern and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. The Company's continuance as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain adequate financing, to reach profitable levels of operations and to reach a satisfactory implementation of the Creditor's Agreement in Uruguay. These material uncertainties may cast significant doubt upon the Company's ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business and accordingly the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited, those as described in Section "Risks Factors" of the Company's MDA and the Annual Information Form. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Orosur Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686336/Orosur-Mining-Inc-Announces-Second-Quarter-Results-for-202122
PARIS, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / SafeHeal, a leading innovator in the field of digestive surgery and developer of the Colovac device, announced today a successful 40M financing, co-led by Sofinnova Partners and Genesis MedTech Group. Sofinnova Partners is a leading venture capital firm based in Paris, London, and Milan and a historic shareholder in the company. Genesis MedTech is a medical device company headquartered in Singapore.

SafeHeal's Colovac device is a temporary flexible endoluminal bypass sheath used for patients undergoing colectomies. It is designed to eliminate the need for diverting ostomies, the current standard of care. The Colovac solution addresses the most serious complication of colorectal surgery - anastomotic leakage, the leaking of fecal content in the abdominal cavity, which can lead to sepsis or even death. Leakage is typically managed by placing a diverting ostomy to protect the surgical anastomosis during healing and is surgically closed 3 to 6 months after the initial surgery. Colovac is a temporary endoluminal anastomosis protection device, placed in lieu of the ostomy, and removed endoscopically after 10 days. If the patient is leak-free at that time, he or she can resume a normal life, without the need for a diverting ostomy, representing a significant improvement to the recovery process and quality of life.

Following the positive outcomes of its first clinical studies, SafeHeal will use the proceeds from this financing to accelerate the company's investigational device exemption (IDE) pivotal clinical trial, SAFE-2, for which initiation has already been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). SAFE-2 is a prospective, randomized pivotal study, that will be conducted at leading medical centers in the U.S. and Europe and aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Colovac to support future regulatory approval in the U.S.

"This financing operation enables SafeHeal to bring Colovac one step closer to becoming a standard of care for patients," said Karl-Heinz Blohm, Chief Executive Officer of SafeHeal. "The initiation of the SAFE-2 trial represents a significant milestone for the company. We are grateful for the continuing support from Sofinnova Partners and delighted to welcome Genesis MedTech as a new investor and board member."

"This collaboration will accelerate the development of this world-class endoluminal bypass sheath, benefiting both patients and practitioners," said Warren Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis MedTech Group.

"This round of financing marks the beginning of a new phase in SafeHeal's strategic development. The company has come a long way since it was founded by the MD Start II team, which now leads Sofinnova's in-house medtech accelerator, and I look forward to its continued growth," said Antoine Papiernik, Chairman and Managing Partner of Sofinnova Partners.

ABOUT SAFEHEAL

SafeHeal is an early-stage medical device company in Paris and created in 2015. The company develops Colovac, a device invented by a French digestive surgeon, Dr. Charam Khosrovani, to obviate the need for a digestive ostomy in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. The device is a flexible bypass sheath, intended to reduce any contact of fecal content at the anastomotic level, following colorectal surgery. Colovac is seamless, minimally invasive, and fully reversible. The device remains in place for 10 days, after which it is removed during an endoscopic procedure, without the need for a second surgical intervention. This enables patients to resume their normal life without having to bear an artificial anus or stoma for several months. SafeHeal was founded by MD Start II.

ABOUT GENESIS MEDTECH

Genesis MedTech Group is a medical device company headquartered in Singapore. Founded by a group of professionals and entrepreneurs with MedTech experience globally and in Asia, the company's product portfolio focuses on value segment multi-therapy medical device products for emerging markets with sales and distribution through its established commercial network. Genesis MedTech Group covers the entire industry value chain of research and development, production, quality management, supply chain, marketing, and sales.

ABOUT SOFINNOVA PARTNERS

Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical, and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners is a hands-on company builder across the entire value chain of life sciences investments, from seed to later-stage. The firm actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop transformative innovations that have the potential to positively impact our collective future.

Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is a deeply-established venture capital firm in Europe, with 50 years of experience backing over 500 companies and creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over 2.5 billion under management. For more information, please visit: www.sofinnovapartners.com



MEDIA CONTACTS

Karl-Heinz Blohm

CEO of SafeHeal

kblohm@safeheal.com

+33 (0) 6 5181 7895

North America

RooneyPartners LLC

Kate Barrette

kbarrette@rooneypartners.com

+1 212 223 0561

France

StrategiesImage

Anne Rein

anne.rein@strategiesimage.com

+33 (0) 6 03 35 92 05

SOURCE: Sofinnova Partners

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686200/SafeHeal-Closes-40-Million-Financing-Co-Led-by-Sofinnova-Partners-and-Genesis-MedTech-To-Finance-Its-Colovac-Device-Through-a-Pivotal-Clinical-Trial-in-the-United-States
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.
Addition of Complementary Product Portfolio Expands European Capabilities and Extends Reach into Attractive Coatings and Electronics Markets

Vertellus, a manufacturer of specialty materials for various personal care, performance coatings, polymer additives, healthcare and food beverage markets, today announced it has acquired Polyscope Polymers B.V. ("Polyscope"), a global leader in specialty additives for coatings, electronics applications and engineering polymers. With the addition of Polyscope's complementary product portfolio and advanced manufacturing capabilities, Vertellus expands its European production capabilities and extends its reach in high-growth end markets.

Polyscope is a global leader in the development and production of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers necessary for product applications across the electronic, automotive and specialty coatings ink markets. With its innovative technology and engineering capabilities, Polyscope is well-positioned to capitalize on growth in these expanding markets. Polyscope operates a state-of-the-art production facility strategically located in Geleen, The Netherlands, and serves as a key partner to more than 300 customers across over 35 countries.

John Van Hulle, CEO of Vertellus, said, "Polyscope adds a complementary portfolio of high-quality solutions, a track record of innovation and a world-class global platform in attractive end markets to Vertellus. Together we will serve our customers with a unique product offering and our shared value-driven approach. I am pleased to welcome the Polyscope team to Vertellus."

Patrick Muezers, Polyscope CEO, said, "Vertellus is the ideal partner to support the company's next phase of growth and innovation. We will be able to leverage Vertellus' global resources, capabilities and strong market leadership to better serve our customers and bring our high-quality products to additional customers throughout our markets."

Thomas Chadwick, Principal at Pritzker Private Capital, added, "This highly strategic acquisition strengthens Vertellus' global platform and positions the combined company for growth. We look forward to continuing to support the Vertellus and Polyscope teams as they serve customers with innovative, high-quality products and services."

Indianapolis-based Vertellus is owned by Pritzker Private Capital and management.

About Vertellus

Vertellus is a leading global manufacturer of specialty materials and key ingredients for fundamental consumer necessities. With a growing portfolio of solutions, Vertellus is dedicated to becoming the preferred global supplier of specialty ingredients and innovative materials that enhance quality of life, support health and wellness and enable customers to deliver value-added solutions. Vertellus technology can be found in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, nutraceuticals, food beverages, performance coatings, transportation additives and more. Headquartered in Indianapolis and founded in 1857, Vertellus has more than 1,300 employees across 15 international research and manufacturing facilities. Vertellus is a Responsible Care company. For more information, visit www.vertellus.com.

About Polyscope

Polyscope is a global leader in the research, development, and production of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers, a vital material for product applications in high-growth electronics, automotive, coatings and inks end markets. The company offers a broad range of SMA and SMANPMI co- and terpolymers and compounds for engineering plastic and specialty chemical applications under the trade names XIRAN and XILOY. Polyscope's global customer base is supported by production and research development conducted in Geleen, The Netherlands, and with local compounding, contract manufacturing facilities and sales and marketing support in Europe, North America, and Asia. For more information, see www.polyscope.eu.

About Pritzker Private Capital

Pritzker Private Capital partners with middle-market companies based in North America with leading positions in the manufactured products and services sectors. The firm's differentiated, long-duration capital base allows for efficient decision-making, broad flexibility with transaction structure and investment horizon, and alignment with all stakeholders. Pritzker Private Capital builds businesses for the long term and is an ideal partner for entrepreneur and family owned companies. Pritzker Private Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). For more information, visit www.ppcpartners.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005283/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Abernathy MacGregor

Dan Scorpio Kyla MacLennan

(312) 640-3111 646.939.3062

dps@abmac.com kam@abmac.com
Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2022) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQX: RYES) (the "Company") announces that it has completed the non-brokered private placement announced in its January 13, 2022, news release (the "Private Placement").

Rise Gold raised a total of US$2,407,000 through the sale of 6,017,500 units (each a "Unit") at a price of US$0.40 per Unit where each Unit consists of one share of common stock (a "Share") and one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of US$0.60 until January 28, 2024.

A corporate entity owned by Michael Gentile, subscribed for 1,680,000 units of the financing. Michael Gentile is considered one of the leading strategic investors in the junior mining sector, owning significant top 5 stakes in over 15 small-cap mining companies. Michael is currently a strategic advisor to Arizona Metals (AMC-V) and a director of Northern Superior Resources (SUP-V), Roscan Gold (ROS-V), Radisson Mining Resources (RDS-V) and Solstice Gold (SGC-V). Michael recently co-founded Bastion Asset Management, an investment management firm based out of Montreal, Quebec.

Ben Mossman, President and CEO, stated, "We are pleased to have Michael make this investment in Rise Gold initiating a strategic relationship that will contribute to the success of the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project."

Michael Gentile, CFA, added, "I've paid close attention to Rise Gold's exploration and permitting efforts towards the re-opening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine. The historical high-grade gold production from the mine and recent exploration results are outstanding. The Idaho-Maryland Mine has significant untapped exploration upside with potential for high grade discoveries. I look forward to working with Rise as a strategic shareholder to maximize the potential of the Idaho-Maryland Mine for the benefit of all shareholders and stakeholders."

As a result of the acquisition of 1,680,000 Units, Michael Gentile beneficially owns ~5.1% of Rise Gold's issued and outstanding Shares and on a partially diluted basis beneficially owns ~9.8% of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares, assuming full exercise of all of his warrants and there being no other issuance of Shares by the Company.

Certain directors of Rise Gold, directly or through entities controlled by them, purchased an aggregate of 2,075,000 Units for gross proceeds of US$830,000. The participation of each of these directors in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Rise Gold is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of section 5.4 of MI 61-101 and minority shareholder approval requirements requirements of section 5.6 of MI 61-101. As the fair market value of the related parties participation is not more than 25% of Rise Gold's market capitalization, the related party transactions are exempt from the formal valuation requirements pursuant to subsection 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 and from the minority approval requirements pursuant to subsection 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. A material change report, as contemplated by the related party transaction requirements under MI 61-101, was not filed more than 21 days prior to closing as the extent of related party participation in the Private Placement was not known until shortly prior to the closing.

All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Under Canadian securities laws the securities are subject to a hold period expiring on May 29th, 2022. Rise Gold will use the proceeds from the Private Placement for the advancement of the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project and for general working capital.

The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

About Rise Gold Corp.

Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Benjamin Mossman

President, CEO and Director

Rise Gold Corp.

For further information, please contact:

RISE GOLD CORP.

Suite 215, 333 Crown Point Circle

Grass Valley, CA 95945

T: 530.433.0188

info@risegoldcorp.com

www.risegoldcorp.com

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/112041
SYDNEY, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Schools in Australia's worst-hit states in the COVID-19 pandemic are on track to reopen from Monday amid the surge of infections.

The state of Victoria reported 10,053 new COVID-19 infections and another eight deaths on Monday. There are 873 patients being treated in hospitals.

As students in the state set to return for Term 1 this week, all staff and students are encouraged to practice COVID-19 safe measures.

Surveillance testing will be strongly recommended in education settings. Victorian Deputy Premier and Education Minister James Merlino said more than 6 million rapid antigen tests will be delivered by Monday.

Students in Grade 3 and above are required to wear masks indoors. Teachers will be required to wear masks at all times when not actively teaching or communicating with students.

School staff who have not had a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine also have been warned that they must be jabbed by mid-March.

Meanwhile, Premier of New South Wales (NSW) state Dominic Perrottet said on Monday that parents in the state are set to get a 500-Australian-dollar (350-U.S. dollar) voucher for each primary school child to help with school care costs.

"We know that parents, this pandemic has been incredibly tough, balancing homeschooling with work, we want to do whatever we can to the daily job," said Perrottet.

As the epicentre of Australia's current wave of pandemic, NSW recorded 13,026 cases and 27 deaths on Monday with 2,779 hospitalisations.

The state of Queensland, where students will return to school from next Monday, also revealed its back-to-school plan last Sunday.

With the new regulation to begin on Feb. 7, masks will be mandatory for high school students and "strongly encouraged" from Grade 3 upwards.

Queensland will not, as NSW and Victoria, require regular COVID-19 tests of school kids, but rapid antigen test kits will be available to parents if their children show symptoms. If parents aren't comfortable administering the test, they can take their kids to a state testing clinic, where they'll receive priority treatment so they don't have to queue. 
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / Amarc Resources Ltd. ("Amarc" or the "Company") (TSXV:AHR)(OTCQB:AXREF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Roy Greig, PhD, P.Geo., of C.J. Greig & Associates Ltd. ("Greig & Associates") as its new Vice President, Exploration. The appointment of Dr. Greig strengthens Amarc's leadership team and enhances the Company's existing relationship with Greig & Associates, one of Canada's premier minerals exploration and discovery groups. Greig & Associates will be assisting with Amarc's initiatives to explore and develop its three expansive, 100%-owned porphyry Cu-Au districts in British Columbia ("BC"), Canada.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome Dr. Roy Greig to the Amarc team," said Amarc President & CEO, Diane Nicolson. "Roy's extensive background in mineral exploration and his expertise in porphyry copper-gold systems is an ideal complement to our existing capabilities, and further strengthens the Company's outstanding track record for the discovery and advancement of porphyry copper deposits in North America."

Dr. Roy Greig's professional experience spans a wide variety of base and precious metals deposits in Alaska, Yukon, BC, Ontario, Arizona, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Eritrea. His experience encompasses grassroots through to advanced stage exploration. He made important contributions at the world-class, high-grade Au Brucejack (Pretium Resources), the Cu-Au Filo del Sol (Filo Mining), the Saddle North porphyry Cu-Au and the Saddle South epithermal Au (GT Gold) deposits. Dr. Greig received his PhD from the University of Arizona in 2021, with sponsorship from a consortium including Freeport McMoRan, Anglo American and Newmont.

As VP-Exploration, Dr. Greig will be responsible for overseeing all of Amarc's exploration programs, taking over from Canadian Mining Hall of Fame geologist and noted mine-finder Mark Rebagliati, P.Eng, FEC, who is to step back from the day-to-day operations at Amarc but will continue as a technical advisor.

"On behalf of Amarc's Board of Directors, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mark for his contributions to the Company over the years," Nicolson said. "His extraordinary, practical insight into the nature and characteristics of mineral systems, and his ability to design exploration programs to successfully discover and develop deposits, is both rare and valuable in our business."

In addition to appointing a new VP Exploration, Nicolson said Amarc has extended its geological exploration services relationship with Greig & Associates, which was founded and is led by well-known exploration geologist, Charlie Greig. The Greig & Associates team is highly regarded for its porphyry Cu-Au deposit knowledge and discovery track record. Charlie Greig is the recipient of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada's Bill Dennis Award for 2022, as well as the BC Association for Mineral Exploration's H.H. 'Spud' Huestis Award in 2020, for the discovery of GT Gold Corp.'s Saddle North porphyry Cu-Au deposit and Saddle South epithermal Au deposit in northwest BC. Amarc will benefit from increased access to Greig & Associates' high-quality geological and related services to advance Amarc's three major BC porphyry Cu-Au districts.

In addition Amarc's highly-credentialed exploration team continues to benefit from the insight and experience of Executive Chairman, economic geologist and Canadian Mining Hall of Fame member Robert Dickinson, as well as President & CEO Dr. Diane Nicolson, who has led successful exploration teams globally.

About Amarc Resources Ltd.

Amarc is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced and successful management team focused on developing a new generation of long-life, high-value porphyry Cu-Au mines in BC. By combining high-demand projects with dynamic management, Amarc has created a solid platform to create substantial value from its exploration and development-stage assets.

Amarc is advancing its 100%-owned IKE, DUKE and JOY porphyry CuAu districts located in different prolific porphyry districts in southern, central and northern BC, respectively. Each district represents significant potential for the development of multiple and important-scale, porphyry CuAu deposits. Importantly each of the three districts is located in proximity to industrial infrastructure - including power, highways and rail.

Amarc is associated with HDI, a diversified, global mining company with a 30-year history of porphyry discovery and development success. Previous and current HDI projects include some of BC's and the world's most important porphyry deposits - such as Pebble, Mount Milligan, Southern Star, Kemess South, Kemess North, Gibraltar, Prosperity, Xietongmen, Newtongmen, Florence, Casino, Sisson, Maggie, IKE and Pine. From its head office in Vancouver, Canada, HDI applies its unique strengths and capabilities to acquire, develop, operate and monetize mineral projects.

Amarc works closely with local governments, Indigenous groups and other stakeholders in order to advance its mineral projects responsibly, and in a manner that contributes to sustainable community and economic development. We pursue early and meaningful engagement to ensure our mineral exploration and development activities are well coordinated and broadly supported, address local priorities and concerns, and optimize opportunities for collaboration. In particular, we seek to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups within whose traditional territories our projects are located, through the provision of jobs, training programs, contract opportunities, capacity funding agreements and sponsorship of community events. All Amarc work programs are carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental and social performance.

For further details on Amarc Resources Ltd., please visit the Company's website at www.amarcresources.com or contact Dr. Diane Nicolson, President and CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMARC RESOURCES LTD.

Dr. Diane Nicolson

President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor any other regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking and other Cautionary Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All such statements, other than statements of historical facts that address exploration plans and plans for enhanced relationships are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, as well as risks relating to the uncertainties with respect to the effects of COVID-19. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc Resources Ltd., investors should review Amarc's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Amarc Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686216/Amarc-Appoints-Dr-Roy-Greig-PGeo-As-Its-New-VP-Exploration
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(FRA:TX0)(OTCQX:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the 2022 drilling program commenced on January 20th to test the Campbell Shear south of the Con Mine Property which was recently optioned from Newmont Canada FN Holdings ULC and Miramar Northern Mining Ltd., both wholly owned subsidiaries of Newmont Corporation. The proposed 2022 drilling area is shown in Figure 1. Drilling will continue to test the down dip extension of the Yellorex Zone mineralization where recent drill hole GTCM21-022 intersected two high-grade zones of 19.74g/t gold ("Au") over 5.44 metres and a second wider zone of 4.16 g/t Au over 11.23 metres including 10.12 g/t Au over 3.73 metres (see January 11, 2022 news release). Assays are currently pending for the last four holes of the 2021 drilling program, GTCM21-023 to 026.

Chairman and CEO, Gerald Panneton, commented, "The 2022 drilling targeting the Campbell Shear is our highest priority area to potentially add high grade ounces to our current YCG resource. The proposed 2022 drilling program will be targeting the deeper extension of the Campbell shear at depth of -1000 metres below surface in the direct extension of the past producing Con Mine. A second drill will be added to the program to continue the definition of the Yellorex zone on a 50 metre spacing.

Drilling Program Highlights

Figure 1 - Campbell Shear 2022 Drilling Program, Long Section (looking West)

The 2022 drilling program is a continuation of successful drilling that has defined gold mineralization in the Campbell Shear. In 2021 the drill program completed 12,687 metres in 26 holes targeting the Campbell Shear over a strike length of 3 kilometres immediately south of the former Con between surface and 400 metres below surface

In November 2021, the Company announced a new agreement with Newmont that allows the Company to earn 100% interest on the overall Con Mine property, which represent 100% access to explore the Campbell Shear. The 2022 drill program will continue to target high-grade gold mineralization in the Campbell Shear south of the Con Mine (See November 22, 2021 press release).

The Company intends to drill approximately 20,000 metres in the first half of 2022 and will be adding more drilling as the program is successful. The objective of the drilling is to delineate a high-grade gold mineral resource to add to the Company's current 1.2 million inferred ounces (See the technical report, titled "Technical Report on the 2021 Updated Mineral Resource Estimates, Northbelt Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" with an effective date of March 14, 2021, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and ultimately advance towards an economic study.

Campbell Shear Structure

Figure 2 - Campbell Shear

At the former Con Mine, the Campbell Shear, shown in Figure 2, hosted 5.1 of the 6 million ounces produced between 1938-2005. The Campbell Shear zone is within secondary and tertiary structures associated with a large district-scale structure, the Yellowknife River Fault Zone ("YRFZ"), that straddles the YCG property over 67 kms of strike length on the southern and northern extensions. The YRFZ is thought to be the extent equivalent of other prolific gold camps in the Abitibi, such as the Destor-Porcupine and the Larder Lake-Cadillac Fault zones. The Campbell Shear zone and associated structures such as the Con Shear are exceptional due to the high-grade nature of the lode deposits (approximately 20 g/t Au at the Con Shear, and 15 g/t at the Campbell Shear).

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Gold Terra's Yellowknife City Gold Project

The YCG project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell shear, where 14 Moz of gold has been produced, and most recently on the Con Mine Option claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine (1938-2003).

The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com.

For more information, please contact:

Gerald Panneton, Chairman and CEO

gpanneton@goldterracorp.com

Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations

Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102

Strazdins@goldterracorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by 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 statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear on the Newmont Con Mine Option potentially adding high grade ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, future planned drilling on the Con Mine Option area and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. 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. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686324/Gold-Terra-Begins-2022-Drilling-Program-on-High-Grade-Campbell-Shear-Extension-South-of-the-Past-Producing-Con-Mine-NWT
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / Adcore Inc. (the "Company" or "Adcore") (TSX:ADCO)(OTCQX:ADCOF)(FSE:ADQ)(TSX:ADCO-WT), a leading e-commerce advertising management and automation platform to leverage digital marketing in an effortless and accessible way ("Effortless Marketing"), today announced that it has renewed its advertising contract with the Israeli Government Advertising Agency ("IGAA") for the fifth year at a potential value of CAD$25 million in ad-spend.

Adcore won in 2018 a tender of the IGAA to manage, jointly with Maple Team Ltd., a potential budget of CAD$125 million in online advertising spend over five years. The contract is renewable annually without requirement of further government tendering. During the time Adcore managed the IGAA's international digital marketing activity, prior to the pandemic, visitor arrivals to Israel increased by 25% to a yearly record of 4.5 million. On January 9th, 2022, Israel reopened its borders to vaccinated Americans and other vaccinated tourists from several other key countries.

Omri Brill, Founder and CEO of Adcore, commented, "We are extremely pleased to announce the renewal of our contract with the IGAA, a highly valued client of ours. Israel has long been a favorite vacation and tourism destination and we're pleased to support the IGAA's digital marketing effort bringing tourists to Israel." Mr. Brill added: "The renewal of the contract for the fifth year is a clear vote of confidence by the IGAA in Adcore's technological solutions and level of service. We are optimistic that the recent reopening of Israel's borders will be reflected in the IGAA ad spend and lead to a wide growth in tourist entries throughout 2022."

ABOUT ADCORE

Adcore is empowering entrepreneurs, advertisers, and the future of e-commerce through its advertising management and automation platform. By combining extensive industry knowledge and experience with its proprietary artificial intelligence engine, Adcore offers a unique digital marketing solution that empowers entrepreneurs and advertisers by managing and automating their e-commerce store advertising and monitoring and analyzing the performance of their advertising budget to ensure maximum Return on Investment. In addition to being named numerous times on Deloitte's Fast 50 Technology list, Adcore is a certified Google Premier Partner, Microsoft Partner, Facebook Partner and TikTok Partner.

Established in 2006, the Company employs over fifty people in its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel and satellite offices in Toronto, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China.

For more information about Adcore, please visit https://www.adcore.com/investors/.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company, the estimated annual advertising budgets relating to the new contracts referred to herein, further potential renewals of our contract with the IGAA in future years, the actual amount of tourism to Israel in 2022 and the actual amount of ad spend in 2022 and future years pursuant to this contract. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including, but not limited to, the actual advertising budgets relating to the new contracts referred to herein, travel restrictions imposed by the COVID 19 pandemic and other factors and the actual amount of ad spend in 2022 and in future years pursuant to the contact with IGAA could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

For further information please contact:

ADCORE INC.

https://www.adcore.com/investors/

Martijn van den Bemd,

GM North America

Telephone: 647-497-5337

Email: martijn@adcore.com

U.S. Investor Relations

John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau

IMS Investor Relations

Telephone: 203-972-9200

Email: jnesbett@imsinvestorrelations.com

SOURCE: Adcore Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686285/Adcore-Announces-Contract-Renewal-with-Israel-Government-Advertising-Agency-with-a-Potential-Annual-Budget-of-25-Million
Bedfont's NObreath monitor for airway inflammation has been cleared for sale in the USA

MAIDSTONE, England, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UK, med-tech company, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., is celebrating a brighter 2022 as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared its NObreath FeNO monitor for use in monitoring airway inflammation.

The NObreath, which conforms to ATS and ERS guidelines1, is a portable, non-invasive device for the measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in human breath. The production of nitric oxide is often found to be increased in inflammatory conditions such as asthma.

The NObreath works by measuring FeNO through breath analysis, making the process quick, simple, and non-invasive for both the Healthcare Professional and the patient. Interpreting FeNO levels aids in identifying patients who do/do not require ongoing treatment2 whilst also differentiating between allergic (eosinophilic) and non-allergic asthma3, and if used daily, FeNO measurements can help to predict and prevent exacerbations and attacks4.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, "NObreath has been available outside the US for over 12 years now, we have been working towards FDA clearance for quite some time and we are over the moon to have received it. We are one step closer to achieving our purpose; to make FeNO monitoring lower cost and therefore more accessible globally. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), around 25 million Americans suffer from asthma; that's a potential 25 million people that the NObreath can help through FeNO monitoring."

REFERENCES

ATS/ERS Recommendations for Standardized Procedures for the Online and Offline Measurement of Exhaled Lower Respiratory Nitric Oxide and Nasal Nitric Oxide, 2005; American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine; vol. 171: 912-930;2005 Andrew D. Smith , Jan O. Cowan , Sue Filsell , Chris MacLachlan , Gabrielle Monti-Sheehan , Pamela Jackson and D. Robin Taylor . Diagnosing Asthma: Comparisons between Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements and Conventional Tests. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 169. pp 473-478, 2004. Coumou HBel E. Improving the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma [Internet]. Taylor and Francis online. 2017 [cited 21 December 2021 ]. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17476348.2017.1236688 Harkins M. Exhaled Nitric Oxide Predicts Asthma Exacerbation [Internet]. Taylor & Francis. 2017 [cited 21 December 2021 ]. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1081/JAS-120033990

COMPANY DETAILS:

Managing Director: Mr Jason Smith

Registered Office: Station Yard, Station Road, Harrietsham, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1JA, United Kingdom

Company Registration No: 1289798 (England & Wales)

Website: www.bedfont.com

Established in 1976, Bedfont Scientific Limited is a second-generation family company that has specialised in the design and manufacture of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments for medical applications, globally, for over 40 years. Bedfont is revered as a pioneer in the breath analysis market with their products now available in over 76 countries across the world thanks to their unprecedented network of appointed distributors. Their aim is to continue innovating and improving health worldwide.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736981/Bedfont_Scientific_NObreath_FeNO_Monitor.jpg
$10.0 Million Private Placement Added to Previously Announced Rights Offering

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES

OAKVILLE, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / Spark Power Group Inc. (TSX:SPG), parent company of Spark Power Corp. ("Spark Power" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has completed the previously announced rights offering (the "Rights Offering"), which expired at 5:00 pm (Toronto time) on January 26, 2022.

Upon closing of the Rights Offering, Spark Power issued approximately 24.7 million common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of $1.20per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $29.6 million. Pursuant to the terms of the Rights Offering, each eligible shareholder was entitled to subscribe for 0.4393346119 of a Common Share for every right held by such shareholder.

An aggregate of 14,123,786 Common Shares were issued under the basic subscription privilege. Of these Common Shares, 5,874,961 were distributed to persons who are insiders of Spark Power and 8,248,825 Common Shares were issued to the remaining subscribers under the basic subscription privilege.

An aggregate of 2,191,568 Common Shares were distributed under the additional subscription privilege. Of these Common Shares, 1,217 were distributed to persons who are insiders of Spark Power and 2,190,351 Common Shares were issued to the remaining subscribers under the additional subscription privilege.

As previously announced in the Company's press release dated December 15, 2021, in connection with the Rights Offering, the Company entered into standby guarantee agreements (the "Standby Agreements") with certain holders of promissory notes (the "First Standby Guarantors") and Red Jar Capital Corp.("Red Jar") (a company jointly controlled by Jason Sparaga, Andrew Clark and Eric Waxman). The First Standby Guarantors acquired an aggregate of 3,858,779 Common Shares pursuant to their Standby Agreements. Red Jar acquired an aggregate of 10,166,667 Common Shares, pursuant to the exercise of its rights and the acquisition of 4,500,000 Common Shares under its standby commitment under the Rights Offering.

As of the closing date, the Company currently has 89,941,701 Common Shares issued and outstanding, reflecting the 24,674,133 Common Shares issued pursuant to the Rights Offering and the 8,333,333 Common Shares issued in the Private Placement (as described below).

Spark Power has used a portion of the net proceeds to (i) repay certain indebtedness under the various promissory notes held by the First Standby Guarantors in connection with past acquisitions and (ii) to satisfy an earn-out payment that is owing by the Company. Spark Power also intends to use certain net proceeds to reduce its line of credit to support working capital purposes.

Private Placement

The Company is also pleased to announce the closing of a non-brokered private placement ("Private Placement") of 8,333,333 Common Shares issued at a price of $1.20 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $10 million. The entire Private Placement was subscribed for by funds managed by Stornoway Portfolio Management Inc. ("Stornoway").

"We are proud to partner with the Spark team and support the Company's revitalization," said Scott Reid, President and Chief Investment Officer of Stornoway. "This fresh capital significantly strengthens Spark's balance sheet and provides it with the financial flexibility to capitalize on its many opportunities to create shareholder value."

All Common Shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date of the Private Placement, in accordance with applicable securities law.

Spark Power intends to use the proceeds of the Private Placement to reduce its line of credit to support working capital purposes.

"We are extremely pleased with the results of the Rights Offering and the additional capital from the Private Placement," said Jason Sparaga, Co-Founder and Board Chair of Spark Power. "This $39.6 million equity injection significantly deepens the capital structure of the business, and further enhances our ability to execute our strategic priorities in 2022 and beyond," he added.

"This is an incredible outcome. We are extremely grateful for the continued support of the Company's founders and other existing shareholders, and the additional capital from our new institutional investors," said Richard Jackson, President & CEO of Spark Power. "It is a huge show of confidence in our team and our strategy," he added.

Early Warning Disclosure

Each of Jason Sparaga, Andrew Clark and Eric Waxman (collectively, the "Red Jar Parties") have an understanding at this time that in connection with their investment in the Company they are acting as "joint actors". Mr. Sparaga, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Waxman, together with certain additional shareholders, through Red Jar exercised 12,898,294 Rights for 5,666,667 Common Shares. Red Jar also subscribed for 4,500,000 Common Shares pursuant to its Standby Agreement, resulting in a total of 10,166,667 Common Shares being purchased in connection with the Rights Offering.

Immediately prior to the completion of the Rights Offering, each of Mr. Sparaga and Mr. Clark held 12,012,073 Common Shares and options to purchase 189,000 Common Shares and Mr. Waxman held 1,566,651 Common Shares, options to purchase 308,000 Common Shares and RSUs representing 355,859 Common Shares. In addition to the direct or indirect holdings held by each of Mr. Sparaga, Mr. Clark and Mr. Waxman, they also jointly through Red Jar beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, 1,658,768 Common Shares and 12,937,131 Rights. Collectively, the Red Jar Parties held 27,249,565 Common Shares, or approximately 47.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis.

Following completion of the Rights Offering, each of Mr. Sparaga and Mr. Clark holds 12,012,073 Common Shares and options to purchase 189,000 Common Shares and Mr. Waxman holds 1,566,651 Common Shares, options to purchase 308,000 Common Shares and RSUs representing 355,859 Common Shares. In addition to the direct or indirect holdings held by each of Mr. Sparaga, Mr. Clark and Mr. Waxman, they also jointly through Red Jar beneficially own or exercise control or direction over, 10,166,667 Common Shares, Collectively, the Red Jar Parties now hold 37,416,232 Common Shares, or approximately 41.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company. There shall be no offer or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification of such securities under the laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Spark Power Group Inc.

Spark Power is a leading independent provider of end-to-end electrical contracting, operations and maintenance services, and energy sustainability solutions to the industrial, commercial, utility, and renewable asset markets in North America. We work to earn the right to be our customers' Trusted Partner in PowerTM. Our highly skilled and dedicated people, located in the communities we serve, combined with our knowledge of the power industry, technology expertise, and commitment to safety, ensures we deliver the right solutions that keep our customers' operations up and running today and better equipped for tomorrow. Learn more at www.sparkpowercorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "project", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate" and other similar expressions and includes information regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Rights Offering and the Private Placement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the Company. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set out in the Circular and the Company's AIF, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Media Inquiries:

Kim Samlall, Director, Marketing Communications

media@sparkpowercorp.com

+1 (905) 829-3336 x185

Investor inquiries:

Richard Perri

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

richard.perri@sparkpowercorp.com

+1 (416) 388-4546

SOURCE: Spark Power Group Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686329/Spark-Power-Announces-Closing-of-Combined-396-Million-of-Equity-Financings
Solutions 30, European market leader in solutions for new technologies, announced today the acquisition of 100% of Sirtel Sp. z o.o, a specialist in services dedicated to mobile networks in Poland. With this transaction, Solutions 30 is confirming its ambitions in the Polish market, by strengthening its territorial coverage and its client portfolio in the field of mobile telecommunications networks.

Created in 1996, Sirtel specializes in managing mobile network deployment programs and works with major telecom equipment manufacturers and players including Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei or Cellnex. Based in Warsaw, the company operates in south, west and central Poland with a team of 50 technicians supported by long-term field technicians partners. Sirtel had sales of almost 3 million in 2021 and will be fully consolidated in Solutions 30 Group's financial statements as from February 1, 2021.

This new strategic acquisition is part of Solutions 30 strategy to expand its portfolio and position itself in the 5G market throughout Europe. Sirtel will enable Solutions 30 to broaden its territorial coverage in Poland and will constitute a new base to gain traction in the mobile networks sector, just as the acquisitions of Provisiona, Algor and Comvergent have supported such expansion in Spain, Italy and UK.

Wojciech Pomykala, CEO of Solutions 30 Poland commented, "I am very pleased to welcome the Sirtel teams at this key moment of our expansion in Poland and as we are in front of massive 5G roll-out and further extension of FTTH deployments. This acquisition gives us additional competitive advantage, with complementary skills and assets to strengthen our position in the telecommunications sector and boost our geographical coverage."

About Solutions 30 SE

The Solutions 30 group is the European leader in solutions for new technologies. Its mission is to make the technological developments that are transforming our daily lives accessible to everyone, individuals and businesses alike. Yesterday, it was computers and the Internet. Today, it's digital technology. Tomorrow, it will be technologies that make the world even more interconnected in real time. With more than 30 million call-outs carried out since it was founded and a network of more than 15,700 local technicians, Solutions 30 currently covers all of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Iberian Peninsula, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The share capital of Solutions 30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised.

Solutions 30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange

Contact

Individual Shareholders:

Investor Relations - Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63 - shareholders@solutions30.com

Analysts/Investors:

Nathalie Boumendil - Tel: +33 6 85 82 41 95 - nathalie.boumendil@solutions30.com

Press - Image 7:

Leslie Jung - Tel: +44 7818 641803 - ljung@image7.fr

Charlotte Le Barbier - Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 - clebarbier@image7.fr

Attachment
Paris - January 31, 2022 - It is with great sadness and emotion that Sodexo announces the passing of its founder and Chairman Emeritus, Pierre Bellon, on January 31, 2022 in Paris, at the age of 92. Pierre Bellon was a visionary entrepreneur who was passionate about management, human development, and the development of companies. He recognized very early on the potential of the service sector. Pierre Bellon founded Sodexo in 1966. Today, the company is a world leader in Quality of Life services. It has a presence in 56 countries, with 412,000 employees caring for 100 million people every day.

Pierre Bellon was a leader ahead of his time. He was a captain of industry with a long-term strategic vision, and at the same time very close to his teams on the ground. He was obsessed with job creation.

Sodexo shares the grief of his wife Nani, of their children Sophie, Nathalie, Francois-Xavier and Astrid, and of their grandchildren.

Sophie Bellon, Chairwoman of Sodexo's Board of Directors and interim CEO, says, "Our father was a builder, a pioneer, a free spirit who was never afraid of taking risks. He raised us, my sisters Nathalie and Astrid, my brother Francois-Xavier and myself, to believe that nothing is impossible. He taught us humility, curiosity, respect and courage. He was obsessed with the long term, but he was also very hands-on. Nothing made him happier than spending time with our teams on site. The mission and values of service spirit, team spirit and spirit of progress which he gave Sodexo are part of our fundamental principles and will continue to guide the Group."

Short biography of Pierre Bellon

Pierre Bellon was born in 1930. He graduated from French business school HEC and began his career in his father's maritime supply company in Marseilles, his hometown. He foresaw the sector's decline and decided to take charge of transforming the family business according to his vision: "to create a convivial experience around the lunch table that enhances quality of life." In 1962, he invented a new business model in France, corporate catering, and created 'Repas Service', a small meal delivery business for the Marseilles area. His perseverance, audacity and appetite for risk allowed him to overcome the many obstacles in his path and found Sodexo in 1966.

"I quickly realized that the only way to satisfy the contradictory expectations of our clients, personnel and shareholders was growth. That's why, even before I founded my company, I decided that it would be a growth company."

Pierre Bellon quickly embraced the challenge of international development to make his vision a reality. Early on, he also chose to diversify towards high-potential opportunities, for example by purchasing the French meal coupon companies Ticket Repas and Cheque Restaurant in the early 1980s. Sodexo's long-term vision and financial independence, controlled by a family holding company, are still among the company's guiding principles. Sodexo experienced rapid, solid growth: the company was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1983 and joined the CAC40 in 1998. Pierre Bellon became a key figure in the service sector, foreseeing that the future of employment and economic development in France lay primarily in those professions.

Beyond his strategic vision, Pierre Bellon's humanist perspective also contributed to the company's success. The human dimension has been at the heart of Sodexo's performance from the very beginning. The desire to have a positive impact in the world and to be a responsible contributor, involved with local communities, has been part of the company's mission from day one. In 1966, it was truly an innovative business concept. Sodexo's profound, avant-garde goal of serving humankind came from Pierre Bellon, and he extended that goal well beyond the borders of his company. He was National President of the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants [Center for Young Business Leaders] from 1968 to 1970, and Vice President of MEDEF (Movement of the Enterprises of France) from 1980 to 2005. In 1987, he founded the Association Progres du Management (APM), which promotes progress in business by supporting the development of business leaders. As Pierre Bellon said, "the APM has become a movement, an "entrepreneurial state of mind" in its own right". In 2011, he created The Pierre Bellon Foundation

for Human Development, recognized today for its public service.

In 2005, Pierre Bellon retired as CEO of Sodexo. He continued in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors until January 2016, when he was succeeded by his daughter Sophie. He then became Chairman Emeritus of Sodexo.

Pierre Bellon was a Commander of the Legion of Honor, the National Order of Merit and the Order of Rio Branco, and a Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit.

He is survived by his wife and four children, and thirteen grandchildren.





About Sodexo

Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 56 countries, Sodexo serves 100 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over more than 50 years of experience: from foodservices, reception, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment management; from services and programs fostering employees' engagement to solutions that simplify and optimize their mobility and expenses management, to in-home assistance, child care centers and concierge services. Sodexo's success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 412,000 employees throughout the world.

Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices.





Key Figures

17.4 billion euro in Fiscal 2021

consolidated revenues

consolidated revenues 412,000 employees as of August 31, 2021

#1 France-based private employer worldwide 56 countries

100 million consumers served daily

12 billion euro in market capitalization

(as of January 5, 2022)

Contacts

Group Media Investors Mathieu Scaravetti

+33 6 28 62 21 91

Mathieu.scaravetti@sodexo.com Virginia Jeanson

+33 1 57 75 80 56

Virginia.jeanson@sodexo.com

Attachment
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2022) - Gold Hunter Resources Inc (CSE: HUNT) ("Gold Hunter" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into two separate agreements arm's length agreements pursuant to which the Company will acquire a 100% interest in eight mineral projects as an option to acquire a 100% interest in an additional one mineral project in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador collectively known as the Rambler and Tilt Cove Projects.

The first agreement is a Property Purchase Agreement made between the Company and Fair Haven Resources Inc. ("Fair Haven") dated January 27, 2022 (the "Fair Haven Acquisition Agreement") pursuant to which the Company will acquire all of Fair Haven's interest in the Rambler and Tilt Cove Projects, and six other projects in consideration for the payment of $250,000 and the issuance of 4,000,000 common shares to the 35 shareholders of Fair Haven, each shareholder receiving a number of common shares in proportion to such shareholder's interest in Fair Haven. The common shares are subject to a four month statutory hold period expiring on May 22, 2022. Fair Haven has retained a 2% net smelter returns royalty on the Property (the "NSR"). The Company holds the right to buy back 50% of the NSR at any time for $1,000,000. In addition, the Company holds a right of first refusal in connection with any proposed sale or transfer of the NSR by Fair Haven. It is anticipated that the closing of the Property Purchase Agreement will occur on or about February 2, 2022.

A 6% finder's fee is payable to Canal Front Investments Inc. in connection with the Fair Haven Acquisition Agreement consisting of $15,000 cash and 240,000 common shares. All shares issued to the Fair Haven shareholders and the finder will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months following closing.

The second agreement is a Property Option Agreement made among the Company and Unity Resources, Gary Lewis, Jerry Jones, Nicholas Rodway, Aubrey Budgell and Paul Delaney (the "Marwan Optionors") dated January 27, 2022 (the "Marwan Option Agreement") pursuant to which the Company has the option to acquire all of the Marwan Optionors' interest in Rambler project by completing a series of cash payments to the Marwan Optionors totaling $1,695,000, issuing 10,300,000 common shares to the Marwan Optionors and incurring $2,500,000 of expenditures, in stages over a period of five years as follows:

(a) pay $15,000 upon signing of the Marwan Option Agreement;

(b) pay $25,000 on or before December 1, 2022;

(c) pay $50,000 on or before December 1, 2023

(d) issue 1,500,000 common shares and incur $800,000 of property expenditures on or before July 1, 2024;

(e) pay $190,000 and issue 2,000,000 common shares on or before December 1, 2024;

(f) pay $415,000 and issue 2,800,000 common shares on or before December 1, 2025; and

(g) pay $1,000,000 and issue 4,000,000 Shares and incur a further $1,700,000 of property expenditures on or before December 1, 2026.

An 8% finder's fee is payable to Canal Front Investments Inc. and Sean Kingsley (each as to 4%) in connection with the Marwan Option Agreement consisting of cash and common shares. The finder's fee will be payable in proportionate increments over the five year span of the Marwan Option Agreement as payments and share issuances are made by the Company. All shares issued to the Marwan Optionors and the finders will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months following the date of issuance.

Richard Macy, President and CEO states: "The two main acquisitions, the Rambler properties, and the Tilt Cove properties represent significant exploration discovery potential for the Company with little to no modern exploration activity having been completed. Both properties have outcropping massive sulphide mineralization at surface located on the property that have yet to be drill tested in modern times. The properties are located under the headframe of previous and currently producing mines. The Company intends to confirm a drilling program in Q2 2022."

Mineral Claims Acquired

Table 1 below sets out the details of the claims comprising A total of eight new projects have been acquired on the Baie Verte Peninsula, Great Northern Peninsula, and Central Newfoundland (See Figure 1 below), including the Rambler and Tilt Cove projects which are located adjacent to known productive VHMS deposits (see Figure 2 below):

Table 1: Schedule 1 - Mineral claims

License Number Property Name Title Holder No. Claims Issue Date License Expiry Date Anniversary Date Area (ha) 011507M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 10 2005-12-22 2025-12-22 2021-12-22 250.00 019026M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 6 2011-05-26 2026-05-26 2023-05-26 150.00 019060M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 5 2011-06-03 2026-06-03 2022-06-03 125.00 025548M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 32 2017-12-07 2022-12-07 2022-12-07 800.00 030871M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 27 2020-06-06 2025-06-06 2023-06-06 675.00 031800M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 23 2020-12-31 2025-12-31 2022-12-31 575.00 019158M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 9 2011-07-31 2026-07-21 2022-07-21 225.00 020510M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 13 2012-10-18 2022-10-18 2023-10-18 325.00 032148M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 30 2021-03-12 2026-03-12 2023-03-12 750.00 031280M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 17 2020-10-11 2025-10-11 2022-10-11 425.00 031281M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 43 2020-10-11 2025-10-11 2022-10-11 1,075.00 031299M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 30 2020-10-17 2025-10-17 2022-10-17 750.00 031300M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 42 2020-10-17 2025-10-17 2022-10-17 1,050.00 031301M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 20 2020-10-17 2025-10-17 2022-10-17 500.00 031498M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 50 2021-05-10 2026-05-10 2022-05-10 1,250.00 032771M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 45 2021-06-19 2026-06-19 2022-06-19 1,125.00 032982M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 26 2021-07-02 2026-07-02 2022-07-02 650.00 032983M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 20 2021-07-02 2026-07-02 2022-07-02 500.00 033160M Fair Haven Fair Haven Resources Inc. 83 2021-07-25 2026-07-25 2022-07-25 2,075.00 025547M Marwan Unity Resources Inc. 19 2017-12-07 2022-12-07 2021-12-07 475.00 025549M Marwan Gary E. Lewis 24 2017-12-07 2022-12-07 2021-12-07 600.00 025552M Marwan Gary E. Lewis 6 2017-12-07 2022-12-07 2022-12-07 150.00 TOTAL 21 580 14,500.00





Figure 1: Gold Hunter Resources Inc. Marwan and Fairhaven Claims Disposition.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8550/112213_50778be484672bad_002full.jpg





Figure 2: The Rambler Project, and Tilt Cove Project Claims disposition and adjacent claims holders in the Baie Verte Peninsula Area, Newfoundland.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8550/112213_50778be484672bad_003full.jpg

The Rambler Project on the Baie Verte Peninsula, proximal to the currently producing Ming Mine, and Rambler Metals and Anaconda's currently producing gold mines. The Project comprises 5 Claims for a total of 3,800 ha. The project is situated along strike from the currently producing Ming Mine with outcropping massive sulphide mineralization and former mine workings on the property. The combined property hosts up to 25 known mineral showings and outcropping massive sulphide mineralization along strike of the operating Ming Mine, and on numerous adjacent mineralized trends. See figure 3 below.

The Tilt Cove Project on the Baie Verte Peninsula adjacent to the previously producing Tilt Cove Mine, and Anaconda Mining Tilt Cove Project. The project comprises 3 mineral claims for a total of 1,300 ha. The project is situated along strike from the historically producing Tilt Cove Mine with outcropping massive sulphide mineralization and former mine workings on the property. The amalgamated property hosts up to seven known mineral showings and a 1.5 km of mineralized corridor joining the Tilt Cove mine with Anaconda's Tilt Cove project. See figure 4 below.





Figure 3: Rambler Project claims disposition, over regional Geology and known mineral showings.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8550/112213_50778be484672bad_004full.jpg





Figure 4: Tilt Cove Project claims disposition, over regional Geology and known mineral showings

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8550/112213_50778be484672bad_005full.jpg

The additional properties acquired occur in proximity of known mineral showing and various developed projects and historically significant projects. Further work on these properties is anticipated during 2022 to adequately evaluate the prospectivity of the respective projects.

Jacksons Arm west on the Great Northern Peninsula.

Sops Arm (West) on the Great Northern Peninsula, adjacent to historically producing Browning Gold Mine.

Taylors Pond on the Great Northern Peninsula, adjacent to Taylors Pond Project.

Badger (North and South) in Central Newfoundland.

Noel Paul (East) in Central Newfoundland.

Harmsworth (West) in Central Newfoundland.

Qualified Person

Qualified Person: Luke van der Meer, P.Geo is an independent consultant for the Company and an Independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure of Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About the Company

The Company is engaged in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral property assets in Canada. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on the Cameron Lake East Project. The Issuer's sole property is the Cameron Lake East Project, located in the Kenora Mining Division of northwestern Ontario, 75 km southeast of the town of Kenora.

For more information, please refer to the Company's Prospectus dated January 21, 2021 available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), under the Company's profile.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ "Richard Macey"

Richard Macey, President, Chief Executive

Officer and Director

Contact:

Richard Macey, President

Phone: (604) 290-6152

Email: rich.macey@yahoo.com





The offered securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the offered securities in any jurisdiction.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept 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/112213
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2022) - World Copper Ltd. (TSXV: WCU) (OTCQB: WCUFF) ("World Copper" or the "Company"), announces that Mr. Nolan Peterson has been appointed the duties and title of President in addition to his current role as Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Patrick Burn resigned as President as of January 31, 2022 and will remain as a member of World Copper's Board of Directors.

Henk van Alphen, World Copper's Chairman stated, "Since his appointment as CEO in April 2021 shareholders should be pleased with the Company's performance and Mr. Peterson has set the Company on a trajectory for even greater future successes. The Board has consolidated the roles of CEO and President in recognition of our full confidence in Mr. Peterson's ability to articulate and advance the Company's strategic vision. We thank Mr. Burns for his service as President and he will remain a valuable member of our Board."

PRESENTATION AT THE LONDON SOUTHEAST LIVE WEBINAR

President and CEO, Nolan Peterson will be presenting at the London Southeast Live Webinar on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. London South East hosts some of the UK's largest webinars. Join four CEOs, and a substantial investor audience for this event.

Register at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8716431930253/WN_ZJVzMqdWTgWYBetrouIuFg

Nolan Peterson will be presenting for World Copper at 11:30 PST (2:30 EST/7:30GMT). The full webinar will start at 10:00 PST (1:00 EST/6:00GMT).

PRESENTATION AT TH GCFF VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

President and CEO, Nolan Peterson will be presenting at the GCFF Virtual Conference 2022 - Base Metals & Energy Metals Day; a free online event to be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Featuring some of the most promising mineral exploration companies in the market today, the event is expecting over 400 English and Chinese speaking live attendees.

Register at:

https://gcff-2022-feb-9.eventbrite.ca/?aff=WCU.

Nolan Peterson's presentation starts at 10:55am PST (1:55pm EST).

GRANT OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

Pursuant to the Company's 2021 incentive stock option plan, the Company has granted incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase up to 4,585,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company. The options are exercisable on or before February 1, 2024 at a price of $0.91 per share.

ENGAGEMENT OF LAKEFRONT MEDIA SERVICES

The Company announces that it has engaged Lakefront Media Services to provide marketing and investor outreach services as of January 31, 2022. Lakefront will be compensated $85,000 for a term of 1 - year.

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.

About Escalones

The Escalones porphyry-skarn copper-gold project has estimated inferred resources of 426 million tonnes of 0.367% total copper within the oxidized zone, based on nearly 25,000m of drill core from 53 holes. The 3.45 billion pounds of copper should be amenable to heap leaching with an average recovery of 71%. The Company is focused on exploring the Mancha Amarilla target immediately to the south of the existing resource. In addition, three significant hydrothermal alteration zones, each measuring between 2,000m and 3,000m in diameter, lie 8-10km to the north of the main discovery.

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. Inferred resources are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. It is reasonably expected that the inferred resources could be upgraded to indicated resources with continued exploration.

About Zonia

The Zonia project is in Yavapai County, Arizona, and consists of 261 mineral claims and additional surface rights, all totaling 4,279.55 acres. It is a near-surface, copper-oxide resource and a brownfields site having already been mined in the late 1960s and '70s. The Project is at the PEA level and has been significantly de-risked with over 50,000 metres of drilling completed to date and with substantial amounts of detailed engineering completed. Further details can be found here.

The World Copper team has a unique skill in navigating the mining sector within Chile, with some members having worked in the country for more than 40 years and with discovery success.

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

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 including, without limitation, that Cardero Shareholders will approve the Arrangement, that Cardero will be successful in obtaining the Final Order, the expected completion date of the Arrangement, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company are forward-looking statements. Although the Company 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. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that Cardero and the Company will receive all necessary approvals for the Arrangement, market fundamentals will result in sustained copper demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Company's Chilean projects in a timely manner, including the Escalones project and the Cristal project, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company's projects and its ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to 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, requirements for additional capital, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, including on the Escalones project and the Cristal project, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the fact that the Company's interests in the Cristal project and the Escalones exploitation concessions are options only and there is no guarantee that such interests, if earned, will be certain, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company 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 the company's continuous disclosure documents. All of the Company'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. The Company 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/112230
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2022) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces it has approved the grant of 577,500 incentive stock options (each an "Option") to acquire common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share"), to certain directors, officers, employees, advisors and consultants. The Options are exercisable until January 31, 2027 at a price of $0.94 per Option and are subject to varying vesting provisions. Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the Options, will be subject to a four month hold period expiring on June 1, 2022, unless waived by the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Kuya Silver Corporation

Telephone: (604) 398-4493

info@kuyasilver.com

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "potential," "progress," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/112235
Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks at a Security Council meeting on Ukraine at UN Headquarters in New York on Jan. 31, 2022. Vassily Nebenzia said Monday that his country has no plans to invade Ukraine. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Monday that his country has no plans to invade Ukraine.

"This deployment of Russian troops in our own territory is getting our Western and U.S. colleagues to say that there's going to be a planned military action and even an act of aggression ... A military action of Russia against Ukraine that they're all assuring us is going to take place in just a few weeks, if not a few days," he told the Security Council. "There, however, is no proof confirming such a serious accusation whatsoever being put forward. However, it is not preventing people from whipping up hysteria to such an extent that an actual economic impact is already being felt by our Ukrainian neighbors."

"Our Western colleagues are talking about the need for de-escalation. However, first and foremost, they themselves are whipping up tensions and rhetoric and provoking escalation," he said. "This is despite the fact that we are constantly rejecting these allegations, and this is despite the fact that no threat of a planned invasion into Ukraine from the lips of any Russian politician or public figure over all of this period -- no such threat has been made. Rather, at all levels, we've been categorically rejecting such plans."

Monday's open meeting on Ukraine was requested by the United States. Russia failed to block the meeting as 10 members of the council agreed to proceed in a procedural vote.

The Russian ambassador accused the United States of hypocrisy in requesting the meeting.

"The maneuvers of the U.S. regarding the convening of this meeting is particularly hypocritical because it was the Americans who hold the record for having troop presence outside their territory. American troops, advisers, and weapons, including nuclear weapons, are frequently deployed thousands of kilometers from Washington," said Nebenzia. "I'm not even talking about the fact that the military adventures of the U.S. have killed hundreds of thousands of civilians in places where they were supposed to be bringing peace and democracy. The U.S. consistently, including over recent years, has used force against other states without the authorization of the UN Security Council."

The United States has 175,000 troops deployed abroad, including more than 60,000 in Europe. The U.S. military budget is 12 times higher than Russia's, he said. 
Moglix, a Singapore-based Global marketplace for Business & Industrial supplies, raised $250m in Series F funding at a $2.6 billion post-money valuation.

This round was led by Tiger Global and Alpha Wave Global with Ward Ferry coming on board as a new investor

The company, which has now raised $470 million in total funding to date, intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by Rahul Garg, CEO & Founder, Moglix is a B2B marketplace and procurement platform for manufacturing goods focused on B2B procurement of industrial supplies, in particular, MRO, Safety, Electrical & Lighting, Cleaning & Laundry Supplies, Office Supplies, Tools and other industry essentials.

The company is 880+ strong and headquartered in Singapore with a warehouse and logistics network, providing procurement services across India, Europe, SEA, UK and UAE.

Moglix has offices in Noida, India, and Abu Dhabi, UAE.

FinSMEs

31/01/2022
Chakri Gottemukkala, co-founder and CEO, o9 Solutions

o2 Solutions, a Dallas TX-based provider of an AI-powered Integrated Business Planning platform, raised $295M in funding at a valuation of $2.7 Billion.

The round was led by General Atlantic, BeyondNetZero, Generation Investment Management and KKR.



The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth for its platform across industry verticals and markets and drive continued innovation in R&D, industry knowledge models and partner ecosystem development.



Led by Chakri Gottemukkala, CEO, and Sanjiv Sidhu, Chairman and Co-Founder, o9 Solutions offers an AI-powered Planning, Analytics & Data platform called the Digital Brain that helps companies across industry verticals transform traditionally slow and siloed planning into smart, integrated and intelligent planning and decision making across core supply chain, commercial and P&L functions.



FinSMEs

31/01/2022
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.
LAGOS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police said on Monday that 32 people kidnapped by bandits have been freed in different parts of the northwestern state of Zamfara.

Mohammed Shehu, the spokesperson for Zamfara police, told reporters in a press briefing in Gusau, the state's capital city, that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, rescued the victims who were abducted in Niger, Katsina, and Zamfara State respectively.

According to him, the victims were rescued between last Wednesday and Sunday.

He said the released victims will be medically checked and debriefed before being reunited with their respective families.

There have been a series of gunmen attacks in northern Nigeria in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings. 
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Its official  the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium is now serving the entire Evergreen state.

For years, the Cancer Consortium  composed of Fred Hutch, the University of Washington, Seattle Childrens and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  has served a catchment, or service area, of 13 Puget Sound counties, home to approximately 5.2 million people.

But starting Jan. 1, the Cancer Consortiums catchment area grew to include the entire state of Washington, an addition of 26 counties, 2.3 million people, including several Indigenous tribes. Scientists within the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will now, in addition to their many national and international research collaborations, begin to expand their regional research, engagement and outreach to include all residents of the state.

The catchment area is an important aspect of our Cancer Consortium, said Dr. Tom Lynch, Consortium director and president and director of Fred Hutch. Its a geographic representation of our Consortiums reach into many different communities to help address their needs for understanding, preventing, and treating cancer.

Lynch said not all U.S. counties are located within a cancer centers catchment area  approximately 15% of U.S. counties, representing roughly 25 million people, are not covered.

Whatever we can do to increase that coverage will help the aging U.S. population to have access to cancer-focused resources moving forward, he said.

Pediatrician Dr. Jay Mendoza, a Fred Hutch public health researcher and director of the Consortiums Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, or OCOE, said he was ecstatic about the expansion.

Everybody in Washington state should see the Hutch and the Cancer Consortium as their cancer center, he said. Whether its for their own care or whether theyre looking for information or are interested in research. It should be a point of pride for Washington state. Were the only comprehensive cancer center in the WWAMI [Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho] region.
TEACHERS yesterday described the $16 500 that the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) has offered them for marking examinations, as paltry and an insult to the profession.

In a statement, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) alleged that teachers who are marking examinations will be paid an equivalent of US$10,25 per day ($16 500) for 14 marking days.

Zimsec has sent out its contract for 2022 markers. No dinner, just tea and lunch. They will also pay US$10,25 per day in RTGS which we presume will cover dinner. This is impudence, hubris and nonsense all rolled into one, PTUZ said.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said: Zimsec must pay allowances for teachers who invigilate and mark examinations. They must formulate a contract with clear roles and responsibilities and payment modalities.

But Zimsec spokesperson Nicholette Dlamini said the teachers had not yet informed the examination body about the complaints raised by their unions.

We cannot comment over social media issues. We will wait for their formal letters to reach us first and then we will properly respond, she said.

Teachers unions have also highlighted that they will not turn up for work when schools open for the first term on Monday as they were incapacitated.

PTUZ said government was spoiling for a fight with its employees given the timing of the announcement to open schools amid the prevailing economic hardships.

Our membership cannot be expected to comply with the directive to reopen schools before the government financially capacitate them. Teachers are not ready for the reopening of schools. What they expect is the announcement that government has reviewed their salaries with effect from January 2022, PTUZ added.

The Educators Union of Zimbabwe also said it was concerned with governments plans to open schools without considering the financial wellbeing of its employees.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima recently said government would not hesitate to implement a no-work-no-pay policy on truant teachers. Newsday
Gainesville, TX (76240)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
It was a fatal weekend on Highway 34 in Linn County, as two people were killed in two separate crashes on a stretch of the roadway between Interstate 5 and Lebanon.

On Saturday, Jan. 29 at around 10:06 a.m., Oregon State Police troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 34 and Seven Mile Lane, according to a news release from OSP.

Joshua Kumpe, 32, of Lebanon was traveling westbound on the highway in a Dodge Sprinter van when he struck a southbound Ford Escort  driven by David Weis, 43, of Albany  in the intersection.

According to Oregon State Police, Weis sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. Kristina Boswell, 36, of Sweet Home was a passenger in the Ford Escort and was transported to a local hospital with injuries. Kumpe was uninjured.

Lebanon Fire Department and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted OSP.

Another fatal crash occurred Sunday, Jan. 30 on Highway 34.

According to a separate Oregon State Police news release, at 7:42 p.m., OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash on Highway 34 near milepost 16, just west of Denny School Road.

The pedestrian was identified at Lanny R. Aerni, 71, of Lebanon. According to OSP, Colby D. Montigue, 22, of Sweet Home was driving westbound in a Chevrolet Astro Van when he struck Aerni. The news release said Aerni was in the lanes of travel collecting debris from the roadway at the time of the crash.

Aerni sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Linn County Sheriffs Office and ODOT assisted OSP.

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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.
FORMER Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries chief executive, Farai Zizhou, is counting his losses after his property went under the hammer last Friday.

Zizhou was at the receiving end of a protracted case involving his ex-secretary, Rita Mbatha, who last December sued him for US$180 000.

Mbatha now a human rights advocate had cited sexual harassment in her High Court claim for incidences dating back to 2002.

Zizhous property which was auctioned at KM Auctions included a Toyota Corolla, LG Plasma TV, Capri Deep Freezer, Small Hisense double fridge, Hisense double door fridge, two small coffee tables, four-piece dralon sofas, 4-piece brown leather sofa, four-piece cream leather sofas, two gym bicycles, two-piece wooden room divider.

The property also included a three-piece TV stand, a generator, four plastic chairs, three-piece dining table, nine-piece Sony Home theatre, one side stool, and a heater.

In her initial summons, Mbatha was claiming US$500 000 from both Zizhou and CZI.

Her claim against her former employer is pending.

To gain the favourable judgment, Mbatha had to go through court battles at the High Court, Supreme Court and going for arbitration.

After awarding Mbatha the damages, High Court Judge Justice Joseph Mafusire commended her fighting spirit. H Metro
Pune, India, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Smart Grid Market size amounted to USD 29.45 billion in 2020. The market value is slated to grow from USD 35.07 billion in 2021 to USD 140.53 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 21.9% throughout the forecast period. The market is gaining traction spurred by active government efforts to reenergize the existing electrical infrastructure with such grids. The widespread upgradation of existing transmission & distribution networks with newer technologies will create favorable opportunities for market expansion. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in its report titled "Smart Grid Market, 2021-2028."

Smart grid refers to an advanced power supply network that uses digital communications technology to detect, react to local changes in supply, and enable the network's self-healing automatically in case of disturbance. The technology helps revamp the existing grid infrastructure with advanced feedback alternatives such as Demand Response Management Systems (DRMS) and Active Network Management (ANM) systems. The smart network is highly interconnected with sensors, meters, analytics tools, and digital controls to automate, monitor, and control energy flow. Active investments by the respective governments to implement such technologies into the electrical infrastructure will positively impact the market growth over the forecast period.

Request a Sample Copy of Report: - https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/smart-grid-market-102157

Companies profiled in smart grid market:

ABB (Switzerland)

Siemens (Germany)

Schneider Electric (France)

S&C Electric Company (U.S.)

Eaton (Ireland)

GE (U.S.)

IBM (U.S.)

Wipro Limited (India)

Honeywell (U.S.)

Cisco (U.S.)

Aclara (U.S.)

Landis+Gyr (Switzerland)

COVID-19 Impact :

Delays in Product Deployment due to Pandemic-Related Disruptions to Affect Market Growth

The smart grid market growth slowed down considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic due to strict containment measures introduced by the respective governments. Supply chain & logistics disruptions caused difficulties in sourcing raw materials, mainly from China and other Southeast Asian countries.

However, such deployment projects started to gain momentum in various regions as the situation improved. Highlighting an instance, in June 2021, PSE, a Poland-based power grid operator, announced plans to invest USD 1.23 billion by 2030 across its network in northern Poland to supply power from the planned Baltic offshore wind farm to clients.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market,

Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/smart-grid-market-102157

Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 21.9% 2028 Value Projection USD 140.53 Billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 29.45 Billion Historical Data for 2017 to 2019 No. of Pages 190 Segments covered By End User , By component, & By Region Growth Drivers







Excellent Inherent Operational Efficiency, Improved Grid Reliability, and Efficient Outage to Propel Market Growth







Supportive Governments Policies and Regulations to Boost Market Expansion





Market Segments:

End-User, Component, and Region are studied for the Market

In terms of end-user, the market is segmented into utility, residential, commercial, and industrial.

Based on component, the market is classified into hardware, software, and services.

By geography, the market is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa.

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

Comprehensive insights into the regional developments.

List of major industry players.

Key strategies adopted by the market players.

Latest industry developments such as product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Speak to Our Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/smart-grid-market-102157

Drivers & Restraints :

Need for Reliable Power Distribution Networks to Fuel Smart Grid Deployment

Smart grid technology is gaining massive traction because of reliable fault detection and automatic self-healing capabilities. Its implementation offers real-time assistance to power management systems, leading to increased situational awareness regarding transmission & distribution management. Utilities worldwide are adopting the technology to reenergize their existing power distribution infrastructure.

In May 2021, for instance, Networked Energy Services Corporation (NES)  the company known for its industry-leading Energy Applications Platform (EAP)  unveiled plans to deploy more than 1 million smart meters by mid-2021. This move would help the company strengthen its new grid watch solution with threat detection and response.

On the contrary, high initial costs associated with the product deployment could slightly slow down the market development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Regional Insights :

Robust Federal Funding to Accelerate Market Growth in North America

North America dominated the smart grid market share in 2020 with an annual valuation of USD 9.75 billion. It is anticipated that the region will continue to dominate the market during the projected timeline backed by upcoming smart city and grid upgradation projects. For example, GridWise Alliance announced a USD 5 billion funding in July 2021 to revamp U.S.'s transmission & distribution infrastructure with smart controls, sensors, and storage. An additional USD 8.5 billion would deploy advanced energy management systems and metering infrastructure to improve grid integration.

Asia Pacific will record robust growth in the forthcoming years, led by growing deployment of smarter grid technologies in the region. Citing a recent instance, in February 2020, the Indian Government disclosed plans to install more than 1 million smart meters across the country under the Smart Meter National Program (SMNP).

Meanwhile, the market in Europe will expand on account of increasing clean power generation in the region. The respective governments are also accelerating efforts to implement smarter grid technologies. For example, in May 2020, the U.K. launched the smart metering implementation program. As part of the program, over 26.6 million smart meters have been deployed across the Great Britain region.

Quick Buy - smart grid market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102157

Notable Industry Development:

May 2021  Hitachi ABB Power Grids joined hands with Thailand's Impact Solar to become one of the largest privately-owned micro grid. The 214 MW micro grid will include rooftop solar, floating solar systems, and gas turbines as power generation sources. Additionally, a smart battery storage solution will help meet demand when power generation is low.

Major Table of Contents:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancements Regulatory Landscape Industry SWOT Analysis Porter Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Analysis  Impact of COVID-19 Impact of COVID-19 on the Smart Grid Market Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact Key Developments by the Industry Players in Response to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Smart Grid Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User Utility Industrial Residential Commercial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Component Hardware Software Services Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa

North America Smart Grid Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028

Key Findings / Summary



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User Utility Industrial Residential Commercial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Component Hardware Software Services



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Country



U.S. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Canada Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Europe Smart Grid Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028

Key Findings / Summary



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User Utility Industrial Residential Commercial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Component Hardware Software Services



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Country



UK Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Germany Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



France Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Russia Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Italy Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Spain Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



Rest of Europe Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-User



Utility Industrial Residential Commercial



TOC Continued!

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Antwerp/Belgium  Athens/Greece, 31 January 2022, 07:00 am CET  VGP, a pan-European provider of high-quality logistics and semi-industrial real estate, enters the Greek market with the opening of an office in Athens and appoints Stratos Iliou as Country Manager for VGP Greece.

Stratos who started with VGP on 1 January will be responsible for the expansion of the Groups portfolio in the Hellenic market. In the coming period the focus will be on identifying suitable development locations.

Stratos Iliou comments: I am excited to take up the position of Country Manager at VGP as it is a new challenge for me. VGP is on a high growth trajectory, and I am thrilled to contribute to the further European development of the company. I am particularly impressed by the family culture of the company and its flexible and highly effective organization. The quality of VGP's real estate construction will set new standards in the Greek market and will offer upgraded services to our clients.

Jan Van Geet, CEO of VGP, said: We are very happy to be able to offer our services to clients in the Greek market. We warmly welcome Stratos and are very confident that he will be a great asset for the expansion of our Hellenic activities and for the entire VGP Group.

Stratos has a broad experience in real estate development and management. Before joining VGP, he has worked several years as Head of Property Management for Lidl Hellas in the Thessaloniki and Attica region where he was responsible for the development of the branch network, the construction of new stores and the management of the existing network. Completing successfully more than 120 construction and acquisition projects. He holds a masters degree in Economic Sciences from the University of National and International Economy of Sofia and a Master of Business Administration from the Leeds University Business School.

CONTACT DETAILS FOR POTENTIAL TENANTS & BROKERS AND MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Stratos Iliou

Country Manager VGP Greece Tel: +30 697 185 45 07



Karen Huybrechts

Head of Marketing VGP Tel: +32 (0)3 289 14 32









ABOUT VGP

VGP N.V. is a pan-European developer, manager and owner of high-quality logistics and semi-industrial real estate. VGP operates a fully integrated business model with capabilities and longstanding expertise across the value chain. The company has a development land bank (owned or committed) of 10.94 million m and the strategic focus is on the development of business parks. Founded in 1998 as a Belgian family-owned real estate developer in the Czech Republic, VGP with a staff of circa 350 employees owns and operates assets in 12 European countries directly and through several 50:50 joint ventures. As of June 2021, the Gross Asset Value of VGP, including the joint ventures at 100%, amounted to  4.48 billion and the company had a Net Asset Value (EPRA NTA) of  1.51 billion. VGP is listed on Euronext Brussels (ISIN: BE0003878957).

For more information, please visit: http://www.vgpparks.eu

Attachment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Lead Acid Battery Market size is expected to reach over USD 63.44 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.3% during the forecast period.

Market Synopsis

The lead acid battery industry is rising significantly globally. Some of the determinants that are stimulating the demand for the market are increasing SLI applications in the automotive sector, expansion in the production of renewable energy, and high demand for devices for energy storage. Development of the telecom sector in nations such as Brazil, India, the U.S., and the UK is driving the need for UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems for power back up, that leads to better leadacid batteries adoption as a cost-competitive energy source. However, rising adoption coupled with the trend of lithium-ion batteries hinders the market growth to a high extent, states Vantage Market Research, in a report, titled Lead Acid Battery Market by Technology (Basic Lead Acid Battery, Advanced Lead Acid battery), by Type (Stationary, Motive), by Construction Method (Flooded, Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA)), by End-user (Utility, Transportation, Industrial, Commercial & Residential), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Assessment (2016 - 2021) & Forecast (2022 - 2028).

Click Here To Access The Free Sample Report @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/lead-acid-battery-market-1240/request-sample

(The Free Sample Of This Report Is Readily Available On Request.)

Our Free Sample Reports Includes:

In-depth Industry Analysis, Introduction, Overview, and COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak.

Impact Analysis 170+ Pages Research Report (Including latest research)

Provide chapter-wise guidance on request 2021 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Trends, Size, & Share, Includes Updated List of figures and tables.

Updated Report Includes Major Market Players with their Sales Volume, Business Strategy and Revenue Analysis by using Vantage Market Research methodology.

(Please note that the sample of this report has been updated to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.)

List Of Prominent Players in the Lead Acid Battery Market:

Harbin Coslight Power (China)

Exide Industries (India)

EnerSys (US)

Clarios (US)

GS Yuasa (China)

Panasonic (Japan)

Narada Power (China)

Chaowei Power (China)

HBL Power Systems (India)

NorthStar (Sweden)

Crown Battery (US)

Exide Technologies (US)

Hitachi Chemical (Japan)

East Penn (US)

Teledyne Technologies (US)

HOPPECKE (Germany)

Hankook AltasBX (Korea)

Rolls Battery (Canada)

C&D Technologies (US)

Amara Raja Power System (India)

Camel Power (Malaysia)

Okaya Power (India)

XUPAI Battery (China)

Leoch International Technology (Hong Kong)

Market Dynamics:

Driver: Cost-Effective Solution for Energy Storage

The expenditure or cost, is a critical component, be it any business, defining the success of the business in the current scenario. Cost on energy storage makes a key component, particularly for industries, and that is why various companies invest huge amount on battery storage solutions.

In this competing market, even the slightest of variations in pricing becomes alarmingly important in deciding which manufacturer leads the Lead Acid Battery Market. Even though lithium-ion batteries are likely to become the next evolution in the space for battery storage, the price difference, leading to a substantial overall cost difference, makes a key factor over lithium-ion batteries for its preference. The shift so far has been that the technology for lead-acid battery is cheaper as compared with other battery storage systems types. This difference pricing plays a key role in investments. To extract highest potential of a large-ticket investment, the pricing plays a vital role as it inflates the potential of the investment overall.

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Restraint: Low-Cost Substitutes in Energy Storage Space

Until now, lead-acid batteries were the most cost-friendly technology. However, with the expansion of substitutes of battery storage technologies, particularly with the lithium-ion technology, market for lead-acid batteries is falling out on the cost-friendliness aspect. Lead-acid batteries market is witnessing a drop in the price nearly across all sectors. Simultaneously, NiMH battery is a mature and proven technology for hybrid applications. Nickel-Metal Hydride is used by OEMs, including Honda, Lexus, and Toyota. The OEMs opt for these batteries for their performance, longer lifecycle, and safety in hybrid applications. Along with NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydrid) batteries, even nickel-cadmium batteries are a cost-efficient alternative for users of battery storage. They are more effective and cheaper as a substitute to lead-acid batteries.

Regional Trends

Asia Pacific dominated the Lead Acid Battery globally as the region comprises comparably developing nations that need cost-effective solutions for energy storage. The commercial, residential, and industrial industries, along with the transportation industry, proved to be the key consumers of these systems. Asia Pacific is likely to lead the market in the coming years. Singapore, China, Japan, India, and South Korea are considered the key hubs for industrial activities and offer vast growth opportunities for the market for lead-acid battery in this region.

Recent Developments

Aug, 2019: EnerSys announced the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities at two factory locations, namely, Pennsylvania and Florida, to cater to the increasing demand from the aerospace and defense segments.

EnerSys announced the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities at two factory locations, namely, Pennsylvania and Florida, to cater to the increasing demand from the aerospace and defense segments. Aug, 2019 : Narada Power won a contract from the United Nations (UN) project affairs to supply high-temperature HTB series batteries. The company supplied its batteries for the Yemen Hospital power supply project, funded by the World Bank and under the responsibility of the UN project office.

: Narada Power won a contract from the United Nations (UN) project affairs to supply high-temperature HTB series batteries. The company supplied its batteries for the Yemen Hospital power supply project, funded by the World Bank and under the responsibility of the UN project office. March, 2019 : GS Yuasa opened a new automotive lead-acid battery plant in Turkey. The plant would be operated by Inci GS Yuasa Aku Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (IGYA), an equity affiliate of GS Yuasa.

: GS Yuasa opened a new automotive lead-acid battery plant in Turkey. The plant would be operated by Inci GS Yuasa Aku Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (IGYA), an equity affiliate of GS Yuasa. Nov, 2018: Exide Industries launched a new range of online UPS called Power NXT. This range of batteries would cater to the needs of the Small Office Home Office (SOHO) and large format retailers.

Read Full Research Report @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/lead-acid-battery-market-1240

COVID-19 Impact Analysis:

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected various industries worldwide. Governments across the world implemented strict lockdown measures and social distancing norms in order to restrict the swift spread of the pandemic. Manufacturing facilities around the world were shut down during the initial stages of the pandemic. Moreover, the economic crisis after the pandemic might lead to a significant delay in the commercial roll-out of the Lead Acid Battery Market. Hence, market players faced numerous challenges as disruptions in the supply chain were observed. However, things will improve in the second half of 2022 as more supplies will come online. The impact of COVID-19 on the market demand is considered while estimating the current and forecast market size and growth trends of the market for all the regions and countries based on the following data points:

Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



Quarterly Market Revenue Forecast by Asia Pacific 2020 & 2021 Key Strategies Undertaken by Companies to Tackle COVID-19 Long Term Dynamics Short Term Dynamics

The report on Lead Acid Battery Market highlights:

Assessment of the market

Premium Insights

Competitive Landscape

COVID Impact Analysis

Historic Data, Estimates and Forecast

Company Profiles

Global and Regional Dynamics





Speak To Analyst: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/lead-acid-battery-market-1240/contact-analyst

This market titled Lead Acid Battery Market will cover exclusive information in terms of Geographic Segmentation, Regional Analysis, Forecast, and Quantitative Date  Units, Key Market Trends, and various others as mentioned below:

Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2021 USD 26.07 Billion Projected Market Size in 2028 USD 63.44 Billion CAGR Growth Rate CAGR of 7.3% from 20222028 Base Year 2021 Historic Years 2016  2020 Forecast Years 2022  2028 Segments Covered Technology



Basic Lead Acid Battery

Advanced Lead Acid battery Type



Stationary

Motive Construction Method



Flooded

Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) End-user Utility

Transportation

Industrial

Commercial & Residential Quantitative Data - Units Revenue in USD Million/Billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Number of Companies Covered 10 companies with scope for including additional 15 companies upon request Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porters five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis.

Key questions answered in the report:

Which regional market will show the highest and rapid growth?

Which are the top five players of the Lead Acid Battery Market?

How will the Lead Acid Battery Market change in the upcoming six years?

Which application and product will take a lions share of the Lead Acid Battery Market?

What is the Lead Acid Battery market drivers and restrictions?

What will be the CAGR and size of the Lead Acid Battery Market throughout the forecast period?

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Pune, India, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global green data center market size is expected to gain momentum owing to the rising demand for energy-efficient data centers during the forecast period. This information is published by Fortune Business Insights in an upcoming report, titled, Green Data Centre Market, 2022-2029. When it comes to strategic emphasis areas for major companies, technology breakthroughs and the development of new products, rather than current product advancements, are essential. Eco-friendly data storage with reduced energy consumption is the major growth factor. The government is taking active measures to sustain energy-efficient and cost-effective data centers. Thus, stringent regulations for energy saving are expected to drive the demand for the market.

Request a Sample Copy of Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/green-data-center-market-105173

Companies in the Global Market for Green Data Center:

IBM Corporation

Dell Corporation

Cisco Systems

HP Development

Schneider Electric

Huawei Technologies

ABB

NEC Corporation

China Telecom

Digital Realty Trust

NTT Communications

COVID-19 Impact-

Supply Chain Disruption to Hamper Growth

The recent pandemic of COVID-19 is likely to have an influence on various industries, including green data centers. Manufacturing operations are hindered by the global lockout and a scarcity of workers and raw materials. As a result, the IT supply chain has been significantly disrupted. IT infrastructure operations are the risk, and many project delays due to physical moving servers as government restrictions are imposed.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID19 on this market,

Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/green-data-center-market-105173

Segments-

On the basis of components, the services include system integration services, maintenance and support services, and training and consulting services. On the other hand, solutions include power systems, monitoring, and management systems, networking systems, cooling systems, etc. On the basis of vertical, the market is segmented into BFSI, IT and telecommunication, government, healthcare, and others. Finally, by geography, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

What does the Report Offer?

The business overview, financials, revenue produced, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, regional presence, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application domination are all covered in the details in the report of the green data center.

Ask for Customization of this Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/green-data-center-market-105173

Drivers & Restraints-

Increasing Demand for Energy-Efficient Centers to Stimulate Growth

The global green data center market growth is expected to grow due to the efficient power during the projected period. Data centers are basically designed to obtain energy efficiency which creates minimal environmental impact. The investment in these data centers is based on power consumption. Low power, efficient solutions help organizations to achieve their objectives. Moreover, increasing electric usage, carbon emissions, are helping to set up green data centers, which is expected to drive the market forward. For example, the increasing use of haptic devices and a growing number of data centers including improvised application is anticipated to impact the market forward.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Increasing Electric Consumption to Promote Growth in North America

North America is expected to hold the largest global green data center market share during the forecast period. The increasing electric usage in the United States, government initiatives to reduce energy consumption. Developed IT and telecommunication networks and technological developments for data centers across the region.

Asia Pacific is expected to have a sizable share of the market. Presence of prominent players leads to increased investment for data centers in Asian countries such as India and China. Increasing usage of smartphones and the internet are the major contributing factor.

Pre Book Here: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/105173

Competitive Landscape-

Increasing Number of Mergers to Create Opportunities for Market Growth

Product releases, significant expenditure on R&D, partnerships and acquisitions, and so on are the primary growth tactics these firms use to combat the severe competition in the market. Companies are engaging in joint ventures, contracts and agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and other collaboration tactics with the primary goal of earning the largest market revenue.

Industry Development-

September 2019: Digiplex launched two new green data centers nearby Norway in Oslo. It will have a collective size of 8,500 sq. meters with an air-to-air cooling system and will maintain its modular design policies.

Major table of contents:

Green Data Center Market Introduction and Market Overview

Research Regions

Research Scope and Market Size Estimation

Industry Trends

Drivers

Future Challenges

Market Restraints

Market Segmentation

Research Methodology

Market Dynamics

Market Industry Development Trends under COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Revenue and Growth Rate

Industry News and Policies by Regions

Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis

Merger, Acquisitions, and Partnerships

Porters Five Forces Analysis

PEST Analysis

Applications

TOC Continued!

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Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Precision Agriculture Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Applications, Products and Country-Wise Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2020-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global precision agriculture market is expected to reach $10.93 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

The growth rate in the market is because of the increased government initiatives around the world for precision agriculture services, as this leads to an increase in agricultural production to cater to the growing global food demand.

Precision agriculture techniques are being adopted by farmers across the globe to increase crop yield, shrink wastage, and ensure food security. This has led to an increase in the growth of the global precision agriculture market.

Precision Agriculture Market

Precision agriculture Market is defined as the practices adopted to make farming accurate and precise. The techniques may include the use of artificial intelligence, a wide array of technologies such as sensors, drones, robotics, automated hardware, telematics, software, and autonomous vehicles. For instance, GPS is used to receive location data from satellites and control the farmer's tractor based on coordinates of the field.

Impact of COVID-19 on Precision Agriculture Market

The precision agriculture market experienced a dip in the year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic due to restrictions in movement. Globally nations had lockdown imposed because of which the supply chain also got disrupted, resulting in shortage of equipment and other inputs required for farming. This has brought the companies' attention toward the use of remote sensing and other agriculture management tools, which can lead to a boost in the adoption of precision agriculture practices.

Market Segmentation

Precision Agriculture Market by Application

Precision irrigation is an innovative method to evaluate the crop's water requirement and implementation of advanced systems to encourage the health of the crop and to reduce the nutrient, chemical, and water waste. It involves scheduling irrigation based on the data collected through sensors and drones. It also involves providing the right amount of water to the plants/crops at the right time and place without wasting the available land resources.

Precision Agriculture Market by Farm Produce

Field crops comprise the mainstream traditional farm produce that the agriculture industry majorly focuses on for its daily revenue generation. These crops are grown for large-scale consumption purposes. While the production of fruits and vegetables requires handpicking by manual labors and individualized care, field crops are generally processed in bulk.

Precision Agriculture Market by Technology

The guidance technology majorly comprises the global positioning system (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technologies which are applied in the agriculture industry for navigation purposes.

The navigation is done via satellites which send signals to the receiver/user to provide them with accurate information about the location on the farm. Such equipment enables efficient crop monitoring. GPS/GNSS equipment and software service can be used for automated record keeping, vehicle navigation, and inter-vehicle communications, and other applications.

Precision Agriculture Market by Solution

Hardware systems of precision agriculture solutions are broadly classified into automation and control systems, sensing and navigation systems, and other equipment like smart sprayers and sprinklers. The hardware solution comprises different types of tools and devices, such as displays, GPS/GNSS devices, and handheld mobile devices.

Precision Agriculture Market by Region

North America has been one of the early adopters of the new technologies to meet the growing food demand across the globe. North America has most of the market leaders and contributors to the advanced precision agriculture industry, with the U.S. being the heartland of precision agriculture technologies.

Over the last two decades, precision farming methods have been progressively adopted by the regional farmers to make their farm operations easy and to produce high-quality crops. The farmers of the region are being well-trained to make them open toward the adoption of technological innovations.

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis

The companies that are profiled in the report have been selected based on the selective pool of players, primarily Tier-1 (which hold 50-60% of the market), mid-segment players (comprising 30-40% share), and small and emerging companies (holding the balance 10-20% share), based on various factors such as product portfolio, annual revenues, market penetration, research, and development initiatives, along with a domestic and international presence in the Precision Agriculture industry.

Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the expected global precision agriculture market size in terms of value during the period 2021-2026?

What is the expected future scenario and revenue to be generated by different types of solutions including software and platform, hardware, and support services?

What is the expected future scenario and revenue to be generated by the technology segment, including guidance technology, sensing technology, variable rate application technology, and data analytics and intelligence?

What is the expected future scenario and revenue to be generated by different applications for precision agriculture solutions, including precision irrigation, field monitoring, precision spraying, precision fertilization, precision planting, and data management?

Which region is the largest market for the global precision agriculture market?

What is the expected future scenario and revenue to be generated by different regions and countries in the global precision agriculture market such as North America, South America, Europe, the U.K., China, Asia-Pacific and Japan, and Middle East and Africa?

What is the competitive strength of the key players in the global precision agriculture market based on the analysis of their recent developments, product offerings, and regional presence?

Which are the different consortiums and associations present in the global precision agriculture market, and what are their roles, focus areas, and key functions in this market?

Where do the key precision agriculture companies lie in their competitive benchmarking, compared on basis of market coverage and market potential?

What does the technology ecosystem of precision agriculture solutions constitute?

How This Report Can Add Value

This report covers major regions with established precision agriculture market.

Government Initiatives and Regulatory Frameworks are provided for various regions.

Market Share Analysis has been done for analyzing the competition in the precision agriculture market business.

Extensive competitive benchmarking of the top 15 players (including OEMs and equipment providers) has been done to offer a holistic view of the global precision agriculture market landscape.

Market Report Coverage - Precision Agriculture

Market Segmentation

Application: Precision Irrigation, Field Monitoring, Precision Spraying, Precision Fertilization, Precision Planting, Data Management, Other Applications

Farm Produce: Field Crops, Permanent Crops, Others

Technology: Guidance Technology, Sensing Technology, Variable Rate Application Technology, Data Analytics and Intelligence, Others

Solution: Hardware, Software and Platform, Support Services

Market Growth Drivers

Increasing Support from Government and Regulatory Bodies

Increasing Demand for Global Food Production

Need of Technologies to Combat Climate Change

Market Challenges

High Initial Investment

Threat to Data Security and Privacy

Lack of Awareness and IT Infrastructure in Developing Regions

Market Opportunities

Integration of Emerging Technologies with Existing Practices

Scope of Growth in Asia-Pacific and Japan Region

Integral Offerings with Horizontal Integration in Farming

Key Companies Profiled

AGCO Corporation

CLAAS Group

CNH Industrial N.V.

John Deere

Hexagon Agriculture

Kubota Corporation

TeeJet Technologies

The Toro Company

Topcon Corporation

Yanmar Co. Ltd.

Microsoft Corporation

AGRIVI

BASF SE

Granular Inc.

IBM Corporation

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pkp5f8
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global private equity advisor Triago has raised a significant portion of the equity capital for a $510 million corporate carveout of the Clean Technologies business of diversified materials group DuPont de Nemours, Inc. This large, complex standalone transaction, done outside the structure of a traditional private equity fund, closed on Dec. 31, 2021. Triago acted as exclusive global placement agent for BPGC Management LP ("BPCG").

Headquartered in St. Louis and renamed Elessent Clean Technologies, the acquired business is the leading global provider of the technology, products and processes driving sustainability and carbon neutrality in the metals, fertilizer, chemicals and oil-refining industries, with a greater than 60% market share across its sectors.

"Elessent is precisely the type of specific, analyzable, top-tier growth story that gives sophisticated private equity investors comfort at a time of heightened economic uncertainty," said Triago Principal Sim Ketchum. "With Elessent partnering with an industry specialist like BPGC, the transaction attracted a particularly stellar range of investors." A mix of common and preferred equity was sourced from family offices, institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds based across North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

BPGC, founded in 2020 by former leaders of Invesco Private Capital and WL Ross & Co., manages over $1 billion in investments across the materials, chemicals, industrials and shipping industries. It operates as one of the world's largest independent PE sponsors.

"Triago is one of the most experienced advisors in the deal-by-deal space," said Stephen Toy, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of BPGC. "They were a perfect partner for a hugely promising but complex standalone transaction like this." Public company carveouts are typically more time-consuming than private-to-private deals, and the industries in which Elessent operates made the global regulatory and anti-trust approvals needed for the purchase more complicated than usual.

Credit Suisse provided debt for the transaction. Deutsche Bank Securities acted as M&A advisor and Kirkland & Ellis offered legal counsel.

About Triago - With offices in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, Triago provides fundraising services, secondary transaction advisory, and strategic solutions for general partners and limited partners seeking to optimize success in the global private equity market. Founded in 1992 as one of the first private equity fund placement agents, Triago has completed over 180 fundraisings on five continents and has advised on the transfer of more than 3,000 private equity fund stakes on the secondary market on behalf of 200 clients across the world. Triago has also undertaken over 50 strategic advisory mandates for general partners and limited partners looking to launch, boost or restructure PE fund operations. Triago's fastest growing sector in 2021 was direct single-deal advisory and co-investments. http://www.triago.com/

Contact: David Lanchner, dlanchner@lanchner.com, +33 6 33 43 50 76

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Pune, India, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global smart irrigation market is expected to value at USD 1150 million in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.20% during the forecast period, according to a recent market study by Quince Market Insights. The government's efforts to promote water conservation have resulted in an increase in the use of smart irrigation systems. In addition, the smart irrigation market is predicted to be fuelled by factors such as the expansion of smart cities and the demand for efficient irrigation systems, as well as the lowering cost of sensors and controllers used in smart irrigation systems.

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Smart irrigation systems make use of modern technology such as sensors, controllers, sprinklers, and sensors to improve irrigation controller coverage. By automating irrigation systems using sensors, metres, and controllers, it aids in the monitoring of soil weather and water conditions. These are data-driven, cost-effective, and efficient. Because of the spectacular expansion in current agricultural techniques as well as greater popularity among non-agricultural uses, the use of smart irrigation systems has expanded tremendously.

Governments throughout the globe are focusing on utilising information and communication (ICT) technology to improve day-to-day operational performance and the quality of life in urban regions by investing in the creation of smart cities. The adoption of limited technical knowledge and abilities by small farms exacerbates budgetary issues due to increased installation costs. Furthermore, due to a lack of technical knowledge and other skills among end users, farmers are having difficulty running and controlling smart irrigation systems.

COVID 19 Impact on the Global Smart Irrigation Market

The beginning of the pandemic has enhanced the worldwide smart irrigation market's overall effect. Due to the lockdown, makers of electrical equipment and components like as temperature sensors have experienced a lack of raw materials and a labour shortage. Not only that, but the increasing usage of smartphones by the global population, particularly among young adults, has cleared the way for technical breakthroughs in a variety of fields, including agriculture. Furthermore, technical advancements in the telecom industry have assisted in the expansion of network connections as well as the client base of the organisation.

Global Smart Irrigation Market, by Component

Based on component, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into Sensors, Flow Meter, and Smart Detection System/Network Elements. Among these the sensor segment is witnessing the fastest market growth. This increase might be attributed to the increased usage of sensor-based irrigation systems in agriculture to conserve water and increase crop output. Sensor-based systems can analyse precise data from a variety of sensors in the field, including temperature, soil moisture, rain, and humidity sensors.

Global Smart Irrigation Market, by Irrigation Controller

Based on the irrigation controller, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into Weather-Based Controllers and Sensor-Based Controllers. The sensor-based controllers segment is witnessing the fastest market growth. The sensor market is being propelled ahead by a gradual shift in climatic circumstances, tightening environmental restrictions, and the growing desire to boost agricultural output. Similarly, rapid improvements in wireless technology are paving the way for the expansion of the business.

Global Smart Irrigation Market, by Application

Based on the application, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into Greenhouse, Open Field, Residential, Golf Courses, Turf & Landscape and Others. Among these, greenhouse segment is witnessing the fastest market growth. There is an increasing demand for high-quality food throughout the world, as well as government initiatives to save water and reduced prices for smart controllers and sensors. In agricultural applications, the demand for smart irrigation systems is growing.

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Global Smart Irrigation Market, by Region

Based on the region, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. Among these, Asia Pacific is witnessing the fastest market growth. APAC is known for its agriculture sector. As a result, the market's demand prospects are bright in the foreseeable term. In all these locations, rising demand is mostly due to increased R&D and energy efficiency. Smart irrigation controllers are being used at a quicker rate in residential areas as well. The rising adoption of remote sensing technology and the integration of IoT devices with smart phones in countries like India, China, and Australia are major driving factors for the growth of the smart irrigation market in the APAC region.

Some Significant Market Developments Considered in the Report:

May 2021: The Toro Company (U.S.) bought Left Hand Robotics, Inc. (US). This acquisition will help Toro achieve its goal of being a pioneer in next-generation technologies including alternative energy, smart linked gadgets, and driverless vehicles.

March 2021: Birla Carbons purchased Columbian Chemicals (U.S.), a US-based carbon black company, allowing it to become the world's largest producer.

Some Major Findings of the Global Smart Irrigation Market Include:

Profiles of major market players operating in the global smart irrigation market include Rain Bird Corporation (U.S.), The Toro Company (U.S.), Hunter Industries (U.S,), Netafim (Israel), HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Baseline Inc. (U.S.), CALSENSE (U.S.), Rachio Inc. (U.S.), California Sensor Corporation (U.S.), and Weathermatic (U.S.)

Impact of COVID-19 on the global smart irrigation market.

For more information on this topic please visit our website report titled,  Smart Irrigation Market , By Components (Sensors, Flow Meter, and Smart Detection System/Network Elements), By Irrigation Controller (Weather-Based Controllers and Sensor-Based Controllers), By Application (Greenhouse, Open Field, Residential, Golf Courses, Turf & Landscape, Others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America) in-depth analysis along with the table of contents (ToC).

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Quince Market Insights

Pune India

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AUSTIN, Texas and TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eagle Eye Networks, the global leader in cloud video surveillance, today announced that Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks, will deliver the keynote address Growth Opportunities for the Security Industry through Cloud, AI and Technology Innovation at the Feb. 17 Security Summit Canada conference. Register now for the free virtual event.

Were pleased to have Dean Drako, a leading entrepreneur in security with a deep knowledge of major industry trends such as cloud-based video and access control, as well as the evolution of AI in security, kick off the 2022 Security Summit Canada conference, said Neil Sutton, editor of SP&T News, and conference director of Security Summit Canada. Were looking forward to hearing Deans vision for the future of cloud and AI as well as his thoughts on how Canadian security integrators can leverage these trends to improve their business and outcomes for their end user customers.

Produced by Canadas leading security publication SP&T News, Security Summit Canada brings together members of Canadas security channel to learn how to expand their business, attract new customers, retain more clients and offer more value to their customer base.

An active participant in the tech world for two decades, Dean Drako is known for inventing the first spam filter device and founding Barracuda Networks. Seeing the possibilities for cloud to transform video surveillance, Drako founded Eagle Eye Networks in 2012.

Check out the full agenda and register for Security Summit Canada here.

ABOUT EAGLE EYE NETWORKS

Eagle Eye Networks is the global leader in cloud video surveillance, delivering cyber-secure cloud-based video with artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics to make businesses more efficient and the world a safer place. The Eagle Eye Cloud VMS (video management system) is the only platform robust and flexible enough to power the future of video surveillance and intelligence. Eagle Eye is based in Austin, Texas with offices in Amsterdam, Bangalore, and Tokyo. Learn more at een.com.

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TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Water Ways Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WWT) (FRA: WWT) ("WWT" or the "Company"), a global provider of Israeli-based agriculture technology, providing water irrigation solutions to agricultural producersis pleased to announce the signing, effective January 29, 2022, of two cotton drip irrigation projects in Uzbekistan with a total value of CAD$6,700,000.The projectsare repeat orders from a recurring customer who ordered a CAD$4,000,000 system in 2021, validating the quality of the Companys products, service and customer relations.

The value of the first project in the Surkhandarya province of Uzbekistan is approximately CAD$2,860,000 and is to be completed in the third quarter of 2022. The agreement includes about CAD$102,000 in service and consulting services. The project irrigates using fully automated drip irrigation technology servicing a field of 990 hectares of cotton. The project includes the construction of 4 reservoirs of water and 4 complete head controls. Each head control consists of pumping system, filtration, pressure management units, fertigation, and a cloud based automation system which will activate and operate the entire system.

The value of the second project in the Tashkent province of Uzbekistan is approximately CAD$3,840,000 and is to be completed in the third quarter of 2022. The agreement includes about CAD$313,000 in service and consulting services. The project irrigates using fully automated drip irrigation technology servicing a field of 1,200 hectares of cotton. The project includes the construction of 5 reservoirs and 5 complete head controls. Each head control consists of pumping system, filtration, pressure management units, fertigation, and a cloud based automation system which will activate and operate the entire system similar to the above.

Operation of the systems will start in the next cotton cultivation season with agronomic and technical assistance from WWT in order to help the local farm in utilizing the new system and implementing agro-technical practices to improve the yield and output of the farm. WWT believes that drip irrigation for cotton is part of the Uzbek governments national plan for water and soil conservation. Over the past several years, flood irrigation has caused numerous environmental problems in Uzbekistan, the main one being soil salinity, which may lead to soil erosion, detrimental effects on future crops, sedimentation problems and damage to infrastructure. WWT believes that drip irrigation will lower soil salinity significantly and combined with fertigation practices, will increase yields for the growers whilst conserving water.

Water Ways is currently negotiating additional similar agreements in Uzbekistan which it hopes to sign in the coming weeks in the field of smart cotton irrigation.

"Our long-term goal is to bring cutting-edge Israeli irrigation and other agro-tech solutions to the world," said Ohad Haber, WWT's Chairman and CEO. "These orders  a repeat order from our largest client to date, and a second, equally substantial order  confirm the trust that clients place in Water Ways Technologies experience and expertise. We now plan to leverage that trust to exceed all our financial targets in 2022. We are especially proud of the demonstrable environmental benefits that come with use of our technology."

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ede9fe94-b8ca-4d08-9e4f-4f8d02232eb5

About Water Ways Technologies

Water Ways Technologies Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of Israeli-based agriculture technology, providing water irrigation solutions to agricultural producers. Water Ways Technologies competes in the global irrigation water systems market with a focus on developing solutions with commercial applications in the micro and precision irrigation segments of the overall market. At present, Water Ways Technologies' main revenue streams are derived from the following business units: (i) Projects Business Unit; and (ii) Component and Equipment Sales Unit. Water Ways Technologies is capitalizing on the opportunities presented by micro and smart irrigation, while also making a positive mark on society by making these technologies more widely available, especially in developing markets such as Africa and Latin America and developed markets such as China and Canada. Water Ways Technologies irrigation projects include vineyards, Cotton fields, Apple and Orange orchards, Blueberry, Medical Cannabis growers, fresh produce cooling rooms and more, in over fifteen countries.

For more information, please contact Ronnie Jaegermann

Director

T: +972-54-4202054

E: ronnie@waterwt.com Dor Sneh

CFO

T: +972-54-6512500

E: dor@irri-altal.com Dr. Eva Reuter

Investor Relations - Germany

+49 69 1532 5857

E: e.reuter@dr-reuter.eu https://www.water-ways-technologies.com/ Twitter: @WaterWaysTechn1

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.



Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to Water Ways. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect Water Ways' current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to Water Ways, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect Water Ways in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, Water Ways does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and Water Ways undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. Water Ways' results and forward-looking information and calculations may be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and its own share prices. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
THE ruling Zanu PF party yesterday demanded that opposition leader Nelson Chamisas newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) be barred from using the colour yellow.

Chamisa last week dumped the MDC Alliance name, saying it had become toxic and unveiled CCC, which uses the colour yellow, departing from the MDC-A red.

Soon after the launch, party supporters and celebrities initiated a campaign to promote the brand and colour a development that has apparently angered the ruling party, which now wants to usurp the colour.

Yesterday, at the launch of the Zanu PF by-election campaign in St Marys, Chitungwiza, ruling partys politburo members insisted that Chamisas CCC party should desist from using the colour.

Zanu PFs acting youth league secretary Tendai Chirau, provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa, deputy national political commissar Omega Hungwe told dozens of party supporters that Chamisas party must be ignored as it had nothing to offer, including the yellow colour.

The Zanu PF party leaders described CCCs pointed finger symbol as satanic.

When the liberation struggle was fought, it was Zanu PF that mobilised the masses and one of the key fundamentals was the fight for mineral resources, the fight for independence and that is why Zanu PF chose yellow as (one of) its colours. The reason was because it was symbolising the national resources in terms of mineral wealth, Chirau said.

So these minerals we still have them up to this day and this explains why Zimbabwe has the largest number of artisanal miners and indigenous people who own minerals. Yellow, to us, represents wealth, its not just the colour that we took on ourselves, but most importantly, you should also take the fact that we have four colours, (that is) green and yellow, red and black. These colours will never change because of someone who wants to take them. They remain our colours, they symbolise the importance of the rich minerals that we have.

Chirau said Zanu PF was formed before the MDC was born and, therefore, would maintain its symbols, including colours.

Masimirembwa weighed in saying: They want to shine with the yellow colour. Yellow has always been a Zanu PF colour. It is our special colour as Zanu PF because we brought independence. Yellow represents the wealth of the country. The wealth of this country was brought in the country from whites by Zanu PF and not by CCC.

He said Zanu PF supporters should not be ashamed of wearing yellow as it belonged to the ruling party.

Hungwe also weighed in, describing Chamisas new outfit as satanic, adding that the Chitungwiza voters, who have consistently voted against Zanu PF since 2000, should now be wiser.

Voting for MDC or CCC shows that you are lost. Do you know what CCC means? Its an animal that was spoken about in the book of Revelations and it means being used by the devil or the beast, she claimed.

In line with the claims by Zanu PF leaders, police last Thursday arrested five CCC activists and charged them with public nuisance for allegedly wearing yellow regalia.

Police claimed the five were arrested for blocking a pavement and disturbing the flow of human traffic in central Harare.

In response to the Zanu PF claims, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said: Yellow is a colour that symbolises hope, energy and a fresh start. The CCC citizen movement has thrown Zanu PF into panic mode so they are desperately trying to dampen the spirits of the people who are ready to win the nation for change. They wont succeed. CCC is here to stay. CCC is here ready to lead. CCC is ready to secure victory.

Observers say Zanu PF is fretting over Chamisas newly-found mojo after he opted not to fight former MDC Alliance secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora over the MDC Alliance name.

Chamisa accuses Mwonzora of being used by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to decimate the biggest opposition party.

Recently, Zanu PF secretary for finance, Patrick Chinamasa took to Twitter to warn Chamisa against forming the CCC party, saying he was playing with fire.

Chamisa needs to be warned that he is playing with fire abusing the democratic space and the rights and freedoms that were won for the people of Zimbabwe on the battlefield. Those with eyes let them eye and those with ears let them hear, Chinamasa said. Newsday
New York, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "United States Personal Accessories Market, By Product Type, By End User, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06223776/?utm_source=GNW



United States personal accessories market was valued at USD91.36 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to reach USD144.24 billion by the year 2026, growing at a CAGR value of 8.15% in the forecast period, 2022-2026. The market growth can be attributed to increased influence of the fashion trends. Through multimedia and online social platforms, various designer, modern, and fashionable personal accessories are available for the consumers. Inclination of the young consumers toward fashionable accessories, demand to follow the ongoing trends, and increasing popularity of these products is driving the growth of the United States personal accessories market in the upcoming five years. Aggregated promotions, marketing and influence through celebrity promotions and advertisements are also the major factors supporting the growth of the United States personal accessories market. Moreover, factors like rising disposable income among the younger population and adult population, increasing brand awareness, surging demands for imported accessories from global brands, as well as AI supported online shopping influences the growth of the United States personal accessories market in the future five years. Online channels are most influential in terms of availability of the large section of variety and versions. Easier import regulations, business expansion by the global brands over online platform is also indirectly aiding to the growth of the United States personal accessories market in the forecast years, until 2026. Jewelry, bags & wallets, and watches sectors provide additional support to the fashion industry. The primary purpose of these accessories is to give the user the impression of being well-dressed and appealing to others, making the personal accessories industry one of the most well-organized and developed.

The United States personal accessories market is segmented by product type, end user, distribution channel, competitive landscape, and regional distribution.Based on end user, the market is further bifurcated into male and female.



Female segment is anticipated to hold the largest revenue shares of the market since, women have been traditional admirers of personal accessories like jewelry, handbags, watches, hats, etc.Although, male sub-segment is also expected to register fastest growing CAGR in the upcoming five years on the account of evolving consumer preferences.



Men-grooming industry is also rapidly evolving and expanding with male population being equally interested and acceptable to fashion, and accessories.

The personal accessories market has become an attractive destination for investments and several large multinational companies are entering into this market. Some of the major players operating in this market are LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc., Tapestry, Inc., Richemont North America Inc., Apple Inc., Kering Americas, Inc. (Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta), Pandora Jewelry Inc., CHANEL, Inc., The Swatch Group (U.S.) Inc., PRADA USA Corp, Burberry Limited. The personal accessories market in the United States is highly fragmented due to many local and international suppliers.



Years considered for this report:



Historical Years: 2016-2019

Base Year: 2020

Estimated Year: 2021

Forecast Period: 20222026



Objective of the Study:



 To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the United States personal accessories market from 2016 to 2020.

 To estimate and forecast the market size of the United States personal accessories market from 2021 to 2026 and growth rate until 2026.

 To classify and forecast the United States personal accessories market based on product type, end user, distribution channel, company, and region.

 To identify the dominant region or state in the United States personal accessories market.

 To identify drivers and challenges for the United States personal accessories market.

 To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in the United States personal accessories market.

 To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in the United States personal accessories market.

 To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in the United States personal accessories market.

The analyst performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study.Initially, the analyst sourced a list of manufacturers across the United States.



Subsequently, the analyst conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies.While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors.



Through this technique, the analyst was able to include the manufacturers which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. The analyst examined the manufacturers, distribution channel, and presence of all major players across the United States.



The analyst calculated the market size of the United States personal accessories market using a top-down and bottom-up approach, wherein data for various segments was recorded and forecast for the future years. The analyst sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated them through analyzing historical data of these product types and distribution channel for getting an appropriate, overall market size.



Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations, and financial reports were also studied by the analyst.



Key Target Audience:



 Manufacturers, distributors, and end users

 Market research and consulting firms

 Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policymakers.

 Organizations, forums, and alliances related to personal accessories.

The study is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for the industry stakeholders such as personal accessories manufacturers, distributors, dealers and policy makers. The study would also help them in deciding which market segments should be targeted over the coming years in order to strategize investments and capitalize on growth of the market.



Report Scope:



In this report, the United States personal accessories market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:



 United States Personal Accessories Market, By Product Type:

o Jewelry

o Watches

o Bags & Wallets

o Others (Eyewear, Belts, Caps & Hats, etc.)

 United States Personal Accessories Market, By End User:

o Female

o Male

 United States Personal Accessories Market, By Distribution Channel:

o Exclusive Stores

o Multi-Brand Stores

o Specialty Stores

o Online Market

o Supermarket/Hypermarket

 United States Personal Accessories Market, By Region:

o South

o West

o North-East

o Mid-West

 United States Personal Accessories Market, By Top 10 Leading States:

o California

o Texas

o Florida

o New York

o Illinois

o Massachusetts

o New Jersey

o Ohio

o Washington

o Michigan



Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the United States Personal Accessories market.



Available Customizations:



With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06223776/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, NY, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Tech Industries Group, Inc. (OTCQB: GTII) (GTII or the Company), www.gtii-us.com, a Nevada corporation, announced today that it has executed a proposal sheet (the Proposal) with DTXS Auction Ltd. (DTXS), a wholly owned subsidiary of DTXS Silk Road Investment Holdings Co. Ltd. (Silk Road), a Hong Kong corporation listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.



The Proposal expands on a memorandum of understanding executed between GTII and DTXS on January 10, 2021 aimed at bringing Chinese art and antiques into GTIIs evolving metaverse (the Metaverse). Per the Proposal, GTII shall issue 100,000 shares of its common stock to DTXS in return for 350,000 shares of Silk Roads common stock. GTII will then determine how to best maximize shareholder value using the Silk Road stock, including distributing it as a digitized dividend to GTII shareholders.

The Proposal also reaffirms DTXSs commitment to develop the Metaverses first Chinatown art district, focusing on Chinese art and antiquities, invitation-only NFT auctions, and virtual ownership of shares representing Chinese artwork and antiquities.

GTII Metaverse launch is tentatively expected to occur in the second quarter of 2022. The Company will continue to provide updates to shareholders regarding its progress when applicable.

David Reichman, GTIIs Chief Executive Officer, stated This agreement, similar to our agreement with Trento SpA, takes GTII to a new level in terms of our international ambitions. Having a shareholder stake in a company actively trading on the Hong Kong exchange is just another example of this teams commitment to establishing ties to partners who complement our structure and support our business plan, wherever they are located.

John Kam, DTXSs Managing Member, added This agreement takes DTXS a step towards the Metaverse with our unique endowment in Chinese antiquities and artwork and we are excited to bring such valuable antiquities and artwork to foreign people via virtual reality in order to promote our commitment to bringing ancient Chinese heirlooms to the world.

About Global Tech Industries Group, Inc.: GTII, a publicly traded Company incorporated in the state of Nevada, specializing in the pursuit of acquiring new and innovative technologies.

About DTXS Silk Road Investment Holdings Limited. Silk Road is Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company with its principal business in: (i) art auctions and collection- related operations; (ii) production and sales of fine wine; and (iii) properties investment and development. Silk Roads parent group is a privately-held conglomerate headquartered in Xian, PRC, which focuses on cultural industries, cultural heritage and museum operations, and financial investment covering cultural industries, tourism, galleries and museums, hotels, and other cultural and tourism-related real estate operations. It founded the Tang West Market Museum, which is the only privately owned First Class State Level Museum in the Peoples Republic of China.

Please follow our Company at: www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GTII

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain forward looking statements that are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks as well as uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Among other matters, the Company may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including but not limited to the risk that we will not be able to find and acquire businesses and assets that will enable us to become profitable. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Companys most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in our development stage, noting that there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. New lines of business may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s), the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time.

Words such as estimate, project, predict, will, would, should, could, may, might, anticipate, plan, intend, believe, expect, aim, goal, target, objective, likely or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of this press release. Unless legally required, we undertake no obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise.

Global Tech Industries Group, Inc.

511 Sixth Avenue, Suite 800

New York, NY 10011

Info@gtii-us.com
Based on the global license agreement signed in April 2021, this first milestone triggers a 5 million payment from Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to OSE Immunotherapeutics.

NANTES, France, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE), today announced acceptance of the IND obtained by Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for a clinical trial with VEL-101/FR104, a CD28 antagonist monoclonal antibody fragment. This trial will be sponsored and conducted by Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the United States.

This important milestone has been achieved by Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as part of the global license agreement signed in April 2021 under which Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. obtained from OSE Immunotherapeutics worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize FR104, a CD28 antagonist monoclonal antibody fragment, for all transplant indications. Under this agreement, acceptance of the US IND application has triggered a milestone payment of 5 million from Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to OSE Immunotherapeutics.

In parallel, OSE Immunotherapeutics retains all product rights to develop FR104 in autoimmune diseases.

Dominique Costantini, Chief Executive Officer of OSE Immunotherapeutics, comments: We thank Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for this first key achievement which demonstrates their commitment and strong belief in the potential of this first-in-class CD28 antagonist as an innovative immunosuppressive treatment and marks a major step in enlarging the products development in transplantation. The milestone payment, in line with our business model, will reinforce our cash position to advance our immuno-oncology and immunity & inflammatory pipeline.

About Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an Asahi Kasei company, is a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company committed to improving the lives of transplant patients. Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on the direct commercialization of immunosuppression medications in the US, expansion of partnerships for markets around the world, and acquisition of assets utilized in transplant patients and by adjacent medical specialties. For further information, please visit www.veloxis.com.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 40,000 employees around the world, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Healthcare. Its healthcare operations include devices and systems for acute critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents. For further information, please visit www.asahi-kasei.com.

ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics

OSE Immunotherapeutics is an integrated biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. Its balanced first-in-class clinical and preclinical portfolio has a diversified risk profile:

Immuno-Oncology first-in-class products

Tedopi (innovative combination of neoepitopes): the companys most advanced product; positive results for Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients in secondary resistance after checkpoint inhibitor failure.

Other ongoing combination trials sponsored by cooperative clinical research groups in oncology:

Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer (TEDOPaM), sponsor GERCOR.

Phase 2 in ovary cancer, in combination with pembrolizumab (TEDOVA), sponsor ARCAGY-GINECO.

Phase 2 in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with nivolumab, sponsor Italian foundation FoRT.

(innovative combination of neoepitopes): the companys most advanced product; positive results for Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients in secondary resistance after checkpoint inhibitor failure. Other ongoing combination trials sponsored by cooperative clinical research groups in oncology: Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer (TEDOPaM), sponsor GERCOR. Phase 2 in ovary cancer, in combination with pembrolizumab (TEDOVA), sponsor ARCAGY-GINECO. Phase 2 in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with nivolumab, sponsor Italian foundation FoRT. BI 765063 (OSE-172, anti-SIRP mAb on CD47/SIRP pathway): developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim in advanced solid tumors; positive Phase 1 dose escalation results of BI 765063 in monotherapy and in combination with ezabenlimab (PD-1 antagonist); ongoing expansion Phase 1.

(OSE-172, anti-SIRP mAb on CD47/SIRP pathway): developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim in advanced solid tumors; positive Phase 1 dose escalation results of BI 765063 in monotherapy and in combination with ezabenlimab (PD-1 antagonist); ongoing expansion Phase 1. OSE-279 , anti-PD1  advanced preclinical stage.

, anti-PD1  advanced preclinical stage. BiCKI: bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component of anti-PD1 combined with a new immunotherapy target (for example: BiCKI-IL7, preclinical stage) to increase anti-tumor efficacy.



Immunity & Inflammation first-in-class products

OSE-127/S95011 (humanized monoclonal antibody antagonist of IL-7 receptor): developed in partnership with Servier; positive Phase 1 results; ongoing Phase 2 in ulcerative colitis (sponsor OSE) and ongoing Phase 2a in Sjogrens syndrome (sponsor Servier).

(humanized monoclonal antibody antagonist of IL-7 receptor): developed in partnership with Servier; positive Phase 1 results; ongoing Phase 2 in ulcerative colitis (sponsor OSE) and ongoing Phase 2a in Sjogrens syndrome (sponsor Servier). FR104 (anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): licensing partnership agreement with Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in transplantation; ongoing Phase 1/2 in renal transplant (sponsored by the Nantes University Hospital); US IND obtained by Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for a clinical trial; Phase 2 planned in an autoimmune disease indication.

(anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): licensing partnership agreement with Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in transplantation; ongoing Phase 1/2 in renal transplant (sponsored by the Nantes University Hospital); US IND obtained by Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for a clinical trial; Phase 2 planned in an autoimmune disease indication. OSE-230 (ChemR23 agonist mAb): preclinical stage therapeutic agent with the potential to resolve chronic inflammation by driving affected tissues to tissue integrity.



CoVepiT: a prophylactic second-generation vaccine activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes against COVID-19, developed using optimized epitopes from SARS-CoV2 viral proteins, epitopes non impacted by multi-variants. Shows good tolerance and very good level of T cell immune response. Results from 6-month memory T cell responses expected Q1 2022.

For more information: https://ose-immuno.com/en/

Click and follow us on Twitter and Linkedln

https://twitter.com/OSEIMMUNO

https://www.linkedin.com/company/10929673



Contacts

OSE Immunotherapeutics

Sylvie Detry

sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com

+33 153 198 757

Media

U.S. Media: LifeSci Communications

Darren Opland, Ph.D.

darren@lifescicomms.com

+1 646 627 8387



Guillaume van Renterghem  LifeSci Advisors

gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com

+41 76 735 01 31 Investor Relations

Thomas Guillot

thomas.guillot@ose-immuno.com

+33 607 380 431 French Media: FP2COM

Florence Portejoie

fportejoie@fp2com.fr

+33 607 768 283

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate.

These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as expect, anticipate, believe, target, plan, or estimate, their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 15 April 2021, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2020, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements.
Austin, Texas , Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A dental practice in El Paso has gone viral for its brilliant marketing practices, and top SEO Consultant Christian Arriola spills the beans on why it is an ingenious strategy that can bring astonishing results.

In fact, the first visual image of Dentist Near Me in El Paso, TX was shared online by Arriola. It became an almost instant sensation with likes and shares multiplying in double-quick time. In fact, the picture is still going viral as it is being shared on practically every platform including Facebook, Facebook Groups, Twitter, and LinkedIn. In fact, it is also being featured on TikTok, which is all the rage amongst people today.



Woobound Marketing

Its interesting to note that the naming convention has also caught the attention of Googles John Mueller, who remained skeptical about the strategy. It was Arriola, the SEO Expert however who set the ball rolling with his post along with the picture that was shared on LinkedIn. Although this may seem spammy, Google Guidelines are clear. Google says your Google Business Profile should match your legal business name. So when their legal name is "Dentist near me" or "Vietnamese Restaurant" or "Christians Used Cars", then you're within Googles guidelines to use keywords in your Google Business Profile, he wrote in the post.

Arriola should know since he has been one of the sought-after SEO Consultants for local businesses for more than 10 years. Looking back on the post that has gone viral he says, I took this picture to share it with my 2 close SEO friends. I never thought it would get more than 10 likes. That in many ways encapsulates the power of Social Media and also the genius of the name of the dental practice that has caught the attention of people.

In his post, the local SEO consultant had mentioned that Dentist Near Me of El Paso was ranking on the top of results on Google Maps in the area. So that strategy, which some might question while others call genius, has had an impact. It certainly is leading to much excitement and discussion in the industry, and it might seem like a tempting proposition for other smaller businesses to make gains.

But Christian Arriola who founded SEO Agency  Woobound Marketing, which has brought fantastic results to many local businesses over the past decade, advocates for the strategy with some caution. Having the main keyword in your name has often shown improvements of Google search results rankings. But if it's not part of their legal name, then I wouldn't suggest doing it. There can be penalties coming from Google if they find this to be just a ranking tactic and not an accurate legal name, he said.

To learn more about Christian Arriola and his agency one can visit https://woobound.com/.

About Woobound Marketing

Woobound Marketing, founded by global SEO practitioner and trainer Christian Arriola, who has over 10 years of experience working with local businesses, the company has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of SEO marketing.

###

Media Contacts

Woobound Marketing

Address: 1620 E. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX

Phone: +1(888) 878-1571

Web: https://woobound.com/

Email: Christian@woobound.com









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CARROLLTON, Texas, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hartley Law Firm is pleased to announce that Austin F. Hartley has been named one of D Magazine's 'Best Lawyers Under 40' for 2021 in the magazine's January 2022 issue. This prestigious award is determined through a peer-review voting process, with ballots submitted by thousands of lawyers from all across the Metroplex.

A relentless advocate for the underdog, Hartley has made it his life work to pursue compensations for those who do not have a voice and often guides clients through the toughest periods of their lives. Uniquely situated to handle opposing counsel no matter the obstacles, Hartley represents injured victims in a variety of matters and disputes.

Using his significant trial experience, Hartley is able to anticipate how opposing parties may try to avoid responsibility and fights to head those efforts off at the pass. He has been successful in obtaining favorable verdicts on behalf of his clients in a variety of injury situations. He uses his expertise as a large law firm lawyer, while also drawing on the client-centered results-driven experience gained as he climbed his way up the ladder of smaller law firms. Hartley prides himself on being accessible to clients and always seeks to pursue results that exceed expectations. His intent is to establish a lasting relationship with every person whom he represents, built on trust and confidence.

Hartley is a fourth-generation Dallas native. He attended Saint Edwards University in Austin, Texas, where he majored in political science. After graduation, Austin attended Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas, where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence and Business Law Certificate.

In his spare time, Hartley is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys exploring the remote parts of Texas with his bird dog, Charlie. He also loves spending time with his family. He is an active member of his church and enjoys contributing time to several non-profit causes in the Dallas Metroplex.

The Hartley Law Firm is a personal injury law firm representing plaintiffs across North Texas, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck wrecks, dog bites, workplace injury, daycare injury, sexual assaults, wrongful death, and more.

Hartley Law Firm

https://hartleylawtx.com/

2340 E Trinity Mls Rd #100, Carrollton, TX 75006

(469) 289-6063

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TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunwing is helping customers head to paradise this winter with the launch of The Great Escape Sale, on now. Offering luxury, romance, adventure and family-friendly escapes in some of the most sought-after vacation destinations across the Caribbean, customers can make a break for warmer weather and take advantage of incredible deals to paradise until February 28, 2022.



After two long years, more Canadians are in need of a much-deserved break and the benefits that a tropical vacation provides, commented Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations at Sunwing. Sunwing is offering fantastic winter savings to a variety of sun destinations that offer something for every travel style. Plus, customers can book with confidence thanks to our flexible change policy, cost-effective emergency medical coverage and trip interruption benefits for a seamless travel experience under our wing.

Travellers looking for an adventure-filled getaway will love Riu Guanacaste in Costa Rica. Tucked between the Guanacaste mountains and Matapolo Beach, customers can stay active with watersports activities like windsurfing and body boarding, observe sea turtles hatching on the beach, or explore international cuisine at the resorts five restaurants. Horseback riding and scuba diving are also available for an added cost.

Friends, couples and singles interested in an adults only vacation can escape to Varadero and stay at Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa on Cubas northwest coast. This resort is an ideal destination for a romantic Valentines Day getaway for two or an escape with friends, and features a freshwater pool and swim-up bar, Bali beds by the beach, watersport activities, plus a blend of nightlife options including a jazz bar and nightclub.

For a luxurious retreat, Royalton Riviera Cancun An Autograph Collection All Inclusive Resort and Casino in Cancun is home to a range of luxury amenities suited to any type of traveller. The resort boasts lavish suites, multiple pools with poolside service, unlimited reservation-free dining at gourmet restaurants and a signature wellness and fitness program. Customers can also upgrade to Diamond Club for butler service, personalized check-in, a private lounge and exclusive access to restaurants, pools and beach areas.

Family-friendly resorts like Riu Bambu in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic also offer a range of amenities both parents and kids can enjoy. Adults can unwind on the beach or try out a variety of watersports while mini vacationers enjoy activities at the RiuLand kids club, along with dedicated kids pools and a playground. Customers also have complimentary access to Splash Water World Water Park at the Riu Punta Cana Complex and can enjoy the facilities at Riu Naiboa.

Customers can book with confidence knowing they have the flexibility to change plans anytime with no fees* up to seven days before departure. Sunwing also offers a range of comprehensive travel insurance options, including emergency COVID-19 medical coverage and quarantine expenses for as low as $4 per day. The Great Escape Sale is available now through February 28, 2022 on applicable vacation packages with flights onboard Sunwing Airlines, for departures between February 2, 2022 and April 30, 2022.

*Customers can change their travel dates, destination or resort up to seven days prior to departure. Terms & Conditions apply.



About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

For more information:

Melanie Anne Filipp

Director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations

Sunwing Travel Group

1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7119cb5a-f12d-4e16-8822-e4da78d51bef
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solutran announced that it received awards to provide online and smart card WIC EBT solutions for Indian Tribal Organizations located in Maine and New Mexico. The ITOs include Indian Township and Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy in Maine, and Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna (ACL), Eight Northern Indian Pueblo, Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Pueblo of Zuni, and Pueblo of San Felipe in New Mexico. Deployment for the WIC EBT systems is scheduled for Spring of 2022.

Solutran provides WIC EBT services that allow the ITOs to offer healthy foods and vital nutrition support to mothers, caregivers, infants, and children. Solutrans EBT services streamline and secure the purchasing process for WIC-approved retailers, in contrast to the paper voucher system.

We are excited to work with Solutran, a flexible partner that is tailoring our project plan specific to our needs, said Sara Nicholas, Assistant Health Director, with Indian Township of Passamaquoddy located in Maine. Using this new solution, we will continue providing our WIC participants with healthy food benefits using newer and more secure technologies.

My vision for making eWIC available to our ITO consortium is realized with this new system from Solutran, said Karen Griego-Kite with Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos.

Solutran is pleased to work with these visionary ITOs to deliver technologies for enhanced food security for WIC participants, said Kathleen Synstegaard, Vice President, Government EBT Services at Solutran. We seek to simplify benefits payments to improve participant wellbeing.

About Solutran

Solutran, LLC is a FinTech company offering state-of-the-art technology to the public and private sector for nearly 40 years. With more than 190 million transactions processed to date, Solutran has established a long-standing reputation for excellence in customer service through best-in-class, advanced technology solutions. As an industry leader in EBT, Solutran offers public sector government solutions for WIC, SNAP and TANF.

Solutran is a part of Optum and the UnitedHealth Group family of companies.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre; TSXV: VO; OTC: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0, the Company) today provided an update from ValOres 100%-owned Pedra Branca Platinum Group Element (PGE, 2PGE+Au) Project (Pedra Branca) in northeastern Brazil, where exploration employing the Trado auger has identified multiple zones of near surface mineralization.



While commonly used throughout Brazil, ValOre was the first company to use the Trado auger for exploration at Pedra Branca. This cost-effective and highly portable tool led us to multiple subsequent drilling discoveries and played an important preliminary role in the successful resource expansion drilling in 2021, stated ValOres VP of Exploration, Colin Smith. The Trado collects metre-by-metre samples of overburden for geochemical assay and drills into the tops of weathered bedrock, giving a real-time viewpoint into geology under cover. Given the continued success of the tool, ValOre has purchased a second auger unit to accelerate property-wide exploration.

Trado Auger Exploration Highlights

235 auger holes totaling 818.3 metres (m) have tested 9 property-wide targets to date, intercepting 430.5 m of target ultramafic (UM) rocks under cover, with 863 samples submitted for assay;

Trado  end of hole (EOH) depths typically represent that the auger has entered impenetrable unweathered to less weathered bedrock, so it is typical that mineralization and UMs remain fully open at depth and require follow-up core or Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling;

end of hole (EOH) depths typically represent that the auger has entered impenetrable unweathered to less weathered bedrock, so it is typical that mineralization and UMs remain fully open at depth and require follow-up core or Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling; Auger assay highlights include: 16 m grading 1.22 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface (new result from Trapia South target) 12 m grading 1.73 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface (led to drilling discovery at Esbarro NW target) 9.0 m grading 2.09 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface (led to drilling discovery at Esbarro NW target) 10 m grading 1.64 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface (led to drilling discovery at Santo Amaro South target;

A second Trado auger has been purchased to be deployed in early February.

Trado Auger Exploration at Pedra Branca

The Trado auger has become a cornerstone exploration tool at Pedra Branca, serving to rapidly advance the district-wide target pipeline, and leading to multiple successful drill campaigns in 2021. Systematic Trado auger fences on 40-60 m hole spacings effectively demarcate target UM intrusions hidden under cover and test the presence of near-surface mineralization with subsequent assaying. Metre-by-metre geochemical samples of soil, regolith and weathered bedrock are collected down-hole, logged, and submitted for PGE and multi-element analyses. Consequently, the benefits of Trado are both real-time, with the geological mapping of bedrock under cover, and long-term, with the collection and analysis of a comprehensive geochemical assessment of the entire overburden profile, and in some cases into weathered bedrock. Furthermore, the Trado auger EOH depths represent the onset of impenetrable bedrock, so mineralization and UMs remain fully open at depth, to be followed up by core or RC drilling.

ValOre has completed 235 auger holes since February 2021, totaling 818.3 m, testing 9 property-wide targets. In total, 430.5 m of target UMs rocks have been augered under cover, with 863 samples submitted for assay. See Table 1 below for a summary of Trado auger exploration at Pedra Branca to date, and see Table 2 below for a summary of notable Trado auger holes >2 Gram*Meter on a target-to-target basis.

Proof of Concept with Follow-Up Drilling

Seven of the 9 targets Trado-tested to date were followed up with core and/or RC drilling in 2021, and all seven produced significant PGE intercepts. CLICK HERE to view news releases from 2021 and CLICK HERE to view news releases from 2022. The validity of the auger as an effective pre-RC or -core drilling tool was further proven by the reproducibility of PGE-in-Trado grades in drill core or RC chips. As an example, Trado hole AD21SAS12 from the Santo Amaro South target returned 10 m grading 1.64 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface. This result was followed up by RC drilling, which produced the discovery hole of 32 m grading 1.65 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface in drill hole RC21SAS03. CLICK HERE for news release dated August 23, 2021 and see Figure 1 below for a cross section.

Table 1: Summary of Trado Auger Drilling to Date (Feb 2021 - Jan 2022)

Target Total Holes

(#) Total Drilled

(m) UMs Drilled

(m) Samples

Assayed

(#) Santo Amaro South 46 173.6 76.7 177 Santo Amaro 27 69.1 40.6 77 Esbarro NW 19 64.7 47.9 69 Cana Brava 23 69.1 35.9 76 Trapia 2 5 9.1 5.0 10 Massape 36 169.0 115.4 178 Pitombeiras 22 60.5 7.7 64 Trapia South 24 107.8 56.8 112 Ipueiras 33 95.4 44.5 100 Total 235 818.3 430.5 863

Table 2: Assay Table of Trado Auger Holes >2 Gram*Meter to Date (Feb 2021 - Jan 2022)

Target Auger Hole From

(m) To

(m) Length (m) 2PGE+Au (g/t) 2PGE+Au Interval Summary Gram x Metre Trapia South AD21TS08 0 16 16 1.22 16 m grading 1.22 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 19.5 Trapia South AD21TS09 0 8 8 0.57 8 m grading 0.57 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 4.6 Trapia South AD21TS10 0 6.8 6.75 0.66 6.75 m grading 0.66 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 4.5 Trapia South AD21TS07 4 13 9 0.48 9 m grading 0.48 g/t 2PGE+Au from 4 m 4.3 Trapia South AD21TS05 0 7 7 0.39 7 m grading 0.39 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 2.7 Santo Amaro South AD21SAS12 0 10 10 1.64 10 m grading 1.64 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 16.4 Santo Amaro South AD21SAS39 1 10 9 0.7 9 m grading 0.70 g/t 2PGE+Au from 1 m 6.3 Santo Amaro South AD21SAS08 0 4 4 1.1 4 m grading 1.10 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 4.4 Santo Amaro South AD21SAS29 0 3 3 0.66 3 m grading 0.66 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 2.0 Santo Amaro AD21SA14 0 2.5 2.5 3.45 2.5 m grading 3.45 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 8.6 Santo Amaro AD21SA15 0 2.6 2.55 1.5 2.55 m grading 1.50 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 3.8 Santo Amaro AD21SA17 0 3 3 1.25 3 m grading 1.25 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 3.8 Massape AD21MS14 0 11 11 0.34 11 m grading 0.34 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 3.7 Massape AD21MS24 0 13 13 0.25 13 m grading 0.25 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 3.3 Massape AD21MS19 0 3.5 3.5 0.87 3.5 m grading 0.87 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 3.1 Massape AD21MS17 0 8 8 0.36 8 m grading 0.36 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 2.9 Massape AD21MS20 0 4 4 0.59 4 m grading 0.59 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 2.4 Massape AD21MS15 0 12 12 0.19 12 m grading 0.19 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 2.3 Esbarro NW AD21ES03 0 12 12 1.73 12 m grading 1.73 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 20.8 Esbarro NW AD21ES08 0 9 9 2.09 9 m grading 2.09 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 18.8 Esbarro NW AD21ES04A 0 4 4 1.12 4 m grading 1.12 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 4.5 Esbarro NW AD21ES02 0 5 5 0.63 5 m grading 0.63 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 3.2 Esbarro NW AD21ES17 0 4 4 0.68 4 m grading 0.68 g/t 2PGE+Au from surface 2.7

To view Figure 1: Cross Section A-A, Santo Amaro South Target, please visit the following link: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/685ca994-41bb-43db-b162-9f77420bf11b

About the Trado Auger

The Trado auger is a portable soil drilling device developed and manufactured in Brazil by Trado Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda, specially designed for mineral exploration, environmental monitoring, structural engineering, and installation of lightweight artesian wells. They are designed to drill up to 30 m in depth, have a collapsible structure (easily transportable), and offer extremely low cost of operation and maintenance. The Trado drills through vegetation cover, preserving a very low ecological footprint to the survey.

CLICK HERE for more information regarding Trado.

Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QA/QC) and Grade Interval Reporting

CLICK HERE for a summary of ValOres policies and procedures related to QA/QC and grade interval reporting.

Qualified Person (QP)

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Colin Smith, P.Geo., ValOres QP and Vice President of Exploration.

About ValOre Metals Corp.

ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of highquality exploration projects. ValOres team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation.

In May 2019, ValOre announced the acquisition of the Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) property, in Brazil, to bolster its existing Angilak uranium, Genesis/Hatchet uranium and Baffin gold projects in Canada.

The Pedra Branca PGE Project comprises 52 exploration licenses covering a total area of 56,852 hectares (140,484 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 5 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a current Inferred Resource of 1,067,000 ounces 2PGE+Au contained in 27.2 million tonnes grading 1.22 g/t 2PGE+Au (CLICK HERE for ValOres July 23, 2019 news release). All the currently known Pedra Branca inferred PGE resources are potentially open pittable.

Comprehensive exploration programs have demonstrated the "District Scale" potential of ValOres Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada that hosts the Lac 50 Trend having a current Inferred Resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U 3 O 8 , totaling 43.3 million pounds U 3 O 8 . For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please CLICK HERE for ValOre's news release dated March 1, 2013.

ValOres team has forged strong relationships with sophisticated resource sector investors and partner Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) on both the Angilak and Baffin Gold Properties. ValOre was the first company to sign a comprehensive agreement to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut Territory and is committed to building shareholder value while adhering to high levels of environmental and safety standards and proactive local community engagement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Jim Paterson

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

ValOre Metals Corp.

For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com.

ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.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.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.
ARVADA, Colo., Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Colorado Visiting Nurse Association (Colorado VNA), a member of the Care Synergy network, recently bolstered its services and commitment to the community by completing the inclusion of Halcyon Hospice under its organizational umbrella and updating it mission, vision and logo.

After Halcyon Hospice joined Colorado VNA in 2020, the organization has been continuously working to integrate increased hospice, palliative and bereavement care services into it what it offers to the community.

"We've all been working as one organization - Colorado VNA and Halcyon at Colorado VNA - now, we are working under one mission and logo, too - the Colorado Visiting Nurse Association," stated Julie Nunley, President of Colorado VNA.

Colorado VNA updated its mission statement to the community to express its targeted goals of "Care, Quality and Compassion since 1889." This is reflected in their new logo.

Since 1889, Colorado VNA has been the community leader in providing the highest quality home healthcare, wellness and now hospice and palliative care.

Headquartered in Arvada, CO, the expanded Colorado VNA will remain a mission-driven nonprofit, community-based organization. They offer home healthcare and wellness care throughout the Denver metro area, Colorado Springs and parts of greater El Paso and Teller counties.

In addition, Colorado VNA offers hospice and palliative care services throughout the Denver metro area and north including within Larimer and Weld counties.

About Colorado VNA: Colorado Visiting Nurse Association (Colorado VNA) is a member of the Care Synergy Network and serves Coloradans as the state's leading home health care agency. Colorado VNA provides quality and compassionate care, ranging from preventive to recovery to palliative and end-of-life, in the home and community. For more information, visit www.vnacolorado.org.

About Care Synergy: Care Synergy provides mission-support services for not-for-profit, community-based home healthcare, hospice and palliative care providers serving the Front Range of Colorado including the Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, The Denver Hospice, Pathways and Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care. Care Synergy affiliate organizations operate as distinct organizations while sharing best practices and helping more Coloradoans. For more information, visit www.caresynergynetwork.org.

Contact:

Evan Hyatt

Director of Marketing and Communications

Care Synergy

ehyatt@caresynergynetwork.org

(303) 228-5679

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To embody action hero Jack Reacher in a new series, actor Alan Ritchson wanted to do things by the book.

Aiming for a Reacher portrayal true to the popular novels that introduced the hulking character more than two decades ago, Ritchson bulked up by 30 pounds and went through intense combat training.

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Ill say about the fights, Ive done a lot of those in my career, Ritchson told the Daily News. Ive played superheroes and a Ninja Turtle and a UFC fighter. Ive run the gamut and Ive done a lot of that, but seeing the Reacher fights, it was the first time that Ive ever said to a stunt coordinator, Im not sure I can do that. Where do we begin?

The new series  making its debut Friday on Amazon Prime Video  is an adaptation of 1997s Killing Floor, the first of author Lee Childs novels to center on the Reacher character.

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The show introduces Ritchsons Reacher as an ex-Army police officer who happens to show up in the sleepy town of Margrave, Ga., just as a string of murders begins to mystify local authorities.

Hes an interesting guy because he travels light, Ritchson said of his character. Nothing but a toothbrush and a passport. Hes a minimalist, so he wants to see the country on his own terms now, live by his own set of rules, but he also has that insatiable need for justice and an insatiable curiosity, so he gets wrapped up in these mysteries that we get to unravel.

Alan Ritchson, left, stars as Jack Reacher in "Reacher" with Martin Roach as Picard. (Courtesy of Prime Video)

The series marks the newest addition to a Jack Reacher franchise that also includes 26 novels  and two movies starring Tom Cruise as the character.

Ritchson, 39, read each of the 24 books that had been released by the time he was cast in the Reacher series, and enjoyed learning the character has a sense of humor and sometimes has to pay the consequences for his mistakes.

Hes also somebody with a propensity to violence, Ritchson said. He blurs the line between good and evil. This is somebody who were not really sure if hes all good. He cares deeply about protecting the innocent and bringing about justice, but hell do it in a way where the body count gets high.

Ritchson previously portrayed Raphael in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, a fighter in the MMA movie Above the Shadows, Aquaman on Smallville and Hawk for the DC Comics series Titans.

His training for Reacher involved mastering fighting methods that differed from what hed done in past roles.

It took every minute that we had to get there, but they patiently sort of deconstructed my fight style and rebuilt this much more precise fighting style, Ritchson said.

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Alan Ritchson (right) put on 30 pounds to play Jack Reacher. (Shane Mahood/Shane Mahood/Amazon Prime Video)

[ Bill Murray says his concert film New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization captures the rollicking entertainment of live shows ]

Ritchson and the shows makers shared the goal of bringing the most authentic version of Reacher to life, the actor said. And he believes Reacher continues to connect with readers and audiences because hes a hero anyone can get behind.

As long as theres injustice in the world, and theres corruption, greed, (and) that villains exist and get away with murder, that institutions triumph over the individual, we will crave a hero to come along and bring balance to that disorder, Ritchson said. Somebody who will take the law into their own hands and just fix things for us.
Press Release

January 31, 2022 Senate okays establishment, conversion, upgrading of 15 hospitals nationwide The Senate today approved 15 local bills seeking to improve the healthcare system in the country by establishing new hospitals, converting Department of Health (DOH)-operated sanitariums into general hospitals and upgrading the bed capacity of hospitals across the country. Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, chairman of the Committee on Health and Demography and sponsor of the measures, cited the need to improve the country's healthcare delivery system, particularly in the countryside, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The pandemic made us realize how important it is to invest in health. We face difficulty today because of decades of neglect. Today we realize our lack of hospitals, bed capacity and equipment. We need to strengthen our health facilities because we do not know when another pandemic would hit us. Let us not wait for our healthcare system to breakdown before we do something about it," Go stressed. He said establishing hospitals run by the national government should not be treated as a burden but rather as an investment. "I want to note that these new hospitals already had or have funding for the initial construction and all of them have lots ready to be donated to the DOH. Availability of accessible and affordable hospital care is one of its most pressing needs," Go said. "It is also important to emphasize that all these hospitals for upgrading have funding in the 2022 General Appropriations Act, including budget under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program which may be used to already improve the services in these hospitals," he added. Approved were House Bill No. 7952 or An Act Establishing a Multi-Specialty Hospital in Tayabas, Quezon, to be Known as the Southern Luzon Multi-Specialty Medical Center; House Bill No. 8227 or An Act Establishing a Tertiary General Hospital in Abulug, Cagayan Valley, to be Known as the Northwestern Cagayan General Hospital; House Bill No. 8270 or An Act Establishing in Candon, Ilocos Sur, a Tertiary Hospital, to be Known as the Ilocos Sur Medical Center; House Bill No. 8606 or An Act Establishing in Bocaue, Bulacan, a General Hospital to be known as the Joni Villanueva General Hospital; House Bill No. 8668 or An Act Establishing a General Hospital in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental to be known as the Northeastern Misamis General Hospital (NMGH); House Bill No. 8195 or An Act Establishing in Calbayog, Samar, a Tertiary Hospital to be Known as the Samar Island Medical Center; House Bill No. 7971 or An Act Converting the Cotabato Sanitarium in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao into a General Hospital; House Bill No. 8228 or An Act Converting the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Daraga, Albay into a General and Subspecialty Hospital, to be Known as the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center; House Bill No. 8893 or An Act Converting the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, Iloilo, into a General Hospital to be Known as the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General hospital; House Bill No. 8892 or an Act Converting the Sulu Sanitarium in Jolo, Sulu into a General Hospital to be Known as the Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital; House Bill No. 9074 or An Act converting the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, into a Tertiary Hospital to be Known as the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center; House Bill No. 7974 or An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City Amending for the purpose Republic Act. No. 7938 as amended by RA 10677, and appropriating funds therefor; House Bill No. 7975 or An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City from 1,200 to 1,500 beds; House Bill No. 8225 or an Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija from 400 to 1,000 beds and House Bill No. 9073 or An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union, from 300 to 800 beds.
Mayor Adams reaffirmed Monday that he will keep NYPD safety officers at city public schools, pointing to a Manhattan middle-schooler caught with a backpack full of knives and other weapons last week as an example of why the officers are needed.

Mayor Adams (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

When people attacked me for having school safety agents in our schools, they need to see this, Adams said, holding up a photo of the knives, brass knuckles and other weapons found in the backpack of a 14-year-old student at NYC Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies in Chelsea on Friday.

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Weapons found in a student's backpack at NYC Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies in Manhattan. (Obtained by Daily News)

According to school safety sources, the student showed one of the knives to a friend, who reported it to the principal. When school officials and safety agents searched the students bag, they found four knives, a set of brass knuckles, an expandable baton, fireworks and a laser pointer.

School principal Megan Adams told families in an email that the NYPD was immediately notified and it was later determined that there was no immediate threat to our school building, students or staff members, according to a copy of the message obtained by the Daily News. The student was not arrested, but was issued a juvenile report and suspended from school, according to school safety sources. The school, which does not normally have metal detectors, had temporary scanning on Monday.

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A school safety officer (APPLETON, MICHAEL)

These are real weapons that can be used on teachers, staff, administrators, and most importantly our children. That this is in a backpack of a child, that sends the wrong message, Adams said.

During the first month-and-a-half of the school year, the NYPD reported a nearly 30% rise in weapons seizures at city schools compared to the same period in 2019, with the bulk of the increase coming from weapons like pepper spray canisters and tasers. The number of guns turning up at city schools also rose substantially. The NYPD has not reported new school weapons data since Oct. 24.

DOE officials and students say many teens toting weapons bring them for protection on their commutes to and from school.

Adams added that he is considering some changes to school safety to make it feel less heavy-handed and ensure students dont feel like criminals. He said hes considering changing school safety officers uniforms to look less like street cops and exploring new technology to replace current metal detectors.
The forgiving grading system used by New York City teachers during the coronavirus pandemic is history.

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Educators are expected to hand out Fs to students who dont pass instead of the pandemic-imposed rule that converted failing marks into incompletes.

Teachers say theyre as conflicted as theyve ever been about if and when its fair to assign failing grades, given the disruptions of the past month  including the omicron variant that upended school operations and kept some students out of class for weeks on end, and the abrupt outage of an online gradebook system that prevented students from checking their marks.

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Theres just so many more things that complicate it this year that make it more difficult than in years past, said Jared Fox, a science teacher at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in Manhattan. The fact that omicron exploded in the last month of this semester  how do you find that balance between upholding the standards of your course while also recognizing everything our students have gone through?

Educators are expected to hand out Fs to students who dont pass instead of the pandemic-imposed rule that converted failing marks into incompletes. (Shutterstock)

City education officials instituted the temporary pandemic grading policy  which required schools to give out the grade NX instead of F to students who didnt pass, allowing them additional time to make up missing work and earn credit  in spring 2020. The move acknowledged the massive disruption and avoided penalizing students for circumstances outside their control, like spotty internet access.

The Education Department maintained the policy during the 2020-21 school year, when buildings were partially open but closures were frequent and more than half of kids opted to stay home.

This year, with school buildings open and students required to attend full time, the NX policy was nixed.

Other pandemic grading policies have stayed in place, including a rule that prevents attendance from being counted against kids grades and allowing parents of high school and middle school students to convert passing grades into a pass that doesnt factor into their GPA.

We have flexible measures in place to meet the unique needs of our students and families in this moment, and we encourage all educators to give students multiple opportunities to demonstrate what theyve learned this year, said Education Department spokeswoman Sarah Casasnovas.

But for many city schools, any semblance of academic normalcy this year was shattered when the omicron variant arrived in December, sending scores of staffers home and spurring record student absences.

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The last month has been really unstable for students and teachers, said Peter Allen-Lamphere, a math teacher at a high school in Washington Heights. The attendance numbers have been really bad, but also the in and out because of student and staff quarantines has really meant that very little education has been able to happen in the last four weeks.

For some students already at risk of failing, the timing  during the last portion of the semester when the most important assessments are clustered  was devastating, said a Brooklyn principal who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Some kids fell off the map  leaving schools scrambling to figure out how to keep them from failing.

Students wearing masks board a school bus outside New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math school, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. (Brittainy Newman/AP)

Some kids I havent seen for a month, said Allen-Lamphere.

Making matters worse, the online system that students across the city use to check their grades  and figure out what work they need to make up  crashed for nearly two weeks because of a security breach.

Its been a disaster, said Allen-Lamphere. Some of the kids who came back after three weeks, they didnt even know what they have to turn in ... thats just a recipe for giving up.

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Now, at the end of the semester, schools are facing tricky questions about how to fairly assess their students performance.

I think theres no way I can assume that a kid didnt do the work because of lack of engagement  theres so many different reasons, said Allen-Lamphere. "

The stakes are high: semester grades count toward students GPAs and graduation prospects.

Making matters worse, the online system that students across the city use to check their grades  and figure out what work they need to make up  crashed for nearly two weeks because of a security breach. (Shutterstock)

Some schools are planning to continue to use NX grades liberally, capitalizing on a clause in DOE guidance that allows schools to use it when a student has a documented, extreme extenuating circumstance.

But others said theyve gotten little guidance about how to use NXs this semester or have been explicitly told not to use them for students who disappeared during the omicron wave.

Today was a really depressing day because we had to put in grades officially and weve received almost no guidance at my school, said a Manhattan history teacher who spoke on the condition of anonymity. I have a huge number of kids that I had to fail today, which really sucks.

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Education Department officials said schools are encouraged to provide students multiple opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned and be flexible and responsive to the needs of individual students as families continue to navigate the omicron surge.

Giving out NXs sometimes felt like delaying the inevitable ... some of my colleagues were pretty adamant they felt that it actually harmed kids, Fox said. Nobody could fail  it was maybe reinforcing some bad behaviors.

Still, slapping an F on a report card, given the massive disruption and uncertainty of the past month, feels like an equally unsatisfying solution for many educators.

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I know a lot of kids just have extenuating circumstances right now, said the Manhattan history teacher, and its really unfortunate that theyre the ones being penalized.
Esther Curentons entire life is about helping others  especially kids who need a boost.

Curenton has tirelessly supported children and their families as the senior program manager of the city Health Departments Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program for more than a dozen years.

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They are children who need extra help, Curenton told the Daily News. They have complex problems. They have social, medical, physical, emotional problems that sometimes are not addressed. The social worker in me felt very, very emotional about that and wanted to do what I could about it.

Esther Curenton, senior program manager with the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program in Queens. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Curenton, 66, leads a small-but-essential group that finds ways to help hundreds of kids whose special needs include congenital disorders, learning disabilities, emotional problems and health conditions such as cancer, asthma, diabetes and ADHD.

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The families supported by the program include those who have newly arrived to New York, who have no citizenship, sometimes they dont speak English, but they know they want a better life, Curenton explained. They know they need education for their child. They know they need medical services that they probably couldnt get in their country.

Curentons selfless dedication to providing resources for these families and connecting them with community partners like churches, nonprofits and school administrators who can offer further assistance is why a Department of Health colleague nominated her for a Daily News Hometown Heroes award.

I believe that health is our first priority, Curenton said. Health dictates everything else in our lives, and as a social worker, Im concerned with the whole person. How they live, how they function, how they feel about themselves.

[ Hometown Heroes: NYC child welfare worker Guy Bryant has fostered more than 60 teens ]

The Queens-born Curenton says her already demanding job grew in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges for the families she supports.

Her responsibilities, she says, expanded beyond helping parents understand their childs diagnosis, getting kids involved with different programs in the city, and providing medical equipment, services and professionals.

Now we do housing information and eviction prevention, Curenton said. We deal with domestic violence. We deal with food insecurity. Were dealing with teenagers who are having suicidal thoughts. We had, recently, a parent who called us and said her child ran away.

These children are not used to seeing their parents under this kind of pressure, she explained. Theyve seen their parents lose their jobs. Businesses have completely shut down. A lot of our families work in the service industry, which has been impacted very hard.

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Curentons devotion to her community amazes her colleagues, including Jerlyn Romero, who works closely with Curenton as a project coordinator on her team.

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Esther Curenton with Jerlyn Romero, project coordinator for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

She works really hard, Romero told The News. Even when shes really tired, I dont know where she gets her energy from, but shes there to give her all to these families that really need her help.

Children are supported through Curentons program until they turn 21, or 24 if they go to college. She finds families in need through different platforms, including self-referrals and the governments 311 hotline.

Curenton is inspired by the opportunity to support kids and says she loves making parents feel encouraged that theres something that can be done through their conversations.

I can see what love does, Curenton said. These parents will not give up on these kids, right? So if they keep fighting, so do we.

Do you know a Hometown Hero? Every Monday, The Daily News will run a weekly feature in print and online profiling a Hometown Hero in several categories  first responders (police officers, firefighters, EMTs), health care workers, transit workers, educators, and extraordinary everyday citizens  nominated by our readers.

For more information on how to nominate a Daily News Hometown Hero, go to www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hometown-heroes.
Damen Shipyards Group handed over three new electric-powered patrol boats in a series to the city of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Police. The Waterpieper and Waterhoen will sail under the name of the City of Amsterdam and are outfitted with a battery pack of 273 kWh from EST-Floattech, a provider of maritime energy storage systems. These are full electric patrol boats.





The hybrid P55 will be sailed by the Amsterdam Police and is fitted with a 136.5 kWh battery pack.

The 1304 Damen design is 13.5 metres long and can reach a speed of 8.6 knots with their 130kW electric motors. Sailing at average speed will allow full-day operations on a single charge of the batteries. The P55 also has a diesel generator to extend its range if needed.

It was a tough puzzle to get 273 kWh of batteries on board the 13.5 meter long patrol boat, but the flexible modular system of EST-Floattech enables this in a very space-efficient way. Koen Boerdijk of EST-Floattech

The hulls for the vessels were built at Damen Shipyards Kozle in Poland and were shipped to Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld for outfitting and delivery.

In 2023 Damen will delivery another two patrol boats of the 1304 full electric series and these will also be equipped with the Green Orca 1050 series of 273 kWh each.
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GREENWICH  After it was canceled two years in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual celebration of St. Patricks Day is scheduled to return in Greenwich with a parade through the downtown.

Former Selectman John Toner will serve as grand marshal for the parade, which will step off at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, the Greenwich Hibernian Association announced Monday afternoon. Toner will also be honored at the associations St. Patricks dinner dance on March 5.

This is the third time the association has looked to honor Toner, but the pandemic forced the cancellation of both the 2020 and 2021 parades.

That has caused a lot of pent-up demand for the parade this year, association member James Dougherty said.

The first year was frustrating but understandable and last year was even more frustrating, Dougherty said. We really want to get back to a sense of normal.

The association is excited for Toner to serve as grand marshal, after he missed out on the honor in 2020 and 2021, Dougherty said.

We really want to get this done this year, he said. This is a always a very meaningful event for us, but this year its even more so because the past two years we havent been able to do it. This is our big annual event to celebrate our heritage and get out into the community and give back to the community. Were really looking forward to it.

For Toner, the overdue honor comes after decades of public service. A Greenwich native, he is the son of Irish immigrants Bartley and Rose Toner. Toner had a long career in banking and served in the Peace Corps.

He was a member of Greenwichs Representative Town Meeting for 17 years and has been an active volunteer in town, including at Greenwich Hospital, Call a Ride and the book exchange at Holly Hill.

Toner also served on the Board of Selectmen from 2015 to 2019. He was first appointed to succeed the late David Theis in January 2015, then was reelected in 2015 and 2017, when he received the most votes of anyone on the ballot.

On Monday, Toner said he was looking forward to the parade and joked that he was honored that the Hibernians had stayed with him as grand marshal.

Im sure my parents would be thrilled to death to know Im going to be doing this, and Im just sorry theyre not here to see it, Toner said.

Stepping off

Despite a COVID-19 spike around the start of the New Year due to the omicron variant, the number of new cases is trending dowward in Greenwich and beyond.

First Selectman Fred Camillo gave his full endorsement to the parades return.

This certainly falls in line with what were seeing in the trends for this variant, Camillo said. Were getting good news almost on a daily basis and were hoping not even by St. Patricks Day but in just a few weeks well be able to see more events coming back in town.

He said he would be marching in the parade with his two dogs, Teddy and Reagan.

Its a lot of fun and ... it will be four days away from the start of spring. And youre almost saying goodbye to winter as youre out celebrating with the Irish and welcoming spring, Camillo said. Well have the hope of spring with things starting to bloom and the promise of warmer weather right around the corner. Even if its a cold day, you know youre almost there. And its always a happy time.

The association has already contacted its regular parade participants as well as some possible new additions, Dougherty said.

Were hoping to have a great lineup this year, he said.

The parade will follow the usual route, stepping off from Town Hall to West Putnam Avenue, before marching down Greenwich Avenue, Dougherty said.

Updates and more information about the parade will be posted at www.greenwichhibernians.org

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
A Manhattan judge blasted Michael Avenattis messy defense Monday against charges he stole $300,000 from porn star Stormy Daniels.

Mr. Avenatti, you have a tendency to just lump like 20 things together in an effort to throw spaghetti at a wall and hope that some of it sticks, Manhattan Federal Judge Jesse Furman said.

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Michael Avenatti leaves his Manhattan Federal Court wire fraud and aggravated identity theft trial on Jan. 26, 2022. (Molly Crane-Newman/New York Daily News)

The scathing comment came after the government rested its case against Avenatti. The once-high-flying lawyer then sought to introduce an assortment of new theories challenging the feds charges that he swiped book advance payments from Daniels without her knowledge.

Evidence at trial has shown that Avenatti talked trash about Daniels behind her back while going to great lengths to make sure she never spoke directly to the publisher of her tell-all memoir, Full Disclosure, which described her alleged affair with Donald Trump.

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The spotlight-loving lawyer dumped his defense attorneys on the second day of trial and opted to represent himself against wire fraud and aggravated identity charges that carry a potential 22-year sentence.

Avenatti, 50, threw the kitchen sink at Daniels when she took the stand, questioning her about everything from her alleged tryst in 2006 with Trump, to nicknames she gave her security guards, to her belief in the supernatural.

He even argued about who was to blame for poor sales of Full Disclosure.

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We dont intend to argue in closing that Mr. Avenatti is guilty because he did a bad job of publicity. We dont care, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in response.

Furman told Avenatti he had sustained more objections during the trial than in any other case since hes taken the bench.

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Avenatti said he was unlikely to testify but hadnt made his mind up for sure.

If he does, Furman warned that he would allow prosecutors to bring up the lawyers 2020 conviction for trying to extort Nike of $25 million.

Avenatti contends he had a right to Daniels book money because she wasnt paying for his firms ongoing legal representation.

But Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, testified that the lawyer agreed to rep her in litigation against Trump for $100, with the expectation he would be paid through a legal windfall that never came.
As China prepares to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Xiaomi is preparing to launch the Redmi K50 series. The new models are expected in February and will arrive with a mix of high end Snapdragon and Dimensity chipsets  but not at the same time. Lu Weibing told fans that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 model will arrive first, followed by the Dimensity 9000 model.

There is still some uncertainty about which models will get which chips and there are a total of four phones incoming  Redmi K50, K50 Pro, K50 Pro+ and K50 Gaming.

The current thinking is that the two Pro models will get Qualcomm chips, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 for the Redmi K50 Pro+ and a Snapdragon 870 for the regular Pro. The second part hasnt been officially confirmed, but it is a downgrade for the regular Pro model as both the K40 Pro and K40 Pro+ had Snapdragon 888 chips.

The other two will get MediaTek chipsets. The Redmi K50 Gaming is expected to feature the Dimensity 9000 chipset, which has shown some impressive benchmark results. This may become the first phone to use the new chip, though Oppo and Realme will also use the chip, as will vivo and Honor. Its a popular chip.

The Redmi K50 is expected to use a new chip from MediaTek that weve seen reported as the Dimensity 7000 (sometimes as the 8000). Unlike the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Dimensity 9000, early rumors claim that this will be a 5 nm chip without a Cortex-X2 core (so four A78 and four A55) and a Mali-G510 MC6. It will be interesting to see how this one stacks up against the Snapdragon 870 of the Redmi K50 Pro  the naming suggests that the Pro will be faster, the hardware specs (if accurate) make the Dimensity the better chip.

Putting the chipset aside, the K50 series will come with MIUI 13, 50W charging for the base model and 120W for the Pros, which may also enjoy a 108 MP camera and a periscope. The Gaming model will keep its shoulder triggers and will likely be released as the next Poco F GT in some regions (Xiaomi is also promising the best haptic engine yet).

Source (in Chinese) | Via
Last May, Avianna San Nicolas younger sister, wanted a picnic to celebrate her fifth grade promotional and entrance to middle school.

She saved a ton of picnic pictures from Pinterest, and the sisters started to put ideas together for the small celebration. They bought pillows, decor and a picnic table just hours before the picnic.

A few days later, their mother had the bright idea of starting a picnic business, especially since they had inventory.

I was immediately on board and started putting ideas together as well adding new inventory into my online shopping carts, San Nicolas said. I could hardly wait to start. I spent the whole month of June juggling two summer intercession courses and trying to prepare Blooming In Grace for its launch in July.

She and her Blooming in Grace team, which includes her sister, are now doing slightly larger party sizes and have upcoming weddings to decorate.

Their service includes planning, setting up and cleaning up. Though they primarily work at outdoor locations, they can create settings for indoor gatherings.

I know how hard it is to put it all together, the 20-year-old Inalahan resident said. Being able to provide a service where people do not need to worry about setting up, and all they have to do is show up and enjoy their time together was really important to me.

Every day is different for the self-funded entrepreneur, who also is a junior at the University of Guam.

Sometimes she wakes up at dawn or stays up late at night. Regardless of the situation, San Nicolas and her team typically pack all the materials they need for the picnic and drive to the location before everyone arrives.

The picnics usually last around two to three hours, so the team either sets up another picnic, grabs food, finishes schoolwork or runs other errands. Afterward, they head back and thank their customer before packing up.

Back at home, they sanitize all the materials, wash picnic dishes, and launder pillowcases and mats. If they have a picnic the next day, they usually begin packing for that as well.

Among the challenges for the business, San Nicolas must consider Guams unpredictable weather.

We try to work around as best as we can, whether it be changing locations, moving indoors, or rescheduling, San Nicolas said. But we also face the issue of finding trash at the locations we come to set up.

When the team comes across trash previously left behind by other people at the locations they are setting up, they throw it away and clean up after their own picnic is finished.

While the business is a lot of work, San Nicolas loves the benefits of being an entrepreneur, including the convenience of creating her own work schedule.

I (also) love that there is no limit to my creativity, she said. Im able to bring any idea I have to life without needing to get approval for it.

She credits her family for constantly suggesting new ideas or areas to improve. For instance, San Nicolas and her team initially only had picnic tables that were low and required people to sit closer to the ground.

Her grandmother suggested coming up with a picnic setup that would accommodate older customers or people who were uncomfortable sitting close to the ground. San Nicolas quickly got tables and chairs to accommodate people of all ages and preferences.

The young entrepreneur has partnered with local brands to complement her picnic setups. Since the beginning, she has been working with charcuterie company Grazeful Guam to provide her clients with charcuterie as well as dessert boxes.

Working with other businesses is great for networking, and it shows how much one business can truly help another, San Nicolas said. Be creative and try new things. Even when something is doing great for my business, I am still trying to plan out what is next.
Guam Department of Education seventh-grade teacher, Mya Perez, moves a stack of books to temporary storage as she secures her Jose Rios Middle School classroom for the summer break on May 26, 2021. Perez described the last school year as the hardest school year of learning for her due to challenges experienced by her and her students because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Construction company Core Tech International wants the government of Guam to pay it at least $130 million and monthly rent for as long as the Guam Waterworks Authority operates the islands wastewater treatment plant in Dededo.

Core Tech also wants the Superior Court of Guam to order the payment of 42 years of back rent, plus interest, for the wastewater plant, which Core Tech alleges sits on ancestral land Core Tech acquired in 2015.

According to GWA, if Core Tech wins its land case in the Superior Court of Guam, the enormous payments to Core Tech could result in higher water bills for the island.

Although GWA has argued it clearly owns the land used for the Northern District Wastewater Treatment Plant, which started operating in 1980, Superior Court Judge Elyze Iriarte in November ruled that Core Tech has an ownership interest in the land and therefore can continue to pursue its claims in court.

She rejected a request by the Department of Land Management and GWA to dismiss Core Techs claim.

Land Management and GWA have argued that Core Techs ownership claim is based on flawed certificates of title issued by Land Management in 2010, and that Guam law prohibits the wastewater plant site from ever being transferred to private ownership. Land Management has asked the court for permission to change and revoke those certificates of title.

Land Management and GWA in early January petitioned the Supreme Court of Guam, challenging Iriartes ruling.

The Supreme Court assigned a case number to the governments petition, but has not issued any orders or set any deadlines in connection with the petition.

Two issues

If justices agree to hear the petition, they will be asked to consider two issues: whether the five-year statute of limitations expired for Core Tech to file an inverse condemnation claim against GovGuam; and whether the Superior Court made an error when it stated Core Tech has an interest in the property, despite two public laws that prohibit the transfer of excess federal land that is being used for public easements.

The case started in December 2018, when Land Management sued Core Tech, asking the Superior Court to allow Land Management to cancel and change the certificates of title.

Core Tech counter-sued in January 2020, claiming GovGuam and GWA illegally condemned the land without paying for it and are encroaching on Core Tech property after tearing down Core Techs fences in order to expand the wastewater facility.

GWA currently is spending $122 million, provided by the military in connection with the military buildup, to upgrade the wastewater plant, including new secondary treatment facilities. Black Construction won the contract in June 2019. The wastewater plant serves residents of northern Guam and Andersen Air Force Base and also will serve the new Marine Corps base under construction in Dededo.

The federal government in 1980 gave GovGuam a lease to maintain and operate the wastewater plant, which was built on 13 acres of military land within the 862-acre Air Force communications annex.

The federal government later returned 3,213 acres of excess federal land to the government of Guam, including the communications annex.

Deed

The Guam Ancestral Lands Commission in 2006 deeded 257 acres of excess federal land to the estate of Jose Martinez Torres, including part of the communications annex.

The Torres estate in September 2007 sold 252 acres of its ancestral land to Kil Yoo Yoon for $21.4 million. Yoon in 2008 subdivided the property into eight smaller lots, and in January 2010 deeded the land to his company, Younex Enterprises Corporation.

Core Tech acquired the property in May 2015, for $178.1 million, after Younex defaulted on its mortgage with Core Tech, documents state.

According to Judge Iriarte, Core Techs ownership interest is related to that mortgage and the sale of the property to Core Tech, which resulted in Core Tech receiving a mortgagees deed.

According to Core Techs counterclaim in Superior Court, the government of Guam and GWA have used and occupied lot 10184-7 for the wastewater plant without the consent and permission of Core Tech, which amounts to an illegal taking and a violation of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Core Tech states GovGuam and GWA failed to pay Core Tech or any prior owner for using the property, and Core Tech suffered serious severance damages to its property of at least $130 million.

Core Tech wants back rent and interest, retroactive to May 1980, with monthly rent payments until GovGuam and GWA vacate the premises.

Federal ownership

The federal government, which owned the land for decades, including when it was an Air Force communications annex, still has an interest in the Dededo property, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, which stated only a federal judge can decide cases related to federal land ownership.

The United States has a particular interest in the resolution of this case because Core Techs counterclaims threaten to adversely impact the chain of real estate title under which the United States reserved a reversionary interest in real estate if not used for public benefit, specifically a wastewater treatment plant that serves U.S. facilities at Andersen Air Force Base and Marine Corps Camp Blaz, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikel Schwab told the Superior Court last August.

Even if the property on which the plant sits is no longer owned by GovGuam, it is at a minimum encumbered by the federal lease and easements that allow GWA to operate the plant, Schwab stated. If defendants wish to challenge the United States interests in and title to real property they must bring an action in federal district court.




Haiti - FLASH : Fritz Alphonse Jean elected President and Steven Benoit PM (Accord Montana)





Sunday January 30, 2022, as part of the elections provided for in the Montana agreement (August 30, 2021 agreement) the 42 voting members of the National Transitional Council (CNT) out of 44 (after the withdrawal of Famni Lavalas https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35838-haiti-politic-famni-lavalas-withdraws-from-the-national-transition-committee-of-the-montana-agreement.html ) elected the President and the Prime Minister of the 2-year transitional government, which the signatories of this political agreement hope to put in place.



The Electoral Commission of the CNT declared winners of these elections :



The economist Fritz Alphonse Jean (65), former Governor of the Central Bank was elected as President of the transition with 25 votes cast against 15 votes for his opponent Edgard Leblanc Fils.



Former senator [2011-2017] Steven Irvenson Benoit (56) was elected as Prime Minister (in the second round) with 26 votes against his opponent Jean Henold Buteau (14 votes).



January 31, 2022 is scheduled for disputes and the publication of the final results.



Following these elections, the National Memorandum of Understanding (PEN) will appoint a 2nd member (Fritz Alphonse Jean being the first member) and will ask the Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry to appoint a member of his agreement and finally two other members appointed by Civil Society will form the five-member of presidential college, according to Jacques Ted Saint-Dic, one of the officials of the Montana Accord Monitoring Office, stressing that if Ariel Henry refuses to leave power, it's the country who will decide...



Recall that Ariel Henry had declared on January 21 at an international conference on Haiti -la-crise-haitienne.html "The next tenant of the National Palace will be a President freely elected by all the Haitian people", which clearly suggests that he does not intend to give up his place for a political agreement wishing to install a transitional government...



Download the names of CNT members : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Conseil-National-de-Transition.pdf



Download the text of the agreement of August 30, 2021 (Montana) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/accord-30-08-2021.pdf



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35838-haiti-politic-famni-lavalas-withdraws-from-the-national-transition-committee-of-the-montana-agreement.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35772-haiti-politic-interventions-of-the-pm-at-the-international-visionconference-on-the-haitian-crisis.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Spain : New Haitian scholarship recipients expected in Spain





A new cohort of Haitian students is expected in February 2022 in Spain as part of the academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries.



Spanish academic institutions are preparing to welcome 8 new scholarship students for the 2021-2022 academic year. Four of them, from the Faculty of Applied Linguistics of the State University of Haiti (UEH), will integrate the University of Oviedo and the other four will continue their studies at the Catholic University Saint Antoine de Murcia (UCAM) (x2), at the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) (x1) and at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (x1) in political science, medicine, architecture and business management, as part of the Erasmus+ KA 107 program.



In addition, the Embassy of Haiti in Madrid reiterates its firm determination to work for a broader participation of Haitians in the scholarship programs of the Spanish Cooperation of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) and the Agency Spanish International Cooperation for Development (AECID)



MAEC-AECID for the academic period 2022-2023, offers in particular the Inter-university Master in Diplomacy and International Relations of the Diplomatic School of Spain for officials from Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Haiti , as well as excellent musical training at the Reina Sofia School of Music (ESMRS), the Master in Lexicography at the University of Leon, among others.



It should be noted that the University of Granada (UGR), under the agreement signed with the Embassy of Haiti in June 2021, offers Master's scholarships in multiple fields of competence such as : medicine , techniques and sciences of water quality, architecture and road engineering, canals and ports etc...



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A Brooklyn woman claims she was arrested for filming police busting her ex-boyfriend, according to a new federal lawsuit.

Robbin Vazquez is suing the city and NYPD Officers Alfredo Brewster and Obson Cesar for false imprisonment and retaliation for the right to record police activity in her suit filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday.

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Vazquez, 42, admits recording Officers Brewster and Cesar as they handcuffed Orlando Sepulveda, 34, for gun possession on Mermaid and Surf Aves. in Coney Island on Feb. 4, 2019.

She was walking her dog and claims she made room for the officers to arrest Sepulveda  who is the father of her son  and followed their commands to step back while recording the encounter.

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While Sepulveda was being held at Police Service Area 1, Vazquez claims she visited him twice to check on him and bring him food.

During her second visit, she went outside the precinct to smoke a cigarette and was joined by Officer Brewster, the lawsuit states.

Robbin Vazquez (Obtained by Daily News)

She confronted him about Sepulvedas arrest, which she thought was unnecessary.

I explained to him  He was out of line. They just scared me. He apologized, Vazquez told the Daily News.

But when she returned with Sepulveda two days later to collect his belongings after he was released, Cesar arrested her with no explanation, the suit claims.

He pulled the cuffs out and he arrested me. He didnt read me any rights. He just arrested me. I really didnt know what I was arrested for until months after, said Vazquez.

She was charged with obstructing governmental administration for distracting Cesar and Brewster by being too close with her leashed dog, according to a copy of the criminal complaint.

Leave him alone. You harassing him, Vazquez yelled at the cops, according to the complaint.

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After her arrest, Vazquez was placed in a holding cell in the precinct, where Cesar watched her throughout the day, the suit says.

Cesar made continuously flirtatious remarks that made her uncomfortable as she paced the cell, the lawsuit alleges.

At one point, to ease her anxiety, Vazquez said she began to exercise in the cell.

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He was like, Oh, you work out? Youre in great shape, she said.

Cesar also commented about how nice she looked on her ID card and said, You look like you have a good time, according to the suit.

After more than half a day in police custody, she was taken to the courthouse, where the Brooklyn District Attorney declined to prosecute Vazquezs case.

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Ms. Vazquezs unlawful arrest in retaliation for recording the police cannot be seen as an isolated incident but rather as a symptom of a widespread attitude held by the city and the NYPD to stifle the publics First Amendment right to record the police, said her Legal Aid Society attorney Barbara Hamilton.

Sepulveda pleaded guilty to having a handgun in the arrest Vazquez filmed. He was sentenced to a year in jail, the Brooklyn DAs office said.

Officer Cesar could not be reached for comment. Officer Brewster and the NYPD declined to comment. The city Law Department did not return a request for comment.

Abuse of authority occurred. They really dont understand what they took from me, said Vazquez, who moved out of New York City afterward. I honestly feel that they should not be allowed to deal with the public until they are trained with some more empathy.




Haiti - Environment : Mexico will implement the Sembrando Vidas program in Haiti, a first in the Caribbean,





Haiti will benefit from the "Sembrando Vida" (Sowing Life) program that Mexico is applying in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, reported Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, Head of the International Development Cooperation Agency (Amexcid) at the international virtual meeting on Haiti on January 21 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35754-haiti-politic-meeting-of-the-international-community-on-haiti.html



Haiti will be the first country in the Caribbean to benefit from this reforestation program, which aims to create thousands of jobs and provide the country with means of income, since wood and fruit trees are planted for sale. This program seeks to address two issues : rural poverty and environmental degradation. Thus, its objectives are to save the countryside, reactivate the local economy and regenerate the social fabric in the communities.



On behalf of Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Laura Elena Carrillo presented the plan of the Government Lopez Obrador to bring the "Sembrando Vida" program.



Initially (pilot phase), the Program will serve 5,000 Haitians.



To be continued...



S/ HaitiLibre


















Written By

Reporter

Sophia Voight is a reporter for the Hastings Star Gazette. She is from Oshkosh, WI and graduated from the UW Oshkosh with a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Journalism in 2021. She can be reached with any news tips at svoight@orourkemediagroup.com

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The Barn has been a staple in rural Hastings for 27 years, and new owner Kara Parde is ready to continue with its tradition.
Traditional homeless shelters have long been off limits to pets, leaving animal owners who want to get off the streets with a difficult choice. But as homelessness surges across the U.S., those working toward a solution are increasingly recognizing the importance pets have for vulnerable populations and are looking for ways to keep owners and pets together. Pending legislation in California would make a pilot program known the Pet Assistance and Support program permanent and expand it across the state. The pilot program in recent years has provided millions of dollars in funding to nonprofits and local jurisdictions that has been used in part for things like food, crates, toys and veterinary services for the pets of homeless people.
Authorities say a suspect in a fatal shootings of a young woman and teenage girl at a Casa Grande apartment complex has been arrested in Texas. Casa Grande police say 18-year-old Terrance Xavier Santistevan was taken into custody Saturday night in Pflugerville, which is 18 miles north of Austin, Texas. They say Santistevan is facing two counts of first-degree murder and hes being held in the Travis County jail awaiting extradition to Arizona. Authorities say 17-year-old Danielle Murrieta and 18-year-old Leslie Cota were found shot multiple times on April 24 with nearly 30 bullet casings recovered at the scene. The two were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. A possible motive for the shootings remains unclear.
Editor: Kelly Browns letter is so wrong on so many levels. Critical Race Theory w
LIRR service will be fully restored Tuesday morning, MTA officials said as Long Island shoveled away snow from a nasty noreaster.

Long Island was hit harder by the storm than anywhere else in downstate New York, with the National Weather Service reporting nearly 25 inches of snow at Islip Airport in Suffolk County. The tremendous downfall buried the Long Island Rail Roads 700 miles of tracks, and forced the MTA to suspend service on all the railroads lines early Saturday.

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Some LIRR service resumed Sunday, but transit officials said the snow and ice was still causing issues Monday.

A train derailed in a yard on the LIRRs Port Jefferson branch disrupted service on that line, and MTA officials said problems with an Amtrak switch in Long Island City caused delays between Jamaica and Penn Station during Monday mornings rush.

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A train clears snow from tracks in Broad Channel. (Marc A. Hermann/MTA)

Service on all the LIRRs lines, with the exception of the Port Jefferson branch, was expected be back on schedule by Monday night. LIRR commutes are expected to be back to normal in time for Tuesday mornings rush, said LIRR President Phil Eng.

Residual weather issues and an Amtrak switch failure contributed to delays and cancellations affecting early Monday travel with service resuming on or close to schedule by mid-morning, said Eng. Hundreds of LIRR employees continue to work around the clock battling frigid temperatures and lingering impact from the noreaster to ensure any issues that arise are addressed promptly.

City subway trains were up and running Monday, and Metro-North service operated on all the railroads lines with some weather-related delays.

The city saw less of a hit than last winters whopper of a blizzard, which on Feb. 1 dumped 17 inches of snow on parts of the five boroughs. That storm forced the MTA to halt above-ground subway service as subway switches froze across the city.
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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 New Jersey man already accused of berating an Asian-American NYPD detective with racial slurs last year has posted a new video to social media saying he cant wait to cause mayhem at the next police funeral, according to a police union.

Detectives Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo said in a release that the alleged threats by Terrell Harper must be taken seriously. The union honcho asked federal prosecutors to investigate.

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NYPD Officer Wilbert Mora (AP)

In the video, Harper laments he didnt know about the funeral last week for Officer Jason Rivera, who was shot dead responding to a domestic incident.

Im looking for the next cop funeral...Son thats going to be my new threat to them, Harper says in the video widely circulating on social media. I cant wait for one yall to die so I can f--- your funeral up.

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The Daily News obtained a copy of the video.

Last year, the detectives union accused Harper in a civil lawsuit of launching an offensive tirade against a Chinese-American cop, Det. Vincent Cheung, during a demonstration near the Stonewall Inn.

Harper, of Neptune, N.J., has argued in court filings that his political monologue was protected by the First Amendment. His lawyer, Remy Green, declined to respond to the unions new release.

Riveras partner, Wilbert Mora, will be mourned at a funeral Wednesday at St. Patricks Cathedral. The killing of the young officers prompted Mayor Adams to declare it is our city against the killers.

Members of the 32nd Pct. salute as the body of NYPD Officer Wilbert Mora is transferred from a NYPD ambulance to the Riverdale Funeral Home in Inwood on Jan. 26 in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

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DiGiacomo, the union leader, wrote that Harpers video was no run of the mill social media post.

The individual involved has a history of threatening violence against police officers, DiGiacomo wrote. We need federal assistance now to stop a possible terrorist incident. The threat is real. The time for action is now.
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
Charges were thrown out Monday against a man accused of joining a crazed mob that fatally beat a driver after a Bronx fender-bender last summer.

Luciano Norales, 27, was in a parked car that was struck on E. 176th St. and Carter Ave. in Mount Hope on July 25 by the victims in the case, brothers Geuris Guillermo, 42, and Ambiori Guillermo, 38.

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I didnt hit him. But I wanted to so badly, Norales told a detective, according to the criminal complaint against him. I was so angry, but I didnt. I grabbed him and I said I need your information, and then he ran.

Police initially said an angry crowd beat the brothers, with Geuris Guillermos head repeatedly stomped against the concrete. Geuris Guillermo died two days later.

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Norales was one of two suspects arrested that day for attempted murder, gang assault and attempted robbery. He was released without bail after his arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Ainis, citing witness statements and video evidence, asked that all charges be dismissed against Norales during a hearing in Bronx Criminal Court. Norales lawyer Eli Northrup, said Norales did not attack anyone and just called 911.

A source familiar with the video evidence says it reveals Geuris Guillermo was knocked out by one man and not beaten by a group.

The truth is, Mr. Norales never should have been charged in this case, Northrup said.

Its a very serious charge and the six months where all this has been hanging over his head have been damaging already to him and his family. After seeing the video surveillance and the body-worn cameras, its clear that the police totally mishandled their investigation.

Judge Margaret Martin dismissed the charges and sealed the case Monday. Norales would not talk outside court. It wasnt clear if he intends to file a lawsuit.

Geuris Guillermo, 42 beaten to death after a minor car crash. (Facebook)

Charges tied to the beatdown have not fared well in court.

Also arrested that day was Thomas Ellington, 29. Charges against him were dismissed last week because video did not show him involved in the attack, a law enforcement source said.

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Ellington told the Daily News he hadnt heard about the charges being dismissed, since he hadnt spoken to his lawyer recently.

It hasnt really affected me because I didnt do anything wrong, he said.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

On Aug. 5, police arrested a third suspect, Erick Martinez, 28, and charged him with manslaughter. A grand jury recently declined to indict him, the law enforcement source said.

Geuris Guillermo, who lived in Manhattans Hells Kitchen, lost consciousness and suffered bleeding to his brain before his death.

He was a nice guy with a beautiful family. He had a son, Henrietta Cary, 59, a family friend, told The News after Geuris Guillermos death.

His siblings said they were terrified the attackers might target them next.

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Justice needs to be served. These people need to be put on blast, one of his sisters, Mary Guillermo, said in July. My family is scared. We fear for our family.

Another sister, who didnt give her name, said, We dont know these people. We dont know why they did this. It wont bring my brother back, but I want them to burn in hell.

With Ellen Moynihan


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A Brooklyn man accused of stabbing his mother, a beloved local pastor, to death admitted in bone-chilling words to the heinous crime, prosecutors said Monday.

What happened is I slit her up, Kenji Francis, 40, allegedly told cops who arrived at the familys East New York home Saturday to find Tracey Sydnor, 61, with cuts all over her face and neck lying in a pool of her own blood.

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Kenji Francis, pictured, allegedly stabbed his mother, Tracey Sydnor, 61, in Brooklyn.

Sydnor  stabbed at least 15 times  was found by her brother, who called cops to the home on Wyona St. near Livonia Ave., according to prosecutors. Francis was still in the home when police arrived and he was arrested there.

Medics rushed Sydnor to Brookdale University Hospital, where she died. Cops found a knife they believed to be the murder weapon at the home.

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Tracey Sydnor, 61, whose son allegedly stabbed her to death in her Brooklyn home Saturday afternoon. (Obtained by Daily News)

Francis stood handcuffed Monday in Brooklyn Criminal Court to face charges of murder and weapon possession. He wore a red sweatshirt and blue pants and was silent throughout the proceedings. He has no prior arrests or history of mental illness, police sources said.

A judge ordered Francis held without bail.

Tracey Sydnor's son allegedly stabbed her to death in her Brooklyn home.

Sydnor had been appointed executive pastor of the Upper Room Baptist Church on Rockaway Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant in November. She grew up going to the church and then led its choir before her promotion.

She was known for her singing.

I being tone deaf envied in a good way your beautiful voice, Yvonne Chambers, who identified herself as a cousin of Sydnor, wrote in a Facebook tribute.

You knew you were called to the ministry, Chambers added. While I dont understand Gods plan, he has spoken and we are all trying to understand and accept his will.
The death of a beloved Brooklyn pastor whose son is accused of stabbing her 15 times has left her church community reeling in shock.

Tracey Sydnor was the executive pastor at the Upper Room Baptist Church on Rockaway Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

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She was the glue that kept everything together, Terrence Reed, a lifelong friend of 61-year-old Sydnor, told the Daily News. Not one bad thing can be said about her.

Tracey Sydnor, 61, whose son allegedly stabbed her to death in her Brooklyn home Saturday afternoon. (Obtained by Daily News)

Sydnor was killed Saturday when her son, identified by sources as Kenji Francis, allegedly repeatedly stabbed her in her Brooklyn home on Wyona St. near Livonia Ave. in East New York about 2:10 p.m.

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She was stabbed at least 15 times, including in her neck, ear and hands, cops said. Medics rushed Sydnor to Brookdale University Hospital, but she could not be saved.

Francis, 40, was taken into custody at the home. Charges against him were pending Sunday.

Francis has no prior arrests or history of mental illness, police sources said.

It seems like he just snapped, the source said.

A knife believed to be the murder weapon was recovered from a bedroom in the home, sources said.

Sydnor grew up attending the church before leading its choir. She was appointed as the executive pastor of the congregation in November.

She was full of life and full of love; she loved singing and dancing, Reed said. She was a sweet lady.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Reed relocated to Georgia later in life but kept in close touch with Sydnor  a friend hes kept since 1973.

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We talked life stuff, church stuff, just everyday conversation, Reed said. She was an encourager, very supportive person.

Tributes to the late pastor flooded social media Sunday, with one grief-stricken user describing her as a true angel on earth.

This one hurts different, Ernest Ward III wrote in the moving post. From the age of 14 until now, Pastor Tracey Sydnor have (sic) been a consistent presence in my life.

Upper Room Church will never be the same again, Joyce Craig posted. Heaven has truly gained an angel . . . My heart is so heavy now, for the loss of my sister in Christ. I am lost for words, numb. Lord, help us!

In a sermon Sunday at the Upper Room Baptist Church, Bishop J. Carl Henderson announced the loss of Sydnor to the congregation.

God bless you and please my sister, please my brother continue to pray for the family, her children, her siblings and her extended family and our church family as a whole, Henderson said. Our church is suffering a loss.
Pacers center Domantas Sabonis has entered the NBAs health and safety protocols and will miss Mondays game vs. the Clippers, the team announced today (Twitter link).

If he registered a false positive or inconclusive test result, Sabonis could clear the protocols quickly. But if he tested positive for COVID-19, the big man figures to be sidelined for at least five or six days unless he can return two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart before then.

Sabonis, who recently missed four games due to an ankle sprain, had been terrific since returning, averaging 22.5 PPG, 16.5 RPG, 9.0 APG, and 1.5 BPG on 65.4% shooting in games in Oklahoma City and Dallas on Friday and Saturday.

With Sabonis unavailable, the Pacers could find themselves pretty shorthanded up front. Myles Turner (left foot) is also out, while Goga Bitadze (right foot) is questionable to play. As James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star writes, rookies Isaiah Jackson and Terry Taylor should be in line for larger roles, especially if Bitadze is ruled out.

As our tracker shows, Sabonis one of just seven players currently in the health and safety protocols, with the leagues COVID-19 situation looking a lot better than it did a month ago.
The Heat have signed forward Chris Silva to a fourth 10-day contract, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). Silvas third 10-day deal with the team expired on Sunday night.

Silva, 25, has appeared in a total of seven games for Miami since first signing with the club back on December 31. He has averaged 3.4 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 9.0 minutes per contest while providing depth in the frontcourt.

A player is typically limited to no more than two 10-day contracts with the same team in a single season, but that restriction doesnt apply to 10-day deals completed using a COVID-related hardship exception. All four of Silvas contracts have been hardship deals, since the Heat have had players in and out of the health and safety protocols for over a month.

Omer Yurtseven entered the protocols over the weekend and is currently the only Heat player affected. If he exits the protocols before Silvas new 10-day deal expires and no one new enters, Silva will be ineligible to play at that point.

Silva has earned $95,930 on each of his 10-day contracts this season, including one with Minnesota in December. By the time his new deal expires (on the night of February 9), hell have received nearly $480K in total, which exceeds the minimum salary for a player on a two-way contract in 2021/22.

Silva is the second player to sign four 10-day contracts with the same club this season, joining Lance Stephenson (Pacers).
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.

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."

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.
Exxon Mobil plans to move its headquarters to its Houston-area campus from a Dallas suburb next year, becoming the largest Fortune 500 company in the metro area.

The arrival of Exxon's top brass and some 250 workers from Irving will bolster Houstons standing as the nations energy capital, attracting more energy investment and corporate relocations to the region, area leaders said. Exxon is the worlds largest public oil company with some 72,000 employees.

Exxon Mobils move further solidifies Houstons position as the Energy Capital of the World, said Bob Harvey, CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, the city's economic development group. Exxon Mobil is a key participant in our Houston Energy Transition Initiative, and we look forward to working with the company as we continue to position Houston to lead the energy transition to a low-carbon future.

Exxon's corporate relocation to Spring, north of Houston, is part of a strategic reorganization to prepare for a low-carbon future as well as an ongoing streamlining of operations that accelerated after the pandemic-driven oil crash in 2020. Exxon on Monday said it plans to combine its chemical and refining businesses and centralize its technology and engineering operations, which will help the company cut more than $6 billion by next year, compared with 2019 costs.

The reorganization would result in three business lines: Exxon Mobil Upstream, focusing on oil and gas drilling and production; Exxon Mobil Product Solutions, specializing in refining and chemicals; and Exxon Mobil Low Carbon Solutions, pioneering carbon capture, hydrogen and biofuels. The headquarters relocation, expected in mid-2023, will enhance collaboration across the corporation as it seeks to lower its carbon footprint.

We greatly value our long history in Irving and appreciate the strong ties we have developed in the North Texas community, CEO Darren Woods said in a statement Monday. Closer collaboration and the new streamlined business model will enable the company to grow shareholder value and position Exxon Mobil for success through the energy transition.

DAY OF RECKONING: Big Oil confronted with 'day of reckoning' on climate change after Exxon board shake-up

Exxon becomes the 25th Fortune 500 company to call Houston home., and its relocation marks the third Fortune 500 headquarters move to the Houston area in as many years after HP relocated to Houston from San Jose in 2020 and NRG Energy relocated from Princeton, N.J., in 2021.

Houston has the third highest number of Fortune 500 companies nationally, eclipsed only by New York City and Chicago. Exxon ranked No. 10 on Fortune Magazine's list of the 500 largest publicly-traded companies by revenue last year.

Although Exxon has long had a major presence in Houston -- Humble Oil, founded in 1911, became part of Exxon in 1973 -- the company has been headquartered in North Texas for the past three decades. Exxon, formerly Standard Oil of New Jersey, moved to Irving from New York City in 1989.

At the time, many corporations kept their headquarters separate from their operations, even if their satellite locations were much larger than the head office. However, as oil companies face increasingly volatile markets and the existential threat of climate change, some are consolidating their operations into one central headquarters. Shell, formerly based in The Hague, earlier this year moved its headquarters to London as it shifts its investments away from oil and gas to renewable energy.

Exxon, which has pledged to spend $15 billion on lower-emissions projects through 2027, has proposed a $100 billion carbon capture hub in Houston that would capture and store up to 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year from Houston-area industrial plants by 2030, and up to 100 million metric tons by 2040.

Exxons decision further supports Houston as the center of the energy transition, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. We look forward to opportunities to collaborate in the future to benefit the Houston area.

The move also will have wide-reaching implications for the citys economic development and real estate market as the Dallas-area employees, contractors and suppliers move south.

Exxon, which has long been active in Houston's civic and philanthropic circles, will likely be even more engaged in the community after moving its headquarters here. The blue-chip company also brings prestige to Houston, and will likely aid in the city's corporate recruitment efforts, Harvey with the Greater Houston Partnership said.

The relocation will likely extend the so-called Exxon Effect, which has reshaped the real estate landscape in North Houston. When Exxon announced plans in 2011 to build its 385-acre campus in Spring, the project brought thousands of new residents to northern Harris County and southern Montgomery County, fueling the development of new master-planned communities, offices, hotels, apartments and stores in the region. It even helped propel construction of the Grand Parkway's northern section.

Exxon has been consolidating its business in Spring for some time. The company in 2014 moved its shale subsidiary XTO to Houston from Fort Worth, and in 2015, moved thousands of employees to its new Spring campus from Greenspoint and its Fairfax, Va. offices.

The global pandemic, however, dealt a particularly damaging blow to Exxon, which lost $22 billion in 2020, its worst year in four decades. Exxon slashed its operations and capital budgets, and laid off 1,900 U.S. employees, mostly in Houston, as crude demand and prices crashed.

About 8,500 Exxon employees work at its Spring campus, down from more than 10,000 before the pandemic. Exxon is among the top 20 largest employers in the region, according to the Greater Houston Partnership.

ENERGY CAPITAL: Why Houston takes the hit when Irving-based Exxon falters

Even as oil markets have recovered with the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, Exxon continued to streamline its business to return more cash to shareholders and focus its efforts on its most profitable wells in the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana.

Exxon in October announced plans to move about 1,500 employees in The Woodlands to its Spring campus, further consolidating its Houston presence. Exxon recently put 290,814 square feet of office space at 1735 Hughes Landing in The Woodlands on the sublease market, according to commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.

Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, lamented the loss of Exxon in The Woodlands, but said the corporate relocation to the north Houston region will benefit The Woodlands' housing and retail markets.

There are people out there that truly think that Exxon Mobils campus is in The Woodlands, because it is so closely located near our community, Staley said. They certainly are impactful to our community and will continue to be so.

CDC Houston; the developer of City Place community that is home to Exxons Spring campus, in June announced a partnership with DMB Development to build thousands of residential units within the community near Interstate 45, the Grand Parkway and the Hardy Toll Road. City Place is home to 1,100 apartments and 160 single-family homes. Once the development is built out, City Place is expected to have 2,500 to 3,000 single family homes.

Were going as fast as we can (to build housing) but I think this (Exxon announcement) will probably help get deals done and it will probably increase builder interest, said Warren Wilson, executive vice president at CDC Houston. Were basically going full speed ahead, Wilson said.

Exxons Spring campus boasts about 20 buildings, and features a 100,000-square-foot gym, an on-site daycare center for 300 children, a town hall and auditorium, executive office and meeting rooms and an outdoor plaza that can host up to 3,500 people.

Marissa Luck contributed.
If the name of Fulshears newest master-planned community, Cross Creek West, sounds familiar to Houstonians  well thats by design.

The developers behind the master-planned community are hoping to play off one of their more successful communities in the Houston area, Cross Creek Ranch, which is only about a 15 minute- drive away from where their latest development, Cross Creek West, is planned.

Johnson Development last week announced the launch of Cross Creek West, a 1,258-acre -acre community that will eventually encompass 3,000 homes near Fulshear, about 40 miles west of downtown Houston. The company has now revealed a little more about its vision for the community, planned for land near FM 359 and Jordan Road.

Cross Creek West will be an extension of the lifestyle of Cross Creek Ranch, said Rob Bamford, senior vice president at Johnson Development, the Houston-based developer behind popular communities such as Sienna, Woodforest, Silverlake, Grand Central Park, Riverstone, Harvest Green and Jordan Ranch.

The existing 3,200-acre Cross Creek Ranch is almost built out with just about 300 acres left to develop over the next three to four years, Bamford said.

Cross Creek Ranch is ranked No. 48 among the nations top-selling master-planned communities, according to a recently released 2022 report by the consulting firm RCLO. To date, about 4,600 homes have been sold in the community.

Interactive: Houston's top-selling master-planned communities

The popularity of Cross Creek Ranch prompted to Johnson Development to launch another community nearby that will be smaller but have a similar look, amenities, access to nature and schools. In addition to greenbelts and commercial space planned for Cross Creek West, about 16 acres have been set aside for a potential future elementary school by Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.

With housing developments spreading west of Houston in Fort Bend County, Johnson Development is hoping to provide more options to homebuyers interested in this increasingly popular market. Although Fulshear is small, with fewer than 17,000 residents in April 2020, it has seen its population swell from up from just over 1,100 a decade earlier, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.\

Homebuilder interest in the area has been accelerated by the opening last summer of Texas Heritage Parkway, said Bamford. The 6.4-mile, two-lane road connects a key route in Fulshear, FM 1093, with Interstate 10, giving commuters better access to Katy, Brookshire and other employment hubs.

This is such a strong single-family residential corridor and the trend that we have seen over the last 25 years is that [growth] will continue west of Cross Creek Ranch," Bamford said. "

News obituary: Larry Johnson, 'dean' of Houston land development, helped shape Houston's suburbs

Johnson Development has owned the land for Cross Creek West for nearly a decade, holding the parcels until it thought demand could justify building. It launched initial work on the property about 18 months ago.

Johnson Development is converting the raw land into developable lots to sell to builders, completing underground utilities and streets. Johnson Development initially expects to have 410 home sites ready to be sold to builders by late March.

Pricing has not been determined yet, but the homes will range in size from about 1,400 square feet to 3,800 square feet. A model home village will showcase eight designs of the homes.

We expect vertical home building activity to start in April, Bamford said, adding that construction on the first set of homes is expected to be complete in the fall. Were very close to becoming a real neighborhood.
A South Carolina man has been declared inactive on a kidney transplant list after he said he has no plans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Jason Wilson has had kidney failure since he was 10 years old.

For a while, his condition improved, he said.

But about two years ago, he began dialysis and was placed on Medical University of South Carolina Health's list for a kidney transplant.

NO VACCINE: Hospital patient without COVID shot denied heart transplant

It was on Nov. 1 that he got a letter from the health system that said he would be moved to inactive status if he didn't get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 1, 2022.

"If you do not wish to be vaccinated, we will move you to inactive status until we are able to verify proof of completed vaccination," it read, in part.

Wilson said there was an effort to get him on board.

"Right before they moved me to inactive, I got a phone call from a manager down there at MUSC and she had asked me what it was going to take, what could they do to make me get the shot? And I said, at this time there's nothing you can say," Wilson said.

A spokesperson shared a statement with sister station WYFF on the policy.

THE HESITANCY: Houston Health Department partners with marketing firm for campaign to address vaccine hesitancy

"MUSC Health is part of a growing number of transplant centers who are making this same requirement, due to the overwhelming evidence of improving patient outcomes post-transplant for those who are vaccinated.

"Before declining transplant candidacy, every effort is being made to understand the rationale behind individual vaccine refusal and to reduce barriers or misinformation related to vaccine acceptance.

"As part of the transplant process, we require many vaccinations and wellness exams to be completed (colonoscopy, mammograms, pap smears, etc), in addition to COVID-19 vaccines. All of these requirements are to assure a safe and successful post-transplant outcome," said Heather Woolwine who serves as the Director of Public Affairs, Media Relations and Presidential Communications for MUSC.

Wilson said doctors told him he has about five to seven years on dialysis.

He's now in year two.

COVID HELP DESK: Will we need a 4th vaccine booster shot?

"I know for me right now, I got a little bit of working room to kind of hold up to see what happens in the future," he said.

"I see it as so unethical, I see it as inhumane and I do believe that it's unconstitutional," said State Rep. Ashley Trantham.

Trantham heard about Jason's story and after unsuccessful attempts to get him back on the list, turned toward a different direction.

"The only other thing that I can think of doing for him was to file legislation that says that any hospital system cannot deny somebody the opportunity for that lifesaving procedure based on their COVID vaccination status," she said.

She said the bill also addresses insurance companies to ensure that they can't deny coverage.

Trantham said she's hopeful lawmakers will move forward with the bill.

In the meantime, Wilson said he's hoping a COVID-19 vaccination requirement will ease over time.

"Maybe they can kind of back up on the shot and just leave it as highly recommended like the flu shot," he said.
Karen Warren/Staff Photographer

Harris County Pets has several large, kind-hearted dogs in need of homes who have been waiting at the shelter for more than 90 days.

One of those looking for a new family is Rex, a 7-year-old male, Rottweiler mix who shelter staff said is the "most handsome and mellow guy you will ever meet." Rex was surrendered by his owner in October and has been waiting at the shelter for more than 101 days. He is heartworm positive but is eligible for free treatment at the shelter's clinic. "Hes a sweet older gentleman that prefers to be in the company of calmer dogs and likes to eat his meals alone," shelter staff said. His animal ID is A449434.
Colorful nesting bowls, playful dinnerware and comforting bedding are all part of Pottery Barns newest collection of home goods, a collaboration between the home goods company and the Black Artists + Designers Guild.

More than two dozen items in the BADG x Pottery Barn collection that launched Jan. 28 were created by a trio of women of color, the mother-daughter designer duo of Penny Francis, 57, of New Orleans and Casi St. Julian, 33, of Katy, along with Los Angeles-based Lisa Turner.

Pottery Barn launched the project with Black Artists + Designers Guild, asking for proposals from designers, artisans and other makers with ideas for a home goods collection. Turner and St. Julian, who submitted a proposal together, didnt know Turner before this collaboration.

The home goods company had signed on as a sponsor of a Black Artists + Designers Guild virtual showhome in 2020, and wanted to keep working with the guild that was founded a couple of years earlier by artist-entrepreneur Malene Barnett to promote Black talent. Thats when the idea of a home goods collection came together.

The three women met virtually, using the theme Black joy to generate ideas and massage them into this collection.

We started talking about Black joy and what it looks like, what it represents to us. We were throwing out words that are part of our culture: Family, joy, happiness, unity, laughter, dance, celebration, Francis said. Even though, culturally, were miles apart and have different points of view as designers, as women of color, it didnt matter where we were from  we all felt the same way.

We were united in thought, but little did we know as the words came together, they became part of the design, Francis said.

They worked on designs and themes that could be used throughout the collection, words on cloth napkins or pillows, drawings on bedding or other items and colors that could mix and match in every room.

St. Julian had the idea of using a shield motif, drawn from the African diaspora, and thought about how a shield might have been used in Nigeria or Cameroon for protection or even for celebration. She drew ideas by hand and finished with watercolor, and now youll find the shield motif on many items, including bedding, vases and on the base of a hurricane lamp.

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We just rolled with it, and I didnt realize how universally we could use it  in poufs and bedding and floor design, St. Julian said. It is so abstract, but represents protection and something being strong.

Shell have plenty of pieces from the collection in the home she shares with her husband, Cedrick St. Julian, an engineer at Schlumberger. Casi St. Julian used to work with her mother in New Orleans at their Eclectic Home family business, and now has her own design firm, Francis & Saint Interiors, in the Houston area.

Shes planning to use the bright, playful pillows in the play room of their 16-month-old son, Oliver, and she loves the tabletop collection and its mix-and-match nature.

Color was important for this new collection, since it launches just before spring. The pillow collection is filled with vivid colors, and nesting bowls are lined with blue, red and orange. Youll find pops of color in bedding and in dinnerware, too.

Color was a natural go-to for Francis and St. Julian, who lived in New Orleans most of their lives, except for a period after Hurricane Katrina when they evacuated to Houston. At that time, Francis had owned the furniture store  Eclectic Home, where she has a home design studio  for just five years. While it didnt flood, their home did, as did the homes of all of their family members. So Francis, her husband and their two daughters, Casi and her sister Camryn Francis  now an architecture student at the Savannah College of Art and Design  moved to Houston for a couple of years.

The collection proposal and design ideas from Francis and St. Julian were filled with a sense of family and of history, too. Their family goes back several generations in Louisiana, as theyre descendants of enslaved people at the Whitney Plantation, now a museum property.

In California, Turners Interior Obsession design clientele tends to want lighter, simpler style with less color.

But she drew from her own experience growing up as part of a busy family  her father came from a family of 12 and her mom was part of a family of seven. There were always aunts, uncles and cousins around, and they all gathered every weekend for cards, food and fun.

We wanted it all to feel handmade by an artisan, and so it could be mixed and matched or used with traditional and contemporary decor, Turner said. There are so many gifting ideas; you could take the small hurricane lamp as a housewarming gift to a party. Thats how we wanted to celebrate.

The past year has been a whirlwind for the trio, from being chosen in late 2020 to spending most of 2021 in product design and production. Last fall they met for the first time at a photo shoot for the goods.

Its all fun and happy, and thats what we wanted it to be, St. Julian said. Pottery Barn makes really happy products all the time. This is very different from what they normally do  more color than they usually do  but I think theyll get a great response.

diane.cowen@chron.com
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High blood pressure has never been an issue for Catherine Allen, founder and director of Poppy Perinatal Yoga. But being pregnant during COVID-19 increased her stress level.

The pandemic has raised my blood pressure, she said. It never heightened to an alarming level, but I could definitely feel it. It was high for me.

Allen purchased two blood pressure gauges and began taking measurements, while also trying different breathing techniques from yoga. It turns out that the slow, expansive breathing central to certain practices helped lower her blood pressure.

And thats important for me, she said.

Allen is a certified doula, perinatal yoga teacher and childbirth educator. Shes also passionate about helping others lower stress and blood pressure.

On HoustonChronicle.com: New moms fight for their lives away from newborns, as Houston sees rise in pregnant COVID patients

This concept is going under the microscope at Texas State University this February.

Stacy Hunter, an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, received a $400,000 grant in November from the National Institutes of Healths National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine in support of her research, Yoga Postures and Slow Deep Breathing in Altering Mechanistic Outcomes in Hypertension.

Participants between the ages of 40 and 60 will be monitored for blood pressure, immunity and vascular function as they practice 12 weeks of yoga.

Im interested in the relationship between the immune system and blood pressure regulation, she said. Immunity is not just about fighting viruses. There are more and more studies showing how the immune system plays a role in hypertension, diabetes and other disease.

Hunter explained that free radicals, highly reactive cells, exist normally in the body; their production increases with age.

We produce them all the time for normal metabolic function, she said. We need free radicals. They play a role in cellular signaling.

The problem arises when too many are produced, Hunter explained. Then, the free radicals cause damage to the cells.

Free radicals can cause blood vessels not to dilate as much, she said.

But antioxidants help break down free radicals.

In the study, Hunter hopes to determine whether yoga increases antioxidant capacity. The investigation will also reveal whether yoga breathing techniques are able to decrease hypertension on their own  or if the breathing should be paired with poses to maximize the benefit.

Hunters lab recently published a study about yoga breathing techniques. Participants practiced for 20 minutes a day, four or five times a week, resulting in a significant improvement in vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels. This leads to greater blood flow and less pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.

The NIH grant will allow Hunter to further investigate the benefits of yoga breathing techniques.

She has been studying the health benefits of yoga since 2008, while still a graduate student.

In the past, she focused on arterial stiffness, which is also linked to hypertension and other diseases. She found that yoga practitioners in their 20s demonstrated improvements in arterial stiffness, while participants over the age of 40 did not. Those between 40 and 70 years old, however, did show better vasodilation.

Her current study could further illuminate how yoga techniques can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In the meantime, Houston yoga instructors have a number of recommendations to lower stress and blood pressure.

Allen points to a number of different breathing techniques used in yoga that can be beneficial, like ujjayi breathing, used to calm the mind and focus on breath.

Allen also utilizes bhramari pranayama, another calming breath practice that includes vocalization.

A lot of times people dont know how to take a deep breath because their cores are so tight, she said. We rely on vocalization because it forces you to exhale. And when you exhale completely, it feels more natural to inhale.

Allen explained that stress can affect physical, emotional, spiritual or mental health.

One thing is for sure, when we breathe mindfully and expansively, we disrupt stress patterns, Allen said. And when we disrupt stress patterns, we make room for other possibilities.

Amanda Hale, founder of Yoga Tres, said all of the instructors at her practice lead students through synchronizing breath with movement.

It creates a long, even breath, she said. That helps release stress and lowers your blood pressure.

Hale added that her students often complain about higher levels of stress when they are not able to take their usual yoga classes.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Can yoga fix a community wrecked by persistent flooding? Wharton aims to find out.

They can tell, she said. They know that they need to come in. Its our time to really feel grounded. For me, thats also true with my mental health and stress reduction.

By focusing on breath, Hale explained, students become present. They are not able to obsess over the past or worry about the future.

In our classes, we focus on the moment and being in tune with your body, she said. We want everyone to let go of whats happening outside the classroom.

Hale recommends several poses to alleviate stress, including the Seated Forward Fold, or pashchimottanasana. In the seated position, simply fold forward, lean toward the toes, keep the back flat.

Youll feel a lengthening, Hale said. Take a deep, long breath. It allows you to lower your heart rate and for all the tension to fall out of your body.

A similar move is the Standing Forward Fold, or uttanasana. This time, stand with knees slightly bent. Just let your upper body fold, Hale said. Relax your head, all of the tension in your neck and jaw.

Downward-Facing Dog, or adho mukha svanasana, is a more active pose that can help lower blood pressure, Hale said.

She also recommends the Legs Up the Wall pose, or viparita karani. Here, you sit as close to the wall as possible, raise your legs and rest them on the wall.

Youre in a resting position, and youre able to deepen your breath and grow calm, Hale said.

She recommends taking a break in the day to try a few of these moves and reduce tension.

The studio will soon launch virtual yoga classes and a meditation class to help even more with focusing on breath and lowering anxiety.

Hale wants to make yoga and meditation as accessible as possible, allowing more to benefit from lowering blood pressure and stress.

A lot of people have a misconception that you already have to be fit or be flexible to try yoga, she said. Thats absolutely not true. And being present, using the breathing techniques, can affect every aspect of your life.

The techniques are especially helpful as people try to navigate COVID, Hale added.

With all the stress in the pandemic and upheaval it has caused in their lives, they need something to ground them, she said. Yoga can contribute to that.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Press Release

January 31, 2022 Bill renaming CDO International Convention Center after Aquilino Pimentel Jr. approved The bill renaming Cagayan de Oro (CDO) International Convention Center as Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., breezed through the Senate with the passage on third and final reading of House Bill No. (HBN) 8842, Monday, January 31, 2022. The P1.3 billion-facility, which would be renamed after the former Senate President and former Minority Leader, is located at Bgy. Indahag, CDO City, about 4 km from the city center. It is designed to accommodate more than 7000 people. Sen. Francis "Tol" Tolentino, chairperson of the Committee on Local Government and sponsor of the bill, said the public structure will help "spur the tourism industry as it would attract conventions, conferences of big magnitude." Tolentino said he was very close to Pimentel, who was his lawyer in his early political years. In his sponsorship speech, Tolentino paid tribute to Pimentel as a great statesman of the country, a true Mindanaoan, and a native son of CDO. "Elected in 2000 as first Senate President to have hailed from Mindanao, Senator Nene Pimentel is considered as one of the pillars of democracy in the Philippines and as the father of the Local Government Code," Tolentino said. Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri, who hails from Northern Mindanao, said it is very apt and timely that the convention center started by Pimentel be named after him. "It's a beautiful project. I see it everyday from the other side of the mountain and I am so happy that it is finally completed and named after him. He deserves to be honored by the city of Cagayan de Oro for all the achievements that he has done," Zubiri said. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Sens. Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Win Gatchalian were made co-sponsors of the bill. HBN 8842 was passed on third reading by the House of Representatives on March 22, 2021.
Three days before last weeks frightening standoff between detainees and staff at a Bronx juvenile holding facility, a teen was jumped, beaten and slashed  one episode in a wave of violence that employees say endangers workers and residents.

The teens story is detailed in documents obtained by the Daily News that describe the frightening climate at the Horizon Juvenile Center, one of two facilities where the city says it houses youth who pose the highest risk or who have been accused of committing serious offenses. The center is staffed by Administration for Childrens Services peace officers and other workers.

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They punched me and the whole (dorm) rushed into my room and proceeded to jump me. They punched me in my left eye and started slicing my back, the wounded 16-year-old wrote of the Jan. 21 attack.

He was screaming, an ACS officer reported. He couldnt feel his legs and while being assisted to sit up there were cuts on his back and more blood on the ground.

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Three days before a stand-off in a Bronx juvenile holding facility, a teen held there was jumped, beaten and repeatedly slashed on his back, leaving ugly crisscrossing wounds, pictured here. The victim was a 16-year-old resident at Horizon Juvenile Center. (Obtained by Daily News)

The next day, one of the Horizon residents who attacked the teen was found with a sharp blade in his mouth, wrapped in a latex glove and medical gauze, records show.

Horizon staff is often assaulted and residents often grab keys so they can get into other units to jump rivals, the documents show.

On Nov. 13, a resident tried to snatch an ACS officers keys and dragged her along the floor until she let the keys go. The officer hurt her shoulder and had to go to the emergency room.

An officer working to separate residents in a corridor on Jan. 10 was punched in the face. When he dropped to the floor, he was kicked in the ribs. A second officer was also injured in that melee.

The Horizon Juvenile Center in the South Bronx. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News)

The incidents are part of a drumbeat of violence in Horizon leading up to the stand-off that began Monday and continued until early Tuesday. The incidents exposed a series of problems with staffing and security in the facility.

Horizon, which currently holds roughly 75 residents, was turned over from the Correction Department to the Administration for Childrens Services in 2019 during the de Blasio administration.

They (ACS officials) do not want the public to know whats going on in this jail, said Derek Jackson, law enforcement director with Teamsters Local 237, which represents ACS peace officers.

There are lots of fights, lots of injuries to staff, Jackson said. They dont have enough people and the job doesnt pay well. They work a few weeks and leave. Youll be reading about this place again very soon, because they have lost control.

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Late last Monday Jan. 24  as first reported in The News  eight residents took over a dorm or hall at Horizon and kept three staffers inside by using threats and makeshift weapons.

At 12:30 a.m. the NYPD entered the facility in force and the situation was finally defused, with the residents arrested on various charges.

The interior of the Horizon Juvenile Center in the South Bronx. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News)

Mondays incident could have been much worse, said retired ACS sergeant Joseph Forrester, whose career was ended in 2012 when he was badly beaten by four residents, leaving him with head injuries and recurring headaches.

Im very surprised that what happened there is still happening, said Forrester, now 49.

When I got hurt I thought that would be a wake up call for change as far as the shortage of staff, Forrester said. I thought thats something they would have corrected by now.

Another melee erupted Wednesday in which an officer was punched in the jaw, records obtained by The News show. During a search of a resident, a 3-inch blade fell out of his boxers, the records show.

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Mayor Adams visited Horizon on Thursday and spoke with staff. He pledged to return and said a full investigation was being conducted.

We cant have staff that are trying to do their job being put in jeopardy and we dont want the young people here to be put in jeopardy, Adams told The News. We have to find the right balance.

Theres a small number of people who are violent and they are violent on the staff and they are violent on the other young people who are trying to do their time here, the mayor added.

ACS has taken steps to increase security, a spokesperson said, including purchasing duty belts for workers to wear to protect keys and having staff no longer carry full sets of keys. Residents, staff and visitors are being screened for contraband anytime they enter the building.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Many of the problems at Horizon were highlighted in an Oct. 18 report by the federal monitor overseeing use of force in city jails.

The Horizon Juvenile Center in the South Bronx. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News)

The facility environment is marked by high levels of youth violence against both peers and staff, in addition to other types of disorder, the report said of Horizon.

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The violence isnt always generated by residents  the monitors report expressed concern over the staffs use of force and use of shackles and handcuffs in restraining residents.

Eyes on You, an activist group, noted in a statement Friday no staffers were physically injured in Mondays incident.

This was their way of bringing attention to whats going on inside of this hellhole, and the results ended up with them being further demonized  and likely upgraded to many of them being sent to the infamous Rikers Island and we know how thats going to turn out, the group said.

Adams visit was received well by Horizon staff.

It was definitely good for the building to see him there, a staffer said. Because the building is losing hope day by day.
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Police are looking for a driver responsible for hitting two people -- one fatally -- outside a southeast Houston bar.

Witnesses told Houston police that the driver of a black truck sped through the parking lot after leaving El Buho bar around 2 a.m. Monday at 11043 Fuqua Street, authorities said. The driver may have earlier been drinking at the bar.
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A man was killed early Monday when he collided with another vehicle in west Houston, leaving authorities to determine which of the cars ran a red light, police said.

The crash happened around 12:30 a.m. where Harwin Drive meets the Sam Houston Parkway frontage road. The man died at the scene.
Omicron is in retreat across the Houston area, new data shows, even as hospitals continue to feel the strain of Januarys post-holiday bump in COVID-19 cases.

After a brutal month in which the highly contagious variant of the coronavirus swept the city with ferocious speed, sickening more than 100,000 people, Mondays figures confirmed the omicron wave is receding almost as quickly as it arrived.

The regions rate of transmission  a key metric used to gauge how likely an infected person is to spread the virus to others  fell for the third week in a row, health officials reported Monday, fueling hopes that omicron is on its way out.

COVID HELP DESK: Will we need a 4th vaccine booster shot?

We know now that omicron has peaked and we are in the downward phase here in the Houston area, Dr. Pedro Piedra, a virologist at Baylor College of Medicine, said Monday afternoon. Hopefully it will only continue to go down.

Most notably, Piedra said, new cases appear to be declining quickly, putting the region on pace to return to pre-wave numbers  meaning relatively low levels of COVID infections and hospitalizations  within four weeks. That means Houston could enter a post-surge lull, similar to the one that followed the delta variant, as soon as early March.

The latest data reveals just how swiftly omicron is receding across the Houston area.

New hospital admissions fell by 20 percent in the last two weeks, an encouraging sign after an explosive surge that pushed Texas emergency rooms and intensive care units closer to capacity than at any time during the pandemic. About 2,200 people were hospitalized for COVID in the nine-county region around Houston on Sunday, down from a mid-January peak of 2,960, according to state tallies.

The regions COVID transmission rate also fell, dropping to 0.74, meaning the average person who had the virus gave it to one person or less, according to the Texas Medical Center. Spread has remained below 1.0 for two weeks, further confirming omicrons loosening grip.

Houston averaged fewer positive COVID tests last week relative to the mid-January peak. Around 5,400 people tested positive for the virus each day in the greater Houston area, or 60 percent as many as the previous week, when the region averaged 9,000 new cases daily, according to TMC data.

But while there is some cause for optimism, proclamations of the pandemics demise are more wishful thinking than fact, Dr. Peter Hotez told the Chronicle on Friday.

The big picture, Im still concerned about, the Baylor College of Medicine virologist said. Theres a lot of happy talk about omicron somehow acting as a weakened virus, herd immunity and the end of the pandemic. I do not think so yet.

And in Houston, where one-third of the population is unvaccinated, doctors are worried that the swell of patients needing critical care could continue to burden hospitals at a time when nursing shortages are increasingly dire. Houston-area ICUs are already 95 percent full, according to UT Health. Some Texas regions  including Laredo, Abilene and Paris  have no ICU beds available for sick patients.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston's new vaccine jackpot offers 12 gift cards for $1,000, $38K in prizes for getting COVID shots

Deaths from omicron are beginning to tick upward as hospitalized people succumb to the illness. About 180 Texans are now dying from the virus each day on average, a tripling of the number since December. But because it can take several weeks for those fatalities to appear in official death tallies, the variants true toll may not be known for months. The time between infection, illness and death can stretch weeks or months, in some cases.

The virus has infected about 1 in 6 Houstonians since the start of the pandemic and has killed more than 4,000. Data shows that most who died from the virus had underlying conditions. More than half had diabetes. Scientists are watching to see whether omicrons lessened severity translates to fewer overall deaths among hospitalized patients in the months to come.

The highly contagious strain was identified in South Africa shortly before Thanksgiving. Within three weeks, it accounted for more than 90 percent of all new COVID cases in the Houston Methodist health care system, spreading in the community three times faster than the delta variant.

People sickened with the omicron variant appeared to require critical care far less frequently than patients infected with either the alpha or delta variants, and they had significantly shorter hospital stays on average, according to a preliminary study of 4,500 Houston Methodist COVID patients.

But while omicron caused less severe illness than previous strains, the amount of COVID circulating in the community resulted in many breakthrough cases and sent a larger share of vaccinated people to the hospital than the delta surge. Unvaccinated people were far more likely to need critical care, however, accounting for roughly three-quarters of COVID patients in Houston ICUs.

Piedra, the Baylor virologist, encouraged Houston residents to remain vigilant. Vaccines and boosters, he said, have proved overwhelmingly effective at protecting against serious disease.

People need to be aware the battle is still on, he said.

nora.mishanec@chron.com
A group of GOP strategists opposed to former President Donald Trump is launching a billboard campaign across Texas that attacks Gov. Greg Abbotts push to audit the results of the 2020 election.

The group, called the Republican Accountability Project, said it had 12 ads up in major Texas cities, with the message: Gov. Abbott, end the sham audit.

Abbott, a Republican seeking re-election, launched the review last fall under pressure from Trump, even though Trump won the state by nearly 6 percentage points. Like similar reviews in other GOP-led states, it has turned up minimal discrepancies between electronic and hand counts of ballots in sample precincts.

These audits are not about investigating alleged voter fraud, the group, led by GOP strategist Bill Kristol, said in a statement. Theyre about keeping the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump alive. They erode public trust in our democracy, and they need to stop.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Abbott and other Republican leaders have justified the audit by pointing to skepticism among conservative voters over the election results, much of which has been stoked by discredited claims by Trump and his supporters.

The people of Texas must have trust and confidence in the election process, Abbott said when launching the review last fall.

Abbott requested and received $4 million in emergency funding from the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature for the audit.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
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In Asiatown, many businesses are anticipating the Lunar New Year and its riotously beautiful lion dance.

The ceremonys firecrackers, clashing cymbals and big crowds are meant to dispel the bad luck of lost business, a shrinking staff and other pandemic woes.

Those blessings are welcome in Asiatown, an area of southwest Houston hit hard when the pandemic began in 2020. False rumors of an outbreak emptied restaurants, especially in its Chinatown neighborhood, weeks before the rest of the city shut down, costing Asian-owned businesses millions.

Two years later, the Asiatown area is once again bustling, despite fears about COVID and anti-Asian harassment. But many smaller and older restaurants still struggle to survive as costs rise and competition with global Asian franchises intensifies.

FIGHTING TO SURVIVE: Chain restaurants are closing in on Houston's Asiatown

More businesses than ever are hiring lion dance troupes, like Lees Golden Dragon, to help them prosper in the Year of the Tiger, said founder Allen Lee. His 40-year-old troupe, Houstons oldest, booked 70 shows for the two weeks of Lunar New Year beginning Tuesday and celebrated by local Chinese and Southeast Asian communities.

We bring good business, and sometimes, a change of fortune, he said.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Pandemic recovery

For some, that change has already come. Along Chinatowns one-mile stretch of Bellaire Boulevard, crowds flock to gleaming new storefronts advertising trendy restaurant brands from mainland China, Taiwan and Japan.

But at nearby Teacup Cafe, owner Annie Hu said now is even more challenging than the first year of COVID.

In 2019, it was already hard to hire people, she said. During the pandemic, Hu lost all but one of her staff. She couldnt afford to employ them and many were scared to work, she said.

Hu persisted for two years, but she said competition for workers is fierce and ingredients are becoming expensive as supply chain issues drag on.

It was OK when the supplies were low-cost and you could work yourself, then you can survive, said Hu. Its harder now because you have to buy the supplies no matter how crazy it costs.

As owners like Hu struggle to adapt, Asiatowns developers face numerous offers to take over faltering restaurants.

In Chinatown, businesses dont close down  if they cant make it, theres a lot of people on the waiting list, said Kenneth Li, whose Southwest Realty Group owns numerous Bellaire storefronts.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

'EVERYTHING IS STRESSFUL': Rising prices hit millions of Americans trying to recover from the pandemic

For most shopping plazas along that stretch, the average occupancy rate has remained at 92 percent, according to Li.

Our office gets a phone call almost every day, a new concept looking for a new place, he said. Asiatowns dense mix of cultural centers, temples, language schools and other institutions keep the neighborhood attractive, said Li.

But that doesnt mean its decades-old traditional restaurants will survive a changing crowd.

People eat more with their eyes and cameras now, not just their palates, said Kevin Kan, developer of Bellaire Food Street, a strip of mostly Asian franchise restaurants that opened in 2019.

The projects goal is to draw younger, more affluent visitors to Asiatown who might overlook its dingy or hole-in-the-wall establishments, Kan said. A more diverse crowd, not Chinese-only menus, is the future, he said.

When you look at Houston, you wonder, what are we doing wrong? Why are we still living in the past? said Kan, who plans to demolish an aging apartment block nearby to build Bellaire Food Street 2.

For some visitors, the rise of franchises has raised fears of a loss of authentic cuisine. But across the street from Kans project, locally owned Mala Sichuan Bistro mixes traditional and trendy while staying authentic, said owner Cori Xiong.

After suffering a sharp drop in sales when COVID hit, Xiong adapted by opening a facility to prepare ingredients for her three, now four, locations. The move allowed her to do more with fewer people, she said.

Xiong said she brings out new dishes every month to stay ahead of competitors who cant deviate from corporate menus. Authenticity comes from flavor, she said, pointing to a recent creation popular with her Asian and non-Asian customers: green tea bacon fried rice.

Sichuan cuisine is very dynamic, she said.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Year of the Tiger

As Asiatowns atmosphere and cuisine evolve, tradition is being kept alive in other forms, said Lee, the lion dance director.

At hundreds of restaurants and stores around Lunar New Year, colorful fabric lions parade to the beat of pounding drums, their fierce visage chasing away evil spirits and pandemic woes. People feed the celestial beasts red envelopes of cash. The more they give, the greater the fortune, he said.

A half-hour ceremony features at least two lions that bless the door with a vigorous dance, walk among guests to bestow fortune and rear up on their hind legs to chew on a hanging bundle of lucky lettuce, said Lee.

Asiatowns upscale, modern restaurants proved as eager as traditional establishments to hire the troupe for Lunar New Year and ensure their continued prosperity, Lee said. But restaurants simply trying to stay open are also determined to save for a lion dance.

Even if its expensive, its to bring good luck to my business, said Hu, owner of Teacup Cafe.

SAYING FAREWELL: 12 popular Houston restaurants that shut their doors in 2021

As the pandemic enters its third year, the ancient tradition has also taken on a more practical meaning, said Tony Yeung, who helps manage Unity Dragon & Lion Dancing Troupe. A lion dance has become a popular way to wish for recovery from COVID losses, and even as an advertisement to draw crowds back into restaurants, he said.

You dont hear them say anything about hope, but you can tell by the requests theyve made, said Yeung. Lunchtime and dinnertime performances are especially sought-after.

Theyre hoping that there will be an audience, he said.

Unity will perform nearly a hundred times in the next two weeks, many at places signing up to the tradition for the first time, Yeung said.

When you hear and see the sight of lion dancing, the sounds of drum and gong, people want to gather together, he said. They need it more than ever, this signal to people that youre still here and alive.

charlie.zong@chron.com
A federal judge has found the Texas law that requires most government contractors to swear they will not boycott Israel violated a Houston firms First Amendment rights, although the court did not strike down the law statewide.

Judge Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas said the law prevented A&R Engineering & Testing, Inc., from exercising its First Amendment rights to boycott the actions of the Israeli government while pursuing a city contract in Houston.

Hanen issued a temporary injunction Friday instructing the city that it cannot include language  required by a state law  in a work contract that seeks to force the firm to comply with the boycott ban. Hanens ruling was narrow in scope and did not block the law generally, as the plaintiffs had requested.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nonprofit Muslim civil rights and advocacy group that filed the suit on behalf of A&R and its owner, Rasmy Hassouna, cheered the ruling.

Obviously, this law was intended to target a particular viewpoint and discriminate against that viewpoint, said Gadeir Abbas, senior litigation attorney for the council.

Attorney General Ken Paxtons office is appealing the injunction to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His office did not respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit concerned a contract renewal the city gave A&R in October to continue conducting engineering services. In the contract, the city included language asking A&R to ensure the firm would not boycott Israel.

The language was required by a state law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017, that forbids companies that boycott Israel from receiving government money. More than 20 other states have passed versions of the law.

The 2021 document was the first renewal of A&Rs contract since the law took effect, which meant it was the first time the language about boycotting Israel was included.

Hassouna, who is of Palestinian heritage and has worked with the city for 17 years, refused to sign the Houston contract and asked for the provision to be removed. The city said it could not comply with state law without including the language, and Hassouna filed a lawsuit.

Attorneys for the city have said it wants to follow the law and would hire A&R if it is allowed.

Otherwise, Houston does not have a dog in the fight, Hanen wrote.

CAIR has challenged the law in the past. It filed a suit on behalf of a contractor for the Pflugerville Independent School District in 2018. A judge in that case ruled in the contractors favor, and the Legislature amended the law to apply only to companies with ten or more employees, Abbas said.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
Growing up, Kristina Nguyen, 21, would celebrate the Lunar New Year making banh chung with her family, then sharing the traditional Vietnamese dish with friends and neighbors.

This year, her New Year will be spent as the head of a one of the lions with the Soaring Phoenix Dragon and Lion Dance Association.

My family is traditional, so its hard to be away from them, but this is my second family, the medical assistant said, adding her family will catch a couple of the troupes 90 performances over the next few weeks.

Being apart but together is part of what Alex Tran wanted to focus on when he founded the troupe in 2008.

LUNAR NEW YEAR 2022: Here's where to celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Houston

The team has met every Sunday afternoon since August for rehearsals in an industrial center in northwest Houston. For the first part of practice, the team works on music, gathering around a gong and a drum with broken cymbals they use for practice. Since everything from footwork to the lions winking eyelids is coordinated to the beats, its important every member knows what to expect. For the second half of the practice, the dancers put on their costumes, including oversized lion heads made in Malaysia, and run through the routines, which can be on the ground, benches or stilts.

Now Playing: Coming off of a national win in lion dance competition, members of Soaring Phoenix Dragon and Lion Dance Association rehearse for Lunar New Year celebrations around Houston. Video: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

Tran expects the dancers to put in extra effort at home, as well. I send YouTube videos of dances, not just from the U.S., but around the world so they can be inspired, and hopefully we can be at that level.

The teams Vietnamese name Con Rong Chau Tien, the dragon and the fairy, is based on a Vietnamese legend where a dragon from the sea and a fairy from the mountains fall in love and have 100 children. Half of the children follow their father to the sea, the other go with their mother.

Welcome to the Year of the Tiger: Heres what we have to look forward to.

The meaning of the story is we are all still one family, whether we live in the north, or south, or in the U.S. said Tran, 29. This dance troupe is a way to connect to that family and culture.

NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here.

With 35 members ranging from 6 to 29 years old, the troupes dances have a variety of skills  from performing on stilts to Lion dancing and dragon dancing. Although anyone willing to put in the time can join the non-profit troupe, most members have similar backgrounds; their parents left Vietnam during or shortly after the war.

Nathan Tran, 20, was drawn to join after watching his cousin perform with Soaring Phoenix. He joined over the summer and feels at home. This is definitely a major friend group, he said.

CHANGE OF FORTUNE: Year of the Tiger brings new hope for pandemic-hit Asiatown

For Tran, the founder, those connections are important, but also being able to share the tradition with others.

Our goal to show people the diversity of the dance, to educate people about the culture and to help people appreciate our different backgrounds."

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Some Houstonians were without power Monday afternoon as widespread showers moved across Southeast Texas.

More than 5,000 people were without power around 2 p.m., but that number had fallen to 341 people as of 4:10 p.m., according to CenterPoint Energy's outage tracker.

This comes as the National Weather Service's Houston/Galveston office monitored the greater Houston area for potential flooding.

RELATED: Cold weather sparks fear among some Houstonians nearly a year after the 2021 freeze

Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service forecast that moderate to heavy rain will continue into the evening. The heaviest rains should move away from the area shortly after midnight.

Later this week, an arctic front will move through the area Wednesday night and Thursday morning with cold temperatures lingering into the weekend. Between Thursday and Saturday, portions of the region will see several hours of overnight temperatures at or below freezing.
Farming is hard, but ethics should be easy, Susan Hays has said often on the campaign trail. Unfortunately for Texans, weve had an agriculture commissioner whose seven-year tenure has been full of ethical lapses and embarrassing errors in judgment.

Sid Miller, 66, has twice been investigated by the Texas Rangers, given hundreds of thousands in bonuses to employees, taken taxpayer-funded out-of-state excursions and pushed more fees on farmers and businesses. Two Democrats, Hays and Ed Ireson, are running to put an end to Millers bumbling reign. We think Hays is the best choice for Democratic voters.

Hays, 53, grew up in Brownwood, about two hours west of Waco, and lives in Alpine, where she and her husband purchased land several years ago to grow hemp and hops. Shes worked as an attorney and a lobbyist. In 2019, she advocated for and helped craft the Texas law allowing any hemp product with less than 0.3% THC.

As part of working on that hemp bill, I saw up close and personal just how dysfunctional the ag department is, Hays told us. Aside from Millers corruption, when you have a leader thats disengaged, its hard to get things done.  I decided in large part to run because of that experience.

In 2020, she represented Harris County in several cases as the county worked to figure out voting in the pandemic against a backdrop of furious opposition from state officials.

Hays displays a firm command of policy and also struck us as a clear communicator. She said a top priority is to address the rural hospital shortage by revitalizing agriculture programs now rotting in the basement that can boost rural economic development and rural hospitals. She also plans to push for increased fiscal support for farmers markets and expand a partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to educate young Texans about agriculture and nutrition.

I know what Texas has been, and I know what Texas could be if we purge the government of corruption and work together to build rural Texas back up, said Hays, a fifth-generation Texan.

Hays spoke against Millers lawsuit opposing the U.S. Department of Agricultures program to provide funds and debt relief for farmers of color. Hays said she would support that program, which is now stalled, and also diversify the agriculture departments staff.

The Democratic nominee will face a tough race in the fall against a Republican in a state that hasnt elected a Democrat statewide in nearly 30 years. Hays said shes going to take her message directly to conservatives  shes already appeared on the Mark Davis radio show  and also connect directly with rural voters of color, an often-overlooked constituency.

We were impressed with Ireson, 34, a businessman with family ties to the cattle industry in Brazos County. Ireson is running a campaign with a welcome and detailed focus on strengthening the states school meals program. Ireson said hell prioritize updating the agriculture departments technology so staff members can better engage with Texans.

Both candidates displayed humor, a solid understanding of the job, and maturity levels that seemed to far exceed the incumbents. Were recommending Hays because we think she possesses a more detailed grasp of key issues, deeper experience and is Democrats best option for agriculture commissioner.
Two Hillsborough County, Florida, sheriffs deputies who were romantically involved have been found dead in a suspected murder-suicide.

Police are investigating the shooting deaths of the pair, Detective Daniel Leyden, who worked in the Criminal Investigations Division, and an unnamed person, in a St. Augustine vacation rental home, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

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Leyden allegedly killed his partner, then himself, police told Florida news outlets. The victim was also a deputy and was with Uniform Patrol District III, the Orlando Sentinel said.

Fellow police officers heard the deputies arguing in a bedroom while all were on vacation, just prior to the sound of gunshots, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Both deputies were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation indicates that the gunshot wound to Detective Daniel Leyden appears to be self-inflicted and that he was the sole shooter.

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Neighbors heard police on megaphones trying to get one of the people out of the home, one of them told WJXT-TV.

Last night I got home and there was a megaphone, police were out front, and he kept repeating for Daniel to come out with his hands up, Kieran Wallace told WJXT. It was a little bit alarming. About 30 minutes later we got a phone call that said we had to lock our doors and stay inside.

Police were still investigating, and seeking a motive, on Sunday.

Our Sheriffs Office family is still reeling from the shock of this unthinkable tragedy, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. My prayers for strength and comfort are with the families and loved ones of these deputies, and every member of Team HCSO affected by this painful loss. Violence is never a solution, and I urge any employee who is dealing with a crisis to take advantage of the many resources our agency has created over the past several years which include Peer Support, Chaplains, and a clinical psychologist. Help is just a phone call away.
It only took three days in Congress for Troy Nehls to make national headlines  though probably not in the way he had hoped to.

Nehls, the former Fort Bend County sheriff, was on the floor of the House of Representatives on January 6 awaiting a vote to certify Joe Bidens election as president when a group of rioters incited by President Trump began violently banging and kicking at a door nearby. A decorated Army veteran who served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, Nehls removed his jacket, broke off a long piece of furniture and stood directly at a chamber window as rioters raged from the other side. Capitol police officers drew guns and trained them at the door as Nehls, who no longer carried a service revolver as he did while sheriff, attempted to reason with the mob.

This is un-American, Nehls recalled telling them, according to the Chronicles Emily Foxhall, and this isnt the way we should conduct ourselves. He pledged to be a bridge between people angry about Trumps defeat and those who supported President Biden.

After a heroic attempt to defuse a riot and a track record of genuinely bipartisan legislative proposals, Nehls is the most qualified Republican candidate in a two-person primary race for Texas 22nd Congressional District, which covers the suburbs south and southwest of Houston. His opponent, certified public accountant Gregory Thorne, 30, makes a credible case for Republicans who believe reducing the debt should be Congress top priority. But he lacks experience in public office. In addition, his stringent stance on COVID-19 vaccine mandates  he was so angry when his employer required workers get vaccinated, he quit  suggests a questionable sense of priorities during a global pandemic.

Nehls, 53, has remained a staunch conservative while also working with Democrats on key issues. He co-sponsored the SCORE Act, which would authorize the Department of Justice to create a new grant program targeted at reducing recidivism among eligible nonviolent inmates in county jails across the country. Nehls also introduced the Public Safety Enhancement Act, which would put 100,000 more police officers on the streets over the next five years. Both bills, which have yet to advance in the House, were co-sponsored by Democrats, demonstrating Nehls willingness to put partisanship to the side to get things done.

Our respect for Nehls actions on January 6 is tempered by disappointment in the decision he made hours after riot to vote

against certifying Bidens election in order to fight for President Trump. We consider that vote a dereliction of duty. Nehls allowed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to withdraw him from consideration to serve on the congressional panel investigating the attack, after Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of the six names McCarthy had proposed. Nehls has since called the committee a sham aimed solely at undermining Trump.

This rhetoric may be popular with a great many GOP primary voters but it should give pause to Republicans who believe the bipartisan committees work is the best way America can learn the full dimensions of the attack on the very chamber Nehls helped protect. That he could have been part of the historic inquiry and refused on purely partisan grounds doesnt seem to serve his district well, or the nation.

Still, elections are about choices. And Republicans best option in the 22nd Congressional District is Nehls. His law enforcement experience and desire to work even occasionally across the aisle are assets in Congress.
Regarding Texas cut Medicaid staffing during the pandemic. Millions are now at risk of being dropped from the program. It always dismays me that residents of small towns and rural communities dont rise up against their state legislators for killing their local rural hospitals by failing to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. Millions of dollars would have gone to Texas rural hospitals if Republican legislators had approved the expansion of Medicaid in Texas. Billions of federal dollars would have come to the great state of Texas to strengthen our economy. In choosing to stop what they believed was federal intrusion, rural and small town voters sided with their representatives in killing their own medical care. Its a clear case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Sally Lehr, Houston

The Texas legislature is predominantly male. They see no problem in telling a woman what she can choose for herself, her family and her body. These conservative Republican legislators have done everything in their power to convince you they are trying to protect children and ensure the continuation of strong families. But heres the problem: Federal funding that would have helped feed 500,000 low-income Texas children was refused, affordable day care was voted against, Medicaid was attacked repeatedly and extended unemployment funding was withdrawn. No matter what they say, conservative legislators have proven by their actions they dont want to fund the very programs that would support families and protect children.

As a nurse, a mother and a Christian, I think it is necessary to look realistically at the Texas abortion law and its consequences. I feel strongly that the decision to prevent or terminate a pregnancy should be the choice of the woman in collaboration with her health care provider and her God.

Linda Tucker, Joplin, Mo.

School and fear

Regarding Gov. Greg Abbott joins national GOP push for Parental Bill of Rights for schools, (Jan. 21): As a grandparent of school-age children, I can assure Gov. Greg Abbott that what keeps parents and grandparents up at night is not the fear that their children will be exposed to Critical Race Theory or similar teachings. What concerns parents and grandparents are the very real fears that the child will be exposed to serious illness due to staff or students not being vaccinated or wearing masks, that the child will be injured or killed in yet another school shooting, that the student will fall behind as schools struggle with staff and funding shortages, and that the education the children receive in our states public schools will leave them ill-equipped to compete in a global economy. These are the real issues facing parents and our schools. And Gov. Abbotts pandering to his base does nothing to address these concerns.

Ron Siemers, Houston
This illustration reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Forgotten Trailblazing Woman of Lenox's Gilded Age

LENOX, Mass.  Local historian and author Cornelia Brooke Gilder will tell the story of Constance Cary Harrison, theatrical producer and best-selling author in Lenox's Gilded Age, at Ventfort Hall on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3:30 pm.

The lecture is also available to attend on Zoom.

In the late 1860s, penniless but well-connected, Constance Harrison came to New York from Richmond Virginia after her husband's release from solitary confinement in a military prison. Together they reinvented their lives, and she became one of the most popular novelists of her day (a decade before Edith Wharton's rise to success.)

From their rented summer house on the Old Stockbridge Road in Lenox, Harrison staged plays at the Lenox Library and incorporated Berkshire scenes in her scores of effervescent short stories and novels.

Gilder has co-authored with Richard S. Jackson, Jr., "Houses of the Berkshires, 1870  1930," named an honor book by Historic New England; authored "Edith Wharton's Lenox;" co-authored with Julia Conklin Peters "Hawthorne's Lenox: The Tanglewood Circle," and with Joan Olshansky "A History of Ventfort Hall." Gilder also contributed to the exhibition A Walk in the Country: George Inness and the Berkshires on view at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.
Berkshire Music School Online Masterclass

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Berkshire Music School will present a live, interactive, online Masterclass with guitarist Jennifer Batten.

Jennifer will speak about her experiences working in the music business; beginning with her three tours with Michael Jackson, her three years of work with Jeff Beck, and her Las Vegas residency with the Cirque du Soleil show, Zumanity as well as her many current endeavors.

The Masterclass will take place via Zoom on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3pm. All interested attendees must register to receive the Zoom link.

Suggested tuition is $25, with the option to pay-what-you-can. Free for all BMS students. To register visit https://www.berkshiremusicschool.org/box-office/lqk451is9v62sx8c9a0q1cv17zh8d5 or call 413-442-1411

About Jennifer Batten:

Jennifer Batten has been playing guitar since age 8. She graduated from the 3rd class of Musicians Institute in 1979. In 1987 she was chosen from 100 guitarists to play on Michael Jacksons BAD tour which travelled the globe for 1 1/2 years. She remained in Michael Jacksons band for ten years. Right after the BAD tour, she recorded her debut CD "Above, Below, and Beyond" with producer Michael Sembello. It was released just prior to the launch of Jacksons DANGEROUS tour in 1992. Following this tour she recorded and released her follow up CD "Momentum" and immediately joined Jacksons final world tour in support of his dbl CD "HIStory" in 1997. Within a year of the HIStory tours completion, British guitar icon Jeff Beck asked her to join his band. She toured and recorded with him for 3 years supporting the 2 CDs; "Who Else and "You Had It Coming." In 2009, she released her 3rd CD/DVD and began touring her own music performing in synch with films she makes. Shes had 3 instructional DVDs released by truefire.com. In 2011 she played a Las Vegas residency for Cirque Du Soleil. Her latest 2017 release is Scherer Batten "BattleZone" which is a vocal pop record with songs mostly written by Jim Peterik of the band Survivor. She continues to tour the globe in various formats, from bands, to solos shows, to clinics, to master classes. In Jan 2016 she received the She Rocks "Icon" award and shortly after, was inducted into Guitar Player Magazines "Gallery of the Greats."
North Adams Winterfest Returns In February

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  WinterFest was called off last year because of the pandemic, but it will return to the downtown this year on Feb. 19.

Although more details will be forthcoming, WinterFest will include a farmer and artisan market, ice sculpting, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

There will also be a campfire on Holden Street, free ice-skating, and activities planned at Colegrove Park.

Activities will be more spread out this year to accommodate smaller gatherings and social distancing.

WinterFest will run from 10 am to 6 pm
Greylock Federal Donates To Local Non-profits

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  In the final days of 2021, Greylock Federal Credit Union surprised thirteen area non-profit organizations with unsolicited gifts totaling $125,000.

These gifts were in addition to Greylocks formal grant program that provides hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the year in response to applications submitted through its website ( www.greylock.org/grants ).

"These donations align with Greylocks commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility," said Greylock Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer JamieEllen Moncecchi. "Supporting our partners is a critical part of Greylocks promise to help our community thrive."

Berkshire-based organizations receiving the donations were: the Brien Center, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, NAACP Berkshires, Volunteers in Medicine, Community Health Programs, Multicultural BRIDGE, 18 Degrees, Berkshire County Head Start, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, and Rites of Passage and Empowerment (three organizations in Columbia County, New York also received support).

"Greylocks dedication to the community runs deep," said NAACP Berkshires President Dennis Powell upon learning of the end of year gift. "They prove time and again that they walk the walk. These unexpected donations will have a huge impact on local families."

The grants will fund emergency student and family aid, scholarships, support for foster children, medical appointments for the uninsured, child care, early education, youth mentorships, building repairs, and other critical unmet needs in the community.
A California woman days shy of her 30th birthday died Saturday after falling out of a party bus onto the freeway and getting hit by an oncoming car.

Heather Garcia, a mother of five, was celebrating her her and a relatives birthday early Saturday morning when she tripped while dancing and fell out of the bus, relatives told ABC 7.

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She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Its unclear how the doors to the bus opened, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol told the Daily News Monday.

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What I thought would be a fun night out for her turned into a tragic ending for us. She was the life of the party always up for a good time. She had a huge heart always lending a hand to anyone who needed it. She was a great mom always taking care of our children, her husband, Rafael Corral, wrote in a GoFundMe.

Heather Garcia (GoFundMe)

She loved our kids and she lived to take care of us. She was my best friend, my rock, she kept it together for me and our kids. I feel lost without her. We had so many plans and now I am left with so many questions and an extremely broken heart. Our children will never see their mother again and I do not know how I am going to continue but I know she will always be with us.

Garcia would have turned 30 on Monday. She is survived by her husband, a U.S. Army veteran who served overseas, and her five children, all aged between 1 and 10.

The driver of the other car stayed at the scene and cooperated with authorities, police confirmed to The News.

No charges have been filed yet, but the California Highway Patrol spokesman said they are still possible, pending the results of the investigation.

Garcias brother, Juan, lamented that she and her friends had done the right thing by not drinking and driving.

They went the safe way, he told CBS 2. It makes no sense.
A man who is willing to save his life with a kidney transplant is not willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine to guard his health after the operation  rendering himself ineligible for an organ.

Chad Carswell has had COVID-19 twice and recovered, and even though medical experts say immunity against the disease is stronger with a vaccine, he has steadfastly refused to get the shot, claiming he doesnt need it, he told WSOC-TV.

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The doctors say otherwise, and officials at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will not grant him the double amputee a new kidney without the jab.

He said, The last thing we need to talk about is your vaccination status, " Carswell told WSOC of the conversation he had with a doctor. And thats when I politely told him there was nothing really to talk about it, it wasnt up for debate [and] that I wasnt getting it. Then, he told me, You know youll die, if you dont get it. And I said, Im willing to die. "

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Carswell has also undergone numerous major heart surgeries, WSOC said. He is on dialysis three times weekly, with a kidney functioning at just 4%.

He has turned down offers of kidneys from willing donors and has spoken to his family and others close to him about his decision.

I was born free. I will die free, he said. Im not changing my mind.

His story comes on the heels of that of a Boston-area man who is refusing to get vaccinated and thus cant get a new heart.

[ Man denied heart transplant because he wont get vaccinated against COVID ]

The immune-suppressant drugs people must take post-transplant to prevent organ rejection make patients more susceptible to infections, including COVID. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines lay that out among the vaccines necessary before a transplant.
A former Tennessee police chief who punched a handcuffed suspect during a 2014 arrest and assaulted another in 2017 has been found guilty of excessive force.

Anthony Bean, 61, was convicted last week on all three counts, the Department of Justice announced Saturday.

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In the first incident, the 2014 arrest of a suspect identified only as C.G., Bean, the Chief of the Tracy City Police Department, repeatedly punched C.G. in the face while he was handcuffed and compliant, according to prosecutors.

Three years later, Bean similarly punched another suspect, identified as F.M., in the face during another arrest.

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Anthony Bean (Grundy County Sheriff's Office)

Every person in our nation has the right to be free from unlawful abuse by police officers, including the use of excessive force during an arrest, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

This verdict makes clear that law enforcement officials who use unlawful force are not above the law. We will not stand idly by in the face of criminal misconduct by law enforcement officials in any part of the country.

Bean is due for sentencing on June 24, where he faces up to 10 years in prison on each of his three guilty charges.
The Small Business Administration is launching a pilot program that could help you thwart a future cyber attack, but only if you're located in one of three select as-yet unknown states.

The agency announced on January 21 that it plans to dole out $3 million in grants for state governments to help small businesses with their cybersecurity needs. The awards will range between $800,000 and $1 million each. Though it remains to be seen how and when exactly these funds will be dispersed, based on the known details of the pilot program, just three states are likely to receive any funding--at least at the outset.

"Through a targeted pilot program, the SBA will be able to identify key successes and develop deep relationships that can potentially be replicated down the road," the agency tells Inc.

The pandemic prodded small businesses to pick up technology at high rates so they could adapt and grow, SBA administrator Isabel Guzman said during the pilot program's announcement. New attacks are evolving, with fraudsters targeting small businesses since they tend to have fewer resources to put toward mitigating their risk. As cyber threats rise, they're also growing more expensive.

It's unclear how far that initial $3 million will stretch, even for the states that land one of the SBA's three grants. "It's woefully inadequate given the cybersecurity risks associated with infrastructure," says Brian A. Marks, the executive director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at the University of New Haven. While lauding the idea of a grant program that helps small businesses counter cybersecurity risk, Marks questions the efficacy of such a small dollar amount.

Outdated systems and technology that operate critical infrastructure can have widespread repercussions if targeted by bad actors. Parts of the East Coast saw such a disruption last year following the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, which led to gas shortages spurred by panic buying. The FBI's Internet Crime Report shows that costs associated with cyber crimes amounted to $2.7 billion in 2020.

But if the pilot program is successful, there is potential that more states could see similar funding efforts in the future, according to Randy Trzeciak, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College. With continued efforts, small businesses across the country would surely benefit from the assistance. Grant recipients are required to use the proceeds from the program to provide or expand services for entrepreneurial audiences, though they do not need to match government funds.

State governments--along with Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S. territories--are eligible to apply for the pilot program and have until March 3, 2022, to do so.

There are several options for how the money can be used, but it must be spent to support resources that mitigate against cybersecurity threats. "The funding is solely for states to deploy assistance in the form of training, outreach, workshops, online tools [and] technical expertise," the SBA tells Inc. The agency adds that the pilot program "does not operate as a pass-through or sub-granting model whereby small-business owners get grants, nor are states that receive funding asked to further distribute the funds to small businesses."

And even if your state doesn't wind up on the SBA's short list, the time is now to amp up your cyber readiness, says Theresa Payton, the former White House chief information officer for George W. Bush. She suggests that businesses would benefit from creating relationships with their local FBI InfraGard chapter.

"The FBI disseminates important, industry-specific bulletins and offers several collaboration opportunities for members," Payton explains. "These information exchanges can help a small business understand the threat landscape facing their industry and begin to formulate a cybersecurity program to address the specific risks to them."

Fortifying cyber defenses is a start, but constant maintenance remains key for businesses of any size.
Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors.

KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary.

No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account."

www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others.
The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce the country's economic survey for 2021-22 later today. After the presentation, the newly appointed CEA Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran will address a press conference at around 3.45 pm. Currently, President Ram Nath Kovind has addressed both the houses of the Parliament.After President's address, the Lok Sabha will be gathered for the transaction of business. The President said, "with the continuous efforts of my Government, India has once again become one of the fastest-growing economies of the world."He added, "My government is working relentlessly to empower the rural economy and the farmers of the country. Keeping in mind the record production, the government has made a record government procurement."Earlier today, the Finance Ministry tweeted saying, "CEA Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran to address a press conference TODAY at 3:45 PM in New Delhi after presentation of #EconomicSurvey 2021-22 by FM in Parliament."Dr Nageswaran took charge as the government's Chief Economic Advisor last week, just a few days before the final Economic Survey announcement today and Union Budget 2022-23 which is set to be presented tomorrow.Dr Nageswaran succeeded KV Subramanian who returned to his academia after three-yeats term completion in December 2021. Notably, the current CEA was also a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister between 2019 to 2021.Before taking charge as CEA, Dr Nageswaran has worked as n author, teacher and consultant. He has also taught several business schools and management institutes in India and Singapore. Also, he has published extensively. Holding a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (MBA) degree, he obtained a doctoral degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts back in 1944.With the signs of recovery in the country's economy amid the ongoing pandemic outbreak, the Economic Survey for 2021-22 is likely to announce a growth projection of around 9% for the next fiscal year.
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind has started addressing both houses of the Parliament. The President's speech began at 11 am and is ahead of the Economic Survey 2021-22 that is scheduled to be announced later in the day.After President's address, the Lok Sabha will be gathered for the transaction of business. Later, today, the Economic Survey will be announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.President Kovind said that "with the continuous efforts of my Government, India has once again become one of the fastest growing economies of the world."He said, "My government is working relentlessly to empower the rural economy and the farmers of the country. Keeping in mind the record production, the government has made a record government procurement." He stated that due to the policies of my government, today India is one of the countries where the cost of internet is the lowest, and the cost of smart phones is also the lowest. The young generation of India is getting huge benefit from this."He also said, "I would also appreciate the vision of the government for the success of the country's UPI platform in the context of Digital India and the growing spread of the digital economy. In December 2021, more than 8 lakh crore rupees have been transacted through UPI in the country."Here is other key statement from President:To give further impetus to the infrastructure-development works, my government has clubbed the workings of different ministries together in the form of Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan.Building roads, resources and infrastructure in rural areas is taking flight to the country's potential which had been neglected for decades. The achievements of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are something to be proud of.In March 2014, the total length of national highways in our country was 90 thousand kilometers, whereas today their length has increased to more than one lakh forty thousand kilometers.Services have been started on 11 new metro lines in the country, which are benefiting lakhs of people in 8 states every day.Our start-up eco-system is an example of the endless new possibilities that are rapidly taking shape under the leadership of our youth.The role of women in driving the rural economy is becoming more widespread. In 2021-22, 28 lakh self-help groups have been given assistance of Rs 65 thousand crore by banks. This amount is 4 times more than in 2014-15.One lakh eighty thousand crore rupees have been given to more than 11 crore farmer families through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. With this investment, big changes are visible in the agriculture sector today.The country's agricultural exports have also increased at a record level due to the efforts of the government. Agriculture exports registered a growth of more than 25 percent in the year 2020-21. This export has reached about Rs 3 lakh crore.Jal Jeevan Mission started with the objective of delivering 'Har Ghar Jal' has started making a big difference in the lives of the people.Due to the continuous efforts of the last years, more than two crore pucca houses have been provided to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Under the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin', one crore seventeen lakh houses have been sanctioned in the last three years at a cost of about 1.5 lakh crore rupees.The way my government has linked Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile i.e. JAM trinity with citizen empowerment, we are also constantly seeing the effect of it. Due to the connectivity of more than 44 crore poor countrymen with the banking system, crores of beneficiaries have got the benefit of direct cash transfer during the pandemic.The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, launched by the government at a cost of Rs.64 thousand crores, is a commendable example. This will not only help in meeting the present health needs but also prepare the country for the coming crises.Due to the sensitive policies of my government, now health services are easily accessible to the common man in the country. More than 80 thousand health and wellness centers and crores of Ayushman Bharat cards have helped the poor in their treatment.The government has reduced the cost of treatment by making medicines available at affordable prices through more than 8000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras.Today, more than 90 percent of adult citizens in the country have received one dose of the vaccine, while more than 70 percent have received both.


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An upstate New York district attorney said Monday he will not bring criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo after a woman accused him of running his fingers across the chest of her shirt at a public event, becoming the latest prosecutor declining to pursue a criminal case over sexual harassment allegations against the former governor.

Oswego County District Attorney Gregory Oakes said in a prepared statement that there was not a sufficient legal basis to bring charges against Cuomo based on the allegation of unwanted physical contact made by Virginia Limmiatis. Oakes said the decision was based solely on a legal assessment and that he found Limmiatis to be reliable and reasonable.

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In no way, should this decision be interpreted as casting doubt upon the character or credibility of Ms. Limmiatis, or how harmful the acts she experienced were, Oakes said.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

The energy company worker said Cuomo ran his fingers on the lettering that ran across the chest of her shirt when they met in a rope line at a 2017 event in the central New York county. He then told her he was going to say there was a spider on her shoulder and proceeded to brush her chest with his hand, according to a report released in August by state Attorney General Letitia James that concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women.

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Limmiatis immediately told other attendees what had happened, investigators found, but she didnt come forward until seeing Cuomos press conference last year denying hed touched anyone inappropriately.

Cuomo not only touched my chest inappropriately but whispered in my ear afterwards to make up a patently ridiculous excuse to cover up his behavior, Limmiatis said in a statement released by her attorney Monday.

Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin, who has been highly critical of the attorney generals report, said that photographs from the event show Cuomo did not act improperly.

Truth and the rule of law prevailed, not politics or mob mentality, Glavin said in a prepared statement.

Earlier this year, the only criminal charge filed against Cuomo was dismissed by a judge in Albany at the local prosecutors request. That case involved an allegation that he groped an aide in the Executive Mansion in 2020 and was seen as the most serious legal threat facing Cuomo.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares said although the aide was credible, and some evidence supported her account, he believed he couldnt win a conviction.

Two prosecutors in the New York City suburbs separately announced that Cuomo would not face charges for allegations involving other women who said they had been subjected to unwanted kisses or touches.
Actress Taapsee Pannu is living the best time of her life with her career reaching new heights. With a storm of fascinating projects lined up, she is making it big on OTT platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, with her upcoming release Looop Lapeta which is a remake of the German film Run Lola. In this film, Taapsee is portraying a character who is in a loop and tries to save her boyfriend.

Also Read: Meet The Gehraiyaan Star Dhairya Karwa, Who Gave His Mumbai Dream A Chance

Taapsee Pannuu likes to experiment with films, she has a knack for interesting and different projects. The actress started her journey with Chashme Baddoor in 2013 and is now emerging as one of the best actresses in the Bollywood film industry. So, here are all interesting facts about Taapsee's journey in the film industry.
From being the most popular television face in the 2001 drama series 'Kasautii Zindagi Kay' to single handedly raising two children, Shweta Tiwari has donned many hats in her life journey. The actor, who recently made an appearance on the Bigg Boss 15 Finale, wowed fans not only with her performance but also with how stunningly fit she looked.

Also Read: Amid The Personal Problems, Shweta Tiwari Says She Couldn't Afford To Be Depressed

For the unversed, Shweta turned 41 last October. While the actor has undoubtedly raised the fitness bar, there was a time when she struggled with weight and followed a strict fitness and workout routine to be in better shape. She also shared a detailed post on Instagram telling her fans what she did to shed 10 Kg post her pregnancy when she had become around 73 Kg. Wondering what she did? Read ahead to find out.
An army couple moving from Colorado to New York, found that their cargo wasnt going in the right direction, thanks to a hidden AirTag in their kids' toy box.

Unsplash

Also Read: Woman Was Stalked By Stranger With An Apple AirTag Allegedly Hidden Under Her Car

This was Austin and Valerie McNultys fourth permanent change of station from Fort Carson Colorado to Fort Drum, New York. They packed all of their stuff themselves and two partial moves where they took help from a moving company.



Valerie, before she decided to travel cross country, decided to hide the Apple AirTag in her sons box of toys. In a conversation with Newsweek, she revealed how she had come across stories from other military families who have had issues moving, and so she decided to test this for herself.

The familys stuff was packed up around mid-December in Colorado and was expected to arrive in New York by January 5. While they did receive most of their items by January 8, several high-value items were left in Colorado.

Austin, who has served as a chief warrant officer in the Army for over 14 years revealed that they're offered two options for the move -- either do it yourself by hiring a moving company and get 95 percent of the amount reimbursed by the Army or let the Army move it entirely via contractors and subcontractors at no expense whatsoever.

Also Read: Apple Shows Off AirTag: Coin-Sized Item Tracker For 3000 A Piece



They chose a partial method where they hired a moving company named Suddath, who later hired a subcontractor to complete the task.

The couple saw that on January 7, the AirTag started to move and later it was revealed that the stuff would be delivered by January 8. However, the moving guy reportedly told Austin that the stuff had just been picked up and it would take another day or two.

The couple regularly monitored the movement of the truck and saw that the moving guy wasnt really in Colorado, but it was less than five hours away in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Also Read: Internet Is Mocking Apple's Coin-Shaped AirTags, The Newest Product From Apple

Representational Image: Unsplash

The stuff in the truck was supposed to be inventoried at a safe location. But that didnt really happen. Instead, they saw the stuff was parked overnight at a sketchy part of New Jersey.



When Austin called the truck driver, he responded stating that he had gone to see his lady that caused the delay. The items eventually arrived on January 8, but not in a personally owned and operated vehicle, instead, it was in an Enterprise moving truck -- which shouldnt have been the case.

Valerie found that a whole page from the inventory was missing and remained in Colorado. The stuff eventually arrived by January 20 but with most of it broken.

Valerie said in a statement, "I think we would have been waiting a lot longer for our home goods to arrive [if we didn't have the AirTag]. It gives that opportunity for things to conveniently go missing. I'm thankful it didn't happen but it would be all too easy. I would say that AirTags are fairly inexpensive and it's an easy way to hold the third parties accountable."

Keep reading Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news.
After the list of January 2022 bank holidays, it's time for the second month of the new year, and with it comes new set of bank holidays. In February 2022 there are only 12 days when many private and public sector banks will remain closed due to additional bank holidays including weekends.

Banks will be shut for 12 days in February 2022 Including second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, Banks will be closed on all public holidays with some regional holidays depending on the particular state. Regional holidays are decided by respective state governments.

The month of February 2022 observes 12 bank holidays and the first holiday starts from the Sonam Lhochhar festival on 5th February and other holidays like Guru Ravidas Jayanti on 16th February banks will be observed holidays which are applicable to all banks in India except some states.



Date Day Holiday State February 2 Wednesday Sonam Lochhar festival Sikkim February 5 Saturday Saraswati Puja/Shree Panchami/Basant Panchami Agartala, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata February 6 Sunday Weekend Bank Holiday All over India February 12 Saturday Weekend Bank Holiday All over India February 13 Sunday Weekend Bank Holiday All over India February 15 Tuesday Birth anniversary of Mohammad Hazrat Ali/Louis-Nagai-Ni Imphal, Kanpur and Lucknow February 16 Wednesday Guru Ravidas Jayanti Punjab and Haryana February 18 Friday Doljatra Kolkata February 19 Saturday Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Maharashtra February 20 Sunday Weekend Bank Holiday All over India February 26 Saturday Weekend Bank Holiday All over India February 27 Sunday Weekend Bank Holiday All over India

People will not face any problem in bank-related work as holidays are not frequent or at short intervals and ATMs, cash deposits, online banking, mobile banking will continue to function. These holidays may vary from state to state as holidays are determined keeping in view the local festivals.



Bank Holidays February 2022 | Photo: AFP

According to RBI guidelines, banks are closed on Sundays as well as on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Under the Negotiable Instruments Act, RBI has declared holidays on February 2, 5, 15, 16, 18, and 19. Apart from this, there are four Sundays in the month falling on February 6, 13, 20 and 27 and also on the second and fourth Saturdays on February 12 and 26.



According to the Reserve Bank's calendar, apart from the weekend, there are 6 bank holidays in February month. The central government has divided the holidays into three categories, under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. In these three categories  Holidays under Negotiable Instruments Act, and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holiday and Banks Closing of Accounts.



Those who have to complete the important work related to the bank in October, should see the list of holidays and plan their work in advance.



Check out the state-wise list of bank holidays in February 2022:

February 2 (Wednesday): Sonam Lochhar festival

Banks remain closed in Sikkim on Wednesday, February 2 2022 on occasion of Sonam Lochhar which is celebrated by all throughout the state. It is the most significant and important festival of this culturally rich community, which is celebrated with great fanfare and zeal as it marks the beginning of the Tibetan New Year. Men & women adorned in their colorful and traditional dresses, masked men dancing to the rhythmic beats of damphu (a traditional small round drum) and elaborate spreads of exotic Tamang cuisine.

February 5 (Saturday) - Saraswati Puja/Shree Panchami/Basant Panchami

Banks will be closed in Agartala, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata on Saturday, February 5 2022 on the occasion of Saraswati Puja/Shree Panchami/Basant Panchami.

February 6 (Sunday) - Weekend Bank Holiday

Banks across the country remain closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 5 February 2022.

February 12 (Second Saturday of the month) - Weekend Bank Holiday

All the banks in the country remain closed on the second Saturday of the month on 12 February 2022.

February 13 (Sunday) - Weekend Bank Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 13 February 2022.

February 15 (Tuesday) - Birth anniversary of Mohammad Hazrat Ali/Louis-Nagai-Ni

Banks will be closed in Imphal, Kanpur and Lucknow on Tuesday, February 15 2022 on the birth anniversary of Mohammad Hazrat Ali/Louis-Nagai-Ni. Mohammad Hazrat Ali is the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad and it is believed that he was the first muslim who adopted the Islam and fought with Muhammad in many battles. Lui Ngai Ni is the seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes of Manipur.

February 16 (Wednesday) - Guru Ravidas Jayanti

Banks remain closed Wednesday, 16 February 2022 on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti in Punjab and Haryana. Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Magh in the memory of Guru Ravidas who was born into a low caste family who were regarded as untouchables and one of the first people who fought for basic human rights. He became an eminent figure in the Bhakti Movement and taught spirituality and tried to bring forward an equality message based on freedom from the oppression of the Indian caste system.

February 18 (Friday) - Doljatra

Bank branches remain closed on Friday, 18 February 2022 on the occasion of Doljatra in Kolkata. Doljatra is celebrated for thousands of years to revel in the everlasting bond of love between Lord Krishna and Radha. It is believed that Dolyatra was the day when Lord Krishna expressed his love for his beloved Radha.

February 19 (Saturday) - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

Bank branches remain closed on Saturday, 19 February 2022 on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. Shivaji Bhonsle is also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an Indian ruler and founder of the Maratha Empire. Shivaji had fought many battles for not accepting the subjugation of the Adilshahi Sultanate. Shivaji is also considered the hero of Hindus. Shivaji Maharaj was a brave, intelligent and fearless ruler. He had great interest in religious work. He used to practice Ramayana and Mahabharata with great care. In the year 1674, Shivaji Maharaj was crowned and he got the title of Chhatrapati.

February 20 (Sunday) - Weekend Bank Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 20 February 2022.

February 26 (Fourth Saturday of the month) - Weekend Bank Holiday

All the banks in the country remain closed on the fourth Saturday of the month on 26 February 2022.

February 27 (Sunday) - Weekend Bank Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 27 February 2022.
Like oxygen, education is also very important for us because it has a positive impact in all areas of our lives and is a fundamental right that helps not only the development of a country but also of each individual.

We cannot look at education merely as a means to later attain employment with a higher income perspective. It is through education that we prepare ourselves for life and that we define ourselves as beings.

Education allows us to improve as a person and as a whole allows us to improve our country. In today's era, education is very important in every field, educational qualification should be made mandatory for leaders in politics. Especially for those who are going to be given a place in the cabinet and given responsibility for the development of the nation. Here are 14 Indian politicians you probably didn't know are well educated:

Manmohan Singh

BCCL

Born on 26 September 1932 in Gah, West Punjab, in what is today Pakistan, Manmohan Singh is an Indian economist, academic, and politician who served as the 13th Prime Minister of India for two terms. Before him, it was only Jawaharlal Nehru, who was the PM for two consecutive terms. After him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Singh worked for the United Nations in his youth with a doctorate in economics from Oxford University and later held several important positions in the economic governance of our country. He is credited with saving the country from the brink of a full-blown economic crisis in 1991 by outlining structural reforms to revive the country's economy.

Under his leadership as finance minister, the crisis was averted successfully and India was back on track to become the fastest-growing economy in the world market. Manmohan Singh is one of the well-educated leaders in India. He completed his M.A. (Economics) from Panjab University, Chandigarh, first class with first position in the University, Economics Tripos (First Class Honours) from the University of Cambridge, U.K., D.Phil from Nuffield College, University of Oxford, U.K.

Akhilesh Yadav

BCCL

If you are a little bit interested in the politics of India, then you must have heard the name Akhilesh Yadav many times. Akhilesh Yadav is the present leader of the Samajwadi Party and the former 20th and youngest Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh did his Bachelors in Civil Environmental Engineering from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore and Masters in Environmental Engineering from the University of Sydney, Australia.



Kapil Sibal

BCCL

One of the top lawyers of India, Kapil Sibal served as a cabinet minister during the UPA government from 2004-2014. Sibal was born in Jalandhar, Punjab and completed his schooling from there, then he moved to Delhi in 1964 for further studies. He holds a degree in LL.B. degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, in M.A. (History) from St.Stephen's College, University of Delhi and LL.M. from Harvard Law School, U.S.A. He also qualified for Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and was offered an appointment but he refused and decided to set up his own law practice.



P. Chidambaram

BCCL

The former finance minister of India, P. Chidambaram, was born on 16 September 1945 to a wealthy business family in a small town south of Pudukkottai in what is now southern Tamil Nadu state, in southeastern India. He completed his higher education, B.Sc., LLB, from the University of Madras, Chennai. and M.B.A. from Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.).



Shashi Tharoor

BCCL

Shashi Tharoor is senior Congress leader and third-term Lok Sabha MP representing Thiruvananthapuram constituency and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology. Tharoor also served as Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs in the Government of India.

He also served as a peacekeeper, refugee worker, and administrator at the highest levels, serving as Under-Secretary General during Kofi Annan's leadership of the organisation. Tharoor is also an author of many best-selling books and wrote many columns for international and Indian news agencies. He completed his B.A. (Hons), M.A., M.A.L.D, Ph.D., D.Litt (Honorary), Dr. Honoris Causa Educated from St Stephen's College, Delhi University and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University, U.S.A.



Subramanian Swamy

BCCL

Indian politician, economist and statistician, Subramanian Swamy who served as Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. Swamy is one of the founding members and former president of Janta Party which got merged with BJP. Before Swamy entered politics, he was a Professor of Mathematical Economics at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he was asked to leave his position for promoting liberal economic policies. Swamy graduated with B.A. (Honours) in Mathematics, M.A. (Statistics), Ph.D.(Economics) from the University of Delhi, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts(U.S.A).



Jairam Ramesh

BCCL

Jairam Ramesh is an Indian economist, historian and member of the Congress party who served as Minister of Rural Development of India from 20112014 and presently represents Karnataka as a Member of Rajya Sabha since 2016. Jairam holds a B.Tech. degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT, Bombay in 1975, Master of Science in Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College and pursued Doctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, U.S.A.



Najma Heptulla

BCCL

Najma Heptulla currently serves as 16th Governor of Manipur and Former Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Honorary Life President of IPU and former Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha. Before joining BJP in 2004, Najma was a member of Congress for almost three decades. Apart from being a politician, Heptulla is also an author and wrote the book on AIDS titled "AIDS: Approaches to Prevention". Najma completed her Ph.D. in Cardiac Anatomy and M.Sc Degree in Zoology from Vikram University, Ujjain.



Jyotiraditya M. Scindia

BCCL

Indian politician, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia is currently serving as the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India. He has also been a four-term Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha (2002-04, 2004-09, 2009-14 & 2014-19). He is a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the state of Madhya Pradesh since 2020. Scindia graduated from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.



Asaduddin Owaisi

BCCL

Asaduddin Owaisi is the president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He is a Lok Sabha MP from the Hyderabad constituency. His house name is Naqeeb-e-Millat, Qaid, and commonly known as Asad Bhai and also listed among the 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world. His politics was mainly centred around minorities such as Muslims and Dalits. After completing his Bachelor of Arts from Nizam College, Osmania University, Hyderabad then he went to London for higher studies. He studied for a Bachelor of Laws and Barrister-at-Law at Lincoln's Inn in London and became a lawyer.



Suresh Prabhu

BCCL

Indian politician Suresh Prabhu served as Prime Ministers Sherpa for G20 Summit from 2014 - 2015, Minister of Civil Aviation from 2018-2019, Union Minister for Railways from 2014-2017, Commerce & Industry from 2017-2019. He also served as a Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh and Haryana and, four-time Lok Sabha MP from Rajapur in Maharashtra. He was also associated as a member with over 150 social organizations and NGOs before becoming a Member of the Parliament. B.Com. (Hons.) from M.L. Dahanukar College, Vile Parle, Mumbai, LL.B. from New Law College, Mumbai, F.C.A. from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Delhi, Pursuing Ph.D. in Climate Change issues in relation of Energy and Environment from Frei University, Berlin and and Honorary Doctorate conferred by IFRI.



Dr. Harsh Vardhan

BCCL

Dr. Harsh Vardhan is an Indian politician from BJP was a Former Minister for Health & FW, Science & Tech, Earth Sci. and served as Advisor to World Health Organization for many years and was a member of many international technical committees; presently, Chairman Executive Board, World Health Organisation; Board Member, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Harsh Vardhan had his schooling in the Anglo-Sanskrit Victoria Jubilee Senior Secondary School in Daryaganj. Later, he decided to become a doctor and attended GSVM Medical College in Kanpur from where he cleared his MBBS and MS with specialisation in ENT.



Jayant Sinha

BCCL

Jayant Sinha is currently the Minister of State for Civil Aviation and has contributed to Indian politics and policymaking since the 1990s. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was elected as an MP from the Hazaribagh seat of Jharkhand on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Sinha's prior business experience includes over 12 years working with McKinsey & Company as a partner in its Boston and Delhi offices. Sinha did MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School, M.Sc. in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree with distinction from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.



Nitin Jairam Gadkari

BCCL

Nitin Gadkari is a senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. Presently he is the Minister of Road Transport and Highways in the Government of India. He is known as the 'Flyover Man' because of his work in building roads, expressways and flyovers. Interested in new technologies, green technologies, green fuels, biofuels, development of agriculture, transformation of agriculture into energy and power sector, social initiatives for employment generation. He was elected as the President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha when he was just 24 years old. At the age of 35, he became the General Secretary of BJP in Maharashtra. Gadkari completed M.Com. and L.L.B. from Nagpur University.



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The Rev. Al Sharpton had never seen anything quite like it at his Harlem headquarters.

Adrienne Adams, who became the citys first Black City Council speaker this month, had just finished an emotional speech on Martin Luther King Day when she took half a beat. Scanning the room, she slowly pounded her right fist into her left hand, and said, I leave you with this.

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Then, in what she later described as an unplanned flourish, she began to sing, surprising the crowd at the National Action Network with a soaring rendition of I Want Jesus to Walk With Me, an African-American spiritual.

The room roared. Sharpton shook his head, a gleeful smile stretching across his face.

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Ive had everyone from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama there. Nobody ever broke into song, Sharpton said last week of his three-decade-old civil rights group. It was something that really moved the audience. And it made it feel like one of us really was in a position of power.

After centuries of being shut out of political perches in the nations largest city, Black politicians have been elected in an unprecedented wave, presenting them with a rare opportunity to deliver for communities of color.

The last thing many of us expect is a speaker of the City Council who almost sings like youre in church, said Brian Benjamin, a son of Harlem who became lieutenant governor last year. She really represented how far we have come.

Many of the new leaders find roots in a hotbed of church-linked activism that blossomed over the past half-century. They are the beneficiaries of crucial court rulings that have created more representative political districts.

And they say they intend to deliver a safer, fairer city for the people of color who pushed them to the summit, and for all New Yorkers.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams celebrates after winning the election at the Brooklyn Marriott in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News)

For so, so long, residents from our communities have worked really hard to get into these halls of power, Speaker Adams said. So many of us stand on the shoulders of giants. And now that weve achieved leadership at the highest levels, theres a huge opportunity to ensure that our communities are served.

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Over the past year, Eric Adams, a former cop and a onetime Bayside High School classmate of the speaker, became the citys second African-American mayor. Alvin Bragg, a Harvard-educated lawyer from Harlem, was elected the first Black Manhattan district attorney.

Standing alone, the two achievements would represent potent victories for the citys Black community.

But the list goes on: Damian Williams was appointed the first Black U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Breon Peace became the fourth Black U.S. attorney for the Eastern District.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Three of the five boroughs now have Black borough presidents, including Donovan Richards in Queens and Vanessa Gibson in the Bronx. During the COVID crisis, both became the first Black politicians to reach their posts.

More than a quarter of the Council is represented by Black members.

I think we are going to reach a day when its going to go from a rarity to a normality, Mayor Adams said of Black representation in leadership. Now that we have it, we have to do something with it.

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Despite accounting for one in four New Yorkers, according to census figures, African-Americans have until recently been outliers in government, the political reflection of a segregated city gripped by wide racial gaps in incomes and education.

Mayor Adams (left) is greeted by the Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Networks headquarters during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Harlem on Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

At the start of the pandemic, before enormous racial justice protests churned through the citys streets in the wake of brutal police killings of Black Americans, the city had a white mayor and a white Council speaker.

Black faces in lofty places do not, on their own, guarantee a swift leveling of deep-seated inequities, a point Black leaders are quick to emphasize.

People assume that once you are there, everything can happen in the twinkling of an eye, Sharpton said. And it doesnt.

New York City is, after all, a place where Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan opened only to white residents in 1947, where a 1973 police shooting of a defenseless Black 10-year-old boy named Clifford Glover was not deemed a crime.

Damian Williams (far left) standing next to his wife, Jennifer Nicole Wynn (second from left) is sworn in as the next U.S.attorney for the Southern District of New York by Chief U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain (center) as Attorney General Merrick Garland (second from right) and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer observe, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Manhattan. (Jeenah Moon/AP)

It is a city where, to this day, only tiny tallies of Black students are admitted to the citys best public high schools and where Black people have died of COVID at higher rates than other racial groups.

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People are still struggling, Speaker Adams said. But thats been our story. So my hope is that we can break these inequitable barriers.

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) is pictured at the National Action Network's headquarters on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

Mayor Adams, who grew up in poverty in Brooklyn and Queens, has made clear what he most wants to change: low educational attainment rates in Black and Brown pupils, and high crime rates in low-income neighborhoods.

If Im a Black mayor, and still 65% of Black and Brown children dont reach proficiency, then what good is that? the mayor said, referring to reading proficiency marks. If Im a Black mayor, and thats all I did was to say, OK, Im the second Black mayor, thats a failure.

Mayor Adams speaks at the National Action Networks annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Manhattan on Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

Naturally, the new leaders do not always agree on policy, and they are especially roiled by debates about policing.

Keechant Sewell, the new Black police commissioner, was instantly at odds with Bragg over a lawyerly memo he issued calling for more lenient approaches to some low-level offenses.

Mayor Adams and Jumaane Williams, the citys second Black public advocate, disagreed about keeping schools open during the omicron coronavirus wave. (The first Black public advocate, Letitia James, is now the states first Black attorney general. Williams is running for governor.)

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New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams speaks during a press conference on Bayard St. regarding Asian hate crimes in June 2021. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

A bail reform battle is brewing, too, between the law-and-order mayor and leadership in Albany, where the Senate majority leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and the Assembly speaker, Carl Heastie, are both Black.

New York Citys new leadership comprises a range of Black voices and perspectives. Whether they agree or disagree, the days of lily-white rooms making the critical decisions for a diverse city and state appear over.

People have to expect that although we are in leadership, it doesnt mean that we dont engage other people, said Gibson, the Bronx borough president. African-Americans dont always have the same points of view. And we have to involve all the elected officials, all the stakeholders.

Benjamin described an invigorating shift in which African-American politicians can bring their whole selves to the public square, pointing to leaders like the mayor and the Council speaker.

Describing Mayor Adams, Benjamin said: Hes not trying to present himself to be something hes not because he feels he needs to do that in order to lead the city.

He leads based on who he is, Benjamin added.

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Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson speaks to the media Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, outside the apartment building where a deadly fire broke out in the Bronx. (Yuki IWAMURA/AP)

The power surge results from decades of hard work, planning and oft-forgotten court battles.

In one key case that winded its way through the federal courts, the 1981 Democratic primary elections were delayed by a challenge to the Councils carefully drawn district lines. The lines were ultimately rejected as discriminating against voters of color.

Today, Black representation in the Council roughly mirrors the population in the city. Black representation in the state Legislature nearly matches the statewide population.

Weve made a vast amount of progress and historic gains, said Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-Queens). But that cannot be the ceiling, and we cannot get comfortable.

Rising Black leaders have frequently been followed by white backlash. After one term in office, New York Citys first Black mayor, David Dinkins, was unseated by Rudy Giuliani.

According to exit polls, Dinkins, a gentle and generous leader who led the city through a period of high crime and race riots, lost his reelection bid in 1993 despite carrying more than 90% of the Black vote.

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Mayor David Dinkins with his wife, Joyce, after winning the election for Mayor of New York over Republican Rudy Giuliani in 1989. (Misha Erwitt/New York Daily News)

Giuliani later served as the personal lawyer for Donald Trump. The latters victory in the 2016 presidential election has been held up as a reaction to Obamas historic ascension to the White House.

And while New York has taken leaps forward in terms of equity, the Democratic mayoral primary was still sometimes fought on unmistakable racial battle lines. In the end, Mayor Adams was carried by low-income people of color, even as wealthy white voters often rejected him.

Lupe Todd-Medina, who served during the race as a campaign spokeswoman for Ray McGuire, another Black candidate, said Adams should be mindful of racist stereotypes.

After David Dinkins, you were wondering when wed get there again, she said. You want Eric Adams to succeed. You dont want to see what happened to David Dinkins.

The Rev. Al Sharpton (left) confers with former Mayor David Dinkins during breakfast at the World Trade Marriott for the launching of the Rainbow Coalition's Wall Street Project in 1997. (Jon Naso/New York Daily News)

She said the new mayor may need to avoid losing his temper publicly to avoid being caricatured as an angry Black man.

Adams is, to date, not known as hot-headed.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News)

But the citys 110th mayor is a confident public presence. And he suggested he will not allow any tropes around Black hubris to influence him as he blazes a trail for New Yorkers to come.

Black men must not portray a sense of strength  because people say its arrogance, Adams said, rejecting such a premise. Im respectful, Im kind, but Im clear: Im the mayor. And Im not going to allow anyone to dictate to me.

Im a proud person, he added. Im not afraid to be proud.
Former Dranesville District Supervisor Rufus Phillips (right), seen here cutting the ribbon at the McLean Community Center's dedication ceremony on Oct. 19, 1975, died on Dec. 29, 2021, at age 92. Also pictured in this photo from Carole Herrick's book, "Legendary Locals of McLean," are former Gov. Linwood Holton, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jean Packard, McLean Community Center Governing Board Chairman Joan DuBois and former Franklin Sherman School principal Charlotte Troughton Corner.
Members of the public view the newly unveiled statue of Mary McLeod Bethune at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach on Oct. 12.
A Philadelphia man freed after 37 years in prison in a case tainted by perjured testimony accused the city of outrageous police misconduct in a lawsuit filed Thursday, the same day his 1984 murder case was dismissed.

Willie Stokes left prison earlier this month, after a federal judge found prosecutors never disclosed that they had charged his chief accuser with perjury after the trial. The witness has said he was offered sex and drugs at police headquarters to frame Stokes in an unsolved 1980 dice-game slaying.

Im not bitter. Im just excited to move forward, Stokes, 60, told The Associated Press after the brief morning court hearing, when prosecutors announced they would not seek to retry the case.

More than 100 people have been exonerated in recent years in Pennsylvania, according to Marissa Boyers Bluestine of the University of Pennsylvania law school, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. None served more prison time than Stokes.

The trial witness who identified him as the killer at a preliminary hearing recanted at the murder trial, in what he later called a fit of conscience. Stokes was nonetheless convicted. Prosecutors then charged the witness, Franklin Lee, with perjury over his pretrial testimony, and Lee went to prison for it. Stokes never knew that until 2015.

I didnt believe it, Stokes said in a telephone interview. I didnt believe that they would let something like that happen _ that they knew, and they didnt tell me.

Stokes said his only child, a daughter who was 2 when he went to prison, died about 20 years ago. He was not allowed to attend her funeral. He now lives with his mother.

She (has) got a beautiful three-story house, so Im not in the way, Stokes said Thursday, the joy in his voice evident.

Criminal lawyer Michael Diamondstein, who handled his successful federal court appeal, called the actions of police and prosecutors in the case outrageous.

They used perjured evidence to convict him and then charged the perjurer, and never told him. And then Willie was warehoused for 38 years, Diamondstein said

In his view, the official misconduct stemmed from institutional racism, or pure bias.

The cases needed to be closed. The inner city minority were interchangeable, as long as you had someone in the defendants chair, he said.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has championed about two dozen exoneration cases. A supervisor in his office, Matthew Stiegler, said Thursday the office agreed with the federal judge who found that Stokes constitutional rights were egregiously violated.

Both detectives who allegedly offered Lee a sex-for-lies deal to help them close the homicide case are now deceased. The lawsuit names their estates as defendants.

I fell weak and went along with the offer, Lee told the federal judge in November, recalling his false testimony at the May 1984 preliminary hearing.

Two surviving prosecutors named in the suit, now in private practice, did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday. At least one has given a statement saying he doesnt remember the case, according to court files.

Both the Philadelphia police department and the city declined to comment on the case, citing the pending lawsuit.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
Descartes Underwriting, the insurtech company that specializes in parametric natural catastrophe products, has announced a $120 million Series B funding round.

Growth equity firm Highland Europe is leading the capital-raise alongside international investment company Eurazeo, with participation of existing investors Serena, Cathay Innovation and Blackfin Capital Partners and new entrants Seaya Ventures and Mundi Ventures. The fresh round of capital comes 18 months after the firms $18.5 million Series A funding.

The company will use the new financing to grow its technology platform, expand into new lines of business and target larger deals, while continuing its global expansion to better serve brokers and clients.

Structured as a managing general agent and backed by a panel of tier-one risk carriers, Descartes can provide $200 million in capacity per policy. Descartes, which was launched in Paris in 2018, provides a full range of parametric solutions to clients globally from its offices in Singapore, Sydney, New York, Houston, Denver and London. Descartes said the company was born out of the conviction that climate change calls for a revolutionary approach to insurance.

Coverage for parametric products is triggered when a hurricane reaches a specific wind force. Descartes parametric insurance solutions leverage new data sources combined with artificial intelligence (AI).

Descartes parametric products were developed by a dedicated team of 50 engineers and data scientists, serving a diverse portfolio of more than 200 corporate clients including many Fortune 500 companies.

The corporate insurance market is undergoing a momentous shift driven by a changing climate, the growing impact of natural catastrophes and a rise in emerging risks, said Tanguy Touffut, CEO and co-founder of Descartes Underwriting, in a statement.

Our aim is to be the global leader in delivering truly revolutionary solutions to brokers, corporations and public entities for these evolving exposures. With the support of our partners, we will continue to develop and deploy a new generation of insurance products that are entirely tech-driven, simpler, more transparent and quicker to pay in the event of a loss  adapted for the new risks corporations and governments increasingly face, he added.

We are proud to work with Highland Europe, Eurazeo, Seaya and Mundi Ventures, all of which have incredible track records and an entrepreneurial mindset, making them the perfect match for us to scale with. We are also grateful for the continued support of our existing investors, Blackfin Capital Partners, Serena and Cathay Innovation, each of which has been integral to our incredible success to date.

Tanguy, Sebastien and Kevin have developed the most innovative and successful set of insurance products we have seen in the increasingly relevant climate risk sector. We are impressed by their team, culture, set of partners and ambition, and look forward to helping them scale as a global next generation corporate insurance business, commented Stan Laurent, Partner at Highland Europe.

Guillaume dAudiffret, managing director at Eurazeo, further added: With climate change and many other emerging risks including most recently the pandemic, corporates and public sector companies are increasingly experiencing the need to access comprehensive and transparent insurance that can cover them efficiently against critical external events. Since its inception three years ago, and thanks to its highly experienced team, Descartes has become a clear category leader in the parametric insurance market.

Topics InsurTech Tech Underwriting Funding
Chinese authorities summoned officials of AstraZeneca China regarding an investigation of suspected medical insurance fraud by the companys employees, the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) said on Saturday.

The regulator of the state medical insurance fund said authorities ordered the arrest of all suspects, but did not give details of the suspected violations or the size of funds involved.

It demanded that AstraZeneca China close loopholes in supervision of marketing activities, the NHSA added.

In a statement on Friday, the company said some employees in the southern city of Shenzhen had altered or participated in altering patients testing reports, and were suspected of medical insurance fraud.

The NHSA and public security ministry held a meeting with company officials in December to brief them on the investigation, it added.

AstraZeneca China takes such employee misconduct seriously and welcomes the recommendations by the NHSA and MOPS, it said.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said all employees involved in the Shenzhen case were Chinese nationals.

The company has taken disciplinary action against those employees and has reported their violations to the authorities, the statement said.

Authorities will launch nationwide campaigns to stamp out fraud that involves altering genetic test results, the NHSA added, urging those responsible for such violations to turn themselves in.

(Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Brenda Goh; editing by Clarence Fernandez and Jason Neely)

Topics Fraud China
A former Sedgwick County, Kansas employee alleges in a lawsuit that his coworkers called him the colored guy and sang spirituals from the slavery era while he worked as a bridge crewman.

David Partridge, who is described in court documents as a biracial Black man, filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Sedgwick County commissioners, The Wichita Eagle reported.

The case was originally filed in October in Sedgwick County Court but has been moved to federal court.

Sedgwick County officials declined to comment on the lawsuit, The Eagle reported.

Partridge alleges in the lawsuit that he encountered a racially hostile work environment while working for the county from December 2019 to August 2021.

After Partridge complained, a county investigation verified the racial discrimination and Partridge was told he would not have to return to that work crew, according to the lawsuit.

Partridge had applied for a different position but was denied and he was offered another position within the county at a lower salary.

The lawsuit said he was fired because he refused to return to the original work crew and did not want to take a pay cut.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Kansas
The White House on Thursday unveiled a plan to beef up cybersecurity in the nations water sector, an extension of its efforts to thwart attacks against critical infrastructure including electricity and natural gas pipeline operators.

Senior administration officials said water facilities use automation and electronic networks that are vulnerable to cyber attacks, which could include producing unsafe water, stopping water flow to consumers, and damaging infrastructure.

The administrations plan will push for the adoption of new technologies that offer early detection of cyber threats, improve response to such incidents, and provide the sharing of such data with the U.S. government.

Cybersecurity has been a major focus for the Biden administration following a spate of high-profile cyber breaches that crippled American companies and government agencies, including a ransomware incident which disrupted gasoline supplies.

Last year, hackers broke into the computer system of a facility that treats water for about 15,000 people near Tampa, Florida, and sought to add a dangerous level of additive to the water supply.

In July, President Joe Biden signed a national security memorandum to create performance controls for cybersecurity in the countrys most critical companies. He warned that if the U.S. ended up in a real shooting war with a major power it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the United States, highlighting what Washington sees as a growing threat posed by hackers from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

The latest water sector initiative will be carried out in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Water Sector Coordinating Council. The EPA will invite water utilities to a pilot program, but participation will be voluntary, the officials said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Topics Cyber
President Biden is coming to town this week  and Mayor Adams has high expectations.

Adams said Monday that hes confident Biden would dub him his favorite mayor in the country if anyone cares to ask about it.

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I am the Biden of Brooklyn, and I love the fact that the president is coming here. Im sure if you were to ask him, Who is his favorite mayor? hed clearly tell you, Its Eric, Adams said with a grin during an unrelated press conference at City Hall.

Adams said he hit it off immediately with Biden when they met in the wake of his November election.

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Were just like these blue-collar guys. You know, he is comfortable around everyday people, Adams said. Hes a guy that can bear the weight of the city, but that you dont mind having a beer with.

A White House spokesman did not return a request for comment.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) and President Joe Biden (right) (Getty Images)

Biden is set to travel to the city Thursday for a meeting with Adams on gun violence.

The sitdown comes in the wake of a series of senseless shootings, including a Jan. 21 shootout that killed two NYPD officers in Harlem.

During the visit, Adams said he and Biden will likely attend a meeting of the citys joint anti-gun trafficking task force, made up of members of the NYPD, the FBI, the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Hes coming to see that, Adams said.

But the Biden-boosting mayor said he also looks forward to treating the president to a few more surprises.

Were just going to hang out together, he said. Thats my dude.

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Asked by the Daily News if hes going to bring Biden any place special, such as Zero Bond, the Manhattan night club hes known to frequent, Adams laughed and said, Well find a nice spot.
About 65% of a 10-day-old fire at a shuttered tire processing plant in central Louisiana has been doused with water and smothered with dirt, reducing a thick plume of black smoke that had been visible for miles, state environmental regulators said.

But spots continue to flare up at the Cottonport Monofill complex in Avoyelles Parish and its not clear when the smoldering fire will be fully extinguished.

Meanwhile, 1,500 inmates remain evacuated from a nearby state prison. They fled the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Cottonport four days into the fire, on Jan. 20, after winds shifted and sent black smoke into the state prison 300 yards to the south of the isolated tire complex.

I dont have an exact date when we think the fire will be out. Were hoping within a few days, said Greg Langley, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The fire began Jan. 16.

With the fire still burning, state investigators also havent had a chance to examine the site and determine a cause, said Ashley Rodrigue, spokeswoman for the Louisiana State Fire Marshals Office.

DEQ records show more than 100,000 unprocessed waste tires had been stored at the facility in long piles 10 to 20 feet high. There were also large piles of chopped up tire bits, known as monofill.

Since mid-2019, DEQ has had Cottonport Monofill under a compliance order to clean up the tires and monofill chips as part of the facilitys closure.

The bits are used for earthen fill, road material and other purposes under DEQs Waste Tire Program. The state pays companies to recycle the monofill in authorized uses.

At one point early on, black smoke from the fire could be seen as far away as La. 1 in Marksville, several miles to the north of Cottonport, residents have said.

But Langley said Wednesday that firefighting efforts have cut the smoke by 90% since the fire began. The remaining smoke is still producing some tiny particles that are drifting off the property.

Firefighters have been working the fire section by section, dousing one piece with water and then smothering it with dirt. Langley added that firefighters have also brought in a marsh buggy to push the burning monofill chips into a large pond on the property.

You can put water on the chips or can put the chips in water. Its the same thing, he said.

Langley said at one point, both the tires and monofill were on fire but all the tires have since been extinguished.

Langley didnt have details about what type of cleanup would be required once the fire is extinguished and who will be responsible for the work. DEQ lawyers are still examining the situation, he said.

Cottonport Monofill was closed and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015. Avoyelles land records show the primary processing site of about 29.5 acres was sold to Avoyelles Parish government in June 2020 after a sheriffs sale to settle $2,906 in unpaid taxes.

But Joey Frank, director of the parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said that under state law, land taken in a tax sale isnt fully adjudicated and possessed by the buyer until five years afterward.

He said the parishs legal advisor has determined that the Police Jury is not responsible for any cleanup that might be required, adding he isnt sure how the parish government could even afford it if it were.

Youre talking about millions of dollars for that to be fully cleaned up, Frank said.

DEQ inspection records from February 2021 assert that First Guaranty Bank is now in possession of the facility and its assets under a bankruptcy court order and had recently, at the time, renewed a solid waste permit for the complex. Bank officials have disputed that ownership claim, however.

Other land also held by Cottonport Monofill went to private landowners in the same sheriffs sale. At least one of those parcels, which is adjacent to the primary processing site, appears to have had tires on it also, according to a parish assessors office aerial map.

Langley said those tires hadnt caught fire in the blaze.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
The state of Louisiana is now accepting buyout applications from some property owners in a Livingston Parish neighborhood that continually floods.

The buyout program affects property owners in Priority Zone 1 of the Spring Park neighborhood of Denham Springs. The deadline to apply is Feb. 25, WAFB-TV reported.

Mayor Gerard Landry said the program will provide much-needed assistance to Spring Park residents who have dealt with flooding on several occasions in recent years.

This buyout program presents an opportunity for residents to relocate their families to safer areas, while also providing long-term benefits for the resilience of our community, he said. We will continue working closely with the Louisiana Watershed Initiative and the residents and landlords in this area to provide resources, information and support as this program progresses.

Officials noted the $10 million buyout program is funded by Louisiana Watershed Initiative. It offers property owners in the affected area 100% of the appraised value, including money for vacant lots. The homes will be removed and the property turned into open green spaces.

Livingston Parish was the hardest hit area in the state during the 2016 flood, with 85% of the structures affected in some way by floodwaters.

For more information, Spring Park property owners and residents can contact a buyout program representative at 866.735.2001 or email watershed(at)la.gov.

Topics Louisiana Flood
Higginbotham Insurance has added J.M. Insurance Agency to its family in Tennessee.

J.M. is an independent broker of commercial and personal P&C insurance, bonds and employee benefits. The broker, which has grown significantly with acquisitions in the last decade, is headed by President Beau Massengille. Higginbotham named Massengille a managing director, so he will continue overseeing J.M.s team and Lebanon, Tennessee, operations, the company said in a news release.

Higginbotham, which provides business, personal and captive insurance servcies, along with benefits plans, entered the Tennessee market in 2020 when it joined forces with Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, based in Memphis.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Tennessee
The Alaska Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by 16 young Alaskans who claimed long-term effects of climate change will devastate Alaska and interfere with their individual constitutional rights.

The lawsuit against the state of Alaska claimed the states legislative and executive branches had not taken steps to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The lower court dismissed the case in 2018, saying these questions were better left to other branches of government.

The young Alaskans appeal, raising compelling concerns about climate change, resource development, and Alaskas future. But we conclude that the superior court correctly dismissed their lawsuit, the Alaska Supreme Court said in its split decision.

During oral arguments before the high court in 2019, the state of Alaska urged the court to affirm the lower courts rejection of the claim. Assistant Attorney General Anna Jay at the time said the climate change issues raised by the plaintiffs musts be addressed by the political branches of government.

With todays decision, a majority of the Alaska Supreme Court betrayed their duty to safeguard the constitutional rights of these youth and serve as a check on the conduct of the state, Andrew Welle, a lawyer for the young people, said in a statement after the courts opinion was released.

The decision not only allows Alaskas government to continue destroying the conditions necessary for human life, throwing literal and figurative fuel on the fire of an already critical climate crisis, it also makes the court complicit in that conduct, further endangering the health, safety and futures of Alaskan children, Welle said.

The Alaska Supreme Court acknowledged that its not within its jurisdiction to balance the compelling interests involved in managing the states resources, a statement released from the office of Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.

Like the young Alaskans that filed this lawsuit, all of us want a sustainable and healthy future for Alaska. Through its policy decisions over the years, the state has achieved an appropriate and effective balance between resource development and environmental protection, the statement said.

Summer Sagoonick, the lead plaintiff in the cases, was disappointed in the ruling and said it will affect Alaska Natives who count on wildlife and the land for survival.

Our irreplaceable peoples, lands, cultures, and ecosystems are infinitely more precious than the short-term profits of the fossil fuel industry, which threatens our state economy and our way of life, Sagoonick, 20, said in a statement. It will only be a matter of time until the states promotion of fossil fuels irreversibly alters the climate we depend on for our lives and culture.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Climate Change
A woman with a heart condition who was placed in a shared ward with three older men in a Dublin hospital has described the experience as being uncomfortable and inappropriate.

Emily Larkin, a 21-year-old student from Lucan, west Dublin, was admitted to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown on January 13 for treatment of a heart condition.

After an eight-hour wait, she was admitted to a shared ward with three men, aged in their 50s and older.

She was further informed that the three men in question had all been exposed to Covid-19, though each had, in turn, tested negative for the virus.

She herself tested negative upon admission and has a compromised immune system.

From the start, I told them that I wasnt comfortable, Ms Larkin, who suffers from a condition known as supraventricular tachycardia, told the Irish Examiner.

Im a 21-year-old woman. It felt so inappropriate.

When I was in A&E the nurse told me about the Covid-19 exposure, and I was already completely worried about that, but I wasnt expecting to be in a room with all men.

I told them I wasnt comfortable and they said youll just have to pull the curtains.

Ms Larkin first entered the Emergency Department at the west Dublin hospital at 7pm the previous evening, before being seen by an admissions doctor at about midnight, and being admitted to the all-male room the following morning.

She was eventually discharged at 7pm the following evening.

When I saw it was three men I said to the nurse that I didnt feel the situation was appropriate, she told the Irish Examiner.

She said there are no beds in the hospital, that I should consider myself lucky that I was only waiting for eight hours rather than 24.

Its not to say that the situation was unsafe, but people were coming in and out to fix my heart monitor. And I was sharing a toilet with three old men.

"It was just chaos the whole time, and just horrible. So uncomfortable, so awkward, and I was made to feel so guilty. They kept saying were in the middle of a pandemic'.

I probably shouldve just gone home. It did far more harm than good being there.

Ms Larkin lodged a complaint with Connollys inpatient services after her discharge, describing her highly inappropriate experience, and stating that she wished to highlight it so that it hopefully does not happen again to other young women.

Her complaint was not replied to.

The Irish Examiner queried Connolly Hospital on the matter and asked what its policy is regarding the sharing of hospital rooms across genders and whether or not it considers such a situation as being appropriate. A response had not been received at the time of publication.

Ms Larkin said that in her opinion young people in hospital arent being treated properly.

I really dont think its good enough to say that there is only one hospital bed left in a male ward, take it or leave it; to spend 17bn on the health service and for there to be no beds, she said.

At night time there is little monitoring, if you cant find your call button youre in a very vulnerable position. I couldnt understand why I was put in that position.
Hospital consultants are warning of a rapid increase in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Ireland, as the number of patients on waiting lists for treatment continues to grow.

According to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), almost 17,000 patients are currently on a waiting list to see a gastroenterologist - a more than 70% increase since 2015.

There are estimated to be around 40,000 people in Ireland living with IBD.

The IHCA says the wait times are having a serious impact on outcomes and overall quality of life for patients with IBD and other conditions.

Speaking this afternoon, Dr Brian Egan, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Acute Medical Physician at Mayo University Hospital said that even before the pandemic, issues in filling consultant posts in regional hospitals were leading to long waiting times for patients.

Pre-Covid-19, Mayo University Hospital alone had a waiting list of about one thousand patients in his specialty.

The pandemic has had a major impact on gastroenterology throughout the country, he said.

Many of us who work in the care of patients with stomach and bowel problems and liver disease were re-allocated in the first wave of the pandemic to treat patients with Covid.

It also resulted in an absolute stop of scheduled work, which is essential for early detection and prevention of stomach cancer, bowel cancer, and oesophageal cancer.

Dr Egan said that his team at Mayo University Hospital was seeing much later presentations of cancer, often in people who have waited months following a referral.

He said that as a small hospital, Mayo University Hospital had limited specialist resources which means that it is almost impossible to keep up with the sheer volume of patients waiting for diagnosis and care in the region, an issue likely faced by many other Irish hospitals.

Staffing shortfalls

According to the IHCA, Ireland has the lowest number of medical specialists per 1,000 population in Europe at 1.48, 42% below the EU average of 2.54.

One in five permanent consultant posts in Ireland across all specialties are currently vacant or not filled as needed.

In gastroenterology, just 10 of the 82 (12%) approved Consultant posts were vacant, as of February 8, 2021 To cope with Irelands growing population, and the rising incidence of gastroenterological disease here, the IHCA says the HSE will need to hire 67 additional Consultant Gastroenterologists by 2028.

It says the severe shortage of consultants is the main contributor to the unacceptable delays in providing care to patients.

Without urgent Government action, our ability to provide essential care to patients with serious illnesses will decrease significantly. While Irish doctors are among the best in the world, with so many posts unfilled across so many specialties, there is a limit to what we can achieve and that shouldnt be the case in a developed nation like Ireland, said IHCA President, Professor Alan Irvine.

Prof Irvine said that in order to hire consultants issues of pay inequity and poor working conditions quickly needed to be addressed.

"The longer the Government fails to act, the longer waiting lists become and the worse our ability to provide rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment to patients," he said.

Many other Western countries, including Australia and Canada, provide timely, world-leading care to patients and an efficient, empathetic, and fair place to work for doctors, and other frontline healthcare staff. We must learn from their example."
Sunday

A homemade poster stuck to the window of the local SuperValu attracts my attention. It carries a photograph of a dark woman who is missing.

Bernadette Connolly, according to the poster, comes from neighbouring Swords and disappeared at the end of the first week in January.

Her daughter has put up the poster, appealing for help in finding her, saying plaintively that her mother is a very solid woman who was in great form on the day she vanished.

Through the poster and media appeals, Bernadette Connollys daughter single-handedly moves her mother from a category  missing person  to individual humanity.

Jade talks of her mam as the Del Boy of women, and has gone public to alert people who walk the beach from which she disappeared to the details, asking for footage that might include Bernadette.

A daughter stepping up to a challenge that she could never have anticipated.

Monday

Meat Loafs songs are now being used as background music for anti-vax rallies in America. How infinitely sad.

Tuesday

Its understandable that the bill allowing workers to request permission to work at home skews a tad towards employers, they being the folk with proper lobbying groups working for them.

Your average Josephine Soap, in sharp contrast, is kicking take-out packages out from under the table shes using as a desk, threatening that anybody heard shrieking or swearing in the background of an upcoming Zoom will suffer dire consequences, and reminding herself to straighten the picture behind her, knowing that it will stay crooked.

Lobbying Leo to get the right to stay in Castle Chaos wouldnt fit in her over-stuffed schedule. Josephine is putting in longer hours than she did when she was in the office full time, even with the sawn-off commute. But its working. Her boss may have to lay down rules to make sure she doesnt come a physical cropper in Castle Chaos, but her productivity is not in question.

Thats the general perception. Yet some employers are teeth-gnashingly anxious to get staff back in the office, pronto. Many of them seem  wrongly  to equate control and observation with management and leadership.

Unconsciously, they draw their model from US prisons built in a star shape allowing constant observation of the incarcerated.

It might be more productive to look at what has worked during the pandemic in Ireland, and apply the lessons to the future, while trusting employees.

Wednesday

The Irish Times runs a column about insidious ageism in healthcare, illustrated by Kathy Sheridans story of being wrist-banded and thereby branded as a fall risk because of her two recent falls, which could have happened to anybody of any age.

This is reminiscent of the age-based stereotyping nailed a couple of decades back by the wonderful broadcaster and writer Alistair Cooke, who ended up in a hospital in New York, where he lived and worked, his complaint being that one of his legs had gone on strike and wasnt working as it should have been.

The consultant examined the leg, listened to Cookes information and then patted the limb, tented as it was in bedclothes. You must realise, Mr Cooke, that this is an 85-year-old leg, he smiled.

Cooke pointed out that the other leg was the same age, and it was working just fine.

Thursday

Norma Foley and Simon Harris make positive noises about skewing the educational system towards those without an academic bent, by changing second-level exams and creating more apprenticeships. Which is all very well, but on the late side in a students life.

Would it not be better to look at primary school children to identify the ones who are easily distracted, who blurt out answers, who dont like tasks that require sustained mental effort, who fidget and run around when its inappropriate?

Those five are among the characteristics that can deliver a child an ADHD diagnosis under the DSM specifications developed in the US.

Once so diagnosed, the child is overwhelmingly likely to be treated using a stimulant drug, which, paradoxically, mutes their impulsivity and dampens their rampant energy.

Thats because before the Second World War, a Dr Charles Bradley found that the stimulant Benzedrine, traditionally used by soldiers and truckers to stay awake for long periods, did wonders when prescribed to hyperactive, inattentive children.

For nearly 80 years, children with ADHD have been fire extinguished in this way.

This is not to suggest that ADHD does not exist, although Richard Saul, an American professor working in behavioural neurology, made that claim in an eponymous book published in 2008.

Nor is it to discount the misery of parents exhausted by a child who never stops, their misery exacerbated by teacher-reported problems.

It is merely to ask if its not possible to much earlier identify the children whose bent is towards the energetic, towards handwork, who is, perhaps, on the solitary side and adapt the system to them, rather than medicalise and drug them into alignment with the system.

Before anyone ever heard of ADHD, a kid in the US left school early (to the relief of his teachers), started to crew for his father on a small delivery boat and at 13 was running his own vessel.

His writing was lousy to the day he died, but on that day, he employed thousands of people and was the richest man in America, having come from poverty.

His name was Cornelius Vanderbilt and he was lucky that he was born at a time when sitting still in a classroom was not seen as the only route to successful adulthood.

Friday

Wattaboutery rises to new levels with reports that Robert Watt and Stephen Donnelly are gone off to Dubai to a wellness knees-up.

Saturday

I remove Spotify from my devices. Joni Mitchel has joined Neil Young in taking her music from the app because it provides a platform for an anti-vaccine podcast.

It wont kill either artist, but on the other hand is unlikely to influence Spotifys managers choice of offerings, since they did pay the anti-vaxx podcaster $100m (89m) for exclusive rights to his misinformed ranting.

In contrast, downloads of Joni Mitchels work, or the absence of same, will not even dimple Spotifys bottom line. Unless some regulator comes the heavy, nothing will happen. Or unless dozens of younger stars take the same stance, which is doubtful.

The ridiculous thing is how good it feels to boycott something again. I have spent my life making principled behavioural points that have made no difference to anything.

During the apartheid years, our family didnt eat Outspan oranges because they came from South Africa. We never bought Spring Books because, according to my mother, they were printed in Czechoslovakia by brainwashed priests.

Just why brainwashed clerics might have been recruited by the communist government to work on English-language childrens books was never clear, but it was a moral choice. Same with Spotify. Never mind the outcome, feel the principle 
In 2022, 811 million people worldwide, more than 1 in 10 people globally, will go to bed hungry every night, and 785 million people still lack access to basic drinking water.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 673 million people are forced to practice open defecation worldwide. In the 21st century, these figures are alarming.

Behind each figure are communities and families fighting desperately to survive. While a new year brings hope and opportunity, the international community must do better.

While we have seen positive changes in international development practices in recent decades, change has been gradual.

Aid has shifted towards development. While climate change, conflict, and crises still leave millions reliant on emergency aid, the focus has moved towards creating long-lasting change to lift communities out of poverty.

While millions have enjoyed new opportunities of work, access to health care and education, too many communities in rural Africa remain entrenched in extreme poverty, while conflict, and consequent displacement is on the rise.

Mary Van Lieshout is deputy CEO with aid agency Goal.

In GOAL, weve found that working with local actors, including local governments, local private sector agencies, and local community-based organisations is key to success.

But theres more to it.

Last year, Harvard University reviewed our approach to identify the foundations of our long-term effectiveness in Northwest Syria where we are now moving to support local communities in income generation.

Informed by four decades of humanitarian and emergency response, GOAL has adopted and promoted four core approaches towards building lasting change in fragile and conflict-affected communities.

These approaches include working to support local systems to become inclusive and resilient, adaptive management, working with local actors and accountability.

In Northwest Syria, GOAL teams are working to rehabilitate and stabilise public water supply stations, and training engineers to improve long-term capacity.

A systems approach promotes a holistic response and delivers long terms solutions.

In Northwest Syria, GOAL teams are working to rehabilitate and stabilise public water supply stations, and training engineers to improve long-term capacity.

Improving this system sustainably has brought consistent running water to over 800,000 people. No longer dependent on trucks to deliver water, local families can continue, in the midst of conflict, to access safe, clean, drinking water at the turn of a tap.

Continuous risk analysis

Through continuous risk analysis and contingency planning, humanitarian support needs to adapt to regional, national and global challenges.

The unforeseen onset of Covid-19 pandemic has forced organisations to rethink and reimagine their programmes.

The congregation of large crowds awaiting traditional food and medical supplies has long posed a security risk in conflict zones such as Syria. In a world fighting the spread of Covid-19, it now poses a public health risk.

Voucher assistance has played an important role in bridging the gap.

Impacted families have been empowered to source their own groceries, fuel and other essentials - items that may otherwise would be out of reach due to the economic and employment impacts of Covid-19. This flexible form of relief can be an effective, timely lifeline for vulnerable families.

Empowering communities

Putting relief and recovery into the hands of local communities, statutory authorities, private sector partners and local NGOs is key to improving the sustainability of humanitarian aid and development programmes.

Beyond our work in Syria, GOAL has worked with the local authority in Sierra Leone to create the countrys first wastewater treatment plant.

GOAL staff working oj their Covid-19 response in Zimbabwe.

Working with Freetown City Council and private sector partners has proven successful, with 60% of the citys solid and liquid waste to be safely removed from households and businesses in 2022. Prior to the construction of the plant, over 90% of the citys waste was managed by informal means, posing health risks to many.

Once fully operational, GOAL will step back and leave it in the hands of local actors  an ultimate aim of all humanitarian interventions.

Finally, adopting a robust assurance framework provides a method of accountability and builds trust between humanitarian actors and fragile communities.

GOALs assurance framework consists of minimum standards for staff and independent quality-control mechanisms to track accountability and ensure programme participants are safe and protected from harm.

Complaints response and whistleblowing mechanisms are also integrated into GOAL's programmes, allowing community members to alert the organisation directly or through a third-party hotline if programming is not in line with quality and safety standards.

Creating that feedback loop and giving a strong voice to the communities we serve is essential in building that trust, often a significant barrier to progress.

Pushing Boundaries

In the words of former Irish President Mary McAleese we are a vibrant first-world country but we have a humbling third-world memory.

Our memory feeds our empathy and desire to help those in need. Irelands history providing aid worldwide is rich, our experience based on evidence and practise is wide and our voice at international level is respected.

Irelands presence on the UN Security Council presents us with a new opportunity to speak up for the rights of the worlds most vulnerable communities on the global stage.

If we are truly going to see a shift in extreme poverty, we need to push traditional boundaries and do aid differently. The communities we serve must regain the place that is rightfully theirs  as central actors with whom we collaborate and share skills, and ready ourselves for departure. As humanitarian actors, we must strive to no longer be needed. The systems we leave behind should be resilient and inclusive. This will only happen when we ensure people in need have what inequality and misfortune have deprived them of: the means and tools to fight poverty in dignity and power. I believe that when we do that, we will see the lasting change they deserve.

Mary Van Lieshout is Deputy CEO with GOAL
Burma Myanmar Peoples Assembly Pledges to Try Junta at ICC

Smoke rises from the town of Thantlang in Chin State on October 29, 2021, after more than 160 buildings were destroyed by junta shelling. / AFP

Myanmar Peoples Assembly, an all-inclusive grouping of major pro-democracy forces, has pledged to work to bring the junta before the International Criminal Court to be tried for its atrocities against civilians in the wake of last years February 1 coup.

The Assembly strongly condemns the actions of the terrorist military junta that include widespread and intentional arrests, torture, and the murder of innocent people throughout the union, which [juntas actions] amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocides that obviously breach international human rights law including the Geneva Convention, said the Assembly in a statement released Sunday.

Thus, the Assembly will strive to take action against the terrorist military junta before the International Criminal Court though the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the statement adds.

To date, the military regime has killed at least 1,499 civilians during its lethal crackdowns against anti-coup protesters and resistance groups. Over 11,800 more have been arrested, including the countrys civilian government leaders.

The first Peoples Assembly, convened by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), a coalition of political groups against the junta, was held online last week from January 27-29 with 388 delegates from different political groups. The participants also included observers and international guests.

The Assembly seeks to root out dictatorship and to establish a federal democratic union guaranteeing equality and self-determination, said Ko Tuu, a delegate representing the General Strike Coordination Committee. The NUCC plans to hold the Peoples Assembly every six months, he told the press conference on Sunday.

The Peoples Assembly also ratified the NUCC-drafted Federal Democracy Charter (FDC), formally established the NUCC with representatives from 33 member organizations and reaffirmed the formation of the National Unity Government (NUG). The Assembly called upon the international community to recognize the NUG as Myanmars only legitimate government and to reject the junta.

The FDC outlines initial agreements on establishing a federal democratic union and interim constitutional arrangement, before the country adopts a new constitution that can guarantee equality and autonomy through a national referendum.

NUCC members represent elected lawmakers; ethnic resistance organizations (ERO), political parties which are not aligned with the regime, anti-junta strikers including the Civil Disobedience Movement, unions, civil society groups of women, youth and minorities, and the representative committees of interim state and federal units and ethnic groups.

Anti-junta strikers, widely known as Spring Revolution forces, have more representation on the NUCC than other political and armed resistance bodies.

Three EROs, including the Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party and another unidentified group, are members of the NUCC according to a source close to the NUCC, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The NUCC does not disclose its council members for security reasons. Other EROs representing ethnic groups such as the Kachin, Chin, Mon and Pa-o also take part under their own interim representative councils in the NUCC.

In mid-November, the leaders of the NUCC said in their first press conference that the NUCC is based on collective leadership and that each group had made their own decision to come together in a union.

At that time, U Min Ko Naing, a veteran student leader and one of the key figures in the NUCC, said that the NUCC will be a political body free of the Myanmar militarys meddling in the political arena, something which hasnt happened since the country became independent in 1948.

The Assembly urged the international community and the UN: to make every effort towards the implementation of Internationally Guaranteed Civilian Protection  Safe Zones that would protect civilians in Karen, Karenni (Kayah), Chin, Magway (Magwe) and Sagaing areas from both air strikes and ground attacks of the terrorist military junta since its superior forces targeted civilians and committed atrocities.



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Mayor Adams tapped a team of environmental experts Monday to lead his administrations fight against climate change  but admitted he has not formulated a plan for how to wage key aspects of that battle just yet.

Marking the first environment-related announcement of his administration, Adams said Rohit Aggarwala, a longtime adviser to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will be his chief climate officer. The newly created post is meant to streamline the citys efforts to mitigate the impacts of rising global temperatures.

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Rohit Aggarwala speaks at the podium after it was announced that he would be the chief climate officer. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

Aggarwala, who was also appointed commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, will work closely with Vincent Sapienza, the DEPs chief operations officer, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman, executive director of the newly created Mayors Office of Climate Change, Adams said.

The trio will be tasked with hashing out plans for fulfilling some of Adams campaign promises on climate, like installing power grids capable of generating 100 megawatts of solar energy atop schools, libraries and other public buildings by the end of his four-year term.

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Vincent Sapienza, the DEPs chief operations officer, at City Hall on Monday, January 31, 2022. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

The mayor affirmed time is of the essence.

Climate catastrophe isnt some far-off threat. Its here. Its happening, said Adams in a live-streamed speech at City Hall.

But in a press conference following the speech, Adams was light on details when asked what he had in mind for upgrading the citys decades-old sewer systems. The sewers were rapidly overwhelmed on Sept. 1, 2021, when remnants of Hurricane Ida barreled through New York, killing more than a dozen residents.

Of course, we cant lay out everything that were going to do because we are inundated with problems with our environment and things weve done wrongly in the past, Adams said. Retrofitting and building on our sewer systems is not a four-year plan, lets be honest about that. What we need to do is we need to look at whatever projects were doing now should not be built for what was in the past. We should be hitting pause right now, do an analysis.

Mayor Eric Adams announces the appointments of his climate leadership team that will focus on environmental protection and environmental justice across New York City. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

Improving the resiliency of the citys infrastructure  from streets and subways to sewers and buildings  has been listed as a top priority by climate change experts and lawmakers since Ida.

Before being elected Brooklyn borough president in November, former Council member Antonio Reynoso argued that aging sewers must be retrofitted quickly, especially as extreme weather events are likely to grow more destructive due to climate change.

Why is (the Department of Environmental Protection) concerned about money, when, if not handled and taken care of, we have a loss of life for residents and significant long-term structural damage to homes, to businesses and to our local city infrastructure? Reynoso said at the Sept. 14 hearing.

Kizzy Charles-Guzman at City Hall on Monday, January 31, 2022. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

At Mondays press conference, Aggarwala said theres a variety of things that were going to have to do to address resiliency. But, like Adams, he conceded the pieces arent there yet.

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The plan is not exactly there. Were going to be developing the Adams administration plan on resiliency. Its going to be extraordinary, and its going to be really good because its really important, he said.

By contrast, Adams released a climate policy blueprint during last years campaign that struck an urgent note on the importance of resiliency efforts.

Its only a matter of time until the next superstorm overwhelms our coastal communities, threatening the homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure of countless NYCers. We need to move boldly on resiliency projects across NYC, stated the blueprint, released last April.

Beyond resiliency, Adams and Aggarwala both committed to focusing on curbing the impacts of climate change on communities of color, which have historically been subject to higher rates of pollution.

Adams, whos vegan, said he will also make food part of his agenda on climate change, including by potentially serving less meat in public schools.

No one wants to talk about that  the global consumption of meat and dairy, how that impacts the environment, he said. We are going to dig into this area as well. We are leaving no stone unturned.
Burma Myanmar Resistance Kills Dozens of Junta Soldiers in Three Days of Clashes

A police station burns after being occupied by civilian resistance forces in Myaing Township, Magwe Region on Saturday. / Myaing-PDF

Around three dozen Myanmar junta soldiers were reportedly killed during intense clashes with Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs), including ambushes by the latter, in three days in Magwe, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions and Chin, Shan and Kayah states.

The Chin Defense Force-Kanpetlet said it attacked regime forces deployed at the townships General Administration Office and Education Office in Kanpetlet, Chin State on Monday morning.

During hour-long fighting, three junta soldiers were killed and Chin resistance fighters escaped from the area, the resistance group said.

Attacks and ambushes by PDFs were also reported in Sagaing Regions Tamu, Pale, Homalin, Tabayin and Mingin townships over the past three days.

On Sunday morning, three junta troops including an army captain were killed when the PDF-Tamu used mines to attack three military trucks traveling from Tamu to Kale in Sagaing Region, according to media reports.

That evening, a resistance fighter was injured in an ongoing clash between regime troops and the PDF-Tamu in Tamu Township.

The resistance group has urged civilians to avoid the Tamu-Kale highway for several days due to potential clashes.

On Sunday, a combined force of four resistance groups attacked Pyu-Saw-Htee militias, which are trained and armed by the military, in Inmahtee Village in Pale Township.

The resistance groups claimed the junta used two helicopter gunships to help its militia after it had been defeated by the resistance forces.

The Aung San Force, a civilian resistance group based in Pale Township, claimed to have killed five more regime personnel when its remote-controlled drones dropped bombs on junta troops and Pyu-Saw-Htee militias deployed in Zeephyukone Village in Pale, Sagaing Region on Saturday evening.

Last Friday, regime forces in the village were also attacked by a combined force of several local resistance groups. During the attacks the Aung San Force used drones to conduct air raids. However, military casualties are unknown, according to the resistance groups.

The Homalin-PDF also claimed to have killed two junta soldiers and damaged a military truck when it used mines to conduct an ambush in Homalin Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday.

A video showed a military truck being ambushed with mines along with a motorbike.

On Monday morning, two military helicopter gunships reportedly dropped three bombs near a village in Ayadaw Township, Sagaing Region while regime forces were being airlifted by another chopper, according to Ayadaw True Information, a page sharing the townships news.

The Bo Zaya Squad, a PDF group, said regime soldiers torched houses in two villages during their raids on a series of villages in the west of Tabayin Township, Sagaing Region on Monday morning.

Sharing information on the movements of regime forces, the resistance group urged fleeing villagers not to return to their homes for a while.

Thousands of residents of over five villages near the border of Sagaings Mingin and Kani townships have recently fled their homes due to the recent clashes between resistance forces and the regime troops helped by Pyu-Saw-Htee militias.

Two junta soldiers were killed and three injured when PDFs used mines to attack a military detachment that had been raiding and burning hand-dug oil wells in Myaing Township, Magwe Region on Sunday.

Regime forces are burning the crude-oil tanks while another military group was asking for payments from the hand-dug well operators, a resistance fighter from Myaing-PDF told The Irrawaddy.

He added, The military regime thinks PDFs are funded by the hand-dug well operators. So, they are destroying the oil production businesses here to cut funding to PDFs.

On Saturday, PDFs from Magwes Myaing and Yesagayo townships and neighboring Salingyi Township in Sagaing Region occupied and burned down the police station in Myaing after a fierce hour-long clash.

In the clash, all junta police abandoned the police station along with their families after being defeated by the resistance groups.

The Myaing-Peoples Defense Team, which took part in the raid, said it seized many firearms and a lot of ammunition.

All family members of junta police including children and women were released by the resistance groups, who urged them to stand on the side of the Myanmar people.

On Sunday, the Myaing Peoples Administration Group also urged all government staff working for the military regime in the township to quit by Feb. 10.

Magwe Regions junta-appointed cabinet recently admitted it has almost lost control of two Magwe districts, Gangaw and Pakokku, including Myaing and Yesagyo townships

On Sunday, a fierce clash broke out near a village in Loikaw Township, Kayah State when the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army (KA), the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, attacked a military detachment. In the firefight, six junta troops and a resistance fighter were killed, said the KNDF.

Another intense clash between the combined resistance forces and junta forces broke out near a military battalion in the township. The KNDF claimed there were many military casualties.

Early on Saturday morning, the KA and KNDF ambushed a military convoy including armored vehicles and tanks sent to Loikaw from neighboring Shan State.

In the ambush, two soldiers were killed while three military vehicles were damaged.

After sustaining heavy losses in a clash in Loikaw on Friday, the regime forces also called in airstrikes against the KNDF and Loikaw-PDF.

Ten junta soldiers were also killed during fighting between a joint force of the Pekon-PDF and KNDF, and a military detachment in Pekon Township, Shan State on Saturday.

The junta used two jet fighters to bomb resistance forces in the clash. The KNDF said many houses were destroyed by 120-mm shells when regime forces randomly fired artillery into residential areas.

A junta soldier was killed and another injured when a combined force of three PDFs attacked regime forces deployed at a village school in Yephyu Township in Tanintharyi Region on Saturday, said the Dawei Guerrilla Revolutionary Force, which joined the attack.

Myanmars junta is facing intense daily attacks from PDFs and many ethnic armed groups across the country, except in Rakhine State, which is largely under the control of the Arakan Army.



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Burma Myanmar's Year of Turmoil: From Coup to Jailing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Anti-coup protesters in Yangon in February 2021. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmars military seized power on Feb. 1 last year, ousting the civilian government and arresting its de facto leader, Daw 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 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her top allies during pre-dawn raids on Feb. 1 ahead of the opening of the new parliament.

The generals claim fraud in the November 2020 election, which Daw Aung San 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 pansa 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 Feb. 6 and 7, with huge crowds gathering on the streets calling for the release of Daw Aung San 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 Feb. 8.

A 19-year-old woman is shot in the head when police fire on crowds in the capital Naypyitaw 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 Feb. 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 27Armed 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.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyis trial begins

In June, more than four months after she was detained, Daw Aung San 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 canceled

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.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi jailed

On Dec. 6, Daw Aung San 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 Jan. 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 Naypyitaw while she faces a host of other charges in court, which could see her jailed for decades.

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Burma Police Officer in Charge for NLD Lawyers Killing Left Unpunished and Promoted

Kyi Lin, Aung Win Zaw and Zeya Phyo (from left to right) seen at a court hearing. / The Irrawaddy

Five years after prominent lawyer U Ko Ni, the legal advisor to the National League for Democracy Party, was shot dead in broad daylight at Yangon International Airport, the mastermind behind his killing  Aung Win Khaing  is still at large.

At the same time, the police officer who was responsible for Yangon Airports security at the time of U Ko Nis assassination has been rapidly promoted over the past five years, despite the fact that he is a former classmate of the main culprits in the killing of the lawyer.

Win Min Thein was a police colonel when U Ko Ni was assassinated, but has since been promoted to police brigadier-general and appointed the head of the No. 2 Security Police Force, a rank higher than that of the chief of the Yangon Police.

Such a rapid promotion is rare in the history of Myanmars Police Force, said a retired police colonel.

Win Min Thein was a member of the 36th class at the Defence Services Academy, where he was the classmate of Aung Win Khaing and Zeya Phyo, the main culprits in the assassination of U Ko Ni.

He was also the classmate of Colonel Lin Zaw Htun, who once served as coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaings personal staff officer.

In 2011, Win Min Thein was transferred to the Myanmar Police Force as a police captain and assigned to provide security for Myanmars newly-built parliament in the capital Naypyitaw. Two years later, he was transferred to the Yangon Region Special Branch (SB).

By the time of the 2015 general election, Win Min Thein, then a police colonel, was in charge of the Yangon Region SB.

Subsequently, he was promoted to a section head of the Aviation Police Force, taking the helm of the security forces at Yangon International Airport, Myanmars principal airport. U Ko Ni was killed at the airport on January 29, 2017 while Win Min Thein was serving as the head of the airport security force.

Normally, a crime committed at such an important place would spell the end of the career for the police officer responsible for its security, said the retired police officer. But in the case of Win Min Thein, far from being punished, he has since been promoted.

One year after U Ko Nis assassination, he was promoted to deputy chief of the Yangon Region Police Force. Another year later, in 2019, he was promoted to be chief of the Naypyitaw Police Force. In 2020, he was promoted again to police brigadier-general and became the chief of the No. 2 Security Police Force.

For a police officer to rise from captain to brigadier-general in ten years is rare. Those inside the police force believe that Win Min Thein received such rapid promotion because he is a member of Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaings inner circle.

The coup leader has transferred some of his confidants to the police force to strengthen his position in the countrys most powerful armed organization after the military, police sources said.

There are seven police battalions in the No. 2 Security Police Force headed by Win Min Thein. Police under the No. 2 Security Police Force are tasked with two main duties: crowd control in the case of riots, protests and demonstrations and providing security for important buildings and foreign missions.

Win Min Thein supervised the lethal crackdowns on anti-coup protests in Yangon following the juntas takeover on February 1 last year. Watching the protests on CCTV cameras at the police control center, Win Min Thein gave instructions to police on how to disperse the demonstrators.

He has previously rebuked police chiefs who failed to act on his orders, said a striking police officer from the Yangon Region Police Force. He was watching on CCTV cameras. And he scolded people when shots were fired in the air, instead of being aimed at the protesters, he said.

Win Min Thein and the current commander of the Myanmar militarys Yangon Region Command, Major-General Nyunt Win Swe, were also both in the same class at the Defence Services Academy.

As the security police force does not have enough members to disperse anti-coup protesters, Win Min Thein has also commanded police from local police stations.

Win Min Thein, who is 50, will be appointed to a high-ranking position in the Myanmar Police Force if Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing becomes president, suggested retired police officers.

The coup leader is planning to hold a general election in August next year, and is pushing to replace the first-past-the-post electoral system with a proportional representation system which is expected to allow him to contest the presidency.

As the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party choice for president, Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing needs only 26 per cent of the vote to form a government, as 25 per cent of seats in the national legislature are guaranteed for military appointees under the army-written 2008 Constitution.



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Burma Villagers Found Slain After Myanmar Junta Raids

A dead civilian in Bado village, Loikaw. / CJ

At least 23 civilians were killed in junta raids since early January in Loikaw Township, Kayah State, according to a humanitarian group.

Loikaw, the state capital, is largely deserted because of junta airstrikes in early January after clashes broke out between Myanmars regime and resistance groups.

On Friday six civilians killed during junta raids were found in Yeyo village and one was found in Bado village.

The charred bodies of a mother and her son were found in Htungungantha village on Thursday, according to sources.

In Yeyo village, four of the six victims were teenagers dumped in a septic tank. Some of the victims hands were tied and they had been shot, according to villagers.

A member of the Karenni Democratic Front said: They were trapped in the village when junta soldiers arrived. Some of them had their hands tied. We can confirm that they were unarmed civilians.

The victim from Bado appeared to have been tortured in a bathroom, dragged to a pit and shot.

A resident said: Junta troops on January 24-25 were talking about conducting clearance operations. We are afraid we will find many more bodies.

Thousands have been displaced in Loikaw Township during January.

At least 23 bodies have been found in the township. The bodies were badly disfigured. They were being eaten by dogs. They might have been killed four days ago, said a charity worker.

The regime denied killing any civilians in Loikaw, saying its troops only shot back at terrorists. It said it used helicopters because resistance fighters were using civilians as human shields.

On January 16, regime aircraft attacked displacement camps in Hpruso and Demoso townships, killing three civilians including, a seven-year-old girl and three health workers.

Junta troops are still deployed in Loikaw town. Many houses were damaged or burned by artillery strikes and air raids. They are targeting civilians, said a KDF member.

More than 30 civilians were killed and burned in vehicles in Hpruso Township in December.



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Interview Defections and Victories Over Myanmar Junta This Year: NUG Defense Minister

Support for the National Unity Government during an anti-regime protest in 2021. / AFP

U Yee Mon, 54, the defense minister in the parallel National Unity Government (NUG), is a veteran activist who has opposed military rule since the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.

As a third-year medical student from Mandalay, he took part in street protests demanding democracy in 1988, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Later, he joined civil rights movements under his pen name, Maung Tin Thit.

He was elected for the National League for Democracy in Pobbathiri, Naypyitaw, in the 2015 general election and won again in November 2020. He was appointed defense minister when the civilian NUG government was formed.

U Yee Mon talked to The Irrawaddy about arming the peoples defense forces (PDFs), the relationship between PDFs and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), the NUGs foreign relations, the possibility of a mutiny within the military and prospects for the establishment of a federal army.

A nonviolent approach was taken in 1988 so why has the NUG chosen armed struggle this time?

[The British commander] Wellington said during the Napoleonic wars that Napoleon would decide the battle plans and how we fight now is determined by the enemy.

It is the regime that has pushed Myanmars people to take up whatever weapons are available to defend themselves. The NUG is the peoples government and has to stand by the people. It has to provide leadership to the people. It is our duty. This is how we take it.

The NUG has declared war against the regime. Casualties are rising. Some say it is non-compatible with Daw Aung San Suu Kyis nonviolent resistance.

She has embraced the practice of solving political problems through political means or non-violent resistance. It was her favorite problem-solving approach. We also used a nonviolent approach to peacefully solve political problems through political means.

But how did the military respond to peaceful protesters after the February 1 coup? Everyone has witnessed it. Our people expected protection from the international community. But that did not happen and the people decided to root out the terrorist military this time. And so did the NUG.

You told the BBC that you expected changes this year. Neither the PDFs nor ethnic armed organizations appear to match the juntas firepower in terms of artillery and air power. What changes did you mean?

Yes, weaponry is important. But a peoples revolution always starts without any arms. We must remember how well our comrades have fought without proper arms.

We examined fighting in three districts in upper Myanmar in December. A total of 291 enemies died in a month and only 11 of our comrades died. Better weaponry does not always ensure victory.

Our fallen comrades are heroes that served the people. People will always remember and salute them. They will be honored after the revolution succeeds.

For the revolution to succeed we need public support and the people have put their minds and souls into this uprising.

We also need morale and wisdom. Our comrades are demonstrating better morale and wisdom and these factors are the main differences between us and the junta.

Everyone has witnessed how cowardly and unintelligent the junta soldiers are. They are cowardly because they dare not fight without air support. When they fight they cannot defeat the PDFs so they torch villages and arrest, torture and kill innocent civilians. They are brainless so they think they wont be punished for their war crimes. They will all be held accountable by the people.

Some have criticized the NUG for not arming trained PDF volunteers. What difficulties is the NUG facing to arm fighters?

It is a huge challenge to arm all the PDFs. It will cost billions of dollars as there are hundreds of thousands of PDF members. And there are hundreds of thousands more ready to join. But 40 million people are supporting the PDFs. We dont worry much that they dont all have arms. We started the fight with whatever weapons we had.

We now have more finances to arm the PDFs. The NUG has found ways to acquire arms and we expect we will get many of the enemys weapons soon.

Certain EAOs, such as Rakhine, Shan, Wa and Mongla groups, have distanced themselves from the NUG. What is the NUGs stance on them?

All the ethnic armed revolutionary groups detest the dictatorship. They have the same objective as the NUG. We all agree the dictatorship must be eliminated and a genuine federal democratic union should be established.

Mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between the NUG and armed revolutionary groups has grown over time. They are cooperating with the NUG directly or helping us indirectly. We have good relations with them.

Tigyaing PDF [in Sagaing Region] has blown up electricity pylons supplying the Tagaung Taung nickel-processing plant, though it did not target the plant itself. We heard the Chinese Embassy in Yangon has contacted the NUG about it. Is the PDF targeting Chinese interests in Myanmar?

We dont have a policy to attack the investments and interests of our neighboring countries.

We discussed it with China. We said the attack was carried out by Tigyaing PDF on its own volition and the NUG will try to stop similar attacks in the future. But foreign businesses must stay away from junta troops. If possible, they should show they stand with Myanmars people. This is what we suggest.

When the NUG declared war in September, some western diplomats raised objections. Does the armed resistance hurt the NUGs foreign relations?

The international community had concerns when we declared war but those concerns have been largely alleviated today. We have met representatives of foreign countries and they all say they understand the peoples war. We received suggestions from them and they urged us to follow the military code of conduct when defending the people.

We told them that we have adopted a code of conduct and rules of engagement for our troops and we are making sure that the PDFs follow the rules. They believe we will try to build a professional army that complies with a code of conduct.

We heard as many as 2,000 soldiers have defected from the army but we dont see any high-ranking officers among them. Does the NUG have a plan to provide incentives to persuade commanders to defect?

The root cause of our problems is that the military wants to bully the people. We try to make officers and other ranks understand the revolution is a fight to eliminate militarization.

We understand some military personnel love the country and some have intelligence, despite working for the regime. We dont intend to give incentives to them to mobilize their support. We want to build a new nation and armed forces that have new ideologies and beliefs. We will inform them about that. And we urge them to cooperate with the people.

Yes, no high-ranking officer has yet publicly cooperated with the people. We understand that they are waiting for the right time and they are not yet ready to join the people. But sooner or later, more and more military personnel will join the people as the revolution grows.

Some ethnic armed groups publicly accept the PDFs, others keep their ties with the PDFs secret and some distance themselves from the PDF. How strong is the possibility that federal armed forces can be established? Some say the country will break up without military rule and only the military can unify the country.

The regime shouts that it has to stop the nation breaking up but it destroyed the federal system while shouting about the non-disintegration of the union. The military wants to maintain its grip on political power forever.

The federal armed forces we have been calling for are already beginning. Our allied EAOs have helped form PDF battalions. They are led by those with military experience from allied EAOs. Some EAOs are fighting alongside the PDFs. This is the birth of the federal armed forces.

Our country will become a federal democracy once the junta is removed and the new armed forces will be multi-ethnic and protect federal democracy and the people.

What else do you want to say?

We are working to achieve victory for the people this year. We are fighting on our own, with the peoples support. I urge the people not to unclench their fists until the end but give us greater physical and financial support and help.



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Astronomers scanning the cosmic melee for radio waves recently spotted a "strange object" that gives off regular bursts of energy.

Experts from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) noticed that this object lets out powerful burst three times per hour.

Astronomers theorized that this object might be an ultra-long period magnetar.

They called the discovery "spooky" and completely "unexpected."

Unknown Space Object: Neutron Stars

According to lead researcher Natasha Hurley-Walker, "This object was appearing and disappearing over a few hours during our observations. That was completely unexpected. It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because there's nothing known in the sky that does that, and it's really quite close to us - about 4,000 light-years away. It's in our galactic backyard," per Digital Trends.

Astronomers ended up concluding that this might be a long period magnetar.

Note, however, that while its concept exists, researchers have yet to discover one until now.

Hurley-Walker emphasized a magnetar is a "slowly spinning neutron star that has been predicted to exist theoretically. But nobody expected to directly detect one like this because we didn't expect them to be so bright. Somehow it's converting magnetic energy to radio waves much more effectively than anything we've seen before."

Read Also: Radian Aerospace Confirms It's Building a Single-Stage-To-Orbit Spaceplane: The Next Generation of Space Travel?

How to Study Neutron Stars

The magnetar pulses radiation that comes across a wide range of frequencies.

Unfortunately, there is not enough observational data to understand what made these signals.

Researchers noted that studying the magnetar can help them learn more about quantum mechanics and general relativity. Its data might also prove useful in the future.

It is worth mentioning that the object was discovered by Tyrone O'Doherty, a Curtin University honors student supervised by Hurley-Walker.

They discovered the magnetar thru the use of a Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope in Western Australia.

Hurley-Walker encouraged other astronomers situated in the southern hemisphere to observe the phenomenon through powerful telescopes.

She pointed out that more observations from different corners of the world can help them decide whether this magnetar is a one-off phenomenon or a lasting one.

According to Echo, the strange object is officially called GLEAM-XJ162759.5-523504, which is one of the brightest radio sources in the galaxy.

SpaceX Cancels Italian Satellite Launch

On a different topic, space fans might be interested in SpaceX mission to launch an Italian satellite.

This was unfortunately delayed multiple times due to weather conditions.

The flight was originally scheduled last Thursday, Jan. 20.

However, the bad weather continued to extend over the weekends, which forced SpaceX to change its schedules and plans.

For reference, the important cargo that SpaceX is carrying is officially called the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation 2.

This is a satellite capable of providing high-resolution images that can help operators map topographical features, provide security intelligence, search for resources, track shipping, and monitor disasters, forests and agriculture.

Full details for the launch delays are available in this article.



Related Article: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin To Acquire Pioneer Rover Hardware Company Honeybee: How This Could Help Them


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Mavenir, a network software provider with cloud-native software that runs on any cloud, announces a wide portfolio of O-RAN compliant Radio Units (RUs)  expanding the Open RAN radio ecosystem, to provide Communications Service Providers (CSPs) with a wider choice of radios as they progress in rolling out open and interoperable networks.

Mavenir says its OpenBeam is providing CSPs with a comprehensive portfolio of O-RAN compliant radio products spanning micro, macro, millimetre wave (mmWave) and massive MIMO (mMIMO) to support Open RAN deployments in 2022 and beyond.

The OpenBeam radio portfolio covers a wide range of spectrum, both licensed and unlicensed and follows the philosophy of open interfaces and O-RAN 7.2 interface with Open RAN CU/DU products. OpenBeam radios will be available to the Open RAN Ecosystem including vendors, operators, and system integrators, the company said.

Mavenir say that alongside a strong existing ecosystem of partners that Mavenir MAVair Open vRAN interworks with, the new OpenBeam suite provides an innovative and comprehensive radio portfolio that is designed for the growing needs of CSPs with agile, cost-efficient, smart radios to meet critical demands on the network now, and as the network changes and expands.

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The radio solutions can be used for a wide range of use cases, including basic coverage across all frequency bands for enterprise, urban and rural deployment opportunities, the company stated.

The robust set of options address the needs of CSPs to be agile and cost-efficient with low power consumption, low wind load, and are built with integrated intelligence and automation, Mavenir claim.

Designed for the growing needs of private enterprises to public networks, the portfolio supports both new and legacy radio access technologies. All radios have a modular design, using proven technology to support both beamforming and multi-band needs, they say.

We have engaged with customers globally to curate a comprehensive O-RAN portfolio that addresses the needs of both private enterprises as well as traditional communication providers, says Mavenir senior vice president of radio business unit Rajesh Srinivasa.

OpenBeam portfolio covers a wide range of deployment scenarios starting from micro-RUs to 64TR Massive MIMO Radios. OpenBeam radios deliver industry-leading performance and energy efficiency packed in a small footprint.

Mavenir chief executive officer Pardeep Kohli said, With the incredible growth of virtualization and Open RAN, we always believed that the ecosystem had to be accelerated as this is fundamental for the success of the future of networks. Mavenir has been working with many partners in the ecosystem, and we have also injected more direct contributions when it comes to innovative design.

Mavenir is a strong believer in new generation software-based networks which are orchestrated by artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics software and adapt in a dynamic way to the user behaviours and market demands. The intelligent, dynamic and adaptable software, together with strong underlying automation, is what drives innovation in the future of networks.

Mavenir said the OpenBeam radio portfolio will be displayed at Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona on the Mavenir stand in Hall 2, 2H60 from February 28 to March 3.
GUEST OPINION by Pieter DeGunst, Managing Director, Tecala: After struggling through constant lockdowns and disruptions throughout 2021, Australian businesses are determined 2022 will be a much better year. This year well see organisations moving towards living with COVID and forging ahead with their plans for growth.

In most cases, early in the new year is a good time to review the technologies and processes that were put in place when the pandemic first arrived. With many having been deployed in a very short space of time, its worth ensuring they are actually meeting ongoing business requirements.

Six key trends that will shape technology strategies during 2022 are:

The rise of intelligent business practices:

Many businesses may be aware of the concept of process automation projects, however in 2022 they will realise the intrinsic business value of investing in automation capabilities. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has delivered some significant benefits, yet its reallyonly one component of what can be achieved.

The concept of Intelligent Business Practices (IBP) will come to replace straight process automation, further boosting productivity and lowering operational costs. The focus will be on identifying which processes are still holding an organisation back and how they can be streamlined and fully automated.

To achieve this, it is important to examine more than just the RPA tools that might be used. Each business practice needs to be evaluated to ensure it is delivering the most value in the most efficient way possible. Only then should it be automated.

Application integration will continue at speed:

Within most businesses, there remain applications and data sets that operate as silos. Shifting information from one to another tends to require tedious manual steps that are time consuming and increase the chance of mistakes being made.



During 2022, businesses will look to integrate these components to create a more cohesive and efficient infrastructure. For example, integration could allow data to readily flow from a CRM platform into a finance application while also being shared with an HR system. All this can occur in an automated fashion and without human intervention.

The creation of the data steward:

Having access to consistent and reliable data has become a critical requirement in business. Having multiple sources stored in different locations can make it all but impossible to achieve the goal of having a single version of the truth In 2022, growing numbers of businesses will create the role of a data steward whose job it is to ensure data is managed, stored, and provided in a consistent way.They will act as a gatekeeper who ensures that multiple versions of the same data are not created and everyone is working from the same set. As a result, consistency will be significantly improved and strategic decisions will be made on the most accurate and up-to-date data available.

Adoption of AI and ML will accelerate:

To date, much of the discussion around artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has tended to be hypothetical and future focused. People tend to talk more about whether the technology will replace humans in the future rather than what practical applications it has right now.



During 2022, these conversations will change. The focus will shift to examining how the AI and ML tools already on the market can be put to use to add real business value.



Examples include deploying bots that can automatically examine business contracts and alert staff to conditions that might require closer attention. Other tools will be able to automatically match incoming invoices with purchase orders and issue them for approval, significantly streamlining the accounts payable process.



As the capabilities of AI and ML continue to evolve, expect to see more and more opportunities for their deployment.

Security will remain front and centre:

Ongoing high-profile breaches has kept IT security a significant concern for all businesses, and this wont change during 2022. With the threat landscape continuing to evolve, sufficient effort needs to be made to ensure infrastructures are as protected as possible.



During the year, it will be worth undertaking a comprehensive review of all measures currently in place to confirm they are delivering the level of protection required. Security needs to be approached holistically rather than simply by investing in point solutions that try to prevent particular threats.



Some businesses may also consider making use of a managed security services provider. These technology partners offer extensive security experience and can remove much of the complexity of managing measures internally.

Ongoing high-profile breaches has kept IT security a significant concern for all businesses, and this wont change during 2022. With the threat landscape continuing to evolve, sufficient effort needs to be made to ensure infrastructures are as protected as possible. During the year, it will be worth undertaking a comprehensive review of all measures currently in place to confirm they are delivering the level of protection required. Security needs to be approached holistically rather than simply by investing in point solutions that try to prevent particular threats. Some businesses may also consider making use of a managed security services provider. These technology partners offer extensive security experience and can remove much of the complexity of managing measures internally. Work from home moves to work from wherever you are:

The COVID pandemic served to normalise the concept of home working, and this will continue throughout 2022. Many businesses are planning right now what their hybrid model will look like, where staff spend some time in the office and the remainder at home. The important focus should be to ensure your team is productive and efficient no matter which location they are working from on a given day.

While 2021 was marked by uncertainty and disruption, 2022 is expected to be a much better time for Australian businesses. Through being aware of these trends, and taking them into account when formulating plans and strategies, businesses can be best placed to grow during the year ahead.
President Biden said his administration was working flat out to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Amid a flurry of seemingly unproductive talks at the UN, Biden insisted that the U.S. believes it can still deter Russia from invading its neighbor with a mix of carrot and stick talks.

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We continue to engage in non-stop diplomacy to deescalate tensions in and attempt like the devil to improve security for our allies and partners and for all of Europe, Biden said on Monday.

President Joe Biden removes his protective face mask before speaking during a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. D.C. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AP)

We are ready no matter what happens, Biden said.

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Biden spoke briefly about the standoff in eastern Europe ahead of a meeting with the emir of Qatar, a key U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf region.

The promise to keep seeking a solution to the mushrooming crisis came as the two nations traded barbs at the UN during a stormy UN Security Council debate.

Qatar could be asked to increase natural gas production if a war between Russia and Ukraine leads to a disruption of supplies to western Europe during the peak winter heating season.

Its role in the standoff with Russia spotlights the importance of the U.S. alliance with the tiny Gulf nation.

Biden promised the emir that he would name Qatar a major non-NATO ally, an upgrade in ties with the U.S.

Qatar is a good friend and reliable and capable partner, Biden said. Its long overdue.
Zoleo through this partnership, they want customers to get involved in global reforestation. For every subscription activation, the company will donate US$1 to One Tree Planted to shoulder the cost of planting a new tree. The trees are planted by local partner organisations and community volunteers in areas where there has been deforestation and disaster.

Reforestation is a cause that is close to our hearts. After experiencing the tragic Australian bushfires in 2020, one of the worst wildfire disasters in modern history, supporting the regrowth of our precious forests means a lot to our organisation, says Zoleo vice president and Beam managing director Michael Capocchi.

Zoleo hopes to benefit the communities it serves. It will help create habit corridors for Koalas in Australia, promote biodiversity, and restore areas affected by bushfire.

In New Zealand, it will help restore the islands indigenous forests and create habitat for wildlife, prevent erosion, and protect local watersheds.



In the United States, its support for the National Forests program will help create habitat for biodiversity, reforest public land, and preserve cultural landscapes. And in Canada, it will help restore and expand forests, recover areas affected by large-scale wildfires, protect critical watersheds and rebuild habitats for wildlife, and will combat climate change and global warming.



The reforestation projects supported by the use of Zoleo devices will create a lasting environmental benefit for the health of our forests, says One Tree Planted marketing director Diana Chaplin.



At Zoleo, the outdoors is at the core of our community. From US to Australia, our users travel the globe with their Zoleos in tow to stay connected with friends and family as they discover the beauty of nature, comments Zoleo and Roadpost president Morris Shawn.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 28 January 2022.
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.
Press Release

January 31, 2022 14 fish hatcheries to rise as Senate passes bills The Senate on Monday, January 31, 2022, approved on third and final reading 14 bills seeking the establishment of marine hatcheries in 12 provinces. With a vote of 21-0-0, the Senate passed local bills seeking the establishment of marine hatcheries in different parts of the country, namely, House Bill No. (HBN) 7435 (Libon, Albay); HBN 7544 (Sta. Lucia, Puerto Princesa, Palawan); HBN 7547 (Batad, Iloilo); HBN 7691 (Basilisa, Dinagat Islands); HBN 9933 (Calbayog, Samar); HBN 9934 (San Jose, Northern Samar); HBN 9935 (Samal, Davao del Norte); HBN 9936 (Basey, Samar); HBN 9937 (Carmen and Braulio E. Dujati, Davao del Norte); HBN 9938 (Bombon, Camarines Sur); HBN 9939 (Tibiao, Antique); HBN 9940 (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro); HBN 9941 (Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija; and HBN 9942 (Bagac, Bataan). Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform and sponsor of the measures, stressed the importance of multi-species marine hatcheries in ensuring sustainable supply of marine products. "We have a lot of catching up to do to support our fishing industry. Otherwise, we will compromise our food security. The hatcheries shall help solve the problem of dwindling fish supply in our country and secure the livelihood of small fishermen in the municipal waters," Villar said. Villar noted that fisheries in the Philippines make a significant contribution to the national economy in terms of income and employment. In 2018, the total fish production was estimated at 4.61 million metric tons and the fisheries sector contributed US$4.9 billion to the country's economy in 2018. However, Villar added, compared to other Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines is only No. 4 in marine capture after Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar; No. 5 in inland municipal water fishery output compared to Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam; and No. 3 with regard to aqua culture production after Indonesia and Vietnam. "The building of more hatchery facilities to improve the country's fish farming capability is one of the long-term solutions to improve productivity. The country's traditional fishing grounds are getting overfished and the government needs to create breeding grounds and hatcheries to help arrest the dwindling fish stock," Villar added. Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri, Sens. Sonny Angara, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Joel Villanueva were made co-sponsors of House Bill Nos. 7691, 9934, 9935, 9936, 9937, 9938, 9939, 9940, 9941, and 9942. All senators present during the passage on second reading of House Bill Nos. 7435, 7544, and 7547 were made co-sponsors of the bills.
The New York Legislature on Sunday released a proposed revision to the states congressional map that could benefit Democrats after a bipartisan commission created for the once-a-decade redrawing folded last week without reaching consensus.

The preliminary map from Democratic-controlled Albany drew prompt accusations of gerrymandering, the act of drawing districts for partisan aims. The proposal would give the Democratic Party an advantage in 22 of the states 26 congressional districts.

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Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) (Richard Drew/AP)

Democrats currently hold 19 of the states 27 seats in the House. New York is due to lose one seat after the 2022 election because of national population shifts.

The state had about 2.34 registered Democrats for every registered Republican last year, according to Board of Elections records. The map appears to give Democrats a shot at a five-to-one majority in the congressional delegation.

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New York State Capitol in Albany, New York. (HANS PENNINK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In the proposal, the 11th Congressional District, represented by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-S.I., Brooklyn), would take a bite of brownstone Brooklyn that would turn its voter profile blue.

Rob Ryan, a spokesman for Malliotakis, issued a statement attacking the proposal as a blatant attempt by the Democrat leadership in Albany to steal this seat.

They know Congresswoman Malliotakis is popular and they cant beat her on the merits or public policy, so they are changing the boundaries to tilt the scale, Ryan said in the statement.

The 1st Congressional District, located on Long Island, would likewise tilt in a Democratic direction, carving a path further west. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican who is running for governor, currently holds that districts House seat.

Dave Wasserman, an analyst with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, tweeted that the map was brutal for Republicans. The map could have national ramifications: Democrats are clinging to a 10-seat advantage in the 435-seat chamber.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) (SUSAN WALSH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Richard Briffault, a law professor at Columbia University and an analyst on gerrymandering, said that it was unfortunate that the bipartisan effort collapsed amid partisan bickering.

Rather than creating a single bipartisan proposal, the 10-member commission sent a pair of competing maps  one from Democrats, one from Republicans  to the Legislature. Lawmakers rejected both.

Briffault cautioned that the redraw remains in its early stages and that eyeballing the controversial chart wont provide a full accounting of all considerations, like holding ethnic groups together. Legal challenges are expected.

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Until somebody actually does all the statistical work, its actually hard to know exactly what to say about them, Briffault said of the maps.

The Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment released a two-page population breakdown for the new districts with racial demographic data. Experts were beginning to analyze the potential districts.

But Republican leadership offered damning appraisals of the proposal.

These maps are the most brazen and outrageous attempt at rigging the election to keep Nancy Pelosi as speaker, Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York Republican Party, said in a tweet.

He wrote that Democrats were making phony protestations about transparency and fairness in elections while simultaneously pursuing textbook-filthy, partisan gerrymandering.

Lawmakers are expected to make an initial vote on the congressional map this week. They face pressure to finalize the map by the end of February, before the start of the election calendar for the next cycle.

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It was not clear if the map would have much of an impact on many Democratic primary races for Congress. But it threatened to hamper a campaign by a progressive activist in Queens, Rana Abdelhamid, who is attempting to topple Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

Maloney, a Democrat, represents the 12th District, which covers parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The map would shift her district further into Manhattan.

We have always run this campaign expecting that the district would be redrawn, Abdelhamid said in a statement. We have planned for this, and we are still on track to win.

Proposed maps for state Assembly and Senate districts are also expected this week.

The voters of the state, I think, were hoping for a reform of the redistricting process, and it doesnt seem like the end result is much of a reform, said Steven Romalewski, director of the mapping service at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Theres this phrase that people use  that redistricting should not be about elected officials choosing their voters, but the other way around, Romalewski said. And its gone back full circle to elected officials choosing their voters.

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With Michael McAuliff




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Ballad Health reported another record number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, surpassing the previous high set last week.

As of Monday the hospital system was treating 443 people hospitalized with the virus, breaking Thursdays reported record of 436. Mondays total is up 21 from Friday. Of those hospitalized, 91 were in intensive care  the most since Sept. 30. Fifty-nine people were on ventilators. Six children were also hospitalized.

After setting a record for inpatients last week, Ballad officials expressed cautious optimism in a press conference on Thursday that the worst may be behind them, noting that the number of people testing positive at their testing sites was down for four days before rising mid-week last week. Ballads in-house modeling also projected hospitalizations would peak last week before beginning a slow, steady decline  remaining above 400 inpatients for several days and above 300 until March.

Based on the number of admissions and discharges reported Monday, it appears the system saw an increase in people hospitalized with the virus over the weekend, having reported a net increase of just two inpatients on Monday. According to Ballads data scorecard, the system admitted 70 people and discharged 68 in the past 24 hours.

Northeast Tennessee has seen record levels of infections in recent weeks, with Ballad reporting more than 15,400 infections across its 21-county service the week ending on Jan. 22  nearly double the most reported in a week during the height of the delta surge.

With hospitalizations at record levels, Ballad announced last week it would be allowing certain COVID-positive employees to keep working if they were either asymptomatic or if they were fever-free for 24 hours without the help of medication and their symptoms were improving. A fourth suspension of elective surgeries is unlikely, but could be a possibility if hospitalizations continue rising.

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This time, weve made a decision that were not going to defer elective surgeries if we can avoid it, Ballad CEO Alan Levine said last week.

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 noted that the Tennessee Hospital Association has had conversations with the health department and governors office.

Levine said last week, however, that there hasnt been anything communicated to us that there will be another executive order.

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UNITED NATIONS  Russia accused the West on Monday of whipping up tensions over Ukraine and said the U.S. had brought pure Nazis to power in Kiev as the UN Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscows troop buildup near its southern neighbor.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield shot back that Russias growing military force of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders was the largest mobilization in Europe in decades, adding there has been a spike in cyberattacks and Russian disinformation.

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And they are attempting, without any factual basis, to paint Ukraine and Western countries as the aggressors to fabricate a pretext for attack, she said.

The United Nations Security Council votes to hold a meeting, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP)

The harsh exchanges in the Security Council came as Moscow lost an attempt to block the meeting and reflected the gulf between the two nuclear powers. It was the first open session where all protagonists in the Ukraine crisis spoke publicly, even though the UNs most powerful body took no action.

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Although more high-level diplomacy is expected this week, talks between the U.S. and Russia have so far failed to ease tensions in the crisis, with the West saying Moscow is preparing for an invasion. Russia denies it is planning to attack. It demands pledges that Ukraine will never join NATO, a halt to the deployment of NATO weapons near Russian borders, and a rollback of the alliances forces from Eastern Europe. NATO and the U.S. call those nonstarters.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the Biden administration of whipping up tensions and rhetoric and provoking escalation.

Ukrainian soldiers examine their tanks at a military unit close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (Andrew Marienko/AP)

You are almost pulling for this, he said, looking at Thomas-Greenfield. You want it to happen. Youre waiting for it to happen, as if you want to make your words become a reality.

He blamed the U.S. for the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kiev, saying it brought to power nationalists, radicals, Russophobes and pure Nazis, and created the antagonism that exists between Ukraine and Russia.

If they hadnt done this, then we to date would be living in a spirit of good neighborly relations and mutual cooperation, Nebenzia said. However, some in the West just dont clearly like this positive scenario. Whats happening today is yet another attempt to drive a wedge between Russia and Ukraine.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, addresses the United Nations Security Council, before a vote, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP)

Nebenzia pointedly left the council chamber as the Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya started to speak. How long Russia will pressure, will pursue a clear attempt to push Ukraine and its partners into a Kafka trap? Kyslytsva asked.

The vote on holding an open meeting passed 10-2, with Russia and China opposed, and India, Gabon and Kenya abstaining. The vote needed nine votes to be approved.

President Biden said in a statement that the meeting was a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice to reject the use of force, seek military deescalation, support diplomacy and demand accountability from every member to refrain from military aggression against its neighbors.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with Zelenskyy, and will also speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to step back, Johnsons office said. Johnson says he is considering sending hundreds of British troops to NATO countries in the Baltic region as a show of strength.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya addresses the United Nations Security Council, before a vote, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP)

Any formal action by the Security Council is extremely unlikely, given Russias veto power and its ties with others on the council, including China.

On Friday, Chinas UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said both sides have shown a willingness to continue negotiations and should be allowed to continue.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the administration was encouraged by the bipartisan effort in Congress that was about to hold Russia accountable. The administration has previously expressed concern that preemptive sanctions could diminish their leverage on Russia, but the White House sounded warmer to the prospect as the Foreign Relations Committee moves to act.

Our view is that sanctions can be an effective tool of deterrence, and the deepening selloff in Russian markets reflects our message to Russia, Psaki said
Weather Alert

The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Cherokee County in southeastern Kansas... Barton County in southwestern Missouri... Jasper County in southwestern Missouri... Newton County in southwestern Missouri... * Until 345 AM CDT Thursday. * At 939 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Joplin, Carthage, Neosho, Lamar, Baxter Springs, Columbus, Webb City and Carl Junction. This includes the following low water crossings... Center Creek at Azalea Drive, North Indian Creek at Orchid Drive, East Fork Dry Wood Creek at NW 110th Lane, Dry Fork at Pine Road and Fidelity Branch at County Road 130. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Many flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. && FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
Nicola Coughlan is asking people to keep comments about her body to themselves.

The Bridgerton star took to social media Sunday to share her feelings about reading online comments regarding her physical appearance.

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(L to R) Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, and Claudia Jessie as Eloise in an episode of 'Bridgerton.' (LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)

So just a thing  if you have an opinion about my body please, please dont share it with me, she wrote on Instagram to her 1.2 million fans. Most people are being nice and not trying to be offensive but I am just one real-life human being and its really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look being sent directly to you every day.

The 35-year-old Irish actress, who gained fame on the UK television series Derry Girls, portrays Penelope Featherington on the popular Regency-era drama series Bridgerton.

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While she recognizes that its the nature of the beast for public figures to be under scrutiny, she has no desire to have feedback sent directly to her.

If you have an opinion about me thats ok, I understand Im on TV and that people will have things to think and say but I beg you not to send it to me directly, Coughlan, who stands at 5-foot-1, continued.

Nicola Coughlan attends the 'Derry Girls' photocall during the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2019 at BFI Southbank on April 14, 2019 in London, England. (Jeff Spicer/Getty)

Her umbrage dates back to her 2018 role as gay college student Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls.

It was wild, because I was size 10 filming series one and I got called the big one, Coughlan said. I was, like, Are you serious? Im not this gigantic sumo wrestler, and even if I were, would it matter? Would it be relevant?
CELEBRATION  For a chilly Monday during a pandemic, foot traffic in Celebrations Town Center is pretty brisk. Most of the tables at the Cornerstore Deli & Market on Market Street are full of people eating and discussing their plans for the day.

Its a popular town for tourists to come, says Grace Pistilli, a manager since Cornerstone opened in 2020. The proximity to Disney is amazing. But we still get our locals, too.

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Diners enjoy a cool January afternoon outside the Cornerstone Market on Market Street in Downtown Celebration on Monday, January 24, 2022. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel) (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

Celebration, the Osceola County master-planned community built by Disney, was conceived of for scenes such as this: couples strolling the boardwalk around Lake Rianhard, workers coming to the Town Center on their lunch breaks. Its a vision of bygone communities that many Americans wouldnt recognize.

I love the town, Pistilli says, a resident since 2011. I love the walking-distance restaurants at our fingertips. Shopping, I think I own every sweatshirt color that they have.

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More than 25 years after its opening, Celebration has kept its crime rate low and its property values high. But residents say they are feeling encroachment from curious tourists, other Osceola residents and development along the nearby tourist strip of U.S. Highway 192.

That was a lie

The mythical history of Celebration goes something like this: When he conceived of Disney World, Walt Disney wanted to include a utopian town, where 20,000 people would live, work and play, according to a film presentation Disney made to sell the state on the idea. Market forces put plans on hold and the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow eventually became Epcot.

The storys happy ending is that the development plans were revived in the 1990s, and Celebration became the realization of Walts dream.

They didnt want a city, said Richard Foglesong, author of Married to the Mouse about the creation of Disney World. I can say that with great confidence. That was a lie.

Foglesong turned up a document, drawn up by a lawyer and edited by Walt himself, that rejected permanent residents. Disneys concern was that residents would eventually gain voting control of the entire resort property.

But Disney did want the powers of a town and had to convince the Legislature to grant it.

In order to exercise planning and zoning authority, only a municipal government could do that, Foglesong said. That meant convincing the state they were building a city. They had to say something they never intended to do.

A sense of place

The real origins of Celebration, Foglesong said, came in the early 1980s. Oil tycoons the Bass Brothers, the largest Disney shareholders, were looking to get into land development, and Disneys holdings in Osceola were sitting fallow.

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New CEO Michael Eisner saw this as an opportunity to showcase an emerging theory of city planning called New Urbanism. He was a fan of cutting-edge architecture, Foglesong said.

Celebration Market Street, pictured on Monday, January 24, 2022, runs through the center of the downtown shopping and dining district of the Disney built community in Osceola County. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel) (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

New Urbanism was created by city planners to get away from the automobile-centric subdivisions of post-war America. It focuses on pedestrian-oriented development, with central commercial districts and a mix of housing types from apartments and townhomes to larger single-family homes.

Disney brought in New York architect Robert A.M. Stern for the design, and created The Celebration Company to manage the building of the community.

Another principle of New Urbanism is a uniformity of design, making each building look related to those around it. To that end, Celebration offered a preset selection of home styles for builders and buyers to choose from: Classical, Coastal, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, French, Mediterranean and Victorian.

Instead of big yards around sprawling ranch houses, homes were built close to each other and the sidewalk, with an emphasis on front porches.

Life revolved around what was going on in this community, said longtime resident Jim Siegel. As people were walking around in the day  theyd see people sitting on their porches and stop and chat. The pace of life at that time was pretty slow.

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The developers also dictated the types of landscaping, with a focus on Florida Friendly plants. That and the architectural uniformity engender what New Urbanists call a sense of place, making Celebration feel memorable and unique.

AdventHealth, then Florida Hospital, built a large campus, becoming the largest employer. The Town Center attracted restaurants, shops and a movie theater. The intention was that everything you needed would be in the town, Siegel said.

Because of its unique layout and its Disney connection, Celebration attracted nationwide attention before its opening.

I remember reading an article in the Wall St. Journal that said Disney was building a town, Siegel said, who was living in Michigan in the 1990s when development got underway.

Siegel said the first time he set foot in the town, I thought I was on a movie set.

A real boy

Despite a sign along Celebration Avenue that says Town of Celebration, the community has never incorporated. Though it was de-annexed from Disney to avoid conflicts over resident control, it is run as a Community Development District, a designation from the state without full municipal powers.

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It also doesnt have a dedicated police force and other services, relying instead on Osceola County.

Celebration Fountain sits in a small green space at entrance to Market Street in Downtown Celebration. Monday, January 24, 2022. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel) (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

Celebration could have incorporated after 20 years, but that has never happened. The rallying cry for people who want [to incorporate] is, Its time for Pinocchio to become a real boy, said former CDD board member John Gebhardt.

A retired Wall Street professional, Gebhardt moved to Celebration in 2003. What attracted my wife and I to Celebration was that it was a real community, he said. It wasnt just a subdivision.

While the CDD handles maintenance and rules for public spaces, most commercial interests in the town are governed by the Enterprise Community Development District, a five-member board elected by The Celebration Company, keeping Disneys fingers in the Celebration pie.

Low crime, high values

Today, Celebration is home to 11,178 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, spread among 4,350 homes and 1,673 apartments.

A new development, Island Village, is under construction on the west side of town. With 1,000 new homes and 300 new apartments, officials say it will be the final residential parcel in Celebration.

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Siegel, who has lived in the community since 2003, says that he likes most of the ways in which the town has adjusted over the years. A freelance journalist and photographer, he notes improvements such as the library, which used to be a single room near a community pool. The county built a real one a few years ago.

It is a safe place. According to the website AreaVibes.com, which ranks community livability, Celebrations crime rate is 68% below the national average.

From a real estate perspective, Celebration home values are some of the best in Central Florida.

In the past year, the annual median home price rose from $295,000 to $368,000, according to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association. Thats also more than $50,000 above the median for metro Orlando as a whole.

New home construction is underway in Celebration Island village on Monday January 24, 2022. The homes are pat of the newest expansion of the community originally built by the Walt Disney Company in Osceola County. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel) (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

Celebration works well enough that other developers have looked to it as a model for their own master-planned communities. When Tom Monaghan of Dominos Pizza set out to build the town of Ave Maria near Fort Myers, Siegel was brought in to write a paper on what made Celebration so great.

But restrictive building plans mean it doesnt have everything people want. Gebhardt, 75, said his feelings toward Celebration are absolutely positive, and yet he moved into Bay Hill Village in Orlando last year.

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Gebhardt says that as he and his wife got older, they wanted a 3,000 square-foot single-story home with an attached two-car garage, the kind of home Celebrations rules would never allow.

We would have stayed in Celebration if we could have found what we wanted, Gebhardt said.

Overrun with visitors

The movie theater closed 10 years ago, giving residents less to do. But Siegel says the biggest changes are less tangible.

Theres not as much neighborhood kind of involvement or cohesiveness anymore, he said. If I can put it bluntly, the town is overrun by tourists  and by people in the surrounding area looking for something to do.

Across Highway 192 is a vacation property known as Vacation Village. It advertises the nearness of Celebration as a reason to buy.

When Vacation Village is full, so is the Town Center, Gebhardt said. I think their growth has fueled a lot of the appearance of growth in Celebration, he said.

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Traffic has also become a problem during the school year. Students from across the county attend the high school, which offers one of only two International Baccalaureate programs in Osceola.

Siegel says Celebration parents are reluctant to let their children walk to school as was intended.

As a consequence, the traffic is awful at the beginning of the day and when parents come to pick up their kids, he said. I dont think theyve figured out a way to deal with that.

The Town Center could not survive without outsiders coming in, Pistilli said.

I would think every business in the Orlando area needs the tourists, he said.

Want to reach out? Email tfraser@orlandosentinel.com. Follow TIFraserOS on Twitter.
For more than a year, Belgiums special commission on the colonial past has been working on its mission, which is to clarify the grey areas of colonial history and try to find out how the violence of colonization still creates suffering today. This mission has been welcomed everywhere. For the first time, a European state wants to face up to its entire colonial past, acknowledge its wrongs, apologize, make reparation, and compensate. However, after mandating ten experts to outline Belgiums colonial history and suggest avenues for reconciliation, the commission does not seem to know where to start. While it still seems to be searching for a working method, two historians among the ten experts that wrote the initial report have expressed doubts publicly about the results of this parliamentary work.

Anne Wetsi Mpoma and Gillian Mathys participated on January 19 in a debate entitled After colonization: seeking truth and reparation. The event was organized by the Africa Museum in Tervuren, and moderated by writer David Van Reybrouck, author of Congo: A History. It was also attended by Nanette Snoep, director of the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum in Germany.

For an hour and a half, the four specialists discussed the content of the experts report, the conditions under which it was prepared, its weaknesses and its usefulness.

Need for a cultural community centre

Mathys, historian and researcher at Ghent University, thinks there wasnt enough time to produce a more complete and well-crafted report. We never got to see the latest version of the report and the text is not very accessible to a wide audience, she says. For historians, there is nothing new in this document. Weve synthesized whats already there. But for the public, I think the element that stands out the most is the structural violence that existed during and after Leopold II, the Belgian king who personally acquired the Congo in 1885.

According to Mpoma, a member of Bamko, a centre for reflection and action on black racism, the most urgent recommendation for reconciliation and reparations should be creation of a cultural community centre, ideally in Brussels. It would serve to organize meetings, debates, exhibitions, healing rituals, and house some of the despoiled heritage there, she says. I am convinced, as an art historian, of the power of culture to change mentalities.

Lack of access to archives

The two historians are especially sceptical about the commissions chances of achieving concrete results. Im a bit worried that it will stop when it comes to establishing responsibilities, says Mathys. We need structural changes, says Mpoma. The risk of nothing concrete coming out of this is more than real. Just the word consultation [the commission asked the experts to consult four diaspora representatives in preparing their report] is patronizing, she says.

I dont think this is a body that will lead to decolonization, says Mathys. The commissioners want to do this exercise, but do they want to address structural change? This is an institution that is not designed to do that. Take, for example, the recommendations that were made after the Lumumba Commission [a parliamentary commission of inquiry, completed in 2001, into the assassination of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in 1961] which were never followed up. Lets hope that this will not happen again with this commission. To repair is also to change.

Another bad sign, according to the speakers, is the commissions partial and conditional access to colonial archives. Some of these archives are still classified. This is a problem for a commission that wants to shed light on the colonial past. Belgian researchers can obtain an exemption to have access to classified documents, but not Congolese, Rwandan or Burundian researchers, explained the participants.

Lack of concrete action

Since the submission of the experts report in October, the special commission has made little progress. It has heard from some representatives of the diaspora and psychologist An Michiels on how to interview victims of serious crimes. It has just published an appeal to the diaspora, civil society and interlocutors in Belgium, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi asking on what issues they wish to be heard. It has also launched a call for two or three experts for the continuation of its work. The methodology that it published, with an overview of the planned work, is not well substantiated and does not allow for a concrete understanding of how its mission will unfold.

Given both doubts about whether it will achieve real change and expectations of concrete action with a clear vision, the commission on Belgiums colonial past runs the risk of tiring out the interest of the public and all those  researchers, members of the diaspora and victims of racism  who expect a lot from it.
UN investigators said Monday that more than a thousand people may have been killed in crimes against humanity and war crimes since Myanmars military coup one year ago.

The United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), charged with collecting evidence of the most serious international crimes, said it was working to substantiate who may be responsible for any crimes committed.

Tragically, reports received over the last year suggest that well over a thousand individuals have been killed in circumstances that may qualify as crimes against humanity or war crimes, IIMM head Nicholas Koumjian said in a statement.

Myanmars military seized power on February 1 last year, ousting the civilian government and arresting its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The junta has waged a bloody crackdown on dissent.

The UN Human Rights Office says that since the coup, at least 1,500 people have been killed by the military in a brutal effort to crush dissent, while thousands more would have been killed in the wider armed conflict and violence.

The security forces have detained thousands of civilians in circumstances that include credible allegations of arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence and even killings while in detention, Koumjian said.

The Mechanism is working diligently to substantiate and document the facts underlying these reports to establish whether these crimes were committed and if so, who is criminally responsible, and to prepare files that could facilitate prosecutions.

 Long memory of justice 

He said that with thousands of people and organisations sharing evidence, investigators had already gathered lots of relevant material and the file was growing almost daily.

The team will make every effort to build cases so that their brave contributions to justice in Myanmar are not made in vain, Koumjian said.

The US prosecutor said strong case files could facilitate prosecutions in national and international courts.

Those who are considering committing crimes should be aware that serious international crimes have no statute of limitations, Koumjian warned.

International justice has a very long memory and one day the perpetrators of the most serious international crimes in Myanmar will be held to account.

The IIMM was established by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2018 to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law and prepare files for criminal prosecution committed since 2011.

Located in Geneva, it started work in August 2019 and reports annually to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
The United States, Britain and Canada unveiled coordinated sanctions on Myanmar officials Monday as the junta leveled fresh charges against Aung San Suu Kyi, one year after ousting her in a coup.

Suu Kyi, 76, has been detained since the February 1 coup last year that triggered mass protests and a crackdown on dissent with more than 1,500 civilians killed, according to a local monitoring group.

The military junta has now charged her with influencing election officials during 2020 polls, a source said, on top of previous charges, including violating the countrys official secrets laws.

If convicted of all charges, the Nobel laureate could face sentences tallying more than 100 years in prison.

Ahead of the Tuesday anniversary of the putsch, the junta warned that holding protests or sharing propaganda against the military could lead to charges under the anti-terrorism law.

The United States marked one year since the coup by placing sanctions on Attorney General Thida Oo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Tin Oo, whom it said were closely involved in the politically motivated prosecution of Suu Kyi.

We are coordinating these actions with the United Kingdom and Canada to further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the regime, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The United States will continue to address human rights abuses and press the regime to cease the violence, release all those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and restore Burmas path to democracy, he added, using Myanmars former name.

The junta canceled the results of the 2020 election in July last year, saying it had found some 11.3 million instances of fraud.

Independent monitors said the polls were largely free and fair.

The junta has promised to hold another election by August 2023 if stability in the country  currently riven by clashes between the military and anti-coup fighters  is restored.

 Another trial for Suu Kyi 

Suu Kyi has already been sentenced to six years in jail for illegally importing and owning walkie talkies, incitement against the military and breaking Covid-19 rules.

She will face a further trial on charges of influencing the countrys election commission during the 2020 polls that saw her National League for Democracy (NLD) party defeat a military-aligned rival, a source with knowledge of the case said.

The case is expected to be wrapped up within six months. Former president and NLD stalwart Win Myint will face the same charge.

On Monday, ousted Myanmar lawmakers from a shadow National Unity Government addressed the media in Paris.

Human rights spokesman Aung Myo Min urged the international community to implement an arms embargo and tighten economic sanctions to cut off all trade with the regime.

United Nations investigators also released a statement, saying that more than 1,000 people may have been killed in crimes against humanity and war crimes since the coup.

One day the perpetrators of the most serious international crimes in Myanmar will be held to account, vowed investigation head Nicholas Koumjian.

UN special envoy Noeleen Heyzer called for a humanitarian pause in violence to allow for delivery of aid, warning that hundreds of thousands of people had been misplaced by conflict.

Following the US lead, Britain imposed sanctions against Thida Oo, Tin Oo and a third person, the chair of the countrys election commission.

The Burmese military are using ever more brutal and desperate tactics to try to cling on to power, said Anna Roberts, head of Burma Campaign UK, welcoming the fresh sanctions.

The British government is doing exactly the right thing however, they need to speed up the pace of new sanctions. It is vital to maximize pressure now while the military are more vulnerable.

The Canadian government imposed similar new sanctions, saying the military regime had shown no sign of reversing course over the past year.
"Bulgasal: Immortal Souls" episode 13 highlights Lee Jin Wook's intense hatred against Lee Joon. Moreover, the thirteenth episode also featured how Kwon Nara recalls her past but shows conflicting memories from Lee Jin Wook.

'Bulgasal: Immortal Souls' Episode 13 Recap: Min Sang Un Recalls Her Past

The episode begins with Min Sang Un experiencing recollection of the past but seeing a different side of Dan Hwal.

In "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls" episode 13, she saw how her past life harbors intense resentment against Dan Hwal, who was covered in blood and standing near a pile of dead bodies.

However, Hwal explained a different scenario. He said that it was her who was standing near the dead bodies and was drenched in blood.

This spurred fear and doubt about her identity and affected seeing the present Dan Hwal.

Surprisingly, Min Si Ho tells her sister that she shouldn't dig into her past and tells her about her vision.

It came after the young Ms. Lee tells Kim Hwa Yeon, who was Min Sang Un in her past life, not to uncover her past as it will only bring chaos to everyone.

Ok Eul Tae Gets Major Advantage Over Dan Hwal

Detective Kwon Ho Yeol volunteered to investigate Ok Eul Tae's activities, saying that he needs to look after MIn Sang Un, Shi Ho and the rest as they knew that the Dark Hole is after them.

He used his connection and asked his former junior, Captain Ham about intel regarding Ok Eul Tae and the farm's caretaker at Mount Dongbu.

Unfortunately, Captain Ham didn't accept his favor and went to his new task. Little did he know that it will be related to what Kwon Ho Yeol was investigating.

Meanwhile, Ok Eul Tae used his connection to get Shi Ho and Nam Do Yoon because he knew that Dan Hwal and Min Sang Un would be coming after them.

Interestingly, he specifically requested Captain Ham to join, hinting that Ok Eul Tae knew him from the past.

The duo alongside Ms. Lee was brought into a safe house somewhere in Mount Dongbu.

Here, Ok Eul Tae introduced his men and instructed them to kill Shi Ho; however, it was Ms. Lee who died after defending Shi Ho and Do Yoon.

It was Ok Eul Tae who murdered her after she spoke about the evil spirits and the Dark Hole.

As Dan Hwal and Min Sang Un arrived at the scene, they saw detective Kwon Ho Yeol, who was badly beaten and apologized for not being able to protect Shi Ho, Do Yoon and Ms. Lee.

Everyone could feel Dan Hwal's rage after seeing Shi Ho and Do Yoon gone.

Fortunately, Min Sang Un prevented him from killing the police, especially Captain Ham.

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
"Snowdrop" episode 14 just gets darker and much more intense as betrayal doesn't only surround the weak, but also targets the blood. The already strained relationship betweenestranged father and daughter Eun Young Ro and Eun Chang Soo becomes more terminal. Will it be the end for Young Ro and Su Ho?

'Snowdrop' Episode 14: Life-Threatening War Between North and South Continues

In "Snowdrop" episode 14, Im Su Ho and Lee Kang Mu (Jang Seung Jo) aim their guns at each other. Su Ho receives a strict order to kill the hostages along with himself; however, Kang Mu is ordered to arrest all the agents after the presidential campaign is over.

Nam Tae Il (Park Sung Woong) orders Su Ho to execute his hostages in exchange for $300 million.

On the other hand, Ahn Gyung Hee (Lee Hwa Ryung) and his wife, Choi Mi Hye (Baek Ji Won), stealthily steal $300 million from the Ministry of National Security to give the money to Linda, a foreign fund manager who transfers it into a Swiss bank account.

Kye Boon Ok (Kim Hye Yoon) reveals Kang Cheong Ya (Yoo In Na) is a spy, and she aims to capture her to destroy Nam Tae Il. Cheong Ya barely escapes with the help of Jung Ha Na (Jung Yu Jin), but later on betrays her.

Eun Young Ro Becomes Hosoo Women's University Dormitory's Sacrificial Lamb

Eun Young Ro (BLACKPINK Jisoo), who is the hostage who helped Su Ho in the first place, reveals her true identity to her fellow hostages.

The dormitory students feel betrayed, and criticize her by pouring out the dirty laundry of the Ministry of National Security.

Even Seol Hee (Choi Hee Jin), Young Ro's friend and roommate, leaves and ignores her. Eun Chang Soo (Heo Jun Ho) uses his powers to manipulate Su Ho, offering him an out. He tells Su Ho that he will bomb the dormitory after the hostages escape, and notify the media that the spies are dead.

After hearing his proposal, Su Ho, Young Ro, Kang Mu and Ms. Pi (Yoon Se Ah), who heard everything, was troubled. Doubts arise and because of this, Young Ro sacrifices herself by choosing to accompany Su Ho in the getaway vehicle.

Is Blood Really Thicker Than Water?

Angered with Young Ro whom he is trying to protect, Eun Chang Soo breaks his promise to his daughter, bombing the dormitory immediately despite their negotiation.

Young Ro holds Su Ho's hands until the end, saving each other from the bomb's dangerous impact.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THIS: 'Snowdrop' Behind-the-Scenes Video Captures Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK Jisoo's Chemistry During Their Kissing Scene

Moreover, Cheong Ya, who steals $300 million funds from the Ministry of National Security heightens tension. Nam Tae Il, who is tasked with the negotiation with the spies, is arrested.

What are your thoughts on Eun Young Ro's father decision? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Zombie-themed K-drama "All of Us Are Dead" occupied Netflix's no. 1 spot in various countries during its first day of release.

Read on for more details.

Netflix's 'All of Us Are Dead' is The Fourth K-Drama to Reach No. 1 in Global Rankings

After its much-anticipated premiere, "All of Us Are Dead," starring rising stars Park Solomon, Choi Yi Hyun, Park Ji Hoo, Chan Young Yoon, Yoo In Soo, and Lee Yu Mi, impressively topped Netflix's chart in 25 countries after its release last January 28.

On January 30, "All of Us Are Dead" ranked first in the world's top 10 in Netflix TV programs. It is the fourth work to reach the top rankings worldwide, following "Squid Game," "Hellbound," and "Arcane."

In addition, the new Korean drama dominated countries South Korea, Germany, Turkey, Brazil, France, Saudi Arabia. It also ranked second in the countries Australia, Czech Republic, Belgium, and India.

The intense and electrifying zombie apocalyptic K-series is another proof that South Korea is one of the leading powerhouses that can dominate the world through online streaming platform, Netflix.

"All of Us Are Dead" is a series that tells the story of students who struggle to survive the zombie outbreak inside their school. Apart from its concept, viewers were hooked with its fresh and talented cast that already made an impression on many.

'All of Us Are Dead' Director Lee Jae Gyu Talks About the Success of the New Zombie-Themed K-Series

In a recent interview with "All of Us Are Dead" director Lee Jae Gyu, who is known for his work on "Beethoven Virus," "Damo," and the movie "Intimate Strangers" talked about the success of the series.

The creative mind behind the project confessed he still can't believe the love and recognition that the drama is currently receiving from the public. Especially in foreign countries. He added that the success of the trending drama will give a great relief to all the actors and staff who participated in the project for almost two years of the making.

He also mentioned the notable cast members of the series, saying that they had a good teamwork and synergy on set. In addition, Lee Jae Gyu said that bringing actors who were great in their crafts but still unnoticeable in the public added more immersion and impact in the drama.

Have you watched "All of Us Ared Dead"? What are your thoughts about the new trending K-drama on Netflix? Share it with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
Works created by artists at UCF's Flying Horse Editions studios are on display at the Mennello Museum of American Art on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

The Mennello Museum of American Art is showcasing more than 60 works from internationally-acclaimed artists, all created within the realm of printmaking.

No, these arent the kind of prints created by simply opening the print dialogue on ones computer, but artwork created through tedious processes of etching, woodblock printing, lithography, screen printing and more. The Mennello exhibit brings together 25 years of work produced in UCFs Flying Horse Editions studio.

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For three decades, the printmakers of Flying Horse have invited artists from around the country to collaborate and experiment in the downtown Orlando space. During a residency spanning a week to 10 days, new ideas are brought to life using various methods of production as photographers, painters and sculptors produce a series of limited-edition prints.

Aaron Stefan, a printer, and Caitlyn Lombardo, an intern, work together to make prints at UCF's Flying Horse Editions studios on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

They come here because it gives them an opportunity to do something they couldnt do in their own studios. We have this highly-trained staff, said Theo Lotz, director of Flying Horse Editions. They want to explore certain kinds of ideas, so what fits with that on the technical side? Our team can come in with all of that. Its truly a collaborative process.

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For almost as long as Flying Horse Editions has existed, the City of Orlando has been a subscriber of the studio, meaning they get three prints per year to add to the citys permanent art collection.

Works created by artists at UCFs Flying Horse Editions studios are on display at the Mennello Museum of American Art on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

This exhibition gives us the opportunity to contextualize the work, observe it and protect it, said Shannon Fitzgerald, the museums executive director. We started framing all of this more than three years ago. Were now thinking about how it lives going forward.

The show serves as a reminder that printmaking is not just one thing but can involve many different processes, which can all be layered together. In addition, the Mennellos galleries reveal works that represent a diversity of themes, cultural backgrounds and perspectives.

A piece by Winter Haven native Therman Statom involves silkscreen printing on glass and comments on Native Americans as the original inhabitants of Florida. A pop art-inspired print by Kelly Reemtsen shows a woman in a polka-dotted dress holding a chainsaw to juxtapose and dissect traditional gender roles.

Works created by artists, such as Therman Statom, at UCF's Flying Horse Editions studios are on display at the Mennello Museum of American Art. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Things to Do Weekly A look at entertainment and sporting events in Orlando and around Central Florida. >

However, almost all of the artists (and their prints) have a connection to Orlando in that theyve traveled from afar to visit and work in the City Beautiful.

Theres a relationship thats created when the artists are here. Many of them have made work specific to Orlando about the sunshine, or citrus, Fitzgerald said.

Centuries ago, the advent of printmaking made it possible to distribute playing cards, Bibles and artwork in a fast way. Now, these methods now feel slow and tedious in a fast-paced world.

Aaron Stefan, a printer, works on making a print at UCF's Flying Horse Editions studios on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

However, these works should not be thought of simply as replicas of one another: Lotz explained that each print should be thought of as its own unique piece of art.

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With prints, every color is a different plate. There are all these processes in between, Lotz said. Its all very labor-intensive, these are handmade prints. Some of these processes go back to the 17th Century ... If Rembrandt was to walk in the studio, he would recognize what we do now.

If you go

Contemporary Expressions: Prints from Flying Horse Editions is on display through May 30 at 900 E. Princeton St. in Orlando. The museum is open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $1 for students and children ages 6-17. Active and retired military, veterans and children younger than 6 get in for free. For more information, visit mennellomuseum.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.
"Snowdrop" ends the tragic, heart-breaking and emotional happenings with its final two episodes. In episode 15 and 16, Im Su Ho proves how much he loves Eun Young Ro by protecting her until the war is over. Is it finally a happy ever after?

'Snowdrop' Episode 15: Im Su Ho, Kang Cheong Ya and the North Korean Spy Escape

Gyuk Chan (Kim Min Gyu) receives an order to turn his back and take down Im Su Ho (Jung Hae In) to ensure the safety of his family. When he is about to pull the trigger, Cheong Ya (Yoo In Na), who returns to the dormitory, shoots at Gyuk Chan's leg and saves Su Ho.

Despite the shocking happenings, Su Ho is more surprised to learn that Choi Su Ryun (Jung Ae Ri), his biological mother, is the one who instructed Gyuk Chan to execute him.

Cheong Ya, who has been in severe suspicions, reveals that she hired a smuggling ship which she'll use to escape, after tricking Eun Chang Soo (Heo Jun Ho) with $300 million as bait.

Im Su Ho Breaks Eun Young Ro's Heart to Protect Her

Su Ho says his goodbye to Eun Young Ro (BLACKPINK Jisoo) in the attic. Young Ro unties his brother's scarf that she cherishes so much, and puts it on Su Ho, promising to meet soon.

However, Su Ho removes the scarf and returns it to Young Ro, coldly telling her that they'll never see each other again. Su Ho then leaves with Eung Cheol (Jang In Seop) and Cheong Ya.

After Eun Chang Soo learns that the spies successfully escape the dormitory, he sets up a checkpoint to prevent them from further escaping. But the North Korean spies are quick and decide to meet at the port while moving separately.

The True Identity of the North Korean Spy in the Dormitory

When Boon Ok (Kim Hye Yoon) finds a picture of Ms. Pi Seung Hee (Yoon Se Ah) and her sister together, she tells Boon Ok that they were close friends in the past. She also reveals that Ahn Gyung Hee (Lee Hwa Ryung) is a spy.

Back in the Hosoo Women's University dormitory, Han Na (Jung Yu Jin) reveals that the hostage crisis is a presidential campaign led by the most powerful people in the regime.

Because of this, Nam Tae Il (Park Sung Woong) is put on the line, and is ordered to sort out the situation. He exposes Ministry of National Security Director Eun Chang Soo's daughter, Eun Young Ro, helps her spies to escape and declares that he will kill everyone inside the dormitory.

At this point, Su Ho hears everything on the radio. Although he wants to escape, he returns to the dormitory to save Young Ro.

Im Su Ho Returns to War Zone For Eun Young Ro

Unable to stop Su Ho from returning to the dormitory, Cheong Ya takes out her account and hands it over to Su Ho. Cheong Ya promises to help Su Ho's family in the North and they bid their final goodbyes.

On the other hand, Ha Na steals a bus and heads back to the dormitory. Boon Ok, who pretends to help Ahn Gyung Hee, lures the special forces to the front door. Kang Mu (Jang Seung Jo) lets the students on the bus and escapes first along with them.

Su Ho asks Kang Mu to take Young Ro with him. However, she refuses to leave. Su Ho is then embroiled in a gunfight where he is shot multiple times by the firing squad.

Young Ro, who refuses to escape with the other hostages, goes back to Su Ho. As the firing squad continues to shoot, Su Ho and Young Ro flee to the attic, their small little safe space.

Su Ho, injured with a gunshot, tries to secure Young Ro's safety by telling Nam Tae Il he has $300 million through a radio.

However, their sweet moment is interrupted as another wave of bullets pour on Su Ho who's protecting Young Ro with his whole life. Su Ho then falls to the floor. He hands Young Ro a tape he saved in his pocket and stares at her one last time.

Im Su Ho Promises to Love Eun Young Ro For the Rest of His Life

Meanwhile, the opposition candidate wins the election in the presidential election. Hong Ae Ra (Kim Jung Nan) takes her remaining possessions and runs away. Nam Tae Il, Eun Chang Soo and Ahn Gyung Hee were all imprisoned.

Ms. Pi Seung Hee and Boon Ok leave the Hosoo Women's University dormitory after the tragic hostage-taking incident. Young Ro relives her memories with Su Ho as she listens to the tape, envisioning him singing and smiling for her.

"If I were an ordinary man, I would have asked you out the moment I first laid my eyes on you," Su Ho says in the tape, "Young Ro, thank you for making me happy I will remember you for the rest of my life."

"I love you, Eun Young Ro," he finally says as Young Ro's eyes swell up with tears.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
After Song Ji Ah a.k.a Freezia made it to the headlines for sporting a fake luxury brand top, another "Single's Inferno" star faces allegations for donning knock-offs in one of her Instagram posts.

An Yea Won, one of the reality dating show's OG cast was embroiled in the same controversy after netizens accused her of sporting the fake Dior top as her fellow participant.

Is 'Single's Inferno' Cast An Yea Won Wearing the Same Fake Designer Top as Song Ji Ah?

According to various media outlets, the 27-year-old health and beauty enthusiast shared a photo of herself sporting the blue Dior monogram tube top dated August 12, 2021.

It was also almost the same bandeau top that Song Ji Ah wore in one of the episodes of Netflix's "Single's Inferno."

IN CASE YOU MISSED: 'Single's Inferno' Contestant An Yea Won Confesses Her True Relationship with Kim Jun Sik

However, Dispatch Korea revealed the reality star's statement regarding the said luxury top.

In the exclusive interview, she explained that it was gifted to her by a close friend who owns an online shipping business.

According to the appraiser, Dior doesn't have a tube top looking like that in their collection.

To prove whether it is real or fake, Dispatch took the items to the Korea Appraisal Institute of Luxury Goods.

After a series of verification, 20 out of 300 items from the YouTuber were deemed as knock-offs.

Among the items were the pink Lady Dior bag, Dior Oblique Saddlebag, and the infamous pink Chanel Logo Knit Top that sparked suspicion among the netizens.

Apparently, another item that was verified as fake is her pink Dior monogram tube top, noting that the French luxury brand has never released such a design.

With this, the YouTuber, who is famous for her name as Freezia, apologized and mentioned that she received it from the CEO of a shopping site she used to work for.

"In college, I worked part-time as a model for the shopping site. The site's CEO sent the top to me as a gift. It's "Dio" without the "r," so I knew it's a knock-off. This will probably make me sound really dumb, but that's exactly why I figured it would be okay to wear this. I'm sorry," she mentioned.

Due to her revelation and Dispatch Korea's bombshell news, all eyes are now on An Yea Won for sporting the same luxury top.

At the height of the controversy, she deleted the said post to avoid backlash from the public.

Despite these, An Yea Won didn't face a huge wave of criticism as compared to Song Ji Ah. It might be because the YouTuber, often dons a ton of luxury items and flexes it on her channel.

'Single's Inferno' Cast Song Ji Ah and the Knock-Off Controversy

Just days after the Netflix reality dating show concluded, the beauty content creator became a trending topic and was accused of wearing fake designer bags.

Due to this, she wiped off her entire Instagram account with millions of followers but only left her written apology.

Moreover, she also shared a video apology on her YouTube channel expressing her regrets regarding her actions.

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Award-winning actress Yoo In Na successfully played the role of Kang Cheong Ya, a role she's never done before, in the recently concluded JTBC romance drama "Snowdrop" with Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK Jisoo.

Yoo In Na Receives Endless Praises For Successful Portrayal of Kang Cheong Ya in 'Snowdrop'

Yoo In Na perfectly portrayed the role of Kang Cheong Ya, a talented surgeon, and a hidden North Korean spy, in the JTBC Saturday and Sunday romance drama "Snowdrop" with Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK Jisoo.

Yoo In Na boasted her acting abilities, capturing the hearts of the viewers with her vivid and expressive performance.

In "Snowdrop," Yoo In Na impresses the fans and avid viewers with her one of a kind acting as a surgeon who hides her real identity, a perfect antiheroine in the drama.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Snowdrop' Episode 15 and 16: Jung Hae In Promises to Love BLACKPINK Jisoo For the Rest of His Life

In "Snowdrop" episode 16, Yoo In Na seamlessly emphasized the emotional aspect of Kang Cheong Ya as she hands Im Su Ho (Jung Hae In) a $300 million to help him escape, despite the viewers' accusations that she'll betray her childhood friend.

Yoo In Na showed a new side that she had never shown before, receiving positive feedback from the public. With this, fans are anticipating new works and masterpieces from her this 2022.

JTBC's 'Snowdrop' Receives Satisfying Viewership Rating With Final Episode

Even with the slew of multiple historical distortion allegations and tons of signed petitions against Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK Jisoo's "Snowdrop," the drama ended with positive feedback from the public.

On Sunday, January 30, "Snowdrop" aired its final two episodes, receiving an average nationwide ratings of 2.8% and 3.4%, respectively.

The finale received the second highest rating of the drama's entire run, with 3.9% by "Snowdrop" episode two.

On the other hand, "Snowdrop" is a memorable drama that will be remembered for a very long time. For worldwide viewers who wish to watch the drama, it is available on Disney+.

BLACKPINK Jisoo Receives Best New Actress Award

Even as a rookie, BLACKPINK Jisoo gave an outstanding performance as Eun Young Dro in the recently concluded drama "Snowdrop."

With this, the "Snowdrop" actress was awarded as the Best New Actress at the 2nd DDU Awards, a Korean Drama Awards in Thailand that aims to celebrate the industry and hardships of actors and actresses.

The results are determined through votation that includes 30% from fans' votes and 70% team votes.

BLACKPINK Jisoo's performance, despite being a rookie star, improved as the story progressed. The actress is expected to continuously receive praises especially in the Hallyu community as she diversifies her acting roles in the future.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: 'Snowdrop' Star BLACKPINK Jisoo Solidifies Acting Career + 'PROUD OF ACTRESS JISOO' Trends Worldwide

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire said Sunday he disagrees with former President Donald Trump's suggestion that he would pardon Capitol rioters if reelected.
On Monday, Feb. 7, all Texas Roadhouse locations are inviting the public to support the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). To honor the companys late founder Kent Taylor, the restaurants will donate 100% of all profits on Feb. 7 to the organization.

More than 26 million adults in the United States battle tinnitus.

In addition to the restaurant fundraiser, through March 31, Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% from the online sales of all Texas Roadhouse/ATA co-branded gift cards to the American Tinnitus Association. The gift cards are available online at texasroadhouse.com.

Local Texas Roadhouse restaurants are located at 11841 71st St. in Kenosha and at 6228 Durand Ave. in Mount Pleasant.

As we pursue our mission to advance research and find a cure for tinnitus, we are grateful for the support of Texas Roadhouse, said Torryn P. Brazell, ATA chief executive officer. Despite its growing prevalence and often devastating effects, tinnitus remains a severely underfunded medical condition. This partnership brings us one step closer to changing the status quo.

The nonprofit American Tinnitus Association helps individuals and families cope, funds research, advocates for better care, and provides trustworthy information to thousands of people every day. For more information about managing tinnitus, contact the ATA at (800) 634-8978 or go online to ata.org.

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NBC special honors Betty White

A birthday party turned wake, Celebrating Betty White: Americas Golden Girl (9 p.m., NBC) recalls the television pioneer who died on Dec. 31, just weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

Expect this one-hour special to be jam-packed with clips from her stints with The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls. The special can be streamed on Peacock starting Tuesday.

TONIGHTS OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

On two episodes of Kenan (NBC): farewells (7 p.m.); a beach vacation (7:30 p.m.).

A brush with COVID on the marching band reality show March (7 p.m., CW).

Grace enters labor during an ice storm on 9-1-1: Lone Star (8 p.m., Fox).

Gibbs and Parker hit the road on NCIS (8 p.m., CBS).

Jimmy Fallon hosts Thats My Jam (8 p.m., NBC).

Thony finds a potential donor for her son on The Cleaning Lady (8 p.m., Fox).

A protester is slain on NCIS: Hawaii (9 p.m., CBS).

Matteo threatens Joe with explosive secrets on Promised Land (9 p.m., ABC).

Tragedies unfold in the Independent Lens (10 p.m., PBS) documentary Missing in Brooks County. Filmmakers travel to a corner of south Texas where illegal immigrants often perish in parched conditions. They visit with human rights activists as well as local vigilante militias out to enforce the border.

NEW ON STREAMING

The Acorn streaming service imports Help, a powerful television movie from the U.K. Jodie Comer, best known as the impish psychopathic hitwoman from Killing Eve, stars as Sarah, a woman from a troubled Liverpool home who finds she has a knack for patient care when shes hired by Bright Sky Homes, a facility for Alzheimers patients.

Among her more challenging charges is Tony (Stephen Graham), a 47-year-old man suffering from early onset dementia. Another patient is a retired English teacher who breaks into Elizabethan poetry.

Having found acceptance, affection and some measure of success at Bright Sky Homes, Sarah returns each night to her horrible, bitter father who complains that she has begun to smell of the old, the sick and the feeble-minded.

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Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus.

In a post Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young, who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation.

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This combination photo shows Neil Young in Calabasas, Calif., on May 18, 2016, left, and UFC announcer and podcaster Joe Rogan before a UFC on FOX 5 event in Seattle on Dec. 7, 2012. Young fired off a public missive to his management on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, demanding that they remove his music from the popular streaming service Spotify in protest over Rogan's popular podcast spreading misinformation about COVID-19. But by Tuesday afternoon, his letter had been removed from his website, "Heart of Gold" and other hits were still streaming. (AP)

Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly, wrote Ek. It is important to me that we dont take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.

Ek said that the advisories will link to Spotifys fact-based COVID-19 hub in what he described as a new effort to combat misinformation. It will roll out in the coming days, Ek said. He did not specifically reference Rogan or Young.

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Britains Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.

Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform, an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement. We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.

Earlier Sunday, Nils Lofgren, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young, said he was joining Youngs Spotify revolt. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise.

We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify, wrote Lofgren in a statement.

On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young. Earlier, hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode from The Joe Rogan Experience in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
Authorities survey damage from a tornado is seen in Mayfield, Ky., on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Tornadoes and severe weather caused catastrophic damage across multiple states late Friday, killing several people overnight. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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From 2013 to 2017, I was in the Air Force, selected to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and would soon embark on my residency journey to get there.

Up until this point, my educational path was linear. I completed undergrad and committed to dental school during my first year as I was accepted into a fast track 3:4 program which meant that I would complete three years of undergrad followed by four years of dental school. At age 18, I had mentally committed to a career trajectory for the rest of my life.

As I entered dental school, I would start to feel twinges of self-doubt. I began to question the career trajectory, and I was reassured that my self-confidence was likely talking. I could not argue with that since my hyper-critical self-talk certainly led to reduced confidence and heightened distress that was pervasive in many areas of my life.

I continued in dental school, and I found myself attracted to oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). I loved the ability to advance my medical training, and I envisioned the life-changing surgeries that I would perform for individuals. I stayed in dentistry thinking that I would be happier when I was in OMFS residency and the Air Force, an illusion commonly referred to as the arrival fallacy.

In 2013, I would commission into the Air Force, slated to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. I moved to Texas and began what I had envisioned would be my ideal career. As I started a subintern year in the Air Force residency before heading to my own residency, I fell deep into depression. I was beginning to realize the career path I had worked so hard to obtain was likely not the path for me. I met with members of the Air Force OMFS board to discuss my doubts, and we ended up agreeing that maybe my civilian program would be a better fit for me.

The arrival fallacy would continue: I thought maybe it would be better when I am in my own program that I had selected through the Match process and no longer a subintern. As I embarked on my amazing program, it would be solidified: It wasnt the program. It was the career.

I fell into a deeper depression and thought I had two options- I could either continue residency or end my life. I could not think of an alternative option. Between the development of severe depression and the pressures of making a misstep that would end my medical/dental career, I could not see that there were so many other options.

Thankfully, I had an amazing psychologist that could challenge my mindset, keep me safe, and support me through decisions that would both save my life and change the trajectory in a way that has been a much better fit for me. Thankfully, I was surrounded by individuals in my program and medical school that saw me as a person first and were devoted to making sure I felt compassion and not guilt for considering a career pivot. I am extremely grateful for the individuals that gave me permission to pivot when I was committed to trying to force through the grind. I am extremely grateful for the individuals who helped me see options C-Z when I was stuck perseverating on A and B.

Valuable lessons learned: If you are stuck between options A and B, and neither seems ideal, step back, and consider C-Z. And if those arent enough, then look into another alphabet. There are always more options than you think. Sometimes, we need to give ourselves permission to pivot.

Also, if you are experiencing symptoms of burnout, please ask for help. Professional therapy and a supportive community were essential components of my burnout recovery journey. I am amazed at how the brain may think when not OK. Please surround yourself with supportive people that can help you see when the world seems dark.

Nothing in your career is more important than your life. Nothing.

Jillian Rigert is an oral medicine specialist and radiation oncology research fellow.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
In the last year we've lost thousands of family members, friends and co-workers to COVID-19. We'd like to give you a chance to honor their memory.

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The daughter of former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness was sentenced to prison Monday for lying on a COVID-19 loan application to get $300,000 during the pandemic.

Damara Holness was sentenced to a year and eight months in prison, as well as five years of supervised release. Prosecutors argued she sought to enrich herself when she applied for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is meant to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. She must report to federal prison by noon April 25.

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The defendant saw this as an opportunity to unjustly enrich herself by defrauding the program designed to help those struggling businesses, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Kaplan wrote in court records. Her personal greed and selfishness took away from government funds intended to provide relief to such struggling businesses and employees who desperately needed those funds in order to survive the pandemic.

[ RELATED: Commissioners daughter receives questionable COVID loans ]

Holness lawyer, Sue-Ann Robinson, said it was more an act of desperation than greed, adding that some of the money went toward housing arrangements and taxes.

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In court, Holness apologized to the community, the government and to her family, including my dad. Ive affected his career.

Outside the courtroom on Monday, Dale Holness said his daughter has accepted responsibility for her mistake. Were all human. Shes acknowledged it. She needs to rebuild her life.

Pleading guilty to fraud

Damara Holness, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, had applied for a $300,000 forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan for her company, Holness Consulting, prosecutors say. The application also claimed that the average monthly payroll for the business during 2019 was $120,000, and that the business employed 18 employees.

[ RELATED: Church got COVID-relief money for 12 employees. But state says it has no record of these workers. ]

In support of the application, she submitted an IRS Form W-3 to the lender showing wages paid and taxes withheld. None of it was true, prosecutors wrote in a court document, and the investigation revealed that in 2019, Holness Consulting received income of less than $6,000, and it paid wages of less than $2,000.

Holness Consulting was incorporated in November 2018, and ultimately became inactive. The defendant reinstated the business on June 22, 2020, in order to obtain the PPP loan. The business had no employees and virtually no income, the prosecutor wrote in court documents.

Reviewing documents

After Holness received the aid through the Paycheck Protection Program loan, she spent months creating a paper trail to make it appear as if she had employees, prosecutors said.

She paid 22 people, including a school bus driver and a security guard, about $1,300 every two weeks, federal officials said in court documents. After signing their check, the purported employee was paid $300, and Holness kept the rest of the cash for herself, investigators said.

The government obtained images of 135 checks written by Holness to the alleged employees of Holness Consulting totaling $181,228, prosecutors wrote.

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Although she received about $151,000 in compensation from Holness Consulting from July 2020 through September 2020, she also received unemployment benefits, which was unlawful, according to court records.

Seeking leniency

Her attorneys had urged the judge to give her a lenient sentence because she cooperated with prosecutors and she is the mother of a 15-month-old daughter.

Ms. Damara Holness respectfully asks the Court to consider her daughters welfare, particularly her infant daughter at this tender age her mothers presence or lack thereof could have irreparable harm on her development, according to documents filed in federal court Friday.

On Sunday, prosecutors responded, urging the judge to choose a sentence that is supposed to be between 33 months and 41 months to promote respect for the law and to avoid sentencing disparities.

The prosecutor wrote that based on letters written on her behalf, Holness has a good support system who will care for her child.

He also wrote that Holness committed the crimes while pregnant and the defendant was well aware that she was giving birth and that if she was caught that she could go to jail. The defendant decided to continue with the fraudulent scheme.

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And, Kaplan wrote, the defendant has never explained what she did with the money she received.

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The defendant has reported that she has only $2,637 in assets. The defendant has either squandered or squirreled away all of the illegal proceeds. The defendant has never accounted for any of the illegally obtained funds.

Supporting family

Holness pleaded guilty the day after her fathers unsuccessful run for Congress in November. At the time, Dale Holness expressed support for his daughter: My concern, love and understanding is with her through the resolution of this matter. Damara has my support and she has the support of her family.

Months earlier, when she was charged in August, Dale Holness said he and his daughter were estranged for many years and that he has always told his daughter to do what is right.

In the loan documents, the address for Holness Consulting is the same as Dale Holness real estate firm, All Broward Realty on West Sunrise Boulevard. Her father said he had no knowledge of how his daughter ran her business and said his daughter has had no access to his real estate business or office since 2018.

Dale Holness was Browards mayor for a year, including the outbreak of COVID-19. He resigned from his commission seat to run for Congress. His mayoral term ended in November 2020.

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Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008 or Twitter @LisaHuriash
Gardai have launched a search after a young girl (17) was attacked while out walking at lunchtime today in rural Kilkenny.

The teenager was reportedly grabbed by a male in his 40s, who was wearing dark clothing and spoke with an Irish accent. The girl struggled and screamed, and her attacker fled the scene. The girl was taken to St Lukes General Hospital Kilkenny and treated for shock and a physical injury (non-life threatening). Investigating Gardai have carried out an initial interview with the girl.

The incident happened on a rural laneway - known locally as Cullinane's Lane - just outside the village of Johnstown

Gardai remain at the scene with Garda air support and canine unit assisting. No arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing.

Gardai continue to carry out enquiries and recover CCTV from the area. They are appealing for any person travelling on the R639 between Johnstown and The Gallops (a minor road also known locally as Cullinanes Lane), Ballyspellan between 11am and 12.15pm, particularly any person with any video footage (dashcam or other recording device) to contact Gardai at Kilkenny at 056 7775000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Thirteen local community groups committed to supporting the future of young people across the country were celebrating news today that they will receive a grant share of this years 100,000 'Coca-Cola Thank You Fund'.

One of the chosen beneficiaries is Amber Women's Refuge CLG in Kilkenny, who will receive 10,000 in funding.

Amber Women's Refuge CLG provide many services helping women and young people affected by domestic violence and abusive relationships in Kilkenny.

As part of its One Million Stars project, Amber Women's Refuge want to partner with Young Irish Film Makers to deliver Outreach Workshops to young people affected by domestic violence.

This project will take the form of a series of workshops and training sessions in the art of digital storytelling with the aim to help young people express themselves through the avenue of creativity - connecting participants from different cultures and backgrounds.

Now in its eleventh year, over 280 non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland applied for the fund under the categories of education and training, diversity and inclusion in young people and those taking an innovative approach to sustainability and environmental leadership.

Coca-Cola Ireland Country Manager Agnese Filippi thanked all the organisations who applied for the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund this year, along with the judges who had the impossible task of selecting this years recipients.

"The impact of the pandemic over the past two years has been particularly hard on our young people," she said.

"Through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund we are honoured to be in the position to support youth orientated organisations across the island of Ireland that are committed to supporting and helping young people to navigate their futures."
Neo-Nazi demonstrations in Orlando over the weekend drew bipartisan condemnations from state and local officials, but Gov. Ron DeSantis remained silent until Monday afternoon when he responded to a question about the rallies with a tirade against his political enemies.

So what Im going to say is these people, these Democrats who are trying to use this as some type of political issue to try to smear me as if I had something to with do that, were not playing their game, the governor said during a press conference in Palm Beach.

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He referred to the demonstrators, a group of about 20 shouting antisemitic slurs while waving Nazi flags near a UCF-area shopping plaza on Saturday and on an Interstate 4 overpass on Sunday, as some jackasses doing this on the street and said theyd be held accountable by law enforcement.

But he also accused Democrats who called for him to denounce the neo-Nazis  as fellow Republican office-holders including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and state House Speaker Chris Sprowls had already done  of exploiting the demonstrations for political gain, while also touting his record of support for the Jewish community and Israel.

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And so they try to play games to try to politicize, why would they do that? Why would they want to elevate a half dozen malcontents and try to make this an issue for political gain? DeSantis said. Well, because they want to distract from the failure that weve seen with Biden, and theyre all joined at the hip, all these policies, they all support in Florida 100%.

Videos spread on social media showed the group waving Nazi flags, saluting and shouting at passing cars near Waterford Lakes Town Center in east Orange County. The demonstrators were also seen getting into at least one fight in the roadway in front of the shopping plaza.

In a statement, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said it received a call about 12:15 p.m. Saturday demonstrators gathered near Alafaya Trail and Waterford Lakes Parkway were yelling profanities and slurs at passing cars.

The agency said Monday its investigation into the fight between several of the demonstrators and a passerby is ongoing. No arrests were made Saturday but Sheriff John Mina promised to thoroughly investigate any criminal activity.

I along with the Orange County Sheriffs Office deplore any type of hate speech, he said in a social media post. This hatred has no place in our society.

A group waving Nazi flags was also seen on the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass of Interstate 4 on Sunday. The Florida Highway Patrol immediately disbanded the display, according to a statement by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Do we even know theyre Nazis?

Numerous officials  from Central Florida and across the state  spoke out against the neo-Nazi gatherings, including state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, who said, Hatred and anti-Semitism have NO PLACE in our community.

Im appalled to see Nazis rallying in the East Orlando district I represent, he tweeted Sunday. They are NEVER welcome here. All Floridians should be alarmed by the rise of extremism and white supremacy in our state. We have to stop it!

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Smith and others called on DeSantis to condemn the demonstrations. But the governors press secretary sparked a firestorm when she initially weighed in with skepticism about the demonstrators identities.

Do we even know theyre Nazis? Christina Pushaw posted in a since-deleted Sunday night tweet, according to FloridaPolitics.com. ... I trust Florida law enforcement to investigate and am awaiting their conclusions.

Pushaw cited a stunt by the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group, during the Virginia gubernatorial race in which members posed as torch-carrying white nationalists purporting to endorse the Republican candidate and eventual winner Glenn Youngkin.

By all indications, the Orlando demonstrations were organized by the National Socialist Movement, a decades-old neo-Nazi group that advertised its plan for a Saturday rally in Orlando on its website.

Despite having deleted her tweet, Pushaw later retweeted several posts defending her skepticism of the Orlando demonstrations and criticizing those asking for the governor to weigh in on them.

By Monday afternoon, Pushaw issued a statement saying DeSantis has always condemned hate and has taken an unequivocal and consistent stand against antisemitism throughout his entire political career.

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When DeSantis spoke later, he touted having signed what he described as the strongest antisemitism bill in the country as well as record funding for Jewish day schools and the strongest relationship between Florida and Israel than we ever had.

His answer touched on unrelated issues  including inflation, gas prices, immigration at the southern border and soft-on-crime policies  and included broadsides against Minnesota progressive U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and vacation rental service Airbnb, who he said had indulged the BDS movement, which calls for sanctions against Israel.

And so... what theyre trying to avoid is being able to be held accountable for that, DeSantis said. So were not going to let them get away with these stupid things where theyre trying to smear somebody unfairly, and I will not be smeared by them.

The Florida office of the Anti-Defamation League, which combats antisemitism, in a Monday statement on Twitter said it was alarmed that Pushaw would first give cover to antisemites rather than immediately and forcefully condemning their revolting, hate-filled rally and assault.

We need all leaders to call out antisemitism and hate, rather than push false narratives or conspiracy theories, the organization tweeted.

Other Dem, GOP officials denounce demonstrators

U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Orlando, tweeted of the neo-Nazis that America beat their disturbing ideology before and well do it again.

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Scott, the Republican U.S. Senator, said such demonstrations have no place in our state.

Across America, weve seen a heartbreaking & disgusting rise in hate like this, his statement said. We must always condemn it & continue to stand strongly with our Jewish communities.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said, Anti-semitism and hatred are not welcome in this community.

Despite displays of hate in Central Florida this weekend, our collective commitment to building an inclusive, compassionate community for all is stronger than ever, he said in a statement.

Sprowls, the Palm Harbor-based Republican speaker of the Florida House, called the demonstrations in Orlando a disgusting display of anti-semitism that does not reflect the values of Floridians.

State Sen. Lauren Book, the Senate Democratic leader from Plantation, in a statement noted the neo-Nazi activity came days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We must all speak out to condemn these emboldened white supremacists, Book said. Hate has NO place here.

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The antisemitic rallies show the continuing need for education against this type of hatred, said Katherine Turner, vice president over development and marketing at Maitlands Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida.

It is quite disturbing, and while we are dismayed by it all, it just speaks to the relevance and importance of our mission and vision, she said. The work that we do is critical right now.

The center shares the testimonies of those who survived the systematic genocide of 6 million Jewish people by Nazi Germany during World War II with the hope that some will learn from history and not repeat it, Turner said.

Its only by working together that we will make a significant difference, she said.

Neo-Nazi group dates back to 90s

The demonstrators touted signs promoting the website for National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group whose current leader is based in Kissimmee, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

According to the ADL, the NSM is one of the more explicitly neo-Nazi groups in the United States, which calls for an all-white greater America that would deny citizenship and virtually all legal protection to non-whites, Jews and the LGBTQ population.

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The neo-Nazi hate group started in Michigan in the early 1990s, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks the activities of extremist and anti-government groups.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

The National Socialist Movement is based on Nazi premises, said Elizabeth Yates, a senior researcher at the University of Marylands National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.

The group, Yates said, has gone through several iterations including a failed attempt in 2016 to stop the use of swastikas in hopes of making itself appear more palatable to potential members. But even in that period, the extremist group was characterized by racism, antisemitism and violence.

In addition to displaying Nazi insignia, the group on the I-4 overpass hung a sign that referenced Lets Go, Brandon, a viral chant that serves as a thinly disguised vulgar insult of President Joe Biden. The phrase has been embraced by conservative figures and Republican officeholders alike, including DeSantis.

Yates said the mix of right-wing political messaging with Nazi symbols and antisemitic slurs is concerning and could reflect a strategy by the hate group to spread its beliefs through partisan rhetoric.

On the one hand, thats sort of an attempt to access the mainstream and to integrate their goals and their desires and ideologies into contemporary events and try to pull people who may be agreeing with that sentiment, said Yates, who studies extremist groups and the spread of extremist ideas. Then, with the swastika, its like they are really staking out a claim as extremists.

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Staff writer Steven Lemongello contributed.

jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

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HOLLYWOOD  One dog and 52 cats forced to live in filthy cages were rescued from a roach-infested Hollywood home in the Boulevard Heights neighborhood over the weekend, officials say.

Jonathan Colon Garcia, a trap-neuter-release expert summoned to the home by the woman who lived there to help with spaying and neutering, was aghast when he walked through the door.

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The ammonia smell was horrible, he said. It burned your lungs when you walked in the house. The cats were all in kennels, just covered in dirt and grime. They looked absolutely miserable in those cages. Some were underweight, losing hair. A couple had ulcers on their faces.

Garcia says he told the woman she had too many cats, then called police and county animal control officers for help. That was on Thursday. By Friday, the rescue operation was underway, with 10 cats taken away from the property by police. The rest were rescued on Saturday.

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The pets are now at the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Center in Fort Lauderdale.

They are all expected to survive, said Emily Wood, director of the county shelter. Many are up for adoption already.

It was unclear how the woman ended up with so many cats.

She answered a call from the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Monday but went silent when a reporter started asking questions.

One dog and 42 cats were rescued from a Hollywood home Saturday after trapping expert Jonathan Colon Garcia alerted police and animal control officers. Garcia says he was shocked to find the animals living in filth after being summoned to the home by the pet owner to help with spaying and neutering. (Jonathan Colon Garcia/Courtesy)

Officials with the Hollywood Police Department and city of Hollywood could not be reached for comment Monday.

On Tuesday, police spokeswoman Deanna Bettineschi said the woman was given a notice to appear in court on charges of animal abuse and neglect.

So far, at least one rescue group says it is willing to take in some of the cats to help them find good homes.

I think were taking in six, said Regina Vlasek, co-founder and president of Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation in Fort Lauderdale.

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Vlasek says they dont have room for more.

[ RELATED: Rescuers found cats in the walls, in the air ducts, in the ceilings at Sunrise house ]

In the past couple days shes been spreading the word on social media to get more rescue groups to come forward and take in some of the cats to help out the county-run animal shelter.

They always need help, she said. They only have so much space and taking in 50 cats at a time is a lot.

Vlasek says she met the woman involved in the hoarding case two months ago.

She came in with a cat that needed bloodwork, Vlasek said. She paid for that. The cat needed a dental [cleaning]. It had really bad teeth. She said she didnt have the money. I did a fundraiser for her. And she never showed up.

One dog and 42 cats were rescued from a Hollywood home Saturday. Four cats and a second dog were left behind. (Jonathan Colon Garcia/Courtesy)

Garcia, who works with Blackheart Trappers, Transport & Rescue in Miami, says he will never forget the horror of what he saw that day.

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Oh my God, the house was roach-infested, he said. There was a giant hole in the ceiling, taped over. They have a leak in the roof. The cages were filled with feces and urine.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

Garcia said he was frank with the pet owner.

I told her: This is unacceptable. These cats need to leave this home now, he said. I explained to her it was totally unhealthy.

Not every pet was removed on Saturday, Garcia said.

Four cats and one dog are left in the house, he said.

Garcia says a Hollywood animal control officer made the decision to leave those animals behind, perhaps because they were in better shape.

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But they should have all been rescued, Garcia said. The house should be condemned.

Susannah Bryan at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan
The recent release of a dashcam video depicts a former Florida firefighter shooting his gun at another driver while traveling down Interstate 95, according to news outlets.

At 7 a.m. of June 21, Eric Popper was driving a black SUV near Northwest 151st Street in Miami-Dade County, according to a report by WSVN.

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A dashcam video by a South Florida talk show host, Andy Slater, shows Popper singing a tune before a Toyota Camry driver behind him honks their horn. Popper cut the driver off, WSVN reported. The driver honked their horn and Slater slammed on his breaks, WSVN reported.

SLATER SCOOP: Exclusive video of road-rage shooting in Miami from in-car camera.



The shooter seen here was arrested and is awaiting trial. He told cops the other driver fired first.



(Warning: Language and gunfire) pic.twitter.com/10vDVEwBbw  Andy Slater (@AndySlater) January 28, 2022

The Camry driver tailgated Popper and made rude hand gestures out the window toward him, the WSVN report shows.

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Popper is then seen in the dashcam video removing a weapon from the center console and preparing to fire. As the driver passes Poppers passenger side, Popper fires the gun 11 times through the side window and his windshield.

Popper pulled over and alerted authorities of the situation, WSVN reported. The Camry driver also called 911 from a separate location. Popper later told authorities he thought he was being shot at, but the other driver reported to police they had thrown a water bottle at Poppers SUV.

Popper turned himself over to police, and later quit his firefighting job that summer, WSVN reported.

Popper faces two felony charges of aggravated assault and firing a deadly missile, according to Miami-Dade County court records.
Press Release

January 31, 2022 EXPLANATION OF VOTE

SB 2493: Vintage Vehicle Regulation Act

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto

31 January 2022 The first automobile arrived in the Philippines in 1900, a "Georges Richard" imported from France by the store La Estrella del Norte for its customer, a certain Dr. Miciano. When the eight-horsepower buggy sputtered along Escolta, a priest in the nearby Santa Cruz church was said to have wagered that the day will never come that the mechanized curiosity will be more numerous than carabaos. Boy, was the good padre wrong! And if that vehicle, or any make in the same year, will amble toward an LTO office or a private motor vehicle inspection today to be inspected prior for registration, it will be met by a chorus of doubters who will bet that it won't pass the battery of roadworthiness tests. There are many vintage cars out there, at least a half-century old, which will not survive the mandatory tests with flying colors. If current pollution standards will be used, none of the cars used by Philippine presidents from Quezon to Marcos will be cleared for registration. If a wartime car has an engine jerry-rigged to run on charcoal, it will be a smokestack on wheels that disqualifies it from being street legal. This is why I am happy that this bill that addresses the uniqueness and peculiarities of vintage cars has been crafted with care. I have been saying for years that legislation has always trailed innovation, that laws have always been behind technology's curve. Never did I imagine that one day I will be saying that legislation should be put on reverse so it can link with the demands of old technology. Section 5 succinctly captures the justification. "In recognition of their small number, their expected limited use, and the historical fact that the technology available at the time of their manufacture will not permit them to meet modern standards, vintage vehicles registered under this Act shall not be required to meet clean-air, anti-pollution, safety, road-use, and other standards that were not in force at the time of their manufacture, either as a condition for their registration and use on public roads or otherwise, the provisions of the Clean Air Act and any other law or regulation notwithstanding." However, the same provision so requires--and correctly so--vintage vehicles manufactured after 1967 must be fitted with safety belts. It is incorrect to say that this bill benefits only a motley group of moneyed collectors, those who maintain warehouses of trophy cars. No it does not. There are many families, middle class families, who have held on to their dad's or lolo's car for sentimental reasons. I know of a friend who has kept his parents' 1961 Rambler American because his dad told him that it was in the car's plush backseat that he was conceived. Woodstock-era Volkswagen Beetles, affectionately called kuba by those who dote on them, are not pricey heirlooms that could cost you an arm today. Even millennials are hanging on to their family's bantam Japanese Colts and Corollas, saving them from the junkyard. These are not clunkers headed for scrap. These are beauties that must be conserved. So are we going to punish conservationists with a car registration checklist which they surely won't meet? Or are we going to do the right thing and create a new class that will liberalize their registration? There are other excellent provisions in this bill worth mentioning. One is the online or onsite registration, which cancels a vintage on exhibit or in storage from leaving where it is housed. It also sets a legal pathway for old cars whose papers have been lost to be legally reconstituted for a fee. This is one initiative that will bring mothballed cars out of hiding cases--because for lack of papers, they can be deemed as colorum. The other commendable section is the slew of incentives for vintage car restorers. This is in recognition of the burgeoning industry in the country that caters to this specialized niche. Our craftsmen and artisans bring in dollars, create employment, and have built a global market of collectors with discriminating tastes. Mr. President: Let us greenlight this bill. I vote 'Yes'.
Two Hillsborough County sheriffs deputies were found dead after a suspected murder-suicide that took place at a St. Augustine vacation rental home.

The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office is investigating the Saturday night shooting, according to a report from Jacksonville-area TV station First Coast News.

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Officials with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office announced that the preliminary investigation showed the gunshot wound that killed Detective Daniel Leyden seems to be self-inflicted, and indicated he was the sole shooter, the station reported. The other victims identify was not revealed but Leyden and the victim were reportedly in a romantic relationship. The incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

Other deputies that were vacation with them reported hearing arguing before sounds of gunshots, the station reported.

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Our Sheriffs Office family is still reeling from the shock of this unthinkable tragedy, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. My prayers for strength and comfort are with the families and loved ones of these deputies, and every member of Team HCSO affected by this painful loss. Violence is never a solution, and I urge any employee who is dealing with a crisis to take advantage of the many resources our agency has created over the past several years which include Peer Support, Chaplains, and a clinical psychologist. Help is just a phone call away.

Read more at firstcoastnews.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7, at 1-800-273-8255.
MORGAN COUNTY, Mo.  A Versailles woman was seriously injured on Thursday in a crash on Route W, north of Route AA, at 9:20 a.m.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Tracy Cecil, 52, was driving a 2002 Ford Mustang when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and overcorrected before traveling off the left side of the roadway, striking a fence and a tree.

Cecil sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. According to the crash report, she was not wearing a seatbelt.
A growing demand for African greens has given farmers in the Mid-Atlantic an opportunity to develop niche markets for specialty and hard-to-find greens like sweet potato leaves.
Will virtual fence technology find its way to Pennsylvania? If so, Holsteins like these in East Earl could be doing some high-tech grazing in the near future.
Jaipur, Jan 31 (PTI) Army Chief General M M Naravane on Monday visited the South Western Command headquarters here to review operational preparedness.

"The Army chief was briefed by commanders on operational preparedness during the HQ visit," a defence spokesperson said.

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Later in the day, Gen Naravane visited the historic Amber Fort.

He visited Singh Pol, Deewane Aam, Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal, Man Singh Mahal, Sukh Niwas in the fort amid tight security arrangements, according to sources in the Rajasthan government's archaeology department.

Also Read | Hindustani Bhau, YouTuber, Asked Students to Assemble Near Minister Varsha Gaikwads Residence in Dharavi for Protest, to Face Action, Says Police.

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New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): With some exceptions, Delhi airport implemented the rule which allowed a domestic passenger to carry only one piece of luggage or handbag as cabin luggage.

A Delhi airport official informed that the following advisory from Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), only one piece of hand baggage is permitted per passenger as 'Cabin Luggage'.

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There are some exclusions like Ladies handbag, an overcoat or a wrap, a rug or blanket, a camera or pair of binoculars, a reasonable amount of reading material, an umbrella or a walking stick, an infant's feed for consumption during the flight and infant's carrying basket provided an infant is carried, Collapsible wheelchair and/or pair of crutches or braces for passenger's use if dependent on these, a gift item purchased from duty-free shops and a laptop bag.

The official added that they have mentioned the advisory at the entry of the airport to avoid any inconvenience to the passenger during the security check.

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The advisory comes in the backdrop of CISF's request to BCAS to ensure that the one bag rule is enforced by all stakeholders and airlines as passengers carrying 2-3 hand baggage create congestion at security check-point and increase security screening time that results in inconvenience to passengers. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The government told an all-party meeting Monday that it does not intend to bring any legislative business in Rajya Sabha during the first part of the Budget Session which is till February 11, sources said.

The meeting was convened by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu through virtual mode to discuss the agenda for the Budget Session that started on Monday.

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The sources said Union minister and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal informed the meeting that since the duration of the first part is small, no legislative business will be brought by the government.

The Budget Session of Parliament began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on April 8 with a recess in-between from February 12 to March 13.

Also Read | Bihar: Youth Arrested For Raping Girl For 4 Years in Patna.

Goyal said that due to the paucity of time during the first part, Rajya Sabha will have window only for the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the president's address and the Union Budget proposal, according to the sources.

Naidu also urged leaders of various political parties to allow smooth functioning of the House during the session. The leaders assured of their support to the Chairman.

The meeting was held in virtual mode in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The shadow of the Pegasus snooping row already looms large over the budget session with the opposition geared up to take up the issue after the New York Times claimed that India had brought the Pegasus spyware from Israel in 2017 as part of a USD 2 billion defence deal. PTI SKC

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Kochi, Jan 31 (PTI) The Union Government on Monday barred the telecast of Malayalam news channel MediaOne citing "security reasons", an action which invited the ire of many with the Opposition Congress party terming the move as "undemocratic".

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Pramod Raman, the Editor of MediaOne, said the channel was taking legal steps for the restoration of the channel.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Police Hands Over Names of 87 Wanted Criminals to Bihar.

"The telecast of MediaOne channel has once again been disallowed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, citing security reasons. The Government has not been forthcoming with the details," Raman said in a statement.

When contacted, Information and Broadcasting ministry officials confirmed that the channel has been banned but didn't share any further details.

Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan said the I&B ministry banned the telecast without citing reasons.

"The banning of telecast of MediaOne channel without citing any reason was undemocratic. This is against natural justice. The Union government has a responsibility to cite the reason behind the ban. The government is trying to implement the agenda of Sangh Parivar which has been intolerant against unpleasant truths," he said.

He said the ban amounts to attack on media freedom.

MediaOne, along with another Malayalam News channel, Asianet, was briefly suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of communal violence in Delhi in 2020, with the official orders then saying they covered the Delhi violence in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community".

"Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters," the ministry order on Media One had said, adding, "it also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS."

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Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 31 (ANI): Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while addressing the people at Kirawali in Agra took a swipe at the previous Samajwadi Party(SP) government, saying that SP promoted riots and their 'cap' is stained with people's blood.

"Look at Samajwadi Party's candidate list, all rioters are given tickets. Samajwadi Party created rampage in Uttar Pradesh during their rule. Their cap is stained with people's blood. They shot innocent Ram Bhakt's (disciple)", said Yogi Adityanath on Monday.

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Speaking on the law and order in the state, Yogi said, "Before 2017, the law and order situation was a challenge in the Assembly constituencies voting in the first and second phases of Assembly elections. Now, there is a good environment of safety and security in these areas and girls are safe."

Launching a scathing attack on the then Akhilesh Yadav government, the Uttar Pradesh CM stated, "SP government wanted to build a museum on Aurangzeb's name in Agra but we said a museum can only be built on Chhatrapati Shivaji's name. Today, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is building a museum in Shivaji's name."

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Yogi claimed that Agra was always ignored by the previous governments and people were deprived of benefits and developments. "Youth had no job in Agra. People here were deprived of the facilities and developments. The BJP's double engine government linked Agra by air with the rest of the country and the Agra metro work is also going on", Yogi said. He informed that very soon the BJP government in UP would begin with the work of providing clean drink water to every household.

The UP chief minister said, "It was a challenge for girls to step out of their homes in districts like Bulandshahr and Meerut before 2017. Now, there is a sense of safety among girls and traders. The rioters are now scared to create problems in the state." He said that the BJP double engine government is providing free education to all girl children besides giving them Rs 15000 each under CM Kanya Sumangala Yojna.

"The opportunities provided to farmers and youth are being seen as achievements of the double-engine BJP government", said the UP CM. He said that the Samajwadi Party had stopped giving pensions which the BJP government eased after coming to power. "BJP-led UP government is providing Rs 12,000 annually to aged, specially-abled people."

CM Yogi Adityanath was campaigning for Chaudhary Babulal who is contesting from Fatehpur Sikri seat. (ANI)

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New Delhi, January 31: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farm unions that spearheaded protests against the Centre's agri laws, on Monday threatened to resume its agitation if the government does not fulfil promises made to farmers in December last year.

In a statement, the SKM alleged that the government had not fulfilled any of the promises, including setting up a committee on minimum support price (MSP) and withdrawal of cases against protesters, made to the farmers.

The farmers will be left with no option but to resume their agitation if the government continues to renege on its promises, it said. Following the call of the SKM, farmers across the country observed "Day of Betrayal" on Monday over the Centre's non-fulfilment of its promises. Farmers Observe Jan 31 as 'Vishwasghat Diwas', Accuse Centre of Betraying Them.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh camped at Delhi's borders for over a year demanding the repeal of the Centre's three contentious farm laws. They decided to suspend their protest, which began in November 2020, on December 9 last year after the government gave in to their demand and agreed to consider six others, including withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the agitation, a legal guarantee on MSP and compensation for kin of farmers who died during the course of the protest.

The statement said it should be noted that none of the assurances given by the central government in its letter to the SKM dated December 9, 2021, has been fulfilled. "The Morcha warns the BJP government against challenging the farmers' patience, and declares that if the promises are not fulfilled at the earliest, the farmers will be left with no option but to resume the agitation," the SKM said.

In its letter, the Centre had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that a committee will be constituted on MSP and it would have officials from central and state governments, representatives of farm unions, including from the SKM, and agricultural scientists.

It had stated that governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana had agreed to withdraw cases against farmers with immediate effect. The Centre had also said that cases registered against farmers and their supporters in Delhi and union territories would also be withdrawn.

It had said that Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments had given their in-principle approval to provide compensation to the kin of farmers who died during the agitation. Thousands of farmers across the country observed "Day of Betrayal" on Monday over the Centre's non-fulfilment of its promises.

"Protest demonstrations were held in hundreds of districts and blocks across India, and memoranda were submitted in the name of the President of India through district collectors, SDMs and ADMs," the SKM said in its statement.

The memorandum addressed to the President stated that as the Head of the State, it is the President's constitutional obligation to protect the interests of farmers and warn the government against committing this "fraud" with them.

"Due to the tireless efforts of the farmers, despite the lockdown and the economic slowdown, the agricultural production of the country has increased continuously. Playing tricks with farmers can be disastrous for the whole country," the memorandum stated. The SKM said it will continue its "Mission Uttar Pradesh" and campaign across the state to punish and defeat the BJP. "The new phase of the mission will be announced at a press conference on February 3," it said.

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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 31 (ANI): A Traffic Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Bengaluru has been suspended after he was seen allegedly kicking a woman near the Town Hall in Bengaluru in a video that went viral, informed the traffic police in the statement.

Traffic Police said that he had attacked her after she tried to hit him with a stone when her car, parked in a no-parking zone, was towed. The incident took place on January 24.

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"Traffic ASI Mr Narayan who allegedly assaulted a woman is suspended on January 29," said the traffic police in the statement.

"ASI attacked her after the lady got angry and tried to attack him with a stone. As her car was towed which was in no parking zone," the statement added.

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The woman has been sent to police custody. (ANI)

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CONROE, Texas  Former President Donald Trump is dangling the prospect of pardons for supporters who participated in the deadly Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol if he returns to the White House.

If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6th fairly, Trump said Saturday night during a rally in Conroe, Texas. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.

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The offer represents an attempt by Trump to further minimize the most significant attack on the seat of government since the War of 1812. Participants smashed through windows, assaulted police officers and sent lawmakers and congressional staff fleeing for their lives while trying to halt the peaceful transition of power and the certification of rival Joe Bidens victory.

More than 700 people have been arrested and charged with federal crimes in connection with the riot, marking the largest investigation in the Justice Departments history. The tally includes more than 150 people charged with assaulting police officers, more than 50 charged with conspiracy, and charges of seditious conspiracy against the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, and 10 other members or associates.

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More than 100 police officers were injured, some critically, after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, following a Stop the Steal rally by Trump near the White House in which he falsely claimed Biden had won election through massive voter fraud.

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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Sunday described Trumps suggestion of pardons as inappropriate. Collins, one of seven GOP senators who backed an unsuccessful bid to convict Trump on impeachment charges for his role in stoking the Jan. 6 riot, said it would be very unlikely she would support him if he ran in 2024.

January 6th was a dark day in our history, she told ABCs This Week. We should let the judicial process proceed.

As president, Trump used his pardon power to pardon or commute the sentences of numerous political allies, friends and associates, including his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon; his former campaign chair, Paul Manafort; his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn; and a longtime friend and political ally, Roger Stone.

Trump has criticized the Democrat-led House for its ongoing investigation of the riot.

While his supporters overran the Capitol on Jan. 6, Trump ignored desperate pleas from allies to forcefully disavow the attack and has repeatedly praised those who participated in the protest.

It was a lot of love there, he said recently of those who attended the rally in an interview on Fox News. Believe me, there was a lot of love and a lot of friendship and people that love our country.

Trump, who was impeached by the House for his role in inciting the insurrection but acquitted by the Senate, has been teasing a third run for the White House in 2024.
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): A meeting of the Union Cabinet will be held on Tuesday at 10:10 am to approve the Union Budget 2022-23.

After getting the nod from the cabinet, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022-23 in a paperless form for the second time on February 1. Earlier, the Union Budget of 2021-22 was delivered in paperless form last year for the first time.

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The Budget Session of Parliament will commence today and is scheduled to conclude on April 8 wherein the first part of the session will extend up to February 11, said the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Sunday.

"There will be a break from February 12 to March 13 during which the Standing Committees will examine Demands-for-Grants of Ministries/Departments and prepare reports thereon. In all, there will be 29 sittings; ten in the first part and 19 in the second part," the Lok Sabha Secretariat's press release stated.

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The President will be addressing both the Houses of Parliament assembled together on January 31 at 11 am.

"Half-an-hour after President's Address, the Lok Sabha will sit for the transaction of business," the release stated.

As per the Secretariat, the Economic Survey 2021-22 will be laid by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in Lok Sabha on January 31, while the Budget will be presented by her on February 1 at 11 am.

From February 2 to February 11, the House is scheduled to sit from 4 pm to 9 pm. Thus, five hours have been scheduled per sitting during the first part of the Budget Session.

"During the first part of the session, the members will be accommodated in Lok Sabha Chamber and its Galleries (except Press Gallery) and Rajya Sabha Chamber and its Galleries (except Press Gallery)," the release informed.

As per the Secretariat, there will be two major items of business during the first part of the budget session; a discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address and a general discussion on the budget.

"The government has tentatively fixed four days for discussion on Motion of Thanks viz. February 2, 3, 4 and 7," they informed.

During the First Part of the Session after the presentation of the Budget (February 2-11), the release stated, 40 hours of normal time will be available for various Businesses such as Question, Private Members' Business, Discussion on Motion of Thanks, General Discussion on Union Budget, etc.

"Keeping in view the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic, elaborate arrangements have been made in the Lok Sabha Chamber and other parts of Parliament House Complex," the release stated.

"To ensure the norms of social distancing, members will be allotted seats in Lok Sabha Chamber (282), Lok Sabha Galleries (except Press Gallery) (148), Rajya Sabha Chamber (60) and Rajya Sabha Gallery (51)," it added.

It was also informed that arrangements have been made for COVID vaccination and testing in the Complex for Members of Parliament and other visitors. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) C K Birla group firm Orient Cement Ltd on Monday reported an 18.9 per cent decline in its net profit to Rs 43.67 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021.

It had posted a net profit of Rs 53.88 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, Orient Cement said in a BSE filing.

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However, its revenue from operation during October-December 2021 rose 2.13 per cent to Rs 617.52 crore, compared with Rs 604.61 crore in the year-ago period.

Orient Cement's total expenses stood at Rs 552.61 crore in the December 2021 quarter, a 4.61 per cent jump as against Rs 528.24 crore a year ago.

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Meanwhile, in a separate filing, Orient Cement said its board in a meeting on Monday considered and declared an interim dividend of 75 per cent, which is Rs 0.75 per equity share of a face value of Re 1 each for 2021-22

Shares of Orient Cement Ltd on Monday settled at Rs 167.95 on the BSE, up 2.07 per cent from the previous close. HRS hrs

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Ottawa [Canada], January 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Canada will withdraw non-essential employees and their families from its embassy in Kiev, while the diplomatic mission will remain open to provide assistance to Canadian citizens, the country's government announced on Sunday.

"Canada has made the decision to temporarily withdraw non-essential Canadian employees and remaining dependants from the Canadian embassy in Ukraine," the cabinet said in a statement.

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The government said it will continue to closely monitor the developments in Ukraine and focus on the safety of Canadian citizens as its top priority.

"Our officials stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens, as required. The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine remains open," the statement said.

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Ottawa announced earlier that it was temporarily withdrawing the families of diplomats with children under 18 from Ukraine due to the tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border. (ANI/Sputnik)

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Abuja, Jan 31 (AP) Dozens of civilians and security personnel have been killed in attacks by gunmen in three states in Nigeria's troubled northern region, authorities said Monday.

The armed men that killed dozens in the northwest and central regions targeted local communities including some of their former members who had laid down their arms, according to the police and government officials.

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In Katsina state, the gunmen came in over 200 motorcycles and invaded Ilela village which is just 77 km (47 miles) from the state capital, police spokesman Gambo Isah told The Associated Press.

It was a serious fight between the repentant and unrepentant bandits," Isah told AP. They ganged up from everywhere against the repentant bandits  12 persons were confirmed dead.

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In Niger state which neighbours Nigeria's capital, Abuja, authorities said many people including 11 security personnel were killed on Saturday when terrorists overran a security outpost and attacked neighbouring villages in Shiroro local government area.

The attackers numbered more than 100, according to Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable.

Eleven persons were also killed in Kaduna state early Sunday morning when assailants attacked the Kurmin Masara village in Zangon Kataf local government area, a state official said in a statement.

According to the reports, troops of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces who responded to distress calls from the area also fell into an ambush as they mobilized to the scene of the attack, said Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs. Over 30 houses and properties were burned in the attack.

He said authorities have been deployed in the area to arrest the assailants who mostly consist of young men from the Fulani ethnic group, who had traditionally worked as nomadic cattle herders and are caught up in a decades-long conflict with Hausa farming communities over access to water and grazing land.

Nigerian authorities recently declared the gunmen operating in more than 100 groups as terrorists but the situation has not noticeably improved, especially for the remote communities where security operatives are outnumbered and outgunned.

Saturday's attack in Niger state would have been unsuccessful" if villagers ... "had alerted the security agencies when they noticed movements of the terrorists towards the town, the Niger state governor said, blaming the residents for the killings of their community members.

But locals themselves have been killed or abducted in the past for simply informing security operatives about the movement of the armed groups.

In addition to women and children, local authorities have also been targeted in the violence across northern Nigeria. The chairman of Shiroro LGA in Niger told AP Monday that his relatives including his elder brother and children have been held for more than a month because he has been talking to reporters about the attacks.

We have really run out of patience with the terrorists, Niger Governor Bello admitted while condemning the latest violence via a statement issued by his office. We'll use every means possible to bring an end to these incessant bloody attacks on innocent people.

In a separate incident, five Islamic extremists were killed over the weekend in Nigeria's northeast where the militants have waged an insurgency against the government, according to the Nigerian army. (AP)

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Berlln, Jan 31 (AP) The German government is set to miss a target of giving at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine to 80% of the population by the end of January.

With one day to go before the end of the month, official statistics on Monday showed that 75.8% of Germany's 83 million residents have received at least one shot, 74% are fully vaccinated and 52.8% have also received a booster.

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The target "has been missed, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit acknowledged at a regular news conference. The vaccination rate is significantly better than it was before, but it isn't 80%.

Causes include unwillingness to get vaccinated and "perhaps also communication weaknesses, Hebestreit said. He noted that the pace of vaccinations, which in December sometimes topped 1 million per day, slowed over Christmas and hasn't recovered as much as officials hoped. Over the past week, an average 351,000 shots per day were administered.

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While the number of people getting boosters has risen quickly, the proportion of the population getting a first shot has only crept higher in recent weeks.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germany's 16 state governors decided a week ago to keep various restrictions in place in the face of rising infections, but not to expand them. Scholz also announced a new advertising campaign to encourage vaccination.

The health minister has said that a wave caused by the omicron variant is likely to peak in mid- to late February. At the moment, I would warn against thinking too early that it's over, Hebestreit said.

German lawmakers last week debated a possible universal vaccination mandate, which Scholz supports but has left to parliament to design. It's unclear when any legislation will go to a vote, but it will be spring at least before any mandate comes into effect. (AP)

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Mexico City, Jan 31 (AP) A day after residents in a Mexican town dominated by a drug cartel claimed soldiers fired on a protest and wounded several people, the army on Sunday said its troops were attacked.

The Defence Department said army patrols around the town and a couple of other villages in the western state of Michoacan were attacked Saturday four times with explosives, homemade armored cars and gunfire that wounded 10 soldiers.

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The army accused townspeople of acting as the social base of the Jalisco drug cartel, which has been trying to make inroads into Michoacan.

Soldiers detained six protesters and nine suspected cartel members while confiscating nine rifles and tactical gear with Jalisco cartel logos, the army said.

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The clash occurred in an area where the Jalisco cartel is fighting a bloody turf war with gangs from Michoacan.

The two sides have used trenches, sharpshooters and bombs dropped by drones in battling each other. Increasingly, civilians have found themselves on the front lines of the fighting.

The main incident involved protesters from the Jalisco-dominated town of Lomas Blancas. They say their anger stems from what they see as government policy favoring the Michoacan-based Viagras cartel. The Jalisco cartel has encouraged, and some say forced, people to join the protests.

Soldiers are in a difficult position in Michoacan. The government strategy has been to repel attempts by the Jalisco cartel to gain territory in the state, but do little or nothing about the Viagras, who set up roadblocks to extort money from inhabitants.

Soldiers have apparently been ordered just to keep rival cartels apart, but that angers townspeople in Jalisco-dominated towns like Loma Blanca, because soldiers don't prevent the Viagras from operating.

The area raises limes and cattle, and the Viagras gang has imposed a war tax on outbound shipments of those products and on inbound supplies.

Protesters, who have faced off with soldiers before, are demanding the army open the roads and act with equal force against both cartels.

The protesters provided video of parts of the clash, showing demonstrators and soldiers engaged in shoving, shouting and rock throwing on both sides. In the video, detonations can be heard, but those may have been tear gas canisters or warning shots.

Protest organizer Jose Francisco Helizondo said several protesters were wounded by some kind of live fire.

Video of one of the men appears to show shrapnel or shotgun pellets in his leg. Officials said those wounds may have been caused by explosives. (AP)

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In the end, emerging from the great big ocean wearing a blue swimming cap and goggles -- and having swum roughly 110 miles in 52 hours and 54 minutes -- Diana Nyad still had enough strength to walk ashore Monday.

Failing four times over the years, on her fifth and final attempt this weekend, the 64-year-old Nyad officially became the first swimmer to go the distance from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Upon reaching shore at Smathers Beach in Key West, Fla., Nyad had three things to tell the mob of onlookers who had watched her achieve a lifelong dream.

One is, we should never ever give up, said a slightly dazed Nyad, whose slurred remarks were received with a roar by the crowd. Two is, youre never too old to chase your dreams.

Three is, it looks like a solitary sport, but its a team, Nyad concluded and then was taken away on a stretcher for medical examination.

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The crossing from Cuba to Florida has been attempted several times before, often punishing swimmers with jellyfish stings, sunburns, blisters and hallucinations.

Australian Susie Maroney, then 22, used a shark cage to complete the crossing in 1997 and fainted on live television after reaching the beach in Florida. Another Australian, Penny Palfrey, then 49, made it 76 miles north of Havana last year before calling it quits; she was then hospitalized to receive IV drips and pain pills to deal with dehydration, jellyfish stings and a blistered tongue.

Nyad, beating back worries over possibly having caught a cold, left Hemingway Marina in Havana on Saturday morning with a small flotilla of support staff, which included kayakers and shark divers to protect her from jellyfish and sea trash that might hinder her swim.

By Monday morning, on an official website that tracked the swim, Nyads staff reported that her tongue and lips had become swollen and that her doctors were concerned about her airways.

The waters had also gotten so cold at night that Nyad had not stopped to eat in the hopes that continuing to swim would keep up her body temperature.

In a 2011 live chat with the Los Angeles Times, Nyad said that in her first attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida, she lost 29 pounds in less than two days of swimming before she had to stop. The weight loss was inevitable, she said, in that swimming uses up more calories than shes able to take in during a swim.

That raises the question of why one would attempt such a punishing feat in the first place.

I am stunned, at age 61, at how fast it all flies by, she said in the chat, explaining her motivation to keep going. My mom just died. We blink and another decade passes. I dont want to reach the end of my life and regret not having given my days everything in me to make them worthwhile.

Two miles from the end of the swim Monday morning, Nyad stopped to address her support crew.

This is a lifelong dream of mine and Im very very glad to be with you, she told her team, according to an update on her website. Some on the team are the most intimate friends of my life and some of you Ive just met. But Ill tell you something, youre a special group. You pulled through; you are pros and have a great heart. So lets get going so we can have a whopping party.

Here are some tweets from after Nyad reached shore.

Hundreds waiting to greet @diananyad right now #xtremedream @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/42Pwkric7b Julia Bagg NBC 6 (@JuliaBaggNBC6) September 2, 2013

Photo from @diananyads crew after the 64yos historic swim from Cuba to Florida. #XtremeDream pic.twitter.com/jQSzMsM4J2 Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) September 2, 2013

Diana Nyad rocks. The 64 yr old is first to finish 110 miles swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage! pic.twitter.com/VPOaEOyoOr Judy Maggio (@judy_keyetv) September 2, 2013

She is here! @diananyad #xtremedream come true @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/UOFqdWBXSp Julia Bagg NBC 6 (@JuliaBaggNBC6) September 2, 2013

Just off the phone w/ #DianaNyad . She sounds strong, grateful, funny & fully enamored with life. More & more in awe of this #XtremeDream ! Diana Nyad (@diananyad) September 2, 2013

Congratulations to @DianaNyad. Never give up on your dreams. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 2, 2013

Congrats to Diana Nyad! What an amazing accomplishment and an inspiring demonstration of perseverance! Vicki Tremper (@vbtremper) September 2, 2013

Does Diana Nyad know you can fly from Cuba to Florida by connecting through Mexico? Josh Barro (@jbarro) September 2, 2013

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Palestinian militias launched more than 250 rockets into southern Israel from Gaza on Saturday, in the latest escalation of violence in the long-simmering conflict.

An Israeli man in Ashkelon died in the bombardment when his apartment suffered a direct hit. Meanwhile, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that five Palestinians had been killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, including a pregnant woman and a toddler. The circumstances under which they died remained unclear.

The Israeli army said its retaliatory airstrikes and tank fire struck more than 120 targets belonging to Hamas, the Islamist paramilitary group that controls Gaza, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or PIJ, a rival group that joined Hamas in the cross-border attacks.

The army also said it destroyed a PIJ tunnel connecting southern Gaza and Israel that was intended to be used to carry out a terror attack inside Israel.

Air raid sirens blared in the city of Beer Sheva, a major Israeli metropolitan hub in northern Negev. The spread of violence to the city represented a significant escalation in the conflict.

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The latest round of violence began with gunfire during Fridays Gaza border protests, in which two Israeli troops were wounded by a PIJ sniper, the Israeli army said.

According to the army, several dozen rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

Israel killed two Hamas operatives in airstrikes Friday, and two Palestinian protesters died in the border clashes.

An army spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, said that five or six Hamas and PIJ terrorists were killed by Israeli strikes on Saturday.

The renewed fighting threw the south of the country onto war footing, sending Saturday beachgoers into shelters and marring weekend plans for some 2 million people. School was canceled across all of southern Israel Sunday.

Conricus condemned the reckless and coordinated rocket fire effort.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Qanou said the militant group will continue to respond to the crimes of the occupation, and will not allow Israel to shed the blood of our people. He said Hamas was committed to defending and protecting the Palestinians in Gaza.

The escalation between Israel and armed factions in Gaza comes at a delicate moment  less than a week ahead of Israels memorial and independence days, and as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who retained his post after a close race last month, tries to form a coalition for his next government.

In addition, Israel has been gearing up for the Eurovision Song Contest, a marquee event that will be broadcast around the world.

Former army chief Benny Gantz, Netanyahus principal rival in the elections, blasted the prime minister.

When a lack of policy and consistency meets acquiescence to Hamas blackmail over the past year, we are met on a Saturday morning by heavy barrages on Israel and another round of extortion [by Palestinian terror groups], he said, at a public event.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus on Saturday called on Hamas and PIJ to end the attacks.

The United States strongly condemns the ongoing barrage of rocket attacks by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Gaza upon innocent civilians and their communities across Israel, Ortagus said. We call on those responsible for the violence to cease this aggression immediately. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to self-defense against these abhorrent attacks.

Before the latest intensification of clashes with Gaza, the city of Tel Aviv had heightened security preparations in anticipation of thousands of incoming Eurovision fans.

According to Israeli analysts, Hamas may hope that the pressure of the upcoming public events will improve the chances that the escalation will lead to a compromise and greater concessions for the Palestinian factions.

While the fighting was underway, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and PIJ leader Ziad Nahala were in Cairo, where Egyptian intelligence officials have spent months attempting to negotiate a long-term cease-fire with Israel.

Criticizing Israels tacit participation in the negotiations, Gantz said the Israeli government must reassert deterrence and only then seek a long-term agreement, without security compromises and without extortion.

More than a year after the regular Friday border protests began, with close to 200 Palestinians killed and with few tangible benefits, Hamas is eager to show Palestinians it made some strides against Israel ahead of Sunday night, the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, traditionally a time of family gatherings, festivities and spending.

Instead, the Israeli army announced the return to a stricter blockade of Gaza, which has been isolated by Egypt and Israel since 2007, when Hamas, which Western countries have listed as a terrorist organization, took power.

In a joint statement, Hamas and PIJ warned Israel that its response would be stronger and more widespread if Israel continued its strikes on Gaza.

Special correspondent Abu Alouf reported from Gaza City and special correspondent Tarnopolsky from Jerusalem.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said some areas in the country, such as the Upper Northeast and the Upper Midwest with Chicago, where COVID cases have peaked, are declining sharply.

He noted that the rest of the country, particularly the South and the Western states, have not yet peaked and probably still surging or leveling off. However, he said these areas will almost invariably going to turn around and come down, Yahoo Life reported.

Fauci said it will be a little bit more painful for those states that have not yet peaked, which for the most part are under-vaccinated or less vaccinated.

However, the White House top medical adviser believes that people can be cautiously optimistic about the situation as the trend is starting to come down and will ultimately come down for the whole country.

Fauci also warned the public about the new COVID-19 variant, which is a sub-lineage of the original Omicron variant. It is referred to as B.2 now and is spreading in Denmark.

He noted that it may have some transmission advantage over the original, which could mean it may be more transmissible. However, Fauci has not confirmed yet if B.2. is more severe than the original Omicron, saying that the risk of each could be "somewhat similar."

Fauci said there will be many breakthrough infections. However, he noted that the significant difference is that the level of hospitalization and severity in the unvaccinated versus the vaccinated is quite striking.

READ NEXT: Dr. Anthony Fauci Warns How Unvaccinated People Could Delay the End of COVID Pandemic in 2022

COVID-19 Cases in Florida

In Florida, the state is seeing a steep decline in the Omicron infection wave. However, the count keeps on jumping, and fewer Floridians are seeking the protection of vaccines and booster shots, according to Tampa Bay Times.

Florida officials reported 198,719 COVID infections during the period of January 21-27, which is a 53 percent drop from the Omicron peak of 430,297 cases reported on January 7-13.

Florida hospital also recorded 9,409 confirmed COVID patients last Friday, with a decline of 11 percent from the previous week.

Meanwhile, a Florida school district will no longer allow excused absences for students who remain at home due to COVID concerns.

Orange County Public Schools district said it is an additional strain to their teachers as they continue to handle assignments for large numbers of absent students, as reported by NBC News.

COVID-19 Cases in California and Texas

California is also starting to see a slight decline in the average COVID-19 cases, with about a 48 percent decrease prior to the week of January 19, according to ABC 7.

Kara Nelson, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley, said they might be a slight change, but it does not mean people can let their guard down yet.

Texas has been seeing an all-time low in the number of intensive care unit beds available for adult patients. More than 13,300 hospitalized Texans have been positive for the virus as of Wednesday, Texas Tribune reported. However, ICU admissions for adults with COVID are lower as compared to previous surges, and fewer patients need ventilators now.

READ MORE: CDC Recommends Shorter COVID Isolation Period for Health Care Workers Amid Omicron Variant

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Covid Cases 'Will Start To Turn Around' In A Few Weeks: Dr. Anthony Fauci - From MSNBC






The $1 billion investment in Everglades Restoration announced by the Biden Administration last week is not what it seems. This historic spend has been sugar-coated to taste like a huge win for the Everglades. In reality, it prioritizes the bitter interests of Big Sugar over true Everglades restoration.

As a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Florida, I know that I should be toeing the party line and cheering the Biden Administration and Floridas congressional Democrats who approved this funding. However, as an environmental activist, and a board member of the Everglades Trust, I feel compelled to call out the fact that not one of these billion dollars will be spent on completing the most vital action needed for true restoration: sending clean water from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades.

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Ken Russell is a City of Miami Commissioner and a candidate for U.S. Senate. He is a member of the board of directors of the Everglades Trust. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo)

The EAA Reservoir was approved by the state of Florida in 2017 and will help capture water from Lake Okeechobee, clean it of algae-causing nutrients, and send it south to the Everglades. This long-overdue plan is meant to reverse the mistakes of history that led to the man-made canals and harmful discharges that have decimated the east and west coasts of Florida with algae blooms and massive fish kills for years.

Yet, not one dollar of this recent allocation is going to the EAA Reservoir. Likewise, not one dollar will go to restoring the original flow to the River of Grass to replenish the Biscayne Aquifer and stave off salt water intrusion. Over the past year, I have traveled throughout the state  from the St. Lucie River to the Caloosahatchee and beyond  and understand that these are the actions that need to be taken for actual Everglades restoration. Others feel the same way.

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Captains for Clean Water, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit advocacy group, responded to last weeks announcement by saying: The EAA Reservoir project is known as the Heart of Everglades Restoration and it will provide the greatest reduction in discharges to the estuaries, yet none of this federal funding was allocated to the EAA Reservoir.

So where exactly is this Everglades money heading, and why wasnt the most important element  the EAA Reservoir  included? These questions raise bigger questions: How can the public distinguish between real Everglades restoration and pure political posturing? How can we distinguish between real champions for the Everglades, and elected officials who have merely green-washed their resume to appear environmentally conscious?

Follow the money and the political interests and those questions are answered. Big Sugar and Big Agriculture would like to control the flow of water to their greatest benefit. They would like for regulators to hold the water so they can use it and have the least amount of regulation for their polluting runoff. These industries invest millions in political contributions and campaigns to influence politicians and the public on their stance, but their greatest weapon has been to find environmental justification for actions that only serve their needs. They also point sole blame to the many other factors that contribute nutrients to our waters. This makes it very hard for the average voter to distinguish between efforts that benefit our waters, and to know which political leaders have been working on this vital issue that affects all Floridians.

If you take a look at the projects that are funded with this new billion-dollar earmark, you will see a patchwork of projects above and below Lake Okeechobee. They are not bad projects. They are all part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), which is meant to undo many of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plumbing mistakes of the past. The glaring omission, however, is the one single project that would bring the greatest relief to the Everglades and both coasts. The fully-approved EAA Reservoir sits on land that was hard fought from Big Sugar and would send water directly to the Everglades  not to the fields for watering sugar cane.

The environmental benefits of restoring the southerly flow would also have tremendous economic benefits. The fish kills and deterioration of coastal water quality fed by the discharges hurts tourism, fishing, and home values. So why was the EAA Reservoir not funded in this historic spend? We need to ask our representatives that question without letting them sugar-coat the answer.

Ken Russell is a City of Miami Commissioner and a candidate for U.S. Senate. He is a member of the board of directors of the Everglades Trust.
The oil spill off Peru's coast was twice as big as previously reported, with officials describing it as an "ecological disaster" and blaming it for the deaths of local fish and seabirds.

Environment Minister Ruben Ramirez said on Friday that almost 12,000 barrels of oil leaked into the sea on January 15, according to a BBC News report.

The oil spill in Peru happened when a tanker loading oil into the La Pampilla refinery was hit by strong waves connected to a volcanic eruption on Tonga. The waves moved the ship and caused the spill.

The La Pampilla refinery is owned by the Spanish firm Repsol. Peru's prime minister, Mirtha Vasquez, told the press that Repsol's La Pampilla refinery did not have a contingency plan for an oil spill.

READ NEXT: Mexico to Host 'Pink Tide' Summit for New Latin America's Leftist Leaders

Peru Oil Spill

Repsol officials initially described the oil spill as "limited" and said that it was working with authorities to clean up the beaches, according to The Guardian.

Peru's foreign ministry called on the company to "immediately compensate" for the damage caused by the oil spill that inflicted "serious harm to hundreds of fishermen's families."

The ministry also said it had endangered the flora and fauna in two protected natural areas. However, Tine Van Den Wall Bake, a spokesperson for Repsol, denied that the company should accept responsibility for the incident.

She said on national radio that the company did not cause the ecological disaster, and they could not say who was responsible.

Christel Scheske, conservation specialist from the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, said the environmental and social impacts of the Repsol oil spill in both the short and long term are devastating.

Scheske noted that the company's response has been weak, and the oil spill affected a highly biodiverse part of the Peruvian coast, including two protected areas important for Peru's astounding marine biodiversity.

Peru's environment ministry said the refinery could face a fine of up to $34.5 million as prosecutors investigated the company for environmental contamination.

Repsol Executives Barred From Leaving Peru

A judge in Peru has prohibited four executives of Repsol from leaving the country for 18 months as authorities investigate the oil spill.

Judge Romualdo Aguedo granted the prosecution's request to prevent Jaime Fernandez-Cuesta Luca de Tena, the company's president, from leaving the country with other executives.

Aguedo noted that there was a "potential risk" that the four would leave Peru, Aljazeera reported. Lawyers for the Repsol executives did not appeal the decision and said they would collaborate with the investigation.

Repsol's president is accused of being responsible for the crime of "environmental pollution to the detriment of the state." Meanwhile, the three other executives were considered as "accomplices."

Peru's Agency for Environmental Assessment and Enforcement said the Spanish oil company did not follow the deadline to identify the damaged areas.

Repsol noted that some 2,000 people were cleaning up the damage with the support of 119 heavy machines on land. They were also using 11 floating tanks and 52 boats.

La Pampilla is Peru's largest oil refinery. It also accounts for 54 percent of its refining capacity.

READ MORE: Guatemala Struggles With COVID Vaccine Rollout, Corruption Issues

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Peru Oil Spill: Judge Bars Repsol Executives From Leaving Country - From Al Jazeera English






Virginia Roberts Giuffre's father has spoken out about his daughter's case against Prince Andrew, saying that the royal is a "coward" for trying to dismiss the case against him.

Sky Roberts has accused Andrew of victim-blaming after the prince's lawyers filed paperwork last week in Manhattan listing a number of reasons why the case against him should be thrown out, New York Post reported.

The lawyers argued that Giuffre's "own wrongful conduct" was among the reasons why the case should be junked. Sky told The Mirror that Andrew's argument was the "coward's way out to try to blame the victim."

According to the court filings, Andrew also asked for the case to be heard by a jury trial if he fails to have the case dismissed.

READ NEXT: Former Buckingham Palace Official Says He Suspected Ghislaine Maxwell Had Intimate Relationship With Prince Andrew, Shows New Documentary

Virginia Roberts Giuffre's Case Against Prince Andrew

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who was also one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, filed the sexual abuse lawsuit against Prince Andrew last August 9.

She alleged that the Duke of York sexually abused her while inside the home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in London when she was 17 years old.

She noted that Andrew abused her at least three times in London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands between 2000 and 2002.

Giuffre claimed that she was forced to have sexual relations with Andrew by Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. She said she feared "death or physical injury to herself" if she disobeyed Epstein and Maxwell's orders.

Prince Andrew's Case Affecting the Royal Family

Prince Andrew's case has been affecting the royal family. Experts warned that Prince Charles' time as King would feature "more direct questions" and probing over Prince Andrew's than the Queen sees, according to The International News report.

Experts noted that Prince Charles would never "command anywhere close to the level of respect" the Queen has managed to retain during her leadership.

Buckingham Palace earlier stripped Prince Charles of his military titles and royal patronages. As a result, Andrew can no longer use the title "His Royal Highness," which is a symbol of his status as a senior member of the royal family.

In November 2019, the prince tried to explain his connection with Jeffrey Epstein in a BBC interview, which triggered a backlash after characterizing the behavior of the disgraced financier as "unbecoming," The New York Times reported.

Andrew also said that he had "no recollection" of meeting Giuffre and "no memory" of the controversial photograph "ever being taken."

The said picture of 17-year-old Giuffre and Prince Andrew, who has his arm around her waist, was reportedly included in the complaint filed on August 9.

The palace said Prince Andrew would continue to not "undertake any public duties" and that he is defending the case "as a private citizen."

Experts have speculated that Andrew might demand his accuser to prove the legitimacy of the photograph in question, as reported by Geo News.

Lawyer Rachel L. Fiset, the co-founder and managing partner of Zweiback, Fiset & Coleman, noted that the prince would "seek an expert's opinion on whether or not" the photo is real.

The photograph may be the single best piece of evidence that Giuffre has going forward in the case. In addition, it also corroborates her story and appears to place Andrew with another prominent member of the conspiracy at the location of the said abuse.

Fiset said the case would likely not have garnered much media attention without the photograph. She added that with the picture, Giuffre's story seems credible.

READ MORE: Prince Andrew Reportedly "To Be Banished" From Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee Celebration Amid Virginia Roberts Giuffre's Case

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Prince Andrew Formally Responds to Virginia Giuffre Lawsuit - From Good Morning America






Prosecutors have reached a plea deal with two of the three men convicted for the Ahmaud Arbery shooting in a federal hate crimes trial. This is according to court documents the U.S. attorneys filed late Sunday.

They submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District in Georgia a notice of two plea agreements for Gregory McMichael and his son Travis McMichael, but the specifics of the agreements have yet to be released.

Neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, the third convicted murderer in the case, was not mentioned.

Calls and emails seeking information regarding the plea deal were not answered by lawyers representing the McMichaels in the murder trial.

The court would have to approve any such agreement, and Arbery's parents would most likely have a say in it, NPR reported.

In early January, a proposed deal for the same two defendants named in Sunday's notices were made. In the said deal, the two would agree to serve 30 years each if they admitted the crime was motivated by hate.

Arbery's parents, Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery, refused to endorse the deal.

Now, in a statement about the latest filings, Arbery's parents addressed it and said they are "vehemently against this deal" since they believe it would allow the McMichaels to serve time for both cases in a "preferred" federal prison.

Per NBC station WTLV, the couple claimed, "This proposed plea is a huge accommodation to the men who hunted down and murdered Ahmaud Arbery."

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Arbery's family saw a glimpse of justice in November. The three men were all convicted for murdering the 25-year-old man in February 2020.

On February 7, when jury selection begins, the McMichaels and Bryan will face a hate crime trial in federal court. "Due to his race and color," the McMichaels, who are white, targeted Arbery, a Black man, according to the accusations filed by the Department of Justice.

For the murder, the McMichaels were already sentenced to life without the chance of parole, while Bryan was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, per BBC.

In the meantime, the McMichaels' pleas have not been accepted by the District Court.

Attorneys representing Wanda Cooper-Jones did not respond to requests for comment.

Ahmaud Arbery's Killing

Arbery, a 25-year-old Brunswick native, was jogging in a largely white neighborhood when the three chased and cornered him in pick-up trucks before shooting him during a fight.

The defendants argued they were acting in self-defense when they attempted to apprehend a suspected burglar, but prosecutors claimed race played a factor.

Several cases regarding race relations, the use of force, and police behavior contributed to nationwide protests.

READ MORE: DNA Points to Suspect of 2005 Killing; Authorities Arrest Man 17 Years After Murder

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Federal prosecutors reach plea agreement with Greg and Travis McMichael - from WJCL News


A busy Laois filling station and shop has been shortlisted for a prestigious retail award.

Mighty MolsMountrath has been shortlisted in the Food to Go Retailer of the Year and C-Store Off-Licence Retailer of the Year categories.

A statement said the ShelfLife C-Store Awards are the only comprehensive and independently judged business accolades for the C-Store sector and MACE.

To be shortlisted for a ShelfLife C-Store Award is a big achievement for the staff at the Mountrath shop, while winning an award is the high point of the year for those fortunate enough to do so.

Commenting on their achievement to date, MACE Sales Director Peter Dwan said: The honour of being shortlisted in the annual ShelfLife National C-Store Award is a tremendous acknowledgement of the ongoing excellence of MACE, Mighty MolsMountrath. To be shortlisted in two categories is truly outstanding and I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Dermot Mulhall and all involved on being shortlisted.

The 20th annual ShelfLife National C-Store Awards in association with Cuisine De France & The National Lottery will take place at Dublins Royal Marine Hotel on March 10.

A high point in the retail calendar every year, the gala ceremony will be an opportunity to celebrate the hard-working retail managers who have shown tremendous dedication to their customers and colleagues during the outbreak of Covid-19.
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.

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 Co 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.
I am proud to be Jewish. Or at least I always was, but lately that has been difficult.

I am not one to stifle my identity or opinions, that I am often told I have too many of, as a progressive and politically active Jewish student. Growing up in a sheltered Reform Jewish suburb in Miami, I was always told about the existence of antisemitism and hate towards my community but that always seemed so far away.

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I saw it on the news and was educated on the history of members of family escaping Poland, as the rest of their community and loved ones were systematically murdered by the Nazis.

Olivia Solomon is a junior at UCF.

In third grade, one of my classmates had asked me if I was afraid of going to hell because I was Jewish. In my eight-year-old fashion I brushed it off, not thinking much about this. I remained happy in my bubble of temple youth group and the matzo ball soup Jewish culture that built me unaware of the hate that came attached to my genes and upbringing.

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Never a fan of religion, I absorbed my Judaism as a culture. This was Jewish sleep away camps in the summer, funny Yiddish words like schlep, and the idea that being Jewish brought people together. The notion that being Jewish meant I had a duty to advocate for others and help to repair the injustices I see in the world.

But now, I find myself more hesitant to go enjoy Shabbat Dinners on Friday at the campus Jewish student center. I find myself changing Saturday plans with friends in order to avoid the neo-Nazi clan that congregates outside of the Waterford Lakes Plaza.

I refuse to suppress myself because of the hatred and ignorance of others. But this cannot be done alone. As a political activist and someone who throws myself into fighting for equality for all, I often find myself the only Jew in these spaces. I never really cared about this or even noticed, until antisemitism started to rear its ugly head. Recent headlines of a congregation in Texas being held hostage on Shabbat morning and flyers with embolden swastikas and disturbing rhetoric towards Jews posted around campus stuck with me.

All these make it harder to be the only one I see speaking out in those spaces. I wanted to rip down those flyers, yell back at the neo-Nazis holding signs saying Jews are ruining the world, scream at the top of my lungs that Jews must be included in your activism and I am tired of losing my voice fighting for everyone else only for them to remain silent when it is my existence called into question.

But I keep my hands in my pockets for fear of blades behind the flyers, keep my head down and avoid the area too afraid of the unhinged reaction I may elicit. I am tired of being afraid. Stop antisemitism. Stand up for your Jewish friends. It is beyond time.

Olivia Solomon is a junior at UCF.
Laois councillors are planning to make up for the past two years of missing out on a visit to New York for St Patrick's Day.

The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council should be accompanied by the past two years' chairs, who couldn't go because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council has received their annual invitation to take part in the huge parade, by the Laois Association in New York. The usual visit is over several days and involves walking in the parade, as well as attending meetings to promote Laois for business and tourism.

"I do feel that for the past two years that the Chairs couldn't go, they wanted the opportunity to go. They should be afforded that opportunity," Cllr Willie Aird said.

"It's a very good idea, they might never get the chance to get that honour," agreed Cllr Paschal McEvoy.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Conor Bergin gave a speech announcing his honour at the opportunity.

"The last representative to attend was Cllr John King. I will be honoured to represent the people of Laois abroad. It is my intention to leave my calling card for Laois. I'll be meeting the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland to promote business, remote working in Laois, and tourism.

"This is a significant opportunity to renew old ties, and reach out to the diaspora. It is impportant that we reengage face to face meetings. Other counties will also send representatives.

"I vote that myself, the Chief Executive and area representatives go and report back," he said.

Cllr John King proposed accepting the invitation, with Cllr John Joe Fennelly seconding.

"It's a great honour for the Laois people who left our shores, they are so proud, you see the tears and the joy.

"This is not a luxury trip. You'd want to be fit before you go," he added.

"It's one hour and 56 minutes of walking from the start to the finish," added Cllr Paschal McEvoy.

Only members of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael get to go on the paid trip. As majority voters they always vote for their own parties to be chairs of the three Municipal Districts and the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council.

Labour Cllr Noel Touhy is one of six other Laois councillors who are also Independents or members of Sinn Fein and so won't be heading to the States.

"I've a hat, let's draw straws," he quipped.
Social enterprises based in County Kildare are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Social Enterprise Development Fund 2022 and the Social Enterprise Start-Up Fund (SESUF) which have officially opened for applications.

It follows after Rethink Ireland recently published a report highlighting the impact of its SEDF, and it included three Kildare-based social enterprises: Sensational Kids; Sparkability and Clever Little Handies.

The SEDF was created in 2018 by Rethink Ireland, in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and funded by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Its aim is to find and back social enterprises in Ireland by making cash grants and strategic business support available to Awardees.

Commenting on the news, Stephanie Walsh, Business Development Director at Rethink Ireland, said: "Over the past four years, we have supported social enterprises throughout Ireland to provide responses to urgent social issues, while working closely with local communities."

"These social enterprises work to promote access to employment, delivering training and giving a voice to those not often heard in society; creating local solutions to the global climate crisis; and providing bespoke, holistic services to our most vulnerable in society."

George Jones, Group Director and Chairman of IPB Insurance, added: We are delighted to renew our support for a further two years of the SEDF with Rethink Ireland and the Dept of Rural & Community Development in partnership with our local authority members."

"Working alongside our local authority Members, our collaboration with Rethink Ireland and the Dept has focused on identifying and supporting the best social enterprises nationwide with the added benefit of promoting the sector as an important contributor to Ireland's socio-economic development.

He continued: "I think the need for Social Enterprises has been highlighted more than ever by the pandemic and global conversations around sustainability: Social enterprises are motivated by seeing a social need and setting out to meet that need in a sustainable manner."

According to Rethink Ireland, the SEDF has supported 112 social enterprises and created 209 jobs nationwide,

The group added that it has succeeded in delivering services to over 270,000 people throughout Ireland and mobilised 16,507 volunteers.

Applications for the 2022 SEDF and SESUF will be open until March 3 and can be found on Rethink Irelands website, www.rethinkireland.ie.
A book which examines the murder of a British Army officer has been published as part of Decade of Commemorations Programme for County Kildare (KDCP).

Wilful Murder. Lt. John Hubert Wogan-Browne, Kildare, 10 February 1922, written by author Mark D McLoughlin, is the latest publication to be produced as part of the KDCP.

The synopsis reads as follows: "On 10 February 1922, a British Army officer, Lt. Wogan-Browne, was shot dead during a robbery in Kildare town."

"The murder sent shockwaves through the local community and contributed to a crisis in Anglo-Irish relations: British troop withdrawals were suspended and there was outrage at Westminster.

"The Irish Republican Army, British Army and Royal Irish Constabulary combined to search for the culprits, while General Michael Collins sought to reassure Winston Churchill that everything was being done to catch those responsible."

A poignant excerpt of Michael Collins' reassurances to Winston Churchill is also featured in the synopsis: "Have just been informed by telephone that we have captured three of those responsible for the attack on Lieutenant Wogan-Browne."

"Everyone, civilian and soldier, has co-operated in tracking those responsible for abominable action... you may rely on it that those whom we can prove guilty will be suitably dealt with."

The new book is being published to coincide with the centenary of the murder.

Copies of the book are available for free in library branches throughout Kildare on a first come, first served basis.

It is also available to download at: https://www.kildare.ie/Library/LocalStudiesGenealogyandArchives/DecadeofCommemorations/CivilWar/

The publication is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Irish Water is seeking feedback from citizens in County Kildare for its draft Regional Water Resources Plan for the Eastern and Midlands Region (RWRP-EM).

The body's 13-week long statutory public consultation on its draft RWRP-EM will continue to run until March 14 2022.

Irish Water explained: "The three-month public consultation began on December 14 2021 and sets out the options for providing a more secure, reliable and sustainable water supply for 2.5 million customers in the Eastern and Midlands (E&M) region over the next 25 years."

"This public consultation is everyones opportunity to feed into the process of how Irish Water identifies the water supply issues in the region and determines what the options are to provide a more resilient water supply to customers."

Speaking about the public consultation on the draft plan, Angela Ryan, Water Resource Strategy Specialist for Irish Water, elaborated: Public consultation on the draft plan is now underway: development of the draft plan will allow our organisation, for the first time, to review water supply needs collectively across the entire E&M Region covering a broad spectrum of risk including quality, quantity, reliability and sustainability."

Map of the RWRP-EM region

"It will allow us to consider local options to resolve these needs and larger regional options that can address multiple supplies," she added.

Ms Ryan also said that the draft Regional Plan will also offer key benefits in terms of transformation of Ireland's supplies: "This will include the ability to cater for growth and economic development in a sustainable way, improved interconnectivity between our supplies to ensure balanced regional development, and new sustainable water sources that are adaptable to climate change such as the new Shannon source which is coming from the largest catchment in Ireland."

The organisation's series of public webinars will be held on February 2, 3, 7 and 8, and will provide information on the draft RWRP-EM and allow opportunities to pose questions to inform submissions.

"If you would like to be part of an online public webinar on the draft Regional Water Resources Plan Eastern and Midlands and associated environmental reports, you can provide an expression of interest on our website at www.water.ie/rwrp/easternmidlands," Irish Water said.

"The National Water Resources Plan will be the first resources plan for the entire public water supply in Ireland. It is split into four regions and the first regional plan to be developed is the draft RWPR-EM."

Irish Water continued: "There are 201 Water Treatment Plants in the Eastern and Midlands Region, which collectively serve 2.48 million people or 60 per cent of the population of Ireland, via approximately 19,000 kilometres of distribution network and 134 Water Resource Zones: these treatment plants also serve 76,000 businesses.

Submissions can be made by post or email by 14 March 2022, by email at nwrp@water.ie, or by post at National Water Resources Plan, Irish Water, PO Box 13216, Glenageary, County Dublin.

Irish Water further said that all submissions will be taken into consideration and responses to the issues raised will be summarised in a Consultation Report which will be published on www.water.ie/nwrp.
A Kildare Senator has welcomed the government's news that it will continue with a national register of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout Ireland.

Speaking in the Seanad this week, Labour Senator Mark Wall said: "I wish to raise, once again, our community first responders and the wonderful work that they do throughout all of our communities."

"I am sure the Deputy Leader is well aware of the work that they do her own community; I raised this matter previously in the House through a Commencement matter, namely, the need for a national register of automated external defibrillators, AEDs in this country."

He continued: "At the time, the Minister reported that such a register would be carried out through the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy, which is obviously currently being carried out.

"Surprisingly, the Minister for Health, in a follow-up parliamentary question - which is what I stated last time I spoke on this late last year  said that there were no plans to carry out such a register.

Senator Mark Wall, Labour Party

"However, I am glad to report that this has since changed again: the most recent reply through parliamentary questions to my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, and in a Commencement matter here in the Seanad yesterday, confirmed that this much needed register will be back on the table and will be implemented through that particular register."

Senator Wall then went on to say that there are "some wonderful examples" of groups throughout the country that have already completed an audit of their community AEDs and their locations: "It has been done in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, and in County Laois, and I hope the current review will talk to those involved and gather their experiences which have improved a life-saving device in relation to their local communities."

"A very important add-on matter that I would like to highlight as well is the urgent need to deal with criminal damage to our community-located AEDs that colleagues have highlighted to me: this is an horrendous piece of criminality.

Senator Wall elaborated: "My colleague, Councillor Carrie Smyth, has recently highlighted a number of AEDs that were damaged in her area.

"The national first responder network has also highlighted a number of other locations throughout the country where life-saving devices have been damaged. We never know when somebody in our community will need that AED... we need to do more to highlight this crime, it is just simply not acceptable."

After the debate, Senator Wall doubled-down on his stance: "These community AEDs are life saving and we must protect them.

"We must also make it easier for an AED, to be located in an emergency and a national register is the only way this is possible.

"I look forward to the day when we can use an app to locate our nearest one, who may the day when that may save a loved ones life," he concluded.
A Senator from Kildare has hit out at the presence of broadband delays for Kildare residents and business, calling them "unacceptable."

The comments were made in the Seanad by Labour Senator Mark Wall.

Senator Wall said: "In the Kilkea-Castledermot area, with which the Acting Chairperson will be familiar, people cannot get a mobile phone connection, never mind a broadband connection."

"I have raised this at the committee to which I referred earlier when NBI was in with us: it does not provide the peace of mind other Senators talked about here today.

"It does not provide peace of mind to them that when they go on to the NBI website they are told that it is due in 2023 or 2024."

Senator Mark Wall, Labour Party

He continued: "One of the biggest problems I have had - I raised this with the NBI officials when they were in on the day - is that when people see the erection of signs stating that the area is being surveyed and broadband is on the way, everybody gets excited about it but suddenly after the week of the survey, the vans have gone out of the area and that is it.

"There is no follow-up; I asked NBI to provide follow-up and to inform the people, as other Senators said today, that this is a process that has to be followed.

"There should be follow-up from the company. NBI should put up a sign after it leaves telling people about it; it should be going house-to-house in that area because they are there for a week.

"I have seen the vans, and it brings great excitement and then, as a couple of Senators mentioned, it is raised with us in terms of what happens next."

Speaking after the debate, Senator Wall said: "I have highlighted the many rural businesses in South Kildare who are so close to broadband connection points and yet the cannot avail of the service until the road that they are located upon is reached: this is 2023 or 2024 at the earliest."

"NBI and the Government must do better, they must give more hope to people: if we are to be serious about rural living then we must prioritise this.

"In some villages and towns, I am also getting problems with broadband... we need to see more progress," he concluded.
A group of women alleging bullying, misogyny and violence within the Irish armed forces has warned the Taoiseach that a judge-led review will not get to the heart of the toxic culture in the army.

Members of the Women of Honour group made the comments following a meeting with Micheal Martin on Monday at Government Buildings.

The Government said it will establish a judge-led independent review to look at issues related to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces.

Allegations of sexism, bullying, sexual assault and rape in the Defence Forces were uncovered in an RTE documentary last year.



Karina Molloy from the Women of Honour group talks to her solicitor outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin following her meeting with Defence Minister Simon Coveney (Niall Carson/PA)

The group of women has long opposed a judge-led review, and has called for a public statutory investigation to be carried out.

The group said that Mr Martin listened to their concerns and treated us courteously throughout the hour-and-a-half-long meeting.

We asked the Taoiseach to reconsider Government position regarding the approved but flawed and entirely unfit for purpose review into the issues raised with regard to the Defence Forces, the group said in a statement.

We also asked that the appropriate public statutory investigation be put in place with responsibility for that investigation being removed from the Department of Defence.

Unfortunately the Taoiseach has advised that the review will go ahead as is.

Whilst he is not ruling out a statutory inquiry it is unclear if or when any decision will be made on this and whether it is dependent on the outcome of the review.

The group has consistently called for a statutory inquiry which they say will get to the heart of matters.

We explained to the Taoiseach that another review, however well intentioned by Government, would not get to the heart of the toxic culture in the Defence Forces, they said.

If the issues that we have raised are not considered serious enough to merit a full statutory inquiry it is hard to understand what is.

We feel this review is throwing more good money after bad as previous reviews have been ineffective.

We strongly disagree with the position of government to act quickly in trying to address the issues raised without taking the time to truly understand the extent and depth of the problems.

This will result in nothing more than a painting over the cracks as opposed to lasting and meaningful change.



Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney (PA)

The group said they also raised concerns to Mr Martin about how they have been treated by Minister for Defence Simon Coveney.

The group claims they have been disrespectfully treated by Mr Coveney in a number of instances.

It comes after retired captain Diane Byrne and retired captain Yvonne ORourke said they felt deeply disillusioned following a meeting with Mr Coveney last week.

According to the Department, the review will advise whether current legislation, policies and procedures are effective at preventing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace.

It will include a review of the culture within the Defence Forces, before providing recommendations to the minister.

The department said an interim report will be submitted to Mr Coveney within six months, with a final report expected within nine months.

Retired judge Bronagh OHanlon will chair the review group.

The Department of Taoiseach has been asked for comment.
Sixty armed forces medics are to be deployed in hospitals in Northern Ireland after the Health Ministers latest request for military assistance was approved.

The Ministry of Defence said its personnel will provide support in hospitals across the region, helping deliver frontline services in intensive care units, emergency departments and respiratory wards.

Health Minister Robin Swann applied for the support in mid-January through the Maca (Military Aid to Civilian Authorities) arrangements.

The Maca request came amid increased hospital pressures due to high levels of staff absence due to Covid.

It will be the fourth time that the military has provided support in Northern Ireland during the pandemic.

Mr Swann said: Our health service has been battling Covid and its numerous obstacles for two years.

Whilst the recent surge in Omicron cases did not translate into the possible worst-case scenario in terms of hospitalisations, its clear that our health service continues to be under severe pressure.

Community transmission remains high, which inevitably has a knock-on impact on staff sickness and self-isolation.

Like my counterparts across the UK, I made this latest request to help support and bolster our frontline staff as they continue to navigate through this wave alongside the normal winter pressures.

Im grateful to the military personnel who will provide some much welcomed practical assistance to our health service in the coming weeks.

I know that their presence also serves as a morale boost to our own staff, who are understandably fatigued.

We all need to support our health service and its staff. With restrictions easing its important that we follow the public health advice to help stop Covid.

Mr Swann stressed the need for people to continue to come forward for vaccination.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: The UK Government is providing assistance to Northern Ireland at a crucial time, when healthcare capacity is urgently required to continue treating patients during the Covid pandemic.

The support of military colleagues to help with this vital work demonstrates the Governments continuing commitment to meet the needs of the whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.
Organisers behind the St Patrick's Day Parade in Newbridge (SPDPN) have announced a number of details for this year's much-anticipated return of the parade.

SPDPN has said that it is inviting the community and businesses in the area to participate in this years festival event.

The Parade Commitee explained: "This years parade will start at our usual time of 12 noon: there will be traffic diversions between 12noon and 1.30pm to maintain access to Whitewater during the parade."

Carl Murphy, Chairman of the Committee, said: "the SPDPN are delighted to announce that that at last we are back on track; great progress has been made with this years event and the entries are arriving in everyday."

"As always we are looking forward to some spectacular entries.

"Our last parade in 2019 was a great success with music, dancing and all kinds of wonderful displays, and we hope that this year will be bigger and better after a two year absence."

Murphy also urged participants to start thinking about and organising their float for the 2022 parade: "This years theme will be announced during the week on our Facebook page."

"As always, we have several awards up for grabs for the best floats in various categories and the best dressed shop window!" he added.

Anyone who wishes to enter a float can contact Carl Murphy at 087 6537847 or Morgan McCabe at 086 8128825, or email newbridgestpatricksdayparade@gmail.com.

In addition, the Committee can be contacted via the official SPDPN Facebook page.

Morgan McCabe, PRO for the Parade Committee, added that he hopes "all community groups get involved in this years event and makes it a great day out for everyone."
School choice has hurt neighborhood unity

Amy Pennock suggests that kids would benefit from a strong community (School violence can be prevented if community is proactive, Jan. 29).

Neighborhoods are certainly the backbone of our society. And school choice has undermined those neighborhoods. Instead of being the place where kids go to the same school, have friends, play together, participate in school activities, sports, the band together and parents are involved in the same activities, now kids in the same neighborhood attend several different schools, each with its own activities. The neighborhood and the families are separated in many directions. The school used to be the center of what went on in the neighborhood, where kids and parents were drawn together by the same interests and goals. That is a good system for everyone.

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Beth Brewer Orlando

Bland-sounding groups can have bad intentions

The Sentinels Sunday editorial (When lawmakers get quiet, its time to worry) made reference to the legislative bills that can be the most dangerous: The bills with bland titles and vague wording that can be impenetrable even to experienced politicos.

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Groups with names like Consumers for Smart Solar, Stop the Discharges Now and Friends of American Water ... when headed by any kind of conservative faction, I believe its probable that the agencies titles reflect the opposite of their intended agenda, much like Citizens United.

Cant thank you enough for your illuminating editorial.

Joe Galdo Ormond Beach

Education isnt always comfortable

With bills allowing school boards to be sued for encouraging study of racial history and gender, our Legislature has gone sadly astray. The purpose of education is to awaken minds and hearts, not to keep people comfortable. Banning books and silencing teachers hurts everyone  not only the already oppressed minorities, but even more those in the comfortable majority, by denying American history and our current social realities, and by perpetuating ignorance and illusion.

Marian Price Orlando

Baldwin Park has edge over Celebration

In the article, Some residents worry about loss of Celebrations charm (Jan. 31), it reminded me why I chose to live in Baldwin Park instead of Celebration 18 years ago. Both are organized as New Urbanism communities and both had some of the same developers and builders. Both are great places to live with similar amenities, but Baldwin Park has few tourists, is close to the city core for an easy work commute, has less traffic, is adjacent to Rollins College and close to downtown Winter Park.

James H. Schirtzinger Orlando
Faye Hayden, from Carrick-on-Shannon, has told of the rewards of bringing playfulness, humour and empathy to her volunteering work with a youth group in her region.

Her story about the benefits of volunteering is part of a new National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) campaign, urging people in Leitrim, and across the country, to consider volunteering with their local youth work groups, following a sharp decline in volunteer numbers as a result of the pandemic.

Faye runs the Young Carer Project in Roscommon and volunteers with autistic teenagers in Leitrim.

Speaking about her experience of volunteering, Faye noted how important it has been to meet young people on their level to help them express themselves: Hearing the words weird, odd, a bit strange  young people diagnosed as autistic get this all the time. And theres so much negativity that goes with that. So, at our youth group, we encourage them to embrace the weird. We love diving into their obsessions and learning all about them. And we use humour and playfulness to help the young people learn about social skills. We have a bit of craic with it, celebrating the extraordinary and unusual. I feel like thats what youth work volunteering needs to be  its all about making them feel that they matter.

The NYCI is urging people across the country to consider volunteering with their local youth work groups. The call comes in response to research figures published in its recent report Youth Work and Covid-19 which found youth work volunteer numbers across the country dropped by 64%, as a result of the pandemic, due to public health restrictions, personal health concerns and people not being in a position to work online.

The national volunteer recruitment campaign Community is You aims to inspire and encourage people to get involved with local youth work groups, and ultimately restore youth work volunteer numbers to pre-pandemic levels.

Commenting on the campaign, Mary Cunningham, CEO of NYCI, said: Local youth groups play an essential role in communities across Ireland, and volunteers are the backbone of these services. As a result of the pandemic, weve had a major decline in volunteer numbers in youth groups in every corner of the country and we would love to see these volunteers return, but equally we would love new people to get involved.

We know many people have seen the true value of their local community over the past two years and perhaps they may be thinking about giving back and becoming a volunteer. Its clear from the stories of volunteers the great sense of purpose that volunteering offers and we hope this campaign inspires people to take action and get involved so that we can rebuild our safe and secure spaces for young people.

NYCI is calling for people (aged 18 years and older) with all kinds of experience and skills to sign up and get involved with volunteering for their local youth groups. To find out more about youth work volunteering and opportunities, visit the webpage at www.youth.ie/community-is-you
The head of the World Health Organisation has said an investigation is under way into reports alleging that the UN health agencys top official in the Western Pacific engaged in racist, unethical and abusive behaviour.

It follows a report last week by the Associated Press (AP).

At a meeting of the WHOs executive board over the weekend, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was first made aware of staff complaints about the reported misconduct of Dr Takeshi Kasai in late 2021.

We take these allegations seriously and we have acted with urgency, said Dr Tedros.

He said WHO headquarters was told of the claims in late 2021 and it was now following due process with the co-operation of the staff member, without specifying Dr Kasai.

Last week, the AP published an investigation that found WHO staff members alleged that Dr Kasais abusive, racist and unprofessional behaviour compromised the agencys response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Kasai has denied the allegations.

The claims were laid out in an internal complaint filed in October and again in an email last week, sent by unidentified concerned WHO staff to senior leadership and the executive board and obtained by the AP.

Two of the authors said more than 30 staff members were involved in writing it, and that it reflected the experiences of more than 50 people.

The internal complaint and the email describe a toxic atmosphere with a culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing at the WHOs Western Pacific headquarters in Manila, led by Dr Kasai, director of a vast region that includes China and his home country of Japan.

The AP also obtained recorded snippets of meetings where Dr Kasai is heard making derogatory remarks about his staff based on nationality.

Eleven former or current WHO staff members who worked for Dr Kasai told the AP he frequently used racist language.

During Saturdays closing session of the WHOs executive board meeting, several countries pressured the organisation to investigate the allegations of misconduct reported by the AP.

Britains representative to the WHO called on the agency to promptly investigate the claims and said we regret to have heard of this first in the media, saying the WHO should have shared the information with its executive board as soon as it learned of the concerns.

The US said the reported racist and abusive behaviour undermines the core values and essential lifesaving work of WHO and its regional offices around the world.

Dr Tedros said because an investigation was now under way, he could not share more details about it.

Lawrence Gostin, of Georgetown University, called Dr Tedros the moral conscience of the pandemic.

But the only way you can have credibility in your moral standing is if youre leading an organisation which itself is behaving at the highest ethical standards, and too often that hasnt been the case with WHO, he said.

The WHO staff members who first reported the claims of abuse said they have not been informed of any investigation.

Frances diplomatic mission in Geneva last week said that if the reports prove to be true, the consequences could include Dr Tedros consulting with the executive board to have Dr Kasais contract terminated.
A RATHKEALE man who pleaded to two counts of assault on two different men as well as two counts of criminal damage had his case adjourned at Newcastle West to allow a pre-sanction report to be prepared.

Before the court was William Mulcaire of Ballingrane, Askeaton who went to a residence at Stoneville, Rathkeale on the evening of October 13, 2020.

The owner of the house was working at the back of the house, Inspector Liam Wallace told the court, when Mr Mulcaire came into the property and was looking to speak to the owner quite aggressively.

The man said he would talk to him in a few moments and then went to the front of his house to see what Mr Mulcaire wanted.

Mr Mulcaire, the inspector said, ran from the front of the house, struck the owner and then repeatedly punched him on the ground. The inspector added the defendant was on the premises without the permission of the owner and was there as a trespasser.

On October 15, 2021, Inspector Wallace continued, at 4.30 in the afternoon, Mr Mulcair went into the yard of another man at Ballingrane, where he struck him and punched him in the mouth.

Mr Mulcaire was described as quite intoxicated, the inspector continued, and then left. As gardai looked for him in the area, Mr Mulcaire returned to the mans house, rammed the eclectic gates with his vehicle and broke the keypad to the gates off the wall.

Pleading for his client, solicitor Ted McCarthy said he had a history of mental illness, was in contact with the mental health services and on considerable daily medication.

You might consider a pre-sanction report, he suggested to Judge Carol Ann Cooligan.

The judge agreed and she ordered that a report to be prepared by May 24.
A LIMERICK centre is calling for home carers to provide respite to families where a child has additional needs, following countywide staff shortages.

Avista St Vincents Centre, based in Lisnagry, is seeking host carers in West limerick, North Tipperary and Limerick city to provide additional supports for families who have children with Disabilities.

Home Sharing is a respite option for children with disabilities, which involves sharing your home with a child for short breaks and including them in your everyday life activities as much as possible.

Avista St Vincents centre, Lisnagry limerick has over three decades of experience in facilitating home sharing supports.

Constant caring can be demanding for a family and child with additional needs and at times may become overwhelming.

The provision of home sharing has been found to reduce stress, strain and burn out in families, and so provide a valuable means of enhancing families coping resources, a spokesperson stressed.

Hosts have reported it is a rewarding experience in the knowledge you are helping, encouraging and enhancing a childs choices and experiences.

People can offer to care for children of different abilities usually once a month but this can be extended depending on availability,

Avista also has an option of contract care in home sharing which could provide an alternative income for a family or supplement an existing one.

Those single, married or co-habiting, with or without children, can apply.

Experience with disabilities and caring is desirable but not essential.

A spokesperson informed that basic training will be provided for all interested applicants subject to a final application assessment and vetting process.

If you are interested in receiving more information on what is involved in becoming a host carer and the scheme, please get in touch, they concluded.
A LIMERICK-based student reached two momentous milestones in the space of a few minutes, walking away from her graduation ceremony with a masters degree and her hand in marriage.

Congratulations to Nhi and Tony who got engaged after our Kemmy Business School Graduation last week. We wish you all the best! #ULGlobal #UniversityOfLimerick #Engaged #Proposal #Graduation pic.twitter.com/KU9oEdXWvK  UL Global (@ULGlobal) January 25, 2022

Nhi Thao Nguyen swapped the rural life of south Vietnam for the University of Limerick in 2020, where she decided to pursue a Masters Degree in International Tourism.

Carrying on her familys dream of studying in a European university, Nhi obtained a First-Class honours and a Gold Presidents Volunteer Award also.

She thought of her father who passed away five months ago due to Covid-19, the same morning that she submitted her final dissertation.

He was waiting for this day for so long. I believe that in heaven, he is really proud of me, she told the Limerick Leader, after the recent winter conferring ceremonies where she received her parchment.

As one milestone passed, another presented itself, with her partner Tony stepping down on one knee, asking for her hand in marriage.

A collective cheer rung out from the front of the Foundation Building at UL, as graduates and their families bore witness to the romantic gesture.

On that day, I was already emotional because I would have loved for my dad to see me stepping onto the stage to get the Degree.

But he could not make it. So, when Tony kneeled down, I was so deeply touched and broke down. I sent the video to my mom, and she cried for the whole day, she said.

The pair met in Ho Chi Minh city where Nhi was running a coffee shop, while Tony was in Vietnam for the first time, to teach English.

When we first met, I told myself that three months is the maximum time to go out with this guy. Because we are completely opposite, she joked.

She added that they both love Vietnam and Ireland and plan to somehow live between the two countries in the future, eventually retiring together in her home country.

To be honest, without him, I could not have achieved this much. He is the best thing that came into my life.
THE MINISTER of State with responsibility for local government has acknowledged it will be a challenge to secure additional powers for the directly-elected mayor of Limerick.

Deputy Peter Burke made his comments in the Dail in response to questions from Limerick city TDs Kieran O'Donnell and Brian Leddin who sought updates on the status of the legislation which is required to give effect to the result of the 2019 plebiscite.

"I see that legislation is on the priority list. When does the Minister of State expect it to progress? What is the timeframe involved? Pre-legislative scrutiny took place and was signed off on November 11 2021. When does the Minister of State expect the election to take place? The people of Limerick voted and want to see it being delivered," asked Deputy O'Donnell.

In reply, Mr Burke, told the Dail it is a priority to get the legislation through the Oireachtas during the current term.

"It is up to the government to set a date for the election. I see my specific role as ensuring that the office of mayor - including the structure and governance aspects - is put in place so that the government can make its decision on the timing of the election. I assure all Deputies that we are working very hard on the matter. We have it on the priority legislation schedule. Hopefully, we will make significant progress on it this term," he said.

Deputy Leddin, who was a member of the implementation advisory group before his election to the Dail in 2020, said he remains hopeful an election will take place this year and that the directly-elected mayor will have significant powers.

"He or she should be able to set the priorities of the council, have power over the budget and the spending of the council and have the power to raise revenue. I firmly believe we should build into the legislation a review mechanism to make it better. We need to honour the plebiscite we had in Limerick city and county three years ago," he stated.

Noting the views of the two Limerick TDs, Mr Burke says he believes there will be resistance, in some quarters, to the transfer of powers to the new mayor.

"I encourage deputies to encourage ministers in various departments to give a significant amount of power to the mayor. A big challenge is getting power from Dublin devolved to Limerick. We can see the benefits this can bring in other jurisdictions. I would appreciate any help colleagues can give me in this regard," he said.
Investors are plowing money into funds that dont rely on the next macro genius or star stockpicker, but instead offer an army of traders who invest in an array of strategies. These behemoths secured pretty much all of the new money in the hedge fund industry last year, cementing a tectonic shift thats accelerated since the pandemic.

Clients are increasingly willing to pay high fees  outsized even by hedge fund standards  to gain access to a whole universe of investments, from U.S. stocks and precious metals to Asian currencies, executed by scores of traders who can be easily replaced if they stumble.

Its a stark contrast to the old business model: Launch a fund, name it after yourself, call the shots, profit. A generation of managers are finding this new style more appealing  and in some cases have little choice since flashy trading stars aren't in vogue with investors any more. With a shakeout underway in an industry that runs about $4 trillion, multi-strats are the only way to grow.

The Great Migration

Behind their epic rise is consistent performance during periods of market chaos. Take two of the oldest and largest multi-strat houses in the world: Millennium Management and Citadel. They pool investor money into huge funds, before parceling it out in various trading strategies  all under one roof, with layers of risk management to avoid trading accidents.

A $1 million investment in Millenniums multi-strategy pool at its launch in 1989 is worth about $67 million now. Citadel has turned a million dollars into about $236 million since its start in Nov. 1990. By contrast, $1m invested in the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index at the start of 1990, when the benchmark started, would be worth $18m.

Millennium has suffered one annual loss over three decades of trading, dropping 3% in 2008. Citadel has had two, falling by about 4% in 1994 and a whopping 55% in 2008, according to investor updates seen by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, more than 3,350 hedge funds have shut down in the past five years according to Hedge Fund Research Inc., some knocked out by market swings during the pandemic, highlighting how precarious single strategies can be.

Multi-manager platforms have in effect become the most efficient allocators of capital," said Caron Bastianpillai, who invests in a number of such funds at Switzerland-based NS Partners.

This dominance can crowd out new entrants. Abhijeet Gaikwad returned to Millennium, which runs $52 billion, this month after failed attempts to raise capital for his own fund. Industry veterans Colin Lancaster and Mitesh Parikh, who were on track to start their fund with $1 billion, last year took their business instead to multi-strategy firm Schonfeld Strategic Advisors. Theyve just been allocated $5 billion to run a macro trading unit.

Ryan Tolkin, chief investment officer of Schonfeld, said that for Lancaster, in the eyes of both himself, as well as investors, he would be able to attract and recruit better talent by partnering with Schonfeld than trying to do it on his own."

Its also leading to takeovers, a true rarity in the world of hedge funds. Glen Point Capital, which amassed $3.8 billion and the support of legendary investor George Soros in its early days, abandoned its independence last month after clients pulled their money. Eisler Capital, a multi-strategy hedge fund, bought the business.

Joining a multi-strat on Monday and having $500 million to punt around on Tuesday is a hell of lot more appealing than scrounging for $50 million of seed capital to start your own firm," Andrew Beer, founder of New York-based Dynamic Beta Investments, said.

To be sure, other forms of fund still control most of the assets under management in hedge funds, at least for now. And talented individual traders can still do well, cashing in handsomely when their specialized trading tactic is in vogue. But picking top managers is a gamble in itself. Billionaire Chris Rokoss record gains in 2020 were followed by his funds worst ever loss of 26% last year. Alphadyne, the New York-based hedge fund that had never lost money since its debut in 2006, finished last year down 21% after its bond market bets imploded.

Single-minded funds can also struggle with success, as growth spurts potentially make it more cumbersome to trade in the strategy that made their name. Any attempts to force change on a star trader could spook investors.

Multi-strats, meanwhile, have a low tolerance for underperformance. With individual managers less visible to clients, those who start losing in high single digits or overextend their risk can have their assets cut at best, and at worst can be fired on the spot.

Read More: Balyasny, BlueCrest, ExodusPoint Ground Traders Over Losses

This emphasis on rigor appeals to pension funds, foundations and endowments that have gravitated toward hedge funds, often without the resources to closely track what each managers doing. When the rest of the investment community opts for diversified multi-strats, why get on the rollercoaster with a rockstar?

The obvious downside is the price tag: expensive, but worth it, for the investors that continue to flock to these funds.

Clients at multi-strat funds typically sign up for high and opaque charges called pass through". Such charges can reach 10% or more on top of incentive fees, in sharp contrast with the standard hedge fund model of paying a 2% management fee and 20% of profit, with even these prices falling recently. The pass-through fee covers everything from boosting employee pay (and firing struggling traders) to covering office rent and even entertainment.

Some clients are also signing away their money for years. Millennium told investors in November that it had raised a record $10 billion for a fund that takes five years to exit fully. At least four other large multi-manager funds have changed their terms or started new share classes recently, all extending the time it takes for investors to get out.

Read More: Millennium, Citadel Winning the War to Keep Client Cash Longer

The idea that institutions willingly lock up their money for years then pay annual performance fees is the Frankenstein monster of incentive structures," said Beer of Dynamic Beta, which tries to replicate hedge fund returns through cheaper strategies. Imagine if VCs took profits when WeWork hit a $47 billion valuation."

Too Big to Fail

Still, multi-manager funds are pretty much the only part of the hedge funds industry still attracting new money. Hedge funds collectively have drawn no new money since 2008, with all of their growth fueled exclusively by performance, according to a Bloomberg analysis of Hedge Fund Research Inc. data.

By contrast, a sample of twenty multi-manager funds collectively boosted assets by 510% to $222 billion over the past decade, data compiled by Julius Baer shows. Thirteen of them are now closed to new money.

These funds, of course, come with their own set of risks. While multi-strats are more cushioned than rivals against moves in one particular market, critics are worried about the concentration of assets, made worse by eager banks offering them enormous leverage to juice up their bets.

Could you imagine the Fed allowing a $50 billion multi-strategy hedge fund to fail? I cant. Think about the pain that Archegos caused and that was tiny in comparison," said Will Potts, who is trying to start a multi-strategy fund by crowdsourcing investment ideas. The damage that would be done to the prime brokers would cause financial distortions, it would be LTCM on speed."

With echoes of the Long Term Capital Management rescue in 1998, the Federal Reserve pledged an unprecedented $5 trillion to keep markets running smoothly in March 2020 when an enormously leveraged bet called the Treasury basis trade froze  an intervention that veteran macro trader Paul Tudor Jones described as a nuclear bomb."

Read More: Before Fed Acted, Leverage Burned Hedge Funds in Treasury Market

Sean McGould, who runs Lighthouse Investment Partners, isnt concerned about a single event bringing down a multi-strategy fund, given their diffused risk-taking. Hes more worried about liquidity risk that may prevent leveraged hedge funds from turning bets. If for some reason liquidity just dried up for a long period of time, and maybe that could be caused by interest rates rising or some other condition, it certainly makes it harder," he said.

Over at Citadel, the biggest worry is making sure that the $43 billion firm remains in a position to respond to changes and keep attracting talent. The key is maintaining Citadels culture of meritocracy, focus on talent and not becoming complacent so that whatever the risk  be it market, credit, liquidity or pandemic  our culture puts us in a position to adapt," Zia Ahmed, a spokesman for Citadel said.

A spokesman for Millennium declined to comment.

The Lure

For now, multi-strategy funds are continuing to lure talent and money at a furious pace.

Danilo Onorino is feeling the pain of their success. He founded Dogma Capital in 2014 after a brief stint with Millennium, where he found risk limits too stringent and required him to alter his trading style. My strategy is not wild. I left because it was not a place for me," he said. Onorino runs $10 million from Lugano in Switzerland and says raising capital is almost mission impossible."

Its more of an opportunity for Richard Schimel, who launched Cinctive Capital Management in 2019 and has reviewed over 4,000 resumes, met with over 900 candidates and hired 53 traders. The equity-focused firm added risk arbitrage trading recently and plans to expand to macro and credit strategies, becoming home to scores of managers whod rather not strike out on their own.

Youre seeing a lot of those people who try and I give them credit for trying and hanging their shingle," said Schimel. In some cases, theyre going to get paid more being in a place like this than even starting their own businesses."

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
A scientific theory is a structured explanation to explain a group of facts or phenomena in the natural world that often incorporates a scientific hypothesis and scientific laws . The scientific definition of a theory contrasts with the definition most people use in casual language.

"The way that scientists use the word 'theory' is a little different than how it is commonly used in the lay public," said Jaime Tanner, a professor of biology at Emerson College in Boston. "Most people use the word 'theory' to mean an idea or hunch that someone has, but in science the word 'theory' refers to the way that we interpret facts."

Related: 5 sci-fi concepts that are possible (in theory)

The process of becoming a scientific theory

Every scientific theory relies on the scientific method . A scientist may make an observation and devise a hypothesis to explain that observation, then design an experiment to test that hypothesis. If the hypothesis is shown to be incorrect, the scientist will develop a new hypothesis and begin the process again. If the hypothesis is supported by the results of the experiment, it will go on to be tested again. If the hypothesis isn't disproven or surpassed by a better explanation, the scientist may incorporate it into a larger theory that helps to explain the observed phenomenon and relates it to other phenomena, according to the Field Museum .

A scientific theory is not the end result of the scientific method; theories can be proven or rejected, just like hypotheses. And theories are continually improved or modified as more information is gathered, so that the accuracy of the prediction becomes greater over time.

Theories are foundations for furthering scientific knowledge and for putting the information gathered to practical use. Scientists use theories to develop inventions or find a cure for a disease.

Furthermore, a scientific theory is the framework for observations and facts, Tanner said. Theories may change, or the way that they are interpreted may change, but the facts themselves don't change. Tanner likens theories to a basket in which scientists keep facts and observations that they find. The shape of that basket may change as the scientists learn more and include more facts. "For example, we have ample evidence of traits in populations becoming more or less common over time (evolution), so evolution is a fact, but the overarching theories about evolution, the way that we think all of the facts go together might change as new observations of evolution are made," Tanner told Live Science.

Characteristics of a good theory

The University of California, Berkeley , defines a theory as "a broad, natural explanation for a wide range of phenomena. Theories are concise, coherent, systematic, predictive, and broadly applicable, often integrating and generalizing many hypotheses."

According to Columbia University emeritus professor of philosophy Philip Kitcher, a good scientific theory has three characteristics. First, it has unity, which means it consists of a limited number of problem-solving strategies that can be applied to a wide range of scientific circumstances. Second, a good scientific theory leads to new questions and new areas of research. This means that a theory doesn't need to explain everything in order to be useful. And finally, a good theory is formed from a number of hypotheses that can be tested independently from the theory itself.

The difference between theories, facts and laws

Any scientific theory must be based on a careful and rational examination of the facts. Facts and theories are two different things. In the scientific method, there is a clear distinction between facts, which can be observed and/or measured, and theories, which are scientists' explanations and interpretations of the facts.

Some think that theories become laws, but theories and laws have separate and distinct roles in the scientific method. A law is a description of an observed phenomenon in the natural world that holds true every time it is tested. It doesn't explain why something is true; it just states that it is true. A theory, on the other hand, explains observations that are gathered during the scientific process. So, while law and theory are part of the scientific process, they are two different aspects, according to the National Center for Science Education .

A good example of the difference between a theory and a law is the case of Gregor Mendel. In his research, Mendel discovered that two separate genetic traits would appear independently of each other in different offspring. "Yet, Mendel knew nothing of DNA or chromosomes . It wasn't until a century later that scientists discovered DNA and chromosomes  the biochemical explanation of Mendel's laws," said Peter Coppinger, an associate professor of biology and biomedical engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. "It was only then that scientists, such as T.H. Morgan working with fruit flies, explained the Law of Independent Assortment using the theory of chromosomal inheritance. Still today, this is the universally accepted explanation [theory] for Mendel's Law."

Additional resources

Bibliography

Kenneth Angielczyk, "What Do We Mean by "Theory" in Science?" Field Museum, March 10, 2017. https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/what-do-we-mean-theory-science

University of California, Berkeley, "Science at multiple levels." https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_19

Philip Kitcher, "Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism," MIT Press, 1982.
By Lan Samantha Chang

W.W. Norton & Company. 320 pp. $28

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There are as many wacky ideas for novels as there are novelists. More, actually; many novelists move closer to the outer edges of imagination (theirs; ours) with each book. As proof, I submit "The Family Chao," the third novel by Lan Samantha Chang, in which she reimagines Fyodor Dostoevsky's epic "The Brothers Karamazov" as a contemporary Chinese American family drama.

Say (BEGIN ITAL)what?(END ITAL)

"Couldn't you have given yourself a more ambitious challenge?" I asked Chang during a lively transatlantic conversation, and we both laughed. Truth be told, I wasn't surprised by the length or the success of her reach. If you've read Chang -- and I strongly suggest you do -- you know that she lives and writes to push the boundaries of her craft and her world.

Raised by Chinese immigrant parents in Appleton, Wisconsin, Chang received her B.A. from Yale, her M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and was awarded creative writing fellowships by Stanford, Princeton, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2005, Chang returned to the Iowa Writers' Workshop, this time as its director, becoming the first woman, and the first Asian American, to hold that job.

While publishing short stories in prestigious literary outlets, including two issues of "Best American Short Stories," Chang wrote "Hunger: A Novella and Stories" (1998) and the novels "Inheritance" (2004) and "All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost" (2010).

Her new novel is a genre bender: a murder story whose prose sings and snickers and soars as engagingly as Chang's literary fiction. The victim is Leo Chao, owner of the Fine Chao Chinese Restaurant in Haven, Wisconsin, and tyrannical father of adult sons Dagou, Ming and James.

"No one could have believed that such good food was cooked by a bad person," Chang writes in the novel's prologue.

Here, Chang dives deep into the hot topics that inspired and shaped "The Family Chao": fiction writing in the era of racial and gender reckoning, literary trends and the joys and travails of writing a book that is an homage -- to one's own people, and to a literary giant who lived 142 years earlier and 5,000 miles away.

(BEGIN ITAL)This interview has been edited for length and clarity.(END ITAL)

Q: Secular Jew here. I've eaten in restaurants like Fine Chao all my life, knowing nothing about the people who fry my pot stickers. As a Chinese American writer, do you feel a responsibility to educate your non-Chinese readers about your experience, especially in this wannabe-woke era?

A: I don't want to speak on behalf of Chinese Americans. I want to speak about what it felt like to grow up in the first Chinese immigrant family, my family, in Appleton, Wisconsin, in the mid-1960s.

Much of the attention paid to my first book, "Hunger," related to the way the characters fit the acceptable stereotype of the quietly suffering Chinese American family. But I actually grew up in a noisy Chinese American family. There were too many of us, and not enough space. We were always short on money, we ate a lot and laughed and yelled a lot. In my early work, I was unable to portray this. I was so inexperienced, I didn't understand that I was trying to write according to a set of rules that were standard at the time, rules that required the use of as few words as possible. People accepted my portrayal of quiet Chinese families with their repressed suffering because this fit with the way immigrant families were expected to be. In 2021, I could write my characters in a more candid way.

Q: What changed?

A: Society. People are working really hard, as writers and as humans, to change the kinds of stories we get to tell and how we tell them. Writing "The Family Chao," I felt an incredible urge to create characters who were true to the vivid lives of people I know. I wanted to portray a Chinese man as strong and lively as my late father, a larger-than-life character. My father was a much more moral person than Leo Chao. But some things about Leo Chao are taken straight from home.

Q: Where'd you get the somewhat wacky idea to model "The Family Chao" on "The Brothers Karamazov"?

A: Fifteen years ago, in my first semester at the Writers' Workshop, I started teaching a noncredit discussion group in which a bunch of us read "The Brothers Karamazov," then got together and talked about it for six to eight hours. It was such a pleasure.

Years later I was trying to come up with something to work on. I was overwhelmed with running the workshop and having a child. Then, while I was in a residency at Yaddo [a retreat for artists in Upstate New York], I reread the bits and scraps I'd been jotting down, and I started writing a novel from close third person in present tense, from the different points of view in a family.

That's when I realized that the voice in the novel I was working on matched, in some ways, the unfolding quality of "The Brothers Karamazov." It wasn't the plot that interested me most. It was the sense of time unfolding as characters are moving through it. This gives the reader space to assume things and to not know what's going to happen.

Q: Now tell us how you did it: I mean, no pressure. It's just Dostoevsky.

A: When you love a book enough to write an homage to it, you can get overwhelmed. "The Brothers Karamazov" is so great, it would have snuffed out my effort if I'd looked at it while I was writing. I consulted the five-volume Dostoevsky bio by Joseph Frank instead.

I remember the moment "The Family Chao" stopped being an homage, a dialogue with Dostoevsky, and started being its own book. Suddenly I was making work that was coherently itself. In that moment it became irrelevant how well I recapitulated Dostoevsky, as long as I kept his element of surprise. When you hurtle yourself into a work of his, there's something so surprising about it. For me, using the present tense to create unfolding action was part of that. Allowing characters to have long monologues was part of that. Allowing characters to ... swear and masturbate and ejaculate was part of that.

Q: The book's velocity and dramatic tension are palpable, and not just because it's a mystery.

A: In the past I've been a quiet writer. Some of my work felt flat to me. This time I wanted to escalate the conflict, using the kinds of impulses that make people shout at each other. My characters behave absurdly. They feel self-pity. Their emotional palettes are much more far-ranging than in my early work.

Even the food we ate growing up was interesting, and I put that into "The Family Chao." When our parents arrived in the U.S., Americans were eating peanut butter and jelly, and cake from a box and Cool Whip. My parents couldn't buy the ingredients they needed to make Chinese food, and so they improvised. They made stir-fry out of iceberg lettuce. After the Vietnam War, supermarkets became more diverse. My parents couldn't believe their good fortune! We ate bean sprouts for weeks.

Q: What's next for fans of Sam Chang?

A: I've got 200 pages of a new thing. I'm at that phase where I read it and realize it's horrible. I'm going to give it a little distance, and then I'm going to go back to my thing that was good and now is terrible and try to make it good again. What else is there to do?

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Meredith Maran is a journalist, critic and the author of "The New Old Me: My Late-Life Reinvention," among other books.
Samuel Clemens, whose pen name is Mark Twain, publishes Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1885 in America. He has been at work for eight years on the story of an outcast white boy, Huck, and his adult friend Jim, a runaway slave, who together flee Missouri on a raft down the Mississippi River in the 1840s. The book's free-spirited and not always truthful hero as well as its lack of respect for religion or adult authority draw immediate fire from newspaper critics. The ungrammatical vernacular voice in which Huck narrates the book is also attacked as coarse and inappropriate. Some readers find the colorful stories Huck tells immoral, sacrilegious, and innapropriate for children. The Concord, MA, library bans Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a month after its publication, calling it "trash and suitable only for the slums." Other libraries follow suit.

In the decades after Twain's death in 1910, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn gains the status of a masterpiece. Novelist Ernest Hemingway remarks that "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn," and other writers as diverse as American poet T.S. Eliot and African American novelist Ralph Ellison add their acclaim. It is increasingly studied at both the high school and college level, where its literary merit and the insights it offers into American society are praised. In particular, some consider Twain's satire to be a powerful attack on racism.

Others see Adventures of Huckleberry Finn not as an attack on racism, but as inherently racist itself. African Americans and others, led by the NAACP, begin to challenge the book in the 1950s, appalled by the novel's portrayal of the slave Jim and its repeated use of the word "nigger." The book is removed from some schools in the New York City school system, and its place on required reading lists is threatened in other cities.

Debates about Adventures of Huckleberry Finn continue to the present day. The crux of the controversy remains race, although some, notably Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley, also assert that the book's reputation as a literary classic is exaggerated. In 1998, Kathy Monteiro, parent of a student in a Tempe, AZ, high school, sues the school district, claiming that an already tense racial environment was exacerbated by the assignment of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as required reading. Although the judges decline to ban the book, they do state that a school district has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to eliminate a racially hostile environment and can be held liable for damages if they fail to make this effort. While Monteiro and her supporters hail this as a victory, the questions of whether Adventures of Huckleberry Finn contributes to a racially hostile environment and whether it should be assigned in high school remain unresolved.

For more about Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and teaching controversial topics, see Huck Finn in Context, a guide for teachers on this Web site. Born to Trouble: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the first film in the Culture Shock series.
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Nestle partners with Schneider Electric at the worlds largest soluble coffee facility

(Image: Shutterstock)

Schneider Electric has deployed its EcoStruxures Asset Advisor software at Nescafes Toluca Complex in Mexico City.





Producing approximately one million jars of coffee a day, the Nestle Nescafe plant in Toluca, Mexico is the largest production facility for Nescafe and is key to Nestles overall global operations. In 2013, the company expanded the plants production capacity by 40 percent by investing approximately $125 million, making it the largest soluble coffee facility in the world. With the plant responsible for more than one million jars of coffee produced daily, preventing downtime is critical for Nestles operations.



Improving uptime reliability, greater visibility, and operational flexibility



Prior to Asset Advisor, maintenance was reactive. Eight unplanned shortages in one year, including a short-circuit inside an unmonitored section of the main substation that resulted in a 14-hour shutdown, costing the company approximately $588,000, saw production faltering. As service continuity is central to the production plant, EcoStruxure allowed Nestle to move to predictive maintenance, letting teams resolve issues proactively to avoid costly disruptions that could cost up to $52,000 per hour.



Implementing Asset Advisor gave Nestle real-time visibility into its electrical equipment, allowing engineers to remotely monitor assets. By relying on data analytics to dictate service intervals, the electrical teams at Nestle can now spend less time reacting to issues and the plants equipment spends more time performing optimally.



Frederic Godemel, Executive Vice President for Power Systems and Services at Schneider Electric said: Weve been seeing strong Services growth in our business, and we understand the importance of mission-critical systems and how it is non-negotiable for major production operation like the Toluca complex. With our EcoStruxture software, we are committed to providing customers like Nescafe greater visibility, increased resilience, and flexibility to improve their operational efficiency without the added costs and strain on the environment, and ultimately seen as the go-to-services expert in critical industries.



Luis Gilberto Lopez Paez, electricity specialist in Nestle Toluca Cafes said: With a plant as large as Nestle Nescafe, ensuring reliability of all the electrical systems is a particularly involved task. Across our operational network, we have been deploying flexible and scalable digital solutions to enhance our responsiveness, and the move to partner Schneider Electric was a natural one  having already collaborated in our production facilities in France and Switzerland. Since deployment, EcoStruxure Asset Advisor has allowed us to identify hot spots and attack them before they become a problem  saving us costly downtime, greatly enhancing our ability to respond quickly to changes in demand and ultimately better service our customers and reduce our operational carbon footprint.



For more information on EcoStruxure Asset Advisor, visit the website.



Contact Details and Archive...
Irish Waters statutory public consultation on its draft Regional Water Resources Plan for the Eastern and Midlands (RWRP-EM) Region will continue to run until March 14, 2022.

The three-month public consultation began on December 14, 2021 and sets out the options for providing a more secure, reliable and sustainable water supply for 2.5 million customers in the Eastern and Midlands region over the next 25 years.

This public consultation is everyones opportunity to feed into the process of how Irish Water identifies the water supply issues in the region and determines what the options are to provide a more resilient water supply to customers.

Public webinars will be held on February 2, 3, 7 and 8. These webinars will provide information on the draft Regional Water Resources Plan Eastern and Midlands and allow opportunities to pose questions to inform submissions.

If you would like to be part of an online public webinar on the draft Regional Water Resources Plan Eastern and Midlands and associated environmental reports, you can provide an expression of interest on the Irish Water website at www.water.ie/rwrp/easternmidlands

Irish Waters National Water Resources Plan will be the first resources plan for the entire public water supply in Ireland. It is split into four regions and the first regional plan to be developed is the draft Regional Plan for the Eastern and Midlands Region.

There are 201 Water Treatment Plants in the Eastern and Midlands Region, which collectively serve 2.48 million people or 60% of the population of Ireland, via approximately 19,000 kilometres of distribution network and 134 Water Resource Zones. These treatment plants also serve 76,000 businesses.

The region itself covers approximately 20,900 square kilometres extending from the Shannon Estuary in the south west, towards the large River Boyne catchment and Greater Dublin Area (GDA) in the north east.

The draft plan describes the Eastern and Midland Region and the current challenges faced now and into the future in terms of delivering a safe, secure and resilient water supply.

Speaking about the public consultation on the draft plan, Angela Ryan, Water Resource Strategy Specialist for Irish Water said, Public consultation on the draft plan is now underway. Development of the draft plan will allow Irish Water for the first time to review water supply needs collectively across the entire Eastern and Midlands Region covering a broad spectrum of risk including quality, quantity, reliability and sustainability. It will allow us to consider local options to resolve these needs and larger regional options that can address multiple supplies.

The draft Regional Plan will also offer key benefits in terms of transformation of our supplies, including the ability to cater for growth and economic development in a sustainable way, improved interconnectivity between our supplies to ensure balanced regional development, and new sustainable water sources that are adaptable to climate change such as the new Shannon source which is coming from the largest catchment in Ireland.

If people are interested in our plans for the Eastern and Midlands Region, they are welcome to join one of our public webinars in February and hear more from our team, explained Angela.

Irish Water is now seeking feedback on the public consultation for the draft RWRP: EM and associated SEA Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement. The documents are available to view on our website at www.water.ie/rwrp/easternmidlands

A 13-week statutory public consultation will continue to run until March 14, 2022.

Submissions can be made by post or email by March 14, 2022.

Email: nwrp@water.ie

Post: National Water Resources Plan, Irish Water, PO Box 13216, Glenageary, Co. Dublin

All submissions will be taken into consideration and responses to the issues raised will be summarised in a Consultation Report which will be published on www.water.ie/nwrp
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: January 31 2022

Thank You Residents, Fort Salonga Elementary School, RSVP, and SMM Advertising.

Legislator Rob Trotta (right) helps volunteer Jerry Castoral load up his truck with coats to be brought to a variety of organizations for distribution.

Local residents, the students, parents and teachers at the Fort Salonga Elementary School, the staff and volunteers at RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), as well as the employees at SMM Advertising contributed hundreds of coats and outerwearaccessories to benefit individuals and families in need.

The positive response and the tremendous support from everyone is greatly appreciated, said Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta. I commend Tricia Folliero, Vice President at SMM Advertising, and Jerry Castoral, her partner, for making several trips to deliver the donations to the Lighthouse Mission, St. Gerards Majella, Infant Jesus Outreach, Pax Christi Homeless Shelter, and Maureens Haven, added Trotta.
(Alliance News) - Bezant Resources PLC said on Monday that it had completed geological mapping at its Kanye manganese project in Botswana and has begun preparing for follow-up tests at the site.

Shares in Bezant Resources were up 7.4% at 0.16 pence on Monday morning in London.

The London-based copper and gold exploration and development company said the mapping completed at the project indicates that the target horizon hosting high-grade manganese may extend continuously for at least four kilometres between the Loltware and Moshaneng prospects at Kanye.

Bezant Resources said a follow-up programme of soil sampling and trenching is now planned to commence in the coming week to test the continuity of the manganese target.

A preliminary plan has also been prepared for drill testing in the vicinity of the Moshaneng Borrow Pit at the Kanye project. The company explained that it will be finalised based on results of the soil sampling and trenching programme.

Executive Chair Colin Bird said: "The new mapping and prospecting programme at Kanye has for the first time highlighted the potential continuity of the target zone for high-grade manganese over a minimum of 4 kilometres between the Moshaneng and Loltware prospects.

"Along with the discovery of extensions to the mineralised zone in the Moshaneng Borrow Pit, this represents a very promising target for Bezant within the same geological horizon as Giyani Metals K-Hill project. We are now moving forward to a new phase of sampling and trenching to confirm continuity of the zone, with follow-up drill planning in preparation."

The Kanye project is 100% owned by Bezant Resources and covers a total area of 4,043 kilometres squared in Botswana.

By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Anglo Pacific Group PLC - natural resources royalty and streaming - Promotes Chief Investment Officer Marc Bishop Lafleche to chief executive officer, starting April 1 and replacing Julian Treger. Bishop Lafleche has been with Anglo Pacific for eight years and now will join the board as well.

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Distil PLC - London-based owner of premium spirit brands - Distil Non-Executive Director Mike Keiller is named chair of Ardgowan Distillery, replacing Willie Phillips, who steps down after four years with Ardgowan and 50 years in the distilling industry. Keiller will remain on the Distil board as well. Back in July, Distil agreed to invest up to GBP5 million in Ardgowan, which could give it a stake of up to 14%. Roland Grain, a 20% shareholder in Distil, owns 51% of Ardgowan, which is building a gin and single malt whisky distillery near Inverkip, west of Glasgow. Grain holds Keiller is a former Diageo PLC finance executive who later served as CEO of Morrison Bowmore Distillers.

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Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd - Turku, Finland-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm focused on cancer and inflammation - Promotes Juho Jalkanen to chief operating officer, starting immediately and remaining based in Turku. Jalkanen joined Faron in 2018 and has been chief development officer. He also served as interim chief medical officer before Marie-Louise Fjallskog was hired as CMO earlier this month.

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Cerillion PLC - London-based billing and customer relations management software firm - Confirms Andrew Dickson as chief financial officer, following regulatory due diligence. Dickson, who starts on Friday this week, joins Cerillion from Vitec Group PLC, a London-listed provider of photography and video software and hardware. He replaces Oliver Gilchrist, who retires after 20 years as CFO.

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By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
CIP Merchant Capital Ltd - Guernsey-based investment company - Notes Monday's announcement from Corporation Financiere Europeenne SA regarding publishing a document with respect to its mandatory cash offer for shares in CIP not owned by CFE at price of 55 pence each. Maintains advice to shareholders not to take action on offer, and will respond via circular within two weeks. Previously characterised the offer as "hostile" and undervaluing CIP, at a 38% discount to its net asset value of 88.04 pence as of January 21. CIP said on Thursday its board had "unanimously and unequivocally" rejected the offer.

CFE says CIP shares have consistently traded at a "significant discount" to its NAV since June 2018.

The Geneva head-quartered capital market company says offer would be "of interest" to CIP shareholders as it would enable them to exit their investment in full for cash. The offer will be open for acceptance until April 1, but date may be brought forward, CFE says.

Current stock price: 55.63 pence, down 1.6% on Monday

12-month change: down 4.1%

By Elizabeth Winter; elizabethwinter@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) -A Kistos PLC stepped into deep, unchartered waters on Monday, and shareholders showed some reluctance to follow.

The AIM listing confirmed it has bought a stake in West of Shetland fields from French oil major TotalEnergies SE. Kistos is an investor in low-carbon energy assets, and previously had bought Tulip Oil Netherlands BV, giving it gas fields in the Dutch North Sea.

Kistos was down 7.5% at 382.00 pence in London. The company has a market capitalisation of about GBP312 million. In Paris late Monday, TotalEnergies shares were down 1.8% at EUR50.33.

TotalEnergies separately confirmed it is selling to Kistos 20% working interests in the producing Laggan, Tormore, Edradour, and Glenlivet gas fields, located offshore the UK West of Shetland. The deal also includes a 20% interest in the undeveloped Glendronach gas field and a 25% interest in block 206/4a, which contains the 638 billion cubic foot Benriach prospect.

The transaction has a firm consideration of USD125 million as well as two contingent payments, the first one up to USD40 million and dependent on gas prices and the second one in the event Benriach is developed.

Kistos said it expects production from the assets to average around 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day net during 2022. It will finance the acquisition from internal resources. Back in late December, Kistos had confirmed it was participating in the assets sales process being run by TotalEnergies.

Completion is expected in the second quarter of 2022, and needs approval from UK authorities.

Following the sale, TotalEnergies E&P UK Ltd will hold a 40% operated interest in the Laggan, Tormore, Glenlivet, Edradour and Glendronach fields, including infield facilities and the onshore Shetland Gas Plant, alongside partners Kisto on 20%, Ineon E&P UK Ltd on 20% and RockRose UKCS15 on 20%.

"We are delighted to announce this transaction with TotalEnergies and look forward to working with them and the other partners in the Greater Laggan Area. The deal increases our gas production and complements Kistos' strategy in the Netherlands," said Kistos Executive Chair Andrew Austin.

Commented Sam Wahab of broker SP Angel: "In light of sustained strength in commodity pricing, it comes as little surprise that Kistos is seeking to augment its Dutch portfolio with UK gas fields. On completion, the company will have a solid foothold in both the UK and the Netherlands from which it can continue to implement its growth strategy. The acquisition will serve to increase the company's 2P reserves by 6.2 million barrels of oil equivalent and effectively double end-2021 production rate to 13,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day on a proforma basis.

Kistos listed on AIM in London in November of 2020, raising GBP32 million to invest in "energy and the energy transition".

Back in October last year, the company hired Peter Mann as chief executive officer and Richard Slape as chief financial officer, with Founder Austin reverting to executive chair from interim CEO.

The appointments brought a team back together. Mann and Slape were CEO and CFO respectively of RockRose Energy PLC, a London-listed oil explorer that Austin had chaired until it was acquired by Viaro Energy Ltd last year.

By Lucy Heming;A lucyheming@alliancenews.com; and Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised a shake-up of No 10 after it emerged police are investigating at least 12 events across government for Covid breaches including the prime minister's birthday party and a gathering in his Downing Street flat.

The prime minister apologised on Monday and insisted "I get it and I will fix it" as he faced fresh calls to resign after Sue Gray's limited inquiry criticised "failures of leadership and judgment".

But he repeatedly refused to rule out calls, including from senior Tory MPs, to publish the full unredacted report from the senior civil servant after she conceded she had to pare it back while the Metropolitan Police investigate.

The dozen events being looked at by officers include a "gathering in the No 10 Downing Street flat" on November 13 2020, the night Johnson's former aides Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain left their roles.

Gray criticised "failures of leadership and judgment" in No 10 and the Cabinet Office while England was under coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021.

But the saga was far from over for the embattled Prime Minister, with the senior civil servant saying she was unable to publish meaningful findings because of the Metropolitan Police investigation.

Labour leader Keir Starmer demanded Johnson publish a full Gray inquiry in the future, as he said the British people believe the prime minister should "do the decent thing and resign" but will not because he is "a man without shame".

Giving a statement to MPs an hour after the update was published, the prime minister said: "Firstly, I want to say sorry a and I'm sorry for the things we simply didn't get right and also sorry for the way this matter has been handled.

"It's no use saying this or that was within the rules and it's no use saying people were working hard. This pandemic was hard for everyone."

He added: "I get it, and I will fix it. I want to say to the people of this country I know what the issue is."

Johnson insisted he was "making changes" to Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, including by creating an Office of the prime minister with a permanent secretary to lead No 10.

The prime minister did not directly respond to Starmer's call to publish the Gray inquiry "in full when it is available".

During a chaotic debate, former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell told Johnson he "no longer enjoys my support".

It was the first major signal that the disquiet among the Tory backbenchers was swelling, with the prime minister facing the threat of a vote of no confidence.

Former prime minister Theresa May questioned whether Johnson either did not "read the rules", understand them, or "didn't think the rules applied to No 10".

By Sam Blewett and David Hughes, PA Political Staff

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - XP Power Ltd said on Monday that it had acquired FuG Elektronik GmbH and Guth High Voltage GmbH from Dr Simon Consulting GmbH for a cash consideration of EUR39 million.

The Reading, England-based power control systems company said the acquisition was funded using its existing debt facilities.

XP Power said the acquisition is "highly complementary" to its existing high voltage offering, bringing new technology and technical capability to the company.

The company expects the acquisition to be earnings enhancing in 2022. XP Power also expects that the acquisition will be additive to the company's margins and deliver a post-tax return on invested capital in excess of the group's weighted average cost of capital.

XP Power added that the purchase will strengthen its position in Germany which it describes as the largest market for power solutions in Europe.

FuG Elektronik and Guth High Voltage anticipate revenue of EUR18 million and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of EUR4.5 million in 2021.

Shares in XP Power were up 5.9% at 4,750.00 pence on Monday morning in London.

By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Kirby Smith Hall is set to be demolished in Fall 2022 and will eventually become a green space, according to Roger Husser, assistant vice president of LSU Planning, Design, and Construction.

Demolition will cost about $4 million and should begin in June, finishing sometime in the fall. A demolition crew will use explosives to bring the 13-story building down since it's too close to other buildings to be knocked over.

The last time students lived in the 57-year-old building was in 2019, when the universitys then-largest freshman class had to be temporarily housed.

Though demolition has been planned for some time now, the university has relied on Kirby Smith as backup housing while having overflow issues on campus, delaying the demolition process.

The opening of two new residence halls in 2021, Camellia Hall and Azalea Hall, allowed Kirby Smith to be officially retired. With 800 beds between the two new halls, its more than enough to offset the 550 that Kirby Smith offers.

The demolition will allow LSU to build a green space and improved sidewalks around surrounding dorms that lead to the core of campus.

This was all planned years ago before we built Cypress, Spruce and Cedar Halls, Husser said. This has always been the intent of the master plan for this area with the new residence halls, and the demolition of Kirby will allow that plan to come to fruition.

McVoy and Broussard halls are also planned to be eventually demolished, according to LSUs campus master plan.

Built in 1965 and named after a Confederate general, the building has long been considered an eyesore that doesnt blend in well with the buildings around it. The hall has collected a variety of different nicknames from students like The Hospital and Dirty Kirby."

Former LSU chancellor, Michael Martin, quipped that living in the building was a historic international experience.

Its a chance to live in the Soviet Union, he said.

The first time the building closed was 2006, but housing demand on campus grew and it underwent a $1.7-million renovation and reopened in 2011.

The building, located on the north end of campus off West Chimes Street, is named after Edmund Kirby Smith, a Confederate general, who after the war served as chancellor of the University of Nashville and later a mathematics and botany professor at the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee.

LSU building renaming efforts have avoided Kirby Smith because of its impending demolition.

Students living in surrounding dorms have complained of the construction machines and fencing cluttering the area surrounding Kirby Smith.

Honestly [the dorm] being there bothers me less than the construction surrounding it, said Trinity Hunte-Angus, a freshman living in Cedar Hall. Walking around the fencing is annoying because it covers some of the pathways. Theres a sign that covers the fencing, and it constantly falls.

Walking to class when it rains can be especially difficult since many of the paved pathways are obstructed by fencing.

The gravel thats next to the door by Cedar and next to the construction by Kirby becomes very muddy, Whitfield said. Your shoes can get trapped in it and its very hard to get into Cedar Hall. Ive heard roommates complain about it. I think overall everyone is frustrated about it and can't wait for it to be done.
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 REMAINS 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 7:00 PM CDT Wednesday the stage was 49.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage Friday evening and continue falling 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 &&
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Spain will put out to tender in the first half of 2022 projects worth up to 24.6 billion euros funded by the European Union recovery programme, a government source directly managing the plan said this afternoon.

After Italy, Spain is the second largest beneficiary of the 750 billion euro kitty set up to help the bloc's 27 countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, securing a total allocation of 70 billion euros.

Around 19.7 million euros were earmarked for public projects in 2021, though they were mostly issued towards the end of the year so they are largely still unawarded.

Spain has pinned significant hopes on the funds bolstering its tourism-dependent economy and had anticipated the roll-out would be quicker, so projected a GDP growth rate for 2021 of 6.5% though it eventually came in at 5%. The official forecast for 2022 is 7% growth, assuming the roll-out of the funds.



Up to 27.6 billion of EU recovery funds have been channeled through one of the largest budgets in Spanish history for 2022, with most due to be paid out in the first half of the year, according to the source.

The focus of the funds will be directed to sustainability and digitalisation projects. A total of 2.9 billion to kick-start the production of electric vehicles and batteries will be tendered "imminently", according to the government source. Around 5 billion euros more will be for making Spanish buildings more sustainable and energy efficient in the second quarter of the year.
Everton are very close to confirming Dele Alli as the club's latest deadline day signing, with an agreement between the Merseyside club and Tottenham Hotspur in the final stages.

It has become painfully evident for a while that the England international has seen his stock at Spurs plummet, and Everton are offering him a chance to resurrect his career.

The deal is likely to be a permanent one, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that the midfielder has verbally agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Toffees.

However, rather curiously, it seems as though the payment structure won't necessarily benefit the North London club immediately, at least in no more than losing his salary will.

The same report suggests that Everton will be legally obligated to pay Spurs 20 million pounds upon his completion of 20 matches for the Goodison Park club, with the initial deal not including a payment.

Spurs will defend this by suggesting they are guaranteed 20m pounds to arrive at the club at some point, yet there is a very distinct possibility the Blues have less than 20 matches to play this term, and as such Spurs won't receive a penny to bolster their summer budget.

Frank Lampard will welcome the additional midfield option, especially with his club having already agreed terms on a loan deal for Manchester United's Donny van de Beek earlier on deadline day.

Lampard has a tough job to steer the Toffees clear of relegation, but having two players who both played in a Champions League semi-final as recently as 2019, for a very minimal initial fiscal outlay, is likely to be seen as positive business.
Mystery Illness in Dogs: What are the symptoms and areas affected?

Mystery Illness in Dogs: What are the symptoms and areas affected?

A mystery illness in dogs has been discovered in the United Kingdom, in the county of Yorkshire specifically, and the vet who found it believes it is now spreading at an alarming rate.

Brogan-Alexandra Proud, who runs mobile vet service Yorkshire Coast Pet Care, has been concerned about this virus for some time and warned of its spreading, but it hasn't stopped the surge in cases.

YorkshireLive reports that while the illness spread towards Sheffield and Leeds, numbers of pups falling ill has eased slightly after warning walkers not to go to the beach, where the majority of cases have originated.

Speaking about the ongoing situation, which has sparked numerous theories about what the illness could be, Proud admitted that the condition of the beaches is not ideal.

"It's still much the same. The situation has not changed. There's definitely a problem with the beaches in general," said Proud.

It is thought that the dirty condition of beaches in the UK have caused dogs to contract this virus which is largely down to how humanity has treated them in recent years.

One theory suggests that dredging or pollution has released toxins in the sea after large numbers of sea life including crabs and lobsters have washed up on Yorkshire coasts in recent months.

Other vets, however, downplayed the illness, saying that it's normal for this time of year.

What are the symptoms?

Proud says she was "inundated with dogs coming off the beaches with vomiting and diarrhoea," which should be the main areas you look for when it comes to your dog.

Dr Justine Shotton, the president of The British Veterinary Association, also spoke to the BBC and she offered her thoughts.

"We saw something similar a couple of years ago and the latest data from the University of Liverpool's veterinary surveillance database points to the spike being part of normal seasonal variation at the moment," said Dr Shotton.
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...Significant and potentially life threatening flash flooding is ongoing just south of I-44 across Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties. Numerous main-stem rivers will likely rise above flooding. Extensive low land flooding will be likely, 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 7 inches. The heavier rain will begin to shift east of far southeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
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. &&
Press Release

January 31, 2022 EXPLANATION OF VOTE

SB 2420: MARAWI COMPENSATION

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto

31 January 2022 Mr. President, my dear colleagues: By proportion of structures destroyed, Marawi sustained more damage in 2017 than Manila in 1944. The U.S. Philippine Rehabilitation Act, however, took effect in April 1946, 7 months after Japan surrendered, and 14 months after the liberation of Manila from stubborn and savage Japanese resistance. In contrast, we are passing this bill 52 months after the last hunted terrorist was killed inside the last building they hid in Marawi. Manila, flattened as Warsaw was, by 1950 was long a beehive of reconstruction. Even the Old Congress building, resurrected from its pulverized state, was slowly shedding its scaffoldings. The delay in the passage of this bill is no fault of ours. On bills of this magnitude and sticker price, the operative rule is Executive proposes, Congress disposes. The latter cannot simply act on what has not been advocated. But it is wrong to attribute the holdup to endemic bureaucratic inertia alone. For one, there is the COVID pandemic, a threat so existential that it must be first attended to. The other is that the Marawi compensation is an extremely nuanced project with historical, legal, cultural complexities like an intricately designed malong. I am glad, Mr. President, that this bill reconciles all of these in one textured tapestry of a law that is at the same time grand and granular. The sensitivity to issues has packed the 439 lines in the enrolled bill with specificity, proof that the authors have defused it of policy ordnances which could be tripped by wrong interpretation of an unclear text. This bill spells out the method of submitting and assessing claims, the mechanism of compensation, the management--which is under a nine-person Board, their mandate, the means of resolving conflict and addressing appeals. Even priority areas are enumerated. On this, I doff my hat to Senator Sonny, who might end up as the second, and better, Angara to lead this chamber, Cabinet officials led by Housing Secretary del Rosario, the local governments in Marawi and Lanao del Sur, a civil society which has more colors than a tubao, and the BTA. While the bill strives to be comprehensive, it is by no means a paint-by-numbers guide when the time comes to implement it. There is, for one, the missing puzzle which has to be supplied by future Congresses - and that is the money to fund the claims to be made by victims. A blueprint can only be as good as the money supplied to purchase the bill of materials. As I've said in my sponsorship speech, we owe Marawi so much that the law ordaining its rebuilding should not end up as another unfunded mandate in our nation's cemetery of dead laws. This bill must be fully and faithfully funded as it would hasten the healing of a wounded land and a hurting people. It is the missing link in making Marawi better than it was before. In fact, the idea this bill espouses should have been the cornerstone of Marawi's rehabilitation, and not a mere afterthought. This should have been the foundation, not the capstone. If this had been done earlier, Marawi would have risen from the ashes faster. Compensating owners of destroyed properties is not only a matter of justice, it also injects the vital economic stimuli that will accelerate recovery. With this bill, work on post-conflict restoration runs on two tracks--private and public--instead of the latter pretending that it can do it alone. In whatever calamity which has visited this blighted land, sweat equity of the victims has time and again been proven as a durable construction material. The cost of relegating the people to mere spectatorship is high. If plans are devoid of any buy-in from the citizenry, the end result may not be to their liking. Who was it who said that people's consent is an important construction material? Mr. President, my dear colleagues: History teaches us that after the last shot has been fired, armies can be disarmed, but it will be wrong to demobilize a people raring to repair the ravages of war. The creation of the Marawi Compensation Board, as this bill seeks, essentially democratizes the rehabilitation fund and ends state monopoly of its use. But for the reparations project to succeed, it must be adequately funded. So this is my memo to the 24 men and women who will sit here in July. Please remember that what the nation owes Marawi goes beyond the value of properties destroyed and lives lost during the May 2017 siege. In the first place, we have an outstanding debt to this city long before the first bomb fell. In assessing our collective debt, we should examine Marawi's important contribution not only to the development of Mindanao, but to our nation as well. Whatever that amount is, I am sure that it will only be a fraction of the immeasurable value of the "knowledge and power" Marawi has given, and is giving, to Mindanao. Marawi is the capital of the province where Lanao Lake is, the source of about a third of Mindanao's power supply. It is also where the main campus of the Mindanao State University, the UP of the South, is located. In short, Marawi is both a source of light and enlightenment. To those who will remain here, to those who will return, please never ever forget that. I vote "Yes" to this bill.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
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Causes of Stuffy Nose / Congested Nose / Blocked Nose

Flu

Advertisement Common cold

Sinusitis  Acute and chronic

Vasomotor rhinitis  The congestion or stuffiness in the nose results from causes other than allergies or infection. Sudden sneezing bouts and the resulting congestion are sometimes caused by alcohol, spicy food, air pollution, extreme emotions or a dry climate

Pregnancy

Churg-Strauss syndrome  This condition is characterized by inflamed blood vessels

Use of nasal sprays for more than 3 days

Deviation in the nasal septum  The nasal septum or the thin wall dividing the nose is pushed to one side due to a fall or a fight thus, causing narrowing of one side of the nasal passage. This results in breathing difficulty.

Polyps in the nose  Inflamed outgrowths of the tissues that line the nose.

Glare and brightness of lights

Cyclical or cluster headaches  Such headaches occur together frequently and are very painful.

Drug addiction

Enlargement of adenoids

Changes in hormone levels

Medicines for high blood pressure

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Stuffy Nose / Congested Nose / Blocked Nose Home Remedies

1 cup of warm water + a pinch of baking soda +  tsp salt

A familiar aspect of a congested / stuffy / blocked nose is the inability to breathe in easily. It is an effort to get air to flow through the nasal passages. A stuffy nose occurs due to the inflammation of blood vessels in the tissues, which causes the nose to swell and results in breathing trouble. Often, mucus is discharged continuously from the nose resulting in a runny nose. If the excess mucus flows into the throat, it results in a sore throat or cough.A stuffy nose in babies is a problem since it is a deterrent to breathing or nursing for milk.. If one of the nasal passages gets blocked, the infant may have inserted something in that passage. Babies are also afflicted with ear pain and sinus pain when the mucus discharge blocks the eustachian tubes between the nose and the ear. It is also a discomfort for older children and adults.There are different causes for a stuffy nose. The causes are based on either an infection, or an allergy, or health conditions. Some of the causes are: Hay fever , soy allergy, peanut allergy, wheat allergy, milk allergy, pet allergy, shellfish allergy, dust mite allergy, latex allergy and food allergy.There is no treatment for a stuffy nose. The congestion in the nose subsides in due course of time. However, there are different ways to relieve a congested nose.In the case of children, the pillow should be raised to elevate the childs head and ease the discomfort of the congestion in the nose. The legs of the bed may also be raised where the head of the child is placed. When the nose is congested, it is difficult to breathe while lying down or while sleeping at night.Children above a year old may be given soups and other warm drinks. A teaspoon of honey may be given to treat coughing symptoms. Infants over 3 months old can be given apple juice, water or a hydrating solution. Fluids should be sugar-free.In dry climates, a humidifier is recommended to moisten the nasal passages and avoid the congestion of the nose.Inhaling steam 2 to 4 times a day helps in relieving the congestion and opens up the nasal passages for a short period of time. One can do this while in the shower. However, hot steam from boiling water should not be inhaled. One can add eucalyptus oil or menthol to the water. Traditional Chinese medicine recommends the use of menthol, moschus, and borneolum to ease the flow of air through the nasal passages.A warm, moist cloth can be applied to the face many times in the day.Adhesive strips can be placed on the nose to widen the nostrils and thus, facilitate the movement of air through the nose. Petroleum jelly may be applied below the nostrils to prevent the formation of dry skin under the nostrils. Mucus should be removed at regular intervals. Older children may be asked to blow their noses. However, an aspirator should be used for infants.A nasal saline spray is useful in relieving the congestion in the nose. A homemade saline spray can be prepared and utilized 3 to 4 times a day. A nasal saline solution can be prepared as follows:The solution should be prepared with exact measures to avoid any adverse reactions due to excess salt or baking soda. Nasal sprays can be used for 3 days continuously before discontinuing for the next 3 days.. However the physician may recommend certain specialized sprays for specific allergies. Allergic rhinitis can be treated with acupuncture . There have been many small studies that have observed a beneficial effect of acupuncture. However, the general efficacy of the treatment needs to be confirmed with larger sample studies.Avoid contact with irritants such as cigarette smoke Over-the-counter medications may assist in relieving the congestion in the nose based on the appropriate cause.. A pediatricians advice should be availed of with regards to over-the-counter medications. Antihistamines can be utilized if nasal congestion occurs due to an allergy. These drugs can make an individual feel drowsy.A stuffy nose can be dried up with the help of decongestants . However, the use of decongestants should be discontinued following a week if the symptoms persist and one should consult a physician.
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"Currently, there is no direct evidence that NeoCov affects the human body, and we should not panic or get stressed," Dr Rahul Pandit, Member of National and Maharashtra's Covid-19 Taskforce."There are many viruses in the world that are yet to be discovered and whose characteristics are not known. We are going through a challenging time and should focus on managing the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. I advise people not to panic, keep their guard up and follow Covid-19 appropriate protocols," added Pandit, who is also Director-Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai.According to the research on NeoCov, posted on preprint and not been peer-reviewed yet, the variant carries the combination of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS)-CoV mortality rate (where one in every three infected persons may die) and the current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus' high transmission rate."It is only one mutation away from becoming dangerous for humans," the researchers said.But, Dr Dhiren Gupta from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi stated that the variant's transmission to humans is still a "scientific speculation" and "hypothesis"."This NeoCov is very different from SARS-CoV virus (sarbecovirus) and belongs to merbecovirus which is a different genus."It cannot infect human ACE2 (scientists are speculating if it can combine with SARS and start affecting humans). This is a hypothesis raised by scientists (which is not unusual in science)," Gupta said.He added that the theory that "one out of three may die is just an hypothesis, which social media made headlines"."It's just a hypothesis turning into sensationalist doomsday predictions," Gupta said.Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the question of whether the NeoCov coronavirus poses a threat to humans, requires further study."Whether the virus detected in the study will pose a risk for humans will require further study," the health body was quoted as saying to TASS news agency.Source: IANS
Spider-Man: No Way Home stars Tom Holland & Zendaya first met on the sets of the 2016 superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming, where the two played lovers on-screen and eventually, fell in love off it.

After the record-breaking success of their latest film Spider-Man: No Way Home, the two have decided to take their relationship one step further and have purchased a new house together.

According to a report in Mirror, Tom & Zendaya have bought a house in London for a huge 3 million which is Rs 30 crore approx.

The 6-bedroom house will include a gym, a private cinema hall and a 'man cave'.

 Tom Holland Instagram

The property is situated in Richmond, South West London which is four miles from Kingston, Toms birthplace.



The two have grand renovation plans for the house and will reportedly shell out a further 250,000 (Rs 2.5 crore) for it. They are expected to move to the neighbourhood by summer.

Talking about their new house, a source told the website, They are over the moon about the property and getting their first home together. They are very much in love and wanted their first home to be in London where Tom grew up. Everyone is thrilled for them.

Tom has made it clear he wants hi-tech security all around the premises, starting with an 8ft steel security gate on the drive. He was also very specific about his man cave and the cinema room. The plan is for them to move in after renovation is completed, probably late summer, the source further added.

 Marvel Studios

With Tom & Zendaya moving to London, they will join a list of popular celebs who will be their neighbours like Angelina Jolie, Tom Hardy, Sir Mick Jagger and Sir David Attenborough.



There is definitely a buzz in Richmond now Tom and Zendaya have set up home. Its great to have them there, the source said.

Before buying a new house together, Tom owns a 3-bedroom house in London while Zendaya has a 3 million house in Los Angeles, USA.
Known as the most stylish star, Allu Arjun is an actor par excellence. The man is not only known for his stellar acting prowess, but is also known to be a great human being who loves his fans with all his hearts. While most people think they know everything they need to know about the star, here are some lesser-known facts about him:



1. The actor started his acting career at the age of 16 with the 2002 movie, Gangotri, but technically, he acted in Vijetha directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy at the age of 3 in 1985. So acting was clearly his calling!

2. He is a fantastic dancer and the actor had once revealed that he took up gymnastics as a kid, which explains the flexibility skills he displays in his dancing.

3. His nickname is Bunny and thats what his loved ones, including his fans, call him.

4. His all-time favourite movie is his uncle Chiranjeevis film Indra. He has watched that movie over 15 times and continues to do so when he has time.

5. In one of his interviews, he mentioned that he likes to be known as Mallu Arjun owing to the crazy fan base he has in Kerala. His movie Arya 2 was a blockbuster hit in the state and was running in theatres for over 100 days.

6. When not busy with work or commitments, the actor loves to read and his favourite book is Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer.

7. Every year on his birthday, the stylish actor organises a blood donation drive and donates blood himself as well.

8. His interests include photography and sketching, and he has a flair for being good at both.
Last year, Netflixs South Korean drama Squid Game garnered immense popularity and turned out to be a massive global hit. It was also one of the best-reviewed popular shows on the OTT platform with a score of 94 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Well, move over Squid Game, as Netflix has delivered another South Korean stunner titled All Of Us Are Dead. The zombie horror series has gone a notch higher than Squid Game in terms of appreciation and has scored a perfect 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

 Rotten Tomatoes

Released on January 28, the series is already number 1 in most of the countries around the world and is also trending on the top spot in India.



Based on the 2009 Webtoons graphic novel of the same name, the official description of the show reads, At a high school in a suburban city, a student with strange symptoms is discovered. A mysterious virus begins to spread, and it quickly spirals out of control, moving beyond the school to seep into every nook and cranny of the entire city. As more and more people become infected, the authorities declare a state of emergency. They place the city under a lockdown amid an unprecedented event: the spread of a deadly zombie virus throughout a school and beyond. A group of students  On-jo (Park Ji-hu), Cheong-san (Yoon Chan-young), Nam-ra (Cho Yi-hyun), Su-hyeok (Lomon) and others  find themselves in the appalling situation of watching their close friends turn into zombies. They struggle to remain alive at the school, a safe haven that has now turned into a bloody battleground. Without phones, without food, and without grown-ups to protect them, they wait for the rescue team to arrive. How can they survive and walk out alive? With dangers lurking at every corner, they must join forces with one another in a desperate fight for their lives.

With All Of Us Are Dead, it has once again been proven that nobody does the zombie thriller genre better than South Korea.

 Netflix

In the past, they have aced the genre with zombie thrillers like Train to Busan, #Alive, Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula and Seoul Station among others.



Directed by Lee Jae-kyoo, the show stars Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo, and Jo Yi-hyun.
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
A member of Owensboros community of Afghan refugees was treated at the hospital for injuries Thursday night, after an unidentified man sprayed a chemical irritant in the victims face.

The investigation into the incident has been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Andrew Boggess, public information officer for the Owensboro Police Department, said OPD took a report and referred the case to the FBI.

Khaibar Shafaq, a member of the Afghan community and a case manager for Catholic Charities, said he was in the lobby of the Comfort Suites Inn on Salem Drive Thursday evening when he saw the incident outside.

It was like 6:20 in the evening, and two of our friends were returning from the gym, Shafaq said.

The victim was about to enter the lobby, Shafaq said, then somebody behind him yelled, hey man, or hey,  and sprayed the victim in the face as he turned around.

The victim walked into the lobby and then I felt it, Shafaq said of the spray. It was very strong. I said to receptionist, call the police. 

The victim was sprayed largely on the right side of the face.

His right eye was really affected, Shafaq said.

When Shafaq went outside, he saw three men, wearing face masks, walking away while looking back at the hotel.

They didnt even run, Shafaq said. They were walking and looking back at us.

The three men were last seen walking in the direction of J.R. Miller Boulevard, he said.

In a prepared statement, Sara Anderson, a spokeswoman for the FBIs Louisville office, said:

In the evening of Thursday, (Jan. 27), the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Owensboro Police Department received complaints of an assault on an Afghan refugee in the vicinity of the Comfort Inn and Suites located on Salem Drive in Owensboro. The FBI, working in conjunction with OPD, immediately responded and began investigating the incident to determine if a federal crime had been committed.

As this investigation remains ongoing, we are asking for the publics help in identifying the perpetrators of this assault, the statement said.

Being one of its top priorities, the FBI is committed to protecting civil rights for all, Andersons statement said.

Susan Montalvo-Gesser, director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Owensboro, said she was at a meeting out of town when received word of the incident.

When I got (to the hotel) last night, we were all sitting on the second floor, wondering how or why, Gesser said. The community is scared, wondering what it was about, and hoping it wasnt motivated by who they are.

Gesser said she asked the victim if his assailants had taken anything.

He was like, no they just sprayed  and walked away, Gesser said.

I assured them, this is not our community, Gesser said. This is not who we are.

The victim was treated for his injuries as is doing well, Shafaq said. The people who witnessed the attack were interviewed by the FBI that night.

They asked us, what did we feel? and said they were going to take this one serious, Shafaq said. They said, we are going to find them. 

Efforts have been made to find homes for the Afghan families since their arrival, so there arent many living at the hotel at this time, Shafaq said.

The good thing about this is we are not (many) here, because most are already resettled, he said. There are 25 to 30 people living in the hotel.

The hotels Afghan residents are men, Gesser said.

If it had been two weeks ago, there would have been a bunch of kids outside, Gesser said.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse

Tips sought

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at (502) 263-6000 or OPD at (270) 687-8888. Anonymous tips can also be given to Owensboro Crime Stoppers, at 270-687-8484.
The chairman of the Daviess County Democratic Party said although the party did not run candidates for several county and Owensboro-area state offices this year, the party is preparing candidates to run in future elections.

The deadline to file for office closed Tuesday, and several offices have only Republican Party candidates on the ballot. For example, only GOP candidates are running for the county offices of sheriff, county clerk, property valuation administrator, jailer and coroner. Only one Democratic Party candidate is running for a county commissioner seat.

On the state level, no Democrats are challenging Rep. Suzanne Miles, an Owensboro Republican, for her seat in the Seventh District House race, and no Democrat filed to run against Hartford Republican Rep. Scott Lewis in the 14th District. The Eighth Senate District, where Republican Sen. Matt Castlen is not running for reelection, has only one candidate, Republican Gary Boswell.

Larry Miller, chairman of the Daviess County Democratic Party, said officials are working on preparing candidates for future elections.

We have been working on getting people involved in running, Miller said last week. But the time wasnt right for them.

Straight-ticket voting has affected how some candidates register, Miller said. This years race for county judge-executive includes former Judge-Executive Reid Haire, who was a registered Democrat when he last held office but is now a registered Republican.

Some have switched their affiliations over from Republican to Democrat, Miller said.

Straight-ticket voting means a person can vote for all the candidates of a single party.

We are only one of six or seven states that have straight-ticket voting, Miller said.

If the state hadnt had straight-ticket voting in previous election years, we think a lot of races would have been decided differently, Miller said.

Miller said, in 2018, the Democrats ran Richard House, the chief deputy of the county clerks office, for clerk against Republican Leslie McCarty, who had no previous experience in the office.

(House) was defeated, and it was because of the straight ticket, Miller said.

Sebastian Kitchen, executive director for the Kentucky Democratic Party, hadnt responded to questions about candidate recruitment statewide as of Friday.

Miller said the county party does have strong candidates competing in Daviess County and state races this year. Former county commissioner Bruce Kunze is running as a Democrat for judge-executive.

Michael Johnson, a Democrat and vice chairman of the Owensboro Board of Education, is competing for the 13th District House seat held by Republican Rep. DJ Johnson. Tyler Sagardoy, who has an MBA and works in real estate development for LotSquared Development of Washington D.C., is the sole Democrat in the running for the Daviess County commission.

With no primary, Sagardoy and Kunze can focus on the November election, while Republican voters will have to choose between three candidates for judge-executive and between 15 candidates for county commissioner. There wont be a primary for either candidate in the 13th House District race.

Miller said of the partys candidates: We think they will be very competitive, and they will all have support from the local Democratic Party.

Miller said there are still more registered Democrats than Republicans in the county.

Thats one thing we are going to be working on, to get more (registered Democrats) out to vote, he said.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
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With less than four months until the primary election, Congressman Charlie Crist stressed a need for party unity among the Democratic gubernatorial candidates this past weekend, and rightly so.
Roland Olah was executive chef at the renowned Cafe Erte in Budapest before winning entry to the U.S. in a green card lottery a little over a decade ago. Picking up and leaving his hometown wasnt easy. I was in the Top 25 Chefs Cookbook in Hungary, but I saw the green card was real, and I thought, I want to work with Daniel Boulud. I had to try. My family came over, we didnt have a place to live ... I didnt even know if he was hiring.

In a precursor of things to come, Olahs first job in the U.S. was at Chocopologie in South Norwalk, working with Fritz Knipschildt. It was during this short first stay in SoNo when he saw an ad  on Craigslist of all places  for an open position at Cafe Boulud in New York.

It was a lot of pressure because I had a family, I didnt speak English, but I worked hard, he tells us. Cooking for chef Boulud led him up the kitchens line, with additional training stops around New York and LEscale in Greenwich, before eventually landing at Martell in Fairfield as executive chef for the next 8 years. All along, he says, he was chasing the dream of opening a place of his own.

That place became Bruxelles Brasserie, a new experience in the former 20-year South Norwalk location of the first Barcelona Wine Bar, where Olah creates a modern European menu.

Perseverance and renewal  outlasting the previous year  were the consistent themes of 2021 as the people of Connecticut and the world re-emerged. Bruxelles Brasserie is one of the survivors of this time, simultaneously a new face in the ever-overturning facades of the SoNo dining scene, and a branch reaching outward from the classical tradition of French cuisine.

The space is utterly redesigned and much brighter than the former restaurants vibe. We wanted a European look, a big difference, really our own, says general manager Angela Grogan, a veteran of the restaurant startup industry who spent nine years in Las Vegas before arriving in Norwalk.

The front rooms long bar  now backed by palms  remains in place, and light streams from outside and from above through multi-paned factory windows. The overhead globe lights, the French wallpaper, the vintage furniture from Mongers Market in Bridgeport, all came via a partnership with local designer Jaqui Silvestri Komblau.

The featured drink on the cocktail list is the gin bowl: a punchy, gin-based mix served in a wine balloon glass. We needed to figure out how to tie in a drinks program with this menus feel, and we thought of the explosion of craft gin distilleries in Europe. The bowl lets the gin breathe and expand, Grogan explains. The customers have gotten into it, its been really fun each season, and weve been able to establish a niche.

Bruxelles Brasserie 63-71 N. Main St., Norwalk 203-857-1494, bruxellessono.com, @sonobruxelles on Instagram Open daily for dinner; brunch Sat. and Sun. Wheelchair accessible See More Collapse

I choose the Monty & Max, made with German Monkey 47 gin, Luxardo sangue morlacco cherry, citrus and Fever-Tree aromatic tonic. Lighter in feel than the ingredients suggest, and the color of pink grapefruit, its a refreshing, subtle cocktail with hits of lemon juice and orange zest. My companion opts for the Dutch Courage, made with bols Genevre, grapefruit soda, whole blueberries, and sprig of thyme. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, and bowls with decidedly more local SoNo 1420 gins can be had for $10.

Olah is quick to credit his manager. What Angela did with the drink program and operations is unbelievable. Without her Im not talking to Connecticut Magazine right now.

Scanning the menu while sipping a drink shows the variety Olah offers, making for a difficult decision: everything looks good. It says Brasserie, but I really wanted to cook anything I like, not just French, he says. We have goulash from my heritage, if I want to cook Italian, anything, Ill do that. Its much more wide open.

Belgian croquettes with Serrano ham, salmon rillettes, acorn squash gnocchi, or charcuterie: everything jumps off the page. Our server specifically recommends the roasted cauliflower with pine nuts and a cumin-cilantro yogurt dressing, and the beef Bourguignon. Strongly tempted by all of the above, we elect to begin with a country pork and duck pate.

The pate comes bacon wrapped and studded with pistachios over a tiny reef of cornichons, with dipping sides of whole-grain mustard in a large dollop, and Dijon in small dots. The accompanying grilled baguette is chewy and a bit charred, adding a different flavor and textural component to the garlicky, smoky, aromatic funk of the pate. Mache greens of the on-plate salad  sometimes called corn salad for their preferred choice of terroir in the American South, but looking like the kind of verdant growth youd canoe through in a Cambodian river  are tasty, and a bit nutty in their own right. Were off to an excellent start.

The restaurant begins to fill as we wait for the main course. Dense with both workers and fans of the nightlife, SoNo is a great location for a restaurant, but the going wasnt easy for Bruxelles. We opened in December of 2019, and the first three months were fantastic, despite nobody knowing us, Olah says. The weekends, the brunch, were unbelievable. Then it was all just gone by March. We cut the menu in half, started preparing family meals for people to eat at home.

Olah and partner Jay Luther kept working at it, finishing the main dining room in addition to the bar/bistro area in time for Connecticuts tentative reopening. Since then, their popularity has only grown. We have so many regulars now who spread the word, tell their families and friends, and now theyre our friends. Its real here, Olah continues. For me the biggest consideration is for my food to be simple, well-made, with no shortcuts, and not so many ingredients. We work hard for it, and I think we do something special.

Bruxelles  the local spelling of the city we know as Brussels, Belgium  puts me in the mind of moule-frites, the original mussels from Brussels (sorry, Jean-Claude Van Damme), and Im delighted to see them on the menu, served two ways.

Nearly a pound of mussels cluster in the bowl under strips of leeks, basking in a fragrant broth made from Belgian ale, Dijon cream and parsley. Skin-on frites are served on the side with ketchup or a surprisingly bright and citrusy mayonnaise. There is a marvelous depth to the ale sauce pooling at the bottom to spoon over the shellfish as you go to town on this Belgian feast.

I pair the entree with a 2020 Gravel and Loam sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. Sweet, smooth and tart, the wine proves a perfect counterpoint to the rich and herbal treatment of the mussels.

My companion orders a breast of roast chicken on a bed of carrot parsnip puree. A Frenched wing drumstick stands out from a pillowy, juicy breast showing in slices under a glossy, dark-roasted brown skin. The circular islet of puree, with cremini mushrooms, cipollini onions, and a fan of broccolini, is surrounded by a moat of brown jus. The chicken is moist and expertly cooked, with a rich variety of flavor and textures from the creamy layer underneath. Outstanding in its own right, the dish makes me deeply curious as to what the chef can do with the recommended Bourguignon.

Later, I ask the chef what he wants to accomplish now that he has a kitchen of his own. I think theres a trust you need to have with people who come to eat. Every ingredient, if I dont feel the dish, I wont make it. If its 50-50 I wont put it on the menu. The quality has to be there, no good days and bad days. It has to be the same, every time, is his stated mission.

We wanted to keep it under $30 for everyone. I like people to think, I want to eat well, but I want to give them something reasonable, and with good portions. I want them to remember and be able to come back. The goal is to do this, and be able to support the village of people who help me make it possible here. We try hard to make everybody happy.
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MILFORD  Starting in June, Milford will be home to PierPressure, a Pedal Cruise party boat that Colin Caplan said is going to be a floating party.

We have Elm City Party Bike, where you go to streets and bars, he said. In this case, youre pedaling, also floating, and instead of a bar, you are witnessing one of the most beautiful scenes in Connecticut, which is Long Island Sound, Milford Harbor and just the gorgeous shoreline that we have.

Caplan said he started with Taste of New Haven about 11 years ago doing walking tours, then about five or six years ago, incorporated the party bike.

So this is the next thing, he said. A lot of people, they want to be on the water. Boats like these started in warm weather locations, but they started to migrate to places with seasons like Connecticut. We got about a four to five-month season where you want to be on the water, and its an evolution of fun things to do.

The party boat business started in Sanford, Fla., and Caplan said he soon realized the party boat model could work in Connecticut.

We had our eyes set on different harbors, but the City of Milford, theyve really been supportive of all of our ventures over the years, he said. From the party bike to supporting anything local like charities, the library, and any event that is going on in Milford. They were excited to bring a party boat to Milford Harbor.

Part of the scouting process was to look for navigable areas and have a destination.

Milford is a really awesome destination, not just for people from Milford, but for people all over Connecticut who want to come down to a place like Milford, Caplan said. We were excited to combine with all the activity and increased energy that Milford has to offer and bring our activity into the mix.

The boat is essentially an oversized luxury pontoon party boat meets a group bicycle.

The boat seats 12 but fits 20, he said. So its 12 pedaled seats that make the boat actually move, besides the motor, but theres space for 20. So people can stand and linger, and you dont really need to pedal. It is a fun part of it, but its not necessary on the boat.

Like the party bike, the boat is bring your own for food and drink, Caplan said.

Obviously, we want people to act responsibly, but it is about bringing the party onto the water, he said.

The people who rent the boat arent going to be left alone, as cruises will include both a captain and a first mate.

So its us who are steering, and its us navigating, and we determine where we can go, he said. The plan is to get out to Long Island Sound from the Milford Harbor, and when you get out, youre basically in this wonderful cove. You get to see Silver Sands Beach and Charles Island. So theres a lot of scenic things to see in a small area.

The tours are two hours and vary between cruising the Sound and circling different locations.

I dont think people are going to realize where they are, just because when youre on a boat, its boat time, he said.

Caplan said people can now visit their website to purchase tickets to rent the party boat in advance.

We highly suggest they purchase tickets in advance because we will probably get sold out on weekends, just like the party bike does, he said.

The ultimate goal is to give people who visit Connecticut an entire day of fun.

So you go to Milford, you hang out and have lunch, then go on the party boat, and when you are finished with that, head over to New Haven, get on the party bike and spend some time downtown in the evening. That is what we call a Connecticut shoreline day, said Caplan.
Thirty people filed into a lounge area of a building not far from the Tinker Air Force Base chapel in Oklahoma last September. They sat for roughly an hour as an increasingly impatient lieutenant colonel, a doctor who frequently checked his watch, tried to answer questions from skeptics of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to participants.

What he didn't realize is that his briefing would help forge an underground support network for service members who had refused the vaccine, putting like-minded troops in one room. The meeting was intended to convince those who were skeptical to get the vaccine, but two airmen who attended said it instead helped them find allies and compatriots in their drive to remain unvaccinated.

"I thank God every day that they had this briefing and [it] wasn't just a one-on-one thing," one of the attendees, an Air Force captain, told Military.com.

Read Next: Marines Make It Easier for Those Kicked Out over Vaccines to Come Back

After the Air Force doctor finished his presentation and had left, the captain and many of the other attendees stayed behind to compare notes, chuckling at the presentation and joking that the doctor had nothing prepared but "what the Air Force was telling him to say."

The captain saw an opportunity: Here was a group of airmen who thought as he did.

"I jotted down ranks and names and looked them up in the email thing later," he said. "I think a big part of what's going on right now is they're trying to isolate us; they're trying to make us feel like we're the only one and we are bad guys."

The result would be email lists that would help them stay in touch and support one another. Some would also go on to join closed Facebook groups with members numbering in the thousands from every service; they use coded language and secrecy trying to stay ahead of the social network's efforts to eliminate misinformation.

While the counseling session is only one instance in a large service and even larger military, the failed briefing helps illustrate how communities of vaccine refusers in the military operate -- looking to set up private, closed groups where they can exchange tips, news and information away from the prying eyes of military leaders and the larger public.

For this story, Military.com spoke with three service members who are currently serving in the Air Force. All of their names are being withheld to protect their identities out of concern over retribution from their superiors.

All three spoke about why they are refusing the vaccine and, although their specific reasons varied, all cited religious objections to the shot and filed for religious exemptions with the Air Force.

Throughout the military, there are more than 15,000 service members who have refused to comply with the vaccine mandate; about 12,000 religious exemption requests have been filed. To date, only the Marine Corps has approved any of those requests -- three in the last month out of more than 3,000.

An airman who also attended the Tinker briefing found the opportunity to meet others who were refusing the vaccine liberating.

"It really made me feel I am not the only one ... that I'm not this fringe person," the airman said.

From that meeting sprung an email list of about 20 people that the captain maintains for service members trying to avoid the vaccine like him. The group acts as a kind of support network for people where they exchange details about filing legal documents with the military, information about vaccines, and emotional support.

"I think that's the reason God put me in this position to be in the military for this very moment -- so I can support those other people who want to stand by their religious convictions," the captain said.

The airman, who is part of the email group, said that one of the members is Lt. Col.Theresa Long, an Alabama-based Army surgeon who has gained notoriety for her willingness to speak out publicly against the COVID-19 vaccine. Long's opposition to the vaccine has been amplified by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and legal filings she's made on behalf of a now-dismissed lawsuit against the military's vaccine mandate. However, her claims are filled with errors and inaccuracies. For example, in the affidavit she filed with the Colorado Federal Court, she claimed that the vaccines contain the chemical polyethylene glycol.

"Polyethylene Glycol is the active ingredient in antifreeze," Long wrote in the affidavit. "I cannot discern what form of alchemy Pfizer and the FDA have discovered that would make antifreeze into a healthful cure to the human body."

The active ingredient in antifreeze is actually ethylene glycol. Meanwhile, polyethylene glycol, as many health department fact sheets note, is a common ingredient found in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products

Email lists such as this are an example of the silos and closed ecosystems in which service members like the captain and the airman reside and traffic in tactics, documents and what they believe to be vaccine information.

"I have gotten a lot of information from that small group that has been really, really useful in this whole process, and a lot of that information has further validated what I already believed myself and validated the research that I've already done myself," the airman said.

The captain said that he keeps the list's members obscured even from each other. "When I send an email to everybody, I blind carbon copy it to the whole group, so that nobody else knows who else is in the group," he explained.

"My friend, who's stationed on the other side of the country, she knows a few handful[s] of people and so she's got her own little group going on," the captain said.

The captain is also a member of a large Facebook group that is similarly closed off where, according to two service members, people are able to exchange information on efforts to refuse the vaccine.

"A lot of people ... post their denials on there so we can see, 'Hey, yeah, these all look the same,'" the captain said. The similar wording of the denial letters is a common objection among refusers, who claim the similarity is evidence that the military is not actually individually reviewing exemption requests.

It's also where the captain met a technical sergeant who has been in the Air Force for 14 years, first as an active-duty service member and, for the last 10 years, as a reservist.

The sergeant said the Facebook group has about 7,000 members from all the military branches and includes spouses. She added that the group has taken very active measures to conceal itself and obscure its purpose.

"The group is worded differently," she explained. "I don't want to say it.  I don't know if they've caught on to it on Facebook.

"When you're in the group, when you're typing out certain things, you have to refer to them as different things," the sergeant said. "You can't say 'vaccine mandate' or 'appeal' or any keywords because Facebook does filter everything extremely well these days."

Neither the captain nor sergeant would disclose the name of the group to Military.com, but they said it has been helpful in providing them everything from forms to regulations to cite and arguments to make.

The sergeant said that "one of the No. 1 topics in our group" has been how to rebut the argument that service members have previously received vaccines either made from or developed with aborted fetal cell lines, although none of the COVID-19 vaccines contains fetal cells.

As the military has begun separations over failure to comply with the mandate, this group has also become a professional resource. The captain said that many of the conversations revolve around areas and companies that will hire separated service members.

Facebook groups have served as a way to connect like-minded service members who would have otherwise never met. That's the case for the captain and sergeant -- two people who serve in different states and duty statuses. Meanwhile, the airman said that finding out that the captain, who is in his unit, is also a vaccine refuser has been helpful to him in other ways.

"We found a lot of common ground and...he's somebody that I go to for personal issues, things like mentorship and stuff like that," the airman said.

Ultimately, there is probably nothing that the lieutenant colonel could have said that September afternoon to sway the audience of skeptics.

"Unless this doctor said, 'No, this vaccine has no relation to aborted fetal cells,' or 'No, this vaccine is not an mRNA vaccine,' there's nothing for him to convince me [of]," the captain explained.

"Whatever response they come at me with, I'm not going to agree with it because the response is obviously going to be: We're going to keep the mandate; you gotta get it," the sergeant said.

The captain also said that having a chaplain make the argument for vaccinations wouldn't have been any more helpful. "Would it necessarily change our minds? No, but I don't think we would have gone in there and just plugged our ears while the chaplain talks," he explained.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Marines Make It Easier for Those Kicked Out over Vaccines to Come Back
The Navy is set to begin removing contaminated water from a well that supplies drinking water to more than 93,000 people under a plan approved by federal and Hawaii state regulators last week.

The service will remove up to five million gallons of water each day from the well known as Red Hill, which became contaminated in late November after a fuel spill at the Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility. The fuel storage sits atop the aquifer that supplies water to more than 400,000 residents of Honolulu.

According to the plan, the Interagency Drinking Water System Team, or IDWST, will use skimming pumps, booms and absorbent pads inside the well to remove or contain any contaminants. The water then will be moved into a capture zone and passed through a massive carbon filtration system before it is tested and discharged into a stream that feeds into Pearl Harbor.

Read Next: Two Army Vets Awarded $110 Million in 3M Earplug Lawsuit

The water will be sampled and tested "at each step of the treatment process" and sent to independent labs for testing to ensure that the harbor isn't polluted, according to a statement released Saturday by the IDWST.

"If contaminant levels exceed [Hawaii Department of Health's] acceptable limits at any point, operations will be stopped," officials wrote in a press release.

As the Navy prepares to start clearing out the Red Hill well, it also is flushing the water systems in multiple neighborhoods and beginning to flush and test tap water in affected homes.

The service has completed flushing and testing of the system in 11 neighborhoods, reporting that the water meets or exceeds Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health standards for safe drinking water.

On Saturday, the Navy announced, however, that two homes in the Hale Moku and Hokulani neighborhoods failed the tests, with one home exceeding acceptable limits set by the state for diesel-based hydrocarbons by 29% and for oil by 17%.

Another vacant house had twice the state's level requiring action of semi-volatile organic compounds in its water, at 6.3 parts per billion.

The Navy said residents were notified and their homes will be flushed again and tested.

"[The Hawaii] DOH recommends all Navy water system users should avoid using the water for drinking, cooking, or oral hygiene," Navy officials wrote to families in an email Saturday. "This includes consumption by pets."

The state Department of Health has ordered the Navy to completely drain the fuel facility at Red Hill.

Under the order, the Navy has until Feb. 2 to provide a "work plan and implementation schedule" for assessing the state of the facility and its systems. The assessment must be submitted to the state for consideration and, once approved, the Navy can begin work to ready the facility for fuel removal and then eventually empty the fuel.

Two members of the Honolulu City Council wrote President Joe Biden on Thursday urging him to expedite the removal of fuel from Red Hill's tanks, which can hold up to 250 million gallons of jet fuel, diesel and other petroleum products.

According to Council Members Tommy Water and Esther Kia'aina, the contamination of the Navy's system prompted the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to stop pumping water from three of its wells.

"We believe the Navy's mishandling of the Red Hill Crisis is jeopardizing national security interests and the overall relationship between the U.S. military and the people of Hawaii," they wrote.

Of the 19 affected areas on and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, only residents of the Pearl City peninsula have been given an estimated date for returning to their homes pending test results.

If all goes as planned, the residents of 635 homes in Pearl City may return on Valentine's Day.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: 'Smells Like Gasoline:' Military Families in Hawaii Say They Are Being Sickened by Their Tap Water
The Department of Veterans Affairs is creating a new umbrella office to manage health care for all American Indian and Alaska Native veterans and expanding a new program to help rural Native American veterans more easily access VA health care, officials announced last week.

Both moves are part of VA Secretary Denis McDonough's effort to do "everything in our power to help tribal nations through the remainder of the pandemic," he told the first session of a multi day meeting of the VA's new Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs on Jan. 25. McDonough acknowledged that the agency fell short in providing adequate care for native veterans in the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic.

McDonough added that he wants "to make sure that what happened over the last 22 months never happens again."

Read Next: 'Space Force? Is that Real?' Guardians Still Struggling with an Unconvinced Public

"As a part of that effort, we have vaccinated more than half of American Indian and Alaskan Native veterans and cared for them with almost 90,000 telehealth visits," he said.

VA officials said they are creating the Office of Tribal Health within the Veterans Health Administration to manage health care for all American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, from those who live in urban environments to those on rural reservations.

The department also plans to expand its Rural Native Veteran Health Care Navigator Program, which began in 2020, to several new VA facilities.

The pilot program aims to decrease barriers to health care services in rural areas by partnering native veterans with peers in their communities -- similar to case managers -- who can help them reach culturally competent care, according to Jay Shore, a population specialist at the VA Office of Rural Health, who spoke to the advisory committee on Jan. 26.

A 2018 Government Accountability Office report found that the Indian Health Service, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, faces ongoing challenges to recruiting and retaining its clinical care providers, leading to "a negative effect on patient access, [and] quality of care." Approximately 25% of positions remain unfilled, including at rural IHS facilities.

VA advisory committee member Angela Pratt, an Army veteran and speaker of the Osage Nation Congress, said creating new programs and offices won't be enough if the current programs can't be better coordinated.

"A lot of times, my frustration with things is because there is so much information coming out through all these tribes, and there are so many layers of groups and things. And it is like, this isn't quite working well," she said.

A memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between the Veterans Health Administration and the Indian Health Service that establishes a framework to coordinate programs and communicate between the federal agencies was last renewed in October, VA officials noted.

"We are committed to tribal consultation and, really, this MOU is going to be, and is, an organic document. We anticipate it will change," said Benjamin Smith, deputy director for intergovernmental affairs for the IHS.

Chief William Smith, vice president of the Valdez Native Tribe in Alaska, praised the effort to coordinate Native American health care issues across government agencies.

"I want to commend the Indian Health Service and the VA for being together in the same rooms, to tear down their silos to work together to help veterans. This has been a dream for a long time," he said.

-- Jonathan Lehrfeld is a reporter for Medill News Service.

Related: Anticipating Boom of Aging Veterans, VA to Expand Care, Services for the Elderly
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, the civilian head of both the Navy and Marine Corps, announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning.

Del Toro's statement, issued late Monday afternoon, suggested that he is feeling some symptoms though he noted that he is "grateful to be fully vaccinated and to have received the booster shot in October as I know my symptoms could be far worse."

"I am following my physician's instructions and will quarantine for the next five days at a minimum in accordance with CDC guidelines," Del Toro wrote.

Read Next: Inside the Secretive Networks of Military COVID-19 Vaccine Refusers

The secretary, 61, said he had been on official travel last week, but he tested negative a week before his trip and immediately after.

He added that he plans to continue working virtually during his quarantine.

"During this time, I will attend key meetings and discussions virtually and when necessary, the Honorable Meredith Berger, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, will represent me during my physical absence," Del Toro said.

The secretary is the latest in a string of military leaders to test positive for COVID-19.

Last week, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, Gen. Richard Clarke, announced that he had tested positive. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, as well as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, announced positive COVID-19 test results and quarantines earlier in the month. Early in December, the top general in charge of the National Guard, Gen. Dan Hokanson, also tested positive for the virus.

"We must continue to vaccinate our naval forces and look out for our physical health as we finish the fight against COVID," Del Toro said in his statement.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Marines Make It Easier for Those Kicked Out over Vaccines to Come Back
Military members and their families often have unique tax situations. These mitiary tax tips can help you prepare your taxes and ensure you get the largest tax refund possible.

Many service members dread filing their taxes every year. For some, its almost as bad as going to the dentist. There are so many rules for filing your taxes. And, as military members, interpreting those rules can be even more complicated.

But, it doesnt have to be that way. There are a lot of resources for members of the military to help you file your taxes on time and correctly.

Here are a few common situations for military members and their families to be aware of when filing income taxes, plus some tax tips to help you maximize your return.

Live and Work Outside Your State of Legal Residence?

Members of the military may keep their home of record as their state of legal residence, or change it as they move around over the course of their careers.

You can also change your state of legal residence to the one you plan to return to in retirement.

Home of Record vs. State of Legal Residence

Your home of record is the state from which you entered active-duty service (that the military will pay to move you back to when you finish your term of service). Or, if youre a reservist or National Guardsman, its probably where you live.

Active-duty service members can change their home of record if there was an error (the wrong one was recorded) or when exiting and re-entering military service from another state. Reservists and National Guardsmen typically update their home of record when they move to a new permanent residence.

Your state of legal residence is where you pay state taxes if your state requires you to pay state tax.

Several states do not have a state income tax, and others exempt portions of military income from state taxes.

Federal law prohibits another state from taxing the military wages of nonresident military members stationed there. However, the state where youre stationed can tax other non-military income, like income from a second-job, independent contract, or a gig like Uber driving.

So, if you are a resident of South Carolina but stationed in North Carolina, you wont have to pay North Carolina state taxes on your military income. South Carolina would tax your military income instead. Some special tax provisions apply to military spouses. The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) allows military spouses (in most cases) to choose to be taxed by the service members state of legal residence instead of the duty station state for their earned income and most other income.

Combat Zone Tax Exemption

Income earned in a combat zone is tax-exempt. You wont have to show that amount of income earned from combat on your tax return.

DFAS will list both taxable and tax-exempt incomes on your W-2 if you have qualifying time in a combat zone. Some services in support of a combat zone may also qualify for tax exemption. (This most often applies to pilots and members of the Navy).

Another benefit of deploying to a combat zone is that you may still be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can increase your tax refund.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit that applies to workers with low to moderate incomes.

You dont have to report any nontaxable military pay on your income taxes, such as basic pay earned in a combat zone, imminent danger pay, hazardous duty pay earned in combat, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), or Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS).

But, you can decide to include your nontaxable combat pay in your calculations as earned income counted toward the EITC, even though youre not paying federal or state income taxes on that combat pay.

Including combat pay as earned income for the EITC calculations may reduce the amount of tax you have to pay and may increase your income tax refund through the EITC. Learn more on the IRS website.

You should calculate your income taxes using both your combat pay as earned income for the EITC and without it to compare refund amounts.

Deploying to a combat zone reduces your familys taxable income, which may help you qualify for low-income tax credits that might not be available otherwise.

Being Stationed Overseas But Not In a Combat Zone

If youre stationed overseas, in most cases you should treat your income tax and tax filings exactly like you would if you were in the United States. You must continue to file your federal income tax and state taxes for your state of legal residence by the filing date.

Tax Extensions for Military

Members of the military and government civilians serving in a combat zone can receive an automatic income tax extension if needed to file their income taxes.

The extension applies to filing deadlines and payments. It also suspends audits and enforced collections for 180 days until after the service member or civilian has left the combat zone.

Military members living or serving outside of the United States or Puerto Rico are entitled to an automatic two-month filing extension. But, keep in mind that you will have to pay interest on any tax due that was not paid by the original filing deadline.

You can get more details about extensions here.

Other Non-Taxable Military Income

As mentioned above, combat pay is not taxable. But, other allowances such as the basic allowance for housing (BAH) and the basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) are not taxable either.

These allowances can account for a significant portion of a military members total compensation, especially for junior soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

National Guard and Reserve Travel Costs

If you are a member of the National Guard or Reserves and have unreimbursed travel costs for drill or other duties that are more than 100 miles away from your home, you may be able to deduct those travel costs on your income taxes. For more details on qualified expenses take a look at the Form 2106 Instructions.

Six Military Tax Mistakes to Avoid

Not Updating Address with IRS or other Tax Authorities. - Typically the address the IRS has on file is the one that is on your last tax return. With frequent moves, service members and military families should update the address on file to ensure no correspondence is missed. States should also be updated. Military Spouses Not Getting W-2 Withholding Set Correctly. - Usually, this comes up due to a PCS when the spouse is claiming the service members state of legal residence for taxes in accordance with the MSRRA. If youre a military spouse beginning a new job at a new duty station, make sure your tax withholding is set for the state of legal residence, not the state your duty station is in. If an employer doesnt allow tax withholdings for another state, try to claim exemption from the duty stations state income tax withholding. Otherwise, you may need to file an extra tax return for the state youre stationed in to get the taxes refunded. If your employer doesnt withhold taxes for your state of legal residence, consider paying estimated taxes throughout the year to avoid owing when filing your state tax return. Married Couples Filing Separately When it Isnt Helpful - Some military couples think that if they live separately that they have to file tax returns as Married Filing Separate. That is not true. If you prefer to keep your taxes separate, remember that at best, filing separately has the same total tax result as filing jointly. At worst, it disqualifies taxpayers for credits or deductions, causing couples to pay more in taxes than is necessary. Missing Out on the Savers Credit. - The Retirement Savings Contribution Credit is available to many service members  particularly those in lower pay grades. Even at higher pay grades, a large portion of military compensation is non-taxable, so it doesnt count against the income limit for this credit. Taxpayers may miss the savers credit if they dont transpose all of the information from box 12 of the W-2 into their tax software. TSP contributions noted in box 12 can be the basis for the savers credit. IRA contributions can also qualify taxpayers for the savers credit. Enter IRA contributions in your tax software separate from TSP/401k contributions. If entered correctly, the IRA deduction will show on your Schedule 1 (Form 1040). Missteps on Taxes for Rental Property. - Military Permanent Changes of Station (PCS) can lead many military members to become landlords. Having a rental house complicates tax returns. Your first tax return for a rental property is very important in setting the stage for your future tax returns. Pay special attention to basis and depreciation. If you make errors here, theyll carry forward to future years. More information on common errors with rental property can be found here. Claiming an Education Credit When Not Qualified. - The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) and the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) are two valuable tax credits that service members can sometimes claim. However, tuition costs covered by the GI Bill, tuition assistance or scholarships dont count toward these tax credits. Tuition costs covered by a qualified tuition program (QTP), 529 or Education Savings Account (ESA) dont count either.

There are many more tax situations that apply to military members and their families. In fact, it can be a part-time job just keeping up with them all. Thankfully, there are resources available to you so you dont have to study the whole tax code.

If your base is large enough, you may have access to volunteer tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. MilitaryOneSource also offers free tax preparation software each tax season and has free tax consultants available year-round. Another option is using tax preparation software from a trusted company.

This article by Jerry Zeigler originally appeared on a property owned by Three Creeks Media, LLC or its affiliates as mutually agreed upon.

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How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image)

Controls - all media types

Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device.

Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen.

< and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys.

< and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys.

> in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys.

? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key.

Other keyboard shortcuts:

1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons

Scalebar

If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular.

Controls - Video

Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key.

Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation)

Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys.

The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types.

The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
The Congress on Monday raised concern on the Presidential address to the joint session of parliament and said that the President did not mention China and Pakistan, the two fronts on which India is engaged and also said that there was no mention of the killings in Nagaland.

The Congress said that the government has not tendered apology on the Covid deaths and questioned why there is no mention of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "Not a word on the China/Pak/Two Front situation. No regret on massacre of Civilians in Nagaland. No announcement on restoring statehood of J&K. Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, its terror implications on India obfuscated. No apology for Deaths in second COVID wave."

The Congress is upset that the government is facing a challenge at the LAC with China and reports are that China is building infrastructure at Arunachal Borders. The party wanted the President to outline the government's efforts on that front.

Though the President mentioned the government's diplomatic outreach in the world, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said that India has strengthened its standing in the rapidly evolving global environment through improvement in diplomatic relations.

Addressing the joint sitting of two houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, President Kovind said, "India has strengthened its standing in the rapidly evolving global environment through improvement in diplomatic relations. India chaired the United Nations Security Council in August 2021 and took several path breaking decisions."

President Kovind mentioned that the Security Council under the presidency of India held a comprehensive debate on the issue of maritime security. "Under the presidency of India, for the first time, the Security Council held a comprehensive debate on the issue of maritime security. The Security Council, for the first time, adopted a Presidential Statement on this subject, and did so unanimously," he said.

Talking about the prevailing situation in the neighbourhood, the President said, "We have witnessed instability and volatility in our neighbouring country, Afghanistan. In spite of the prevailing situation, true to the spirit of humanity, India launched Operation Devi Shakti."

"Despite the challenging conditions, we successfully airlifted a number of our citizens and many Afghan Hindu and Sikh minorities from Kabul. We also brought back two swaroops of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib safely amidst difficult situations. From the humanitarian point of view, India is helping Afghanistan by delivering medical supplies and food-grain," President Kovind said.

Mentioning about the government's efforts to bring back stolen artefacts, he said, "It has also been a priority of the government that the priceless heritage of India should be brought back to the country. The idol of Maa Annapurna Devi, which was stolen from India a hundred years ago, has been brought back and installed in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Many such historical artefacts are being brought back to India from different countries."
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Former Mets reliever Jeff Innis passed away today at age 59, as announced by the team. Innis had been battling cancer.

Innis pitched 360 Major League innings from 1987-1993, with all seven of those seasons in a Mets uniform. The right-hander was a 13th-round pick for New York in the 1983 draft, and he was a Met almost from start to finish in his professional career, aside from spending the 1994-95 seasons in the minors with the Twins, Padres, and Phillies farm systems.

He loved the fans and never shied away from any autographs, Mets team historian and VP/alumni public relations Jay Horwitz wrote. Jeff Innis was just a decent and humble guy who never made a big deal that he was a major league player. Jeff was proud of the fact that the Mets were the only team he played for in the big leagues.

Innis was something of a throwback even in his era, as a submarine pitcher who relied on soft contact and keeping hitters off-balance. The results were undeniable, as Innis had a career 3.05 ERA and became a workhorse of New Yorks bullpen. Only three pitchers in all of baseball appeared in more games from 1991-93 than Innis, who took the mound 212 times.

We at MLB Trade Rumors pass on our condolences to the Innis family, and Jeffs many friends and fans.
Ghanaian gospel musician, Perppy Music, has donated books to the Nhira Hills Government school at Shai Hills as part of her 'let a child smile' initiative.

According to the member of TV3 bands alive and gospel artiste, giving to society had constantly been her passion.

Children are back in school and I believe now, more than ever, books can make a difference to children who are stuck at home due to lack of funds to purchase exercise books," she stated.

This year, she is supporting school children with Ghc30 worth of exercise books. "I believe just a book can make a lasting impression or impact and this was the reason behind the donation," she intimated.

He stressed, I see the need to constantly reach out to the less privileged due to the fact that I recognize there is blessing in giving, I am determined to place smiles on the faces of those younger ones to boost their spirit up and provide them hope.

According to Perppy, she has been embarking on this charity initiative for the past five years and the advantages she obtained were amazing.

The pupils of the school, teachers and authorities thanked her for the kind gesture, thoughts and prayed that the good Lord continue to bless her.
31.01.2022 LISTEN

Vibrant and Street Gospel muncho, Dabo Williams is known for churning out street loving churchy contents and this time is no different as he releases his first single of the year.

The AfroGospel Nigerian artiste once again boasts and shows confidence in the name of Jesus just like he does in every of his songs with this new energetic catchy and groovy Amapiano sound titled "Watimagbo".

The title of the song is a street slogan in the city of Lagos meaning "You Should Be Familiar With This" or literally "You Must Have Been Hearing About This" and it boasts about the name of Jesus and it's ability to do massive and amazing things.

The sound is produced by ace maestro producer, Kana.

Listen to Dabo Williams Watimagbo here:

https://ffm.to/watimagbo
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Hon Osei Assibey Antwi has hinted that plans are far advanced for his outfit to roll out more innovative programmes to ensure that more personnel becomes permanently employed after their mandatory service.

He said the move forms part of the new management strategic plans to make the Scheme an employable agency to tackle the unemployment situation mostly among graduates.

The NSS boss made the disclosure at Burma Camp, Accra in the Greater Accra when he addressed the 2021-22 La Dade Kotopon Municipality National Service Personel Association (NASPA) elections and orientation program.

He reiterated that the programmes would among others, equip service personnel with the requisite skills to create their own businesses after their service annually.

He indicated that available records at the NSS have it that only 24 percent of the National Service Personnel gain employment after service while the remaining 76 percent end up as jobless.

"Therefore we find it prudent to come out with strong innovative programmes to reverse the trend," Hon Osei Assibey assured.

He further disclosed that the newly introduced initiative which included Pathways to Sustainable Employment (PaSE) and Project Ghana Tech Lab (GTL) is currently training 600 service personnel in mobile app and website building skills.

The Venture Building Programmes under the initiative of (NSS and University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), according to him, is also grooming ninety-one service personnel with entrepreneurship skills throughout the service year.

Mr Osei Assibey Antwi stressed that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) are also training 63 personnel in entrepreneurship and other skills required to create products and services which can be exported outside the country.

Other modules he emphasised, include Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Export Agency initiative program aimed at training the National service personnel in entrepreneurship and providing support in various business fields in the country.

Mr Assibey added that the Stanbic Graduate Transition Support Program (GTSP) as part of supporting the NSS initiative is presently providing sustainable financial services for service personnel in the areas of financial literacy and business development.

To ensure that the outfit succeeds in its innovative programmes, Assibey underscored that NSS-Ghana Tourism Authority are supporting 677 service personnel who have been dispatched to support the development of tourism in the country.

He further hinted that the Greenhouse Enterprise Project is training service personnel in agri-business field whilst NSS Construction and Housing Projects is training personnel to embark on construction on real estate housing.

According to Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, the initiatives which are currently running as pilot programmes would run as full operational modules with increased number of personnel intakes by the beginning of the next service year.

He added for instance that the PaSE program which is currently undertaking 600 personnel through training in the development of mobile applications and websites will be expanded to train 20,000 personnel by the beginning of the next service year.

He said the programmes were created on the back of careful and in-depth research on the current industry demands that require skill sets to propel growth to optimum income.

"All these programmes have been introduced to solve problems, we did not just create them, but instead created to solve unemployment challenges in the country after careful research," the NSS boss reiterated.

He further urged the service personnel to exhibit high sense of responsibility in order to uphold the good name of the Scheme.
In pursuance of the lagacy of Late Sheikh Salis Shaban, a delegation led by Sheikh Ibrahim AbulFaid Shaban, the Author, Alhaji Abdulsalam Mohammed Daaru (Executive Secretary of Faidhatu Tijaniyya Ibrahimiyya Council of Ghana), Mohammed Ma'mun Ali (P.R.O of FTIC-GH) and Issa Fiankor (freelancer) visited the University of Ghana Balme Library to make a donation of 15 copies of the book titled "The Second of The Two (Thani Ithnayn) to be shelved in the Arabic and African History Section of the library.

The Second of the Two is a biographical, historical and invigorative book that highlights the unique contributions and close relationship of two past great Muslim leaders; Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, Baye Niass, renowned global Muslim leader (1900-1975) and Sheikh Salis Shaban (1933-2021), Baye Niasss closest companion and spiritual representative for Ghana, Togo and Benin.

A key highlight of the book is the unique spiritual role of the two leaders towards sociopolitical development in Ghana and Africa particularly their spiritual intervention for the construction of Akosombo Dam and the Formation of the Organization of African Union, now African Union.

Alhaji Abdulsalam Mohammed, The Author, stated that the objective is to deepen research and aid in the preservation of oral history and academic excellence, and there is no better place than in the centers of knowledge. We are therefore happy to begin the series of donations with the University of Ghana Balme Library, which is one of biggest and most important reference library in Africa.

Receiving the books on behalf of the University Librarian, Dr. Antonia Appiah, the Research Librarian, expressed immense appreciation to the Council and the Author Alhaji Abdulsalam Daaru for the donation.

She noted that it was expedient for University faculty, staff and other researchers to always deposit complimentary copies of books they author or edit at the Balme Library.

These books, according to Dr. Appiah, serve as substantial reference materials for current and future students of the University.
31.01.2022 LISTEN

On 27th January, 2022 which marked the birthday of Maulana Sheikh Mohammed Salis Shaban, The Faidhatu Tijaniyya Ibrahimiyya Council of Ghana led by Sheikh Ibrahim Abal-Faid Shaban donated copies of the Book The Second of the Two, a biographical, historical and invigorative book that showcases the close relationship between Sheikh Ibrahim Niass and Sheikh Salis Shaban, his closest companion and spiritual representative for Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Alhaji Abdulsalam Mohammed, The Author of the Book, who doubles as the Executive Secretary of the stated council highlighted the unique spiritual role of the two leaders towards sociopolitical development in Ghana and Africa particularly their spiritual intervention for the construction of Akosombo Dam and the Formation of Organization of African Union, now African Union.

Thrilled by the presentation, a bibliographic representative for Ghana of the Library of Congress, Madam Emelia Agyei who was present at the short presentation expressed interest in the deep insights of the stories and requested a signed copy from the Author for the Library of Congress. Subsequently the Library Congress -Nairobi office has officially written to the Author to acknowledge receipt of the material and assured of its permanent retention as reference material for the USA Library of Congress.

The letter signed by William Kopycki, the Field Director stated "Thank you kindly for the materials your organization has donated to the Library of Congress . We appreciate your generosity and assure you that it will be considered for permanent retention."

Library of Congress -Nairobi is an office for the USA Congress Library that collects relevant materials of research Library, process and ship to the USA. Publications are acquired not only for the Library of Congress, but also for more than 30 institutions that participate in the Cooperative Acquisitions Program. Participants are primarily U.S. university libraries.
A four-day "people's primary", to pick a left-wing candidate for the French presidency from a divided and squabbling field, ends this Sunday with doubts remaining that a unifying figure on the left will emerge.

A total of 467,000 people have signed up to take part in the online vote, which started on Thursday.

They have to rank five professional politicians and two civil society candidates on a scale from "very good" to "inadequate".

Whoever wins the best grades average would be expected to rally all the other candidates and their voters behind them, giving the left a fighting change to unseat President Emmanuel Macron in the April election.

But the exercise, initiated by political activists including environmentalists, feminists and anti-racism groups, has been dogged by serious drawbacks.

The biggest is the upfront refusal by leading candidates Jean-Luc Melenchon, a hard-left politician, Yannick Jadot, a Green, and Socialist Anne Hidalgo to pay any attention to its result.

"As far as I'm concerned, the popular primary is a non-starter and has been for a while," Jadot said Saturday, while Melenchon has called the initiative "obscure" and "a farce".

Taubira in the spotlight

The best-placed politician to win the grassroots endorsement is former Socialist justice minister Christiane Taubira, who has said she would accept the primary's verdict.

A win for the well-respected Taubira could prompt her to declare a formal bid for the presidency.

But analysts would not rule out that Melenchon, Jadot or Hidalgo could still emerge as the winner despite their rejection of the primary, which could lead to more confusion.

Polls currently predict that all left-wing candidates will be eliminated in the first round of presidential voting in April.

Macron, who has yet to declare his candidacy for re-election, is the favourite to win according to surveys, with the far-right's Marine Le Pen the likely runner-up.

But pollsters warn that the political landscape remains volatile, with the vote's outcome very difficult to call.
31.01.2022 LISTEN

The National Democratic Congress( NDC- USA) rapid response team has sent their condolences to the Chief and people of Appiatse over the tragic loss of lives caused by the explosion.

"Like most Ghanaians, we the NDC-USA have been saddened to hear the tragic loss of lives caused by the explosion which has struck the Apiatse township and surrounding settlements," in a statement.

Read the Full Press Statement Below:

NDC USA Rapid Response Team

January 27, 2022

The Apiatse Disaster, our Words of Sympathy and Prayers Go to the People of Apiatse.

On Thursday, January 20, 2022, a massive explosion at Apiatse, a small town near Bogoso in the country's Western Region, caused a sizeable bowl-shaped cavity in the ground on the highway and left at least 17 people dead and 155 injured with an estimated 500 households and other properties destroyed, leaving many people without shelter.

Like most Ghanaians, we the NDC-USA have been saddened to hear the tragic loss of lives caused by the explosion which has struck the Apiatse township and surrounding settlements. According to eyewitness reports, the magnitude and extent of the explosion could be likened to Weapons of Mass destruction

Initial statement from The Ghana Police service indicated that the truck that caused this major explosion was carrying explosives to a gold mine run by Toronto-based Kinross about 87 miles to the blast scene when it hit a motorcycle. This collision reportedly caused fire leading to explosion minutes after. President Nana Akuffo-Addo employed the military to join emergency efforts to contain the situation and promised rapid relief to the residents of the affected town.

In this regard, The NDC USA offers its sincere condolences, and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Apiatse.

Disaster Management

Clearly, the root cause of the Apiatse explosion incident was a Human error!

According to the Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Eric Asubonteng, his outfit would ensure this tragic incident will not recur, but we add our voice to suggest that the quest to prevent such tragic events from reoccurring in the future goes way above and beyond rhetoric and prayers.

This is because, in 2017, a similar event occurred when scores of people were killed and injured after a tanker truck carrying natural gas caught fire in Accra, triggering explosions at two fuel stations. As a result, real questions need to be asked about the safety measures when explosives are being transported on Ghana's busy roads.

For example, motor vehicles carrying explosives should not go through or near heavily populated areas. Would it have been better for these explosives should have been transported by other means since the crash site is about 87 miles to the mine and the vehicle had to go through populated towns like Apiatse?

It is worth mentioning that a first step in this fight is not necessarily about having police escorts but have vehicles with Flaggers and Flashers behind and in front of such trucks travelling at a speed limit of 25 miles per hour for example.

The Ghana Police authorities say the investigation into the circumstances of the explosion has begun, but initial reports suggest correct transportation procedures were followed. Then next thing you know, a chief from a community came out to deny the initial police. We need to get serious as a country as far as communication policy with regards to Disaster Management. Now, if that is the case, does it mean that the procedures should change?

Lessons have been for sure learned and Government and Mining Industry experts need regulatory and compliance policy frameworks in place to curtail future recurrence of this magnitude in the motherland.

Appiatse Chiefs Contradict Police

According to Ghana web online edition of Thursday, January 2022, contrary to findings in the preliminary police investigations into the explosion, traditional rulers of the area insist there was no police escort accompanying the truck carrying explosives that caused the accident.

The police, in its initial statement on the accident, said preliminary reports had established that a police escort was with the truck carrying the mining explosives from the MAXAM warehouse through Apiatse for delivery. But speaking to a delegation of government officials including the Ministers of Land and Natural Resources, Works and Housing and the Western Regional Minister, the chief of Bepo near Bogoso, Nana Ataa Brembi II, debunked the claims by the police insisting there was no police escort with the truck when the incident happened.

Top-level Investigations are necessary in finding out what truly happened on the day of the disaster. Meanwhile, We the NDC USA propose that a first step in this fight is not necessarily police escort but henceforth, mining companies must have vehicles with Flaggers and Flashers behind and in front of such trucks travelling at a speed limit of 25 miles per hour for example. This approach is a common best practice in the USA for example.

Regulatory Mining Policy On Explosives

We, the NDC USA, encourage the government to use this incident as a warning and be proactive to initiate a policy that will strengthen our laws and regulations on the transportation and conveyance of explosives for mining purposes. The Ghana Chamber of Mines should run with this because as the saying goes, Charity Begins at Home

Finally, to enhance disaster management, a systematic method of collecting data on disasters, measurement, and assessment of relief efforts is required. It is important to emphasize measuring the effectiveness of disaster management activities, not the mere performance of IT in general and independent mechanisms for appraising the efficacy of disaster management operations, which include the utilization of IT, and for sharing lessons learned and best practices, may be very valuable for continuous improvement in disaster management operations. In this regard, the question to ask is but to what extent has Ghana NADMO achieved since the NPP government came into office?

Signed;

NDC-USA Rapid Response Team
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday she had blocked governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Twitter as she was disturbed by the latters posts on the microblogging site.

She also accused the Governor of "tapping phones" and "threatening" officials.

"I have written several letters to the PM about him. That he [Governor] is not listening and he is threatening everyone. I have even been to him and spoke with him.

"We have been patiently suffering for the past year. He has not cleared several files. He is keeping every file pending. How he can speak about policy decisions," CM Mamata Banerjee told reporters.
30.01.2022 LISTEN

Information reaching this portal indicates that the GCB Bank branch in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region was on fire from unknown sources.

The incident occurred at Sunday noon when most of the residents closer to the bank had gone to church.

The fire was reported to burnt the back of the bank as the front view remains untouched.

A resident in the area, identified as Moses said on radio that he was in church when he heard the sad news as part of the house he has belongings has been burnt to ashes.

The Ghana National Fire Service in the area when had the information quickly rushed to the scene to help quench the fire at the time of filling this report.

DGN online
Nearly 60 "terrorists" were killed in Burkina Faso by local forces alongside French troops on the eve of the January 24 coup in the poor Sahel country, France's military said on Sunday.

The military successes came just ahead of the putsch that ousted president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who had come under heavy criticism for failing to contain the jihadist insurgency in the country, where violence has worsened since 2015, especially in the north and east.

"On four occasions between January 16 and January 23, 2022, groups of terrorists were located, identified and neutralised by Burkinabe forces and by (foreign) units... in total nearly 60 terrorists were taken out," the French military said in a statement.

Air strikes by the French Barkhane force "guided by Burkinabe units" also destroyed around 20 motorcycles and several pickup trucks with weapons, the statement said.

"We continue the fight against the terrorists in coordination with the partners, the Burkinabe armed forces, who led these operations (with a) very positive" outcome, it said.

Last Thursday, the country's new strongman Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, in his first speech since the putsch, said his country "needs its partners more than ever".

Saying he understood the "legitimate doubts" raised by the coup, Damiba promised to "respect international commitments, notably with respect to human rights" and said the judiciary would remain independent.

The French military statement said that after the latest operations, Burkinabe forces would be able to return to "areas of transit and refuge" for the jihadists where "they have not operated for a long time".

Militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group began mounting cross-border raids from Mali in 2015.

More than 2,000 people have died, according to a toll compiled by AFP.

The national emergency aid agency says that 1.5 million people, nearly two-thirds of them children, were internally displaced as of November 30, 2021.

Highly mobile enemy

The country's security forces are poorly equipped to face a ruthless and highly mobile foe, adept at carrying out hit-and-run raids aboard motorbikes and pickup trucks.

On November 14, a force described as numbering several hundred men attacked a police base at Inata near the Malian border, killing 57 people, including 53 gendarmes.

Map of Burkina Faso locating the capital Ouagadougou. By AFP

On December 23, 41 people were killed when a convoy of traders was ambushed near Ouahigouya, also near the Malian frontier.

Northern Burkina Faso, similar to large parts of neighbouring Mali and Niger, is a vast, sparsely populated rural area.

The people in these landlocked regions -- mostly pastoral nomads -- are among the poorest in the world, with little access to education and social services.

With central governments wielding little control over these areas, they have become fertile recruiting ground for jihadist groups.
31.01.2022 LISTEN

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HGL, a multi-grain processing facility, Senyo Hosi has reiterated his support for the reversal of discounts on benchmark values in the country.

Speaking on The Big Issue over the weekend, Mr. Hosi argued that the implementation of the policy has not benefited the country in any way.

The government has lost GH10.2 billion as a result of implementing the policy. This information was derived from the Finance Ministry itself.

This investment, he said, has not had any positive impact on the countrys economy.

What then is the point in implementing this policy? What we see however is less revenue for government and disruption of economic growth within the industrial sector.

This must stop, there should be no further debate on it. There is nothing to support the continuation of the policy, he added.

The benchmark value, which is the amount taxable on imports, was reduced by 50 percent for some goods in 2019.

The import value for cars was also reduced by 30 percent.

The initial reversal of the policy was backed by the Association of Ghana Industries, which expects the local manufacturing industries to benefit from the higher cost of imports.

But some stakeholders have opposed the reversal, arguing that local businesses will be negatively affected.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), subsequently suspended the policy reversal indefinitely following a directive from the government.

The Authority explained that the transitional arrangements are to ensure a smooth implementation.

It is also to allow a storage-free period for vessels that discharged on 31st December 2021 to go through clearance without being affected by the reversal of the policy.

citinewsroom
Minister for Education Dr. Yaw Adutwum

31.01.2022 LISTEN

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum has resolved to do all he can to ensure that the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) call off their strike.

UTAG commenced a strike action early this year to compel the government to address its concerns relating to poor conditions of service.

After some engagements, government is yet to address the issues as UTAG strike enters week four.

Addressing the media during Meet the Press Series on Sunday, the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Adutwum stressed that he will personally see to it that the impasse with UTAG is resolved as quickly as possible.

Our University lecturers are on strike, but we continue to engage them as to how best we can get them back. As a Minister of Education, I have said I am a chief advocate for teachers and professors and when we find ourselves in this place. I do everything possible formally and informally, to make sure we come to some resolution, Dr. Yaw Adutwum shared.

The Minister for Education continued, As we did the last time, we hope it will happen this time around. So we will continue to engage them to make sure that we can bring a resolution to this problem.

UTAG will this week be in Court over charges of illegal strike filed by the National Labour Association (NLC).
The United Nations Security Council meets on Monday to discuss the Ukraine crisis, with Washington vowing to hold Moscow accountable for any further territorial incursions. The Biden administration continues to work with Nato allies on a range of sanctions in the event of a Russian invasion.

Fears of an invasion have grown in recent days, despite denials from Moscow and pleas from Ukraine's president to avoid any "panic" over the massive Russian military build-up on the border.

The United States and Britain on Sunday warned of new and "devastating" economic sanctions against Russia, as Washington and its allies step up efforts to deter any invasion of Ukraine.

In the face of the Russian build-up, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West to tone down the rhetoric.

With tensions soaring, the United States said it was prepared to push back against any "disinformation" Moscow put forward in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years.

Russia is expected to try to block the 15-member council from holding its US-requested meeting, "but the Security Council is unified. Our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves," Washington's UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

'We must send a powerful message to Moscow'

The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US Senate, meanwhile, took a tough stance, saying it was crucial Washington send a powerful message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that any aggression against Ukraine would come at a very high cost.

"We cannot have a Munich moment again," Senator Bob Menendez said on CNN. "Putin will not stop with Ukraine."

In London, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Britain would unveil sanctions legislation targeting "a much wider variety" of Russian economic targets.

"There will be nowhere to hide for Putin's oligarchs," Truss told Sky News.

Analysts say an array of sanctions hitting Russian banks and financial institutions would affect not only daily life throughout Russia but could also have a negative impact on major economies in Europe and elsewhere.

Carrots, sticks, troops and tanks

Western leaders are pursuing a two-pronged approach, stepping up military assistance to Ukraine while continuing diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.

Britain is preparing to offer Nato a "major" deployment of troops, weapons, warships and jets, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday welcomed the increased military support while also endorsing London's diplomatic initiative.

Canada on Sunday announced the temporary repatriation of all non-essential employees from its Kyiv embassy. And its defense minister, Anita Anand, said Canadian forces in Ukraine were protectively being moved west of the Dnieper river.

Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War.
The UN Eminent Peace Ambassador, Amb. Dr Samuel Ben Owusu and also the Country Director of United Nations International Association of World Peace Advocate on January 28, called on Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare to discuss national Peace and Security issues.

Amb. Dr Owusu among other things called on the IGP to institute a National Awareness Program on Security and related matters.

According to him, issues relating to explosions safety, domestic abuse, intolerance amongst others are of great concern.

The need for National Awareness on Security and Peace related issues on Safety, Domestic Abuse, Violence Against Women and Children, and most importantly, Peace and Tolerance for National Development of our Nation, he submitted.

He added to that, the Ghana Police Service may consider setting up a Television Stations or have a dedicated program geared towards educating the public, particularly the uneducated folks on security matters.

There is need for the Police to operate a Television station or a platform which will bring awareness and information to the people which will help all citizens to have knowledge on safety when it comes to Peace Building, he said.

He also used the opportunity to thank the IGP for granting him the opportunity to have such a meeting geared towards national development.

Amb. Dr Owusu pledged help the Police in any possible way on Peace and Security related programs.

We also want to extend our strongest support with any projects or missions you may embark on, that is within the purview of our organization, that we can assist with, he said.
Vice- President Dr. Bawumia joined the Accra Diocese of the Anglican Church for the ordination and consecration service of Very Reverend Dr. Kotei Neequaye as the new Suffragan Bishop for the Church.

Addressing the Congregation, Dr Bawumia lauded the Anglican Church for its enormous contributions toward the growth of Ghana for over a century.

"The role of the Anglican Church in the development of Ghana cannot be underestimated. For more than a century, the Anglican Church has contributed significantly to improving the quality of education, alleviating poverty and shepherding leaders in our great nation Ghana," he stated.

"The church has been father of the fatherless, mother of the motherless, parent to the orphan, wife to the widow and husband to the widower. The Government of Ghana is grateful and I take this opportunity to commend the Church for its contribution to our dear Nation, Ayekoo," Dr. Bawumia emphasised.

The Very Reverend Dr Kotei Neequaye was elected as the Suffragan Bishop of Accra on 25th September, 2021 by a Special Synod of Accra, in line with the constitution of the Anglican Communion.

A Suffragan Bishop is a bishop in Anglican Communion who is a subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop and so is not normally jurisdictional in the role.

The consecration was performed by the Most Reverend Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, Dean of the Church of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Asante-Mampong and assisted by other bishops of the Province.

The Right Reverend Charles Mthetheleli May, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Highveld, South Africa, in a sermon, encouraged the new Suffragan Bishop to understand that God had called, anointed and empowered him to be a "Prisoner of Hope" to the diocese, the country and to the world.

He should, therefore, bind and heal the broken-hearted and bring restoration to humanity through the power of the holy spirit.

Very Rev. Dr Neequaye was born on 25th March 1959 to Albert Amon Neequaye and Mrs Christiana Amarquaye.
The African Union on Monday suspended Burkina Faso a week after the volatile country suffered its latest coup, as diplomats from West Africa and the UN began talks with the new junta.

The AU's 15-member Peace and Security Council said on Twitter it had voted "to suspend the participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country".

The move came three days after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Burkina from its ranks and warned of possible sanctions pending the outcome of meetings with the junta.

An ECOWAS mission headed by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway arrived in Ouagadougou, where it was joined by the UN's special representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif.

They arrived at the presidential palace at 1 pm (1300 GMT), an AFP journalist saw.

"The joint delegation will have meetings with the military leaders as well as with the various Burkinabe actors," UNOWAS said in a statement earlier.

On Saturday, ECOWAS sent military chiefs to confer with junta leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

The junta "reaffirmed its commitment to sub-regional and international organisations," it said in a statement.

ECOWAS leaders will hold a summit in Accra on Thursday to assess its two missions to see whether they should impose sanctions.

They have previously suspended and enforced sanctions against two other members -- Mali and Guinea -- which have also seen military overthrows in the past 18 months.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, who chairs the AU's Commission, had already condemned the coup on the day it happened.

Troubled country

On January 24, rebel soldiers detained president Roch Marc Christian Kabore amid rising public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence ravaging the impoverished nation.

They later released a handwritten letter in which he announced his resignation -- a document that a member of his party said was authentic.

The junta has dissolved the government and parliament and suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time".

The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Burkina Faso. By AFP

Kabore was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore.

Compaore himself had seized power in 1987 during a coup in which the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, was gunned down.

He was re-elected in 2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over his handling of a jihadist insurgency that has swept in from neighbouring Mali.

Since 2015, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP toll, while the country's emergency agency says a 1.5 million people, in a population of 21 million, have fled their homes.

Sankara trial

In a separate development on Monday, a military court in Ouagadougou said the long-awaited trial of Sankara's alleged killers was being suspended until "the restoration of the constitution".

Civilian plaintiffs had requested the suspension, arguing that the independence of the court was guaranteed by the constitution, and proceedings therefore could not continue if the constitution had been suspended.

The trial opened last October and has been closely followed by the Burkinabe public.

It has been showcased as the chance to shed light on one of the murkiest chapters in the troubled country's history.

Fourteen defendants are on trial, two of them in absentia, including Compaore.

Compaore and his former right-hand man General Gilbert Diendere are charged with harming state security, complicity in murder, concealing bodies and witness tampering.

Compaore has repeatedly denied entrenched suspicions among Burkinabe that he ordered Sankara's killing, while Diendere has pleaded not guilty.

Diendere is already serving a 20-year term for an attempted coup in 2015.
As the African Union suspends Burkina Faso, here is a timeline of its latest military coup -- the seventh in the Sahel nation since independence in 1960.

Jihadist attacks

Since 2015, the impoverished West African country has been plagued with jihadist violence, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives and forced 1.5 million from their homes.

In the bloodiest attack, between 132 and 160 people were killed in a raid on the northeastern village of Solhan in June 2021.

Soldiers revolt

On January 22, police in the capital Ouagadougou clash with demonstrators at a banned protest over the government's handling of the jihadist threat.

The following day soldiers at several army barracks revolt.

On January 24, Kabore is arrested by mutinous soldiers after gunshots are heard near his private residence.

Coup

A group of officers later go on television to announce that the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) -- a junta led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba -- is in control.

The United Nations, France and West African nations all condemn the coup, with the regional bloc ECOWAS suspending Burkina Faso on Friday.

'60 terrorists' killed

At the weekend, France -- whose troops have been helping counter the Islamist insurgency -- says 60 "terrorists have been taken out" in joint operations with Burkinabe troops between January 16 and 23, the day the coup began to brew.

On Monday the African Union suspends Burkina Faso "until the restoration of constitutional order in the country."
Kwame A-Plus

31.01.2022 LISTEN

Kwame A-Plus has alleged that while people are struggling to donate to the Appiatse disaster fund, some persons are busily sharing as much as Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) to have the matter swept under the carpet.

In a lengthy write-up on his Facebook page, the loudmouth political activist disclosed that his claims are born out of some WhatsApp voice notes he has in his custody currently.

According to A Plus, per the evidence he has, the company that was transporting the explosives was warned several times that a disaster was imminent. The said voices A Plus alleged were sent to the manager of the company when he refused to pick up calls.

I personally listened to these messages on an honourable Member of Parliaments phone on Friday, he wrote in his claims.

He also claimed that information available to him has it that a similar accident was caused by the same company in Burkina Faso and killed 14 lives as a result.

A Plus alleged that, according to the voices he has with him, the company was warned not to transport finished explosive products to the site and rather transport chemicals for making the explosives to the mining site to be mixed there.

He was worried about why the police has not effected any arrest since the disaster occurred, even though it has opened investigations into the incident.

Kwame said while people are donating to the Appiatse disaster fund to give their support to the victims, someone is paying $500,000 to kill the case.

Why is somebody not behind bars? The answer is very simple. While you donate to help the poor people of Appiatse, Someone, according to the information I have, is going round, paying as much as $500,000 to cover up the killing and permanent physical and emotional injuries caused to many poor people who have never seen gold in their lives before, his claims read.

He told the Special Prosecutor he would avail himself whenever he is called to produce the information he has.

Read his full writeup below:

The company which was transporting explosives that caused the accident at Apiate was warned severally that a disaster was imminent. This is according to WhatsApp voice messages, which, according to my sources, were sent to the manager of the company when he refused to pick up his calls. I personally listened to these messages on an honourable member of parliaments phone on Friday.

Information I have is that, not long ago, this same company caused a similar accident somewhere in Burkina Faso, where about 14 people were said to have lost their lives.

According to the voice messages I listened to, the company was warned not to transport finished explosive products to the site. Rather, they should transport chemicals for making the explosives to the mining site and mix them there. All these warnings, according to the recording I heard, were ignored.

It further went on to say that the truck did not have a police escort. Lets assume without admitting that everything Ive heard is false and that the truck was being escorted by the police. Some of us, though we are not security experts, we are also not mentally retarded; we are very good listeners.

We, therefore, understood it clearly when the police failed to tell us the role of their trained officers who were escorting the product (if any) to minimize the impact of the explosion. They rather stated that the truck driver did very well by alerting people to flee the area. The police have also forgotten that they issued a statement that there has been a reported explosion somewhere in the Western Region and that they will investigate the cause and let the general public know, a further confirmation that they were not there. It came to them as a surprise just like all of us.

The police didnt state that knowing how dangerous the product is and the looming danger, their men at the scene immediately called the Ghana National Fire Service, the Nationale Disaster Management Organization, and the National Ambulance Service to assist in an evacuation exercise and to provide support if the unexpected happened. It was rather the driver and his mate who went from place to place, trying their best to evacuate the village.

Finally, even if it did have a police escort, why will any sensible person born of a woman, sanction the transportation of a product which can explode at any time and cause such damage to lives and property, through densely populated areas, all the way to Apiate, even if it was being escorted by US marines? What if this explosion happened at Bogoso?

Why is somebody not behind bars? The answer is very simple. While you donate to help the poor people of Apiate, Someone, according to the information I have, is going round, paying as much as $500,000 to cover up the killing and permanent physical and emotional injuries caused to many poor people who have never seen gold in their lives before.

Dear special prosecutor,

Im tired of trying to help the system. The last time I tried, the police invited me for telling the police to arrest somebody who is accused of threatening to kill the police; unfortunately, the police didnt show any interest in the threat to kill their fellow police officers. The police were rather interested in a so-called misdemeanor per the criminal code for saying that the accused person is evil. Mabr ooo Funny, huh? They are all in church by now!! Smfh!!

Honestly, Im tired!! I wont report anyone. I also have things to do; a family to take care of and underprivileged people to assist. However, if you want me to assist you in getting further information about the aforesaid, please call me, and Ill tell you what I know, for the love of the red gold green, fellow Ghanaians who lost their lives in this tragedy and their loved ones who will live with sadness in their hearts forever.

May God comfort them

End.
A woman cannot be treated as a commodity, having no rights to say no, an advocate for a petitioner in the matter related to the rape ' title='criminalisation of marital rape '>criminalisation of marital rape told the Delhi High Court on Monday.

A bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and C. Hari Shankar were hearing a batch of pleas, challenging the exception to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and seeking a direction that marital rape is declared as an offence and a crime.

"We will address the issue of punishment, as it does not serve either the victim or the perpetrator. The exception is entirely independent of that concern," advocate Karuna Nundy, representing petitioner NGOs RIT Foundation and All India Democratic Women's Association, said in her rebuttal submissions for the petitioners.

"It is quite clear that a rapist does not remain a rapist and marriage does convert him to a non-rapist," she added.

Nundy said that her arguments were divided into three sections.

"First, our constitution is transformative and requires us to travel to the destination of constitutional morality. The second is what is the test that is to be applied to the SC judgement in independent thought. Third thing is that we will address the marital rape argument and the fact that is pre-independence, has no application of mind.

"Our Constitution is in our hands, women have gained universal suffrage, right to work, right to worship and right against divorce by utterance of three words," she said.

The arguments, which were inconclusive on Monday, will continue on Tuesday.

Leading lawyer Rebecca M John, who is assisting the court in the matter as amicus curiae, had earlier told the court that there was a fair expectation of sexual relationship in a marriage.

"Expectation cannot be penalised. The spouse has a right to resort to civil remedies. But if the expectation becomes a physical act based on coercion and force, then that sexual act must become an offence," she had argued.

The Centre had recently filed a fresh affidavit in the high court, in response to a clutch of petitions to criminalise marital rape, maintained that it was examining the issue of broad changes in criminal law of the country and that the petitioner could also give their suggestions to the competent authorities.
Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive of National Petroleum Authority(NPA), has embarked on a working visit to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) of Kenya.

The visit is to strengthen NPAs relationship with peer regulators on the African continent and share experiences for the mutual benefit of citizens.

Dr Abdul-Hamid, together with some NPA Board and Management members, as part of the visit, met Mr Daniel Kiptoo, EPRA Director-General, and his team in Nairobi.

The two entities discussed petroleum price deregulation policy, LPG distribution, planning of petroleum product importation, exportation, fuel adulteration, and modern enforcement methods.

EPRA regulates the entire energy sector and has oversight responsibilities over both the petroleum upstream and downstream sectors as well as electricity and other energy generation sources in Kenya, including renewable energy.

Neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo also import petroleum products through Kenyas pipeline system.

Kenya operates an efficient network of petroleum product pipelines connecting its port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi and other counties in the country.

A new and modern oil jetty with the capacity to accommodate up to four vessels at a go is 95 per cent completed and ready to be commissioned in March in Mombasa. It is expected to handle 20 times more vessels than the current one.

As part of the experiential study visit, the delegation visited key petroleum facilities and institutions. Groups met included the Oil Marketers who are the main importers and traders of petroleum products in the country.
31.01.2022 LISTEN

I call on all Ghanaians, both home and abroad, to reject the imposition of electronic transaction tax (e-levy) by President Nana Akufo-Addo led NPP government. E-levy is like the window tax which was introduced by the UK government in 1696. The rich members of society were not bothered about the introduction of such a tax because they could display their wealth by flaunting their windows; while the poor ones cried out the loudest. This tax was abolished in 1851 because it didnt help the majority of the society. E-levy is extremely clumsy like unpopular poll tax introduced in the UK by the late Mrs Margaret Thatcher. Apart from being regressive, it is more burdensome on the least well-off in society. Besides, the Government of Ghana does not offer any product or services to Ghanaians to deserve taxing the people. NPP government proposed taxes on electronic transaction is a lazy approach for any government to try to raise revenue from the downtrodden.

Mobile money has had a profound impact on the financial sector landscape in Ghanas economy, providing traditionally unbanked populations with secure and convenient means to carry out financial transactions and furthering financial inclusion. Mobile money provides large quantities of unbanked communities comprising poor and remote rural area and supporting capital accumulation and household savings. Today, Africa is considered as the epicentre of mobile money which Asia and Latin America countries have emulate. Today the number of registered mobile money accounts being greater than that of bank accounts. Beside Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) enjoying huge fees for providing mobile money services, they are also enjoying huge deposits which they lend out for interest, more than traditional banks. It is upon these that Bank of Ghana in 2015 directed that at least 80% of interest earned by MNOs passed on to customers. Mobile money is already a vital part of daily life for most Ghanaians and we expect regulatory measures to safeguard poor Ghanaians savings. One of the most important regulatory measures identified is that in order to protect customers money, all Telcos need to implement mechanisms to safekeep and segregate those funds in the case of bankruptcy. Already there are potential security threats, fraudsters and attackers on mobile money transactions that needed to be addressed by the government.

Ghana has a potential workforce of over 20 million in which the government provides less than 5% employment. More than 70% of Ghanaians are either unemployed, peasant farmers or subsistence entrepreneurs; engaged in small trading or business. There is nothing like social welfare, so people have to find any means to be able to survive. While going about their daily lives, it is the mobile wallet that save them from unexpected attack from thieves and armed robbers. Almost all of them use mobile money to make payment or receive payments. These payments and receivals are not revenues, they are rather their working capitals. If it is not possible to tax business loans, how is it possible to tax someones working capital? Today, some corporations, companies, and medium and small enterprises pay their orders, bills and salaries through mobile money. In the advent of e-levy, such enterprises will revert to the old style of paying salaries in hands. Theoretical and practical considerations suggest that the equity concerns about e-levy is probably overstated and that, for NPP government attempts to address these concerns by such initiatives as graduated consumption taxes would be ineffective and administratively impractical.

The e-levy when passed will also affect inward foreign remittances to Ghana. Ghanaians in Diasporas and foreigners, who have interest in Ghana, remit money for their projects or investments. Apart from that, some also remit money to families, relatives and friends for their upkeep, pay school fees, medical bills, and electricity bills. Since 2001 Ghanaians abroad have been remitting massive amount of money home annually. Even in the face of the pandemic, Ghanaians abroad remitted US$4.507 billion (ca. Ghc 25 billion) by the third quarter of 2021 (i.e. 5% higher than total inward remittance to Ghana in 2020). Total inward remittances to Ghana in 2021 is higher than expected foreign direct investment (FDI) of US$3 billion. Diasporas inward remittance in 2021 makes up 6% share of Ghanas GDP, and the 3rd highest foreign currency contributor besides cocoa and gold. Most Ghanaians are doing donkey jobs and starving themselves to save money to remit home. Already, a high percentage of Ghanaians abroad are frustrated or disappointed by families and friends who handle their businesses and projects at home. Most go through hassle before their remittances can go through. Besides, they pay excessive commissions for transferring money. If they are going to pay tax for remitting money home, I am sure most of them will stop remitting home. Alternatively, they will go back to the period when they did remittances through illegal ways.

Taxes should be designed to create social cohesion rather than conflict. Ken Ofori-Attas e-levy is anti-capital and it is so bad that it will destroy democratic capitalism. Taxing consumption has traditionally been thought to be inherently more regressive, because it will hit harder on the poor than the rich. It is also a recipe for economic disaster, because it will transfer money from the productive private sector to the unproductive public sector. It would be recalled that in opposition, the NPP ridiculed John Mahama led NDC government for imposing taxes on Ghanaians. In their 2016 manifesto, NPP, who tagged NDC as incompetent, promised to move the economy from taxation to production. On 2 November 2017, barely 10 months into office, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice-President twitted In Ghana we're moving the focus from taxation to production, taking advantage of technology. Today, why is NPP deviating from all these promises, knowing very well it is the private that create jobs?

NPP government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has borrowed the highest money in Ghana history for just 5 years in power with little to show. NPP took over the government when Ghana debt stock was Ghc 120 billion. In President Akufo-Adddos 5 years rule he has borrowed Ghc221 billion as at the end of November 2021, increasing Ghana debt stock to Ghc 341 billion. Besides that, he has received a total of Ghc197 billion revenue, the highest in Ghanas history. His government also received and spent Petroleum revenue of Ghc 20 billion, and spent Ghc12 billion of Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA), supposed to be kept for the future general. With all these gargantuan money President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia have received, they could not create jobs for the youth, they could not build roads, they could not build hospitals and schools. What can they do with this e-levy which they claim will generate Ghc6.9 billion per annum?

When NPP government promised one district-one factory Ghanaians thought they were going to create millions of jobs for Ghanaians. Rather they were dashing money to already existed companies without any proper accountability between those companies and the government. Ghanaians have been lazy to question the government what will happened to monies dashed out to these companies? NPP government let the youth bought into their National Builders Corp (Nabco) and Planting for Food and Jobs. Today, Nabco is fiasco and PFJ is a disaster. I am of the opinion that, the NPP government and their cohorts dont think about Ghanaians plight. They only think about themselves, hence the creation of family and friends government. Any good government should think of good revenue expenditure rather than excessive and reckless expenses. Our President have and continues to misuse States money like money is pulled out freely from the Atlantic Ocean. President Akufo-Addo is still not perturbed by his lavish travel expenses. And his appointees are bloating any project or contract they get hands on.

I call on good Ghanaians not to suffer any unjust taxation and oppression by this regime. E-levy is not well thought of and it is a lazy mindset.

Written by;

Lewis Kwame Addo

Amsterdam

[email protected]
31.01.2022 LISTEN

The African Continental Unity Party (ACUP), an emerging political movement across the African continent has hinted at plans to contest in the 2024 general election in Ghana.

The political movement with dominance in Ghana, Nigeria, DR Congo and South Africa sought to establish an African economic power-base, through a continental government built on transformational leadership inspired by a common interest of economic emancipation.

ACUP presents a unique African political system that resonates among the citizenry, giving hope to meet common aspirations of freedom, prosperity and dignity.

Mr Ato Ntsin, Interim Central Regional Coordinator at a media briefing said the political movement has huge following across Africa with permanent offices in Ghana, Dr Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and growing.

"ACUP is the only Pan-African Movement that will ensure sustainable development for Ghana and Africa to protect the rights and liberties of Africans everywhere," he said.

It has dynamic leadership built on the vision of continental governance system inspired by historical events that have shaped the face of African continent.

Highlighting the vision of the movement, Mr Ntsin indicated that ACUP remained committed to emancipating the Africans and usher them into the era of new thinking art of learning through its free-minded academy.

Through the Academy, it seeks to pursue a new relevant education curriculum to produce analytical, critical and practical thinkers of Africans who will be able to utilize internal resources and opportunities to transform countries.

That way, it produces highly trained Africans with Pan-African philosophy to understand leadership as service to the people to pursue an agenda to free Africa from neo-colonial control and exploitations of resources.

Mr Ntsin said Africa's vision should not be built on the foundation of the European vision and its internal institutions with their mischievous agenda to conquer and exploit resources for their selfish gains.

"After a half century of the so-called African independence, we have tried to protect and defend the foundation established by the oppressors for our destruction and the result is, we have turned ourselves into tools of self-destruction.

"It is never late to do things right to lay a new foundation of unity, Ubuntu and prosperity. It is never too late to be in-charge again," he said.

Mr Ntsin described the movement as unique that operated differently from traditional political parties funded and controlled by Africans who identified themselves with it.

They were inspired by the philosophies of Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, and many others whose dedication to the course of Africa liberation and emancipation continue to light the minds of all Africans.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has served notice that it remains resolute in its decision to strike over the condition of service until government does the needful.

Were calling on the government to do the needful by bringing some offers on the table for consideration, the National Secretary of UTAG, Dr. Asante Asare Annoh has said.

Dr. Annoh made this demand in an interview with Kwame Obeng Sarkodie, host of the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM on Monday, January 31, 2022.

According to him, members have been considerate in helping the students, particularly the first-year students to go through the processes for registration.

He was of the view that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on the condition of service for members elapsed somewhere last year.

He revealed that when the leadership of the Association met the sector Minister on January 20, he indicated he was only a sector Minister and that he was going to table the grievances of members to the appropriate bodies in government.

He added that lecturers are impoverished hence the decision by the Association for the government to make an interim payment of the 115 percent of their current rate.

It is not a situation of the Association asking for salary increment but what has been long overdue, he said.

He noted that It is problematic to hear the National Labour Commission going to court over the strike when it is supposed to be making offers for consideration.

---Classfmonline.com
The UN Eminent Peace Ambassador, Amb. Dr Samuel Ben Owusu who is also the Country Director of United Nations International Association of World Peace Advocate has urged the Ghana Police Service to consider setting up a Television Station or have a dedicated program geared towards educating the public, particularly the uneducated folks on security matters in the country.

"There is need for the Police to operate a Television station or a platform which will bring awareness and information to the people which will help all citizens to have knowledge on safety when it comes to Peace Building", he said.

He said this on January 28, 2022 when he calls on Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare to discuss national peace and security issues.

Amb. Dr Owusu among other things called on the IGP to institute a National Awareness Program on Security and related matters.

According to him, issues relating to explosions safety, domestic abuse, intolerance amongst others are of great concern.

"The need for National Awareness on Security and Peace related issues on Safety, Domestic Abuse, Violence Against Women and Children, and most importantly, Peace and Tolerance for National Development of our Nation", he stated.

He also used the opportunity to thank the IGP for granting him the opportunity to have such a meeting geared towards national development.

Amb. Dr Owusu pledged to help the Police in any possible way on peace and security related programs.

"We also want to extend our strongest support with any projects or missions you may embark on, that is within the purview of our organization, that we can assist with", he emphasised.
31.01.2022 LISTEN

The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has called on benevolent and philanthropists to join the campaign against breasts cancer in rural communities.

She said such support will help reduce the increasing rates of breasts cancer cases among the poor and vulnerable in the rural areas that are ignorant about breast cancer and its treatments.

Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai made the appeal at Adwafo, near Kuntenase in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti region on Friday, January 28, 2022, during a free breast cancer screening and education.

The exercise forms part of BCIs rural community outreach program aimed at educating and sensitizing rural folks, where the disease is rampant.

She was accompanied by John Davies, of Compass Ghana, Katie Eccles, registered nurse specialist, both UK nationals and the medical team from Peace and Love Hospital in Kumasi.

A lot of cases are found in the rural cases and that is where we should tilt our activities so that those people in these deprived communities will benefit from the free education and screening offered. These activities involve finance, thats why we need financial support, she noted.

Dr Mrs Wiafe Addai added that we need to let the people change their perception that breast cancer is caused by witchcraft, the only way they will understand this is by providing them with knowledge and that is exactly what the BCI is doing.

she stressed, "We believe that where a woman lives should not determine whether she should survive or die from breasts cancer, so we need to send the information to those in the communities. Do we have any palliative units and caregivers in these areas? We then need to educate the people and trained more nurses to be stationed there to offer medical care to breast cancer patients.

She revealed that most advanced stage of breast cancer cases come from the rural communities, where most of them resort to traditional and herbal treatments.

She then advised women to refrain from the use of traditional herbal medicines in treating breast cancer and report to any health facility if they notice anything unusual in their breasts.

The Chief of Adwafo, Nana Osei Bannor, who could not hide his joy when thanking Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai and her medical team for the educative and free screening exercise, asked her to organize more of such exercise in the community to improve his people's health.
Confusion reigned at the main border post between Rwanda and Uganda after its official reopening on Monday, with frustrated Rwandans saying they were blocked from crossing.

In a surprise announcement last week, Kigali said the frontier would be open again after three years of closure, signalling a thaw in relations between the two East African nations that had long been at loggerheads.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's powerful son Muhoozi Kainerugaba -- seen as playing a key role in Rwanda's decision -- tweeted: "Now our people can freely move, trade and interact as Almighty God always intended!"

But as the rain poured at the main Gatuna post, the situation was unclear, with Rwandans complaining they were not allowed to cross while delays were also reported on the Ugandan side.

"I was told that the border is open and I came with the intention to cross to Uganda and buy some things. But Rwandan immigration officials have told me that I cannot cross until further notice. It is quite confusing," a Rwandan trader who was turned away told AFP.

Two-way trade collapsed after the frontier was closed in February 2019 as tensions between Kigali and Kampala spiralled over rival accusations of espionage and political meddling.

Kigali -- which used to rely on the Uganda route for the bulk of its imports -- announced it would reopen the border as a step towards repairing ties.

Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said on Twitter that trucks, Rwandan citizens and returning residents were able to cross into the country at Gatuna, in line with Covid-19 restrictions.

She added that "Rwandan & Ugandan health officials are working on joint covid protocols, which will enable all to cross on both sides", without mentioning the situation for Rwandans wanting to travel to Uganda.

'Historic moment'

A Ugandan truck driver was one of the first able to return to his home country just after the stroke of midnight.

"This is a historic moment for our sister countries. I am so excited that this is happening," Wasswa Ndugu Fabrison told journalists.

On the Ugandan side, some at the border reported delays for goods clearance.

Uganda's immigration commissioner Marcelino Besigye told AFP the two sides had agreed to give priority to cargo trucks but that non-essential travel was not "encouraged" because of Covid protocols.

"Our health teams and that of Rwanda will be working out a mechanism to ensure passengers are tested and allowed to proceed," he added.

Map of Rwanda and Uganda locating the Gatuna Katuna border crossing. By Jonathan WALTER AFPFile

Kainerugaba was seen as instrumental in the reopening decision, after he visited Kigali and met Rwandan President Paul Kagame last month.

Museveni and Kagame were close allies in the 1980s and 1990s during struggles for power in their respective countries, but relations turned deeply hostile.

Rwanda accused Uganda of abducting its citizens and supporting rebels seeking to topple Kagame.

Uganda in turn accused Rwanda of spying as well as killing two men during an incursion into Ugandan territory in 2019.

Before the closure, Ugandan exports to Rwanda -- predominantly cement and food -- totalled more than $211 million in 2018, according to World Bank figures.

Rwanda, which subsequently turned to Tanzania for trade, had exported goods worth $13 million to Uganda in 2018.

Trade plummeted in 2019, with the situation further exacerbated by the Covid crisis.
Former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Asia, Kwamina Bentsi Enchill Duker has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Development Bank Ghana (DBG).

Kwamina Bentsi Enchill Duker brings to DBG, over 30 years of experience in finance and investment across different geographies including the UK, Asia and Ghana.

This was announced in a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, which also named a seven-member Board of Directors to oversee the affairs of the bank.

The Ministry of Finance statement sighted by Citi Business News noted that the move follows an open and competitive search coordinated by PwC (Ghana) and is in line with the relevant sections of the Development Finance Institutions Act 2020 (Act 1032, 2020) under which the Bank is regulated by the Bank of Ghana.

Kwamina Bentsi Enchill Duker is expected to use his rich experience to lead the Bank in mobilising long-term funds to support some sectors of the economy.

He has in-depth knowledge in Treasury and Foreign Exchange (FX) markets from Deutsche Bank (UK and Singapore), Nomura Bank (UK) and Midland Bank (UK) where he held various senior positions.

He was the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Asia, a subsidiary of Fidelity Bank Ghana with a total asset of over GH105 billion, within which he subsequently served as a board member.

He also served on the board of Consolidated Bank Ghana and assumed the role of Head of Global Markets FX and Deutsche Bank (UK) with assets under management in Europe of over 122 billion.

Bentsi Enchill Duker also was the CEO of OANDA Corporation, where he had full oversight responsibility of the company's operations with a staff strength of over 200 and revenue of over US$100 million.

Appointment of Board of Directors

The seven-member Board of Directors has Dr. Yaw Ansu, an economist who has over 36 years of professional experience working with institutions such as the World Bank, as the board chairman.

Other members of the Board include Stephan Leudesdorff, Charles Boamah, Rosemary Yeboah, Mary Boakye, Yaw Nsarkoh, and Nora Bannerman-Abbott.

The African Development Bank (AFDB) will have a seat on the board, while the World Bank and German Development Cooperation, KfW will each have observer status on the board.

Expectations of the Board

The primary focus areas of DBG are agribusiness (especially, off-farm value-chain activities), manufacturing, ICT and allied services, tourism, among others, and it's expected to propel economic growth, create jobs, and improve domestic revenue mobilization.

The Government expects DBG to use its strong financial position to support the growth of the private sector companies, create high-quality jobs and enable Ghana's private sector to compete more favourablely within the AfCFTA framework.

The Board has been tasked to rapidly establish its international pedigree and to scale up its resource envelope to drive the country's economic transformation agenda in line with the Ghana Beyond Aid.

---Citibusiness
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has clarified that National Service Personnel will not join the cleaning on the 1st of February 2022, to mark the operationalization of the Operation Clean Your Frontage Bye-Law.

For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state that the involvement of the National Service Personnel in this exercise is not for Clean-up as some have unfortunately misconstrued, but to assist with the sensitisation of the public on the roll-out of the Bye-Law, the minister said in a statement.

The statement indicated that about 15,000 National Service Personnel, over 2,000 men and women drawn from the Security services, and about 2,000 YEA and Zoomlion workers will join the Regional Coordinating Council for the exercise.

The sensitisation drive for the Operation Clean Your Frontage Bye-Law will begin from the early hours of February 1.

The Minister further called on city dwellers to join this drive to make our city clean and make Greater Accra Work.

Operation Clean Your Frontage is a response to concerns that filth continues to dominate most parts of Accra.

The government is set to ensure the enforcement of the sanitation bye-laws from February with the roll-out of this project.

For instance, individuals and corporate bodies with filthy surroundings would be summoned and sanctioned by environmental health officers.

---citinewsroom
The military court of Katanga in southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sentenced 51 people to death over the murders of two United Nations researchers who were carrying out an investigation into violence in the Kasai region in 2017.

The judgement, after a four-year trial, was read on Saturday in by General Jean Paulin Ntshayokolo against a number of former militiamen of the Kamuina Nsapu sect.

Colonel Jean de Dieu Mambweni, who was accused of sending the UN experts, Zaida Catalan and Michael Sharp, into the trap that resulted in their brutal murder, as well as armed the assassins, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The public prosecutor charged him with "terrorism, association with criminals and war crimes, but was convicted only of disobeying orders and letting the victims travel to an area that was known as dangerous.

"He is a soldier whose quality cannot be called into question," said Ntshayokolo.

But his downfall was to have received the United Nations experts in his office without the knowledge of his superiors, he added.

RFI spoke to Mambweni's lawyer, Daniel Makolo after the verdict. He will confer with his client to see if he will appeal.

The lawyers of the others convicted would not comment on the verdict.

Many questions remain

Catalan, a Swede, and Sharp, an American, were UN investigators tasked with investigating unrest in the Kasai region, which had broken out in 2016. They were looking into mass graves in the area.The death of a local chief began the bloodshed. Some 3,400 people were killed in the year-and-a half of fighting.

Sixteen days after they disappeared, their bodies were found in a village nearby. Catalan had been beheaded.

The 146-page verdict took five hours to be read in court, but it raised more questions than answers, according to Dominique Kambala, a lawyer with the Congolese Society for Rule of Law.

There are enigmas that remain, he told RFI.

Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW) Thomas Fessy, agrees.

The investigation did not indicate what happened when Catalan and Sharp were murdered, nor did it explain what happened to their Congolese interpreter and driver, who disappeared.

Nearly five years after their assassination, there are still more questions to answer and much more to do, Fessy told RFI, saying that the case should not be closed.

The Congolese justice system, with the support of the UN, must now carry out an exhaustive investigation into the crucial role that state officials, and therefore the government or the security forces, may have played in these murders, he said.

Moratorium on capital punishment

President Tshisekedi himself pledged that the whole truth be revealed, so let's not stop there, he added.

Fessy stressed that an investigation into the chain of command to find out who allegedly planned and ordered these murders is necessary, questioning the responsibility of the state.

Two defendants were convicted in absentia. Two defendants, including journalist Trudon Raphael Kapuku, were acquitted.

Although 49 were condemned to death, the DRC has placed a moratorium on capital punishment since 2003. It is likely that their sentences will be commuted to life in prison.

The verdict was delivered in the presence of American and Swedish diplomats as well as United Nations delegates who attended the hearing.
The row over hijab in Karnataka took a new turn on Monday with BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat saying that students who are protesting and seeking permission to wear hijab in classrooms have been told to come to the college campus only if they decide to shun the hijab.

"Otherwise, we have clearly told them not to come to the college and spoil the academic environment," he said. Meanwhile, the students have moved a petition to the High Court over this matter.

Raghupathi Bhat, speaking to reporters after holding a meeting at the Government Girls Pre-University College in Udupi, stated: "A meeting has been conveyed with the parents, lecturers and School Development and Management Committee regarding the controversy. The students who wanted to wear hijab with uniform were also called... four of them along with their parents participated."

They were told, hijab cannot be allowed and they will have to wait until the submission of the committee report.

They can come to the campus in hijab and they will have to take off hijab in the classroom.

"Fifty per cent of them agreed, it seems. They told us they will get back to us on the issue by tomorrow (Tuesday)," he added.

The order says old guidelines should be continued. The students can attend classes, if they want to without hijab.

"We have told them clearly that, otherwise, from tomorrow, you come only if you have decided to come to class without a hijab. You can't come to the premises of the college and spoil the college academic environment. We have also informed police regarding entry of media and other organisations into the campus," he stated.

"There is no room for confusion anymore. Whoever follows discipline let them come to college," the Minister said.

Meanwhile, one among the students demanding permission to attend classes with hijab has moved to High Court. Resham Farooq, the student has requested declaration of the wearing of hijab as a fundamental right under articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution.

Advocates Shatabhish Shivanna, Arnav. A Bagalawadi and Abhishek Janardhan have submitted the petition seeking permission of the court for the students to attend classes wearing hijab without interference of college management.

They have also sought interim order from the High Court regarding students attending classes wearing hijab.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said he does not foresee any blemish on his part for which a coup could be staged against him and his government by either the military or citizenry.

Mr Kagame said this in an answer to the following question: "Do you think a coup detat is impossible in Rwanda?" while he spoke to the Africa Report on the next EU-AU summit, coups in Africa, security concerns in DRC and the thaw with Uganda and Israel in the AU as well as the presence of the Wagner group in Mali, access to vaccines among a raft of other issues.

The 64-year-old Rwandan leader, who has been in power for nearly 22 years, answered several questions by videoconference from Kigali, two weeks before the summit between the European Union and the African Union (17 and 18 February in Brussels), a summit which he has worked to prepare alongside presidents Emmanuel Macron and Macky Sall of France and Senegal, respectively, and former Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, who is the President of the European Council.

Responding directly to the possibility of him being toppled in a coup, Mr Kagame said: "I dont know, but let me put it another way: first of all, it is up to the Rwandans themselves to say what they think, knowing where we started from, what we did and what we are doing".

Secondly, he pointed out, "I dont see anything that could lead either the military or the civilians to a level of discontent and dissatisfaction that could lead to a coup".

"Our system of governance is, in my view, designed to meet the needs of the citizens", Mr Kagame asserted, adding: "I dont see any blame on myself or the institutions that would lead to such a situation".

Speaking about the military coups that happened in Mali, Guinea and Sudan in 2021, Mr Kagame said: "With regard to the three coups, I think that this type of event occurs above all because there are problems in these countries that have not been resolved for several years". In his view, "this is the case of Sudan: there were problems under Omar al-Bashir, and they have remained since the transition".

"This kind of situation is bound to recur, regardless of the position of the African Union, because the organisation is not meant to manage countries individually, let alone to solve long-standing problems".

Defending the AUs posture on the coups, Mr Kagame said: "Of course, the AU and the international community can provide support" but pointed out that "sometimes, the countries concerned find their own solutions, and then foreign powers try to dictate their own".

"The African Unions insufficient capacity to manage these situations remains a weakness, however", he admitted.

Asked: How do you perceive the return of the military to the political scene? Is it a democratic regression? Mr Kagame responded: It is, to some extent, the result of a failure of governance. It is not just the fault of the military, civilians also have a responsibility. Of course, it is not the role of the military to carry out this kind of action, but it cannot be ignored that in some cases civilians also commit questionable acts.

If under a civilian government the situation deteriorates and people die, problems pile up and the authorities use the military to rig elections, who is to blame when the military overthrows these governments? I find it inappropriate to criticise only the military and not blame the civilians who used them to stay in power. I guess it is from this kind of analysis that some people say that there are good and bad coups, he analysed.

Then, he added: Even if the army finds justifications for its action and the civilians are initially satisfied with it, the question remains: are the military really working to put in place a transition to solve the problems that led them to make their coup? This is the situation we will be following closely in Guinea and Mali.

Answering a question about whether he thinks about his countrys next presidential election in 2024, Mr Kagame said: I have to. Whether I get involved in it or not, it is part of my job. I must not only think about today, but also about tomorrow. I want Rwandans to be able to make their choice in 2024 and decide in peace. Asked: Will you be a candidate? he responded: Maybe, I dont know yet. The Constitution allows me to do so. Addressing criticisms from his detractors who accuse him of being an icy and intractable president who wields vertical power without checks and balances, Mr Kagame said: As with any of us, there is, on the one hand, what I am that I cannot change, and, on the other hand, a whole part of myself that I can work on. I cant change the genetics. Maybe thats why Im seen as a cold person, I dont know. But Im always willing to work on the rest.

He said: When I was young, I was extremely impatient. Over the years, Ive learned that you have to take your time if you want to achieve your goals. I have learned to slow down, to do what is feasible at the right time and to delay when necessary.

Do you know of a country where presidents, ministers and business leaders have no detractors? If so, please tell me. I cant wait to visit it! I know that these criticisms exist and that I am the object of them. But I also know that I am far from being the only one in this case.
Burkina Faso's military junta said Monday it had restored the constitution a week after taking power and appointed the coup's leader as head of state for a transitional period.

The move came shortly after the African Union suspended Burkina for the takeover and diplomats from West Africa and the UN pressed demands for a return to civilian rule.

In a statement read on television, the junta announced it had approved a "fundamental act" that "lifts the suspension of the constitution," a move that had been declared after the January 24 coup.

The 37-article document guarantees independence of the judiciary and presumption of innocence, as well as basic liberties spelled out in the constitution such as freedom of movement and freedom of speech, according to the statement.

Under the "fundamental act," it said, the junta -- officially named the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) -- "ensures the continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies."

The statement did not give a timeline for the transition period.

It formally identified coup leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as president of the MPSR.

This role also encompasses "president of Burkina Faso, head of state (and) supreme leader of the armed forces," the statement said.

The MPSR has two vice presidents, the statement added, but it did not mention any names.

A separate decree read on television said that the armed forces chief of staff, Gilbert Ouedraogo, was leaving the job.

AU suspension

Just hours earlier, the AU's 15-member Peace and Security Council said on Twitter it had voted "to suspend the participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country".

On Friday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also suspended Burkina Faso from its ranks and warned of possible sanctions pending the outcome of meetings with the junta.

An ECOWAS mission headed by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway arrived in Ouagadougou, where it was joined by the UN's special representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif.

Burkina Faso. By AFP

ECOWAS sent military chiefs to confer with Damiba on Saturday.

Leaders from the bloc will hold a summit in Accra on Thursday to assess its two missions to see whether they should impose sanctions.

They have previously suspended and enforced sanctions against two other members -- Mali and Guinea -- which have also seen military overthrows in the past 18 months.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, who chairs the AU's Commission, had already condemned the coup on the day it happened.

Troubled country

On January 24, rebel soldiers detained president Roch Marc Christian Kabore amid rising public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence ravaging the impoverished nation.

They later released a handwritten letter in which he announced his resignation -- a document that a member of his party said was authentic.

The junta also said it had dissolved the government and parliament and suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time".

The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Kabore was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore.

Burkina Faso soldiers outside the National TV in Ouagadougou on January 24 when the coup took place. By OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP

Compaore himself had seized power in 1987 during a coup in which the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, was gunned down.

He was re-elected in 2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over his handling of a jihadist insurgency that has swept in from neighbouring Mali.

Since 2015, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP toll, while the country's emergency agency says a 1.5 million people, in a population of 21 million, have fled their homes.
Youth for Peace and Security Africa (YPS-Africa) has served notice to demonstrate in Accra on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at the venue of the Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Governments.

The youth group petitioned the Chairman for the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last week to see to it that sanctions imposed on Mali are revoked.

This was after ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on the West African country including the withdrawal of ECOWAS ambassadors from Mali; the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Mali; and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali.

In its petition, YPS-Africa described the sanctions on Mali as draconian, insisting that the action of ECOWAS is killing thousands of Malians on a daily basis due to the hardship it has brought to families.

After its calls for the sanctions on Mali to be revoked failed, YPS-Africa has written to the Ghana Police Service informing the security outfit of its intention to demonstrate on Thursday at the venue of its upcoming Extraordinary Summit.

This is to notify you that we intend to mobilize a minimum of 500 (five hundred) people at the venue of the Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Governments in Accra-Ghana on 3rd February 2022.

This is to protest against the very harsh sanctions on the innocent people of Mali. These protesters shall be made up of some members of our network, pan-Africanists and other sympathizers, the YPS-Africa letter signed by Executive Director Abraham Korbla Klutsey read.

It adds, We DO NOT plan to march on the streets of Accra, we shall ONLY EMERGE FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS and converge, in and around the summit venue, and sit there until these draconian sanctions against poor Malians are lifted.

Below is a copy of the letter:
Mali on Monday it was expelling the French ambassador in the light of "hostile" comments, a move likely to ratchet up tensions with its former colonial ruler and ally following a military coup.

A statement read on national television said, "The ambassador of France in Bamako, his excellency Joel Meyer... was notified of the decision of the government asking him to leave the national territory within 72 hours."

The move raises further questions over France's continued military support for Mali, a deeply poor country battling a nearly decade-long jihadist campaign.

The French foreign ministry issued a brief statement saying it "takes note" of the announcement and expressed "solidarity with its European partners" -- its allies in the anti-jihadist mission.

Mali. By AFP

Relations between the two countries began to fray after the army seized power in Bamako in August 2020, and worsened after the junta staged a second coup in May 2021.

Last week, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters that Mali's junta was "illegitimate" and its decisions "irresponsible".

Defence Minister Florence Parly also accused the country's rulers of stepping up "provocations" of France.

Monday's statement in Bamako said remarks had been made that were "hostile and outrageous", and had been uttered "despite repeated protests" by Mali.

"The Malian government vigorously condemns and rejects these remarks, which are contrary to the development of friendly relations between nations," it said.

However, it added, the Malian government "reiterates its readiness to maintain dialogue and pursue cooperation with all its international partners, including France, in mutual respect and on the basis of the cardinal principle of non-interference."

Meyer, the French ambassador, was appointed to Bamako in October 2018.

Coup sparked friction

Rebel officers led a coup in August 2020 that toppled Mali's elected leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was facing angry protests at failures to stem the jihadists.

The following May, the junta pushed out a civilian-led government appointed to oversee a transition period and named strongman Colonel Assimi Goita as interim president.

By year's end, France and its European allies were alarmed at the junta's reported decision to hire mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.

France -- which stages presidential elections in April -- repeatedly warned that it would be untenable for its forces to fight alongside unaccountable mercenaries.

Strongman Assimi Goita, a special forces colonel, was named interim president following a second coup last year. By MALIK KONATE AFP

Russian "advisors" in the Central African Republic have been accused of carrying out abuses of civilians.

Tensions have also risen since the West Africa bloc ECOWAS imposed a trade embargo and

The sanctions followed a junta proposal to stay in power for up to five years before staging

border closures with Mali on January 9, in a move backed by France, the United States and the European Union.

The sanctions followed a junta proposal to stay in power for up to five years before staging elections, despite an earlier commitment to hold a vote by the end of February 2022.

French pullback

As friction worsened last year, France started scaling back 5,100-man Barkhane Sahel operation and pulling out of some bases in northern Mali.

Its goal is to halve the contingent by the summer of 2023, but central to the plan is a French-led European force called Takuba that would shoulder some of the strain.

Under it, European allies are committing special forces to help train and fight alongside Malian units.

A Reaper drone at a French military airbase in Niger, a key part of France's Barkhane anti-jihadist mission. By PASCAL GUYOT AFP

But Takuba has also hit problems with Mali.

Last week, the junta demanded that Denmark withdraw its newly arrived contingent of some 90 soldiers, claiming it had deployed without authorisation -- a charge Copenhagen denied.

On Twitter, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said the ambassador's expulsion was "unacceptable" and his country "stands in full solidarity with France."

"Such irresponsible behaviour is not what we expect from Mali, (which will (lose) international credibility," Kofod warned.

France's army chief, General Pierre Schill, declined to comment on future French deployments.

"The Sahel question is overwhelmingly political," he told reporters. "Today, on a daily basis, our units are continuing their partnership with Malian battalions."
The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given French Ambassador Joel Meyer 72 hours to leave the country, in a new escalation of bilateral tensions. This comes in response to comments by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian who deemed the transitional authorities "illegitimate" and "irresponsible".

"This decision follows the hostile and outrageous remarks" made 'recently' by Jean-Yves le Drian and the "recurrence of such remarks by the French authorities with regard to the Malian authorities despite repeated protests," according to a government press release read out on ORTM state television.

Le Drian also said that the Russian Wagner Group was already at work in Mali, and that it "protected the authorities there in exchange for the exploitation of the mineral wealth of Mali."

"The Malian government vigorously condemns and rejects these remarks, which are contrary to the development of friendly relations between nations," it said.

The Malian authorities reaffirm that they are available to maintain dialogue and pursue cooperation with all its partners, including France, but "with mutual respect and on the basis of the cardinal principle of non-interference."

Relations between Mali and France have frayed since the army, led by Colonel Assimi Goita, seized power in August 2020, toppling President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

After Goita installed Interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, Goita, who had become vice president, led another coup in May 2021, and was then named president.

Defence Minister Florence Parly has previously accused the country's rulers of stepping up "provocations" towards France with regards to the handling of the Sahel operations.

Monday's statement said remarks had been made by French authorities that were "hostile and outrageous," and had been uttered "despite repeated protests" by Mali.

'Selective' outrage

Last week, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accused France of selective outrage regarding military rule.

"France, which says it defends democracy, has gone to other countries and installed heads of state who have carried out coups, it has applauded them," he said.

France has thousands of troops deployed in the Sahel to support Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to put down a jihadist insurgency, but the relationship has become more strained since the coup in 2020.

Tension has also escalated since the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered sanctions and border closures this month, which was backed by the United States, European Union, and France.

The junta proposed to stay in power for up to five years before elections, after derailing a promise to hold elections by February 2022.
The General Secretary of the University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Prof Ransford Gyampo has appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to swiftly intervene in the matter of the lecturers' strike over conditions of service.

He stressed the need for the president to intervene instead of the National Labour Commission (NLC) handling the matter of the strike to push for better condition of service.

According to him, teaching is a calling and cannot be done under duress.

He added that the presidents intervention is highly needed in the impasses between the lecturers and the NLC.

Prof Gyampo made this appeal on Ekosii Sen afternoon political show on Accra-based Asempa FM on Monday, January 31, 2022.

It is our hope that the president will intervene so as not to destroy the academic calendar on the various tertiary institution campuses, he said.

We are a group of reasonable people seeking that the right things be done in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we signed with the government last year on the condition of service for lecturers, he indicated.

He warned lecturers cannot teach under duress especially when a lecturers pay cannot take him or her home.

In the wake of this impasse, the way forward is not to go looking for technicalities to outwit lecturers, he warned.

He cautioned that there will devastating consequences if lecturers are made teach under duress instead of finding an amicable solution to their grievance.

He maintained that the government cannot continue telling lecturers there is no money when a section of political appointees continue to take fat salaries

---Classfmonline
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has presented 150 vehicles to some Senior High Schools in the continued fulfilment of a pledge by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to provide the necessary logistics to ensure access to quality education for Ghanas youth.

Made up of 100 buses and 50 pickup trucks, this latest provision of vehicles form part of a broader, ongoing effort by government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and other stakeholders, to not only increase access to education for every Ghanaian child, but also provide the necessary infrastructure and logistics to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, held at the Accra High School on Monday, 31 January 2022, Vice President Bawumia recalled that in March 2020 he handed over, on behalf of government, 365 Isuzu Double Cabin pickup trucks out of a total of 840 procured, to all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Directorates of Education, as well as selected agencies under the Ministry of Education.

I also handed 493 out of a total 2,000 motorbikes to aid the work of circuit supervisors and to further enhance their supervisory roles in the education sector. I further announced that government had procured 350 buses for our Senior High Schools in this country and we distributed 100 of those buses in July 2020.

Today It is indeed an honour for me to hand over a total of 150 vehicles, including 100 buses and 50 pickup vehicles for use in our secondary schools.

Dr Bawumia underscored the importance of an efficient transportation system in the education sector, particularly in light of the flagship Free Senior High School programme, and pledged Governments commitment to doing even more.

It is well documented that the availability of good transportation for students positively impacts quality education delivery, Dr Bawumia noted.

He continued, An efficient transportation system in our schools increases student enrolment and encourages many students to stay in school. Indeed, it has been said that a dependable transportation system in schools improves the safety of students and makes teachers and students more productive.

An efficient transportation system in schools is also key to hastening the economic transformation and the development of our country as envisioned by this Government led by His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo.

Thus, in the last five (5) years, our government has committed to increasing access to quality education and providing vehicles to secondary schools to support the transportation of our growing population in these schools.

The quest to provide quality, accessible education to Ghanas youth remains on course, and everything necessary to achieve this will continue to receive serious government attention.

The hand-over of buses today is part of the efforts to increase access to quality education anchored on a robust education system that trains a critical mass of students empowered to be active participants in our countrys transformation.

The Minister for Education, Hon Yaw Osei Adutwum, maintained that the transformation of any nation begins with the transformation of its educational system, and lauded President Akufo-Addo for his continued efforts to actualize his vision of a Ghana full of confident, educated youth ready to make a mark on the world.

On behalf of the beneficiary schools the President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Alhaji Yacoub Abubakari, expressed gratitude to Government for the provision of logistics to schools and pledged their support to ensure the success of the Free SHS programme.
Vice President Dr Bawumia joined Father Campbell, Lepers Aid Ghana and persons cured of leprosy to observe the 2022 World Leprosy Day at the Weija Leprosarium in Accra on 30th January.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the patron of the cured lepers, called for compassion, and care for people living with the effects of leprosy, called for an end to ostracisation and discrimination against them.

Father Campbell on his part and behalf of the people living with leprosy, praised Dr Bawumia and his wife, Hajia Samira for their continued support to such patients nationwide and for being one of the foremost families always putting smiles on the faces of the afflicted.

"I will never forget this. One New Year's Day, Dr. Bawumia and wife Hajia Samira invited all patients of the leprosarium to their residence and there we were served meals by the Vice President and the 2nd lady," the reverend father recounted.

Father Campbell also lauded Dr. Bawumia for his compassion towards the vulnerable and how he dignifies the socially marginalised.

"Dr. Bawumia has always put people living with leprosy and the vulnerable at heart. I commend the Vice President for that. On his birthday in 2021, Dr. Bawumia celebrated the day with us and he served us meals, brought us a fat cow and foodstuff for the leprosarium aside his usual financial donations to us," he revealed.

Father Campbell added, "Thank you Dr. Bawumia for always showing love, compassion, care to people living with the effects of leprosy."
Burkina Faso's military junta said Monday it had restored the constitution a week after seizing power in the poor Sahel country, an announcement that came as it held talks with international negotiators who praised its "openness" to their proposals.

The discussions in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou were "very frank", according to West African delegation leader Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, the foreign minister of Ghana.

"They seemed very open to the suggestions and proposals that we made. For us it's a good sign," she told reporters after the meeting with coup leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and other junta members.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegates were joined in the talks by the UN's special representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who also described a "very frank exchange".

The talks came shortly after the African Union suspended Burkina for the January 24 takeover.

ECOWAS had suspended Burkina Faso from its ranks on Friday and warned of possible sanctions pending the outcome of the talks with the junta.

Earlier Monday, in a statement read on television, the junta announced it had approved a "fundamental act" that "lifts the suspension of the constitution".

The junta -- officially named the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) -- said its move would "ensure the continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies".

The statement did not give a timeline for the transition period.

It formally identified Damiba as president of the MPSR and "supreme leader of the armed forces".

A separate decree said that the armed forces chief of staff, Gilbert Ouedraogo, was leaving the job.

AU suspension

Just hours earlier, the AU's 15-member Peace and Security Council said on Twitter it had voted "to suspend the participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country".

Also Monday, some members of the ECOWAS delegation visited ousted president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who is under house arrest, a delegate said.

His wellbeing and demands for his release have been major issues since the coup.

Burkina Faso. By AFP

ECOWAS sent military chiefs to confer with Damiba on Saturday.

Leaders from the bloc will hold a summit in Accra on Thursday to assess its two missions to see whether they should impose sanctions.

They have previously suspended and enforced sanctions against two other members -- Mali and Guinea -- which have also seen military takeovers in the past 18 months.

Troubled country

On January 24, mutineering soldiers detained Kabore amid rising public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence ravaging the poor Sahel nation.

They later released a handwritten letter in which he announced his resignation -- a document that a member of his party said was authentic.

The junta also said it had dissolved the government and parliament and suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time".

The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Kabore was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore.

Burkina Faso soldiers outside the National TV in Ouagadougou on January 24 when the coup took place. By OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP

Compaore himself had seized power in 1987 during a coup in which the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, was gunned down.

He was re-elected in 2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over his handling of a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali.

Since 2015, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP toll, while the country's emergency agency says 1.5 million people, out of a population of 21 million, have fled their homes.
Aspiring Regional Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Godwin Nayaw Bamiah Yombu has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to rally behind governments decision to implement a 1.75% levy on all electronic transactions.

He said through the levy, government will be able to mobilise revenue to improve the countrys road infrastructure while providing job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.

Godwin Nayaw Bamiah Yombu added that the levy will help in reducing the countrys reliance on debt.

The E-levy will provide government with revenue to build more roads, provide more jobs and opportunities for the youth and reduce our dependence on debt, Godwin Nayaw Bamiah Yombu exclusively told Kwaku Dawuro on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

Godwin Nayaw adds to efforts by government to sensitise Ghanaians on the relevance of the levy and why it must be passed.

In this regard, government is also holding a town hall meeting to engage citizens on the E-levy Bill and solicit the citizenrys support.

However, the Minority in Parliament have affirmed their readiness to kick against the Bill, despite the arguments from government.

According to the Minority, government has failed to manage the revenue accrued from previous taxes, arguing that the e-levy will not address the countrys revenue challenges.

The Minority has also argued that if passed, the levy will make life difficult for many Ghanaians and collapse small scale businesses.
Delhi Police on Monday debunked the rumours about suicide committed by a woman in the Shahdara sexual assault case.

"Social media post regarding suicide of the girl is false and a rumour," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) R. Sathiyasundaram told IANS.

He further said that police officers had just met the girl on Monday morning and she was doing fine.

The horrific incident occurred on January 26, Wednesday when a 20-year-old woman was allegedly attacked by a group of people, including women, who chopped off her hair, tore her clothes, blackened her face, and then paraded her on the streets of Shahdara area. The woman was also gangraped in a house in the same area.

Delhi Police has so far arrested 12 people in the case, including 8 women and three male minors who sexually assaulting the woman.

The DCP informed that a 10-member Special investigation Team (SIT) under ACP rank officer has also been formed for speedy and proper investigation of the crime.

Soon after the incident, a video in which the woman 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 cognizance of the said incident.

In the video, which was also shared by DCW chief Swati Maliwal, the victim woman was seen to be wearing a garland of slippers.

Maliwal issued a notice to the Delhi Police in connection with the case 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. 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 assured all help to her.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also, on that day, 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 too spoke to DCP Shahdara over the "barbaric assault on the 20 year old woman".

"I assure that these animals (men & women) will not be spared," he had said then.
The Elsie Initiative Fund for Women in Peace Operations (EIF) announced today that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is the first UN field mission to receive funding to create an enabling and inclusive environment for women peacekeepers.

The US $357,000 EIF grant will allow UNIFIL to build gender-sensitive accommodation and working conditions for women peacekeepers from the Ghanaian battalion. It will also enable the peacekeeping mission to attain gender parity and equality.

The EIF was jointly established by the UN and Canada in 2019 with its secretariat within UN Women. The EIF, is funded by Member States. US $30 million have been raised thus far.

For success in peacekeeping operations we need more uniformed women to participate. Yet, too often womens equal participation in these missions is deterred by inadequate gender-responsive living and working conditions, said UN Womens Executive Director, Sima Bahous. The UNIFIL project, funded by the Elsie Initiative Fund, is setting a great example by specifically tackling this significant structural barrier. Its positive changes will help us attain parity in peace operations.

Women still face barriers that prevent them from contributing to peacekeeping to the fullest. This includes lack of information about deployment opportunities and not enough access to necessary training, as well as institutional constraints and biases, or inadequate facilities and infrastructure in field missions, said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. This project represents an expression of our shared values for gender equality and the promotion of womens full, equal and meaningful participation in our workforce, in line with the Secretary-Generals Action for Peacekeeping initiative, which is critical to increasing performance and mandate implementation he said.

Over the years, UNIFIL has supported the increased participation of women peacekeepers from five percent in 2018 to nearly seven percent (or a total of 659 women) in 2021. With this project, UNIFIL seeks to support troop and police contributing countries to achieve the gender targets set in the UNs Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy 2018-2028.

"Our women peacekeepers participate in all types of operational activities, from de-mining to patrolling the Blue Line, said UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col. We are proud to put this funding to use to remove some of the practical barriers that may deter women's participation in our important work," added Del Col.

Source: United Nations
The Chief Justice, Justice KwasiAninYeboah, has directed the temporary closure of the Bawku District and Circuit Courts in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region, following the renewed ethnic conflict in the area.

Due to the worsening security situation in Bawku, the Chief Justice has further directed that until the security situation improves, the above mentioned courts should not be opened for business.

This was contained in a letter issued and signed by the Deputy Judiciary Secretary, Richard Apietu, on behalf of the Chief Justice and copied to the Supervising High Court Judge of Bolgatangaand other officials of the Judiciary.

The Supervising High Court Judge of Bolgatanga, Charles A Wilson, who disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times here yesterday, explained that the decision of the Chief Justice was based on the complaints raised by his outfit about the security of the judges and judiciary staff in the area.

He explained that although the judges of the two courts could be given police security that could not be applied to the Judiciary staff since they are many.

Justice Wilson explained that the Judicial staff of the Bawku District and Circuit come from the two major ethnic groups engaged in the conflict and had to cross each others territories to work and back home.

He noted that to avert any calamity on their staff, his outfit had to relay information about the security situation in the area to the Chief Justice for the appropriate measures to be taken.

The Supervising High Court Judge, who appealed to the two ethnic groups to consider the development of the area and the welfare of women and children, stated history has it that no development thrives in conflict thorn countries.

---GhanaianTimes
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, and the Ranking Member, Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, are expected to meet Education Minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, regarding UTAG's ongoing strike.

The strike has gone into its fourth week and the closure of the universities in accordance with convention is imminent, but there is still not end in sight for the industrial action.

Since tertiary institutions opened for fresh students in 2022, lecturers have been on strike.

The situation has forced the National Labour Commission (NLC) to proceed to court after tagging the lecturers' action illegal.

But UTAG has called the bluff of the commission indicating they are ready for a showdown in court on Thursday.

Reacting to the development on 3FM's Hot Edition, the Ranking Member on the Education Committee disclosed he together with the Chair will meet the Education minister Tuesday for a briefing on the matter.

The Chairman of the committee and myself discussed this matter at length yesterday and we want to engage the minister tomorrow, he told Eric Mawuena Egbeta.

It is however unclear if the meeting will lead to a resolution of the matter since the Education Minister has also indicated his resolve to intervene for UTAG to return to the classroom.

---3news.com
Naa Alhaji Abdulai Ganiu Seidu, the Chief of Viisey in the Wa East District, has appealed to the government to connect the community to the national grid to help boost economic activities and better the lives of the people.

He said the lack of electricity was completely unacceptable and not helpful to efforts at lifting the people out of poverty.

The people are unable to engage in any economic activity, requiring the use of electricity.

Naa Alhaji Seidu made the appeal in his first public address after his enskinment by Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, the Overlord of the Wala Traditional Area.

The enskinment ceremony drew Saamune people from across the country as well as neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo.

The event put on display the rich culture of the Saamune people and there was heavy security, with personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces and Ghana Police Service there to make sure everything there were no breaches of the peace.

The chief said; I am appealing to the Regional Minister, the Wa East District Chief Executive and all stakeholders to help get our community connected to electricity. Light is our major problem here. My people are in darkness and are suffering.

He also complained about the bad nature of the Wa-Yibile-Naaha-Viisey road and asked that this was fixed to promote economic activities.

The people of the area, he said, were predominantly farmers and the bad road was making it difficult for them to transport their farm produce to the market centres.

He pledged to unite the people to bring progress to the community.

Jinpenhi Naa, Naa Kardri Ibrahim, the Secretary to the Wa Naa, urged the new chief to do more to mobilize the people for development.

Apart from the bad road and the lack of electricity, education must also engage his attention.

GNA
Botswana authorities should retract or reform a bill that could help police and other investigators intercept journalists communications without oversight, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

The Criminal Procedure and Evidence (Controlled Investigation) Bill was published in the government gazette on January 12, according to a press release by local media groups condemning the bill and media reports. Spencer Mogapi, a newspaper editor and chair of the Botswana Editors Forum, which collaborated on the press release, told CPJ by phone on Friday, January 28, that the bill could be expedited through parliament and signed into law by President Mokgweetsi Masisi this week. CPJ reviewed a copy of the bill shared by Tefo Phatshwane, the director of the Botswana chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

The bill would grant investigators the power to intercept communications without a warrant for up to 14 days if authorized by the head of an investigatory authority to probe offenses or prevent them from being committed, according to CPJs review of the bill. CPJ has documented the arrest and prosecution of journalists in Botswana, and local polices use of digital forensics tools in 2019 and 2020 to extract thousands of files from journalists devices, including communications and contacts, in efforts to identify sources of their reporting.

Companies that facilitate communication could see their directors imprisoned for up to 10 years if they fail to install hardware or software to enable interception; anyone that does not provide decryption keys so authorities can access encrypted information could be jailed for up to six years.

Botswanas parliament should scrap the controlled investigation bill, which threatens journalists ability to communicate privately with sources, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Authorities should implement laws that protect journalists privacy and safety, not expose them to surveillance without oversight.

Jovial Rantao, chairperson of regional press association The African Editors Forum, described the bill in a statement as the worst piece of legislation to have emerged in Botswana, the Southern African region and the rest of the continent in recent history. The Southern Africa Editors Forum expressed similar alarm over the bill.

Reached by phone and messaging app on Friday, Batlhalefi Leagajang, Masisis press secretary, told CPJ the bill was not under the ambit of the presidency and the president would allow the parliamentary process to proceed before acting.

Botswana government spokesperson John-Thomas Dipowe acknowledged CPJs emailed questions about the bill on Friday, January 28, but did not respond before publication.

According to social media posts related to the bill on January 27, Botswanas minister of defence, justice and security, Kagiso Thomas Mmusi, said there was a need to have a law that could plug legal and security gaps relating to issues of money laundering and financing of terrorism.
The wife of a Colonel in Indian Army has lodged an FIR with Sarojini Nagar police station here, accusing CISF and a private security company of stealing her ornaments worth Rs 36 lakh.

Sonia Vyas Bhatt alleged that her ornaments were stolen while she was going to meet her husband in Dibrugarh by a flight connecting Lucknow to New Delhi on November 30, 2021.

She also said she returned to Lucknow and later took up her case on January 8.

She has lodged a case of theft against the airport officials and CISF officials deployed at Sarojini Nagar police station.

In her complaint, the woman said she, along with her daughter, was going to meet her husband in Dibrugarh from Lucknow via Delhi airport on November 30.

"I had to take a connecting flight for Dibrugarh from Delhi. I had a handbag, a backpack, a sling bag and a black purse in which I had put all my jewellery worth Rs 36 lakh. At the screening point, a CISF woman constable asked me to show the purse and ornaments in it. I requested her to check it inside the purse and not take it out. I had put the ornaments in a transparent box. But she did not listen to me," she said.

According to the FIR, the woman constable took out the ornament box and put it on another tray there.

When she went to take her ornament box, the CISF constable took it back from her and put it into another tray.

"In the meantime, the airport announced the boarding time and I took my bag and went to board the flight. In the flight, I found the ornament box missing and I complained about the same to the flight attendant who advised me to report to CISF in New Delhi," she said.

Bhatt further mentioned in the FIR that she had reported the matter to CISF in New Delhi and also to her husband. "The boarding for my flight for Dibrugarh was announced and so I was asked to board the flight and report the matter in Dibrugarh after reaching there," she said.

She said she reported the matter to CISF in Dibrugarh and made several calls to the airport officials to inform them about the incident.

"I was promised help in the matter but when I reached Lucknow on January 8, I was shown CCTV footage in which it was seen that the ornament box fell down from the scanning tray during the checking by the CISF officials," she said.

The victim said the quality of the CCTV footage was very poor. "The camera was of very poor quality. No CCTV footage was available after the ornament box was seen falling down from scanning," she complained.

She said she had a hunch that she was not shown the entire length of the CCTV footage or it was cut/ deleted deliberately or was not saved purposely. She alleged that the CISF and airport officials stole her ornaments.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of police, Central Zone, Raghvendra Mishra, said that an FIR was registered under the charges of theft and a probe has been ordered.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
The non-profit confirmed on Friday, January 28 that as surge in Omicron cases lead organizers to make the cautious decision.
With their relatives in India deciding not to bring back their bodies, the four members of a Gujarati family who froze to death on January 19 while trying to enter the US illegally from Manitoba are likely to be cremated in Winnipeg.

However, no decision has been taken yet.

A gofundme has raised US$70,000 for the victim family.

The bodies of the four family members  who have been identified after autopsies as Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishaliben Patel, 37, daughter Vihangi Patel, 11, and son Dharmik Patel, 3  are currently lying in a morgue in Winnipeg.

Jaswant Patel, a cousin of the deceased man in their native village Dingucha near Ahmedabad, said that the family wants their funerals to take place in Canada.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa, which is in touch with the victims' family in Gujarat, will take the final decision on the matter.

As the Gujarati community of Winnipeg awaits a decision on the funerals, it held an online 'Shanti Path' (prayer meeting) for the victim family on Saturday.

"Over 60 people joined us. We prayed for the family. Our local MP and the Mayor were among those who conveyed their condolences," said organiser Bhadresh Bhatt of the Hindu Sabha of Manitoba.

Bhatt, who has been coordinating with the Indian High Commission since the tragedy came to light, said mission officials are in touch with the relatives in Gujarat of the victim family.

"Since the victim family has no relatives and friends in Winnipeg, the Indian High Commission will finally take a decision of the funerals  whether they will be held in Winnipeg," he said.
Oil markets opened the week higher and were heading for the biggest January gain in at least 30 years as robust demand outpaced fresh supply.

The global crude benchmark rose 0.8%, paring earlier gains, but remains on track for a 17% gain this month. West Texas Intermediate futures traded above $87 a barrel.

Traders on Monday were greeted with a familiar set of drivers, from the weather to stockpiles. Low temperatures in the U.S. have been boosting demand for fuels, as Boston reported a daily snow record and New York's Central Park saw more than 8 inches fall. Oil infrastructure in Ecuador was damaged by a rockslide, potentially endangering supply. Meanwhile, oil held on tankers fell by more than a fifth last week, the latest sign of ebbing inventories.

That combination of booming demand, scratchy supply and dwindling stockpiles has helped crude soar this month, with top banks and oil companies saying prices may soon pass $100 a barrel.

While the advance has gained extra support as Russia amasses troops near Ukraine, it has also been compounded by the inability of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to meet planned supply output increases. The OPEC+ alliance gathers Wednesday to assess the market.

"Markets opened up strongly due to the cold weather in the U.S.," said Keshav Lohiya, founder of consultant Oilytics. "The oil rally still has a lot of steam left as geopolitical risk continues to heat up."

There are also tensions in the oil-rich Middle East. The United Arab Emirates intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemeni fighters during a visit by Israel's president, the third attack in a month on the Middle East's financial hub. The UAE destroyed the missile and there were no casualties.

As economies continue to recover from the pandemic, oil product markets are roaring. Refiners across the globe are making robust profits from producing gasoline, with the demand outlook signaling continuing strength.

Global oil markets are in backwardation, a bullish pattern in which near-term contracts command a premium to those further out. The spread between Brent's first month and sixth month futures contract was the strongest since 2013 at Friday's close.
The Aphasia Center of West Texas held its Chocolate Decadence fundraiser at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

The fundraiser traditionally raises between 30 to 40 percent of the nonprofit's annual budget. The nonprofit's mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families living with aphasia by overcoming communication barriers at home and in their communities. Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage.
WASHINGTON - District of Columbia police officer Jeffrey Smith died by suicide in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection, an act his family believes was the result of injuries he received when he took a blow to the head with a crowbar, or similar object, as he defended the U.S. Capitol.

But a little over a year later, city officials have not yet said whether they will grant his widow's request to consider his death to be in the line of duty.

Smith's wife, Erin Smith, wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post that she is pressing for official recognition and that her husband's "sacrifice deserves to be remembered." Such a designation by the District could result in additional financial benefits or, separately, his inclusion on the D.C. police list of fallen officers.

Though D.C. officials say no official decision has been made, Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., Erin Smith's congressman, said he spoke to Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, this month and she stated the District does not consider Smith's death to be in the line of duty. A spokeswoman for Bowser declined to address the mayor's conversation with the congressman.

Smith's case is pending before the D.C. Police and Firefighters Retirement Relief Board, which votes on pension claims and whose members are appointed by the mayor. Beyer said Bowser "was pretty clear that she expected it was going to be denied."

Beyer, who has been advocating for Smith's family, said he thinks there is a clear link between Jeffrey Smith's service at the Capitol and his death. "It's really abundantly clear that Officer Smith would be alive today if he hadn't been there on January 6," Beyer said.

If the District disagrees, he urged officials to let Erin Smith know so she can continue fighting her case, possibly through the courts.

"If they don't say anything, then she's just in limbo," Beyer said.

Suicides by police officers are rarely recognized as line-of-duty deaths. But advocates are trying to change that, saying that the stress of the job, and sometimes physical injuries, can take a significant toll on officers' mental health and deaths by suicide are often directly linked to an officer's service.

Jeffrey Smith's family says he suffered a traumatic brain injury at the Capitol that they say went undiagnosed at the city's medical clinic in the days after the insurrection, and was unrecognized by Smith himself.

The retirement board has asked the D.C. police and the separate Police and Fire Clinic - run by a private contractor to treat injured first-responders - to weigh in on whether Smith's duties Jan. 6, 2021 were the "sole and direct" cause of his death.

D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee and two police department lawyers told the board in a letter they would not respond to those questions. Their letter says there is "no direct evidence of Officer Smith's mindset at the time of his death" and they "cannot reasonably opine" whether Smith's death was linked to physical or psychological injuries from Jan. 6. To do so, the letter says, "would be pure speculation."

Dustin Sternbeck, a D.C. police spokesman, said the Police and Fire Clinic "is the appropriate agency to provide a medical assessment" to the retirement board. He said, "The vender has not indicated to us whether they intend on complying with the retirement board's request."

The chief operating officer of the clinic, Marian Booker, did not respond to requests for comment. E. Lindsey Maxwell, the interim director of the D.C. Department of Human Resources - which has oversight of the retirement board - said the board is committed to evaluating Erin Smith's claim "in a fair and equitable manner." He said the matter remains under consideration and would not comment further.

On Jan. 11, the board gave the clinic and the District another 30 days to answer its questions.

Smith's attorney, David Weber, said "the one person who can least afford to continue waiting is the widow."

Smith's fight to have her husband's death recognized as in the line of duty mirrors that of the family of another officer who took his own life after battling rioters, Capitol Police officer Howard Liebengood.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., Liebengood's and his wife's congresswoman, has been pushing federal officials to approve his family's request. But she said the work extends beyond that, as Liebengood's wife, Serena Liebengood, has been advocating to ensure officers have access to greater mental health resources. Last year, Wexton helped secure funding to boost mental health resources for the Capitol Police and to establish the Howard C. "Howie" Liebengood Center for Wellness.

"They have been very instrumental in turning their grief into action and working to get the wellness center up and running," Wexton said of the Liebengood family. "I don't see them giving up," no matter what hurdles they encounter in getting Liebengood's death formally recognized, she said.

Two other D.C. police officers who were at the riot also took their own lives in the months afterward; their families have not spoken publicly.

Though Jeffrey Smith and Howard Liebengood's deaths have not been formally recognized as having occurred in the line of duty, police chiefs from both the Capitol and D.C. forces have invoked their names at times. In August, their relatives were invited to the White House as President Biden awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to officers who responded to the insurrection.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, D-Va., have joined Beyer and Wexton in imploring local and federal officials to recognize the deaths as directly related to the violence at the Capitol.

"Officer Smith and Officer Liebengood devoted their lives to serving our democracy," Kaine and Warner said in a statement. "We continue to urge the District of Columbia and federal officials to grant their families the respect, recognition and benefits afforded to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty."

Beyer said it's unlikely that Congress could find a legislative solution to designate Smith's death as in the line of duty if administrative or legal avenues fail, particularly given House Democrats' support for D.C. autonomy. But he and Wexton are working with Rep. David Trone, D-Md., on a bill that would make officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or who die by suicide eligible for benefits if their trauma is related to their duties. A spokesman for Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said she would be introducing a similar Senate bill on Thursday.

Erin Smith's attorney, Weber, said Smith more than anything wants her husband's name engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in the District and listed among the fallen heroes by D.C. police.

Even if Smith prevails before the retirement board, D.C. police and the national memorial, which is run by a nonprofit organization, each have their own criteria, and would not automatically include her husband.

"We do not consider suicide to be a line of duty death," said Marcia Ferranto, the chief executive officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

That said, Ferranto would not rule out an exception, and she encouraged Jeffrey Smith's family to apply. "We look into every case individually," she said, promising a "deep dive" into the particulars.

Weber's filings to the retirement board contain medical reports from two doctors supporting his claim linking the assault at the Capitol to his death, including Jonathan L. Arden, a forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner for the District. Arden concluded that Smith lost consciousness and then exhibited "mood and behavioral changes."

In the the letter to the retirement board, Contee said Smith denied suffering pain and was alert and in a "normal mood" when seen at the medical clinic hours after the riot. At a follow-up visit Jan. 14, 2021, the letter states, Smith "was feeling well" and did not have a headache, nausea or an unsteady gait.

He was cleared to return to work the next day, Jan. 15, 2021, and was on his way in when he shot himself in his vehicle on the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Yemen's Houthi militia on Sunday midnight claimed responsibility for a fresh cross-border ballistic missile attack on the UAE.

"The armed forces will announce details of a large-scale military operation deep inside the UAE within hours," Houthi-run al-Masirah TV was quoted by Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the UAE official media reported that the UAE defense ministry intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile, adding there were no reports of casualties.

This is the third Houthi cross-border missile attack against the UAE, a key member of the Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the Yemeni army, in less than two weeks.

The previous attacks killed three people and hit an oil facility in Abu Dhabi.

The Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia has intensified cross-border missile attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia after it had lost several strategic districts in central Yemen this month.
Mike Kline/Getty Images

Lincoln Land Community College campuses in Jacksonville and Beardstown will commemorate the life of Abraham Lincoln with educational activities, while historian Samuel Wheeler will celebrate the president's legacy with a Feb. 11 presentation on the main campus.

Wheeler specializes in the history of Illinois, the Civil War era and the life of Lincoln. His free presentation, More Painful Than Pleasant?: Abraham Lincoln and His Father, will begin at 9 a.m. in Trutter Center on the LLCC Springfield campus. It also will be available via Zoom.
A new study contends Illinois could do more to reduce tobacco use across the state.

The annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control report tracks the efforts of the federal government and state governments across the country on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and enact tobacco control laws and policies.

Illinois received mixed grades across five different categories, but raised its mark from a D to a C when it comes to access to cessation services.

That is in large part because Illinois now has a law in place that requires Medicaid to cover all three forms of tobacco cessation counseling, phone, group and individual, said Kristina Hamilton, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Illinois and Iowa. It's important because smoking rates among low-income people are nearly double the general population in Illinois. This will hopefully help to reduce the smoking rate among low-income individuals.

The report notes that Illinois spends about $12 million on total funding for state tobacco control programs, nowhere near the $136 million that some experts argue should be the goal.

We still are at only 9% of what the CDC recommends we spend on tobacco prevention and control, Hamilton said. We would like the General Assembly to increase that budget in the future.

The American Lung Association remains highly concerned about the nearly 23% of Illinois high school students using some form of tobacco, driven in large part by e-cigarettes, especially flavored e-cigarettes.

We are strongly advocating for municipalities to pass policies to end the sale of flavored tobacco products that include menthol cigarettes and flavored cigarettes because they are so popular among youth, Hamilton said. It's really undoing a lot of the impactful work that the tobacco control community has done the past couple of decades.

Among the recommendations in the report, the American Lung Association is calling on Illinois lawmakers to act to ensure tax parity among tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and cigarettes.

We would like to see other tobacco products taxed at the same rate of cigarettes, Hamilton said. For price sensitive consumers of tobacco products, if you increase taxes, you do see lower usage rates of build tobacco products.

The American Lung Association also continues to advocate for states to eliminate the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.

Illinois gets high marks for its air quality, thanks in large part to the now nearly 15-year-old Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which prohibits smoking in virtually all public places and workspaces.

We know that it has saved lives and prevented another generation being addicted to certain tobacco products, Hamilton said.

New in Illinois is the Preventing Youth Vaping Act, which took effect at the beginning of the year. The law prohibits companies from marketing e-cigarettes to minors, prohibits misleading e-cigarette advertising, and gives the Illinois attorney generals office and law enforcement agencies both criminal and civil authority to hold violators accountable.
The Morgan County Audubon Society held a Young Explorers Club meeting Saturday at the Jacksonville Public Library. Illinois College biology professors Bryan Arnold and Lawrence Zettler presented a program titled "Know Your Insects from Your Bugs."
I mail letters to get results.

This month, I noticed a leak under my kitchen counter and called a plumber. He told me how much it would cost and asked for payment in advance. Over the next week, plumbers visited our house multiple times but the project was never quite done.

My wife and I were sick of the continual visits without resolution. So, I went to the hardware store, bought some parts and finished the project myself.

I then sent a letter to the CEO of the Collinsville-based plumbing contractor relating our experience and asking to be reimbursed for the cost of the $23 in parts I purchased. He did me one better and mailed a $400 check compensating me for the inconvenience of the multiple visits and my own labor.

My dad taught me about the power of letters many years ago. When he was a young farmer in the 1960s, railroad workers would clean out boxcars near our field. Swarms of rats would leave the trains and devour rows of our crops.

Dad went to the Galesburg Public Library and looked up the name and address of the CEO for the Burlington Northern railroad. He typed a letter explaining the problem and asked for it to stop.

The crews quit cleaning out the railcars at that spot and the rats disappeared. Sometimes you just need to ask.

In July, I took my family on a trip. We arrived at the airport early but the person at the ticket counter was new and couldnt quite figure out how to check our luggage. We stood at the counter for more than an hour and eventually missed our flight. We also were charged for 15 or 20 bags when we only had five.

We ended up driving from Springfield to OHare International Airport to catch an alternate flight. I wrote a letter to the CEO of United Airlines explaining the situation and was reimbursed $3,000 for our trouble.

In 2020, our two Labrador retrievers became violently ill after eating dog food. They were vomiting blood. My wife, a veterinarian, thought they could die. They ended up spending two nights in an intensive care unit. We believe a toxin caused by mold was in the bag of dog food.

So, I sent a letter along with the vet bills to the CEO of a giant pet food company. They responded with a check for $3,000.

These experiences happened in a little over a year and they illustrate the power of letter writing.

Here are my rules on how to write a letter that gets results:

 Aim high. Write the letter to someone with the power to solve your problem  and that usually isnt anyone in customer service. I start with the CEO or owner of the company and let them delegate.

 Always write a letter  not an email, text message or social media post. Send an honest to goodness epistle in an envelope adorned with a stamp. When it comes through the mail, it is taken more seriously and is less likely to be ignored.

 Stick to the facts and present them in a reasonable, non-emotional manner.

 Never threaten legal action. If you do, the letter will be shuffled off to the legal department where the jackals will use it to line their litter box.

 Bolster your case with supporting evidence and attach corroborating documents such as receipts and medical records.

 Make sure the letter is typed and the grammar and spelling are excellent.

Id also suggest that one not only write letters to help themselves but to help others. Back in 2019, I upgraded my hearing aids to ones compatible with my cellphone. I offered the old ones to anyone in need and ended up giving them to a woman suffering a 50% hearing loss who cleans houses for a living and cares for her elderly mother.

Unfortunately, the store where I bought them wanted to charge $650 to reprogram them for her to use.

So, I sent a note to Bentonville, Arkansas, to one John Furner, CEO of Sams Club. I explained my predicament and my desire to help someone. The next morning, I received a call from his assistant informing me they would waive the $650 fee and would provide a gift card to cover the cost of six months worth of batteries for the woman in need.

A well-placed, persuasive letter can benefit many people.

Also, I write letters to CEOs not just to complain but to praise when things go well. Last summer, a nurse at my doctors office really went out of her way to help my family through a predicament. I thanked her and sent a letter to Ed Curtis, CEO of Memorial Health System.

He contacted her and praised her for her conscientious effort. For that nurse, Im sure that letter from the boss carried more weight than anything I would have written.

Letters get results.
About halfway through his marathon news conference recently, President Joe Biden finally asked the only question in Washington thats worth asking. With congressional Republicans standing in the way of the Democrats every initiative, including voting rights (which should be as bipartisan as it gets), what do they actually support?

What are Republicans for? What are they for? Name me one thing theyre for, Biden fumed.

The short answer, according to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell? Not much of anything, really.

That is a very good question, McConnell told reporters when he was asked about the GOPs priorities if it retakes control of Congress after this falls midterm elections. And Ill let you know when we take it back.

Its bad enough that Biden already has to deal with such double-agents as senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Trying to play nice with a congressional Republican, where a preponderance of its members dont recognize his legitimacy and still bend the knee to the authoritarian-in-exile in Florida, is just compounding the torture.

So after 12 months of getting batted from one side of Capitol Hill to the other by McConnell (who did exactly the same thing to Bidens old boss, Barack Obama), the 46th president appears, at long last, to have realized that theres no point in trying to do his old job or negotiate with people who refuse to negotiate.

Last year, I wrote that Biden was on his way to being the most transformational president in decades. And I still believe theres a strong prima facie case for that.

In 12 months, the White House won passage of not only the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act, which sent badly needed assistance to state governments and school districts, but also a $1.2 trillion infrastructure law that will provide badly needed funds for road and bridge repairs, as well as broadband expansion. Even Republicans who carped about its cost and voted against it havent been above taking credit for the aid it brought to their home states.

More than 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 80 million have received booster shots. Yes, the White House has not been able to win over vaccine skeptics, but thats a tall order when an entire media ecosystem is actively working to short-circuit those efforts. Admittedly, the governments messaging has been muddled, and the current testing crunch is aggravating, but the White House has been taking steps to address it.

It is galling that Biden has not been able to win approval for his Build Back Better plan or the two voting rights bills mentioned above, nor bring two rogue members of his own party into line.

Its insane that 10 Republican senators cannot summon the political courage to realize whats obvious to a high school civics student: Our nation is stronger when more people participate in elections, and that our preaching to the rest of the world about the wonders of democracy is more believable when we throw open the polls to every eligible voter instead of manufacturing excuses to keep them out.

Give Republicans this much, though, either out of ironclad loyalty to the Dear Leader or fear of a primary from the right, or both, their discipline is extraordinary. That is particularly true in the face of Democrats who are still treating their congressional majorities in much the same way as the dog who caught the car.

The American public saw a different Biden last week, one both pragmatic and combative. One who can speak inspiringly to the nations better angels and act as his own best advocate for his achievements, but also one who bluntly confronts the threats of strongmen at home and abroad and is willing to use the bully pulpit and the airwaves to advance his agenda.

The president has less than 10 months to push through Build Back Better and to finally get voting rights over the goal line. No more Mr. Nice Biden.

Its time to get it done.
It has been two years since the US contractor Mark Frerichs was taken hostage by the Taliban. He was abducted by the UN-designated terror organisation on January 31, 2020, just a month before the US and Taliban agreement was signed. Since then, the US has been raising Frerichs' release in each and every meeting with the Taliban.

"The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable," Biden warned. He made it clear to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan that the release of the American prisoner was the first condition for Taliban's "aspirations for legitimacy".

"His release is among our core, non-negotiable priorities. We will continue to send a clear message to Taliban leadership: immediately and safely release Mark and disavow the practice of hostage-taking," said Biden.

Frerichs, a contractor who was previously from the US Navy, was abducted by the Haqqani Network in the Khost area on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a stronghold of the Haqqanis. Since then, he has apparently been held under the custody of the Haqqani Network (HQN). Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is now the Interior Minister of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, also heads the HQN. He too is a US-designated terrorist with a bounty of $10 million.

Earlier, the Taliban had proposed for a prisoner exchange, swapping Frerichs for Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan drug lord and close to the Chief of the HQN and Interior Minister of the Taliban regime, Sirajuddin Haqqani. Noorzai is serving a life sentence in the US for the smuggling of drugs. On Sunday, Biden also rejected the Taliban's demand, refusing to enter into a swap deal.

Earlier, before the Taliban's capture of Kabul last year in August, the US had offered $5 million for information that leads to Frerichs location and return. The US had also approached Pakistan, which has close ties with the HQN, to put pressure on the terror group.

The high flying Afghan drug lord, Bashir Noorzai was arrested in New York in 2005 and sentenced in 2009 to life imprisonment on drug and conspiracy charges. He was convicted of importing $50 million worth of heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan into the US and other countries.

Currently he is serving his sentence in a US jail. At the time of his arrest, Noorzai was on a US government target list of the most powerful and dangerous narcotics traffickers in the world and was nicknamed the Pablo Escobar of the Middle East.

According to sources, the Biden administration is also in touch with the Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for the release of its hostage which has become the top priority for President Biden.
Nathan Magsig and Tom McClintock View Photo

Sonora, CA  Republican Congressman Tom McClintock is running for election in Congressional District Five, which covers the Mother Lode region.

His current Congressional District Four is being split in half as part of redistricting. The new US House District Five starts near the foothills outside of Sacramento and goes through parts or all of El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Madera and Fresno counties.

McClintock states that all eight of those Republican county chairs have voted to endorse his candidacy, including Randy Hanvelt in Tuolumne County and Edward Langan in Calaveras County.

The group put out a joint statement, reading, Congressman McClintock is a proven constitutional conservative who has been unwavering in his commitment to always fight for our shared conservative values.

McClintock has also secured the endorsement of former Fresno Congressional leader Devin Nunes.

McClintock will have a Republican challenger in the race, though.

This morning Fresno County Supervisor, and former Clovis Mayor, Nathan Magsig, announced his candidacy.

In doing so he referenced responding to the 2020 Creek Fire, stating, While Gov. Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris staged photo-ops in the rubble, I spent weeks coordinating with Cal Fire and U.S. Forest Service fire crews to relieve the burden of communicating to my neighbors about rescue operations and whether their homes were still standing.

Magsig goes on to say, In recent weeks, Ive heard from too many residents and neighbors calling for someone in Washington that fully embraces the word Representative  not just a strong voice, but a leader who listens to the needs of their neighbors.

McClintock and Magsig are the only two candidates who have announced intentions to run for Congressional District Five at this point.

The primary election will be held in June and the top-two vote-getters will move onto the General Election in November.
India has called for de-escalating the tensions around Ukraine through a diplomatic solution that addresses "legitimate security interests of all" as the US and Russia clashed in the Security Council on Monday.

"India's interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond," India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said.

"It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue," he said, adding: "Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour."

The US and Britain, in particular, have warned of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security," Tirumurti said.

Earlier, India abstained on a procedural vote on the Council meeting discussing the threats to peace arising from the situation around Ukraine.

Moscow opposed the proposal made by the US to take up the "international threats to peace" due to what the US said was the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's border.

China joined Russia in voting against the agenda item.

Monday was seen as the last day to have a discussion of the Ukraine issue before Russia takes over the presidency of the Council on Tuesday under the system of monthly rotation of leadership.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that he does not expect Russia to invade Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelentsky last week has said that he did not expect an imminent invasion from Russia and criticised talk of the threat.

"We have also been in touch with all concerned parties," Tirumurti told the Council.

"More than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us."

Tirumurti said that India urges "all parties to continue to engage through all diplomatic channels and to keep working towards the full implementation of the 'Minsk Package'".

The Minsk Package is a set of agreements reached in 2014 ad 2015 among representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian separatists, and the multinational Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the de-escalating the situation in Ukraine.

Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France have been engaged in a process of diplomacy to deal with the situation that is known as the Normandy Format.

Tirumurti said: "Flowing from the recently concluded meeting in Paris under the Normandy Format, we also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire (in Donbas) and reaffirmation of Minsk Agreements as the basis of work under the ongoing Normandy format."

UN Under Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo told the Council: "We remain greatly concerned that, even as these efforts continue, tensions keep escalating amid a dangerous military build-up in the heart of Europe."

She noted that there are reports of over 100,000 Russian troops and heavy weaponry are positioned along border with Ukraine and troops and weaponry being sent to Belarus ahead of large-scale joint military exercises in February on the borders with Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic nations.

"NATO members are also reportedly planning additional deployments in Eastern European member states, and NATO has advised that 8,500 troops are now on high alert," she added.

US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned: "We will be decisive, swift, and united should Russia further invade Ukraine."

But she also said later that the US has no plans to "weaken" Russia.

"Russia's aggression today not only threatens Ukraine. It also threatens Europe. It threatens the international order this body is charged with upholding," she said.

Thomas-Greenfield called the Russian deployments the largest mobilisation of troops in Europe in decades and said: "We cannot just 'wait and see'. It is crucial that this Council address the risk that their aggressive and destabilising behaviour poses across the globe."

She mentioned the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its backing for Ukrainian separatists.

Russia's Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia said that Moscow has "categorically been rejecting" plans for an invasion of Ukraine.

There is "no threat of a planned invasion into Ukraine, from the lips of any Russian politician or public figure", he said.

The troop deployment was in his own country, he said, but the US acts as if an invasion has taken place, he said.

Nebenzia said "that they're all assuring us is going to take place in just a few weeks' time if not a few days' time" and while there is "no proof of confirming such as serious accusation", it "is not preventing people from whipping up hysteria to such an extent that an actual economic impact is already being felt by our Ukrainian neighbours".

He cited Washington making the case at the Council in 2003 for its invasion of Iraq, claiming it had weapons of mass destruction, which could not be found after US invasion.

Ukraine's Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya said his country "is ready to defend itself".

He expressed concerns over the troop build-up which he saw as a threat to his country.

He said Kyiv is keeping its lines of diplomacy open but said that Russia should talk and not bring troops to the border.

As for Russia's assertions that it does not plan to invade Ukraine, he said: "Let's judge by action, not semantic puzzles."
mySA

Good, better, best? Who will reign Supreme in San Antonio in 2022?

Only a select number of businesses in the San Antonio area are the cream of the crop, rise to the top and stand out among all the rest. Annually, the San Antonio Express-News and MYSA.com have honored local restaurants with their Readers' Choice Awards.
Courtesy, Jason Risner

And just like that  the first month of 2022 is coming to an end. This January, a handful of new restaurants and bars opened doors to the people of San Antonio. While even more eclectic openings are looming around the corner, from cozy coffee shops like Bright Coffee to high-end Broadway corridor bistros like Allora, here are five new and reborn local haunts to try around town that have a January 2022 birth certificate.

Kimura, Dash, and 5Points Local 1017 North Flores Street Tonkotsu ramen with pork belly, pickled mushrooms, green onions, fish cakes, sprouts and seaweed sheets, along with chicken yakitori and a pickle sampler with soy pickled eggs, cucumbers, kimchi and seaweed from Kimura Mike Sutter /Staff file photo In a matter of weeks, local restaurateur Michael Sohocki fully re-imagined his long-time businesses. On Tuesday, January 11, a new iteration of Kimura officially began cooking. The ramen restaurant moved from its Travis Park-adjacent spot and now operates out of a spacious brick building on North Flores Street, previously inhabited by health-conscious eatery 5 Points Local. In the same building, Sohocki also opened a new upstairs bar called Dash. He also revitalized 5 Points Local's menu with offerings similar to his permanently shuttered European eatery Gwendolyn.

Shawarma Press 11210 Potranco Road Shawarma Press, the leader in fast casual Mediterranean cuisine, announced the grand opening of its San Antonio location at Walmart, the nation's largest retailer. Shawarma Press The popular Mediterranean chain opened its first location outside of Dallas right here in San Antonio this month. Find shawarma, falafel, hummus, dolmas, and more tucked away inside the Walmart at 11210 Potranco Road.

Jerk Shack 10234 Texas 151. The new location of Chef Nicola Blaque's lauded restaurant The Jerk Shack will open on Friday, January 14 at 10234 Texas 151. Courtesy, Jason Risner After a four-month-long closure, the Jerk Shack is back  this time in Alamo Ranch. Chef-owner Nicola Blaque started the year with a new iteration of her nationally lauded Jamaican and Caribbean restaurant. Jerk Shack originally opened in 2018 on Matyear. During its tenure, the restaurant has been spotlighted in Eater and GQ. The new location, which officially opened on January 14, also has a drive-thru for those who want Caribbean on the go. Find it at 10234 Highway 151.

Tia's Taco Hut 10222 West Military Drive, suite 103 Tia's Taco Hut celebrated the grand opening of the 1203 North St. Mary's Street location, the sixth location in the chain, on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Tia's Taco Hut opened its newest location near SeaWorld this January. Last year, we tried a downtown Tia's and were thoroughly impressed with their carne guisada with cheese. Find the newest outpost at 10222 West Military Drive, suite 103. Hours of operation are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

A Texas man was arrested after he threatened his high school daughter's bullies with a pocket knife, according to an arrest affidavit pulled from News Channel 6. Thomas Brown, from Wichita Falls, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on January 27.

The arrest affidavit stated Brown's daughter told him that girls at her high school were bullying her, and on Thursday she called him and said several girls were chasing her. He went to meet her at an intersection near the high school, according to the court records.
It is both bizarre and telling to see evidence of increased intensity in enforcing the Panglossian Shut up and get your vax, and you will be safe in the face of our let er rip policies, even as more evidence comes in raising doubts about their wisdom and cost.

The wee problem is that emerging information continues to reinforce the idea that the West lacks choices it likes with respect to Covid. That is particularly hard to accept in our insistently optimistic, tech and expert obsessed culture, which has been reinforced by rule by MBA. A diseased managerialism has taken hold (our Clive reports that its even more pronounced in the UK) where if someone dares tell the higher-ups that theres no way what they want can happen, they will suffer career harm for not being clever enough. he person who promised what cant be delivered, and is good at finding scapegoats and excuses, will rise.

So in addition to demonizing just about everyone who isnt enthusiastically on board with the Go son, and get your vaccine, and resume your pre-Covid life program (the scapegoating part), one of the common excuse reflexes is to depict the end of Covid as just around the corner. Unfortunately, so many people are engaged in this sort of behavior that it cant be pinned on a single source, as the Friedman unit was.1

But it appears that the path the West has chosen, of focusing on vaccines and almost completely abandoning other ways to reduce contagion (everything from good masks to CO2 monitors at stores showing that they are not overcrowded relative to their ventilation level, and *gah* realistic quarantines, particularly at the border), were now seeing vaccines falling well short of their promise as more and more evidence accumulates of what scientist GM warned about from early on: that getting Covid is likely to do damage, even in supposedly mild cases. And because most people are going to get Covid multiple times, even assuming >90% effective vaccines and perfect compliance with boosters, theres reason to worry that damage will compound.

Yes, we might get lucky and have Covid mutate into something really tame, but betting on luck is not a great way to manage public health.

With that disheartening pre-existing set of concerns, consider:

Vaccines Are Becoming an Inadequate Answer to Covid (Even Charitably Assuming Vaccines Alone Were Ever a Good Idea)

The disconnect between perceived political necessities (no lockdowns evah!) and the reality of falling vaccine efficacy is getting harder to finesse. But this does explain the screechy attacks on China and now Japan for having more effective Covid containment policies. The fact that a zero-credibility-in-the-Asian-tiger-countries institution presumes to lecture China about its internal affairs is both clueless and sure to win Chineses officials not only points at home but in wider Asia. What actual evidence is there that Chinas lockdowns have harmed production more than the very high level of Covid cases in the US and resulting staff shortages? And how about the evidence that the refusal of workers to come back despite higher pay rates in many lines of work is due not just to early retirements (as in regarding job sites as representing too much Covid risk) but also Covid induced disability preventing many from returning?

But all of the criticism of China cant hide outcomes like this:

Lambert flagged a similarly incoherent position yesterday in Links:

Japans immigration experiment under cover of Covid FT. The deck: The country has introduced restrictions on foreigners that risk blunting its soft power. From the body: Japans self-isolation and other measures to protect its citizenry sit only at the fiercer end of a spectrum of national strategies. Its comparatively low Covid mortality rates in a country with almost 30 per cent of the population over 65, are a solid rhetorical shield. Low Covid mortality rates are a solid rhetorical shield? They really do want to kill us all, dont they?

Yours truly adds:

How better to look like a country worth emulating than to manage Covid well? Japan isnt exactly well liked in the region, but the flip side is aside from a minority of hard core right wingers, it does not aspire to having regional influence. And its quite happy being isolated, thank you very much.

It is a little too obvious why the top officials are promoting the Big Lie that Asian countries who have kept Covid pretty well at bay should open up and let more people have the freedom to get sick and die:

1. More aggressive efforts to paper over not-great vaccine efficacy. The results of the booster shots in Israel were showing declining protection after four months. Consider this headline from STAT last week, which ought to know better: Early data indicate vaccines still protect against Omicrons sister variant, BA.2. As GM commented:

This week, the U.K. agency estimated that, for people at least two weeks out from their booster shot, vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease was 63% against BA.1, versus 70% for BA.2. While that might suggest that BA.2 is less of a threat to vaccine protection than its Omicron sister, the full estimate ranges overlapped. That makes it sound as if: 1. VE reaches a constant value after 2 weeks, never to decline. In reality it goes down to below 50% in mere weeks

2. 60-70% against symptoms (never mind infection) is somehow good

Keep in mind that 50% effectiveness is the minimum level for a vaccine to be approved. Having looked at the recent neutralization studies, GM estimates that boosters protect again Omicron for on the order of ten weeks.

2. Boost, boost, boost is running up against real world and health issues. How much patience would members fo the public have for being boosted every three months, particularly since some have serious enough short-term side effects that they cant go to work for a day or two? Despite being vaccine-fixated, the US still does not mandate days off for getting shots and possible required downtime.

The European Medicines Agency joined with the WHO earlier this month joined with the WHO in warning that frequent boosters could create health risks of their own. From Fortune:

On Tuesday, EMA vaccine strategy chief Marco Cavaleri said there was still no data supporting the need for a fourth COVID vaccine dose. And even if multiple boosters do prove to be necessary, they would need to be spaced out in the style of annual flu jabs, rather than delivered every several months. He also warned that overly frequent booster doses could potentially lead to problems with immune response. While use of additional boosters can be part of contingency plans, repeated vaccinations within short intervals would not represent a sustainable long-term strategy, Cavaleri said at a media briefing. He also said boosters can be done once, or maybe twice, but its not something that we can think should be repeated constantly.

3. Getting Omicron may not confer much immunity either. Weird cheery stories about families feeling relieved about getting Omicron (see Wall Street Journal and NBC) would not be entirely crazy if Omicron were mild and those mild cases conferred decent immunity. Or to put it more bluntly, in terms of the interests of the public health authorities: No need to be mad at us for the vaccines not helping much/at all against Omicron! Getting it didnt really hurt you and now you have immunity.

Of course, no one is coming out and saying that, but GM has been finding evidence in papers often pursuing other arguments. For instance, from a new MedRxIv preprint, Omicron infection of vaccinated individuals enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant:

They did not focus on Omicron neutralizaiton by Omicron sera in that paper, but on Delta neutralization by Omicron sera (that study was used as a proof of how Omicron will end the pandemic because it will kill Delta). So you have to compare across panels and look at the absolute numbers. And they are weak  titers for Omicron in the unvaccinated Omicron-convalescent were 100-150 (with the limit of detection of 40 [40 is a zero on this scale]) compared to 5-6 times that in the triple vaxxed. And it is not as if the triple vaxxed were highly protected against getting sick, only against really serious outcomes.

And from another fresh but not well written preprint Neutralizing immunity in vaccine breakthrough infections from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants (the story is in the charts, particularly Figure 2), a big finding per GM is:

Based on this data that the Omicron convalescent show much weaker titers against Omicron than the Delta/WT convalescent against Delta/WT. So all these people who got infected now will be susceptible to reinfection even sooner than was true for previous variants

Confirming anecdata:

Joburg SA. My wife looked after two of her grandchildren yesterday. They had been sick on Thursday. I suggested she might want to wear a N95 while with them. Today they have fevers & are sick. Going to doc. Preschool caregiver said lots of children getting Omicron. Oh rats.  Clive Granville (@CliveWGranville) January 31, 2022

Evidence Mounts That Getting Covid Is Harmful

The vaccines underperforming would not be a concern if it were actually true that all you have to worry about with Covid is its not-horrific death rate. But weve warned that is false, even just allowing for long Covid. And theres more knock-on Covid effects to worry about.

An excellent one-stop wake-up call is an interview with Dr. Anthony Leonardi at WSWS. Leonardi, a top immunologist who studied at Johns Hopkins and a T cell expert, has had the misfortune to be one of Covids Cassandras. Hes a zero-Covid advocate and hence only zero-Covid allies like WSWS seem keen about amplifying his findings. Hes stepped even further outside the Anglosphere orthodoxy by warning against having children go to schools that are unsafe (by which I assume he means with poor/no masking and poor ventilation):

Theres publication that lists a lowered productive lifespan in kids, and its more of an attenuation in kids than adults. So, its a bad idea. Were setting kids up to have chronic illness.

Yet more confirmation of the value of masking in schools:

NEW: Virus spread was 62% higher in school districts without mask ruleshttps://t.co/EObnS73xvV via @https://twitter.com/ABC12WJRT  Heidi Przybyla (@HeidiNBC) January 24, 2022

This is an excellent interview and not at all dumbed down (WSWS had to insert what amounted to technical notes. Please read it in full. A few of many important observations:

I think Long COVID is going to be as diverse a problem as cancer. Its hard to define, because, like cancers, they present as a very different spectrum of diseases depending on where they are and where they came from. Long COVID, I would say, for an easy definition, is a persistent sequela of SARS-COV-2 infection. And not only that, but the immune system also goes haywire. Now, the immune system is responsible for going into all the tissues in the body, except for a few immune-privileged sites. But SARS-CoV-2 doesnt respect the immune-privileged site whatsoever. It brings T-cells into the brain. So, we can see the impact of the infection across every physiological system. Because if it distorts the immune system and the immune system is responsible for patrolling the body everywhere, then there are going to be problems everywhere.

If that isnt cheery enough, Leonardi next turns to a study (in preprint) that infected rhesus macaques with Covid. All showed Lewy bodies in their brains. If you know anything about Lewy-body dementia (I have two friends who each had a parent who died of it), its a really bad way to go. No treatments, and if anything more of a roller-coaster for the patient and loved ones than Alzheimers. The swings in cognitive and physical function are often rapid and large. And Leonardi does not mince words:

And the problem with this is the disease process is irreversible. It begets an irreversible neurodegenerative process They didnt do follow-up of them [the monkeys, they couldnt having killed them to look at their brains], but one could imagine that once you kick off this process, you go down a course of neurological degeneration. And thats what the human experiences, at least, they know that Lewy bodies will end up proceeding Lewy body dementia and Parkinsons disease.

Leonari is pro-vaccine but still aware of their limitations. He argues that they offer protection to T-cells. But he also notes:

This study showed that if you had a clinical reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 that you are at the same risk of developing Long COVID as someone unvaccinated. Meaning that with breakthrough infection, the virus can re-establish itself in the body.

And for another dose of sobering information about possible Covid costs

Yes, it isnt pretty seeing that there are no good answers besides hunkering down and being super careful. Because I worked in the same large-ish room as a 93 year old with COPD, I wore a mask around her and insisted all the aides do the same (and not eat with her, which she hated, she did not like eating alone). But having a visibly fragile near you is a constant reminder of the risks. In Japan, the government encouraged families to wear masks at home during Covid waves. Hardly any Americans will go that far, or use next best measures like opening windows and doors whenever tolerable and installing a Corsi-Rosenthal box in every room that isnt used only by one person.

And our lack of collective self discipline is and will continue to kill us. Go back and look at the life expectancy chart above if you doubt me.

_____

1 For those too young to have been there, from Wiktionary:
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Alert reader JB suggested that NC look into antiwork crowd from Reddit. So I thought I would, albeit superficially because Im not all that familiar with the platform (though I have a weakness for Am I the [glass bowl]?, which is rather like a collective Ann Landers column for people who are too young to remember Ann Landers). In fact, my only experience with Reddit came in 2008, where I got some good hits from it posting my own material, until Obots ganged up and started downvoting me. And to be fair, I was trying to use the platform, not contribute to it.

Reddit has come a long way since 2008. Paraphrasing the potted history at Wikipedia, Reddit is the seventh most popular site in the United States. Founded in 2005 by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, and kickstated, Reddit was kickstarted, as we say, by Y Combinator (and coded in Common List (!!)), then sold to Conde Nast in 2006. Here is how the site works:

Registered members submit content to the site such as links, text posts, images, and videos, which are then voted up or down by other members. Posts are organized by subject into user-created boards called communities or subreddits, which cover topics such as news, politics, religion, science, movies, video games, music, books, sports, fitness, cooking, pets, and image-sharing. Submissions with more upvotes appear towards the top of their subreddit and, if they receive enough upvotes, ultimately on the sites front page.

Importantly:

Although there are strict rules prohibiting harassment, it still occurs, and Reddit administrators moderate the communities and close or restrict them on occasion. Moderation is also conducted by community-specific moderators, who are not considered Reddit employees.

As you, dear readers, and we backstage players know, moderating communities is hard and doesnt scale well; the Wikipedia entry has a whole section of controversies, most of which will have involved moderation in one way or another. The r/antiwork media dogpile is one such, and to it we now turn. (I should caveat that I am not a Redditor and have no plans to be, so I am sure that community customs and mores that Reddit users regard as essential will be opaque to me; readers will naturally feel free to correct me in comments.)

In short form: r/antiwork, a Reddit community  motto: Unemployment for all, not just the rich!  increased its membership greatly in the first two years of the pandemic, as well it might have. Last week, an r/antiwork moderator, u/abolishwork (one Doreen Ford,[1] hereafter Ford) went on FOX (!!) and gave an interview that gave rise to a feeding frenzy. There was a good deal of agita among the other moderators and admins, the community was closed for a couple of days, and split into two factions, but now has reopened. Just another day in social media? First, Ill try to give the flavor of the community with some posts Ill immediately admit are not signficant, statisitically; then, Ill briefly review the media controversy; and finally, I will look at what abolishwork (Ford) really said, not just on FOX, but in two other interviews. Ill conclude with some thoughts on platforms.

r/antiwork Posts

These are from the top ten or so posts on the subreddit; that is, they were upvoted by the community. (Posts are ordered by votes, and not chronologically, latest first, as in blogs.)

(There is also a genre of post where an especially horrid workplace is described; posts like this are ubiquitous, so I didnt dig deep to find an especially egregious one.) I think it speaks well of the subreddit that these are the upvoted posts (though see the Conclusion for some comments on contradictions within the subreddit.) I think the evident non-old-codgerdom of the posts is also heartening.

Media Frenzy

Since we have the Daily Mail, theres no reason to do a serious aggregation. From Laziness is a virtue in a society where people want you to be productive 24/7: Fumbling advocate for the Anti-work movement  which has 1.7million Reddit followers  goes viral for all the wrong reasons after car-crash interview:

Doreen Ford, 30, a dog walker from Boston who serves as a moderator for the r/Anti-Work subreddit, went on Fox and fumbled to explain the groups ideology to host Jesse Watters.

Worth noting at this point that Watters just got a promotion from Watters World (8:00PM) to Prime Time (7:00PM), and ginning up controversy would have been even more useful to him than it normally is. The Mail actually does some reporting, aggregating Redditor reactions:

A user with the handle SamSepiol also lamented the interview and its impact, writing, That interview was so awful and fulfilled so many stereotypes that its hard not to wonder if it was deliberate sabotage. Another reddit user with the handle Puffy_Ghost also criticized Fords performance. They fell right into the trap Fox News wanted them to. The only acceptable things go do there would be to decline the interview, or hire a media professional to represent you, they wrote. If you agree to an interview representing nearly 2 million people you better look and act like you know what youre doing.

(Interesting how media savvy these Redditors are.) The rest of the coverage is, frankly, conservatives performing their own highly ritualized version of aghastitude: OMG, a dog walker. Who wants to teach philosophy. OMG. OMG. (Anybody whos read E. P. Thompsons The Making of the English Working Class knows that the self-taught worker who teaches others is a real historical figure, and a laudable one.)

Fords Interviews

We have transcripts of three interviews with Ford. First FOX, then in Medium, and lastly on WBUR. I will look at each in turn.

Here is the FOX interview. Its only three minutes long, so thats not too agonizing. I will quote parts of the autogenerated YouTube transcript (cleaned up and punctuated):

WATTERS: over 1.6 million subscribers.

Those are good numbers. I would suspect that Watters doesnt regard Ford merely as an interviewee to be ambushed, but as a rival. This is probably the worst of the ambush:

WATTERS: Is there something you want to do besides being a dog walker? Do you aspire to do anything more than dog walking or is that kind of your your pinnacle? FORD: Uh, I love working with dogs. If I had to do this rest of my life, you know, I wouldnt be super complaining you know. Dogs are wonderful animals, uh, but I mean I would love to teach, I would love to, um, uou know, work with people and stuff like that. WATTERS: What would you teach, Doreen? FORD: Uh, philosophy, mostly. Philosophy, critical thinking, reason[ing], stuff like that. WATTERS: Well, I would love to take your class, Doreen. I would just be taking notes the whole time, and you know what? A professor has a very similar schedule [t] something that youre imagining, so I think that actually might might work perfectly for you. Listen, I think this might not be the greatest idea, but who am I to judge. To each their own. They say its a free country. Sure, not everythings free, but it is a free country. Thank you so much, we gotta run. We gotta pay the bills.

Watters in the pull-the-wings off flies mode our meidia does so well. True, Ford was the opposite of crisp, and the Room Rater account on Twitter would have ranked her low, but as Vice says:

The interview was a typical Fox News ambush. Ford made reasonable and clear arguments for what many members of r/antiwork want, but Watters invited her on only to ridicule the notion that anyone would be against working, not to have a substantive interview. She had wandered into a den of wolves and didnt realize anything bad was happening even as she was being eaten alive. To Watters, Ford was everything conservatives have been warning about the Woke Leftists Who Are Destroying America and want free things from the government.

Here is a second interview with Ford by Lewis Parker, on Medium. He begins:

Whats written below is completely unedited, beyond some grammatical touch-ups. Unfortunately for r/AntiWork, the Doreen Ford that represented them on Fox News is a far cry from the Doreen Ford exhibited below. The intent behind both interviews is clearly very different, as the former was orchestrated to embarrass whereas the latter was designed to inform, but I hope it goes some way towards potentially clarifying the sort of ideals that Anti-Work (and possibly even Doreen) stand for.

And from Ford:

How do you personally think the pandemic has affected anti-work? What about it do you think has made people sympathetic to your cause? [FORD:] It has made folks wake up to how the meetings are unnecessary, how expendable we all are under capitalism, and how easy it is to automate and make so many sectors remote instead of awful commutes. Its impact on the economy shows just how fragile this system is and how it depends on us much more than the capitalists who get so much of its benefit. What would you say is the overall goal of the Anti-Work subreddit? What kind future do you hope to work towards? [FORD:] The goal of the subreddit is to abolish work. Not to just reform capitalism or to alleviate some of its worst effects, but to actively undermine and discredit it as a viable economic system and replace it with something better. What that looks like depends on who you ask, whether they be a communist or a social democrat or an anarchist. I am an anarchist myself so thats the kind of future Im working toward. How does anarchism tie into the Anti-Work movement? [FORD:] So, Im something of a individualist or mutualist anarchist. My ideal society would be one thats built up of solidarity, equality of authority and the ability to easily direct action to positively change society. I want an economy where people are easily able to either work for themselves or work in cooperatives, but not in the same way that they work today. Not in the sense that they need to, or otherwise they will starve or be homeless. People will be able to pick multiple lines of work and switch fairly seamlessly without it defining their identity or self-worth. Do you think your ideal society is something that the majority of moderators/founders of Anti-Work share, or do you find that while you hold a common goal you often disagree on the endgame youre working towards? [FORD:] Yeah, theres a lot of disagreement about the end game for the community. Im also weird in that Im not completely against markets or money or even property at a certain level. So Im definitely an odd duck when it comes to anti-work and ideology. In other words. Im basically telling you to not take me as a representative sample of what your average anti-worker believes.

Which does leave open the question of why Ford went on Fox to begin with.

And a group interview from WBUR, from which I pull some Ford quotes. (Doreen is Ford):

Doreen: Back when I first started working actually is when I got into into antiwork and when I read Bob Blacks Abolition of Work, which is a very influential essay on the movement. Doreen: You know, Im not even anti-jobs. You know, Im fine with people having professions and things that they want to do. You know, I dont think thats inherently a bad thing. I just think its its a bad thing under capitalism in the state and the way that its done, theyre like, I would still take care of dogs if capitalism didnt exist. Doreen: I mean, look, I work with literal angels put on this planet. You know, Im talking about dogs, of course, and there are still mornings where Im like, Nah, Id rather not get up and go to work. Doreen: And thats why were so hard line about it. People are like, Oh, but the state is violence and capitalism is violence, and so many people are dying and like, How can you not want to at least have us defend ourselves, is how they put it. And its like, yeah, I dont necessarily disagree with all that ideologically. But like terms of service wise, its not going to go well for us. Id rather have the platform than not. And also, I prefer nonviolent solutions over violent solutions, just about any day. Doreen: Between 60 and 70 K new people per week, still top 10 comments in days and posts for three months now. Comments per day are at all time highs and were in the top five for most of December.

Staggering numbers. (And a lot of work for a moderator, too. Moderation is work!)

Doreen: We are a radical, anti-thought tearing leftist movement. Were not nonpolitical. We very much have concrete demands about capitalism and subverting it. Were not all anarchists and communists, necessarily. You know, there are Social Democrats and people from more liberal backgrounds and stuff like that. Were pretty big tent. But I think generally, you know, were very anti-authoritarian at our core and really want to undermine capitalism as much as possible.

Im not here to expound Fords ideology. However, Ford is clearly a thoughtful person, and for whatever reason, the Fox interview caused them to melt down, in an enormous self-own for Ford personally, and more importantly the community. People had every right to be ticked off. But there but for the grace of god go I. The same would have happened to me, I am sure.

Conclusion

A few thoughts on the internal contradictions in r/antiwork, how FOX sharpened them, and how the controversy resolved them.

In the end, few or not enough Redditors came to Fords defense, and they were removed as a moderator. Partly, thats because Ford chose to represent r/antiwork without being selected or elected in any way. More fundamently, the subreddits base and leadership were in contradiction with each other, as user No-Garlic-1739 pointed out:

In part, this is a not-unexpected (I wont say natural) phenomenon on Reddit, and a result of scaling; those impressive numbers I keep commenting upon. From Forbes:

On Reddit, subreddits often shift in tone as they increase in popularity, as regular users become drowned out by a rapid influx of visitors, and clout-chasers post oversimplified or inflammatory content; inevitably, radical and niche spaces become oversaturated, and therefore, subdued. The antiwork subreddit has changed since its inception, building a userbase that is not opposed to the idea of work, but opposed to worker exploitation.

But the result was a split with which, well, students of Bolshevism will be very familiar. The reformists split from the revolutionaries. From Business Insider:

A new subreddit r/WorkReform has gathered more than 300,000 members a day after it was formed. However, many longstanding members [had] expressed frustration about how the movement is often misrepresented as being anti-work and promoting laziness, rather than as a platform to discuss and change exploitative labor practices.

Hence, as so often happens, the reformers were happy to join a dogpile precipitated by reactionaries. So it goes!

It will be interesting to see how the now-parallel work Subreddits fare, and how they compete with each other. Will the reformers make a real world impact? Bordieu introduces the interesting idea of social technology, which, being action, is quite different from messaging:

What is at issue is what we might call a social technology. or a technique of action in the social world [T]here are inventions in the social world, as elsewhere. Max Webt makes a point of the fact that the popular jury, with which we are so familiar that we dont even think about it, was a great invention in the history of law. It completely changed the structure of the judicial field.

Here are some of the social tecnhologies r/antiwork originated:

Most of the viral posts on the subreddit over the last few months have been from workers who have told their bosses to fuck off, people calling for solidarity during unionization efforts and strikes, people who have automated their jobs and used the free time to pursue their hobbies, or posts about worker exploitation. A few times the members of the subreddit also organized labor actions that had consequences off Reddit. Members organized a boycott on Black Friday and the spamming of Kelloggs job portal with fake applications for scab positions to replace striking workers during a work stoppage at its cereal plants last year. Users also spammed receipt printers around the world with anti-work manifestos.

I loved the japery of the receipt printers. Still, when one thinks of the truckers currently blocking roads in Ottawa, or of the Capitol seizure, its hard to conclude anything other than that the right is making more effective use of social technology than the left (if I may file anarchists with the left). Interesting times.

NOTES

[1] There are also some personal assaults on Fords character, but I dont have the time or energy to sort them. Suffice to say that discussing real life relationships on Facebook  if these indeed happened; digital evidence is not evidence  shows a charming naivete. Id also say that anybody whos moderated as long as Ford has isnt weak, stupid, or ineffective. Moderators like that get rapidly weeded out.
Yves here. Nothing like an unflattering historical reference to frame an update about the state of play between Russia and the US over Ukraine. After all, the US armed services do have a certain fondness for pursuing the sort of ideas a Brit would call unsound way beyond the kicking the tires phase, see for instance, The Men Who Stare at Goats.

Note how the EU, which would suffer the most collateral damage, still does not seem to have a seat at the table despite the Europeans staging parallel talks with Russia and Ukraine. From France24 on January 26:

Advisors to the heads of state of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to uphold a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine after holding talks in Paris. The negotiations to defuse the crisis came as the US and NATO delivered written responses to Moscows raft of security demands for the region. In a joint communique released after eight hours of talks in Paris, representatives of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany supported an unconditional compliance with the ceasefire regardless of differences on other issues related to the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Minsk agreement, signed in September 2014, was aimed at stopping the fighting in eastern Ukraine, but failed. However, the four countries that make up the so-called Normandy Format agreed that the accord formed the basis for any future resolution to the conflict.

Interestingly, Times of Israel has a fresh story based on an interview with former CIA analyst, now TV writer and producer Joseph Weisberg. Weisberg was a former Russia hawk, so his current thinking is instructive. He contends that the US tricked Russian with its promised that NATO would not expand further east, and the US has not exhibited any empathy towards Russia, which is understandably touchy about having missiles on its doorsteps. He argues for negotiations and reducing economic sanctions would be more effective than brinksmanship. Weisberg also has very harsh words for what passes as intelligence and espionage.

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

During the US Army invasion of Morocco and Algeria in 1943, enroute to the invasion of Italy, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), as the CIA was called then, came up with the donkey turd bomb for destroying the enemy. Since 2014, the CIA has come up with the modern equivalent  its called the Ukrainian bomb. The first was designed to kill Germans. The second is designed to kill Russians. Both of them, donkey turds and Ukrainians, are failing to hit their mark.

The donkey turd was the name and brainchild of a Harvard professor called Carleton Coon. In designing an American version of an improvised explosive device, Coon said that because donkey turds were more common on the ground in Morocco than stones, bombs would be more effectively disguised to look like donkey turds.

The US didnt fight any Germans in Morocco or Algeria. The US invasion promised the Arabs their national sovereignty and independence   President Franklin Roosevelt was explicit on the point  but that was a calculated deception. The territories were returned to the French. After the US invasions of Italy, then France, the locals were again promised their national sovereignty and independence, but that too was an American deception. The territories were returned to those who accepted the terms of US occupation. They continue in their capitulation to this day, but the terms have been modified according to the American principle of US-directed and managed collective security. The North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) is the main organisation for implementing this.

The defeated Germans, half of them to start with, retreated back into the territory from which they had come, the western half of Germany that is, between 1946 and 1990. The Soviet Army had defeated the Germans who had invaded the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, and driven them back to the Berlin checkpoint. Until the Soviet terms were modified by Mikhail Gorbachev to accept Soviet withdrawal from eastern Germany, this is the way collective security operated in Europe  two opposing alliance forces confronting each other but deterring an attack from either side.

Gorbachev retreated on the US promise that NATO wouldnt move forward. It was a promise Gorbachev was a fool to believe. He only had to ask the Moroccans or Algerians whether the Americans keep their promises, and he would have been told they dont. He wanted to believe otherwise. His successor Boris Yeltsin was just as ready to believe American deceptions until NATO invaded and bombed Serbia; both Gorbachev and Yeltsin believed they depended on the Americans to keep their power in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin tried to believe the promises until 2014 when the war to advance US occupation to the Russian frontier began in earnest. At that border, there is nowhere but inside Russia for the Russians to retreat to, just as they had when the Germans invaded in 1941. Putin announced there was no retreat in his speech to the Russian officer corps last month. This marked the end of his accommodations with the advancing NATO forces and US nuclear warheads.

In the line of this advance, the Russian Foreign Ministry proposed two treaties on the principle of indivisible security in Europe. This principle means that one state cannot, and promises it will not, increase its military capacities in such a way as to threaten the security of a neighbouring state in the same geopolitical space. The treaties have also proposed there will be no more donkey turd bombs  no more Ukrainian, Romanian, Polish and other nuclear-armed missiles within close range of Russias capital, military command control centres, and land-based nuclear missile bases.

The principle of indivisible security, aka Russian self-defence, now confronts the principle of collective security, aka NATO forward defence, along a red line which runs from the Baltic Sea southward down the eastern Ukrainian border to the Black Sea, to Romania and the other littoral states, including Turkey. On Thursday the US rejected indivisible security, and thus the two draft treaties. On Friday, at a 90-minute radio interview in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained why the conflict of the two security principles cannot result in a Russian retreat.*

This fight is now the last stand for the American empire in Europe which began with the donkey turd bomb 79 years ago.

Lavrovs speech reveals that from the history of that period, from the destruction of Arab sovereignty, and through the destruction of European sovereignty, and through the near- destruction of Russian sovereignty by Gorbachev and Yeltsin, the Russians have learned a lesson which they cannot now unlearn and from which they cannot retreat. No retreat  thats the lesson.

The Lavrov text provides a comprehensive guide to what happens next. Read the text in full. On air, it ran for just under one and a half hours.

Source: https://mid.ru/

Lavrov left out the timing. I would like to emphasize that the answer we have received is currently being studied, he said. We have already outlined the first estimates! Our response will be prepared. Proposals on the response will be reported to the President of Russia, and he will make a decision. We are still working out our line at this stage, including the steps I just mentioned.

Blinken has announced: I expect to speak to Foreign Minister Lavrov in the coming days after Moscow has had a chance to read the paper and is ready to discuss next steps.

The Chinese Olympics start on February 4 and end on February 20; President Putins campaign for re-election or succession has begun and concludes in January 2024, before polling day the following March. In this two-year interval, the US campaign of escalating pressure is expected in Moscow to be maintained; the Russian surprise measures in response must preserve the initiative for twenty-four months. In the Kremlin these measures are also political and personal survival measures.

What will we do if the West does not listen to reason? The President of Russia has already said what, Lavrov said on Friday. If our attempts to come to terms on mutually acceptable principles of ensuring security in Europe fail to produce the desired result, we will take response measures. Asked directly what these measures might be, he [Putin] said: they could come in all shapes and sizes. He will make decisions based on the proposals submitted by our military. Naturally, other departments will also take part in drafting these proposals.

Lavrov has provided the Russian guide to what has been exhausted already, and cannot happen next:

NATO has shot its bolt. Comparing the replies from Washington to those from Brussels, Lavrov said: the American response is all but a model of diplomatic manners compared to NATOs document. NATO sent us such an ideologically motivated answer, it is so permeated with its exceptional role and special mission that I even felt a bit embarrassed for whoever wrote these texts. The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will be replaced in September. Until then everything he says is advertising for a job in the armaments industry selling weapons to aim at Moscow; two weeks ago, Lavrov said Stoltenberg was shaking the air. The British candidate to replace him, Baron Mark Sedwill, is the author of the first Novichok operation in March 2018  the man who failed at neutralizing Sergei Skripal but succeeded at blaming Putin for the affair and at covering up the evidence of what happened. He, and the three women candidates reportedly running for the job, are career Russia-haters. The European Union (EU) has shot its bolt. It is not my intention to discuss our partners on a personal level, Lavrov noted, though there is much that could be said. About Josep Borell, the EUs foreign minister, Larvov said Friday he has been whipping up hysteria on the topic of escalation in Ukraine. A fortnight ago, he said Borrell was emotional and not very polite. Lavrovs spokesman, Maria Zakharova, added there are two J. Borrells: one is the one who speaks, and the second is the one who writes. Or one J.Borrell who speaks, but other people write for him. Both in style, and in language, and in the expressions used, these texts do not belong to one person. Its obvious. The only negotiating partner is the US, and it is incapable. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Lavrov has dismissed before as foaming at the mouth and displaying arrogance of the highest degree; for a psychological analysis of Blinken, read this. In the current Russian negotiations, the Secretary of Defense, General Lloyd Austin, is represented by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley; Austins absence is unprecedented; unexplained in the Washington press. President Joseph Bidens absence is of a different character; Russian officials carefully avoid commenting on the evidence of the presidents condition. Bidens political position is getting steadily weaker; the poll margin of disapproval is now almost as large for Biden as it was for President DonaldTrump:

Source: https://www.realclearpolitics.com

Source: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/

The Russian calculation is that for the next two years the US side will be increasingly nervous and internally vulnerable. War in Europe is not a vote-winner for the incumbent Democrats. Also, after five years of campaigning, war against Russia has failed to prove either its truth or its vote value to the Democratic Party against Trump.

Understanding what action on collective security and indivisible security falls between improbable to impossible over the next twenty-four months leads to this Eye-Saver conclusion. There is no longer any point in reading the mainstream media in the West, nor the alt-media of either the UK or the US. Their reporting, analyses and commentaries on the Russian and US sides are either guesswork or propaganda  shaking the air or foaming at the mouth.

At the point of no retreat, words no longer count. Only force.

______
Lambert: I agree that the sociological imagination should be cultivated. I am so tired of narratives focused on individuals!

By Rod Graham, Associate Professor of Sociology at Old Dominion University, and a writer and podcaster. Originally published at Alternet.

It is rather easy to lament the state of our country right now.

We are not wealthy. The US economy, despite the pandemic, has been doing reasonably well overall. However, income inequality is at its highest in 50 years. We are richer in the aggregate, but most of the gains have gone to upper-class families. The wealth gap is even starker, with upper-income families possessing 75 times as much wealth as lower-income families. In 1983, that ratio stood at 28.

We are not healthy. Around 42 percent of our country is obese. The Obama administration passed legislation to fight the opioid epidemic. It has only gotten worse, with New York needing to open overdose prevention centers. Before the pandemic, the life expectancy for white males was declining, with what has been termed deaths of despair.

We are not happy. Were still in the middle of a national referendum on racism. Racial minorities are urging us to atone for historical injustices and address contemporary forms of racism. Trans persons have quickly gained visibility, and many people are unsettled. Some are downright fearful. Powered by disinformation and conspiracy theories, large portions of the right are convinced white students are being taught to hate themselves by teachers, Donald Trump won the election, and COVID was created in a lab for biological warfare.

What can be done?

A popular argument is to fault the left. In particular, that the progressive, social justice-oriented woke wing of the left is to blame for many of our nations ills. Because of this group, we are discarding our commitment to reason and rationality, individual responsibility and equal rights. Because of this group, we are putting emotional lived experiences and group identity politics in their place.

A shift back to focusing on individual choice and personal responsibility will be the remedy, were told. Instead of Americans asking a nanny state for assistance, they should commit to personal changes in culture and character. Moreover, the purpose of government is to ensure individual equality under the law, not identify groups that may have been discriminated against, and then compound this mistake by discriminating against another group. A government that attempts to correct for vague systemic causes of racial or gender inequality will only interfere with meritocracy. This is unfair to people who had nothing to do with whatever phantom process scholars and activists have supposedly identified.

If we make this change, away from social justice wokism and towards the classical liberal values that made America a great country, the logic goes, we will be wealthier, healthier and happier.

Personal Troubles and Public Issues

I agree with the diagnosis. I do not agree with the remedy. To be sure, we need liberal values for our democratic, capitalist society to function. But I do not detect any real decline in those values. If anything, social justice movements are trying to extend rights to more individuals. And even if we had strayed away from those values, strengthening them would not address the issues I outlined above.

Instead, these social problems continue to plague us because of a lack of imagination  a sociological imagination. If anyone has taken a sociology class in the last several decades and remembered it, you may have heard this idea tossed about. It originated with one of the most influential sociologists of the 20th century, C. Wright Mills.

For Mills, the sociological imagination begins with distinguishing between the the personal troubles of milieu and the public issues of social structure. An example is unemployment. If only one woman is unemployed, we must look at that womans character or skills.

However, when in a nation of 50 million employees, 15 million men are unemployed, that is an issue, and we may not hope to find its solution within the range of opportunities open to any one individual. The very structure of opportunities has collapsed. Both the correct statement of the problem and the range of possible solutions require us to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, and not merely the personal situation and character of a scatter of individuals.

Mills sociological imagination is about properly identifying the social problem  that our institutions, laws and policies are at fault  and suggesting appropriate, evidence-based solutions.

Our wealth, health and happiness problems are not individual personal troubles that can be resolved by exhorting people to think or act differently. Peoples thoughts and actions occur within a given context, and we need to have more conversations about how we can change that context. This is what we are missing as a nation.

This is the remedy.

A New Years Resolution for Progressives

Many Americans see the problems we have in society as being about the individual and character. If you dont have money, you didnt work hard enough. If you are unhealthy or addicted to drugs, put the needle down, put on a pair of sweats and go for a run. If you are queer or Black, stop worrying about your group identity and focus more on personal achievement. What is this herd immunity these folks on CNN speak about? If you think you will get sick from the covid, take personal responsibility, and stay in your house.

This hyper-focus on the individual makes us poorer, sicker and sadder.

We should pay attention to how institutions, laws and policies create problems. We should look at our tax structure and minimum wage laws to understand wealth and income inequality. Drug and alcohol abuse are symptoms of a society failing to meet the needs of its citizens, not personal moral failings. We need to lean into discussions about systemic racism and institutional discrimination. Instead of looking at individual Trump supporters as somehow being uniquely misinformed or prone to manipulation, we need to take stock of our fragmented media environment and citizens lack of trust in journalists.

Lets resolve to use our sociological imaginations more in 2022.
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a striking new photo of the dwarf galaxy NGC 1705.

NGC 1705 resides approximately 18.7 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Pictor.

Also known as ESO 158-13, IRAS 04531-5326 and LEDA 16282, this galaxy was discovered on December 5, 1834 by the English astronomer John Herschel.

NGC 1705 has a super star cluster, called NGC1750-1, located near its galactic center.

The galaxy is a member of the Dorado Group, a collection of over 10 spiral and elliptical galaxies.

NGC 1705 is a cosmic oddball, the Hubble astronomers said.

It is small, irregularly shaped, and has recently undergone a spate of star formation known as a starburst.

Despite these eccentricities, NGC 1705 and other dwarf irregular galaxies like it can provide valuable insights into the overall evolution of galaxies.

Dwarf irregular galaxies tend to contain few elements other than hydrogen or helium, and are considered to be similar to the earliest galaxies that populated the Universe, they noted.

The image of NGC 1705 is made up of observations from Hubbles Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) in the ultraviolet, near-infrared, and optical parts of the spectrum.

Seven filters were used to sample various wavelengths.

The color results from assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

The data shown in this Hubble image come from a series of observations designed to unveil the interplay between stars, star clusters, and ionized gas in nearby star-forming galaxies, the researchers said.

By observing a specific wavelength of light known as H-alpha with Hubbles WFC3 instrument, we aimed to discover thousands of emission nebulae  regions created when hot, young stars bathe the clouds of gas surrounding them in ultraviolet light, causing them to glow.
(Natural News) What happened to Dr. Meryl Nass will happen to any other doctor in America that does not agree to parrot the governments stance regarding the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), according to both Nass and political commentator Stew Peters of the Stew Peters Show.

On Jan. 21, Peters had Nass come on to his show to talk about what happened to her when she started going against the accepted science regarding COVID-19.

Nass, a doctor from Ellsworth, Maine with 25 years of experience in medicine, is regarded as one of the countrys foremost experts on anthrax. She has been called to provide testimony to at least six different congressional committees and has also provided testimony to multiple state legislatures, including in Canada, regarding anthrax and other medically-related topics like Gulf War syndrome and bioterrorism.

All these distinctions did not protect Nass against state authorities in Maine. The Maine Board of Licensure recently suspended her license to practice medicine for supposedly spreading misinformation regarding COVID-19.

The Board concludes that the continued ability of Dr. Nass to practice as a physician in the State of Maine constitutes an immediate jeopardy to the health and physical safety of the public who might receive her medical services, and that it is necessary to immediately suspend her ability to practice medicine in order to adequately respond to this risk, wrote the licensure board.

Nass was also cited for treating her COVID-19 patients with ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. The suspension order even mentioned her calling the COVID-19 vaccines nefarious and suggesting that there may be substances in the vaccine that the government wants to inject in us. She also called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a criminal agency.

To get her medical license back, the licensure board will schedule a hearing with Nass to hear her testimony. But before this can take place, Nass has been ordered to undergo a neuropsychological evaluation by a psychologist specifically selected by the board. (Related: Anti-vaxxers, COVID skeptics labeled PSYCHOPATHS while murderous vaccine fanatics target innocent children.)

Theyre claiming that because she doesnt obey the Lord and God Tony Fauci, then Dr. Nass is literally insane, commented Peters. This is a tactic that they literally used in the Soviet Union, by the way. Soviet authorities said that people who criticized the system had slugging schizophrenia, and they stuck them in mental asylums.

And now that Soviet system has come to America, which makes sense because our leaders have basically the same ideology.

What happened to Nass is already happening elsewhere in the United States

Nass may be one of the most prominent silenced voices within the medical community pushing back against mainstream views regarding how to treat COVID-19, but she isnt the only one  nor is she the first doctor in Maine to be suspended.

Late last year, Dr. Paul Gosselin of Waterville, Maine was suspended by the medical licensing board for supposedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Gosselin was also cited for signing off on multiple vaccine exemption letters that the regulatory board found questionable.

In Texas, Houston Methodist Hospital, notorious for firing hundreds of employees who refused to get vaccinated, suspended Dr. Mary Bowden for supposedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19.

Bowden, an ear, nose and throat specialist, was targeted by Houston Methodist after she used her social media accounts to express her discontent with the hospitals use of COVID-19 vaccines and weaponization of vaccine mandates. She was also targeted for her support of ivermectin.

What happened to Nass, Gosselin and Bowden is still happening across the country, and more doctors who stand up against what Peters called the dominance and control of so-called public health experts will most likely also be stripped of their license to practice medicine.

More related articles:

Doctor tells patient: Vaccines are going to be stopped.

Since covid first appeared, doctors, scientists, microbiologists have been getting murdered  whats really going on here?

Doctors who disagree with the official covid narrative are now declared mentally ill and required to undergo psychiatric evaluations.

Leading scientists, doctors, policy experts say follow the science and halt COVID-19 mass vaccinations.

Canadian doctors: Government data clearly show spike in COVID cases after vaccinations.

Watch this clip from The Stew Peters Show with Stew Peters as he talks about the smear campaign against doctors speaking out against COVID-19 vaccines.

This video can be found on the channel Red Pill on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about the attacks against doctors that do not approve of COVID-19 vaccines by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

MEAWW.com

PressHerald.com

KATV.com
(Natural News) A Canadian trucker who helped organize the Truckers For Freedom 2022 rally involving a convoy of trucks and other vehicles nearly 50 miles long said on Friday that he and other drivers are being electronically tracked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus administration.

Whats more, the driver told Fox News Tucker Carlson that Trudeau is pressuring President Joe Bidens regime to do the same for American drivers, suggesting that both governments could then be trading intelligence on citizens in ways that will lead to more widespread electronic surveillance in the future.

In introducing the segment, Carlson played a video clip of Trudeau dismissing the massive truck-borne protest movement as nothing more than a fringe Canadian element before bringing in driver Benjamin Dichter, a spokesman for the group who addressed Trudeaus increasingly oppressive COVID mandates.

Weve seen Canada go from a country of Justin Trudeaus promises of sunny ways into dark authoritarian oppression and control, he said, as Carlson nodded in agreement.

We want two things: We wanna get rid of the vaccine mandates and the [electronic] passports, he continued before describing his recent experience with the latter during a border crossing into the country from the U.S.

Thousands of truckers in Canada have formed a convoy to protest the countrys vaccine mandates. pic.twitter.com/vFmr9GrDyC  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 28, 2022

The passportsthats a really concerning one, Dichter continued, explaining that the day before was his first time crossing into Canada in his truck with his digital passport (on his phone) since the vax mandate began.

I held my phone up to the border agent to give him the QR code  you know what he said to me? Oh, its okay, I dont need it. I said, What do you mean you dont need it? He said, Oh, your  phone already popped up on my screen and is correlated with your passport, the Canadian driver continued.

Think of that. So they know everybody whos coming up to the border before theyre there and theyre tracking them. Now, maybe its outlandish, but whats to prevent the government from introducing that across Canada and not limiting it to just borders? he said.

And you guys (meaning the United States) are getting it as well and you can thank us for it, Dichter added.

He went on to cite sources within the media and within government who have spoken to him and other drivers, saying that while the Biden administration initially had no interest in a scheme to electronically track drivers, Trudeaus government lobbied and requested the Biden administration to introduce this.

We dont know why, we dont know the terms of the deal. Are they gonna be trading intelligence back and forth between Canada and the U.S. tracking cellphones? he continued. We have no idea. But this is where were going if this does not stop. Thats why this is the line. This is where it ends.

In response to a question from Tucker about why figuring all of this out fell to truckers and not to the educated elite who run the country, Dichter explained its because regular blue-collar workers like him are left to deal with the consequences of bad policy.

He then recounted how he had spent a lot of time in Latin America and that even before the COVID pandemic, large swaths of Alberta and Saskatchewan look like a third-world country after liberal Canadian policymakers have left the regions once-thriving energy sector in ruins, in pursuit of nonsensical green energy referendums.

So now people whove had their industries crushed, their lives crushed, COVID comes along, and now theyre treated like insects by the bureaucracy, Dichter declared.

There is a huge political and societal shift coming to Western democracies like the U.S. and Canada, whose people have been abused by moronic elites making decisions for tens of millions of lives with consequences they themselves do not have to live with or suffer through.

Sources include:

WhiteHouse.news

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The mother of an Ohio University student who was forced to quarantine on-campus after testing positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) despite showing no symptoms is blowing the whistle about how her son was abused like a prisoner.

According to Margo Seybolt, her son Emanuel was locked inside of a cold covid dorm facility for three days at the start of the semester. While in there, he was deprived of food and exposed to actual sick people with symptoms.

One evening, Emanuel ordered food at 6:43 p.m. and it never arrived. He says he had to wait until the next day to eat, all the while being forced to listen to his dormmate cough as well as banging noises below him.

Seybolt voiced her concerns to Ohio Universitys Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations Gillian Ice, who responded, saying Emanuel was apparently treated appropriately, according to the states standards.

The established protocols at Ohio University are in accordance with the Ohio Department of Health and designed to keep the campus as safe as possible, Ice wrote in her response letter to Seybolt. I regret that this has been an inconvenience for him.

Why are parents allowing their students to be treated like concentration camp prisoners?

Ohio University earlier mandated that all students who reside in university housing take a Fauci Flu test prior to returning to campus this semester. Those who tested positive were forced into quarantine, where they were not allowed to leave their rooms except for approved activities like doing laundry or getting tested.

Students were allowed to order food from either Instacart or Doordash during their time in covid prison, or from the schools Culinary Service department form. The problem is that not everyone got what they ordered.

I didnt get any food or anything, Emanuel told Campus Reform. I was worried, like, what if this keeps happening?

While Emanuel did bring snacks with him into the dorm upon arrival, he says he had no idea how long his quarantine would last. It turns out that his lasted three days, but others may have been confined for even longer.

The morning after Emanuel ordered his food and it finally arrived, he was delivered two bottles of water and one Gatorade as if he was sick, when he was not.

He is saying he is hungry, isolated, cold, tired of hearing the person next to him coughing and the banging noises below him, Seybolts email to the school read.

Other complaints aired by Seybolt included low temperatures, inadequate bedding, shared bathrooms with sick people and loud noises all around the dorm building.

Sick people have to share a bathroom. People who arent sick have to share a bathroom with people who are sick, Seybolt added. I feel so bad for students who go there and feel sick. This is mental and physical abuse.

Emanuel also recalled arriving at his facility and seeing the blankets lying there, but having no idea just how cold the room would get, which he described as being around 60 degrees.

Seybolt also inquired to Ice about whether or not students in forced isolation are allowed to go outside and get much needed sunshine, or if they have access to water and electrolytes, which Emanuel apparently had some of with the water and Gatorade.

I will be letting many people know about this violation of human rights not only directed at my son, but everyone else in the dorm that reminds me of prison, Seybolt added in her letter.

Ohio University is named in a lawsuit spearheaded by the Mendenhall Law Group that represents 15 students and one faculty member of the university. It aims to challenge the statutory and constitutional validity of Defendants vaccination and health measure mandate.

More related news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

CampusReform.org

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) In the January 28 episode of The New American, Dr. Richard Urso talks about the Wuhan coronavirus vaccines, saying that the mandates are a scientific fraud. This vaccine has caused more death and more injury than every other vaccine over the last 30 years, he said.

Urso said that he has an 11-year background in FDA-approved drugs, and when the pandemic started, he and his colleagues went to work immediately, when it became clear by the end of February 2020 that the coronavirus was killing people by causing blood clots and inflammation. He said that they focused on what they could do with it, and started using steroids.

Historically, he said that people think in big categories, and when they look at the big categories, they find things that might work. In the case of the pandemic, it was pretty easy to think of anti-inflammatories, things that could stop blood clots. Then, they had to try to attack the virus, which is a bit trickier because each of them is a little unique.

But thankfully, we had six years of data on the Coronavirus families. And so there were some good lead candidates. And thats how we started. So at the end of the day, what I tell people now is cancer cells and viruses are very unique, they use our machinery. he said. And so we have to use a multi-drug cocktail to beat cancer and viruses. We dont use one single drug. One drug does not work because viruses and cancer cells are very good at slipping around things.

Urso noted that he also has a background in oncology, and the bottom line is those multi-drug cocktails, using multiple modalities, should be used to successfully attack viruses. And then you look at the downstream mechanisms of inflammation, breathing problems, blood clotting, and we have plenty of drugs for all those things.

In a separate article. Urso noted that his new favorite drug is cyproheptadine, which is used to treat allergy symptoms, blocking the release of substances that cause hypersensitivity pneumonia. He also advises the use of fenofibrate, which is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides with additional antiviral and antithrombotic effects.

Urso details why vaccines are not effective

Urso noted that vaccines are not very effective because they cause inflammation. They cause a lot because the spike protein is 95 percent of what causes COVID-19. Youre literally giving the spike protein, which is the most inflammatory portion of the 29 proteins in the spike and is 12% of the genome and it causes 95% of the issues. Thats not a smart strategy, he said. (Related: French drug assessment center says all four Covid-19 vaccines are dangerous, should be pulled off the market.)

Second, he noted that vaccines have lipid nanoparticles that are going to the bone marrow, brain, ovaries and adrenal glands. We do not need inflammation in adrenal glands, or bone marrow or brain or ovaries. For that matter. It doesnt make sense. Its a poor strategy.

He also went on to say that there are better strategies for vaccines. The COVID vaccines have inflammatory compounds, which is why they wanted the governments to stop mandating them: these vaccines neither stop transmission nor stop infection. This vaccine has caused more death and more injury than every other vaccine over the last 30 years. Thats just a data point. Its not my opinion.

Urso noted that one of his goals as a physician is to present the data so that people will have more information. Its a scientific fraud to say that vaccinated immunity is better than natural immunity. Its absolutely completely absurd and intellectually arrogant, he said. (Related: WISING UP: More than 1 out of 4 unvaccinated Americans believe experimental vaccines are more dangerous than COVID-19.)

Further, he believes that fear is part of the messaging in this case. Weve had really bad messaging, he said.

Other related stories:

COVID vaccine intended to reduce worlds population without anyone suspecting, says leading doctor

COVID shots intended to reduce worlds population by poisoning billions: South African doctor

COVID vaccine rollout linked to rise in deaths, according to published data

WATCH: Dr. Christiane Northrup explains risks of covid vaccine spike protein shedding

Matrixxx Groove: COVID vaccine is a bioweapon that is killing kids

Watch the full January 28 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

PRNewswire.com
Monday, January 31, 2022 by: Ethan Huff Tags: fascism , freedom , mandates , pandemic , protests , revolt , uprising , vaccines , walkouts This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) On January 23, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life participated in Defeat the Mandates: An American Homecoming, which seeks to put an immediate end to all Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic mandates.

This protest included participants from all races, political affiliations, ideologies and even vaccination status  meaning people who took the jabs showed up to protest the trampling of their unvaccinated neighbors rights.

It was a beautiful sight to see (you can watch a clip of crowds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial at the Childrens Health Defense (CHD) website). And the really great news is that this kind of thing is now happening all around the world!

In the face of escalating tyranny that seeks to enslave everyone under a system of forced vaccination, mask mandates and fascist societal dysfunction, freedom lovers are planning rallies, walkouts and other events to spread the word.

CHD is helping to facilitate this by calling on advocates everywhere, including at its state and international chapters, coalition partners and affiliates, to join humanity together peacefully for active engagement in the fight for freedom and liberty.

Help others engage in the movement, CHD says. Share information with compassion, empathy, and an open heart to bring others to the right side of history.

Our elected officials need constant reminders that they work for the tax paying citizens of this country and that many of us, if not the majority, want choice when it comes to what goes on and in our bodies.

Dont remain silent: Speak out!

CHD says it is important for our elected officials to not only hear our voices but also to see our faces and know that we are real people demanding real change back to the Constitution, which guarantees certain rights that are now being trampled by our overlords.

As long as we let them, the covid fascists will continue to press that boot hard on our necks. This is why parents, their children, entire families and even entire neighborhoods must join together to lift that boot off so we can all stand back up and live.

These representatives must see our faces, hear our voices and know that we demand choice when it comes to our healthcare decisions, CHD days. Parents and individuals should make these decisions, not the government. The tyranny ends when We the People stand up!

How can you help accomplish this? The first thing is to find the date for the start of your states 2022 legislative session. If your state has not yet commenced its new session, you can plan to bring yourself and your friends to the statehouse on day one.

Organizing locally will really help this effort to be a success, especially if not everyone involved has the time or the means to travel to the state capitol. Those who can will carry the banner on behalf of those who cannot, and hopefully the numbers will still be large.

There is also a Community Calendar at the CHD website that outlines when and where Worldwide Walkouts are taking place.

CHD also encourages people to use its free design templates to create promotional graphics for social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. CHDs Advocacy Hub contains educational handouts and postcards that you can use to interact with your community and your elected officials, as well as helpful guidance for how to do this successfully.

Never has there been a more important time to fight back and protect our rights to stop this tyranny and government overreach, says CHD.

More related news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) activism can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

FreeBeacon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been moved from the countrys capital in Ottawa as convoys of thousands of truck drivers stream there to protest his governments continued COVID-19 vaccine, mask and lockdown mandates.

CBC says Justin Trudeau has been relocated from Rideau Cottage for his safety, the National Post reported in a live update on Saturday, adding: Crowds are packing Parliament Hill today to protest the federal Liberal government, vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions.

The paper continued:

The sounds of honking horns are echoing around Ottawas downtown core. About 100 vehicles are idling around the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa, with more trucks and personal vehicles packed on Wellington Street stretching west past Parliament Hill. Hundreds of demonstrators are marching up and down Wellington Street, which runs right in front of Parliament Hill and the Prime Ministers Office.

The national flag is flying from some vehicles, or draped around the shoulders of some protestors, many of whom appear to be unmasked. Some are carrying copies of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Reuters reported that several trucks and smaller vehicles that joined the convoy were adorned with various anti-mandate signage including some that simply said, Stop The Mandates.

Local12 added that by many estimates, the convoy was the largest in the countrys history.

The   was reportedly organized to protest against the vaccine mandates put in place at the U.S.-Canada border, as well as mask mandates for truckers, which orders the drivers to wear masks in trucks, the outlet reported.

A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to support the drivers along their journey with food, lodging and other necessities. As of this writing, the fund had amassed more than $8 million.

To our Fellow Canadians, the time for political over reach is over, the campaign reads. 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.

We are taking our fight to the doorsteps of our Federal Government and demanding that they cease all mandates against its people. Small businesses are being destroyed, homes are being destroyed, and people are being mistreated and denied fundamental necessities to survive. Its our duty as Canadians to put an end to [these] mandates, the campaign continues.

The convoy left from British Columbia earlier this week en route to a Saturday rendevous in Ottawa, the Toronto Sun reported. The outlet noted that the convoy could be reportedly ten times larger than the world record.

Its 70 km (43.5 miles) long, said Freedom Convoy 2022 spokesperson Benjamin Dichter in an interview with the paper. I have seen footage from an airplane. Its impressive.

Indeed, several social media posts contain videos and photos depicting the enormity of the effort.

Theres a revolution happening right now in Canada that has sent their tyrannical PM into hiding. I hope it spreads worldwide.#CanadaTruckers #ConvoyForFreedom#TruckersForFreedom2022 pic.twitter.com/83DHJwBwGP  Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) January 28, 2022

The Canadian farmers are now joining the 50,000 Canadian truckers in their convoy for freedom towards Ottawa. #Canada #CanadaTruckers #TruckersForFreedom2022 #ConvoyForFreedom

??pic.twitter.com/U3H1tuwcGo  James Melville ? (@JamesMelville) January 28, 2022

Truckers in Ottawa park their trucks on Wellington St. Near Parliament Hill until mandates are lifted. #TruckersForFreedom2022 #TruckersForFreedom pic.twitter.com/46jjfD2UdA  ??Checkpoint News  #TruckersForFreedom? (@check_pointnews) January 28, 2022

The Truckers have arrived in Ottawa. City in gridlock. Testament to Trudeaus failed leadership. Symbol of People Power. The NWO/WEF Great Reset plan is failing. #TruckersForFreedom2022 #FreedomConvoy2022 ??? pic.twitter.com/kiSeIcaf2l  Mels Harvey (@MelsHarvey6) January 29, 2022

You know something is seriously wrong when Canadians start protesting in mass. #TruckersForFreedom2022 #TruckersConvoy2022 pic.twitter.com/wtocmlYdYs  govt.exe is corrupt 2.0 (@bumbaclot_1984) January 29, 2022

Trudeau may have to redefine what a small fringe minority is

Its stretching from Manitoba to Ontario!

#TruckersForFreedom2022 pic.twitter.com/n90afOqUOU  Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) January 27, 2022

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

TorontoSun.com

NationalPost.com
A new study shows that the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), an iconic African megaherbivore for which little is known about social communication, uses vocal recognition to manage relationships between territorial groups.

We found that the vocalizations of a stranger individual induced a stronger behavioral response than those produced by individuals from either the same or a neighboring group, said Dr. Nicolas Mathevon, a researcher with the Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle ENES/CRNL at the University of Saint-Etienne and the Institut Universitaire de France.

In addition to showing that hippos are able to identify conspecifics based on vocal signatures, our study highlights that hippo groups are territorial entities that behave less aggressively toward their neighbors than toward strangers.

Hippos are tough animals to study because it can be difficult to identify and locate individuals.

Dr. Mathevon and his colleagues managed it by working in the Maputo Special Reserve, Mozambique, an area that includes several lakes inhabited by hippos.

First, they recorded calls representative of each hippo group. They then played the recordings back to all the other hippos to see how theyd react to the calls of their own group (familiar) versus another group from the same lake (neighbor) or a more distant group (stranger).

They found that hippos respond to hearing a played-back call by responding vocally, approaching, and/or spraying dung.

Interestingly, the response varied depending on whether they were hearing hippos that they knew or ones they didnt.

The overall intensity of the hippos response grew when they heard a stranger.

The hippos were also more likely to spray dung, a territorial marking behavior, when they heard the sound of a hippo that didnt belong to their group.

When the hippos are in the water, they look pretty inactive, Dr. Mathevon said.

But these results show that they really are paying close attention to their surroundings.

When they heard the call of another hippo played from the shore, they responded right away.

The responses to the sound signals we broadcast were very clear, and we did not expect that.

The team now plans to learn more about what hippos communicate through their calls.

Well explore how they recognize the sound of other hippos and whether the voices give away other characteristics, such as size, sex, or age, the authors said.

The study was published in the journal Current Biology.

_____

Julie Thevenet et al. 2022. Voice-mediated interactions in a megaherbivore. Current Biology 32 (2): PR70-R71; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.017
(Natural News) Dr. Robert Malone may be described as a vaccine skeptic, but on his website, he shares that his mission is to ensure vaccine safety, make sure that children are protected, stops and/or limit the vaccine mandates, to identify and teach about lifesaving treatments for COVID-19 and other pandemics. In short, Malone says: My goal is to save lives.

Malone once researched mRNA technology but is now a vocal skeptic of the vaccines that use it. Recently, he also went on to The Joe Rogan Experience podcast to talk about mass formation psychosis, which he says explains why millions of people believe in the COVID-19 narrative.

Malone is among the speakers at the Monday panel discussion with Republican Senator Ron Johnson called COVID-19: A Second Opinion.

Malone focused on the potential of current vaccine policies to make it ultimately more difficult to save people from the coronavirus, by making the Wuhan coronavirus stronger than what medical science can throw at it. He shared, We are truly blessed, as I said back before Christmas, that omicron has such low risk for severe disease and death. However, its got a warning sign.

He noted that he is not the first to voice his concerns regarding the vaccines, saying that the Food and Drug Administration has acknowledged the same thing in their original documents that allowed for the Emergency Use Authorization for the vaccines. He said that they wanted the pharmaceutical industry to investigate the risks of antibody-dependent enhancement or vaccine-enhanced disease.

As the virus mutates, he warned that it will get stronger and will be more adept at adapting to vaccines. If we continue to pursue this universal vaccination strategy in the face of the pandemic, particularly with omicron now  a much more highly infectious, highly replication-competent virus  what we risk is driving the virus through basic evolution to a state where it may be more pathogenic and more able to elude immune response, Malone said.

Malone says weve had enough of fear-porn

He also said that he does not wish to scare people: instead, he wants to spread awareness. We have had enough fear-porn, but if we continue to pursue universal vaccination, the high probability is that what we will continue to see is the evolution of additional escaped mutants that are increasingly infectious and may well become more pathogenic. (Related: What Dr. Robert Malone could NOT tell Joe Rogan.)

Malone also said that following the science would mean moving away from the current public policies that give focus on multiple vaccinations, saying that it is absolutely contrary to all of the scientists understanding of basic viral evolution.

He added that they are clearly seeing the development of escaped mutants that are resistant to the vaccine. Omicron, for instance, is resistant to the vaccine, but its infectivity seems to be facilitated by the vaccine itself. Thus, he opined that vaccinations should be stopped for the sake of the global population.

While he notes that he is not an anti-vaxxer in any way, Malone said that he does believe that the shortcuts that USG has taken in bringing the mRNA and adenovirus vaccines to the market for the pandemic had been highly detrimental. He also believes that it is contrary to the globally accepted standards for developing and regulating safe and effective licensed products. (Related: Revisionist historians cancel Dr. Robert Malone, creator of mRNA technology in latest memory hole PURGE of truth.)

He also shared that he used to believe that the FDA, National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were working for the people, and are not part of big pharma, adding that if they could re-purpose already known and safe drugs for emerging infectious diseases, they could quickly find ways to reduce the death rate. He said, dismally, that he thought the drug and vaccine development was regulated by the federal government for the common good, but over the last two years, he beloved that they no longer represent the best interests of the nation.

Other related stories:

Dr. Robert Malone: COVID vaccines are permanently damaging children

Dr. Robert Malone: FDA, BARDA blocked the use of HCQ as a Covid treatment

Dr. Robert Malone now permanently banned by Twitter for telling truth about covid

Leading virologist and mRNA pioneer Dr. Robert Malone predicts Great Awakening in response to Great Reset

Before your child is injected, watch Dr. Robert Malones statement on child COVID vaccinations

Watch the video to listen to Malones statements:

This video is from the Cynthias Pursuit to Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates.

Sources include:

WesternJournal.com

MercuryNews.com
(Natural News) The entire global economic system under which weve all lived is rooted in artificial scarcity and control. That system is coming to an end. It is self destructing because it is based entirely on endless debt creation rather than productivity.

Much of Americas economy today is nothing but financialization activity  bankers, hedge fund managers and government officials creating the illusion of economic prosperity by shoveling around various instruments based on debt and derivatives. This is all achieved through the tyrannical, monopolistic enforcement of scarcity, making sure the people are forever operating from a place of scarcity rather than abundance.

For example, the entire medical system is based on scarcity and deprivation of medicine. The FDAs never-ending attacks on ivermectin, medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements is all part of a war on humanity to deprive people of affordable, abundant medicine that can save lives and end the covid pandemic.

Similarly, centralized money printing (official counterfeiting) keeps the corrupt, criminal government in power, while the massive money printing loots the masses of the purchasing value of their dollars. As long as the power to create money rests solely with the corrupt, criminal government, the people will never be free (by design).

Food and medicine can be created almost without limit, to feed and heal every human being on planet Earth

As Ive shown in recent podcasts, abundant supplies of food and medicine can be easily created through simple, low-cost methods. For example, sprouting broccoli seeds creates sulforaphane molecules out of air, and those molecules are natural medicine with powerful anti-cancer properties. This molecule also stimulates neural stem cells (NSCs) that repair brain damage caused by spike protein bioweapons.

Endless quantities of sulforaphane can be generated for nearly free, using nothing but sprouting jars and broccoli seeds. No person in the world need go without this potent natural medicine. Similarly, abundant food supplies can be created from low-cost, low-tech hydroponic grow systems that use no electricity, pumps or complex parts. (See my video here.)

Brighteon.com/84e7c505-bb66-4893-8fdc-18255c959212

If we strip away the criminal FDA, corrupt governments and artificial corporate monopolies that make people suffer for profit, food, medicine and even fresh water can be made abundantly and reliably available to nearly everyone. It is corrupt corporations and governments that suppress this truth and push artificial scarcity to profit from human suffering.

Much the same is true with money. Massive printing of fiat currency only seems to promote money abundance, but it actually causes scarcity because of the collapsing value of the fiat currency. The more money thats printed, the less value the money has and those left holding it will lose everything if they continue to hold it through the collapse.

The people of the world can create their own monetary systems and escape engineered money scarcity

What the phenomenon of cryptocurrency reveals is that people can create their own systems of money. We dont need corrupt, criminal governments and their complicit central banks to dictate what money were allowed to use. We can freely trade with each other using electronic systems or even physical barter-based systems. The so-called full faith and credit of the United States government has zero value. No informed person has any faith whatsoever in the corrupt US government, and the credit of the system is a cascading debt catastrophe just waiting to be triggered into a collapsing avalanche.

What if we created systems of money that needed no permission from the corrupt central banks? What if we launched our own gold or silver-backed regional currencies and used those as a means of exchange?

What if we simply withdrew our consent from the abusive, criminal governments of the world and stopped allowing them to run our lives?

Energy will be (nearly) free

Thanks to exciting developments in LENR (Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions), energy will soon be nearly free for everyone. Soon, you will be able to run your entire home on a cold fusion device about the size of a microwave oven. It will generate a steady 5 kW of power and will consume no inputs other than deuterium (heavy water, found in the ocean).

Electric cars will have these devices installed on board, so that when you park your vehicle, it automatically recharges the batteries while sitting. No more charging stations needed.

In an abundance economy where energy is nearly free, everyone will be able to live a comfortable life, steeped in abundance. Nearly free energy means food production is very affordable. So is transportation. Even housing construction becomes more affordable.

Yet it is the governments and corporations of the world that are trying to suppress LENR technology. They dont want people to be too free, it turns out. And there are all sorts of greed-driven benefits still owed to the weapons manufacturers who need conflicts over oil in the Middle East in order to justify their existence. War is the driver of profits for those connected to corrupt government, and scarcity is the driver of war.

If oil were obsolete, much of the justification for kinetic conflict around the world would vanish. Free energy means every household becomes its own energy source, and nobody needs to be connected to a power grid in order to function.

In the podcasts ahead, youre going to hear me talk more about the abundance economy and how the real revolution for humanity means not merely defeating corrupt governments and corporations, but making them obsolete.

Knowledge of abundance is the answer. So share what you know. Empower others to create their own abundance far outside the corrupt systems of control and scarcity that are engineered by evil corporations and government cartels.

Learn more in todays Situation Update podcast:

Brighteon.com/2d83b807-2c88-4baa-b2f1-f0a91a4d7ac4

Find my information-packaged podcasts each day, along with special reports and emergency updates, at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport

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(Natural News) As the weekend approached, there were more signs that Russia is planning an all-out invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which could become the trigger for the next world war if the hapless Biden regime and NATO dont play their cards right.

First, according to The Drive, six Russian navy amphibious landing ships have left their Baltic Sea port and are steaming into the Mediterranean Sea, ostensibly to take part in naval exercises suspiciously near Ukraine.

However, with tensions surrounding Russia and Ukraine remaining high, there has been concern that the amphibious flotillas ultimate destination may be the Black Sea. From there they would be well-positioned to support a potential new Russian intervention in Ukraine, the outlet reported.

Russian Navy amphibious ships RFA PYOTR MORGUNOV, OLENEGORSKIY GORNYAK & GEORGIY POBEDONOSETS heading east through the Strait of Gibraltar a short while ago #shipsinpics #ships #shipping #shipspotting @air_intel pic.twitter.com/yRfK0i1gWl  Daniel Ferro (@Gibdan1) January 27, 2022

The outlet went on to identify three of the vessels:

The three vessels from the Russian Navys Northern Fleet, the Project 775 Ropucha class amphibious warfare ships Olenegorskiy Gornyak and Georgiy Pobedonosets and the Project 11711 Ivan Gren class landing ship Pyotr Morgunov, were spotted entering the Mediterranean  via the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Russian ships were shadowed by a patrol vessel belonging to the Spanish Navy, as well as a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft, one of the sea services most modern planes for surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.

Two days earlier, a trio of Ropucha class vessels from the Baltic Fleet, which preceded the flotilla from the Northern Fleet as it passed through the English Channel, entered the Med Sea along the same route, The Drive reported.

The Russian military had previously announced that these amphibious warfare vessels would be participating in exercises involving several other warships including some from Russias Pacific Fleet. But as in the past, Moscow often masks offensive military actions with pre-announced maneuvers or exercises, as was the case prior to the Georgian invasion in August 2008.

Another Russian warship, the Vishnya class intelligence-gathering ship Vasiliy Tatishchev, has also entered the Mediterranean Sea, ostensibly to also take part in the exercises.

At the same time, with a focus on the build-up of Russian forces around Ukraines borders, there remains the concern that these naval maneuvers, as well as fo [sic] due to take place in Belarus, could be part of the Kremlins planning for a new campaign against Ukraine, The Drive reports.

These fears have been reinforced not only by the sheer scale of the Russian military deployments in the border areas but also the appearance of certain offensive weapons systems, including Iskander short-range ballistic missiles and combat aircraft, it added.

Meanwhile, Russias 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 Moscows military readiness, Reuters reported on Saturday, a further indication that President Vladimir Putin is serious about invading his western neighbor.

Such medical supplies, especially blood, which is often in short supply and must be kept refrigerated, are crucial to any invasion, especially given that Ukraine is planning to resist.

U.S. officials have warned for days now that Russia is in a position to launch an attack on very short notice. As soon as Putin has all of his pieces in place, it appears likely that is what he will do.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

TheDrive.com
Scientists in Switzerland assessed potential impacts of climate change on three of the most globally traded crops produced by many tropical smallholder farming systems, coffee, cashew, and avocado crops. Their latest finding offered a not so good news in the coffee-making world, by far the most important among these widely consumed food crops.

A new study shows that climate change impacts affect the biophysical suitability of plantation crops. Under a moderate climate change scenario, Earth could lose half of its best coffee-growing lands, even the world's largest coffee producer - Brazil. According to ScienceAlert, the country will see its most suitable coffee-growing land decline by 79 percent.

The new study's takeaway predicted climatic changes will most likely result in significant declines in suitable lands for these crops in some of the main regions where they are currently cultivated, affecting both growers and consumers around the globe.

Climate change on food and temperate ecosystems

Impacts of climate change on food had been widely studied before, mostly focusing on principal staple crops grown in temperate regions such as wheat, maize, potatoes and oilseeds. This provided climate scientists a "mirror" on the impacts of climate change on temperate ecosystems.

Their climate outputs provided a view of climate change impacts by 2050 on the crops both globally and in the main producing countries.

"We found shifts in suitable growing regions due to climate change with both regions of future expansion and contraction for all crops investigated. Coffee proved to be most vulnerable, with negative climate impacts dominating in all main producing regions," the authors reported in their paper published in Plos One.

Moreover, the study was able to examine land and soil parameters in addition to purely climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall patterns, providing a more nuanced view of future impacts that to growing crops in some tropical regions.

Also read: Over 70 Dead as Tropical Storm Ana Wreaks Havoc on Southern African Countries

Benefit to some regions

Studies reveal that climate change and its associated factors are more complex to a "surprising extent", in a way that its even distribution might benefit some regions of the most grown crops.

For instance, parts of China, Argentina and the US are likely to become more suitable for coffee growing just as the likes of Brazil and Colombia see their land become less suitable. With the "disappointingly sluggish response" of global leaders in addressing greenhouse gas emissions discussed in The Conversation, many of these changes may be seen for at least the rest of this century. Thus, it would be more convenient to adapt to the ongoing changes in the tropics than mitigate.

Climate change adaptation includes shifting cultivation of specific crops to different regions where climate impacts will be more benign, although no mitigation efforts could likely prevent many tropical crops to become more scarce.

For coffee suitability, climate change scenarios see a drastic decrease by 2050, however, modelling studies provide that it is important to plan new coffee plantations only in areas where coffee is locally adapted and requires a minimum of additional inputs and where there are no major environmental trade-offs.

Also read: Africa's 'Killer Lake' Kivu Hides a Deadly Poison Cloud Gas That May Erupt, Risk Millions
RICHLAND, WA - The nation's next facility dedicated to researching and creating clean energy will find its home in our backyard: Richland, Was
ikeGPS Group Limited (IKE) (NZX: IKE / ASX: IKE) is pleased to release an update for the nine-month period to 31 December 2021 (all figures NZD).

Highlights to December 2021:

YTD revenue of approximately $9.9m (approximately 53% higher than prior calendar period (pcp)).

Q3 FY22 revenue of approximately $4.2m (approximately 100% higher than pcp).

Q3 FY22 subscription and transaction revenue of approximately $3.3m (approximately 95% higher than pcp).

New contracts closed in Q3 FY22 were >$7m (approximately 180% higher than pcp).

YTD gross margin of approximately $6.3m (pcp of $4.3m), with a Q3 FY22 gross margin percentage of approximately 63% (pcp of 67%).

Total cash and receivables 31 December 2021 of approximately $29m, with no debt.

IKE CEO, Glenn Milnes, said: The Q3 FY22 period was the strongest yet for our business. The level of new contracts won in calendar 2021 total more than $23m, noting that these contracts are based on our customers entering into network projects and that the timing and delivery of this revenue is dependent on customer execution. However this level of demand and closed business is against FY21 full year revenue (to March 2021) of $9.3m, and as such provides us with a high level of confidence for the potential for substantial growth in FY22 (to March 2022) and FY23, notwithstanding timing risks around some customer projects as above.

Full commentary and momentum across the business is set out in the announcement.

Outlook

The substantial increase of new contracts won year-to-date points to a strong potential forward revenue growth profile. IKEs sales opportunity pipeline has continued to develop robustly quarter over quarter.

The month of January 2022 has also been positive in terms of demand and continued momentum. This has included announcements of:

Signing an extension to a contract with an existing communications customer supporting fibre infrastructure deployment in the U.S. This customer is expected to now generate >$4m of transaction revenue for IKE in the coming 12-18 months.

Receiving an approximately $0.9m contract from a new tier-1 North American electric utility customer. This revenue will be fully recognized over the coming 12 months and at this initial level of platform usage, the expected ongoing software subscription revenue from this customer will be approximately $200k per annum.

In addition to the product deals closed above, in January 2022 IKE was also awarded a $0.6m co-investment cash grant from NZ Trade & Enterprise to support the go-to-market program for IKEs AI Software solution, called IKE Insight.

IKEs focus for Q4 FY22 (period to March 2022) continues on three core themes:

The delivery of contracts to recognize revenue from contracts in place,

The extension of revenue opportunities from existing customers, and

Building further market proof points behind IKEs AI-software business segment, called IKE Insight. Certain pilot projects in process, if proven out, have the potential to disrupt the way that the electric utility sector completes network-wide structural analysis programs.

Customer and market commentary

IKE targets sales into North Americas approximately 200 communications companies, approximately 3,000 electric utilities, and their engineering service providers. Once a customer, IKE then aims to embed and expand the use of its three IKE solutions inside of these accounts.

As above, Q4 FY22 has started positively in terms of demand and revenue momentum.

Market tailwinds continue to support the growth potential of the IKE business in North America.

An additional US$60b of investment into broadband network development, as part of the Biden administrations $1 trillion Infrastructure bill, is additive to more than US$350b forecasted to be invested into fibre and 5G infrastructure over the next five plus years as a baseline.

Additionally, more than 3,000 electric utilities are needing to address the urgent challenges of network strengthening and maintenance over the next five to ten years.

IKE solutions deliver network construction and maintenance processes that are faster, safer, and to a higher quality data standard.

Please see the link below for details

IKE Q3 FY22 Performance Update

Source: ikeGPS Group Limited

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AMD has been given the green light by the Chinese government to acquire FPGA giant Xilinx. No formal announcement has been made, but eagle-eyed writers spotted the detail in an 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The deal was first announced in October 2020. The U.S. and EU have already approved the acquisition, but in late December, AMD said it had to delay closing as China's regulators slow-walked the deal. Then came the filing this week:

On January 27, 2022, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., (AMD) and Xilinx, Inc. (Xilinx) received clearance from the National Anti-Monopoly Policy Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation of the Peoples Republic of China with respect to the merger (the Merger) of Thrones Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AMD (Merger Sub), with and into Xilinx, with Xilinx surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of AMD, pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated as of October 26, 2020, by and among AMD.

But Chinas foot dragging has caused another headache for AMD. As noted by Serve The Home, there is a regulation called the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 that requires parties of mergers and acquisitions to notify the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission of a merger, and there's typically an expiration date one year from the filing.

The initial notification from AMD had an expiration date of one year from the original DOJ/FTC notifications, which was earlier this month. So now AMD needs to wait until a cooling-off period expires on February 9, 2022, before it can refile. The Biden administration has the option of waiving the cooling-off period but has not given any indications it will. But AMD has waited this long, a few more weeks wont hurt it.

Playing politics

The chip industry has been caught up in geopolitics, since China is a major market for chip makers (notably Xilinx), and relations between the U.S. and China are tenuous. China did not approve Qualcomm's proposed $44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors in 2018, which was seen as retaliation by China for the Trump administration targeting Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE. The process greatly damaged NXP, which is a Dutch company.

But China didnt deny approval, either. It simply said nothing, a sort of pocket veto. It has done the same thing with Nvidia and Arm, letting UK opposition do all the dirty work and saying nothing, which has dragged out that deal interminably. (Read more: Will Nvidia give up on the Arm deal?)

This has had a chilling effect on semiconductor M&A activity. In 2020, there were all kinds of big deals. There were none in 2021 because no one wants to be put through the ringer, spend millions on lawyers and legal fees, and have their business held up because regulatory approval is withheld.
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The obituary of former News-Gazette photographer Joe Wilske, who died Jan. 20 at age 71 after a tragic accident in downtown Urbana, made note of his most famous photograph  the one above, of a bulldozer working to free a freight train stranded by snow drifts on the tracks northeast of Penfield after a blizzard paralyzed the area 42 years ago Friday. It was reproduced all over the world and even found its way into the background of one of Walter Cronkites CBS Evening News broadcasts.
According to research, socially constructed differences in roles and responsibilities, status, and power between men and women contribute to differences in mental health, health-seeking behavior of those affected, and responses of the health sector and society as a whole.

Mental health. Image Credit: SewCream/Shutterstock.com

When analyzing the conducted research, it is vital to keep in mind that there are significant gaps. Male-female differences in some mental health problems, such as depression and schizophrenia, are better understood than other scenarios. Adult men and women are better understood than adolescents and children, and the situation in industrialized countries is better understood than the situation in developing countries.

There is a gender divide in the usage of mental health services. Men consult mental health experts less frequently than women. When it comes to general care, gender inequalities are more obvious, but they fade when it comes to an expert or residential care. This disparity in mental health care utilization between men and women cannot be explained by a lack of need.

Although there are no variations in the overall incidence of psychopathology between men and women, men and women have different symptoms. Internalizing disorders are more common in women while externalizing disorders are more common in men. Gender differences have been the subject of many theories, but only a few have been objectively tested.

Differences in mental health between the genders

Adolescent girls have a substantially higher prevalence of depression and eating disorders during adolescence, as well as suicidal ideas and attempts than boys. Adolescent boys are more likely than girls to have anger issues, engage in high-risk behaviors, and commit suicide. Teenage girls are more likely to have inward-directed symptoms, whereas juvenile boys are more likely to act out.

Women have a significantly higher frequency of depression and anxiety in adulthood, while men have a larger prevalence of substance use disorders and antisocial behaviors. Women also have a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders due to genetic and biological factors.

Some studies have found that mood swings are linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. The interplay of psychosocial and hormonal factors resulted in an increased risk of prenatal and postnatal depression. Women may also face significant psychological anguish and disorders as a result of reproductive health issues. Infertility and hysterectomy have been linked to an increased risk of affective/neurotic disorders in women. According to a recent study from the United States, adults with bladder control issues, a disorder more common in older women than older males, showed more mental distress and signs of depression.

Mental health. Image Credit: Cat Box/Shutterstock.com

The reason behind the differences

According to the social constructionist perspectives, gender differences do not reside in the individual but are actively (re)produced in social interactions. Men and women think and act the way they do due to cultural ideas of femininity and masculinity, not because of role identities or psychological qualities.

People have similar ideas about what behavior is acceptable for men and women and continually engage in establishing a perception of gender difference during social encounters. Gender differences in distress perceptions and health-care-seeking patterns vary from person to person suffering from mental health issues. Many studies in the United States showed that women reported higher degrees of distress than males, and they were more likely to perceive having an emotional disorder than men with similar levels of symptoms.

Emotional expression, health care, and asking for help are all framed as feminine traits. Men are expected to be emotionally stable and have a strong, independent, and self-reliant demeanor. As a result, men are encouraged to define themselves in opposition to women by concealing their own health needs and refusing to seek care to conform to the socially prescribed male role. Men may be hesitant to seek professional help because of this gendered role conflict, and they may fear increased stigma if they do. Men are more likely than women to prefer to deal with mental illness on their own when it comes to treatment. If they do choose to seek professional help, men tend to prefer a speedy and easy solution. As a result, they are more likely than women to seek medical treatment over psychotherapy.

Conclusion

A plethora of findings suggests that male responders, in both male and female participants, are less likely to acknowledge the value and helpfulness of psychotherapy. Additionally, when providing recommendations for a male vignette, male respondents are more likely to rank tranquilizers as useful than female respondents offering equivalent recommendations for a female vignette.

It is critical to research beyond documenting sex differences in mental and neurological disease rates. In different settings and social groupings, and at different times in the life cycle, it is necessary to investigate how gender differences influence women's and men's risk and susceptibility, their access to health treatments, and the social and economic repercussions of mental illness.

Additional research should be given more attention to finding evidence that makes it easier to deal with distress; the results should be used to teach these differences to the public, particularly at the community and primary care levels.

References:

Gouwy A, Christiaens W, Bracke P (2008) Mental health services use in the general Belgian population: estimating the impact of mental health and social determinants. Arch Public Health 66:5068

Addis ME, Mahalik JR (2003) Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. Am Psychol 58:51

Galdas PM, Cheater F, Marshall P (2005) Men and health help seeking behavior: literature review. J AdvNurs 49:616623

Pattyn, Elise & Verhaeghe, M. & Bracke, Piet. (2015). The gender gap in mental health service use. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. 50. DOI: 10.1007/s00127-015-1038-x.

Further Reading
In a recent study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigate whether the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant of concern (VOC) was more likely to infect vaccinated individuals than the SARS-CoV-2 Delta VOC.

Study: Rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is associated with an infection advantage over Delta in vaccinated persons. Image Credit: DOERS / Shutterstock.com

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 VOCs necessitates studies that analyze the impact of these new variants on current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and their efficiency in protecting individuals against infection and severe disease. With the increasing number of breakthrough infections, the Omicron VOC was found to be less effectively neutralized by sera collected from vaccinated individuals as compared to the neutralization of Delta VOC.

About the study

In the present study, the researchers analyzed nasal swab reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and calculated SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates for Omicron and Delta VOCs by the vaccination status of the patients.

A surveillance program conducted in Southern Connecticut in the United States detected the presence of the Omicron variant using sequencing and spike-gene target failure (SGTF) RT-PCR signatures. A total of 37,877 PCR tests performed using nasal swabs were collected. Along with each PCR test, the date and manufacturer of the COVID-19 vaccine administered, as well as the cycle threshold (Ct) values of less than 30 were noted.

The researchers then measured the test positivity rate for Omicron and Delta VOCs according to the vaccination status of the individuals. Test positivity results were confirmed by a logistic generalized estimating equation model that calculated the chances of Omicron detection as compared to Delta detection.

A surveillance program was also conducted at Yale University to study the local emergence of Omicron. A review of medical records was performed on the collected RT-PCR tests samples between December 12, 2021, to December 26, 2021. For each case, information like gender and

age of the patient, test date, test outcome, as well as the manufacturer and date of each COVID-19 vaccine administration were collected. The number of positive rates for each variant, positivity rate doubling time for each variant, and Ct value of each nasal swab sample were the primary outcomes of the study.

Study findings

The results of the current study showed that twice the number of Omicron VOC cases were detected every 3.2 days, which was 3.7 times shorter than the doubling time of the Delta VOC. Furthermore, between 71% to 74% of the population tested were fully vaccinated.

Among unvaccinated individuals, the test positivity rate for Delta was 5.2% as compared to 4.5% for Omicron, while a similar trend was observed for individuals who had received only one vaccine dose. In contrast, Omicron and Delta VOCs had a positivity rate of 4.7% and 2.6%, respectively, for individuals who had received two vaccine doses in five months.

The positivity rates for Omicron and Delta were 4.2% and 2.9%, respectively, for individuals who had received two vaccine doses more than five months ago, while the rates were 2.2% and 0.9%, respectively, for individuals vaccinated with three doses. At the time of RT-PCR testing, 91.2% of the Omicron-infected partially vaccinated individuals were eligible for one or more vaccine doses.

The positivity rates for Omicron in individuals vaccinated with one or two doses did not significantly differ from that of unvaccinated individuals, while a reduction in positivity of 49.7% was observed in the case of individuals who had received three vaccine doses. However, a 45.6%, 49.6%, and 83.2% reduction in Delta VOC positivity rates was observed in the unvaccinated, two-dose vaccinated, and three-dose vaccinated groups, respectively.

Variant case counts, test positivity, and odds of infection by vaccination status.

Conclusions

The findings of the current study demonstrate that vaccinated individuals with COVID-19 are more likely to have Omicron infection than Delta infection. These odds consistently increased as the number of vaccine doses administered increased.

In individuals who were unvaccinated and were partially vaccinated with only one vaccine dose, higher test positivity rates were observed for the Delta VOC than for the Omicron VOC. Individuals who were received two vaccine doses had a higher positivity rate for Omicron as compared to Delta. Age, gender, or manufacturer of the vaccine had no impact on the odds of infection.

The researchers believe that the waning of vaccine efficacy was responsible for the rapid spread of Omicron. Despite the higher number of Omicron infections in vaccinated individuals, the study reported sufficient vaccine efficacy against severe disease.

*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.
About 40% of people living with psoriasis have had delays to psoriasis treatment and care from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study posted to the medRxiv* server. People of younger age and belonging to an ethnic minority group were more likely to be affected by these disruptions to care.

Study: Vaccine hesitancy and access to psoriasis care in the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a global patient-reported cross-sectional survey. Image Credit: Fuss Sergey/Shutterstock.com

Interestingly, being younger and from an ethnic minority group was associated with higher COVID-19 hesitancy among people with psoriasis and is consistent with the demographic of vaccine-hesitant people in the general population. People who were vaccine-hesitant cited concerns about the vaccine being developed so quickly and vaccine side effects potentially worsening their psoriasis.

People with psoriasis are at a high risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms because of their frequent use of immunosuppressive medication. Understanding the disruption of psoriasis care brought on from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on vaccine hesitancy may help doctors in their conversations with vaccine-hesitant patients.

Identification of disenfranchised individuals and addressing their concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine will help to mitigate risks from the ongoing pandemic, concluded the research team.

Study design and data collection

Starting on May 4, 2020, the research team distributed an online survey called PsoProtectMe for people with psoriasis via social media, patient organizations related to psoriasis, and clinical networks.

The team modified the questionnaire on May 2021 to ask questions about their views on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on psoriasis care and their perspective on the immunosuppressant-associated risks of taking any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The questions were designed for people to self-report their level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the factors contributing to this decision ranging from concerns over the materials in the vaccine to feeling protected after recovering from a COVID-19 infection.

70 years: n=59. (C) by treatment type; no systemic therapy: n=419; standard systemic therapy: n=113; targeted therapy: n=212. (D) by ethnicity; white: n=579; non-white: n=76." class="rounded-img" src="https://www.news-medical.net/images/news/ImageForNews_703009_1643602113562503.jpg" style="width: 1280px; height: 820px;" title="">

Extent to which participants feel their psoriasis care has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (A) overall count. (B) by age group; <31 years: n=100, 31-50 years: n=228, 51-70 years: n=271, >70 years: n=59. (C) by treatment type; no systemic therapy: n=419; standard systemic therapy: n=113; targeted therapy: n=212. (D) by ethnicity; white: n=579; non-white: n=76.

Younger people experienced more barriers to care during the COVID-19 pandemic

A total of 802 individuals with psoriasis completed the survey. The research team collected responses from 89 countries  with 69% coming from the United Kingdom  and 81.7% of people included demographic information.

About 40 percent of people reported disruptions to their psoriasis care. People who were younger, at a median age of 44, were more likely to experience delays in treatment than older individuals (average age being 54 years). Being of a non-white ethnicity was also associated with limited access to psoriasis care.

70 years: n=58. (C) by treatment; no systemic therapy: n=406; standard systemic therapy: n=110; targeted therapy: n=207. (D) by ethnicity; white: n=559; non-white: n=70. (E) reasons for vaccine hesitancy." class="rounded-img" src="https://www.news-medical.net/images/news/ImageForNews_703009_16436021624525770.jpg" style="width: 1047px; height: 1280px;" title="">

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. (A) overall count. (B) by age group; <31 years: n=93; 31-50 years: n=219; 51-70 years: n=261; >70 years: n=58. (C) by treatment; no systemic therapy: n=406; standard systemic therapy: n=110; targeted therapy: n=207. (D) by ethnicity; white: n=559; non-white: n=70. (E) reasons for vaccine hesitancy.

People who experienced problems accessing psoriasis care had a shorter duration with psoriasis  likely because of their age  and more severe psoriasis symptoms.

While a majority of survey takers were taking similar amounts of systemic medications, those who had targeted immunosuppressant therapies experienced more medical disruptions.

Increased risk perception for severe COVID-19 infection

A section of the survey involved asking people how concerned they were about getting sick from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and how they felt about their medication affecting COVID-19 recovery.

About 325 individuals reported taking immunosuppressive medication, and more than half of them (55.1%) said they felt their medication  the majority being targeted therapy  made them more susceptible to getting sick. Additionally, 56.3% said their medication would make it difficult to recover from a COVID-19 infection.

During the COVID-19 infection, 35% were prescribed systemic therapy and 65% were prescribed targeted therapy alone or in combination with other therapies. About 17% stopped their treatment during the pandemic.

Concerns over side effects from COVID-19 vaccine

Of the 755 people who answered questions on COVID-19 vaccines, 80.9% said they had received at least one vaccine dose. In vaccinated people with psoriasis, 16.2% reported their psoriasis got worse after immunization, with more than half saying changes occurred within two weeks.

There were 8.3% of people with psoriasis who refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine or not planning to take it. Vaccine-hesitant people were more likely to be younger, have lower BMI, or have shorter disease duration. They were also less likely to take systemic immunosuppression medications.

The three most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy were concerns over vaccine side effects, the vaccine being too new, and fear of their psoriasis worsening after immunization.

*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.
A recent study published on the medRxiv* preprint server discusses the role of lateral flow device (LFD) testing in potentially improving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation policies.

Study: Mitigating Isolation: Further Comparing the Effect of LFD Testing for Early Release from Self-Isolation for COVID-19 Cases. Image Credit: Ian Gessey / Shutterstock.com

Background

The most recent global surge of COVID-19 cases, which is driven by the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, has once again strained public health systems. The Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant was first detected and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24, 2021, by South African researchers.

Since its original discovery, over 30 mutations in the B.1.1.529 variant have been reported, a majority of which are present within the spike (S) protein that is critical for host cell entry. The alarming number of mutated sites within the S protein is largely responsible for the rapid spread of the Omicron characterized by increased binding affinity to host receptors and immune-evasive traits.

In the United Kingdom (U.K.), the first Omicron case was confirmed on November 27, 2021. Within a month, over 159,900 Omicron cases were identified in the U.K.

This record number of cases raised alarms over existing self-isolation policies and their impact on labor shortages, supply chain constraints, and economic effects. As a result, there was a growing need to address concerns to avert adverse effects on the economy.

Previously, LFDs have been used to observe the status of infected individuals to tailor the self-isolation period based on LFD test results.

About the study

In the current study, the researchers extrapolated their previous findings and analyzed potential policies aimed at mitigating the self-isolation period. The authors discuss and compare the possible risks and benefits of using a single negative LFD test with multiple consecutive negative LFD results to allow early release from isolation.

The model employed in the current study simulates 500,000 individuals with an assumption that all of them were infected with SARS-CoV-2 at some point. To this end, a random infectious period (t inf in days) is assigned to each individual sampled from a gamma distribution.

At time (t) = 0, individuals were considered positive for COVID-19, either with testing or symptomatic development and commenced their pre-defined self-isolation period. The time point of t = 0 coincided with the start of the infectious period.

Infected individuals were permitted to regularly take LFD tests at the 24-hour interval following an initial isolation burn-in period for up to a maximum of ten days after the onset of the infectious period (t = 0). For each LFD test taken on day t i , the individual was considered infectious if t i < t inf and recovered or no longer infectious if t i  t inf .

The excess time spent in isolation when the individuals were no longer infectious (t i  t inf ) was calculated, as well as the time they remained infectious (t inf - t i ) after release.

Study findings

Several scenarios were generated where the initial burn-in period was five days that required a single negative LFD result as compared to four and three days of burn-in. These latter days required two and three consecutive LFD negative results to be released early from isolation, respectively.

The researchers found that an individual in five days of isolation before taking LFD tests would, on average, be infectious for 20.4 hours after release with 40 excess hours spent in isolation. An individual with ten days of isolation would remain infectious for 4.4 hours, with 119.9 hours spent excess in isolation.

For individuals who received three consecutive negative tests after spending a minimum of three days in isolation before taking LFD tests, the infectious period after release was 4.4 hours, with 50.5 hours spent in excess during isolation.

Plots of average release rates at which model reported infectious individuals being released early for each considered scenarios, broken down by day on which infectious individuals are released.

Conclusions

The findings presented in the study reveal that with this approach of individuals released with a single LFD negative result after five days of the minimum isolation period, the release of infectious individuals could decline by 46%.

This was further decreased with multiple tests, which showed a 74% and 81.4% decline in infectious releases for two and three consecutive negative LFD tests, respectively. Moreover, a shorter minimum isolation period before LFD tests was associated with a higher proportion of early infectious releases. Nonetheless, multiple negative tests decreased this effect.

The current work demonstrates the use of modeling to implement a tailored self-isolation period based on negative LFD test results. Furthermore, this approach demonstrated that excess time can be reduced during isolation; therefore, the number of infectious individuals released early from isolation could be decreased.

Multiple testing was shown to be more beneficial than a single negative LFD test. As a result, the researchers proposed that two consecutive negative LFD results be implemented for planning a personalized self-isolation period considering the modeling results and cost of LFD testing.

*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
A new preprint study published in the medRxiv* preprint server found that nucleocapsid antigen in the blood (antigenemia) is a sensitive and specific biomarker for acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

Study: Nucleocapsid antigenemia is a marker of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Image Credit: Andrii Vodolazhskyi/Shutterstock

The study, led by Sean R. Stowell of Brigham and Womens Hospital in Massachusetts, also found elevated levels of nucleocapsid antigenemia in samples without evidence of IgG and anti-spike seroconversation. Along with an association for infection, antigenemia is correlated with serostatus and disease severity.

We conclude that nucleocapsid antigenemia is a promising candidate biomarker for 291 active viral replication  the definition of which is the presence of replication-competent virus in a host  292 recognizing that the available evidence points to this being an individualized process that cannot be 293 broadly defined based on a timeline, explained the researchers.

Identifying nucleocapsid antigenemia may help to identify people whose infections have ended or if there is continued persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It also supports future work looking into additional biomarkers that may be used to identify signs of SARS-CoV-2 viral replications.

Study details

Between January 11, 2021, and March 12, 2021, the team studied blood, serum, and plasma samples collected from routine clinical testing from inpatient and outpatient medical settings. Duplicate blood samples from the same patient were included as long as there was a minimum of five days between specimen collection.

Researchers used serological screen assays detecting the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid antibodies to determine a patients serological status at the time of antigenemia testing. Nucleocapsid antibody testing was performed with an ELISA.

A total of 2,367 serum and plasma samples from 2,101 different patients were tested for antigenemia. About 10.2% showed detectable nucleocapsid levels.

In the primary analysis, there were 2.1% of blood samples with detectable antigen levels even though these patients were never confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2. The researchers explain these patients likely were infectious and had a missed or false-negative diagnosis, further supporting a potential role for antigenemia screening.

Medical records were also obtained to record patient information on the use of mechanical ventilation, severity of symptoms, and date of death. Blood samples were labeled according to patients COVID-19 status level and category (convalescent, late-presenting, acute, preCOVID, and same-day negative).

Antigenemia is associated with COVID-19 infection

Plasma and serum samples from acute COVID-19 illness had higher levels of nucleocapsid antigenemia than samples labeled as late-presenting, convalescent, preCOVID, or same-day negative.

Having nucleocapid antigenemia in samples was 85.2% sensitive and 89.9% specific for acute infection. When excluding samples from people without COVID infection, sensitivity levels rose to 93.9%.

Ct values from positive COVID-19 tests were available for 49 specimens. Only 6 out of 17 with values greater than 33 had antigenemia. Every sample, except for two with Ct values less than 30, showed signs of antigenemia.

Antigenemia correlates with antibody serostatus and COVID-19 severity

Nucleocapsid levels differed from seronegative samples compared to seropositive samples for For nucleocapsid IgG, RBD IgG, RBD IgA, and RBD IgM.

Specifically, seropositive samples were more likely to have undetectable antigenemia.

Nucleocapsid antigen samples were higher in people with COVID-19 illness who died or needed intubation within 30 days of sampling compared to those who survived or did not need intubation.

Nucleocapsid antigenemia levels were not significantly associated with elevated D-dimer. However, they did correlate with elevated CRP levels.

Study limitations

The researchers note that recording of symptoms may have been subjective and prone to recall bias. Because of limitations in community-based testing, some patients may have had SARS-CoV-2 before getting an official test.

Nucleocapsid-specific immunoglobulin may obstruct measurements of antigenemia in individuals who have seroconverted. However, it remains unknown whether Ig-bound and unbound antigen or unbound antigens are a more meaningful clinical indicator.

The study also makes the assumption that each sample came from a patient who is immunocompetent and that each patient had a similar course of acute COVID-19. Additionally, there was an assumption that no other external factors could be contributing to antigenemia.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which overburdened healthcare systems globally. Several jurisdictions reduced the load of surgeries to reallocate healthcare resources to emergency care for COVID-19. This hasty decision led to a staggering number of non-urgent surgeries. The impact of delaying such surgeries in Canada has not been fully explored, but it is estimated that clearing the backlog due to the first wave of COVID-19 may take up to 84 weeks to clear.

Study: It affects every aspect of your life: A qualitative study of the impact of delaying surgery during COVID-19. Image Credit: Photoroyalty/Shutterstock

Pre-pandemic studies suggest that increasing surgical wait times can contribute to poor physical health, increased anxiety, decreased social interaction, ability to work, and overall quality of life. Factors that referee the impact of delays in access to surgical care include patient choice in the delay and communication from healthcare providers.

There is a knowledge gap regarding the similarity between pre-pandemic factors delaying surgeries and surgeries delayed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the unpredictability of the pandemic, recurrent lockdowns, and shortage of medical facilities, delayed surgeries have also been on the rise. Researchers recently published a study in the preprint server medRxiv* to address this knowledge gap and understand the scope of the personal impact on patients and their daily lives due to delayed surgeries.

Study details

Researchers adopted an interpretative, descriptive approach as their methodological framework and used a theoretical sampling strategy for this study. They collected data to achieve a purposive sample of anticipated variations in responses from participants based on age, gender, type of surgery, and geographical location. The study population included patients and family/caregivers of patients in Alberta who had their surgery delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic response. There was an estimated 60-70% reduction in surgical capacity.

Survey recruitment was done through posters distributed through social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and local news outlets. Research facilitators who volunteered to interview the 16 candidates were female graduate students and a research associate with experience in qualitative methods, but not within the area of surgical care or COVID-19, who volunteered to conduct the interviews. The experienced facilitator used a semi-structured interview guide, and two independent reviewers analyzed the responses.

The mean age of the participants was 47 years, with the majority being women with delayed surgeries. Four participants completed their surgery before the interview, while nine did not. Final themes were determined by consensus among reviewers. The results were reviewed by the interview facilitators and three participants to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings and eliminate any bias.

On interviewing the candidates, the facilitators derived upon four themes causing individual-level impacts (physical health, mental health, family and friends, work, quality of life), system-level factors (healthcare resources, communication, perceived accountability/responsibility), unique issues related to COVID-19, and uncertainty.

The physical effect of delaying surgery has been previously illustrated in other studies, and data shows that it has only led to reduced life expectancy and deterioration in the quality of life, among other socio-economic constraints. Delaying non-urgent surgeries was associated with an increased cost to patients (e.g., increased pain, decreased quality of life) and the healthcare system. This study further confirmed that perceived physical health was compromised due to the delays in surgery. However, the physical impact was less prominent but significantly impacted the patients mental health and quality of life.

Uncertainty was the most prominent theme that connected multiple factors like job-related distress, mental health, and financial burdens. Minimizing uncertainty emerged as the most challenging in the context of COVID-19 because the pandemic has itself been extremely unpredictable. These findings highlight the need for timely, personalized, pragmatic, and compassionate communication to relieve some of the stress brought about by the pandemic, even if it does not imply a direct address of the pandemic and its healthcare concerns.

Implication

Studies like these suggest that careful strategies should be implemented to educate patients about the potential mental health and physical consequences of waiting for surgery and make them aware of the consequences. However, the method of communication and counseling should be optimized through trials. Healthcare providers and mental health support groups (e.g., self-management approaches and peer-support) should also be made aware of these consequences to potentially mitigate the burden of uncertainty and delayed surgeries on patients health.

*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.
In a few short months, states have gone from donating surplus rapid covid-19 tests to states with shortages to hoarding them as demand driven by the spike in cases strains supplies.

Last January, North Dakota had amassed 2.7 million Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW rapid covid tests from the federal government  roughly 3 tests for each person in the state of 775,000 people.

The state had so many covid tests that it donated a total of 1 million of them to Montana and Pennsylvania as part of a sharing program among states that formed when the delta variant was the dominant strain and covid outbreaks rippled across the nation in waves. But now that omicron has turned the entire nation into a coronavirus hot spot and driven up demand for tests everywhere, that system has been upended.

Some states are holding on to expired tests for use as a last resort. In early January, North Dakota was one of them, with a stockpile of 600,000 expired rapid tests.

"I want to make sure that our state is covered," said Nicole Brunelle, North Dakota's chief nursing officer. "The entire nation is fighting for these tests."

Jasmine Reed, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the state exchange program has stopped operating, and while federal health officials are working to get it going again, the timing is unclear. "Once covid-19 and its variants began to ramp up and more testing was needed, states no longer had a surplus to provide extra tests," Reed said.

By early January, some states, including Montana and Indiana, had depleted their inventory of rapid covid tests for distribution. Along with North Dakota, Florida and Maryland have held on to expired tests in hopes the federal government would extend the tests' shelf life.

The inevitable result: States have gone from cooperation to competition.

"Emergency management and federal assistance across the country is built on the idea that we wont have a need everywhere at once," said Ken Sturrock, a Colorado-based regional emergency coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The state test exchange program was created amid concerns that tests would expire unused. Federal health agencies built an online platform that states could use to relay what they had or needed.

Some states have gone outside the program to exchange tests. For example, Mississippi donated more than 79,000 tests to Pennsylvania in November, said Jim Craig, senior deputy for the Mississippi State Department of Health.

For the states that participated, the exchange program was effective in identifying and shipping tests to places in need across the country through much of 2021. Colorado, for instance, received tests from five states from May through August of last year, bringing in about 340,000 kits that were close to expiring.

Some donations went farther. When nationwide demand for testing diminished early last year, the Arkansas Department of Health couldn't find a state to take 300,000 tests close to expiring. Danyelle McNeill, a department spokesperson, said Arkansas donated the tests to India, where the delta variant was first identified, in late winter 2021.

Brunelle, North Dakota's chief nursing officer, said the state expanded access to its supply of tests to schools, businesses, health providers, and others, offering free kits and training to those who would use them. Even then, Brunelle said, the state had more tests than it could distribute before they expired.

In January 2021, North Dakota sent 250,000 tests to Montana. Demand in Montana was low at the time, but Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson for the state Department of Public Health and Human Services, said the state "did not want to turn down free tests" after supplies had been tight earlier in the pandemic.

That summer, Montana sent 51,000 of those tests to Colorado.

But by January 2022, Montana's supplies had been depleted. Health officials notified school districts that the pool of BinaxNOW test kits had run dry. The state worked through suppliers to order 650,000 tests and planned to start distributing them on Jan. 30. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, blamed the Biden administration, saying it had repeatedly failed to increase testing supplies.

The Biden administration has created a website where households can sign up to receive four free tests, and officials have said tests are expected to ship within seven to 12 days of orders being placed. But that initial rollout raised access issues for some of the most vulnerable.

In fall 2021, North Dakota sent 750,000 rapid tests to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. David Rubin, the hospital's director of population health innovation, said the hospital distributed those supplies to a school-based testing program in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Rubin said that without the federal platform, the hospital is trying to get more tests for the program through federal agencies but that the line for them is long.

"Were starting to imagine a world with less testing right now because its the reality," Rubin said.

In some cases, the FDA has extended the shelf life for certain tests, most recently this month when it put a 15-month life span on Abbott's at-home tests.

Amid the shortage, states have also sought permission to use outdated stock still on their shelves. Andy Owen, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Health, said that on Jan. 18, the FDA gave the state an additional three months to use 97,000 expired rapid tests that must be administered by a provider. That's after Florida got another three-month extension to use roughly 1 million test kits that had expired at the end of December.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released guidelines in 2020 that allowed states to use expired tests "until non-expired supplies become available."

New Mexico Department of Health spokesperson Katy Diffendorfer said the state told a school that it could use older tests after the school's supply dwindled to outdated kits. "They desperately needed to be able to test," Diffendorfer said, adding that the state would send non-expired tests as soon as possible.

In North Dakota, which once had an abundance of tests, Brunelle said the state was starting to see access issues this winter, especially in rural places. The state has been careful about sending tests out, even within the state. North Dakota stalled its program to distribute tests to businesses, which Brunelle hopes is temporary.

"Right now, we need to keep our priority with our health care system, our first responders, our vulnerable populations," she said.
Breakdowns in regulatory mechanisms cause iron to build up in the brain as organisms grow older, increasing oxidative stress and causing cellular damage, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal eLife.

This mechanism may explain some age-related cognitive decline and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to Hossein Ardehali, MD, PhD, the Thomas D. Spies Professor of Cardiac Metabolism and senior author of the study.

There is tight regulation of iron homeostasis in the brain, but it appears that this regulation is disrupted as we age. There are studies planning to use iron chelators in coronary artery disease and exploring these in the brain and aging is the next step." Hossein Ardehali, Director, Center for Molecular Cardiology, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute

As organisms age, oxidative stress increases in cells across the body. For one reason or another, cells lose the ability to detoxify reactive oxygen species, byproducts of normal cellular respiration.

The source of oxidative stress varies from environment to environment within the body, but previous studies point to one possible source in the brain: an accumulation of iron, according to Ardehali, who is also a professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and of Pharmacology, and a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

In the current study, Ardehali, along with lead author Tatsuya Sato, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine and a former postdoctoral fellow in the Ardehali laboratory, examined young and aged mice, measuring both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial iron throughout the body. The investigators found the brain was the only organ measured which showed an increase in both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial iron as the animals aged.

Next, Sato examined expression of genes associated with iron homeostasis, finding that the gene coding for a peptide hormone  hepcidin  was dramatically upregulated in the brain cortex of older animals. Hepcidin is a hormone produced by the liver that controls systemic iron homeostasis, but in the context of this study, brain-derived hepcidin's most important function is inhibition of ferroportin, a protein that exports iron from the neuronal cells, leading to marked iron accumulation in the aged brain.

"This is likely a key player in iron accumulation in the aged brain," Sato said.

The detailed mechanism of increased brain-derived hepcidin expression in the aged brain requires further study, but age-related inflammation and increased expression of iron-sensing protein transferrin receptor 2 may be possible regulators, Ardehali said. Increased hepcidin also may lead to increased iron in the mitochondria  more than the organelles can utilize  leading to buildup of iron and eventual cell damage. This finding spotlights a possible therapeutic strategy, according to Sato.

"If we can restore intracellular iron levels via suppressing this brain-derived hepcidin, we might be able to improve age-related cognitive decline," Sato said.

There are ongoing studies using iron chelators  substances that bind to iron and make it biologically unavailable  to treat coronary artery disease, and Ardehali said a similar strategy could be used in the brain, as well.

The wrinkle is in the specific compound: to reduce iron concentration in the brain would require a chelator that can pass the blood-brain barrier. However, there is an ongoing clinical trial assessing the effects of a specific iron chelator in Parkinson's disease.

"Not all chelators get though the barrier but one does. Exploring this possible therapy is our next step," Ardehali said.
The Government announced today that from February 5, it will adjust the virus testing and compulsory quarantine arrangements for people arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland, Macau and Taiwan.

For inbound travellers arriving on or after January 18 and have only stayed in the Mainland or Macau on the day of arrival in Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day, regardless of whether they come via land boundary control points or the airport, the compulsory testing arrangement will be adjusted to three tests to be conducted on the third, fifth and 12th days of their arrival. Among these, the test on the 12th day must be done in a community testing centre (CTC). The day of arrival in Hong Kong is counted as the first day.

This arrangement is applicable to people who arrive in the city under the Return2hk Scheme and the Come2hk Scheme, people who have been fully vaccinated and are subject to compulsory quarantine for seven days, and people who are not yet vaccinated and are subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days, the Government said.

As a transitional arrangement, if a traveller arriving between January 18 and 25 has undergone compulsory testing in a CTC on the 12th or 16th day of arrival, this person would be deemed to have fulfilled the testing requirements.

Also from February 5, Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Taiwan in the past 14 days will be subject to compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel (DQH) for 14 days, during which six virus tests will be done, followed by self-monitoring for seven days. Furthermore, they are required to undergo compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th days of arrival, with the 19th-day test taken in a CTC.

For non-Hong Kong residents travelling from Taiwan, only those who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to board a flight to Hong Kong. They will be subject to the same quarantine and testing arrangements as Hong Kong residents.

Regarding those who arrived in Hong Kong from Taiwan between January 16 and February 4, and are subsequently required to undergo the 15th to 21st days of quarantine in DQHs on or after February 5 in accordance with the original quarantine orders, the Department of Health will arrange for them to undergo virus testing before the completion of quarantine. If they obtain a negative test result and have completed at least 14 days of quarantine, they will be arranged to leave the DQHs. After that, these travellers will need to self-monitor from the 15th to 21st days of arrival, and get tested on the 16th and 19th days.

The adjusted quarantine and testing arrangements are in line with those applicable to inbound travellers from overseas announced earlier, the Government noted.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Increasing clouds with showers arriving sometime in the afternoon. High around 75F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Light rain with thunderstorms by morning. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
(Newser)  Update: An explosive case involving allegations of gang rape has taken another turn. The Supreme Court in Cyprus has overturned the conviction of a British woman who was convicted of making up rape allegations in 2019, reports the AP. The woman initially told police that a group of Israeli men raped her in Cyprus while she was on vacation. She later retracted the claim, then retracted her own retraction, saying she had been coerced into giving it. She was nevertheless convicted of fabricating the story and received a four-month sentence, which was suspended upon appeal. An earlier story from December 2019 follows:

An unnamed British 19-year-old made an explosive claim in July: that she was gang-raped by 12 Israelis in a hotel room in Cyprus. On Monday she was found guilty of "public mischief," or lying to officials about the rapeswhich she now maintains did happen. Inside a case that has been closely watched in Britain, Cyprus, and Israel:

The woman alleged that up to a dozen Israelis, who the New York Times reports were between the ages of 15 and 18, raped her on July 17 in the resort town of Ayia Napa. The AP reports she testified that she had been having sex with her boyfriend when the other men entered the room.

But 10 days later she retracted her allegations. Investigators said the retraction came after they noticed inconsistencies in what she said. She subsequently claimed that her statement was made under duress, that she got the impression she could be arrested if she didn't sign it, and that she "even feared for her life."

Cellphone video that reportedly shows her having consensual sex with her Israeli boyfriend was found on some of the men's phones. The BBC reports her lawyers say it shows the men ignoring her as she tells them to leave. In court, Famagusta District Court Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the video is what propelled her false statement in the first placethat when she learned of its existence she felt embarrassed.

Papathanasiou also characterized her testimony as "exaggerated, confused, contradictory, and incoherent."

The Guardian quotes defense lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou as saying they will appeal. "The judge has been very strict. He has rejected all the witnesses of defense ... We are planning to appeal the decision to the supreme court, and if justice fails ... we are planning to take our case to the European court of human rights."

Defense lawyer Michael Polak had more to say about Papathanasiou, per the Guardian: "Shutting down ... the production of evidence into the trial on a handful of occasions the judge stridently stated 'this is not a rape case, I will not consider whether she was raped or not.' We have found it incredibly difficult to follow this logic given that an essential element of the offense is for there to be a 'false statement concerning an imaginary offense' and therefore, clearly if the teenager was raped, she cannot be guilty."

CNN has this from Polak about the woman's alleged treatment by authorities when she retracted her claim: "She wasn't allowed a lawyer, which is against European law, she didn't have a translator, she was suffering from PTSD."

The Guardian reports the woman and her mother exited the court with white scarves tied around their mouth; each had the image of lips sewn shut and were created by protesters from the Network Against Violence Against Women.

Her sentencing is set for Jan. 7. She faces up to a year behind bars and a fine of up to $1,900.

(Read more Cyprus stories.)
(Newser)  The arson had all the markings of a professional job. In April 2021, somebody torched the nearly finished mansion being built in Montreal for Feras Antoon, a co-owner of Pornhub. As Adam Gollner writes at Vanity Fair, the massive blaze decimated the "Pornhub Palace" but left neighboring places barely touched. Two suspects were seen on surveillance video, but months later, the crime remains unsolved. The list of theories, however, is long. Antoon dismisses speculation he staged it himself to collect insurance. An enemy, then? Take your pick. Maybe an angry father of an underage girl whose video showed up on the site. Maybe someone exacting revenge over a revenge-porn video. The mansion was going up in "Mafia Row," so maybe it was one of the neighbors with links to organized crime? Or perhaps it was linked to the anti-porn movement on the "fundamentalist fringe?"

Gollner digs into all of the above in tracing Pornhub's beginningsthe origin story goes back about 20 years to Montreal's Concordia Universityand its many controversies en route to becoming one of the 10 most-viewed websites in the world. Perhaps the most notable controversy came via former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who accused the site (and parent company MindGeek) of profiting from "child rapes." (The site has since stopped allowing unverified users to post content, a big source of its trouble.) Much of the anti-Pornhub enmity comes from the group Traffickinghub, described by Gollner "as an offshoot of the evangelical Christian organization Exodus Cry, which has well-documented anti-LGBTQ+ and antiabortion origins." These "new crusaders aim to outlaw the commercial sex industry altogether," writes Gollner. Read the full story. (Or check out more Longform stories.)
(Newser)  The sun shone on much of the East Coast on Sunday, a day after a vicious nor'easter brought blizzard conditions to many areas and left more than 100,000 customers without power for a stretch that could last into Monday. Winds that had gusted to more than 80mph on Saturday died down on Sunday, and temperatures climbed into the upper teens and 20s as people emerged from their homes to dig out. The storm dumped snow from Virginia to Maine, but Massachusetts bore the brunt, with the neighboring towns of Sharon and Stoughton getting more than 30 inches, per the AP. Climate change, particularly the warming ocean, probably influenced the strength of the storm, atmospheric researchers said.

Most of the power outages were in Massachusetts. By Sunday afternoon, the powerless numbered about 40,000, mostly on hard-hit Cape Cod. No other states reported widespread outages. Utility Eversource said its Massachusetts customers will have their power back on by the end of the day Monday. In and around New York City, snow totals ranged from a few inches in areas north and west of the city to more than 2 feet in Islip on Long Island, according to the National Weather Service. Warren, Rhode Island, got more than 2 feet, and Norwich, Connecticut had 22 inches. Some parts of Maine and New Hampshire also received more than a foot.

Winds gusted as high as 83mph on Cape Cod, scouring the ground bare in some spots and piling the snow into huge drifts in others. Coastal towns flooded, with wind and waves battering North Weymouth, south of Boston, flooding streets with a slurry of frigid water, according to video posted on social media. Other videos showed a street underwater on Nantucket and waves crashing against the windows of a building in Plymouth. "I was around for the Blizzard of '78, and this one was worse. The wind was tremendous," Joe Brescia, 72, said Sunday, tears streaming down his face from the cold as he shoveled his sidewalk in Warwick, Rhode Island.

(Read more winter storm stories.)
[January 31, 2022] Nitin Jain Joins nVent as SVP of Strategy and Business Development nVent Electric plc (NYSE:NVT) ("nVent"), a global leader in electrical connection and protection solutions, today announced that Nitin Jain joined the company as senior vice president of strategy and business development. In this newly created role reporting directly to CEO Beth Wozniak, Jain will lead strategic planning and inorganic growth opportunities at nVent. He will develop new growth platforms through partnerships, alliances and acquisitions. "The electrification of everything presents exciting opportunities for nVent to enhance our offerings and further serve our customers. With his strong leadership and deep experience in the electrical industry, Nitin will play a critical role in leading nVent's strategy while also identifying inorganic opportunities to bolster our growth. We are thrilled to welcome Nitin to the nVent team," said nVent CEO Beth Wozniak. Jain has 18 years of global experience in business transformation, corporate development, program management and customer management. Jain joins nVent from Schneider Electric whee he spent the past eight years in progressive leadership roles, most recently serving as the vice president of strategy for the digital energy division. Jain's experience building and executing corporate strategy and leading business transformations will help nVent accelerate its growth strategy and build on its successful acquisition track record. About nVent nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world's most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of enclosures, electrical connections and fastening and thermal management solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF and TRACER. Learn more at www.nvent.com. nVent, CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF and TRACER are trademarks owned or licensed by nVent Services GmbH or its affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005634/en/

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(Newser)  The United Nations has received "credible allegations" that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces, and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban took over the country Aug. 15, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In a report obtained Sunday by the AP, Guterres said that "more than two-thirds" of the victims were alleged to result from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates, despite the Taliban's announcement of "general amnesties" for those affiliated with the former government and US-led coalition forces. The UN political mission in Afghanistan also received "credible allegations of extrajudicial killings of at least 50 individuals suspected of affiliation with ISIS-KP," the Islamic State extremist group operating in Afghanistan, Guterres said in the report to the UN Security Council.

Guterres added that despite Taliban assurances, the UN political mission has also received credible allegations "of enforced disappearances and other violations impacting the right to life and physical integrity" of former government and coalition members. Guterres said human rights defenders and media workers also continue "to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment, and killings." Eight civil society activists were killed, including three by the Taliban and three by ISIS extremists, and 10 were subjected to temporary arrests, beatings, and threats by the Taliban, he said. Two journalists were killedone by ISISand two were injured by unknown armed men. The secretary-general said the UN missions documented 44 cases of temporary arrests, beatings, and threats of intimidation, 42 of them by the Taliban.

The Taliban overran most of Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. They entered Kabul on Aug. 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country's president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled. The Taliban initially promised a general amnesty for those linked to the former government and international forces, and tolerance and inclusiveness toward women and ethnic minorities. However, the Taliban have renewed restrictions on women and appointed an all-male government, moves that have been met with dismay by the international community. "The situation in Afghanistan remains precarious and uncertain six months after the Taliban takeover as the multiple political, socioeconomic, and humanitarian shocks reverberate across the country," said Guterres.

On a positive note, Guterres reported "a significant decline" in the overall number of conflict-related security incidents, as well as civilian casualties, since the Taliban takeover. Despite the reduction in violence, Guterres said the Taliban face several challenges, including rising attacks against their members. Guterres said intra-Taliban tensions along ethnic lines and competition over jobs have also resulted in violence, pointing to armed clashes on Nov. 4 between Taliban forces in Bamyan city. In the report, the secretary-general proposed priorities for the UN political mission in the current environment, urged international support to prevent widespread hunger and the country's economic collapse, and urged the Taliban to guarantee women's rights and human rights.

(Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden on Sunday called for the release of US Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, reports the AP, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan nearly two years ago. Frerichs, a civil engineer and contractor from Lombard, Ill., was kidnapped in January 2020 from the capital of Kabul. He is believed to be in the custody of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. "Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice, Biden said in a statement to mark the second anniversary of the kidnapping on Monday. The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable. The State Department is offering a reward of $5 million for information that leads to the return of Frerichs, notes the Hill.

Charlene Cakora, Frerichs' sister, issued a statement saying her family is grateful for Biden's words. But what we really want is to have Mark home," she said. We know the president has options in front of him to make that happen and hope Marks safe return will become a priority for him personally. And, per the Hill: "They want to trade Mark for one of their guys who has been in US prison for 17 years." Biden's statement came as Afghanistan faces a thorny humanitarian crisis following the US withdrawal in August. The Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country and foreign aid that been flowing into Afghanistan largely halted, putting at risk the lives of millions of Afghans who could starve or freeze to death.

(Read more hostage stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden's plan to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court got a bipartisan boost over the weekend when GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham backed the idea. Put me in the camp of making sure the court and other institutions look like America, Graham said on CBS's Face the Nation. As Axios notes, other Republicans had previously criticized the idea of limiting the field of candidates. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, for example, suggested that the nominee would be a "beneficiary" of affirmative action under Biden's strategy, per Politico. But Graham rejected that notion while simultaneously endorsing one of the short-list candidateswho happens to reside in his home state of South Carolina.

"Affirmative action is picking somebody not as well qualified for past wrongs," said Graham, before mentioning federal Judge J. Michelle Childs. She "is incredibly qualified," he said. "There's no affirmative action component if you pick her." Graham sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Of course, Democrats don't necessarily need the support of even a single Republican, and GOP leaders in the Senate will meet this week to discuss strategy, reports the Hill. The outlet notes that this is the first time since Republicans ditched the need for a 60-vote threshold on nominees in 2017 that Republicans have not controlled the Senate or the White House.

Look, Im going to give the presidents nomineewhoever that may bea fair look, GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell said last week when pressed on the issue. And not predict today, when we dont even know who the nominee is, how I might vote. If all 50 Democratic senators stick together, the best Republicans would be able to do is throw up some legislative roadblocks to delay the nomination process. And "theres a decent chance of getting Republican votes for this pick," Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, tells the Hill. "I dont know how much Republicans will be on a war footing on this one." (Read more Lindsey Graham stories.)
(Newser)  Update: A federal judge has rejected the plea deal on hate crimes charges Travis McMichael reached with prosecutors. US District Judge Lisa Wood made the unusual move at a hearing Monday after protests from the family of Ahmaud Arbery, who said the deal to avoid a federal trial for their son's killers had been done behind their back, and would make their prison time "easier to serve," reports Reuters. Under the deal, Travis McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, would have spent the first 30 years of their life sentences in a federal prison instead of a state prison in Georgia. The rejection means Travis McMichael will now likely face a federal trial. Attorneys for both men have asked for more time to consider whether to change their pleas, CNN reports. Our story from earlier today follows:

The father and son convicted in state court of killing Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia have struck a plea deal to avoid a separate federal trial, reports NPR. The details of the deal prosecutors made with Travis and Greg McMichael have not yet been laid out in court documents, but a lawyer for Arbery's family says it involves where they will serve their time, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Attorney Lee Merritt says that in exchange for pleading guilty to hate crimes charges, the McMichaels will serve their timeor at least their first 30 yearsin a "country club" federal prison rather than a state facility. The two men were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after their state trial.

The DOJ has gone behind my back to offer the men who murdered my son a deal to make their time in prison easier for them to serve," says Arbery's mother, Wander Cooper-Jones, per CBS 47. "I have made it clear at every possible moment that I do not agree to offer these men a plea deal of any kind. I have been completely betrayed by the DOJ Lawyers. More details are expected to be revealed at a hearing in court on Monday. The McMichaels' federal trial had been scheduled to start next month. It's not clear whether the third man convicted in Arbery's death, William "Roddie" Bryan, also planned to strike a plea deal. The men say they thought Arbery was guilty of neighborhood break-ins and acted in self-defense. (Read more about the Arbery case here.)
(Newser)  Former President Trump made a flurry of provocative assertions over the weekend, both at a Texas rally and in a Sunday night statement. At the rally, he said he'd consider pardons for those connected to the Capitol riot and called for the "biggest protests we have ever had" if prosecutors "do anything wrong or illegal." Those remarks made headlines, and the Sunday statement is making more:

Anti-Pence: In the statement, Trump criticized Mike Pence and said his former VP did, in fact, have the authority to overturn the election results but failed to exercise it, reports the Hill. Otherwise, why are Democrats trying to reform the Electoral Count Act, he asked. "What they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away. Unfortunately, he didn't exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!" Trump wrote.

Rebuttal: Democrats dispute Trump's interpretation and say the vice president's role in the final count is merely a ceremonial one. "We're taking a look at the Electoral Count Act because it's an old statute and ... some of our colleagues in the House had tried to exploit ambiguities in it," Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren said on CNN. "But I frankly think the role of the vice president will probably remain unchanged."

Democrats dispute Trump's interpretation and say the vice president's role in the final count is merely a ceremonial one. "We're taking a look at the Electoral Count Act because it's an old statute and ... some of our colleagues in the House had tried to exploit ambiguities in it," Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren said on CNN. "But I frankly think the role of the vice president will probably remain unchanged." Familiar phrase: Trump's line about Pence might have been his most "explicit" to date about what he wanted to see happen, notes the Washington Post. Conservative Bill Kristol took notice: "Talk about saying the quiet part loud," he tweeted. "Trump here admits or rather boasts that what he wanted Mike Pence to do was to 'overturn the election.'" A Rolling Stone analysis also used the "quiet part out loud" sentiment in its headline, as did Newsweek.

Trump's line about Pence might have been his most "explicit" to date about what he wanted to see happen, notes the Washington Post. Conservative Bill Kristol took notice: "Talk about saying the quiet part loud," he tweeted. "Trump here admits or rather boasts that what he wanted Mike Pence to do was to 'overturn the election.'" A Rolling Stone analysis also used the "quiet part out loud" sentiment in its headline, as did Newsweek. 2 views: Trump's view about the vice president's power when it comes to election certification was previously laid out in a memo by conservative lawyer John Eastman, and CNN has those details. George Conway, husband of former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, counters in a tweet: "The Twelfth Amendment and the Electoral Count Act of 1887 already make it entirely clear that the Vice President merely opens the envelopes."

Trump's view about the vice president's power when it comes to election certification was previously laid out in a memo by conservative lawyer John Eastman, and CNN has those details. George Conway, husband of former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, counters in a tweet: "The Twelfth Amendment and the Electoral Count Act of 1887 already make it entirely clear that the Vice President merely opens the envelopes." Critics in GOP: Like Kristol, Republican Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger called out Trump for acknowledging that he wanted the election results "overturned." Kinzinger tweeted: "This is an admission, and a massively un-American statement. It is time for every Republican leader to pick a side ... Trump or the Constitution, there is no middle on defending our nation anymore." Cheney had a similar take, while GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham faulted Trump for talking about pardons for rioters. "I don't want to send any signal that it was OK to defile the Capitol," he said on CBS' Face the Nation, per Insider.

(Read more Donald Trump stories.)
(Newser)  The US Army Corps of Engineers wants to send a message to invasive carp trying to enter the Great Lakes through Chicago-area waterways: Welcome to Hell. The Biden administration has released funding for a project that will create a "zone of chaos" for the unwanted fish, Cleveland.com reports. Kevin Irons at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says one deterrent will be speakers in the water blasting noise designed to turn the carp. He says they haven't settled on the best noise for the acoustic barrier yet, but it will probably be white noise instead of music or boat engine sounds.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project, at a site near Joliet that engineers have identified as a critical pinch point for fish movement, will also include a curtain of bubbles rising from a pipe at the bottom of the waterway. Larger fish that make it past the bubble barrier will be jolted by an electric barrier. Authorities say mariners passing through the zone will be required to stay inside their vessel's pilot house to reduce the risk of anybody falling into the charged water. The plan also includes a flushing lock, designed to send floating fish eggs back downstream, and public outreach programs. Officials already offer bounties on invasive fish in Illinois riversthe rarest of the four problem species is the black carp and to keep it that way, a bounty of $100 per fish is offered.

The Biden administration has awarded $225 million to complete the design and engineering phase and begin construction. The project will have an eventual price tag of around $850 million, and authorities say it could prevent a huge hit to the region's economy. If voracious species like the silver and bighead carp invade the Great Lakes, "it would decimate the economic vitality of the region, commercial sport fishing (by) $7 billion annually," says Marc Smith at the National Wildlife Federation, per WTTW. "We are talking about a mega economic engine that could be completely rattled by carp." (Read more invasive species stories.)
(Newser)  It turns out the largest animal on the planet has a predator. Scientists have confirmed that a pod of orcas was able to kill and eat an adult blue whale, and what they observed was a gruesome scene. Per a paper published in Marine Mammal Science, scientists write that three such killings were observed, two in 2019 and one in 2021: the first by scientists off Bremer Bay in Western Australia and the following two by commercial whale-watching boats in the area, reports the New York Times.

It marks the first time orcas had been sighted successfully doing in an adult blue whale versus a calf, though the creature scientists observed being killed was a 70-foot-long pygmy blue whale, a subspecies that is a bit smaller (blue whales can clock in at 110 feet in length). The attacks seen by the whale-watching boats were on a calf and yearling. The National Post and Guardian describe the attack witnessed on March 21, 2019, in which about a dozen orcaseight females, one male, and juvenileswent after a blue whale. When scientists arrived upon the scene, the whale's dorsal fin had already been bitten off and sections of blubber and skin were missing, allowing them to see the whale's underlying bone.

Some 20 minutes in, the whale, "bleeding profusely," was slowing and swimming in circles. Some orcas then attacked its flank and head, sending the whale underwater. Per the paper, "While it was still alive, an adult female killer whale put its head inside the blue whales mouth and began feeding on its tongue." (The Guardian notes the tongue is "nutritionally dense.") It took an hour for the pod to kill the whale; over the next six hours, about 50 orcas came to the scene to eat the creature. (Read more discoveries stories.)
(Newser)  It's safe to say that COVID is front and center on the mind of Canada's Justin Trudeau these days. The prime minister said Monday that he has tested positive but is "feeling fine," in a tweet. "I'll continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines," he added, while urging people to get vaccinated and boosted. The news comes after a protest against COVID mandates by truckers and others clogged streets in the capital city of Ottawa over the weekend, reports the CBC. The protests continued into Monday in parts of the city.

Trudeau and his family were actually moved out of their residence over the weekend as protesters converged on Ottawa in a convoy. White the protest initially began as one focused on a new rule requiring truckers to be vaccinated, it has since grown to encompass other COVID restrictions, such as lockdowns, imposed by the government. Police say the weekend demonstration was largely peaceful, though a number of incidents were under investigation that could result in charges of public mischief and such, per the CBC. The Trudeau family already had been in isolation because one of their three children tested positive last week, per the AP. (The prime minister's wife, Sophie, recovered from a bout in 2020.)
(Newser)  John and Joyce Sheridan's children didn't buy the official explanation of their deaths. The couple of 47 years were found dead in the burning master bedroom of their New Jersey home early on Sept. 28, 2014. It was ruled a murder-suicide, with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office finding that the 72-year-old John, a former New Jersey transportation commissioner, stabbed his wife before taking his own life. Now one of the couple's four sons sees parallels in another case that has come to light. In a letter sent Friday to New Jerseys acting attorney general and the Somerset County prosecutor, Mark Sheridan flags that case, reports NorthJersey.com.

Longtime New Jersey political consultant Sean Caddle pleaded guilty Tuesday to hiring two men to kill Michael Galdieri, who was found stabbed in his Jersey City apartment, which had been set on fire. His killing occurred six months prior to the Sheridans' deaths; NJ.com reports Galdieri had been employed by Caddle's consulting firm. "As you may be aware, those facts are eerily similar to the circumstances surrounding the death of my parents," Sheridan wrote. He flags a second detail: Caddle named George Bratsenis as one of the men he hired to carry out the killing. Bratsenis was arrested in Connecticut on Sept. 29, 2014, on an unrelated charge; police recovered a "long-blade butchers knife." The knife used to kill the Sheridans was never found and Mark Sheridan writes that prosecutors had said a knife was missing from his parents' knife block.

Sheridan in his letter asks that officials request photos of the knife recovered in connection with Bratsenis' arrest to see if it matches his parents' set. "Perhaps, if you are so inclined, you might even ask for a DNA sample from the knife to see if there is a match for either of my parents' DNA or the unexplained male DNA referenced in the State Police report related to my parents' deaths," he added. The New York Times notes that after an outcry from the sons, a state medical examiner changed the ruling on the Sheridans' death to inconclusive in 2017. But Mark Sheridan writes that the very scenario he is suggesting as plausible is one he has shared before: "Both [your] offices openly mocked the idea of a killing for hire involving a stabbing with a fire set to destroy evidence." (Read more unsolved crimes stories.)
(Newser)  Accusations flew back and forth between the US and Russia at a heated United Nations Security Council meeting on the Ukraine crisis Monday, with Russia's ambassador to the UN saying the US had brought "pure Nazis" to power in the country. Vasily Nebenzya accused the US of "provoking escalation" by claiming Russia is planning to invade Ukraine and said the US is "making heroes out of those peoples who fought on the side of Hitler," the Washington Post reports. In her opening remarks, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the "situation we are facing in Europe is urgent and dangerous" and warned that the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine's border shows a familiar pattern of aggression.

Thomas-Greenfield asked council members how they would feel "if you had 100,000 troops sitting on your border," reports the New York Times. Nebenzya argued that the US was creating "hysteria." He pointed to the false claims of weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion of Iraq and claimed the US was airing a "hodgepodge of accusations but no specific facts." Thomas-Greenfield said Russia was "attempting, without any factual basis, to paint Ukraine and Western countries as the aggressors to fabricate a pretext for attack." She said the buildup of Russian forces was "the largest mobilization" Europe has seen in decades.

The meeting adjourned with no action taken, but there will be more talks between top diplomats from the US, Russia, and the UK in the days to come, the Times reports. The AP notes that Russia attempted to block the open meeting of the 15-member council but the vote to proceed was 10-2 in favor, with three members abstaining and only China voting with Russia. Western officials have warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen at any time, though in what could mark the start of de-escalation, Moscow says around 9,000 troops that had been on exercises in the region are returning to barracks, the Post reports. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
Denise Dietz, an ASC civilian employee, took advantage of the blood mobile parked outside of ASC Headquarters Nov. 4, and donated what is commonly referred to as the gift of life. The ImpactLife Blood Center in the Quad Cities area has an ongoing critical shortages of the following blood types: O positive, O negative, B negative, and AB negative and are hosting drives on RIA. The Army encourages its employees to volunteer as candidates for any of the variety of medical donor programs, including blood, bone marrow, and organ donor/transplant programs. (Photos by Staci-Jill Burnley, ASC Public Affairs) (Staci-Jill Burnley)
We are committed to creating opportunities to support national economy and enhance Bahrains competitiveness: HRH Prince Salman

We are committed to creating opportunities to support national economy and enhance Bahrains competitiveness: HRH Prince Salman

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to achieve Bahrains economic recovery goals.

HRH Prince Salman noted that the goals are aimed at further creating opportunities to support the national economy and enhance Bahrains competitiveness in accordance with the visions and aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Also serving as chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), His Royal Highness remotely chaired the EDB board meeting. Bahrains economic progress was discussed in light of the exceptional circumstances imposed by the coronavirus (COVID 19).

He highlighted the successful efforts of Team Bahrain, which has thus far supported Bahrains economic development plans. HRH also noted the EDBs contribution to attracting investments into Bahrain, which assists with diversifying the economy, boosting economic growth, and supporting economic recovery.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has directed greater use of the Alternative Sanctions and Measures Law in parallel with the initiation of the open prisons programme.

HRH Prince Salman mandated the Ministry of Interior to expeditiously implement the alternative sentencing programme in the upcoming phase, noting its importance in enhancing Bahrains criminal justice system, in support of the comprehensive development goals, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

This came as His Royal Highness received the Minister of Interior, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, at Riffa Palace. The Minister of Finance and National Economy, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister was briefed by General Shaikh Rashid on the success to date of the Alternative Sanctions and Measures Law, included within the Government Priorities Framework.

His Royal Highness was also briefed on the steps taken by the ministry in relation to open prisons, which will further support the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society. HRH noted that security is the foundation of comprehensive development, and expressed his sincere thanks to the staff of the Interior Ministry, for their efforts in adopting initiatives which consolidate security, and support Bahrains overall development.

General Shaikh Rashid expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet with HRH Prince Salman, and for his continued support to the ministry in its efforts to further enhance its service delivery to citizens and residents.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

In line with the global standards of quality medical education, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) received a five-year renewal of the accreditation of its undergraduate medicine programme, until November 2026, from the Irish Medical Council (IMC).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Medical Council Assessor Team held a comprehensive virtual assessment of the undergraduate medicine programme and an inspection of RCSI Bahrain facilities via video conferencing in March 2021.

To perform the re-accreditation process, the IMC team led by the Chair of the Visiting Team and Medical Council Member, Professor Mary OSullivan, and comprising of Council and external members, met with the RCSI Bahrain Executive Management Team, School of Medicine staff, the Universitys Student Council, students from all year groups and RCSI Bahrain interns.

In addition, the team held several meetings with RCSI Bahrain training leads and Clinical Lecturers at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), Bahrain Defence Force Hospital (BDF), Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and multiple health centres across Bahrain.

To assess medical programmes, the Medical Council utilises the World Federation of Medical Educations (WFME) Global Standards for Quality improvement in Medical Education framework.

The Medical Councils accreditation report provided feedback and recommendations for the University to maintain the high-quality medical education it offers to its students. The Council also commended RCSI Bahrain for the strong presence of professionalism throughout the undergraduate medicine programme, the quality of facilities on campus and at teaching sites, the support provided by the research office to medical students and staff across the spectrum of research activities and the enthusiasm and commitment of RCSI Bahrain medical students to their education.

RCSI Bahrains undergraduate medicine programme has been accredited by the Irish Medical Council since 2014 and its School of Medicine is included in the World Directory of Medical Schools and placed on the International Association of Universities List of Universities of the World (UNESCO).
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

I convey warm greetings and felicitations to all members of the Indian community and friends of India in Bahrain on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day of India.

The celebrations this year began on 23rd January, marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, our great freedom fighter and intellectual par excellence.

We are at a historic juncture with two landmark events taking place - Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Indias Independence; and the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Bahrain.

We, last year, witnessed the historic moment of Bab Al Bahrain being illuminated in Indian tricolour and Qutub Minar in India in Bahraini national colours.

In a heartwarming gesture, HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Minister of Bahrain and HE Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India met each other on 12 October 2021 and exchanged greetings on this historic occasion.

Despite the restrictions posed by the pandemic, our deep-rooted multifaceted bilateral cooperation continued to grow.

The visit of HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani to India in April 2021; the visit of Mr V Muraleedharan, Honble Minister of State for External Affairs to Bahrain in August 2021; three virtual Ministerial meetings and several official level engagements not only continued the tradition of regular high-level bilateral exchanges and interactions but also led to deepening bilateral cooperation in the key areas of youth, skilling and capacity development, hydrocarbon, renewable energy, IT, health and pharmaceuticals and sports.

The relationship between India and Bahrain at all levels have remained stable and strong, including in trade and investment.

The bilateral trade figures have crossed USD 1.1 billion for the calendar year 2021.

Total investments from India to Bahrain are approx.

USD1.30 billion and those from Bahrain to India have risen above USD 180 million.

India today is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The policies, reforms and initiatives undertaken by the Government of India including start-up India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat have contributed to the economic growth and development.

Indias start-up ecosystem is creating waves in the world.

The number of start-ups in the country has shot up from 500 to 60,000 in the last five years with a total of 82 unicorns, half of which have emerged in the last year alone.

The Government of Bahrain has also come out with a comprehensive Economic Recovery Plan based on Five Key Pillars.

The plan introduces several initiatives and strategies that will create opportunities for citizens and enhance Bahrains long-term competitiveness, thus promoting further economic development, trade and investment.

This has been reflected in the phenomenal growth of bilateral trade between our two countries this year.

The close collaboration between India and Bahrain continued in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

India recently crossed the landmark of one year of vaccination with more than 1.6 billion doses provided to its citizens.

Our 94 per cent of the eligible population have received the first dose and 72pc are fully vaccinated.

Since the dawn of the pandemic, India has shown its commitment to protecting its citizens and contributed to the global communitys efforts in fighting the pandemic.

The WHO approval and approval by the Bahraini authorities for Made in-India and developed-in-India vaccine, COVAXIN (in addition to Made-in-India COVISHIELD vaccine), shows the prowess of the indigenous Pharma Industry of India, which lived up to its name as the Pharmacy of the World.
As daily infections continue to rise in Japan, healthcare workers are struggling to deal with growing numbers of patients, especially those who are elderly or have underlying issues.

Health officials in Tokyo reported 11,751 new cases on Monday. The figure topped the 10,000 mark for the first time on a Monday.

The occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients has soared to 49.2 percent.

More than half the country's prefectures including Tokyo are under quasi-emergency measures.

Tokyo's governor said she will consider asking the central government to issue a full state of emergency if the occupancy rate reaches 50 percent.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, "In addition to the hospital occupancy rate, we have to assess the effect of the quasi-emergency measures already in place in the capital in order to make a comprehensive decision. At this point, the government is not considering declaring a state of emergency."

Doctors at a Tokyo hospital say two weeks ago it had no coronavirus patients over the age of 60. But now, a third of them are seniors.

They say one elderly patient's symptoms are mild but the person's underlying lung condition has worsened.

Director Sagara Hironori of Showa University said, "The symptoms of the Omicron variant are not so severe, but we have seen a growing number of patients' underlying conditions deteriorate."

Sagara said he expects the bed occupancy rate to surpass 60 percent soon.

To tackle the Omicron surge, the government is trying to expedite vaccinations.

In addition to inoculation centers at municipalities, Self-Defense Forces on Monday started a vaccine campaign for booster shots in the capital.

As of Sunday, just over 4 million people had gotten a third jab. That's less than 30 percent of those eligible by the end of January.

The SDF is set to open a similar site in the western city of Osaka next Monday and will begin accepting reservations on Friday.
Jim Obergefell, the University of Cincinnati graduate whose name has become synonymous with marriage equality in the U.S., announced last week he is running for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
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RIDGEFIELD  A new hire in the towns planning and zoning department is bringing years of experience to the role.

On Monday, Alice Dew, of Brookfield, had her first day on the job as Ridgefields planning and zoning director. She replaces Richard Baldelli, former director and zoning enforcement officer, who retired on Jan. 3. An interim zoning enforcement officer will remain on board to support Dew as she acclimates to her new role.

Dew served as Brookfields land use director from 2015 to 2021. In that role, she oversaw the planning and zoning commissions, as well as the day-to-day operations of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Inland Wetlands Board, the Building Department and the Health Department.

I had things fairly worked out in Brookfield and allocated the work I was doing to other departments, so itll be a more sustainable job for them going forward, Dew said. Ridgefield is a lovely town, and I thought it would be a nice new challenge for me.

As land use director, Dew partnered with Brookfields Economic & Community Development Commission to realize the vision for the Four Corners, the town center at the intersection of Route 7 and Route 25. Brookfield has already hired her replacement.

She was also Brookfields zoning enforcement officer for five years and served on the towns Conservation Commission for 20 years. Her earlier career experiences include positions with the U.S. Forest Service and a solar energy installation company.

The succession reflects a once in a generation transition for Ridgefields Planning and Zoning Commission, according to Chairman Robert Hendrick. Baldelli was the director and zoning enforcement officer for the past five years and served as the enforcement officer under other directors for 30 years before that.

Baldelli announced his retirement in late October, days after Town Planner Karen Martin told him she was leaving to accept a job with SLR Consulting, Hendrick said.

The key staff departures occurred just two weeks before the election, where four of the nine Planning & Zoning seats turned over to newcomers. The four new commissioners are Elizabeth DiSalvo, an architect, Chris Molyneaux, a local attorney, Mariah Hutchings Okrongly, a sustainability program manager, and Joe Sorena, a civil engineer.

Commissioner Joseph Dowdell was reelected to a second term and later elected vice chairman by the commission. Hendrick  who was elected chairman last fall  is in the middle of a four-year term expiring next November along with commissioners John Katz, Susan Consentino and Ben Nneji.

After several executive sessions to interview candidates and discuss options, the commission voted unanimously on Dec. 14 to extend an offer to Dew. She accepted right before the holidays.

Hearst Connecticut Media spoke with Dew on her second day of work. Although she didnt have much to say about the plans and projects shell be working on in the future, shes excited to get started.

The commission seems  very interested in going ahead with a little more focus on planning, Dew said. Ridgefield is a fairly well-established town, so they might start looking at more of the details of ... the zones that they have (while) taking into account COVID and other things.

Hendrick said Ridgefield is fortunate to have Dew.

(Alice) brings expertise and credibility on planning and zoning issues in western Connecticut, and her various life experiences help her balance the interests of both conservation and development, he said in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media. She impressed the commission ... when we discussed prioritizing customer service, improving engagement of the community and all stakeholders and driving accountability, efficiency and continuous improvement in everything we do.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month via Zoom.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
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DANBURY  The ambiguity surrounding the future of the citys homeless shelter is coming at the worst time, advocates say.

Fairfield County is short almost 25,000 affordable housing units, the eviction moratorium is over, state and federal funds are running out, and agencies working to address homelessness are struggling to recruit and retain staff.

People's lives are literally at stake, said Ari Rosenberg, executive director of the Association of Religious Communities. We're facing a perfect storm. Theres a homeless crisis, theres an affordable housing crisis, were in the midst of a pandemic, its the middle of the winter and there are literally not enough places to shelter the people.

The plea to support Danbury areas homeless population as the Super 8 shelter is at risk of closure came during an hour-long virtual forum on Monday morning where nonprofits in Fairfield County described what the state should do to house individuals and prevent people from losing their homes.

The prediction is theres going to be a surge in homelessness in 2022, said David Rich, executive director of Supportive Housing Works in Bridgeport. I think the most important obstacle or most critical obstacle we face is the lack of affordable housing.

Nonprofit leaders with Opening Doors Fairfield County, a collective impact organization of more than 150 stakeholders working to end homelessness, called for adding affordable housing, increasing funding by $13.34 million to pay and support staff, and providing another $2.3 million for the coordinated access network that connects individuals with services.

Agencies say they need millions more

Staff work unlivable wages that put them at risk of losing their homes, said Mike Donoghue, executive director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County. Nonprofits have struggled to retain, recruit and train employees, who are disproportionately people of color, he said. The average turnover rate in 2021 was 18 percent.

This constant turnover due to low pay is such a tax on our organizations, he said. So much time is spent on recruiting and training new workers. For those who stay, poverty wages mean that many front line staff rely on government support like Medicaid and rental assistance.

The CT Community Nonprofit Alliance is asking restore $461 million to community nonprofits, including housing and homeless service agencies, said Danielle Hubley, policy analyst with the Partnership for Strong Communities.

The homelessness agencies called for at least $20 million more to expand housing resources and rental assistance programs. An additional $2.5 million should go toward an eviction program, she said.

It costs the state about $35,000 a year to provide a housing voucher to a family a four, said Evonne Klein, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.

That same family remaining homeless would cost $100,000 a year as they cycle through public systems, not to mention the developmental issues children may experience, she said.

In Connecticut, there are 2,600 individuals experiencing homelessness on any given night, with about 250 families with children living in shelters and 430 individuals who are living in spaces not meant for human habitation, Klein said.

This is an experience Antwayn Riggs knows well. He lost his home at the end of 2018 and moved from a homeless shelter to Portland, Oregon at the beginning of 2019 to live with a family member. But he said he was depressed because he couldnt be near his children.

He moved back to Connecticut, lived at a shelter, and with help from case managers, got housing with rental assistance. He works Monday through Friday at the agency where he was once a client. He said he loves his job and providing hope to the clients that they find housing one day, too.

The job is great, but even with a job, I cant afford rent in Connecticut without some rental assistance, Riggs said. I pay child support and Im about to get custody of my children who live with my mother in an overcrowded situation. I want my children to go to school, got to college, so they never end up homeless like me.

Affordable housing

There are almost 25,000 households that cant find an affordable place to live in Fairfield County due to the massive shortage in affordable housing, said Christie Stewart, director of Fairfield County's Center for Housing Opportunity.

There is no affordable housing left, Rich said. There are no vacancies left in Fairfield County for those of moderate or limited means.

About 55 percent of Danbury renters are burdened by housing costs, according to data presented last year.

In Danbury, the fair market rent for a studio apartment is $1,200, while a one-bedroom is $1,400, meaning renters must make $25 an hour or $30 an hour, respectively to afford the place, Donoghue said.

Rents are higher in the actual market, he said. The average studio apartment costs $1,800 a month, with the average one-bedroom costing $1,900.

Thats one of the reasons itd be so dire if Danburys shelter closed, said Rosenberg, who sits on the citys Affordable Housing Plan Committee.

He urged the city not to shut down the shelter if the state legislature doesnt renew the governors executive order keeping it open. The order expires Feb. 15, but the state is expected to renew it for 60 days.

We need contingency plans and until we have those, we can't just close our eyes and pretend like everything is going to be OK, Rosenberg said.

Danbury is forming a task force that will do that kind of work.

Rosenberg suggested the Super 8 property be turned into affordable housing with supportive services and that a Danbury Housing Authority property on 98 Elm Street be turned into a shelter or affordable housing.

Building affordable housing is perhaps the most critical piece to prevent homelessness, Rich said.

Were not going to truly end homelessness unless we can combat and figure out how to create more affordable housing throughout the region, he said.
EAST HAVEN  Plans to build a home on Morgan Terrace have hit another snag as an appellate court decided not to hear the property owners appeal after a lower court ruled in favor of neighboring property owners.

Ralph Mauro owns a property at 8 Morgan Terrace and has been trying to build a home on the lot since 2019, filing multiple applications for variances and plans over the years.

The town Planning and Zoning Commission initially approved variances and permits for a two-bedroom, single-family home on the lot, but neighboring property owners appealed the approvals and, in September 2021, New Haven Judge Jon C. Blue ruled in favor of the neighbors.

Blue ruled Mauro and the board did not prove a unique hardship to develop the Morgan Terrace property, something both had claimed during a public hearing and application process for the project.

In July 2020, Mauro was issued a zoning permit certifying zoning compliance in connection to the home being built on the Morgan Terrace property.

Neighboring property owners appealed the decision in New Haven Superior Court in September 2020, claiming construction of the home would cause increased erosion and drainage and flooding issues and have a negative impact on property values. The appeal also opposed the use of construction vehicles on a narrow street for an extended period of time.

Mauro had argued three hardships: the propertys small size, the fact that the property is undeveloped and that the surface of the property is sandy, not rocky.

Blue reviewed maps of the area and determined that many properties are as small as Mauros and suffer from similar limitations in terms of buildable area, according to his memorandum decision. He also ruled that the fact that the property is undeveloped fails to establish the required uniqueness. Blue also dismissed the third claim  sandiness  saying. The claim that a hardship is created by the fact that the Property has a sandy, rather that a rocky, surface makes no sense.

Mauro appealed.

The appellate court decided on Jan. 19 to not hear Mauros appeal, so the lower ruling stands.

Jennifer Coppola, the attorney representing the town Zoning Board of Appeals, declined to comment on the cases outcome Friday.

We obviously yet respectfully disagree with the Courts decision, said Mauros attorney Nicholas Mingione via email Friday. That said, we are continuing to evaluate our next steps.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
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HAMDEN  The 160-year-old Lake Whitney dam likely will be restored to last many more years now that the Regional Water Authority has been invited to apply for up to $20 million in infrastructure money.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, visited the Whitney Water Purification Facility Monday near the dam, and said the dam is among 43 projects in 24 states invited to apply for $6.7 billion in money from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.

DeLauro said she expects the rest of the $40 million to come from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November.

Lake Whitney is critical to Connecticuts families for clean, reliable, drinking water, DeLauro said. The lake, the second-largest reservoir in the water authoritys system, is part of the Mill River.

The dam is 160 years old, so if you had a breach that occurred, any flooding downstream would be a disaster, she said.

The $40 million project is sorely needed, according to April Capone, director of public affairs for the water authority. This is a critical piece of infrastructure and it has to be maintained, she said.

The EPA tells you you are eligible to apply but they really dont ask entities to apply unless you are a very good contender for the program, Capone said.

This dam project is very exciting, interesting. I absolutely love it, said Mayor Lauren Garrett. This very old dam is going to have stabilization put behind it with a new dam put in place.

The project will meet stability guidelines set by the Army Corps of Engineers and improve its spillway capacity. Since the dam is a historic structure, the project must meet state historic-preservation guidelines.

In addition to extending the life of the dam, By doing this work I think it helps the local communities for better water quality, transmission, as well as protecting the watersheds and aquatic life for generations to come, said Sundar Sunny Lakshminarayanan, vice president of engineering and environmental services for the water authority.

He said the design is underway, construction is expected to start in 2023 and will take two to three years to complete.

Lakshminarayanan said there is a more recent concrete dam behind the original stone dam, and a new concrete dam will be built behind that. It needs work, but it doesnt necessarily mean its a dam thats failing, he said. There are improvements that are required to bring the dam into compliance with modern standards.

Capone said every $1 million received from state and federal grants equals 1 percent of a rate increase that doesnt have to happen  that we wont have to put on our ratepayers. For a $40 million project, thats quite significant.

While she expects the total to be received from the federal government, Capone said, Our hope is we do not have to shift the cost onto our ratepayers.

Lakshminarayanan said in the unlikely event that the EPA does not issue the $20 million to the water authority, we would still go ahead. Regional Water has actually gone and raised bonds in the past. However, he said, once they accept you then typically you are almost assured of funding.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
NEW HAVEN  Four people were displaced by a fire on Osborn Avenue Sunday evening, according to officials. There were no injuries.

In a statement, New Haven Fire Department Assistant Chief Justin McCarthy wrote the fire, which took place around 5 p.m in a two-story residential wood frame structure, is under control.
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NEW HAVEN  Southern Connecticut State Universitys newest campus police officer is described by comrades as sensitive, mellow, low-key and a conversation starter who is good with eye contact.

After he finishes eating, he picks up his empty metal bowl, brings it to handler Sgt. Cynthia Torres and drops it, wagging his tail.

Jules is a 70-pound Labrador retriever who is almost 2 years old. He started Monday at SCSU as a therapy dog who roams the department to make officers feel better, walks the campus with Torres as a friendly bridge to students and may someday even provide comfort to a survivor of a traumatic incident by listening while they provide a statement.

We talk about the calming effect, SCSU Police Chief Joseph Dooley said. Dogs bring a smile to the face.

Sgt. Torres said she brought Jules to the student center this week and at least 30 students and staff came flocking over to pet him.

Thats great because that starts the conversation with us, Torres said. He does take on the mood of the room in a good way. He quiets down the room.

Dooley said K9s like Jules gets students to see police officers in a different light.

Often (we as police) are not viewed as helping people, but thats our goal, Dooley said.

Torres, a 17-year veteran of the force, who was a police officer in Old Saybrook for about five years previously, said shes always wanted a canine partner.

I really wanted it more than anything in my whole career, she said. I love the way dogs bridge the gap in the community.

Deputy Police Chief Ken Rahn, who oversees SCSUs canine program, was a 25-year veteran of the Milford Police Department before joining SCSU, and for eight of those years worked with K9 Samson, a German Shepherd who assisted in many significant cases.

Rahn said they got the first K9, Brody, during the pandemic and that was very fortunate.

Jules is just a great addition to the department, Rahn said. The true way to show the impact of the canine unit is to spend some time with K9 Brody and K9 Jules and see just how people respond when they are around. In many settings you may have people that have had negative encounters with police officers or people that have never had any interaction with an officer. The presence of the canines takes away some of those barriers and makes our officers more approachable and fosters more positive interactions.

Brody, a yellow Labrador, handled by officer Paul Glynn, is primarily trained in bomb detection, but is also good in officer wellness work and does a lot of community, as Jules will. Jules, an official therapy dog is trained to have a calm demeanor, while Brody has a higher drive because hes trained to detect bombs. Jules was know in his K9 class for his sensitivity, Torres said.

Both dogs were free through grants. While Brody was obtained through the State Police K9 program, Jules came from the group Puppies Behind Bars, a program where incarcerated individuals train puppies who will work with police or disabled people.

The incarcerated individuals rotate the training  the guidelines are strict  then the community volunteers, also carefully vetted, take the dogs in training into real-life environments.

When Torres got Jules, he came with something like a baby book of places he had been, including New York City where he negotiated all that comes with that  crowds, noises, the smells of hot dog carts.

All Jules training was done using positive reinforcement, Torres said.

The training was eye-opening to me, Torres said.

She said the sponsor is responsible for naming the dog and Torres was told Jules sponsor named him after French novelist Jules Verne because his granddaughter was starting to read the authors works.

One of Jules most important jobs is officer wellness, department officials said.

Dooley said officer wellness is a growing, popular initiative and goes along with a saying for police: Serve well, be well, from hire to retire and beyond.

Anything we can do to take stress away, thats a major plus, Dooley said. It could be something as simple as Jules or Brody napping at an officers feet as they write a report.

Torres said Puppies Behind Bars is an example of effective for restorative justice because the incarcerated individuals have something to care for and are held accountable.

Theres an expectation and accountability  its a game changer, Torres said. She said the incarcerated individuals are also learning a skill set.

Torres is hoping people follow Jules and Brody on Instagram @k9jules_scsupd and @k9brody_scsupd.
NEW HAVEN  A video depicting members of a Southern Connecticut State University sorority allegedly mocking another sorority has led to backlash on social media and a statement from the schools president.

On Jan. 28, a video was posted on Instagram and subsequently other platforms with alleged members of Omega Zeta Pi displaying hand signs and movements associated with the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in an allegedly mocking fashion.

The video shows multiple young women at an apparent party. The women are cheering loudly and one woman is seen making the hand gestures and movements. Between the cheering and music in the background, it is unclear what is being said in the video.

Zeta Phi Beta is a 102-year-old organization founded at Howard University by five women of color during a time when students of color were not allowed to join Greek life organizations due to race, the sorority said in a letter to SCSU President Joe Bertolino on Instagram.

In the letter, chapter President Ashley del Carmen Perez wrote that those in the video were mocking Zeta Phi Betas cultural and historic values, which hold deep cultural significance to current and future members.

She also wrote that Omega Zeta Pi members have significant reach and impact on the student body through roles in student leadership positions.

Allegedly, this is not the first time the sorority has acted in a disrespectful manner toward Zeta Phi Beta, the president wrote.

To see an SCSU Greek-lettered organization not only participate in such negligible actions but also record a video and share it on social media highlights the blatant disregard for our organization, the letter read. For the success of Greek life on SCSUs campus, we must respect each others values regardless of the full understanding of the principles of our organizations, as well as the cultures, ethnicity, or race of its members.

The letter concluded with eight actions the organization was seeking for SCSU to take to hold Omega Zeta Pi responsible and to create better practices at the school.

These included suspending Omega Zeta Pi for an academic year; requiring members allegedly in the video to volunteer 20 hours of community service each within a local organization serving underrepresented people of color and communities in New Haven County; enhancing hiring efforts toward selecting culturally diverse candidates for employment throughout SCSU, including teaching and administrative faculty; and more.

Bertolino responded to the letter in the Instagram comments and with a separate statement shared on his social media pages on Sunday, stating he shared Zeta Phi Betas concerns.

As president of Southern, I want to acknowledge the disrespect and hurt that this incident has caused to your membership, other Multicultural Greek Organizations, and indeed individuals of color across our campus community, Bertolino wrote in the comments. Please know that we are committed to listening, learning, and taking concrete steps to do better as a university to support and protect you.

He added that he is aware Zeta Phi Beta members are bonded by traditions and rituals stemming from the organizations African and African-American historical and cultural roots.

This heritage is an important source of solidarity and pride, particularly in the face of ongoing racial injustice, and it should not be disparaged or undermined in any way, Bertolino wrote.

The school has already been in conversations with the people involved, Bertolino said, adding that appropriate student and university leadership are addressing the incident with various campus constituencies.

A meeting was scheduled for Monday with the leaders of both sororities to discuss a resolution and steps that need to be taken, Bertolino said in the statement.

As we begin a new semester at Southern, it is another reminder of the need to fully commit ourselves to the principles of anti-racism and social justice, Bertolino said. We must become better educated and recognize when actions or words can cause harm.

No decisions have been made yet as the school is gathering information and meeting with constituencies, said Patrick Dilger, director of integrated communications at SCSU in an email.

President Bertolino and his senior leadership have had productive meetings with a number of student groups, including the membership and leaders of both sororities and they have also been in discussion with regional and national Greek life representatives, Dilger said.

Dilger added that any potential disciplinary action will be decided after a full review of the issue.

A request for Zeta Phi Beta members was not immediately returned.

Omega Zeta Pi members did not return a request for comment but did post two statements on their Instagram page.

The first, posted Sunday, said the organization learned of the video on Friday, calling the behavior hurtful to all members of D9, a nickname for National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), organizations before apologizing for the disrespect and harm caused.

We recognize that we have some serious work to do, as individuals and an organization, when it comes to furthering our knowledge and traditions of these organizations, the statement read.

Actions were taken immediately after the organization became aware of the video and the organization is working on repercussions for the members, according to the statement.

A second statement was made Monday to announce the sorority will not be holding recruitment events for the spring 2022 semester.

The universitys Greek Life Council also posted a statement to Instagram, calling the video inexcusable and intolerable.

GLC prides itself on unity and this act was a blatant rejection of our ideals, the statement read. We stand with the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. and all NHPC and NALFO (National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations) organizations and will be discussing our next steps at our next meeting.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday, revealed why the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is still holding its ...

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday, revealed why the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is still holding its leader, Nnamdi Kanu in custody.

IPOBs spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the Federal Government was holding onto Kanu in a bid to infiltrate the group and destroy it from within.

In a statement, Powerful said the Federal Government was annoyed with Kanu for refusing to accept monetary and property inducements.

According to Powerful: The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn to the secret plans by the Buhari government and his Fulani kinsmen to illegally detain our leader Nnamdi KANU for as long as possible.

Their annoyance with our leader is his blunt refusal to take properties and monetary inducement offered him to abandon the struggle for Biafra liberation.

The Federal Government decided to hold our leader indefinitely to see if it can possibly infiltrate the ranks of our great movement and destroy it from inside while our leader is in custody.

The federal government is also relying on the promise by some traitors and black sheep in America and Europe that they would assist it to realise the evil plot. The promise was made to the federal government during their secret visit to Aso Rock last December.

We are also aware that the Federal government has been lobbying the international community to enlist their support against Biafra liberation but they wont succeed. Therefore, anybody distracting or causing division in the IPOB family is a tool knowingly or unknowingly working for the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The fact remains that Biafra is a divine project. It has gone beyond any single individual, including our leader. Millions of the oppressed Biafran youths home and abroad are now more aware and conscious than ever. Its only a matter of time. Biafra MUST come. It can only be delayed but certainly not suppressed.
Armed Boko Haram terrorists suspected to be members of ISWAP group who invaded Kautikari village of Chibok Local Government Area in Borno ...

Armed Boko Haram terrorists suspected to be members of ISWAP group who invaded Kautikari village of Chibok Local Government Area in Borno state have freed four girls hitherto abducted on Friday 14th January, 2022, relevant sources have said.

Recall that during that incident, about nine residents of Kautikari village were abducted, before they released about two old women and some children, Unfortunately, the four young ladies were taken to Dille village axis of nearby Askira Uba Local Government Area that shares Local border with Sambisa forest

During that attack, a church and some residential houses including that of a renowned business man (name withheld) were all set ablaze before snatching a cell phone belonging to his wife.

Kautikari is located East and about 15km drive from Chibok town predominantly occupied by Christian faithful.

A son inlaw (name withheld) of the businessman who resides with his family in Maiduguri confirmed the release of the four young girls.

I can exclusively confirm to you that the four young girls who were in captivity of insurgents have regained freedom today (Sunday).

I was informed that they were taken to Dille axis of Askira Uba local government area of Borno state which shares border with Sambisa forest.

Presently, all the girls are cooing off with the District Head of Kautikari who resides in Chibok town. He said.
Former Kano State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Muazu Magaji has been remanded in a correctional centre in the state. ...

Former Kano State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Muazu Magaji has been remanded in a correctional centre in the state.

Muazu Magaji was arrested in Abuja shortly after granting a live interview on Trust TV where he criticized the government of Ganduje.

The former Commissioner is facing a four-count charge, bordering on defamation of character, intentional insult, injurious falsehood and inciting disturbance against the state governor.

Details shortly
There are speculations on social media about the death of former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). Information circ...

There are speculations on social media about the death of former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).

Information circulated at the weekend that the Niger-born retired General passed away.

Citing a source Sunday night, PRNigeria reported that IBB is alive and hearty.

Insider insists the former Nigerian leader is doing well despite some restrictions due to health reasons.

Gen. Babangida, this afternoon, had a sort of meeting and political consultations with some friends and politicians who visited his Hill Top residence, the source said.

80-year-old IBB recently received former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, at his residence in Minna.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader explained that the trip was about the security challenges in Niger and his presidential ambition.

I cant stop by without paying a courtesy call to the enigma, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, retired.

He gave me his prayers. You want to know the outcome of the consultation? We are running a democracy, Tinubu told reporters.
Rochas Okorocha, senator representing Imo west, has formally declared his interest to run for office of the president. Addressing a press ...

Rochas Okorocha, senator representing Imo west, has formally declared his interest to run for office of the president.





Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Okorocha said the country is facing a number of challenges that need to be addressed.

The former Imo governor said he is seeking to establish a new Nigeria where issues of poverty and security will be addressed.

I have no other country that I can call my country apart from Nigeria. I speak to you today, my Bible tells me that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Permit not to use a prepared speech because I want to pour my heart. I speak with you with a high spirit, because it despises little things that do not help mankind, it is called a noble spirit, the senator said.

My heart is filled with mixed feelings, one side is joyous and the other side bleeds. I ran from the presidency 20 years ago, I did not succeed. Six years later I tried and came second after Umaru YarAdua and in 2015 I ran and our dear president, Muhammadu Buhari, emerged.

I am not in politics for what I can get, I am in politics for what I can give. I price honour more than life and glory more than wealth.

My heart bleeds because of that boy in Maiduguri or Katsina that cannot go to school. Im not satisfied when poverty becomes the order of the day. Many countries have tagged us as the poverty capital of the world, I dont not agree.

The truth is that we are a great nation and time will come when it will be made manifest. To the youths, If I become your president, I will handover to the next generation. Im not not-too-young-to-run and not too old to run, Im only 57.

We have 14 million out-of-school children. I will declare free education, it is something I have done.

Okorocha said the country needs a president who can create wealth.

This nation is in dire need of someone that can create wealth, someone who can make money for this country. I will create wealth, I sold oranges  my wealth is clean, go and check my CCB [forms], he said.

Our biggest problem is hunger, I will address that in the new Nigeria.

Please permit to be your pilot for a new Nigeria, as your pilot there might be small turbulence, no problem, Captain Rochas is in command.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says his emergence as fifth democratically elected Governor of Benue State and the selection of believ...

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says his emergence as fifth democratically elected Governor of Benue State and the selection of believers as Paramount Rulers in the two dominant tribes in the state is a manifestation of Gods grace upon the State.

He explained that it is this same grace that made it possible for him to be the 5th Governor while the paramount rulers of Tiv and Idoma nation are also the 5th in the emergence.

Governor Ortom gave this hint on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at the Makurdi residence of former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon Ngunan Addingi, during a reception in her honour following a thanksgiving service.

He said this is enough blessing to be appreciated, stressing that all should share in the grace and be confident that Benue will come out of its challenges stronger.

The Governor described Mrs Addingi as a woman of virtue and principles who distinguished herself in service to the State.

Particularly, Governor Ortom recalled how the former commissioner who was a member of the 8th Benue State Assembly declined monetary offers to take sides with those he described as evil forces who rose against me just for standing in defence of my people to impeach me. This woman rejected the financial inducement to sign the impeachment against me. I celebrate her. I celebrate her husband. And I# bless her for her commitment to the service of Benue state.

While appreciating those who took their time to celebrate with Mrs Addingi on her thanksgiving, Governor Ortom described her action as a demonstration of integrity, fairness, justice and equity for the people, saying Benue land must not be compromised for whatever reason.

Governor Ortom later paid condolence visit to the family of late Celestine Stanley Pine, who died on January 17, 2022 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital after a protracted illness.

The Governor, while consoling the bereaved family, prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest, adding that only God gives and takes life and should be appreciated at all times for good or bad.

He urged the bereaved family to be strong and build on the legacies of the deceased, even as the eldest son of the deceased, Master Tersoo Pine, thanked the Governor for his support and condolence visit.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in Katsina on Saturday, said the reason why the Federal Government officially declared bandits as terrorists...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in Katsina on Saturday, said the reason why the Federal Government officially declared bandits as terrorists is to enable security agencies to take more stringent measures against them.

The Vice President made the statement at the Katsina Emirs palace while in Katsina on Saturday to pay condolence to Dahiru Barau Mangal, who lost his mother, Hajiya Murja nine days ago.

VP Osinbajo, speaking at the Emirs palace, expressed optimism that with all the new measures ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari we should be able to see a very significant change in Nigeria security situation.

While thanking the Katsina Emir and his chiefs for the warm welcome, he prayed for continuous peace for his kingdom and the country in general.

This Kingdom will know prosperity under your reign. There will be prosperity, there will be happiness, joy and the country also will know peace. By the grace of God, peace would return to all our communities and villages in this state and all across the country which is according to the Presidents desire, Osibanjo prayed.

Responding, the Katsina Emir, expressed happiness at the official declaration of bandits as terrorists.

In his words:

I am really troubled, so is our Governor here but I am very happy now that they have been officially declared terrorists. So when you (perhaps referring to security agents) catch them, you kill them. That is the only solution since dialoguing with them has failed.

While condoling with Mangal and family over the passing of their mother at the business mogul Katsina, VP Osinbajo said, Hajia Murja we all knew in her days did not only served her family but served so many people all over the state, the poor, the vulnerable and those who need help, she was always there for them. I was informed that since she died there have been sadness everywhere and is because of the kind of person that she was. A woman who served her community throughout all her life.

While praying for her soul to rest in peace, Osinbajo also prayed for the Katsina-based business mogul, all the things that mother planned and desired to do especially for the people of this state and the people of this country he will still be able to do.

He also prayed for Gods comfort and strength for the business mogul.
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

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Families frustrated as state requires COVID testing for nursing home visits

Nursing home requirement keeping some shut out from seeing loved ones
Those TV home makeovers that happened in a one-hour episode? People dont realize, I had a crew of 100, and it took us a week to do one house. I am talking with Mark Brunetz, the Emmy Award-winning co-host of Clean House, a series that ran on the Style Network from 2003 to 2011.

You mean that wasnt reality? I am so gullible.

I sensed this disconnect between what was being presented and what was really happening that nobody was talking about, he said of the nine years he worked on the show. The shows featured the beginning and the end, and glossed over and glamorized the middle. It shortchanged the design process, which has so much more depth.

He often thought, Man, if people only knew the story behind the story, that design is about so much more than putting pretty things in a room and the crying, emotional reveal.

And so last year, Brunetz launched "Scandalabra," a podcast designed to uncover just that, or as the tagline reads: The Ugly Truth Behind Beautiful Spaces. It's available wherever you get your podcasts.

I have known Mark for over a decade. He has interviewed me, and I dont know what it is, but he has this way of getting you to tell him stuff you would only tell your dog. So not surprisingly, when he asked his guests to share the real story, they spilled.

Since the first episode (titled The Desecration of Design) aired in July, he has completed 24 candid and unblinking podcast interviews with design insiders. More are in the works. Curious to uncover what hed learned, I grilled him. What follows is a conversation about his conversations:

Share some scoop. What did you learn?

In my first episode, I talked with L.A. designer Jaime Rummerfield about our early days doing home makeovers for television. She nailed it when she said, as much good as home makeover shows have done for the world of home improvement, they have also done a disservice. The genre has cheapened design and architecture.

She compared the fast design featured on these shows with fast fashion. Many stores sell cheap clothes that look really cute on the hanger and fall apart after one wearing. Its all about the moment. Thats happening in the world of fast design, too, pushing poorly made furniture to get that quick look.

What do professional organizers really do in your home? Here's what some clients have to say One needs courage and more than a little trust to let an outsider come into her home to rifle through personal belongings with the goal of str

Oh, and every show has someone wielding a sledgehammer taking out a wall. That makes good television, but knocking out a wall isnt right for many homes.

After 24 interviews with design pros, was there a theme?

Almost every guest said in one way or another that too many people are so busy copying trends that their homes dont reflect them. People often believe they need to define themselves by picking and sticking to one style. They take design quizzes and try to pick one style to emulate, but isnt the real goal to create a space thats about you?

In your episode The Dangers of Idolizing TV Designers, your guest Angelo Surmelis warned against mimicking TV design experts looks or following TV trends. Why?

Following either is a sure path to an inauthentic space. Companies manufacture trends to sell products. The only expert on your life is you, and theres only one you. Why would you copy someone elses style? The color of the year is the color you love. You do have to take time to do the due diligence to find out who you are.

When you talked with renowned architect Dean Larkin (whose residential work includes some of the most iconic and expensive homes in Los Angeles, including the restoration of Lionsgate, a 24,000-square-foot Bel Air home valued at $65 million), he said, Ignore the isms. What did he mean?

Here again, when people get locked into a look, like midcentury modernism or traditionalism, they miss the opportunity to create their look. Your home is first and foremost your personal sanctuary and should echo you and your family. And dont rush. Certainly dont attack a project like we did, finishing it all in a week.

The most successful rooms are designed over time. As for the idea of timeless design, Larkin sees it differently: We must consider the time we live in, and move forward. Great design is a nexus of people, space, and the time they are in. That changes.

How has the pandemic changed home design?

The pandemic didnt introduce anything new. It just put a magnifying lens on what was there. We began looking more at our environment, and saying to ourselves, "I dont like this." Why? If your home wasnt genuinely you, that became more obvious. Now those who are thriving at home are those who connect with their homes because their homes reflect them.

How do you put the you in your space?

Early on, I learned that people dont feel comfortable talking about design, but they have no problem talking about themselves. So I get them to talk about what they love to do, where they like to travel, what clothes in their closet they feel most like themselves in? I ask, if you were a piece of furniture, what would you be? If they say a chair, I ask whats it made of? Wood or metal? Is it new or old? Is it upholstered? Is the fabric patterned or solid? Everyone has a style.

So, if you were a piece of furniture, what would you be?

A massive 17th-century wooden armoire full of beautiful and interesting collectibles, surprises and reveals.

And you? he asked.

Id be a kitchen table, at the center of all the gossip.

Marni Jameson can be reached at ww.marnijameson.com.
Each year, Bywater Bakery (3624 Dauphine St., (504) 336-3336) goes big for the start of Carnival season, which for bakeries of course means king cake season. The neighborhood shop hosts a block party on the Epiphany with a lineup of local musicians worthy of its own small festival and, naturally, lots of its king cake.

This year the omicron surge forced that party to be postponed, but this weekend it is back. Bywater Bakery will hold the festivities Sunday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some timely additions.

The event doubles as a fundraiser for the New Orleans Musicians' Assistance Foundation Makin Groceries program, which provides food to vulnerable members of its community. The bakery contributes bread and other food to the program throughout the year.

Bywater Bakery is known for a wide variety of specialty king cakes. New to the lineup this year is the brownie bomb, a chocolate version, and the Bywater bourbon cinnamon swirl, made with sweet potato dough and bourbon from the local Seven Three Distilling Co.

Bywater Bakery has also built a niche for savory king cakes, including versions with boudin, crawfish au gratin and spinach and artichoke.

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

Sundays music lineup includes Deacon John, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, John Boutte, Herlin Riley, Bruce Sunpie Barns, Soul Brass Band, David Torkanowsky, Josh Paxton and Washboard Chaz.

Covid testing, vaccination and booster shots will be available at the event, which will also conduct a blood drive.

+11 Ian McNulty: Hot pots, Mardi Gras dumplings and unfiltered Chinese flavor in Metairie 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

+11 Pizza Domenica expands to Lakeview with happy hour, refined pizzeria menu Back in the day, there was just Domenica, the upscale Italian restaurant in the Roosevelt Hotel. Then came its pizza happy hour, and the deal 

+10 Fizzy cocktails and forgotten rice: a New Orleans sake brewery goes against the grain At the sushi bar, decisions around sake usually entail which Japanese brand to choose, if it should be cold or warm and whether to have anothe
The history of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s is all around us in New Orleans. Really, to call it history is almost a misnomer  many of the people involved with landmark moments are still with us, and we live among many of the locations important to the fight for racial equality in New Orleans. In fact, that all-important fight continues today.

This week's Gambit focuses on the significant, but often overlooked role New Orleans has played in the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in America. In the cover story, writer Domonique Tolliver spoke with Leona Tate  one of the four Black girls who desegregated New Orleans schools on Nov. 14, 1960  about her planned civil rights museum at the former McDonogh 19 school building. And Gambit staff collected a far-from-exhaustive list of places and people that played a critical role in the civil rights movement. Flip through the digital edition below to read more.

Cant see the e-edition above? Click here.

Also in this week's Gambit: "Fly," which opens Friday at Jefferson Performing Arts Center, recounts the Tuskegee Airmen's battle for freedom; Political Editor Clancy DuBos looks at the upcoming redistricting session, which is sure to put race and politics front and center; Blake Pontchartrain tells readers about the Krewe of NOR, the first organized children's krewe; Banh Mi Boys expands with new franchise in Uptown; comedian Sean Patton returns to his hometown to film his first hour-long special  plus news and more.

This week's issue also includes a new edition of Details. Flip through the issue below for a profile of artist Kristen Downing, home accessories to put you in the mood for love and go-to recipes for the parade season.

If pandemic restrictions make it harder to pick up a Gambit in your usual spot, we have you covered. Our e-edition is available to download at bestofneworleans.com/current and read at your leisure.

If you enjoy this weeks issue, please share this digital edition on social media.

And as always, New Orleans, thank you for your support.

 The Gambit staff
2319 Third St.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was a major force in the civil rights movement. The group worked with local organizations to help organize voter registration drives and mass protests, including the March on Washington. And it all started in Central City.

On Feb. 14, 1957, close to 100 civil rights leaders met at New Zion Baptist Church and formally founded the SCLC, following the yearlong Montgomery bus boycott, which culminated in the desegregation of the citys buses, according to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. They elected Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. president and several Louisiana officers, including the Rev. A.L. Davis as vice president, the Rev. T.J. Jemison as secretary, Louis Berry as parliamentarian and Israel Augustine Jr. to the executive committee, The Times-Picayune reported.

SCLC worked to desegregate buses around the South and register Black voters both ahead of and after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The group also worked with local churches for their campaigns, which advocated nonviolence and hosted leadership training programs in local communities, according to Stanford Universitys Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute. New Zion was a hub for other civil rights activity as well, and church leaders hosted a Freedom Riders rally there to protest bus segregation.

In the 60s, the SCLC launched a series of campaigns focused more broadly on tackling poverty. Those efforts included Operation Breadbasket in Atlanta and Chicago to create jobs for Black people and the Poor Peoples Campaign, where 3,000 poor people camped out in D.C.

The area surrounding the church on Third Street has many sites important in Black history. Down the street from the church is A.L. Davis Park, where civil rights leaders and activists also held demonstrations and meetings. The park was the starting point for a Black Lives Matter march in 2020.

A block away, at the corner of Lasalle and Second streets, sits the SCLC Memorial Walkway Pavilion. And two blocks over is the dilapidated Buddy Bolden house at 2309-2311 First St., where the early jazz pioneer and cornetist lived for 15 years.
When it comes to the fight for civil rights in New Orleans, all too often we think of history that predates any of us currently living.

Everyone knows the history of Congo Square, for instance. New Orleans was a major hub for sale of enslaved Africans to plantations across the South, while also the home of the first free Black middle-class community in the United States.

But while the citys role in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s is not as well-known as Birmingham or Atlanta, New Orleans played a crucial role in the fight against Jim Crow and segregation  you just have to know where to look for it. Here, we have collected a far-from-exhaustive list of places and people in New Orleans  many of them still alive or open  that played a critical role in our nations ongoing reckoning with racism.

The Bywater was home to one of the earliest and most explosive acts of defiance against Jim Crow segregation laws, when Homer Plessy boarded a whites-only train car. Though the Supreme Court would rule against him, decades later young Black men and women across the South  including four young schoolgirls in the 9th Ward  would challenge the racist status quo at the beginning of the civil rights movement, ultimately bringing those Jim Crow laws to an end.

Today one of the McDonogh Three, Leona Tate, is again fighting segregation in our classrooms and has turned the school where she and her friends challenged segregated learning into the citys first civil rights museum. In February 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights and religious leaders gathered in Central City at the New Zion Baptist Church. Out of that meeting was born the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Under Kings leadership, the SCLC would become one of the main organizers of civil rights protests across the country and helped to successfully push through the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The fight for equal rights also happened in our cultural spaces. Dooky Chases Restaurant became a pivotal space for civil rights leaders to meet and organize, while throughout the 1940s and 50s the Dew Drop Inn provided a rare space for Black musicians to perform before integrated audiences.

Critically, these places are not relics of a bygone era. We not only live among them, but many of the people involved in these landmark moments are not only still with us, they continue the fight. So too are the forces of white supremacy. Their pernicious efforts can be seen in efforts to restrict the voting rights of Black Americans through redistricting. Similarly, the "controversy over Critical Race Theory are a thinly veiled effort to erase not only the basic facts of the foundational role slavery and racism played  and continue to play  in American history but also the lived experience of Black America.

Our city and region also offers other opportunities to to learn more about both the civil rights movement and the history of Black south Louisiana, including the state's Civil Rights Trail, the New Orleans African American Museum, the Amistad Research Center and the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville, among others. Below are a collection of stories on but a few these landmarks in New Orleans, our story on Leona Tate and her new civil rights museum at McDonogh 19 and other pieces on the fight for racial equality and justice.

"History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history."  James Baldwin

Civil Rights Landmark: Dryades Street Boycott Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, between Philip Street and Howard Avenue

Commentary: The long march to freedom continues, especially in New Orleans The Black Lives Matter movement and the events that gave rise to it remind us that the fight for equality and justice continues.
Education has always been at the heart of Leona Tates life.

Born in 1954 in the Lower 9th Ward, Tate took the first steps toward finally breaking the back of school segregation in New Orleans when she, along with Tessie Prevost and Gail Etienne, walked past angry white protesters and through the doors of McDonogh 19 Elementary School on Nov. 14, 1960, to become the first Black students at the school. At the same time, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges also was walking into the all-white William Frantz Elementary School.

Looking back now, Tate says she is grateful she can never say she was afraid of going to school because at 6 years old, she didn't fully understand what was happening.

I thank God that we were so young that we didn't understand, I can never say that I was afraid because I wasn't. I was made very comfortable by my teacher. The marshals that brought us to school every day made us very comfortable, she says.

As federal marshals escorted Tate, Prevost and Etienne to and from schools, crowds of white parents stood outside McDonogh 19 protesting against the court-ordered desegregation. They were the only three students for months. Brown paper bags covered the school windows at all times as the girls had recess indoors and were not allowed outside for their safety.

Tate later suffered abuse from the white students, and when the marshals stopped bringing them to school, entering the building would mean walking a gauntlet of angry white people alone.

Though New Orleans would move to turn McDonogh 19 into an all-Black school two years later, the roots of integration in the citys schools had been planted and would eventually bring the Jim Crow practice to at least a temporary end.

However, over the last 60 years, white flight, an increasingly conservative Supreme Court and a growing white supremacist movement have meant that New Orleans schools are increasingly segregated. Many of the other hard-won victories of the civil rights movement have been eroded or cast aside completely.

But while the forces of discrimination and hate may be making a comeback, so too is Tate  and McDonogh 19, where later this month Tate will open a new civil rights museum and learning center. The goal is to help educate the public on the push to desegregate New Orleans as well as train the next generation of racial equity and justice activists.

McDonogh 19 ... is where I was introduced to racism, Tate says. I feel like that's where I want it to end.

Tate says she didn't talk about her experience for years, instead focusing on the present and raising her family.

For years, the three of us didn't talk about it. We put it on a back burner for many years and I started thinking about it again in my junior high school years, she says.

Its understandable. As a 6-year-old, Tate had found herself at the center of the national fight for racial equality and justice.

Six years earlier on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Despite the ruling, it didn't ensure racial integration. State and local governments across the country refused to abide by the order for years or even decades.

In New Orleans, the push towards desegregation was met with anger among many white people, and many adults would routinely wait outside schools to taunt and threaten Black children. Tate says that while she experienced hatred and abuse from students, the press outside of the school was the most overwhelming part of the experience.

Tate says she realized the significance of that point in her childhood when one of her high school gym teachers told her she was reading a book that she was in.

I started thinking of it again in my junior high school year, she says. One of my gym teachers called me to the office and she told me, Im reading a book and you're in it. And that made me start thinking of it again, the importance of it.

In fact, for a long time Tate didnt tell her children her story because she wanted them to have a normal childhood.

My children didnt even know for a long time because I didnt want them to have an abnormal experience at school. Because once they found out who I was, that was going to make it a whole other ballgame for them, she says.

Soon, the fight for equality and justice would once again become a major part of her life. Tates flame for activism was reignited after Barack Obama became president in 2009. She began working as a community and civil rights activist and created a foundation, Leona Tate Foundation for Change, to provide children in New Orleans with equal access to educational services.

The foundation hosts business and financial literacy programming, along with the G.R.O.W Adult program that provides GED preparation and tutoring. Previously, its also hosted summer camps to educate youth on the desegregation movement in New Orleans.

Now, Tates mission is to educate the New Orleans community on how the city was instrumental to the civil rights movement and desegregation.

To keep these pieces of history from being lost or forgotten, Tate is creating the TEP Interpretive Center at the McDonogh 19 building, which she hopes to open to the public in mid-February.

The center  named after Tate, Etienne and Prevost  will be the first space dedicated to preserving and teaching the history of the civil rights movement in New Orleans.

Nobody was aware of the history of that building, Tate says. That building stood dormant since 2004, and it just didn't seem like it was important to anybody. I want everybody to know that that made a big difference. I even want the residents in the 9th Ward to know the Lower 9th Ward is very important because of that history.

The museum will not only be New Orleans first space dedicated to the civil rights movement, it will also be the first in the state  though not for a lack of trying. As Times-Picayune columnist Jarvis DeBerry noted in 2018, activists have been pushing for a civil rights museum for decades, even getting the state legislature in 1999 to pass a bill establishing the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum and mandating it be built in New Orleans. Today, nearly two decades later, New Orleanians still have to leave the state to find a museum that tells the story of the civil rights movement, DeBerry wrote.

The TEP Interpretive Center will be housed on the bottom floor of the building, focusing on both the events that happened to prepare the three women for their first day in a desegregated school and also what it was like for them to experience it.

I find that a lot of students are not aware of the desegregation of the public schools and how it happened. They just don't know about it at all, Tate says. We are planning on a lot of visual aid and interactive materials. I want students to come in and understand and feel what we felt, but they can only do that if they see it."

The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, which provides anti-racism training and seminars across the country, will also be at the McDonogh 19 site. And Tate says it will also include 25 affordable housing units for people 55 or older.

The Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum also will move into the new space, according to Tate. Back in 2011, Caroline Heldman and Ian Breckenridge-Jackson created the museum, located two blocks off St. Claude Avenue on Deslonde Street, to share stories from the community. Tate says she has been involved with the project since the group interviewed her for research.

It went from me talking about my experience to then gathering information from other people. It's so good to hear from people that are still living  to hear their perspective and how resilient the Lower 9th Ward people can be, she says.

The museum showcases events that shaped the Lower 9th Ward from the community's perspective through oral stories and recordings from residents. Tate says it's important for residents to share their past in order to inform the future.

Maintaining not only the history of the civil rights movement but its immediacy has become an increasingly important task in recent years. Since the death of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and the end of widespread civil rights protests in the early 1970s, the era has been regarded somehow as ancient history, despite the fact that Tate and millions of others who participated in the struggle are alive and well  as is racism itself.

Our schools have segregated again. It's like white flight has taken another stand in the school system. If you don't go on the outskirts of New Orleans, you barely see white students, Tate says.

The effects arent theoretical: According to October 2021 statistics from the Louisiana Department of Education, out of the 43,982 students enrolled in Orleans Parish public schools, 32,264 of those students are Black and 3,543 are white. That doesn't reflect the demographics of the parish as a whole. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, out of the 383,997 individuals reported in the parish, 126,462 were white and 208,273 were Black.

Additionally, over the last two decades anti-civil rights forces have pushed this narrative both in politics and education, culminating in the latest push against so-called critical race theory in legislatures across the country.

The loss of history can also lead to a loss of culture in New Orleans as locals forget the stories of their communities that helped to build the city into what it is today.

We need those doors to the future. If we don't document it somewhere, it's going to be forgotten, Tate says. I was one that was reluctant about telling my story, but now visiting the schools in New Orleans I see where it's needed because the children don't know where they come from.

When people see me, she adds, they are surprised because they think it happened long ago. A lot of kids think it was during slavery times. They don't know it in their lifetime. I think it makes a difference when they see us.

Tate argues it's important for both youth and adults to learn about the civil rights movement in New Orleans, but she worries that too few educators understand the citys place in the movements history.

You can't teach what you don't know. I find that most of the teachers we have today are not from New Orleans. New Orleans has a culture that nobody has, she says.
700 Homer Plessy Way

At the corner of Royal Street and Homer Plessy Way (a renamed stretch of Press Street) sits the site of an event that led to one of the most infamous Supreme Court decisions in history, Plessy v. Ferguson.

On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy, a Treme shoemaker and Creole man of African descent, was arrested at Press Street Railroad Yards for sitting in the whites-only section of a train headed to Covington during segregation. The move was a strategic action by the Citizens Committee, which formed the year prior to fight the racist Separate Car Act, which mandated railroads provide separate train cars for Black people than for white people, according to an Xavier University project.

Since Plessy was considered  white, the Citizens Committee made sure to inform the railroad about the action in advance and even hired a private detective with arrest powers to ensure he was arrested and they could challenge the law in court. Members of the group were present for the arrest and helped pay his legal fees as the case worked its way up to the Supreme Court.

In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was constitutional as long as the facilities were separate but equal. The Supreme Court overturned that precedent in its Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. A decade later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act which legally ended segregation, though forms of segregation still exist today, including through housing discrimination, which affects the public education system.

Recently, the 19th century case made headlines again when Gov. John Bel Edwards pardoned Plessy on Jan. 5, nearly 100 years after his death. Keith Plessy and Phoebe Ferguson, the descendants of the two key figures in the case, were present.
The 1960 Dryades Protests inspired college students across the city and Louisiana to pick up the fight for equality and justice, including Oretha Castle Haley who would found the states chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality two years later.
An ICU nurse was attacked by a patient's family member Friday morning at Ochsner Medical Center  West Bank in Gretna, the hospital said Sunday.

Ochsner security and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy on duty responded, but a JPSO spokesperson said Sunday that no arrests have been made and the incident is under investigation.

"Workplace violence in any form  physical, verbal, non-verbal or emotional  is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate this behavior," Ochsner President and CEO Warner Thomas said in a statement released by the hospital.

Thomas said Ochsner is working with investigators and is planning to "press charges against the assailant to the full extent of the law."

The hospital is providing counseling services for its employees after the altercation and has bolstered security, Thomas said.

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"We would like to thank our employees who acted swiftly in a challenging and stressful situation and started emergency protocols," he said.

+2 2 arrested in murder of man gunned down at Brothers Food Mart in Harvey: JPSO Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detectives investigating a fatal shooting at a Brother's Food Mart in Harvey on Jan. 13 have arrested two su
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigators are trying to identify a man accused of attacking and severely injuring an intensive care unit nurse at Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank Campus in unincorporated Gretna Thursday night.

And Crimestoppers late Monday announced a $12,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

The suspect is a family member of a patient at the facility, hospital officials said. The Sheriff's Office released an image of the suspect taken by security cameras inside the hospital, located at 2500 Belle Chasse Highway.

The incident occurred about 11 p.m.

Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas said a relative of an ICU patient being cared for in the facility attacked the nurse.

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The nurse, who has not been identified, was knocked unconscious, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office. The nurse suffered a broken jaw and broken teeth that required surgery, according to authorities.

Sheriff's Office investigators don't know why the man attacked the nurse, Rivarde said Monday morning. When deputies arrived at the hospital, the man had already left.

In a news release Monday evening, Ochsner said it did not have new information on the condition of the nurse. On Sunday, Warner said security had been beefed up.

Later Monday, Crimestoppers said the reward of $12,500 includes $10,000 put up by Ochsner. Crimestoppers asked anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at (504) 837-8477 or through the Crimestoppers website, www.crimestoppersgno.org, or mobile App Crimestoppers GNO Say it Here.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect can also contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at 504-354-5300.
The economic outlook for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico is getting rosier, with as many as 17,500 jobs likely to be created if two wind farms take shape off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, according to a new report by the American Clean Power Association.

The industry group estimates a pair of offshore wind projects would create between 7,300 and 14,700 jobs during a likely three-year construction period and up to 2,800 permanent positions associated with operations and maintenance.

The (report) further validates the economic opportunity for south Louisiana in offshore wind, said Michael Hecht, CEO of the economic development organization Greater New Orleans Inc.

Because the Port of Houston has space limitations and is already congested with ship traffic, Hecht believes Louisiana ports, including New Orleans, Avondale and Port Fourchon, are perfectly positioned to attract the lions share of the wind operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Many Louisiana ports and industrial hubs that long served the offshore oil and gas industry could use an infusion of jobs. In Lafayette and Houma, the number of oil and gas jobs has been cut in half over the past decade. The industry now employs just 1.5% of the states workforce.

The associations offshore wind employment estimates are almost 50% higher than a similar Gulf-focused assessment published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in early 2020. But much has changed in the U.S.'s burgeoning offshore wind industry over the past two years. Turbines have grown bigger and more efficient, and proposed wind farm projects have increased in numbers and size. Two projects are now operating on the East Coast and 15 more are planned or under construction.

+16 Trouble in the wind: Offshore turbine farms complicate fishing, shrimping Shrimpers see obstacles that will make their jobs tougher, more dangerous; regulators vow to listen

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to begin leasing the Gulfs deep waters for offshore wind projects by 2025. Turbines could be spinning in the Gulf by 2028.

Leasing in the Gulf and other federal waters off the East and West coasts is likely to encompass between 2,500 and 4,400 square miles. The association estimates this combined lease area could support 40,000 megawatts of energy production and at least 73,000 construction jobs and 28,000 operations and maintenance positions.

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The federal government also stands to benefit financially from offshore wind. Lease sales, rents and operating fees could generate more than $2.7 billion over four years, according to the report. These funds are directed to the U.S. Treasury, four Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama), the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Historic Preservation Fund.

The Gulfs forecasted lease rates are on the low end compared to lease areas near New York, California and Oregon. Thats because Gulf winds are weaker and energy prices in the region are relatively low. Also, Gulf states have expressed less support for renewable energy targets, which give wind developers a more stable market for their investments. These three factors mean Gulf wind projects may generate less electricity and earn less money for every megawatt sold, making developers less likely to pay the prices BOEM may set for the East and West coasts, said Brendan Casey, one of the reports authors.

Despite the Gulfs shortcomings, several wind developers have expressed interest in building wind farms off the Texas and Louisiana coasts. The worlds two largest such firms -- Orsted of Denmark and RWE of Germany -- are particularly keen on sites off the Louisiana coast, thanks in part to Gov. John Bel Edwards goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and his Climate Initiatives Task Forces recommendation that the state draw at least 5,000 megawatts of electricity per year from offshore wind by 2035.

Hecht of GNO Inc. believes the associations report may actually underestimate the offshore wind industrys power to create jobs in Louisiana. He notes that several Louisiana companies with ties to the offshore oil and gas industry have helped design and build wind projects on the East Coast. Hosting a workforce so adept at building industrial structures in deep water means Louisiana will benefit regardless of where the projects take shape.

Thanks to its long history in offshore oil and gas, Louisiana has the unique capacity to engineer, construct, install, and service offshore wind structures not just in the Gulf, but on both U.S. coasts, as well, Hecht said.

+4 How will offshore wind energy affect marine life in the Gulf? Feds are taking a look Federal energy regulators have begun reviewing the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico, in keep
Should Capitol Lakes, the four connected lakes at the backdoor of the State Capitol building in Baton Rouge, be considered hazardous waste sites because of their contamination with cancer-causing chemicals?

Thats the question the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality quietly asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency to answer in March 2021, after equally quietly concluding it was time to reverse its 2002 decision that the lakes pollution was too low to cause health hazards.

An EPA spokesperson confirmed this week that the federal agency has begun looking into whether and how to address potentially dangerous chemicals in the water. If the EPA finds enough contamination at the site, it could include the lakes in its Superfund program, an initiative that cleans sites that pose threats to humans and the environment.

Capitol Lakes Superfund inspection area Environmental Protection Agency officials will sample for PCBs and pesticides in the green portion of this map to try to identify sources of t

The agencys review will include an expanded site inspection, with sampling for contaminants in areas possibly left untouched in past investigations, spokesperson Jennah Durant said.

The additional areas that will be sampled include drainage pathways that flow into Capitol Lakes, she said. The agency also plans to collect sediment and fish tissue samples, Durant added; a report on its findings could be released in late summer.

If the lakes or the rainwater runoff that enters them are found hazardous, money for their remediation could come from a trust fund used to pay for Superfund site cleanups. The federal government would then try to recoup their expenses from parties potentially responsible for the contamination.

A spokesperson for Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said that while the EPA did not notify the city of the change in status for the lakes, city officials are not surprised.

Its old news that the lakes are contaminated, Mark Armstrong said. We certainly favor any steps that might be taken to improve the environment out there.

There are presently 13 active Superfund sites in the state, with another three sites proposed for Superfund listing. The state has delisted 13 sites from Superfund since the program began in 1980.

Fly fishing in Capitol Lake An angler fly fishing in Capitol Lake on Jan. 8, 2022. The Louisiana Departments of Environmental Quality and Health have posted signs warnin

The Capitol Lakes were formed between 1901 and 1908 when Grassie Bayou was dammed near its entrance to the Mississippi River, creating a 4-square-mile drainage sump in what would become the state capitol area of Baton Rouge.

The lake system has served as a collection area for urban runoff ever since, receiving drainage from two unnamed canals. The only outlet for the lakes is a parish pumping station that empties into the river.

Concerns about pollution in the lake date back to the early 1970s and included a 1981 investigation that found Kansas City Southern Railroad to be a source of oil contamination. More testing in 1983 identified oily wastewater containing polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs  toxic chemicals that were used as oil for electric transformers. Those were found in a drainage canal next to a Westinghouse Electric Corp. transformer repair facility on Choctaw Drive.

It was determined that the contamination was coming from both spillage and a leaking underground storage tank, and that the PCBs were present in runoff water, canal water and water in the center of the main Capitol Lake, as well as in fish tissue samples.

Don't eat what you catch A warning sign is posted on the bank of Capitol Lake explaining an existing health advisory warning against eating lake fish contaminated with

A broader probe of the lakes pollution resulted in enforcement actions and compliance orders filed against a number of corporations, including the Kansas City railroad, Furlow-Laughlin Equipment Company Inc., American Asphalt Corporation, and the city and parish, among others. Still, none of those facilities were determined to be the source of PCBs, according to a 2018 state water quality report.

That report said that in addition to the Westinghouse site, possible sources of PCB contamination included the Louisiana Division of Administration Surplus Property Yard, U.S. Government Surplus Property Yard, and the Louisiana National Guard Armory, all located east of Capitol Lake.

By the end of 1986, Westinghouse removed PCB-contaminated soils from its property and took other actions to limit its runoff from reaching the lakes.

Quiet on the lake A woman enjoys a moment of peace and quiet in the shade while talking on the phone, Friday, April 23, 2021, along the walking path that surrou

In 2002, sampling of lake water, lake sediments, and the tissues of a number of fish species in the lake system found PCB levels greater than 5 parts per million, then the federal Food and Drug Administration limit for the chemical. A health advisory was later issued prohibiting the eating of fish from the lakes.

But DEQ also issued a statement of no further action in June 2002, concluding that contaminate concentrations in the lake system sediments and edible fish tissues will continue in a pattern of marginal decline with elapsed time, as has been the experience during the past decade.

Despite that 2002 decision, the Louisiana Department of Health and DEQ have kept in place a ban on consuming fish from the lake because of potential contamination with PCBs. The ban was reaffirmed through additional fish sampling in 1994 and 2018.

Snake at the lake A water snake makes its way through the leaves on the band of Capitol Lake at sunset, Wednesday, January 19, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Staff 

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Signs warning against eating fish taken from the lake remain in place in several locations on their shorelines.

Asked what prompted the recent request for EPA to investigate the lakes, state environmental quality spokesman Gregory Langley would only say the agency was working with EPA to suss out the lake's current pollution levels, and he pointed to documents in the states public online database for more information.

If anything changes, all interested parties will be notified, Langley said.

Two brief letters in DEQs database, both dated March 23, 2021, address the states decision to contact EPA.

The first is a one-page internal memorandum signed by Estuardo Silva, administrator of the state agencys remediation division, announcing the reversal of the 2002 no further action decision.

It was assumed that natural attenuation would result in a marginal decline in sediments and fish tissues over time, the memo said. However, more recent LDEQ sampling has shown that concentrations of contaminants of concern remain at levels that preclude the use of this water body.

Attenuation is a breakdown of the contaminant chemicals into less dangerous or safe substances. Older pesticides like DDT and dieldrin, and the insulating chemical PCB, have been known to slowly break down into less dangerous chemicals naturally, as they are exposed to sunlight or living organisms in water or soils.

The memo said that the department would transfer the site to an EPA Region 6 site assessment team for further evaluation, and that as result, the site was returned to a confirmed contamination status in state records.

The second document was a letter to Susan Weber, chief of EPAs Region 6 assessment and enforcement branch, saying the state has completed several investigations of the lakes, and current information indicates that this location may be better addressed under the federal Superfund program. The three-paragraph note pointed EPA officials to the documents in the state online database.

Remains on the lake The remains of a dead waterfowl floats on the surface of Capitol Lake, Wednesday, January 19, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Staff photo by Hilar

Also in that database was an EPA form signed Jan. 11 by Louisiana Public Lands Administrator Cheston Hill granting EPA staffers access to a large swath of state-owned land in Baton Rouge, including the four lakes and properties surrounding them.

Also in the database were photos taken by DEQ inspectors in November 2021 and January 2022 that show a man fly in one lake, line and hooks snagged in a tree adjacent to another lake, and a drainage pump station that drains water from the lakes into the Mississippi River.

DEQ did not announce its changed opinion on the lake system last year. Nor did it say it had requested a new Superfund investigation, or that it gave the EPA the greenlight to inspect the lakes earlier this month.

Trash floating on the lake Trash floats near the rocks at sunset on Capitol Lake, Wednesday, January 19, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Staff photo by Hilary Scheinuk)

The changes were also news to the Baton Rouge Audubon Society, which is working with state officials and other organizations to update the states 20-year-old birding trail system. The trails along Capitol Lake are being considered for that system, said Erik Johnson, the chapters director of conservation science.

Capitol Lakes is a popular birdwatching destination for locals and visitors alike, and offers great views of a variety of water birds, he said, adding that the lakes contamination remains a concern. You can imagine kids on family trips playing on the lawns next to the lakes.

DEQ also did not notify the state Legislature of the changes, Langley said. In 1997, the Legislature added a section to the states environmental regulations that required the lakes to be cleaned up "immediately."

The legislature declares that the cleanup and removal of the contaminants in the sediments in the lakes is a priority of the state and that the Department of Environmental Quality should move expeditiously to require the cleanup to commence immediately.

Birds of a feather A flock of waterfowl, including American White Pelicans, snowy egrets and ibis, congregate on Capitol Lake at sunset, Wednesday, January 19, 2

A provision in that section required DEQ to issue monthly status reports on remediation efforts for the lakes, which was to be delivered to the office of the governor, the House and Senate environment committees, the speaker of the house, president of the senate and the senator and representative who represent the lakes area.

The last of those reports was sent to state officials on May 26, 1999, notifying them of the expected publication the next month of new surveys on which the 2002 no further action status change was based. Langley said no additional reports were filed following the status change.
The Ronald Greene case has been disturbing since we learned that the West Monroe barber died while in Louisiana State Police custody, and it just gets messier.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has a big problem, and it just got bigger.

From the start, back in May 2019, the Louisiana State Police chase that resulted in Greenes death has been highly questionable. Initial word of a car crash fatality turned out to involve State Police violence. The story was blurry at best until Jim Mustian, of The Associated Press, uncovered and shared highly disturbing videos of that night, proof that cussing, hollering troopers intentionally battered Greene.

Who did what when since then has been left to the AP, The Advocate and other news outlets to untangle, as Edwards, State Police Superintendent Lamar Davis and others limited their public comments. More than two years had passed when, in September 2021, the governor called the state trooper actions criminal.

Now weve learned from the AP that Edwards knew about the Greene situation about 10 hours after it happened. Thats quite disturbing, and it should bother all who support the governor.

The episode happened shortly after midnight on May 10, 2019. Things developed quickly after Greenes car stopped, likely in a crash as a result of a chase with Greene speeding more than 100 mph on rural northeast Louisiana roads.

We got to do something, one trooper radioed. Hes going to kill somebody.

Greene was alive when troopers shackled his legs, handcuffed and beat him after he was out of the car. Yet the initial, official state police report said he died as a result of the crash. We now know that was an official lie.

No one died as a result of Greenes dangerous driving. Greene did die as a result of a violent encounter with state troopers.

About 10 hours after the incident, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Kevin Reeves sent a text to his big boss, the governor.

Good morning. An FYI, read the opening words of the text, obtained by The Associated Press. Early this morning, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle in Ouachita Parish. The driver fled thru two parishes in excess of 110 mph, eventually crashing. Troopers attempted to place the driver under arrest. But, a violent, lengthy struggle took place. After some time struggling with the suspect, troopers were joined by a Union Parish deputy and were able to take the suspect into custody. ... The suspect remained combative but became unresponsive shortly before EMS arrived.

Reeves told the governor the matter was under investigation.

Thank you, Edwards texted in response.

Its disturbing that Reeves described the situation as a violent, lengthy struggle yet the State Police report didnt mention State Police force. Its disturbing that Edwards didnt say anything on May 10, May 11 or May 12.

In October 2019, the governor, a Democrat, was fighting a tough campaign for reelection. Though he finished first in the primary, he was forced into a runoff with Republican businessman Eddie Rispone. A few weeks later, in November 2019, Edwards beat Rispone by a razor-thin 51.3% to 48.7% margin.

The governor knew, and knows, he owes his win to Louisiana Black voters.

Edwards won with a high Black voter turnout. In the days leading up to the runoff, the governor knew what he had to do to pull off a victory, and he knew who could deliver for him: Black politicians. He focused a lot of attention on Caddo, East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes, places with significant numbers of Black voters. He spent a lot of time with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Black City Council members and Black legislators. Certainly, he needed White people and others to vote for him, but he really needed a strong Black voter turnout.

Those tag-team visits might not have happened had those other politicians known then what we know now.

I understand the political sensitivity of the moment in 2019, but things are more sticky now. The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, Greenes mother, Attorney General Jeff Landry, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder and others are already on Edwards' case. Schexnayder said hell work with others to seek the truth and find out who knew what  and when  and hold them accountable.

Edwards must tell us what he knew, when he knew it. He must tell us hes doing more than what hes done. The text alone isnt enough to cause him to lose his job, but its enough to damage his credibility and effectiveness.
Shinglehouse, Pa. State Police in LaPorte said they received a complaint from the Criminal Investigation Northeast Computer Crime Task Force about a child abuse material investigation on Jan. 6.

After an investigation into the complaint, State Police executed a search warrant on a property near the 100 block of Englar Avenue in Potter County. Tristian Michael Roszyk, 19, of Shinglehouse was taken into custody and his devices were seized by police.

Roszyk, who has been in police custody since Dec. 2020, was charged with more than 90 felony charges after authorities discovered images and videos of underage unclothed females.

Roszyk was arraigned before Judge Kari McCleaft, who set bail at $250,000 straight cash after handing down charges that included manufacturing, possessing, and dissemination of sexual abuse of children. According to the release from State Police, a preliminary hearing will be set in the next seven to ten business days.

Task force agencies included: PSP Northeast Computer Crime Unit, FBI Williamsport, PA Office of the Attorney General, West Hazleton Borough Police Department, Hazelton City Police Department, Lackawanna County District Attorney, Lycoming County District Attorney, Luzerne County District Attorney K9 Spike, Lycoming County District Attorney, Pike County District Attorney, and Wayne County District Attorney.

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Williamsport, Pa. -- United Ways across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and United Way of Pennsylvania are calling for state legislators to join 28 other states that currently offer individual working taxpayers some tax relief in the form of an Earned Income Tax Credit.

A new economic impact study commissioned by United Way of Pennsylvania and released on Friday, Jan. 28, revealed that for every one dollar in cost to the state budget, a refundable EITC will generate a return of seven dollars from additional state and local tax income, business revenue and reduced spending on public assistance.

A refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is exactly what the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania needs in 2022. Putting taxpayer earnings back into the pockets of working households will help citizens, businesses, and government move forward from the pandemic while creating more thriving and equitable communities, said Kristen Rotz, President of United Way of Pennsylvania.

Ron Frick, President of the Lycoming County United Way said, A refundable EITC helps the individual and the economy so passage of this legislation is a win-win-win for the Commonwealth, the economy and residents in the counties we serve.

Hard working Pennsylvanians need this kind of support to make our communities stronger, added Frick.

United Way of Pennsylvania commissioned Pennsylvania State EITC: A Benefit-Cost Analysis from the University of Texas which shows:

 A 10% EITC will generate annual benefits of at least $562 million to Pennsylvanias economy after taking into account $80.5 million in direct and administrative costs to the state for implementing the refundable EITC. At a 25% credit, the expected costs are $366 million and likely benefits total at least $1.2 billion.

 A 10% EITC will generate $176 million in human services cost avoidance. At 25%, the human services cost avoidance is $213 million.

 Enacting a state-level, refundable EITC equal to 10% of the federal benefit will benefit about 10% of the states population, or nearly 716,000 households, with an average benefit of $197 per claim.

 A refundable state EITC equal to 25% of the federal credit will benefit 12% of Pennsylvanians (approximately 874,000 households) who will receive an average benefit of $594.

 Black and Hispanic families will receive a greater benefit than the state average, which will incrementally help address the income inequality that contributes to higher poverty rates and income instability in Black and Hispanic households across Pennsylvania.

 A state EITC is projected to increase workforce participation and work hours, reduce child poverty, reduce the number of low birthweight births, reduce child maltreatment and foster care entry, boost educational attainment, increase access to health insurance coverage among children, reduce violent crime and help prevent adult suicides.

 When a state EITC is combined with the current Pennsylvania tax forgiveness program, one in four Pennsylvanians would be receiving some form of state income tax relief.

A refundable state-level Earned Income Tax Credit would be a resounding win for working Pennsylvanians, our states businesses of all sizes, and state and local governments. When qualifying households receive some of their earnings back, the majority will re-invest it in the economy to help meet household needs."

"Thats why several states across the country have increased their EITC as part of a strategy to help rebound from the pandemic. 2022 is the year for Pennsylvania to step into the ranks of a majority of states who have a state earned income tax credit, Rotz said.

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If the past few weeks are any indication of things to come, Pennsylvania has found a partner that sees the value of investing in our rural communities. This partner may be from an agency that not many Americans might expect: the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

When Americans hear USDA, they usually think of food and farming. However, USDA is made up of 29 agencies with nearly 100,000 employees, who serve at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad. The Rural Development mission at USDA administers more than 50 economic development programs and investments in Pennsylvania have been steadily increasing in 2021 under the agencys Build Back Better initiative.

Over the last four fiscal years, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $3.5 billion in rural Pennsylvania through its loan and grant programs helping to expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas by supporting: infrastructure improvements, business development, housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access.

For example, on Dec. 16, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $5.2 billion investment in rural Americas critical infrastructure. This good news included grants and loans for Pennsylvania, in the amount of $11.3 million for three water and waste disposal projects in Tioga, Westmoreland, and Venango Counties. These projects will improve communities by providing new pipes for water systems and necessary upgrades for waste water treatment. Since 2018, USDA has invested more than $211 million through these Rural Development programs.

The Biden-Harris administration has made infrastructure and critical agriculture supply chain investments a priority. Recently Secretary Vilsack announced the deployment of $100 million under a new Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program. This initiative funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, will provide loan guarantees to spur private investment in processing and food supply infrastructure that strengthens the food supply chain.

This is on top of a $500 million investment to expand meat and poultry processing capacity, which is vital to Pennsylvania producers.The Department will soon publish details on the new program and how to apply as part of USDAs Build Back Better Initiative, a comprehensive plan to invest $4 billion to strengthen the resiliency of Americas food supply chain while promoting competition.

USDA also supports local efforts to adapt to our changing climate as evidenced this month during Secretary Vilsacks visit to Saubels Market in York County. During his visit to the family-owned store in Shrewsbury, Pa., the Secretary announced $1 million to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities in Pennsylvania through the Rural Energy for America Program or REAP.

Saubels Market received a $102,413 USDA REAP grant. With this funding, the small business installed solar panels on the roof of their family-owned grocery store a project which is expected to save enough energy to power 36 homes annually. Twenty-one other farms and businesses in Pennsylvania recently received REAP awards. Over the last four years Rural Developments REAP and other energy efficiency progams distributed more than $9.7 million for 140 projects.

Moving from energy savings to saving lives, in healthcare, in 2018, there were 66 acute care hospitals with roughly 7,200 beds available in rural areas of the commonwealth, according to data compiled by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Seven counties did not have hospitals. On average, there were 2.14 hospital beds for every 1,000 rural residents. Rural Development has been determined to combat this problem.

St. Lukes Carbon Campus Hospital opened its doors in November 2021. The 160,000-square-foot facility with 80 patient rooms is redefining health care access, convenience, and quality for the local community. This state of the art facility allows patients to experience their entire health care journey from primary to specialized care in a single location.

The trauma-4 rated hospital will also create new jobs and allow for recruitment of physicians from across the country. The project was funded in 2019 and consisted of a $98,500,000 Community Facilities Direct Loan which will be repaid by the borrower.

In 2020, Rural Development invested in the construction of a 240-bed three-story skilled nursing facility in Centre County (Centre Care, Incorporated) that serves a significant portion of the Medicaid population in the area. Also, Rural Development funded a new, 123-unit assisted living facility in Bucks County (LifeQuest). Since 2018, the Rural Development Community Facilities program has administered more than $293 million in health care loans within Pennsylvania.

USDA Rural Development is firmly committed to fulfilling the promise of improving opportunity for rural communities through the agencys Build Back Better initiative, and we look forward to making further investments in Pennsylvania in 2022.

--

Bob Morgan is Pennsylvania's current State Director of USDA Rural Development. As State Director, he will use his leadership experience to oversee Rural Development programs to provide greater economic opportunities throughout the Commonwealth.

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Sunbury, Pa. A womans face was covered in blood and her front teeth were broken and pushed back into her mouth after a man allegedly struck her with a closed fist.

Sunbury Police said they spoke with the woman on Jan. 24 after she was able to report the assault. According to the report, Earnest Cornelious Hart, 27, of Sunbury admitted to striking the woman in the face.

Earnest allegedly got into an argument with the woman, who was struck as she attempted to retrieve items from an apartment near the 200 block of S Fourth Street in Sunbury.

Hart was arraigned and held on $10,000 monetary bail after he was charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, second-degree simple assault, and harassment. Hart is being held at the Northumberland County Jail as he awaits a Feb. 8 preliminary hearing.

Docket sheet

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Tillamook, OR (97141)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

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Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Local

Cave Spring City Council to adopt zoning ordinance Monday

Cave Spring City Hall, in the historic 1848 Fannin Hall on the former campus of the Georgia School for the Deaf, got a $2.6 million renovation through the 2013 SPLOST. / file

The Cave Spring City Council plans to adopt the towns first zoning ordinance and the accompanying map at a called meeting Monday.

This will be the second time the council will try to institute the ordinance, after Mayor Rob Ware vetoed their second reading at another meeting earlier this month.

Ware vetoed the ordinance on the advice of City Attorney Frank Beacham, who explained that the first and second readings shouldve been done consecutively and that the second reading wasnt valid since it wasnt on the original agenda sent out to the public.

Because of this, the readings werent given proper public notification prior to adoption for a second and final reading.

The process of instituting a zoning ordinance and map was reset at a called meeting on Jan. 19. The councilmembers were then cleared to hold a second and final reading for the ordinance after 10 days have passed.

Charles Jackson is the only councilmember who didnt voice approval for the zoning ordinance, saying he believes its been hastily put together and its not what Cave Spring needs.

Cave Spring currently has no zoning within the city limits. The proposed ordinance would classify lots in the small town as one of four types:

 R-1: Agricultural-Residential for single family detached homes on large lots.

 R-2: Medium Density Multi-Family Residential for mixtures of single family homes, duplexes and apartments situated close together.

 C-1: Limited Commercial for retail, restaurants, offices and banks.

 C-2: General Commercial/Light Industrial for light manufacturing and higher traffic.

There will not be a board of adjustments or planning commission like Rome and Floyd County share. All rezoning requests would go before the Cave Spring City Council for a ruling.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Monday at Fannin Hall at 10 Georgia Ave.
RWE has collaborated with Inmarsat to bring IoT connectivity to its hydroelectric power stations in rural Snowdonia, Wales. Inmarsat claims that its network provides 99.9 percent coverage, which aids RWE in reliability and safety. IoT data also tracks weather conditions and increases efficiency in electricity production.

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RWE, a German power company in the UK, has partnered with satellite operator, Inmarsat, to implement satellite IoT connectivity to its hydroelectric power stations in rural northwest Wales.

RWE power stations are located in the mountains of Snowdonia, which receives the most amount of rainfall in Wales, providing suitable conditions for hydroelectric power generation. However, connectivity is unreliable and satellite technology integration has been proposed as a solution. IoT devices deliver up-to-date data instead of requiring staff to travel to the remote locations to gather measurements.

Inmarsat's ELERA network connects across RWE's IoT-connected power stations and has an astounding 99.9 percent availability. Sensors record rainfall, air, humidity, water levels and temperatures at intervals. This recorded data is then used to optimize electricity output while reducing environmental impact.

John McNab, Operations and Maintenance Engineer at RWE, posited that up-to-date data provided by the IoT connectivity aids in planning of maintenance by ensuring safety for workers during harsh weather conditions. McNab also stated that the data also helps in decision making when supplying renewable energy to its customers.

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Leo Snarr Jr. created quite a stir in Strasburg in 1942 when he convinced his friend to announce the Germans were planning to invade the Shenandoah Valley.
A Sheetz convenience store has been proposed for this land at the corner of Reliance and North Buckton roads, near Interstate 81 exit 302 in Middletown. Signs protesting the proposal have been placed at the site.
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CHICAGO  The Shedd Aquarium is releasing a new children's book about penguins, which will be published by HarperCollins/Tommy Nelson Publishers in March.

Edward and Annie: A Penguin Adventure follows rockhopper penguins Edward and Annie in their field trips around the aquarium. The penguin couple went viral on social media during the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns in spring 2020 when the aquarium was closed to the public and they were free to roam.

People from all seven continents responded to the viral videos of their adventures, which are now recreated in the illustrated children's book. Intended for children of all ages, it recounts their romps of wonder and merriment as they ponder, "Where did everyone go?"

Suburban Chicago resident Caryn Rivadeneira, an award-winning author of "Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible" and "Saints of Feather and Fang: How the Animals We Love and Fear Connect Us to God," wrote the book. It was illustrated by Kat Tannis, a children's book author and illustrator who is pursuing a master's degree in biology at Miami University in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Edward and Annies field trips illustrate the curiosity that the aquatic animal world can inspire in all of us, said Peggy Sloan, Chief Animal Operations Officer at Shedd Aquarium. We are thrilled to see Edward, Annie and so many other incredible Shedd residents immortalized in a new book that will inspire the next generation of animal lovers.

Edward and Annie explore the marine world in the aquarium in Chicago's museum campus and all the excitement it holds, encountering many surprises until returning to the penguin habitat at the end of the day, when they're all tuckered out.

Proceeds from the book will help benefit penguin conservation in the wild and care of the penguins at the Shedd Aquarium, a Smithsonian Institute affiliate that is home to more than 32,000 aquatic animals belonging to 1,500 different species.

The aquarium, which is visited by 2 million people every year, has helped rehabilitate and release endangered African penguins from South Africa.

The book comes out March 1.

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CROWN POINT  Indiana University Health awarded Ivy Tech Community College an $8.75 million grant to expand its nursing program amid the nursing shortage the state is facing.

The grant will be used to support expanded enrollment, such as faculty and staff recruiting and compensation, educational equipment and supportive services for students.

There are 18 nursing programs across all Ivy Tech campuses, including a program at its Lake County and Valparaiso locations. There will be a program launching at its Hamilton County campus by early 2023.

Ivy Tech graduates more than 1,300 associate-degree nursing students every year. Most Ivy Tech nursing graduates also remain in Indiana, according to the college.

Ivy Tech said it is developing a plan to increase nursing enrollment, including investments in equipment, supplies and faculty. The college estimates the investments will require $8.7 million in recurring costs over three years and $12.1 million in one-time costs.

This grant will be a huge step in helping Ivy Tech meet the needs of our health system partners in a real and practical way, Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech, said in a news release. Our ability to educate nurses and keep them in our state will create real value for our economy and the health of Indiana. Were very proud to partner with IU Health and appreciate its investment in our program.

The news release shows that labor market data estimates 4,300 annual openings for nurses today, with a need for another 5,000 by 2031.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections from 2019 to 2029, registered nursings workforce is expected to grow from 3 million in 2019 to 3.3 million in 2019, a 7% increase.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, one of the main factors contributing to the nursing shortage is that nursing enrollment is not growing fast enough. Another contributor is that colleges and universities are unable to employ enough nursing faculty, leading to enrollment caps.

AACNs report on 2019-20 enrollment and graduations in baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing says U.S. nursing schools turned away 80,407 qualified applicants in 2019 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space and clinical preceptors, as well as budget constraints.

The expanded nursing program will increase nursing admissions at Ivy Tech by 600 students annually by 2025.

Our health care systems in Indiana are in critical need of skilled nurses, and Ivy Tech is well-positioned to deliver on this need, said Jason Gilbert, IU Health executive vice president and chief nurse executive, in a news release. Currently there are qualified applicants each year in Indiana who are turned away from nursing schools due to limitations on teaching space, clinical placement availability and faculty resources.

Jennifer Philbin, the dean of nursing for the Lake County campus, said there is a huge demand from students interested in the nursing program at her campus. She said they have 200 applicants a year for only 40 spots available.

Philbin said the grant will help because the biggest barrier of growth in the campus is a shortage of professors. The grant will allow the college to recruit additional professors and put in more infrastructure to increase interest.

Were very fortunate and very appreciative, Philbin said. Because we are Indianas community college, IU probably chose us to grow enrollment.

She said a lot of interest is due to the central location of Crown Point and the low tuition cost.

DeeDee Marinaro, dean of nursing for the Valparaiso campus, said she has already seen interest from students now that they are expanding the program. She said currently the school of nursing at her campus has 216 students.

Marinaro said she is very excited for the grant and feels that it shows a lot of statewide support for Ivy Tech.

It shows that we produce good graduates and they want us to produce more, Marinaro said. It shows trust in the work we are doing and what students we are producing.

She said that her specific campus has already started making improvements. The campus introduced a new simulation lab for nursing students in February 2021.

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The SAT, one of the most commonly used standardized tests in the United States, will be delivered digitally as of 2024, the College Board announced Tuesday.

In addition, the test will also be shorter. It will be only two hours long in comparison to the previous three-hour test.

The College Board piloted the digital SAT in November 2021 in the U.S. and internationally. The results showed 80% of students saw it as less stressful and 100% of educators reported a positive experience.

Students will be able to use their own device or a school issued device for the SAT. If a device is not available, College Board will provide one to use on test day. If connection issues are faced, the new SAT is designed to ensure students will not lose work or time while reconnecting.

The digital test will also be unique, making it more secure and difficult to share answers.

Northwest Indiana will be impacted by this change, as Indiana currently requires high schools to administer the SAT as a required standardized test. Indiana is one of many states to require the SAT, as only 13 currently require the ACT.

Local schools react to the change, discuss transition

Kerchell Hobson, director of secondary education for Gary Community School Corp., said the change is expected given the pandemic.

Navigating through the uncharted waters of the pandemic led us down the path of the unknown, Hobson said. We are preparing our students for every possible scenario.

Sarah Castaneda, director of secondary education for Lake Central School Corp., said a major concern about the shift to an online assessment is that students lose the ability to write directly on the test. Although online assessments often have tools to help students annotate and write down steps they take, Castenada said it can be difficult for students to use them.

She said that Lake Central is hopeful the change will have minimal impact, especially as students are accustomed to taking tests online, such as ILEARN and IREAD-3.

To prepare for the transition, Lake Central is using Khan Academy, which has free SAT prep resources and full length SAT tests. Students are able to link their College Board accounts and PSAT results directly to Khan Academy, allowing them to practice areas where they need to improve.

Brent Martinson, principal of Chesterton High School, said that while it is different, many students are already used to digital tests.

It will be a bit of a change, but moving forward it will be all they know, Martinson said.

Castaneda did say the shorter test length may help students who experience test fatigue, and she hopes it will have a positive impact.

Bob Snyder, assistant principal of the guidance department for The School Town of Munster, said the shortening of reading passages will help students significantly. He said some students experience challenges focusing on longer passages while being timed.

Snyder said he thinks test security is the key reason for changing to a virtual test.

It will be difficult for students to gain unfair advantages during the test, Snyder said.

Colleges across country embrace test optional movement

According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, at least 1,785 colleges in the U.S. will not require testing to enroll in fall 2022. More than 76% of all U.S. bachelor-degree granting institutions practice test-optional or test-blind admissions.

Standardized tests are brutal for our students who are not strong test takers. Some students feel so much anxiety and stress about taking tests like the SAT or ACT, and others are just not good test takers, Castaneda said in an email. These same students, however, may really excel in the classroom and possess the skills that are most in demand right now by employers: communication, teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, and adaptability.

Castaneda said colleges and universities that put too much emphasis on SAT and ACT scores may miss out on students. She said she thinks that is why higher education is diminishing these tests importance in a college application.

Martinson said tests are only one factor that universities should be considering.

Its important to note that all students are more than any test score can articulate, Martinson said. Success isnt defined by any one test score, nor any particular grade in school. Working hard every day and treating others with kindness and respect is really what matters.

Several states have extended the movement beyond individual colleges decisions. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation in July 2021 to require all public colleges and universities in the state to offer test-optional admissions. Similar movements have occurred in Colorado, Montana and Washington.

Purdue University Northwest is one college that is test optional for the 2021 and 2022 admission cycles. According to its website, no advantages will be given to students who choose to take standardized tests and no penalty will be given for those who do not.

Indiana University Northwest began its test optional policy with students applying for the 2021 terms, so students who applied after August 1, 2020. However, IUN does require the test scores for some students, including homeschooled students, students who attended schools with non-traditional evaluation methods and student athletes subject to NCAA eligibility standards.

Students applying to Valparaiso University are also able to go test-optional. The policy was created on an experimental basis for the 2021-22 school year and will be reviewed following the 2022-23 academic year.

Several universities indicate their test-optional policies do not mean that they are no longer competitive. Students who apply will be evaluated based on other factors, such as grades and written essays.

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CROWN POINT  A judge had a Merrillville man clasped in handcuffs and led out of a Lake County courtroom to a jail cell.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez imprisoned 20-year-old Casey J. Hall Jr. for his guilty plea to assisting in the murder of Erik Lozano, 34, of East Chicago, in 2019.

The judge could have released Hall for having assisted the prosecution in winning the conviction of the victims murderer, Christian O. Mora.

Hall has already served 16 months of the two-year sentence the judge imposed Friday.

Hall was gainfully employed and told the judge, Im aware of what Ive done. I take full responsibility. Its a place I dont want to be at anymore, Hall told the judge.

Judge Vasquez was not appeased.

The judge noted Hall was adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent several times for robbery and theft and has a charge of marijuana possession pending against him in Porter County.

Assisting a criminal after a killing by putting the (victims) body in a car trunk and dumping this poor souls body in a lake to conceal a murder, ... I have half a mind to reject your plea (deal)," Vasquez said.

"I remand you to serve the full remaining (42 days) of your sentence. You should be ashamed, Vasquez said Friday as Hall was led off to jail.

The judge said it isnt clear whether Hall will serve his remaining 42 days at the county jail in Crown Point or be transferred to a state prison.

Hall pleaded guilty last August to being with Christian O. Mora, 20, on Dec. 1, 2019, when Mora fatally stabbed 34-year-old Erik Lozano in East Chicago during a drug-related robbery.

Hall helped put Lozano's body in the trunk of Mora's car and later assisted in moving the body into Grand Boulevard Lake in Lake Station.

Mora pleaded guilty last fall to a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the victims death and is serving a 20-year sentence.

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Beginning this month, Auburn University is waiving admission application fees for students from eight of Alabamas Historically Black College and Universities, or HBCUs, interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in one of the universitys more than 190 graduate degree programs.

Designed to encourage enrollment in graduate school, the waiver program is one of several efforts the university is undertaking to strengthen its academic partnerships with HBCUs and encourage diversity in graduate education across the state. The waiver program follows Auburns recent initiatives with students at HBCUs, including a partnership with Tuskegee University and The Future Scholars Summer Research Bridge Program.

Alabama maintains more HBCUs than any other state in the U.S., providing a critical role in educating the next generation of diverse professionals. On average, 70 percent of Americas Black doctors earned a degree from an HBCU, with 50 percent of Black engineers and teachers and 35 percent of Black lawyers pursing undergraduate and graduate degrees. By creating additional opportunities for academically talented students, the waiver incentivizes students to remain in Alabama and consider Auburn University for graduate school.

Creating more pathways for students to attend Auburn graduate programs will strengthen our university and add incredible value to our community, said George Flowers, dean of the Graduate School. We need the states top talent in our programs and are looking forward to deepening our relationships with HBCUs to better identify, open doors and welcome students who are interested in continuing their education here at Auburn.

Eligible HBCUs include Alabama A&M University in Huntsville; Alabama State University in Montgomery; Concordia University in Selma; Miles College in Fairfield; Oakwood University in Huntsville; Stillman College in Tuscaloosa; Talladega College in Talladega; and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee.

We are excited to work with the Graduate School on such a meaningful initiative to incentivize students from HBCUs in our own backyard to consider Auburn for post-graduate programs, said Taffye Benson Clayton, associate provost and vice president for inclusion and diversity. This partnership is one of a number of ways we are working to advance Auburns commitment to proactively work to eliminate barriers facing underrepresented community members and build a diverse campus community.

For general questions about Auburns Graduate School, applicants can visit the official Graduate School website or email gradadm@auburn.edu. For more information on Auburns commitment, initiatives and progress toward building a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus, visit the Office of Inclusion and Diversity site and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page.
A pirate on HF

During December of last year, and again throughout January, a pirate station transmitted on 80 and 40 meters, using USB. The strong signal was heard across Europe.

The pirate broadcasted italian and english language messages against Covid-19 measures, but the audio was frequently distorted by overmodulation.

The German DARC DF-team found an approximate location in Italy, and informed the Bundesnetzagentur who in turn contacted their Italian counterparts. The broadcasts have stopped since.

IRTS
CHESTERTON  A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was found to be twice the legal limit for drinking and driving after crashing her delivery truck into the garage door of a home, police said.

Chesterton police said 48-year-old Rebecca Conrad denied drinking that day, but she was found with eight "shooter" bottles of the alcoholic drink 99 Bananas in her purse, and seven were empty.

Conrad faces several misdemeanor counts of operating while intoxicated, according to the incident report.

Police said they were called shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday and met with the local postmaster, who told them his employee did not appear to be acting unusual.

A homeowner told police she heard a crash and went outside to discover the mail truck had backed into her overhead garage door leaving large dents, broken glass and knocking it off its tracks.

Conrad told officers she was delivering mail and backed into the driveway of a home in the 400 block of Cypress Lane to turn around when she collided with the door due to "wonky" curbs, police said. Police found the driveway free of ice or snow and said they smelled alcohol on Conrad's breath.

Conrad initially refused to take part in field sobriety tests, saying they were unnecessary, police said. After being unable to complete two of the three field sobriety tests, failing to provide adequate breath samples at the police station and refusing to take part in a blood draw, officers obtained a warrant for blood and the result was 0.176 or just more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to the report.

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SOUTH HOLLAND  Terry Wells paid tribute to his predecessor after being elected chairman of the South Suburban College Board of Trustees at a recent meeting.

Wells, of Phoenix, was first appointed to the board in 2001. He succeeds Frank Zuccarelli, the board chairman since 1987, who died Jan. 3.

"I would like to thank the board for their confidence in me," Wells said in a statement. "No one can replace Chairman Zuccarelli. We now have a huge void in our lives with his passing and with our recent loss of John Daly  they represent over 75 years of combined experience and service to South Suburban College.

"Our goal must be to work together to ensure Frank's programs are continued and his aspirations are fulfilled. His dream for the Allied Health & Nursing Center will become Frank Zuccarelli's legacy."

Daly died Nov. 11 and was replaced on the board by Vincent E. Lockett, of Country Club Hills. Trustee Vivian Payne, who also serves as village clerk of Lansing, was elected to replace Daly as the board's vice chair.

Wells also has been mayor of the village of Phoenix since 1993. He's a retired history teacher at Thornton High School and past president of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association.

To fill Zuccarelli's seat on the board, trustees selected Prince Reed, of South Holland.

Reed, a Building Owners and Managers Association certified master facility executive, is senior director of asset and facilities management for DaVita Kidney Care. He also is in his second term as village trustee in South Holland and is a licensed and ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ Inc., serving at Christ Community Church in South Holland.

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A fatal car accident occurred Sunday morning at the intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and Ramblewood Drive in Highland.

A silver 2020 Hyundai Accent, driven by a 70-year-old woman from Munster, was traveling east on Ramblewood and entered the intersection on a green signal when it was struck on the driver's side by the front of a blue 2009 Volvo, driven by a 51-year-old woman from Highland.

The 70-year-old woman was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Lake County coroners office. The 51-year-old woman has been transported to Community Hospital for injuries.

Highland Police Department responded to the scene around 9 a.m. Sunday. The Lake County coroner's office determined time of death to be 10:20 a.m.

The identity of the deceased will not be released at this time.

The crash is still under investigation. Reconstruction of the crash is being done by Lake County Sheriffs Departments Reconstruction Team members.

Several other law enforcement officers assisted Highland at the scene, including the Highland Fire Department, Lake County Sheriffs Department, Griffith Police Department, Highland VIPS, Griffith VEST and Superior Ambulance Service.

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VALPARAISO  The Porter County Health Department is getting two new vehicles, one of them to help its response to the pandemic.

Department Administrator Letty Zepeda got permission from the County Council to spend $84,000 to buy the vehicles and $200,000 for COVID vaccine and test site employees.

One of the new vehicles will be for the nursing division and one for the environmental division.

Were testing and vaccinating almost every day, Zepeda said, and the single vehicle used for both divisions has been racking up a lot of miles.

Councilman Andy Bozak, R-at large, asked Zepeda about testing sites serving the Chesterton area.

Thats one of the pop-ups were concerned about, Zepeda said. Another, on Roosevelt Road in Valparaiso, wasnt allowed because the Health Department wasnt satisfied with what they proposed, she said.

Sites under investigation in the county remain closed, Zepeda said.

The Health Department regularly shares information on social media as well as on the countys website to let people know about available testing sites in the county.

At-home testing kits are useful, but the Health Department sees a number of patients who want confirmation of an at-home kits result. Schools want something more solid than an at-home kits result, she said.

A strike team will come to Porter County this week, which will help the department respond to the COVID emergency, she said.

In other business, the council delayed action on a request to change an assistant director into a deputy director for the E-911 operation. The council wants its attorney to weigh in on the ramifications of the title change  the salary will remain the same  before saying yes.

Toni Downing, chief deputy auditor, explained to the council that a deputy director can sign off on some paperwork that an assistant director cannot. The difference is being officially deputized, she said.

E-911 Director Tony Stua said it would be helpful for a deputy to be able to sign off on payroll when hes on vacation. But thats something only the director can do, Downing said.

That was the practice in the department before he took over, Stua said. That raised eyebrows.

If that was the practice before, shouldnt the auditors office have caught it, Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd, asked.

The council also punted action until next month on Sheriff David Reynolds request to spend $250,000 for license plate readers at various locations throughout the county. This technology is helpful when solving cases like drug trafficking as well as amber alerts and silver alerts.

But the legal ad announcing the request said $25,000 instead of $250,000, council Vice President Mike Jessen, R-4th, pointed out. It needs to be advertised again.

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The past three weekends, I have found myself shivering on the concrete of local playgrounds, because of my least favorite pandemic-related cultural change: outdoor childrens birthday parties in subarctic temperatures. I never thought I would miss the acrid smell of the dirty carpet at Brooklyns finest indoor bounce house emporium and mediocre pizza dispensary, but I really, really do. At least I didnt have to wear a parka and two sweaters inside.

Despite at least two more months of frigid weather here in the Northeast, I will persist, because my kids are so happy at these birthday parties  and they are also not cold. Their little heads get sweaty under their hats and they end up unzipping their jackets, as my husband and I watch, huddled together for warmth.

Part of the reason theyre not cold is obvious: They dont stop moving. They jump up and down while we are just standing there, said Dr. Francesco Celi, chair of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Virginia Commonwealth University. But theres also an anatomic reason that kids dont feel as cold as adults tend to, and it has to do with the amount of brown fat that babies and children have.

Brown fat is a specialized fat, whose primary role is to generate heat, said Dr. Michael Symonds, professor emeritus at the University of Nottingham in England, who has studied brown fats role in energy balance. A gram of brown fat produces 300 times more heat than any other tissue in the body, Dr. Symonds said.
Now working on a new study of how estrangement affects grief, Dr. Pillemer sees among those studied unfinished business and bereavement-related regrets. They have more complicated grief, he said in an interview. His advice, when possible, is to consider reconciliation, especially if death is expected or imminent, asking the question: Will I feel better if I do this? He said anticipated regret is very common. People talked about it a lot. Will I miss the chance to reconnect?

For Harriet Brown, author of Shadow Daughter: A Memoir of Estrangement, her mothers death at 76 was emotionally complicated. Ms. Brown had left home at 16 and never returned. But the day we spoke, the ninth anniversary of her mothers death, Ms. Brown said she had cried. She wasnt a good mother to me. I never felt mothered, so its a different kind of grief about what is never going to happen. I miss what I longed for and that I never had, Ms. Brown said.

She did try to visit her mother in the hospital, where she was sedated and on a ventilator, hoping to offer moral support to her father and sister. But when Ms. Brown saw her mother again she felt such terror instead, realizing anew why she was estranged, and glad of her decision to end the relationship.

Kaitlyn Luce, an artists manager in Nashville, lost her father, then 64, in October 2015, when she was 25. He had suffered a massive stroke and was in a Florida hospital. A 15-hour drive is a long time to think about what youre going into, she said. Her father, who had alcoholism and bipolar disorder, had been physically and verbally abusive to her for years, Ms. Luce said. I hadnt been speaking to him for about a year and had told him I didnt want a relationship with him. I really couldnt put up with it anymore.

She went to his hospital room, but didnt see or speak to him. I immediately broke down, she recalled. One of the things I tried to figure out was how I was going to say goodbye to my dad since the possibility of him coming through this was slim to none. I didnt have a good answer.
ALBANY, N.Y.  New York Democrats on Sunday proposed a starkly partisan redesign of the states congressional map that would be one of the most consequential in the nation, offering the partys candidates an advantage in 22 of the state's 26 House districts in this falls midterm election.

Party leaders in Albany insisted that the redrawn districts were not politically motivated, but the map immediately exposed Democrats to charges that they were engaging in the same kind of gerrymandering that many in the party have denounced as anti-democratic and accused Republicans of carrying out elsewhere.

The proposed lines promise to be a major boon for the party for a decade to come, beginning with a hard-fought national battle with Republicans this year for control of the House of Representatives. With President Bidens agenda hanging in the balance, Democratic gains in New York could help offset those Republicans expect to rack up in red states like Texas, Florida and Georgia.

With the stroke of a pen they can gain three seats and eliminate four Republican seats, said Dave Wasserman, a national elections analyst with the Cook Political Report, who called the proposed lines an effective gerrymander by Democrats.
FLORENCE, Italy  Walking past the Botticellis, Raphaels and Michelangelos at the Uffizi Gallery, one could understandably be surprised to come upon self-portraits by the Ethiopian artist Tesfaye Urgessa and the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

At a time when museums all over the world have been examining how to tell a more inclusive story about art, the Uffizi has been slower to catch up, hamstrung by its legacy as one of Europes leading classical museums and by tourists expecting to see historys greatest hits.

But since becoming director in 2015, Eike Schmidt has slowly been trying to integrate more contemporary art, to increase the presence of female artists and artists of color and to reach a younger, more diverse audience.

The Uffizi very rarely in the past had contemporary art exhibitions, Schmidt said in a recent interview at the museum. It was seen as intruding on these sacred halls.
The account offered in another book raises the question of how new such hybrid conflicts really are. Jianglin Li, in WHEN THE IRON BIRD FLIES: Chinas Secret War in Tibet (Stanford University Press, $35), provides many startling details about how the Chinese Communist Party cracked down on Tibetans from 1956 through 1962.

The work of Li, an independent scholar born in China, has an aspect of a detective story because the Chinese government has never disclosed much of what happened. She notes that an official 10-volume history of the Peoples Liberation Army published in 2000 contained only two sentences about the Tibet campaigns. Li concludes that perhaps 456,000 Tibetans were killed or captured.

Tibetan resistance to Communist Party collectivization and antireligious campaigns began in Tibetan areas of Sichuan and other western Chinese provinces. Chinese forces wielded mortars, artillery pieces and other modern weaponry, while Tibetans fought back with flintlock muskets, and sometimes even swords, spears and rocks.

Does any of this matter now, decades later? I think so. As I read Lis study, I thought of the current Chinese government crackdown on the Uyghurs of far northwestern China. I suspect that many of the lessons the Communist Party learned in Tibet are being applied now. And perhaps someone in a remote part of western China is saying something similar to what a courageous old Tibetan told Chinese officials when he stood at a mass party rally in Sichuan in 1956. Those remarks are worth quoting at length because they are so plain, moving and universal. My name is Shanam Ma, he began.

I am a poor man and an old one, as you all can see. There are a few things that have to be said here today and it is best that I say them. Since I am poor, I have nothing to lose; since I am old, death will come soon anyway. I have this to say to you Chinese. Ever since you entered our land, we have barely been able to tolerate your behavior.  What do you mean you will give us land, when all the land you can see around you has been ours since the beginning of time? Our ancestors gave it to us, and you cannot give it to us again. Who has given you the right to force your way into our country and push your irrational ideas onto us? We are Tibetans and you are Chinese. Go back to your homes and to your people. We do not need you here.
The pharmaceutical company Novavax said on Monday that it had submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration seeking authorization for its long-delayed protein-based coronavirus vaccine.

It is not clear what, if any, role Novavaxs vaccine will play in the United States if it wins clearance. The federal government ordered 110 million doses of the shot in two deals reached with the company in 2020, but the United States is now flush with other vaccines and does not need more supplies.

Stan Erck, Novavaxs chief executive, said in a statement that the company was working closely with the United States government to develop a plan which includes doses, manufacturing, timing, and ongoing clinical trial research for boosters and pediatrics to support their pandemic response.

Novavaxs vaccine uses a more conventional approach than the vaccines that were more swiftly developed and authorized. That could make it appealing to people who are hesitant to be inoculated with vaccines like those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna that use the newer messenger RNA technology. Novavaxs product uses tiny particles studded with viral proteins, mixed with an immune-boosting compound known as an adjuvant. The vaccine is given as two shots, spaced three weeks apart.
ICQPodcast - Amateur TV and the British Amateur TV Club

In this episode, Martin Butler (M1MRB) is joined by Edmund Spicer M0MNG, Ed Durrant DD5LP and Leslie Butterfield G0CIB to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief and in the episode's feature is a discussion with Dave CRUMP G8GKQ about Amateur TV and the BATC.

We would like to thank Wes Nairne and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

Two Radio Amateurs Appointed to the FCC Technological Advisory Council

US Airlines Warn of Impending 5G Flight Disruption

ARES Activates as Fire Destroys 1,000 Colorado Homes

German North Pole DXpedition

Researchers Build World's Smallest Antenna Using DNA

Online Classes Help Boost Ham Radio in India

RSGB Release Board Proceedings

Advisory Board Aims to Encourage Youth into Ham Radio

The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com
Some large national employers are maintaining their vaccine mandates in Texas and Florida by applying them only to people entering their offices. Whether that approach keeps companies out of the cross hairs of state officials could be tested when more workers are required to return to the office.

For example, the money management company Vanguard, which requires its U.S. workers to be vaccinated to enter its offices, will extend that same requirement to the Dallas office it plans to open this year. The private equity firm Blackstone, which is requiring vaccines and boosters for U.S. workers to enter its offices, is maintaining that policy in Florida.

The oil giant BP, whose 3,500 Houston office employees are working remotely, is requiring employees to be vaccinated or tested twice weekly and wear masks once they start going back in person.

Checkr, a human resources technology company that is opening a new office in Orlando, Fla., this spring, created a task force that monitors state regulations to set Covid safety policies for each of the companys five U.S. locations and 845 employees. Employees in the San Francisco office have to wear masks, while those in the Denver office do not  though in both locations everyone going into the office has to be vaccinated.

The company says it has yet to make a decision about vaccination or masking policies for the Florida office, citing uncertainty about the states regulations.

Weve had to be really flexible, recognizing the virus is shifting and our understanding of whats a safe work environment has changed, said Linda Shaffer, Checkrs chief people and operations officer. Do I wish it wasnt that way? Of course. Everyone wishes that.

Brooks Barnes contributed reporting.
Sound science makes it clear that we need to limit mercury and toxins in the air to protect children and vulnerable communities from dangerous pollution, said Michael Regan, the E.P.A. administrator. E.P.A. is committed to aggressively reducing pollution from the power sector so that all people, regardless of ZIP code or amount of money in their pocket, can breathe clean air and live healthy and productive lives.

E.P.A. officials had completed work to restore the mercury policy last fall, when they sent it to the White House for review. But administration officials put a hold on the policy, worried that it would antagonize industry and lawmakers just as President Biden was seeking support for his climate and social policy bill known as Build Back Better, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

After negotiations over Build Back Better collapsed in December, administration officials decided to move forward with the mercury policy while congressional Democrats try to salvage the legislation.

Environmental advocates praised the renewed enforcement of the mercury rule, which was the first federal standard to require power plants to install expensive scrubber technology to reduce emissions of the neurotoxin. At the time of the Trump administration rollback, many environmental law experts saw it as a first step toward eliminating other pollution limits.

This was all an effort by the Trump administration to make the case for limiting future regulations, to make it harder to regulate the industry, said Matthew Davis, a former E.P.A. official who helped to write the mercury rule and then left government in part because the Trump administration sought to weaken it. Mr. Davis now works for the League of Conservation Voters, an advocacy group.

When the Obama administration crafted the mercury rule, it estimated it would cost the industry $9.6 billion a year, making it the most expensive clean-air regulation in history. It also valued the direct public health benefits of reducing mercury at $6 million a year  less than the cost to industry.

But then it tallied the co-benefits of installing the scrubbers: a reduction in other pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and fine particulate soot, which are linked to heart, brain, lung and respiratory diseases. Those related benefits were estimated to be worth $80 billion over five years, including the prevention of 4,700 heart attacks, 130,000 asthma attacks and 11,000 premature deaths annually.
Monkfish livers are rightly touted as the foie gras of the sea. Nialls Fallon, Leah Campbell and Nick Perkins, restaurateurs and lovers of fine tinned seafood, are importing a delectable alternative: cod livers from Iceland. Use the smooth, buttery pieces as a spread on toast, to top grilled fish or to fold into pasta sauce. But once you open the can, use it all; it doesnt keep well. The livers are one of three seafood products sold by Minnow, a new offshoot of their restaurants Harts, Cervos and the Fly. Lovely little sardines from Spain and wild Bristol Bay sockeye salmon are also available.

Minnow Wild Sockeye Salmon, $13.99 for 7.5 ounces; Minnow Cod Liver, $8.99 for 4.3 ounces; Minnow Sardines, $10.99 for 4.2 ounces, minnowworld.com.

Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.
To help you find compelling and overlooked stories, past and present, you might begin by searching The Timess Race/Related Topics page or by exploring these outside resources:

V. Reflect on the Meaning and Lessons of Black History, Continued

What are the big takeaways from the series for you? How has it changed how you see Black history  and American history as a whole? How successful is the series in reaching its goals? Choose one or more of the prompts below in writing or in discussion with a partner:

What are your reactions to the articles you read and the series as a whole? What does it make you think and feel? How does the series affect how you think about Black history?

Shelton Johnson, a park ranger featured in one of the articles in the series, said: A storyteller is a healer and a good story has always been good medicine. The right story at the right time can heal the world. Do you agree? What is the power of storytelling and the stories explored in the series? How have the words, images and stories in this series affected, touched, enlightened or moved you? Which moments and details stand out and why?

How do the subjects, themes and stories explored in Black History, Continued relate to your own life and experiences, and those of your family and community? What wisdom, inspiration and life lessons can you draw?

How Black history is taught in schools is still a battleground today. For example, a new Texas law forbids teaching that slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of the United States. A recent Florida rule bans the teaching of the 1619 Project in public schools. Published in 2019 by The New York Times Magazine, the 1619 Project aims to reframe the countrys history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the United States national narrative. And to date, more than 20 states  including New Hampshire, Michigan and Arkansas  have introduced regulations that restrict teaching about race and racism. What do you think of these efforts to restrict how schools teach about Black history, race and racism?

In How Negro History Week Became Black History Month and Why It Matters Now, Veronica Chambers concludes:

Why does Black History Month in particular, and the study of Black history overall, still matter so much? Theres no question that history is and continues to be a battleground. The origin stories that we tell matter a great deal for where we set the bar and how we set the bar going forward, noted Professor Jones, of Johns Hopkins. So when you talk about people like Carter G. Woodson, these are men who knew that if you dont rewrite the history of Africans and people of African descent, if you dont rewrite the history of the United States through the lens of Black history, if you dont make that record and if you dont make that case, there are [false] stories that will expand and go toward rationalizing and perpetuating racism, exclusion, marginalization and more.

Whats your reaction to the quote? After having engaged with the series, why do you think that the ways in which Black history is written, learned and taught matter so much? Do you agree that if you dont rewrite the history of the United States through the lens of Black history, false stories will continue and contribute to rationalizing and perpetuating racism, exclusion, marginalization?

VI. Creatively Share What You Have Learned

Now its your turn to engage and enlighten others: Share one thing you found moving or meaningful from the Black History, Continued series with your class, school or community.

Depending on which Lesson of the Day you chose, you might have already created something as a Going Further activity, such as a gallery exhibit about Black Americans who are rangers for the National Park Service or a visual artwork to represent your community, identity or place.

In addition, here are a few other creative ideas and resources to help you come up with a suitable and effective format:

Write and illustrate a childrens book or comic book: You can hand-draw or paint your original story or use a free book-making app like MyStorybook, BookBildr or Storybird. There are many free, easy-to-use comic book apps, such as MakeBeliefsComix and Pixton.

Design a one-pager: Using illustrations, quotes from the articles, key words and names of people, design a visually compelling summary of one aspect of Black history you learned.

Make an Instagram Swipe-Through Guide: You can create an Instagram post using a website like Canva. You can look at some of the examples from this article, Swipe-Through Activist Guides Are the New Zines, to see how young activists are using Instagram to educate and create change.

Create a public service announcement: Using still photographs from the series, or from your own research, along with text, narration and music, record and edit a P.S.A. to inform others. Scholastic provides some useful tips and a sample P.S.A. storyboard.

You might consider some of the following questions as you create your work to inform others: Who is your audience? Teenagers, young children, adults or families? Whats the most effective way to tell the story? What information would you include? What storytelling techniques would you want to incorporate? How would you balance imparting factual knowledge with good storytelling? What messages would you want readers or listeners to come away with?

When you are finished, share your project with your class, school or community.
They had my favorite disco people performing, Ashford and Simpson, who came out of a clamshell, Merjian recalled, referring to an effervescent pop duo. I called my mom and said, Im going into the world of catering. I dont know what it is, but my office will be the grand ballroom of the Waldorf.

It was, for 14 years, as he worked on staging benefits and birthday parties.

Now, even though the Waldorf is closed for a top-to-bottom makeover, the hotels managers have chosen him as the winner of an oral history contest. A spokeswoman said it was open to former employees (but not current ones) because we wanted to hear as many first-person stories as possible from the people who truly lived it.

Merjians contest-winning memory was about Frank Sinatra, who had lived in the Waldorf in the 1970s in what had once been Cole Porters suite. Merjian was introduced to Sinatra after helping to plan a Friars Club event for Sinatras fourth wife, Barbara. I said, Mr. S., Ive been a fan of yours since I was probably 12, recalled Merjian, now the general manager and chief operating officer of the Pelham Country Club in Pelham, N.Y. He said, Nice meeting you, kid. Im looking forward to a great evening.

It must have been, because several years later, the hotel assigned Merjian to coordinate the party for Sinatras 75th birthday. He had a brainstorm: Why not close the lobby to everyone but the 200 invited guests. We never closed it for anybody, he said, but we did it for Frank. And when Sinatras handlers asked to have the marquee over the hotels Park Avenue entrance say Frankies Place on the night of the party, he worked out a slipcover that fit over the Waldorf sign.

He also worked on the party for President Bill Clintons 50th birthday. Hillary asked me to find the person to make the birthday cake, he said. (He recommended the bakery William Greenberg Desserts.) By coincidence, Merjian left for the St. Regis soon after Sinatra died in 1998 and worked there until it shut down in the pandemic.

The prize in the contest is a weekend at the Waldorf after it reopens next year. Merjian said he was looking forward to taking his wife, Heide. They met as co-workers and were married on the famous Starlight Roof.

This time around they would have to put on their bathing suits if they return to the spot. Where we got married is going to be a swimming pool once the renovations are complete, he said, but thats O.K.
ALBANY, N.Y.  The last of five criminal investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct against former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ended on Monday with the Oswego County district attorney joining his peers in concluding that there were insufficient legal grounds to bring criminal charges.

The district attorney, Gregory S. Oakes, said in a statement that his decision was not a reflection on Virginia Limmiatis, the woman who had come forward, or how harmful the acts she experienced were.

Mr. Oakess reasoning mirrored similar language used by prosecutors in Albany, Westchester and Nassau Counties, who opened inquiries into separate allegations but declined to prosecute even though they found the women accusing Mr. Cuomo to be credible. Prosecutors in Manhattan have also closed their investigation, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Inquiries conducted by the state attorney general, Letitia James, and the State Assembly found that allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct made by multiple women were credible. Mr. Cuomo, a three-term Democrat, resigned a week after Ms. Jamess report was released.
At dawn on Sept. 28, 2014, John Sheridan and his wife, Joyce, were found dead in their home north of Princeton, N.J. They had been stabbed, and a gasoline-fueled fire had been set in the bedroom near their bodies.

At the time of his death, Mr. Sheridan, 72, a former New Jersey transportation commissioner with close ties to several of the states governors, was the president and chief executive of Cooper Health System, which operates a major medical center in Camden, N.J. He and his wife had been married 47 years.

A county prosecutor ruled the deaths a murder-suicide. But the couples four sons objected strongly, highlighting what they said were damning gaps in the investigation. Three former New Jersey governors were among 200 people to sign a letter saying there were compelling reasons to reopen the case. In 2017, a state medical examiner reversed the murder-suicide finding and said the manner of death was inconclusive.

The case remains unsolved, but it bubbled back up in an unusual way on Friday, when one of the couples sons urged New Jersey authorities to revisit it in light of newly public details about another 2014 death he called eerily similar.
Politicians have long promised to bring East Harlem a new subway line that would give this historically neglected community better transit access to the rest of New York and shift passengers away from some of the countrys most crowded train lines.

The idea appears to have gained renewed momentum, with Gov. Kathy Hochul vowing to finish the project within a decade and transportation officials saying the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill passed last year can help cover half the estimated $6.3 billion cost of what would be one of the worlds most expensive transit projects.

Funds from the bill could help finance a more than $3 billion grant request from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the subway, that the Federal Transit Administration is moving closer to approving. Transit officials hope to break ground by the end of the year.

Things never looked better for getting the Second Avenue subway to East Harlem, said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, a Democrat and the majority leader.
Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a real-estate investor and close friend of former President Donald J. Trump, asked a federal judge to dismiss the foreign lobbying and obstruction of justice charges against him on Monday, contending that the Justice Department delayed prosecuting him until after Mr. Trump left office.

The argument, laid out in a court filing, marks Mr. Barracks first substantive response to an indictment unsealed last July in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, which accused him of using his access to Mr. Trump to advance the foreign policy aims of the United Arab Emirates and then misleading federal agents about his activities.

Mr. Barrack, 74, was arrested on July 20 in Los Angeles. He pleaded not guilty and was freed on a $250 million bond, over objections from federal prosecutors who argued he was a flight risk.

He is set to go to trial in September alongside his business associate, Matthew Grimes, who was charged in the same indictment but only with the lobbying counts. Prosecutors also charged Rashid al-Malik Alshahhi, an Emirati businessman who left the country after federal agents interviewed him in 2018 and who remains at large.
It has also been a reliable donor to elected officials, even if it is far from one of the largest moneyed interests in the Capitol.

The political action committee, or PAC, controlled by the Metropolitan Package Store Association has given over $140,000 to elected officials since last year, mostly Democratic lawmakers, who control the Legislature. Over the same time period, two PACs associated with the restaurant industry gave just over $20,000.

Indeed, over the past two decades, the Metropolitan Package Store Association has established longstanding relationships in the Capitol through a steady stream of political contributions. That has included nearly $200,000 to Mr. Cuomo; $14,500 to Carl E. Heastie, the Assembly speaker; and $31,100 to Michael Gianaris, the Democratic deputy majority leader in the Senate, whom the association honored during its 87th annual dinner last October.

Mr. Gianaris, who has also received contributions from the restaurant industry, said he supports codifying to-go cocktails and finding a resolution that hopefully does not hurt other small businesses. He added that the legislation last year was one of those things that when you get toward the end of the session, the clock runs out.

The PAC also gave $25,000 to Ms. Hochul in October, before she came out in support of to-go cocktails.

The liquor store industry did not initially oppose to-go drinks; though the industrys lobbyists contend that some stores suffered, sales overall had ballooned in 2020, and stores saw the measure as an acceptable, if temporary, reprieve for struggling restaurants and bars that had been forced to close their doors to customers during the pandemic.

But they appeared to grow particularly irritated by bars and restaurants that were selling full bottles of wine and spirits, effectively operating as makeshift liquor stores, which have to go through a rigorous process to obtain a license to sell alcohol.
World Radio Day - Special Program

Sweden's SSA reports the Swedish DX Federation will be taking part in a special broadcast on 6070 kHz and 9670 kHz for World Radio Day, Sunday, February 13



A translation of the post says



On February 13 each year, World Radio Day is celebrated, an initiative of the United Nations and UNESCO. The Swedish DX Federation, of course, also wants to participate in the celebration. This will take place with a special broadcast on Sunday, February 13, 2022 according to the following schedule:

12.00-13.00 UTC at 9670 kHz with replay 16.00-17.00 UTC at 6070 kHz via Channel 292 in Germany.



As usual, there will be interviews with famous people in the Swedish DX world, nice music and various other shorter elements. The program has been put together by Goran Lindemark.



We hope for a good reception!



Source SSA https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden



World Radio Day

https://wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Radio_Day
OK, but what about affirmative action at nonelite colleges?

Theres a common misconception that every college in the United States employs some form of affirmative action. The truth is that a majority of colleges in this country let in most of their applicants and serve a relatively local population that more or less reflects the demographics of the area. For example, only 14.1 percent of undergraduate students at Cal State East Bay are white. By comparison, 78 percent of undergraduates at Chadron State College in Nebraska are white. This doesnt mean that Chadron State discriminates against minority applicants or that Cal State East Bay has the greatest minority recruitment program of all time. The reality is that both schools arent selective  Chadron takes everyone  and their student bodies simply reflect the people who apply.

In 2014, there were only 352 colleges that publicly stated that they considered race in the admissions process, according to a 2017 study. Thats less than 10 percent of all the two- and four-year colleges in the country. The study also found that most exclusive schools considered the race of the applicant. This makes sense. The only schools that need to make decisions based on race are those schools that need to choose among applicants at all.

So what can we do?

Ive written in an earlier edition of this newsletter about the role that community colleges could play in ensuring a more equitable and open path toward upward mobility in this country. Public colleges already take thousands of kids a year from the working and middle classes. Expanded and fully normalized pipelines from community colleges to state universities could provide opportunities not only for poor students of color, but also for economically disadvantaged students from all backgrounds.

This system, which would be modeled, in part, after the Canadian public university system, would reduce the stress on high school students to meet the impossible standards of elite colleges. The University of Toronto, which U.S. News and World Report ranked as the top university in Canada last year, has an enrollment of over 74,000 undergraduates, far more than the number of students enrolled at all eight Ivy League schools combined. There are highly competitive, specialized programs at Toronto and other universities in Canada, but they exist within the overall structure of the public university, which means that for the most part, there isnt a college track for the elites of Canada and one for everyone else. If you care about your grades in high school, chances are you will be able to attend the university in your province. And you will almost certainly not be exclusively surrounded by the wealthy elite.

Last September, House Democrats released a bill that included language curtailing endowment taxes on private colleges, provided they offer sufficient grants and scholarships for some students. This move coincided with a banner year for many elite universities that saw their coffers swell during the pandemic. Cornell, Dartmouth and Yale all reported over 40 percent returns on their investments in 2021. This only accelerated a longstanding trend: Between 1990 and 2010, the return on capital endowments for universities with endowments larger than $1 billion grew roughly 50 percent faster than universities with endowments that totaled less than $100 million.

Rather than offer these universities what amounts to a break on their taxes, the Biden administration should raise them considerably. Lowering tuition for a select number of students who have already gotten into highly selective schools does very little actual good  most of those schools have robust financial aid programs anyway. I believe that the money raised from aggressively taxing endowments should be used to fund community colleges and state university programs instead, so that more students could benefit.
Most histories of the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed at least 50 million people worldwide say it ended in the summer of 1919 when a third wave of the respiratory contagion finally subsided.

Yet the virus continued to kill. A variant that emerged in 1920 was lethal enough that it should have counted as a fourth wave. In some cities  among them, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Kansas City, Mo.  deaths exceeded even those in the second wave, responsible for the vast majority of the pandemics deaths in the United States and elsewhere. This occurred despite the fact that the U.S. population had plenty of natural immunity from the influenza virus after two years of infections and after viral lethality in the third wave decreased.

Nearly all cities in the United States imposed restrictions during the pandemics virulent second wave, which peaked in the fall of 1918. That winter, some cities reimposed controls when a third, though less deadly, wave struck. But virtually no city responded in 1920. People were weary of influenza, and so were public officials. Newspapers were filled with frightening news about the virus, but no one cared. People at the time ignored this fourth wave; so did historians. Deaths returned to pre-pandemic levels in 1921, and the virus mutated into ordinary seasonal influenza, but the world had moved on well before.

We should not repeat that mistake.

True, right now we have every reason for optimism. First, Omicron cases are declining in parts of the country. Second, nearly the entire U.S. population will soon have been either infected or vaccinated, strengthening peoples immune systems against the virus as we know it now. Third, although Omicron is extraordinarily good at infecting the upper respiratory tract, which makes it so transmissible, it seems less able to infect the lungs than earlier variants, so it is less virulent. It is entirely possible and perhaps even likely that because of better immune responses, the virus will continue to decrease in lethality and, like the 1918 virus, might lose its ability to bind to cells in the lung.
To the Editor:

Denouncing Dark Money, Then Deploying It in 2020 (front page, Jan. 30) is one of many examples of attempts to gin up controversy over Democrats understandable reaction to Republican fund-raising operations.

The piece details, at length, the many dark money activities of both Democrats and Republicans, while characterizing the Democrats behavior as exposing the stark tension between their efforts to win elections and their commitment to curtail secretive political spending by the superrich.

Really? Is it valid to negatively judge Democrats for being forced to use dark money to level the playing field after Republicans long history of influencing elections with dark money? Dark money shouldnt be legal, but it is. Until that changes Democrats cant be held to a higher standard that puts their candidates at a serious disadvantage to Republicans.

Gail M. Bartlett

Chicago

To the Editor:

While your front-page story provided a great analysis of dark money spending in the 2020 election, it did not highlight who is working for and against regulation and transparency in campaign spending.
As for who will now represent the bleeding stumps of this dismembered city, the journalist Steve Cavendish identified some likely suspects in a demoralizing article for The Nashville Scene last week. A large portion of North Nashville, which is more than 70 percent Black, will now be part of the seventh district, which is currently nearly 80 percent white.

That district is represented by Mark Green, a Republican from Clarksville (52 miles from Nashville). In Congress, Mr. Green voted, as Mr. Cavendish put it, against background checks for firearm sales, against net neutrality, against raising the minimum wage, against requiring campaigns to report offers of foreign assistance, against restoring parts of the Voting Rights Act, against the $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill in 2020, against the pandemic aid bill and against raising coronavirus stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000. Mark Green, in other words, votes against basically everything that Nashville stands for.

Things look no better in the redrawn sixth district, which will now include the creative-class hub that is liberal East Nashville. Representative John Rose  who is based in Cookeville, 81 miles from Nashville  votes against so much of what we stand for that he even voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to one of the officers who defended the Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Its not clear yet which Republicans will run in the newly drawn fifth, from which Mr. Cooper is retiring, but you can be sure that every option will be odious. One name being floated is that of former Fox News commentator Morgan Ortagus, who has already received the endorsement of Donald Trump.

Joe Biden won Nashville with almost 65 percent of the vote, a greater share than Mr. Trump won Tennessee with. To have these anti-science, anti-immigrant, anti-history philistines representing this city would seem to be the real point of the redistricting map. Republicans dont want simply to solidify their power. They want to silence anyone who disagrees with them, even when those people are in the majority.

This is a blue city, but it isnt an unvariegated shade of blue. Nashville is also the buckle of the Bible Belt, the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry and the harbor of a lot of old Southern money. In many ways, Jim Cooper has been the perfect representative for a place like Nashville.

A member of the Blue Dog Coalition, he was just liberal enough to make the conservatives in Belle Meade roll their eyes but vote for him anyway. He was just conservative enough to make the liberals in East Nashville take to Twitter but not to the streets. Every two years, Republicans tried to unseat him, and every two years they lost. Progressive primary challengers met the same fate. Jim Cooper has always been resoundingly re-elected, only once with less than 60 percent of the vote.
Defenses against digital snoopers keep getting stronger. Encryption is what keeps communications safe when you use Signal and other messaging apps, make online financial transactions, buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and trust that private information in your Apple iPhone will stay private.

While a variety of end-to-end encryption techniques seek to protect the flows of information from spies and eavesdroppers, one of the most powerful and ubiquitous is elliptic curve cryptography, invented in 1985. The methods underlying math helped solve the famous riddle of Fermats last theorem and was promoted by the charitable foundation of James M. Vaughn Jr., an heir to oil riches. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Vaughn funded experts who pursued knotty questions of mathematics that were assumed to have no practical value.

Mr. Vaughns funding of Fermat studies backed the investigation of elliptic curves as a possible solution. The obscure branch of mathematics turned out to beget a new generation of powerful ciphers  in particular, elliptic curve cryptography.

In his 2009 autobiography, Random Curves, Neal I. Koblitz, a University of Washington mathematician who aided Mr. Vaughn and was one of two inventors of the technique, described its biggest friend as the National Security Agency. An arm of the Pentagon, the N.S.A. works to strip governments of their secrets while concealing its own. It relies heavily on elliptic curve cryptography.
Mr. Vaughn was thrilled. We think hes got it, he told a reporter in one of his rare comments in the news media. The public response was so enthusiastic that a clothing chain asked Dr. Wiles to endorse its new line of men's wear.

Then disaster struck. The proof turned out to harbor a major flaw, and Dr. Wiles once again withdrew, this time seeking to rectify the error. As mathematicians clashed over the blunders import, he called in Richard Taylor, a former student, for assistance.

Finally, in May 1995, nearly two years after the Wiles announcement, the revised proof was published. The maze of equations ran to 130 pages. After more than three centuries of effort, the Fermat infinities had finally been surmounted, and civilization, amazingly, was still intact. Not only that, but experts hailed the proof as establishing a series of unexpected finds that promised to open new frontiers.

Despite Mr. Vaughns role in the fields resurrection, the subsequent tributes paid him little if any note. At that point, it had been several years since his foundation had funded research on the theorem, reducing the charitys visibility. And Mr. Vaughn in any case tended to be inaccessible, especially to the news media.

As a result, only a small number of math experts knew of his early patronage. Their numbers are dwindling today as mathematicians who once worked with Mr. Vaughn begin to pass away.

It has been decades since Mr. Vaughn ceased his math philanthropy, but he recently donated his collection of rare math books to his alma mater. They include a first edition of Newtons masterwork, Principia, or The Principles, as well as dozens of volumes by such distinguished figures as Euler and Gauss.

Theyre incredible, Aaron Pratt, curator of early books at the University of Texas, said of the volumes, which now reside at the schools Harry Ransom Center, a collection of collections.
Chew did a lot of research for the works, consulting friends, other artists and the internet. Still, hip-hop was familiar territory to him long before his Slanguage days. He grew up in Hawthorne, Calif., which is part of Los Angeles Countys South Bay. Its where the Beach Boys are from, but its also close to the hood, to Inglewood and Compton, so it has a little bit of both worlds, says Chew. Its where he first came to know West Coast groups like Digital Underground and MC Hammer (both of whom youll find in Chews new paintings if you know where to look). As a child, Chew would often sketch while rap music videos played in the background, and he describes his early art as fan art because he was often drawing the people on the screen. He still has his old sketchbooks  the beginnings of a life spent archiving the culture, as he sees it. The other art form that he gravitated toward was dance. At his middle school, dance battles werent uncommon, and he performed for a number of his teen years with the Y Troop, a competitive hip-hop dance group based out of his local community center. In the end, though, Chew chose art, which only occurred to him as an option when he was voted best artist by his high school class. I was somebodys best, he says, so I kept going.

In college, he majored in psychology but kept sketching, watched instructional art videos on YouTube and took a few studio classes, in which he learned basics like the differences between acrylic and oil paint. Before, I was just mixing everything I had so I could get a certain color, he says. Eventually, he applied to the MFA programs at six schools and was rejected by all of them. But he continued to hone his skills and began adding conceptual elements to his compositions. Pockets (2015), a still life of all the items (a pencil, lip balm, rolling papers) inside his pockets at the time he started painting it, dates from this period. The following year, he reapplied to the same schools, and this time he got into all six. Chew graduated from San Franciscos California College for the Arts in 2019. Along the way, he solidified his aim of honoring the legacy of the African diaspora, and co-founded the 5/5 collective, a multimedia group dedicated to making and curating work that explores Blackness.
Mr. Zuckerberg has since turned to Mr. Bosworth for major initiatives. In 2012, Mr. Bosworth was given the task of building out Facebooks mobile advertising products. After management issues at the Oculus virtual reality division, Mr. Zuckerberg dispatched Mr. Bosworth in August 2017 to take over the initiative. The virtual reality business was later rebranded Reality Labs.

In October, the company said it would create 10,000 metaverse-related jobs in the European Union over the next five years. That same month, Mr. Zuckerberg announced he was changing Facebooks name to Meta and pledged billions of dollars to the effort.

Reality Labs is now at the forefront of the companys shift to the metaverse, employees said. Workers in products, engineering and research have been encouraged to apply to new roles there, they said, while others have been elevated from their jobs in social networking divisions to lead the same functions with a metaverse emphasis.

Of the more than 3,000 open jobs listed on Metas website, more than 24 percent are for roles in augmented or virtual reality. The jobs are in cities including Seattle, Shanghai and Zurich. One job listing for a gameplay engineering manager for Horizon, the companys free virtual reality game, said the candidates responsibilities would include imagining new ways to experience concerts and conventions.

Internal recruitment for the metaverse ramped up late last year, three Meta engineers said, with their managers mentioning job openings on metaverse-related teams in December and January. Others who didnt get on board with the new mission left. One former employee said he had resigned after feeling that his work on Instagram would no longer be of value to the company; another said they did not think Meta was best placed for creating the metaverse and was searching for a job at a competitor.

Meta also lured away dozens of employees from companies like Microsoft and Apple, two people with knowledge of the moves said. In particular, Meta hired from those companies divisions that worked on augmented reality products, like Microsofts Hololens and Apples secretive augmented reality glasses project.

Representatives for Microsoft and Apple declined to comment. Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal previously reported on some of the personnel moves.
Still, the backlash intensifies. Civil rights groups organize a boycott. Advertisers pull their campaigns. A hashtag trends. The platforms employees threaten to walk out. Days later, the chief executive is forced to choose between barring a popular creator  and face the fury of his fans  or being seen as a hypocrite and an enabler of dangerous behavior.

If this scenario sounds familiar, its because a version of it has occurred on every major internet media platform over the last half decade. Facebook and Alex Jones, Twitter and Donald Trump, YouTube and PewDiePie, Netflix and Dave Chappelle: Every major platform has found itself trapped, at some point, between this particular rock and a hard place.

Now, its Spotifys turn. The audio giant has faced calls for weeks to take action against Joe Rogan, the mega-popular podcast host, after Mr. Rogan was accused of promoting Covid-19 misinformation on his show, including hosting a guest who had been barred by Twitter for spreading false information about Covid-19 vaccines. This month, a group of hundreds of medical experts urged Spotify to crack down on Covid-19 misinformation, saying Mr. Rogan had a concerning history of promoting falsehoods about the virus.

So far, the backlash cycle is hitting most of the usual notes. Critics have compared snippets of Mr. Rogans interviews with Spotifys stated rules, which prohibit material that promotes dangerous false or dangerous deceptive content about Covid-19. Two folk-rock legends, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, led the boycott, pulling their catalogs from Spotify last week in protest of the platforms decision to support Mr. Rogan. Brene Brown, another popular host, soon followed, saying she would not release new episodes of her Spotify-exclusive podcast until further notice.

Daniel Ek, Spotifys chief executive, published the requisite blog post on Sunday, defending the companys commitment to free expression and saying that it is important to me that we dont take on the position of being content censor. And while Spotify declined to take action against Mr. Rogan, it committed to putting advisory warnings on podcast episodes about Covid-19, and directing listeners to a hub filled with authoritative health information.
Its hard to imagine there was ever a time when the Los Angeles River was wild and free flowing, flanked by thick reed forests and full of steelhead trout  instead of clad in concrete and sandwiched between swollen expressways and freight-train tracks.

Centuries ago, in the areas that are now the back sides of strip malls and housing developments, the native Tongva people lived in villages along the river and relied on fishing for food. After the Spanish colonists arrived in 1781, the population grew along the banks of the river, which served as the primary water source for the Pueblo de los Angeles.

Rains often turned the flow of the river from a trickle to a torrent in just a few hours, which made flooding a recurring problem. Following a catastrophic flood in 1938 that destroyed thousands of homes and killed almost 100 people, the Army Corps of Engineers decided that the best solution was to channelize 278 miles of the river and its tributaries  including the 51-mile stretch from Canoga Park to Long Beach  with concrete embankments.
Madrid, 31 January 2022 (SPS) - The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, reiterated his country's "full" support for the efforts of the United Nations to find a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, expressing readiness to adhere to the United Nations settlement plan in this regard.



in an interview with the Spanish newspaper, El Publico, Albares said that his country "seeks a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara within the principles of the United Nations Charter," stressing that Spain "is deeply involved in resolving this conflict."



"We cannot provide a solution, the new Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura, has been chosen to do so. What I can guarantee, is that he has the full support of Spain, and that we will follow his plan," he added.



"There are Security Council resolutions, such as resolution 2602, which is an interesting guide. "



"I have met on two occasions with de Mistura, and I assured him that we are at his disposal to take him anywhere he needs in order to achieve the peace that the region needs," he further said.



He reiterated that Spain's position "falls within the security council resolutions, but Spain alone cannot resolve the conflict, we are with the United Nations, we are part of the Group of Friends of the Western Sahara", calling on everyone to work to support de Mistura, but above all "let us not keep fixed positions.. "What is important is that we end this conflict."



Regarding human rights violations, which the United Nations is not mandated to monitor, in light of the continuing attacks on Sahrawi activists in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, the Spanish minister explained, The contents of the United Nations missions are not dictated by Spain, but by the United Nations, Spain bears its full responsibility and its commitment to trying to resolve the conflict.



"I was the first foreign minister in the world to meet with Staffan de Mistura. Human rights issues are always very complex and difficult, and the ability of more than one third country to make things evolve is very complex," he said.



In the context of the Moroccan occupations violations of the rights of Sahrawi citizens, especially activists, Albares touched on the situation of human rights activist Sultana Khaya, saying, I will talk about the situation of Sultana Khaya, but you cannot create incorrect expectations, because human rights can be ensured in your region, but they are not within reach".



062/T
ATLANTA  A federal judge on Monday rejected plea agreements with the Justice Department for two of the three white men facing hate crime charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery after his family expressed fierce opposition to the deal.

It was a surprising and extraordinary twist in a case in which a 25-year-old Black man was chased through a southern Georgia neighborhood by three white men and then shot to death. The plea deals would have been the first time that any of the men had admitted that Mr. Arberys killing was racially motivated.

All three men had been convicted of murder in state court in November. Mr. Arberys family angrily objected to the federal plea agreement because it would have sent at least two of them immediately to federal prison instead of state prison for up to 30 years. Federal prison is generally considered safer than state prison.

The decision by Judge Lisa Godbey Wood of U.S. District Court to reject identical plea deals hammered out between the Justice Department and the two men, Travis McMichael, 36, and his father, Gregory McMichael, 66, means that the McMichaels could now see their federal case go before a jury as early as next week.
Maj. Gen. John K. Singlaub, who waged clandestine warfare for the U.S. Army and the C.I.A. from the World War II years to Vietnam, then retired from the military under pressure after repeatedly criticizing President Jimmy Carters national security policies, died on Saturday. He was 100.

The Special Forces Association chapter in Tampa, Fla., an organization of veterans who had waged covert warfare, said that General Singlaubs wife, Joan, had notified a fellow member of the group, Billy Waugh, of his death. It did not say where he died. The general had been living in Franklin, Tenn., just south of Nashville.

General Singlaub trained resistance fighters in German-occupied France and rescued Allied prisoners of war held by the Japanese during World War II. He conducted intelligence operations during the Chinese Civil War and in the Korean War while assigned to the C.I.A., and he commanded secret Army forays into North Vietnam and neutral Laos and Cambodia during the 1960s to ambush Communist troops.
WASHINGTON  President Biden on Monday named Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, a designation that clears the way for greater security cooperation and investment in the Gulf nation at a time when Mr. Biden is seeking help boosting natural gas supplies in Europe.

The president is eager to reassure European nations that they will not suffer natural gas shortages if a war between Ukraine and Russia breaks out in the weeks ahead. Russia is one of the largest suppliers of natural gas to Germany and other countries in western Europe.

Mr. Biden informed reporters of the planned designation on Monday before a meeting at the White House with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the emir of Qatar. The president praised the relationship between the two countries over the past half-century on issues like Afghanistan, the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, and the fight against the Islamic State.

I am notifying Congress that I will designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship, Mr. Biden said. I think its long overdue.
If the United States decided to levy sanctions on Russian banks, it could then say that Swift was in violation of those sanctions by continuing to let those banks use its system. The Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022, which Senate Democrats unveiled this month, would authorize sanctions on providers of specialized financial messaging services, such as Swift, but the Biden administration could also impose such sanctions without the approval of Congress.

Cutting a countrys access to Swift is not without precedent.

In 2012, Swift expelled as many as 30 Iranian financial institutions, including its central bank, in order to comply with European Union sanctions that were enacted in response to Irans disputed nuclear energy program. Services were reconnected after the 2015 nuclear deal, and then cut again in 2018 after the Trump administration withdrew from the pact and resumed sanctions.

How would Russia respond to being removed?

Russia has faced such threats before. In 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, there were calls in Europe to exclude Russia from Swift. Dmitri A. Medvedev, then Russias prime minister, said at the time that such a move would be a declaration of war. According to the Carnegie Moscow Center, Russian forecasts at the time projected that being cut off from Swift would shrink the countrys gross domestic product by 5 percent.

Last week, Nikolay Zhuravlev, the vice speaker of Russias Federation Council, told the government-run news agency TASS that removing Russia from Swift would also have economic consequences for European countries, which he said would not be able to receive imports of Russian oil, gas and metals as a result of Russias being unable to receive foreign currency.

Mr. Smith, the former Treasury official, said the United States and Europe might look for ways to exempt certain Russian sectors, such as energy, from sanctions. However, moves to cut off Russias economy could have unintended consequences, such as Moscow retaliating, that could rattle global markets.

They are not without their own cards to play, he said.

A switch to Swift alternatives

The threat of being cut off from Swift might not be as dire as it was in the past.

Several countries including Russia have developed their own financial messaging systems that, while less sophisticated than Swift, could allow Russian financial firms to maintain communications with the world. Russia began developing its system in 2014 amid threats of escalating sanctions from the United States.
In 2011, he asked whether he could obtain a patent for discovering a law of nature based on the color of peoples pinkies: If you look at a persons little finger, and you notice the color, it shows the aspirin, you need a little more, he said.

At a 2010 argument over whether burglary is a crime of violence, Justice Breyer suggested that it need not always be.

Youve heard of cat burglars, he said. Well, this gentleman is called the Pussycat Burglar, and the reason is hes never harmed a soul. He only carries soft pillows as weapons. If he sees a child, he gives them ice cream.

There was laughter in the courtroom after Justice Breyer described the Pussycat Burglar, which was a common response to his questions, said Jay D. Wexler, a law professor at Boston University and the leading empiricist of humor at the Supreme Court. For years, Professor Wexler said, Justice Breyer trailed only Justice Antonin Scalia in court reporters notations of [laughter] in transcripts of Supreme Court arguments.

Since Justice Scalias death in 2016, Professor Wexler said, Justice Breyer has consistently ranked first. He added, though, that the data did not reveal the volume or nature of the laughter.

In a pioneering 2005 study, Professor Wexler wrote that the simple notation [laughter] does not separate the genuine laughter brought about by truly funny or clever humor and the anxious kind of laughter that arises when one feels nervous or uncomfortable or just plain scared for the nations future.

Breyer got most of his laughs from his often long, convoluted and inexplicable hypotheticals, Professor Wexler said on Friday. Maybe people were laughing with him at some point earlier in his time on the bench, but toward the end I think it was more like, Oh, there goes Breyer with his long, convoluted, inexplicable hypotheticals again.
About halfway into his Texas rally on Saturday evening, Donald J. Trump pivoted toward the teleprompter and away from a meandering set of grievances to rattle off a tightly prepared list of President Bidens failings and his own achievements.

Lets simply compare the records, Mr. Trump said, as supporters in Trump 2024 shirts cheered behind him, framed perfectly in the television shot.

Mr. Trump, who later went on to talk about that beautiful, beautiful house that happens to be white, has left increasingly little doubt about his intentions, plotting an influential role in the 2022 midterm elections and another potential White House run. But a fresh round of skirmishes over his endorsements, fissures with the Republican base over vaccines  a word Mr. Trump conspicuously left unsaid at Saturdays rally  and new polling all show how his longstanding vise grip on the Republican Party is facing growing strains.

In Texas, some grass-roots conservatives are vocally frustrated with Mr. Trumps backing of Gov. Greg Abbott, even booing Mr. Abbott when he took the stage. In North Carolina, Mr. Trumps behind-the-scenes efforts to shrink the Republican field to help his preferred Senate candidate failed last week. And in Tennessee, a recent Trump endorsement set off an unusually public backlash, even among his most loyal allies, both in Congress and in conservative media.
For years, the single-payer health care movement has found traction in California.

In 1994, a proposal that would have replaced private health insurance with a government-run system made the ballot, though it failed to garner enough votes. In 2017, a similar overhaul passed in the State Senate. The following year, Gov. Gavin Newsom made a campaign pledge to create the nations first single-payer system at the state level.

Now, yet another such proposal is being put to the test in the Golden State.

Assembly Bill 1400 would create CalCare, a publicly financed health care system that would provide coverage to all Californians, similar to the way medical treatments are delivered in Britain or Canada. The bill must garner a majority in a State Assembly vote today to have a chance of survival.

The proposal from Assemblyman Ash Kalra, a Democrat, would create a nine-person board to govern CalCare and would eliminate the many fragmented ways in which California residents currently receive health care  and the co-pays and deductibles that often go along with them.

If enacted, the changes would make California the only state in the nation with a single-payer health care system. Vermont approved one in 2011, but the plan fell apart before it was implemented.
More than children, we need to focus on adults, she said. This generation of parents has faced no world war, no global threat of this scale. Many parents are struggling, though she worries that some may be over-shielding their children, which can erode their natural ability to solve problems and cope with adversity.

Dr. Bosss sentiments brought to mind the concerns my husband and I had in 1980, when our 10-year-old twin sons were facing enrollment in a public middle school where rampant misbehavior and physical threats were common. The boys declined our offer to send them to private school for those tumultuous three years, saying, What would we learn about life in private school?

Moving forward

In her new book, Dr. Boss offers guidelines for increasing ones resilience to overcome adversity and live well despite painful losses. She quotes Dr. Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, author and Holocaust survivor, who wrote, When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. She recommends that people use each guideline as needed, in no particular order, depending on the circumstances.

Find meaning. The most challenging guideline for many people is to find meaning, to make sense of a loss, and when this is not possible to take some kind of action. Perhaps seek justice, work for a cause or demonstrate to try to right a wrong. When Dr. Bosss little brother died from polio, her heartbroken family went door to door for the March of Dimes, raising money to fund research for a vaccine.

Adjust your sense of mastery. Instead of trying to control the pain of loss, let the sorrow flow, carry on as best as you can and eventually the ups and downs will come less and less often. We do not have power to destroy the virus, but we do have the power to lessen its impact on us, she wrote.

Rebuild identity. Also helpful is to adopt a new identity in sync with your current circumstances. When Dr. Bosss husband became terminally ill, for example, her identity shifted over time from being a wife to being a caregiver, and after his death in 2020, gradually trying to think of herself as a widow.

Normalize ambivalence. When you lack clarity about a loss, its normal to feel ambivalent about how to act. But Dr. Boss says its best not to wait for clarity; hesitation can lead to inaction and puts life on hold. Better to make less-than-perfect decisions than to do nothing.
MELBOURNE, Australia  The leader of Hillsong, the Australian megachurch that has attracted throngs of young people and celebrities worldwide, has stepped down as he prepares to fight a criminal charge of concealing historical child sexual abuse by his father.

The churchs leader, Brian Houston, said in a statement published on Hillsongs website on Sunday that he had agreed to give up all ministry responsibilities until the end of 2022 to focus on his legal battle following the advice of Hillsongs legal advisers.

The Australian police charged Mr. Houston in August 2021 with one count of concealing a serious indictable offense by his father, Frank Houston. The police alleged that the younger Mr. Houston, now 67, knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police.

Mr. Houston has vigorously denied the accusation and reiterated in his statement on Sunday that these allegations came as a shock to me, and it is my intention to vigorously defend them.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has tested positive for the coronavirus after an exposure last week. He said on Twitter that he was not feeling ill.

He said later in an online news conference that two of his three children had also tested positive.

Mr. Trudeau has been isolating since last Thursday, when he learned that he had been exposed. He revealed his own positive test result in a statement posted to social media on Monday morning, and added that he would continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines.
Why havent many of the leading Washington journalists who pimped for those false WMD claims at least been fired from their prestigious jobs, if not also trundled off to The Hague for prosecution as propagandists for aggressive war?

by Anwar A. Khan

The hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy  famous in the world for criticizing other countries for the same things it has done  is again on display. The sad fact is that most Americans dont care about history.

Washington is in deep umbrage over Russias intervention in Ukraine after a U.S.-backed coup overthrew the democratically elected president. Some top neocons want a new Cold War, but they dont want anyone to note their staggering hypocrisy, writes Robert Parry, an investigative reporter.









Since World War II and extending well into the Twenty-first Century the United States has invaded or otherwise intervened in so many countries that it would be challenging to compile a complete list. Just last decade, there were full-scale U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq plus American bombing operations from Pakistan to Yemen to Libya.

So, what is one to make of former US Secretary of State John Kerrys pronouncement that Russias military intervention in the Crimea section of Ukraine at the behest of the countrys deposed president is a violation of international law that the United States would never countenance?

Kerry decried the Russian intervention as a Nineteenth Century act in the Twenty-first Century. However, if memory serves, Sen. Kerry in 2002 voted along with most other members of the U.S. Congress to authorize President George W. Bushs invasion of Iraq in 2003, which was also part of the Twenty-first Century. And, Kerry is a member of the Obama administration, which like its Bush predecessor, has been sending drones into the national territory of other nations to blow up various so-called enemy combatants.

Are Kerry and pretty much everyone else in Official Washington so lacking in self-awareness that they dont realize that they are condemning actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin that are far less egregious than what they themselves have done?

If Putin is violating international law by sending Russian troops into the Crimea after a violent coup spearheaded by neo-Nazi militias ousted Ukraines democratically elected president and after he requested protection for the ethnic Russians living in the countrys south and east then why hasnt the U.S. government turned over George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and indeed John Kerry to the International Criminal Court for their far more criminal invasion of Iraq?

In 2003, when the Bush-Cheney administration dispatched troops halfway around the world to invade Iraq under the false pretense of seizing its non-existent weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. touched off a devastating war that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and left their country a bitterly divided mess. But there has been virtually no accountability.

And, why havent many of the leading Washington journalists who pimped for those false WMD claims at least been fired from their prestigious jobs, if not also trundled off to The Hague for prosecution as propagandists for aggressive war?

Remarkably, many of these same journalists are propagandizing for more U.S. wars today, such as attacks on Syria and Iran, even as they demand harsh penalties for Russia over its intervention in the Crimea, which incidentally was an historic part of Russia dating back centuries.

A stunning example of the U.S. medias double standards is the Washington Posts editorial-page editor Fred Hiatt, who pushed for the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 by treating the existence of Iraqs non-existent WMD as flat fact, not an allegation in dispute. After the U.S. invasion and months of fruitless searching for the promised WMD caches, Hiatt finally acknowledged that the Post should have been more circumspect in its claims about the WMD.

If you look at the editorials we write running up [to the war], we state as flat fact that he [Saddam Hussein] has weapons of mass destruction, Hiatt said in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review. If thats not true, it would have been better not to say it.

Yes, that is a principle of journalism, if something isnt true, were not supposed to say that it is. Yet, despite the enormous cost in blood and treasure from the Iraq War and despite the undeniable fact that the U.S. invasion of Iraq was a clear violation of international law nothing happened to Hiatt.

His editorials also continue to state dubious points as flat fact. For instance, the Posts belligerent editorial, entitled online as President Obamas foreign policy is based on fantasy, resurfaces the discredited claim that the Syrian government was responsible for a chemical weapons attack outside Damascus on Augugust 21, 2013.

The Post wrote, Since the Syrian dictator crossed Mr. Obamas red line with a chemical weapons attack that killed 1,400 civilians, the dictators military and diplomatic position has steadily strengthened.

Note how there is no attribution or doubt expressed regarding either the guilt of the Syrian government or the number of casualties. Just flat fact. The reality, however, is that the U.S. government assertions blaming the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad for the poison gas attack and the death tally of 1,400 have both crumbled under examination.

The U.S. casualty figure of 1,429 always was regarded as a wild exaggeration, since doctors on the scene cited a much lower death toll of a few hundred, and the Wall Street Journal later reported that the strangely precise number was ascertained by the CIA applying facial recognition software to images of dead bodies posted on YouTube and then subtracting duplicates and those in bloody shrouds.

The problems with this methodology were obvious, since there was no way to know the dates when the YouTube videos were taken and the absence of bloody shrouds did not prove that the cause of death was poison gas.

More significantly, the U.S. claims about where the missiles were launched more than nine kilometers from the impact site turned out to be false, since expert analysis of the one missile that was found to carry Sarin gas had a maximum range of around two kilometers. That meant that the launch site was within territory controlled by the Syrian opposition, not the government.

Though it remains unclear which side was to blame for the chemical attack, the Syrian governments guilt surely was not a slam dunk any more than the Iraqi governments possession of WMD in 2003. In such a case especially on sensitive matters of war or peace responsible journalists reflect the uncertainty, not simply assert an allegation as flat fact.

However, since Hiatt was never punished for his earlier journalistic violation even though it contributed to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, including some 4,500 U.S. soldiers he is still around to commit the same offenses again, in an even more dangerous context, i.e., a confrontation between the United States and Russia, two nuclear-armed states.

Pushing for a New Cold War

And, what do Hiatt and other neocons at the Washington Post say about confronting the Russians over the Ukraine crisis, which was stoked by neocon holdovers in the U.S. State Department.

The Post is demanding a new Cold War with Russia in retaliation for its relatively non-violent interventions to protect pro-Russian provinces of two countries that were carved out of the old Soviet Union: Georgia where Russian troops have protected South Ossetia and Abkhazia since 2008 and in Ukraine where Russian soldiers have taken control of Crimea. In both cases, the pro-Russian areas felt threatened from their central governments and sought Moscows assistance.

In the case of Ukraine, a neo-Nazi-led putsch representing the interests of the western part of the country overthrew the democratically elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, who came from the eastern region. Then, under the watchful eye of the neo-Nazi storm troopers in Kiev, a rump parliament voted unanimously or near unanimously to enact a series of draconian laws offensive to the ethnic Russian areas in the east and south.

Having fled Kiev for his life, Yanukovych asked Russia for help, which led to Putins request to the Russian parliament for the authority to deploy troops inside Ukraine, essentially taking control of Crimea in the south, an area that has been part of Russia for centuries.

Though the Russian case for intervention in both Georgia and Ukraine is much stronger than the excuses often used by the United States to intervene in other countries, the Washington Post was apoplectic about Russias violation of suddenly sacred international law.

The Post wrote, as long as some leaders play by what Mr. Kerry dismisses as 19th-century rules, the United States cant pretend that the only game is in another arena altogether. Military strength, trustworthiness as an ally, staying power in difficult corners of the world such as Afghanistan, these still matter, much as we might wish they did not.

The Post also laments what it sees as a receding tide of democracy around the world, but it is worth noting that the U.S. government has a long and sorry record of overthrowing democratic governments. Just a partial list since World War II would include: Mossadegh in Iran in 1953, Arbenz in Guatemala in 1954, Allende in Chile in 1973, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur RahmanAristide in Haiti twice, Chavez in Venezuela briefly in 2002, Zelaya in Honduras in 2009, Morsi in Egypt in 2013, and Yanukovych in Ukraine in 2014. The next target of a U.S.-embraced democratic coup looks to be Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.

Perhaps the closest U.S. parallel to the Russian intervention in Ukraine was President Bill Clintons decision to invade Haiti in 1994 to reinstall Haitis elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office, though Russia has not gone nearly that far regarding Yanukovych in Ukraine. Russia has only intervened to prevent the fascist-spearheaded coup regime in Kiev from imposing its will on the countrys ethnic Russian provinces.

Also, in the case of Aristide, the U.S. role wasnt as pro-democratic as Clintons invasion on his behalf might suggest. Clinton ordered the action to reverse a 1991 military coup that ousted President Aristide with the support of President George H.W. Bush. Aristide was deposed a second time in 2004 in a coup partly engineered by the administration of President George W. Bush.

In other words, Clintons intervention on behalf of a popularly elected leader in Haiti was the anomaly to the more typical U.S. pattern of collaborating with right-wing military officers in the overthrow of elected leaders who dont comply with Washingtons wishes.

Thus, the overriding hypocrisy of the Washington Post, former US Secretary Kerry and indeed nearly all of Official Washington is their insistence that the United States actually promotes the principle of democracy or, for that matter, the rule of international law. Those are at best situational ethics when it comes to advancing U.S. interests around the world.

Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his new book, Americas Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com). For a limited time, you also can order Robert Parrys trilogy on the Bush Family and its connections to various right-wing operatives for only US$34. The trilogy includes Americas Stolen Narrative.
As in much of the rest of the world, Canadians are suffering pandemic exhaustion after enduring months of truncated lives, illness and death, lockdowns, and shuttered restaurants, houses of worship and gyms. But in a country with a strong deference to scientific authority and a vaunted universal health care system, opinion polls have consistently shown strong support for public health measures aimed at containing the coronavirus. More than 77 percent of Canadians are fully vaccinated.

Prof. Andrew McDougall, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said the convoy had channeled public frustration with pandemic restrictions but did not represent a meaningful political shift in a country where a majority supported vaccination against the coronavirus.

While the convoy failed to become a national movement, organizers raised about 9.2 million Canadian dollars, or $7.2 million, on GoFundMe during the groups cross-country trip.

To the extent that the convoy is anti-vax and anti-science, it is on the margins of Canadian society, Professor McDougall said. It is not the beginning of a movement but the most extreme manifestation we have seen of frustration about pandemic restrictions.

A key organizer of the Freedom Convoy was Tamara Lich, secretary of the relatively new Maverick Party, a right-of-center group that was started to promote the separation of Canadas three western Prairie Provinces from the rest of the country.

Scott Moe, the premier of Saskatchewan, who leads the right-leaning Saskatchewan Party, referenced comments Mr. Trudeau made last week, suggesting he had mischaracterized the scope of the dissent against pandemic restrictions. There are strong opinions on both sides of this issue, but neither side is a small, fringe minority with unacceptable views, he wrote on Twitter, quoting Mr. Trudeau.
LONDON  A long-awaited report on parties in Downing Street during the pandemic dealt Prime Minister Boris Johnson a stinging blow on Monday, condemning him for failed leadership and painting a damning picture of excessive workplace drinking in the inner sanctum of the British government.

Mr. Johnson had hoped the release of the 11-page document would allow him to put a festering scandal over illicit parties behind him. But instead he was battered in Parliament, facing a new round of questions about his personal participation in social gatherings that appear to have violated lockdown rules meant to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Even in heavily redacted form, the report by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, deepened the crisis that has engulfed Mr. Johnson for weeks, ever since reports of inappropriate gatherings surfaced late last year and raised a storm of criticism over a double standard: that the prime minister and his staff could flout the pandemic rules while insisting the rest of the country obey them.

There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No. 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times, Ms. Gray wrote of the management in Downing Street. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did.
Mr. Power said that the local Cypriot police had botched the first investigation and that he would press them to reinvestigate her allegations of rape. He said that his client had not had access to a lawyer while she was questioned by the police and that the authorities had pressured her to withdraw her claims.

Neither the woman nor those accused were named because of their age and press restrictions set by the Cypriot government, he said.

According to Mr. Power, the woman says that she had been having a holiday romance with one of the Israeli men, whom she had met in the Cyprus resort town of Ayia Napa. She said that she had agreed to go back to his hotel room, but that shortly after they got there, his friends entered and took turns raping her.

Nir Yaslovitzh, a lawyer who represented several of the Israelis accused in the case, said in a statement on Monday: My clients stand behind the claim that the complaint made against them was a false complaint, and therefore my clients are not troubled by the courts ruling in Cyprus. The fact that the court accepted the appeal points to shortcomings in her own trial, and not that my clients are guilty.

Yaniv Habari, an Israeli lawyer based in Cyprus who also represented some of the Israelis involved, said in a telephone interview that he did not see the police in Cyprus reopening the rape case in light of Mondays ruling.
Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:30 - 0:00 transcript U.S. and Russian Diplomats Clash at U.N. Security Council Meeting Russia called the public meeting on the Ukraine crisis an example of megaphone diplomacy, while the U.S. criticized Russia, saying, Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting at your border. Voice of translator: We are being asked to convene this Security Council meeting on unfounded accusations that we have refuted frequently. Furthermore, the open format of discussion proposed by the U.S. on this extremely sensitive topic is making this a classic example of megaphone diplomacy, and working in public, for the public rather. Theres a need to  weve all stated this frequently. We do not think that this will help to bring this council together. Rather, we fully understand that the desire of our American colleagues to whip up hysterics. Youve heard from our Russian colleagues that were calling for this meeting to make you all feel uncomfortable. Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting on your border in the way that these troops are sitting on the border with Ukraine. Colleagues, the situation were facing in Europe is urgent and dangerous, and the stakes for Ukraine and for every U.N. member state could not be higher. Russias actions strike at the very heart of the U.N. Charter. This is as clear and consequential a threat to peace and security as anyone can imagine. Russia called the public meeting on the Ukraine crisis an example of megaphone diplomacy, while the U.S. criticized Russia, saying, Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting at your border. Credit Credit... Andrew Kelly/Reuters

The United States and Russia engaged in a bitter diplomatic brawl Monday at the U.N. Security Council over the Ukraine crisis, with the Americans accusing the Russians of endangering peace by massing troops on Ukraines borders and Kremlin diplomats dismissing what they called hysterical U.S. fearmongering.

The situation we are facing in Europe is urgent and dangerous, the United States ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said in her opening remarks. Russias actions strike at the very heart of the U.N. charter.

Her Russian counterpart, Vasily Nebenzia, portrayed the Americans as provocateurs, whipping up tensions and provoking escalation, as he insisted that Russia had no plan to invade Ukraine.

You are almost pulling for this, he said, looking at Mrs. Thomas-Greenfield. You want it to happen. Youre waiting for it to happen, as if you want to make your words become a reality.

The meeting  requested by the United States last week  was the highest-profile arena for the two powers to sway world opinion over Ukraine. And it had all the Cold War atmospherics of the angry debates that once punctuated council sessions during the tense days of faceoffs between the United States and Soviet Union decades ago.

The current crisis surrounding Ukraine has been smoldering since Russia annexed the former Soviet Republics Crimean Peninsula nearly eight years ago after a Russia-friendly government in Ukraine was ousted.

Events in recent weeks have brought U.S.-Russian relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. Russia has sent more than 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border, and President Vladimir V. Putin has demanded that NATO never admit Ukraine as a member  all part of his effort to protect and enlarge his countrys sphere of influence in Eastern Europe.

The Biden administration has vowed to respond to a Russian invasion of Ukraine with crippling economic sanctions.

The Security Council meeting adjourned after two hours with no action taken  although none had been expected. Mr. Nebenzia left the meeting before it was over. Mrs. Thomas-Greenfield said afterward that the Russians didnt give us the answers we hoped theyd provide.

But the Biden administration regarded the meeting as an important venue to display the resolve of the United States and its allies to confront Russia over Ukraine.

If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our Allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith, Mr. Biden said in a White House statement about the meeting. If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences.

Mr. Putin, who has not spoken publicly about Ukraine since December, maintained his silence.

At one point during the meeting, Mrs. Thomas-Greenfield said the Russian military buildup on Ukraines borders reflected an escalation in a pattern of aggression that weve seen from Russia again and again. If the Russians invaded Ukraine, she said, none of us will be able to say we didnt see it coming.

Mr. Nebenzia said Russia wanted peace and accused the United States and its Western allies of manufacturing a fake crisis to weaken Russia and drive a wedge between it and Ukraine.

10,000 5,000 Troops Artillery Armored vehicles Tanks Other military or air installations 1,000 Moscow Russia has begun moving troops, armor and advanced antiaircraft systems into Belarus, a close ally. Yelnya Baranovichi POLAND Around 130,000 Russian troops have been deployed near the Ukrainian border. Asipovichy BELARUS Klintsy Pochep Brest Rechytsa Marshala Zhukova Pogonovo RUSSIA Forces deployed north of Ukraine could stretch the countrys forces thin and threaten its capital, Kyiv. Kyiv Soloti Boguchar Volgograd KAZAKHSTAN UKRAINE MOLDOVA Luhansk Donetsk Approximate line separating Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces. Persianovskiy Tiraspol Nearly 20,000 troops are near two breakaway provinces, where Ukraine has been locked in a grinding war with Russian-backed separatists since 2014. ROMANIA Rostov-on-Don SEA OF AZOV CRIMEA Korenovsk CASPIAN SEA BULGARIA BLACK SEA 200 MILES 10,000 5,000 Troops Artillery Armored vehicles Tanks Other military or air installations 1,000 Moscow BELARUS Yelnya Baranovichi Around 130,000 Russian troops have been deployed near the Ukrainian border. POLAND Asipovichy Rechytsa Brest Klintsy Marshala Zhukova RUSSIA Pogonovo Russia has begun moving troops, armor and advanced antiaircraft systems into Belarus, a close ally. Kyiv Soloti Boguchar KAZAKHSTAN UKRAINE MOLDOVA Luhansk Volgograd Donetsk Approximate line separating Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces. Persianovskiy Tiraspol Nearly 20,000 troops are near two breakaway provinces, where Ukraine has been locked in a grinding war with Russian-backed separatists since 2014. ROMANIA Rostov-on-Don SEA OF AZOV CRIMEA Korenovsk CASPIAN SEA BULGARIA BLACK SEA 200 MILES 10,000 5,000 Artillery Armored vehicles Tanks Other installations Troops 1,000 Moscow Yelnya BELARUS POLAND Around 130,000 Russian troops have been deployed near the Ukrainian border. Baranovichi Klintsy Asipovichy Pochep Rechytsa Brest RUSSIA Pogonovo Russia has begun moving troops, armor and advanced antiaircraft systems into Belarus, a close ally. Kyiv Soloti Boguchar UKRAINE KAZAKHSTAN Approximate line separating Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces. Luhansk MOLDOVA Volgograd Donetsk Persianovskiy Tiraspol ROMANIA CASPIAN SEA Rostov-on-Don SEA OF AZOV Korenovsk CRIMEA Nearly 20,000 troops are near two breakaway provinces, where Ukraine has been locked in a grinding war with Russian-backed separatists since 2014. BULGARIA BLACK SEA 200 MILES 10,000 Artillery Other installations 5,000 Troops Armored vehicles 1,000 Tanks Moscow Yelnya BELARUS Around 130,000 Russian troops have been deployed near the Ukrainian border. RUSSIA Russia has begun moving troops, armor and advanced antiaircraft systems into Belarus, a close ally. Kyiv Luhansk UKRAINE Donetsk CRIMEA Nearly 20,000 troops are near two breakaway provinces, where Ukraine has been locked in a grinding war with Russian-backed separatists since 2014. BLACK SEA 200 MILES 10,000 Other installations Artillery Troops 5,000 Armored vehicles 1,000 Tanks Moscow Yelnya BELARUS RUSSIA Kyiv UKRAINE Luhansk Donetsk CRIMEA BLACK SEA 300 MILES Note: Numbers for newly arrived troops to Belarus, parts of Crimea, and western Russia are rough estimates.

He said the United States was behind the 2014 change of government in Ukraine that had driven a pro-Moscow leadership from power and had installed nationalists, radicals, Russophobes and pure Nazis. He accused his American counterpart of having made a hodgepodge of accusations but no specific facts.
ROME  The entire family is vaccinated, even the relatives, and all abide by masking requirements and respect Italys tough coronavirus restrictions. They are also all over the place in how they are living their lives.

Mariagiovanna Togna is willing to accompany her children to outdoor play dates after school. But her husband, more anxious by nature, is still wearing rubber gloves, wiping down groceries and turning away visitors. One of her sisters in Rome is more laid back and goes to yoga class and to work, and her 15-year-old daughter had a birthday party indoors. Her brother, in the northern region of Trento, who finally agreed to get vaccinated, she said, to keep going out to bars, recently vacationed along the Amalfi Coast. But when Christmas vacation rolled around, their parents, in their 70s, asked him to stay in a bed-and-breakfast.

Everyone who went home to Benevento had to take a rapid test, including another sister, who depends on their mother for babysitting. Even though the government shot down the efforts in the Campania Region, where she lives, to delay in-person school, she prefers to keep her child out of nursery school.

We are all vaccinated, many with the third dose already, we all have a civic sense about being careful for ourselves and for others, she said. But we have different styles of life.
WARSAW  As the United States ramped up warnings of a Russian attack, and as Western allies called for unity against aggression, the leaders of two NATO members bordering Ukraine headed for a gathering in Madrid over the weekend called Defend Europe.

But instead of tackling the Russian threat to Europes eastern frontier, the meeting attended by the prime ministers of Poland and Hungary, Mateusz Morawiecki and Viktor Orban, focused on what the populist leaders cite as their most pressing threats: immigration, demographic decline and the European Union.

Even as the two NATO members rely on the alliance for their security, the pressing in Madrid of issues that have long driven a wedge between them and the United States and the European Union highlighted the extent to which domestic political concerns remain at the forefront of their calculations.

The meeting, which brought together populist, and for the most part, Kremlin-friendly, standard-bearers from across Europe, also underlined just how much those politics have blurred what the United States views as a clear-cut case of bullying by Russia, a nuclear-armed autocracy, against Ukraine, a vibrant, albeit highly dysfunctional, democracy.
Frontline health workers in England may no longer be required to get vaccinated, Britains health secretary said on Monday. He recommended a review of a mandate that employers and trade unions have warned would lead to crippling staff shortages.

Week by week, we are carefully moving our Covid response from one of rules and restrictions back to one of personal responsibility, the health secretary, Sajid Javid, told Parliament on Monday. Were able to do this because of the defenses that weve built throughout this pandemic in vaccines and antivirals, in testing and surveillance.

Originally, the mandate said National Health Service workers in England had to be fully vaccinated by April 1, meaning that they would have needed to receive their first dose of a two-dose vaccine no later than Thursday in order to be eligible for their second dose before the deadline.

Mr. Javid noted that the Omicron variant that is now dominant tends to cause severe illness less often than Delta, which was the dominant version when the mandate was announced in November. He said the mandate was the right policy during the Delta wave, but that Omicron may call for a different approach.
HASAKA, Syria  The boy had dark brown hair coated in white dust, and on his chin were the wispy beginnings of a beard.

On Sunday, his body and that of another youth were found lying on a dirt road behind the prison in northeastern Syria where a Kurdish-led force, backed by the U.S. military, fought for more than a week to put down an attempt by Islamic State militants to free former fighters held there.

The discovery of the bodies was the first confirmation that at least two of up to 700 teenage boys, who had been detained in the prison because they were the children of ISIS fighters, were killed in the fighting.

The leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which ran the prison, acknowledged Monday that a very small number of the boys had been killed.
Citrix Systems, the world-class software developer that served as a decades-long anchor of Fort Lauderdales technology community, has reached an agreement to be taken over by two large investment firms for $16.5 billion.

Although the multi-billion dollar company will lose its independence and no longer operate as a publicly traded company, Citrix will be merged with TIBCO Software, a California business intelligence software maker.

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The combined company will be headquartered in Fort Lauderdale and operate under the Citrix name, according to a statement Monday by the investment firms Vista Equity Partners, which owns TIBCO, and Evergreen Coast Capital, the private equity arm of the Wall Street giant Elliott Management Corp.

Their deal is expected to close in the second half of this year.

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Citrix, which has maintained a headquarters on Cypress Creek Road for year, employs more than 9,400 people worldwide, including 1,415 in Fort Lauderdale and 480 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

[ RELATED: Citrix starts hunt for new leader after top executive resigns ]

The combination of TIBCO with Citrix will be a game changer, said Tim Minahan executive vice president for business strategy at Citrix. Over the past three decades, Citrix has established itself as the leader in remote work, providing secure and reliable access to all the applications and information employees need to get work done, wherever it needs to get done. With the addition of TIBCOs connected intelligence capabilities ... we can enhance our digital workspace platform and the results we help our customers to achieve.

End of a lengthy review

The deal came after a changing of the guard in the executive suite last year and a lengthy internal evaluation of what Citrix would do next. The end of the months-long uncertainty came as a relief to local business development promoters who are eager to see more technology firms migrate to the area.

Todays announcement is the culmination of a strategic review process conducted over five months, including extensive outreach to both potential financial and strategic buyers, said Bob Calderoni, chairman of the Citrix board of directors and interim chief executive officer and president.

Late last year, CEO David Henshall stepped down from his posts as well as from the board of directors. He had served as Citrixs top executive since 2017. The move came after the 32-year-old technology company was reported to be considering putting itself up for sale and Elliott Management took a sizable investment stake in Citrix.

Were glad that Citrix jobs will remain here and the company will continue to leverage Greater Fort Lauderdales strategic advantages including availability of top-notch tech talent as well as low costs to do business, friendly tax structure and regulatory environment, said David Coddington, senior vice president of business development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

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For Citrix stockholders, the $104 a share deal means a 30% premium above last Dec. 7, when news first broke that Citrix was in play for a potential takeover, the companies said in a joint statement Monday.

The companys stock price ended Monday down nearly $4 to $101.68 on volume of more than 12.4 million shares.

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Citrix reported its 2021 fourth quarter financial results Monday, showing revenue of $851 million, up 5% from the same period in 2021. Annual revenues for last year came in at $3.22 billion, a dip of of 1%.

This transaction provides our shareholders with significant immediate cash value, Calderoni said in the statement. Moreover, this investment by Vista and Evergreen is a testament to the value Citrix has created and the reputation our team has built.

Software developer Citrix Systems, which has been headquartered in Fort Lauderdale for more than three decades, is being sold in a $16.5 billion takeover deal to an arm of Elliott Management Corp. and Vista Equity Partners. Citrix will be merged into another company that belongs to Vista, TIBCO Software of California. (Sundry Photography // Shutterstock)

Citrix and the acquiring firms said the deal will create one of the worlds largest software providers, serving 400,000 customers, including 98% of the Fortune 500 companies, with 100 million users in 100 countries.

We have always viewed Citrix as a true technology pioneer, building and defining so many categories that have changed the landscape of the industry, said Monti Saroya, co-head of Vistas Flagship Fund and its senior managing director.

As a private company, Citrix will have access to additional resources and support, as well as more flexibility to take advantage of strong secular tailwinds with trends supporting modern and secure remote hybrid work to serve the combined customer base and invest in high-growth markets, he said.

Citrix makes business software for the world of cloud computing, including virtually accessing desktop computers, data storage, servers, and networking.

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After the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered a sweeping trend of remote work across industries in the U.S. and abroad, Citrix stepped up efforts to help companies modernize internal communications and work places with work-from-anywhere digital products that are not tied to any one geography, network or set of devices.
Stillwater, OK (74078)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely - heavy rainfall is possible, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely - heavy rainfall is possible, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Residents of several villages in Russias Magadan region have recently reported black snow caused by the soot produced by an outdated, coal-powered water-heating plant.

In Omsukchan and neighboring Seimchan, two villages in the Siberian far east, snow doesnt always look the way youd expect. In fact, sometimes its quite the opposite. Instead of an immaculate white covering everything as far as the eye can see, locals are treated to a nightmarish view of black, soot-covered snow that the kids sometimes play in. Photos and videos of this disturbing scenery have been doing the rounds online every winter for years, but locals say that despite the temporary outrage they spark online, nothing ever changes.

Photo: Magadan Pravda

The black snow isnt the result of some sinister, unexplained phenomenon, but simply the effect of coal pollution. Omsukchan is home to a coal-burning hot water plant that provides heating to several settlements in the area, and as temperatures drop in the winter months, more coal has to be burned in order to keep water temperatures up. This results in increased amounts of soot in the atmosphere.

The soot coming out of the plants chimneys eventually falls to the ground, covering everything, including the white snow. With temperatures this month dropping below minus 50C, the plant has been working at full capacity, burning more coal than usual and creating proportional amounts of soot.

Photo: Magadan Pravda

This is a playground in Omsukchan village. Its January, our children are out there playing in black snow, a person can be heard saying in a now-viral video. This is how we live here in the 21st century.

This is Omsukchan village and the snow is black  completely black, another local wrote on social media. Our children still breathe soot, nothing ever seems to change here.

Photo: Magadan Pravda

Oksana Gerasimova, the head of the Srednekansky district, told Magadan Pravda newspaper that the plant is indeed to blame, but added that the situation is better than it was a few years ago. Its true that the ash collectors at the plant dont do a perfect job, but the situation is only temporary and the black snow is apparently not a reason to worry.

Plans to change the filters in the coal-burning plant to stop the pollution are underway, and authorities want to replace the old plant with an electricity-powered one, but it requires new sources of funding. The thousands of people living in Omsukchan and Seimchan have heard this kind of talk before and they arent getting their hopes up.



Interestingly, black snow isnt entirely unheard of in Russia. A few years back, we covered a similar incident in the countrys Kuzbass region, where coal-processing plants left settlements covered in ash and soot.
People on the lookout for affordable housing in the Swiss city of Zurich can now opt for a two-person tent on an open balcony offering a view of the starry evening sky for just 500 Swiss francs ($540) a month.

Finding a cheap place to rent in Zurich is almost impossible these days, because of the citys competitive property market, so one resourceful tenant decided to subsidize her own monthly rent by subletting the balcony of her apartment on the open market. The offer includes a waterproof tent complete with an insulating mat, mattress and pillows, as well as access to the apartments kitchen, living room and bathroom. Believe it or not, the woman, known only as Sandra, has already had a good response to the ad she posted earlier this month.

I would like to live with someone else and reduce my rent a bit, Sandra told 20 Minutes. Thats why I came up with the idea of the tent. In the city, the situation for those looking for a flat is very difficult. Finding an affordable room is almost impossible.

While $540 may seem like a lot for a tent on a small balcony, but its a good deal in Switzerlands largest city, where a property availability crisis has caused rent prices to skyrocket. Students open to less conventional housing offers have declared themselves particularly interested in Sandras ad.

The fact that in Zurich a tent on a balcony is rented for 500 francs is the shocking result of the rental price drive-up in this city, a spokesperson for the Zurich Tenants Association said.

After Sandras ad went viral online, experts started weighing in on the legality of the offer. One lawyer told journalists that while subletting a balcony as a living space is not prohibited by law, some basic conditions need to be met.

Swiss housing law mentions a right to lighting, as well as to protection from noise and fire, and in this particular case, if the tent remains installed for a longer period of time, the owner will require the approval of the local planning authority. Its not yet clear if Sandra has already taken these things into account.

I realize that it will be a bit difficult to find a tenant in winter, especially since the balcony is not covered, the woman said. If someone doesnt want to move in until spring, thats fine with me too.
Aric Caplan

For decades, too many in the public relations industry have conspired with fossil fuel companies to spread misinformation about climate change. Their actions help imperil the planet and poison the national discourse about the existential threat of our time: global warming.

In case you havent seen Dont Look Up, dont delay! Truth is always stranger than fiction as hundreds of scientists in January called on PR and ad firms to cut ties with their fossil fuel clients. They warned deceptive campaigns represent one of the biggest barriers to the government action science shows is necessary to mitigate the ongoing climate emergency.

Consider BPs high-profile Beyond Petroleum re-branding campaign that Ogilvy & Mather designed for British Petroleum. The slogan and its corresponding ads with ecologically-minded ethos (Its time to think outside the barrel, one ad suggests) redefined the fossil fuel giant as environmentally friendly, along with a newly designed flowery green and yellow sunburst logo. In 2010, BP was responsible for the largest oil spill in U.S. history, the Deepwater Horizon blowout. That disaster dumped more than 130 million gallons of oil into pristine waters in the Gulf of Mexico, affecting 70,000 square miles, killing eleven rig workers and destroying thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles. Thats only one of the egregious incidents in the companys sordid 100-year history of appalling accidents, spills and exploitation.

PR has been so successful in helping the fossil fuel industry greenwash its image that the industrys marketing campaigns often seep into common vernacular. Burson Cohn & Wolfe developed the clean coal campaign for Peabody Energy in 2014 to help torpedo President Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan, the first-ever initiative to regulate carbon emissions from the nations power sector (it never went into effect). Scholars note that could be the first time the Supreme Court ever stayed a rule before any court ruled on the merits. Today, clean coal remains a popular talking point, even though theres no such thing. So is natural gas, an industry term commonly used when referring to fracked gas to clean up its image (regarding the molecular structures of natural gas, 70 to 90 percent of it consists primarily of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.).

It seems theres no end in sight to greenwashing, or to the blind eye that some PR firms take in their complicity. Following COP26, the Chicago Tribune reported Edelman, one of the largest PR firms, rejected criticism that their communications practice enables climate change denial and rejects science, even though the firm represents ExxonMobil, one of the most valuable fossil fuel energy companies in history.

Brown University recently issued a peer-reviewed investigation, The Role of Public Relations Firms in Climate Change Politics published in Climatic Change. It reveals the PR industrys profound influence, confirming what many already know: various PR firms are complicit in helping the fossil fuel industry to communicate. The most prominent segment to wield PR firms in advancing their agenda are the coal/steel/rail, gas & oil and utilities sectors.

Researchers at Brown discovered that PR influences climate policy in work that requires them to remain invisible. They also conclude that agencies havent been held to account for their activities. Big polluters, the study found, used PR to affect perceptions about climate science at the national level. They include Burson Cohn & Wolfe, Charles Ryan, Weber Shandwick, Cerrell, Hill+Knowlton and DF King, in addition to the more mainstream names like Ogilvy, which have represented hundreds of oil and gas disinformation campaigns between 1988 and 2020.

Everybody knows about the Heartland Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Koch brothers, wrote Robert Brulle, a visiting professor and reports co-author at Brown. Thats not really news anymore. But the other 95 percent of these companies efforts to greenwash their reputations and shift public opinion are being ignored. Ironically, the children of long-time oil company employees are now confronting the climate crisis with their parents.

We live at a time when the climate crisis threatens the future of our planet, and the future of the children and grandchildren we bequeath to it. Its time for PR companies traditionally supporting the fossil fuel industry, which is squarely responsible for this crisis, to get real. Its time for PR to commit to no longer accept any contracts with fossil fuel companies looking to greenwash their image and to declare they will divest from them for good.

Some of the largest and most successful PR firms have defied science and contrived multibillion-dollar propaganda operations that enable and advance fossil fuels whose business models literally destroy our planet. Their fictions have delayed climate action, frustrated the public, politicized the climate crisis and paused practical solutions.

How much longer can our industry remain silent about its complicity when the writing is on the wall? Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said.

Its time to break the silence. Its time for the PR industry to think outside the barrel.

***

Aric Caplan is President of Caplan Communications, an agency that represents the conservation, environmental and renewable energy sectors.
Rethink Ireland are marking four years of their Social Enterprise Development Fund and have published a report highlighting the impact of the Fund and spotlighting some of the social enterprises supported since 2018, including local groups: Stampify and Anam Beo Arts Organisation.

The Social Enterprise Development Fund was created in 2018 by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and funded by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund to find and back the best social enterprises in Ireland by making cash grants and strategic business support available to Awardees.

Nationally, the Social Enterprise Development Fund has supported 112 social enterprises and created 209 jobs. According to Rethink Ireland, a significant achievement of the Fund is the support that has been given to traditionally under-represented communities. The Social Enterprise Development Fund has succeeded in delivering services to over 270,000 people throughout Ireland and mobilised 16,507 volunteers.

Commenting this week, Stephanie Walsh, Business Development Director at Rethink Ireland, said: Over the past four years, we have supported social enterprises throughout Ireland to provide responses to urgent social issues, while working closely with local communities. These social enterprises work to promote access to employment, delivering training and giving a voice to those not often heard in society; creating local solutions to the global climate crisis; and providing bespoke, holistic services to our most vulnerable in society.

Social enterprises based in Offaly are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Social Enterprise Development Fund 2022 and the Social Enterprise Start-Up Fund which have officially opened for applications.

Also commenting, Anna-Marie Delaney Chief Executive Officer of Offaly County Council, said: "Were excited to be working with Rethink Ireland in their effort to support social enterprises around the country. The Social Enterprise Development Fund, which will focus on continued seed funding for start-up social enterprises, will strengthen its focus on providing vital supports to early-stage social enterprises with the development of a new business course and a clear pathway for social enterprises looking to build their businesses. This will deliver real and meaningful change to each of the organisations involved and Irelands social enterprise sector as a whole."

George Jones, Group Director and Chairman of IPB Insurance, added: We are delighted to renew our support for a further two years of the Social Enterprise Development Fund with Rethink Ireland and the Department of Rural & Community Development in partnership with our local authority members.

"Working alongside our local authority Members, our collaboration with Rethink Ireland and the Department has focused on identifying and supporting the best social enterprises nationwide with the added benefit of promoting the sector as an important contributor to Ireland's socio-economic development. I think the need for Social Enterprises has been highlighted more than ever by the pandemic and global conversations around sustainability. Social enterprises are motivated by seeing a social need and setting out to meet that need in a sustainable manner.

Applications for the 2022 Social Enterprise Development Fund and Social Enterprise Start Up Fund will be open until March 3rd and can be found on Rethink Irelands website, www.rethinkireland.ie
The Irish tech billionaire who bought the Laois mansion and thousand acre estate of Abbey Leix last year has snapped up the bargain crumbling mansion next door.

Laois County Council has agreed to sell Millbrook House on the De Vesci estate for 400,000 to Comhlacht na Feirme Ltd who supplied an image of what the mansion will look like when restored. See it below.

Cllrs John King and John Joe Fennelly confirmed that the buyers are Limerick brothers, John and Patrick Collison, founders of tech company Stripe.

Millbrook House had been bought by Compulsory Purchase Order by the council last year with the intention to flip it on to a buyer with deep pockets who would save it from complete ruin.

It is on the original De Vesci estate grounds and neighbours the grand Abbey Leix estate on 1,000 acres, bought by John Collison last year for 11.5 million.

The protected structure is a 9,000 sqft derelict three storey mansion built in 1885, on 1.7 hectares.

The sale price has been agreed at 400,000 by owners Laois County Council but Senior Planner and acting Director Services for Housing Angela McEvoy said that it will take three years of restoration work.

They have indicated it will take three years to turn around. The building needs a lot of conservation, she said.

The council bought Millbrook House in 2021 by Compulsory Purchase Order from John Patrick Colclough, with the aim of rapidly selling it on to a buyer who could guarantee to fix the roof and restore the house.

At the January council meeting this Monday, Cllr John Joe Fennelly from Abbeyleix proposed the sale to Comhlacht na Feirme Ltd from Blackrock. He later confirmed to the Leinster Express that the buyers are the Collison brothers.

I have to thank the CEO. There was a huge interest in this with 170 people registering interest. This is a fantastic outcome. The people of Abbeyleix really appreciate the effort the council made to have it restored, he said at the meeting.

It's part of our heritage and culture, agreed Cllr Kelly who seconded the proposal.

Cllr John King estimated it would take 2 million to restore the mansion to its former glory.

I thank the council for having the vision to do the CPO before it was gone into complete dereliction and gone for all time. You could be talking the bones of 2 million. This house is very important for us and for the people who left Laois, he said.

The council's criteria for selecting a buyer included price offered, a timeline to complete restoration, and a statement of resources available to the bidder.
A Tullamore man who posed as an agent for a leading auctioneering company and took money from victims in bogus land deals has paid back all the money he owed to his victims.

At the Monday, January 31, sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court, Judge Keenan Johnson said the case of Laurence Murphy, Clonminch, Tullamore could be finalised. He said it had been hanging over Mr Murphy and rightly so for a number of years, but he was satisfied that all the victims had now been compensated. Kevin White BL prosecuting said there was no order to be made.

Mr Murphy paid 140,000 to one victim, 105,000 to a second and 35,000 to a third.

In addition to the money he owed to the victims, he donated 20,000. However none of the victims said they wanted it, so Judge Keenan Johnson ordered the 20,000 be divided between the Irish Cancer Society, Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre, Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service, the Fusion and Acorn projects in Tullamore and Edenderry and Birr youth start up projects.

Laurence Murphy, Clonminch, Tullamore, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to stealing money from a number of victims. He had posed as an agent for Savills and took money in bogus land deals. He had also pretended to sell a house. He produced Savills headed receipts and notepaper.

In 2019 he was given a six and half year suspended sentence on condition he pay 105,000 compensation to one man and 35,000 to another, within 12 months. He failed to pay and the case was re-entered in 2021.

During that period a number of proposals were put forward, one being a loan against his mother's home.

The second proposal saw a planning application lodged to build a house on a site to the rear of the family home. Offaly county council sought further information which was not forthcoming and the application was closed. A fresh application was then lodged and planning permission was granted but was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanala who upheld the councils decision.

Another proposal which Mr Murphy said would raise enough funds to pay full compensation was from his shareholding in a company which he claimed if released would provide full compensation.

At one stage Judge Keenan Johnson said he was "sick, sore, and tired" of Mr Murphy. He described him as a Walter Mitty character. "I don't want any more paperwork. I want to see the colour of money."

The case is now fully concluded and all compensation paid.
Thousands of undocumented migrants may have official permission to live in Ireland by the end of the year, as a scheme to regularise their status opens on Monday.

The scheme allows long-term undocumented people the opportunity to regularise their status, meaning they have official access to the workforce.

Described as a once in a generation scheme, it is expected to benefit up to 17,000 people, including 3,000 children.

Over the next six months, individuals who are undocumented can apply to regularise their status in Ireland.

Our undocumented scheme is now open! It will give thousands of people who are already contributing so much to our country and communities the opportunity to come in from the legal shadows and regularise their status. Find out more at https://t.co/An4XcLFZhJ pic.twitter.com/TloEfi8thp  Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) January 31, 2022

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, said it will benefit thousands of people who live in Ireland and are part of communities.

Many of them are working and paying taxes, their children are in our schools, and are part of our community, she added.

We might not even know that theyre (here) in an undocumented way. But they have been living with a cloud hanging over them and this will allow them to apply to regularise their status and to get on with their lives.

For many of them, they havent been able to return home to the countries that theyre from, they havent seen family in many, many years. I think this will open that up for them.

Applicants will have to meet a particular set of criteria, including residing in Ireland for a four-year continuous period. However, the Fine Gael minister said that a period of 90 days has been built into the scheme that allows for an individual who left the state for a valid reason.

Applicants with children will have to live in Ireland for three years, while asylum seekers will have to meet a two-year minimum period.

The scheme also accepts applications from people with expired student visas and those with pending deportation orders.

Ms McEntee said she hopes to have the applications finalised as soon as possible.

I do hope by the end of the year moving into next year, well start to see some of the first people getting their positive positions, she told RTE Morning Ireland.

We want to move through it as quickly as possible.

There is an appeals process and it will be looked at by someone who hasnt looked at their initial application.

Ms McEntee added: Every individual and their family will have to go through a vetting process.

If it transpires that you have a serious criminal conviction or if there is a reason that the gardai have laid out, that you shouldnt be successful, that will be taken into account.
Gardai in Kilkenny are investigating the circumstances of an incident between a teenage girl and an unknown male which took place near Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny today shortly after 12 midday.

The girl was approached by the male and assaulted before the man left the scene.

According to local reports, the teenager was out exercising on a road in the Johnstown area when she was attacked.

The teenage girl was taken to St Lukes General Hospital Kilkenny and treated for shock and a physical injury (non-life threatening). Investigating Gardai have carried out an initial interview with the girl.

The male is best described, at this time, as a white male in his 40s with an Irish accent.

Gardai continue to carry out enquiries and recover CCTV from the area.

Gardai are appealing for any person travelling on the R639 between Johnstown and The Gallops (a minor road also known locally as Cullinanes Lane), Ballyspellan between 11am and 12.15pm, particularly any person with any video footage (dashcam or other recording device) to contact Gardai at Kilkenny at 056 7775000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
While weather dealt SpaceX three days of delays for its attempt to send a Falcon 9 rocket up from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, it was a cruise ship down range that caused a Sunday scrub. The company will try again today while pushing a second Falcon 9 launch to Tuesday.

Sundays weather was looking great, but as the live stream began ahead of a 6:11 p.m. target liftoff, SpaceX commentator Jesse Anderson said a cruise ship was approaching a no-go zone, and the U.S. Coast Guard was in contact with the ship. There were two ships that could have been the potential reason for the scrub. Royal Caribbeans Harmony of the Seas was at sea off the coast of Brevard County ahead of the launch after having departed Port Canaveral Sunday afternoon while MSC Meraviglia was shown in the port channel, according to cruisemapper.com.

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Mission managers shouting Hold! Hold ! Hold! scrubbed the launch with less than a minute before the planned liftoff. The company will now attempt a 6:11 p.m. liftoff today.

The U.S. Space Force has attempted to get the word out about the multiple southerly trajectory rocket launches from the Space Coast this month, which means a larger hazard areas for both watercraft such as the cruise ship as well as aircraft.

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The chance of a launch scrubbing due to a range violation is increased if the public is not aware of the expanded safety measures, reads a press release from Space Launch Delta 45, the Space Force group that oversees both Cape Canaveral and Patrick Space Force Base. Boaters and aircraft operators are directed to consult the advisories for each launch that contain detailed maps, coordinates, timing, and status of the area restrictions and closures. Last year, a polar launch attempt scrubbed due to a range violation when a private aircraft strayed into the restricted airspace prior to launch.

With Sundays scrub, SpaceX has pushed a planned launch of a second Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center to Tuesday.

The Canaveral launch payload is the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 satellite run by the Italian Space Agency. Its the second of four new satellites to replace an original four launched from 2007-2010 that provide defense, environmental and other observations for Italy and surrounding nations in the Mediterranean region.

The booster recovery attempt will be on land at Canaverals Landing Zone 1. This marks the third flight of the booster while both fairing halves have flown on three previous missions each.

Todays weather looks good with better than 90% favorable conditions, according to the Space Launch Delta 45s Weather Squadron forecast.

The second Falcon 9 rocket, which was originally on tap for this weekend but has also suffered from a domino effect, is now aiming for a Tuesday launch, with a 90% for good weather. This one carrying another batch of Starlink satellites will take off from KSCs Launch Pad 39-A, with a target liftoff between 1:46 p.m. and 5:26 p.m.

With the addition of last weeks United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch of a pair of U.S. Space Force satellites, the early months of 2022 are among the busiest on record for the Space Coast. A new rocket company for the Space Coast, Astra Space, is also up for a potential launch soon with its Rocket 3.3 on an operational flight to put four small satellites in orbit for NASA. The company is awaiting the OK from the Federal Aviation Administration having already successfully performed a test fire at Canaverals Space Launch Complex 46.

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SpaceX, though, has been the busiest to date. Mondays launch attempt would be the second launch from Canaveral for SpaceX this year with the other two launches of Falcon 9s coming from neighboring KSC.

With five potential launches from Florida through Feb. 1 and its first California launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base slated for Wednesday this week, SpaceX is on target to achieve what one NASA committee panel member stated was an ambitious goal of 52 launches in 2022.

NASAs Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel member Sandra Magnus said in a meeting last week that SpaceX launch plans would eclipse 2021s record of 31 launches, according to a report on CNBC. 2022s plans include several launches for NASA including two more crew rotations, resupply missions and the first civilian trip to the International Space Station from the U.S.

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.
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Rescue helicopters began evacuating crew from a ship left drifting rudderless in a wind turbine park off the Dutch North Sea coast Monday after it collided with another ship and began taking on water, emergency services said.



The collision happened as a powerful storm lashed parts of the northern Europe. It came after Storm Malik killed at least four people over the weekend, destroying houses, unleashing flooding and leaving thousands of households without electricity.



A freighter called the Julietta D with 18 crew members on board collided with another boat about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of the port of Ijmuiden, said Edward Zwitser, a spokesman for the Royal Dutch Lifeboat Company. The other boat also was damaged, but was able to continue its voyage.



The Dutch coast guard said the first search and rescue helicopter had arrived at the scene and begun removing crew from the ship. It gave no further details.



Three helicopters, including one from Belgium, were involved in the rescue operation.



The Juliette D suffered damage that poses direct danger for the 18 crew on board, spokesman Edward Zwitser told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.



Thousands of homes in the Nordic region remained without power Monday and there were reports of flooding in North Sea and Baltic Sea harbors in the region. The western Netherlands were hard hit Monday morning with powerful gusts uprooting trees and causing traffic problems.
East Coast residents clear snow after "historic nor'easter," former Kansas resident accused of leading all-female IS battalion and more news you need to know Monday.


SeattlePI.com 31 Jan 2022

With a thumbs up to the camera, Christian Eriksen revealed his new team and planned return to playing  almost eight months after..
Huffington Post 31 Jan 2022

Boris Johnson will address the release of the long-awaited report on the "partygate" scandal that has rocked his government.
Washington has called the Russian troop buildup a major threat to "international peace" ahead of the UN meeting. Meanwhile, Moscow has dismissed the summit as a "PR stunt."
Inspectors apparently got a little exasperated counting all the live flies and dead cockroaches at a pair of South Florida restaurants ordered closed by the state last week.

Too numerous to count, reported one inspector at fried fish and chicken chain Snappers on Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale. Too many to count, another inspector described at Los Panchos Tacos & Tequila in Lake Worth. (Eventually, though, these folks gamely came up with an estimate.) Meanwhile, the state discovered other roach woes at Cabana El Ray in Delray Beach and Taqueria El Tarazco in Hallandale Beach.

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The South Florida Sun Sentinel highlights restaurant inspections in Broward and Palm Beach counties from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. We cull through hundreds of restaurant and bar inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for high-priority violations, like improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.

[ FULL DATABASE: See Florida restaurant inspection reports from the last 30 days ]

Sun Sentinel readers can browse full Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade county reports on our state inspection map, updated weekly (usually Monday) with fresh data pulled from the Florida DBPR website.

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Any restaurant that fails inspections must stay closed until it passes a follow-up state inspection. If you spotted a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR here. (But dont contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesnt inspect restaurants.)

[ Lee en espanol: Moscas vivas en panes, agujeros de roedores obligan a cinco restaurantes del sur de Florida a cerrar temporalmente ]

Snappers on Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale

2750 W. Sunrise Blvd.

Ordered shut: Jan. 24, reopened Jan. 25

Why: 17 violations (four high priority), led by this eyebrow-raising line: dead small flying insects and roaches too numerous to count at this fried fish and chicken chain. Inspectors, however, did try to count them: 20 dead flies and 41 dead roaches on sticky pad in employee restroom, under the kitchen storage shelves and sink and next to the water heater. The state also spotted 63 live flies landing on bottles of syrup mix for frozen drinks, on bags of dry breading mixes, on bottles of hot sauce and around the broom and dustpan in the employee bathroom. State inspectors found five more minor issues during their second visit on Jan. 25, but cleared the restaurant to reopen.

Los Panchos Tacos & Tequila, Lake Worth

717 Lake Ave.

Ordered shut: Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, reopened Jan. 29

Why: 16 violations (10 high priority), led by live flies flying around the bar area, too many to count, while a live rodent was discovered crawling behind upright cooler in the kitchen. Investigating further, inspectors spotted a rodent burrow in the back-door hallway covered in gnawing marks as well as rodent rub marks on the electric pipes behind the kitchen dishwasher. One inspector found a dead rodent caught on a snap trap on the ledge behind the sink. They also spotted the mess these pests left behind: 60 rodent droppings on bags of Mountain Dew, Pepsi and Tropicana lemonade in the kitchen storage room, under the toaster and on the bottom shelf of the kitchen prep table. The restaurant was also ordered to stop selling and toss its pico de gallo and salsa due to temperature abuse. More rodent activity forced inspectors to shut the restaurant a second time on Jan. 29, but reopened the taqueria later that day after the states third inspection.

Cabana El Ray, Delray Beach

105 E. Atlantic Ave.

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Ordered shut: Jan. 27, reopened Jan. 28

Why: Seven violations (three high priority), such as five live roaches observed on ground under a cooler near the kitchens cooking station, plus one dead roach on a cart holding dry ingredients in the kitchen. Inspectors also ordered the restaurant to stop selling and trash its cooked potatoes due to temperature abuse. The state found a single violation during its Jan. 28 reinspection but cleared the restaurant to open.

Taqueria El Tarazco, Hallandale Beach

622 NE Eighth St.

Ordered shut: Jan. 25, Jan. 26 and Jan. 27, reopened Jan. 27

Why: Inspectors spotted 10 violations (four high priority), including 11 live cockroaches crawling on wall in dry storage room, on top of the kitchen water heater and inside a bag where to-go containers are stored in the kitchen. Inspectors also saw three dead roaches on a kitchen shelf next to the same to-go containers. Inspectors shut down the taqueria again on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27 for further roach woes (alive and dead), but let them re-open after their fourth inspection on Jan. 27.

[ RELATED: South Florida restaurants: Now open, coming soon and closed | PHOTOS ]
Washington has called the Russian troop buildup a major threat to "international peace." Meanwhile, Moscow has dismissed the summit as a "PR stunt."
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GENEVA (AP)  The head of the World Health Organization says an investigation is underway into alleged reports that the U.N. health agency's top official in the Western Pacific engaged in racist, unethical and abusive behavior, following a report last week by The Associated Press.



At a meeting of the WHO's executive board over the weekend, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was first made aware of staff complaints about the reported misconduct of Dr. Takeshi Kasai in late 2021.



We take these this allegations seriously and we have acted with urgency, said Tedros. He said WHO headquarters was told of the claims in late 2021 and was now following due process with the cooperation of the staff member, without specifying Kasai.



Last week, the AP published an investigation that found WHO staffers complained that Kasai's abusive, racist and unprofessional behavior compromised the agency's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kasai has denied the allegations.



The claims were laid out in an internal complaint filed in October and again in an email last week, sent by unidentified concerned WHO staff to senior leadership and the executive board and obtained by the AP. Two of the authors said more than 30 staffers were involved in writing it, and that it reflected the experiences of more than 50 people.



The internal complaint and the email describe a toxic atmosphere with a culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing at WHOs Western Pacific headquarters in Manila, led by Kasai, director of a vast region that includes China and his home country of Japan.



The AP also obtained recorded snippets of meetings where Kasai is heard making derogatory remarks about his staff based on nationality. Eleven former or current WHO staffers who worked for Kasai told the AP...
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Thousands of Venezuelans in the United States are eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but many havent.

To help Venezuelans apply for temporary legal status, the Venezuelan Embassy in the United States - in partnership with Miami Mayor Daniela Levin Cava, through the Office of New Americans - is holding legal clinics offering free legal assistance to those who qualify.

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There are clinics scheduled for Feb. 17, 18 and 19 and March 17, 18 and 19. Additional clinics will be announced in the future, according to the link shared by the embassy.

The United States has granted TPS to Venezuelans living in the country. Initially, the deadline to request the benefit was Sept. 5, 2021, but the U.S. government extended the dateline from 6 months to 18 months. The deadline for submitting applications is now Sept. 9, 2022.

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By the end of 2021, according to Brian Fincheltub, director of consular affairs at the Venezuelan Embassy in the U.S., 200,673 TPS applications were received, 15,788 were approved, 204,132 were pending and 10 were denied. TPS allows its beneficiaries to work legally in the United States and protects them from deportation. More than 323,000 Venezuelans could benefit from TPS.

The announcement of TPS for Venezuelans took place less than two months after the inauguration of Joe Biden as president. The president, who campaigned on a promise to order TPS for Venezuelans in his first 100 days in office, considers Nicolas Maduro a dictator and his May 2014 election as fraudulent.

Many lawyers and community activists invite Venezuelans to take advantage of this opportunity.

Over the past few years, many members of Congress have been trying to pass a law allowing people with TPS to apply for permanent residence. And you never know what might happen in the future. But by not registering, you would lose the opportunity, said Brian Becker, an immigration attorney based in Boca Raton.

To access the free legal aid, you must:

Call 305-573-1106 ext. 1109 to make an appointment.

Send a message with the word TPS to 725-72 to get a link for registration (https://ona.salsalabs.org/tpshaiticlinic/index.html)

Register in person either at the Joseph Caleb Center (Thursdays or Fridays), 5400 22nd Ave., Miami, or the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center (Fridays and Saturdays), 13390 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami.

Help will be in Spanish and is free, virtually or in person, the embassy said.

Additionally, the Embassy of Venezuela in the United States has been holding live workshops through @EmbajadaVE_USA on social networks to try to answer all doubts that Venezuelans have about TPS. You can watch the videos on their pages on Facebook and Instagram (@EmbajadaVE_USA).

En conjunto con @MayorDaniella y @MiamiDadeCounty les traemos esta clinica del 20 al 22 de enero para obtener asistencia legal gratuita para aplicar al TPS



Llamar 305 573 1106 ext 1109

Enviar un mensaje de texto con la palabra TPS al 725-72

Registrate https://t.co/HMQVrxKAv1 pic.twitter.com/5pwDCrEai2  Brian Fincheltub (@BrianFincheltub) January 17, 2022

Extension causes confusion

And while news of the extension was welcomed, many activists and lawyers believe it has caused confusion.

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It generated a lot of confusion because they said they were extending the TPS registration period, but people thought that those who arrived after [March] 8 could apply, said Venezuelan activist Helena Villalonga, president and founder of AMAVEX (Asociacion Multicultural de Activistas Voice and Expression) and Sunrise resident in a previous interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel. False hopes were created, said Villalonga. Only individuals who can show continuous residence in the United States through March 8, 2021, are eligible under the Venezuela designation.

Villalonga added that the government has not made it clear whether it will extend the TPS benefits deadline besides the extension of the registration period, which is now Sept. 9, 2022.

They give you time to register but they dont extend the validity of the TPS or at least they havent said so. People are confused, Villalonga said.

TPS is a temporary status. However, the benefit could be extended, although the government has not announced anything so far.

For Venezuelans seeking political asylum, Becker recommends applying for TPS while the asylum case is pending.

The asylum is still pending while applying for TPS. But if they dont get the asylum approved and if they dont have TPS, they will be subject to deportation. With TPS, there will be no basis for removal proceedings. And if the official does not approve the asylum, they would have the right to a hearing with the judge (but they would not be in removal proceeding), he said.

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What to do

To apply for the benefit, those who qualify must:

Apply for TPS by filing Form I-821 in https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-venezuela .

in . If you live in Florida, you must submit the form to these addresses: U.S. Postal Service (USPS), USCISPO Box 20300, Phoenix, AZ 85036 or via FedEx, UPS, and DHL to TPS Venezuela (20300)1820 E. Skyharbor Circle SSuite 100Phoenix, AZ 85034

Pay $50 for the application and $85 for the biometric screening.

Pay $410 for employment authorization. When filing an initial TPS application or re-registering for TPS, you can also apply for employment authorization (EAD) by submitting a Form I-765 .

. Pass a background check and prove that you entered the United States before March 8.

Population increase

Venezuela is plunged into the worst crisis in its history. The exodus of Venezuelans to the entire world adds up to a record migratory figure of nearly 5 million refugees worldwide, mostly to Colombia. The exodus is equally evident in South Florida, concentrating mainly in Weston and Doral. In fact, both cities nicknames among Hispanics are Westonzuela and Doralzuela.

The population of people of Venezuelan descent in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade grew 250 percent between 2000 and 2013, according to Census figures, to more than 80,000.

An estimated 421,000 Hispanics of Venezuelan origin resided in the United States in 2017, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey.

Venezuelans are the 13th largest population of Hispanic origin living in the U.S., representing less than 1% of the U.S. Hispanic population.

In addition to Venezuelans, people without nationality who have last resided in Venezuela and who currently live in the U.S. may apply for this TPS designation.

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yvaldez@sunsentinel.com, @elsentinelsur en Facebook, Twitter e Instagram.
BBC Local News: London -- A man charged with murdering his mother at the weekend is due in court on Monday.
Daily Star 31 Jan 2022

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Accusations flew between US and Russian ambassadors during a bellicose debate at the U.N. Security Council Monday. It was the first open session where all protagonists spoke on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, even though the U.N. body took no action. (Jan. 31)


The UN Security Council is meeting today - at America's request - to discuss the ongoing tension and build-up of troops on Russia's border with Ukraine.
From Tuesday, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started, South African schools will be fully reopened.
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Opalesque Industry Update - HCI Equity Partners, a leading lower middle market private equity firm, has announced that Jonathan Konkoly has joined HCI as Vice President of Portfolio Operations, and Ben Choi has joined the firm as Senior Associate. In his role, Mr. Konkoly will focus on identifying and accelerating profitable revenue growth at HCI's portfolio companies. He brings to the position deep experience in go-to-market strategy, pricing, and commercial team effectiveness. Previously, he was a Principal at Blue Ridge Partners, a consulting firm focused on helping companies with issues that affect revenue performance. Prior to that, he was a consultant at INSIGHT2PROFIT and at IRI, and held several management positions at McMaster-Carr Supply. Mr. Konkoly earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BBA from Loyola University Chicago's Quinlan School of Business. Mr. Choi will be responsible for evaluating, analyzing and monitoring investments made by the firm. He previously held strategic finance roles with HCI portfolio company MSI Express and at several multi-unit restaurant groups; and was an Associate at Sentinel Capital Partners. He began his career in investment banking at Houlihan Lokey and BB&T Capital Markets. He has a BA from the College of William & Mary where he double majored in economics and political science. HCI Managing Partner Doug McCormick explained, "These additions reflect critical skillsets to support our evolving needs as we help our investments rapidly grow through organic growth and M&A. Jonathan's sales operations expertise and Ben's transaction and strategic finance skillset are powerful additions to the firm's value creation capabilities." Dan Dickinson, HCI Managing Partner said, "We take immense pride in our culture and HCI is pleased to welcome Jonathan and Ben, and excited to have attracted these talented individuals. They are both terrific additions to the firm."
LAUDERHILL  Two men were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after bullets flew from a passing car in Lauderhill Monday afternoon, police said.

Shortly after 12 p.m., police were called about a man with gunshot wounds inside of the Wendys at 1899 N. State Road 7. After finding the first man shot, authorities found a second man with gunshot wounds in the parking lot south of the restaurant, said Maj. Michael Santiago, a spokesperson for Lauderhill Police.

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Investigators said the two men were riding south on State Road 7 near Northwest 19th Street in a blue Mercedes when someone in an unknown car began shooting at them, Santiago said. The Mercedes swerved off the road, over the curb, into bushes and hit two parked cars in the parking lot of a credit union south of the Wendys.

Lauderhill PD investigating a shooting with 2 victims. SR7 Southbound lanes are closed from NW 19th st to NW 16tb st. Use alternate routes along 31st ave. pic.twitter.com/MIdA1hExiK  LauderhillPDPIO (@LPDPIO) January 31, 2022

Southbound lanes on State Road 7 were closed for several hours from Northwest 19th Street to Northwest 16th Street while detectives investigated the spent bullet casings along the lanes, Santiago said. The roads were reopened as of 5:30 p.m. Monday.

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Santiago said a motive is not yet known.

First responders took both victims to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, and they are expected to recover.
Ottumwa, IA (52501)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 50F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 50F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Jerome Township Fire Department Deputy Chief Jim Bailey enjoys being stopped around Midland County and being called Fireman Jim.

Bailey was honored for 50 years of service with the department Saturday during a recognition dinner at the Sanford Lake Bar and Grill. He and firefighter Kevin Nilles, also with 50 years of service, are the two longest serving members on the department. Nilles is vacationing in Florida and will get his plaque on his return.

Bailey earned the "Fireman Jim" nickname when he did fire safety training in schools beginning in 1978 along with Dan Skinner. On Saturday, Bailey called across the table to younger firefighter John Ziems and said, What do you call me?

Ziems replied, Fireman Jim.

Bailey said, A lot of people still call me that. Ill be walking through the Midland Mall and hear, Hey, Fireman Jim.

Bailey is part of a long line of firefighters. His father, brother, nephew, and nephews son are all firefighters. A few years ago, the five of them collectively had 150 years of service.

For the past four years, Bailey has also been a firefighter with the Edenville Township Fire Department.

The deputy chief joined the Jerome Township Fire Department fresh out of high school. He was working afternoons for Meridian Public Schools and was told by some firefighters they needed day help. So, he joined and thought he would do it for a few years.

After I got started, I really liked it, Bailey said. I enjoy the camaraderie.

It never really dawned on me, but if I hadnt joined, I really dont know what Id be doing now," he added. Ive enjoyed every year of it and hopefully I keep it up a bit longer.

Also honored were Lt. Mark Thrush and Conner Smith for five years of service, Sandy Holka and Battalion Chief Tim Hamann for 25 years, and Dean Merillat and Denise Cole for 35 years. Fire Chief Jake Cole was honored for 45 years of service and put his service pin on himself.

Jake Cole said Thrush and Smith were both top runners for the department and have contributed a lot to the unit. Cole deemed Hamann the rock who keeps the train on the track while also saying hes "the most patient impatient person" hes met. Cole described Holka as a community servant to the core and said she is also one of the top runners.

The chief also said Merillat is a go-to person who makes things happen. And Denise Cole, who is Jake Cole's younger sister, holds the distinction of being the first female to join the department.

Denise Cole joined the department when she was 28, when it just wasnt something that women did. But shed grown up around firefighters, with her dad serving as fire chief and her brothers as firefighters.

The chief told a story about Denise Cole the day when a fire started at his dads shop, Coles Wrecker Service. Jake Cole thought Denise was inside the flaming garage, and he and Nilles went in to save her. Cole said he learned from that fire, Never arm wrestle with Mother Nature. However, both Nilles and Jake Cole emerged from the fully-engulfed building to find Denise outside.

When honoring himself with a pin, Jake Cole talked about how he and other firefighters couldnt do what they do without the support of their spouses or significant others. Cole talked about how many of the firefighters miss things in their personal lives to do their job for the community, while their partners are often doing double-duty taking care of the family.

I cant think my wife enough for all her support, the chief said of his wife, Bethany.

Midland County Sheriff Myron Greene, who also attended the dinner, agreed.

I would like to give a shout-out to our better halves, he said. We wouldnt be able to do what we do without them.
(Tess DeGayner/tess.degayner@hearstnp.com)

The Midland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will consider a letter of interest for a flood risk management study and will consider proposed changes to the land use rules for the Sanford Lake bottomlands, among other business, at its regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. at the Midland County Services Building.

Also on the meeting agenda are a presentation from Matthew Clark, Veteran and Military Family Navigator; as well as the presentation of three recommended approvals from committees.
The daughter of former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness was sentenced to prison Monday for lying on a COVID-19 loan application to get $300,000 during the pandemic.

Damara Holness was sentenced to a year and eight months in prison, as well as five years of supervised release. Prosecutors argued she sought to enrich herself when she applied for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is meant to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. She must report to federal prison by noon April 25.

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The defendant saw this as an opportunity to unjustly enrich herself by defrauding the program designed to help those struggling businesses, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Kaplan wrote in court records. Her personal greed and selfishness took away from government funds intended to provide relief to such struggling businesses and employees who desperately needed those funds in order to survive the pandemic.

[ RELATED: Commissioners daughter receives questionable COVID loans ]

Holness lawyer, Sue-Ann Robinson, said it was more an act of desperation than greed, adding that some of the money went toward housing arrangements and taxes.

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In court, Holness apologized to the community, the government and to her family, including my dad. Ive affected his career.

Outside the courtroom on Monday, Dale Holness said his daughter has accepted responsibility for her mistake. Were all human. Shes acknowledged it. She needs to rebuild her life.

Pleading guilty to fraud

Damara Holness, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, had applied for a $300,000 forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan for her company, Holness Consulting, prosecutors say. The application also claimed that the average monthly payroll for the business during 2019 was $120,000, and that the business employed 18 employees.

[ RELATED: Church got COVID-relief money for 12 employees. But state says it has no record of these workers. ]

In support of the application, she submitted an IRS Form W-3 to the lender showing wages paid and taxes withheld. None of it was true, prosecutors wrote in a court document, and the investigation revealed that in 2019, Holness Consulting received income of less than $6,000, and it paid wages of less than $2,000.

Holness Consulting was incorporated in November 2018, and ultimately became inactive. The defendant reinstated the business on June 22, 2020, in order to obtain the PPP loan. The business had no employees and virtually no income, the prosecutor wrote in court documents.

Reviewing documents

After Holness received the aid through the Paycheck Protection Program loan, she spent months creating a paper trail to make it appear as if she had employees, prosecutors said.

She paid 22 people, including a school bus driver and a security guard, about $1,300 every two weeks, federal officials said in court documents. After signing their check, the purported employee was paid $300, and Holness kept the rest of the cash for herself, investigators said.

The government obtained images of 135 checks written by Holness to the alleged employees of Holness Consulting totaling $181,228, prosecutors wrote.

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Although she received about $151,000 in compensation from Holness Consulting from July 2020 through September 2020, she also received unemployment benefits, which was unlawful, according to court records.

Seeking leniency

Her attorneys had urged the judge to give her a lenient sentence because she cooperated with prosecutors and she is the mother of a 15-month-old daughter.

Ms. Damara Holness respectfully asks the Court to consider her daughters welfare, particularly her infant daughter at this tender age her mothers presence or lack thereof could have irreparable harm on her development, according to documents filed in federal court Friday.

On Sunday, prosecutors responded, urging the judge to choose a sentence that is supposed to be between 33 months and 41 months to promote respect for the law and to avoid sentencing disparities.

The prosecutor wrote that based on letters written on her behalf, Holness has a good support system who will care for her child.

He also wrote that Holness committed the crimes while pregnant and the defendant was well aware that she was giving birth and that if she was caught that she could go to jail. The defendant decided to continue with the fraudulent scheme.

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And, Kaplan wrote, the defendant has never explained what she did with the money she received.

The defendant has reported that she has only $2,637 in assets. The defendant has either squandered or squirreled away all of the illegal proceeds. The defendant has never accounted for any of the illegally obtained funds.

Supporting family

Holness pleaded guilty the day after her fathers unsuccessful run for Congress in November. At the time, Dale Holness expressed support for his daughter: My concern, love and understanding is with her through the resolution of this matter. Damara has my support and she has the support of her family.

Months earlier, when she was charged in August, Dale Holness said he and his daughter were estranged for many years and that he has always told his daughter to do what is right.

In the loan documents, the address for Holness Consulting is the same as Dale Holness real estate firm, All Broward Realty on West Sunrise Boulevard. Her father said he had no knowledge of how his daughter ran her business and said his daughter has had no access to his real estate business or office since 2018.

Dale Holness was Browards mayor for a year, including the outbreak of COVID-19. He resigned from his commission seat to run for Congress. His mayoral term ended in November 2020.

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Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008 or Twitter @LisaHuriash
Dear Savvy Senior,

My wife and I would like to make some affordable changes to our home so we can remain living there for as long as possible. Can you recommend some good resources that can help us determine what all we need to consider?

Getting Old

Dear Getting,

Many older adults, like you and your wife, want to stay living in their own home for as long as possible. But being able to do so will depend on how easy it is to maneuver your living space as you get older. Here are some helpful resources you can turn to, to get an idea of the different types of features and improvements that will make your house safer and more convenient as you grow older.

Home Evaluation

A good first step in making your home more age-friendly is to do an assessment. Go through your house, room-by-room, looking for problem areas like potential tripping or slipping hazards, as well as areas that are hard to access and difficult to maintain. To help with this, there are several organizations that have aging-in-place checklists that point out potential problems in each area of the home, along with modification and solutions.

For example, Rebuild Together has a two-page Safe at Home Checklist thats created in partnership with the Administration on Aging and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Go to AOTA.org and search for Rebuilding Together Safe at Home Checklist.

You also need to get a copy of AARPs HomeFit Guide. This excellent 36-page guide has more than 100 aging-in-place tips and suggestions that can be made to an existing house or apartment or incorporated into designs for a new residence.

It explains how a smartly designed or modified home can meet the varied and changing needs of its older residents. It also features easy-to-do, low-cost and no-cost fixes that lessen the risk of trip hazards and increase the safety of high-use areas like the bathroom, kitchen and stairway.

In addition, they also offer videos and a HomeFit AR app (available for iPhone and iPad) that can scan a room and suggest improvements to help turn your house into a lifelong home, free from safety and mobility risks.

Visit AARP.org/HomeFit to order or download a free copy of this guide, or to watch their videos.

In-Home Assessments

If you want some personalized help, you can get a professional in-home assessment with an occupational therapist.

An occupational therapist, or OT, can evaluate the challenges and shortcomings of your home for aging in place, recommend design and modification solutions, and introduce you to products and services to help you make improvements.

To find an OT in your area, check with your physician, health insurance provider or local hospital, or seek recommendations from family and friends. Many health insurance providers, including Medicare, will pay for a home assessment by an OT if prescribed by your doctor. However, they will not cover the physical upgrades to the home.

Another option is to contact a builder whos a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). CAPS are home remodelers and design-build professionals that are knowledgeable about aging in place home modifications and can suggest ways to modify or remodel your home that will fit your needs and budget. CAPS are generally paid by the hour or receive a flat fee per visit or project.

To find a CAPS in your area visit the National Association of Home Builders website at NAHB.org/capsdirectory where you can search by state and city.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
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.
Ann Brown, age 67, of Palestine, Texas, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 in Palestine, Texas. Funeral service will be held at 10AM on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Evangelistic Temple. Burial will follow at Tennessee Colony Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6PM to 8PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022 a
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, on Monday inaugurated the third roundabout road project in Tripoli, at a ceremony attended by several ministers, directors of executive bodies and a coalition of Egyptian companies executing the project
Tripoli, Libya (PANA)  The chairman of the Libyan presidential council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, has underlined the importance of the road project of the third roundabout in Tripoli whose works were launched on Monday, welcoming the efforts made by the Government of National Unity, within the framework of its rebuilding plan and programme, tagged "Return to life"
Photo: (Photo : Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Some COVID-19 patients continue to experience long COVID or symptoms that still debilitate their ability to do activities months after they've had the infection. Studies have shown that nearly 60 percent of the patients suffer from the symptoms for six months, even if they've had a mild infection.

The science community has been baffled as to why long covid occurs, but a new study, published in the journal Cell on Monday, January 24, may finally give answers. Another study, published in the journal Nature Communications, found a particular antibody signature linked to the symptoms of long COVID.

Read Also: COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids Aged 5-11 Years Old: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

Four Signs That May Make Patients Prone to Long COVID

Consistent with other theories, the researchers looked into 20 of the most reported symptoms of long COVID, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and brain fog. They've identified that 95 percent of patients with at least three or more symptoms have four risk factors.

These are the RNA level or viral load in the blood during the diagnosis, the level of autoantibodies that attack the virus as well as the patient's body, the reactivation of a virus that most people have had and recovered from at a very young age called the Epstein-Barr virus, and Type 2 diabetes.

Jim Heath, the study's co-author from the Institute for Systems Biology, told the New York Times that their findings would help healthcare workers figure out the best treatment for every patient based on these four signs. Dr. Steven Deeks of the University of California, San Francisco, who was not part of the study, agreed with Heath and said each factor is actionable. Once confirmed in the diagnosis, clinicians could develop interventions to prevent patients from suffering long COVID.

However, more research is still needed to determine other specific criteria. Some experts said that a long COVID patient could have a disadvantage from the onset because of their health history. They might have asthma; their body could react differently to the virus or trigger a different immune response.

Two Kinds of Antibodies

Meanwhile, the second study showed that COVID-19 patients develop two kinds of antibodies, called IgM and IgG, circulating through their blood after the infection. The IgM antibody increases faster to fight the infection, while IgM increases much later in the illness so that the body could have long-term immunity.

But samples collected from 175 people who've had the infection showed that those who suffer from long COVID had lower IgM antibodies from the start of their infection. Six months or a year later, their IgG levels were also low compared to the patients who did not have long COVID. The patients linked to low IgM and IgG have asthma and were older, making them high risk from the start.

The experts said that it would help doctors identify the immunoglobulin signature in the patients to determine if they are at risk. This means, however, that the risks may only be known if they are already sick and not before they get the infection. However, study author Dr. Carlo Cervia said that people who have asthma could assume that they could have long COVID; thus, they can apply prevention methods like vaccination to protect themselves.

Related Article: Yale Experts Testing New Wearable COVID-19 Detector; available in the market
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

Pre-schools and elementary schools across the United States and the world have reopened, yet the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much real. More than half of educational institutions require children to wear masks the entire day, and no matter whether the kids are indoors or outdoors, they have to use them.

Some kids may be uncomfortable breathing through a mask, which may cause them to pull it down, chew on it, or turn it into an entire mess. In addition, schools mostly require cloth masks for kids. However, the protection of cloth masks is insufficient against the Omicron variant.

According to NPR, experts say that cloth masks are not enough to protect yourself from Omicron. It is much more transmissible and highly contagious than the Delta variant. Based on research, the latest variant travels three times faster, and on average, a single person infects at least three others at a time.

A person may not have contracted COVID-19 previously with the other variants. However, researchers believe it is next to impossible not to be infected with Omicron. This is why a cloth mask may be an "okay" or "decent" filter. However, with the high transmissibility of Omicron, a high-filtration mask is recommended.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association, there has been a dramatic surge of COVID-19 cases among children across the United States when the Omicron variant appeared and spiked. As of January 20, more than one million child COVID cases have been reported, a 17 percent increase from the previous week's report. Out of almost 11 million children who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, more than two million of these were cases from just two weeks of January.

Read Also: Signs to Look out for If Your Child Needs Therapy

Yes to vaccination, no to mask on children

More groups recognize the challenges of masking children, and while some upgrade the kids' masks, some want to end it altogether. Interestingly, a third group of these people say yes to vaccination but no to masks.

According to data scientist Jeremy Howard, good masks are hard to find since KN95s, KF94s, and even N95s for children do not come by easily. This is because these masks have been designed for work safety and not for pediatric use.

According to pediatrician Danny Benjamin, the risk of COVID spread is lesser in school districts requiring masks than those who don't. However, cloth and even surgical masks are ineffective in battling the Omicron variant. In addition, it is a considerable challenge to require kids to wear masks properly. This is especially true for younger kids and children that have special needs.

Challenges in masking children

Apart from finding the most appropriate masks for kids to help mitigate the Omicron problem, other challenges come with masking children, such as difficulty hearing and understanding speech. Also, masking affects a child's brain and emotional development, and masks also prevent social interaction, which poses a considerable threat to the psychosocial development of kids.

Although the benefits of masking are tremendous, these have to be balanced with the risks they pose to young kids. As more and more scientists and doctors hope that mask requirements be relaxed, vaccination may help address some challenges.

Related Article: Five-year-old-Girl Gets Rare Disease; Deadly Bacteria Traced to Scented Room Spray
Photo: (Photo : FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

At nine months old, doctors diagnosed Henry Saladino, a two-year-old from Boston, with a rare condition called alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). His parents, Mary and Anthony Saladino, were told that they would need at least $9 million for the development of a treatment.

In an exclusive on Daily Mail, Henry's parents said that they are "always on edge, every minute of every day" while their baby suffers from the symptoms of AHC, such as seizures, breathing problems, and paralysis. Only 1,000 children all over the world have this rare disorder.

Since Henry's diagnosis, the family has been in and out of the hospital, but a promising treatment has been in development for children with AHC. Only, this treatment could cost millions in dollars to be fully viable after studies and tests during the research phase.

Read Also: Shauna Rae: 22-Year-old New TV Star Looks 8 Due To Rare Condition

What is Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood?

According to the Massachusetts General Hospital, alternating hemiplegia of childhood is a brain disorder that leads to attacks of paralysis, at varying degrees, in one side of the body. Kids with this condition usually develop abnormal body movements, developmental delays, fluctuating mental status, and "true seizures." The latter could be characterized by tonic stiffening of the limbs on one side of the body.

In Henry's case, the symptoms could occur at any time of the day without any reason. He could be having a good and regular day, feeling excitement, exerting too much physical effort, and then stiffening up. He could be triggered by light, sound, or temperature changes and then suffer from a seizure.

With no easily accessible treatments, the Salandino family is desperate and devastated. For now, they manage to keep a constant eye on Henry so that they can catch him in a state of paralysis and do calming or soothing techniques in a dark and quiet room. However, as Henry grows older, his symptoms keep changing.

"AHC continues to keep us on our toes and remind us that as long as we have no treatment or cure, Henry is not safe," Mary said.

The cause of AHC remains largely unknown to the experts, but Dr. Richard Smith of the Boston Children's Hospital Division of Genetics and Genomics said that it could be linked to the ATP1A3 gene, a very important gene in the brain. ATP1A3 triggers the brain's bioactivities that impact the functions of the cells and activation of the neurons.

In patients with AHC, the ATP1A3 gene does not appear to be "turned on" at the 20th week of the fetus' gestation. Thus, Smith and his colleagues are finding more answers with their research to confirm their assumptions that ATP1A3 mutations may disrupt the balance in the brain and contribute to ATP1A3-related conditions like epilepsy.

Other Babies With AHC

The Silver family in Iowa understands what the Salandinos are going through. Their daughter, Alice, 10 months old, has just been diagnosed with AHC, and they are also trying to raise money for the research and treatment. Tim Silver, Alice's father, believes that they are close to having a cure, but more funding could be available if there were awareness about AHC.

Aubrey Breckon's family is also doing a fundraiser after her diagnosis at three months old. She's a Canadian baby with AHC with a more pathogenic variant that has been linked to a more severe prognosis. They are trying to network to raise awareness and help with cutting-edge research for the cure.

Related Article: Former Conjoined Twin Grows up To Become an Influencer Who 'Channels' Her Sister
VERO BEACH  Theyre out there.

In the deep blue waters, miles off the beach, there is a watery highway. Its like the Atlantic Oceans version of Interstate 95 with lanes heading north and south.

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But instead of cars and trucks, fish and turtles of all shapes and species and sizes use the warm currents of the Gulf Stream and its eddies as a way to commute more than a thousand miles each season.

One of those annual commuters is the fearsome, mysterious great white shark.

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Welcome to the tropics, Sable

When Vero Beach was founded in 1919, its founders coined the slogan, Where the tropics begin. Fitting, since a cold day here is about as rare as a cold in, well, you know where.

For over a century, Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast have drawn an ever-growing population of winter visitors escaping the frigid North. But for many millennia, birds, fish and even sharks have also come to Florida to escape freezing wintertime temperatures.

The latest arrival is a great white shark named Sable. At 7:47 p.m. on Jan. 23, Sable sent up a ping from the satellite tag affixed to her dorsal fin. It meant the dorsal broke the surface of the water. The shark also signaled from its most recent location off Key Largo on Jan. 29.

[ RELATED: View OSEARCH's shark tracker ]

Beachgoers have nothing to worry about  well, probably not. Sable may be 11.5 feet long, weigh over 800 pounds and have a mouthful of hundreds of razor sharp teeth, but she is nowhere near the beach, at least not where she last pinged. She was an estimated 20 miles offshore, traveling along the edge of the Continental Shelf, where water depths are over 300 feet. She has traveled over 2,500 miles since being tagged.

Sabel, a great white shark, has been tracked by OCEARCH since it was tagged off Nova Scotia in September 2021.. The shark was most recently tracked from a "ping" off its tagged dorsal fin on Jan. 29 off Key Largo. The shark also sent a signal on Jan. 23 off the coast of Vero Beach. (OSEARCH /Courtesy)

Also recently, Keji, a 9.5-foot great white, pinged off the coast of St. Augustine on Jan. 30, and Vinny, a nearly 13 foot great white shark, pinged east of Sebastian Inlet on Jan. 13.

Meet Sable

So what do we know about Sable? Well, she likes long swims, tuna sashimi and loves music by The Weeknd.

Seriously, when the team from OCEARCH first met Sable, it was two hours before dawn in the cool autumn waters off the coast of Nova Scotia. Sable took a bait, and before she knew what was going on, she found herself being lifted up from below by a hydraulic lift on the OCEARCH research vessel.

The research team took length and weight measurements, blood samples and checked other vital signs. In 15 short minutes, the team can collect 12 different biological samples from the shark. The team then affixed a smart position or temperature (SPOT) tag on the dorsal fin and lowered the shark elevator (platform) back into the water.

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Sable is the 76th shark sampled, tagged and released in the nonprofit research organizations Northwest Atlantic White Shark Study and the third of Expedition Nova Scotia 2021, according to OCEARCHs website. She was named after the Sable Island National Park Reserve, located approximately 180 miles offshore of Halifax, Nova Scotia, near where she was tagged in 2021.

Vinny, a great white shark, has been tracked by OCEARCH since it was tagged in October 2019 off Nova Scotia.. The shark was most recently tracked from a "ping" off its tagged dorsal fin on Jan. 13 east of the Sebastian Inlet. (OSEARCH /Courtesy)

OCEARCH began in 2007 and has hosted 200 scientists who have helped execute 42 expeditions and tagged over 431 animals. The organization performs:

Full health assessments of each shark

Microbiological studies

Microplastic-associated toxin exposure

Movement, temperature and depth studies through the use of 3 different tags.

A common occurrence?

Great white shark sightings in the waters along eastern Florida have become increasingly common in recent years. Bob Hueter, OCEARCH chief scientist, of Sarasota, was on the mission when Sable was tagged.

At her size, shes probably starting to approach sexual maturity, and if not, she will be in a few years or so. She spent a couple of months cruising around Canadian waters feeding on high energy food like seals before she started coming south in the early part of the winter, Hueter told TCPalm.

If you follow her track you can see she pretty much made a steady progression down the coast, maybe lingered around Cape Hatteras a little bit.

Great white sharks and other varieties are an important part of the ecosystem as climate change occurs, scientists say. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Hueter said when the white sharks come south, they cant feed on seals. But they may find whale carcasses, feed on other sharks or on certain kinds of fish. Possibly blackfin tuna, bonito (little tunny) or other fish they can catch along the edges of the Gulf Stream.

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The region from Cape Hatteras to the Keys is part of their southern feeding range, but they tend to stay well offshore, he said. The tagging research has taught us they are a common winter time visitor to Florida waters.

Hueter said he hopes Sable sends more pings in the coming weeks and months.

Keep an eye on Sable. I might predict she may continue down the coast and wrap around into the Gulf of Mexico. We should learn a lot because she has a 5-year tag on her.

South Florida Sun Sentinel wire services were used to supplement this report.
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

Phoenix Police Department's Sgt. Courtney Fink saved the lives of two babies in two separate incidents, days apart. Despite not having medical training, Fink said that her maternal instinct and previous work as a 911 Operator helped her save the two babies. Both incidences were caught in the police's body camera.

Saving baby number one

Fink was on patrol on November 6 when she passed a family huddled outside their apartment complex. When she asked what happened, the frantic family members cried that a three-day old-baby needed CPR as she stopped breathing while being fed.

Fink does not have formal medical training. However, her maternal instincts started to kick in as a mother herself. She rubbed the baby's sternum and rolled it back and forth. Eventually, the baby sneezed.

"Then I knew our airway was clear," the sergeant said. Fink also said that the bay's sneeze was the best sound ever.

Fick said that a baby not breathing is one of the scariest things that a human can deal with. When the baby sneezed, she heaved a sigh of relief as "It meant he was probably going to be okay."

Since then, Fink would visit the apartment building whenever she could. She does not know their names or understand their language, but she checks on the baby often, making sure that he is okay.

Read Also: Near-Death Abused Infant Survives Shaken Baby Syndrome, Now Starting a Job

Saving the second baby

A few days after she revived the choking baby, she was again at the right place at the right time to save another baby in distress.

While on her patrol work, Fink was driving past a shopping center when a civilian flagged her to respond to a toddler having a seizure inside a department store.

Fink started taking off the baby's diaper and putting water on his core, body, armpits, feet, and neck to stabilize the baby. They then waited for the Fire Department to arrive.

Fick claims that she learned about cooling the baby down when she worked as a 911 Operator for the Phoenix Police Department after college. She said she would get similar calls that are then transferred to the fire department. Callers would be given instructions for first aid treatments while waiting for the paramedics to arrive.

After saving the baby from seizure, Fink and some bystanders who stepped in to help kept the toddler safe until paramedics arrived at the scene.

When the medic arrived, Fink ran into the man who had stopped her car earlier. She told him, "See? You were meant to be here, right?" The man patted her and said, "We both were."

When asked what about her being in the right place at the right time in saving the two babies, Fink said, "It's not a simple job; it's definitely not easy, but that's what we're meant to do. We're meant to help others."

Related Article: Five-year-old-Girl Gets Rare Disease; Deadly Bacteria Traced to Scented Room Spray
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

Fourteen children and adults were taken to the hospital on Saturday after life-threatening levels of carbon dioxide leaked into the pool area of Hampton Inn in Ohio. According to People, authorities began receiving calls related to the carbon monoxide poisoning at 5:30 P.M. local time on Saturday.

Eleven people were sent by ambulance to Marysville area hospitals, while seven victims were critical. Two of the seven people reported to be in critical condition have been transferred to a tertiary care facility. In contrast, Melanie Ziegler, VP of Community Engagement for Memorial Health, told CNN Sunday morning that five serious but stable patients were transferred to tertiary care facilities.

Authorities said that the first report involved a two-year-old who lost consciousness by the pool area. The two-year-old was among the nine people the responders took to the hospital on Saturday. Four others arrived at the hospital on their own.

Read Also: Near-Death Abused Infant Survives Shaken Baby Syndrome, Now Starting a Job

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Authorities also said that the first report involved a two-year-old who lost consciousness by the pool area. Several reports of individuals passing out followed. Victims reported dizziness and burning throats.

Riley reported that the fire department vacated all personnel and guests from the area, and responders turned off potential sources of carbon monoxide.

According to the Marysville Fire Chief Jay Riley, it was not clear what caused the carbon monoxide poisoning on Saturday evening.

In his statement to CNN, he said, "We continue the investigation into the source and (are) glad that no one died as a result of their exposure."

A spokesperson for the Hampton Inn confirmed that the investigation on carbon monoxide poisoning is still ongoing and that they are fully cooperating with local authorities to complete the investigation.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by burning fuel in cars or trucks, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces.

It can cause headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion, upset stomach, chest pain, vomiting, and for others, a "flu-like symptom." If inhaled in large amounts, it can cause unconsciousness or even death. Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill people sleeping or drunk even before realizing they have the symptoms.

Every year, around 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning. More than 20,000 are admitted to emergency rooms, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.

Infants, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases are most vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Preventing Carbon monoxide poisoning

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that residents or establishment owners install a battery-operated CO detector in homes or establishments for early detection. Experts also recommended that the heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal-burning appliances be serviced by technicians every year.

Related Article: Five-year-old-Girl Gets Rare Disease; Deadly Bacteria Traced to Scented Room Spray
On this New Year's Eve in China, major manufacturers have welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Tiger in various forms. On Apple's homepage in Hong Kong and Mainland China, little tigers randomly drop when users scroll down the homepage. Apple also posted Shot on iPhone 13 Pro | Chinese New Year - The Comeback, and "how it was made" videos as presented below.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Apple also launched a special version of the AirPods Pro for the Year of the Tiger, priced at 1,999 yuan (US$314). Apple said that after the official design was first launched in the Year of the Ox, it continued to make a unique mark for the Year of the Tiger, bringing a special engraving on the AirPods Pro charging box, as well as an exclusive logo on the outer packaging.
It was another a rollercoaster year for the European smartphone market. 2021 presented promising early signs that suggested that the market was recovering from a difficult 2020. while the total European smartphone market managed to grow by 8% in 2021, this was only a partial recovery, still well-below pre-pandemic levels.

2021 saw the most intense competition yet. Leadership of the European smartphone market changed hands four times throughout the year, while some brands enjoyed their best year for sales in Europe ever.

A traditionally strong end of the year finally gave Apple the lead in November 2021, a lead which Apple extended to reach its highest ever share in Europe in December 2021.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

In 2022, Samsung hopes that its latest flagship S22 device launching in early February will perform better than the S21 and S20, and the rumoured iPhone SE should provide Apple with a mid-season boost.

2021: A year of ups and downs in Europe

A major theme carried over from 2020 was vendor competition, and 2021 saw the most intense competition yet. Leadership of the European smartphone market changed hands four times throughout the year, while some brands enjoyed their best year for sales in Europe ever.

(Click on image to Enlarge)





For details about other Android vendors, read Counterpoint's full report.

When statistics show that one company led the market by a single point, a secondary report is needed to confirm final leadership status. It'll be interesting to see IDC's Q4-21 report on European smartphone sales later this month.

For now, IDC's Q4-21 Global Smartphone statistics clearly places Apple as the top smartphone vendor.

(Click on image to Enlarge)




Many years ago, Google promised that youd never have to worry about running out of Gmail storage. That was before the company stopped expanding Gmails free storage space in 2013 and gave everyone a flat 15GB to use across all Google services. Hitting Gmails storage limit has started to feel inevitable as a result. You may even run out of space even faster now that Google has stopped offering unlimited Google Photos. If youre still backing up your smartphone photos with Google, those uploads will eat into your Gmail storage space as well.

Fortunately, theres a way to free up a large amount of Gmail storage without deleting any emails:

Set up a secondary Gmail account for the sole purpose of hosting old emails. Duplicate emails from the main Gmail account to the secondary one. Remove the duplicated emails from the main Gmail account.

Admittedly, this elaborate schemewhich I refer to as Operation Free Gmailis not for the faint of heart, as it does have one notable downside: Youll no longer be able to access your entire message history through a single inbox. Instead, youll have to load the secondary account whenever you want to search through older emails.

Still, I performed this operation a couple of years ago and its rare that Ive needed to load that secondary inbox at all. In the meantime, Ive saved about $50 on cloud storage costs.

If youd like to join me in getting off the Gmail payment treadmill, heres what you need to do:

Set up a secondary Gmail account

This parts easy. In Gmail, click on your profile icon in the top-right corner, select Add another account, then Create account on the next page. You can switch between the two accounts by clicking your profile icon from within Gmail or you can just use an incognito/private browser tab to manage your second account in a separate window.

From now on, Im going to refer to your actual email address as your main account and your new address as your secondary account. Keep that in mind as youll be switching back and forth a lot.

Duplicate emails on the secondary account

Lifewire has a great step-by-step guide (with images) on how to accomplish this, but the short version is that youll head into Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP on your main Gmail account, then enable POP for all mail. Make sure keep Gmails copy in the Inbox is selected from the drop-down list in this section.

By enabling POP for your main Gmail account, you can allow a separate account to retrieve all of its emails. Jared Newman / IDG

Then, on the secondary account, youll head into Settings > Accounts and Import and add your regular email under Check mail from other accounts. This will start the process of pulling in old emails from your main account.

On your secondary account, the Check mail from other accounts setting lets you grab all mail from your main account. Jared Newman / IDG

Some extra things to keep in mind:

Duplicating all your emails can take several days, but you dont have to tend to your computer while this happens.

Emails transfer from oldest to newest, so you can fill up your secondary inbox with older emails until it runs out of space.

Some of your old emails might end up in Spam on the secondary account. Once the transfer is finished, head to your Spam folder, hit the Select All checkbox in the top-left corner, then Select all conversations in Spam. You can then drag them into your inbox or the folder where your old emails are stored.

Gmail may refuse to transfer some old email attachments if it suspects viruses. Youll receive an email whenever this happens, so you can download the attachment from your original account if its important.

Remove old emails from your main account

Once your secondary Gmail account is full of emails, you should disconnect the two accounts to prevent further transfers.

On your secondary account, head to Settings > Accounts and Import, and delete your main address under Send mail as and Check mail from other accounts. Youll see a scary-looking Confirm delete email account message, but this will simply remove the link between the two accounts.

Next, return to your main account and head to Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Select Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on.

Finally, its time to delete old emails from your main account. Set a cutoff date based on the amount of old email youd still like to access through your main inbox, then use the search term before: dd/mm/yyyy (without quotes) to locate all emails from before that date. (I used before: 02/01/2017 as my cutoff when I did this two years ago, figuring Ill seldom need to see any emails more than a few years old.) Hit the select all checkbox in the top-left corner, trigger Select all conversations that match this search, then click the trash button.

Use the before search term to find and delete old emails after youve transferred them to a separate Gmail account. Jared Newman / IDG

Those messages will stay in your trash for 30 days, taking up storage space, but you can wipe them immediately by heading to the trash folder and selecting empty trash now. You may have to select empty trash several times to fully wipe everything. Now, reload Gmail on your main account and take a look at the bottom of the page. Make sure its well under the 15GB limit, then cancel your Google Drive storage subscription if you had previously started paying for one.

One more somewhat-related tip: If you need to clear out some Google Drive space as well, this link will take you straight to a list of your files, from largest to smallest.

Why bother?

You might wonder if this is worth all the trouble. Paying Google a couple bucks per month to not worry about storage space is certainly easier. But that may be exactly what Google wants you to think as it devises new ways to eat into your free storage allotment. Whether you consider the savings significant or not, at least youve won a small victory on principle.

This column originally appeared in Jareds Advisorator newsletter. Sign up to get a tech tip in your inbox every Tuesday.
Bulldozers and other earthmoving machines have started demolishing damaged buildings and property and clearing debris at Appiatse to pave the way for the reconstruction of the city.



The exercise, which began exactly a week after a deadly disaster hit the community, is to make way for officials of the State Housing Company (SHC) and the municipal assembly to start taking a closer look at the field to guide them in planning and demarcation ahead of the reconstruction.



Prior to the demolition, the SHC carried out an assessment of the damage to residential structures after the deadly explosion at Appiatse, a small community near Bogoso in the Western Region.



The assessment provided the company with adequate information to plan the rebuilding exercise, which the government has instructed it to carry out.



The Daily Graphic team which witnessed the exercise saw that buildings that had their roofs ripped off in the blast but whose structures were still standing were pulled down and the foundations excavated.



The clearing exercise started from the main entrance of the community from the Bogoso direction.



The debris was initially heaped before pay-loaders tipped it into trucks.



Before the exercise, some community members, who could identify the exact locations of their homes, descended on the village at dawn to salvage some belongings.



As of noon, the team realised that almost half of the community had been cleared in the exercise which started early in the morning.



While the demolition and field clearing was progressing last Thursday, the members of the Steering Committee of the Appiatse Support Fund, who were at the Jubilee House in Accra to introduce themselves to the President, gave the assurance that the country would take advantage of the disaster at Appiatse to rebuild it into a green city.



This is an opportunity for us to do a green city, making sure that we use renewable resources to build the city and get the people to understand that things have changed so much and the world is also suffering from our misuse of the worlds natural resources, the Chairperson of the committee, Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, assured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.







Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The perineal transit truck congestion at the Elubo border and the haphazard parking of cargo trucks in the Jomoro Municipal Assembly has become a thing of the past with the construction of the Elubo Freight Park.



The project which was initiated and funded by the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA) with support from the Jomoro Municipal Assembly was commissioned on Friday, January 28, 2022.



The ultra-modern facility aims to make the nation's western transit corridor attractive to businesses and individuals who haul goods between Ghana and La Cote dIvoire and beyond in a bid to boost transit trade volumes.



Ghanas transit trade is estimated to generate GH 134 million annually and the GSA is working hard to meet and even surpass the target in its effort to contribute to the economic growth of the country.



Speaking at the Commissioning of the Elubo Freight Park, the Board Chairperson of the GSA, Madam Stella Wilson said the project is evidence of the premium the Authority places on the transit trade. She saiod more efforts would be made to make Ghana a favorable destination to neighboring landlocked countries.



She further noted that there are high expectations that more trade volumes would be moved across the borders of the continent with the introduction of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), hence the timeliness of this all-important Freight and Logistics Park at Elubo.



She charged the Municipality, to oversee the maintenance of the facility to ensure longevity.



The Municipal Chief Executive of the Jomoro Municipal Assembly, Louisa Iris Arde in her remarks said the park would not only help with beautification of the Assembly but also enhance road safety and most importantly enhance economic activities.



She said: This terminal project is very critical to the revenue mobilization drive of the Assembly and in this regard. The Management of the Assembly has carefully constituted the Elubo Articulator Terminal Management Committee to ensure the effective management of the terminal.



The day to day running of the facility will require a multi-sectorial approach and all stakeholders relevant for the effective operationalization of this facility are urged to give off their best for the achievement of the goals and targets set for the project.

The Elubo Freight Park sits on a 2acre land with a truck capacity of fourth (40).



It is designed such that trucks have ample space for entering, turning, parking and exiting.



There is also a twelve (12) dormitory facility available for the drivers and their mates to rest for a while before continuing their journey.



It has twenty (20) bathroom stalls and twenty (20) toilet cubicles. It has a Mosque available as well as six (6) offices to run operations.



The transit truck drivers who witnessed the ceremony were grateful and thanked the GSA and the Municipal Assembly for the initiative.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Osafo has advised the youth against the abuse of social media, particularly in times of disaster.



He wondered why the youth are sometimes so engrossed in taking vidoes and pictures for the social media platforms in the event of a calamity or accident when they need to rather protect themselves or provide first aid to the victims.



He was commenting on the Apiate explosion where dozens were killed and hundreds sustained injuries when a truck carrying explosives exploded wiping out the entire Apiate communtiy at Bogoso in the Western Region.



Following the explosion, videos showing some residents trooping to the disastrous scene before the explosion flooded social media and many people have shared concerns on the video.



Prof. Joseph Osafo, speaking to Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', was perturbed by this trend stressing some of the Apiate deaths were needless.



He condemned the social media trend saying ''it's a habit that [it is] driven by strong desire to be a celebrity, thus to show I broke or saw this thing first or I have a lot of following or people...Everybody wants to be a celebrity in Ghana; one-day celebrity, two-day celebrity''.





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.

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The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has cautioned SIM registration agents of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to desist from charging registrants fees for their SIM registration.

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications in a statement on Monday, January 31, 2022, signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, said it is illegal and fraudulent for anybody to ask any customer to pay any amount as the cost of registration.



It has come to our attention that SOME SIM Registration agents of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) currently registering subscribers are charging some subscribers for the registration of their SIMs, he noted.



For him, the ongoing SIM registration exercise is absolutely free and subscribers are not supposed to pay any agent any fee, adding that The activity is a national exercise which is being funded by government and the mobile network operators.



Mr Ashigbey also cautioned members of the public not to pay any fee to any registration agent for their SIM registration.



In 2011, SIM Registration Regulations, 2011 (LI 2006) were enacted, primarily to reduce mobile phone-related crimes such as prank calls, cybercrime, mobile money fraud and its related issues and general security.



The regulations were also intended to help the law enforcement agencies to identify SIM card owners, track criminals who use phones for illegal activities, curb phone theft, hate text messaging, mobile fraud activities and SIM Box fraud.



Below is the statement



SIM REGISTRATION IS ABSOLUTELY FREE Accra, January 31, 2022 



It has come to our attention that SOME SIM Registration agents of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) currently registering subscribers are charging some subscribers for the registration of their SIMs.



The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications on behalf of its members  AirtelTigo, MTN and Vodafone  wishes to notify its esteemed customers and the general public that the ongoing SIM registration exercise is absolutely FREE and subscribers are not supposed to pay any agent any fee. The activity is a national exercise which is being funded by government and the mobile network operators.



It is therefore illegal and fraudulent for anybody to ask any customer to pay any amount as the cost of registration.



We are by this statement, cautioning individuals perpetuating this illegal and fraudulent act to desist from it. We also implore the general public to desist from paying or offering payments to the agents. Subscribers who are asked to pay or charged for registration should report the incidences to the nearest police station or to their service providers.



The MNOs remain committed to full transparency and accountability to both the Government of Ghana and its customers, and seeks the support and understanding of its customers to make this exercise a success.



Signed

Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey Chief Executive Officer

Source: graphiconline.com









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JACKSONVILLE  Carla Sweeney was running a sober-living house in Jacksonville three years ago when she first learned about sex trafficking.

A social services colleague called and asked if she had space for a woman who was trying to escape such sexual exploitation. At the time, there were no beds available for her in the city. Not a one.

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I had no experience in human trafficking whatsoever. No knowledge of it, had not been aware of how prevalent it is in Duval County, not one clue, Sweeney said.

Sweeney and Amy Kilgore, a co-founder at the sober-living house, did some digging and decided to give the woman a bed at Awakenings House.

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Wed never been asked this question before, but we try to serve our community with grace and mercy, Sweeney said. That was a pretty powerful moment  That was also a big moment for my world opening up and changing.

It was so powerful that last year she and Donna Fenchel, a local entrepreneur who also wanted to help human-trafficking victims, began an initiative to address the housing shortage. After two years of research and visits to other support programs, they are building The Villages of Hope, a tiny-home community for women survivors of human trafficking and prostitution.

The first two residents are expected to arrive in March.

We get phone calls all the time, Sweeney said. These girls should have a safe place to lay their head so they can start healing.

During a Jan. 11 National Human-Trafficking Awareness Day event at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Sweeney said the local housing shortage was critical with only four beds available that day. Thats four beds for the city that ranks third in trafficking cases in Florida, the state that ranks third in the number of cases nationwide.

Four beds is really, really bad, she said.

Were going to need everybodys help to get that resolved, she said. Donna and I are trying to do our part toward a solution.

Trafficking Survivor: It was just my normal

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One of the speakers at the FSCJ event was survivor Lisa Sheehan, who said she was first exploited at age 4, sexually assaulted in a foster home at age 12 and later worked at a massage parlor for a pimp and was regularly raped and beaten.

She did not know she was being trafficked  didnt even know what that meant  until she was an adult.

Everyone is looking for a place to stay and something to eat, or fell in love with the trafficker, she said. They dont feel theyre being exploited, often they feel loved or nurtured. No child or person should have to guess what love feels like. No child or person should mistake pain for love.

Sheehan grew up in Massachusetts. Her parents met at an AA meeting and she was conceived while they were drunk at a bar.

I come from a long line of abuse, drug addiction and mental-health issues, she said. It was just my normal.  I have little knowledge of what a healthy relationship should look like.

She survived with support from her maternal grandmother and a few social workers who stuck with her. After moving to New Orleans with a friend, she turned her life around and began work in the mental-health field helping other people in crisis. Now she is studying toward a licensed clinical social worker degree at FSCJ.

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She also is a survivor mentor at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center that works to meet the needs of young women and girls, particularly those impacted by the justice system.

I wanted to be the person, the one to trust, even when girls dont want me there, she said. For each girl she works with, she wants to help them see the light at the end of the tunnel, I want her to see her as I see her, she said.

Sheehan and other panelists said there is positive movement in the fight against human trafficking. Law enforcement and other authorities are receiving training in how to spot victims of trafficking, they are shifting more of their focus to prosecuting the men who purchase sexual favors, and public awareness has increased, they said.

Tough Community Conversations Needed

In 2021 the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office rescued 15 human-trafficking victims, five of whom were juveniles, and made 33 related arrests, according to the agency.

During a Human-Trafficking Awareness Month event last week, Sheriff Mike Williams said ongoing public-education efforts by the area Human-Trafficking Coalition will emphasize the need for the community to call in tips and suspicions.

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This is the key to saving lives in this area, Williams said. We want to get the victim to safety and get them the help they need to get their lives back on track and get some type of closure with the situation by arresting the offender.

Still, a woman in Duval County is 400 percent more likely to be arrested for prostitution than the man is for being a purchaser, according to Kristin Keen, who founded nonprofit Rethreaded to provide jobs for human-trafficking survivors.

Its never going to stop unless we address the issue of demand, she said. Human trafficking is a business.

Young children must be educated  about boundaries, consent and body autonomy  by their family or in prekindergarten to help prevent them from becoming victims or perpetrators, said Teresa Miles, CEO of the Womens Center of Jacksonville Rape Crisis Center.

When they take care of themselves and they learn to love themselves, they learn to love others, she said. When we talk about stopping the demand, we have got to focus on young boys  92 percent of our survivors of sexual assault are women, 99 (percent) of the people who perpetrate sexual assault are men. That is where we need to focus, for prevention.

Public awareness is key.

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This conversation is what were doing right, having the hard conversation, said Stephanie Patton, survivor leader at Rethreaded.

She said she understood why the general public might not want to discuss such a horrific topic, but they must play a part in ending trafficking.

We need to take this conversation outside of this room. Its not that scary once you break the ice, she said.

Boosting public awareness will boost support for victims.

To imply that a person is making a bad choice implies they have a better decision to make, Patton said. Give them a better decision to make. I promise they will choose to reclaim their life.

Villages of Hope Truly Giving Hope

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Giving trafficking victims a place to start anew has become a passion for Sweeney and Fenchel, who met on the nonprofit trail.

Fenchel spent eight years in the corporate world and later became co-owner of several Jacksonville-area Orangetheory Fitness locations and founded their charity arm, Connections2Hope.

Its been tugging on my heart for a long time, Fenchel said. I was looking for a way to make a difference.

She learned about human trafficking from Rethreaded, which was one of Orangetheorys charity beneficiaries. She found the statistics  as many as 325,000 children in the United States are at risk for sexual exploitation each year, according to the federal Department of Health & Human Services  staggering.

Fenchel also was stunned at the lack of local beds for victims.

Housing is the number-one issue.  Four beds in Jacksonville is not acceptable, she said.

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When Sweeney first researched human trafficking, she had found the lack of housing for victims particularly galling. Housing, she said, is part of their beginning, part of their journey.

They had their focus.

Were going to do something ourselves, Fenchel said.

Their tiny-home project will be a welcome addition to the housing inventory for victims, according to Vicky Basra, president and CEO of the Weaver Center. There is insufficient emergency housing, transitional housing and long-term housing for them, she said.

Our research continues to show housing as a major barrier for victims/survivors of human trafficking, she said. We continue to see the individuals we serve facing issues locating safe and adequate housing due to criminal record barrier, lack of rental history and inability to secure job that pays livable wages. Villages of Hope is truly giving hope to survivors by eliminating the many of these barriers faced by survivors.

In 2019 Sweeney and Fenchel began a six-month pilot housing program at the sober-living house property but in separate quarters. They had four trafficking victims; they and social service partners worked to heal the womens trauma and connect them to services. It went very well, Sweeney said.

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Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Continuing the pilot program was unfeasible, Sweeney said. We felt like God was telling us to slow down just a second.

So they slowed down. They did more research, looked at real estate and decided on the tiny-home community concept. They began fundraising and getting the community involved.

In May a supporter purchased one-third of an acre on Jacksonvilles Westside, which will be The Villages of Hope. Sixteen homes are to be built, each housing two women referred by the Sheriffs Office and other partners.

Were going to build it and they will come because the need is out there, Sweeney said.

A building that was already on the property has been renovated as a community center, which will be a hub for meals, therapy and medical care. Additional buildings will house social enterprise, training and a store, among other things. Residents will be transported to services that are not on site.

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Supporters of The Villages of Hope are excited about it. Everybody knows its a need, Fenchel said. Its a pleasure to be able to help someone  have hope.

For the women, she said, the first day in their tiny home will be a sigh of relief.

___

Times-Union writer Dan Scanlan contributed to this article.
LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited and the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) have taken the market centres fumigation exercise to Cape Coast, the Central regional capital.



The fumigation train stopped in Cape Coast on Saturday, January 29, 2022, and as was the case with the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Market in the Greater Accra Region and the six market centres in the Eastern regional capital, Koforidua, shops in Cape Coast were fumigated in efforts to ensure traders in the region go about their business in a conducive and congenial atmosphere.



The three main market centres in Cape Coast, namely; the Kotokoraba Market, Anafo Market and Abura Market were fully fumigated.



The Market Centres Fumigation Project is an initiative of LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited in collaboration with GUTA, and aims ultimately support government efforts to quell the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is being undertaken free of charge as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the company.



The plan, according to the Chief Executive Officer of LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited, Mr. Kareem Abu, is to undertake the exercise across the entire country, with a focus on market centres. Our plan is to cover market centres across the country to ensure that we bring some amount of relief to the traders as they go about their business. As a company, we will do our bit by fumigating the market centres and also appeal to the traders to compliment this initiative by adhering to the safety protocols. If we join forces in our collective drive to win the fight against the pandemic, we can indeed win together, Mr. Abu said in an interview with the media during the exercise.



He said the company deems the project imperative as it provides an opportunity to give back to society as part of its CSR.



Nana Kwabena Peprah, a national executive member of GUTA expressed gratitude to the leadership of GUTA in the Central Region and the traders in general for their cooperation, which saw the exercise pass off smoothly.



He assured that the National leadership of GUTA would continue to make the welfare of traders in the country a priority.



Nana Peprah who also doubles as the Greater Accra regional chairman of GUTA, entreated corporate Ghana to emulate the shiny example of LCB Worldwide Ghana by lending their support to the Ghanaian people in such difficult moments.



Latest Covid-19 figures shared by the Ghana Health Service indicate that Ghanas active COVID-19 cases stands at 1,906, confirmed cases 156,690, new cases 175, with 1,391 deaths and 153, 393 recoveries.



LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited has been contracted by the Government of Ghana to see to the disinfection of all cargoes leaving or entering the Ports as well as points of entry and exits.



The move is in line with requirements of the World Health Organizations International Health Regulations.



The company specializes in prevention solutions and disease control at airports, seaports and border crossings. The company applies its proprietary disinfection systems to control and kill infectious pathogens on humans, clothing, surfaces, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyors, goods and postal parcels by direct exposure to chemical or physical agents.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Superintendent Otuo Kwabena Acheampong, Tema Regional Police Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service has urged the public to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in their various homes and at strategic office facilities to ameliorate crime and improve security.



He said the installation of CCTV cameras would help capture people who commit crimes in various localities to hasten investigations and apprehension.



This was disclosed at the Tema Regional Office of the Ghana News Agency's Ninth End of Month Stakeholder Engagement and Workers Appreciation Day, which is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues.



The event also serves as a motivational mechanism to recognize the editorial contribution of reporters towards national development in general, the growth and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub.



Speaking on: Overview of the security situation in the Tema Region  Role of Stakeholders in crime prevention, Supt. Acheampong said installation of CCTV cameras was part of the expectations by the Regional Police Command in 2022 to reduce crime so that people would live in a safe and secure at their various workshops and residential homes.



The Tema Regional Crime Officer noted that, installing CCTV cameras would record footage of crime scenes, which would be an immense support to aid investigators to unravel circumstances of crimes.



He also beseeched the public to form neighbourhood watch committees to make crime a high-priced activity for culprits to engage in.



He added that, the citizenry must endeavour to volunteer in sharing information and tip-off to the police with an assurance to get their identities protected.







Source: GNA









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The Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Ketu North, James Klutse Avedzi, has said the Minority's opposition to the E-levy bill remains unchanged despite the decision to reduce the levy from 1.75 percent to 1.5 percent following a crunch meeting between the Minister of Finance and the Minority and Majority caucus of Parliament this week.



He spoke to journalists in an interview at Parliament House.



He said the Minority in Parliament do not support the bill hence government should withdraw it from Parliament.



He said government should rather create more employment opportunities for people who can then pay appropriate income tax to generate more revenue for the nation..



James Klutse Avedzi also advised the Majority caucus not to rush with the passage of the e-levy when the Speaker, Rt Hon Alban Bagbin travels this weekend for medical check up outside the country, to avoid tension in the House.



Parliament Adjourns E-Levy Debate To February 1



Parliament on Friday adjourned the debate on the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill to Tuesday, February 1.



Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker, presiding as Speaker, adjourned the sitting.



Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, had wanted the House to take the E-Levy debate, however, the Minority members said they were tired of the long sitting since 1000 hours, which was delayed until 1700 hours.

Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Peace FM









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A former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has said former President John Dramani Mahama refused to build the the Asomdwee Park where the Late Professor John Evans Atta Mills was buried.



The Founder of the Atta Mills Memorial Institute says he is waiting for a one-on-one encounter with Mr Mahama to confront him on this. matter. John Mahama deliberately REFUSED to build Asomdwee Park & whether he likes it or not, the Atta-Mills Institute has begged President Akufo-Addo to build it  and it is being built to the glory of God. Atta-Mills Institute will not die ooooo!!!! President Akufo-Addo thank you, he tweeted.



He added I am waiting for a, one-on-one with John Mahama.



As part of the 10 years anniversary for the late Professor Mills, Former President Mahama is expected to launch the John Evans Atta Mills (JEAM) Memorial Heritage, a non-profit, independent, non-partisan organisation anchored in Professor Mills passion and commitment to inclusivity, transparency, accountability and his relentless quest for peace and a better society.



According to a statement issued by the Governing Board of the JEAM Memorial Heritage and signed by Board Chairman Alex Segbefia, the Memorial Heritage will be launched at the Cedi Conference Centre at the University of Ghana on February 1 2022, under the theme: The man John Evans Atta Mills  10 years on.



There will be thematic presentations by Professor Akua Kuenyehia, former President of the International Criminal Court, the Hague, Professor Francis Dodoo, a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and four-time Olympian and Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, a former Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, the statement added.





I am waiting for a, one-on-one with John Mahama.  Samuel Koku Anyidoho (@KokuAnyidoho) January 30, 2022

















Source: 3news.com/twitter









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Shannon Gunderman uses a monthly letter to share encouraging Bible information with inmates in the Arizona State Prison Complex in Yuma.
Logansport, IN (46947)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers in the afternoon. High around 60F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 52F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
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On January 27, the government-aligned Khmer Times newspaper published an opinion piece defending Cambodias engagement with Myanmar.

It counters criticism that Cambodia created rifts within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after it assumed the chairmanship of the group in October 2021.

The author, Phnom Penh-based political analyst and commentator Leap Chanthavy, claims that ASEAN has been divided since Myanmars February 2021 military coup. But that is not Cambodias fault, he argues:

ASEAN is divided over Myanmar is true, but Cambodia is dividing ASEAN over Myanmar is false.

While it is true that ASEAN has never shown complete unity over the Myanmar militarys takeover, it is misleading to say that Hun Sen has not created division within the association.

ASEAN, an economic and political union of 10 Southeast Asian countries  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  has sought to end the bloodshed that erupted in Myanmar following the coup.

In April 2021, ASEAN put forward a Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar. It calls for a cessation of violence, constructive dialogue, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, the appointment of a special envoy to facilitate mediation and dialogue, and access for that special ASEAN envoy to "meet with all parties concerned.

Myanmar was excluded from an October 2021 ASEAN meeting for failing to make progress on the ASEAN peace plan.

Hun Sen, meanwhile, appeared intent on engaging Myanmar without meeting those preconditions.

In January, Hun Sen was the first foreign leader to visit Myanmar since the military overthrew its democratically elected government. During that visit, Hun Sen met with Myanmars military leader Min Aung Hlaing. But he made no effort to meet members of the political opposition.

Cambodia Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said his country would be taking "different approaches to the Myanmar crisis, Reuters reported.

Prak Sokhonn was recently appointed ASEANs envoy to Myanmar. He appeared to criticize the former ASEAN envoy to Myanmar, Bruneis Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, who refused to visit Myanmar without receiving guarantees he would be able to meet with the countrys ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi was hit with an additional four-year prison sentence on January 10, just days after Hun Sens visit.



Critics accused Hun Sen of giving legitimacy to Myanmars military rulers  an accusation he denied. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore also pushed back against his approach.

On January 12, Cambodia postponed the first ASEAN meeting under Cambodias chairmanship, scheduled for January 18-19.

That cancellation was in part chalked up to concerns over COVID-19. But analysts said Cambodia's tentative plan to invite the Myanmar juntas foreign minister played a part in scuttling the meeting, the Voice of America and other media reported.



Abdul Kadir Jailani, director general for Asia, the Pacific and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, partially confirmed that.

Apart from concerns over the Omicron variant, Abdul Kadir said many things needed to be ironed out within ASEAN in order to come to a common stand on the issue of Myanmars representation, Voice of Americas sister news organization Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.

Cambodia says the meeting has been rescheduled for February 16-17.

For example, the Jakarta Post newspapers editorial board said that Hun Sen had reportedly asked all ASEAN member states to allow the junta to attend the groups meeting on Myanmars behalf.

That ran counter to the positions of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

Two days before Hun Sens Myanmar visit, Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo told Hun Sen in a phone call that Myanmar had no choice but to implement the Five-Point Consensus.

Shortly after the ASEAN meeting was canceled, Abdul Kadir reaffirmed Jokowis position. Abdul Kadir said he hoped the Cambodian chairmanship can consistently implement what has been agreed [to] in previous ASEAN meetings regarding the Five-Point Consensus, RFA reported.

On January 15, Singapores Foreign Ministry released a statement saying only a non-political representative from Myanmar should be invited to any ASEAN meeting until there is significant progress in implementing the consensus.

That statement added that Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hoped that Cambodia would consider his views and those of other ASEAN Leaders.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah was more direct, stating explicitly that not all members of ASEAN were on board with Hun Sens Myanmar visit.

There are people who think that he should not have taken the visit because his visit has been construed or interpreted as a recognition of the military in Myanmar, RFA quoted Saifuddin as saying.



Malaysia is of the opinion that he has the right to visit Myanmar as the head of government of Cambodia. However, we also feel that because he has already assumed the chair of ASEAN, he could have probably consulted the other ASEAN leaders and sought our views as to what he should do if he were to go to Myanmar, Saifuddin added.

Leap Chanthavy said it was false to say Myanmar had not consulted other ASEAN member states prior to Hun Sens Myanmar visit.

During a January 21 phone call between Hun Sen and Jokowi, Hun Sen called Saifuddin arrogant, accusing him of making inappropriate comments and disrespect[ing] the ASEAN chair by using undiplomatic language and [showing] a lack of courtesy.

On January 26, Cambodias National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, also strongly rebuked Charles Santiago, chairman of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).

Santiago had earlier accused Hun Sen of cowboy diplomacy and sabotaging ASEANs position in the Five-Point Consensus over his Myanmar visit.

Without a doubt, only an evil-minded person and his/her clique would under the pretext of human rights dare to turn their blind eyes to the goodwill and deliberate efforts of Prime Minister Hun Sen to foster an environment for peace, reconciliation and unity as well to protect the life of the people in Myanmar, the National Assembly said.

The National Assembly is completely dominated by Hun Sens Cambodias Peoples Party.

Analysts have linked these fissures to Hun Sen.



Meantime, Hun Sens recent actions suggest he is realigning his position to that of the other ASEAN members.

In a January 25 video conference between Hun Sen and his Malaysian counterpart, Hun Sen said Myanmars military leader would be invited to an upcoming summit if there is progress in implementing the five-point agreement, a statement on his Facebook page read.

If not, Myanmar would be invited to send a non-political representative to the meeting, a position previously stressed by Singapore.

In a video call with Min Aung Hlaing the following day, Hun Sen called on Myanmars ruler to abide by the Five-Point Consensus and end violence in the country.

Speaking to Jokowi on January 21, Hun Sen said Myanmar had two governments. Voice of America reporter Chhengpor Aun tweeted that Hun Sens comment appeared to be his first public acknowledgement of the existence of the National Unity Government of Myanmar  Myanmars government in exile.

RFA also noted that statements on Hun Sens Facebook page called Min Aung Hlaing the  senior leader of Myanmar or chairman of the countrys State Administration Council, using the official name of the junta.

That, RFA reported, was noticeably different than the more deferential tone after Hun Sens January visit.


Acceptance and love? Then how about, "All students must wear formalwear?" How about pausing for a deep breath before threatening to call the cops on a kid who's posing zero threat to anyone? How about leading by example for all the kids and parents who were, no doubt, watching what happened when Aniya Wolf showed up in that tux?
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CLEMSON  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham gave a glowing evaluation of South Carolina federal judge J. Michelle Childs, calling her highly qualified and said she would not be treated to the type of grilling Brett Kavanaugh received if she becomes a Supreme Court nominee.

"She's considered to be a fair-minded, highly gifted jurist," Graham, R-S.C., said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Jan. 30.

"She's one of the most decent people I've ever met," he said, adding later, "I cannot say anything bad about Michelle Childs. She is an awesome person."

Graham did not confirm he is definitely a yes confirmation vote if President Joe Biden does pick Childs for the vacancy created by the announced departure of Justice Stephen Breyer.

Graham said he wanted to wait until the president's pick is definite before committing.

Childs, a U.S. District judge from Columbia, is so far the only name identified by the White House as under consideration to meet Biden's promise of appointing a Black female to the court if given the chance. That came about when her nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was put on hold Friday. Media speculation says several other Black women are in the discussion as well.

Graham said there is room for people on the court with diverse backgrounds and not always with an education from within the Ivy League legal community. Childs is a graduate of the University of South Carolina law school.

"It's OK to go to a public university and get your law degree," Graham said.

Graham downplayed criticisms by some other Republicans, including Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, that in specifically committing to name a Black woman to the court Biden was playing into affirmative racial discrimination.

"I do see putting a Black woman on the court making the court more like America," Graham responded, noting President Ronald Reagan forecast he would put the first female on the court, which turned out to be his pick of Sandra Day O'Connor.

Graham did not elaborate deeply on his Kavanaugh comments, but he was highly outspoken at the way Kavanaugh was treated by Democrats and other groups during his confirmation. Graham promised Republicans would not do the same if Childs is the choice.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., who got Biden to commit to appointing a Black woman during the 2020 Democratic primary in South Carolina, also appeared on the CBS show, saying Biden breaking the mold on Supreme Court picks would be transformative for the country.

It says to others pursuing lofty goals, "You have just as much a chance," said Clyburn, who has publicly stumped for Childs, a Barack Obama-appointee to the bench.

Biden has said he will announce his pick by the end of February.
Boeing Co.'s employment figures were more stable in 2021 than in the first year of the pandemic, but the company still employs significantly fewer workers in South Carolina than it did before COVID-19.

Boeing, which builds its 787 Dreamliner jet in North Charleston, employed 5,521 people statewide as of the beginning of 2022, according to an annual update that the company posted Jan. 31. That's 185 fewer compared to a year ago, for a decline of 3.2 percent.

The major drop in employment came the previous year, when COVID-19's impact on the aircraft industry led to widespread buyouts and layoffs at Boeing. The company shed about 20,000 jobs that year overall, and employment at Boeing South Carolina fell by 1,163 between January 2020 and January 2021.

Boeing said in a statement Monday that its employment rolls "remained stable" in 2021. Its overall headcount was up 0.4 percent from a year ago, to 141,582.

Compared to pre-pandemic figures from early 2020, employment is down about 20 percent in South Carolina and 12 percent companywide.

Boeing said it will continue to make hires "as the commercial market recovery gains traction" and production rates expand.

"We expect modest growth and, as always, well align our overall staffing levels to our market demand and business needs," Boeing said.

While 2021 was what CEO David Calhoun described last week as a "rebuilding year" for the planemaker, it marked major setbacks for the South Carolina-based 787 Dreamliner program.

The widebody jet has been contending with major quality issues that first arose in mid-2020. Deliveries of the 787 have been stopped for most of the last 15 months as Boeing inspects and reworks affected planes. Production has slowed to a crawl in North Charleston.

Amid those issues and that rate slowdown, some workers have been reassigned to focus on inspections and repairs instead of assembling new planes.

Boeing said in an earnings update last week that the 787 production rate is still "very low" and that will continue until the Federal Aviation Administration allows deliveries to resume. Eventually, the plant near Charleston International Airport will return a rate to five per month.

The company said it expects to incur $2 billion in "abnormal costs" from those changes in production and rework. It also took a $3.5 billion charge on the Dreamliner to cover compensation for airlines waiting on their undelivered 787s.

Since Boeing consolidated the widebody program in South Carolina early last year, North Charleston has been the only site where the Dreamliner is made.

In addition to its main 787 campus off International Boulevard, Boeing South Carolina has workers at another site in North Charleston that includes an engineering and research center and a plant that manufactures interior parts for the Dreamliner.
COLUMBIA  Columbia-area residents could see fighter jets flying in areas they're not accustomed for several months this year.

The S.C. Air National Guard is in the final stages of a plan to temporarily relocate flight operations during major runway renovations at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, 15 miles east of downtown Columbia, a military official said.

The base's F-16 fighter jets will fly out of Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Lexington County, seven miles west of Columbia.

A date to begin the work has not been announced, but the project is expected to require about six months once construction begins, said U.S. Air Force Col. Quaid Quadri, commander of the Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing.

More details will be announced when the timeline is firm, Quadri said.

"We are excited about this opportunity to partner with the Columbia Metropolitan Airport as we continue our training while providing a steady state of readiness in support of our world-wide and homeland defense missions," Quadri said.

The fighter wing at McEntire includes about 1,500 personnel who work with 26 F-16s, single-seat fighters that can fly twice the speed of sound.

During the past 20 years, the South Carolina unit has been deployed numerous times to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The jets have also been deployed to Jordan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support roles in recent years, and have participated in NATO exercises in Poland and Sweden.

The 300 airmen sent to Saudi Arabia for three months in 2021 was the unit's largest deployment since 2018.

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport saw 1.3 million passengers in 2019, though travel has dropped off sharply the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The terminal also serves as a hub for shipping giants UPS and FedEx, and package traffic was up 14 percent in 2021, airport officials said.
GREENVILLE  Demolition of a two-story structure launched the multi-year process of transforming the property into the new headquarters for Greenville-based United Community Bank.

On a brisk Jan. 31 morning, the sun rose behind a row of excavators sitting behind the former location of the Wyche Law Firm offices at 200 East Camperdown Way. The demolition of the decades-old structure started just after daybreak.

Falls Street is partly closed for the demolition. Traffic is being rerouted through Calvin Street for those either exiting South Church Street or trying to get to East Camperdown Way or Cleveland Street.

United Community Bank plans to break ground on its seven-story tower in late March and complete construction in spring 2024. Next door, the Greenville Grand Bohemian Hotel construction chugs along with an intended opening at some point this year.

The bank announced in February 2021 it would move its headquarters from Blairsville, Ga. to Greenville. With $23.5 billion in assets, it is the largest bank based in South Carolina. It established corporate operations in the Upstate on July 1, 2021, but the bank has had a presence in Greenville since 2012 and opened its first permanent branch in the area in 2015. The bank has 196 offices across the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Wyche sold the property to United Community Bank in December 2020 for $5.75 million, according to public property records.

Wyche has moved into two floors of an office building on East Broad Street in Greenville, which was previously occupied by Elliott Davis accounting firm. The move was completed Dec. 13, 2021, according to Lauren Roach, the chief marketing officer for the law firm. This relocation marks the fifth move of the firms Greenville offices since its founding.
The Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity in North Augusta hosted a human trafficking awareness forum on Jan. 25.

The event, which about 60 people attended in-person, shared statistics, prevention strategies of human trafficking and internet crimes against children from advocates.

Kids worlds are on their phones, so if we are talking about human trafficking and the topics related to that, it really has gone to the internet as well, Emma Rush said. I always like to say human traffickers love the internet just as much as we do, if not more because it makes it a lot easier for them.

Rush, who works at the South Carolina Attorney General's office, explained the intersection of internet usage and child safety.

Yall are the ones that are invested in childrens lives. You know your kids best. If something feels off about what they are going through, what they are saying, what they are doing, it warrants a conversation, Rush said.

Rush also said it is important for parents and trusted adults to discuss topics of consent, internet safety and more with their children.

Maryann Burgess, a former law enforcement officer who currently works at Aiken Countys Child Advocacy Center, also explained the importance of developing trustworthy relationships with kids.

I would say to you that if you want to stop things like child abuse, if you see it you got to say something, Burgess said. but dont allow the evils that you see around you to continue because that is what allows human trafficking to continue to exist.

If there is nobody there willing to purchase, it is the laws of supply and demand and we are supplying, Burgess said. We're supplying children, women.

Richmond County officer Terry Gore, an investigator who specializes in human trafficking and internet crimes against children in Georgia and with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shared that this is a local issue.

I give this lecture to a lot of places because you are going to be on a jury someday and if you are going to be on a jury, then you need to know that this evil exists here in South Carolina, Georgia, in the United States, Gore said. "It is here, not the stuff that you see going on overseas, and we have it there too, but its right here.

According to Gore, on average about 1.7 million children runway in the United States each year.

All three speakers shared the importance of calling law enforcement in these situations, especially due to the jurisdiction issues surrounding the state line.

Were different jurisdictions. Were different states. And thats the problem we have here in North Augusta and Aiken County. You are so close to Georgia. We have an interstate, we have a waterway, we have an airport that you can get in and out of really really quick, Gore said. They are evil, there is no other way of putting this, but we have to be aware of what is going on.

Other human trafficking and awareness agencies, such as Bridge 2 Home and GLM 2 Foundation, were in attendance to provided resources to North Augustans.

Hopefully it forces all of us out of our comfort zones, organizer Twyla Tuten said. I hope we have heightened awareness and brought questions to mind that people will continue to seek answers to.
Like parents and teachers across our great state, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South Carolina Department of Education are committed to keeping children in school where they learn best, while also protecting them from COVID-19.

A lot of attention has been paid to quarantining and isolation guidelines for K-12 schools, and rightly so. Using the latest scientific evidence, and very valuable input from parents and schools, DHEC in coordination with the Education Department has developed guidance for schools that is designed to keep healthy children in classrooms and teachers on the job.

Unfortunately, there has been some confusion about what the guidance requires, specifically when children actually need to be out of school.

To clear up the confusion, our guidance is simple: No children without symptoms should have to quarantine if they wear a mask for 10 days and are tested between five to seven days after exposure or if they are fully vaccinated. The testing can be done by parents using a rapid test at home or by the school.

We call this program Test to Stay, and it is supported by the latest scientific evidence. The goal of DHECs guidance is to have only sick or contagious students and school staff at home, not healthy ones. Our guidance allows parents and school officials to do that, while keeping children, teachers and staff safe.

Our current guidance virtually eliminates the need for quarantine, allowing almost all students who have been exposed to COVID-19, are asymptomatic and test negative to remain in school, where they learn best.

We also have updated our teacher quarantine guidance so that if a school is in a crisis staffing situation due to COVID-19, meaning it would otherwise have to go virtual temporarily due to staffing shortages, exposed teachers and staff without symptoms can be allowed to work in-person during quarantine, though they must wear a mask for 10 days and be tested on day five. This has already led to fewer schools having to move to virtual instruction.

To help alleviate confusion, DHEC is working with the Education Department to present this guidance to our schools and parents in a clear and straightforward manner.

Test to Stay is available to all S.C. schools, although not all schools have implemented it. Many schools already have rapid tests they can administer at school, and DHEC in coordination with the Education Department is also providing school districts with free at-home tests they can send home for parents to use.

Utilizing a federal grant, DHEC has ordered enough rapid tests  more than 1.6 million  to provide every K-12 student with two apiece at no cost to the school or parents. The first shipment of these tests is arriving in schools this week. Free rapid tests also are available to take and use at home from DHEC public health departments (visit scdhec.gov/covid19testing for details) or to order from the federal government at covidtests.gov in addition to being available for purchase at pharmacies and other stores.

For rapid tests that students choose to take home to be administered, we are strongly encouraging schools to accept a form from parents that the test was conducted appropriately. That form is available on our website at scdhec.gov/covid19schools.

We encourage parents to ask their childrens schools about the Test to Stay program and the free rapid tests. In addition, we encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask when around others indoors, and socially distance where possible.

Together, we can make sure our children stay healthy and those healthy students are where they are supposed to be  in the classroom.

Dr. Edward Simmer is the director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Molly Spearman is the S.C. superintendent of education.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros administration is reviewing two measures passed by the legislature Friday that proposed earlier deadlines for candidates seeking elected office, and allow for the cancelation of certain primary races.

Bills 173-36 and 174-36 were both authored by Sen. Jim Moylan, at the request of the Guam Election Commission.

The first bill eliminates a primary election for any race if fewer or equal to the maximum candidates that can advance for that contest qualify for a primary election ballot.

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For instance, if only one gubernatorial team from each of the islands two political parties are deemed eligible to be in a primary election, that contest would be canceled.

But a race will be forgone only if both sides of a partisan ballot would have their candidates advance to the general election, according to testimony offered by the GEC in support of the changes.

This means if one political party has a slate of 20 senatorial candidates, while the other has 15, a primary election for both parties will be held for the legislature. For single-seat, non-partisan positions, the primary would be canceled if two or fewer candidates are eligible for a primary vote.

The proposed elimination policy wont apply to all elections, only those for:

 The legislature

 Governor and lieutenant governor

 Washington delegate

 Mayor

 Vice mayor

 Public auditor

 Attorney general

The second measure pushes up the primary election and deadlines associated for candidates and residents looking to participate in a local election.

Bill 174-36 proposes that the primary election be held on the first, and not last Saturday in August.

The legislation moves the final day to file nominating papers for those seeking elected office from 60 days before a primary election to 90 days prior as well. The legislation would also push up the first day to file nominating documents by 30 days.

Voter may need to register earlier if the bill becomes law  21 days before an election instead of the current 10. Moving up this date will help GEC staff dealing with peak workload in the days just before a public vote is held.

While both bills were introduced last year, uncontrollable circumstances delayed a legislative vote until this months session, which ended last week, according to a release from Moylan. Due to the close proximity of the 2022 election, the effective date of these bills were pushed back to January 1, 2023  meaning even if theyre signed into law, they will have no effect on this years electoral races.

The election process is indeed a sacred right of the electorate, and it is imperative that election laws are reviewed and modernized periodically, to assure that voters get their voices heard. Simultaneously, we must look for ways to reduce unnecessary expenses where possible, Sen. Moylan stated.
Fort Lauderdale  South Florida will start to feel like South Florida again Tuesday, as the region emerges from its coldest spell in more than a decade.

Though South Floridians awoke to temperatures in the 40s on Monday, the Broward metro area will reach the mid-70s Tuesday and Wednesday, climb to the upper 70s Thursday and peak at about 80 degrees Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

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Nights will still be cool, but nothing like the weekend, when nighttime temperatures dipped into a range more characteristic of Cleveland than Miami. Nighttime lows this week will be in the 60s, not the 30s and 40s of the past few days.

[ RELATED: South Florida's latest weather updates, forecast maps, and radar ]

Crossing guard Natalia Bahrii wears ear muffs to stay warm near Oakland Park Elementary School, on Monday. The almost-record cold temperatures South Florida has been feeling will ease, with general warming beginning Monday afternoon. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel) (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Mondays low in Fort Lauderdale and Miami was an unseasonable 44 degrees, while temperatures in West Palm Beach fell to 41, according to the National Weather Service. Western Broward and Palm Beach counties experienced temperatures in the low 30s.

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This was a change from the near-record lows in South Florida just a day before, when the low for Fort Lauderdale was 40 degrees, just 2 degrees above the record low of 38 degrees set in 1978, National Weather Service meteorologist Sammy Hadi said.

In West Palm Beach, the low dipped down to 37 degrees, just 2 degrees shy of the record low of 35 set in 1966. In Miami, the low reached 42 degrees, a far cry from the record low of 36 set in 1940.

People bundle up on a cold morning in Oakland Park, where lows hit the 40s early Monday. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Temperatures were in the low 30s across Glades, Hendry, interior Palm Beach, and interior Collier counties, as of 7 a.m. Monday, the National Weather Service reported.

Belle Glade had a low of 36, while La Belle and Immokalee dipped below freezing with temperatures at 31 and 30, respectively. Everglades City plunged to a frigid 29 degrees.

Lows through the rest of the week are not expected to drop below the mid-60s, according to the National Weather service.
Fully vaccinated international travelers, including those from Guam, will be allowed in the Philippines once again without having to go through government quarantine starting Feb. 10, the Philippine government announced.

It's welcome news for a number of Guam residents who have had to delay seeing families and friends in the Philippines since March 2020, when the country closed its borders to try to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Karlo Nograles, acting spokesperson for the Philippine president, in a media briefing Friday said vaccinated nationals from countries not requiring visas will be allowed to visit beginning Feb. 10.

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The United States and its territories, including Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is one of nearly 160 countries considered "visa-free."

The Philippine government, last December, said it will accept and recognize U.S. COVID-19 vaccine certificates, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Vaccination Card.

As of Monday afternoon, however, the Philippine Consulate General in Guam deferred comment until it receives more information.

On Jan. 28, the Philippine government temporarily suspended its risk classification list for countries, allowing fully vaccinated travelers to enter:

 Feb. 1: The Philippines will allow entry of returning fully vaccinated Filipinos, regardless of where they come from.

 Feb. 10: The Philippines will allow fully vaccinated foreigners from visa-free countries.

These returning Filipinos and foreigners who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to go through mandatory quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure from abroad.

The Philippines initially planned to reopen in December but the omicron-driven surge postponed that move.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the tourism agency 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."

Based on the Philippines' Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases guidelines, leisure travelers from visa-free countries will be allowed to enter the country provided that their passports are valid for at least six months at the time of arrival.

They also need to possess outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination.

In the case of children under 12 years old who cannot be vaccinated, they shall follow the quarantine protocol of the parent or the accompanying adult or guardian traveling with them, the Philippine government said.

Foreign visitors must carry proof of vaccination against COVID-19 recognized by the Philippine government:

 World Health Organization international certificates of vaccination.

 The Philippines' digital vaccination passport, VaxCertPH.

 A vaccine certificate of a foreign government that has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement.

Returning Filipinos and foreign travelers who are unvaccinated, partially unvaccinated or whose vaccination status could not be independently validated need to take an RT-PCR test within 48 hours before departure.

They also need to go through facility-based quarantine for five days.

After the mandatory facility-based quarantine, they still need to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day from arrival.
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
Sen. Lindsey Graham has long believed that a presidents judicial nominees should receive great deference from the Senate. He has made this clear over and over, both for nominees of Democrats and nominees of Republicans. For example, he defended his vote to confirm Justice Sotomayor on that basis.

Grahams view on the matter used to be shared by the vast majority of Senators. Today, almost no Senator really holds it, not when the nominee is a member of the opposite party.

My view is that with Democrats constantly voting against well-qualified conservative nominees, Republicans should routinely vote against liberal nominees, regardless of qualification. But Graham doesnt see it that way. I give him credit for standing by his principles.

However, giving deference to the president doesnt require making bad arguments on his behalf. If you want to vote for a nominee, just say the nominee is qualified and cast the yes vote.

Lindsey Graham has never been a minimalist, though. He likes to preen and pontificate, and thats what hes doing now regarding the impending nomination by Joe Biden of a black female Supreme Court Justice.

For example, Graham insists that setting aside a Supreme Court slot for a black female is not affirmative action. He states:

Put me in the camp of making sure the court and other institutions look like America. You know, we make a real effort as Republicans to recruit women and people of color to make the party look more like America. Affirmative action is picking somebody not as well qualified for past wrongs.

But picking people for jobs to make an organization look more like America is a form of affirmative action. More importantly, its a form of race discrimination because it entails favoring one candidate over another out of a desire to achieve racial balance  i.e., because of race. And when, as in Bidens case, people of certain races are excluded from even being considered for the job, the affirmative action is a particularly egregious form of race discrimination.

Im not sure what Graham means by his statement that affirmative action is picking somebody not as well qualified for past wrongs. Its true that rejecting a white or Asian candidate in favor of a less qualified black candidate to atone for past wrongs is a form of affirmative action. But its not the only form.

The motive for favoring someone due to race  be it atoning for past wrongs, making a workforce look like America, or something else  has no bearing on whether the favoritism is affirmative action. Its affirmative action, regardless.

Picking someone not as qualified because of her race is affirmative action, but so is refusing even to consider the qualifications of candidates of certain races and a certain gender. Thats what Biden has decided to do.

Graham made his comment in the course of touting a black South Carolina judge  J. Michelle Childs  who reportedly is under consideration for the Supreme Court. Graham is indulging in home state boosterism. He probably figures Bidens black female nominee will be confirmed, and the spot might as well go to a South Carolinian.

Childs qualifications dont leap off the page. She is a district court judge, not a U.S. court of appeals judge, like all current Supreme Court members other than Justice Kagan were before they joined the Court. She lacks Kagans stellar background as an academic and high-ranking Justice Department lawyer.

I see no credible argument that Childs is as qualified as, say, Sri Srinivasan. But Srinivasan has been ruled out because of his race and gender. Hes an Asian-American male, not a black female. As an Asian-American, his nomination would be historic, but thats not the history Biden promised to make when he was hunting the endorsement of black politicians and leftists.

I dont know whether the Childs boomlet will lead to her nomination, but if it does she will definitely be an affirmative action nominee.
My wife is a naturalized American citizen who seethes over illegal immigration. When we see the stories on FOX News that highlight the cancellation of our border under the Biden administration, she always asks why the GOP isnt doing a blessed thing about it. Drawing on the recent news that we have followed on Power Line, Miranda Devine channels and amplifies my wifes thoughts in the New York Post column GOP cant complain about Bidens migrants when theyre not stepping in. She writes:

Its all very well for Kevin McCarthy and other GOP members of Congress to rant on Fox News about how terrible the border crisis is, but what are they doing about it?

At least 2 million illegal migrants crossed the border last year, and all we heard from Congress was hot air.

Republicans in Washington will tell you they are powerless to do anything about illegal migration until after they regain control in November, assuming they do.

But one lone New York gubernatorial candidate did more to inform the public about the Biden administrations partnership with people-smuggling cartels than did members of Congress with vastly more resources.

Rob Astorino didnt rest on empty rhetoric. The former Westchester County executive took action.

Despite being slandered by Democrats as a racist, he has exposed the deliberate subterfuge of the Biden administration as it flies illegal migrants around the country and secretes them in unsuspecting communities.
Last week I wrote in part 2 of this series:

Whenever I write about these cases I am instructed that George Floyd killed himself by a fentanyl overdose. I wasnt persuaded of that by the evidence introduced at the trial of Derek Chauvin, not even to the level of a reasonable doubt. It is not clear to me that the defendants in this case even raise an issue of fact regarding the cause of Floyds death. In any event, the cause of death is a matter of evidence (including expert opinion) beyond comment at the level of barroom banter. The prosecutors representing the United States here will draw on the identical evidence introduced by the prosecutors representing the State of Minnesota in the case against Derek Chauvin. It is not at all obvious to me that Floyd might not have been saved if the officers had understood that Floyd was dying. If they had understood (or did understand), they certainly would (or should) have undertaken remedial measures in addition to calling for EMS Code 2 and 3. One of the difficulties in the defense of these cases is that everyone witnessing Floyds detention seemed to know Floyd was dying under the three officers except the three officers and Tou Thao, who held off the crowd and interacted with some of the observers.

In response I heard from two readers whose comments are worthy of note. First, from a reader in law enforcement:

Every time Ive tried to weigh in, the armchair law enforcement experts all know better. Sometimes, Id rather pick up after the dogs then offer an opinion. What do I know? I spent 35 years as a police officer, 20 years of which as a line supervisor. I spend several years as an attorney, and consequently got pulled into academy instruction for 27 years. The last 5 years of my career I supervised a regional academy. You are spot on. The role of law enforcement officer is to be prepared for situations like the one presented by Mr. Floyd in their totality, and to do the proper, professional thing under the circumstances. A person having trouble breathing, especially someone Mr. Floyds size, is never left face down, handcuffed, with someone pressing on their back. Everyone, including Mr. Chauvin, is taught about positional asphyxia, and what to do when it becomes apparent. One of the officers on scene reminded Mr. Chauvin, to no avail. If indeed the fentanyl ended up killing him (for the sake of argument), he needed more timely medical intervention for a chance to save him. What would have happened had Mr. Floyd been rolled on his side, reassured that help was on the way and still died? My guess is Mr. Chauvin might not be in prison. Oh A totally uneducated guess  Mr. Thao didnt know what to do, so he chose to do something he knew, which was to turn his back on the whole thing and restrain the crowd. What do I know.

And then from a Minnesota physician who does not want to be identified:

I am a physician. You are right that fentanyl had essentially nothing to do with George Floyds death. Fentanyl kills by depressing the CNS, causing progressive lethargy and depression of breathing that eventually results in a degree of hypoxemia that creates a fatal arrhythmia. In a chronic a narcotic user, the blood levels of fentanyl dont necessarily tell you what the effects on the individual are(you see the similar development of tolerance in alcohol abuse). The videos did NOT exhibit this scenario. Instead of CNS depression, he exhibited CNS excitation. As you know, at the time of a previous arrest, he had a degree of hypertension that concerned the EMS so much that he was sent to the hospital [on a previous occasion]. This was probably related to methamphetamine use, although whatever the cause, that put him at risk of stroke or cardiac ischemia/arrest. Fortunately, he did not suffer such a tragic event, but methamphetamine use is like Russian roulette and you dont want to pull the trigger too many times! The post-mortem tox screen, based on methamphetamine and its metabolites, showed that he had recently ingested significant methamphetamine. The post also showed that he had significant multi-vessel coronary disease, including, as I recall, a 90 percent right coronary artery occlusion. The symptoms of malignant hypertension include anxiety, confusion, restlessness, shortness of breath and chest pain, sometimes a crushing chest pressure. He was exhibiting all of these. With the crushing chest pain of severe myocardial ischemia, people sometimes get a sense of impending doom. This leads to the clinical sequence of events. He had no claustrophobia sitting in his vehicle, but several minutes later he did have claustrophobia when the officers tried to place him in the squad car. He kept saying Im not that kind of guy as they tried to put him in the squad. Once in the squad car, you can hear him say Im gonna die twice (impending doom). Listen to it carefully, it is a little hard to hear, but count the syllables. It is NOT a repeat of what he said before going into the squad! Once on the ground, only one officer was on his torso/chest, not enough weight to cause significant restriction of breathing in such a large and very muscular man. One officer was on his legs, which had no effect on breathing. The officer on his neck did not cause significant obstruction of breathing, as evidenced by no trauma being found to Floyds trachea, larynx or hyoid bone. Also, there was no edema fluid in the trachea or bronchi that would be indicative of upper airway obstruction (remember, he was an extremely muscular man), i.e. negative pressure pulmonary edema. I cant breathe was from his evolving cardiac event. In essence, Floyd died of a cardiac arrest related to his methamphetamine use, his coronary disease and his physical struggling. This is the same etiology as the death of Eric Garner also no damage to his neck structures and significant co-morbidities. I cannot comment as a physician as to at what point the officers should have checked on Floyd as to whether he was faking compliance or actually in distress. I would imagine that cops always have to be aware of their environment and the very real threat of assassination. It does not appear that the crowd distracting the cops was helpful, even though they turned out to be correct in their observations. I dont believe that cops can get a fair trial when there is the kind of mob outside the courthouse as occurred with Chauvin and Potter and others in past years. I certainly understand why the defense has trouble getting good witnesses and why physician witnesses for the prosecutors massaged their testimony in order to protect their families. I am not a hero or a fool. If I were a juror in the Chauvin or Potter trial, it would have been very difficult for me to vote not guilty, knowing what the lynch mob did on Lake Street in 2020 and knowing that they even vandalized a house in California that was previously owned by a defense witness. I appreciate your work to make Minnesota and our whole country a better place. If you feel that this will be useful to the officers, please share it. Just knowing this sequence of events and cross-examining a defense witness who is honest should result in an admission that the above is very plausible and should generate significant doubt in the minds of a jury. I myself want to be totally anonymous. Regards, Concerned Anonymous Physician

There is no mob outside the courthouse in St. Paul where the three officers are on trial and very plausible is different from persuasive. Indeed, I dont find the concededly speculative analysis persuasive, but I offer it for the consideration of interested readers.
A Veteran Nigerian musician, Innocent Onyebuchi, popularly known as Daddy Fresh, has assured improved welfare programmes for Nigerian musicians under the Creative Industry Group (CIG).

Daddy Fresh made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

He said this while speaking on his vision and mission for the CIG music department.

NAN reports that CIG recently appointed Daddy Fresh as its head of the music department.

The famous Ajegunle King of music, Daddy Fresh, emerged on Nigerias music scene in the mid-80s with John Odafe Asiemo, popularly known as Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, among others.

At some point, the trio belonged to a group known as DE Pretty Busy Boys He later dropped hit songs in the 90s, such as Eleru gberu e, Faka Fiki Faka, and Fiji fa, which were, unfortunately, pirated.

Mentorship

Daddy Fresh said that the new generation musicians still need mentorship programmes to succeed in their careers, a vision being pursued by CIG.

Creative Industry Group (CIG) is formed to see to the welfare of all people in the business of creativity, especially the musicians. The next generation musicians need the elders input to (not) go astray.

The new generation of musicians need a sense of direction because the way they are going about the business is not in the right direction.

A home is a place of refuge; for us in CIG, strategic plans are underway as part of the mission of the group to re-invent the lost welfare programmes for the musicians, he said.

Daddy Fresh maintained that the music industry must be united in purpose and strategies to help each other grow.

We need a united house for us to survive. The younger ones need a sense of bearing while the elderly give tutelage and a clear understanding of their calling as a musician.

Nowadays, everybody seems to be on his own because we lack structure, no uniform platform, while some are engaged in unwholesome practices because no one is checkmating them.

CIG is here to put things right; we have the structure, and we are bringing in artistes, musicians, and others together to be under one formidable umbrella of support system.

The main reason I was appointed is because of my experience; the group had checked my competence before I was called upon by the president of the group, Ambassador Felix Duke, he said.

Categories

Daddy Fresh also noted that CIG had been segmented to allow the proper administration of groups under it with different welfare programmes.

CIG has different groups like Nollywood, Fashion, Insurance, Music, and others, while I now head the music section with different programmes.

We need to find a new direction because we have many talented musicians who are wasting (away) which ought not to be.

CIG now has plans for workshops and partnerships to keep our young musicians busy so that they can begin to perform day-in-day-out in clubs, lounges, events, and other places where their services are needed.

We are talking about constant performances to replenish their pockets until they are ripe to release their albums or singles, he said.

Daddy Fresh also said that the older musicians were not left out of the various welfare programmes, adding that everyone needs to work together.

For the older generation, they have paid their dues, but we still need to sit with them, to see and discuss where they are having issues. Music is evergreen, so we need to work out the grey areas where there are challenges, especially the insurance scheme against those unforeseen circumstances because musicians must be happy to make others happy.

We also need to encourage those that are getting discouraged, especially those who have quit music. We want to encourage them to come back. Nigeria is blessed with many potentials; Grammy Award winners lack a platform to spring them to stardom. These are the issues we want to look into, he said.

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(NAN)
The Gender Channel is a threshing ground and a safe space for debating contemporary and trending gender issues in Nigeria and globally. The columnist, Arit Oku, a gender and development specialist, uses a gender-sensitive, human rights and sustainability-focused lens to offer a gender perspective on matters related to human wellbeing and sustainable development.

Can a mobile app help keep women safe?

GBV awareness is rising in Nigeria largely due to activism, social media activity and the persistent voices of anti-FGM advocates. This app is a step in the right direction in breaking the silence that shrouds GBV. But a lot will depend on the response to the reports filed. Will the police, health authorities, legal entities, educational institutions, corporations, families, the media respond with compassion to the reports filed?

An app that assists in the reporting of cases of gender-based violence (GBV) such as rape, incest, trafficking, domestic violence, sexual harassment amongst others is pretty dope, I think. However, I have my misgivings, considering the rampant cases of GBV that go undetected, unreported, unacknowledged, and unpunished.

On December 30, 2021, Premium Times reported a story: NGO launches App for reporting cases of violence against women. It read in part: The Alliances for Africa (AfA) Mission, an NGO, has launched Kpoturum App for reporting and documenting cases of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Nigerias South-east. This caught my attention because it is uncommon to find technology painstakingly developed to address issues affecting women and girls. Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence directed against a person because of that persons gender, often disproportionately affecting women. GBV and VAWG are interchangeable terms.

AfAs programme manager, Blessing Duru, said the Kpoturum App which means call on me in Igbo language (spoken in Nigerias South-East) was designed to assist survivors to get justice through effective documentation, referral, and the case management of VAWG.

The app holds great promise, but can it adequately address the spectrum of complications that GBV cases present in Nigeria? I will provide some examples. How, for instance, does a struggling girl deployed to the South-East under the compulsory National Youth Service Corp spill on her employer, who has consistently harassed her, without being fired? How does an underaged girl expose that creepy uncle who has been preying on her within the confines of her home which should serve as her haven? How does a girl report her father who marries her off as a child bride or terrorists who abduct her from school and rape her?

How does the casual passer-by report the case of traders lining the sidewalks of the Yaba Bus Stop area in Lagos and other parts of the country who grab girls bodies, tugging at their arms, breasts or any other parts they please, while using unacceptable and often derogatory language to address them? I particularly loathed this as a teenager but then I could not put a name to this form of molestation. Can a whistle-blower call on or rely on the app? Can a young girl date-raped dare to report the incident without being blamed for complicity since the popular belief is that when a girl says no it actually means yes? Afterall, she must have wielded her bottom power to entice the male. Bottom power is a Nigerian coinage that implies that females use their bodies as a bargaining chip for amassing material goods.

The difficulty in reporting these cases and getting redress is exemplified by the fact that in the higher institutions of learning that should model best practices, lack of evidence has been the reason why cases of sexual harassment of girls by their teachers are habitually thrown out of the window, until a recent case in which the accused university don was sentenced to a two-year jail term. This landmark conviction was made possible because the survivor had an audio recording of the interaction between her and her lecturer. She also enjoyed the support of NGOs and other advocates through every step of the ordeal, without which she would have given up.

Will measures be put in place legally and structurally to protect survivors of GBV from the customary blame games, embarrassment, and stigma? Are employers willing to implement gender and social inclusion programmes as well as sexual harassment policies to increase awareness and to curb these abusive practices?

The issue of respect for adults has great value but in the context of sexual harassment, the younger female is culturally constrained in her actions to ward-off unwelcome advances. A popular counterargument is that girls offer sex to their teachers in exchange for higher grades. Here we must consider the power dynamic between a lecturer, who is usually older and his female student, sometimes young enough to be his daughter. The student has no power to sanction the lecturer if he chooses to disregard her proposition. However, the case is different when the lecturer propositions his student. He is older and has the authority to fail her if she rejects his demands.

Then, there is the need for education and awareness. Sexuality is still largely a taboo subject in Nigeria. Thus, discourses are often relegated to informal spaces where young people are unable to access age-appropriate and accurate information. Many girls have neither the awareness nor vocabulary to navigate the often-nuanced nature of sexual harassment; let alone report it. Parent-to-child communication on sexuality is oftentimes lacking, even with regard to matters as natural as menstruation and menstrual hygiene. This heightens the vulnerability of girls, such that even when they are abused, they lack the courage to speak out. Thus, perpetrators often go on for long and suffer no consequences. Even when girls summon the courage to report, they may be blamed for dressing provocatively and most of the time, the incident is hushed to protect the familys name, especially when perpetrators are close family members. Live-in domestic helps are particularly vulnerable.

The socio-cultural context protects perpetrators from suffering the consequences of abuse, especially given the low status of these females. Official structures, such as the Police, are not adequately trained to handle reported cases professionally, because the officers are also products of the same socialisation processes. The app developers would have to take into perspective these contextual realities. Good enough, Nigerias Senate passed the Anti-sexual Harassment Bill in 2020, at last! Unfortunately, Nigeria is notorious for policies that are not implemented. A form of learned helplessness pervades the polity, whereby no one expects any action.

GBV awareness is rising in Nigeria largely due to activism, social media activity and the persistent voices of anti-FGM advocates. This app is a step in the right direction in breaking the silence that shrouds GBV. But a lot will depend on the response to the reports filed. Will the police, health authorities, legal entities, educational institutions, corporations, families, the media respond with compassion to the reports filed? Will measures be put in place legally and structurally to protect survivors of GBV from the customary blame games, embarrassment, and stigma? Are employers willing to implement gender and social inclusion programmes as well as sexual harassment policies to increase awareness and to curb these abusive practices?

Arit Oku, a gender and development specialist, writes from Lagos.
Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hosted Ade Omole, leader of the United Kingdom (UK) chapter of the party and the Nigeria Diaspora for Asiwaju (NDA) team in London.

AbdulRasaq Danjuma, Mr Omoles Personal Assistant, announced this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the meeting was to consult with the NDA and critical APC stakeholders in the UK on Mr Tinubus 2023 presidential aspiration.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how after months of speculation, Mr Tinubu formally declared his intention to run for the countrys president in 2023.

He disclosed this to journalists after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

In his interview with State House reporters, Mr Tinubu said it has been his age-long ambition to lead the country one day.

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 said.

His position was also confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES by his spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, who implored this reporter to wait for a full transcription of his boss interview with state correspondents.

UK visit

Meanwhile, Mr Danjuma said that contrary to media reports, Mr Tinubu was hale and healthy.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in good health and excellent spirits.

He is in good health, hale and hearty. He will be returning to Nigeria within a few days after necessary consultations here in the UK, he said.

According to him, Mr Omole briefed Tinubu on progressive activities in the UK and other issues pertaining to national development back home.

He said Mr Omole also briefed Mr Tinubu on how patriotic Nigerians in the Diaspora were helping out from their countries of residence to ensure a better Nigeria for all.

ALSO READ: Tinubu apologises over statement on expired PVC

He further quoted Mr Omole as saying that progressives in the UK had been collaborating with other patriotic Nigerians globally to work hand in glove with their counterparts in Nigeria to promote peace, unity and development.

We are working round the clock to support the President Muhammadu Buhari APC-led administration and contribute our quota to taking Nigeria to the next level, Mr Omole said.

He said the meeting with the APC national leader espoused the commitment of the Nigerian Diaspora community to nation-building.

Mr Omole and fellow progressives has blazed the trail on several fronts and inspired fellow Nigerians in the Diaspora especially, to toe the path of patriotism and honour.

The Director-General of NDA, Akin Badeji, also in the statement, relayed ongoing activities both in the Diaspora and in Nigeria to ensure the actualisation of a Tinubu presidency in 2023, adding that the group would not relent until its desires were met.

The meeting was attended by Joseph Adebola, Kenny Ojutalayo, Oladapo Habeeb, Edith Nwachukwu, Rakiya Abubakar, Ronke Tomori and Lanre Adegun among other APC critical members in the UK.

Mr Tinubu had travelled abroad to attend to some meetings regarding his political ambition shortly after informing President Buhari of his aspiration and intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Mr Tinubu who was a two-term former governor of Lagos State will be back in Nigeria after his consultation meetings.

Mr Buhari, who would be completing his two term tenure in 2023, enjoyed Mr Tinubus political support during his bid for the presidency.

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He has, however, not publicly spoken on Mr Tinubus ambition
At least 12 people have been reported killed after a notorious banditry kingpin, Dankarami, on Friday attacked a village harbouring another bandit, Mani Turwa, who recently repented.

During the attack that lasted four hours, Mr Dankaramis men burnt down a section of Illela in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A top officer at the operations department of the Katsina police command told PREMIUM TIMES that the attack was led by Mr Dankarami himself.

The officer declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Residents said the bandits attacked came in large numbers. One of the residents, who has now taken refuge in Katsina, said the bandits were more than 500 because each motorcycle carried three of them.

The police command spokesperson, Gambo Isa, confirmed the attack. He said several residents were killed but the number had not been confirmed.

Mani Turwa repents

In April 2021, Mani Turwa, one of the most notorious bandits in the Safana  Danmusa  Batsari axis, surrendered his arms to the police.

Mr Turwa was said to have convinced other bandits living in the Illela forest neighbouring the dreaded Rugu forest to also surrender their arms and turn a new leaf.

Those who repented include Sale Turwa (Manis relative), Ado Sarki and Sani Mai Daji.

According to the then Commissioner of Police in Katsina, the bandits surrendered on their own volition.

Some of the arms and ammunition they surrendered,according to the police were: two General Purpose Machine guns, one AK 49 Assault rifle, 23 AK 47 Assault rifles, 109 GPMG ammunition, 94 7.62mm live ammunition of AK 47 rifle and 45 rustled cows.

Turwa courts Dankaramis anger

After their decision to surrender was accepted by the police, most of the repentant bandits returned to normal life but Mr Turwa decided to be a good Samaritan.

A source who is an executive member of the Katsina State branch of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breaders Association told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Turwa courted the anger of the active bandits when he took to protecting the people of Illela and other villages against bandits attacks.

He kept frustrating efforts by other bandits to attack the village and other communities around Illela and before you knew it, he had become a king of a sort. The villagers knew he was the one protecting them and they alerted him of any impending attack. Sometimes, he would fight the other bandits while most of the times, he would talk to them and persuade them not to attack, the Miyetti Allah official, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns, said.

His status as a saviour annoyed the active bandits, including Dankarami.

Before the attack on Friday, both the police source and the Miyetti Allah official said Mr Turwa had been warned by Mr Dankarami to stop protecting the community.

Mani Turwa knew of the impending attack, the senior police officer said. He was ready for them. But when they came, unfortunately, they met him in the village. He knew they would come but he was not sure of the date. Although he was ready, he was caught inside the village instead of outside the community.

The Miyetti Allah official said none of Mr Turwas boys and family members was hurt.

When it was obvious that they were overpowered, the bandits turned on innocent residents, he said.

Illela ransacked

Mariya Yusuf, a resident of the village, who ran to Katsina to seek refuge, said the bandits were there to kill all of us.

It was horrendous. Most of us in the village have (had) left for Dutsin Ma, Kankara, Katsina. All the buildings in our area in Alhazawa have been burnt down by the bandits, she said.

Mrs Yusuf said she did not know how many people were killed because she hid on a tree throughout the attack.

I left around 6 a.m. and there was nobody in the town because we are all afraid that they may return to burn the other section of the village.

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Lawal Yusuf, another resident of the village, said he counted 12 bodies in the morning after the attack.

They have not been buried as at this morning (Sunday) because people who returned after the attack to conduct the burial fled after they got information that the bandits were mobilising to return to the village, he said.

Police react

Mr Isa, a Superintendent of Police, told PREMIUM TIMES that the residents of Illela were caught in an exchange of fire between repented and active bandits.

I can confirm that the attack happened on the 27 of January. The command received information from the Divisional Police Office of Safana that Illela community was being attacked, he said.

He, however, said though people were killed, the number was still unknown.

You may hear different figures now but we need to verify things. More security personnel including soldiers have been deployed and they are currently on the bandits trail, Mr Isa said.
Florida Sen. Travis Hutson, center, makes a point at a Senate Community Affairs Committee meeting during a legislative session, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Tallahassee. Hutson has proposed requiring those who run for a seat on soil and water conservation districts to be engaged in farming or animal husbandry. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

This years capricious attack on Floridas Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) by several members of the state Legislature has taken a strange turn.

State Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, filed a bill (SB 1078) that would have outright ended SWCDs across the state, which would make Florida the only state to do so. But Hutson proposed an amendment on Monday, Jan. 24. Now, abolishing these special districts is off the table, but the bill adds some very odd requirements for those who seek to run for this non-paid, non-taxing, non-legislative board.

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[ RELATED: Killing Floridas soil and water conservation districts is a terrible, expensive idea | Opinion ]

The initial version of Hutsons amendment would require that future SWCD candidates must live and own land in their respective district, and must be actively engaged in the business of farming or animal husbandry.

Speaking with Florida Politics, Hutson claimed he did not mean for the land ownership requirement to be included. Fortunately for us, the senator didnt accidentally include other colonial era requirements, such as good moral character or a year of service in the militia  but there is still time for more edits.

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Rob Long is chair of the Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District and a Delray Beach resident.

Last Tuesdays version of the amendment did have the property qualification removed, but the bit about engaging in animal husbandry or farming remained, and the amended bill passed its first committee hearing. Given that at least eight Florida counties produce less than $5 million in revenue from agriculture, a permissive interpretation of animal husbandry might be required to find SWCD candidates from those regions.

According to Hutson, he filed SB 1078 because farmers in his district were asking for SWCDs to be abolished for advocating for climate change measures, along with other things. He added, I dont think soil and water should be focused on state policy that doesnt deal with soil and water.

Apparently, the argument is that climate change and soil and water are mutually exclusive. As a civil engineer  who would be unqualified for this office under the proposed new rules  I would argue otherwise. By Florida statute 582.02, SWCDs are obligated to educate the general public about water resource protection, which  at least in Palm Beach County  often includes topics such as saltwater intrusion from sea-level rise, freshwater scarcity and algae blooms, which are all exacerbated by climate change.

Palm Beach SWCD also provided $615,000 worth of free agriculture services to growers, coordinated more than $206,000 in free environmental education programs for public school students, and oversaw a water conservation program that saved nearly 474 million gallons of water over the last three yearswhich should prove that we can walk and chew gum at the same time.

The question still remains, why would lawmakers spend time crafting bills that disfigure 56 non-taxing, non-legislative boards that have nobly served their constituents for 85 years? Maybe some members of our Legislature believed Florida ran out of real problems to solve, so they decided to invent one. If boredom is the reason for this attack, I recommend that Hutson and the filer of the House version, state Rep. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, find a hobby. Perhaps animal husbandry?

Rob Long is chair of the Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Nigerian senator and former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, with allegations he conspired with others, including an APC politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.

EFCC filed the charges, totalling 17, on Monday, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, court documents exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show.

In addition to Mr Okorocha, other defendants are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

The charges were filed about the same time Mr Okorocha was declaring his intention to run for the office of the president in 2023.

Mr Okorocha, 59, was a two-term governor of Imo State, serving from 2011 to 2019 when he lost an intense political battle to instal his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, as a successor. He, however, succeeded in winning the Imo West senatorial election for himself as a candidate of the APC. The returning officer alleged he was forced to declare Mr Okorocha the winner under duress, making INEC delay issuing him a certificate of return.

His co-accused, Mr.Nyerere, open-source searches show, was the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 Abia State election and currently serves as a commissioner at the National Pension Commission.

Mr Nyerere features in all the 17 charges and is accused of conspiring with Mr Okorocha to steal and launder N2.9 billion belonging to Imo State and local government areas in the state in contravention of the Money Laundering Act 2011. As CAC searches by PREMIUM TIMES showed, he owns or controls three of the charged companies, namely Consolid, Pramif, and Legend World, all registered in Abuja.

According to the EFCC charges, the stolen funds were diverted between October 2014 and February 2016 from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account.

Timeline of the alleged diversions

1. February 11, 2014: N67,500,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited

2. August 28, 2014: N486,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited

3. October 14, 2014: N900,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Naphtali International Limited

4. August 4, 2015: N279,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Naphtali International Limited

5. February 10, 2016: N243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Consolid Projects Consulting Limited

6. February 10, 2016: N200,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Consolid Projects Consulting Limited

7. February 10, 2016: N243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Pramif International Limited

8. February 11, 2016: N243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited

9. February 12, 2016: 243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

Meanwhile, as searches showed, Mr Nyerere remains a director of Consolid, Pramif, and Legend World even as he holds a public office, potentially breaching Nigerias code of conduct laws.
Imo West senator, Rochas Okorocha, has said he wants to contest for presidency in the 2023 general elections so he can bring Nigeria out of poverty and beat President Muhammadu Buharis record.

Mr Okorocha said while the president has done well for Nigeria and Nigerians, he intends to beat his record if elected president.

He said this at a press conference on Monday where he officially declared his ambition to run.

Mr Okorocha formally declared his intention to run for president on the day the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with allegations of conspiring with others to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.

The senator had, last week, informed the Senate of his intention to run under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

He had said Nigerians need a detribalized leader who can unite the country, a leader with a compassionate heart, who will care for the poor and downtrodden and a visionary leader who can create wealth for the teeming populace  qualities he said he possesses.

At the conference, the lawmaker who is also a former governor of Imo State, noted poverty as the major cause of complaints and chaos in the country.

This, he said, he will address under his New Nigeria agenda. This is even as he dismissed the view that the president and his administration is corrupt and deaf to the needs of the people.

It will be wrong for anybody to say that Buhari is corrupt. It will be wrong to say he hates Nigeria. I have said it before; the issue is poverty. For every N1 billion problem Nigeria has, they have only 10,000 to solve it.

The Nigeria of 2023 requires me as president. Because I am going to approach governance in a different way. Buhari loves the unity of this country but there are drums of separation and drums of war.

Poverty is the cause of chaos and calls for separation. Buhari has done well but he would not wish that he becomes the best, I want to beat his record, Mr Okorocha said.

The senator also said police brutality in Nigeria is simply Nigerian youth brutalising fellow youth, because the policeman accused of brutality is also a young person and his actions are borne out of frustration.

To this end, he said the youth would be the bedrock of the countrys economy and they would be self-employed.

He also kicked against the zoning of political offices in the APC as he appealed to party leaders to allow a level-playing field for candidates no matter their region.

He said, I hear people talking about zoning, Im not a candidate of zoning, I am a candidate of justice. Maybe the South-East has not been able to present their matter very well before the rest of Nigerians.

I appeal to my party  APC, to allow a level-playing ground. And the South-East must know that power is not given, it is taken. You must reach out to people who you want to vote for you. But let justice reign.

Mr Okorocha joins a few other aspirants who have declared their intention to run for president on the platform of different political parties.

Among them are the National Leader of the APC and former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; former presidential aspirant, former CBN Deputy Governor, Kingsley Moghalu; publisher of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu; Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi; former Senate President, Pius Anyim, Sam Ohuabunwa and Khadijat Okunnu-Lamidi.

EFCCs arrest politically motivated

Just as the lawmaker was making known his intention to run, the anti-graft agency, EFCC, was filing 17 charges against him on allegations that he conspired with others, including an APC politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.

PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that those accused alongside Mr Okorocha include Anyim Nyerere Chinenye (a current commissioner in Abia State), Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

Mr Okorocha described this as politically motivated and political propaganda.

He also accused the EFCC of carrying out arrests without proper investigation or confirmation, adding that so many innocent citizens have fallen victims because of the fake reports they get.

In an interview on Channels TV on Monday night, the lawmaker challenged the EFCC to prove that any of his properties belong to the Imo State Government, which the commission claimed he stole during his tenure as a governor.

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I say it ten times more, there is nothing I have that has been traced to Imo State government when I was in office.

You remember one of my wifes properties that was seized by the EFCC and the Imo State government and another Rochas Foundation property sealedthat is just dirty politics and wickedness of mankind.

And those who say I was broke, they are liars. Thats a fabricated point, he said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has replaced its commandant in Rivers State after Governor Nyesom Wike accused the officials of the agency of colluding with the some people to operate illegal oil refineries in the state.

The head of the agencys Anti-Vandal Unit and zonal commander have also been replaced in the state.

This is contained in a statement from the civil defence spokesperson, Olusola Odumosu, on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Odumosu said the action, which is taken by the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, is part of the efforts to ensure sanctity in the corps operations in Rivers.

Mr Audi, the statement said, has declared war against petroleum pipeline vandals and illegal oil bunkerers in Rivers.

The civil defence boss had earlier disbanded the Anti-Vandal Unit of the corps over oil bunkering allegations by Mr Wike.

Mr Audi charged the new leaders and newly reconstituted unit to fight all economic saboteurs by dislodging vandals, arresting oil thieves and dismantling all illegal refineries and road blocks.

Any attempt to delay immediate prosecution of arrested suspects is tantamount to compromise.

Any personnel caught collecting settlement or tampering with impounded tankers, petroleum products and other exhibits would be sanctioned and dealt with decisively.

This will be according to the Standard Operating Procedures and Code of Ethics of the Corps, he said.

According to the commandant general, the action taken was a transparent move to ensure greater efficiency in the frontline of the corps anti vandalism campaign in Rivers which is the epicenter of oil exploration activities.

Mr Audi said the corps plan to develop a telescopic monitoring procedure on all activities of anti-vandal squads in all formations.

He said that personnel not living up to expectations of the corps would be dismissed immediately.

You must wake up from your slumber to arrest and prosecute vandals and criminals, Mr Audi said.

He disclosed that he had received the report of the investigation carried out by the committee set up to investigate Governor Wikes allegations.

Mr Wike, known for his outspoken nature, had said that the operation of illegal refineries was responsible for the air pollution in Port Harcourt and its environs.

(NAN)
Nigerians have been encouraged to embrace and sustain a saving culture as one of the strategic and shrewd approaches to make headway in the countrys distressed economy.

The Managing Editor/CEO, Premium Eagle Media Limited, publishers of The Eagle Online newspaper, Dotun Oladipo, gave the advice at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of a non-governmental organisation, Ikhwan Mutual Forum, in Ojokoro, Lagos State.

At the AGM on Sunday, Mr Oladipo, a former President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, discussed the theme: Surviving the challenges of Family Upkeep, Harsh Economy and Rising Cost of Living.

In this period of economy downturn, cultivating saving culture, Mr Oladipo stressed no matter how small, would impact positively on a family in the long run.

Speaking further on the theme, the immediate past President of GOCOP noted that for every family to survive and thrive under the harsh economy, serious attention must always be paid to daily cost, at homes and in the offices, with a view to whittling down expenses and maximise the benefits of every spending.

The media entrepreneur also said the countrys present economic situation did not permit only husband to belong to the working class, but it is more advisable that both couple are productively engaged and empowered.

He, however, said the family must be calculative in going about this, noting that aspiration for one of the couple to be self-employed was very key so as to really reap the benefits of the self-reliance.

For the couple to be calculative, The Eagle Online Publisher restated: One of the two, (husband or wife) should be free, be self-employed to make more money.

While noting the effects of factors such as climate change and health challenges on socio-economic life, Mr Oladipo said the global financial system was not getting better, warning that this necessitated why the heads of families must be self-disciplined in thought and prudent in spending.

He noted that one key aspect many families underrate is bulk purchase.

This measure, he proffered, must be given due attention, noting that any household item purchased in bulk, when the resources are available, would better serve the family in the nearest future as well as save cost.

He said individuals must be realistic and disciplined in their finances as he alluded that nobody could be too big than his source of income.

Mr Oladipo said to forge ahead in this hard time, Nigerians should be creative, work out better alternatives, avoid imitating others blindly as well as not being wasteful.

Also discussing the theme, an Assistant Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Abdul Razzak Misbahudeen, said the state of the economy in the country called for families to be prudent in spending, focus on needs instead of wants, as well as prepare the familys budget.

Speaking specifically, Mr Misbahudeen advised members of the Ikhwan Mutual Forum to device collective efforts in order to ensure that individuals can conveniently cater for their needs.

Working on alternative sources of income that can take care of heavy expenses, he advised, was also a positive approach under the troubled economy.

The public servant urged parents to encourage their wards to acquire vocational skills, side by side with the formal education, adding that the young ones should be trained to aspire to be job creators.

The AGM is an annual event of the group and it heralds the new business year.

The membership cuts across different professions.

In attendance at the event, which featured the groups first business session for the new year, were the Group Business Deputy Editor of The Nation newspaper and Coordinator of the group, Taofik Salako; Tajudeen Balogun, Deputy Editor, The Eagle Online and the groups Secretary; a Public Relations expert and part time-Lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ganiyu Olowu; Abdul Wasiu Yusuff, a school administrator; Abdul Wasiu Oyeniyi; Abdul Akeem Adeleke; Dhikrullahi Alimi; and private entrepreneurs among other members and participants.

Also in attendance was the wife of the Publisher of The Eagle Online, who is also the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Premium Eagle Media Limited and CEO of Ayaba Stores, Taiwo Oladipo.
A group, the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Organisations (CACSO) has demanded the report of the police investigation into the killing of Ahmed Gulak, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), eight months after his assassination.

Mr Gulak, a former political adviser to the then President Goodluck Jonathan, was killed on May 30, 2021, by unknown gunmen in Imo State, on his way to the Sam Mbakwe Airport to board a flight to Abuja.

The group, in a statement by its Convener, Haruna Jagindi and General Secretary, Danjuma Shetima, demanded that the true identity of those that assassinated Mr Gulak should be revealed, including their sponsors.

Nigerians, especially those from the northern part of the country, are still reeling from the pain of losing such an illustrious son, whose participation in nation-building cannot be forgotten.

The group said there were other occupant(s) in the vehicle with Mr Gulak, when he was assassinated.

It said unmasking the identity of those behind unknown gunmen in Imo would help Nigerians take precautions, and adequate sanctions meted out to those behind the killing.

The group made reference to last year controversial arrest of a former governorship candidate in Imo, Uche Nwosu, and demanded that the motive behind the arrest be made public.

Mr Nwosu, a son-in-law to a former governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha, was arrested inside an Anglican Church during Sunday service, with police operatives firing gunshots in the air, and congregants scampering for safety.

These elements did not just invade the Church, but they did while fully masked up just like the unknown gunmen we have in the state, they had nothing to identify or differentiate them from criminal elements.

They were neither in uniform nor having any form or means of identification to prove they were security agents as required by operating standards all over the world.

Eyewitnesses had no option than to conclude that Chief Uche Nwosu had been kidnapped because they could not point to anything to identify his abductors as security agents.

These armed men that invaded the Church must be unmasked and adequate sanctions meted out to them having engaged themselves or allowed themselves to be used illegally to break professional ethics as stipulated in The Nigeria Police Act 2020.

These actions, if considered by the Inspector General of Police, will go a long way in stemming future occurrences of these kinds of unnecessary scandals, and also gain the support of the citizens for the police in the fight against insecurity, the group said.

(NAN)
Residents of Cross River State have called on the Federal Government to revoke the licence of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) for poor performance and exploitation of consumers.

The residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Calabar, lamented the spate of poor power supply in the state in the past one month and the exploitative estimated bills they receive.

Electricity consumer, Offiong Okon, who is a medical doctor, said: We are really suffering at 8 Miles area, the situation was not this bad because we started using a pre-paid meter. We usually spend N25,000 every two months.

But six days ago, we charged the meter with N25,000 and today, our meter is reading minus 287 in six days even when we dont have power for more than one hour a day.

It is fraud, it is wicked and we are in trouble. The Federal government should withdraw PHEDCs licence and give it to competent hands.

Meanwhile, a group, Concerned Electricity Consumers, has given the PHEDC a two-week ultimatum to transfer its Zonal Manager, Collins Igwe, from Cross River.

The group, led by Celestine Nsefik, accused the zonal manager of playing god with electricity supply in the state.

We are giving PHEDC two weeks to withdraw their zonal manager in Cross River because since he assumed duty in the state in July 2021, we have been grappling with the issue of blackout in the state.

We pay so much for estimated billing, yet we dont have light, the situation was not this bad prior to his coming. It is a deliberate way of ripping consumers who pay so much for estimated billing without light.

We cannot continue to watch him keep us in darkness while suffocating us with bills.

PHEDC is supposed to abide by the Service Reflective Tariff system, whereby consumers pay for energy consumed; the tariff should be equal to service, Mr Nsefik said.

Another consumer, Aniefiok Matthew, who showed NAN his bill for November and December 2021, complained bitterly of what he described as a reckless estimated billing system by PHEDC in the state.

I stay in the Atimbo Area of Calabar. In November, we received a bill of N12,900 which we paid totally, in December. They sent us a bill of N35,400, which is almost a 200 per cent increase, that is crazy.

Now for the past one month, we have hardly seen power supply for more than two hours daily, that is for days you even see it, he said.

The Clan Head of Kasuk 11 community in Calabar, Ededem Ayito, who also complained about the poor power situation in Calabar, said in countries where things are done properly, PHEDC would have been sued and made to pay damages.

Here, a community would be without power for over six months due to a bad transformer and when they contribute and buy a new one, PHEDC will send them bills for the six months they had no power, where is that done? he said.

When contacted, the PHEDC zonal manager, Mr Igwe, declined comment, saying he had not been authorised to speak to the press.

(NAN)
Nigerias second biggest insurer by market capitalisation, Axa Mansard Insurance Plc, saw a profit decline of 22 per cent for the financial year 2021 even when its revenue increased by more than a quarter, according to its unaudited financials issued on Sunday.

Gross written premium scaled up to N60.2 billion, up from the N47.6 billion posted the year before largely by reason of remarkable improvement in earnings from its non-life insurance business.

But earnings took a battering from operating expenses after claims expenses spiralled by N7.8 billion to N29 billion and the cash paid by the underwriter to re-insure itself for the year jumped 34.3 per cent.

Axa Mansard paid N16.7 billion of the N29 billion as claims to beneficiaries of health insurance, one of its strategic business units, and there is a strong prospect that the figure for this quarter alone could rise to N6.1 billion, according to forecast by the insurer in December.

Profit before tax narrowed by 13.3 per cent to N6.8 billion while post-tax profit tumbled by more than one-fourth to N4.5 billion.

In September, Axa Mansard completed a share reconstruction that saw its outstanding shares adjusted downward from 36 billion units to 9 billion and their nominal value upward from N0.50 to N2 in line with the ongoing recapitalisation round in the Nigerian insurance space.

The company opened trade in Lagos on Monday at N2.35 per unit, yet to witness any movement as of 13:17 WAT.
Magistrates Court 58 in Nomansland, Kano, has remanded a former state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Muaz Magaji, in prison custody.

Mr Magaji was arraigned before the court on a four-count charge of defamation of character, intentional insult, injurious falsehood and inciting disturbance against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Mr Magaji, a former political ally to Mr Ganduje, is now a critic of the governor after he was sacked as commissioner for alledgedly celebrating the death of President Muhammadu Buharis chief of staff, Abba Kyari.

He has since aligned with a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by former Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, and has, in a series of Facebook posts, criticised the Ganduje-led faction.

In one of the posts, he reportedly shared a photo of Mr Ganduje in a compromising manner with a woman.

The charges contravened Sections 392, 399 and 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Kano State 1999.

Mr Magaji pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution counsel therefore applied for adjournment in order to present his case.

But the defence counsel, Gazzali Ahmad, applied for bail of his client on health ground, citing Sections 168, 172 and 174 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Kano State 1999.

The prosecution, however, opposed the bail application on the grounds that the defence counsel did not tender sufficient evidence to prove his clients alleged debilitating health condition.

Mr Wada further said granting Mr Magaji bail would encourage others to defame the character of people.

The magistrate therefore ordered that he be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to February 3.

Mr Magaji was first arraigned on Friday but failed to take a plea due to alleged loss of hearing he suffered.

Mr Magajis lawyer, Gazzali Ahmad, had argued that his client temporarily lost hearing owing to aural injuries he sustained after airbag discharge.

The lawyer argued further that the accused could not hear the charges and take his plea.

He therefore prayed the court to grant him bail to enable him seek medical attention.

Ruling on the matter, the magistrate ordered that Mr Magaji be taken to police hospital and remanded in prison custody.
A former doctor at the Premier Specialist Medical Centre on Monday testified before the coroner, M.K.O Fadeyi, about her involvement in the fatal surgery performed on the late Peju Ugboma.

Motunrayo Amadu, a gynaecologist, explained in cross-examination that she assisted the responsible medical officer, Akiseku Kazeem, in the surgery.

The duo and Kelechi Kingsley Renner had been indicted of unprofessional conduct in the matter by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MDPCN).

The Lagos-based founder and CEO of I Luv Desserts, a pastry confectionery, Mrs Ugboma died on April 25 shortly after she did an elective surgery at the Premier hospital.

After her death, the bereaved family accused the Victoria Island-based hospital of alleged medical negligence in handling her surgery.

Before the cross-examination, Abimbola Akeredolu, a senior lawyer and representative of the hospital, referred to a statement made on oath to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MDPCN) by the deceased husband, Ijoma Ugboma, that his late wife was placed on a ventilators wrong settings.

However, the coroner ruled it out stating that it happened outside his court.

Cross-examination

Ms Amadu during cross-examination explained the role she played in the surgery of the deceased.

When Mrs Akeredolu asked her to react to the statement made by the deceaseds husband that you carried your bag and ran away after the surgery, Ms Amadu said her role in the surgery was primarily to assist, adding that she was not the managing gynaecologist.

Ms Amadu said that before the surgery, she was on a leave of absence and only met with the patient on the day of the surgery.

FCCPC

Responding to Babatunde Irukera, the chief executive of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), on why she left the Premier hospital, she cited personal reason, adding that although she is not currently employed, she left in September 2021, a year after she started working with them.

Ms Amadu said the deceased received two units of blood intra-operatively and one post-surgery.

She said she didnt notice that there was blood transfusion during the surgery, adding that it is very possible to be so concentrated (in other duties) and not know that blood was changed.

She said every health officer has a role to play during surgery.

When Mr Irukera asked her to justify her non-awareness, she said it is the responsibility of the surgeon but the knowledge would have been helpful.

In response to another question on a potential blood clot, she said if she was aware, it could have stimulated conversation.

When asked by the deceaseds family lawyer, Babatunde Ogungbamila, if it was a difficult surgery, she said for someone who has had three previous surgeries, it was not a usual surgery due to the scars.

The vaginal vault wasnt completely closed, however, the case note (her medical record) did not state that it was closed, Ms Amadu said. She noted that it was not likely for bleeding to occur if it was closed.

The coroner adjourned the matter to February 21 and 28.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, on Monday, announced automatic employment and donation of N1 million each to the two best graduating students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 6,257 students graduated at the 30th and 31st combined convocation of the Ogun government-owned university.

NAN also reports that Iloka Ebuka of Faculty of Pharmacy graduated with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.92 to emerge the best student in the 2020/2021 session.

Also, Fatima Awolumate of Faculty of Agricultural Economics scored a CGPA of 4.82 to emerge the best graduating student of the 2019/2020 session.

Mr Abiodun, while speaking at the ceremony, urged tertiary institutions in the country to use research and innovation to inspire practical and lasting solutions to the myriad of challenges facing humanity.

He said that solutions should be sought for local challenges, stressing the need to encourage and cultivate the culture of innovation, ingenuity and technology among the youth.

The governor, while congratulating the graduands, urged them to persevere in life and avoid the temptation of using short cuts to success.

You must also understand that your education does not end here. In fact, you will be starting a new form of education in the school of life.

My advice to you is to find a good mentor to help you actualise your dreams. Do not work in isolation, but recognise the value of learning from others and the value of networking.

In the end, you will be defined by your commitments. These are the ingredients for success and fulfillment. Shortcuts do not take anybody to any good place, he said.

Mr Abiodun urged the youth, particularly students, to emulate the best graduating students in learning and character of diligence and hard work.

He said his administration had approved the construction of a 1,600-bed space hostel in the university to ease the accommodation challenges being faced by students.

Giving account of his stewardship, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Ganiyu Olatunde, who is rounding off his tenure, highlighted some of the achievements since he assumed office

Mr Olatunde said the university had witnessed significant growth and development in its operation and administrative sectors.

Discipline is a major focus of this administration and it had been integrated as a culture.

We ensured that our students are well behaved and decently dressed by enforcing a dress code that enhanced the moral standard in this great institution, he said.

In 2020, the governor had also announced the donation of N5 million and a three-bedroom bungalow to Laycon, the winner of the #BBNaija Lockdown Edition.

The governor also donated a two-bedroom bungalow and millions of naira to outstanding teachers in Ogun State.

However, while he was quick to redeem the pledge to Laycon, he did not do so for the teachers one year later.
National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police William Tsitsibala Dlamini must have an unlimited budget at his disposal in light of the extra burden he has placed on his personnel; that of profiling people who are opposed to and critical of the Tinkhundla System of Government.

This is the sum total of establishing a list of people who are critical of and considered a threat to the government of the Tinkhundla political system and making time to summon them to account for their divergent political views. This is further confirmation that this country has morphed into a police State. Dlamini is open that police had compiled a list of people who have been making threats around the country, whom he has summoned to explain themselves. Failure to do so would compel the police to apply the law, he had threatened.

In recent times, the police have increasingly dabbled in political matters confirming that the service had become an instrument of oppression for the political hegemony which explains why officers allegedly mowed down with high calibre weapons emaSwati youth during last Junes pro-democracy protests for which, after initially ducking and diving, government finally acknowledged, albeit without taking the necessary measures to ensure that those responsible were brought before the courts to answer for their actions.

It is not animals, but human beings who were allegedly killed at the instance of the State. Just recently, the NatCom summoned former Senate Deputy President and deputy chairman of Sive Siyinqaba Movement Ngomyayona Matoni Gamedze, an interaction whose gist was purely political than criminal. Gamedze was questioned and expected to explain his and the organisations positions on purely political issues, such as on the Tinkhundla System, position of the King as well as on the national dialogue. If this is not abuse of the mandate of the police in pursuit of particular political ends, then I do not know what it is. But this cannot be normal and acceptable even under the pseudo-democracy of Tinkhundla. Profiling people simply for their political beliefs is evil and ought to be condemned in the strongest terms.

As I see it, by profiling people critical of and making threatening statements  threatening statements to the police include vocal criticism of government  against the political status quo and then summoning those for interrogation are allegedly part of a grand scheme to intimidate and whip the people back into silence and conformity. The police ought to be professional, transparent and accountable in their operations. If there are instances where the law has been transgressed, they should investigate and cause to be prosecuted those suspected to have broken the law. Police work does not and should not extend to questioning people about personal choices on any subject, least of all their political leanings, unless it is something to do with criminal enterprises.

Angry

There is something known as privacy and decency that are respected in normal and civil societies and emaSwati deserve better than what they are being subjected to. And those in authority turn around to wonder why people are angry and revolting against the Tinkhundla System. It is such typical excesses of the political order that are driving people to the extremes. It is also common cause that this is not the only unorthodox strategy government has employed to intimidate and silence the crescendo of emaSwati voices demanding multiparty democracy. Other covert strategies spearheaded by the very police, sworn to serve and protect, have been employed from homestead to homestead, especially targeting the youth to instill a climate and an environment of paralysing fear in a bid to alegedly politically sanitise the people ahead of the national dialogue.

As it were the police, like politicians, immediately jumped to conclusions on who were responsible for the spate of recent arson attacks; proponents of multiparty democracy. Yet every crisis gives rise to opportunists who set out to exploit the situation towards their own ends. But even assuming that pro-change proponents were responsible for the arson attacks, but this must be informed by concrete and conclusive investigations, a task for which police were trained, so we would like to believe, and not just by mere suspicion and speculation. It is a pity that last weeks Cabinet retreat failed or rather neglected to reflect on some of the crises that confronted the nation last year.

As I see, for the fact that 2021 could well have etched itself in the annals of the history of this country as a poignant turning point of the kingdoms political trajectory, when emaSwati finally woke up from their collective stupor, you would have expected Cabinet not to just cursorily reflect on the drivers of what unfolded, but to dig deep into the causal factors as well as how best to address these. On top of everything else that happened was the allegedly murders of emaSwati, a matter that will not simply evaporate and be forgotten. Yet for some reason, Cabinet forgot about this tragedy which could be interpreted as acknowledgement of culpability  that is, the murders were allegedly officially sanctioned by a desperate government losing its grip on power and that, therefore, were legal from the leaderships perspective.

It also emerged, from the Cabinet retreat, that the Reconstruction Fund launched to compensate businesses destroyed or disrupted by last years civil unrest had begun dispersing funds. But for some reason, the names of the beneficiary companies, so far said to be 33, would remain confidential. Why, if you ask me, that is aiding and abetting corruption in a country where the scourge is institutionally embedded. We have many examples of funds established for one purpose or the other disappearing without any consequences. Why, even the national budget is not insulated from being interfered with and often money diverted to projects other than those for which it was budgeted. Can we count on the peoples elected representatives in Parliament to demand accountability and transparency in the disbursement of funds from the Reconstruction Fund?
The police in Anambra State, Nigerias South-east, have arrested a man for allegedly killing his brother and setting the corpse ablaze.

The incident happened on Sunday in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area in Anambra, according to a statement issued on Monday by the police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga.

The arrested man has been identified as Onyedika Nnofu.

The 47-year-old victim, Maduabuchi Nnofu, was visually-impaired, and was the chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability in the local government area.

Mr Ikenga said the suspect was currently being interrogated by the police in the state.

He said the commissioner of police in the state has assured of a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Preliminary information showed that the brothers were having issues (conflict) over land, he said.

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Anambra State chapter, said the evil act was carried out by the suspect because the victim was blind and helpless.

The association, in a statement issued on Monday by its Chairman, Ugochukwu Okeke, appealed to the police to ensure the suspect is charged to court, alongside other conspirators, after investigation.

It also urged the state government and civil society organisations to assist the group to get justice for the victim.

We are demanding justice for the late Maduabuchi.

Justice is necessary to prevent a repeat of this mans inhumanity to man on our member or any other person anywhere in Nigeria, the association said.
Governor Udom Emmanuel has disclosed the person he wants to succeed him as Akwa Ibom governor in 2023.

He is Umo Eno, a cleric and the current Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources in the state.

Mr Emmanuel was said to have presented Mr Eno to a select group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, Sunday evening, at the Government House, Uyo.

Among those who were present in the meeting was a House of Representatives member who has over the years indicated his interest to run for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Governor Emmanuel did not allow the lawmaker to speak at the meeting, a source told PREMIUM TIMES.

Before he left the meeting, he made it clear to them that he would rather contest and fail at the party (PDP) primary than abandon his ambition and step down for anyone, the source said.

The spokesperson to Governor Emmanuel, Ekerete Udoh, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES.

Yes, completely truthfully, correct. Governor Udom Emmanuel this evening at the PDP stakeholders meeting that took place at the lodge, Government House, presented Pastor Umo Eno as his preferred candidate to succeed him.

He was thereafter presented to the PDP stakeholders that were present by former governor, Victor Attah, and it was widely received.

So, I want to confirm that that is true, Mr Udoh said, Sunday evening.

The aspirant, Mr Eno, who is relatively unknown in Akwa Ibom politics, was appointed commissioner in January 2021. Before then, he was preoccupied with his hospitality business  running a hotel in Eket and doing food supplies to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

Mr Eno was in the spotlight a few days ago when Vanguard newspaper ran a story about him boasting that Mr Emmanuel would soon declare him as his preferred choice.

Mr Enos ambition is bound to encounter some stiff resistance within Governor Emmanuels cabinet and the PDP in Akwa Ibom, going by the quiet comments and moves within the party and government circles.
Barely three hours after Governor Udom Emmanuel disclosed the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources in Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, as his preferred successor for governor in 2023, a federal lawmaker in the state has defiantly reacted, saying, my aspiration to serve the state in the capacity of the Governor remains on course.

The lawmaker, Onofiok Luke, who represents Etinan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is also aspiring to succeed Mr Emmanuel as governor in 2023.

Both Mr Luke and Governor Emmanuels preferred successor, Mr Eno hail from the same Local Government Area  Nsit Ubium.

Mr Luke said he was neither against the choice of the governor coming from his local government area nor the aspiration of Mr Eno whom he described as his brother.

Mr Luke, who is a former speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly said he, however, disagreed with the way Mr Eno was presented.

In his seven-paragraph statement on the development, Mr Luke said, I honoured an innocent meeting (invitation) from the governor out of respect and as a loyal party man.

It was at the said meeting that I heard of the agenda and choice for the first time and no one held any discussion with me prior to the meeting.

Mr Luke is the first aspirant to publicly react to the presentation of Mr Eno as Governor Emmanuels successor.

My supporters and those sympathetic to my cause should please note that we are as resolute as ever in our desire to give our people purposeful leadership in the office of the Governor come 2023, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the spokesperson to Governor Emmanuel, Ekerete Udoh, confirming the presentation of Mr Eno as the governors preferred successor, on Sunday evening in the Government House, Uyo.

Yes, completely truthfully, correct. Governor Emmanuel this evening at the PDP stakeholders meeting that took place at the lodge, Government House, presented Mr Eno as his preferred candidate to succeed him.

He was thereafter presented to the PDP stakeholders that were present, by former governor, Victor Attah, and it was widely received, Mr Udoh said.

Apart from Mr Luke, the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East District, Bassey Albert, and a former vice chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Udom Inoyo, are in the governorship race.

About three other commissioners in Mr Emmanuels cabinet are also aspiring to succeed him.
A high court sitting in the Gwagwalada area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has fixed February 14, 2022, for the hearing of a defamation suit filed against the anchor of the popular Brekete family show on Abuja-based human rights radio, Ahmed Isah, by the head of media and protocol at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin.

Mr Benjamin approached the court to press charges of allegations of defamation and false allegations, against Mr Isah, who is popularly called Ordinary President by his followers.

Also joined in the suit as 1st defendant is Premier Broadcasting Ltd (owners of Human Rights Radio), where Mr Isah works and is the founder.

But Mr Isah said he was unsure if his office has been served the court documents, and so could not comment on the matter.

About the matter

In the suit marked (CV/3211/2021) and filed by the claimant (Mr Benjamins) lawyer, Chris Alashi, before Justice A.O. Ebong, of the FCT High Court, Gwagwalada, the JAMB spokesperson is demanding the sum of N6 billion as compensation for general damages for the deliberate, libellous and malicious public broadcast.

Mr Benjamin through his Lawyers said on April 16, 2021, between 7:30a.m and 10a.m, Mr Isah, while on-air on Human Rights Radio and Television (Brekete Programme), put a call to him via his Mobile No. 080xxxxxxx during which Mr Isah maliciously defamed the claimant by impugning, maligning and discrediting his integrity and reputation as the PRO of JAMB and an academic.

He said Mr Isah, while on-air, accused him of forging his PhD certificate as well as being an insane, incompetent, unscrupulous and sadistic person of questionable character.

The claimant also charges the 2nd defendant with saying his (Claimants) bad behaviour and arrogance are hereditary, were acquired from his parents; that there is no solution to it; and that the claimants parents are also arrogant and damnable, a statement by Mr Benjamin reads in part.

The broadcast

Meanwhile, as watched on the Facebook page by our reporter, the April 16, 2021 edition of the programme revealed that Mr Isah, the anchor, read out an anonymous message lamenting JAMBs policy of requesting unique phone numbers of each applicant for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which is conducted by JAMB.

Parts of the anonymous message as read out on the show reads; There is a very serious problem that JAMB is doing now that will adversely affect our children tomorrow. For them to say children must use their phone with registered Sim and text their NIN (National Identification Numbers) number to a particular code before they get their secret code before they register for JAMB is counterproductive. What of those children who do not have personal phones and NCC has banned the selling of new SIM.

Mr Isah instantly phoned Mr Benjamin live on the programme to seek clarification.

JAMBs spokesperson, Mr Benjamin, while responding to the inquiry by the anchor, explained that the policy was put in place to fight Identity theft.

He added that the board had met with the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and the minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ibrahim, and that they had promised to provide SIM Cards to students who could prove that they truly did not have one.

However, a mild argument ensued when Mr Benjamin accused Mr Isah of framing up scenarios to find fault in the policy; a development that led to an end to the call.

Both later accused each other of being responsible for ending the call.

You cannot be blackmailing people on a national radio Mr Benjamins voice was heard through the speaker of Mr Isahs phone with a microphone placed on it for listeners to hear.

I am asking on behalf of Nigerians and that is the reason why they are paying you money there, Mr Isah replied amid cheers and claps from his guests in the premises where he was broadcasting from.

Mr Isah questioned Mr Benjamins doctorate degree. He also called him a psychopath, which Mr Benjamin condemned when Mr Isah finally called him back.

Anchors past cases

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Nigerian government agency in charge of regulating broadcast activities in Nigeria, had in May 2021 slammed a 30-day suspension on Mr Isahs Brekete Radio, following a documentary by BBC African Eye, an investigative arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The documentary filmed how Mr Isah, while listening to cases, assaulted a woman by slapping her. The woman was accused of burning a minor whom she accused of being a witch. Mr Isah later apologised.

NBC said it has over the years warned and fined the station over repeated cases of abuse, denigrating remarks, flagrant abuse of fairness, balance and fair hearing.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Monday, commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as the refusal of the institutions management to pay their earned academic allowance.

They accused the Eyitope Ogunbodede-led management of unnecessarily delaying the payment of the allowance which they claimed had since been remitted into the universitys account by the Nigerian government since December 13, 2021.

The union took the decision at an emergency congress, which was held at the First Bank Lecture Hall on Monday morning.

But the university management, which had earlier described the strike threat issued by the union as a family affair, said it is still watching the events as they unfold before taking the next step.

Findings

PREMIUM TIMES had on January 13 exclusively reported the controversies trailing the sharing formula to be adopted by the management for the allowance as ASUU leadership on the campus and that of a splinter faction under the umbrella of the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) had disagreed vehemently.

The two groups had designed two different templates to share the fund but the university management had requested harmonisation, and held several meetings with the two factions without a resolution.

At the weekend, in preparation for the congress on Monday, the leadership of ASUU on the campus accused the university management of insincerity.

In a memorandum shared among its members on Saturday and signed by its chairperson, Adeola Egbedokun, the union reported that the national leadership of the union had approved its request to commence the indefinite strike action.

The memorandum, titled; Update on Disbursement of EAA, and dated January 29, 2021, read in part: We have waited PATIENTLY till Friday 28/01/2022 for the university administration to do the needful with respect to our EAA. Up till this moment, the union is not in receipt of any communication whether on readiness to pay EAA or report of verification exercise.

The Comrade National President and Zonal Coordinator had been communicated. The comrade President has given the permission to the branch to hold a congress to conclude and begin the action we asked for. The President will be awaiting the resolution of the congress as soon as we rise from the meeting. Comrades, notice of congress shall be out very soon. Let us remain resolute and strong. Solidarity forever.

The memorandum was subsequently followed by a notice of congress slated for Monday which was signed by the unions secretary, Kayode Atilade.

Confirming the development on the phone to our reporter on Monday afternoon, the chairperson of ASUU on the campus, Mr Egbedokun, said the strike is total and comprehensive.

He, however, pledged to forward the resolutions of the congress to this newspaper as soon as possible.

Congress resolution

A resolution of the congress shared with this newspaper by the ASUU chairperson on the campus stated that the strike was declared at exactly 11:53a.m.

It read in part: Congress was called to order at about 10.16a.mChairman briefed congress on the series of engagements the executive has had with some senior members of the University community. He also reported his phone conversation with the Vice Chancellor.

Congress noted that there was no serious commitment on the part of the University to effect payment of EAA to deserving members. Congress also noted that all political and diplomatic means to resolve the imbroglio have failed. Consequently, congress resolved that: i. Total, Comprehensive and Indefinite Strike should commence immediately (ii.) The strike must not be called off without a congress resolution to the effect. (iii.) Payment of EAA must be based on ASUU computation. Anything short of this would be unacceptable.

The union also resolved to set up a committee to be known as strike coordinating committee and that based on the above and on the strength of the permission granted by ASUU National President, the Chairman, on behalf of the congress declared the commencement of ASUU OAUs strike at exactly 11:53 am.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the reactions of the leadership of CONUA to the development yielded no results as the mobile telephone line of its chairperson, Niyi Sunmonu, was switched off.

Were watching  University

In a telephone conversation with PREMIUM TIMES reporter on Monday afternoon, the universitys public relations officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the management would react later on the matter.

Yes, like we said earlier it is a family matter. We are still watching the developments as they unfold to know the next step. Thanks so much, Mr Olarewaju said.
The European Union has allocated 34 million euros to humanitarian projects in Nigeria. It made this known last week through a press statement.

The allocation to Nigeria is part of the bulk 175 million euros allocated for the same purpose in eight countries of Central and West Africa.

The EU is reaffirming its solidarity with vulnerable people in countries in West and Central Africa through a humanitarian budget of 175 million euros in 2022.

The funding will be allocated to humanitarian projects in the following eight countries: Burkina Faso (23.5million euros), Cameroon (16 million euros), the Central African Republic (17 million euros), Chad (26.5 million euros), Mali (25 millioneuros), Mauritania (8.5 million euros), Niger (24 million euros) and Nigeria (34 million euros), it said.

The statement quoted the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, as saying that the EUs assistance will be used to alleviate basic needs, including through the provision of food, health and protection assistance as well as improved access to safe water.

A complex humanitarian crisis continues to affect the populations of West and Central Africa. Grave violations against children, gender-based violence, abductions and assaults, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial executions are now systematic occurrences.

The humanitarian needs are exacerbated further by an unprecedented food crisis, natural disasters, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EU noted that the humanitarian funding aims to provide life-saving assistance to the people affected by conflict and to the communities hosting people who had to flee; provide protection to vulnerable people and support the respect of International Humanitarian Law and humanitarian principles.

In addition, it aims to support measures to address food crises and severe acute malnutrition among children under five; enhance the immediate response in terms of basic services to the most vulnerable population, especially as concerns health care for all or education for children caught up in humanitarian crises; and strengthen fragile communities preparedness for crises, such as mass displacements of people, or recurrent food or climate-related crisis.

The EU noted that this assistance is part of the wider EU support provided to the region, including through Team Europe contributions to the Coronavirus Global Response, support to the vaccine distribution effort through the COVAX Facility, and other actions providing longer-term support to strengthen fragile health systems.
Bandits on Monday morning abducted seven people at Margai and Gaddace communities in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, residents have said.

Kebbe is in the southern part of the state, which has not been witnessing bandits attacks like the eastern part.

A resident of Kebbe, who asked not be named for security concerns, said the attackers stormed Margai village before proceeding to Gaddace.

They came around 1a.m. when people were already asleep. They started breaking doors of houses and shops and shooting sporadically to scare people away as they looted, he said.

He said in Margai village, the bandits abducted three persons, including a father and his son.

In Gaddace, the source said the bandits kidnapped four more people.

According to him, no life was lost but property including domestic animals were rustled.

The Sokoto police command spokeperson, Sanusi Abubakar, said he had not been briefed of the attack when contacted by PREMIUM TIIMES.
At about 11:30 a.m. on January 13, ten masked men forced open a studio door at the privately owned broadcasters office in the Ada district of the greater Accra region, and attacked and threatened its staff, according to multiple news reports and Radio Ada presenter Korle Adjaotor Sorngortse, who spoke by phone with CPJ.

The attackers, one of whom carried a pistol, hit and kicked Sorngortse all over his body for more than 10 minutes, shoved receptionist Ruby Ate and held her in her chair, and forced producer and anchor Gideon Amanor Dzeagu to kneel while they ransacked the office, according to those sources and Dzeagu, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview.

After about 15 minutes, the men left the scene and threatened to return and shoot people if Radio Ada FM continued reporting on a mining contract recently granted to the Electrochem company, according to those sources.

Julius said his office reported the attack to police, who have opened an investigation.

Authorities in Ghana must swiftly identify those who planned and perpetrated the recent attack on Radio Ada FM, and hold them accountable, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. These physical attacks on members of the press and attempts at intimidation are far too common in Ghana, and should not be tolerated.

The attackers monitored the broadcaster from a nearby bar for over three hours before entering the office, according to those reports and Dzeagu, who said he saw the men at the bar.

Dzeagu and Odoi Julius, a producer and officer in charge of external communications at Radio Ada FM, told CPJ by phone that the outlets reporting showed that the Electrochem contract would require some people to be relocated, and that a protest had been planned against the deal.

That protest was scheduled for the same day the broadcaster was attacked, they said. Two protest organizers were at the station during the raid, and one of the attackers hit one of the organizers, Sorngortse and Dzeagu told CPJ. They added that the protest was later cancelled after organizers were unable to acquire police protection.

The attackers repeatedly asked to see Noah Dameh, who led the Manor Munyu news program that covered the Electrochem case, but left the studio after being told he was not there, according to Dzeagu and those news reports.

The attackers destroyed two computers used for recording, a sound mixer, and three sets of headphones, Dzeagu, Sorngortse, and Julius told CPJ.

Sorngortse told CPJ that he continues to experience severe pain in his head and neck from the beating, and his left eye remains swollen.

When CPJ called Ada district Police Commander Kojo Mifetu for comment, he said authorities had not yet identified the attackers.

CPJ called and texted Electrochem, and its parent company the McDan Group, for comment, but did not receive any replies.

CPJ has for years documented Ghanaian journalists concerns that those responsible for violence against reporters are not identified or held accountable.
The National Assembly has transmitted the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Babajide Omoworare, made this known in a statement on Monday.

He said the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, transmitted the authenticated copies of the bill.

The transmission, he said, is in pursuance of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.

Mr President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on 19th November 2021. The Electoral Bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the same on 25th January 2022, the statement read.

The transmission of the bill comes a week after both the Senate and House of Representatives made final changes to the legislation.

The lawmakers amended the controversial Clause 84 of the bill  which deals with the mode of primary election to be used by political parties to select candidates for elective offices.

In the former version of the bill passed by the National Assembly, the lawmakers prescribed that political parties use only the direct mode of primary.

But Mr Buhari declined assent citing insecurity, the cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians to participate in governance as his reasons for declining assent.

He also assured that he will sign the bill if changes are made to the Clause, to include the addition of consensus candidates and indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election.

Last week, both chambers amended the bill to allow parties adopt direct or indirect primaries or consensus as procedures for selecting candidates for elective offices.

With the revised version of the bill now sent to the president for assent, he is expected to sign the legislation within 30 days according to the 1999 Constitution.
A joint police-military team has rescued 32 people abducted from different areas of Zamfara State.

Briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Gusau, Mohammed Shehu, the police spokesperson in Zamfara, said the victims were from Niger, Katsina and Zamfara States.

Mr Shehu said the victims were properly treated and debriefed by the police and handed over to their families.

Ten of the victims were rescued after their abduction on the Sheme  Funtua road on Thursday.

On 26th January, 2022 Police Tactical operatives deployed along Mada axis while on confidence building patrol, acted on intelligence information and rescued ten (10) kidnapped victims who were abducted along Sheme  Funtua road in Katsina State, on 10th January, 2022. The victims who held from B/Magaji LGA of Zamfara State were abducted while coming back from Lagos State on their way to B/Magaji.

On 30th January, 2022 Police Tactical operatives along Mada axis while on rigorous patrol, acted on intelligence information that led to the unconditional rescue of three (3) kidnapped victims who were abducted along Sheme  Funtua road on 10th January, 2022. Two of the rescued victims held from Kaduna State, while the other one from Kebbi State.

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On 30th January, 2022 nineteen (19) kidnapped victims including 15 males and 4 females were handed over by Brigade Commander 1 Brigade Nigerian Army Gusau to Zamfara State Police Command. The victims were rescued by the Military Operatives along Dansadau axis in Maru LGA. In the course of debriefing the victims, it was revealed that, they were abducted while working in their farmlands by armed bandits and took them to a forest in Dansadau axis where they spent 2 months in captivity, he added.
SITEKI  A proposed meeting by Nkilongo Inkhundla youth was allegedly blocked by the police last week.

It has been gathered that the youth had planned to hold the meeting at the inkhundla centre last Saturday but were informed last Thursday that they could not. As a result, they tried to seek an alternative venue around Matata. To ensure that the meeting did not take place, it was gathered that officers from both His Majestys Correctional Services and those from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) monitored the Matata Town.

In an interview with Nkilongo Inkhundla Youth Organising Secretary Sanele Sihlongonyane, they had arranged to convene a meeting with their Member of Parliament (MP) Timothy Myeni to engage him on how best he could assist them in soliciting financial assistance from government in kick-starting income generating projects. Sihlongonyane said they had also anticipated getting feedback about their demands that were contained in a petition they delivered to their MP last year. He said they were barred from using the inkhundla due to the current political climate, but they had secured a place within the Matata Town.

We had made all our preparations as we had made a formal request to the inkhundla council and the regional administrators office was engaged. We wanted to find out on strategies that could be introduced to assist us as the youth. We had set Saturday because the youth comprise mostly of school-going children and some are working. We were told that the meeting could be convened outside the inkhundla premises and we got permission to use an alternative place, he said.

Shocked

Sihlongonyane claimed that the police were informed but they were shocked last Thursday to receive news that an instruction had been issued to stop the meeting. According to an informed source, an order, was issued by the Lubombo Regional Police Commander, Charles Magagula after being informed of the purported meeting. The Lubombo RA Themba Msibi could not be reached when called yesterday. Lubombo Regional Police Commander, Magagula confirmed that police stopped the purported meeting as it was against the current COVID-19 regulations. Worth mentioning is that meetings were banned by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane, last year.

Permission

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said police never stopped the meeting as the youth members did not show up as they had not secured permission. Nkilongo Indvuna Sandziso Mamba confirmed the proposed meeting saying: We received a letter as inkhundla that they wanted to meet the council to discuss development issues as the youth. The meeting was not allowed inside the inkhundla premises considering the current state of affairs, hence they were told to secure another venue within the Matata town, he said. The Nkilongo Inkhundla has six imiphakatsi, namely; Mayaluka, Phafeni, Crooks, Gamula, Lusabeni and Lunkutfu.

Meanwhile, last year, close to 200 Nkilongo youth delivered a petition to Myeni in the presence of close to 50 police officers. Some of the demands contained in the petition included that he should move a motion that seeks to address the peoples need for a full democratic government and an elected prime minister by 2023. They also called for the MP to move a motion to stop the proposed construction of the new parliament and reverse the already approved loan with immediate effect. They also demanded permanent employment of teachers with immediate effect and opening of the mining industry in the country to reduce the high rate of unemployment. Furthermore, the youth called government to address the shortage of drugs in the countrys clinics and hospitals, and ensure free access to quality medical attention as well as the availability of ambulances across the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja pledged his commitment to hand over a strong repositioned agriculture-led, diversified home-grown economy, stable democracy and revamped armed and security forces to the next administration.

Speaking at a dinner in honour of the 2022 Committee of Business, Political, Media and Civil Society Leaders, the President said he was looking forward to completing his tenure in 2023, leaving a legacy for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria with 24 years of uninterrupted democracy.

Assuring Nigerians that his administration will finish strong in the last lap of his tenure, the president said:

I am gradually entering my final year in office. It is a period I intend to spend not only on consolidating on the achievements of the past seven years but also to leave a legacy for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.

I take this initiative to mean that you all intend to collaborate with this administration in that direction.

For those among you who are politicians, you must look beyond gaining power to how you can leverage public positions in the process of societal change. To the businessmen and women among you, there is great glory in public service.

The question that should be uppermost always is: How do we leverage our business endowment for the greater good of our country?

I am delighted that members of the Nigerian elite have woken up to the fact that the task of changing this society is a task for all of us, whether we are in the private or public sector. Knowing that, we have enormous challenges as a nation, but they are not beyond our capacity to overcome if we embrace a new approach.

We cannot retreat to our ethnic cocoons, nor can we continue to seek solace in our past. We must champion the idea of a Nigeria where every citizen would be proud to call their own. That is the charge before you.

Expressing delight on the new consciousness by the Nigerian elites to work together with the political class and civil society to build a better Nigeria, President Buhari noted that building consensus around issues of the economy, national security, governance, and such other critical areas of national life is a sure path to the future we seek to build.

As we all know, I have been very critical of the Nigerian elites, essentially because some of us have not always demonstrated that we can rise above personal gain, political partisanship as well as ethnic and religious differences when the situation demands that we all speak and or act as one in the interest of our country.

There are also many among our elites for whom profit remains the only motivation for any and every enterprise.

But now, I feel heartened that a more collaborative social enterprise model for resolving our common challenges is being forged.

I must commend this initiative and its conveners. This is the kind of spirit I have always advocated because it is what we need at this time as we seek to build our society for peace, security and prosperity through dialogue while narrowing the gap between rich and poor.

On the activities of the committee, the president acknowledged that he was aware that attendance at their inaugural meeting on Sunday cut across a broad section of the society in the public, private sectors, civil society, and the youth.

The president lauded the group for rising above all ethnic and religious divides for the common good, describing the feat as fantastic.

The president, who said he had wished the group had convened earlier, advised them to try and accommodate a few more interests in their next meeting as they take a deeper dive into our national challenges and proffer workable and sustainable solutions for the near, medium, and long term.

It is our desire to finish strong in the next 16 months and ensure all hands are on deck for the last lap. We are doubling our efforts against all forms of insecurity, equipping our armed forces and strengthening the police.

We are determined to continue the war against corruption and fight poverty, we remain focused on building an all-inclusive economic opportunity for all citizens.

The president told the meeting that despite the enormous problems inherited when he assumed office almost seven years ago, he can look back with satisfaction that this administration has kept faith with the people and has done well even amid dwindling resources for reasons that are well beyond our control.

But we probably would have fared even better if we secured the support of most of you that are here today, know that while government comes and goes, the country must remain and thrive.

President Buhari used the occasion to wish politicians, at the dinner, interested in elective positions in the 2023 polls the best, advising that there is nothing better than experience in leadership.

Responding to concerns raised by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on the resurgence of military takeovers in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso in August 2020, September 2021 and January 2022, respectively, the president said he strongly believes that Nigeria has passed through that stage for good.

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On the political situation in some West African countries, Mr Fayemi said:

We believe Nigeria has a manifest destiny to protect democracy not just in Nigeria but also in our region. But in doing that we must ensure that our politicians adhere strictly to constitutional principles and I am happy that our presidents position on leaders seeking third term is well known.

Giving further insight on the workings of the committee, Governor Fayemi said Nigerians who have benefitted from the country in good time, serving in different capacities, have a duty to support the country.

What the Committee has tried to do is to develop an elite consensus on security and economy, he said.

He said the committee would take advantage of the presidents consistent leadership, relentless passion and patriotism to ensure a seamless transition, while ensuring that the achievements of this administration are sustained and followed through for the benefit of the country.

Here we have PDP and APC chieftains and we hope by the time we finish this work, what we will present to the President is void of partisan colorations. It is from people who want Nigerians to succeed.

The Convener of the Group and Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Nduka Obaigbena, said with Nigeria facing a historic transition like no other, and with crisis across Africa and at home, the 2022 committee emerged to defend the national interest.

The 2022 Committee was put together to defend Nigeria in a time of crisis and in a time of transition, we must defend the national interest, he said, noting that membership of the group has been carefully selected from the business community, investors, governors, security sector and elder statesmen.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 31, 2022
CRA is qualified in all ramifications to be the president of the federal republic Nigeria. I pray that he should transmute to Dan Amana of Nigeria  a trusted son of Nigeria who will lead us out of challenging moments to an era of glory like Moses or Musa. The Daura Emirate reached out far-right through the streams and coasts of the Niger Delta to gift our son, and history is watching whether we will seize the opportunity or not.

Symbols, like gestures, are central features of organised human society. They are crucial for constructing or interpreting meanings and ideations. Few universal symbols permeate all cultures and communities, but most symbols find their usage and resonance within specific societies. Humans across generations have used these symbols to communicate meaning and essence, shape and define perceptions and sentiments across vast territories. Besides, symbols and symbolism permeate all aspects of our social, economic, religious, and political existence. Symbolisms in politics are germane and powerful in negotiations and the struggle for power. In the combat for power, albeit democratically, symbolic meaning is created and reified to achieve a given significance and it helps political actors make sense of the political ecosystem.

But, despite this crucial role in shaping political perception and understanding, there is never a single interpretation of a political symbol that everyone within a community will accept, and how symbols can mobilise antagonistic political factions demonstrates that they are as much a central element in power struggles as they are avenues to facilitate processes of identification.

One potent symbol across all human societies is the name. What is in a name? asks Juliet in Shakespeares famous play, Romeo and Juliet. That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. This quote emphasises the arbitrary nature of a name or label in comparison to the intrinsic qualities of the referent, which could be a person or thing. Nonetheless, a name matters! It goes beyond identity and speaks to the divine and social recognition, and acceptance markers.

Names, titles, and other nomenclatures are markers; pointers to our desires, expectations and, in the case of titles, reward for positive actions and attributes exhibited by the recipient of such titles.

The immateriality of a name or title and the intrinsic value attached to it lends to its inestimable value. This is deeply rooted in Africa. In Ibani-Ijaw, Amaopusenibo as a title conveys the message of a statesman who is expected to live above board on matters requiring integrity. In Igboland, the Ugwu Mba title symbolises a man who has brought pride to his community. The Yoruba will honour a man with the title of Olu Omo if he is believed to be a distinguished son, who has impacted positively on the community.

In the common Hausa language usage, Dan Amana refers to a trustworthy man, a man of noble character and carriage, a confidant or, an honourable gentleman whose words can be relied upon. In almost all sub-Saharan African societies, whoever is conferred with any of these traditional titles has a responsibility to defend the meaning and import of the honour so done and live up to its significance. Over time and with huge Western influence, there has been a lot of dilution and erosion of values and import, but these have not diminished the cultural and societal expectations of statesmen so honoured.

Names and titles also have political connotations and create perception which may be positive or negative, real or surreal. The late Moshood Abiola was literally honoured by all major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Before his death, he was conferred with no less than 197 titles by 68 communities across Nigeria. Abiola was generally perceived as a generous and selfless man; a unifer who defied tribe and tongue. He was largely seen as a war general, some say from a financial capacity perspective but also plausibly from a philosophical perspective. This perception of the late MKO Abiola influenced the titles he was conferred by various communities and explains his acceptability across all divides when he contested for the presidency in 1993.

Despite what many consider the bastardisation of traditional titles, traditional institutions have an obligation to recognise excellence, performance and selfless service, to create incentives for citizens to aspire to deliver the highest levels of service in all endeavours of life. They can also validate the performance of officials in the executive and legislative arms of government, and by so doing complement the force of public opinion. It normally will take rigorous scrutiny and liberal views to arrive at choices that will match meaning with persons. I believe this is the idea behind the Daura emirates making of a conscious but politically relevant decision to honour one of the outstanding sons of Nigeria. The emirate council has carefully chosen to confer the title Dan Amana of Daura Emirate on the minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

The choice of Dan Amana Daura is significant for many reasons. Typically, your expectations is that the title will be reserved for sons of Daura from a narrow perspective of biology or filial relationships but this is not the case. The Daura emirate understands that the problem in Nigeria today is not where any one is born or his/her parentage, but that of quality leadership with character and competence. The new definition of son extends to any one who has right standing in character, exhibits unparalleled passion for promoting national unity, serves faithfully and has the capacity to perform in any duty assigned to him/her. They found one from the deep southern part of Nigeria, shoved in between the creeks of the Niger delta and the hills of Igboland. The Daura emirate, incidentally the home emirate of the president, who has been accused by his unrepentant opponents as a symbol of nepotism and champion of the northernisation agenda, is displaying to the world its unassailable belief in the unity and oneness of Nigeria. Daura is also making a statement that when we see excellence, selflessness and principled leadership, we should recognise and celebrate this. It is believed that Amaechis recognition and honour by the Daura emirate comes as an acknowledgment of his contributions to national development. That the honour is coming from far away from the ministers home base of the South-South makes it more nationally significant.

The honours national appeal clearly overwhelms its narrow immediate political translation. Beyond the rhetoric of the localism of Dan Amana of Daura is a broader need for a Dan Amana of Nigeria. At this stage in Nigerias political history, with all the overarching problems of insecurity, calls for restructuring, secessionist agitations, Boko Haram, and economic quagmire, we need a trusted son of Nigeria to rescue Nigeria from this road to perdition. This person must be a true Nigerian who has the experience and leadership qualities to lead the country now.

The ideal person will have the courage to stand for justice and fairness and the sagacity to command the loyalty and respect that the office of the president deserves. Nigeria Plc needs a proper manager and leader. A non-materialistic president who does not engage in the primitive accumulation of wealth. A president that will delegate responsibility to capable lieutenants who will manage the Nigerian economy well. Nigeria needs a leader willing to lead and spare no cost for the common good. The 2023 elections allow us to search deep and find one. Our collective destiny as a people is involved.

Nigeria needs a patriot who will live above tribe, class, and religion. A patriot who envisions Nigeria as a land of limitless opportunities for all her citizens in the shortest possible time and must have the proven capacity to deliver on assignments with zeal, as seen in the railway revolution going on in the country. We need a trusted son of Nigeria who is energetic, with a profound belief in the Nigeria project. One who has proven records of delivery and understands the linkage between politics, policies, and economic growth. Our country is at a defining moment, and anything short of a leader with a large heart, big vision, track record; who is compassionate yet courageous, and has the relevant experience, will amount to an opportunity forgone.

One trusted son of Nigeria who fits this bill is Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the current minister of Transportation. He has defied tribal and religious considerations to earn a place as the Dan Amana of the northernmost emirate of Daura.

Presently, he is yet to declare interest in the race. The quintessential CRA that I know will not decide to contest lightly. He will consult with his maker and associates to a great deal before stepping out. A man who understands the place of his maker in his growth and political career, he will only step out for the race when he is convinced beyond every doubt that it is the right thing to do and the right time to do it. He is not one for fanciful strategies and gimmicks. He is a goal-getter who relies on his gut feelings, experience, and God, in his decision making.

A cursory look into his political career reveals a man of destiny who, against all odds and political conflicts, has survived and thrived at the countrys upper echelons of power and politics. Power comes from God, and it is to whom He wants He gives it. If it is CRAs destiny to lead Nigeria at this point in our history, he will surely triumph. An idea whose time has come cannot be extinguished. CRA is more than ably qualified to serve Nigeria at the highest levels. This honour bestowed on him as the Dan Amana of Daura is a testimony by a people who have no reason other than to be objective in their selection. He was chosen because of his leadership qualities, that he is the man of the moment.

At this time, Nigeria needs unity, peace, and progress; at this time, Nigeria wants to take back its glorious position as the giant of Africa; at this time, Nigeria is clamouring for equity, justice, and fairness. A man of the people has been identified. A detribalised Nigerian, a true leader, and a man of conviction and courage, who does not hesitate an inch to take difficult decisions for the benefit of his people, has been celebrated.

An ancient truism states, What a man can afford is not greed. CRA is qualified in all ramifications to be the president of the federal republic Nigeria. I pray that he should transmute to Dan Amana of Nigeria  a trusted son of Nigeria who will lead us out of challenging moments to an era of glory like Moses or Musa. The Daura Emirate reached out far-right through the streams and coasts of the Niger Delta to gift our son, and history is watching whether we will seize the opportunity or not.

Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert.
At least 11 persons were killed on Sunday by suspected bandits at Kurmin Masara in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The states Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement.

He said personnel from the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces who responded to distress calls from the area were also ambushed as they moved to the scene.

He said the security forces were, however, able to clear the ambush and arrived in the general area.

Mr Aruwan said eleven people in the village had been confirmed dead, with many others injured.

Security personnel have begun search-and-rescue operations and are pursuing the attackers on multiple fronts, he said.

He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed regret for the event. He prayed for the souls of those killed and also expressed condolences to their families, and wished the injured a swift recovery.

Kaduna is one of the North-west states most affected by banditry where terror groups kill and kidnap residents at will.

Other states affected by such attacks are Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara as well as Niger in the North-central region.

The attacks have continued despite repeated pledges by President Muhammadu Buhari and the deployment of more security personnel to the states.
Maryam Abacha University of Nigeria, Kano, has named a street on its campus after Haneefa Abdussalam, the five-year-old school pupil kidnapped and murdered early this month in Kano by her teacher.

The commissioning of the street was done on Sunday by the universitys founder, Adamu Gwarzo, at the event attended by the father of the late Haneefa, Abdussalam Abubakar.

According to Mr Gwarzo during the commissioning at the universitys main campus in Hotoro, Kano,  We are doing this to immortalise late Haneefa who lost her life to some criminal trusted fellows.

 She is gone now and we pray Aljanna should be her final abode. We are also condoling with the parents of the deceased and pray that Allah gives them the fortitude to bear the loss.

President Mohammadu Buhari, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami; and many Nigerians had comdoled with the family of the late Haneefa following news of her murder.

Background

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Abdulmalik Tanko, a teacher, kidnapped and killed his five-year old pupil, Hanifa (Haneefa).

Little Haneefa was Mr Tankos pupil at a private school located in Kwanar Dakata in Nassarawa local government area of Kano State.



According to the police, the principal suspect confessed to have poisoned the girl when he realised that she had recognised him.

Messrs Tanko and (Hashim) Isyaku then buried her remains in a shallow grave at the private school premises at Kwanar Yan Gana, Tudun Murtala Quarters in Nassarawa local government area of Kano State.

Hashim also confessed that, sometimes in the month of November, 2021, the principal suspect, Abdulmalik met him and one Fatima Jibreel Musa, f, 27 years old, of Layin Falaki Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA Kano State and ordered them to kidnap Hanifa. They planned but later rescinded their action. Fatima was also arrested, the police said.

Meanwhile, the Kano government has subsequently shut down the school and also withdrawn licences of all private schools in the state.

The suspect, Mr Tanko, has been arraigned and asked to be detained in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations by the police.

Criminal law in Nigeria

Two criminal law regimes are in operation in Nigeria; the Penal Code and Criminal Code. The Penal Code operates in the northern states of Nigeria and the Criminal Code operates in the southern states of Nigeria. In the Southern part of Nigeria, the offence of intentional killing a person is termed murder under the Criminal Code, whereas in the Northern part of Nigeria, same offence is termed culpable homicide punishable with death.

Murder, culpable homicide and attempt-to-murder

Section 316 of the Criminal Code defines the offence of murder as follows:

Except as hereinafter set forth, a person who unlawfully kills another under any of the following circumstances that is to say:

(a) If the offender intends to cause the death of the person killed, or that of some other person; (b) If the offender intends to do to the person killed or to some other person some grievous harm;

(c) If death is caused by means of an act done in the prosecution of an unlawful purpose, which act is of such a nature as to be likely to endanger human life;

(d) If the offender intends to do grievous harm to some person for the purposes of facilitating the commission of an offence which is such that the offender may be arrested without warrant, or for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence which is such that the offender may be arrested without warrant, or for the purpose of facilitating the flight of an offender who has committed or attempted to commit any such offence;

(e) If death is caused by administering any stupefying or overpowering things for either of the purpose last aforesaid;

(f) If death is caused by willfully stopping the breath of any person for either of such purpose, is guilty of murder.
Governor Udom Emmanuel picked his Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Umo Eno, as the person he wants to succeed him as Akwa Ibom governor in 2023.

Mr Emmanuel presented Mr Eno to a select group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, Sunday evening, at the Government House, Uyo.

Here are 11 things we know about Mr Eno

Mr Eno began his career in 1982 with Union Bank of Nigeria, before joining Bertola Machine Tools from 1985 to 1990. He later moved to Norman Holdings Limited from 1990 to 1997, where he left as the Group General Manager, Commercial Services to establish Royalty Hotels and Recreations Limited in 1997. Mr Eno is a successful entrepreneur and the CEO of Royalty Group, a firm with interests in hospitality, manufacturing, and the oil and gas sector. He is the executive director of Agricultural Investments, a directorate in the Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation (AKICORP). He is a pastor at All Nations Christian Ministry International, a non-denominational Church where he oversees the Bridge of Hope, an arm of the Ministry that offers free medical services to the host community. He has served as the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Hotels and Tourism Board from 2004 to 2007. His highest academic qualification is a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Uyo, where he is also pursuing a Ph.D. program. He is a two-time Paul Haris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Eket District 9140, and he has received numerous accolades for his public service. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Catering & Hotel Institute, a graduate of Pan-African Universitys Lagos Business School and a recipient of the National Productivity Award. Mr Eno is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Hospitality Connect and The Appetizer Magazines. He is married to Patience Eno and the couple currently have six children
The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has again denied using Ebubeagu security outfit to suppress opposition in the state.

Ebubeagu was set up by the Ebonyi State Government to complement the police and other security agencies in the fight against crime in the state, but the security outfit has been enmeshed in some controversies over its operations.

Mr Umahi was reacting to a statement by the national spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, who accused the governor of using Ebubeagy to unleash terror on the opposition in the state.

Mr Ologunagba called for the release of the state spokesperson of the PDP, Chika Nwoba, whom he said was arrested on trumped up charges.

Mr Nwoba was arrested by Ebubeagu and handed over to the police and subsequently charged to court for allegedly violating the cybercrimes law of the state.

The court  a magistrate court  ordered him remanded in police custody.

Ebubeagu was last week accused of extra-judicial killings which led to a violent protest in Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

Many houses and other properties were burnt down during the protest.

About 11 people reportedly involved in the killings and the resultant protest have been arrested by the police.

Members of the House of Representatives from the state, under the PDP, recently raised a motion calling on the police to investigate the alleged excesses of Ebubeagu.

Only criminals are afraid of Ebubeagu  Umahi

Mr Umahi, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Francis Nwaze, described the accusations by the PDP spokesperson as senseless.

He said Ebubeagu is not a militia group as alleged by the PDP but a citizen-based neighbourhood security established by the law of the House of Assembly.

The security outfit, he said, has attracted widespread commendations for their roles in assisting the police and other security agencies in stamping out insecurity in the state.

Ebubeagu Security outfit was not set up to witch-hunt the opposition but to provide alternative security to the lives and property of all citizens irrespective of political party affiliations.

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Those who fear or feel unease about the Ebubeagu are probably those who meddle in criminalities who wouldnt want their criminal escapades to be unearthed by the effervescent Security outfit, the statement said.

Mr Umahi is a tolerant governor who is not against the opposition, the statement said.

The Governor has no plans of rigging the 2023 General elections as alleged by the PDP.

He has insisted that the decision of who replaces him in 2023 would be made by the people themselves and not the other way round.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has disassociated itself from the planned protest by students of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, over some levies introduced by the institutions management.

The Coordinator, NANS Zone B, Alfred Nwuruku, covering the South-east and South-south geo-political zones of the country, stated this on Sunday while addressing reporters in Abakaliki.

Mr Nwuruku advised the students to shelve the protest, saying the association was consulting with the institutions management.

We will be conducting a congress in February, where students will articulate their demands for onward presentation to the university management.

We are scheduled to meet the institutions management on February 2, as part of our continuous consultations over the issue, he said.

Mr Nwuruku stated that the association had been appealing to the students to shun protests, even as he debunked the insinuation that it had been enticed by the state government.

We are aware that some students are planning a protest and we express serious concerns over it, due to the prevailing political situation in the state and the country at large.

We are assuring the students that we will not betray them and alerting the public that we are not in support of any protest, in case it is eventually carried out, he said.

Mr Nwuruku lamented that the institutions management would introduce a development levy, among other fees, not minding the prevailing economic situation in the country.

The visitation panel, instituted by the state government to ascertain payments in the South-east zone, made such recommendation to the management.

The panel recommended that such fees were paid by other institutions in the zone, but our grievance is that such negative policy is being implemented by the management.

The development levy ranges from N50,000 to N250,000, while the accreditation fees is N10,000, he said.

The spokesperson of the university, Patrick Itumo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that development levy was being paid by students in other institutions, adding that EBSU was the last to implement it.

The students can inquire about such payment from other institutions, they will realise that EBSU has the lowest fees.

The levy will assist the institution to execute its projects and policies that will benefit the students and other segments of the university, he said.

(NAN)
A 63-year-old woman, Temitope Ogundipe, has been delivered of a baby boy through In In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) at Olives Specialist Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

Mrs Ogundipe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ado-Ekiti that she was full of joy because of the baby.

She said that faith in God and support from her husband kept her going after many years of childlessness.

According to her, she had tried to have a child for many years and had gone to many hospitals for solution to her childlessness, but all proved abortive.

I have tried this IVF before now and it failed. It was a friend who introduced this particular hospital to me.

I had to come all the way from Oyo State to Ekiti for the IVF, she said.

She appreciated the Medical Director of Olives Specialist Hospital, Adebayo Adeniyi, for his words of encouragement, calmness and support throughout the process of the IVF.

Mrs Ogundipe called on women looking for this kind of precious gift not to lose hope and said if God can do it for me at the age of 63 years, He can also do it for them.

She advised young women with problems of childlessness to seek help from specialists as early as possible.

Meanwhile, the medical director of the hospital has expressed happiness over the delivery of the baby, and ascribed the success to the Almighty God and the entire dedicated medical team.

The hospital has recorded significant successes in IVF treatment within a short time, Mr Adeniyi said.

He appealed to government to subsidise IVF treatment and said infertility should be seen as a disease that deserved adequate attention like other chronic diseases through the National Health Insurance Scheme, (NHIS) coverage.

This will go a long way in assisting couples who are unable to access IVF because of the high cost, he added. (NAN)
MANZINI  If the police had given me a chance, I would have handed over my son.

Bishop Dr Nash Shongwe shared these sentiments at the end of a service at Divine Healing Ministries Manzini Branch yesterday. It was a moving service, which was brief and ran from 11am until 12:33pm. It was marked by messages of condolences on the passing on of the bishops son, Sikhumbuzo. Pastor Sikhumbuzo was shot by the police on Thursday, around 1am, while at Moneni. This came after he had shot dead businessman Zweli Tsabedze.

During the service yesterday, the bishop did not share the Word but instead, it was shared by Pastor Khoza. His wife was also not present during the service. Pastor Khozas sermon lasted for about 30 minutes, and the bishop was given a chance to convey his words of appreciation to church members on behalf of the Shongwe family. Bishop Shongwe said a lot had been said but the church members knew what had befallen his family. The bishop said his son respected him as a father in every way possible. He said had the police given him a chance, he would have convinced his son to hand himself over, no matter what. Nonetheless, the bishop stated that the death of his son had happened and it could never be reversed now. He encouraged his church members to leave everything to Gods hands.

Probe

When this publication called him and enquired if the Shongwe family would request a probe into the shooting of their son, which ultimately led to his death, the bishop requested not to comment yet. When asked what efforts he had made to ensure that his son handed himself over to the police, Bishop Nash said on the night he was informed that Pastor Sikhumbuzo had shot the businessman last Thursday, he called him and instructed him to do so. On that night I called him and said I would send him to the police on the following day (Friday morning), but he said he would hand himself on the same night and would spend the night in jail. My response was that it was ok and I would come by to check on him in the morning, the bishop said.

He added that he made calls to follow up on whether he had handed himself over to the police on that night, but would be told that his son was still not arrested. The bishop also supposed that he called the police as soon as he heard that his son had killed Tsabedze. I called them many times, and the last time I communicated with them was around 9pm. They would tell me he had not handed himself mover, the bishop said. He said little did he know that his son would be shot.
Southbury, CT (06488)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
LONDON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced the appointment of Jon Houghton as Head of Distribution for the UK and Ireland.

In this role Jon will have overall responsibility for developing and delivering distribution strategy across Chubb's Property and Casualty, Accident and Health and Personal Lines businesses in the UK and Ireland.

Previously Distribution Manager  National brokers, UK and Ireland since 2016, Jon will now also cover independent broker partner engagement. He will continue to be based in London and report to Mark Roberts, Division President United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. The appointment is effective immediately.

Hannah Hosking, who has successfully led Independent Broker Distribution since 2017, continues in her current role and will now report to Jon.

Jon Houghton joined Chubb in 2010 as Regional Manager Corporate Risks, Southern Region, before becoming Development and Distribution Manager, UK and Ireland in 2012.

Mark Roberts said: "I am delighted to promote Jon to this important role for our business in the UK and Ireland. Over the last six years he has been instrumental in driving deeper engagement with our national broker partners and I now look forward to working with him to continue that success with all our relationships across the entire broker spectrum to support the growth of our business through 2022 and beyond."

About Chubb



Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/324916/Chubb_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Chubb
Taking part in the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition is a unique opportunity to enter a longstanding, ambitious and visionary project, through which S.Pellegrino contributes to the evolution not only of the culinary community, but of society as a whole. Indeed, it's with the competition that S.Pellegrino identifies and educates the talents who will form the next generation of young chefs, and citizens of the world. For this reason, the competition is the ideal context for all culinary game changers who are eager to challenge themselves and to demonstrate their ability in creating the finest taste experiences, while having a positive impact on society.

The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2022/23 will offer young chefs the opportunity to start an inspiring and educational journey, gaining global visibility and significant professional prestige during the whole selection process, that will culminate in the Grand Finale event planned for 2023. The 2019/21 edition, that has just closed, saw about 300 talented Young chefs and Mentors from 50 different countries and regions, working together to improve their signature dishes, which were not simply recipes, but real ideas for a sustainable and inclusive culinary revolution. At the end it was Jerome Ianmark Calayag who triumphed, becoming a point of reference for all those who wish to undertake the profession of chef with a new look to the future.

"A few months after the success of the Grand Finale 2019/21 which was held in Milan last October, we are thrilled to announce the fifth edition of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition. The competition, originally conceived as an international scouting project, has evolved over the past two years into an authentic, permanent training and networking laboratory: the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, an inspiring community of more than 1000 people made up of young and senior chefs originating from all over the world. The competition opens the doors to the Academy and is the main tool we have to stimulate creativity and promote talent. The whole project conveys our commitment to pushing continuous evolution within the gastronomy world, which today represents an extraordinary 'space' to spread universal values, such as sustainability, responsibility, inclusivity, resilience and beauty", says Stefano Bolognese, Sanpellegrino's International Business Unit Director."

Young chefs under 30 years of age will have the chance to register for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2022-23 on www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com from 7th February until 30th April 2022, providing personal and professional information and submitting the recipe of a signature dish able to communicate their personal vision, unique skills, and creativity. As with previous editions, in the first selection phase applications will be evaluated by ALMA , the International School of Italian Culinary Arts. ALMA will define a shortlist of Young Chefs who will participate in one of the 16 Regional Finals that will take place throughout the globe over the second half of 2022.

Regional finalists will be officially in the running for the coveted title of the 'S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award 2022-23' which will boost their career and grant them worldwide recognition. Applicants will also compete for three additional awards which will recognize the young chefs' varied beliefs and approaches to create positive change in society through food.

The four awards are as follows:

S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award : it is the main competition award, voted for by the Seven Sages, an esteemed panel of internationally renowned chefs. The winning chef will have to demonstrate unrivalled technical skills as well as genuine creativity. The young talent should also display a strong personal belief regarding gastronomy, that will convince the Jury of their ability to become a catalyst for positive change;

: it is the main competition award, voted for by the Seven Sages, an esteemed panel of internationally renowned chefs. The winning chef will have to demonstrate unrivalled technical skills as well as genuine creativity. The young talent should also display a strong personal belief regarding gastronomy, that will convince the Jury of their ability to become a catalyst for positive change; S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility: voted by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, who runs the Food Made Good, the largest foodservice sustainability programme and global community for driving sustainability in hospitality, this dish will represent the principle that food is at its best when it's the result of socially responsible practices, encompassing sourcing, social and environmental requirements. Submissions to this award are judged according to 8 criteria: resource use, climate impact, biodiversity, food waste, nutrition, collaboration, advocacy, innovation;

voted by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, who runs the Food Made Good, the largest foodservice sustainability programme and global community for driving sustainability in hospitality, this dish will represent the principle that food is at its best when it's the result of socially responsible practices, encompassing sourcing, social and environmental requirements. Submissions to this award are judged according to 8 criteria: resource use, climate impact, biodiversity, food waste, nutrition, collaboration, advocacy, innovation; Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy : voted for by Mentors, the winner of this award will produce a dish that represents the culinary heritage of the native region. The dish should highlight traditional culinary practises and personal modern vision, providing a connection between the past and the future;

: voted for by Mentors, the winner of this award will produce a dish that represents the culinary heritage of the native region. The dish should highlight traditional culinary practises and personal modern vision, providing a connection between the past and the future; Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award: voted for by the online Fine Dining Lovers community, this award will be for the young chef who will be able to best represent his/her personal belief within his/her signature dish.

To discover more about the initiative please visit: www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com .

About S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks are international trademarks of Sanpellegrino S.p.A., which is based in Milan, Italy. Distributed in over 150 countries through branches and distributors on all five continents, these products represent quality excellence by virtue of their origins and perfectly interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of pleasure, health and well-being. Founded in 1899, Sanpellegrino S.p.A. is the leading company in the beverage sector in Italy with its range of mineral waters, non-alcoholic aperitifs, drinks and iced teas. As a major Italian producer of mineral water, it has always been committed to enhancing this primary good for the planet and works responsibly and passionately to ensure that this resource has a secure future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1725262/Sanpellegrino_Group.jpg

SOURCE Sanpellegrino Group
PHOENIX, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment of four financial advisors who collectively oversee more than $231.5 million in total assets.

Kelcie Schiraldi of Youngstown, Ohio ( $103 million in brokerage, fee-based advisory and retirement assets)

Ms. Schiraldi joins Advisor Group through SagePoint Financial's Bury Financial Group, affiliated with OSJ, Jeffrey White , from Voya Financial Services. Ms. Schiraldi, who has more than 14 years of finance experience, chose Advisor Group for the firm's industry-leading succession and M&A program as well as their back-office support.





Ms. Schiraldi joins Advisor Group through SagePoint Financial's Bury Financial Group, affiliated with OSJ, , from Voya Financial Services. Ms. Schiraldi, who has more than 14 years of finance experience, chose Advisor Group for the firm's industry-leading succession and M&A program as well as their back-office support. Jonathan Macko of Vestal, N.Y. ( $77 million in total client assets)

Mr. Macko joins Advisor Group through member firm SagePoint Financial from Morgan Stanley. For more than a decade, Mr. Macko has provided holistic financial planning and wealth management services to his clients in the Broome County area of New York and beyond. He joins Advisor Group and SagePoint for its best-in-class technology and business development services.





Mr. Macko joins Advisor Group through member firm SagePoint Financial from Morgan Stanley. For more than a decade, Mr. Macko has provided holistic financial planning and wealth management services to his clients in the area of and beyond. He joins Advisor Group and SagePoint for its best-in-class technology and business development services. Nick Hunzinger of Milwaukee, Wis. and Todd Lowe of Fond du Lac, Wis. ( $51.5 million in total client assets)

Mr. Hunzinger and Mr. Lowe join Advisor Group through SagePoint Financial-affiliated OSJ, Scott Downs and High Point Capital Group from Mutual Advisors, LLC. The Wisconsin -based advisors chose Advisor Group, SagePoint and High Point for access to a local team paired with a national network of professionals that enable them to focus more time on developing their business and client relationships.

In addition to SagePoint Financial, Advisor Group also includes FSC Securities, Securities America, Royal Alliance, Triad Advisors and Woodbury Financial Services.

Desiree Sii, President and CEO of SagePoint Financial, said, "We are delighted to bring aboard such talented financial advisors with such incredible backgrounds and experience. At SagePoint Financial, we take pride in being able to fully support independent professionals through a range of affiliation models. Personally, I look forward to helping each of them bring their business to the next level."

Greg Cornick, Advisor Group's President of Advice & Wealth Management, said, "On behalf of everyone at Advisor Group, I'm pleased to welcome Kelcie Schiraldi, Jonathan Macko, Nick Hunzinger and Todd Lowe to the team. I congratulate Desiree, everyone at SagePoint and the OSJs on attracting financial professionals who are passionate about what they do for the clients and communities they serve."

About SagePoint Financial

SagePoint Financial, Inc. is part of one of the nation's largest independent broker-dealer organizations and a Registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA and SIPC. SagePoint is supported by Advisor Group, one of the largest truly independent broker-dealer networks in the industry. The firm has approximately 1,300 advisors across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.sagepointfinancial.com.

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 10,100 financial advisors and overseeing over $475 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial advisors and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.

Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Donald Cutler

Haven Tower Group

[email protected] or [email protected]

(424)-317-4851 or (424)-317-4864

SOURCE Advisor Group
MANZINI  Members of the public seeking emergency care from government should forget about being assisted by the Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

This is because vehicles allocated to the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR), which is also known as EMS, have been daily depreciating at the Malagwane base of the department.

The EMS, which is popularly known with its toll free number  977, has been marred with transport issues for a lengthy period. The new challenge has seen vehicles assigned to this department being grounded as they lack basic mechanical attention, which ranges from changing old tyres to installation of new brake pads.

According to impeccable sources within the department, most of the vehicles that ought to render emergency services to the public were grounded. This concern, according to the sources, was raised with the Ministry of Health but nothing has changed. In fact, the sources claimed that about seven vehicles were grounded at the Malagwane Base, with some having not been functional in a period exceeding two years. The sources claimed that as the vehicles were being exposed to all sorts of weather conditions, they were day by day depreciating, despite that some needed minimal attention.

It was gathered that some of the vehicles needed basic attention like replacing wheels; however, this was not being done. In the process, sources claimed that the public tended to be deprived of services. It always comes across as if we dont want to work when we say there are no vehicles to the public; yet it is the basic truth, said a source. The sources claimed that the poor maintenance of the vehicles by the ministry resulted in other service stations under EMS having faulty vehicles. The bases that were highlighted as having one vehicle apiece, which at most instances faced a downtime (broken down) are: Malkerns, Siphofaneni, Ezulwini and Siteki. It was gathered that the capital city, which ought to have two vehicles servicing the population, had one functional vehicle as the other was recently involved in an accident. At Malagwane, the only functional car is the one donated by the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF), while in Malkerns, the automobile assigned to the EMS department had no brakes and tyres.

Lengthy

In Ezulwini, it was gathered that there had been no vehicle available for a lengthy period. In Manzini, the vehicle for this department was said to be faulty as it had no brakes and was not serviced, while at Siphofaneni, it was grounded. It was gathered that the Piggs Peak EMS vehicle was still functional and it was the same in Nhlangano. Despite having one functional vehicle in Nhlangano, it was said one had broken down as they ought to be two. In Siteki, the vehicle assigned to EMS recently had a tyre burst and overturned. At Matata, it was gathered that one vehicle was functional; but staff frequently made donations to patch damaged tyres as they were old, while at Mshinande, in the Hhohho Region, the only vehicle available was donated by SMVAF.

The Director of Health Services, Dr Vusi Magagula, confirmed that the ministry was facing challenges with vehicles. He said the challenge was that most of the vehicles had broken down as the budget for the ministry to deal with the Central Transport Administration (CTA) charges was not improved following the advent of COVID-19. This, Dr Magagula said, resulted in the ministry exhausting its budget within a short period as it was dealing with a national emergency. We had COVID-19 and we were dealing with it 24/7 and when it subsided, the cars had been worn out such that we had to start with mechanical challenges, he said. He also acknowledged that some of the challenges were caused by the late issuance of a tender to supply car batteries and tyres at the CTA. He said while the resources were available, the tender had not been awarded and by the time it was awarded, the quoted prices had escalated. At the moment, he said a claim was filed to have the cars attended to and they were waiting for quotations. He was not certain of the money needed but said it was within the range of E1 million.
Five9 is a leading provider of the intelligent cloud contact center, bringing the power of the cloud to more than 2,500 customers worldwide and facilitating billions of call minutes annually. Aktify is a leader in Conversational AI and provides a platform that enables millions of conversations between brands and consumers by using data science and machine learning to extract value from leads who have expressed interest in a product or service. The partnership will enable seamless integration between the Five9 Intelligent Cloud Contact Center and Aktify's CI platform.

"We couldn't be more thrilled about partnering with Five9," Craig Daly , Chief Revenue Officer of Aktify stated. "The natural integration of both our products will help any high-lead, high-call volume company to create more revenue and truly excel as we go to market together."

Aktify is now officially one of Five9's premier independent software vendors (ISV) and has met all requirements to participate in the ISV program. This partnership will provide significant growth opportunities for every B2C organization that uses a sales call center.

"Proactive communication is a hallmark of great customer experience," said Walt Rossi, Vice President of Business Development at Five9. "Five9 is pleased to partner with Aktify to provide more choice and innovation in driving successful conversations between enterprises and their customers."

About Aktify

Aktify is a conversational intelligence company that connects brands to consumers. It solves the pervasive sales team problem of not being able to scale communication because of resource limitations. Robust data science is used to serve customers with thoughtful and dynamic conversations. By managing leads through a CRM or MAP integration, Aktify creates millions of weekly conversations through SMS and phone calls, delivering a 10x ROI to clients. Sales teams no longer need to spend time calling and emailing leads to get a live conversation scheduled - Aktify delivers the inbound calls of interested consumers.

To learn more about Aktify and how AI is changing the way companies intentionally converse with their customers, schedule a demo today. https://aktify.com/get-demo

Engage with us: LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Blog

Media Contact:

Aricka Hilton

[email protected]

SOURCE Aktify
Parent Market Analysis

Technavio categorizes the global automotive lidar sensors market as a part of the global auto parts and equipment market within the global consumer discretionary market.

Technavio uses the total revenue generated by manufacturers to estimate the global automotive lidar sensors 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 automotive lidar sensors market throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample.

Automotive Lidar Sensors Market Value Chain Analysis

To maximize profit margins and evaluate business plans, an end-to-end understanding of automotive lidar sensors is required. The report will help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period.

Inputs

Inbound logistics

Operations

Distribution and logistics

Marketing and sales

Service

Industry innovations

To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, download our free sample report.

Vendor Insights

The automotive lidar sensors 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 automotive lidar sensors market, including some of the vendors such as Continental AG, Denso Corp., Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, Infineon Technologies AG, LeddarTech Inc., Neptec Technologies Corp., Quanergy Systems Inc., Valeo SA, Velodyne LiDAR Inc., ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the automotive lidar sensors market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Product Insights and News

Continental AG. - Offers High-Resolution 3D Flash LiDAR, which is a short-range sensor used in the automotive industry.

Offers High-Resolution 3D Flash LiDAR, which is a short-range sensor used in the automotive industry. Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA. - Produces iDAR, which is a new form of intelligent data collection that fuses 1,550 nanometers (nm), solid-state agile LiDAR with a low-light HD camera, and embedded AI to intelligently capture data at the sensor level.

Produces iDAR, which is a new form of intelligent data collection that fuses 1,550 nanometers (nm), solid-state agile LiDAR with a low-light HD camera, and embedded AI to intelligently capture data at the sensor level. Neptec Technologies Corp. - Offers automotive LiDAR sensors under its trademark name OPAL 3D LiDAR.

The automotive lidar sensors market forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles and offerings  Download Free Sample Report

Geographical Highlights

The automotive lidar sensors market share growth in North America will be significant during the forecast period. The US is the key market for automotive lidar sensors in North America. Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in the European, MEA, and APAC regions.

Utility vehicles such as pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers dominate the North American car industry. Furthermore, recreational vehicles are popular in nations like the United States and Mexico because they can be utilized for both personal and commercial purposes. Moreover, the existence of a variety of terrains, such as mountains and rugged surfaces, leads to increased vehicle sales. Also, due to the increased emphasis on improving vehicle safety, the adoption of stability control systems in SUVs, particularly mid-size and large-size cars, is high. Likewise, the market's fierce rivalry is forcing manufacturers to differentiate their goods in terms of increased vehicle safety will drive the market during the forecasted period.

Moreover, countries like the US, Japan, Germany, China, and the UK are the key market for the automotive lidar sensors market in North America, owing to the high popularity of LiDAR sensors in automotive in this region.

To unlock the top strategies practiced by the maximum growth generating region, View Sample Report

Key Market Dynamics-

Automotive Lidar Sensors Key Market Drivers:

Rapid developments in autonomous vehicle technology

The rate of development and testing of a wide range of features in advanced driver-assistance systems and telematics/connected car applications and services will only accelerate, implying that demand for automotive LiDAR sensors will continue to rise. Consumer demands and OEM offers have expanded to encompass safety, performance, stability, and comfort, all of which are being developed and enhanced daily. This evolution has outgrown the utility of traditional mechanical components in solving developing automotive difficulties, boosting the automotive electronics market's growth rate. Automobile electrification and an increase in the electronics content per vehicle have become unavoidable. This will increase the use of sensors in vehicles.

Automotive Lidar Sensors Key Market Trends:

Continuous cost reduction of LiDAR sensors

For the development of next-generation LiDAR sensors, companies are experimenting with alternative designs. The success of these designs is unknown. Only a significant reduction in the price of car LiDAR sensors is certain in the future. Various LiDAR sensor firms are focused on producing low-cost LiDAR sensors by combining all of the sensor's components onto a single chip, with some even receiving funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In today's market, a large number of venture investors are exhibiting interest in startups that are creating better and less expensive LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicles. It can be inferred from other automotive-related technologies, such as ABS, that LiDAR sensors would steadily get cheaper over time.

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Automotive Lidar Sensors Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 17% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 318.57 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 11.21 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key consumer countries US, Japan, Germany, China, and the UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Continental AG, Denso Corp., Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, Infineon Technologies AG, LeddarTech Inc., Neptec Technologies Corp. , Quanergy Systems Inc., Valeo SA, Velodyne LiDAR Inc., and ZF Friedrichshafen AG 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.

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ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Analysts at TMR estimate the Asia Pacific cordless power tools market to expand at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2031. Cordless power tools witness substantial demand due to their proven benefits of mobility, accessibility, and storage and thus, attract manufacturers for innovations in these products.

The automotive industry favors the adoption of cordless power tools due to their ability to provide the required and precise torque for mechanical works that involve threaded fasteners. The construction sector displays substantial demand for cordless power tools due to their extensive use in demolition and building works.

Manufacturers in the Asia Pacific cordless power tools market are focused on increasing their local production capacities to reduce dependence on other countries for raw materials amid COVID-19.

China is anticipated to dominate the cordless power tools market in the region with an estimated market share of 39% in 2031.

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Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market  Key Findings of Report

Manufacturers of cordless power tools in the region are leveraging government stimulus package during the continued impact of COVID-19 to sustain amid volatile demand and supply

Manufacturers are increasing the production of cordless circular saw machines integrated with shared battery for devices such as impact wrench, screwdrivers, and reciprocating saw. For instance, the cordless circular saw model with the design code Yato YT- 82810 and 18V wattage is marketed for wood cutting applications.

Upswing in demand for cordless circular saws used in plywood, plastics, and cutting formwork boards is being witnessed in Asia Pacific cordless power tools market. Sales of robust cordless circular saws are witnessing an upsurge due to their compact design and easy to be carried advantages.

cordless power tools market. Sales of robust cordless circular saws are witnessing an upsurge due to their compact design and easy to be carried advantages. Instant discounts and equal monthly instalment (EMI) schemes boost sales of handheld cordless cleaners via eCommerce portals. Design features of cordless handheld cordless cleaners with unique spinning side brushes to cover edges and corners that are powered with durable brushless motors to offer up to 22 kilopascal suction lead to uptick in demand.

Product innovations in cordless impact drill drivers integrated with lithium ion battery technology underway in the cordless power tools market

Befitting use of cordless power tools in automotive assemblers for applications such as installing dashboards and instrument panels boosts the Asia Pacific cordless power tools market

cordless power tools market Prospects of role of manufacturers and distributors to educate and train end users, along with product sales underscores growth. This, coupled with streamlined after sales service to propel the Asia Pacific cordless power tools market.

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Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market  Growth Drivers

Operational advantage of cordless power tools powered with rechargeable batteries allows them to be easily carried wherever required

Expanding construction sector and vast number of professional repair & maintenance services to serve the industrial sector fuels the growth of cordless power tools market

Rising DIY trend among household consumers stimulates the demand for cordless power tools in Asia Pacific

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Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market  Key Players

Some of the key players in the Asia Pacific cordless power tools market are;

Atlas Copco

Hilti Corporation

Electrex Power Tools

Snap-On Incorporated

JF Tools India

LSL Tools Private Limited

Planet Power Tools

Seher Tools & Trade Pvt Ltd

& Trade Pvt Ltd Techtronic Industries

CUMI

Ingersoll-Rand Plc

Emerson Electric Co.

Husqvarna

iBell Tools

KOKI Holdings

Makita Corporation

Robert BoscH

Stanley Black & Decker

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The Asia Pacific cordless power tools market is segmented as follows;

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Product Type

Drills

Impact Drivers

Impact Wrenches

Screwdrivers

Jigsaws

Reciprocating Saws

Circular Saws

Multi-cutters

Shears

Angle Grinders

Routing Tools

Palm Routers

Planers

Dust Extractors

Others

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Battery Type

Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)

Lithium-Ion (Li-ion)

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Motor Type

Brushless Motors

Brush Motors

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Motor Speed

Upto 1000 rpm

1000-2000 rpm

2000-4000 rpm

4000-6500 rpm

6500-8000 rpm

Above 8000 rpm

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Torque

Upto 15 nm

15-35 nm

35-55 nm

Above 55 nm

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Battery Voltage

3.6-10V

11-18V

19-25V

26-36V

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Battery Capacity

1-1.5 Ah

1.6 Ah - 2 Ah

2 Ah - 5 Ah

Above 5 Ah

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Price Range

Low

Medium

High

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Application

Drilling & Fastening

Sawing & Cutting

Material Removal

Demolition

Routing

Others

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by End-use

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Automotive & Transportation



Aerospace & Defense



Construction



Others

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Distribution Channel

Online

Offline

Direct Sales



Indirect Sales

Asia Pacific Cordless Power Tools Market, by Region

Asia Pacific

China



India



South Korea



Taiwan



ASEAN



Malaysia





Singapore





Indonesia





Philippines





Vietnam





Thailand





Rest of ASEAN



Rest of Asia Pacific

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SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EmbraerX (B3: EMBR3,NYSE: ERJ) signed an agreement with Jet Flight Service (JFS), a global MRO service provider headquartered in Russia certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport (FATA). This partnership is supporting Jet Flight Service (JFS) in gaining efficiencies by onboarding their teams into Beacon's multi-sided platform.

After seeing the market adopt Beacon across Central and Eastern Europe, JFS decided to join the platform, recognizing it as the best alternative for improving coordination during maintenance operations. The main advantages identified by the provider were related to streamlining maintenance cases, reducing out-of-service time, eliminating redundant communications and leveraging data insights to improve the operation.

"Beacon is easy to use and adopt as it does not replace any systems for us. First, it is a communication solution and second, it is a machine learning engine that builds knowledge bases for the technicians of the future. You can't find that combination anywhere else," said Kirill Trushkovskiy, General Director of Jet Flight Service.

As their teams get onboarded into the Beacon platform, Jet Flight Service is increasing its productivity by expediting communication more efficiently to their customer base and improving coordination among all stakeholders working on interruptions. Teams are benefiting by getting back time and energy that today is wasted due to scattered communication and the use of outdated technologies.

"As an early adopter of Beacon, Jet Flight Service is a great example of a company recognizing the new technology trends. We are thrilled to welcome an organization that understands that success is dependent on coordination and reliability. JFS demands this of us to continually deliver excellence to their customers," said Marco Cesarino, Head of Beacon.

With this agreement, Beacon is bringing more players of the ecosystem into its platform so they can collaborate better and smarter while accelerating return-to-service. Beacon is continuing to serve all types of aircraft and leveraging the benefits of technology as a means to cut through complexity and facilitate collaboration in an industry that is ripe for digital transformation.

About Jet Flight Service

The history of Jet Flight Service starts in 2002, when the first Embraer-135BJ aircraft was delivered to Russia. Over the years of complicated and interesting work, our specialists mastered such modern aircraft as Embraer Legacy 450/500/600/650 and Praetor 500/600, contemporary Gulfstream lineup, including the leading G550 business jet, and Boeing BBJ. Our engineers were first in Russia to be endorsed on Legacy 600, 650 and Gulfstream G450. Aside from our Moscow facility, we have Base Maintenance capability for various aircraft models, including but not limited to Legacy and Praetors, all Challengers and most of the Globals in Riga and Dubai, DWC airport.

About Beacon

Incubated by EmbraerX, Embraer's market accelerator for disruptive businesses, Beacon is the maintenance coordination platform for faster return-to-service. It is an innovative platform designed to connect and synchronize industry resources, the aftermarket supply chain, and aviation services professionals in a more agile and efficient way to keep aircraft flying. Beacon aims to unleash high-value interactions and business opportunities to multiple stakeholders within the service ecosystem. The platform is initially focused on providing solutions to unscheduled aircraft maintenance interruptions.

Through an easily accessible digital web and mobile application (IOS and Android), Beacon's main goal is to connect companies and professionals with one another in a revolutionary way. The technology triggers a network of accredited providers, fostering real-time collaboration during unplanned maintenance activities, accelerating the return to service of aircraft.

About EmbraerX

EmbraerX is a market accelerator committed to developing solutions that transform life's experiences. As an organization, we are uniquely positioned to lead the world at the intersection of disruptive innovation, autonomy, and air mobility because the values that drive our work are deeply human, cross-culturally resonant, and completely tech-enabled.

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.

Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM) is a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., a top 20 global pharmaceutical company

Initial services will seek to validate Exopharm's LEAP, LOAD and EVPS technology platforms to manufacture exosomes for Astellas, firstly at Exopharm's facilities in Melbourne followed by the Astellas facilities in Massachusetts USA

followed by the Astellas facilities in Future potential collaboration is anticipated following validation

This is Exopharm's first collaboration services agreement with a major pharmaceutical company

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Exopharm Limited (ASX:EX1) has signed a Master Collaborative Services Agreement (MSA) with the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM).

AIRM is a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., a top 20 global pharmaceutical company, with global sales of around US$12 billion p.a. and strong investment in R&D to support the development of new treatments to address unmet medical needs.

"Astellas is keen to evaluate whether exosomes could become part of their future pipeline of innovative products. This collaboration services agreement defines how Astellas and Exopharm will work together in some important initial laboratory work," said Dr Ian Dixon, Managing Director and founder of Exopharm.

"At AIRM, we are always looking to advance our science and pipeline with cutting edge technologies and development techniques," said Dr. Jaime Chaufty, Director, Research at AIRM. "We believe Exopharm's proprietary technology platforms may help us address some of the challenges involved in the development and use of extracellular vesicles for regenerative medicine."

Under the terms of the MSA, AIRM will pay Exopharm fees of up to US$481,000 for both projects over a period of around 15 months, starting in March 2022.

"This is a major milestone for us in its own right, but it is also the crucial first step for any drug development partnership in the future," said Dr Chris Baldwin, Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy CEO of Exopharm.

The MSA enables laboratory work to demonstrate the effectiveness of Exopharm's LEAP, LOAD and EVPS technologies utilising AIRM's cell-based therapeutic technologies.

The LEAP project will commence in early 2022 at Exopharm's laboratories in Melbourne and will seek to validate the use of Exopharm's LEAP technology platform to purify exosomes derived from two proprietary AIRM cell lines. A second phase of this project will involve transferring the LEAP technology to AIRM research headquarters located in Massachusetts USA for their further evaluation and use.

In the exosome medicine services conducted by Exopharm, two AIRM proprietary cell lines will be engineered to produce exosomes with:

(i) loading of functional RNA (using Exopharm's LOAD technology platform in Massachusetts USA); and

(ii) adding external specified molecules of interest onto their surfaces (using Exopharm's EVPS technology platform).

"Regenerative medicine holds the promise of repairing or replacing the patient's cells to restore normal function. More recently, the advantages of exosomes derived from human cells but delivered as an acellular therapy have been investigated. But purification of exosomes as a biomanufacturing process has blocked progress. Exopharm's patented LEAP purification technology changes all that  opening up the very real prospect of exosomes as next-generation medicines to treat unmet medical needs" said Dr Dixon.

"Exopharm has built a set of unique technologies to enable exosome medicines to be developed and commercialised, including the LEAP technology, which recently received a patent from the USPTO. Our strategy is to make our proprietary technologies available under license to leading pharmaceutical companies such as Astellas. Exopharm has the potential to build ongoing revenue streams from such licenses through multiple alliances. Technical collaboration, demonstration and sharing data  as provided by this agreement  is the critical first step." Dr Dixon said.

Exopharm is pursuing agreements with other large pharmaceutical companies and the company will keep the market up to date as discussions progress.

Further information on LEAP, LOAD and EVPS is available on the Exopharm web site www.exopharm.com

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Managing Director.

Company and Media Enquiries:

Join our mailing list to receive updates:

http://exo.ph/ExoMails

www.exopharm.com

P: +61 (0)3 9111 0026

Rudi Michelson

Monsoon Communications

Tel: +61 (0)3 9620 3333

[email protected]

ABOUT EXOPHARM

Exopharm Limited (ASX:EX1) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of transformative medicines using exosomes, or extracellular vesicles (EVs), and is pursuing a pipeline-driven platform strategy.

Exosomes can be loaded with a variety of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and can be targeted to selected cell and tissue types (tropism)  improving the safety profile of the APIs and providing better treatments.

Exosome delivery of DNA and other gene therapies into the nucleus of the patient's cells can improve treatment of inherited medical conditions.

Exosomes are an alternative means of drug delivery inside the body, alongside technologies such as lipid nanoparticles (LNP), cell-penetrating peptides, viral vectors and liposomes. The drug delivery industry is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% and is currently valued at about US$175 billion ($233 billion)[1].

Exopharm's exosome technologies meet important needs for the success of exosome medicines  LEAP manufacturing technology, LOAD API loading and EVPS tropism.

Exopharm's suite of exosome technologies enables its own pipeline of exosome medicines  each aimed at delivering a transformative medicine for an unmet medical need.

Exopharm's intellectual property is also available under licences or partnerships to empower others to build their pipelines around the benefits of exosome medicines.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement contains forward-looking statements which incorporate an element of uncertainty or risk, such as 'intends', 'may', 'could', 'believes', 'estimates', 'targets', 'aims', 'plans' or 'expects'. These statements are based on an evaluation of current corporate estimates, economic and operating conditions, as well as assumptions regarding future events. These events are, as at the date of this announcement, expected to take place, but there cannot be any guarantee that such events will occur as anticipated or at all given that many of the events are outside of Exopharm's control or subject to the success of the Development Program. Furthermore, the Company is subject to several risks as disclosed in the Prospectus dated 6 November 2018.

SOURCE Exopharm Limited
HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) was selected to continue providing high-end astronaut medical support services for the European Space Agency's (ESA's) European Astronaut Centre (EAC) Space Medicine Office in Cologne, Germany.

Under the terms of the recompete contract, KBR will be the primary provider of space medicine support services to ESA, which is introducing a new service model. This work is scheduled to be performed over a three-and-a-half-year period.

A partner to ESA for more than 20 years, KBR's major activities include astronaut medical care, engineering support, rehabilitation, fitness, project management, healthcare administration, psychology and behavioral health, nutrition, radiation, education coordination, and operational research.

"Every opportunity to work with ESA and our coordinating commercial and government space partners adds to the future of space exploration while highlighting its many positive beand globalizing our space expertise," said Byron Bright, KBR Government Solutions President.

Throughout KBR's many years of support to ESA, it has aided more than 15 launch and landing campaigns in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as 20 missions to the ISS in a variety of visiting vehicles. KBR's partnership has also influenced millions in research funding for space medicine operations and led to the establishment of the ESA Space Health International Network for Exploration (SHINE).

KBR is known for its expertise in the space and medical fields having worked directly with NASA and the U.S. government on several life science research studies and human health and performance contracts for decades.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 29,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com.

Forward Looking Statement

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the significant adverse impacts on economic and market conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company's ability to respond to the resulting challenges and business disruption; the recent dislocation of the global energy market; the company's ability to manage its liquidity; the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.

The company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE KBR, Inc.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct mail advertising leader Valpak is amplifying a message of awareness and education to its audience of over 41 million homes this February. With the support of Crayola, the brand that sparks imagination through color, the company is launching its "Celebrate Our CommUNITY: A Tribute to Black History Month" campaign.

Inclusion and expression take center stage in this campaign, with part of the iconic Valpak Blue Envelope transformed into a custom Crayola coloring page. Consumers are invited to "Color their communities" on the inside of the envelope, then share their masterpieces on Valpak's Facebook page with tags #ColorYourCommunity #Entry. Randomly selected winners of four (4) drawings will each receive $500, plus $500 in Crayola product will be donated to their school of choice.

To help consumers express themselves, each CommUNITY envelope contains an offer for $.50 off any one (1) pack of 24-count Crayola Colors of the World crayons  the lead product from an inclusive coloring tools line designed to represent over 40 global skin tones. Plus, consumers have the chance to win a free Crayola Colors of the World product (crayons, markers, colored pencils, coloring books) instantly, just by looking through their envelope.

Advertisers inside the envelope will have the opportunity to display special graphics on their ads to self-identify as Black-owned or show support for the campaign. Valpak will also celebrate important Black history milestones and feature Black-owned businesses on their social media channels, and in other initiatives throughout the year. By seeking out Black-owned businesses in Valpak advertising areas and offering support, they hope to highlight the importance of diversity  in their envelope and in the neighborhoods they serve. Finally, Valpak will engage and celebrate their employees by encouraging discussions about cultural appreciation within their workforce.

Chris Bilotta, Director of Promotions and Partnerships at Valpak, shared, "At Valpak, we believe in energizing the savings game for all and in connecting all the wonderfully diverse businesses in a community to their ideal audiences. We're grateful for the chance to partner with Crayola to amplify a message of inclusion and expression as we celebrate Black History Month, this February and year-round."

Mimi Dixon, Director, Brand Activation and Content at Crayola, added, "The Valpak and Crayola Colors of the World partnership not only continues the goal of inspiring kids to creatively and accurately color themselves into the world they see around them, but also celebrates inclusion with the common goal of increasing representation and fostering a greater sense of belonging and acceptance. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership for Crayola, and we look forward to the colorful consumer engagement and expression."

Valpak brings its local-first focus together with the creative potential embodied by Crayola to honor Black History Month in neighborhoods between January 29 and February 28. Consumers can head to www.valpak.com to learn more.

About Valpak

Valpak is the nation's premier direct mailer, trusted by tens of thousands of local and national businesses to drive sales and brand awareness through easy-to-measure, results-oriented advertising solutions that work. For more than 50 years, Valpak has introduced millions of consumers to exciting offers and opportunities. Our network of nearly 140 local offices provides unparalleled customer service and market knowledge to business owners in thousands of neighborhoods across 42 U.S. states. Each month, our Blue Envelope of savings mails to more than 41 million demographically targeted households in increments of 10,000, enabling us to reach each business's ideal audience every time, big or small. Valpak's suite of customizable solutions includes a variety of formats inside the Blue Envelope, as well as PlusOne postcards, event postcards and digital strategies (SEM, social media and website design), all driven by best-in-class data and targeting capabilities. Contact us today at valpak.com/advertise to see what Valpak Direct Marketing can do for your business.

About Crayola

Crayola LLC, based in Easton, Pa. and a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, is the worldwide leader in children's creative expression products. Known for the iconic Crayola Crayon first introduced in 1903, the Crayola brand has grown into a portfolio of innovative art tools, crafting activities and creativity toys that offer children innovative new ways to use color to create everything imaginable. Consumers can find the wide array of Crayola products in the "Crayola Aisle" at all major retailers. For more information visit www.crayola.com or join the community at www.facebook.com/crayola .

Valpak Media Contact

Tanya Creel

Director, Marketing & Communications

727-399-3068

[email protected]

Crayola Media Contact

Erika Merklinger

PR & Communications Manager

(610) 253-6272 ext. 4625

[email protected]

SOURCE Valpak
MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The job market will continue its recovery well into 2022, research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half suggests. According to the company's State of U.S. Hiring Survey of more than 2,300 senior managers, 65% of respondents anticipate adding new permanent positions in the first half of the year, up 14 points from six months ago; another 33% expect to fill vacated positions.

Amid talent and skills shortages, employers are more willing to hire remote professionals  and they're wise to do so. Tweet this Research from Robert Half shows U.S. companies' hiring plans and strategies in the first half of 2022, as well as benefits of offering fully remote roles.

Among the 24 U.S. cities in the survey, those with the highest percentages of employers planning to add permanent positions are Charlotte (75%), San Francisco (74%) and Detroit (72%). In addition, managers in administrative and customer support (72%) and marketing (69%) departments have the greatest hiring needs.

View an infographic of the research highlights, including results by practice area and company size.

Contract hiring is also heating up: Nearly three-quarters of senior managers (71%) expect to bring in more contract professionals in 2022. Those in marketing and technology departments (78% each) are most likely to increase the number of contract workers they use.

Top Hiring Strategies

According to the research, companies are pulling multiple levers to attract skilled candidates:

55% are increasing starting salaries.

50% are offering remote options and evaluating candidates outside of their office's geography.

44% are providing signing bonuses.

41% are giving more paid time off.

31% are loosening education, skills or experience requirements.

"Today's professionals have more career options and negotiating power than ever," said Robert Half senior executive director Paul McDonald. "In order to land the best talent, employers must move quickly, create a positive candidate experience from the initial contact to the job offer, and provide competitive salaries and flexible work options."

Remote Recruiting Opportunities

Adopting a remote-first approach can give employers a leg up when competing for top talent: Previous Robert Half research reveals more than half of professionals (54%) are interested in pursuing fully remote positions.

Findings from the State of U.S. Hiring Survey show many companies recognize the benefits of offering fully remote roles:

More applications from skilled candidates (54%)

Greater compensation flexibility (45%)

A quicker hiring process (34%)

McDonald noted, "Amid talent and skills shortages, employers are more willing to hire remote professionals  and they're wise to do so. But recruiting and managing workers from afar can be easier said than done. Partnering with a staffing firm that has a global footprint and an extensive talent network can save companies time and money."

Remote Hiring and Onboarding Challenges

When asked to reveal the biggest obstacle to hiring remote talent, the top responses among senior managers were:

Assessing candidates' skills through virtual interviews Developing compensation packages for candidates outside of the company's city or state Scheduling virtual interviews across multiple time zones

And when it comes to onboarding employees remotely, human resources managers said the greatest challenges are:

Building engagement and connection Providing training and support Having adequate equipment and technology

"The first days on a job are always a bit overwhelming, and even more so in a virtual environment. An effective remote onboarding process requires significant time and focus to plan and execute, but pays off when done right," said Lynne Smith, Robert Half senior vice president of global human resources.

For more tips on hiring and onboarding remote talent, visit the Robert Half blog.

About the Research

The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm from November 11 to December 30, 2021. It includes responses from more than 2,300 senior managers in finance, technology, marketing, legal, administrative and customer support, human resources, and other areas at companies with 20 or more employees in the U.S.

About Robert Half

Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that connects opportunities at great companies with highly skilled job seekers. Robert Half offers contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Visit roberthalf.com and download our award-winning mobile app.

SOURCE Robert Half
PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Zondlo, a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University and the Director of Graduate Studies, Intelligent Material Solutions, Inc. (IMS), an innovator in the field of optical materials and detectors, Paige Wireless, a creator of reliable and effective connectivity, and Slant Range, a leader in advanced agriculture technology, received an award of a DOE ARPA-E grant.

NitroNet schematic showing the overlapping beams as the laser scans across a quarter-section (160 acres) field with staked, simple reflectors around the perimeter (left). Schematic of the interband cascade laser (ICL) sensor head and example of a simple reflector (right). (images from Google Earth)

Titled, "NitroNet: Smart System to Quantify Nitrous Oxide Emissions," the project entails an autonomous sensing system intended to non-disruptively monitor fields for nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions over a complete growing season. This award is part of the SMARTFARM program, which is dedicated to improving data collection in the biofuel supply chain.

The project has the potential to transform the emissions assessment of farms. N 2 O is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, with an environmental impact of 300:1 when comparing one pound of N 2 O to one pound of CO 2 .1 A large portion of the N 2 O in the atmosphere is emitted indirectly, and with large variability in space and time, as a byproduct of fertilization of croplands.

By quantitatively totaling the loss of nitrogen over a growing season, the research may enable producers to make informed decisions about practices that mitigate the harmful environmental and climate impacts of agricultural crop production. The system provides the promising opportunity to impact the U.S.'s security as a leader in agricultural sustainability, incentivize and monetize emission reductions for farmers, and enable participation of producers in carbon management markets.

The system, NitroNet, uses eye-safe mid infrared lasers, ultra-sensitive detectors, and inexpensive reflectors to cast a 'net' over a field to map N 2 O emissions at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Validation of the monitoring will be accomplished using a compact pilotless drone and subsequent data compared with established monitoring approaches.

"What is unique about NitroNet is that it is a continuous, unattended 24/7 system that does not interfere with the farmers' operation, and yet the information will allow farmers to monetize their efforts to reduce their climatic footprint. It is a 'win-win' for both agriculture and the environment," said Professor Zondlo.

IMS is a material science and technology company that develops rare-earth crystals, as well as custom sensors. The company has a portfolio of patents around rare-earth crystals covering devices, methods, systems, and composition of matter. IMS products have applications in quantum/optical computing, life science  diagnostics/therapeutic/imaging, authentication, transportation, defense, and agriculture. The company is based out of Princeton, NJ in the iconic RCA/Sarnoff Building. For more information on IMS, visit: https://www.intelligentmaterial.com.

Professor Zondlo heads the Atmospheric Chemistry and Composition Group at Princeton University. For more information on Professor Zondlo and the Zondlo Research Group, visit: http://zondlo.princeton.edu/.

Paige Wireless is the largest, contiguous carrier- grade LoRaWAN network in North America with a focus on bringing connectivity solutions to currently under-served industrial verticals. The company helps businesses, communities, and the nation's farmers leverage technology for remote data collection, automating tasks, security and asset management, resource control, observation, installations, and much more.

Media Contact:

Alexandra Bell

6095144032

[email protected]



1 US EPA, O. Overview of Greenhouse Gases [Overviews and Factsheets]. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases

SOURCE Intelligent Material Solutions, Inc.
"Our podcast invites people into complex, funny and at times messy conversations about everything we give up to keep going," said Bowen.

As the show kicks off, listeners can tune into conversations with hosts Julie, Chad and guests including Ty Burrell, Meghan Trainor, Jimmy Kimmel and more to come. Quitters was announced nationally last week on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and viewers can also catch Julie talking it up on Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Celebrity Game Face with Kevin Hart and The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

"We're an imperfect match," said Chad Sanders. "Julie is an established, white, television mainstay. I'm a subversive, young, Black writer at the beginning of my career.' We both feel like outsiders and connect on curiosity, vulnerability, humor (we think) and ambition for our show."

"I am still mid-quit on many things," said Julie Bowen. "I quit a pretty pernicious eating disorder that plagued my younger years. I 'quit' a marriage and, frankly, romantic entanglements in general. There's so much more I WANT to quit and so many people whose stories of quitting fascinate me."

"A few years ago I quit my job at Google," Sanders explains. "I was tired of trying to play a white guy as well as a white guy. Quitting was one of the best decisions in my life but at the time it was terrifying. I wish someone was there to hold my hand. Our show can be that for our listeners."

Sponsorship sales for Quitters handled exclusively by PMM.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Quitters Podcast
MBABANE - Education on the move!

This is what is happening in the education system of the country as government has already covered much ground in preparing to pilot a four-year programme for high school, which is currently five years for secondary and high school. The move by government, which will be implemented when schools open for the 2022 school calendar on April 5, 2022, will see government killing two birds with one stone. This is because it will phase out Junior Certificate (JC), where Form III pupils had to sit for external examinations and also pave way for pupils to do AS Level and A Level, which will provide quality qualifications which would be beyond the current Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE).

The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training, Bhekithemba Gama, said they had identified a total of 32 schools across the country that would pilot the programme. He said schools were selected in rural, semi-urban and urban areas.

Interview

In terms of ownership, he said they selected missionary schools, public schools, community schools and central schools. He said this during an interview, which was held in his office on Friday. However, the PS said the curriculum would be the same as the current EGCSE, which is done in five years. He said the only difference was that it had been compressed to suit the proposed four-year programme. He emphasised that there would be nothing new in the four-year programme as when compressing the syllabus, they collected like terms. For example, he said what was done in Form I and II had be done in Form I. Likewise what was done in Form II and Form III would be done in the Form II and some staff which was taught in Form III, would be in the Form IV syllabus as there would be no JC. He said the same would apply with the Form IV and V syllabuses.

This programme will provide quality and internationally recognised qualifications, which will be beyond EGCSE as it will allow pupils to do AS and A Levels. This means our pupils will be marketable internationally, the PS said. Gama said AS and A Levels belonged to Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). However, he said, they would localise it just like they did when localising the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) to form the Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE). Worth noting is that IGCSE was introduced in the country in 2006 and its first examination was in 2007. When it was introduced, it replaced the General Certificate Education, which was widely referred to as Olevel, a syllabus which had been around for many years. After introducing IGSCE in 2006, government worked on localising it and this process was completed in 2011 and that was when it was phased out as schools, mainly public schools, taught EGSCE.

During the interview with the PS on Friday, he said the pupils who would be admitted to Form I in the identified 32 schools, would sit for the same examination with those who are in Form II under the five-year programme. Thereafter, he mentioned that throughout the four years, they would be monitoring and evaluating the progress so that at the end of the piloting duration, they would be clear what schools needed in order for the four-year programme to run according to plan. Therefore, he said governments plan was that after the four years, all schools would carry out the programme. During the monitoring and evaluation exercises, they would focus on teaching, curriculum and how pupils and teachers were handling it.

The PS also highlighted that some schools like Bahai and Sifundzani, among others, were already doing the four-year programme.

He said even Salesian Mission School once carried it out. Again, Gama emphasised that it would be all systems go for the piloting programme in the identified 32 institutions when government opens schools for the 2022 calendar. He said they were working hand-in-hand with the Examinations Council of Eswatini and National Curriculum Centre. On another note, the PS stated that this was a 37-year-old dream of government as since 1985, they had been having commissions of inquiry, which were based on a report that recommended that high schools duration should be reduced from five to four years so that pupils could do AS and A Levels. He said the programme and exercises which were carried out were well documented at the National Curriculum Centre.
Spartan Medical increased its revenue by 183% from 2020 and hired a total of 18 new employees. Tweet this

"I started Spartan Medical to improve patient care and outcomes, because we and our loved ones will all be patients one day," said Vince Proffitt, Founder and President of Spartan Medical. "We are a Veteran-Owned and operated business that hires Veterans, supports Veteran causes, and we treat every Veteran and Wounded Warrior the same way we treated our brothers and sisters on active-duty."

When the pandemic hit, the company used its Federal Government Contracting and medical supply experience, military mindset, and logistical expertise, to provide complete COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs. After helping to cut the COVID-19 positivity rate on campus at CSU from 20% to less than 1%, Spartan Medical's first customer, Colorado State University  Pueblo, won the "Best Campus Pandemic Response" award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which represents nearly 400 member schools.

Now, Spartan Medical provides COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs to schools, colleges, businesses, and government agencies across the country. The company has also managed dozens of COVID-19 pop-up testing sites for Maryland Department of Health's GoVAX program.

"A military mindset permeates throughout our company, which I believe is our most competitive advantage," said Mr. Proffitt. "Many members of our team have answered the call to serve our nation earlier in their careers, and when the pandemic hit, we realized we had the experience and an obligation to answer the call to serve again by using our collective knowledge, skills, and experience to help our country fight the COVID-19 pandemic."

To keep up with demand for its COVID-19 prevention programs as well as its booming medical device supply and support business, Spartan Medical quickly augmented its workforce to scale appropriately. The six senior hires include:

Jeff Vail is Director of Contracting for Spartan Medical and has worked on standing up Spartan's Maryland COVID Vaccination Program. He has diverse career experience ranging from founding and selling two venture-backed, energy-industry startups, and serving as the managing partner of a 17-attorney boutique litigation firm, to executing over 200 special operations missions in Iraq and Afghanistan as a US Air Force Captain and Intelligence Officer. Jeff is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy ('99), and the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law. He has argued cases before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, led complex racketeering investigations, and presented papers at prestigious conferences, including the Yale Journal of International Law, and the Mediterranean Studies Association. He has an extensive international background including studying as an exchange cadet with the German Air Force Academy, studying Economics at Charles University in Prague, and working as an intelligence officer, and attorney in over a dozen countries.

Amara Pabon is the Chief of Clinical Operations for Spartan Medical Inc., where she currently provides clinical oversight and spearheads the training program for Spartan, as they work alongside the Maryland Department of Health's MD GoVAX initiative. From 2008-2021 she served as a case manager and study coordinator for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Ultimately, she was called into the informatic arena where she served as the Clinical Trials Management Research Specialist, and Nurse Liaison, for the Clinical Research Informatic System of the NIAID. Amara graduated nursing school from Columbia Union college, now known as Washington Adventist University, in 2005, and returned shortly after to complete her master's in nursing and business leadership in 2010.

Dr. Joseph Haymore is Director of Clinical Innovation at Spartan Medical. He has been a nurse for 35 years. He received his BSN and MS from Georgetown University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. During this time, he has worked clinically in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Neurocritical Care. In addition to providing direct patient care, Dr. Haymore is a widely published author of peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and clinical practice guidelines. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States for over 25 years. Joseph has conducted research in Targeted Temperature Management, the use of MRI in ischemic stroke diagnosis and management, and delirium in the critical care setting. His service to the profession includes serving on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Liaison to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and Liaison to the American Nurses Association.

Erik Gottschalk is an Executive Project Manager at Spartan Medical and is currently detailed to their Maryland Covid-19 Mobile Vaccination and Mobile Testing Programs, where he is overseeing Operations and Logistics. Erik has a Biology degree from The University of Maryland, is a former college athlete and is a decorated US Navy Veteran, serving as a combat medic with the US Marine Corps. An accomplished sales and business development executive, Erik has 20+ years of comprehensive achievements, top sales awards and Presidents Club distinctions for both start-up and industry-leading medical device companies. He has also built and sold a successful, healthy vending business.

Erik Kornmeyer is the Senior Project Manager for Spartan's Maryland COVID Mobile Vaccination Program. Erik brings a wealth of operational and management experience to Spartan Medical, as he recently retired from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department after a 20-year career that culminated with him serving as Captain of the 911 Fire Communications Center. In addition to his thirteen years of experience in the 911 Center, Erik had a diverse and extensive career with the Department. He served as Community Outreach and Recruitment Officer for the Department from 2017-2020, where his work earned him the Anne Arundel County 100 Club Al Brandt Unsung Hero Award in 2020. As Assistant Public Information Officer, Erik wasn't shy about being in front of the camera or on the radio, and managed the Department's social media platforms. He has been a Maryland Certified Emergency Services Instructor since 2009, having served as a Recruit Training Officer for four different recruit classes. He also assisted in the management and oversight of the Department's 200 vehicle fleet, as an On Call Ground Support specialist. Erik has a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from the University of Richmond, where he found his passion for Emergency Services and became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1991. Throughout his nine years as a volunteer, and 20-year career, Erik has completed a half dozen classes at the National Fire Academy.

Nick Goebel has been named Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs for Spartan Medical. He will oversee and manage the company's communications activities, media relations and political outreach. Nick has also been appointed the Executive Director of the Proffitt Brothers Foundation, Spartan Medical's charitable foundation. As a communications professional who has worked with clients in a variety of fields, including political, liquor, and luxury markets, Nick will build and promote the veteran-owned business' reputation and relationships with key stakeholders. He has a master's degree in Strategic Public Relations from The George Washington University, a master's degree in American Government and Politics from Wayne State University, and a bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship from Central Michigan University.

"As Spartan Medical's exponential growth continues, we need a diverse and experienced management team that will ensure we continue to deliver unparalleled results for our customers," added Mr. Proffitt. "I believe we have assembled a top-tier, well-rounded team with diverse backgrounds and experiences that will further enhance our customer experience and help take our company to new heights."

About Spartan Medical: Spartan Medical Inc. was founded in 2008 by a former Air Force Intelligence Officer to provide an extensive portfolio of advanced medical devices and technologies from premier partners, focused on the needs of the VA and DoD surgeon. Spartan Medical is considered a top priority vendor in the VA as a CVE certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and has been awarded 600+ Federal Government contracts including multi-year Blanket Purchase Agreements at over 30 major military treatment facilities with 13+ years of flawless performance. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Spartan Medical has assembled a Comprehensive COVID-19 Testing Solution providing best-in-class products and services for K-12 schools, universities and local, state and federal governments.

Media Contact:

Nicholas Goebel

248-767-6276

[email protected]

SOURCE Spartan Medical Inc.
CALABASAS, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, today announced the tax treatment of the Company's 2021 cash distributions.

For the tax year ended December 31, 2021, cash distributions for its:

Common shares

6.500% Series D redeemable perpetual preferred shares

6.350% Series E redeemable perpetual preferred shares

5.875% Series F redeemable perpetual preferred shares

5.875% Series G redeemable perpetual preferred shares

6.250% Series H redeemable perpetual preferred shares

were classified as follows:

Classification Percent Ordinary Dividend Income(1) 73.122102% Qualified Dividend Income 0.700631% Capital Gain Distributions(2)(3)(4) 26.177267% Total 100.000000%





(1) 100% of the Ordinary Dividend Income is treated as Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 199A Qualified REIT Dividend Income. Treasury Regulation 1.199A-3(c)(2)(ii) requires that shareholders hold their REIT shares for at least 45 days in order for the dividends to be treated as Section 199A Dividends.



(2) 29.308593% of the capital gain distributions is treated as unrecaptured IRC Section 1250 gain.



(3) Pursuant to Treasury Regulation 1.1061-6(c), the Company is disclosing additional information related to the capital gain dividends reported on Form 1099-DIV, Box 2a, Total Capital Gain Distributions for purposes of IRC Section 1061. IRC Section 1061 is generally applicable to direct and indirect holders of "applicable partnership interests." The "One Year Amounts" and "Three Year Amounts" required to be disclosed are both zero with respect to the 2021 distributions, since all capital gain dividends relate to IRC Section 1231 gains. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine whether IRC Section 1061 applies to their capital gain dividends.



(4) 100% of the capital gain distributions represent gain from dispositions of US real property interests pursuant to IRC Section 897 for foreign shareholders.

The Company's tax return for the year ended December 31, 2021 has not yet been filed. As a result, the income tax classification for the distributions discussed above has been calculated using the best available information as of the date of this release.

The Company encourages shareholders to consult with their own tax advisors as to the specific tax treatment of these distributions.

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and resident satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of September 30, 2021, we owned 56,077 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at http://www.americanhomes4rent.com.

Contact:

American Homes 4 Rent

Investor Relations

Nicholas Fromm

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Legion and EducationCounsel announced a new risk- based review model to protect student veterans and taxpayers and a comprehensive report demonstrating the effectiveness of these new reviews.

All State Approving Agencies (SAAs) that oversee institutions enrolling GI Bill recipients will for the first time carry out risk-based reviews starting in October 2022, as required by the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.

"Risk-based reviews are a critical example of the federal government taking bipartisan action to protect student veterans and taxpayers, and this pilot shows that such a system works," said James LaCoursiere, American Legion Veterans Employment and Education Commission chairman. "That's why the National Executive Committee of The American Legion unanimously supported a resolution to promptly adopt and deploy risk-based reviews to protect our veterans and the integrity of the GI Bill."

Read the overview of key findings and policy recommendations here

The risk-based review model  successfully piloted by six SAAs during the past year  uses publicly available data like completion rates, earnings, rapid changes in enrollment or price, retention and average net price to separate higher risk schools from lower-risk schools. It then prioritizes further oversight to schools showing the highest levels of risk to students and taxpayers. The system uses publicly available data to automate the process of ranking programs in a state from higher to lower risk.

"This pilot has demonstrated that risk-based, outcomes-focused reviews are feasible, effective for regulators and students and can be realistically implemented, right now," said Nathan Arnold, senior adviser with EducationCounsel. "The evidence from this pilot shows that public data can be used to effectively prioritize limited oversight resources, and this is a model that can be used by accreditors, state authorizers and Department of Education program reviews and enforcement."

The risk-based review model was jointly designed and piloted by EducationCounsel and the National Association of State Approving Agencies (NASAA) over the past two years. NASAA is the membership organization representing the more than 50 SAAs nationwide that oversee education and training programs for veterans in their respective states.

Veterans and their families have been targeted by risky colleges and other post-secondary training programs because the generous benefits available through the Post-9/11 GI Bill make veterans attractive to unscrupulous providers. The federal government spends over $12 billion per year for veterans and their families to attend college.

"Risk-based reviews are a game-changer," said Joe Wescott, legislative liaison for NASAA and former executive director of the North Carolina SAA. "This new model allows staff to focus on protecting students from schools that leave them worse off or are likely to suddenly shut down."

The pilot SAAs that successfully executed the risk model this past year are also strong supporters of the new reviews, particularly compared to reviews focused on payment compliance. "When I think about compliance surveys compared to the new risk-based process, it felt like I had blinders on that I've finally been able to take off," said Michelle Hill, President of NASAA and a participant in the pilot during her tenure with the Nevada SAA.

With a current membership of nearly 1.8 million wartime veterans, The American Legion, was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 12,000 posts across the nation.

EducationCounsel is a mission-based education consulting firm that combines experience in policy, strategy, law, and advocacy to drive significant improvements in the U.S. education system.

For more information, please contact Joseph Sharpe at [email protected] or Nathan Arnold at [email protected].

SOURCE The American Legion
MINDANAO, Philippines, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 24, 2022, over 22,000 representatives from 51 countries attended the virtual international peace conference celebrating Peace Day, an event commemorated a civilian-led peace agreement made between the Islam and Catholic communities in Mindanao eight years ago.

Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light

Back in 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO, mediated conflict in Mindanao by proposing a peace agreement by local representatives. Witnessed by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, the peace agreement was signed by former Governor of Maguindanao, Esmael G. Mangudadatu, and Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao representing local leadership. Since then, the province of Maguindanao and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) declared January 24 as "HWPL Peace Day" and have commemorated it as an annual event to reaffirm international cooperation and local partnership for peace building in Mindanao.

The event, under the theme of "Law of Peace in Heaven and on Earth", aimed to promote interfaith harmony between religions and raise public support to establish international law for peace.

Key figures gave congratulatory messages including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, and TV News Anchor Mariz Umali from the Philippines. Speakers from various fields shared plans on promoting peace in their respective sectors including law, education, youth, women, private business and media.

Justice Raoul Victorino, Chairman of Philippine National Prayer Breakfast and Dean of the College of Law of Philippine Christian University, shared how he was inspired by the "revolutionary movement" that HWPL initiated to endorse global peace building through the draft the "Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)" by global experts in international law to advocate peace as a global culture and norm.

"I will strive to get the support of the President of the Philippines for the National Solidarity Support of DPCW," Victorino said. "At the same time, I will integrate DPCW [education] in the college of law by collaborating with the Philippine Association of Law Schools."

Also, representing the Philippines education sector was Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED).

"The CHED Commission en Banc has issued an endorsement to President Duterte, urging him to declare January 24 as 'National Peace Day', that will provide [for observance of peace through peace activities, events, and ceremonies by all agencies of government, the private sector, and the education sector]," said Adamat.

"Our purpose is to bring all people in the world together to create a world of peace and leave it as a lasting legacy for future generations. To make this world a peaceful place without wars, let us become messengers of peace," said Chairman Lee during the closing remarks. "Let us remind people around the world of that emotiona longing for peaceand the Peace Day so they can remember all of this forever."

Media contact:

Scott Alwin

[email protected]

562-344-5016

SOURCE Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio and GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Materials (the "Company") and SVPGLOBAL, a global investment firm with over $18 billion of assets under management, today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which funds managed by SVPGLOBAL will acquire Associated Materials.

Associated Materials is a vertically integrated building products company with $1.6 billion in annual revenues and a market leader in vinyl windows, vinyl cladding, and metal siding and trim. After completion of the transaction, Associated Materials will be a portfolio company of SVPGLOBAL and will continue to provide its customers with the same high-quality products and service, while adding meaningful new investment into upgrading and broadening the product portfolio.

The Company has been proudly serving its customers since the inception of its Alside brand in 1947 and today owns other leading brands, including Gentek, Alpine, and Preservation, and sells popular product models and brands including Mezzo and Regency windows, Ascend and Align composite cladding, Charter Oak and Sequoia Select vinyl siding, and Sierra Steel and Satinwood metal siding and trim. Associated Materials has over 4,400 employees and operates its own 125 Alside and Gentek supply centers in the United States and Canada along with 11 manufacturing facilities.

David Geenberg, the Co-Head of SVPGLOBAL's North American Investment Team, said, "Associated Materials is a strong business with some of the top brands in North American siding and windows and is well-positioned in home product markets that are seeing very strong demand today. We are excited by the growth and value creation prospects for Associated Materials and look forward to leveraging SVPGLOBAL's experience and relationships in the sector as we support the Company's expansion. It's our privilege to shepherd Associated Materials through the next chapter of the Company's evolution and growth that began with its balance sheet recapitalization in 2020."

Associated Materials President & CEO, Brian C. Strauss, remarked, "Despite the extraordinary macroeconomic challenges faced over the past 24 months, we have successfully managed this business to achieve strong financial results by continuing to serve our customers, support our employees, and partner with our suppliers. We look forward to working with our soon to be new equity holders SVPGLOBAL and will remain focused on continued growth, adding to our legacy of providing the building materials industry with market-leading innovation, products, and services."

Moelis & Company LLC is acting as financial advisor to the Company while Schulte, Roth and Zabel LLP is serving as the Company's legal counsel. Rothschild & Co is acting as exclusive financial advisor to SVPGLOBAL, and Milbank LLP is providing legal counsel.

Financial terms of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in March, were not disclosed.

About Associated Materials

Associated Materials' mission is to create successful partnerships with contractors, builders, distributors, and dealers by providing, installing, and servicing industry leading exterior building products and solutions. The Company helps partners create or restore exceptional residential, multi-family, and light commercial structures that are energy-efficient, comfortable, long-lasting, and beautiful for the home or building owner. The Company operates 11 manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada, which produce vinyl windows, vinyl & composite siding and accessories, and metal building products. The Company also operates over 125 supply centers across the United States and Canada under the Alside and Gentek brands, respectively. For more information, visit associatedmaterials.com.

About SVPGLOBAL

Strategic Value Partners, LLC and its affiliates ("SVPGLOBAL") is a global investment firm that focuses on event-driven, special situations, private equity and financing opportunities. The firm uses a combination of sourcing, financial and operational expertise to unlock value in complex situations. Today SVPGLOBAL manages more than $18 billion in assets under management, and since inception, has invested almost $41 billion of capital, including approximately $17 billion in Europe. The firm, established by Victor Khosla in 2001, has approximately 140 employees, including approximately 60 investment professionals, across its main offices in Greenwich (CT), London and a presence in Tokyo. Learn more at www.SVPGLOBAL.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding this transaction and our future results of operations, financial performance, liquidity and prospects include "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to close the transaction; our ability to retain key personnel and maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties following the transaction; declines in remodeling and home building industries; and the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, industry and the economy generally. Additional information concerning these and other important risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's annual and quarterly reports made available to its lenders and noteholders. While the Company believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, and you are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements.

Media Contacts:

Todd Fogarty, Richard Goldman, Emma Young

Kekst CNC

[email protected]

+1 212 521 4800

SOURCE Associated Materials and SVPGLOBAL
DRAPER, Utah, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnificent winning astrophotography images were made public today, after ASTRO2021: The Competition announced the winners from their first international photography competition, which included both Astronomy and Nightscape divisions. The competition was open from October 25 through November 29, 2021, and sought entries from astrophotographers from around the world.

Entrants from 30 nations on five continents competed in eight categories ranging from Aurora Borealis to Stars and Nebulae. A panel of eight international judges determined the outcome.

ASTRO2021 : The Competition, Grand Prize Winner - Astronomy Division "Lambda Centauri Vortex IC 2944" By Andy Campbell, Australia ASTRO2021 : The Competition, Grand Prize Winner - Nightscape Division "Mountain Basecamp" By Larryn Rae, New Zealand

Save a Star Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit debuted ASTRO2021 : The Competition with the goal of uniting the world's photographers, and photo industry brands, to advance Save a Star's core mission of preserving and reclaiming dark skies.

Save a Star Foundation founder, and astrophotographer, Christine Kenyon, coined the phrase AstroAdvocacy to describe her nonprofit's brand of environmentalism.

With light pollution daily encroaching upon our ability to see the stars, and excessive illumination causing detrimental harm to natural ecosystems, and human health, Save a Star Foundation seeks to harness the spirit, creativity and passion of the global creative community to advocate for smarter lighting.

ASTRO2021 : The Competition was generously supported with nearly $8,000 of prize donations from major photo industry sponsors: Adobe, Really Right Stuff, Irix USA, Bay Photo, Pictureline, PhotoPills, Spencer's Camera, Aputure, Tenba, and Hahnemuhle.

A requirement to participate in the competition included all judges and entrants answering Save a Star's question: Why is it important to you that we preserve and reclaim dark skies for future generations? Many of the answers were poignant, and two answers were chosen among the entrants, to be named Save a Star Ambassadors for their heartfelt responses.

One Instagram post summed up feelings expressed by many who followed the competition since October, "Thanks so much for running a competition on a platform that allows star lovers to come together and help preserve our beloved night sky in unison!"

Please visit: https://www.saveastar.net/astro2021 for the winning photographers and their images.

For more information, or links to winning images (and other digital assets), please contact: [email protected]

Contact: Christine Kenyon

Phone: 801-878-4850

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.saveastar.net

SOURCE Save a Star Foundation
"As a longtime mental health advocate, I recognized the unique impact The Confess Project would have on my constituents' needs," stated District 60 State Representative Kim Schofield. "I am honored to work with a team of Georgia policy makers who prioritize mental health advocacy like Representative Rhonda Burnough, and I am grateful for the instrumental leadership of Representative Sandra G. Scott, who championed providing options for mental health treatment alternatives to imprisonment," Representative Schofield continued.

The Confess Project's new headquarters is designed to increase and sustain capacity; and more effectively serve clients in the Atlanta-metro area. Our model of increased access, advocacy, innovation, and research will help address the mental health needs and promote a healthier Atlanta. "Mental health is critical to our overall health. Unfortunately, in the Black community we have become accustomed to masking our pain and suffering without solutions," said Georgia State Representative and Congressional Candidate, Donna McLeod. "I'm glad that we are addressing this issue in our community and the barbershop is an excellent place to start," continued Representative McLeod.

The Confess Project is pleased to have earned the trust of key mental health advocates and policy makers; and honored to partner with community institutions like The Jessie Parker Williams Foundation, and The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta. "Our new headquarters is uniquely situated to meet the growing need for mental health services and advocacy in the Atlanta-metro area," said Confess Project Founder, Lorenzo Lewis. "Our move is calculated to sustain the quality of service for our clients, and to build capacity to meet demand. We are honored to be Atlanta's partner and trusted mental health advocacy organization," Lewis continued.

Press Inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE The Confess Project
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Corcentric, a global provider of business spend management and revenue management software and services, announced today it has rebranded Vendorin, its B2B payments solution subsidiary acquired in 2020, as Corcentric Payments. Under one unified brand, the company can monetize transactions through payments, supply chain finance, and group purchasing, as well as move payments to electronic forms, increase overall supplier acceptance, and fully automate organizations' accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable (AP) processes.

"Corcentric is relentlessly focused on our customers, which is why we are looking continuously for ways to help businesses reduce costs and unlock new potential through our solutions," said Matt Clark, President and Chief Operating Officer at Corcentric. "As pandemic conditions continue causing companies of all sizes to shift to electronic payments, our combination of a stellar supplier network and an integrated true payment network makes Corcentric a single, formidable force."

51% of CFOs and finance leaders struggle with a lack of payment digitization, which bogs down cash flow processes Tweet this

According to a survey from PYMNTS.com and Corcentric, 71% of CFOs have increased their use of digital payments since the pandemic's onset. Digitizing payments is a key way finance leaders can achieve their companies' top business priorities, finds a Forrester Consulting study commissioned by Corcentricyet over half (51%) of finance leaders say they still struggle with a lack of payment digitization, which can bog down cash flow processes.

Vendorin's rebranding as Corcentric Payments comes a year after the company's unification of source-to-pay software provider Determine, e-billing provider Netsend, and strategic sourcing services provider Source One under the Corcentric nameall former acquisitions.

Today, Corcentric provides a suite of Source-to-Pay and Order-to-Cash solutions along with a proprietary B2B payments network comprising nearly half a million buyers and three times as many suppliers. Through a combination of cloud-based software, payments, and advisory services, the company empowers customers to enable growth, optimize working capital, enhance visibility, and minimize risk, processing over $100 billion in transaction volume annually.

About Corcentric

Corcentric is a global provider of business spend management and revenue management software and services for mid-market and Fortune 1000 businesses. Corcentric delivers software, advisory services, and payments focused on reducing costs, optimizing working capital, and unlocking revenue. To learn more, please visit corcentric.com.

Media Contact: Stacy Bronstein, (267) 807-0164 or [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the transaction among North Mountain Merger Corp. ("North Mountain"), North Mountain Merger Sub Inc., North Mountain Merger Sub II and Corcentric, Inc. ("Corcentric"), the estimated or anticipated future results and benefits of the combined company following the transaction, including the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the transaction, future opportunities for the combined company, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on the current expectations of North Mountain's and Corcentric's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of North Mountain and Corcentric. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Corcentric's businesses and the transaction, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, ability to meet the closing conditions to the transaction, including approval by stockholders of North Mountain and Corcentric on the expected terms and schedule and the risk that regulatory approvals required for the transaction are not obtained or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; delay in closing the transaction; failure to realize the benefits expected from the proposed transaction; a decline in the price of our securities following the transaction if it fails to meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts; the amount of redemption requests made by North Mountain's public stockholders; the ability of North Mountain or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the transaction or in the future; the effects of pending and future legislation; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; business disruption following the transaction; risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial condition and results of operations of North Mountain and Corcentric; risks related to North Mountain's or Corcentric's indebtedness; other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; Corcentric's ability to maintain its current rate of growth; adjusting Corcentric's cost structure to quickly reflect changes in revenues; maintenance and renewal of customer contracts and subscriptions; competition in the software and payments solutions industries; Corcentric's ability to raise additional capital; reliance on Corcentric's relationships with service providers and suppliers; the successful integration of potential targets, products, or technologies; Corcentric's ability to improve its operational, financial, and management controls; Corcentric's failure to offer high-quality customer support; Corcentric's ability to maintain its revenues and margins while offering discounts for its private commerce network buyers and suppliers; Corcentric's failure to maintain and enhance awareness of its brand; Corcentric's failure to maintain contracts with private commerce network solutions buyers and suppliers; increased costs associated with being a public company; the unpredictable sales cycles of Corcentric's end markets; risks associated with Corcentric's brokerage activities as sellers of capital equipment; cybersecurity incidents; ability to prevent fraudulent activities by Corcentric's customers, employees, or other third parties; potential interruptions or delays in third-party services; protection of proprietary rights; intellectual property infringement, data protection, and other losses; compliance with federal, state, and local laws as well as statutory and regulatory requirements; risks of implementing controls and procedures required for public companies following the transaction; and the ability of Corcentric or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities with the proposed transaction or in the future; and those factors discussed in North Mountain's Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020, under Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A and other documents of North Mountain filed, or to be filed, with the SEC.

If any of these risks materialize or if assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that North Mountain or Corcentric presently do not know or that North Mountain or Corcentric currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide North Mountain's and Corcentric's expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. North Mountain and Corcentric anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. However, while North Mountain or Corcentric may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, North Mountain and Corcentric specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing North Mountain's or Corcentric's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the contemplated transaction, North Mountain has filed a preliminary registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the SEC, which included a proxy statement/prospectus, with the SEC. Additionally, North Mountain will file other relevant materials, including a definitive purchase agreement with the SEC in connection with the transaction. A definitive proxy statement/final prospectus will also be sent to the stockholders of North Mountain, seeking any required stockholder approval. This communication is not a substitute for the definitive proxy statement/final prospectus, or any other document that North Mountain will send to its stockholders. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of North Mountain are urged to carefully read the entire Registration Statement and proxy statement/prospectus, when they become available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information about the transaction. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of such documents, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by North Mountain may be obtained free of charge from North Mountain at www.nmmergercorp.com. Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from North Mountain upon written request to North Mountain Merger Corp., 767 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY, 10153, ATTN: Secretary, or by calling (646) 446-2700. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

North Mountain, North Mountain's sponsor, Corcentric and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of North Mountain, in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding North Mountain's directors and executive officers is contained in North Mountain's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period September 30, 2021, which are filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants, the directors and executive officers of Corcentric and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, or transfer of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

SOURCE Corcentric
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BairesDev, a leading technology solutions company, announced the 2021 End-Year Closing of the B-Grants Program. Through B-Grants, BairesDev teams up with client-partners to make donations on their behalf to a curated list of non-profit organizations (NPOs). In the fifth edition of the B-Grants program, the primary focus was to inspire talented young people from underserved communities to pursue careers in STEM. BairesDev believes that with the right resources, confidence, and flexibility, talented young people with limited access to educational resources can thrive in STEM-related professions.

"Immersed in the most transformative industry, we are invested in building a more inclusive space for all. We're passionate about talent and about building the necessary bridges to provide meaningful opportunities for everyone to achieve their true potential."

 Nacho De Marco, BairesDev CEO

We are thrilled to announce that 125 tech companies joined BairesDev's B-Grants Program and supported 25 NPOs, an all-time high of suggested organizations, to spark interest, increase proficiency, and contribute to equitable involvement in STEM. The fifth edition generated an impact that was 2.3 times higher than the last edition and 3.8 times higher than the 2020 End-Year of B-Grants. The shortlisted NPOs benefited at this time focus on facilitating learning environments for young talent to shine.

Geeks Rule: an NPO that uses programming to eliminate racial, gender, and socioeconomic gaps in STEM at underserved secondary schools.

"On behalf of all of us at the Geeks Rule, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation to you for your recent donation and your support. Our mission depends on the support and compassion of donors like you.



We are so grateful for the support! This generous donation will make a big impact on our small organization and will help us carry out our mission. This year will see us adding a new bio afterschool club to our programming and a continued nationwide rollout of our offerings. We just signed up schools in Denver, and are reaching out to schools as far away as Seattle."

 Your friends at Geeks Rule



Kids in Tech: an NPO that empowers children to acquire skills and confidence in technology through interactive after-school programs.

"THANK YOU so much! We appreciate your support of our mission.

Thank you SO much. These funds will make an immediate impact."

- Kids in Tech



SMASH : an NPO that empowers students of color with STEM education, culturally-relevant coursework, and access to resources and social capital.





: an NPO that empowers students of color with STEM education, culturally-relevant coursework, and access to resources and social capital. Ignite Worldwide: an organization that promotes STEM education and career advancement for girls and non-binary youth from historically marginalized communities.

"Thank you so much for selecting IGNITE Worldwide as one of the organizations to benefit from the 2021 B-Grants opportunity. B-Grants is a wonderful example of how companies can share their success by generously donating to organizations working to enhance our communities."

- Ignite worldwide

Best Buddies: an NPO whose mission is to create opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"We are so grateful to your company for this amazing gesture of introduction to our mission. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts."

- Best Buddies

You can learn more about the continued efforts of the B-Grants program here.

SOURCE BairesDev
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Barings, one of the world's leading investment managers, today announced it served as lead agent for a senior secured facility to support private investment firm Graham Partners' investment in Woodland Foods, LLC. Headquartered in Waukegan, IL, Woodland Foods is an established leader in supplying specialty food ingredients and innovative culinary products to the food service, industrial, and retail sectors for more than 30 years.

"Woodland Foods provides Graham Partners with a unique opportunity to invest in a company with a well-established supply chain across five continents and long-term relationships with marquee customers across multiple channels of the food business," said Andrew Snyder, Managing Principal at Graham Partners. "We are glad to have the support of Barings, which has capacity to finance Woodland's future growth initiatives and has been a valued partner to other Graham portfolio companies."

"Barings deeply values our relationship with Graham Partners and appreciates the opportunity to support the investment in Woodland Foods," said Scott Chappell, Managing Director in Barings' North American Private Finance Group. "Woodland Foods maintains a loyal client base through its well-established global supply chain and we are confident that Graham's deep experience across the food industry will help accelerate Woodland's growth trajectory."

About Woodland Foods

Woodland Foods, headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, is a provider of plant-based specialty ingredients, including herbs and spices, rice and grains, and other specialty products such as truffles, chiles, and curries. The company sells into foodservice, retail, industrial, and e-commerce channels across North America. It leverages a robust global ingredient procurement network and strong in-house R&D, processing, quality assurance, and packaging capabilities to bring the flavors of the world to your table. For more information, please visit www.woodlandfoods.com.

About Graham Partners

Graham Partners is a private investment firm focused on investing in technology-driven companies that are spurring innovation in advanced manufacturing, resulting in product substitutions, raw materials conversions, and disruptions to traditional end markets. Graham Partners can offer control or minority capital solutions and typically targets companies with EBITDA up to $50 million. Since the firm's founding in 1988 by Steven Graham, Graham Partners has closed over 140 acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and divestitures. The committed capital raised since inception through the Graham Partners funds together with Graham-led co-investments totals approximately $3.6 billion, which differs from Regulatory Assets Under Management. Investors include high-net-worth individuals, college and university endowments, foundations, public and private pension plans, funds-of-funds, and other institutional investors. Based in suburban Philadelphia, the firm has access to extensive operating resources and industrial expertise and is a member of The Graham Group, an alliance of independent operating businesses, investment firms and philanthropic entities, which all share in the common legacy of entrepreneur Donald Graham. For more information, please visit www.grahampartners.net.

About Barings

Barings is a $391+ billion* global investment manager sourcing differentiated opportunities and building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate, and specialist equity markets. With investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, aims to serve its clients, communities and employees, and is committed to sustainable practices and responsible investment. Learn more at www.barings.com.

*Assets under management as of December 31, 2021

Contact

Cheryl Krauss, Barings, 980-417-5858, [email protected]

22-2007676

SOURCE Barings
MBABANE  A preschool, which is meant to be a sanctuary for minors, has turned out to be a den of sexual violation for a three-year-old girl.

The safety net of the girl fell off as she was allegedly molested by the preschools groundsman, who is estimated to be in his early 30s. The shocking incident allegedly took place on January 20, 2022. The preschool is located not far from the Manzini central business district (CBD), but will not be named in order to protect the survivor. According to *Melos father, he became suspicious after noticing a strange behaviour from his daughter immediately after fetching her from the nursery. He said while in the car, his daughter told him that she could not sit because she experienced pain in her private parts.

Sitting

When she got in the car, I noticed that she did not sit properly. I first thought that she just wanted to stand while we were driving home, but I then decided to ask her why she was not sitting down and that is when she told me that her private area was painful due to an uncle at school who carries two brooms, placing his hands in her private area, he alleged. The father said he then decided to take the daughter to school the following day to enquire more on the matter. He mentioned that as soon as he told the teachers about the issue, they quickly concluded that it was impossible as according to them, the accused was a kind man who did not talk much. He said he then left his child at the school to later find her sitting in a corner alone.

He said as they were leaving the school, the child pointed at the groundsman and told him (father) that it was the uncle who supposedly performed weird acts on her. As we were passing by the man, my daughter repeatedly told me that it was the man who had put his hands in her private parts, alleged the distraught father. The guardian further said it was at that moment that he decided to go to the police station to report the case. Also, he said he took his daughter to hospital three days later, where it was confirmed that she had bruises on her private parts.

He said the doctor also confirmed that the child had been molested. He mentioned that he could not share much details as police were already handling the issue and did not want the investigations to be disturbed.

He also said since the matter was still being investigated, he had not been sending his daughter to school. When reached for comment, the head of the preschool requested not to comment on the matter. She said this was because there were a number of people she had to contact before commenting about it. Can I not comment on the issue. This is because there are a lot of people who first need to address this issue before I respond, she said. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the case. She said they were currently investigating it.

Investigations

A case has been opened and currently we are doing our investigations. No one has been arrested yet. The case is one which needs special care as it involves a minor who we want to ensure does not get traumatised in all of this, she said. Meanwhile, Director of Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Nonhlanhla Dlamini stated that gender-based violence (GBV) needed to be considered as a national emergency and government needed to intervene as according to them, it was on the rise. This is sad and what makes it frustrating is that every day we deal with these cases. Just like HIV, GBV too needs to be a national emergency in order for us to solve it as if we do not, we are creating a generation of angry and traumatised people , she said.

Dlamini requested parents to be observant on the changes in their childrens behaviours as it would be a sign of deeper issues. This publication recently reported on a similar case where a teacher had been arrested for allegedly being caught raping a four-year-old. The incident was said to have happened at Lawuba in the Shiselweni Region. According to the police statements, the minor was heading to the shop and while on her way, she met the teacher who allegedly told her to rush to the shop so that they could walk back together. It was alleged that on her way back, she found the teacher waiting for her under a tree. In the statement, the teacher thereafter told her that he had money he placed under a tree in a nearby forest. They then allegedly proceeded to the tree in the forest and upon arrival; the teacher allegedly raped the minor. According to the police reports, the minor cried and further screamed for help while the accused chocked her. According to the reports, she was heard by her uncle, who proceeded to the direction in which the screams were coming from, where he found the teacher allegedly raping the minor.

Statistics

It should be noted that SWAGAA, in its statistics released last month, revealed that sexual abuse was the second type after emotional abuse in their analysis of services rendered. In the report for December 2021, the organisation analysed statistics which were as a result of psychosocial services rendered to survivors of abuse in four sites: Manzini, Simunye, Hlatsi, and Piggs Peak. This, the organisation stated, also included survivors who received post-abuse care under Insika Yakusasa project. The overview of the statistics reflected that the organisations Counselling Department provided post-abuse care services to a total of 76 clients who reported gender-based violence cases, that is, the client was either sexually, physically, neglect, financially, or emotionally abused. Worth noting in the report was that Manzini had the highest number of post-related cases which was 34 while there were 25 in Hhohho, 10 in Lubombo, and seven in Shiselweni. The analysis also showed that there were 59 recorded cases of emotional abuse, four of neglect, eight of physical abuse and 12 of sexual abuse.
This includes identifying, planning and executing high-impact strategic firmwide initiatives and providing hands-on project execution support including requirements definition, design, issue resolution, quality assurance and procedures documentation.

BBG CEO Chris Roach, MAI, CCIM, commented on Mr. Roy's appointment: "We are pleased to welcome Raj to BBG as we embark on an exciting new chapter of growth in 2022. Raj is a dynamic and highly accomplished professional who has an established track record of delivering significant improvements in business operational performance. We are extremely confident that Raj's unique talents will appreciably strengthen our growth strategies, allowing us to further broaden our market reach and to enhance best-in-class services to our expanding client roster."

Mr. Roy commented on his appointment: "The commercial real estate market is rapidly undergoing transformational change that is improving efficiencies and maximizing values. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to leverage my experience and expertise in helping BBG achieve its continued strong growth required in delivering the best possible client outcomes in this environment."

Before joining BBG, Mr. Roy served as a Vice President at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in Austin. As part of McKinsey's Transformations practice, Mr. Roy consistently delivered revenue growth and other operational improvements for various clients. Mr. Roy previously worked in corporate restructuring with Alvarez & Marsal in Dallas, and in various operational capacities in startups.

He holds both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Columbia University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

About BBG

BBG offers comprehensive due diligence services including valuation, advisory, assessment, desktop evaluation, energy services, cost segregation, zoning, and ALTA surveys. Headquartered in Dallas, the firm has 48 offices in key US markets and more than 2,800 clients. As one of the Big Five national commercial real estate valuation firms, BBG has achieved a reputation for personal attention, on-time delivery and deep expertise in multi-family, office, retail and industrial sectors. For more information about BBG, please visit www.bbgres.com.

Media Contact

Marc Weinstein

Ascent Communications

(908) 967-9958

SOURCE BBG
The family-friendly informational piece is well suited for sharing in pediatrician, family practice, and other medical offices and outpatient therapy clinics; libraries, day care centers and preschools; and all other settings where information is provided to parents and caregivers of young children. The PDF can also be printed and/or distributed electronically through early intervention programs, parent support groups, and other networks.

Be Tech Wise With Toddler! focuses on children ages 1 to 3 years who are in a unique developmental period during which they build the foundational language, learning, literacy, and socialemotional skills they'll need for life. This is also a time when many children begin to use tablets, smartphones, and other screenswhich can interrupt their healthy development.

Available in English and Spanish, the handout covers

daily activities that help parents and caregivers boost their child's brain, communication, and socialemotional development;

official screen time recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics;

the benefits of screen-free timeand how excessive screen use can disrupt a toddler's development; and

tips and advice for creating a healthy technology environment in the home.

"Managing screen time can be one of the more vexing challenges families faceand screen usage contributes to a lot of parental anxiety, guilt, stress, and frustration," said Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD. Dr. Navsaria is a pediatrician, an early literacy advocate, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of WisconsinMadison's (UWM) School of Medicine and Public Health, and an associate professor of human development and family studies at UWM's School of Human Ecology. Dr. Navsaria helped develop Be Tech Wise With Toddler!

He continued: "The pandemic has only heightened this challenge, as parents and caregivers are stretched so thin. So, to help parents balance the very real needs in their life while still protecting and promoting the healthy development of their children, we're trying to educate families about why screen-free time is so critical. Despite advertiser claims, young children don't benefit from electronic devices, apps, or technology-enabled toys. And while screens may seem to solve a temper tantrum or other behavioral issue in the moment, they are just that: a temporary solution. They can make life more difficult in the long run as children increasingly demand themand lose their ability to self-soothe and work through their own emotions in the process. These are skills they will need for life. This resource offers a frame for families to consider as they parent their children at their best moments, worst moments, and every time in between."

ASHA 2022 President Judy Rich, EdD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, commented: "Technology has transformed our lives in so many ways, but one thing that hasn't changed is how children effectively develop their communication, social, and early language and literacy skills.

"The majority of this development occurs in the first 3 years of life. It is fueled by the basicsreading with children; talking with them throughout the day so they are exposed to as much language as possible; giving them ample time to play with blocks, dolls, and other non-electronic toys that let them build their imaginations, social, and language skills; and providing undivided attention as you interact togetherundistracted by screens. These simple exchanges are all vastly superior to anything a screen can provide."

Download Be Tech Wise With Toddler! in English [PDF] and Spanish [PDF]. ASHA and the Screen Time Action Network grant free blanket permission for the handout to be reprinted in any quantity without modificationfor educational purposes.

The resource builds on Be Tech Wise With Baby! (English [PDF] and Spanish [PDF]), which the two organizations released in Fall 2020 to encourage healthy screen time habits from birth.

For more information on children's communication development, visit ASHA's Identify the Signs campaign at www.IdentifytheSigns.org. For more information on children's screen time use, visit www.screentimenetwork.org.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 218,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. www.asha.org

About the Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay

The Screen Time Action Network is a coalition of practitioners, educators, and advocates working to promote a healthy childhood by reducing the amount of time kids spend with digital devices. The Screen Time Action Network is a project of Fairplay. www.screentimenetwork.org/

Media Contact: Francine Pierson, ASHA, [email protected] and 301-296-8715

SOURCE American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Beyond Type 2 will expand to offer resources and content in other languages for everyone impacted by type 2 diabetes. Tweet this

"We launched Beyond Type 2 three years ago to shine a different, more positive light on what it means to live with type 2 diabetes," said T'ara Smith, Senior Project Manager of Beyond Type 2. "Using the power of the type 2 diabetes community, we're able to show it's possible to have happy, healthy lives with diabetes and dismantle stereotypes and stigma associated with this chronic illness. We feel privileged to continue to do this important work for our community."

Beyond Type 2 operates parallel websites and social media channels in English and Spanish, with unique content tailored to each audience. The suite of digital platforms also includes the Beyond Type 2 Community , a closed social network supported by the ADA x BT1 Collab , a partnership between the American Diabetes Association and Beyond Type 1.

Since its launch, the web and social platforms have grown to serve a network of nearly 2 million individuals impacted by type 2 diabetes. Beyond Type 2 en Espanol is the only online platform for Spanish-speaking people with diabetes in the U.S.

"Diabetes resources, news and peer support must be accessible for people around the globe, regardless of language barriers or diabetes type," said Mariana Gomez, Vice President of International Markets. "The rapid growth of Beyond Type 2 en Espanol has demonstrated the need for culturally-relevant diabetes information available in all languages, and we're excited to reach more of those in need."

Beyond Type 2 is grateful for the continued support of Founding Partners Abbott (FreeStyle Libre 2), the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), Lilly (Baqsimi), and Roche Diabetes Care (Accu-Chek).

Beyond Type 2's partners share the program's vision of helping everyone impacted by type 2 diabetes live well today. A type 2 diabetes diagnosis often carries shame and stigma. With the right resources, programs, and power of combined voices, the community can redefine what it means to be a person living with diabetes  of any type.

Beyond Type 2 operates as a platform of registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization Beyond Type 1, whose mission is to improve the lives of those living with diabetes.

Explore Beyond Type 2 at beyondtype2.org and Beyond Type 2 en Espanol at es.beyondtype2.org. Join the Beyond Type 2 community at community.beyondtype2.org.

Media Contact

Kim Pace

[email protected]

About Beyond Type 1

Beyond Type 1 is a nonprofit organization changing what it means to live with diabetes. Through platforms, programs, resources, and grants, Beyond Type 1 is uniting the global diabetes community and providing solutions to improve lives today. Founded in 2015 with a focus on education, advocacy, and the path to cures for Type 1 diabetes, Beyond Type 1 has grown to also include programs for those with Type 2 diabetes. A new model of philanthropy, Beyond Type 1 aims to change what it means to live with chronic illness.

SOURCE Beyond Type 1
Qatar Airways will be the 777-8 Freighter launch customer with a firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more, a total purchase that would be worth more than $20 billion at current list prices and the largest freighter commitment in Boeing history by value. The order also supports hundreds of U.S. suppliers from across 38 states, will sustain more than 35,000 U.S. jobs, and provide the American economy with an annual estimated economic impact of $2.6 billion during the contract's delivery period.

Featuring advanced technology from the new 777X family and the proven performance of the market-leading 777 Freighter, the 777-8 Freighter will be the largest, longest-range and most capable twin-engine freighter in the industry. With payload capacity nearly identical to the 747-400 Freighter and a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the 777-8 Freighter will enable a more sustainable and profitable business for operators.

At the White House, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, His Excellency Ambassador Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of the White House National Economic Council Brian Deese, and Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun joined the formal signing by Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, who reaffirmed the airline's commitment to the 777X family with the record-breaking 777-8 Freighter deal. First delivery of the new freighter is anticipated in 2027.

"Boeing has a long history of building market-leading freighter aircraft and Qatar Airways is honored to have the opportunity to be the launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter, an aircraft which will not only allow us to further enhance our product offering for our customers, but also help us meet our objectives to deliver a sustainable future for our business," said Mr. Akbar Al Baker. "Today marks a great day in the ever-building and strong relationship between Qatar Airways and Boeing. We certainly push Boeing hard to deliver upon our expectations, and the team at Boeing consistently strives to meet and exceed our expectations, giving the opportunity for us to be here today to launch the most significant new freighter aircraft for a generation."

"We are delighted to launch Boeing's next great cargo airplane  the 777-8 Freighter  with Qatar Airways, one of the world's largest cargo carriers and our partner since the airline began operations 25 years ago," said Deal. "Our team is ready to create an airplane that will serve them well for many decades. Qatar Airways' selection of the efficient 777-8 Freighter is a testament to our commitment to provide freighters with market-leading capacity, reliability and efficiency."

Deal added, "We are proud that Boeing provides over 90% of the world's dedicated freighter capacity. With global supply chains under pressure and high demand for e-commerce, the performance and capabilities of the fleet is more important than ever."

Boeing is designing the 777-8 Freighter, the newest member of the 777X family, to maximize efficiency and environmental performance. The widebody family features engineering design improvements and innovative technologies, including a new carbon-fiber composite wing and new fuel-efficient engines. With a range of 4,410 nautical miles (8,167 km), the 777-8 Freighter has a maximum structural payload of 118 tonnes, allowing customers to make fewer stops and reduce landing fees on long-haul routes.

Boeing will build the 777-8 Freighter in its Everett, Wash., factory. The company has invested more than $1 billion into the Everett site to support 777X production and sustain thousands of local jobs for decades to come.

As part of today's agreement, Qatar Airways will convert 20 of its 60 777X family orders to the 777-8 Freighter. Qatar Airways is also ordering two current 777 Freighters  Boeing's best-selling freighter of all time  to capitalize on the buoyant air cargo market. Customers from around the world have ordered more than 300 777 Freighters since the program began in 2005.

Boeing and Qatar Airways also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a firm order of 25 737-10 aircraft and purchase rights for 25 additional airplanes. The total value of this 737-10 commitment is nearly $7 billion at current list prices. The largest model in the MAX family, the 737-10 seats up to 230 passengers in a single-class configuration and can fly up to 3,300 miles. The fuel-efficient jet can cover 99% of single-aisle routes around the world.

"Qatar Airways very much looks forward to adding the 737-10 to its fleet, with this new variant of the 737 being ideally suited to our short-haul network, allowing us an opportunity to further enhance our product offering for our customers, modernize our fleet and operate the most efficient aircraft in its category," said Akbar Al Baker.

"The largest member of the 737 family, the 737-10 is an airplane that offers more capacity, greater fuel efficiency and the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane," said Deal. "We are proud of our partnership with Qatar Airways and honored that this world-class airline continues to put its trust in our Boeing team."

An international carrier with a passenger fleet including Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner airplanes and an all-Boeing cargo fleet of 747 and 777 freighters, Qatar Airways serves more than 140 key business and leisure destinations worldwide.

About Qatar Airways:

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the 'Airline of the Year' at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named 'World's Best Business Class', 'World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge', 'World's Best Business Class Airline Seat', 'World's Best Business Class Onboard Catering' and 'Best Airline in the Middle East'. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021).

Hamad International Airport (HIA), the airline's home and hub, was also announced as the 'World's Best Airport' in the Skytrax 2021 World Airport Awards. HIA has been steadily rising in the 'World's Best Airports' rankings since the start of its operations in 2014.

Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry's first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.

Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 160 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world's leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 60 freighter destinations and 140 passenger destinations utilising freighters, belly-hold passenger flights, passenger freighters and mini freighters. The airline's freighter fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-4 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters, one Airbus 310 freighter and two Boeing 777-300ER mini freighters. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network.

With considerable investments in its products, services, quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability programme WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture.

Contact

Boeing Communications

[email protected]

Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department

[email protected]

Tel: +974 4022 2200

More information

www.boeing.com/freighters

SOURCE Boeing
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Braxia Scientific Corp. ("Braxia", or the "Company"), (CSE: BRAX) (OTC: BRAXF) (FWB: 4960), a medical research company with clinics providing innovative ketamine treatments for persons with depression and related disorders, today provided an update on the Company's leading research role within the psychedelics industry. As the Company continues to focus on developing innovative treatments for depression, including potential ketamine derivatives, Braxia Scientific's team of researchers also continue to carry out multiple psychedelic-based clinical research trials, adding to the Company's large and growing proprietary dataset critical to informing future drug development.

To date, Braxia Scientific has compiled comprehensive health data from administering more than 5,200 ketamine treatments at its network of clinics. Additionally, Braxia Scientific's researchers have published 43 ketamine-related manuscripts in peer-reviewed biomedical journals, and the Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence (CRTCE), a wholly owned Braxia subsidiary, has established a growing database with key clinical outcomes for an ongoing clinical trial evaluating psilocybin-assisted therapy.

"We are tremendously proud of our research team, which includes three individuals ranked among the world's top 20 experts in depression, mood disorders and ketamine research," said Dr. Roger McIntyre, CEO of Braxia Scientific. "With our unmatched human capital, well-established clinical infrastructure and large proprietary health database we believe Braxia Scientific has a distinct competitive advantage among the leading groups endeavouring to develop new psychedelic treatments.

"With this expertise and data, we are well-positioned to enhance our intellectual property, including our work to identify and develop new chemical entities, while providing patients with access to new pathways to treat their mental health disorders."

Building on management's extensive clinical expertise, the Company has expanded the necessary infrastructure to provide innovative interventions that include ketamine, psilocybin and other potential future psychedelics that become available.

The Company also continues to exhibit itself as a leader in the psychedelics industry, establishing treatment protocols and best practice guidelines, including for innovative potential therapies, such as psilocybin. The Company's leadership is illustrated by the publication by the American Journal of Psychiatry of the International Expert Opinion and Implementation Guidance, led by Braxia Scientific's leaders, which outlines Ketamine and Esketamine treatment parameters and sets the standard for the clinical implementation of rapid-acting treatments in persons with treatment-resistant depression.

About Braxia Scientific Corp.

Braxia Scientific is a medical research company with clinics that provide innovative ketamine treatments for persons with depression and related disorders. Through its medical solutions, Braxia aims to reduce the illness burden of brain-based mental disorders such as major depressive disorder among others. Braxia is primarily focused on (i) owning and operating multidisciplinary clinics, providing treatment for mental health disorders, and (ii) research activities related to discovering and commercializing novel drugs and delivery methods. Braxia seeks to develop ketamine and derivatives and other psychedelic products from its IP development platform. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, the Canadian Rapid Treatment Center of Excellence Inc., Braxia currently operates multidisciplinary community-based clinics offering rapid-acting treatments for depression located in Mississauga, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dr. Roger S. McIntyre"

Dr. Roger S. McIntyre



Chairman & CEO

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations, or beliefs of future performance are "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements include statements about the intended promise of ketamine-based treatments for depression and the potential for ketamine to treat other emerging psychiatric disorders, such as Bipolar Depression. Such forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events, or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the failure of ketamine, psilocybin and other psychedelics to provide the expected health benefits and unanticipated side effects, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, municipal, local or other licenses and engaging in activities that could be later determined to be illegal under domestic or international laws. Ketamine and psilocybin are currently Schedule I and Schedule III controlled substances, respectively, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, c. 19 (the "CDSA") and it is a criminal offence to possess such substances under the CDSA without a prescription or a legal exemption. Health Canada has not approved psilocybin as a drug for any indication, however ketamine is a legally permissible medication for the treatment of certain psychological conditions. It is illegal to possess such substances in Canada without a prescription.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the Amended and Restated Listing Statement dated April 15, 2021, which are available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Braxia Scientific Corp.
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The team behind the globally recognized CoinGeek conferences, the biggest BSV Blockchain events in the world, is unveiling its newest incarnation entitled the BSV GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN CONVENTION. As the BSV Blockchain continues to show exponential growth with a huge and diverse range of businesses now building on the set-in-stone underlying protocol, a more all-encompassing title was appropriate.

The first of the events will be held in Dubai in May 2022 and moves the events into a new realm and scale. Focusing, as always, on BSV Blockchain, the world's largest public blockchain by all major utility metrics: data storage and daily transaction volume, scaling ability and average block size.The Global Blockchain Convention (#GBC2022) will bring together brilliant thinkers, industry leaders, product launches and major announcements for a five-day convention including three days of conference and expo. The event will see high profile panels, presentations and discussions alongside a VIP opening event, an exhibition hall, networking events, pitch days and executive lunches, all with the opportunity to tap into the energy and ideas of the growing BSV community and the chance for dialogue with leading members driving the growth of BSV Blockchain technology today. Key industry leaders will attend to share how they are utilising BSV, their future visions for the blockchain and the new products, services and ventures that will shape the landscape going forward.

In the first visit to Dubai, having previously taking in Hong Kong, New York and London (both twice), Toronto, Seoul and Zurich, the Convention will continue to be backed by Ayre Ventures and produced in partnership, and extensively covered and streamed by CoinGeek.

Calvin Ayre, Venture Capitalist, Real Estate Developer, Founder of Ayre Group and CoinGeek, commented: "As BSV has expanded so significantly since the last conference  mostly handling over 2 million transactions a day now  we felt that the Convention needed to offer a wider remit to its delegates. As larger companies and even Governments become interested in the power of the BSV Blockchain the Convention also needed to more directly reflect what is on offer in Dubai this May."

The BSV Enterprise Blockchain can handle almost limitless amounts of data, all immutably stored and at a very low cost  it's about time big business took notice of what BSV can do for them. Unlike the tech behind the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with applications built on the BSV Blockchain the user keeps their data and can even earn from it as a whole new internet (the Metanet). BSV is also the greenest blockchain on the planet as confirmed by CoinCarbonCap and Canadian auditors MNP in their recent report on the subject.

As always, the event will be live streamed for those that cannot make it in person, but we hope to see many of you at the fantastic Grand Hyatt Dubai from May 24th to 26th 2022. For more details click Global Blockchain Convention.

SOURCE BSV Blockchain
The LMXT represents the newest chapter in Lockheed Martin's 60-plus year history of producing and delivering tanker and large aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and multiple operators around the world. Built on the combat-proven design of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), the LMXT leverages known performance and capability insights from the strategic tanker of choice used by 14 nations around the world to currently refuel fighter, transport and maritime patrol aircraft for the U.S. and allied partners. "Over our 50-year history in the U.S., some of our proudest moments have come from supporting our American service members," said C. Jeffrey Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas. "Our U.S. workforce, which is more than 35% military veterans, is eager to see an Air Force tanker join the fleet of Airbus aircraft flying for the U.S. Army, National Guard, Navy and Coast Guard."

With Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor, the LMXT will be built in two phases:

Phase 1: The LMXT is first produced as an A330 airliner at Airbus' Mobile, Alabama , facility, which is where Airbus A320 and A220 commercial airliners are built, beginning with the A320 in 2015.

The LMXT is first produced as an A330 airliner at Airbus' , facility, which is where Airbus A320 and A220 commercial airliners are built, beginning with the A320 in 2015. Phase 2: The second phase of the manufacturing process includes converting the commercial aircraft into the LMXT tanker at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' Marietta, Georgia , facility, which is currently home to the C-130J Super Hercules final production and F-35 Lightning II center wing assembly lines.

Lockheed Martin and Airbus entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 2018 to explore aerial-refueling solutions to address any refueling capacity shortfalls for the U.S. Air Force, with the MRTT at the center of its discussions. The LMXT is a result of this MOA, offering a proven airframe with distinct U.S. Air Force-only capabilities built by a highly skilled American workforce in two states that lead the nation in aerospace manufacturing.

The expansion of work by both Lockheed Martin and Airbus in Alabama and Georgia is a natural progression for the companies, with each having deep roots in both states.



Lockheed Martin's presence in northern Alabama spans more than five decades, with a concentration in the rotorcraft and hypersonics sectors. More than 2,600 Lockheed Martin employees live and work in Alabama. In October 2021, Lockheed Martin opened an advanced production facility in Courtland focused on hypersonic strike production.

More than 5,000 Lockheed Martin employees support work at its Aeronautics facility in Marietta as well as in other facilities in Macon and Kings Bay. A leader in Georgia's aerospace industry, Lockheed Martin's Marietta facility has produced some of the most well-known military aircraft since 1951 to include every production C-130 Hercules (2,600-plus), the C-5 Galaxy/Super Galaxy, the P-3 Orion, the F-22 Raptor and the C-141 Starlifter. More than 4,500 employees currently work at the site.



Lockheed Martin's economic impact across Alabama and Georgia totals more than $8.3 billion annually to include total sales, supplier dollars, employee payroll, taxes and charitable donations. More than 630 suppliers across both states support Lockheed Martin programs. In 2020, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics contributed more than $2.6 million in both states supporting military, education and community-based organizations.

Airbus has been assembling commercial aircraft in Mobile since 2015, and in just the first five years of operation had a total economic impact in Alabama of $1.2 billion and more than 15,000 jobs, through construction and payroll alone. Airbus is also engaged with more than 40 local charitable and civic organizations in the region, investing both time and money in the local community.



The LMXT offers a proven airframe with distinct U.S. Air Force-only capabilities designed to meet operator requirements, with advantages that include:

Significantly improved range and fuel offload capacity over current tankers

A proven fly-by-wire boom currently certified and used by allies to refuel U.S. Air Force receiver aircraft in operations around the world

The world's first fully automatic boom/air-to-air refueling (A3R) system

Operational and combat proven advanced camera and rear vision system

Open system architecture JADC2 systems

Established allied interoperability and resilient global supply chain

A multi-domain operations node that connects the LMXT to the larger battlespace, increasing onboard situational awareness to provide resilient communications and datalink for assets across the force

A permanently installed aeromedevac suite enabling world-class medical care with intercontinental reach

Forklift accessible cargo capacity for six military pallets with weights of up to 70 k /lbs. for austere base support

/lbs. for austere base support Unrivaled persistence in the battlespace and operational performance enabling greater access to non-traditional bases

As the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin works directly to implement U.S. Air Force-specific requirements within the LMXT. For additional information, visit the LMXT website: www.lockheedmartin.com/lmxt.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valentine's Day is a celebration of love. In addition to the hugs and kisses kind, Eli's Cheesecake will share the love with those who keep us safe. For every Valentine's Day cheesecake purchased, Eli's will donate a cheesecake to front line workers at Cook County's John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital in Chicago and Alivio Medical Center in Pilsen.

Heart-shaped cheesecakes, Valentine's Day inspired bite-size chocolate enrobed Cuties...the ultimate box of chocolates, and a fun for the family DIY Cheesecake Dipper Kit highlight Eli's offerings. To order nationwide: shop.elicheesecake.com by 8:00AM CT on February 10, 2022 for Valentine's Day delivery.

Eli's heart throbbing mail order menu includes:

Eli's Valentine's Day DIY Dipper Decorating Kit: Who doesn't love food on a stick?

Includes 6 frozen "naked" Original Plain cheesecake slices on sticks, Belgian chocolate for dipping, and fun decorations. Enjoy frozen.

Eli's Sweetheart Cuties: Bite-sized squares of Original Plain Cheesecake, enrobed in bittersweet chocolate, all dressed up for Valentine's Day! Enjoy frozen.

Heart Shaped Cheesecakes:

Turtle : Caramel cheesecake topped with bittersweet chocolate, caramel and toasted pecans.

: Caramel cheesecake topped with bittersweet chocolate, caramel and toasted pecans. Miniature Belgian Chocolate Hearts (6): M ade with deep, rich Belgian chocolate, topped with a crunchy layer of chocolate and hazelnuts, dusted with imported cocoa.

ade with deep, rich Belgian chocolate, topped with a crunchy layer of chocolate and hazelnuts, dusted with imported cocoa. I Heart Cheesecake: White chocolate cheesecake topped with whole raspberries.

For high-res images, https://photos.app.goo.gl/qzyzPpDNN9NvrPZD6

In Chicago? Visit Eli's famous bakery for curbside delivery, (6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive in Chicago). Open: Mon-Sat. Pre-order: ehungry.com/ElisCheesecake or call 773-205-3800. Bakery exclusives include raspberry topped heart shaped chocolate cheesecake for two, decorated heart cookies, miniature Belgian Chocolate Cheesecake hearts and more. All sweet treats from $5.00 - $24.99.

About Eli's Cheesecake:

In 1980, Eli Schulman declared cheesecake would be the signature dessert for his legendary Chicago steakhouse, Eli's The Place for Steak. His unconventional fast and hot baking method resulted in the creation of "Chicago style" cheesecake: a beautiful caramelization on the outside and a creamy consistency on the inside, baked on an all-butter shortbread cookie crust. Often referred to as a symbol of Chicago, Eli's is known for creating giant celebratory cakes, like the 2,000 lb. ones for the Inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Eli's is a third-generation family-owned business, hand making all its desserts at Eli's Cheesecake World, located on Chicago's northwest side. Eli's attributes its success to following Schulman's words of wisdom: "Charity will never bust you," and "Treat others as if you were the other."

For: The Eli's Cheesecake Company

6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive

Chicago, IL 60634

SOURCE Eli's Cheesecake
FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Foxit, a leading provider of innovative PDF products and services, helping knowledge workers to increase their productivity and do more with documents, today announced that California Pacific Homes has selected Foxit PDF Editor to improve efficiency, modernize work processes and help reduce unnecessary cost. California Pacific Homes has been designing and building residential homes for over 50 years with a focus on innovation, architectural integrity, extraordinary craftsmanship, and positive connections with its customers.

Poised for growth, the company was tasked with finding a more efficient, enterprise-wide PDF, eSignature and document integration system. They needed a tool that could meet the needs of a 50-person team that regularly interacts with hundreds of contractors and vendors and thousands of homebuyers. In the past, the company had leveraged Adobe Acrobat and Nitro PDF, but both failed to provide California Pacific Homes with a standardized PDF tool that worked efficiently across their document-intensive organization.

"We'd been using a mix of Nitro PDF and Adobe Acrobat, which was not working for us for a number of different reasons," said Dave Tomita, Director of IT for California Pacific Homes. "With Adobe, the solution could not support our engineers in making changes to drawings and with Nitro, although it could theoretically do the task, it was too slow to be a viable option. Just as importantly, both solutions use a subscription-based model, and we were determined to move away from these costly leasing structures."

With those issues in mind, California Pacific Homes turned to Foxit PDF Editor. The company found that Foxit combined the solution set it needed with a no hassle pricing structure that allowed California Pacific Homes to deploy the tool across the entire organization. It was a huge business benefit to have a standardized PDF tool that could work across all functions of the organization, including purchasing, sales with homebuyers, or markups with architecture firms. The solutions eSign capabilities are also a huge benefit to the company in efficiently and securely finalizing contracts with customers.

Foxit PDF Editor, now an all-in-one eSignature and PDF editing solution, empowers knowledge workers to build better smart PDF documents by providing a comprehensive solution that supports the complete document lifecycle (create, collaborate, edit, manage, share, secure, and track usage) in an affordable and easy-to-use application. This results in improved productivity and enhanced document quality. Foxit PDF Editor is available on all operating systems, including macOS and Windows.

Foxit PDF Editor provides unmatched benefits and features to users, including:

Integration of best-in-class, easy-to-use eSignature capabilities to create, edit and sign legally binding documents without leaving their PDF editor

Ability to efficiently collaborate on document creation

Effectively review documents with team members, customers and clients

Easily collect signatures from multiple contacts and manage the signature workflow

Actively monitor the status of all documents and send reminders to collaborators

Manipulate PDF files and pages

Annotate, share, and collaborate with PDF

Create PDF docs, forms, and portfolios

Document accessibility through assistive technology

"I can't overemphasize the huge productivity increase our team has seen since deploying Foxit PDF across the organization," said Tomita. "Foxit's all in one solution has been incredibly beneficial to our team as purchasing and sales agents are able to stay in one solution for all their needs. Foxit PDF Editor has been one of the easiest implementations I've ever had - it's been great."

To learn more about Foxit PDF Editor, please visit: https://www.foxit.com/pdf-editor/

About Foxit

Foxit is a leading provider of innovative PDF products and services, helping knowledge workers to increase their productivity and do more with documents. Foxit addresses the needs of three distinct market segments. For End-User Productivity, Foxit delivers easy to use desktop software, mobile apps, and cloud services to make knowledge workers more productive. Foxit's Developer Solutions enable developers to incorporate powerful PDF technology into their applications. For Enterprise Automation, Foxit provides server software for large scale PDF document management and data capture.

Foxit has over 650 million users and has sold to over 425,000 customers, ranging from SMBs to global enterprises, located in more than 200 countries. The company has offices all over the world, including locations in the US, Asia, Europe, and Australia. For more information, please visit https://foxit.com.

Media Contact:

Kevin Sugarman

[email protected]

408.677.5311

SOURCE Foxit Software
MIAMI, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 28, 2021, Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK) announced (the "Previous Announcement") that Carnival Corporation had filed a prospectus supplement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), under which it may offer and sell shares of its common stock (the "Shares") through its agent, BofA Securities, Inc. (the "Agent"), having an aggregate offering price of up to $500 million, from time to time through an "at-the-market" equity offering program (the "Offering"). As described in the Previous Announcement, Carnival Corporation intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to purchase an equivalent number of Carnival plc ordinary shares (the "Share Purchase Program") and use the remaining net proceeds, if any, from the Offering for general corporate purposes.

The Previous Announcement stated that the Share Purchase Program was expected to end no later than January 31, 2022. Today, Carnival Corporation & plc announce an extension of the Share Purchase Program until April 30, 2022, under the same terms.

PJT Partners continues serving as independent financial advisor to Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc.

All Carnival plc ordinary shares purchased under the Share Purchase Program will be held by Carnival Corporation in accordance with the terms of the articles of association of Carnival plc and will carry no voting rights for so long as they are held by Carnival Corporation or its subsidiaries. None of the purchased ordinary shares of Carnival plc will be cancelled or held as treasury shares.

The Offering has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-252433 and 333-252433-01) filed by Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc with the Commission on January 26, 2021. The terms of the Offering are described in the prospectus dated January 26, 2021, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated June 28, 2021.

This Announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Shares under the Selling Agreement (as defined below) nor shall there be any sale of such Shares in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. In connection with the Offering, on June 28, 2021, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc entered into a selling agreement (the "Selling Agreement") with the Agent. The Selling Agreement contains customary representations, covenants and indemnification provisions. A copy of the Selling Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc with the Commission on June 28, 2021, and the descriptions of the material terms of the Selling Agreement in this Announcement are qualified in their entirety by reference to such Exhibit.

A copy of the prospectus supplement is available for inspection at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM. A copy of the prospectus supplement and the Current Report is also available in the Investor Relations section of the Carnival Corporation & plc website at wwww.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com, within SEC Filings under the Financial Information section.

SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global health service company Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) announced that seasoned health care executive Charles "Chuck" Berg joined the company as President, U.S. Government Business and Senior Advisor today. In this role, Mr. Berg will guide the expansion of Cigna's Medicare Advantage and Individual & Family Plan businesses. He will also join the company's Enterprise Leadership Team, reporting directly to David Cordani, Cigna Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"Within our portfolio of government businesses, we have significant runway for growth. Under Chuck's leadership, we will bring a sharp focus on our strategy through continued geographic expansion, leveraging Evernorth's industry-leading capabilities, and product suite enhancements to help people achieve their health and well-being goals," said Mr. Cordani. "I look forward to working closely with Chuck and am confident he will be a valuable asset to our team as we realize our vision to transform health care."

Mr. Berg has served as Executive Chair of DaVita Medical Group, a leading value-based medical group that was acquired by Optum, and as Executive Chairman of WellCare Health Plans, a provider of managed care services for government-sponsored healthcare programs. Prior to WellCare, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Health Plans, and became an executive at UnitedHealth Group following its acquisition of Oxford. Mr. Berg also serves on the Board of Directors for numerous health care companies, including DaVita Inc., CareCentrix and Talkspace, among others. Additionally, he is a member of the Operating Council of Consonance Capital Partners, a healthcare-focused private equity firm.

"I am excited to be joining Cigna at this pivotal time to lead the company's government-sponsored health care businesses, building on the strength of their deep network of provider relationships, high consumer ratings, and a wide range of best-in-class, affordable products for seniors and local market exchange customers," said Mr. Berg. "The highly talented and motivated individuals supporting these businesses are relentlessly focused on our customers, and I'm honored to be working alongside them."

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth companies or their affiliates, and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 190 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

Media Contact

Justine Sessions

[email protected]

860-810-6523

SOURCE Cigna
BEIJING, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following article was published today by China Daily

China will definitely maintain its charm as a favorite investment destination for multinationals, thanks to the country's continuous drive of opening-up, global business leaders and economists said on Saturday.

Given that China is further expanding market access and pursuing high-quality growth, the country will bring more exciting business opportunities to global companies, and the only question left will be how to seize these golden chances, they said.

They made the remarks while addressing a China Daily-hosted forum titled CEO: Growing with China and themed New Year, New Opportunities.

China's opening-up policy has presented new opportunities for foreign financial institutions like Swedish bank SEB, with removed foreign ownership caps in many areas of the financial sector and expanded business scopes for foreign institutions, said Peter Ling-Vannerus, chief representative of SEB Beijing.

He added that one area presenting a huge opportunity for his company and his clients is the green transition that China is going through.

As part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China has stressed at multiple top-level meetings that it will continue to expand opening-up. The Central Economic Work Conference, for instance, has pledged further opening-up at the institutional level, fairer treatment for foreign companies and steps to attract more multinationals.

Ibrahim Chowdhury, the World Bank's acting lead economist for China, said maintaining an outward orientation and continuing the process of opening-up will serve as key drivers of the nation's high-quality growth transition.

China has made a lot of progress in opening up the economy and it is sensible to further open up such services sectors as professional services and IT-enabled services, which will help spur innovation, boost employment and lift economic growth, Chowdhury said.

"China is a very important market for us and we will continue to be there," said Julian MacCormac, country director for China at Rolls-Royce, a British giant in power and propulsion systems.

The company has long-term confidence in China's aviation market, which is expected to become the world's largest one. Also, high-quality growth of China's economy will translate into a growing middle-income group and rising demand for products provided by Rolls-Royce, according to MacCormac.

Similarly, Guy Dru Drury, chief representative of China NE SE Asia for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), commented that China's strong consumer base and improvements in business environment have underpinned CBI member companies' long-term optimism in the Chinese market.

Particularly, the country's progress in strengthening intellectual property protections has been very "encouraging" for British small and medium-sized CBI member companies, Drury said, as these efforts have lifted the efficiency of patent registrations and cracked down on IP infringements.

Business leaders and experts also noted at the forum that there remains ample space for cooperation between the world's two biggest economies and the so-called decoupling between China and the United States, if realized, will be very costly for both sides and the world as a whole.

The forum, aimed at providing a platform for multinationals to exchange ideas and explore new business opportunities in China, was organized by China Daily's business news department and www.chinaservicesinfo.com, a platform aiming to provide foreigners with services related to investment, study, travel, work and living in China.

By Zhou Lanxu | chinadaily.com.cn

SOURCE China Daily
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cipia (TASE:CPIA), an AI computer vision in-cabin automotive solutions provider, today announced that the company was awarded two new models with a leading Chinese OEM. As part of the collaboration, Cipia's leading Driver Sense Driver Monitoring Solution (DMS) will be integrated in the new models. The deployment will utilize an IR sensor placed above the steering wheel column, running on the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin System on Chip (SoC) with commercial production (SOP) for the models expected for later this year.

"With these new models, we continue to grow our strong presence in the Chinese automotive market," said David Tolub, CEO of Cipia. "Repeat customers are always a testament to the quality of the product provided, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work with our partner on these new projects. We look forward to more opportunities to collaborate further in the future."

The latest models increase the total number of design wins for Cipia to 23 vehicle models (Design Wins), on 7 different platforms across five car manufacturers. Cipia's customers include an electric car manufacturer in the US, SAIC Motors, an American car brand in China and two additional leading car manufacturers in China.

China's automotive market has been growing steadily over the past two decades, with an estimated 25 million new vehicles manufactured in China in 2020, more than the US and the EU combined. The Chinese market is Brands designed for the international market. Over the past few years, Chinese car manufacturers have begun to acquire international car brands and produce cars targeted at western markets.

The computer vision and artificial intelligence technology that underlies Cipia's Driver Sense system analyzes infrared images to assess driver behavior. The DMS tracks facial features and identifies visual cues from the driver such as eyelid openness, pupil dilation, gaze vector and more, to detect signs of fatigue or distraction behind the wheel. When detected, the Driver Sense system will alert the driver to re-engage their attention and prevent dangerous accidents.

About Cipia:

Cipia is a leading provider of intelligent sensing solutions that use edge-based computer vision and AI for safer and better mobility experiences. The company focuses on the automotive in-cabin environment, offering Driver Sense - driver monitoring system, Cabin Sense - occupancy monitoring systems and Cipia-FS10 - a driver monitoring and video telematics device for fleets. Over a decade of research and development stands behind the company's proprietary market-leading computer vision technology. Cipia is constantly pushing the boundaries of what intelligent sensing solutions can see and accomplish, for better and safer mobility.

Cipia Media Contact:

Lazer Cohen

[email protected]

347-753-8256

Cipia Company Contact:

Liat Rostock

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1361126/Cipia_Logo_v1.jpg

SOURCE Cipia
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Vault Holdings Inc., leading the way in tokenomics and metaverse data visualization, valuation, and monetization, today announces a deal with leading international cryptocurrency exchange Coinfield, which has established users within 187 countries and has an average daily trade volume of $33 million per day. Coinfield will leverage patented tools provided by Datavault that enable end users to mint their own crypto tokens and market them through its leading global exchange. Datavault's patented technology will provide Coinfield's NFT exchange with robust tools for both the creation and monetization of NFT assets.

In the evolution of the cryptocurrency market, NFTs surged to $10.7 billion in Q3 2021, more than eight times the sales volume in Q2 2021. Datavault technology is strategically positioned to tap into the vast opportunities within this emergent market, and its value is unlocked inside the scale and volume that Coinfield has established within traditional cryptocurrency trading. The combination of both Coinfield's existing and growing user base and Datavault's NFT platform creates the largest and most technically equipped NFT exchange ever built.

"While NFTs have existed for a number of years, the market is still very nascent. It is only within the last two years that NFTs have experienced tremendous growth and interest from sectors both fringe and mainstream. For those of us dedicated to the advancement of data transformation, who have predicted the financial and societal benefit of data autonomy for years, the explosion of NFT creation and trading in 2021 is a watershed moment for the data industry. Our empowerment of Coinfield with our patented NFT platform will create minting, management and monetization capabilities that are second to none. This new Coinfield NFT Exchange powered by Datavault will augment the company's profitability within the growing metaverse," states Nathaniel Bradley, co-founder and CEO of Data Vault Holdings.

Coinfield currently serves 240,000+ users and anticipates a substantial increase in trading volume with the onboarding of 9 to 10 million mobile and trading platform users from Tingo Mobile, a leading agri-fintech business based in Africa. As a fully regulated crypto-to-fiat exchange, Coinfield provides access to more than 20 of the most popular digital assets that include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), and now through Datavault, non-fungible tokens (NFT's). Coinfield also serves as an on and off-ramp for major fiat currencies USD, EUR, GPB, JPY, CAD, and AED. In 2021, Coinfield serviced $17 billion in transactions. The exchange can also sustain 10,000 orders per second.

The introduction of an NFT exchange powered by Datavault will allow Coinfield users to monetize individual data assets. These assetswhich may include but are not limited to art, GIFs, video highlights, collectibles, avatars, music, or tweetswill be transformed into one-of-a-kind digital items to buy, sell or trade through the Coinfield NFT Exchange, powered by Datavault.

Benefits of NFT creation through Coinfield include value preservation, increased liquidity through decentralized finance (DeFi), enhanced security through blockchain technology, and authenticated, immutable ownership.

The Coinfield NFT Exchange powered by Datavault will enable consumers to take advantage of this new asset class. This agreement represents a leap forward in providing companies with the suite of crypto technology tools needed to access the full potential within the metaverse.

About Coinfield

Launched in 2018, Coinfield is a leading international cryptocurrency-to-fiat exchange that serves more than 187 countries worldwide. Its digital currency trading platform enables fast trading, a diverse portfolio, a refined user experience, and first-rate security through blockchain technology and encryption. Coins traded include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), EXP (XRP), Stellar Lumens (XLM), Litecoin (LITC), and more. Coinfield follows regulatory and compliance guidelines under license number FVT000111 as supervised by the Financial Intelligence Unit. Learn more about Coinfield here .

About Data Vault Holdings Inc.

Data Vault Holdings Inc. is a technology holding company that provides a proprietary, cloud-based platform for the delivery of branded data-backed cryptocurrencies. Data Vault Holdings Inc. provides businesses with the tools to monetize data assets securely over its Information Data Exchange (IDE). The company is in the process of finalizing the consolidation of its affiliates Data Donate Technologies, Inc., ADIO LLC, and Datavault Inc. as wholly owned subsidiaries under one corporate structure. Learn more about Data Vault Holdings Inc. here .

Company Contact:

Data Vault Holdings Inc.

48 Wall Street, Floor 11

New York, NY 10005

1-844-DATA-400

Media Contact:

Angry Apples Marketing

1-844-GO-ANGRY

[email protected]

www.goangry.com

SOURCE Data Vault Holdings Inc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Core Health & Fitness LLC of Vancouver, Washington, has agreed to pay a $6.5 million civil penalty. The settlement resolves CPSC's charges that Core failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law, that its Cable Cross Over Machines and Dual Adjustable Pulley Machines contained a defect or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury.



https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2022/Core-Agrees-to-Pay-6-5-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Report-Serious-Injuries-Involving-its-Exercise-Equipment

CPSC charged that Core had information that the height adjusting carriages on the machines can loosen and fall, posing serious impact injury hazards to the user. Core received reports of 55 incidents involving falling carriages, including 11 incidents that resulted in head lacerations requiring stitches or staples, but Core did not notify the CPSC immediately of the defect or risk.

Core recalled the Cable Cross Over Machines and Dual Adjustable Pulley Machines on July 12, 2017.

In addition to paying the $6.5 million civil penalty, Core has agreed to maintain an improved compliance program to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Core will also maintain a related system of internal controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Core to the Commission is recorded, processed and reported in accordance with applicable law.

The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission by a 4-0 vote.

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products for nearly 50 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For lifesaving information:

- Visit CPSC.gov.

- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.

- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.

- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.

- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).

- Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 22-063

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Day of Shecurity (DOS) is one of the leading global conferences focused on bringing together women working in or desiring to work in cybersecurity. Going virtual in 2021 has enabled DOS to build a global community and include speakers from around the world, at varying career levels. The goal of DOS is to create an event where women can build a cybersecurity community and feel empowered to start or continue their work in the industry, even if they're the only woman in their organization.

October 2021 DOS Conference Sponsors

"All the presenters were so prepared, smart, entertaining and empathetic, I didn't know this was possible. ...the women in my org are so swamped and isolated, and worried for their jobs that we don't talk to one another. I didn't know that there was (sic) different or better [workplace cultures for women] available."

In response to the ever-growing field of cybersecurity and the need for more talent and to diversify workforces, Day of Shecurity held a second virtual conference on October 28 and 29, 2021 with over 750 people attending. Of the online registrations, 73% were first-time attendees. Attendees had a range of career experiences, both within and outside of cybersecurity. 43% of registrants had ten or more years of general career experience, whereas 62% of registrants identified as not being in cybersecurity yet, or, having less than two years experience in cybersecurity.

"It's amazing to see such a diverse and strong group of women. I'm used to being surrounded by men. I feel like I found a lot of good resources here."

The October Day of Shecurity presented three keynotes , including a panel discussion of women Chief Information Security Officers (CISO), 48 speakers , and 41 talks . The sessions fit within the categories of Cybersecurity Careers, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership, Cybersecurity Beyond Engineering, and Technical/Engineer-Focused. 26 sponsors made this event possible with their financial contributions and donations of training and services.

Founding Sponsors: Lookout & Secure Diversity

VIP Sponsors: Auth0 , AWS , Boston Cybernetics Institute , CyberSN , Snyk

Gold Sponsors: Autodesk , Canva , Google , & Gusto

Silver Sponsors: Datadog , Netflix , Recorded Future , Stripe , & Twilio Segment

Bronze Sponsors: Airbnb , Benchling , Chime , CyberSaint Security , One Medical , Plaid , Pluralsight , & Sans Cyber Immersion Institute

In-Kind Sponsors: Rainbow Secure , We Hack Purple , & Wehmeyer & Associates

Plans are underway for future Day of Shecurity conferences in 2022. We have plans to do some in-person events and will shift to virtual if COVID cases dictate that need.

2022 dates are:

San Francisco, In-Person: TBD, Location TBD

Virtual Event: Wednesday, May 11, 2022, Hopin Platform

Boston, In-Person: September 2022, Location TBD

" [F]or almost every two cybersecurity jobs in the United States today, a third job is sitting empty because of a shortage of skilled people ." It's crucial that cybersecurity hiring managers look at what's required and what can be taught to fill these gaps. The number of open cybersecurity roles is compounded by the lack of entry-level jobs within the industry. To address training and diversity needs, Microsoft has partnered with US community colleges . Not only is there a large number of job openings, but there is still a lack of diversity.

Day of Shecurity is a free-to-attend interactive conference that originally launched in 2017 at Lookout headquarters in San Francisco for women in technology interested in cybersecurity. Day of Shecurity launched in Boston in 2019, Toronto in 2019, and has now hosted two virtual, location-agnostic conferences. The event is an effort by Secure Diversity, Lookout and the Lookout Foundation, Day of Shecurity Core Team, and various organizations that believe that diversity & inclusion matter in our industry.

For more information, email [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Media contact:

Kelly Thibault

[email protected]

510-847-8478

SOURCE Day of Shecurity
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX: DML) (NYSE American: DNN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Laurie Sterritt to the Board of Directors and Mr. Kevin Himbeault to the position of Vice President of Plant Operations & Regulatory Affairs. View PDF version

Ron Hochstein, Chair of the Board of Denison, commented, "We are pleased to welcome Laurie Sterritt to the Board. Laurie has over 25 years of experience in the fields of Indigenous, government, and community relations and a passion for influencing diversity and inclusion within corporate Canada. Given Laurie's tremendous experience, we are gratified that she has agreed to join our Board of Directors, particularly at this critical time of growth for the Company."

Mr. Cates, President & CEO of the Company, further commented, "We are also quite pleased to have Kevin Himbeault join the Denison leadership team. Kevin has extensive senior experience in the operation and oversight of Athabasca Basin uranium processing, as well as the critically important area of licensing and regulatory affairs for uranium processing operations in Canada. Kevin joins Denison at an exciting time, as his unique industry knowledge and practical experience will provide immediate value to our Feasibility Study efforts for our flagship Wheeler River project, as well as support the ongoing development and growth of our Saskatoon-based technical team."

This press release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2021 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated September 16, 2021.

Ms. Laurie Sterritt - Director

Laurie Sterritt is a Managing Director at Leaders International, an executive search firm in Canada. In 2018 and 2019, Ms. Sterritt hosted and produced the first-of-its-kind Indigenous Women's Leadership Summit (IWLS), with a mandate to inspire and uplift Indigenous women throughout their personal and professional journeys. Prior to that, Ms. Sterritt developed and implemented the Indigenous Employment and Business Development strategy for BC Hydro and led the start-up and growth of the Aboriginal Mentoring and Training Association (AMTA) and its subsidiary social enterprise, First Resources Impact Ventures (FRIV).

Ms. Sterritt is a member of the Kispiox Band of the Gitxsan Nation and has been recognized for her commitment to creating respectful and inclusive workplaces and, most notably, was a nominee for the 2013 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. Ms. Sterritt formerly held Board roles with the Canadian Centre for Arts and Technology (CANCAT), the Real Estate Council of BC, the Industry Training Authority of BC and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Ms. Sterritt holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate in Professional Fund Raising from the University of Indiana.

Mr. Kevin Himbeault  Vice President Plant Operations & Regulatory Affairs

Mr. Himbeault will be based in the Company's Saskatoon office and will be tasked with oversight of all matters related to process plant operations and regulatory affairs (including environmental assessments, licencing, quality, as well as health and safety) for Denison operated uranium development projects and the Company's minority interests in operating facilities.

Mr. Himbeault has significant operational and regulatory experience, with over 25 years of diverse involvement in the mining industry through consulting and operations management.



In previous roles, Mr. Himbeault has been responsible for substantial improvements in mining and processing facilities, to ensure sustainability of operations, and has successfully facilitated environmental assessments in both the uranium and diamond mining sectors. During his 18-year career with Cameco Corporation, Mr. Himbeault led the Key Lake Operation through multiple relicensing processes and spearheaded the development and approval of the environmental assessment for the Key Lake Extension Project. With over 14 years of direct experience at the Key Lake Operation, his responsibilities have included senior management leadership for plant operations (including uranium processing, site infrastructure services, maintenance, and recent automation initiatives), as well as oversight of the development of safety, health, quality, and radiation protection programs. Mr. Himbeault most recently held the position of Operations Manager at the Key Lake mill and holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Toxicology from the University of Saskatchewan.

About Denison

Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company has an effective 95% interest in its flagship Wheeler River Uranium Project, which is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan. Denison's interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5% ownership interest in the McClean Lake joint venture ("MLJV"), which includes several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill that is contracted to process the ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits, and a 66.90% interest in the Tthe Heldeth Tue ("THT", formerly J Zone) and Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake property. Each of Midwest Main, Midwest A, THT and Huskie are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill.

Through its 50% ownership of JCU (Canada) Exploration Company, Limited, Denison holds additional interests in various uranium project joint ventures in Canada, including the Millennium project (JCU 30.099%), the Kiggavik project (JCU 33.8123%) and Christie Lake (JCU 34.4508%). Denison's exploration portfolio includes further interests in properties covering ~280,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin region.

Denison is also engaged in mine decommissioning and environmental services through its Closed Mines group (formerly Denison Environmental Services), which manages Denison's Elliot Lake reclamation projects and provides third-party post-closure mine care and maintenance services.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: the anticipated role and objectives to be achieved with the creation of the Vice President Plant Operations & Regulatory Affairs position and the appointment of Kevin Himbeault; and Denison's percentage interest in its properties and its plans and agreements with its joint venture partners.

Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward looking information.

For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the factors discussed in Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2021 under the heading "Risk Factors". These factors are not, and should not be construed as being exhaustive.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking information and the assumptions made with respect thereto speaks only as of the date of this press release. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this press release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in Denison's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation.

SOURCE Denison Mines Corp.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Insurance pulled back a policy to delete agency email databases days after Consumer Watchdog warned it would go to court to stop it. Emails that are the subject of Consumer Watchdog's ongoing Public Records Act litigation against Commissioner Lara and the Department could have been deleted from the servers and lost forever.

The records are essential to ensuring that insurance companies are living up to their promises to consumers, according to whistleblowers in the Department who alerted Consumer Watchdog to the policy change.

Consumer Watchdog sent Commissioner Lara a letter last Monday, noting that when a government agency "is aggressively destroying its email, it appears to be trying to hide something." By Thursday, the Department's IT committee terminated the program on the grounds that it was "not workable."

The email deletion program was initially proposed shortly after Consumer Watchdog sought records regarding a government corruption scandal involving insurance companies that contributed to Commissioner Lara's 2022 re-election campaign. Read Jeff McDonald's weekend story in the San Diego Union Tribune.

As noted in the letter, "[t]he timing and manner of the policy's implementation creates the appearance of impropriety and is ripe for abuse. This can only be avoided by immediately suspending the program's implementation. Short of a commitment from you to suspend the program and retain all email communications, Consumer Watchdog will have no choice but to bring this matter to the attention of the court."

According to an agency FAQ provided to Consumer Watchdog by concerned employees, the new policy went into effect on January 1, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, email records would have been deleted on a rolling basis 180 days after they are sent or received unless manually archived.

In addition to contradicting Lara's pledge of "transparency" in response to the pay-to-play scandal, email deletion programs such as Lara proposed are a gift to bad acting insurance companies.

According to the letter, "[a]part and aside from the mischief it would cause to public records litigation, the new policy is particularly inappropriate for a large, consumer-facing agency like yours that oversees essential services. Email archives provide a critically important record for government regulators and lawyers to bring enforcement actions against bad actors, including by providing crucial documentary evidence. Consumer complaints that span many years, for example, are a primary catalyst for the market conduct studies your agency carries out against abusive insurance company practices. Yet, under the new policy, emails will be automatically deleted within six months unless manually archived by staff. At minimum this policy could lead to inadvertent deletion, and at worst be subject to abuse by leaving it to individuals, who may have an interest in shielding emails from public disclosure, to affirmatively act to archive messages within a relatively short period of time."

Consumer Watchdog warned that other agencies should take note of Lara's reversal and avoid adopting similar policies. Consumer Watchdog also called on the Legislature to adopt a new law to require state agencies to retain all records for a minimum of 2 years, as counties and cities are already required to do.

Consumer Watchdog's Public Records Act lawsuit seeks communications and records of meetings with individuals representing the workers' compensation insurer Applied Underwriters. New evidence has recently come to light that Insurance Commission Lara and Department Special Counsel Bryant Henley hid communications with two former lawmakers-turned-lobbyists hired by Applied, including Lara's friend and political mentor Fabian Nunez and former Assembly Member Rusty Areias.

More information about the pay-to-play scandal is available here.

Consumer Watchdog is a non-profit and non-partisan consumer advocacy organization. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ConsumerWatchdog.org

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dilweg has debuted a brand refresh following more than two decades of success in commercial real estate throughout the Southeast. Formerly known as The Dilweg Companies, the Durham-based firm shortened its name to Dilweg as a reflection of the company's proactive, forward-thinking approach. Dilweg has carried its new positioning across all parts of its brand identity, emphasizing its commitment to both investors and tenants as a unified, integrated partner.

"Much has changed since the early days of Dilweg, and we have proven our ability along the way to continuously pivot and strengthen our business, said Anthony Dilweg, CEO and founder of Dilweg. "Even as we've grown, we have remained true to the Dilweg difference and our corporate vision to offer a hands-on, agile approach. Our refreshed core values encapsulate all that we've accomplished and what we are committed to achieve moving forward.

Dilweg partnered with Atlanta-based Caravan Marketing and Eckel & Vaughan in Raleigh, North Carolina, to bring its vision to life. Eckel & Vaughan led the website rebuild and conceptualized Dilweg's logo as the signature visual identity, designed to convey a sense of simplicity and precision. Caravan Marketing rounded out the project with updated brand guidelines, a fresh color palette, and key messaging that, together, helped reintroduce Dilweg as a forward-minded thought leader in the real estate investment industry.

Last year, Dilweg deployed nine dispositions totaling $227 million despite economic challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in these transactions were two milestone deals: the $52.5 million sale of 250 East Ponce in Atlanta and the $66.25 million sale of a nine-building office portfolio in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina, known as 52 North and Macgregor Yards respectively. With the return from these sales, the firm strategically reinvested the funds into two new acquisitions in Atlanta. Additionally, Dilweg rolled out a new integrated investor platform called Juniper Square to keep all investors informed efficiently and effectively.

Dilweg has established its position as an industry leader in commercial real estate investment, concentrating acquisitions on office buildings within growth metros, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, and Raleigh-Durham. Dilweg currently has 20 properties in its portfolio spanning a total of 5.1 million square feet valued at more than $902 million.

About Dilweg

Dilweg is the expert, strategic commercial real estate investment firm that consistently generates risk-adjusted returns for investors by resourcefully uncovering unique opportunities and intently focusing on result-centric execution. With offices in Durham, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Tampa, Dilweg is a full-service real estate organization, whose mission is to deliver long-term value to its investors, tenants, and the community. Since its beginnings in 1999, the firm has acquired more than $1.34 billion in asset value and more than 11.1 million square feet throughout the South. In recent years, the firm shed many of the non-strategic assets and concentrated the majority of acquisitions on office buildings, primarily in the Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Tampa, and Raleigh-Durham metros. In the process, the firm established itself as a high-quality investor and operator of opportunistic and value-added, middle-market ($15 million to $100 million) office assets.

Media Contact

Caravan Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Dilweg
The Dodge brand today announced the winners of Operation 25//8, which gave its fans the opportunity to take home one of 25 Dodge dream cars. Operation 25//8 enlisted a team of 25 ambassadors across automotive, music, sports, fashion, media entities and companies, including Amazon, to each give away a new Dodge dream car during the last eight weeks of 2021.



"From San Diego to Staten Island, and cities all across the U.S., our Dodge enthusiasts came out in full force to tell us why they should take home a Dodge dream car," said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand CEO. "We saw nearly 5,000,000 registrations over the course of the program. And for those who weren't one of the lucky 25, you can take heart by knowing that our search for Chief Donut Maker continues through the end of February."



Fans followed influencers and media entities across their social media platform(s), including YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook, to watch entertaining content and videos promoting Operation 25//8. Each influencer asked fans to tell them, in 250 words or less, why they should be the recipient of a Dodge dream car, a new Dodge Charger, Challenger or Durango, which they could then build themselves. Amazon gave away a Dodge Challenger Hellcat.



Winners (with influencer names in parentheses):

Operation 25//8 led the announcement of the brand's Never Lift plan, which provides a 24-month road map to Dodge's performance future, beginning November 2021.



Part of that two-year plan includes the brand's search for its chief donut maker. Never content to do the conventional, Dodge has created the first-of-its-kind position of chief donut maker, a side hustle that will have heads spinning. When Dodge says donuts, think celebratory car maneuvers, not glazed crullers. And what's not to celebrate? The chief donut maker will be a Dodge ambassador, decked out in Dodge threads, driving a Dodge SRT Hellcat, rubbing shoulders with celebs at epic auto events, leveling up at Radford Racing School, while making a mouthwatering $150,000 paycheck  and they don't even have to quit their day job.



Fans can learn more about the chief donut maker and follow along on the brand's search at www.dodgegarage.com.

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.



Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America's fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.



In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.



Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
Oman and Finland yesterday (January 30) reviewed the bilateral relations and fields of investment and economic cooperation as well as several matters of common interest.



The meeting between Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and the Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade explored the incentives offered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, reported Oman News Agency (ONA).



It also touched on available opportunities in the two countries, particularly in the fields of tourism, industry, research, mining and economic diversification sectors that are targeted by Oman Vision 2040.



Moreover, an agreement of cooperation was signed by companies from both countries, which will contribute in the transfer of knowledge and grooming the skills of Omani youth.
Drillmec has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana, to establish Drillmec International Hub for manufacturing oil rigs and ancillary equipment in Telangana.

Simone Trevisani, CEO Drillmec SpA, said, "We are interested in future investment in the Hydrogen fuel project in India. After considering many offers from various countries, we choose Telangana, India, as it has a progressive industrial policy and is investor-friendly. We will ensure that this manufacturing hub creates employment opportunities for about 2,500 people."

Drillmec SpA is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and supply of drilling and work-over rigs for onshore and offshore applications and a wide range of spare parts for drilling equipment. Drillmec enjoys a worldwide reputation for reliability. Drillmec has delivered close to 600 drilling rigs, developed innovative designs, and acquired global patents.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr K T Ramarao , Minister for Industries, said, "We welcome Drillmec establishes its manufacturing unit in Hyderabad. We will hand over the land and fiscal incentives as soon as possible. We requested Drillmec to bring entire drilling rig ecosystems to Telangana."

Uma Maheshwar Reddy, CEO, Drillmec International, said, "This MoU is the first step towards creating a global manufacturing hub in Hyderabad. It will meet the demands of the worldwide market. We have already had an order book $1bn."

About Drillmec:

Drillmec is a leading OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for land-based drilling rigs. Its onshore rig portfolio comprises drilling rigs in the hook load range of 60 metric tons (66 short tons) to 907 metric tons (999 short tons), including conventional drilling rigs, either swing lift or slingshot, mobile rigs, automatic hydraulic rigs, the HH series and unconventional play rigs such as the STRIKER-800. Drillmec land-based drilling rigs work in harsh climatic conditions and environments and capable of handling the most challenging client drilling programs.

SOURCE Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL)
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ESTE) ("Earthstone" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire the assets of privately held Bighorn Permian Resources, LLC ("Bighorn") located in the Midland Basin (the "Bighorn Acquisition").

The aggregate purchase price of the Bighorn Acquisition is approximately $860 million, consisting of $770 million in cash and approximately 6.8 million shares of Earthstone's Class A common stock valued at $90 million based on a closing share price of $13.25 on January 28, 2021, subject to customary closing adjustments. The effective date of the Bighorn Acquisition will be January 1, 2022, with closing anticipated early in the second quarter of 2022. The cash portion of consideration is expected to be funded with cash on hand, proceeds from a private placement of equity and borrowings under the Company's senior secured revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility"). Earthstone has obtained commitments from its existing lenders to increase the borrowing base and elected commitments under its Credit Facility to a total of $1.325 billion from the current $625 million upon both the anticipated February 2022 closing of the previously announced Chisholm Acquisition and the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition.

Bighorn Asset Highlights:

Average daily production of ~42,400 Boepd (25% oil, 57% liquids) during November 2021 (1)

Asset level projected 2022 Adjusted EBITDAX of approximately $348 million (2,3) with minimal capital expenditures expected

with minimal capital expenditures expected $1.01 billion PDP PV-10 as of 1/1/22 with associated reserves of approximately 106 MMBoe (20% oil, 34% NGL, 46% natural gas) (4) based on NYMEX strip pricing as of January 18, 2022

PDP PV-10 as of with associated reserves of approximately 106 MMBoe (20% oil, 34% NGL, 46% natural gas) based on NYMEX strip pricing as of Low decline PDP asset base, with ~19% forecasted production decline from 2022 to 2023 production

High margin production base with upside potential from operating synergies and reducing lease operating expenses

Approximately 110,600 net acres (98% operated, 93% WI, 99% HBP) in the Midland Basin, primarily in Reagan and Irion counties

and counties 49 gross / 35 net Earthstone identified drilling locations on conservative spacing and economic assumptions

Impact on Earthstone:

Combination with Earthstone (including impact of pending Chisholm Acquisition) is expected to increase net production by ~70%, Adjusted EBITDAX by ~54% and Free Cash Flow by ~194% in 2022 (5) , while only increasing share count by 30%, driving significant per share accretion

, while only increasing share count by 30%, driving significant per share accretion 2022 preliminary estimated combined snapshot (6) :

: - 76,000-80,000 Boepd of production (40% oil, 68% liquids)

- $940 -980 million of Adjusted EBITDAX

-980 million of Adjusted EBITDAX - $410 -440 million of capital expenditures

-440 million of capital expenditures - $480 -520 million of Free Cash Flow

-520 million of Free Cash Flow Leverage neutral transaction maintains conservative balance sheet

- Maintains targeted 2022 Debt / Adjusted EBITDAX of 1.0x or lower

Earthstone anticipates holding production flat to moderate growth on a go forward annual basis based on continuously running the total of four rigs currently being operated by Earthstone and Chisholm in the Midland Basin and the Delaware Basin, respectively

Basin, respectively Mature asset base with ~50% capital reinvestment sufficient to maintain production

Accelerates timing of establishing a shareholder return strategy

Robert J. Anderson, President and CEO of Earthstone, commented, "The transformation of Earthstone continues with the announcement of the significant and highly-accretive Bighorn Acquisition. Combining the Bighorn Acquisition with the four acquisitions completed in 2021 and the pending Chisholm Acquisition, we will have more than quadrupled our daily production rate, greatly expanded our Permian Basin acreage footprint and increased our Free Cash Flow generating capacity by many multiples since year-end 2020. The proximity of the Bighorn assets to existing Earthstone operations positions us to create further value by applying our proven operating approach to these assets, primarily in the form of reducing operating costs. The addition of the high cash flow producing assets from Bighorn to the strong drilling inventory of Earthstone, including the Chisholm Acquisition, furthers Earthstone's transformation into a larger scaled, low-cost producer with lower reinvestment in order to maintain combined production levels.

"Consistent with our track record, we are adding substantial size and scale while preserving our balance sheet strength. The mix of debt and equity utilized for the Bighorn Acquisition was designed to be leverage neutral and maintain our targeted 1.0x Debt to EBITDAX or better.

"We are excited about the future of Earthstone, as we have the size and quality of drilling inventory and magnitude of Free Cash Flow generation to accelerate consideration of shareholder returns, to improve capital allocation efficiency and to continue to be a consolidator of assets in the Permian Basin."

Transaction Consideration and Sources

The consideration for the Bighorn Acquisition consists of approximately $770 million in cash and 6.8 million shares of Earthstone's Class A common stock to be issued to Bighorn, subject to customary closing adjustments.

Earthstone intends to fund the cash portion of the consideration and fees and expenses with cash on hand, new borrowings under its Credit Facility and from proceeds of a concurrent private placement of Earthstone equity, described further below.

Existing lenders under Earthstone's Credit Facility have agreed to an incremental $500 million increase to the borrowing base and available commitments from the total $825 million borrowing base and elected commitments under the Credit Facility in conjunction with the pending closing of the Chisholm Acquisition, bringing the total borrowing base and available commitments to $1.325 billion.

Private Placement of Equity

Concurrent with the signing of the Agreement, Earthstone has entered into an agreement to privately issue $280 million of equity (the "PIPE") with two institutional investors, including affiliates of EnCap Investments LP ("EnCap"), a current beneficial owner of approximately 47% of Earthstone's total Class A and Class B common stock. Funds managed by Post Oak Energy Capital, LP "Post Oak", an unaffiliated party, is the other PIPE investor.

The closing of the PIPE is conditioned upon and will occur concurrently with the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition. Equity issued in the PIPE will initially be in the form of convertible equity that will automatically be converted into 25.2 million shares of Class A Common Stock, including 19.8 million shares to affiliates of EnCap, 20 days after an information statement is mailed to Earthstone stockholders. See "Approvals and Governance" below for more details.

As adjusted for the Class A Common Stock to be issued as partial consideration in the pending closing of the Chisholm Acquisition and for the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition and PIPE, EnCap will beneficially own approximately 44% of Earthstone's total Class A and Class B Common Stock.

Approvals and Governance

The board of directors of Earthstone has unanimously approved the Bighorn Acquisition. Further, given that the private placement is with a related party, the Audit Committee of Earthstone independently reviewed and approved the issuance of equity to EnCap.

The Bighorn Acquisition has been approved by the board of directors and members of Bighorn.

As a result of these transactions, Post Oak will have the right to appoint one individual to the Earthstone board of directors.

Stockholder approval of the conversion feature of the convertible equity and the issuance of Earthstone's Class A common stock upon conversion of the convertible equity was approved by a majority consent action of Earthstone's stockholders on January 30, 2022.

Chisholm Acquisition Update

Closing of the previously announced ~$604 million acquisition of the assets of privately held Chisholm Energy Holdings, LLC located in the northern Delaware Basin of New Mexico (the "Chisholm Acquisition") is anticipated to occur in the middle of February. All required approvals for closing of the Chisholm Acquisition have been obtained and as required at least 20 days prior to closing, Earthstone commenced mailing of a definitive information statement to stockholders on January 25, 2022.

Investor Presentation and Other Details

Please refer to the "Investors" section of Earthstone's website, www.earthstoneenergy.com, for access to a presentation highlighting the Bighorn Acquisition.

Further details of the terms of the Bighorn Acquisition are set forth in the Agreement, which will be filed by Earthstone with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be available for viewing under its profile at www.sec.gov or under the "Investors" section of Earthstone's website.

Advisors

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C served as financial advisor to the audit committee of Earthstone with respect to the PIPE. RBC Capital Markets acted as exclusive financial advisor to Bighorn. Legal advisors included Haynes and Boone, LLP and Jones & Keller, P.C. for Earthstone, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP for Bighorn.

About Earthstone Energy, Inc.

Earthstone Energy, Inc. is a growth-oriented, independent energy company engaged in the development and operation of oil and natural gas properties. Its primary assets are located in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Earthstone is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ESTE." For more information, visit Earthstone's website at www.earthstoneenergy.com.

(1) Earthstone management estimate of Bighorn three stream sales volumes. (2) Based on Earthstone management estimates and strip pricing as of 1/18/2022; excludes general and administrative expenses. (3) Adjusted EBITDAX and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDAX is defined as net (loss) income plus, when applicable, accretion of asset retirement obligations; impairment expense; depletion, depreciation and amortization; interest expense, net; transaction costs; (gain) loss on sale of oil and gas properties, net; exploration expense; unrealized loss (gain) on derivative contracts; stock-based compensation (non-cash); and income tax expense. Free Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDAX (defined above), less interest expense, less accrual-based capital expenditures. (4) PV-10 is a non-GAAP measure that differs from a measure under GAAP known as "standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows" in that PV-10 is calculated without including future income taxes. Earthstone management estimate of proved developed producing reserve volumes and values as of 1/1/2022, discounting cash flows at a rate of 10% and utilizing NYMEX strip prices as of 1/18/2022. (5) Based on Earthstone management estimates. (6) Assumes a full year of production from both Earthstone, Chisholm and Bighorn and NYMEX strip pricing as of 1/18/2022. Expected Earthstone reported 2022 results will be lower based on the timing of the closings of the Chisholm Acquisition and Bighorn Acquisition.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "forecast," "guidance," "potential," "possible," or "probable" or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "will," "should," or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved. The forward-looking statements include statements about the expected benefits of the Bighorn Acquisition and Chisholm Acquisition to Earthstone and its stockholders, the anticipated completion of the Bighorn Acquisition and Chisholm Acquisition or the timing thereof, the expected future reserves, production, financial position, business strategy, revenues, earnings, costs, capital expenditures and debt levels of the combined company, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by Earthstone and its management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to expectations is subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the ability to complete the Bighorn Acquisition and Chisholm Acquisition on anticipated terms and timetable; Earthstone's ability to integrate its combined operations successfully after the Bighorn Acquisition and Chisholm Acquisition and achieve anticipated benefits from it; the possibility that various closing conditions for the Bighorn Acquisition may not be satisfied or waived; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Earthstone, Bighorn or Chisholm; declines in oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas prices; the level of success in exploration, development and production activities; adverse weather conditions that may negatively impact development or production activities; the timing of exploration and development expenditures; inaccuracies of reserve estimates or assumptions underlying them; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices; impacts to financial statements as a result of impairment write-downs; risks related to level of indebtedness and periodic redeterminations of the borrowing base under Earthstone's credit agreement; Earthstone's ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet the internally funded portion of its capital expenditures budget; Earthstone's ability to obtain external capital to finance exploration and development operations and acquisitions; the impacts of hedging on results of operations; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from oil and natural gas operations; Earthstone's ability to replace oil and natural gas reserves; and any loss of senior management or technical personnel. Earthstone's annual report on Form 10-K, and as amended on Form 10-K/A, for the year ended December 31, 2020, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, recent current reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings discuss some of the important risk factors identified that may affect Earthstone's business, results of operations, and financial condition. Earthstone undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Contacts

Mark Lumpkin, Jr.

Executive Vice President  Chief Financial Officer

281-298-4246 / [email protected]

Scott Thelander

Vice President of Finance

281-298-4246 / [email protected]

SOURCE Earthstone Energy, Inc.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Elektra's (BMV: ELEKTRA* Latibex: XEKT) Supervisory Committee appointed Elena Alti Ortiz as the new Chrief Marketing Officer, aiming to continue strengthening the Companys more valuable brands.

Elena Alti will be responsible for reinforcing the value and positioning of Grupo Elektra's brands (Banco Azteca, Italika and Elektra), innovating and coordinating marketing strategies that efficiently communicate - through digital and traditional channels - the value proposition of these companies, for millions of Mexicans, in addition to sharing their purpose, mission and identity.

Elena has more than 25 years of experience leading the marketing and communication areas of major multinational companies and advertising agencies. Throughout her career, she has led marketing projects, brand building, customer experiences and digitization.

She has been distinguished as one of the ten most relevant women in the European marketing and communication industry, by AdAge magazine, and recognized among the 10 best valued professionals in Spain in 2019, by the Agency Scope of the consulting firm SCOPEN.

She holds a degree in Information Sciences and a master's degree in Corporate Communication from the Complutense University of Madrid. Additionally, she has a Master's Degree in Digital Marketing, from The Valley Digital Business School, and in Digital Mindset, from Deusto Business School.

Undoubtedly, with her experience and vision, Elena Alti will help consolidate Grupo Elektra's brands and identity, widely communicating its value propositions and generating happy moments for its thousands of customers.

Press Relations:

Luciano Pascoe

Tel. +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553

[email protected]

SOURCE Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V.
"Luke is well prepared to take on Gary's position as Chief Lending Officer since they have worked in tandem for the past 11 years. His role as Chief Credit Officer has been critical to our continued growth and success as one of the nation's best community banks," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President & CEO of First Financial Bankshares. "His leadership within our lending program and as an executive officer at the bank are strengths that will continue to greatly benefit the Company in this new role. Luke has been part of our executive management team for several years, we welcome him to this new position with the dual role of chief lending and credit officer of the Company."

As Chief Credit Officer, Longhofer has played an integral role in the credit oversight of bank acquisitions, most recently Bryan/College Station in 2020. He also oversaw the execution of the PPP and Main Street Lending Programs, which exceeded $1 billion in funding. He was also instrumental in implementing the CECL adoption for the bank. Before joining First Financial Bank in October 2010, Longhofer served as a Commissioned Bank Examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for more than seven years. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Loan Review at First Financial in 2012, Executive Vice President of Lending in 2015 and Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer in 2018.

He holds a Bachelor of Finance degree from West Texas A&M University and was valedictorian of the 2011 Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) class at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. While attending SWGSB, Longhofer was awarded the James B. Gardner Commerce Street Capital Scholarship, which recognizes participants who attain the highest level of academic achievement and best represent the educational ideals of merit and leadership. He has served on the faculty of SWGSB and is a member of its Alumni Board. Longhofer is a board member of the Texas Bankers Association and has held numerous committee assignments. The organization recognized him in 2019 as an Emerging Leader recipient. Longhofer is active civically as a graduate of Leadership Abilene and is on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star and Abilene.

About First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that through its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates twelve banking regions with 78 locations in Texas, including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Bryan, Burleson, College Station, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, El Campo, Fort Worth, Fulshear, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Kingwood, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Palacios, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising Star, Roby, San Angelo, Southlake, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent, Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with ten locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company. The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com.

SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
SCITUATE, R.I., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers and monitors at First Student of Scituate have unanimously ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 251.

"Congratulations to everyone who stood strong at this location throughout this process," Matthew Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 251. "These workers are part of a grassroots movement of school bus workers who are demanding that they be respected for the essential work they do for communities throughout the state and compensated accordingly."

The newest collective bargaining agreement includes a number of improvements that bring the drivers and monitors up to the wage and benefit standards enjoyed by other First Student workers represented by Local 251. The victory is the latest in a string of recent successes for Teamster school bus workers in the Ocean State. Last week, Durham Smithfield workers ratified their first contract. Within the past three years, school bus workers in Pawtucket, Warren, Portsmouth, Coventry and East Providence have all ratified agreements with Local 251 that have significant improvements. On the legislative front, Rhode Island Teamsters successfully lobbied for the passage of H6118A and S635A, which improves job protections for school bus workers.

Liz Taylor served on the negotiating committee and she's worked at the First Student Scituate location for over twenty years.

"We are very happy that we finally came to an agreement with First Student after a lengthy negotiation process," Taylor said. "We feel like we will finally start to be treated fairly."

Teamsters Local 251 represents over 6,300 workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, including approximately 1,000 school bus workers in Rhode Island. For more information, go to https://teamsterslocal251.org/.

Contact:

Matt Taibi, (401) 434-0454

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 251
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) announced today that its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held via live webcast on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Instructions for accessing the webcast will be available on the company's Investor Relations website, located at https://investors.fmc.com.

About FMC

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions  including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture  enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 6,400 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Currently, one of the most significant factors is the potential adverse effect of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance of FMC, which is substantially influenced by the potential adverse effect of the pandemic on FMC's customers and suppliers and the global economy and financial markets. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts us will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. Additional factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements included within FMC's 2020 Form 10-K filed with the SEC as well as other SEC filings and public communications. Moreover, investors are cautioned to interpret many of these factors as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE FMC Corporation
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FreeCast is announcing a partnership with Didja, Inc. to offer live local broadcast TV to SelectTV customers via LocalBTV. LocalBTV is now available in 21 US television DMAs s including New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston, Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Nashville, and many others. Didja expects LocalBTV to be available in 70 to 100 markets by the end of 2022. By making over-the-air broadcast TV available digitally, the LocalBTV offering solves an ongoing problem for cord-cutters who have long sought to access both web-based streaming content and their free local broadcast TV channels together.

FreeCast has been well aware of this challenge, having created SelectTV as an aggregated TV experience, bringing content together from multiple streaming sources, including free, pay-per-view, and subscription-based libraries. Though the company has long touted HDTV antennas as a low-cost way for their customers to watch their local network TV channels, their partnership with LocalBTV is a step toward further integrating this content with their web-based offering.

LocalBTV is the first and only legal virtual-over-the-air streaming "local broadcast bundle" platform, which secures permission from local broadcasters for inclusion in its service. This allows over-the-air broadcasters to reach consumers on their preferred digital devices with an authenticated and geo-fenced feed specific to their DMA.

"At FreeCast, we've been focused on this challenge for a long time: when you cut that cord, how do you get live, local sports, news, and weather on the same screen, in the same place, with your online streaming content. For a long time, our solution was literally to send our customers an antenna. It's that important. But with LocalBTV, we've got a much more elegant solution that doesn't need any additional hardware," said FreeCast CEO, William Mobley.

"We and our broadcast TV channel partners are delighted to be included in FreeCast's SelectTV as our first 3rd party app distribution partner," said Jim Long, CEO of LocalBTV. "SelectTV understands the unique needs of the antenna TV consumer and brings a much-needed improvement to streaming content aggregation and navigation."

More Information:

Company: https://FreeCast.com

Product: https://SelectTV.com

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE FreeCast
ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Georgia Power filed its 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) which sets forth a proactive, innovative and transformational roadmap for how the company will continue to meet the energy needs of customers, local communities and the State of Georgia for future generations.

Filed with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), the 2022 IRP outlines Georgia Power's plan to thoughtfully transition its fleet to more economical, cleaner resources; invest in its transmission system to make it smarter and even more reliable and resilient; double its renewable and solar capacity; focus on energy storage solutions; and offer innovative energy efficiency programs for customers.

"At Georgia Power, we know that to continue to meet the changing needs of our customers we must prepare now to build the electric system and energy infrastructure of the future," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "We believe this IRP outlines how we will do that and how, working with the Georgia Public Service Commission, we will build upon the solid foundation we already have as the energy landscape continues to evolve. It demonstrates our commitment to making smart investments today, so that our customers can continue to have clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for decades to come."

The company files an IRP with the Georgia PSC every three years to outline how it will continue delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to its 2.7 million customers over the next 20 years. As part of today's filing, Georgia Power is proposing a comprehensive strategy to both transform Georgia's energy sources and help to ensure that the state's network of transmission lines and grid infrastructure continues to deliver reliable energy to Georgians  both today and in the future.

Transforming Georgia's Energy Sources, Growing Renewable Energy

As coal-fired generation continues to be less economically viable, the company is proposing to retire and decertify all Georgia Power-controlled coal units, with the exception of Plant Bowen Units 3 & 4, which will continue to operate no later than 2035. The company's plan includes retirement of a total of 12 generating units, or more than 3,500 megawatts (MW), by 2028 and, if approved, would begin later this year and continue through 2028. To facilitate this fleet transformation, Georgia Power is proposing to certify an additional 2,356 megawatts (MW) of capacity from natural gas power purchase agreements (PPAs), procured through the company's 2022-2028 Capacity Request for Proposals (RFP) as well as significantly increase its renewable capacity.

The company is also planning to double its renewable generation by adding 6,000 MW by 2035, which includes a request for approval of 2,300 MW* in this IRP. The new capacity would expand the company's renewable resource portfolio to approximately 11,500 MW by 2035 as well as support the transition to cleaner, more cost-effective energy resources for customers.

Additionally, as the energy resource mix continues to evolve and the presence of intermittent renewable resources grows, the company is:

Requesting approval to own and operate 1,000 MW of energy storage by 2030, which includes a specific request for approval to own and operate the 265-MW McGrau Ford Battery Facility.

Proposing to continue to invest in its hydro plants, including Plants Burton, North Highlands and Sinclair, to improve efficiencies in hydro system operations and help to ensure these units continue to provide clean and dispatchable carbon-free energy for another 40 years.

Investments in Reliability, Resilience

Georgia Power is continuously investing in the power grid to make it smarter and more reliable. The 2022 IRP outlines additional investments and plans to continue to enhance the reliability and resilience of the state's electrical grid system, including a multi-faceted approach developed to address future reliability needs associated with the retirement of coal units. The company is calling for an integrated solution comprised of new generation and transmission assets aimed at meeting the long-term needs of the state.

"Providing customers with reliable service is at the center of our business and as we continue to transition our fleet and grow renewable energy that focus remains true. Looking to Georgia's future growth and energy needs, we know that new and emerging technologies have the potential to fundamentally alter the way energy is created, transported and ultimately consumed. That's why a critical component of our fleet and grid transformation plan involves leveraging new technologies," added Womack.

For the 2022 IRP, the company has identified long-duration storage, hydrogen, tall wind technologies and distributed energy resources as areas of potential investment.

Diverse, Flexible Customer Programs

In addition to investments in its transmission and generation systems and assets, the company also recognizes how important demand-side resources, such as energy efficiency programs and demand response programs, are to Georgia Power's resource mix. They benefit customers and support system reliability by reducing energy use and managing demand during severe weather events. Consistent with prior IRPs, the 2022 IRP offers a robust portfolio of these programs designed to provide significant value for all customers, including those facing income challenges. New programs proposed in this IRP include:

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Customer Program  This program enables participating customers to receive a resiliency service via a company-owned, operated and maintained DER. Participating customers could elect to receive a credit in exchange for the company's ability to access the DER for the benefit of all customers during a system reliability event. If approved, it would provide system reliability benefits for all customers while supporting commercial and industrial customers with enhanced resiliency needs.

 This program enables participating customers to receive a resiliency service via a company-owned, operated and maintained DER. Participating customers could elect to receive a credit in exchange for the company's ability to access the DER for the benefit of all customers during a system reliability event. If approved, it would provide system reliability benefits for all customers while supporting commercial and industrial customers with enhanced resiliency needs. Income-Qualified Community Solar Pilot  If approved, this program will provide income-qualified customers access to Community Solar generated energy at discounted prices. The discount will be made available by participating corporate sponsors who will receive corresponding Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Additionally, the company is requesting to continue the Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (HEEAP) and its current program in connection with HopeWorks as well as extend the Residential Investment for Saving Energy (RISE) Pilot, which promotes energy efficiency improvements in qualifying existing, income-qualified single-family homes and a limited number of multifamily properties

Integrated Resource Plan Process

Today's filing initiates a series of additional filings and public hearings with the Georgia PSC. At the conclusion of this open and transparent process, the Georgia PSC is expected to vote on the company's IRP request this summer. The 2022 IRP is a result of detailed analysis, which includes projections of future fuel costs, peak load and energy forecasts, an analysis of available generation technologies, a 10-year transmission plan, a comprehensive environmental strategy, and an economic assessment of potential and proposed energy efficiency and demand response programs. The company also evaluates the cost-effectiveness of its generating resources given changing environmental regulations and emerging technologies and how to best add resilience to the electric system.

To learn more about how Georgia Power is meeting the needs of customers through a diverse, balanced energy portfolio, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com.

* REC Disclaimer: Georgia Power purchases only the null energy output from some renewable generating facilities that have contracted to sell that energy to Georgia Power. Ownership of the associated renewable energy credits (RECs) is specified in each respective power purchase agreement. The party that owns the RECs retains the right to use them.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/Georgia Power), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

SOURCE Georgia Power
New products and services offerings complete the industry's broadest simplification effort for Exhibitor Services

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GES, a global experiential marketing and logistics partner for the exhibition and live events industry, announced today four new programs in the GES Plus Series, the industry's broadest simplification effort across multiple exhibitor products and services offering. The initiative has thoroughly streamlined pricing structures, product options, and ordering processes to create a comprehensive series that is easy to understand for show organizers and exhibitors. The newly launched programs include GES Hanging Signs+, GES Exhibit Furnishings+, GES Exhibit Flooring+, and GES Exhibit Systems+.

"GES is committed to making it hassle-free for exhibitors and show organizers to create their experiences," said Jeff Quade, GES Executive Vice President, Exhibitions. "Our latest additions in the GES Plus Series are specifically designed to make exhibiting simple and cost-effective. The GES Plus Series provides added value to exhibitors and organizers by packaging labor and materials, consolidating rate structures, and simplifying invoices."

GES Hanging Signs+ compliments GES Electrical+ by simplifying the ordering process and providing exhibitors with cost certainty when ordering labor for their hanging signs at exhibitions. GES Hanging Signs+ offers three packages, including non-electrical lighting, with a rotating motor of various shapes and sizes, providing exhibitors with a fixed cost for incorporating hanging signs into their exhibits.

GES Exhibit Flooring+, GES Exhibit Furnishings+, and GES Exhibit Systems+ are new offerings that feature product package pricing, including material handling services, shipping, and show floor labor. Designed specifically for small exhibit spaces and created from the company's best-selling items, GES Exhibit Flooring+ and GES Exhibit Furnishings+ packages come in multiple sizes, styles, and combinations.

GES Exhibit Systems+ offers affordable and functional 10 x 10 and 10 x 20 exhibit displays. These new exhibit systems maximize floor space, showcase high-impact brand-ready fabric backwall panels and support sustainable exhibiting practices through renting and reusing materials.

The GES Plus Series was first introduced in May 2021 with GES Material Handling+, GES Electrical+, and GES Transportation+. GES is excited to complete the series with all seven programs available to show organizers in 2022. To view detailed information about each program, click here. This industry's leading simplification effort spans across multiple exhibitor products and services offerings.

About GES

GES, a Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI) company with a legacy spanning more than 90 years, is a global live events company providing exhibition services, brand experiences, and live event venue services throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. GES offers the right blend of experience, fresh ideas, and deep industry knowledge. The company's award-winning services combined with accommodations, event technology, and innovative tools help you optimize your events - making all aspects of planning and execution simple and worry-free. GES' passionate team of highly skilled experts works side-by-side with you to deliver impactful, creative, and data-driven solutions to capture the full value of your shows. GES partners with leading brands and shows and has been recognized with many prestigious industry awards. For more information, visit www.ges.com.

Contact:

GES

Otilia Ayats-Mas

214.808.2654

[email protected]

SOURCE GES
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Gatos Silver, Inc. ("Gatos Silver" or the "Company") (NYSE: GATO) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws.

If you suffered a loss on your Gatos Silver investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/gatos-silver-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights.

On January 25, 2022, Gatos Silver revealed that "there were errors in the technical report entitled 'Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico' with an effective date of July 1, 2020 . . . , as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model." On a preliminary basis, the Company estimates a potential reduction of the metal content of the mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion.

On this news, the Company's stock price fell $7.02, or 69%, to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Gatos Silver should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower Program. Under the 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 Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected].

About GPM

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP
National Methanol Company (Ibn Sina), a joint venture between Sabic, Celanese and Duke Energy, has become the first company in the Middle East to be certified for circular methanol production by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), a globally leading certification body.



Ibn Sina plant, located in Jubail Industrial City on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, can now deliver commercial quantities of certified circular methanol made from captured CO2 from its UNITED plant, one of Sabics affiliates, which is one of the worlds largest CO2 capture and purification plants of its kind. This will provide customers with a new sustainable solution to serve their markets.



We are proud to have received this certificate that supports Sabics circular carbon economy strategies and helps our customers meet their sustainability targets. This achievement is a step forward where Sabic will continue seeking other opportunities to utilize CO2 to meet our goals of carbon neutrality, said Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Executive Vice President, Petrochemicals at Sabic.



The certification of methanol as a circular product is a remarkable achievement contributing to Sabics carbon neutrality. During the Saudi Green Initiative Forum last October, Sabic unveiled its global strategy toward carbon neutrality. The company is committed to continually pursue efforts and explore solutions to meet carbon neutrality by 2050.



The production of circular methanol reflects Sabics efforts toward carbon emission reduction through low carbon technology, operational efficiency, CO2 utilization, and innovative circular solutions.



Circular methanol, which is environmentally friendly, can be used for producing various sustainable and circular products related to chemicals, medical applications and automotive industries.  TradeArabia News Service
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Big Data Market by Leading Companies, Solutions, Use Cases, Infrastructure, Data Integration, IoT Support, Deployment Model and Services in Industry Verticals 2022 - 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides an in-depth assessment of the global big data market, including business case issues/analysis, application use cases, vendor landscape, value chain analysis, and a quantitative assessment of the industry with forecasting from 2022 to 2027. This report also evaluates the components of big data infrastructure and security framework.

This report also provides an analysis of leading big data solutions with key metrics such as streaming IoT data analytics revenue for leading providers such as Teradata, IBM, Oracle, SAS, and Datameter. The report evaluates, compares, and contrasts vendors, and provides a vendor ranking matrix. Analysis takes into consideration solutions integrating both structured and unstructured data.

Big data solutions are relied upon to gain insights from data files/sets so large and complex that it becomes difficult to process using traditional database management tools and data processing applications. The publisher sees key solution areas for big data as commerce, geospatial, finance, healthcare, transportation, and smart grids. Key technology integration includes AI, IoT, cloud and high-performance computing.

AI facilitates the efficient and effective supply of information to enterprises for optimized business decision-making. Some of the biggest opportunity areas are commercial applications, search in the big data environment, and mobility control for the generation of actionable business intelligence.

In terms of big data integration with cloud-based infrastructure, cloud solutions allow companies that previously required large investments into hardware to store data to do the same through the cloud at a lower cost. Companies save not only money but physical space where this hardware was previously stored. The trend to migrate to big data technologies is driven by the need for additional information derivable from analysis of all of the electronic data available to a business.

To realize the true potential to transform intelligence information from the huge amount of unstructured data, government agencies cannot leverage traditional data management technologies and DB techniques in terms of processing data. To understand patterns that exist in unstructured data, government agencies apply statistical models to large quantities of unstructured data.

Industry verticals of various types have challenges in capturing, organizing, storing, searching, sharing, transferring, analyzing, and using data to improve business. Big data is making a big impact in certain industries such as the healthcare, industrial, and retail sectors.

Every large corporation collects and maintains a huge amount of data associated with its customers including their preferences, purchases, habits, travels, and other personal information. In addition to the large volume, much of this data is unstructured, making it hard to manage.

Big data technology will help financial institutions maximize the value of data and gain a competitive advantage, minimize costs, convert challenges to opportunities, and minimize risk in real-time. As an example, in the transportation industry, real-time applications can match loads to a vehicle's capacity using data analytics. Big data provides shipping and delivery companies with real-time notifications and updates to increase efficiency and accuracy.

Big data technologies provide financial services firms with the capability to capture and analyze data, build predictive models, back-test, and simulate scenarios. Through iteration, firms will determine the most important variables and also key predictive models. Financial firms are increasingly migrating their data and analytics to the cloud, leading to reduced cost, better data management, and better customer service. Data and insights can also be transferred far quicker than before, allowing representatives to provide customers with real-time data backed insights.

Healthcare services can be applied more accurately with big data. Decisions based on real-time data and assistance from AI/ML solutions. Private health insurance providers can gain access to previously inaccessible information and databases through big data. Healthcare customer service processes can also be streamlined while providing personalized more personalized medical care to individuals.

Big data analytics allows retail companies to examine and interact with their audience online in new ways. Predictive analytics can analyze a consumer's activity and recommend suggested items to them. Once a consumer has purchased from a company, big data can help retain that customer by better understanding what a person wants. For example, Amazon collects all its customers' data to provide a personalized experience, earning up to 35% of its revenue from its customers' data.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a model of managing relationships and interactions between the company and customer. This includes using technology for organizing, automating, and synchronizing all customer-related information like sales, marketing, services, support and more. Big data represents a big business opportunity and it is poised to do more than just improve CRM.

Data analytics is useful for Supply Chain Management (SCM) because it can analyze a variety of variables across a business' operations. SCM service providers use advanced analytics to analyze materials, products in inventory and imports/exports to better understand needs. This helps a business to manage its assets better, saving time and money. Data analytics can predict future risks based on history and a large set of data.

Select Report Findings:

Big data in SCM will exceed $7.1B globally by 2027

globally by 2027 Big data in business intelligence apps will reach $54.9B by 2027

by 2027 Data Integration & Quality Tools to reach $10.2B globally by 2027

globally by 2027 Enterprise performance analytics will reach $31.4 globally by 2027

globally by 2027 Combination of AI and IoT (AIoT) will rely upon advanced big data analytics software

Real-time data will be a key value proposition for all use cases, segments, and solutions

Market leading companies are rapidly integrated big data technologies with IoT infrastructure

Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Executive Summary

2.0 Introduction

3.0 Big Data Challenges and Opportunities

4.0 Big Data Technologies and Business Cases

5.0 Key Big Data Sectors

6.0 Big Data Value Chain

7.0 Big Data Analytics

8.0 Standardization and Regulatory Issues

9.0 Big Data in Industry Vertical Applications

10.0 Key Big Data Companies and Solutions

Companies Mentioned

1010Data

Accenture

Actian Corporation

AdvancedMD

Alation

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions

Alpine Data Labs

Alteryx

Amazon

Anova Data

Apache Software Foundation

Apple Inc.

APTEAN

AthenaHealth Inc.

Attunity

BGI

Big Panda

Bina Technologies Inc.

Booz Allen Hamilton

Bosch

Capgemini

Cerner Corporation

Cisco Systems

CLC Bio

Cloudera

Cogito Ltd.

Computer Science Corporation

Compuverde

CRAY Inc.

Crux Informatics

Ctrl Shift

Cvidya

Cybatar

Data Inc.

Data Stax

Databricks

DataDirect Network

Dataiku

Datameer

Definiens

Dell EMC

Deloitte

Domo

eClinicalWorks

Epic Systems Corporation

Facebook

Fluentd

Flytxt

Fujitsu

Genalice

General Electric

GenomOncology

GoodData Corporation

Google

Greenplum

Grid Gain Systems

Groundhog Technologies

Guavus

Hack/reduce

Hitachi Data Systems

Hortonworks

HP Enterprise

HPCC Systems

IBM

Illumina Inc

Imply Corporation

Industry Connectivity Consortium

Informatica

Intel

Inter Systems Corporation

Jasper (Cisco Jasper)

Juniper Networks

Knome,Inc.

Leica Biosystems (Danaher)

Longview

MapR

Marklogic

Mayo Medical Laboratories

McKesson Corporation

Medical Information Technology Inc.

Medio

Medopad

Microsoft

Microstrategy

MongoDB (Formerly 10Gen)

MU Sigma

N-of-One

Netapp

NTT Data

Open Text (Actuate Corporation)

Opera Solutions

Oracle

Palantir Technologies Inc.

Pathway Genomics Corporation

Pentaho (Hitachi)

Perkin Elmer

Platfora

Qlik Tech

Quality Systems Inc.

Quantum

Quertle

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

Rackspace

Red Hat

Revolution Analytics

Roche Diagnostics

Rocket Fuel Inc.

Salesforce

SAP

SAS Institute

Selventa Inc.

Sense Networks

Shanghai Data Exchange

Sisense

Social Cops

Software AG/Terracotta

Sojern

Splice Machine

Splunk

Sqrrl

Sumo Logic

Sunquest Information Systems

Supermicro

Tableau

Tableau Software

Tata Consultancy Services

Teradata

ThetaRay

Think Big Analytics

Thoughtworks

TIBCO

Tube Mogul

Verint Systems

VMware

VolMetrix

Wipro

Workday (Platfora)

WuXi NextCode Genomics

Zoomdata

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/iwtg7g

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
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE American: GROY) ("Gold Royalty", or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its growth plans, and its proposed acquisition of Elemental Royalties Corp. (TSXV: ELE) ("Elemental"). Continuing its trajectory of disciplined expansion and growth over the past year, Gold Royalty has offered to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Elemental common shares (the "Elemental Shares") for consideration of 0.27 of a Gold Royalty common share (a "Gold Royalty Share") per Elemental Share (the "Offer") as set forth in Gold Royalty's Offer and Circular dated January 11, 2022 (the "Offer and Circular").

"The acquisition of Elemental will be the fourth corporate transaction undertaken by Gold Royalty within the last 12 months, representing an unprecedented pace of accretive growth and resulting in a diverse and well-balanced portfolio of high-quality precious metal royalty assets with peer-leading growth. Since our oversubscribed US$90 million initial public offering in March 2021, we have successfully acquired Ely Gold Royalties, Abitibi Royalties and Golden Valley. Additionally, we declared our inaugural dividend, secured a flexibility-enhancing credit facility from the Bank of Montreal and achieved strong trading liquidity for our shareholders", said David Garofalo, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Gold Royalty.

"We are excited to welcome Elemental shareholders into the Gold Royalty family and with the acquisition of Elemental's nine royalties, Gold Royalty will hold 200 royalties anchored by our existing gold-focused royalties in two of the best mining jurisdictions in the world, Quebec and Nevada. Our large, diversified portfolio will generate significant cash flows over a long life cycle, support future dividend growth, and position us to aggressively pursue acquisitions and further consolidation in the royalty sector, all for the benefit of our shareholders."

Together, we believe Gold Royalty and Elemental will create value for all stakeholders through the following:

Continued Growth  Gold Royalty possesses sector-leading growth driven by its existing royalty portfolio, with research analysts[1] estimating a compounded annual growth rate in revenue in excess of 60% over the next 3 years. Instead of incurring equity dilution in a highly competitive and scarce market for precious metal royalty acquisitions, the shareholders of Elemental will benefit from and contribute to Gold Royalty's strong organic growth platform.





 Gold Royalty possesses sector-leading growth driven by its existing royalty portfolio, with research analysts[1] estimating a compounded annual growth rate in revenue in excess of 60% over the next 3 years. Instead of incurring equity dilution in a highly competitive and scarce market for precious metal royalty acquisitions, the shareholders of Elemental will benefit from and contribute to Gold Royalty's strong organic growth platform. Diversification The combined portfolio will be anchored in Tier 1 jurisdictions, including Quebec , Nevada and Australia . Diversification protects shareholders against asset concentration risk as well as geopolitical risk. Illustratively, one of Elemental's nine royalties is located in a jurisdiction which is currently experiencing significant political upheaval. In a small royalty portfolio, such as Elemental's, such turmoil poses material risk to shareholders. Within Gold Royalty, Elemental shareholders will be less exposed to such risk.





The combined portfolio will be anchored in Tier 1 jurisdictions, including , and . Diversification protects shareholders against asset concentration risk as well as geopolitical risk. Illustratively, one of Elemental's nine royalties is located in a jurisdiction which is currently experiencing significant political upheaval. In a small royalty portfolio, such as Elemental's, such turmoil poses material risk to shareholders. Within Gold Royalty, Elemental shareholders will be less exposed to such risk. Dividends  Despite only completing its IPO less than 12 months ago, Gold Royalty declared its first quarterly dividend on January 18, 2022 , demonstrating a firm commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Conversely, Elemental's current level of indebtedness has likely restricted its ability to return cash flow to shareholders. With the anticipated production timelines for the mines underlying the Company's royalty holdings, the Gold Royalty board intends to periodically reassess the level of dividend payments with the goal of returning additional cash flow to shareholders in the future with or without the addition of the Elemental portfolio. The proposed acquisition of Elemental has the potential to accelerate the pace of future dividend increases.





 Despite only completing its IPO less than 12 months ago, Gold Royalty declared its first quarterly dividend on , demonstrating a firm commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Conversely, Elemental's current level of indebtedness has likely restricted its ability to return cash flow to shareholders. With the anticipated production timelines for the mines underlying the Company's royalty holdings, the Gold Royalty board intends to periodically reassess the level of dividend payments with the goal of returning additional cash flow to shareholders in the future with or without the addition of the Elemental portfolio. The proposed acquisition of Elemental has the potential to accelerate the pace of future dividend increases. Financial Strength  Gold Royalty had approximately US$38 million in cash and marketable securities with no debt as at January 21, 2022 . Additionally on January 24, 2022 , the Company announced a revolving credit facility with the Bank of Montreal for up to US$25 million . Conversely, as of September 30, 2021 , Elemental had high-cost net debt of US$19 million . Within Gold Royalty, Elemental shareholders will benefit from our strong, debt-free balance sheet, which provides enhanced flexibility to pursue accretive acquisitions.





 Gold Royalty had approximately in cash and marketable securities with no debt as at . Additionally on , the Company announced a revolving credit facility with the Bank of for up to . Conversely, as of , Elemental had high-cost net debt of . Within Gold Royalty, Elemental shareholders will benefit from our strong, debt-free balance sheet, which provides enhanced flexibility to pursue accretive acquisitions. Trading Liquidity  Gold Royalty enjoys peer-leading trading liquidity on the NYSE American. In part, this liquidity benefits from the Company's inclusion in the Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ). As recently as December 17, 2021 , Gold Royalty's weighting on the GDXJ was increased three-fold, which drove significant increased demand for Gold Royalty Shares. Over the six months leading to Gold Royalty's announcement of its intention to make the Offer, Elemental's average daily share trading liquidity represented less than 2% of Gold Royalty's. Within Gold Royalty, it is expected that Elemental shareholders will benefit from significantly improved trading liquidity and a potential re-rating as a result of Gold Royalty's GDXJ index membership.





 Gold Royalty enjoys peer-leading trading liquidity on the NYSE American. In part, this liquidity benefits from the Company's inclusion in the Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ). As recently as , Gold Royalty's weighting on the GDXJ was increased three-fold, which drove significant increased demand for Gold Royalty Shares. Over the six months leading to Gold Royalty's announcement of its intention to make the Offer, Elemental's average daily share trading liquidity represented less than 2% of Gold Royalty's. Within Gold Royalty, it is expected that Elemental shareholders will benefit from significantly improved trading liquidity and a potential re-rating as a result of Gold Royalty's GDXJ index membership. Scale - The benefits of consolidation, in addition to talent and asset quality, are best measured in terms of capital markets and operating scale which combine to drive more predictable earnings, lower G&A (as a percentage of revenue), increased trading liquidity, lower cost of capital and, ultimately, higher valuations. This creates a virtuous cycle in which capital can be more efficiently deployed on an accretive basis to drive further growth. It is this dynamic which we believe the market is recognizing and rewarding in our recent acquisitions. We firmly believe that a combination between Gold Royalty and Elemental will result in a similar outcome, which will continue to benefit all shareholders.

_____________________ 1 Consists of consensus estimates of analysts covering Gold Royalty, being H.C. Wainwright (Dec. 22, 2021) and Haywood (Jan. 18, 2022)

Investor Call

Gold Royalty will hold an investor call on Tuesday February 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EST/8:00 a.m. PST to update shareholders and other interested parties as well as to discuss the status of the Offer. Shareholders and other interested parties are invited to participate via live webcast or telephone. To participate in the live webcast and to view the accompanying presentation materials, please log into https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1527464&tp_key=d17151227a immediately prior to the presentation. To join the teleconference, please call 1-888-204-4368 toll-free from North America, 647-794-4605 from Toronto (Local) or 604-449-6082 from Vancouver (Local). Shareholders and other interested parties can submit questions ahead of the investor call by e-mailing their questions to [email protected].

Additional Information

The Offer and Circular and related offer documents (the "Offer Documents") have been mailed to Elemental shareholders and have been filed with the Canadian and United States securities regulators and will be available on Gold Royalty's website for the Offer at https://www.goldroyalty.com/elemental-offer/, under Elemental's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in the United States under Gold Royalty's profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Gold Royalty encourages securityholders of Elemental to read the full details of the Offer set forth in the Offer Documents which contains the full terms and conditions of the Offer and other important information, including detailed instructions on how Elemental shareholders can tender their Elemental Shares to the Offer. For assistance in depositing Elemental Shares to the Offer, Elemental shareholders should contact the Information Agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group, who can be contacted at 1-877-452-7184 toll-free in North America or at 1-416-304-0211 outside of North America or by e-mail at [email protected].

About Gold Royalty Corp.

Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Its mission is to acquire royalties, streams and similar interests at varying stages of the mine life cycle to build a balanced portfolio offering near, medium and longer-term attractive returns for its investors. Gold Royalty's diversified portfolio currently consists of net smelter return royalties on gold properties located in the Americas.

No Offer or Solicitation

This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, any securities. The Offer is being made solely by, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Offer Documents.

Notice to U.S. Elemental Shareholders

The offer and sale of the Gold Royalty Shares in the Offer is subject to a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement") of Gold Royalty covering such offer and sale that has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such Registration Statement includes various documents related to such offer and sale, including a prospectus relating to the Offer. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF ELEMENTAL ARE URGED TO READ SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER AS THOSE DOCUMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GOLD ROYALTY, ELEMENTAL AND THE OFFER. You will be able to obtain a free copy of such registration statement, as well as other relevant filings regarding Gold Royalty or such transaction involving the issuance of the Gold Royalty Shares at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) under Gold Royalty's issuer profile, and the materials will be posted on Gold Royalty's website at www.goldroyalty.com, or on request without charge from Gold Royalty, at 1830-1030 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2Y3 or by telephone at 1 (833) 396-3066.

Gold Royalty is a foreign private issuer and is permitted to prepare the offer to purchase and take-over bid circular and related documents in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. Gold Royalty prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and they may not be directly comparable to financial statements of United States companies.

Shareholders of Elemental should be aware that owning Gold Royalty Shares may subject them to tax consequences both in the United States and in Canada. The Offer Documents may not describe these tax consequences fully. Elemental shareholders should read any tax discussion in the Offer Documents, and holders of Elemental Shares are urged to consult their tax advisors.

An Elemental shareholder's ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because Gold Royalty is incorporated in Canada, some or all of Gold Royalty's officers and directors and some or all of the experts named in the Offer Documents reside outside of the United States, and a substantial portion of Gold Royalty's assets and of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. Elemental shareholders in the United States may not be able to sue Gold Royalty or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violation of United States federal securities laws. It may be difficult to compel such parties to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of a court in the United States or to enforce a judgment obtained from a court of the United States.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATOR HAS OR WILL HAVE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE GOLD ROYALTY SHARES OFFERED IN THE OFFER DOCUMENTS, OR HAS OR WILL HAVE DETERMINED IF ANY OFFER DOCUMENTS ARE TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

In accordance with applicable law, rules and regulations of the United States, Canada or its provinces or territories, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Gold Royalty or its affiliates and any advisor, broker or other person acting as agent for, or on behalf of, or in concert with Gold Royalty or its affiliates, directly or indirectly, may bid for, make purchases of, or make arrangements to, purchase Elemental Shares or certain related securities outside the Offer, including purchases in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Such bids, purchases or arrangements to purchase may be made during the period of the Offer and through the expiration of the Offer. Any such purchases must comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Canada, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform shareholders in the United States of such information.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Gold Royalty's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. The words "believe", "expect", "will", "propose" and derivatives thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters, identify the above mentioned and other forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including among others, statements regarding the satisfaction of the conditions of the Offer; the anticipated timing, benefits and effects of the completion of the Offer and expectations regarding the Company's growth plans, dividend policy and its and the combined companies' portfolios and their future cash flow generation, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to obtain necessary approvals, and to meet the other conditions under the Offer, the ability to realize the benefits under the proposed transaction, material adverse effects on the business, properties and assets of the parties; the impact of general economic and market conditions; any inability of the operators of the properties underlying the parties' royalty and other interests to execute proposed plans for such properties, risks related to such operators or the exploration, development and mining operations of the properties underlying the parties' royalty and other interests; impacts of macroeconomic developments; and the impact of and the responses of relevant governments to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of such responses and the other important risks and uncertainties set out in the Offer Documents, Gold Royalty's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2021 and its other public filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Gold Royalty Corp.
"SNC is on the leading edge of advanced aerospace technology, and Ohio is proud to partner in this critically important venture," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "The corporation's decision to locate in close proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Life Cycle Management Center, and the Air Force Research Laboratory recognizes the immeasurable value of the Dayton region and its competitive advantage in accelerating our nation's defense and aerospace programs."

"Following a nationwide search to find the location best suited to meet SNC's growing customer needs, we are excited to continue our expansion in the large aircraft MRO field in Dayton and the Miami Valley," said Mark Williams, SNC senior vice president strategy. "Dayton's extensive supply chain, highly skilled workforce, and proven standing as a logistics hub make the Dayton International Airport our first choice to further strengthen the expertise and robust production infrastructure that have made SNC the go-to leader in large aircraft heavy maintenance, modification, and integration markets."

"The Dayton region is home to some of the most advanced aviation and national defense facilities in the country, and they are uniquely positioned to welcome this major aerospace and defense company," said Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted. "SNC coming to Dayton not only builds upon our rich legacy, it's also another economic development win for Ohioans who will benefit from the opportunities and jobs that result from this project."

The formal announcement and ceremonial groundbreaking with Lt. Governor Jon Husted, SNC CEO Fatih Ozmen, and others will take place on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at the Dayton International Airport.

The 16-acre Dayton International Airport site brings a modern, large-scale aviation center to the Dayton region, known as the home of the Wright Brothers and the Birthplace of Aviation. Construction has already started on the first facility and will continue throughout the year.

The new SNC Dayton aviation facility will be capable of supporting some of the largest aviation projects in the world. In addition to passenger operations, the Dayton International Airport boasts three large runways, more than 5 million square feet of total ramp space, and all on-site aircraft support services needed to complement the new hangars.

The DeWine-Husted Administration and JobsOhio have put a strong focus on attracting federal and military installations to Ohio to contribute to the critical defense of the United States. In 2019, Governor DeWine developed a cabinet-level position to focus on Ohio's military and aerospace installations, and in 2020, JobsOhio added military and federal installations to its targeted economic development industries. Upon learning of SNC's expansion plans, JobsOhio's military advisors, along with their network partner, the Dayton Development Coalition, presented Ohio's value proposition, which ultimately led to the selection of Dayton for the site.

"Sierra Nevada Corporation's decision to expand its aircraft modernization and maintenance business in Ohio is even more evidence that Ohio is excelling in a COVID-calibrated economy," said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. "SNC's new Ohio operations will make it the first private-sector company to do maintenance, repair, and modification work on military craft in Dayton since the World War II era. This shows that Ohio's and JobsOhio's focus on the military and federal sector is making a big difference."

"Sierra Nevada Corporation's selection of the Dayton Airport for their aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul brings together our region's many aviation strengths," said Dayton Development Coalition President and CEO Jeff Hoagland. "From research and development to maintenance and manufacturing, Dayton can provide the expertise and resources for SNC to grow their presence here in the region."

SNC's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Aviation and Security (IAS) business area is an industry leader in post-production modifications on hundreds of commercial and military aircraft. IAS is a leading integrator for special mission aircraft, including major C-130J modifications, Special Operations ISR aircraft, transport, test, and other mission system upgrades. SNC IAS currently performs special mission aircraft upgrades in its expansive production spaces in Colorado Springs and Centennial, Colorado.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) SNC is a trusted leader in innovative, advanced technology solutions and open architecture integrations in aerospace and national security. Best known for its unique mission applications, SNC creates customized solutions for the world's most pressing technology challenges in the fields of aviation, national security space, electronic warfare, command and control, mission systems and inline cybersecurity. SNC is owned by Chairwoman and President Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen, and is once again recognized as a US Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private. In spring 2021, SNC announced the transition of its Space Systems business area to an independent commercial space company, Sierra Space.





SOURCE JobsOhio
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, announced that Richard S. King has been named Vice President - Comm/Data & Commercial, Institutional and Government (CIG) Sales, effective February 1, 2022.

King currently serves as Director Comm/Data Sales for Graybar's New York and Boston districts, a position he has held for the past 15 years. He joined Graybar in 1992 and advanced through roles in sales, strategic accounts and branch management. King holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Long Island University (LIU Post) and an MBA in Management from Iona College.

"We congratulate Rich on his promotion," said Graybar's Senior Vice President - Sales David G. Maxwell. "Over the course of his 29-year Graybar career, Rich has earned a reputation as an effective leader who focuses on our customers and achieves positive results. I look forward to working with him to accelerate our growth and develop innovative solutions for our comm/data and CIG customers."

Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 300 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.

Media Contact:

Tim Sommer

(314) 578-7672

[email protected]

SOURCE Graybar
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 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: [email protected]

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 Company's 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.

"We're 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 firm's 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 [email protected].

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 .

Contact:

Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
GREER, S.C., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoy Health is a health tech company that is leading primary care in the digital health industry via remote patient monitoring, telehealth, and medication access. True to its mission of providing affordable and accessible primary care services to everyone, everywhere, the company opened its first international office in Guadalajara, Mexico last June 2021.

Starting early February 2022, Hoy Health will be offering telemedicine services via its HoyDOCO platform at the Central de Abastos in Mexico City, one of the most important Mexican national supply communities. The commercial district spans across 304 acres and facilitates a wide supply chain network of over 2,000 businesses, producers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers combined. The market handles the movement of over 30,000 tons of merchandise daily, representing 80% of consumption in the Mexico City metropolitan area. The daily consumer traffic has up to 500,000 visitors per day.

Hoy Health CEO Mario Anglada states, "The company has chosen to focus on telehealth services as value added support to an already overburdened Mexican healthcare system. In order for us to make an impact, it is important to choose a location and offer products where our customers would benefit immediately from the advantages of affordable and accessible primary care services."

Hoy Health looks forward to the successful launch of its 12 on-site HoyDOCO telemedicine mobile kiosks, to be situated at different locations within the Central de Abastos, Mexico City. Walk-in patients will now have instantaneous access to primary care video consultations provided by doctors for their primary care needs including treatment of chronic conditions and medication access, if necessary.

In its continuous effort to close the healthcare gaps created by Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) barriers within medically underserved populations across the globe, Hoy Health remains focused on offering its holistic suite of multilingual programs to everyone, everywhere; allowing patients to take control of their healthcare needs, while enabling them to save time and money in the process.

About HOY HEALTH

Founded in 2017, is the first and only bilingual digital primary care platform with a family of virtual products and services specially designed for the healthcare needs of medically underserved populations in the US and around the world.

In 2021, won the Mayo Clinic & ASU Med Tech Accelerator "Audience Choice Award."

In 2020, selected as Finalist in "Startup of the Year" by Established.

In 2019, selected as part of the Fierce 15 most innovative healthcare companies in the US by the editors of Fierce Healthcare.

In 2018, selected as a Global Health Transformer in Startup Health's Moonshot Academy.

Innovator's Network Member of the American Heart Association.

Visit our website at hoyhealth.com

For more information please contact:

Patrick Todd, Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

(855-899-1673)

SOURCE Hoy Health
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO ), dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators and helping restore America's leadership in technology education, today announced they will double the number of STEM kits provided to foster interest in STEM education and careers. Beginning this month and continuing through December 2022, iBIO will give every fifth-grade student at Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62's nine elementary schools activity kits to encourage at-home learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The iBIO STEM Kit program, which launched last January for students in various grades in District 62, filled an important educational gap created by distance learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this first phase of the program, with support from the global healthcare company Abbott, iBIO distributed approximately 2,000 STEM kits.

iBIO had committed to iterating the STEM Kit program with an eye toward continuous improvement on behalf of the state's students, their families, future employers, and society at large. This new focus on a single grade level is the result of a strong partnership with the school district's teachers and administration.

"We learned that this model fits into the district's strategic plan for teaching STEM material to their students," said Ann Vogel, SVP, Charitable Programs, iBIO. "Fifth grade is a critical time for intervention, so we want to make sure that we nurture an interest in STEM. Each kit also includes a STEM Hero card which provides a detailed profile of an expert working in the field at Abbott. These Heroes help students connect their hands-on fun with future career opportunities."

The district's teachers will be "cheerleaders" for the program, providing support and encouragement to their students, discussing career paths that are open to young adults with STEM education, and administering surveys to capture feedback about the STEM kits.

Jennifer Meister, a 5th grade teacher at South Elementary School, said, "I am excited to give my students the opportunity to extend their learning in science and math with these kits. I look forward to hearing about all of the exciting activities my students will engage in at home."

Different activities appeal to different interests

Recognizing that it is hard to predict what will create a spark of passion in a young student, the STEM kits cover a broad range of STEM areas. Kits with different hands-on activities will be distributed to all 5th grade students through the schools each month of the school year. Examples of activities include:

Separating mixtures with the tools of chemistry

Exploring solubility to design, build and test a time-released pretend "medication tablet"

Discovering how to use the patterns and measurements of their bodies to create their own biometric database

Creating a variety of force generators to explore how centripetal and centrifugal forces act upon different objects

Abbott provides necessary funding to sustain the iBIO STEM KIT Program

Abbott provided funding to develop and deliver the first phase of STEM kits for the Des Plaines school district students. For this second phase, Abbott is the sole funder for all 4,500 STEM kits intended for the 5th graders.

Reflecting the appreciation of her colleagues throughout the school district, Dr. Lisa Bucciarelli-Carlos, principal at Plainfield Elementary School, said, "We are incredibly grateful to Abbott and iBIO for their generous donation of STEM kits for all Community Consolidated School District 62 fifth grade families. Our students and families are thrilled to engage in such robust and dynamic science, technology, engineering, and math activities at home."

Corporations, foundations, and other sources of philanthropic funding that would like to support the expansion of the iBIO STEM Kit program to students throughout the state should contact iBIO's Ann Vogel at [email protected] .

About iBIO

The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) is a life sciences industry association that represents the nearly 88,000 life sciences employees at member companies, universities, service providers and venture firms. iBIO promotes the industry's value to the public and policymakers; connects innovators to investment and talent; stimulates collaboration and fosters the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to transform patient lives through groundbreaking research and works to grow the Illinois economy.

iBIO delivers industry-led STEM programs for teachers and students, thereby inspiring the next generation of innovators and helping restore America's leadership in technology education. To learn more about iBIO and its programs, visit www.ibio.org .

Media Contact

Kellie Kennedy

[email protected]

312-933-4903



SOURCE iBIO
BOSTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IDTechEx has recently released "Mobile Robotics in Logistics, Warehousing and Delivery 2022-2042", a market research report exploring the technical, regulatory, and market factors that are shaping the emerging industry around logistics mobile robotics. The mobile robotics industry has grown quickly in recent years, spurred on by advances in robotics technology, autonomous navigation, and artificial intelligence (AI), and may efficiently and cost-effectively alleviate many of the labor issues that are currently threatening the global logistics industry.

Breakdowns of private funding in the logistic mobile robotic market in 2021 by product types. Source: Mobile Robotics in Logistics, Warehousing and Delivery 2022-2042

Mobile robotics, as covered in the new IDTechEx report, can be used to automate a range of logistics operations, including material handling, material picking, long-haul distribution, and last mile delivery. Some applications of mobile robotics, including material transporting using automated guided vehicles (AGVs), are already mature industries attracting billions of dollars in annual revenue, whereas others, such as fully autonomous drone delivery, are still emerging and may only reach a large scale of commercialization after this decade. Despite the market stage, mature or emerging, each market is so active that attracts millions or even billions of dollars of investments every year. In addition, recently a number of mobile robotic start-ups have been acquired by technology or engineering giants; notable examples include the acquisitions by Toyota, Amazon, Teradyne, Apple and ABB, indicating their further steps towards entering the logistic mobile robotic industry.

The latest IDTechEx report, "Mobile Robotics in Logistics, Warehousing and Delivery 2022-2042", examines the key forms of products used in different logistics operations. These include AGVs (forklifts, tow tractors, unit load carts, and others), "goods-to-person" grid-based automated guided carts (AGCs), autonomous mobile robots(AMRs), heavy-load autonomous mobile vehicles (AMVs), case-picking robots, mobile manipulators, heavy-duty autonomous trucks, autonomous last mile delivery vans, robots, and drones. The report highlights major market players within each application area working to commercialize products, including analysis of technology readiness and comparisons between products, and provides long-term outlooks for each market.

In addition to analyzing the key product forms within logistics mobile robots, IDTechEx also discusses the emerging technologies that are underpinning the growth of the logistics mobile robotics industry. These include sensors such as LiDAR and Radar, AI, computer vision technologies, and different navigation technologies. The report also explains in detail how mobile robots can address the pain points that are restricting the growth of the logistics industry now.

The report also includes abundant examples of products helping readers understand the current technological status of mainstream products and typical features that can be found on most logistic mobile robots. When presenting examples, the interview-based or most updated company information such as funding status, key customers, product development, and latest milestones will also be introduced along with the products, providing a close and microscopic view for a better understanding of the market. Some of the market challenges faced by the industry, such as regulations and technological barriers, are also introduced in the report.

Finally, the report provides 20-year market forecasts for the future of mobile robotics in the logistics industry, including granular breakdowns by application area and product categories. Based on IDTechEx's technical and industry analysis, the market revenue of mobile robotics in logistics is forecast to reach over $300 billion by 2042 (including level-4 autonomous trucks).

To find out more about IDTechEx's technical and commercial analysis of mobile robotics in the logistics industry, please see "Mobile Robotics in Logistics, Warehousing and Delivery 2022-2042". This report falls within the Robotics, Autonomy & AI research portfolio.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Images download:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1t3f9lkkq14ub7l/AAA4Grbd1z0gW9len81T9a9Da?dl=0

Media Contact:

Natalie Moreton

Digital Marketing Manager

[email protected]

+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idtechex/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch

SOURCE IDTechEx
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Heat Exchanger Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global heat exchanger market reached a value of US$ 16.3 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 23.4 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6% 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 on different end use industries. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor



A heat exchanger refers to a device that is used for transferring heat from one fluid to another. It is used for controlling the temperature of a system or substance. It contains streams of hot and cold fluids, which are utilized to transfer thermal energy among the streams. They may be separated by a thermally conductive tube or plate or kept in direct contact if the fluids are immiscible. These devices assist in heating or cooling buildings as well as enable efficient functioning of engines and machines. As a result, they are widely utilized in boilers, furnaces, refrigerators, automotive radiators, sewage treatment and air conditioning systems



The significantly rising demand for heat, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) from industrial, commercial and residential sectors is primarily driving the growth of the market. This can be accredited to the inflating disposable income levels, changing living standards and extreme average climatic conditions across the globe. Moreover, rising environmental concerns amongst individuals regarding the use of energy-efficient and environment-friendly devices are also influencing the market growth. Governments of several countries have implemented stringent regulations to reduce carbon emissions across various industries, which are creating a positive outlook for the heat exchanger market. Furthermore, manufacturers are constantly engaging in research and development (R&D) activities in the heat exchange technology to launch cost-effective and efficient product variants, which is expected to drive the market growth further

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the top heat exchanger manufacturers being Alfa Laval, API Heat Transfer Inc., Danfoss, General Electric Company, Hisaka Works, IHI Corporation, Johnson Controls, Kelvion Holding GmbH, Koch Industries, Lytron Inc., Mersen, Modine Manufacturing, Royal Hydraulics, Sondex A/S, Xylem Inc., etc



Key Question Answered in this Report

1. What was the global heat exchanger market size in 2021?

2. What is the impact of COVID-19 on the global heat exchanger market?

3. What will be the heat exchanger market outlook during the forecast period (2022-2027)?

4. What are the global heat exchanger market drivers?

5. What are the major trends in the global heat exchanger market?

6. What is the global heat exchanger market breakup by type?

7. What is the global heat exchanger market breakup by material?

8. What is the global heat exchanger market breakup by end use industry?

9. What are the major regions in the global heat exchanger market?



Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology

2.1 Objectives of the Study

2.2 Stakeholders

2.3 Data Sources

2.3.1 Primary Sources

2.3.2 Secondary Sources

2.4 Market Estimation

2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach

2.4.2 Top-Down Approach

2.5 Forecasting Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Heat Exchanger Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Type

6.1 Shell & Tube

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Plate & Frame

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Air Cooled

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Others

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Material

7.1 Carbon Steel

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Stainless Steel

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Nickel

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast

7.4 Others

7.4.1 Market Trends

7.4.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by End-Use Industry

8.1 Chemical

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Petrochemical and Oil & Gas

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 HVAC and Refrigeration

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Food & Beverage

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast

8.5 Power Generation

8.5.1 Market Trends

8.5.2 Market Forecast

8.6 Paper & Pulp

8.6.1 Market Trends

8.6.2 Market Forecast

8.7 Others

8.7.1 Market Trends

8.7.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region



10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Indicators



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

14.3.1 Alfa Laval

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2 API Heat Transfer Inc.

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.3 Danfoss

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4 General Electric Company

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4.3 Financials

14.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.5 Hisaka Works

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6 IHI Corporation

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6.3 Financials

14.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.7 Johnson Controls

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.8 Kelvion Holding GmbH

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Koch Industries

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9.3 SWOT Analysis

14.3.10 Lytron Inc.

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11 Mersen

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.12 Modine Manufacturing

14.3.12.1 Company Overview

14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.12.3 Financials

14.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.13 Royal Hydraulics

14.3.13.1 Company Overview

14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.14 Sondex A/S

14.3.14.1 Company Overview

14.3.14.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.15 Xylem Inc.

14.3.15.1 Company Overview

14.3.15.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.15.3 Financials

14.3.15.4 SWOT Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9cr4ua

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
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Isosorbide Market Research Report by Product, by Application, by End User, by Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Isosorbide Market size was estimated at USD 424.23 million in 2020, is expected to reach USD 497.91 million in 2021, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.73% to reach USD 1,330.13 million by 2027.

Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.

Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Isosorbide Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Isosorbide Market, including Alfa Aesar, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BioAmber Inc, BioCrick BioTech, Doc Generici s.r.l. By Intermediate Capital Group, Ecogreen Oleochemicals Pte Ltd., Endo International PLC, FINETECH INDUSTRY LIMITED, Genomatica, Istituto Lusofarmaco D'Italia S.p.A., J&K Scientific Ltd., Jinan Hongbaifeng Industry And Trade Co., Ltd, JP Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Merck KGaA, Meryer Chemical Technology Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, Novaphene Specialities Pvt. Ltd., Novomer, Par Pharmaceutical, Roquette Freres S.A., Shanghai Trustin Chemical Co. Ltd, SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., Tate & Lyle PLC, TCI Chemicals (India) Pvt. Ltd, and Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Isosorbide Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Isosorbide Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Isosorbide Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Isosorbide Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Isosorbide Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Isosorbide Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Isosorbide Market?



Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Overview



5. Market Insights

5.1. Market Dynamics

5.1.1. Drivers

5.1.1.1. Isosorbide catalysing Bioplastic take over

5.1.1.2. Predominance applicability in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products

5.1.1.3. Growing environmental concern and stringent regulation discouraging use of synthetic polymer

5.1.1.4. Bioplastics market growth coupled with technical development and regulatory support

5.1.2. Restraints

5.1.2.1. Potential health side effect

5.1.2.2. Lack of expertise and patented manufacturing process at present

5.1.3. Opportunities

5.1.3.1. Innovative applications development

5.1.3.2. Increasing production capacity in APAC countries

5.1.4. Challenges

5.1.4.1. High cost of manufacturing

5.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19



6. Isosorbide Market, by Product

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Isosorbide Diesters

6.3. Polycarbonate

6.4. Polyester Polyisosorbide Succinate

6.5. Polyethylene Isosorbide Terephthate

6.6. Polyurethane



7. Isosorbide Market, by Application

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Cosmetics & Personal Care

7.3. Medical & Pharmaceuticals

7.4. Paints & Coating

7.5. Plastic Manufacturing



8. Isosorbide Market, by End User

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Additives

8.3. Resins & Polymers



9. Americas Isosorbide Market

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Argentina

9.3. Brazil

9.4. Canada

9.5. Mexico

9.6. United States



10. Asia-Pacific Isosorbide Market

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Australia

10.3. China

10.4. India

10.5. Indonesia

10.6. Japan

10.7. Malaysia

10.8. Philippines

10.9. Singapore

10.10. South Korea

10.11. Taiwan

10.12. Thailand



11. Europe, Middle East & Africa Isosorbide Market

11.1. Introduction

11.2. France

11.3. Germany

11.4. Italy

11.5. Netherlands

11.6. Qatar

11.7. Russia

11.8. Saudi Arabia

11.9. South Africa

11.10. Spain

11.11. United Arab Emirates

11.12. United Kingdom



12. Competitive Landscape

12.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix

12.1.1. Quadrants

12.1.2. Business Strategy

12.1.3. Product Satisfaction

12.2. Market Ranking Analysis

12.3. Market Share Analysis, By Key Player

12.4. Competitive Scenario

12.4.1. Merger & Acquisition

12.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership

12.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement

12.4.4. Investment & Funding

12.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion



13. Company Usability Profiles

13.1. Alfa Aesar

13.2. Archer Daniels Midland Company

13.3. BioAmber Inc

13.4. BioCrick BioTech

13.5. Doc Generici s.r.l. By Intermediate Capital Group

13.6. Ecogreen Oleochemicals Pte Ltd.

13.7. Endo International PLC

13.8. FINETECH INDUSTRY LIMITED

13.9. Genomatica

13.10. Istituto Lusofarmaco D'Italia S.p.A.

13.11. J&K Scientific Ltd.

13.12. Jinan Hongbaifeng Industry And Trade Co., Ltd

13.13. JP Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.

13.14. Merck KGaA

13.15. Meryer Chemical Technology Co. Ltd.

13.16. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation

13.17. Novaphene Specialities Pvt. Ltd.

13.18. Novomer

13.19. Par Pharmaceutical

13.20. Roquette Freres S.A.

13.21. Shanghai Trustin Chemical Co. Ltd

13.22. SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.

13.23. Tate & Lyle PLC

13.24. TCI Chemicals (India) Pvt. Ltd

13.25. Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.



14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d0ffxx

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
The UAE will be a key driver of the global trade growth this decade, with its exports projected to grow at an average annual rate of more than 6 per cent to cross AED1.1 trillion ($299 billion) by 2030, a research report said.

Future of Trade 2030: Trends and markets to watch, a new research by Standard Chartered, projects that 22 per cent of global corporates currently do or plan to source in the UAE within the next five to 10 years. This is evidence that the UAE will be a major driver of global trade growth over the next decade, it said.

The report said global exports will almost double from $17.4 trillion to $29.7 trillion over the next decade. The report reveals 13 markets that will drive much of this growth, identifies major corridors, and five trends shaping the future of global trade.

UAE future growth corridors

India and Mainland China will continue to be among the largest export corridors for the UAE, accounting for 18 per cent and 9.5 per cent of total exports in 2030, respectively.

Singapore is a regional trade hub and strategic corridor for the UAE and is projected to grow at an average of 6.2 per cent per year until 2030, the report said.

Growth sectors

The UAE is focusing on expanding its exports beyond petroleum and reinforcing its position as a gateway to MENA. The following sectors will dominate exports in 2030: Metals and minerals (share of exports 60%, CAGR growth 7.6%); gold (share 14%, CAGR 8.3%) and machinery and electricals (share 9%, CAGR 6.4%).

The 13 markets driving the future trade growth, according to the report, are (expected export figures in 2030 in brackets): Bangladesh ($51 billion); Hong Kone ($939 bn); India ($563bn); Indonesia ($347bn); Kenya ($10bn); China ($5,022bn); Malaysia ($498bn); Saudi Arabia ($354bn); Singapore ($687bn); South Korea ($971bn); UAE ($299bn); and Vietnam ($535bn).

The report, commissioned by Standard Chartered and prepared by PwC, is based on an analysis of historical trade data and projections until 2030, as well as insights from a survey of more than 500 C-suite and senior leaders in global companies.

Global trade will be reshaped by five key trends: the wider adoption of sustainable and fair-trade practices; a push for more inclusive participation; greater risk diversification; more digitisation and a rebalancing towards high-growth emerging markets. Almost 90 per cent of the corporate leaders surveyed agreed that these trends will shape the future of trade and will form part of their five to 10-year cross-border expansion strategies.

Globalisation will drive the next decade of growth. Despite the recent push towards onshoring, growth corridors of the future will not just be intraregional  they will be global spanning Africa-East Asia; ASEAN-South Asia; East Asia-Europe; East Asia- Middle East; East Asia-Europe; South Asia-US.

Asia, Africa and the Middle East will see a ramp-up in investment flows, with 82 per cent of respondents saying they are considering new production locations in these regions in the next five to 10 years, supporting the trend towards rebalancing to emerging markets and greater risk diversification of supply chains.

Enabling sustainable supply chains

The research found a significant trend towards the adoption of sustainable trade practices in response to climate concerns and a rising wave of conscious consumerism. However, while almost 90 per cent of corporate leaders acknowledged the need to implement these practices across their supply chains, only 34 per cent ranked it as a top three priority for execution over the next five to 10 years.

Standard Chartered, in line with its commitment to help make global trade more sustainable and drive the transition to Net Zero, launched a Sustainable Trade Finance proposition to enable companies to build more sustainable and resilient supply chains. In addition, we offer a suite of sustainable finance solutions to channel capital towards helping companies achieve their Net Zero goals.

Syed Khurrum Zaeem, Managing Director, Head of Trade & Transaction Banking, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered Bank, said: As part of its ambitious diversification plans from hydrocarbons, the UAE is successfully working towards cementing its position as the key trade gateway. India and Mainland China will continue to be among the largest export corridors for the UAE, accounting for 18% and 9.5% of total exports in 2030, respectively. With global trade expected to double by 2030, trade practices will need to be reviewed to be more equitable and sustainable. As an international bank with a unique footprint, we are continuously looking to innovate our products to help our clients implement fair-trade practices across their supply chains.  TradeArabia News Service
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspectorio, the leading cloud-based AI-powered SaaS solution that helps retailers, brands, suppliers and manufacturers manage risk through digitized quality and compliance programs, announced today that the company has raised $50 Million in a Series B Round led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm, Insight Partners. Inspectorio's other investors include leading venture capital firms, Techstars, Flexport, Ecolab and Matchstick Ventures.

Carlos Moncayo, CEO of Inspectorio

The Inspectorio platform helps companies collaborate with their global supply chains to achieve operational excellence. The platform provides quality management software to automate operations and stop issues before they arise; compliance management software to seamlessly manage all components of a company's sustainability program; and production tracking software to prevent supply chain delays and improve on-time delivery performance. Inspectorio will use the new funding to expand research and development and to grow its development, product and go-to-market teams.

Today, Inspectorio's technology empowers retailers, brands, vendors and factories to optimize their quality, sustainability and compliance operations by leveraging machine learning to transition from reactive interventions to a proactive, preventative approach to supply chain management. The company has over 7,000 customers, including some of the world's largest brands and retailers like Target, Crocs and Carter's.

"Inspectorio is invested in creating end-to-end visibility and insights into the production chain and improving traceability through a one-of-a-kind holistic view into quality, sustainability and production tracking. We're thrilled to be working with Insight Partners as we continue to grow," says Carlos Moncayo, CEO of Inspectorio. "By raising and expanding our investments in current and future products, we will expand product capabilities to go further upstream in the production chain. This will result in an increased focus on production tracking and supply chain traceability, which is a critical need for the modern supply chain industry."

"Inspectorio is providing a single source of truth for inspection, quality, certification and data audit along supply chains for brands and retailers," said Nicole Shimer, Vice President at Insight Partners. "In an industry that's long needed modernization, Inspectorio's strong management team, deep industry relationships and technology have made it the clear market leader. We look forward to partnering with them as they continue to grow and scale up." Shimer will join the Inspectorio board.

With a portfolio that includes Inspectorio Sight, Inspectorio Rise and Inspectorio Tracking, Inspectorio helps digitize quality, compliance and production tracking activities by removing data silos and bringing all activities onto one platform. With powerful automations and actionable insights, it allows real-time data and reporting across all these activities, enabling organizations to have a predictive approach to quality, compliance and production monitoring.

After experiencing the challenges and pitfalls of antiquated and outdated supply chain processes firsthand, Inspectorio's founders set out to introduce advanced technology and transparency in the retail supply chain. Following a successful Series A financing round in July 2018, the company redefined production chain management into a digital platform that leverages the data on the network to feed their proactive and predictive AI-driven algorithms, allowing companies to identify risk and foster data-driven collaboration across the production chain.

About Inspectorio

Created by Carlos Moncayo, David Klein, Fernando Moncayo and Luis Moncayo to modernize production chain management, Inspectorio aims to build an interconnected, sustainable and transparent supply chain via a cloud-based SaaS solution. Inspectorio helps brands, retailers, manufacturers and suppliers manage risk through digitized quality and compliance programs and is used by over 7,000+ customers globally, including some of the world's largest brands and retailers. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Inspectorio has over 200 employees across the United States, Ecuador, China, Vietnam and Belarus.

Key features of Inspectorio's offerings include digitizing, standardizing and automating quality and compliance activities, optimizing supplier performance management, implementing continuous improvement programs and allocating resources for performance optimization. Inspectorio has three products (Inspectorio Sight, Inspectorio Rise and now Inspectorio Tracking) which connects brands, retailers and suppliers to improve collaboration and drive increased performance. Learn more at https://inspectorio.com/.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insight's mission is to find, fund and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

Media Contact

Kent Ha

Firecracker PR for Inspectorio

[email protected]

1-888-317-4687

SOURCE Inspectorio
BENSALEM, Pa., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of Gatos Silver, Inc. ("Gatos Silver" or the "Company") (NYSE: GATO) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws.

On January 25, 2022, Gatos Silver revealed that "there were errors in the technical report entitled 'Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico' with an effective date of July 1, 2020 . . . , as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model." On a preliminary basis, the Company estimates a potential reduction of the metal content of the mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion.

On this news, the Company's stock price fell $7.02, or 69%, to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022.

If you purchased Gatos Silver securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contacts

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

Howard G. Smith, Esquire

215-638-4847

888-638-4847

[email protected]

www.howardsmithlaw.com

SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Made with real pieces of roasted garlic, herbs and decadent coconut cream, the super smooth and ultra-creamy plant-based cream cheeze spread (SRP: $5.49) is the perfect complement to both warm and cold dishes that will satisfy all those savory cravings. It comes in a recyclable 8 oz. tub and is proudly free from dairy, gluten, soy, peanuts and many other common allergens making it a safe  and delicious  choice for work or school lunches. Daiya's new & improved cream cheeze recipe also comes in a flavor-forward Chive and Onion, tangy-sweet Plain and fruity Strawberry.

"Our most spreadable cream cheeze recipe ever unites garlic lovers everywhere and invites consumers to discover new recipes and usage occasions," said Dan Hua, VP of marketing at Daiya. "Just in time for vegans or plant-based explorers to celebrate something new this Veganuary, we're excited to deliver more delicious taste, robust flavor and dairy-like texture through a wide variety of flavors and products."

Daiya shared its new & improved Blocks recipe in December 2021, now made with oats and chickpeas for a superior dairy-like performance. With a creamier texture, it has a more balanced taste with a semi-firm bite and smooth finish. The new plant-based Classic Mozza Style Block (SRP: $5.49) is a love letter to traditional dairy mozzarella cheese blocks and a soon-to-be fan favorite with its recipe versatility. Like the rest of their line-up of delicious Blocks, the Classic Mozza Style Block is free from dairy, gluten, soy, and peanuts and designed to be shredded, sliced, grated or simply snacked on!

"A record-breaking number of people took the Veganuary pledge and it's wonderful to see companies like Daiya continuing to expand their range of tasty, satisfying, sustainable vegan products to meet demand," said Wendy Matthews, Veganuary U.S. director.

To learn more about the reformulated Daiya Cream Cheeze, the Mozza Style Blocks and find recipes or a store near you, please visit: www.daiyafoods.com.

About Daiya

Daiya Foods was founded in 2008 out of a love for food and a commitment to healthy living. Today, as an industry leader and one of the founding members of The Plant Based Foods Association-US and The Plant Based Foods of Canada Association, Daiya remains passionate about celebrating delicious food that is dairy, gluten and soy free. Its line of premium plant-based foods, like Burritos, Frozen Desserts, Pizzas, Cheezecakes, Cream Cheeze Style Spreads, and wonderful cheese alternatives, including Blocks, Shreds, Slices and Sticks, are available in the dairy case and freezer aisle. Daiya also has a line of shelf-stable products like its Mac & Cheeze, Cheeze Sauce and Dairy-Free Dressings.

Daiya's selection of deliciously plant-based foods can be found in more than 25,000 grocery stores in the U.S., including Kroger, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Safeway and Publix, as well as Sprouts and most natural food retailers. Daiya's products are also available internationally in Mexico, Spain, The Netherlands, South Korea, Hong Kong and more.

For more information about Daiya, please visit www.daiyafoods.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE Daiya Foods
PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. James G. Pressly Jr. has been featured on the Fall 2021 Inner Circle magazine cover for his acclaimed work in the field of Law at his firm, Pressly, Pressly, Randolph, & Pressly.

He is one of the most highly regarded attorneys in Florida, with over 50 years of expertise in Wills, Trusts, and Estates. He is a Partner at Pressly, Pressly, Rudolph, & Pressly, located at 251 Royal Palm Way Suite 300, in Palm Beach, FL.

James G. Pressly Jr

Mr. Pressly began practicing Law before all Florida State Courts in 1972, and has been in his private practice for fifty years. He is proud to help the local Palm Beach Community with estate planning, administration, trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and probate litigation. Litigation can take a long time and become complicated, but Mr. Pressly makes the process easier using his skills developed over five decades in the field. He has taken on will contests, trust contests, and defending trustee removal cases. Mr. Pressly enjoys helping Florida residents with estate planning and litigation, and has experience with multi-jurisdictional estates.

Mr. Pressly and his brother David Pressly formed their law firm in 1991, and Mr. Pressly's son Grier Pressly joined as a Partner in 1999. Mr. John Randolph Jr. joined the team as a Law Clerk and Attorney, and became a Partner in 2000. Many members of the Pressly family manage the firm. Mr. James Pressly and Mr. Grier Pressly are only the third father-and-son team to serve as the President of the Palm Beach County Bar Association in the 95-year history of the Bar.

To obtain his education, Mr. Pressly attended the University of Florida, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1969 and was accepted into Phi Beta Kappa Society. Mr. Pressly obtained his J.D. Degree at the University of Florida Law School, graduating with the highest honors. He was a member of the school's Order of Coif, and was an editor of the Law Review.

Outside of his work as an Attorney, Mr. Pressly is the author of the Florida Bar Publication, Removal of the Personal Representative and Surcharge, first published in 2004 and updated in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. He and John W. Randolph Jr. are the co-authors of a two-volume book entitled Florida Estate Planning (James Publishing), published in 2009. At conferences and seminars, Mr. Pressly has given public speaking events on some of his areas of expertise, Estates, Trusts, and Fiduciary Litigation. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel.

Awards and honors for his work include an annual recognition with Best Lawyers in America since 1983, AV Preeminent peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell, West Palm Beach "Lawyer of the Year" in Trust Estates and Litigation from 2012-2014, and recognized as one of the Top Attorneys of North America by Who's Who PR in 2021.

For more information, visit https://pprplaw.com/.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
BOSTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of January 13, 2022, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on January 3, 2022, and payable on January 31, 2022. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: January 2022



Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.1380

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable January 31, 2022, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.





For the period 01/1/2022-01/31/2022

For the fiscal year-to-date period

11/1/2021-01/31/2022 1 Source

Current Distribution ($)

% Breakdown of the Current Distribution

Total Cumulative Distributions ($)

% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income

0.0633

46%

0.3514

85% Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0%

0.0625

15% Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0%

0.0000

0% Return of Capital or Other Capital Source

0.0747

54%

0.0000

0% Total per common share

0.1380

100%

0.4139

100%

















Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on December 31, 20211

9.01%





Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of December 31, 2021

6.45%





Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through December 31, 2021

3.41%





Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of December 31, 2021

1.61%

____________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2021, and will end on October 31, 2022.

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the January 2022 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Effective October 1, 2021, copies of all notices informing shareholders of distributions made by the fund in excess of accumulated net investment income will be posted on John Hancock Investment Management's public website (jhinvestments.com) and on the Legal Notice System (LENS), a service offering of the Depository Trust Company (DTC) accessible by broker-dealer firms. To the extent required, notice may also be provided via press release. John Hancock Investment Management will continue to distribute paper copies of these notices by mail until March 30, 2022, after which date the notices will be delivered exclusively via the methods described above.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial

John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people achieve their dreams and aspirations by putting customers' needs first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States and as Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.4 trillion (US$1.1 trillion) as of September 30, 2021. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and education savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
For many types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA), damage begins at the articular cartilage, a very thin surface which covers the ends of bones. This process occurs when inflammatory mediators induce the release of enzymes, resulting in degradation of the extracellular collagen and aggrecan networks, i two of the most important constituents responsible for the mechanical properties of cartilage. Aggrecan is the major proteoglycan in articular cartilage, providing the hydrated gel structure that allows the cartilage to bear loads and dissipate energy.

"A striking feature of connective tissues, such as articular cartilage, is their heterogeneity of composition and structure at multiple length scales, which is a concept used in physics to define length or distance determined with the precision of one order of magnitude," said Dr. Bonassar, the Daljit S. and Elaine Sarkaria professor at the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University in New York. "Given the importance of this region, remarkably little is known about the unique mechanical function and biological role in cartilage health and disease. Our research started with a very basic understanding of how cartilage behaves."

The Critical Role of the Articular Surface

More than 15 years ago, Dr. Bonassar, partnered with Itai Cohen, PhD, professor at Cornell University's Department of Physics, who studies the behaviors of soft materials, including cartilage. He had already developed microrheology techniques to examine the micromechanics of soft tissues. Microrheology is the study of mechanics (e.g., microviscosity) of complex materials at small length scales.

Drs. Bonassar and Cohen created a testing device that was small enough to fit on a microscope and could capture images at 10-100 milliseconds to observe how the tissue deforms on the length scale/diameter of a human hair. They discovered that the top 100 (100 microns; a metric unit of measurement where one micron is equivalent to one one-thousandth of a millimeter) of articular cartilage has extremely different mechanical behavior than the rest of the tissue. In fact, it was 10-100 times more compliant (e.g., less stiff or more likely to be deformed).

"We learned that 90% of the energy dissipation occurred in the top 100, so a very small region was doing almost all the work protecting the rest of the tissue," said Dr. Bonassar. "Having established the important mechanical role of the most superficial region of articular cartilage, we sought to understand how the composition of the tissue (water, collagen, proteoglycan) and mechanics are connected."

To do this, they coupled this state-of-the-art mechanical analysis with compositional analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy to understand how the mechanics and composition of the tissue connect. They discovered that the surface region, which acts as a shock absorber, contains a low concentration of collagen and proteoglycans. They furthered this analysis by altering the composition of the cartilage with an enzyme used to selectively remove proteoglycans from the extracellular matrix (ECM), leaving the collagen network largely intact. ECM are structural support cells that regulate cellular growth.

"When you remove proteoglycans from the tissue, you begin a phase transition from a mechanically stiff to a mechanically floppy network," said Dr. Bonassar. "This local subtle damage to the articular surface is what we believe represents the initial stages of damage in arthritis that starts to cascade into the progression of the disease. Essentially, when the tissue is healthy, it's stiff and robust enough to carry load, but the top 100 layer of the articular cartilage is close to a tipping point. With just a little damage, it can cause a huge decrease in its ability to carry load, and once that surface damage happens and function is lost, it's hard to get back."

Function of Cartilage Implants

The next phase of research was to study implants that are used to replace cartilage utilizing the same techniques to understand how the composition impacts the mechanics of these products. Their work provided a benchmark to understand whether these replacement tissues resembled the function of the native cartilage.

Cartilage implants are developed when cells are seeded on a scaffold or a sponge, allowing the cells to grow within the matrix of the scaffold. The team analyzed two cartilage replacement products using the new mechanical evaluation tool. It revealed some behavioral aspects that had never been seen before.

"One of the real challenges for companies that make these products is knowing how long to culture them and how much ECM needs to be deposited before the implants can function mechanically," said Dr. Bonassar. "The maturation threshold is dependent on the type of scaffold and the patient's cells. However, we were able to provide a clear road map for these companies to define how much matrix needs to be made by the cells. In some cases, once the scaffold is 20% full, it's stiff enough to make the construct fully functional."

Cell Behavior in Damaged Tissue

Their research continued to focus on the biologic implications or cellular responses of tissue with mechanical injury. Drs. Bonassar and Cohen partnered with cell biologists and veterinarians, Lisa A. Fortier, DVM, PhD, James Law professor of surgery, and Michelle L. Delco, DVM, PhD, assistant research professor, department of Clinical Sciences, who both work at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. This partnership allowed the team to integrate a clinical perspective, as many of drivers of arthritis are similar in humans and animals.

They were interested in using the tools previously developed not only to understand pure mechanics, but to determine how the mechanics drove cell behavior, and how the local mechanical environment instructed the chondrocytes (the cells that populate cartilage) to help or harm the tissue's health.

Injuries, such as tears to the meniscus or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), or a severe ankle sprain can greatly increase a person's chance of developing arthritis in those joints, in part due to cellular damage that occurs from the impact injury.

"We built a device that fits on a fast-imaging microscope that allowed us to deliver controlled amounts of energy to pieces of cartilagethe same impact a person might experience in an ACL or meniscus tear or a car accident," said Dr. Bonassar. "By capturing images at milliseconds, we observed in real time how the tissue deforms and what happens to the cells in the regions that experienced different amounts of deformation. We discovered that the damage to the cells is directly related to how much strain the tissue experiences and is concentrated in the area of impact. For example, in a matter of minutes following an ACL tear, the chondrocytes, particularly in that top 100, are damaged in a very specific way, in that their mitochondria are less efficient at doing their job."

Drs. Fortier and Delco were interested in therapies that target mitochondria to help prevent damage. The team demonstrated that delivering a small peptide to the cartilage stabilized the mitochondria and prevented damage to the cells and tissue. The team is currently looking at these peptides as a potential therapeutic for post-traumatic OA.

Key Insights for Other Soft Tissues

The team also applied the approaches they developed for understanding the microscale mechanics, composition and mechanobiology of articular cartilage to answer important questions about the function of other cartilaginous and soft tissues. Key findings include:

The mechanics of the growth plate arise from the columnar arrangements of cells. Tissue deformations are concentrated between these cellular columns, and these regions of the tissue are the most susceptible to damage.

Articular cartilage from the temporomandibular joint is different from all other joints in the body. It contains a layer of fibrous tissue at the articular surface that is highly organized and susceptible to shear loading.

The attachment of the meniscus to the tibia has a complex organization designed to create a smooth profile in deformation from the stiff bone to the compliant meniscus.

Collectively, these studies have had major impact on the cartilage and soft tissue biomechanics communities.

"Receiving the Kappa Delta Award is incredibly humbling for me and it's very meaningful for our team to be recognized," said Dr. Bonassar. "Our interdisciplinary team consisting of an engineer, a physicist and two veterinarians allowed us to look at problems differently from the rest of the field to drive innovation in the clinical setting."

About the Kappa Delta Awards

In 1947, at its golden anniversary, the Kappa Delta Sorority established the Kappa Delta Research Fellowship in Orthopaedics, the first award ever created to honor achievements in the field of orthopaedic research. The first annual award, a single stipend of $1,000, was made available to the Academy in 1949 and presented at the AAOS meeting in 1950. The Kappa Delta Awards have been presented by the Academy to persons who have performed research in orthopaedic surgery that is of high significance and impact.

The sorority has since added two more awards and increased the award amounts to $20,000 each. Two awards are named for the sorority national past presidents who were instrumental in the creation of the awards: Elizabeth Winston Lanier, and Ann Doner Vaughn. The third is known as the Young Investigator Award. For more information about the manuscript submission process, please visit aaos.org/kappadelta.

Kappa Delta Foundation

Kappa Delta Sorority is a national organization for women with nearly 260,000 members, more than 500 chartered alumnae chapters and 169 active collegiate chapters. Established in 1981, the Kappa Delta Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to secure funds for the educational, leadership and charitable purposes of Kappa Delta Sorority. The foundation is supported by member donations and bequests that fund programs and initiatives such as scholarships, internships, grants and more. Kappa Delta National Headquarters is in Memphis, Tennessee. For more information, visit kappadelta.org/foundation.

About the AAOS

With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level best treat patients in their daily practices. The AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal health care issues and it leads the health care discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Disclosures

Funding and Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Bonassar is co-founder of and holds equity in 3DBio Therapeutics. He also is an inventor on several patents that have been licensed by 3DBio Therapeutics. He has acted as a paid consultant for 3DBio Therapeutics, Aerin Medical Inc., Histogenics, Inc. and Fidia Pharma USA. His laboratory at Cornell University has received sponsored research funding from 3DBio Therapeutics, Aerin Medical Inc., Histogenics, Inc, Fidia Farmaceutici, and Pfizer, Inc.

Dr. Fortier is the Editor-in-Chief for the American Veterinary Medical Association. She has received sponsored research funding from Arthrex, BioVentus, In2Bones, and EpiBone.

Dr. Cohen is co-inventor of the Tissue Deformation Imaging Stage licensed to Harrick Scientific. In addition, Cohen has consulted and received sponsored research funding from Procter and Gamble as well as Xerox.

Dr. Delco has nothing to disclose.

i Berenbaum F. Osteoarthritis as an inflammatory disease (osteoarthritis is not osteoarthrosis!). Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013 21(1):16-21.

SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Asfar Azmi, Ph.D ., associate professor, Department of Oncology, leader, Molecular Therapeutics Research Program and director, Pancreatic Cancer Research Initiative at Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSU SOM), and M. Najeeb Al Hallak, M.D., MS, medical oncologist, member of the Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrine Multidisciplinary Team at Karmanos and assistant professor in the Department of Oncology at WSU SOM, are leading a pilot study titled, "A pilot study of serial blood profiling for micro-RNA expression signature to Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients."

"There are limited, effective therapies for this disease, and more importantly, there are no strategies to date to tell us early on if a treatment is working or not," Dr. Azmi said. "In our study, we collect blood from the patient during the course of chemotherapy treatment and analyze the blood for certain markers. If those markers predict response or resistance to chemotherapy, we will then have new knowledge to help produce scientific advances for the best treatment option for those faced with this disease."

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and the state of Michigan is among the states with higher rates of pancreatic cancer diagnoses. Pancreatic cancer is considered incurable in the majority of patients due to advanced stage at diagnosis, and often once diagnosed, the only treatment option is chemotherapy.

"It will be a groundbreaking research finding if we are able to identify that microRNA signature in the blood that tells us 'this chemotherapy is the best treatment option for the patient,' and avoid ineffective treatments that allow a patient's symptoms to worsen and the cancer to spread," said Dr. Al Hallak. "This grant will significantly help improve testing quality and even expand the testing beyond just the microRNA to find other signatures for those patients, which can even influence future research into new drug therapies for pancreatic cancer treatment."

"At U CAN-CER VIVE, we have focused a great deal of our cancer grant funding towards research tackling pediatric cancers, as well as those with a very low survival rate. This research specifically looks at pancreatic cancer, which in addition to having a low survival rate, is also underfunded," said Kelley LaFontaine, co-founder of the U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation. "Our hope at U CAN-CER VIVE is this grant funding will provide the doctors and researchers with the necessary support to fulfill their mission and hopefully ultimately discover findings that raise the quality of life and outlook for those afflicted with this disease."

Currently, there are 10 patients enrolled in the pilot study. The U CAN-CER VIVE grant makes it possible to double the number of participants to 20. Karmanos Cancer Institute is a national leader in clinical trials and at the forefront of offering treatments that define the new standards of care. In fact, Karmanos offers more cancer treatments and clinical trials not found elsewhere in Michigan.

"There is so much more to learn and understand about cancer and cancer treatments, and at Karmanos, it's a team effort," said Gerald Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Karmanos Cancer Institute. "The collaborative relationship between researchers and physicians in this study, and funding like the U CAN-CER VIVE grant help to advance our ability to give patients their best advantages in surviving a cancer diagnosis and living longer."

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. Our vision is a world free of cancer. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in the state of Michigan. For more than 75 years, our administrative and research headquarters, along with our premier specialty cancer hospital, have been located in downtown Detroit. Our 15 network sites throughout the state deliver market-leading cancer care and clinical trials conveniently to the communities where many of our patients live. Karmanos is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the best cancer centers in the nation with a comprehensive cancer center designation. Our academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides the framework for cancer research and education  defining new standards of care and improving survivorship. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation

Our Mission at U CAN-CER VIVE is to provide vital funding for cancer research to create a cancer free world. Founded by siblings, Ryan and Kelley LaFontaine, it is the ongoing mission of U CAN-CER VIVE to provide vital funding and support for local cancer research grants. Upon becoming an official nonprofit foundation in February 2016, we have raised nearly $3,000,000, providing funds for cancer research grants annually here in the State of Michigan. This passion toward the fight against cancer stems from the heart and soul of the LaFontaine's commitment to give back after experiencing the affliction of cancer firsthand. Operated solely by passionate volunteers, we are proud to be able to donate 100% of profits to our cause. With your help, we will continue to make an impact in the world of cancer.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Last Chance for Animals (LCA) today welcomed news that Italian luxury fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana, has pledged to keep fur from future collections.

"Each year, millions of animals are raised in horrific conditions and brutally killed for clothing and accessories," said Chris DeRose, Founder and President of LCA. "The destruction of countless animals is not only cruel, but unnecessary. We welcome the news that another high-end brand has committed to a more compassionate fashion industry."

Dolce & Gabbana joined other well-known designer brands in ditching fur. Canada Goose, Moncler, Prada, Valentino, and Yves St. Laurent are among the luxury fashion brands who have already pledged to go fur-free.

"After years of campaigning and pressure by animal rights advocates, luxury labels are finally waking up to fur-free, the latest fashion trend," said DeRose. "We hope this movement continues and finally puts an end to the cruel fur industry."

Dolce & Gabbana's announcement comes as LCA is leading a nationwide campaign to stop the fur industry. In October 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 44 into law, making California the first state in the nation to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products. Most recently, the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, banned the retail sale of new fur products.

ABOUT LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS:

LCA is an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating animal exploitation through education, investigations, legislation, and public awareness campaigns. Since its formation in 1984, LCA has succeeded as one of the nation's pioneer animal advocacy groups. LCA's educational and public outreach programs have empowered the public to make positive changes for animals in their communities. For more information, visit https://lcanimal.org .

SOURCE Last Chance For Animals
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a reply brief filed last week by the legal team of Clare Bronfman, attorneys for the Seagram's heiress argued that the district court's extraordinarily harsh 81-month sentence was handed down in error, particularly as the court punished her on the basis of activities it explicitly admitted she did not participate in and knew nothing about.

While Bronfman was an active member of NXIVM and a proponent of its teachings, like tens of thousands of others around the world, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York sentenced her to 81 months in prison based on her purported linkages to DOSa secret organization whose existence was known only to the small group comprising its membership. As the District Court itself noted, "Ms. Bronfman vigorously disputes the proposition that she was aware of either DOS or any sex trafficking. She vigorously disputes the proposition that she knowingly funded DOS or sex trafficking activity. I agree with Ms. Bronfman that the available evidence does not establish that she was aware of DOS prior to June 2017 or that she directly or knowingly funded DOS or other sex trafficking activities."

Still, DOS was "relevant context for my analysis of the appropriate sentence for Ms. Bronfman," the court said.

"The sentence that Ms. Bronfman received was clearly for crimes she did not commit and was not aware of, as evidenced by the court's own statements and reasoning," said Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., an attorney for Ms. Bronfman. "By the court's own admission, she found out about DOS at the same time the rest of the world did."

Bronfman pleaded guilty to two charges related to identity theft and immigration fraud, yet the court amassed a litany of attempts to bring DOS into the case. This includes allowing eight former members of DOS who had no connection to Bronfman's charges to testify at length about their experiences in DOS at her sentencing.

"The sentence she received is a travesty of justice and we will continue to seek an appropriate and proportionate sentence for the charges she pled guilty to," Sullivan added.

SOURCE Ronald Sullivan Law, PLLC
In the framework of this industrial partnership, Kedrion will manufacture immunoglobulins in Hungary from LFB plasma collected in France by the Etablissement Francais du Sang. These immunoglobulins manufactured by Kedrion will be imported by LFB in France and will complement LFB's own immunoglobulins, which will be made available to hospitals in France, in agreement with and under the control of French health authorities.

"I am delighted with this partnership with Kedrion, which will enable us to meet the growing needs of the French market for immunoglobulins, drugs that are in great demand in France and around the world," emphasized Denis Delval, LFB's Chairman and CEO. "Our agreement with Kedrion will provide us with an additional supply of immunoglobulins for patients in France."

Paolo Marcucci, President of Kedrion, said, "I welcome the cooperation agreement with LFB as it provides a solution for patients in France." Mr. Marcucci added, "Kedrion shares LFB's values and its raison d'etre, which is to provide products and therapies to patients with serious and often rare diseases."

About Kedrion Biopharma

Kedrion Biopharma is a biopharmaceutical company that collects and fractionates plasma to produce and distribute worldwide plasma-derived products for the prevention and treatment of rare and debilitating diseases and conditions such as hemophilia, primary immunodeficiencies and RH sensitization.

Headquartered in Tuscany, with more than 2,800 employees worldwide, Kedrion has a commercial presence in 100 countries and is the 5th largest player in the world, and the 1st in Italy. Kedrion has manufacturing facilities in Italy, Hungary and North America, and its subsidiary KEDPLASMA operates plasma collection centers in the United States.

About LFB

LFB is a biopharmaceutical group that develops, manufactures and markets plasma-derived medicinal products and recombinant proteins for the treatment of patients suffering from serious and often rare diseases. Created in 1994 in France, LFB is today one of the leading European players offering blood-derived medicinal products to healthcare professionals, with the mission of providing new treatment options for patients in three major therapeutic areas: immunology, hemostasis and intensive care.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736226/Kedrion_Paolo_Marcucci.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736227/Kedrion_Biopharma_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736228/LFB_Logo.jpg



SOURCE Kedrion Biopharma
The Malaysia virtual International Halal Showcase (Mihas) 2021, the world's leading halal platform, has generated a record-breaking RM2.13 billion ($510 million) in export sales.

This included RM1.38 billion sales recorded by exhibitors and RM749.1 million from Malaysian companies who participated in the International Sourcing Programmes (INSP).

Mihas was successfully conducted in a fully virtual format from September 9 until December 31, 2021 proving that the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade)s iconic event is a big hit with the halal community.

According to Matrades Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, Mihas 2021 The virtual INSP is a business-matching programme in which Matrades 46 overseas-based offices match-make Malaysian exporters with potential international buyers.

Malaysian exhibitors accounted for RM562 million in total sales while foreign exhibitors also reported encouraging sales which further highlighted Mihass robustness as the global avenue to the ever-growing Halal economy.

For foreign exhibitors, Indonesia led with the highest sales totalling RM403.4 million, followed by the Philippines (RM199.3 million), Vietnam (RM103.8 million), Pakistan (RM36.0 million) and Brazil (RM13.2 million). Islamic Financial Services (RM380.9 million, 27.6 per cent) recorded the highest total sales among the 12 key clusters that Mihas 2021 focused on, followed by Beverages (RM329.6 million, 23.9 per cent), Processed Food (RM150.6 million, 10.9 per cent), Pharmaceutical, Toiletries & Cosmetics (RM138.0 million, 10.0 per cent), and Agricultural Produce (RM106.7 million, 7.7 per cent).

Year 2021 witnessed Matrades impactful digital transformation in which the 17th Mihas edition featured the virtual participation of 549 exhibitors comprising 246 local exhibitors and 303 foreign exhibitors from 42 countries including new entrants from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Colombia.

The top five foreign exhibiting countries are Indonesia (45 exhibitors), China (23 exhibitors), the Philippines (20 exhibitors), South Korea (18 exhibitors) and Thailand (16 exhibitors). Besides attracting 16,152 trade visitors and delegates, Mihas 2021 created opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen their export capabilities.

Moving forward, Mustafa added We encourage Malaysian companies to leverage Matrades 286 exporter development and export promotion programmes planned in 2022. Matrade will continue to establish strategic collaborations with various public and private sectors in implementing export-based programmes in order to create more export opportunities.

The forward-looking market insight discussions were part of the networking and business matching sessions organised during Mihas 2021. The Knowledge Hub expounded insights on future-trending topics such as Women and Economy, Islamic Intellectual Property, Halal Considerations in Cloud Kitchens, The Pandemic Challenges & Opportunities to Modest Fashion Industry and Market Access Insights.

A testament to its success as the leading halal showcase in the region, Mihas 2021 received the Gold Award in the Best Pandemic Pivot or Covid-19 Communications campaign category at the Malaysia Public Relations Awards (MPRA) on 17 December 2021. Themed 'Empowering Halal, Tomorrow, Together', various PR strategies were implemented with greater emphasis on digitalisation including social media channels to optimise the brand impact and position Mihas on the world stage.-- TradeArabia News Service
CLEVELAND, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Greater Cleveland Aquarium (2000 Sycamore Street, Cleveland, OH 44113; 216.862.8803; greaterclevelandaquarium.com) invites the public to join them in celebrating the arrival of newborn weedy sea dragons, a species that has proven to be exceedingly difficult to rear. Since the first successful weedy sea dragon hatching in 2001 at the Aquarium of the Pacific, fewer than 20 facilities worldwide have had any level of success with mating and only an estimated dozen of those have seen fry survive.

September 2021 - January 2022 documentation of egg transfer, birth and weedy sea dragon hatchlings at Greater Cleveland Aquarium (Cleveland, OH) Greater Cleveland Aquarium weedy sea dragon hatchlings, January 2022

A delicate species whose survival has been tested by habitat degradation, weedy sea dragons are native to the cold coastal waters of south and west Australia.

"These births would be a point of pride for any animal care facility, but it's a particularly exciting for an aquarium of our size and age," says General Manager Stephanie White, who has been with the Aquarium since it opened in January of 2012.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium is housed in a brick building dating back to 1892, and Curator Ray Popik believes the creativity required to reimagine the historic space contributed to his team's success breeding sea dragons. "We were able to home the sea dragons in a very deep exhibit built into a structure that likely served as an air duct or a coal chute when this building was an operational powerhouse," says Popik, explaining, "Its depth provided an optimal habitat for the seahorse relatives who court with an elaborate vertical dance."

After the female weedy lays her eggs, they are transferred to the male's tail and he is responsible for fertilizing and carrying them until they hatch. A mating attempt in September of 2021 resulted in fry popping out between late-October and the beginning of November. The hatchlings were moved behind-the-scenes. "There's no parental involvement after birth and it's incredible that any of these tiny offspring survive when they're left to fend for themselves in the ocean," says Mallory Haskell, the primary aquarist responsible for their monitoring and delicate care. Not particularly strong swimmers, weedy sea dragons' leaf-like appendages blend in with kelp and seagrass help hide them from predators.

The Aquarium plans to put some of the young on-view soon for guests just down the corridor from the adult weedy sea dragons. "We're learning so much," says White, adding, "It has been amazing to watch these animals develop, so we want to give that opportunity to others if we're able."

The process has been full of ups and downs, but Haskell is optimistic. "We know there are challenges ahead, but we hope we will see a number of these sea dragons reach adulthood," she says.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium has been energizing curiosity about aquatic life and the environment to inspire positive action since 2012. Click here for weedy sea dragon photos and b-roll.

Media contact:

Samantha Fryberger

[email protected]

216-862-8803 x7716

SOURCE Greater Cleveland Aquarium
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE: LDI) today announced the closing of Mello Mortgage Capital Acceptance 2022-INV1, a $597 million securitization of agency-eligible mortgages secured by residential investment properties, originated through its retail and partner channels. Over the past twelve months, loanDepot entities have sponsored over $3 billion in private label residential mortgage-backed securities ("PLS") across eight transactions.

The collateral pool consists of 1,442 prime, fully amortizing agency-eligible mortgage loans, with original terms of maturity ranging from 20 to 30 years. The loans were made to borrowers with strong credit profiles and low leverage; the pool has a weighted average FICO score of 766 and an original combined loan-to-value ratio of 64.74%. The key collateral attributes of the pool are generally consistent with other recent agency-eligible investment property transactions.

"Our successful PLS issuance demonstrates our unique and resilient business model, enhanced by the strength of our multi-channel strategy, nationally recognized brand and proprietary mello tech stack," said loanDepot Founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh. "The reliability, consistency and scale of our program allows loanDepot to offer bespoke capital transactions that feature superior pricing of our loans in the secondary market. Our sophisticated capital raising strategy and diversified financing approach continues to provide us operational flexibility as we continue to innovate to help our customers seamlessly navigate one of the most important financial transactions of their lives."

The transaction was a private offering of securities, not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or any state securities law. All of such securities having been sold, this announcement of their sale appears as a matter of record only.

J.P. Morgan acted as bookrunner for the offering and Placement Agent for certain offered securities. Raymond James acted as co-manager for the offering.

About loanDepot

loanDepot (NYSE: LDI) is a digital commerce company committed to serving its customers throughout the home ownership journey. Since its launch in 2010, loanDepot has revolutionized the mortgage industry with a digital-first approach that makes it easier, faster and less stressful to purchase or refinance a home. Today, as the nation's second largest retail mortgage lender, loanDepot enables customers to achieve the American dream of homeownership through a broad suite of lending and real estate services that simplify one of life's most complex transactions. With headquarters in Southern California and offices nationwide, loanDepot is committed to serving the communities in which its team lives and works through a variety of local, regional and national philanthropic efforts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," which reflect loanDepot's current views with respect to, among other things, its business operations and strategy. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "potential," "continue," "may," "seek," "approximately," "predict," "believe," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate" or "anticipate" and similar expressions or the negative versions of these words or comparable words, as well as future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would" and "could." These forward-looking statements are based on current available operating, financial, economic and other information, and are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks in the "Risk Factors" section of loanDepot, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, current plans, anticipated actions, financial results, as well as the anticipated development of the industry, may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in any forward-looking statement. loanDepot does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Gerhard Erdelji

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

(949) 822-4074

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Rebecca Anderson

Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Relations

(949) 822-4024

[email protected]

LDI-IR

SOURCE loanDepot, Inc.
Marine Radar Market Report Key Highlights

Estimated year-on-year growth rate: 3.97%

Key market segments: Application (fishing vessel, merchant vessel, naval vessel, and recreational vessel), and Geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , South America and MEA)

, APAC, , and MEA) Key Consumer Region & contribution: North America at 31%

Marine Radar Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 3.59% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 147.29 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.97 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 31% Key consumer countries US, Japan, Sweden, China, and The Netherlands Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled BAE Systems Plc, Dassault Aviation Group, General Dynamics Corp., Honeywell International Inc., L3Harris Technologies Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Saab AB, and Thales Group 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 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.

Do reach out to our analysts for more customized report as per needs. Speak to our Analyst now!

Marine Radar Market Trend

Navigation aid

The multiple intrinsic features of radar (determining the CPA and the TCPA, EBL, and VRM) can be used to avoid accidents at sea. Moreover, activities in the narrow radar range can be monitored by the coast guard, VTS, and other authorities by using these radars, even while the ships are parked at the harbor. In addition, the ship has a screen (the Plan Position Indicator) that shows all of the targets within the radar range. Thus, the display shows all of the items making navigation and monitoring of the ship's location much more practical. Therefore, the navigation aid is expected to drive the global marine radar market during the forecast period.

Marine Radar Market Challenge

Adverse climatic conditions

Climatic conditions such as rain and other types of precipitation are responsible for producing echo signals that can overwrite the desired target echoes. As the radar waves travel through the atmosphere they bend with a reduction of density in the Earth's atmosphere as the altitude increases. This results in boosting the detection range at low angles. Moreover, the atmosphere generates "ducts" for capturing and channelizing radar energy around the curvature of the Earth, for detection at ranges even beyond the normal horizon. However, at times ducts can expand the range of air-borne radar, but can even deflect the radar radiation and not reveal the regions below the ducts. Thus, ducting can be more bothering in some situations as it is unpredictable and unreliable.

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Key market vendors insights

The marine radar market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic strategies to compete in the market.

Some of the key market vendors are:

BAE Systems Plc

Dassault Aviation Group

General Dynamics Corp.

Honeywell International Inc.

L3Harris Technologies Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corp.

Northrop Grumman Corp.

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

Saab AB

Thales Group

For more detailed highlights on products offerings and the growth strategies adopted by other vendors, Download free sample report

Key Segment Analysis by Application

Fishing Vessel

The fishing vessel segment will be significant in the marine radar market share growth during the forecast period. A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, on a lake, or in a river. A fishing radar is a device that detects reflected pulses of sound energy, similar to sonar, to locate fish underwater. Thus, the increasing popularity and demand of fishing radar in commercial, recreational and artisanal fishing is estimated to drive the global marine radar market.

Merchant Vessel



Navel Vessel



Recreational Vessel

Regional Market Analysis

North America will contribute to 31% of the global marine radar market share growth during the forecast period. The US is the major market for marine radar in North America.

The increasing participation of people in water-related recreational activities in the key countries is expected to boost the marine radar market share growth in the region.

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About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library 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.

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SOURCE Technavio
"Mathnasium is ecstatic to release Great Foundations to the U.S. system," said John Bianchette, Associate V.P. of Education and Training. "Following a significant period of strategy, development and testing, what has emerged is a world-class program crafted specifically for the unique needs of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, delivered by the community's local highly-trained instructional staff. Great Foundations will solidify a child's awareness of the mathematical world around them, develop their inquisitive minds and incorporate a lot of fun while doing it. The result is a tremendous introduction to Mathnasium for early mathematical thinkers, preparing them for our transformational Numerical Fluency Addition and Subtraction program and beyond."

The Great Foundations program includes curriculum designed to engage the younger age group and is taught using the same caring, face-to-face instruction Mathnasium is known for. Because the lessons are engaging and fun, children develop a love of learning as well as an ability to work independently.

Great Foundations was introduced in a successful pilot program over the last year, and Mathnasium is enthusiastic about expanding the program to its franchisees of over 1,000 Learning Centers across the country after receiving positive feedback from parents. "My kids loved the program and asked to go more," said parent Mark M. "They started kindergarten well ahead of the rest of the students."

Interested parents are invited to contact their local center to learn more about the Great Foundations program.

About Mathnasium

Mathnasium is North America's leading math-only supplemental education franchise. Since 2002, the Mathnasium Method  the result of decades of hands-on instruction and development  has been transforming the lives of children in grades K-12, helping them understand, master, and love math. Mathnasium changes the lives of more than 100,000 children in neighborhood learning centers on five continents. To learn more, go to: www.mathnasium.com

1Greg J. Duncan, et al, "School Readiness and Later Achievement," Developmental Psychology, 2007.

Press Contact:

Erica Upshur, AVP Marketing

[email protected]

(888) 763-2604

SOURCE Mathnasium Learning Centers
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Melamine Market by Type (Melamine Foam and Melamine Resin) and Application (Laminates, Thermoset Plastics, Wood Adhesives, Surface Coatings, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030". According to the report, the global melamine industry generated $1.7 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to generate $2.5 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.3% from 2021 to 2030.

Prime determinants of growth

Growth in demand for laminates across the globe, rise in consumption of melamine in the wood adhesive industry, and increased construction activities across the globe drive the growth of the global melamine market. However, harmful effects of melamine due to their toxicity hinder the market growth. On the other hand, rise in demand for decorative laminates presents new opportunities in the coming years.

Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/15046

Covid-19 Scenario

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the growth of the global melamine market, owing to decline in the demand for melamine from various end use industries such as building & construction, automotive, and paints & coatings.

The paints & coatings manufacturing units across countries were temporarily closed. As a result, demand for melamine that are widely used in production of surface coatings has decreased significantly, which hampered the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Melamine is also used in the production of laminate used in the building & construction industry in items such as kitchen cabinets, countertops, partitions, flooring, and furniture. As the construction of various residential projects was halted during lockdown, the demand for melamine from laminates manufacturers across the globe declined.

The melamine resin segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on type, the melamine resin segment held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global melamine market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 4.6% from 2021 to 2030. Significant increase in demand for melamine resin from various industries, such as construction, automotive, furniture, chemical, and packaging provides a boost to the demand for this segment. The research also analyzes the melamine foam segment.

Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Melamine Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/15046?reqfor=covid

The laminates segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on application, the laminates segment accounted for the largest share in 2020, contributing to more than one-third of the global melamine market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to surge in investment in the building and construction industry across the developing economies such as China and India. However, the wood adhesives segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 5.0% from 2021 to 2030. Growth in construction activity in countries such as China, Japan, India, and the U.S. are expected to drive the demand for wood adhesives during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe & North America, to maintain its dominance by 2030

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe & North America, held the highest market share in terms of revenue 2020, accounting for around half of the global melamine market. Moreover, the same region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period, owing to the growth in construction activities and increased demand for laminates, wood adhesives, and paints & coatings in countries such as China, India, and Japan.

Leading Market Players

Abbvie Inc.

Bristol Myers & Squibb

Cipla Inc.

Gilead Sciences Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc.

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Lupin Ltd.

Merck & Co. Inc.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Zydus Cadila

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BEVERLY, Mass., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MP, a human capital management (HCM) company focused on transforming the employer-employee relationship and experience, has been assisting hundreds of businesses and nonprofits in claiming significant pandemic financial aid. MP has helped numerous clients claim their maximum Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a refundable, advanceable tax credit, since the program's inception in 2020.

MP's experienced tax experts have assisted clients across all industries through this complicated IRS claims process. Some clients have been able to claim ERCs of over one million or two million dollars. These funds are often the difference between staying in operation and closing.

"We're proud to help so many organizations survive the pandemic via the ERC program," said Jason Maxwell, Founder and CEO of MP. "Through ERC claims, we've helped hundreds of businesses claim over $40 million, surviving government restrictions on business operations, staffing shortages, and the economic challenges of the last two years."

"As with most IRS programs, claiming ERCs is complicated," said Paul Carelis, VP of HR Services at MP. "We're happy to offer expert assistance to businesses and nonprofits so they can maximize their funds, reduce turnaround times and workload, and ensure their claims and records are solid and defensible."

MP has assisted nonprofits and businesses across every vertical, including the foodservice industry, professional services organizations, events management companies, retail companies, veterinary offices, franchises, daycares and preschools, gyms and fitness centers, and construction firms, to name a few. The ERC team meets with businesses to assess eligibility, files and maximizes claims, and provides audit protection. In addition to assisting clients, MP's ERC team has also created a library of ERC educational materials and hosts regular ERC webinars. MP is hosting a webinar on the ERC program, free to the public, on February 10, 2022, from 1-2 pm. Register: 2/10: Unpacking the Employee Retention Credit: Funding for Businesses Impacted by COVID - MP (mp-hr.com).

About MP

MP is a full-service HR and payroll services provider. Founded in 2004, it's headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts. The company serves clients from all industries and across all 50 states, helping them streamline human capital management systems and services to achieve their larger business goals. MP combines best-in-class technology with proactive and reliable customer service to help clients optimize performance. For more information, visit mp-hr.com .

Media Contact:

Amy Wieman, VP of Marketing

MP

978-338-2129

[email protected]

SOURCE MP
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Orion Protocol, the decentralized gateway to the digital asset market, launched Orion Bridge: the first 'truly decentralized' peer-to-peer atomic swap bridge, and 'the most secure cross-chain bridge in market'. Orion Bridge is the first bridge to be integrated into a trading platform: enabling cross-chain, cross-exchange liquidity aggregation on Orion Terminal, and almost zero fee trading of popular ERC20 assets.

The Race Towards Interoperability

We have reached a point of peak fragmentation of the digital asset market - with increasingly different asset types, built on different blockchains, held across different exchanges - resulting in incredibly siloed pools of liquidity, without any infrastructure to bridge them together. The industry is still too siloed to evolve to a state of full-interoperability that is needed for mainstream adoption without a solution, a chain-agnostic meta-aggregator, that sits across the entire market.

Unrivaled Security

Cross-chain bridges like Multichain are increasing in popularity, volume and TVL as the space makes strides towards cross-chain interoperability. Yet at the same time, we're seeing many cross-chain bridges succumb to hacks and exploitation - Qubit and Multichain were both exploited in the last fortnight alone ($80 million and $4 million respectively).

The specifics vary, but both exploits ultimately come down to one thing: the need for wrapping and minting of assets. Cue Orion Bridge , the first truly decentralized cross-chain bridge powered by peer-to-peer atomic swaps: enabling users to trade native Layer 1 assets across different blockchains without limits, delays, refused orders, blocked funds, or exploits. Built by Orion Protocol, the decentralized gateway to the digital asset market, the bridge has been integrated into Orion Terminal to enable seamless cross-chain, cross-exchange liquidity aggregation for the first time.

The first Atomic Swaps

While a well-known concept in the community, atomic swaps are implemented in very few projects. The first bridge to use atomic swap technology, Orion Bridge enables immediate exchange of two native assets on different blockchains, without wrapping or minting assets. The operation is called atomic because it implies that the whole procedure cannot stop halfway - the exchange either occurs completely and both parties receive their exchanged assets, or it does not occur at all and both parties retain ownership of their existing assets. As such, neither party can exploit any stage of the transaction, and thus Orion Bridge cannot be exploited in the same way as the likes of leading bridges.

Peer-to-Peer: True Decentralization

Furthermore, most bridges are not truly decentralized ; most are dependent on layers of validators and therefore susceptible to 51% attacks. Alternatively, the peer-to-peer technology underpinning Orion Bridge enables true decentralization: the direct exchange of an asset between individual parties without the involvement of a central authority. With transactions recorded on every peer's network, it is extremely difficult, even "computationally impractical", to overwrite or falsify ledgers. There is no central server or host, making Orion Bridge highly resistant to attacks, while making it infinitely scalable. The more users joining Orion Broker Network, the more resilient and scalable the bridge becomes.

Integration into Orion Terminal

2021 was the year of crypto adoption - from the explosion of NFTs amidst retail through to the adoption of Bitcoin by El Salvadore as legal tender. Yet 2021 was also the year the market saw gas fees surge on Ethereum, rendering it nearly unusable ahead of the much-awaited ETH 2.0 (now Ethereum Consensus Layer).

While cross-chain bridges are growing in popularity, no bridges have been integrated into trading platforms for true cross-chain trading - until today. Orion Bridge has been integrated into Orion Terminal, enabling true cross-chain and cross-exchange liquidity aggregation for the first time: the first step in marketwide interoperability. As a result, users can trade popular ERC20 assets, with the low fees and high speed of Binance Smart Chain. Other chains will be integrated to reduce fees further, while increasing speed, asset availability, and more.

The First Step in Marketwide Interoperability

Orion Bridge V1 is positioned as the first step towards true marketwide interoperability. Atomic swaps are a powerful continuation of the idea of "removing" the boundaries between blockchains, and as the first bridge to implement atomic swap technology, Orion will integrate further chains and exchanges, with plans to move all transaction settlements to a cheap network in a way that remains transparent to users - finally removing the boundaries between blockchains.

"As Orion Bridge grows to include more assets and chains, and as other bridges sadly continue to succumb to exploitation, Orion Protocol plans to become the leading cross-chain bridge in the market, finally removing the boundaries between blockchains. Our goal is to enable users to trade any asset across any chain - without limits, delays, refused orders, blocked funds, or exploits," says Timothea Horwell, CMO of Orion Protocol.

For more information, please contact Orion Chief Marketing Offer, Timothea Horwell, at [email protected].

About Orion Protocol

Orion Protocol is the chain-agnostic protocol building the single point of access to the crypto market - powered by Orion's Universal Liquidity Aggregator. Orion Protocol is the first, and only, platform to provide decentralized access to CEXs, DEXs, and swap pools in one place, directly from users' wallets.

SOURCE Orion Protocol
PEORIA, Ill. and OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elemeno Health, the developer of a proprietary cloud-based solution for frontline health care teams, and OSF HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Illinois, today announced a partnership to initiate a pilot using a customizable, just-in-time best practices app for nurses.

The Peoria, Illinois-based integrated health system operates 15 hospitals in Illinois and Michigan with a robust innovation division. Cross-functional collaboration is an organizational priority and OSF Innovation regularly seeks to understand the pain points and experiences of our frontline care givers, including nurses who care deeply about quality patient outcomes and providing the best patient experience. By understanding the voice of our frontline caregivers and partnering with them, OSF Innovation is able to serve the Ministry through identification and implementation of solutions that support them in the work they do each day and create a better Mission Partner (employee) experience.

With emerging variants, vaccine approvals, and shifting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that nurses busy caring for patients needed an easy way to ensure they had the latest information. OSF Innovation saw the potential in Elemeno as a tool to provide OSF nurses with point of care education that is easy to access, relevant and timely, and worked closely with nursing leadership to help define potential use cases and value. Elemeno's mobile-friendly platform allows for real-time updates on changes in practice, implementation of new treatments, products, even specific notifications based on information learned during team huddles.

Elemeno will be piloted in several specific departments within the OSF HealthCare system, including at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center in Peoria, with a goal of full implementation within hospitals and clinics.

"With quickly shifting resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, this type of communication tool can assist nurses on individuals floors, within a department or within the entire hospital, to help key players on care teams be prepared for day to day changes," said Lori Wiegand, chief nursing officer for OSF HealthCare. "OSF Innovation and its performance improvement teams consistently help advance novel approaches to problems, including efforts to pilot leading-edge technology to provide the highest quality care possible to our patients."

"Elemeno is designed to meet nurses where they are, so they have access to easy-to-digest content, including how-to videos and interactive decision guides, in a way that supports every type of learner," said Jill Williamson, director of Education at OSF HealthCare. "Site-specific, data-informed details can be shared, along with evidence-based standards, policies and procedures."

With many hospital systems, including OSF, having to hire travel nurses to supplement care during COVID-19 surges, the Elemeno platform helps streamline onboarding and training to drive system-wide consistency with workflows, policies and procedures. The easy-to-use platform can reinforce a safety-first mentality that is critically important as clinicians manage the heavy burden of caring for patients, many of whom require complex care if they are hospitalized with COVID-19.

"We need to make nurses' lives simpler," noted Arup Roy-Burman, CEO and co-founder of Elemeno Health. "As a playbook in your pocket, Elemeno equips frontline nursing staff with the bite-sized information they need to easily deliver consistent and safe care to every patient."

Initial success will be measured through metrics around engagement and adoption, as well as feedback from users.

For additional downloadable photos and logos, please see this release on the OSF Newsroom.

OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. OSF HealthCare employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners in 150 locations, including 15 hospitals  10 acute care, five critical access  with 2,089 licensed beds, and two colleges of nursing throughout Illinois and Michigan. The OSF HealthCare physician network employs more than 1,500 primary care, specialist and advanced practice providers. OSF HealthCare, through OSF Home Care Services, operates an extensive network of home health and hospice services. It also owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. More at osfhealthcare.org.

OSF Innovation, launched in 2016, is the umbrella initiative for the planning, structure, goals, and services OSF HealthCare uses to innovate for the improvement and transformation of health care. More information at osfinnovation.org.

Elemeno Health provides a cloud solution that helps health care systems empower frontline staff with hyper-localized bite-size support (how-to video, interactive decision guides, latest updates) specific to each team's workflows and resources. As a "playbook in your pocket," Elemeno makes best practices accessible and consumable just-in-time, on any device, driving the consistent delivery of high-quality care. Elemeno is deployed in major health systems nationally, including UCSF Health, El Camino Health, LCMC Health, and RWJBarnabas Health. Elemeno is winner of the American College of Emergency Physicians' 2021 Emergency Medicine Innovator of the Year. Learn more at elemenohealth.com.

Contacts: Colleen Reynolds | Media Relations Coordinator, OSF HealthCare | cell: (309) 825-7255

Veena Kumar | Product Marketing, Elemeno Health| (510) 517-7851

SOURCE OSF HealthCare
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Automotive Fabric Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global automotive fabric market reached a value of US$ 35.3 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 45.2 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.10% 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



Automotive fabrics are antibacterial, anti-static, chemical and ultraviolet (UV) resistant, flame retardant, insect repellent, and odour absorbent. They can withstand severe conditions and help protect different items in a car, such as seatbelts, filters, seat pockets and covers. They also assist in safeguarding internal coverings on doors, floors, and roofs from stains, moisture, chemicals, and wear. Presently, they are widely available in a broad range of customizable options and sizes based on the type of vehicles, ranging from railcars to boats and ships



Automotive Fabric Market Trends:

The boosting sales of passenger cars on account of improving disposable income of individuals and improving road infrastructure in numerous countries represent one of the key factors driving the market. Moreover, due to the growing number of road accidents, there is an increase in the demand for automotive fabrics across the globe to enhance the quality, safety, and performance of vehicles.

Furthermore, the rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is propelling the demand for automotive fabrics that provide noise, vibration, and temperature control. Apart from this, governing agencies of various countries are implementing stringent policies to promote the fuel efficiency of vehicles.

As a result, automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are relying on innovative fabrics to reduce weight and emissions, increase energy efficiency and improve the overall safety of vehicles. Besides this, leading market players are introducing a robust product portfolio of advanced material solutions that are cost-effective and multi-functional. In addition, they are incorporating state-of-the-art technology solutions to manufacture high-performance and complex structures. This, in confluence with the growing demand for luxury vehicles, is anticipated to create a positive influence on the market

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Acme Mills Company, Arvind Limited, Asahi Kasei Corporation, BOXMARK Leather GmbH & Co KG, Kyowa Leather Cloth Co. Ltd., Moriden America Inc., Navbharat Textile Industries, Parishudh Fibres Pvt. Ltd., Seiren Co. Ltd, Suminoe Textile Co. Ltd. and Uniroyal Engineered Products LLC



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global automotive fabric market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global automotive fabric market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the fabric type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the vehicle type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

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 automotive fabric 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 Automotive Fabric Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Fabric Type

6.1 Polyester

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Vinyl

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Leather

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Nylon

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 Vehicle Type

7.1 Passenger Vehicle

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Commercial Vehicle

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Application

8.1 Carpets and Floor Covering

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Upholstery

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Pre-Assembled Interior Components

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Tires

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast

8.5 Safety-Belts

8.5.1 Market Trends

8.5.2 Market Forecast

8.6 Airbags

8.6.1 Market Trends

8.6.2 Market Forecast

8.7 Others

8.7.1 Market Trends

8.7.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region



10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.3.1 Acme Mills Company

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2 Arvind Limited

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.3 Asahi Kasei Corporation

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.3.3 Financials

14.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.4 BOXMARK Leather GmbH & Co KG

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5 Kyowa Leather Cloth Co. Ltd.

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5.3 Financials

14.3.6 Moriden America Inc.

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7 Navbharat Textile Industries

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.8 Parishudh Fibres Pvt. Ltd.

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Seiren Co. Ltd

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9.3 Financials

14.3.10 Suminoe Textile Co. Ltd.

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.10.3 Financials

14.3.11 Uniroyal Engineered Products LLC

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11.3 Financials



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pa6zs8

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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SOURCE Research and Markets
PLANO, Texas, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BEB and Uganda's Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) announced last week that 8,000 children from licensed, Ugandan children's homes now have digital profiles in BEB's Children First Software (CFS), putting them on the path to family care. This statistic reflects an additional 5,000 children with profiles in CFS since the start of 2021.

BEB Leaders met with the MGLSD team on January 25 to present the Global Child Protector award and to review first-ever, comprehensive reports of Ugandan children living in licensed institutions and their needs. BEB Founder Craig Juntunen shared about the award, "Despite many obstacles in their way [Uganda] gathered the courage and resolve to produce real, sustainable change." President Mark Schwartz told MGLSD Commissioner Mondo and his team, "Uganda is a bright light for our mission for children and an example for all of Africa by taking the first step. Accomplishing what you have through COVID and quarantine is amazing."

The statistical report provided by MGLSD shares that 149 approved homes are currently using CFS, Uganda's alternative care management information system. 621 Ugandan social workers have been trained to use the software. The report provided that "usage of CFS will be a requirement for licensure and will support the Ministry in its effort to elevate overall standards."

Also critical to success in 2021 was the Tiny Hearts project that focuses on the youngest children in institutions and applies all CFS modules to accelerate their placement. The project began in the last quarter of the year; of 21 children who have records in CFS, 15 were reunified with biological family and 6 are in the process of adoption. This pilot continues to enforce that when users take advantage of the entirety of CFS it equips them to quickly and correctly place a child into a family.

The Commissioner ended his remarks, "We pray that this year will bring hope and smiles on the faces of children. Every child deserves a place called home. Every child deserves a shorter trip home. Every child deserves to be loved and protected unconditionally. While we are happy about the successes we have made, we also know there is a lot more we need to do."

About BEB

BEB was founded in January 2010 as a 501(c)(3) organization to promote systemic change for vulnerable children. BEB works to capture comprehensive digital profiles of children through Children First Software (CFS), a technology designed to identify a child's best opportunity for family-based care. Partnering with countries around the world, BEB transforms the process to move children to their best future, a chance to grow and flourish in a loving family.

Margaret Elizabeth McKissack

Vice President, External Affairs

BEB

[email protected]

214-850-7532

SOURCE Both Ends Believing
Red Sea Farms, the Saudi Arabia and UAE AgTech business whose one-of-a-kind technology enables the commercial farming of produce using low energy, zero freshwater sustainable climate control, is expanding into the US.



The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (UA-CEAC) will evaluate the technology and its resource saving potential to produce crops in resource-limited environments.



Red Sea Farms is a spin-out from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology established in 2018 with a vision to reduce food insecurity, carbon and fresh water use in the food sectors. The company has developed unique technologies, designed specifically for harsh environments.



Through a patented system of unique day and night cooling, along with humidity control and efficient solar and growth monitoring technologies, Red Sea Farms has developed a low energy solution which means fresh water typically used to cool greenhouses is no longer required. International expansion to the US is being accelerated following investment from US investors AppHarvest and Bonaventure Capital.



In 2021, funding was also provided in the Middle East by Waed, Saudi Aramcos entrepreneurship arm, the Future Investment Initiative Institute, Global Ventures and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology.



The UA-CEAC is the first institution in the US to investigate the viability of the technologies, fitting with its commitment to facilitate programs, events, and materials for the industry and general public to learn more about the importance which controlled environment agriculture (CEA) has in meeting current and future problems with creative, practical, and highly successful solutions.



The UA-CEAC is well positioned to evaluate this technologys viability given its current research including wavelength shifting technology, semi-transparent and photovoltaics integrated films to help enhance crop productivity, resource use efficiency, and sustainability of food production within controlled environments. The Center is also investigating cooptimization of environmental variables and the development of advanced environmental control applications to support resource savings in indoor vertical farming systems, as well as Bioregenerative Life Support Systems.



Red Sea Farms systems can be quickly and easily scaled in harsh environments, including the vast parts of the US that are water-scarce where conventional farming methods are either not possible or not cost-effective. The company is developing and using its technology in-house to grow and sell high quality fresh produce in Saudi Arabia, and will sell its unique technologies to growers around the world.



The University of Arizonas Controlled Environment Agriculture Center has a vast history of designing, implementing, and researching controlled environment agriculture systems for temperate to extreme climates, including both frozen and hot arid deserts said Murat Kacira, Director of the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center and professor of Biosystems Engineering in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.



Ryan Lefers, CEO of Red Sea Farms commented: Many parts of the US are water-scarce with seasonal harsh climates, making it a challenge to grow fresh produce year-round. However, the break-through technologies Red Sea Farms has created could help address the reliance on freshwater consumption in food production and improve food security. We are looking forward to working with the University of Arizona on this important subject.



The initial study will integrate the Red Sea Farms environment technologies onto existing facilities at the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center for a phase one year-long project so benefits can be fully assessed before further deployment.  TradeArabia News Service
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pager , a leading virtual care, navigation, and collaboration platform, today announced the appointment of a new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and four new vice presidents to expand its leadership team. The appointments include Dr. Simon C. Mathews, Chief Medical Officer; Max Anfilofyev, VP of Product; Bulent Ugurlu, VP of Engineering; Allison Thomas, VP of Partner Solutions; and Joseph Martinez, RN, VP of Virtual Care.

These five additions follow the recent expansion of Pager's Advisory Board with two new members who bring more than 50 years of combined healthcare experience to the company. The new vice presidents and Chief Medical Officer will further strengthen the executive team's depth of expertise and provide additional strategic guidance for the company as it continues its expansion to provide quality virtual care and support to 100 million consumers across the globe.

Clinical Excellence

Strengthening Pager's focus on clinical outcomes and quality patient care delivery, Simon Mathews, MD, has joined Pager as CMO following previous roles as CMO at Vivante Health and Head of Clinical Innovation at Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. Dr. Mathews is an experienced health technology leader and physician-researcher with a strong focus on validating and applying technology to address gaps in care delivery.

In addition, Joe Martinez, RN, has been promoted to Vice President of Virtual Care, most recently serving as Senior Director, Virtual Care, where he oversaw Pager's nurses and care coordinators, as well as the operations of Pager's Command Center across all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Martinez joined Pager in 2018 as a Nurse Manager.

Tech Innovation

As Pager continues to advance its next-generation virtual care technology, the company welcomes new technological leadership:

Bulent Ugurlu joins Pager as Vice President of Engineering. He most recently served as Vice President of Software Engineering at Optum, where he led efforts to scale an international engineering team and transform technology infrastructure. Previously, he worked for more than two decades in IT architecture at UnitedHealth Group.

Max Anfilofyev, Vice President of Product, joins Pager from his most recent role as VP of Product at SOC Telemed. At SOC Telemed, Anfilofyev oversaw product management and design for the company's acute care telemedicine solutions, which are used by major hospitals and health systems. Prior to his most recent role, he held product management positions at Evolent Health and Anthem.

Allison Thomas has been promoted to Vice President of Partner Solutions. She previously served as Director, Partner Implementation at Pager, where she worked with health plans to launch virtual care services. Thomas also previously served in business strategy roles at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and North Shore-LIJ Health System.

The new additions and promotions bring Pager's strategic focus on innovative technology and quality clinical care to the next level.

"With their extensive background in healthcare technology, Bulent, Max, Allison, and Joe will offer unparalleled strategic market insights, including challenges and key areas of opportunity. Simon's deep roots in clinical care and innovation will help us ensure we are providing consumers with a high standard of care via the channel that best serves their needs." said Walter Jin, CEO and Chairman of Pager. "We are thrilled to see our leadership team further expand its expertise across healthcare and technology as we enter a new year of growth."

To learn more about Pager's virtual care navigation and delivery, click here .

About Pager

Pager is a virtual care collaboration platform, offered through health plans, that provides access to whole-person healthcare in a trusted, convenient, connected care experience, like having a "doctor in the family." Pager helps people make better healthcare decisions by enabling better access and reducing costs, making care simple and easy to understand throughout the entire care journey. Through a combination of hi-tech AI automation and hi-touch concierge services, Pager offers an integrated, full-service experience, including triage, telemedicine, e-prescriptions, appointment scheduling, after-care follow-up, care advocacy and customer service. Pager's omni-channel communications platform connects the fragmented healthcare ecosystem by aggregating a care team of nurses, doctors, pharmacists, coordinators, advocates and more in one place. Pager partners with leading payers, providers and employers representing more than 15 million people across the United States and Latin America. www.pager.com

SOURCE Pager
PITTSBURGH and DENVER , Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PennEnergy Resources, LLC, a privately-held exploration and production company, achieved Project Canary's TrustWell certification across its entire operating asset and earned the highest ratings on 99% of its wells, the companies announced today.

Project Canary initiated its TrustWell environmental certification process in Q3-2021, in which PennEnergy Resources' operations, across 378 wells were measured against strict environmental and social standards regarding, air, water, land and community.

As a result of earning Project Canary's top "Gold" and "Platinum" ratings on 375 of its wells, nearly all of PennEnergy Resources' production is certified "Responsibly Sourced Gas" (RSG), a distinctive classification of natural gas produced in the most environmentally responsible manner. In addition to receiving TrustWell certifications, the Company has deployed Canary X emissions monitoring devices, which detect and measure methane and other emissions in real-time.

"Our core values  centered on environmental stewardship, honesty and integrity  inform and guide every decision and action we take as a company," said PennEnergy Resources Chairman & CEO Rich Weber. "We've built our business around top talent and industry-leading ESG performance and are proud to achieve best-in-class status by Project Canary's rigorous review across all of our well pads."

Project Canary delivers trusted and reliable independent energy ESG data through TrustWell certification and continuous monitoring technology. Project Canary's differentiated TrustWell certification process independently analyzes 600+ data points across the ESG spectrum on a well-by-well basis to create a dynamic score. Continuous emissions monitoring technologies also help companies minimize emissions and demonstrate top environmental performance.

"Our independent analysis validates PennEnergy's commitment to operational excellence and ESG performance," said Project Canary co-founder and CEO Chris Romer. "Responsible operations and environmental stewardship are a top PennEnergy priority and we're proud to help further advance their progress in ESG leadership."

These ratings confirm and effectively demonstrate PennEnergy Resources environmental stewardship through verified, measured low-methane emissions as compared to local and industry benchmarks, effective water management, and well integrity programs, among other key operational areas.

"These strong TrustWell ratings demonstrate our team's longstanding and systemwide commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement," added Greg Muse, PennEnergy Resources President and COO. "We're proud of our team's continued and collective successes, and we are happy to safely deliver RSG to meet the market's growing demand for affordable, low-emissions energy."

Project Canary Contact

Brian Miller

[email protected]

PennEnergy Resources Contact

Amanda Peterson

[email protected]

About Project Canary

Project Canary is an environmental performance analysis firm focused on the E in ESG for emission-intensive companies. We are the leaders in the certification of responsible operations and provide measurement-based methane and emission profiles via continuous monitoring technology that help companies take ESG action. Formed as a Public Benefit Corporation, Project Canary's Denver-based team of scientists, engineers, and seasoned industry operators have earned recognition for their uncompromising standards and high-fidelity data. For more information, visit projectcanary.com.

About PennEnergy Resources

PennEnergy Resources, LLC is a Pittsburgh based independent oil and gas company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional shale resources in the Appalachian Basin. We are committed to being a best-in-class shale development company that creates value for our investors, stakeholders, employees and landowners through the safe and environmentally responsible development of unconventional resources. Visit pennenergyresources.com to learn more.

SOURCE PennEnergy Resources; Project Canary
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stockholm-based Digital Therapeutics (DTx) company Alex Therapeutics and world leading pharmaceutical company Pfizer have joined forces to provide evidence based, clinically validated and personalized digital therapies to patients. Together, the companies cover a broad range of expertise in the fields of medicine, marketing, clinical validation, AI, software development and psychology. The partnership will initially focus on Germany, one of the world's largest unified healthcare markets.

"In our efforts to give patients access to new, innovative forms of therapy, it is our aim to fully benefit from the possibilities of digitization. Alex Therapeutics is a very promising company due to its approach of combining the latest psychological findings on dealing with harmful behavior with the possibilities of artificial intelligence" says Aylin Tuzel, Country Manager Pfizer Germany, explaining the choice of cooperation partner.

"Alex DTx Platform" uses Artificial Intelligence to treat medical conditions

The partnership will utilize Alex Therapeutics' AI-powered digital therapeutics platform "Alex DTx Platform". The platform combines evidence-based psychology, primarily Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with AI, and provides personalised standalone treatments to address unmet needs among patients worldwide.

John Drakenberg Renander, CEO of Alex Therapeutics, is excited by the opportunity to scale their novel treatments: "The collaboration with Pfizer enables us to combine our technology and expertise with one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies and gives us unique access to an attractive healthcare market. Pfizer's unique experience of the needs of patients and doctors provides us with the opportunity to put our technology into the hands of those that need it the most."

The initial focus of the partnership is a digital therapy treating nicotine addiction via smartphone. The medical device was developed by Alex Therapeutics and adapted to the requirements of the German healthcare system together with Pfizer Germany. Pfizer is currently conducting an extensive clinical trial in Germany to further validate the medical benefits of the solution.

Germany has emerged as one of the leading countries in Digital Therapeutics

Josh Raysman, the leader of Pfizer's Digital Innovation Lab, sees in the partnership a proof-point for collaborations in digital health. "We are working around the globe to leverage innovative digital approaches to enhance patient experiences and improve health outcomes. With the recent Digital Supply Act, the expertise of Pfizer's colleagues in Germany, and the capabilities of Alex Therapeutics we have an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of patient-centric partnerships focused on transforming healthcare with digital treatments"

German-Swedish Collaboration

In January 2017, Germany and Sweden decided on a comprehensive partnership for innovation. The partnership tackles societal challenges within key areas, such as ehealth and AI, where Germany and Sweden have strong positions, and holds potential to develop the role of the EU.

"This is a great example of how innovative companies such as Alex Therapeutics in Sweden and Pfizer in Germany can come together in the fields of ehealth and AI. Together, they will provide new solutions to the benefit of patients."

Per Thoresson, Swedish Ambassador in Germany

Contact

Pfizer Deutschland GmbH

External Communications

Miriam Munch

Linkstrae 10, D-10785 Berlin

Telefon: +49 (0)30  55 00 55  51088

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.pfizer.de

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pfizer_de

Youtube: www.pfizer.de/youtube

Alex Therapeutics AB

COO

Sebastian Blendow

Upplandsgatan 7, 11123 Stockholm, Sweden

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.alextherapeutics.com

About Alex Therapeutics

Alex Therapeutics is a medtech company based in Stockholm which designs and develops Software-as-a-Medical-Devices (SaMDs). With the proven "Alex DTx Platform". expertise in artificial intelligence and evidence-based psychology, Alex Therapeutics is uniquely positioned to deliver cutting-edge and reliable DTx products that demonstrably improve the health of their patients. The company has served tens of thousands of patients, has experience of clinical validation, and positive patient testimonials. For more information, visit www.alextherapeutics.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.de. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.de and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/21311/3494582/1526789.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Alex Therapeutics
Pfizer will return development rights to vupanorsen to Ionis, from which it licensed the investigational therapy in a worldwide exclusive agreement in November 2019.

"While this outcome is disappointing, the clinical and scientific knowledge derived from the vupanorsen program will hopefully contribute to a greater understanding of cardiovascular risk reduction and severe hypertriglyceridemia and the current gaps in treating these conditions," said James Rusnak, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and chief development officer, internal medicine and hospital, Pfizer. "Pfizer remains dedicated to research and development in the cardiovascular category and helping to address the unmet medical needs of patients with cardiovascular diseases. We are grateful to the patients, investigators and support staff who have participated in this important research program."

"Although this is not the outcome we would have liked, we are grateful for this collaboration with Pfizer whose leadership in the development of vupanorsen has been instrumental in gaining important insights and learnings that will help us continue to deliver potentially life transforming treatments for people impacted by cardiovascular disease," said Richard S. Geary, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief development officer at Ionis.

About vupanorsen

Vupanorsen is an investigational antisense therapy discovered by Ionis. Vupanorsen acts through a novel mechanism, targeting ANGPTL3, a genetically validated target of lipoprotein metabolism.1 Vupanorsen uses Ionis' advanced LIgand Conjugated Antisense (LICA) technology platform. The potential therapeutic benefits of ANGPTL3 reduction are supported by the discovery that people with a genetic deficiency in ANGPTL3 have reduced levels of LDL-C and TG, and a decreased risk of coronary artery disease.2

References

1Endocrine. 2016 Jan 11;52(2):187-193.

2JAMA Cardiol. 2018 Oct 1;3(10):957-966.

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

For more than 30 years, Ionis has been the leader in RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards of care with its novel antisense technology. Ionis currently has three marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline highlighted by industry-leading neurological and cardiometabolic franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision of becoming one of the most successful biotechnology companies.

To learn more about Ionis, visit www.ionispharma.com and follow us on Twitter @ionispharma.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs that change patients' lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @PfizerNews, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

Ionis' Forward-looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis' business and the therapeutic and commercial potential of Ionis' technologies, vupanorsen and other products in development. Any statement describing Ionis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those related to the impact COVID-19 could have on our business, and including but not limited to, those related to our commercial products and the medicines in our pipeline, and particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing medicines that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such medicines. Ionis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although Ionis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, and the most recent Form 10-Q quarterly filing, which are on file with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company.

In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Ionis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is a trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Pfizer disclosure notice

The information contained in this release is as of January 27, 2022. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer's research and development in the cardiovascular category, including its potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for any potential product candidates; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the product's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product's efficacy and, if approved, whether any such product candidates will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of any such product candidates; the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizer's business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

SOURCE Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) announced that the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) has approved Ping An Life Insurance Company of China, Ltd.'s investment in New Founder Group. Ping An Life, a Group subsidiary, received the Approval in relation to Ping An Life Insurance Company of China, Ltd. Equity Investment in New Founder Group from the CBIRC*.

The Group will promptly carry out the relevant work as agreed under the Restructuring Investment Agreement. It will execute the restructuring plan of the Founder Group Restructuring with the relevant parties, including the orderly carry out of asset delivery, business development and asset disposal.

In accordance with the Restructuring Investment Agreement and the selection of the debt repayment plan by the creditors of the restructuring entities, Ping An Life will pay approximately RMB48.2 billion to acquire approximately 66.51% equity interest in New Founder Holding Development Company Limited* (New Founder Group).

With the strong support of all parties, the restructuring of the "1 + 4" entity of Founder Group has been progressing smoothly. The Ping An-led consortium signed the Restructuring Investment Agreement for the Founder Group restructuring on 30 April 2021. Beijing Municipal First Intermediate People's Court approved the "Restructuring of Five Companies Including Peking University Founder Group Company Limited, (Draft)" on 28 June 2021. Ping An Life's acquisition of the equity interest in the New Founder Group was approved by the Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation on 11 August 2021. Between 21 October 2021 to 25 January 2022, seven New Founder Group entities were incorporated, including New Founder Holding Development Company Limited*, Peking University Medical Management Co., Ltd.*, Founder Information Industry Co., Ltd.*, Founder International Trade Co., Ltd.*, Founder Commercial Real Estate Co., Ltd.*, Founder Commercial Management Co., Ltd.* and Founder International Education Consulting Co., Ltd.*.

In recent years, Ping An has pursued its "Pan Financial Assets" and "Pan Healthcare" strategies to build a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem to serve participants in all aspects of the healthcare industry and enhance the Group's core financial services business. Healthcare is a dominant core business segment of the New Founder Group, which includes PKU Healthcare Industry Group Co., Ltd., which owns a global medical brand, and Peking University International Hospital, whose mission is to "build a first-class hospital at the international level". The Founder Group's offline industrial scale, research and development, the application of healthcare technology and the healthcare database, align with Ping An's healthcare ecosystem strategy for high-end health management and this represented an important development in the execution of Ping An's innovative "insurance + healthcare" service model. In this respect, on 28 October 2021, Ping An opened its first batch of high-end health management centres in Beijing and Shenzhen, leveraging medical resources from Peking University International Hospital and Ping An Longhua General Hospital to provide customers with services for disease prevention, medical treatment and rehabilitation.

For Ping An, participating in the restructuring of Founder Group is an important step to boost Ping An's healthcare ecosystem and innovative "insurance + healthcare" service model. The Group is committed to becoming the world's leading integrated finance and healthcare service provider, and continuing to develop a unique healthcare ecosystem that integrates health maintenance organizations, family doctor membership and online-to-offline services. Leveraging PKU Healthcare's quality medical resources and Ping An's financial expertise and healthtech capabilities, the Group is building a "scenario-based, service-oriented, heart-warming and efficient" healthcare ecosystem. This healthcare ecosystem will create a new engine for the Group's sustainable value growth and support the "Healthy China" initiative.

* For identification purposes only

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") is a world-leading technology-powered retail financial services group. With over 225 million retail customers and nearly 634 million internet users, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Ping An focuses on two over-arching domains of activity, "pan financial assets" and "pan health care", covering the provision of financial and health care services through our integrated financial services platform and our ecosystems in financial services, health care, auto services and smart city services. Our "finance + technology" and "finance + ecosystem" transformation strategies aim to provide customers and internet users with innovative and simple products and services using technology. The Group is committed to becoming the world's leading integrated finance and healthcare service provider. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Ping An ranked 6th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2021 and ranked 16th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2021. Ping An also ranked 49th in the 2021 WPP Kantar Millward Brown BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list.

For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.

SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.
Our research report on "Premium Chocolate Market  Forecast and Analysis Report 2021-202 5 " has extensively covered factors influencing the parent market growth potential in the coming years, which will determine the levels of growth of the market share during the forecast period.

Premium Chocolate market report key highlights

Estimated year-on-year growth rate: 8.50%

Key market segments: Product (dark premium chocolate and white and milk premium chocolate), and Geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , South America , and MEA)

, APAC, , , and MEA) Key Consumer Region & contribution: Europe at 36%

Premium Chocolate Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.40% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 16.48 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 8.50 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution Europe at 36% Key consumer countries US, Germany, UK, Belgium, and China Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled CEMOI Group, Champlain Chocolate Co., Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG, Ferrero International SA, Mars Inc., Mondelez International Inc., Nestle SA, Pierre Marcolini Group, The Hershey Co., and Yildiz Holding A.S. 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.

Do reach out to our analysts for more customized reports as per needs. Speak to our Analyst now!

Premium Chocolate Market Trend

Demand for organic, vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free chocolates

The growing demand for organic, vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free chocolates is one of the key drivers for the global premium chocolate market share growth. The rising awareness about the effects of synthetic products on the health and environment among health-conscious consumers has shifted their preference towards organic products including the premium chocolate sector. As organic foods are beneficial in terms of health they are becoming more popular in the market with consumers showing concern for ingredients used in the chocolates. Thus, the changing preferences by the end-users have encouraged major players to come up with a wide variety of organic chocolates for gaining health-conscious consumers.

Premium Chocolate Market Challenge

Fluctuating prices of raw material

One of the most important challenges for the growth of the market is the fluctuating price of basic raw materials including sugar, milk powder, and cocoa beans. The price of premium chocolates is higher than other conventional chocolates, and the rising cost of these raw materials will lead to a further increase in the cost of production. This is further passed down to consumers by either reducing the portion size of chocolates or by increasing the prices. Additionally, the productivity of crops also gets affected by epidemics, drastic weather conditions, and other adverse conditions resulting in a rise in the prices of crops.

Get free sample for extensive insights on key market Drivers, Trends, and Challenges influencing the premium chocolate market.

Key market vendors insights

The premium chocolate market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic strategies to compete in the market.

Some of the key market vendors are:

CEMOI Group

Champlain Chocolate Co.

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG

Ferrero International SA

Mars Inc.

Mondelez International Inc.

Nestle SA

Pierre Marcolini Group

The Hershey Co.

Yildiz Holding A.S .

For more detailed highlights on products offerings and the growth strategies adopted by other vendors, Download free sample report

Key Segment Analysis by Product

Dark premium chocolate

The dark premium chocolate segment will be significant in the premium chocolate market share growth during the forecast period. Dark chocolate, also known as black chocolate and plain chocolate, is rich in fiber, antioxidants, iron, and magnesium. Moreover, it can also help in improving cognitive functions and blood flow and is less detrimental to teeth than other forms of chocolate. Thus, the multiple health benefits will significantly increase the demand for dark premium chocolate among the consumers facilitating the growth in this segment.

White and milk premium chocolate

Regional Market Analysis

Europe will contribute to 36% of the global premium chocolate market share growth during the forecast period. Belgium, Germany, and UK are the major markets for premium chocolate in Europe.

The increasing per capita consumption of chocolate along with the presence of key vendors in Europe is expected to boost the premium chocolate market growth in the region.

Request our free sample for additional highlights and key segments that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library 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.

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SOURCE Technavio
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Primo Water Corporation (NYSE: PRMW) (TSX: PRMW) (the "Company" or "Primo"), a leading provider of sustainable drinking water solutions in North America and Europe, announced today the launch of its new alkaline water brand, Primo Plus.

Primo Plus alkaline water will complement the existing Primo Water North America portfolio, focused on inspiring consumers to create healthy habits. The existing portfolio includes 12 regional brands and three national brands across the U.S. and Canada which support growing consumer demand for products that enable the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

"We are excited to introduce Primo Plus alkaline water to the U.S.," said Tom Harrington, CEO of Primo Water Corporation. "We know that health-conscious consumers enjoy alkaline water, and we are confident they will love hydrating with Primo Plus, a zero-calorie drink that is an ideal hydration solution for both adults and children."

Primo Plus alkaline water is available in 3-gallon bottles for home or office delivery, and at select grocery and retail locations through Primo's Water Exchange program. It will be available in Sacramento and Southern California beginning January 31, and in Orlando beginning February 14. Primo Plus alkaline water will roll out to additional markets through the first two quarters of 2022.

ABOUT PRIMO WATER CORPORATION

Primo Water Corporation is a leading pure-play water solutions provider in North America, Europe and Israel and generates approximately $2.0 billion in annual revenue. Primo operates largely under a recurring razor/razorblade revenue model. The razor in Primo's revenue model is its industry-leading lineup of sleek and innovative water dispensers, which are sold through major retailers and online at various price points or leased to customers. The dispensers help increase household penetration which drives recurring purchases of Primo's razorblade offering. Primo's razorblade offering is comprised of Water Direct, Water Exchange and Water Refill. Through its market-leading Water Direct business, Primo delivers sustainable hydration solutions across its 22-country footprint direct to the customer's door, whether at home or to commercial businesses. Through its market-leading Water Exchange and Water Refill businesses, Primo offers pre-filled and reusable containers at over 13,000 locations and water refill units at approximately 22,000 locations, respectively. Primo also offers water filtration units across its 22-country footprint, representing a top-five position.

Primo's water solutions expand consumer access to purified, spring and mineral water to promote a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while simultaneously reducing plastic waste and pollution. Primo is committed to its water stewardship standards and is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America as well as with Watercoolers Europe (WE), which ensures strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection.

Primo is headquartered in Tampa, Florida (USA). For more information, visit primowatercorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains 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 conveying management's expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time Primo makes the statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and Primo cautions you that several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to the launch of Primo Plus alkaline water and related matters. The forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding management's current plans and estimates. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable, but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release include, among others: risks relating to any unforeseen changes to or effects on liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, indebtedness, financial condition, losses and future prospects; the effect of economic, competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors on Primo's business; and the impact of national, regional and global events on our business, including the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including but not limited to risk factors contained in Primo's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings with the securities commissions. Primo does not undertake to update or revise any of these statements considering new information or future events, except as expressly required by applicable law.

SOURCE Primo Water Corporation
"I am honored to be selected as the next Director of Neuropharmacology at QPS Austria. It is a privilege to be part of a Contract Research Organization that delivers high quality services to clients worldwide and does its part to improve the lives of patients with neurodegenerative and rare diseases," said Dr. Prokesch. "I will do my best to provide superior services to our valued clients and to additionally expand our services to new preclinical research methods."

QPS Holdings LLC announced that Dr. Manuela Prokesch has been selected as the new Director of Neuropharmacology

Dr. Prokesch succeeds Dr. Birgit Hutter-Paier, who led the QPS Neuropharmacology division for more than 20 years and grew the business significantly during that time. Dr. Hutter-Paier will retire from QPS Austria in the middle of 2022 and become part of the QPS Austria Advisory Board.

"I am happy that Dr. Prokesch is going to take over my responsibilities at QPS Neuropharmacology" said Dr. Birgit Hutter-Paier. "Due to her vast experiences in different areas of the preclinical CRO business, I am absolutely confident, that Manuela is the perfect fit for this position and will successfully guide QPS Neuropharmacology through the times to come."

Dr. Ben Chien, President and CEO of QPS Holdings, welcomes Dr. Prokesch to the senior leadership team. "With her strong preclinical background, Manuela is the perfect candidate to further foster the rapid growth of the QPS Neuropharmacology division. I am glad Manuela is taking on the challenge and look forward to working with her."

Dr. Prokesch grew up in Austria and holds a doctoral and a master's degree in zoology from Karl-Franzens University, Graz. In 2001, she joined QPS Austria to perform her thesis as a cooperative project between Karl-Franzens University and QPS Austria.

About QPS Austria

QPS Neuropharmacology is a division of QPS, a GLP/GCP-compliant contract research organization (CRO) delivering the highest grade of discovery, preclinical, and clinical drug development services since 1995. QPS Neuropharmacology focuses on preclinical studies related to central nervous system (CNS) diseases, rare diseases, and mental disorders. With highly predictive disease models available on site and unparalleled preclinical experience, QPS Neuropharmacology can handle most CNS drug development needs for biopharmaceutical companies of all sizes. For more information about QPS visit www.qps.com, and for more information about QPS Neuropharmacology, visit www.qpsneuro.com.

Media Contact:

Gabrielle Pastore

(302) 6354290

[email protected]

SOURCE QPS
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF) and its Board of Directors today announced that John Rim, Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

The Board is engaging an executive search firm to recruit a new CFO and Mr. Rim has agreed to help support an orderly transition. Stephen Thompson, Senior Vice President Finance at Wi-LAN Inc. (a Quarterhill subsidiary), has been appointed interim CFO at Quarterhill while it undertakes its CFO search. Mr. Thompson previously served as interim CFO of Quarterhill from April 2017 to December 2017. In addition, Mr. Thompson has public company experience at three prior firms, holds a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) degree from Queens' University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (Ontario) as well as a Certified Public Accountant (Illinois, USA).

"I want to thank John for his contributions over the past 16 months in helping us execute on our growth strategy in the Intelligent Transportation Systems ("ITS") industry," said Bret Kidd, CEO at Quarterhill. "As we accelerate our transition to ITS, Quarterhill's fundamentals are stronger today than ever and we are excited to be moving into the next phase of our growth and evolution."

About Quarterhill Inc.

Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry, as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics, Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com.

SOURCE Quarterhill Inc.
WSP USA and ETC will implement an advanced back-office system and customer

service operations for the new I-405 Express Lanes in Orange County, California

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), announces that on January 14, 2022, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) signed a contract awarding Back Office System and Customer Service Center Operations Services for the 405 Express Lanes in Orange County to WSP USA. Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC), a Quarterhill company, is a major subcontractor to WSP USA on this project. The subcontract, valued at US$49.3 million, is for the initial term of up to nine (9) years, with options to extend it by up to five (5) years, and subject to customary terms and conditions.

ETC is proud to be part of a team of industry leaders assembled by WSP USA to offer superior operating services for OCTA customers. This strategic partnership pairs ETC's leading cloud-enabled Back Office System (BOS) and back-office operations with the nation's premier provider of services for highway customer service centers. As a major subcontractor on this project, ETC will provide the tolling application of the BOS and related maintenance and services during operations. ETC will also oversee subcontractors performing other operations and services, such as lockbox, mailing and printing, merchant services, and more.

ETC's solution is designed to maximize self-service and customer service representative (CSR) productivity, reduce turnaround times, and give OCTA personnel insight and access to configuration and process management. The new system will facilitate streamlined billing, user-friendly website and mobile self-service, and speedy question and issue resolution for OCTA's I-405 Express Lanes motorists.

For this project, ETC will implement a selection of relevant products from riteSuite, its modularized suite of standalone natively integrable subsystems that run on a unified cloud-based technology platform:

riteHorizon back-office system  ETC's vertical ERP for all aspects of tolling management, including account management, reconciliation and treasury, with advanced CRM, online customer service center, IVR interface, reporting, customer configuration tools, and an intuitive social media-like CSR interface. The solution will also come with cloud-enabled reporting, dashboards and analytics. The system leads the industry in tolling BOS innovation. The Accounting Module within BOS is an internal control system that is supported by a real-time double-entry accounting system; reconciliation of payments, including cash, credit cards, ACH, etc., is automatic with the Treasury Management Module.

riteOnline customer self-service system  A complete multiplatform customer self-service platform, with account maintenance, chat, social media and digital assistant integration.

riteOSS system monitoring and operational reporting  ETC's upgraded Maintenance Online Management Systems (MOMS), with advanced functionality, such as smart KPIs, trending for predictive maintenance.

As part of Customer Service Center (CSC) Operations, the project will provide employment to local customer service teams at a centralized call center and a walk-in service counter in Orange County.

"ETC is thrilled to be a key partner to WSP USA for the 405 Express Lanes," stated ETC Chief Executive Officer Kevin Holbert. "ETC's industry-leading back office, account management and payment processing solutions, combined with the WSP USA's superior operations expertise, ensure that Orange County motorists will receive the highest quality of customer service."

"The OCTA I-405 Express Lane project will set a new standard in toll customer service and performance," said Patrick McGowan, Senior Vice President and Mobility Operations Director at WSP USA. "Selecting the best partners is critical and having ETC as a key partner will ensure success toward building a premier solution for OCTA and its customers."

This systems and operations contract will facilitate OCTA's efforts to ensure advanced and efficient CSC and BOS for its patrons, while creating rewarding local jobs.

The 405 Express Lanes are being built by OCTA as part of the I-405 Improvement Project. The project is adding one regular lane in each direction of I-405 between Costa Mesa and the Orange County border with Los Angeles County, and a second lane in each direction of the freeway that will combine with the existing carpool lanes to form the 405 Express Lanes. The project is scheduled for completion in 2023.

About Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC

ETC is a leading U.S. intelligent transportation systems and smart mobility provider, developing and delivering best-in-class solutions for tolling, congestion management, urban mobility, and multimodal transportation needs. ETC's passionate and innovative team has been driving the future of mobility since 1999, with many industry firsts, including all-electronic tolling (AET), dynamic pricing, agency interoperability, hosted mobility solutions and machine learning.

For over two decades, ETC has delivered sophisticated solutions to many of the largest toll authorities in the U.S., including statewide programs, county networks and tolling-specific authorities. ETC's solutions process over two billion transactions annually, totaling over $3 billion in customer revenues, incorporating the latest in evergreen open-source and SaaS technologies and Big Data architecture through our innovative riteSuite products. For more information on our products and services, please visit www.etcc.com.

About Quarterhill Inc.

Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry, as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics, Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com

About the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is an independent government agency created in 2002 to improve mobility in Travis and Williamson Counties in Texas. CTRMA defines its objectives as preserving and enhancing the quality of life in Central Texas, engaging with the communities served, and protecting the environment. CTRMA projects span sections of I-290, I-183, I-71, MoPac, and I-45.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding ETC, Quarterhill and their businesses. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by ETC and/or Quarterhill in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and the expected effects of new business strategies, as well as other factors that ETC and/or Quarterhill believe are appropriate in the circumstances. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting ETC and/or Quarterhill, including: potential risks and uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"); the severity of the disease; the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak; actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or to treat its impact; the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets and any resulting impact on ETC and/or Quarterhill and/or their businesses. Other factors include, without limitation, the risks described in Quarterhill's March 11, 2021 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "AIF"). Copies of the AIF may be obtained at www.sedar.com. ETC and Quarterhill recommend that readers review and consider all of these risk factors and notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of ETC's forward-looking statements. ETC has no intention, and undertakes no obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Quarterhill Inc.
Bahrain will receive F-16 simulators produced by Lockheed Martin to train pilots for national defence missions under a new agreement.



Bahrain was the first country in the Gulf region to acquire the F-16 and the first in the world to procure the advanced F-16 Block 70.



Bahrain will have a fleet of 16 F-16s, which is the worlds most successful combat-proven multirole fighter. It builds interoperable capabilities within air forces, enhancing partnerships with allies and supporting national defence and security for nations around the world.



The latest generation Lockheed Martin F-16 training suite allows aviators to train in a holistic, realistic environment, which ensures mission readiness, said retired US Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, chief executive for Lockheed Martin in the Middle East. This comprehensive training solution builds on our proven training systems tailored for the Block 70 fleet of F-16s.



Since 2001, aviators from 16 allied nations have trained with Lockheed Martin F-16 training systems. To prepare F-16 pilots, the training suites will provide a simulation-based training environment that replicates all systems, sensors and weapons for a total training solution that can be networked together so pilots can train in various scenarios, aligning technologies to deliver advanced training while meeting affordability goals.



With Lockheed Martin manufacturing both the F-16 and producing the full mission trainers, there is increased fidelity in the aircrafts flight simulators. In addition to flight training, Lockheed Martin has provided F-16 maintenance training globally for over 25 years to fully support all aspects of the aircraft.



The F-16 Block 70 aircraft, manufactured in Greenville, South Carolina, features advanced avionics, a proven Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, a modernized cockpit, advanced weapons, conformal fuel tanks, the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS), an advanced engine and an industry-leading extended structural service life of 12,000 hours.



To date, more than 4,500 F-16s have been produced, with approximately 3,000 F-16s operating today in 25 countries, including with the US Air Force. Worldwide, the F-16 has flown an estimated 19.5 million flight hours and more than 13 million sorties.  TradeArabia News Service
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BASF SE

Waters Corp.

Illumina Inc.

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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

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Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Abraham, Fruchter & Twersky, LLP regarding the Jianpu Technology Inc. Securities Settlement:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

-------------------------------------------------------- x

PANTHER PARTNERS INC., Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, vs. JIANPU TECHNOLOGY INC., DAQING (DAVID) YE, YILU (OSCAR) CHEN, JIAYAN LU, CAOFENG LIU, CHENCHAO ZHUANG, JAMES QUN MI, KUI ZHOU, YUANYUAN FAN, DENNY LEE, RONG360 INC., GOLDMAN SACHS (ASIA) L.L.C., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, CHINA RENAISSANCE SECURITIES (HONG KONG) LIMITED, China Renaissance Securities (US) Inc., LAW DEBENTURE CORPORATE SERVICES INC., and GISELLE MANON inclusive, Defendants.

Civil Action No. 1:18-cv-09848 (PGG) Hon. Paul G. Gardephe

SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY

AND PROPOSED

CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

TO: ALL PERSONS WHO PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED JIANPU TECHNOLOGY INC. ("JIANPU" OR THE "COMPANY") AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES ("ADSs") PURSUANT OR TRACEABLE TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH JIANPU'S NOVEMBER 16, 2017 INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING ("IPO")

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING IN THIS COURT. THIS NOTICE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT. IT IS NOT A LAWYER SOLICITATION.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, that a hearing is scheduled to be held on May 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. before the Honorable Paul G. Gardephe, United States District Judge of the Southern District of New York, Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, Room 705, New York, NY 10007 for the purpose of determining whether: (1) the proposed Settlement1 of the above-captioned Action for consideration including the sum of $7,500,000 should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (2) the proposed plan to distribute the Net Settlement Fund (the "Plan of Allocation") is fair, reasonable, and adequate and therefore should be approved; (3) the application of Plaintiffs' Counsel for an award of attorneys' fees not to exceed 33 1/3 percent plus interest of the Settlement Amount, payment of costs and expenses of not more than $75,000, and an Award to Plaintiff of not more than $2,500, should be approved, and, if so, in what amount; and (4) the Judgment as provided under the Stipulation should be entered.

Please Note : The date and time of the Settlement Hearing may change and/or may be held by teleconference or videoconference, without further written notice to the Settlement Class. You should monitor the Court's docket and the website maintained by the Claims Administrator, www.JianpuSecuritiesSettlement.com, before making plans to participate in the Settlement Hearing. You may also confirm the date, time, and method of the Settlement Hearing by contacting Lead Counsel by phone at 212-279-5050 or 800-449-4900.

This Action is a securities class action brought on behalf of those persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Jianpu ADS(s) pursuant or traceable to the Registration Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with Jianpu's November 16, 2017 IPO on the New York Stock Exchange against Jianpu and others (Defendants and the Unserved Defendants) for, among other things, allegedly misstating and omitting material facts from the Registration Statement. Lead Plaintiff alleges that these purportedly false and misleading statements inflated the Company's stock price, resulting in damages to Settlement Class Members when the truth was revealed. Defendants deny all of the allegations.

IF YOU PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED JIANPU ADSs PURSUANT OR TRACEABLE TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANY'S NOVEMBER 16, 2017 IPO, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THIS SETTLEMENT, INCLUDING THE FULL AND FINAL RELEASE AND EXTINGUISHMENT OF CLAIMS YOU MAY POSSESS RELATING TO YOUR PURCHASE, SALE, AND OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN JIANPU ADSs PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED PURSUANT AND/OR TRACEABLE TO JIANPU'S IPO.

If you have not received a detailed Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice") and a copy of the Proof of Claim and Release form ("Proof of Claim"), you may obtain copies, as well as a copy of the Stipulation and other settlement documents, by writing to Jianpu Securities Settlement, Claims Administrator, c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC, P.O. Box 43399, Providence, RI 02940-3399; by calling 888-758-6693; or by going to the website, www.JianpuSecuritiesSettlement.com.

If you are a member of the Settlement Class, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim, whether online or by mail, submitted electronically or postmarked, no later than April 28, 2022, establishing that you are entitled to recovery. Unless you submit a written Request for Exclusion as described below, you will be bound by any judgment rendered in the Action whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim.

IF YOU DESIRE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOU MUST SUBMIT TO THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR A REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION SO THAT IT IS RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MARCH 29, 2022, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. IF YOU PROPERLY EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOU WILL NOT BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENTS OR ORDERS ENTERED BY THE COURT IN THE ACTION AND YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO SHARE IN THE PROCEEDS OF THE SETTLEMENT. ALL MEMBERS OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS WHO HAVE NOT VALIDLY REQUESTED EXCLUSION FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS WILL BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE ACTION PURSUANT TO THE STIPULATION.

IF YOU ARE A SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT, PLAN OF ALLOCATION, THE REQUEST BY PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES, AND/OR THE AWARD TO PLAINTIFF. ANY OBJECTIONS MUST BE IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE DETAILED NOTICE, INCLUDING FILED WITH THE COURT AND SENT TO LEAD COUNSEL AND DEFENDANTS' COUNSEL BY MARCH 4, 2022:

Clerk of the Court

United States District Court

Southern District of New York

500 Pearl Street

New York, NY 10007

LEAD COUNSEL: Jack G. Fruchter

ABRAHAM, FRUCHTER & TWERSKY, LLP

450 Seventh Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10123



and



Samuel H. Rudman

ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP

58 South Service Road, Suite 200

Melville, NY 11747 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS: Scott D. Musoff

SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP

One Manhattan West

New York, NY 10001



and



David B. Hennes

ROPES & GRAY LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

If you have any questions about the Settlement, you may contact the Claims Administrator or Lead Counsel at the addresses listed above or go to the website at www.JianpuSecuritiesSettlement.com. Inquiries should NOT be directed to Defendants, the Court, or the Clerk of the Court.

DATED: December 30, 2021 BY ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES

DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

1 All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Stipulation of Settlement dated November 15, 2021 (the "Stipulation"), which can be viewed and/or downloaded at www.JianpuSecuritiesSettlement.com.

Media Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

Shareholder Relations

Rick Nelson

(619) 231-1058

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
MADISON, Wis., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rural Mutual Insurance announced today the launch of the Love It or Leave It Sweepstakes, giving Wisconsin residents the opportunity to win weekly prizes and a grand prize based on what they love and dread about the winter season.

From now until the end of March, entrants will have the chance to vote for what they love the most about Wisconsin winters  and what they could do without. Each week, a new winner will be randomly selected, so voting in each bracket round increases the chances of winning one of the weekly prizes and the grand prize. To enter the sweepstakes, participants will vote online through the Rural Mutual website.

"It's wintertime in Wisconsin, which always becomes a point of conversation. Many people across the state complain about the below-freezing temperatures, higher heating bills, and unplowed, dangerously icy roads during snowstorms. But there is also a sense of comradery when it comes to celebrating the joys of outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, ice fishing and hiking or rooting for the Packers, Bucks, and other home state teams," said Mike Lubahn, Director of Marketing for Rural Mutual Insurance. "Keeping true to serving the Wisconsin community, we want to keep spirits high during the winter season with an entertaining bracket challenge everyone can enjoy."

Weekly prizes include $50 gift cards for Wisconsin-based brands Duluth Trading Co., Lands' End, and Kwik Trip, from which the individual winners will be able to choose. The grand prize is a $250 Wisconsin Restaurant Association gift card. The competition runs from January 31 to March 27, 2022 and is FREE to enter with no purchase necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older and legal Wisconsin residents. Full information and contest rules can be found on the website.

About Rural Mutual Insurance

Rural Mutual Insurance Company has been protecting Wisconsin since 1934. As an AM Best A+ Superior company, Rural Mutual provides a full line of insurance products exclusively to families, businesses, and farms in Wisconsin. The company is headquartered in Madison, WI with over 150 local agents across the state. For more information about Rural Mutual Insurance Company, visit ruralmutual.com.

SOURCE Rural Mutual Insurance Company
HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SAExploration Holdings, Inc. ("SAE" or the "Company") announced that it has completed a $26 million recapitalization transaction whereby new capital was provided to the Company, and the Company's second out term loan lenders exchanged debt for shares of the Company's common stock. In addition, the Company's loan documents were amended to allow for up to $30 million of additional secured indebtedness to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes on such terms as approved by the Company's lenders and Board of Directors. Following the transaction, the Company's outstanding indebtedness under its existing capital structure has been reduced to approximately $20.3 million, with no cash interest due until the maturity date in December 2023.

CEO Forrest Burkholder commented "This transaction emphasizes our owners' commitment to, and confidence in, the underlying business. This recapitalization improves our balance sheet, while providing the opportunity to draw up to an additional $30MM of working capital. This will enable the Company to participate in multiple world class projects that meet our investment criteria. The Company is well positioned to take advantage of the recovery that is reaching our industry."

Chairman Ken Tubman joined Burkholder in thanking recently retired CEO Michael J. Faust for his hard work in the recapitalization transaction. "Mike's efforts in putting this together is a retirement gift from him to the Company. We are a renewed international force with this support from our owners."

About SAE

SAE is an international oilfield services company offering a full range of vertically-integrated seismic data acquisition and logistical support services throughout North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. In addition to the acquisition of 2D, 3D, time-lapse 4D and multi-component seismic data on land, in transition zones and offshore in depths reaching 3,000 meters, SAE also provides in-house logistical support services, such as program design, planning and permitting, camp services and infrastructure, surveying, drilling, environmental assessment and reclamation, and community relations. SAE operates crews around the world, performing projects for its blue-chip customer base, including major integrated oil companies, national oil companies and independent oil and gas exploration companies. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, SAE supports its operations through a multi-national presence in the United States, Canada, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Malaysia, and Singapore. For more information, visit SAE's website at www.saexploration.com.

SOURCE SAExploration Holdings, Inc.
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BH Cosmetics announced today that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court") has approved the sale process for its intellectual property, inventory, furniture, fixtures and equipment, unexpired contracts and related tangible assets. BH Cosmetics is a leader in the color cosmetics and brush space, bringing cruelty-free, vegan, clean, colorful, and unique styles to the market.

The assets include internationally registered trademarks, domain names, a customer database of approximately 700,000 opt-in customer email addresses and more than 150,000 U.S.-based SMS text numbers, and social media accounts with a global audience of more than 6.5 million followers, as well as current inventory.

Bids for the assets are due February 11, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, and an auction will be held on February 15, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

BH Cosmetics has entered into an agreement with RBI Acquisition Holdings, LLC to sell the intellectual property and certain inventory for $4,300,000, subject to adjustments as described in the asset purchase agreement. The agreement is subject to higher or otherwise better offers through an auction process.

Chief Restructuring Officer and Co-Chief Executive Officer Spencer Ware stated, "The agreement with RBI Acquisition Holdings, LLC puts us on track to achieving maximum value for our creditors and stakeholders while allowing for flexibility throughout the sale process."

Hilco Streambank Executive Vice President David Peress commented, "BH Cosmetics is known throughout the industry as having successfully activated a young and economically powerful audience." Peress continued, "As legacy cosmetics companies struggle to diversify and reach underserved segments of the market, the acquisition of the BH Cosmetics brand, which has meaningfully reached U.S. and European markets through both direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels, presents an exceptional opportunity to grow within the industry."

Interested parties should CLICK HERE or contact Hilco Streambank directly using the contact information provided below. The sale is being conducted on behalf of BH Cosmetics as a debtor in possession. The sale of the assets and Hilco Streambank's retention are subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.

To obtain additional information regarding the bankruptcy filing, including court filings, please click here.

David Peress Executive Vice President [email protected] 617.642.1909 Richelle Kalnit Senior Vice President [email protected] 212.993.7214 Jordon Parker Vice President [email protected] 719.821.0894

About BH Cosmetics: Originally launched in 2009 in Los Angeles, California, BH Cosmetics brings the best in clean, vegan, cruelty-free cosmetics and other beauty products. BH Cosmetics' products are known to be colorful and fun, of high-quality at attractive price points. The brand stands for diversity and inclusion, female empowerment, sustainability, and civic engagement. BH Cosmetics products are available direct-to-consumer and at various retailers throughout the globe.

About Hilco Streambank: Hilco Streambank is a market-leading advisory firm specializing in intellectual property disposition and valuation. Having completed numerous transactions, including sales in publicly reported transactions, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global, Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet, and telecom communities. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois-based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization, and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate, and strategic capital equity investments.

SOURCE Hilco Streambank
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shopoff Realty Investments ("Shopoff"), a national manager of opportunistic and value-add real estate investments, announced today that the company has sold its 611-lot, three-property portfolio of manufactured housing communities in North Central Illinois to Clear Sky Capital. The three properties include Oak Creek Estates, located in the City of Bourbonnais, Lincoln Terrace, located in the City of Lincoln, and Belle Aire, located in the City of Marseilles.

"While our business plan for this property did not anticipate such a short hold period, we were pleased to receive the unsolicited purchase offer," explained Shopoff Realty Investments President and Chief Executive Officer William Shopoff. "Disposing of this asset allows us to capture an earlier positive result for this investment, and for our valued partners, and ultimately redeploy this capital into new ventures."

Shopoff's original business plan anticipated creating value by streamlining operations across the three communities, making physical improvements where needed and addressing vacancies.

Brian Rupp, Shopoff Realty Investment's executive vice president of real estate added, "We purchased this portfolio in April 2021, and even with our short hold period we were still able to initiate improvements to community common areas including new paving, landscape improvements and deferred maintenance, and also began streamlining operations to take advantage of the economies of scale offered by a large portfolio of homes."

The three communities are in well-established suburban areas of Central Illinois.

Oak Creek Estates is located 55 miles outside of Downtown Chicago in Bourbonnais, Illinois . The largest of the three communities, with 345 lots, 30% of the homes are owned by the community.

in . The largest of the three communities, with 345 lots, 30% of the homes are owned by the community. Lincoln Terrace is in Lincoln, Illinois , with convenient access to I-55, and is equidistant between the employment centers of Bloomington and Springfield, Illinois . The community consists of 194 total lots, and approximately 25% of the homes are owned by the community.

is in , with convenient access to I-55, and is equidistant between the employment centers of and . The community consists of 194 total lots, and approximately 25% of the homes are owned by the community. Belle Aire is in Marseille , Illinois , just 80 miles southwest of Chicago . The community is made up of 72 lots, and approximately 35% of the homes are owned by the community.

About Shopoff Realty Investments

Shopoff Realty Investments is an Irvine, California-based real estate firm with a 30-year history of value-add and opportunistic investing across the United States. The company primarily focuses on proactively generating appreciation through the repositioning of commercial income-producing properties and the entitlement of land assets. The 30-year history includes operating as Asset Recovery Fund, Eastbridge Partners and Shopoff Realty Investments (formerly known as The Shopoff Group). Performance has varied in this time frame, with certain offerings generating losses. For additional information, please visit www.shopoff.com or call (844) 4-SHOPOFF.

Disclosures

This is not an offering to buy or sell any securities. Such offer may only be made through the offerings memorandum to qualified purchasers. Any investment in Shopoff Realty Investments programs involves substantial risks and is suitable only for investors who have no need for liquidity and who can bear the loss of their entire investment. There is no assurance that any strategy will succeed to meet its investment objectives. The performance of this asset is not indicative of future results of other assets. Securities offered through Shopoff Securities, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC, 18565 Jamboree Road, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92612. (844) 4-SHOPOFF.

Contact:

Julie Leber

Spotlight Marketing Communications

949.427.1391

[email protected]

SOURCE Shopoff Realty Investments
NEW DELHI, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The study conducted by Astute Analytica foresees a tremendous growth in revenue of the Global Smart Bed Market from US$ 5,273.3 Mn in 2021 to US$ 8,859.9 Mn by 2027. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period. Smart beds are innovative advanced beds that allow users to expand the capabilities of their beds beyond their basic functionalities by automatically adjusting the settings of the beds to the users' comfort. Smart beds improve the user's comfort while also providing health benefits.

Request a Sample Report of Smart Beds Market: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/smart-bed-market

The growth in the Global Smart Beds Market is attributed to factors such as increasing adoption of smart and advanced technology, increasing demand of senior citizens' health care needs, and rising demand for comfort, luxury, and personalized experience. Moreover, higher incidences of sleep disorders among adults are a vital factor that is drawing a great deal of attention towards the concept of quality sleep, thereby offering high scope for smart beds. However, the high price of smart beds acts as a major restraint in the market growth. Furthermore, smart beds are part of a multitude of new internet of things-connected home appliancessome of which have been criticized for failing to deliver good UX while overemphasizing data.

Segmental Analysis

Semi-automatic smart beds hold highest market share in 2021

The semi-automatic smart beds market was valued at US$ 1,929.6 Mn in 2021. The increasing adoption of semi-automatic beds is observed largely in the healthcare sector. Minimalistic knowledge about the technology is required to operate semi-automatic beds. Additionally, semi-automatic beds are highly affordable, user-friendly and has multiple connectivity options other than internet, such as Bluetooth and NFC, among others. Furthermore, the adoption of semiautomatic beds is observed to be increasing in the transportation application, thus contributing greatly in terms of total market share and growth rate.

Request Free Sample Copy @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/smart-bed-market

Hospitality Sector is expected to grow with highest CAGR

Hotels are mainly focusing on providing a comfortable sleep to guests as their key offering. Customization will be the key differentiator. Off-the-bed foot massagers and sleep-inducing relaxants will be commonplace features. Hotels that can really deliver a better sleep experience are likely to see big returns on investment. In this technically advanced environment, smart beds will get a competitive advantage, considering its key role in offering better sleep experience. The global think tank called 'Hotel of Tomorrow Project' reports that guest sleep is the most significant feature which drives the hospitality sector, and this can be enhanced by the adoption smart beds in guest rooms.

Offline Distribution Channel holds highest share in 2021

The offline distribution channel holds the highest market share as most of the smart beds delivered especially in the residential sector are not courier friendly, hence, buyers prefer to buy it from offline stores wherein the safe delivery of the product is ensured. Furthermore, major retail chains are focusing on establishing new stores with an innovative layout which is projected to support the growth of this segment.

North America dominates the Global Smart Beds Market

North America dominated the global smart beds marketplace with a share of 28% in 2021. Growing adoption of internet in North America has boosted the demand for smart home furniture including smart beds in the region. Factors such as increasing penetration of smartphones, rising mobile cellular subscriptions, and increasing internet use are driving the demand for smart beds in the region. According to the World Bank, 87.6% of the population in North America used the internet in 2018. Various sleep-related disorders prevalent in the U.S. is triggering the demand for quality sleep patterns among individuals.

Impact of COVID-19

Smart beds fall under the essential commodities during COVID-19, with high demand due to its supportive features that helps in treatment of COVID patients. Smart beds turned out to be a lifesaver in many cases where the hospital was able to identify deteriorating cases faster using the beds. Smart beds help healthcare staff by monitoring patients by maintaining a safe distance- which is required in case of COVID-19 and on-time alarm notification is helping to save many lives. Hence, with major application in treating COVID-19 patients, the market witnessed a substantial growth even during the time of crisis. However, smart beds for residential and other sectoral purposes have witnessed a dip during COVID-19.

Competitive Landscape

Paramount Bed Co. Ltd. is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of beds for medical use and welfare. It is also involved in the manufacture and sale of mattresses, furniture for hospital room uses, and medical equipment and fixtures, the inspection, repair, sterilization, maintenance and leasing of beds and mattresses, the rental and wholesale of welfare equipment.

Stryker is a medical technology company, which provides innovative products and services in orthopedics, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine. It develops, manufactures, and markets specialty surgical and medical products.

Invacare Corporation is an American manufacturer and distributor of non-acute medical equipment. The products include wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walkers, pressure care and positioning, as well as respiratory products

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. is a global medical technology company. The company support innovations in the following areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Patient Monitoring and Diagnostics, Surgical Safety and Efficiency, and Respiratory Health.

Ergomotion Inc. is the manufacturer of adjustable beds and furniture. The company is one of the largest and most advanced adjustable bed base manufacturers worldwide due to use of robotics and welding to ensure consistency

Hi-Interiors SRL is the Italian startup that invented the first smart bed ever conceived. This privately handled company is involved in accelerating the internet of furniture to provide better quality of life to its customers

Segmentation Overview the Global Smart Beds Market

Global Smart Beds Market is segmented based on product type, end user, distribution channel, and region. These segments are further sub-divided to get a holist picture of the market.

Following are the different segments of the Global Smart Beds Market: -

By Product Type Segment of the Global Smart Beds Market is Sub-Segmented into:

Manual



Semi-automatic



Fully automati

By End User Segment of the Global Smart Beds Market is Sub-Segmented into:

Residential



Healthcare



Hospitality



Transportation



Others

By Distribution Channel Segment of the Global Smart Beds Market is Sub-Segmented into:

Offline



Brand Stores





Home Centers



online

By Region Segment of the Global Smart Beds Market is Sub-Segmented into:

North America



The U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



The U.K.





Germany





France





Italy





Russia





Spain





Poland





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan





Australia & New Zealand

&



ASEAN





Rest of Asia Pacific



South America



Argentina





Brazil





Rest of South America



Middle East & Africa

&

UAE





Saudi Arabia





South Africa





Rest of MEA

Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/smart-bed-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
Our research report on "Smart Speaker Market  Forecast and Analysis Report 2021-202 5 " has extensively covered factors influencing the parent market growth potential in the coming years, which will determine the levels of growth of the market during the forecast period.

Smart Speaker market report key highlights

Estimated year-on-year growth rate: 20.87%

Key market segments: End-user (residential users and commercial users), and Geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , South America , and MEA)

, APAC, , , and MEA) Key Consumer Region & contribution: North America  40%

Smart Speaker Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 25.98% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 20.72 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 20.87 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Australia Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Onkyo Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sony Group Corp., and Xiaomi Corp. 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.

Do reach out to our analysts for more customized reports as per needs. Speak to our Analyst now!

Smart Speaker Market Trend

Popularity of voice commerce

The rise in the popularity of voice commerce is one of the key trends driving the global smart speaker market share growth. Voice commerce is an innovative technology providing an alternative to use keyboard and mouse for ordering products online. Like other virtual assistants such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa consumers can give voice commands to smart speakers. Moreover, with advantages such as fast response with hands-free operation and the ability to operate while involved in other tasks, consumers are preferring voice commerce over traditional input methods. Thus, the increase in the popularity of voice commerce technology is expected to be a major trend for the smart speakers.

Smart Speaker Market Challenge

Privacy and security threats

Privacy and security threats associated with smart speakers is a key challenge for the smart speaker market growth. Most of the consumers in the US are worried about smart speakers being a threat towards the privacy of their conversations and personal data. Manufacturers operating in the global smart speaker market have employed thousands of people worldwide who listen to voice recordings captured in smart speaker owners' homes. The process is used to improve their smart speaker's understanding of human speech and help them better respond to commands. In addition, smart devices like smart speakers are anticipated to be sources of a wide range of cybersecurity attacks, hacking of smart speakers leading to data breaches and other ransomware attacks. These attacks deter the end-users from using devices such as smart speakers which are estimated to hamper the smart speaker market during the forecast period.

Get free sample for extensive insights on key market Drivers, Trends and Challenges influencing the smart speaker market.

Key Market Vendors Insights

The smart speaker market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic strategies to compete in the market.

Some of the key market vendors are:

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

Alphabet Inc.

Amazon.com Inc.

Apple Inc.

Lenovo Group Ltd.

LG Electronics Inc.

Onkyo Corp.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Sony Group Corp.

Xiaomi Corp.

For more detailed highlights on products offerings and the growth strategies adopted by other vendors, Download free sample report

Key Segment Analysis by End-users

Residential users

The residential users segment will be significant in the smart speaker market share growth during the forecast period. The necessity of smart speakers in households is a major factor driving the growth of the residential users segment. Moreover, the rising popularity of subscription services for digital content consumption by platforms such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and YouTube, as well as other digital content platforms, is boosting the necessity of smart speakers in households globally. Thus, such factors are expected to drive the segment positively in the coming years.

Commercial users

Regional Market Analysis

North America will contribute to 40% of the global smart speaker market share growth during the forecast period. The US is the major market for smart speakers in North America.

The increasing popularity and necessity in the households for various purposes along with the presence of major vendors like Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., and Sonos Inc. is expected to boost the marine radar market growth in the region.

Request our free sample for additional highlights and key segments that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

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About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library 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.

Contacts

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
"The SFA understands the excitement and the challenges of participating in the Winter Fancy Food Show during a pandemic," said Bill Lynch, president of the SFA. "We are happy to be responsive to member input and can't wait to safely gather with them in Las Vegas."

The Show will feature:

Hot trends from the SFA Trendspotter Panel 2022 Predictions

from the Startup Pavilion - up and coming makers

- up and coming makers Incubator Village - incubators from around the country

- incubators from around the country Category-focused pavilions including SFA partner American Cheese Society; chocolate; plant based

including SFA partner American Cheese Society; chocolate; plant based International Pavilions - Spain , Greece , Singapore , Poland , Japan , Italy , Indonesia , France , Canada , Brazil , Morocco , India

- , , , , , , , , , , , State pavilions - California , Minnesota , Mississippi , Virginia ,

- , , , , sofi Awards winners from 2020 and 2021 (specialty outstanding food innovation Awards)

(specialty outstanding food innovation Awards) Education programming including a free chocolate trends session with the Fine Chocolate Industry Association

including a free with the Fine Chocolate Industry Association What's New in Specialty Food and What's Hot in Specialty Food showcases

and in Specialty Food showcases End of Show Food Rescue and Donation - with Free International, and Three Square, Southern Nevada's only food bank and the area's largest hunger-relief organization

Open only to the trade, the 2022 Winter Fancy Food Show is traditionally the largest West Coast B2B-only specialty food and beverage show. The SFA is working with Las Vegas to ensure that all show safety protocols meet the needs of the specialty food community. Safety protocols include proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID test (within 72 hours) from all attendees; mandatory masking (mandated by the State of Nevada, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings). For more information, please click here .

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading trade association and source of information about the $170.4 billion specialty food industry. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA represents manufacturers, importers, retailers, distributors, brokers, and others in the trade. The SFA is known for its Fancy Food Shows ; the sofi Awards , which honor excellence in specialty food and beverage; the Trendspotter Panel Show reports and annual predictions; the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report and Today's Specialty Food Consumer research; the new ecommerce enabled SFA Product Marketplace , where members showcase products, tell their brand story, field meeting inquiries, and sell directly to qualified buyers; SFA Feed , the daily source for news, trends and new product information in the specialty food industry, and Spill & Dish: A Specialty Food Association Podcast .

Facebook: Specialty Food Association

LinkedIn: Specialty Food Association

Twitter: @Specialty_Food

Instagram: @specialtyfoodassociation

Hashtags: #FancyFoodShow #ShapetheFutureofFood #VivaFancyFood

SOURCE Specialty Food Association
"Gala & Associates is an exceptional business. I have a high regard for Chuni Gala and his leadership team. The relationships and trust they have earned from the major automotive manufacturers is testament to their values and integrity. Those values align completely with Austin's," said Austin's president and CEO, Mike Pierce. "Gala has a great name, culture, and business model. We are treating this as an acquisition, not a merger."

The acquisition of Gala & Associates compliments The Austin Company's strategy to expand its design and engineering share of the automotive and heavy industrial facilities market. Austin expands Gala's capacity by providing additional structure and support through its network of offices, including its parent company Kajima USA.

"With over 35 years of service and the creation of many treasured relationships throughout the industry, our reputation for design and engineering for the automotive industry is unparalleled. We take pride in our hands-on approach to every project and look forward to continuing to serve our clients while incorporating the resources Austin and Kajima provide to expand our market base and build new relationships," said Chuni Gala, Gala and Associates President.

Austin was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1878. Its headquarters remain in Cleveland, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Irvine, California; Kalamazoo, Michigan; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and London, England.

To learn more, visit The Austin Company  http://theaustin.com , Gala & Associates Inc. https://galaandassociates.com/, and Kajima https://kajimausa.com/ .



SOURCE The Austin Company
UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has said that the air traffic movement in the country is normal and all flights are operating as usual.

The statement follows UAE's air defence forces intercepting and destroying a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist group at the UAE.

In a statement, the GCAA said: ''There is no impact on flights and airports resulting from the interception of the ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia on the country.''

The GCAA also called on the public to refer to official sources for all information and udpates.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement: "There were no casualties resulting from the attack and the fragments of the ballistic missile fell outside of populated areas.

It added: "The UAE air defence forces and the Coalition Command had succeeded in destroying the missile launcher in Yemen after identifying locations of the sites."

The ministry affirmed its "full readiness to deal with any threats," adding that it will "take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks."
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 50 years ago, The Habit Burger Grill fired up its grills in Santa Barbara California, and now the Southern California based restaurant will open its newest international location in Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Habit, renowned for their award-winning Charburgers grilled over an open flame, will open its doors at Kbal Thnol, Preah Norodom Blvd (41) Phnom Penh on February 7th!

"It is an honor to open our fifth Habit restaurant location in Cambodia in partnership with Kampuchea Tela Company, LTD. We look forward to serving the Phnom Penh community handcrafted, chargrilled food with California-fresh flavor, delivered with best-in-class hospitality," said Iwona Alter, Chief Brand Officer at The Habit Burger Grill.

"The Habit Burger Grill is embarking on a bold expansion across Asia Pacific in the next five years and we are in discussions with potential franchisees to bring the brand to more countries. As part of the world's leading restaurant company, Yum! Brands, we bring a unique value proposition to our franchisees. The rapid growth in Cambodia showcases the international appeal of The Habit's food and brand." Said Yang Ming Ong, General Manager Asia Pacific at The Habit Burger Grill.

The Habit Burger Grill is California's best-kept secret, as it's been awarded various food-focused awards in the United States. At the center of The Habit's menu is the signature Charburger, made with a fresh 100% ground beef patty, chargrilled over an open flame for unique smoky flavor, and topped with cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, fresh tomato slices, crisp lettuce and mayo served on a toasted bun. The Charburger was even named the "best tasting burger in America" in July 2014, and The Habit has been serving it exactly this way since 1969.

The Habit Burger Grill opened its first location in Cambodia in October 2020. This fifth location is the brand's first opening in Cambodia for 2022, with several more new locations already planned for the rest of the year.

With its cooked-to-order mantra and creative culinary culture, The Habit Burger Grill's open flame sears a distinctive smoky flavor into their already famous Charburgers, fresh marinated chicken, sushi-grade Ahi tuna and Tenderloin steak. The Habit also has an incredible selection of sides to choose from as well as delicious handspun frozen treats. Guests at The Habit Burger Grill can always count on freshly-made, handcrafted quality served up with genuine hospitality.

Connect with The Habit Burger Grill on social media at facebook.com/habitburger , instagram.com/habitburgergrill , twitter.com/habitburger , tiktok.com/@habitburgergrill and youtube.com/habittube .

About Kampuchea Tela Company, LTD

Kampuchea Tela Company introduced the first petroleum retail in Cambodia in 1993 and today has a nationwide presence. Over the last ten years, the company has expanded into the retail, hospitality and food & beverage industries. Kampuchea Tela Company's philosophy of customer service with a local touch sets the company apart.

About The Habit Restaurants, Inc.

Born in Santa Barbara, California in 1969, The Habit Burger Grill is a burger-centric, fast-casual restaurant concept that specializes in preparing fresh, cooked-to-order chargrilled burgers and handcrafted sandwiches featuring grilled Tenderloin steak, grilled chicken and sushi-grade Ahi tuna cooked over an open flame. In addition, it features fresh handcrafted salads and an appealing selection of sides and shakes. The Habit Burger Grill was named the "best tasting burger in America" in July 2014 in a comprehensive survey conducted by one of America's leading consumer magazines, named in Thrillist's list of "Underrated Burger Chains that Need to be in Every State!" and featured in Newsweek's "America's Favorite Restaurant Chains 2022." The Habit Burger Grill has since grown to over 320 restaurants in 14 states throughout Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Washington as well as 12 international locations, seven in China and five in Cambodia. More information is available at www.habitburger.com .

SOURCE The Habit Burger Grill
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of Gatos Silver, Inc. ("Gatos Silver" or the "Company") (NYSE: GATO) on behalf of investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

On January 25, 2022, Gatos Silver revealed that "there were errors in the technical report entitled 'Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico' with an effective date of July 1, 2020 . . . , as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model." On a preliminary basis, the Company estimates a potential reduction of the metal content of the mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion.

On this news, the Company's stock price fell $7.02, or 69%, to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Gatos Silver securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
The Greensboro store is an existing location previously operated by The Vitamin Shoppe and now converted to a franchise unit. The franchisee is a group of partners, comprising Muhammad Kamran Awan, Preet Kamal, Gurmeet Singh, and Husnain Bajwa, who are leading entrepreneurs in the Greensboro area. The partners own and operate multiple businesses across hotels, restaurants, real estate, property management, and retail in the region.

Under terms of the franchise agreement, the partners will renovate the Greensboro store into The Vitamin Shoppe's updated Innovation format, as well as open three new stores by 2024 within their franchise territory in greater Greensboro.

Sharon Leite, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, commented: "We are thrilled to partner with a group of entrepreneurs who share our deeply held brand values and envision tremendous growth potential for The Vitamin Shoppe. Mr. Awan, Ms. Kamal, Mr. Singh, and Mr. Bajwa have operated dynamic, customer-focused businesses in this region for over 17 years and they will bring that same passion and expertise to the management of The Vitamin Shoppe. This unique opportunity to convert a successful, company-owned location to a franchise store under the guidance of local experts will strengthen our business in North Carolina. I'm confident our customers and Health Enthusiast associates are in good hands."

Announced in 2021, The Vitamin Shoppe's franchise model offers independent retail operators the opportunity to open stores in their own communities around the United States for the first time since the company's founding in 1977. The Vitamin Shoppe is focused on opening new franchise locations, with the potential for select conversions of existing stores when part of a franchisee's mutually agreed-upon strategic development plan.

"I and my partners are honored to mark this momentous occasion in The Vitamin Shoppe's history as its first franchise location," said Mr. Awan. "As dedicated members of the Greensboro community for many years, we look forward to expanding The Vitamin Shoppe's commitment to industry-leading quality, innovation, and expertise to even more of our customers and neighbors."

The Vitamin Shoppe's unique franchise model rewards franchise partners for driving online and app sales within their territory, which creates a seamless omnichannel experience for both franchisees and their customers.

Franchise partners have the opportunity to leverage the trusted quality of The Vitamin Shoppe brand and its unparalleled expertise in the fast-growing health and wellness sector when they open new locations. Since 1977, The Vitamin Shoppe has grown into the premiere global destination for health and wellness solutions, supporting millions of customers annually on their journeys of lifelong wellness. The company continues to modernize its business with a digital-first mindset that meets consumers where and when they prefer to shop in today's evolving retail landscape.

Potential franchise partners can visit www.OwnAVitaminShoppe.com to start the discovery and application process, including financial disclosures and requirements.

About The Vitamin Shoppe

Lifelong Wellness Starts Here. The Vitamin Shoppe, a subsidiary of Franchise Group Inc. (NASDAQ: FRG), is a global, omni-channel specialty retailer and wellness lifestyle Company with the mission of providing customers with the most trusted products, guidance, and services to support them on their journeys of lifelong wellness. Based in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Company offers a comprehensive assortment of nutritional solutions, including vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and natural beauty aids. In addition to carrying products from approximately 700 national brands, The Vitamin Shoppe offers products from its proprietary brands within its owned and wholesale channels, including: The Vitamin Shoppe, Vthrive The Vitamin Shoppe, BodyTech, BodyTech Elite, fitfactor, fitfactor KETO, plnt, ProBioCare, and True Athlete. In the U.S., the Company conducts business through over 700 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements banners, and via its website, www.vitaminshoppe.com. Globally, The Vitamin Shoppe serves customers in select Asia, South America, and Central America markets through local retail and e-commerce partners.

SOURCE The Vitamin Shoppe
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Real-Time Location System Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), Technology, Industry Vertical, and Application" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global real-time location systems market is expected to grow from US$ 4,097.3 million in 2021 to US$ 18,878.4 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 24.4% during 2021-2028.

Online shopping is increasing at the fastest pace across the world. E-commerce sales have been growing at a significant rate over the last decade and are anticipated to grow in the coming years. APAC shows the strongest development and accounts for nearly half of the overall online sales. Besides this, Europe is also a key region supporting e-commerce growth. The e-commerce industry in Europe was worth US$ 425.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow by 30% in 2021 according to Finaria. Amazon and other e-retailers have taken over conventional retail.

Many shoppers in Europe prefer online shopping platforms, such as Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart, which is the major reason for the growth of the e-commerce sector in Europe. Increasing demand for making retail cost-efficient and generally faster means that companies need to optimize supply chain management and build robust solutions to meet the demands. A survey conducted in the UK of 250 distribution warehouse and supply chain managers revealed that ~3,000 hours of are lost due to unproductive workflows at distribution centers.

The real-time location system proves to be a highly efficient instrument that is used for monitoring and locating goods, as it provides resourceful insights to the distribution center operators to make data-driven decisions rather than relying on educated guesses. Thus, the growing ecommerce industry coupled with the increasing need for making data-driven decisions drives the real-time location system market growth.



The real-time location systems market is segmented on the basis of offering, technology, industry vertical, application, and geography. Based on offering, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. In 2020, the hardware segment accounted for the largest share in the market. In terms of technology, the real-time location systems market is segmented into Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultrasound, Infrared (IR), GPS, and Others. In 2020, the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) segment accounted for the substantial share of the market.

Based on industry vertical, the market is segmented into heavy industries, manufacturing, retail, oil and gas, automotive, construction, government and defense, education, and others. In 2020, the retail segment dominated the market. By application, the market is segmented into personnel/staff locating and monitoring, access control and security, environmental monitoring, warehouse management and monitoring, supply chain management and operational automation/visibility, and others.

In 2020, the personnel/staff locating and monitoring segment accounted for the largest market share. Geographically, the market is broadly segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM). In 2020, North America accounted for a significant share in the global market.



A few major players operating in the global real-time location systems market are Aruba Networks; AiRISTA Flow Inc.; Decawave Limited; Impinj, Inc.; Siemens AG; Zebra Technologies Corporation; Sonitor Technologies AS; Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.; TeleTracking Technologies Inc.; and Ubisense.

Reasons to buy

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global Real-Time Location System market

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global Real-Time Location System market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Real-Time Location Systems Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America

4.2.2 Europe

4.2.3 Asia-Pacific

4.2.4 Middle East and Africa

4.2.5 South America

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinions



5. Real-Time Location Systems Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing Deployment of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Based Real-Time Location System

5.1.2 Booming Ecommerce Industry

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Security Concerns Regarding Tag Hardware

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Need for Social Distancing and Contact Tracing Due COVID-19 Pandemic

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Emergence of IoT and Industry 4.0

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Real-Time Location Systems Market - Global Analysis

6.1 Real-Time Location Systems Market Global Overview

6.2 Real-Time Location Systems Market - Global Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Share Analysis- Five Key Players (2020)



7. Real-Time Location Systems Market Analysis - By Offering



8. Real-Time Location Systems Market - By Technology

9. Real-Time Location Systems Market - By Industry Vertical



10. Real-Time Location Systems Market - By Application



11. Real-Time Location Systems Market - Geographic Analysis



12. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic



13. Industry Landscape

13.1 Overview

13.2 Market Initiative

13.3 Merger and Acquisition

13.4 New Development



14. Company Profiles

14.1 Aruba Networks

14.1.1 Key Facts

14.1.2 Business Description

14.1.3 Products and Services

14.1.4 Financial Overview

14.1.5 SWOT Analysis

14.1.6 Key Developments

14.2 AiRISTA Flow Inc.

14.2.1 Key Facts

14.2.2 Business Description

14.2.3 Products and Services

14.2.4 Financial Overview

14.2.5 SWOT Analysis

14.2.6 Key Developments

14.3 Decawave Limited

14.3.1 Key Facts

14.3.2 Business Description

14.3.3 Products and Services

14.3.4 Financial Overview

14.3.5 SWOT Analysis

14.3.6 Key Developments

14.4 Impinj, Inc.

14.4.1 Key Facts

14.4.2 Business Description

14.4.3 Products and Services

14.4.4 Financial Overview

14.4.5 SWOT Analysis

14.4.6 Key Developments

14.5 Siemens AG

14.5.1 Key Facts

14.5.2 Business Description

14.5.3 Products and Services

14.5.4 Financial Overview

14.5.5 SWOT Analysis

14.5.6 Key Developments

14.6 Zebra Technologies Corporation

14.6.1 Key Facts

14.6.2 Business Description

14.6.3 Products and Services

14.6.4 Financial Overview

14.6.5 SWOT Analysis

14.6.6 Key Developments

14.7 Sonitor Technologies AS

14.7.1 Key Facts

14.7.2 Business Description

14.7.3 Products and Services

14.7.4 Financial Overview

14.7.5 SWOT Analysis

14.7.6 Key Developments

14.8 Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

14.8.1 Key Facts

14.8.2 Business Description

14.8.3 Products and Services

14.8.4 Financial Overview

14.8.5 SWOT Analysis

14.8.6 Key Developments

14.9 TeleTracking Technologies Inc

14.9.1 Key Facts

14.9.2 Business Description

14.9.3 Products and Services

14.9.4 Financial Overview

14.9.5 SWOT Analysis

14.9.6 Key Developments

14.10 Ubisense

14.10.1 Key Facts

14.10.2 Business Description

14.10.3 Products and Services

14.10.4 Financial Overview

14.10.5 SWOT Analysis

14.10.6 Key Developments



15. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7ytmbo

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Webcast to begin at 9:00 a.m. EST

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE, TSX: TRI) announced today that the new time for its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 earnings webcast will be 9:00 A.M. EST on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 . It was previously scheduled for 8:30 A.M. EST.

You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of the Thomson Reuters website. Registration for the webcast is now open. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACTS MEDIA Andrew Green Senior Director, Corporate Affairs +1 332 219 1511 [email protected] INVESTORS Frank J. Golden Head of Investor Relations +1 332 219 1111 [email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and the HBCU I.M.P.A.C.T. Initiative, Inc. (IMPACT) today announced a partnership and a career-building campaign aimed at recruiting students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to the insurance industry.

To kick off February's Black History Month , which is also Insurance Careers Month , Triple-I-produced and released a video series titled " Insuring Success. " HBCU IMPACT  launched today its new website .

"The war for talent in our industry is indeed real, but it is also an extremely exciting time of corporate transformation and technological advancement," said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. "We are thrilled to be a part of this dynamic program to help young and diverse talent discover the benefits and opportunities available through insurance careers."

The acronym, IMPACT, stands for Insurance Mentoring Program Advance Career Track. The organization's co-founders say they are aggressively sharing the "good news" of insurance career opportunities with students from all disciplines.

Even before "the great resignation," the insurance industry faced a burgeoning talent gap . A growing segment of the workforce is reaching retirement age and the median age of insurance company employees is higher than in other financial sectors. The availability of insurance-related jobs is expected to grow for the foreseeable future.

But this growing talent gap is even more prevalent in the underrepresented groups that help to make up the insurance industry, particularly as it relates to Black professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, as of 2019, African Americans made up only 12.4% of the insurance industry's employees. A study conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) in 2018 found that only 2% of established agencies had at least one African American principal. These stats demonstrate the industry's challenges around recruiting and retaining Black talent.

"We are going around like evangelists, letting the next generation of Black talent know that insurance is a place where you can build a career, learn skills that are transferable, and you can make a lot of money," said Rebekah Ratliff, mediator/arbitrator, founder of CCM Consulting Associates, LLC and HBCU IMPACT  co-founder. "For some disciplines, industry opportunities begin even before college. Not all rising stars will decide to go to college. We are developing programming to address the hidden Black talent in that demographic, as well."

"Ultimately, we want to achieve an increased representation of Black talent in the industry not just at the entry level, but we are also looking to groom our next Black executives," said Ngozi Nnaji, founder of Ako Insurance Consulting, LLC and Ako Brokerage Services, LLC and an HBCU IMPACT  co-founder. "HBCU IMPACT  is proud to join forces with Triple-I to spread the word among Black students that insurance is the place to be for successful, fulfilling careers."

SOURCE Insurance Information Institute
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced the preliminary determination of a combined anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 11.64% in the third annual review of unfairly traded Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The annual reviews are part of the trade law enforcement process to address the dumping and subsidization of Canadian imports for a certain time period, and the U.S. Lumber Coalition fully supports this annual process.

Every Administration since the Reagan Administration has investigated Canadian lumber trade and reached the same conclusion  import duties are warranted because Canadian lumber producers are subsidized and unfairly trade in the U.S. market to the detriment of U.S. companies and workers. U.S. trade laws duties simply offset Canada's unfair trade practices, allowing U.S. lumber manufacturers to grow to their natural size.

"Trade law enforcement has resulted in dramatic growth of U.S. made lumber by mitigating the harmful effects of Canada's subsidized and unfairly traded imports," stated Jason Brochu, U.S. Lumber Coalition Chairman and Co-President of Pleasant River Lumber Company. "The enforcement will maximize long-term domestic production and lumber availability to meet strong demand to build more American homes," added Brochu.

Since the filing of the trade cases by the U.S. industry in 2016, U.S. sawmill investment and capacity expansion has been robust. The U.S. industry appears on track to have produced an additional 17.5 billion board feet of lumber through 2021, averaging 3.5 billion a year. These increases have more than offset any decline in unfairly traded Canadian imports and are enough lumber to build about 1.2 million single-family American homes.

The U.S. industry remains open to a new U.S.Canada softwood lumber trade agreement if and when Canada can demonstrate that it is serious about negotiations for an agreement that addresses Canada's unfair trade practices which are harming U.S. producers, workers, and timberland holders. Until then, the U.S. Lumber Coalition fully supports the continued strong enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices.

About the U.S. Lumber Coalition

The U.S. Lumber Coalition is an alliance of large and small softwood lumber producers from around the country, joined by their employees, and woodland owners, working to address Canada's unfair lumber trade practices. Our goal is to serve as the voice of the American lumber community, and effectively address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices, including its gross underpricing of timber. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.

CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen

[email protected] | 202-805-9133

SOURCE The U.S. Lumber Coalition
VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard today announced the addition of Ariel Investments, LLC, to the firm's distinguished roster of world-class active managers. Ariel will join Cardinal Capital Management, LLC, and Frontier Capital Management Co., L.L.C., in overseeing the $1.2 billion Vanguard Explorer Value Fund.

"Vanguard continuously seeks out leading investment firms that demonstrate the expertise, diversity of thought, and accountability needed to drive successful outcomes for investors," said Dan Reyes, head of Vanguard Portfolio Review Department. "We believe that Ariel's talented portfolio management team and patient approach to investing complements the fund's strategy and existing advisors."

Founded in 1983 as a small- and mid-cap value manager, Ariel was the first Black-owned mutual fund company in the United States. The firm has evolved into a global asset manager that offers a range of investment strategies seeking attractive intrinsic value through relatively concentrated portfolios. Ariel's approach is rooted in an active, yet patient investment philosophy focused on uncovering mispriced companies whose true value will be realized over time. Vanguard believes this approach aligns with the fund's mandate of providing investors with long-term capital appreciation through investing in small- and mid-sized U.S. companies considered to be undervalued.

Ariel's initial target allocation will be 10% of Vanguard Explorer Value Fund, with the balance of assets divided evenly between the fund's two other tenured value managers.

Vanguard's active management leadership

Vanguard is a leader in active management with more than $1.8 trillion in active assets across equity, bond, balanced, and money market portfolios. Vanguard's philosophy on active management is rooted in a long-term, disciplined approach and mission to give investors the best chance of success in achieving their investment goals. Vanguard has more than four decades of experience both partnering with top-tier external advisors as well as managing active strategies in-house.

Vanguard has delivered consistent and sustained active outperformance, which is enabled by rigorous fund oversight, access to a diverse roster of active management talent, and the ability to keep costs low. Over the past 10 years, 86% of Vanguard's actively managed funds outperformed their peer group average.1

About Vanguard

Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies. As of November 30, 2021, Vanguard managed $8.5 trillion in global assets. The firm, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, offers 422 funds to its more than 30 million investors worldwide. For more information, visit vanguard.com.

All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Prices of mid- and small-cap stocks often fluctuate more than those of large-company stocks.

All figures as of December 31, 2021 unless stated otherwise.

1 For the 10-year period ending December 31, 2021, 81 out of 94 Vanguard active funds outperformed their peer group averages (source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company). Results will vary for other time periods. Only funds with a minimum five-year history were included in the comparisons. (Source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company). Note that the competitive performance data shown represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results, and that all investments are subject to risks. For the most recent performance, visit our website at www.vanguard.com/performance.

SOURCE Vanguard
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectrus, Inc., (NYSE: VEC), a leading global government services company, announced that company management will address the Cowen 43rd Annual Aerospace/Defense & Industrials Conference, on Wednesday, February 9, at 12:40 p.m. Eastern time.

A live audio webcast of the briefing will be available at https://wsw.com/webcast/cowen107/vec/1839192 and be available for replay for 90 days afterward.

About Vectrus:

For more than 70 years, Vectrus has provided critical mission support for our customers' toughest operational challenges. As a high-performing organization with exceptional talent, deep domain knowledge, a history of long-term customer relationships, and groundbreaking technical expertise, we deliver innovative, mission-matched solutions for our military and government customers worldwide. Whether it's base operations support, supply chain and logistics, IT mission support, engineering and digital integration, security, or maintenance, repair, and overhaul, our customers count on us for on-target solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve readiness, and strengthen national security. Vectrus is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and includes about 9,200 employees spanning 206 locations in 27 countries. In 2020, Vectrus generated sales of $1.4 billion. For more information, visit the company's website at www.vectrus.com or connect with Vectrus on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Contact Information

Mike Smith, CFA

[email protected]

(719) 637-5773

SOURCE Vectrus, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Live, global video chat platform VIDSIG announced today it had signed a new partnership agreement with the California State PTA to provide live, one-to-one video chats with its hundreds of vetted undergrads from colleges and universities across the United States.

VIDSIG's platform facilitates conversations that aim to provide honest answers to questions from students and parents across the state to help make the challenging college process easier through ten-minute, live one-to-one video chats on VIDSIG.com or through VIDSIG's new app.

VIDSIG CEO Jonathan Yarnold on last week's ABC News Spelman College's Whitney Williams is one of hundreds of vetted undergrads on VIDSIG.com

"This is such an exciting announcement to make," stated Jonathan Yarnold, Chief Executive Officer of VIDSIG. "California has always been a state of innovation, and to partner with the California State PTA is an honor that is reflective of a continued, innovative pursuit for parents, high school students and educators across the state."

VIDSIG's College Experience Experts are current undergrads representing 175+ colleges and universities across the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. High school students and their parents across the United States are currently using the VIDSIG platform to speak live, one-to-one with vetted and current undergrads to gain valuable insight about schools during 10-minute, live video chats.

California is the third state, along with New York and Wisconsin, to sign partnership agreements with VIDSIG in recent months to provide this groundbreaking service to over 1 million members collectively.

"California State PTA is excited to offer high school students the opportunity to ask real questions of their college peers. We are pleased to partner with VIDSIG to support California's high school students during their college explorations and the application process," stated Carol Green, President, California State PTA. "We recognize VIDSIG's value for students and families across the state, and we are glad to bring this valuable service to our members who want real information as they make their college decisions."

"As anyone who visits VIDSIG.com can see, we reference 'Life-Changing Conversations' for a reason," continued Yarnold. "These types of conversations can dramatically impact the course of one's life by receiving honest answers to all questions. The last thing anyone wants is to make the wrong school choice and experience buyer remorse. This is a powerful way to help avoid that, right from the palm of your hand on virtually any device."

Live, one-to-one video chat sessions with the College Experience Experts are $25 for 10 minutes  and the partnership with the California State PTA will provide Californian PTA members with a number of complimentary sessions.

Go to CA State PTA Winter Member Perks at https://capta.org/join/member-perks/.

To download the new VIDSIG app, visit the App Store.

To learn more about VIDSIG, visit https://vidsig.com/ .

To learn more about PTAs in California, visit https://capta.org

CONTACT: MELISSA KRESS, MEDIA RELATIONS, [email protected], 415.917.9710

SOURCE VIDSIG
Armenia celebrated its Expo 2020 Dubai National Day on January 30 with Armenian Colours, a spectacular performance that featured contemporary dance, music and acrobatic stunts from the country at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.



Armenian dance troupe Barekamutyun, dressed in costumes with traditional Armenian patterns, put on a lively, colourful show, filled with captivating movement. Barekamutyun the Armenian word for friendship earlier performed a stunning show during Armenias National Day ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza.



The dance ensemble has garnered worldwide recognition for their unique and vibrant array of folk and modern dances that represent the countrys rich and ancient history and celebrate its innovative and bright future.



The Armenia Pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, invites guests to create a bond with the country as they discover its rich, historical past and modern reality, as one of the biggest providers of intellectual resources and technological development products.  TradeArabia News Service
COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Visionist has been awarded a five-year, single award $190M prime contract from the Department of Defense, supporting essential mission requirements in the Computer Network Operations (CNO) area. This work includes a wide array of professional and technical services, including systems engineering, software engineering and development, data science, integration, communications support, and operational/lifecycle support.

"We are honored the Government selected Visionist and our team to deliver CNO expertise to such a broad array of tasks," said Chris Berry, President of Visionist. "Visionist has built a reputation for improving intelligence analysis by integrating software and data science at the speed of today's fast moving mission areas. We are committed to bringing these same capabilities and more in support of DoD's most critical cyber missions."

The Visionist team will initially bring a cadre of 60 highly technical professionals and capabilities from across industry to support Computer Network Operations. Additional technical services are expected to be added over the next two years.

About Visionist

Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Visionist specializes in making sense of large and complex data sets. Their unique and modern analytic solutions help customers better analyze, visualize and take action on their data. Since 2010, Visionist has been a trusted partner to several governmental agencies, helping them tackle their most challenging problems in Cyber, Signals and Open Source Intelligence. For more information, visit visionistinc.com.

SOURCE Visionist, Inc.
WARSAW, Poland, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor, the industry cloud company, today announced the completion of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software implementation of Infor LN at the Warsaw underground company Metro Warszawskie by Infor partner S&T.

Learn more about Infor LN: https://www.infor.com/solutions/erp/ln

Warsaw's underground railway services are used by up to 750,000 commuters a day, totalling nearly 200 million passengers annually. As the network is expanded  the second line extension is nearing completion and the construction of the M3 line is planned  these numbers will grow. The company employs 2,600 staff. In addition to passenger transport, the company has responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the tunnels, stations, rolling stock and equipment as well as supervision over construction works.

New challenges, new solutions

With the ongoing expansion of its business and increasing scale of its operations, the Warsaw Metro was looking for a modern software-based solution to effectively manage the increasingly complex technologies, operations, information and resources; facilitate taking the right decisions to boost operational excellence and lead to top customer satisfaction levels. After an in-depth analysis of the market and available solutions, the Infor LN enterprise application was chosen.

Metro Warszawskie was looking for a system that would support its operations in a holistic manner. The absolutely top priorities were support for the day-to-day business and the tools for advanced analytics to turn its abundant data into actionable business insights.

"A key to the project was the migration of data involving the transfer of over 95,000 records from previously-used applications. Without this process and the involvement of key users, it would not have been possible to launch the new solution," said Radosaw Zacharewicz, S&T's enterprise solution architect.

One of the main expectations for the new system was to accommodate business requirements as much as possible through standard system functions. As a result, it was possible to shorten the time necessary for the implementation of the new solution and to reduce expenditures on system maintenance. Thanks to the Infor LN technology, the business-critical maintenance and traffic continuity assurance management requirements were delivered immediately without customisation or software modifications.

The system was activated based on infrastructural solutions that use cloud technologies available as platform-as-a-service (PaaS). The software was additionally provided with Infor's cloud platform, Infor OS, interworking with the domain systems of the Warsaw Metro and ensuring support and management of the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things).

The business results

The new system supports an effective fulfilment of the Warsaw Metro's business needs and technical requirements. Thanks to the implementation of the cutting-edge ERP system, the Warsaw Metro can optimise and boost the effectiveness of managing the key area processes, such as traffic maintenance and continuity, overhauls, finances and controlling, sales, procurement, or inventory management. Since Infor LN combines data and processes with business applications and technical and operations knowledge resources, it is capable of delivering detailed business insights using the information retrieved from the measurement and control automation systems.

The new system was delivered and commissioned for over 400 direct users. Thanks to S&T ensuring a virtual maintenance environment in a PaaS model, the legacy financial book-keeping software was efficiently and safely decommissioned.

Additional statements

"We have delivered the Warsaw Metro implementation using the Prince2 compliant project management methodology. The system development and commissioning were split into two stages. Though all the commissioning work was performed during the pandemic, thanks to the use of environment available in the PaaS model, we could perform the majority of operations remotely, thus limiting all the physical customer contacts to an absolute minimum. The solution delivered by S&T met the majority of customers' business requirements without the need for any software modifications to be made to the standard software release. The quick and effective contract performance proves our high competencies in the implementation of the state-of-the-art IT business management support tools," concludes Radosaw Zacharewicz.

"Warsaw Metro users often do not realize the challenges involved in managing such a highly specialised company to provide them with efficient transportation. The Infor LN system implemented in the Warsaw Metro is software developed for the leading global enterprises with complex business needs. This is why we are confident that it will exceed what was expected of it and will contribute to speeding up the company's digital transition and to further improvement of its operational agility and give it a business effectiveness boost in all the key areas," said Mariusz Siwek, Infor's sales director for Poland and Baltics.

About the Metro Warszawskie sp. z o.o.

The Warsaw Metro (Metro Warszawskie) is a state-of-the-art rapid transit system. Its key job is the underground railway passenger transport in Warsaw, day-to-day maintenance and operation of the rolling stock, equipment, and facilities as well as the supervision of investments and construction works on the expansion of the city's underground network. The company is the user of the underground infrastructure (tunnels, stations) made available to it by the Capital City of Warsaw and is responsible for its upkeep. The company is owned by the Capital City of Warsaw. Visit https://www.metro.waw.pl/strona-glowna

About S&T

S&T is one of the largest IT integrators in Central and Eastern Europe. The company has been associated with the Polish IT services market for over 50 years. It belongs to an international group employing over 5,000 employees in 32 countries around the world. In Poland, S&T focuses on the implementation of IT technologies in the area of hardware infrastructure and network solutions. S&T also specializes in the implementation of ERP, APS, MES, SCADA, BI and EAM business management systems. The company also provides services in the field of designing dedicated business applications. As one of the few entities on the market, it has its own network of 13 service offices located throughout the country, ensuring local support for users 24/7. S&T employs over 450 employees in Poland, including certified programmers, IT architects, support engineers, analysts, software testers, network administration specialists, experts in hardware infrastructure management and implementation consultants in the fields of: finance, controlling, sales, logistics, retail and manufacturing. The contract with Metro Warszawskie is another S&T agreement for the implementation of an ERP class system in the public transport sector in Poland. Visit http://www.snt.pl/

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. We develop complete solutions for our focus industries, including industrial manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, food & beverage, automotive, aerospace & defense, and high tech. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. We are obsessed with delivering successful business outcomes for customers. Over 65,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.

Media contacts

Richard Moore

Infor PR Manager, EMEA

+44797611124

[email protected]

Anna Zawadzka

S&T Communication Manager

+48 726 420 029

[email protected]

Copyright 2022 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com

SOURCE Infor
Cardinal Health settled a False Claims Act case brought by Whistleblower Law Collaborative clients for $13.125 million Tweet this

Our clients, concerned by Cardinal's payment of these kickbacks, brought valuable knowledge about the fraud to the attention of the government by filing a qui tam complaint under the False Claims Act in 2019. Together, with our clients, Whistleblower Law Collaborative attorneys worked with government prosecutors at the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Office in the District of Massachusetts to help stop to the illegal conduct.

"We are grateful to our attorneys at Whistleblower Law Collaborative and to the government investigators and attorneys, who were able to help and protect a vulnerable patient population from the influence of kickbacks on health care. We are hopeful this settlement will set a good precedent for the industry."

-Our Clients

We commend the bravery and outstanding efforts of our clients and the government prosecutors. Attorney Suzanne Durrell praised her clients. "Our clients not only recognized the fraud, but because of their knowledge of industry practices, could explain it clearly and persuasively to the government prosecutors." Attorney David W. S. Lieberman stressed the speed and tenacity of government prosecutors Evan Panich and Lindsey Ross. "These prosecutors immediately recognized a complex fraudulent scheme for what it was and quickly moved forward, achieving a significant settlement in under two years."

The Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC, based in Boston, devotes its practice to representing clients in actions under the federal and state False Claims Acts and other whistleblower programs. Under the False Claims Act, a private citizen who knows of fraud against the government can act as a whistleblower and file a complaint on behalf of the government. If the case is successful, the whistleblower is entitled to a share of the government's recovery. Among the firm's many successes is the government's $885 million settlement with AmerisourceBergen, another pharmaceutical drug wholesaler, caught repackaging injectable drugs into unapproved pre-filled syringes.

For more information, contact the Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC at 617.366. 2800

SOURCE Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC
MIAMI , Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Why are we doing this?

In 2021, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a wave of mass resignations across all industries in the United States and many other countries. As a recent MIT study discovered, a toxic company culture, lack of transparency, and a lack of effective tools for communicating with employees are key factors for employee resignation.

This proves once again that for modern business (in any industry) it is extremely important to establish a dialogue with employees, to make processes understandable and transparent. And for this you need modern tools, such as the online service Shifton.

"We believe business need to grow and our goal is to help him do that . By creating a free version of our solution, we allow businesses to take the first step to properly work, plan and communicate with employees," said Gary Leman, company's CEO. "Very often employees are proactive and sign up in our system, but can't use it without getting a budget from management. Now this will not be a barrier and our move will help enterprising employees to make their work environment better".

The core functionality of Shifton is now free!

Starting February 1, 2022, any company with up to 100 employees will be able to use the core shift scheduling features, including locations, labels, bulk actions and automatic scheduling algorithms, for free. If the company has more than 100 employees or additional modules, the regular fee will apply.

As a reminder, in addition to the core functions, the Shifton system has advanced break planning functionality, which is very popular in the contact center industry, an attendance module, leave management and a salary and bonus forecasting system. The latter module is widely in demand in the service industry, as it allows the business to be as transparent as possible for its employees in matters of salary, and also works great as a motivation tool.

Shifton is a startup company operating on the market since 2019, providing services in many industries, from small coffee shops to leading local retail players. The Shifton platform has a wide range of solutions that is constantly expanding.

https://shifton.com/en

PRESS CONTACT

Dmitry

+972546373940

https://shifton.com/en

SOURCE Shifton Inc
Sensyne Health PLC (AIM:SENS) ended the formal sales process following the refinancing of the business, which is expected to be de-listed from AIM.

It follows the appointment of City veteran and Evolution Group founder Alex Snow as the chief executive, effective Monday (April 19).

He has been parachuted in to replace the ousted founder and chairman, former Labour science minister Lord (Paul) Drayson.

Snow will oversee a refinancing of the medical data specialist led by a consortium of investors including Gatemore Capital Management, which will pump an additional 20mln into the business.
Cenkos Securities PLC (AIM:CNKS) (Cenkos Securities PLC (AIM:CNKS)) CEO Julian Morse talks to Proactive London about the strength of AIM and why the FCAs listing reforms will help the bourse.

The company's clients use the markets to fund growth, with around 30% of them raising capital in any given year.

Morse also reminds investors about the Growth & Innovation Forum - which is taking place this month, steamed online from 9am on Tuesday February 8th and the event will kick off with a keynote address from Julian himself.

To get involved and register, use this link: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/register/event_details/376
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Custodian REIT PLC (LSE:CREI) said it has sold a property from its portfolio, a high street retail unit in Norwich for 1.305mln.

The UK property investment company, which was originally acquired as part of the IPO portfolio in 2014, said the sale price was in line with the most recent valuation.

It said the disposal forms part of its strategy of reducing exposure to secondary high street retail assets.

Richard Shepherd-Cross, managing director of external fund manager Custodian Capital, said: "While this asset has provided secure income to date, we believe it is no longer aligned with the strategy of the company as we anticipate future rental decline and increased vacancy in this micro-location. We expect to invest the sale proceeds in higher quality assets with greater prospects for income and capital growth, better supporting the board's objective of increasing dividends in a sustainable way."
Vodafone Group PLC (LSE:VOD) shares jumped on Monday morning after it was revealed that activist investor Cevian Capital is calling for strategic and boardroom improvements.

The Swedish activist fund, which has built an undisclosed stake of less than 3% in the telecoms group, which has seen its share price more than halve between the beginning of 2018 and the start of 2022.

Cevian is thought to want to put pressure on the FTSE 100 company to sell parts of its global operations, consolidate its position in key markets, return cash to shareholders and bring more telecoms experience onto the board, according to a report by Bloomberg over the weekend.

A source close to Cevian said it had been in contact with Vodafone for several months, and told the Times: Its not the type of investor thats in it for a quick buck.

Shares in Vodafone rose 4% to 132.91p on Monday morning, making it a 15% gain since the start of the year.
Nematode pests, more commonly known as roundworms, are found in farmland worldwide

Plant Health Care PLC (AIM:PHC, OTCQB:PLHCF) has submitted a new application to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for registration of its novel peptide product, PHC949, for the control of damaging soil nematodes.

The EPA's evaluation process is expected to take approximately 18 months, Plant HealthCare added.

Wilbur-Ellis, a US$3.4bn distributor of crop inputs, plans to launch the product in the second half of 2023, soon after registration by the EPA, PHC added.

PHC949 is the second new product from Plant Health Care's PREtec (Vaccines for Plants ) technology platform with one major new launch planned for every year.

"Field trials in the USA show outstanding control of nematodes; for example in peppers PHC949 increased marketable yield by about 3,265 lbs/acre, worth an extra $2,070/acre," said PHC.

Nematode pests, more commonly known as roundworms, are found in farmland worldwide and in California alone are responsible for US$1.6bn in annual yield losses for almond growers.

Field trials are also underway demonstrating the value of PHC949 in soybeans and other crops in the US and Brazil.

Chris Richards, Plant Health Cares chief executive, said: "We are pleased to have achieved this critical milestone in bringing PHC949 to market and are looking forward to commercial launch in the US after regulatory approval in 2023.

"Given the large number of chemical nematicides that have been withdrawn from the market by regulators because of environmental concerns, farmers are clamouring for sustainable solutions to protect their crops.
UWs SER Receives $500,000 Williams Contribution to Fund Hydrogen Energy Research Center

The University of Wyomings School of Energy Resources (SER) received a $500,000 commitment from energy infrastructure leader Williams to help fund the schools Hydrogen Energy Research Center (H 2 ERC).

The gift will be spread over five years to support the new center dedicated to applied hydrogen research, collaboration with Wyoming stakeholders and the growth of a hydrogen industry in Wyoming.

This generous gift is paramount to helping us launch our efforts on growing a robust applied research program focused on building a new industry in Wyoming, says SER Executive Director Holly Krutka. This gift also demonstrates Williams dedication to its employees and assets in Wyoming. This contribution, along with that already received from Anschutz, federal research grants and support from the state of Wyoming, will allow SER to officially stand up H 2 ERC by hiring its first dedicated research staff.

Williams is based in Tulsa, Okla.

Williams is proud to play a leading role in this important step toward the research and development of a clean hydrogen economy in Wyoming and beyond, says Chad Zamarin, senior vice president of corporate strategic development at Williams. As a longtime owner and operator of energy infrastructure in Wyoming, Williams is well positioned to leverage our existing assets for the blending, storage and transportation of green hydrogen to local and regional markets, including the Pacific Northwest via our Northwest Pipeline.

A member of the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition, Williams is leading the way for clean hydrogen to exist in a low-carbon economy and is heavily invested in hydrogen development in Wyoming. In fall 2021, Williams was a Wyoming Energy Authority grant recipient as part of the Wyoming Hydrogen Pilot Project. The company is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate water access, compatibility and asset integrity in support of green hydrogen production. The study is being conducted in partnership with SER.

SER is proud to have served with Williams on collaborative projects, and we are grateful to have Williams aid SER to expand hydrogen energy research, says Scott Quillinan, SERs senior director of research. By supporting the new Hydrogen Center of Excellence at SER, Williams is helping to create one more resource dedicated to the advancement of a hydrogen industry focused on serving the states existing energy customers and growing new markets.
Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL) has been hit with a downgrade by broker Jefferies, which reckons the shares are too high given a likely fall in future in both the iron and met coal price.

The mining giant has good organic growth and should benefit from a potential recovery in Chinese demand as the year progresses, sid the US broker, but with two of its core commodities close to peaking 'the valuation is not enough to justify a buy rating as the risk/reward trade-off is now balanced'.

"Commodity prices have been a tailwind for Anglo and other miners so far this year, although we continue to be concerned about downside risk to iron ore and met coal and Anglo's exposure to these commodities might be a headwind over the next three months".

Hold, from buy, is the new rating with a target price of 3,300p.
Belvoir Group PLC (AIM:BLV) has appointed Jonathan Di-Stefano as a new non-executive director from 1 April 2022 as the UK property franchise targets substantial growth.

Di-Stefano, currently the CEO of Telford Homes, spoke to Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about how his background in the real estate sector will help take Belvoir forward. And despite the challenges facing the sector, he said he maintains a positive outlook.
After it was revealed that Cevian Capital is a new name on the Vodafone Group PLC (LSE:VOD) share register, should board members at the FTSE 100 group be quivering and should investors be as pleased as the share reaction suggested?

So far, the Swedish hedge fund has neither declared the size of its stake  meaning it is likely to be below 3%  and has refused to comment publicly on what its intentions are.

With Cevians founder Christer Gardell having earned himself the nickname of the Butcher, the telecoms groups boss, Nick Read, may fear calls for his head.

Previous targets for Europe's largest activist fund, which is based in Stockholm and has a London office in the West End, include Aviva, Pearson, RSA Insurance and Vesuvius in London, with continental battles with Ericsson and Thyssenkrupp.

Cevian has been in talks with Vodafone management to improve performance in recent months, said Bloomberg, which first reported the stake, suggesting the stake started to be built before the companys November half-year results.

Several options to boost value were suggested in the report, including consolidation in key markets, selling some operations or undertaking share buybacks.

The Financial Times said Cevian is not happy with the composition of the Vodafone board, believing there is not enough telecoms industry expertise.

Vodafone are also being pushed to be more aggressive in driving consolidation in mobile telecoms markets that are weaker and more unwieldy such as the UK, Italy and Spain, according to the reports.

Analysts said these reports made sense, with Jefferies seeing several positives from the stake, including that it suggests that this well-connected investor believes executing such transactions is feasible.

The presence and influence of an activist interest is also seen as a positive as it escalates pressure on management to deliver their promised consolidation and tower deals.

Coming after VOD's reported talks earlier in January between Vodafone and Iliad, with reports late last year that talks about an Italian merger had been held with Asian conglomerate Hutchison, owner of Three UK, signals confidence, said Jefferies.

The analysts calculated there are a provisional 8bn of merger benefits across Italy, the UK and Spain from cutting costs, capex and boosting growth.

With VOD signalling its intent to participate EU tower dealmaking in November, maintaining co-control with a like-minded industrial player, Jefferies said that moving from its current 82% stake in Vantage Towers to a 25% economic interest in a merged business could unlock another 5bn-6bn of value.

Cevians presence also brings new focus to operational priorities in Germany and with customer service as well as potentially forcing some hard decisions about underperforming assets.

There is no silver bullet to re-rate VOD, but there are genuine rays of hope, Jefferies said.

Vodafone shares down almost 52% from the start of 2018 to the beginning of 2022, with no reward for the company as European service revenues have returned to growth in recent quarters as pandemic impacts dissipated and operational trends improved.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: "Unless drastic action is taken to overhaul Vodafone, the stock looks set to continue to underperform the FTSE 100, at a time when the UK market is looking increasingly compelling from a valuation perspective, having underperformed other global indices since Brexit.
Comment of the Day



Video commentary for January 26th 2021



A link to today's video commentary is posted in the Subscriber's Area.



Some of the topics covered include: Fed's hawkish tone suggests an additional correction for stocks is about to be priced in. Wall Street reverses an earlier bound, Dollar surges, gold pulls back, both oil and copper pause, Europe continues to exhibit relative strength, banks and agriculture stocks steady.





Eoin's personal portfolio: one short stopped out and profit taken January 25th 2022



My view - One of the questions subscribers as most often is how to find details of my open traders. To make it easier I will simply repost the latest summary daily until there is a change.





London Gets Vote of Confidence From Big Finance Firms, EY Says



This article from Bloomberg may be of interest to subscribers. Here it is in full:



Most global finance firms are planning to establish or expand operations in the U.K. in 2022, according to a survey of 40 key decision-makers in the industry.



Around 87% of global financial services investors expect to invest in the U.K. next year, EYs latest poll found. Thats the highest since the professional services firm started tracking sentiment toward the country in 2016, the year of the Brexit vote, and compares to 50% in early 2021 and a low of 11% in 2019.



The data is a boost for the City of London, whose credentials as an international finance center are being questioned since the U.K. left the European Union. Meanwhile, 90% of respondents said the U.K. offers the right conditions to invest in assets with environmental, social and governance attributes.



This is testament to the stability and resilience of the mature U.K. market which continues to ably withstand the material challenges and uncertainty of both the pandemic and Brexit, said Anna Anthony, EYs financial services managing partner for the U.K.



My view - There was a lot of fear that Brexit would result in London being denuded of financial firms. The reality is the Eurozone represents only a portion of the business done in one of the worlds great financial centres.





The New Agri-Giant Invading the U.S. Heartland



This article from Bloomberg may be of interest to subscribers. Here is a section:



Viterra (TSX:VT) is already the worlds largest wheat trader, thanks to its investments in major exporting regions including Canada, Australia, Argentina, and the former Soviet Union. If Gavilon in the U.S. is added to that impressive portfolio, it will be the kind of concentration  and power  that governments worry about. Indeed, Beijing may be even more concerned about the deal than Washington. China, which is spending billions of dollars to build its own state-owned agricultural trading house, is unlikely to welcome further consolidation in an industry it relies on to feed more than one billion people.



Regulatory concerns aside, the deal is a steal. Glencore, founded by the late U.S. fugitive Marc Rich in the 1970s, built its agribusiness through acquisitions. In 2012, it beat out ADM and purchased Canadian grain trader Viterra Inc. for 6.1 billion Canadian Dollars ($4.8 billion). Today, Glencore controls just under 50% of the enlarged Viterra business, with 49% owned by two Canadian pension funds and a residual percentage controlled by the staff.



My view - Most investment banks closed their commodity trading desks during the 2011-2016 bear market. They sold their ships and warehouses too so getting back to dominant positions is not going to be easy or cheap. That handed control of market making to private trading houses which now control the market regardless of whether Glencores bit for Gavilon is successful.





Microsoft's Shares Gain on Forecast For Azure Cloud Growth



This article from Bloomberg may be of interest to subscribers. Here is a section:



Microsoft Corp. shares rose in early trading on Wednesday after the software giant gave a forecast that reassured investors the companys Azure cloud-computing business still has potential to drive growth. The company predicted Azures revenue growth rate would pick up in the fiscal third quarter from the second, excluding the impact of currency fluctuations. The stock gained about 5% in premarket trading in New York. This will help calm Street tech growth worries, said Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush.



Microsofts fiscal second-quarter earnings report on Tuesday showed sales that topped $50 billion for the first time and profit that exceeded analysts estimates, fueled by cloud, gaming and Windows software. But Azure revenue, up 46% in the period, decelerated from recent quarters and missed analysts rosiest estimates, sending the stock tumbling before executives issued a more optimistic forecast for the business later in the afternoon.



My view - When I was recording the audio last night Microsoft was down in after hours trading. Shortly afterwards, the company released a more upbeat opinion of what they think the next quarters will look like so the share rebounded. Nevertheless, growth in demand for cloud services is moderating which is to be expected following the mass adoption event that accompanied the pandemic.





The Chart Seminar 2022



With global vaccination rates rising, the prospect of anti-COVID pills on the horizon and the promise of travel restrictions being dropped, it is time to start thinking about venues for The Chart Seminar in 2022.



Please drop sarah@fullertreacymoney.com a line if you would be interested in attending an event next year, as well as your preferred location.



At present I am looking at a late May date for a London seminar and I am open to other times and locations subject to demand.





If you'd like to subscribe to read our full commentary and access the videos, audios and Chart Library, click here or just reply to this email for more information.

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Alto Metals Ltd (ASX:AME) has intercepted shallow, high-grade gold from Havilah and Lord Henry prospects along Lords Corridor at the Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia, confirming continuity of mineralisation 1-kilometre to the west along strike of the main mineralised corridor.

Mineralisation remains open down plunge and the Havilah Camp prospect has now been defined over 1.5 kilometres, hosted within a dolerite unit bound by ultramafic rock of a similar style and nature to mineralisation found at Vanguard.

Assays of note from reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Havilah include:

3 metres at 1.4 g/t gold from 51 metres and 13 metres at 2.5 g/t from 104 metres, including 1-metre at 21.9 g/t from 114 metres in hole SRC 551;

7 metres at 2.0 g/t from 15 metres, including 1-metre at 8.5 g/t from 19 metres and 18 metres at 1.7 g/t from 99 metres, including 2 metres at 8.1 g/t from 101 metres in SRC550;

6 metres at 2.1 g/t from 27 metres, including 1-metre at 9.4 g/t from 30 metres in SRC546; and

6 metres at 1.7 g/t from 74 metres, including 1-metre at 7.0 g/t from 79 metres in SCR547.

Strong start to 2022 programs

These latest results from Havilah, located less than one kilometre west of the Lords Corridor, confirm the continuity of high-grade mineralisation outside the current resource and remains open down plunge, Alto Metals managing director Matthew Bowles said.

Mineralisation at Havilah is hosted within a dolerite unit bounded by mafic and ultramafic rocks, similar to the host rocks at Vanguard.

The geological setting and numerous shallow, high-grade gold intersections over a 1,500-metre strike is very encouraging and an updated mineral resource estimate for Havilah Camp will form part of the project-wide mineral resource update, on track to be released this quarter.

We have made a strong start to our 2022 exploration programs, with an IP survey already underway at Vanguard and a gravity survey over the Lords Corridor and Havilah, starting soon.

RC drilling is planned to commence in the next few weeks, initially at the Lords Corridor, and we are looking forward to following up on the excellent results delivered from last years program with the intent of driving further resource growth and making more discoveries.

In the meantime, shareholders can look forward to assay results in the coming weeks from 22 RC holes from step out drilling at Indomitable, that are still pending.

Alto says the latest one-metre assay results, sourced from previously reported four-metre composites from RC drilling at Lord Henry continue to highlight high-grade gold mineralisation:

5 metres at 9.1 g/t gold from surface including 1-metre at 43.9 g/t from surface, 3 metres at 16.6 g/t from 13 metres including 1-metre at 39.0 g/t from 14 metres and 16 metres at 5.3 g/t from 50 metres including 2 metres at 37.9 g/t from 59 metres in hole SRC398;

28 metres at 2.1 g/t from 9 metres including 1-metre at 12.1 g/t from 14 metres and 1-metre at 16.6 g/t from 35 metres and 4 metres at 3.4 g/t from 42 metres, including 1-metre at 11.3 g/t from 43 metres in SRC399;

20 metres at 1.4 g/t from 40 metres including 1-metre at 13.2 g/t from 50 metres and 3 metres at 3.6 g/t from 81 metres including 1-metre at 8.2 g/t from 82 metres in SRC387;

4 metres at 5.8 g/t from 89 metres, including 1-metre at 21.6 g/t from 89 metres in SRC389;

8 metres at 1.6 g/t from 64 metres, including 1-metre at 10.5 g/t from 69 metres in SRC386; and

36 metres at 1.0 g/t from 85 metres and 4 metres at 2.0 g/t from 116 metres in SRC383.

Exploration activity update

Assays still pending for 22 RC holes from step-out drilling at Indomitable;

Induced polarisation (IP) survey over an initial 3 kilometres of the Vanguard trend is underway and a gravity survey over the Lords Corridor is commencing shortly;

RC drilling is scheduled to recommence in February initially targeting depth and strike extensions of known mineralisation along the contact at the Lords granodiorite, including the recently discovered Juno Lode;

The current JORC 2012 mineral resource estimate at Sandstone Gold Project is 6.2 million tonnes at 1.7 g/t gold for 331,000 ounces. These resources are shallow, defined to a depth of less than 200 metres and remain open;

Work on the updated independent mineral resource estimate is progressing well and is on track for release by the end of the March quarter 2022; and

Altos Sandstone Gold Project (100%) covers more than 900 square kilometres comprising the majority of the Sandstone Greenstone Belt.

About Alto Metals

Alto Metals is a Western Australian-based company focused on gold exploration in Australia.

The company holds about 900 square kilometres of the prospective Sandstone Greenstone Belt, around 600 kilometres north of Perth in the East Murchison Mineral Field of Western Australia.

It has defined a mineral resource at Lord Nelson, Lord Henry, Vanguard Camp, Indomitable Camp, Havilah and Ladybird.
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The first drill hole at Hook Lake.

Valor Resources Ltd (ASX:VAL) has started its maiden diamond drilling program at Hook Lake Uranium Project within a world-class uranium province, the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The 2,500-metre program is aimed at testing the extent of uranium mineralisation at the S-Zone which included 59.2% uranium rock chips at surface.

This program will include testing of the V-Grid, a geochemical and structural target.

An airborne gravity survey over Hook Lake is scheduled to commence in April 2022.

Excited to start drilling

Valor Resources executive chairman George Bauk said: Following the 2021 exploration program which included on-ground fieldwork, various airborne surveys and a review of historical data, the company is excited to commence drilling at the Hook Lake Project.

The Hook Lake project has many prospective uranium targets with the team prioritising the S-Zone and the V-Grid as the initial two areas of focus.

The S-Zone has known surface mineralisation with results from our 2021 field program highlighting 59.2% U3O8.

The focus is to target various geological features in and around the S-Zone to locate mineralisation at depth.

Low carbon solution

Bauk continued: Major economies are looking to nuclear energy as a low carbon solution as part of the overall global target to reduce global emissions.

China has announced a US$440 billion program to build 150 new reactors, France and Britain intend to build more reactors and Japan is in the process of reopening its nuclear power plants.

These activities will drive demand up and will have a positive impact on the future price of uranium.

Highest grade

We are focused on uranium exploration in the Athabasca Basin of Canada as it has the highest grade of produced uranium in the world, averaging over 2%.

We have raised over A$5 million recently through the Canadian flow-through share scheme and funds are to be used for exploration activities in Canada," Bauk added.

Hook Lake project

Valor is the 100% owner of the following interests:

 Right to earn an 80% working interest in the Hook Lake Uranium Project, 60 kilometres east of the Key Lake Uranium Mine in northern Saskatchewan. Covering 25,846 hectares, the 16 contiguous mineral claims host several prospective areas of uranium mineralisation;

 100% equity interest in 19 contiguous mineral claims covering 62,233 hectares in northern Saskatchewan. The property is 7 kilometres east of the former-producing Cluff Lake Uranium Mine and much of the project area is within the Carswell geological complex that hosts the Cluff Lake Mine; and

 Five additional projects within the Athabasca Basin with 100% equity interest in 12 mineral claims covering 10,512 hectares at the Surprise Creek Project, Pendleton Lake Project, Smitty Uranium Mine, Lorado Uranium Mine and the Hidden Bay Project.
Okapi Resources Ltd (ASX:OKR) has closed its agreement with ALX Resources Corp (TSX-V:AL) to acquire six advanced exploration projects in Canadas Athabasca Basin, the worlds premier high-grade uranium district.

The Athabasca Projects includes 75 granted mineral claims covering more than 55,000 hectares with all six projects along the margin of the basin or in the Carswell Impact Structure.

Depth to the unconformity is relatively shallow being 300 metres or less and typically closer to 100 metres, making them ideal for targeting shallow high-grade uranium deposits.

Excellent geological potential

Okapi Resources managing director Andrew Ferrier said: We are excited to close the acquisition of the six high-grade exploration properties in the Athabasca basin, the worlds premier uranium district.

"Our detailed due diligence over the past two months has demonstrated the excellent geological potential across all six properties.

Exploration programs

Okapi will now embark on phased and integrated explorations programs on the newly acquired projects over the next 12 months.

Two properties  Middle Lake and Newnham Lake  have been prioritized for drilling as soon as the necessary drilling permits have been received from the Government of Saskatchewan, while also coordinating and consulting with First Nations to ensure that stakeholders are properly represented.

In the interim, Okapi is working on a comprehensive compilation, review and reinterpretation of historic exploration program data with a view to creating updated geologic models moving toward the goal of generating drill targets on all six properties.

Location of Okapis Athabasca Basin projects.

Drill permits lodged

"The initial focus of the teams work will be on the Middle Lake and Newnham Lake projects that have the hallmarks for potential tier-1 uranium discoveries, Ferrier said.

"The team has pre-emptively lodged permits to drill on the Middle Lake Project and is currently in the process of also lodging permits to drill at Newnham Lake. This will likely provide the opportunity and flexibility to drill either one of both the targets in the North American summer and following winter.

"We look forward to establishing Okapi in the Athabasca Basin and starting a strong and lasting relationship with all the stakeholders related to the projects.

Latest technologies

Okapi will apply the latest image interpretation and modelling technologies to remotely identify underlying potential for economic uranium mineralization in both the Athabasca Group sediments and the Pre-Cambrian Basement rocks below the unconformity.

This will be followed up with conventional surface-based exploration methods using portable, hand-held devices to identify near surface uranium, thorium and other pathfinder elements. The exploration field data will then be incorporated into the already developed geologic models and applied to drill targeting.

Okapi has worked closely alongside a highly reputable technical services firm based in Saskatchewan to assist in ranking and prioritising the properties by geological prospectivity.

Due diligence has shown that there are numerous high priority targets across the properties and the company will focus on drilling on two of the six properties - Middle Lake and Newnham Lake - identified as having the best exploration potential.

Middle Lake Project

The Middle Lake Project adjoins the former Cluff Lake Mine. The Cluff Lake Mine was operated by Orano (formerly Areva), the French multinational nuclear fuel company, from 1980 to 2002 producing 64.2 million pounds of U3O8 at 0.92% U3O8.

This project comprises three claims totalling 4,833 hectares and borders the Cluff Lake Mine property on two sides.

Middle Lake is also 10 kilometres north of Orano-UEXs Shea Creek deposit (resources of 96 million pounds at 1.3% U3O8), 75 kilometres north of NextGens Arrow Deposit (resources of 337.4 million pounds at 1.8% U3O8) and 75 kilometres from Fission Uranium Corps Triple R Deposit (resources of 135.1 million pounds at 1.8% U3O8).

Boulder-trains with grades of up to 16.9% U3O8 have been discovered in the northern portion of the Middle Lake Project. In the southern area there are six sandstone boulders together that assayed between 0.32% and 3.7% U3O8 with adjacent basement boulder assaying 8.95% and 1.72% U3O8.

Newnham Lake Project

Newnham Lake consists of 14 claims totalling 16,940 hectares and straddles the north-eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin. It is underlain by a series of graphitic metapelites where several fault zones have been identified along strike and cross cutting the basement rocks.

Multiple intercepts with grades between 1,000ppm U3O8 and 2,000ppm U3O8 have been intersected in relatively shallow historical drilling within a 25-kilometre folded and faulted conductive trend.

Importantly, the depth to the Athabasca Basin unconformity at Newnham Lake is approximately 100 metres deep, mitigating the need to drill deep holes in order to discover either sandstone or basement hosted uranium mineralisation.

Other projects that Okapi intends to focus on following the two priorities are Perch, Lake Edward Bay, Kelic Lake and Argo.

The company will also be looking to consolidate and expand its holdings in the Athabasca Basin through some highly accretive acquisitions during 2022.

Location of Okapis North American uranium projects.

Directly on strategy

"Closing this transaction is directly on strategy for Okapi as we continue to look to acquire assets under the right circumstances and to provide shareholders with diversified exposure to the uranium space in North America, Ferrier said.

"We continue to believe that uranium is currently in an upward trend and Okapi is currently assembling and developing the right portfolio of assets to create value for shareholders.

Overview of Athabasca Basin

The Athabasca Projects are all in Saskatchewan, Canada. Saskatchewan was ranked as the number one region globally for mining investment opportunity in the Mining Journals 2020 World Risk Report.

Athabasca Basin is home to the worlds largest and highest-grade uranium mines including Camecos McArthur River and Cigar Lake uranium mines. Cigar Lake and McArthur River contain total mineral reserves of 165.6 million pounds at 15.9% U3O8 and 391.9 million pounds at 6.9% U3O8 respectively.
Astro Resources NL (ASX:ARO) has closed the books on a $3.353 million capital raise to help explore gold and heavy mineral sands opportunities in Nevada and Western Australia.

The explorer placed slightly more than 838.3 million fully paid ordinary shares at $0.004 apiece to complete the raise.

In addition, each investor who subscribed under the offer will receive two free attaching options for every share they subscribed for.

The options have a $0.01 exercise price and are due to expire on April 21, 2022. A meeting to approve the options issue is anticipated in March 2022.

Use of funds

With the cash injection under its belt, Astro is primed to prove up its exploration portfolio in Nevada and Western Australia.

The explorer is focused on developing its Needles Gold Project in Nevada, an asset with numerous old gold workings on epithermal gold veins.

A geophysics campaign has identified a large, strong chargeability anomaly at the property that warrants further exploration.

As a result, an initial diamond drilling program to test the anomaly is underway, with the first assays from the initial two holes anticipated mid-February 2022.

In WA, Astro is prospecting for heavy mineral sands at the Governor Broome asset.

The project carries 52 million tonnes of ore at 4.6% heavy minerals (HM) in the indicated category, as well as 66 million tonnes at 4.0% HM in inferred resources.

Astro has proposed an infill drilling campaign to upgrade resources at the recently acquired Jack Track deposits from the inferred to the indicated category.

With plans for a scoping study down the track, Astro believes Governor Broome has the potential to generate strong cash flows, with only modest capital required.

Beyond its current portfolio, the explorer has plans to expand its project base.

Astro is in joint venture negotiations with a North American company over a series of epithermal gold assets in northwest Nevada.

By expending $2 million into the special joint venture company, Astro can earn up to 70% of the projects.
Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd has capped off a strong quarter with steady oil production and inventory of approximately 63,160 barrels (crude oil inventory value of A$4.18 million - at cost) delivered to BP Kwinana. The company also lifted 117,900 barrels of oil to BP Singapore.

TEGs key focus is Cliff Head offshore Western Australia, which was the first commercial oil discovery developed in the offshore Perth Basin.

Cliff Head Oil Field is 10 kilometres off the coast at a water depth of 15-20 metres. The Production Licence WA-31-L covers 72 square kilometres and the oil field covers 6 square kilometres.

The development cost of the field was A$327 million with first oil production commencing in May 2006. Production is from five ESP production wells and produced water is reinjected into three injection wells.

Produced crude oil is trucked to BP in Kwinana, 42 kilometres south of Perth.

The Cliff Head facilities are the only offshore infrastructure in the Perth Basin and are, therefore, important for any development in the surrounding area.

An unmanned platform with a 14 kilometre pipeline carries the crude oil to a dedicated stabilisation processing plant at Arrowsmith, with a production capacity of 15,000 bopd.

The field has the capacity to produce approximately 1,000 bopd from five production wells (3 horizontal and 2 deviated). The production from the field is supported by a water flood with three water injection wells (1 horizontal and 2 deviated). An additional unused well slot is available on the platform for future drilling activities.

Also of note is that TEG is the major shareholder of State Gas Limited with a current interest of 23.96%. The investment is equivalent to A$15.32 million in value at $0.32 per State Gas share (as at January 28, 2022).

State Gas is currently working on the Serocold-1 and Nyanda-8 wells with three production test wells continuing to provide encouraging results.

After 20 days of testing at Nyanda-8, the well has averaged 16 bwpd with a steady flare at 36% drawdown. After 14 days on production test at Serocold-1, the well has averaged 55 bwpd and with an intermittent flare of gas at only 25% drawdown.

It is also working on the Rougemont-1 and -2 wells, which were the first wells in ATP 2062 as well as a Low Emission Hydrogen and Carbon Sequestration Project.

Quarterly highlights

TEG has cash of A$8.33 million, up from the previous quarter of A$5.44 million.

Over the quarter, TEG completed a review of the Prospects and Leads portfolio within L7(R1), undertook detailed planning for its Bookara Seismic Survey as well as continuing detailed well planning for Cliff Head Mark 2.

During the December quarter, the Cliff Head Joint Venture (CHJV) continued to produce and deliver crude oil to BP Kwinana and by quarters end had delivered 58,839 barrels of crude oil.

At cost, the value of this inventory is A$4.18 million with an expected realisable value of approximately A$7.25 million at US$80.00 price and an exchange rate of US$0.72.

The Brent oil price was at least US$85 per barrel at January 28, 2022.

BP Singapore offtake coming to an end

In mid-October, the CHJV announced it had entered into a Binding Offtake Agreement with BP Singapore Pte Limited, in relation to the sale and purchase of its crude oil produced at TEGs Cliff Head Oil Field.

Under the terms of the Offtake Agreement, BP Singapore will purchase 100% of the crude produced from the Cliff Head Oil Field, comingled with crude and condensate of other producers (Designated Seller Groups), on FOB Kwinana terms.

TEG is acting as the Operating Agent on behalf of all of the Designated Seller Groups in relation to each of their offtake agreements and has entered into an agreement with each of the Designated Seller Groups to govern the provision of these services.

A couple of week later, under the terms of the Offtake Agreement, the CHJV was pleased to announce that it had completed a lifting of 107,000 barrels of Cliff Head Crude from the BP Kwinana Terminal.

BP purchased the crude FOB BP Kwinana Terminal as part of a comingled product with other producers.

The price received was a fixed differential to the average dated Brent price for the month of October 2021 and the funds of US$8,099,460.00 from the first lifting under the Offtake Agreement were received in November 2021.

The Cliff Head Joint Venture also received approximately A$1.1 million for a further 10,900 bbls of Cliff Head crude which was delivered and sold in April 2021, under the amendment to the previous Crude Oil Supply Agreement with BP Australia.

The accumulation of the five months inventory since the previous lifting meant that the company benefited from the increase in oil price by approximately US$1.0 million compared to monthly lifting.

Both the term of the Storage Agreement and the term of the Offtake Agreement signed with BP Singapore will cease in April this year.

Given the impact on both the CHJV and other producers currently using the storage facilities at BP Kwinana, the continued enormous potential of the Perth Basin and the value and strategic necessity this provides to both the State and Federal governments, the CHJV has continued to hold meetings with department representatives for the Federal Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction and the State Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Industrial Relations.

BP was intending to cease fuel production at Kwinana and convert the refinery into a fuel import terminal.

However, the CHJV has expressed concerns, shared by the Western Australian and Federal governments, and believes ongoing local refining capability is vital for the nations energy security.

Flexible feed

TEG is looking at alternatives to address the issue, which include but are not limited to a continued focus on exploration in and of the other assets in which it holds interests and operates and Triangle's investigation into the potential to establish a modern, modular renewable fuel refinery by leveraging its existing infrastructure in the Perth Basin.

TEG is thoroughly investigating alternate storage and offtake strategies both domestically and internationally to ensure that the CHJV and other affected local producers can continue production and ensure local energy security beyond the expiry of the Storage Agreement and Offtake Agreement.

Read: Triangle Energy begins FEED study for proposed 5,000 barrel/day Renewable Fuel Refinery

The facility will also be a potential future consumer of hydrogen and have important benefits for WAs fuel security after the planned closure of the Kwinana refinery later this decade.

The Renewable Fuel Refinery Project (RFR Project) was initiated in Q2 CY2021 to respond to decarbonisation targets and increased demand for local future fuel supply and will provide both essential blended renewable fuel refining capacity in WA and be a net consumer of hydrogen, with up to 1,500kg used per day in the processing of fuel.

This will provide a key local demand to further enhance the production of hydrogen in Western Australia and assist in the overall transition to greener fuels.

Further reading
UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

Bloomberg Law interviewed UW law Professor Michael Duff, a labor law expert, about Microsoft Corp.s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. The article noted that the purchase is shaking up the fight to unionize workers at the video gaming company and presenting new challenges for labor advocates. Law360 also interviewed Duff for an article that focused on how to rectify labor law violations.

UW economist Anne Alexander was interviewed by Reflector for an online article on what is causing the spikes in prices for food, gasoline and housing. Other economists joined Alexander in trying to anticipate when consumers will get relief.

A UW delegation -- led by Isadora Helfgott, UWs vice provost for global engagement -- traveled to Uzbekistan last week, according to KUN.UZ, an online publication in that country, to discuss future higher education opportunities.

WyoFile reported that TerraPower and PacifiCorp, which will take ownership of a new nuclear power plant once operations begin in Kemmerer, are busy establishing job training and retraining plans with UW, local community colleges and the state.

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, owner of the nuclear reactor plant to be built near Kemmerer, discussed the project at a recent public forum, The Kemmerer Gazette reported. Levesque said UW President Ed Seidel is in favor of the project, and he hopes to add courses in advanced nuclear energy at the university.

UW economist Rob Godby spoke with Wyoming Public Radio on how the oil industry has rebounded as global oil prices and demand have increased in previous months.

WyoFile interviewed J.J. Shinker, a professor in the UW Department of Geology and Geophysics, about how climate change has changed precipitation levels in Wyoming. The interview was part of an article focused on how aquifers have been affected by methane gas development in the state.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UWs release noting that UW student Nadia Dworian, from Anchorage, Alaska, will work with U.S. Gold Corp. on the Copper King Gold Project, located near Curt Gowdy State Park. She will collect geological data.

UW received a gift of more than $1 million from philanthropist Susie McMurry, of Casper, that will support the universitys Western Thunder Marching Band and the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. Oil City News published UWs release.

Wyoming News Now published UWs release noting that public presentations are underway for the four finalists for the position of vice president for research and economic development at the university.

Chad Baldwin, UWs associate vice president for communications and marketing, spoke with Sheridan Media about the universitys plans for a new School of Computing.

MoneyGeek interviewed UW marketing Associate Professor Elizabeth Minton for two separate features offering insights on The Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2022 and The Best Low-Interest-Rate Credit Cards & Offers in 2022.

UW has launched the Navigate mobile app, which enables students to access valuable university resources, including academic advising, peer mentoring and campus event information. CR80News published UWs release.

The Laramie Boomerang published UWs release announcing that the Department of Musics Helios Piano Trio will perform its debut recital March 1 in New York Citys Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Emmerson Resources Ltd (ASX:ERM) continued to make headway at its cornerstone Hermitage Project in Tennant Creek late last year, with drilling activity defining the December quarter.

The precious and base metals explorer rounded out its 2021 drill campaign at the 100%-owned property with what it described as a stunning 117-metre hit, grading 3.38% copper.

Elsewhere in the Tennant Creek region, Emmerson continued to advance its gold prospects thanks to a 40% resource increase at the Chariot gold camp.

And in New South Wales, the company readied for a high-impact drilling campaign over the Kiola Gold-Copper Project in 2022.

Heading into the March quarter, Emmerson had $3.9 million in the bank to support its future operations.

Next on the agenda

Emmerson has a busy quarter ahead, with exploration planned across its project portfolio. Initiatives include:

A large reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drill program at Emmersons 100%-owned Hermitage project;

Advancing access to the Jasper Hills project with the custodians approving Emmersons work program and measures to protect sensitive sites;

Completing the ultra-high resolution drone magnetic survey over the Southern Project Area at Tennant Creek;

Finalising and approving drill programs for 2022 within the TCMG Joint Venture areas in Tennant Creek;

Continuing advanced mine studies, including reporting of JORC resource estimates at Mauretania and Black Snake;

Ongoing mine and environmental studies to advance Mauretania and Chariot to the TCMG mine schedule;

Reporting awaited assay results from Edna Beryl and Hermitage; and

Possibly kickstarting drilling at Kiola  subject to securing a drilling contractor and COVID protocols.

Turning the soil at Hermitage

Hermitage is one of a cluster of 100% Emmerson owned prospects on granted mining leases that occurs within the northern corridor at Tennant Creek.

These prospects incorporate North Star, Jasper Hills, Katherine Star and Northern Star in mining lease (ML 30177) and Edna Beryl Thrace, and Macedon in ML 705.

Hermitage has not seen any systematic, modern exploration, with the last exploration campaign ending in the 1990s.

This phase of Emmersons exploration program consisted of four RC holes aimed at establishing the thickness, grade and potential for extensions to historical mineralisation.

Drill hole HERC003 reported the 117-metre copper intersection, making it the 16th best copper intersection globally in 2021, according to an independent ranking by data platform Opaxe.

Notably, the reported intersection ranked ahead of Greatland Gold/Newcrest Minings drilling at Haverion discovery in the Paterson Province of WA and displays many geological similarities.

Assays from hole HERC004 and gold results from the native copper zone in HERC003 remain pending, as well as 1-metre sample splits of the 3-metre composites from all significant intersections in holes HERC002 and HERC003.

Ultimately, however, Emmerson believes this drilling has greatly enhanced the ranking and potential for economic gold, copper and cobalt mineralisation across the Northern Project Area, particularly within the northern gravity ridge that is host to several similar style iron-oxide copper-gold prospects.

Phase two diamond and RC drilling will recommence following the conclusion of the northern wet season and renewal of the clearance certificate.

Resource increase at Chariot

In late December, Emmerson reported a substantial mineral resource upgrade for the Chariot Gold Project.

Thanks to a 40% jump in the resource, the project is now reported to contain 556,200 tonnes of ore, grading 7.8 g/t for 138,000 gold ounces.

Whats more, the new Chariot resource estimate supports a conceptual high-grade 17.7 g/t gold open pit and a 6.3 g/t underground operation.

Chariot is one of several mines undergoing scoping studies by exploration and mining joint venture partner Tennant Creek Mining Group (TCMG) ahead of finalising the mining and production schedule.

Studies are also progressing over the high-grade Mauretania Gold Project.

High impact drilling ahead at Kiola

Emmersons Kiola project is one of the highest-ranked, early-stage gold-copper projects in the portfolio and is centred on the 15-square kilometre Kiola Geochemical Zone (KGZ).

It encompasses favourable Ordovician age rocks that display anomalously high gold and copper geochemistry plus historic workings.

Recent work has confirmed that the KGZ contains many of the attributes of world-class porphyry gold-copper mineralisation, and ERM has taken up an extensive fieldwork and surveillance campaign to examine its prospectivity.

Emmerson has also nabbed $118,000 thanks to a NSW Government grant to support a future drilling program at Kiola.

The company hopes to kick off drill-based exploration in the current quarter, pending rig availability and COVID restrictions.
Aspire Mining Ltd (ASX:AKM) is focused on the development of the Ovoot Coking Coal Project in Mongolia, which contains a JORC 2012 compliant total coal reserve of 255 million tonnes of high-quality (fat) coking coal.

The company is advancing engineering, permitting, and financing of the Ovoot Coking Coal Project to mine coking coal by open pit, wash it on site and then truck the washed coking coal to a rail terminal facility in Erdenet for delivery to customers in China and Russia via the existing Mongolian rail network.

Aspire has made significant progress on the project during the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

DEIA report lodged

The Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) for the Ovoot Coal Mine was presented to the local community during the quarter where it was received and supported by a significant majority of the community.

The minutes of the community meetings were included with the DEIA report subsequently lodged with Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism for assessment and approval anticipated in the March 2022 quarter.

Finalisation of CAPEX and OPEX estimates

Stage 2 of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study on the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant is well advanced with bespoke designs prepared to facilitate control of dust at locations including raw coal delivery and washed coal storage and collection.

Local companies have been engaged to input into specialist areas including electrical and HVAC design.

Completion including finalisation of CAPEX and OPEX estimates is expected within the March 2022 Quarter.

Erdenet Rail infrastructure FEED study

Phase 2 of the FEED study on the Erdenet Rail Terminal Infrastructure progressed and is due to be completed within the March 2022 Quarter.

Design drawings have been prepared for materials handling (coal truck unloading, coal storage and train loading) and supporting commercial and residential facilities.

Road studies progressed during the quarter with the completion of topographic, geological, hydrological, and archaeological surveys along the planned route and finalisation of the tractor-trailer simulation works for refinement of equipment selection and operating cost estimation.

Feasibility study and detailed design are being prepared based on this information which are expected to be completed and lodged with the Ministry of Roads and Transportation early in the June 2022 Quarter.

Coking coal price near all-time high

It is worth noting that prices for coking coal remained at historically high levels through the December quarter.

Post COVID-19 economic stimulus is expected to keep steel demand high over the short to medium term supporting coking coal prices.

During the quarter, Aspires financial adviser, Argonaut PCF, worked on developing a banking financial model incorporating the detailed first principles definitive feasibility study quality operating models recently completed by the company.

Aspire remained well funded at the end of the quarter, with a cash balance of A$32.8 million (US$23.8 million).
RPM Automotive Group Ltd (ASX:RPM) recorded an 86% uptake in revenue over the December quarter as it expanded into the caravan and camper trailer sectors with investors responding positively, driving shares as much as 20.4% higher.

The ASX-lister, which operates automotive businesses across Australias east coast, brought in $20.3 million over the second quarter of FY22  up from the $10.9 million counted in the previous corresponding period (PCP).

It means RPMs year-to-date revenue is up 74% on the PCP to $35.5 million, while gross profit for the quarter totalled $7.5 million  more than double the second quarter metrics in FY21.

RPMs bolstered financials come as the eastern states emerged from prolonged lockdowns and commuters took to the roads for the holidays.

The company enters 2022 with a bolstered executive team, having made a series of key appointments in the December quarter.

This striong quarterly report has seen shares as much as 20.4% higher intraday to $0.325.

What lies ahead?

Commenting on the outlook for the groups Repairs & Roadside, Performance & Accessories, Wheels & Tyres and Motorsport divisions, RPM CEO Clive Finkelstein said: "With lockdowns now hopefully well behind us, a resumption of the motor racing calendar, and a significantly strengthened management team to match our strong growth profile, we are looking forward to delivering further growth in our businesses.

We are well funded to support our acquisition growth strategy, and we will continue to position ourselves to capitalise on increased demand for automotive aftermarket products and services.

We will continue to grow RPM into a leading Australian business operating well-known brands across the transport and automotive aftermarket sectors.

December quarter financials

The calendar years final quarter saw RPM record double-digit growth across all four of its divisions.

Earnings were also strong, with group earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) after head office costs coming in at $2.2 million, representing a 174% jump on the PCP.

Financial breakdown across RPMs four key divisions.

Speaking to the December quarter revenue, Finkelstein said: As our two biggest markets, Sydney and Melbourne, emerged from extended periods of lockdown, the demand for our services increased, especially across our Repairs and Roadside division that increased sales by 183% on the prior year.

Our Performance and Accessories division continues to grow and exceed expectations, where turnover has increased by 78% on the same period last year.

Our Wheels and Tyres division returned excellent results mainly attributed to the improved gross margin as a result of our forward-thinking purchasing strategy.

Our Motorsport division recovered well with sales increasing by 66% which then flowed through to the bottom line."

Safety Dave acquisition

Beyond growing its financials, RPM spent the December quarter completing a key acquisition that expands its business into the caravan and camper trailer market.

The group acquired Victorias Safety Dave brand in late December for $9.5 million, with 70% of the consideration made in cash and the remainder paid out in RPM shares.

The addition of this iconic Australian brand sees us enter an industry that has experienced strong growth of 26.7% over the last five years and will underpin our Performance and Accessories divisions growth in the near future, Finkelstein remarked.

This quarter also saw us expand our product offering in our wholesale division, with RPM becoming a secondary distributor of Bridgestone Passenger Car Radial and Truck and Bus Radial tyres.

Having a tier-one brand on offer should see our customer average order increase as they can purchase more of what they need conveniently through us  the diversity means we have more on offer with no extra selling expense."

Corporate moves

FY22s second quarter was also punctuated by changes within RPMs core leadership team.

Finkelstein concluded: Our executive team has been significantly strengthened with the appointment of Malcom Noriskin as chief financial officer, Jennifer Manson as group operations manager, Joe De Sensi as general manager - wholesale for Wheels & Tyres and Perry Scarfe as general manager  retail for Repairs & Roadside.

I am confident the combined experience and knowledge of this group will play a leading role in RPMs growth moving forward.
KNeoMedia Ltd (ASX:KNM) (OTCMKTS:KNEOF) has been hard at work over the December quarter, continuing to roll out the Connect ALL Kids initiative across New York City and pursuing new opportunities in Florida.

The companys software-as-a-service model of education tools are now available in more than 80 public schools throughout New York City (NYC) and State, becoming a reference point and offering validation for other schools looking to deploy the program.

During the quarter the company netted A$329,000 in revenue from the third deployment of its KneoWorld software Connect ALL Kids, receiving a further US$260,000 in funding from the Connect ALL Kids funding scheme which is backed by New York City Councillor commitments.

Connect ALL Kids program

Connect ALL Kids is an education initiative with a mission to provide education technology and content for every public-school student no matter their academic ability.

Created through a partnership between the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Dell Technologies and KneoWorld Inc (subsidiary of KneoMedia), the program is designed to give students access to the tools to help them learn, thereby ensuring education equity for all.

A growing number of schools across the New York City public school system are now deploying the KneoWorld platform, with significant resources allocated to ensure the maximum number of schools have been onboarded with the KneoWorld software.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the need for content to be available through online formats, meaning New York public schools will likely continue to seek out hybrid platforms like KneoWorld.

KNM says it will continue to invest in the KneoWorld platform and is actively working with NYC Department of Education (DOE) to ensure content aligns with the requirements of the DOE and the local environment.

In addition, the Connect ALL Kids initiative has been further enhanced and validated by the Queens College GLOBE NY Metro Partnership agreeing to participate in the program.

This provides opportunities to connect with educationally disadvantaged children across the Five Boroughs in New York City with the goal of accelerating competencies in areas of Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), obtainable through the broad adoption of Connect ALL Kids innovative programs, processes, and strategies.

New York City leadership changes

KNM is pleased to welcome Eric Adams as New York City Mayor, highlighting that his commitment to education equality in New York was a centrepiece of his campaign for mayor.

The company believes this leadership change bodes well for the Connect ALL Kids education initiative, given that the NAACP, a Connect All Kids participant, has had active and regular engagement with Mayor Adams and the newly appointed NYC DOE Chancellor David Banks.

KneoMedia says the feedback from the NAACP and from existing NYC DOE contacts suggests that support for the broader deployment of Connect All Kids into more New York City public schools is very strong.
Clean Seed Capital Group (TSX-V:CSX), the agTech group, has revealed that it is introducing Mini-MAX, a scaled-down model of its North American SMART Seeder MAX, to developing countries.

The company said it will ship the first Mini-MAX demonstration unit to India in March this year for demonstrations and trials with one of India's top agricultural equipment manufacturers, with which Clean Seed expects to collaborate on commercialization and government-supported initiatives.

"The Mini-MAX is complementary to our SMART Seeder MAX product offerings and has been developed from common technological fundamentals," said Graeme Lempriere, the CEO, in a statement. "We are pleased to generate additional offerings from our intellectual property portfolio to address challenges at the field level globally and are committed to demonstrating that the SMART Seeder technology is scalable for farming operations of all sizes and geographies."

"We look forward to updating our shareholders in the coming months as we progress business opportunities in India and other developing nations," he added.

Developing countries face mounting challenges, including limited availability of land and water, depleted soil health, flood irrigation, falling water levels and rising input costs.

The company noted that its SMART Seeder technology addresses many of these challenges in the context of North American farming operations.

Clean Seed is made up of a team of innovators and experts in the agricultural space and its flagship product, the result of years of research and investment, is the Smart Seeder MAX, a scalable seeding and planting machine, which combines sophisticated digital electronic metering and intuitive software to plant all commercial crop types with hyper accuracy setting a whole new standard for the space.

Put simply, the product can precision sow seeds, along with other items needed - supplements, fertilizers - all in one pass.

Contact the writer at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
Also in today's statement, the firm revealed it has been in "preliminary discussions" with potential strategic partners over further advancing its Adumbi and Makapela gold deposits in DRC

Loncor Gold Inc. (TSX:LN, OTCQX:LONCF) said it has now filed its previously-reported preliminary economic assessment (PEA) of its open pit Adumbi gold deposit at the Imbo project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which showed average annual production of 303,000 ounces at a feed grade of 2.17 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over a 10.3 year mine life.

Also in today's statement, the firm revealed it has been in "preliminary discussions" with potential strategic partners over further advancing its Adumbi and Makapela gold deposits in DRC.

In December, last year, Loncors president Peter Cowley had told investors: "The results from the Adumbi PEA demonstrates a robust project with an average of +300,000 ounces of gold per annum over 10 years with low total cash costs and all-in sustaining (AISC) costs of US$852 and US$950 per ounce respectively over the life of the mine (LOM) for the HEP Hybrid power case."

The study was based on an Adumbi indicated resource of 1.88 million ounces of gold (28.185 million tonnes grading 2.08 g/t gold) and inferred of 1.78 million ounces (20.828 million tonnes grading 2.65 g/t gold ) constrained within a US$1,600 per ounce optimised pit shell.

Loncor had said analysis was carried out on two power options at Adumbi, which included a hydroelectric power (HEP) hybrid case and a diesel-only case.

The PEA estimated a pre-tax net present value (NPV), at a 5% discount, of US$895 million and a post-tax NPV of US$624 million for the HEP Hybrid case at a US$1,600 gold price.

By using a US$1,760 gold price, it also arrived at a post-tax NPV of US$879 million for the HEP Hybrid case. The study also calculated the average total cash costs of US$852 per ounce over the life of mine and all-in sustaining costs of US$950 per ounce for the HEP Hybrid case.

Based on the positive results of the Adumbi PEA, further work is warranted, said Loncor, noting that there was "excellent" exploration potential to further increase the resources at Adumbi and within the Imbo project area.

"Additional feed for the Adumbi processing plant could also come from Loncor's 100%-owned high grade Makapela deposit, where Indicated Mineral Resources of 2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t Au (614,200 ounces of gold) and Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.22 million tonnes grading 5.30 g/t Au (549,600 ounces of gold) have been outlined to date with the high-grade material potentially being able to be transported economically to Adumbi," the company added.

Also at Adumbi, further metallurgical testwork including additional flotation and petrographic studies was recommended to confirm recoveries, reagent consumptions and to optimize the flowsheet design.

Drilling started on the Adumbi deposit in 2010 and so far, 74 core holes have been drilled.

Loncor has been carrying out a drilling program at the Adumbi deposit in a bid to outline additional resources. The Makapela project (which is 100%-owned by Loncor and is located approximately 50 kilometres from the Imbo Project) has an indicated mineral resource of 614,200 ounces of gold (2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t gold) and an inferred mineral resource of 549,600 ounces of gold (3.22 million tonnes grading 5.30 g/t gold).

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
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Ottawa, Jan 31 : Hundreds of trucks and thousands of protesters blocked the streets toward downtown Ottawa on Saturday to protest the government's vaccine mandates required to cross the Canada-US border.

The protest is part of a self-titled "Freedom Convoy 2022", which started out as a rally of truckers against the requirement that Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the US be fully vaccinated as of mid-January, Xinhua news agency reported.

After being joined by thousands of other protesters, it then turned into a demonstration against the government's overall restrictive measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The crowd gathered around the Parliament Hill, waving flags and banners and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is self-isolating after one of his children tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The increasing number of protesters prompted police to prepare for the possibility of violence. As of Saturday night, no injuries or deaths were reported.

Parliament members were advised by the head of House of Commons security, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, to "go somewhere else" if a demonstration occurred at their personal residences or constituency offices, and to "refrain from posting anything related to the demonstration on social media."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ottawa, Jan 31 : Canada has decided to withdraw more staff from the its embassy in Ukraine, according to a statement issued by the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Canada has made the decision to temporarily withdraw non-essential Canadian employees and remaining dependants from the Canadian embassy in Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement.

The highest priority remains the safety and security of Canadians, the statement added.

"As announced earlier this week, Canada will be reinforcing the team at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, with officials with expertise in areas such as security sector reform, conflict management, democratic reform, consular services and diplomacy," said the statement.

"Together, they will increase our diplomatic capacity and allow us to continue to assess and respond to the evolving situation in support of Ukraine." Meanwhile, Canada's Defence Minister Anita Anand arrived in Ukraine earlier on Sunday and said at a press conference that Canada would continue to take all precautions necessary to keep Canadian Armed Forces safe and secure.

On January 25, Canada pulled out Canadian embassy staff's children under 18 years of age and family members accompanying them. Currently the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine remains open, providing consular assistance to Canadian citizens.

Previously Canada updated its travel advisory suggesting that any non-essential Canadians should leave Ukraine. The decision came amid heightened concerns of a potential Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Sanaa, Jan 31 : Yemen's Houthi militia on Sunday midnight claimed responsibility for a fresh cross-border ballistic missile attack on the UAE.

"The armed forces will announce details of a large-scale military operation deep inside the UAE within hours," Houthi-run al-Masirah TV was quoted by Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the UAE official media reported that the UAE defense ministry intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile, adding there were no reports of casualties.

This is the third Houthi cross-border missile attack against the UAE, a key member of the Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the Yemeni army, in less than two weeks.

The previous attacks killed three people and hit an oil facility in Abu Dhabi.

The Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia has intensified cross-border missile attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia after it had lost several strategic districts in central Yemen this month.
Seoul, Jan 31 : South Korea's daily Covid-19 cases hit more than 17,000 for the third consecutive day on Monday due to the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant amid the annual exodus for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The country reported 17,085 new Covid-19 infections, including 16,850 local cases, raising the total to 845,709, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

It inched down from the previous day's 17,532 cases, ending the six-day record-breaking streak that began Tuesday.

The death toll from Covid-19 came to 6,755, up 23 from Sunday.

The number of critically ill Covid-19 patients was 277, remaining unchanged from the previous day.

A revised virus response system went into effect Saturday to tackle the omicron wave that has become the dominant Covid-19 strain in the country.

Some 250 testing stations set up at public health centres and large hospitals will adopt both rapid antigen self-tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. People can choose which one they want to take.

People aged over 60 or in high-risk groups, such as those with underlying illnesses, will be prioritized for PCR tests.

Beginning Thursday, local hospitals and clinics will also administer self-test kits.

The KDCA said the revised regime is designed to minimize critical cases and deaths, while preventing an overload and collapse of the medical system.

The system will expand nationwide after the three-day Lunar New Year holiday running till Wednesday.

Of the locally transmitted cases Monday, Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul reported 5,105, followed by Seoul with 4,193 and the western port city of Incheon with 1,226.

As of Monday, 27.2 million people, or 53.1 per cent of the country's 52 million population, had received booster shots, the KDCA said. The number of fully vaccinated people came to 44 million people, accounting for 86 per cent.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Kabul, Jan 31 : The Unicef has urged the US State Department to reconsider the latter's decision to suspend the Fulbright program for Afghanistan, which provides talented Afghan youth opportunities to build their future.

The Fulbright program was first launched in 1952 in Afghanistan. It was suspended in 1997 and then re-launched in 2003 after the US and allies entered the country in 2001, reports TOLO News.

Over the past 18 years, around 960 Afghan students were granted Fulbright scholarships.

Taking to Twitter, Sam Mort, Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Civic Engagement for Unicef Afghanistan, expressed disappointment over the suspension of the programme.

"Afghanistan's youth need every educational opportunity they can get. Education is the foundation of their future," she said.

"Please reconsider. Please go the extra mile for them. Please put yourself in their shoes." Earlier, ABC News had reported that the US State Department is seeking to evaluate whether to provide Fulbright scholarship for the Afghan students or not.

The suspension comes as a shocking news for 140 Afghan students who won the scholarships but are now living an uncertain status.

"We received an email on January 29 that the US cancel;ed the Fulbright program for Afghanistan and from now on, no student from Afghanistan will be enrolled in this program. This is very concerning," TOLO News quoted Mariam Jami, who won the Fulbright scholarship, as saying on Sunday.

The ABC cited the suspension of diplomatic and political relations between Kabul and Washington as one of the reasons for cancellation of the program.

"This decision of the US is bad news for the education of Afghan youths. The US should mull over the decision and not sacrifice the education program for political issues," Jami added.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : India Meteorological Department (IMD) pegged the minimum temperature in the national capital at 7.5 degrees Celsius for Monday.

With the maximum temperature being recorded at 22.2 degrees Celsius at 8.30 a.m., the union territory will have a mainly clear sky with misty early morning.

On Tuesday also the minimum temperature was around 7 degrees.

Meanwhile, Delhi along with other Northwestern states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will receive rainfall during February 2-4, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

"Scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh during 02nd to 04th February," IMD informed.

The possibility of a cloudy sky followed by rain, accompanied with thunderstorms is high on February 3. On February 4 and 5, the sky will be mainly cloudy throughout the day.

The rainfall is likely to occur due to the interaction between mid-tropospheric southwesterlies associated with the Western Disturbance and lower level southeasterlies from the Bay of Bengal.

As per IMD, an active Western Disturbance is very likely to affect Northwest India from February 2.

"An induced cyclonic circulation is likely to form over southwest Rajasthan & neighbourhood on February 3. In addition, moisture feeding from Arabian Sea to northwest India at lower & middle tropospheric levels is also very likely on February 2 and 3," the weather agency said.

Meanwhile, the people in the national capital continued to breathe polluted air, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated to the very poor category and settled at 302.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', then 401 and between 500 is considered 'severe.' The level of both PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollutants stood in the very poor and moderate categories, respectively, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research's (SAFAR) estimates.

AQI is likely to remain the same for the next two days i.e. February 1 and 2 as the prevailing weather conditions are unlikely to change significantly. On February 3, rainfall is likely to occur with gusty wind that is expected to improve AQI through wet deposition and strong dispersion, the bulletin read.
Lucknow, Jan 31 : The Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) social media campaign, aimed at cornering the Samajwadi Party (SP) and BJP, has started raising issues related to alleged encounter killings of Brahmins, harassment of Dalits, minorities and deaths of over 700 farmers during the agitation against the anti-farm laws.

The campaign, #JawabKaunDega, saw several senior party members tweeting on harassment of innocents and seeking accountability.

It has been designed to raise the party's political pitch before Mayawati's first political rally in Agra on February 2.

BSP MP and General Secretary S.C. Mishra tweeted: "The farm laws forcefully implemented by the dictatorial BJP government witnessed deaths of more than 700 protesting farmers. This is extremely shameful. Due to the terrible law and order situation under SP and BJP, people from the SC/ST community have suffered harassment for 10 years. The casteist mindset of SP and BJP also led to killings of Brahmins. We need an answer," The campaign is raising questions like "500 Brahmanon ki hatyaon ka jawab kaun dega?", "Daliton-alpasankhyakon par ho rahe atyacharon ka jawab kaun dega?" and "700 plus kisanon ki maut ka jawab kaun dega?".

Party spokesperson M.H. Khan also tweeted: "By giving the slogan of 80:20, the Chief Minister, who occupies a constitutional post, has only worked for marginalisation of Dalits and minorities." Another spokesperson Dharamveer Chaudhary also tweeted on the deaths of 700 protesting farmers, while BSP MP Ritesh Pandey asked: "Who is answerable for harassment of Dalits and minorities from Hathras to AMU?"

This is the first time that the BSP is expanding its social media presence through various platforms.
Kuwait City, Jan 31 : Kuwait hosted the 156th consultative meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers to discuss regional and international issues.

During a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Sunday, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah said that Lebanon's response on rebuilding trust with the Gulf Arab countries has been received, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We received a response from Lebanon last night, and Kuwait, along with other Gulf countries, will study this reply to determine the next step concerning Lebanon," he said, hailing the response as potentially instrumental in getting Lebanon and the Gulf Arab states back on the same page.

The consultative meeting among the Arab ministers was positive, al-Sabah noted, adding that there was a unanimous Arab decision condemning the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

For his part, Aboul-Gheit stressed that the meeting also dealt with the conditions and problems in the Arab region.

Moreover, the meeting emphasized the security cooperation among Arab League member states, according to Kuwait News Agency.
Chennai, Jan 31 : The Tamil Nadu public health department said that fresh Covid-19 cases were decreasing in the state, with all the districts showing a reduction.

On Sunday, the state reported 22,238 new cases, a dip from Saturday's 24,418 and Friday's 26,533.

Chennai, which has been registered a high number, recorded the steepest decline in fresh cases. The state capital on Sunday reported 3,998 new cases, a fall from Saturday's 4,508.

Coimbatore, which reported the second-highest number of cases in the state, also showed a major dip. The city reported 2,865 new cases on Sunday after it had logged 3,309 a day before.

Perambalur reported the least number of cases with 52.

While speaking to IANS, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said: "The state is reporting a dip in the number of cases and these are good signs. The public health department is trying its best to curtail the number of cases and the results are there to be seen. Anyway, people have to be on guard and they should wear masks, maintain social distancing and sanitise and wash hands regularly."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bridgetown : , Jan 31 (IANS) All-rounder Jason Holder's four wickets in four balls and a superb bowling display by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (4/30) helped the West Indies defeat England by 17 runs in the fifth and final T20 International at the Kensington Oval here to clinch the series 3-2 on Monday (IST).

Holder joined Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, Ireland's Curtis Campher and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the only male bowlers to achieve the feat of four-in-four at T20I level, preventing a late England resurgence.

Batting first, West Indies notched up a fighting 179/4, thanks mainly to gutsy unbeaten knocks of 41 and 35 from captain Kieron Pollard and Rovman Powell, respectively. Holder (5/27) and Hosein then accounted for nine wickets among themselves as they bundled out the tourists for 162 with a ball remaining.

The West Indies innings started positively thanks to openers Brandon King (34) and Kyle Mayers (31), who ensured that the hosts took full advantage of the Powerplay overs. England pulled things back in their favour as their spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone picked up both the openers in quick succession.

The England spinners continued to control the scoring rate as they finished their spells with two wickets each and with an economy of less than six runs per over.

It took a while for the West Indies batters to accelerate but with the fall of Nicholas Pooran's wicket (21), captain Pollard and Powell took on the England bowlers, finishing the innings at 179/4 with a very quick 74-run partnership between the big-hitting duo.

England's chase started poorly with Jason Roy (9) falling in the first over of their reply. While the visitors kept abreast with the required run-rate, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals with Tom Banton (16), Moeen Ali (14) and Liam Livingstone (6) all falling cheaply.

James Vince made a gallant 55 off 35 balls before being dismissed by Hosein, who finished with brilliant figures of 4-0-30-4. The England chase seemed to have lost steam after Vince's wicket. Sam Billings gave them some hope with a quick-fire 41 off 28 balls.

But it was the 'Holder show' to end the innings as the Windies all-rounder picked four wickets in four balls in the final over to complete a five-wicket haul. He becomes the first West Indian male player to take a T20I hat-trick.

Brief Scores: West Indies 179/4 in 20 overs (Brandon King 34, Kieron Pollard 41 not out, Rovman Powell 35 not out) beat England 162 in 19.5 overs (James Vince 55, Sam Billings 41; Akeal Hosein 4/30, Jason Holder 5/27) by 17 runs.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will campaign door to door in Noida on Monday to seek votes for party candidate Pankhuri Pathak. This will be her first physical campaign since the Election Commission banned rallies.

The Congress has given tickets to 40 per cent women and has sought votes for the empowerment of the fairer gender in the state. The party on Sunday released its fourth list of 61 candidates, including 24 women for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh to be held in seven phases.

So far the party has given tickets to 127 women in the state. In the first list of 125 candidates, 50 are women; the second list of 41 has 16 women; and in the third list of 89 candidates, 37 are women.

The fourth list includes candidates from Rae Bareli and Amethi. From Harchandpur, Surender Vikram Singh has been given a ticket and from Sareni, Sudha Dwivedi has been fielded. Both seats are in Rae Bareli. In Amethi from Gauriganj, Mohd Fateh Bahadur is being fielded.

The other candidates who are in the fray are -- from Hathras, Kuldeep Kumar Singh; from Kasganj, Kuldeep Pandey; from Kishni (SC) Dr Vinay Narayan Singh; from Bisalpur, Shikha Pandey.

During the release of the first list, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had said the party is fulfilling its promise of giving 40 per cent tickets to women candidates.

In the first list she said women have been chosen from diverse backgrounds. These include the mother of Unnao Rape Survivor; Poonam Pandey, an Asha Worker; Nida Ahmed, a journalist; and social activist Sadaf Jafar from Lucknow who was at the forefront of anti-CAA protests.
Indias ties with Central Asia can be traced back to the ancient Silk Road, along which goods, people, and ideas flowed. Geographically Central Asia has been at the intersection of crucial political and economic transformations for centuries. While the dissolution of the Silk Road limited exchanges, there is a renewed effort to reconnect India with the region by the leadership.

The importance which India attaches to the 5 Central Asian Republics (CARs) was shown by its commitment to hold a virtual summit with the Presidents of 5 CARs, when they were unable to travel to India to participate at the Republic Day parade as Chief Guests duet to Covid travel restrictions.

India's outreach As expected the issue of Afghanistan constituted one of the focus areas of the agenda for the summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the five Presidents decided to set up a joint working group on Afghanistan, with a broad consensus emerging on issues such as combating terrorism and drug trafficking.

Modi outlined the three focus areas for India in its relationship with CARs; Central Asia is central to India's vision of an integrated and stable extended neighbourhood and cooperation between India and Central Asia is essential for regional security and prosperity, secondly to establish a framework of regular interactions at different levels and among various stakeholders, and lastly to create an ambitious roadmap for future cooperation.

Modi also referred to India's close ties with all the Central Asian states at a bilateral level, and also underlined the importance of each of these countries. He described Kazakhstan as an important partner for India's energy security.

He highlighted the fact that India's state governments are active partners in growing cooperation with Uzbekistan, while there is an active partnership with Kyrgyzstan in education and high-altitude research. Modi described Turkmenistan as an important part of India's vision for regional connectivity, and said this was evident from "our participation in the Ashgabat Agreement".

With Tajikistan, he said: "We have a longstanding cooperation in the field of security. And we are continuously strengthening it." Importance of CARs

In the last decade, Central Asian nations have also been looking for viable partners particularly in economic and security sectors. Both share common concerns in tackling radicalisation and terrorism.

However, bilateral progress can be described as slow. This is due to the associated concerns with security and capacity constraints, the security situation in Afghanistan and political differences within Central Asia.

India earnestly started its outreach with its 'Connect Central Asia Policy' initiated by UPA II, later Modi became the first Indian head of state to visit all five nations in 2016. Since then there has been significant progress in cooperation, particularly in the fields of defence, energy and connectivity. The renewed Indian focus on the region can be attributed to the geopolitics of the region, particularly China's aggressive outreach with all 5 CARs.

India has also initiated multilateral engagement with the region at two levels. The first is through regional connectivity, with a renewed push for long delayed projects. This received a boost after Iran and India signed an agreement to develop Chabahar Port, when Modi visited Iran in 2016, the port has now become commercially operational. Further, to facilitate transport of goods between India and Central Asia via Iran, India joined the Ashgabat Agreement in 2018, including Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

More importantly, 12 years after becoming an observer, India joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a full member in 2017. SCO is not only beneficial for India to remain connected with Central Asia, but also has the potential for India to work collectively with other leading powers in the region to address economic and security issues that may have potentially detrimental concerns for the world.

While these steps have given a new lease of life to India's vision for Eurasian connectivity, New Delhi must combine skilful diplomacy with action on the ground to ensure the continued viability of these projects in the face of US-Iran tensions.

China and CARs Though India has adopted a more proactive approach and explored new avenues for economic cooperation with CARs. China has aggressively wooed the CARs through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), besides leveraging its geography, finances and population to ensure that its projects can contribute to making its dream of a new and improved Silk Road a reality, Operating at several levels the Chinese economic strategy in Central Asia also focuses on development of western China, through opening up of Xinjiang and ensuring its economic development in order to cool tensions there. In addition China needs CARs as a market for its goods besides getting its energy requirements through CARs.

Chinese anxiety to consolidate its links with CARs and disallow India from taking any initiative in the region is shown by its haste to hold a summit with the leaders of Central Asian countries on January 25, at a very short notice, after India had announced its summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping had offered $500 million in assistance to the region and has vowed to strengthen trade with the countries.

On the other hand trade between India and Central Asia lies at a insignificant $2 billion compared to Chinese trade with the CARs, which roughly amounts to $100 billion. India could increase this bilateral trade by trying to meet its high import dependency for energy, through CARs, which are rich in resources such as oil, natural gas, uranium, etc. On the other hand it could explore areas where the Indian industry could export to CARs at a considerably lower cost.

As stability in Central Asia remains critical to the interests of big players like Russia and China, the CARs will remain in focus at multilateral forums concerning Afghanistan; this also underlines the importance of improving relations with CARs for India to expand regional cooperation.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi)
Mumbai, Jan 31 : Director Shamas Nawab Siddiqui is prepping up for his next movie 'You Are Not My Husband' and for this he is in search of a powerful female character for the lead role.

'You Are Not My Husband' is a beautiful women-oriented movie with lots of layers to the story and as well the character.

Sharing his thoughts, Siddiqui said, "Script has been completed now, it's time to go to South and let's find out a Lady Manoj Bajpayee or Nawazuddin for my women-centric film 'You Are Not My husband'." The scripting of the film is completed and now the makers are only looking for the leading lady.
Bengaluru, Jan 31 : School managements welcomed students of class 1 to 9 standards in Bengaluru on Monday after the government lifted restrictions on resumption of classes. Students arrived in schools with all the enthusiasm as they were extended a warm welcome. Though the classes are being held in districts other than the capital city, the government had decided to close down physical classes due to higher Covid positivity rate.

The school managements have arranged thermal screening, sanitizers for students to ensure safety.

Kiran Prasad, founder of Vidya Vaibhav Educational Institutes and Member of Karnataka Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools, told IANS that 70 per cent of students are attending classes in his schools.

"We expect 90 per cent of children to be back by Wednesday. Some are returning to Bengaluru. Unlike the first wave and second wave, there is demand this time to open schools. Parents have realized what their kids missed out. In media panel discussions, parents and other members who used to be hostile, when I advocated for reopening of schools earlier, now I found them pitching in for children attending physical classes. The narrative has changed," he explained.

Starting school for economic reasons is secondary. There are serious learning gaps among kids. For every year's loss they go backward in learning by two years. They have totally missed socializing, peer learning which they are going to catch up to, he said. The government's decision to close down a classroom only if Covid infections are found, is a step in right direction, he said.

However, some school managements have decided to reopen in a staggered way. As they are facing staff crunch and still waiting for students from outstations.

However, there is a feeling of elation among staff members, students and parents as well about attending classes. Many institutions have retained most of their staff during the pandemic and are ready to begin classes right away, and those where teachers have been terminated are finding it difficult, sources in the education department said.

Saanvi, a class 9 student, said she is very happy to go back to classes and meet friends. She said that offline classes are the first preference and face to face interaction with teachers and her friends is always better. Chinmayi, a class 8 student explained that the school is providing sanitizers and they have been asked not to share food and snacks with friends. She also explained that they have been asked to bring hot water.

The schools have given protocols and guidelines to parents to watch out Covid symptoms in their children. Most of the schools are keeping their online teaching option open and parents are given freedom to make choices.
Los Angeles, Jan 31 : Actress-model Cara Delevingne has opened up about the challenging time she had navigating her sexuality.

Speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper, Delevingne said, "Growing up as a queer child was isolating and hard to navigate at times. My sisters did their best to be there for me but it was something I had to go through myself to truly know who I was. I'm still on that journey and will continue to be for the rest of my life." She signed with Storm Management straight out of school and admits she was naive when she first started out in the modelling industry, but she has since come to "cherish" the fashion world, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She added, "When I had my first modelling job at 10, I wasn't aware of what I was doing or the fashion and artistry that I now understand and cherish. With any job or path there's always a way to make some sort of change." The 'Carnival Row' star also shared she's always had a rebellious side and wants to "question" everything.

She said, "First and foremost I have always seen myself as a rebel, not as someone who wants to break rules but as someone who wants to question them. I love the word 'naughty', but only as an adult. To me naughty means someone who questions what they're told." "I think at this point I might be the naughtiest of the three of us." She previously shared that she felt "suicidal" while struggling with her sexuality when she was a teenager.

The actress spent her youth battling with internalised homophobia as she grew up thinking same-sex relationships were "disgusting".

The 'Life in a Year' star even confessed there is "still a part" of her that "wishes" she was straight because of her "complicated" relationship with her sexuality.

She added, "There is still a part of me where I'm like, 'Oh, I wish I could just be straight'. There is still that side to it. It is really complicated."
Seoul, Jan 31 : North Korea on Monday announced that it test-fired a Hwasong-12 "intermediate and long-range" ballistic missile a day earlier and the accuracy of the weapons system "being produced and deployed" has been confirmed, according to Pyongyang's state media.

"The evaluation test-fire of Hwasong 12-type ground-to-ground intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile was conducted Sunday under a plan of the Academy of Defense Science, the Second Economy Commission and other institutions concerned," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report.

The launch was aimed to "selectively evaluate the missile being produced and deployed and to verify the overall accuracy of the weapon system", Yonhap News Agency cited the KCNA report as saying.

"It confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness of the operation of the Hwasong 12-type weapon system under production." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the firing.

The "highest-angle launch system" was used in consideration of the security of neighbouring nations, the KCNA reported, without providing other flight details.

The Hwasong-12 is classified as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a range of 3,000-5,500 km. The North previously shot it in September 2017.

South Korea's military said the latest missile, fired from the Jagang province bordering China, flew about 800 km at a top altitude of 2,000 km before landing in the East Sea.

Sunday's launch marked the North's seventh show of force this year and its longest-range missile test since the test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in November 2017.

The latest launch came just three days after the North fired two "surface-to-surface tactical guided missiles" toward the East Sea, which followed Pyongyang's test-firing of two apparent cruise missiles two days earlier.

It conducted four other launches earlier this month, including those of what it claimed to be hypersonic missiles.

It marks the most projectiles the North has fired in a single month since Kim took power in late 2011.

The North carried out six projectile launches in both March and July 2014.

Earlier this month, Pyongyang made a veiled threat to lift the years-long moratorium, as Washington has stepped up sanctions pressure on its regime amid a protracted deadlock in their nuclear talks.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : The South's noted art director Anand Sai returns to the industry after a seven-year hiatus with his close friend Pawan Kalyan's period action-adventure drama 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu'.

The big-ticket movie's shoot is scheduled to re-commence in the coming month. The film's sets will provide much of the grandeur that the storyline demands.

The Krish Jagarlamudi directorial, about the life of the legendary outlaw Veera Mallu, is set against the backdrop of the Mughal empire and the Qutab Shahi rule in the Deccan. It has been shot at the Red Fort in Delhi, Charminar in Hyderabad and the Machilipatnam port "We want to add aesthetics through set designs to enhance the visual storytelling in the film. Attention to detail will make our project stand out," Anand Sai, who has been roped in as film's art director, said in a recent interview.

'Hari Hara Veera Mallu' is a much-awaited movie of the Telugu superstar, who has been promising a visual treat in his media interviews.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Delhi Police on Monday debunked the rumours about suicide committed by a woman in the Shahdara sexual assault case.

"Social media post regarding suicide of the girl is false and a rumour," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) R. Sathiyasundaram told IANS.

He further said that police officers had just met the girl on Monday morning and she was doing fine.

The horrific incident occurred on January 26, Wednesday when a 20-year-old woman was allegedly attacked by a group of people, including women, who chopped off her hair, tore her clothes, blackened her face, and then paraded her on the streets of Shahdara area. The woman was also gangraped in a house in the same area.

Delhi Police has so far arrested 12 people in the case, including 8 women and three male minors who sexually assaulting the woman.

The DCP informed that a 10-member Special investigation Team (SIT) under ACP rank officer has also been formed for speedy and proper investigation of the crime.

Soon after the incident, a video in which the woman 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 cognizance of the said incident.

In the video, which was also shared by DCW chief Swati Maliwal, the victim woman was seen to be wearing a garland of slippers.

Maliwal issued a notice to the Delhi Police in connection with the case 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. 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 assured all help to her.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also, on that day, 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 too spoke to DCP Shahdara over the "barbaric assault on the 20 year old woman".

"I assure that these animals (men & women) will not be spared," he had said then.
Sanaa, Jan 31 : Recent military operations conducted by elite Yemeni troops inflicted serious setbacks on the Iran-backed Houthi militia in the fight over the country's oil-rich provinces, said a military official.

The Southern Giants Brigades, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, on Sunday continued to launch a large-scale military operation against the Houthi militia in the country's eastern part, the official told Xinhua news agency.

Following weeks of intense battles, the Southern Giants Brigades succeeded in ejecting the Houthi militia from key strategic areas in the country's oil-rich provinces of Shabwa and Marib, according to the official.

"The Houthis are now attempting to retaliate by using ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones attacks in addition to planting landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)," another official of the pro-coalition Yemeni forces told Xinhua.

"The Houthi rebels gave up fighting and fled their military sites in Marib and Shabwa following the rapid progress of the Giants Brigades on-ground," he said.

Last week, units of the Giants Brigades captured the whole district of Harib from the Houthis in Marib following days of intense battles and intensified airstrikes, according to local military sources.

They said the Houthis lost other key areas besides Harib as the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are continuing military progress in the strategic province.

Given the numerous losses, senior Houthi leaders have launch more cross-border missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In response, the Saudi-led coalition intensified its aerial bombardment and expanded airstrikes against the Houthi-held sites across the poorest country in the Arab world.

On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition reported that 70 Houthi militia members were killed within 24 hours as part of 24 targeted strikes in Yemen's Marib.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthis forced him into exile.
Seoul, Jan 31 : A one-on-one debate between South Korean ruling party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was scrapped on Monday as the two sides failed to narrow their differences over the rules.

The conservative People Power Party (PPP) said it failed to reach an agreement with the ruling Democratic Party (DP) even after rounds of negotiations over details of their first two-way debate, scheduled for Monday night, before having an expanded debate with two minor contenders on Thursday, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"It seems impossible to hold the debate now," said Rep. Sung Il-jong, the PPP's chief negotiator, saying his DP counterpart did not respond to his call to talk earlier in the day.

Whether candidates are required to participate in the debate without reference materials has emerged as a thorny issue during negotiations, although the two sides agreed to hold a free debate with no restrictions on topics.

While the DP suggested neither candidate use materials during the debate, the PPP insisted on using reference materials related to Lee's alleged connection to a massive development corruption scandal.

Meanwhile, minor candidates Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party and Sim Sang-jeung of the Justice Party launched separate sit-ins at the National Assembly to protest the planned one-on-one debate.

The two had sought injunctions to stop the three major TV stations from hosting a Lee-Yoon debate, and the injunctions were granted by two courts last week.

Following the courts' decisions, the PPP proposed a two-way debate without the involvement of the broadcasters.

The DP consented while also demanding Yoon's participation in a four-way debate.

The presidential election is scheduled to be held on March 9.
Los Angeles, Jan 31 : Hollywood star Jared Leto has received a mixed reaction to his portrayal of Paolo Gucci in the film 'House of Gucci', but shared that he never reads reviews so the only thing that matters is he "had a blast" making the movie and is happy just to have sparked a reaction.

He told Screendaily: "I can imagine (the reaction) because it's a big swing. I don't look at reviews, I don't look at critics or read comments, but I tried my very best. Paolo is the best I can do. If you don't like the work, that's OK.

"I had a blast playing it, I dug in as deep as I could. It's also that thing of if you're not p****** people off then you're doing something wrong.

"As an actor, if you want to put a dent in things you got to break things a bit, and not everyone's going to understand that. So if that's happening, then great." While Leto likes to immerse himself into his roles, he thinks people misunderstand his process and it is just "practical" to be as prepared for his work as possible, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

He said: "'Method acting', 'staying in character', I just reject those terms because they have been perverted by a bunch of morons who don't know what they are talking about.

"For me it's practical. It's my job to be the most prepared person on the planet and be ready to go. You don't want to step onto a set with Denzel Washington or Denis Villeneuve or Al Pacino and not be prepared.

"I enjoy disappearing into that part. There's nothing strange about it. What's strange is people's interpretation of my art. Everyone has a method."
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Nearly six crore rural households have been provided tap water connection despite constraints imposed by the pandemic under the 'Har Ghar Jal' as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday.

"The efforts made under 'Har Ghar Jal' and the Jal Jeevan Mission have brought about a huge difference in the lives of the people. With nearly six crore rural households provided tap water connection, it has hugely benefited the women, sisters and daughters in our villages," President Kovind said in his speech on the first day of the Budget session.

Stating that his government is also working sincerely for rain water conservation, he said, special campaigns are being implemented for creation of rain water harvesting infrastructure and restoration of traditional water sources in the country.

Sixty-four lakh Ha land with irrigation facilities has also been developed in the country with the help of various projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and Atal Bhujal Yojana, he said.

The President also said that this government has also taken forward the plans for interlinking of rivers. "Recently, the Ken-Betwa link project to be completed at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore has also been approved. This project will be helpful in ending the water crisis in Bundelkhand," he pointed out.

In the field of rural development, the President said, his government considers provision of basic amenities as a means of "empowering the poor and enhancing their dignity." More than 2 crore pucca houses were provided to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana over the last few years, he said, adding, "Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) 1.17 crore houses have been approved at a cost of about Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the last three years," he said.

He also said, under the Svamitva scheme, so far, more than 40 lakh property cards have been issued in 27,000 villages under this scheme. "These property cards are not only preventing disputes but are also assisting rural population in accessing banking support," he said.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions for the Centre and Delhi government to submit their plans to contain the pandemic, in view of the rising cases of the Omicron variant, including the preparedness for Oxygen and other essential items.

Hearing the plea, the bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh said the present situation of the pandemic is getting better in the national capital. "We are dealing with a declining number of cases now, hospital beds are vacant and you are filing this frivolous petition now," the court said.

Following the court's refusal of the plea, Adv Rudra Vikram Singh withdrew the petition.

With the plea, Congress leader Jagdish Sharma had approached the court through Adv Rudra Vikram Singh and Adv Manish Kumar, seeking postponement of the upcoming Assembly elections in five states. Seeking direction from the Election Commission to postpone the polls for some months, the plea also prayed for a mandatory quarantine of people returning from poll-bound States.

The plea contended that the Head of the World Health Organisation has already warned all the countries that Omicron is more transmissible and more resistant to treatment than other variants. "Dr Tedros of the WHO warned that while Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as 'mild'," it read.

It stated that the country has faced two variants of COVID-19 in the last two years and the country has lost 4,84,213 lives due to COVID-19 as per government record.
Chennai, Jan 31 : Ashwin Saravanan, who is directing the Nayanthara-starrer 'Connect', has married his co-writer Kaavya Ramkumar in a simple ceremony that was attended by close friends and family at a temple at Acharapakkam.

Talking to IANS, the young director, who has delivered critically acclaimed hits like 'Maya' and 'Game Over', said: "We got married at a small temple in Acharapakkam on Thursday. The place is on the way from Chennai to Pondicherry. What we had originally planned was for an event to which we could invite everyone. However, the pandemic forced us to keep pushing the event. Eventually, both families felt that we should have a simple wedding first and then later have a reception when things become normal." Talking about Kaavya, the director said: "Kaavya is a doctor by profession. She also used to write short stories which she would put out on the web. I liked those stories and got in touch with her to see if we could work together. We worked on 'Game Over' and felt our relationship was very comfortable." The director also announced his wedding on Twitter. Posting pictures of their wedding, he said: "It started with pen and paper. It has ended in poetry Heart suit Kaavya Ramkumar, thank you for riding out the storm with me every single time. Doing this with you, especially during the third wave, was an adventure by itself."
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Congress on Monday raised concern on the Presidential address to the joint session of parliament and said that the President did not mention China and Pakistan, the two fronts on which India is engaged and also said that there was no mention of the killings in Nagaland.

The Congress said that the government has not tendered apology on the Covid deaths and questioned why there is no mention of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "Not a word on the China/Pak/Two Front situation. No regret on massacre of Civilians in Nagaland. No announcement on restoring statehood of J&K. Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, its terror implications on India obfuscated. No apology for Deaths in second COVID wave." The Congress is upset that the government is facing a challenge at the LAC with China and reports are that China is building infrastructure at Arunachal Borders. The party wanted the President to outline the government's efforts on that front.

Though the President mentioned the government's diplomatic outreach in the world, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said that India has strengthened its standing in the rapidly evolving global environment through improvement in diplomatic relations.

Addressing the joint sitting of two houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, President Kovind said, "India has strengthened its standing in the rapidly evolving global environment through improvement in diplomatic relations. India chaired the United Nations Security Council in August 2021 and took several path breaking decisions." President Kovind mentioned that the Security Council under the presidency of India held a comprehensive debate on the issue of maritime security. "Under the presidency of India, for the first time, the Security Council held a comprehensive debate on the issue of maritime security. The Security Council, for the first time, adopted a Presidential Statement on this subject, and did so unanimously," he said.

Talking about the prevailing situation in the neighbourhood, the President said, "We have witnessed instability and volatility in our neighbouring country, Afghanistan. In spite of the prevailing situation, true to the spirit of humanity, India launched Operation Devi Shakti." "Despite the challenging conditions, we successfully airlifted a number of our citizens and many Afghan Hindu and Sikh minorities from Kabul. We also brought back two swaroops of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib safely amidst difficult situations. From the humanitarian point of view, India is helping Afghanistan by delivering medical supplies and food-grain," President Kovind said.

Mentioning about the government's efforts to bring back stolen artefacts, he said, "It has also been a priority of the government that the priceless heritage of India should be brought back to the country. The idol of Maa Annapurna Devi, which was stolen from India a hundred years ago, has been brought back and installed in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Many such historical artefacts are being brought back to India from different countries."
Mumbai, Jan 31 : Actress Aakansha Singh will be seen portraying the character of Hena Shahab, the wife of convicted gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin in the upcoming web series 'Rangbaaz'.

According to a source close to the development, the actress is currently shooting in Lucknow for the same and the role is something very different from anything that Aakanksha has ever had before.

"The story and her character is inspired by Hena Shahab, the wife of gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, and the actress is leaving no stone unturned to nail her part," the source informs.

"She is doing extensive research at her end by reading everything there is about Hena and is also watching her interviews and seeing videos available on her. Aakanksha still has a few days of shoot left in Lucknow but she is really thrilled about this revolutionary part," the source further added.

Aakansha will next be seen in Ajay Devgn-starrer 'Runway 34', which also features Amitabh Bachchan and Rakul Preet Singh.
Canberra, Jan 31 : Popular support for the Australian government has slumped to its lowest level in more than three years, according to a latest poll.

According to the first Newspoll of 2022, which was published by News Corp Australia on Sunday night, the opposition Labor Party leads the governing Coalition 56-44 on a two-party preferred basis, reports Xinhua news agency.

It represents a six-point shift from Labor's 53-47 lead in the last poll of 2021 and represents the opposition's biggest lead over the government since September 2018.

The poll found that primary support for Labor has increased to 41 per cent while the Coalition's vote fell to 34 per cent -- the lowest figure since August 2018 when Prime Minister Scott Morrison deposed his predecessor Malcolm Turnbul as the Coalition leader.

The poll revealed widespread frustration with the federal government's handling of the Omicron variant led Covid-19 wave.

Morrison's net approval rating, which is calculated by subtracting the disapproval rating from the approval rating, collapsed 11 points to -19, the lowest since early 2020.

His lead over Labor leader Anthony Albanese as voters' preferred PM fell from 9 points in December to just 2.

Despite the poor result for the Coalition, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declared Morrison was the right person to lead the government to the election.

"Scott Morrison has done a really really good job, in very, very difficult times and he will be the first Prime Minister to go to an election after serving a full term since John Howard," he told the media on Monday.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Supreme Court on Monday protected Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia from arrest in a drugs case till February 23.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana told the Punjab government counsel to advise his government to refrain from launching criminal cases against the political opponents, just before the election. The top court directed Majithia to surrender on February 24 before the trial court and seek regular bail.

Senior advocate P. Chidambaram, representing the Punjab government, submitted before the bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli, that Punjab is sinking under drug trade and the youth are in danger. He added that it is a case of international drug racket and there have been money transactions, where Majithia mediated, and pressed for his custodial interrogation.

The Chief Justice told Chidambaram there is an allegation that it is a politically motivated case and asked, when will the elections get over? He pointed at a mentioning of another case of an MLA from Punjab, where he cited a case registered against him and claimed that he was not allowed to file nomination. The Chief Justice added that suddenly such cases come up before the election, and the court does not mean that the government should not crack down on the drug mafia.

"Let him file nomination and campaign, once it is over he will surrender before the police... and apply for regular bail", said the bench.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Majithia, submitted that for six years there were thorough probes and nothing was found against his client.

Majithia, the brother-n-law of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, is in the fray for the February 20 assembly polls from Majitha, near Amritsar. He had moved the high court after a Mohali court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act registered on December 20.

In a 49-page FIR filed by the state police Crime Branch at the Mohali police station, the SAD leader has been booked under sections 25, 27A and 29 of the NDPS Act.
Chennai, Jan 31 : Parents of school students in Tamil Nadu seem to divided on reopening of schools on February 1 with one section expessing apprehension over it while the other is hailing the government's decision.

Sudhirbabu, father of a grade 9 student of a private school at Ashok Nagar, Chennai while speaking to IANS said: "These days several people are turning positive but they are not taking the tests and treating themselves with medicines for cold and fever and getting it reduced. In such a situation, how can we send our children to school?" There are also parents who disagree with the decision of the government to open schools for primary classes students as well.

Sudhamani, mother of a Class 3 student at Madurai, said: "Am not able to decide whether to send my daughter to school or not. The Government should have spared the small children as you cannot expect them to maintain social distancing or wear masks in schools. With so many Covid cases still being reported, I am really worried." Tamil Nadu Private School teachers association, Erode district secretary, Velmurugan while speaking to IANS said that the government is reopening schools based on a recommendation from medical doctors. Doctors will not give recommendations to the government unless they are confident that the spread will be either limited or not there.

Meanwhile, there is confusion on whether to commence classes only offline or to provide an option of online classes along with offline classes. However, the teacher's associations said that the teachers would be burdened heavily if both the offline and online classes are held together.

However, some parents are happy that the schools are reopening. Muthumani. G, mother of a 12th class student at Salem said, "I am happy that the classes are commencing for the 12th standard students. My son is always into tab and laptop and whenever we ask him, he will speak about the syllabus and classes but in reality, he is making use of this opportunity and playing games. With schools reopening he will have to attend classes compulsorily and this is a good sign. He has also taken one dose of the vaccine and I am not worried."
Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha police has arrested a woman for her alleged involvement in misappropriation of Rs 100 crore loan taken from various financial institutions, officials said here on Monday.

The accused person is Amrita Kindo, managing director of Diya Diary Agro Processor Pvt. Ltd. She was arrested and forwarded to the local court here on Sunday, and remanded to judicial custody.

Though the arrest was made on the basis of a Rs 5 crore loan fraud case registered against Sambandh Finserve Pvt. Ltd, it was found during investigation that the firm had collected over Rs 100 crore from various finance institutions and misappropriated the same, the police officials said.

As per the complaint, accused Deepak Kindo, MD of Sambandh Finserve Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar had fraudulently availed loan to the tune of Rs 5 crore from Annapurna Finance Pvt. Ltd. on the basis of forged documents and misappropriated the same without refunding the amount.

During course of investigation, the police found that the accused company (Sambandh Finserve Pvt. Ltd.), during the period from 2015-2020, in a similar manner had raised funds of more than Rs. 100 crores from different investors/ lenders like DCB Bank, SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), BOPA PTE Ltd. (a Singapore-based company) and DIA Vikash Capital Pvt. Ltd. etc and misappropriated the same by diverting the amounts to their sister concerns.

The present accused Amrita Kindo is the wife of Dipak Kindo and the director of Diya Diary Agro Processor Pvt. Ltd., a sister concern of Sambandh Finserve Pvt. Ltd.

During the 2017 to 2020, out of the loan amounts availed by the accused company, an amount of Rs 22.72 crore have been diverted to the accounts of Diya Diary Agro Processor Pvt. Ltd and misappropriated, the police further said.

Notably, the Hyderabad police had arrested Dipak Kindo from Odisha in July last year in connection with a cheating case.
Sydney, Jan 31 : The BA.2 sub variant of Omicron may not increase infection numbers as the original strain or Delta, instead quietly replace Omicron, Australian scientists have said.

According to them, while BA.2, is more transmissible than the original strain there is no evidence that its more vaccine-evasive, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The subvariant BA.2 is one of at least three sub-lineages of Omicron.

The virus is found in about 2 per cent of local samples and has started to gain a serious foothold in England, India and Denmark, where it has out-competed Omicron and now makes up most viruses sampled.

"That does seem to suggest there is an intrinsic transmissibility advantage," Dr Adam Wheatley, who heads a research team studying the immune response to Covid-19 at the University of Melbourne was quoted as saying.

However, the high level of similarity between Omicron and BA.2 probably means that it would not cause a huge wave of disease as did Delta and Omicron, Wheatley said.

"Instead, BA.2 is likely to slowly replace Omicron, much as a variant known as D614G quietly replaced the version of the virus that emerged from Wuhan in the middle of 2020," he explained.

"Nothing ominous has come out so far. There is no reason to panic," added Professor Seshadri Vasan, who has been tracking Covid-19's variants at the CSIRO.

Further, evidence from a small number of Omicron infections tracked by British health authorities suggests BA.2's "secondary attack rate" - the chance of an infected person passing the virus on to someone else in the household - is 13.4 per cent, compared with 10.3 per cent for Omicron, the report said.

A preliminary data released by UK Health Security Agency suggests a two-dose course of vaccine provides essentially no protection against catching either Omicron or BA.2 But a booster dose provides strong protection. Data on how effectively vaccines prevent serious illness from BA.2 is not yet in.

"The take-home message is: if you are not vaccinated, please go and get that first dose. And if you are double-vaccinated, please go and book a booster," Vasan was quoted as saying.
Lucknow, Jan 31 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called upon first-time voters to support the BJP in forming the government again so that their aspirations can be fulfilled.

Addressing the first virtual rally for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Prime Minister said: "Uttar Pradesh is working towards ensuring its progress. The Yogi government is making sure that all benefits of our schemes percolate down to the last beneficiary. The number of houses we built for the poor has risen to 800 in Baghpat in the previous government to 33,000 in the same district in Yogi regime." The Prime Minister came down heavily against the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government on the law-and-order issue.

"Five years ago, there was the 'dabbang' and 'dangai' in Uttar Pradesh. The mafia ruled the state and women and girls could not move out safely. When the riots took place here (Muzaffarnagar), some people were enjoyed an 'utsav'. The land of the poor, Dalits, OBCs and deprived sections were forcibly taken away," he said.

He further said that when BJP came to power here, it was with the resolve to serve people.

"Yogi Adityanath has dealt with the mafia and made them understand the meaning of law. Today, the same people are using all their force to bring back a government that remains favourable to them. Today, employees, farmers, traders are all safe and secure.

The Prime Minister said that the double engine governments in Lucknow and Delhi had taken a lead to address the aspirations of the youth.

"We have new avenues for jobs and career building-from medical colleges, universities to IITs. A number of industries have come to Uttar Pradesh and this will ensure more jobs. The defence corridor and other projects will create new employment," he stated.

The Prime Minister said that the ban on triple talaq had brought immense relief to Muslim women, adding that his government had raised the marriageable age of girls to 21 years so that they could study further and make their career.

Lauding the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the Prime Minister said that the BJP was being opposed by those who are arrogant and cater to the rich.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain in the month of October, 2021, and said that the Delhi government has helped them recoup the loss, January 31, 2022.( Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain in the month of October, 2021, and said that the Delhi government has helped them recoup the loss, January 31, 2022.( Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain in the month of October, 2021, and said that the Delhi government has helped them recoup the loss, January 31, 2022.( Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 31 : Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain in the month of October, 2021, and said that the Delhi government has helped them recoup the loss.

"Farmer's crops in Delhi were destroyed due to unseasonal rain in the month of October. We have provided a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre to them. We did not do much calculation while compensating the farmers, if the loss was assessed to be 70 per cent or less, compensation was paid at the rate of 70 per cent. If the assessed loss was more than 70 per cent, compensation was paid at the rate of 100 per cent," he tweeted in Hindi.

The chief minister further said that from Monday onwards, they have started recouping farmers' loss. "By providing them with a financial assistance of Rs 20,000 per acre, Delhi is paying the highest compensation amount across the nation," he tweeted, adding that they have handed over cheques amounting to Rs 2.5 lakh or 3 lakh.

"Other states make fun of farmers by compensating their loss with a cheque of Rs 5 or 10," Kejriwal added.

On January 28, the Delhi Cabinet approved an ex-gratia relief to farmers at the rate of Rs 20,000 per acre on account of loss due to unseasonal rains during September-October 2021.

The cabinet had 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 crores for an approximate area of 29,000 acre.

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 the justice they deserve.
Chandigarh, Jan 31 : Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday set the ball rolling for his party's electoral debut with a call to party workers to take on the mantle to save the state's future from nefarious interests, while accusing the Congress of fighting these Assembly elections on his government's achievements of four-and-a-half years.

Addressing PLC workers after filing his nomination papers from Patiala Urban, the former chief minister trashed Charanjit Channi's tall claims of delivering on the Congress promises in 111 days, pointing out that everything that he was claiming as his personal achievement "was accomplished by my government, including creation of jobs, action social welfare schemes, free bus travel for women and farmers' debt waiver." Even in the sacrilege and drugs cases, in which he was accused of failing to take action as a pretext to remove him from chief ministership, it was his government that had initiated strong steps to take matters head on, pointed out Capt Amarinder. His government, he noted, had fought hard, right up to the Supreme Court, to get the sacrilege cases back from the CBI, leading to 19 officers, including ex-DGP Sumedh Saini, being booked.

As for the drugs cases, the PLC leader declared that it was his government that successfully broke the backbone of the drugs mafia, leading to the arrest of more than 40,000, including many big fish.

But it would be naive to believe that drugs can be completely wiped out anywhere in the world, and more so in a border state like Punjab where Pakistan was pushing in drugs almost every day, he added.

Pointing to the unequivocal support he had extended to the farmers during their agitation, the former chief minister said despite blockades at 137 places across the state his government had taken no action as he was cognizant of the concerns of the farmers.

Lauding the eventual revocation of the farm laws, he noted that never had it happened before that the prime minister of a country had apologised for any policy decision, as was done by Narendra Modi while withdrawing the legislations.

Promising to change the face of Punjab with the support of the government at the Centre, led by PLC ally - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the former chief minister said with the Narendra Modi government set to remain at the Centre for at least another seven years, PLC could transform the state with their support if voted to power.

"Punjab's economy is in a bad shape, it is reeling under huge debt, and needs financial support from the Centre, he stressed, adding that the future of the state's students, youth, farmers and others was at stake and need close Centre-State coordination to save.

His government gave 22 lakh jobs, education standards were raised, the state got Rs 1 lakh crore worth of industrial investment in four-and-a-half years, but much more was needed to be done to put Punjab back to being number one in the country, said Capt Amarinder.

Inaugurating his party office in Patiala, Capt Amarinder said, as in the past, he was leaving the fight for this seat to the workers here, while he would go into battle for PLC and its allies in other parts of the state.

Earlier, Union Minister and BJP poll in-charge for Punjab, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who accompanied Capt Amarinder at the filing of the nomination papers, asserted that the BJP-PLC alliance will make history in all 117 seats, including Patiala, since the security of the state and the country were paramount for the people of Punjab.
Islamabad, Jan 31 : The Christian community in Peshawar has shut down all educational institutions and churches after a pastor was shot dead by armed assailants.

As per details shared by police authorities, William Siraj, who was a pastor at a church within the Chamkani police station limits, was with his fellow priest at the Ring Road area on Sunday, when the unknown assailants opened fire.

Siraj died on the spot, while the accompanying priestwas later taken to the Lady Reading hospital.

"The incident occurred near Ring Road within Gulbahar police station limits. A heavy police contingent had reached the scene and a search operation was carried out. Evidence was collected from the crime scene and CCTV cameras are also being checked," a statement issued by the police authorities said.

"The body had been shifted to the hospital for conducting an autopsy while further investigation was underway." As per initial details of the investigation, at least two assailants were involved in the incident, which the police have termed it as a terrorist attack.

"Attack on the Christian community was tragic. A comprehensive investigation has been launched. It can be said that members of the minority community were targeted. So, it was a terrorist act," said Abbas Ahsan, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO).

"We are determined to protect minorities. A team consisting of officials from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Peshawar police had been formed to probe the case," he added.

The attack carries sensitive importance, as the Christian community, which has been living in various parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has not faced any major threat in the past.

"Terrorism that targets anyone, especially for their faith, is heinous and must be fought against with the full force of a clear, concerted policy and state power. No compromise, no equivocation," said Senator Sherry Rehman, a leader from the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The attack has raised several questions on the increasing intolerance against religious minorities in Pakistan.

Recent reports have indicated that the level of intolerance by religious extremist groups have increased in the country, raising serious concerns over the Imran Khan government's competence and capabilities to ensure security and safety of minorities in the country.
Chennai, Jan 31 : Tamil film producer K.T. Kunjumon, who is making a comeback to film production with 'Gentleman 2', will announce the winners of the contest he had held earlier this month on Tuesday.

On January 22, the producer had announced a contest for film buffs saying that three fans who could correctly guess the name of the music director of his upcoming film 'Gentleman 2' would get a gold coin each.

While the director had disclosed that music director M.M. Keeravani would be scoring the music for 'Gentleman 2' the next day, he said the names of the winners of the contest would be disclosed later.

Now, trustworthy sources say that the winners of the contest would be announced on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Kunjumon, who is known for having produced a number of blockbusters in Tamil, including the Prabhu Deva-starrer 'Kadhalan' and 'Kadhal Desam' with Vineeth and Abbas, is credited with having introduced Shankar as a director with 'Gentleman' (1993).
Ahead of Republic Day, Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a key member of an interstate illegal arms supply racket and also confiscated 35 pistols along with 60 live cartridges from his possession. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi Police Special Cell has busted an inter-state illegal firearms syndicate and arrested one person in this connection, a Police official said on Monday.

The accused, identified as 60-year-old Kasim Ali, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district, was booked under stringent section 25(8) of the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019, in which there is provision of a minimum jail sentence of 10 years which can be extended to life imprisonment.

Furnishing details about the case, Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Jasmeet Singh said the Police were already making efforts to identify the members of the syndicate which was involved in procuring weapons from Sendhwa, Khargone, Dhar and Burhanpur (Madhya Pradesh) and supplying them in Delhi-NCR.

"A team of Special Cell was having information about the illegal activities of arms trafficking in Delhi-NCR by the accused Kasim in association with his associates," the DCP added.

A tip-off was received on January 29 that Kasim would come at a specified location in the city to deliver firearms and ammunition to one of his contacts.

Accordingly, a trap was laid and the accused was apprehended.

"During the search by police, seven semi-automatic pistols of .32 calibre, three single-shot pistols of .315 and 20 live cartridges that is, 14 cartridges of .32 bore pistol and six of .315 were recovered from the accused' bag," the official informed.

During interrogation, Kasim disclosed that he had received the pistols and cartridges from an arms manufacturer-cum-supplier in Badwani district of Madhya Pradesh.

The accused revealed that he has been supplying illegal firearms and ammunition in Delhi-NCR, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh for the last 15 years.

According to the police, Kasim used to get pistols from Madhya Pradesh at a lower price and supply them at a higher price to gangsters and criminals in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

He also revealed that he has supplied more than 500 firearms in Delhi-NCR during the last three years.
Canberra, Jan 31 : Schools in Australia's worst-hit states by the Covid-19 pandemic are on track to reopen from Monday amid the surge of infections.

The state of Victoria reported 10,053 new cases and another eight deaths on Monday. There are 873 patients being treated in hospitals, reports Xinhua news agency.

As students in the state set to return for Term 1 this week, all staff and students are encouraged to practice Covid-19 safe measures.

Surveillance testing will be strongly recommended in education settings.

Victoria Deputy Premier and Education Minister James Merlino said more than 6 million rapid antigen tests will be delivered by Monday.

Students in Grade 3 and above are required to wear masks indoors. Teachers will be required to wear masks at all times when not actively teaching or communicating with students.

School staff who have not had a third dose of Covid-19 vaccine also have been warned that they must be jabbed by mid-March.

Meanwhile, Premier of New South Wales (NSW) state Dominic Perrottet said on Monday that parents in the state are set to get a A$500 ($350) voucher for each primary school child to help with school care costs.

"We know that parents, this pandemic has been incredibly tough, balancing homeschooling with work, we want to do whatever we can to the daily job," said Perrottet.

As the epicentre of Australia's current wave of pandemic, NSW recorded 13,026 cases and 27 deaths on Monday with 2,779 hospitalisations.

The state of Queensland, where students will return to school from February 7, also revealed its back-to-school plan last week.

Masks will be mandatory for high school students and "strongly encouraged" from Grade 3 upwards.

Queensland will not, as NSW and Victoria, require regular Covid-19 tests of school kids, but rapid antigen test kits will be available to parents if their children show symptoms.

If parents aren't comfortable administering the test, they can take their kids to a state testing clinic, where they'll receive priority treatment so they don't have to queue.
Patna, Jan 31 : Patna police have arrested a sexual predator who used Pub-G to befriend a girl and sexually assaulted her for 4 years, an official said on Monday.

The victim is a native of Bhojpur district and currently residing in Ranipur locality under Phulwari Sharif police station in Patna.

The police said that the victim came in contact with the accused Ritik Raj while playing Pub-G, four years ago. Then they started interacting on phone as well as meeting in person at different locations in Patna.

"The accused convinced the victim that he was in love with her and managed to establish a physical relationship. The accused also hacked the victim's social media accounts using AnyDesk software and threatened to upload their intimate videos on it. He was blackmailing and forcing her to come at his place and give sexual favour," said Rafikur Rahman, SHO of Phulwari Sharif police station.

The victim, miffed with Ritik Raj, finally decided to give a written complaint in the police station. She went to Phulwari Sharif police station and registered an FIR against him on Sunday.

Following the complaint, we have arrested the accused. During the scan of his mobile phone, over 100 nude videos were found. We have also recovered marijuana and manforce tablets from his possession," the SHO said.

The accused is a resident of Dhanaut locality under Rupaspur police station in Patna.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 31 : With the Ordinance to tweak the Lokayukta guidelines now gathering heat in Kerala, on Monday the Congress party filed a breach of privilege against State Finance Minister P. Rajeev and CPI-M State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for their statement that the present Lokayukta directives are unconstitutional.

The Congress party has been attacking the government against the manner in which Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan early this month while presiding a cabinet meeting from his hospital bed in the US, decided to float an Ordinance tweaking Lokayukta's crucial powers. A few days later a Congress delegation met Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and told him that moving forward with this extremely regressive legislation will render the Lokayukta toothless and asked him not to do so.

When this became an issue, Rajeev told the media that the Kerala High Court has ruled that certain guidelines in the Lokayukta Bill passed in 1999 by the then Left government headed by E.K. Nayanar was unconstitutional.

Balakrishnan also mentioned the same in his article lashing out at the Congress opposition for raking up a non-issue and also mentioned the Bill that his party's government then passed was unconstitutional.

It was against this Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan moved a breach of privilege against the two top leaders of the CPI-M, after it was pointed out that there were no such court directives at all and hence it was a breach of privilege of the members of the Assembly.

The second biggest ally of the Pinarayi Vijayan government - the CPI's state secretary Kanam Rajendran also expressed surprise and said there was no need for this undue haste, when the assembly is all set to be convened.
Patna, Jan 31 : Uttar Pradesh police has handed over the names of 87 criminals of Bihar who are wanted in the poll bound state, an official said.

Sanjay Singh, ADGP law and order of Bihar (headquarters), has directed the SPs and SSPs of the concerned districts to ensure their arrest as soon as possible. The department is committed to take action against them in order to conduct a peaceful election in Uttar Pradesh, he said.

The maximum number of criminals are native of Bhagalpur and Kosi range of Bihar. Besides, some criminals also belong to Siwan, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Bhojpur and other districts.

"The accused are booked under gangster act, murder, loot, dacoity, rape, kidnapping, extortion and other heinous crimes they have committed in the districts of Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh police have asked for help from us and we are committed to it," Singh said.

"We have directed the SPs and SSPs of districts concerned to arrest them. The accused belong to 23 districts of the state," he said.
Chennai, Jan 31 : The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged suicide of a class 12 girl student at a Christian missionary school in Thanjavur district.

The girl had allegedly committed suicide on January 19.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan ordered the probe following a petition filed by the father of the girl who alleged that the Christian missionary school in Thanjavur had forced her daughter to do household chores after she refused to convert to Christianity.

The girl's father alleged that after she completed her class 10 from the school, the school had tried to compel him and his wife to agree to convert their daughter to Christianity.

The victim's father said that both he and his wife had refused and this led to the hostel warden forcing his daughter to do household chores in the hostel, including washing clothes and other utensils.

The girl's father said that she was forced to clean the school campus and was not even allowed to visit her house during holidays.

The victim's father in his petition requested for a CBI probe into the matter as the physical and mental torture inflicted by the school authorities had led to the suicide of his daughter.

He told the court that a CBI probe would bring to light the conditions that led to the suicide of his daughter, including how the school authorities were forcing children from poor sections of society to convert to Christianity.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan in his order said that it was not fair for the state investigating agencies to conduct an inquiry into the death of the girl and ordered a CBI probe into the matter.

Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai had alleged that the school was indulging in forced religious conversions and that the girl died because she was forced to convert. Hindu Munnani and the RSS had also demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : Actress Samantha's upcoming mythology-based movie 'Shakuntalam', which is directed by Gunasekhar is in its final leg of the post-production phase now.

Producer Neelima Guna, who had a chat with her Instagram followers on Sunday, revealed that there are a series of updates coming up, one of which is Samantha Ruth Prabhu's first look poster.

Neelima had a chat with her Instagram fans, who had asked her for an update on Samantha's first look poster, to which she replied, "Very soon." "We have plans to release a series of updates. We can't wait to show off Samantha's first look from the movie," she wrote.

When quizzed about the 'Shakuntalam' release date, she said that the magnum opus will be released soon this year. The young producer also announced that the 'Shakuntalam' team has planned to release the first single from the movie.

"We are working to release the first single soon," she added.

"The first look will be out first. Other updates will follow," Neelima's message said.

As one of Samantha's fans asked Neelima to describe Samantha, she wrote, "Beautiful, hardworking, resilient, passionate and an absolutely brilliant actor -- our Shakuntala." 'Shakuntalam' is expected to be released soon, as the post-production work is going on at a high pace.

Starring Samantha as the queen, Dev Mohan plays King Dushyanta, while Allu Arjun's six-year-old daughter, Allu Arha will be seen as Prince Bharata. Kabir Duhan Singh will play King Asura.
As part of its Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Strategy 2020, from 24 to 28 January 2022 the World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully conducted a Regional Accreditation Workshop in the WCO West and Central Africa (WCA) region for Technical Operational Advisers (TOAs) in the IPR field. The Workshop, held in Lome (Togo), was made possible thanks to financial support from the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF/Japan).

Ten Customs officers from eight WCA region administrations, namely Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Cote dIvoire, Benin, Gabon, Cameroon and Togo, participated in the Workshop and demonstrated their skills in the IPR field, with the goal of becoming WCO Accredited Experts.

This event was aimed at establishing a pool of French-speaking TOAs in the IPR field, capable of independently conducting IPR workshops on behalf of the WCO. The WCA region has always been strategically important for Customs enforcement of IPR at borders. As such, it was chosen to host this Workshop in response to the growing number of requests for technical assistance by WCA Customs administrations which are faced with ever more sophisticated counterfeiting and piracy methods.

The TOA accreditation process comprises two phases. The first phase consists of organizing a workshop to identify participants with a high degree of potential. The second phase consists of inviting the candidates selected during the first phase to participate in a field mission, in order to assess their ability to facilitate capacity-building activities in the IPR domain. Only participants having successfully completed the workshop phase can proceed to the field mission phase. Once fully accredited, the Accredited Experts are expected to facilitate IPR-related missions and offer practical advice to Members wishing to enhance their IPR enforcement measures and capabilities.

During the five-day intensive Workshop, participants demonstrated their IPR knowledge and skills through a range of exercises, including presentations, discussions and role-play. The entire event was facilitated jointly by three Experts from the WCO Secretariat, one providing support on site in Lome and other two providing support remotely from WCO Headquarters in Brussels.

This Workshop was the first of its kind held outside Brussels in 2022 as part of the IPR, Health and Safety Programme.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's lawyer Anand Daga and his social media manager Vaibhav Gajendra Tumane in connection with a case related to leaking of confidential documents to divert the probe against Deshmukh in a corruption case.

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal has granted bail to them.

Opposing the bail plea, the CBI argued that Tumane was the one who collected the sensitive report from lawyer Daga, prepared its copies, and sent them through courier to various addresses in Delhi.

As per the FIR, Investigating Officer Abhishek Tiwari, who was assisting the Enquiry Officer in the preparation of the probe report, was in possession of sensitive documents.

He allegedly shared copies of different documents like memorandum of proceedings, sealing-unsealing memorandum, statements, seizure memos etc., related to the investigation of the case with Daga through WhatsApp on many occasions.

The CBI said that the investigation has revealed that Abhishek Tiwari and Anand Dilip Daga met in Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune in person, and had been in regular touch through WhatsApp calls and messages and SMS after April 14 last year.

The probe has revealed that Deshmukh's lawyer Anand Daga had bought an iPhone worth Rs 95,000 for CBI official Abhishek Tiwari and gave it to him as illegal gratification in lieu of sharing case sensitive and confidential documents.

SI Abhishek Tiwari and lawyer Anand Daga have been arrested in connection with a separate case in relation to the scam.

The CBI had arrested Daga from Mumbai and Tiwari from Delhi. Later, Daga was shifted to a Delhi court on transit remand.
Jaipur, Jan 31 : Amid the rising demand for cancellation of REET 2021 exams trending on social media handles, the state SOG arrested Jaipur's District Coordinator for REET 2021 Pradeep Parashar on Sunday night after the RBSE chairman DP Jaroli was sacked on Saturday in the REET cheating case.

Meanwhile, the opposition has attacked the Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle and has said that senior officials of the organisation were given the charge of REET 2021.

Leader of opposition Gulabchand Kataria and Rajya Sabha MP Kirorilal Meena made serious allegations against the NGO Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle and alleged that people associated with this organisation are the masterminds of the crime.

Meena said that the people associated with the Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle are the masterminds of the paper leak.

Kataria meanwhile said that Subhash Garg, state minister, is national coordinator of the NGO. Jaroli, sacked as RBSE chairman, is a member of its advisory committee. Pradeep Parashar who was appointed as coordinator for REET 2021 from Jaipur district is also regional coordinator. He said that at a time when the Chief Minister himself is a chairman for this organisation, it is difficult for the SOG to undertake a thorough investigations in a transparent manner and hence the probe should be handed over to the CBI.

Meanwhile CM Ashok Gehlot formed a high level committee late night on Sunday to examine and suggest ways for recruitment agencies and examination bodies to hold exams in a safe and fair manner.

The panel will be headed by retired judge Vijay Kumar Vyas, former chairman of RPSC Mahendra Kumawat along with principal secretary of personnel. This committee has been asked to submit its report in 45 days.

The SOG shall now interrogate Parashar and DP Jarauli face to face.

ADG SOG Ashok Rathod said that the results of those candidates who have passed REET with the help of copying, will be cancelled after collecting details. All such candidates will be disqualified and legal action shall be taken against them. Till date, the SOG has arrested 13 such people.

Earlier, during investigation, it was found that Pradeep Parashar had passed the paper from the strongroom of the education complex to the copying gang including Bhajanlal, Prithvilal Meena.

The SOG has started scrutinizing the call records of the accused, namely Bhajanlal, Ramkripal Meena, Udram Bishnoi and Pradeep Parashar.

Based on Bhajanlal's call records, the SOG has also sought data of some candidates from the REET office in Ajmer. Now these REET candidates will be investigated and questioned by the SOG.
Chennai, Jan 31 : K. Annamalai, the President of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, said on Monday that the saffron party would contest the upcoming urban local body polls on its own.

The party, according to Annamalai, would field its candidates in all the constituencies of the state, as BJP functionaries want the party to contest a larger number of seats.

However, the state BJP chief said that the alliance with AIADMK would continue for the 2024 General elections just like in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and the 2021 Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference here, Annamalai said that BJP does not have any problems with senior AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam and E.K. Palaniswami, adding added that BJP's national leaders have approved of the stand taken by the state unit of the party.

The BJP leader said that this decision would also help the AIADMK leadership to provide more seats to their party leaders.

The former IPS officer-turned-politician said that the AIADMK had provided it 10 per cent of the total seats, but the BJP wants more share of seats, as it is difficult to share seats in local body elections.

It may be noted that several senior leaders of the BJP were pressuring the state leadership to go solo in the urban local body elections.

In a brainstorming session held by the party leaders along with the state functionaries of the RSS, it was brought to the notice that in urban local body polls, the chances of winning rests more with the ruling party.

This has led the senior leaders of the party to try and field as many candidates as possible and to assess the grass-root strength of the party.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The opposition leaders on Monday criticised the President's address to the joint session of Parliament saying that not only did it lack anything new but was silent on several key issues.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told IANS that the address was nothing but a compilation of the government's claim of its last seven years' work. "Whatever Modi ji used to say outside the House, which is rarely seen inside the House, the same has been repeated in the President's speech. We expected something substantial on the growing unemployment. The Prime Minister had said that every year he will be providing 2 crore jobs. Where are those two crore jobs?, In seven years, it should be 14 crore jobs." People are still striving for employment. They are fighting for small Railway jobs and are protesting on railway tracks. Therefore, there is nothing new in this speech, he said.

On economic growth, he said that in the last seven years, the GDP has been the lowest and during Covid, lakhs of people suffered as the government did not have data to help the affected. As far as the farmers are concerned, Kharge said that four farmers were killed by the son of the Minister of State for Home Affairs and the same Minister is sitting with those in power.

Airing a similar opinion, Congress Member from the Upper House K.C. Venugopal said that there was nothing new in the President's address. "The same old style of functioning and as they make a lot of promises during the elections which are left unfulfilled, the same thing has been repeated here. They are talking about Kisan (farmers) but have they done anything for them? They were on the streets for more than a year. When the election was nearing they succumbed to the pressure fearing a drubbing in the Assembly elections." Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called it yet another publicity stunt with any eye on the Assembly elections in five states. "I believe that the people of the country understand that the government has not done anything for them and has been only busy with the PR exercise," she commented.

On the economic front , she said that the country has the highest number of unemployment. The youth is frustrated, outraged and protesting. On the inflated prices of the consumers' goods, the government has not been seen doing anything. Nothing has been done by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to make the the country 'Atmanirbhar'.

CPI(M) Member from the Upper House Binoy Viswam also said that the President's address was silent on many issues. It did not say anything on Minimum Support Price, nothing for MSME and no compensation announced for the farmers. "Nothing has been for the repeal of the electricity Act and to improve the economy. The President spoke about all this on the insistence of the government."
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Nearly 60 per cent of the increase in revenue expenditure during 2020-21 was due to increase in major subsidies. The major subsidies registered a growth of over 200 per cent in 2020-21 over 2019-20, Economic Survey 2021-22 said.

This increase was driven by almost 400 per cent growth in food subsidies from Rs 1.09 lakh crore in 2019-20 to Rs 5.25 lakh crore in 2020-21. The steep rise in food subsidy bill was on account of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana introduced as part of the Economic Response to COVID-19, and the pre-payment of around Rs 1.5 lakh crore of outstanding food subsidy related loans of the Food Corporation of India.

The expenditure policy during the pandemic year 2020-21 was focused on prioritisation of expenditure according to evolving situation. In the initial phase of the pandemic, the Government ensured that funds were made available for essential activities and that scarce resources were conserved for re-prioritisation.

With the easing of movement and health-related restrictions later in the year, expenditure was focused in sectors with the most positive effect on the economy, either in terms of re-kindling growth or meeting welfare needs. Second to pandemic relief, the Government placed maximum priority on productive domestic capital expenditure which has a high multiplier effect on the economy, the Survey said.

In the wake of the pandemic, the additional expenditure requirements led to a YoY growth of more than 30 per cent in the revenue expenditure of the Government in 2020-21.

Expenditures on salaries, pensions and interest payments are, by and large, committed in nature and have limited headroom for creation of additional fiscal space. The decline in salaries during 2020-21 PA was largely due to freezing of the additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Government employees and disruptions in hiring.
Jaipur, Jan 31 : Why Rajasthan police have been unable to get any clue on the victims of Alwar rape case even after 19 days and why there has been constant u-turns by senior police officials, asked state BJP Mahila Morcha president Alka Mundra after reports came in that police have reportedly gone back on its own theory of accident in the matter and has released the delivery boy secretly after arresting him.

A minor girl on January 11 was found bleeding from Tijara ki Puliya from where she was rushed to a local hospital. The local doctors rushed her to JK Lon where she was operated for three hours as there were internal injuries on her organs.

Alwar SP Tejaswini Gautam told IANS at that time that it looks to be a matter of gangrape and "we have instituted an SIT to investigation the matter." However, later he refuted his own claims and said that there is least probability of rape even before the SIT submitted its report.

Later, the police started investigating from accident theory angle and also recreated scene on the spot and arrested a delivery boy.

However, recently the FSL report, as per sources, have indicated rape yet again as traces of semen have been found on girl's clothes. So, police released the delivery boy secretly.

Why can't the police stand strong on its own claims and why is it changing its statements, asked Mundra.

It's not just this rape case which has shaken the state. "I just came from Dungarpur where a minor girl of class IX was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by boys of her own school and police were still in search of the accused?" An Alwar type story has been repeated in Bhilwara too where police were taking U-turns in the gangrape case of yet another deaf and mute girl.

Why has the state government kept the women's commission panel vacant for the last three and half years? Now, when there are reports of rapes and molestation coming in from different parts of the state, why the women leaders from the ruling Congress are silent? Assembly elections will take place next year and the important positions are still vacant, she quipped.

The state already ranks first when it comes to crimes against women, however, there is still no woman leader from the state government coming up and standing for the cause, she said.

Earlier, Suman Sharma, former Rajasthan women commission chairperson, had attacked the Ashok Gehlot government, questioning the delay in filling the vacant positions of women panel.

"Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has hired 10 advisors in the state, however, he has kept the state Rajasthan women panel vacant for three years. Is the CM against women, doesn't he like to bring in women empowerment or is he following double standards?" she asked.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Anecdotal evidence suggests that prior to the setting up of Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the government's procurement prices were much higher than the prices prevailing in the market and there were constant complaints about inefficiency and rent seeking.

The use of this e-marketplace has resulted in a substantial reduction in prices in comparison to the rates used earlier, with average prices falling by at least 15-20 per cent, and up to 56 per cent, the Economic Survey for 2021-22 noted.

While in the last year's analysis, GeM prices were on an average 3 per cent lower when compared to other platforms, this time it is around 9.5 per cent lower for the chosen sample. Ten out of 22 commodities in the sample were cheaper on the GeM portal as compared to other platforms.

In 2016, the government had set up a dedicated e-market known as Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for purchase of certain standard day-to-day use goods. This is a simple, transparent and completely digital process for procurement. The General Financial Rules 2017 mandates all ministries and departments to procure goods and services available on GeM from GeM.

These results are broadly in line with the assessment of GeM conducted by the World Bank, which found that GeM enabled an average savings of 9.75 per cent on the median price for the period between February 2019 and January 2020. The maximum savings in the top five categories ranged from 23.5 per cent to 60.5 per cent. The study attributed this, in large part, to increased participation per bid and better price discovery.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Even as India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) -- an engineering marvel that reflects the technological prowess of a resurgent nation -- completed its third set of sea trials in January this year, several navies around the globe are looking to either acquire these powerful platforms or upgrade their existing carrier aviation capabilities.

Take for example, China, which is set to launch its third aircraft carrier early next year. Commonly referred to as the Type 003 carrier, this 'super carrier' is believed to compare with the US Navy's new Ford-class aircraft carrier.

The much advanced Ford-class aircraft carriers will replace the ageing Nimitz-class carriers in the United States Navy over the next few decades.

Another example is the Royal Navy, which having withdrawn its carrier aviation capabilities after the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2010, has inducted two modern aircraft carriers along with state-of-the art aircraft in the last four years.

The first of the Royal Navy's new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, recently returned from a seven-month long deployment, having travelled half way across the globe to the Indo-Pacific showcasing a 'Global Britain'.

The United States Navy, whose maritime power hinges on its carrier fleet, continues to deploy three to four powerful Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) across the globe, even as there has been a call from some quarters to enhance their presence in the Pacific.

Meanwhile, both France and Italy -- whose navies have also traditionally deployed aircraft carriers -- continue to upgrade and update their carrier aviation capabilities.

There are many other aspirants to the exclusive club of navies which operate aircraft carriers. Japan, which abandoned its formidable aircraft carrier capability after the Second World War, is now planning to convert its Izumo class helicopter carrying ships into aircraft carriers.

In October last year, the first fixed-wing operation from JS Izumo was demonstrated using the F-35B Lightning fighter aircraft of the United States Marine Corps. By 2025, the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) might well be operating two such top-of-the-line aircraft carriers.

South Korea is likely to follow suit as the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy has already announced its plans to procure an aircraft carrier. Notably, this month, the National Assembly of South Korea approved the new budget for the 2022 fiscal, including funding for the aircraft carrier programme.

Turkey also reportedly plans to convert an amphibious ship, presently under construction, into a platform that will operate long range combat drones -- a capability similar to aircraft carriers.

In this backdrop of rapid developments in carrier aviation across the globe, it is unsurprising that the Standing Committee on Defence (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) in its Twenty Fourth report presented to the Parliament last month, has observed that a force level of three aircraft carriers for the Indian Navy is an "unavoidable requirement to meet any eventualities".

Given the evidently uncertain and unpredictable nature of challenges to India's maritime security, the parliamentary standing committee has only reaffirmed what the Navy's top brass, professionals in the field and security experts have been pointing out - that aircraft carriers are inalienable from India's maritime security.

There is good reason and sound rationale for the Committee's observations. For one, the Committee has itself noted that India's vast coastline, expansive maritime zones and distant island territories require at least one operational carrier on each seaboard.

The Committee has thus envisaged a "standard scenario" in which two aircraft carriers are deployed at all times "while one would undergo repairs and maintenance". Secondly, aircraft carriers can project the nation's military might far beyond its shores thus offering the first line of defence against any threat at or from the sea.

It is in this context that it is useful to look at the versatile and flexible role of aircraft carriers, not necessarily tied down to geographical domains, as alluded by many.

Therefore, although it makes sense to rationalise the required numbers of carriers for the Indian Navy in a particular manner, it must be remembered that these potent machines can be surged forward to any location to counter a threat to India's security.

It is also obvious that there is no fixity in the number of aircraft carriers that a country needs for its maritime security - it would always depend on the type and degree of threat as well as the prevailing external and internal security scenarios.

In the case of aircraft carriers, specifically, the sophistication of the embarked air wing is the true determinant of capability instead of mere number of platforms. This, in turn, implies that the Indian Navy must not only look at future aircraft carriers but also the numbers and type of aircraft that these ships will likely field.

These should include a combination of specialised types of aircraft for air battle, surveillance, electronic warfare and mid-air refuelling, to name a few.

Consequently, there are bound to be extensive deliberations - even debate - on the size and type of the next aircraft carrier as well as its aviation component.

Regardless of what shape India's future aircraft carrier takes, its need has been acknowledged at the highest level of public accountability. The Ministry of Defence must now implement measures to take forward the recommendations of the Standing Committee.

The experience of the first indigenous aircraft carrier shows that these ships take a long time to build. The fast-changing geopolitical environment in our extended neighbourhood, coupled with the tilting military balance in the Indian Ocean Region renders further delay unaffordable.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
Chandigarh, Jan 31 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday welcomed the decision of Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit for ordering the DGP to conduct a high-level inquiry into the allegations of illegal sand mining against Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

AAP Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha told the media here that AAP had submitted a letter to the Governor and demanded an inquiry against Channi. He thanked the Governor for accepting Aam Aadmi Party's demand and hoped that Punjab Police would conduct a fair and independent investigation in the matter and punish the guilty.

Referring to the letter related to the order of inquiry, Chadha said the Governor has taken cognisance of the matter and has ordered DGP V.K. Bhawra to take action against Channi for illegal sand mafia his constituency Chamkaur Sahib's village Jindapur.

The Governor has asked the DGP to conduct a high-level inquiry and hand over the report to him. Chadha appealed to the DGP and Punjab Police not to come under any kind of political pressure and register an FIR against Chief Minister Channi after conducting a fair and independent investigation into the whole matter.

Chadha said that they had already exposed the sand mafia in Chamkaur Sahib, the assembly constituency of the Chief Minister, and alleged that the Chief Minister and his relatives were associated with the sand mafia.
Islamabad, Jan 31 : Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to form a high-level committee to address the recently flared up dispute over the Durand line, which brought the Taliban and Pakistani border security forces at loggerheads.

The decision to form the committee was taken during Pakistan's National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf's recent two-day visit to Kabul.

During high-level meetings with the Taliban leadership, the issue of Durand Line remained as one of the primary points of discussion.

Pakistan's NSA, who also heads the Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC), held important meetings with Afghanistan's acting Deputy Prime Minster Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi and acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Both sides discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Both sides agreed to establish a national-level coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points and to expedite the ongoing negotiations to conclude a new trade agreement," stated Pakistan's Ambassador in Kabul, Mansoor Khan.

The focus of the visit of Yusuf to Kabul on January 29-30 was on increasing facilitation in trade, transit, business and humanitarian engagements.

Both sides also agreed to renew deliberations on the 2010 Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), which expired last year.

Pakistan maintained that the objective of the visit was to discuss with the Afghan leadership the humanitarian requirements of the country and "Pakistan's proposals for deepening economic engagement to overcome the current challenges Afghanistan is facing".

"The visit yielded substantive outcomes in terms of forward movement on trade facilitation and social sector support. Both sides also agreed to initiate barter trade, modalities for which will be worked out immediately," a statement issued by Pakistan's foreign office maintained.

Pakistan has offered capacity-building and training support in multiple sectors, including health, education, banking, customs, railways and aviation.

"Afghanistan and Pakistan emphasised their commitment to ensuring peace and stability in both countries," the statement read.
From 24 to 28 January 2022, the World Customs Organization (WCO) delivered an Online Regional Workshop on Cross-Border E-Commerce for the WCO Europe region. The event was organized in cooperation with the Europe Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB Europe) who provided interpretation and the web-conferencing platform for the workshop. Close to 100 experts from 37 Member Customs administrations, as well as from designated postal operators from the Europe region, shared their experiences, along with information and insights provided by workshop facilitators and speakers from the Universal Postal Union, the Global Express Association, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Alibaba Cainiao, Amazon and DHL.

Opening remarks were provided by Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, Director of the WCO Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, who highlighted the opportunities and challenges presented by the ever-growing volumes of e-commerce parcels and the importance of effective and harmonised implementation of the WCO Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce (E-Commerce FoS). Opening remarks were also provided by Mr. Konstantinos Mourtidis, Director General of Greek Customs and WCO Council Vice-Chair for the WCO Europe Region, Mr. Ismayil Huseynov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as by Mr. Eser Cengel, Director of ROCB Europe, all highlighting the importance and timeliness of the regional capacity-building event.

During the various workshop sessions, the workshop facilitators provided detailed explanations of the 15 standards of the WCO E-Commerce FoS and the tools available to support their implementation. Each session benefitted from presentations by Members, partner international organizations and private sector entities. Members and stakeholders shared practical examples of E-Commerce FoS implementation in areas such as use of Advance Electronic Data, data exchange with postal operators, simplified procedures for low-value shipments, and revenue collection, including valuation and Post-Clearance Audit. Other interesting topics discussed were cooperation with stakeholders, such as marketplaces and fulfilment centers, expanding the concept of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) to e-commerce stakeholders, and the use of advanced technologies.

The Europe region is the sixth and the last WCO region to benefit from a regional workshop aimed at raising awareness of the E-Commerce FoS and the steps for its implementation, as well as at promoting regional cooperation.

In closing the workshop, the WCO Deputy Director of the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, Mr. Brendan OHearn, thanked Members for sharing their experiences and insights as these are very useful for the future WCO work in the area of cross-border e-commerce. Closing remarks were provided also by the Customs Administration of Greece, as well as by ROCB Europe emphasizing the important role of the WCO in enhancing Members capacities to implement international standards in the cross-border e-commerce area.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The BJP on Monday announced names of three candidates for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. The BJP has fielded union minister of state Dr S.P. Singh Baghel from Karhal assembly against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The BJP has fielded Vivek Shakya from Jaswantnagar and Manoj Prajapati from Hamirpur.

With a current list of three names, the BJP has released names of 298 candidates for 403 assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. In the previous seven lists, the BJP has announced 295 candidates for the first four phases.

The BJP has surprised everyone including cadre by giving ticket to union minister Baghel as the party has earlier said that no Member of Parliament will be given ticket to contest the assembly polls.

On January 15, the BJP released its first list of 107 candidates for Uttar Pradesh which included names of chief minister Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur (Urban) assembly constituency and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu assembly seat in Prayagraj district.

On January 21, the BJP released its fourth list of 85 candidates. On January 28, the BJP released names of 91 more candidates for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
Bengaluru, Jan 31 : Karnataka police have booked a 23-year-old youth for deliberately running his luxury Audi car on a street dog sleeping by the roadside, police said here on Monday.

The case has been lodged under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 Section 11, and IPC Section 428. The CCTV footage has gone viral on the social media and has triggered outrage among the public.

The Siddapur police in Bengaluru lodged the case following the complaint by M.S. Badri Prasad, a resident of Jayanagar. The complaint has been lodged against Adhi, son of an industrialist. The police have issued notice to accused Adhi to appear for the inquiry in this regard.

The family of the accused youth had informed the police that their son has tested positive for Covid and he would appear for questioning once he is fit and fine. The incident had taken place in Jayanagar 1st Block, in Bengaluru, the accused had taken reverse and deliberately ran over the sleeping dog.

The complainant has stated that the accused Adhi drove purposefully with an intention to kill street dogs. The dog which was run over has not been found despite searches. The complainant had asked for legal action against the youth for the crime. The investigation is on.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), which from just seven surface platforms in 1978 has grown into a formidable force with 158 ships and 70 aircraft, will celebrate its 46th Raising Day on Tuesday.

The force has in the last one year seized drugs and contraband valued at nearly Rs 4,000 crore.

The Coast Guard is working to achieve targeted force levels of 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by 2025.

As the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world, it has played a significant role in securing the Indian coasts and enforcing regulations in the maritime zones of India.

The ICG has saved over 1,200 lives at sea in the last one year and more than 11,000 since its inception.

It has also rescued approximately 13,000 personnel till date during various 'Aid to Civil Authority' operations - assistance provided to civil authorities during floods, cyclones and other natural calamities; most recently during the recent floods in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.

Despite the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICG maintains round-the-clock vigil in the Exclusive Economic Zone by deploying about 50 ships and 12 aircraft daily, the Defence Ministry said.

One of the primary duties of the Indian Coast Guard is prevention of smuggling through maritime routes in its area of responsibility.

Around Rs 12,000 crore of drugs and contraband have been seized by the ICG since its inception. In addition, the ICG has, till date, apprehended more than 13,000 crew and over 1,500 boats involved in illegal activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Forty foreign crew and seven boats were apprehended by the ICG in 2021. It is also collaborating with littoral countries to combat transnational maritime crimes and enhance maritime safety in its area of responsibility and in the Indian Ocean Region.

"In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'SAGAR' - Security and Growth for all in the Region and 'Neighbourhood First', the Indian Coast Guard has nurtured professional relationships across oceans and established ties with countries in the Indian Ocean Region for Ocean Peacekeeping," the ministry said.

The ICG has successfully averted major ecological disasters and emerged as the 'First Responder' in the region by undertaking major fire-fighting and pollution response operation off the Sri Lanka coast, the most recent being 'Sagar Aaraksha-II' onboard Chemical carrier MV X-Press Pearl.

The Indian Coast Guard also conducted National Maritime Search and Rescue Board meeting to harmonise the maritime and civil aviation search & rescue (SAR) mechanism.

It is also working in close coordination with Central and State agencies to put in place a robust coastal security mechanism. The ICG's reach was demonstrated during the flag hoisting on 100 inhabited and uninhabited far flung islands as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration on August 15, 2021.

"The ICG has been a pioneer in inducting indigenous assets which has enabled it to remain operationally active and responsive throughout the year," the ministry said.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it has added five new generation ships and eight Advanced Light Helicopters to its fleet in last one year, which are fine examples of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' envisioned by the Prime Minister.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : The Sirpurkar Commission, appointed by the Supreme Court to probe into the alleged encounter killing of four suspects in the gang-rape and murder of a woman veterinarian near Hyderabad two years ago, has submitted its report to the apex court.

The three-member panel, headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice V.S. Sirpurkar was appointed to inquire into the circumstances in which the four accused were killed on December 6, 2019 while in the custody of police.

The Commission of Inquiry submitted its report on January 28, the Inquiry Commission Secretary said on Monday.

Justice R. P. Sondur Baldota, former judge, Bombay High Court and Dr D. R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are the members of the Commission.

Mohammed Arif, Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu, Jollu Shiva, and Jollu Naveen were shot dead by police at Chatanpally on National Highway 44 near Hyderabad, the same highway where the charred body of 27-year-old Disha (as the victim is referred to by the police) was found.

According to police, Disha was kidnapped and sexually assaulted near Outer Ring Road on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the night of November 27, 2019. After the sexual assault, the accused murdered her, took the body to Chatanpally and set it afire.

The Supreme Court constituted the panel on December 12, 2019 while hearing petitions raising doubts that the police killed the accused in their custody and projected it as an encounter.

It was asked to submit a report in six months. However, the term of the inquiry panel was extended thrice as it could not complete the inquiry due to Covid-19 pandemic. The last extension was in August 2021.

The Commission of Inquiry collected various documentary records including investigation records, forensic reports, post mortem reports, photographs and videos concerning the scene of incidents, etc. It held hearings for 47 days between August 21, 2021 and November 15, 2021. The Commission examined 57 witnesses during their period and recorded their evidence.

The hearings were held publicly subject to Covid-19 restrictions. The advocates for Telangana, the police officials involved in the incident, and other interested parties participated in the hearings, said the secretary.

The Commission of Inquiry heard oral arguments from all the advocates from November 16, 2021 to November 26, 2021. It also inspected various places associated with the incident on December 5, 2021.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs in the Shahdara sexual assault case against two people for giving a communal colour to it, an official said here on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) R Sathiyasundaram told IANS that the FIRs were registered on the tweet of two accounts bearing the names SukhPreet Slatch and StarRegards.

The incident happened on January 26, when the 20-year-old victim was allegedly attacked by a group of people, including women, who chopped off her hair, tore her clothes, blackened her face, and then paraded her on the streets of Shahdara area. The woman was also gang raped in a house in the same area.

In a controversial tweet, the accused had blamed the Delhi Police for not taking the victim of the assault to a hospital. ".......found in a critical state but Delhi Police didn't take her to hospital," read the tweet.

The DCP said that the FIRs were registered on Monday under sections 153, 153 A, 505 (b)(c) of the Indian Penal Code at Vivek Vihar Police Station.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police debunked rumours about victim committing suicide. "Social media post regarding suicide of victim girl is false and a rumour," Sathiyasundaram informed IANS.He said that police officers had met the girl on Monday morning and she was doing fine.

The Delhi Police has so far arrested 12 people in the case, including 8 women and three male minors who sexually assaulted the victim. The DCP informed that a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT ) under an ACP rank officer has also been formed for speedy and proper investigation of the crime.

Soon after the incident, a video in which the victim 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 cognizance of the incident. In the video, which was also shared by DCW chief Swati Maliwal, the victim was seen with a garland of slippers.

Maliwal had 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 assured all help to her.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also, on that day, 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," Kejriwal had said in a tweet.
Moscow, Jan 31 : An individual infected with Omicron can spread the infection within hours, according to an expert.

On the other hand, infections spread with previous strains in three to four days, TASS news agency quoted Alexander Semyonov, head of the Yekaterinburg branch of the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, as saying.

"The saddest thing is due to its rapid replication, you can communicate the virus not in three to four days but already by the evening," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 television channel.

At the same time, he said, Omicron is cleared from the body in about a week, or much faster than other strains.

According to a study led by researchers at the University of Hong Kong, Omicron spreads 70 times faster than Delta variant.

On November 26, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the B.1.1.529 variant identified in South Africa as a "Variant of Concern" and assigned it the Greek letter Omicron.

In its statement, the WHO noted that "this variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning".

So far it has spread to more than 120 countries, outpacing the previous Delta variant to become the dominant one.

While it has surged infections in many countries, the infections are generally touted as mild, leading to less hospitalisation as well as deaths compared to Delta.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong study also showed that Omicron's replication rate in human lung tissue was more than 10 times lower than what was seen with the original strain -- an observation that "may suggest lower severity of diseasea.
Wayanad : , Jan 31 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Betty Surendran, a functionary of Kudumbashree, a self-help group supported by the state government, owns 50 cents of land in the Meenangadi panchayat of Wayanad, Kerala. She has successfully geo-tagged seven of the trees on her land after submitting her land tax receipt and her Aadhaar number at the panchayat office. She receives Rs 50 annually for each tree, as long as she does not cut them down.

This incentive for the farmers/landowners in Meenangadi is part of the 'Tree Banking Project' started by the NGO Thanal and the Meenangadi Panchayat, under a larger initiative called Carbon Neutral Meenangadi. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is a system in which farmers are incentivised in exchange for managing their land in a way that contributes positively to the environment.

The idea was conceived by Dr TM Thomas Issac, the former Finance Minister of Kerala. Thanal helped create a model based on extensive research, which found that in Wayanad, there was an excess emission of 11,412 tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent in 2016-17. After interacting with forest officials and agriculture experts, it was decided that trees will be planted based on their contribution to carbon sequestration, economic value, growth rate, canopy area, medicinal and religious value, among other categories. Elected representatives democratically chose Meenangadi to pilot the initiative because the panchayat won an award for being one of the best panchayats in the Green Express Competition organised by Doordarshan and the residents are aware of climate challenges.

"As I own only 50 cents of land, I could plant only seven trees under the project. However, some farmers have added up to 100 trees, contributing to tree banking," shared Surendran, who also helped Thanal reach out to more farmers.

A win-win: Mitigating climate change while securing livelihoods In conversation with 101Reporters, the Executive Director of Thanal, Jayakumar C, explained, "Climate change is the biggest challenge we face. We wanted to create a development project based on carbon neutrality, and tree banking emerged as a successful initiative. In 2018, we came up with estimates about how much carbon needs to be offset and how many trees would need to be planted. We then questioned what would keep the farmers motivated to maintain the trees and not cut them down after a couple of decades. Thus, the idea of incentivising farmers for maintaining the trees was born. They receive the incentives annually. The farmer is given total freedom to cut the tree, but if they decide to cut the tree, they pay the money back." There is also an option called 'Tree Mortgage', wherein the panchayat creates a committee chaired by Forest Department Officers. The officers physically evaluate the tree and place a monetary value for the tree. With this number and approval from the panchayat, the bank can sanction a loan of up to 75% of the value stated against the tree as a liquid asset. This helps the farmers to gain extra money during times of need without cutting down the tree. Meanwhile, farmers can also sell the fruit and other produce from the trees to increase their income.

Most farmers grow coffee and coconut as main crops in their farms. Since most geo-tagged trees are enormous, their massive trunks can support creeper crops like pepper.

"Also, in the long run, we aim for the farmers to be able to sell their produce at a better price in the market, as they can obtain green-friendly tags. This will also help achieve the government's objective to double the farmers' incomes," said Jayakumar.

A trailblazing, carbon-neutral community Gopi CK has a landholding of 68 cents and has added 53 trees as part of the project. "I think we could protect at least 70% of trees from being cut down. Some farmers are apprehensive that by being part of the project, the government may take control and even prevent them from trimming the branches of the protected trees to provide proper sunlight to other crops. However, there are no such restrictions, and everyone should be able to benefit," he clarified.

Gopi received Rs 2,650 for protecting his trees as the first annual payment of the tree banking scheme and will continue to receive this each year. He stated that he spends half the day on his farm taking care of the geo-tagged trees and other crops. "During summer, we need to provide shade to the saplings by erecting chopped branches of other trees. Weeds need to be removed from the farm to take proper care of the geo-tagged trees," he added.

The community is well-informed and aware of the effects of climate change and wants to contribute proactively to positive environmental action. Subramanian R P, who moved to Wayanad in 1995, reminisced that the temperatures used to sink to 10AC, but now he cannot stay indoors without a fan. "Large scale chopping of trees has brought up the temperature levels. The trees maintain the local climate, and it is important for the environment and us that we plant more trees," he told 101Reporters.

Subramanian, who owns 15 cents of land, joined the tree banking project last year by geo-tagging seven trees on his premises. "We have seen examples in the past where despite strict measures, the wood mafia has bypassed rules to cut down trees. By putting in place such monetary schemes, a message is conveyed to the public about the need to protect the green cover in Wayanad. The officials and the NGO need to conduct regular inspections to ensure that the trees in the project remain protected," he said. He hopes for a hike in the annual payments too.

The trees were also planted with the panchayat's help through the MGNREGA scheme. Ajith Tomy, the project coordinator for the tree planting project, said, "We surveyed many wards and noticed that farmers with even three trees wanted to be a part of the project just because they want to support the community goals. This spirit motivates us to include more people and survey trees in difficult terrains," shared Tomy.

Tree banking is just one of the projects that is part of the carbon-neutral plan, including interventions and intelligent integrations across sectors like agriculture, energy, transportation, waste, water, social security, education, health, development, etc. This means projects in energy conservations like LED bulbs, energy-efficient stoves, renewable energy projects like solar street lights, energy parks, biogas plants, electric auto-rickshaws and other initiatives.

Jayakumar encapsulated the spirit of community resourcefulness, "The people of Kerala have always thought about the universal good and collective goals. Tree banking and other environmental projects are successful with community efforts and high literacy rates. This programme is nature-based with public accountability. The model can be customised according to different districts in India and replicated." This article is a part of a 101Reporters' series on The Promise Of Commons. In this series, we will explore how judicious management of shared public resources can help the ecosystem as well as the communities inhabiting it.

(The authors are freelance journalists and members of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)
Hong Kong, Jan 31 : The Delta variant of Covid-19 can be transmitted from humans to hamsters and then be transferred back to humans, according to a new study.

The new study, published in The Lancet in pre-print and awaiting peer-review, suggests that hamsters can spread the virus back to humans, Jerusalem Post reported.

The study revealed that the first-ever hamster-to-human transmission was found on January 15, 2022 in Hong Kong, linked to a hamster imported from the Netherlands, the report said.

Before this, however, Hong Kong had ordered the culling of thousands of hamsters in pet shops, particularly those purchased on or after December 22.

Currently, at least two people in Hong Kong were confirmed to have been infected by these hamsters, with one other person infected through human-to-human transmission after this.

If the findings are accurate and hamsters can indeed transmit Covid-19 to humans, this could become a serious concern, as they would serve as yet another vector to spread the virus worldwide, the researchers noted.

The only other animal known to transmit SARS-CoV-2 back to humans was in the case of minks, which resulted in a mass culling of mink farms around the world, especially in Denmark.

Besides hamsters, the novel coronavirus has been seen in many other animals after having been spread to them by humans. This includes cats, dogs, otters, minks, mice, deer, gorillas, ferrets, and pigs.

However, these animals may often deal with the virus differently. Cats, for example, were noted by some as having recovered from Covid-19 very quickly. Deer were shown to be able to spread it to one another, but they showed no symptoms. Pigs, while they are shown to catch coronavirus, not only do never show symptoms, they also never spread it to others, the report said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Centre on Monday refuted the argument by advocate Prashant Bhushan that people are losing their jobs and ration allegedly due to the Covid-19 vaccine mandates issued by various state governments.

At the outset, Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner Jacob Puliyel, a former member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, contended before a bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao and comprising Justice B.R. Gavai, that people are losing their jobs due to vaccine mandates issued by several state governments.

"What is urgent is the vaccine mandate because people are losing their jobs. They are losing their rations," Bhushan said, arguing that people are not able to move around freely due to these vaccine mandates.

Opposing this argument, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted that nobody is losing jobs due to non-vaccination.

"Nobody is losing anything and nobody has come before your lordships," he told the bench, which is hearing a matter involving issues in connection with disclosure of data on clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines and vaccine mandates.

Bhushan had filed an intervention application in the main petition, claiming people are losing jobs due to these mandates.

The bench told Bhushan that there are various situations in connection with vaccines that can be brought before the court, and it cannot handle all the situations.

It further added that high courts can also examine some issues.

Bhushan submitted there is evidence to establish that if a person had the infection, his or her protection from the infection is far superior than any vaccination.

He argued that vaccine mandates are restricting the fundamental rights of the citizens, and added, it is the fundamental right of an individual to decide whether he wants vaccination, while clarifying that he was not arguing that the vaccine mandate cannot be issued at all.

After hearing arguments, the top court said it will list the matter for final hearing.

In August, last year, the top court had asked the Centre, Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute of India (SII) and others for their reply on the plea seeking directions for disclosure of data on clinical trials of vaccines and also on post-jab cases.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : North India, in February, is likely to receive an average rainfall above normal i.e. more than 121 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 65.3 mm recorded between 1961-2010, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Monday.

"The probabilistic forecast for the spatial distribution of tercile rainfall categories (above normal, normal, and below normal) over the country for the month of February suggests that normal to below normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of North India except most parts of Punjab and Haryana where above normal rainfall is most likely," it said.

The probability forecast for the minimum temperatures indicates that during February, below normal minimum temperatures are most likely over most parts of the country except eastern parts of northeast India, south peninsular India, and southeastern parts of central India, where normal to above normal minimum temperatures are likely.

As for the probability forecast for the maximum temperatures during February, the IMD forecast indicates that below normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except eastern and southwestern coastal areas of peninsular India where normal to above normal maximum temperatures are likely.

"Currently, weak La Nina conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific region. The latest MMCFS forecast is indicating that these La Nina conditions are likely to persist during the FMA season. Thereafter the La Nina conditions are likely to start weakening to reach to cold ENSO neutral conditions during the second quarter of the 2022," the IMD added.

The IMD had, on Sunday, forecast that Delhi along with other northwestern states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will receive rainfall during February 2-4.

The rainfall is likely to occur due to interaction between mid-tropospheric southwesterlies associated with the Western Disturbance and lower level southeasterlies from the Bay of Bengal.
From 28 to 30 January 2022, at the invitation of the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Mr. Safar Mehdiyev, the WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, attended a celebration in Baku to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Customs Service.

Secretary General Mikuriya was received by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, who thanked the WCO for providing advice and support for Customs modernization and for assisting Azerbaijan with implementation of the Organizations international standards. In turn, Dr. Mikuriya thanked the President for his strong support for Customs and the WCO, as well as for providing leadership as the WCO Vice-Chair for the Europe region. He also noted Azerbaijans efforts in terms of hosting WCO regional structures in Baku and of offering resources to assist with capacity building, along with facilitating the sharing of information and best practices between Customs administrations by hosting WCO events. In recognition of the WCOs contribution to Customs reform, the President awarded Azerbaijan's Order of Friendship to Dr. Mikuriya.

Secretary General Mikuriya took the opportunity to meet with other political leaders while in Azerbaijan, including the Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Ali Asadov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, with a view to exploring further avenues for cooperation. In addition, he gave a special lecture at ADA University on the growing role of Customs in ensuring sustainable trade in the post-pandemic era and visited the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building to review its recent activities.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The various indicators of employment have bounced back remarkably, after showing a decline in the first quarter of 2020-21 during the nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Economic Survey 2021-22 tabled in the Parliament on Monday.

The Economic Survey said that because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent nationwide lockdowns, which impacted livelihoods globally, the unemployment rate for the urban sector rose to 20.8 per cent in the country in the first quarter of 2020-21.

However, following the revival of the economy in the subsequent quarters of 2020-21, the three labour market indicators, labour force participation rate (LFPR), worker population ratio (WPR) and unemployment rates (UR), showed a swift recovery.

The survey stated that the unemployment rate gradually dipped during this period to reach 9.3 per cent in Q4 of 2020-21, whereas the unemployment rate for males as well as females, aged 15 and above, recovered to the pre-pandemic levels. Both the LFPR and WPR for males as well as females, aged 15 and above, reached almost their pre-pandemic levels during the last quarter of 2020-21.

Further, data from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) suggests that not only formalisation of jobs continued during the second Covid wave, but its adverse impact by far on the formalisation of jobs was also much lower than during the first Covid wave.

In November 2021, the survey noted, the monthly net additional EPF subscriptions peaked with 13.95 lakh new subscribers, the highest in any given month since 2017.

The document noted that the allocation of funds to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has been increased to provide the necessary buffer for the unorganised labour in rural areas during the pandemic.

The demand for MGNREGS, an indicator of rural labour markets, stabilised post the second wave, and aggregate MGNREGS employment is still higher than pre-pandemic level, the survey said, adding that the demand for MGNREGS has stabilised after the second Covid wave.

During the second wave of the pandemic, the demand for MGNREGS employment reached the maximum level of 4.59 crore persons in June 2021.

Acknowledging that there is a dearth of real-time data on unemployment, Principal Economic Advisor Sanjiv Sanyal said, "We know there was a significant decline in employment during the lockdown and a significant revival till March 2021." However, to boost employment and livelihood, the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgaar Yojana was announced as part of the 'Aatmanirbhar 3.0' package to boost the economy, increase the employment generation in the post-Covid recovery phase and incentivise the creation of new employment along with the social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during the pandemic, the Economic Survey noted.

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Mohali, Jan 31 : Three decades after the kidnapping of an employee of the Butari Sub Division of Punjab State Electricity Board, a Special CBI court in Mohali awarded ten years jail term to the former SHO of the Punjab Police, and also slapped a fine of Rs 70,000 on him.

Santokh Singh who was kidnapped by the Punjab Police official is still missing. However, murder charges were not added in the FIR.

CBI Judge Harinder Sidhu said the prosecution was able to bring home the guilt of the accused and convicted Major Singh, the then SHO of police Station Sadar, Tarn Taran for kidnapping Santokh Singh and holding him hostage in 1991 during the height of militancy and human rights violations by the Punjab Police.

The court convicted Inspector Major Singh under sections 364 (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder) with Rs 50,000 fine and section 344 (wrongful confinement for 10 days or more) and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and Rs 20,000 fine.

The victim Santokh Singh of Village Jaspal, Mehta district Amritsar was an employee of the Butari Sub Division of Punjab State Electricity Board.

On the evening of July 31, 1991 he returned home from his office at 8.30 p.m., the accused Inspector Major Singh along with a police party from PS Sadar, Tarn Taran raided his house.

The victim was taken in front of his mother Swaran Kaur, his wife Rajwinder Kaur who was carrying their new born baby son at that time.

Both women raised the alarm and a number of neighbours and witnesses from the village saw Inspector Major Singh tying the hands of Santokh Singh who was taken to police station Sadar.

He was kept in illegal custody where other inmates witnessed his severe torture, they described his condition as critical, he was unable to eat or drink due to his tortured condition.

Swaran Kaur pleaded for the release of her son and had even approached then SP Operations Khubi Ram who did not deny that he was in their custody and had promised that her son would be released.

After his prolonged detention and torture, he was not seen of or heard from again.

In 1996, his mother filed Habeas corpus before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the Punjab police to produce her son or investigate his abduction and disappearance.

A crucial piece of evidence was from the Punjab State Electricity Board employee records which showed that he had not attended work or collected his salary since the evening of his abduction.

On the January 21, 1998, the CBI was directed by the High Court to conduct an investigation.

The CBI inquiry concluded that Santokh Singh had been abducted and illegally detained by Inspector Major Singh.

A case was registered by the CBI on the August 21, 1998.

The CBI filed the chargesheet in 1999.

The matter was stayed by the High Court in 2002.

The Supreme Court had then in 2003, ordered the trial to proceed. The accused again further delayed the trial and in 2016 the Supreme Court again ordered the trial to proceed.

Again, in 2016, he sought a stay on proceedings which was dismissed by the High Court in 2017.

When the trial resumed in November 2019 for final arguments, the accused again stalled the proceedings by securing a further stay in the High Court, which was vacated in the December 2021.

The trial resumed in January 2022.

On Monday -- January 31, after 31 years of the case, the accused was finally convicted by the court.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The road network in the country has increased substantially in the current fiscal compared to previous years, the Economic Survey 2021-22 said.

It said that there has been a consistent increase in the construction of National Highways/roads since 2013-14 with 13,327 km of roads constructed in 2020-21 as compared to 10,237 kms in 2019-20, indicating an increase of 30.2 per cent over the previous year. In 2021-22 (till September), 3,824 kms of road network were constructed.

The extent of road construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to 36.5 km per day from 28 km per day in 2019-20, a rise by 30.4 percent as compared to the previous year.

The Survey said that the road transport is one of the most cost-effective and convenient mods of transportation in India, both for freight and passengers as it has a high penetration level with door-to-door delivery.

The importance of road infrastructure is widely recognised as a potent means of socio-economic integration and is vital for the economic development of the country, it said.

The road network of the country consists of National Highways, State Highways, district roads, rural roads, urban roads, and project Roads of over 63.71 lakh km of roads (Provisional) as on March 31 2019, which is the second-largest in the world, after the US with 66.45 lakh km of roads.

"The significant upturn in road construction in 2020-21 is due to the increase in public expenditure by 29.5 per cent as compared to the previous year - a reflection of the impetus given by the Government of India to a critical sector that generates employment and supports infrastructure during a pandemic year," the Survey said.

Apart from the National Highways, the government has taken measures to address village level road network through the Gram Sadak Yojana, it said.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : In a big embarrassment for Pakistan, the country's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has alleged that Gulf-based Pakistani businessman Umer Farooq Zahoor is a partner of Dawood Ibrahim.

A You Tube video uploaded in Pakistan by Rizwan Razi has said that Farooq Zahoor is a partner of wanted terrorist, Dawood Ibrahim.

While Pakistan has maintained that Dawood is not in Pakistan, India has been consistently maintaining otherwise.

Razi said that the investigation was filed by Pakistani police officer and FIA chief Sanaullah Abbasi to allege that Zahoor is a partner of Dawood.

This may lead to Interpol asking Abbasi as several notices have been issued while Pakistan has been claiming that Dawood is not there, Razi said.

Razi said in a blog that Abbasi will be in big trouble after this expose. He also said that Pakistan will not know where to hide after this as its long-standing policy of maintaining secrecy on Dawood has been breached.

The News has earlier reported that Zahoor, a suspect wanted in financial crimes in Norway who is now being linked with former DG FIA Bashir Memon, has been found attending high-profile meetings during the Imran Khan government, officially released pictures show, and he travelled to Pakistan on more than 60 occasion in 14 years (2006-2019), according to FIA records.

The record further suggests that Interpol cancelled red notice against Zahoor after Norwegian authorities didn't respond to the queries of Interpol within due period and that Memon had only forwarded the application, he received from Zahoor when he (Memon) was the DG, FIA. It has been learnt that FIA plans to implicate its former boss in another inquiry in case efforts to penalise Zahoor's case doesn't yield result, the report said.

Zahoor is a close confidante of an important member of a Middle Eastern state's royal family, and has featured in different pictures together with the royal family member while meeting or attending important events in Pakistan. Now, as the government is set to tighten the noose around Memon for going public against the unlawful order he disclosed having received from the Prime Minister's office, his picture with Zahoor is being used as evidence. In it, the royal family member was also present, The News reported.
Bengaluru, Jan 31 : Kannada superstar Kichcha Sudeep completed 26 years in cinema on Monday and to mark the occasion he thanked his wife for the sacrifices she has made in all these years.

"You have walked through these 26 years with grace and I can't thank you enough for all the sacrifices you have made," the actor wrote, addressing his wife Priya on social media. "Thank you for being such a strength and also [for your] work-related sarcasm, which helped to become better. Loves and Hugs," he added.

Priya Sudeep, who broke the news on her social media handle. congratulated her husband, and said: "We are immensely proud of the love and respect you have earned for yourself across the world. Many of us continue to take inspiration from your hard work, dedication and passion towards your craft. Sharing a moment from last year on this day." She shared a picture taken last year on the same day during the shoot of Kichcha Sudeep's pan-India movie, 'Vikarnth Rona', against the backdrop of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Kichcha Sudeep started his career with the Kannada movie 'Brahma'. He made his debut as a successful hero with his home production 'Sparsha'. He established himself as a successful commercial hero with the movie 'Huchcha'. Later, he went on to become a superstar and established himself as a director too.

His performance in the Telugu movie 'Eega' directed by S.S. Rajamouli got him accolades from all over. He also acted as the villain against the Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in 'Dabbang 3'.
Mumbai, Jan 31 : Rattling the authorities in pandemic times, thousands of students trooped out in 'flash agitations' in Mumbai, Thane, Beed, Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur, Osmanabad and other district to protest against the proposed offline board examinations, on Monday.

In Mumbai, the police resorted to a mild caning, but without any injuries, when a large number of the agitating students attempted to march near the Dharavi home of School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad.

Catching the police and education authorities virtually unawares, big and small groups of youngsters suddenly gathered at predetermined locations, raised slogans against the government and demanded that the offline examinations for Class X and Class XII be cancelled.

Later, officials said that the students were allegedly called for the multi-city agitation by one Vikas Phatak, going by an alias of 'Hindustani Bhau', who had posted social media posts for the protests.

The Mumbai Police have decided to conduct a probe into the incident which resulted in violation of Covid-19 protocols, especially physical distancing and other restrictions, with the huge crowds descending unexpectedly, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranay Ashok.

Speaking to local mediapersons, Phatak alleged that the government is not concerned about the health of the students and are forcing them to appear for the physical exams.

"For two years, there have been online classes only, but now they are insisting on offline examinationsa This is not justified," claimed Pathak.

Minister Prof. Gaikwad appealed to the student community not to resort to such agitations and said she is ready for discussions with any of the leaders to arrive at an amicable solution after discussing with the department officials.

Meanwhile, the agitation was strongly condemned by state Congress President Nana Patole, Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe, Minister of State for School Education Omprakash Babasaheb alias Bachchu Kadu, and other leaders.

"Which political party is instigating such agitations in the pandemic times.... Even during the pandemic last year, they had provoked youngsters to take to the streets like this in huge numbers and many of them were later infected by Coronavirus," said Patole.

Londhe targetted the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly inciting the student community as it had done during the 'open temple' agitations last year, without being concerned about the health and safety of the students.

Kadu sought to know how such protests could be carried out without giving notice or seeking permission from the concerned authorities and urged students to remain patient.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi cabinet on Monday set up a dedicated 'Group of Ministers' to handle Covid-19 compensation cases of all Delhi government employees including doctors, nurses, healthcare and frontline workers, an official release said.

This Group of Ministers, to be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and comprise Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot, will individually examine every case and send its recommendations to the Chief Minister as the final authority.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will look after compensation of Delhi government employees himself, the Delhi government release said.

"As a responsible and sensitive government, the entire Delhi government must look after the family of every single employee on Covid duty like their own and stand with them in the need of the hour," he said, as per the release.

Kejriwal had earlier announced that any person, including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, security and sanitation staff or any other government officer and official, including police officers, whether temporary or permanent employee or contractual in government or private sector, deployed for Covid-19 duties by the Delhi government, expires by contracting the disease during discharge of their duty, their family shall be paid an ex gratia amount of Rs one crore.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Huge job losses during the pandemic was a serious challenge before the government, so a safety net strategy was adopted to heal the badly affected job economy. With the various government schemes, the government is hopeful to bounce back in the employment market, indicates the economic survey.

Using the data in the form of maps, the economic survey banks on the new developing start-up ecosystem in the country. 'You can see the start-ups' culture in 2016-17 in India and in December, 2021, there is a sea change, as just a few years back we had few start-ups pockets in India, mostly around the metro cities, but now we have strong presence of start-ups innovation in states like Bihar, north-east,' said principal economic advisor Sanjeev Sanyal when asked about how government counters the negative sentiments in the employment market.

"The most encouraging part is the capital expenditure by the central and many state governments, particularly in infrastructure development by 67 %, which has huge potential to create massive jobs, and this way we can tackle this challenge easily. Secondly, the positive growth in exports is a sign that our industry sector is getting on track," said the chief economic advisor, when asked about the roadmap for employment generation in post- pandemic time.

"The major job creator sector are service industry, particularly the travel, tourism, hospitality and other fields, but unfortunately these have been hit by the pandemic and then lockdowns or restrictions, so we need to work on this and have to create an environment where we can open these fields, and for that vaccination is the solution," added Sanyal.

The CEA and his team banks on the EPFO data which says that the Employee Provident Fund Organization has added 13.95 lakh net subscribers during the month of November 2021, showing an increase of around 2.85 lakh net additions over the previous month of October, 2021. Year-on-year comparison of payroll data also shows an increase of around 3.84 lakh in net payroll additions in November, 2021 as compared to 10.11 lakh net subscribers added during the previous year in November, 2020, informed the ministry of labour and employment.

Of the total 13.95 lakh net subscribers added during the month, 8.28 lakh new members have come under the social security cover of EPFO for the first time. Approximately 5.67 lakh net subscribers exited but rejoined EPFO by changing jobs within the establishments covered under the purview of EPF & MP Act, 1952. The subscribers opted to continue their membership with EPFO by transferring their PF accumulations from previous to present PF account instead of applying for final withdrawal.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu has ended his long-term association with a leading soft drink brand, with popular actor Vijay Deverakonda stepping in in his place.

After endorsing Thums Up for more than a decade, Mahesh has opted out and ended his deal with Coca-Cola. Vijay, who has now changed his Twitter user name to 'Vijay Deverakonda Toofan', has been roped in for the endorsement of the brand now.

Ever since Vijay added 'Toofan' to his name for his social media handles, it has become a hot topic of discussion among his fans and followers. Added to that, a poster featuring Vijay endorsing the soft drink has also gone viral.

In the poster, Vijay can be seen holding the bottle - 'Soft Drink Kaadu, idi Toofan', which means, 'This is not just a soft drink, this is a storm'.

On the work front, Vijay's upcoming movie 'Liger' will release in theatres soon. Directed by Puri Jagannadh, 'Liger' stars Ananya Panday and former professional boxer Mike Tyson of the US in the lead roles.
Jaipur, Jan 31 : Senior IAS officer Usha Sharma, who had been appointed Rajasthan's second woman Chief Secretary, took over charge on Monday evening.

Incumbent Niranjan Arya, who has retired, handed over the charge to Sharma, who was released from Central deputation on Sunday at the state goverment's request.

A 1985 batch IAS officer, she was posted in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Sharma, the second woman Chief Secretary after Kushal Singh who held the post in the previous Ashok Gehlot government, will have a tenure of about one and a half years as she is due to retire in June 2023 - six months before the next Assembly elections.

She has worked as a district Collector in Bundi and Ajmer, as well as Registrar of Co-operative Societies, JDA Commissioner, Member Secretary of the State Planning Board, CMD of SPINFED and Rajasthan Handloom Development Corporation, Industries Commissioner, Urban Development and Housing Secretary, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Tourism, Principal Secretary, Tourism, as well as key posts in the Central Government Arya, meanwhile, has been appointed as an advisor to the Chief Minister.
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MONDAY, Jan. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- California lawmakers must vote by Monday on whether to keep a bill to create a universal health care system moving forward.

Monday, Jan. 31, is the last chance for California Democrats in the Assembly to keep the bill alive this year.

That bill is separate from a second bill to fund the universal health care system, which has a different deadline and doesn't have to pass on Monday.

If both bills were passed, California would become the first state to offer universal health care, but it faces strong opposition from business groups and the insurance industry, the Associated Press reported.

It would cost taxpayers at least $356.5 billion a year to cover the health costs of nearly 40 million residents, according to the latest estimate. Californias total operating budget -- which pays for public schools, courts, roads and bridges and other important services -- is roughly $262 billion this year, the AP said.

Earlier this month, Democrats proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would permit new taxes on businesses and individuals that would generate about $163 billion a year to help pay for the universal health care system, and allow tax increases to cover costs as they rise, the AP reported.

"A vote for this bill is naturally a vote for the taxes that come along with it," Preston Young, a policy advocate with the California Chamber of Commerce who is leading a coalition of 130 companies against the bill, told the AP. "Health care costs continue to increase, so the tax obligations correlated with it will go up as well."

But for those who support the bill, the logic is simple: Californians and their employers are already paying far too much for health care through high deductibles, copays and monthly insurance premiums, but if the bill becomes law it would eliminate all of those and replace them with taxes.

"Sure, there is sticker shock. But there should be sticker shock for how much we are paying now," Stephanie Roberson, director of government relations for the California Nurses Association, told the AP. "What are we getting? People are still uninsured. People are still underinsured. People are going into medical debt. People have to reach tens of thousands of dollars of deductibles. We'll eliminate that under this program."

Progressives have called for a single-payer health system in the United States for years, saying it would control costs and save lives. But the concept has never come to fruition: Vermont enacted the nation's first single-payer health care system in 2011, but later abandoned it because of the cost. National proposals in Congress have gone nowhere, the AP reported.

Even in California, voters overwhelmingly rejected a single-payer system in a 1994 ballot initiative. State lawmakers tried again in the 2000s, twice passing single-payer legislation only to have both bills vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican. Another attempt in 2017 passed the Senate but died in the Assembly, the AP reported.

On Monday, the bill needs 41 votes to survive. Democrats have 56 of the 80 seats in the Assembly, but they are missing three of their more liberal members who have recently resigned to take other jobs, the AP reported.

Importantly, a key ally has not come to the defense of the bill: Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom campaigned for a universal health care system during his 2018 run for governor, but has focused mostly on expanding access to insurance coverage since taking office.

Newsom has said he still supports a single-payer system, with a commission he established to study the idea set to release its report later this year. But Newsom has been silent on this latest proposal ahead of Monday's deadline, the AP reported.

More information

Visit Harvard University for more on universal health care.

SOURCE: Associated Press


Chandigarh, Jan 31 : Two-time Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family owns no personal vehicle, but owed a loan of Rs 2 crore for a 'royal' farmhouse in the lower Shivalik hills near Chandigarh.

The assets worth Rs 3.55 crore were declared on Monday by Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh.

However, the value of assets declared by the 80-year-old former Congress leader dropped massively as compared to that declared during 2017 assembly polls when he was with the Congress.

Amarinder is the candidate from Patiala (urban) seat. He will contest against Congress candidate and former Mayor Vishnu Sharma.

He had declared total assets worth Rs 86.33 crore including that of his wife former union minister Preneet Kaur when he had successfully contested from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat during 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

In his affidavit filed before the Returning Officer in Patiala, Amarinder Singh declared his gross movable assets and his wife's worth Rs 3.55 crore and Rs 4.17 crore, respectively.

The scion of erstwhile royal state of Patiala, who owns the palatial new Moti Bagh palace in Patiala, has no criminal case. However, he is facing a complaint the income tax "evasion".
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Supreme Court on Monday restrained the Centre and Navy from releasing some male and female officers, who did not get permanent commission.

A bench, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, sought reply from the Centre, represented by senior advocate R Balasubramanian and Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain.

The bench, also comprising Justice Surya Kant, asked the Centre's counsel to re-examine the grievances of a batch of naval officers, including those who have already been released from the service.

The advocates, appearing for the naval officers, submitted the vacancy position, which has been computed by the naval authorities, is not aligned with the court's direction in the final judgment in Commander Annie Nagaraja case, which was delivered in 2020.

The bench noted that some naval officers are short of pensionable services by a year or two and those released, can be considered for pension.

Citing that some officers will be released later this week, it said: "We direct that the officers who are already in service shall not be released pending further orders of this court." The lawyers pointed out that vacancies, spread over 15 years, have been substantially reduced, due to which officers, who would otherwise be eligible for permanent commission, have been denied it.

After hearing arguments, the top court issued notice to Centre and Navy and sought their replies within four weeks. The top court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by short service commission naval officers, who were not considered for permanent commissions.

Jain said that he would have a re-look in each case and file a detailed counter-affidavit.

The lawyers for the petitioners argued that on the last day of hearing, proceedings of the selection board were tendered before the Armed Force Tribunal, and as a result, the officers had no opportunity to challenge it.

The top court clarified that the present case proceeding will not affect matters, which are pending before the AFT regarding the pre-2008 naval recruits and the tribunal should proceed with it.

The top court, in March 2020, granted permanent commission to women officers in the Navy.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : The Telangana government on Monday asked the managements of all pubs in Hyderabad to take all the steps to check usage of drugs in their premises.

Minister for Prohibition and Excise V. Srinivas Goud held a meeting with managements of all pubs and gave them instructions in the wake of the state government declaring a crackdown on narcotic drugs.

The pub owners were told that they will be held responsible if drug abusers were found to be using their premises.

They have been asked to observe movements of customers, check if anything is mixed in cigarettes and keep an eye on other suspicious activity.

The pub managements were told that they can install CCTV cameras in the smoking area to keep a check on their customers for any suspicious activity.

The minister told pub owners not to be afraid while dealing with drug peddlers or abusers, even if they are influential. He assured them that the government will give them all the support and even a special incentive.

Srinivas Goud also stated that serious action will be taken against those operating through dark web and other courier services to transport drugs.

The minister said foreign students booked for drug abuse will be repatriated to their respective countries and their passport will be seized.

Referring to complaints about sound pollution caused by pubs, the minister directed them not to play loud music. He warned that pubs playing loud music will be booked and their equipment will be seized.

The complaints about noise pollution can be made to the Excise Department on toll free number 1800-425-2523. Pub owners were also asked to display the toll free number inside the premises.

Excise Department officials will undertake inspections to check if the pubs are following the instructions on noise pollution.

Monday's meeting came close on the heels of the state government announcing an action plan to eradicate the menace of drugs.

At a meeting with police and excise officials on January 28, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao made it clear in the narcotic drug cases, the accused will not be spared however high and mighty they may be.

He also directed officials to cancel licenses of the pubs and bars if they are found allowing drug consumption.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The successful privatisation of Air India was particularly important, not only in terms of garnering disinvestment proceeds, but also to boost the privatisation drive, the Economic Survey, tabled in the Parliament on Monday, said.

The Centre on Thursday handed over the management control of national carrier Air India to a subsidiary of Tata Sons.

The recently-introduced New Public Sector Enterprise Policy and Asset Monetisation Strategy by the Centre reaffirm its commitment towards privatisation and strategic disinvestment of public sector enterprises, the Survey document said.

The National Monetisation Pipeline has estimated an aggregate monetisation potential of Rs 6 lakh crore through core assets of the Central government, over a four-year period from FY22 to FY25.

The top five sectors which capture around 83 per cent of the aggregate pipeline value include roads, railways, power, oil and gas pipelines, and telecom.

Of the estimated potential, around 15 per cent of assets with an indicative value of Rs 0.88 lakh crore are envisaged to be rolled out in the current financial year ending March.

The Budget for FY22 also emphasized monetisation of assets as one of the three pillars for enhanced and sustainable infrastructure financing in the country.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat' campaign is linking the abilities of women with the development of the country.

He also said that in more than 60,000 start-ups that have emerged after 2016, 45 per cent have at least one woman director.

The Prime Minister said this while virtually addressing the 30th National Commission for Women (NCW) foundation day programme. The theme of the programme 'She The Change Maker' is aimed at celebrating the achievements of women in different fields.

The Prime Minister emphasised that for centuries, India's strength has been the small local industries or the MSMEs and in these industries, women have the same role as men.

"The old thinking had restricted women and their skills to domestic work. It is necessary to change this old thinking in order to advance the economy of the country. 'Make in India' is doing this today. AatmaNirbhar Bharat campaign is linking the ability of women with the development of the country," he said.

The Prime Minister further stated that this change is visible as about 70 per cent beneficiaries of Mudra Yojana are women.

"The country has seen a three-fold increase in the number of women self-help groups in the last 6-7 years. Similarly, in more than 60,000 start-ups that have emerged after 2016, 45 per cent have at least one woman director," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the participation of women in the growth cycle of new India is increasing relentlessly and Women's Commissions should work to promote and give maximum recognition to this role of women in the entrepreneurship of the society.

"Since 2015, 185 women have been honoured with Padma Awards. This year too, 34 women figured among the awardees in different categories. This is a record as this many awards to women are unprecedented," the Prime Minister said.

Modi said that in the last seven years, the policies of the country have become more sensitive towards women and today, India is among the countries with provision of maximum maternity leave.

"Marriage at an early age does not hinder the education and career of daughters so the age of marriage of daughters is being attempted to be raised to 21 years," he said.

The Prime Minister also talked about the historical distance of rural women from empowerment.

He listed the steps such as nine crore gas connections and toilets, pucca (permanent) houses of PM Awaas Yojna in the name of women of the house, support during pregnancy, Jan Dhan accounts, that make these women the face of changing India and women empowerment.

"When women make a resolution, they only set the direction of that. That is why whenever a government does not prioritise women safety, women have ensured their departure from power," the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that the government is working with a policy of zero tolerance for crime against women.

"There are strict laws in this regard including capital punishment for heinous cases of rape. There are fast track courts and steps like more women help desks in police stations, 24 hour helplines, and a portal to deal with cyber crimes are being taken," he said.

Greeting the NCW on its foundation day, he said, "The milestone of 30 years, whether in the life of an individual or of an organization, is very important. This is the time for new responsibilities and for moving forward with new energy." "Today, in changing India, the role of women is continuously expanding. Therefore, the expansion of the role of the NCW is also the need of the hour. All the women's commissions of the country will also have to increase their scope and give a new direction to the women of their states," he said.
Jammu, Jan 31 : The Indian Army's Northern Command on Monday bade farewell to Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi as he relinquished the command on January 31.

"Lt Gen Joshi assumed the appointment of GOC-in-C, Northern Command at Udhampur on February 1, 2020 and he relinquishes command on January 31, 2022," a Defence statement said.

"Lt Gen Joshi was commissioned into 13 JAK RIF (Bravest of The Brave) on June 12, 1982 and later commanded the same unit. The General Officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and a postgradutate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington," the statement said.

He also attended the prestigious National Defence College Course in Delhi.

"The General Officer has had command experience spanning the entire mosaic, covering all theatres. He commanded 13 JAK RIF in Operation VIJAY and PARAKRAM. The General Officer caught the attention of the nation during the Kargil War with his outstanding leadership and led his unit to unprecedented success. In Operation VIJAY under his command, the unit was awarded with a total of 37 gallantry awards including two Param Vir Chakra, eight Vir Chakra and 14 Sena Medals," the statement noted.

"The unit has also been awarded with the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation and the 'Bravest of Brave' award. The General officer himself was awarded the VIR CHAKRA during his command of 13 JAK RIF in the operations. The General Officer has commanded an Infantry Brigade in Tangtse, Infantry Division in Karu and Corps in Leh.

He has also served as Director General Infantry and was instrumental in catalysing the modernisation drive of the Infantry. He was the Chief of Staff, Northern Command before taking over the reigns of Northern Command as Army Commander.

"The General Officer has had tenures as Instructor at Infantry School, Mhow and varied staff exposure, including staff appointment at Military Operations Directorate and as Defence Attache to Beijing (China). He has also served as Military Observer in United Nations, Angola.

"Lieutenant General YK Joshi will keep on inspiring the Officers of the Indian Army in the times to come," the statement added.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : A woman cannot be treated as a commodity, having no rights to say no, an advocate for a petitioner in the matter related to the criminalisation of marital rape told the Delhi High Court on Monday.

A bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and C. Hari Shankar were hearing a batch of pleas, challenging the exception to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and seeking a direction that marital rape is declared as an offence and a crime.

"We will address the issue of punishment, as it does not serve either the victim or the perpetrator. The exception is entirely independent of that concern," advocate Karuna Nundy, representing petitioner NGOs RIT Foundation and All India Democratic Women's Association, said in her rebuttal submissions for the petitioners.

"It is quite clear that a rapist does not remain a rapist and marriage does convert him to a non-rapist," she added.

Nundy said that her arguments were divided into three sections.

"First, our constitution is transformative and requires us to travel to the destination of constitutional morality. The second is what is the test that is to be applied to the SC judgement in independent thought. Third thing is that we will address the marital rape argument and the fact that is pre-independence, has no application of mind.

"Our Constitution is in our hands, women have gained universal suffrage, right to work, right to worship and right against divorce by utterance of three words," she said.

The arguments, which were inconclusive on Monday, will continue on Tuesday.

Leading lawyer Rebecca M John, who is assisting the court in the matter as amicus curiae, had earlier told the court that there was a fair expectation of sexual relationship in a marriage.

"Expectation cannot be penalised. The spouse has a right to resort to civil remedies. But if the expectation becomes a physical act based on coercion and force, then that sexual act must become an offence," she had argued.

The Centre had recently filed a fresh affidavit in the high court, in response to a clutch of petitions to criminalise marital rape, maintained that it was examining the issue of broad changes in criminal law of the country and that the petitioner could also give their suggestions to the competent authorities.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Supreme Court on Monday said delay in mega projects, which are funded by foreign countries under a bilateral agreement, "may not be in the larger public interest, and also not in the nation's interest".

The top court's stance came as it set aside a Delhi High Court judgment, directing National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) to consider the bid of Montecarlo Ltd, for construction and development of a depot in connection with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna said: "Such an interference by the courts midway and delay in the projects like these which are funded by the foreign countries on bilateral mutual understanding/agreement by the developed country to a developing country may affect the future investments/funding.

"Any delay in execution of such a mega project, which is a very important project for the developing country like India may not be in the larger public interest and in the nation's interest." It pointed out that the high court ought to have appreciated that it is always advisable that in such a foreign-funded mega project, delay may have a cascading effect and many a time, lead to financial burden.

"Therefore, there shall be minimal interference and/or no interference till the entire tender process or till the award of contract is completed," said Justice Shah, who authored the 82-page judgment on behalf of the bench.

The bench emphasised there shall be different considerations so far as the judicial interference is concerned between foreign-funded contracts and the ordinary public works contracts funded from public exchequer.

It noted that it is difficult for a developing country to go ahead with such a high cost project unless a developed country is ready to fund, more particularly, when the developed country is ready to fund a huge amount at a minimal concessional rate of interest and on suitable terms and conditions of repayment.

The bench said: "Before entertaining the writ petition with respect to such mega projects funded by the foreign countries, one has to appreciate that funds of such mega projects by the foreign country is followed by a detailed discussion between the Prime Ministers of both the countries and to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the rail sector." The NHSRCL had rejected Montecarlo's bid and awarded the contract to another firm. Montecarlo moved the high court claiming that no reasons were assigned while rejecting its bid.

The bench said: "We are also of the opinion that in a mega project, which is funded by a foreign country, there shall not be any interference with the tender process midway till the final decision is taken to award the contract." It said it is required to be noted that a conscious decision was taken by JICC/JICA holding that the bid submitted by the original writ petitioner suffers from material deviation and the same cannot be said to be a substantially responsive technical bid, and emphasised it was not open for the high court to interfere with this decision.

"When the JICA has agreed to fund such a huge amount and the terms and conditions of the tender document are finalised by the JICC/JICA, and, therefore, when conscious decision has been taken by the JICC/JICA, the same was not required to be interfered with by the High Court lightly and when such a decision of the High Court would have a cascading effect on such a foreign-funded mega project," said the bench.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday during the all-party meeting that only President's address, and the tabling of Budget is scheduled to happen in the first half of the Budget Session.

The all-party meeting was convened by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi ahead of the tabling of Union Budget on Tuesday.

Joshi said other issues can be raised in the second part of the session.

"We have said that if the parties cooperate in smooth functioning of the Parliament, the government is ready to discuss all issues. We hope that this session will run smoothly," he further said.

He also made a request on behalf of the government that the Session should run smoothly.

"The session will provide a total of 29 sittings (10 sittings in first part and 19 sittings in second part) spread over a period of 68 days and representatives of all parties have agreed to cooperate with the government on the smooth functioning of the Parliament," Joshi added.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister also said that the debate on the President's address and on the Union Budget will be held for 12 hours each in Lok Sabha.

However, the duration of debate that would take place in Rajya Sabha will be decided after the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Upper House.

Speaking on the Opposition's demand to hold a debate on Pegasus snooping issue, he said the matter is subjudiced as the case is in Supreme Court.

Addressing the meeting, after listening to points raised by the leaders of all the parties, Rajnath Singh expressed his gratitude for the healthy discussion held in the meeting and stated that there was a consensus on the House not to be stalled.

Responding to the points made by leaders of the parties, he said they could identify issues on which they would want discussions to be held.

Apart from Singh, other Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan also attended the meeting.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Jan 31 : A court here on Monday directed the Delhi Police to obtain requisite sanctions from the concerned authorities to prosecute real estate baron Sushil Ansal, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail after being convicted in Uphaar evidence tampering case, in connection with a case related to alleged fraud in passport renewal.

On the submission of the investigation officer that the application seeking sanctions is pending before the concerned authority, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Pankaj Sharma of Patiala House Court directed the Delhi Police to ensure the procurement of the relevant sanctions.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on February 21. In the chargesheet, the police had stated that Sushil had deliberately concealed the information regarding criminal proceedings pending against him and also his conviction in his declaration in a passport application form.

As per the complaint of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) Chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorthy, it was alleged that Ansal obtained the passport through illegal means by suppressing the most material information -- that he was facing criminal charges and had been convicted and sentenced for two years in the Uphaar fire tragedy.

The Delhi Police has filed a chargesheet against Sushil Ansal under section 177 (furnishing false information) and 181 (false statement on oath) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12 of Passport Act.

Police also submitted that during the course of an investigation, no evidence came on record against the then police officer who conducted the verification in 2013 of the passport of the accused as he carried out the verification as per laid down procedure.

On January 27, the Delhi High Court had reserved the order on the plea filed by businessmen Sushil and Gopal Ansal against their seven-year sentence in the Uphaar tragedy evidence tampering case.

On November 8, 2021, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House Court, Pankaj Sharma, had sentenced Ansals to seven years imprisonment besides imposing a fine of Rs 2.25 crore on both in the evidence tampering case.

Ansals are presently lodged in Tihar Jail in the national capital.On June 13, 1997, halfway through the screening of Hindi film "Border", a fire broke out in the Uphaar cinema -- owned by Ansals, located in Green Park in south Delhi, killing 59 people in one of the worst fire tragedies in the country.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Mostly clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Creating a buffer for pulses and onions, suitable import policy for lentils, strict measures against speculation and hoarding, and offering incentives for production and alternates are among the measures that the government has undertaken to mitigate rise in prices of essential commodities, the Economic Surver 2021-22 said.

The government procured pulses in 2020-21 and 2021-22 from farmers/farmers' producer organisations (FPOs) to ensure effective intervention during price rise through utilisation of buffer stocks. it said, adding that the target for pulses buffer in 2021-22 is at 23 LMT while onion buffer of 2.08 LMT has been created in 2021-22 and released in a calibrated and targeted manner to contain price rise.

Tur and urad are kept under 'free' import category till March 31, 2022 to augment domestic availability of pulses, it said, adding, that the basic import duty and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess on masur have been brought down to zero and 10 per cent, respectively.

Five-year MoUs have been signed with Myanmar for annual import of 2.5 LMT of urad and 1 LMT of tur, and with Malawi for annual import of 0.50 LMT of tur. The MoU with Mozambique has been extended for another five years for annual import of 2 LMT tur.

The basic duty on refined palm oil/palmolein, refined soyabean oil and refined sunflower oil has been reduced to 17.5 per cent from 32.5 per cent with effect from October 14, 2021 to soften the prices of edible oils.

Futures trading in mustard oil on NCDEX has been suspended and stock limits have been imposed, the Economic Survey said.

"The Department of Food and Public Distribution has imposed stock limits on edible oils and oilseeds for a period up to March 31, 2022. The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2021 has been issued w.e.f. October 8, 2021. It has also been directed to ensure that edible oils and edible oilseeds stock is regularly declared and updated on the portal of the Department of Food & Public Distribution," it added.

The government is also taking steps to improve the production of secondary edible oils, especially rice bran oil, to reduce the import dependence. Soyameal has been included as an essential commodity in a bid to cool down its domestic prices.
London, Jan 31 : Boris Johnson characteristically came out fighting in the House of Commons, as his future as the Prime Minister of Britain hung in the balance following an investigation by a senior civil servant, Sue Grey, into partying at his office-cum-residence at 10 Downing Street in London damningly violation of Covid-19 laws at the epicentre of political power in the UK.

He described the report as 'a tissue of nonsense' in response to the leader of the Labour party and of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of ignoring it and calling him a 'man without shame'.

Johnson cowered behind a police inquiry currently underway as a result of the facts unearthed by Grey.

Johnson's immediate predecessor and Conservative party colleague Theresa May, whose exit he is said to have engineered, sarcastically asked him if he had not read Covid rules, did not understand them or thought he was exempt? May is looked upon as a person who might navigate Johnson's ouster from behind the scene. If 54 Conservative MPs ask for a leadership contest, this will automatically be triggered.

A leadership contest could open the door for Rishi Sunak, now Chancellor of the exchequer, to throw his hat into the ring.

Controversially, what surfaced in the public domain on Monday after a week of dilly-dallying was reportedly a heavily redacted report. The British capital's metropolitan police, popularly known as Scotland Yard, insisted on this, so as not to jeopardise the criminal inquiry it has been entrusted with, based on Grey's findings.

The Yard is probing 12 of the 16 parties examined by Grey, which will interrogate Johnson 'under caution', which means as a suspect, not as a witness.

Johnson in other words is believed to have committed the crime of allowing or himself being knowingly and willingly a participant in the concerned parties or social gatherings, thereby not following Covid-19 rules legislated by his own government.

Grey concluded: "At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of the government, but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time." She disclosed: "Some staff wanted to raise concerns about behaviours they witnessed at work but at times felt unable to do so." "The whole of the country rose to the challenge," she wrote, adding: "Ministers, special advisers and the Civil Service, of which I am proud to be a part, were a key and dedicated part of that national effort. However, as I have noted, a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did." It was circulating in media that Grey admitted her report does not provide a 'meaningful' account of 'partygate' because of omissions requested by the police. It was, though, still quite a bombshell, as expected.

In a rowdy session of the Commons, leader of the Scottish National Party, Ian Blackford, was ordered to leave the chamber by the Speaker after the former insisted on saying Johnson had 'misled the House' - by convention a resigning matter in British politics.

The parties allegedly took place between March 28, 2020 and May 17, 2021.
Bhopal, Jan 31 : A day after a number of cows were found dead at a cowshed in Berasia near Bhopal, the Madhya Pradesh government on Monday ordered a magisterial probe into the matter.

The government has also directed to set up a medical camp for providing treatment to the cows, and instructed the officials to shift them to other cowsheds.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Monday that it was learnt after the post-mortem that the cows had died due to several reasons like old age, pneumonia and liver failure.

"The case of death of cows at a private cowshed in Berasia is sad. The state government will now take proper care of the cows by taking the operation of this gaushala in its own hands," Mishra said at a press conference.

The minister said that a 'private party' has been operating cowshed on the government land, which now will be made encroachment-free.

On Sunday, the Bhopal district administration had booked Nirmala Devi Shandilya, the proprietor of cowshed in Berasia. She is said to be associated with the BJP.

While a number of cows were found dead, skeletons of cows were found near the same cowshed.

Shandilya had been running a cow shelter in Berasia for the past 30 years.

The matter came into light on Sunday after some villagers shot video of carcasses of cows that were left abandoned in a dry well near the shelter and posted on social media.

Later, a team led by district collector Avinash Lavania visited the shelter.

"During the visit, we found about 60 carcasses of cows. Most of them were fully decomposed. About half a dozen cows were killed in the past one week and their carcasses were sent for post-mortem to know the reason behind the deaths. The FIR was registered for not disposing of the carcasses. A camp was also organised to check the health condition of the rest of the cows... around 200 in number," Lavania said.

It has also been learnt that in the last two years, the state government has provided over Rs 21 lakh for the cowshed -- Bharati gaushala in Berasia.
United Nations, Jan 31 : India has called for de-escalating the tensions around Ukraine through a diplomatic solution that addresses "legitimate security interests of all" as the US and Russia clashed in the Security Council on Monday.

"India's interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond," India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said.

"It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue," he said, adding: "Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour." The US and Britain, in particular, have warned of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security," Tirumurti said.

Earlier, India abstained on a procedural vote on the Council meeting discussing the threats to peace arising from the situation around Ukraine.

Moscow opposed the proposal made by the US to take up the "international threats to peace" due to what the US said was the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's border.

China joined Russia in voting against the agenda item.

Monday was seen as the last day to have a discussion of the Ukraine issue before Russia takes over the presidency of the Council on Tuesday under the system of monthly rotation of leadership.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that he does not expect Russia to invade Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelentsky last week has said that he did not expect an imminent invasion from Russia and criticised talk of the threat.

"We have also been in touch with all concerned parties," Tirumurti told the Council.

"More than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us." Tirumurti said that India urges "all parties to continue to engage through all diplomatic channels and to keep working towards the full implementation of the 'Minsk Package'".

The Minsk Package is a set of agreements reached in 2014 ad 2015 among representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian separatists, and the multinational Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the de-escalating the situation in Ukraine.

Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France have been engaged in a process of diplomacy to deal with the situation that is known as the Normandy Format.

Tirumurti said: "Flowing from the recently concluded meeting in Paris under the Normandy Format, we also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire (in Donbas) and reaffirmation of Minsk Agreements as the basis of work under the ongoing Normandy format." UN Under Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo told the Council: "We remain greatly concerned that, even as these efforts continue, tensions keep escalating amid a dangerous military build-up in the heart of Europe." She noted that there are reports of over 100,000 Russian troops and heavy weaponry are positioned along border with Ukraine and troops and weaponry being sent to Belarus ahead of large-scale joint military exercises in February on the borders with Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic nations.

"NATO members are also reportedly planning additional deployments in Eastern European member states, and NATO has advised that 8,500 troops are now on high alert," she added.

US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned: "We will be decisive, swift, and united should Russia further invade Ukraine." But she also said later that the US has no plans to "weaken" Russia.

"Russia's aggression today not only threatens Ukraine. It also threatens Europe. It threatens the international order this body is charged with upholding," she said.

Thomas-Greenfield called the Russian deployments the largest mobilisation of troops in Europe in decades and said: "We cannot just 'wait and see'. It is crucial that this Council address the risk that their aggressive and destabilising behaviour poses across the globe." She mentioned the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its backing for Ukrainian separatists.

Russia's Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia said that Moscow has "categorically been rejecting" plans for an invasion of Ukraine.

There is "no threat of a planned invasion into Ukraine, from the lips of any Russian politician or public figure", he said.

The troop deployment was in his own country, he said, but the US acts as if an invasion has taken place, he said.

Nebenzia said "that they're all assuring us is going to take place in just a few weeks' time if not a few days' time" and while there is "no proof of confirming such as serious accusation", it "is not preventing people from whipping up hysteria to such an extent that an actual economic impact is already being felt by our Ukrainian neighbours".

He cited Washington making the case at the Council in 2003 for its invasion of Iraq, claiming it had weapons of mass destruction, which could not be found after US invasion.

Ukraine's Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya said his country "is ready to defend itself".

He expressed concerns over the troop build-up which he saw as a threat to his country.

He said Kyiv is keeping its lines of diplomacy open but said that Russia should talk and not bring troops to the border.

As for Russia's assertions that it does not plan to invade Ukraine, he said: "Let's judge by action, not semantic puzzles." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, Jan 31 : Bihar's Liquor Prohibition Minister Sunil Kumar on Monday said that liquor deaths in the states are happening due to poisonous liquor and not due to the liquor ban.

"People of the state are poor and some of them are involved in this illegal business to earn some money. They choose wrong methods to make liquor and sell it in the market. The poor consumer buys such liquor as it is available at low price and became a victim of spurious liquor," he said.

"Our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rightly pointed out that you could lose your life if you drink the wrong things," he said.

The Nitish Kumar government is facing criticism from its coalition partners as well as opposition leaders over its "faulty" implementation of liquor ban law in Bihar.

Critics believe that due to liquor ban, the mafia gangs involved in the illegal business are secretly making liquor where purity is completely compromised. They use to make liquor, having higher potency, which sometimes becomes poisonous.

Liquor ban was imposed in Bihar in April 2016. Following its implementation, hundreds of liquor tragedies took place and thousands of people died or lost their eyesight permanently in Bihar. Three liquor tragedies took place on January 15 this year, leaving at least 37 dead.
Tumakuru : , Jan 31 (IANS) A local court in Karnataka on Monday handed over a 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh to an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of police for raping a mentally challenged woman inside a moving car in Tumakuru district.

Umeshaiah, an officer attached to the women's police station in Tumakuru, had taken away the mentally challenged victim in a private vehicle on January 15, 2017, and raped her near Antarasanahalli Bridge inside the moving car.

Judge H.S. Mallikarjuna Swami of Second Additional District and Sessions Court issued the conviction order against the accused cop and also gave him direction to give Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the victim lady.

The case made headlines, causing severe embarrassment to the police department.

The parents of the victim had lodged a complaint against the accused. Eshwar, the second accused in the case who drove the vehicle, has been cleared of the charges levelled against him. Public prosecutor Kavitha had appeared for the victim.

The victim had left her home after a quarrel with her family members on the fateful day at 7 pm. The accused cop, who was on night duty, had spotted her at around 11 pm and questioned her.

Though the victim gave him her brother's contact number, the accused asked her to board a private vehicle on the pretext of dropping her back.

The accused cop raped the victim inside the moving car before dropping her at her home at 3.30 am. After the family members came to know about the incident, the victim's mother approached the police and lodged a complaint.
Gandhinagar, Feb 1 : The Border Security Force on Monday apprehended a Pakistani fisherman in the Sir Creek area, and seized three boats, officials said.

According to the BSF Gujarat Frontier, a BSF patrol in the general area of Lakhpatwari Creek which is at the mouth of Sir Creek, observed movement of some Pakistani fishing boats with 4-5 fishermen, attempting to enter into Indian territory by taking the advantage of rough seas.

The alert patrol party intercepted the Pakistani intruders the moment they tried to enter Indian territory, and the latter, seeing the BSF personnel, tried to escape. The BSF patrol chased them and apprehended one man and seized three Pakistani fishing boats, while rest of the fishermen managed to escape back into their territory, taking advantage of marshy terrain.

All the three seized boats were searched but nothing suspicious has been recovered from them.

The BSF also said that a thorough search operation of the area has been launched and is still underway. However, nothing suspicious has been recovered from the area so far.
New Delhi, Feb 1 : The Central government has officially accepted the VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) request of the Joint Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED), Rajeshwar Singh.

Singh on Monday shared the news via a social media post. In the post, he wrote that after serving the Uttar Pradesh police for 10 years and the ED for almost 14 years on higher posts, today he is hanging up his boots.

"...I felt that the nationalistic politics is a better medium to serve the public at large," he wrote.

"Prime Minister Narender Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have resolved to make India 'Vishwa Shakti' and 'Vishwa Guru'," he said, adding that he want to be a part it and contribute in nation building.

Singh is likely to contest upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

In August last year, Singh, who was posted in Lucknow, had applied for the VRS. Six months after his request, the concerned department took cognisance of the matter and approved the request.

There are possibilities that he might contest election from Shahibabad.

During his tenure in ED he probed senstive cases such as 2G spectrum allocation case. He was also assigned the case of alleged irregularities in 2010 Common Wealth Games.

Similarly, the PMLA cases lodged against former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, his son Karti Chidambaram, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda were also investigated under his supervision.

By probing such high profile cases, he made his own reputation.
May 2022 Horoscope - Read what this month holds for you. 

Aries: The monthly horoscope for January shows a lot of focus in your career as multiple planets impact the tenth house of your career. See More

Taurus: The annual solar transit will impact the career until the eighteenth. So, the monthly horoscope for Taurus indicates a huge focus on your career. See More

Gemini: The monthly horoscope for Geminis shows a lot of focus on finances and partnerships. See More

Cancer: The monthly horoscope for Cancer shows a lot of focus on your personal and professional relationships. See More

Leo: The monthly horoscope for Leo shows a lot of activities regarding the workplace and health care. See More

Virgo: Virgos worldwide will be looking forward to new creative projects and team settings. See More

Libra: The monthly horoscope for Librans shows a lot of activity at home. Mars and Venus will impact the fourth house of home, which shows you, will have multiple real estate deals. See More

Scorpio: The Scorpio natives will be looking forward to multitasking during this month. The monthly horoscope for February shows much work from media, writing, IT, teaching and preaching. See More

Sagittarius: The annual solar transit is impacting your siblings and short projects. This is a month to do multiple projects, and you have to multitask. See More

Capricorn: The monthly horoscope for Capricorns shows a lot of prominences for their health as well as personal life. See More

Aquarius: The annual solar transit is impacting your life, and the Sun is very strong. This has good as well bad results, so you have to be very wise while dealing with your personal life. See More

Pisces: The monthly horoscope for Pisces shows a lot of focus on your career as Mars and Venus. See More
Simberi Airport, Simberi Island, Papua New Guinea [ NIS / ]

If you are planning to travel to Simberi Island or any other city in Papua New Guinea, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Simberi Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Simberi Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Papua New Guinea. Simberi Island Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided.

Simberi Island Airport Info:

Simberi Island Airport IATA Code: NIS Simberi Island Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -6.43333 Longitude : 147.333 City : Simberi Island Country : Papua New Guinea World Area Code : 804 Airport Type : Small Timezone : Pacific/Port_Moresby Simberi Airport Timezone : GMT +10:00 hours Current time and date at Simberi Airport is 14:22:02 PM (+10) on Thursday, May 5, 2022

Looking for information on Simberi Airport, Simberi Island, Papua New Guinea? Know about Simberi Airport in detail. Find out the location of Simberi Airport on Papua New Guinea map and also find out airports near to Simberi Island. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Simberi Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Simberi Airport, airlines operating to Simberi Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Papua New Guinea. Scroll down to know more about Simberi Airport or Simberi Island Airport, Papua New Guinea.

Simberi Airport Map - Location of Simberi Airport Load Map Papua New Guinea - General Information Country Formal Name Independent State of Papua New Guinea Country Code PG Capital Port Moresby Currency Kina (PGK)

 1 PGK = 0.284 USD

 1 USD = 3.525 PGK

 1 PGK = 0.267 EUR

 1 EUR = 3.745 PGK

 More PGK convertion rates Tel Code +675 Top Level Domain .pg

This page provides all the information you need to know about Simberi Airport, Papua New Guinea. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Papua New Guinea or traveling to Simberi Island Airport. Details about Simberi Island Airport given here include Simberi Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes)

Coordinates of Simberi Island Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Simberi Airport

Location of Simberi Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc...

Simberi Airport Time Zone and Current time at Simberi Airport

Address and contact details of Simberi Airport along with website address of the airport

Clickable Location Map of Simberi Airport on Google Map.

General information about Papua New Guinea where Simberi Airport is located in the city of Simberi Island. General information include capital of Papua New Guinea, currency and conversion rate of Papua New Guinea currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc...

NIS - Simberi Airport IATA Code
Stop us if you have heard this before, but Amity is the new No. 1 team in the GameTimeCT Top 10 Baseball Poll. The Spartans claim the top spot after previous No. 1 Warde dropped a 2-1 decision to...
Enuma, the digital early education start-up, is entering the Indonesian market. Enuma released Sekolah Enuma, the Indonesian version of Enuma School, a mobile-based self-directed learning application for foundational literacy, English, and math.

Sekolah Enuma is designed for Indonesian children to learn foundational skills up to a 2nd grade level at school or at home, even if adults are not available to support their learning. The development involved over 60 Indonesian professionals, including educators, curriculum specialists, storytellers, illustrators, and actors. Taking into consideration the local IT infrastructure, the app works even without internet connection and can work on lower cost tablets and smartphones.

Enuma held the Literacy for 10 Million Indonesian Children launch event in Jakarta on January 26th with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (MoECRT) and literacy activists in attendance. At the event, Sekolah Enuma: Bahasa Indonesia, the literacy module of Sekolah Enuma, was officially launched as a free application. With the aspiration to become the go-to education app in Indonesia, Enuma recently established its subsidiary in Jakarta and aims to work closely with the MoECRT and other businesses to widely promote the free literacy app, including to low-income families.

Sekolah Enuma: Bahasa Indonesia presents an opportunity to fill the gap for those children who have lost learning opportunities. Additionally, the app can help strengthen literacy activities nationally, explained PAUD Director at the MoECRT, Muhammad Hasbi.

Since COVID-19 there has been a surge of interest in digital education. However, few apps provide age-appropriate learning experiences for young learners. Enuma School was created to help all children learn basic reading, writing, and math joyfully, and is the culmination of our teams years of experience, said Sooinn Lee, CEO of Enuma.

Enuma is also engaged in distributing the school version of Sekolah Enuma to rural and underserved areas in Indonesia throug the Inclusive Business Solution program of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). With a 5-year grant, Enuma plans to provide teacher training to educational institutions that purchase the school version of Sekolah Enuma, and improve basic education for underserved students. The HEAD Foundation, an early partner of Sekolah Enuma, is also supporting grants to organizations looking to implement Sekolah Enuma with more marginalized communities.

As the demand for digital education for children surge, the digital equity gap will widen. Enuma plans to establish a business model that is profitable and impactful in Indonesia, then expand to other Southeast Asian countries.

About Enuma

Enuma creates exceptional learning apps that allow all children to gain confidence and independence while building foundational skills. The name Enuma comes from the word enumerate, or to name one by one, which underscores our commitment to every childs individual success.

Enumas notable products include Todo Math, Todo English, and Todo Korean with over 10 million downloads worldwide, along with Kitkit School, which was named a winner of the Global Learning XPRIZE competition in 2019. Enuma was founded in 2012, and is headquartered in Berkeley, California with offices in Seoul, Beijing Tokyo, and Jakarta.

About Sekolah Enuma: Bahasa Indonesia

A game-based learning application for early literacy, Sekolah Enuma: Bahasa Indonesia, contains over two years of learning content with more than 1,000 learning activities and over 300 e-books and videos. Enuma, Inc. released this free mobile application to complement the governments, communitys, and families efforts to provide quality literacy learning to all Indonesian children.
We believe the investments we have made in technology, digital & social media, our mobile app, and a consistent marketing message, along with our innovations in improving unit economics position us for short- and long-term success

Uncle Maddios Pizza, a pioneer in the fast-casual pizza space, looking forward to new growth opportunities. Since being purchased from bankruptcy by S&S Group and replacing management with an experienced leadership team, they, along with a committed core of fanatic franchisees, have re-invigorated the brand.

President & CEO Jim Smith, with Vice President of Franchising Bob Cuffaro and Vice President of Business Development Carell Grass have brought decades of pizza experience and franchise success to Uncle Maddios.

We purchased the brand because of the quality and unsurpassed flavors of the product, said President Jim Smith. We believe the superior taste of our unique Chef Created pizzas, along with our award-winning salads and other authentic offerings stand above our competition

The recent and ongoing challenges provided us an opportunity to pivot our operations and re-position our brand for future development. Our recent store opening on the campus of Arizona State University is an example of where we see growth opportunities for our brand, continued Smith.

We believe the investments we have made in technology, digital & social media, our mobile app, and a consistent marketing message, along with our innovations in improving unit economics position us for short- and long-term success, said Carell Grass. Uncle Maddios Pizza was one of the first hand crafted, custom made artisanal pizza concepts in the fast casual arena. Their commitment to hand made dough, fresh ingredients, and a Served with Love guarantee to customer service has resulted in significant customer loyalty.

Not only are we improving our existing franchisees success, but we are actively seeking to grow smartly in targeted franchised markets, said Bob Cuffaro. Our newest franchisee will be opening a location in Newnan GA and we are actively awarding franchise opportunities to new qualified candidates.

About Uncle Maddios Pizza:

Uncle Maddio's Pizza is a fast casual restaurant chain serving pizzas, salads, and calzones with its new headquarters in McClean, Virginia United States.

On April 13, 2019, Integrity Brands - the parent company of the Uncle Maddio's brand name - filed for bankruptcy. S&S Group purchased Uncle Maddios from bankruptcy in November 2019 without any interruption of business.

The first Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint opened in 2009 in Atlanta Georgia, the chain currently has franchised units open in Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Uncle Maddio's offers premium ingredients and more customization than any other fast-casual pizza chain. Guests choose from one of three crusts, including a gluten-free option. Award winning signature and create-your-own salads, Love cookies and cannoli for dessert, round out the Italian-style menu. Many locations also offer a selection of craft beers and wine.
A great pitch deck is concise and makes it very easy for the audience or reader to understand whats important very quickly, said Holly Faulkner

Award-winning London presentation design agency, the Presentation Experts, is giving away their best pitch deck design ever, for free. Anyone can download it directly from their website.

An engaging, immersive pitch deck is crucial for entrepreneurs seeking investment for their start-ups. To convince investors, a pitch presentation should draw listeners in and tell a story. For some entrepreneurs, telling their companys story with impressive visuals and animations isnt an easy task, but its still necessary.

For those pitches that need interactive design to win over investors, the Presentation Experts has launched their best pitch deck ever, completely free for entrepreneurs and start-ups to download from their website. The Presentation Experts is a London-based presentation and PowerPoint design agency specialising in investment and sales pitches for entrepreneurs and start-ups.

The free pitch deck contains 21 ready-made, animated, slides that any start-up can modify for their needs. The template slides are fully customisable and editable with either Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides. With a complete design theme running throughout the pitch deck, all a company has to do is fill in their text and add their key statistics.

With templates such as company introduction, market size opportunity, competitive advantages, product overview, business model, and key financial forecast chart, entrepreneurs will have all the slides they need in this free pitch deck to create an attractive visual aid for their investment pitch.

A great pitch deck is concise and makes it very easy for the audience or reader to understand whats important very quickly, said Holly Faulkner, Director of Presentation Experts. The free pitch deck, has a very strong style that is consistent throughout, something that really brings the whole pitch deck together. It tells a story. In addition to having a strong style, the pitch deck is fully adaptable. Start-ups need only add their own branding language, and the responsive stylistic elements already in place will emphasise their message.

Presentation Experts is a leading presentation design agency with a team of experts who specialise in creating dynamic presentations. The agency is led by in-house presentation designers and works with organisations from every industry of every size, from small tech start-ups to large corporations. Theyve helped brands like Sainsburys, the UK National Health Service (NHS), Bulgari, Arla, Deutsche Bank, and many more.

The Presentation Experts also assists entrepreneurs and start-ups with virtual presentations  a must in this day in age. Companies can rest assured that the free, downloadable pitch deck from the Presentation Experts is perfect for remote or virtual investment pitches as well as in-person ones. With each project they work on, this London presentation design agency always aims for the same goal: to help clients tell their stories.

Organisations whod like to benefit from the best pitch deck the Presentation Experts has ever created  for free  can download it from the Presentation Experts website.
Hanover Research, a leading provider of data and insights to K-12 leaders, has released its annual Trends in K-12 Education report. Drawing from work with more than 350 school districts, the report highlights new and continued challenges and priorities for K-12 districts in 2022. From the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic downturn to funding allocation decisions through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and charged local politics, the report outlines how these factors will shape the coming year for administrators and educators across areas concerning equity, staff retention, and student success.

Hanover is privileged to advise and collaborate with hundreds of local, regional, and state education institutions across the nation, helping them tackle the complex challenges of education today. While each school district is unique, we have found overarching trends impacting district management of their boards, community relations and resources, educator turnover, and to the need for a renewed, urgent focus on student social-emotional learning and well-being says Anil Prahlad, chief research officer, Hanover Research. We believe that the trends, recommendations, and case examples outlined in this report will help district leaders navigate the evolving challenges they will face in the coming year.

Key trends examined in the report include:



Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Face Risk of Derailment

Districts Confront Record-High Teacher Turnover

Students Continue to Struggle with Trauma and Learning Loss

Politically Charged Atmospheres Create Challenges for District Leaders

Short-Term Funding Requires Complex, Collaborative Decision-Making

K12 districts now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-envision how they fulfill their missions, to reconsider how teachers teach, to re-examine how students learn, and to determine how to best engage staff and communities,, says Sid Phillips, chief growth officer at Hanover Research. While some of these emerging challenges may be cyclical, there is increasing recognition that others may be structural, requiring major shifts in K12 education leadership approaches. This years report offers prescriptive guidance to district leaders on how to address these challenges including strategies around managing various constituents, providing support for educator well-being, prioritizing the social and emotional needs of students, and advancing equity in school systems.

To access the full report, click here.

About Hanover Research

Founded in 2003, Hanover Research is a global research and analytics firm that delivers market intelligence through a unique, fixed-fee model to more than 1,000 clients. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Hanover employs high-caliber market researchers, analysts, and account executives to provide a service that is revolutionary in its combination of flexibility and affordability. Hanover was named a Top 50 Market Research Firm by the American Marketing Association in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and by the Insights Association in 2019 and 2020. To learn more about Hanover Research, visit http://www.hanoverresearch.com.
Lulu Cordero, CEO and Founder of Bomba Curls When I went natural I heard all kinds of negative comments from people, including my friends and family. I even had cousins exclude me from a holiday party out of fear I would embarrass them by showing up with "big, natural hair".

Today, all-natural, vegan, and cruelty free hair care brand, Bomba Curls, launched in 348 Target stores nationwide (as well as Target.com), making it the first female-owned Dominican hair care brand to hit Target shelves. The launch includes all three of the brand's signature products including the Forbidden Oil ($22), Forbidden Mask ($28) and Bomba Beauty Bites ($20). The award-winning products were created by using unique elements of Dominican inspired formulations blended with generational hair care secrets and organic ingredients to naturally nourish the scalp, promote healthy hair growth and achieve luscious curls with major POP!

Bomba (noun): a state of mind or attitude that allows one to emanate confidence, fierceness and execute an effortless slay

Since launching 2 years ago, Bomba Curls has made a name for themselves amongst curly haired beauties, catering to type 3 and type 4 curls which are the most common curl types throughout the Afro-Latino and African-American communities. CEO + Founder Lulu Cordero built the brand on the idea of sharing products created with natural ingredients inspired by her Afro-Dominican heritage while bringing representation to mainstream media on the beauty of natural hair. The brands core message of celebrating the beauty of curls, kinks and melanin while pushing to broaden the spectrum of beauty has resonated with curly customers across the country.

I grew up in a world where the wild curls that naturally grew from my head had a stigma attached to them, says CEO and Founder Lulu Cordero. When I went natural I heard all kinds of negative comments from people, including my friends and family. I even had cousins exclude me from a holiday party out of fear I would embarrass them by showing up with 'big, natural hair'. Bomba Curls is my love letter to women and girls everywhere who have ever been made to feel that their natural coils and kinks are somehow anything less than beautiful.

The beauty entrepreneur began her journey to creating Bomba Curls after suffering from traction alopecia and making a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, which included no longer relaxing her hair. Once I started to eat clean I realized I wanted an all-around cleaner lifestyle, so I began looking at the beauty products I was using. I was horrified to discover that so many of my personal care products, especially hair care products, were jam-packed with extremely toxic chemicals, says Lulu. For women of color, so many of the hair care products available consist of hazardous chemicals that can not only cause chemical burns but also disrupt the endocrine system, which helps regulate hormones. Lulu went to work and used her knowledge as an undergrad in biology mixed with generations of Dominican beauty secrets to create hair elixirs that made her curls and edges flourish. Through Bomba Curls, shes continuing to spread the message that self-love is the best love.

Bomba Curls began selling in retail stores in 2020 and had a successful launch in Nordstrom and Thirteen Lune (JCPenney), ending 2021 in over 30 retail locations. Launching in Target kicks off a major retail expansion for the brand in 2022, who expects to close out the year in a combined 650 retail stores.
Alosant Azul Home Screen "Alosant Azul will revolutionize the home buying experience for developers and prospects," said April LaMon, CEO and Co-Founder of Alosant.

A leader in next-generation PropTech solutions, Alosant is unveiling its latest innovation, the Alosant Azul Prospect Experience, providing developers with a competitive edge in the continuously evolving residential real estate market.

Alosant Azul takes the home shopping experience to the next level by making it easy for prospective residents to test drive a community. The technology is an upgrade to the Alosant ResX Platform, the operating system for more than 65 of the countrys most forward-thinking master-planned communities.

Alosant Azul was built as a solution to the myriad challenges developers face interacting with active home shoppers. The new technology provides scalable, mobile-first, branded application software that offers an exceptional prospect experience, better visibility on who is interested and what theyre interested in, and enhanced data capture.

With one click of a button, developers can issue and revoke in-app access credentials for their existing access control system. This enables prospects to tour a community, explore amenity spaces, and get a true taste of the lifestyle, while developers simultaneously capture access-enabled data points.

Alosant Azul will provide developers with the key to prospect data  captured both digitally and in person  and then be seamlessly integrated within a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) to consolidate the full prospect journey.

The technology easily transitions to meet the needs of residents as well. Existing homeowners will enjoy the apps many features, including its ability to unlock doors with a shake of their smartphone.

Alosant Azul will revolutionize the home buying experience for developers and prospects, said April LaMon, CEO and Co-Founder of Alosant. People dont typically enjoy being sold to, especially when it comes to something as personal and complex as buying a home. Our technology elevates the home shopping experience by giving prospects an intimate, uninterrupted first look at life within the community, on their own time. It also compiles valuable data that is not currently captured during a traditional showing.

The technology also provides prospects with turn-by-turn directions to key destinations within the community, displaying homesites, amenities, and more that are either under construction or not yet mapped by Google/Apple.

Developers can also ignite augmented reality by virtually positioning amenities where they will one day be built. While touring the community, prospects can stop at the physical location of the future amenity and view images, renderings, and descriptions on their smart phone.

With Alosant Azul, developers can use their branded community app to bring everything together for prospects and existing residents on the one device they cant live without: their smart phone.

Officially launching Feb. 1, Alosant Azul is already being integrated at Oxland Group, LLCs Painted Tree in McKinney, Texas, a new trailside community of approximately 3,000 homesites.

Alosant understands the needs of developers, and the companys dedication to innovation is evident in the continued evolution of its operating systems, said Tom Woliver, Co-President of Oxland. Alosant Azul will provide a unique experience for Painted Tree future homeowners, while providing us with valuable data.

With real estate and tech entrepreneur LaMon at the helm, Alosant has solidified its standing as one of the most trusted and well-respected PropTech companies in the country. Founded in 2017, the company has cultivated relationships with dozens of leading real estate developers, enabling them to identify needs and solutions within the real estate industry.

Alosant Azul is the next generation of our software that will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of the real estate industry, said LaMon. Its truly the amenity that ignites all amenities within a community.

To learn more, visit Alosant.com or follow the company on LinkedIn. Read more about Alosant in Urban Land Magazine.

About Alosant

Bozeman, Mont.-based Alosant develops and powers purpose-built software solutions that connect people and places, specifically the key constituents within a residential community, including developers, home builders, residents, home shoppers, property managers, homeowner associations, local businesses, service providers and more. Offering Everything in One Place, Alosants branded native apps are designed and configured to best suit each communitys unique needs. Alosant apps are now implemented in over 65 of the countrys most innovative and fastest growing communities, including master-planned, single-family, multi-family, mixed-use, age-restricted, and member club. Alosant was founded in 2017 by real estate tech entrepreneurs April LaMon and Michael Swanson.
This alliance is a great example of synergy  when one plus one equals three and our customers realize more value. Working with Airthings, our network of healthy air experts will be better able to tailor solutions to address homeowner concerns.

AprilAire, the nationwide leader in professional-grade healthy indoor air quality solutions for the home, today announces a strategic partnership with Airthings, a global technology company that produces award-winning, best-selling indoor air quality monitors for radon and other dangerous airborne contaminants that impact overall health and wellness.

The partnership is rooted in addressing a common issue for homeowners everywhere: people spend more than 90% of their time indoors, but most are unaware of their homes indoor air qualityand when they identify a problem, they typically do not have the knowledge and expertise to remedy the situation effectively. The new AprilAire and Airthings partnership is a groundbreaking, full circle integration that combines detection, education and mitigation to offer contractors an intelligent air quality solution tailored specifically to their customers lifestyle and living environment.

The unique specializations offered by Airthings and AprilAire deliver an unbeatable air quality combo to consumers and HVAC contractors that combines the best in monitoring with the best in hands-on mitigation. Airthings is the worldwide leader in helping people learn about their indoor air quality and identify problems utilizing the brands line of smart air quality sensors to intelligently monitor conditions in the home. AprilAire is the leader in solving air quality problems with the AprilAire Healthy Air System and its complete line of whole-home healthy air solutions and nationwide network of top HVAC experts trained to install them. In partnership, the brands will now provide consumers with a one-stop shop combining the best in radon and air quality monitoring with the best solutions to manage air purity, humidity, fresh air supply, radon mitigation, and temperature.

We are proud to partner with Airthings  a company whose purpose so closely aligns with our own of making homes healthy. Together, we will increase awareness of the impact the air we breathe in our homes has on our health and well-being and the availability of effective professional solutions to deliver healthy air said Dale Philippi, President and CEO of AprilAire. This alliance is a great example of synergy  when one plus one equals three and our customers realize more value. Working with Airthings, our network of healthy air experts will be better able to tailor solutions to address homeowner concerns.

Airthings will integrate its flagship air quality monitor, View Plus, as a core component of the AprilAire partnership solution. View Plus launched in 2021 and is the most comprehensive and advanced consumer air quality monitor on the market, tracking seven air quality components including particulate matter, CO2 and radon. AprilAire recently added Radon Mitigation Systems to its healthy air solutions portfolio to control radon, the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Equipped with hub functionality, View Plus will enable HVAC professionals to remotely monitor air quality in the homes they service while also providing full air quality visibility to the homeowners themselves. When problems arise, the professional receives automatic notifications and can take immediate mitigation actions. The newly formed alliance between AprilAire and Airthings will help consumers access information on their air quality with more clarity, and expert consultation than ever before, enabling them to make informed decisions.

Our new partnership with AprilAire helps consumers navigate complex decisions in a convenient way, said Oyvind Birkenes, CEO of Airthings. Indoor air quality can be a real threat to our health and well-being, which is why proactive monitoring is essential. However, when problems arise, the next steps can seem daunting. By teaming up with AprilAire, our hope is that when people encounter indoor air quality issues, theyll turn to us to evaluate the situation, diagnose the problem, and develop recommendations and solutions to mitigate the situation if necessaryproviding peace of mind to people everywhere.

AprilAire and its national network of local healthy air experts will partner with the professionals at Airthings to interpret air quality data, validate issues, and diagnose risks from radon, mold, virus transmission, particulate matter and more helping homeowners breathe easier.

About Airthings

Airthings is a global technology company and producer of award-winning radon and indoor air quality monitors for homeowners, businesses, and professionals. Founded in 2008, Airthings is on a mission to ensure that people around the world recognize the impact of indoor air quality and take control of their health through simple, affordable, and accurate technology solutions while optimizing energy consumption in buildings. Airthings products have made radon detection and indoor air quality monitoring easy to deploy, accurate, and user friendly, and have received several accolades including the TIME's Best Inventions award and CES Innovation Award Honors. Headquartered in the heart of Oslo, Norway, and with offices in the US and Sweden the company has over 140 employees from more than 30 nationalitiesand counting. To see the full range of Airthings indoor air quality monitors and radon detectors or to learn more about the importance of continuous air quality monitoring, please visit airthings.com.

About AprilAire

AprilAire is on a mission to make homes healthy. We believe everyone deserves healthy air and envision a future with healthy air in every home. We value healthy living, customer inspired innovation, simplicity of design, straight talk and delivering real results as promised, and most importantly making a positive difference in the lives of our customers, families, and communities. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin since 1954, AprilAire has been creating and delivering Healthy Air solutions to manage air purity, humidity, fresh air supply, radon mitigation, and temperature for all types of homes, in all environments. The company has an unparalleled reputation as the brand of choice among tens of thousands of professional contractors and makes a healthy air difference in the lives of the millions of families who rely on its products every day. To learn how to turn your house into a healthy home with the AprilAire Healthy Air System, and learn about other solutions, visit http://www.aprilaire.com.

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Ascendo Resources Celebrates Companywide Team Member Promotions

Ascendo Resources is excited to announce that several members of their valued talent network have been promoted companywide. Ascendo Resources would like to congratulate all of our amazing and talented employees.

It is because of these valued team members that Ascendo continues to experience successful growth and development in the job recruitment industry.

Ascendo Resources is one of the fastest-growing businesses in South Florida and Nationwide, with locations in Florida, and over a dozen other offices across the nation.

Ascendo Resources values the business professionals who make up their award-winning team These team members are specialists in their fields and use their extensive skills and knowledge to pair quality job candidates with client organizations.

Now more than ever before companies struggle to find quality employees to join their workforce. This continues to be an ongoing issue due to the global pandemic of Coronavirus 2019.

Ascendo Resources is an employment agency that provides award-winning recruitment services for professionals across a wide range of industries. Ascendo Resources believes in forming true meaningful relationships with their clients and members of the workforce.

Theyre a team of valued recruitment specialists who take the time to get to know both their client organizations and potential job candidates. They then use this knowledge to better meet the goals and expectations of each party.

Ascendo Resources Industry Service List Includes:



Accounting

Finance

Financial Services

Compliance

Healthcare

Legal

Information Technology

Human Resources

Administration

Ascendo Resources provides their client organizations with quality professionals in these industries for temporary, direct-hire, and project positions.

Ascendo is always seeking exceptional talent for jobs in locations throughout the United States. Employment opportunities are available for several positions, including Producing Managing Director, Business Development Manager, and Executive Recruiters.

More About Ascendo Resources

Ascendo Resources continues to be the industry leader in quality detail-oriented recruitment services. Ascendo Resources has been awarded a spot on the Forbes list for Americas Best Professional Recruitment Firms, the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll as a Six-Time Honoree on Americas Fastest-Growing Private Companies List, as well as featured in several South Florida Business Journals. Their team of qualified recruitment specialists are the driving factor behind this business success.

Ascendo Resources has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. Visit their website to learn more about recruitment services that value job candidates and the organizations served.
TRIPOLI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- United Nations envoy Stephanie Williams on Monday reiterated the world body's support for the electoral process in Libya.

The UN secretary-general's special adviser for Libya made the remarks during a meeting with the Libyan presidential council in the capital, saying it is important to consolidate efforts to "push the electoral process forward, address existing bottlenecks, and embark on an inclusive and comprehensive national reconciliation process."

"I reiterated the United Nations' commitment to providing all the necessary support to the Libyan people and authorities in achieving these critical objectives," the envoy wrote on Twitter.

Libya's presidential election was due to take place on Dec. 24, 2021. The country's High National Elections Commission suggested on Dec. 22 that the election be postponed by a month to Jan. 24 over technical and legal concerns.

The election is part of a roadmap adopted by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to help restore peace to the country after years of political turmoil and violence. Enditem
The Magic Ring of Brodgar: Book One: The Inheritance By Katelyn Emilia Novak As the story progresses, I hope readers will be intrigued by Megans journey and the relationships and people she meets along the way.

In Katelyn Emilia Novaks debut book, The Magic Ring of Brodgar: Book One: The Inheritance, she pens a riveting fictional tale about a historical fantasy that comes to life. Readers will be hooked by the vivid story introducing a young woman named Megan McKenzie as her life is turned upside down when she travels to North Scotland to claim her inheritance of an ancestral castle.

Throughout the book, readers will follow Megans journey of love, ancient mysticism and an unbearable secret that will captivate the audience as the story unfolds. Novak illustrates Megan meeting her Scottish family, a powerful clan that introduces her to the history of the mystical traditions and beliefs that make up their land and unlocks secrets that have been kept for decades.

I wrote The Magic Ring of Brodgar to showcase a saga that would leave readers entertained and wanting more, said Novak. As the story progresses, I hope readers will be intrigued by Megans journey and the relationships and people she meets along the way.

This page-turner will leave readers entertained as they meet Megans loyal friends, heinous enemies and the true love of her life, a mysterious highlander named Derek. By the end of the first book, out of Novaks fantasy saga, readers will see Megan struggling with her life path as she must choose between her quiet life in London or a new life filled with magic and uncertainty.

By the end of the book, readers will be hooked and want to continue on this adventurous journey Megan embarks on. Ultimately, Novak pens a story with many twists and turns that will leave readers excited for the second book.

The Magic Ring of Brodgar: Book One: The Inheritance

By Katelyn Emilia Novak

ISBN: 978-1-6657-1350-4 (softcover); 978-1-6657-1349-8 (hardcover); 978-1-6657-1351-1 (electronic)

Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Katelyn Emilia Novak has given those who love romance and fantasy sagas a new story. True love, exciting obstacles, an intriguing plot and a beautiful fantasy style, will captivate readers and take them on an emotional rollercoaster ride, leaving them craving for more. Readers can read the second book, The Magic Ring of Brodgar: Book Twit: A Lost Love. Novak is an experienced screenwriter, which is seen throughout her books. She currently resides in London.

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

barmentrout@lavidge.com | 480-998-2600
Sharon Young, a native of Houston, Texas with a natural passion for writing, has completed her new book Tutored Sweetness: a gripping story of romance that blossoms between a young university student and her handsome tutor.

Shana Jones was normally a very good student, writes Young. But her English professor thought that her work was getting sloppy. That she wasnt living up to her full potential. He referred her to a phenomenal student named Matthew Jones. Under his tutoring, her grades soared. Matthew was such a good tutor. He taught her more than book smarts. He taught Shana to open her mind and body to a whole new hypothesis.

Published by Page Publishing, Sharon Youngs engrossing tale will leave readers breathless as it navigates Shana and Matthews relationship. Expertly paced and full of incredible drama and interesting characters, Tutored Sweetness will leave readers on the edge of their seats with each turn of the page.

Readers who wish to experience this mesmerizing work can purchase Tutored Sweetness 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.
Auto Financing made easy for customers in Moreno Valley, California

Great news for the customers near the Moreno Valley area in California, who are struggling to find an auto loan for their vehicle purchase. Hyundai of Moreno Valley is offering auto loans for all customers in Beaumont, CA, or Riverside, CA, irrespective of their credit scores. They have an amazing collection of vehicles available in their inventory including the classic Hyundai Accent, the Hyundai Elantra sedan, the Hyundai Kona and the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, to name a few.

The finance team at Hyundai of Moreno Valley will help you with auto loans, finance packages and leases. Customers with poor credit, no credit, no job or bankruptcy  we have a solution for everyone. Skilled and experienced professionals at this dealership are prepared to help all prospective candidates by navigating through the possibilities in the ever-confusing finance world and helping them drive home their dream car. The finance team at Hyundai of Moreno Valley works closely with a vast network of lenders helping them find tailor-made deals depending upon the customers eligibility and requirement.

All interested parties are encouraged to visit the official website of Hyundai of Moreno Valley or drop by in person at 27500, Eucalyptus Ave. Moreno Valley, California, 92555. Customers can also reach out to their customer care team on 951-900-4248 for any further information.
Aventura World group travelers enjoy recent travel experience throughout Egypt After traveling in 2021 and seeing how international travel can be performed safely, our recent travelers have the peace of mind to continue exploring the world and most of these groups are already planning their next group trips with us for 2022 and beyond

With strong 2022 requests and bookings, and unparalleled insight into what travelers want now, Aventura World is helping travel advisors and group planners kick-start their 2022 bookings. The company successfully carried hundreds of group participants to international destinations in 2021 and is pleased to share their experience to support travel advisors and group planners with its comprehensive group travel planning infrastructure  built to make every element of group travel planning easy and seamless.

In the last quarter of 2021, Aventura World saw group requests and bookings surge with levels even reaching highest-demand 2019 numbers to some destinations. Research has revealed that this spike is due to a number of elements. While pent-up demand has been an ongoing theme repeated over the past several months, the company also attributes this increase in requests and bookings to a shift in consumer sentiment.

"We are hearing more and more that travelers feel a need to travel for their own wellness and good mental health," said Scott. They are saying thatthey want to be active and have adventures, they want to share moments of a lifetime with family and friends, they want to get back to checking off their bucket list of places to go and things to do, they want to do things that make them happy  and they want to start now!"

In fact, many group travelers demonstrated their resolve to travel as soon as destinations started re-opening last year, continued Scott. We are pleased to share that a great number of group participants traveled with us in 2021 to international destinations including Italy, Greece, Spain, and Egypt successfully and with no delays or quarantines imposed. This is very important to note as the concern of being delayed on return to the US was a major item travelers mentioned pre-trip, but by making sure that we maintained strong policies and safety protocols and confirming that groups always met all requirements for entry into foreign countries, there was never any need for quarantines or delays. After traveling in 2021 and seeing how international travel can be performed safely, these travelers have the peace of mind to continue exploring the world and most of these groups are already planning their next group trips with us for 2022 and beyond.

With the level of complexity that goes into even basic trip planning drastically increased in the current environment, there is a new opportunity for travel advisors and group planners to really showcase how they can be a great asset to their clients.

"Now is the time for travel advisors and group planners to benefit from the renewed relevancy that they possess in this new normal that travelers must navigate by becoming their trusted travel partner, said Scott. Catering to todays travelers is where our specialized group planning knowledge shines! We have designed our systems and infrastructure to manage all aspects of group travel for travel advisors and planners.

From business development and marketing support and trip management expertise via company's Operations and Reservations departments, to Accounting functions for traveler payments, and personalized customer service, Aventura World has designed a comprehensive platform to support planners and advisors every step of the way in planning group travel  all the way through the trip and return home. As a core resource tool for advisors and planners, Aventura World is also proud to provide an easy-to-use booking engine specific to each group that saves countless hours for planners and advisors.

The companys group planning infrastructure serves as a perfect complement to the brand's distinctive experiential travel programs that offer an insiders perspective and providing enriching moments designed to bring each destination to life.

"Our inspired group travel programs take travelersto delve into off-the-beaten path places rarely mentioned in guidebooks; to have meaningful exchanges with local people that they likely would not meet on the typical tourist track; to savor the food, wine, and local libations of each region explored; to get to know each areas customs and traditions of firsthand; to live the old world treasures, antiquities, and modern day musings at every turn; to delve into music and the arts via one-of-a-kind experiences that become memories they will cherish for a lifetime!"

To contact Aventura World or to request additional information email: sales@aventuraworld.com.

About Aventura World

A valued leader in the US group travel marketplace since 1972, Aventura World is a distinctive travel company focused on elevating group travel beyond traditional sightseeing to delivering culturally rich, interactive, and in-depth destination experiences each and every time. The company is known for providing excellent client service, destination expertise, and meticulously planned tour and travel packages. As part of Aventura Worlds international awareness program, the group travel brand presents travelers with a unique insiders perspective and provides enriching moments that bring each destination to life. Backed by the strength of Sakkara Group International, Aventura World offers the reliability and security that its clients are booking and traveling with a strong, long-established, robust group tour operator with a time-honored history as well as an ongoing commitment to providing the best in travel. For additional details, visit AventuraWorld.com.
BACnet International is pleased to announce the results of its recent Board of Directors elections. The new board is comprised of ten industry executives, including: Andy McMillan, Brad Hill (chair), Paul Bartunek, James Burke, Raj Jayaraman, Erica Johnson, Todd Lash, Raymond Rae, Dennis Swoboda, and Michael R. Wilson. The board of BACnet International will continue to focus on expanding the successful use of the BACnet building automation protocol.

The following individuals will serve on the 2022 BACnet International Board of Directors:

Andy McMillan, BACnet International President & Managing Director

Andy McMillan is president and managing director of BACnet International, where he works with users and suppliers to expand and enhance the BACnet community. Formerly he served as president and general manager of a building automation unit of Philips Lighting. McMillans background includes broad open systems industry development and marketing experience, as well as strong technical knowledge of distributed automation and information management systems. McMillan has co-founded several companies and has been a featured speaker on open systems and automation at conferences in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. McMillan co-authored a book on open systems networking and holds a dozen patents in sensors, automation and software. He has MBA and BSEE degrees from the University of Michigan and is a member of ASHRAE, AEE, IEEE.

Brad Hill, Honeywell International (Chair)

Brad Hill is currently working as the Senior Director of Engineering Operations and Transformation for Honeywell Building Technologies where he is involved in progressing the advancement of the new product development organization. Hill has over 30 years' experience in the building controls industry, beginning with Honeywell in 1990 where he was involved in the design and programming of complex integrated control solutions for large projects, and commenced involvement with BACnet in 1996. He has worked in a variety of roles relating to R&D, solutions delivery, program management, product management, and portfolio governance; and has worked in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Hill holds an MBA, MES (Sustainable Energy), and a Bachelor of Computer Science.

Paul L. Bartunek, III, ABB

Paul L. Bartunek, III is the Vice President of HVAC Sales and Marketing for ABB Drives USA. ABB is an international pioneering technology leader in developing and deploying energy efficient products and systems that are transforming industry in globally sustainable ways. With over 25+ years of experience in the electronic manufacturing industry and a demonstrated history of successful relationship building, Bartunek is a skilled development professional. In his role, Bartunek leads sales and marketing initiatives for the commercial family of variable frequency drive products. He has impact with mergers and acquisitions, new product development, team building, and creating energy efficient solutions for customers.

James Burke, Johnson Controls

James Burke is the Vice President of HVAC Construction Sales, North America and is responsible for the strategic and executive leadership to achieve market share growth and secured results. Burke has been with Johnson Controls for more than 18 years. He started his career in the Controls product engineering business before transitioning to the NA Branch Organization where he took on increasing responsibility within the HVAC & Controls businesses, serving in roles such as Construction Account Executive, Branch General Manager and Area Construction Sales Manager. Most recently, Burke served as Vice President and General Manager, Building Automation Systems, Global Products, where he was responsible for the product roadmap and execution of the product strategy for the Metasys, Verasys, and other BAS Global Brands.

Raj Jayaraman, Burton Medical

Raj Jayaraman currently serves as the President of Burton Medical, a leader in medical lighting applications. Prior to joining Burton Medical, Jayaraman was Vice President of Philips Lighting, where he amassed over 30 years of experience in the lighting and electrical products industries. He has held a variety of executive positions in R&D, Lean Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing and General Management. Jayaraman was deeply involved in the connected lighting strategy and business at Philips Lighting, and also had extensive experience with M&A activities there. He received his PhD from MIT in Microelectronics and holds 9 patents.

Erica Johnson, QA Cafe

Erica Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer at QA Cafe, a dynamic software company providing test and analysis solutions to the broadband, consumer, and enterprise networking communities. In this position she utilizes her industry experience in networking and data communications to oversee the operations of the company as well as deliver on strategies for continued growth. Prior to joining QA Cafe, she was the Director of the University of New Hampshires InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) in Durham, NH, for over 10 years. In recognition of her ability to drive technical innovation, Johnson has been recognized by NH Business Review as a recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Women in Business award, Fierce Telecoms list of Women in Wireline, and was awarded, by the University of New Hampshire, the UNH Womens Commissions Stephanie Thomas Staff Award in honor of her achievements in promoting and embodying the advancement of women in the sciences. She received her Bachelor of Computer Science and MBA from the University of New Hampshire in 2001 and 2011, respectively.

Todd Lash, Siemens

Todd Lash is the Segment Head for Siemens Building Automation Products in the Americas region and is responsible for growth, profitability, and innovation of the automation products business. Todd has over 32 years of experience in the building automation industry, beginning at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories supporting the development of the ASHRAE 90.1 energy standard technical committees with digital models of building and equipment performance. In 1994, Todd made the transition to Siemens (Landis and Gyr Powers) to start up Siemens building performance and energy services/contracting business. Since then, he has held multiple positions in business segment leadership, product and portfolio management, marketing, service and channel development throughout the Americas and Asia Pacific regions. He is currently responsible for all major Siemens product automation lines in the Americas including APOGEE, Desigo, Talon and Climatix. Todd is currently a Project Haystack board member and holds MBA, MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering.

Raymond Rae, CopperTree Analytics

Raymond Rae is an active principal in CopperTree Analytics. He also co-founded ESC Automation, Delta Connects and Delta Controls, a full line manufacturer of native BACnet Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems for building automation systems which is now a part of the Delta Group under Delta Electronics Inc. Rae has been an active supporter of BACnet since its inception, serving on the board of directors and/or contributing to BMA, BIG-NA, BIG-CA, BIG-CN and BACnet International. He has enjoyed more than 45 years in the HVAC industry and has an extensive background, which includes: energy auditing, computerized building simulations, system commissioning, controls, engineering, product certifications, design and marketing. Rae has been a member of ASHRAE since 1984.

Dennis Swoboda, Blue Ridge Technologies

Dennis Swoboda is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Blue Ridge Technologies, a manufacturer of native BACnet lighting control solutions designed for open communication with most building automation systems. In his role, Swoboda oversees global sales and marketing initiatives for the sale and installation of Blue Ridge Technologies lighting control systems. In addition, he works with engineers, end users, owners and controls contractors to help lower life cycle costs, increase energy savings, and reduce carbon emissions by taking control of the largest energy loads in a building. Swoboda has over 20 years of lighting control experience, and gives frequent talks and presentations on energy codes, lighting, and BACnet. He has been a member of BACnet International for over a decade, and has previously served as the BACnet International marketing committee chair.

Michael R. Wilson, Automated Logic

Michael R. Wilson is the Product Marketing and Sales Operations Manager for Automated Logic, an industry-leading building solutions manufacturer that helps deliver healthier, safer, and more productive indoor environments. Wilson works closely with product management, engineering, channel customers, and the sales organization to specify product requirements, pricing, and delivery timescales. He produces comprehensive product launch kits and sales enablement collateral for managed products. Wilson has volunteered at BACnet International for over 14 years, serving as the marketing committee chair, a steering committee member, and on the Board of Directors.

About BACnet International

BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. It oversees operation of the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) and maintains a global listing of tested products. The BACnet standard was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and has been made publicly available so that manufacturers can create interoperable systems of products. BACnet International complements the work of the ASHRAE standards committee and BACnet-related interest groups around the world. Its members include building owners, consulting engineers and facility managers, as well as companies involved in the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and maintenance of control equipment that uses BACnet for communication. For more information, please visit bacnetinternational.org.


Blue Knob Auto Sales Offers a Range of Jeep Vehicles

Drivers of the Duncansville, Pennsylvania area interested in Jeep vehicles can find a wide variety of used Jeep vehicles at Blue Knob Auto Sales. Individuals can explore numerous models of used and well-maintained Jeep vehicles at reasonable prices. However, it is recommended that shoppers go through the inventory before heading to the dealership to make a purchase. Drivers will find more information on used Jeep models on the dealerships website.

Individuals looking for a compact crossover SUV can consider the Jeep Cherokee. On the other hand, the Jeep Compass, solely a crossover SUV, has plenty of space for friends, family, and cargo. Drivers who require more space can go for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a midsize SUV with ample interior space.

The Jeep Gladiator is for those who seek adventure and want durability. This vehicle can comfortably accommodate five people while offering a cargo bed to keep your possessions. These vehicles have powerful engines that can achieve excellent horsepower and torque. Drivers who want to have the same experience without the cargo bed can consider the Jeep Wrangler as their new buy.

Beginners may benefit from driving the Jeep Renegade, and it is a smaller vehicle that is easier to control but comes with a host of safety and driver assistance features. It is an excellent choice for younger or single drivers who do not need much cargo or interior space.

Interested customers are encouraged to browse Blue Knob Auto's online inventory and explore the vast variety of used Jeep options. Individuals who have questions can call the dealership on 814- 695-1387 and speak to the sales executive. Drivers who want to visit the dealership can find it at 2860 Route 764, Duncansville, Pennsylvania.
Lyons & Associates, P.C. is a rapidly growing boutique firm with its initial roots in matrimonial and family law. Recently, it also added practice areas of business and civil litigation, wills/trust/estates, real estate, elder law, and guardianship matters. Eric Marcy will join the firm as Chair of the brand new Criminal and Complex Litigation Department.

Marcy is not alone in re-examining what matters most. As of November 2021, the United States was seeing over 4 million people per month change their jobs. The COVID pandemic has dramatically altered the workplace landscape. People are reassessing and re-thinking their work and life goals. People are recognizing that dynamic change is positive and that new possibilities improve the quality of life and enthusiasm one has for ones career.

We have been really lucky here at Lyons & Associates, says Managing Partner Theresa A. Lyons, Esq. who also holds a Masters Degree in Social Work. While many other law firms were forced to layoff lawyers, we continue to grow. Its a testament to how hard our entire team works, as well as the reputational capital we have accumulated over the years that is now paying dividends exponentially. We are super excited to have Eric Marcy join our team.

Eric Marcy himself enjoys a strong reputation --- I have worked in the Morris County Prosecutors Office, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and many years as a Shareholder at the Wilentz Firm working on a wide variety of criminal, civil, class action, appellate, and administrative law cases. What I have learned is that each case that I handle should be treated as the most important case. Clients experience one of the most stressful times of their life. Clients economic survival and oftentimes their liberty are in the hands of counsel. Clients deserve and are entitled to the absolute commitment and empathy from their attorney and I work to meet that standard with each and every client.

Eric will work primarily out of the firms Somerville and Morristown offices, although his practice crosses the entire State of New Jersey, including federal courts.

Lyons & Associates, P.C. is a full-service boutique law firm with convenient offices in Somerville and Morristown, New Jersey. It boasts lawyers with backgrounds in a variety of practice areas, including family law, business litigation, real estate law, estate planning, and criminal and administrative law. The firms attorneys make it a goal to protect their clients. They have been featured in over 250 news and media outlets across the country. They are often recognized for their outstanding professional achievements, including being selected to Super Lawyers. For more information, please call 908-575-9777 or visit https://www.lyonspc.com.
Chris Auffenberg Family of Dealerships offers Online Pre-approval for Auto Loans

There is a splendid piece of news for the customers who are planning to purchase a vehicle this new year. Chris Auffenberg Family of Dealerships offers online pre-approval for auto loans for customers in Missouri and Illinois. With the help of an easy online application, interested customers can now check for their pre-approval eligibility online and make their next vehicle purchase a hassle-free process.

At Chris Auffenberg Family of Dealerships, the finance specialists help the customers with customized finance packages that are tailor-made for their requirements and budget. Since this group of dealerships has connections and experience with a wide variety of financial institutions, it enables them to provide financing for all credit levels. To check eligibility, interested parties can fill in a basic application form on their official website. Some of the basic information include name, email address, phone number, residential address, employer info and gross monthly income. To make the process even faster and user-friendly, customers can also fill in some basic details of the vehicle (the make, model, year, trim and total loan amount) they are planning to purchase. All personally identifiable information collected will be used by the staff only to facilitate a relationship or business transaction. Also, industry-standard data encryption techniques are being used to protect all information.

Interested individuals who would like to learn more about the online pre-approval process for financing the car purchase available at select Chris Auffenberg Family of Dealerships locations can visit the dealerships official website. Customers who have further questions and wish to speak to a customer care agent can reach out by phone as well.
Tigers Roam and Learn from Home: a charming narrative that helps young readers understand the restrictions and changes of the last two years. Tigers Roam and Learn from Home is the creation of published author Christine Tirado, a loving mother and special education teacher in Chicago. Tirado attended Indiana University Northwest, where she obtained her bachelors degrees in general education, special education, and general studies. She then went on to receive her dual masters degree at the American College of Education in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership.

Tirado shares, Liam is a school-aged Tiger who goes to school in the jungle. One day, Liam realized that he would not be attending school like he normally does. Liam discovers that he will be learning from home but understands that it is for his own safety.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Christine Tirados new book offers readers both an English and Spanish option.

Tirado presents an encouraging narrative and vibrant illustrations for readers enjoyment.

Consumers can purchase Tigers Roam and Learn from Home at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Tigers Roam and Learn from Home, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Xinhua file photo of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

"Everyone understands that Ukraine is not ready (to join NATO)," Lavrov said.



MOSCOW, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's admission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would seriously undermine relations between Russia and the alliance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday.

"Everyone understands that Ukraine is not ready (to join NATO) and will not make any contribution to strengthening NATO's security," Lavrov told a Russian TV program.

Commenting on statements that NATO is defensive, the top diplomat recalled how the U.S.-led military bloc "bombed Yugoslavia for almost three months, invaded Libya in violation of a UN Security Council resolution, and behaved in Afghanistan."

Lavrov reiterated "the indivisibility of security," the principle that no state should strengthen its own security at the expense of others.

He said that Russia is sending official requests to the member countries of NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urging them to explain what they intend to do under this principle. 
College Grad Program is available for recent college graduates at Stockton Hyundai

Students graduating from college near Stockton, California, are offered an excellent opportunity. Stockton Hyundai is offering a college graduate program for recent college graduates in the area. With this offer, eligible candidates can avail themselves of a $400 bonus toward the lease or purchase of a brand-new Hyundai vehicle. College graduates who have graduated within the past two years or college students who will graduate within the next six months with necessary employment proof would be eligible for this program.

The Hyundai College Grad Program at Stockton Hyundai is limited to well-qualified customers subject to credit approval through Hyundai Motor Finance (HMF). The documents that have to be submitted by the students to qualify for the program include a copy of the diploma or a letter from a U.S.-accredited college or university's registrar's office stating that the student had graduated within the past two years or will graduate within the next six months, and proof of employment (such as a salary slip) or an offer letter from a prospective employer confirming the employment. Additionally, there should not be any adverse credit history, and verifiable proof of employment or firm commitment from an employer should have a start date no more than 90 days from the date of the finance contract.

For any further information about this offer, prospective buyers can contact the support staff at Stockton Hyundai or visit their official website. The dealership is located at 2979, Auto Center Cir, Stockton, California, 95212. Customers can also reach out to the sales team at Stockton Hyundai by dialing (209) 227-1081.
Masks required sign on the front door of Boak & Sons, Inc. "Im extremely grateful for how well my employees have adapted to these changes, and that everyone is approaching this situation with patience and understanding. Sam Boak, president & founder, Boak & Sons, Inc.

The new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to further challenges for many businesses and individuals across the country. As more and more COVID cases are reported, many are going back to strict safety policies that first arose in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. For Sam Boak, president and founder of Boak & Sons, Inc., safety is the construction companys number one rule. In order to ensure the safety of his employees, Boak continuously updates the COVID-19 precautions being implemented at the office and in the field.

Boak & Sons, Inc. is an exterior contracting company based in Youngstown, Ohio which specializes in roofing, insulation, siding, gutters and sheet metal. The company has over 135 employees between the office staff and field employees. Back in March of 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the Stay-at-Home Order, which only allowed essential businesses to continue operations. While Boak & Sons was listed as one of those essential businesses because of the construction work they do, Sam Boak put the safety of his employees and their families before his business and closed his doors, only answering calls for emergency repairs to ensure his loyal customers were still being taken care of.

Once the order was lifted, Boak & Sons returned to a busy schedule, but with strict precautions to continue mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Its been over a year since the company came fully back to work, and those precautions along with new risk mitigations are being enforced in the field and office.

After contracting COVID-19 himself and nearly not surviving it, Sam Boak has shared with his concerns about the safety of his employees with all of them. He encourages his employees to get vaccinated, and asks that everyone, no matter their vaccination status, wear masks while not sitting in their own secluded office spaces. He also reminds everyone on a daily basis to keep their distance from others, use the phone intercom system or email to communicate with other office staff members, and to limit meetings and visits in the building and meet virtually when possible.

I understand the gravity of asking my employees to get the vaccine, said Boak. Regardless of their decision to get vaccinated or not, my top priority is the safety of my employees, their families, and our customers and partners. This is a challenge for everyone because were all forced to change how we live our lives and interact with each other. Im extremely grateful for how well my employees have adapted to these changes, and that everyone is approaching this situation with patience and understanding.

In an effort to share the companys methods of ensuring their health and safety, Sam Boak has frequently reminded employees to put safety first by implementing the following practices:



Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer when soap and water is unavailable

Limit face-to-face meetings with coworkers, customers, and partners

Avoid overcrowding in congregated areas such as group lunches in the break room, coffee stations, etc.

Wear a mask

Maintain social distancing

Notify your supervisor and leave the office immediately if youre experiencing COVID-19 symptoms

Get tested if youre experiencing symptoms

COVID-19 Precautions are revisited and reevaluated every 2-3 weeks at Boak & Sons and new memos are sent out to all employees to ensure everyone is up-to-date. All precautions are taken from the latest CDC recommendations.

To learn more about Sam Boak and Boak & Sons, Inc., visit http://www.boakandsons.com. For a complete list of COVID-19 precautions, visit the CDCs website at http://www.cdc.gov/.

About Boak & Sons:

Boak & Sons, Inc. was founded by Sam Boak in 1974 as an insulation contractor. With the high energy costs of the 70's, Boak & Sons expanded early on into the roofing business. They offered economical roof installations through cutting edge technology and equipment, allowing customers to recoup even more in energy savings. Today, Boak & Sons is a residential and commercial contractor for roofing, insulation, sheet metal, siding, and gutters. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, the company serves customers in surrounding areas from Cleveland, Akron, and Canton to Cranberry and Pittsburgh. For more information on Boak & Sons, visit their website at: https://www.boakandsons.com/
Daniel Schumann

Dynam.AI, an artificial intelligence (AI) software development firm best known for full stack AI innovation, announced today that Daniel Schumann has joined the companys Advisory Board. Mr. Schumann is the Vice President of the Electromechanical & Instrumentation (EMI) Center of Excellence, Global Operations at Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a $17 billion American multinational medical technology leader.

In his role with BD, Mr. Schumann focuses on defining and implementing best practices in EMI New Product Introduction, Manufacturing Process Technology, Sustaining Engineering and Global Footprint/Network Optimization. The team he leads works across three business units at seven global locations in the U.S., Mexico, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Prior to his position with BD, Mr. Schumann led corporate initiatives in CareFusions Respiratory Solutions and Global Procurement groups, and held other leadership roles in the medical device contract engineering and manufacturing industry, and at a medical device startup he co-founded. Previously, he worked in the automotive industry, leading Marketing for the S-Type sedan at Jaguar Cars North America and working in R&D and Manufacturing at the Ford Motor Company. Mr. Schumann holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Harvard University, an MBA in Marketing from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and a Masters in Engineering, also from Northwestern.

Dan will be a fantastic addition to our Advisory Board, said Diana Shapiro, CEO of Dynam.AI. His strong educational and technical background has given him a unique professional knowledge base that bridges the tricky gaps between manufacturing, product development, marketing and finance. His cross-industry experience is particularly useful for identifying client and business partner opportunities where AI and machine learning advances can make a huge impact on business growth. We know he brings excellent insight and perspective for both the medical technology and smart transportation industries as we continue to scale domain expertise in these key target markets.

I am excited for this opportunity to partner with Dynam.AI, which is doing groundbreaking work in bringing AI solutions to enterprise medical technology companies, said Mr. Schumann. The power of Dynams proprietary technology platform to reduce costs and increase application development speed is a boon for companies that are using machine learning to tackle the complex problems associated with improving human health and longevity.

About Dynam.AI

Dynam.AI is a consulting and development firm partnering with clients to identify critical business problems and build the right AI machine learning solutions to address them. Empowered by Vizlab, our workbench of machine learning models and tools, Dynam.AIs data scientists help clients apply advanced AI solutions to solve complex, real-world problems. Our experts enable customers with multidisciplinary science-based methodologies that deliver superior outcomes in a rapid and reliable deployment approach. Since our founding, we have provided tangible impact via artificial intelligence to organizations spanning industries such as biotechnology, manufacturing, retail, security and medical devices. For more information, see https://www.dynam.ai.

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To be nominated and selected for this committee is a great honor, Mr. Grobaski said. "I look forward to learning from the other executives in the council as well as contributing based on the experiences Ive had throughout my career.

Jeff Grobaski, Founder and CEO of Epic River (https://epicriver.com/), has been accepted into Forbes Finance Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CEOs, CFOs, and finance technology executives.

Jeff was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

We are honored to welcome Mr. Grobaski into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Finance Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

As an accepted member of the Council, Jeff has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Jeff will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Mr. Grobaski will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.

To be nominated and selected for this committee is a great honor, Mr. Grobaski I look forward to learning from the other executives in the council as well as contributing based on the experiences Ive had throughout my career.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.
Since our founding, we have aimed to create a culture that puts our people first so that everybody feels empowered to come to work every day with a sense of pride, support and fulfillment, said Forcura founder and CEO, Craig Mandeville

Forcura, a healthcare technology company that enables safer patient care transitions and coordination, today announced its re-certification as a Great Place to Work following employee third-party survey results that acknowledged the companys strong workplace culture.

2022 represents the second consecutive year Forcura received the certification. This year, 95% of employees said its a great place to work, which is 36 percentage points higher than the average U.S. company.

Survey results indicated that 100% of participating employees feel good about the ways Forcura contributes to the community and that its facilities support a good working environment. All employees also felt welcomed when joining the company or switching work units.

Great Place to Work Certification isnt something that comes easily  it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience, said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place to Work. Its the only official recognition determined by employees real-time reports of their company culture. Earning this designation means that Forcura is one of the best companies to work for in the country.

Forcuras Great Place to Work Certification is one of several recognitions the company has earned for its workplace culture. The organization has also recently ranked 16th in Fortunes Best Small & Medium Workplaces in 2021 and was honored as a Healthiest Company by the First Coast Worksite Wellness Council.

Since our founding, we have aimed to create a culture that puts our people first so that everybody feels empowered to come to work every day with a sense of pride, support and fulfillment, said Forcura founder and CEO, Craig Mandeville. Earning our re-certification with Great Places to Work is a tremendous honor because it indicates were achieving that mission. Our people are the driving force in Forcuras continued success. Were lucky to have such a passionate group of individuals pushing us forward.

According to Great Place to Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the companys profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

Learn more about Forcuras culture here.

About Forcura

Forcura, a leading healthcare technology company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, facilitates continuity of care via technology, analytics and a deep commitment to enabling better patient care. The Forcura suite of tools is powered by Forcura Connect, a proprietary framework for standardizing interoperability and integration among post-acute healthcare organizations, physicians, electronic health records (EHRs) and other supporting technology vendors. Through our technology and analytics solutions, we are a step closer every day to elevating the opportunities of post-acute care. The company has been recognized in 2021 as the Best Healthcare Technology Solution by the SIIA, ranked for the fifth consecutive year on the Inc. 5000 and is a top-20 ranked Fortune Best Small & Medium Workplaces. For more information visit http://www.forcura.com, call 800-378-0596 or follow Forcura on LinkedIn.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Impact Advisors, a leading healthcare consultancy providing strategy, operations, revenue cycle and technology services, announced that Randy Notes has joined its senior leadership team. He will be leading efforts to expand the firms Margin Improvement Practice, including Revenue Cycle, Clinical Performance Improvement and Supply Chain service lines.

We are excited to have Randy expand our Margin Improvement practice, said John Klare, Co-CEO of Impact Advisors. His experience and track record in the industry will help us build out and grow industry-leading margin improvement solutions. In addition, his commitment to culture and passion for developing consulting professionals is a perfect match for our firm and our values.

Notes has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has demonstrated success in building and growing performance-based consulting services, while delivering exceptional results to clients. Most recently he was a partner at a Big Four consulting firm where he led the Revenue Cycle business unit and a partner at RSM where he led their Margin Improvement practice.

Notes led many of the largest accounts and was instrumental in tripling the business growth at his last firm. As a leader in operational improvement, he created and drove solutions focused on automation, enhanced workflow, and driving measurable value in both revenue cycle and clinical optimization.

Notes has a Master of Public Health from Columbia University, NY and continues to stay involved as a board advisor and through teaching at the School of Public Health at Columbia University.

About Impact Advisors

Impact Advisors is a nationally recognized healthcare management consulting and technology services firm that is solving some of the toughest challenges in the industry by delivering strategic advisory, technology implementation and operational improvement services. Our comprehensive suite of strategic planning, digital health, clinical optimization and revenue cycle services spans the lifecycle of our clients needs. Our experienced team has a powerful combination of clinical, revenue, operations, consulting and information technology experience. The firm has earned several prestigious industry and workplace awards including Best in KLAS for 14 consecutive years, Healthcare Informatics HCI 100, Crains Chicago Business Fast Fifty, as well as best place to work awards from: Modern Healthcare, Consulting Magazine, Beckers Hospital Review and Achievers. For more information about Impact Advisors, visit http://www.impact-advisors.com.
Security is a priority for us every day, not just in the aftermath of a tragic attack.

In the aftermath of the antisemitic attack at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington hosted an important webinar on Friday on the security of the Jewish community in Greater Washington. SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters, Temple Rodef Shalom Senior Rabbi Amy Schwartzman, and Federation and SCNs Regional Security Advisor Robert Graves joined Federation CEO Gil Preuss to discuss concrete actions individuals and organizations can take to stay safe.

Through our close partnerships with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and SCN, Federation remains committed to providing services and helping organizations access funding to strengthen Jewish Greater Washingtons safety, security, and preparedness, said Federation CEO Gil Preuss. Security is a priority for us every day, not just in the aftermath of a tragic attack.

In 2021, SCN, in partnership with Federation, conducted 20 facility security assessments in the greater DC area and led 70 trainings for over 2,000 participants at synagogues, Jewish day schools, community centers, and day and overnight camps. These trainings included countering active threats, situational awareness, and security preparedness. The Jewish Federation also convened the regions first ever Communal Security Committee to engage all parts of the Greater Washington Jewish community on security concerns, needs, and best practices.

In addition to the webinar, which included a number of recommendations for all community members, SCN has outlined five steps that every Jewish and faith-based facility must take to prevent attacks and save lives:

1. Get an Assessment. Developing a security strategy starts with undergoing an assessment of your facility and its vulnerabilities. SCN and the national network of professional security directors, who oversee Community Security Initiatives at various Jewish Federations and with partners around the country, are available to provide these assessments. SCN has a self-assessment available, as well as forms to request an assessment from local or state law enforcement, if available, or the United States Department of Homeland Security Protective Security Advisor program.

2. Develop a Physical Security Plan. Work with your Community Security Director and SCN to develop a strategic security plan for the physical security of your facility. Common elements of many plans include the following:

a. Panic buttons. They should be placed in key locations around the congregation, including on the bimah (elevated platform from which services are typically conducted) so the clergy can immediately alert authorities if necessary.

b. Automatically locking external doors. Every door to the outside must lock upon closure. Old doors must be replaced.

c. Bullet or impact resistant glass. In a worst-case scenario, this can help save lives.

3. Apply for Federal Grant Funds to Support Physical Security. The federal government, through DHS and FEMA, make $180 million available to the faith-based and non-profit community  up to $150,000 per facility  to improve physical security, and support planning and training. Attend a SCN webinar on Feb. 10, 2022 to learn how to apply for these funds.

4. Provide facility diagrams to local police  now. Hostage rescue teams and SWAT teams must have fast access to study the inside of a facility. No one should wait until a crisis to locate and send them.

5. Train, Train and Train again. Training for leaders and congregants about what to do in case of an attack is essential. It can never be one-and-done and every facility throughout the United States should be trained. The training will provide attendees with an improved ability to recognize suspicious behavior and criminal activity, guidance on how to report it, and strategies to protect themselves and others from violence.

Federation and SCN also encourage individuals to act:



Those who belong to or regularly frequent a synagogue or other Jewish institutions to inquire about their security strategy and ask about their relationship with local law enforcement.

Contact their members of Congress to advocate for them to double Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding this year and learn more about the LiveSecure campaigna national Federation effort to advance the security and safety of Jewish communities.

Contact your senators and petition them to confirm Professor Deborah Lipstadt to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

The attack and hostage taking at Congregation Beth Israel must be a call to action for Jewish leaders everywhere that things need to change, said Michael Masters, National Director & CEO of SCN.

Robert Graves, Federation and SCN Regional Security Advisor for the National Capital Area, added, I urge every synagogue, day school, Hillel, sleep-away camp, and Jewish senior center to learn from what happened at Beth Israel. Now is the time to seek training. We are here to provide it.

About The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington envisions an open, connected, and vibrant Jewish community that cares for each other, fosters Jewish learning and journeys, embraces Jewish peoplehood and Israel, and acts as a force for good in the world. As a mission-driven non-profit organization, we work to inspire, build, and sustain vibrant Jewish life in a changing world by mobilizing our community in common purpose, intentional innovation, and effective action. Learn more at shalomdc.org.
If you would like to know more about the O'Neill Beverages Co. LLC lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047.

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a complaint alleging that O'Neill Beverages Co. LLC ("O'Neill Beverages") violated the California Labor Code. The O'Neill Beverages lawsuit, Case No. CIV2200067, is currently pending in the Marin County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

The lawsuit alleges O'Neill Beverages violated the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which gives rise to civil penalties as a result of O'Neill Beverages' conduct. PAGA authorizes aggrieved employees to file a lawsuit to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations. PAGA allows aggrieved employees to step into the shoes of California state regulators to recover civil penalties, which means ordinary citizens are deputized as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code.

The complaint alleges O'Neill Beverages violated the California Labor Code by failing to: (1) provide compliant meal and rest periods; (2) pay all minimum, regular and overtime wages; (3) provide accurate itemized wage statements; (4) reimburse for required business expenses; and (5) timely pay earned wages.

If you would like to know more about the O'Neill Beverages lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047.

Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are employment law firms with offices located in Los Angeles and San Diego that dedicate their practices to helping employees and consumers fight back against employers and corporations for unfair employment practices. If you need help regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment issues in the workplace, contact one of their attorneys today.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
Some 30 foreigners studying in northwest China's Ningxia celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year by learning paper-cutting, an intangible cultural heritage item of China. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
"I am extremely humbled and honored to be recognized by a distinguished group of my peers from across the nation," Vikaskumar Patel, DDS, said.

At the American Academy of Implant Dentistry's 2021 Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL, November 10  13  Vikaskumar Patel, DDS of Laurel, MD, was recognized as an Associate Fellow of the Academy. As one of 750 dentists who hold this distinguished membership, Dr. Patel is one of the leading experts in implant care.

Doctor Patel is a member of the Smile Savers Dentistry team based in Maryland. Dr. Patel began his dental practice in India, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Rajiv Gandhi University. He moved to the United States in 2008 and attended Monroe College and then NYU. He graduated top of his class and earned an MBA and DDS, respectively.

To qualify for Associate Fellowship, Dr. Patel completed a minimum of 300 hours of post-doctoral instruction in implant dentistry, performed implant cases, and passed the Academy's Associate Fellow examination. This examination, which is conducted by an expert panel of implant dentists, included a written examination, a series of oral examinations, and defense of three implant cases that he had completed.

"I am extremely humbled and honored to be recognized by a distinguished group of my peers from across the nation," Vikaskumar Patel, DDS, said. "Throughout my career, I have worked to provide the best service for clients, and this is another step in that direction. I have undergone additional training, education and gained more experience to improve the overall health of our community."

The examination process measured Dr. Patel's clinical proficiency in surgical and prosthetic dental implant techniques, in-depth knowledge of dental implants, commitment to excellence in implant dental practice, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry's standards for ethics and patient welfare.

Throughout Dr. Patel's extensive career in dentistry, Dr. Patel's knowledge has been instrumental in improving dental care across the United States. He received the New York Academy of Medicine's Margaret E. Mahoney Fellowship for his research investigating the effectiveness of federally qualified health centers in providing dental services to underserved communities. In 2012, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded him a grant for research involving endodontic materials. Dr. Patel also received the prestigious Fellow of International Congress of Impantologists award for implant dentistry in 2019.

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry is the oldest professional organization in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of the implant field. Its more than 5,500 members include general dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists. The Academy's Associate Fellow and Fellow credentials are a testament to excellence in implant dentistry.
On Monday, February 7, all Texas Roadhouse and Bubbas 33 locations invite the public to a fundraiser to support the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). To honor the companys late Founder Kent Taylor, the restaurants will donate 100% of all profits on February 7 to the organization. More than 26 million adults in the United States battle tinnitus.

In addition to the restaurant fundraiser, through March 31, Texas Roadhouse will donate ten percent from the online sales of all Texas Roadhouse /ATA co-branded gift cards to the ATA. The gift cards are available online at texasroadhouse.com.

As we pursue our mission to advance research and find a cure for tinnitus, we are grateful for the support of Texas Roadhouse, says Torryn P. Brazell, ATA chief executive officer. Despite its growing prevalence and often devastating effects, tinnitus remains a severely underfunded medical condition. This partnership brings us one step closer to changing the status quo.

We are sincerely committed to supporting ATAs mission to raise tinnitus awareness, fund research and help individuals who are suffering, says Texas Roadhouse CEO and President Jerry Morgan. Texas Roadhouse and our family of employees honor the life and vision of our Founder Kent Taylor, who was passionate about helping others.

The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to people with tinnitus. The ATA helps individuals and families cope, funds research, advocates for better care, and provides trustworthy information to thousands of people every day. If you or a loved one need information or help managing tinnitus, contact the ATA at (800) 634-8978 or visit ata.org

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993 and has more than 610 locations in 49 states and 10 foreign countries. The family-friendly restaurant is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread, and a lively atmosphere. In 2020, Texas Roadhouse was named one of Americas Best Employers for Veterans by Forbes. Texas Roadhouse also ranked sixth on FSR Magazines Top 50 list of Full-Service Restaurants within the US. For more information, visit http://www.texasroadhouse.com.

Bubbas 33 serves up a variety of menu options featuring handcrafted pizza, bold burgers, and ice-cold beer. The first Bubbas 33 opened in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2013 and has grown to 37 locations in 14 states. Bubbas 33 staff is dedicated providing the best service in town and having fun. In 2021, Bubbas 33 was named the Best Burger in Charlotte, NC. For more information, visit http://www.bubbas33.com.
Author Michael Baez has released How to Pick Your Bride and How to Keep Her for Life: The Best News for Adult Christian Males, an enlightening and enriching guidebook designed to help both single and partnered men as well as women better understand and enjoy the gift of marriage. Covering all aspects of courtship and marriage, Baez equips readers with the spiritual guidance required to cultivate a joyous, lifelong union.

How to Pick Your Bride and How to Keep Her for Life begins by outlining Gods qualities for the ideal bride: willfully submissive and obedient yet equal in knowledge, strength, power and ability. From there, Baez offers tools for determining preferred characteristics in a future spouse and evaluating whether a current partner is equally yoked, or a good match based on values, beliefs and goals. For married readers, Baez advises on how to continually nurture the relationship through remaining attuned to the others feelings, communicating openly and honestly, and keeping the passion alive.

In writing How to Pick Your Bride and How to Keep Her for Life, Baez inspires others to incorporate Gods teachings in their pursuit of marriage and seek biblical guidance in moments of marital stress and strife. Weaving in anecdotes from his own marriages, he illustrates that a deeper knowledge of Gods intent for marriage is crucial to lasting success.

This is a book on relationships and marriage that was birthed out of both painful experiences and the joy of finding a new way forward, said David Jennings, New Life Community Health Center. Michael offers insights into how he found hope and joy in his marriage through scripture and simple responses to lifes many stressful circumstances.

How to Pick Your Bride and How to Keep Her for Life is an insightful book that aims to build long-lasting marriages, said Claudia L. Throughout the book, he maintains his focus on the strong connection between biblical principles and a fruitful marriage. This book is highly recommended for couples who are seeking to restore or strengthen their marriages.

How to Pick Your Bride and How to Keep Her For Life: The Best News for Adult Christian Males

By Michael Baez

ISBN: 9781664243835 (softcover); 9781664243842 (hardcover); 9781664243828 (electronic)

Available from Amazon, ChristianBook.com and WestBow Press

About the author

Michael Baez was a devoted husband of 33 years to his wife until her passing. He has been a servant of Christ for many decades and has diligently studied scripture, learning from pastors and fellow Christians. Currently, he divides his time with working at his church, meditating on scripture and attending a mens group to sharpen his knowledge of Gods word. Baez was born, raised and lives in New York. To learn more, please visit http://www.spiritualfoodpublications.com.

Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

480-306-6597

mbowman@lavidge.com


We are proud to give every cent of profit back

NutriSource, one of Americas most beloved and trusted pet brands, today announced the launch of the NutriSource SuperStars Giving program, a new philanthropic initiative that expands the companys longstanding commitment to use its resources to positively impact families, children and pets. As part of the initiative, NutriSource is dedicating 100% of profits from the companys new line of NutriSource SuperStars Training Reward Treats to organizations across the country that create meaningful changes in our communities.

A core belief of our companies is that we have an obligation to make a difference, said Charlie Nelson, CEO of KLN Family Brands, the parent company of NutriSource. The NutriSource SuperStars Giving Program formalizes our enduring commitment to do our part towards creating a better world. We are proud to give every cent of profit from NutriSource SuperStars Training Rewards Treats to organizations that lift up, support and inspire us in times of need.

NutriSource SuperStars Training Rewards Treats are pocket-friendly, nutritious and low-calorie (less than 3 calories each). Available in chicken, beef, bacon and cheddar flavors, the star-shaped treats feature meat-rich, protein dense recipes that have no corn, wheat, soy or potato. They are offered in 4oz, 6oz and 16oz bags that include a special SuperStar Spotlight on Rocket, the first NutriSource Facility Dog.

Giving back has always been a priority for NutriSource and parent company KLN Family Brands, with more than $3M committed and contributed since 2018. The company donates to many life-changing organizations including Pinky Swear Foundation, M Health Fairview Masonic Childrens Hospital, Soldiers 6, and many pet rescues, animal shelters, humane societies and non-profit veterinary care organizations across the country. The launch of NutriSource SuperStars Training Rewards Treats is part of the companys expanding giving initiative that includes plans to increase support to facility dog programs at childrens hospitals across the country and train service dogs that provide a vital role in the lives of those needing a canine companion.

In 2019, NutriSource provided a $250,000 gift to M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Childrens Hospital to fund the medical facilitys first-ever full-time facility dog. Rocket visits patient rooms to provide a comforting presence that helps children and families cope during particularly stressful moments. The overwhelming success and positive effect of the program has fueled NutriSources ongoing drive to make a difference and reinforced their desire to launch SuperStars Training Rewards Treats to help fund facility dog programs at other childrens hospitals across the country.

NutriSource also understands the value of canine companions when it comes to the needs of veterans and first responders with physical disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorders and related conditions. The company is in the early stages of developing a new service dog training program that will provide companion animals to those who have answered the nations call to duty. NutriSource anticipates announcing additional details regarding the program later in 2022.

A complete product listing including ingredients in NutriSource SuperStars Training Reward Treats can be found at https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/category/our-food/treats/

More information regarding the NutriSource SuperStars Giving Program is at https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/giving-back/

About NutriSource Pet Foods

NutriSource Pet Foods is a third-generation family-owned company based in Perham, MN. All NutriSource kibble is made by Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc. who has specialized in the manufacturing of dry dog and cat food since 1964. NutriSource has a long history of investing in the health and well-being of pets throughout the world. Today, NutriSource offers over 110 different dog and cat food products across their four lines of NutriSource, NutriSource PureVita, NutriSource Element Series and NutriSource Choice. Their product offerings include kibble, cans, treats, and toppers. For more information, visit https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.

About KLN Enterprises, Inc. dba KLN Family Brands

A third-generation family-owned company, KLN Family Brands is headquartered in Perham, MN and is comprised of Tuffys Pet Foods and Tuffys Treat Company, manufacturers of NutriSource and Kennys Candy & Confections. Tuffys has been proudly producing quality pet foods since 1964. Kennys Candy & Confections, established in 2015, produces great snack brands that include Wiley Wallaby and Sweet Chaos. For more information on KLN Family Brands please visit http://www.klnfamilybrands.com.
By implementing the biodigester system here in our Dubai office, were able to process our food waste locally directly contributing to those three goals and making out office and ultimately, the planet, a more sustainable place to work.

Power Knot LLC, the market leader for onsite organic waste management solutions, announced today that Dubai Creative Group and Power Knot have collaborated with Microsoft Dubai to create the first solar-powered biodigester in the world.

In 2021, the Microsoft Real Estate and Facilities Directorate (RE&F) team in Dubai implemented an exciting initiative: a solar-powered LFC biodigester for their restaurant. Microsoft set clear goals to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030 and purchased the LFC biodigester to help them achieve these goals. The digestate that the machine outputs is used as a plant-organic fertilizer to create an even better office environment.

James Spearman, the UAE Sustainability lead at Microsoft, realized that, By implementing the biodigester system here in our Dubai office, were able to process our food waste locally directly contributing to those three goals and making out office and ultimately, the planet, a more sustainable place to work.

The LFC Biodigester is a machine that digests food waste. These machines are usually installed in a commercial kitchen and reduce the expense, inconvenience, mess, and carbon footprint of disposing of waste food that would otherwise be hauled to a landfill. Power Knot has ten different sizes that digest from 9 kg (20 lb) per day to 3000 kg (6600 lb) per day of food waste. With many hundreds of installations globally, the LFC Biodigester has proven to be reliable, safe, and cost effective.

We are committed to operate as efficiently as possible, and we are evolving to address our sustainability needs, said Sharon McGrath Dawson, FM Country Lead - UA, Oman, and Qatar. This smart, solar powered machine breaks down food waste and turns it into liquid.

All LFC biodigesters automatically connect to the LFC Cloud, Power Knots revolutionary continuous data analytics system. The LFC Cloud shows statistics on usage, diagnostics, and service schedules, and can be accessed from any device anywhere in the world without installing an app. The LFC biodigester securely sends data about the operation of the LFC biodigester to the server and that data is retained for five years. All data that is available on the LFC touch screen is sent to the LFC Cloud where a user can easily create reports for stakeholders.

About Power Knot

Power Knot provides safe and economically sound solutions for commercial, industrial, and military customers globally seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. Our technologies are proven, available today, have been in reliable use for many years, and offer a payback period typically of less than two years. We design, develop, and manufacture our products in our headquarters in Silicon Valley, California.

For more information, access http://www.powerknot.com.
I am thrilled to join the talented and growing Team Green, because indoor air impacted by radon and chemical vapor intrusion is the leading human exposure pathway in buildings across our country, Melillo said.

Protect Environmental announced today that Paul Melillo has joined the company as its Director, National Accounts. He joins the company with nearly 20 years of experience in the environmental services industry, which most recently included management roles with Terracon Consultants, Inc. and Pace Analytical. Since 2010, Melillo has generated and managed more than $60 million dollars of project revenue as a consultant and analytical laboratory sales manager, which included providing technical analysis, expert defense support, and strategic planning of site investigation and remediation at more than 750 residential, commercial, and industrial sites impacted by petroleum compounds, heavy metals, PCBs, and chlorinated solvents. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Vermont, his Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science from Indiana University, and is credentialed as a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

I am thrilled to join the talented and growing Team Green, because indoor air impacted by radon and chemical vapor intrusion is the leading human exposure pathway in buildings across our country, Melillo said. Protect Environmental has been leading the way in developing innovative solutions for the characterization and mitigation of these wide-reaching issues for over 15 years, and I am excited to join a group of my peers to foster and promote these solutions throughout the United States, he added.

As the Director, National Accounts, Melillo will be responsible for developing and maintaining the national accounts portfolio of the company, which includes stakeholders seeking efficient and effective management of environmental risks and liabilities caused by radon and chemical vapor intrusion. He will work from the companys Indianapolis office located in Fishers, IN.

Paul brings a wealth of knowledge to this role, which will benefit our company and our clients immensely, said Kyle Hoylman, CEO of Protect Environmental. Were fortunate to have someone with his expertise and customer-centric focus building and managing our national accounts portfolio, Hoylman added.

About Protect Environmental

Protect Environmental is a national leader in the environmental services industry, focusing on radon and chemical vapor intrusion management. With a proven track record spanning 15 years that includes completed project work in all 50 U.S. states and 2 U.S. territories, the company delivers expert service from its trusted professionals to provide peace of mind protection to property owners seeking efficient and effective management of environmental risks and liabilities. For more information, call 502-410-5000 or click on to https://www.protectenvironmental.com.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in 1999 in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired a means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

DAISY honors nurses for their compassionate and outstanding work every year. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues and the award recipients are chosen by the Joint Committee on Nursing Recognition which includes nurse members and a representative from Rhoades & Morrow. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honorees colleagues, patients, and visitors.

In view of the extraordinary sacrifices and contributions made by Delawares nurses throughout Delaware, Rhoades & Morrow is honored to be a part of this program and is proud to support and recognize Delawares nurse heroes.

If you have been injured and need assistance, call Rhoades & Morrow at 302-427-9500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Rhoades & Morrow has offices located in Wilmington, Bear, Milford and Lewes, Delaware.
How to Take 10 Years to Write a Book (and Rediscover Your Faith Along the Way): an encouraging and spiritually stimulating reflection. How to Take 10 Years to Write a Book (and Rediscover Your Faith Along the Way) is the creation of published author Robert Patterson Sr., a Texas native who lives in the Houston area with his beloved wife.

Patterson Sr. shares, After cancer strikes, a middle-aged couple drop everything, sell most of their belongings, buy an old motor home and utility trailer, and set out on a five-month journey around the country. A few years later, tragedy strikes, and the husband begins his struggle to get the story published and begin fulfilling his dream of starting a nonprofit organization.

Along the way, his faith is rediscovered, life happens, and he finds out that all it takes to get the job done is persistence and a resolve to finish the projectall found from within the heart.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Robert Patterson Sr.s new book will inspire and encourage readers of any background as they discover a life experience filled with hope and faith.

Patterson Sr.s unique journey is an engaging balance of reflection, spiritual growth, and appreciation for Gods grace.

Consumers can purchase How to Take 10 Years to Write a Book (and Rediscover Your Faith Along the Way) at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about How to Take 10 Years to Write a Book (and Rediscover Your Faith Along the Way), contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
2022 Toyota Tundra's cruising together in a sandy terrain

The 2022 Toyota Tundra will be welcomed by Bloomington, IN drivers looking for a reliable daily driver. The new Toyota Tundra, which has been on the market for decades, comes with a long list of essential safety features, brand equity, and dependability.

The all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra is born from a lineage of trucks and SUVs anchored in excellence, endurance, and trustworthiness. Its forebears surpassed many milestones on multiple occasions, thanks to a group of specialists who went far beyond the norms in designing the vehicle.

There will be two different powerplant options available for the Toyota Tundra. On its own, a new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine generates up to 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The result is an integrated performance output of 437 horsepower and a monstrous 583 pound-feet of torque when paired with the i-FORCE MAX bell-housing motor system. Both variants will come with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,940 pounds and a towing capacity of 12,000 pounds.

Residents in the region interested in learning more about the 2022 Toyota Models Finance and incentives, which is currently available at Royal South Toyota, can go to https://www.royalsouthtoyota.com/. Customers with additional questions can contact the dealership by calling (833) 900-2609. Those who want to see the vehicles in person can visit 3115 South Walnut St, Bloomington, IN 47401, Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M., and Saturday from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.
BEIRUT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Jamila Mohammad, a Syrian refugee in her 50s, worked hard with help from her four children to fix the tent, which was destroyed by the heavy storm that hit Lebanon over the past few days.

As Jamila was removing snow from the top of her tent, she told Xinhua that she has been trying hard to protect her children from frosty cold in the absence of heating diesel which has soared in price given the unprecedented financial crisis.

The woman, who fled Syria's war to Bar Elias camp in Lebanon's Bekaa region, said that the snowstorm exacerbated her family's suffering as the winds and snow almost broke the tent with heavy rain leaking into her shelter and wetting mattresses and pillows.

"I have a feeling that death is chasing us everywhere," she said miserably.

Lebanon and surrounding countries were hit by a strong snowstorm for about a week with temperatures dropping to below zero in some areas and snow falling in regions with heights reaching about 300 meters above sea level, according to its Meteorological Department.

The storm, which was unprecedented in decades, deepened the tragedy of displaced Syrians, who have suffered from the outbreak of COVID-19, deteriorating economy, collapse of the Lebanese currency and rising prices.

Close to Jeb Jennine camp in eastern Lebanon, a group of displaced children, aged between seven and ten, were trampling on snow in their ragged summer shoes, trying to collect a few tree branches to light a fire and dry their wet clothes.

Meanwhile, some women and girls sneaked out from the dozens of tents scattered in the camp to spread pieces of rain-soaked clothes on a clothesline, then returned quickly into their shelters to hide from the freezing cold.

"My little brothers are shivering. We are waiting for the sun to dry our blankets, clothes and shoes," Saeda al-Ghazal, a 20-year-old Syrian girl, told Xinhua.

For his part, Adham Owaisi, a guard at the Al-Marj camp in eastern Lebanon, complained about power cuts that prevent refugees from repairing their tents during the night.

Owaisi said that refugees' winter is always tough, but Lebanon's economic collapse exacerbated their suffering this year, adding that 90 percent of displaced Syrians are living below the extreme poverty line.

He called on the authorities to relocate refugees whose tents were damaged, secure heating facilities, replace their destroyed tents, and provide them with food, medicine and winter clothes for their children.

Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with the government estimating that 1.5 million Syrian refugees are living in around 1,400 camps scattered around the country. 
Dr. Troy Pearce He is committed to advancing his implant and cosmetic dentistry skills through continuing education and training.

Dr. Troy Pearce is dedicated to providing comprehensive, comfortable dental care that meets his patients needs in the most efficient manner possible. Dr. Pearce graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, and he joined the practice in 2008.

He is committed to advancing his implant and cosmetic dentistry skills through continuing education and training. He is a graduate of the Midwest Implant Institute in Columbus, Ohio and a Platinum Invisalign Provider.

Learn more about Dr. Troy Pearce by visiting: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/member/dr-troy-pearce/

ABOUT HAUTE BEAUTY NETWORK:

Haute Beauty is affiliated with the luxury lifestyle publication Haute Living. As a section of Haute Living magazine, Haute Beauty covers the latest advancements in beauty and wellness, providing readers with expert advice on aesthetic and reconstructive treatments through its network of acclaimed doctors and beauty experts.

For more about Haute Beauty, visit https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/
Lust of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life, represent the last frontier for those Christian men who are in the world, but striving not to be of it.

Author Marshall A. Isler III shares wisdom gained through years of counseling Christian men in Masculinitys Last Frontier: Overcoming the Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life ($15.99, paperback, 9781662830716; $7.99, e-book, 9781662830723).

Isler has been a Christian most of his adult life, and has spent countless hours in mens Bible studies, addressing the struggles common to so many Christian men. Our countrys culture and economy are driven by exploiting our temptations, but Isler wants to encourage men to overcome through Gods power.

Lust of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life, represent the last frontier for those Christian men who are in the world, but striving not to be of it, said Isler.

Marshall A. Isler III is a retired Navy Commander with both a Bachelors and a Masters degree. He spent forty years as a real estate developer and consultant in affordable housing, and spent many years participating in and leader a variety of mens Bible studies in his local church. He is also the author of An Unwitting Pioneer. Isler and his wife, Verna, reside in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Masculinitys Last Frontier is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
At TTR Sothebys International Realty, I know I have a platform and a community that is able to provide the best experience for my clients, my family, and myself.

TTR Sothebys International Realty is pleased to welcome Sintia Petrosian to its Bethesda, Maryland brokerage office.

A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Maryland, Petrosian delivers over 20 years of experience in the Washington area luxury real estate market.

Building a good customer experience does not happen by accident. It happens by providing in-depth knowledge and a high quality of service, says Petrosian, who joins TTR Sothebys International Realty from The Fleisher Group of Compass.

At TTR Sothebys International Realty, I know I have a platform and a community that is able to provide the best experience for my clients, my family, and myself.

Representing buyers, sellers and investors, Petrosian prioritizes client service above all else and has more than 500 successful transactions as an outcome, including primary residences and vacation homes to investment properties and more.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, Petrosian lives with her two sons, Sebastian and Lucas, and is a proud member of the Mid-Atlantics vibrant Armenian community.

We are thrilled to be working with Sintia again, says Marcus Jaffe, Managing Broker of TTR Sothebys International Realtys Bethesda, Maryland brokerage office.

Her enthusiasm and commitment to excellence in all aspects of her business make a perfect fit for TTR Sothebys International Realty.

Following its most successful year to date, with over $5 Billion in closed sales for the year ending 2021, TTR Sothebys International Realty has its sights set on Bethesda, Maryland and Marylands Montgomery County as a key area of growth for the firm.

Were thrilled to welcome Sintia back to our firm, says Mark C. Lowham, CEO and Managing Partner at TTR Sothebys International Realty.

As we seek to expand our presence in the Bethesda, Maryland market, we are grateful to attract agents like Sintia who undoubtedly have their best days in front of them.

About TTR Sothebys International Realty

TTR Sothebys International Realty is regarded as one of the highest-performing real estate firms in the United States. With 10 offices and over 500 real estate associates, our commitment to professional service, flawless integrity, and community leadership allowed us to capture more than $5 Billion in closed sales in 2021 while also serving as one of the Washington Metropolitan Areas foremost leaders in corporate philanthropy. To learn more, visit us at ttrsir.com.
Are You One of These for God?: a powerful presentation regarding the authors spiritual experience. Are You One of These for God? is the creation of published author Wanda Rust.

Rust shares, Rev. Wanda Rust was moved by the calling of God to start her ministry in 1961. In her own words, God spoke to me to establish the organization of the Independent Pentecostal Church. Over the years, she built her organization in both America and parts of Mexico. All through, she began as an evangelist in 1963. She did take on the role of a pastor and established her own church where she lived at the time.

However, her true calling and dream has always been to become an evangelist. Through time, her evangelistic calling grew and began to demand more of her time. She eventually closed her church and began her evangelistic ministry full-timepreaching the word of salvation, healing, deliverance, and moving in the prophetic ministry. Many miracles have been attributed to her ministry, even miracles in her own life when faced with the possibility of death.

Through her faith, she has been given new opportunities to continue her ministry. She has ministered in multiple countries around the world, even took on the role of a missionary in the Philippian Islands for a short period of time. Most recently, her ministry has been with the Spanish community, both in America and in Mexico.

On December 31, 2015, the Holy Ghost moved on her while meditating on the Word of God. In her own words, God came to me in my kitchen and audibly spoke to me about this revelation of the statue and told me to give it to the world.

This book is the manifestation of that revelation.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Wanda Rusts new book is a spiritual call to arms that will empower and encourage believers.

Rusts lifetime of pursuing a deep connection with God is apparent within the pages of this thought-provoking discussion.

Consumers can purchase Are You One of These for God? at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Are You One of These for God?, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
While colder temperatures shouldnt put your schedule on hold, venturing outside the home can be difficult, especially for those with health conditions, limited mobility, or vision impairment.

Across the country, people are experiencing extreme winter conditions, including heavy snow, ice accumulation, freezing temperatures, and dangerous wind chill. It is important for everyone to be mindful of inclement weather, but it is especially important for older adults to take precautions in order to protect their health.

Although we spend more time indoors during winter months, cold weather can still take a toll on our health and well-being. Adults older than 65 are almost twice as likely to be hospitalized due to temperature-related injuries. As one of the most dangerous times of year, understanding how to stay safe when low temperatures and winter storms come along is crucial.

Winter weather is much more than a mere inconvenience; it can be extremely hazardous, said Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, Ph.D., gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead. While colder temperatures shouldnt put your schedule on hold, venturing outside the home can be difficult, especially for those with health conditions, limited mobility, or vision impairment.

As we continue to brave the winter weather, Hogan suggests the following tips to keep you and your loved ones safe:



Preventing Falls: Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall related injury, and icy conditions can lead to an increased risk of falling. During inclement weather, stay home when possible. If you need to go to the grocery store or an appointment, consider asking someone to join you and assist as you navigate icy terrain to and from your vehicle. Hire a professional or ask a loved one to clear your driveway, steps and porches of snow and ice. Be sure to spread salt to reduce the risk of slipping for everyone.

Going Digital: While it isnt always possible to avoid going out into winter weather, there are plenty of ways to get what you need while staying home. If you have a doctors appointment or are feeling sick, consider a telehealth visit with your physician, or use a meal-delivery service to have groceries delivered right to your front door. If youre unfamiliar, ask a family member or caregiver to help guide you through these digital processes.

Combatting the Cold: Hypothermia and frostbite are both dangerous conditions that can occur after being exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Our bodies do not regulate temperature as efficiently as we age, and pre-existing medical conditions or certain medications also increase ones risk of exposure. Warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, slurred speech, slowed movement, and confusion or drowsiness. If you or a loved one experience any of these signs, prioritize increasing your body temperature by moving into a warm room and removing any wet clothing, and call 911.

Dressing the Part: Check your closet to make sure you have a proper winter wardrobe. A heavy waterproof coat, cozy hat, set of gloves, and plenty of socks are all good items to have. Wear loose layers of clothing to help keep yourself warm. Even if you are staying in the house, dress warmly and have blankets on hand.

Being Prepared: Most winter power outages occur when storms bring freezing rain, sleet, and high winds, damaging power lines and equipment. Plan ahead by packing an emergency kit, including a flashlight, first-aid kit and non-perishable food items. During an outage, stay calm, keep warm, and listen for weather service announcements on your phone or radio.

Winter can be a wonderland, but with snow, colder temperatures, and hours of darkness comes risk. It is critical to everyones safety  especially older adults  to understand the necessary precautions when inclement or extreme weather conditions strike.

For more tips and resources for older adults, visit HomeInstead.com/care-resources.

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ABOUT HOME INSTEAD

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for older adults, with more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchises that provide nearly 90 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 12 other countries. Local Home Instead offices employ nearly 100,000 CAREGivers worldwide who provide relationship-based care services that enable older adults to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum  from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimers care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Each Home Instead franchise office is independently owned and operated. Home Instead, Inc. is a subsidiary of Honor Technology, Inc.
In a January 28 court filing, lawyers for the Association of American publishers doubled down on their claim that Marylands library e-book law is clearly preempted by the federal Copyright Act, and said supporters of the law are seeking to unravel decades of federal legislation and jurisprudence that delineate the contours of copyright law.

In their 37-page reply filing, AAP lawyers asked the court to reject Marylands recently filed motion to dismiss the AAPs case, and to grant the AAPs motion for a preliminary injunction blocking the law.

Maryland makes clear that it intended both to interfere with the statutory provisions of the United States Copyright Act and to challenge the authority of the United States Congress to weigh and determine questions of copyright policy in the digital environment, the AAP brief states, going on to claim that despite Marylands characterization of its library e-book law as a consumer protection statute, the measure amounts to a state mandated licensing scheme that conflicts with federal copyright law.

Contrary to Marylands claim, when a state law purports to restrain unfair trade practices, the preemption analysis depends on what the law does, AAP lawyers argue. Here, the Maryland Act restricts exclusive rights that are reserved for copyright owners to exercise under federal copyright law."

The AAP filing comes ahead of a scheduled February 7 court hearing.

First introduced in January 2021, the Maryland library e-book law passed the Maryland General Assembly unanimously on March 10 and went into effect on January 1. It requires that publishers that offer to license digital literary works to consumers in the state must also offer to license the works to public libraries on reasonable terms.

The AAP lobbied unsuccessfully against the law last spring, and ultimately filed suit in federal court to block the measure last December, just weeks before it was set to take effect. The AAP and its allies did successfully persuade New York governor Kathy Hochul to veto her state's library e-book law late last month.

Specifically, the AAP's December 9 complaint argues that the Maryland law is preempted by the Copyright Act because it "takes away publishers rights to decide when, how, to whom, and in what formats they will distribute their works, and whether to decline to distribute their works altogether." Furthermore, AAP argues there is no extra element that "qualitatively" distinguishes the state law from a copyright infringement claim, the key legal test for preemption.

In their January 14 answer, Maryland attorneys accused the AAP of mischaracterizing the Maryland law and moved to have the case dismissed.

Maryland attorneys argue that publishers continue to enjoy complete control over the rights granted by the Copyright Act, and insist that the law does not compel a license, only a reasonable offer to license" and only when a work is also available to consumers. No publisher, the state insists, will be "forced to enter into involuntary and uneconomic licensing agreements.

Furthermore, Maryland attorneys argue there is an extra element that augurs against federal preemptionthe states authority to regulate against unfair and discriminatory contracts.

There is no clear and readily apparent inconsistency between the Copyright Act and the Maryland Act that either makes compliance with both laws impossible or renders the Maryland Act an obstacle to the purposes of the Copyright Act," Maryland state attorneys argue, adding that "a copyright does not make a product invulnerable to regulation of the manner in which it is marketed."

But in their January 28 reply, the AAP waves off Marylands arguments. That the text of the law requires only an offer to license is a distinction without a difference, AAP lawyers say, insisting the law deprives publishers of their discretion to control or refrain from such licensing decisions.

And AAP lawyers argue that Marylands pretext of regulating market practices fails the extra element test because the "unfair practices" Maryland sees arise from "its misperception of the metes and bounds of federal copyright law.

 What Maryland criticizes as 'exploitative tactics,' to the extent they even occur, are legitimate practices in digital licensing... 

In fact, despite the well-documented tension in the digital library market, AAP lawyers reiterate their claim that the library e-book market is working just fine. "What Maryland criticizes as 'exploitative tactics,' to the extent they even occur, are legitimate practices in digital licensing across copyright industries that have developed over several decades and stem directly from the exercise of exclusive rights," the AAP brief argues, while also citing strong growth in library e-book lending in contrast to a multi-year, downward trend" in consumer e-book purchases.

Marylands desire to get more for less," AAP argues, "is not a substantial state interest."

AAP lawyers further insist their case is so airtight that the extraordinary measure of a preliminary injunction blocking the law is warranted. The fact that the Maryland Act violates the Supremacy Clause and is therefore preempted is alone sufficient to demonstrate irreparable harm, AAP lawyers state. But if the Maryland Act is allowed to remain in effect only to later be struck down as preempted, publishers will be forced to needlessly spend time, money, and resources to comply with the invalid state law while it is in effectand they may even be subject to fines or criminal liability during this time, the brief goes on to argue.

Throughout, the brief gives the impression of an AAP that is out of patience. Unlike its initial filings, the AAPs reply brief makes no mention of the important role libraries play, and instead largely approaches libraries as any other commercial market actor. Regardless of whether libraries are non-profits or serve a purportedly non-commercial function, they still negotiate and enter into commercial transactions when purchasing physical books and licensing digital content, the brief states at one point.

The AAP brief also dismisses the driving force behind the Maryland Actequitable access.

"Maryland does not have the authority to demand that publishers and authors provide every interested public library in the state with immediate access to all of their literary holdings, whether or not they call it equitable access," AAP lawyers argue, as well as noting that "older Americans and seniors with disabilities" should "not be coopted to justify an unrelated, preempted, and unconstitutional legislative effort like the Maryland Act.
Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul spoke at last week's ribbon-cutting for the new passenger skyway at LaGuardia Airport.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/31/2022



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USMAN and KIM

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BEN and MAHOGANY

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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)

MIKE and XIMENA

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CALEB and ALINA

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GINO and JASMINE

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ELLA and JOHNNY

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

: Before the 90 Days featured Gino being accused of sending his ex naked pictures of Jasmine, Mahogany standing up Ben in Peru, Kim Menzies pressuring Usman "SojaBoy" Umar to be intimate, Mike planning to propose marriage to Ximena, and Ella considering meeting Johnny in Dubai during the fifth-season episode Sunday night on TLC.: Before the 90 Days' new season stars Usman, a 32-year-old from Sokoto, Nigeria, and Kim, a 50-year-old from San Diego, CA; Caleb, a 28-year-old from Chandler, AZ, and Alina, a 27-year-old from Saint Petersburg, Russia; and Gino, a 51-year-old from Canton, MI, and Jasmine, a 34-year-old from Panama City, Panama.The series also stars Memphis, a 34-year-old from Muskegon, MI, and Hamza, a 28-year-old from Kairouan, Tunisia; Mike, a 34-year-old from Thiells, NY, and Ximena, a 24-year-old from Pereira, Colombia; Ella, a 29-year-old from Idaho Falls, ID, and Johnny, a 34-year-old from Jinan, China; Ben, a 52-year-old from Fraser, MI, and Mahogany, a 24-year-old from San Bartolo, Peru.Usman was previously married to Lisa Hamme , 54, whom he had met on Facebook two years before filming : Before the 90 Days' fourth season.Lisa struggled to trust Usman during their relationship and they split in May 2020. Usman later served Lisa with divorce papers in December 2020 and Lisa has since remarried with a childhood friend.: Before the 90 Days will follow long-distance relationships and document how each couple found each other as well as their first in-person meeting in a foreign country "and the countless surprises, drama and culture clashes along the way."In most : Before the 90 Days cases, lovebirds are hoping to get engaged and begin the K-1 Visa process.After traveling across the world, the couples will determine if love can conquer all as they experience challenges such as language barriers, interfering families, cultural differences, age gaps, ex partners, and "shady pasts," according to TLC.Below is what happened on the eighth episode of : Before the 90 Days' fifth season:After sleeping in the same bed, Kim and Usman woke up next to each other. Kim said she and Usman only slept and didn't even kiss; however, she said he had touched some of her body parts under the sheets and she was feeling "a dewy glow."Usman said in his culture and region, he's not allowed to sleep in the same room or hold a woman's hand without an engagement ring.But a producer asked Usman, "Weren't you intimate with your ex-wife [Kim] the first night you met?""So the reason why me and my ex-wife were intimate so quickly was because [I] already proposed before she arrived, and so, like, we were in it already," Usman explained."Kimberly and I, we are not in... a relationship. That's what we are still working on."Kim said while she and Usman had taken the next step in their relationship, she wanted their sexual relationship to start that night. Kim said she wanted "the kissing and the sex" with her love interest.Usman planned to return to her hotel room that evening, and his management team was apparently surprised about Usman's decisions. They didn't appreciate how Usman was going against his own wishes just to please Kim.Usman refused to say he was dating Kim or in a relationship with her because he wanted to protect himself and make sure he was making the right choice for himself.Usman wanted to get to know Kim and get close to her before making a final decision about their romance.That evening, Usman returned to Kim's hotel room and she had decorated the bed with rose petals and offered him a glass of champagne. She also answered the door in her bathrobe and a sexy pink nightgown.Despite Kim's advances, Usman announced that he still didn't want to have sex with her. Usman promised they would have sex upon deciding to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but Kim lashed out, saying the situation was crazy."Just admit you don't want me!" Kim said, on the verge of tears."If I didn't want you, I wouldn't invite you," Usman replied.Usman was turned off and angry about Kim's aggressive approach to their intimate relationship. He wanted to wait until the time was right, and he didn't appreciate Kim pushing him for sex."If this is what she wants and this is how she's going to be, maybe moving into her room was a mistake," Usman admitted. "And maybe this relationship is not going to work out at all."Kim asked Usman not to leave, but he packed his suitcase and headed out.Kim chased after Usman and apologized for her behavior, and then Usman returned to her hotel room for the night.Kim just needed some validation and reassurance that Usman liked her. Kim admitted that she was in love with Usman, who said in reply that he loved her in his own way."I can't do this no more," Kim said, feeling rejected.Kim confessed that she was afraid to think about a future without Usman, and she thought her son Jamal would flip out on Usman for not treating her well.Usman said Jamal would have to respect him, and if he didn't, he wouldn't owe Jamal respect or anything else. Kim accused him of being disrespectful and said Usman's words about her son made her begin to question everything.Ben said Mahogany had stopped texting him after she said her father didn't want Ben to visit her and see her. Despite the bad news, Ben decided to stay positive and optimistic -- and so he traveled to Peru anyways."I'm dying inside... I'm about to hyperventilate!" Ben said.Ben bragged about having memorized the following sentence in Spanish to say at their first in-person meeting: "I am happy and excited I see my beautiful princess."Ben and Mahogany had agreed to meet outside of the airport by the taxis, and so he went to their original meeting point and hoped to see her there.After about a half hour of waiting, Ben started to cry and seemed anxious and overwhelmed. Mahogany wasn't responding to his text messages, and she was nowhere to be found."I just thought that she was going to come, and I guess not. It just sucks," Ben cried. "I've come a long way and I sacrificed a lot, and I don't think it's a lot to ask to just show up. I feel stupid and foolish. I don't know what else to do."Ben said he felt "numb" and "incredibly sad," and so he was really hurting about having been stood up. He then headed to his hotel, where he would pray and try to "get over the sting of this."Ben couldn't see Mahogany giving up on their love and their future together -- including having children -- just because her father had allegedly been questioning his intentions.Ben acknowledged there was "a three percent chance" Mahogany is not who she said she is. Ben felt totally lost and decided to go to bed and pretend like that day never even happened.Mike and Ximena were headed back to Ximena's home after a rocky few days at what was supposed to be their romantic getaway. Mike was surprised to learn Ximena had issues with his personal hygiene and organization."Ximena is faulting me with things that aren't that bad per se, but at the same time, she's a very organized person and she's a very clean person. So I also take that into account, but I also think she just overreacted," Mike told the cameras.On the taxi ride back to Ximena's place, Mike blew his nose in a tissue and tried to stick it in the pocket of the back of the driver's seat, which also disgusted Ximena, who called the move disrespectful. She wondered if Mike was a "slob" just because he had never lived with a woman, but it still worried her."If we get married, I don't want a messy husband with no manners. That's not the future I want," Ximena complained.Mike explained to Ximena how he was diagnosed with ADHD in middle school, which affects his concentration and focus and makes him distracted. Ximena wished Mike had told her this sooner and said they needed to be more open and honest with each other.Ximena said she felt better knowing Mike had a good reason for behaving the way he did, but she was also concerned about not knowing Mike all that well.Mike told the cameras that he wanted to get engaged to Ximena, and so he was planning a marriage proposal in his mind and hoped to spend the rest of their lives together.Once the pair returned to Ximena's children, Mike made spaghetti and cheese sauce to show how he could take care of all of them. Ximena thought the food was terrible and "uncooked" and asked her kids not to eat it, but she told Mike that it was very good.Mike realized he should just stick to the cleaning based on Ximena's reaction to the food.Later on, Mike met up with Ximena's father Jamir for a one-on-one conversation. Jamir wasn't convinced Mike had good intentions with his daughter, but Mike insisted that he loved Ximena very much and wanted to marry her.Jamir asked Mike to reveal Ximena's favorite color, considering he thought he knew his girlfriend very well, and Mike replied "pink" when the answer is actually "black."Jamie also asked Mike to learn Spanish, and he didn't want to see Ximena go through another failed relationship that could hurt his grandchildren."I can promise you that whatever happened the other two times is not going to happen to me," Mike said. "I love her too much... [and] I will give [Ximena]'s children the best."Since Mike cared about and loved Ximena and her two sons, Jamir gave Mike his blessing to propose marriage, which is what Mike had been dreaming of. Mike longed to bring Ximena and her kids to America.Juan and Harold were excited about the idea of Mike becoming their dad, and the boys didn't even want Mike to leave them the next day to return to the United States. Mike thought they could be a very happy family as long as Ximena said "yes" to getting engaged.Mike asked Ximena and her sons to join him for a nice dinner that evening, and he intended to pop the question that night. Ximena gushed to her family about how Mike is a very loving and tender man, but she admitted there were things she didn't like about him.But Ximena announced how she was not going to be Mike's employee in the United States or act like his mother. Ximena's parents told Ximena that she could teach Mike things around the house."I'm really nervous that we're rushing into this. I know Mike loves me, but marriage is forever," Ximena said. "So I think there are a lot of things to consider."If Ximena ended her relationship with Mike, she'd also no longer have a way to pay for her apartment and would need to start working again. Jamir also reminded Ximena how Mike loved her children and would be there for them in the future.Ximena also pointed out how her sons would receive a better education in the U.S. Ximena thought about how Mike could give her a better life, but she still had doubts.The day after Alina revealed she had a more serious relationship with a man than she previously let on, Caleb said he realized he couldn't trust her. Caleb wasn't sure how this was going to impact their relationship after his trip to Turkey.Caleb was upset Alina had kept a secret from him and that Elijah was the one who had brought it up to begin with. Alina said she was scared to ruin the good days she had with Caleb so far, and he said he just needed time to process things.Caleb then went to the gym while Alina went to Elijah's room to say goodbye to him. Elijah advised Alina to give Caleb some time and space to think about things but still demand answers about their relationship.Elijah reminded Alina how many men were waiting to date her in Saint Petersburg if her romance with Caleb didn't work out, and Elijah told Caleb before leaving that Alina is "a queen and deserves to be treated like one."Caleb wanted to believe he and Alina could get past this lie of Alina having lived with her ex-boyfriend, but he still felt very blindsided.Although Caleb still felt a little anger and hurt, he opted to focus on his relationship with Alina and give it a real shot. Caleb also appeared more comfortable and connected with Alina once Elijah left them alone.The couple visited a traditional Turkish bathhouse to try to spend some romantic alone time together. The couple rolled in bubbles and got massages, and Caleb felt very exposed and called this "a reset and re-centering" for them as a couple.Caleb told Alina that he just wanted to forget about her secret and he was prepared to be challenged by Alina as well as pursue her, and Alina responded, "I am glad to hear that."Alina could tell Caleb really liked her and cared about her and that she wasn't "just another girl" in his life, but she worried Caleb wouldn't fully commit to her by the end of the trip.Gino and Jasmine were on their way to "paradise," San Jose Island, which is 50 miles south from the Panama coast. Jasmine had booked the getaway, but Gino was paying for it.Gino was forced to take off his hat in security, but Jasmine assured him that he's "a Hollywood star" and looked like "the Michigan version of Bruce Willis ."The pair had to take a private plane to get to the island, and she boasted about the trip costing a lot of money. Gino and Jasmine had started fresh on a clean slate after Jasmine danced with a male exotic dancer at her divorce party.Gino and Jasmine were up high on a cliff with a beautiful view of the ocean, and being in such a beautiful place made Jasmine meditate about her behavior and bad attitude towards her boyfriend.Jasmine thanked Gino for everything and for still loving her when she had shown him "the worst side" of her personality. Gino assured Jasmine that they were in a good place and their connection was growing, which made Jasmine cry tears of happiness."In the past, men have promised the world to me and my heart ended up shattered into tons of pieces," Jasmine said."But Gino has [proven] that he is committed to me, and I think it's time I put more faith in him. If I don't let my guard down, I might be jeopardizing Gino proposing to me -- or even worse, I could lose him forever."Jasmine had built up trust in Gino, but then she calmly revealed how she had received a message. Jasmine didn't want to blow up on Gino again without knowing the facts."One of your exes [sent] me a message," Jasmine said. "She sent me a friend request and she told me that she wanted to chat with me. She also told me that you are still communicating and you have even told her about me."Jasmine apparently replied to the woman that she trusted Gino had not been communicating with her and then she blocked the woman before she could respond again. Jasmine called the ex "jealous."Gino looked nervous and Jasmine noticed it immediately, and so Jasmine asked, "I am giving you a chance to be honest. Did you text her?""A little bit, yes, but it didn't mean anything," Gino replied.Gino said he wanted his ex to know that he had met the woman of his dreams, and Jasmine demanded specifics and dates."I don't know. It was two or three days ago," Gino said.Jasmine decided to unblock the woman and continue talking to her, and Gino acknowledged he had made a mistake and wished he could take it back.Once Jasmine checked her phone, she appeared to read a message and then asked Gino, "Did you send her naked pictures of me?"Gino's response was not shown.Ella was not willing to give up on her relationship with Johnny yet. She wanted Johnny to travel to Dubai, quarantine there for a couple of weeks, and then fly to the United States to be with her -- but Johnny was terrified of contracting COVID-19.Johnny was supposed to leave for the trip in two weeks, and Ella complained about him delaying their in-person meeting over and over again.Ella considered flying to Dubai and meeting Johnny there instead of making him fly to America. Ella couldn't go to China due to COVID-19 restrictions, but she wanted to show Johnny that she'd be willing to risk just as much for the sake of their relationship.Ella's mother didn't like the idea of her daughter being alone in Dubai given she's white and naive, and Ella's finances also apparently weren't in good shape.Ella's mother thought Ella was pushing too hard and may end up with her heart broken. After all, Ella had fallen in love with a man from India before and the romance ended disastrously.However, Ella, as an adult, was able to make her own decisions, and her mom promised to support her and be there for her no matter what. Ella was desperate to see this through and find out if Johnny is truly her soul mate."Johnny means the absolute world to me. I need to touch him, I need to kiss him, I need to see for sure what's going to happen when we're together," Ella explained in a confessional."So this is it. This is going to be the perfect moment. We are going to meet in Dubai and see what's to come, and I am ready!"Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday exchanged congratulations with Maltese President George Vella on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malta diplomatic ties.

In his message, Xi pointed out that over the past half century, no matter how the international situation changes, China and Malta have always enjoyed friendly coexistence and helped each other, and firmly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

Now the two countries boast an increasingly close relationship, and have put up an effective joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fully demonstrated the profound bond between the Chinese and Maltese people, he said.

Xi said he stands ready to work with Vella to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to deepen traditional friendship, expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and push for more outcomes in China-Malta relations for the benefit of the two nations.

For his part, Vella said that over the past 50 years, Malta-China relations have been developing at a high level all along and yielded fruitful results, bringing benefits to the people of both countries.

Malta will continue to support the European Union (EU) strengthening cooperation with China and inject new vitality into the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, he said.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Maltese counterpart, Robert Abela.

Li said China stands ready to work with Malta to take the 50th anniversary as a new starting point to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen win-win cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges, so as to lift bilateral relations to new levels.

For his part, Abela said Malta will continue to play a constructive role in the EU, commit itself to maintaining stability and promoting cooperation, and strive for substantial progress and greater development of Malta-China friendly relations. 
The Lunar New Year marks the transitions between the Chinese zodiac signs in which this year will be the year of the tiger. This year the Lunar New Year is on Feb. 1, however with the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, celebrations in large groups will be more challenging.
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 
Located in China's Fujian Province, the Wuyishan National Park features rich biodiversity due to its unique natural environment.

The park rangers in Wuyishan National Park are responsible for monitoring and protecting natural resources.

They patrol at least 12 times per month.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
When Jill Mayer graduated from high school in 1999, career options felt more limited than what she sees available to todays 18-year-olds. There was a stigma, Mayer said, that if you dont get a college degree youre not going to be able to make good money and have a long career.

But she likes to think thats changing. Mayer, 40, now runs her familys Milford-based manufacturing business, Bead Industries, and she recently took the helm as president of industry group ManufactureCT. In both roles, she puts a lot of energy into cultivating the manufacturing sectors next generation of workers and leaders.

Kids today are smartening up, saying, Look, I dont have to go to college to be super successful, Mayer said. I wouldnt say were all the way there, theres a long way to go on that, but at least theres awareness behind it.

Building that awareness among young people is vital for the future of Connecticut manufacturing.

After a half-century of decline in the sector, local, state and federal lawmakers are working to revive Connecticuts industrial base. But without a next-generation workforce to feed those green shoots, they could dry up.

Tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funding, much of it matched by private sector contributions, have gone into an array of education and training programs to funnel Connecticut workers into manufacturing jobs. It seems like at least once a week, a state or federal official is touting a new effort to bring industry back to Connecticut.

Indeed, many sectors are facing labor shortages as the economy heats up in the aftermath of the pandemic recession. But policymakers have homed in on manufacturing because increased factory production often leads to multiplier effects  that is, increased activity in related sectors, like the companies that source materials or provide services to the manufacturing business. If Connecticut helps boost the workforce at Groton-based submarine manufacturer Electric Boat, for example, that has the potential to drive up business for all of the companys local suppliers.

Since 2014, the states Manufacturing Innovation Fund has supported a range of programs from career activities for K-12 students to pre-apprenticeships and funding for tuition, books and transportation for high school students taking college-level courses in manufacturing. The state supports training programs in technical and comprehensive high schools, colleges and universities, the correctional system and online. The city of Hartford recently announced the creation of two walk-in Community Manufacturing Training Centers. And a portion of federal funds under the American Rescue Plan is slated for a new short-term job-training program dubbed CareerConneCT  modeled after one of Connecticuts most successful training programs, the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Boards Manufacturing Pipeline, which offers tuition-free technical instruction for people seeking jobs at Electric Boat and other advanced manufacturing companies in the region.

Still, businesses and state leaders acknowledge challenges in getting the word out. Late last year, the funds board approved plans for an advertising campaign to drive up awareness, interest and enrollment and contribute to a stronger workforce talent pipeline in the future. (An earlier 2017 marketing campaign, called the Connecticut Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, was seen as having been somewhat successful.)

The state has a long way to go. In late 2020, the Governors Workforce Council estimated that Connecticuts current manufacturing training programs could produce about 3,000 new employees a year at best. Thats half of the projected annual demand for the next several years.

Lack of awareness among young people regarding the attractiveness of manufacturing careers continues to constrain the number of people participating in education and training programs, the councils manufacturing committee found.

Millennials in CT opted for office jobs. Will Gen Z return to trade gigs?

Manufacturing enjoyed a positive reputation for much of the mid-20th century, but by the late 1990s and early 2000s, that was shifting. Union membership had declined, and young people were increasingly turned off by what they perceived as dirty, dangerous and grueling careers in a field with few opportunities for growth. And many comprehensive high schools eliminated technical skills instruction.

At the same time, the information technology sector was booming, and supply chains were going global. Some U.S. factory production shifted to making high-tech products. Other operations brought in new machines and automation that boosted productivity. And many companies relocated their manufacturing facilities to parts of the world with lower labor costs. The combined factors led to a massive drop-off in Americas manufacturing workforce.

Connecticut was no stranger to that downward trend. In the 1950s, half of all jobs in the state were in the manufacturing sector (while nationally the figure stood at 34 percent). Connecticuts manufacturing workforce peaked in 1967 at nearly 480,000 jobs.

Today, fewer than 160,000 people work in manufacturing in Connecticut, accounting for less than 10 percent of the workforce. Thats slightly higher than the national figure of 8.4 percent.

That generation-wide shock to the manufacturing business left physical shadows across Connecticut in the form of vacant factory properties, often situated prominently along the riverbanks, in dozens of the states towns and cities. Gen Z came of age amid the looming husks of the industrys past  looking on as many were repurposed into upscale residential and retail spaces.

Colin Cooper, the states chief manufacturing officer and chairman of the Manufacturing Innovation Funds advisory board, grew up in New Britain when it was known as the Hardware Capital of the World. Several manufacturers occupied the very large monolithic brick buildings downtown, Cooper recalled. It was so bustling, he said, you didnt want to be caught there at shift change.

By contrast, todays factory operations tend to be smaller and specialized, and theyre predominantly located in light industrial parks out in the suburbs at the end of some cul-de-sac, Cooper said. Its not front-of-mind as much as it was.

And many current K-12 students dont personally know adults who work in the field. With a much smaller cohort among Generation X and Millennials, Connecticuts manufacturing workforce skews older. More than one-third of the industrys workers are over age 55, compared to around 27 percent across all sectors, according to the state labor department.

Abigail Nadeau, a high school senior studying mechanical design and engineering at Ella T. Grasso Tech in Groton, said she wasnt very familiar with the manufacturing field before she started exploring the program at school.

I only found out after I had gone into mechanical design that my grandfather was also in mechanical design, she said. I didnt know that when I joined. When Nadeau learned she was following in her grandfathers footsteps, she said her reaction was: Oh, wow!

Last summer, Nadeau interned at Electric Boat, and she hopes to work there after graduation. She was among a handful of Grasso Tech students who met with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona when he visited the school earlier this month. During a roundtable conversation, Cardona asked Nadeau if she thought shed have a hard time finding a job this spring.

No, she responded. EB is pretty much always hiring.

The submarine manufacturer is one place where the need for skilled labor appears most urgent; and Electric Boat is competing with companies in its own supply chain, who also are desperate for trained workers. Over the next seven years, company leaders have said they need to hire 17,000 people  the same number hired over the last seven years.

The company is leaning on help from the state, working with the Governors Workforce Council as it plans that workforce expansion. At a recent council board meeting, Andrew Bond, human resources VP at Electric Boat, said in order to meet the companys hiring goals, Connecticut educators should be seeking to catalyze student interest in things like welding programs as early as the third grade.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Young people entering the workforce may lack awareness about manufacturing, but that could work to the sectors advantage if they come at it with fresh eyes, industry leaders say.

Manufacturing isnt what it was a generation ago, Cooper said. Its lean, clean and green.

Its also far more technologically advanced  increasingly so in Connecticut. The states large aerospace and defense manufacturers require a high level of precision from the parts-makers in their supply chains. And the multimillion-dollar 3D printers, grinders and other computer-based machines require specialized training.

Cooper said young people are much more comfortable with all of it.

We find that young engineers, they think in three dimensions. For several hundred years, manufacturing relied on two-dimensional blueprints, but now weve got smart models, he said. The younger generation, they just take to that.

The onset of those new digital technologies has been referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, involving internet-connected machines, robots, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Last year, the Connecticut General Assembly established a working group tasked with making legislative proposals to help small- and mid-sized manufacturers shift over to the new regime. Led by the nonprofit Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology and consulting group CONNSTEP, the working group has been meeting with businesses for the past several months. An interim report is due in mid-March, and the groups final strategic plan is slated for October.

Economic development leaders looking to recruit businesses to Connecticut say the states high-tech manufacturing operations and highly skilled industry workforce are key competitive advantages over other states. Theyre also the reason manufacturing jobs here pay well above the average salary statewide, according to a recent analysis by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

Comprehensive high schools have begun adding back technical education options. Tuition for advanced manufacturing training programs is either partially or fully subsidized, and many companies offer reimbursement for employees who go back to school for higher education degrees. To many young adults facing years of crippling student loan payments, the option to graduate debt-free with lots of lucrative job options could be enticing.

Thats one of the things that drew 19-year-old Quinn Hayes to the profession. Hayes didnt know much at all about manufacturing when she signed up for a program at Derby High Schools new Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center in 2019. Within three years, she had completed college-level training at Housatonic Community College  tuition-free  and at age 18 she started her first job at Horberg Industries in Bridgeport doing precision grinding.

Hayes said shes proud of how far along she is at so young an age.

Its insane. The paycheck is like what someone who is 23 would be making.

She also really likes the work. In the coming years, Hayes said, shes excited to learn how to operate more of the machines and to potentially work her way up to a higher title. The only kind of awkward thing about the job, she said, is how young she is compared to everyone else. And shes often the only woman on the factory floor.

"The whole manufacturing field is guy-based, she said.

Bead Industries Mayer said shes been there. When she first went to work for her familys company in her mid-20s, she was the only person under 50.

There was a joke about stale, pale and male, she said. And when she joined the board of the manufacturers association, the dynamic was similar.

But in both cases, things are already changing. Mayer said theres now a young manufacturing professionals group, which coordinates panels, plant tours, brewery visits and other events for the 40-and-under crowd. Women and men are now evenly represented on the organizations board, and the average age among members has dropped from where it was just a few years ago, she said (over 50).

Now Im, like, an old person, she said.
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday sent best wishes for the Chinese Lunar New Year, saying that the festival has gained popularity in the Southeast Asian nation.

The 2022 Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, will fall on Feb. 1 this year.

"From year to year, more and more people have celebrated the Chinese New Year," Hun Sen said in a speech during a groundbreaking ceremony for a flyover in the northern capital.

"Our people usually observe three New Year festivals a year: the International New Year, the Chinese New Year and the Cambodian New Year," he said.

According to the Cambodian leader, his wife, Bun Rany, and all of his children, as well as grandchildren, also celebrated the Spring Festival.

Hun Sen said this year's celebration is broader than that in the past two years thanks to the kingdom's well control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent message to Pung Kheav Se, president of the Federation of Khmer-Chinese in Cambodia, Hun Sen said Chinese and Cambodians of Chinese descent have always shared weal and woe with the Cambodian people since ancient times.

He said they have greatly contributed to the socio-economic development in Cambodia even during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I would like to wish all brothers and sisters happiness and brighter success in your businesses and endeavors," Hun Sen said.

The Chinese New Year is not a public holiday in Cambodia, but it is widely celebrated in schools, private companies and institutions.

On Monday, folk artists from four troupes jointly performed lion dance at the Royal Palace here to usher in the Spring Festival and were welcomed by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol.

Heang Leang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Culture and Fine Arts of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the Spring Festival has been gaining popularity in the country thanks to closer ties in politics, economics and culture between the two countries.

"Historic relations have brought closer contact between the peoples of Cambodia and China," he told Xinhua. "For my own observation, more than 80 percent of the Cambodian people celebrate the Chinese New Year."

He said the Spring Festival has been celebrated in Cambodia dating back to the pre-Angkor era when Chinese envoys Kang Tai and Zhu Ying traveled to Cambodia in the third century, and later envoy Zhou Daguan visited Cambodia during the Angkor period in the 13th century.

"Since I was born, I always saw my parents and neighbors celebrating the Chinese New Year," Hong said. "My family celebrates the festival every year because it's a special occasion to pray to our ancestors and to hold a family gathering."

Pov Sok, an advisor to the Cambodian Prime Minister, said the broad celebration truly reflected the country's respect for cultural diversity and freedom of religion as well as the fraternal friendship between the peoples of Cambodia and China.

"This year's festival is undoubtedly bigger and happier than that of last year because the kingdom has fully reopened after almost 90 percent of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19," he told Xinhua. "I believe that the New Year will bring new success, new achievements and closer relationship between Cambodia and China." 
TORRINGTON  Local group Our Culture is Beautiful is celebrating Black History Month starting Feb. 6, with a series of forums with a focus on Black history facts.

In 1926, according to co-founder Effie and Angaza Mwando, the second week of February was known sas Negro History Week.

Members of Our Culture is Beautiful invite residents to acknowledge the importance of this month by celebrating each day, the Mwandos said.

The programs will be shown on Facebook Live. Each day will be dedicated to a topic: Black leaders in Connecticut, Black scientists, Black entrepreneurs, a Black billionaire, Black Wall Street and Black authors. The programs continue through Feb. 12, and all will be held at 6 p.m.

On Feb. 24, the group will have a storytelling program at KidsPlay Childrens Museum, with Effie Mwando portraying Ruby Bridges, the first African American student to integrate into an elementary school in the South in 1960, in New Orleans, according to womenshistory.org.

We know the story of Ruby Bridges, and at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, they had (an exhibit with information) about her, Angaza Mwando said. Effie will read the story and act as Ruby Bridges. Shell read and will be doing some improvisations.

OCIB will recall the names and organizations of those who paved the way, including Langston Hughes, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Ida B.Wells, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Sidney Poitier, Ossie Davis, Zora Neale, Carter G. Woodson, Arthur Schomburg, Duke Ellington, Claude McKay, James Weldon Johnson, Aaron Douglas, Alain Locke, the NAACP, The Harmon Foundation and the Urban league.

Carter Woodson, for example, was a scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black people, led to the establishment of Black History Month, marked every February since 1976, according to naacp.org. Woodson fervently believed that Black people should be proud of their heritage and all Americans should understand the largely overlooked achievements of Black Americans.

Woodson overcame early obstacles to become a prominent historian and author of several notable books on Black Americans. Born in 1875 to illiterate parents who were former slaves, his schooling was erratic, and he worked on the family farm and later in the coal mines in West Virginia, according to the NAACP.

Hungry for education, he was largely self-taught, according to the website. He entered high school at the age of 20 and earned his diploma in less that two years, then worked as a teacher and school principal before earning a bachelors degree in literature from Berea College in Kentucky. He also earned a masters degree from the University of Chicago before joining the faculty of Howard University and eventually serving as dean of the College of Arts and Scientists.

After being barred from attending American Historical Association conferences besides being a dues-paying member, Woodson believed the white-dominated historical profession had little interest in Black history, according to the NAACP. He saw African-American contributions overlooked, ignored and even supressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who use them .... he realized he would have to create a separate institutional structure.

Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 in Chicago, describing its mission as the (study) of the neglected aspects of Negro life and history, and started the Journal of Negro History, which is in print today under the name Journal of African American History, according to the NAACP.

It was here that the seeds of Black History Month were planted, Mwando said. But the work never ends, and the repercussions of racism and twisted facts relating to Black history continue to this day.

This week, a television correspondent and former Miss USA winner Chelsie Kryst, 30, committed suicide by jumping from a building, according to the New York Times. Mwando said Kryst is just one example of the struggle that continues for Black Americans today, and the toll it takes.

People dont realize how much oppression she probably went through, he said. Just when we think we can live comfortably, and think that things are really changing, something happens that shows were still not there.

I couldnt help but feel that the psychological effects of racial segregation and racism are profound, Mwando said. Some people manage to live in that environment, and survive, but its wreaked havoc on so many others. She was a lawyer; beautiful, intelligent and successful, but theres psychological ramifications of what a person goes through that you just dont see. You can make it, but you still hear so much negativity. Some have developed a thick skin, and others have just suffered.

Even with major changes taking place in America, including electing a Black president and now, a female Black vice-president, there is more work to be done, Mwando said.

Jesse Jackson said, Keep hope alive, and I have to keep doing that. We have to believe and trust that theres enough of us around who love humanity, and want to see humanity prosper, Mwando said. And well continue to fight that fight, and one day, well overcome, for sure.

The Black History celebration with Our Culture is Beautiful begins at 6 p.m. starting Feb. 6. For information or questions, email Ocisbeautiful@gmail.com, or call 860-491-0387 or 203-641-7449. Visit the groups Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Our-Culture-is-Beautiful-2399879000241046
A small, rural hospital on Connecticuts western border is consolidating services, a move opponents fear will mean a 45-minute drive for critical care services and believe is a precursor to shuttering the entire operation.

The plan, according to a determination letter submitted Dec. 14 by Sharon Hospital owner Nuvance Health, is to close the hospitals maternity ward and convert the intensive care unit into a progressive care unit.

Sharon Hospital is the second Connecticut facility in recent months seeking to close its maternity ward. The state is still considering Windham Hospitals proposal, which is also facing community opposition.

Sharon Hospitals proposal, submitted to the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, details the facilitys plan to consolidate critical care services within a new medical-surgical / telemetry / progressive care unit.

Opponents say the proposal would take necessary services away from residents in the midst of an ongoing pandemic.

They have very low regard for patients, said Dr. David Kurish, a Sharon resident and cardiologist who said hes been sending patients to Sharon Hospital for 43 years. I think they just want to find what's financially best for the system.

Lydia Moore, member of local activist organization Save Sharon Hospital, said an intensive care unit and progressive care unit are not interchangeable. She said a PCU is for patients with less intensive needs.

That's why it's called a step-down unit. It's different from an ICU, she said. So saying that they're the same thing from my perspective is not appropriate.

But Sharon hospital officials say the plan would not reduce services. The hospital has lost about $40 million since Nuvance bought the facility in 2017, according to Sharon Hospital President Dr. Mark Hirko. The plan, Hirko said, is intended to stop losing money while maintaining the same level of service.

The service that we're offering currently in our ICU will be consolidated with our medical-surgical unit into a mixed, multi-specialty, what we call PCU, or progressive care unit, telemetry unit, and medical surgical unit, he said.

The determination letter submitted by the hospital describes that a progressive care unit is intended for patients who are moderately stable with less complexity with a decreased risk of a life-threatening event, a decreased need for invasive monitoring, increased stability, and an increased ability to participate in their care.

The proposed consolidation allows for synergies of consolidating the staffing, Kirko said, because currently, we have to do this in two separate areas where we aren't fully utilizing the ability of that space.

If I have four patients in one unit and 10 in the other, it would be easier to consolidate them, we have 14 on the unit, where you turn on the monitors in the one room, and you just take care of them right on the same unit, he said.

The next step is for the state Office of Health Strategy to determine, based on the proposal, if the hospital must also submit a certificate of need. That would also allow for public input in the process.

Tina Hyde, spokesperson for the state Office of Health Strategy, confirmed that a proposal had been submitted, but declined to comment as the letter of determination is currently under review by OHS officials and a decision on whether or not the petitioner will be required to file a Certificate of Need (CON) application for approval will be made.

Hartford HealthCare submitted a similar proposal for Windham Hospital, intending to close the maternity ward in that 58-bed facility. In that case, the process went to public comment in November, when the proposal was decried by elected officials, activists and members of the community.

But Hartford HealthCare said closing its maternity ward was necessary due to ongoing, insurmountable staffing shortages.

HHC spokesperson Tina Varona said the certificate of need for Windham remains under the review of the Office of Health Strategy. Hyde said the the Office of Health Strategy is still accepting public comment on HHCs Windham proposal, and said the agency has requested additional information from the applicant.

Save Sharon Hospital, the advocacy group that Moore helps to run, has retained an attorney, Paul Knag, who argued in a letter to the Office of Health Strategy that the plan would actually make staffing more difficult for the western Connecticut facility.

Testimony and evidence can be offered showing that a significant number of nurses will leave Sharon Hospital if the ICU is closed, thereby leaving Sharon Hospital even more understaffed and unable to meet patient needs. Keeping an ICU at Sharon Hospital, therefore, is vital to meeting the needs of patients and to maintaining a suitable nursing staff that can provide such services, he wrote.

Sharon Hospital sits in a quiet, rural area in Connecticuts northwest corner. Its one of the smaller hospitals in the state, with 60 total beds and nine ICU beds.

Yale New Haven Hospital, by contrast, has more than 1,500 beds, according to data submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The closest hospitals are Charlotte Hungerford in Torrington, about a 45-minute drive, and Danbury Hospital, which could take more than an hour. Charlotte Hungerford offers space for about 90 adult patients. Danbury is larger, with more than 330 adult beds.

Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is also about 45 minutes away.

My main concern is that these hospitals are very far away, Moore said. In inclement weather, it's hard to get to, you can't always guarantee the availability of ambulances or other transport services. So I'm concerned that even if a patient was to be stabilized prior to transfer, something could happen during that transfer that could have been prevented if physicians were available to make appropriate interventions.

While some opponents of the plan believe it could be a precursor to more cutbacks, Hirko said that is not the intention.

The goal that Nuvance has set aside is for Sharon Hospital to be an integrated part of our health system, and to provide services that the community needs, he said. However, it can't remain as a sink for all the other hospitals to support services that are underutilized.

I think the focus of what Sharon Hospital is today is different than what it was 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 50 years ago, based upon the demographics and the health care needs of the population that it's serving, Hirko said.

Its not the first time services at Sharon Hospital have been threatened. Nuvance Health, based in LaGrangeville, N.Y., was formed in 2019 when Health Quest and Danbury-based Western Connecticut Health Network merged.

The health system is now comprised of seven hospitals, including Danbury, Norwalk, New Milford and Sharon hospitals in Connecticut, plus Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel, N.Y.

Nuvance has more than 12,000 employees and the combined hospital system had $2.4 billion in annual revenues, according to news reports. Last year, Hearst Connecticut Media Group reported that the health system lost over $300 million in net patient revenue due to the COVID in fiscal year 2020.

When Sharon Hospital was part of Health Quest, there was a similar plan to close the maternity ward.

For the last few years, Sharon has been challenged, said Hirko, who had been a vice president at Health Quest before the merger.

At the time, Moore said the community successfully rallied to save the hospitals maternity ward.

My husband and I at the time had just found out we were pregnant the day before. So we got together and held a rally on the Sharon town green to get the community involved, writing letters, signing petitions to try to keep maternity open at that time, she said. And Health Quest ended up keeping maternity open.

Hirko said the history of Sharon Hospital shows that changes must be made if it will remain viable for future decades.

We're the fourth group to own this hospital in the last decade, he said. If we want this hospital to be here, it's important that we look at retooling ourselves for the future, not for the past.
Lebanon, IN (46052)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain in the afternoon. High 61F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 55F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
One year after the U.K. launched a visa scheme allowing millions of Hongkongers and their families to emigrate to the country amid Beijing' ongoing crackdown on freedom of speech and political activism, tens of thousands have already made the move, many of them hoping for a better life for their children.



The scheme saw nearly 90,000 applicants in its first eight months, with long lines at airport check-ins and tearful scenes of farewell showing just how many were willing to start over, rather than tolerate life under the national security law, with no meaningful vote, and with ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda increasingly finding its way into their children's education.



Under the scheme, holders of the British National Overseas (BNO) passport, once derided as a useful wedge for a wobbly table or a doorstop, are allowed to live and work in the U.K., with a pathway for eventual citizenship.



Journalist Chow Man-chung, 46, says he had doubts as soon as the new law was imposed on Hong Kong by the CCP.



"When I heard that the common law presumption of innocence would be reversed under the national security law, something I had known since childhood, I wondered if it was still going to be safe for me [in Hong Kong]," Chow told RFA.



"I thought it would have a negative impact on my kid's development, and on how he sees the world, if there were so many red lines [forbidden topics]," he said. "I thought that would be very unhealthy."



Chow said the danger was that even adults were at risk of becoming passive in the face of CCP propaganda or injustice, and "anesthetizing themselves."



Chow said his elderly mother had also told him to take the kids overseas, despite the fact that she plans to stay on in Hong Kong.



"I had to use words the kids were able to understand when I explained to them why we were going to live somewhere else, because I had to prepare them psychologically to not see the kids and relatives they had grown up with for a while," he said.



Roller-coaster ride

Emotionally, the transition has been a roller-coaster ride, but politically, Chow said, he was past the point of no return.



Shortly before they left Hong Kong, photos of the Chow family waiting patiently outside a cordoned-off Victoria Park on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre made Hong Kong media reports. Chow has the photo on the cover of a carefully crafted photo album carrying the family's most cherished memories of their home city.



For Chow, the pain of parting from friends, and from his home, is still raw.



"The plane took off to the northeast that day, turned around Disneyland, then banked across the south of Lamma Island, then turned around and headed north, as if you we were going on a last tour of the city," he said, his voice choked with emotion at the memory.



What awaited the family was a culture shock, not least because they could no longer afford to pay someone to help out in the home, and Chow taking care of daily tasks including school run, housework and homework supervision.



While driving, he would listen to Hong Kong radio stations to remind him of home, including music by homegrown rockers the Rubber Band.



Chow doesn't expect his kids to share his intense sense of nostalgia or exile from Hong Kong, but he hopes they will understand, as they adapt to their new lives in Kingston, southwest London.



"I think there is a large number of Hongkongers here -- sometimes when you ask a question [on group chat] and get a lot of responses, you don't feel so alone," he said.



"We may feel that we just fell through a black hole, that ... we are to be pitied, that there is so much we don't know ... but there are a lot of other people just like you," Chow said.



One in five want to emigrate

Chow has continued with his activism in London, printed fliers for a recent protest against Hong Kong's vanishing press freedom. Many of his colleagues have been arrested under the national security law, or made unemployed as one after another pro-democracy media outlets relocates or folds.



He described the BNO visa scheme as a "small window" in time and space.



"That window was so small, and we were in just the right place to be able to walk through it towards the light, towards the exit," Chow said.



A poll by the Hong Kong Democratic Party in found that 58 percent of people are unhappy living in the city now, and 22 percent are planning to emigrate.



On the democratic island of Taiwan, an official report said it had also received more than 2,000 calls to its one-stop immigration service for Hongkongers hoping to relocate to Taiwan amid the national security crackdown.



Enquiries were relating mostly to investment visas, routes to settlement, spousal visas, employement and schooling, but mostly routes to long-term settlement, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a recent report on the status of Hong Kong.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A Lao human rights activist living in Thailand as a UN-recognized refugee is being held for deportation back to Laos, where he faces arrest for his advocacy work, Lao sources say.

Khoukham Keomanivong was arrested Saturday on a charge of overstaying his permission to be in the country and was tried Monday afternoon at the Don Mueang district court in the capital Bangkok, an officer at the Thug Song Hong police station told RFA.

He was transferred to the immigration bureau after he was found guilty of overstaying his visa, the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Authorities held Khoukhams one-day trial behind closed doors, citing COVID-19 concerns, and RFA reporters were not allowed inside the court building.

Court officials did not provide information on the case following the proceedings, and calls seeking comment from Thailands immigration bureau received no response on Monday.

Khoukham, a member of Free Laos  a group set up in Thailand to promote human rights and democracy in Laos  is currently being held at the Suan Plu detention center pending deportation, sources said.

Angkhana Neelapaijit, a former national human rights commissioner, said she is now working with colleagues to seek bail for Khoukham.

Im working with various networks who help foreign refugees and hope to lodge a request tomorrow, she said, speaking to RFA and BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. In the case of UNHCR-protected individuals, the immigration authorities could grant bail with a bond and guarantor. Such individuals should not be forced to go back to face harm.

'Harms way in Laos'

Khoukam is a formally recognized UNHCR refugee, and under no circumstances should Thailand send him back to Laos, where he would certainly face arrest and abuse, added Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The Thai authorities should release him immediately and enable him to seek protection in a third country if that is what he wants, Robertson said.

Laos deals severely with dissidents who call for democracy and respect for human rights in the one-party communist state, and there is no doubt that he would face arrest, imprisonment, and perhaps worse if the Thais send him back into harms way in Laos.

A third country would grant asylum to Khoukham if requested by HRW, Robertson said. But we have to make sure he doesnt get sent back first.

Three Lao workers who criticized their government on Facebook while working in Thailand disappeared in March 2016 after returning to Laos to renew their passports.

Somphone Phimmasone, his girlfriend Lod Thammavong, and Soukane Chaithad were later shown on television making what appeared to be forced confessions and were charged with criticizing the Lao government online while working abroad and for taking part in a protest outside the Lao embassy in Thailand.

Somphone was sentenced to a 20-year term, while Soukane was sentenced to 16 years, and Lod was handed a 12-year sentence.

In August 2019, Lao democracy activist Od Sayavong, a friend of Khoukham, vanished under mysterious circumstances in Thailand after posting a video clip online criticizing the Lao government. Listed as a person of concern by the UNHCR because of his advocacy for democracy and human rights in Laos, his whereabouts remain unknown. He was 34 at the time he went missing.

Veteran activist

Khoukham, 38, told RFA's Lao Service in an a previous report that he left Champassak province in southern Laos in 2002 to work in Bangkok.

He was one of a handful of Lao workers who organized Lao youth students and workers in Thailand and founded Free Laos, under the motto, "New Lao youths want democracy and do not support the dictatorship."

Khoukham's active years in the group were 2010 to 2016, when they campaigned for the release of the three workers and for missing Lao rural development expert Sombath Somphone, who disappeared in 2012. He told RFA he was scared into hiding in the Bangkok area after the series of arrests of other Lao activists.

Thailand has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war, natural disasters and human rights violations in neighboring countries.

Human rights groups, however, criticize Thailand's authoritarian government for recent cases in which it returned refugees and asylum-seekers to China, where they face torture, persecution and other rights abuses.

Last November, Thai authorities arrested and deported to Cambodia two activists from the banned political opposition after Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the arrest of one of them over a poem criticizing the strongman ruler on Facebook.

In early 2019, Vietnamese blogger Truong Duy Nhat was arrested by Thai Royal Police and handed over to Vietnamese police, who took him across the border into Laos, and from there back to Vietnam.

Nhat, who had been a weekly contributor to RFAs Vietnamese Service, was sentenced in 2020 to ten years in jail for abusing his position and authority in a decade-old land fraud case.

Reported by RFAs Lao Service and by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Junta troops have been shelling Loikaw every day since Jan. 6, residents say.

Members of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force and Kareni Army stand at a checkpoint near Demoso in eastern Myanmar's Kayah state, Oct. 19, 2021.

Intense clashes between local ethnic militias and junta forces that began in the eastern Myanmar town of Demoso have spread to the Kayah state capital, a year after the military seized power from the democratically elected government of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, state residents said.

Demoso was the site of the first clashes between junta forces and civilian-led anti-coup protests a few months after the coup on Feb. 1, 2021. The fighting has since spread to f Hpruso township and now to the state capital Loikaw, which is about 11 miles north of Demoso.

The fighting has forced nearly 180,000 people  more than half of Kayahs population  to flee to safety, according to the Karenni Social Network. Nearly 200 civilians have been killed there since the coup, according to the Karenni Civil Society Network.

There is now daily fighting between the military and the joint forces of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army in Loikaw. Myanmar soldiers have been shelling the town every day since Jan. 6, destroying homes and forcing residents to flee.

Kayah is Myanmars smallest state and its least developed region, largely inaccessible to foreigners. The intense attacks have prompted the Karenni National Progressive Party, along with the Karen National Union and the Chin National Front, to issue a joint request to the United Nations and the international community on Jan. 20 to establish safe demilitarized zones for civilians because junta forces are launching daily air strikes.

Residents of Demoso began staging anti-junta protests amid a nationwide eruption of initially peaceful demonstrations following the coup. Armed resistance began on May 21 when clashes broke out between the military and the combined forces of the KNDF and local Peoples Defense Force (PDF) in Demosos Daw Ngan Khar ward.

Local civil society groups say about 70,000 people in Demoso township have fled the fighting and have been unable to return to their homes.

Morrow, who fled his home in Demoso, said the war-torn township is now deserted and lifeless.

Since the war started last May after the coup, there has been no traffic in the famous Ngwe Daung Dam area, he said, referring to the scenic man-made Ngwe Daung Dam, a tourist attraction about 10 miles south of Loikaw in Demoso township.

There have been no tourists. Many people used to go fishing in the Ngwe Daung Dam, and the whole place was busy and so lively. Now you wont see anyone fishing there, he said.

During the early days of the conflict, the dam area and Demoso turned into a battle ground littered with corpses after heavy artillery fire from the juntas 427th Light Infantry Brigade and 102nd Infantry Battalion based near Ngwe Daung village hit both homes and churches where people took refuge.

Burned vehicles sit on a dirt road in Hpruso township following clashes between the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force and junta soldiers in eastern Myanmar's Kayah state, Dec. 25, 2021. Credit: Handout/Karenni Nationalisities Defense Force/AFP

'We are paying the price'

Gabriela, a vendor in Demosos central market who fled the town several months ago, said that even though her house was not destroyed by fighting it still required a significant amount of effort to make habitable again after months of disuse.

I went back as soon as people said the coast was clear, she told RFA. When I got there I found the whole house covered with vines and bushes.

I then looked around other peoples houses to see how much destruction there was, she said. Some peoples houses were damaged quite badly."

Gabriela also said that her stall in the market, previously one of the busiest sites in Demoso, was destroyed by artillery fire. The market used to be full of shoppers when it was open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, but now is it like a cemetery, she said.

Amid the turmoil, junta forces massacred 35 civilians, including children, in Moso village near Demoso on Dec. 24, 2021.

In response, junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, said the soldiers followed the rules while carrying out the military operation.

PDFs in civilian clothes attacked our units, taking cover in the buildings in the village, he said. When they were successful, they claimed credit. When they failed, they said civilians were killed. These are common allegations from them.

We follow the rules and regulations, he said. They are the ones who are the perpetrators, and they claim that every death is a civilian death.

But state residents, most of whom are from the mainly Christian Karenni ethnic minority group, have accused the military council of committing crimes against civilians there.

But Theik, a member of the KNDF, a network of civilian resistance fighters, Karenni organizations, and armed groups, said the coup and its violent aftermath have caused great suffering among the people of Kayah state and elsewhere in Myanmar.

We are paying the price for their actions, he said. It is not only in Kayah state where homes and villages were destroyed; it is happening in other states across the country. We have sympathy for all the brethren, and the main culprit is the junta.

Once the military council is overthrown, we will have the kind of federal union we want and the freedom we want, he said.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
TAIPEI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan reported 55 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, including 17 locally-transmitted infections and 38 imported ones, the island's disease-monitoring agency said.

The new local infections include nine in Kaohsiung, seven in Taoyuan, and one in Taipei, it said.

To date, Taiwan has reported 18,790 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 15,065 were local infections. 
The move comes on the anniversary of the Feb. 1, 2021 coup that overthrew civilian rule.

The U.S., Britain and Canada on Monday imposed new sanctions on businesses and individuals tied to the Myanmar military junta that overthrew the countrys elected civilian government a year ago, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The latest set of sanctions comes a day before the one-year anniversary of the coup that ousted the National League for Democracy-led government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, which won Myanmars November 2020 election in a landslide, prompting still-unproven army accusations of voter fraud.

In the capital Naypitaw, military junta chief Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and the National Defense and Security Council agreed to extend the Nationwide State of Emergency declared at the Feb. 1 coup for six months, a military statement said.

Junta security forces have since the takeover violently suppressed widespread opposition to military control, killing at least 1,503 and arresting 8,835 others during protests calling for a return to civilian rule, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The U.S., Britain and Canada have already imposed several rounds of sanctions following the coup, targeting Min Aung Hlaing and members of the ruling State Administrative Council, as well as major military business conglomerates. Sanctions freeze any U.S. assets of those listed and bar Americans from dealing with them.

In a statement Monday, Blinken said that sanctions have been imposed on Myanmars Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services; on Tay Za, a prominent business supporter of the regime, and on his adult sons Htoo Htet Tay Za and Phy Phyo Tay Za.

Also sanctioned are junta-tied businessman Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung and his KT Services and Logistics Company Ltd., whose businesses hold land leases with Myanmars military and broker arms deals and the sale of related materiel for junta forces.

Three other junta officials  Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo, Union Attorney General Thida Oo, and Anti-Corruption Commission Chair Tin Oo  have also been sanctioned for their role in enabling the regime to undermine the rule of law and Burmas democratic institutions, Blinken said, referring to Myanmar by its colonial-era name.

In a companion statement Monday, the U.S. Treasury Department said that pursuant to Executive Order 14014, all property and interests in property of the persons named above that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control].

In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked, the Department said.

Mondays actions are being coordinated with the U.K. and Canada to demonstrate the international communitys strong support for the people of Burma and to further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the regime, Blinken said.

The United States will continue to work with our international partners to address human rights abuses and press the regime to cease the violence, release all those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and restore Burmas path to democracy.
Geshe Tsewang Namgyal is shown in a photo following his release from prison in 2018.

A Tibetan monk jailed for six years for taking part in Tibetan freedom protests is still being watched by police years after his release despite being crippled by beatings while in custody, Tibetan sources say.

Geshe Tsewang Namgyal, formerly a monk at the Draggo monastery in Sichuans Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, was released in failing health on Jan. 24, 2018, and is now in critical condition, a Tibetan living in exile told RFA.

He is succumbing to weak health due to the beatings he received in prison, and is now in critical condition with both his legs crippled, RFAs source said, citing contacts in the Draggo area and speaking on condition of anonymity to protect his sources.

Still closely monitored by Chinese police, Namgyal was arrested on Jan. 23, 2012, after taking part in a peaceful protest in Draggo against Chinas rule that turned deadly when police fired into the crowd. Namgyal was later released from prison on several conditions, the source said.

He was not allowed to return to Draggo monastery, could not take part in any gatherings or own a cell phone, could not describe his experiences in prison with anyone, and had to obtain permission from the police before traveling or seeking medical treatment in a hospital.

Arrested with Namgyal during the protest in Draggo were the monasterys accountant, Dralha, and Khenpo Tenga, a religious instructor. Both are now also in failing health, the source said.

Dralha has lost his vision, and due to severe injuries to Khenpo Tengas head, he cannot hear and has difficulty sleeping, the source said.

But in spite of their deteriorating health, the Chinese government is constantly watching them and their daily activities, and they cant obtain proper medical treatment for their injuries because they cant afford it, he said.

Wangden Kyab, a researcher at London-based Tibet Watch, criticized the excessive attention paid by police to the three former prisoners.

Even after these Tibetan political prisoners had served their sentences and were released in failing health, the Chinese authorities are keeping an eye on them because they want to be sure they dont engage in such activities again, and because they want to eventually wipe them out, he said.

Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force 70 years ago.

Tibetans living in Tibet and Tibetan areas of western China frequently complain of discrimination and human rights abuses, and say they fear Beijing is pursuing every more aggressive policies aimed at eradicating their national and cultural identity.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The European Union has unveiled a proposal to ban Russian oil imports by the end of the year, impose more banking sanctions against Moscow, and cut off some Russian broadcasters in Europe saying that the Kremlin has to pay dearly for its aggression Ukraine.

With Russia intensifying its attacks on eastern Ukraine on May 4, the EU said that its sixth round of sanctions against Moscow will comprise phasing out the importation of Russian crude and refined oil products by the end of the year despite pushback from some of the bloc's members, including Slovakia and Hungary.

"We will phase out Russian supply of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year," the head of the bloc's executive European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine 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.

"This will be a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined," she said, adding that "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin must pay a high price for his brutal aggression."

Von der Leyen, however, conceded that getting unanimity on oil sanctions will not be easy.

The commission chief, however, conceded that getting unanimity on oil sanctions will not be easy.

The measures require approval from all 27 EU countries to take effect and soon after von der Leyen's announcement, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria announced that they would seek exemptions from the embargo voicing concerns about energy security. Hungary and Slovakia are heavily dependent on Russian energy imports.

The Czech Republic, meanwhile, said it would seek a temporary exemption period of two or three years in order for pipeline capacities to be increased.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said EU countries blocking an oil embargo would be "complicit" in Russia's crimes in Ukraine.

Whatever their arguments are, if they oppose (the) oil embargo, it means one thing: they play on the Russian side. They share responsibility for everything Russia does in Ukraine, full stop, Kuleba said in a video posted on Twitter.

Von der Leyen also proposed that Sberbank, Russias largest bank, and two other major banks be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking payment system.



The EU will also ban three Russian state-owned broadcasters, she said, without naming the channels directly.



"They will not be allowed to distribute their content anymore in the European Union, in whatever shape or form, be it on cable, via satellite, on the Internet or via smartphone apps," von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.

According to a document seen by RFE/RL, the package also contains a list of 58 individuals sanctioned over Russia's military action in Ukraine that includes the Patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church, a close ally of Putin's.



Von der Leyen also proposed launching a recovery package for Ukraine to help it rebuild after the war.



"This package should bring massive investment to meet the needs and the necessary reforms," von der Leyen said. "Eventually, it will pave the way for Ukraine's future inside the European Union."

The European Union accounts for nearly a half of Russia's crude and refined oil products. But the Kremlin, in a first reaction to Brussels' announcement, put on a brave face, warning that the embargo is a "double-edged sword" and that EU consumers will pay the price.

"The cost of these sanctions to the citizens of Europe will grow by the day," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 4.

Peskov said the Kremlin was looking at "various options" for its response to the new sanctions.

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden said he was "open" to imposing more sanctions on Russia and would be discussing measures with allies from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations in the coming days.

On the battlefront, Moscow deployed 22 battalions near Izyum, an eastern city, in a bid to push into the Donbas region, the British Defense Ministry said in its daily bulletin on May 4, adding that Russia's apparent goal is capturing the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk in the east, "despite struggling to break through Ukrainian defenses." A Russian battalion usually consists of 700-800 soldiers.



According to the British intelligence bulletin, capturing the two cities "would consolidate Russian military control" of northeastern Ukraine.

In neighboring Belarus, the armed forces began "surprise" large-scale drills on May 4 to test their combat readiness, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said there was "heavy fighting" at the Azovstal plant on May 4 and said city officials had lost contact with Ukrainian forces inside.

Boychenko told Ukrainian television that Russian forces were attacking with heavy artillery, tanks, and warplanes, and said warships off the coast were also involved.

Russian troops are on the territory of the plant, according to David Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation that has held now-stalled peace talks with Russia.

"Attempts to storm the plant continue for the second day. Russian troops are already on the territory of Azovstal," Arakhamia said, citing the commander of the Azov Regiment, which is defending the plant with other Ukrainian troops. He contradicted Boychenko, saying Ukrainian authorities have contact with the defenders at the plant.

The commander announced the storming of the plant by Russian troops the day before and called again for the evacuation of civilians.

Boychenko said on May 3 that more than 200 civilians were still holed up with fighters in the sprawling plant.

In his video address, Kuleba denied that Azovstal was under Russian control.

On May 4, Peskov denied Ukrainian reports that Russian troops had stormed the Avozstal steel plant soon after the latest group of civilians made it out of the sprawling complex.

"There is no storming," Peskov told reporters, contradicting claims by Ukrainian soldiers inside the steelworks.

"The order was publicly given by the supreme commander-in-chief to cancel the assault," Peskov said, referring to a statement Putin made on April 21 that called off a direct assault on Azovstal because it would result in too many Russian casualties. Instead, forces should seal off Azovstal so tightly that "even a fly can't get out," Putin said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak, Reuters, AP, and AFP
Canada says it will shift its military forces in Ukraine westward and will temporarily pull out nonessential Canadian employees at its Kyiv embassy, joining other Western countries in taking precautions amid rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

"We will continue to take all precautions necessary to keep our Canadian armed forces safe and secure," Defense Minister Anita Anand told a Kyiv news conference on January 30.

She said Canadian forces "have moved west of the Dnieper River," which runs through the center of Ukraine.

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.

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops and heavy weapons near the border of Ukraine, which has fought a seven-year war against Moscow-backed separatists in its east since Russia occupied and annexed Crimea in 2014.

The United States and Western allies fear the moves are a prelude to a new military incursion into Ukraine. Moscow denies that it is planning to invade Ukraine.

Canada has about 200 troops in Ukraine as part of a military training and capacity-building mission, according to a government website.

On the diplomatic side, the Canadian Foreign Ministry said it will temporarily withdraw nonessential Canadian employees and remaining dependents from its embassy in Kyiv but that the facility will remain open.

"As we continue to closely monitor the situation, our highest priority remains the safety and security of Canadians," the ministry said.

"Our officials stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens, as required," it added.

Canada said last week it would send experts in security, conflict management, democratic reform, and consular services to the embassy to reinforce the staff.

"Together, they will increase our diplomatic capacity and allow us to continue to assess and respond to the evolving situation in support of Ukraine," it said.

On January 24, the U.S. State Department ordered the families of diplomats working at the U.S. Embassy to leave Ukraine because of the threat of military action from Russia. The State Department also recommended that U.S. citizens not travel to the country.

Britain has also decided to remove some embassy staff and family members from Ukraine due to the "growing threat from Russia."

Australia and Germany also said they would withdraw some family members of embassy personnel.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP, and Reuters
Iranian teachers took to the streets in nationwide protests again to demand better pay and working conditions. Amateur video posted on social media on January 31 showed teachers marching in several cities across the country. They are demanding authorities honor promised salary hikes, adjustments to pensions, and the release of detained colleagues.
BISHKEK -- Journalist Aktilek Kaparov had just stepped out of the building where he works for a coffee when he noticed something strange.



"There were some suspicious people in masks and civilian clothes walking around, and two police officers. And literally five minutes later, five or six guys came out in masks and tactical gear," he said, pointing to an unmarked white van.



"Another guy came out with a dog. And they all came here."



This was the beginning of a dramatic Saturday-night raid by antidrug police in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Their target on January 22 was the office of Temirov LIVE, a new media outlet that focuses on exposing high-level corruption and which had just published its latest investigation.

The police burst into the office, forcing the outlet's employees onto the floor. Two officers sat on Bolot Temirov, the chief editor. Then they lifted him up and made him empty his pockets. Among the items he found, to his horror, was a small cellophane packet. Claiming that it contained marijuana, the officers seized the outlet's computers and carted the journalist away. "They planted it!" Temirov shouted as he was dragged out of his office. His colleagues also say they're convinced the packet had been planted, and Temirov later tested negative for drugs. As this investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop reveals, the raid did not come out of nowhere. It was the culmination of months of surveillance and harassment directed at Temirov and his team. In the fall, Temirov said, he and his colleagues noticed suspicious vehicles parked outside their office. In December, a hidden camera and microphone was found in the apartment he was renting. Perhaps most disturbingly, the authorities appear to have concocted a scheme to entrap one of Temirov's employees. The young woman had been romantically pursued by a man who approached her at a gym and then invited her on a weekend lakeside getaway. As it turns out, according to a law enforcement source, he was an agent of the UKMK, Kyrgyzstan's secret service. During the course of their short relationship, her laptop was breached, a sexual encounter was secretly recorded, and a group of men who presented themselves as UKMK agents pressed her for information about Temirov's upcoming investigations, threatening to ruin her life and her parents reputation if she refused. One of those investigations -- published just days before the raid -- alleged that family members of the powerful head of the UKMK, Kamchybek Tashiev, had benefited from corrupt deals involving a state oil company. The reaction was swift and it did not end with Temirov's arrest. Over the following week, several videos were posted online by anonymous Facebook pages that accused him of being a criminal and a traitor to Kyrgyzstan. The videos used donor reports, contracts, and other documents that appear to have been obtained from the seized computers to portray Temirov as an agent of foreign interests. One of the videos also made good on the agents' earlier threats, exposing the intimate footage of Temirov's young employee and using it to concoct a wild allegation that his organization had pressured her to raise funds from foreign donors by submitting to them sexually. "This means they're afraid of our investigations," Temirov says about the authorities' methods. "Before, they simply didn't respond, they tried to explain themselves. But the more we kept doing investigations, the more difficult that became." "This is how theyve chosen to get rid of something that's in their way."

Given Temirov's stature as one of Kyrgyzstan's leading independent journalists, an apparent systematic effort by the authorities to destroy him and his organization is a devastating blow to press freedom in the country. Human rights groups warn that the climate for free expression has deteriorated since President Sadyr Japarov first came to power in October 2020. (Tashiev, the UKMK head, has described the president as his "dear friend," adding that "only Allah can separate us.") "Everything that's happening reflects a kind of feeling of impunity and permissiveness among the ruling authorities," said Azim Azimov, a Kyrgyz political commentator. "[They] have assaulted freedom of speech in our country, trying to restrict the work of independent journalists, and especially investigative journalists."

The Rise of Kamchybek Tashiev When protesters stormed the Kyrgyz White House in 2020 and overthrew the government, they were following a well-known script in the countrys politics. Kyrgyzstan had ousted presidents on two previous occasions. But this time, revolution brought a political outsider, Sadyr Japarov, to power. He, in turn, appointed his friend and political ally, Kamchybek Tashiev, to head Kyrgyzstans powerful security agency, the UKMK. Hailing from Kyrgyzstans southern Jalalabad region, Tashiev was first elected to parliament in 2005 and briefly served as emergency situations minister. In 2010, after a revolution ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev and interethnic rioting erupted in the countrys south, Tashiev emerged as one of Kyrgyzstans nationalist political voices. That same year, he was elected to parliament. In 2011, he ran for president and came in third place. But it was the next year that would serve as a harbinger of Kyrgyzstans political future. On October 3, 2012, during a protest calling for the nationalization of a controversial Kyrgyz gold mine, Tashiev, then-lawmaker Japarov, and deputy parliament speaker Talant Mamytov attempted to climb the fence of the White House to overthrow the government. They were arrested by police and eventually convicted of attempting to violently seize power, but were released on time served. Their convictions meant that they lost their parliamentary seats. Tashiev later had his criminal record expunged, but the Central Election Commission still prevented him from running for parliament in 2015. Meanwhile, Japarov had fled Kyrgyzstan in 2013 after being charged with organizing an attempt to kidnap a regional governor during another protest. Upon returning in 2017, he was imprisoned. Protesters freed Japarov during the 2020 revolution. He then became acting president and was later formally elected to the office. He didnt forget about Tashiev, making him security services chief.

Temirov has been released on instructions not to leave the country, but drug charges against him remain open. The UKMK and the Interior Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Last week the UKMK released a statement denying any connection to the raid against Temirov or the compromising published video. 'Bandit Methods'



Temirov is no stranger to pressure or even violence.



In late 2019, the outlet he was leading at the time, Factcheck.kg, published an investigation that exposed the wealth of a powerful former customs official. Temirov was then offered money to stop subsequent publications, slandered by trolls online, and had his website taken down by a DDOS attack.



In January 2020, he was savagely beaten by three young men he believes had been sent by the former customs boss.

But far from stopping him, the incident only convinced him he had to press on. "It was when they attacked me," he said. "That was the turning point when I fully decided that I had embarked on this path and would do investigations." It was then that he set up his new outlet, Temirov LIVE. By that summer it had published the first of its investigations, which are presented in clever, well-explained online videos reminiscent of the ones that helped make Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny a household name.

And he didn't shy away from sensitive topics. In the spring of 2021, Temirov published a story showing that many "protesters" who took to the streets in support of the embattled head of the Interior Ministry were actually ministry employees. This was followed by attempts to break into his social media accounts. Then things went quiet -- for a while. Starting in October, Temirov said, he and his employees began to notice suspicious cars parked outside their office. But an even more disturbing phase was about to begin. In December, while Temirov was out of the country, his brother-in-law came across some unfamiliar devices under a dresser in his rented apartment: a digital video recorder, a Wi-Fi router, a custom-made power supply unit, a microphone, and several wires. Following them behind the wallpaper, Temirov's brother-in-law found a video camera filming the living room through a tiny hole.

The files saved on the device, which were viewed by reporters, indicate that it had been recording for several weeks. But the system was also connected to a cloud server, which could have allowed it to upload footage in real time.



In fact, several segments of audio Temirov says were recorded in his apartment were used in one of the propaganda videos that later appeared online.



Accompanied by dramatic music and the menacing, digitally modified voice of an unnamed narrator, the video accuses Temirov of accepting money from both Western and Russian agents who are bent on influencing Kyrgyzstan. It features a clip of Temirov discussing the purchase of camera equipment with an OCCRP employee, and another of him in an argument with his wife.

The video also included audio clips that, Temirov said, had been recorded in his office. "Those in power use bandit methods, they violate all imaginable moral and state laws," he said. "These people are absolutely unfamiliar with the concept of legality. And Id say even humanity." The ordeal experienced by one of Temirov's employees shows how far his enemies in government were prepared to go. 'What About Your Mom and Dad?' Aigul had been working for Temirov LIVE as a project manager, not a journalist. Her daily routine usually involved dealing with international grants and communicating with donors. But in the course of just a few weeks earlier this winter, a chance encounter turned her life into a nightmare. Aigul -- a pseudonym RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop agreed to use to protect her privacy -- told journalists her story in a lengthy interview whose key points were corroborated, where possible, through chat transcripts, screenshots, and computer logs. It began in December, when she was approached in a local gym by a young man who helped her put weights on her exercise machine and afterwards gave her a ride to a meeting. They began exchanging messages and before long he invited her on a weekend getaway to Issyk-Kul, a scenic lake in the east of the country. "He rented the apartment, organized everything himself," Aigul said. She had no idea until much later that their sexual encounter in the apartment that night was recorded from multiple angles. But it wasn't long before she felt that something was wrong. The next morning, while he was making breakfast, the young man asked her for the password to her laptop so he could play a video. She typed it in herself, but later he asked again. "And he brings his phone up, when I was putting it in," she said. "I thought he was recording me, and I moved further away." The couple then spent the afternoon at a hot spring. While they were out, someone came into the apartment and broke into her laptop, according to an analysis by Temirov LIVEs security consultant that was also reviewed by OCCRP. "They put in the password about 30 times," Aigul said. "And in the end, they got in." Looking at her browser history later, Aigul saw that the intruders had done an online search about disabling Windows Defender -- an antivirus program that is part of the operating system -- and installed a spyware program. But she only learned of the incident the following morning when she got a call from the security consultant.

On overhearing part of their conversation, the young man became agitated, asking her who she worked for, claiming that 10,000 soms ($118) was missing from his jacket, and rushing her back to Bishkek. "After this, of course, all my suspicions were on him," she said. "Because that other morning, when he brought [his phone] up [to record or take a photo], also seemed strange." She thought he might be a government agent, but wasn't sure. "I kept speaking to him [on the drive back to Bishkek]," Aigul said, "because I had to find out, is he with them or not?" Several weeks later, the young man invited Aigul to a rented country house. But within a few hours, the evening turned terrifying. After dinner, she emerged from the bathroom to find him being questioned by three masked men who identified themselves as UKMK agents. But it soon became clear they had come for her. They began by pulling out a photograph of her parents. "Here's a good, respected man, he works for the government," Aigul recalled one of them saying about her father. "You're the daughter of such exemplary parents. Do you know where the money [for your salary] comes from?" They also showed her a photo they had taken of Temirov, describing him as a foreign agent who was trying to "help foreign security services destabilize the situation in the country." "They work under the cover of donors, and these donors are funded by foreign special services, and its good for them for our country to have revolutions," she said they told her. Again and again they demanded that she sign a cooperation agreement with their agency and to inform on Temirov. When Aigul refused, they turned to a new form of pressure, showing her the secretly recorded videos of her night with the young man and threatening to publish them. "Alright, you're young and brave, you'll get through it," she said the agent told her. "But what about your mom and dad? Their hearts won't survive it. They've worked for so long, earned such respect, and in one moment youll destroy it all." When she said nothing, the lead agent turned up the pressure. "My guys are by your parents' house," she said he told her. "I'm going to call my guys. They're going to go to your parents and show them the photos. That'll be a nice New Years present." After many hours into the session, Aigul broke down. "I had to sign," she said, "because I understood that they would never leave if I didn't." The young man then took her home.

Reporters were unable to find out anything about him using the name he had given her, and he did not appear in official taxpayer and voter databases. But when shown a photo of him, a source in Kyrgyz law enforcement immediately recognized him as a UKMK agent using a different name. The fact that Aigul was pressured by people identifying themselves as UKMK agents can also be corroborated. A few days later, she received several text messages from someone who used her parents' address as an account name. Their first exchange is reproduced here in English: Message: Hello

Sender: B

Date: 1.18.2022 17:53



Message: What journalistic investigations are at the stage of near broadcast? What investigations are on the stage of fact checking, preparation (in relation to whom and based on what facts)?

Sender: B

Date: 1.18.2022 17:54 Message: Its your neighbors from [B Street].

Sender: B

Date: 1.18.2022 22:33 Message: Hello

Sender: Aigul

Date: 1.19.2022 17:12 Message: ?

Sender: Aigul

Date: 1.19.2022 20:51 Message: Hello, this is your friends, we met you on Friday, how are you? How are you feeling?

Sender: B

Date: 1.19.2022 22:29 Message: Friends from UKMK?

Sender: Aigul

Date: 1.19.2022 23:32 Message: Yes, you are right, these are your friends, we are waiting for answers from you.

Sender: B

Date: 1.19.2022 23:35 They continued to demand more: Message: Bolot Temirov on his Facebook page wrote that soon there would be two epic bomb investigations, what exactly are the investigations?

Sender: B

Date: 1.19.2022 23:43 When Aigul said she wasn't sure, her contacts weren't happy. Message: [Aigul] let's not play cat and mouse games, the studio and the office are in the same place, and it shouldn't be hard for you to discover what we're asking. The request is very doable

Sender: B

Date: 1.20.2022 00:06 Message: Thank you very much

Sender: B

Date: 1.20.2022 00:06 Message: And also [Aigul] please describe the office, who sits where, who has what functions

Sender: B

Date: 1.20.2022 00:06 Aigul didn't answer. By the end of that day, Temirov LIVE's investigation about the family of UKMK head Tashiev had been published on YouTube. After that, Aigul said, the agents never contacted her again. "They lost interest in me because I didn't warn them," she said. However, the propaganda video featuring her intimate footage was published online several days later. She never saw the young man again. 'You Planted It!' Two days after Temirov and his team published their investigation, the drug police headed for their office. The formal reason for the raid was a complaint by a woman named Aiperi Adyl-kyzy. Just a few hours earlier she told police that a man named "Bolot" had forced her to use drugs at several locations. She named two addresses, including the office of Temirov LIVE. (Reporters found several of her social media accounts and sent direct messages with questions about her role in the case. She did not respond in time for publication.) Normally, legal specialists say, any raid would have to be authorized by a judge. But in exceptional situations an investigator can also authorize a search if there is concern that physical evidence might be lost or tainted. The senior investigator of the Bishkek City Department of Internal Affairs appears to have used this loophole, citing "real concerns that material evidence...may be lost, damaged, or used for criminal purposes." Based on that warrant, special forces of the Service for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking were sent to Temirov LIVEs headquarters. RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop interviewed Temirov and everyone else who was present, gaining a clearer idea of what took place during the raid.

After making all the men lie on the floor and tying their hands, officers picked them up one by one and told them to empty their pockets. Temirov was last. When he pulled out the small cellophane bag, his wife Makhabat recalls, his face registered shock.



He burst into tears, because he had just been defamed out of the blue. He went into hysteria, started panicking. We were all in shock, she said. Then I said, calm down, we all see that they planted it, dont be hysterical.



You planted it, I saw, she recalled shouting. I started yelling, Bolot started yelling, everyone started yelling.



According to the Temirov LIVE employees and their lawyers, the officers made numerous procedural errors and even violated the law during the operation.



During the search, officers seized multiple laptops and computers, flash cards, a mobile phone, and a video recorder that was connected to the video-surveillance system in the office.



But according to the outlets lawyers, the seizure of the equipment violated search procedures because it had no connection to the accusations against Temirov.



"When conducting a search and seizure, the investigator should restrict themselves to seizing items and documents that may be relevant to the case," said lawyer Bekbolot Kasabolotov.

The next day -- commenting on what, by all outward appearances, was a minor drug arrest -- UKMK head Tashiev stated that he "does not have the moral right, under the guise of defending freedom of speech, to turn a blind eye to some crimes."

Procedural Violations The raid of Temirov LIVEs office also featured multiple other procedural violations, the outlets lawyers said. During the operation, investigators initially did not allow the lawyers to enter the room where the search was being conducted. When Temirov was detained, the lawyers said, officers did not specify which article he was being investigated under or read him his rights. This is required under Kyrgyz law. Temirov LIVE employees and lawyers also note that the operatives did not show their documents and were wearing balaclavas, which is prohibited by law in such cases.

"If there is a crime, all the equipment must be seized. Perhaps these computers have information about drugs, prices, and sellers. I hope there's nothing in their computers that can harm the state," he said. Temirov LIVE employees believe that the equipment was seized so that the police could find out what the media outlet was investigating. They also suspect the police took the video recorder to prevent their actions during the raid from being scrutinized. Since his arrest, Temirov has been released from prison pending an investigation. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted on charges of drug possession. Several employees have also been called in for questioning. But many Kyrgyz citizens have voiced their outrage at his treatment, which local experts view as unprecedented. Pressure against journalists and media outlets has taken place in practically all regimes, said Azimov, the Kyrgyz political commentator. But they tried to lend this process at least some illusion of legitimacy. They found some formal grounds, went to court, he said. But in this case, a journalist with a good reputation unceremoniously has drugs planted on him, in view of witnesses, he went on. Then they confiscated not only their equipment, but the surveillance footage, so that the traces of these crimes would not be saved. Of course this cannot cause anything other than outrage and anger.
Photo taken on Jan. 31, 2022 shows a view of the Potala Palace square decorated with Spring Festival elements in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1 this year. (Xinhua/Chogo)

Children pose for a photo with festive decorations in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 31, 2022. The Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1 this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

Citizens purchase red lanterns at a festive fair in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 29, 2022. The Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1 this year. (Photo by Liu Yufei/Xinhua)

Citizens take photos with festive decorations in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 31, 2022. The Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1 this year. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

Photo taken on Jan. 31, 2022 shows a red lantern at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1 this year. (Xinhua/Chogo)
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With an estimated 100,000 troops positioned near Ukraines borders, whats the mood in Kyiv? And whats behind the striking difference between public assessments by Ukrainian and U.S. officials? RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel, now on assignment in Ukraine, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russia's core European security proposals delivered to the West at the end of last year represent a slippery slope toward a new, dangerous world order, a senior U.S. diplomat said.

Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said in an interview with RFE/RL on January 31 that the West simply cannot negotiate key principles like the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.

If we start to go down that path of negotiating on the very core principles of the international order, then we end up in a world where might makes right and missiles and tanks and troops decide whether a country gets to choose its own future, Carpenter told RFE/RL.

Russia in December demanded NATO end its eastern expansion and withdraw troops and armaments from Central and Eastern Europe as Moscow seeks a clear sphere of influence in its near abroad and a reversal of the post-Cold War order on the continent.

It did so as it amassed more than 100,000 combat-ready troops near its border with Ukraine in what experts and Western officials have said is an attempt by Moscow to negotiate with a gun on the table."

Russia is seeking to block Ukraine from joining NATO, something the Kremlin has called a red line.

Three rounds of negotiations earlier this month between the West and Russia on Moscows proposals were inconclusive, raising concerns that an invasion of Ukraine could be imminent.

Russia has denied that it intends to invade Ukraine.

During those meetings -- and afterward -- the United States and its European allies warned Russia that it will face massive economic sanctions if it invades Ukraine again. The West has also repeatedly said it will strengthen NATO forces in Eastern Europe and supply Ukraine with more weapons in the event of a military escalation by Moscow.

Carpenter, who represented the United States at an OSCE meeting with Russia on January 13, said the threat of powerful Western sanctions are meant to sharpen the Kremlin's choices between diplomacy and invasion.

What we judge as the most effective way of approaching the situation is to widen the gulf between those two choices so it becomes very, very clear to Russia, he said.

However, there is concern about divisions within the West over how to respond to Russian aggression. Germany, Europes largest economy, has deep trade ties to Russia and stands to lose more than others from sanctions against Russia.

Carpenter said that not every country may be aligned 100 percent on every measure being discussed among allies and partners, but he said he believes there is rock solid unity on the need to impose tough sanctions in the event of an invasion.

I do believe we have that [unity] right now, thanks to very, very robust diplomacy from the United States and from our allies. We are in a very firm position to be able to impose those tough, severe consequences, he said.

He said it is impossible to see a scenario where Russias $11 billion Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline to Germany is allowed to begin operations should Moscow choose to attack Ukraine.

Carpenter said Russia would only undermine its own goals by invading Ukraine, pushing Kyiv ever closer into Europes orbit.

While he called the military buildup near Ukraine very concerning, Carpenter still holds out hope for diplomacy, saying the West and Russia could make progress on some of Moscows demands, such as arms limitations and transparency of military exercises.

Those issues are of concern to the West, as well, he said.

Carpenter also said the United States backs the continuation of peace talks to resolve the fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russia-backed separatists.

Russia in 2014 fomented a war in two provinces in eastern Ukraine, supplying money, weapons, and troops. The war, which still simmers, has killed more than 13,200 people.

Ukraine and Russia have signed several agreements that offer a path to a peace settlement, but Russia has failed to carry out its part, including withdrawing armaments and opening the region to inspection by the OSCE.

So far, those conditions have not been fulfilled by one party and that party is Russia, he said. Until those basic elements are fulfilled, it's difficult to talk about the other aspects of the agreement.
KYIV -- Weapons training, which featured a piece of pressed composite wood cut in the shape of a rifle, was going well for 18-year-old Anna Kuksa until she pivoted to her left, as ordered by her camouflaged trainer. One of her fellow students turned to the right, and they collided and tripped over each other.

Thirty minutes later, Kuksa and her friend Maria, whose painted green fingernails and panda-bear knapsack contrasted with the fatigues and patterned backpacks of the other participants, took a break from the cold. They laughed off the incident.

Were in a war situation now. We need to defend not just the country but our home city. We have to know how to act if Russia attacks, said Kuksa, a student at a Kyiv medical college. This is what we need to do -- what everyone needs to do.

And so, on a snowy Sunday morning with temperatures hovering at freezing and puddles of slush tormenting pedestrians, several hundred people -- mostly men, many in camouflage or all-black clothing -- stood at attention on the grounds of an abandoned heavy machinery factory on Kyivs western outskirts, yelling, Glory to Ukraine! when called on.

Their mission: drilling on what to do if Russia launches what some Western officials say could be the biggest military action in Europe since World War II.

In recent months, civil-defense training has mushroomed, in Kyiv and in other major cities, as Russia has menaced Ukraine with more than 100,000 troops deployed to its north, east, and south, along with some of its most sophisticated weaponry.

Some of it is being done through formal institutions like the Territorial Defense Forces, whose training is directly overseen by the Ukrainian Army.

But some is being done through once-private militia groups and political organizations that played a major role in the early years of the fighting against Russia-backed separatist forces in the eastern Donbas region after 2014. At that time, Ukraines badly depleted and demoralized armed forces struggled to withstand their onslaughts.

That includes National Corps, a far-right political organization that has drawn into its ranks veterans of some of Ukraines more notorious right-wing paramilitaries, including the Azov Battalion.

National Corps itself was labeled as a nationalist hate group in a 2018 U.S. State Department report. In papers filed in 2018 in a U.S. federal court, the FBI noted Azovs association with neo-Nazi ideology and use of Nazi symbolism and said it is believed to have participated in training and radicalizing United States-based white supremacy organizations.

This is just one of numerous examples that illustrate that the government of Ukraine embraces far-right forces, including internationally active forces like the Azov movement, said Oleksiy Kuzmenko, a U.S.-based journalist and researcher who has written extensively about Ukrainian right-wing groups.

Asked for a similar comparison in another Western country, Kuzmenko pointed to Patriot Front, a U.S. white supremacist group.

It would be like the Patriot Front having their own 1,100-strong unit in the U.S. Army and having a close relationship with Democrats and Republicans and being welcome on CNN, he told RFE/RL.

National Corps

Founded in 2016 by Andriy Biletskiy, National Corps counts veterans of the Azov Battalion among its core supporters. Azov itself was incorporated into the Ukrainian National Guard as a way to formalize command over, and funding for, the disparate paramilitaries that fought against Russia-backed separatists in the early years of the war in the Donbas.

In his early writings in the 2000s, Biletsky openly espoused Nazi-like themes and ideology. In one pamphlet that he penned in 2007, he talks about Social-Nationalism raising ancient Ukrainian Aryan values. Only their revival and implementation by a group of fanatical fighters can lead to the final victory of European civilization in the world struggle. 

He gained renown in mid-2014 when he was at the forefront of a battle to take back the port city of Mariupol from Russia-backed separatists. The Azov Battalion, which has espoused neo-Nazi sympathies, shot to prominence in that and other fighting.

Biletskiy was elected to Ukraines parliament that year. Ukraines National Guard, meanwhile, started bringing militias like Azov under formal government oversight.

But by 2019, however, Biletskys party failed, along with other right-wing political groups, to win any seats in parliament.

Biletsky, who maintains a prominent public voice accusing the government of negligence in preparing the country for war, did not attend the January 30 training.

Asked about National Corps ties with Azov, one of his chief deputies, Maksym Zhorin, called the persistent reports about extremist ideology a product of Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at discrediting it.

He insisted that National Corps was now completely separate from Azov.

Preparation for war should not be considered from a political point of view, Zhorin told reporters. We look at it only from the point of view of the defense of the state.

The first thing we have to do is prepare the local population, prepare the army, prepare the economy. And all the politics -- thats all in the background, he said.

He accused the Ukrainian government of doing too little to prepare civilians for the possibility of an invasion by Russian forces. Asked about a new invasion, Zhorin said: It will happen. Its just a question of time.

GunsAnd First Aid

President Volodymyr Zelenskiys government did push through a law formalizing a civilian defense-type organization. That law, called On The Foundations Of The National Resistance, came into force on January 1, setting up the Territorial Defense Forces.

The plan envisions 25 brigades in nearly all of the countrys administrative regions, with plans to recruit 130,000 reservists. Last year, army units started holding small-scale weekend sessions for civilian volunteers.

But for critics of the government, especially groups like National Corps, its too little, too late. And private organizations and paramilitary groups like National Corps or the Ukrainian Legion have stepped up to conduct their own training sessions -- which in some cases can double as recruiting events.

Of course, at first people come and they want to learn how to shoot weapons, said Oleksiy Sannikov, who heads Ukrainian Legion, a private group that does not have a political arm and has been organizing trainings since 2014. But then we have to explain to them that its just as important to know how to do first aid, how to aid others, how to behave in a group setting.

The January 30 training at the former ATEK factory in western Kyiv featured around 400 people, a motley crew that mixed university students and older men and women wearing street clothes suited for sidewalk strolling, with seasoned veterans wearing camouflage fatigues or young men wearing all black clothing, including black balaclavas.

Among the veterans, some from Azov units, several displayed arm patches with symbols of white supremacist and Nazi groups.

Smoke from barrel fires drifted through the ruined buildings and courtyards, as a more experienced group practiced storming an abandoned building. A less experienced group was handed composite wood cutouts of rifles and then drilled in how to pivot and stand when aiming the rifle at a target.

Some wearing sneakers slipped in the snow as they practiced pivoting right and left, holding the wooden guns. Some bounced up and down to stay warm and blew on their fingers. All listened intently as the instructor showed them how to look down the sights of the rifle.

We all know what happened in 2014. There was no military recruitment. No one knew what to do. The officers were idiots, said Danylo Hrabovskiy, a 21-year-old student training at a Kyiv-area aviation engineering institute.

People who did volunteer to fight ended up being sent to the Donbas front lines, where many died needlessly, said Hrabovskiy, who expects to be commissioned as a lieutenant and deployed in a combat unit when he finishes his schooling.

For example, he said, volunteers did not have proper field and emergency medical training -- like how to apply a proper tourniquet -- so they died of blood loss.

Hrabovskiy said he and other volunteers were frustrated by Ukrainian weapons laws, which include onerous regulations for people wanting to have a gun in their own homes. He said its totally unrealistic for volunteers trained in civil defense to drive 20 minutes to a district armory to get their weapons in the event of war.
11 Lilia (left) and Tetyana, both residents of a village on the outskirts of Donetsk, speak to a journalist in a basement used as a bomb shelter on January 30. They live in an area controlled by the separatists, not far from the front line with government forces. Lilia and five other people live in a five-story apartment building without heat or water. Many houses in the region were abandoned because of heavy damage incurred during the military conflict in 2014-15.
In many regards, the social media posts appearing on forums devoted to life in the parts of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatist formations and surrounding areas focus on the same topics that worry people in other regions of that part of the world.

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.

Residents there actively discuss the problems of packs of wild dogs, rising prices of consumer goods, and what they see as the ineffectiveness of Russia's Sputnik coronavirus vaccine in the face of the persistent omicron variant.

However, following weeks of reports that a Russian invasion could be imminent, and with more than 100,000 Russian troops massing across the border, people in these reaches of eastern Ukraine are naturally also worried that the conflict that has been simmering since major fighting was reduced following a February 2015 cease-fire deal could heat up once again.

The Kremlin denies any intention to invade its neighbor but has suggested that de-escalation is conditional on binding guarantees that NATO will never expand further eastward, especially to Ukraine, among other things.

"I'm so sick of these daily predictions," one contributor wrote on the Russian social media site VK. "It's fine for those who are sitting on a couch somewhere in Nizhny Novgorod or Krasnoyarsk far from our war to sit around and make predictions over beer and chips. But what is it like for us to read all this? We are like mice in a frying pan that are about to be put over the fire. And everyone is watching with interest. Over their beers and chips."

A post on another forum seemed to capture the emotional stress that the region has been under.

"No one here believes in anything," the user wrote. "Enough! Stop! People are sick of all this crap. And the most frightening thing in this situation is that we stopped being afraid. Even if something is true, we don't believe it and we aren't afraid."

Also attracting attention was a recent statement by Denis Pushilin, the de facto head of the separatist-occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk region, in which he warned -- without evidence -- that Kyiv was planning "at any moment" to attack the region, known as the Donbas, and that everyone "should be ready for the worst-case scenario."

"I thought we were already in the 'worst-case scenario,'" one commentator wrote, apparently referring to the region's years of isolation.

"And how would this be worse?" another user wrote about the purported attack. "How many years have we been marching in place, and they have been telling us that they'll attack at any minute? And nothing changes except the wrinkles on Pushilin's face."

Others expressed doubt about Moscow's intentions in the conflict.

"Russia doesn't need us," one user wrote. "Russia only needed us before in order to get its hands on Crimea. Open your eyes!"

On a forum registered in the neighboring Luhansk region, users discussed proposals among Russia's rulers to openly provide weapons to the separatist-controlled areas.

"Only those who live far from here could be happy to hear about a resumption of fighting," one user wrote. While another countered sarcastically: "Yes -- more weapons and more destruction! And then we can blame everything on America, Ukraine, China, and so on."

One listener from Donetsk who identified herself only as Maria wrote that she and her family were trying to get on with life, despite the alarming reports.

"We no longer watch the news at all," she wrote in an e-mail. "We have enough to worry about with day-to-day concerns and don't have the time or the desire to think about geopolitics. From the outside, the situation in Donetsk seems calm. You don't see any trainloads of military equipment or armed people walking around. I don't know the reason, but my family isn't panicking. Maybe they are tired of being afraid -- I don't know."

RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson contributed to this report.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to speak by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on February 1 as tensions continue to simmer over a Russian troop buildup near its borders with Ukraine.



The conversation is set to be the first direct dialogue between the top diplomats since Washington submitted its written responses last week to Russia's security demands amid the Ukraine crisis.

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.

Before the talks, Russia's embassy in Washington said on February 1 that Moscow will not back down in the face of U.S. threats of sanctions.

"We are not going to back away and stand at attention, listening to the threats of U.S. sanctions," the embassy said on Facebook, adding that it is "Washington, not Moscow, that generates tensions."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also is set to travel to Kyiv on February 1 for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, adding to the flurry of high-level diplomacy.



"As a friend and a democratic partner, the U.K. will continue to uphold Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of those who seek to destroy it," Johnson said in a statement.

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to have a phone call with Johnson on February 1. The call was originally planned for January 31, but Johnson had to reschedule the call for unspecified reasons.

"The talks are not on the schedule today," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 1. "But we dont rule out that a later time will be agreed upon."



The call between Lavrov and Blinken comes a day after tensions were on full display at a meeting of the UN Security Council in which U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia intended to increase the number of its troops in Belarus by mid-February as part of its threat to Ukraine.



Thomas-Greenfield, speaking during a stormy debate, told the Security Council that Russias buildup already was the largest mobilization of troops in Europe in decades.

"And as we speak, Russia is sending even more forces and arms to join them," she said, accusing Russia of planning to build its military force in Belarus to 30,000 within weeks.



She also accused Russia of attempting to paint Ukraine and Western countries as the aggressors "to fabricate a pretext for attack.



Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya accused the United States of trying to "whip up hysteria" by pushing a Security Council debate. He said there was "no proof" Moscow was planning military action and said Russia had never confirmed the West's assertion that it had amassed 100,000 troops near its neighbor.



He said Russia frequently deployed troops in its own territory and said that Ukraine's crisis was a domestic issue.

Thomas-Greenfield responded by saying the provocations came from Russia "not from us or other members of this council."



U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the United States presented "the full nature of Russia's threat to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" during the Security Council meeting.



Speaking later at the White House, Biden said the United States is pursuing diplomacy to resolve the crisis but warned Russia that "we are ready no matter what happens."

French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke by phone with Putin again on January 31 and that both leaders welcomed progress made in talks within the Normandy format bringing together the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France to help end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.



Both presidents want to continue the dialogue with a view toward implementing the Minsk peace accords, Macron said in a statement.



Diplomats have tried to breathe new life into the accords, which contain the groundwork for a final settlement in the Donbas. The deal has long been hamstrung by differing interpretations of its contents and the process for implementing them.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss plans to travel to Ukraine with Johnson. She said on January 31 that the British government will be ready by February 10 to impose "wide-ranging" sanctions against Russia in the event of an invasion and that the sanctions will target anyone providing strategic or economic support to the Russian regime.



Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the British warning "very disturbing," saying it made Britain less attractive to investors and would hurt British companies.



"An attack by a given country on Russian business implies retaliatory measures, and these measures will be formulated based on our interests, if necessary," Peskov said.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP
MACAO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on Monday said people in Macao must devote united and diligent effort to make use of fresh opportunities arising from the country's overall development, and further promote Macao's unique strengths in the Year of the Tiger.

In his message for the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 1 this year, Ho said the Macao SAR government would devote unrelenting effort to epidemic prevention and control in the coming year, and to tasks relating to restoring normal socio-economic order.

The SAR government will spare no effort in speeding up adequate economic diversification, enhancing well-being in society, further integrating into overall national development, promoting the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle with Macao characteristics, and advancing development of the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Zhuhai city, which is just across Macao in the mainland, Ho added.

Fu Ziying, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, on Monday voiced his confidence that Macao will surely be able to write a new chapter of the success of the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics in the coming Year of the Tiger.

Fu drew the conclusion in his message for the Chinese New Year on condition that Macao further consolidates the foundation for development, continues to promote appropriate economic diversification, makes use of its unique advantages to integrate into overall national development, and continues to carry forward love for the country and for Macao.

In the past year, with the care of the central government and support from the mainland, Macao has withstood the repeated tests of the COVID-19 pandemic, and achieved social stability and harmony as well as gradual economic recovery, Fu said, noting that the hard-won achievements demonstrated the advantages and vitality of "one country, two systems."

Liu Xianfa, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, said the COVID-19 epidemic has been effectively put under control, that the SAR's economy is gradually recovering and the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in Macao have improved in the past year thanks to the support of the central government and the mainland as well as hard work from all walks of the Macao society led by the SAR government.

The commissioner's office will continue to firmly support the chief executive and the SAR government to govern in accordance with the law and to expand exchanges and cooperation with countries in the world, particularly Portuguese-speaking countries, and firmly oppose interference of external forces in Macao affairs, Liu said. 
Richmond, KY (40475)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Showers early then thundershowers developing late. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
OTTAWA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Canada has decided to withdraw more staff from the Canadian embassy in Ukraine, according to a statement issued by the Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Sunday.

Canada has made the decision to temporarily withdraw non-essential Canadian employees and remaining dependants from the Canadian embassy in Ukraine, said the statement, highlighting that the highest priority remains the safety and security of Canadians.

"As announced earlier this week, Canada will be reinforcing the team at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, with officials with expertise in areas such as security sector reform, conflict management, democratic reform, consular services and diplomacy," said the statement. "Together, they will increase our diplomatic capacity and allow us to continue to assess and respond to the evolving situation in support of Ukraine."

Meanwhile, Canada's Defence Minister Anita Anand arrived in Ukraine earlier Sunday and said at a press conference that Canada would continue to take all precautions necessary to keep Canadian Armed Forces safe and secure.

On Jan. 25, Canada pulled out Canadian embassy staff's children under 18 years of age and family members accompanying them. Currently the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine remains open, providing consular assistance to Canadian citizens.

Previously Canada updated its travel advisory suggesting that any non-essential Canadians should leave Ukraine. The decision came amid heightened concerns of a potential Russian-Ukrainian conflict. 
Anglo Platinum almost doubles PGMs output in 2021

31 january 2022 News

Anglo Americans Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) operations more than doubled refined production in the fourth quarter of 2021, resulting in a record full-year refined production of 5.1 million ounces (oz) compared to 2.7 million oz in 2020.

Refined production for the quarter was about 1,4 million oz compared to 673 000z in 2020, reflecting continued strong performance from the Anglo Converter Plant (ACP) Phase A unit following its successful start-up in November 2020.

It said the build-up in work-in-progress inventory following the temporary closure of the ACP in 2020 has largely been processed and refined.

Anglo said own mined production increased by 2% to 734,200 ounces, primarily from a 15% increase at Amandelbult to 213,600 ounces, reflecting improved mining performance and increased stability at the concentrator.

It said production at Unki increased by 13% to 63,200 ounces due to the successful completion of the debottlenecking project at the concentrator.

This was partially offset by the performance at Mogalakwena and Mototolo, where lower grades were the primary drivers for the production decreases of 2% and 18% respectively. Joint operations increased marginally by 1% to 99,700 ounces.

It said the purchase of concentrate increased by 3% to 369,200 ounces, primarily from third parties reflecting a recovery from the impact of Covid-19 in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The full-year average realised basket price of $2,761/PGM ounce primarily reflects the strong realised price for rhodium, particularly in the first half of the year.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished






A federal court judge has not yet ruled on a traffic stop defendants motion to withdraw his guilty plea but the United States attorney for the eastern district of North Carolina has entered his opposition in the court record.

In his opposition, Michael F. Easley Jr. said, of the defendant, Yacine Rahmani, The defendant cannot show a fair and just reason to allow his withdrawal  The defendants alleged concerns do not have merit either (to) facts known by the parties or the law. Within his own motion, the defendant admits his guilt  A defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea.

Rahmani and his co-defendant Bryan Walter Riccaldo were arrested during a 2020 traffic stop by the Halifax County Sheriffs Office in which 47 bricks of heroin and about a pound of marijuana was seized. Previous court documents have tied the men to reputed Rocky Mount Blood leader Tyrone Ty Nitty Foreman.

Opposition

In outlining his opposition, Easley said that on August 2 Rahmani, with a sworn French interpreter assisting, waived indictment and acknowledged he understood his plea. This court then went over the defendants plea agreement with him including the elements of the offenses included in the agreement, the defendants appellate waiver, and the consequences of pleading guilty.

Easley wrote that after acknowledging his complete understanding of the hearing, the consequences of his plea, and the substance and consequences of the plea agreement, the defendant pleaded guilty to his criminal information.

Easley said the concerns cited by Rahmani in his motion are factually and legally false and do not warrant withdrawal of his guilty plea.

Rahmani said in his motion his lack of understanding of his plea agreement and the purpose it served, his innocence and the alleged failures and threats made by his former attorney led him to file the motion.

He claimed his former attorney seized on his lack of understanding of English to mislead him as to the nature and consequences of the plea agreement. Therefore, when the defendant signed the plea agreement, the defendant claims he did not know what he was signing.

Built in measures

But, Easley wrote, Fortunately  or unfortunately for the defendant  the federal system built in measures to protect someone from this type of alleged activity  Under oath and with an interpreter, the defendant acknowledged his understanding of this information as the court provided it to him. Although little time should be given to this topic, the defendants alleged lack of understanding of English should be addressed.

Rahmani is proficient in English, Easley said. As noted by the defendant, he spoke with federal investigators three separate times in perfect English. The defendant never once brought up concerns with not understanding English, nor did he have trouble discussing his involvement in the narcotics conspiracy in English. The defendant then filed his pro se motion in English.

Easley then addresses Rahmanis allegation that he pleaded to crimes he did not commit. The defendant then explains what actions he took. I was just a driver for my co-defendant and I had no knowledge of the drugs nor the gun found in the car. [sic] the only thing I was aware of was the marijuana but my lawyer told me that Im responsible for what was in the car even if Im innocent because I was driving the car.

The smoking gun in his claim of innocence, Easley wrote, was that, Within this claim of innocence, the defendant explains his guilt. The defendant continuously told investigators that he knew he was driving Bryan Riccaldo to deliver marijuana, a controlled substance. The defendant claims he did not know about the heroin or fentanyl. However, cooperating defendants told investigators the defendant was present at hand-to-hand transactions of heroin and fentanyl. On two occasions, Investigators saw the defendant present with Mr. Riccaldo at deals where heroin and fentanyl were distributed.

Wrote Easley: Whether the defendant knew of the heroin and fentanyl or not, the defendant is guilty of his charges under the law. It is not necessary for the government to prove that a defendant knew the exact nature or amount of the controlled substance for which the defendant possessed, distributed, or conspired to possess or distribute.

Even if his claim is true, the defendant conspired and possessed controlled substances and knew the substance possessed and distributed was controlled.

Former attorney knew the law

Easley said the reality of the case is the defendant pleaded guilty to what he is responsible for. His former attorney understood the law and knew the defendant would be held responsible for the heroin and fentanyl he brought down from New York. (His attorney) then negotiated a plea which assisted the defendant in avoiding a mandatory minimum sentence. The defendant says he wanted to plead guilty to what he was responsible for. (His attorneys) representation allowed him to do just that.

In December United States District Judge James C. Dever III did allow a new attorney for Rahmani but did not immediately rule on the withdrawal of his guilty plea.

Rahmani entered a guilty plea to charges lodged against him that in count 1 the two men knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, marijuana, and fentanyl and in count two they aided and abetted one another to possess and distribute heroin and marijuana.

The amount attributable to Riccaldo is a kilogram or more of heroin, a quantity of marijuana, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

The amount attributable to Rahmani is 100 grams or more of heroin, a quantity of marijuana, and 400 grams or more of heroin.

Riccaldo waived indictment in October and pleaded guilty to two counts.
HANGZHOU, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- East China's Zhejiang Province reported 24 confirmed local COVID-19 cases from Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday, authorities told a press conference on Monday.

Since the latest resurgence of COVID-19, the province has registered a total of 83 confirmed local cases, all in the provincial capital Hangzhou.

Currently, the province has 12 medium-risk areas for COVID-19 and one high-risk area. 
An OMYA freight train passes by on West Street in Rutland City on Monday morning in Rutland City as motorists wait at the crossing. The Vermont Supreme Court has upheld a decision in the towns lawsuit against rail companies for burying one of their sewer lines.
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NANJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Foreign business leaders in Nanjing, China remain upbeat about prospects for 2022, as they look forward to the Year of the Tiger.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
KIMBERLY EPLER

Staff Writer

VISTA -- A former Carlsbad attorney was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Friday, 10 months after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder for shooting his girlfriend during a confrontation over a broken date.

James Bottomley, 52, never denied killing Marietta Cordero Birbilis, 46, in the entryway of her Escondido home on Feb. 15, 2000, but he said he committed the crime in the heat of passion.

During his trial, Bottomley said he was upset over her relationship with another man when he took a gun over to Birbilis house to elicit her sympathy by threatening suicide.

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On Friday, dressed in a blue jail jumpsuit, a thinner, paler Bottomley spoke for nearly half an hour before he was sentenced.

First, he apologized to Birbilis family. Then Bottomley spoke at length about betraying his ex-wife, his anguish at the crime he committed, his bout with depression and how, before the shooting, he tried to live an honest and moral life.

I have been in agony with remorse and suffering every day of the last 16 months and I should be, Bottomley said, his voice breaking with emotion at points. Marietta did not deserve to die.

Bottomley also told his family that his shame was not their shame and his guilt was not their guilt. Bottomleys sister, ex-wife and twin daughters tearfully addressed the court on his behalf, calling him a gentle man who drifted in a chasm of mental illness.

Our pain and suffering can only be surpassed by yours, his sister, Jennifer Bottomley Qwynne, told Birbilis family.

Before handing down the sentence, Superior Court Judge John Einhorn expressed his sympathy to Birbilis family. He also said he could offer no explanation as to why Bottomley went from being a devoted father, successful lawyer and community supporter to a self-absorbed murderer.

Einhorn called Bottomley an embarrassment to his profession and the court.

This court takes absolutely no joy in participating in this process today, Einhorn said, adding he was satisfied Bottomley had received a fair trial.

Earlier this week, Einhorn denied Bottomleys request to lower the conviction to involuntary manslaughter and denied a motion for a new trial based on allegations of insufficient counsel and prosecutorial and jury misconduct.

At the sentencing, several members of the Birbilis family gave tearful accounts of how her death has changed their lives. Her mother, Rosario Cordero, said the numerous delays in Bottomleys sentencing had worried the family.

Since the verdict was handed down, we have been agonizing while waiting for this day, she told the court. We thought justice delayed would be justice denied, but we are grateful justice will always prevail.

Oscar Cordero, Birbilis older brother, said the sentencing was a big relief.

Contact staff writer Kimberly Epler at (760) 739-6644 or kepler@nctimes.com.

6/16/01
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese New Year will kick off soon. At the time for New Year's blessings, a tradition of the Chinese people is to greet each other with "lucky" words laced with the zodiac animal of the year.

Days ahead of the Year of the Tiger, President Xi Jinping wished villagers in rural Shanxi Province to be energetic like "dragons rising and tigers leaping," cheering them on to make their lives better with full vigor and dedication.

The phrase "dragons rising and tigers leaping" originates from a piece of prose by Yan Cong, a scholar of Tang Dynasty (618-907).

The tiger, one of the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes strength, bravery, and fearlessness in traditional Chinese culture.

During a recent inspection tour in Shanxi, Xi made a special trip to visit and extended Chinese New Year's greetings to villagers of Fengnanyuan, one of the places hard hit by floods last fall.

The spirit of "dragons rising and tigers leaping" is exactly what the Fengnanyuan villagers and other disaster-affected people need in rebuilding their homes.

It is also about motivating China's rural areas to redouble efforts in the Year of the Tiger to consolidate the achievements of poverty reduction and advance rural vitalization. 
Invisible no more

Essay collection sheds light on the largely unknown history of Black people at the University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina desegregated in 1963, but the history of Black people on campus extends back to the universitys beginning in the early 19th century. In 10 illuminating essays edited by Robert Greene II and Tyler Parry, Invisible No More (USC Press 2021) tells that story.

Invisible No More begins with a look at the experiences of enslaved people on campus courtesy of Graham Duncan, an archivist in the South Caroliniana Library. Duncan uses primary sources in which the enslaved people being written about were not given a voice. However, instead of telling their stories from the perspective of slave owners or members of the universitys board of trustees, he positions them at the center of his essay, which names all of the known enslaved people on the campus.

The subsequent essay, by Tyler Parry, imagines what the experience of being a Black person on campus might have been like during Reconstruction. Some students were formerly enslaved people, some were born free and there were a few white students, says Parry. What were those relationships like? I also look at the establishment of the Normal School on campus in which professors taught future teachers, most of them Black women.

South Carolinas public schools during and after Reconstruction also get a look. Struggle for Educational Access in South Carolina, 1865-1890, by Brian Robinson, examines South Carolinas decision to defund and resegregate those schools. The author uses newspaper debates within the public square. If you didnt know better, you would have thought it was a Twitter debate, says Parry.

Elsewhere, the book spotlights individual figures. One uses personal letters to reconstruct the life of Simon P. Smith from his enslavement at South Carolina College all the way into the early 20th century; another explores the life of Richard T. Greener, Harvards first Black graduate who also became the University of South Carolinas first Black professor.

But Invisible No More doesnt dwell solely on the universitys early history. The second half of the book explores the actions that informed the events of 1963, the year the university admitted its first three Black students. While much attention is paid to the specific events of that watershed year, the book also provides plenty of historical context.

Groups of the NAACP were pushing for desegregation, not so much to actually desegregate the university as they were trying to find ways to equalize Black schools in South Carolina, says Greene, who contributes the essay, Beyond 1963: Race, Education, and the NAACP Desegregation Campaigns at the University of South Carolina. That was a big part of their strategy in the 1930s and 40s. That leads to the establishment of a law school for Blacks at South Carolina State in Orangeburg, which, ironically, is where the lawyers trained who later helped the three students who desegregated the University of South Carolina.

Likewise, the story doesnt end with the admission of Henrie Monteith, Robert Anderson and James Solomon. Another essay also looks at the rise of the African-American Studies program at USC in the 1970s and 80s, the development of the Office of Minority Student Affairs and the experiences of Black and other minority students at the university.

As the university, the state and the nation wrestle with a complicated, sometimes ugly past, the book provides fresh perspectives on the Black campus experience and how that experience should be recognized, remembered and honored. In the final chapter, for example, the authors consider contemporary efforts by the university to address its own history and frames them in a broader context.

How do we commemorate the enslaved on campus? How do we commemorate Richard Greener on campus, and so forth? Greene asks. This is part of a larger national story about recognizing Black trailblazers on campuses across the country.

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's UN ambassador on Monday called for quiet diplomacy instead of megaphone diplomacy on the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

In a procedural vote, China and Russia voted against a Security Council open meeting on Ukraine. The meeting went ahead as 10 other members of the council voted in favor.

China opposes the Security Council's holding of such a meeting as requested by the United States. The United States, in a letter to the president of the Security Council dated Jan. 27, claimed that Russia's deployment of troops on the border with Ukraine posed a threat to international peace and security. China cannot agree with such a claim, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"Recently, there have indeed been tensions over the issue of Ukraine. We are paying attention to what exactly is causing the tensions. Some countries led by the United States have claimed that there is a looming war in Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to launch any military action. And Ukraine has made it clear that it does not need a war. Under such circumstances, what is the basis for the countries concerned to insist that there would be a war?" he asked.

The United States, Ukraine and relevant European countries as well as NATO are having varying forms of diplomatic contacts with Russia. The parties concerned should persist in seeking to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations. What is urgently needed now is quiet diplomacy, not megaphone diplomacy, he said.

This is the view held by many members of the Security Council, which have also made relentless efforts toward this end. Regrettably, the United States did not accept such a constructive proposal. At a time when dialogue and negotiations are under way, and concrete progress has yet to be made, the holding of such an open meeting by the Security Council is clearly not conducive to creating a favorable environment for dialogue and negotiations, nor is it conducive to defusing the tensions, said Zhang.

"China once again calls on all parties concerned to remain calm, not to do anything to aggravate tensions or hype up the crisis, and to properly resolve their differences through consultations on an equal footing on the basis of mutual respect and fully taking into account each other's legitimate security concerns," he said.

China's position on Ukraine is consistent. To resolve this issue, there is a need to return to the original point of implementing the new Minsk Agreement. This agreement, endorsed by the Security Council in its Resolution 2202, is a binding foundational political document recognized by all parties and should be effectively implemented. China supports all efforts in line with the direction and spirit of this agreement, and hopes that all parties concerned will show their positive willingness to implement the agreement, resolve their differences arising from the implementation of the agreement through consultations, and earnestly promote its implementation, he said.

The expansion of NATO is a problem difficult to circumvent in handling the current tension. NATO is the product of the Cold War, and NATO expansion epitomizes bloc politics, said Zhang.

"We believe that the security of one country should not be achieved at the expense of the security of other countries. Still less should regional security rely on strengthening or even expanding military blocs. Today in the 21st century, all parties should completely abandon the Cold War mentality and come up with a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiations, with Russia's legitimate security concerns being taken seriously and addressed," he said. 
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When Ian Stawicki entered Cafe Racer about 11 a.m. Wednesday, staff there recognized him from being thrown out, police said, and reminded him of that.

The 40-year-old Ellensburg native lingered a bit, then walked near the door.

He pulled one of his two pistols and shot his first victim in the back of the head. The man's body blocked the door, taking away an escape route.

One man fought Stawicki, throwing a barstool at him and using another barstool to fight him. He was a hero, Seattle Police Assistant Chief Jim Pugel said, because that allowed two or three people to escape through the door the shooter had blocked.

Stawicki then went near the bar and shot the others execution-style, police say. As he left, Stawicki took a hat from one of the victims.

"He wasn't trying to get any one person. He was trying to get everyone," Pugel said.

Deputy Chief Nick Metz, who reviewed the video, said that in his nearly three decades with the department, he'd "never seen (anything) more horrific, callous and cold." The department is not releasing the surveillance footage.

Stawicki wounded five people, including two who died at the scene, and sparked an hours-long manhunt that spanned several neighborhoods. It was the worst Seattle killing spree since 2006, and by the end of the day the city had surpassed the homicide total for the entirety of last year.

Audio from 911 calls is included in the photo gallery above. One man who called from Cafe Racer saved himself by hiding in the bathroom. The calls are disturbing; reader discretion is advised.

"I just threw the frigging stool at him, legs first," the man who challenged Stawicki, described only as Lawrence, told a department spokesman. "My brother died in the World Trade Center. I promised myself, if something like this ever happened, I would never hide under a table."

Two victims, Drew Keriakedes and Joe Albranese, died at Cafe Racer in the 5800 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast. Two others shot there died later at Harborview Medical Center. A fifth victim, Leonard Meuse, survived surgery and was in critical but stable condition late Thursday, a Harborview spokeswoman said.

Among the dead from Cafe Racer was Kimberly Lynn Layfield, whose identity was confirmed Thursday morning by a newspaper in her hometown of Albany, Ga.

Gloria Leonidas, a married mother of two from Bellevue, was killed later when Stawicki -- fleeing from police -- confronted her, shot her in the head and stole her black Mercedes-Benz SUV from a parking lot at Eighth Avenue and Seneca Street, police said.

Investigators say Stawicki may have taken a family member's truck from the Ravenna neighborhood and dumped it somewhere near Eighth and Seneca. There also was speculation he had taken a Metro bus.

Leonidas had dropped off a friend when she was confronted by Stawicki, who started beating her before shooting her in the head. Police say she knocked the gun from his hand before he fatally shot her.

A 911 caller told a dispatcher that Leonidas was also run over. A man and woman walking in the area came to Leonidas' aid.

As Stawicki sped away, he gave them the finger, investigators said.

Police and bystanders tried to help Leonidas, but she was pronounced dead at Harborview, where two more of Stawicki's victims died late Wednesday.

Suspect's history with police

Stawicki had prior contacts with police but a relatively short record.

Police say he had charges for domestic violence interference, fourth-degree assault, malicious mischief and a 1989 Seattle case for unlawfully carrying a weapon. But court records show only a 1995 case for driving with a suspended license, which resulted in an adverse finding.

A Seattle case from February 2008 included charges for domestic violence interference, assault and property damage. The charges were dismissed because the case lacked clear proof.

In that case, police officers were called to the Magnolia home of Stawicki and his then-girlfriend to find the victim with a bloody nose and crying. She told police he struck her and destroyed several of her belongings, and that in recent months, he'd begun breaking things and flying into rages, according to the police report.

But the victim later recanted her story. "Ian Stawicki never assaulted me on Feb 27, 2008 or at any other time. He never punched me or hit me in the nose, face or any part of my body," she wrote in the statement.

"I suffer from frequent spontaneous nose bleeds and was experiencing such a spontaneous nose bleed on Feb 27 2008," she wrote. "The police must have thought this nose bleed was the result of an assault by Ian Stawicki. I told police that my nose bleed was spontaneous and not the result of any assault, because no assault occurred."

Stawicki was issued a concealed weapons permit in August 2010 and had listed six handguns in his ownership, including three 9-mm and three .45-caliber pistols, according to records released by the Seattle City Attorney's office.

Police said the two .45-caliber, semi-automatic handguns Stawicki carried Wednesday were legal. Police were working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace where the guns were purchased, and whether they were stolen or involved in other crimes, Pugel said.

Unaware that Stawicki had moved south after the Cafe Racer shooting, police with high-powered rifles combed through the neighborhood around Roosevelt Way Northeast. Police fielded numerous calls from neighbors who saw someone they thought could be the shooter. Anxiety was high as police told residents to stay inside.

Nearby Roosevelt High School was among several schools on lockdown.

About 3:15 p.m., police distributed surveillance images of Stawicki from moments before the Cafe Racer shooting. Investigators say his brother, also an Ellensburg native, identified Stawicki for police.

Stawicki drove Leonidas' black SUV to West Seattle, police said, roamed in crowded areas for some time and contacted an old acquaintance. That acquaintance was unaware of what had happened, but thought Stawicki was acting erratically and speaking nonsense. That former acquaintance contacted police after they heard about the shooting.

Shortly after 4 p.m., a plainclothes officer spotted Stawicki near 36th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Morgan Street, and called for backup.

As uniformed officers approached Stawicki, he knelt on the ground and shot himself in the head.

The investigation is still ongoing and detectives have not released any motive in the slayings, though Cafe Racer regulars said Stawicki was known for being drunk and picking fights with bar musicians. He had been told not to come back.

Homicide detectives are working to obtain Stawicki's medical records.

21 homicides in Seattle this year



The slayings pushed the number of homicides in Seattle this year to 21  one higher than the annual number of reported cases from all of last year. However, police statistics list 21 homicide cases last year because the investigation into the death of Michelle Thornton, a woman who died Dec. 30, 2010, began the following month.

Wednesday's shooting spree came less than a week after a father was fatally wounded in front of his children by an errant bullet in the Central District. Last Saturday, another innocent bystander was shot in the right leg near the Space Needle. The following day, Seattle had five drive-by shootings and a fatal home-invasion shooting.

The number of Seattle homicides peaked in 1994 when there were 69, according to department data.

Standing with other city leaders Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Mike McGinn said it's the police department's "highest priority to identify the strategies to try to bring an end to this wave of gun violence."

But with no suspects identified in the Central District shooting, and the lack of cooperation hindering dozens of unsolved Seattle shooting cases  both from this year and previous years  some Seattle residents question whether a solution can come quickly.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen contributed to this story. Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or at caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.
Mark Winema / Getty Images

A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of killing his partner and son in Antioch, police said Sunday.

Antioch police saw the unresponsive 15-year-old boy when they went to check on an apartment in the 2100 block of Lemontree Way after a neighbor called around 8:18 p.m. expressing concern that they had not seen or heard from their neighbor in several days. Officers had knocked but no one answered. Through a window, they saw the boy lying on the floor, Antioch police said in a statement.
One year after 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee left home for his daily 7:45 a.m. walk to rebuild his stamina after heart surgery, his daughter Monthanus Ratanapakdee stood at the precise spot where his peaceful stroll came to a senseless and fatal end at the corner of Fortuna and Anzavista avenues in San Francisco.

It was here, just two blocks from his home, that Grandpa Vicha was blindsided and violently knocked to the pavement in an apparently unprovoked act of anti-Asian violence captured on video. And it was here that Ratanapakdee bowed her head at 11:45 a.m. Sunday in a 45-second moment of silence synchronized with similar moments Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

In the past year, we have seen so many Asians attacked and killed, said Ratanapakdee, 49, an employee of the San Francisco Unified School District. I dont want my fathers death to be in vain. We need to break the silence and raise our voices.

That same emotion was behind Sundays Asian Justice Rally: A National Day of Remembrance & Action, which honored all victims of anti-Asian violence. Held just around the corner from where Ratanapakdee met his violent end, several hundred people  many carrying signs proclaiming Justice for Vicha  stood in the street to hear Mayor London Breed, state Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Catherine Stefani express their sadness about the crime.

They also expressed frustration that since the attack, violence toward Asians in San Francisco has only increased  by 500%, according to a statistic announced by Stefani, whose district includes the Anza Vista neighborhood where Ratanapakdee was attacked.

The fact that he wasnt bothering anybody when he was shoved to his death just breaks my heart, Stefani said. We need to demand accountability and provide all the resources we need to make all San Franciscans safe.

According to the Associated Press, more than 10,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition from March 2020 through September 2021. The incidents involved shunning, racist taunting and physical assaults.

In San Francisco, there have been videos of older Asian people being robbed, knocked down, bruised and stabbed on public streets. Preliminary data shows that reported hate crimes against Asian Americans in San Francisco surged from nine victims in 2020 to 60 in 2021.

As recently as Friday, an Asian man was punched in a random act when he came out of City Hall after getting his marriage license, Breed said during her remarks. The violence is everywhere, and one main face of it is now Grandpa Vicha, whose friendly visage smiled out from placards raised at the rally. An immigrant from Thailand, he came here with his extended family in 1989..

His daughter last saw him on the night of Jan. 27, 2021. We had dinner together, and afterward I sent him to bed and kissed him goodnight, she said before the rally.

When he did not return from his normal walk by 10 a.m. Jan. 28, she went out looking for him but could not find him. Apparently he had already been picked up by medics, and the first word of his whereabouts came from police. He lingered in a coma for a few days before dying.

I still feel a lot of the pain and the hurt. Sadly, that never goes away. But it sure does make people feel better when we come together to show support, Breed said.

This will bring us together and keep us together despite what people do to tear us apart, Breed said. Then, evoking the sentiment of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., she added: The fact that we are here today signifies hope for a better future. Thank you for choosing love.

An expression of that sentiment came Sunday in a resolution announced by Stefani to name a stairway that runs from Anzavista down to the back of Kaiser Hospital on Geary Boulevard, in memory of Ratanapakdee. He climbed these stairs every day as part of his workout, though he never made it that far on the day he was attacked.

His alleged assailant, Antoine Watson, 19 at the time, has been charged with homicide but not a hate crime, which rankled some of those in attendance.

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These are not coincidences. This is racism, said Chiu, the city attorney. Here we stand. Our work has just begun. Our community is silent no more.

Sunday was also Fred Korematsu Day, declared in California in 2011  the first in U.S. history to be officially named after an Asian American  for the Japanese American man who defied orders in 1942 to report to a World War II internment camp.

Thea Selby, a member of the San Francisco City College Board of Trustees, came to Sundays rally to show support and offered one theory behind the racism that Asians are subject to in America. We like to other people, she said, and Asians in America have been othered since the time they came to San Francisco to support the Gold Rush and build the transcontinental railroad.

After the speeches Sunday, the crowd fell in line for what was called the Asian Justice March, retracing the presumed route Ratanapakdee took on his morning walk. Chants of Justice for Vicha powered them on the short walk to the spot where he was found.

After the moment of silence, a pair of cellists played Youll Never Walk Alone.

My father would want us all to rise above hate and lead with love, Monthanus Ratanapakdee said before the march. If he was alive, he would tell us to be strong and keep on fighting.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli security forces have arrested nine Palestinian suspects during a large anti-terror operation in the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank, the army said Monday.

Hundreds of army troops and Israeli police officers operated overnight between Sunday and Monday in the Jordan Valley as part of "an operation to thwart terrorist activity and confiscate weapon infrastructure in the area," a military spokesperson said in a statement.

The nine Palestinian suspects were transferred to the Israeli Border Police for questioning, the spokesperson said, adding 16 vehicles, a handgun, and stolen military ammunition and equipment were confiscated.

The raid sparked clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces in several locations, where dozens of Palestinians hurled rocks and an improvised explosive device at the troops who responded with "riot dispersal means," according to the statement.

On Jan. 25, a joint police-army statement said security forces thwarted a smuggling attempt in the Jordan Valley, seizing 53 weapons, including 39 handguns, 10 Kalashnikov assault rifles and four M16 assault rifles.

The Jordan Valley is part of the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East. Israel kept its control over the territory despite international criticism. 
California is shutting down the nation's largest Death Row in the next two years and transferring inmates to other prisons where they can work and pay restitution to their victims families, officials said Monday.

But although Gov. Gavin Newsom ended any immediate prospect of resuming executions in California by declaring a moratorium almost three years ago, he has not sought to reduce the number of condemned prisoners, now 694, by seeking clemency for any of them or endorsing a future ballot measure to repeal the death penalty.

The planned closure of Death Row, at San Quentin and another prison holding condemned female inmates, appears to be a continuation of the governors policy of gradually dismantling Californias death penalty, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C.

Im not going to be responsible for knowingly taking someones life, Newsom said at a news conference after his Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced plans to transfer the inmates to other prisons.

Were one of the few industrial nations in the world that still sentences its population to death, he said. I look forward to advancing more leadership on reforming the death penalty here in this state and, hopefully, across the country.

The relocation actually began after the states voters in 2016 narrowly approved Proposition 66, which was designed to speed up executions and limit appeals. The state Supreme Court rejected a provision that sought to require rulings on death penalty appeals within five years  they now average more than 30 years in state and federal courts  but upheld other portions of the measure, including one aimed at requiring condemned prisoners to work and compensate families of those they had killed.

In the last two years, the prison office said, 116 Death Row inmates have agreed to be transferred from San Quentin, and eight from the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla (Madera County), to other prisons where they have access to vocational training and other work-related programs. They can also be housed with other inmates after being held in solitary cells on Death Row.

The rest of the states condemned prisoners  currently 557 at San Quentin and 13 at Chowchilla  will be transferred over the next two years, subject to safety considerations, officials said.

For the first time in Californias history, eligible death-sentenced individuals may be housed in general population areas where they can have more access to job opportunities enabling them to pay court-ordered restitution to their victims when applicable, said Vicky Waters, spokesperson for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The idea is terrific  to take away some of the implications of them being no longer human because they have been condemned to death, said Mike Farrell, president of Death Penalty Focus, an anti-death penalty group based in Sacramento. He said many of the relocated prisoners will need mental health care, and some will also require protection from other inmates.

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Since 1977 and 1978, when state legislators and voters reinstated the death penalty, California has executed 13 prisoners  none since 2006, when a federal judge said the states flawed lethal injection system could cause a prolonged and excruciating execution. Over the same period, at least 156 condemned inmates have died of other causes, according to a report in December by the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code.

Newsom announced a moratorium on executions in March 2019, calling the death penalty discriminatory and immoral. But the governor has not sought to use his clemency power to reduce any of the current death sentences to life in prison. He would need approval from a majority of the state Supreme Court to grant clemency to anyone who had a felony conviction in at least one separate case.

Californias voters rejected ballot initiatives in 2012 and 2016 to repeal the death penalty and re-sentence condemned prisoners to life without parole. Legislation has been proposed to return the issue to the ballot, most likely in 2024, and Farrell said that with endorsements from lawmakers and Newsom, I think we could win.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Dustin Gardiner contributed to this article.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
A Stockton fire captain was shot and killed early Monday morning while responding to a dumpster fire, Stockton Fire Department officials said in a Facebook post.

Capt. Max Fortuna, 47, was a 21-year Stockton Fire Department veteran.

At around 4:45 a.m. firefighters responded to a dumpster fire near Aurora and Washington streets. As first responders were extinguishing the flames, shots were fired, and Fortuna was hit, officials said.

The fire captain was taken to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Max was a firefighter that showed up every day and never complained about being on the job, said Stockton Professional Firefighters union President Mario Gardea. I dont really know too many other firefighters who enjoyed the job as much as him.

Stockton police arrested a 67-year-old man at the scene who currently remains in custody, fire officials said. Officers also said they located a firearm during their investigation.

Fortuna leaves behind a wife and two children.

I ask you to keep Captain Fortunas family and the Stockton Fire Department family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, said Stockton Fire Chief Richard Edwards.

Ryce Stoughtenborough is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ryce.stoughtenborough@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rstoughts
Oakland officials on Tuesday passed a resolution commemorating the late Oscar Grant by marking his birthday, Feb. 27, as Oscar Grant Day in the city, and recognizing the activism of Grants mother following his death.

Grant was shot in the back and killed by BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle in the early hours of New Years Day 2009 on the platform of the Fruitvale BART Station. His death helped spark a national conversation about racism and police violence and is cited as one of several police killings of people of color that helped ignite the Black Lives Matter movement.

This is really long overdue, Rev. Wanda Johnson, Grants mother, told The Chronicle. She said her sons killing thrusted many people into activism.

Forever our society will be changed because of it, she added.

On Tuesday, Johnson was honored for her tireless work to achieve social justice and equity with the Oscar Grant Foundation, city officials wrote in a resolution. Councilmember Treva Reid introduced the resolution.

Johnson created the organization in 2010 to help bridge the gap between young Black men and law enforcement, according to the foundations website. The organization provides equity training for law enforcement officers, scholarships and free tutoring for students in Oakland and the East Bay, and support sessions for mothers who have lost a child from gun violence.

Johnson said her organization is one of many in the Bay Area who are working on bringing communities together and to work towards ending the racial disparities that people of color are facing.

In August of last year, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his office would conduct a review of the shooting, focusing on the actions of the second BART officer, Anthony Pirone.

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His announcement came months after Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley said her office would not file charges against Pirone after its own reopened investigation into the shooting. Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for shooting Grant.

Im just really glad that Oscar can have a day of remembrance as well as myself, Johnson said.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
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As part of our ongoing reporting on the closures of local restaurants, here is a list of Bay Area establishments that have closed or will close by the end of January 2022. Notable shutterings include Oakland brunch favorite Daughters Diner, Alameda staple Pappo and San Franciscos charming Family Cafe. See December 2021s list of closings here.

Daughters Diner, an Oakland brunch restaurant known for its eye-catching Swedish princess-cake inspired pancakes has closed following a little over a year in business. SFGATE first reported on the closure. (SFGATE and The San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently.) Fine dining chef Kevin Wilson, who previously did stints at the Mina Group and Perbacco, debuted the restaurant along with his wife, Justyna Wilson, in October 2020. The pandemic never allowed the business to operate at full capacity, which ultimately prompted the closure. The brunch spots last day was Jan.16.

Popular vegan sushi restaurant Salvage Hausu has closed. The restaurant, which was located in Oaklands Jack London Square, made the announcement on Instagram. It was among a handful of Bay Area sushi restaurants like Shizen that was known for its vegan creations.

Following a 13-year run, San Joses Hermitage Brewing Co. has shuttered for good. The Mercury News first reported on the closure. The brewery, known for its single-hop beers and sours, made the announcement on Instagram but did not indicate a reason for the closure.

Downtown Napa Italian restaurant CaMomi Osteria has closed after 11 years of business. The restaurant made the announcement on Instagram, with the owners noting that we had to decide our health, and whats left of our mental sanity, need to matter too, in light of operating a restaurant during the pandemic.

Janelle Bitker / The Chronicle

Charming daytime Japanese restaurant Family Cafe, located in San Franciscos North Beach, closed after a little over two years, on Saturday, Jan. 29. Co-owner Jessica Furui, who opened the restaurant along with her ex-husband and chef Tadayuki Furui, told The Chronicle that the pandemic had made the business unstainable.

Oakland restaurant Lukas, a nearly 2-decade-old restaurant thats often credited with revitalizing the Uptown business scene, closed on Saturday, Jan. 29. Berkeleyside first reported on the closure, noting that the owners could not come to an agreement over a rent increase and a new lease agreement. The restaurant held a farewell party over the weekend.

Alameda restaurant Pappo closed after a 16-year-run. The East Bay Times first reported on the closure, noting that the restaurant wrapped up service after a New Years Eve dinner. Chef-owner John Thiel was known for his farm-to-table cooking like a Liberty Duck Bolognese and braised lamb shanks.

Berkeley Scandinavian market Nordic House closed after 59 years of business in January. The Mercury News first reported on the closure; the shuttering had been in the works for a couple of years due to importing laws making it hard to continue the business.

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S.F. rotisserie chicken spot Spinnerie has closed. Tablehopper first reported on the closure based on a reader tip. As of Jan. 31, the restaurants phone line had been disconnected and major delivery platforms like DoorDash list it as closed.

Quirky Burning Man-inspired restaurant Russian House #1, located in Jenner along the Russian River, closed for good. The restaurant didnt have a regular menu and payment was optional with diners leaving money in a jar if they wished. Co-owners Tatiana Ginzburg and Polina Krasikova told The Chronicle that they hope to reopen in a different location in California.

Tanay Warerkar is the San Francisco Chronicle's assistant food & wine editor. Email: tanay.warerkar@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @TanayWarerkar
Alvin A.H. Jornada/Special to The Chronicle

I am just so delighted about this Icelandic sheep face pizza, sold by Olverk Pizza and Brewery in Hveragerdi to commemorate the countrys midwinter food festival. "People will be nipping on the eye. Tasting the tongue. But the most juicy part goes from the chin and down [the jaw], up to the ear," pizzeria owner Laufey Sif Larusdottir told CBC in a radio interview. The sheeps head is glazed with a smoked chile barbecue sauce and ends up looking like a carefully lacquered Peking duck. In the photo, the sheep looks almost tranquil, like its having a nice dream while napping on a bed of poppies.

Whats even lovelier is that this dish is an attempt by Larusdottir to bring a traditional food to a younger generation of Icelanders in a form that they perhaps can better understand. Shes right in believing that the best way to get people on-board with a new (to them) dish is to wax on about how delicious it is. Now I really want to try this pizza, which reportedly also has sheep dung in the sauce.
In 2015, I was invited to a lunch at the home of a South Asian acquaintance in the Yolo County city of Woodland. Having recently arrived from Nepal, I didnt know many people in this country, and was looking forward to making new connections. But during the lunch, when it was my turn to serve myself from the buffet, I was stopped and told not to approach  because I would pollute the food. Instead, a plate would be prepared and handed to me.

Why? Because I am a Dalit.

Dalit is a term that refers to individuals at the lowest level of the caste system in Hinduism. Formerly commonly referred to as untouchables, Dalits often experience brutal violence and discrimination from dominant caste members. While most associated with Hinduism and South Asia, caste is actually a system of apartheid that affects 260 million people globally and it persists across religions and continents. Caste identity is determined on the basis of birth and affects ones social status, access to education, wealth, housing and other resources. It also assigns spiritual purity, wherein those at the top of the hierarchy are considered purest, and those outside the hierarchy are impure.

Even though I had left Nepal to escape caste-based discrimination, the lunch and numerous other experiences since have taught me that casteism still plagues South Asians throughout our diaspora, including here in the United States. According to a 2018 survey by Equality Labs on caste-based discrimination in South Asian American communities, 25% of Dalits who responded reported that they had experienced verbal or physical assaults because of their caste identity.

When I began my graduate studies at Cal State East Bay in 2019, I thought I would find relief from such discrimination in an academic community that valued diversity and inclusion. But focusing on my educational goals proved difficult. Repeatedly, I witnessed caste-oppressed students face discrimination in the classroom, in dining and in housing, where dominant caste students openly refused to share apartments and dorms with us. We faced casteist slurs and humiliating segregation, and sometimes even caste-based sexual assault and harassment. I met Dalit students who tried to hide their identity for fear of being found out.

Research suggests that our experiences at Cal State East Bay are not unique. According to the Equality Labs survey, 1 in 3 Dalit students has experienced educational discrimination and 2 in 3 Dalits reported unfair workplace treatment. As the report concluded, wherever South Asians go, they take caste with them. And in diaspora settings, anti-Dalit discrimination is often invisible to people outside the community, hiding in plain sight.

Because of my and my fellow Dalit students experiences, I began organizing to get caste added as a protected category at CSU East Bay and to ban caste discrimination. Our initial efforts required educating students and faculty about the persistence of casteism on our campuses, sharing data and research as well as recounting our widespread experiences of indignity and discrimination. Our first win came in April 2021 when the Cal State Student Association voted to recognize casteism and called for the California State University system to address caste equity.

The vote galvanized us and our organizing quickly became a statewide movement. Finally, after more than two years of continuous advocacy, we achieved our goal. In November, UC Davis became potentially the first higher education institution in the U.S. to add caste as a category to its antidiscrimination policy. And this month, the CSU system announced it would do the same, joining a small but growing number of academic institutions across the country.

As a graduate from Cal State East Bay, I see this historic civil rights win as personal. Having the largest four-year public university system in the country recognize caste as a protected category will benefit millions of CSU students, staff and faculty. After the announcement, the Cal State Board of Trustees also unanimously ratified a historic collective bargaining agreement with the 29,000-member California Faculty Association that will recognize caste as a protected category in antidiscrimination clauses for all contracted employees.

Thanks to the hard work and persistence of activists across the country, there is growing recognition of casteism in the United States. In 2020, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against Cisco Systems for caste discrimination, and last May, the FBI raided a New Jersey temple for exploiting Dalit workers and paying them $1.20 an hour.

Dalit activists and their allies are holding public and private institutions accountable for their caste-based discrimination, particularly universities and colleges where Dalit students like me seek refuge in higher education in the hopes of a better life.

Caste discrimination is a reality we can no longer ignore. As South Asian Americans, we need to face not only our histories, but the marginalization that still persists within our communities. The broader country can help that effort by learning about the diversity that exists in South Asian cultures, resisting any temptation to view us as a single monolith and supporting the work of Dalit activists in building a more diverse and inclusive society that we all deserve.

Prem Pariyar is a Nepali Hindu Dalit, Bay Area social worker and alumnus of Cal State East Bays masters of social work program. He is a delegate assembly in the National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter.
Jacom Stephens/Getty Image

A hit-and-run car crash killed one person and injured another in the outer Sunset neighborhood, San Francisco police said Sunday.

A Honda SUV and black Audi SUV collided at about 7:34 p.m. Saturday at 46th and Lincoln Avenues, according to the police statement.
Three times Mayor London Breed has jockeyed to pass a ballot initiative that would speed up the citys housing approval process. And three times her effort has been suffocated by local politics well before city voters had a chance to give it an up or down vote.

This week, proponents of Breeds latest charter amendment ballot initiative are scrambling to figure out whats next after her development-streamlining measure was dispatched last week to an early death by a three-member subcommittee of the Board of Supervisors.

The proposed charter amendment, dubbed Affordable Homes Now, sought to streamline new housing construction by letting some qualified projects circumvent the citys discretionary review process, cutting 10 to 18 months from the multiyear timeline it takes to get housing approved in San Francisco.

The amendment would have applied to housing projects with more than 25 units, requiring market-rate developers to build 15% more affordable homes than San Francisco normally requires. All 100% affordable-housing projects would have been subjected to the amendments provisions.

More for you Mayor Breeds push to streamline housing production killed by supervisors

A study from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley found that the average time for a development to be permitted in San Francisco is roughly four years. Under Affordable Homes Now, qualifying projects would be required to be permitted within six months.

While the charter amendment was unlikely to get the six votes at the Board of Supervisors required to get it on the ballot, it never made it that far: The boards Rules Committee tabled it by a 2-1 vote. Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Connie Chan voted to kill the initiative, while Supervisor Rafael Mandelman voted to send it through to the full board, although he expressed misgivings that the charter amendment might eliminate neighborhood voices from the planning process.

Proponents of the measure could now try to put it on the ballot by gathering signatures, but charter amendments require 50,000 valid signatures, which could cost upward of $1 million to gather.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who sponsored the charter amendment at the Board of Supervisors, said everything is on the table, including a campaign to launch a signature-gathering effort.

Ill know within a week or two, he said. At the end of the day, the Board of Supervisors has to stop being the obstacle to getting housing built in San Francisco. We are in a crisis. People need to get back to work.

Breed said the tabling of the charter amendment was just the latest step in our failure to move forward any significant improvements to how we approve and build housing in this city.

The residents of this city are the ones who suffer when we dont build housing. Theyre the ones who see families and friends pushed out of the city and forced into long commutes, said Breed.

She said the measure would have been popular at the ballot box.

(Voters) understand the need for more housing, including affordable housing, which this measure would have produced, she said. But they didnt even get the chance.

But several members of the Board of Supervisors said that the proposal had not been vetted properly with the various community stakeholders. Supervisor Myrna Melgar said Safai had asked her to co-sponsor the charter amendment and she had declined. She said she agreed with Mandelman that it went too far in excluding neighbors from the planning process.

While I support building more housing and building it faster, I wasnt happy with the language yet, said Melgar. More than anything in San Francisco I think we take the local control issue seriously.

She said she might have supported a bill that had more time to be vetted.

In this town you are either on this side or that side, and things get rammed through, she said. That is not my style. I think things come out better with more give and take.

If the mayor and Safai decided to gather signatures for the streamlining charter amendment, it would likely require on-the-ground support from the building trades. But Rudy Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, said the version of the measure that was killed in committee didnt include enough protections for union construction workers, 1,300 of whom are out of work right now.

It boils down to how bad the mayor wants this and how much political capital she wants to spend, Gonzalez said. If elected (officials) want labors boots on the ground, they should ask themselves what they are doing to get us back to work. Politics doesnt motivate them to vote and organize  the promise of a better future does.

For Breed, the setback underscores the difficulty she has had getting policy through a board that supports housing subsidized by taxpayers but often rejects market-rate projects. This was the third time in as many years Breed brought forward a charter amendment to streamline housing production. In 2019, Breed proposed a charter amendment that would have streamlined affordable and teacher housing, but the Board of Supervisors killed it in committee. The next year Breed made a second attempt at a charter amendment  she had planned to gather signatures to get it on the ballot rather than seek approval from a majority of board members  but that was withdrawn because of the pandemic.

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In addition she has clashed with the supervisors over the rejection of more than 800 units at 469 Stevenson St. and 450 OFarrell St., both of which were turned down by the board.

YIMBY Action Executive Director Laura Foote said, Clearly the streamlining idea isnt going anywhere. But given the Board of Supervisors resistance to the concept, it might make more sense to focus on forcing San Francisco to comply with state laws like the Permit Streamlining Act and the Housing Accountability Act, which require that code-compliant housing is approved in a timely fashion, she said.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Foote said that the YIMBY partisans are likely to prioritize two other potential ballot initiatives: One would legalize fourplex buildings throughout the city; another would create a fund to give property owners an incentive to build those four-unit structures. While there are three different pieces of fourplex legislation pending at the Board of Supervisors, its unclear if any of them will pass.

Breed also questioned why the Board of Supervisors has not yet taken up her proposed ordinance that would make it easier and faster to build housing on properties currently used for automobile-related uses like gas stations, auto body shops or parking lots. That ordinance, called Cars to Casas, would allow groups looking to build housing on auto-centric properties to bypass the citys conditional use process, which typically takes between 10 and 18 months.

The ordinance was introduced in October and has yet to be scheduled at the Land Use and Transportation Committee. The ordinance has already been approved by the Planning Commission.

It can be scheduled for a vote at the board immediately, and it should be, said Breed. Its both a housing bill and a climate bill.

Melgar, who heads up that committee, said the Cars to Casas ordinance would likely be taken up in February. We have all kinds of things that are pending, and that is one of them, she said. We dont play those games of holding back things from the schedule.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com
Vancouver and Oakland are doing it. Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Toronto are debating whether to give it a try. Now, San Francisco could be the next notoriously expensive city to consider taxing empty homes  but would it make a difference in a region with an estimated shortage of some 160,000 affordable homes?

Thats the central question in a new vacancy report released Monday afternoon by San Franciscos Budget & Legislative Analyst. Taxing some of the citys roughly 40,500 vacant homes, the report found, could spur the owners of up to 10% of those homes to begin renting them out within two years and generate $13 million to $61 million a year in revenue, depending on the type of tax and its rate.

The issue is the latest test for local politicians who acknowledge that San Francisco needs more affordable housing but cant agree on a political path to make it happen.

Its a part of the housing policy discussion in the city that just never really gets addressed, said District Five Supervisor Dean Preston, who commissioned the new report and has expressed concern about vacancies fueled by real estate speculators, but has yet to formally propose a new tax measure. Its a high number, and its a growing number.

Supporters of a San Francisco vacancy tax frame it as a quick way to force more homes onto the rental market and generate money for the city. Opponents say the strategy is a distraction from broader efforts to build new housing, and that the citys vacancy rate is normal for cities where people are often on the move.

A vacancy tax makes no sense, said Randy Shaw, executive director of homeless housing provider Tenderloin Housing Clinic. It creates this false sense that we dont need to build more housing.

Preston argues that we have to be working on all fronts to create more affordable housing, but the vacancy debate follows a series of clashes over where to go from here on the citys housing crisis.

On one side are pro-development groups and Mayor London Breed, who say the city has no choice but to build its way out of a stark mismatch between jobs and housing. On the other are tenant advocates, some nonprofit housing developers and San Francisco supervisors who often oppose new market-rate housing proposals due to concerns about everything from gentrification to negative impacts on existing homeowners, many of whom have benefited from increasing property values.

In late January, a legal arm of pro-housing lobbying group YIMBY Action sued the city after supervisors including Preston rejected a 495-unit housing project initially approved for a SoMa parking lot. Last week, Breed was rebuffed by supervisors for a third time on an effort to streamline housing approvals through a charter amendment.

Taken together, Shaw said the housing controversies point to a pattern of the mayors proposals failing to attract in-person support at city meetings, followed by a hardening of the stalemate between the board and the mayor. Ultimately, he said, it may make sense for advocates of more housing to take an alternate route and ask voters to break the political gridlock.

With all these things, we have a November ballot, Shaw said. San Francisco is not being held hostage by the Board of Supervisors. The voters can speak.

The new report on vacancy rates and the potential for a version of an empty home tax in San Francisco come as affordability advocates in other California cities, including L.A. and Santa Cruz, mount their own ballot campaigns for similar measures. Preston declined to specify when or how he may bring such a measure to the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco, but he noted that all tax measures ultimately require voter sign-off.

As it stands, San Francisco is on track to permit the 28,869 new homes that state regulators directed it to plan for between 2015 and 2022. Thats largely because the city has exceeded its goals for market-rate housing by 6,000 units, the new report notes, while falling more than 10,600 units short of low- and moderate-income housing targets.

Using federal data from 2019, the most recent year that census estimates include details on the reasons homes are vacant, there were 40,458 empty homes in San Francisco, the report found. That represents about 10% of the citys 406,399 housing units, which is comparable to vacancy rates in Philadelphia and Boston, below New Yorks 14% rate and above L.A.s estimated 7% empty homes.

The reason homes are reported vacant varies, and it can be difficult to track in real time. While the new report notes that its normal for some homes to be vacant during the time between occupants, census estimates show a 420% jump from 2015 to 2019 in the number of units sold in San Francisco that remain unoccupied.

Some analysts question how many buyers are purchasing homes still under construction, or why property owners would pass up the chance to earn rental income in expensive cities like San Francisco. Preston frames the increase as an example of investors buying up units and holding onto them with the intent to sell as prices rise.

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These are units that are intentionally held vacant for long periods of time, he said. Theyre playing the market but arent interested in providing housing.

Another complexity is how the economic shock of the pandemic may have scrambled vacancy numbers. According to numbers from the latest decennial census in 2020, which have not yet been released in full, there were more like 34,777 vacant housing units in San Francisco County as of April 1, representing a lower 8.6% vacancy rate.

Since then, Realtors and tenants report a scramble to find roomier rentals in outlying neighborhoods like Bernal Heights and the Richmond District, in contrast with reduced rents and empty units in once-busy downtown office corridors like SoMa and the Financial District.

Research about the impact of vacancy taxes on other cities is also mixed. In Vancouver, the city did see an initial influx of new rental properties and generated the U.S. equivalent of around $21 million in new taxes in 2019, but vacancy rates have since leveled off as rents continue to climb. Oakland collected $7 million in new vacancy tax revenue in 2020, but rents also continue to surge and many properties are exempt from the $3,000-to-$6,000-a-year flat fee on vacant units approved by voters in 2018  a tax structure that the new report notes also appears to be the most feasible for San Francisco.

Preston acknowledges that taxing empty units wouldnt be a silver bullet to a housing crisis decades in the making. But its one more avenue that he says the city cant afford not to pursue as tents in some areas dot the street below empty homes.

I dont think I can think of a more stark example of the failure of our housing system, he said, than that this exists side by side.

Lauren Hepler is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hepler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LAHepler
In the moments before he died, the man fatally shot by police at San Francisco International Airport this month told police his gun was loaded and made statements instructing officers on how to shoot him, including center mass and make sure you aim, police officials said Monday.

Police negotiated with Nelson Szeto for several minutes, ordering him to put down his gun  what police believed was a firearm turned out to be an airsoft toy gun stripped of the orange markings that indicate it is not a real firearm. But the 37-year-old did not comply, and police twice deployed rounds of foam projectiles before the man raised his arm with the gun, prompting four officers to fire their weapons at him, police said.

The latest details, as well as video footage released by police as part of a public discussion about the Jan. 20 shooting, showed a man who was apparently in the midst of a mental health crisis, reviving long-running conversations about how a community should best respond to such volatile incidents.

Callers who commented at the virtual town hall Monday afternoon were mostly critical of the officers actions, saying they were more likely to inflame, rather than de-escalate, the situation. Other callers praised police for keeping the community safe.

Now Playing: San Francisco law enforcement officials released police body camera footage Monday that captured the fatal police shooting of a man at San Francisco International Airport this month as part of a planned, public discussion about the incident. Video: Provided by San Francisco Police Department

Police Chief Bill Scott stressed that the incident was under several probes by different agencies, and refrained from weighing in on whether the officers actions followed protocol.

I think at this point none of the investigative agencies can draw conclusions about what could have been done differently, Scott said.

San Francisco police hold public meetings following police shootings within 10 days of the incident and typically release more detailed information than was previously made public. That can include footage from police body cameras, audio from 911 calls and witness statements.

The Jan. 20 confrontation began early in the morning, after police received several calls about a man causing a disturbance near the BART entrance to the airports International Terminal. The callers reported a male subject, with no luggage, who was holding his midsection area as if trying to hide something, Cmdr. Paul Yep said at the town hall.

As officers confronted Szeto, Yep said, the man removed what officers described as a handgun from inside his jacket and held it with the muzzle pointed at the floor.

Police, while taking cover behind pillars and partition walls, drew their weapons and ordered Szeto to drop his. Officers were able to engage Szeto in some conversation, police said, with Szeto identifying himself by his first name and saying he lived on Market Street in San Francisco.

Szeto then slowly walked behind a commercial lift, and placed a knife he was holding on top of a tire, video footage shows. At this point, Yep said, Szeto reached inside his jacket and said I have another gun and this ones loaded (removing) what officers described to be a second handgun from inside his jacket. Szeto was at this point holding a handgun in each of his hands, Yep said.

At least one officer is repeatedly heard in video footage telling Szeto to take a deep breath, to back up and to put the weapons down. Szeto at one point said he had something stuck in his throat, police said. A negotiator was first heard telling Szeto that he had nothing stuck in his throat, but then said Szeto could get medical help.

But Mr. Szeto stated that it was too late and that the hospital cant help him, Yep said.

It was while Szeto was still holding both handguns that he instructed officers on how to shoot him, Yep said. When officers reiterated that they did not want to shoot, Szeto said, Thank you for your service. I respect you guys, and then apologized several times, Yep said.

At one point, Szeto complied with the negotiators request and placed one of the handguns on the floor. While still holding onto the other handgun, he slowly began to walk behind construction equipment, Yep 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.

Officers on scene continued to order Szeto to drop the weapon but Szeto did not comply, Yep said, prompting an officer to twice fire the less-lethal rounds at him.

Mr. Szeto had the handgun in his left hand, and he began to elevate the hand towards the front of his body, Yep said. At least one of the four officers involved in this incident discharge their firearm at this time.

Szeto then fell to the ground, into a semi-reclined position on the floor, Yep said. Mr. Szeto reached across the body with his right hand towards the handgun located on his left side. Mr. Szeto then raised his right arm towards the officers, Yep said, prompting all four of the officers involved in the incident to discharge their firearms.

Szeto was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police initially referred to the weapons Szeto was carrying as firearms, though it was later confirmed that Szeto was holding two toy airsoft guns designed to shoot plastic pellets.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, whose office was initially assigned the shooting probe, told The Chronicle that the standard orange markings on the airsoft guns, intended to indicate they are not real guns, had been stripped off.

The incident has prompted a probe by the Attorney Generals Office, which is required by law to investigate police shootings that kill unarmed civilians.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- While 90 percent of power is back on Tonga's main island, repairing the undersea cable linking the island nation to the outside world is taking longer than expected, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

On the main island of Tongatapu, 90 percent of power has been restored and efforts continue to clean up ash and to distribute aid to people in need, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

However, UN teams report that the damage to the underwater communications cable is greater than estimated, with repairs to communications expected to take longer than originally anticipated. Work continues to repair communications on the other islands as well, he told a regular briefing.

The spokesman said the world body provides satellite phones to allow government staff to communicate.

He said UN teams based in Tonga and Fiji continue to support recovery after the massive volcanic eruption on Jan. 15, which affected more than 80 percent of Tonga's population of about 100,000. The International Organization for Migration said more than 1,500 people remain displaced.

The UN Children's Fund is shipping from Fiji to Tonga sanitation supplies, such as latrines, helping more than 1,000 families. The World Health Organization works with the government and partners on psychosocial health, water and air safety and the World Food Programme assists on the food front, said Haq. 
Spotify broke its silence on Sunday and announced slight changes to its policies around content concerning covid-19, after facing a week of criticism for allowing its creators - particularly podcaster Joe Rogan - to spread misinformation about the pandemic.

"You've had a lot of questions over the last few days about our platform policies and the lines we have drawn between what is acceptable and what is not," Spotify CEO Daniel Ek wrote in a news release. "We have had rules in place for many years but admittedly, we haven't been transparent around the policies that guide our content more broadly."

The new changes include publicly publishing the company's internal rules for what is allowed on the platform, "testing ways to highlight" those rules to its creators and "working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19."

"We know we have a critical role to play in supporting creator expression while balancing it with the safety of our users," Ek wrote. "In that role, it is important to me that we don't take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them."

The controversy began last week, when rocker Neil Young posted a letter on his website demanding that his music be removed from Spotify in response to "fake information about vaccines" on the platform. He singled out Rogan, who hosts "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, as part of his issue with Spotify, writing: "They can have Rogan or Young. Not both."

Two days later, Spotify began the process of pulling Young's music, saying in a statement that they "regret" Young's decision "but hope to welcome him back soon."

Days later, others began joining Young. "I've decided to remove all my music from Spotify," eight-time Grammy-winning songwriter Joni Mitchell wrote in a statement on her website on Friday. "Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue."

Nils Lofgren, the frontman of rock band Grin and a member of both Crazy Horse and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, wrote in a statement on Young's website that he would "cut ties with Spotify" and urged "all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere" to do the same. Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston who hosts the "Unlocking Us" and "Dare to Lead" podcasts on Spotify, tweeted Saturday that she "will not be releasing any podcasts until further notice," though she did not say why. Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have a deal to host and produce Spotify podcasts, expressed "concerns" in a statement released Sunday.

Folk rocker David Crosby, a former bandmate of Young's, tweeted that he would remove his music from the service, but "I no longer control it or I would in support of Neil." That's true for many rock stars lately, who could deal a blow to the streaming service if they hadn't sold their entire catalogues already for large sums.

Others, including Howard Stern and "The View" host Joy Behar, have argued that while they don't agree with Rogan, they don't think the platform should remove his podcast, equating such a move to censorship.

The resulting fallout, according to Variety, found Spotify's market share falling more than $2 billion last week.

Spotify's newly published platform rules shed light on why Rogan - who has suggested healthy, young people shouldn't get vaccinated; praised ivermectin, a medicine used to kill parasites in animals and humans that has no proven anti-covid benefits; and invited prominent conspiracy theorists on his show - has not been heavily penalized.

The rules include disallowing "content that promotes dangerous false or dangerous deceptive medical information that may cause offline harm or poses a direct threat to public health," such as asserting that covid-19 is a hoax or "promoting or suggesting that vaccines approved by local health authorities are designed to cause death."

Rogan doesn't quite do any of that. He often argues that he's merely asking questions and has insisted that he's "not anti-vax." And he's particularly skilled at insulating himself from criticism by arguing that he knows nothing, so he can't tell anyone anything. "I'm not a respected source of information, even for me," he said.
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When Jonathan Yantis, tech multimillionaire and chief operating officer of WAX (Worldwide Asset eXchange), bought his $24 million mansion in Kapalua, Hawaii, in December 2020, he probably anticipated peace and quiet on his idyllic oceanfront property. However, according to a recent report from Hawaii News Now, it's been anything but and has instead ignited a battle between locals and wealthy homeowners.

Thats because Yantis' 7.66-acre property is situated near the Cliff House, a popular swimming destination in West Maui where locals can swim, hang out and dive off cliffs. And now, Hawaii activists are accusing Yantis of harassing them and restricting access to the Kapalua shoreline.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Monday approved another "technical rollover" for the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) as council members could not find consensus on a substantive mandate renewal.

Resolution 2619, which was unanimously approved by the 15-member council, decides to extend the mandate of UNSMIL for three months, till April 30, 2022.

The resolution says UNSMIL should be led by a special envoy and recognizes the UN secretary-general's responsibility to appoint a special envoy for Libya.

The previous special envoy, Jan Kubis, resigned in November 2021, one month before national elections were to be held. Although Kubis indicated his readiness to stay on as special envoy for a transitional period to ensure continuity, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres allowed him to stay as of Dec. 10, right before the planned national elections.

On Dec. 6, 2021, Guterres appointed Stephanie Williams of the United States as his special adviser on Libya, a position that does not need the approval of the Security Council. Although technically not a successor to Kubis, Williams was made to lead the work of the United Nations in Libya.

Libyan parliamentary and presidential elections, which had been scheduled for Dec. 24, 2021, did not materialize.

Resolution 2619 is the third technical renewal of UNSMIL's mandate since September 2021.

The Security Council, on Sept. 15, had to approve a technical rollover till Sept. 30 to allow more time for negotiations after the original draft resolution for a one-year extension would certainly fail. Again, on Sept. 30, the council approved a technical renewal till Jan. 31, 2022. 
Biden officials are kicking off a crackdown on power plant pollution, aiming to shift the nation's electricity supply to cleaner energy in the face of congressional resistance and a Supreme Court that could limit the federal government's ability to tighten public health standards.

On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency will affirm its authority to curb mercury from smokestacks, reversing a 2020 Trump administration policy. The move signals a broader effort by the administration to cut greenhouse gases and other pollutants from U.S. power plants, which rank as the nation's second-biggest contributor to global warming.

Biden has pledged to make the U.S. electricity sector carbon-neutral by 2035, but his deputies may have to rely on their existing federal authority now that Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has blocked the president's plan to provide utilities with incentives to transition faster to clean energy. And in late February, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case brought by West Virginia that may undercut EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants in the future.

But EPA can pressure the nation's dirtiest coal plants to shut down through other means, and the administration is beginning to exercise its leverage.

"Regulations to require power producers to fully internalize the cost of their product are decades overdue," said Thom Cmar, an attorney with the law firm AltmanNewman who represents environmental groups.

The agency will determine Monday that it is "appropriate and necessary" to limit mercury and other toxic air pollutants from power plants. Exposure to the heavy metal - which wafts into the air from coal plants and settles in lakes and streams and enters the human food chain after being absorbed by fish - can harm babies' brain development in babies and cause heart disease in adults.

The proposed legal finding does not change a 2015 mercury control requirements adopted under Barack Obama, but it abolishes a Trump-era determination that these limits were unnecessary. And it lays the groundwork for tighten mercury controls in the future, which EPA is weighing later this year.

Environmental Defense Fund general counsel Vickie Patton said "it's urgent" to update those standards, arguing that many coal plants still emit far too much mercury.

"Those standards, they're out of date," she said. "They need to be modernized to protect people from the most toxic contaminants that are discharged from coal plants."

But to meet President Biden's ambitious goal to decarbonize the power sector, his team must do much more.

EPA is crafting a new requirement to cut greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil fuel plants, which would replace the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and which it plans to outline later this year. The Supreme Court blocked that rule from taking effect in 2016, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down Trump's replacement rule a day before Biden took office.

But the agency will strain to craft a rule that can withstand scrutiny from an increasingly conservative Supreme Court. Now with three more Trump-appointed justices, the Supreme Court will hear a case in February brought by Republican-led states and the coal industry challenging the EPA's authority to limit greenhouse gases from power plants.

The case is unusual since the federal government does not have a policy limiting power plants' carbon dioxide emissions on the books.

"Normally the court would wait until they have a new rule to review," said Carrie Jenks, executive director of Harvard Law School's Environmental and Energy Law Program, adding that EPA officials "obviously have to see what the Supreme Court says. And the Supreme Court could say things that would change their timing."

But West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who leads the lawsuit against the EPA, argues Congress has never given the federal officials the authority to transform the way utilities produce power in the first place.

"This is a really important case to the future of our republic because it raises a number of important questions," he said in a recent interview. "Who do we want to make the nation's most important, life-changing decisions? Do we want elected representatives who are accountable to the people? Or do we want unelected bureaucrats?"

Beyond capping greenhouse gas emissions, the Biden administration is taking other steps that, taken together, will make it more costly to burn coal and could hasten the closure of polluting power plants.

"All these hidden environmental and public health costs need to be brought back into the equation, so coal and gas aren't getting a free ride," said Jeremy Symons, an environmental consultant who co-wrote a 300-page blueprint in 2020 laying out how the EPA can avoid some of the pitfalls slowed down the Obama administration.

This fall, for instance, the EPA plans to propose a rule compelling many coal-fired plants to update filtration method that treat wastewater laced with arsenic, lead and other contaminants before reaching drinking water. The stricter requirements would undo one of the Trump administration's major regulatory rollbacks.

The agency is also ramping up enforcement of another power plant rule that was relaxed under Trump: toxic coal ash disposal. About 500 unlined impoundments of waste from coal combustion threaten to leach contaminants like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic into nearby water.

On Jan. 11, the EPA denied requests from three power plants - in Indiana, Iowa and Ohio - to extend the use of ponds of coal ash. Some electric utilities have warned that stricter enforcement of coal-ash rule, which compels coal plants to dispose of the waste in lined pits to stop seepage, may trigger the early closure of coal plants.

"We think it's just a matter of time" until there is a contamination problem, said Richard Hill, an activist who lives near the Clifty Creek Power Station on the Ohio River in Madison, Ind. "Eventually, there will be issues."

EPA spokeswoman Lindsay Hamilton said the Biden administration is working to "identify the full range of our regulatory tools and consider how best to apply them to address the multipollutant impacts of the power sector."

Over the past decade, the economics of running coal plants has become harder in the face of competition from cheaper gas-fired energy as well as wind turbines and solar farms.

Yet in pockets across the country, coal persists. One of the country's top mercury emitters is North Dakota's Coal Creek Station, according to an analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund. The plant was at the verge of shutting down when local officials rallied to save it by blocking competing wind and solar projects.

Overall, the pace of coal retirements actually slowed during Biden's first year in office, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration, though that rate is expected to rise this year.
LILONGWE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Malawi has recorded at least 32 deaths caused by the Tropical Cyclone Ana which tore across the country on Tuesday, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) said in a statement Sunday.

"As of today, DoDMA has recorded 32 deaths, 147 injuries and 20 missing persons, with 19 in Chikwawa and one in Mwanza," it said, adding that "a total of 187,930 households, approximately 845,685 people, have been affected."

Chikwawa and Nsanje are the country's worst-hit districts, accounting for most of the deaths and damage to houses, property, livestock and crops caused by floods and strong winds induced by Ana. The country's power supply has also been disrupted.

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday declared a state of disaster in 15 districts, and appealed for humanitarian assistance from the international community.

Following the appeal, several organizations including Concern Worldwide, Malawi Red Cross Society, Partners in Health, Feed the Children, and Gift of the Givers have provided relief assistance for the country, according to DoDMA's Sunday update.

Meanwhile, DoDMA has dispatched over 1,000 metric tons of maize, maize flour, beans and salt to support the affected people living in temporary camps. Search and resue operations are also underway.

Meanwhile, some other southern African countries have also been hit by the cyclone, with landfall in Angoche, Mozambique, and other destructions in Madagascar and Zimbabwe, the South African Weather Service said in a press release.

Nathan Nkomo, director of Zimbabwe's department of civil protection, told the Sunday Mail newspaper that the cyclone had left a trail of destruction in 13 districts of four provinces but caused no fatalities.

"The latest update shows that Ana directly affected all Mashonaland provinces and Manicaland ... There are over 282 houses and buildings that were damaged," he was quoted as saying. 
LAGOS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed by unidentified gunmen in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna, a government official said Sunday.

Samuel Aruwan, the state's commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said in a statement that the gunmen attacked a village in the Zango Kataf local government area in the early hours of Sunday.

Thirty houses were set ablaze during the attack and some survivors were sent to a hospital, Aruwan confirmed, adding that search and rescue operations and pursuit of the attackers are in progress on different fronts.

The northern part of Nigeria has witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months. There have also been recurring incidents of livestock rustling and armed banditry in the region. 
TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Monday as solid earning reports from Japanese companies lifted the market mood, although concerns over a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Japan saw gains capped.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 284.64 points, or 1.07 percent, from Friday to close the day at 27,001.98.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 19.04 points, or 1.01 percent, to finish at 1,895.93.

Local brokers said that trading took its cues from Wall Street's solid performance late last week, with domestic earnings reports further buoying the market mood.

"Stocks extended gains after firms with strong earnings pushed up the market as a whole, prompting investors to chase the upside further with improving sentiment," Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co., was quoted as saying.

In terms of the direction of the market this week, some dealers said that earnings and economic data would dictate investors' moves.

"Today's market is rising just like the spring is stretching back, supported by the rebound on Wall Street last week," Chihiro Ohta at the investment research and investor services at SMBC Nikko Securities, was quoted as saying.

"The market's direction this week will depend on the upcoming U.S. economic data and corporate earnings," Ohta said.

Weighing on the market, however, were concerns that Tokyo may soon be put under a state of emergency as COVID-19-related hospital admissions approach the benchmark for the metropolitan government to request being placed under the government's toughest anti-virus measures, market analysts here said.

They highlighted the fact that the hospitalization rate in Tokyo for those with COVID-19 is moving towards the 50 percent threshold, with the rate in hospitals in the capital hitting 48.5 percent on Sunday.

For the time being, however, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday he is not considering declaring a state of emergency for Tokyo over the surge in COVID-19 cases in the capital at the moment, as the Omicron variant of the virus continues to wreak havoc.

"A quasi-state of emergency has already started, and our basic thinking is that we will confirm its effect, see how the situation develops and work closely with municipalities before comprehensively making a decision," Kishida told a press briefing on the matter.

By the close of play, marine transportation, precision instrument and service-oriented issues comprised those that gained the most, while issues that rose outpaced those that fell by 1,715 to 417 on the First Section, while 52 ended the day unchanged.

Chip issues gained ground, tracking their U.S. peers' gains, with Tokyo Electron jumping 3.3 percent, while Advantest leapt 4.4 percent. Renesas, meanwhile, ended the day 5.2 percent higher.

Stocks gaining on robust earnings for the April-December period included Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which soared 9.6 percent, after upwardly revising its earnings forecast for the year ending March.

Screen Holdings also found favor, climbing 4.6 percent, after announcing its net profit in the nine-month period more than tripled compared to a year ago.

Alps Alpine, for its part, surged 17.4 percent, after raising its annual operating profit forecast.

Conversely, healthcare equipment maker Omron slumped 7 percent after lowering its annual operating profit outlook for the year through March.

On the main section on Monday, 1,314.61 million shares changed hands, dropping from Friday's volume of 1,329.65 million shares.

The turnover on the first trading day of the week came to 3,213.00 billion yen (27.84 billion U.S. dollars). 
TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F15 fighter jet disappeared from the radar after taking off from the Komatsu Air Base in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa on Monday, the Ministry of Defense has said.

The rescue team has found what appears to be missing persons aboard the fighter on the Sea of Japan but the number of persons found and their conditions cannot be confirmed at this point, according to the ministry.

The jet lost radar contact around 5:30 p.m. local time (0830 GMT) when it was conducting training with a crew of two aboard over the Sea of Japan about 5 km west-northwest of the base, according to a Ministry of Defense source.

The Kanazawa Coast Guard Office in Ishikawa Prefecture said it received a call about the same time a red glow off the coast of Kaga near the air base was reported. 
CONROE, Texas - Former president Donald Trump suggested Saturday night that he will pardon the rioters charged in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol if he is elected president in 2024.

Trump, who has teased but not confirmed another run for president, has repeatedly criticized the prosecution of people who violently stormed the Capitol to protest the certification of Joe Biden's election as president. But his comments at a Texas rally on Saturday marked the first time he dangled the prospect of pardons, an escalation of his broader effort to downplay the deadly events of Jan. 6.

Some of those involved in the riot held out hope for a pardon from Trump before he left office 14 days later, but none were granted.

"If I run and I win, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly," he said Saturday near the end of a lengthy campaign rally in Conroe, a city about 40 miles north of Houston. "We will treat them fairly, and if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly."

Authorities have arrested and charged more than 700 people in a sprawling investigation into the insurrection. This month, the Justice Department charged Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers group, and 10 other members or associates of the group with seditious conspiracy, the most serious charges levied as part of the department's investigation.

Several prominent Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, pushed back against Trump's comments Sunday, calling the suggestion of clemency for those accused in the Capitol riot "inappropriate."

"I don't want to reinforce that defiling the Capitol was OK," Graham said on CBS News's "Face the Nation." The senator said he hopes those who stormed the building "go to jail and get the book thrown at them, because they deserve it."

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump on an impeachment charge of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection, told ABC News's "This Week" that the former president should not have "made that pledge to do pardons."

"We should let the judicial process proceed," Collins said, adding that she would be "very unlikely" to support Trump if he ran in 2024.

New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu also said those responsible for "the assault on the U.S. Capitol have to be held accountable."

"Oh my goodness, no," Sununu told CNN's Dana Bash when asked whether the rioters should receive pardons.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. - who is one of Trump's most outspoken defenders in Congress and has repeatedly spread falsities about the election and the insurrection - criticized Graham for not supporting the "J6 defendants."

"He doesn't care about our justice system being completely violated by Democrats in their political war against Republicans and President Trump," Greene said of Graham in a statement.

At his Texas rally, Trump also bashed the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, as he continued to spread baseless claims that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen from him.

"This hasn't happened to all of the other atrocities that took place recently," he said. "Nothing like this has happened. What that 'unselect' committee is doing and what the people are doing that are running those prisons, it's a disgrace."

Since leaving office, Trump and other Republicans have aggressively defended those who broke into the Capitol as patriots. On the first anniversary of the riots, Trump released a scathing statement attacking President Biden and the events marking the anniversary as "political theater."

"The Democrats want to own this day of January 6th so they can stoke fears and divide America," he said in a statement, "I say, let them have it because America sees through theirs lies and polarizations."

- - -

The Washington Post's Reis Thebault in Washington contributed to this report.
CANBERRA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- An Australian senior health official has said that a new COVID-19 sub-variant circulating in Australia is not yet causing concern among health experts.

Michael Kidd, deputy chief medical officer of Australia, on Monday said the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant, which was detected in Australia in December, may become the dominant sub-variant of Omicron based on some reports.

He said they were not seeing more severe disease associated with this sub-variant, and "it's also too early to tell" if there is any significant different impact on the effectiveness of the vaccines against this sub-variant.

"If this BA.2 sub-variant is shown to have more distinct clinical characteristics then the World Health Organization may determine, that it becomes a variant of its own, but it is too early to speculate on that, and we're not seeing indications of that at the moment," Kidd told reporters in Canberra.

Australia on Monday reported more than 30,000 locally-acquired coronavirus infections and 44 deaths -- 27 in New South Wales, eight in Victoria, six in South Australia and three in Queensland, according to health department figures from states and territories.

More than four million additional Australians became eligible for booster vaccines on Monday, with the recommended interval between second and third doses being cut from four to three months.

Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed that the government is preparing for the possibility of fourth vaccine doses for elderly and vulnerable Australians if needed.

"Most likely advice at this stage is that if there were to be a fourth dose it's more generally going to be focused on older Australians and immuno-compromised Australians, and perhaps those working in- with vulnerable patients," he said in the press conference with Kidd.

"So that's still under active medical consideration, but the supplies and logistics are in place to deliver that if it's required." 
By Tran Nguyen

San Jose Spotlight

Hundreds of people flocked to San Jose's History Park Saturday morning to ring in the Year of the Tiger at one of largest Lunar New Year festivals in the South Bay after two years of virtual celebration.

"It's a blessing to be able to gather and celebrate the new year again with the community," Ai Duong Truong, member of the Association of Vietnamese Elderly of the Bay Area, told San Jose Spotlight. "I just love this traditional and important holiday."

Lunar New Year, or Tet, is one of the most culturally significant holidays in the Vietnamese culture. The holiday is also celebrated by several other Asian countries, including China, Laos, Singapore and Korea. The first day of Tet is Feb. 1 this year.

The family-friendly event, organized by nonprofit Vietnamese Cultural Tet Committee 2022, runs through Sunday in History Park. The festival features more than 50 booths by local businesses and community groups, Vietnamese food, live performances, traditional dress (ao dai) competition and lion dances, among other events. The Viet Museum, which is located in the park, is also open to fairgoers who want to learn and honor Vietnamese history.

The celebration Saturday was flowing with elected leaders and political hopefuls--including the top four mayoral candidates Raul Peralez, Cindy Chavez, Dev Davis and Matt Mahan--all of whom are undoubtedly vying for the Vietnamese vote in this year's race. Some politicians also donned the traditional ao dai or the South Vietnamese flag-themed attire.

Many residents dressed up in colorful ao dai, embellished with beads and pearls, with red envelopes in hands. Giving and receiving red envelopes is a tradition that symbolizes good wishes and luck for the new year. With music and laughter filling the air, festival-goers posed in front of three-wheel bicycle taxis, or cyclos (xich lo), and photos of famous Vietnamese destinations such as Chua Mot Cot and Cho Ben Thanh.

Tet festivals were previously hosted at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds, which often drew thousands of people from the South Bay and nearby regions. Since the pandemic started upending community gatherings in 2020, San Jose residents have opted for virtual celebrations for the last two years.

Saturday marked the first time people could gather in person--many still donning masks and carrying hand sanitizer.

"The pandemic really robbed us of opportunities to come together these last few years," Cao Hong, one of the event organizers, told San Jose Spotlight, "I'm grateful that we can celebrate again, especially here in Viet Museum, because we have fun but also look back at our history and the sacrifices of our older generations."

San Jose is home to some 180,000 Vietnamese residents, making it the largest in any city outside of Vietnam.

Jenny Tran, 4, couldn't wait to see the Tet festival in person for the first time. Donning a yellow ao dai, Jenny ran ahead of her parents, Phong and Uyen Tran, from one booth to another.

"Happy New Year!" she said with excitement.

The family has shown her pictures of previous festivals, Uyen Tran said, and Jenny became obsessed with the Tet music.

"She loves this time of the year with all the decorations, the flowers, the music, the dance--all of it," Uyen Tran said. "We've been to Autumn Festivals, but not for Tet."

Phuong Anh Le and her son Ethan, 3, flew in from New York to celebrate Tet with their family in San Jose.

"There's not a big population of Vietnamese where I live, so it's always nice to be in San Jose during this time of the year," Le said. "I just got to the festival, but I'm excited to see all the booths here. I love the food during Tet."

Organizers also hosted a traditional ceremony, where members of the Association of Vietnamese Elderly of the Bay Area pay respect and homage to Vietnamese ancestors in prayers. The ceremony also dedicated a moment of silence to commemorate those who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975 but died in their journeys to the United States.

For Tran Byrne, who lives almost three hours from the South Bay, the holiday could be a bittersweet time. Byrne grew up in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. by herself several years ago.

"I always get homesick this time of the year," Byrne said. "I missed the food, the atmosphere, everything."

This is the second time Byrne and her husband, Gregory, attended such festivals in the U.S. They went to a celebration in Orange County three years ago.

"This is much more relaxing," Gregory Byrne said. "This feels a bit like home."

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle

San Francisco Police said Sunday that a crash between a stolen vehicle and another car left one person dead Saturday night.

Police said at 7:34 p.m. Saturday a black Audi SUV struck a red Honda SUV at 46th and Lincoln avenues and fled the scene. A passenger in the Honda was taken to a hospital where he died.
LATEST Feb. 2, 4:53 p.m. Sais Vietnamese Restaurant, which was in jeopardy of facing possible closure next month, has been allowed to remain in its current space until the owner finds a new location, KTVU reports.

According to KTVU, Supervisor Aaron Peskin said he spoke with Jim Reuben, the property owners attorney, and came to an agreement that will allow owner Inmy Chi to continue running Sais Vietnamese Restaurant at 505 Washington St. until a new location is found. Furthermore, Chis unpaid rent will be forgiven, KTVU reports.

The move comes days after reports shared that Chi had about a month to find a new location to continue running her 40-year-old business. On Monday, Chi told SFGATE that her landlord SHVO had reached out early last month to offer a lease extension ahead of its termination on Feb. 28. When Chi accepted weeks later, she said SHVO eventually replied later and retracted the offer.

They wanted us to leave, Chi said.

On Tuesday, SHVO made a statement that it did not evict Sais Vietnamese Restaurant, but it would work with Chi to find a new location.

Feb. 1, 3:41 p.m. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for SHVO shared a statement with SFGATE in which it maintained that SHVO did not evict Sais Vietnamese Restaurant.

SHVO has been proud to work with Sais Restaurant throughout the pandemic to help the restaurant remain open, amending the familys lease and forgiving rent on multiple occasions, the statement read in part. While the lease is expiring and cannot be renewed for the long-term due to redevelopment work on the property, they were never evicted."

The spokesperson added that SHVO has been in touch with the owner to help provide resources to find a new permanent space.

Feb. 1, 9:48 a.m. After learning that the decades-old Sais Vietnamese Restaurant would be pushed out of its space next month, Supervisor Aaron Peskin shared on Twitter that he and his team are are working on resources to help where we can.

First up: nominating Sais to the Legacy Business registry! Peskin wrote in a tweet.

Peskin told SFGATE that the Legacy Business status can assist in real estate negotiations and make it harder for new building owners to evict tenants. He added that his team would also like to assist owner Inmy Chi find a new location if needed.

Jan. 31, 2:43 p.m. Inmy Chi had anticipated renewing the lease of her nearly 40-year-old family business, Sais Vietnamese Restaurant in San Francisco, but now she faces the real possibility of closing for good after her landlord ordered her to vacate next month.

Sais will need to vacate its space at 505 Washington St. on Feb. 28, as first reported by KRON4. Chi told SFGATE that the news was a total surprise after her landlord had initially offered a lease extension earlier this month.

They emailed us on Jan. 5 and asked if we wanted to renew the lease, Chi said. We emailed them back on Jan. 20, but we didnt hear from them. We called and called and on Jan. 25, they answered and said they wanted us to leave. I still have to process this. I think it unethical.

Chi says that she wasnt sure why SHVO, the property landlord and large development firm, had a change of heart in a matter of weeks. SFGATE reached out to SHVO for comment, but the agency abruptly ended the call. The development firm most recently made headlines in 2020 when developer Michael Shvo bought the Transamerica Pyramid for $650 million, which is just around the corner from Sais.

Michael M. on Yelp

Once Sais Vietnamese Restaurant moves next month, its unclear what will go in its place. According to San Francisco Planning, an application that was filed in 2020 proposed a redevelopment of 545 Sansome St. that would effectively demolish the first level of 501-505 Washington St., where Chis restaurant currently resides. San Francisco Planning told SFGATE that those plans are currently under review and that no public hearings have been scheduled.

Sais Vietnamese Restaurant first opened 37 years ago under the ownership of Chis uncle and aunt. For decades the restaurant has been known to draw lines out the door, where customers waited for a bowl of hot pho. Chi, who became the restaurant owner in 2017, says the business has always been family-owned and operated and added that, in many ways, her loyal staff had become part of the family too.

Two of my staff cried when I broke the news, another is talking about where to go from here, Chi said. Many have been here for 30 years and from this moment on, I just have to move everything out and relocate my employees.

With less than a month to go, Chi is grappling with the stress of securing a new location. She adds that she would have preferred more time to search but the hope is that Sais will remain somewhere within the Financial District where its longtime customers can easily find it. Chis family has created a GoFundMe page with a goal of $100,000 that will be used towards staff, relocation, and equipment.

Im really wishing that we dont have to move, Chi said. We love this place.
Douglas Zimmerman

The strong winds that blew through the Bay Area on Jan. 21 and 22, causing property damage and power outages throughout the region, look to be returning this week.

The National Weather Service issued an advisory Monday morning that northerly gusts from the offshore wind event coming Tuesday and Wednesday will effect most of the Bay Area, and winds could reach over 70 mph in the North Bay mountains.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported 91 new community cases of COVID-19 on Monday, said the Ministry of Health in a statement.

Among the 91 new community infections, 65 are in the largest city Auckland, one in Bay of Plenty, 17 in Waikato, three in the Lakes region, one in Northland, two in Hawke's Bay, one in Tairawhiti and one in Wellington, according to the ministry.

In addition, there are 39 new cases detected at the New Zealand border, said the ministry.

There are 10 COVID-19 patients in New Zealand hospitals, but no COVID-19 patient is at the intensive care unit.

The country has recorded 16,039 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, including 12,005 cases from the current community outbreak.

Whole genome sequencing continues to take place on all new unlinked cases of COVID-19 and provides additional information to aid public health decisions, said a ministry statement.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant variant; therefore, the specific variant of the virus is no longer being reported alongside case numbers, it said, adding as cases continue to increase, the priority for whole genome sequencing will be to highlight patterns of virus spread rather than individual cases.

To date, about 94 percent of the eligible people in New Zealand are fully vaccinated with at least two doses, the ministry said, adding more than 1.3 million boosters, or the third doses, have been administered. Over 163,000 five-to-11-year-olds have received their first dose.

The ministry urges everyone in New Zealand to act as Omicron is circulating in the community. People are encouraged to wear a mask, keep a physical distance from each other, and use the contract tracing app when out and about. People are also encouraged to take their booster jab of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. 
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In a pair of related rulings in Hayes v. University Health Shreveport, LLC, and Nelson v. Ochsner Lafayette General, the Supreme Court of Louisiana held on Jan. 7, that private Louisiana employers may mandate COVID-19 vaccines for their employees.

"[T]his court finds Employer is entitled to terminate Employees for failure to comply with the vaccine mandate," the court said in a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice John Weimer, finding "no exception to [Louisiana's] at-will employment doctrine."

In August 2021, the employer, a health care system, informed its employees statewide that they would have roughly two months to be fully vaccinated or they could face disciplinary action including mandatory use of leave time and eventual termination of employment. In response, roughly 75 employees in the Lafayette and Shreveport areas filed two separate lawsuits arguing that the employer's ability to dismiss them as at-will employees was tempered by the Louisiana Medical Consent Law, La. R.S. 40:1159.1, et seq., which governs the right of an adult to refuse medical treatment, and Louisiana Constitution art. I,  5, which guarantees a right to privacy.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana rejected both arguments. The court held that the Louisiana Medical Consent Law applies only to the relationship between a health care provider and a patientnot to an employment relationship between a private employer and employee. Regarding the employees' right-to-privacy claim under La. Const. art. I,  5, the supreme court held that art. I,  5 only applies to governmental actorsnot private employers.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana's holding does not appear to affect an employee's right to seek exemption from the mandate under state or federal antidiscrimination laws or assert a claim for violation of such laws in connection with required vaccination.

Notably, the decisions were issued on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) (which has since been withdrawn) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' vaccination mandate, which requires certain health care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption.

There are plenty of uncertainties for Louisiana employers seeking to manage their risk with COVID-19 in the Louisiana workplace, but exposure for a wrongful termination lawsuit under certain Louisiana laws will not be one of them. Louisiana employers that are mandating vaccination may want to monitor and manage risk under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Andrew P. Burnside and Claire R. Pitre are attorneys with Ogletree Deakins in New Orleans.  2022 Ogletree Deakins. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission.
Whatfix, the global leader in the digital adoption platforms (DAP) space, today announced the launch of its data centers in Europe, based in the cities of Frankfurt, Germany and Oslo, Norway, showcasing significant growth in the European market. These new data centers will allow Whatfix to further enhance customer data protection and significantly improve performance for European customers overall. The European market contributes to around 20% of Whatfixs revenue.

In addition, Whatfix launched its multi-tiered Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) Certification Program, which makes specific trainings available to employees, customers, and partners covering topics on how to build, manage, and deploy content on Whatfixs DAP. Each of the courses has distinct content, supplemental bridge courses, and a comprehensive content library. Around 2,500 active learners and around 500 certified users are already actively using the program today.

Our success in 2021 shows that Whatfix and our solutions are optimized for an era defined by change and uncertainty, said Khadim Batti, CEO and co-founder of Whatfix, and gold winner for IT Cloud/SaaS in the CEO World Awards. With a comprehensive brand refresh, and a strengthened product roadmap, were eager to continue our culture of excellence, innovation, and customer-first focus to drive more positive outcomes for our stakeholders in 2022.

Highlights include:

Business Growth and Valuation: In 2021, Whatfix achieved 76% revenue growth, attributable to both new customer wins as well as expansion of existing business. The company increased new business revenue by 85% in 2021 including the addition of several new enterprise customers who have deployed Whatfix both internally for employees and externally for customers. These include customers such as Microsoft, Westland Insurance Group, Allstate Insurance Group, Datacom Group, The Netherlands Red Cross, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Geodis, Telenor, Ayr Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Aggreko, and many others.

The customer-centricity of the company resulted in a best-in-class net revenue retention rate (NRR) at 132% in the enterprise customers segment in 2021, as well as a 250% increase in revenue from expansions of existing business. This indicates a significant increase in the number of accounts that have expanded the use of Whatfix across multiple applications.

Whatfixs total valuation increased 300% in 15 months since its Series C financing, following a successful Series D fundraising round in June 2021 led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The company has raised nearly $140 million in total. The company also acquired Nittio-Learn, a learning management system (LMS) in 2021 and enters 2022 with a strong focus on investing in additional acquisitions to strengthen its product roadmap.

Product Strengthening: With a clear product roadmap to strengthen its offerings for customers, Whatfix had introduced three new solutions to its portfolio in H2, 2021.

 Behavioral Analytics - This is a set of analytics tools intended to assist Product Managers & application owners in understanding how their application interacts with users. 'User Actions' and 'Insights' were launched and witnessed tremendous traction among customers in 2021.

 SAP on Desktop - ERPs legacy interface and complex processes can result in low data quality impacting business decisions. In-the-moment guidance from Whatfix helped enterprises reduce training and support costs on the web-apps that were extended to desktop SAP apps.

 Auto Testing - To ensure a smooth experience for both end-user and content teams, Whatfix launched automated testing of all flows, configured at the backend by content teams, which produces a report highlighting any instances where the flow is failing, the exact step behind the issue, and the actions that could be taken to fix it.

Industry Thought Leadership: In 2021, Whatfix hosted two successful digital adoption summits with industry leaders from companies such as Accenture, Cognizant, Snap Inc. and Deloitte. The events featured more than 45 speakers and recorded over 3,000 registrations. In addition, Whatfix launched the first-of-its-kind Buyers Guide to Digital Adoption Platforms by Everest Group, a leading research firm. The study surveyed digital adoption platform (DAP) buyers to examine the most important capabilities of DAPs for customers, as well as the ROI generated for organizations.

Employee Growth: To support its continued business growth, Whatfix increased its headcount by 40% in 2021 in sales and technology departments, including key leadership hires. Notably, 22-year tech-industry veteran Patrick Ashamalla joined the team as Vice President of Product Design in the US. Under his leadership, Ashamalla has built a cross-functional team consisting of UX researchers and design experts to deliver solutions across web, desktop, and mobile-native platforms, as well as established a customer engagement model that brings a persistent consumer focus to their UX solutions throughout the product lifecycle.

Continuing with its vision of providing industry and domain based solutions, Whatfix has onboarded Ajay Kumar as Vice President of Pre-Sales Solutions, an industry veteran with 26 years of experience across finance and business applications like ERP, EPM, SCM, HCM and CRM. Ajay will focus on establishing Whatfixs category leadership of DAP across specific sectors and industries.

The expansion of the sales and engineering teams enable Whatfix to evolve its technology excellence and customer-first focus.

Awards: Whatfix was recognized with over 20 awards spanning corporate, technology, customer success, and entrepreneur/executive categories. Notably, Whatfix ranked 143rd on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, earning the distinction as the highest-ranked digital adoption platform. Among Bay Area companies, Whatfixwas ranked 40th. The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 ranks the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America each year. Industry analysts also took note of Whatfixs leadership, naming the company a leader and star performer in the Everest Groups 2021 DAP PEAK Matrix.

Looking Ahead, Whatfix is on track for continued growth and momentum in 2022, with plans to strengthen its presence in the U.S., Europe, and ANZ, while also expanding its international footprint in countries such as Japan, South East Asia, and India. The company remains laser-focused on customer success and continued product innovation. Last year, Whatfix submitted two more patents and has more in the pipeline for 2022.
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TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's planned trip to Japan in mid-February has been canceled, Japanese government sources said Monday.

The trip would have been the first face-to-face meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Johnson since they met at the COP26 climate summit in Britain last year.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno confirmed the cancellation.

"It is not true that a visit by British Prime Minister Johnson is being arranged," Matsuno told a regular news conference on Monday. 
Data centres are specialised facilities used to house information technology and communications

equipment, including servers, storage devices and routers. Data centres are a niche segment of the broader industrial and logistics sector and differ from traditional industrial buildings because of their complex technical specifications and fit-out requirements. The key technical factors for the sector include the availability of cloud operations, power and fibre network cable connectivity, land costs and government policies. Home-grown operator NextDC and the Macquarie-backed AirTrunk have escalated their property expansion plans in the past year as has the industrial infrastructure development firm LOGOS, which recently partnered with Pure Data Centres (Pure DC) to expand its critical data centre infrastructure portfolio across the Asia Pacific region. In its latest deal, NextDC has an option over a 12.4ha site in Sydneys Horsley Park, worth about $124 million.

In Melbourne, it bought an additional 4 hectares of land neighbouring its new M3 West Footscray data centre, currently under construction for $24 million through Colliers Hugh Gilbert and Charlie Woodley. This will bring the total site to around 10 hectares and, on completion, will see the site home to a 150MW hyperscale facility including a customer operation and administration centre. Craig Scroggie, chief executive of NextDC said data, as the worlds most valuable commodity, is playing a core role at the heart of commerce, government and community. Its rise is best demonstrated by the outstanding success of companies like Amazon, Netflix, Google, Microsoft, Apple and Atlassian, that will all require safe storage, he said. Hamish Tadgell, portfolio manager of the SGH High Conviction Fund and Grant Berry, the A-REIT manager have identified the sector for growth and have invested in NextDC. It will be a growth area undoubtedly. We are moving more and more digital, and that will mean more and more need for data, Mr Berry said.

What we want our current and potential investors to understand is that there is big growth in cloud technology. Josh Griggs, Trifalga DC Mr Tadgell added that given the time needed to construct the tech-intensive sites and internal fit-outs there is a massive capital investment upfront required as they typically take a couple of years to build. And that means it has a different risk profile, Mr Tadgell said. In another deal Trifalga DC has partnered with First Nations operator Kalinda IT on a data centre rollout. Trifalga will provide the investment, deploying the capital and infrastructure for each site, while Kalinda IT, a certified Supply Nation member, will provide tech services to manage, run and sell services within each asset. Trifalga DCs first data centre project, a 74,000 square metre facility at Rouse Hill in Sydneys west, has already received development approval. General manager Josh Griggs said data centres were an innovative asset class that would provide new opportunities to investors who are interested in big growth.

Investors understand big growth and what we want our current and potential investors to understand is that there is big growth in cloud technology, he said. Tanya Parker, Colliers national director valuation and advisory services, says across the Asia Pacific region, investment volumes had increased exponentially over the past two years, with $4.5 billion recorded in 2020 and $3.8 billion already in the first nine months of 2021. By comparison, annual investment volumes averaged $1.2 billion between 2015 and 2019, Ms Parker said. Centuria Industrial fund has also made a large commitment in 2020 paying $416 million for the Telstra for its Clayton, Melbourne data centre, with a long-term lease back arrangement for the telco. Head of funds management Ross Lees said the demand for data centres accelerated as more people worked and shopped from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Lendlease has joined the rush after it established a data centres fund a couple of years ago with an overseas sovereign wealth fund and the first project will be an $800 million hyperscale data centre in greater Tokyo covering more than 60,000 square metres.

A renders of the NEXTDC S3 data centre in Artarmon on Sydneys lower North Shore, with Multiplex to deliver stage 1. Credit: The giant Microsoft is also embarking on expansion plans for campus-style properties across the country, said to be worth up to $1.3 billion. Airtrunks planned SYD3 facility at Blacktown will be 320 MW at full capacity. Colliers national director of industrial in Sydney, David Hall, said the main theme was that Australia was becoming a global hub for data centre facilities. He said the country was well suited to the industry as there was secure access to power, available land located near CBDs and Sydney was a major landing port for submarine communication cables that linked directly to Asia and the United States. Currently, Sydney provides an estimated 430 megawatts (MW) of third-party data centre capacity, with a further 1200 MW in the pipeline, Mr Hall said
Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scotts decision to move with his senior corporate executives from Perth to the Eastern states is akin to Prince Harry moving his family out of the UK.

Wesfarmers is the closest thing to royalty that Western Australia has. The 108-year-old company is the largest in the state, its head office is a part of Perth skyline and its tentacles spread throughout the broader community in the arts, philanthropy and Indigenous education.

Scotts decision to abandon his perch in Perth for the duration of the COVID imprisonment and move to Melbourne is partly pragmatic but comes with a large dollop of political motivation to pressure West Australias McGowan government, whose decision to keep the border closed to outsiders indefinitely has been roundly criticised by those outside the state.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott says Australia needs to lift productivity as its emerges from the pandemic. Credit:Philip Gostelow

Scott describes West Australian premier Mark McGowans stance as out of step with the rest of the country and the rest of the world. His frustration at managing operations remotely is understandable, but he has made it clear that Wesfarmers executive caravan will move back home when the borders reopen.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A2B, the listed taxi group, which operates nationally with brands such as 13cabs and Silver Service, is facing a shareholder revolt over a planned property deal, and caught in the middle is one of Sydneys wealthiest families. For three decades, the ONeil family have been well-regarded and savvy property developers. Their private company, Addenbrooke, founded by patriarch Denis ONeil, who won the 1968 Sydney to Hobart and competed in Olympic sailing events in Munich and Montreal, has developed many prominent projects across the city and interstate. ONeil, who had originally founded Hymix concrete that was later sold to Pioneer, now Hanson, was known for rubbing shoulders with former prime ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull. Deborah Symond and Ned ONeil had a three-day celebration for their wedding on Hamilton Island in 2018. Today, Addenbrooke, whose projects include residential, commercial, hotel and marina developments, is run by ONeils three sons, Ned, Jake and Toby. In 2018, Ned ONeil featured in the social pages for his lavish three-day wedding held at Hamilton Islands qualia resort, where he married Deborah Symond, the daughter of Aussie Homes Loan founder and rich lister John Symond. A2B has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Addenbrooke in which the two will undertake a controversial land swap deal. A2B intends to swap an 8489 square metre unimproved site it owns in Alexandria, a suburb 4km from Sydneys CBD, with land owned by Addenbrooke that is 2440 square metre in size. Addenbrookes property shares a boundary with A2Bs site. A2Bs site is a five-minute walk from Green Square, which has been one of the countrys biggest urban renewal projects in the past decade, where a train station, supermarkets and cafes have been developed in recent years alongside tens of thousands of apartments in an area that used to be mostly commercial and industrial.

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A2B has said that the value of its property is $57 million but a NSW government valuation has said the land is worth $71 million. An independent valuation by JLL, commissioned by one of A2Bs shareholders Sandon Capital, said the A2B site was worth $77.4 million. A2B intends to exchange its property for Addenbrookes  the latters land is estimated to be worth around $20 million by the NSW government. As part of the swap transaction, Addenbrooke would build A2B a nine-storey office complex, with a lettable area of 9634 square metre that A2B would own as part of the deal. The taxi group says the value of the new property and office building it would own would be $135 million. Addenbrooke has not disclosed its development plans for the 8489 sq/m site it would gain in the deal. Ned ONeil, Addenbrookes managing director, did not respond to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Ages request for an interview. The land swap transaction, which is set to be finalised in May, has drawn the ire of some of A2Bs biggest shareholders, Sandon Capital and Investors Mutual, who want the MoU with Addenbrooke abandoned. Sandon Capital founder Gabriel Radzyminski. Credit:Jan Kuczcrawy In a letter to A2Bs board and management, Sandon Capital founder and chief investment officer Gabriel Radzyminski said the proposed land swap transaction created a tax liability for A2B. As well, he argued that the company has not disclosed whether it went through a competitive process in its decision to dispose of the land. He also said that A2B has materially under-reported the value of its property assets for some time.

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If a public marketing campaign were to be conducted and development approvals were obtained, we believe the market price of this property would likely exceed both these valuations significantly, Mr Radzyminski wrote, referring to the JLL and NSW government valuations of A2Bs land. While Mr Radzyminski wouldnt disclose what he thought the value of A2Bs site could be worth, property experts said if the land received approval for a residential development its value may well be over $100 million. Sandon Capital, which owns just over 6 per cent of A2B, also sent its letter to other A2B shareholders. The letter further outlines that as a swap deal, the transaction generates no cash to cover any tax liability related to the proposed deal. On Christmas Eve, A2B announced to shareholders that it had put in place a new three-year $40 million financing facility. When A2B first announced the land swap proposal in November last year, its board and management told shareholders that the transaction would provide substantial operating benefit, cost reductions, rental income and material value recognition for A2B, while delivering a purpose-built facility. A2B chairman Paul Oneile did not respond to a request for an interview. Instead, the company issued a statement attributable to a spokesman. We respect and are interested in the views of individual shareholders, but we will always act in the best interests of all shareholders. In the matters that are currently being explored, we have engaged independent experts to give us their best counsel. We will make any and all decisions with this advice in mind and in the interests of the company, its shareholders and other stakeholders.

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The competition watchdog is expanding its probe into the market for rapid antigen tests, with some consumer tip-offs referred to the Australian Federal Police.

The Australian Competition Consumer Commission, which last month warned it would ask businesses to urgently explain the reasoning behind high costs of RATs for COVID-19, said it had asked more than 50 retailers, pharmacy chains and suppliers to do so. It also said it continues to receive more than 100 reports a day about RATs.

Rapid antigen tests continue to be in high demand across Australia. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The ACCC said it was investigating some IGA supermarkets and BP service stations but the probe was limited to a small number of individual stores in these chains.

The watchdog also said it had made further referrals to both the Australian Federal Police and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) following tip-offs by consumers about alleged illegal re-selling of rapid antigen tests and alleged package splitting and sale of tests not approved for home use in Australia.
As the world steps into the third year of a global pandemic and a new Lunar New Year, embattled Chinatown business operators are hoping the Year of the Tiger will bring better tidings than the last two years.

Alan Chu is a second-generation business owner of Mother Chus Taiwanese Gourmet, which has served customers in Sydneys Chinatown for more than three decades. In late 2018, right after graduating from university, the then-21-year-old was handed the reins to the business - not too long before the twin crises of Black Summer and COVID-19.

Alan Chu, the owner of Mother Chus Taiwanese Gourmet in Sydneys Haymarket, says the neglect of Chinatown predates the pandemic. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone

Ive seen its ups and downs, Chu told this masthead in a phone call from the restaurant kitchen in between orders.

While some foot traffic is drifting back into Chinatown, Mr Chu is hoping for the trickle to turn into a steady stream of customers.
Residents of an eastern suburbs street say the serious injury of a man in an altercation over parking is the final straw in a long-running series of hostilities in the area.

For the past 20 years, Sydneysiders have used Bundock Street in Randwick to park their caravans, trailers and boats for extended periods. There are no time limits on the street, which runs beside Defence land on one side.

Bundock Street in Randwick has long been used to store parked boats, caravans and trailers to the dismay of local residents. Credit:Louise Kennerley

But residents must contend with people using the street to store their vehicles and machinery. On January 4, a resident was rushed to hospital after asking a driver to not park their boat and trailer so close to his car. The driver allegedly became enraged at the residents request, got out of his car and punched the resident, who fell back and hit his head on the footpath in front of his home, suffering serious head injuries. The driver allegedly tried to flee but was detained by neighbours until emergency services arrived.

Police arrested a 61-year-old Kensington man. He was taken to Maroubra police station and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He was given conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.
A billionaire dairy farming family whose $30 million windfall from a land deal with the federal government became the subject of a corruption probe last year has now fallen afoul of the water regulator, after they were alleged to have illegally taken water to grow cattle feed on a property at Oran Park on Sydneys south-western fringe.

The Leppington Pastoral Company, owned by brothers Tony and Ron Perich, has agreed to remove a large dam from the property and pay a $425,000 penalty - the biggest ever extracted by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) - after it admitted taking water from three dams without a licence and constructing water supply works without approval.

Tony Perich (right) and his son Mark Perich, at their dairy farm in Bringelly. Credit:James Brickwood

Known as an enforceable undertaking, the sanction was negotiated between the company and the regulator to avoid litigation.

The dams, built in the 1970s and 1980s, have the capacity to hold 1680 megalitres, but NRAR was unable to substantiate whether water had been taken from those dams prior to 2016 and the offences only relate to the period 2016-2019.
A man has been refused bail accused of murdering his partner after her body was discovered in a bathroom in Sydneys north-west, described by police as an absolutely awful scene.

Meraj Zafar, 20, is charged with the murder of his 19-year-old partner Arnima Hayat, who was found dead in a bathtub filled with acid in their North Parramatta apartment on Sunday afternoon.

Meraj Zafar presented to Bankstown police station on Monday after a police appeal to locate him. Credit:NSW Police

He made no application for bail in Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday, and it was formally refused.

Outside court, Mr Zafars lawyer Mohamad Sakr said his client was distraught about being in custody. The solicitor said he would wait for the brief of evidence and obtain further instructions before making any additional comment.
A father and his nine-year-old son have died after they were swept off rocks while fishing at a beach in Sydneys eastern suburbs.

Emergency services were called to Little Bay Beach just after 3pm on Monday to reports the man and child had been washed off rocks.

The man  believed to be in his 40s  was pulled from the water by surf lifesavers and a nine-year-old boy was winched from the water by a rescue helicopter.

Paramedics performed CPR; however, both died at the scene. They are yet to be formally identified.
BERLIN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to remain Germany's most important trading partner in 2021, for the sixth year in a row, as the turnover of trade between the countries reached a record high, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Monday.

Exports and imports between China and Germany from January to November 2021 were up 14.7 percent year-on-year and climbed to 222.3 billion euros (248.4 billion U.S. dollars), already exceeding the previous year's level, according to Destatis.

"China's importance for German foreign trade has risen sharply in recent decades," Destatis noted, stressing that "China has been Germany's most important foreign trade partner since 2016."

Imports from China in the first 11 months of 2021 even increased 18.6 percent year-on-year, reaching 127.1 billion euros, according to Destatis. Data processing equipment, electrical and optical products, electrical equipment and machinery were the most important import categories.

At the same time, goods exported from Germany to China increased by 10 percent to 95.2 billion euros, according to Destatis. Main export products were motor vehicles and parts, machinery, data processing equipment as well as electrical and optical products. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) 
One of two men found dead in an inner-Sydney boarding house at the weekend had been on the phone to triple zero while emergency services made their way to the scene, police say, as footage of their alleged killers arrest emerges.

Chris Bouggas, 41, has been charged with two counts of murder after the bodies of Steven Finlay, 52, and his partner Mitch Watson, 32, were found at the unit on Cleveland Street, Redfern, shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Chris Bouggas is arrested and put into a police van. Credit:Luiz Neres

Officers had been responding to a concern for welfare report.

Footage obtained by the Herald shows at least nine heavily armed police officers entering a Cleveland Street unit from a nearby laneway about 3.30pm on Monday.
Queensland has recorded three deaths and 7462 COVID-19 cases on Monday as hospitalisations and health staff in quarantine decline across the state.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said there was a 15 per cent decrease in COVID-positive patients in public hospitals, with the number dropping from 878 to 744 in the past week.

A total of 46 COVID patients remained in intensive care.

Most of that reduction has been in a relatively small number of areas, thats the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich and Cairns, he said.
A QUT researcher has made a surprising discovery about sea anemone venom that could lead to new drug therapies  and she has the scars to prove it.

PhD researcher Lauren Ashwood was working with a specimen of Telmatactis stephensoni  a type of anemone  when she experienced what it was capable of first hand.

QUT PhD researcher Lauren Ashwood (right) with Associate Professor Peter Prentis. Credit:QUT

Its known that that species has a particularly nasty sting, divers say it takes a long time for their wounds [from the stings] to heal, Ms Ashwood said.

I was working with long gloves, but a little bit of water, maybe two drops, got in and there was sudden intense pain.
A Brisbane college missive insisting students denounce homosexuality and asking them to agree to specific gender roles has earned a rebuke from the state Human Rights Commission, saying it would likely amount to unlawful discrimination.

Citipointe Christian College, in Brisbanes eastern suburb of Carindale, issued the contract to families on Friday.

A petition calling for Citipointe Christian College to recall its amended contract amassed almost 40,000 signatures. Credit:Internet

The school said the requests were based on the religious beliefs of its church, the International Network of Churches.

The contract states the college would enrol students only on the basis of the gender that corresponds with their biological sex, and that families who did not agree to these fundamental doctrinal precepts could be excluded from the school.
Australias medical regulator is considering a proposal to lift a ban on blood donations from people who lived in Britain in the 80s and 90s, as blood banks see mass cancellations during the Omicron wave.

More than one in five regular donors have been unable to attend appointments in recent weeks due to either being in isolation or unwell with COVID-19.

Lifeblood says it is experiencing an unprecedented number of cancelled appointments. Credit:Getty Images

Blood donations are barred from people who spent time in the UK during the mad cow disease epidemic. If the rule was overturned, it could mean tens of thousands of additional donations.

The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood donation service said the recent COVID-19 case surge had affected the regular appointments of an estimated 100,000 donors, including 33,000 in NSW. Missed donations have totalled about 4500 each day.
These are disturbing allegations about police culture and practice, said Hugh de Kretser, executive director of the Human Rights Law Centre. The original alleged misconduct is bad. The fact that at least one police integrity investigator may have actively undermined the misconduct investigation is even worse. This highlights yet again why our system of police accountability is failing Victorians. Police simply should not be investigating police. Gisborne police station in the Macedon Ranges. In a formal statement released to The Age, Victoria Police said Mr McCanns alleged criminality spanned from June 2018 to August 2021. Sources close to him but not authorised to speak publicly said most of the charges focused on a period of a few months in which Mr McCann spearheaded an aggressive investigation throughout Melbournes Macedon Ranges that targeted criminal suspects tied to alleged drug activity and stolen property.

According to court documents, Mr McCann is accused of directing less senior investigators to insert allegedly false information in affidavits that were presented to senior police or a magistrate to empower officers to raid suspects homes. Even though the investigation raised serious questions about culture and oversight within pockets of the force  sensitive topics for Victoria Police after various public inquiries including the Lawyer X royal commission  Victoria Police had previously released few public details about the investigation. Police issued a detailed statement confirming the charges and suspensions, as well as moves to notify the 15 Victorians named in the allegedly tainted search warrant affidavits, after queries from The Age. The Andrews government must establish a system where we have an independent expert watchdog ... to investigate all allegations of serious police misconduct. Human Rights Law Centre chief Hugh de Kretser Victoria Police takes this issue extremely seriously and has taken swift action against the alleged offenders, the statement said. Proactive steps have been taken to identify the cases linked to these affidavits. Fifteen affected people have been identified and Victoria Police has commenced disclosure to those affected persons. When the issue was identified, two people were still before the courts and one was subject to an outstanding warrant. In these instances, the charges and warrant were immediately withdrawn. The remaining 12 affected people have already had their cases heard before the court and finalised.

The force said these 12 people had or would soon be contacted. A high-profile career Mr McCanns friends say he is gruff, opinionated and a relentless investigator, but his career has attracted controversy in the past. As a suburban detective, he helped identify Carl Williams as an emerging drug kingpin and, in the 2000s, he joined the elite homicide squad as part of a team led by now retired senior-sergeant and high-profile murder investigator Charlie Bezzina. In a 2011 Age article, Mr Bezzina was quoted saying of Mr McCann: I cannot speak highly enough of him in terms of his honesty or work ethic as a copper. The article also described how Mr McCann had won a bravery award for entering a siege zone in Sunshine in 2010 to locate civilians threatened by a gunman. Mr McCann and his partner were repeatedly fired at and the gunman was later charged with attempting to murder them.

However, the same article also dealt with allegations  which were denied and which never led to formal action  that Mr McCann was tied to a network of old-school police who prioritised friendship over ethics. A year later, in 2012, Victoria Police tried to sack Mr McCann over a scandal involving the production of a racist stubby holder. His career survived, he climbed in rank to sergeant and was subsequently elected to the board of the police union, which is a centre of networking in policing circles and wields considerable political influence over the state government. While stationed at Gisborne police station as a sergeant in 2018  a middle-management position that involves overseeing more junior police  Mr McCann led a group of investigators that he sought to mentor. A retired senior detective, Bill Patten, a friend of Mr McCanns, said the younger mans bull at a gate style had led to a falling-out with another group of investigators, but Ive never known Calum to cross any lines. The Calum I know can be very aggressive, but its all about catching crooks. Hes one of the most operationally competent and dynamic police members I know, Mr Patten said.

Anti-corruption investigation In 2020, Professional Standards Command received a complaint about Mr McCann. Veteran anti-corruption detective Peter Fogarty, who is among the longest-serving anti-corruption officers on the force, took charge of the investigation. Mr Fogartys team examined a number of affidavits used to obtain search warrants and took statements from junior police who had helped to compile them. Data released by Victoria Police to The Age shows that, after several months of investigations, Mr Fogartys team identified seven affidavits relating to 12 addresses alleged to contain some false information. Mr McCann had used the search warrant affidavits to raid suspected drug dealers and thieves between June 2018 and August 2020. One supporter of Mr McCann, who spoke to The Age on condition of anonymity, insisted the false information was the result of an inadvertent error caused by using pro-forma affidavits. But the case against Mr McCann (which is yet to be tested in court) involves the allegation that he deliberately and repeatedly falsified affidavits to increase his teams arrest rate. Victoria Police said the alleged misconduct was an isolated issue involving a very small number of officers.

Mr McCanns charging follows two major public inquiries by Victorias police watchdog, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, both of which sought to highlight alleged police behaviour that prioritised arresting suspects over following proper process. The Lawyer X scandal has already led to several major criminal figures being released from jail. Mr McCanns arrest targets were much smaller fry in the criminal world (and only one suspect was jailed), yet the fact his alleged misconduct took place during and after the Lawyer X royal commission raises fresh questions about police culture and practices. In its formal statement, Victoria Police also details how Mr McCann and an unnamed internal affairs detective known to Mr McCann are facing criminal charges for allegedly seeking to compromise Mr Fogartys investigation. A second professional standards investigator is on stress leave and may also face suspension, sources said. Mr McCann declined to comment when contacted. Police culture and accountability expert Dr Colleen Lewis said the allegations suggested the force may not have learnt the lessons of the Lawyer X royal commission.

The commission should have been enough to make even old-school police recognise that that type of behaviour is not acceptable, she said. Loading Dr Lewis also called for independent and public scrutiny of the scandal. The Human Rights Law Centres Mr de Kretser said: The Andrews government must establish a system where we have an independent expert watchdog with the power and resources to investigate all allegations of serious police misconduct. Victoria Police said it had advised the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission about the allegations. IBAC recently called on the Andrews government to give it more resources so it could investigate more cases of misconduct.
We decided to do the school RATs the evening before to reduce the morning chaos, Dr McNab wrote on social media alongside a photo of three positive tests. No school this week for us! The Education Department has set a hard deadline of March 15 for staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Those who dont meet that deadline will be barred from working on-site. Previous guidance had given school staff a looser deadline of three months and two weeks from their second dose to get a booster. The booster deadline was set as 374 inactive or retired teachers and principals entered a pool of stand-by staff for schools as authorities brace for a potential teacher shortage if Omicron cases spike again.

Education Minister James Merlino said staff absences would be the biggest challenge this school year, but he remained confident the government had put measures in place to make classrooms safe. We made a commitment that wed get students back to school day one [of] term one, and thats exactly what is happening, he said. There will be challenges, and there will be bumps over the first few weeks, and thats why the surveillance testing program is just so important. Mr Merlino said Australia had a critical window of opportunity to immunise children with two doses of the vaccine before the start of winter.

More than 3000 children aged between five and 11 were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total number of Victorians in that age group with one dose of the vaccine to 252,979, or 44 per cent of the total. A small number of immuno-compromised children have also had a second jab. This age group only became eligible three weeks ago, so this is a huge effort, Mr Merlino said. Weve had good growth over the past few days in particular, but weve got to keep going, particularly because weve got an eight-week interval between first and second dose. As of Monday, there were about 81,000 paediatric vaccine appointments available at state-run clinics over the next month, including 30,000 in the next week.

Loading More than 16,298 Victorians received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a state-run clinic on Sunday, taking the proportion of triple-vaccinated Victorians to almost 39 per cent of the adult population. There are 873 Victorians infected with the virus being treated in hospitals across the state, including 102 in intensive care and 33 on a ventilator. The eight people who died with COVID-19 were aged in their 70s, 90s, and 100s, and their deaths take the total number of COVID fatalities in Victoria since the pandemic began to 1995. One death was reclassified because of a duplication.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the drop in infections and hospital admissions was encouraging, but Victoria needed to tread carefully as thousands of kids returned to school. We know that vaccines are the solution to that issue. We continue to see a disproportionate number of either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated Victorians appear in our hospitalisations, our severe illness, and, tragically, our deaths, he said. Mr Foley said the Therapeutic Goods Administration was considering booster shots for 12 to 15-year-olds after last week granting provisional approval for those aged 16 and 17 to get their third dose. Of the new cases announced by authorities on Monday, 3568 came from PCR tests, and 6485 were self-reported from rapid antigen tests.

Loading There are currently 76,335 active coronavirus infections across Victoria, a small number of which have been confirmed by authorities as an emerging sub-strain of the Omicron variant known as BA.2 which appears to be more transmissible. However, scientists are pleading for calm, saying the sub-strain is unlikely to cause a huge wave of disease in the same vein as the Delta and Omicron variants, and that it hasnt shown signs of being any more vaccine-evasive than its sister variant. Nothing ominous has come out so far. There is no reason to panic, said Professor Seshadri Vasan, who has been tracking COVID-19s variants at the CSIRO. With Cassandra Morgan, Melissa Cunningham, Liam Mannix, Adam Carey and Ashleigh McMillan
Murtagh is the only person to have been charged in WA with publication of material to incite racial hatred, which carries a five-year maximum jail term. He also is the first to test Australias powers to police racist social media posts. Jason Murtagh, now clean-shaven, outside court. Credit:Aja Styles WA introduced racial vilification laws, under which Mr Murtagh was charged, in 2004. While other states have comparable laws, WA is the only state to detail conduct likely to incite racial animosity or racist harassment which in this case was the publication of online material.

New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania have recorded no convictions for inciting racial hatred, so far, with two cases currently before NSW courts. Queensland legislation that covers racial vilification is currently being examined by a Parliamentary inquiry. The Australian National University College of Law senior lecturer Dr Faith Gordon said cyber-racism was incredibly difficult to prosecute but had become more prevalent with the rise of social media. More people are looking into its effects and how it relates to the law because right now it is challenging to advocate on behalf of victims when the perpetrators are anonymous online, she said. It is extremely difficult to provide victims with adequate redress after the damage is already done. Murtagh was found guilty, with the court accepting he didnt have to be racist or intend to racially vilify to have committed a crime that was utterly deplorable. But he did not have to serve jail time.

In light of the unusualness of the case and Murtagh not being in the league of an entrenched Nazi sympathiser or white supremacist, with no prior record of such behaviour, Fremantle Magistrate Adam Hills-Wright last Monday deemed a $4000 fine appropriate. Woden the Bogan Jason Murtagh said he created the Gab profile as research for a novel. Credit:Gab After losing his job, the 51-year-old bar manager admitted to spending COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 posing online as a white supremacist. He created Woden the Bogan, a man of a similar age to himself but an ex-con, living rurally, who had supposedly served in the military and married three times, with five sons and two daughters.

However, Murtagh told his arresting officers that he was gay and he created the Woden profile to do research for a fantasy novel or game about an extremist father who goes on a journey of redemption upon discovering his son is homosexual. Murtaghs defence lawyer Ken Robson told the court that while ill-advised, his clients posts were designed to engage with and get into the minds of racists for a genuine artistic purpose. There is a loophole in the law regarding artistic purposes. Senior Constable Day said Murtaghs writings after posting on Gab were bizarre. Jasons not a racist

For 17 years Murtagh worked at the Fly By Night, but his indecision over his lifes direction after failing to complete a fine arts degree at university, a spiralling prescription drug addiction and alcoholism meant his shifts dwindled. Mr Murtaghs online persona posted to Gab. Credit:Gab He told the court late last year that he felt incredibly stupid and ashamed over the racist social media posts but denied he was a racist. To my shame I became fascinated by the amount of followers it accrued, he said. Murtagh also described being brought up with appreciation for other cultures.

His 43-year-old sister, Niomi Rebecca Hunt, said he got along with the Indigenous boys she dated from the age of 14 to 17. Jasons definitely not a racist, she said. Ms Hunt admitted she hadnt seen her brothers posts but said they didnt change her opinion of her brother. Witness Kelvin Blundell, whose wife is Filipino, didnt believe his friend of 25 years was racist  despite the posts  because he was one of the most accepting, non-judgemental and caring people he knew. Mr Robson said his client wasnt a racist but someone who struggled with opiates and alcohol while living a lonely and solitary existence since losing his job.

Magistrate Hills-Wright said the multitude of references from people who knew Murtagh not to hold racist views made his behaviour all the more curious. Loading Mr Hills-Wright noted creative storytelling and not telling the truth as factors to your offending and called Murtagh an unusual accused. He was also sentenced for making 34 false reports to police about non-existent violent crimes, while drunk, in the years leading up to his online posts. Murtagh was ordered to undergo alcohol and substance abuse programs, while checking in with police, for two years to avoid his 15-month jail sentence.
More than a third of all emergency department patients last year could have been treated outside a hospital, but Australians face delays seeing a general practitioner and fork out an average $41 each time despite telehealth measures driving up bulk-billing.

Almost a third of GP patients pay gap fees, and a third in need of an urgent appointment had to wait 24 hours or more in 2020-21, a Productivity Commission report on government-funded health services shows. Only 56 per cent were seen within four hours.

Millions of Australians are choosing to go to an emergency department for treatment instead of a GP. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Emergency departments (ED) received an influx of patients with conditions that could have been treated outside the hospital. Out of 8.8 million emergency department visits nationally, GP-like presentations to hospitals hit 3.2 million in 2020-21, up 14 per cent from 2.8 million the previous year.

Australian College of Emergency Medicine past president Simon Judkins said many patients had no option but to present at their local emergency department because their GPs are fully booked, and some patients told the next available appointment was weeks away.
Nearly $170,000 raised for a national protest against vaccine mandates has been frozen by major crowd-funding website GoFundMe pending more information from the organiser on how the money will be spent.

The suspension came after crowds of anti-vaccination protesters confronted police at the entrance to Parliament House in Canberra on Monday.

More demonstrators are expected to gather at Parliament over coming days.

A spokesperson from GoFundMe said: The funds will be held safely until the organiser completes the verification process, and is able to provide documentation to our team about how funds will be distributed.
KIEV, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Olexiy Reznikov said that he sees no need to convert the Ukrainian economy from civilian to military-based, local online media outlet LB.ua reported Monday.

"As of today, there is no threat that would require switching to wartime rails," Reznikov was cited as saying.

The number of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border is nearly the same as that of spring 2021, Reznikov said, adding that as of now, Russia has not formed a strike group for full-scale aggression.

Since November, Kiev and some Western countries have accused Russia of assembling heavy troop numbers near the Ukrainian border with a possible intention of invasion.

Russia denied the accusation, saying it 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. 
It has been one long year since Australian academic and economist Sean Turnell was arrested by Myanmars military regime. Economics adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi and associate professor at Macquarie University, Turnell remains under detention in Myanmar.

The military coup has returned the country to the horrors of direct military rule, including war, targeted and random violence against both political opponents and ordinary citizens, arbitrary detention, torture and grave economic and social instability.

Sean Turnell, an associate professor in economics at Sydneys Macquarie University, has been detained in Myanmar. Credit:

On February 1, 2021, after learning of the coup, I messaged Turnell via Facebook to check if he was safe. He responded: I am in Myanmar, Melissa. Internet just came up. Keeping low. Many friends arrested. He was referring to the arrest of Suu Kyi and other senior members of the then civilian government, with whom he had worked closely.

I told him to contact me if I could do anything. I desperately called other Burmese friends that day. I told them to make sure their families were safe and if they were at risk to plan to get out of the country as quickly as possible. COVID-19 travel restrictions and lack of access to vaccination at that time meant that leaving the country quickly was difficult.
London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced renewed calls to resign after a report found that alcohol-fuelled events at his offices and residence when COVID-19 lockdown rules were in force should never have taken place.

Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the partygate scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. But he faced criticism from some of his own Conservative colleagues, who have the power to oust a leader some fear has become damaged goods. One Conservative MP accused the Prime Minister of taking him for a fool.

I get it, and I will fix it, Johnson said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021 while Britain was under government-imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Grays report into the lockdown gatherings pointed to serious failures of leadership at the heart of the British government.
Amsterdam: A Dutch publisher has suspended printing a book that suggested a Jewish notary betrayed Anne Frank, saying there were questions about the research behind it, according to an internal email seen by Reuters.

The Betrayal of Anne Frank, released in Europe on January 18, caused a sensation when it said investigators had named Arnold van den Bergh as the main suspect. Other researchers later criticised the findings, saying they were full of errors.

Inside the Anne Frank House Museum in Amsterdam. Credit:Alamy

The publisher of the Dutch-language edition, Ambo Anthos, said in an email to its own authors on Monday morning (local time) that it should have taken a more critical stance on the publication.

We await the answers from the researchers to the questions that have emerged and are delaying the decision to print another run, the email from the Amsterdam firm said.
Now we have all these resources in place, its important for us to do this exercise to make sure that we have the capability intended, says Major General, Jonas Wikman, the deputy commander of Swedens Joint Forces Command, who has come in from Stockholm. As well as testing the ability of different regiments to work together, the exercise is designed to send a signal to Russia that this Baltic island is defended. Members of Gotlands Regiment patrol in a tank, on a road in Visby, northern Gotland, Sweden. Credit:AP We are doing a lot of things that are not visible, that are not known, Major General Wikman continues. This is something that is visible. Its important that everybody knows that we have the capability, and the will.

Gotland, a diamond-shaped chunk of land between the coasts of Sweden and Latvia, has long been the key to the eastern Baltic. Loading In an underground fort at the islands military museum, there is a display of British ships crockery dating back to the Crimean War, during which British and French navies used the northern harbour to shelter the fleet that blockaded the Baltic and starved Russia of imports. The island was even occupied by Russian in 1808, albeit for only a few weeks, and Russian military plans obtained by Sweden during the Cold War made it clear it was a target. Mike Winnerstig, head of security policy at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, says that when they war-game conflicts, the person playing Russia very often takes Gotland as a first move.

If you really want to disturb transportation of troops and reinforcements to the Baltic states, having Gotland as a platform for your long-distance missiles and anti-aircraft artillery is a very good thing, he says. Loading Until quite recently, Sweden made sure the island was defended. At the height of the Cold War, Winnerstig explains, 50,000 troops could be on the island in a matter of hours, backed up by 36 tanks. The coastline and its harbours were defended by 25 fortified, fixed-artillery units and the entrances to the islands harbours were filled with mines that could explode under incoming ships at the touch of a button.

Winnerstig said that by remaining outside the NATO alliance, the traditionally neutral Swedes miss out on a powerful block to any Russian attack on the island. If they want to do something before there is a full-scale war between NATO and Russia, as were not part of NATO, they could treat us as they treat Ukraine right now, he said. Sweden is stepping up its defence activities in the Baltic Sea due to a deteriorating security situation as Russia and NATO conduct military operations in the area. Credit:AP And NATO might say, we will support you, of course, tell the Russians that theyre evil, that we wont come to your help militarily. Then Gotland would be up for grabs. Rutger Bandholtz, who commanded a battery of three 120 millimetre Bofors cannons guarding Slite, the islands eastern harbour, remembers the last time the island saw tensions similar to those of today.

A Soviet submarine ran aground in 1981 outside Swedens biggest naval base in Karlskrona, and Sweden feared the Soviet Union would send in warships to rescue it. Loading That was the only time we had live ammunition in our cannons, Bandholtz remembers, as he shows me one of the 120 millimetre Bofors guns at the museum. The prime minister said keep the border, and we did. They didnt cross it, because they realised our guns were loaded. In 2005, the Gotland regiment was shut down, due, Winnerstig snorts, to the end of the Cold War, the eternal peace and the end of history. The demilitarisation was reversed following Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 but, four years after the Gotland Regiment was re-established, it still only numbers 300 personnel.
She said she tries to stay calm as she wages a paper war with New Zealands quarantine system, but that she worries about how the stress she has been under will affect her baby. Loading I am very concerned about a premature birth and ... also the implication of stress, she said. Bellis has found an Afghan gynaecologist, who promised she could call her if she wakes up in the night with a problem. Bellis toured the doctors clinic which has basic facilities, including one incubator. The doctor told her the incubator is often occupied. Bellis has found a lawyer who is handling her case pro bono and has submitted over 60 documents to the New Zealand government, answered countless questions, only to be rejected twice for entry to her home country.

On Sunday, she received her most recent email from the New Zealand government, this one telling her to apply as a person in danger and that this would get her home, she said. Bellis said she was rejected earlier because her pregnancy didnt meet the criteria of threshold of critical time threat. If I dont meet the threshold as a pregnant woman then who does? she asked. Speaking from Kabul on Monday morning, Bellis said that, while she was not disregarding the offer of help, applying under the new category would have consequences. New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis. Credit:Instagram There are consequences to it in terms of they are saying there is a serious risk to our safety, but weve just gone on the record saying the Taliban welcomed us and said youre safe to come on in. So that would seem insincere.

It would show there were still limited to no pathways for pregnant women to come home, she said. Loading If I just say OK, fine throw me in the risk to safety category, what does that say to other pregnant women who are Kiwis who are in South Sudan or El Salvador or somewhere else? I mean, thats essentially saying like, you dont have a pathway home. Bellis said she was wary of applying under the new category, as it absconds the New Zealand government of liability. She said she would publicly share both the letter she received from MIQ and a response letter from its lawyer, once it had been written.

An email from a generic New Zealand government account, with no human attached to it had been stark in comparison to the other offers of help she had received, she said, including from another country, in which both she and Huylebroek are not citizens. Bellis said the countrys officials had asked her not to reveal what country it was. I want to hear from them [New Zealand government] how they justify the ethics around putting pregnant New Zealand women through the wringer saying they dont meet the threshold whilst letting in foreign entertainers, athletes and TV crews through a back door. Bellis said her lawyer had represented 30 pregnant women attempting to gain MIQ spots, eight of whom had gone to court. Just prior to the court date, the women were offered MIQ allocation, she said.

Theres no acceptance of liability or improvement of the system. MIQ head Chris Bunny said his agency was sympathetic to the difficult circumstances many New Zealanders were experiencing due to the global pandemic. The date Bellis had requested was not within the 14-day window required for an emergency allocation and the travel must be time critical to fit within the emergency allocation category. So she did not meet the criteria. She received a response inviting her to reapply within the 14-day window, and to contact MIQ if she intended to change her flights to return to New Zealand earlier, Bunny said. Our emergency allocation team keep a close eye on applications, and Charlottes location of Afghanistan came to their attention.

Shortly after her application was received the team contacted Charlotte to provide her with additional information should she choose to change her flights. This is an example of the team being helpful to New Zealanders who are in distressing situation, Bunny said. Bellis said that prior to returning to Afghanistan, she sought permission from the Taliban. She said she had feared that arriving with a little bump and not married could be problematic. Instead, the Taliban response was immediate and positive. I appreciate this isnt official Taliban policy, but they were very generous and kind. They said, You are safe here, congratulations we welcome you,  she said.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Wescot explained that she has recapped the sequence of events leading up to the passing of the budget on January 24th and has asked the Ombudsman to consider and use her lawful discretion to review the budget process and the constitutionality thereof.



As Ombudsman, I am sure you have followed these proceedings, as the budget is an instrument of importance for every citizen of the country and the most important management tool for the public service, the MP stated in her letter to Ombudsman Mossel.



Let it be recalled that the initial draft budget, sent to parliament by the government, contained no reference to article 127 of the constitution, as is required by law. Upon being alerted of this omission by the MP, the Minister of Finance submitted a note of amendment (Nota van Wijziging), however rather than allowing the ombudsman the opportunity to assess the constitutionality of the budget ordinance, the government found arguments to declare this budget one of extreme urgency due to reasons such as the economy, etc., etc., thereby precluding the Ombudsmans scrutiny.



Yet, the ministers during the budget debate insinuated that they would not ratify the budget until some future date. So where are the rush and urgency?



MP Wescot alluded that the budget has never been under so much constitutional scrutiny before, due to the current status of the request by the government for deviation in accordance with article 25 of the Kingdom Law Financial Supervision and the constitutional stipulation that the budget must be balanced. This approval by the Kingdom Council of Ministers has not (yet) been provided and thus the parliament has passed a budget with a deficit of 124.141.630.-- NA guilders and with an unsecured capital budget.



It should also be noted that the Memorandum of Elucidation of the draft budget commences with: With the present draft national ordinance, the budget for the 2022 service year is proposed on the basis of Article 100, the first paragraph of the Constitution. In other words, we are presenting you here with a balanced budget.



Adding insult to injury was that parliament itself, via its presidium requested a legal opinion on the matter, which was provided on January 7th and only shared with the members of parliament on January 24th, the day of the closing debate and voting on the draft budget.

That advice in my opinion is clear, yet the government and a majority in parliament pushed aside the requests for postponement of the budget vote, the MP added.



I hope that with this letter, the Ombudsman can find sufficient grounds to employ the authority granted to that office by law as per art 16, sub 5 of the LVO Ombudsman to investigate this conduct by the ministers of government, MP Wescot concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet is asking the question as to why it is being said that passing the Budget without the approval of the Kingdom Council of Ministers is illegal.

Pantophlet is not negating the fact that every Member of Parliament has to vote his/her conscience. "We all took an oath to do so. The meeting in which the Budget was discussed happened in accordance with article 34.2 of the rules of order which states: "As soon as the attendance list is signed by at least half plus one, the President opens the meeting. The said list remains at the table of clerk for signing by Members of Parliament arriving later". Every member that signed the attendance list had an opportunity to debate, the draft budget at the time", said MP Pantophlet.

The 2022 Budget was voted upon and passed with 9 votes for and 4 against. As a matter of a fact, in handling this budget the MP expressed that he feels that the chair was quite lenient in allowing blatant non-adherence to the rules of order, as 'points of notifications' and 'clarifications' were turned into third and fourth rounds by asking additional questions, whereas Public Meetings consist of first and second rounds only. He applauds her poise in this regard as he is not sure whether he would have been so lenient.

"What is abundantly clear is that Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs indicated that the new State Secretary of Home Affairs and Digitalization will forward a positive advice to the Kingdom Council of Ministers. This for me was sufficient to support the budget and also in conformity with article 100 of the constitution", Pantophlet stated.

The MP further stated that he is convinced that the new State Secretary would not have made such a statement to our Prime Minister if she doubted the outcome of her advice.

"I'm sure that the members who voted against and those who were absent do not share the same sentiments. The PFP unfortunately is judging the State Secretary before getting to know her. Statements by the PFP such as a promise is a comfort to a fool, are careless. We know for a fact that the Kingdom Council of Ministers always approves the advice from the State Secretary. In addition to this, there were deviations approved from 5 previous budgets, so what makes this one different?", said the MP.

The MP said that voting on the Budget instead of postponing it is in conformity with article 100 of the Constitution.

"We have nothing to do with the Kingdom Councils responsibilities. What is being left out of the argument of those who opposed approving the Budget is that the Committee for Financial supervision has complete insight into Governments operations and has approved said deviation. This alone gives me confidence that in combination with this advice and the positive advice of the State Secretary, the Kingdom Council of Ministers will approve the deviation", MP Pantophlet concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Flow has signed on as a supporting partner to Every Womans Voice; a weekly radio program presented by the Prominent Women Foundation on SOS Radio.

The weekly show discusses a range of topics with the objective of empowering women and encouraging the growth and development of listeners within our local community. The telecoms provider supported the hosts of the show with a Samsung tablet.

The new device will offer online viewers a clearer picture of the studio and visiting guests when the show goes live weekly via Facebook Live stream. In addition, the company is supporting the program by providing Chippie mobile data service, allowing the hosts to go live on Facebook anywhere on the island.

Were looking forward to using the tablet to give viewers a better glimpse into our studio every week, said show host and president of Prominent Women Foundation, Ramona Riley.

When you can see us and our guests in the studio, the commitment and passion that our weekly guests bring to the show is clear. Our aim is to cover a wide range of topics with the key focus on Breaking the Silence on Domestic Violence and its negative effects on our society.

Were happy to support the show in enhancing their weekly broadcast, says Rauf Engels, acting Country Manager of Flow.

Healthy discussions on topics that matter should be encouraged and fostered within our local community and if we can support in keeping that conversation going, well gladly do our part. Women fulfill a pivotal role in our community, and it is important to us to champion awareness on key issues and support the empowerment of women so that they can take full advantage of each opportunity. We applaud Prominent Women Foundation for empowering radio listeners and online viewers with the knowledge to build on their strengths and to live their best life.

Every Woman's Voice is broadcast every Thursday on SOS Radio, 95.9 FM from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The upcoming program will be a collaboration with Flow, focussing on internet safety and protecting against cyberbullying, identity theft, and more.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The first General Shareholders meeting with N.V. GEBE of the year 2022 was held on Thursday, January 27. The main agenda points were the appointments of two new members to the Supervisory Board of Directors; the formalization of the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and the approval of the draft service agreements of each member of the Managing Board, namely the CEO, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The current members of the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBoD), which consists of the following members, Anastacio Baker, Chairman; Dimar Labega, Vice Chairman; Emanuel Brooks and Lela Simmonds, were appointed per October 19, 2021.

The main task of this SBoD was to ensure continuity and (financial) stability at N.V. GEBE. The company was not only impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but also the instability of management, which negatively impacted the functioning of N.V. GEBE and the morale of its workers.

The board was able to successfully finalize the negotiations for the draft service agreements with the candidates for the positions of a new Managing Board.

The Shareholder selected the candidates after careful consideration of the conclusions of the Ernst & Young Recruitment & Selection Report on the Management Board on the selection process and the advice on the most suitable candidates.

Both the Shareholder and the SBoD look forward to a fruitful working relationship with the approved appointments of Sharine Daniel as CEO; George P. Willems as CFO; and Merrill Temmer, who is currently the Temporary Manager, as COO of the Managing Board of N.V. GEBE.

The Shareholder foresees the draft strategic plan for which the Managing Board will be tasked as a priority. The plan should highlight alternative energy as well as ways and means to collaborate with other Government-owned Companies as a cost-saving measure for the country.

Furthermore, the Shareholder (Council of Ministers) emphasized the need to seek a structural solution to deal with the high energy costs.

In addition to a new Managing Board, the SBoD will be further strengthened with two new members, namely Vanessa Fraser, who will fulfill the profile as Human Resource Expert, and Denniscio Boasman, who was a former N.V. GEBE SBoD member and will be fulfilling the profile of Technical Expert. Both members have been appointed for a term of four years, going into effect on January 27, 2022.

The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI), Hon. Egbert Doran, who chaired the meeting, concluded by emphasizing the responsibilities of the SBoD vis a vis the Management Board and further, stated that he looks forward to the continuation of the level of professionalism thus far provided and the progress needed to get GEBE where it needs to be.
The 2022 Prix dEte, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 21 at Hippodrome 3R in Quebec, has been cancelled.

The Quebec Jockey Club made the announcement today (Friday, Jan. 28), citing that due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has shut down all of the Off-Track-Betting (OTB) sites in Quebec and at the racetrack and with the uncertainty of being able to have spectators at the racetrack starting this fall, it was in the best interest to cancel the $200,000 race for 2022. The race was also canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Because all of our OTBs have been closed since December 20th of last year due to COVID, we must cut back our premier race again this year, said Claude Levesque, chairman of the Quebec Jockey Club. I am confident next year will be brighter and a much different story.

One of the richest races in North America restricted to just four-year-olds, the Prix d'Ete dates back to 1966 at Blue Bonnets Raceway in Montreal. Over the years many world champions won the prestigious race. The stakes race ended when Blue Bonnets closed in 1992 and was revived by the Quebec Jockey Club in 2014.

The Hippodrome 3R is scheduled to tentatively start the 2022 harness racing meet on Sunday, Apr. 30.

(Quebec Jockey Club)
ROME, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The recent decision by Italy's "great electors" to reappoint Sergio Mattarella to a second seven-year term as Italy's president ended a six-day stalemate without changing either the president or the prime minister -- the country's two most powerful political figures. But analysts say that the country's political landscape could still see changes despite keeping the familiar faces at the top.

In their opinion, the fact that both Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi -- himself a candidate for the president's post -- will keep their positions does not mean the government would necessarily stay the same course.

Mattarella, 80, originally said he did not want to serve a second term as president. But he was reportedly convinced to change his mind and stay on after no other candidate managed to gain widespread support.

"There was a great deal of uncertainty and after days of debate the best option for most electors was to keep things the way they were," Gian Franco Gallo, a political affairs analyst with ABS Securities in Milan, told Xinhua. "Italy will benefit from the continuity."

This was in evidence on Monday, the first trading day since Mattarella and Draghi were reaffirmed in their positions. The Italian Stock Exchange in Milan surged more than two percent as investors breathed a sigh of relief.

But last Saturday's developments have left some new challenges.

If Mattarella serves his full term, which will run until 2029, he would be the country's longest-serving president since the position was created in 1948. Until now, the longest-serving president was Mattarella's predecessor, Giorgio Napolitano, who served a full seven-year term plus a two-year extension that ended in 2015.

Before Napolitano, none of the ten previous presidents had served more than one seven-year term.

In Italy, the president is the head of state, meaning he has broad powers, such as appointing the prime minister, approving other ministers and calling of national referenda. He also has ceremonial roles.

According to Gallo, the debates that led up to Saturday's decision could signal changes to the coalition behind Draghi. "It would not be a surprise to see some changes in the coming weeks," Gallo said.

Francesco Galietti, founder of Policy Sonar, a political risk consultancy, said the coming weeks will tell the tale.

"We have to understand if the key ingredient of Draghi's government, his coalition, will still be intact," Galietti told Xinhua. "The uncertainty will play out over the coming days and weeks."

The next big challenge for the government will come next year, when Italy is scheduled to hold general elections, the first since 2018.

No date has yet been set for that vote, but the rules require that the vote be completed before June 1 of next year, with a total of 400 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 200 Senate seats up for grabs. 
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on January 31, 2022.

This Central Committee meeting, which was adjourned on October 20, 2021, will be reconvened on Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of General Affairs will be present.

The agenda point is:

The (financial) status of Windward Islands Airways (IS/1135/2019-2020 dated August 18, 2020, and IS/ 169/2020-2021 dated November 16, 2020)

This meeting was requested by MP S.A. Wescot-Williams, MP M.D. Gumbs, MP C.A. Buncamper and MP G.S. Heyliger-Marten

On Monday the Minister of General Affairs, Ms. Silveria Jacobs will return to Parliament to answer questions posed by Members of Parliament regarding the Government-owned company, Winair.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and www.pearlfmradio.sx
During the night from Friday to Saturday the police together with immigration personnel from TEATT and other government agencies conducted a control on several licensed establishments in connection with violations of the Covid-19 measures enacted by the Government of St. Maarten for the safety of the general public.

One such check was carried out at a licensed establishment located at Brouwers Road. This particular premises have in the past, been issued several fines; yet the owner declined to comply with the stipulated conditions and frequently continued to operate after hours.

It became common that the proprietor would refuse to unlock the entrance for inspectors and then simply continued to operate after closing time.

Over the weekend another control was conducted on the mentioned venue. As a custom, the proprietor refused to open the doors of the establishment.

Requests were made several times to open the business but he refused. Contacts were later made with the Public Prosecutors office and, with the necessary approval, the door of the establishment was opened.

It later emerged that the establishment had been opened after the closing time and was frequented by a number of patrons.

General control was conducted by the team on the premises. This resulted in immigration arresting 8 persons for violation of the National Ordinance on Admission and Explosion.

The owner/license holder could not be located at that time but, again another fine was issued to the permit holder.

These inspections will be continued during the upcoming period.

KPSM Press Release.
From February 7 to 12, 2022, a Team of the National Ombudsman and the Childrens Ombudsman will be back on Saba and St. Eustatius for consultations, and residents may drop by free of charge during visiting hours to file any complaints they may have regarding (government) agencies.

Due to COVID measures, no in-person consultations could been held in the last two years. After seeking advice from the local authorities, the team decided to resume in-person consultations at this time. COVID-measures will be observed, and consultations will therefore be held outdoors. Additionally, they will be conducted with a host at hand, ensuring sufficient distancing and the availability of the necessary hygiene supplies.

The team is pleased to be able to see residents in person once more and is looking forward to these meetings.

Visiting Hours

If you have any complaints, for example concerning the Tax Office, the Public Prosecutors Office, the police, the Public Entity, or concerning Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN), you may contact the team of the National Ombudsman and the Childrens Ombudsman free of charge at the following times:

Saba

The Princess Juliana Sportsfield in The Bottom on Monday, Feb 7, 9:00 a.m.11:00 a.m.

St. Eustatius

The Lions den in Concordia, Feb. 10, 9:0011:00 a.m.

Gwendolyn van Putten School in Fiscal Oranjestad on Saturday, Feb 12, 9:0011:00 a.m.

All consultations can be held in either Dutch or English.

Complaints Can be Submitted at Any Time

If you are unable to visit us during visiting hours, your question or complaint can also be submitted in other ways.

To the National ombudsman:

Through the complaint form on our website;

By telephone at +31 70 356 35 63 (available on working days until 12.00 p.m.);

By Skype, scheduling an appointment with us by email in advance;

By WhatsApp number +31 6 214 62 188.

To the Childrens Ombudsman:

By telephone at +31 70 8506 995 (available on working days until 12.00 p.m.);

By email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
FILE - This undated file photo provided by Taylor family attorney Sam Aguiar shows Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky. Attorneys for a former police officer involved in the Taylor raid want to ban news outlets from part of the jury selection process. Former Louisville Officer Brett Hankison is set to go on trial on wanton endangerment charges, with jury selection set to begin on Feb. 1, 2022. (Courtesy of Taylor Family attorney Sam Aguiar via AP, File)
HAVANA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui sent his best wishes to Chinese workers in Cuba on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Chinese embassy in Cuba said on Sunday.

"At the time of the Chinese New Year, most Chinese working overseas will miss their families, their home as it's an occasion for family reunion, so I came here to wish you a Happy New Year," he said during a visit to an operation site of Chinese Greatwall Drilling Company in Matanzas on Friday.

Noting that China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades and good brothers, the ambassador said that China-Cuba relations are of special significance.

Maria Hernandez, head of business and public relations at the central division of Cupet, Cuba's national oil company and main partner of the Chinese drilling company, told Xinhua that the Chinese company has demonstrated high professional standards.

"Up to date, Greatwall has helped us a lot, not just in main and difficult wells, but also in production and in assessment and in teaching the workers new ways of drilling and fulfilling oil operations," she said. 
Algiers, 30 January 2022 (SPS) - Morocco blindly perseveres in its headlong rush and adventurism by "dangerously fueling" the escalation of tensions in the region, stated the Algerian Special Envoy in charge of the Western Sahara issue and Maghreb Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Amar Belani.



According to the Algerian diplomat, Morocco, which affirms its presumed commitment to the political process and its alleged support to the efforts made by the United Nations (UN) to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, daily breaches the military agreements sealed by the two parties to the conflict and adopted by the Security Council.



The Moroccan authorities conduct acts of war east of the wall of sand and commit extrajudicial crimes targeting civilians by sophisticated weaponry outside their internationally recognized borders, denounced the Algerian diplomat.



Moreover, they harden to the extreme their planned policy of repression and massive and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied Sahrawi territories, he said, recalling the last damning report of the Human Rights Watch that exposes the brutal and illegal character of the methods used by Morocco to cruelly repress the Sahrawi militants, such as the daily ordeal inflicted on the activist Sultana Khaya.



According to Belani, this dramatic situation acutely raises the issue of expanding the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), to allow it, like all other UN missions, to monitor, supervise and document the "catastrophic" situation of respect for human rights in the occupied Sahrawi territories.



The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres "keeps calling, but in vain, in all his successive reports, for an "independent, impartial, comprehensive and sustained monitoring of the human rights situation to ensure the protection of the inhabitants of Western Sahara", said the same official.



The Kingdom of Morocco, which is aware of its grim record in this regard, "is the only member state of the African Union (AU) that refuses to ratify the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights to block the sending of a fact-finding mission to the Sahrawi territories under occupation, and not to be held accountable for the premeditated, planned, flagrant and systematic violations against Sahrawi citizens, assured Belani.



Regarding the decolonization of Western Sahara and the "stale" allegations that continue to recycle the propaganda apparatus of this country about a so-called "regional conflict", the UN SG has singled out the responsibility of "two parties" to the conflict, namely the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front.



"His spokesman has hammered the nail by categorically denying the existence of child soldiers in the Sahrawi camps, subject of recurrent international press campaigns by some NGOs and online newspapers in the pay of Moroccan chancelleries," said Belani.



062/700
Stockholm, 31 January 2022 (SPS) - Swedish parliamentarian Lotta Johnsson Fornave questioned the Swedish Foreign Minister on the grave human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in light of the worsening Moroccan violations on activists and journalists.



A member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense in Parliament, Ms. Johnsson questioned whether the foreign minister would summon the Moroccan ambassador to Sweden to protest the violations against Sultana Khaya and other Sahrawi civilians, activists and journalists.



She also asked whether the Minister of Foreign Affairs intends to raise Moroccan human rights violations in occupied Western Sahara with the UN, the EU and in bilateral talks with influential countries in the region, such as Spain and France.



Ms. Johnsson noted, in this regard, that the situation in the occupied territories was worrying, reporting 160 violations of civil rights, political rights, women's rights and the 4th Geneva Convention, reported since the violation by Morocco on November 13, 2020 of the ceasefire agreement with the Polisario Front.



She also noted that this situation may persist with ban on the entry to the territory of journalists and human rights organizations, in addition to the lack of a human rights monitoring mechanism for MINURSO.



The Swedish parliamentarian mentioned, in this context, the case of Sultana Khaya under house arrest and victim with her family of several violations of human rights.



Finally, Ms. Johnsson asked the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs if she would raise the issue of expanding the prerogatives of MINURSO to include human rights in the occupied territories.



062/T
NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- As Chinese New Year is fastly approaching, U.S. media and news portals have posted reports about the most important Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year in accordance with the Chinese lunar calendar.

TRADITIONS OBSERVED

Although modern-day China uses the Gregorian calendar, meaning it's the year 2022 there, just like in the United States, its holidays are governed by the traditional lunisolar calendar, reported Eyewitness News on Sunday.

The Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival in China, falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which is usually between mid-January and mid-February. This year, it falls on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

"The festival is celebrated differently throughout the world, predominantly in regions with larger Chinese populations, and traditionally focuses on themes of reunion and hope," said the report.

Lunar New Year normally sparks the world's busiest travel period, as hundreds of millions travel to their hometown. On the eve of the new year, families celebrate with massive dinners hosted by their most senior members.

RICH CULTURE

"We've got our eye on the Tiger this Lunar New Year," reported the People magazine. "The holiday that's celebrated by almost two billion people across the world, also known as Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, is upon us!"

Though the titles can be used interchangeably, the name Lunar New Year is inclusive to other countries that refer to new year celebrations by different names. Additionally, the holiday has a longstanding connection to the moon.

"Mainly observed in multiple countries in east Asia, the holiday is filled with rich culture and tradition that centers around the hope for good fortune and prosperity," said the magazine.

The Lunar New Year falls on a different date each year, but the celebration typically lasts 16 consecutive days. This year, it starts on Lunar New Year's Eve, beginning on Jan. 31, and ends on Feb. 15, 2022, it added.

GLOBAL CELEBRATION

The Lunar New Year is an international holiday celebrated in many Asian countries but not all. People know similar holidays in China, Vietnam and South Korea. "The United States is also home to some celebrations," reported USA TODAY on Monday.

Overall, around 2 billion people across the world will take part in the festivities. Just like how people celebrate Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 each year, "Lunar New Year allows people to put the past behind and look forward to a fresh start," according to the report.

"We want to send away all the bad things, evil spirits," Xiaohua Yang, professor and director of the China Business Studies Initiative at the University of San Francisco, told the newspaper. "This is a new start, so now we welcome it with new energy."

"In this day, for many Asian countries, Lunar New Year is perhaps the equivalent of Thanksgiving or Christmas," Eddy Keming Chen, philosophy professor and faculty member of the Chinese Studies Program at University of California, San Diego, was quoted as saying. 
TORONTO - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned protesters who displayed "symbols of hatred and division" during a demonstration against coronavirus public health measures in Ottawa over the weekend and said he would not be intimidated by those who hurled abuse.

Big-rig trucks and other vehicles have clogged up key arteries in the Canadian capital since Friday and blared their horns at all hours as part of a self-described Freedom Convoy that has drawn support from figures including former president Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Ottawa police said "several criminal investigations" were underway into "threatening" and "illegal" behavior after monuments including the National War Memorial were defaced and demonstrators displayed "illegal" and "intimidating behavior to police and others, including staff at a soup kitchen for homeless people.

"I want to be very clear: We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small-business workers and steal food from the homeless," Trudeau said. "We won't give in to those who fly racist flags. We won't cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans."

The convoy was initially planned to protest rules implemented in January by the U.S. and Canadian governments that require foreign truck drivers to be fully vaccinated to enter their countries. If Canada were to drop its rule, unvaccinated Canadian truckers would still be unable to enter the United States.

But it has snowballed into a demonstration against Trudeau, who was reelected in September with a minority government, and against coronavirus restrictions, which are mostly imposed by provincial governments.

"It's everything, everything," B.J. Dichter, the co-founder of a GoFundMe fundraiser for the convoy, told a handpicked group of reporters Sunday.

By Monday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $9.2 million. GoFundMe told The Washington Post last week that $1 million of that had been released to organizers after they provided a distribution plan for money being used to cover fuel costs.

Canada Unity, the main group behind the protests, wants Governor General Mary Simon, who represents Queen Elizabeth II in Canada, and the Senate to drop all vaccine mandates or dissolve the government. Neither can unilaterally rescind government policy, and the governor general can't dissolve a government that has not lost the confidence of the House of Commons.

The watchdog Canadian Anti-Hate Network has documented links between many of the convoy's organizers and far-right groups.

On Monday, as Parliament resumed a hybrid session after the winter break, a line of big rigs and RVs continued to block the main road outside Parliament. Though many of the estimated 8,000 people who came to the city on Saturday have left, those who remain say they'll dig in until the mandates are dropped.

"This is a demonstration unique in nature, massive in scale, polarizing in content and dangerous in literally every other aspect," Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly told reporters on Monday.

Ottawa police advised residents to avoid the area. They said that there has been one arrest, and that they will set up a hotline for hate crimes linked to the demonstrations. Several facilities, including City Hall and a coronavirus vaccination clinic, were closed. The Rideau Center, a major shopping mall, was closed for the third straight day. Canada Unity said Sunday that it planned to gather 1,000 people to shop without masks in violation of public health orders.

"People had the opportunity to voice their frustration against government policy," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told reporters on Monday, "and as the old saying goes, they've worn out their welcome."

As the convoy approached Ottawa, several People's Party of Canada and Conservative Party lawmakers cheered it on. Some argued the vaccination rule for cross-border truckers would lead to food shortages and rising food costs. Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole met with some protesters but not organizers.

Some lawmakers who backed the protests have since issued statements condemning the behavior of some members.

Protesters put an inverted Canadian flag - a distress signal - in the arms of the statue of Terry Fox, a Canadian who lost a leg to bone cancer and embarked on a historic cross-country run before his death in 1981 that raised millions of dollars for cancer research. He is considered a national hero.

"You don't touch his statue. Ever," tweeted Brad West, mayor of Port Coquitlam, the British Columbia city where Fox was raised.

When one Conservative lawmaker was interviewed on television, a Canadian flag with a swastika drawn on it could be seen in the background. Some protesters brandished Confederate flags.

Wayne Eyre, chief of Canada's defense staff, said he was "sickened" by scenes of protesters dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and desecrating the National War Memorial.

"Generations of Canadians have fought and died for our rights, including free speech, but not this," he said in a tweet. "Those involved should hang their heads in shame."

Shepherds of Good Hope, a soup kitchen, said staff members were "harassed for meals" and others were verbally assaulted with racial slurs during what they called an "incredibly difficult weekend."

The Canadian Trucking Alliance, an industry group, said Saturday that many of the people at the protests "do not have a connection to the trucking industry." The alliance said the vast majority of its members are fully vaccinated.

The alliance said in a statement that it condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the desecration of what it called "sacred sites." It said it had made donations to the Terry Fox Foundation and the Soldier On program, which is run by the Canadian armed forces to support the recovery of members and veterans dealing with physical or mental injuries from their service.

Trudeau, who said Monday that he and two of his children had tested positive for the coronavirus, criticized lawmakers for "exploiting people's fears" and backing the convoy.

"If we choose to put up with and tacitly support conspiracy theorists and folks peddling disinformation, that's a reflection on what we choose to do as politicians and who we are as leaders," he said.

Public opinion polls show most Canadians support vaccine mandates. Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who is mulling a tax on the unvaccinated, is one of Canada's most popular premiers. Nearly 80% of people in the country are fully vaccinated against the virus, according to Oxford University's Our World In Data.

There is nevertheless a movement against public health measures. Some of its most prominent and vocal members are tied to far-right groups and push anti-government, antisemitic and Islamophobic views, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue reported in December.
STAMFORD  A month after introducing a proposal that would create additional development parameters for universities looking to expand their footprint in Stamford, Mayor Caroline Simmons administration is pulling back on its plans.

City zoning officials recently announced Simmonss office would reassess plans to create incentives and requirements for university-related development projects in Stamford.

The Administration made a decision to revisit this item once our Director of Economic Development is in place, chief of staff Bridget Fox said in a statement. Creating a University and Research Overlay District is important for future economic growth in Stamford and we look forward to resubmitting the proposal in the coming months.

As the proposal stood in December, the potential University and Research Overlay District  or UROD  offered height and density bonuses to projects linked to the maintenance and expansion of Stamfords role as a regional educational, corporate and cultural center. Specific campus and campus-affiliated buildings like laboratories, libraries and dorms could be bigger, taller and have less parking under the UROD.

Those perks come with trade-offs. The now-pulled proposal also stipulated that buildings getting additional development rights must provide more bicycle parking, publicly accessible amenity space and public internet on the property.

The overlay district is just one part of a broader city effort to capture grant money from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Under Gov. Ned Lamont, the DECD announced the Innovation Corridor grant program in October, meant to create at least 15,000 new jobs in high-growth industries like data science, advanced manufacturing and insurance technology.

The state expects to award $100 million in grant money with each project receiving up to $50 million in at least two major urban centers or regional job hubs.

The city still plans to pursue the Innovation Corridor grant, according to mayoral spokesperson Lauren Meyer. Despite those plans, officials will have to resubmit the UROD application to scrutiny from city boards if it plans to move forward with the overlay district.

The process starts from the beginning, land use bureau chief Ralph Blessing last week told the zoning board. It needs to be refiled. It needs to be referred to the planning board, the city departments and eventually come back to the zoning board.

Plans to refile also hinge on the city getting a new economic development director since the old UROD plan was crafted and submitted under former director Thomas Madden. The mayoral administration announced a new economic development director  former New York City economic development official Loren Nadres  in December, and the Appointments Committee unanimously backed her confirmation Wednesday.

The Board of Representatives has the final say. Nadress appointment could clear the the full board at its Feb. 7 meeting.

veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com
Terry Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.
Amy Goodman is the host of Democracy Now!, a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 1,400 stations. She is the co-author, with Denis Moynihan and David Goodman, of the New York Times best-seller Democracy Now!: 20 Years Covering the Movements Changing America.
In another good sign for the long-proposed Scranton-to-New York City passenger train, three companies bid on a job to extend existing service in New Jersey a bit closer to the Poconos.

The companies submitted bids last week to New Jersey Transit to extend service from the agencys Port Morris junction to Andover in New Jersey. That would leave about 21 miles of track left to install on the famed but trackless Lackawanna Cutoff. New Jersey Transit runs the states passenger trains.

So far, New Jersey Transit has installed about 4.25 miles of the 7.3 miles between the junction and Andover. The companies bid on installing the rest and repairing whats known as the Roseville Tunnel.

The companies and their bids are:

A. Servidone Inc./B. Anthony Construction Corp. Joint Venture, $ 43,391,958. Railroad-Michels Joint Venture LLC, $ 48,920,616. Schiavone Construction Co. LLC, $32,410,490. New Jersey Transit spokesman Jim Smith could not say when the agency will award a contract. New Jersey Transit has previously set the target date for opening the Andover station as 2025.

The agency has not proposed any further extension toward the Poconos, but its project has moved forward even as Amtrak, the nations largest passenger railroad, has proposed creating its own service between Scranton and New York City.

Amtraks project, preliminarily estimated at $1.4 billion, would include installing tracks on the rest of the cutoff and railroad signals, building train stations, upgrading bridges and existing tracks and buying locomotives and train cars. Amtrak is in the midst of a more detailed study of the costs and other aspects. An Amtrak official said recently the study could be complete by August.

Attorney Larry Malski, president of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, who has worked on restoring the Scranton-to-New York City service for more than three decades, said the New Jersey Transit project shows the restoration effort is for real and already funded by federal money.

Its a major advancement of the project. You got to have the tunnel done, Malski said. Our argument is, if you analyze us against the 39 other (proposed new Amtrak passenger rail) corridors spread across the country, ours is underway. Its a federally financed rail expansion project thats underway and in construction, period. So I take that as a very important criteria for prioritizing and advancing our project.

Installing the other approximately 21 miles of missing cutoff track and upgrading two viaducts remain the largest parts of the project still undone besides the New Jersey Transit project. The railroad authority owns existing track between Scranton and the Poconos while New Jersey Transit owns the railroad right-of-way across the border.
This is archive content that is no longer updated. Go to the up-to-date statistics page.

A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Index of turnover of construction 2022, February

Published: 31 January 2022

Preliminary data: Turnover of construction enterprises grew in December

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, the working day adjusted turnover of construction enterprises grew by 9.2 per cent in December 2021 compared with December 2020.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover of construction, % (TOL 2008)

Turnover decreased compared with the previous month

According to the preliminary data, seasonally adjusted turnover in construction decreased by 0.7 percent in December 2021 from November. In November, seasonally adjusted turnover increased by 1.1 per cent and in October by 0.5 per cent from one month ago.

Change in seasonally adjusted turnover of construction from the previous month, % (TOL 2008)

The calculation of indices of turnover of construction is based on the Tax Administrations data on self-assessed taxes, which are supplemented with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The monthly turnover of construction enterprises can have even large variations due to invoicing practices. The final invoice for major projects may be recorded in the sales of one month, even if the project had required the work of several months or years.

The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well.

The data for the latest month are preliminary and are released at a delay of around four weeks. The data may become significantly revised particularly in coming months.

Source: Index of turnover of construction, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Lauri Pullinen 029 551 3043, Toni Kellinsalmi 029 551 3801, rakennus.suhdanne@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

Publication in pdf-format (237.3 kB)

Updated 31.1.2022

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of turnover of construction [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-5935. December 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.5.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/rlv/2021/12/rlv_2021_12_2022-01-31_tie_001_en.html
The Interministerial Energy Committee held today its first meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca who called for an integrated approach at government level on the management of the energy crisis, the government said in a release.

This government structure is tasked with identifying solutions to limit the effects of rising energy prices in the short, medium and long term, as well as with monitoring the measures implemented so far by the government and their effects, Agerpres.ro informs.

"It is important to have an integrated government-wide approach to managing the energy crisis, so as to ensure a good understanding of both the problems facing household consumers and the economy, and of the response solutions. The government's goal is to mitigate as much as possible the effects of the growth in electricity and gas prices, in order to protect the citizens, keep the jobs and support the economic sectors," Nicolae Ciuca said.

During the meeting, the representatives of the Energy Ministry presented the situation of the electricity and gas bills in the light of the compensation and capping scheme established by the government.

Discussions also focused on the package to be implemented as of April 1, which complements the measures already approved and put into practice.

"130 million euros were allocated in December last year in order to support big energy consumers. The Energy Ministry is currently having consultations with EC representatives for the continuation of this form of financial aid, given that it has helped 15 of Romania's industries which provide direct and horizontal employment to over 100,000 people," the release states.

Attending the meeting on the government's behalf were Finance Minister Adrian Caciu, the government's Secretary General Marian Neacsu, representatives of the Energy and Economy Ministries, of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, and of the National Agency for Mineral Resources.

Other participants in the meeting were representatives of the Competition Council, the National Energy Regulatory Authority, the OPCOM national energy market administrator, the Romanian Commodity Exchange, as well as representatives of energy producers, transporters and suppliers, employers' and trade union confederations, associative structures and energy consumers.
On Monday, President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree on the decoration of the Battle Flag of the 385th Artillery Battalion "Iancu de Hunedoara."

According to the Presidential Administration, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its establishment, as a token of "appreciation of the high professionalism and outstanding results obtained by the unit's staff in carrying out specific missions, as well as for their contribution to promoting the image of the Romanian Army," the head of state bestowed the Order of "Military Virtue" in the rank of Knight, with insignia of peace, for the military, upon the Battle Flag of the 385th Artillery Battalion "Iancu de Hunedoara."
Bogdan Pintilie announced that he was resigning from the National Liberal Party (PNL) after reactions to his online post showing a doctored photo of Brasov Deputy Mayor Flavia Boghiu, Agerpres reports.

"I want to publicly apologise to Ms Flavia Boghiu for yesterday's post, a post I deleted also yesterday. I also want to apologise to all the ladies who have been victims of violence of any kind and who might have seen my post. Although the picture does not belong to me and I wrote in the text of the post that it is a pamphlet, I regret that it was misinterpreted and that I touched on such a sensitive subject that many women face. Since the subject was politically exploited, I decided to resign from PNL pending further clarifications," Pintilie wrote on Facebook.Brasov Mayor Allen Coliban of the Save Romania Union (USR) on Sunday accused a local leader of the National Liberal Youth (TNL) of threatening Deputy Mayor Flavia Boghiu in a Facebook post.The post on the account of Liberal Bogdan Pintilie, to which the mayor refers, also includes a fake photo showing Deputy Mayor Flavia Boghiu with a bruised eye.Boghiu also had a reaction to that post."The vice-president of the Liberal Youth, Bogdan Pintilie, thinks that I would look great when battered, with a bruised eye. The real estate developer Garbis-Vincentiu Kehaiyan, who wants to build the American Dream project on the hills of Schei, would like to see me in a wheelchair, would like to happen in Brasov what happened at Mogosoaia, where a fellow local councilor was threatened and assaulted. (...) No woman should worry about her own safety just because she has upset someone's interests. I am sure that such cases are happening all over Romania. I think the time has come for us not to keep silent and to pretend it's business as usual, and to send a clear message to all women who go through this: You are not alone! And for those who lack respect for women and the fear of the law, let us show them that such behaviours are unacceptable," reads Boghiu's Facebook post.Pintilie explained on his Facebook page that he used a photo taken "from a/some journalist(s) in Brasov," but the text that accompanies it belongs to him; it was a joke and "it has nothing to do with domestic violence or physical aggression."USR national leader Dacian Ciolos has warned that "the trivialisation of violence and increased aggression in Romanian politics will soon translate into acts of aggression" and called on the PNL leadership to "take extraordinary and swift action" in the Brasov case.PNL national chairman Florin Citu says that he will not tolerate any form of incitement to violence, adding that the PNL Brasov chapter will deal with the exclusion of the National Liberal Youth (TNL) representative who had such a "slippage."
Romania is the "victim of its own success", because it has registered a much faster growth than estimated in the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and, as a result, the amounts from this programme are adjusted, the PNL (co-ruling National Liberal Party) chairman Florin Citu said on Monday.

"It's a scenario that's been considered. In all countries, at this time, adjustments are being made. Romania is the victim of its own success, so to speak, because we have grown much faster than it was estimated in the PNRR and then, of course that the amounts are adjusted. The amounts were presented at a certain GDP. No money is lost. You'll see that everything is adjusted. There is a procedure that will be followed. I think that the Minister of Investments has presented exactly the articles of the agreement to which this adjustment refers, it is not something serious or something difficult," he explained in the Parliament in connection with the fact that the level of grants could be reduced.

He was asked if the PNRR can be optimized, as the PSD (co-ruling Social Democratic Party) leader Marcel Ciolacu said, Agerpres.ro informs.

"I am waiting for the proposal in the coalition, let's see in what way this proposal is being reasoned. I expect the PSD to have the agreement of the (European) Commission, to ask for the consent of the Commission, the Minister of Labour or whoever asks for the Commission's consent, then we can discuss it. For now, as things are, you know very well, it is an approved PNRR with a certain percentage, so there are several scenarios," the PNL leader said.

He reiterated that, by the first quarter of 2023, the pensions law must enter into force, and in the second quarter of next year - the salary law.

PSD spokesman Radu Oprea announced on Monday that the Social Democrats are asking the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dan Vilceanu, to explain what he meant when he said that Romania will lose EUR 2 billion from the PNRR.

Last week, Vilceanu said that the possibility that Romania could ask for the renegotiation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan had raised concerns at the European Commission. He added that there would be no renegotiation, and there was no discussion in the Government in this regard.
The former chairman of PNL (National Liberal Party), Ludovic Orban, announced on Monday that he will form in the Chamber of Deputies a parliamentary group of "independent right-wing deputies", mentioning that 13 MPs will be a part of it, headed by Violeta Alexandru, Agerpres reports.

"I am informing the public opinion about forming a parliamentary group of independent right-wing deputies. 13 deputies that resigned from PNL along with the decision of the PNL leadership of bringing back PSD (Social Democratic Party) to govern. I took the decision of establishing a parliamentary group, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations of the Chamber of Deputies and in accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court that were given in the present case. We are 13 deputies. The leader of the parliamentary group will be Violeta Alexandru, vice-leader - deputy Nicolae Giugea and the Group Secretary - deputy Claudiu Chira. The name of the group is the Group of right-wing deputies," Orban said, during a press conference in Parliament.He mentioned that the group "proposes to remain loyal to the commitments and promises that were made by the PNL leadership during the electoral campaign, promises that were betrayed when the PSD-PNL Government was established"."Our parliamentary group is a group that will represent in Parliament all center-right wing, center, right-wing voters, who believe in liberal values, Christian-democrat and conservative and will be the only parliamentary group that can represent Romanian citizen who still feel that they are being represented by center-right wing thinking. We propose, through our activity, to ensure a correct and professional representation of all Romanian citizens that live from economic initiative, entrepreneurial spirit, who do honest work, regardless of working in the private or public sector, of all representatives of liberal professions, professionals, craftsmen and all people that have rights that need to be assured, honestly, and without any bureaucratic constraints," Orban added.
Grigore Gafencu "was a remarkable personality, through his intellectual distinction and finesse of analyses", Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Monday in an address during the event marking 130 years since the birth of intellectual and diplomat Grigore Gafencu.

"In the current context, in which the rules-based international order, democracy and liberalism are challenged, when we hear the sound of guns again near Romania's borders, I consider that the remembrance of emblematic figures of diplomats who contributed to the formation and consolidation of our modern foreign policy, including in the context of this year's anniversary for our institution, is all the more important. Gafencu's Romania and today's Romania are fundamentally different. We returned to the community of principles and values to which we always knew that we fundamentally belonged, as Gafencu wanted. Today, Romania is an active, reliable, involved and respected member of the European Union and NATO, the strongest politico-military alliance in history," said the head of Romanian diplomacy, Agerpres.ro informs.

Minister Aurescu stressed that "in the current complicated international context, it remains essential to implement a foreign and security policy that focuses on finding the best solutions for stability and security in the region, at European and Euro-Atlantic level, as well as on ensuring the well-being and security of our citizens".

"Grigore Gafencu led Romanian diplomacy in a period of complex challenges at European level, of irreducible ideological polarizations, when Romania sought to defend its identity and territorial integrity, in a very complex geopolitical complex. Grigore Gafencu was a true intellectual , an exceptional diplomat and especially a convinced European," said Bogdan Aurescu, adding that Gafencu has established a "professional and human standard" in Romanian diplomacy.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam delivers a Lunar New Year message, wishing all Hong Kong citizens a healthy, harmonious and auspicious Year of the Tiger, in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 31, 2022. The Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 1 this year.(Xinhua)

HONG KONG, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Monday delivered a Lunar New Year message, wishing all Hong Kong citizens a healthy, harmonious and auspicious Year of the Tiger.

The Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 1 this year.

"Looking back on the Year of the Ox, we have maintained stability overall as a result of hard work," Lam said.

With the support of the central government and the efforts of the whole community, the chief executive said Hong Kong has not only stayed true to its aspirations in the implementation of "one country, two systems" and returned to the right track of "one country, two systems," but has also been fighting the epidemic, boosting the economy and enhancing people's livelihoods.

Lam said that capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the national 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has been actively integrating into the country's overall development.

The chief executive said the tiger is a symbol of quick response, great bravery and strong vitality, and these attributes vividly describe the spirit of Hong Kong people, who always make the best of their opportunities and rise to the challenges that come their way.

"Such a spirit will not only help us get through the epidemic, but will also take Hong Kong into a new era of prosperity as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland," Lam said. 
Most Romanians believe that Romania should stay in the European Union, according to an opinion poll conducted in January by INSCOP, Agerpres reports.

The survey shows that 71.7% of Romanians believe that Romania should not leave the European Union, while 25.2% would agree with the contrary and 3.1% do not know or do not answer; 75.3% of respondents would not like the EU to fall apart in the coming years, 19% want such a development, and 6.7% do not know or do not answer.Also, weighing all the implications on economic and social life, on family and personal life, 54.9% of the respondents (as against 47.2% in September 2021, 56.2% in June 2021 and 61.4% March 2021) consider that Romania's accession to the European Union has brought rather advantages, while 40.8% believe the opposite (as against 46.1% in September 2021, 35.1% in June 2021 and 35.2% in March 2021), and 4.3% do not know or do not answer.According to the survey, 63.2% of the respondents (as against 57.8% in September 2021, 62.9% in June 2021) believe that in the future, Romania would develop better economically if it stays inside the EU, while 29.4% believe that Romania would develop better if it were outside the EU (as against 32.9% in September 2021, and 27% in June 2021), and 7.5% do not know or do not have an answer; 29.4% of Romanians believe that, as a member state, Romania must comply with EU rules, even when its national interests are affected (as against 27.3% in September 2021 and 28% in June 2021), 68.4% believe that Romania must defend its national interests when they disagree with EU rules, even if it risks losing its position as an EU member state (as against 68.5% in September 2021 and 64.8 % in June 2021), and 2.2% do not know or do not answer.Of the respondents who believe that Romania must defend its national interests when they disagree with EU rules even if it risks losing its EU membership (making up 68.4% of the sample) 72.9% of respondents (about half of the total population) believe that it is in Romania's national interest for the country to remain in the EU, while 24.7% (or 17% of the total population) believe that leaving the EU would not affect the national interests of the country.The survey also shows that 42.1% of the population consider that Romania is not meeting all the criteria for joining the Schengen area (as against 43.5% in March 2021), 50.8% believe that some EU member states are blocking Romania's accession for economic reasons (as against 50.2% in March 2021), and 7.1% do not know or do not answer the question on the cause of Romania's non-admission to the border-free Schengen Area.Regarding the intention to emigrate, 77.9% of the respondents say that they prefer to live and work in Romania, while 21.5% say that if they had the opportunity, they would prefer to live and work elsewhere in Europe or the US, with a percentage of non-responses standing at 0.5%. At the same time, 69.9% of Romanians say they prefer to work in a Romanian company in Romania, while 26% say they prefer to work in a foreign company operating in Romania. The percentage of non-responses is 4.1%According to the survey, 71.8% of the respondents believe that foreign companies sell on the Romanian market products of inferior quality compared to those they sell in other countries, while 24.2% believe the opposite, and 4% do not know or do not know the answer.Asked if they agree with the unification of Basarabia with Romania, 74.5% of the respondents answered in the affirmative, 21.1% answered in the negative, and 4.3% did not know or did not answer.Remus Stefureac, chairman of Strategic Thinking Group, says that, overall, overcoming last year's political crisis, forming a broad, stable coalition, and a sense of insecurity generated by Russia have revitalised adherence to Euro-Atlantic values and benchmarks."Amidst resolving the political crisis and concluding negotiations with the European Commission over the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), we note that the parameters that reflect the public perception of the advantages of European Union membership have returned to their values of six months ago. This perception is maintained at higher rates especially among young people in the urban area with a secondary or higher education background. The desire to emigrate or to work in a multinational company is obviously stronger on the same segment, reflecting their curiosity, their desire to explore and understand successful socio-economic environments, to achieve a decent income faster and to enjoy more efficient and high-quality infrastructure such as education, administration, transportation and social infrastructure," says Dan Andronache, Vice President of True Story Project (TSP).The 4th edition of the survey "Public distrust: West vs. East, the rise of the nationalism in the era of disinformation and fake news" was conducted by INSCOP Research in partnership with Verifield. The study was commissioned by the STRATEGIC Thinking think tank (www.strategicthinking.ro) as part of a research project supported by The German Marshall Fund of the United States and financed by the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation via the True Story Project.The data was collected between January 11-18, 2022, using the surveying technique CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing). The multi-stratified sample of 1,162 respondents is representative for significant socio-demographic categories (gender, age, occupation) for the adult population of Romania, aged 18 and over. The maximum acceptable standard error was a 2.9% at a 95% confidence level.
The number of registrations of individuals and legal entities increased in 2021 by 34.89%, compared to the previous year, to 148,294, of which 103,019 are limited liability companies, according to data centralized by the National Office of Trade Register (ONRC), consulted by AGERPRES.

Most registrations were recorded in the Municipality of Bucharest, respectively 24,038 (+25.88%, compared to 2020), and in the counties of Cluj -8,622 (+49.07%), Ilfov - 7,059 (+28.11%) and Timis - 7,042 (+44.93%).On the other hand, the lowest number of registrations was recorded in Covasna - 1,065 (+32.3%, compared to the previous year), Ialomita - 1,096 (+37.17%) and Calarasi - 1,235 (+20.49%).According to ONRC, the areas in which most registrations were made are: wholesale and retail; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (29,434, +10.04% year-on-year), construction (16,252; plus 18.78%) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (15,482: + 262.41%).In December 2021, 8,644 individuals and legal entities were registered, most of them in Bucharest (1,823) and in the counties of Cluj (583), Ilfov (480) and Timis (434).
On Monday, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca had a working meeting with local public administration representatives, where they discusses the current status of decentralization and strengthening the role of local public administration, with a focus on digitalization in reducing bureaucracy.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES by the Government, the Prime Minister had a working meeting with the representatives of the local public administration - the National Union of County Councils and the Associations of Romanian Municipalities, Cities and Rural Towns."On this occasion, the PM and the representatives of the local public administration approached the current stages of decentralization and the importance of strengthening the role of the local public administration, with digitalization to play an important part in reducing bureaucracy. The head of the Executive pointed out the measures taken by the Government in the context of the energy crisis to help the population, the economic sectors, and the public institutions, such as schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, against the effects of rising energy prices. They also discussed cooperation in operationalizing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The representatives of the local administration showed readiness to participate in the legal consultations regarding the implementation of the PNRR, so that the financing is as adjusted as possible to the needs of the communities," shows the same press release.
National leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Florin Citu says that he will not tolerate any form of incitement to violence, adding that the PNL Brasov chapter will deal with the exclusion of the National Liberal Youth (TNL) representative who had such a "slippage", Agerpres reports.

"I will not tolerate actions, gestures or words that incite violence! Anything related to that matter will be firmly penalised by the National Liberal Party. The PNL Brasov chapter will deal with the exclusion of the National Liberal Youth (TNL) representative who had such a slippage," reads a message published by Citu on the PNL's Facebook page.Brasov Mayor Allen Coliban of the Save Romania Union (USR) on Sunday accused a local leader of the National Liberal Youth (TNL) of threatening Deputy Mayor Flavia Boghiu in a Facebook post.The post on the account of Liberal Bogdan Pintilie, to which the mayor refers, also includes a fake photo showing Deputy Mayor Flavia Boghiu with a bruised eye.Pintilie explained on his Facebook page that he used a photo taken "from a/some journalist(s) in Brasov," but the text that accompanies it belongs to him; it was a joke and "it has nothing to do with domestic violence or physical aggression."
National chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday that pensions are not capped by the European Commission, adding that he will discuss with specialists, including contributions to Pillar 2 pensions, Agerpres reports.

"We have a commitment to pensions and I think we will discuss that within the [ruling] coalition. (...) They are not capped. First of all, we have been talking from the beginning, since the formation of this coalition, about optimising the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Secondly, the European Commission does not set a cap on pensions. We'll talk to specialists and see. There is a contribution to Pillar 2 that remains, we have nothing against it, but it should not be caught in that percentage. So, there are technical solutions," the PSD leader said at the party's headquarters.As for energy prices, he says it is an "artificial crisis"."(...) There is an artificial crisis. Production prices have not increased for electricity or natural gas. It is normal to step in if there is this dysfunction between demand and the market," Ciolacu explained.Asked what the cap might be, the PSD leader said: "We will see. We will come up on April 1. (...) We have six months and three years and I have seen France did it for a year. If other European states have resorted to capping, I think it is not a problem for Romania to follow suit.
The trivialization of violence and increased aggressiveness in Romanian politics will soon lead to actual acts of aggression, warns USR (Save Romania Union) leader Dacian Ciolos, Agerpres reports.

"After the Mogosoaia case, a new colleague from USR is being attacked by another PNL (National Liberal Party) member. Flavia Boghiu, deputy mayor of Brasov, is today the victim of a degrading and disrespectful act by a young Liberal who, without much in mind and without a sense of responsibility, thought that it was funny to spread pictures of our colleague saying that he would like to see her beaten. I urge my fellow politicians to stop this trend, which will generate real waves of aggression in the society from that moment when political aggression becomes commonplace," Ciolos wrote on Facebook on Sunday.He also urged his USR colleagues to "be calm and responsible" in the face of the aggression, which he says has become a habit on the part of members of other parties."I think that, in time, the PNL leadership should take extraordinary and swift action, because this is the second case in less than a week in which a PNL member is assaulting someone from the USR. I hope that the Liberal leaders find the necessary balance to understand that the degradation of the political life is a huge danger for the Romanian society, which is already facing such hard times. (...) I refuse to accept that we can do nothing but look when faced with such barbarianism and boorishness of such individuals who lost the last drop of decency," wrote the USR leader.The mayor of Brasov, Allen Coliban (USR), on Sunday accused a local leader of the National Liberal Youth (TNL) of threatening deputy mayor Flavia Boghiu in a Facebook post.The post on the account of Liberal Bogdan Pintilie, to which the mayor refers, also includes a fake photo, in which deputy mayor Flavia Boghiu has a bruised eye.Liberal Bogdan Pintilie explained on his Facebook account that he used a photo taken "from a journalist/some journalists in Brasov," but the text that accompanies it belongs to him, it was a joke and "it has nothing to do with domestic violence, physical aggression."
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Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye is over fifty years old. It is critically acclaimed, and is the thirty-fourth most challenged book of the twentieth century. In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, it has climbed to be the 10th most challenged book. Challenges such as those to Toni Morrisons work are on the rise nationally, and part of an organized effort to undermine the civil and intellectual rights of students, particularly those from historically marginalized groups (e.g., BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students). Whereas we recognize the right of parents to choose what their own children read, we reject the notion that one parent or group of parents should be able to choose what all students in a district read by having items removed or censored. Libraries and schools are contexts in which students should be able to see works of literature and art that reflect their identities and perspectives represented in collections. Toni Morrison is among the most decorated and important of contemporary American authors. She was a woman of color who wrote from a perspective that speaks to many audiences, but importantly centers the perspectives of Black characters and readers. Removing the book robs readers of the opportunity to engage in this appreciation and to develop empathy for the perspectives of others. We believe that the goal of the proposed removal is to do just that: undermine the intellectual and emotional well-being of students by alienating them from the perspectives of Black authors. As you probably already know, Francis Howell School District has recently dealt with a similar challenge to Morrisons work, and has chosen to reject the attempt to ban the book. We support their decision. Additionally, removing books as your district has done exposes you to lawsuits on behalf of those very same students who are being denied the opportunity to see their experiences reflected in curricula and library collections.
The story behind Mad Mex, the Mexican restaurant that will open Thursday inside the Soulard gallery and event space Mad Art, is a story its chef and owner Ron Buechele nearly missed. It begins about six years ago with an unexpected phone call to Capitalist Pig, the restaurant Buechele ran at Mad Art from 2012 to 2018. The caller was Ronald Lee Ochoa, the biological father Buechele knew about but had never met.

Buechele was busy in Capitalist Pigs kitchen that day in November 2015. He was thinking about his drivers license. The next day was his birthday, and his license was due to expire.

He said he would call Ochoa back.

Im sure he thought, Hell never call back,' Buechele says.

Buechele called him back. Then he went to meet his biological father at the latters home in Roxana. Ochoa explained that he had stage-four pancreatic cancer and wanted to connect with Buechele  to apologize for not being a part of his life.

In the two years before Ochoas death in 2017, Buechele forged a relationship with his biological father. Born Ronald Edward Ochoa but adopted by his maternal grandparents and raised among Sicilian culinary traditions, he now learned about the Mexican side of his family. Ochoas own father, Buechele's grandfather, had walked to the United States from Davalos  not even a small town, but a rural train station, Buechele says  in the Mexican state of Michoacan.

So I had all these Sicilian women influencing my life and my cooking and everything, Buechele says. And it was just really weird that, like, now I have this exposure to a whole other culture that was 50% of me, but I have very little knowledge of.

For Buechele, meeting Ochoa wasnt about finding some missing piece of himself. Before Ochoas call, he had known exactly as much as he had wanted to know about his biological father. Instead, he saw an opportunity for the two of them to get to know each other.

Ochoa would hang out at the Capitalist Pig. They often talked about music. Ochoa was a bass guitarist and both a studio and touring musician. He had toured with Ike Turner, Buechele says. Ochoa would give his bass to Buechele.

Its a (1963) Fender jazz bass, which is a weird, rare wood combination," Buechele says, "and every bass player Ive ever shown it to has, like, lost their mind.

Ochoa loved barbecue, and Mad Mex features smoked meat, as the Capitalist Pig did. At Mad Mex, the difference is how Buechele finishes the meat off the smoker.

For the brisket, he smokes the meat to an internal temperature of 150 and then braises it to finish with a Michoacan-inspired pairing of tomatillo and pasilla chile with garlic and cilantro. When he takes the brisket out to rest before slicing, he blends its juices and the other ingredients into a sauce.

For Mad Mexs broader Mexican menu, Buechele is not drawing on Ochoa family recipes. When Ochoa was growing up, his family had adapted their Mexican cooking to the ingredients available in the U.S. at the time. They might substitute mozzarella for Oaxacan cheese, for example, or Parmesan for cotija.

Instead, Buechele is looking to Mexican street fare. While he has not been able to travel to Mexico during the pandemic, he has been consulting with several friends who live in the country, asking what they are seeing.

Mad Mexs menu includes a range of street tacos. There is a Sonoran-style hot dog, a four-patty hamburguesa el gordo and a pambazo (the chorizo-potato sandwich dunked in guajillo sauce).

Mad Mex will feature birria and quesabirria tacos with consomme, the dish that has swept across America over the past few years. Buechele plans to offer both beef and goat birria as well as a vegetarian version made from jackfruit.

His Michoacan-style birria consomme differs somewhat from the traditional approach in Jalisco, he says: Guajillo (chile) is still a big part of it, but in Michoacan, they like to use some cascabel (chile) in there along with some ancho. And then they like to throw a little hunk of chocolate into the consomme  that bitter hard-as-a-rock chocolate.

A generous splash of vinegar and some marjoram finish the consomme. That consomme is also part of an even more recently trendy dish that Buechele is serving: birria ramen. For this, he is not simply serving noodles in consomme, but mixing his consomme with a white-miso dashi.

Mad Mex opens Feb. 3 inside Mad Art at 2727 South 12th Street. To begin, the restaurants regular hours will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. The phone number is 314-771-8230.

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MONDAY, Jan. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Most American adults don't know that alcohol boosts cancer risk, but a majority support steps to increase awareness of the link, a new nationwide survey shows.

""It is important that people are made fully aware of the potential harms of alcohol so that they may make informed decisions about alcohol consumption," said study author Kara Wiseman. She's an assistant professor of public health sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, in Charlottesville.

Alcohol has been found to increase the risk of seven cancers, including breast, colon and mouth cancer. Alcohol-related cancers caused about 378,000 deaths worldwide in 2016, a study published last year found.

For the new study, Wiseman's team surveyed nearly 3,900 Americans.

Only 20% were aware that wine increases cancer risk; 25% knew beer did so; and 31% knew that liquor increased cancer risk, the findings showed.

In all, 65% of respondents supported warning labels on alcohol, 64% were in favor of drinking guidelines and 34% backed a ban on outdoor alcohol advertising.

Such measures were more likely to have the support of people who were aware that alcohol increased cancer risk than respondents who were unaware of the link, thought drinking reduced cancer risk, and heavy drinkers, according to the report published in the Feb. 1 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

"An important next step in this research will be to determine what types of messages are able to best convey information about alcohol's harms as they relate to cancer," Wiseman said in a university news release.

Besides breast, colon and mouth cancers, alcohol use has also been linked to cancers of the throat, voice box, esophagus and liver, according to the American Cancer Society.

One way to increase awareness could be for doctors to talk to their patients. But in a previous survey by Wiseman's team, only 44% of patients said their doctor had discussed the harms of alcohol in the last 12 months.

By, "developing messaging about the potential harms of alcohol, we may be able to begin to address an important cancer risk factor," Wiseman said.

More information

To learn more about alcohol and cancer, go to the American Cancer Society.

SOURCE: University of Virginia, news release, Jan. 20, 2022

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman 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 mystery shrouding an old photo of a young boy remains unsolved  but not because of any lack of effort on the part of our readers.

Last week, this bureau reported that a Georgia woman bought a picture of a young boy that, on the back, had a note of: "G. Scifferdecker, St. Louis, 1755."

That was all the information available, said Rome (Ga.) News-Tribune features editor Severo Avila, who sought help from the Post-Dispatch.

Before asking for aid from local sleuths, this bureau found that the name Schifferdecker (with an "h") showed up on occasion in STL.

But there was only one record of the name without an "h"  a 1919 listing in the Gould Red-Blue city directory: "Chas. Scifferdecker" of the 5500 block of Idaho Avenue.

Then we left it to readers, who weighed in with pertinent observations.

First, several readers cast doubt that "1755" indicated a year, given that our fair burg wasn't incorporated until 1764.

And the possibility that the inscription on the back of the photo is a misspelling certainly is a real one.

Buddy Van Arsdale of Troy, Illinois and two others also said searches of newspapers.com and ancestry.com did not turn up any Scifferdeckers.

One caller, who could not be reached on a return call, said his 91-year-old mother grew up in the 5500 block of Idaho, and knew of a family named Schifferdecker that lived on the block.

Several other readers noted that the name Schifferdecker appears most often in the Metro East area.

"It seems that many of the Schifferdeckers settled in the Belleville and Freeburg areas," Marsha K. Clark said.

Other contributors reported that the name cropped up in the New Athens, St. Libory, Red Bud and Madonaville (near Waterloo) areas. And a fair number of them had a first name of "George."

As to other clues, online commenter "Bartecko" said, "My guess is that this picture is from the early 20th century. Perhaps 1755 is the number part of a street address and the 54761 above is a stock number or batch processing from the film developer," the post said.

Valerie Robbins agreed that one of the numbers on the back may be a designation used by the photographers to catalog the work.

"I have one similar of my great grandfather. The traveling photographer took a picture and went home and made the portrait. The number matched the photo," she said.

Reader John Moynihan also weighed in on the Georgia woman's original notion that the image was a chalk drawing.

"The drawing is probably actually a photograph. The child's (right) arm is blurred, indicating movement during exposure," Moynihan said, adding that the "style is similar to early 20th century children's portraits."

Sandra Bender concurred with that date estimation, saying that "the clothing dates about 1900, give or take."

So, alas, the mystery still awaits a solution.

But laurels and hardy handshakes to the couple of dozen readers who provided information.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A patient of an eating disorder treatment center was psychologically abused and exploited by an employee and driven away from her longtime partner, a federal lawsuit filed Monday says.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in St. Louis against the Alsana Treatment Center and Riverside Partners LLC, as well as employee Brittney Gibbs and other unnamed employees.

Alsana was known as the Castlewood Treatment Center until 2018. The suit was filed by a woman from Arizona identified as Jane Doe, who was admitted to the facility near Ballwin on June 15, 2021.

Gibbs, of St. Charles, could not be immediately reached for comment. Alsana provided an email address for Gibbs, but she did not immediately replied to emails.

In a statement, Alsana CEO Gayle Devin called Doe's lawyer, Steven R. Dunn, "a well-known critic of Alsana and the eating disorder treatment industry generally," and said, "We will aggressively defend ourselves against these baseless claims in court."

"We take seriously allegations of misconduct by our staff, and as we made clear  in the context of a completely unrelated matter last week  we are prepared to thoroughly investigate those claims when they arise," Devin said, referring to a statement last week, in which she said new admissions were being halted at two residential programs and one outpatient program. That statement said the decision was triggered by allegations that employees may have been involved in inappropriate conduct involving a client receiving outpatient care at our St. Louis program.

An initial review, the statement says, showed significant violations of company policy, and we have taken immediate action to remove the employees involved from any client setting.

The lawsuit says when Doe arrived, she was assigned Gibbs, an unlicensed therapist with no experience in treating eating disorders and a deeply disturbing series of statements on social media.

Among those statements, the lawsuit says, are: I reflected and realized I hurt others on purpose because it makes me feel good, Theres a darkness in me, and ... Some days I hate myself, and I cause hell in other peoples lives.

Therapy sessions were canceled or disorganized and leaders were unprepared, the suit says, and therapists like Gibbs were not properly supervised.

Gibbs convinced Doe to break things off with her partner, socialized with her outside the center and maintained contact after she left, talking with her sometimes for hours a day, the suit says.

Gibbs also criticized Alsanas program and disclosed information about other patients in conversations with Doe, it says.

The suit says Doe was also given medications belonging to others, was not given her medication on time and was not given medications prescribed for a pituitary condition for the first two and a half weeks she was at Alsana, part of an alarming lack of communication on medical issues.

It says Alsana kept Gibbs as an employee even after being notified about her behavior.

Dunn, of Dallas, said he also represents other patients with potential claims against Alsana.

The Doe lawsuit also revisits lawsuits and allegations of misconduct that the center has battled in the past, including a suit alleging the centers founders brainwashed a patient, creating false memories of sexual abuse and satanic cult activity. The center and its staff denied the accusations. The allegations spawned a website, castlewoodvictimsunite.org, that has heavily criticized treatment there.

Castlewood was founded two decades ago by psychologist Mark Schwartz and his wife, Lori Galperin. Schwartz and Galperin stepped down from Castlewood in 2013, and Castlewood changed its name to Alsana in 2018.

UPDATED Feb. 1 with a statement from Alsana.

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ST. LOUIS  St. Louis City Hall was evacuated Monday morning after an unfounded bomb threat, police said.

City workers were evacuated outside the building at 1200 Market Street about 11:30 a.m., according to mayoral spokesman Nick Dunne.

Bomb-sniffing dogs and law enforcement officers searched the building Monday and determined before 1 p.m. that the threat was not credible and no explosives were found.

Police said that as of Monday afternoon they had not identified the person who made the threat.

Katie Kull of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

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ST. LOUIS  The three men killed in a quadruple shooting over the weekend included a University City teenager, police said Monday.

Armaud Green, 18, was the youngest of the three men to die Saturday in the Kingsway East neighborhood. The others are Davion Rayford, 21, and Jeremiah Curry, 22.

A fourth man, who is 20 years old, survived after being shot. Police said he was in critical condition.

Police said they have no suspects.

The shooting was reported at 3:35 p.m. Saturday in the 4900 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue. Green and Curry were found dead in or near a parked car. Rayford died at a hospital. The survivor was found nearby at a convenience store. Police said he ran to the store after being shot.

The scene was littered with nearly 50 shell casings, from three different calibers of ammunition, police Chief John Hayden said.

Police haven't divulged a motive for the shootings, but on Sunday afternoon said they found two firearms and "suspected narcotics."

Green lived in the 7800 block of Wayne Avenue in University City. Rayford lived in the 2600 block of California Avenue in St. Louis. And Curry lived in the 6900 block of Delmar Boulevard in University City.

Staff writer Kim Bell can be reached at kbell@post-dispatch.com

2022 St. Louis-area Homicide Tracker Learn about homicide victims and regional trends with this database from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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CLAYTON  Instead of pulling the plug on a controversial residential clean energy loan program, the St. Louis County Council appears poised to expand it by authorizing a second provider to do business in unincorporated portions of the county.

The about-face comes after several organizations, including local chapters of the NAACP and the Sierra Club, last week offered a strong endorsement for the Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, loan program, which is designed to help property owners finance the cost of making energy-saving improvements. The loan payments are added to borrowers property tax bills.

Just last month, Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, a sponsor of PACE legislation, had recommended the council consider ending the residential program entirely, citing concerns that inadequate oversight put some residential borrowers at risk.

The move by the 2nd District Democrat followed an investigation in April 2021 by ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization, that found some residential borrowers who used PACE were hit with large tax bills they couldnt pay after agreeing to costly improvements. The investigation found more than 100 out of about 2,700 residential borrowers in the St. Louis and Kansas city regions were at risk of losing their homes. State law requires PACE loans go only to people who can afford them, but local government entities tasked with overseeing the program had deferred to private lenders and werent aware of high delinquency rates.

The ProPublica report prompted Dunaway to delay action on legislation she had sponsored to join the Missouri Clean Energy District, or MCED, which already operates in 27 of the countys 88 municipalities. Currently, the St. Louis County Clean Energy Development Board, established by county ordinance in 2015, operates PACE loans throughout the county. The board contracts the private California-based Ygrene Energy Fund to administer residential loans. Ygrene also operates in the city of St. Louis.

During hearings on the ProPublica findings in May, County Assessor Jake Zimmerman urged the council to get out of this business because it put the county in the position of taking away homes from borrowers who were delinquent on agreements with private lenders.

And in December, Dunaway wrote a letter asking the council to consider disbanding its residential PACE loan program entirely. County Executive Sam Page said at the time that he supported the idea. Had the county done so, residential PACE loans would only be available in the county in municipalities that entered their own agreements with MCED or another PACE administrator.

But on Friday, the bill sponsor, Dunaway said she had reversed course, and would ask the council to instead approve the bill joining MCED, allowing it to compete with the countys clean energy board. The move comes days after a council hearing in which the city and county chapters of the NAACP and the Sierra Club told the County Council they recently signed a community benefits agreement with PACE lenders requiring quarterly reports and meetings to try to add more community oversight.

St. Louis County NAACP President John Bowman and St. Louis NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt said the PACE loans were critical financing options for lower-income homeowners in predominantly Black north city and county.

We will always support it ... as long as we are able to fix it, calibrate it and make it work, Pruitt said.

Gretchen Waddell Barwick, director of the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the Missouri Sierra Club, said PACE was an excellent tool to help us combat climate change.

Im here to ask you to not throw out the baby with the bathwater. ... If there are folks who are in trouble in our community, lets find ways to help them, Barwick said. Lets find ways to provide that oversight.

State protections

Meanwhile, representatives of private PACE lenders reminded the council of new protections enacted in a state law. The law, which took effect in June, requires the state finance division to audit PACE loans at least every other year, and it capped the amount homeowners can borrow based on the assessed value of the home.

And the PACE lenders pointed to a newer agreement they have to meet a list of 22 consumer protections policies that include price controls, more stringent underwriting standards, a three-day no-penalty cancellation period and required home inspections before any borrower has to start making payments.

Mark Devore, county collector of revenue, told the council said there were 20 homes in the county with PACE assessments on them that were slated for tax sale in August if they dont pay any portion of overdue 2019 taxes. Homes must be three years past due to end up on the tax sale. There were five homes with PACE assessments headed to tax sales in 2023, and 16 homes on the tax block for 2024  if the homes didnt make any payments, Devore said.

Crystal Crawford, Ygrene vice president of oversight and development, said the company had provided loans for a total of 313 residences and 20 commercial properties since 2017, Crawford said. She said the company was reaching out to property owners who are near delinquency to offer credit financing or to extend the payback period for the loan.

No homeowner should lose their home because they participated in the PACE program, and we stand by that, she said.

Meanwhile, Ygrene and MCED said they were happy to compete in the market  as long as the county kept the program alive. Ygrene had previously sought to convince the council to reject the bill allowing MCED to operate in unincorporated areas.

We appreciate Ygrene working hand-in-hand with us to kind of put our swords away and team up on this, said David Jackson, a lobbyist with MCED.

Council Chair Rita Heard Days, D-1st District, said during the hearing that she was pleased with the results.

We made some significant changes and some significant advances in making sure that we do what were supposed to be doing for our constituents, she said.

Access to capitalNot everyone was satisfied.

Zimmerman, the county assessor, warned that the current number of delinquent properties with PACE assessments is the tip of the iceberg. There would continue to be borrowers who would lose their homes if the program continues  and the county would end up responsible for taking away homes from borrowers who were delinquent after taking PACE loans.

The governments power to take your home is a big and scary power, and whatever its legitimate use may be it is not a legitimate use to help people get loans to buy air conditioners at bad rates, Zimmerman said.

Dunaway said in an interview that she didnt disagree with Zimmerman. But the testimony from the NAACP and Sierra Club swayed her, she said.

I want to make sure that there is access to capital in underrepresented neighborhoods, Dunaway said. There are so few opportunities for lower-income neighborhoods and I dont want to take away one of the few opportunities available.

In addition to meeting the state law, the county ordinance would also require PACE lenders to follow their own consumer protection commitments.

Dunaway said she was also considering adding a requirement that PACE lenders to notify potential borrowers of alternative financing from Spire and Ameren, which include new pay-as-you-go loans that are added to utility bills.

Councilman Mark Harder, R-7th District, a co-sponsor, said he would support the bill, arguing a second lender would help ensure more competitive loan rates.

Originally posted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 31.

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CLAYTON  Nearly four years after enacting uniform standards for minority inclusion in contracts, St. Louis County officials are considering scrapping those requirements, opting instead to set goals on a contract-by-contract basis.

The proposal, sponsored by Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-6th District, and backed by some procurement and diversity officials in County Executive Sam Pages administration, would give the county discretion to set goals for each individual contract based on the type of work involved and the type and number of minority- or women-owned businesses available.

The bill would also allow general contractors to count toward minority inclusion goals, eliminating language requiring subcontracts to minority- and women-owned businesses.

Trakas is pushing the bill in response to an apparent delay in the construction of a new police precinct in the Affton Southwest police precinct. The general contractor who was awarded the bid couldnt meet the inclusion goals.

Nate Adams, director of the countys minority inclusion program, and Greg Tatar, county procurement director, told the council at a hearing last week that the precinct was one of at least a dozen projects that werent getting bids because contractors anticipated they couldnt meet the inclusion goals.

But Council Chair Rita Heard Days, whose predecessor Hazel Erby championed the countys minority inclusion ordinance, and Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, D-4th District, questioned whether the best response was to cut standard inclusion goals entirely.

Webb said at the hearing that she didnt want to allow the county full discretion without at least setting a minimum inclusion goal the county couldnt undercut.

Yaphett El-Amin, executive director of MoKan, a consortium representing the interests of minority contractors, said in an interview that the organization backed Webbs idea, arguing the bill as it stands only opens to the door to less inclusion.

I think the question might be to some, is this really about improving the program, or getting around it to set aside certain contracts? El-Amin said. More efforts should go into helping educate people as to how to work together to eliminate the disparity than remove the goals and further exacerbate the problem.

The current ordinance, in effect since 2018, requires 24% minority-owned businesses and 9.5% women-owned businesses for construction, and 16% minority-owned businesses and 15% women-owned businesses for professional service contracts, which the county defines as architecture and engineering projects.

The ordinance also requires the county to verify that bidders made a good faith effort to subcontract work to minority- and women-owned businesses.

Adams and Tatar, at the hearing last week, said the requirements were too restrictive for some projects and were deterring bidders from applying for county work, delaying projects.

Tatar said there more than a dozen county projects delayed because contractors did not apply because of the inclusion requirements. Some contractors who didnt bid for small jobs of less than $150,000 sent letters saying they felt the requirements were too onerous, Tatar said.

There are a lot of small projects that were just not getting bids on because were imposing goals that just arent going to be reached, Tatar said.

Adams, a former official with the Illinois Department of Transportation, pointed out that federal contracts set minority inclusion goals on a per-contract basis, for those same reasons, he said.

In some fields, there simply arent enough minority- or women-owned businesses in some trades, Adams said.

And the percentage goals are set too high for small-dollar projects, deterring bidders who dont want to have to, for example, subcontract a $66,000 job to other businesses, he said.

Those same minority- and women-owned businesses were unlikely to bid for prime contracts because theyd then be required to turn around and subcontract work theyve won to other minority and women-owned businesses, he said.

Some jobs shouldnt even require a goal, Adams said. They just should not.

Webb countered that she didnt want to allow the county full discretion without at least setting a floor for inclusion requirements.

I think theres a compromise here ... we could at least put in there will be a minimum of this, and you can go up, but were not going below, she said.

Trakas urged a vote, arguing the proposal would allow the county to proceed with contracts currently being held up. The council could make comprehensive changes once a new disparity study is completed next year, he said.

The county and city of St. Louis are reviewing bids for a joint disparity study to update a county analysis from 2015.

For now, lets fix what we can and get some contracts awarded, Trakas said.

El-Amin was called on to testify at the virtual council hearing, but the council couldnt hear her because of an apparent technical error. The council is meeting by teleconference because of high COVID-19 case numbers.

In an interview, El-Amin said MoKan was scheduled to meet with Webb to discuss the bill and to testify in writing before the councils Tuesday meeting.

She slammed the idea that the contractors would struggle to find minority- and women-owned businesses for so long that it would cause construction delays.

MoKan is more than willing to sit down with any general contractor to connect them with ready and willing minority- and women-owned companies. ... We believe that good faith efforts yield results, she said.

Trakas and Webb did not respond to Post-Dispatch requests for comment.

Page, asked about the bill, said that officials had anticipated as early as 2018 that they would adjust the program. Page, then the council chair, voted to approve the ordinance; he became county executive in April 2019.

But the conversation about making any changes was very fluid, he said.

I think theres a lot of proposals in front of the council and its a very, very fluid conversation right now... but I would be concerned about something thats proposed by the council that wasnt fair, that wasnt based on a disparity study and didnt have broad support among contractors in the community.

Originally posted at noon Monday, Jan. 31.

Minority participation on St. Louis County projects gets another look Critics accuse Stenger of dragging feet on measure to bolster hiring of minorities, women and veterans.

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ST. LOUIS  Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, leader of the largest faith group in the region, promises to listen to his Roman Catholic flock and leave room for the Holy Spirit to work before a historic restructuring plan happens, but hes set a firm deadline: May 28, 2023.

That is when, on Pentecost Sunday, the final reorganization of the St. Louis archdiocese will be announced. Until then, more data will be collected and discussions will be had to figure out how to best sharpen the mission and, likely, change where some people worship and go to school.

The model that fulfilled its mission in growing and evangelizing the Church during the last century has become archaic, Rozanski wrote in a letter read to parishioners Sunday. Jesus is calling on us to re-energize and reshape our efforts to share His saving message.

He vowed to assess every aspect of the archdiocese and make the necessary adjustments to our ministries and supporting structures to reflect the needs of our communities for the next century.

We anticipate that these adjustments will be the most sweeping changes that the Archdiocese has witnessed in its history, Rozanksi wrote.

Once called the Rome of the West, the geographic footprint of the Archdiocese of St. Louis now covers 10 counties and the city of St. Louis. The archdiocese currently has 178 parishes served by fewer than 200 full-time priests, a number that continues to fall. Last year, 3,696 children through age 6 were baptized. Now below 500,000, the shrinking flock has followed migration patterns out of the city, but not the clergy.

Today, St. Joseph of Cottleville in St. Charles County is the largest parish in the archdiocese, with more than 5,000 families. In 2020, six priests at two St. Charles County parishes served nearly the same number of Catholics as 31 priests served at 26 parishes in south St. Louis, according to the archdiocese. Many city parishes can struggle to fill half the pews in historic buildings.

On Sunday, at Our Lady of Sorrows in south St. Louis, 25 people gathered between enormous Corinthian columns for the 8 a.m. Mass. The Rev. Sebastian Mundackal, originally from India, told them that he, too, had concerns about the changes ahead.

Of course, like you, I have my own worries, my own concerns, but lets be open to the Holy Spirit, he said, encouraging parishioners to be part of the restructuring process by filling out an upcoming survey of their concerns.

On the way out after Mass, Donna Katke, 70, said she saw the good in the effort, officially touted as All Things New.

We have to change and evolve to meet the needs of the people in this world, said Katke, a retired teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools. We have to do things better. Its long overdue. They dont have a choice.

The smaller number of Catholic baptisms hits close to home for Katke. Only the oldest of her three grown children is a practicing Catholic. Her middle child is a nonbeliever. The third, even if she had children, says she wouldnt raise them in the church because of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

I dont have the words to fight that, said Katke, eyes welling with tears.

As for Katke, though, she said: I am in it for the duration.

On the other side of the city, at Saints Teresa and Bridget Church, about 50 people attended the 10:30 a.m. Mass. They were socially distanced and wore masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19. The choir wasnt going, but piano and drum beats helped move them along. Congregants wore coats because the boiler recently went out. The missing part would come in soon, the Rev. Scott Jones told them.

He also told the congregation that the May 28, 2023, deadline to release the restructuring plan would come fast and that he encouraged them to be involved. After that, the implementation phase was set to kick in.

There will be parishes and schools that will combine, not just here in North City, but in South City, North County, West County and rural areas, Jones said from the pulpit. Every parish and institution will be affected somehow.

When those parishes combine, he added, they will be entirely new parishes, and they could be that those new parishes will have new names. It is also possible that they may have more than one worship site for Sunday Mass. Here in North City, it may even be that every property will still somehow be used by the North City Catholic community one way or another even though they wont be individual parishes. There may be other models proposed.

Jones read them an additional letter that he said Rozanski wrote for city parishes.

Let me be clear, there is no preconceived plan, Rozanski wrote. Prayerful discernment, honest discussions and listening sessions on how to best use our resources to evangelize the world of today, while looking to tomorrow, will be crucial elements in this process.

Jones reminded the congregation that their church was the first that Rozanski visited after he came to St. Louis from the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2020. He said the archbishop cares about what they think about the church in North City.

But congregants at Saints Teresa and Bridget Church are still recovering from a relatively recent merger there at 2401 North Grand Boulevard. Also, in the broader area, Trinity Catholic High School in north St. Louis County closed in 2021, with two of its top feeder elementary schools closing before that  Christ Light of the Nations in Spanish Lake and Most Holy Trinity in the Hyde Park neighborhood in north St. Louis.

This is tough  the idea that it might go somewhere else, said Blase Boettcher, 71, a long-time parishioner at Saints Teresa and Bridget. Weve done a lot of work to keep it together. We are no different than other parishes, but this is our home. This is our family.

Valerie Howard, 71, baptized Catholic just five years ago, said she wasnt quite sure what to think of the archbishops letters read there Sunday.

I just hope our church remains intact, she said.

We want our parish as it is, if possible, added her friend, Thelma Lewis. But we have to be realistic as a small parish. That might mean we have to look at something different.

The effort mentioned to readdress evangelization caught her ear.

I hope we put in place to evangelize more African Americans to the Catholic faith, said Lewis, 79, of the citys Penrose neighborhood.

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It requires a special level of dedication to take an already-catastrophic pandemic and devise ways to make it even worse. Missouri state lawmakers have embraced the challenge, going beyond the call of duty with four bills that seem designed specifically to increase the coronavirus dangers for health care workers and drive many of them to quit their jobs out of frustration.

The bills purport to address the legitimate concerns people have when coronavirus precautions prevent them from visiting their loved ones isolated in hospitals or nursing homes. In the early days of the pandemic, patients often were left to die alone, with family members viewing from an outside window, because of visitation restrictions.

Those restrictions, however, were put in place because overwhelmed hospital and nursing home staffers were grappling with a deadly, rapidly spreading outbreak. Isolating highly infectious patients was seen as the safest precaution.

But as the Post-Dispatchs Kurt Erickson reports, some lawmakers arent satisfied to leave such decisions to medical professionals. One Republican lawmaker, Rep. Brian Seitz of Branson, indicates a desire to put his personal religious views into law.

Isolation kills. Human beings were created by God to interact with each other, Seitz said. Only God can determine life or death.

Hospitals and nursing homes are understandably protective of their right to set the rules regarding visitations. If a patient is infectious, an outside visitor can become exposed, then walk out the door to spread the infection to others. And if a visitor brings the infection inside, the dangers mount for already-imperiled staffers and patients.

Besides, medical personnel are beyond the breaking point after having endured the first coronavirus wave of patients, only to be hit with an even bigger wave with the current omicron variant. Doctors and nurses are exhausted and overwhelmed trying to keep people alive. The last thing they need are laws requiring them to add visitors to the list of demands on their time. As anyone knows whos been inside a hospital, visitors have a strong tendency to require attention and make requests as if staffers are their servants.

Seitz wants to require that hospitals allow visitations at any time and prohibit medical personnel from preventing them. Rep. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, would require hospitals to let at least one visitor come in and would prohibit a hospital from requiring coronavirus vaccinations as a prerequisite to patients receiving treatment or having visitors.

Another bill would set a 24-hour limit on any patients isolation from visitations by designated family members or friends. Yet another would prevent long-term care facilities from adopting policies in response to an outbreak of a contagious illness.

It seems just a matter of time before one of these science-averse lawmakers proposes a prohibition against mask requirements in hospitals. Sadly, common sense seems to have taken a holiday in Jefferson City.
Regarding the editorial "Eric Schmitt's legal attack on districts serves his campaign, not the kids" (Jan. 25): I believe that Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is threatening the health and welfare of our schools by his manipulative use of lawsuits to further his political ambitions instead of protecting the lives of the students and staff in our schools. He is wasting our money and the budgets of our districts by his frivolous lawsuits against mask mandates while making assertions that have no basis in scientific fact.

Let him get off his pompous throne and spend time working in districts desperate for substitute teachers or hospitals that are overwhelmed and struggling. As both a retired teacher and the mother-in-law of a nurse, I believe the facts are clear. Our Missouri government does not represent or work for us.

Who is there to hold Schmitt accountable for his actions? Obviously, our votes do not count, as witnessed by his not suing when his party illegally blocked and stalled Medicaid expansion. I fear this is our frightening future when the will and votes of the people mean nothing, and our democracy dies in a vortex of conspiracy theories, lies and deceit.

Diane Moffitt  Glendale
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.
In late 2021 Iran field tested its new AD-08 antiaircraft system and found its performance satisfactory. AD-08 is a low-tech system using tech that has been around for a long time. Iran describes AD-08 as suitable for detecting and destroying low flying cruise missiles, UAVs or helicopters, plus military or commercial transports, if attacked while landing or taking off.

The system is carried on an Iranian made Aras-2 4x4 vehicle. On closer examination you can see it is a copy of the Toyota Land Cruiser. This vehicle first appeared in 2019 and has not been offered for export because of potential lawsuits from Toyota. AD-08 is mounted on the back of the vehicle along with the fire control system as well as two missile pods each carrying four missiles in storage/firing containers. Between the two pods are the electro-optical sensors used to detect and fire missiles close enough so their passive heat-seeking sensor can detect and collide with the target. The pods and the electro-optical target and detection system are on a turntable that can rotate 360 degrees. The electro-optical sensors can detect targets 15 kilometers distant and attack four targets simultaneously if all of them do not need to be guided part of the way.

AD-08 is also equipped to work with the new Kashef-99 3-D truck mounted AESA radar that can detect and track targets 30 kilometers distant. AD-08 uses a 75 kg (165 pound) missile to hit targets up to seven kilometers away and as close as 700 meters at altitudes as low as 20 meters (64 feet) or as high as six kilometers (20,000 feet). Most military helicopters and low flying aircraft are equipped with defensive systems that can detect and disable missiles AD-08 uses. Iran has not indicated it will be sending AD-08 to any foreign war zone because of the risk of the system proving inadequate against most targets.

In late 2020 Iran admitted it had sent some of its more advanced air defense systems to eastern Syria, to guard a large base they had established in the Euphrates River Valley. There were no reports of these systems being used much, if at all to defend against American and Israeli airstrikes. Similar, and sometimes more capable Syrian air defense systems have been used to defend several targets. The Syrians claim to have intercepted some of the Israeli air-to-surface missiles, usually launched from Lebanon, the Israel Golan Heights and even Jordanian air space. Despite actual or claimed interceptions the targets are always hit, and commercial satellite photos show the damage.

After AD-08 was revealed, Iran announced they had tested two new and more advanced air defense systems; Joshan and Khatam. Also tested was a new long range (500 kilometers) Quds radar that can spot targets as high as 28,000 meters (90,000 feet). These two air defense systems were apparently capable of detecting and destroying low altitude intruders, like cruise missiles of manned fighters. No details were given on the Khatam system but it was revealed that Joshan was an update of the 2019 Khordad 15 system that included a passive (no transmissions) radar that could detect low level intruders, like an Israeli F-15. These claims could not be verified because the tests, using live fire against target drones, were held in central Iran, far away from air space where hostile (American) SIGINT (Electronic Signals Intelligence) aircraft (manned or UAVs) might be operating.

Iran does not like anyone verifying its claims of impressive new technology because the claims tend to be exaggerated or completely bogus. SIGINT aircraft can also determine where the new Iranian tech came from, because it is based on older Russian, Chinese or American tech. The Iranians have some great engineers and scientists but lack the capacity to build many new systems, especially if they require components the sanctions on Iran make difficult to obtain. This sort of thing has been going on since the 1990s and demonstrates that Iranian propagandists tend to outperform Iranian engineers and weapons manufacturers.

Cut off from importing AESA military radars since the 1980s Iran sought to develop the technology itself. The basic principles are not difficult and Iranian engineers and scientists were aware of how it worked from the beginning but the religious dictatorship of the 1980s stifled the development of a commercial electronics industry necessary to support the design and production of things like AESA systems. While Iran has always produced many engineers and scientists, most of the best ones migrate to the West for better career opportunities.

Iranian military AESA had to be developed and built as a laboratory type system because legal access to foreign tech was illegal and difficult to obtain legitimately. It wasnt until Iran showed off its first locally developed and built AESA radar that anyone could evaluate how far Iranian AESA tech had advanced. Iranian tech like this was built in workshops, not factories because the domestic market was small and there was no real export market for older models of this or much other Iranian military tech. Iran has had an easier time developing military software as there was a lot of stolen code available on the Internet, often passed on by helpful Chinese and Russian hackers. But designing and building a fire control system that makes full use of AESA radar is not exactly a hobbyist hack and requires time, talent and determination, even with access to the more advanced stolen code. Iranian engineers and scientists are admired for how many high-tech military systems they have built. While admirable, Iranian systems are often decades behind what is available from commercial and military producers in the West. China has been catching up, developing modern AESA tech in the last two decades because they have large domestic and export markets for the stuff.

What this all meant was that Khordad 15, using the Sayyad-3 missile, is basically equivalent to the Russian S-200 systems, which are Cold War systems with some upgrades. Syria still uses a lot of S-200 systems, which are seen as a hazard, not an obstacle to Israeli air strikes. The S-200 is good at hitting high flying aircraft lacking any defenses at all. Syria has already downed (by accident) a four-engine Russian maritime reconnaissance aircraft flying off the Syrian coast using an S-200 missile. The Joshan passive radar upgrade to Khordad 15 required another major leap in Iranian military tech and Iran would rather not have their claims challenged in a realistic fashion.

For over a decade Iranian air defense commanders have been aware of serious deficiencies when it comes to their equipment and nothing done so far has made a major difference. Outsiders began paying attention to this problem in 2009 when the Iranian Supreme Leader separated most missile-based air defense systems from the air force and organized them into a separate air defense command. Despite vigorous efforts by the new Air Defense Force, the reorganization did not produce air defenses that could keep up with the potential threats from the many enemies Iran has acquired. This was especially true with new American and Israeli systems. The U.S. had sold many of these new systems to Arab oil states. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reported to be visibly alarmed at the inability of Iran to defend itself against the many enemy aircraft and missiles that could be used in wartime, especially for a surprise attack.

Iran has been promising to destroy Israel and the United States since the 1980s and is now trying to take control of Syria and further threaten Israel. In response to that Israel has been fighting back and Iran is uncomfortable about how this is playing out. In response, Khamenei replaced the commander of the air force in August 2018, the fifth senior military commander replaced in a year of searching for solutions. The new air force commander has not improved the situation, except to escalate the claims of new tech and make it more difficult for foreigners to verify the claims.

The current sense of urgency by Iran was made public by a 2017 study of Iranian vulnerabilities to air attack. The study was published in an Iranian military journal that everyone could see and hopefully generate some useful suggestions for solutions. The list of vulnerabilities was basically a compilation of how Iran is generally defenseless against fifteen systems, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, smart bombs, ground penetrating bombs and other specialized air delivered guided weapons, like bombs that use lengths of carbon fibers (to short out electrical transmission lines) or monster bombs like MOAB or bombs that can create an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) that destroy electronics over large areas.

Then there are the specialized defensive and offensive electronic systems carried by many aircraft, UAVs, and missiles. The Americans and Israelis have surveillance satellite systems that monitor Iranian activity and can assist in attacks on Iran. The United States and Israel have most of these scary systems but many of these advanced weapons have been obtained by the Arab Gulf states. Since 2015, the Arabs have proved in Yemen that they really have learned how to use these high-tech weapons. That includes the Arab operated Patriot anti-missile systems which have intercepted hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles fired from Yemen into Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian Supreme Leader apparently monitors Iranian progress, or lack of progress in this area and demands that senior commanders come up with solutions. That has apparently not been happening and if more senior commanders get replaced it will indicate continued failure.

The Supreme Leader is also aware of the fact that many Iranian air defense systems are fake or press release systems that were announced but never got into production or developed to the point where they work. The Supreme Leader was particularly upset over the 2018 IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) press release about the new Iranian stealth fighter. You dont have to be an aviation engineer to understand the critiques of this new aircraft. These detailed descriptions of why the new stealth fighter wont (or cannot) work as described appeared outside Iran and inside it made a lot of sense that Iranian stealth was a fraud. Many of these critical reports appeared in overseas Iranian language media and the Internet. These critiques are no secret, especially from the Supreme Leader.

On paper Iran has formidable air defense forces, in practice, most of this stuff is too old or too few to collectively make a big difference. Current Iranian air defenses consist of several hundred Cold War era warplanes in various states of readiness. None are seen as anything approaching a serious threat to aircraft the Americans, Israelis and Gulf Arabs possess. The Iranian ground-based air defense systems are not much better off.

The key Iranian air defense system is the Russian S-300 PMU2 or Iranian systems based on similar Russian and Chinese technology. For example, 2013 Iran announced it had built a factory to produce the Sayyad-2 anti-aircraft missile. This is an upgrade of the Sayyad-1, which was based on the old (1950s) Russian SA-2. Sayyad-1 entered service in 1999. Both Sayyad 1 and 2 copied much from the Chinese HQ-2, which is itself an upgrade of the Russian S-75/SA-2 system. Sayyad-2 appears to have incorporated technology from the American HAWK and SM-1 SAMs inherited from the pro-American monarchy in 1979.

Sayyad-2 is a two-ton, two stage anti-aircraft missile with a maximum range of 80 kilometers and max altitude of 20,000 meters (65,000 feet). The Sayyad-2 has better electronic countermeasures than Sayyad-1 but it is still dependent on the ground radar for guidance to a target and is vulnerable to electronic interference. Sayyad-2 is believed to have a more effective warhead. None of the Sayyad missiles have been in combat and test firings have not been impressive.

The Chinese HQ-2 has been in use since the late 1960s, and upgraded several times with modern electronics, an improved warhead, better rocket motors, and more maneuverability and became much more effective early in the 21st century. Iran has been getting military technology from China since the 1980s. This apparently included the tech for the solid fuel rocket motors used by the Sayyad-2 and possibly some of the electronics. If an attacker does not have good electronic countermeasures the Sayyad-2 could be quite effective. China also has lots of S-300s and may have sold or leaked technical data on that system to Iran.

Iran claims to have kept several other older Russian SAM systems in working order. These include over a hundred launchers for SA-5 and SA-6 SAMS along with radars and fire control systems. These may exist in some usable form but appear to be more press release systems. The same applies to more than a dozen press release systems revealed since 2010 that seem to exist only as a few prototypes.

The new Khordad 15/Sayyad-3 missile system is described as having a search radar that can detect targets 150 kilometers distant and hit these targets when they are 75 kilometers away. Iran also claims the new system can detect and hit stealth aircraft. That sort of thing is easier to claim than accomplish. This was remedied by claiming a new passive radar for Khordad 15 that is better able to detect low altitude stealth aircraft and cruise missiles.

Iran announced it sent some of its most modern air defense systems to Syria to provide protection from the relentless and accurate Israeli airstrikes. There have been no Iranian claims of these new systems working against the Israeli airstrikes. There has been an escalation in claims of new Iranian air defense tech but no movement on putting those systems to the test against modern Western aircraft. UAVs have a known weakness, compared to manned aircraft, when it comes to self-defense against SAM systems. Even large UAVs like the RQ-4, which have the carrying capacity for such self-defense systems, lack the complex and rapid decision-making pilots are capable of. The solution to that is better AI (artificial intelligence) software, which is still a work-in-progress.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2022 / Grid Metals Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:GRDM)(OTCQB: MSMGF) today provided a shareholder update with respect to its nickel-copper-cobalt-PGM and lithium exploration and development projects in Manitoba and Ontario. The Company has commenced drilling at its advanced exploration stage Makwa Nickel property in southeastern Manitoba and expects to complete ~3,000 metres focusing on several large and untested geophysical anomalies in an effort to expand and improve on the existing pit-constrained nickel resources at the property. The Makwa drilling will be completed by early February. The Company will then commence with a 8,000 to 10,000 meter exploration and resource delineation drilling program on the nearby Mayville lithium property, targeting multiple lithium-rich pegmatite dyes (the "Donner Lake pegmatites") that have been identified to date.

Makwa and Mayville Winter Drilling Program

Drilling commenced in early January at the Makwa Nickel Property in Manitoba with the program well underway. The Company plans to drill a total of up to 9 holes targeting three discrete electromagnetic (EM) anomalies generated by a high resolution ground survey completed by Abitibi Geophysics in 2018. The three targets include:

A ~500m long, vertically extensive and strong conductance EM anomaly that starts immediately below historical exploration and resource drilling at the west end of the former producing Dumbarton Nickel-Copper Deposit. The Dumbarton Deposit supported a shallow underground mine operated by a subsidiary of Falconbridge Limited in the 1970s. A second ~500m long EM anomaly located directly south of a past producing open pit mine covering the shallow parts of the Makwa Nickel Sulfide Deposit. A >500m long moderate conductance EM anomaly located at the west end of the Makwa open pit. This anomaly overlaps with the current pit-constrained resources for the Makwa Deposit but extends further west from those resources such that it is interpreted to represent a possible western extension to the deposit. Some material from these three holes are expected to be used for future metallurgical testwork to augment that described in the current technical report for the property completed by RPA and associates in 2014 (available on SEDAR).

Major Drilling is the drill contractor for the project and there are presently two drills at site.

Following completion of the Makwa nickel drilling exploration drilling will commence on multiple lithium pegmatite targets referred to as the Donner Lake pegmatite project. A >8,000 metre program targeting three main clusters of mapped and/or drill defined lithium-enriched pegmatite dyke sets is planned for completion before the spring thaw commences. Drilling includes exploration drilling on two of the dyke sets and initial resource drilling one of the dyke sets (the "Main Dyke" and adjacent pegmatites which were previously drilled by the Company in 2018 - see Grid's Sept 21st, 2021 news release).

The Company will provide additional information about the Makwa and Mayville drill programs in subsequent press releases.

Grid Metals' Nickel-Copper-PGM Portfolio

Grids Nickel-Copper-PGM-Cobalt portfolio currently consists of:

The Mayville Ni-Cu-PGM Co Project (comprising the PEA-stage Makwa and Mayville Ni-Cu-Co-PGM sulfide deposits ); The Bannockburn Nickel Property (a bulk tonnage disseminated nickel property near Timmins); The East Bull Lake Palladium Property located near Sudbury. Manitoba Exploration Licences - the Company has successfully applied for several exploration licences in northern Manitoba covering: (i) over 90 km of the western part of the Fox River Belt - a direct analogue of the Raglan Nickel Mining Camp in Northern Quebec; and, (ii) two nickel targets located in a granulite facies terrain located ~30 km east of the Thompson nickel mining operations and the Thompson Nickel Belt which , include both Nova Bollinger-type and Thompson Belt-type Ni-Cu-PGM-Co prospects.

Additional details on exploration plans for all of Grid's Ni-Cu-Co-PGM properties will be provided for in the coming weeks.

Grid Metals' Lithium Assets

Grid's lithium assets include the Donner Lake Lithium Project located in the northern limb of the Bird River Greenstone Belt in southeast Manitoba and the Campus Creek property located 245 km northwest of Thunder Bay, near the town of Ignace. Both properties are subject to a 75/25 joint venture interest with Lithium Royalty Corp. Grid's lithium assets will be transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary with a corporate objective being to monetize part or all the lithium portfolio during the current strong lithium market.

The Donner Lake Lithium Project hosts numerous spodumene-bearing pegmatites which appear to have intruded into northeast-striking structures within a laterally extensive contact zone between the Bird River greenstone belt in the north and a major granitic batholith terrane to the south. The location of the known lithium-bearing pegmatites correlate well to historical geochemical survey anomalies and the Company intends to conduct additional surface geochemical exploration over areas of limited or no exposure in the upcoming summer field season. Grid views the exploration potential of the Donner Lake area as being very high.

Part of the Donner Lake Property is subject to a first right of commercial offtake to Tanco Mining Corporation of Canada Limited ("Tanco") who have recently commissioned a lithium spodumene circuit. The Bird River Greenstone belt hosts the world class Bernic Lake Pegmatite which is a highly fractionated zoned pegmatite that has been actively mined for rare metals for over 50 years.

A unique aspect of the The Donner Lake lithium project is that it is located in the southern part of the Mayville property - which also hosts a pit constrained Ni-Cu-PGM resource (M2 deposit) described in the aforementioned 2014 PEA study and an exploration-stage PGM discovery (PGM Zone). If time permits, resource extension drilling below the current M2 resources and exploration drilling on untested conductor targets around the M2 deposit is planned for March of this year. Additional exploration drilling may also be directed on the PGM Zone.

The Company has submitted a drill permit application for its early-exploration stage Campus Creek property 245 km northwest of Thunder Bay. The property hosts a new discovery of spodumene-bearing pegmatite as reported in the Company's September 14th, 2021 news release. The Company hopes to begin drilling on the property in the spring of this year.

ESG With the exception of the Manitoba Explorations Licences Grid's projects are located in road accessible parts of Manitoba and Ontario Canada. Both provinces have significant sources of renewable power. Grid has entered into exploration agreements with the affected First Nations in all of the areas it currently operates and is committed to high standards of corporate governance.

Dave Peck P.Geo has reviewed the contents of this press release and is the qualified person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

To find out more about Grid Metals Corp., please visit www.gridmetalscorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Grid Metals Corp.

Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director

Telephone: 4647 201 6844- Email: [email protected]

David Black - Investor Relations Email: [email protected] 416 955-4773

SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
TAIPEI, Jan. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MaiCoin Group strives to launch social impact NFTs regularly to support social welfare organizations and give back to the community through MaiCoin/AMIS's Qubic Creator servicea one-stop NFT store creator solution. Qubic Creator is developed by AMIS Technologies, which is MaiCoin Group's blockchain solution arm. Following Qubic Wallet, AMIS Technologies has now launched this one-stop NFT store creator service under the company's exclusive brand, Qubic, to serve the goal of building its own NFT marketplace. Against this backdrop, MaiCoin Group has established the Common Wealth, a platform which aims to link blockchain technology with the common good. As its first project, the Common Wealth joined hands with Taiwan's emerging illustrator, Island Moment, in launching carbon credit-backed NFTs to promote public awareness on decarbonization and contribute to the environment.

MaiCoin Group has long been concerned about environmental protection, especially issues related to carbon emissions. Therefore, in addition to its long-standing tree planting project, MaiCoin Group also collaborated with I Love To Plant Trees Company Limited in launching an eco-friendly NFT in October 2021, which were sold out within two hours of its drop. This demonstrates a strong interest in participation among the people and a huge potential for blockchain technology applications.

Carbon neutrality issues have long been one of the focuses of MaiCoin Group. Meanwhile, as the bridges between the cyber and physical worlds, blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies can be utilized to contribute to carbon-neutrality. As a beneficiary of the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry, MaiCoin Group sees the need to proactively help neutralize the carbon emissions generated by crypto-miners. Recently, it voluntarily purchased 2,068 tons of carbon credits from South Pole, and successfully sold 1,800 tons through this recent carbon credit backed-NFT project. For this project, MaiCoin Group invited Taiwan's emerging illustrator, Island Moment, to produce hand paintings depicting Taiwan's unique scenery. With the theme of "Preserving Nature for Reciprocal Offerings", Island Moment produces illustrations of three clean energy sources in Taiwanwind, water, and sun, to express the idea that the mother nature will reciprocate Taiwanese's kindness to nature and efforts in preserving natural assets with a cleaner and more beautiful Formosa Island.

To encourage public participation in decarbonization and eco-friendly activities, a total of 450 carbon credit-backed NFTs have been launched using the ERC-721 standard, with each NFT representing 4 tons of carbon credits. As pointed out by founder and CEO of MaiCoin Group, Alex Liu, "At present, there is a basic international consensus on cross-border carbon trading between governments and enterprises, but in order to make carbon trading more efficient and smoother, blockchain technology shall come into play as one of the solutions; in order to link carbon trading with decarbonization substantively, a heightened public awareness and more committed carbon reduction behaviors are needed. By launching these carbon credit-backed NFTs, MaiCoin Group hopes to spark public discussion around this issue, because 'reducing carbon emissions to save the planet' should not be a slogan, but everyone's daily life."

MaiCoin Group will take the Common Wealth as the starting point to collaborate with different groups in launching social impact NFTs on a regular basis. In addition, through the borderless nature of NFTs, MaiCoin Group hopes to bring this issue across the world, become a force for good along with the non-profit organizations, and weave a better future with blockchain technology.

About the Common Wealth - https://commonwealth.maicoin.com/

A "commonwealth" refers to a group of people who live together, are self-governed, and help each other in daily lives. Just like every person is a unique individual, every NFT is a unique existence; and here we are using blockchain to call on everyone and connect each other to do a part for our communities. As we identify problems, speak out on important issues, and contribute together, the barriers between us disappear. Sharing the same beliefs, let us all build a cluster for the common good together as the Common Wealth.

About Qubic Creator - https://creator.qubic.market/

Qubic Creator is developed by AMIS Technologies, which is the blockchain solution arm of MaiCoin Group. Following Qubic Wallet, AMIS Technologies has now launched this one-stop NFT store creator service under the company's exclusive brand, Qubic, to serve the goal of building its own NFT marketplace. The one-stop Qubic Creator service offers: latest technologies' support for brands and enterprises to help them launch their one-of-a-kind NFTs along with permanent storage and establish their official NFT marketplaces; a backend management system as intuitive as one's own official website; and connection to Qubic Wallet, which supports credit card payments in New Taiwan dollars, making it easier for consumers to store their NFTs. With core blockchain technologies as its backbone, AMIS Technologies' Qubic strives to provide NFT-as-a-Service. It is also committed to becoming a bridge between the public and the decentralized world, so that enterprises and typical users will not be held back by the rocket science of blockchain technology and can enter the decentralized world without pain.

About MaiCoin Group

MaiCoin Group is Taiwan's longest running digital asset platform. It has operated a digital asset brokerage service since 2014. It is now Taiwan's leading digital asset trading group with its services ranging from crypto exchanges to blockchain-related technologies and owns subsidiaries including MaiCoin, AMIS, MAX (MaiCoin Asset Exchange), Qubic and MaiCapital (Hong Kong).

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SOURCE MaiCoin Group
Passenger terminals on U.S. military bases are moving their flight schedule information off Facebook and onto official Air Force public websites in February, according to Air Mobility Command.

For 10 years, military passenger terminals have posted 72-hour and 30-day flight information on individual Facebook pages managed by staff at each terminal, Air Mobility Command spokesman Tech. Sgt. Zachary Boyer told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday.

Soon, that same information will be available on Air Force websites, with a directory on the AMC website with links to the individual base websites, according to Boyers email. Once passenger terminals have transitioned to the official Air Force websites, they will indicate the date they will no longer utilize Facebook and include a link to the website.

Many terminals advised AMC Passenger Policy Branch of challenges they encountered while using Facebook, Boyer wrote, such as account lockouts, revalidation problems when pages reached a certain number of likes and passengers being given inaccurate travel advice in the comments section.

Flight schedules and other passenger information will migrate from Facebook to the American Forces Public Information Management System, or AFPIMS, which will provide travelers easy and organized access to that information.

AFPIMS is a website content management system for all Air Force public websites, according to Defense Media Activity.

AMC Passenger Terminals will fully transition to the commands official website by February 28, and all terminals are engaged in website creation and training to meet this deadline, Boyer said.

The passenger terminal at Misawa Air Base, Japan, has already begun posting passenger flight information on the base website.

We implemented this about a month ago when our AMC terminal personnel reached out to us, and we said, Happy to help. So, we have been updating ever since then, base spokeswomen 1st Lt. Josephine Rios told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday.

Only the public affairs office may post updates on the base website, Rios said.

Air Mobility Command contractors at the passenger terminal provide the 72-hour flight updates to public affairs to input into the system, Master Sgt. Corydon Coombs, Misawas contractor officer representative, told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday.

The only recent delays in updating flight information occurred over the holiday, Corydon said, but it really didnt affect anything since there were no flights.

Air Force spouse Erica Curtiss, a veteran and frequent space-available flier aboard the Patriot Express, said shes skeptical of the benefit of moving flight schedules to Air Force websites. The Patriot Express is the government-contracted passenger air service between the U.S. and its overseas military bases.

The upside to keeping it on Facebook is that when the Air Force network is down, we are still able to plan trips, she said by Facebook Messenger on Wednesday. Ive used Space-A so many times, and Im always open to improving the process. All in all, if the information is easily accessible, Im indifferent in how I receive it.

The directory of AMC Passenger Terminal webpages can be found at www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/
(Tribune News Service)  Three members of Congress have written top-tier military leaders over ongoing cases involving three service members from Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

On Jan. 26, Representatives Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) and Daniel Webster (R-FL) penned a letter to the Secretary of the Navy and Commandant of the Marine Corps addressing allegations that a Marine colonel's comments may have jeopardized the fairness of the service members' trials.

U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Eric Gilmet and Marines Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Draher and Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Negron, known as the MARSOC 3, face charges including negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter.

On Jan. 1, 2019, a defense contractor allegedly initiated a confrontation with the three at an Iraq bar before suffering a knockout blow from Negron, according to reports from United American Patriots (UAP) and the Marine Corps Times.

The contractor, an Army veteran identified as Rick Anthony Rodriguez, was taken back to base by the MARSOC 3, and died days later "of complications stemming from his intoxicated state and from having choked on his own vomit," a UAP report stated.

In December, Gilmet's defense team filed a motion to permanently dismiss all charges and specifications due to Unlawful Command Influence (UCI), UAP said in a news release. According to the release, the defense claims statements made by Col. Christopher Shaw "prejudiced the attorney-client relationship between" Gilmet and his military counsel.

The motion to dismiss said Gilmet "has lost trust and confidence in the military justice system" and "doubts" his military counsel's "ability to effectively represent him without fear of reprisal" due to Shaw's comments.

According to UAP, a nonprofit supporting the MARSOC 3, Gilmet's attorney Capt. Matthew Thomas had asked Shaw about protecting military attorneys from outside influences, to which Shaw allegedly responded: "Captain Thomas, I know who you are and what cases you are on, and you are not protected," the motion said.

"Our community is small and there are promotion boards and the lawyer on the promotion board will know you," Shaw is quoted as saying in the court filing.

"Shaw has created a personal interest for Captain Thomas whereby Captain Thomas now has to choose between potential billet assignments and promotion opportunities  in other words, a successful Marine Corps career  and zealously representing CPO Gilmet," the notion said.

"At the time of his alleged statements, Col. Shaw held the position of Deputy Director for Community Management and Oversight of Judge Advocate Division Headquarters Marine Corps," the congressmen's letter states. "The position afforded Col. Shaw direct oversight of both the defense and prosecuting attorneys' career advancement, including permanent change of station assignments."

The letter from the congressmen requests an investigation be opened into Shaw's actions.

"If the allegations are found to be accurate, we ask that Col. Shaw and anyone in higher command condoning or encouraging his comments be held accountable," the congressmen wrote.

The representatives also requested the legal proceedings be paused pending Shaw's investigation, and that if his statements are found true, the MARSOC 3 cases be "set aside with prejudice due to violations of due process."

"(A)ccording to recently obtained affidavits, alleged statements appear to have irreparably damaged any hope for a fair legal proceeding," the letter stated.

The letter also states the MARSOC 3 "maintain their innocence and attest the government has video evidence exonerating them."

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CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  North Koreas state-run news outlet on Monday confirmed it successfully test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States territory of Guam.

The Korean Central News Agency announced the country had fired a Hwasong-12 missile on Sunday from the northwestern area of North Korea toward the eastern coast in consideration of the security of neighboring countries.

The Hwasong-12 is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with an estimated maximum range of 2,796 miles, more than enough distance to reach Guam, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It was first unveiled  and last tested  by North Korea in 2017, the same year the communist regime tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile.

KCNA added that a camera installed on the missile took a photograph of Earth from space.

Sundays launch marks the seventh round of missile tests in January. The missiles specifications make it the boldest weapon fired by the North in nearly five years, when U.S. relations with the communist regime were at a low.

The U.S. and North Korea exchanged heated remarks in 2017, when then-President Donald Trump threatened fire and fury against North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, while Pyongyang signaled it was developing plans to fire at the areas around Guam using its Hwasong-12 missiles.

Neighboring countries confirmed North Korea had tested an intermediate-range missile on Sunday morning. South Koreas military said it detected the launch at around 7:52 a.m. and estimated the missile flew about 500 miles at an altitude of 1,240 miles.

In preparation for additional launches, the military maintains a readiness posture by tracking and monitoring related trends, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Following the launch, Japans chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, told reporters the missile was airborne for around 30 minutes before splashing down outside Japans exclusive economic zone.

"Such a violent ballistic missile launch violates the relevant U.N. Security Council resolution, and Japan has made a strict protest against North Korea, Matsuno said on Sunday. We will continue to collect information to protect the lives and property of the people.

South Koreas Ministry of Unification condemned the Norths latest launch and described it as undermining the efforts of South Korea and other countries to bring about peace on the Korean Peninsula.

We repeatedly urge North Korea to immediately stop such actions  and come out on the path of dialogue and cooperation, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

North Korea previously pledged to keep developing powerful warheads as a deterrent against the U.S. and its allies hostile moves.

The practical combat performance of the long-range cruise missile system would hold a reliable share in boosting the war deterrence of the country, KCNA said in an article Friday.

That statement came days after the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against six North Koreans, a Russian and a Russian firm suspected of aiding the regime's weapons program. U.N. representatives from the U.S., Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom also condemned the January weapon tests.
TOKYO  The U.S. military population in Japan awoke Monday to something closer to normal life after three weeks confined to their homes and military bases to stem the tide of COVID-19.

A stay-at-home order imposed by U.S. Forces Japan at the behest of Japans government expired at 6 a.m., but some restrictions still apply as tens of thousands of people continue to contract COVID-19 on a daily basis across the country.

Ski trips, shopping excursions, restaurant dining  those activities and then some are back on the free-time agenda for the more than 55,000 U.S. service members, their families and civilian employees in Japan. Masks are still required on and off U.S. bases.

However, restrictions on travel in Japan vary from one U.S. base to another, specifically according to vaccination status. Vaccination rates among uniformed personnel are above 95%, based on statements by individual commands.

Camp Zama, headquarters of U.S. Army Japan, has a 93-mile liberty limit. The Marine Corps sets quarantine requirements for zones and travelers based on vaccination status.

Meanwhile, Japan continues to wrestle with high numbers of new COVID-19 cases each day.

Tokyo reported another 11,751 individuals tested positive Monday, 15,895 on Sunday and 17,433 on Saturday, according to public broadcaster NHK and metro government data online.

Japan reported a new one-day pandemic high of 84,795 infections on Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Tokyo, three surrounding prefectures that make up the greater metro area and nine other prefectures are under a quasi-emergency until Feb. 13, restrictions that close restaurants and bars early and curtail sales of alcohol. The same emergency in 21 other prefectures, including Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa, expires Feb. 20.

Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not consider stiffening the emergency in Tokyo even as nearly 48.5% of the hospital beds set aside for routine COVID-19 patients are filled, according to Kyodo News. Nearly 5% of those reserved for severely ill patients are filled, an increase from 3.5% a week ago, according to metro data.

On Saturday, its most recent update as of 5:30 p.m. Monday, U.S. Forces Japan reported 283 new COVID-19 cases at 17 installations across Japan, including 26 individuals awaiting confirmation. The total is one less than the previous report on Friday.

At U.S. military bases in Japan, service members, civilian employees and their families may again venture beyond the gates for more than groceries, worship services and medical appointments. A 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is also lifted, although local curfews and a standing curfew for some service members in Japan still apply.

One significant change also arrived Monday: The period of restricted movement  a loose quarantine for anyone returning to Japan from travel overseas  was halved by some military commands in Japan from 14 days to seven. That keeps with the change made by the Japanese government last week.

U.S. Naval Forces Japan, Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and Kadena Air Base on Okinawa all require the seven-day quarantine period for fully, partially and unvaccinated travelers, according to their Facebook pages. However, unvaccinated individuals are required to spend more time at home, according to rules set by their commands and posted on official base Facebook pages.

III Marine Expeditionary Force still required 14 days of post-travel restricted movement, according to its Facebook page Monday.

The omicron phase of the pandemic on Okinawa may be weakening, but case numbers on the island are still high, according to a III MEF Facebook post Saturday.

Okinawa prefecture, where III MEF is headquartered and Kadena is located, reported 480 new COVID-19 cases Monday, 838 on Sunday and 979 on Saturday, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care.

The prefecture also reported 98 cases from the U.S. military Monday, 89 on Sunday and 225 on Saturday.

Kadena, with a population greater than 18,000, reported 317 active cases Friday, its lastest update, and 25 new cases Saturday and 49 on Friday, according to USFJ.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki was less optimistic than III MEF about the end of home confinement. On Sunday he tweeted a message on the prefectural Twitter account: Okinawa Prefecture is still under quasi-emergency, and it is difficult to say that US military is in a good enough condition to lift the restrictions on their activities outside bases.

Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
TOKYO  Military exercises between the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific, both ongoing and upcoming, send a message to China not to pull a stunt to distract people at home, according to a New Zealand-based American security expert.

The U.S. Air Force is about to launch Cope North, a large-scale aerial combat, force employment and disaster relief exercise with Japan and Australia, that will involve more than 2,000 sorties on and around Guam, Pacific Air Forces announced in a statement Saturday.

Fighter aircraft from all three nations will take part in counter-air and close-air support missions, according to the statement. Theyll also practice aerial refueling. Counter air means attacking enemy air bases while close air support involves aircraft attacking enemy targets near friendly ground forces.

These training missions will conclude with a large force employment exercise designed to enhance readiness and interoperability among the three countries, the statement said.

Interoperability describes the ability of one countrys armed forces to use another countrys training methods and military equipment.

The drills follow last weeks Keen Edge command post exercise involving U.S. and Japanese forces in Japan and the ongoing Marine Exercise 2022 amphibious-assault training involving U.S. sailors and Marines and local forces in the Philippines.

The exercises send a message to China, New Zealand-based security expert Paul Buchanan said Monday.

Internal troubles such as economic and supply disruptions and coronavirus outbreaks could turn powerful Chinese factions against President Xi Jinping, Buchanan predicted.

The Chinese leader hasnt left Beijing for 700 days, Foreign Policy reported Friday.

What do authoritarian leaders do when they are concerned about internal challenges? Buchanan asked. They do something outside to distract attention.

The U.S. and its allies are eager to deter China from pulling a stunt in the South China Sea or beyond, he said.

The possibility of Xi intentionally  using conflict to divert attention from his internal woes have increased dramatically, he said. These exercises increase deterrence.

The Cope North exercise, which runs from Wednesday to Feb. 18, begins with humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief training, according to a Pacific Air Forces statement.

Training will take place at Andersen Air Force Base and Northwest Field on Guam; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including Rota, Saipan and Tinian; Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, the statement said.

Over 2,000 sorties are planned across seven islands and 10 airfields. More than 2,500 U.S. airmen, Marines, and sailors will train alongside about 1,000 from Japan and Australia. Approximately 130 aircraft from over 30 units will fly in the exercise, the statement said.

The training begins as drills in Japan and the Philippines end.

U.S. sailors and Marines and Philippine troops will wrap up Marine Exercise 2022 in the Philippines on Wednesday.

The forces, which began training Thursday, have involved warships training at sea, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines said on its website Friday.

The training includes beach landings, search and seizure of enemy craft and moving troops and equipment, the statement said.

U.S. warships participating include the USS Essex, USS Portland and USS Pearl Harbor carrying troops from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Keen Edge, which began Jan. 23 and wraps up Thursday, involves 500 U.S. personnel and 1,380 Japanese troops at Yokota Air Base and other locations in Japan, along with Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It aims to increase combat readiness and the ability of U.S. and Japanese Forces to work together, USFJ said in a Jan. 23 statement.
The U.S. issued fresh sanctions Monday against people and entities linked to Myanmar's military regime, in a move coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the military seizing control of the government in a coup.

Seven individuals and two entities connected to the country's military regime were targeted, according to the Treasury Department. The sanctions were levied in coordination with the U.K. and Canada, which also sanctioned two government officials.

"One year after the coup, the United States, along with allies in the United Kingdom and Canada, stands with the people of Burma as they seek freedom and democracy," said Brian Nelson, the Treasury under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "We will continue to target those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence, enablers of the regime's brutal repression, and their financial supporters."

The sanctioned government officials include Union Attorney General Thida Oo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo, and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission Tin Oo.

The U.S. is also sanctioning two entities  KT Services & Logistics Company Limited and the Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services  that it says gave support to the military regime. Individuals connected with those entities also subject to sanctions include Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, the CEO of KT group; Tay Za, an owner of companies that provide arms to the Myanmar military; and Tay Za's adult sons: Htoo Htet Tay Za and Pye Phyo Tay Za.

The U.S. has led international sanctions against the regime while supporting diplomatic efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Asean has struggled to get the military government to stick to a five-point consensus agreed to last year that includes stopping conflict with civilians.

Myanmar's generals  led by coup leader-turned-premier Min Aung Hlaing  have struggled to suppress armed resistance from ethnic militias and pro-democracy forces since overthrowing the country's civilian government. A widespread disobedience movement has partly paralyzed the economy while foreign investors, mostly Western, exited the country.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in December the U.S. was weighing new sanctions against the junta. The U.S. was also "actively looking" at whether the Myanmar government's actions toward the country's Muslim Rohingya minority should be labeled "genocide." A 2018 United Nations report said Myanmar's top generals should be investigated and prosecuted for committing genocide and war crimes against the minority population.

Some 1,500 protesters have been killed since the military takeover, and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is facing six years in prison with more court verdicts to come. Rising food prices and joblessness may also leave nearly half the country's 55 million population living below the national poverty line by early 2022.
This story was updated at 6:17 p.m. Central European Time.

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  Two men suspected in the shooting and killing of two police officers Monday during a routine patrol about 12 miles from the U.S. Army base in Baumholder have been arrested, according to police.

The shooting happened during a traffic check on the K22 between Ulmet and Mayweilerhof, near Kusel, at about 4:20 a.m., police from West Palatinate headquarters in Kaiserslautern said.

The officers who died were a 24-year-old woman who was still completing her academy training, and a 29-year-old colleague, police said Monday.

At 5 p.m., police arrested Andreas Johannes Schmitt, 38, of Spiesen-Elversberg, in Sulzbach, about 40 miles from the scene of the shootings in southwestern Germany. A photo released by police showed Schmitt with brown hair and a beard.

Schmitt has a gun license and was previously suspected of leaving the scene of an accident, German news agency DPA reported.

He will appear before a district court judge in Kaiserslautern, a West Palatinate police statement said.

Police also arrested an unidentified 32-year-old man as a suspect, said Andreas Styner, a police spokesman in Mainz. An investigation into whether more people were connected to the shooting is ongoing, Styner told Stars and Stripes.

Helicopters, tracking dogs and special police forces were part of a search Monday that spanned from Rheinland-Pfalz to the state of Saarland.

The two officers reported over police radio that shots were being fired, police spokesman Bernhard Christian Erfort told n-tv television. Police responding to the scene were unable to help the fallen officers, Erfort said.

Erfort said he didn't know whether the officers had seen something particular that led them to check the assailants vehicle.

Earlier Monday, police called on drivers in the Kusel area not to pick up hitchhikers.

Kusel is a town of about 5,500 people 25 miles northwest of Kaiserslautern. The larger Kusel district is also home to Americans who work at U.S. military bases in the area, which include several Army installations and Ramstein Air Base.

Its unclear how many shots were fired, and residents gave mixed accounts of what they heard, police said. Gunfire is relatively common because of the nearby military training area, Kusel district hunting manager Bernd Klinck said, as quoted by the Rheinpfalz.

West Palatinate police are asking anyone with information to call 0631-369-2528.
The U.S., U.K. and the European Union are finalizing a package of sanctions that could be imposed on Russia if it invades Ukraine, trying to tailor their response to the severity of President Vladimir Putin's actions.

Moscow has denied that it's planning to invade, despite massing more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border. The challenge has been trying to devise deterrents that would inflict significant pain on Russia, without causing even worse harm on EU countries that rely on Russia for energy supplies.

Cutting Russian lenders off international payments network Swift is on the table but unlikely because of the collateral damage it would unleash on Europe as well. Here's the menu of options Western allies are planning in the event of a full-scale military invasion, a harder-to-pin incursion or hybrid attack.

Debt and banks

Russia would face further restrictions on refinancing its sovereign debt. The limitations could expand to borrowing on secondary markets. The country ran a budget surplus last year and doesn't need to borrow to finance spending, and there's about $40 billion in foreign investment in government bonds at present.

Russia's biggest banks would be prohibited from some interbank operations in U.S. dollars, such as clearing. A select group of banks could additionally be impacted by asset freezes, as well as limits on some transactions, borrowing and access to capital. Penalties could also be applied to some mostly domestic-facing banks that have been used to circumvent previous sanctions.

The financial institutions targeted include Sberbank and VTB

The idea of cutting Russia off from Swift is the nuclear option that some European countries, including Germany, are wary of. Under discussion are protections for some existing contracts, as well as some wind-down periods.

The White House has discussed the ripple effect of these sanctions on the global financial system with Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is closing in on a deal for its own set of economic countermeasures against Russia even if Putin doesn't send troops into Ukraine.

Energy and metals

Energy is Europe's Achilles heel because it is highly dependent on Russia for natural gas supplies, particularly amid the current supply crunch. The sanctions here would target technology and equipment used in exploration, extraction and refineries.

Energy-related transactions could be exempt from some of the financial sanctions, alongside other caveats, such as carve-outs and so-called grandfathering (where an old rule continues to apply to some situations) and wind-down clauses.

In addition, Germany could separately prevent the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia  which is already facing bureaucratic delays  from starting operations.

Limits could be introduced in the imports of select metals, such as steel and iron, and chemicals. There is a clear expectation by the U.S. that should Russia go for a full-scale attack that Germany would block Nord Stream 2.

Tech, luxury goods

The sanctions are expected to include export controls and bans on advanced technology and sensitive industries, such as semiconductors, aerospace, defense, and cyber surveillance technologies. Restrictions could also be imposed on goods used for both civilian and military purposes, such as in quantum computing. There could be export restrictions on some Russian luxury goods.

Individuals

Measures are being drafted to target Russian oligarchs and state-owned enterprises, with combinations of travel and trade bans and asset freezes. But the legal procedures are cumbersome, so the specifics are taking longer to hash out.

The biggest difficulties here are for the U.K., which otherwise has been the most aligned with the U.S. in terms of how hard to go. Russian billionaires have stashed billions of dollars in property and other assets in the capital, which has earned it the moniker "Londongrad." Many brought in funds from Russia into the U.K. with secret ownership of assets that can dent the effectiveness of sanctions aimed at them.

President Joe Biden has even raised the possibility that the U.S. would personally sanction Putin. The problem there is that on paper the Russian leader doesn't have much. The Kremlin however has said the political impact of those sanctions on the president himself would be tantamount to a breach in relations.

The U.K. has also announced that it will broaden the scope of its sanctioning powers so that it can target individuals close to the Kremlin in the event of an invasion.
Thousands of Islamic State fighters jailed in Syria had to be hustled to a more secure facility in the midst of a 10-day prison siege by the militants aimed at freeing them, according to U.S. officials.

On Sunday, the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces announced that they had retaken the al-Sinaa prison in the northeastern city of Hassakeh after eliminating the last enclaves of ISIS fighters barricaded in dormitories.

The attempted prison break, which began Jan. 20, ultimately sped up the clock to ensuring the detainees are in a hardened facility from which they will never escape, Army Brig. Gen. Isaac Peltier, commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant, said Sunday in a separate statement.

Peltier called the attack a huge ISIS failure.

Had they succeeded, the militants likely would have carried out further attacks in Hassakeh and elsewhere, the SDF said in a statement Monday, adding that the assault was part of a long-planned operation that drew militants from neighboring Iraq.

Detainees were still being accounted for late Monday, said Maj. Chuck An, a spokesman for the U.S.-led special operations task force, in an email to Stars and Stripes.

The Hassakeh facility is one of the largest in the region housing ISIS members captured on the battlefield during the campaign that began in 2014 to liberate swaths of the country from their control.

The Kurdish-led SDF was recovering remains and clearing the area, the joint task force said. The command provides training, assistance, advice and operational support to partner forces in the region.

The coalition backed the SDF with real-time surveillance, airstrikes and limited ground forces to suppress the prison break. The U.S. Armys Bradley Fighting Vehicles helped establish a perimeter to contain the fighting.

Using car bombs and suicide belts, dozens of militants had overrun the facility, while prisoners inside rioted. They took some of the hundreds of child detainees hostage and used them as human shields during the battle for control of the prison, Kurdish officials have said.

After negotiations with the SDF, most of the fighters surrendered and released their hostages, and SDF fighters killed or captured senior leaders of the militant group, the coalition said.

U.S. officials have repeatedly urged countries to repatriate their ISIS-affiliated citizens held in such facilities so they can be prosecuted or rehabilitated, but many are reluctant to do so.

The U.S.-led coalition has also warned of likely ISIS attempts to free its members from the makeshift detention facilities, where inmates have staged several riots in recent years in attempts to escape.

This months prison break was the biggest ISIS operation since the group was ousted from its territorial caliphate in 2019, The Associated Press reported.

The SDF had said Wednesday that it gained full control of the facility after the surrender of over 3,000 detainees, but clashes resumed when a later sweep uncovered dozens of armed fighters holed up in a dormitory basement.

At the new, more secure facility where the detainees were taken, the SDF will use biometrics to enroll prisoners, an unidentified coalition official told the AP last week. The attackers had initially targeted that facility but failed to take it, the news agency reported.

Thanks to the bravery and determination of the SDF, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, ISIS failed in its efforts to conduct a large-scale prison break to reconstitute its ranks, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday in a statement.

Some 121 members of the SDF, security forces and prison staffers were killed, including at least four civilians, the SDF said. At least 374 detainees and attackers were killed, it said.

The death toll is expected to rise as clearing operations continue and more remains are found.

The continued presence of tens of thousands of ISIS families in Syrian detention camps is a time bomb with a pulled safety pin, Kurdish officials said Monday. They urged the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute them.
Virginia Military Institute will remain the state's only college exempt from a requirement to protect those who report sexual assaults from being punished for drug or alcohol violations.

A bill that would have stripped VMI of that exemption died Monday in the Virginia House of Delegates.

A majority of the House's higher education subcommittee voted against the legislation, which was proposed by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, but opposed by VMI leaders.

VMI, the nation's oldest state-supported military college, is the only school in the commonwealth not required to give immunity to students who reveal, in the course of reporting a sexual assault, that they'd been drinking or doing drugs during the incident. The subcommittee's vote was along party lines, with Republicans opting to kill the bill.

Helmer had urged his colleagues on the subcommittee to support the bill, saying VMI should not be held to a different standard than the state's other colleges and universities.

"Those women and men who are victims of sexual violence will know they are guaranteed by law the right to come forward and report and ... it will take us out of the position of VMI being this outlier," he said. "It's a stain, right? Like, we want VMI to be a leader. It's a stain that it's the only college in Virginia in which you aren't protected if you come forward and report sexual assault by the law."

He later bemoaned the death of the bill on the House floor.

For more than a year, VMI's culture has been subjected to intense public scrutiny. A state-ordered investigation, conducted by the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg, concluded in June that the college suffers from a "racist and sexist culture." The firm's final report found that "sexual assault is prevalent at VMI" and that about 14% of female cadets surveyed  11 out of 81 students  reported that they had been sexually assaulted at VMI. Another 63% of female cadets  51 out of 81 surveyed  said that a fellow student confided in them that they'd been sexually assaulted or harassed at VMI.

VMI didn't accept women until 1997 and did so only after losing a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court. About 14% of the college's 1,650-student corps of cadets are women, according to the school's most recent data.

In remarks before the subcommittee, Helmer did not hold back. He told fellow delegates that the "need for change at VMI is pretty legion" and that that the bill could lead to VMI cadets feeling more comfortable reporting that they'd been sexually assaulted. He cited the Barnes & Thornburg survey figures, along with recent reporting by The Post that a Jan. 22 sexual violence prevention class prompted mocking comments about female cadets and the course's subject material on the anonymous social media app Jodel.

But VMI pushed back. Its government relations director, Kimberly Parker, said the school already has "an immunity provision" that gives the superintendent, retired Army Maj. General Cedric T. Wins, the freedom to protect students who disclose they've consumed drugs or alcohol while reporting sexual assaults.

"This superintendent is committed to supporting and doing what is in the best interest of the victims of sexual assault and removing any barriers to minor infractions," Parker said. "That said ... these cases are extremely complex, and so it has been the historic position of the institute that the discretion to make decisions on disciplinary immunity should lie at the institute level, should lie with the institution, with the superintendent to make decisions based on the facts of each particular case."

One of the subcommittee's members, Del. Jeffrey M. Bourne, D-Richmond, pressed Parker, saying he didn't understand the school's "heartburn."

Parker told the delegate that the college didn't want to lose any of its authority, especially given the school's rigorous military regimen.

"Once you put it in code ... [it's] very inflexible, right? I mean, it doesn't offer the flexibility to look at the circumstances of the case," Parker said. "And, the superintendent truly believes, given the inherent risk in our training environment, the superintendent believes that we need the ability to be able to make decisions on this or at least retain the tools to require access to [counseling] services [for drug or alcohol use] so that we can provide some accountability for a cadet who may disclose, and in that disclosure, reveal a larger problem."

VMI's spokesman said that no cadet in recent memory who has reported a sexual assault has been penalized for alcohol or drug infractions that came to light in the course of the investigation of the incident.

If that was the case, a subcommittee member asked Helmer, why was the bill necessary?

"We find ourselves in a position where VMI is telling us two different things. They're saying, 'Hey, this bill is not needed because the superintendent has the discretion ... to grant immunity.' They say, 'Hey, nobody's coming forward that's been punished for this,'" Helmer said. "So, either there is no problem in granting this bill ... passing this bill will have no impact on good order and discipline at VMI and we will learn nothing more about sexual violence. Or, there's a huge problem and ... the impact of us granting discretion to the superintendent is such that victims are terrified to come forward."
WASHINGTON  Some U.S. troops in Europe could be moved to NATO countries farther east on the Continent as Russia continued to amass forces over the weekend in Belarus and along its border with Ukraine, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

President Joe Biden said Friday night that he soon intends to send a small amount of U.S. service members into Eastern Europe as tensions increase with Russia over its buildup of troops around Ukraine.

Kirby said Monday that Biden was referring to potential agreements with individual ally countries for more forces, which could be separate from the roughly 8,500 U.S. troops recently placed on alert for a possible deployment in Europe with the NATO Response Force, which has not yet been activated.

What the president was talking about was the potential for additional U.S. troops to bolster the capabilities of some of our eastern flank NATO allies, Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. We're in active consultations with allies about their needs.

Four NATO countries border Ukraine  Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. However, Kirby did not specify which NATO countries might have U.S. troops deploy there.

In December, Russia began amassing troops at its border with Ukraine, and this month started adding troops to Ukraines northern border with Belarus for what Russia said were exercises with that country last week.

NATO nations, including the U.S., have expressed concern in recent weeks that the buildup could mean Russia intends to invade Ukraine, as it did in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula.

Bidens announcement Friday came about five days after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin placed the roughly 8,500 troops in the U.S. on high alert to be ready to deploy to Europe.

Affected troops must be ready to deploy within five days should they be called upon to support U.S. allies and the NATO Response Force, which consists of about 40,000 troops from multiple countries in the alliance that can quickly respond to threats by sea, air and land, Kirby said last week.

The U.S. also has tens of thousands of troops already in Europe from Poland to Italy, Kirby said. Those troops could be tapped to support agreements with countries in Eastern Europe should a decision be made to do so.

An option available to us is to use U.S. forces that are already in the European theater  you don't necessarily have to flow in forces from the states or from even other theaters, he said. We're taking a look at the whole menu of opportunities available here in units available and then we'll work that out individually with each NATO ally as appropriate.

Kirby also said the U.S. continues to see Russia amass troops along Ukraines northern and western borders as Vasily Nebenzya, Russias representative to the United Nations, on Monday denied malintent.

"The military action of Russia against Ukraine that they're all assuring us is going to take place in just a few weeks' time, if not a few days' time  there is no proof confirming such a serious accusation whatsoever being put forward," Nebenzya said at a U.N. Security Council meeting. "However, that is not preventing people from whipping up the hysteria to such an extent that an actual economic impact is already being felt by our Ukrainian neighbor."

Russia over the weekend continued supplying additional ground forces to Ukraines borders with Russia and Belarus, Kirby said. The U.S. has estimated approximately 100,000 Russia troops are now flanking Ukraine.

"These are combined arms capable forces, so it's not just infantry, for instance. It's artillery, it's air defense, he said. [Russian President Vladimir Putins] got a full range of military capabilities available to him which only continue to increase the number of options available to him if he decides to move militarily.

However, Nebenzya on Monday denied reports more than 100,000 Russian troops are flanking Ukraine.

Where did you get the figure of 100,000 troops that are deployed as you stated on the Russian-Ukrainian border? Although that is not the case, we have never cited that figure. We've never confirmed that figure, Vasily told the U.N. Security Council.

Additionally, Kirby said the U.S. is watching closely as Russia has been increasing its naval activity in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, where the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group is participating in an exercise and operating under NATO control for the first time since the Cold War.

[There has been] nothing hostile necessarily to report to or to speak to, but [the Russians] have put to sea more ships, they are exercising at sea, they are clearly increasing the capabilities they have at sea should they need it, he said.

Biden has said he will not send U.S. troops into Ukraine to fight Russian troops, though about 100-200 Florida National Guard members have been in the country since December on an advise-and-assist mission training Ukrainian troops.

The U.S. also continues sending security assistance packages including Javelin anti-tank missiles, grenade launchers and other artillery, the most recent of which arrived in Ukraine on Friday, Kirby said.

The U.S. has sent $650 million in security assistance to the country during the past year  and $2.7 billion total since 2014, according to the State Department.
(Tribune News Service)  Alexander Volkov of Minneapolis was in Ukraine last month visiting relatives with his wife, Tanya, as a threatening throng of Russian troops were gathering at the border.

The mood was serene as Kyiv residents looked forward to the upcoming holidays and "went about their usual business," he said. But that masked an anxiety many of them felt.

"They know that, well, if anything happened, it will be really brutal," the software architect for a large health care company said, referring to family members. "Because, you know, the more than hundred-thousand troops, heavy machines and all (these) heavy weapons are being deployed. If they decide to (invade, it) will be basically a massacre," he said.

For scores of Ukrainian Americans like Volkov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's menacing maneuvers are more than geo-politics among world powers. They are personal, involving not just the heritage of the nation they identify with, but also family and friends who could be casualties of a one-sided war.

The impending threat against Ukraine by Putin could have global consequences and cost the U.S. and North Atlantic Alliance countries millions in aid to protect the vulnerable nation against Putin's intent to reestablish Russian dominance in the region.

So far, Volkov supports the decision by President Joe Biden not to send U.S. troops.

"I think that there is an obligation (for the) United States as well as Britain to support Ukraine as much as possible," said the 47-year-old immigrant from Kyiv, citing the Budapest Memorandum. "But I believe that support should be more like, political, diplomatic, maybe equipment-wise and training. But not direct involvement with the troops on the territory of Ukraine at this point."

The Budapest Memorandum is a 1994 agreement between the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom and Ukraine to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and "to refrain from the threat or use of force." The agreement effectively convinced the Ukrainian government to relinquish the world's third largest nuclear arsenal at the time.

On another continent, Ukrainian Americans, confident in Ukraine's commitment to fend off an invasion, still anxiously await the next move.

Over 1 million Ukrainian Americans live in the U.S., according to the 2019 U.S. Census, and Ukrainians comprise 15% of the 30,000 total refugees who resettled in the U.S. during former President Donald Trump's administration, according to The Washington Post.

Most Ukrainian Americans live in the mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest with a large cluster on the west coast. New York, Pennsylvania and California have the largest concentrations with more than 100,000 each, according to the Ukrainian National Association Inc.

USA TODAY talked with members of the community about living with the looming threat over Ukraine.

Some are wary of pledges from NATO and the U.S. to provide assistance, while others feel President Joe Biden is taking the right steps in approaching the conflict. All are worried about their families in Eastern Europe.

Biden on international aid to Ukraine

During his first press conference of the year, Biden said U.S. and NATO allies would respond with "severe costs and significant harm on Russia and the Russian economy" if Putin invades Ukraine.

But he added the response will depend on the extent of Russia's actions.

"It's one thing if it's a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about (what) we have to do and not do," Biden said.

The statement riled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who later tweeted: "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."

Stefan Iwaskewycz, a Ukrainian American professional photographer and bandleader, told USA TODAY that Russian intimidation is not just a "small threat."

"This is the largest country fully within Europe threatened by another country that is seeking to limit the democratic rights of people," the Minneapolis native said.

The Russian government seeks to impede the spread of democracy, especially to countries along its borders, according to Iwaskewycz.

"Russia is trying its hardest to prevent democratic will, the freedom of choice, to happen in each of those countries," he said. "If one country falls ... I do believe other countries (will) as well."

"Throughout his time, either as president or prime minister in government  as essentially the head of government in Russia  Putin has repeatedly questioned the existence of Ukrainians as a people. He has repeatedly stated that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people. He has repeatedly questioned the rights of the Ukrainian state to exist or even the very existence of a legitimate Ukraine," Iwaskewycz said.

Taras Rafa, a Ukrainian American and systems engineer living in Minneapolis, thinks the U.S. government is moving in the right direction on the Ukrainian conflict, but too slowly.

"This war has already started, but on the diplomatic front," he said. "Russia's Putin seeks attention and needs to show people how 'big and important' his country is on the international diplomatic arena."

Reaction to Biden not deploying U.S. troops

Biden has said the U.S. will likely not send troops to help defend Ukraine against a Russian invasion, though the Pentagon has put 8,500 military service members on "heightened alert" and millions of dollars have already been spent to beef up the country's military capabilities.

Marta Kelleher, president of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, said the U.S. "has to lead with these preventative measures to avoid war."

The organization, which represents the Ukrainian diaspora in Ohio, is advocating for pre-invasion sanctions, such as against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which could be used to leverage Russia because of its reliance on gas revenues for economic development  to persuade the country to avoid further escalation.

"It's a common interest and as expected their concerns are just as great as Ukrainians because Ukraine has been the buffer between Russia and the countries that flank Ukraine on the western side," Kelleher said. "Their concern is that buffer will no longer be there."

A multi-sided approach is needed to sway Russia, said Iwaskewycz.

"My hope would be that there would be very strict financial sanctions on Russia, but also the commitment of some significant degree of American and Western  even NATO  military forces to support Ukraine," he said.

Ukrainians will fight back if necessary

Ukrainians facing the threat of an invasion from their more powerful neighbor receive moral and financial support and prayers from their U.S. relatives.

Andy Fedynsky, director of the Ukrainian Museum Archives in Cleveland, has a cousin who lives in western Ukraine. He said Ukrainians are protective of their independence but calm in the face of escalating conflict because they have lived through so much of it.

"People in Ukraine are ... resolute. They want to defend their independence, their sovereignty. They're relatively calm because they've lived through this for a decade and more," he said.

Fedynsky said there is "a great deal of apprehension here in the community" about what is happening in Ukraine. Ukrainian Catholic churches in northeast Ohio recently have had liturgies to pray for peace in the country.

"We're gratified we don't have to rely just on prayer but we have very strong support," the former Democratic congressional aide said.

Kelleher still has family in Ukraine, including an elderly aunt who lives in Donbass, a conflict zone in eastern Ukraine where government forces have fought Russian-backed separatists since 2014. Although her cousins have moved to the unoccupied area of the region, they can't afford to leave the country.

"It's stressful for them to live in because they're constantly listening to the artillery and the war that's going on there even now," she said. "It's brought a lot of destruction to the house they live in and fear. It's also caused some of the younger people to see there's absolutely no way to live a normal life. They have moved."

The threat of an invasion from Russia has united Ukrainians, even those who are not in the military, around defending their home, Kelleher said.

"You can sense that they're going to fight for their country," she said.

Rafa, who stays in contact with family through video calls, says Ukrainians are resilient, but that the conflict should be kept from escalating.

"The emphasis should not be on how would Ukrainians survive and fight back," he said. "The emphasis (should) be that there is absolutely no way the new active war shall be started in Europe in the 21st century. Period."

Contributing: Rick Rouan, USA TODAY

(c)2022 USA Today

Visit USA Today at www.usatoday.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SEATAC, Wash. (Tribune News Service)  Waiting on the tarmac Friday afternoon was a seven-member military honors team from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

At 2:50 p.m. the cargo door on the Airbus 321 opened. The flag-draped, silver-painted steel casket was slid down a ramp until the soldiers could lift it by the swing bar handles.

"Present arms!"

There is a ritual. The Air Force has a 121-page manual for honor guard protocols, for every occasion.

After 78 years, 2nd Lt. Anel Shay Jr. was finally back home.

He was a Seattle kid who went to elementary school on Phinney Ridge, Lincoln High in Wallingford, and graduated from the University of Washington, having studied architecture. He was an Eagle Scout.

Shay was 25 when he enlisted in March 1942, and served with the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force.

Back then, in World War II, the sacrifice was shared.

Shay was 26 when he was killed in one of America's most disastrous air missions of World War II. And until last June, until arduous DNA work was complete, his remains had not been identified.

But now, amid the noise of jet planes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, two of his distant relatives waited, as did a small crowd of airport workers. Even the first officer who had piloted the American Airlines plane came down to pay his respects.

What came to be known as "Black Sunday" or "Bloody Sunday" lasted 27 minutes over a Romanian target on Aug. 1, 1943.

Operation Tidal Wave was to be a knockout blow to the oil refineries around the town of Ploesti (its modern spelling is Ploiesti) that supplied 60% of the Nazis' wartime fuel needs.

The colossal undertaking was composed of 178 B-24s with aircrew totaling 1,726 men.

The B-24s departed on their 1,200-mile journey from Benghazi, Libya. A photo from 1943 shows the B-24s flying off with tents in the background.

The cost of Operation Tidal Wave was high: 51 planes failed to return. Listed as killed were 225 crew members at the Ploesti target area, and 310 in the overall mission. The cost increased to over 500 men when including those imprisoned or missing. That was nearly 30% who didn't return.

The United States, of all the nations in the world, is the one that makes the greatest effort to bring those who served and died in the country's service, says Christine Cohn, historian with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

"It's not a cliche. It's a promise that the government makes to all service personnel when they join the military and take the oath. To do everything we can to bring them home," says Cohn.

A month after the mission, Eva Shay said in the Sept. 3, 1943, edition of The Seattle Times that she was hopeful her son was alive.

"We know that the radio operator on the same plane was in a hospital in Romania, and I have corresponded with his father," she said.

You have to have hope, even as the Army Effects Bureau has you sign for your son's personal property: "2 shorts coats, 1 field jacket, 1 trench coat, 1 blouse w/insignia and wings ... 1 swimming trunk, neckties, 1 pr. slippers, 1 bundle letters, 1 garrison caps, silk robe, bundle personal letters, New Testament ..."

That radio operator was Sgt. William E. Treichler, the only one of the 10-man crew who survived. He died in 2011 at age 98.

The crew had named their B-24 the "Semper Felix." They adorned the side with two dice and two cards, both adding up to a lucky 7, and a four-leaf clover.

Treichler, who spent 14 months as a POW, would later tell an investigator for the adjutant general that he had just heard Shay say, "Bombs away."

Then:

"A few seconds later I heard several crashes from the forward part of the plane. Those may have been hits from heavy gunfire or cannon."

Treichler saw metal ripping.

"An instant later a flash of flame came from the wing section over the bomb bay, followed by a blast of heat."

The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, Germans saying about his crew, "All kaput."

Army investigators found numerous eyewitness accounts.

One was of a dispatch on the ground in Romania describing the funeral of 101 crewmen: " ... most of these aviators had been found carbonized and it was impossible to establish their identity."

Another told of barrage balloons tethered to the ground by cable to tangle planes, and "an apparently impenetrable curtain of gunfire from ground installations" as well as "exploding bombs and oil-tanks, and billowing smoke and flame from the burning targets."

Some of the B-24s dropped down to treetop level at 250 mph, with crews able to make out the faces of farmers below.

A January 1962 paper published in The Air Power Historian itemized numerous ways the mission went haywire.

Operation Tidal Wave was intricately planned, authors James Dugan and Carroll Stewart wrote in the paper, with relief models of each refinery, and motion picture cameras trucked over these models to show how they would look to aircraft.

Still, things went awry, such as when two of the five bombing groups made a wrong turn and began heading to Bucharest, Romania's capital, until realizing their mistake and changing course.

By then, the Germans knew the B-24s were coming; how, it's not clear. The authors speculate it was perhaps high-altitude reconnaissance planes flying at 6 miles high that often snooped over Benghazi.

Also, among crucial information the planners didn't have, said the authors: Ploesti had "more flak guns than Berlin  more than forty batteries.

The Luftwaffe had upward of 259 planes at Ploesti.

It wasn't unskilled Romanians manning anti-aircraft guns, but mostly "skilled and resolute Germans.

The remains of the B-24 crews ended up buried in a cemetery in Ploesti and in smaller village cemeteries. After the war, American teams began disinterring those remains and trying to identify them.

Still, 80 men were unaccounted for.

Their remains began a second journey, this time to two American memorial cemeteries in Belgium. Then, starting in 2017, a third journey, to the POW/MIA lab at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

So far, the lab has identified nine of the Ploesti airmen.

On Friday, those waiting on the tarmac included the bombardier's step nephew John Shay, of Entiat in Chelan County and grandnephew Dylan Shay, of Edmonds. The latter had sent in a DNA swab.

Both men said they were surprised when contacted and knew little of their relative. Now they do know about that 26-year-old, the lab having sent them dozens of pages of history, as well as the DNA work.

"As a kid I saw his medals in the cabinet at my grandmother's house. They'd say, those are Bud's medals. But they didn't talk a whole lot about him," says John Shay.

But now, "It's really pretty humbling."

On Thursday at 1 p. m., a service will be held at Acacia Memorial Park in Lake Forest Park, with full military honors.

Then, at some point soon, in Italy, a rosette will be placed next to Shay's name on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery.

When you're accounted for, you get a rosette.

(c)2022 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Stillwater, OK (74074)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely - heavy rainfall is possible, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely - heavy rainfall is possible, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Weather Eye

with John Maunder

For further Infomation about a wide range of weather/climate matters see my new book "Fifteen shades of climate... the fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect".

The extract below on "Climate Refugees" is from pages 293-298 of my book.

The idea for the book came about when I was visiting my family in Adelaide in January 2020 during a heat wave. One day when the forecast was for 45C my daughter Denise suggested I should stay inside, shelter from the heat and write another book. I asked what did she have in mind and she simply said Climate the Truth. My son Philip who has lived in Adelaide for about 30 years thought it was a good idea but after a few days thought I settled on "Fifteen shades of climate".

The book is available through the web site amazon.com. Just Google fifteen shades of climate for details.

www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDR1GFD?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

******************************************

CLIMATE REFUGEES

Climate refugees according to Wikipedia are people who are forced to leave their home region due to sudden or long-term changes to their local environment. These are changes which compromise their secure livelihood. Such changes may include increased droughts, desertification, sea level rise, and disruption of seasonal weather patterns (i.e. monsoons). Climate refugees may choose to flee to or migrate to another country, or they may migrate internally within their own country.

Despite problems in formulating a uniform and clear-cut definition of environmental migration, such a concept has increased as an issue of concern in the 2000s as policy-makers, environmental and social scientists attempt to conceptualize the potential societal effects of climate change and general environmental degradation. Unless it is assumed otherwise, in order to consider a person a climate refugee, nature or the environment could be considered the persecutor.

Climate refugees do not really fit into any of the legal definitions of a refugee. Not all climate refugees migrate from their home country, on occasion they are just displaced within their country of origin. Moreover, the refugees arent leaving their homes because of fear they will be persecuted, or because of generalized violence or events seriously disturbing public order. Even though the definition of who is a refugee has been expanded since the first international and legally binding definition in 1951; people who are forced to flee due to environmental change are still not offered the same legal protection as refugees.

The term environmental refugee was first proposed by Lester Brown in 1976. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) proposes the following definition for environmental migrants:

Environmental migrants are persons or groups of persons who, for compelling reasons of sudden or progressive changes in the environment that adversely affect their lives or living conditions, are obliged to leave their habitual homes, or choose to do so, either temporarily or permanently, and who move either within their country or abroad.

Climate refugees or climate migrants are a subset of environmental migrants who were forced to flee due to sudden or gradual alterations in the natural environment related to at least one of three impacts of climate change: sea level rise, extreme weather events, and drought and water scarcity".

IOM proposes three major types of environmental migrants:

 Environmental emergency migrants: people who flee temporarily due to an environmental disaster or sudden environmental event. (Example: someone forced to leave due to a hurricane, tsunami, earthquake, etc.)

 Environmental forced migrants: people who have to leave due to deteriorating environmental conditions. (Example: someone forced to leave due to a slow deterioration of their environment such as deforestation, coastal deterioration, etc.)

 Environmental motivated migrants also known as environmentally induced economic migrants: people who choose to leave to avoid possible future problems. (Example: someone who leaves due to declining crop productivity caused by desertification). Those displaced temporarily due to local disruption such as an avalanche or earthquake; those who migrate because environmental degradation has undermined their livelihood or poses unacceptable risks to health; and those who resettle because land degradation has resulted in desertification or because of other permanent and untenable changes in their habitat.

Other categorisations include:

 Pressured environmental migrants  slow onset. This type of migrant is displaced from their environment when an event is predicted prior to when it would be imperative for the inhabitants to leave. Such events could be desertification or prolonged drought, where the people of the region are no longer able to maintain farming or hunting to provide a hospitable living environment.

 Imperative environmental migrants  gradual onset. These are migrants that have been or will be permanently displaced from their homes due to environmental factors beyond their control.

 Temporary environmental migrants  short term, sudden onset. This includes migrants suffering from a single event (e.g. Hurricane Katrina). This does not mean that their status of being temporary is any less severe than other groups, it simply means that they are able to go back to the place they fled from (though it may be undesirable to do so) granted that they are able to rebuild what was broken, and go on to maintain a similar quality of life to the one prior to the natural disaster. This type of migrant is displaced from their home state when their environment rapidly changes. They are displaced when disastrous events occur, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occur.

In 2017, Wikipedia noted that there was no standard definition of a climate refugee in international law. However, an article in the UN Dispatch noted that people who have been uprooted because of climate change exist all over the world  even if the international community has been slow to recognize them as such

Environmental migrants

Experts have suggested that due to the difficulty of rewriting the UNs 1951 Convention on Refugees, it may be preferable to treat these refugees as environmental migrants. In January 2020, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled that refugees fleeing the effects of the climate crisis cannot be forced to return home by their adoptive countries.

There have been a number of attempts over the decades to enumerate environmental migrants and refugees. Jodi Jacobson (1988) is cited as the first researcher to enumerate the issue, stating that there were already up to 10 million Environmental Refugees. Drawing on worst-case scenarios about sea level rise, she argued that all forms of Environmental Refugees would be six times as numerous as political refugees. By 1989, Mustafa Tolba, Executive Director of UNEP, was claiming that as many as 50 million people could become environmental refugees if the world did not act to support sustainable development.

In 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 1990: 20) declared that the greatest single consequence of climate change could be migration, with millions of people displaced by shoreline erosion, coastal flooding and severe drought.

In the mid-1990s, British environmentalist, Norman Myers, became the most prominent proponent of this maximalist school (Suhrke 1993), noting that environmental refugees will soon become the largest group of involuntary refugees. Additionally, he stated that there were 25 million environmental refugees in the mid-1990s, further claiming that this figure could double by 2010, with an upper limit of 200 million by 2050 (Myers 1997). Myers argued that the causes of environmental displacement would include desertification, lack of water, salinization of irrigated lands and the depletion of biodiversity. He also hypothesised that displacement would amount to 30million in China, 30milion in India, 15million in Bangladesh, 14milion in Egypt, 10million in other delta areas and coastal zones, 1million in island states, and with otherwise agriculturally displaced people totalling 50million by 2050. More recently, Myers has suggested that the figure by 2050 might be as high as 250 million.

These claims have gained significant currency, with the most common projection being that the world will have 150200 million climate change refugees by 2050. Variations of this claim have been made in influential reports on climate change by the IPCC (Brown 2008: 11) and the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern et al. 2006: 3), as well as by NGOs such as Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace Germany (Jakobeit and Methmann 2007) and Christian Aid; and inter-governmental organisations such as the Council of Europe, UNESCO, IOM and UNHCR.

Norman Myers is the most cited researcher in this field, who found that 25 million environmental migrants existed in 1995 in his work (Myers & Kent 1995), which drew upon over 1000 sources. However, Vikram Kolmannskog has stated that Myers work can be criticized for being inconsistent, impossible to check and failing to take proper account of opportunities to adapt (2008: 9). Furthermore, Myers himself has acknowledged that his figures are based upon heroic extrapolation (Brown 2008: 12). More generally, Brown has argued that there is surprisingly little scientific evidence that indicates that the world is filling-up with environmental refugees (1998: 23). Indeed, Francois Gemenne has stated that: When it comes to predictions, figures are usually based on the number of people living in regions at risk, and not on the number of people actually expected to migrate. Estimates do not account for adaptation strategies (or) different levels of vulnerability (Gemenne 2009: 159).

In the first half of the year 2019, Wikipedia said that 7 million people were internally (e.g. in their country) displaced by events of extreme weather, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. This was a record at that time and the number is twice the number displaced by violence and conflicts.

In Asia and the Pacific, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre noted that more than 42 million people were displaced in Asia and the Pacific during 2010 and 2011. This figure includes those displaced by storms, floods, and heat and cold waves. Still others were displaced by drought and sea level rise. Most of those compelled to leave their homes eventually returned when conditions improved, but an undetermined number became migrants, usually within their country, but also across national borders.

Climate-induced migration

Climate-induced migration is a highly complex issue which needs to be understood as part of global migration dynamics. Migration typically has multiple causes, and environmental factors are intertwined with other social and economic factors, which themselves can be influenced by environmental changes. Environmental migration should not be treated solely as a discrete category, set apart from other migration flows. A 2012 Asian Development Bank study argues that climate-induced migration should be addressed as part of a countrys development agenda, given the major implications of migration on economic and social development.

The report recommends interventions both to address the situation of those who have migrated, as well as those who remain in areas subject to environmental risk. It says: To reduce migration compelled by worsening environmental conditions, and to strengthen the resilience of at-risk communities, governments should adopt policies and commit financing to social protection, livelihoods development, basic urban infrastructure development, and disaster risk management.

Additionally, it is maintained that it is the poor who populate areas who are most at risk for environmental destruction and climate change, including coastlines, flood-lines, and steep slopes. As a result, climate change threatens areas already suffering from extreme poverty. The issue of equity is crucial. Climate affects us all, but does not affect us all equally, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told delegates at a climate conference in Indonesia. Africa is also one of the world regions where environmental displacement is critical largely due to droughts and other climate-related eventualities.

Due to rising sea levels, as many as 70,000 people will be displaced in the Sundarbans as early as 2020 according to an estimate by the School of Oceanographic Studies at Jadavpur University. One expert calls for restoring the Sundarbans original mangrove habitats to both mitigate the impacts of rising seas and storm surges, and to serve as a carbon sink for greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change refugee

In what turned out to be a test case, a Kiribati man, Loane Teitiota, in 2013, sought to claim that he was a climate change refugee under the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1951). This was determined by the High Court of New Zealand to be untenable. In commenting on the case, Wikipedia said that The Refugee Convention did not apply as there is no persecution or serious harm related to any of the five stipulated convention grounds.

The Court rejected the argument that the the international community itself (or countries which can be said to have been historically high emitters of CO2 or other greenhouse gases) were the persecutor for the purposes of the Refugee Convention. This analysis of the need for the person to identify persecution of the type described in the Refugee Convention does not exclude the possibility that people in countries experiencing severe impacts of climate change can come to the Refugee Convention. However, it is not the climate change event itself, rather the social and political response to climate change, which is likely to create the pathway for a successful claim.

The New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal and the High Court of NewZealand, said that there is a complex inter-relationship between natural disasters, environmental degradation and human vulnerability.

Sometimes a tenable pathway to international protection under the Refugee Convention can result. Environmental issues sometimes lead to armed conflict. There may be ensuing violence towards or direct repression of an entire section of a population. Humanitarian relief can become politicised, particularly in situations where some group inside a disadvantaged country is the target of direct discrimination.

The New Zealand Court of Appeal also rejected the claim in a 2014 decision. On further appeal, the New Zealand Supreme Court confirmed the earlier adverse rulings against the application for refugee status, with the Supreme Court also rejecting the proposition that environmental degradation resulting from climate change or other natural disasters could never create a pathway into the Refugee Convention or protected person jurisdiction.

Teitiota appealed to the UN. In January 2020, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled against Teitiota on the basis that his life was not at imminent risk, but also said that it was a human rights violation to force refugees to return to countries where climate change poses an immediate threat..

************************************************************************************************************
UPDATE 11.30am: Police are searching for a person of interest in relation to a fire in Te Puna.

A police spokesperson says a dog squad is in attendance at the fire on Vernon Road in Minden.

The spokesperson says they responded to the request for assistance from Fire and Emergency at 10.13am.

Fire and Emergency northern communications shift manager Josh Pennefather says they were called to a car fire just after 10am.

We had two fire trucks there and eight firefighters, he says.

The car fire had spread to some scrub that was nearby.

He says the scrub fire was 100 metres by 30 metres in size and that has been put out.

Were still there dampening down hot spots but the fire is extinguished.

Josh says the cause of the fire is unkown at this stage.

"We normally notify police about car fires, to help locate the owner."

EARLIER: Reports are coming in of fire crews and police attending an incident at a property in Te Puna this morning.

A witness at the scene says there are two fire trucks and two police vehicles, including the dog squad, on Vernon road in Te Puna.

They say there is fire down a grass bank and they can see black smoke billowing from the area.

Its just off the road and there is a house about 50m away from the fire.

There are police here with a dog squad, so they must be looking for someone.

The fire crew look like they have the fire under control.

This is the second fire in the Western Bay of Plenty this morning. Four crews responded to a large shelterbelt fire in Kairua around 8.20 am.

SunLive will continue to monitor the situation and will update the story as information becomes available.

At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz
Fast-track consenting made available for Provincial Growth Fund projects could see work start on a $29.4 million marina in Whakatane mid-year.

Named Te Rahui Herenga Waka, the boat harbour is to be constructed through a partnership between landholders Te Rahui Lands Trust, Whakatane District Council, Ngati Awa Group Holdings and the Crown, which was formalised last week.

The new boat harbour will provide commercial boat operators with access to better facilities and more berths while increasing economic returns for the community. Funding of $19.6 million has been provided by the Crown via Kanoa  Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit - for the build of the boat harbour, and $9.8 million is to be contributed by Whakatane District Council, with Te Rahui Lands Trust providing the site.

Project director Phil Wardale from Wardale Marine Industry Consulting, who first recognised the potential of the site, says the group had gained approval to utilise the fast-track consenting pathway provided by the Ministry for the Environment for Covid-19 recovery projects.

Phil says the project will create the equivalent of at least 30 full-time jobs during its construction and, longer term, was expected to create upwards of 600 new jobs and flow-on economic benefits for Whakatane. As part of the project, areas of wetland will be restored and improvements made for public and recreational use of the Wairaka area, where boats are now berthed.

He says from his first meeting with Te Rahui Lands Trust members they had seen the potential for the project.

Te Rahui Lands Trust representatives met with East Coast MP Kiri Allan last week. Pictured are Charles Bluett, Kiri Allan, Brian Simpson and Te Arani Barrett. Supplied image.

Te Rahui Lands Trust chairman Brian Simpson says the project will restore the connections and mauri of the river for future generations and enable key outcomes for the trust to be achieved.

The project has empowered us as kaitiaki to utilise our whenua in a way that respects and protects the dynamic river environment and provides employment and training for our owners and Ngati Awa.

Brian acknowledged East Coast MP Kiri Allan as a key player in supporting the trust and partners to reach agreement. We recently met with Kiritapu Allan and were excited to share the news that the partnership had been formally established between Te Rahui Lands Trust, Whakatane District Council, Ngati Awa Group Holdings and the Crown via Kanoa  Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit.

Allan says the formalisation of the partnership represented an important milestone in the regions economic development.

I congratulate the partners on the hard work to date and look forward to seeing the project come to fruition she says.

Whakatane Mayor Judy Turner says the council had long supported the development of a new boat harbour.

[It will] further unlock opportunities in our local marine and tourism sectors, and drive wider economic, social and environmental benefits.

The project forms a key part of our districts economic development strategy, which is further magnified by our need to respond to Covid and its impacts. This unique partnership represents a new and exciting way of delivering core infrastructure into our region.

Phil says the fast-track consenting pathway, which enabled a more streamlined consent approval process, was designed to support New Zealands recovery from the economic and social impacts of Covid-19.

Fast-tracking the consenting application means the review and processing timeframes are condensed. This means its up to us as a project team to ensure we have provided a robust and well considered application that answers any and all questions that may arise.

He says the fast-track consent process gave surety of the time-frame that it would be within 72 working days. Though there would likely not be an open consultation process, stakeholder groups would be consulted with.

Phil says he has spent a lot of time with relevant stakeholders including environmental groups such as Forest and Bird and the Whakatane Harbour Care Group in the preparation of the consent application.

Community engagement will be ongoing as the project moves through the consenting process. Subject to receipt of consents, construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2022.

Future possibilities

The site has the potential to accommodate a recreational boat harbour, a boat ramp, and further businesses. Currently this is not funded, but it is hoped that it will be built following the completion of the first stages and as demand allows.

Harbour a boost to Whakatane boat builders and environment

Project manager Phil says the first stage of Te Rahui Herena Waka is expected to take around two years to complete once work starts.

It would provide berthage facilities for around 60 commercial vessels from 14 to 30 metres in size, working as commercial charters and in aquaculture and fishing.

It will also offer a travel lift of 80-to-100-tonne capacity, providing a new option for vessels to be hauled out and undergo maintenance. In a future stage of the project, berthage for recreational boats, a boat ramp and additional commercial premises are proposed to be developed.

There will also be a new marine training school onsite to provide skilled workers for existing and new businesses in Whakatanes marine industry. This already boasts New Zealands largest and most successful and productive builders of aluminium boats, Extreme Boats and Surtees Boats.

The harbour project aims to ultimately provide for 800 jobs, including 218 existing jobs in Whakatanes marine and tourism industries. Around 30 people will be involved in its construction on a full-time basis, many of them from Ngati Awa, who will be reskilled or upskilled via training providers to support the projects contractors.

The majority of products used in construction will be made in New Zealand  from within Whakatane or its neighbouring regions where possible  to support the countrys recovery. The project will have an immediate improvement on local water quality. Several riverside berths will be removed once the boat harbour is complete. Removing these vessels will improve and restore river flow. The project will also include the restoration of an area of land to the north-east of the site to create close to a hectare of restored wetland adjacent the river.

The projects design has had to consider the dynamic river environment along with sea level rise and likely global warming impacts. Vessels located in the boat harbour will also have access to in-berth sewage disposal  almost eliminating the need to dump at sea. In addition, stormwater treatment will improve discharges from both run off, and boat maintenance activities, and planted sea walls will assist a natural ecological balance as well as water filtration.

Before Te Rahui Herenga Waka is developed, removal of material from historic activities will be undertaken. Materials will be carefully re-used in earth works or disposed of in an appropriate manner.
There is one new Covid-19 case in the Bay of Plenty and three in the Lakes District today.

The Bay of Plenty case is in Tauranga and is a household contact of a previously reported Omicron case, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.

The three new Rotorua cases are all household contacts of previously reported Omicron cases.

These four cases are included in the 91 new community cases being announced across New Zealand.

The cases are in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington.

This brings the total number of community cases in the current outbreak to 12,005 with 771 cases still active. Of these cases, 9085 are epidemiologically linked.

There are 39 new cases identified at the border.

The seven day rolling average of community cases is 69 and the seven day rolling average of border cases is 40.

Regional updates

Northland

There is one new case in Northland and the case is a household contact of a previously reported Omicron case.

Auckland

There are 65 cases to report in Auckland, says the ministry.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1,025 people in the region to isolate at home, including 354 cases.

Waikato

There are 17 new cases in the Waikato today, with eight linked to previous cases and seven under investigation.

Nine are reported for Hamilton, four in Morrinsville, one in Cambridge, one in Paeroa. Two remain under investigation.

There were 1090 tests processed in Waikato yesterday.

In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 54 cases to isolate at home.

Tairawhiti

There is one new case in Tairawhiti. The case is linked to an existing case and the Soundsplash music festival in Hamilton.

In addition, there are a further four cases being announced today, which will be officially added to the ministrys case numbers tomorrow.

Three of these cases are also linked to existing cases and the Soundsplash music festival. A further case has investigations ongoing.

Hawkes Bay

Two new cases are being reported in Hawkes Bay today, both with links established to a previously reported Delta case.

Wellington

There is one new case in Wellington and it is linked to an event in Auckland.

Case investigations are underway to identify exposure events that link to this case, says the Ministry..

The ministry is asking people to check for new locations of interest in the Wellington region on their website.

In addition, whole genome sequencing has confirmed a case in the Hutt Valley reported yesterday is confirmed as having the Omicron variant.

With recent positive wastewater test results in Porirua treatment plant, the ministry is urging anyone who lives in Porirua and Wellingtons northern suburbs to get a test if they feel unwell with Covid-19 like symptoms.

Omicron update

Public health teams are continuing to manage both Omicron and Delta cases in the community through rapidly isolating cases and contacts, contact tracing, and testing to slow the spread, says the ministry.

Whole genome sequencing continues to take place on all new unlinked cases of Covid-19 and provides additional information to aid public health decisions.

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is now the dominant variant, therefore the specific variant of the virus is no longer being reported alongside case numbers.

As cases continue to increase, the priority for whole genome sequencing will be to highlight patterns of virus spread rather than individual cases.

Wearing a mask, physical distancing and scanning in using the Covid-19 Tracer app when youre out and about will all help slow the spread of Omicron, says the ministry.

The most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat, and a runny nose.

People with these symptoms are asked to get a test, and stay at home until they get a negative result and symptoms are resolved.

Testing sites in Tauranga can be found on the Health Point website.

Rotorua testing sites can also be found on the Health Point website.
UPDATE 4pm: A person is in a serious condition after a crash involving a motorcycle and three vehicles on State Highway 29.

A St John spokesperson says one ambulance and an intensive care paramedic attended the crash at the intersection of SH29 and McLaren Falls Road around 2:40pm.

One patient is in a serious condition has been transported to Tauranga Hospital via ambulance, they say.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising the is crash blocking a lane, so caution is advised along the route.

UPDATE: 3.45pm Emergency services are attending a crash involving a motorcycle and three vehicles on State Highway 29.

A police spokesperson says police were called to the collision at the intersection of SH29 and McLaren Falls Road at 2:40pm.

Two people involved have moderate injuries, says the spokesperson.

It is unclear if the road is partially or fully blocked but traffic management has been called to the scene.

EARLIER: Reports are coming in of a crash on State Highway 29 in the lower Kaimai area.

Tauranga City Council says there is a report of a motor vehicle accident involving three cars and a motorcycle.

Council says the crash is reported to be at the intersection of McLaren Falls Road and SH29.

The police have not arrived at the scene yet, says council.

Traffic is already building in the area according to Google live traffic updates.

Image: Google Maps.

SunLive will continue to monitor the situation and will update the story as information becomes available.

At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz
Tahlequah, OK (74464)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
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Brad Grant has developed a reputation of being affiliated with champion Standardbreds year in and year out  so much that it likely comes as no surprise that three of his horses are up for O'Brien Award consideration on the basis of their 2021 campaigns.

What did come as a surprise to Grant was Grandma Heidi's O'Brien nomination alongside Bulldog Hanover and Wheels On Fire  but her performances, while under the radar, certainly warrant due consideration just as much as her pacing stablemates.

"I was happy to see her nominated, but was very surprised," Grant told Trot Insider. "She had to race against the boys all the time because there's no Mares Preferred up here, and she raced tough and made $126,000."

In fact, Grandma Heidi held her own against both O'Brien nominees among older male trotters  Oney Hall and defending divisional O'Brien winner Perfetto  in top-level competition at Woodbine Mohawk Park, hitting the board in 19 of 32 starts this season, only missing five cheques, and taking a mark of 1:52.3 in August. That level of consistency against mixed competition was, to Grant, the strongest asset Grandma Heidi displayed in her final season of on-track competition before embarking on a broodmare career in Sweden.

"She just was a consistent mare," Grant continued. "You know having to race against the boys all the time, and she just was  if nothing else, I had some consistency. Especially with her and Wheels On Fire. Every week, they raced well, and you knew you were going to get a good showing. You knew something was going to come out of it, and they did, both of them."

As stealthy as Grandma Heidi was in achieving her success through 2021, her fellow Richard Moreau trainee, Wheels On Fire, was anything but stealthy. The Somebeachsomewhere gelding spent plenty of time in the Saturday night spotlight at Mohawk, winning eight Preferred events on Canada's premier circuit among his 13 seasonal scores.

"I think his record speaks for itself," Grant said. "Twenty-seven starts, 27 times in the money; I think he was only worse than fourth twice. He won almost $300,000, consistently racing against the best up here and continues to show up. I think he's deserving."

Despite Wheels On Fire's dominance over Canada's top weekly warriors, it was a defeat  rather than a victory  that was most memorable for Grant this season.

"We really hadn't intended to race him in the Mohawk Gold Cup," Grant explained, noting that Wheels On Fire had been off for five weeks prior to the Sept. 18 invitational. "They called Richard and asked if he wanted to put him in, and we raced him with no expectations. And, you know, he finished fifth, beaten a couple of lengths. Who knows if he would have been really, really tight what would have happened? But again, it just shows that the horse had a big heart and showed up every night, but he had so many highlights. He just ... he showed up to race."

In addition to his pair of O'Brien nominees with Moreau, who seeks an unprecedented ninth straight Trainer of the Year title, Grant will also be represented at Sunday's (Feb. 6) Virtual O'Brien Awards Gala by Bulldog Hanover, whom he owns in partnership with trainer Jack Darling.

Bulldog Hanover banked over $680,000 in his sophomore season, winning 10 of 15 races  including a Somebeachsomewhere division, three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events, and a quartet of stakes at Harrah's Hoosier Park in November. While the main thorn in Bulldog Hanover's side, fellow O'Brien nominee Desperate Man, captured both the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup and the the Ontario Super Final, Grant is hopeful that his star colt's consistency and late-season success can carry him to Canadian harness racing's top seasonal honour.



"If we take the North America Cup out of the equation and we happen to win that one, it's probably a different story. But, you can't take anything away from Desperate Man. I mean, he had a great season and raced well, so I'm not surprised that Bulldog is one of the two finalists. The other colt has done a great job and he's raced up here, and it's going to be close, but either would be a great champion."

As synonymous as Grant is with harness racing champions, the magnitude of being up for not just one but three O'Brien Awards is not lost on him, noting that he's "very happy to get three." Still, the affable Milton, Ont. resident is quick to defer credit to his trainers for their hands-on contributions.

"We had a five-minute conversation, and the deal was done," Grant said about buying into Bulldog Hanover with Darling. "I've dealt with Jack before. Two things you know about Jack: he's a great horseman and a great gentleman. So I knew I was getting a good horse, and just being a part of a good horse is always great.

"And I've got to give a ton of credit to Richard and his team for Grandma Heidi and Wheels On Fire. Ron Burke took both of them down (to the United States) when we got shut down up here and maintained them. Richard sent them down in great shape, and Ron sent them back in great shape. But Richard, probably over the last couple of years, has been the mainstay behind both those horses. And, obviously, his consistency with them and pretty well with every horse I have with him, it speaks volumes."

The only missing piece of the O'Brien puzzle for Grant  as it is for many Standardbred participants  is the in-person gala, which has been put on hold for a second straight year. Still, he plans to tune into the Virtual O'Brien Awards Gala, as he also did last year.

"I mean, it's nice to see everybody, and, you know, the winners get recognition," Grant lamented. "I thought they did a nice job under the circumstances last year ... but it's nice to go out because you get all the top horses recognized. A lot of people are there that you only see at the racetrack, or you only see them in the paddock or at the barn. That part of it's nice. But the world's changing. And I think Standardbred Canada and the O'Brien committee have done a great job under the circumstances. So I'm looking for as good as last year this year, and definitely looking forward to it."

Hopefully, for Grant, this winter's O'Brien celebration will be thrice as nice.
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tvr_sdq Newbie

Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Ernakulam Posts: 1 Thanked: 49 Times

Why Auto Makers are struggling in India Our government asked Tesla not to sell Chinese manufactured Tesla cars in India. We can easily figure out why the government would have told so. They want Tesla to set up their factory here in India, but Elon Musk is not ready to give up easily by setting up one.



After 2017, 4 major automobile manufacturers stopped their operations in India. Including global giants like Harley Davidson, General Motors, Ford, and the UM. When makers like them leave India, we really lose some great quality products and the shock waves created by the news are quite serious. For example, when Ford Motors left, around 4000 direct employees and 35000 indirect employees were in trouble. Not only that, 7.1% of our overall GDP and 49% of our manufacturing GDP is contributed by the automobile industry. These figures speak us the importance of the automobile sector and its existence. So, when a manufacturer like Ford leaves India, it is not just the owners of an EcoSport or an Endeavour who suffers, the entire market will have its side effects.



The current value of the Indian Automobile Industry is around 118B USD, and we are expecting growth to 300B USD. India is currently the worlds largest 2 and 3-wheeler manufacturer and fourth-largest passenger car manufacturer. When it comes to heavy vehicles, we stand third and in the case of vehicles like the tractors, we are again the worlds largest manufacturer.



In spite of all these ranks and honors, the time band of 2018 to 2019 had been one of the most severe tensions and our automobile industry suffered significantly. According to the SIAM ( Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), there was a drop of 18.71 percent in overall automobile manufacturing and a 31% drop in passenger car manufacturing.



The reasons for this drop were



1. Demonetization

2. A sudden hike in the price of vehicles due to the hike in associated price and fees in various stages, like the registration, etc..

3. GST ( around 28 percent GST is levied on automobiles)

4. Advent of shared mobility like Ola, Uber, etc..

5. Transition from BS4 to BS6.

6. People holding back on EVs or waiting for them.



Ford and Chevy left. Toyota is surviving with the help of Maruti, Honda stopped CRV, and Civic. Nissan was struggling and Magnate came to the rescue. VAG group has an India 2.0 project (on which expectations are high). Jeep is here with the facelifted Compass and a 36 lakhs price tag. Maruti being the jack of all trades is surviving. Surprisingly, the KIA motors have had a stampeding success, where they sold around 3 lakh cars in 3 years. ( I would like to mention the Isuzu here, who have survived here despite anything and everything ). The fear of people around the foreign manufacturers has in fact boosted the market for Indian manufacturers and they are coming up with world-class products (which is really hopeful).



But still, there must be something for why the Ford, Chevy, Honda struggled here. Let us take a look at the challenges faced by the Indian manufacturing sector to get a better idea.



1) Unskilled labor: Yes. We have cheap labor here in India, but the skillsets when compared to other countries are not competitive enough

2) Indian land prices place it among one of the most expensive to own places in the entire globe. So, setting up a manufacturing facility would be obviously difficult.

3) Cost of power

4) Capital cost, which when compared to other countries, is around 20 to 30 percent higher here.

5) Logistics costs: The global average of logistics is around 8% of the revenue, while in India, it is around 13%



There could be other factors also and all these are making the companies suffer. Automobile manufacturing is not a simple process and it needs very huge investments. If these issues are not fixed, it would be difficult for manufacturers to survive here.



Currently, we are experiencing a huge demand in the automobile industry, in the post covid era, as people are preferring private transport over the public ones. This has given better times to the manufacturers and they are hoping the same trend to continue going forward too.



Let us see how it goes.
Mr. Nobody BHPian



Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 477 Thanked: 520 Times

6 grand years and 1.2 lakhs worth of functional accessories in my car!



My ownership experience has been good and the car has been fairly reliable. I have driven 50k Kms in these 6 years.



Positives i experienced about the car:

1. Comfortable low-speed ride.

2. Good low end torque for city use with good engine refinement.

3. No rattles yet even with dash opened many times.

4. Good after sale service of Hyundai.



Negatives:

1. Mileage could have been better.

2. The braking feedback is quite narrow. ie. there is not much travel between harder braking and gentle braking. Most new drivers of my car find the braking way too sensitive.

3. The lack of ABS and airbags also reminds me to drive within limits.

4. The reverse gear does not slot in always which is kind of annoying.



The first 2 years of ownership were fairly simple and since i was a new driver i too was learning about being a better driver and the front bumper has seen its share of paint jobs that were thankfully covered due to zero dep insurance. Then the itch to change things a bit started and so i started adding stuff to make the ownership experience better. I believe more in functional mods over visual ones and most of them are for some purpose/function generally. Some of the modifications/accessories i have added are as below:







Audio Upgrade 1:

I chose a touchscreen pioneer AVH 279BT HU for the superior audio quality as back in 2015 the android ones were too pricey and laggy. I paired JBL components for front and coax speakers for the rear. This was a good combination and better than most factory audio setups of even cars costing 2-3 times. Cost 20k.



Audio Upgrade 2:

The itch for better bass got to me one day and i got a Pioneer underseat sub-woofer TS-WX400DA installed under the co-passenger seat from a Delhi dealer. This has great bass to fill the bass gap and makes music truly felt inside. It's not window-shaking bass like those 1000w mono powered subs but good enough for my use plus no loss of space in boot. It also comes with a remote to control some settings. I have also got all the 4 doors damped which made the cabin much quieter and truly enhances the audio setup of any car. Using a touchscreen while on the move is kinda distracting and i later got stereo-mounted controls added as well to control the HU. This comes as a panel that replaces the current panel. Wiring was directly taken from the stereo control adaptor below steering to the HU. Cost 13k (Sub)+6k(Damping) + 3.5k (Steering panel).





Interiors:

All cabin and boot lights were replaced with LED ones.

I am prone to sweating quickly in summers and so wanted fabric ones over the leatherette ones. Got these made from a shop in karol bagh. Also got a matching steering cover installed which makes the tactile feel of holding the steering wheel so much better. The one issue is that the lighter portion gets dirty much quicker than the leather ones and needs cleaning when dirty using detailing products. After using those suction ones for phone mounting that fall off soon within months i got this magnetic mount for my phone. It comes with a metal plate that you can stick on your phone cover. The advantage is you can quickly mount and unmount on the go without fiddling with clips and holders. It's strong enough that the phone has never fallen even on bumps etc. Cost: 5.3k (Seat covers) +1.1k (Steering cover) + 300.





Led in the boot making things easier to see at night.





Exterior:

The sun in Delhi NCR is truly harsh and hence i got Lumax UV canceling sunfilms installed on all 4 windows and the hatch door. One does not feel that pinching pain that i used to get earlier when driving in the sun. It also makes the cabin a little cooler as well. Since its not dark its not really noticeable and no cop has luckily ever noticed it during stops and checks. Cost: 6k. As can be seen below its barely noticeable.







Anti rust coating has been applied on the underbody. Added benefit of this is the cabin also gets quieter with the road noise from the underbody and wheel wells reduced due to the rubber like coating that absorbs sound waves. This is worth it as one also gets a booster dose of sorts in the next year if it has come off from any area. The undercarriage needs to be well cleaned using a degreaser and pressure wash for the best application. Else one will just drap dirt inside the coating and metal body and make the coating pointless. Cost: 2k.



Useful gadgets:

Hydraulic jack: It makes lifting the car very easy and quick. Quite useful when you are out and about and suddenly see a puncture.

Puncture kits: With punctures costing 50-100 each at shops, i have already redeemed its price by fixing 4 punctures myself and then filling air at the pumps. Cost: 1.1k + 250.





Dashcam: I was once driving and on an intersection a lady on a scooty ran a red light and nearly crashed into me. She barely hit the bumper but fell down. When i was reprimanding her for dangerous driving suddenly she started crying and even the traffic cops started taking her side. That day itself i knew i need a dashcam to insure myself from such people. I did not want to go for a battery based one fearing a fire with the 45 degree NCR summers. Got a capacitor based model from (Blueseasky b1w) that does not have a screen and hence is safe & very discreet. It's hardwired to auto start on car turning On and one can use its app to transfer video to a phone although its slow so better to use a OTG card reader. I've used it for 3 years now and its worked well till now. It has recently saved me from a Delhi traffic cop who mistakenly flagged me down last week. Definitely recommend a dashcam for all car users in India. The first memory card from Sandisk lasted me like 1-1.5 years and then bought a samsung card that is running well since past 1.5 years Cost: 4k+ memory card.



http://youtu.be/g6hQRHDupnw



Car Lighting:

Although the standard halogen lighting is okay i wanted white lighting and also increased output. I have put Bi-Led projector lens on the main headlamps and Iph M617 bi Led inside the fog lamp assembly. Both installed via DIY mode. The lighting is excellent and makes night driving a breeze plus the ultra fast flash makes sure hi-beamers get the message to lower theirs on undivided roads. I chose Led over HID as i wanted to retain ability to flash plus no hassle of extra relay wiring or extra load on battery. The main headlamps have been used since 3+ years now and no issues thankfully. However if something goes bad i will need to change the entire projector as there is no bulb that is replaced unlike the Hid projectors that have replaceable bulbs, ballasts, projector. Here's a short video of it from my phone. Cost: 15k + 6.5k.





https://youtu.be/EGMZUloTK2M



Car handling:

The 165 section tires are quite thin and on highway runs always felt the stock Goodyear tires are the ones letting it down. I used them till around 42k kms and with frequent punctures and beading leak issues i decided its time to upgrade. I had decided on XM2 or MRF ZLX but most shops either had old stock or were overpriced. I then got Yokohama earth 1 175/65 from a dealer in karol bagh. I have driven around 8k on these and these have made the car much more settled on high speed turns and all round braking.



I also upgraded from the steel rims to alloys. Its a 5.5 x14 inch width rim that's perfect for 175 size tires. Did not upsize rims for fear of bad ride quality. Reduction in unsprung weight definitely makes the car drive better with lesser load on suspension as well. Also painted the calipers for aesthetic reasons since the caliper was exposed now. A stock steel rim with 165 Goodyear tires that have ran 40k kms weighs 13.2 kgs, the new combination weighs approx 13.2 as well. The yoko earth 1 are quite a heavy tire compared to others from across brands.Cost 15k+16k.







Detailing:

After earlier trying those "formula 1" waxes and polishes i discovered how much better actual detailing brands like Turtlewax and Meguiars are. Here's my currently used products to make car look better and protect that shine. After trying traditional waxes that need lot more buffing and manual labor, i love how latest spray sealants make the job so much easier with the same results.



Also bought a big box of like 40 microfibers for like 1400 that i use everywhere in my home. Rather than buying expensive microfibers and the hassle of cleaning and maintaining them i bought these from softspun and open a new one whenever required. Cost: approx 6k.



My detailing arsenal below:







Mechanical maintenance:

Since my car has just done 50k there has not been much on this front. The manual recommends a gear oil change at around 40k kms and i used a synthetic one but no noticeable difference in gear changes.

I have used liqui moly injector cleaners many times over the years and it's a good fuel additive with better mileage, quieter engine and no jerking at low rpms seen by me. I may try their engine flush next month as the engine has not yet been flushed in 50k kms and I use non synthetic oil only so feel the engine could do with a flush.



Thanks for reading.

My Grand i10 turned 6 last year and wanted to share & document my experience in updating it to my liking. I will keep things crisp and to the point to focus on the modifications and accessories which have made the car more functional and enjoyable. Rather than adding things which are only for aesthetics I prefer functional changes.My ownership experience has been good and the car has been fairly reliable. I have driven 50k Kms in these 6 years.Positives i experienced about the car:1. Comfortable low-speed ride.2. Good low end torque for city use with good engine refinement.3. No rattles yet even with dash opened many times.4. Good after sale service of Hyundai.Negatives:1. Mileage could have been better.2. The braking feedback is quite narrow. ie. there is not much travel between harder braking and gentle braking. Most new drivers of my car find the braking way too sensitive.3. The lack of ABS and airbags also reminds me to drive within limits.4. The reverse gear does not slot in always which is kind of annoying.The first 2 years of ownership were fairly simple and since i was a new driver i too was learning about being a better driver and the front bumper has seen its share of paint jobs that were thankfully covered due to zero dep insurance. Then the itch to change things a bit started and so i started adding stuff to make the ownership experience better. I believe more in functional mods over visual ones and most of them are for some purpose/function generally. Some of the modifications/accessories i have added are as below:I chose a touchscreen pioneer AVH 279BT HU for the superior audio quality as back in 2015 the android ones were too pricey and laggy. I paired JBL components for front and coax speakers for the rear. This was a good combination and better than most factory audio setups of even cars costing 2-3 times. Cost 20k.Audio Upgrade 2:The itch for better bass got to me one day and i got a Pioneer underseat sub-woofer TS-WX400DA installed under the co-passenger seat from a Delhi dealer. This has great bass to fill the bass gap and makes music truly felt inside. It's not window-shaking bass like those 1000w mono powered subs but good enough for my use plus no loss of space in boot. It also comes with a remote to control some settings. I have also got all the 4 doors damped which made the cabin much quieter and truly enhances the audio setup of any car. Using a touchscreen while on the move is kinda distracting and i later got stereo-mounted controls added as well to control the HU. This comes as a panel that replaces the current panel. Wiring was directly taken from the stereo control adaptor below steering to the HU. Cost 13k (Sub)+6k(Damping) + 3.5k (Steering panel).All cabin and boot lights were replaced with LED ones.I am prone to sweating quickly in summers and so wanted fabric ones over the leatherette ones. Got these made from a shop in karol bagh. Also got a matching steering cover installed which makes the tactile feel of holding the steering wheel so much better. The one issue is that the lighter portion gets dirty much quicker than the leather ones and needs cleaning when dirty using detailing products. After using those suction ones for phone mounting that fall off soon within months i got this magnetic mount for my phone. It comes with a metal plate that you can stick on your phone cover. The advantage is you can quickly mount and unmount on the go without fiddling with clips and holders. It's strong enough that the phone has never fallen even on bumps etc. Cost: 5.3k (Seat covers) +1.1k (Steering cover) + 300.Led in the boot making things easier to see at night.The sun in Delhi NCR is truly harsh and hence i got Lumax UV canceling sunfilms installed on all 4 windows and the hatch door. One does not feel that pinching pain that i used to get earlier when driving in the sun. It also makes the cabin a little cooler as well. Since its not dark its not really noticeable and no cop has luckily ever noticed it during stops and checks. Cost: 6k. As can be seen below its barely noticeable.Anti rust coating has been applied on the underbody. Added benefit of this is the cabin also gets quieter with the road noise from the underbody and wheel wells reduced due to the rubber like coating that absorbs sound waves. This is worth it as one also gets a booster dose of sorts in the next year if it has come off from any area. The undercarriage needs to be well cleaned using a degreaser and pressure wash for the best application. Else one will just drap dirt inside the coating and metal body and make the coating pointless. Cost: 2k.Hydraulic jack: It makes lifting the car very easy and quick. Quite useful when you are out and about and suddenly see a puncture.Puncture kits: With punctures costing 50-100 each at shops, i have already redeemed its price by fixing 4 punctures myself and then filling air at the pumps. Cost: 1.1k + 250.Dashcam: I was once driving and on an intersection a lady on a scooty ran a red light and nearly crashed into me. She barely hit the bumper but fell down. When i was reprimanding her for dangerous driving suddenly she started crying and even the traffic cops started taking her side. That day itself i knew i need a dashcam to insure myself from such people. I did not want to go for a battery based one fearing a fire with the 45 degree NCR summers. Got a capacitor based model from (Blueseasky b1w) that does not have a screen and hence is safe & very discreet. It's hardwired to auto start on car turning On and one can use its app to transfer video to a phone although its slow so better to use a OTG card reader. I've used it for 3 years now and its worked well till now. It has recently saved me from a Delhi traffic cop who mistakenly flagged me down last week. Definitely recommend a dashcam for all car users in India. The first memory card from Sandisk lasted me like 1-1.5 years and then bought a samsung card that is running well since past 1.5 years Cost: 4k+ memory card.Although the standard halogen lighting is okay i wanted white lighting and also increased output. I have put Bi-Led projector lens on the main headlamps and Iph M617 bi Led inside the fog lamp assembly. Both installed via DIY mode. The lighting is excellent and makes night driving a breeze plus the ultra fast flash makes sure hi-beamers get the message to lower theirs on undivided roads. I chose Led over HID as i wanted to retain ability to flash plus no hassle of extra relay wiring or extra load on battery. The main headlamps have been used since 3+ years now and no issues thankfully. However if something goes bad i will need to change the entire projector as there is no bulb that is replaced unlike the Hid projectors that have replaceable bulbs, ballasts, projector. Here's a short video of it from my phone. Cost: 15k + 6.5k.The 165 section tires are quite thin and on highway runs always felt the stock Goodyear tires are the ones letting it down. I used them till around 42k kms and with frequent punctures and beading leak issues i decided its time to upgrade. I had decided on XM2 or MRF ZLX but most shops either had old stock or were overpriced. I then got Yokohama earth 1 175/65 from a dealer in karol bagh. I have driven around 8k on these and these have made the car much more settled on high speed turns and all round braking.I also upgraded from the steel rims to alloys. Its a 5.5 x14 inch width rim that's perfect for 175 size tires. Did not upsize rims for fear of bad ride quality. Reduction in unsprung weight definitely makes the car drive better with lesser load on suspension as well. Also painted the calipers for aesthetic reasons since the caliper was exposed now. A stock steel rim with 165 Goodyear tires that have ran 40k kms weighs 13.2 kgs, the new combination weighs approx 13.2 as well. The yoko earth 1 are quite a heavy tire compared to others from across brands.Cost 15k+16k.After earlier trying those "formula 1" waxes and polishes i discovered how much better actual detailing brands like Turtlewax and Meguiars are. Here's my currently used products to make car look better and protect that shine. After trying traditional waxes that need lot more buffing and manual labor, i love how latest spray sealants make the job so much easier with the same results.Also bought a big box of like 40 microfibers for like 1400 that i use everywhere in my home. Rather than buying expensive microfibers and the hassle of cleaning and maintaining them i bought these from softspun and open a new one whenever required. Cost: approx 6k.My detailing arsenal below:Since my car has just done 50k there has not been much on this front. The manual recommends a gear oil change at around 40k kms and i used a synthetic one but no noticeable difference in gear changes.I have used liqui moly injector cleaners many times over the years and it's a good fuel additive with better mileage, quieter engine and no jerking at low rpms seen by me. I may try their engine flush next month as the engine has not yet been flushed in 50k kms and I use non synthetic oil only so feel the engine could do with a flush.Thanks for reading. Last edited by Mr. Nobody : 31st January 2022 at 00:40 . Reason: 6 Grand (i10) Years and loads of functional accessories!
estilo Newbie

Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 4 Thanked: 71 Times

A Drive down Memory Lane



Now one might wonder what has changed now that this post is actually seeing the light of day!



Well friends let me take you back in time when life was easy, traffic was better, and petrol was cheaper (1/3 of today's price).



A little backstory

When I was a kid my parents met with an accident while riding on a motorcycle, my father had a hand fracture, and I landed on the bonnet of the car! Thereafter mode of transport shifted to scooter auto or PTC buses depending upon destination and ease! After some time, we did have a motorcycle (Ind-Suzuki) but then back to scooter till 1996.



Below is my brother on our Allwyn pushpak at the IIT Madras campus.









With such a hard landing I never got to purchase a motorcycle, always prevented by my mother.



2007

Since I never got to own a motorbike and office commute was on company transport never felt the need to get a car. So when I got married the car became a necessity. My wife was from out of Delhi so the urge to go around sightseeing, visiting friends and family arose. Also, as luck would have it

I switched jobs where there was no company transport and the one-way distance was 33 Kms!



So, in the summer of 2007, we did a little car shopping and swung by nearby Maruti showrooms, to choose between an alto(blue color), wagon-r, and an unheard-of name Estilo. Alto was considered too small for station commute and wagon r was ruled out by both as it was common in both the families.

So, of to something different. The car had some nice features like power windows! (LXi), Immobilizer, non- boxy look sort of tallboy design and came in colors never seen before. Nothing else mattered.



So, one evening in June got delivered of this Beige little beauty and off we went to the temple for Puja with Pooja. Later that night my brother drove to Gurgaon as I could not be trusted for night driving! I had learned driving but until now I never ventured from the comfort of my locality.









So now when it came to driving to the office daily, I called up my good friend Rajan who lived nearby to accompany me till Noida Sector 1. He was a business owner accustomed to reaching the office at 11 AM and here I was taking him to the office at 9:30! thankfully he agreed and this arrangement continued for a month or two until I was confident of driving 66Kms daily. For someone who used to drive a Verna in 2007, a big thank you Rajan for helping me crisscross Delhi, daily via our favorite route of Akbar Road /India Gate. Thus, I became certified in interstate driving.





2007-2009

In this period the car clocked the maximum distance per month, owing to office commute. Weekend drives were nothing as compared to the daily commute. Then as luck would have it, we moved out of Delhi to a locality in NCR. The daily driving was reduced to 24 km only. Which was a good, time and fuel saver. My true first trip outside of NCR was to Ajmer in 2010, which at that time I considered quite an achievement! Thereafter trips to Jaipur, Shimla, Agra was made in the Zen Estilo to the fullest.



2015

Now the car was quite old and the family was looking for a change in terms of better ride quality (a certain stretch on my office route took ages to become a road), more space, etc. So, we started exploring options and on one such occasion went to NOIDA for Showroom hopping from Skoda (Rapid) to Maruti (Ciaz). You know when you visit a Maruti showroom just after having a test drive of a Skoda, the build quality simply stands out to everyone. In excitement, I accidentally locked my keys inside the car outside the Skoda showroom in NOIDA!



While exploring options, my wife and I had been eyeing the Ford EcoSport for quite some time but there was a big problem. My mother was unable to board it due to knee issues. On one occasion we had the test drive at home where we went with a plastic stool to understand the difficulty in boarding. The test drive was on the Eco-boost petrol engine, the discomfort in ingress and egress was quite apparent. The decision was postponed.



2016

Somehow mother got convinced of getting TKR (Total Knee Replacement) done, so in autumn of 2016 the first operation was done successfully, and then in December, the second operation was done. Somehow time went by and the topic of cars did not crop up regularly for reasons now quite evident in the family.



2017

The car change started becoming urgent, the ride quality had fallen despite changing shock absorbers. The only thing that remained unchanged was the seats! In March 2017 took a test drive of Honda WRV but did not find it impressive.



Challenges in buying a car

1. Type

2. Brand

3. Gadget list

4. Budget

5. What the heart wants! And what the spouse wants!

In the end, the only thing that mattered was the last point.



So when towards the end of 2017 Ford launched the facelift model of EcoSport we were overjoyed.







2018

We planned to visit the showroom only when the display cars had arrived in Jan 2018. We did not take a test drive, we simply asked mom to get in and check the comfort. That was all that we wanted to check.

The blue and brown colors were enticing but the Sales Associate (SA) discouraged us saying

most bookings are for these colors only. So, in the first week of March, we booked the petrol titanium moondust silver. After a week I was informed, the car was getting delayed by several weeks. With a heavy heart I asked the SA to cancel the booking, he offered me a titanium diesel for an extra 50K, with the assurance that the car would be registered for 15 years (at that time there was little clarity on this rule). So finally on 31st March we landed at the showroom for inspection and took delivery.

Below image, different cars different temples, and India gate









Within four months of buying the car, I changed job and now the total daily- driving distance came to 10 Kilometers. At one point I got tempted to sell and go in for company leased vehicle, (of course petrol) but in the end, did not as the big question was which car would I buy.



So, the saga of weekend drives in 2018 to Murthal, Gurgaon, Karnal, Greater Noida, and many other places started. In June 2018 we were planning a trip to Himachal (Ghaziabad -Chandigarh- Dharamshala - Mcleodganj-Palampur-Ghaziabad). The trip was done in a luxury tempo traveler thus missing on the drive in the hills. But I must say traveling with extended family in a single vehicle is in itself a different experience. The only limiting factor is the speed which gets capped at 60Kmph, even on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.



March 2019 Rajasthan Trip

Coming from past experience in all my road trips my wife started carrying the second key in her handbag as backup!

With Udaipur on our minds for quite some time, a road trip was called for. So, in March 2019 we chalked out a plan to drive via Gurgaon > Ajmer > Rajsamand > Nathdwara > Udaipur. With a stay at Udaipur, we intended to explore all places from here. Day 1 was sightseeing in the city, the city palace the drive around the lake, visit the local market for shopping and food. On day 2 we went to Nathdwara and came back. The next day after breakfast we started for Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh. The drive to Ranakpur was smooth until an hour or so when you turn into a village road. In the hope that the road might improve we went on till Ranakpur. The sight of these temples in the midst of nowhere is simply astounding. I felt this white wonder temple is much better than the other white monument. The mobile network is very patchy, assume you will not be getting it. You will get practically nothing to eat here, except for a basic Jain meal.



After spending around 2 hours here we moved on to Kumbhalgarh. This part of the journey was quite dramatic and eventful. After around 30 minutes or so the car started making a loud noise and dropped speed as if someone was dragging the car from underneath. We stopped and checked for any visible signs of damage or so but could not find any. We opened the bonnet to figure out if anything was visible there, but no luck. With great difficulty, we drove the car in second gear for I think 10 kilometers till Kumbhalgarh fort. We had hoped it might be a small town like Jaisalmer!

On reaching there we were shocked. I called up my ford dealer contact he asked me to call the ford service central number, after a few minutes I was connected and asked to provide vehicle details, etc. I have then assured a pickup truck for car and cab to take us back to our hotel in Udaipur city( approx. 90 km). We patiently waited for around 2 hours for the tow truck to reach us. In the meanwhile, we climbed up the steep fort completed the sightseeing, and came down waiting for the truck and cab. The tow truck had some problems in backing up the narrow gate of the fort, but he was quite cooperative.





The car was loaded on the truck, with lots of onlookers asking what happened. Around 6 PM the cab driver contacted us and asked for our exact location he arrived by 6:30 PM. Except for the shopkeeper, there were few people. The light and sound show was at 7 PM so the crowds had not come as yet. The return journey in the cab was quite tiring as we were shocked as to what happened to our car and were equally tired from the steep climb at the fort and the long day. The car reached the ford workshop in Udaipur around 10 PM and we were in the hotel by 9 PM.



The next day we received a call from the ford workshop to visit them. We booked an uber (got Nano) and reached in about 25 mins. It was a large dealer cum workshop, when we introduced ourselves, we were taken to the bay and saw lots of people around our car. They hoisted the car on the jack and checked for any damages and they couldnt find any. Then I was told about the problem, one of the engine mountings had broken away! I could not believe it at first then they explained how severe it was. The model being new, they did not have the full spare parts for it, least of all engine mounting. The nearest dealer who had it was two days away. On explaining my position that I was a tourist, they asked me to wait in their lounge where we anxiously waited while they clicked images and sent them over to Ford Chennai. They received approval to take out the engine mounting from a new car standing in their showroom. I was assured the car would be delivered by late evening, serviced as well.



Meanwhile, we went about exploring other parts of the city had good lunch at Chappan bhog. In the evening the car was test-driven to my satisfaction and delivered. With no further plans, we drove back to Ghaziabad with no further detours. After coming back I was contacted by ford and given a free checkup again at the nearest ford center of my choice. The checkup did not reveal anything damaging or worthy of concern.





March 2021 - Road journey to Bhopal

All these years we had been planning a long-distance road trip in the plains. In the past, we had planned about going to Bhopal but by reading some of the travelogues on this forum we never had the appetite to go for one. Thankfully by the end of 2020, I read somewhere about the roads getting better. So with some help from relatives, I checked on various sections of the journey and concluded that things had improved quite a lot. So, on 28th Feb 2021, we embarked on this over 700 KM journey hoping to be home in 12 hours. We drove from Ghaziabad to Agra via Yamuna Expressway and from there the usual route to Gwalior. The route from Agra to Gwalior is simply not worthy of calling a national highway. From Gwalior we took Shivpuri > Guna > Biaora > Narsinghgadh > Bairagarh > Bhopal. The road from Gwalior onwards is simply marvelous the kind of roads we saw in Ajmer and Udaipur trips. This trip was quite a memorable one during which we also went to Sanchi which is at a short distance of 50 km (one way). The roads are okay on which you can drive comfortably up to 80 Kmph.



Some self-explanatory photos from this trip are as under:















































Annus horribilis

2021 has been a very bitter year, to say the least. The trip to Bhopal was the last that we had. In May, my wife got infected with COVID and after a prolonged fight succumbed.



Happy Fifteenth Pooja!

See you on the other side.



Dear reader,

If you have come this far, thank you for your patience in reading my ramblings. My first detailed post was first thought of in 2008, then as time went by, conveniently forgotten. The next urge to post arose in 2018 when the second set of wheels arrived! That urge also got overshadowed by the joys of driving. In 2019 an incident on a road trip to Rajasthan triggered another spark to post but got overwhelmed by the incident and sat through it.Now one might wonder what has changed now that this post is actually seeing the light of day!Well friends let me take you back in time when life was easy, traffic was better, and petrol was cheaper (1/3 of today's price).When I was a kid my parents met with an accident while riding on a motorcycle, my father had a hand fracture, and I landed on the bonnet of the car! Thereafter mode of transport shifted to scooter auto or PTC buses depending upon destination and ease! After some time, we did have a motorcycle (Ind-Suzuki) but then back to scooter till 1996.Below is my brother on our Allwyn pushpak at the IIT Madras campus.With such a hard landing I never got to purchase a motorcycle, always prevented by my mother.Since I never got to own a motorbike and office commute was on company transport never felt the need to get a car. So when I got married the car became a necessity. My wife was from out of Delhi so the urge to go around sightseeing, visiting friends and family arose. Also, as luck would have itI switched jobs where there was no company transport and the one-way distance was 33 Kms!So, in the summer of 2007, we did a little car shopping and swung by nearby Maruti showrooms, to choose between an alto(blue color), wagon-r, and an unheard-of name Estilo. Alto was considered too small for station commute and wagon r was ruled out by both as it was common in both the families.So, of to something different. The car had some nice features like power windows! (LXi), Immobilizer, non- boxy look sort of tallboy design and came in colors never seen before. Nothing else mattered.So, one evening in June got delivered of this Beige little beauty and off we went to the temple for Puja with Pooja. Later that night my brother drove to Gurgaon as I could not be trusted for night driving! I had learned driving but until now I never ventured from the comfort of my locality.So now when it came to driving to the office daily, I called up my good friend Rajan who lived nearby to accompany me till Noida Sector 1. He was a business owner accustomed to reaching the office at 11 AM and here I was taking him to the office at 9:30! thankfully he agreed and this arrangement continued for a month or two until I was confident of driving 66Kms daily. For someone who used to drive a Verna in 2007, a big thank you Rajan for helping me crisscross Delhi, daily via our favorite route of Akbar Road /India Gate. Thus, I became certified in interstate driving.In this period the car clocked the maximum distance per month, owing to office commute. Weekend drives were nothing as compared to the daily commute. Then as luck would have it, we moved out of Delhi to a locality in NCR. The daily driving was reduced to 24 km only. Which was a good, time and fuel saver. My true first trip outside of NCR was to Ajmer in 2010, which at that time I considered quite an achievement! Thereafter trips to Jaipur, Shimla, Agra was made in the Zen Estilo to the fullest.Now the car was quite old and the family was looking for a change in terms of better ride quality (a certain stretch on my office route took ages to become a road), more space, etc. So, we started exploring options and on one such occasion went to NOIDA for Showroom hopping from Skoda (Rapid) to Maruti (Ciaz). You know when you visit a Maruti showroom just after having a test drive of a Skoda, the build quality simply stands out to everyone. In excitement, I accidentally locked my keys inside the car outside the Skoda showroom in NOIDA!While exploring options, my wife and I had been eyeing the Ford EcoSport for quite some time but there was a big problem. My mother was unable to board it due to knee issues. On one occasion we had the test drive at home where we went with a plastic stool to understand the difficulty in boarding. The test drive was on the Eco-boost petrol engine, the discomfort in ingress and egress was quite apparent. The decision was postponed.Somehow mother got convinced of getting TKR (Total Knee Replacement) done, so in autumn of 2016 the first operation was done successfully, and then in December, the second operation was done. Somehow time went by and the topic of cars did not crop up regularly for reasons now quite evident in the family.The car change started becoming urgent, the ride quality had fallen despite changing shock absorbers. The only thing that remained unchanged was the seats! In March 2017 took a test drive of Honda WRV but did not find it impressive.1. Type2. Brand3. Gadget list4. Budget5. What the heart wants! And what the spouse wants!In the end, the only thing that mattered was the last point.So when towards the end of 2017 Ford launched the facelift model of EcoSport we were overjoyed.We planned to visit the showroom only when the display cars had arrived in Jan 2018. We did not take a test drive, we simply asked mom to get in and check the comfort. That was all that we wanted to check.The blue and brown colors were enticing but the Sales Associate (SA) discouraged us sayingmost bookings are for these colors only. So, in the first week of March, we booked the petrol titanium moondust silver. After a week I was informed, the car was getting delayed by several weeks. With a heavy heart I asked the SA to cancel the booking, he offered me a titanium diesel for an extra 50K, with the assurance that the car would be registered for 15 years (at that time there was little clarity on this rule). So finally on 31st March we landed at the showroom for inspection and took delivery.Below image, different cars different temples, and India gateWithin four months of buying the car, I changed job and now the total daily- driving distance came to 10 Kilometers. At one point I got tempted to sell and go in for company leased vehicle, (of course petrol) but in the end, did not as the big question was which car would I buy.So, the saga of weekend drives in 2018 to Murthal, Gurgaon, Karnal, Greater Noida, and many other places started. In June 2018 we were planning a trip to Himachal (Ghaziabad -Chandigarh- Dharamshala - Mcleodganj-Palampur-Ghaziabad). The trip was done in a luxury tempo traveler thus missing on the drive in the hills. But I must say traveling with extended family in a single vehicle is in itself a different experience. The only limiting factor is the speed which gets capped at 60Kmph, even on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.Coming from past experience in all my road trips my wife started carrying the second key in her handbag as backup!With Udaipur on our minds for quite some time, a road trip was called for. So, in March 2019 we chalked out a plan to drive via Gurgaon > Ajmer > Rajsamand > Nathdwara > Udaipur. With a stay at Udaipur, we intended to explore all places from here. Day 1 was sightseeing in the city, the city palace the drive around the lake, visit the local market for shopping and food. On day 2 we went to Nathdwara and came back. The next day after breakfast we started for Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh. The drive to Ranakpur was smooth until an hour or so when you turn into a village road. In the hope that the road might improve we went on till Ranakpur. The sight of these temples in the midst of nowhere is simply astounding. I felt this white wonder temple is much better than the other white monument. The mobile network is very patchy, assume you will not be getting it. You will get practically nothing to eat here, except for a basic Jain meal.After spending around 2 hours here we moved on to Kumbhalgarh. This part of the journey was quite dramatic and eventful. After around 30 minutes or so the car started making a loud noise and dropped speed as if someone was dragging the car from underneath. We stopped and checked for any visible signs of damage or so but could not find any. We opened the bonnet to figure out if anything was visible there, but no luck. With great difficulty, we drove the car in second gear for I think 10 kilometers till Kumbhalgarh fort. We had hoped it might be a small town like Jaisalmer!On reaching there we were shocked. I called up my ford dealer contact he asked me to call the ford service central number, after a few minutes I was connected and asked to provide vehicle details, etc. I have then assured a pickup truck for car and cab to take us back to our hotel in Udaipur city( approx. 90 km). We patiently waited for around 2 hours for the tow truck to reach us. In the meanwhile, we climbed up the steep fort completed the sightseeing, and came down waiting for the truck and cab. The tow truck had some problems in backing up the narrow gate of the fort, but he was quite cooperative.The car was loaded on the truck, with lots of onlookers asking what happened. Around 6 PM the cab driver contacted us and asked for our exact location he arrived by 6:30 PM. Except for the shopkeeper, there were few people. The light and sound show was at 7 PM so the crowds had not come as yet. The return journey in the cab was quite tiring as we were shocked as to what happened to our car and were equally tired from the steep climb at the fort and the long day. The car reached the ford workshop in Udaipur around 10 PM and we were in the hotel by 9 PM.The next day we received a call from the ford workshop to visit them. We booked an uber (got Nano) and reached in about 25 mins. It was a large dealer cum workshop, when we introduced ourselves, we were taken to the bay and saw lots of people around our car. They hoisted the car on the jack and checked for any damages and they couldnt find any. Then I was told about the problem, one of the engine mountings had broken away! I could not believe it at first then they explained how severe it was. The model being new, they did not have the full spare parts for it, least of all engine mounting. The nearest dealer who had it was two days away. On explaining my position that I was a tourist, they asked me to wait in their lounge where we anxiously waited while they clicked images and sent them over to Ford Chennai. They received approval to take out the engine mounting from a new car standing in their showroom. I was assured the car would be delivered by late evening, serviced as well.Meanwhile, we went about exploring other parts of the city had good lunch at Chappan bhog. In the evening the car was test-driven to my satisfaction and delivered. With no further plans, we drove back to Ghaziabad with no further detours. After coming back I was contacted by ford and given a free checkup again at the nearest ford center of my choice. The checkup did not reveal anything damaging or worthy of concern.All these years we had been planning a long-distance road trip in the plains. In the past, we had planned about going to Bhopal but by reading some of the travelogues on this forum we never had the appetite to go for one. Thankfully by the end of 2020, I read somewhere about the roads getting better. So with some help from relatives, I checked on various sections of the journey and concluded that things had improved quite a lot. So, on 28th Feb 2021, we embarked on this over 700 KM journey hoping to be home in 12 hours. We drove from Ghaziabad to Agra via Yamuna Expressway and from there the usual route to Gwalior. The route from Agra to Gwalior is simply not worthy of calling a national highway. From Gwalior we took Shivpuri > Guna > Biaora > Narsinghgadh > Bairagarh > Bhopal. The road from Gwalior onwards is simply marvelous the kind of roads we saw in Ajmer and Udaipur trips. This trip was quite a memorable one during which we also went to Sanchi which is at a short distance of 50 km (one way). The roads are okay on which you can drive comfortably up to 80 Kmph.Some self-explanatory photos from this trip are as under:2021 has been a very bitter year, to say the least. The trip to Bhopal was the last that we had. In May, my wife got infected with COVID and after a prolonged fight succumbed.Happy Fifteenth Pooja!See you on the other side.Dear reader,If you have come this far, thank you for your patience in reading my ramblings.
Anna Gessner, a first year studying nutrition science, organizes a section of canned food at the Feed the Pack pantry in the Honors and Scholars Village Commons on Jan. 10, 2019. In the Commons, people are able to donate items such as canned foods, fruit cups, rice, and more.
In brief: Apple has added support for unlisted apps to the App Store, making it easier for developers to directly share their apps with intended users instead of the general public. Such apps will not appear in any App Store category, search, or discovery section and can only be downloaded via a direct link.

Apple has announced that developers can now request to submit unlisted apps on the App Store. The feature, rolled out across all supported regions, should come in handy for when an app is meant to be used only within an organization, for research studies, special events, or as an employee resource or sales tool.

The support document explains that developers can request to have their existing (listed) and new apps hosted this way. Following Apple's approval, the app and all its future versions will be distributed under the "Unlisted App" method, allowing developers to share it with users via a direct link.

Unlisted apps sounds like it could be neat, but it looks like it has some big caveats. Also doesn't seem like my Individual developer account is authorized to request an unlisted link. Business-only?



"Note: Once your app is approved, the distribution method cannot be changed." https://t.co/o34hB1v8VR --- Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) January 28, 2022

This new distribution method also works with Apple Business Manager and School Manager, however, switching to it will require creating a new app record. Secondly, an unlisted app candidate will also have to go through Apple's usual App Review process, and should therefore be ready for final distribution, as apps in pre-release or beta stage will be rejected.

A link will be generated once a new unlisted app is approved, while those already available on the App Store will use their current link. Since app access lies solely on having this link, Apple advises developers to deploy preventative measures against unauthorized use of their apps.
A hot potato: Spotify has responded to the growing issue of Covid-19/vaccine misinformation being broadcast in podcasts by adding a content advisory to any shows in which the topic is discussed. The controversy, which centers around the Joe Rogan Experience, has seen Neil Young and other artists pull their music from the platform.

The situation began last week when Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Young wrote an open letter promising to remove his music from Spotify if it didn't drop the Joe Rogan Experience, which he accused of spreading vaccine misinformation. "They can have Rogan or Young. Not both," he said.

With his weekly audience of 11 million and having signed a $100 million exclusivity deal with the podcaster last year, Spotify chose Rogan and began removing Young's music. Joni Mitchell on Friday said she stood in solidarity with Young and also wanted her music pulled, and guitarist Nils Lofgren said the same thing on Saturday. Without revealing why, best-selling author Brene Brown said she will not be releasing any more Spotify podcasts until further notice.

Rogan defended his podcast and apologized to Spotify for the situation in a near ten-minute Instagram video.

Spotify has now responded by making its Covid-19 content policy and general rules available for public viewing. Rules that explicitly mention Covid-19 prohibit assertations that it is a hoax or not real, and bar anything that encourages people to purposely get infected to build immunity. Spotify also doesn't allow content that suggests vaccines "are designed to cause death." The Verge writes that Joe Rogan's podcast did not "meet the threshold for removal," according to an internal Spotify memo.

The music streaming platform's CEO, Daniel Ek, posted a message addressing the controversy on the company's website. He wrote that while there are "plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly," it is important that the platform doesn't take on the position of being content censor "while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them."

Spotify is also adding a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about Covid-19. It will direct listeners to the company's Covid-19 hub that provides information about the pandemic from public health experts, scientists, and physicians.
ISS astronauts are now checking each other's health by conducting some operations, such as spinal scans. Checking the health of all the space experts stationed at the International Space Station is essential to not get any illness.

On Friday, Jan. 28, the Expedition 66 crewmembers conducted cardiopulmonary measurements and spinal scans. They also serviced life support gear, a Russian science module, and ISS space suits.

Right now, human research needs to be conducted so that doctors and other medical experts can understand how the human body adapts to the weightlessness in space.

This way, they can ensure the physical health of the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

ISS Astronauts Check Each Other's Health

According to SciTech Daily's latest report, the Expedition 66 crew members Thomas Marshburn and Mark Vande Hei used the Ultrasound 2 divide to check each other's spines.

Also Read: SpaceX Wins Rocket Contract to Transport Military Cargo, Humanitarian Aid Across the Globe

They conducted some spinal scans so that they could observe their lower back area and the spinal lumber sections. However, these NASA astronauts did not perform the spinal tests alone. Instead, some doctors stationed on Earth guided them.

Aside from spines, Matthias Maurer, an ESA (European Space Agency) flight engineer, measured his heart rate and breathing using a portable gear that looks like a vest.

Maurer wore the medical monitoring device and conducted an exercise cycle for the Metabolic Space study.

Other Activities at ISS

When Hei, Marshburn, and Maurer, were conducting their health observations, another NASA astronaut, Kayla Barron, a flight engineer, focused her effort on maintaining the hardware of ISS.

She conducted some cooling loop and water line cleaning in the Quest airlock. Meanwhile, NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari performed some adjustments to the space station's Internal Thermal Control System.

All these activities show that ISS is pretty busy these days. Aside from keeping the health of the active astronauts, Space.Com reported that ISS would soon have a movie studio module, thanks to the collaboration of SEE and Axiom Space.

In other news, 52 SpaceX launches are expected to happen before 2022 ends. Meanwhile, some astronomers discovered a mysterious deep space object.

For more news updates about ISS and other stories related to it, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: ESA Solar Orbiter's Close Encounter With Comet Leonard Offers New Cometary Data

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A new exoplanet atmosphere 3D map can help many space experts to find other worlds that are quite similar to Earth. This means that they can use the new 3-dimensional mapping technique might be able to locate other planets that can support life.

For the past few years, NASA and other space organizations have been looking for exoplanets with basic life elements. These include oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and other essential materials.

However, they are still unable to find these Earth-like worlds. Now, Lund University's new space innovation might help when it comes to location life-supporting planets.

New Exoplanet Atmosphere 3D Map

According to Engadget's latest report, Lund University's space researchers developed a new 3D map of WASP-189. Involved scientists specifically created a 3-dimensional representation of the ultra-hot gas giant's atmosphere.

Also Read: NASA's ExoMiner Confirms Hundreds of New Exoplanets Outside the Solar System

"WASP-189b is a planet outside our own solar system, with a dayside temperature of 3,200 degrees Celsius. The planet is very close to its host star, with a year that lasts for 2.7 days," said the experts via Lund University's official post.

They started observing this planet way back in 2020, which is when the exoplanet also caught the attention of the CHEOPS satellite.

Because of this, it has been the subject of interest for astronomers and other space experts. Their new study seems like the exoplanet's atmosphere can provide more information about the worlds outside the solar system.

How Can the 3D Map Be Useful?

Lund University's scientists used a high-resolution spectrograph, allowing them to study the exoplanet's host star. They were able to observe the light passing through the heavenly body's atmosphere.

This technique involved experts who discovered the first solid evidence of titanium oxide in WASP-189b's atmosphere. Aside from this, they also identified iron, magnesium, and chromium.

Now, they believe that the new spectrograph techniques they used will allow them to translate other exoplanets' atmospheres and compare them with one another. If this is successful, they can observe other worlds to see if they can support life or not.

In other news, the fully deployed James Webb Telescope is expected to provide unprecedented close looks at exoplanets. On the other hand, a new neural network cataloged more than 300 new worlds.

For more news updates about space and other related science topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: NASA Kepler Spacecraft Detects An Alien Moon Candidate Three Times BIGGER Than Earth

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The popularity of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has broken into the mainstream world with Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs being one of the most popular in the market.

A Goldman Sachs worker announced that they bought an Ape for around $280K or 110 Ethereum (ETH) and said that the company is "aware of this new asset class."

PayPal's Previous Thoughts on Cryptocurrency

Though cryptocurrency has been seen as a scam by some people a few years back, the platform nowadays has adjusted to the new breed of economics. Bill Harris, who is the founding CEO of PayPal, even referred to cryptocurrency basically a "pump-and-dump scheme" and warned people to be careful while calling it "gambling," according to a report by Investopedia.

It may be rather difficult to imagine that big companies and institutions have now slowly adopted cryptocurrency as of now, but it is even more so when it is NFTs being talked about.

With a lot of conventional institutions still understanding how cryptocurrencies work, some NFT collectibles such as the Bored Ape Yacht Club's collection have increased massively in value.

Goldman Sachs Worker Buys Bored Apes NFT for 110 ETH

A certain Twitter account called @Brownmgold announced that they bought an Ape for 110 ETH. The announcement was paired with the statement that "we at Goldman Sachs are aware of this new asset class and are closely monitoring it."

According to the company's website, Goldman Sachs is a "leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm" that operates by provides a wide range of services for their large number of clients.

No Official Confirmation on Goldman Sachs' Stance on NFTs

According to the website, Goldman Sachs count corporations, governments, and financial institutions among their clients.

As of press time, it has not yet been confirmed if the purchase of the Bored Ape NFT was an official move by Goldman Sachs or if it is a personal purchase by the employee.

Per the account, its description notes that it is a personal account and that the owner is "working with Goldman Sachs. The Twitter account's bio has also noted that the opinions shared on the it "are my own."

Read Also: OpenSea Vulnerability Exploited With Profits Close to 150 ETH or Over $2.4K USD

What is Goldman Sachs' Stand on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain?

According to an article by NFTEvening, Goldman Sachs has already discussed what the company thinks of the blockchain technology.

The firm has noted that the technology can "uniquely identify any virtual object independent of central authority." Goldman Sachs ahs also said that the tech allows for the "partial elimination of centralized control."

The article has also noted that Goldman Sachs has likewise already invested in different crypto startups, pouring in millions of dollars with the goal of offering "trading options in Ethereum."

When it comes to NFTs, however, an official statement has to be released in order to confirm if they are truly looking into the market.

Related Article: Tim Cook Acknowledges 'Potential' in the Metaverse with Apple Planning to 'Invest Accordingly' | 14,000 Apps Using ARKit Framework

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Elon Musk was asked by a teen who tracks the whereabouts of his private jet to pay him $50,000 to stop him from sharing it on a Twitter account that goes by the name Elon Jet.

Elon Musk Offers Teen $5K to Stop Tracking His Jet

As per a news story by Business Insider, a 19-year-old, who is behind the Twitter account that tracks and shares the location of the private jet of the Tesla CEO and founder, recently shared his interaction with the billionaire.

The teenager, Jack Sweeney, said Musk slid into his direct messages, wherein he shared the screenshot of the conversation to Insider.

The billionaire who founded Tesla and SpaceX allegedly reached out to Sweeney, asking the teenager to take down Elon Jet, noting that he considers it as a risk for his security.

In the same DM conversation, the billionaire offered to pay the teenager $5,000, but in exchange, Sweeney had to take down his famed Elon Jet account.

On top of that, the Tesla boss also asked for his help to make the locations of his private jet much harder to be trackable.

The news outlet further noted that Musk previously admitted that those who have been tracking his whereabouts are "becoming a security issue."

Private Jet Tracking

According to the report by Engadget, Sweeney holds various private jet tracking Twitter accounts, including other high-profile billionaires, such as the co-founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates.

However, it turns out that his other jet tracking projects failed to amass the same following as Elon Jet, making it the most successful of all his Twitter accounts, at least in terms of following.

It is interesting to point out that his jet tracking account for the Tesla exec got the attention of Musk himself.

As of writing, Elon Jet has already garnered a whopping 180,000 followers. Now that Sweeney has publicly spoken about his interaction with the billionaire, it is getting more traction than ever.

Read Also: Elon Musk's Neuralink Brain Chip is Alarming the Scientists | What's So Unconvincing About This?

Elon Musk and Tracking His Private Jet

However, Sweeney turned down the $5,000 offer of the billionaire exec in the said DM. Instead, the 19-year-old laid down his counteroffer.

The man behind Elon Jet told Musk if there is "any chance to up that to $50k?"

He added that the money would help the billionaire support his college funds. Not to mention that at that rate, he said that could even buy himself a Tesla Model 3.

However, Musk responded by saying that it did not "feel right to pay to shut this down." Since then, he has made it harder for Sweeney to track his private jet.

Related Article: Will Elon Musk Buy a Social Media, Create a TV Station, and Establish a School? Twitter is Not Enough Says Souza

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After Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry last week threatened legal action against a north Louisiana medical school over rules compelling students to receive coronavirus vaccines, school officials say Landry misinterpreted their policies and issued legal threats without making any inquiry into them.

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, known as VCOM, said that only three of more than 300 students at their Monroe campus have not received the vaccine. Landry and a law firm representing the three students claimed that theyve been retaliated against and discriminated against for their refusal to receive the vaccine.

VCOM officials disagreed. They also took the opportunity, in a new statement, to reinforce the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccines by noting that both the American Osteopathic Association and the American Medical Association stand behind vaccination efforts while coronavirus cases surge through the unvaccinated population. The AMA has gone as far as saying it supports legislation that would eliminate nonmedical exemptions from the immunizations.

The intention of VCOMs coronavirus vaccine policy, is and always has been the safety of our students, the safety of our employees and workplace, as well as the safety of the patients being cared for by our students, faculty and staff, says the new statement from VCOM. Our medical students, in all years of education, will be caring for patients in the upcoming months and are considered medical providers.

+2 Jeff Landry targets new Louisiana medical school over coronavirus vaccine mandates Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is threatening to sue the states newest medical school over its coronavirus vaccine policies after thr

Officials with the medical school say that they require students who are not vaccinated to wear masks in indoor spaces. Gov. John Bel Edwards recommended the same practice last week even for fully vaccinated individuals as the delta variant of the virus has wreaked havoc through Louisiana, where just 36% of the population has received the vaccine.

This is not a discriminatory practice, but instead, provides protection for any student or employee who is not vaccinated, reads the statement from VCOM. There are both students and employees at VCOM who have exemptions for religious or health reasons. There are also other employees and students who wish to wear masks for their own well-being, even though they are vaccinated as there have been cases of individuals who were vaccinated who have contracted the Delta variant.

VCOM also said that students can request vaccination exemptions for medical, religious or other judicially approved reasons that will be reviewed by a committee according to [federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] guidelines for such accommodations.

Landry had accused VCOM of creating a waiver process that appears to have been structured to deny waivers rather than provide any meaningful mechanism for notifying the school of a students choice to opt-out.

Liberty Counsel, the law firm representing the three VCOM students and known for its legal advocacy on behalf of evangelical Christian organizations, also accused VCOM of creating a snitch program that targeted the unvaccinated students.

VCOM officials denied that any such program exists.

The comment is ridiculous, especially since VCOM has cutting-edge technology found in VCOMs facility that allows the administration to monitor students adherence to all College policies while in the building, says the VCOM statement.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Letters: LSU must require vaccinations, lest the new surge devastate the campus New LSU President William Tate IV has been in the job less than a month and he already is coming up on a decision that will define his tenure 

Landry  like a handful of other high-ranking Republican officials in Louisiana  has refused to answer questions about whether he has received the coronavirus vaccine. He has also targeted institutions across the state over vaccine mandates, including requesting a written response from LSU that no vaccine mandates will be issued.

But while Landry insists the law is behind him in threatening anyone who mandates vaccines, other experts disagree and nationally, some momentum is coalescing around requiring vaccines.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that all medical personnel will be required to get vaccinated within the next eight weeks. And the state of California will soon require that all health care workers and state workers either get vaccinated or start getting coronavirus tests every week.

Courts so far have also backed the mandates. A federal judge in Texas ruled that a hospital could require the vaccines for employees, while another federal judge in Indiana upheld a vaccine requirement at Indiana University for all students barring a medical, religious or ethical exemption.

Dr. O'Neal: We're facing a different and powerful threat with delta variant The delta variant is not last year's virus. We're dealing with a different beast. I have witnessed the death, sadness and long-term impacts of

Some have drawn a distinction between mandating the vaccines while they are still being used under emergency use authorization, versus once they receive full Food and Drug Administration Approval. The states largest health system, Ochsner, has said they intend to mandate vaccines once they receive full FDA approval.

Joel Friedman, a Tulane Law School professor who specializes in labor law, recently told The Advocate | The Times-Picayune that mandating the coronavirus vaccine is no different from schools requiring measles and mumps vaccines, or the state requiring a drivers license to drive.

This idea that, well, until the vaccine is finally approved were not allowed to require it  theres no legal basis for such a claim, Friedman said. Employers  whether its Walmart, Tulane University, a public school, a hospital  can require their employees to be tested, to be vaccinated, in order to protect the general health and welfare of both employees and the customers they serve.

He also warned that health care systems are opening themselves up to liability from people who would potentially get sick from an unvaccinated staff member.

+2 Gov. John Bel Edwards recommends mask-wearing indoors in Louisiana to stem COVID surge With more than 1,000 COVID patients hospitalized and Louisiana again leading the nation in rate of infections, Gov. John Bel Edwards recommend

VCOM officials alluded to similar concerns in the conclusion of their letter.

VCOM has no interest in being the in the middle of any political battle, the medical schools statement reads. Their concern is, and always has been, for the health of the students, employees and patients that VCOM students will see in their early clinical experiences this fall.
A federal judge has ruled that a medical school in north Louisiana is within its bounds to enforce reasonable safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic  which included suspending a student who would not wear a mask  though the school must also accept written dissents from students who refuse coronavirus vaccines.

Three students, joined by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, filed a lawsuit last year against the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, a private medical school housed on the University of Louisiana-Monroe campus, over its vaccination requirements for students. Landry was quickly dropped as a plaintiff, but the students, Rachel Magliulo, Matthew Willis and Kirsten Willis Hall, moved forward with the lawsuit. They tried this month to hold the medical school in contempt of court, which U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty denied in a Jan. 28 order.

The ruling came after an October 2021 settlement agreement between the two sides. Doughty issued a temporary restraining order last August that prevented the medical school, known as VCOM, from retaliating against students and denying admittance to would-be doctors who wont get vaccinated. Doughty was nominated to the federal bench by President Donald Trump.

Monroe medical school told it cannot deny spots to would-be doctors who oppose vaccines A federal judge says that while a medical college in Monroe may have valid reasons for doing so, it cannot deny admittance to three would-be d

The settlement specified that VCOM would accept the three students written dissents against receiving the vaccine but that Magliulo, Willis and Hall would also remain subject to safety measures, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Doughty also ordered that VCOM could not discriminate or retaliate against the three students, which included referencing their vaccination status while communicating with residency programs. They agreed that residency programs and hospitals where students rotate could have their own vaccination requirements beyond VCOM's control.

Each side agreed to pay its own attorneys fees and court costs, and the three students released the school from any monetary claims related to the lawsuit.

But after agreeing to the settlement, the three students argued earlier this month that VCOM was out of compliance and that the school should be held in contempt of court and sanctioned. They railed against weekly COVID testing requirements for unvaccinated students and masking rules, describing them as discriminatory against a class of people based upon a medical condition.

The students used Willis as an example, saying he was suspended on Nov. 12 after school administrators received complaints over his refusal to wear a mask. VCOM officials told Willis that the schools Honor Code Council would take up the complaints, and in the meantime, he could no longer be present on campus, participate in classes or work on clinical and research activity.

After U.S. judge raises questions, AG Jeff Landry backs out of lawsuit against medical school Two days after he filed a lawsuit against a small private medical school in northeast Louisiana over its coronavirus vaccine requirement for s

They argued that his suspension was a violation of the settlement agreement.

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Doughty disagreed.

Unlike the requirements the Court found excessive previously, these requirements allow the students to remain unvaccinated, to remain at VCOM, and to complete their academic requirements, he wrote in his Jan. 28 ruling.  The validity of Willis suspension for violating the mask mandate depends upon whether the mask mandate itself violated the Consent Judgment. Because this Court finds the mask mandate does not violate the Consent Judgment, there was a valid reason for Willis suspension.

A VCOM spokesperson said school officials hope that Doughtys latest ruling will finally resolve the lawsuit so that our students can fully focus on their education going forward.

After Louisiana medical school mandated COVID vaccine, Jeff Landry files lawsuit Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a federal lawsuit against the state's newest medical school, joining three students who claim

VCOMs concern is, and always has been, for the health of its students, employees and the patients its students see in their early clinical experiences, said Desi Hammett, the school's director for communications.By allowing VCOM to implement specified reasonable safety measures, such as masking requirements, testing requirements, quarantine requirements and restrictions on travel, the court has ensured that the college will be able to create a safe environment for students to learn and engage with faculty, staff and fellow students.

Attorneys for the three students did not immediately respond to messages Monday.

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled Jan. 7 that hospitals and health care providers  among other private employers  could mandate the coronavirus vaccine for employees. Though VCOM is a private university, it holds a partnership with the public University of Louisiana system that factored into the students lawsuit against it.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Jan. 13 that the federal government could not use the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to mandate vaccinations for businesses with 100 or more employees. But the nations high court also held in a separate ruling that vaccine requirements could remain in place for health care providers that receive federal money.
Two days after he filed a lawsuit against a small private medical school in northeast Louisiana over its coronavirus vaccine requirement for students, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is out as a plaintiff after a federal judge questioned why the state was a party to the case.

Landry had joined three students at the Monroe-based Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine who claimed that their rights were violated by the institution's requirement that they receive the coronavirus vaccine. Officials at the medical school, known as VCOM, responded by saying that they allowed students to apply for medical and religious exemptions to the vaccination requirement and the committee to determine those exemptions had not yet reviewed them.

But after the attorney general's office and the students filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the Monroe division of the Western District of Louisiana, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty  an appointee of President Donald Trump  questioned why the suit was filed in federal court and why Landry's office was involved in it.

After Louisiana medical school mandated COVID vaccine, Jeff Landry files lawsuit Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a federal lawsuit against the state's newest medical school, joining three students who claim

Doughty asked for the plaintiffs to explain by the end of Thursday whether the federal courts should have jurisdiction, and "whether the State of Louisiana is a nominal party or a real party in interest in this proceeding."

Monroe-based attorney Michael DuBos responded on behalf of the medical students Thursday afternoon, writing that Landry would no longer be a plaintiff.

"The State of Louisiana is not a real party in interest to the instant proceeding, as the State has only a general governmental interest in securing compliance with its laws," he wrote. "However, out of an abundance of caution, the State of Louisiana will be removed as a party in Plaintiffs restyled Complaint."

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+2 Jeff Landry targets new Louisiana medical school over coronavirus vaccine mandates Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is threatening to sue the states newest medical school over its coronavirus vaccine policies after thr

He added that Landry's office would instead try to file an amicus, or "friend of the court," brief in support of the students. Before filing the lawsuit, Landry spent weeks exchanging letters with VCOM administrators and threatening to sue them over their vaccine policy.

Students Rachel Magliulo, Matthew Willis and Kirsten Willis Hall remain plaintiffs.

They have asked Doughty to issue a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against VCOM preventing the medical school from mandating the coronavirus vaccine as a condition of enrollment, and preventing VCOM from "retaliating against, coercing, threatening or discriminating against Plaintiffs for availing themselves of their right not to be vaccinated against their will."

"It is simply time for the vaccine to no longer be used as a political issue but to be one recognized as a measure needed for public health and safety," said VCOM President Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins on Wednesday. "VCOMs requirement does not force any student to be vaccinated. We have offered and will continue to offer exemptions and alternate plans for students until the vaccine is off Emergency Use Authorization."

Louisiana medical school has no interest in political battle, but defends vaccine rules After Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry last week threatened legal action against a north Louisiana medical school over rules compelling 

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the lawsuit was filed in the Monroe division of the U.S. Western District of Louisiana.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a federal lawsuit against the state's newest medical school, joining three students who claim the private institution is violating their rights by imposing a coronavirus vaccination requirement on students.

Landry filed the suit Tuesday against the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, located in Monroe, after he and college officials exchanged letters about the requirement. Though Landry has threatened several institutions over vaccine mandates, this is the first time the AG has tested the rules in court. The action comes as an increasing number of private institutions across the country are turning toward mandating vaccination, with the delta variant causing a steep spike in COVID cases.

Landry has repeatedly accused the medical school, known as VCOM, of violating state and federal law with the vaccine requirement. VCOM officials have argued they have a duty to protect both their students and patients with whom they interact amid a surging pandemic. Medical school officials have also said they have a process that students can use to request exemptions if they have religious objections or a disability that prevents them from receiving the vaccine.

The suit was filed in the Monroe division of the Western District of Louisiana. Along with Landry, the three plaintiffs include Rachel Magliulo, Matthew Willis and Kirsten Willis Hall. They are asking the courts to issue a temporary restraining order against VCOM preventing the medical school from mandating the coronavirus vaccine as a condition of enrollment, and preventing VCOM from "retaliating against, coercing, threatening or discriminating against Plaintiffs for availing themselves of their right not to be vaccinated against their will."

They are also requesting a permanent injunction.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, whom former President Donald Trump appointed to the bench in 2018. Doughty issued an order late Wednesday telling the plaintiffs that they needed to address questions about why the federal courts should have jurisdiction over the case by the end of Thursday.

"The claim of Landrys lawsuit that VCOM told the three students it would deny any request for vaccination exemption and threatened to punish the students for their refusal is simply not the truth," said Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, VCOM's president and provost, in a statement late Wednesday. "VCOM is disappointed that anyone, whether it be the students or their attorney, would spread a rumor like this for personal benefit."

Pleadings included with the lawsuit show that VCOMs founding dean, Dr. Ray Morrison, emailed students in late June telling them that they needed to be vaccinated before attending school in the fall. He said requests for exemptions would be heard on an individualized basis with appropriate verifications (proof).

Attorney General Jeff Landry advises employees how to avoid school COVID restrictions Attorney General Jeff Landry sent a departmentwide email blast to his employees Monday suggesting strategies for getting students out of the m

VCOM expects a medical student to be informed on and stay abreast of evidence-based medicine rather than the media or political opinion regarding COVID-19, reads the VCOM vaccine guidance. There is a predominance of evidence that vaccination is the only means to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and lead to an assurance for the health and welfare of patients.

One section of the VCOM guidance on immunization requirements notes that the medical school does not waive immunization or student health requirements for religious or personal preferences. But the school also allowed students to apply for religious exemptions.

The religious exemption forms note that anyone who requested them needed to provide documentation from a minister, rabbi or religious officer; a copy of their church doctrine prohibiting vaccination; and explanations of whether they had received other vaccines throughout their lives.

But Landry and the students cite a Louisiana state law in their suit that says a student can provide a "written dissent" if they refuse to receive a vaccine mandated by an institution. Their lawsuit also argues that because VCOM is located on the University of Louisiana at Monroe campus, the private medical school is subject to the rules that govern public universities.

Louisiana medical school has no interest in political battle, but defends vaccine rules After Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry last week threatened legal action against a north Louisiana medical school over rules compelling 

"Following its receipt of correspondence from the Louisiana Attorney General, VCOM amended its policy to consider objections by students and allowing 'accommodations,' but VCOM's amended policy is nothing more than a charade with the primary intent to refuse to allow students who refuse the vaccine to meaningfully continue their medical education and participate in its curriculum," the lawsuit states.

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VCOM officials have said in repeated letters to Landry that the committee in charge of reviewing exemption requests will meet for the first time August 6. A VCOM spokesperson said four students have applied for exemptions so far, and that "no student has been denied the ability to attend classes at VCOM based on their vaccine status." The medical school has 300 enrolled students.

The pleadings show a few exchanges between VCOM administrators and Magliulo.

You voiced concern that not enough is known about the vaccine, a VCOM attorney wrote to her. By 2022, the vaccine will have been used for a period of one year and on more patients than any other vaccine in a trial. If this remains your concern, we have offered a deferral until the next academic year.

+2 Jeff Landry targets new Louisiana medical school over coronavirus vaccine mandates Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is threatening to sue the states newest medical school over its coronavirus vaccine policies after thr

VCOM officials have also maintained that the school is a private institution. In one letter included with the court filings, Tooke-Rawlins wrote that the school leases land from ULM and collaborates with the university "to offer students from Louisiana more opportunities in education and research."

"While we fully recognize and embrace that we are subject to the laws of Louisiana, (as we would expect any private college operating within the state should be), we are a private college," she wrote.

In the same letter, Tooke-Rawlins wrote that she heard Landry say in a radio interview that the VCOM president was not vaccinated against the coronavirus, and that he referred to her as a man.

"I am a woman and am fully vaccinated," she wrote.

Landry and the students argue in their lawsuit that the rise of the highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus does not make getting vaccinated any more imperative, because "VCOM candidly admits that the delta variant, the most prevalent variant, is resistant to 'certain vaccines.'"

Physicians and health officials across the state have made the opposite argument, saying the vaccine is more important than ever. Louisiana hospitals have reported that more than 90% of their coronavirus patients are unvaccinated. VCOM noted in its response to the lawsuit that other institutions, including hospital systems in Louisiana, are now requiring the vaccine as coronavirus case numbers rise to a level "that will likely lead to a crisis again."

"Can anyone imagine how they would feel if their family member was hospitalized for another issue and contracted a COVID-19 infection from a student they thought would be vaccinated?" Tooke-Rawlins wrote. "What if that patient died? Who is liable  the Attorney Generals office?"

VCOM has argued in previous letters to Landry that it is the medical school's duty to protect patients whose care has been entrusted to students.

"The College assumes liability for the student and the supervising physician when providing oversight of the student who is providing care," VCOM officials wrote. "Therefore, as a private College who holds the responsibility for the care provided, VCOM is requiring students in all four years to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. This requirement is both for the safety of the student and for the vulnerable patients they will be caring for."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the lawsuit was filed in the Monroe division of the U.S. Western District of Louisiana.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is threatening to sue the states newest medical school over its coronavirus vaccine policies after three students complained theyve been retaliated against over their refusal to get the vaccine.

Landry sent a letter July 20 to administrators at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, known as VCOM, in Monroe, that accuses them of going down a misguided path by requiring students to receive a vaccine. Its Landrys latest move against coronavirus vaccine mandates across the state; he wrote to LSU officials in late May asking for a written response from LSU that no vaccine mandates will be issued.

There is an overwhelming consensus among medical providers that the shots are safe, effective and essential in cutting coronavirus cases and deaths.

Educational institutions across Louisiana have been grappling with whether they can  and should  mandate the vaccine ahead of the fall semester. While coronavirus cases in Louisiana were falling once vaccines became widely available this spring, infections are surging again this summer among the unvaccinated.

So far, several private universities have announced plans to mandate the vaccine for the fall, including Tulane, Loyola, Dillard and Xavier. VCOM is also a private institution. But VCOMs Louisiana branch is on the campus of the public University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the medical school has several agreements with the University of Louisiana system, including reserving some medical school interview spots for students from UL system campuses.

LSU announced Friday that the university will keep mask mandates in place, and that they believe state law prevents them from mandating the vaccine.

Landrys letter to VCOM officials says that their collaborative relationship with the state means that VCOM cannot simply do as it pleases. He wrote that mandating COVID vaccines is inconsistent with state and federal law in addition to being premature, as the vaccines are still approved through an emergency use authorization rather than full Food and Drug Administration approval.

The distinction is an important one in terms of mandating vaccines. The chief executive of Louisianas largest hospital system, Ochsner, said this week that he is concerned about legal action being taken against it if Ochsner mandates that employees receive vaccines while they are still under emergency use authorization.

We do anticipate moving to mandatory vaccines when it comes off (emergency use authorization), said Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas.

+3 BREC seeks vaccination proof, but Broome says city-parish won't go same route, for now The East Baton Rouge Parish parks and recreation system Tuesday became one of the first agencies in the state to begin requiring masks or proo

Landry sent a copy of his letter to VCOM to several officials, including UL System President Jim Henderson. Henderson said the guidance about emergency use authorization was instructive. He has not mandated the vaccine at UL campuses, but he said campus officials are doing whatever they can to encourage students to receive it. UL Lafayette, for example, recently unveiled incentives including free laptops, iPhones and campus parking.

UL officials say they are not confident in numbers of how many students on their campuses have received the coronavirus vaccine so far. LSU officials say that just 23% of their students have been vaccinated.

Our focus is on getting as many people vaccinated as possible, Henderson said. You are in control of your own health and safety for the first time in this pandemic; vaccination is what protects you.

Even once the vaccines receive full FDA approval, both Landry and the attorneys representing the VCOM students argue that the students still cannot be required to receive them. The students are being represented by Liberty Counsel, a Florida nonprofit known for its lawsuits on behalf of evangelical Christian organizations. The law firm has been in the national news frequently amid the pandemic while representing churches that were barred from holding in-person worship services during coronavirus lockdowns.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

After debate, LSU board asks Louisiana to require COVID vaccine for public school students The LSU Board of Supervisors narrowly approved a resolution Friday asking the Louisiana Department of Health to add the COVID vaccines to the 

Liberty Counsel also sent a letter to LSUs School of Dentistry this spring after the school mandated coronavirus vaccines, calling the mandate a "violation of fundamental individual, economic and religious liberties." Soon after, the dental school amended its policy.

In the case of VCOM, the Liberty Counsel attorneys claim that VCOM set up a snitch program targeting the students who would not get vaccinated, and that the students were subjected to discrimination by being required to wear masks until they provided proof of vaccination.

No school may force or coerce anyone to take these injections, and certainly not when doing so violates sincerely held religious beliefs, said Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver in a statement.

VCOM officials did not return messages by phone or email for this story. Their Louisiana campus opened last summer with a class of 150 students, and VCOM also has campuses in Virginia, Alabama and South Carolina.

As COVID cases surge in Louisiana, the inevitable is happening: more breakthrough infections As COVID-19 cases surge in Louisiana among unvaccinated people, the inevitable is occurring: some vaccinated people are also getting sick.

Most educational institutions in Louisiana require students to show proof of several vaccinations, including tetanus; measles, mumps and rubella; and meningitis for college students. But Landry argued in his letter that even those requirements go too far.

Under Louisiana law, immunizations at colleges and universities are never mandatory if a student presents a written statement from a physician that a medical exemption is warranted or if a student presents a written dissent from the student, Landry insisted.

The courts may take a different view: a federal judge in Texas last month dismissed a lawsuit from more than 100 hospital employees who challenged vaccination requirements at Houston Methodist Hospital. The judge ruled that the hospital was within its authority to mandate the vaccine, writing in his ruling that the hospital "is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients, and their families safer."

Landry also argued that medical students  who are unlicensed and unable to practice medicine  have expertise in their field.

Surely some of these medical students already have more medical training than the lawyer with whom some of them spoke? Landry wrote.

Throughout the pandemic, Landry has downplayed the threat of the coronavirus and battled Gov. John Bel Edwards over coronavirus restrictions. His comments have come in direct contrast with doctors and public health officials; Ochsner noted this week that its hospitals have zero patients with vaccine complications, but more than 50 with complications from the virus.

Landry closed his letter by saying, I will pursue all legal means available to ensure that the fundamental liberties of Louisiana citizens are protected from unfair, discriminatory policies.
If a man who worked for a Highland Road couple argues that his cousin coerced his involvement in the couple's 2015 slaying, then the jury will be told that coercion cannot be used as a murder defense, a judge decided Monday.

Over the objection of Ernesto Llerena Alonso's attorney, state District Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts granted the prosecution's request for that special jury instruction in the event Alonso and his lawyer assert a justification defense based upon coercion.

Jury selection began Monday at Alonso's first-degree murder trial in the killing of Denis "Bubbie" Duplantier, 71, and Suzanne "Suzy" Duplantier, 70. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted as charged.

+4 A Highland Road couple's landscaper is accused of murdering them; his trial starts Monday Four months after his cousin pleaded guilty to manslaughter in exchange for a 30-year prison term, a man who worked for a Highland Road couple

Alonso's cousin, Frank Garcia, 54, of Hollywood, Florida, pleaded guilty in September to two counts of manslaughter was sentenced to 30 years behind bars.

Alonso's attorney, Dwight Doskey, indicated Monday that Alonso, 48, who did landscaping work for the couple and lived on other property owned by them, will testify in his own defense.

Prosecutor Dana Cummings had filed a motion Friday asking for the special jury instruction that Foxworth-Roberts granted Monday.

Cummings wrote that Louisiana law allows the defense of justification "when any crime, except murder, is committed through the compulsion of threats by another of death or great bodily harm, and the offender reasonably believes the person making the threats is present and would immediately carry out the threats if the crime were not committed."

"Coercion is not a defense" for a defendant charged with murder, she argued Monday to Foxworth-Roberts before jury selection got underway.

Doskey, in a written response to Cummings' motion and in arguments to the judge Monday, said the state's proposed jury instruction "ignores Louisiana's responsive verdict scheme" and "violates the constitutional right to present a defense."

Doskey agreed that coercion is not a defense to a specific-intent murder but said manslaughter, which is a possible responsive verdict in a first-degree murder case, does not require specific intent to kill.

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Foxworth-Roberts rejected his arguments.

Doskey had told The Advocate after Garcia pleaded guilty that Alonso's "limited participation came only after Franks actions surprised him, and then Frank threatened the lives of Ernesto and his family."

The judge Monday also granted the state's request to prohibit the defense from referring to Garcia's guilty plea during the trial. Cummings argued the trial is simply about Alonso and that Garcia's plea is irrelevant. Doskey said he wanted to point out to the jury that Garcia had admitted his involvement in the case.

Garcia's plea agreement with the state does not require him to testify against Alonso.

The victims' bodies were discovered Oct. 19, 2015, in the back seat of their red pickup truck at a Hammond gas station near Interstate 12. They had been strangled with zip ties, Cummings revealed when Garcia pleaded guilty.

Alonso's white pickup was seen on surveillance video as it followed the couples vehicle into the Petro truck stop, authorities have said. Alonsos truck was later discovered at Garcia's home in Florida.

The Duplantiers were reported missing by worried family members who hadnt had contact with them for more than a day. Baton Rouge police officers conducted a welfare check and found the door open to the couples Highland Road home. They and their red truck were missing.

A safe inside the Duplantier home was found open, with cash missing, authorities have said. Blood was located in several rooms. Authorities believe Alonso and Garcia entered the couple's home and beat them to get the information needed to open the safe.

At Garcia's guilty plea hearing and sentencing, Cummings disclosed that $160,000 in cash, believed to have been stolen from the Duplantier home, as well as valuable coins and jewelry belonging to the couple, was found at Garcias home in Florida.

Cummings also filed documents prior to that hearing stating that one of the victims' daughters told Baton Rouge police that her father "previously hid cocaine in his house."
A federal judge says that while a medical college in Monroe may have valid reasons for doing so, it cannot deny admittance to three would-be doctors who don't want to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order against the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, saying it could have done more to accommodate the students' "deeply held religious beliefs" as they sought to enroll this fall.

The medical school known as VCOM initially said in early summer that because students work directly with patients who need protection from COVID-19, they had few options. They could withdraw their applications or defer enrollment for a year. Or, they could either do work that doesn't involve patient care or enroll in an education pathway that "defers clinical involvement."

On Aug. 9, the court said, VCOM reached out to the students to approve their religious exemption "for the current time," and with certain additional restrictions, including,

Their exemption would expire once a COVID vaccine was fully authorized by federal regulators

Wear a mask except when eating or drinking, and stay at least 6 feet from all others while eating or drinking

Stay away from campus if ill, and report illnesses, and submit to a COVID test if they had any COVID symptoms

Work with other students only if the other students agreed to work with someone who is unvaccinated

After Louisiana medical school mandated COVID vaccine, Jeff Landry files lawsuit Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a federal lawsuit against the state's newest medical school, joining three students who claim

Doughty, an appointee of President Donald Trump, said the accommodations VCOM offered were too restrictive.

"Particularly, the students would not be able to graduate or advance because they will not be able to engage in Standardized Patient Examinations and Early Clinical Experiences, which are requirements for graduation  even if wearing a mask," he wrote.

VCOM holds a public-private collaboration agreement with the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Doughty said VCOM is subject to Louisiana's 2010 Protection of Religious Freedom Act, and could meet part of its requirements, but not all.

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"VCOM can likely show a compelling state interest (safety of students, employees, and patients), but it is unlikely to meet the second prong, that it used the least restrictive means of compelling that interest," he wrote.

After U.S. judge raises questions, AG Jeff Landry backs out of lawsuit against medical school Two days after he filed a lawsuit against a small private medical school in northeast Louisiana over its coronavirus vaccine requirement for s

According to the court record, Rachel Lynn Magliulo, Matthew Shea Willis and Kirsten Willis Hall believe the vaccine was devised from aborted fetal tissues, violating their religious beliefs. They also dissented because vaccines are currently authorized for emergency use and they consider them experimental.

Several types of cell lines created decades ago using fetal tissue exist and are widely used in medical manufacturing, but the cells in them today are clones of the early cells, not the original tissue.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said last winter, when vaccines became available, Given that the COVID-19 virus can involve serious health risks, it can be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses abortion-derived cell lines" if others are not available.

Louisiana medical school has no interest in political battle, but defends vaccine rules After Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry last week threatened legal action against a north Louisiana medical school over rules compelling 

The Louisiana attorney general's office was initially listed among the plaintiffs but withdrew after Doughty asked why. It said this month it wasn't a "real party" in the case but rather had only a "general governmental interest" in its outcome.

Doughty said the temporary restraining order would remain in place until the lawsuit's resolution.
Political battle lines are already forming on Gov. John Bel Edwards' proposal to spend $500 million for a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge.

Game changer? Governor proposes $500 million for new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge In a potential breakthrough, Gov. John Bel Edwards on Monday proposed spending $500 million to build a new bridge across the Mississippi River

Backers call the move a no-brainer, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to finance a landmark structure that will make dramatically improve traffic in Louisiana's chronically congested state Capital City.

"It is a huge quality of life issue," said Jay Campbell, chair of the Capital Area Road and Bridge District, a seven-member panel which has been doing preliminary planning for the bridge for months.

But two leaders of the state Senate, which often has the final word in high profile budget showdowns, question whether the governor's move makes sense amid huge questions about the bridge, including where it will go.

+2 First look at possible crossings for new Mississippi River bridge nearly two years away The public will get its first look at 15 possible crossings for a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge in the spring of 2022

"By the time they get the location, do the environmentals, do the assessments, do the engineering, we are talking about years," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bodi White, R-Central, said the day after Edwards spelled out his plans.

White's stance also means the issue could split the Baton Rouge area legislative delegation, and make other lawmakers leery of endorsing the plan if lawmakers closest to the project cannot agree.

The fate of Edwards' proposal will be debated during the 2022 regular legislative session, which begins March 14.

The project is expected to cost over $1 billion, and possibly $2 billion.

Baton Rouge area residents have clamored for a new bridge for years, especially knowing that daily backups on and near the structure play a big role in traffic jams that have helped earn Louisiana a national reputation for transportation problems.

The bridge, which opened in 1968, is also a notorious problem spot for truckers and others using Interstate 10 between Santa Monica, Calif. and Jacksonville, Fla.

A gusher of federal coronavirus aid, part of the $2.9 billion in onetime money, suddenly made a $500 million down payment feasible after years of failed efforts to boost the state gasoline tax and other possible solutions.

"The time is right to try to create some confident source of funding to be able to move forward," Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget last week.

Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development, said the $500 million would be a key part of a financing package that includes public-private partnerships  private investment in exchange for a long-term revenue stream  as well as tolls.

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Wilson said that, aside from sending a signal to federal officials and investors, the money would be used for traffic analysis, feasibility studies and environmental requirements need to win the interest of private developers.

He also disputed White's view that it would be next to impossible to set aside $500 million for years without future governors and legislators wanting to raid it for other projects. "If I do a fund for the Baton Rouge bridge, it is a fund for the Baton Rouge bridge," Wilson said.

Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, former chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he favors a new bridge and held that view when he led the transportation panel.

+2 Relief for Mississippi River bridge traffic? A look inside the push for a short-term fix The Louisiana House last week voted 96-0 to ask state highway leaders if they could craft a short-term fix for daily traffic problems on the M

But he noted that where the bridge will go remains a question. "It could be a decade away, if we fast track it," Cortez said.

Campbell's Capital Area Road and Bridge District panel announced in December 2020 that the public will get its first look at 15 possible crossings this spring. He said the aim is to trim that list to three by summer.

A mandatory environmental review is then expected to take at least two years.

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, who has played a key role in finding federal dollars for traffic relief projects, said that timeline is too slow.

Grave also criticized the firm with a $5 million state contract to do the advance work  Atlas Technical Consultants LLC.

Wilson picked the company in 2020 even though Atlas finished third among bidders in a technical survey.

State declines to reverse choice for $5 million consulting contract Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development, declined Friday to overturn his decision for awarding a $5

He said then the scores are not the only criteria.

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, who has frequently clashed with Edwards, issued a statement shortly after the governor spelled out his plan and said "it has my full support."

"Anyone who has ever driven through Baton Rouge knows the Mississippi River bridge is a huge problem," Schexnayder said.

State Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, another frequent critic of Edwards, praised the plan for a new bridge and called it part of a "trillion dollar corridor" that impacts the entire state.

"This would be one of the greatest things we could do for our great grandchildren, no less our grandchildren," Edmonds said.
House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said Monday the Legislature has a responsibility "to seek the truth about Gov. John Bel Edwards participation in a possible coverup of how Black motorist Ronald Greene died, citing the findings of a recent Associated Press story.

The story, published Friday, revealed that Edwards learned within hours that Greene had died after a violent, lengthy struggle with State Police troopers, though the text the governor received did not say how Greene died.

State Police initially stuck to a story that Greene, who led police on a multi-parish chase, had died from injuries he sustained in a crash, and that was the explanation they gave Greenes family.

An initial coroners report also followed that version, but a later autopsy said troopers caused Greenes death by striking him, tasing him and restraining him, though it also cited his cocaine use as a factor.

Gov. John Bel Edwards kept mum about conflicting details of Ronald Greene's death Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was immersed in a difficult reelection campaign when he received a text message from the head of the state pol

Schexnayder called the storys revelations greatly disturbing."

"This would demonstrate gross misconduct and the highest level of deceit on behalf of the governor and others," the speaker said in a statement.

"What happened to Ronald Greene is inexcusable and should never happen to anyone," he said.

Ronald Greene's mother calls State Police head 'besuited Blackface puppet' in open letter In an open letter to Louisiana State Police head Col. Lamar Davis released Thursday, the mother of Ronald Greene reiterated her demands for ju

"His family and the citizens of this state deserve to know the truth," Schexnayder added.

The speaker also said that, over the weekend, he spoke with Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, and that "it's our responsibility to the people of this state to seek the truth. It's time to find out who knew what and when and hold them accountable."

Schexnayder did not specify what form any inquiry should take.

"The Legislature is an equal and independent branch of government meant to serve as a check and balance to the other branches," according to the statement.

"We are fully prepared to use the authority granted to us in the Constitution of this state to be that check and to be that balance."

How Greene died is the subject of a federal civil rights investigation.

The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Asked about Schexnayder's statement Katie Bernhardt, chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, issued a statement that says, "This is an incredibly serious matter that must be addressed promptly; however, we must hear from the governor before we can proceed."

Cortez could not be reached for comment.

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Also unavailable were state Rep. Vincent Pierre, D-Lafayette, the new chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and House Democratic Party caucus chairman Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport.

Schexnayder issued his statement the day before what is expected to be a contentious special session to redraw political boundaries for Louisiana's congressional delegation, the Legislature, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Public Service Commission.

The AP story also said investigators have zeroed in on comments by Schexnayder that the governor in June downplayed the need for a legislative inquiry because he said Greene died in a wreck.

The speaker and the governor have clashed frequently over a wide range of issues, including last year's failed bid led by Schexnayder to override some of Edwards vetoes.

Edwards is a Democrat and the Legislature is controlled by Republicans.

The Advocate and Times-Picayune submitted a public records request to State Police on May 21, 2021 for, among other things, emails, text messages and other communications sent or received by then Superintendent Kevin Reeves between May 10 and Sept. 1, 2019 dealing with the May 10 traffic stop in Union Parish that ended with Greenes death.

State Police on June 7 rejected the request as overly broad.

Edwards received word of Greenes death in a text message from Reeves on May 10, 2019, according to the AP account.

"Good morning. An FYI," the story quoted Reeve's message as saying.

"Early this morning, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle in Ouachita Parish. The driver fled through two parishes in excess of 110 mph, eventually crashing."

"Troopers attempted to place the driver under arrest. But, a violent, lengthy struggle took place."

"After some time struggling with the suspect, troopers were joined by a Union Parish deputy and were able to take the suspect into custody. . . The suspect remained combative but became unresponsive shortly before EMS arrived."

On Sunday the state Republican Party said the issue of what the governor knew about Greene's death warrants an investigation.

"The officially released story was that Mr. Greene had died in a car wreck which ended a high-speed police chase across several parishes," the party said in a statement.

"Yet recently uncovered evidence has shown beyond any doubt that John Bel Edwards was notified within hours of the tragedy, that Mr. Greene had very much survived the wreck and later died in police custody," it says.

"Nevertheless, the governor continued to maintain the fiction that Mr. Greene died in a wreck for two more years, knowing full well that this was not true."

Check back with The Advocate for more details.
When Jeffrey Epstein died, he left behind an estate with an estimated value of $US600 million ($859 million). There were vast financial holdings, a private jet and palatial properties including an island hideaway, a grand Manhattan mansion and a 7600-acre New Mexico ranch.

But taxes, property upkeep and temperature-controlled storage for his art collection  as well as $US121 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 Epsteins estate. It is now worth about one-third of its value when the financier, 66, hanged himself in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in 2019.

Jeffrey Epsteins private island is in the Virgin Islands. Credit:Gianfranco Gaglione

The biggest continuing expense is legal costs: $US30 million so far to law firms brought in to clean up 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 finished anytime soon. The estate must still resolve a civil fraud lawsuit, brought by the attorney general of the Virgin Islands, who claims Epstein used the territory to facilitate a criminal enterprise by bilking it out of more than $US70 million in tax revenue. And Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of Epstein who was convicted of sex-trafficking charges last month, has sued the estate to recoup her legal fees.
Leading West Australian businessman Richard Goyder is the latest Perth-based chief to quit his home state due to the delayed border reopening.

This Saturday, WA was meant to remove its hard border and join the rest of Australia in allowing travel free of quarantine, with only caps and testing in place for arrivals.

Veteran chairman Richard Goyder at his farm north-east of Perth. Credit:Trevor Collens

But that has been put off indefinitely, causing mixed reactions, including anger and anguish among doctors and businesses.

On the weekend, Wesfarmers managing director Robb Scott and his executive team announced they could no longer sustain their eastern states expansion plans while also seeking WA travel exemptions, with 14-day quarantine, over the coming year.
Police have seized more than $3 million worth of a popular party drug after the highway patrol intercepted a vehicle in the states north-west last week.

A Hyundai light truck was pulled over by officers from the Horsham highway patrol about 7pm last Monday, where they found 356 litres of 1,4-butanediol, commonly known as bute and often mistaken for GHB, in two large containers in the back.

Police supplied image of the white truck found with hundreds of litres of 1,4-butanediol. Credit:Victoria Police

The 73-year-old South Australian driver of the truck was interviewed by police but released pending further enquiries.

During a search of the vehicle, officers found four barrels they suspected contained an illicit substance.
Non-military experts are on their way to inspect the damage after an Australian Navy vessel providing aid to Tonga suffered a major power outage.

HMAS Adelaide has been providing recovery equipment and personnel as well as essential supplies to Tonga after an undersea earthquake and tsunami struck the archipelago in the middle of January, causing a three-day power outage, spoiling frozen and refrigerated food.

HMAS Adelaide, pictured at the Tongan capital of Nukualofa, has experienced a major power outage.

The ships power outage was first reported by the ABC, which reported it was having issues with external communications and some crew reportedly slept above deck as a result.

The Defence Department confirmed there had been a power outage, and backup power had been activated to restore essential systems.
Hidden chains While the citys outbreak is minuscule by global standards, with fewer than 14,000 infections and just 213 deaths throughout the pandemic, Hong Kong on January 27 set a record, with 164 new cases. Loading Its certainly not a situation that would give us the comfort or the assurance that it is under control, Lam said at a briefing on January 27. We are expecting that, any time, we could have an exponential increase in cases and it could give rise to a massive community outbreak. Hong Kong has more than a dozen hidden chains of transmission silently spreading the pathogen, and government adviser David Hui estimated there are 90 untraceable cases.

Unlike former COVID-zero stalwarts like Australia and Singapore, Hong Kong has resisted trying to get to some semblance of herd immunity through a combination of natural infection and vaccinations, since that would jeopardise Lams goal of reopening the border with mainland China. Moreover, with just under half of people over 70 years old vaccinated, widespread infection would lead to soaring hospitalisations and deaths. We do not possess the prerequisites for living with the virus because the vaccination rate is not good, especially amongst the elderly, Lam said. I could not stand seeing a lot of old people dying in my hospitals. Officials instead are pursuing what they call Dynamic zero, an approach that emerged from China and aims to work toward no new infections while acknowledging some may still occur. A silver lining of the omicron outbreak is that its giving Lams government the political backing to push much harder with vaccine mandates. The city will require vaccines for residents of nursing homes and from late February will ban most unvaccinated people from restaurants, gyms and bars.

Zero-COVID is to buy time for boosting the vaccination rate, especially for high-risk groups, said Lam Ching-choi, a doctor who is a member of the Hong Kong leaders advisory Executive Council. The recent trend is quite promising. Loading Theres been a jump in pace since the omicron outbreak, though Hong Kongs vaccination levels especially among the elderly remain one of the worst of developed economies. About 80 per cent of people 12 and above have received at least one shot, and officials have said the government wont consider easing current restrictions until 90 per cent of them are vaccinated. The vaccination rate among people 80 and above is now at 31 per cent, up from 19 per cent in December. Battered reputation

The restrictions have battered Hong Kongs reputation for openness and frustrated business lobby groups. People returning from eight countries including the US, UK and Canada are banned until at least mid-February. Thousands of residents were locked inside their public housing apartments for days and officials have even euthanised several thousand hamsters after a delta case in a pet store. Hong Kong could make the decision to shift away from the zero-tolerance approach and accept some community spread, said microbiologist Siddharth Sridhar, an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong. Unlike Singapore, which abandoned COVID zero just before getting hit with the delta wave, he said, Hong Kong could make the change when the less virulent Omicron variant is dominant, which might ease pressure on the health-care system. We can potentially do this in quite a safe way, he said. It will take a lot of planning but its not a bad position to be in, honestly. However, after more than two years of focus on keeping daily cases at or near zero, officials havent communicated any clear exit plan for the pandemic, and its unlikely that Lams government can formulate one without Beijings sign-off.
London: The German paedophile suspected of abducting Madeleine McCann repeatedly worked at the holiday apartments in Portugal where the child vanished, documentary makers have revealed.

Christian Brueckner was said to have been employed by a company that carried out repairs at the Ocean Club, in Praia da Luz, shortly before the three-year-old British girl disappeared there in 2007.

Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann.

An anonymous but reliable witness has told reporters at German TV channel SAT.1 that the convicted sex attacker repeatedly carried out repair work at the holiday apartments where Kate and Gerry McCann were staying with their children.

Producers for the show have handed police a file following extensive research in the Algarve resort.
"Hold Everything! Be Right Back (Charger Etiquette), I Gotta Move My Car"; Inconvenience of Long Recharging Times Just One Cause Of Slow EV Sales

 SEE ALSO: Electric Vehicles Solution Or Diversion?

 SEE ALSO: Real World EV Fill-up Cost Report

 SEE ALSO: 53% Of Americans Not Charged Up By Electric vehicles

SEE ALSO: Tesla Charge Que Grapvine Interstate 5

SEE ALSO: Electric Vehicles Solution Or Diversion?

Reality Check: There are more than 168,000 retail gas fill-up locations in US most offer multiple pumps and positions, average in and out fill-up time under 5 minutes

DETROIT June 10, 2021; The AP reported that if the auto industry is to succeed in its bet that electric vehicles will soon dominate the roads, it will need to overcome a big reason why many people are still avoiding them: fear of running out of juice between Point A and Point B.

Automakers have sought to quell those concerns by developing EVs that go farther per charge and fill up faster. Problem is, most public charging stations now fill cars much too slowly, requiring hours  not minutes  to provide enough electricity for an extended trip.

Concerned that such prolonged waits could turn away potential EV buyers and keep them stuck on gas-burning vehicles, automakers are trying to cut charging times to something close to the five or 10 minutes of a conventional gasoline fill-up.

Its absolutely the target to get faster and faster, said Brett Smith, technology director at the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank. Its not there yet, but its one of those things that moves the needle more toward a competitive vehicle for a lot of people, this ability to fast charge.

The latest generation of EVs, many with ranges around 300 miles (480 kilometers) per charge, can accept electricity at a much faster rate than previous models could. So fast, in fact, that most charging stations cannot yet accommodate the vehicles advanced technology.

It can now require hours to fully charge an electric vehicle because most stations operate on a home-like alternating current. Direct-current fast-charging stations, by contrast, are hours faster. But they can cost tens of thousands of dollars more.

The high cost is something the Biden administration will have to consider as it develops incentives to encourage companies and governments to build 500,000 charging stations nationwide by 2030. Among the possibilities being discussed are grants, with $15 billion in spending over five years to build the network, including fast chargers along highways and in communities. Details are being worked out as the administration negotiates its infrastructure plan with key members of Congress.

Of the roughly 42,000 public charging stations in the United States, only about 5,000 are considered direct-current fast chargers, according to the Department of Energy. The rest are like home chargers; they require roughly eight hours to fully charge longer-range batteries, longer than anyone wants to wait to charge a vehicle on a road trip.

And most fast chargers can pump out only about 50 kilowatts per hour requiring roughly an hour to charge an average EV to 80%  even though newer EVs are capable of being charged must faster than that.

Its one of the big barriers for someone who is not living with a battery-electric vehicle yet, said Alex Tripi, who heads Volvos electric vehicle marketing. It will continue to be for a while.

Limited by technology, early electric vehicles charged at ridiculously low speeds when compared with recent models. When Nissans Leaf first went on sale more than a decade ago, for example, it could take in only 50 kilowatts per hour from a fast charger. That meant it took a half hour to charge it to 80% of its small battery, with a range of just 58 miles (93 kilometers) .

A new long-range version released in 2019 nearly tripled the range per charge. Because it can take 100 kilowatts at a fast charger, it can get to 80%  181 miles (291 kilometers)  in 45 minutes.

Newer EVs can be charged even faster. But they far exceed the capacity of most fast chargers. Fords Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning can take in 150 kilowatts per hour. Hyundais Ioniq 5 and Porsches Taycan are over 200 kilowatts.

The Hyundai, with 300 miles (480 kilometers) of range, can go from a 10% charge to 80% in just 18 minutes, much closer to gasoline fill-up times. (Automakers tend to quote charging times to 80% of battery capacity because it takes much longer to go from 80% to 100%; the final 20% is often slowed down to prolong battery life.) Hyundai knows there arent many chargers now that can fill the Ioniq that fast. But it says its ready for a future when more quick chargers are more widely available.

Hopefully the infrastructure will improve across the U.S. for this to be a whole lot more viable, said John Shon, senior group manager of product planning.

Tesla, which has its own private charging network of 25,000 plugs worldwide, leads just about every automaker. Its newer chargers can crank out up to 250 kilowatts and 175 miles (282 kilometers) of range in about 15 minutes.

Electrify America, a charging network funded with money paid by Volkswagen as punishment for its emissions cheating scandal, says its ready for the newer EVs. Having installed fast chargers since 2018, it runs more than 600 stations with 2,600 plugs nationwide. All can pump out 150 kilowatts. That means they can charge a typical EV with 300 miles (480 kilometers) of range to 80 percent of battery capacity (240 miles (386 kilometers) ) in roughly 45 minutes. Over half of Electrify Americas stations can pump out 350 kilowatts, which charge twice as fast.

A fast-charge fill-up to 80% of battery capacity varies by state but typically costs around $16.

Even Tesla owners, who can access the nations biggest fast-charging charging network, risk running out of juice on road trips, especially in rural areas. On Monday, one such driver, Dan Nelson, said he had to stop at a Tesla station near Ann Arbor, Michigan, for more than 20 minutes to make sure his Model 3 had enough charge to reach his rural home 25 miles (40 kilometers) away.

Theres definitely improvements that can be made, said Nelson, who charges at home most of the time.

Bruce Westlake, president of the East Michigan Electric Auto Association, suggested that such anxiety tends to ease as people gain more experience with EVs. He said he is now comfortable running his two Teslas as low as 5% of battery capacity to go farther between charges on trips.

Research by J.D. Power shows that most people think charging stations are needed at locations where gas stations are now. But in fact, according to the Energy Department, most EV owners charge at home more than 80% of the time (other than those who do not live in a suburban home)

That means super-fast chargers, which can cost close to $100,000, should be built mainly along highways where people are traveling long distances and need to charge quickly, experts say. They also may be needed in urban areas where people live in apartments with no access to a home charger.

Its far from clear that the automakers can depend on a proliferation of fast chargers across the country to build customer confidence and propel EV sales in the years ahead. The high cost and heavy load on utility grids likely will limit the number of fast chargers to areas where theyre needed for quick fill-ups, said Jessika Trancik, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who studies EV charging.

As were approaching this transition, she said, its important to be more strategic than just putting them everywhere.

Charging companies have time to figure out where to build fast chargers, because it would take more than 17 years to convert the entire U.S. fleet of 279 million passenger vehicles from petroleum to electricity  even if every motorist were willing to make the switch, said Pasquale Romano, CEO of ChargePoint, a charging station company. But the chargers cant come fast enough for automakers, who want more people to buy their EVs to spread development costs over more vehicles.

Romano says fast chargers will be needed about every 75 miles (120 kilometers) on roads that connect metro areas, and that the United States should get there in about two years. As more EVs are sold, he said, more stations will be built.

You dont want to put all the infrastructure in for 20 years starting with vehicle zero, Romano said. This is about the natural organic growth.
Van Buren, AR (72956)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The Maryland General Assembly meets for 90 days each year between January and April.
President Joe Biden speaks Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in support of changing the Senate filibuster rules that have stalled voting rights legislation on the grounds of Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
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Vendors and Vehicles: Alcoa High DECA plans spring market

Courtesy of Keenan Sudderth Reed Gossett (left) and Dawson Sweetland look at the layout on Jan. 30 for the Vendors and Vehicles Spring Market, which will be held April 2 on the Alcoa High School campus. Courtesy of Keenan Sudderth Sam Robinson (from left), Caroline Buchanan and Annalise Erhart set out marketing materials to promote Vendors and Vehicles. Courtesy of Keenan Sudderth Ainsley Lamar (left) leads a team meeting for Vendors and Vehicles with other Alcoa High School marketing students. Courtesy of Keenan Sudderth Alcoa High School Educator Keenan Sudderth (from left) looks over marketing materials on Jan. 30 for Vendors and Vehicles Spring Market with Araceli Wilhoite and Ainsley Lamar.

A group of Alcoa High School students is getting real-world marketing experience and raising funds for upcoming DECA competitions, plus benefiting a local charity, with its upcoming spring market on April 2. The upper-level marketing students, members of the Social Media Analytics class led by instructor Keenan Sudderth, are planning, promoting and hosting the event, which will take place outdoors on the AHS campus.

Caroline Buchanan said the Alcoa High School Marketing Department has hosted a winter market for some time, but this year, they are adding the spring market. About 1,500 shoppers attended the fall 2021 winter market. Were hoping for a larger audience this year because were hosting a car show as well as vendors, she said. So, it kind of has a twist on the event, and were calling it Vendors and Vehicles. Applications are now available at www.alcoamarket.com. Vendor fee is $55 and the car fee is $35 until March 7. Applications received after March 7 and before March 18 will have an additional $10 fee attached.

Were planning on having 60 vehicles and 60 vendors, Buchanan said. Its all student-run, so that adds more character to the event. Were all working really hard and are excited about it. In addition to the students in the class, other student volunteers from AHS DECA will be involved.

First car show

Proceeds from the vendor fees will be used for expenses associated with traveling to DECA competitions on the district, state and national levels, while proceeds from the car show, the first one hosted by the marketing students, will benefit the Empty Pantry Fund, a Blount County organization that provides food to needy Blount County citizens at Christmas. Ainsley Lamar said, This car show will help with our community outreach so we can get more money for the charity.

Reed Gossett said they decided to host a car show for pre-2000 vehicles to attract a wider audience for the market as well as allow more students to be involved.

A lot of people work a really long time to fix these cars up, and to give them a platform for showing off the cars is pretty important, he said. We also welcome the challenges that arise with it because it gives more people an opportunity to experience running the event and adds a whole new aspect to what were trying to do.

The spring market will take place rain or shine. Should it rain, vendors will be moved inside the building.

Variety of vendors

Annalise Erhart said they want to include a wide range of local vendors and local products in the spring market. Categories will be limited to one of each type of business or product, for example, only one Pampered Chef, Tupperware, etc., dealer can participate.

Wed love to have handmade stuff because that makes it so much more personal and local, Erhart said. Were looking for handmade stuff and having a wide variety of things where everybody can enjoy our market.

Student entrepreneurs will also participate. Buchanan said, We have a small group of students at our high school who own their own businesses and sell their products on social media platforms. Its a great experience for student entrepreneurs to work at these markets because it provides real-world experiences.

Buchanan is one of these student entrepreneurs. She sews fashion accessories such as denim tote bags, makeup bags, scrunchies, etc.

Teamwork

The students are divided into teams and have specific duties and responsibilities. Erhart said, The marketing team works to get all the marketing out, such as coverage from news media and spreading the word on social media. Our operations team will be doing a lot of the setting up of the layout and working with vendors and cars specifically. We are getting our applications out right now. Anyone can go to apply at alcoamarket.com.

Lamar is on the marketing team. My main job is to create all the graphics youll see on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, she said. I created the logo that youll see on signs and social media.

Gossett, who is on the operations team, said, I assist in marketing stuff, but my main responsibility is to make sure the market and the car show run smoothly the day of. As we get more applications and accept more vendors, I will try to figure out the best placement for them, the best way for them to get profit and the best way for the customers to see their booth. We want everyone to be seen.

DECA

Students in the class are all members of DECA, an international organization which, according to www.deca.org, prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. AHS DECA includes about 40 students.

Buchanan said, DECA is a club where you can compete in marketing-based competitions. Its all about business and marketing.

At the competitions, the student receives a prompt and uses marketing skills learned in class to answer. These events, like district, state and nationals, are what you look forward to all year, Buchanan said. Its a really great club and theres lots of amazing opportunities that come with it, like scholarships and travel.

Sudderth said he sees the spring market as a time when people can get outdoors, enjoy the warmer spring weather and at the same time, support both the students and the Empty Pantry Fund, of which he serves as a board member. We wanted to do something for a local, community-based organization, and theres nothing better than the Empty Pantry Fund.

Before, our fall market was huge. We had roughly 1,500 people that came through and shopped, but it was strictly targeted toward the holidays, he said. For the spring market, this is an outside event, so theres going to be people who come out, look at cars, shop and eat. Weve got two food trucks coming and a snowcone truck, so that will be good for people who want to get out of their house in the spring. Were going to have it spread out for social distancing.

Weve got a beautiful campus, a beautiful layout and a strong group of kids who are excited and motivated to make this thing succeed.
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is s
An emergency crew members, including a forensic worker and a firefighter, work next to a damaged vehicle at the site of an accident after a van overturned and flipped into a ditch on a highway in central Mexico, near the city of Lagos de Moreno, Mexico, on Jan. 29, 2022. (Liberto Urena/Reuters)

13 People Die in Mexico Highway Accident

MEXICO CITYThirteen people were killed when their van overturned and flipped into a ditch on a highway in central Mexico, leaving another 10 people injured, officials said on Saturday.

Seven of the victims who died were initially trapped inside the car, the emergency services agency from Jalisco state said on Twitter.

The accident occurred near the city of Lagos de Moreno, on a highway that links the central states of Guanajuato and Jalisco, during a season in which Catholic pilgrims often visit a shrine in the nearby town of San Juan de los Lagos.

Photos from the emergency services agency show a large black van toppled onto its side in a deep rut along the highway, with what appears to be a shattered windshield.

The agency said 12 people lost their lives at the scene of the accident, including two children, and another person later died in hospital.

An emergency crew works next to a damaged vehicle at the site of an accident after a van overturned and flipped into a ditch on a highway in central Mexico, near the city of Lagos de Moreno, Mexico, on Jan. 29, 2022. (Liberto Urena/Reuters)
25 States Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Marylands Far-Reaching Gun Ban

A bloc of 25 states, led by Arizona, is urging the Supreme Court to take up a case that challenges Marylands unusually restrictive gun-control laws, which the states argue were enacted in defiance of the high courts landmark Second Amendment rulings.

The court filing comes as Americans await the courts ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which could come at any time. The justices seemed receptive to arguments in that case on Nov. 3, 2021, that New York states tough concealed-carry gun permitting system offends the Second Amendment, as previously reported by The Epoch Times.

Marylands Firearms Safety Act of 2013, enacted on the theory that restricting legal gun purchases promotes safety, is among the strictest in the nation. The legal regime requires that those who wish to purchase a pistol seek a license. Applicants must complete safety training and be fingerprinted before a gun permit will be issued. The state bans popular weapons such as the AR-15 and similar rifles and limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds. Maryland law also prohibits firearms with features such as flash hiders and folding stocks that the bloc of states argues enhance gun safety.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Marylands anti-gun laws go too far.

Americans do not require approval from a local jurisdiction to exercise their constitutional rights, Brnovich, a Republican, said in a statement.

We must vigorously oppose this type of misguided overreach at all levels of government.

Joining Arizona in the friend-of-the-court brief are the attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The case in which the friend brief was filed on Jan. 26 is Bianchi v. Frosh, court file 21-902. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld the Maryland law in September. The bloc of states argues that the circuit court violates Supreme Court precedent by fashioning its own standard that allows firearms to be banned if a court believes the weapon is military-grade, or a weapon of war in the parlance of gun control advocates.

Petitioners Dominic Bianchi, David Snope, and Micah Schaefer are residents of Maryland. The petitioners that are organizations are licensed firearms dealer Field Traders LLC, Firearms Policy Coalition Inc., Second Amendment Foundation Inc., and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The respondent, Brian Frosh, a Democrat, is Marylands attorney general.

In December 2020, petitioners sued in federal district court, claiming that Marylands categorical ban on the possession of common semiautomatic firearms is facially unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, which is applicable to Maryland under the Fourteenth Amendment, according to the petition (pdf) filed with the Supreme Court.

Second Amendment supporters say that in recent years, Americans gun ownership rights have hung by a thread in the Supreme Court. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2010), the Supreme Court held 54 that the Second Amendment protects an individuals right to possess a firearm. In McDonald v. Chicago (2012), the high court found 54 that the right of an individual to keep and bear arms is constitutionally incorporated, or made applicable, to the states.

Since those decisions were rendered, the ideological balance on the Supreme Court has shifted, leading to the current 63 conservative supermajority. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement last week, but he will likely be replaced by another liberal jurist.

According to the brief, the useful in military service standard adopted by the Fourth Circuit not only would perversely result in eliminating constitutional protection from the very arms the Founders expected law-abiding citizens to bring with them when mustering for militia service  but taken to the limits of its logic, this standard threatens to strip constitutional protection from virtually all firearms.

Nearly 20 million rifles of the kind Maryland bans have been sold in the United States and are typically used for legitimate self-defense, the brief states.

Yet the nearly 85 million people living in Maryland and the five other States (and the District of Columbia) with similar bans on common semi-automatic rifles are flatly prohibited from keeping or bearing these arms, solely because they live on one side of a state line rather than the other. That situation is intolerable, and only this Courts intervention can correct it.

The Epoch Times reached out for comment to counsel of record for the state, Julia Doyle Bernhardt of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Office spokeswoman Raquel Coombs replied on her behalf, saying via email, Our office does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Maryland was supposed to file a response to the petition by Feb. 14 but on Jan. 25 asked the court to extend the deadline. The Supreme Court granted the motion and ordered the state to respond by March 16.
Multiple area fire departments assist Pierce Fire & Rescue at the scene of a house fire in Pierce, Neb., on Jan. 29, 2022. (Kathryn Harris/The Norfolk Daily News via AP)

3 Children Killed in House Fire in Rural Nebraska

PIERCE, Neb.Three children died Saturday when a home caught fire in a rural area of northern Nebraska.

The fire broke out just after 3:30 a.m. in the town of Pierce. Three people got out, but a 17-year-old, 15-year-old, and 12-year-old were unable to escape. They were pronounced dead at the scene, Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency Chief Investigator Adam Matzner said in a news release. Their names were not released.

Two people were uninjured. One person was treated at a hospital and released.

Matzner said the fire was accidental and caused by a wood-burning stove.

Multiple area fire departments assist Pierce Fire & Rescue at the scene of a house fire in Pierce, Neb., on Jan. 29, 2022. (Kathryn Harris/The Norfolk Daily News via AP)

Multiple area fire departments assist Pierce Fire & Rescue at the scene of a house fire in Pierce, Neb., on Jan. 29, 2022. (Kathryn Harris/The Norfolk Daily News via AP)

Autopsies are planned for the three victims.

Pierce Public Schools posted on its Facebook page that it opened the high school Saturday to students seeking support due after the loss of Pierce High and Pierce Elementary students.

State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, in a statement, called the fire an unspeakable tragedy.

Todays news is heartbreaking and hard to understand, but I know the community spirit of Pierce is resilient, may it comfort this family and our region, Flood said.

Pierce, with a population of about 1,700, is 130 miles northwest of Omaha.
Trucks from the convoy protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions are parked on a road in Ottawa on Jan. 30, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Alberta Convoy Blocks Canada-US Border in Support of Protests in Ottawa

A trucker convoy continues to block a highway at a busy Canada-U.S. border crossing for a second day as part of a national protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the border crossing at Coutts, Alta., has remained open despite the blockade on Highway 4, but the RCMP says only foot traffic is able to get through.

The convoy, which set up the blockade on Saturday, Jan. 29, is one of many in Canadian towns and cities held this weekend to coincide with the large-scale demonstration in Ottawa protesting the federal governments COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

The Alberta RCMP issued a travel advisory on Jan. 29 for Highway 4 from south of Lethbridge, Alta., to the village of Coutts. The advisory remained in place on Jan. 30 and may continue for an unknown period of time, the RCMP said.

Alberta RCMP are issuing a travel advisory against travel in the area of Hwy 4 south of #Lethbridge continuing to the #Coutts border crossing due to heavy congestion and slow moving traffic. This is expected to continue for an unknown period of time. #ABRoads  RCMP Alberta (@RCMPAlberta) January 29, 2022

The Alberta protest is being held in support of Freedom Convoy 2022, a cross-country demonstration that arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 29, having started out as a protest against the feds COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truckers that took effect Jan .15.

The mandate requires all truck drivers crossing into Canada from the United States to be fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Canadian truck drivers would not be denied entry into Canada but would need to quarantine for 14 days.

The cross-country convoy soon expanded into a national movement, with thousands of supporters joining to support the truckers as well as protest against other pandemic-related restrictions.

The Alberta RCMP had asked the participants of the convoy on Highway 4 to avoid a full blockage of the highway so as not to restrict or prevent responses to emergency events such as a fire, collision, or medical emergency.

The RCMPs goal is that traffic flow remain open in at least one lane in each direction to allow for emergency response, flow of traffic for area residents, employment travel, and to permit movement of lawful traffic across the border.

The CBSA said it has been monitoring the situation at the border and is ready to respond, with police of local jurisdiction if necessary, to any events impeding operations at ports of entry, a spokesperson from the agency told CBC News.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called for an immediate end to the blockade in his province, saying that it violates Albertas Traffic Safety Act.

As I said last week, Canadians have a democratic right to engage in lawful protests. I urge those involved in this truck convoy protest to do so as safely as possible, and not to create road hazards which could lead to accidents or unsafe conditions for other drivers, Kenney said on Jan. 30 in a statement from Washington, D.C., where he is attending a National Governors Association meeting.

Another group of protesters also blocked traffic crossing the Canada-U.S. border between Woodstock, N.B., and Houlton, Maine, on Jan. 29 beginning at noon.

Protest organizer Mitchell Albert of Moncton said the blockade would be in place until noon the next day.

The plan is to show the N.B. government and the government of Maine what we can do when we stick together, and we will close that border down for 24 hours, Albert told The Canadian Press.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in this still image from a video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the U.S. Navy, on May 21, 2015. (U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters)

American Mistakes Now Aiding Chinese Hegemony Building: Loss of US Military Bases in Philippines

Commentary

To ensure the survival of its oppressive dictatorship, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is busy building the worlds most powerful military force, on Earth and in space, to achieve a new global hegemony under which it plans to set the rules that determine prosperity and security.

The CCPs path to hegemony has always depended on its ability to manipulate the democracies, exploit their weaknesses, and encourage them to make mistakes that open the way for the CCPs ambitions.

An early success was Beijings effort to convince the Philippine Senate, which then helped President George H.W. Bush to end the U.S. military presence in the Philippines, greatly reducing American resistance to Chinas increasing control of the South China Sea.

With control of the South China Sea, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) force in Hainan Province can project force through Southeast Asia and into the Indian Ocean, constricting sea lanes vital to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, while Hainans Wenchang Satellite Launch Center will be the primary support for Chinas control of the moon and Mars.

Americas military presence in the Philippines began in 1899 under an initially harsh U.S. colonial occupation, and then saw the loss of 13,884 U.S. troops in the effort to end Japans World War II occupation. Then followed the building of the Subic Bay naval base and Clark Air Base into major Cold War defensive bastions to contain communist expansion.

History will point to Americas post-Cold War exhaustion with the Philippines weak political elite that viewed their military bases not as their contribution to a defensive alliance, but as a means to leverage economic and military largess from Washington.

Even after the April 1991 eruption of the Mount Pinatubo volcano hastened the early U.S. withdrawal of its military forces, the Philippine Senate, on Sept. 16 that year, rejected a 10-year extension of the U.S. military presence by a 12 to 11 vote.

But it turns out that not just Philippine senators were voting. Its very likely that the CCP was quietly but actively involved in bribing Philippine politicians to end the U.S. military presence.

Writing in The Australian on Dec. 10, 2021, veteran columnist Greg Sheridan cited a former senior Philippine official, saying, He told me the Beijing government had used Philippines organised crime, specifically ethnic Chinese crime networks, to mobilise vast amounts of money to make sure the Senate vote went against the bases.

Sheridans revelation is probably the first public acknowledgment that the CCP was making a determined effort to defeat the new bases treaty and undermine a key U.S. alliance relationship, all the while using bribery to undermine the strength of Philippine democracy.

Apparently, U.S. officials were aware that Beijing was likely paying Philippine senators to vote against a new treaty that would extend the U.S. military presence.

Sheridan contacted the former chief U.S. negotiator for the Philippine bases treaty, Ambassador Richard Armitage, who told him: Its generally true. China threw a lot of money at the problem. They did not sway the [Philippines] government but had more success with the [Philippines] Senate.

Armitage also told Sheridan that Chinas effort was probably not determinate. The nationalist antipathy of many Philippine senators, the end of an active Soviet military threat in Southeast Asia, and the devastation of Mount Pinatubo simply added to Bushs determination to shed the burden of supporting the Philippines.

Starting with Bush, U.S. policies toward China for most of the next two decades would be characterized by engagement, or the conscious decision to downplay human rights in order to preserve growing commerce and investment, also justified by the illusion that greater free market trade and investment with China would lead to the eventual end of communist rule.

However, the Chinese regime would spend those two decades exploiting the power vacuumcreated by the end of the U.S. military presence in the Philippinesto enhance its corrupting political influence among the Philippine elite while beginning to build the physical bases for occupying the strategic South China Sea.

Filipinos march as they mark Independence day with a protest against continued Chinese intrusions in Philippine waters, outside the Chinese Embassy in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, on June 12, 2021. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Its likely that in the late 1960s, when Chinas PLA was starting to design its second-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), CCP and PLA leaders decided that control of the South China Sea was needed to ensure the security of SSBNs based on Hainan and open access to secure deep water patrol areas.

In 1974, China captured the Paracel Islands from South Vietnam, and then captured Johnson Reef in March 1988, occupying six islands and reefs in the Spratly Islands group that year.

By the end of 1994, Philippine fishermen discovered Chinese survey ships at Mischief Reef, also in the Spratly Islands, about 218 miles from Puerto Princesa, the capital of the Philippines Palawan Province, which sits astride sea lanes critical to the economies of Asia.

That was a brief crisis in U.S.Philippine relations, most notable in that the Clinton administration did nothing. But in the 1990s, the CCP and PLA also began to plan for global hegemony building by the middle of this century, with Hainan playing a central role.

By 2000, U.S. and allied intelligence detected that the PLA was building a new large naval base with underground tunnels for SSBNs at Yalong Bay in Sanya, Hainan. By 2007, the PLA began building the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center that would support future manned missions to the moon and Mars. By 2013, the first Chinese Navy aircraft carrier was visiting Sanya, with its second carrier most times now stationed there.

Also, by 2009, the PLA was signaling that it would add defensive depth to protect Hainan and preserve its power projection missions, while turning isles and reefs in the Spratly Islands into major air and naval bases.

The world watched as the PLA mobilized hundreds of ships to haul sand, concrete, and materials to turn Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef into major air bases and ports to support sea control, air control, anti-submarine, and amphibious assault operations.

Under the 201016 term of the late Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, there was great progress in rebuilding U.S.Philippine defense cooperation. He managed to revive the combat capability of the Philippine Air Force with the purchase of 12 FA-50 multirole fighters from South Korea.

But U.S.Philippine relations soured significantly under current President Rodrigo Duterte, who will leave office this year. Hes an authoritarian leftist who delighted in antagonizing Washington while seeking the friendship and favor of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. That dalliance failed; Beijing seeks to push Manila off of its remaining isles in the Spratly Islands, and Duterte was forced to start a serious military modernization program.

When Bush decided to leave the Philippines, the CCP became more convinced the United States didnt have the patience, staying power, or strategic vision for the long haul. If the United States could be pushed out of a longstanding military position in Southeast Asia, it could also be subordinated globally. That dangerous lesson needs to be corrected.

Washington could contain Beijings imperialism and power projection ambitions by, among much else, selling or gifting Manila 200 to 300 new short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles, soon to go into production. But this will also depend heavily on the next Philippine president and whether he or she wants to defend the countrys freedom, or is already beholden to the CCP.

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 the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, on March 17, 2021. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Significant Amount of Missing Medication in Melbourne Public Hospitals: Experts

A study led by Austin Health in Melbourne has found around one-fifth of medication supplied to public medical, surgical wards, and emergency departments (EDs) in Melbourne had not been administered to patients.

The study, led by David Taylor, Director of Emergency Medicine Research at Austin Health, concluded that in 2019 around 19.2 percent of medication to medical and surgical wards and EDs in four public hospitals in Melbourne were not administered to patients.

Considerable quantities of medications are not accounted for in public hospitals, Taylor and colleagues wrote after examining the medication supply and administration data for 20 frequently used medications.

The four hospitals examined in the study were Austin, Box Hill, Footscray and Frankston Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, with an estimated overall cost of the missing medication to be around $27,000; around 0.02 percent of the 2019 medication budget of $124,979,795 for the included wards in the four hospitals.

The drugs they analysed fell into the four broad categories of antibiotics, gastrointestinal medications, benzodiazepines, an antidepressant, and analgesics.

Of the unaccounted-for medication, the discrepancy was higher for medication useful for self-treatment, with oral medication such as antibiotics and gastrointestinal medication ranking the highest.

Around 86.8 percent of phenoxymethylpenicillin in 250 mg capsules, a form of oral antibiotics, were not administrated.

53.3 percent of ondansetron in 4 mg tablets, used as a gastrointestinal medication, were also missing.

The authors reasoned that the high discrepancy in oral medications might be due to staff members taking the drugs for self-treatment. In contrast, non-oral treatments had lower discrepancy rates, so this may be due to wastage.

Across wards, discrepancies were the highest for emergency departments, with a rate of 32.3 percent as opposed to 16.0 and 12.1 percent for medical and surgical wards, respectfully.

The authors were glad to see that controlled medication that can lead to dependence had low discrepancy rates; however individual hospitals had higher rates for oxycodone, an opioid and temazepam, often used to treat insomnia which may require further studies.

Reasons for the discrepancies were not examined, but the authors suggested that medication discrepancies are partially explained by theft, typically for self-treatment, especially for oral treatments.

These suggestions concur with a 2019 study led by Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, a regional Victorian health service.

Taylor and his colleagues reasoned that the high discrepancy rates for EDs could be due to medications often being transferred from EDs to other wards and services. Transfers may bypass the supply and administration systems, especially when out of regular work hours.

Patients discharged to hospital in the home may be given parenteral medications to ensure continuity of treatment before a definitive source is secured, and doctors may provide discharged patients with starter packs or complete courses of medication instead of prescriptions, the authors wrote.

The relatively hectic environment and larger staff numbers in EDs may also contribute to discrepancies.

Other possible explanations for discrepancies include failure to document medication administration and verbal orders, the medication record system may also be down temporarily as well as administrative errors. Changes in supply medication levels, stock recalls, spillage, waste, and medication expiry are also possible reasons for the discrepancies.

However, Taylor and his co-authors concluded that discrepancy rates of around 20 percent are clinically significant and recommended interventions to be put in place.

We recommend that the integrity of electronic medication supply and administration data be validated, comparing electronic with manual audit data, the authors stated.

Cameras in medication rooms could be considered, and procedures for averting diversion and harmonising supply and use reviewed.

The journal concluded that reasons for the discrepancies should be examined for the development of appropriate interventions, which includes staff education, strict administration procedure and audits, improved tracking of medication transferred to hospital wards, to patients or other services and also when it is not used for whatever reasons.
For more than three centuries, a nearly intact shipwreck lay preserved in time on the seafloor of Stockholm harbor. When she was pulled from the ocean one spring morning in 1961, news of her recovery broke around the world.

This wasnt just any shipwreck, though.

The 220-foot former flagship, the Vasa, built for King Gustav II Adolf between 1626 and 1628, had been a symbol of Swedish pride, showcasing both extravagance and firepower in excessultimately leading to her demise.

The ship Vasas figurehead, a lion. (Courtesy of Anneli Karlsson/Vasa Museum/SMTM)

The ship Vasas stern, from below. (Courtesy of Anneli Karlsson/Vasa Museum/SMTM)

Not only is the Vasa the worlds best-preserved ship dating from the early 1600s, in her time, she was also a symbolic display of power, strength, and craftsmanshipperhaps the 17th century equivalent to Air Force One. Befitting the volatile period, the Vasa was the most heavily armed warship in the Baltic with her 64 cannons, large crew, and hand-to-hand combat implements. Her stately importance and unmatched armament made the flagship King Gustavs way of showing the rest of Europe that Sweden was a force to be reckoned with on the high seasat least until her ironic end.

She was also lavishly adorned with hundreds of sculptures and decorations. Armed heroes from Greek and Roman mythology jostled alongside lions, angels, and biblical figures. Richly colored, many parts in gold leaf, the ship was a spectacle to behold when she set sail on her maiden voyage in August 1628a far cry from the minimalist approach modern Swedish design is known for today, yet the same Scandi reverence for aesthetic pervades.

The ship Vasa in the Vasa Museum. (Courtesy of Anneli Karlsson/Vasa Museum/SMTM)

(Left) Part of the hull; (Right) The ship Vasa. Detail of the rigging. (Courtesy of Ake E:son Lindman)

Just as the fated ship the Titanic departed Southampton, UK, to great uproar, the Vasa left Stockholm harbor before a huge, excited crowd and a band playing to celebrate the occasionyet like the Titanic, the Vasa was fated to an early, watery grave. Lacking the design excellence for which Sweden is now famed, shipbuilders failed to engineer for her over-the-top armament and opulencethe ship was top heavy. Before ogling onlookers, a strong gust of wind caused the ship to keel over in the harbor, just minutes after setting sail.

When divers discovered the vessel off the Swedish coast some 333 years later, it was the start of a restoration project that took several years to complete. The Vasa had been firmly welded to the hardened blue clay of the seabed; it would be difficult and perilous for workers to excavate. Had she sunken in other waters, though, the rescue might not have been worth it; the Baltic, however, was at the time free of the wood-eating shipworms found in warmer saltier waters. The Vasa was salvageable.

Part of the ship Vasas upper deck, towards the stern. (Courtesy of Anneli Karlsson/Vasa Museum/SMTM)

Part of the ship Vasas upper deck, towards the foreship. (Courtesy of Anneli Karlsson/Vasa Museum/SMTM)

The upper part of Vasas transom. (Courtesy of Karolina Kristensson/Vasa Museum/SMTM)

It also helped that then king Gustav VI Adolf was himself an archaeologist who invested efforts of the royal court to save the ship. Thus, the Vasa (again) became a national treasure, and thousands were there to watch as the sculptured heads of ancient warriors rose from the sea.

Amateur archaeologist Anders Franzen initiated the ships recovery with dogged determination, and it is to his credit, and that of his team, that some 1.5 million sightseers visit the Vasa Museum each year to gaze upon the ornately adorned vessel, restored to some of her former glory.

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Drugs can help us, but not when we use them too long, for the wrong things, or when better treatments are available

Americans might be the most medicated people in the world thanks to aggressive drug-maker marketing and favorable regulation. But drugs can be over-prescribed, conditions over-diagnosed, and less expensive non-drug treatments slighted. Here are common dangers to watch for in your and your familys medication use.

Too Long on Temporary Meds

Many of us have taken an occasional benzodiazepine such as Valium, Xanax, or Ativan on a turbulent airplane flight or for a root canal. But slipping into daily usethough easy to dois a mistake, and after one months use, you could find yourself addicted. (Most people already know this about opioids.) Not only do the drugs lose effectiveness quickly, but with daily use, youll likely be faced with withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop, such as personality changes, emotional instability, flu-like symptoms, and memory and sleep problems.

Some of the same dangers can occur with using sleeping pills daily, including withdrawal symptoms such as rebound insomnia and anxiety when you try to stop. Moreover, 8 out of 10 users have a hangover effect the day after using a sleeping pill, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Some sleeping pills have been linked to sleep-driving, and other dangerous blackout behaviors. Moreover, falls on the drugs are so common that the Mayo Clinic announced it was phasing out use of the popular sleeping pill Ambien.

Antidepressants, used by millions, also shouldnt be used long-term. Medical sources recommend use for only 6 to 9 months and, at most, for two years. Yet even though effectiveness has only been studied for the first 6 to 12 weeks of use, according to Science Alert, 14 percent of users have taken the drugs for 10 years or more. I have interviewed patients who have been on SSRI antidepressants like Prozac or Paxil for more than 20 years.

The concept of depression as a chronic brain condition requiring life-long treatment only dates back to 1980; before the psych drug revolution, most depression was regarded as having a clear cause and an ending.

Long-term use of antidepressants isnt harmless, Dr. Tony Kendrick, a professor of primary care at the University of Southampton, told Sky News. Such use may pose an increased risk of stroke or seizures or effect on the kidneys. Patients, while on the drugs, may suffer weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and emotional numbness, but more concerning are withdrawal symptoms after prolonged use. These symptomsincluding anxiety, pain, palpitations, and insomniamake many patients afraid to quit. The discontinuation syndrome may be worse than the depression itself.

SSRI antidepressants can also diminish bone mass density and increase osteoporosis risks, said Dr. James M. Ellison.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec were only approved for up to eight weeks use for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but many people remain on them for years. Long-term use of PPIs increases the risk of fractures, gastric polyps, low magnesium levels in the blood, Clostridium difficile infections, and anemia, wrote researchers in a 2019 Journal of Clinical Medicine Research article. Other research cites chronic kidney disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, and even dementia as possible side effects.

PPIs are overused, according to many doctors, and even given for infants spit-ups. And, like many drugs that shouldnt be used long-term, unpleasant withdrawal effects can occur upon quitting.



Children on Psychiatric Drugs

Epoch Times readers are no doubt familiar with the mushrooming diagnosis of ADHD in children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an astounding 1 out of 20 children in the United States takes ADHD meds, including more than 10,000 children who are only 2 or 3 years old! Children also are given drugs for conditions that werent historically considered pediatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and mixed manias.

But psychiatric drugs are only half the story. According to The Wall Street Journal, statins, diabetes pills, and sleeping pillsonce considered adult medicationsare now commonly prescribed in childhood. For example, prescriptions for high blood pressure drugs in children are up as much as 17 percent, statins are up 50 percent, and GERD medications are up an astonishing 147 percent.

Children on so many drugs may not have normal childhoods and may be condemned to life-long medication.

Elderly on Polypharmacy

Because of the many chronic diseases that can come with aginghypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, renal and heart diseasethe elderly are often prescribed many drugs at once, a practice called polypharmacy. In addition to the expense, there are other reasons to question the practice. Metabolic changes and reduced drug clearance in the elderly mean that adverse reactions to the drugs are more likely. And side effects from the drugssuch as decreased alertness, confusion, falls, depression, and even visual or auditory hallucinationscan be wrongly interpreted as aging or dementia when they arent. Dr. Harry Haroutunian, author of Not As Prescribed, has flagged the overmedication of the elderly and says, I have seen my patients blossom when taken off harmful drugs and drug combinations.

Medicating the Side Effects of Medication

Polypharmacy often starts with a prescribing cascade which occurs, according to Public Citizen, when an adverse drug reaction is misinterpreted as a new medical condition [and] another drug is then prescribed.

Instead of lowering the dose of the offending drug or replacing it with a safer alternative, the physician adds a second drug to the regimen to treat the adverse drug reaction caused by the first drug, according to Public Citizen. It recommends that you assume that any new symptom you develop after starting a new drug might be caused by the drug instead of a new health problem.

Gabor Keitner, professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, told The Wall Street Journal, I think we are overmedicating people, and that drug cocktails with so many side effects are leading us down a path that may not be good for patients or the profession.

Why Should I Take This?

Too often patients receive a prescription from a doctor without asking, Why do I need this medicine; what does it treat? or How long do I take it? or Could it interact with other medications I take or might take in the future or with foods? Another great question they should ask but rarely do is, Are there any natural treatments or lifestyle changes I could try before using this drug?

Its understandable that people are reluctant to ask questions of busy doctors. Often were relieved we got an appointment at all. We dont want to look like we doubt their judgment or seem pesky. Moreover, pharmacists will answer many medications questions in person and over the phone, and prescriptions come with information sheets.

Still, as a patient, you have a right to know and understand your doctors care plan for you and to double-check its appropriateness. No doctor, for example, would mind a patient asking, Did you notice I am allergic to or Will this drug interact with when he or she is prescribing a new medication.

Overusing Over-the-Counter

Just because a drug is sold without a prescription doesnt mean its without risks. For example, tens of thousands of people become ill every year from taking too much acetaminophen [Tylenol], says Harvard Health Publishing, and a smaller number of cases result in death. Even a drug as familiar as acetaminophen doesnt reveal all of its side effects quickly. It took decades to discover prenatal exposure to acetaminophen is associated with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders in infants, as noted in a research review published in the Journal of Endodontics.

Nor is aspirin totally innocuous. In adults, aspirin can irritate the stomach lining and trigger ulcers and bleeding, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The use of aspirin in children or teenagers can be dangerous because of its links with Reyes syndrome, a rare condition marked by swelling of the liver and brain. Warnings on the medication bottles and online will help you stay safe.

We shouldnt be overly fearful about prescription and over-the-counter drugs, but neither should we be overly trusting and take them without regard. It never hurts to explore the many natural treatments that exist for anxiety, sleep problems, depression, GERD, and other conditions.
As Violent Crime Rose Nationwide in 2021, Dallas Bucked the Trend

The wave of homicides that has swept over big cities and small towns since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic continued across the United States through 2021, according to crime data. But Dallas, the nations ninth-largest city, bucked the trend.

In Los Angeles, homicides jumped by 12 percent compared to 2020. Chicago saw more than 800 in 2021, its largest total in 25 years, while Philadelphia logged 559, the most on record there.

In Dallas, slayings dropped by 12 percent.

The decline is part of a broader overall drop in violent crime in Dallas. Robberies dropped by 27 percent and aggravated assault fell by 2 percentmaking Dallas one of the few major cities that saw a reduction in violent crime during 2021.

The city has about 3,100 police officers serving 1.3 million residents.

A Dallas police car and an emergency response vehicle in a file photo. (Mike Stone/Getty Images)

Back in May 2021, Dallas violent crime was on track to surpass that of 2020, as has happened in other cities. But that month, the citys new police chief, Edgardo Garcia, rolled out a hot spot policing strategy in a few dozen neighborhoods rife with violent crime.

Those neighborhoods saw a sharp decline in violent crime, which helped drive down the citys overall rate, according to data published by the Dallas Police Department (DPD).

Dallas policing strategy was the brainchild of Michael Smith and Rob Tillyer, two criminologists at the University of Texas in San Antonio.

Michael Smith (Courtesy of Michael Smith)

They worked with the DPD to divide the city into 101,000 grids, each measuring 300-feet-by-300-feet, about the size of a city block. They ranked the grids based on the number of violent crimes reported in the previous three to six months.

They then picked the top 47 grids and made one of two policing changes in them: either a surge of patrol cars were deployed with emergency lights turned on during peak crime hours or a surge of specialized officers were used to monitor repeat offenders with a known arrest history.

By Aug. 1, 2021, those grids saw an almost 50 percent reduction in violent crime (homicides, robbery, and aggravated assault), whereas most other sectors saw a double-digit increase.

Some areas immediately surrounding the targeted areas saw a sharp increase in crime, most likely because of crime displacement.

But since those 47 grids alone accounted for about 10 percent of the citys violent crime total, their improvement in street safety had a disproportionate effect on the citys overall crime rates. The citys total number of homicides was driven down by 2 percent (compared to 2020) and robberies decreased by 25 percent by Aug. 1, 2021.

The police departments criminologist partners analyze plan implementation data every three months.

Our crime plan is 100 percent evidence-based, and we brought together the best knowledge and research that are currently available on what works in policing to control violent crime, Smith told The Epoch Times.

Hot Spot Policing

Hot spot policing rests on a fundamental understanding of urban crime: Most violent crimes are committed by a small group of repeat offenders within a small group of geographic areas, according to Smith.

So by driving up policing in these high-crime areas, police could reduce overall crime in a short period of time.

Its a well-proven policing strategy based on more than 25 years of evidence, according to Robin Engel, professor of criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati. Shes also the director of research at the International Association Chiefs of Polices Center for Police Research and Policy.

Robin Engel (Courtesy of Robin Engel)

But to make it work in practice, local police need to identify the kind of extra policing that best addresses their unique crime problems, the level of extra policing that the community is comfortable with, and that they have the manpower to beef up policing in targeted areas, according to Engel.

For example, patrol cars with flashing lights might work better at reducing violent crime, while foot patrols are better at reducing property crime. Also, police departments could add officers only to increase presence, or they could get officers to do something at the same time, such as stopping suspicious people for investigation.

Weve seen backlashes when officers are very proactive, doing a lot of traffic stops, stop and frisk, or arrests of minor crime, Engel said. Though these practices might drive down crime in the short term, they might not be the preference of the community and could have a negative impact in the long term.

In Dallas, Garcia and Smith settled on two hot spot policing tactics: patrol cars with emergency lights (activated for 15 minutes at each posted location) and focused monitoring of repeat offenders identified through arrest data.

Generalized stop and frisk, oversaturation, or dragnet tactics that lead to mistrust of police and community resentmentwe will not do that, Garcia told the Dallas City Council when he presented the crime-fighting plan in May. We focused on a small number of known repeat offenders.

By end of 2021, when Smith evaluated DPDs arrests data, he made a surprising discovery: Officers made fewer arrests in the grids touched by hot spot policing compared to 2020. Subsequently, the citys total arrests also went down, all while violent crimes dropped under the new plan.

Here in Dallas, violent crime is going down at the same time arrests are going down, Smith said. This is an amazing story. You dont see that coupling very often. It is remarkable.

In January, Garcia told the city council that he could bring hot spot policing to more areas if he had more manpower.

One of the inherent problems of hot spot policing is that crime might come back again after extra officers are pulled from an area, according to Engel.

Thus far in Dallas, the areas affected by the strategy havent seen an increase in violent crime in the months after extra policing was stopped, according to Smith.

Only the First Step

Hot spot policing was only the necessary first step toward long-term crime reduction, according to Smith.

First you have to get control of the violence. Police are the element of government that are best positioned to do that, so the first phase of our planhot spot policingis very much a police-led strategy, he said. Once you lower the violence, create confidence in the community, and buy yourself some breathing room, you can bring in other elements such as social services and jobs. But you must create space first for those things to work.

The second stage, which is in planning now, focuses on investigating and disrupting crime networks. The third stage features a holistic approach, where multiple agencies work together to strengthen education, social services, and jobs in the community.

The hot spot strategy is hard to sustain in the long term for another reason: Nobody wants to have an occupying army in their neighborhood all the time, according to Engel.

The three-stage crime plan of Dallas was modeled on a similar three-stage plan Engel and her team designed for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Everyone is like, Oh, whats the magic with Dallas? Well, it is not really anything new, she said. We know how to reduce violence, and that knowledge is based on decades of research and evidence. It is just that Dallas is implementing it well in a focused, strategic way.

I think the issue in many cities now is that you have a lot of well-intended people doing multiple violence reduction strategies, but there is no political will to bring all these things together or stage them appropriately in time and space to be most effective. That is the problem.
Minister for Trade Dan Tehan at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Jun. 2, 2021. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Australia Seeks to Join European WTO Action Against China

Australia has expressed its wish to join in a formal complaint launched by the European Union (EU) against the Chinese communist regime over its use of coercive trade tactics directed at nations it disagrees with.

The EU filed the complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Jan. 27 as a result of Beijings unofficial economic embargo of Lithuania after the European nation allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the name Taiwan rather than Chinese Taipei.

This is a direct challenge to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) One China policy, which claims that Taiwan is a part of mainland China, with only 13 members of the United Nations and the Vatican recognising it as an independent nation. Australia is not one of them.

The name plaque at the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Nov. 18, 2021. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images)

Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan said Australia strongly opposed the CCPs aggressive tactics intended on dealing damage to nations economically.

Australia opposes the use of economic coercion and discriminatory and restrictive trade practices which undermine the rules-based international trading system and cause economic harm, Tehan said.

It comes after Beijing initiated its own trade war on Australian goodsincluding on coal, wine, barley, beef, lobster, timber, and cottona response triggered after Australia called for an independent inquiry into the origin of the CCP virus.

Meanwhile, China enjoys preferential treatment in global trade under the WTO due to its self-declared status as a developing nation.

We are committed to upholding and supporting the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, Tehan said. The WTO dispute settlement system is designed to help members settle their differences in a respectful manner.

Australia has a substantial interest in the issues raised in the dispute brought by the European Union against China regarding discriminatory trade practices imposed on Lithuania and will request to join these consultations.

For Lithuania, the incident that sparked outrage from Beijing had been the final straw in a longer line of actions that upset the communist regime, which includes Lithuanias decision to condemn the CCP over its mass detention of Uyghurs, as well as choosing a Swedish company over Huawei to supply the nations 5G network.

As a result, the Chinese regime slammed the European nation with import and export bans, while at the same time pressuring companies that traded with Lithuania to stopor else lose business with China.

Beijing then subsequently blocked goods from Germany, France, and Sweden that contained components made in Lithuania.

The EU has filed a request to meet with China representatives in Geneva after gathering what it deems to be ample evidence from affected Lithanian businesses.

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.

But Chinas foreign affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian demanded the EU not get involved.

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.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian takes a question at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

We urge Lithuania to immediately correct its mistake, he added.

Zhao had previously expressed a similar sentiment after admitting the trade war against Australia was based on ideological differences.

We will not allow any country to reap benefits from doing business with China while groundlessly accusing and smearing China and undermining Chinas core interests based on ideology, Zhao said.

Australias calls for an inquiry into the origin of the CCP virus was also the final straw in a series of actions that had angered Beijing and prompted economic retaliationfrom which Australia has since largely recovered.

Australia has previously spoken against Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea. It also banned Huawei from the nations 5G network over concerns of espionage, while tearing up the Belt and Road Initiative deal between Victoria and Beijing.
School students return back to school after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted at Glebe Public School in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 18, 2021. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

Australian Federal Police Warns Parents to Think Twice About Sharing Back-to-School Photos Online

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is warning parents against publicly sharing back-to-school photos of their children on social media without using secure privacy settings.

AFP Commander Hilda Sirec said back-to-school photos that show a childs name and location can be used by child sex offenders to groom children.

The first day of school is a treasured milestone for parents and carers and a happy memory for many families, Sirec said. Parents and carers can continue to take those wonderful happy snaps and post them online.

However, we do urge people who are sharing those images to make sure theyre using secure privacy settings on social media and only sharing them with people they know and trust.

The AFP advises against showing photos of children in school uniforms, as it can help identify where the child attends school, and urged parents and carers to keep a childs personal information private, including full name and age.

You wouldnt walk up to a stranger and give them a photo album of your children and tell them their names or location, Sirec said.

A Welcome Back to School banner hangs on the fence as students in years 2 to 11 return to school at Fairvale High School in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 25, 2021. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

Sirec warned that many offenders online grooming often starts with the information that parents and carers share online.

The more information available about a child online, the easier it can be for offenders to build a profile to groom them, or even to groom parents in a bid to access information about their children, she said.

One tool that groomers will use is to build trust with the family and student using the information available.

They can start engaging with the child on social media applications or even the parents and carers, basically saying, Yep, my little son Johnny goes to the same school, Sirec told Sevens Sunrise program.

The AFP also advised against sharing back-to-school photos of children posing in front of homes, where the house number or street name is easily identifiable, and heavily advises against checking into the photo location for the social media post.

Research in 2020 conducted by the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) found that the proportion of parents concerned about online grooming was just 3 percent.

Over half of participants did not know what they could do to keep children safe from online child sexual exploitation, and more than one-in-five felt that the topic was too repulsive and sickening to think about.

Online child sexual exploitation can be reported to the ACCCE or call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Brandon Straka (C), founder of the 'WalkAway' movement, attends a rally in support of President Donald Trump near Trump Tower in New York City on March 23, 2019. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Biden Admin Painted Brandon Straka as a Jan. 6 Extremist: Attorney

Brandon Straka, founder of the WalkAway Campaign and a self-described former liberal, was wrongfully painted by the Biden administration as an extremist and as an instigator of violence during the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, his attorney said.

The government has presented a very aggressive narrative and is trying to paint all the Jan. 6 protesters as insurrectionists and violent rioters. This is the picture they painted, Strakas attorney, Bilal Essayli, told The Epoch Times in an exclusive interview on Jan. 25.

Straka, 45, of Nebraska, was sentenced on Jan. 24 for disorderly conduct surrounding his participation in the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 last year. He received three months of home detention, a $5,000 fine, and three years of probation.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich accused Straka of abusing his online platform to encourage people to attack on Jan. 6 as well as defending the events that unfolded that day, although federal prosecutors had sought to accuse him of more.

Straka, a Democrat-turned-Republican, founded the WalkAway movement, which encourages those in todays Democratic Party to question its leftist pseudo-liberalism and destructive belief system that divides people into groups based on identity and camps of victims and oppressors. He pleaded guilty in October when dealt the disorderly conduct chargea misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment.

In a phone interview, Essayli said that the majority involved in the Jan. 6 breach, like his client, have been charged with crimes such as trespassing, disorderly conduct, or paradingall misdemeanors.

But then, when we get to sentencing, theyre arguing as if its a crime of insurrection, or its a crime of inciting a riot  theyre arguing that its a much more serious offense than what they actually pleaded guilty to. And this was the problem, the lawyer explained.

Straka didnt enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 but prosecutors attempted to accuse him of doing so. According to the criminal complaint, prosecutors also unsuccessfully sought to charge Straka with impeding a law enforcement officer.

Read More The Ordeal of Brandon Straka

Essayli said his client was painted as an extremist and was wrongfully accused of using his social media presence to promote the breach of the Capitol. He said judge Friedrich used as evidence prior tweets made by Straka criticizing the election results and asking for audits.

Typical political speech of calling for  this is a civil war. This is common political rhetoric, but it was portrayed and casted as calls to violence and to breach the Capitol, said Essayli.

There was no premeditated breach of the Capitol. This was a spontaneous event. Brandon got caught up in the moment, and he was with the crowd, and he probably went somewhere he shouldnt have been, he continued.

But that doesnt mean that it was orchestrated, that it was premeditated, and that he had this huge plot to breach the Capitol ahead of timebut this is how it was portrayed.

Friedrich on Jan. 24 said Straka wasnt being punished for his political views or personal beliefs.

None of the criminal conduct to which Mr. Straka has admitted is covered by the First Amendment, the judge said.

Essayli told The Epoch Times that while he agrees with that statement, he has an issue with the government sentencing position, which asked the judge to consider statements outside of what he pleaded guilty to.

They included tweets from a month prior, they included tweets that happened after the event. This is not conduct he was charged with. Hes charged with disorderly conduct, which is what he did at the Capitol on January 6, but theyre using his statements made before and after the event, to punish him more severely than he ought to. This is the problem, he explained.

So she [Friedrich] says things like  the First Amendment doesnt cover this criminal conduct. We agree with that, but then they shouldnt be able to use his protected political speech as an aggravating factor to give him a sentence thats higher than what he should have received.

Essayli said a large part of the problem has been the framing of Jan. 6 as an insurrection, despite the fact that no one who participated in the breach has been charged as such.

FBI Director Chris Wray testified at an oversight hearing held by the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in June 2021 that it would be inappropriate to describe the breach as an insurrection.

But Democrat lawmakers have pushed the narrative that the Jan. 6 breach was an insurrection, largely during the January impeachment effort against the former president.

Its almost like they want to hold all these defendants responsible for the whole thing, for something greater than what it is, Essayli told The Epoch Times.

He added, I just wish the government would use the same resources and arguments and laws against groups like Antifa, and BLM, but they dont. So this is the problem now is we have two standards of justice in our country, and theyre just not treated equally.

In his first public statement since being sentenced, Straka told his 500,000 followers that he has never advocated for violence.

I have not spoken to my twitter audience in an entire year. Please read my statement below. pic.twitter.com/sSvAHzYlDY  Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) January 26, 2022

Please allow me to state again what I have CONSISTENTLY SAID since the night of January 6th, 2021 when I learned of the intense violence that had taken place earlier that day: Violence is NEVER ok. Political violence is never acceptable, he said.

Straka continued, The violent and destructive behavior at the Capitol was absolutely unacceptable, just as all of the violent riots of 2020 were equally unacceptable.

He also said that he doesnt believe there was a plot or scheme to initiate violence on Jan. 6, or that one will ever be discovered.

Like most of you, Ive employed common sense and come to the conclusion that a very small percentage of people did some very bad things that day, and that this was a spontaneous riot that broke out without planning, Straka said. If any evidence of anything else ever comes to light, I will be as shocked as anybody else.

The Department of Justice said on the one-year anniversary of the Capitol breach that more than 725 people had been arrested so far.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Biden administration for comment.
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York, on Sept. 21, 2021. (Eduardo Munoz/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Biden to Meet Leader of Qatar; Talks to Cover Boosting Gas Supplies to Europe Amid RussiaUkraine Tensions

President Joe Biden is hosting the ruling leader of Qatar at the White House on Jan. 31 for discussions that are expected to include boosting gas deliveries to Europe amid fears of energy supply disruptions to the U.S. ally if the RussiaUkraine tensions erupt into a hot conflict.

Senior administration officials told reporters on a briefing call that Biden and Qatars emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, will huddle on Monday to discuss a broad agenda, including energy security.

The leaders will consult on a whole range of regional and global issues of mutual interest, including promoting security and prosperity in the Gulf and the broader Middle East region, ensuring the stability of global energy supplies, supporting the people of Afghanistan, and strengthening the commercial and investment cooperation between us, the senior administration official said.

The official declined to confirm if there are expectations for a formal agreement on boosting Qatari gas supplies to Europe, adding that there was a very robust diplomatic effort underway on the part of the United States and its European partners to bring a diplomatic resolution to the RussiaUkraine crisis.

The United States is concerned that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine and reports indicate that Washington has, in recent weeks, asked Qatar and other major gas producers to look into the possibility of supplying extra gas to Europe if Russian flows are disrupted.

Reuters reported last week that the United States was poised to ask Qatar, one of the worlds top liquefied natural gas producers, to reroute some gas supplies to Europe, though Qatar reportedly doesnt have much spare supply.

A Russian invasion would likely trigger economic sanctions against Moscow by Washington and its European allies, with British media reporting last week that UK officials had raised concerns Russia could retaliate by reducing gas supplies to Europe.

Russia has repeatedly said it has no plans to invade Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that reports of Moscow potentially cutting off European gas supplies was fake hysteria, while insisting that Russia has been a reliable guarantor of Europes energy security even at times when relations with the West were tense.

Bidens agenda for the meeting with Tamim will also include Irans nuclear talks and relations with Afghanistan, where Washingtons interests are now represented by Qatar.

Separately, Tamim will also meet with members of Congress, Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the administration official said.
Bomb Attacks Hit Southern Thailand; 2 Killed in Police Raid

BANGKOKBombers set off at least 13 blasts in a town in southern Thailand overnight, and police killed two suspected insurgents in a separate raid after a 20-hour siege in a nearby province, authorities said on Saturday.

While officials did not link the two incidents directly, the violence came weeks after the government reopened a dialogue with insurgents from a Malay-Muslim minority in the southern part of the country.

The siege took place in Narathiwat province, where a combined force of soldiers and police surrounded a house in the Ra-ngae district on Friday, following a tip-off that suspects linked to bomb attacks last year were hiding inside.

Authorities said they tried to negotiate with the suspects, before finally raiding the house. One volunteer ranger was hurt and the two suspects killed in the raid.

Separately, one person was injured when at least 13 small explosions struck the town of Yala late on Friday, mostly on roadsides in front of convenience stores, shops, a market, an animal hospital, and a car repair shop, said deputy police spokesman Kissing Phathanacharoen.

On Saturday police found at least three bombs that had not exploded, made from spray cans and metal pipes with timers attached.

Kissana said police suspect the explosions were aimed at causing a disturbance more than damage or injuries.

As with most attacks in Thailands deep south, there was no claim of responsibility. The main rebel group in the region, Barisan Revolusi Nasional, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

More than 7,300 people have died since 2004 in a separatist insurgency in Thailands largely ethnic Malay provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, according to the Deep South Watch group which monitors the violence.

The Thai government has restarted a peace dialogue with the main insurgent group after a two-year break of talks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National credit rating improvement to help lure more foreign capital inflows

The Ministry of Finance has coordinated with relevant agencies to complete a report on the development the National Credit Rating Improvement Project for the 2021-2030 period to submit to the Prime Minister for approval.



International credit institutions remain optimistic about Vietnam's prospects for 2022. They said that by improving the credit rating, Vietnam may attract more and more international capital inflows.

A view of Ho Chi Minh City - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)





The roadmap to improve Vietnam's credit ratings to reach investment grade in the next 10 years will include a combination of quantitative and qualitative objectives, along with maintaining credit health in the process of realising growth potential and strengthening external financial position as recognised by credit rating agencies.



Karby Leggett, Global Head, Public Sector and Development Organizations at Standard Chartered Bank, said he believes that transforming the current positive credit outlook into credit rating events would be Vietnam's next step in its progress towards an investment rating.



International credit institutions said factors that will support Vietnam in improving its national credit rating include maintaining a high and sustainable growth rate through increasing investment capital and strengthening external financial position, improving the public financial situation through stabilising medium-term debt, increasing budget revenue and reducing the risk of contingent liability from the banking system.



Ngo Dang Khoa, country director of Foreign Exchange at Capital Markets and Securities Services at HSBC Vietnam, said since Vietnam joined the group of lower-middle-income countries, official development assistance (ODA) sources and concessional loans have gradually decreased and are expected to end in the near future.



If Vietnam fulfills the goals set for the 5-year socio-economic development plan in the 2021-2025 period, the country can join the group of upper-middle-income countries in the next 4 -5 years, Khoa said.



To be able to achieve the prospect of Vietnams investment credit rating in the period of 2021-2030, Vietnam needs to pay attention to expanding access to international capital markets and international commercial loans, and attracting foreign investors, he noted.



Raising Vietnams credit rating is of strategic significance, helping improve the efficiency of foreign capital mobilization or issuance of bonds to the international market.



Khoa expressed his belief that Vietnam's economic growth may reach 6.8 percent in 2022, when the vaccine coverage rate is high and the booster vaccination plan is being implemented urgently.



According to Khoa, to achieve its goal of credit rating improvement, Vietnams macroeconomic management policies need more tools to forecast and minimise external negative impacts in order to ensure growth of the economy, while per capita income needs to be improved as the plan set by the Government.
By Trend

Oil rose more than 1% on Monday to near 7-year highs hit in the previous session, while supply concerns and political tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East put prices on track for their biggest monthly gain in almost a year, Trend reports with reference to Reuters.

Brent crude rose $1.07, or 1.2%, to $91.10 a barrel at 0325 GMT, after adding 69 cents on Friday. The front-month contract for March delivery expires later in the day.

The most-active Brent contract, for April delivery , was trading at $89.51, up 99 cents or 1.1%.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude added $1.07, or 1.2%, to $87.89 a barrel, having gained 21 cents on Friday.

The benchmarks recorded their highest levels since October 2014 on Friday, $91.70 and $88.84, respectively, and their sixth straight weekly gain. They were headed for about 17% gains this month, the most since February 2021.

"Underlying anxiety about global supply shortages, coupled with ongoing geopolitical risks, have caused the market to start the week on a strong note," said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd.

"With an expectation that OPEC+ will keep the existing policy of gradual increase of production, oil prices will likely stay on a bullish sentiment this week," he said, predicting Brent to remain above $90 and WTI to head toward $90.

Major producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, have raised their output target each month since August by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) as they unwind record production cuts made in 2020.

But they have failed to meet their production targets as some members have struggled with capacity constraints.

At its Feb. 2 meeting, OPEC+ is likely to stick with a planned rise in its oil output target for March, several OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

Oil prices are showing signs of overheating as traders anticipate a severe shortage of petroleum this year, Reuters columnist John Kemp said, noting that inventories were already low and there was little global spare capacity to raise production in the short term.

According to ANZ Research, with the market in deficit and inventories low, "supply constraints will likely induce a sizeable risk premium" as travel picks up.

"Traffic in Europe is rebounding as the Omicron case numbers decline. In the U.S., gasoline demand is only 4% below 2019 levels, which is a better outcome than expected in November," it said in a note.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during a news conference, Jan. 19, 2022 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Canada Withdraws Non Essential Personnel From Embassy in Ukraine

OTTAWAGlobal Affairs Canada says non-essential Canadian employees and their dependents from the embassy in Ukraine will be temporarily withdrawn amid concerns over a buildup of Russian troops along the countrys borders.

A statement released Sunday says officials are monitoring the situation and their highest priority is the safety of Canadians, for whom the embassy remains open.

The move comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced supports for Ukraine last week, including expanding Canadas efforts to train the Ukrainian military and sending non-lethal military equipment, such as body armour.

Trudeau stressed at a news conference last Wednesday that this is not a combat mission, but its intended to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.

Russia has positioned about 100,000 troops along the border, raising fears across Europe and the NATO military alliance of an invasion, something Russia has denied.

The statement from Global Affairs says the team at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv will be reinforced by officials with expertise in areas such as conflict management, democratic reform and consular services, helping to increase diplomatic capacity.

Much of the current standoff between Russia and NATO has revolved around Moscows demand that Ukraine never be allowed into the transatlantic military alliance, which includes Canada, the United States and 28 European countries.

The Kremlin has also demanded that NATO withdraw all its forces from the territory of member states that once belonged to the Soviet Union.

The alliance has rejected the demand, leading to fears of a new war in Europe.

With a $340-million commitment to extend Canadas training mission in Ukraine for three years, the prime minister said last week that he had authorized the Canadian Armed Forces to deploy 60 additional personnel to join the 200 troops already on the ground, with further capacity to increase that number to 400.

Trudeau also committed $50 million in development and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, on top of a $120-million loan offered to help stabilize its economy.

NATO members are also in talks about bolstering the alliances presence across eastern Europe as a further deterrent to war, with some allies such as France and Denmark having already announced additional commitments.
The COVID-19 Moderna vaccine prepared at Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, Calif., on March 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

CDCs Advisory Panel to Meet on Modernas COVID-19 Vaccine Following FDA Approval

The panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccines will meet to discuss how to handle the newly approved Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The formal name of the panel is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

ACIP will meet (as they did when they recommended the Pfizer vaccine after approval), a CDC spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email shortly after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Modernas shot.

No details were immediately available as to the timing of the meeting.

After Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine was approved in August 2021, ACIP convened and heard from officials from Pfizer and the CDC concerning the safety and effectiveness of the jab.

The panel ultimately decided to change an interim recommendation for all Americans 16 and older to get the vaccine to a standard recommendation.

Use of the vaccine is recommended based on increased certainty that its benefits (prevention of asymptomatic infection, COVID-19, and associated hospitalization and death) outweigh vaccine-associated risks, panel members concluded.

An FDA official is typically present at ACIP meetings to answer questions from panel members.

An analysis showed Modernas vaccine was effective against both infection and severe disease, the FDA said Jan. 31.

The data analyzed came before Omicron, a variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, emerged in the United States. The CCP virus causes COVID-19. Omicron is now the dominant variant in the country.

One of the primary serious side effects of the vaccine is heart inflammation, most often manifesting as myocarditis or pericarditis.

Young people, especially young men, are at elevated risk of developing heart inflammation after getting the Moderna and Pfizer shots, with some studies pegging the risk as higher than from COVID-19 itself.

ACIP panel members will hear from government and Moderna scientists concerning safety data.

During past meetings, multiple members have expressed concern about post-vaccination heart inflammation.

The FDA said it conducted a safety analysis of Spikevax that included clinical trial data and surveillance data from after Modernas vaccine was authorized in December 2021.

That data demonstrate increased risks particularly within seven days following the second dose, with the observed risk highest in males 18 through 24 years of age, the agency said. While the data suggest many individuals have experienced resolution of their symptoms, some required intensive care and no information is yet available regarding potential long-term outcomes.

FDA workers also conducted an independent benefit-risk assessment using modeling and determined that the benefits from vaccination, including the prevention of hospitalizations, outweigh the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis.

An FDA spokesperson, asked whether the totality of the benefits were weighed against the totality of the risks, not just heart inflammation, pointed to an FDA document (pdf) designed to be inserted into packages of Spikevax that does not appear to answer the question.

Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, said that people considering getting Modernas vaccine should be aware of the surveillance data.

Inflammation of the heart is not a trivial health problem and, clearly, the benefits may not outweigh the risks for everyone who receives mRNA COVID-19 vaccines like Spikevax, she told The Epoch Times in an email, pointing to information from the National Institutes of Health.

Symptoms of myocarditis and pericarditis include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart. People who experience the symptoms should seek medical care, especially if its within a week of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC and the FDA.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky speaks to the press after visiting the Hynes Convention Center FEMA Mass Vaccination Site in Boston on March 30, 2021. (Erin Clark/Pool/Getty Images)

CDCs COVID-19 Mask Guidelines for Children Challenged by House Republicans

House Republicans are challenging the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines for children, including mask requirements in school.

Led by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), the lawmakers penned a letter to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky calling on her to roll back recommendations that children wear masks, citing mental health risks.

Their letter asks Walensky to hold a briefing with Republicans on the House Oversight Committee by Feb. 7 to explain why the CDC continues to recommend mask-wearing in schools.

There is no question, as we enter the third year of this pandemic, CDCs guidelines and policies have failed to factor inlet alone prioritizechildrens social, emotional, and educational development, the GOP lawmakers wrote in their letter. In fact, CDC is undermining its own credibility as it continues to jeopardize an entire generations development.

They further noted that teenagers and younger children are experiencing a mental health crisis of historic proportions amid pandemic restrictions, citing a recent U.S. Surgeon General warning that suicide attempts have risen sharply for adolescents.

The GOP House members also targeted mask guidelines for children aged 2 and older by saying they are hindering childhood development and dont align with mask requirements elsewhere.

The letter further noted that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommends against primary school children wearing masks in class, and that the World Health Organization also says children under 6 shouldnt be required to wear them.

Many of Americas peer nations around the worldincluding the U.K., Ireland, all of Scandinavia, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italyhave exempted children, with varying age cutoffs, from wearing masks in classrooms with no evidence of an uptick in school outbreaks in those countries relative to schools in the U.S., they further argued.

Throughout the pandemic, a number of studies have shown that children have an exceptionally low risk of dying or developing severe disease from COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, as compared with other age groups. Data suggest that individuals who are elderly and have preexisting conditions are most at risk from the virus.

Currently, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington require most individuals to wear masks in indoor public places, with some caveats. However, many states last year eased or eliminated mask orders, while 11 states havent imposed mandates at any point during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC officials didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.
A Long March 7Y4 rocket carrying the Tianzhou 3 cargo ship launches from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in China's southern Hainan province, on a mission to deliver supplies to China's Tiangong space station on Sept. 20, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Outlines Plan to Become a Space Power in New White Paper

The Chinese regime is on a mission to become a global leader in space exploration, technology, and law-making, according to an official white paper released on Jan. 28.

To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry, and build China into a space power is our eternal dream, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is quoted by the report as saying.

The paper, titled Chinas Space Program: A 2021 Perspective, was published by the regimes State Council Information Office and provides a summary of accomplishments to date and plans for Chinas continued ascension in outer space over the next five years.

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, the report states.

It will start a new journey toward space power.

Space Power Rapidly Ascending

The report follows a banner year for Chinas space program. In 2021, the Chinese regime led 55 space launches, more than any other nation. The regime currently has plans to reach at least 40 space launches in 2022, an effort that began on Jan. 17 with the launch of a satellite on a classified mission.

Beijing completed the first phase of its effort to build a joint moon base with Russia in 2021 and, according to last weeks white paper, will complete its own crewed space station, the Tiangong, later this year.

The report also highlighted new efforts in crewed space flight missions, deep space exploration initiatives, modular rocket systems, improved satellite communications and navigation systems, remote sensory arrays, and microwave monitoring technologies.

Importantly, the report stated that the communist regime would be proactive in developing Chinas domestic space industry to quicken its attempts to recreate foreign technologies in a process colloquially referred to as technology transfer.

[The regime 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, the report states.

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.

Leapfrog development refers to a strategy of technological development widely employed by Beijing that seeks to skip steps in the evolution of technology, thereby offering the regime the ability to pursue next-generation technologies without first investing in foreign technologies that are only moderately ahead of its own.

The Visage of Peace in the Stars

The white paper comes at a time of increased tensions between the Chinese regime and United States that has negatively affected international diplomatic, industrial, and military relations. Regardless, the paper describes Beijings ambitions in space as wholly peaceful.

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, the report states.

The self-described dedication to utilizing outer space for peaceful purposes, however, is at odds with other goals stated in the report. Notably, it calls for the increased pursuit of security, national rights, and interests, to build up the nations overall strength.

Experts have warned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is extending its Three Warfares strategy into space, attempting to dominate the extra-orbital landscape through legal, media, and psychological means.

The report also failed to describe the regimes foray into hypersonic weapons, its test of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, and apparent preparations for space warfare, which run counter to its stated goals of peaceful development.

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said earlier this month that the United States would need to pursue offensive space-based capabilities following reports from a top U.S. general that Chinese and Russian assets were attacking U.S. space-based infrastructure every single day.

Moreover, the report reflects the regimes grand strategy to displace the U.S.-led liberal order with its own version of global Marxism, which is being realized in space policy and law.

China will speed up the formulation of a national space law and establish a legal system with this law at the core, the report states.

The report outlines that Beijing will pursue a strategy of researching law and policy with the goal of leading international efforts to write the rules of space in its favor. It says China has the responsibility of safeguarding the central role of the United Nations in managing outer space affairs in a way that serves the Belt and Road Initiative, referring to Beijings massive infrastructure investment project used to amplify the regimes economic and political influence worldwide.

To that end, the regime will greatly expand its bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, according to the report, in the contest for global influence with the United States. This, the report states, is necessary to promote the values of a modern socialist country for the sake of a global community of shared future.

Such efforts would serve human progress.
A Chinese PLA Air Force H-6 bomber flies near a Taiwan F-16 in this Feb. 10, 2020 handout photo provided by Taiwan Ministry of National Defense. In a statement, the ministry said Chinese J-11 fighters and H-6 bombers flew into the Bashi Channel to the south of Taiwan, then out into the Pacific before heading back to base via the Miyako Strait. (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense/Handout via Reuters)

Chinas Top Scholars Speak Out Against Beijings Aggressive Military Expansion, Plans To Invade Taiwan

Scholars from Chinas top university publicly expressed opposition to Beijings hawkish pursuit of military expansion and the possible use of military force against Taiwan.

Former dean of Peking Universitys School of International Relations, Jia Qingguo, cautioned against Beijings pursuit of absolute national security in the latest issue of the Journal of International Security Studies published by the University of International Relations in Beijing.

According to Jia, who also serves as a Chinese foreign policy advisor, Beijings unfettered pursuit of security will eventually see the costs outweigh the benefits, citing the collapse of the Soviet Union as proof.

Jia is a prominent professor and doctoral supervisor at Peking University, Chinas top university. He also sits on the Standing Committee of Chinas top political advisory bodythe Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference.

According to the South Morning China Post (SMCP), Jia seeks to present a more balanced view of Chinas national security strategy in his 22-page article.

Too much emphasis on defense spending could trigger an arms race making all countries involved less secure, Jia wrote in his piece while urging the regime not to repeat the Soviet Unions mistakes.

In an arms race against the United States, the Soviet Unions decades of massive defense spending crippled its economy and peoples livelihoods, which led to the federations ultimate disintegration in 1991.

To ignore the comparative nature of security, and blindly pursue [it] absolutely will result in making the country less secure, as it inflicts unbearable costs and fails to achieve absolute security, Jia wrote.

Jia also cautioned against overemphasis on absolute security regarding supply chains. He pointed out that some within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) advocate for China to become an entirely self-sustained economy, severing all foreign trade. Jia disagreed with the idea, arguing that doing so would be unrealistic and pose a greater security risk to the country.

Only by completely cutting off foreign trade and achieving economic independence can you truly make it impossible for other countries to exert pressure, Jia wrote. But this would only lower efficiency and make the country lag further behind, making the nation less secure.

Jias piece in the January issue of the bimonthly journal is filled with thinly veiled criticisms against the Chinese regimes hawkish views. However, Jia has done so without specifying which of Beijings policies he disagrees with, only pointing at the vague people who study security issues.

He believes that Chinas development requires continuous reform and innovation in many sectors, especially the development of science and technology and the improvement of management level, adding that it must open its economy to the world.

In order to truly promote national security, it is necessary to make more friends and make fewer enemies in the world, especially to properly handle relations with powerful and neighboring countries, Jia wrote. Thats how national security is achieved.

Opposition to Invading Taiwan by Force

Another former professor of Peking University, Zheng Yefu, has issued a public statement opposing the use of military force against Taiwan. It was a rare move by a Chinese intellectual to openly challenge Beijings policy on the self-ruled island.

Zheng, 71, is a Chinese sociologist and now-retired professor of sociology at Peking University.

In a recent statement on Chinese social media, Zheng opposes the regimes military reunification of Taiwan and any military incursion over the Taiwan Strait.

Zheng said he has to speak up when it comes to serious matters; otherwise, he is not fulfilling his duty as a scholar. He deemed that not speaking out would mean collectively accepting the idea of using force.

According to his statement, threats of violence would only fuel hate and trigger a war with Taiwan, undermining the CCPs self-proclaimed peaceful unification objective. In his words, the CCP will look like a group of thugs and an enemy to the Taiwanese people.

Zheng said that Taiwan has been virtually independent for more than seven decades. And if the conflict develops into a war, Beijing, Washington, and Taipei will find themselves having little room for concessions.

He added that 45 years of separation did not prevent West and East Germany from peacefully unifying.

Zhengs article subsequently went viral on the internet. However, the authorities have apparently censored the post as it can no longer be forwarded.

On Jan. 24, Zheng told Radio Free Asia that he didnt want to cause himself more trouble and refused to be interviewed by foreign media or expand on his statement. He hopes the authorities can understand his point of view and not complicate the matter further.
Protesters seeking payment from China Evergrande Group gather as police officers stand guard outside the Evergrande International Center in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, on Jan. 4, 2022. (David Kirton/Reuters)

Chinese Property Developers Encounter Intensifying Clashes Over Domestic Construction and Wage Arrears

Embattled developer Evergrandes failure to meet its debt payments has set off a chain reaction in the property sector in China.

Multiple Chinese property developers in different parts of China are experiencing defaults in construction and wage payments as well as overseas and domestic bonds and debts.

In China, it is common practice in the real estate sector for the developer to pay its contractors and suppliers a certain portion of the costs upfront, while the rest of the construction and material costs are covered by contractors and suppliers as advances that the developer reimburses at a later stage.

The practice of having construction contractors and suppliers pay for projects and workers wages in advance has been in place in China for years. However, with falling sales, restricted access to credit and a sector downturn, developers are not able to fulfill their repayment obligations on time.

There have been desperate outcries from contractors and migrant workers on Chinese social media, demanding developers to repay their advances and wages.

An online video clip showed a crowd of creditors gathering outside the headquarters of Jinke Property Group [Jinke for short] in Chinas southwestern city of Chongqing, smashing a door on the ground floor with posters.

The Epoch Times couldnt verify the location and time of the video and has reached out to Jinke for comment.

Sina, a Chinese online news portal, reported that Jinke acknowledged there were around 100 migrant workers outside its headquarters on Jan. 27, but that the company denied the allegations of wage defaults.

This situation [the protesting] is basically unrelated to the unpaid wages of the rural workers, and should be [regarded as] a malicious wage collection, the company said. It claimed that it had paid the due amount in full, according to Sina.

Migrant workers account for a large number of the heavy physical laborers in the construction and manufacturing industries in China. There were over 52 million migrant workers working in Chinese construction sites in 2020, according to the regimes top statistical body.

Chinese migrant workers wait in a bus as they leave after their shift at a construction site on Dec. 9, 2014 in Beijing, China. It is estimated that there are more than 40 million construction laborers in China, many of whom come from smaller centers to the countrys larger cities to find work. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

They usually go back home with the years hard-earned money for the Chinese New Year, the most important family reunion event that falls in late January or early February, when wage claiming protests occur more frequently and in larger numbers.

Service Worker Notes, a Chinese service industry website, observed that over 5,000 cases of wage claims by migrant workers were recorded before the Chinese New Year in 2015, and thousands of protesting workers were detained by police, adding that the actual number of cases could be much higher.

The website also noted that it usually takes migrant workers 60 days to two years to go through legal proceedings to claim their wages and that they often dont have the legal knowledge to do so. Therefore, according to the website, workers usually choose more extreme methods to seek help, such as standing on tall buildings, tower cranes, or bridges while threatening to jump off to commit suicide; blocking traffic; and holding banners. These actions are regarded by local authorities as malicious ways of claiming wages, the website says.

An inside source of the Chinese property sector, who chose to stay anonymous for safety reasons, told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times on Jan. 29 that Jinke refused to negotiate repayment of wage arrears, infuriating those protesting workers.

According to the source, Chinese developers usually repay advances by suppliers and contractors within six months, but now with the whole industry making a downturn, the developers cant sell their homes, and they are strapped for cash. There is no way for them to repay the arrears, the source said.

State-owned developers have a similar problem, said the source.

Jinghong City Developing Investment Company [Jinghong], a state-owned developer based in Gui Yang, the capital city of Chinas southwestern Guizhou Province, also defaulted on migrant workers wages, according to the source.

There are very many migrant workers gathering in front of Jinghong and vehicles cant get near,  the source told The Epoch Times, even government-owned developers owe workers money.

He added that clashes between developers and migrant workers also occurred in other provinces, including Hunan and Hubei.

The Epoch Times could not verify those locations.

Li Keqiang, Chinas premier, was reported to have instructed, roll out more effective measures to resolve the prominent issues concerning the payment arrears of migrant workers, according to Chinas mouthpiece Xinhua News agency on Dec. 25, 2021.

An October 2021 report by The Guardian revealed that the Chinese property sector as a whole owed an estimated $5 trillion, citing analysts at Nomura.

Sophia Lam contributed to the report.
Barbed wire is installed on the top of a security fence surrounding the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 15, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Civil Liberties Concern Prompted by House Sergeant-at-Armss New Capitol Access ID Plan

Members of Congress are concerned that House Sergeant-at-Arms William Walkers proposal for sophisticated new electronic identification programs to monitor and control who can enter any part of the U.S. Capitol complex could become a civil liberties nightmare.

We must ensure we are protecting the rights of citizens to petition their elected officials, and legislative activities guaranteed by the Constitution. I have serious concerns that implementing a system that would potentially track the movements of members, visitors, staff, and the press would have a chilling effect on how Congress operates, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) told The Epoch Times.

Additionally, any changes to security processes should be done in a way that engages with both chambers, and members from both parties. In recent years, we have seen politics enter into far too many security decisions, and the results are never good. I hope this doesnt become the latest example.

Davis is the top Republican member of the House Committee on Administration, which would have oversight authority over the proposed system if it becomes a reality.

Walker told members of a House Appropriations Committee panel on Jan. 11 that the purpose of the proposed system is to increase security in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Working in collaboration with this subcommittee and the Capitol Police Board, I would like to institute a Capitol Access Verification Entry System (CAVES) program. The system would ensure Members of Congress and the USCP [United States Capitol Police] know exactly who is entering the Capitol Complex, and for how long, Walker told the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.

CAVES would be a security model based on a strict identity verification process. Having a secure ID with the proper electronic devices and software to validate highly secure government identification is an essential starting point for the CAVES system, Walker told the appropriations sub-panel.

Walkers proposal comes amid growing concerns across the Capitol about reports that Capitol Police are mounting an intensive intelligence monitoring effort aimed at accumulating massive amounts of information on every individual entering the complex, regardless of their purpose.

Walker didnt respond by press time to The Epoch Times request for comment, nor did House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).

The monitoring was begun last year following the events of Jan. 6.

Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), a member of the House Ethics Committee, and six House GOP colleagues wrote a lengthy Jan. 25 letter of protest to Walker, as well as USCP Chief Thomas Manger, Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton, and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and Doorkeeper Karen Gibson.

In their letter, the seven House members said they have grave concern regarding reports that the Capitol Police Board has directed the United States Capitol Police (USCP) to conduct background checks and other forms of intelligence gathering on Members of Congress, staff, contractors, visitors to the Capitol Complex, and attendees participating in off-campus and district-based events.

The Capitol Police Board, which includes all four of those receiving the letter, directly oversees the USCP operations.

A decision to expand background checks and intelligence-gathering to a previously un-surveilled group of individuals constitutes a dramatic and troubling expansion of the USCPs authority, the seven Republicans wrote.

The letter also said Walker is implementing an insider threat awareness program  in coordination with the Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the [FBI] to identify employees who lose their compass and individuals whose allegiance has changed.'

A working group and initial training efforts are in place for CAVES and the insider awareness initiative. At least one person in every congressional office is to be trained to identify suspicious behavior among colleagues that may indicate a potential threat to Capitol Hill security.

In addition to Armstrong and Davis, signers include Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), Rep. Trey Nehls (R-Texas), and Rep. Brian Stiel (R-Wis.).

Jordan is the top GOP member of the House Judiciary Committee, while Banks is chairman of the House Republican Study Committee (RSC).

Armstrong also tweeted on the issue, citing a Politico story that was first to report the monitoring, saying: This is dangerously close, if not already over the line, to spying on members of Congress, their staff, their constituents, and their supporters. The American people deserve answers on who authorized this, and why its happening.

Civil liberties concerns about Walkers proposal also are being voiced among liberal and conservative advocacy groups.

Daniel Schuman, policy director for Demand Progress and Demand Progress Education Fund, told supporters in a Jan. 18 message that the Sergeant At Arms proposal to track staff, journalists, and visitors to the Capitol would undermine the ability of Congress to do its job, and distract away from the imperative of reforming the dysfunctional Capitol Police Board, while failing to address any of the fundamental problems made apparent by the Trump insurrection. It is fundamentally anti-democratic, dangerous, and counter productive.

Rick Manning, president of Americans for Limited Government, told his supporters in a Jan. 28 message: This is warrantless surveillance. There are no criminal allegations being investigated; its a fishing expedition in violation of the Fourth Amendment. It also violates the First Amendment right to peacefully petition members of Congress by creating a chilling effect on Congressional staff, advocacy groups, and even personal friends of members.
Melva Mlambo, right, and Puseletso Lesofi, both medical scientists prepare to sequence COVID-19 omicron samples at the Ndlovu Research Center in Elandsdoorn, South Africa, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Jerome Delay/AP Photo, File)

COVID-19-Infected HIV Patient Developed 21 Mutations: Study

A South African woman suffering from poorly controlled HIV who also had COVID-19 for nine months saw the CCP virus develop at least 21 mutations while in her body, a recent preprint study found.

The woman, 22, was able to overcome the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus which causes COVID-19, within six to nine weeks after she started taking anti-retroviral medication that is used to treat HIV, according to researchers at Stellenbosch and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

They concluded that increased vigilance is warranted among HIV patients who contract COVID-19 to prevent the emergence of COVID-19 variants. Notably, the Omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa in November 2021, and U.S. health officials say its now the dominant strain across the United States.

This case, like others before, describes a potential pathway for the emergence of novel variants, the scientists said in the pre-print study, adding that it is still a hypothesis and much more data is needed. Our experience reinforces previous reports that effective anti-retroviral treatment is the key to controlling such events.

South Africa has the worlds largest HIV epidemic. About 8.2 million out of its 60 million population is infected with the virus.

According to the researchers, the patient observed in the study had developed around 10 mutations on the CCP virus spike protein, which allows it to bind to cells, along with 11 other mutations. Some of the mutations were similar to those seen in the Omicron and Lambda variants, whereas others were consistent with mutations that allow the virus to bypass antibodies.

Once again our experience reinforces previous reports that effective [anti-retroviral drugs are] the key to controlling such events. Once HIV replication is brought under control and immune reconstitution commences, rapid clearance of [the CCP virus] is achieved, probably even before full immune reconstitution occurs, they said. This underscores the broader point that gaps in the HIV care cascade need to be closed which will benefit other conditions and public health problems, too, including COVID-19.

Meanwhile, after weeks of Omicron spreading through the country, some South African experts said they are optimistic that the country has reached a turning point.

The Omicron wave now accounts for less than 5 percent of all of the deaths that have occurred due to COVID-19 [in South Africa] since the start of the pandemic, vaccinologist Shabir Madhiti, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, told CBS News on Monday.

While more COVID-19 variants may emerge, he believes the worst of the two-year-long pandemic is over.

Im highly optimistic that we have reached a turning point in this pandemic, Madhiti said. I cant see us revisiting what we experienced during the course of the first three waves in South Africa.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington on March 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Elon Musk Takes Swipe at Canadian Government, Supports Truck Convoy

Tesla CEO Elon Musk took a swipe at the Liberal government over the weekend, as he continues to show his support for the truckers who are protesting in Ottawa against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions.

It would appear that the so-called fringe minority is actually the government, Musk said in a series of Twitter posts on Jan. 30, in reply to a tweet of a video showing tens of thousands of protesters in and around Parliament Hill and trucks parked throughout the city.

If the government had the mandate of the people, there would be a significant counter-protest. There is not, therefore they do not, Musk said.

Canada isnt going to take more lockdowns and COVID restrictions. Ottawa todaypic.twitter.com/48V0ib862O  Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) January 30, 2022

The billionaires comment seems to be aimed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who dismissed the protesters on Jan. 26 as being a small fringe minority who do not hold the views of majority Canadians.

The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, or who are holding unacceptable views that theyre expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other, Trudeau said during a press conference.

Meanwhile, an Angus Reid poll released Jan. 31 shows the majority of Canadians54 percentsay its time to end all pandemic restrictions and allow people to manage their own level of risk. The number of Canadians in favour of ending restrictions rose 15 percentage points, up from a similar poll conducted earlier this month that showed 40 percent in favour.

The trucker convoy, dubbed Freedom Convoy 2022, began as a protest after the federal government introduced a vaccine mandate for truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border that came into effect on Jan. 15.

The first convoy left from the West Coast on Jan. 23 and expanded in scope as more trucks joined from different parts of the country, coming together in Ottawa on Jan. 29 to protest against various COVID-19 restrictions and mandates. Organizers have said they will not leave the capital city until vaccine mandates are lifted.

Tamara Lich, one of the organizers, responded to critics in a statement on Jan. 26, saying attempts to characterize the truckers as separatists and terrorists, were tactics used to smear the campaign. She later urged convoy members not to tolerate violence or vandalism and to report the truck number and licence plate of anyone inciting violence or hatred.

Despite Trudeaus criticism, the convoy protest has gained global recognition, with support coming from the likes of Musk, Russell Brand, Joe Rogan, and others.

Musk first took to Twitter on Jan. 27, as the convoy was on its way to Ottawa, saying Canadian truckers rule. His tweet has since garnered over 400,000 likes.

Freedom is being stripped away one piece at a time until it is gone, he said in another tweet on Jan. 27.

As the protest continues, transport Minister Omar Alghabra commented on the possibility of imposing a vaccine mandate for truckers travelling between provinces.

As of right now that policy is not in place, but no one should be surprised that there is work being done to get us there, he said in an interview with CBC on Jan. 30.

Meanwhile, Trudeau announced on Jan. 31 that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

On Jan. 27, the prime minister had said he was going into isolation after finding out that he had been in contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. He later said that it was one of his children who had tested positive.

Trudeau is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and received his booster shot on Jan. 4.

Omid Ghoreishi and Noe Chartier contributed to this report
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 22, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Facing Pressure from Beijing, Taiwan President Pledges to Stride Into the World

TAIPEITaiwan President Tsai Ing-wen thanked democratic nations for their support of the island in her Lunar New Year message on Sunday and pledged to stride out into the world, sounding a defiant note in the face of unrelenting pressure from Beijing.

Chinas ruling Chinese Communist Party, which claims the democratically-ruled island as part of its territory, has increased military activity around Taiwan over the past two years and stepped up efforts to limit its international role, lambasting those who have sought to support Taipei or strengthen ties with it.

In a short pre-recorded video message a day before the eve of Lunar New Year on Monday, the formal start of the most important holiday in the Chinese-speaking world, Tsai expressed appreciation for growing international support for Taiwan.

I want to especially thank all democratic partners for their support to Taiwan over the past year, she said. We will continue to deepen exchanges with all countries and stride out into the world.

Taiwan has been heartened by support not only from the United States, its most important backer, but also leaders and politicians in Japan, Europe, and by the G7 group of industrialized nations, all of which have angered Beijing.

Tsai neither directly mentioned China nor directly offered it new year greetings, simply extending best wishes to good friends around the world celebrating the festival, which is also observed in countries such as Vietnam, and South Korea.

Last year Tsai wished China a happy Lunar New Year, but said she would not yield to Chinese pressure and reiterated a call for dialogue to resume with Beijing, which China rejected.
A piece of police tape is seen in a photo. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighter Shot and Killed While Battling a Fire: Officials

A veteran firefighter was shot and killed while he was responding to a fire in Stockton, California, officials said Monday.

Fire Capt. Max Fortuna was attempting to put out a dumpster fire near downtown Stockton when he was hit by gunfire, Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards said. The shooting remains under investigation.

This is my worst nightmare as a fire chief, Edwards said. My message to my firefighters is to be strong, my heart breaks with you but we will get through this.

Stockton police officials told local media that a 67-year-old man was detained at the scene in connection to the shooting. Authorities said they also recovered a gun that was allegedly used in the shooting

Fortuna, who is survived by a wife and two children, is a 21-year veteran of the fire department.

Today is a tragic day and tragic day  for Max Fortunas family, Stockton Firefighters 456 Union President Mario Gardea said at a Monday news conference. A tragic day to the family, his family at the fire station. Max  was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job  Max will be was always considered a legacy firefighter and hes gonna be missed.

The nearby Alameda County Fire Department also expressed its condolences by saying, Terrible news coming from the @stocktonfire family. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the members of the Stockton Fire Department and more importantly to the Stockton Fire Captain who was tragically shot and killed this morning. God Bless you and your family.

Other details about the incident were not provided.
Freedom Convoy: The Canadian Blue-Collar Revival

Commentary

A blue-collar revival is afoot, the likes of which this country has never seen.

The Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa personifies the frustrations of Canadas blue-collar workforce. When the pandemic was raging these folks manned our hospitals, grocery stores, and critical infrastructure. They were the heroes of the pandemic. Two years later, those who refuse to be vaccinated are dismissed and disparaged by a federal government that seems hopelessly out of touch with the reality of working-class life.

Contrary to Justin Trudeaus characterization, the Freedom Convoy is not made up of a fringe minority; rather, it is a steamrolling, well-organized display of raw Canadian blue-collar power. They are not to be trifled with, as the federal government is about to learn. The hard way.

Power to Rock the Boat

There comes a time when governments must be reminded that their proper place is as servants of the people, not as authoritarians imposing their will. Two years ago, when the pandemic weighed heavily, Canadians were willing to give the government free reign and a blank cheque to see us through. As long as our standard of living was preserved and shelves were stocked, we were willing to hunker down and do what it took.

But the unwritten agreement was that personal liberty would be returned without delay. What began as two weeks to flatten the curve has turned into two years of perpetual lockdowns and mandates. So we find ourselves in the same position we were in at the beginning of this mess. This is glaringly obvious now and no amount of scapegoating or deflection is going to change it.

Starting with health care and federal workers, the government has taken a hard line on vaccination. Those who chose not to comply were demonized and blamed for prolonging the pandemic. From heroes to zeros, as the protest signs say. Truckers are in the same boat. The difference is that they have the means to rock the boat, and rock the boat they have. These truckers no longer believe the government has their best interest in mind and they have decided to do something big about it.

Truckers as Ambassadors

Canada has blue-collar roots. We have had our share of great politicians and cultural leaders, but much of our heritage is in the pioneering spirit of the fur trader and the indigenous stewards of the land.

These truckers are modern ambassadors of Canadas blue-collar roots. They are kin to every tradesperson across this country and are not to be taken lightly. From the electrician and the bricklayer to the logger and miner and farmer, there is a formidable network of hard-working folk that make up this nation. These are noble professionals, even though their work is not always clean or easy, and is often dangerous.

Blue-collar workers across the country punch far above their weight. They prefer to be left alone to live their lives in peace, raising families and building communities. When that hard-earned job is threatened, they mobilize to protect their interests. What Ottawa fails to understand is that the blue-collar workers are the glue that holds this country together. They are the plumbers who unclog your drain on Christmas Eve, the linesman who restores power in the frigid depths of winter, and the truckers who deliver goods across this country, ensuring that store shelves are stacked with the necessities and niceties we take for granted.

The thing about blue-collar workers is that they get things done. They dont deal in the abstract. They work in the immediacy of harsh reality and find a way to accomplish the task at hand. They are used to adversity and are not influenced by platitudes and empty promises.

The Freedom Convoy truckers, the men and women who made the trek across country to Ottawa in the dead of winter like a brigadier line, are the tip of a very long and powerful spear. If the federal government continues to antagonize and disparage these truckers, it runs the risk of alienating and angering the very people who keep this country functioning. As the truckers have stated, this is not about vaccinationits about government overreach and unjustified intrusion into the lives of the average hard-working Canadian. It is a patriotic sentiment that is rapidly gaining traction. As the convoy made its way to Ottawa, it was greeted by cheering crowds in every town and city, building momentum and goodwill with each mile.

This is the biggest challenge to government overreach by far that the country has seen since pandemic restrictions began. Not only Canada, but the entire world is tuning in to watch this workingmans showdown with the government elite. In contrast to our federal leaders, there is no virtue signalling and grandiose talk, just courage and action.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Police officers prepare for an operation close to a road where two police officers were shot during a traffic stop near Kusel, Germany, on Jan. 31, 2022. (Michael Probst/AP Photo)

Germany: 2 Police Officers Shot Dead During Traffic Stop

BERLINTwo police officers were shot dead on a rural road in western Germany while on a routine patrol early Monday, police said.

The shooting happened during a traffic check near Kusel at about 4:20 a.m., police in Kaiserslautern said in a statement.

The officers radioed that shots were being fired, spokesman Bernhard Christian Erfort told n-tv television. But reinforcements who arrived at the scene were unable to help the 24-year-old woman and 29-year-old man.

Erfort said he didnt know whether the officers had seen something particular about the assailants vehicle that they wanted to check or whether it was just a routine check.

Police officers block the access road to the scene where two police officers were shot during a traffic stop near Kusel, Germany, on Jan. 31, 2022. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)

Police had no description of the perpetrators, the car they used, or what direction they fled in. A manhunt has been extended to the neighboring German state of Saarland, police said.

They called on drivers in the Kusel area not to pick up hitchhikers and warned that at least one suspect is armed.

The younger officer killed in Mondays incident was still studying at a police academy, the GdP police union said.

Regardless of the motive, this crime is reminiscent of an execution and shows that the police risk their lives for our security every day, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Twitter. She said that we will do everything to catch the perpetrators.
Michigan High School Student Sues School for Suspending Him for Privately Talking About Christian Beliefs

A Plainwell, Michigan, high school junior has gone to federal court to fight for his right to talk about his religion.

The case arose when Plainwell High School student David Stout was suspended for three days after expressing his Christian beliefs and opinions in a private conversation with a like-minded student on school property and in private text messages outside of school with friends.

In his conversations and text messages, Stout put forth the biblical teaching of Gods love through Christ for sinners and expressed his own love for his peers. He shared the Judeo-Christian doctrine that homosexual conduct was a sin and that God created only two biological gendersman and woman.

Before being suspended, Stout said he was asked by a faculty member why he hadnt self-reported his sharing of his religious and political beliefs with fellow students to school officials.

Stout also said he was told that talking about religious or political beliefs wasnt allowed anywhere on campus for fear of hurting someones feelings. He said the faculty member told him that he must stop all religious conversations with other students because, if some students overheard such conversations, they might feel offended and unsafe.

Stout said the whole thing seemed to be a one-sided method to shame, intimidate, and silence conservatives and Christians.

The superintendent of Plainwell Public Schools didnt respond to a request for comment.

The complaint, which was filed on Jan. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, states that the schools principal and assistant principal told Stout that it was a students responsibility to not only stop hurtful comments and behaviors, but to preempt such conduct.

Stout said the administrators warned him that anything he did or said in school, outside of school, or on social media could negatively affect his future employment prospectsa statement that Stout said was a threat.

On Oct. 25, 2021, Stouts parents received notice that their son had been suspended.

We have always taught our son to be respectful of everyones opinion and to be polite to others.  [He] is entitled to properly express his faith and beliefs without being disciplined and suspended by Plainwell schools, Davids father, David Stout Sr. said. We trust the court will uphold Davids constitutional rights and his school record will be cleared.

The Stouts attorney, David Kallman of the Great Lakes Justice Center, said: David was suspended for three days last fall for stating his Christian beliefs in a private text conversation and in a hallway at school. He is also being punished for not policing and reporting the inappropriate jokes of fellow students. He was instructed to stop posting his religious comments on all his social media platforms and was disciplined for the offensive behavior of some other students; something he was unaware of and didnt participate in.

David is a good student with a clean record. Nothing he did caused a disruption or any problem at the school. He has the right to express his opinion in accordance with his religious beliefs without vilification or punishment from the government.

Stout asked the court for a declaratory judgment that the Plainwell School District violated his First and 14th Amendment rights, as well as his civil rights under the Michigan Constitution and other state statutes. Hes asking that his suspension be expunged from his school record and is seeking compensatory or nominal damages, costs, and attorney fees.
White roses left by visitors stand among train tracks prior to a commemoration of the anniversary of the deportation of Berlin's Jews to concentration camps in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 19, 2016. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Holocaust Awareness Leads People to Be More Compassionate to Religious and Cultural Minorities: Study

A first and largest survey of its kind has found that people who have a higher level of Holocaust awareness were more likely to have warmer feelings towards religious and cultural minority or disadvantaged groups including Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists as well as asylum seekers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

However, almost a quarter of Australians have little to no knowledge of the genocide, despite being home to one of the highest numbers of Holocaust survivors outside Israel.

In the study, just 54 percent correctly answered that the number of Jews murdered was approximately 6 million.

Earlier studies in Canada and the UK have shown similar results, and the researchers say this concerning lack of historical knowledge reflects on our attitude to immigration policy.

Not many people know about Australias hardline attitude towards Jewish refugees before the Second World War, lead researcher and associate professor Steven Cooke said in a release.

How does knowing that history help us to, for instance, reflect on our attitudes towards asylum seekers today?

Of the 3,500 Australians who participated in the The Gandel Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness in Australia Survey, over 70 percent also said they know nothing about the nations connections to the Holocaust.

These events include the protest against the treatment of Jews by the Nazis led by Indigenous leader and human rights activist William Cooper, as well as the Evian Conference in 1938 where Australia refused to accept Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany.

People tend to see the Holocaust as a tragic European event that happened far away. If we can illuminate Australias connections to the Holocaust, both good and bad, it will help enhance our knowledge and understanding of genocide more generally, lead researcher Donna-Lee Frieze said.

The survey found that people who had excellent Holocaust knowledge were those who have read a history book about the Holocaust, Boomers, males, and visitors of a Holocaust centre or museum. There were all 50 percent more likely to possess significant knowledge of the Holocaust.

Consequently, the team makes several recommendations, including the introduction of consistent Holocaust studies in Australian schools by teachers with proper accreditation.

Over the next few years there will also be several new, or significantly redeveloped Holocaust museums or educations centres in every state and territory in Australia, Cooke said.

The researchers used a feeling thermometer to measure peoples warmth towards different minority groups, with zero degrees being the coldest and 100 degrees being the warmest. For instance, the average warmth towards First Nations Australians was 78, compared to just 61 for those with lower Holocaust awareness.
National Guard members assisting in hospitals with COVID-19-related patients in Northeast Ohio have been shifted to some throughout Southwest Ohio, effective Jan. 26. (Photo courtesy Ohio National Guard)

Idaho Governor Sends in National Guard Over Staffing Shortages

Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Monday activated his states National Guard due to staffing shortages at several state agencies.

The 75 or so Guard members will be used to assist Primary Health and the Idaho Department of Correction, which are both experiencing staffing shortages due to COVID-19 absences, his office said in a statement. Little said he secured about 500 additional personnel to assist state hospitals dealing with COVID-19 cases.

The strain on health care, schools, business, and government from the spread of COVID-19 is a reminder that we are not out of the pandemic, and we need to be vigilant about keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy, Little, a Republican, said in a statement.

Currently, Idaho does not employ a vaccine mandate for any of its agencies and joined a coalition of GOP-led states that filed a lawsuit against the Biden administrations Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees.

The Supreme Court blocked enforcement of that rule, but the high court left in place a rule that allows the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to withdraw funds to facilities if their employees are not vaccinated for COVID-19. Unlike the now-defunct OSHA rule, health care facilities and workers cannot opt out by submitting to weekly testing.

I am proud of our men and women of the Idaho National Guard who have stepped up time and again to help our state and communities get through an unprecedented, challenging time, Little also said Monday. The strain on healthcare, schools, business, and government from the spread of COVID-19 is a reminder that we are not out of the pandemic, and we need to be vigilant about keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy.

At Primary Health Group, Idahos largest independent family medicine, and urgent care provider, the National Guard staffers will help clinics provide COVID-19 tests to more patients, CEO Dr. David Peterman told The Associated Press.

At least 48 states and 3 territories have used National Guard members to fill gaps in staffing, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The troops have driven school buses, staffed hospital kitchens, helped to care for nursing home residents, triaged emergency room patients, and held COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown has sent about 1,200 National Guard members to help at more than 50 hospitals that she claims are under pressure due to an Omicron variant-fueled surge in hospitalizations. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee recently deployed 100 members of the National Guard to hospitals across the state to set up testing sites and to assist in non-medical tasks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Security personnel run patrolling near the site of a gunbattle in Kangan area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on June 3, 2020. At least three alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were killed during a gunbattle with security personnel on June 3 at Kangan village of Pulwana district, local media reported. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Indian Forces Kill Top Commander of Terrorist Group in Kashmir, One Officer Dead

Indian forces have killed a top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Islamist terrorist group and four other terrorists in India-administered Kashmir, police said on Sunday.

We had launched two separate operations on the basis of inputs about the presence of militants in these areas last night. Five militants, including JeM commander, Zahid Wani, and a Pakistani national, Kafeel, were killed in these two operations, Kumar said.

A police officer was shot to death by the terrorists outside his residence Saturday evening in the south of Srinagar, Kumar said.

JeM Commander Zahid Wani has long been wanted by Indian security forces, who successfully neutralized Wani in two separate joint operations between Jammu police, Kashmir police, and the XV Corps of the Indian army on Saturday night south of Srinagar, Kashmirs main city, Muslim-majority regions police chief, Vijay Kumar, told Reuters.

JeM, also known as Army of the Prophet, is listed as a major terrorist group in India by the U.S. State Department. Analysts say it was formed with support from the Afghan Taliban, Osama bin Laden, and several Sunni extremist groups active in Pakistan. The group frequently clashes with Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, although no large-scale attacks have been launched since a suicide attack killing 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force personnel in February 2019.

Last year, the disputed region witnessed a wave of civilian killings, with terrorists seemingly targeting non-Kashmiris, including migrant workers, and members of the minority Hindu and Sikh communities in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.

Indian forces in the heavily militarized region responded with a widespread crackdown.

More than 189 terrorists were killed in Kashmir last year, a police official said.

The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
BAGHDADIraqi airstrikes killed nine suspected ISIS terrorists, including four Lebanese, in retaliation for an ISIS attack on Iraqi army barracks earlier this month, officials said Sunday.

ISIS gunmen in Iraq broke into a barracks in the mountainous al-Azim district outside the town of Baqouba on Jan. 21, killed a guard and shot dead 11 soldiers as they slept. It was one of the boldest attacks by the extremists in recent weeks and came amid an uptick in violence that stoked fears the group has been re-energized.

Yehia Rasool, the spokesman for Iraqs commander in chief, said the joint military operations room and the air force identified the cell behind the attack as its members hid in al-Azim, north of Baghdad.

Three airstrikes were launched that killed the nine terrorists, he said.

A security official told The Associated Press that four among the killed were Lebanese, natives of the northern town of Tripoli. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Tripoli is Lebanons second largest city and the countrys most impoverished. It has been prone to violence and extremists who, inspired by the ISIS terrorist group, launched attacks against Lebanons army in 2014 in the most serious bout of violence in the city. As Lebanon faces an unprecedented convergence of crises, including a swift descent into poverty, many fear extremists may seek to exploit discontent among the citys majority Sunni residents.

Lebanons Al-Jadeed TV gave a higher death toll, saying that five Lebanese were killed in Iraq. One family member appealed in the broadcast to Lebanese authorities to facilitate return of the bodies.

Also Sunday, Iraqi anti-terrorism units carried out an inspection campaign in seven prisons in Iraq holding ISIS terrorists. The move comes after a brazen prison attack ISIS extremists carried out in northeastern Syria that lasted for over a week.

The attack on the prison in Hassakeh province in northeastern Syria was carried out by about 200 extremists who were joined by rioting inmates, leaving dozens killed while an unknown number of suspects escaped.

On Sunday, the U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces announced the end of its sweep operations in the prison by eliminating the last pockets in the northern dormitories where (ISIS) terrorists had been barricaded.

The attack on January 20 was carried out on the largest of a dozen detention facilities in Syria that house extremists. More than 3,000 suspected ISIS terrorists, including over 600 minors, were held there. The Kurdish-led SDF said most of the prison inmates and terrorists have surrendered, and scores were killed.

ISIS was largely defeated in Iraq in 2017. The group was dealt a final blow in 2019 when it lost its last territory in southeast Syria during the U.S.-led military campaign in cooperation with Syrian Kurdish-led forces.

But thousands of terrorists melted into the desert and have continued to wage attacks, frequently hitting security forces and military with roadside bombs and firing on military convoys or checkpoints in both countries.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (C) and First Lady Michal Herzog are received by UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Jan. 30, 2022. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO via AP)

Israel President on 1st Visit to UAE Amid Regional Tension

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesIsraels figurehead president met the crown prince of Abu Dhabi on Sunday on the first official visit to the United Arab Emirates by the countrys head of state, the latest sign of deepening ties between the two nations as tensions rise in the region.

The UAE and Israel normalized relations in the fall of 2020, part of a series of U.S.-brokered diplomatic deals between Israel and Arab states that had long avoided formal relations with Israel over its decades-old conflict with the Palestinians.

President Isaac Herzog met with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the de facto Emirati leader. The UAEs state-run WAM news agency described a royal welcome for the Israeli leader at the palace, with the Israeli national anthem blaring and 21-gun salute roaring.

During over two hours of talks, Herzog urged more countries in the region to join in recognizing Israel and condemned the recent aerial attacks on Abu Dhabi claimed by Yemens Houthi rebels that marked a serious regional escalation.

I wish to emphasize that we completely support your security requirements and we condemn in all forms and language any attack on your sovereignty, Herzog told Sheikh Mohammed, according to his office.

Herzog also met members of the countrys small but growing Jewish expat community and on Monday visited Expo 2020, the worlds fair in Dubai, where Israel has hosted a series of events at its national pavilion.

The president plays a largely ceremonial role as a national unifier in Israels parliamentary system, where the prime minister holds the most power. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett last month made his first official visit to the Gulf Arab sheikhdom and discussed strengthening relations on a number of fronts with Sheikh Mohammed.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R), and First Lady Michal Herzog are received by UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Jan. 30, 2022. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO via AP)

Media coverage of both Herzog and Bennetts trips to the autocratic UAE has been tightly controlled. Emirati authorities have not invited journalists to the palace where meetings are held, nor planned any press conferences. News from the visits surfaces only through careful statements on state-run media. Israel, a parliamentary democracy, has not brought Israel-based journalists to join the trips of either leader.

Shortly before takeoff, Herzog said he sought to bring on his visit the message of peace from Israel to the United Arab Emirates, and to all the peoples in the region.

The show of Israel-Emirati cooperation comes at a delicate time for the Middle East.

Fighting in Yemens seven-year civil war has intensified, widening to reach Emirati soil for the first time this month. The Iran-backed rebels fighting the Saudi-led coalition claimed drone and missile attacks against Abu Dhabione that killed three workers at an industrial area and another that was intercepted and scattered missile shards over the capital.

The assaults shocked residents, puncturing the sense of safety pervasive in the regions globalized business hub. The Houthis have threatened further strikes this week.

In their meeting, Sheikh Mohammed told Herzog that Israels stance against the Houthi attacks on the UAE demonstrates our common view of the threats to regional stability and peace, particularly those posed by militias, Herzogs office said.

Meanwhile, negotiations in Vienna between world powers and Iran to curb Tehrans rapidly expanding nuclear program paused on Friday, with European officials saying the talks had approached the final stage. Former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal nearly four years ago in a move welcomed by Israel and Americas Gulf Arab allies, and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran.

Shared enmity of Iran and mutual fears over its nuclear program helped push the UAE and Israel to formalize relations after years of clandestine ties.
A protester holding the Italian flag sits in before anti-riot policemen during a demonstration against the new restrictions imposed by the so-called "Super Green Pass," near piazza San Giovanni in Rome on Jan. 15, 2022. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images)

Italys Covid Despotism Just Got Worse

Commentary

The news from Italy has started to sound like good incipits for a dystopian fantasy novel or like a deja vu recalling the Soviet Union. This week, a new decree of the Draghi government established yet more rules restricting the lives of people who have not been injected with the latest vaccine booster and who therefore cannot show the latest version of the Green Pass.

These second-class citizens, who have already been stripped of their right to move, work, and participate in a great number of social activities, are now forbidden from entering post offices to withdraw their pension, and they are to be allowed access to supermarkets only to buy goods of primary necessity. In other words, the Italian government decides what kind of food and what other goods (if any) these people will be able to purchase.

It is unclear how exactly the government intends to enforce this new decree: Will we see policemen putting their hands into shoppers bags? Will bread be considered a primary good while shaving foam and candies will be seized? There is no limit to the madness.

And a recent note from the executive to clarify the situation only made things worse: the state now decrees that the unvaccinated can actually also buy nonprimary goods in the few shops they are allowed to enter. For the time being.

In other words, Italy is now a society where your sphere of action goes only as far as the prime ministers website explicitly and graciously allows. Heading out for a stroll at the park? You better check the latest blog post from Mario Draghi to see if he explicitly grants you this freedom!

How did it come to this?

Among Western countries, Italy has been one of those experiencing the most systematic denial of basic civil rights over the past two years. Coalition governments led first by Giuseppe Conte and then by Mario Draghi have empowered an unelected committee of experts called the Comitato Tecnico Scientifico, which has in turn empowered the governments by assigning a scientific aura to every decree, every action, and every word coming from the executive.

This has resulted in an endless series of lockdown measures that for long periods have erased freedom of movement, the right to work, property rights over businesses and shops, freedom to assemble, freedom to worship, and even the distinction of jurisdictional spheres between church and political authority (with state bureaucrats closing churches and then handing out petty instructions on what rites could be carried out, how liturgies should be curtailed, and how many people if any could be present at masses and funerals).

In the meantime, the legislative branch has been humbled, and government by urgent decrees from the executive has become the norm. The very constitutional structure of the country has been bent, and a new concept called stato di emergenza (state of emergency) has been invented out of thin air, even though it is nowhere to be found in Italys republican constitution.

If we were not living in the age of CNN, fake news, and outrageous subsidies handed out by politicians to newspapers and the media, one could legitimately wonder where the journalists were while all this was going on? In fact, journalists in Italy are among the main culprits of the current dystopian reality, since they have given platforms to experts who agreed with lockdowns and other measures that expanded government control over all aspects of life, while at the same time they ferociously mocked and ostracized doctors and scientists who dared to question the logic of outdoor mask mandates and curfews for restaurants.

Anybody who dared to point out the disastrous consequences of a prolonged lockdown on mental health and on people suffering from other pathologies, or the link between the economy and public health, was accused of being a covid denier. This is a pattern that surely readers recognize, as they have seen it in the United States and many other countries over the past two years.

The fact that virtually every opinion labelled by the media as conspiracy theory has turned out to be true just three or four months later has done nothing to shake the arrogance of the corrupt mass media, who are entrenched in their monopoly over the news cycle, thanks to their access to state funding and political favors. And this is true in Italy as virtually everywhere else.

Giuseppe Contes administration was followed by another government coalition led by Prime Minister Draghi, not thanks to free elections but through a move by the president of the republic, Sergio Mattarella.

In a solemn speech on February 2021, the head of state explained to the country that it was inopportune to have an election in the midst of a pandemiceven though during the same period Romania and Portugal had elections and their rate of infection was not altered.

Instead, Mattarella entrusted the government to Draghi, claiming that this would be a nonpartisan, technical government simply charged with the tasks of obtaining funds from the EU and overseeing the vaccination campaign. Obviously, the idea of a technical, neutral government is absurd, since every modern state expropriates, inflates, and moves wealth from some social groups to others.

I will not get into the many lies spewed by Draghi and his ministers about the effectiveness of the vaccines, nor into the series of grotesque restrictions progressively imposed on the unvaccinated. Suffice it to say that, once again, the media was complicit, as for months it covered any failure by the Draghi administration with wild accusations against the no-vax.

Just like those accused of being covid deniers never denied the existence of covid, those who are now labelled as no-vax have in most cases nothing against vaccines per se. But these are unimportant details for journalists, who at the year-end press conference put up a show worthy of a banana republic by greeting Draghi with cheers and a long applause rather than with probing questions.

Interestingly, the change at the helm from Conte to Draghi has had the effect of showing the true colors of Italian liberals, who are in fact ill-disguised statists.

Even Amnesty International has expressed concern about the discrimination against unvaccinated people in Italy, while Italian liberals and leftists cheer Draghi on.

The only coherent, courageous opposition to Draghi is coming from the fringes and from unlikely allies like Marxist professor Ugo Mattei and libertarian professor Carlo Lottieri.

Mattei has tirelessly denounced the unconstitutional nature of the state of emergency as well as the cowardly blackmailing of workers forced to decide between taking the vaccine or losing their job.

Lottieri has led the small movement of resistance among university professors fighting discrimination against unvaccinated students and explaining how the pandemic has been an excuse for modern states to take one step further in their control over the body and mind of each individual.

The measures to which Italian people have been subjected in these two long years of unchecked statism and shameless propaganda have not only been unjust: they have also been utterly useless in fighting the pandemic.

Italy has seen exactly the same trajectories and timeframes in the different waves of the virus as those experienced by countries like Sweden or even the UK, where liberties and the economy have not been trampledor at least have not been trampled to the same extent!

The failure of streams of government decrees is not a surprise for those who, having read Ludwig von Mises and F.A. Hayek, know very well that human societies are complex and that we should be humble when devising solutions from the top.

Central planningwhether for the economy or for healthcareis destined to fail. On the other hand, central planning serves a political class and crony corporations ceaselessly attempting to micromanage our lives.

From Mises.org

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Ivermectin packaged for human use widely prescribed for decades for a range of maladies, including for treatment of lice, other parasites and viruses. (Natasha Holt/The Epoch Times)

Ivermectin Shows Antiviral Effect Against Omicron: Japanese Pharma Firm

A Japanese conglomerate that is studying the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin has found that the medication had an antiviral effect on Omicron, according to joint non-clinical research.

Kowa Co. Ltd., a conglomerate with interests in trading, hospitality, and electronics, along with health and medical applications, issued a press release (pdf) on Jan. 31 stating that ivermectin has been found to be effective against Omicron in in vitro studies. The firm is also in the process of carrying out a Phase 3 clinical trial on the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients, though the companys remarks on effectiveness pertain to the findings of lab-based research.

Kowa representatives didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.

The company, working with Kitasato University based in Tokyo, said that ivermectin has the same antiviral effect on all mutant strains, including Alpha, Delta, and Omicron. Kowa added that ivermectin suppresses invasion of the virus and inhibits its replication.

[Ivermectin] is expected to be applied as a therapeutic drug (tablet) for all new coronavirus infectious diseases, the report said.

Ivermectin has been used by the World Health Organization for over 30 years to treat parasitic infections. Volunteers have distributed the drug in African countries where it has been found to be extremely effective, said the Kowa report.

However, the treatment has been mired in controversy during recent times as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19, even though the drug is used in humans to treat a variety of conditions.

The FDA has refused to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA) asking for details about any reports of side effects related to the use of ivermectin in treating COVID-19 while publicly denouncing its usage.

The federal government pays hospitals across the country to treat COVID-19 patients, but the payment is tied to approved methods, and ivermectin is not part of the protocol.

However, families desperate to save their loved ones are resorting to secretly sneaking the drug into hospitals as a last-ditch effort that often ends up helping the infected person recover.

All or part of 22 countries around the globe have approved the use of ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19, based on multiple studies. Japan has not yet approved ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.

A bill has been presented to make New Hampshire the first state in the country to make ivermectin part of the approved COVID-19 treatments and offer it as an over-the-counter medication.

I have absolutely no doubt lives will be saved if human grade ivermectin was available to COVID patients, state Rep. Leah Cushman, a Republican and also a registered nurse, told The Epoch Times about her proposed bill HB1022.

The detractors of using ivermectin have claimed that the drug is extremely dangerous. I would never want this medication prescribed to myself or my family and would take legal action against anyone who recommended this to my loved ones, Dr. David Levine of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center wrote in his written testimony on the bill.

Dr. Paul Marik, a supporter of using ivermectin, testified that ivermectin is one of the safest drugs on the face of this planet.

Marik, who is a co-founder of the physician-comprised advocacy group Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, said ivermectin is approved for the treatment of viruses in 79 countries.

So somehow Japanese people, Indian people, Brazilian people can tolerate it safely, but its toxic in Americans. You have to be kidding, Marik said.

Marik was forced to resign from his position at the Eastern Virginia Medical School over legal battles regarding the usage of alternate treatments for COVID-19, including using ivermectin.

Correction: This article has been updated to make clear the findings released by Kowa were based on non-clinical trial data. The proposed bill number was incorrectly stated. The Epoch Times regrets the errors.
Signage is seen at the United States Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, on Aug. 29, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Kansas Woman Accused of Leading ISIS Battalion Ordered Held Without Bail

A Kansas woman who is accused of plotting terrorist attacks on American soil was ordered held without bail during a hearing on Monday.

Allison Elizabeth Fluke-Ekren, 42, who was transported to the United States after being arrested in Syria on Jan. 27, allegedly led a battalion for the ISIS terrorist group. According to charging documents, she plotted to carry out bombings in America, including of a shopping mall.

In her first court appearance, Fluke-Ekren did not enter a plea. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan Davis ordered her held without bail until a detention hearing, which is scheduled to take place on Feb. 3.

Joseph King of the Alexandria law firm King Campbell Poretz Mitchell was named as Fluke-Ekrens attorney at the hearing. King did not respond to inquiries from The Epoch Times about the case. King and his law firm have represented several high-profile clients in the Washington area, including serial killer Charles Severance.

U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh told Davis during the hearing that Fluke-Ekrens adult children, as well as her parents, have requested to have no contact with her.

Davis had little ability to keep her from reaching out to her family from jail, but told Ekren that if she contacted her family against their wishes, he would take it into account when making a decision after Thursdays hearing.

Ekren, speaking in a soft-spoken voice and wearing an inmate jumpsuit and headscarf, said she understood the restriction. She also told the judge, in response to his question, that she preferred to be addressed as Ekren.

Allison Fluke-Ekren in a booking photograph. (Alexandria Sheriffs Office via AP)

Fluke-Ekren, a mother of five and former school teacher, allegedly left the United States in 2008 and soon afterward joined ISIS.

Eyewitnesses told U.S. federal agents that she fantasized about attacks that would strike large groups of people, with one saying the accused terrorist considered any attack that did not kill a large number of individuals to be a waste of resources and campaigned for attacks to occur on American soil.

Fluke-Ekrens battalion, which included young children, was trained in the handling of AK-47s, grenades, and improvised explosive devices. They were also taught how to prep a go bag with rifles and other military supplies, according to court documents.

Fluke-Ekrens American husband died in 2016 while leading ISIS snipers in an airstrike, authorities say. She remarried a Bangladeshi described as a prominent ISIS leader.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Alice Giordano Follow Alice Giordano is a former news correspondent for The Boston Globe, Associated Press, and New England bureau of The New York Times.
Lets Discover the Traits of the Tiger, and Use the Year of the Tiger to Fight for Freedom

Commentary

Today, we begin the celebration of the Lunar New Year and welcome in the Year of the Tiger. I want to start by wishing all Mandarin-speaking friends gong xi fa cai and Cantonese speakers gong hei fat choy.

Over the past decade, Ive been increasingly critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as it has unleashed a major clampdown on anyone who displays anything other than absolute loyalty to Xi Jinping and the Party. The intensification of repression in China has included some of the most severe atrocitiesgenocide and crimes against humanityas well as a nationwide campaign of persecution against Christians; the dismantling of Hong Kongs freedoms and autonomy; increased repression in Tibet; continued persecution of Falun Gong; the disappearance of human rights defenders, including attorneys; and the shutdown of whatever limited space previously existed for civil society, independent media, citizen journalism, and dissent.

In response to these appalling developments, Ive been involved in helping to establish several initiativesfrom the China Tribunal into forced organ harvesting to the Uyghur Tribunal into genocide, and from the UK Conservative Party Human Rights Commissions two inquiries and reports on Chinas human rights crisis in 2016 and 2020 to the foundation of Hong Kong Watch. And Ive been privileged to play a small part in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), the Stop Uyghur Genocide campaign, the China Democracy Foundation, the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China, and Tories for Tibet.

As a result, I know Im not popular in Beijing. In 2017, I was perhaps the first Westerner to be publicly refused entry to Hong Kong, the city that had once been my home and where I had started my career as a journalist and activist. I then found myself a target for the CCPs intimidation efforts, receiving anonymous, threatening letters postmarked from Hong Kong at my home address in a sleepy suburb of London. Similar letters were also sent to my neighbors, my mother, and my employers. Such tactics are typical of the CCP in Chinaputting pressure on dissidents by threatening them directly and trying to get neighbors, relatives, and employers to silence thembut the idea that the regime thought this would work in London is bizarre.

And they didnt stop there. At least five different British members of Parliament on five separate occasions have been lobbied by the Chinese Embassy in London, which has specifically asked them to shut me up. Then in October 2018, I was the target of a torrent of screaming verbal abuse by China Global Television Network journalist Kong Linlin at the Conservative Party Conference. After screaming at me, she physically assaulted my friendan incident that was caught on camera and went viral. She was subsequently convicted in a British court of common assault.

More recently, the intimidation attempts moved into the digital realm, with fake email accounts being set up in my name and absurd emails being sent to parliamentarians, journalists, and others by my impersonator. Im not the only one to be subjected to thisBritish MPs Tom Tugendhat, chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee; Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the Conservative Party; Nus Ghani; Lord David Alton; and IPAC Coordinator Luke de Pulford, my friend and colleague, have all experienced a similar email campaign.

On a visit to Canada in late 2021, I received a more specific threat for the first timean email that made reference to the exact hotel where I was due to stay in Vancouver. Compared with previous threats, this was more concerning because it indicated specific knowledge of my precise location. I received security advice that made me take this seriously, and I took appropriate precautions.

Why am I sharing all this now? For four reasons.

First, around the world, governments, parliamentarians, the media, and the public are finally starting to wake up to the dangers of the CCP. Xis regime is becoming not only increasingly repressive at home, but also increasingly aggressive abroad. But its wolf-warrior diplomacy is losing friends, and its long-standing infiltration, influence, intimidation, and espionage operations to subvert democracies are finally being exposed.

The recent decision by MI5, the British intelligence agency, to warn Parliament about the activities of the CCPs United Front Work Department, and specifically one of its operatives, Christine Lee, is a very welcome development, if rather late in the day.

A detail of an MI5 Security Service Interference Alert (SSIA) identifying Christine Lee as an agent of the Chinese government operating in the UK Parliament, issued by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Commons on Jan. 12, 2022. (House of Commons/PA)

My experiences are just one tiny illustration of the much larger and wider threat that the CCP poses around the world. To understand the scale and range of the CCPs tactics abroad, you would do well to read Clive Hamilton and Mareike Ohlbergs book, Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World.

Second, my experiences pale into insignificance when compared with the threats to Chinese, Hong Kong, Tibetan, and Uyghur exiles, who face a much more serious physical threat, as well as the emotional struggle of knowing that their relatives back in China may be in danger if they speak out against the CCP. But if the CCP is prepared to go as far as threatening Western activists and parliamentarians in their own homes and in democratic societies, it doesnt take much imagination to understand how much further they may go to silence those it regards as its own people in exile.

The third reason for sharing thisand doing so at this timeis that we must never, ever give in. The threats that Ive received only embolden me to continue and to redouble my efforts. If anything, I regard them as a badge of honor. And it also shows me that far from being the confident, strong superpower it wants us to believe it is, the CCP regime is, in fact, weaker and more insecure than we may realize.

A regime that resorts to trying to silence critics abroad isnt a superpower. A regime that puts at the top of the agenda in a meeting with a British MP a request to shut me upespecially when global challenges and issues such as climate change and trade were also on the agenda for that meetingisnt a secure regime. A regime thats so scared about an article thats due to be published about Hong Kong that it calls an MP to ask him to pressure me to withdraw the article ahead of publication is cowardly and paranoid. A regime that spends time and money sending letters to my 80-year-old mother in the English countryside in the hope that shell reprimand her son is one worthy of ridicule. By the way, my mother laughed at the letters and told me she had given up trying to tell me what to do 30 years ago.

In this Year of the Tiger, the free world should rediscover the characteristics of the tigerfearlessness and courageand stand up to the butchers of Beijing. The age of kowtowing is over. The example of Lithuania, a small but plucky nation that understands from its own history the value of freedom and that has stood up to the CCP with remarkable courage, should inspire us, as should Taiwan. Other democracies should stand with them, and together we should build a United Front for freedom to counter the CCPs United Front.

Let us use this Year of the Tiger to fight back, to defend our freedoms at home, and to speak out for the people living under CCP repression within Chinas borders. As the Winter Olympic Games open in Beijing on Feb. 4Games that a criminal regime such as Xis should never have been allowed to hostlets use them to shine a spotlight on the CCPs crimes and generate maximum embarrassment for the CCP.

British Conservative Party MPs Nusrat Ghani (C), Sir Iain Duncan Smith (R), and UK Director of the World Uyghur Congress Rahima Mahmut at a demonstration calling on the UK Parliament to vote to recognize alleged persecution of Chinas Uyghurs as genocide and crimes against humanity in London on April 22, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

The fourth reason for writing this piece at this time is to say that I love China, specifically its culture, history, and diverse peoples. Throughout history, China has contributed so much to the world. My fight isnt with China or its peoples, but with the CCPand we should always differentiate between the two. Beijing and its proxies have accused me of being anti-China. The CCPs wumaos earn their 50 cents every day on Twitter leveling this charge. But on the contrary, its because Im deeply pro-Chinaas a countrythat I want its diverse peoples to be treated with dignity and respect and to be granted the basic freedoms and rights that I enjoy. In that sense, its the CCP, with its repressive, mendacious character, thats anti-China.

We should never confuse criticism of the CCP with anti-China or anti-Chinese racism. Such racism exists and, tragically, is increasing, and we should always call it out, condemn it, and counter it. But the CCP is increasingly setting a trap for us, suggesting that criticism of the Chinese regime is akin to racism. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when that regime is itself shaped by a deep racism that has had genocidal consequences for the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, other Muslim minorities, and Tibetans, among others. Its possible to be genuinely anti-racist and anti-CCP at the same time, and its imperative that we are.

I first went to China at the age of 18 to teach English for six months in Qingdao. I made many friends there, went back to teach in a hospital during my summer holidays as a university student, lived in Hong Kong for the first five years after the handover, and traveled widely throughout China until I was no longer able to do so. I have very fond memories of making dumplings in Qingdao at Lunar New Year and of celebrating the festival in Hong Kong during my years there. I look forward to the day when I can return to China and Hong Kongwhen theyre freeto celebrate Lunar New Year with my friends in liberty and without fear.

Lets use this Year of the Tiger to redouble our efforts to work toward that goal. Lets not allow the CCP to intimidate us. Its said that the Year of the Tiger symbolizes recovery and growth. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world needs that. But let it not only be economic recovery and growth. Lets work for recovery and growth in values, especially freedom, democracy, and human rightswhich I hope the diverse peoples living under CCP repression today will one day enjoy.

Happy Lunar New Year.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
American truckers are joining with the tens of thousands of Canadian truckers to protest vaccine mandates, and public support is growing for them in both countries.

Brian Von D, the administrator at Convoy to DC 2022, announced in a live video on Facebook that truckers from both countries are joining forcesand will drive from California to Washington. He said that as truckers move to support the Canadian trucker protests, America is next. He said, according to The Epoch Times, 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.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he will move U.S. troops, not a lot, to Eastern Europe and to NATO member countries. This is in response to the threat of Russia invading eastern Ukraine. The superpower now has an estimated 100,000 troops, along with tanks and other weapons, at Ukraines northeast border. Russia is demanding that NATO guarantee it will never grant NATO membership to Ukraine, and is asking NATO to remove its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. On the U.S. side, its not clear how many troops not a lot is, but the Pentagon announced on Jan. 24 that if the situation warrants it, the United States has 8,500 troops at heightened readiness to deploy.

Also on Friday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, If NATO activates its response forces, these troops will be ready to go. But he also clarified that Biden does not intend to put troops into Ukraine for combat operations. The troops they have readied for this are already in the region, and Lloyd Austin said they have multiple capabilities. He added, There is a small contingent of U.S. and NATO advisors and trainers currently in Ukraine. The United States has zero offensive combat weapons systems, nor any permanent forces, nor bases in Ukraine. Our role is limited in that we help train, advise and assist with tactics, techniques, and procedures.

In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience.

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In this file photo, a yellow police tape blocks access to the scene of a burglary and shooting in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Dec. 1, 2021. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

More Charges Pending in LA County Murder, Follow-Home Robberies

LOS ANGELESPolice Monday will ask the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office to consider filing charges against a fifth suspect in connection with a spate of follow-home robberies that occurred in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Glendale, and Fontana, as well as the fatal shooting of a man near a Hollywood restaurant.

Marquis Ford, 24, of Los Angeles was arrested on Thursday for his alleged involvement in the Nov. 23 shooting death of Jose Ruiz Gutierrez in Hollywood. He was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Gutierrez, 23, was waiting in a car outside Bossa Nova restaurant, in the 7100 block of Sunset Boulevard, at around 2:00 a.m. that day when a woman he was with stepped out and was accosted by a group of men who tried to rob her.

Gutierrez, who was carrying a gun, got out of the car to intervene and the suspects allegedly shot him to death and fled.

Authorities believe Ford was also tiedwith four othersto a rash of follow-home robberies that had plagued the city.

An LAPD task force on follow-home robberies, with assistance from an LAPD SWAT unit and Beverly Hills, Glendale and Fontana police, made four arrests on Dec. 21 at various locations in Los Angeles and Fontana.

The other suspects were Jayon Sanders, 21, Abraham Castillo, 20, Tyree Singleton, 20, and Joshua Saulsberry, 21.

Sanders, Castilllo and Singleton have all been charged with murder, robbery and attempted robbery. Saulsberry is charged with robbery.

Sanders is being held on $2.49 million bail, Castillo and Singleton on $2.05 million bail, and Saulsberry on $160,000 bail, according to the LAPD.

Detectives recovered a handgun, a replica handgun, more than $30,000 in cash, handbags, a Rolex watch, gang paraphernalia and two vehicles allegedly used in the crimes, police said.

Hours after the Gutierrez murder, LAPD Chief Michel Moore announced that the department would create a task force to investigate follow-home robberies, which had increased in frequency in recent weeks.

Moore said the department identified 133 likely instances of such crimes. The heists involve robbers who follow people wearing high-end jewelry or have expensive vehicles or other belongings.

Moore said Gutierrez was coming to the aid of a female who was being attacked when he was killed.

The Robbery Homicide Follow-Home Robbery Task Force included robbery homicide detectives and resources from the LAPDs Gang Narcotics Division and Metropolitan Division.

Moore added that if someone notices theyre being followed, they should not drive home and instead go to a police station and call 911.

LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division detectives urged anyone with information regarding the Gutierrez homicide to call them at 213-486-6860 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Thousands of protesters take part in a massive "Freedom Convoy" to protest the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022, (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

MPs, Political Leaders Attend, Voice Support for Freedom Convoy Rally in Ottawa

Several Conservative MPs have made an appearance at the Freedom Convoy rally in Ottawa that began on Jan. 29 , giving their support to the truckers who oppose the federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, while others didnt attend but said they back the effort.

The truckers Ive met today have been peaceful, kind and patriotic, MP Pierre Poilievre wrote on Twitter on Jan. 29.

In a video recorded at the event, Poilievre elaborated on what the rally stands for.

Its a rally for truckers, but its also a rally for the 60 percent of Canadians who said they were worried they cant afford food; its for the 60-year-old small businesses man who spent his entire adult life building up an enterprise and watching it wiped out; its for the depressed 14-year-old whos been locked out of school; its for the families that cant take it anymore; its for the people that want to stand up and speak for their freedoms; its for all those our government and media have insulted and left behind; its for the people who worked hard to put food on our table and stock our shelves and make this country workand thats why we are gathered here today, he said.

Freedom, not fear. Truckers, not Trudeau.

MP Leslyn Lewis wrote on Twitter on Jan. 29: Great to see so many law-abiding patriotic Canadians peacefully expressing their love for this country and democracy. People of all ages, faiths, races, from all walks of life, united for freedom.

The Freedom Convoy began as a protest against the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border, but has since expanded to a call for all COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted.

The first convoy set off from the West Coast on Jan. 23, and more trucks join from across the country, converging in Ottawa this weekend for a massive demonstration that will likely continue into next week. Smaller rallies are being held in other cities at the same time.

The Ottawa rally also received support from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who said in a statement that truckers deserve a special thank you for their services that kept the selves stocked and the economy going throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, trucker rallies are being held at many locations across the country, including on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and in various communities in Saskatchewan. Here is my message to Saskatchewan and Canadian truckers: pic.twitter.com/LifQ2FK23b  Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) January 29, 2022

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was in Washington, D.C., on the weekend, in part to raise these important cross-border supply chain issues. My message is simple: Its time for some common sense! he wrote on Twitter.



On Jan. 22, the Biden administration initiated vaccination requirements for non-U.S. nationals entering the country who are not vaccinated, including Canadian truck drivers.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole met with truckers on Jan. 28, but didnt attend the rally.

I support their right to be heard, and I call on Justin Trudeau to meet with these hard-working Canadians to hear their concerns, he said in a Twitter post.

Tory MP Michael Cooper, along with MP Damien Kurek, brought a container of coffee to the rally to show our appreciation for hardworking, patriotic truckers who have kept our supply chains healthy & grocery shelves stocked for the past two years, he wrote on Twitter.

A demonstrator carrying a flag with a Nazi symbol on it was caught on camera behind Cooper while the latter was doing a TV interview. Cooper later issued a statement saying he wasnt associated with the person carrying the flag.

Whoever flew this flag is personally responsible for that reprehensible decision and should be eternally ashamed of him or herself, he wrote.

He or she does not represent the thousands of peaceful protesters who waved Canadian flags and acted responsibly. I stand with them and will continue to fight for them.

Statement from MP Michael Cooper: pic.twitter.com/OAWwz1rko9  Michael Cooper, MP (@Cooper4SAE) January 30, 2022

Several Conservative MPs backed Cooper, and also pushed back against reports that frame the freedom convoy and its participants as far-right extremists.

Tory MP Garnett Genuis retweeted Coopers statement and said it was pretty bizarre that some in the media are trying to blame him, even though he wasnt aware the flag was behind him.

It is pretty bizarre that supposedly serious people are trying to blame Michael for the fact that someone he doesnt know walked into the camera shot behind him while he was doing an interview, Genuis wrote on Twitter.

Former Conservative MP Stockwell Day also criticized the media for amplifying the conduct of the few wrongdoers among thousands of well-behaved protesters.

In 40 [years] of politics I have never seen main stream media so united against any protest group in such a disgusting way. If there is one violent protester or one physical threat that will be all the media reports, Day wrote on Twitter.

Peoples Party of Canada Leader and former cabinet minister Maxime Bernier attended the rally on both Jan. 29 and Jan. 30.

We will regain our freedom in 2022, he said in a video posted on Twitter. Today we are doing something that will be in the history books.

Conservative MP John Williamson issued a statement in support of the convoy and the truckers call to end restrictions.

The trucker convoy, dubbed the Freedom Convoy  even by a mostly unwelcoming media  became a symbol for pandemic fatigue and, I believe, growing opposition to illiberal restrictions on Canadians, he wrote.

Truckers were called unsung heroes at the start of the pandemic. I believe Canadian truckers are still our heroes after almost two years living with COVID-19. They keep Canada moving and I am adding my voice to the belief that it is time to end lockdown restrictions and to put the emphasis on fixing our underperforming healthcare system to manage the coronavirus.

Shuttering society to save the health system is no longer an acceptable choice.
Governors Say Time to Learn How to Live With COVID-19

Several governors said over the weekend that Americans will have to learn how to live in a world with COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Were not going to manage this to zero. We have to learn how to live with this, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press.

Murphy said he agreed with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, who earlier in the program said he believed it was time to start treating the illness differently.

I do believe that we need to move from a pandemic status and mode of operation, to more endemic, where were normalizing, taking it very seriously, preparing, but I think we need to move out of the panic mode. I think we need to handle this to make sure that we continue with our normal lives, Hutchinson said.

The keys to the COVID-19 response now are ensuring access to therapeutics and tests, which requires improving the supply chains for those products, the governor added.

The comments come as cases in many states, including Arkansas and New Jersey, continue to drop after hitting record highs in early or mid-January.

Arkansas reported more than 102,500 active cases on Jan. 21. Six days later, that number was down to about 75,000.

New Jersey logged 33,459 cases on Jan. 7 and just 2,603 on Jan. 30.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks to reporters in Little Rock, Ark., on Jan. 13, 2020. (Andrew Demillo/AP Photo)

Nationwide, cases are down 60 percent from the Jan. 10 peak, and hospital admissions have dropped from 6.5 per 100,000 people to 5.3 per 100,000 people.

Deaths, a lagging indicator, are rising, but the climb is slowing, data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Many experts say the CCP virus will likely become endemic, including some who once believed it could be eradicated.

Some other state leaders previously called for a shift in approach to COVID-19.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said in December 2021 that the COVID emergency was over because of how long vaccines had been available and how effective theyd been in preventing severe disease.

The Omicron variant of the CCP virus easily bypasses the vaccines protection against infection, but studies indicate the shots still protect well against hospitalization and death, especially among those who got a booster dose.

Still, a number of officials have been imposing fresh restrictions or rules to try to deal with the pandemic, including Murphy, who recently ordered all health care workers to get booster shots or face termination.

When the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Biden administrations step on health care, that was an easy step for us to take, Murphy said on NBC.

Hutchinson, like many Republican governors, has forgone mandates, and Democrat-led states havent fared better on average during the pandemic, leading some to criticize their restrictions.

The governor pointed to how the Supreme Court, while lifting the blocks against the federal vaccine mandate for workers who work for institutions that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding, deemed a separate mandate for all private employers with 100 or more employees an overreach.

Its got to be that education. Its got to be that consistent messaging. And so we want to improve those numbers, Hutchinson said. But the right path is not by the mandate route.
North Carolina Transplant Patient Would Rather Die Free Than Get COVID-19 Vaccine

A North Carolina man said that a hospital refused to carry out a kidney transplant because he wont receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and he would rather die than comply with the requirement.

I was born free. I will die free. Im not changing my mind, Chad Carswell told WSOC-TV. Ive had conversations with my family and everybody thats close to me. They know where I stand, and itll not be a situation that occurs that I will choose to change my mind on this topic.

Carswell, a double amputee with several heart surgeries, said that he needs a kidney transplant because the organ is operating at 4 percent, forcing him to receive dialysis three times per week.

He said, The last thing we need to talk about is your vaccination status,' Carswell recalled a medical official at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem telling him.

And thats when I politely told him there was nothing really to talk about it, it wasnt up for debate [and] that I wasnt getting it. Then, he told me, You know youll die if you dont get it. And I said, Im willing to die,' he added.

In the interview, Carswell said that hes contracted COVID-19 at least twice and doesnt need a vaccine.

A spokesperson with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital said its policy follows other health protocols across the United States regarding organ transplant recipients. The Epoch Times has contacted the facility for comment.

The reason it is recommended is to provide protection for the patient. Transplant patients are at high risk for severe illness if they dont have preexisting immunity prior to being transplanted, the hospital said in a statement to local media.

It comes after a Boston area man and father of two said he was denied a heart transplant due to him not having received the COVID-19 vaccine. D.J. Fergusons family told Tucker Carlson Tonight in late January that hes fighting for his life after undergoing emergency heart surgery and is in need of a transplant.

He got led down a path where they had to stop doing procedures where they said he was qualified nonetheless for the heart transplant, the patients father, David Ferguson, told the Fox News host. But he had to get the vaccine in order to get that transplant.

Ferguson told CBS Boston that his son believes he doesnt need the vaccine.

Its kind of against his basic principles, he doesnt believe in it. Its a policy they are enforcing and so because he wont get the shot, they took him off the list of a heart transplant, David told the outlet.

A spokesperson for the hospital, Brigham and Womens Hospital, told the New York Post that its healthcare system requires several CDC-recommended vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and lifestyle behaviors for transplant candidates to create both the best chance for a successful operation and to optimize the patients survival after transplantation, given that their immune system is drastically suppressed.

Patients are not active on the waitlist without this.

Ferguson recently underwent open heart surgery as a last resort, temporary approach to stabilize his condition after being denied the heart transplant.
A woman checks her phone in front of an installation of Shuey Rhon Rhon, mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park in Beijing on Jan. 13, 2022. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

Olympians Face Multidimensional Threats Under Chinas Digital Surveillance: Expert

A former senior U.S. intelligence official warned Olympic athletes to be wary of multidimensional threats in the run-up to the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, including potential digital surveillance.

Take a clean phone, suggested Nicholas Eftimiades, a retired senior American intelligence officer in an interview with EpochTVs China Insider program. Dont put any passwords in it; dont log into accounts that need specific passwords through the phone.  Your communications devices, and if you take new laptops, have them cleaned by a professional upon return, he told athletes.

Understand that whatever information you put into any phone, the Chinese government can and most probably will collect, Eftimiades said, warning of both short- and long-term concerns.

During his 34-year government service, Eftimiades worked as a special agent with the Central Intelligence Agency and as a senior officer in Defense Intelligence Agency, and is well-known for his 1994 book, Chinese Intelligence Operations.

There are actually multiple concerns for athletes visiting China this time; No. 1 is their personal privacy, Eftimiades said. His message comes as countries, including the United States, encourage athletes to take burner phones, or disposable devices that they dont intend to keep when they get back home.

China has the first digital authoritarian regime in the world, Eftimiades said, adding that its state surveillance apparatus is second to none. Its a minor blip to monitor the thousands that are coming into the Olympics when they monitor hundreds of millions on a daily basis.

Beijing has pledged to provide Olympians internet access beyond the Great Firewall at official venue sites and hotels, the International Olympic Committee confirmed to Voice of America, meaning about 2,700 foreign athletes can use Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube, and foreign news websites that are banned in China, during their stay.

Yet cybersecurity fears exist as internet access will likely be monitored, he said.

Recently, U.S. researcher Jonathan Scott found flaws in the Beijing 2022 Olympics app that he says allow the app to snoop on users. The algorithm for the app was developed by iFlytek Co., a blacklisted Chinese tech firm that works closely with Chinas Ministry of Public Security and is known for its ties to Beijings human rights abuses in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region.

The app listens to all audio and detects Beijing-deemed sensitive words before collecting the data and sending it to servers in China for analysis, according to Scott. The Citizen Lab, a research institute at the University of Toronto, also found that the app has the ability to censor 2,442 blacklisted words considered politically sensitive, according to its digital forensic analysis on Jan. 18.

When this was pointed out to the Chinese government in early December, they got no response to those flaws, Eftimiades said. When the app was updated in mid-January, it included no corrections.

Its pretty obvious at this point if the Chinese government was at all concerned with the security and the privacy of the athletes, it would have corrected those flaws, he said.

Yet long-term concerns emerge once China penetrates the electronics and collects data from athletes, Eftimiades said, especially when some participants get targeted.

Do they learn even immediately of athletes conditions? And does that impact how China performs at the Olympics, what decisions China makes? he said.

If they find it to their benefit to discredit an athlete to embarrass a country or an athlete globally, they will absolutely take that opportunity to do that. So [there are] multidimensional threats, multidimensional concerns.

Beijings Olympic Organizing Committee told state-owned media Xinhua News that all its actions will strictly abide by the laws of China.

There is no trust with Chinanot in issues like this where their national face and potential threats to the Chinese Communist Party exist, Eftimiades said. Its the red line for China.

The 2022 Beijing Games are set to take place from Feb. 420. Diplomats from countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Taiwan will not be attending.

iFlytek 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.
Omicron Subvariant Causes More Infections, Regardless of Vaccination Status: Study

A subvariant of the Omicron coronavirus variant is more infectious than the original version, according to researchers in Denmark.

People are more likely to get infected with BA.2, the Omicron subvariant, regardless of whether theyve received a COVID-19 vaccine, even with a booster dose, researchers with the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark, and Statens Serum Institut stated.

The study examined 8,541 COVID-19 cases that occurred in households containing 2 to 6 people. About a quarter of the cases were caused by the new subvariant, according to genomic sequencing of the samples.

The study found that the increase in susceptibility to the subvariant was significantly greater in vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people, pointing to BA.2 having even more success in evading the protection from vaccines than BA.1, the original version of the Omicron variant.

Researchers also found that unvaccinated people were more likely to transmit the virus when infected with the subvariant, while vaccinated people werent when compared to cases caused by BA.1.

Like most studies, unvaccinated people included those who had received one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and people who had received full primary regimens of one of the vaccines, but tested positive before 14 days had elapsed.

The Pfizer vaccine is by far the most utilized COVID-19 vaccine in Denmark, with approximately 85 percent of Danes who have been vaccinated receiving it during their vaccinations.

We conclude that Omicron BA.2 is inherently substantially more transmissible than BA.1, and that it also possesses immune-evasive properties that further reduce the protective effect of vaccination against infection, but do not increase its transmissibility from vaccinated individuals with breakthrough infections, the study reads.

The study was published without peer review on the medrxiv website.

Trays with COVID-19 vaccines inside syringes in Amager, Denmark, on Nov. 28, 2021. (Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Omicron is a variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. It became dominant in countries around the world in late 2021, displacing the Delta coronavirus variant.

The Omicron variant has proven more transmissible and infectious than the Delta variant, but causes fewer cases of severe disease on average.

BA.2 has been increasing as a share of infections in multiple countries in recent weeks, including the UK and the United States. The subvariant has different mutations than BA.1.

BA.2 has quickly become dominant in the UK, displacing BA.1. Health officials in the country said in a recent update that early data on BA.2 suggest that it transmits more easily than BA.1, but doesnt cause more severe disease.

Limitations of the new study include the period of time studied occurring during the winter holidays. Because more people likely gathered with friends and family during that period than normal, some cases classified as secondary in the study are actually primary cases, researchers said.

More studies are required to further investigate the properties of BA. 2, they noted.
Protesters stand in front of the War Memorial in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times)

Ottawa Mayor Suggests Using Convoys GoFundMe Money to Pay for Policing

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says he asked his staff to find out if the city could use some of the funds collected in the crowdsourcing campaign to support the Freedom Convoy to cover the cost of policing for the protest.

It shouldnt be up to Ottawa taxpayers to pay for the kind of disruptions were facing right now, he told CTV News on Jan. 31.

As of Jan. 31 morning, the GoFundMe campaign for the Freedom Convoy 2022 had amassed over $9 million, with numerous single donations of over $10,000.

Watson said it may be a long shot to successfully obtain some of these funds.

Ottawa Police estimate the cost of policing the protest at over $800,000 a day, and the service requested the assistance of out-of-town police forces as back-up.

Watson is urging the truckers and protesters to pack their bags, telling them theyve made their point.

The public are completely fed up, as am I. We would love to see them go tomorrow. We think they should have gone yesterday.

The convoy initially started as a protest over the requirement that all truck drivers crossing the U.S.-Canada border be vaccinated for COVID-19. By the time the convoy left the West Coast for Ottawa on Jan. 23, it had expanded to calling for an end to all pandemic restrictions.

The Epoch Times reached out to GoFundMe to find out if it had received inquiries from the City of Ottawa, but we didnt hear back before publication.

Convoy organizers were also contacted but didnt reply by the time of publication.

In a press conference on Jan. 30, organizer Benjamin Dichter said that the federal government has done everything it can to ignore this problem, and that the convoy organizers have established good relations with police. He also said that its important that people be allowed to have their own choice in choosing whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine or not, and its important for the mandates to be lifted.

He added that the trucks were not about to leave and were rather in it for the long haul.

Dichter said some of the trucks are meant to operate autonomously with various amenities and they can sit for weeks and months.

Ottawa Police said in a statement on Jan. 30 it was working with the organizers to facilitate the safe departure of the protesters.

As of Jan. 31 morning, Ottawa Police had not reported any arrests related to the protest, but it said via Twitter on Jan. 30 that Several criminal investigations are under way in relation to the desecration of the National War Memorial/Terry Fox statue, threatening/illegal/intimidating behaviour to police/city workers and other individuals and damage to a city vehicle.

The desecration refers to protesters climbing on top of the War Memorial and attaching a Canadian flag to the statue of Terry Fox.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves from 10 Downing Street to make a statement to MPs in the House of Commons following the publication of the Gray report, in central London on Jan. 31, 2022. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

Partygate Report Finds Serious Failure at Heart of UK Government

A limited version of a report into lockdown-breaching parties held in UK government buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic points to a serious failure to observe the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government.

The report was commissioned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson following a series of damaging allegations of Christmas parties and other gatherings held in his official residence at Number 10 Downing Street and other government departments in Whitehall at the height of the pandemic, in violation of lockdown rules written by the government.

A number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did, the report, written by senior civil servant Sue Gray and published on Jan. 31, states.

Undated file photo of Sue Gray, second permanent secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. (Gov.uk/PA)

The report criticised failures of leadership and judgment by parts of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify, it said.

At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time.

At times it seems there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country in considering the appropriateness of some of these gatherings, the risks they presented to public health and how they might appear to the public.

Gray said it was not possible at present to provide a meaningful report setting out all she had discovered, due to a continuing police investigation.

The Metropolitan Police last week asked Gray to make only minimal reference to gatherings being investigated by its officers. Gray said on Jan. 31 that police were investigating 12 gatherings that she had reviewed as part of her inquiry.

Unfortunately, this necessarily means that I am extremely limited in what I can say about those events and it is not possible at present to provide a meaningful report setting out and analysing the extensive factual information I have been able to gather, Gray said.

The main opposition Labour Party has renewed its call for Johnson to resign.

During this crisis, our country needed a leader more than at any time since the Second World War, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy wrote on Twitter. We didnt get one. This report shows what we have known all along: The prime minister is a coward, a rule-breaker and needs to step down.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Workers clean up an oil spill following an underwater volcanic eruption in Ventanilla, Peru, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Pilar Olivares/Reuters)

Peru Government and Repsol Revise Estimated Size of Oil Spill to Over 10,000 Barrels

LIMAPerus environment ministry and Repsol SA on Friday increased the estimated size of a Pacific Ocean oil spill at a company refinery to over 10,000 barrelssignificantly higher than an initial estimate of 6,000 barrels.

Repsol said it had calculated the oil spilled to be equivalent to 10,396 barrels, in response to a revised government estimate that put the number at 12,000 barrels.

The Spanish company has faced widespread backlash for the spill, which took place near capital Lima on Jan. 15. Peruvian President Pedro Castillo has called it the biggest ecological disaster to affect the country in recent years.

Repsol added that 35 percent of the oil spilled has already been recovered.

Workers clean up an oil spill following an underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga, in Ancon, Peru, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Pilar Olivares/Reuters)

Earlier in the day, a Peruvian judge barred four Repsol executives from leaving the country for 18 months as prosecutors investigate the cause of the oil spill.

The quartet include Repsols Peru chief, Jaime Fernandez-Cuesta. Lawyers for the executives did not appeal the decision and said they would cooperate with the investigation.

The spill took place at Repsols La Pampilla refinery, which the company has blamed on what it says were unusual waves triggered by a massive volcanic eruption in Tonga thousands of kilometers (miles) away.

A spokeswoman for La Pampilla has said the firm was not responsible for the spill and blamed the Peruvian Navy for not issuing a tsunami warning after the Tonga undersea explosion triggered Pacific Ocean-wide tsunami alerts.

La Pampilla is Perus largest refinery and accounts for 54 percent of its refining capacity.

Prosecutor Tamara Gonzales said the executives did not comply with their functional responsibilities after the Jan. 15 oil spill, which led to contamination of up to 140 km (87 miles) of coastline.

Repsol said in a statement that it will continue to cooperate fully with any criminal investigation related to the spill.

The crime of environmental damage carries a minimum prison sentence of no less than four years and no more than six, the prosecutor said.

Perus Agency for Environmental Assessment and Enforcement (OEFA) said on Thursday that Repsol did not comply with the deadline to identify damaged areas and began the process to impose a fine of up to $4.8 million.

Repsol said in its most recent statement that it had some 2,000 people cleaning up the damage, with the support of 119 heavy machinery on land, 11 floating tanks, and 52 boats.

By Marco Aquino and Marcelo Rochabrun
A staff member from the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department walks past a pet shop which was closed after some pet hamsters tested positive for the coronavirus, in Hong Kong, on Jan. 18, 2022. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

Pet Shops Selling Hamsters in Hong Kong to Resume Business After Governments Mass Cull

Local pet stores selling hamsters in Hong Kong are now allowed to resume business, the government said on Saturday, following an order to close and the culling of thousands of small animals over concerns they could be carrying the coronavirus.

The pet shops must be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned, and environmental swabs taken from the shops must pass the virus test before they can resume business, the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) said in a statement.

On Jan. 18, the Hong Kong government ordered 2,000 hamsters, chinchillas, rabbits, and other small animals to be humanely put down after a health check on the rodents found 11 carrying the Delta variant of the coronavirus. All the hamsters were imported from the Netherlands.

Pet owners who bought hamsters from any store in Hong Kong since Dec. 22, 2021, were ordered to hand over their animals for culling, while those who visited the pet store after Jan. 7 were told to quarantine.

According to the AFCD, all 1,134 samples taken from animals other than hamsters have come out negative. It also collected 1,124 environmental swabs from all the concerned pet shops.

There are a few pet retailers that are still being reviewed by the Health Ministry and that will stay closed for the time being, the AFCD said. Among these establishments is the Little Boss pet shop, where a 23-year-old employee tested positive for the coronavirus.

Authorities will step up surveillance of pet shops, and all hamster imports remain banned in Hong Kong to ensure public health, it added.

The AFCD said on Friday that a one-off payment would be disbursed to all local pet shops selling hamsters as compensation. Each eligible pet shop is entitled to a payment of between HK$10,000 ($1,282) and HK$30,000 ($3,800) based on the shops floor area.

Hong Kongs pet cull follows heightened virus containment measures in Beijing, where authorities suggested that mail from Canada might have been the culprit for the citys first Omicron case.

The citys health officials noted that the patient with Omicron, a 26-year-old woman who hasnt traveled outside Beijing recently, handled a parcel sent from Canada via the United States and Hong Kong before developing a sore throat two days later.

The Omicron variant was detected on both the outside of the package and in its contents, as well as on other mail samples delivered from the same origin, the officials said.

Health experts have generally assessed the risk of the virus transmitting through contaminated surfaces to be extremely low. The World Health Organization has said that coronaviruses in general need a live animal or human host to multiply and survive and cannot multiply on the surface of food packages.

Eva Fu contributed to this report.
Pfizer Board Member: Immunity From Omicron Likely Protective Against Sub-Variant

Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that the Omicron COVID-19 variant appears to confer some protection against an Omicron sub-variant known as BA.2 that was recently discovered in several countries.

You should be protected. So the mutations in this new version are not in the receptor-binding domain on the spike protein, Gottlieb told CBS News on Sunday morning. Thats the portion of the spike protein that we develop our best antibodies against that neutralize the virus. Most of the mutations are in a separate part of the spike protein called the N-terminal domain.

Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, added that someone who has contracted the Omicron variant should be [protected] against subsequent infection from this new variant. Thats why I dont think this is going to create a huge wave of infection.

BA.2, a new version of the virus, is a descendant of the Omicron variant, according to officials in several countries.

The BA. 2 descendant lineage, which differs from BA. 1 in some of the mutations, including in the spike protein, is increasing in many countries, the WHO said recently on its website. Investigations into the characteristics of BA. 2, including immune escape properties and virulence, should be prioritized independently (and comparatively) to BA. 1. People queue to collect coronavirus disease (COVID-19) antigen test kits at the Hazeldean Mall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on January 7, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/Reuters)

But Kristen Nordlund, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokeswoman, told The Washington Post that currently, there are insufficient data to determine whether the BA.2 lineage is more transmissible or has a fitness advantage over the BA.1 lineage [omicron].

She added: Although the BA.2 lineage has recently increased in proportion in some countries, it remains a very low proportion of circulating viruses in the United States and globally.

In Denmark, where about 80 percent of the country is vaccinated, BA.2 has displaced the original Omicron variant, known as BA.1, Troels Lillebaek, the chairman of the countrys committee investigating COVID-19 variants, told CNBC last week.

More than 211 million Americans, or 63 percent of the total population, are fully vaccinated. About 86 million people have gotten a booster dose. Vaccinations peaked last spring at more than 3 million per day, and now average less than 750,000 per day. The pace of vaccinations briefly spiked following news of the Omicron variant in December but has since slowed again.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A clever grandma from Long Island has turned the tables on a telephone scammer who tried to dupe her out of $8,000 in cash.

The 73-year-old from Seafordwho only gave her first name, Jeanon Jan. 20 got a call from a man claiming to be her grandson, saying hed been arrested for drunk driving and needed to be bailed out of jail.

Jean, a former 911 dispatcher, knew that her grandson could not drive and immediately suspected a hustle. I knew he was a real scammer, she told CBS2. I just knew he wasnt going to scam me.

Shortly afterward, she received a call from a different man claiming to be her grandsons lawyer, asking for $8,000.

Keeping her wits about her, Jean lured in the would-be swindler and foiled their plot with a stratagem of her own.

I told him I had the money in the house and I figured hes not going to fall for that, she told the station. Well, he fell for thathook, line, and sinker.

Having already called the police, Jean had only to wait for the unsuspecting crook to show up at her doorwhich he did, pretending to be her grandsons bail bondsman.

Footage from Jeans doorbell cam shows a masked man wearing a trench coat appear, accept an envelope from Jean (which shed stuffed with paper towels), turn, and leave.

He didnt get far, though. Footage shows police officers rush out of the house and tackle him to the ground, before taking him into custody.

The Nassau County Police Department in a press release announced the suspects identity as one Joshua Estrella Gomez, 28, who was charged with attempted grand larceny of the third degree.

He was released on an appearance ticket and is due to appear at the First District Court on Thursday, Feb. 3.

Nassau County Police Department spokesman Richard Lebrun told Insider that, if a family member calls asking for money, it is advisable to call them back to confirm, and to block unwanted calls or text to avoid being scammed.

Resist the pressure to act immediately, Lebrun said. Legitimate business will give you time to make payments.

He added that its advisable to never pay with gift cards or wire money to an unknown individual or business.

Such scams targeting the elderly are rampant, police said. Jean finds it appropriate that she was able to dish out a little justice.

I feel like gotcha, and I feel like, like you say, so many people fall for this and you only hear about it on the other end after theyve lost $8,000, she said.

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After a profound scare on a surfing trip as a teen, an Australian surfer discovered God and channeled both his faith and his artistry into a new profession: ocean photography. Through his powerful and breathtaking images of breaking waves, he shares his reverence for God and nature with the world.

Becoming a photographer has been an amazing way to marry my perspectives on life and spirituality, 35-year-old self-taught photographer Phil Thurston, from the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia, told The Epoch Times.

Phil grew up very close to the ocean in a small town with his two elder brothers. The trio mostly lived on the beach and learned to surf and gain confidence at a very early age in life.

After picking up the lens in his early 20s, Phils fascination shifted from riding the waves to instead capturing them.

Phil Thurston, 35, is a self-taught photographer. (Courtesy of Philip Thurston)

After traveling around Australia and Hawaii in pursuit of a surfing career, he knew that he wanted to translate the breathtaking moments of energy at the ocean he came across and share them with people.

On a trip to Hawaii at the age of 17, Phil had a life-changing moment at the sea.

He recalled: One day, a big swell was on. I quickly realized my extremely fragile mortality, and I had a pivotal experience with God that literally changed every aspect of my life and direction. God suddenly went from a somewhat fictional character in my life to the sole reason Im still alive today.

Ever since that day, Ive gravitated toward operating out of a place of revelation, understanding that what Im shooting and working with is intentionally designed and artistically woven together. My faith being incorporated into my art isnt necessarily an intentional thing, its just at the very core of who I am and why Im here.

Phil, who now travels between Australia and the United States, currently lives in Southern California with his wife. On a day with perfect waves, he heads into the ocean armed with his Canon 5D MKIV camera in AquaTech waterproof housing, and swims around until he finds the perfect spot from which to capture the waves as they break.

My background in surfing became the core confidence and ocean knowledge that is needed to get close enough to the waves, he explained. Learning the technical aspects of operating the camera came naturally to me, and because being in the ocean had become second nature, I was able to fully focus on the camera settings and getting in position for the shot.

Explaining more about his signature images, Phil says that the technique he uses involves slowing down the shutter speed to intentionally capture the movement of the water with the light.

I personally call this style flomocean,' he said.

Meanwhile, when he is on land, Phil uses a tripod, and lenses ranging from an 8mm fisheye to 600 mm of telephoto compression to capture each wave from a unique perspective. With his understanding of natural light and color, he uses post-processing for exemplifying the emotion he initially felt when he first saw the moment happen in the water, and he then massages the image into a place where others seem to have the same wow effect.

Prepping, shooting, editing, analyzing, and much trial and error have allowed Phil to find art in the chaos of the ocean.

People learn to see chaos, he considered, but if you look closer, maybe through a different lens, you realize its actually an orchestrated, perfectly thought-out design.

The ocean is Phils endlessly evolving subject. Yet, featuring remote locations and bound by seasonal conditions, his photos depict rare moments.

Thus for Phil, it means the world when people react positively to his work.

He reasoned: Scarcity inspires value, so many of my images are almost like time capsules, once-in-a-lifetime moments that I now treasure even more  thats the best, when you can bring treasure out of the ocean like that and people light up to it!

One of Phils favorite shots, he says, is an image titled, Wave to the Mountains. He caught a plane at the last minute to chase one particular swell, knowing it was a risky call, arrived into relentless rainfall, but stuck it out.

I sat on the beach in the pouring rain and wind for the next two days straight, pondering my decision, he regaled. I had a small accident with my hire car too, that wasnt cheap, so this probably ended up being the most expensive photo Ive taken in a long time. Sometimes a photo can tell a thousand words about a place, but behind the scenes its absolutely nothing like it appears!

Wave to the Mountains. (Courtesy of Philip Thurston)

Phil has run his business, Thurston Photo, for a decade. He has held exhibitions, shows, and sells prints through his website and Instagram. Additionally, he has self-published a fine art coffee-table book and runs educational workshops on ocean photography with the magic of harnessing natural light at the forefront.

Phil also hopes to have his own gallery one day.

However, despite living his dream, Phil upholds that secondary sources of income are pretty fundamental to the longevity of an artist, and has always worked other jobs. But his heart, and his faith, are inextricably linked with the ocean.

Your Love Is Fierce. (Courtesy of Philip Thurston)

Just like anyone else, Phil has had his own struggles growing up. However, at the core of his life, he holds onto his faith, which remains to be his strongest encouragement through life.

Ive always had that faith encounter with God to fall back on, knowing with all my heart and soul that He loves and cares about me as an individual and as a son, even amongst the billions of other souls in the world, Phil told The Epoch Times.

For others who are pursuing art and trying to communicate through it, Phil says its very hard initially to get people to see or feel art in the same passion as you do. Thus he advises: If, in your heart, you are sincerely passionate about something, keep doing it regardless of whos watching, because I believe that the heart discerns what is to come far better than the mind.

Here Are Some More Breathtaking Images of the Ocean:

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Poetry and the Fell Clutch of Circumstance

Commentary

The annual T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry, the most valuable in Britain, has just been awarded to a woman called Joelle Taylor. As I have not read her work, I am in no position to judge its quality, which may be very high indeed. In any case, I confess to some difficulty in judging the value of new poetry: I am not even sure that I should recognize a new John Keats were one to emerge. It is salutary to remember that some good judges of poetry failed to recognize his genius while he was still alive.

The impression given by a brief review of the recent winners of the T.S. Eliot prize, however, suggests that the judges of the prize are at least as concerned with bringing about supposed social justice as with poetic merit. They seem to take a neo-Stalinist view of writing and writers, that they are propagandists and engineers of human souls: always in the service, of course, of the dictator or (in this case) by the current political orthodoxy. This impression is strengthened by reading the article that this years winning poet wrote in the Independent newspaper in the wake of the award.

She herself says that the award was a triumphant moment for butch womeninto which category she puts herself. She says that her winning book, C+nto & Othered Poems, explores the ideas of the butch, and by implication the notion of masculine women. The judges said that, among other things, her volume of poems was a blazing book of rage and light, a grand opera of liberation from the shadows of indifference and oppression. Of its quality as poetry they said little. Grand opera is rarely good poetry.

Now of course art and poetry may be about any subject at all, edifying or disturbing as the case may be. And it is also only natural that artists should refer to their own personal experience. It is certainly not difficult to believe that a woman such as Taylor, who likes to dress more or less as a man while remaining a woman, has suffered insult and perhaps worse than insult from strangers and (even more upsettingly) from relatives.

Poets have long taken their suffering for a subject. To take a single example, that of W.E. Henley (18491903): One of his legs was amputated because of tuberculosis of the bone, and the other had become infected and was also due for amputation. He came under the care of the great surgeon Joseph Lister, the developer of antiseptic surgery, who treated him as in inpatient of the Edinburgh Infirmary for two years, thereby saving his leg. Ever afterwards, Henley hero-worshiped Lister, but there was hardly a day of his life when he was not in pain.

He wrote a series of 24 poems, now known as the Hospital Poems, which are among the first modernist poetry in the English language. In these poems, Henley recounts his own suffering but, because he feels no self-pity, he recounts with even greater force the suffering of others that he observes from his hospital bed. There is no element of identity politics in his work: He never claims that the publication of his poems is in honor of the wooden-legged or the tubercular.

His most famous poem is Invictus. When you know his personal history, you know that this famous poem, recited by many people in great difficulty to keep their spirits up, is not mere rhetoric or hot air, but an inspiring expression of personal indomitability:

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced or cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody but unbowed.  It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

This is specifically a poem against self-pity by a man who had every reason to feel it, if anybody had. He was not writing for people exactly like himself, that is to say those with a wooden leg (he was the friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, and the inspiration for Long John Silver), but for all who were in the fell clutch of circumstancewhich is most of us at some time in our lives.

The contrast with what Taylor said in her article is striking. She is concerned for the group with which she identifies, which is typical of the identity politics of our time. It is as if we had Balkanized our compassion, such that we felt it mainly for people who shared their cause of suffering with ourselves. Said Taylor:

[My book is] about our difficult dance between survival and self-expression. I was compelled to write it as an honouring to all butches and wrong walking women, all of us who do not quite fit our bodies.

That she is writing propaganda is suggested by her desire, as she puts it, to drag the marginal to the centre of the pagethat is to say herself and others like her. She goes on to say:

We inherit ourselves. In spite of what you might have read, butches do not identify as men. We identify as freedom. We identify as survival.  We are what is made of silence.

Henley did not identify as survival (thats an ill phrase, a vile phrase, as Polonius puts it in Hamlet), even though Henley was eventually to die of his illness, at an age less than Taylors; rather, he identifies as overcoming circumstance.

The very word survival in such a context, at least without qualification, is self-pitying in the extreme. People can be said to survive grave illnesses when death is expected, or such events as a massacre or a wreck at sea, but not the kind of hardships or insulting behavior that Taylor has no doubt endured.

The exaggerated use of the word survival in such a context illustrates how far we now sanctify victimhood, thereby giving everyone an incentive to exaggerate the degree to which he or she is a victim, to have an unhealthy thirst for victimhood. The more you are a victim, the more sympathy (and often the more subventions) you merit. We are women, says Taylor. This makes survival tenuous 

This is all a world away from Henleys noble determination to overcome the fell clutch of circumstance, which is of universal application to the human condition.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Security officers check boarding passes and passports of passengers at the international airport in Hong Kong on September 22, 2019. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Prevalence of Fake ID Cards For Senior Chinese Communist Officials

Owning one or more fake ID cards has long been a must-have for many high-ranking Communist Party officials and it is easier for them to forge and obtain ID cards in and from the Public Security Bureau through the Partys privileges. Some of them have used fake ID cards to transfer bribery money, while others used them for escaping from China to avoid being investigated by the regime.

On Jan. 17, Wang Fuyu, a ministerial-level Communist Party official, was sentenced to death on bribery charges, suspended for two years, had all of his personal property confiscated, and was fined 1 million yuan ($160,000), according to official media.

In the process of accepting bribes, Wang Fuyu used fake IDs for his brother and himself to open multiple bank accounts and deposit hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes.

Wang Fuyu, 70, served as deputy secretary of the party committee and Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference in Hainan Province and Guizhou Province. The court found that Wang had used his position to accept property worth 434 million yuan ($68.45 million), and also used his influence to accept 17.35 million yuan ($2.74 million) after retirement.

Forging ID Cards with Police Privileges

On Dec. 29, 2021, Chinas Supreme Procuratorate announced that it had filed an indictment against Wang Lee ker, the former secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Political and Legal Committee. The prosecution charged Wang with four counts of accepting bribes, offering bribes, harboring, conniving in a triad organization, and forging identity documents.

Of the charges, forging identity documents is noticeable. Wang used his position to arrange for others to forge resident identity documents since he has been in the police force for 35 years, serving as the deputy director of the Liaoning provincial department of Public Security, the deputy mayor of Dalian and the director of the citys Public Security Bureau, secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committees Political and Legal Committee, and the director of the provincial department of Public Security.

The identity cards of Chinese citizens are all handled by the police, and there is no difference between the identity cards forged by the police and the real ones because the forged ones are also recorded in the police computer system, they look the same, and one can hardly detect any anomalies.

In China, youll see advertisements everywhere saying apply for fake documents. Wang Taiyuan, a professor at the Department of Public Security of Chinas Public Security University, told official media Global People that such identity documents are fake and cannot be traced in the systemdocuments forged by the police through powers within the scope of authority can be traced in the systemmaking them hard to detect and thus more harmful.

Fake ID for Business Operations

In January 2013, a citizen of Lufeng City, Guangdong Province, reported Zhao Haibin, a member of the Party Committee of Public Security Bureau in the city, for using a false identity to run a business and own 170 properties according to state-run CCTV.

The investigation showed that Zhao did have two ID cards, one was his own as a CCP official, while the other had an alias, the same photo, different ID number and residence, and was used to operate a commercial business. Although his business identity was plagued by financial disputes, Zhao remained in his official post without any accountability for those financial troubles.

Lufeng citys Discipline Inspection Commission in Guangdong Province announced that it had opened an investigation into Zhao, but seven years later no results are evident. As of November 2020, Zhao was still working for the local police.

Fake Identity for Escaping China

For fugitive officials, the importance of a false identity is obvious. Officials who leave the country using their real passports are usually detained at customs.

According to the BBC, in 2016 Yang Xiuzhu, the former deputy director of the construction department of Zhejiang Province and former deputy mayor of Wenzhou City, is suspected of embezzling 250 million yuan (nearly $40 million).

Like many corrupt officials, Yang also prepared a fake ID to apply for a valid passport so she could flee the country if necessary. In 2003, Yang went from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the United States via Singapore. She was denied political asylum in the United States, but the judge did not deport her on the grounds she could be tortured. In Nov. 2016, Yang surrendered to the Chinese Communist regime, returned to China, and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Fake ID for Multiple Marriages

Huang Dong, the former principal and party secretary of Zhaoqing city Agricultural School in Guangdong Province, married his first wife in 1978 and had a daughter; in 1990, Huang forged a name to marry another woman and had two daughters and a son; in 2003, he used another name and married a third woman and had a son. In this way, Huang has registered three marriages with the CCPs civil affairs department, has married three women, and has five children calling him father, according to Southern Metropolis Daily in 2005.

In Sep. 2004, Huang, who had hidden more than 7 million yuan ($1.1 million), was sentenced to 18 years in prison for bribery, unexplained property, and bigamy, and all his personal property was confiscated.

Nowadays, it is popular for CCP officials to have a second, third, or more wives. But bearing legal responsibility, like Huang, is rare among the Chinese Communist officials.

Twenty-nine Fake IDs

According to China News, in early 2001, Chen Xin, an accountant at the Chongqing branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, absconded with more than 40 million yuan ($6.3 million) of the banks money. Chen moved around Sichuan, Guangdong, and Hainan before leaving the country for Vietnam and then Myanmar. During his 68-day escape, Chen posed as different people using a total of 29 fake ID cards.

Chen was arrested and sentenced to death. Compared to Wang Fuyu, who is still alive after receiving $450 million yuan ($70 million) in bribes as described at the beginning of this article, the logic of the CCPs thinking is that Chen Xins position is so small that he can be punished severely to show that the CCP laws are fair and to shock the people.

Fake ID and a Death Sentence

In China, the first high-ranking official to be implicated for using a fake ID card was probably Hu Changqing, the former vice head of Jiangxi Province.

On Aug. 6, 1999, Hu led a delegation to attend the Kunming Expo in Yunnan Province. He appeared on TV that night, but the next morning he had suddenly disappeared.

The CCPs organization department of the Central Committee finally deployed police officers to retrieve him from Guangzhou, 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) away. It turned out that Hu had left quietly and used a fake ID card to fly and check into a hotel. His unusual behavior alerted the top brass of the CCP.

After an eight-month investigation, Hu was sentenced to death on charges of accepting bribes, offering bribes, and having a large amount of unexplained property. He was also the highest-ranking official to be sentenced to death since the founding of the CCP, according to official media.

Li Yuanhua, a former professor at Capital Normal University, told The Epoch Times that fake IDs are all too common among CCP officials, whose main purpose is for corruption, and to facilitate escape from China.

Almost all the officials are stained as corrupt officials under the CCP system, Li further explained, why China is full of counterfeit goods and fake things can spread in society is also because the prime character of the CCPs ideology is fake.

CCP officials are afraid that evidence of their corruption will be found by their political enemies.

If their corrupt superiors fall, they will be rippled [caught in the tide] soon, so they are always ready to flee, Li said.

Kane Zhang attributed to this report
Professors Whitewash Islamist Roots of Arab Spring, Endanger Americas National Security

Commentary

Social Change and the Global Middle East, a Jan. 20 webinar sponsored by the University of Pennsylvanias Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy, made clear that the discredited talking points that ensnared the West in the Arab Spring uprisings continue to proliferate at elite academic institutions.

Participants failed to note either the intimate connection between non-violent political Islamic groups and terrorists during and following the Arab Spring, or the Islamist goal of reviving the Caliphate. Such disinformationstandard fare in Middle East studiesgives those entering government service a false view of who Islamists are and what theyre about, which harms Americas relations with Muslim nations, whose governments and people know better. It also results in what many in those countries say is an elitism formed out of ignorance instead of knowledge. This has led U.S. policymakers to back terrorists and to turn a blind eye to non-violent political movements intimate links to terror.

Speakers included Tarek Masoud, professor of public policy at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government; Zakia Salime, associate professor of Womens Studies at Rutgers University; and the moderator, Saed Atshan, an associate professor of anthropology at Emory University.

All defined the Muslim Brotherhood and similar movements in Western terms using discredited tropes, including that the Arab Spring was driven by a desire for better morals; all Muslims who engage in political activity of any kind are Islamist; and political Islam is reconcilable with an open multi-party, pluralistic democratic system.

If you think back to the discourse about the Middle East on the eve of the Arab Spring, that season of democratic ferment that erupted in 2011 and ended or was suspended, depending on how optimistic you are, in around 2013, Masoud said,  the concern that people would raise is that if these regimes fall, theyre going to be replaced by so-called Islamist political parties.

Consequently, worries abounded that they would follow the Iranian model of Islamic theocracy, which Masoud dismissed. He cited the Muslim Brotherhood, founded by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt in 1928, which he described as a pietist, conservative political party, and the Moroccan Brotherhood party, the Party of Justice and Development, as examples.

Moroccos system, in which the king alone has the right to speak on religious matters, constrained Islamist parties, Salime said.

Masoud reminded participants of then-Assistant Secretary of State Edward Djerejians warning following the election of an Islamist party in Algeria that Islamist electoral success would result in one person, one vote, one time.  We are in such a state of polarization in the Arab world today that we can look at similar facts and have completely different interpretations of them.

Yet Islamist parties unconstrained by constitutional norms have validated concerns about their authoritarian inclinations. Egyptian opposition figure Michael Meunier told The Investigative Project on Terrorism in 2016 that the Muslim Brotherhood is adept at hiding its true intent. They love playing under different umbrellas. They say one thing in English and another in Arabic, Meunier said. Liberal opposition figures from Libya and Syria told this writer similar things.

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood pursued a policy of imposing theocratic rule and excluding non-Islamists after it came to power in the June 2012 elections under the late President Mohamed Morsi. Morsi awarded himself emergency powers in August 2012 that he later used to crush dissent in late 2012 and in early 2013.

Ties existed between the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaida in Libya during the Arab Spring uprising, according to an email from current National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, at the time an adviser to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Masoud acknowledged Turkeys turn to authoritarianism, calling it the poster child for autocratic backsliding. Yet, Masoud argued Turkish authoritarianism has nothing to do with Islamism in light of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans quip that democracy is like a train; you get off once you have reached your destination.

Declaring that Turkeys authoritarianism has nothing to do with its Islamism is disinformation. Masoud argued that all Muslim parties using religion in their politics are Islamist, not just those connected with the Muslim Brotherhood or Salafist movements. Salime tried unconvincingly to bolster him by claiming that political Islam is an organized political movement by people who believe that bringing certain morality, certain religious ethics into political life will create a change.

A more accurate definition of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and many Salafi movements is Caliphist. All such groups aim to recover the lost Caliphate but disagree on how to achieve their goals.

The panelists uncritical depiction of the Arab Spring and Muslim Brotherhood omitted al-Bannas desire to restore the Caliphate through the creation of the Brotherhood movement. The International Muslim Brotherhoods charter (pdf) calls for the creation of a global Islamic state, i.e., the Caliphate. Muslim Brotherhood ideologue Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, one of the most influential Islamist clerics of the past half-century, has made clear that restoring the Caliphate is their primary goal.

Brotherhood leaders, including former Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie, spoke openly in favor of restoring the Caliphate in the wake of the Arab Spring, according to French filmmaker Michael Prazans 2013 film Freres Musulmans: Enquete sur la derniere ideologie totalitaire.

Brotherhood members are not the only Islamists desiring a Caliphate. Safwat Hegazy, an Egyptian Salafi preacher, expressed hope that Morsis election would usher in a new Caliphate in 2012. ISIS and al-Qaida also aim to restore the Caliphate.

Masoud, Salime, and the Middle East studies culture that created and supports them and their peers threaten Americas national security. Willfully blind to Islamisms true nature, they mal-educate their students, rendering them incapable of diagnosing correctly Islamist threats to the United States and the West. The Obama administrations bungled handling of the Arab Spring, and President Joe Bidens disastrous strengthening of the Taliban amid its abrupt pullout from Afghanistan, illustrate the consequences of our policy elites incapacity for analyzing rigorously or implementing competently strategies that strengthen the United States rather than undermine it.

This article was written in conjunction with Campus Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Freedom Convoy Protesters Hold Rally in Parliament Hill on Third Day of Protests

OTTAWAFreedom Convoy protesters held another rally in Parliament Hill on Monday Jan. 31, this time with speakers addressing the crowd as the Parliament resumes following a six-week break. The protest convoy is demanding that COVID-19 mandates and restrictions be lifted.

Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of the pressin 1957, [former prime minister] John Diefenbaker said these basic freedoms, which became part of our bill of rights, must become entrenched in law, so they could not be threatened by the state today, said ethicist Dr. Julie Ponesse at the rally.

We have for two years ensured a pandemic of coercion and compliance.

Trucks and other vehicles still continued to honk to show their protest in the third day of demonstrations.

William Ravensbergen, who owns a trucking business, said the truckers are staying in Ottawa.

[Prime Minister Justin Trudeau] needs to listen to us because we are not the fringe minority that he says we are, he obviously doesnt have a clue, Ravensbergen, who came from the Niagara region, said in an interview.

Demonstrators take part in the Freedom Convoy protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Trucks parked close to the Parliament as protesters takes part in demonstrations against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Ravensbergen said many people have shown support to the truckers as they protest COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

Weve had a lot of love shown to us, he said. This is not just about the truckers, its for everybody.

Scott Holt, a truck driver from Tillsonburg, Ont., said he cant continue working as the company he works for runs cross-border loads, which now requires COVID-19 vaccination due to government mandates on both sides. But he said his manager supported him to join the protest convoy.

He noted that some truck drivers had to leave because of work or their families, but hes staying.

Scott Holt, a truck driver from Tillsonburg, Ont., attends the protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Rahul Vaidyanath/The Epoch Times)

Its about freedom for me. Its about an overreach of the government, and thats enough, Holt said in an interview.

Some trucks and protesters have left the city after the weekend, and there was more police presence compared to the previous two days as Parliament resumed after going on recess on Dec. 15. Trudeau announced on Jan. 31 that he had contracted COVID-19 and will be in self-isolation.

A protester takes a photo by the Terry Fox statue in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Rahul Vaidyanath/The Epoch Times)

A protester takes part in demonstrations against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Alexandra Maheux, a spokeswoman for government House leader Mark Holland, said the ongoing protest is not interfering with parliamentary business, adding that as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the MPs have the flexibility to work in a hybrid House in this sitting, which remains in effect until June.

That means some MPs will be in the chamber, and others will participate virtually.

A memo circulated on Jan. 30 by Patrick McDonell, the House sergeantatarms, said security plans were being developed to ensure safety.

Spoke to Police officer who says that some truckers have left  much quieter today than Saturday #TruckersConvoy2022 #FreedomConvoy2022  Rahul Vaidyanath (@RV_ETBiz) January 31, 2022

Protest organizers say they will be staying in Ottawa until their demands for lifting COVID-19 vaccination mandates are met. They also say they have established good relations with police.

Police havent reported any physical violence at the ongoing Ottawa rally, but said there were a few cases of disruptive, inappropriate, and threatening behaviour from some protesters.

Police patrol around Parliament Hill as demonstrations protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Police stand around Parliament Hill as demonstrations protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

The Freedom Convoy protest started after the federal government introduced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers. The movement has since gained broad support from people who want an end to all pandemic restrictions and mandates.

Signs just at the gate of Parliament Hill #TruckersForFreedom pic.twitter.com/zhsYY27n6L  Rahul Vaidyanath (@RV_ETBiz) January 31, 2022

Different convoys from all parts of Canada joined the main convoy as it travelled across the country, converging in Ottawa on Jan. 29. Massive protests were held on Parliament Hill over the weekend, and will continue into the week, albeit smaller.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 30, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra hinted that the government is working on an inter-provincial vaccine mandate, requiring truck drivers to also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while moving within Canada from province to province.

Signs placed by the Parliament as demonstrators protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times) Vehicles displaying protest signs are seen outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Reuters/Blair Gable)

[Labour Minister Seamus ORegan] just last December announced that we are working on regulating all federally regulated sectors requiring vaccine. So theres ongoing work. As of right now that policy is not in place, but no one should be surprised. But theres work happening to get to get us there. So it will happen eventually, Alghabra told CBCs Rosemary Barton.

Minister ORegan announced it just last December, we campaigned on it last fall, and the work is ongoing to get us there.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article

Limin Zhou Follow Limin Zhou is a reporter based in Ottawa.

Rahul Vaidyanath Journalist Follow Rahul Vaidyanath is a journalist with The Epoch Times in Ottawa. His areas of expertise include the economy, financial markets, China, and national defence and security. He has worked for the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., and investment banks in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles.
The Australian War Memorial can be seen in the distance behind the Old Parliament House building (foreground) in Canberra, Australia, on March 22, 2020. (David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)

Protestors Gather in Front of Australian Parliament in Solidarity With Truck Convoy to Ottawa

Hundreds of protestors have gathered in front of Australias Parliament House in solidarity with the massive Convoy to Ottawa that converged on the Canadian capital around the weekend of Jan. 29.

Calls for a similar movement have been echoing Down Under for days, and on Jan. 31, a crowd organised under a Convoy to Canberra campaign gathered in front of the national legislature, according to videos circulating on social media.

The crowd can be heard chanting, What do you want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now!

One individual addressed the crowd saying they had every right to be here peacefully.

They have told us that they have passed the message on that we demand that a representative of this Parliament comes out and addresses the people of Australia and our demands, he said in a video circulating online.

Protesters participating in a cross-country truck convoy protesting measures taken by authorities to curb the spread of COVID-19 and vaccine mandates gather near Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Jan. 29, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Social media has been awash with footage of drivers making their way to the Australian capital. The grassroots movement has begun gathering steam as a four-day-old GoFundMe campaign already garnered AU$167,539 in donations, as of Jan. 31.

According to the ABC, the funds have been frozen by the website until details are provided regarding how the organiser will disperse them.

A similar issue occurred with the Canadian protest when GoFundMe froze access to CA$4.5 million in funds. Those funds have since been released.

U.S. truckers are now planning their own version of the protest from California to Washington D.C.

The movement, which has seen thousands to tens of thousands of truckers mobilise, is in response to ongoing vaccine mandates and harsh government-mandated restrictions.

In Australia, mandates have been widely enforced across the country with largely bipartisan support politically and from the business and medical community; it has, however, remained a contentious issue.

On Jan. 22, protests broke out across Australias major capital cities against government-mandated restrictions and mandates.

Vaccine developer Nikolai Petrovsky has criticised the mixed messaging on the benefits of the jab, saying it only protects individuals and does not stop transmission of the virusundermining the reasoning for mandates.

Every individual should be making decisions about their own health, and it is completely inappropriate to demonise or suggest someone whos unvaccinated is in any way different to anyone else, the lead researcher behind Spikogen told The Epoch Times.
Racial Discrimination at Harvard

Commentary

The Supreme Courts decision to hear challenges to affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) is welcome news for those of us who have fought for a quarter of a century to end race-based preferences in college admissions.

At issue isnt merely the admissions practices of two prestigious universities, one private and the other public, but the larger question of whether racial preferences are a legitimate way to promote diversity in higher education.

I tackled this very issue in my first book, Illiberal Education, published in 1991. In that book, I did an in-depth study of admissions practices at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. I asked the admissions director there to consider a student with near-perfect grades, standardized test scores in the 90th percentile, and very good extracurricular talents.

If such a student were black or Hispanic, I asked, whats the chance that he (or she) would be admitted to Berkeley? The admissions director said 99 percent; in other words, the student would virtually be guaranteed admission. Then I asked about a student with the very same grades, test scores, and extracurricular talent, except the student happened to be white or Asian American. What chance, I asked, would that student have of admission? The admissions directly candidly replied, Less than 5 percent.

This is affirmative action. Its a far cry from how affirmative action was first presented in the late 1960s and 1970s. Then, advocates spoke of admissions officers publicizing opportunities in black and Hispanic neighborhoods so that eligible applicants would be encouraged to apply, or choosing among equally qualified applicants, and merely giving the nod to the black or Hispanic student.

Affirmative action in practice, however, is entirely different. For nearly the past half-century, it has meant creating a university admissions policy that operates along separate racial tracks. This doesnt mean that merit or competition gets thrown out the window. What it does mean is that students only compete on a merit basis with other members of their own racial group: Asians against Asians, whites against whites, blacks against blacks, and so on.

The effects of this are quite startling, as we can see from the current data on Harvard admissions. Basically, we find that Asian Americans in the 90th percentile are accepted at the same rate as whites in the 80th percentile, Hispanics in the 60th percentile, or blacks in the 40th percentile. In sum, very smart Asian Americans are turned away in order to admit very mediocre blacks.

The institutionalization of racial preferences is a stunning repudiation of Martin Luther King Jr.s dream that we want to move to a society where we are judged not by the color of our skin but rather by the content of our character. Its also a startling reversal of the clear language of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which speaks of eliminating racial discrimination throughout the laws and practices of American societynot merely in the public sector but also in the private sector.

Legal scholar Andrew Kull, in his book The Color-Blind Constitution, points out that the elimination of racial categories from law and policy was the shared goal of blacks and of the civil rights movement for nearly a century, from the Civil War era through the 1960s. Combing through the speeches of the great black abolitionist Frederick Douglass, I found as early as 1849 a resounding call for a race-neutral society, one that would be more famously echoed by King more than a century later.

So what happened? Basically, the liberals who had fought so hard for the color-blind principle gave up on it almost immediately upon winning the argument and having the laws changed to reflect the triumph of their great cause. Now some of the very same people who previously championed color-blindness insist that one has to practice discrimination in order to fight discrimination, and moreover that benign racial discrimination was acceptable to promote campus diversity and other worthwhile objectives.

The problem is that all discrimination seems benign to the person whos benefiting from it, and all discrimination is invidious to the person whos made to suffer from it. Moreover, its one thing to compensate an actual victim of discrimination by making that person whole; its something else entirely to give preference to blacks and Hispanic applicants who havent demonstrated any racial victimization whatsoever, and to take away coveted admissions seats from white and Asian American applicants who havent discriminated against anyone.

What about diversity? Clearly, the most important type of diversity in a university setting is intellectual diversity, diversity of ideas. The remarkable consequence of widespread affirmative action has been to accentuate one type of diversitycampuses that look like Americawhile at the same time fortifying intellectual homogeneity.

Today, campuses such as Harvard and UNC have become engines of ideological indoctrination. Not even the deans and professors who inhabit those places could say with a straight face that their students reflect the intellectual and political diversity of the nation at large. They might look like America, but they dont think like America.

Happily, the Supreme Court seems to be onto the affirmative action racket.

Chief Justice John Roberts himself set the tone in 2007, when he wrote, The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race. Exactly! And Im confident that six justices on the Supreme Court agree with this. Of course, Justice Elena Kaganthe former dean of Harvard Law Schooland Justice Sonia Sotomayor will surely dissent, and we can expect the same from Bidens replacement for Justice Stephen Breyer who is, after all, being openly selected on the basis of being black and female.

By striking down the racial discrimination built into the admissions policies of Harvard and UNC, the Supreme Court can send a powerful message that American law and policy has lost its way, and that we must begin the long road back to the idea that all in this country are a minority of one, and that we deserve to be judged on our merits as individuals, not on the basis of irrelevant characteristics such as our skin color, ethnic identification, or ancestral origin.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Demonstrators gather at the busy U.S. border crossing in Coutts, Alta., on Jan. 31, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

RCMP Tow Trucks Move In on Alberta Convoy at Canada-US Border

A convoy of more than a hundred vehicles continued to blockade a highway at the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Alberta for the third day on Jan. 31, disregarding the RCMPs request for the group to leave.

On Jan. 29, a large convoy of vehicles blockaded Highway 4, south of Lethbridge, Alta., heading to the village of Coutts, to show their support for the national truck convoy that arrived in Ottawa over the weekend in protest of the federal governments vaccine mandate for all cross-border truckers.

The RCMP in Alberta issued a statement on Jan. 30, calling the blockade unlawful, but said the police are trying to find a peaceful resolution.

Extensive efforts have been taken to engage with all stakeholders in the hopes that a peaceful resolution can be reached, the police said.

The Alberta RCMP will use only the level of intervention necessary to ensure the safety of all citizens and to maintain peace, order, and security. Our goal is to facilitate lawful and peaceful protest. When an event becomes unlawful we utilize a measured approach, which ultimately includes enforcement. This event is unlawful and we are asking those who are involved to clear the area.

As the blockade continued on Jan. 31, the RCMP brought in tow trucks and opened up a lane for local traffic, while saying the border will remain immobilized.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in a statement issued on Jan. 30 that the convoy at the border must end immediately, while warning that the police and prosecutors have the power to levy additional penalties to address the blockage of highways and other infrastructure when they find it necessary.

The Current blockage of Highway 4 at the Coutts border crossing violates the Alberta Traffic Safety Act. It is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists, and could dangerously impede the movement of emergency service vehicles. This blockade must end immediately, Kenney said.

If participants in this convoy cross the line and break the law, I expect police to take appropriate action.

The blockade of the Coutts border crossing violates the Alberta Traffic Safety Act. It is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists and could dangerously impede movement of emergency service vehicles. This blockade must end. My full statement:  pic.twitter.com/VbXTQTVft8  Jason Kenney (@jkenney) January 30, 2022

RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said on Jan. 30 that an ambulance has been able to enter Coutts and that no arrests have been made.

The Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa also continued on Jan. 31, with protesters using speakers to address the crowd gathered before Parliament, demanding the federal government lift the vaccine mandate for all truck drivers crossing into Canada from the United States.

Under the mandate, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Canadian truck drivers are required to quarantine for 14 days upon re-entering the country.

The cross-country convoy has since expanded into a national movement, with thousands of supporters joining to protest against other pandemic-related restrictions.
General view of the Ryanair logo at their headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, on Sept. 16, 2021. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

Ryanair Calls on Belarus to Guarantee No Repeat of Plane Diversion

DUBLINThe Irish airline Ryanair on Monday urged Belarus to guarantee that there would be no repeat of the forced landing of one of its flights last May, and said airlines should not fly over Belarus without such a guarantee.

The plane was overflying Belarus on its way from Athens to Vilnius when Belarus controllers ordered it to land in Minsk, citing a bomb threat. Once it was on the ground, a Belarusian dissident journalist on board the plane was arrested along with his female companion.

Western powers responded with a wave of new sanctions and the United States this month charged four Belarus officials with aircraft piracy.

A United Nations report published on Jan. 17 found that the reported bomb threat had been invented, without identifying the source of the hoax. It said Belarus had withheld crucial information from the U.N. fact-finding team.

Ryanair Group boss Michael OLeary said the airline supported the U.S. action. He welcomed the U.N. report, though he said it could have gone further.

I think it is fundamental to the future of air travel that we do not have a repetition of what in my mind was the first case since the Chicago Convention (1944) of a state sponsored act of international piracy, OLeary told an investor call.

There should be no overflight of Belarus unless appropriate guarantees are obtained that this wont recur.

Belarus has said it acted legally and in accordance with all international norms, and accused the West of using the episode to try to undermine President Alexander Lukashenko.

The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was due to consider any further actions at a meeting of its 36-member Council on Monday.
San Diego County Partnership Changing Foster Youth Lives

Commentary

Children in the foster system are at a stark disadvantage when it comes to remote learning.

The increasing digitization of education in combination with a recent emphasis on remote learning due to COVID-19 can make it difficult, if not impossible, for children without computer access to stay engaged in the learning process.

For foster children without their own personal devices, computer access can often be unreliable due to their changing home and learning environments.

How can a foster child attend a zoom class, complete their online homework assignments, or achieve their dreams of applying to college without having a computer at home?

A unique public-private partnership in San Diego County is working to bridge the digital divide affecting local foster youthwith a surprising and resourceful solution.

The Computers for Foster Families Program run jointly by the County of San Diego and the San Diego Futures Foundation (SDFF) is an annual event that provides computers to foster families in need.

When the County of San Diego decides to retire the organizations computers, the County supplies those devices to the San Diego Futures Foundation. SDFF then works to refurbish the computers in preparation for the programs annual distribution event.

San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson explained why this program is a win for the whole community.

The Countys partnership with SDFF is a brilliant solution to ensuring our regions most vulnerable children have reliable computer access, while also making the most out of the taxpayers dollar, he said. By simply refurbishing our employees computers, we are able to change the lives of our foster youth recipients.

Representatives from the San Diego Futures Foundation, County of San Diego, and Spectrum speak at the computer distribution event in December 2021. (Courtesy of San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson)

The County of San Diego in partnership with the San Diego Futures Foundation has been providing futures for foster families for over two decades. In 1999, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors played a key role in establishing SDFF as a way to help families in need of computers or internet access.

Former San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox imagined the programs concept back in 2001. Ever since, nearly 4,000 computers have been refurbished and distributed through the Computers for Foster Families program.

When asked why the SDFF specifically focuses on foster families, Teresa Valenzuela, SDFFs Marketing and Community Outreach Coordinator, answered, That was a result of Supervisor Greg Cox.

According to the California Department of Education, 85 percent of non-foster students graduated from high school in the 20192020 school year. In the same year, only 58 percent of foster students graduated.

The past few years have proven that access to a computer is an essential, not optional, component of childrens education and future success. The donated devices supplied by this event will ensure that foster children in San Diego County arent falling behind their peers and are granted the same opportunities to succeed.

If you didnt have your phone, laptop, or even a desktop, how would you go to work or how would you go to school? You cant. This program gives them that option. This bridges their digital divide, Valenzuela noted.

This event also provides support to the incredible foster parents in our County that are stepping up to care for our regions most vulnerable children.

[Foster families] are a very underrepresented population, and we wanted to make sure that they receive computers because of the service they do to our communities, and for the children of our communities, Valenzuela commented.

The annual Computers for Foster Families Program event was most recently held in December 2021, where more than 125 computers were distributed to local foster youth. Supervisor Anderson attended the event and even handed out some computers himself.

San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson stands with refurbished County computers ready for distribution. (Courtesy of San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson)

The foster youth recipients will now be able to complete their homework, log on to zoom class, and communicate with their teachers and classmates with ease. These children will now have the world at their fingertips, with endless opportunities for learning and discovery just a click away.

The San Diego Futures Foundation is dedicated to improving lives in San Diego County by making information technology available to all underserved populations through computer distribution programs, digital literacy classes, and adaptive technology.

For more information on the San Diego Futures Foundation, visit their website at www.sdfutures.org.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Schumer Announces $1.5 Billion Push for Interstate Gun Task Force

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pushing for the federal government to provide his state with at least $1.5 billion to deal with illegal guns.

Schumer said the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, headed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, will only work if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and other federal officials have the resources.

The ABCs of beating back the scourge of gun violence depends on three federal letters: A, T, and F, Schumer said during a Jan. 30 press conference in Manhattan.

I am pushing for $1.5 billion dollars in federal funds for the agency, so they can help with this work and do much more at the national level. Without the $1.5 billion  these plans will not have their full impact, and we need full impact to address the flow of these crime guns in our communities and across our state.

The call comes after two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were shot and killed in late January, allegedly with a stolen firearm. Mayor Eric Adams launched a plainclothes NYPD unit aimed at gun trafficking. But Adams, a Democrat, warned that hell fire officers for alleged misconduct.

If you dont follow the law, youre not going to serve in my police department, he said on Jan. 30.

New York, along with Chicago and Los Angeles, has some of the strictest gun control laws in the United States. Before purchasing a firearm in the city, the buyer has to have a license for a handgun, shotgun, or rifle, while, in New York state, a buyer doesnt need to have a permit to purchase a rifle or shotgunonly handguns.

Critics of gun control measures have said such rules dont lead to lower crime or homicide rates, but simply unfairly penalize lawful gun owners. Chicago saw more than 800 murders in 2021, while New York saw nearly 500 murdersthe highest total in years.

In late November 2021, some members of the Supreme Court had pointed questions about the New York state law and similar laws in California, Maryland, and other states that sharply limit an individuals ability to carry a gun outside of their homesuggesting that the high court may overturn the law.

We are likely to see New York be forced to rewrite its law, Adam Winkler, a law professor at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles, told The New York Times in November 2021 regarding a pending Supreme Court decision. Well have to wait until we see the courts opinion before we know whats constitutionally permissible.
A screen displays the company logo for semiconductor and chipmaker GlobalFoundries Inc. during the company's IPO at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square in New York City, on Oct. 28, 2021. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Semiconductor Chip Industry Will Reach $1 Trillion in a Decade Despite Shortages

The semiconductor industry is registering impressive numbers for 2021 and 2022, even as global shortages persist, and the scarcity points to the significance and critical importance of chips for numerous end products from cars to appliances and phones.

Combined sales from the industry topped $500 billion last year and are expected to reach nearly $600 billion in 2022. The steady increase in demand has prompted experts in the sector to predict the industry will reach $1 trillion in sales within a decade.

It took 50 years to become a half-a-trillion-dollar industry. Itll take just eight to 10 years to reach a trillion dollars, said Tom Caulfield, CEO of GlobalFoundries, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Reliance on technology surged during the pandemic as education and work went online with semiconductor manufacturing already constrained by a supply chain crunch that has yet to be resolved. The absence of critical chips weighed on the production of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of end products.

Based on data collected by analysts, the chip shortage during the past two years has resulted in losses amounting to $500 billion spread among the manufacturers and semiconductor producers. Automakers alone lost $210 billion worth of sales last year because there werent enough chips.

The semiconductor supply chain crunch isnt expected to subside during the first half of 2022, with longer lead times anticipated for manufacturers in 2023. There will be a talent shortage as the industry expands outside its traditional hubs of South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Deloitte analysts anticipate considerable evolutionary transformations within the companies, based on changing demands.

Unlike other major worldwide industries such as farming, semiconductor manufacturers are mostly concentrated in a few economies.

The Semiconductor Industry Association, representing 98 percent of chip firms in the United States and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms, announced in December that sales for chips remain robust as economies emerge from the pandemic.

Global semiconductor demand remained high in October, with year-to-year sales increasing substantially across all major regional markets, John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO, said in a statement. Annual chip sales and units shipped are projected to reach all-time highs in 2021, with moderate annual growth expected in 2022.

Higher sales figures also reflect the increasing costs of chips. Higher-end, expensive chips that power machine learning and artificial intelligence will drive up sales numbers. Meanwhile, more devices are incorporating chips in their products, leading to shortages.

The Biden administration recently warned that manufacturers current inventory period for critical chips had dwindled to five days, compared to a 40-day supply in 2019.

According to Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Financial Group, the average waiting period for chips now tops 25 weeks, which is well past the normal range of 10 to 14 weeks.
U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) waits to speak to reporters following a Senate Democratic luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 15, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Sen. Durbin Says Republicans Will Meet With Bidens Supreme Court Pick and Get to Know Them

Republicans will be able to meet with President Joe Bidens nominee to the Supreme Court and get to know them, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has said.

Speaking on ABCs This Week, Durbin also noted that he is hopeful that whoever is nominated to the position will receive bipartisan support.

Im reaching out to the Republicans and saying the nominee will be available for you to get to know them, Durbin said, stressing that he is optimistic that some GOP members of Congress will ultimately support Bidens nominee.

That is despite some Republicans expressing concerns that the candidate put forward by Biden will serve to please the progressive branch of the Democratic Party.

Others have also expressed concerns over Bidens pledge to fill the Supreme Court vacancy with a black woman, with Ward Connerly, a civil rights leader and prominent opponent of affirmative action, saying that the move suggests to me that our dear president just doesnt get it. He is living in the 1960s.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has also said that it would be preferable if Bidens Supreme Court nominee were qualified without a race/gender litmus test.

Thats what I did when I picked Tim Scott as Senator of South Carolina, Haley wrote on Twitter.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, officially announced his retirement on Jan. 27 after serving in the role for more than 30 years.

In a letter to Biden, Breyer said that he wants the decision to take effect when the court takes its summer recess, which typically happens in late June or early July, assuming that his successor has been nominated and confirmed by that time.

Since that announcement, Biden has vowed to appoint the first-ever black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court by the end of February.

While Ive been studying candidates backgrounds and writings, Ive made no decision but one, Biden said on Thursday. The person I nominate will be somebody with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity, and that person will be the first black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. Its long overdue in my opinion.

A number of women are now being considered for the role, including J. Michelle Childs, who is currently a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, having been nominated for the role by former President Barack Obama.

Biden, a Democrat, nominated Childs, 55, in December 2021 to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit although this has not yet been confirmed.

Due to the possibility that she may well be Bidens Supreme Court nominee, a confirmation hearing that had been scheduled before the Senate Judiciary Committee has since been postponed, Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, told media outlets in a Jan. 28 statement.

Bates said that Childs is among multiple individuals under consideration for the Supreme Court, and we are not going to move her nomination on the Court of Appeals while the President is considering her for this vacancy.

Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, a former Breyer clerk who worked at the U.S. Sentencing Commission is also reportedly being considered for the role.

Jackson has been a federal trial court judge since 2013 in the District of Columbia and met with Biden personally when he interviewed her for her current post as an appeals court judge in the D.C. circuit.

Another potential Breyer replacement is California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, a graduate of Harvard and of Yales law school. Kruger was previously a Supreme Court clerk and is one of the youngest justices ever appointed to the California Supreme Court.

Addressing the concerns about Bidens decision to select a black female to replace Breyer, Durbin when speaking to ABC, pointed to history.

Recall that it was Ronald Reagan who announced that he was going to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court and he did, Sandra Day OConnor. And it was Donald Trump who announced that he was going to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a woman nominee as well. So this is not the first time the president has signaled what theyre looking for in a nominee, Durbin said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company's curtain call at the Cannon Center, in Memphis, on Jan. 29, 2022. (The Epoch Times)

MEMPHIS, Tenn.Surgeon Gregory Dabov said that Shen Yun Performing Arts stories reminded him of medical research in the 20th century when doctors started talking about how frequencies in music could be part of medicine.

I like the part about the frequency and the vibration, he said of Shen Yun. And, as a surgeon in medicine, I think thats [where] we need to go. Weve given up a lot of the ancient ways.

In ancient China, there was the understanding that music could be a form of medicine. Listening to the right music was used to help cure the body of ailments.

We need to look, and re-investigate, and re-explore that because theres much to it that could be lost, Mr. Dabov said. We dont understand them fully  I think theres something to that, that needs to be investigated and studied  the ways that medicine was done before.

Mr. Dabov attended Shen Yun Performing Arts on the evening of Jan. 29 with his physician wife, Donna, who agreed with her husband.

Thats what we need to come back to, she said.

The couple was particularly impressed with the soprano near the end of the performance. Mrs. Dabov shared that the emotion from the song was very moving to her.

The music and the dance, the singing. The last young lady who sang sopranobeautiful. It was just so emotional to me, she said.

Throughout the performance, there was an ongoing theme of the divine. Chinese believe their culture was inspired by the divine before communism came in. Shen Yuns mission is to share the beauty of China before communism with audiences as it tours around the world.

I do think the feeling and the spiritual part of it is very good, Mr. Dabov said. Freedom. We need freedom. We need to go back to God in Heaven.

The couple said they felt it is unfortunate that many people have been reluctant to attend live performances due to the pandemic.

The whole thing [with] the pandemic is we dont need to fear [it], Mr. Dabov said. The fear works against us and its a negative energy, and we need to do things to put us at ease, like share with each other and have community and not be afraid.

He compared the fear of the pandemic with communism, saying that fear is what controls people.

I think that a lot of this is like the darkness that is in China, the communism. Its all control through fear, and thats not good. Thats all negative, he said.

Loves the answer, Mrs. Dabov said. If we do more of this, we will be healthier.

Shen Yun tours around the world each year, but the one place they are not permitted to go is China.

Understanding that this isnt allowed in China is very impressive. The evil CCP, were not fans of that, Mr. Dabov said.

Reporting by Sherry Dong 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.
The Faust family at the Jan. 29 Shen Yun matinee, at Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, in Memphis. (Sherry Dong/Epoch Times)

MEMPHIS, Tenn.The bright costumes, gravity-defying flips, and thrilling musicthese are what initially draws people to Shen Yun. But what makes them devout to the show, as many of the audiences are?

Beyond the artistry and aesthetic excellence displayed on stage is a sacred cause espoused by the performers: that of protecting freedom of belief, and advocating for those suffering religious persecution in China today. Many of the performers are refugees themselves, being practitioners of Falun Gong, the popular meditation tradition that has been brutally persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

Former nursing teacher Gail Faust attended the Jan. 29 matinee in Memphis along with her family. She particularly appreciates the part of the performance that highlights this issue.

It really meant a lot to me to see Chinese actors portraying their thoughts about their country.  Gail Faust

I think there are a lot of people that see Chinese people as all OK with communism when thats not really the reality  And I think it is brave  And it breaks my heart that they are having to live and not be free  It really meant a lot to me to see Chinese actors portraying their thoughts about their country.

It inspired her to spread the word about the performance. Mrs. Faust indicated that she has about 1,000 Chinese-speaking followers on the social media app Gettr.

I was thinking during the end of that show that I couldnt wait to go home and link up this performance on Gettr and let more people know about this performance, she said.

Mrs. Faust added that Shen Yun helps give context to her own freedoms.

They (the performers) dont just perform it to help us better understand their culture, she said. It was helping me appreciate my culture and I just feel really, really sad for them that their country is not free right now. And it just brought all that home to me, she said.

I teared up a few times thinking what they have to overcome to come here and do what they did, and care for us in the ways that they did today so well.

Having been on tour since 2006, the classical Chinese dance company Shen Yun has become a family ritual for many.

That is the case of Mrs. Faust, her husband Rex, their daughter Kelli, and their granddaughter, Mila. The adults attended the performance four years ago and came back this year with young Mila, who is learning dance in the second grade.

Mr. Faust, a former Exxon accountant, was impressed by the Chinese erhu. The erhu solo is the only piece in a Shen Yun program where a single instrument speaks for itself, aided only by piano accompaniment. And the erhu, despite having only two strings, is amazingly eloquent.

You could feel what theyve been through and what theyre going through, and how they loved what theyre doing and the struggles theyve had and all that. Its great, he said.

Kelli Bastidas, a veteran, business MBA, and stay-at-home mom, loved the costumes and movement of the Chinese dance.

I personally really just love the folklore dances and it was just, everything was just so beautiful about it, she said.

Cultural Preservation

Robert Jensik and Janet Jensik at the Jan. 29 Shen Yun matinee in Memphis. (Sherry Dong/Epoch Times)

For retired nurse Janet Jensik, it was the second time shes been to see Shen Yun. She attended the show with her husband, retired air force colonel Robert Jensik. For them, Shen Yun is an effort of cultural preservation.

I went to China several years ago and learned a little bit about its ancient culture and how amazing it is, and Im so glad the young people are starting to see it, Mrs. Jensik said. They didnt know it and now theyre learning it all new again.

During the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, large swaths of Chinas traditions were wiped out; temples demolished and books burned, sections of the population deemed undesirable and anti-revolutionary. Today, the majority of young Chinese are unaware of how deep their ancestors heritage was. Shen Yun highlights episodes from Chinas 5,000 years before communism and interprets it for an international audience.

Its color, its music, its motion against a backdrop of history, and cultural revival, or making people who dont know about it aware of the different kinds of culture that are out there that we would not normally see, especially since the current regime in that country would never let it be advertised, said Mr. Jensik.

I think its important to keep the lessons of the past alive, he continued. We are who we are today because of what was way back when. And to forget that is to forget your legacy in your roots, and I think thats a mistake. And these folks are combatting that, and I think thats great.

Reporting by Sherry Dong and NTD.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
Lou Cheng-wa (L), Taiwans representative to Somaliland, and Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, Somalilands minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, take part in a ceremony to open Taiwans representative office in Somaliland on Aug. 17, 2020. (Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Taiwan Donates Locally-Made Vaccines to Somaliland Amid Brotherly Ties

Taiwan delivered over 150,000 doses of its locally-made Medigen vaccine to Somaliland, underscoring the two countries rock-solid brotherly diplomacy ties, Taiwans representative in Somaliland said on Monday.

The vaccine doses arrived at Egal International Airport during a meeting between Taiwanese Ambassador Allen Lou and Somalilands Health Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali Gafadhi on Monday, according to a statement released by Horn Diplomat.

This is Taiwans first time donating domestically-made vaccines to the international community as part of its commitment to assist Somaliland to combat the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

This donation of 150,000 doses of Taiwan-made COVID-19 vaccines shows not only the rock-solid brotherly relationship between Taiwan and Somaliland but also the spirit of Health for All and Taiwan can Help, the Taiwan Representatives Office said on Twitter.

It noted that Taiwan has been supplying medical masks, oxygen generators, antigen quick-test kits, and other medical supplies to Somalias breakaway Somaliland region since the start of the pandemic.

The vaccines donation was made in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant in Africa. Medigen is a protein sub-unit vaccine developed by Taiwan-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics, which has received limited international recognition.

Representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States have also called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to include Taiwan in its annual meeting, citing the self-ruled islands critical role in fighting the global pandemic.

France and Japan also supported Taiwans participation in the meeting, emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness and ensuring that no country is left out of the global health network, Taiwans local media reported, citing a source from Taiwans Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Taiwan has been excluded from most global organizations such as the WHO due to objections from China, which considers the self-ruled island one of its provinces.

Somaliland, like Taiwan, has not received widespread international recognition for its independence. The autonomous region of Somaliland broke away and declared independence from Somalia in 1991.

Both China and Somalia have expressed their opposition to Taiwan and Somalilands forging of ties. In Africa, only tiny Eswatini maintains full relations with Taiwan.

Taiwan and Somaliland set up representative offices in each others capitals in 2020. The two allies also signed a medical cooperation agreement in June last year, which will allow Taiwan to provide medical services and train personnel in Somaliland.

The U.S. Senate passed a bill in August last year to call on the State Department to help Taiwan regain its observer status at the WHO.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Though most businesses can pass Oregon's Corporate Activity Tax along in the prices for their goods or services, pharmacies are prohibited from doing so by their contracts with insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and pharmacy benefit managers. (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Tax on Prescription Drugs Making Life Harder for Oregon Pharmacies

Squeezed by staffing shortages, declining reimbursement rates, and industry consolidation, community pharmacies across the nation are being shuttered at an alarming rate, sending patients scrambling to fill prescriptions while pharmacists experience dangerous burnout.

In 2019 there were 21,683 community pharmacies operating primarily in smaller markets across the United States, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association.

By June 2021, approximately 2,300 had closed.

In Oregon the challenges to community pharmacies have been compounded by a Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) enacted at the beginning of 2020.

Oregon has lost nearly 80 pharmacies in the past two years, according to the Oregon State Pharmacy Association. Roughly 60 percent of the counties in the state have less than two pharmacies per 10,000 residents. Two counties dont have any pharmacies at all.

Oregon has lost nearly 80 pharmacies in the past two years, according to the Oregon State Pharmacy Association. Roughly 60 percent of the counties in the state have less than two pharmacies per 10,000 residents. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

Were hemorrhaging community pharmacies and its hurting rural residents, Oregon Congresswoman Anna Scharf, a Republican, told The Epoch Times.

The CAT makes Oregon the only state in the nation that taxes prescription medication, added Scharf, who is sponsoring a bipartisan bill to exempt pharmacies from the tax.

Based on revenues rather than margins, the CAT applies to any business with more than $1 million in revenues.

Though most businesses pass this tax along in the pricing model for their goods or services, pharmacies are prohibited from doing so by their contracts with payers (including insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and Pharmacy Benefit Managers), Scharf explained.

Manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers can pass along the CAT in their pricing model, she continued. But they require that pharmacies charge the exact same amount stated in the contract.

Businesses, customers, and pharmacists, particularly in rural areas, are feeling the strain.

Jack Holt, president of Hi-School Pharmacy Services, a Northwest chain thats been around since 1925, saw the problem coming when he closed the companys store in the small city of Veneta in 2020.

That store had been operating at a loss for the previous three years, Holt said, primarily because of the reimbursement rates paid by Medicare D and Oregon Medicaid.

One third of the prescriptions filled at our Veneta store were already reimbursed at a loss, Holt explained in a public statement.

Eighteen months after Hi-School Pharmacy customers had moved their prescriptions to the Veneta Bi-Mart Pharmacy across the streetthe only other pharmacy in a rural area covering 256-square milesthat pharmacy announced that it would also close.

In a November 2021 letter to customers, Bi-Mart cited increased fees, declining reimbursements, and Oregons CAT, for its decision.

But Bi-Mart didnt just close its Veneta store. It sold patient files and prescriptions from all 56 of its employee-owned pharmacies to Walgreens.

It assured customers that Walgreens would continue to operate in the communities that Bi-Mart had served for nearly 50 years.

Since Walgreens took over at the beginning of the year, though, it is only operating pharmacies inside six Bi-Mart stores across the state. The Veneta store is not among them.

Walgreens decision leaves 31 communities with fewer pharmacy options than before. Other pharmacies are now scrambling to absorb the influx of new customers.

Many community pharmacies across Oregon are five to 14 days behind filling prescriptions because they cant keep up with demand, Bryan May, executive director of OSPA told The Epoch Times.

In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacists are giving COVID-19 vaccinations and tests, and most are short-staffed.

The number of job openings at Oregon pharmacies has skyrocketed during the pandemic. Many remain unfilled.

In 2020 there were an estimated 680 job postings for pharmacists and 1,303 for pharmacy technicians in the state, according to Help Wanted Online. That compares with an estimated 211 job postings for pharmacists and 458 for pharmacy technicians in a normal year.

The result for customers has been long lines and difficulty contacting overworked pharmacy staff. Patients report frequently lingering on hold for an hour or more.

Patients, especially those in rural communities, are frustrated.

With the Veneta pharmacies closed, Im driving 45 minutes to fill my husbands prescriptions, said Michelle Bryant, 57, who is caring for her husband who suffered a severe stroke. Its hard enough for me to make that drive and stand in line, but I really feel sorry for older people who cant stand there for two hours.

In addition she often reaches the service counter only to be told that the pharmacy has enough medication to fill just three or four days at a time. Bryant said that forces her to make the drive to the pharmacy as often as three times each week.

This pace just isnt sustainable, a former Bi-Mart pharmacy technician who asked not to be identified, told the Epoch Times. At one point, I worked 14 days straight, including some 12 hour shifts.

And that could be dangerous, since pharmacists dispense life-saving medications and services.
Tesla Raises Concern Over Future Growth, Lucid Going Places, GM Aims EV Leadership and More

EV stocks had another down week amid the broader market rout, triggered by macroeconomic uncertainties. EV leader Tesla, Inc.s earnings report did little to salvage the somber market mood.

Here are the key events that happened in the EV space during the week:

Tesla Earnings Disappointment, White House Snub & More

Expectations were running high ahead of Teslas fourth-quarter earnings report. Although the headline numbers were ahead of expectations, slowing margin growth, a warning regarding supply chain issues, and the delay in new product launches beyond 2022, all served to spook investors, sending the stock sharply lower.

The post-earnings plunge led to over $100 billion being wiped out of Teslas valuation.

Instead of car models, Tesla seems to be focusing on the humanoid robot it announced last year. CEO Elon Musk said on the earnings call that the robot, code-named Optimus, has the potential to be more significant than the companys vehicle business over time.

On a positive note, Cathie Woods Ark Invest ended its Tesla selling streak and bought shares of the company for the first time in eight months.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden once again snubbed Musk as the CEO was not among those invited to the Build Back Better CEO Round Table hosted by the White House this week. In a tweet, Biden commended General Motors Corporation and Ford Motor Co. for building more EVs at home than ever before.

GM Invests $7B Toward Accelerating EV Transition

GM said it plans to invest about $7 billion in Michigan to further its goal of becoming the EV leader in North America by 2025.

A portion of the investment will go into a new EV battery manufacturing plant the automaker is setting up along with its joint venture partner, LG Energy Solutions, and the remainder will be spent on converting the companys assembly plant in Orion Township for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV.

In a separate development, a CNN report suggested that GM may be pulling the plug on its Chevy Bolt EV. Although GM executives did not explicitly state anything along those lines, the company has not manufactured a meaningful number of the model since August, the report said. It should be noted that GM has recalled almost all the Bolts that were manufactured, citing a fire hazard risk while recharging.

Related Link: Why This Analyst Thinks Tesla Is a $2,500 Stock And When It May Reach That Price Target

Lucids European Foray Imminent

Lucid Group, Inc. tweeted earlier this week a graphic that underlined its intent to expand into Europe.

The video has a caption running that the company is going places with the year 2022 mentioned. It also hinted at some European countries are potential destinations. Also during the week, a Twitter user shared an email sent by the company to potential European customers, asking them to convert preorders into reservations, which implies that deliveries could begin soon.

Baidu Plans Mass Production Of Robo Cars By 2023: Chinese search engine Baidu, Inc. said its intelligent EV division JIDU has raised about $400 million in Series A financing. The first Robocar concept car manufactured by the unit will be unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April. A mass-produced model is set to be launched in 2023.

Rivian Ramping Production: Rivian Automotive, Inc., which undershot targets in 2021, is eyeing to ramp strongly and quickly. After production at its Normal, Illinois factory was stalled at the start of the year, Rivian is reportedly looking to ramp up production of its R1T pickup truck to 200 units per week.

EV Stock Performances for The Week

Related Link: Analyst Says Teslas Q4 Is A Trophy Case Quarter, Why He Thinks Momentum Building Into 2022

By Shanthi Rexaline



 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Protesters gather on Wellington St. in front of the Parliament Buildings as they participate in a Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions, in Ottawa, on Jan. 29, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The Freedom Convoy Has Made Its Point

Commentary

Dear Freedom Convoy: Its time to go home. Declare victory and withdraw from the Heart of Darkness. The protest is over. And it worked.

I know, I know. Justin Trudeau is still prime minister and still annoying. But seriously, think about what might have been done and what was instead.

A lot could have gone wrong. The protest could have been dominated by people who were bigoted, unruly, or both, and wrought their cause lasting harm. Instead, there were a couple of isolated incidents, quickly repudiated, not repeated, and blown out of proportion by critics who embarrassed themselves by calling a flag and a sign on a Terry Fox statue desecration, or claiming a swastika scrawled on a flag meant the Nuremberg Rally, not a few overheated people thinking Trudeau is a fascist, and so on.

One prominent person not inherently friendly to you tweeted Jan. 31: No physical violence, no government buildings stormed . I feared that this was gonna be a Canadian Jan. 6th. Glad I was wrong. Im glad he had the clarity to say it. And yes, its something to be proud of. Not because most of you had any inclination to run amok, but because any large protest attracts some strange people, and they could have gotten out of hand.

Instead, a lot went right. You may be frustrated at the abuse, especially given the disorder and extremism at other protests that doesnt inspire a two minute hate from the legacy media. Like actually tearing down statues. But these folks didnt show you up, regardless of how often they retweet one another. Instead, in jiu jitsu fashion you came and behaved, and the MSM threw themselves to the floor in a tantrum that did not win friends or influence people. You showed them up, as youve long wanted to.

As for Trudeau, he ducked out and people saw it. As many also saw, including some skeptics, that the convoy was mostly composed of and representative of a large, polite, Canadian majority whose patience is exhausted. They heard a chorus amounting to Sexist, racist, KKK, truckers convoy go away, but most werent persuaded.

For proof that all the upturned noses were pointing the wrong way, a new Angus Reid poll finds a small fringe, 54 percent, of Canadians now want all COVID restrictions to end, up 15 percent this month alone. You dont get all the credit. But you get a lot. You said what many people were thinking and emboldened them to say it too, across Canada and around the world. What more could you ask?

Answer: A graceful exit. Dont blow it now. You cant get rid of the PM by coming to Ottawa in large numbers and saying he stinks until you start to. Our system doesnt work that way and shouldnt, because even if Saint Francis were PM thered be thousands of people angrily convinced he was for the birds, for reasons ranging from convincing to plausible to unabashedly insane.

If you prolong the protest, it will either fizzle out or explode. And for what? Ottawa mayor Jim Watson just said, Quite frankly, [residents] feel theyre prisoners in their own home and called on the police to have a serious discussion about moving these people on. Pfui. But dont stay until you vindicate him. Instead heed the immortal words of Calvin Coolidge, Americas last genuinely conservative president, In my experience, it is best to leave while they still want you.

Speaking of Coolidge, and history, when you go home you should study up on our political system. One of my former colleagues brushed off the protest, saying you were no more likely to vote than the grunge rent-a-mob kids at climate protests. Again, pfui. But it is true that a lot of you didnt have a very clear idea how to achieve your goals.

Which is OK. Most people werent high school debaters (I was, obviously) and they dont think less of you because you didnt descend on Ottawa ready to put it into a deep sleep with polished musings about the Notwithstanding clause. But now let me insist, as a historian and dissenting member of the chattering class, that our real and ancient constitution is a thing of beauty worth understanding precisely because it is worth preserving and, indeed, rescuing from its current dilapidated condition. And thats the next task.

We the People made Magna Carta. I dont care where your biological ancestors were in 1215; your political ancestors were at Runnymede. And from Magna Carta came parliament, with an elected legislature whose job was not to govern but to control the executive. This system isnt working, and needs to.

So youve made the case for freedom and shown up the mockers. Its time to bring the victory home, and carry on with dignity and focus.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Race for a Downed US F-35C Jet

The US Navy hopes to beat China in retrieving a sunken stealth fighter

News Analysis

An American military F-35C jet, which was full of classified equipment, recently crashed into the South China Sea. The U.S. Navy is racing to reach the wreckage before the Chinese get to it first, for fears of the technology being copied and reverse engineered.

A $100 million U.S. Navy F-35C jet came down in the South China Sea after a mishap, which occurred during takeoff from the deck of the USS Carl Vinson on Jan. 24. As the plane crashed into international waters, it is technically fair game for Chinas Peoples Liberation (PLA) Navy to recover the plane and extract its secrets.

The U.S. Navy is keeping the exact location secret as well as the timeframe needed to recover the plane from the seafloor, but it appears that a U.S. salvage vessel is a few days away from the crash site. The black box is expected to run out of power before then, however, making the plane harder to find.

The F-35C is one of most sophisticated planes in the world, a kind of flying computer designed to link with other assets, which the U.S. Air Force refers to as linking sensors to shooters. This is technology that China does not yet have. Acquiring it from the fallen plane would give the PLA a major step-up in its military hardware, while also undermining the U.S. aircraft carrier battle strategy. Presently, it is U.S. naval superiority, keeping the PLA Navy at bay, which maintains free and open seaways in the region.

The salvage operation is being complicated by the depth of the water. Consequently, the recovery team is expected to use a deep-diving vehicle that can lift the plane off of the ocean floor. Fortunately, the U.S. Navy has experience in these types of operations. In 2019, the Navy successfully recovered a C-2A Greyhound aircraft, from 3 miles under the Philippine Sea. The U.S. Navy also assisted the British Royal Navy in recovering an F-35B fighter in the Mediterranean, which had crashed while taking off from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. China also has deep-sea diving vehicles that could be used to steal the U.S. technology. And so, time is of the essence.

The Chinese regime claims most of the South China Sea, in spite of a 2016 tribunal ruling that rejects Beijings claims. The area is currently patrolled by 12 American warships, including two aircraft carriers and 100 war planes, as part of Freedom of Navigation operations. The U.S. flotilla is composed of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group, and the USS America Amphibious Ready Group. The American vessels are accompanied by a helicopter carrier from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, has denied that China is going after the downed U.S. fighter jet, claiming that Beijing has no interest in U.S. aircraft. This statement is inconsistent with the regimes past behavior of copying U.S. hardware and even U.S. military tactics.

The PLA has recently been observed employing combat training operations copied from the United States, such as landing army helicopters on navy ships, deploying multi-domain task forces at sea, and firing land-based missiles at targets on the ocean. The regime also steals U.S. hardware technology, by engaging in foreign direct investment targeted at defense firms, hacking and cybercrime, as well as using its intelligence services and co-opting overseas Chinese researchers and students to commit espionage.

The Chinese regimes theft of U.S. technology costs American companies and the government $300-$600 billion per year, which, according to FBI chief Christopher Wray, makes China the biggest law enforcement threat to the United States. More than money, the negative impact of the PLA stealing U.S. military strategy and hardware is incalculable. It undermines the U.S. advantage in combat, making America and its interests vulnerable to attack.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinese-chartered merchant ship Cosco Shipping Panama crosses the new Agua Clara Locks during the inauguration of the expansion of the Panama Canal in this undated file photo. China is continuing its push to displace U.S. influence in the region, and already has put parts of the Panama Canal under its control. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images)

The US Needs a New Doctrine Against China and Russias Meddling in Latin America

Engagement failed and power politics are back in play

News Analysis

China and its allies are making more inroads in Latin America, where the United States used to forbid foreign powers to meddle. The 19th century was a different time entirely, and much of what Washington did then was no better than the European imperialism that it opposed.

Times are different now, with the United States and allies after World War I standing clearly for a diverse world of sovereign and territorially-inviolate market democracies. America attempted to cement this vision of freedom globally with the founding of the League of Nations in 1920, and the United Nations in 1945.

But the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its allies, despite Chinas admission into the U.N. and President Richard Nixons opening in 1972, took a far different, and violently illiberal, path.

To stop Beijing, whose leaders are stuck in the world of 19th-century power politics and territorial expansion with a communist twist, the United States must reluctantly dust off some of our old tools of state power.

This time, we will be using them to defend democracy and the sovereignty of nations abroad, rather than promoting our own territorial expansion as in the 19th century. But weakness is not an option, and so we will need some of those 19th-century doctrines to put an end to Chinas expansion in Central and South America.

The challenge facing democracy in the southern half of the Americas is well described in an opinion by Mary Anastasia OGrady in The Wall Street Journal on Jan. 30. She makes the point that China, and its ally Russia, are already in Cuba and Venezuela, including by helping Venezuelas dictator, Nicolas Maduro, militarize the Columbian border.

Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro walks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as they arrive to a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 7, 2015. (Andy Wong/Pool/Getty Images)

A former M-19 guerrilla is running for president of Colombia, and if he wins, the stage will be set to turn what was once one of the U.S.s most reliable allies into a Russian proxy, according to OGrady, who is co-editor of the Index of Economic Freedom. Russia will have achieved the destruction of democracy in Colombia without firing a shot.

The M-19 guerrilla, Gustavo Petro, gets much of his political juice by appealing to the issues of poverty and the increasing concentration of wealth. Approximately one-third of Latin Americans, an increase due to COVID-19, live on less than $1.90 per day. Thats the U.N. definition of extreme poverty. The poor in Latin America want education, jobs, land, housing, and healthcare that could be provided by increasing progressive taxation, for example. For political moderates in Latin America not to make a greater effort on these issues will give fodder to communist candidates aligned with Beijing, and threaten what peace and stability remains in the region, along with U.S. national security.

The United States should also pursue tougher measures in Latin America against the CCP and its allies in Moscow. This should include, on the macro-political level, a new Monroe Doctrine that forbids dictators from meddling in Latin American democracies, or anywhere else in the Western hemisphere. They should no longer invest, colonize, or support political candidates with their ill-gotten gains. Latin American countries should be required to democratize, and spend their fair share on defense: at least 2 percent of GDP.

Anything less opens the door to totalitarian influence, or even Russian or Chinese military bases. Failing democracies in Latin America put into question whether they are really prepared to be sovereign, or whether they are ready to risk their countries turning into satellites of Beijing and Moscow. Before that happens, the United States must step in and restore their governments to the voters.

Americas failure to fertilize and protect democracy in Cuba and Venezuela since 1959 and 1999, respectively, have opened them as beachheads for Moscow to threaten the United States with military force, including during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, and as recently as mid-January with Moscows threat to put military bases in both countries as retaliation for U.S. support to Ukraine.

If Ukraine or Taiwan are attacked, Latin Americans, whose democracies have otherwise long been protected by the United States from Soviet-backed regimes, should be expected to contribute troops to an international coalition of democracies sent to defend these countries and democracy more generally.

The United States, Britain, and our closest military allies cannot defend the world alone, though we have been trying. All need to pitch in. Those countries that do not democratize and spend their fair share on defense could potentially see their tariffs increased by Washington and allies, especially if they are trading with the enemy in Beijing or Moscow.

Does this new Monroe Doctrine sound ambitious? It is, and so was the original Monroe Doctrine of 1823. At the time, the United States did not have the naval and ground forces to fully defend Oregon and the Falkland Islands, for example, from Britain and Spain. But we had a doctrine, and as U.S. power grew in the 19th century, so did our ability to exclude the European empires from the Americas, where we chose to do so.

Today, we are in a much more muscular position against Beijing and Moscow than we were in 1823 against Britain and Spain. But defending democracy in Latin America will still be a massive challenge that we are currently failing at, because we lack spine.

We must now have as tough a spine, supplied by new doctrines of power politics, as we did back then. Without this doctrinal and structured support for Latin American democracy, our military muscle will do us little good in the coming conflict with authoritarianism.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A laboratory test at the Transgene biotech firm, which is working to develop a neoantigen cancer vaccine, in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, eastern France, on Nov. 17, 2021. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images)

The Week Ahead in Biotech (Jan 31-Feb 5)

The broader market weakness spread into the biotech sector in the week ending Jan. 28, sending stocks lower.

Johnson & Johnson got the ball rolling on large-cap biopharma earnings, with mixed results. The positive forward outlook, however, lent support to the stock. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation came under pressure following an earnings miss.

Among other noteworthy developments, the Pfizer-BioNTech SE alliance and Moderna Inc. separately commenced their omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine studies.

Gilead Sciences Inc. faced a setback after the Food and Drug Administration placed its clinical trials involving magrolimab on hold. Magrolimab, an anti-CD47 antibody, was acquired as part of the companys $4.9 billion deal to buy Forty Seven Inc. The antibody treatment is being evaluated with azacytidine in five blood cancer studies, including three Phase 3 studies.

Here are the key catalysts that could impact stocks in the unfolding week.

Clinical Readouts/Presentations

Athersys Inc. is scheduled to host a webcast on Wednesday, at 10 a.m. EST, wherein it will make a presentation on its MultiStem clinical programs. The company is due to present an outlook of its ischemic stroke program, including perspectives on the upcoming Phase 2/3 TREASURE data readout. The study is evaluating over 200 stroke patients.

Athersys will also present clinical data from the MultiStem acute respiratory distress syndrome program, including data from both the MUST-ARDS and the ONE-BRIDGE clinical trials. Reflecting on the combined clinical data and supporting information, the companys management will provide its outlook for MultiStem for the treatment of ARDS and its plans for moving the program forward.

Earnings

Tuesday

Catalent Inc. (before the market open)

Wednesday

Novartis AG (before the market open)

AbbVie Inc. (before the market open)

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. (after the market close)

Hologic Inc. (after the market close)

Thursday

Roche Holding AG (before the market open)

Abiomed Inc. (before the market open)

Biogen Inc. (before the market open)

Merck & Co. Inc. (before the market open)

Eli Lilly and Company (before the market open)

Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (after the market close)

Friday

Sanofi (before the market open)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (before the market open)

IRadimed Corporation (before the market open)

Meridian Bioscience Inc. (before the market open)

Twist Bioscience Corporation (before the market open)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (before the market open)

IPO Quiet Period Expiry

Vigil Neuroscience Inc.

CinCor Pharma Inc.

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.

By Shanthi Rexaline

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Its a place where people live and let live

Only one country in the entire world can boast of more cars than people within its bordersan astounding 25 percent more, according to the most recent statistics.

Can you guess the country? Ill give you a few more hints:

This fascinating enclaves GDP per capita ranks among the highest on the planet, almost as high as that of the United States. It claims, credibly, to be home to the oldest existing sovereign state as well as the oldest constitutional republic. For most of its 17 centuries of existence, its been one of the freer and more tolerant of the worlds countries.

Reminiscent of the Roman Republic of more than two millennia ago, this country has not one but two heads of state. They are elected by the legislature, are coequal in their rather limited powers, and are subject to the strictest term limits in the world. Replacements are elected every six months! More women have served as heads of state in this country than in any other.

At the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, two athletes from this nation earned bronze and silver medals, thereby making it the smallest country to score in the competitions that year.

The country to which I refer is  (drum roll)San Marino!

Its formal name is the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. It comprises just 38 square miles and about 33,000 people. I drove through it some years ago in less than an hour, including a stop for coffee and a souvenir. Landlocked and surrounded by Italy, it is situated on the slopes of Monte Titano (Mount Titan) in the Apennine Mountains in the northeast section of the Italian Peninsula.

San Marino derives its name from a Christian stonemason named Marinus, born in Croatia in 275 A.D. While working in the Italian city of Rimini in his 20s, his occasional preaching drew fire from the pagan Roman authorities. He was forced to flee and sought refuge atop Mount Titan. While in hiding there, he formed a chapel and eventually built a monastery. The mountain at the time was privately-owned (by a woman in nearby Rimini), who eventually gave it to Marinus as a gift. He declared it an independent state on September 3, 301 A.D., and to this day, the founding of the country is celebrated annually on that date.

Amazingly, Marinus and his tiny republic survived the Great Persecution (of Christians) under Roman Emperor Diocletian, whose rule ended in 305. Marinus not only survived to see Christianity decriminalized by Emperor Constantine in 313, he outlived Diocletian by more than half a century, dying in 366 at the ripe old age of 91.

The famed English explorer, archeologist, and historian James Theodore Bent wrote a book about San Marino in 1879 that carried the provocative title, A Freak of Freedom. He reveals that when Marinus and a friend settled on the mountain, They planted a cross on the summit of the rock, on which was inscribed the sole word liberty, and hewed themselves beds beneath it, which are to be seen even now behind the high altar of a small church devoted to the purpose of protecting them

A thousand years later, Pope Boniface VIII dispatched an emissary to learn more about this curious patch of territory called San Marino. Bent recounts that when the emissary asked the San Marinese what they meant by the liberty they so proudly proclaimed, he was advised as follows:

[M]en belong to themselves because they owe no homage to anyone amongst themselves, but only to the Master of all things.

It was under the papacy of Boniface VIII (1294-1303) that San Marino was twice ordered to pay tribute to the Catholic Church. If the country had had a king, perhaps he would have coughed up the cash as so many other monarchs of the day were happy to do. But the republicans of San Marino refused to pay. Officials of the Church backed off both times. As prosperity increased under the kindly atmosphere of liberty, writes Bent, many envious eyes were cast up towards Mount Titan.

Twice, the countrys longstanding independence was briefly interrupted. The forces of Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, invaded and occupied San Marino for six months in 1503. His fathers successor, Pope Julius II, ordered Borgia to depart and leave the tiny enclave alone. When another greedy warlord occupied San Marino in October 1739, Pope Clement XII forced his expulsion just four months later.

Napoleon Bonaparte threatened to invade in the late 1790s but was talked out of it by one of San Marinos two top politicians (the coequal consuls known as Captains Regent). The French dictator even offered to extend San Marinos territory east to the Adriatic but the republic politely refused. Its one of the reasons the tiny country is so well-liked in the region. It minds its own business.

Another reason is its role as a haven for the oppressed. It took in many endangered people during the conflicts over Italian unification in the 19th century. During World War II, it opened its doors to 100,000 refugeesa figure several times as large as its own population.

San Marino is not a member of the European Union, though it shares an open border with the EU and uses the Euro as its currency. A proposal to join the EU was put forth in a national referendum in 2013. It failed because voter turnout was too low to meet the quorum requirement of 32 percent.

Today, the countrys corporate tax rate is below both Italys and the average across the EU, making it a favorite haven for European businesses. And it taxes capital gains at a mere five percent, a third of the US rate. In the World Banks Ease of Doing Business index, San Marino ranks an average of 92 among the 190 countries ranked. Its economy is dominated by finance, manufacturing, and tourism. It is a very friendly, welcoming place.

The 2021 Freedom in the World Report from Freedom House praises San Marino for its protection of basic rightsincluding freedom of worship and assembly, private property, and the press, but suggests a need to work on corruption in its judiciary. Freedom House ranks San Marino the 12th freest country in the world.

Watch this fascinating half-hour video (above) about the place, and youll not only see some beautiful San Marinese scenery, but youll also learn about a local bread mafia that used its political connections to rip off taxpayers before it was busted.

Congratulations to San Marinoan enduring free republic, a place where people live and let live. Theyve been doing that longer than any other nation on the planet. Sign me up to be the next U.S. ambassador to San Marino, please. Ill do it for free.

For additional information, see:

A Freak of Freedom by James Theodore Bent

San Marino: The Oldest Republic in the World (video)

Freedom in the World 2021: San Marino by Freedom House

This article was originally published on FEE.org
Top Cardiologist: Spotify Never Contacted Me After Joe Rogan Interview

Cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, who appeared in a popular episode of the Joe Rogan Experience in recent weeks, disputed claims that he promoted misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines following an announcement made Sunday by Rogans host, Spotify.

When I went on with Rogan I brought my laptop and went over my grand rounds slides. Every point was cited and referenced either preprint (studies) or PUBMED, he wrote on Twitter Monday, referring to a medical database.

In recent days, Spotify and Rogan have come under pressure after the podcaster hosted several individuals, including McCullough, who has argued that healthy children dont need COVID-19 vaccines.

Spotify never contacted me for slides which are freely available to them to adjudicate with their doctors, he also wrote. Bring it on Spotify!

Dr. Robert Malone, a key mRNA vaccine technology contributor who also appeared on Rogans show, wrote on his Telegram page: Well, well. They got to Spotify now. Only a matter of time at this point.

Their remarks come as Rogan issued a statement following decisions made by musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to pull their music from streaming service Spotify over alleged misinformation about COVID-19 said on Rogans show by these experts.

Rogan, who hosts a variety of guests for discussions on a wide range of topicsincluding COVID-19 and vaccinesspoke about the challenges in preparing for each podcast interview and defended his interviews with McCullough and Malone. The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders has also interviewed both doctors in recent weeks.

Rogan noted that Malone is considered one of the leading experts on mRNA vaccine technology, while McCullough is a giant in his field and a widely published researcher.

Meanwhile, the UFC commentator said he took issue with the term misinformation, which has been used widely by legacy media outlets and some politicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neil Young poses for a portrait on May 18, 2016. (Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)

The problem I have with the term misinformation, especially today, is that many of the things that we thought of as misinformation just a short while ago are now accepted as fact, he said. Eight months ago, if you said if you get vaccinated you can still catch COVID and you can still spread COVIDyou will be removed from social media  Now, thats accepted as fact, Rogan said.

Rogan added: If you said I dont think cloth masks work you would be banned from social media. Now thats openly and repeatedly stated on CNN.

Ive never tried to do anything with this podcast other than just talk to people and have interesting conversations, he said of The Joe Rogan Experience, which started off is just [expletive] around with my friends.

Im not trying to promote misinformation. Im not trying to be controversial, Rogan also said, adding that the situation is some out of control juggernaut that I barely have control of.

In response to Youngs and Mitchells decisions, Rogan said, Im very sorry that they feel that way. I most certainly dont want that. Im a Neil Young fan. Ive always been a Neil Young fan.

The podcast host also addressed an announcement hours earlier by Spotify CEO Daniel Elk that future podcasts that include COVID-19 discussions would carry content advisories.

Sure, have that on there. Im very happy with that, Rogan remarked. Do I get things wrong? Absolutely. I get things wrong, but I try to correct them, he then said.

About a week ago, Young, 76, published a now-deleted letter to Spotify that the platform either remove his music or take down Rogans podcast. Mitchell, 78, followed suit several days later. Spotify, in a statement to news outlets, confirmed it would listen to Youngs request.

Spotify hasnt responded to request for comment as of press time.
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic hold their trophy in the women's doubles final, at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne on Jan. 30, 2022. (Andy Brownbill/AP Photo)

Top-Ranked Krejcikova, Siniakova Win Womens Doubles

MELBOURNE, AustraliaTop-ranked Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova took another major step in a partnership which began in junior ranks when they won the Australian Open womens doubles 67 (3), 64, 64 Sunday from unseeded Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia.

The Czech pair claimed their first Australian Open title to go with one Wimbledon and two French Open titles to move a step closer to a career Grand Slam in doubles. They also are Olympic champions.

They were finalists in Melbourne last year but went down 62, 63 to Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka. Krejcikova also had been in top form in the singles in Melbourne this year before unexpectedly falling to Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.

The top seeds were fully stretched by Danilina of Kazakhstan and Haddad Maia of Brazil who put together their partnership less than a month ago and were unbeaten in nine matches before Sunday. They won the Sydney Classic doubles title before tackling their first Grand Slam tournament together.

Danilina and Haddad Maia became the first pair to take a set from Krejcikova and Siniakova in Melbourne and kept the final alive for 2 hours and 42 minutes before finally succumbing.

Krejcikova and Siniakovas well-honed partnership was scratchy at times Sunday before experience pulled them through. Siniakova was more active in the first two sets while Krejcikova seemed unusually stuck on the baseline and less mobile than usual at the net.

Krejcikova stepped up in the final set and produced many of the key points, hitting strongly through the middle of the court while Siniakova crossed over at the net for clutch volleys.

Siniakova had served for the match at 52 in the third set but Danilina and Haddad Maia, not to be denied, broke her serve.

Haddad Maia held serve in front of cheering fans waving Brazil flags before Krejcikova clinched the win on serve.

You guys have played two great tournaments and I hope youre going to continue together and I hope were going to have more fights like this because its a real pleasure to share a court with you, Krejcikova said court-side. Youre really amazing.

I want also want to thank my partner for playing with me for a very, very long time. Im so happy we are still working so well together and our co-operation is only going up so Im really happy with that and Im looking forward to the next adventure.

Siniakova thanked Krejcivoka for her support through recent difficult times.

Thank you for pushing me hard and for helping me and just being on my side on the court, she said.

The top seeds fell behind in the first set when Siniakovas serve was broken in the third game. They leveled, breaking Danilina in the eighth game and Siniakova and Danilina both lost their serves again before the set went to a tiebreak.

Danilina and Haddad Maia won the first six points on the tiebreak and held on comfortably to take the set.

Haddad Maia dropped serve in the opening game of the second set and Krejcikova and Siniakova held that advantage to level the match. They also broke Haddad Maia for an early advantage in the deciding set before their unseeded rivals fought back to extend the match.

Haddad Maia already had experienced a finals loss against Krejcikova and Siniakova, losing to the pair in the finals of the French Open juniors.

We werent supposed to play together again this week, she said, addressing Danilina. I think we played our best in all the matches. I think we had eight matches in the third set so we gave everything and Im very proud to learn with you.

Congratulations to Barbora and Katarina. I played you 10 years ago in the Roland Garros juniors finals and I lost also. But you guys are doing nice work all these years.

Danilina was a star at the University of Florida, winning an NCAA title with the Florida Gators before graduating with an economics degree in 2018.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a reporters question as he participates in a media availability held at a location in the National Capital Region which is not being made public for security reasons, on Jan. 31, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

Trudeau Disparages Freedom Convoy Protesters, Says Hes Not Intimidated

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today took aim at the ongoing trucker protest against COVID-19 restrictive measures that arrived in Ottawa over the past weekend, with trucks and supporters occupying the streets of downtown.

Over the past few days, Canadians were shocked and frankly, disgusted by the behaviour displayed by some people protesting in our nations capital, Trudeau said in a press conference on Jan. 31 from an undisclosed location.

Trudeau characterized the protestors as sporting Nazi symbolism and rascist imagery and accused the group of desecrating war memorials and engaging in other unruly and destructive behavior, despite repeated statements from organizers that they condemned such behaviour and vowed to remain peaceful.

The protesters seen on Parliament Hill for the most part have been carrying Canadian or other flags. No Nazi flags or signs were visible in the ongoing protests. Some images circulating on social media, however, showed Nazi or other hateful symbols on flags. Other videos on social media showed protestors telling those holding hateful signs to leave.

The protest, which attracted thousands of people, has remained peaceful despite some isolated incidents. In one event, protestors draped and put a mask on the Terry Fox memorial statue, though the items were removed within minutes. In another, protestors had parked on the steps of the National War Memorial and danced on the top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Another incident involved the staff of a homeless shelter who say they were harassed by protestors demanding food.

In his remarks on Jan. 31, the Prime Minister also criticized politicians who supported the movement, who he says are exploiting peoples fears.

I ask you to think long and hard about the consequences of your actions, he said.

Trudeau later commented, This is a moment for responsible leaders to think carefully about where they stand, and who they stand with.

People gather in Parliament Hill as the trucker convoy protesting COVID-19 mandates and restrictions stages demonstrations in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Trudeaus message provoked many reactions online, with Conservative MP Dan Albas tweeting Let us hope PM Trudeau follows his own advice, referring to Trudeau previously characterizing unvaccinated people as racists and misogynists.

Trudeau also said he would not be intimidated by the protesters, nor would he meet with them, since he has chosen to not go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric, violence towards fellow citizens, and a disrespect, not just of science, but of the frontline health workers.

When asked why in the past he has attended rallies of other groups on Parliament Hill such as Black Lives Matter, Trudeau responded that it was because he agreed with the goals.

I have attended protests and rallies in the past when I agreed with the goals. When I supported the people expressing their concerns and their issues. Black Lives Matter is an excellent example of that.

Before the press conference, Tory MP Dane Lloyd had questioned on Twitter how the weekends events were being portrayed in the media and called on Trudeau to stop being dismissive of the protestors.

The double standard this weekend has been quite a sight to behold. This protest has been peaceful. I am thankful for the professionalism of the police and the PPS. Its time for the Prime Minister to stop being dismissive and address the concerns of Canadians, said Dane Lloyd, critic for emergency and preparedness.

Indigenous protesters perform a traditional chant on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times)

With a core demand of the movement being a repeal of the vaccine mandate for truckers who cross into the U.S., as well as other federal mandates, Trudeau was asked about his governments intent to impose a mandate on truckers who cross into different provinces.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has told CBC on Jan. 30 that something of the sort is in the works, but Trudeau would not confirm it, saying he didnt want to speculate.

Trudeau, who had received his booster shot on Jan. 4, opened his address by announcing he tested COVID-19 positive that morning, adding that two of his children had also contracted it.

He said that protesters who want their freedom should just get vaccinated.

Freedom means getting back to the things that they used to enjoy. And the way to be able to do that is to get vaccinated.

The composition of the protesters in Parliament Hill appears to be diverse, with people of different backgrounds taking part. Three of the organizers holding a press conference on Jan. 30 noted that one of them is Jewish, another Metis, and another caucasian.

You want diversity? Guess what, you have diversity right here. And we dont care, because were just Canadian. Thats it, said organizer Benjamin Dichter.

An Angus Reid poll released today suggests the majority of Canadians want pandemic restrictions to end, with 54 percent saying its time to end the measures and allow people to manage their own level of risk. The number of Canadians in favour of ending restrictions rose 15 percentage points, up from a similar poll conducted earlier this month that showed 40 percent in favour.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks following a cabinet retreat, Jan. 26, 2022 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Trudeau Tests Positive for COVID-19

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Two of my own children have now contracted [COVID-19], and this morning, I learned I tested positive for COVID 19 as well, Trudeau said at a press conference on Jan. 31.

I feel well and have no symptoms.

Trudeau said he will be working remotely and will keep following public health guidelines.

Its frustrating that after two years, the battle against COVID-19 is still dominating so many parts of our lives. This virus affects us all, Trudeau said.

Its a challenge that my family and I are facing, but theres nothing unusual or special about it. Its a challenge to many Canadians and people around the world know all too well.

Trudeau first announced he has contracted COVID-19 in a tweet in the morning of Jan. 31, adding that, Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted.

This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. Im feeling fine  and Ill continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines. Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 31, 2022

Trudeau had said on Jan. 27 that he was going into isolation for five days after finding out that he had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. He later said it was one of his children who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Trudeau is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and received his booster shot on Jan. 4.

The prime ministers wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, had previously contracted COVID-19 in 2020.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a tweet that he and his wife wish Trudeau and his child a safe and speedy recovery.

Trudeaus office said last week that no staffer or minister in range of the prime minister was isolating.

The Canadian Parliament is resuming today after being in recess since Dec. 16.

The opening comes as convoys of truckers have camped in Ottawa to protest COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report
Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Jan. 30, 2022. (Mohamed Al Hammadi/Ministry of Presidential Affairs/WAM/Handout via Reuters)

UAE Intercepts Houthi Missile Attack as Israeli President Visits

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates said on Jan. 31 it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi movement as the UAE hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog on his first visit to the Gulf business and tourism hub.

In the third such attack on the U.S.-allied Gulf state in the past two weeks, the Houthis military spokesman said they fired Zulfiqar missiles at Abu Dhabi and drones at Dubai.

He reiterated a warning to residents and firms to stay away from vital headquarters and facilities in the UAE, which prides itself as a safe business haven and global tourism destination.

The United States condemned the assaultwhich followed a Jan. 17 strike on a fuel depot in Abu Dhabi that killed three peoplein an escalation of the Yemen war between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition, which includes the UAE.

A senior Emirati official described the attacks as useless provocations.

Those who test the UAE are mistaken, the official, Anwar Gargash, said in a Twitter post.

The assaults have led to rare security jitters among some residents in a country where expatriates are a majority, but have had no visible effects on daily life, with restaurants and beaches packed during the peak mild winter season.

UAE market sentiment weakened following the Houthi missile launches but economic analysts say the attacks, mostly thwarted, have not dampened business or investor confidence yet.

The UAE said the missile was intercepted at 20 minutes past midnight local time; its debris fell on an uninhabited area.

It came as Israels president was visiting the capital, where he discussed security and bilateral relations with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

While Israels president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet.

Herzog pressed on with his visit to Expo 2020 in Dubai.

He voiced hope more countries would normalize relations with Israel as the UAE did when it, along with Bahrain, forged ties in 2020 under U.S.-brokered pacts dubbed the Abraham Accords.

There are only two alternatives for this region. One is peace, prosperity, cooperation, joint investments  or alternatively, what Iran is doing, which is destabilizing the region and using its proxies to employ terror, Herzog later said in a statement issued by his office.

Herzog departed the UAE on Jan. 31, seen off at an airport by Emirati foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a video from the Israeli presidents office showed.

Regional Security

The accords have built a new axis between Israel and Sunni Muslim Gulf states based mainly on shared concerns about Shiite Iran, including its proxies and its ballistic missile program.

At the same time, the UAE has been engaging directly with Iran under de-escalation efforts driven by economic priorities. An Iranian business delegation is due to visit Expo in February.

The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of supplying arms to the Houthis, a charge both the group and Tehran deny. The Yemen conflict is seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Israel offered the UAE security and intelligence support after the Jan. 17 attack. Last year, it joined a naval drill with UAE, Bahraini, and U.S. forces. Emirati and Israeli state-owned weapons makers have signed deals to jointly develop an advanced drone defense system and unmanned military vessels.

The Houthis have frequently carried out missile and drone launches on Saudi Arabia in the nearly seven-year war before expanding strikes on the UAE this month.

The UAE had largely ended its military presence in 2019 but Yemeni forces it arms and trains recently joined battles against the Houthis in key energy-producing regions.

The coalition has recently also carried out deadly air strikes on Houthi-held areas.

By Mahmoud Mourad and Alexander Cornwell
UK Threatens to Sanction Russian Oligarchs If Ukraine Is Invaded

The British government has warned Russia that it needs to step back from the brink and desist from a possible invasion of Ukraine, or oligarchs linked to the Kremlin may be subject to sanctions.

Downing Street said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday afternoon, and will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During a visit to Tilbury on Monday, Johnson said that he would tell Putin Russia needs to step back from the brink and an incursion into Ukraine would be a disaster for Russia.

He said the UK supports the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and he believes Ukrainians will bitterly defend the country against aggression.

Downing Street said the prime minister would tell Putin to take a diplomatic path and avoid a very costly military action in Ukraine.

Our aim is to continue to encourage Russia to take a diplomatic path, to deescalate and to step back from what could be a very costly exercise if they were to follow the path of further aggression, the prime ministers official spokesman said.

The spokesman warned the Russian elite that they will suffer from the consequences. The Russian elite should be in no doubt that we have significant powers and will take them further, which will place massive pressure on them should they continue on this path of aggression, he said.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Sunday that the British government will change sanctions regulations to broaden the scope of measures it can apply to Russia to try to deter aggression towards Ukraine.

She said London should be able to target any company of interest to the Kremlin and the regime in Russia and that there would be nowhere to hide for Putins oligarchs.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the threat of such measures would amount to an attack on Russian businesses that would backfire because it would end up hurting British companies and Western shareholders.

Its not often you see or hear such direct threats to attack business, Peskov said. An attack by a given country on Russian business implies retaliatory measures, and these measures will be formulated based on our interests if necessary.

Ukraine welcomed Britains tough talk on sanctions, saying it was an important way of deterring Russian aggression.

When Russian dignitaries realize that they are talking about their assets, real estate, and money abroad, where theythe patriots of Russiakeep them, the hotheads in the Kremlin will cool down, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

Reuters and PA Media contributed to this report.
Ukraine Army Accused of Shelling Area, Wounding One

The Ukrainian military shelled the village of Alexandrovka in the rebel-controlled area of the Donetsk region on Saturday, injuring one civilian, according to officials from the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Our brigade brought a peaceful civilian from the city of Donetsk with a gunshot wound of the left thigh, trauma surgeon Yuriy Ponomarev told the Associated Press.

Alexandrovka is situated next to the frontline, and people continue to suffer from regular shelling.

Local resident Valentina, who said she was wounded in the leg during tensions in 2015, told the AP that the bombardments come regularly.

Another local resident Svetlana said that civilians were so used to the shelling that they were not afraid anymore.

They fire upon us every day. There are snipers working, there are flying drones and shells Svetlana said.

Russia has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine.

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.
Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya and other members of the United Nations Security Council meet to discuss the situation between Russia and Ukraine in New York City on Jan. 31, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

UN Security Council Meets Amid RussiaUkraine Tensions

The United Nations Security Council gathered on Jan. 31 at the request of the United States to discuss Russias military buildup near its border with Ukraine.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, following opening remarks by Russian diplomat Vasily Nebenzya, said the United States called for the meeting to protect peace and security, saying the negotiations are not about the United States and Russia, but about the peace and security of member-states.

Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting at your border, said Thomas-Greenfield.

Nebenzya, in opening remarks, pointed to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskys appeal for calm last week in dismissing claims about Russian aggression, saying they are a myth.

They do not see, in this activity, that we are a threat, the Russian envoy said about comments by Zelensky and Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov that state there are no grounds to believe that Moscow is preparing an invasion very soon, although adding that risky scenarios are possible and probable in the future.

Thomas-Greenfield dismissed Nebenzias claim that says Washington is trying to whip up hysterics and use megaphone diplomacy by calling the first open Security Council meeting on the UkraineRussia situation.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks at a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the situation between Russia and Ukraine in New York City on Jan. 31, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya addresses the U.N. Security Council before a vote, on Jan. 31, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

While Moscow signaled that it would try to block the Security Council meeting if it won the support of nine from the 15-member body, the United States won a vote to continue the Ukraine meeting, with 10 votes in favor and two against. Russia is one of five permanent veto-wielding powers on the council along with the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and China.

Following the vote, U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo went ahead with an open briefing, which was followed by speeches from the 15 council members. Any formal action by the UNSC is extremely unlikely, given that Russia is able to veto.

Only China and Russia voted against the public meeting, with Chinas U.N. ambassador, Chen Xu, saying Beijing requests the council needs quiet diplomacy and not microphone diplomacy.

President Joe Biden said in a White House statement on Jan. 31 that the meeting was a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice: rejecting the use of force, calling for military de-escalation, supporting diplomacy as the best path forward, and demanding accountability from every member state to refrain from military aggression against its neighbors.

Ukrainian soldiers examine their tanks at a military unit close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 31, 2022. (Andrew Marienko/AP Photo)

More high-level diplomacy is expected this week, although talks between the United States and Russia have so far failed to ease tensions. Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops near its border with its southern neighbor, with Western powers asserting that Russia plans to invade.

Russia has repeatedly denied it intends to attack but demanded that NATO promise never to allow Ukraine to join the alliance, halt the deployment of NATO weapons near Russias borders, and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. NATO and the United States have rejected those demands.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Jan. 31 that hysteria promoted by Washington triggers hysteria in Ukraine, where people are almost starting to pack their bags for the front line.

The crucial meeting comes one day after the United States said on Jan. 30 it would impose sanctions and economic consequences on Russia if President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine.

I think weve been very clear with Mr. Putin about the economic consequences that could come his way and the way of the Russian people should he  invade inside Ukraine, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told Fox News.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
North Korea's intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 lifting off from the launching pad at an undisclosed location near Pyongyang on Aug. 29, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

United States Calls for Direct Talks With North Korea After Hwasong-12 Missile Test

North Korea has confirmed that it test-fired a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile on Jan. 30, its state-run media reported, as Washington is urging Pyongyang to engage in direct talks with no preconditions.

Pyongyang conducted its seventh missile test this month, the largest number in a single month since 2019. South Korea and Japan claimed that the projectile traveled 1,242 miles upward and landed in the ocean about 500 miles away.

The missile was fired from Pyongyangs Jagang Province at approximately 7:52 a.m. local time and traveled at speeds of up to 16 times the speed of sound, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The Hwasong-12 ground-to-ground intermediate and long-range ballistic missile was launched for evaluation and verification of the overall accuracy of the weapon system, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

KCNA claimed that the test was conducted at the highest angle firing system to ensure the security of the neighboring countries, with the test warhead being equipped with a camera to capture images of the earth from space.

The launch was seen as being a step closer to North Korea lifting its self-imposed moratorium on testing the longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles, which it hasnt tested since 2017.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Pyongyangs recent missile tests are a challenge toward the international communitys efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, stabilize peace and find a diplomatic solution.

A senior U.S. administration official said that Washington is concerned that Pyongyang may resume long-range testing, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Its not just what they did yesterday, its the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month. And that follows on tests at the end of the year going back to September, of a variety of systems, the official told reporters on Jan. 30.

Washington called on North Korea to refrain from further nuclear testing, saying that the launch was increasingly destabilizing and prompted a response.

You will see us taking some steps that are designed to show our commitment to our allies. And at the same time, we reiterate our call for diplomacy. We stand ready and we are very serious about trying to have discussions that address concerns on both sides, the official said.

North Korea said earlier this month that it would consider restarting all temporarily suspended actions due to the United States not showing any signs of dropping its hostile policies.

KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited an unspecified munitions factory that produces the countrys major weapon system.

North Korea had previously warned of a stronger response to the U.S. sanctions on six North Koreans involved in obtaining supplies for Pyongyangs nuclear program from Russia and China.

The United States has also urged the U.N. Security Council to follow through on the sanctions. Representatives from China and Russia blocked the proposal, claiming that additional time and proof were required to support it.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A shipping container is offloaded from East China Sea container ship at the Port of Oakland in California on June 20, 2018. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

US Department of Agriculture to Fund Port of Oakland Pop-Up Site to Tackle Shipping Delays

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Jan. 30 that it will help fund a new container yard at Californias Port of Oakland in an effort to tackle ongoing shipping delays.

With the delays and disruptions that are occurring, market share is at risk, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters.

A new 25-acre acre pop-up site will be opened at the port to create further space to prepare empty containers and help alleviate the supply chain crisis. The site will move containers off chassis and store them so that they can be picked up rapidly, according to officials.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement to Reuters that inland pop-up ports improved the flow of goods at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, which is one of the busiest facilities in the country.

The White House announced in November 2021 that it would be providing a grant to fund five pop-up container yards in both Georgia and North Carolina.

Under the plan, the Port of Savannah will transfer containers via rail and truck further inland so that they can be closer to their final destination, which will make available valuable real estate closer to the port, a White House fact sheet reads. The effort will free up more dock space and speed goods flow in and out of the Port of Savannah, which leads the nation in containerized agricultural exports.

Buttigieg said the Biden administration plans to work with other ports by using a similar concept to help ease congestion.

USDA will pay 60 percent of the startup costs of the new pop-up sites in the Port of Oakland and will partner with the port itself to partially cover a $125 per container reimbursement made to shippers, Vilsack said.

In total, the project will cost about $5 million, USDA estimates, while the initial start-up will cost about $2 million, according to the port.

This is for however long it takes to get us back to a place where we have some stability in the market and some stability in the supply chain, Vilsack said.

In December 2021, the Port of Oakland announced that containerized, loaded import cargo volume hit a record high in 2021. The port handled the equivalent of 1.05 million 20-foot import containers in 2021, which was the most in Oaklands 94-year history and 6 percent more than the amount it handled in 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, officials noted that the supply chain crisis had affected the ports export volume, leading to ships arriving late, canceled trips, and weeks-long delays, something they expect to continue into 2022 amid a surge in demand.

The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose by 7 percent year-over-year in December 2021, according to the latest data from the Department of Labor, representing the fastest growth since June 1982.

Strong consumer demand has intensified supply shortages, while the recent wave of the Omicron coronavirus variant cases across the nation and the rest of the world has further exacerbated supply chain issues.

Representatives for the Port of Oakland and the Department of Agriculture didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.
Hunter Biden attends his father Joe Biden's inauguration as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters)

US Prosecutor Issued Grand Jury Subpoena for Hunter Biden Bank Records Connected to China

A U.S. attorney issued a grand jury subpoena for the bank records of President Joe Bidens son and brother in 2019, according to documents released to the public for the first time in January.

David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware, passed the subpoena onto JP Morgan Chase Bank for the bank records of Hunter Biden, James Biden, and two other individuals, according to the set of papers.

The records requested corresponded to transactions between Chase and the Bank of China.

The documents are dated May 15, 2019.

They were obtained by Marco Polo, a nonprofit started by Garrett Ziegler, who worked in the White Houses Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy during the Trump administration.

Ziegler told The Epoch Times in an email that a whistleblower who was a party to the subpoena provided the documents.

This wide-ranging grand jury subpoena confirms that Joes son and brother received transfers from an account with the Bank of China, Ziegler said.

Wire transfers involving at least one Bank of China account were listed on a laptop computer that was said to be dropped off by Hunter Biden at a computer repair store in Delaware in 2019, but it helps the public to see independent corroboration, he added.

The subpoena also demanded records concerning Eric Schwerin and Devon Archer, two former business associates of Hunter Biden.

Archer, who has been convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, and Hunter Biden founded an investment firm, Rosemont Seneca Partners, with Christopher Heinz in 2009 and went on to serve together on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while Joe Biden was vice president. All three have connections with Chinese nationals, including some linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

Matthew Schwartz, an attorney for Archer, said that his client was not aware of the 2019 subpoena.

But Mr. Archer has cooperated completely with the Delaware U.S. Attorneys Office investigation from the moment he became aware of it, he told The Epoch Times via email.

A lawyer representing Hunter Biden and a White House spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. White House press secretary Jen Psaki was not asked about the document during a briefing on Jan. 31. Biden has said hes confident his son did nothing wrong. A query sent to Schwerins company wasnt returned.

Spokespersons for the U.S. attorneys office and Chase did not dispute the authenticity of the documents but declined to comment.

Little is known about the federal investigation into Hunter Biden, which he described in late 2020 as dealing with tax affairs but was reportedly examining the younger Bidens business dealings with China.

Shortly after Hunter Biden announced he was being probed, the U.S. attorneys office said it could not comment on an ongoing investigation.

The new documents show that the investigation, which was shielded from the public until after the 2020 election, was likely going on in 2019.

The question that remains is why Bill Barr directly intervened to ensure that the U.S. Attorney in Delawares investigation into Joes family was kept from the public for over 17 months until after the election, as previous reporting has confirmed. David Weiss and Bill Barror someone with a conscience inside the Justice Departmentshould answer that question for the American people, Ziegler said.

Weiss, a Trump nominee, was one of the few U.S. attorneys not removed by Biden after taking office. Barr was attorney general for part of former President Donald Trumps presidency.

Barr, asked about the matter shortly before leaving office, said a Department of Justice rule against publicly confirming probes that involve candidates for office was the reason behind keeping the investigation secret.
US Regulators Approve Modernas COVID-19 Vaccine for All Adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday approved Modernas COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of the virus that causes COVID-19 for all Americans 18 and older, despite the vaccine providing little protection against the illness since the emergence of the Omicron virus variant.

The FDA said the vaccine was 93 percent effective in preventing the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2.

But the data that were analyzed, which also showed the shot was 98 percent effective in preventing severe disease, were gathered before the emergence of Omicron.

The relatively new variant easily bypasses protection from the primary series of Modernas shot and the two other COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States, according to studies and real-world data, including recent research endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Peter McCullough, a cardiologist at Baylor University Medical Center, said that the approval is not clinically justifiable nor supported by clinical data.

We would need a large randomized trial in patients with Omicron with the composite outcome of hospitalization and death. Given the very poor safety profile of the COVID-19 vaccines, we would clearly need a positive benefit-to-risk relationship before these vaccines could ever be embraced in clinical practice. Given the mild nature of Omicron and its easy management, it is unlikely any vaccine will have a role for this variant, he told The Epoch Times in an email.

Dr. Harvey Risch, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, added that the FDA should have required evidence bearing upon Omicron as part of its deliberations, now that Delta is going away.

Dr. Thomas Russo, an infectious diseases expert at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, disagreed.

We have a huge body of data that supports that the benefit is significant and its extraordinarily safe, he told The Epoch Times. Im actually a little surprised that [it] took this long but it looks like the FDA did all of its due diligence to make sure that everything was in order.

An FDA spokesperson in an email to The Epoch Times declined to answer when asked why post-Omicron data werent examined before granting approval and whether officials were concerned about the vaccine not protecting well against the new variant.

The FDA said the package it analyzed included preclinical and clinical data from a Phase 3 trial that followed some 15,000 vaccine recipients and was used to support the agencys emergency use authorization of the same vaccine in December 2020.

A man gets a band-aid a dose following receipt of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Los Angeles, Calif., in a file image. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The agency analyzed the data to determine whether the vaccine met standards for approval.

The approved vaccine will be marketed as Spikevax. It has the same formulation as the authorized vaccine and can be used interchangeably with the authorized shot, according to the FDA. Spikevax was previously approved in multiple other countries, including Canada, Israel, and Japan.

The public can be assured that Spikevax meets the FDAs high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality required of any vaccine approved for use in the United States, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the agencys acting director, said in a statement.

The FDAs medical and scientific experts conducted a thorough evaluation of the scientific data and information included in the application pertaining to the safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality of Spikevax, added Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

The document outlining the decision, known as a Summary Basis for Regulatory Action, was released on Feb. 1 (pdf).

The approval is only for the primary Moderna series, which consists of two shots taken approximately a month apart.

The primary series is of little benefit in terms of protecting against infection since Omicron became dominant, according to research on the variants effects. Federal health officials recommend people get a Moderna booster five months after their second shot to get better protection against the CCP virus, though it remains unclear how long the boost lasts.

Modernas vaccine retains strong protection against severe disease and hospitalization, particularly when boosted.

The Moderna product is the second COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval from the FDA, which approved Pfizers jab in August 2021.

Stephane Bancel, Modernas CEO, said that the approval was a momentous milestone in Modernas history as it is our first product to achieve licensure in the U.S.

We are grateful to the U.S. FDA for their thorough review of our application. We are humbled by the role that Spikevax is playing to help end this pandemic, he added.
A U.S. Coast Guard vessel docks at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 22, 2021. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images)

US Returns 40 Migrants to Cuba After Intercepting Two Vessels

MIAMIThe U.S. Coast Guard on Friday said it has returned 40 people to Cuba after intercepting two vessels near Florida while two people were being investigated for human smuggling.

The vessels were spotted near the Florida Keys on Jan. 23 and on Jan. 25. Two suspected smugglers were transferred to Homeland Security Investigations, a Coast Guard statement said.

People illegally entering the U.S. using smugglers put their lives in the hands of criminals, said Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Mark Cobb. Migrant smugglers are ruthless criminals who only care about profit.

U.S. sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reduced international tourism, have hurt Cubas economy. The Coast Guard said that its crews have interdicted 690 Cubans since Oct. 1, compared with 838 in the 12 months ending on Sept. 30.

Haitian boat migration is on the rise due to an economic downturn and a spike in gang-related kidnappings that have worsened since the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The Coast Guard on Thursday said it had intercepted a sailing vessel carrying 191 Haitians.

It also called off its search for 34 people who disappeared after a boat carrying 40 people capsized off Floridas coast. U.S. authorities have not released the nationalities of those on board.

Five bodies were recovered, and there was one survivor. Colombias foreign ministry on Friday said it would assist that survivor, a citizen identified as Juan Montoya, who was transferred to a Miami hospital in the custody of immigration authorities. His sister, Maria Montoya, died in the accident.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 3, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US Reviewing Sanctions Against Russia The Likes of Which We Have Not Looked at Before: Pentagon

The United States will impose on Russia sanctions and economic consequences the likes of which we have not looked at before, if President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, the U.S. Department of Defenses top spokesman said on Sunday.

I think weve been very clear with Mr. Putin about the economic consequences that could come his way and the way the Russian people should he further incur invade inside Ukraine, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told Fox News Sunday.

I think weve been very, very clear that were going to look at sanctions and economic consequences, the likes of which we have not looked at before even considering even as far back as 2014, he added.

Kirby also stressed that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time and claimed there are a number of ways to do so at Putins disposal, either by way of large-scale or small-scale actions.

Putin has a lot of options available to him if he wants to further invade Ukraine, and he can execute some of those options imminently, Kirby said.

However, the Pentagon spokesperson also emphasized that the current situation doesnt have to come to conflict.

We still believe theres room and space for diplomacy and wed like to see that be the solution here, he said.

Russia in December demanded that 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 officials have rejected those demands and 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.

While the Kremlin has also said it is open to dialogue with the United States, during a call on Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin claimed that the proposals put forth by Washington failed to address his countrys concerns regarding Ukraine, a former Soviet republic.

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.

Kremlin officials have repeatedly denied that Russia wants to go to war with Ukraine.

But amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, U.S. officials have considered levying sanctions against top Russian officials and the countrys energy sector, including pulling the plug on the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline connecting Russia to Germany.

Officials are yet to impose such sanctions on the gas pipeline, despite fears from Ukrainian officials that it could be used by Russia as a weapon against it.

Kirby on Sunday stressed that the administration wont yet impose sanctions because one of the things about sanctions is once you trip that, then the deterrent effect is lost.

Meanwhile, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the United States that waiting to impose such sanctions on Russia until after an invasion will prove futile.

Putin does not understand these kind of vague threats. If is not in his vocabulary. Theres yes and theres no, he told U.S. senators visiting Kyiv earlier this month.

On Sunday, several top Republican and Democrat senators indicated they are close to reaching a bipartisan deal on legislation that would sanction Russia if it were to invade Ukraine.

I would describe it as that we are on the one-yard line, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on CNNs State of the Union.
Retired U.S. Army veteran Jose Martinez (with rifle) lost both legs and his right arm when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan. His first trip with Lone Star Warriors was on a deer hunt in San Angelo, Texas, in 2014. He wasnt even sure he could shoot a rifle anymore, but he did it, said Chris Gill founder of Lone Star Warriors Outdoors. He was so grateful he could be with a bunch of guys who knew what hed been through. (Courtesy of Jose Martinez)

Veterans Volunteer on Another Mission to Help Each Other

The seeds of his volunteering were sown at the foot of Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan, said Chris Gill, who served as a staff sergeant with the U.S. Armys 95th Infantry Division.

A rocket attack in 2005 left Gill with injuries to his knees and shoulders, a painful reminder of his service at a forward operating base.

Its difficult to explain if you havent been there, he said, but the thought of dying is present in the background every day.

My job in-country was to train Afghan soldiers in combat tactics, Gill said. Its not nice what soldiers have to do. To say, Were going in and eliminate the targets, really means, Kick in the door and kill everyone inside.

Habits learned in war die hard, he said.

U.S. Army veteran Ben Eberly (L) lost his legs and right arm serving in action overseas. Volunteer Aaron Worthan guided Eberly and his team on a deer hunt in San Angelo in 2013. (Courtesy of LoneStarWarriorsOutdoors.org)

Every time there is a mission outside the wire [off base], you are scanning to the right and left for people who are on a cellphone calling to arrange a trap ahead, or raising their hands in a window with maybe a rifle or a rocket.

When you come home, you find yourself still doing that. That survival skill is hard to break. Thats one of the things people at home dont understand and why vets need to talk to each other. They know.

The subtext of life at a forward operating base is possible sudden death, he said.

Even in your tent, you know a single rocket can end it all. If you let it get to you, youre not going to sleep at night. You have to keep going.

One day, a rocket did hit nearby and Gill became a statistic in the name of freedom. Hes rated at 100 percent disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The emotions, adrenaline, and heightened awareness of fighting in combat zones are foreign to most civilians, he said. Once youve been there, finding someone to talk to about it who knows what it felt like is hard.

Enter Lone Star Warriors Outdoors.

Gill started the nonprofit in 2011 so combat veterans with a VA post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rating could have a place to meet others who knew what they had experienced.

My goal was to get guys together to help one another through what they did and saw.

To that end, we have several big events each yearhunting tripsspecifically designed to get guys to bond with each other over a course of five days.

Hunting lodges generously donate normal fees to help the veterans. But hunting for deer, duck, or even alligators isnt the primary mission, Gill said.

Ours is PTSD recovery and suicide prevention. I always tell the guys: I hope you come home loaded with harvest, but the real goal is that every man comes home with the phone numbers of the guys he hunted with. And that youd use that number at 2 in the morning when you need to.

As on the military battlefield, the war zone at home can lead to depression or death.

Most of the vets we work with, like Jose Martinez, are helped, he said, but there are some who cant take it and dont make it.

Suicide after service is not unheard of. When that happens, its hard on all of us. But its a risk we are willing to take.

Martinez lost both legs, his right arm, and most of his remaining fingers when he stepped on a land mine in Iraq.

Jose didnt know if he could fire a rifle again, Gill said. We helped him do that and he bonded with the guys. Success!

Even now, Gill is an unpaid, full-time volunteer. His wife, Melissa, is a Mary Kay director. Gill has retired military pay from the U.S. Army to live on and a 401(k) from a civilian job.

All of our 35 to 40 volunteers are unpaid, said Gill, and we help 75 to 100 former professional combat soldiers a year.

For more information, visit LoneStarWarriorsOutdoors.org.
Virginia Tech Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Virginia Tech University on Monday announced that it will no longer require COVID-19 vaccines for students, coming after the states new Attorney General Jason Miyares penned a legal opinion saying colleges cannot mandate the shots.

Virginia Tech will no longer require students to be vaccinated as a condition of enrollment or in-person instruction, effective immediately, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in a letter obtained by The Epoch Times. Federal regulations may still require students who work in specific settings to be vaccinated, receive the booster when eligible, and upload their health information.

In his letter, Sands cited Miyaress recent opinion for discontinuing the policy.

The school, meanwhile, will not force mandatory COVID-19 testing on students but will provide voluntary testing, Sands added.

We are fortunate that our university community has a very high percentage of vaccinated faculty, staff, and students, which positions us well to maintain operations through the semester, the school president continued, noting that managing the impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives has taken a toll on everyone, including students physical and mental health.

In late January, Miyares wrote that state universities and colleges cannot mandate vaccines as a condition for students enrollment for in-person attendance. His opinion reversed former Attorney General Mark Herrings stance on which Virginia Techs policy was based.

Virginias state of emergency that was created by the pandemic didnt extend the powers of entities that are expressly subject to the control of the General Assembly, Miyares said. Notably, the authority to require immunization during a public health emergency belongs to the State Health Commissioner, he added.

In recent weeks, the University of Virginia and George Mason University recently confirmed they would roll back employee vaccine mandates for employees. 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 a Washington Post report on Jan. 19.

Youngkin, a Republican, in early January issued executive orders (pdf) that prohibited state agencies, including colleges, from mandating 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, the governor said at the time.

It comes as a growing number of universities across the United States have started to mandate boosters as a condition to attend in-person classes or as a condition for employment. Stanford University, for example, issued an alert to students that they must receive a COVID-19 booster dose by Jan. 31 or the school will place a hold on their enrollment for the spring semester.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
A sign of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is seen on its headquarters in Geneva on Sept. 21, 2018. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

WTO Punishes the US While Washington Gives More Funding to the UN

News Analysis

Congressional Republicans are right to question the efficacy of the COMPETES Act to confront the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The central focus of the currently stalled House bill is to increase domestic semiconductor production. This is essential to both easing the logistical strain currently plaguing the nation as well as ensuring the countrys military capabilities. Adequately funding the technology intensive production process is, therefore, more than a means of addressing the supply chain crisisit is a matter of national security.

The United States is not the only country privy to this fact. China has the same considerations regarding its own national security interests. If Washington wants to truly secure the preeminence of its military and, thus, its ability to counterbalance the expanding military capabilities of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), it must also be paying attention to Chinese technological developments as well.

Consider the recently introduced CCP five-year plan on the digital economy. Released on Jan. 12 by the State Council, this blueprint for expanding and consolidating state control over the digital production sector is the first of its kind released by the regime. As stated in the CCPs ideological journal Qiushi, China will prioritize expanding semiconductors, software, and cloud computing sectors over the next five years.

Citing the General Administration of Customs, the journal states that Chip imports were up 15.4 percent year-on-year in 2021, a figure China hopes to see decline as domestic technological capacity increases.

An employee makes chips at a factory of Jiejie Semiconductor Company in Nantong, in eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province on March 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

How will the CCP accomplish these goals? If historical example is any precedent, then the answer is two-fold: the state-directed flow of financial resources and predatory economic behavior. This is assuming that Beijing does not simply opt for the seizure of Taiwan and its technologically advanced industrial sector.

The CCP has direct control over the allocation of capital in the Chinese economy through state-owned enterprises; however, it also exerts significant influence on the behavior of private capital through regulatory pressure and legal requirements. See my previous article on some examples of this type of Chinese state capitalism here.

Economic expert Greg Ip has recently written about the CCPs crackdown on Venture Capital inside of China. Beijing is asserting its power to force the latter to shift toward investment in areas currently deemed pertinent by the regimein other words, toward chip and semiconductor production.

Yet, as Ip points out, the impact of external influences on the operation of capital almost always results in the opposite effect to the one desired: namely, muted innovation and decreased productivity. Entrepreneurialism requires free license to evolve in dynamic and unscripted ways. This is much harder in a constrained market environment like the one artificially created by Beijing.

If Venture Capital fails to produce the stated CCP goals in the allotted time frame, where then is Beijing to turn? As evidenced by previous example, China will fall back on intellectual property theft and trademark violations. Additionally, the CCP maintains stringent controls on foreign direct investment entering the country from abroad. This raises further concerns when one considers the tightening control over how capital functions in the country as mentioned above.

These moves are not indicative of drastic measures that the CCP resorts to as a result of its own failed creative initiative; rather, it represents the Chinese form of economic warfare that is an integral component of the CCPs broader foreign policy strategy. Economic espionage and unfair competitive practices were the primary motivation behind the tariff regime originally enacted under former U.S. President Donald Trump and carried on by President Joe Biden.

The above move has been met with disapprobation by free trade absolutists. These same individuals lobbied for the admission of China to the WTO in 2001. Their argument was that Beijing would eventually outgrow its authoritarianism and become more democratic by regular interaction with Western democracies. As if liberalization could occur through the act of economic osmosis.

In reality, this argument is actually closer to CCP ideology than the tenets of liberal free trade espoused by its purported proponents. Economics as the undergirding force of all sociopolitical development belongs to Karl Marx, not Ludwig von Mises. An international system of free trade only works if every participant is abiding by the established rules.

Those who opposed Chinas membership in the WTO 20 years ago were further vindicated on Jan. 27, and with them those who have supported the belief that Chinas economic warfare must be handled on a bilateral basis. The WTO recently announced that China is to collect $645 million in retaliatory tariffs from the United States.

The tariff regime carried out by Washington in 2008-2012 was the result of predatory CCP economic behavior in the international market. Beijing allotted subsidies to state-owned enterprises in the production of various products for exports, engaging in its standard practice of market-manipulation and anti-competitive behavior.

The fact that the United States cannot rely on these type of multilateral institutionsincluding the World Trade Organization, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, etc.to protect its national interest is because the sole purpose of these bodies is to strengthen and expand the globalist ethos upon which they were founded. This is a design feature, not a flaw.

That is because the individuals who staff these outfits and believe in that ethos often disdain electoral politics. The latter is viewed as a hindrance to effective policymaking and enlightened problem solving. Believing themselves to be the individuals in possession of the technical expertise to address the constantly adapting problems of the global community, centralization of authority is justified as a necessary step to the full prospering of the human race. It is always important to remember that this type of individual genuinely interprets the congregation of power in their own hands as an act of altruism.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping represents the ideal leader-archetype for these individuals. Not necessarily for any personality characteristics or goals of his regime, but rather in the means he possesses for achieving those ends.

Consider Xis own words at this years Davos World Economic Forum, the premier meet-up for the type of resource-wielding individual described above.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 17, 2017. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)

Pointing to the U.N. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2022 report on challenges for global economic recovery posed by the CCP virus pandemic, Xi called upon the international community to recognize an increasing need for the governance of economic globalization. It is logical to presume that there is only one logical way for this to proceedpolitical globalization, and hence more centralized decision making.

Despite the countercurrents and dangerous shoals along the way, economic globalization has never and will not veer off course, he said. According to Xi, this means that countries must understand the world as one global community, and subsequently coordinate global policy in a more systematic and coordinated way.

The United States systematically undermines its own national interest by funding globalist institutions that operate under the stewardship of individuals with this mindset. The $4 billion allotment for the U.N. climate fund (another Davos-devotee favorite premise for aggrandizing the need for centralized power) subtly incorporated into the bill under the EAGLE Act is not a random occurrence, but is rather indicative of the purposefulif gradual pushto slowly hand power to centralized bodies of unelected officials that then turn around to dictate policy to national partners.

A push for national autonomy in the production of semiconductors is essential, but the Republican Study Committee congressional caucus was right to highlight the need for tough measures like sanctions that would limit the Chinese Communist Partys ability to subvert our nations institutions and steal our intellectual property.

Members of Congress should continue to push for more concrete steps in place to counter CCP economic malevolence. A convenient place to start would be redirecting a portionif not allof the $4 billion for the U.N. toward this task.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen addresses the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting in Washington, on Jan. 19, 2022. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Yellen to Participate Remotely in February G20 Meeting

WASHINGTONU.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will participate in a February meeting of the G20 remotely because of a rise in the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

The secretary will attend virtual sessions with her counterparts as well as hold bilateral meetings to discuss the world economy, taxation reform, and boosting COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Feb. 1718 meeting will bring together finance ministers and central bank governors. Indonesia is the current head of the G20 and this is the first meeting they will host.

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund did not respond to a request for comment on their plans for their leaders to participate.
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.
Anambra State has condoled with the Gbulie family of Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area and the Ogunsanya family of Ikorodu in Lagos State over the deaths of their two prominent members last week.

According to a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, the government commiserated with the Gbulie family for the loss of Ben Gbulie, 82, a soldier and author who rose into national prominence for his role in the January 1966 coup which ended Nigerias First Republic.

The commissioner also said that the government condoled with the Ogunsanya family over the death of Princess Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, 74, a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government whose father, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, was for decades the closest political associate and personal friend of Nigerias first President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, a worthy son of Anambra State who led Nigeria to independence in 1960.

Ben Gbulie and his group obviously meant well for Nigeria when they plotted and executed the coup, said the commissioner, but they were out of touch with the Nigerian reality which, in a way, is understandable because they were young men in their 20s driven by sheer patriotic exuberance.

It is unfortunate that the coup was bloody, and so gave rise to all manner of interpretations and consequences which altered the countrys history for the worse.

Adinuba noted that Gbulie took up arms to fight for his people when a war was imposed on them, leading at the end of hostilities in January, 1970, to his long incarceration in different prisons in Nigeria.

Even when he was in 1979 contesting for a seat in the Anambra State House of Assembly on the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) platform, he was disqualified for what was just referred to as security reasons without explanation, though it was obvious the disqualification had to do with his military record.

Still, Gbulie was not a bitter man, according to Adinuba, who recalled several efforts the former Nigerian army engineer made to get young Igbo people to eschew violence and embrace peace and dialogue in the resolution of national issues.

Having lost a war, the retired gallant army officer used to argue, it would be suicidal to embark on a campaign that would make the same people lose another war within a short period without fully exploring all options.

The commissioner also recalled the high intelligence which Gbulie displayed at Government College Umuahia, in todays Abia State, and during his training in different military institutions in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and United States in the 1960s.

It is a mark of his brilliance that his books like Nigerias Five Majors, which was published in the early 1980s, remain among the most quoted and cited works on the countrys recent history, Adinuba observed.

In a letter to the Ogunsanya family, Adinuba commended the late Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya for being principle-centred like her legendary father, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was at different times Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, a Minister of the Federal Republic in the First Republic of 1960 to 1966 and the NPP National Chairman in the Second Republic of 1979 to 1983.

Even when she was threatened with removal from office if she continued to support the reelection of her principal, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, in 2011, she stuck to her guns.

Her stand is reminiscent of her fathers principled refusal to yield to strong pressures from ethnic politicians to abandon The Great Zik of Africa.

The statement recalled that Chief Ogunsanya was abandoned in death by a lot of his kinsmen for insisting on remaining fiercely loyal to Nigerias greatest nationalist ever.

Consequently, recalled Adinuba, the Igbo practically took over his funeral, and Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanaya was on hand to play the role of a wonderful hostess.

It is heartwarming that despite certain steps to downplay Chief Ogunsanyas role in national development, the people and government of Lagos State have memorialized him, as demonstrated by the naming of a major street in Surulere and a college of education in Ojo for him.

History will always be kind to nationalists like Dr Azikiwe, Chief Ogunsanya and Princess Aderenle Adeniran Ogunsanya.

Signed

C. Don Adinuba

Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment.
The infrastructural development Kaduna state is undergoing is phenomenal. It has been said that if Malam Nasiru El-Rufai had had the support of the states legislative team at the federal level during his first tenure, perhaps Kaduna would have become an irresistible tourist destination today. A tourist destination not because of historical artifacts, but due to the force of its new look that would have compelled Mr. and Ms. Curiosity to come and confirm for themselves. It seems almost unbelievable that in Nigeria, a states facilities could be multiplying at this speed and under cash crunch too.

A Kaduna state indigene living outside its shores recently came home after a long while. Seeing the transformation Kaduna is witnessing, my friend got emotional pushing back tears of awe, Malam ya fidda mu kunya, (literally translated Malam has removed us from shame), Malam is making us proud. The hospitals, the roads, the schools, the markets, dysfunctional systems in the civil service and education, the aesthetics, Malam left nothing untouched.

To many like minds with this writer who have been impressed with Malam right from his stint in the Federal Capital territory as Minister, its a vindication of our trust in his capabilities, bestowed on him by the Almighty alone. This writer carries this feeling of being vindicated about Nasiru El-Rufai. He had done more before. Malam is the type of fearless leader Nigeria deserves today, intellectually versatile, business wise, frank in meaning what he says, frank in these days of eye service and sweet nonsense promises pouring from mouths of some political officers. Malam is not the usual Nigerian politician; he is blessed with willingness to accomplish what he sets out to do. Kaduna citizens have learnt not to joke with Malams directives.

These are some characteristics Malam shares with Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, of recent, some online posters recommending the latter to vie for Kaduna state governorship surfaced in some media platforms that got this writer elated. If Mukhtar would succeed Malam, Kaduna shall continue to rise, Kaduna shall continue to shine, I tell you so.

There has not been any position that Mukhtar held that did not witness remarkable change. His style of leadership is that of get it done or commot for road. Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar is a seasoned public administrator and a manager of human and material resources. Wherever he went, he left behind a legacy of pubic oriented services with visible records. Abdullahi Mukhtar had served Kaduna state with a distinctive record of being the longest and most outstanding head of a state agency then.

His exemplarily management and expertise in organizational handling in the state board made the Late President Umar Musa Yaradua to bestow a national honour of Member Order of Niger (MON) on Abdullahi Muhammed Mukhtar. He was also the youngest recipient of such honour at that period.

It should be noted that Hajj was not just about religious services but rather a diversified management of human and material resources which required in-depth knowledge of financial management, human relations, diplomacy, security, crowd control, disaster management, health, aviation rudiments, transport and management of information for efficient service delivery to the public.

So far, Abdullahi Mukhtars sojourn in national hajj commission of Nigeria placed him in advantageous position to consolidate and tackle security challenges in the state. As a former head of an agency that manages the affairs of Nigerians in a foreign country, he has the experience of interfacing and working with virtually all security agencies and para military in the country. He has had seamless collaboration with the Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Military, Civil Defense, Road Safety, Custom, Immigration, NDLEA, Fire Services and even local vigilantes in the course of discharging his responsibility.

This writer will not bore the reader reeling out Mukhtars achievements that earned Kaduna state and Nigeria prestigious awards. His signature is stamped wherever Hajj advancement in Nigeria is mentioned: whether in or out of office- he laid significant foundations for Hajj development in Nigeria. Because he is blessed with foresight, he calculates and plans ten years ahead of others.

His financial prudence gave birth to a Multi Millionaire Corporate Head office of a Federal Agency that is not e revenue generating body. He entrenched culture of self sufficient by exiting Government from funding of on shore and off shore components of Hajj without additional burden on pilgrims. Before he left office, Government was only paying salary of staff of the agency.

Before he assumed the position of Chairman of NAHCON, the organization was operating from a rented office. Such is the trademark of a man with sterling administrative qualities. Abdullahi Mukhtar achievement in this regard is like a saying that when money realizes that it is in good hands, it wants to stay and multiply in those hands. He succeeded in extracting something from nothing; the purchase of a befitting cooperate head office for a federal government agency is a rare feat in this times and something to be proud of.

The writers conviction is that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai and Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad are two of a kind that will fit into the same wheel of progress at state and federal level. Although the former has not shown interest in leading Nigeria at the helm, yet, one has not stopped praying to God the Creator of Nigeria to make El-Rufai its president perchance sanity will return to our motherland.

Though, his well wishers have loud their microphone calling on him to vie for the State Governor. In response, Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed recently told journalists that he is making consultations and praying over the issue. May the good Lord choose Mukhtar to lead Kaduna in the next political dispensation for replication of successful initiatives. If this writers prayer comes true, surely, I will again be vindicated.

Bola Bashir writes from Kaduna


The National Assembly, on Monday, transmitted the new updated Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly (The Red Chamber) disclosed this through a statement signed by him after the transmission.

In the statement titled, Transmission of the Electoral Bill 2022, reads, The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Olatunde Amos Ojo, has transmitted the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022 to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on 31st January 2022.

This was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.

Mr. President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on 19th November 2021. The electoral bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the same on 25th January 2022.

The National Assembly had since Tuesday last week re-amended the electoral bill for the second time by concurring on consensus candidacy and setting fresh conditions for political parties in the nomination of candidates for elections.

The President had last year December withdrawn his assent from the electoral bill and returned the Bill to the National Assembly over what he claimed as restriction of political parties to direct primary, insisting on the direct or indirect.

The House had reworked Clause Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010, which is Clause 84 of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, by inserting the indirect primary option.

The Senate, however, not only included indirect primary but also opted for consensus adoption of candidates for elections by a political party.
I am not a cheat, says Phuket taxi driver

PHUKET: The Phuket taxi driver at the centre of the furore over videos of him berating a Thai tourist and his girlfriend in Kamala on Friday night has defended his behaviour, saying he became enraged after he was called a cheat.

tourismtransportpatong

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 31 January 2022, 12:23PM

The van Mr Jetsada uses to taxi passengers around the island, and from in front of Cafe del Mar in Kamala. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket taxi driver Jetsada Bang Num Kahapana said he got angry after he was called a cheat. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Jetsada Bang Num Kahapana made his defence yesterday after being approached by reporters to explain his threatening tirade, which started going viral on TikTok.

Mr Jesada also told The Phuket News that the vehicle he uses to transport passengers is a 10-seater VIP van.

B600 from Kamala to Patong would not be expensive, he said.

Mr Jetsada said he approached the couple, Kevin Phol and his girlfriend, as they were walking out of the Cafe del Mar club as the club was closing.

I asked him if he wanted to take a taxi or not, but they did not answer me and walked past me, Mr Jetsada said.

They talked with a tuk-tuk driver for a while and then walked back to the taxi queue again, he said.

Mr Phol had asked the tuk-tuk driver how much to go to a resort on Nanai Rd in Patong, Mr Jetsada added.

He didnt ask me first. He asked another colleague of mine, but since my car was the first in the queue for service, my friend pointed at me to specify that this is the driver [Mr Phol had no choice but to use], he continued.

Mr Jetsada said there was no negotiation between himself and Mr Phol about the fare to be taken from Kamala to Patong.

You are a cheat are the first words that they said to me. Then I asked them, How did I cheat you?

He showed me that in the Bolt app it was only B168 from Kamala to Patong and accused me of cheating," Mr Jetsada said. (A screenshot provided to The Phuket News yesterday showed the fare quoted was B165).

I told them that if theyre happy with the price in the app, go for that price. I still confirm that my taxi is a local taxi. My taxi price is B600, which is the price that has been used since the service here opened to tourists, Mr Jetsada claimed.

They still accused me of cheating on the price when they hadnt even used my services yet, he said.

So I asked him why they say that I cheated on the price. Your money is still in your pocket," Mr Jetsada continued.

At that moment, I started to get angry, he added.

I didnt force or threaten them that they must take only my taxi. They can choose to use the service to the fullest, Mr Jetsada said.

Asked why, as explained by Mr Phol, that the Bolt driver had said that he could not pick up anyone from in front of the cafe, Mr Jetsada said, Thats because the app has to pin the location. Any customer from any country that uses the app, the app will pin the customer pick-up point to the front of the Inter-Con [interContinental Phuket Resort].

Mr Jetsada ignored the reports that other taxi drivers would not pick up any customers from in front of the club because of fear of reprisal attacks by the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers already at the taxi rank in front of the club.

Mr Jesada continued his defence, deflecting the key issue by focussing on the claim that he had raised his middle finger at Mr Phols girlfriend.

Mr Jesada claimed he never did this. He said that he only pointed his finger in mr Phols face.

You can see the evidence from the clip, he said.

I didnt even turn to look at the woman because I assumed that she is her mothers gender," he said.

What can be plainly seen in the video clips posted on TikTok is Mr Jetsada scolding Mr Phols girlfriend at close range shouting loudly and waving and pointing his finger close to her face while she recorded the incident on her phone.

They still provoked me to anger many times, Mr Jetsada continued.

They did not end the fight [argument, the incident never resulted in physical contact] even though the police had already arrived on the scene, he said.

Today [Jan 30], Kamala Police contacted me to give a statement explaining the details of what happened, but I still dont know what offence I have been charged with," he said yesterday.

The Phuket office of the Land Transport Department [PLTO] also called me to come to their office to clarify the details tomorrow [today, Jan 31], he said.
Police ordered to investigate Kamala taxi rip-off

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong has ordered Kamala Police to investigate the incident in Kamala on Friday night that resulted in videos showing a Phuket taxi driver angrily berating a Thai tourist couple for calling him a cheat start to go viral on the TikTok platform.

tourismtransportcrimepolice

By The Phuket News

Monday 31 January 2022, 01:45PM

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong said that legal action would be taken, if any wrongdoing was found. photo: Radio Thailand Phuket

If any wrongdoing is found, we will take legal action immediately, he said in a public statement yesterday (Jan 30).

The incident involved Kebin Phol, son of online celebrity SuperdocYo, and his girlfriend as they attempted to hire a taxi to take them from the Cafe del Mar club in Kamala to the hotel where they were staying on Nanai Rd in Patong.

The couple were told they had one choice of taxi driver, Jetsada Bang Num Kahapana and his 10-seater VIP van. The fare they were asked to pay was B600.

Mr Phol attempted to hire a private taxi driver using a Grab and Bolt app on his phone. He was cited B165 for the fare, but the driver refused to pick up the couple from in front of the club due to fear of reprisal by the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers already parked at the taxi rank there.

Videos of the incident posted on TikTok have sparked widespread criticism of Phukets tuk-tuk and taxi drivers for their stranglehold on public transport in Phuket and the fares they charge tourists, and local residents.

Officials were not spared from the criticism for allowing the situation to continue, especially in light of how much financial hardship Phuket people have suffered due to the COVID-19 impact on tourism.

Mr Jetsada told reporters yesterday that he became angry after he was called a cheat.

Police were called on Friday night and Mr Phol was taken to Kamala Police Station, where his statement to police was accepted as a formal complaint noted as Criminal Case 30/2656.

Mr Jetsada was not taken to the police station at the same time. Instead he was called to present himself at Kamala Police Station late yesterday afternoon.

Present to question Mr Jetsada was Kamala Police Deputy Superintendent Pol Lt Col Somnuk Damkaew.

Mr Jetsada told the police his same description of events he told reporters earlier yesterday, that he reacted angrily only after he was called a cheat.

The first word he said back was, Youre a cheat, instead of negotiating that it was too expensive, Mr Jetsada said.

Mr Jetsada said that the Grab and Bolt drivers were much cheaper because their car is a low-cost taxi.

This price [the B600 Mr Jetsada offered] has been available since the restaurant opened and may be increased according to distance or the number of passengers, he said.

To say that going to Patong costs B500 [sic], its probably not fixed, but sometimes the number of passengers is five to six people. The price will move up accordingly. The average price will be B500, he said, according to a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).

The price of B600 is due to the distance going into Soi Baan Nanai, which is far enough from the city of Patong, as well as being late at night, but he [Mr Phol] insisted that I was a liar.

I said to go using the car through the application if he wanted. There was no coercion or anything, said Mr Jesada, according to the report.

The official PR Phuket report made no mention of the Grab or Bolt driver refusing to pick up passengers from in front of the club due to fear of reprisal by the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers already parked at the taxi rank there.
Powerless to take action, PLTO promises to investigate taxi driver

PHUKET: Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Chief Jaturong Keawkasi has gone public to obscurely defend the fares charged by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket.

tourismtransportcrime

By The Phuket News

Monday 31 January 2022, 04:34PM

Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Chief Jaturong Keawkasi. Photo: Radio Thailand Phuket

Under the theme that he was explaining the fares charged by tuk-tuks and taxis in Phuket, Mr Jaturong announced that his office will investigate the incident in Kamala on Friday that has since gone viral online, and take any action deemed necessary.

The incident involved a taxi driver intimidating a Thai tourist couple who called him a cheat for offering to take them from Kamala to Patong for B600.

However, Mr Jatrongs explanation obliqued that under the current arrangement between the islands taxi cartels and provincial officials, his office is powerless to do anything.

Mr Jaturong said the explanation was needed after the case of a Facebook user named Kevin Phol published a clip of a taxi driver in Kamala Beach calling a fare of B600 from the front of a cafe to his accommodation at Patong Beach, but didnt go due to the high price.

Mr Jaturong said that Mr Phol being taken to the police station, and not the taxi driver involved, only added to Mr Phols confusion as he was the one being intimidated.

Mr Jaturong failed to name the taxi driver involved in the incident, Jetsada Kahapana.

He also failed to note that Mr Jetsada quoted the price of B600 to take the couple to Patong.

People on social media have widely criticized the incident. Many people who have traveled to Phuket have posted many comments about what may have been called different expensive fares [sic], Mr Jaturong said.

For taxi fares, whether it is a taxi or van, that are in the system of the province [registered to be operated in Phuket] and with the PLTO, there are fares that have been set as standard by the Phuket Governor, Mr Jaturong said, without clarifying that they were NOT set by the current Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew.

There has been an announcement regarding the rate of hire of passenger vehicles in Phuket which was enacted on Oct 29 last year to prevent the exploitation of passengers or the deception of tourists,,,, he added.

...by which the fares set that the passenger shall pay shall be considered [sic] as the highest rate for no more than four passengers and the price can be negotiated between the passenger and the driver, he said.

The fare for Kamala Beach to Patong Beach is B400, which if the customer does not like the price, the customer can refuse, Mr Jaturong explained.

Mr Jaturong did not elaborate on any other options available for passengers, and made no mention of Grab or Bolt taxi services. He did not even mention metered taxis.

In the case of the driver calling for a fare that is higher than the price announced by the province, the PLTO will call the taxi driver to investigate the facts to carry out the procedures of the law, he said

Of note, the Oct 29 order Mr Jaturong referred to did not mark any new agreed fares to be charged by Phuket taxi drivers. The only order given by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew on that day was for tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to follow the rules already laid down. (See story here.)

Governor Narong in July last year ordered an investigation into the fares charged by taxi drivers at Phuket International Airport after yet another tourist went public about being overcharged.

That investigation went nowhere. Despite talks involving Tanee Suebrerk, Deputy-Director of the Department of Land Transport. Airport taxi operators agreed to charge 20% off the set fares as long as the COVID crisis continues.

Giving an example, the taxi drivers used to charge B1,000 for travelling from the airport to Kata, a distance they said was about 46km, but their drivers were now charging only B800.

Again, of note, Mr Jetsada quoted B600 to take Mr Phol and his girlfriend from Kamala to Patong.

As for the intimidation of passengers, the police will conduct an investigation of the facts if the passenger filed a legal action in accordance with the law, Mr Jaturong said.

Mr Jaturong referring to the set price from Kamala to Patong being B400 is accurate, though he neglected to explain that the set rates were made by agreement only between the islands taxi cartels and provincial officials.

The rates were set in 2013 (see full links below) after the Royal Thai Police, backed by the Royal Thai Army, conducted a sweep of the island to tidy up the tuk-tuk and taxi industries, especially following violent attacks on tourists and the rising number of complaints clearly exposing attempts to extort money from visiting tourists.

The number of complaints are continuing to rise in recent months, with one tourist complaining in july last year that he was quoted the equivalent of B200 a kilometre for a taxi ride in Phuket Town.

Another incident saw Phuket Tourist Police post a notice listing the set fares from Phuket airport, also in July last year.

Phuket officials last attempted to lower the set fares in 2016.

Phukets taxi cartels said, No.

The maximum fares for chartered taxis in Phuket as set by the government by agreement only in 2013. To download high-resolution images of the set fares for each area, click the following links:

Set fares official notice, click here.

From Patong, click here.

From Karon, click here.

From Kata Beach, click here.

From Phuket Town, click here.

From Phuket Airport, click here.

From Rawai, click here.

From Cherng Talay, click here.

From Kamala, click here.

From Nai Yang, click here.

From Mai Khao, click here.

From Layan Beach, click here.

Form Koh Siray, click here.

From Ao Por, click here.

From Bang Rong (Pa Khlok), click here.
Salem, MO (65560)

Today

Rain likely. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
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.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The National Carpet Museum has displayed colorful tapestries by incredibly talented artist Tamilla Abdullayeva.

The artist draws inspiration from the beauty and richness of nature. For the artist, the exhibition has become the second personal one in her life. Her first personal exhibition was held at the State University of Culture and Arts in 2015.

Abdullayeva's second personal exhibition presents sketches, tapestries, carpets, including a series of works "Butterflies", "Trees", "Ancient Azerbaijani symbols", "Natural elements", "Seasons", as well as abstract and floral compositions created between 1990 and 2022.

The exhibition showcases eye-catching carpets "Islimibyandlik", "Afshan", "Flowers in a Vase" which serve as a tribute act to the artist's mentor, outstanding carpet designer, People's Artist Latif Karimov.

Tamilla Abdullayeva mastered the profession of a tapestry artist in Tbilisi. Since then, she has been boundlessly in love with this type of art.

After returning to Baku, Abdullayeva started working in the carpet museum, and then entered the State University of Culture and Arts.

Speaking at the exhibition, the director of the National Carpet Museum, Honored Cultural Worker Shirin Malikova stressed that Tamilla Abdullayeva is also actively engaged in teaching activities. She shares her art secrets with students of the State University of Culture and Arts.

The Carpet Museum director noted that the exhibition features 55 art pieces. The number of exhibits was chosen not accidentally. It is timed to coincide with the 55th anniversary of the National Carpet Museum.

The rector of the State University of Culture and Arts Jeyran Makhmudova expressed her gratitude to the museum for organizing a personal exhibition of the university teacher.

She emphasized that the artist puts a lot of work into her art and each museum visitor will definitely find an art piece that is close to him.

Tamilla Mammadova, professor at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, said that Abdullayeva's art is recognized among others by its unique style and color palette. Her creations are a synthesis, a combination of carpet and tapestry.

Further, the guests of the event viewed tapestries which stand out with beautiful ornaments and rich colors.

The exhibition will be followed by a meeting with the artist, master classes in the art of tapestry and thematic excursions. The exposition will last until February 25, 2022.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week is taking place this year from February 1 to 7 under the theme No one should talk to themselves that way. If youre struggling with an eating disorder, were here for you.

This years theme spotlights the unhealthy voice of the illness in people living with an eating disorder (ED), the voice in their heads thats negative and pervasive. Self-talk like youre disgusting or you should be ashamed is constantly running through their minds. This talk, the voice of the illness, bullies people into unhealthy behaviour and perpetuates the vicious circle of disordered eating. Its important for all everyone to bear in mind that no one should talk to themselves or be talked to that way.

A gentle, caring approach is needed to help peoples positive inner voice come to the fore. The organizations spearheading EDA Week in Quebec  Anorexia and Bulimia Quebec (ANEB), and Maison L'Eclaircie  encourage positive, constructive self-talk, such as Im beautiful, Im brave, Im strong, in order to silence the eating disorder voice.

EDA Week 2022 is an ideal opportunity to quell this type of negative chatter, which is neither healthy nor helpful. Learning to love our bodies and ourselves can be a long process in which its sometimes difficult to find our way.

We have to learn to empower our healthy inner voice collectively. Its hard to compliment and congratulate ourselves. To be gentle and compassionate with ourselves. And its even harder to do so openly, says Myriame Trudel, Executive Director of Maison L'Eclaircie.

This Eating Disorders Awareness Week, lets start to observe our self-talk together, and make way in our minds, our conversations, and on social media for positive messages that reflect who we are, that bring us together and that make us feel good, urges Josee Champagne, Executive Director of ANEB.

Throughout EDA Week 2022, tools will be available for everyone on the website at www.semainetroublesalimentaires.com

Events organized by EDA Week 2022 initiators in Quebec and their partners will be held across the province as part of this awareness campaign. You can find out about these events by visiting www.semainetroublesalimentaires.com/calendrier/

The level of distress experienced by people with eating disorders is as high now as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. The new variants, successive restrictions, curfews, the lack of resources and economic uncertainty have fuelled feelings of distress, isolation, anxiety, and depression. At ANEB, online requests for help continue to be very high. In 2021, some 1,900 people more than in 2020 turned to online services for assistance. At Maison L'Eclaircie theres presently a waiting list of 60 people wanting to get into a support group or an individual follow-up session. This represents a three to six-month wait.

 Eating Disorders Awareness Week

 www.semainetroublesalimentaires.com

 #EDAW2022, #MonDiscoursInterieur, #MyInnerVoice

 AB
Bill Gouveia is a Sun Chronicle columnist and longtime local official. Reach him at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and follow him @Billinsidelook .
The Illinois General Assembly has been working around a condensed schedule due to the omicron variant, with multiple in-person days canceled so far this calendar year. However, that doesn't mean the General Assembly has stopped work altogether. Quite a few bills have been introduced to both houses so far in 2022. Here's a quick roundup of some of those bills proposed most recently.

Senate Bill 4002, introduced by state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, on Jan. 21, would appropriate a total of $15 million from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for provision to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics for specified grants and expenses. The bill would provide that no less than 70% of the funds be used for expenses relating to free and charitable clinics serving minority populations.

SB 4021, introduced on Jan. 21 by Sen. Emil Jones, III, D-Chicago, would provide that arbitrators' decisions involving peace officer terminations or suspensions of more than 30 days are subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review Law. For the purposes of an arbitration proceeding concerning alleged misconduct by a peace officer, a law enforcement agency (or, if applicable, a civilian or community oversight board, agency or review body) has the burden of proof by a preponderance of evidence to show that the officer engaged in the alleged misconduct.

In addition, if the imposed disciplinary action is the termination of employment, an arbitrator may not set aside or reduce the imposed disciplinary action if setting aside or reducing the disciplinary action is inconsistent with the public interest in maintaining community trust, enforcing a higher standard of conduct for officers and ensuring an accountable, fair and just disciplinary process. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board would also be held to adopt rules that prescribe uniform standards of conduct and disciplinary standards and procedures.

SB 4034, introduced on Jan. 21 by Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, would require the Department of Public Health to create the Division of Men's Health within the Office of Health Promotion, concentrated on raising awareness of specified health issues specific to men. The Division would be required to complete an annual assessment in collaboration with the schools of public health in Illinois on the status of men's health and recommend policy developments to address those needs.

SB 3907, introduced on Jan. 21 by Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, would provide that an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may teach up to 15 (currently five) consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under contract. Additionally, a school district may hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License for teacher absences lasting six or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract, if the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency.

SB 3914, introduced on Jan. 21 by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Plainfield, would require the school board of each school district to grant full-time employees of the district five mental health days each school year at full pay. The bill would also state that the employee is not required to provide a medical note or other documentation to use the mental health day. Used and uncompensated mental health days would not be eligible for pensionable service credit under the Illinois Pension Code.

SB 3935, introduced on Jan. 21 by a bipartisan group of senators, including Sens. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, Doris Turner, D-Springfield and Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, would preserve and expand access to Medicaid community mental health care in Illinois to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and avoid the criminalization of mental health conditions.

SB 3854, introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Highwood, on Jan. 21 would create the Flavored Tobacco Ban Act, providing that a tobacco retailer or his or her agents or employees may not sell, offer for sale or possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale a flavored tobacco product, flavored related tobacco product, flavored alternative nicotine product or flavored solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes.

SB 3899, introduced by Sens. Neil Anderson, R-Moline and Darren Bailey, R-Louisville, would provide that a defendant who was at least 18 years old at the time of the offense and who was found guilty of first-degree murder may be sentenced to death if the murdered individual was a peace officer killed in the course of performing their official duties, to prevent the performance of their duties or in retaliation for performing their official duties, and the defendant knew or should have known the murdered individual was a peace officer. In addition, SB 3714, introduced the same day by Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Champaign, is very similar with the addition of adding firemen, emergency medical technicians, ambulance drivers or other medical assistance or first aid personnel employed by a municipality or other governmental unit to peace officers, as well as employees of an institution or facility of the Department of Corrections and investigators or caseworkers with the Adult Protective Services Program and other state programs.

SB 3718, introduced by Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, on Jan. 21, would create the Teacher Loan Repayment Program for student debts, providing that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission consider applications for forgiving portions of qualified applicants' education loans each year. Up to 10% of the applicant's yearly loan balance shall be forgiven each year for five years or until 50% of the applicant's outstanding balance at the time of initial application is paid off.

House Bill 5522, introduced on Jan. 28 by Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, would make it unlawful to deliver, sell or purchase or cause to be delivered, sold or purchased or cause to be possessed by another, an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle or .50 caliber cartridge. The bill would further make it unlawful for any person to knowingly possess an assault weapon, .50 caliber rifle or .50 caliber cartridge 300 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, except possession of weapons registered with the Illinois State Police in the time provided.
GODFREY  Services are planned Saturday, Feb. 5, for John Thomas "Tom" Long.

The prominent Godfrey attorney who helped launch riverboat gambling in Illinois died Friday morning at his home surrounded by his family. He was 71.

The Army veteran was licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri and was a former Madison County Assistant States Attorney. He was Madison County Republican Chairman 1986 to 1991 and a delegate to the 1988 Republican Convention. He hosted President George H. W. Bush in Madison County for the 1988 Lincoln Day Dinner and a September 1988 campaign rally in Alton. He also was a former elector of the Electoral College of the Republican Party for Illinois.

When Illinois voted to allow riverboat gambling, Long was instrumental in the Alton Belle becoming the first site in the state in 1991. He also served as CEO and vice chairman of Argosy Gaming Co.

"He was the man behind bringing the Alton Belle to Madison County and steering it through the formative years," Edwardsville attorney Gordy Broom noted on Long's tribute page at Gent Funeral Home. "In those days we were all at the top of our game and we enjoyed the challenges and the excitement of it all."

Born in Kankakee, Long was the oldest of six children. He earned a bachelor's degree in in Business and Accounting from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, where he also was a founding member of the Sigma Chi fraternity there. He earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and his C.P.A. from the University of Illinois.

He was a law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice and Locke, Purnell, Laney & Neeley, P.C. He also was a tax specialist with Coopers & Lybrand, CPAs; a partner with Farrell, Heil, Long & St. Peters, P.C.; then a partner at Farrell and Long, P.C.; Of Counsel with Farrell, Hunter, Hamilton & Julian P.C.; and Of Counsel with Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard, P.C.

He also was chairman of the board and principal shareholder of First National Bank of Grant Park and First Community Bank of Godfrey.

A member of the Vaughn Hill Church of Christ in East Alton, Long also was a member of the OSF St. Anthonys Health Center Board of Directors, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Madison County Bar Association, the Alton-Wood River Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois CPA Society, the Illinois Community Bankers Association, the Southern Illinois Employers Association and Southwestern Illinois Growth Association. Tom was a member of Vaughn Hill Church of Christ.

Graveside services with full military honors are planned for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Sunset Hills Cemetery, 50 Fountain Drive, in Glen Carbon. A visitation is planned 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Vaughn Hill Church of Christ, 662 S. Bellwood Drive, East Alton, with a memorial service at 3 p.m. Gent Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements; in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jackie Long Foundation, c/o Dennis and Anne Long, 312 Indian Hills Court, Rantoul, IL 61866.
Joe Silkwood

EAST ALTON  Joe Silkwood plans to announced his bid to represent the 111th legislative district at a campaign event set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Machinists Union Hall in East Alton.

Silkwood, the former mayor East Alton, said he is ready to build a stronger Illinois and will stand with working class families against right-to-work efforts. The Democrat also said he will work to expand job training opportunities and bring new economic development to the district currently represented by state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Fosterburg.
London, KY (40741)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
IVY GOODMAN, Stonington, Girls, Lacrosse, Senior; Goodman scored 12 goals and had 13 assists in three games. Her seven assists in the Bears win over Waterford established a school record. She surpassed the 50-goal mark for the season in Stoningtons victory over Ledyard.

DEAN PONS JR., Westerly, Baseball, Senior; Pons, a senior, struck out 14 batters in the Bulldogs five-inning win against Wheeler School/Rocky Hill. Pons had an assist on the remaining out, throwing out a runner on a groundout. Pons allowed just one hit and walked only two.

KATIE PIERCE, Wheeler, Girls, Lacrosse, Sophomore; Pierce scored five goals and the Lions beat Griswold to earn their first victory of the season. Wheeler avenged an earlier loss to the Wolverines this season with the 15-4 victory.

WEEKO THOMPSON, Chariho, Girls, Track Sophomore; Thompson, a sophomore, bettered her school record in the discus at the Classical Classic meet. She finished first in the event and also won the shot put.

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Specialist recruiter SThree has seen its share price surge by 12.6 per cent today after it revealed earning its highest-ever annual fees and profits.

The company's adjusted pre-tax profits more than doubled year-on-year to 60.2million, with net fees rising by 19 per cent to 355.7million in the 12 months ending 30 November.

Trade was buoyed by its three largest markets; Germany, the Netherlands and the USA, which comprise almost three-quarters of its fee income and where net fees increased by 23 per cent, 24 per cent, and 19 per cent, respectively.

Strong results: SThree's adjusted pre-tax profits more than doubled to 60.2million and net fees rose by 19 per cent to 355.7million in the 12 months ending November 30

But it reported healthy growth across all regions and key markets thanks to a massive rise in demand for skills in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) industries in which it specialises.

This followed a much weaker performance in 2020 when the employment market was severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns.

The firm also attributed its performance to the rise in flexible working and growing numbers of traditional retailers, as well as sectors like healthcare and education, ramping up their investment in technology in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

It said this had, in turn, led to a greater need for people with skills in fields like artificial intelligence and data analytics, as well as engineers, to help advance this move to automation.

However, SThree also put its stronger showing down to the rebound in elective surgeries, which were postponed by health authorities in 2020, and demand for jobs associated with decarbonisation.

Technology, the group's biggest sector, was buoyed by a significant expansion in infrastructure and software development jobs within its major markets, as well as open-source software and cybersecurity roles.

Positive: Interim CEO Timo Lehne said: 'Our record-breaking full-year performance reported today demonstrates that we have a robust strategy focusing on STEM and flexible working'

Its next largest industry, life sciences, grew by 25 per cent, thanks to what it called 'standout' results in the US, where there was solid growth in demand for clinical research and quality assurance staff.

Interim chief executive Timo Lehne said: 'Our record-breaking full-year performance reported today demonstrates that we have a robust strategy focusing on STEM and flexible working, implemented by a talented management team, and the hard work of our people globally.'

He added: 'Whether it is engineers building green infrastructure, developers aiding digital transformation or the scientists helping to develop the next life-changing drug, we are proud to have placed more than 22,000 skilled people [in FY21].'

SThree said that the year has begun with 'strong forward momentum' since then, and it is expecting to record double-digit increase in net fees and profit this year.

The London-listed recruitment firm is the latest to recently declare impressive growth in income, following fourth-quarter results published by PageGroup and Robert Walters just under three weeks ago.

Competition: Labour shortages across blue-and white-collar industries has led to a war for talent between businesses. Many have responded by substantially hiking their starting salaries

Like SThree, these two companies said their finances had been augmented by shortages in available candidates, which has been exacerbated throughout the developed world by the pandemic.

This has been caused by lower levels of immigration, a greater demand amongst employees for more flexible and better-paid work, and higher numbers of people leaving their jobs; a phenomenon commonly referred to as the 'Great Resignation.'

THIS IS MONEY PODCAST What's the point in saving when inflation is so high?

A war for talent between businesses in both blue- and white-collar industries has erupted as a consequence. Many have responded by substantially hiking their starting salaries for new recruits.

SThree's latest trading update comes on the same day education publisher Pearson announced plans to expand its offering to businesses looking to train and retain workers amid tight labour markets and rapid technological innovation.

Meanwhile, French insurance firm Descartes Underwriting, which raised $120million from investors in early-stage fundraising, said it would use part of the capital to hire new staff, particularly software engineers.
Mark Carney has added to the roster of jobs he has taken on since stepping down as Bank of England governor in 2020.

The 56-year-old Canadian economist will be a senior counsellor at consultancy firm Macro Advisory Partners.

He will advise clients on issues such as cryptocurrencies, the post-pandemic economy and the outlook for global trade, the group said.

In demand: Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney will be a senior counsellor at consultancy firm Macro Advisory Partners

The British-American consultancy has worked with firms including Apple, Glaxosmithkline, Bank of America, Mastercard and PwC.

Carney has taken up a series of roles since his tenure at the Bank ended.

He is the United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance  a job tasking him with persuading banks and investors to stump up billions to tackle global warming.

On his Linkedin profile he is listed as vice chairman at Brookfield Asset Management, a board member at fintech firm Stripe, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Pimco and the World Economic Forum.

Carney, who was governor at the Bank from 2013 to 2020, served as Boris Johnsons finance adviser for the Cop 26 climate change summit last year.
BAE Systems is on the hunt for space companies as it races to bolster its satellite communications work.

The FTSE 100 defence giant is looking at bolt-on takeovers as it develops cutting-edge programmes such as the Tempest project to design the next generation of fighter jets.

Air combat is becoming increasingly reliant on space technology and communications.

Future air combat: BAE Systems is looking at bolt-on takeovers as it develops cutting-edge programmes such as the Tempest project to design the next generation of fighter jets

An industry source said: BAE has been sniffing around and looking at space companies that could further its military work, not commercial.

BAE exited some work in this area previously but now knows that for future combat aircraft such as the Tempest programme  there is a heavy reliance on space for communications.

The source added: I think theyre looking at small, niche companies for now, possibly university spin-offs.

Its about having the knowledge of how to manage communications and other capabilities with satellites which means they wont have to be reliant on someone else.

BAE bought In-Space Missions, a small British satellite company, for around 13million last year.

The most recent government survey of the UK space industry found more than 45,000 people were working in the 16.4billion sector.

Mark Boggett, chief executive at space investment group Seraphim Capital, said there is a rich crop of home-grown firms that are becoming targets for both British and overseas buyers.

Boggett said: I believe theres a large number of UK companies that will be caught up in a wider consolidation.

A recent report by Oxford Economics found that BAE generated more than 10billion for UK GDP in 2020, equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the entire British economy.

A spokesman for the group said: We dont comment on speculation. We continue to consider investments in value-enhancing acquisitions.
SPARKS [mdash] Mrs. Mattie L. Clements Martin, 93, of Sparks, Georgia, passed away at her granddaughter's home on April 25, 2022. Mrs. Martin was born on January 17, 1929 in Colquitt County to the late Ivey Lane Hart and Ola Gay Hart. She lived most of her life in Cook County and was of the 
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Kingsport, TN (37660)

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Partly cloudy. High 82F. Winds light and variable..

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Cloudy in the evening with scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Webster Groves, MO (63119)

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Periods of rain. Thunder possible. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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ALBANY  Tracy Colemans grandsons usually hang out in front of her familys store when the weather is nice.

But she now counts herself lucky they werent there when a car going 80 miles an hour recently crashed into it while fleeing from police.

It has been several weeks since the incident. Although no one was physically harmed, Coleman and Kevin Skeen, her grandson who owns Food Near Me on North Pearl Street, are still hurting.

Theyve been struggling without the business and are contemplating if it will ever reopen. Closing the stores doors for good is an option Skeen doesnt want to think about since he scraped together nickels and dimes to open Food Near Me.

But he isnt sure he can afford the repairs needed to restore the brightly painted walls to their former glory.

I dont know what will happen, I just have to figure it out like I always do, he said.

Skeens family tried to start a GoFundMe to help with the repair costs, but it didnt get any traction, according to Coleman.

The storefront was wrecked on Jan. 3 when a man fleeing from Albany County Sheriff's deputies drove a car into the building knocking out plywood, coolers, electricity and ruining $2,000 worth of food. Skeen had to close the store after it was deemed structurally unsafe.

The building was recently deemed structurally safe after its landlord, Ronen Hofman, hired an engineer to inspect the damage. Hofman is fixing the storefront wall but is not responsible for the rest of the repairs, which Skeen must shoulder.

(They) can open the store but need to fix the inside, Hofman said. It's very costly to fix everything.

Skeen is still waiting for the vehicle owner's insurance company to complete its investigation into the crash. He said his insurance wont cover him for the repairs and the driver who plowed the car into his store was not an authorized driver on the vehicles insurance.

If the insurance company contends it is not at fault because the driver didnt have permission to take the car, it can get out of paying Skeen for the damages, he noted. Skeen expressed worry about what closing would mean for the community.

It doesnt just affect us, it affects the community. We're the only store around here, he said.

Food Near Me sold a combination of hot and deli foods, as well as some household essentials. Skeen said nearby restaurant owners would come to the store when they ran out of some items like onions. Yet, as Skeen battles to reopen the store and pay its ongoing bills, he hasnt heard much from local eateries.

His family was also kickstarting a youth entrepreneurship program with funding from the store, which is now on hold because of the stores uncertain future.

A similar crash happened to a Delmar gift shop in the fall. The landlord did his part to repair the shop and community members put their arms around the store owners to help the store rebound and stay in business.

Skeen said he hasnt felt the same support from the surrounding downtown community.

He said the county sheriffs office hasnt reached out either, which was disappointing. Mayor Kathy Sheehan and building officials are pushing him to open. But he said he doesnt know how to service customers if he doesnt have the inventory on his shelves to accommodate their needs.

Neither Mayor Sheehan nor building officials responded to the Times Unions request for comment.

It's not really their fault, I guess I understand it, he said.

A report from the sheriffs office concerning the activities leading up to the crash said deputies were led on a police pursuit, although Sheriff Craig Apple said his office will not be taking any responsibility because his guys were not chasing them.

Apple said the driver was stopped by deputies. When the deputies got out of their car and approached the vehicle, the driver fled at a high speed. The sheriff said his deputies continued to travel in that direction to find that car but werent chasing him when it crashed. That was when they found the car in the middle of the storefront.

I feel horrible that the storefront was destroyed, but this individual took off reckless as all hell and crashed into the store, Apple said.

The driver had also fled the crash on foot and was later located in a nearby alley down the street hiding in a dumpster, Apple explained. These details were not documented in the sheriff office's incident report.

The crash happened almost three weeks after Albanys police union paused deputy patrols over safety concerns regarding high-speed chases through the city due to another crash involving sheriff's deputies.

I understand Albany is making a lot of noise about chases, but sometimes you still have to do your function and stop people from doing what they want to do, Apple said.

Apple confirmed he did not reach out to Skeen but said department investigators spoke to Hoffman and Skeen the night of the incident.

I don't normally reach out to everyone after an accident occurs, Apple said.

Coleman said she feels the sheriffs office should have at least reached out to her family.

Even if it was just (to say) were sorry, we can't take any liability for it monetarily... but acknowledge your behavior, she said.

Until Skeen can find the funds to replace what was lost during the crash, the store will remain shuttered.

"I have to spend my own money to make my own money back," he said.
Ten months after marijuana use was legalized for all adults in New York, theres still a long way to go before the states cannabis industry is in full swing. Regulators in the newly formed Cannabis Control Board (CCB) and Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) are often asked when it will become possible to walk into a dispensary to buy cannabis, among other things.

Here are five common questions about the state of legal cannabis in New York, answered:

1. When can I buy weed legally?

No one is licensed to sell (or gift) cannabis in the state of New York yet. Dispensaries and lounges  another name for on-site consumption businesses  will open in New York only after officials finish writing regulations and issuing licenses. Authorities currently are revamping the states cannabinoid hemp and medical marijuana programs.

Were hopeful to see some regulations for the adult-use program this winter, or early spring, said Chris Alexander, the head of the OCM.

Tremaine Wright, the chair of the CCB, said theyve been on an aggressive schedule of 18 months to get the industry up and running; on that timeline, the first dispensaries would presumably be allowed to open their doors sometime around spring 2023.

But Alexander said he and his colleagues are intentionally not giving dates for when products will hit shelves. Though their 18-month estimate is based on what theyve seen in other states, the group is trying to accelerate, trying to see how we can get folks up and running sooner.

Regulators will need to schedule two separate 60-day public comment periods on the pending regulations before they even start accepting license applications. According to CCB member and former Sen. Jen Metzger, the public comment rule means it will take around five months just to firm up a set of regulations. She estimates the licensing process could kick off at the end of the year.

Once retail licenses are handed out, applicants who already have storefronts selling medical marijuana or CBD  the non-psychoactive component of cannabis  could add recreational marijuana to their shelves fairly quickly, as long as they can find a legal in-state supply.

2. Will I be able to buy marijuana in my town?

No municipality can overrule the statewide legalization of pot use. But individual cities, towns and villages were given nine months last year to decide if they wanted to bar it from local shop windows.

Each government had a hard deadline on Dec. 31 to pass a local law banning dispensaries, on-site consumption lounges, or both. Plenty did opt out, with significantly more nixing lounges  analogous to bars  than dispensaries, which are retail shops similar to liquor stores. Those that opted out can opt back in later, and some did so for that reason. Municipalities cannot opt out once opted in.

We said, Lets just wait and see what the state does as far as regulations, how the market develops as well, and ... then make a decision, said Town of Glenville Supervisor Chris Koetzle. Others took this approach, too, including the Town of Rhinebeck.

By the most generous estimates, a little over 50 percent of local governments passed such laws to ban marijuana shops locally. But that may be overstated, since only 34 percent of local governments in the state took the final step to submit their laws to state-level regulators, who will make all final licensing decisions.

You can look up what your leaders decided: state authorities recently released their version of the data on which municipalities passed local opt-out laws, which the Times Union mapped and will continue to update.

3. Whats being done about driving while high?

One of the most frequent concerns residents have raised is that people will drive while under the influence of cannabis. The tools for checking if someone is impaired from marijuana are far behind the tests for blood alcohol levels.

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed that part of the OCMs funding in the next fiscal year should be earmarked for a Drug Recognition Expert program to provide training for law enforcement. The OCM is also working with Hochuls office to increase public awareness about driver safety.

Chris Alexander, the OCM director, said the office will focus on expanding the existing intensive training programs that help police identify impaired drivers. Weve committed to working with the Department of Health on improving the technology as it relates to detecting impairment, Alexander said. We also need to make sure those messages get across: do not drive under the influence of cannabis. That is still illegal.

Another concern for some is children accidentally consuming edibles that are not properly stored.

Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra, who is a member of the New York City and Hudson Valley Cannabis Industry Association as a liaison with New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, said they are pushing for regulations around packaging so children do not mistakenly consume marijuana-laced products.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

4. What does all the talk about social equity mean?

The cannabis legalization bill that passed last spring, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), included a goal to issue 50 percent of licenses to social equity applicants, as well as stipulations to give material support and training to help those applicants succeed.

The category of social equity written into the bill is broad: it includes communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of cannabis prohibition, as well as those who qualify as a minority- or women-owned businesses, distressed farmers, or service-disabled veterans. Lawmakers have proposed bills to include other groups, including trans, nonbinary, lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals.

According to the law, the 50 percent license target is a goal  not a rule. But so far regulators have talked a lot about equity, raising hopes that theyll keep it front and center.

Alexander was one of the policy advisors working from outside of the government to push for marijuana legalization before he was chosen to head up the OCM. He has long been vehement about the negative effects of pot policing on the states Black and brown communities.

As Ive stepped into this role, Ive continued the work that I started, he said. He and his fellow regulators are hoping to build an industry with widespread participation, but one that is not agnostic to the fact that we got here because every day, hundreds of people were being thrown up against walls and told to empty their pockets.

In January, Gov. Hochul and board member Reuben McDaniel III announced a $200 million public-private social equity fund to ensure that social equity applicants who are interested in retail licenses have the funding they need for capital improvements to open their facilities in a timely manner, McDaniel said.

5. How can I get involved?

Any new proposed regulations need to go through a 60-day public comment period, where New York residents can email regulations@ocm.ny.gov with comments.

I cant emphasize enough how important the public comment period piece is, said Metzger. Its important to get peoples feedback.

Aside from writing in public comments, the OCM launched a series of virtual community outreach events called Cannabis Conversations. The 11 meetings, split by region with a statewide session for Spanish speakers, will be hosted by Wright. They represent the first systematic outreach by the board to communities across the state, and will allow residents to hear directly from regulators.

Though Alexander said the events would be online in the interest of public health, he assured viewers of the last control board meeting that once we are able, we will get out there, we will tour the state and engage with you in person.

The Capital Regions and Mid-Hudsons one-hour virtual meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Feb. 15 and 16, respectively. Registration is required.
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ALBANY  A court date for one of the most well-known Black Lives Matter activists in the area has been moved two months after his new attorneys asked for an adjournment to give them time to examine evidence authorities have collected.

Lexis Figuereo was due in city court Monday as part of proceedings against him connected to protests held on April 14 and 22.

His attorneys, Jasper Mills and Mark Misher, received an adjournment from Judge Holly Trexler, pushing the next court date to March 31.

Mishler noted that the case has more than 500 gigabytes of discovery materials that they have not received or reviewed from Figuereos former attorney, who left the case after taking a job outside the area.

Mills also revealed Figuereos defense planned to submit a request for dismissal of the charges in the interest of justice. Another local activist, Jamaica Miles, had her case in Saratoga County dismissed after making a similar request.

Figuereo faces seven misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors offered him a plea deal that called for two months in Albany County jail and three years on probation.

Figuereo previously said he believes Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office was trying to use the threat of jail time to silence him. The district attorneys office has denied that allegation.

On April 14, Albany Black Lives Matter supporters marched from Townsend Park to South Station to protest the death of Daunte Wright, a Minnesota man police killed during a traffic stop.

The protest escalated into a confrontation with police at the station. Protesters smashed a window and one protester was injured when an officer shoved a bullhorn she was holding into her face. That prompted some protesters to set up an encampment on Arch Street, essentially closing the police station to public access for several days.

The protesters demanded changes in how police were disciplined and called for conversations with Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Police Chief Eric Hawkins. Those calls were rebuffed by the city.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

On April 22, police gave the protesters a short time to clear the camp and then destroyed it, forcing protesters from the street. That was followed by a tense, hours-long standoff between police and protesters. Several protesters were arrested. Video footage showed that police covered all or part of their badges, a violation of department policy that city police have never fully explained.

Figuereo was not at the encampment when police cleared it. He appeared later as BLM members tried to rally supporters to the scene. Police said when Figuerero arrived he urged protesters to confront the line of officers while cursing at officers. He allegedly also threw water bottles at officers. Sometime early that evening while walking from his car back toward the protest, he was arrested.

He was charged with inciting a riot on April 14 and 22, as well as unlawful assembly and obstruction of governmental administration. On Sept. 3, prosecutors added three counts of attempted assault for allegedly throwing water bottles.

After the protest, Sheehan ordered an investigation into the issue of officers covering their badges. At a NACCP forum over the summer, Hawkins would not clearly say when officers were allowed to cover their badges or who gave them permission in April. Instead, he said in some instances officers may be allowed to remove their badges, if given permission by commanding officers.

The status of that internal investigation was not clear Monday.
COLONIE  The state Conservative Party kicked off a two-day annual conference at a Latham hotel on Sunday with a list of topics that are expected to be central in this year's election, including bail statutes, redistricting of political boundaries and changes in voting rules.

In November, residents rejected two constitutional amendments that would have paved the way for same-day voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting, a policy that became widely used during the coronavirus pandemic.

Those proposals were overwhelmingly struck down by voters in November. Joseph T. Burns, an attorney who previously worked for the state Board of Elections, reiterated the outcome of those ballot proposals as the thin crowd of roughly 50 attendees in Holiday Inn conference room began to applaud.

The voting changes remain a talking point in New York's political campaigns, but Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill earlier this month that will temporarily end the debate and allow New York voters to cast absentee ballots this year for any reason due to the pandemic.

As part of the governors proposed budget, shes also included a provision that would give voters the chance to register up to 10 days prior to an election. Another measure would place polling sites at colleges and universities with 300 or more registered voters.

One attendee at the conference expressed concern over that initiative. How do we check some of these students? the Dutchess County man asked, questioning whether out-of-state students could vote in New York and in their home state.

How do we track that if they apply for an absentee ballot in Oregon, vote here for Joe Biden and absentee ballot vote for Joe Biden in Oregon?  he continued. How do you prevent that?

Burns, who is from Erie County, pointed out that voting twice in the same election is illegal under federal law and suggested those types of allegations should be reported to law enforcement officials.

Acting Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci addressed the group about changes to bail statutes in New York that have become a focus of this year's election. In 2019, the state passed significant changes to New York's bail and pre-trial discovery laws, which she said have led to the immediate release from custody of most individuals arrested for crimes.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

She said that district attorneys were not consulted by the lawmakers who drafted those changes to criminal procedure law. As a result, the laws are so far in favor of the accused that were now seeing an uptick and major increase in violent crimes across the state, an increased risk to public safety, to witnesses, to victims, Antonacci said.

Before the bail reform laws, judges were give wide discretion to set bail. Antonacci said thats no longer the case.

Judges are no longer able to set bail on most misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies, though there are exceptions. According to Antonacci, 93 percent of misdemeanor criminal offenses and 87 percent of non-violent felony charges would require a judge to release a defendant no matter the circumstances.

So whats the result? Antonacci asked the crowd. Bail reform has tied the hands of judges.

Advocates who support the changes to the bail statutes say under the prior rules that people of color were disproportionately incarcerated while awaiting trial and many would languish in jails for months or even years.

The conference is scheduled to continue Monday with topics that include vaccine mandates and "non-citizens voting."
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SARATOGA SPRINGS  Saratoga Hospital president and CEO Angelo Calbone will retire at the end of the summer, capping a 16-year run in the hospitals top spot.

The decision, which was announced Monday by hospital Board of Trustees Chair Michael Toohey, fulfills a longstanding promise Calbone made to his family to retire at age 65, Toohey said. Calbone informed the board of his decision late last week, he said.

The board will conduct a national search to fill the position and will consider candidates within and outside of the hospital system, he said.

Every family in Saratoga County has access to better health care because of what Angelo and his team have built, he said. They have expanded and improved services, invested in facilities, technology and talent, and elevated the quality of care and reputation of this hospital. They have laid the foundation for Saratoga County residents to continue to benefit from excellent health care for years to come.

Calbone was heading Mount St. Marys Hospital and Health Center in Lewiston and Niagara Falls when he was named president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital in 2006.

During his tenure, the hospital underwent significant expansion in response to rapid population growth in Saratoga County and finalized a deal to become an affiliate of the much larger Albany Medical Center, which brought new services and resources to patients in the area.

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 2013, the hospitals paired up to open a $17.5 million urgent care center in fast-growing Malta, which was seeing a population boom from the new GlobalFoundries chip fab. In the years that followed, Saratoga Hospital would also bring new services to its Wilton campus, which expanded in 2020 to include the old Sears department store space at Wilton Mall.

Calbones tenure has also been marked by a years-long fight that continues to this day over the hospitals plans to build a three-story medical office building near its main campus on Church Street in Saratoga Springs. Residents have sued to block the plan, which the hospital says its pursuing to bring doctors from offices throughout the city to a single location.

Calbone has also led the hospital system through the last two years of the coronavirus pandemic, which has strained hospital finances and exhausted health care workers nationwide.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community with this team, Calbone said. Some of my most vivid memories will be of the courage and commitment they have displayed during the worst public health crisis in recent history. When our community needed them most, our team stepped up  and continues to rise to the occasion. They are the driving force behind all our accomplishments. They are Saratoga Hospital.
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Data recently released by the state shows that in more than one-third of criminal cases in which judges had the ability to use their discretion to set bail or remand someone charged with a violent felony, they decided to release that person from custody.

The data also highlights comparatively higher rates of rearrest for people who were released under conditions such as electronic monitoring.

In the cases involving judicial discretion, the records indicate that over a recent one-year period, individuals in that category were rearrested on a violent felony charge close to 400 times, or 4.6 percent of the time. In nearly 100 instances, a rearrest occurred with a firearm, according to the Times Unions continuing analysis of the states pretrial release data.

Additionally, nearly 200 violent felony rearrests occurred among those who made bail, most of whom posted bond instead of cash or credit.

The data points underscore a dialed-up political conversation about whether the state should alter its 2019 changes to the bail laws in an effort to provide judges with more discretion.

The analysis shows that people who are rearrested in connection with violent felonies are not limited to those who were released under laws that related to the states current bail laws. It also includes instances in which judges had the ability to set bail or hold the person in jail pending the outcome of their criminal case.

Judges, as a group, favor having more discretion, testified Lawrence K. Marks, state Office of Court Administration chief administrative judge, at a legislative public safety hearing last week. This is what theyre trained to do. Theyre trained to make assessments, to evaluate facts and circumstances, to achieve a fair result.

The intent of setting bail or placing someone in jail, as opposed to releasing someone, is to ensure that they return for their court appearances and do not flee. For some, the issue overlaps, at times overtly, with the question of whether judges should be able to decide to hold a suspect  who is presumed innocent  on the basis of their perceived dangerousness to the public.

The changes to the law were pushed to create more equity in the criminal justice system and to remove judicial discretion in most instances, in part because critics of the former bail laws contend that judges were more apt to incarcerate or set bail for minority defendants. Democrats argued someone should not be held in jail solely because they could not afford the cost of bail.

Many Republicans and law enforcement officials, including Democrats, contend judges should have the ability to account for public safety when deciding whether a person is likely to return for their court appearance.

Marks comments on judicial discretion differ from those made at the same hearing by Rossana Rosado, acting commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. The pretrial release information comprises data from their two agencies.

To evaluate the impact of bail reforms on appearance rates and racial equity and release decisions and final case outcomes, many more of these cases would need to be disposed, Rosado, a former New York secretary of state, said at the public hearing last week.

The Times Unions review of the data found a 2 percent rearrest rate for those eligible for release under the states changes to its bail laws. If cases that have not reached disposition are removed, the rate is 1.5 percent.

Still, the data that has been released has multiple gaps. It does not include outcomes of cases in higher courts or arrests that were arraigned through county or town courts, which could alter many upstate outcomes. The data is expected to include that information when it is updated this summer.

It also does not reflect whether a district attorney or prosecutor recommended a certain type of release. In some instances, judges follow the recommendation of the district attorneys office.

And it doesnt reflect how the dynamic during the coronavirus pandemic altered the decision by judges to set bail or hold people in custody.

During the pandemic, judges, especially in New York City, were often encouraged to avoid placing people in jail before their case would be heard. That occurred as Rikers Island, New York Citys main jail complex, was becoming increasingly unsafe and overcrowded. The situation may have skewed the data as people who might have otherwise been held in custody were released  and sometimes under a system that lacked funding and structure to ensure the persons safe return to court.

Sparse services

The data also reveals the relatively higher rates of rearrest for people who were released under a condition, including curfews or limitations on who they can be around.

The availability of resources for those released conditionally is limited, advocates and experts note, and raises questions about the higher rearrest rates and access to supportive resources.

In cases where people were released subject to conditions, which is logged by the courts as nonmonetary release, they were rearrested at around twice the rate as the general population  nearly 5 percent on charges of violent felonies and close to 40 percent for all rearrests.

Among those with a pending violent felony charge who were released under some form of supervision or conditions, 1,280 cases, or 9 percent, were rearrested on a violent felony charge and 54 percent were rearrested on any type of criminal charge.

The rearrest outcomes were more acute when looking at people who had been charged with robbery or burglary, although it represents an extremely small number of cases.

There were 159 instances of burglary cases with a pending violent felony, with a rate of 13 percent rearrested on a violent felony charge and 57 percent overall arrested on new charges. For robbery cases with a pending violent felony  50 cases  16 percent had a violent felony rearrest and 73 percent were rearrested for some type of crime.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has dedicated $10 million in her proposed $216 billion budget toward pretrial support services, which people on both sides of the aisle have said is not enough. The changes to the states bail laws in 2019 were implemented without dedicated resources from the state, Rosada, the DCJS acting commissioner, said during the recent public hearing. She said the $10 million, which was earmarked for communities outside of New York City, would help to meet that need.

Some of the additional ways a judge can set specific conditions for a release under the updated bail laws are rarely used  or at least their use is rarely reported by judges.

Though data is sparse, the more narrow restrictions generally reflected lower rates of rearrest in connection with violent felonies compared with rearrests under general supervision.

Judges required people to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet as a condition of release in fewer than 600 instances. Those who did were charged with a violent felony at a rearrest rate of 3.7 percent, compared with a rate of 4.7 percent among those who did not.

Out of 144 instances in which a judge set travel restrictions, 140 of which were outside of New York City, only one led to a violent felony rearrest.

Similarly, in 26 instances in which a judge set the condition that a person had to surrender their passport for release, there were no violent felony rearrests.

The Office of Court Administration did not directly dispute the accuracy of its data, although it noted that the number could reflect the challenges of compliance with its new reporting requirements. The data set is intended to be used by researchers and lawmakers to understand the effects of the changes to the bail laws.

The additional requirements for release were almost always logged outside of New York City.

New York City runs its own pretrial services program and has a nearly 7 percent violent felony rearrest rate for supervised release. Outside of the city, the rate is 3 percent.
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ALBANY  The Capital Region's political lines are being redrawn in proposed political boundary maps the state Legislature's Democratic majority have issued and that would likely increase the party's grip in New York as well as in Congress.

The lines released by the Legislature on Sunday evening are expected to be voted on later this week. The proposed maps also mark a political first in who has control of redrawing the congressional lines.

The new congressional lines would reduce the Republican representatives in the state from seven to four; New York would also lose one congressional district because of population decline. The proposal additionally would remove Fort Drum from the congressional district of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

"In the modern era, this is the first year where Democrats have control," said Jeffrey Wice, who heads the New York Census and Redistricting Institute.

The map is a byproduct of the Independent Redistricting Commission's failure to produce an agreed-upon set of maps for the Legislature. Redistricting experts who had followed the process expected the political set-up of the partisan commission would lead to its inevitable failure to produce bi-partisan maps, with the final outcome being to the benefit of the majority Democrats in the Legislature.

Study the proposed congressional districts in this interactive state map developed by Redistricting & You, a project of the CUNY Graduate Center:

In the Capital Region, many of the boundaries would remain relatively intact.

But the city of Rensselaer is slated to be removed from the Capital Region's 20th congressional district, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam. Rensselaer would be drawn into a far-reaching 19th congressional district, which is a seat held by U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck.

Similarly, Delmar, East Greenbush and Castleton-On-Hudson would be out of the 20th district.

Additional areas of Saratoga County would be included in the 20th congressional district  areas that are part of Stefanik's district.

Tonko's 20th district would now includes not only Saratoga Springs, but also Ballston Spa and Glens Falls, in Warren County. It excludes Hudson Falls and Lake George.

Each congressional districts needs to be made up of about 777,000 people to account for the state's overall population growth  which was seen primarily in New York City over the last decade. While Tonko's district would add about 30,700 more people, Stefanik's district would grow by about 72,000 people. New York is losing a congressional district because it's population growth did not keep pace with the increase in other states.

Tonko's district would become marginally less Democratic than it was before, but remain a safe seat for the incumbent Democrat. Based on the redrawn lines, that district would have voted for President Joe Biden with 59 percent of its vote in the 2020 election, based on maps and data by The Graduate Center at the City University of New York.

Delgado's Hudson Valley district, which is targeted by Republicans, continues to be complex.

"Delgado's district has been a problem that they have had to deal with for some time," redistricting expert Steve Stowitts Elliot said. "Virtually anyway you construct his district (it) is going to remain marginal."

The 19th district would now include the Catskills, Binghamton, Utica, the city of Rensselaer and New Paltz.

Delgado's district voted for Biden with 51 percent of its vote in 2020. Under the redrawn lines, it would have voted for Biden with 55 percent of its vote.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a former Republican gubernatorial nominee, is running for the seat held by Delgado.

On Monday, a fellow Republican, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, said she would run for the Southern Tier district and not compete with Molinaro for the nomination. The 23rd congressional district is held by U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, who announced he would be not be running for reelection.

Stefanik, one of the top-ranking Republicans in the nation, is set to remain in a comfortably Republican district.

Her district would now include Schoharie, which was previously represented by Delgado. It would also be expanded to include the city of Rome.

The newly drawn lines immediately received sharp criticisms from Republicans, who have been decrying the process for months. State GOP Party Chairman Nick Langworthy threatened litigation over the maps.

Wice, the redistricting expert, said that challenges over whether the congressional maps represent the legal threshold of one-person, one-vote or compliance with the Voting Rights Act over fair representation of minority voters would go to federal court. He contends that the maps are in line with those issues.

If the question, instead, is over whether the maps fairly represent communities of common interest, that could be resolved in a state court, he said. In that case, the likely scenario could play out over a period of about two years. In the meantime, while the courts rule on issues that are more subjective, the maps the Legislature are expected to vote on this week would be used for the midterm election.

"The Constitution calls for compacts, but there's no standard of compactness," Stowitts Elliot said.

Plus, Wice said, since modern-era redistricting standards came to shape in the 1960s, the courts have never turned down a map approved by the Legislature. The current congressional map was drawn by the courts, but that was after the Senate and Assembly leadership couldn't come to terms on a map.

"The state courts are really going to be really reluctant to overturn a state legislatively enacted plan," Wice said.

The process and the result of the lines being drawn by the Legislature is raising concerns from good government groups.

"The lines are so heavily gerrymandered they will be non-competitive," Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY, said in a statement. "It's a major disservice to the voters, who were first denied any hope of a truly independent process ten years ago when the so-called Independent Commission was conceived."

Lerner, and other good government groups, continue to push for public hearings on the proposed maps by the Legislature.
TROY  A. DeFazio's Imports, the specialty grocer open since 1951, on Thursday will play a co-starring role as an Italian market in 1950s New York City, when a 100-member cast and crew for a Hallmark movie will descend to shoot a scene or two there.

The store will be closed for the day, but its next-door sibling, DeFazio's pizzeria, will be open regular hours Thursday.

"They're doing a movie about the Rockettes, and they needed an Italian market," said Matthew DeFazio, whose family owns the store, pizzeria and a satellite pizza shop in Albany. "I think there may be a scene of people outside and walking into the store, and maybe a scene or two inside, but I don't know much more about it than that," he said.

Locations scouts visited the store last week, some of whom were part of the production of "The Gilded Age," an HBO series that shot in Troy in May and June and premiered last week, DeFazio said. The production is paying the company to close the store for the day, he said, although customers seeking products may place a phone order with the pizzeria for pickup there on Thursday.

Last week's visitors from the Hallmark movie were enthusiastic about DeFazio's food.

"They got chicken cutlets, eggplant, some of the homemade pastas to take with them, and they were like, 'Dinner is going to be easy tonight!'" DeFazio said.

Because the company will also be catering for the all-day shoot, DeFazio's is asking customers for its pizzeria food, available for dine-in, takeout and delivery, to place orders well in advance.

DeFazio's has a top reputation locally, and patriarch Rocco DeFazio developed a rapport with former first lady, U.S. senator, secretary of state, presidential candidate and avowed DeFazio's fan Hillary Clinton that resulted in a documentary and the elder DeFazio being Clinton's guest in 2006 during then-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconis address to a joint session of Congress.

Matthew DeFazio said he's confident his family's food will stand up to the scrutiny of a film crew based in New York City, where pizza standards are high.

"We'll be fine," he said. "We already did this last summer, with people from 'The Gilded Age.' They'll love our pizza."
If passed by the West Virginia Legislature, the Community Resurrection and Economic Development Act will help municipalities with the cost of tearing down derelict structures like this abandoned home in Jackson Addition, in Fairmont.
A warning on the risk of a "rapid increase" in Inflammatory Bowel Disease due to growing waiting lists for treatment has been given by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association.

A Consultant Gastroenterologist and Acute Medical Physician at Mayo University Hospital has warned that regional hospitals in Ireland are finding it increasingly difficult to attract the necessary number of Consultants and younger doctors.

It comes as growing waiting lists for gastroenterological procedures are having a serious impact on outcomes and quality of life for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and other conditions.

Speaking today (January 31) on behalf of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), Dr Brian Egan, pictured, said that there are around 40,000 people in Ireland who are already living with IBD.

Dr Egan said that even before the pandemic, Mayo University Hospital had a waiting list of about a thousand patients in his specialty.

But according to the IHCA, his hospitals situation is not unique: in Ireland overall, there are almost 17,000 people waiting to see a Consultant Gastroenterologist for diagnosis or treatment - an increase of 71% since December 2015, or an additional 7,000 patients.

The pandemic has had a major impact on gastroenterology throughout the country. Many of us who work in the care of patients with stomach and bowel problems and liver disease were re-allocated in the first wave of the pandemic to treat patients with Covid, said Dr Egan.

It also resulted in an absolute stop of scheduled work, which is essential for early detection and prevention of stomach cancer, bowel cancer, and oesophageal cancer.

Dr Egan said that his team at Mayo University Hospital was seeing much later presentations of cancer, often people who have waited months following a referral. He noted that as a small hospital, there are limited specialist resources which means that it is almost impossible to keep up with the sheer volume of patients waiting for diagnosis and care in the region.

Dr Egan was speaking as part of the IHCAs Care Cant Wait campaign, which seeks to highlight the serious deficits faced by healthcare staff and services in delivering timely patient care in Ireland, their root causes, and their effects on patients lives and quality of life.

There are almost 17,000 people waiting to see a Consultant Gastroenterologist for diagnosis or treatment - an increase of 71% since December 2015.



The severe shortage of Consultants is the main contributor to the unacceptable delays in providing care to patients.#CareCantWait pic.twitter.com/WNrzMlBt2x  IHCA (@IHCA_IE) January 31, 2022

Ireland has the lowest number of medical specialists per 1,000 population in Europe at 1.48, 42% below the EU average of 2.54. The IHCA says the severe shortage of Consultants is the main contributor to the unacceptable delays in providing care to patients.

One in five permanent Consultant posts in Ireland across all specialties are currently vacant or not filled as needed.

In gastroenterology, 10 of the 82 approved Consultant posts were vacant (as at 8 February 2021) - or 12% of the total.

With a further 9% of all Consultant posts in Medicine (which includes gastroenterology) filled on a temporary or agency basis, around 20% of Consultant gastroenterology posts are understood to be not filled as needed.

A shortage in one area, such as gastroenterology, can have a knock-on effect on another, such as oncology, and vice versa, as some patients have multiple diseases or comorbidities.

To cope with Irelands growing population, and the rising incidence of gastroenterological disease, the IHCA says the HSE will need to hire 67 additional Consultant Gastroenterologists by 2028  an increase of nearly 80% on current staffing levels in this area.

However, successful recruitment and retention of top medical talent is an ongoing and serious issue.

A report published in December 2021 by the Medical Council revealed the severity of the Consultant recruitment and retention crisis. According to the report, 44% of specialist trainees intend to go abroad to practise medicine, meaning that at a time when more Consultants and doctors are badly needed, the health system in Ireland is losing them.

The impact is most pronounced in Irelands regional hospitals, according to the IHCA.

Were finding it increasingly difficult to attract consultants and younger doctors to work in our hospitals, said Dr Egan.

He said that Irish doctors are highly regarded as experts abroad.

"Our specialists are emigrating to countries which dont discriminates against consultants. The pay inequity imposed on Consultants appointed after 2012 has caused a recruitment and retention crisis, massive increases in waiting lists and delayed care for patients. Countries such as Australia also offer incomparable conditions through better work-life balance, and well-resourced services which allow for more effective and timely provision of care to patients.

Trying to attract these doctors back to our regional hospitals in Ireland with more onerous on-call duties, less resources, and reduced access to specialist care is really difficult, he said.

Bed capacity also remains an issue across the country, but particularly in regional hospitals like Mayo University Hospital.

In terms of bed capacity, we [Mayo University Hospital] have one of the lowest acute bed per population ratios in Ireland. We need about 60 beds to bring us up to the national average and an additional 200 beds to bring us up to the EU average, said Dr Egan.

Professor Alan Irvine, President of the IHCA, added: Without urgent Government action, our ability to provide essential care to patients with serious illnesses will decrease significantly. While Irish doctors are among the best in the world, with so many posts unfilled across so many specialties, there is a limit to what we can achieve and that shouldnt be the case in a developed nation like Ireland.

The solution is simple. We must appoint additional Consultants and address the long-standing issues of pay inequity and poor working conditions quickly. The longer the Government fails to act, the longer waiting lists become and the worse our ability to provide rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment to patients.

Many other Western countries, including Australia and Canada, provide timely, world-leading care to patients and an efficient, empathetic, and fair place to work for doctors, and other frontline healthcare staff. We must learn from their example, Prof Irvine said.
Titusville Area School District Secondary School Nurse Marci Kelly stands in full gear with a box of Rapid Antigen tests. Kelly, along with Elementary Nurse Donna McAllister and the five nurse technicians, will be administering the districts Test to Stay program.
Check TKC BREAKING NEWS of a notable political nod and the NEXTGEN of local leadership earning important old school support.



Released just a few moments ago . . .



Mayor Sly James Endorses Justice Horn for the Jackson County Legislature

KANSAS CITY, MO - Mayor Sly James has officially endorsed Justice Horn for the 1st-in-District seat of the Jackson County Legislature.



Justice Horn is part of the next generation of leadership in Kansas City. He is experienced, passionate, and ready to serve Jackson County the way it deserves. I am proud to announce my endorsement of Justice for the 1st-in-District seat of the Jackson County Legislature in 2022.



As Mayor, Sly James accomplished a great deal for Kansas City and Jackson County, championing the streetcar, universal pre-K, and the passage of an $800 million infrastructure package.



After serving his country as a military police officer in the Marines from 1971-1975 in California, the Philippines, and Japan during the Vietnam War, Sly graduated cum laude from Rockhurst College with a B.A. in English. He then went on to earn his law degree, also cum laude, from the University of Minnesota in 1983. Prior to his election, he enjoyed a successful legal career which spanned almost three decades. -Excerpt from wickhamjames.com.



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Developing . . .


Middle-class white ladies all over the metro are celebrating because a local guilty pleasure just got a bit more equitable . . .



Since the plague started, TKC mostly takes coffee at home and will only indulge "crafted" java from a gas station.



Nevertheless . . .



Here's a morning reminder about the worsening American class war . . .



"According to Mari Orrego with the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United, the locations at the Plaza and on 75th Street & I-35 in Overland Park will file their petitions to unionize after an overwhelming majority of eligible employees signed union authorization cards."

This tracks given that everybody who works are the other locations are CONSTANTLY in a bad mood even though this blogger NEVER makes baristas suffer through small talk.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Two KC area Starbucks file petitions to unionize KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Two Starbucks locations in the Kansas City Metro Area have filed petitions to form unions, following the national trend that began in December 2021.

Baristas at two Kansas City-area Starbucks locations plan to unionize KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Baristas at two Kansas City-area Starbucks locations announced plans to unionize Monday morning. The first is the Country Club Plaza location in Kansas City, Missouri. Starbucks Plaza employees sent a letter Monday to Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson that listed several reasons for the decision.

Developing . . .


This morning we've got another peek at crime rising in parts of the metro that have been considered relatively safe.



Even worse . . . Pandemic dress codes seem to have helped in the heist.



Here's a not so great suspect description . . .



"The man is described as in his 30s and wearing a grey Minnesota Vikings hoodie, dark blue pants, brown shoes, a medical face mask and white gloves. Police said the suspect entered Sarpino's and brandished a weapon while demanding money from employees. He left on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported by employees."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Armed suspect robs Leawood Sarpino's Pizzeria Monday morning KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Leawood pizza restaurant was robbed early Monday morning. The Sarpino's Pizzeria on 135th Street was robbed around 2 a.m. by a man with a weapon. The man is described as in his 30s and wearing a grey Minnesota Vikings hoodie, dark blue pants, brown shoes, a medical face mask and white gloves.

Police looking for suspect who robbed Leawood pizza shop LEAWOOD, Kan. - Leawood police are looking for a suspect who robbed Sarpino's Pizzeria Monday morning. According to the Leawood Police Department, the suspect went inside the pizza shop, showed a weapon, and demanded money from the employees. The suspect, identified as a black male in his 30's, left on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

Developing . . .
Brevard, NC (28712)

Today

Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Terre Haute, IN (47803)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing later in the day. High 62F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
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The Ukrainian Defense Ministry is planning to create analogues of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), which will deal with procurement in the Ukrainian army, following the example of the ProZorro e-procurement system.

Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said this in an interview with LB.ua, Ukrinform reports.

As part of the Defense Ministrys reform, I want to create two agencies similar to NATO's NSPA, kind of Amazon. One will deal with procurements of weapons, military equipment, the second one - with means of protection, helmets, bulletproof vests, food, fuel, clothing etc. We will make an analogue of ProZorro of a military nature, where certified manufacturers will be admitted through the register, which has been already established by the Ministry for Strategic Industries. This is what NATO has done. As in western banks, for example: if you want to provide service to these boards as a lawyer or auditor, then pass all checks, approval panels. Similarly, if you want to sell weapons or tanks, jeeps, trucks to Ukraine - pass the check, be in the register so that you can be trusted, the minister said.

Reznikov also assured that he is a supporter of procurement procedures in the army be transparent as much as possible.

Our strategic advisors - DRAB (Defense Reform Advisory Board) - recommend that we declassify the purchase of weapons and military equipment as much as possible. I am also a supporter of this. In the current three-year procurement plan, we have managed to remove 30% of unnecessary secrecy, he added.

As Ukrinform reported, in December 2021, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov announced the approval of a new structure of the Defense Ministry.

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Ukraine currently has enough resources to ensure its macroeconomic and macro-financial stability.

"Macroeconomic stability is the foundation for economic growth. At present, we have enough resources to ensure macroeconomic and macro-financial stability. There is over UAH 27 billion on the Treasury Single Account, more than UAH 30 billion on foreign currency accounts. The NBU reserves reach almost $30 billion," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmyhal posted on Facebook, summing up the economic results of the week.

He noted that Ukraine had already agreed with the EU on the next macro-financial program worth EUR 1.2 billion. In addition, the Head of Government called on international partners to support not only the long-term modernization of Ukraine but also to help mitigate the blow to the economy through instruments of guarantees or concessional financing.

Shmyhal also mentioned the energy transformation projects: synchronization with the European energy network ENTSO-E and the formation of transparent energy markets; transformation of coal regions; increase in domestic gas production; large-scale program of thermal modernization; creation of a gas hub in Ukraine; development of nuclear generation, hydrogen technologies, and implementation of the provisions of the European Green Deal. According to the Prime Minister, these projects require tens of billions of dollars of investment, and therefore the state will actively involve business and international partners for such a transformation to be successful.

The Head of Government also touched upon the results of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation. Thus, the dynamics of the agreement implementation have increased by 19% over the past two years and now stand at 63%. "Last year alone, the Government approved more than 60 documents that will allow us to integrate into EU markets as actively as possible. In the next two years, we will sign five more agreements with our European partners and plan to revise trade annexes to the Association Agreement," Shmyhal added.

The Prime Minister stressed that from March 1, the Government will adjust pensions according to the cost-of-living index for all retirees by 14%. The average increase will be UAH 500. At the same time, the pensions of military retirees and Chornobyl disaster liquidators with disabilities will increase by UAH 700 up to UAH 1,500.

As reported, the National Bank has sold $1.5 billion since the beginning of 2022 to reduce exchange-rate movements. At the same time, the NBU believes that today the foreign exchange market is much more resistant to shocks as the hryvnia devalued by 14% against the current 5.1% at the beginning of coronavirus-related quarantine in March 2020.

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Russia will not launch a full-scale offensive against Ukraine, as a direct attack will lead to "deadly" Western sanctions, which President Vladimir Putin fears.

This is an opinion voiced by Serhiy Harmash, a member of Ukraines delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, OSCE) on Donbas settlement, who spoke with RFE/RLs Ukrainian bureau.

According to him, the best example for Putin was the unrest in Kazakhstan earlier this year, where at the request of President Kassym-Jomart Tokajev, CSTO troops  primarily Russian  were deployed. According to Harmash, it would be beneficial for the Kremlin to do just that in Ukraine, provoking chaos in Kyiv and other cities before actually introducing troops.

"Putin has no intention of a full-scale offensive. For him, the most desirable option is actually the Kazakhstan one, where he himself would be called to occupy us. But this requires internal destabilization, domestic unrest here in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. And Putin can achieve this in different ways. One of them is the military defeat of Ukraine forces, probably somewhere in Donbas, on which he counts (following the example of the defeat of the Armed Forces in Ilovaisk in 2014 and in Debaltseve in 2015). And he wont present this as a Russian military offensive, it will be claimed to be the one by the so-called LPR, DPR, or CADLR, said the Ukrainian delegate.

According to Harmash, many Western capitals in this case would wish to hear Putin out.

"Because, say, Berlin and Paris arent too willing to impose sanctions on him. Another way is if Ukraine agrees to enter into a direct dialogue with Donetsk and Luhansk within the Trilateral Contact Group. And I think that in most regions of Ukraine, people wont accept this. So this could also lead to internal destabilization. And this also suits Putin perfectly. The third way is false bomb reports, cyber attacks, or provoking an energy crisis. After all, we know that regional power companies in Ukraine are also part of Russian capital, unfortunately, Harmash added.

As reported earlier, on January 2, rallies erupted in western Kazakhstan against the sharp rise in liquefied gas prices. They escalated into mass protests. Authorities declared a state of emergency across the country and appealed to the Collective Security Treaty Organization for help in suppressing the riots. Russian troops and forces of other CSTO allies were deployed in Kazakhstan.

According to official figures, at least 227 people were killed and more than 9,000 were detained amid Kazakhstan protests.

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Relations between Ukraine and the United States are now at the highest level throughout the 30 years of Ukraine's independence.

This was announced by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Oksana Markarova, who spoke with CBS.

She denied media reports that there were frictions between the Ukrainian and American authorities over the assessment of the Russian invasion threat, Ukrinform reports.

There is no friction. I mean, look, we can have some discussions and we can have differences in opinions but the United States is our strategic partner and, I would even say, strategic friend No. 1, the ambassador said.

Also, Markarova has noted that now the relations between Kyiv and Washington are at the highest level for all 30 years of Ukraine's independence.

It should be recalled that following the latest phone call of Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden, a number of media outlets claimed there were certain frictions between interlocutors.

Earlier, the White House denied media reports that had claimed Biden told Zelensky Kyiv was imminently in danger of being sacked.

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The prime ministers of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Poland will pay working visits to Kyiv this week.

A corresponding announcement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba on the evening of January 30, the Ministrys press service informs.

According to Kuleba, Ukrainian diplomats make every effort to maintain a high intensity of diplomatic negotiations and the presence of foreign top officials in Ukraine as a factor in reducing security threats.

"We are really vigilant and consider every scenario. But diplomacy continues to work, and the situation remains in line with diplomatic negotiations. This is the main result of intensive diplomacy in the interests of the security of Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens," Kuleba said.

He praised the active diplomatic talks of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, including telephone conversations with U.S. President and Joe Biden and French leader Emmanuel Macron, the main result of which is maintaining the security situation in line with diplomatic talks.

"From the very beginning, we have built this diplomacy in a way to present Kyiv as the center. We call this network diplomacy. We know what they are saying to Russia and what the Russians are saying in response," he said.

The minister explained that the network diplomacy made intensive diplomatic contacts of the partners with the Russian side take place in close coordination with Ukraine. In addition, Russia is informed of a common position agreed with Ukraine.

"The next two weeks will be ample proof. Only this week, three prime ministers of three different countries will visit Kyiv at the same time," Kuleba noted.

In particular, the heads of governments of Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Poland will arrive.

"My colleagues from Germany and France will arrive in Ukraine in a week. In particular, they will visit Donbas. I called on all partners to do this in order to see the war and human problems people face there with their own eyes," he said.

Kuleba also announced a series of telephone conversations and online meetings. According to him, the Foreign Ministry will have "two extremely busy diplomatic weeks."

The minister also confirmed the "revival" of the Normandy process and mentioned France's leadership in this matter.

Kuleba added that he had instructed all Ukrainian embassies to focus on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and involving everything that bolsters the Armed Forces. Kuleba also stressed that the supply of defensive weapons was necessary primarily to shore up Ukraine's negotiating position.

Moreover, Ukraine has already started attracting support to maintain its financial and economic stability.

"The EU has already decided to grant EUR 1.2 billion in macro-financial assistance. Canada, the United States, and Denmark are also ready to help," he said.

As reported, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock will visit Ukraine on February 7-8.

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Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will make a visit to Ukraine as a sign of support for the country, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said.

According to the report, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held a phone call with Dendias. Kuleba welcomed Dendias' decision to visit Ukraine and hold meetings with the Greek community in Mariupol. The Greek foreign minister assured his Ukrainian counterpart that the visit was an act of support for Ukraine.

"Last year, I called on all partners to pay visits to Ukraine in January-February 2022 in support of our state amid security threats from Russia. The constant presence of high-ranking foreign guests in Ukraine defuses tensions. I appreciate that the head of Greek diplomacy also responded to this call and will visit Ukraine soon," Kuleba said.

Dendias said Greece is closely monitoring the situation and believes that there are no grounds for premature decisions. Greece does not plan to evacuate its diplomats or members of their families, nor is it urging Greek citizens and Ukrainians of Greek descent to leave Ukraine. Instead, the Greek government is ready to continue to help the Greek community in Ukraine.

Kuleba informed his Greek counterpart about the current security situation in the face of Russia's aggressive actions. Both ministers discussed the preparation by the EU of sanctions against Russia. The foreign ministers also agreed on a schedule of bilateral visits for 2022.

Kuleba emphasized the importance of further development of network diplomacy and close coordination of partners' positions with Ukraine before and after contacts with Russia, so that the Kremlin is not tempted to further military escalation.

Kuleba said on January 30 that the prime ministers of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Poland will pay working visits to Kyiv this week.

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The Japanese Embassy in Ukraine is operating as normal and is not planning to evacuate its staff despite recommendations from the Japanese government.

According to Ukrinform, Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda told this to Suspilne (Ukraine's Public Broadcasting Company).

Commenting on the Japanese government's recommendation that Japanese citizens leave Ukraine and postpone their planned trips, the ambassador said this was not an instruction, but only a warning against unpredictable situations.

"But I want to emphasize that our embassy will remain in Kyiv. We are operating as usual," Matsuda said.

Japan's government on January 24 urged its citizens to leave Ukraine and postpone planned trips due to the threat of a Russian invasion.

Photo: Suspilne

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Japan is very concerned about the build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine's borders and plans decisive action with the United States and its allies and partners in case of any attack on our country.

"Of course, we are very concerned. We are following the situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia ... Recently, the Prime Minister of Japan had an online meeting with U.S. President Joseph Biden. The two leaders are determined to work closely together to deter Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Prime Minister also plans to work closely with the United States, our allies and partners to take decisive action, if necessary, in response to any attacks," Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda told Suspilne in an interview.

He added that Japan was also monitoring the diplomatic process and pointed out the importance of resuming talks in the Normandy format.

On January 21, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden held a video summit, during which they opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas and stressed the importance of peace and stability in Taiwan Strait.

Regarding the situation around Ukraine, the leaders of the two countries agreed to work closely together to deter Russian aggression against Ukraine. Prime Minister Kishida vowed to continue close coordination with the United States, other allies and partners, and the international community to take decisive action in response to any attack.

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President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Ukraine this week.

"This week we will welcome the President of Turkey to Ukraine," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at an online briefing on Monday, January 31, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The heads of the governments of Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Poland will visit Ukraine this week also, he reminded.

Kuleba noted that Ukraine currently had an unprecedented level of support, which significantly reduces the risks of further military escalation by Russia.

As reported, Erdogan was scheduled to pay a visit to Kyiv on February 3 to take part in a high-level meeting of the Strategic Council, during which the UkraineTurkey Free Trade Agreement was expected to be signed.

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Sweden does not currently plan to evacuate family members and staff of the Embassy of Sweden in Kyiv.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde made a corresponding statement during a phone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

The conversation took place amid active diplomatic efforts to strengthen the security of Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens against the background of aggressive actions of the Russian Federation,

Kuleba informed the foreign minister of Sweden in detail about the current security situation near the state border and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, massive Russian disinformation, and Russia's efforts to undermine the economic and financial stability of Ukraine.

Linde reaffirmed Sweden's unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its commitment to the principle of "no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine."

She also assured Kuleba of her active support for the implementation of a comprehensive package to deter Russia from aggressive plans against Ukraine and Europe in general. In this context, the ministers discussed the issue of new EU sanctions against Russia.

The parties paid special attention to additional steps to oppose the negative impact of Russian hybrid aggression on Ukraine's economy.

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Law enforcement officers have detained a group of people who were planning mass riots in Ukraine, the communications department of the National Police of Ukraine has told Ukrinform.

According to the report, the National Police detained a group of individuals who were plotting mass riots in the country. Law enforcement promised to reveal the details on Monday, January 31, during a briefing attended by Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and National Police Chief Ihor Klymenko. op
| By Charles Schelle

The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) will lead the evaluation and disseminate related research to benefit a new West Baltimore collaborative to empower Black and Latina women to gain wealth-building and entrepreneurial skills thanks to funding from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, and University of Maryland School of Social Work Professor Jodi Jacobson Frey, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP, celebrate the Chase AdvancingCities award.

A $20 million commitment by JPMorgan Chase was announced Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Kirby Lane Park in Franklin Square where a news conference celebrated the funding of several opportunities for employed, asset-limited Black and Latina women in Baltimore.

Part of that $20 million commitment includes a $5 million grant and three-year partnership with the Prioritizing Our Womens Economic Rise (POWER) Collaborative to create a continuum of wealth-building and work skill development programs for Black and Latina women real estate developers in West Baltimore.

The POWER Collaborative, led by the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), includes UMSSW, the University of Maryland, Baltimore Community Engagement Center (UMB CEC), City of Baltimore, Black Women Build Baltimore, Byte Back, Baltimore-D.C. Building Trades, and Baltimore Community Lending.

This partnership will allow UMSSW to learn from the community what really works with regard to workforce training opportunities for women interested in construction trades and on-the-job training opportunities, in addition to working with partners to support system reform that will work to remove barriers to wealth-building, including homeownership barriers throughout the city, said UMSSW Professor Jodi Jacobson Frey, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP.

JPMorgan Chases annual AdvancingCities Challenge awarded Baltimore a $5 million grant as one of five recipients in this years challenge. The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) of Washington, D.C., is the lead agency in this collaborative.

UMB will play a key role in terms of analyzing what happens, that were doing what we hope to accomplish, UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, said. Hopefully this will be the start of even further development.

POWER will encompass three leading accelerators to achieve its goals in the long run: small business development incubator and accelerator programs; skills training in high-growth nontraditional occupational sectors such as construction trades, technology, and affordable real estate development; and through accessible and appropriate financing and grant funding to correspondingly develop affordable homes in West Baltimore addressing the appraisal gap.

The UMB CEC, at 16 S. Poppleton St. will provide the LEDC and other partners space to provide small business development services.

The resources concentrate on the 21223 ZIP code, which includes several of the neighborhoods that UMB serves directly through its community engagement efforts. These neighborhoods also include ones that are eligible as part of UMBs Live Near Your Work program, which helps UMB employees purchase homes to help revitalize the area.

A lot of programs in the Community Engagement Center, they include things that help individuals: get their high school degree, where they learn how to run a business, accounting, and the like, Jarrell said. Theres a lot of activities at the Community Engagement Center that are very focused in West Baltimore.

UMSSW worked with the project team to develop the evaluation plan and propose metrics that will help the team to measure success, and barriers along the way.

The evaluation team is led by principal investigator Frey, who is also chair of the Financial Social Work Initiative (FSWI) and faculty executive director of the Behavioral Health and Well-Being Lab (BHWell Lab), of which the FSWI is affiliated.

The team also includes co-investigators Christine Callahan, PhD, LCSW-C, research associate professor for FWSI, and Jeffrey Anvari-Clark, MSW, MA, adjunct professor and UMSSW doctoral student, who worked with the collaborative to identify goals and measurable outcomes, including the projects logic model. The team will also hire a full-time program manager for the grant.

Tapping into FWSI and the BHWell Lab, this team can provide valuable research to see what really does work in a real-world application of housing equity and wealth-building equity.

This project will generate important data and insights that will contribute to improved understanding of equitable approaches to neighborhood and real estate development, Frey said.

The need is dire in Baltimore to both fund equitable opportunities for the 66 percent of Black and Latina Baltimore households who are deemed to have liquid-asset poverty, and for the 15,000 vacant homes in the city that devalue neighborhoods, create opportunities for crime, and are dangerous for firefighters and first responders who enter for calls for service as this city tragically experienced this week.

How do we have the greatest impact and drive the most equitable growth we can across this region? It means a continued focus on expanding access to capital; increasing access to affordable housing and homeownership; collaborating with companies and policymakers and community organizations to create lasting change, said Peter Scher, vice chairman, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Part of the initiative will help Black and Latina developers access flexible capital, including grants to close the appraisal gap on vacant homes in West Baltimore neighborhoods.

JPMorgan Chase also announced a $2 million commitment to Parity Homes in Harlem Park, overlooking the stretch of U.S. 40 deemed the Highway to Nowhere. These funds will assist Parity Homes create 200 new homeownership opportunities for low-income households and a construction apprenticeship program. This initiative will help scale up community-centric development models and increase demand for homeownership opportunities in neighborhoods experiencing excessive concentration of vacant homes. The goal is to create pathways for existing residents and other social collectives to purchase homes together block-by-block as a means of community-building and wealth-building.

This population was also negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Latina women, in particular, showing the highest unemployment rate of any group across the United States and standing at 20.1 percent in April 2020.

We know that Black and Latina women oftentimes are the glue that holds our families together and our communities together. If you want to learn how to do it in Baltimore, follow Black and Latina women, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. They have been on the front lines, the back lines of every line of this pandemic as caregivers, front-line workers, business owners, the folks who are delivering food to their neighbors.
2021 was a year in which environmental issues reached an unprecedented prominence on the global stage. The eyes of the world focused on the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. While our leaders did not fully deliver, they have kept the door open to holding global temperature rise to 1.5C. Negotiators continued to flesh out the post-2020 global biodiversity framework  so that nations can reach an agreement at COP15 in 2022. Momentum to address pollution and waste grew, with nations increasingly looking at a global framework to address plastic pollution and all its impacts, alongside existing frameworks and conventions on chemicals. Progress was also made at the COPs focused on the ozone layer, mercury and hazardous waste.

Despite these achievements, there is much work to do on addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste  particularly as the chance to build back better after COVID-19 appears to have been lost. The University of Oxfords Global Recovery Observatory, supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), showed that less than 20 per cent of total recovery spending was green. As UNEP marks its 50th anniversary, its mission to inspire, inform and enable nations to live in harmony with nature has never been more critical.
31 January 2022, Kyiv, Ukraine.  In 2021, Ukraine has made impressive progress in addressing statelessness in the country. The State Migration Service (SMS) of Ukraine successfully rolled out a new stateless determination procedure after the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution On some issues of recognition as a stateless person in March 2021. Furthermore, in December, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted a new law 1941-IX that will allow stateless persons to apply for naturalization after three years (instead of seven) upon their recognition by the SMS.

These changes give much hope to stateless persons in Ukraine. As of 31 December 2021, the SMS had registered 737 applications from people seeking the status of a stateless person. Before the year end, the State Migration Service had issued decisions in 61 cases, in 90% of which the applicants were recognized as stateless persons. From having lived as undocumented people, they received identification documents and could access their rights.

One of such persons is Evelina, who has been living in Ukraine for 24 years without a proper identification document.

Evelina was born in Dushanbe. Her family moved to Ukraine in 1997, when she was three years old. Evelina grew up and went to study at a school in Odesa. However, when time came to apply for a passport, it turned out that the girl had no legal grounds to obtain a Ukrainian passport. Evelina therefore applied to a consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan, but the consular inspection stated that she was not a citizen of Tajikistan either.

I was in a complicated situation,  recalls Evelina.  Without any identification document, I couldnt work officially or register a marriage, and even when I gave birth to my daughter, it was difficult to get the birth certificate.

Thanks to the new statelessness determination procedure, Evelina was able to receive a temporary residence permit, and could start planning for an application for Ukrainian citizenship.

Evelina came for a consultation to our NGO  The 10th of April  a few weeks ago. She had received a confirmation from the State Migration Service of her stateless person status, and now wanted to get married to her partner and confirm him as the father of their child. She is looking forward to becoming a citizen of Ukraine. I am glad that, thanks to the new developments in a legal framework related to stateless persons, people like Evelina will now see a real solution to their situation, said Oleksiy Yaroshenko, a lawyer at the Statelessness Unit of the UNHCRs NGO partner, The 10th of April.

Anna, 23 years, is another stateless person who became visible thanks to the new procedure. Her late mother had difficulties confirming the citizenship of herself and her daughter, after they moved to Ukraine from one of the former USSR republics. However, thanks to the recent legislative developments and establishment of a statelessness determination procedure, Anna was able to obtain the status of a stateless person and received a temporary residence permit in December 2021.

When I got my temporary residence permit, I felt like a real person  I felt visible!  said Anna, proudly showing her new ID.  The first thing I did was to officially register with my employer. After that, I have also registered to receive a medical declaration. Now, I am looking forward to travelling. I still cannot believe that I can even travel abroad! And when the new law comes into force, I can become a citizen of Ukraine!

UNHCR welcomes these new legislative and procedural developments. Thanks to them, people who were residing in Ukraine without adequate documents can now become lawful residents in Ukraine, where most have lived all their life. They will also be able to obtain a permanent residence permit after two years, and apply to the Ukrainian citizenship three years after obtaining the status of a stateless person. Since the 1990s, UNHCR has worked extensively on identification, prevention and reduction of statelessness in Ukraine, in particular by supporting the Government of Ukraine in developing a normative framework in line with international standards. From June 2017 to June 2021, UNHCR NGO partners have provided legal support to more than 3,000 stateless people and people with undetermined nationality.

In Ukraine, UNHCR estimates that around 35,000 persons fall under its mandate on the prevention and reduction of statelessness, and protection of stateless people. A vast majority of these people group belong to vulnerable and marginalized groups, such as Roma, homeless persons, older people holding Soviet passports, and persons released without documents from penitentiaries. UNHCR continues to work with the Ukrainian authorities to improve the availability of data in this area.

UNHCR is very grateful to its donors for their support in eradicating statelessness in Ukraine, and in particular for flexible funding which enables us to ensure prompt action in supporting stateless persons in Ukraine.

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Joe Drazans Bygone Walla Walla Project is a local nonprofit, non-commercial online effort to build and share a visual history of Walla Walla. See wallawalladrazanphotos.blogspot.com/ .
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping.

Dear Mr. President,

It is on the occasion of the Spring Holiday symbolizing the arrival of the New Year that on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I offer my cordial congratulations and best wishes to you, and through you, the friendly people of China.

I wish for this holiday that has deep historical roots and vividly signifies your peoples national and moral heritage to bring peace, prosperity and abundance to your country and its people.

The present level and dynamics of the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and China are gratifying. I am confident that through our joint efforts, the mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in politics, economy, trade, energy, industry and other domains will continue to develop successfully.

I seize this opportunity to wish success to the Peoples Republic of China in holding the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and express my firm belief that this international competition will be a grand sporting celebration.

I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and everlasting prosperity to the friendly people of China.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 24 January 2022
BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2022 ) :The international community should take decisive measures to resolutely stop India from seriously violating the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris especially their right to survival.

In January this year alone, the Indian occupation forces have martyred at least 23 Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

These views were expressed by Cheng Xizhong, Visiting Professor at Southwest University of Political Science and Law and former Defence Attache in South Asian countries in an article issued here on Monday.

Prof. Cheng noted that five innocent Kashmiris in Pulwama and Budgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were Killed extra judicially by the Indian occupation forces.

"India is currently deploying 900,000 regular and paramilitary troops in IIOJK, an area of about 100,000 square kilometers to implement a comprehensive military occupation of IIOJK and military control over every Kashmiri.

Therefore, Kashmiris have completely lost their freedom and the most basic human rights. In January this year alone, the Indian occupation forces have martyred at least 23 Kashmiris," he added.

He said that under the guidance of the Narendra Modi`s extremist ideology, the Indian forces have intensified arbitrary detentions, night raids, coercion, harassment and humiliation of Kashmiris, relentlessly targeting the Kashmiris, especially youth, in the occupied territory.

Prof Cheng stressed that under this extremely severe situation, the international community, including the United Nations, should hold India accountable for its gross and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity in IIOJK, without further delay.

India's unscrupulous human rights violations must no longer be ignored. The international community should severely punish the Hindutva-Modi government and its occupation forces for war crimes, he added.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Neumarkt am Wallersee, Austria, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2022 ) :Despite vaccination against Covid-19 becoming mandatory in Austria on Friday, musician Katharina Teufel-Lieli insists she won't bow to pressure to get the jab.

"I have the right to decide over my body... to simply say 'no,'" the harpist told AFP at her home in Neumarkt-am-Wallersee, not far from the western city of Salzburg.

Austria this week becomes the first European Union country to make Covid-19 vaccination legally compulsory for adults.

Under the new law, those holding out against the jab can face fines of up to 3,600 Euros ($4,100) from mid-March after an introductory phase.

Teufel-Lieli, 49, is one of tens of thousands to have joined massive demonstrations against the law and other coronavirus-related measures since November, when plans for the legal change were announced.

The mother of six said that she used to be "apolitical" but the state is "overstepping the mark" by "attacking people" through this act of "totalitarianism".
Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Inter Faith Harmony Tahir Ashrafi Monday strongly condemned the target killing of a priest William Siraj in Peshawar and termed it a conspiracy against the country by anti state elements

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2022 ) :Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Inter Faith Harmony Tahir Ashrafi Monday strongly condemned the target killing of a priest William Siraj in Peshawar and termed it a conspiracy against the country by anti state elements.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that it was highly deplorable incident of target killing, adding that it was not the assassination of a Christian Priest rather it was killing of a Pakistani which would not be tolerated and the culprits would soon be brought to justice.

He said that the incident was an attempt to sabotage peace and interfaith harmony in the society by enemy country India which was involved in such criminal activities in the past.

Ashrafi said that 8,000 Muslim Ulemas also embraced martyrdom in the war against terrorism while the children of APS were also ruthlessly killed by the terrorists. He said that the target killing of minority religious leaders was an attempt to create sectarianism in the society.

He said that Pakistan Ulema Council also condemns the killing of Priest William Siraj and gave a strong message to the world that Muslim and minority communities were united in Pakistan.
Twelve people who have been held for four years over a 2018 massacre in a troubled Senegalese region have been released, their lawyer said on Monday

Dakar, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2022 ) :Twelve people who have been held for four years over a 2018 massacre in a troubled Senegalese region have been released, their lawyer said on Monday.

The 12, held in a jail in Ziguinchor, the main town in Casamance region, have been declared "innocent and freed" by an examining magistrate, while 13 others will be put on trial, said attorney Cire Cledor Ly.

Fourteen men were rounded up and executed in January 2018 as they went to cut down wood in a protected forest near Ziguinchor.

The finger of blame was rapidly pointed at a separatist group, the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC), but the organisation denied all involvement and instead blamed corrupt local officials.

The 13 who will be put on trial include Omar Ampoi Bodian, a member of the MFDC's political wing, and journalist Rene Capain Bassene, said Ly.

They face an array of charges, including murder, attempted murder, criminal association and illegal possession of weapons, he said, lashing the accusations as a "parody of justice".

The date for the trial has yet to be set.

Home to 1.9 million people, Casamance is the theatre of a low-intensity but long-running separatist conflict that has claimed thousands of lives since it began in 1982.

Casamance was once among Portugal's colonies in West Africa along with what is today Guinea-Bissau.

In 1888, Portugal ceded it to colonial France, and it became part of Senegal after independence in 1960.

However, the region has a distinct culture and language, and geographically is almost separated from the rest of Senegal by the Gambia River, around which the tiny state of The Gambia is built.

Last week, the army announced that two soldiers in a West African military mission in The Gambia had died, and nine others were missing, following clashes with suspected MFDC rebels.

The incident happened while troops were carrying out operations against illegal logging in The Gambia.

The nine missing are believed to be in the hands of the MFDC, the Senegalese army says.
A cargo chip with 18 people aboard went adrift off the coast of the Dutch port city of IJmuiden after collision with an oil tanker, the Dutch Coast Guard said on Monday

PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st January, 2022) A cargo chip with 18 people aboard went adrift off the coast of the Dutch port city of IJmuiden after collision with an oil tanker, the Dutch Coast Guard said on Monday.

According to the statement, the dry-cargo vessel Julietta D and oil tanker Pechora Star collided near IJmuiden's anchoring.

"The situation aboard Pechora Star is stable. There are 18 crew members aboard Julietta D... Rescuers have begun evacuation," the message read.

Dutch Coast Guard search-and-rescue helicopters have arrived on the scene. The Belgian Coast Guard has also dispatched a helicopter at the request of the Netherlands.
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Japan's military said Monday it was searching for a fighter jet that disappeared from radar shortly after taking off

Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2022 ) :Japan's military said Monday it was searching for a fighter jet that disappeared from radar shortly after taking off.

"The track of an F15 jet disappeared from the data of the Komatsu control tower after take-off," a spokesman for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force told AFP.

The plane disappeared about five kilometres from the Komatsu airbase in central Ishikawa region, off the Sea of Japan, he added.

The spokesman said the plane was designed for up to two crew but could not confirm how many people were on board.

Japan has occasionally seen accidents involving its airforce, including in 2019 when an F-35A stealth jet crashed into the sea after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation.

The crash sparked a scramble to recover the pilot and secrets onboard the plane.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appointed Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson to be interim Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Ethiopia, the State Department said in a press release on Monday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st January, 2022) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appointed Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson to be interim Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Ethiopia, the State Department said in a press release on Monday.

"Ambassador Jacobson will lead US engagement in Ethiopia," the release said. "The Secretary of State selected Ambassador Jacobson to continue the work undertaken by Ambassador (Geeta) Pasi to press for an immediate cessation of hostilities, an end to ongoing human rights abuses and violations, unhindered humanitarian access, and a negotiated resolution to the conflict in Ethiopia.

"

Jacobson is a career diplomat who has served as US ambassador to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kosovo. She also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs in 2017 as well as director of the State Department's Afghanistan Task Force last year.

Pasi has informed the State Department of her decision to retire and pursue other opportunities, the release said.

The State Department praised Pasi for her handling of the US embassy in Ethiopia during an exceptionally complex period.
At this years ASCO GU Symposium we look forward to sharing data from multiple studies that reinforce the ability of our Decipher genomic classifiers to guide more informed, individualized treatment for patients with urologic cancers, said Elai Davicioni, Ph.D., Veracytes medical director for Urology. The findings offer new insights into how our tests may help physicians stratify risk and guide treatment decisions for their patients with prostate, bladder and kidney cancers.

Title: Validation of the performance of the Decipher biopsy genomic classifier in intermediate-risk prostate cancer on the phase III randomized trial NRG Oncology/RTOG 0126

Presenter: Daniel E. Spratt, M.D., Case Western Reserve University

Session: Poster Session A

Title: Comparative genomic analyses between Asian and Caucasian prostate cancers in an 80,829-patient cohort

Presenter: Adelene Sim, Ph.D., Duke-NUS Medical School

Session: Poster Session A

Title: Transcriptomic Discriminators of Response to Apalutamide in Patients with Prostate Cancer (PC) on Active Surveillance (AS)

Presenter: Michael Schweizer, M.D., Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Session: Poster Session A

Title: Impact of AR-V7 and other androgen receptor splice variant expression on outcomes of post-prostatectomy salvage therapy

Presenter: Keisuke Otani, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Session: Poster Session A

Title: BioMarker Analysis and Updated Clinical Follow-up from BLASST-1 (Bladder Cancer Signal Seeking Trial) of nivolumab, gemcitabine, and cisplatin in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) undergoing cystectomy

Presenter: Shilpa Gupta, M.D., Cleveland Clinic

Session: Poster Session B

Title: Prognostic signatures can further stratify clear cell renal carcinoma clinical risk models in the adjuvant setting

Presenter: Brian Shuch, M.D., University of California, Los Angeles, Institute of Urologic Oncology

Session: Poster Session C

Reno, Nevada (UroToday.com) -- Veracyte, Inc. announced that six abstracts highlighting new data for the companys Decipher urologic cancer tests will be presented at the 2022 ASCO Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium, taking place in San Francisco, Calif., and virtually, February 17-19, 2022.The accepted abstracts include data from a phase 3 study evaluating the Decipher genomic classifier as a prognostic biomarker for patients diagnosed with intermediate-risk prostate cancer from their diagnostic biopsy specimen. This is the first late-stage clinical study validating the use of any gene expression classifier as a prognostic biomarker in this setting.Below are details of the Veracyte abstracts, which will be presented as posters at the 2022 ASCO GU Cancers Symposium being held at Moscone Center. All poster sessions will take place in Moscone West, Level 1.Date/Time: February 17, 2022, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. PSTDate/Time: February 17, 2022, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. PSTDate/Time: February 17, 2022, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. PSTDate/Time: February 17, 2022, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. PSTDate/Time: February 18, 2022, 12:30-2:00 p.m. PSTDate/Time: February 19, 2022, 7:00-8:30 a.m. PSTSource: "Veracyte Announces New Data To Be Presented At The 2022 ASCO Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium | Veracyte, Inc.". 2022. Veracyte, Inc.


This week on our last episode of Celebrate Today we wish all students well on their finals and end-of-semester struggles. It's a crazy time of year so good luck and may the force be with you!
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Over the weekend, Bishops of the Gambia and Sierra Leone ended a plenary meeting held in the Gambian capital of Banjul with a pledge to enhance and improve pastoral activities in respective dioceses.

Paul Samasumo  Vatican City.

Catholic Bishops of the Gambia and Sierra Leone, meeting at the Gambia Pastoral Institute (GPI) in the Diocese of Banjul from 24 to 30 January 2022, ended their plenary meeting with a communique outlining plans for enhancing their presence and pastoral activities in the region.

We are aware of your commitment

The Bishops commended the resilience and innovativeness of priests and the religious during the covid-19 pandemic, which is not yet over.

The encouragement of the West African Bishops to consecrated persons comes when the Church, throughout the world, is celebrating World Day for Consecrated Life which falls on 2 February this week.

We continue to exhort our priests, religious and lay faithful to be firm in the faith, hope and charity, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant consequences. We are aware of your commitment, sacrifices and contributions in diverse ways to the mission of the Church. May the Gospel message find a home in your hearts and lead to the transformation of our communities, said the prelates.

In ordinary circumstances, regular pastoral programmes of the Church require the physical presence of a pastor or a religious sister. With the emphasis on distancing to prevent the spread of covid-19, many pastoral workers initially found themselves at a disadvantage or loss. They have had to cope by being more innovative in pastoral ministry. To continue providing pastoral care, many took to various communication technologies. Depending on availability, this was easier in areas where technologies abound than in rural and some deprived communities of Africa.

Concrete pathways for pastoral activities

Throughout deliberations regarding the pastoral gains and challenges, in dioceses, the Bishops said they are keenly aware of the need to build upon existing pastoral efforts. Their wish is to develop concrete pathways that shape and facilitate improved pastoral activities, the Bishops said.

Part of the reflections, by the Bishops, included: Practical administrative matters of the Conference; Issues about major seminaries and formation; the Synodal Church, evangelisation, the need for effective policies and strategies that safeguard minors and vulnerable adults.

A Synod on Synodality: Consultations

The Bishops reviewed progress concerning consultations on the Synod convoked by Pope Francis for October 2023 in the Vatican.

During our meeting, we discussed and shared our diocesan programmes on the Synod. Each diocese has developed structures that will ensure the participation of all the People of God in their ecclesiastical jurisdiction. In this regard, we call on all priests, religious and lay faithful, to fully participate in this synodal process so that nobody is left out. All opinions on this matter shall be given due consideration, the Bishops said.
Encouraged by the creation of the ministry of catechist by Pope Francis, hundreds of lay catechists and volunteers in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, have officially renewed their pastoral commitments to serve the local Church.

By Robin Gomes

Encouraged by the creation of the ministry of catechist by Pope Francis, hundreds of lay catechists and volunteers in Malaysia have officially renewed their pastoral commitments to serve the local Church.

Two hundred catechists and their assistants from the Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Church of Mary Immaculate turned up for a special Mass on 23 January at the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese on the island of Borneo.

Pope institutes catechists ministry and Word of God

The ceremony took place on the Sunday of the Word of God, which Pope Francis instituted with his

Motu Proprio Apostolic Letter, Aperuit illis of 30 September. He established that the Sunday of the Word of God will be marked on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, for the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God".

Earlier, in another Motu Proprio Apostolic Letter Antiquum Ministerium of May 10, Pope Francis formally created the official ministry of catechist. He noted that those who already serve as teachers of the faith in places across the world experience a spiritual calling to do so and are often leaders in their communities.

A catechist is someone who teaches the core principles of the faith. In earlier centuries, catechists were often priests or members of religious orders, but now they are largely laypersons who volunteer or are sometimes employed at Catholic schools or parishes.

The Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has issued a rite for the conferral of the ministry.

Malaysia's catechists in a multiethnic context

The two churches in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysias Sabah state, held the bestowal of the catechists ministry on the Sunday of the Word of God, 23 January. It came a week before the Church in Malaysia marked Catechetical Sunday, 30 January, the theme of which was "Family life  the path of holiness."

Father Paul Lo, the parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral, led the 23 February ceremony, hailing catechists for their vital role in serving communities in a multilingual and multiethnic country like Malaysia where catechesis is conducted by different churches in three languages  Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and English.

"Through baptism, we children of God are entrusted with the mission of spreading the Good News of salvation and love to children, young people and all those who wish to join Jesus Christ and the Church," Father Lo said, expressing satisfaction that many laypeople were coming forward to serve as catechists.

During the rite, catechists and volunteers vowed to deepen their closer relationship with Jesus and to share the faith with others.

A Catechists' day

A week prior to the conferral of the ministry of catechist on the Sunday of the Word of God, the 200 candidates of the two churches of Kota Kinabalu attended the recollections conducted in their respective languages. They recommitted themselves to serve in Sunday Faith Formation for another year.

In a pastoral letter for Catechetical Sunday, Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur, president of the Malaysian Catechetical Commission, expressed his gratitude to catechists for their dedicated services and to parents and guardians and others for their collaboration.

The Catholic Church in Malaysia will organize a special day of prayer, meeting and fraternity dedicated to catechists on Sept. 17 on the feast day of Italian Jesuit St. Robert Bellarmine, the patron saint of catechists.

Pope installs catechists

The Pope himself bestowed the ministry on 8 catechists during a Mass in St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican on 23 January. He told the 3 women from Spain, Brazil and Ghana and 5 men from Italy, Peru, Brazil and Poland they were called "to live more intensely the apostolic spirit, following the example of those men and women who helped Paul and the other apostles to spread the Gospel.

They knelt before the altar as the pope said, "May your ministry always be rooted in a profound life of prayer, built on sound doctrine and animated by true apostolic enthusiasm." He gave each a crucifix similar to the crucifix on the crosier regularly used by St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II.

At the same Mass, the Holy Father also initiated 8 other men and women in the ministry of lector (reader).

The Church in Malaysia

About 60 per cent of 32 million Malaysian citizens are Muslims, 20 per cent are Buddhists, 10 per cent Christians and 6 per cent Hindus, according to government data of 2018.

In Malaysia, which comprises parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo, the Catholic Church has three archdiocese and six dioceses with about 1.17 million Catholics.

Christians in the country are estimated to number 2.6 million and two-thirds of them are concentrated in Sabah and Sarawak states in the northern part of Borneo island, where they make up about 30 per cent of the population.

Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei together form a single Catholic bishops conference (CBCMSB).
The Bishops of the Philippines issue a pastoral statement on ecology reaffirming their commitment to lead by example in promoting the use of renewable energy and other sustainable systems.

By Lisa Zengarini

The Philippine Bishops have pledged to divest all local Church assets from financial institutions and corporations invested in ecologically-harmful activities by 2025, and have agreed to refuse donations from all environmentally destructive industries, including mining companies.

Leading by example

The pledge is contained in a new Pastoral Statement on ecology released on 29 January after their two-day online Plenary Assembly last week.

Following a previous Pastoral Letter on the climate crisis issued in 2019, the five-page document reaffirms the Bishops Conference (CBCP) commitment to lead by example in promoting the use of renewable energy and other sustainable systems, as called for by the recent COP-26 in Glasgow.

Read also 14/11/2021 COP26: Final Climate Pact falls short of hopes and expectations The COP26 UN climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland have ended with an agreement to accelerate action on tackling climate change but the final deal saw a last-minute watering down of a ...

The Bishops note that, after the pause imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is now swiftly returning to polluting practices that have caused so much damage to our common home and have resulted in intensified calamities, particularly hitting vulnerable countries.

Sustainable development: a moral imperative

As one of the most vulnerable nations in this era of global emergency, the Philippines has the moral imperative of pursuing the most sustainable development pathway possible for the sake of current and future generations, ensuring that the voices of everyone are accounted for, the Bishops write.

They remark that the task of ensuring this becomes all the more apparent in the context of an upcoming national election that will shape governance in our country during this critical decade for climate and ecological action.

No more investments in fossil fuels

The CBCP, therefore, reiterates its commitment to concrete ecological actions in caring for our Common Home, also in light of the recent COP-26 conclusions in Glasgow.

The Bishops call on all Church institutions not to allow their financial resources to be invested in coal-fired power plants, mining companies and other extractive projects that destroy the environment and affect local communities.

It is unacceptable that finances so graciously provided to us are used for such industries. Financial resources must be used solely for the Common Good, Integrity of Creation, and the Glory of our Creator, they say.

Non-acceptance policy of donations

They also invite all Church entities to follow the CBCP-initiated non-acceptance policy of donations from owners or operators and any representative of extractive industries especially coal, fossil gas, mining, quarrying, logging.

Implementing the Laudato si' National Program

The Bishops of the Philippines further commit to continue to push forward the implementation of their "Laudato Si' National Program", which was launched by the CBCP in 2019 in all ecclesial communities. Each Philippine diocese is to establish a special "Ecological Desk" with adequate funds for its activities.

The statement encourages dioceses across the country to intensify education efforts on environmental matters in schools, in collaboration with civil society and other faith-based organizations so to popularize Pope Francis suggested little daily actions highlighted in the Encyclical "Laudato Si'".

The CBCP has also decided to institutionalize the annual celebration of the "Time of Creation" in Autumn and the "Laudato Si' Week".

Support for Bill on the Rights of Nature

Finally, the Bishops reiterate their full support for the Bill on the Rights of Nature, which is currently being discussed by the National Congress.

The proposed law aims to regulate and limit mining, fossil fuels, aggressive forms of land development and exploitation, and other forms of ecological destruction, thus protecting the lives of many indigenous groups and local communities.

We believe that the proposed legislation would serve as a barrier to detrimental projects that would only benefit the few while exacerbating the climate vulnerability of many, the Bishops say.
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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet next month to discuss humanitarian aid for Myanmar, the current chair of the grouping, Cambodia, said on Saturday.

Cambodia's foreign minister, and ASEAN special envoy, Prak Sokhonn, is a preparing for his first visit to Myanmar, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"His priorities are to implement the five-point consensus which was agreed unanimously and will be discussed during the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers' retreat," it said, adding that the event was scheduled for Feb. 16 and 17.

Last year's military overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in Myanmar has been a setback for ASEAN and its efforts to present itself as a credible and integrated bloc.

The grouping made a surprise move in barring the military junta from key meetings over its failure to honor a five-point ASEAN "consensus" that included ceasing hostilities and allowing dialog.

This month, Cambodia said the foreign ministers' meeting, the first during its chairmanship of the 10-nation bloc, had been postponed because some ministers had expressed difficulties in attending.
Ukraines leader and his defense and security aides are assessing Russian leader Vladimir Putins intentions differently from many of their Western counterparts. Are they just more stoical after eight years of persistent Russian provocations and a long-running war in eastern Ukraineor are they misreading their Russian adversary?

Washington and London have both warned the chances are high that Putin will order an invasion of Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden has been warning for weeks of the distinct possibility Russia might invade Ukraine next month, and he reiterated the point Thursday in a phone discussion with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to the White House.

Britains defense secretary, Ben Wallace, says he is not optimistic a Russian incursion into Ukraine can be stopped. He told the BBC while visiting Berlin there was still a chance an invasion could be halted, but added, Im not optimistic.

Russia denies it is preparing to launch a major assault on Ukraine, accusing Western powers of alarmism. The Kremlin insists the more than 100,000 troops it has deployed along Ukraines borders are just taking part in exercises.

But Zelenskiy appears to suspect Moscow will do something short of launching a full-scale invasion and more likely will continue to wage the highly sophisticated form of psychological and hybrid warfare it has been using against Ukraine and Europe with growing intensity for the past decade and more.

The Ukrainian president has been calling for calm ahead of Wednesdays meeting among officials of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France  known as the Normandy format  to discuss once again the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, nearly half of which has been occupied since 2014 by Russian soldiers and armed local proxies.

Asked at a news conference Friday for foreign media about the different assessments and of a possible rift with Biden, Zelenskiy cited his concerns over Ukraines economy, saying that talk of an imminent invasion is adversely affecting the economy. For me, the question of the possible escalation is not less acute as for the United States and other partners, he said.

But he complained the media was giving the impression we have an army in the streets and that's not the case. And he said Ukraine doesnt need this panic because it is damaging the economy. We may lose the current economy, he added.

The Ukrainian leader pointedly took issue last week when the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia announced evacuations of personnel from their embassies. Zelenskiy and his aides expressed frustration, saying the withdrawal of some diplomatic staff was premature.

One official told VOA the evacuations undermined efforts to calm the fears of ordinary Ukrainians. The United States and Britain also have told their nationals to leave Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian officials, Zelenskiy has broached the issue of evacuations with U.S. officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying the withdrawal of staff is an overreaction and something Russia can exploit to sow fear and to destabilize.

Aside from worries about the economy and Ukrainian morale, though, Kyiv appears to be at odds with Washington and London over Putins strategy, as well as over how near he is to completing a military buildup that would allow him to launch a full throttle invasion.

According to Ukraines foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, Russia doesnt have enough troops in place to mount a full-scale invasion. He told reporters this week, The number of Russian troops massed along the border of Ukraine and occupied territories of Ukraine is large, it poses a threat to Ukraine, a direct threat to Ukraine, however, at the moment, as we speak, this number is insufficient for a full-scale offensive against Ukraine along the entire Ukrainian border.

Some independent Ukrainian analysts agree with Kyivs assessment that a full-scale invasion isnt likely. I don't believe there will be a full-scale military invasion, said Taras Kuzio, an analyst at the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based research group, and a professor at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

In that sense, I agree with Ukrainian military officials, he said in a recent British television debate. There arent enough troops there. Ukraine is a huge territory. It has the third largest army in Europe. And if you're working on the basis of a three-to-one ratio of invading versus defending armies, which is the number you need to be successful, then Russia would need 500,000 to 600,000 troops to overcome Ukraine. It doesn't have that, and it's not projected to have that.

Kuzio believes it is more likely Russia may mount an incursion around the Black Sea coast and expand on territory it holds in the Donbass region.

Ukrainian officials admit privately they are caught somewhat in a quandary. They need Western military assistance and materielfrom anti-tank rockets to surface-to-air missilesand they need the West to be strong, to stand up to Putin and to deter Russia from any kind of attack, limited or otherwise. But they dont want to talk up the threat, wreck their economy and panic their people. It is a fine line theyre walking, several officials told VOA.

Western officials say they have to be ready for all eventualities and they dont want to be caught wrong-footed, as they were in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Russia then encouraged and assisted armed proxies to seize part of the Donbass in the wake of a popular uprising that toppled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a Putin ally.

That means, they say, reinforcing NATOs military presence in eastern Europe, in neighboring NATO countries, and making sure everyone understands the stakes are high. Putin is unpredictable and any gaps he sees he will jump through; any weakness, he will exploit, a senior NATO official told VOA.
A grim anniversary for Myanmar. Discussing Ukraine. Uneven times for Malaysia tourism. Dr. Fauci tells us about vaccine donation. Lunar New Year incense. Electrifying your ride. Jim Stevenson hosts VOA Asia.
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Some residents of the South Sudan capital, Juba, Gumbo suburb are calling on the Rajaf Payam authorities to legalize their settlement. They threaten to stop paying taxes if their settlement is not recognized as legal
Nearly a year after his son was last seen being hauled away by Myanmar junta troops, 66-year-old Win Hlaing says he just wants to know whether he is alive.

One night last April, a neighbor phoned to tell him his son, Wai Soe Hlaing, a young father who ran a phone shop in Yangon, had been detained in connection with the protests against the February 1 military coup.

They traced the 31-year-old to a local police station, according to Win Hlaing and The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit that has been documenting arrests and killings.

Then the trail went cold. He had vanished.

Reuters called the police station but was unable to determine the whereabouts of Wai Soe Hlaing, or the missing relatives of two other people who were interviewed for this article.

A spokesman for the junta did not respond to emailed requests for comment and did not answer phone calls seeking comment.

Wai Soe Hlaing is among the many people who activists and families say have disappeared since Myanmar was plunged into turmoil after the military overthrew the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The AAPP estimates more than 8,000 people are detained in prisons and interrogation centers, including Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, and most of her Cabinet, while about 1,500 have been killed. Reuters was unable to independently verify the figures from the AAPP.

They say hundreds have died after being detained. The junta has said the figures are exaggerated and that the AAPP spreads false information. The junta has not disclosed the number of people in detention.

Search for loved ones

The military does not notify relatives when a person is arrested, and prison officials often do not do so when they arrive in jail, so families laboriously search for their relatives by calling and visiting police stations and prisons or relying on accounts from local media or human rights groups.

Sometimes they send food parcels and take it as a sign their relative is being held there if the package is accepted, a Human Rights Watch report said.

In many cases, AAPP co-founder Bo Kyi said, the organization has been able to determine someone has been detained but not where. Tae-Ung Baik, chair of the United Nations' working group on enforced disappearances told Reuters the group had received reports from families in Myanmar of enforced disappearances since last February and was "seriously alarmed" by the situation.

In a border town, 43-year-old activist Aung Nay Myo, who fled there from the northwestern Sagaing region, said junta troops took his parents and siblings from their home in mid-December and he does not know where they were.

He believes they were detained because of his work as a satirical writer. Among them is his 74-year-old father, left disabled by a stroke.

"There is nothing I can do but worry every moment," Aung Nay Myo said.

Two police stations in the town of Monywa, their hometown in Sagaing region, did not answer phone calls seeking comment.

In some areas, resistance to the junta has spiraled into conflict, with fighting displacing tens of thousands of people across the country, according to the U.N. Thousands have fled across borders to Thailand and India.

Viral image

In the northeastern Kayah state, where fighting has been fierce, Banyar Khun Naung, director of the non-profit Karenni Human Rights Group, said at least 50 people were missing.

The group is trying to help families search, asking recently released prisoners any names they remember.

"The families of missing people are in great pain, especially mentally, as it is exhausting not to know where their loved ones are," he said.

Myint Aung, in his mid-50s and now living in a camp for internally displaced people in Kayah, said his 17-year-old son, Pascalal, disappeared in September.

The teenager told his father he was going to travel to their home in the state capital Loikaw to check on the situation, but never came back, Myint Aung said.

Instead, he was detained by security forces, Myint Aung told Reuters by phone, saying that local villagers told him. When he visited the station to deliver food, he found soldiers guarding the area and ran away.

Since then, Myint Aung has heard nothing of his son, but the rights group told him he was no longer at the police station, citing conversations with several people recently freed. Reuters was unable to independently verify this information.

Banyar Khun Naung, the Karenni rights group director, said the teenager was one of two young men pictured making the "Hunger Games" salute adopted by protesters as they were detained kneeling by the side of a road, lashed together with rope by a soldier, in an image widely circulated on social media. His sister confirmed by phone it was Pascalal.

The photo appeared in a viral post from an account that appeared to belong to a high-ranking soldier, with the caption, "While we let them do what they want before we put bullets through their heads." The account was subsequently deleted, and Reuters was not able to reach its owner for comment.

"He's an underage civilian boy and he didn't do anything wrong," his father Myint Aung said.

Police in Loikaw did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking comment.

In Yangon, the family of Wai Soe Hlaing tells his 4-year-old daughter her father is working somewhere far away. Sometimes, Win Hlaing said, she murmurs about him: "My papa has been gone too long."
Exactly one week after Burkina Fasos president was overthrown in a military coup, the African Union has suspended the west African nation.

The AUs Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department announced on Twitter Monday that it had voted to suspend the participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country.

The announcement came as a delegation from the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was traveling to Burkina Fasos capital, Ouagadougou, to meet with junta leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, just three days after ECOWAS suspended Burkina Faso from its activities. A special United Nations envoy was also taking part in Mondays talks.

Soldiers ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore last Monday after a day of fighting near the presidential palace in Ouagadougou. The move came amid rising anger among the rank-and-file stemming from the failure to adequately equip them to fight terror groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State since 2015. Rumors of a coup had been rife for weeks after a military base in the north of the country was overrun by terrorists in November, killing 49 military members.

The junta suspended the constitution, dissolved the National Assembly and closed the countrys borders immediately after the takeover.

Burkina Faso joins Mali and Guinea in being suspended by the African Union following military coups.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
In the streets around a revered religious site in the Indian city of Mathura where a temple and mosque stand side-by-side, the handful of Muslim restaurants that remain are mostly empty or shuttered.

A ban on meat last year by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, a Hindu monk who issued the order on religious grounds, has decimated their trade.

Now the saffron-clad Yogi Adityanath, up for re-election in key state polls next month, has turned his attention to the temple itself, suggesting he will champion the Hindu cause in a long-running dispute with Muslims over who owns the site.

The issue has become a central part of the ruling party's campaign to extend its grip on power in Uttar Pradesh, home to 200 million people and the bellwether of national politics.

Hindus and Muslims have argued for decades over who should control the site, echoing other disputes in India that have, on occasions, flared into deadly riots between the two communities.

While communal violence in India is sporadic, clashes erupted across the country in early 2020 over a citizenship law that Muslims said was discriminatory. Dozens of people died.

Now mention of the Mathura dispute during campaign rallies and on social media has the city's Muslims worried, according to interviews with more than 20 residents.

"An old case which has been settled ... is being revived because we have a new, triumphalist Hinduism," said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of several books on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist movement.

"There is a greater emphasis on playing the temple card."

Opinion polls suggest that the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to which Adityanath belongs, will win the vote in Uttar Pradesh, despite broad discontent over the economy and the government's handling of the pandemic.

The chief minister, seen by some analysts as a potential successor to Modi, has cast the ballot as "80% versus 20%", figures he did not fully explain. The percentages closely match the Hindu and Muslim share of the population across the state.

Adityanath's office did not respond to a request for comment on the situation in Mathura.

'Nothing to fear'

The BJP swept to power in Uttar Pradesh on a Hindu-first agenda in 2017 and did not field a single Muslim candidate.

Indians vote for powerful state legislatures separately from nationwide parliamentary elections.

That victory reflected the party's dominance nationally, since Modi stormed to power in 2014 after appealing to the Hindu majority.

The main opposition Congress party complains that by putting Hindus first, he and the BJP discriminate against minorities and risk stoking violence. Modi has defended his record and says his economic and social policies benefit all Indians.

Jamal Siddiqui, head of the BJP's minority commission, said the party was working to increase the number of minority candidates in Uttar Pradesh and the four other states going to the polls next month.

"I hope the minority community will participate both in elections and in government," he told Reuters. "The Modi government has protected religious sites for all religions. Now,

instead of being afraid of saffron, Muslims are coming closer."

Suspicion of the BJP among Muslims in Mathura had been caused by misleading claims from opposition parties, Siddiqi added.

'No compromise'

Among the holiest cities in Hinduism, Mathura, some 150 km south of New Delhi, is believed to be the birthplace of Krishna, one of the most important Hindu deities.

A temple standing on the reputed site of his birth was razed and replaced by a mosque, known as the Shahi Eidgah, in the 17th century during the Islamic Mughal empire. A Hindu temple complex built in the 1950s now backs on to the mosque.

An agreement was brokered in 1968 to settle the use of the land, and the two structures stood like "two sisters" until legal action to demolish the mosque began in 2020, said Z. Hassan, president of the trust that runs the Eidgah.



"I have been here for 55 years. I have not felt tension between Hindus and Muslims," he said. "Only in the last few years this idea has come that there are two communities."

The case, brought to a local court by several Hindu priests, says the 1968 agreement was fraudulent.

"This land is very important to us," said Vishnu Jain, the lawyer acting for the petitioners. "I don't believe in any kind of dialogue. There is only one compromise which can happen  that they will be out of this property."

Both sides expect the case to last for years.

The local dispute has been taken up by Adityanath and several other BJP leaders during campaigning.

He told a rally last month that work on constructing a temple in Mathura, along the lines of a similar development in Ayodhya, was "in progress", without giving more detail.

Ayodhya was the scene of communal violence in 1992 and 1993 in which more than 2,000 people died, after a mob demolished the 16th century Babri Masjid mosque that many Hindus claimed was on the birthplace of Lord Rama another important deity.

A court ruling allowing the construction of a temple on the site of the Babri Masjid was a major campaign issue in the 2019 general election, when the BJP increased its majority.

'The land is ours'

Many Hindu residents of Mathura support plans to reclaim the land from the mosque.

"The land is ours and should be given back," said Bipin Goswami, an 19-year-old with his face daubed saffron with sandalwood paste.

Local authorities mobilized thousands of security personnel in December after fringe Hindu groups announced an attempt to place a statue of Krishna inside the mosque on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid's destruction.

The attempt failed, but at the mosque, ringed with barbed wire and lookout towers since the early 1990s, police now check the ID cards of everyone entering the complex.

Aved Khan, a 30-year-old Muslim who has a food cart in Mathura, said he changed the name of his business from Srinath Dosa to American Dosa Corner after a group of men demanded that he stop using a Hindu name.

"You are Muslim, how can you have this name?" one of the men asked, tearing down the stall's signs, according to a police report of the incident in August.

Rajesh Mani Tripathi, national president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Dal  a hardline Hindu group that was also behind the attempt to install the statue  told Reuters he was one of the men involved in the altercation.

"If he was Muslim then he should write his name on the banner and should not cheat people by mentioning a Hindu name," he said.

Muslims in Mathura also complained about Adityanath's decision in September to ban meat within a 3 km radius of the temple.

At the empty Royal Restaurant, one of the few in the area remaining open, cooks fashion traditional lamb kebabs and chicken tikka out of soya.

"Before the BJP there was no tension here," said Sajid Anwar, standing before his shuttered Labbaik Restaurant.

Anwar said there was no demand for vegetarian food among Muslims. He is waiting for the election results before deciding whether to close permanently.

"If Yogi returns, I will have to find another trade."

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Mathura and Saurabh Sharma in Lucknow; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at the White House on Monday. At the forefront of their talks were discussions about Qatar supplying natural gas to Europe in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine.

Just ahead of their meeting, Biden described Qatar as a "major non-NATO ally" and the emir as "a good friend and reliable partner."

"We're committed to your nation and our friendship," Biden told Sheikh Tamim.

The emir, the first Persian Gulf leader to meet with Biden in Washington during his year-old presidency, said Qatar and the U.S. have "a very strong relationship." Sheikh Tamim said he planned to discuss "equal rights for Palestinians" with Biden and ways to pursue Middle East peace.

The meeting's timing is not coincidental, as the U.S. and Western allies worry that if they impose severe economic sanctions on Russia in response to an invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin would retaliate by cutting off energy supplies to Western European countries.

Russia supplies about one-third of Western Europe's energy needs. Qatar, a country of about 2.9 million people, is the world's second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, slightly behind the United States, and plays an important role in world energy markets.

Because Doha already has energy contracts with Asian nations, analysts say it is unclear whether Qatar has the gas-producing capacity to also help supply Europe.

The U.S. and Western allies have been attempting to lay out various contingencies in case Moscow invades Ukraine. Although Russia says it has no plans to attack Ukraine, it has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine's eastern flank. U.S. officials say an invasion could occur at any time.

Aside from talks with Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Sheikh Tamim is also scheduled to meet Monday with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and key members of Congress.

Biden's talks with the emir come as the U.S. searches for a path to deal with the Taliban government in Afghanistan after the U.S. fled the country in August in a chaotic ending to its 20-year war there. Qatar has been the U.S. representative in Kabul since then and initially housed 60,000 Afghan refugees looking to emigrate to the U.S.

Biden and Sheikh Tamim are also likely to discuss ongoing attempts by the U.S. to rejoin the international treaty to constrain Iran's nuclear program, which former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from.

In his Washington visit, Sheikh Tamim was also expected to push the U.S. to approve Qatar's request to buy U.S. Predator drones and American F-35 stealth fighters.
President Joe Biden and other Western leaders have repeatedly warned they will impose swift and punitive economic sanctions against Moscow in the event Vladimir Putin orders an invasion of Ukraine. British ministers announced Sunday they plan new legislation to make it easier to impose sanctions on Putins oligarchs and Russian officials who have investments and assets in Britain.

Russians have invested about an estimated $2 billion in the London property market alone, according to Transparency International, an anti-corruption lobbying and research organization in Berlin.

And the House of Commons own research library noted in a report last year: For some time the UK has been accused of being a hub for dirty money  especially Londons prime property market.

The British move is in response to frustration in Washington, where officials have complained that the government of Boris Johnson has not done enough to stop London from being used as a destination, and also a way station, for the profits of the Russian mega-rich.

The Britain problem



Last week, analysis by the Center for American Progress, an influential Democratic-aligned think tank, outlined the challenges the White House will face making economic sanctions bite. It suggested that the economic domain will be the primary theater for U.S.-Russia confrontation, but noted expectations for what imposing economic costs can achieve must be kept in check.

The think tank singled out Britain as a problem. The United Kingdom, in particular, has become a major hub for Russian oligarchs and their wealth, with London gaining the moniker Londongrad, Max Bergmann, author of the report noted. Uprooting Kremlin-linked oligarchs will be a challenge given the close ties between Russian money and the United Kingdoms ruling Conservative Party, the press and its real estate and financial industry, he concluded.

Britains foreign secretary, Liz Truss, is outlining legislative proposals to British lawmakers, which she says will make it easier to freeze the assets of Russians with financial links to Putin and his government.

Britains sanctions regime currently only covers assets lodged in Britain that can be tied to businesses or individuals who can be linked to Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea.

"There will be nowhere to hide for Putins oligarchs, Truss told Britains Times Radio on Sunday. Truss said new legislation would widen the scope of sanctions.

Bill Browder, a British-American financier who has long campaigned to expose high-level corruption in Russia, has been urging British authorities for years to target Putin-connected oligarchs. In 2018, in the wake of the poisoning on English soil of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, he told British lawmakers that Western weakness only emboldens the Kremlin. The British government blamed the Kremlin for attempted assassination of Skripal and his daughter, something Russia denies.

The Achilles heel of the Putin regime is to go after Putin-connected oligarchs in the UK by seizing their assets, he argued. He told a British parliamentary panel approximately $800 billion worth of Russian state-backed assets, mostly real estate, are held outside Russia and could be targeted. About $300 billion in cash and assets are estimated to be in the United States.

According to a 2018 report by Transparency International, large amounts of the Russian state-backed money controlled by Putin-connected oligarchs flow through British Crown dependencies and British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and then are transferred to the British capital.



London has certain advantages and Russians have always found London particularly attractive, according to Robert Barrington of Transparency International. It has these historic links with the Crown dependencies and overseas territories, so it is very easy to be part of that global laundering system. It is also a huge market in itself, so if you want to hide dirty money, it is easier to do, he said.

Anti-corruption campaigners say there was a huge jump in Russian money flows to London after the 2008 financial crash, partly because Britain courted foreign money and offered easy-to-get investor visas with very few questions being asked. An estimated 500 Russian multimillionaires live in Britain.

Their cash has driven up real estate prices and helped fuel the profits of expensive private schools and exclusive shops as well as providing a large share of the incomes of British bankers, fund managers, lawyers, and PR executives. More than 10,000 properties in Westminster, a central London borough, are owned by anonymous companies; some are thought to be Chinese or Gulf Arab in origin, but many are Russian.

The British government announced new asset-seizure powers in 2017 known as unexplained wealth orders, allowing for the confiscation of property without proving criminality and placing the burden of proof on the owners to explain their wealth. Britains i newspaper reported last week that officials were looking to issue more unexplained wealth orders in the event Russia invades Ukraine, forcing those suspected of having tight links to President Putin to explain the origins of their wealth.

Doubts



But some skeptics harbor doubts about the determination of the authorities to move against Russian wealth. They note since 2017 only five such orders have been issued. No one has done more to channel the flood of money out of Russia than Londons army of lawyers, bankers, and accountants; no one has been more accommodating of Putins oligarchs than Britains politicians, wrote Oliver Bullough in Britains Sunday Times this week.

Author of "Butler to the World: How Britain Became the Servant of Tycoons, Tax Dodgers, Kleptocrats and Criminals," Bullough says: If the government really wants to help Ukraine, it should force Putins oligarchs to take their cash home.

Critics also say the government needs to insist that so-called crown dependencies in the Caribbean need to introduce rigorous transparency rules for stashed overseas money. And they worry that Russian oligarch money and properties are well concealed behind shell companies.

In December, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to force offshore companies that own British property to declare their ownership, and to tackle criminals who abuse UK-registered shell companies. He made the promise at the US-convened Summit for Democracy, a virtual conference that explored how to strengthen the worlds democracies.

The chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, Tom Tugendhat, said he plans to hold a new set of new hearings to discuss the assets and investments of Russian oligarchs in London. His committee did the same thing in 2018 and recommended several steps, but the recommendations languished.

Kremlin officials said Monday that London's threat to target Russian companies and businessmen are alarming and any sanctions would backfire by hurting British companies.
For teachers at a middle school in New Mexico's largest city, the first inkling of a widespread tech problem came during an early morning staff call.

On the video, there were shout-outs for a new custodian for his hard work, and the typical announcements from administrators and the union rep. But in the chat, there were hints of a looming crisis. Nobody could open attendance records, and everyone was locked out of class rosters and grades.

Albuquerque administrators later confirmed the outage that blocked access to the district's student database  which also includes emergency contacts and lists of which adults are authorized to pick up which children  was due to a ransomware attack.

"I didn't realize how important it was until I couldn't use it," said Sarah Hager, a Cleveland Middle School art teacher.

Cyberattacks like the one that canceled classes for two days in Albuquerque's biggest school district have become a growing threat to U.S. schools, with several high-profile incidents reported since last year. And the coronavirus pandemic has compounded their effects: More money has been demanded, and more schools have had to shut down as they scramble to recover data or even manually wipe all laptops.

"Pretty much any way that you cut it, incidents have both been growing more frequent and more significant," said Doug Levin, director of the K12 Security Information Exchange, a Virginia-based nonprofit that helps schools defend against cybersecurity risk.

Precise data is hard to come by since most schools are not required to publicly report cyberattacks. But experts say public school systems  which often have limited budgets for cybersecurity expertise  have become an inviting target for ransomware gangs.

The pandemic also has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. School systems that have had instruction disrupted include those in Baltimore County and Miami-Dade County, along with districts in New Jersey, Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Levin's group has tracked well over 1,200 cyber security incidents since 2016 at public school districts across the country. They included 209 ransomware attacks, when hackers lock data up and charge to unlock it; 53 "denial of service" attacks, where attackers sabotage or slow a network by faking server requests; 156 "Zoombombing" incidents, where an unauthorized person intrudes on a video call; and more than 110 phishing attacks, where a deceptive message tricks a user to let a hacker into their network.

Recent attacks also come as schools grapple with multiple other challenges related to the pandemic. Teachers get sick, and there aren't substitutes to cover them. Where there are strict virus testing protocols, there aren't always tests or people to give them.

In New York City, an attack this month on third-party software vendor Illuminate Education didn't result in canceled classes, but teachers across the city couldn't access grades. Local media reported the outage added to stress for educators already juggling instruction with enforcing COVID-19 protocols and covering for colleagues who were sick or in quarantine.

Albuquerque Superintendent Scott Elder said getting all students and staff online during the pandemic created additional avenues for hackers to access the district's system. He cited that as a factor in the Jan. 12 ransomware attack that canceled classes for some 75,000 students.

The cancellations  which Elder called "cyber snow days"  gave technicians a five-day window to reset the databases over a holiday weekend.

Elder said there's no evidence student information was obtained by hackers. He declined to say whether the district paid a ransom but noted there would be a "public process" if it did.

Hager, the art teacher, said the cyberattack increased stress on campus in ways that parents didn't see.

Fire drills were canceled because fire alarms didn't work. Intercoms stopped working.

Nurses couldn't find which kids were where as positive test results came in, Hager said. "So potentially there were students on campus that probably were sick." It also appears the hack permanently wiped out a few days worth of attendance records and grades.

Edupoint, the vendor for Albuquerque's student information database, called Synergy, declined to comment.

Many schools choose to keep attacks under wraps or release minimal information to prevent revealing additional weaknesses in their security systems.

"It's very difficult for the school districts to learn from each other, because they're really not supposed to talk to each other about it because you might share vulnerabilities," Elder said.

Last year, the FBI issued a warning about a group called PYSA, or "Protect Your System, Amigo," saying it was seeing an increase in attacks by the group on schools, colleges and seminaries. Other ransomware gangs include Conti, which last year demanded $40 million from Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation's largest.

Most are Russian-speaking groups that are based in Eastern Europe and enjoy safe harbor from tolerant governments. Some will post files on the dark web, including highly sensitive information, if they don't get paid.

While attacks on larger districts garner more headlines, ransomware gangs tended to target smaller school districts in 2021 than in 2020, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the firm Emsisoft. He said that could indicate bigger districts are increasing their spending on cybersecurity while smaller districts, which have less money, remain more vulnerable.

A few days after Christmas, the 1,285-student district of Truth or Consequences, south of Albuquerque, also had its Synergy student information system shut down by a ransomware attack. Officials there compared it to having their house robbed.

"It's just that feeling of helplessness, of confusion as to why somebody would do something like this because at the end of the day, it's taking away from our kids. And to me that's just a disgusting way to try to, to get money," Superintendent Channell Segura said.

The school didn't have to cancel classes because the attack happened on break, but the network remains down, including keyless entry locks on school building doors. Teachers are still carrying around the physical keys they had to track down at the start of the year, Segura said.

In October, President Joe Biden signed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act, which calls for the federal cyber security agency to make recommendations about how to help school systems better protect themselves.

New Mexico lawmakers have been slow to expand internet usage in the state, let alone support schools on cyber security. Last week, state representatives introduced a bill that would allocate $45 million to the state education department to build a cybersecurity program by 2027.

Ideas on how to prevent future hacks and recover from existing ones usually require more work from teachers.

In the days following the Albuquerque attack, parents argued on Facebook over why schools couldn't simply switch to pen and paper for things like attendance and grades.

Hager said she even heard the criticism from her mother, a retired school teacher.

"I said, 'Mom, you can only take attendance on paper if you have printed out your roster to begin with,'" Hager said.

Teachers could also keep duplicate paper copies of all records  but that would double the clerical work that already bogs them down.

In an era where administrators increasingly require teachers to record everything digitally, Hager says, "these systems should work."
Police in western Germany report two officers were shot and killed Monday during a pre-dawn traffic stop.

Rhineland-Palatinate district police spokesman Bernhard Christian Erfort said the two officers reported via radio they were carrying out a traffic stop at 4:20 a.m. local time between Ulmet and Mayweilerhof in the west central Kusel district. A short time later, they reported in again, saying that shots were being fired, and the radio connection was lost.

The spokesman said officers were dispatched to the scene where they found the officers  a 24-year-old female and 29-year-old male  had been shot. One of the officers was still alive when the second team arrived but died shortly thereafter at the scene.

The police spokesman said they believe more than one suspect was involved in the shooting but could not say how many. He said police had no description of the suspects or their car.

He did say police from several nearby districts were involved in the manhunt for the perpetrators and warned at least one of the suspects is armed. Police urged drivers not to pick up hitchhikers.
NATO member states are sending thousands of troops, warplanes and ships to allies in eastern Europe as tensions with Russia escalate over Moscow's deployment of more than 100,000 troops to its border with Ukraine. The West fears an imminent Russian invasion, which the Kremlin denies.

Four Danish F-16 fighter jets landed in Lithuania last week to bolster NATO's air policing mission in the Baltic. Since Russia's 2014 forceful annexation of Crimea, NATO has deployed between 4,000 and 5,000 troops in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in what the alliance terms an "enhanced forward presence."

US troops

The United States has put 8,500 troops on standby. "I'll be moving U.S. troops to eastern Europe and NATO countries in the near term," U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters Friday.

The U.S. already has tens of thousands of troops stationed in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain. One scenario could see some of those personnel gradually shifted to eastern NATO allies.

NATO allies

France has announced plans to deploy hundreds of troops to Romania. "As President Macron recalled last week, we have sizably contributed to the security of our European partners in NATO missions in Baltic states and we will continue to do so," French Defense Minister Florence Parly said during a visit to Bucharest on January 27.

"In the same spirit, he indicated our availability to go further and within the NATO framework to engage in new EFP (enhanced forward presence) missions, particularly in Romania, if NATO decides it," Parly added.

Spain, the Netherlands and Germany are also considering sending troops, aircraft and warships to eastern European allies.

Anti-tank weapons

Britain has supplied about 2,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine and is expected to offer further deployments to NATO allies this week, potentially doubling its current commitment of about 1,150 troops. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to visit Ukraine this week and hold talks on the phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said the deployments are intended to send a message to Moscow.

"I think it is important when it comes to military deployment that we signal to President Putin that the very thing he fears, which is more NATO closer to Russia, would be the consequence of a strategic error of invading a sovereign country such as Ukraine," Wallace told reporters Monday following talks with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest.

Deterrence

However, NATO has no plans to deploy combat troops to Ukraine, notes security analyst Julie Norman of University College London.

"Those NATO troops that are in those border states are really there more for preparedness and for a defensive and deterrence capability, rather than expectation for direct conflict or direct combat."

Norman says the NATO deployments could be rapidly strengthened. "If there is indeed a conflict  those border states will be reinforced further than what they currently have. There's already NATO troops in most of those states, but this would bolster them by about double the amount, to start," Norman told VOA.

NATO says it is responding to Russian aggression. Moscow has labelled the Western response "hysteria" and denies it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead claiming that NATO's expansion into former Soviet-bloc countries poses a security risk.

Belarus threat

Russia has about 100,000 troops deployed close to the Ukrainian border. Thousands more arrived in Belarus for joint military exercises this week.

Evelyn N. Farkas, a former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, says Western allies had to respond.

"NATO itself has had to respond to a new threat Russia posed by putting additional forces into Belarus, which of course shares a border with Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, which are NATO allies," Farkas told a recent panel discussion hosted by London-based Chatham House.

NATO's deployments in eastern Europe could ratchet up tensions with Russia's president, says Norman.

"Putin's key demand in all of this is the drawdown of NATO troops and weaponry from those same eastern states. So, the fact that there is more buildup, that is going to be seen not as an act of defense, but an act of offense and provocation by Russia."
In a classroom in northern Iraq, Zhiwei Hu presides over his students as a conductor would an orchestra. He cues with a question, and the response from his students resounds in perfect, fluent Chinese.

The 52-year-old has been teaching the cohort of 14 Iraqi Kurdish students at the behest of the Chinese consulate in the northern city of Irbil.

His class is part of an experiment with the local Salahaddin University: If these students succeed in graduating, the Chinese Language Department would be officially open for enrollment, giving the growing plethora of Chinese companies in Iraq's Kurdish region their pick for hires.

Regin Yasin sits at the front. "I wanted to learn Chinese because I know China will have an upper hand in the future," the 20-year-old student said. "China will expand here, that's why I chose it."

China's interests in Iraq, anchored in energy to quench its growing needs, are expanding. Beijing is building power plants, factories, water treatment facilities, as well as badly needed schools across the country.

Dozens of contracts signed in recent years ensure China's growing footprint, even as major Western companies, including the U.S., plot their exit. While Iraqi officials say they desire a greater U.S. presence, they find appeal in China's offer of development without conditions for democracy or reform and its deft diplomacy.

"The language school is a projection of Chinese soft power, to familiarize the region with China. The more familiar they are, the more attracted they will be to Chinese goods," said Sardar Aziz, a researcher who recently wrote a Kurdish-language book about China-Iraq relations.

Chinese companies dominate Iraq's key economic sector, oil, and Beijing consumes 40% of Iraq's crude exports. But from a narrow focus on hydrocarbons, Chinese investments have grown to include other industries, finance, transport, construction and communications.

The shift was spurred following Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2013 announcement of the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, dubbed the new Silk Road, composed of a vast array of development and investment initiatives from East Asia through the Middle East to Europe. The U.S. considers it unsettling, akin to a Trojan horse for Chinese expansion.

The initiative calls for China to develop relations with states along its path through political coordination, infrastructure connectivity, trade and financial integration, and people-to-people bonds.

In 2017, the Chinese consulate approached Salahaddin University's College of Languages with the idea of a Chinese language department. Opening a school in the capital Baghdad came with security risks, but the northern Kurdish-run region was relatively secure.

At first, the university wasn't sure it would appeal to students or that it could find qualified instructors, the college's dean, Atif Abdullah Farhadi, said.

So Farhadi required the consulate to provide and pay for teachers, textbooks, an audio lab and other classroom technologies and exchange opportunities in Beijing.

"They fulfilled all of the demands," said Farhadi. The department opened in 2019 and is set to graduate its first cohort next year. "Then we will expand."

The students said learning to write in Mandarin, the official language of mainland China, was the hardest part. Thousands of special characters had to be memorized.

And then there was pronunciation.

"Their tongues trembled," Hu said. After five hours of lessons, five times a week over three years, "They are speaking very well."

Farhadi wishes it could be the same for the English Language Department; the U.S. and British consulates have seldom offered help, he said.

"They don't support us at all," he said.

As China grows its economic footprint, Western oil firms are reducing theirs. Many have expressed discontent with Iraq's risky investment environment and unfavorable contract terms.

U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil's exit from West Qurna 1 field last year came despite Iraqi pleas to stay, Oil Minister Ihsan Abduljabbar Ismail told The Associated Press at the time. The presence of a major U.S. company in Iraq had long served as a reassurance for other companies.

British Petroleum, operator of Iraq's largest oil field Rumaila, plans to spin off its business there with another entity jointly owned with China's CNPC. Other oil companies, including Russia's Lukoil, are demanding amendments to contract terms as a condition to remain.

Chinese companies dominate oil contracts, from operating fields to providing downstream services, and they continue to win more. Recently, Iraq finalized terms with China's Sinopec to develop Mansuriya gas field, which could produce 300 million standard cubic feet per day if approved by Iraq's next government.

Investing in Iraq is a risk that China is willing to take. With lower profit margins, Chinese firms always offer more attractive, lower-price contracts, industry officials and Iraqi officials said.

Thursday is "Chinese Corner" at the language department.

Chinese businesses -- from oil to wallpapering -- come and meet the students under the pretext of practicing language skills. Most end up with promises for future employment.

"We speak in Chinese and talk about business and the future," said one student, Hiwar Saadi. "They come to us to meet us and make a connection."

Two students are already working part-time for a Chinese telecommunications company as translators.

"It's the opposite in every other department in the university. Supply is high but the demand for jobs is low," Farhadi said. "Here, the students are turning down job offers in order to focus on study."

Lessons cover aspects of Chinese culture and history as well. Hu is always quick to remind the students of Beijing and Irbil's shared golden past: Iraq was part of the ancient Silk Road trade route, linking China's Han dynasty with the West.

A former Iraqi ambassador to Beijing, Mohammed Saber, said that during his time there, Chinese officials often recalled their shared history. Many Chinese also remembered how in the 1950s, Iraq shipped tons of dates to China to help during famine.

When Sabir began his post in 2004, Iraq-China trade stood at around half a billion dollars. When he left in 2010 it was $10 billion. Last year it reached roughly $30 billion.

"They need our oil, and we need to find a market to sell our oil. The road goes two ways," he said.

Yao Yan, a Beijing native selling Chinese-made goods in Irbil's Langa Market, agrees.

A small figure surrounded by mounds of handbags and shoes, she said Iraq offered her better economic prospects. She sends her earnings back home to care for her disabled teenage son.

"Even when there is an economic crisis here," she said, referring to last year's liquidity crisis spurred by falling oil prices, "The money is still good for China."

At the language school, Diaa Sherzad has just completed an oral exam.

The 21-year-old said he is always thinking about what to do next. "The most important thing is how I can serve my people. If I know Chinese, it will help. For the future, for everything."
Nairobi, known as a cosmopolitan and culturally diverse African capital, boasts a thriving assortment of Chinese restaurants. It is a testament to Chinas cultural and financial influence in Kenya, embraced by some, while bringing uncertainty critique for other native Kenyans.

Mbathi Kimani, a local, owns Hong Kong Kitchen, a joint tucked away in Safi Soki mall in south Nairobi. The hole-in-the-wall restaurant flanks a recently completed section of Ngong Road, a major construction project done in collaboration with Chinese firms.

The road is a part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to create infrastructure to enhance land and sea trade routes from Asia to Africa.

Belt and Road projects have brought a new wave of Chinese immigrants to Nairobi in recent years, some of whom have opened local restaurants.

The Chinese restaurant competition here is tough. There are quite a number of us for a rather niche market, but I wanted to give it a try, Kimani told VOA.

He owns three Chinese restaurants inspired by his travels to Hong Kong in the 90s and 2000s. He was so impressed by the efficiency and organization he witnessed in Hong Kong and thinks Kenya can benefit from that model.

He also enjoyed the food there and is replicating Hong Kongs Cantonese food at his Nairobi restaurants. Kimani found while some local Kenyans like Chinese food, others dont embrace it.

He tried opening a Hong Kong Kitchen along Mombasa Road, where the population has a lower concentration of expatriates than the other locations. After just one month, it wasnt doing greatpeople in that area werent as keen to try the food, Kimani explained. Theyve closed that restaurant for the time being, but business is steady at the other three locations across town.

Kenyans mixed appetite for Chinese cooking parallels the locals relationship and perception of Chinese presence in their country. While some Kenyans welcome the benefits of jobs and roads created through Chinese investments, others are more cautious and even critical of the the cost of doing business with China, in terms of debts.

Co-existing in Kenya

Kenyans mixed perception of the Chinese and Chinese food in Nairobi also comes from how the two cultures co-exist.

Marvin Akinyi, a 29-year-old Kenyan who works as a biology lab assistant, said he finds it strange how workers from mainland China tend to keep to themselves but attributes it to the language barrier.

Perhaps, if I had more Chinese friends, Id have more chances to try the food, he said in an interview with VOA.

Akinyi gave Hong Kong Kitchen a try once. It was good, He continued, but just very different from what Im used to. Im not sure I would try it again, especially since most of my friends are Kenyan. We are used to getting nyama choma [grilled meat] at the same bars rather than trying new places.

Fusion of flavors and cultures

In the kitchen and the dining rooms, some Kenyans are experimenting with fusing traditional Kenyan cuisine with Chinese ingredients and flavors, and liking what they taste.

A 29-year-old Kenyan chef, Malachi Mwaniki, has also worked in upscale Nairobi restaurants such as Hemingways.

Common Kenyan foods are simple and hearty, but relatively bland compared to the range of spices used across Chinese cooking. Stir-fries have become very popular. Young people in particular are keen on trying new foods and flavors, he tells VOA.

He is on a journey to explore international foods and makes barbecued brisket, cold-smoked salmon, Chinese bao buns, and even Cantonese dim-sum.

Moses Kulavi, who has worked at the popular Kenyan chain Java Coffeehouse and upscale Hemingway Hotel, attended a culinary course at Kenyas Tsavo Park Institute of Technology, where he learned the fundamentals of intercontinental cooking.

Many of the ingredients that we used were local. Kulavi said, but we also learned how to use things like bok choy and soy sauce. Overall, I would say that Chinese dishes are spicier.

Many base ingredients like chicken, beef, and eggs translate across Kenyan and Chinese cuisines. The Kenyan culinary tradition, of cooking meat wet fry and dry fry -- meaning with or without stew or broth -- also has similar Chinese cuisine counterparts.

Kulavi now caters private events for clients, mostly middle class and local. He created his version of an African beef dry fry paired with Chinese fried rice.

Its been a big hit and is commonly requested by my clients, Kulavi told VOA in a phone interview.

One of the main differences in the two cuisines is in preparation. For instance, both pilau and fried rice are staple rice dishes. For the former, a coastal Kenyan comfort food, all the ingredients are boiled together in the same pot, while in Chinese-style fried rice, the ingredients are sauteed separatelydeveloped as a way to use up leftovers and odds and ends in the kitchen.

Hong Kong Kitchens Kimani appreciates the beauty and diversity of an international palate. However, he recognizes that the situation is different for those who lack firsthand experience in seeing and tasting for themselves.

Kenyans come into Hong Kong Kitchen with all sorts of stereotypes, Kimani said. Some expect to find snakes or things like that. We have to show them that its largely the same ingredients, just cooked differently. Its just food!
Mali said it is expelling the French ambassador because of "hostile and outrageous" comments by former colonial power France about Mali's transitional government.

A statement read on national television Monday said French Ambassador Joel Meyer has been given 72 hours to leave the country.

"This measure follows the hostile and outrageous comments made recently by the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the recurrence of such comments by the French authorities with regard to the Malian authorities, despite repeated protests," the statement said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said last week that Mali's junta was "illegitimate and takes irresponsible measures." He also described the junta as "out of control."



The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that it would recall Meyer from Mali.

Relations between Mali and France deteriorated this month after the junta went back on an agreement to organize elections in February. Instead, the junta has proposed staying in power for up to another five years.

European nations have also expressed concern that Mali's interim government has accepted private Russian security contractors.

France has had troops in Mali since 2013 when it sent forces at the request of Malian leaders to stop Islamist militants who were advancing on the capital. The latest dispute raises questions about whether French troops will remain in the country.

Last week, Mali's junta demanded that Denmark withdraw its newly arrived contingent of soldiers to Mali. The junta accused Denmark of deploying without authorization, a charge Copenhagen denied.

Denmark's foreign minister said Friday that it supports France in the latest diplomatic dispute.

"Reports the French Ambassador has been declared Persona Non Grata by Mali transitional authorities are unacceptable. Denmark stands in full solidarity with France," Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said in a tweet on Friday.

Mali's interim leader Assimi Goita seized power in August 2020 citing widespread popular dissatisfaction toward elected leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. However, less than a year later in May 2021, Goita overthrew the transitional government that he helped set up, citing a Cabinet reshuffle that excluded two key military leaders.

Goita claimed the move violated the terms of the new government. French President Emmaneul Macron called the action "a coup within a coup."

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.
Mali has long been known for its music, dance, and cultural festivals, despite an ongoing insurgency that has halted most tourism. Two military coups since 2020 and delayed elections led West African nations to impose economic sanctions against Mali which Europe has supported. But as the festival season kicks off, participants and organizers are still finding reasons to sing and dance.

Veronique Djehinan Lou is an interpretive dancer from Ivory Coast living in Niger.

Lou was invited to Malis Fari Foni Waati dance festival this year, arriving by bus on January 9. That same day, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, imposed travel and economic sanctions on Mali, closing land and air borders between Mali and its West African neighbors.

Lou is unsure of how exactly she will get home to Niger. In the meantime, she performed as part of a group dance piece in an auditorium at the Blonba cultural center, packed with adults and neighborhood children alike.

She said she found a festive atmosphere in the country, despite the sanctions.

People arent even worried about that, she said. The government, they work for themselves, and we the artists we are doing our thing. Were just one voice. Were the voice of the people. We dont know when all these problems will be solved, so we are doing our activities, we continue our party.

Before the 2012 takeover of northern Mali by Islamist militants, the country was known for its cultural festivals, which were a frequent attraction for tourists. But these festivals have always been popular with Malians, and even though tourism has nearly ground to a halt, the festivals have for the most part continued.

New festivals have popped up in the years since unrest began. The Ogobagna Festival is a week-long Dogon cultural festival held on the Niger riverbank in Bamako, in its seventh year.

Amassagou Dougnon is the president of the organizing committee of the festival, which he hopes can be a place for people to unwind.

There has been this embargo, he said, there has been worry of what will we do tomorrow? Culture is a neutral means of expression. No one is afraid to come here, because its a place of culture, a place of exchange, a place of dialogue, and this is the best kind of place for people to gather to talk and de-stress, he said.

The Fari Foni Waati festival depends on participants who come from other countries in the West African region as well as Europe to perform original dance pieces alongside Malian performers.

Drissa Samake, the managing director of the Blonba center, said that even though many participants could not make it to Bamako this year because of the travel embargo, calling off the festival was never an option.

He said that its during times when the country is facing crises that its even more important to hold these cultural activities.

He said, nothing can unite so many people during this period like these cultural events. Its important to us to strengthen this sector, that allows us to create what we call social cohesion.

The Festival on the Niger will be held next weekend in Segou, Mali, and Festival Agna in Koulikoro takes place later in February. Both will bring together musicians from around the country.

How Malis current political situation will progress remains to be seen, but music and dancing is sure to continue.
The Australian air force is preparing to deliver 20 tons of emergency supplies to remote communities cut off by flood waters. Traffic has been disrupted on the main highway and railway between Adelaide in South Australia and Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory.

Heavy rain and storms in recent days have damaged freight routes in South Australia.

A 14-day major emergency was declared Friday by state authorities. It gives the police special powers to ensure food reaches isolated communities.

South Australia has a population of 1.7 million who are already under a major emergency declaration for COVID-19. The state was also badly impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, although the floods have occurred away from the areas worst-hit by the fires.

The area is expected to receive yet more rain, with up to 200 millimeters forecast in the coming days.

A military plane is scheduled to land Monday in the outback settlement of Coober Pedy to deliver food and other essentials.

The town is 850 kilometers north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway and is known as the opal capital of the world because of its mining resources. The impact on mining and farming might not be known for days.

Tim Jackson, the administrator of the Coober Pedy Council, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the arrival of supplies would ease community concerns.

People are pretty relaxed generally speaking, I think, and particularly now that they know there is a significant food drop being made today. It is just a bit frustrating. It is just the unknown about when the highway is going to be opened again. (I) understand that it is the first time both the rail and road have been impacted simultaneously, Jackson said.

Flooding in South Australia and the disruption to freight routes have led to shortages on supermarket shelves in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Higher-than-average rainfall this summer is associated with a La Nina weather system, which can also produce a higher-than-normal number of tropical cyclones.

The naturally occurring system develops when strong winds move the warm surface waters of the Pacific Ocean from South America towards Indonesia.

In Australia, the La Nina system increases the likelihood of cooler daytime temperatures, reducing the risk of bushfires and heatwaves.

Conservationists are warning that the impact of climate change will increase the incidence and intensity of extreme rainfall events in Australia. They have said that the risks of flooding are exacerbated when the atmosphere is made warmer and wetter by climate change.
Myanmar's military seized power last year in a February 1 coup that abruptly ended a decade of tentative steps toward democracy.

According to rights group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 11,000 people have been arrested since the coup and around 8,000 remain in detention, while about 1,500 people were killed by security forces.

The junta says those figures are exaggerated.

Here are some of the most prominent detainees:

Aung San Suu Kyi

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi led the elected government overthrown by the military and was arrested in an early morning raid on February 1.

She is on trial in more than a dozen cases that carry combined maximum sentences of more than 100 years in prison. She denies all charges, which include breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act and corruption.

She has been sentenced for incitement, breaching COVID-19 rules and possession of walkie-talkies. Her trial is ongoing. Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest during the last era of military rule.

Win Myint

Myanmar's ousted president and head of state, Win Myint, was also detained early on February 1 when, according to his court testimony, he was threatened if he refused to relinquish power. He was found guilty, together with Suu Kyi, of incitement and breaching coronavirus rules. His trial related to a corruption charge is ongoing.

Sean Turnell

Suu Kyi's Australian economic adviser, Turnell, was arrested five days after the coup and is also charged under the Official Secrets Act, which carries a 14-year prison sentence.

Win Htein

A close aide to Suu Kyi and senior member of her political party, Win Htein, 79, was sentenced in October to 20 years in prison on charges of high treason. He was a longtime political prisoner during decades of campaigning to end army rule before 2010.
Myanmar will mark a bitter one-year anniversary of the militarys February 1, 2021, coup Tuesday amid a rising toll of dead and displaced from fighting between junta forces and a stubborn armed resistance that denies the regime complete control of the country.

Observers say the past year has already set Myanmar back a decade or more and that they see no imminent exit from the crisis as both sides dig in.

Theres only one thing worse than a brutal military dictatorship, and that is a brutal military dictatorship thats not fully in control, and thats what we have essentially in Myanmar, said Herve Lemahieu, research director and Myanmar analyst at Australias Lowy Institute.

With an added push from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations says the turmoil will push nearly half of Myanmars 55 million people into poverty by early this year, a level not seen since 2005.

Its a lost decade of development at least, probably a lost generation, Lemahieu said.



After decades of military rule, Myanmars generals embarked on a series of democratic reforms in 2011 but took back full control of the state from a popular and democratically elected civilian government last year. The generals claimed, without evidence, that the 2020 polls its proxy party decisively lost to the ruling National League for Democracy were riddled with fraud.

Mass protests followed, with soldiers and police shooting and killing hundreds of civilians and arresting thousands to try and end them. That sparked an armed resistance from upstart local militias across the country, some now joining forces with older, well-armed ethnic minority rebel groups holding territory in the countrys rugged borderlands.

During a year of protests and fighting, junta forces have killed some 1,500 civilians, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group based in neighboring Thailand. It says the junta has also arrested over 11,800 politicians, health care workers, journalists, activists and others, some reportedly tortured and killed in custody.

The junta claims the AAPPs casualty numbers are overblown and that its arrests and attacks are targeting terrorists.

The U.N. and others say the military continues to launch indiscriminate ground assaults, rocket attacks and air strikes on opposition-held areas that have driven more than 400,000 people from their homes since the coup.

Tom Andrews, the U.N.s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said the junta is committing crimes against humanity and war crimes. He said he recently spoke with a father whose two teen daughters died in a military attack the week before.

They were killed by a bomb that was dropped by junta military forces; they were sleeping. This is happening all over the country. Innocent people are dying because theyre identified by the junta as the enemy, Andrews said.

Min Zin, executive director of Myanmars Institute for Strategy and Policy, a think tank, said the military has largely consolidated control over central Myanmar and most towns and cities but is struggling to hold and control much of the countryside in the northwest, where the new militias have put up some of the stiffest resistance.

When you go up in the north, like Sagaing, Magwe, especially the northern parts of these regions, I think the rural areas are more or less being controlled by the resistance movement, he said.

In the cities, too, people are resisting the junta by abandoning government jobs, ignoring their taxes and boycotting the militarys vast network of businesses, from breweries to cell phone networks, said Andrews.



In the weeks and months after the coup, tens of thousands of doctors, nurses and teachers left their jobs at state-run hospitals and schools to join a widespread civil disobedience movement aimed at crippling the regime.

Thinzar Shunlei Yi, a popular pro-democracy activist and protest organizer, said the movement was going strong and remained the backbone of the resistance.

As long as the military terrorism mindset is there, there will be resistance everywhere, she told VOA. As long as the military dont surrender what they are doing to the people of Myanmar, then this will continue.



A so-called National Unity Government of ousted lawmakers, ethnic minority parties and other opposition groups has been trying to pull together the disparate strands of the armed and civil resistance into a parallel, shadow state to challenge the junta. But with most of its leaders in exile or hiding its existence remains largely virtual, and Min Zin said generations of ethnic tensions will make creating a truly unified armed wing very challenging.

He and other observers say neither the junta nor the armed resistance is likely to prevail over the other by force. But neither has either side made overtures for talks.

Diplomatic efforts have largely been left to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-member bloc that includes Myanmar.

The other members convinced the junta to agree to a five-point peace plan for Myanmar in April that included an immediate end to violence and talks among all parties concerned. But they have so far failed to persuade the generals to follow through on any of it.

Nothing that ASEAN has said or done has moved the needle an iota in the direction of a peaceful resolution of the crisis and they dont appear able to sway the calculus of the generals, said Lemahieu.

The generals have their own plan to hold elections in mid-2023, but few expect anything other than contest rigged to deny the NLD another win.



The partys leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, arrested the day of the coup, has been convicted on charges widely seen as trumped up late last year and still faces several more.

With neither side poised to win by force or ready to give way, Lemahieu said there is more misery to come.

Youve got not enough violence to overthrow the state, but sufficient violence  to basically throw things into perpetual instability, he said, and I dont see how were going to get out of it any time soon.
North Korean state media have reported the countrys test of an intermediate range ballistic missile, Pyongyangs longest-range missile test in more than four years.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the test was meant to verify the accuracy of the Hwasong-12 missile launched early Sunday from a northwest region.

State media showed pictures not only of the missile emerging from a mobile launcher in a wooded area, but also two photos looking back at Earth, taken by a camera attached to the warhead after it had reached outer space.

South Koreas military earlier said the missile reached a maximum altitude of about 2,000 kilometers, flying at a steep angle, before splashing down about 800 kilometers away from the launch site.

North Korea used the lofted trajectory in consideration of the safety of neighboring countries, according to the Monday KCNA report.

WATCH: North Korea tests an intermediate range ballistic missile



North Korean missile launches have at times passed over Japan, prompting outrage from Japanese leaders.

The Hwasong-12 has a maximum range of about 4,500 kilometers, according to defense analysts.

It is the longest-range missile North Korea has tested since 2017, when it launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles during the height of tensions between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

Although the move will likely be viewed as a provocation by many in Washington, North Korean state media did not cover it as such.

The brief KCNA report on Monday contained none of the bombastic, anti-U.S. language that often accompanied major North Korean launches in 2017.

The launch, in fact, was not even covered on the front page of the Rodong Sinmun, North Koreas ruling party newspaper.

Analysts say North Korea has tried to convey a sense of normalcy about its launches in an attempt to be treated like any other country developing its own weapons.

North Korea, however, is prohibited from any ballistic missile activity by a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

That has not deterred launches. So far in January, North Korea has launched 11 missiles, setting a new monthly record.

In a statement, the U.S. militarys Indo-Pacific Command condemned the test and called for North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing acts.

In a statement, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the launch takes North Korea a step closer toward making good on its threat to abandon its voluntary suspension of longer-range missile tests.

Japans chief Cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, also strongly condemned the launch.

North Korea's missile frenzy appears at least partly aimed at pressuring the United States and South Korea amid an extended pause in nuclear talks. North Korea has several other possible motivations for testing missiles, including shoring up domestic political support for leader Kim, ensuring the performance of new weapons and demonstrating deterrence.
Kenyan police say one suspect has been arrested after an improvised explosive device killed at least 13 passengers and injured others in a bus traveling in northeast Kenya near the border with Somalia.

Kenyan police in northeast Mandera county say the 14-seat bus was heading to Mandera town early Monday when it drove over the roadside bomb.

Kenyan media reports cited witnesses saying they heard gunfire after the deadly explosion.

The Nation Media Group quoted the regions police chief Bunei Rono as saying one suspect was arrested in connection with the bombing and was being questioned.

While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion is expected to fall on the Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

The Somali terror group has in the past launched several cross-border attacks on security forces and public transportation.

The al-Qaida-linked group is blamed for most of the northeastern and coastal regions attacks, though analysts say some of the violence is due to local and political disputes.

Al-Shabab in 2015 attacked a convoy on the same road as Mondays attack that was carrying Mandera Governor Ali Roba, killing three people, including two police officers.

Kenyan police say suspected al-Shabab fighters on Wednesday sprayed vehicles carrying judicial officials with bullets in nearby Lamu county, injuring several people.
Rescue efforts continued across southeastern Africa Monday for thousands of people cut off by flooding from last week's Tropical Storm Ana. The storm killed at least 90 people across Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi. Experts say a fresh cyclone forming near the island nation of Mauritius could hamper rescue efforts and worsen damage in the region.

The storm damaged public infrastructures, including health care facilities and roads, and interrupted medical services to people affected by the storm.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the storm killed 20 people in Mozambique and displaced 121,000 others. In Madagascar, according to the Africa CDC, 48 people were killed and 148,000 others left homeless.

In Malawi, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs says Tropical Storm Ana killed 32 people and displaced 188,000 from their homes across 17 districts.

For Chikwawa alone, [a] total of 44 camps have been set to accommodate the displaced. But the figures might rise, as the council is still conducting some assessment, and the general public will be updated on any development, said Chipiliro Khamula, the departments spokesperson.

On Thursday, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera declared a national disaster in areas hard-hit by Tropical Storm Ana and called for urgent assistance for the flood victims.

In a statement Sunday, the Department of Disaster Management said relief assistance is reaching some areas, although efforts to access others are hampered by impassable roads.

The countries affected by Tropical Storm Ana are concerned by reports of a fresh tropical cyclone, known as Batsirai, is forming near the island nation of Mauritius.

However, weather experts in the region have downplayed those fears.

Yobu Kachiwanda, the spokesperson for Malawis' Department of Meteorological Services, said Tropical Cyclone Batsirai is currently still in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.

And at this stage, the track is not very certain. So, more of its possible track will be observed in the next three days, but otherwise for now, there is no threat to Malawi weather. But if there [will] be any cause of threat to Malawi weather, Malawians will be informed accordingly, Kachiwanda said.

If it does approach Malawi, he advised people in flood-prone areas to take heed of any warnings from weather experts and officials.

If they are saying move to higher ground, they should act immediately, because these threats are there, and climate change is with us, Kachiwanda said.

President Chakwera offered similar advice Monday when he visited flood victims in the Chikwawa and Nsanje districts in southern Malawi.
U.S.-backed forces in northeastern Syria are warning the latest attempt by the Islamic State terror group to break thousands of its followers out of prison was part of a bigger plot designed to take and hold territory  a capability most Western counterterrorism officials have assessed to be beyond the groups current reach.

Officials with the Syrian Democratic Forces said they based their conclusion on interrogations with captured Islamic State fighters and prisoners, and on documents recovered after the al-Sinaa prison in Hasaka and surrounding areas were secured.

If their attack had succeeded, they would have attacked other neighborhoods in al-Hasaka as well, in conjunction with the attacks on the areas of al-Hol, al-Shadada, and Deir el-Zour, to put their extensive scheme into effect, the SDF said in a statement Monday.

They wanted to launch a large-scale attack on the area to spread once again their terrorism, the SDF said, adding the IS-liberated areas were to be called the Second Islamic State.

While not downplaying the severity of the IS plot to free captured fighters from the prison in Hasaka, Western officials who spoke to VOA doubted the terror group is ready to try to re-establish a physical caliphate.

I think that highly unlikely, a Western counterterrorism official told VOA on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

The local conditions do not currently exist for resurgence, the official said, adding that the terror group is still trying to consolidate its networks across Syria and Iraq.

U.S. officials have previously described the IS operation to free up to 4,000 prisoners a troubling event, agreeing the size of the attacking force was significant.

But a U.S. official speaking to VOA prior to the latest SDF claims, characterized the IS assault on al-Sinaa more as an attempt to grow the group, which currently boasts anywhere from 8,000 to 16,000 fighters across Iraq and Syria, and to give it momentum.

"Something concrete like this can be really powerful, the official said, asking to remain anonymous to discuss intelligence.

"They've made some incremental improvements, especially in rural areas," the official said, warning any escaped prisoners could be absorbed into IS networks and boost the terror groups operational capabilities.

But U.S. intelligence estimates do not envision IS trying to make a bigger, more permanent move for some time.

"In Iraq and Syria, ISIS remains committed to long-term goals, the U.S. official said, using another acronym for the terror group. They are working to shape the environment."

IS launched the attack on the al-Sinaa prison nearly a week and a half ago, setting off at least one car bomb near the entrance to the complex before as many as 300 fighters converged on the facility.



The SDF initially announced it had retaken the facility, with help from U.S. and coalition forces, this past Wednesday. [[ https://www.voanews.com/a/us-backed-sdf-retakes-key-prison-in-battle-with-islamic-state/6413538.html ]] But fighting continued until Sunday, after SDF troops encountered a group of 60-90 IS prisoners barricaded in a building on the northern edge of the facility.

On Monday, the SDF said a total of 374 attackers and prisoners were killed in the effort to retake the prison and secure nearby neighborhoods.

Officials said 77 prison guards and other prison staff members had been killed along with 40 SDF soldiers and four civilians.

As of late Monday, the SDF said it was still trying to account for the whereabouts of more than 200 prisoners, but that most of the missing IS detainees are thought to be dead.

SDF commanders also rejected concerns that the IS attack managed to free many prisoners. Earlier estimates from U.S. officials put the number of escapees in the 10-20 range.

Coalition officials said Monday that the surviving prisoners had been transferred to a new, more secure facility.

Still questions remained about the fate 700 to 850 children  boys and teenagers  who had been housed in a separate facility in the al-Sinaa prison complex.

SDF officials said last week that IS fighters and prisoners had been using them as human shields during attempts to retake the complex but have given few updates.

At a news conference in Hasaka on Monday, a senior SDF commander, Mahmud Barkhadan, seemed to downplay the idea that children were caught up in the fighting, saying most of the boys at the facility, though taken into custody as children, were now 18 years of age or older.

Barkhadan also said there is evidence many of them took up arms during the attempted jailbreak, fighting alongside the other IS detainees.

The explanations, though, are not sitting well with human rights organizations.

I am distressed, Human Rights Watch Associate Director Letta Tayler told VOA Monday. Theres a major information void at this point.

HRW officials said last week it had spoken to an Australian boy who had at least initially escaped the fighting, and that he said two of his friends, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, had been killed.

HRW said it has also been told by the SDF that the prison complex had been home to boys as young as 12.

Clearly, the SDF has its hands full right now  but as soon as possible, the world needs to know, Tayler added.

For now, though, SDF officials said they are still trying to get a complete picture of the attack on al-Sinaa, alleging it appears to have been much more complex than they initially realized.

They said the attackers attempted to arm the prisoners by driving a a large cargo car loaded with weapons and ammunition to the prison gate.

They also said a network of tunnels had been dug inside some houses in neighborhoods  in order to back the attack.

Additionally, security operations both in areas around the prison, as well as in Deir el-Zour and in the city of Raqqa, resulted in another 40 arrests, the SDF claimed, noting 26 of the suspects were arrested for smuggling IS detainees in and out of the prison in Hasaka.

In its own propaganda, IS promoted the attack as proof that its self-declared caliphate has not been defeated.

Have you seen a state  whose enemies declare its elimination once or twice a year? the terror group asked in the latest version of its al-Naba online newsletter, published last week and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.

The soldiers of the Caliphate live, the terror group added.

By contrast, U.S. and coalition officials have been quick to describe the attempted prison break as a major defeat for IS while also praising the SDF for its handling of the attack.

Due to the effective response  senior ISIS leaders were captured or killed during the attempt," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement Monday.

The U.S.-led coalition likewise praised the SDF response, tweeting that the IS jailbreak failed by making detention facilities through the region more secure."

Yet, underlying the congratulatory messages is a growing concern that IS is capable of using newfound strength to sow chaos in the region.

Iraqi officials said Sunday that the attack on the prison in Hasaka led them to take additional security precautions, specifically ordering the countrys elite Counterterrorism Service to inspect a number of facilities currently holding captured IS fighters.

The barbarity of ISISs actions during this attack reaffirms why this group must be denied the ability to regenerate and why nations must work together to address the thousands of ISIS detainees in inadequate detention facilities, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement late Sunday.

ISIS remains a global threat that requires a global solution, he added.

Mutlu Civiroglu contributed to this report.
The Taliban announced Sunday they would start reopening all public universities in Afghanistan from this week, more than five months after the Islamist group retook control of the war-torn country.

Abdul Baqi Haqqani, the minister for higher education, said by video that students in Afghan provinces with a warm climate would return to classes on Wednesday, while universities in the colder areas, including Kabul, will reopen February 26.

Haqqani did not elaborate, but in his earlier statements the minister had announced that gender segregation would be enforced in public universities in line with Sharia or Islamic law before reopening them. He also said at the time that hijabs would be mandatory for female students.

Sundays announcement comes as the Taliban face pressure from the international community to respect the human rights of all Afghans, especially those of women, and allow all girls to receive an education.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his call for the Taliban earlier on Sunday to uphold pledges to respect human rights.

In Afghanistan, women & girls are once again being denied their rights to education, employment & equal justice, Guterres tweeted on Sunday. To demonstrate a real commitment to be a part of the global community, the Taliban must recognize & uphold the basic human rights that belong to every girl & woman.

In mid-September, the Taliban allowed female students to resume classes in some 150 private universities under a strictly gender-segregated classroom system.

Afghan public and private universities were co-educational before the Taliban takeover, with males and females studying side by side, and women didnt have to abide by a dress code. In elementary and high schools, however, girls and boys were taught separately until the Islamist group regained power last August.

Co-education is in conflict with the principles of Islam and with national values and it is against the traditions of Afghans as well, Haqqani said in a September news conference in Kabul.

While the Talibans male-only caretaker government opened secondary schools for boys in early September, most girls across Afghanistan are still waiting for official permission to continue their education.

The Taliban have pledged that all girls will be allowed to go back to the classroom in March when the new school year begins in the country.

Leaders of the ruling Islamist group have repeatedly rejected as false propaganda that they oppose education for women, saying financial constraints and a lack of an Islamic environment in educational institutions were preventing them from letting women resume their studies.

No country has yet recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan.

The global community has been watching closely to see whether the Islamist group might rule the country differently from its first time in power in the late 1990s, when girls were banned from attending schools and women from leaving home unless accompanied by a close male relative.
The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine:

* The United States and Russia faced off at the U.N. Security Council Monday over Russia's actions along Ukraine's border.

*U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia's military force of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine's borders "the largest mobilization" in Europe in decades, while Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the West of "whipping up tensions" over Ukraine.

* U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday the United States is ready for any scenario in Russia, but said, "We continue to urge diplomacy as the best way forward" and "continue to engage in nonstop diplomacy."

* British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced Monday a new legal framework that would allow London to impose sanctions on companies linked to the Russian state. Russia denounced the move as an "undisguised attack on business."

* NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday the Western military alliance has no intention of sending troops to Ukraine if Russia invades its former Soviet republic.

* Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told the "Fox News Sunday" show that a Russian invasion "could happen, really, at any time."

* The West is demanding that Russia pull its troops and weapons from the Ukraine border, while Moscow is pushing for NATO to curtail its operations in Eastern and Central Europe. Russia also insists the Western defensive alliance reject Ukraine's membership bid, a move the United States calls a "nonstarter."

* According to U.S. and Ukrainian estimates, Russia has amassed about 127,000 troops along its border with Ukraine, including in Belarus and in occupied Crimea.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.


The United States and Russia faced off Monday at the United Nations Security Council over Washington's accusations that Moscow is planning a large-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which the Kremlin has denied.

"The situation we're facing in Europe is urgent and dangerous, and the stakes for Ukraine  and for every U.N. member state  could not be higher," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told council members.

She said the more than 100,000 troops Russia has amassed along Ukraine's border include combat forces and special forces prepared to conduct offensive actions into the former Soviet republic.

"This is the largest  this is the largest  hear me clearly  mobilization of troops in Europe in decades," Thomas-Greenfield said. "And as we speak, Russia is sending even more forces and arms to join them."



She said that included the nearly 5,000 Russian troops "with short-range ballistic missiles, special forces and anti-aircraft batteries" that Moscow had moved into its close ally and neighbor Belarus. There is evidence Moscow plans to increase their number to 30,000 troops by early February, she added.

The U.S. ambassador said Russia's aggression threatens Ukraine, Europe and the international order.

"An order that, if it stands for anything, stands for the principle that one country cannot simply redraw another country's borders by force or make another country's people live under a government they did not choose," she said.

As Thomas-Greenfield spoke, President Joe Biden issued a statement from the White House.

"If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith," Biden said. "If instead, Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences."

He later told reporters in the Oval Office while meeting with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, that the United States is ready for any scenario in Russia, but, he added, "We continue to urge diplomacy as the best way forward."

The United States has threatened to impose sharp economic sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine. In 2014, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and it says it has no plans to invade Ukraine again.

Russian response

At the Security Council, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia tried to use a procedural vote to block Monday's public meeting but narrowly failed to get the requisite support.

He said Russia is not "scared" of discussing the issue, but it just did not understand why a discussion was necessary.

"The deployment of Russian troops within our own territory has frequently occurred on varying scales before and has not caused any hysterics whatsoever," Nebenzia said.

He said that the U.S. and Western colleagues were acting as though an invasion had already taken place, and that they presented no evidence that one was planned.

"Our Western colleagues are talking about the need for de-escalation, but first and foremost, they are whipping up tensions, rhetoric and provoking escalation," he said, calling the discussions about a threat of war "provocative."

All Russian officials have "categorically rejected" plans for an invasion, he said, and anyone who claims the opposite is "misleading you."

Sovereign rights

Based on its past experiences with Moscow, Ukraine simply cannot accept Russia's declaration, and Moscow should withdraw its troops from near its borders, Ukraine's envoy said.

One of Moscow's main demands fueling the crisis is a guarantee that Ukraine will not join the NATO alliance.

"Ukraine strongly rejects any attempt to use the threat of force as an instrument of pressure to make Ukraine and our partners accept illegitimate demands. There is no room for compromise on principle issues," Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya told the council. "The most principled position for Ukraine is that we have (an) inherent sovereign right to choose our own security arrangements, including treaties of alliance which cannot be questioned by Russia."

He emphasized that Kyiv is prepared to defend itself but supports keeping diplomatic channels with Moscow open. He noted that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he is willing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"If Russia has any questions to Ukraine, it is better to meet and talk, not to bring troops to Ukraine's borders and intimidate Ukrainian people," the envoy said.

After the meeting, in response to reporters' questions, Kyslytsya said he believes a Russian invasion is "imminent." Asked what he meant by "imminent," he referenced an English-Russian dictionary of diplomacy, reading in Russian.

"Imminent, the first meaning, published in Moscow: approaching, hanging over and only then unavoidable," he said, translating for reporters. "So, we have to work very hard so that the first two stay as it is  the threat is hanging over. It's our duty."

Intensifying crisis

U.S. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Monday that "we continue to see, even over the course of the weekend  additional Russian ground forces move in Belarus and around the border with Ukraine," as well as "increasing naval activity in the Mediterranean and Atlantic by Russian fleet vessels." He called the Russian movements "concerning."

NATO has ramped up its military presence in member countries bordering Russia, but NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday that NATO has no intention of sending troops to Ukraine if Russia invades the former Soviet republic.

"We have no plans to deploy NATO combat troops to Ukraine.  We are focusing on providing support," Stoltenberg told the BBC. "There is a difference between being a NATO member and being a strong and highly valued partner as Ukraine."

In the United States, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told the "Fox News Sunday show that a Russian invasion "could happen, really, at any time."

Several countries, including the U.S., have shipped weapons to the Kyiv government to help it defend itself. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. has given Ukraine more than $5 billion in assistance since 2014 to help it defend itself against Russian aggression.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to visit the region this week and plans to speak to Putin by phone.

Johnson is considering doubling British troops in the Baltic countries and sending defensive weapons to Estonia, his office said.

VOA's Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from Reuters.


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The United Nations Security Council meets Monday to discuss Russias buildup of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines border. Western and Ukrainian officials continue to be on alert for a possible invasion. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ((FDA)) Monday gave full approval to U.S. pharmaceutical company Modernas COVID-19 vaccine, which will be marketed under the name Spikevax.

The vaccine has been widely distributed in the United States and around the world under the FDAs emergency use authorization since December of 2020. It is the second COVID-19 vaccine the agency has fully approved, after Pfizers vaccine received the designation in August of 2021.

In a statement, acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said full authorization of the vaccine is an important step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that while hundreds of millions of doses of the Moderna shot have been administered under the emergency use authorization, she understands for some individuals, FDA approval of this vaccine may instill additional confidence in making the decision to get vaccinated.

Woodcock said the public can be assured that the Moderna vaccine meets the FDAs high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality required of any vaccine approved for use in the United States.

The Moderna vaccine has been approved for use in more than 70 countries including Britain, Canada, Japan and those in the European Union.

Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press and Reuters.
On the first anniversary of the February 1 military coup in Myanmar, the United States announced more sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the regime, the Treasury Department said Monday.

The UK and Canada also announced sanctions.

One year after the coup, the United States, along with allies in the United Kingdom and Canada, stands with the people of Burma as they seek freedom and democracy, said Brian Nelson, the Treasury undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence in a statement. We will continue to target those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence, enablers of the regimes brutal repression, and their financial supporters.

Among those sanctioned were Union Attorney General Thida Oo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo, and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission Tin Oo.

Two entities sanctioned are KT Services & Logistics Company Limited and the Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services, which the U.S. says support the military regime.

The United States will continue to work with our international partners to address human rights abuses and press the regime to cease the violence, release all those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and restore Burmas path to democracy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, using an older name for the country.

The individuals and entities targeted will have any assets in the U.S. restricted or blocked.

The military seized power in a February 1, 2021 coup, overthrowing the civilian government and detaining de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other high-ranking officials.

The U.S. has accused the regime of engaging in brutal acts of violence against pro-democracy protesters. An estimated 1,500 people have been killed in violent protests.

The U.S. government has called for the immediate release of Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy Party, ousted President Win Myint, and protesters, journalists and human rights activists it says have been unjustly detained since the coup.

Military officials claimed widespread fraud in the November 2020 general election, which Suu Kyis National League for Democracy won in a landslide, as justification for the February takeover. The fraud allegations have been denied by Myanmars electoral commission.

The political unrest on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have caused economic hardship in Myanmar with rising food prices and increasing unemployment.
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.
The leader of the newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa, says the political outfit, which will be contesting the March 26th council and parliamentary by-elections, is a project largely driven by the electorate.

In an exclusive interview with VOA Zimbabwe Service, Chamisa said, Its regrettable that we had to move to the new. We have always said we were requested by the citizens. We are building the new. You know, when I went around the country people told me that they were tired of a tired brand. They felt that MDC was associated with too much toxicity and negativity and a lot of infighting sponsored by Zanu PF, sponsored by Mr. (Emmerson) Mnangagwa. So, we needed to move forward, open new doors, something transformational for the people of Zimbabwe because we were never constituted as a project to fight over names. We chose to move away from confusion, we chose to break with the past.

We have a cause, we have a fight before us, we have a duty, we have an obligation and a mission to accomplish and that is to transform our great country and build a great Zimbabwe.

The people are very clear. They know their champion as I have always said. They know who fights for them, who represents them, they know who respects their dignity, their human rights, even their property rights. They know because our track record is very clear and that is why we have said, look, we are not going to be wasting time over names, lets have a new dawn  at party level we are a gold standard and that is what we want. Lets send a reminder to the world that Zimbabwe is about to begin to shine.

Reacting to a question on the differences between the newly-formed CCC and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, Chamisa said they are not governed by the old party.

What governs us is a competition that is on the market, that is Zanu PF because Zanu PF are the ones who are in government and what we want is to be in government because we are an alternative government and more to that we were elected to govern by the people in 2018 but because of our broken system and institutions that are compromised, we still have Mr. Mnangagwa in office when in fact the people gave us a clear mandate. So, what we want is to make sure that we regalvanize, revitalize all the Zimbabweans making sure that under our citizen philosophy and citizen project, we bring the citizens back to the center so that the citizen and not the politician is the most powerful. I will rest and rest happily having accomplished my dream and mission as a revolutionary, as a transformer when the politician is the least powerful animal in our politics and when the citizen is the most powerful agent in the transaction of our politics in this country. That is our objective. We want to usher in a new great Zimbabwe."
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Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, is to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on 31 January 2021.

The two men will look into the possibilities of exporting Qatari gas to Europe in order to forestall the implementation of Russias Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Qatar, a "major [US] non-NATO ally", already represents the United States before the Afghan government, which the US has failed to recognize.
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10 Years Since Trayvon The story of the first decade of Black Lives Matter. Open Casket, by Dana Schutz, on display in 2017. Photo: Benjamin Norman/The New York Times/Redux

Before Dana Schutzs Open Casket (2016) came to the Whitney Biennial, the painting was displayed nearly 4,000 miles away at a commercial gallery in Berlin. It was part of a solo exhibition titled Waiting for the Barbarians, some of whose works  the gallery noted  Schutz had created in response to the increasingly blurred lines between fact and fiction in American culture. This collection of works would reflect real events.

The painting, equally clinical and tempestuous, depicts Emmett Till. Factually, Emmett was 14 years old when he was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. Factually, the childs mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, then Mamie Till, had sent her son from Chicago to visit family in Money, Mississippi. Factually, Emmett was kidnapped. His mutilated body was later sent home to Chicago and displayed in an open casket to, as Till-Mobley told the press, let the people see what Ive seen. Photographs of the young boy were published in Jet magazine, the Chicago Defender, and other Black-press outlets.

In the fiction of Schutzs painting, we see a cropped, almost dronelike view into Emmetts casket; thick layers of paint and cardboard construct the artists interpretation of his corpse, re-creating the deep cuts and lacerations in his flesh. In Schutzs attempt to reflect reality, her own gestures bogart the image, reopening a decades-old wound without bringing a new dimension of understanding to it. After all, as Black folks, the facts of this image have always been inscribed into the fiber of our beings on American soil, whether we are conscious of it or not.

When Open Casket became the subject of protests and news coverage, Schutz explained the emotional impulse behind the painting. The thought of anything happening to your child is beyond comprehension, she said. Their pain is your pain. My engagement with this image was through empathy with his mother. I still think about her answer, and the many ways we have continued to experience the limits of empathy in the years since, through a cycle of violence, uproar, and the inevitable return to business as usual. Is empathy a retweet or a signal boost? A charitable donation? Exposure? A painting in a biennial? A black square? Who feels the weight of immeasurable loss, and who benefits? Who tells us whats real?

In its original viewing in Berlin, the paintings contemporaries all sold, but the artist held on to two works, including Open Casket. A fiction all her own.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Caregiver

St Georges British International School is seeking an enthusiastic Caregiver to join our hightly motivated and experienced support team on a full-time, fixed-term full time basis to June 2022.

The role will involve helping to support the learning and progress of a nine year old boy who has language and learning needs.The Caregiver will be based at our City Centre campus in the Aurelia area of the city, reporting to the Director of Student Support Services.

Key Responsibilities

Pastoral

To show an active interest in the personal circumstances of the children under your care, and to foster their personal and social development

To actively promote the social, moral and cultural ethos of the school community

To create an atmosphere of support by being aware of, and fully compliant with, all the school polices on pastoral care

To be familiar with all of the schools policies on Health and Safety and be proactive in ensuring the safety of all members of the school community at all times

To promote exemplary behaviour and a responsible attitude amongst all pupils at all times

To be aware of and act upon all policies regarding the safeguarding of children

Professional

To ensure that all communication is acted upon appropriately and in a timely manner

To be responsible for all school resources, particularly those in your care, reporting damage or loss to the appropriate authority within the school

To carry out any reasonable professional request made by the Principal or AEN leadership team

Essential requirements

A good standard of education (to degree level)

A good standard of spoken and written English

A proven ability to work with children

A generous, patient and sociable outlook

A high standard of personal professionalism and a proven ability to work in a team

A willingness to undertake ongoing training

Experience of working in a school context (desirable)

Personal Skills

Flexible and adaptable to the varied demands of working in a world-class school environment

Able to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team

Able to work successfully under pressure, with excellent organisational skills

Reliable and respectful

How to Apply

Closing date for applications Friday 11 February 2022

Start date As soon as possible

Job reference number CCCGFX0122

Short listing will commence immediately after the closing date.

We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date.

Early application is strongly encouraged.

Please complete the Application for Employment form available at www.stgeorge.school.it/employment. Please submit your completed application via email to jobs@stgeorge.school.it, inserting the job reference in the title of the email.

Within the application form, please include a statement outlining your strengths and stating why you wish to be considered for the role. Please do not submit a CV or send certificates or testimonials at this stage.

Please note that, selection may be by a face-to-face or Skype interview. Shorlisted candidates will have references taken up prior to interview.

Conditional Offer of Appointment

Any offer to a successful candidate will be conditional upon the following:

Verification of identity, qualifications and professional status

A safeguarding check

Receipt of at least three satisfactory references (one of which should be from your current or most recent employer). Shortlisted candidates will have references taken up prior to interview.

Verification of medical fitness (completion of a medical declaration)

St Georges is an equal opportunities employer. Discrimination will not be made on the grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or other basis.
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Even considering Cevian Capital ABs appetite for underachievers, the activist investors latest target is ambitious. Vodafone Group Plc is a serial laggard dogged by stubbornly negative sentiment. But theres a credible path to reversing that  if management is willing to address years of undisciplined expansion. Activist pressure may help ensure that happens.

On most conventional measures, the U.K. telecoms firm looks undervalued. Strip out its 82% holding in German-listed mobile masts business Vantage Towers AG, and the stock was trading at around four times next years expected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization before Cevians interest emerged, according to analysts at Numis Securities. The European sector is valued at about six times.

Even after a 3% jump in the share price following the revelation of Cevians stake-building by Bloomberg News on Jan. 28, the stock is still around 45% below its five-year high. The average analyst target for the shares is 165 pence, which would value the group at 45 billion pounds ($60 billion)  10 billion pounds above its current market value.

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The entire telecoms sector is out of favor because of heavy spending on capital expenditure. Thats depressing short-term financial performance. But investors may be doubting the long-term payback too. Vodafones return on capital, currently 4.3%, has been below its cost of capital for a decade, analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG point out.

At the same time, Vodafone is a sprawling conglomerate operating in 21 countries. Its main market is Germany, but there are also businesses in Italy, the U.K., Spain, Portugal and Greece, as well as Turkey, Egypt and throughout Africa. The potential benefits of cross-border synergies are probably not that large. From shareholder perspective, complexity makes the investment hard to assess.

One way forward would be to simplify the group by pulling out of markets where its struggling. Spain, which is bitterly competitive, is the obvious example. That in itself might not free up much capital to invest elsewhere, but there are also questions about why a firm thats predominantly a European telecoms company should also operate in emerging markets. An unsentimental review of the portfolio could potentially lead to a more focused and higher returning business thats easier to understand.

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It does sound as if Vodafone boss Nick Read is looking to do something about it all. He has been talking openly about the need for local consolidation in Vodafones markets. The question is how much he is willing to sell assets where they are clearly worth more to other operators. Some analysts perceive antitrust obstacles to be abating, not least due to consolidation in the Netherlands. In any case, private equity might be keen to buy when rival telcos cannot. But as Credit Suisse analysts say, its not clear Vodafone is willing to cede control in its main European markets, even when its position is challenged.

Reads newfound sense of urgency may be the result of by Cevians arrival or merely coincide with it. He also has a relatively new chair to impress in the form of Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, and the weak share price has been applying pressure too. This weeks trading update offers a chance to commit more explicitly to reviewing which markets Vodafone should be in  for the sake of shareholders, not for the sake of defending its empire.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Who Would Buy Peloton? Why Would They Want It?: Andrea Felsted

 AT&T Investors Need More Reassurance: David Wainer

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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Chris Hughes is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering deals. He previously worked for Reuters Breakingviews, as well as the Financial Times and the Independent newspaper.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The strongest case for the work of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and for that committee to move quickly to public hearings, is that former President Donald Trump continues to make it clear that he set out to undermine democracy, that he sees nothing wrong with having done so, and that he would do it again if given a chance.

Id prefer to ignore what Trump is saying, but thats not really an option. Hes acting like a presidential candidate  he is, as the political scientist Josh Putnam puts it, running for 2024, although we wont know for some time whether hell be running in 2024  so he cant just be ignored.

Over the weekend, Trump told a rally audience in Texas that if he was returned to the presidency he would pardon  well, consider pardoning, but the message was pretty clear  those who invaded the Capitol on his behalf. Theres nothing new about Trumps abuse of the presidential pardon power as a partisan and personal weapon. He was also explicit when in office about his desire to use the power of prosecution the same way, and resented being unable to persuade the Justice Department to go along. Still, we should not stop being shocked by a former president, and perhaps a future president, so dismissive of the rule of law.

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Also over the weekend, Trump once again made it clear that he had wanted Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Pence exercised his constitutional obligation to approve the certification of Joe Bidens 2020 victory. As the Washington Posts Aaron Blake points out, Trumps statement dispenses with the (totally bogus) scheme that supposedly justified such an action by Pence under the law and the Constitution; Trump simply thinks that Pence should have declared the loser of the election to be the winner, full stop. Trumps disdain for the rule of law should retain the power to shock. It should outrage. It certainly should disqualify him from any place in political life ever again.

Remember: One year ago, seven of the 50 Republican senators voted to convict Trump after his second impeachment, and presumably would have voted to remove his eligibility for future office for doing what hes bragging about doing and promising to do again. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell voted to acquit, but made it clear that he considered Trump guilty as charged and, he said, only refrained from voting guilty because Trump had already left office before the Senate impeachment trial. Several other Republicans seemed to hold the same position as McConnell  most likely enough (given the unanimous votes to convict from the Democrats) to convict, and perhaps enough along with the seven yes votes to constitute a majority of Senate Republicans. Others claimed that the evidence of supporting an insurrection and an attempt to upend the constitutional government of the U.S. was insufficient to convict. I dont recall any Republican senator acknowledging that Trump did what he certainly did but arguing that it was fine for a president to scheme to overturn an election.

But as the author David Frum said on Twitter, Trump never allows his supporters to pretend to be innocent.

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The Jan. 6 committee should hold its hearings to make it clear that Trumps boasts are not empty. It is important to detail this extraordinary attempt to destroy U.S. democracy  to make it clear who was involved and how, and who the heroes were. Especially the Republicans, who had to act against partisan interest.

But in important ways, the Jan. 6 inquiry isnt like the Senate Watergate committee hearings of 1972 or the Iran-contra joint committee hearings of 1987, in which investigators were still piecing together big questions even as the hearings began. I expect the Capitol riot committee to dig up plenty of important details. But this time, we know in advance that Trump is guilty of acting against the constitution. If anyone ever doubts it, Trump himself is perfectly willing to remind us.

Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of the two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee, took to Twitter on Sunday to express his view of Trumps claim that Pence could have overturned the election and that it was unfortunate that he did not.

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Ill give Kinzinger the final word:

This is an admission, and a massively un-American statement. It is time for every Republican leader to pick a side  Trump or the Constitution, there is no middle on defending our nation anymore.

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

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Yemens Houthi fighters claimed three rare attacks on the United Arab Emirates in two weeks, an escalation in a conflict thats stoking tensions in the oil-exporting Gulf region. The assaults were the UAEs first brush with major blowback from its involvement in the nearly seven-year war in Yemen. The Houthis have vowed more attacks to come, potentially threatening the UAEs commercial center of Dubai.

1. Why did the attacks happen now?

The Houthis appear to be pressuring the UAE to cut back its involvement in the Yemen war. Concerned about spreading Iranian influence, the UAE and Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen in 2015, after the Iran-backed Houthis took the capital and dislodged the internationally recognized government. The UAE withdrew most of its forces from Yemen in 2019, while it has kept some and maintained support and training for Yemeni proxy forces, notably those known as the Giants Brigades. The UAE also has ties to the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group fighting the Houthis. In the weeks before the attacks on the UAE, the Giants Brigades, along with Saudi-backed forces, scored victories against the Houthis, recapturing parts of the energy-rich Shabwa province and making gains in the city of Marib, which the Houthis aimed to take.

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2. Why is this stirring alarm?

While the Houthis regularly fire missiles and drones at neighboring Saudi Arabia, attacks on the UAE, which has no border with Yemen, are very rare. An assault Jan. 17, which employed drones and missiles, ignited a fire at Abu Dhabis main airport and set fuel trucks ablaze in a nearby industrial area, killing three people. Days later, the Houthis shot two ballistic missiles, which were intercepted by U.S. and UAE forces, at Al Dhafra Air Base, home to the U.S. Air Forces 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. On Jan. 31, another ballistic missile was intercepted. The fact that the missiles traveled more than 700 miles (1126 kilometers) points to the Houthis increasingly sophisticated capabilities. UAE policymakers also worry that drones have made it possible to conduct small, targeted assaults that slip through defense systems designed to deter more advanced weapons. The physical damage is usually minimal, but the reputational impact could be huge for the UAE, OPECs third biggest oil producer. The country had reduced its involvement in Yemen partly to avoid drawing attacks.

3. Whats at stake?

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The UAE has based its reputation on being a safe harbor in a volatile region -- attracting multinational companies and millions of expatriate workers who make up the backbone of the economy. Its biggest city, Dubai, is a key trade and tourism hub thats home to one of the worlds busiest international airports. The Houthis have warned international investors to leave the UAE and vowed to expand their range of targets in the country. The UAEs population, which is more than 80% foreign, will likely have less tolerance for persistent military threats than that of Saudi Arabia, where people have grown used to news alerts about intercepted missiles over the past few years. Theres also a risk to oil markets, if attacks were to damage the UAEs oil facilities. In 2019, a sophisticated assault on Saudi oil infrastructure briefly knocked out half the countrys production.

4. Whats been the response to the attacks?

The Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis intensified its airstrikes against rebel targets after the first assault on the UAE. On Jan. 21, 82 people were killed and 266 wounded when the coalition bombed a Houthi-operated prison in the groups northern stronghold of Saada, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Internet service was also blacked out across the country for days following airstrikes on a building hosting an internet provider in the port city of Hodeidah. The UAE has urged U.S. President Joe Bidens administration to designate the Houthis a terrorist organization, as the U.S. did under Bidens predecessor Donald Trump. Aid agencies oppose that step, saying it would only make distributing assistance more challenging in a country thats experiencing one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters. The war has contributed to widespread displacement and near-famine in what was already the poorest country on the Arabian peninsula.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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There is an old saying in British politics that oppositions dont win elections, governments lose them. Its lucky for Boris Johnson theres no general election any time soon; Keir Starmers Labour Party would be an easy front-runner were a contest held today. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The prime minister seems to be hanging on for now. But months of rolling revelations and what now feels like endless investigations have weakened a government that once looked indomitable and made Britains Labour Party a player again. Labours poll revival is already changing the dynamics in parliament and will have a bearing on debates over everything from taxation to public services. But can Starmer build on his good fortune and be a real contender for power?

A little over six months ago, there was talk of Labours mortal decline and it wasnt far-fetched to speculate that Starmer might not even survive much longer as party leader. Labour trailed the Conservatives in voting intentions by as much as 10 points. And yet there wasnt much Starmer could do about it. Johnson had carried out Brexit and got credit for the enormously successful vaccine rollout. How do you oppose a government thats delivering on its promises?

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Starmer did what oppositions do and tried to hold the government to account, pointing out government U-turns on pandemic restrictions and relief spending. But he looked like man who picked nits against Johnsons bouncy boosterism. Johnson dubbed him Captain Hindsight. In public-opinion polls, Starmer continued to rate highly on qualities such as competence and trustworthiness, but this did little to move the needle of opinion until the recent series of scandals unfolded.

It helps now that Starmer did some quiet work while he was biding his time. He got little credit for it in the public eye, but much of his first year as party leader was spent on internal reforms and especially ensuring that the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting hard-left of the party no longer controlled Labours direction. (Corbyn was kicked out of the party for refusing to apologize for anti-Semitism under his leadership and the partys National Executive Committee, or NEC, has just refused a bid to bring him back.)

Getting rid of Corbyn was only the start. Labour has always been seen as big-hearted, but Starmer needs to show it has a brain, too, while appealing to those voters who deserted it in 2019.

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To do that, he has worked to change the party leadership, reforming the NEC. His November shadow cabinet reshuffle saw more intellectual heft and political nous brought to his front bench. Communications have been tighter and more professional.

Whereas Corbyn was often criticized for a lack of patriotism, Starmer has wrapped himself in the flag and focused more on British values. Heavy hitters from the Blair era have been contributing. Deborah Mattinson, a former adviser to Gordon Brown and someone who has studied northern voters at length, is now Starmers chief strategist. A new Labour think tank, Progressive Britain, has different policy ideas. Whereas Corbyns party talked of nationalizing industries and a four-day work week, there are now papers like Making Private Equity Work for a Progressive Britain.

And then came luck. Johnsons dysfunctional Downing Street operation, his error in backing former MP Owen Paterson over lobbying, and the steady drizzle of revelations about government parties during lockdown has changed the public mood. Starmers lawyerly demeanor and focus on detail  dismissed as boring and technocratic when Johnson was at his Tiggerish best  now work to his advantage. Starmer may never dazzle voters the way Johnson could, but that doesnt matter if, like a bad relationship, what seemed fun at first has become repulsive.

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The Labour leader has a long way to go to build on this recent momentum, though. His party only managed to win a respectable working majority three times in the last century  at the end of World War II, in the mid-1960s and in the late 90s under Tony Blair. The Tories are far better financed than Labour, and they have more powerful media on their side.

Labour fell out of step with the public mood on Brexit and, perhaps unavoidably, seemed irrelevant during most of the pandemic. Can it now do a better job telling a story that makes voters think their lives will be better under Labour? If so, Starmer must avoid the mistakes that lost Labour its northern voters, who were always more aspirational (Johnsons central insight) than Labour gave them credit for.

Showing some optimism is essential, but it wont be enough. The party will need greater unity and a governing vision, too. Starmer seems to be focusing on the idea of rebuilding Britain after Brexit and the pandemic, but ultimately ideas will have to deliver growth and opportunity not simply more spending promises.

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Despite his reforms and reshuffles, itd be a stretch to say that the party sings from one hymn sheet now. The Conservatives may have recently lost the habit of loyalty, but its Labour that has traditionally been the side with the long knives. Historian Robert Saunders has noted that Clement Attlee faced three attempts to remove him, including on the day he became prime minister. Harold Wilson and trade union leaders plotted against each other. Neil Kinnock had fist-fights in the toilets at the partys annual conference.

In some ways, the worst thing that could happen from Labours perspective is that the Tories quickly and efficiently dispatch with Boris Johnson. His approval rating last week was a minus 46, worse than Blair, David Cameron or Theresa May at their lowest. A Conservative leader who is seen as merely more trustworthy  say, Chancellor Rishi Sunak  could potentially cauterize the ill will toward the Tories. And yet inertia is a powerful force, and the party may decide its also risky to lose a leader who has been such an election winner in the past.

When asked if hed like to be prime minister, Johnson once famously said if the ball came loose from the scrum, hed have a crack at it. It was that ability to spot the moment and seize it that ultimately propelled him to the countrys most powerful position. Starmer will have to bide his time until an election, but how he responds when the ball comes loose will say everything about whether Labour is fit to govern once again.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Why the U.K.s Ruling Party Cant Rule Itself: Adrian Wooldridge

 Ukraine Is a Test of Britains Diplomatic Mojo: Martin Ivens

 The BBC Is Dead, Long Live the BBC: Clive Crook

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. She was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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Crypto enthusiasts dont only dream of revolutionizing the world of money. They want to reinvent the World Wide Web. That vision, which goes by the name of Web3, is of a decentralized environment built on crypto technology in which swarms of collaborators take back control of the web from giant tech companies. Its a threat that those tech firms -- including Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. and Twitter Inc. -- are starting to take seriously.

1. Why Web3?

The idea is this: The early web was composed of static pages of text and simple images. In what became known as Web 2.0, users began to interact with one another, sharing pictures and videos that they could upload quickly now that bandwidth was plentiful. But users needed to coalesce around big platforms for anyone else to see their stuff. So a development that seemed to put us in charge instead created todays landscape of giant corporations sucking up data from the activity on their sites and using it to make billions by selling ads. Web3 advocates -- many of them anti-establishment libertarians -- argue that governments cant force the tech giants to serve our interests through regulation, so its time for a new model where we create and own the web experience we want.

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2. How would it work?

Proponents of Web3 say blockchains and related technologies reduce the power of intermediaries like Amazon.com Inc. or Instagram, and facilitate direct relationships between people who want to collaborate with colleagues, communicate with friends, or buy and sell goods and services online. Indeed, it was the co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain, Gavin Wood, who coined the term Web3 in 2014. Blockchains record information in a way that is very difficult to hack or alter. Their most obvious use right now is in cryptocurrency transactions. But blockchains can be used for all manner of peer-to-peer interactions. Users can come together to develop anything from apps to knowledge bases or search tools. The functionality would be supported by a multitude of users so no single entity gets to control them.

3. Whats in it for me?

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If you create or help to develop an app in Web3 (known as a dapp, or decentralised app), you can receive tokens that give you a say in the fees it charges, how it evolves or the working groups formed to oversee it. Tokens can also be sold or given to a dapps users, for example to reward them for winning a battle in a blockchain game, or sharing their computing bandwidth. Token owners can form communities known as decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and get to vote on how the dapps funds are distributed. The rules are set via a smart contract, effectively a line of code that triggers an exchange of value once a set of mutually agreed conditions are met. The transaction is irreversible and in theory dispenses with the need for a centralised authority to oversee and enforce it. There are already places where you can see Web3 apps in practice, such as Heliums decentralized wireless network. The network has grown to cover 240,000 hotspots across 21,000 cities by paying people to deploy their wireless hotspots in exchange for Heliums token.

4. What else can I do in Web3?

More than 9,100 active dapps are listed on tracker DappRadar. They include lots of crypto trading platforms and video games. Game developers have been early adopters of Web3s open technologies because they make it easy for players to earn tokens and in-game items that can be traded via decentralized exchanges. Many dapps allow you to buy and sell non-fungible tokens -- things like digital monsters and dragons.

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5. Whats not to like?

With many Web3 apps, it can be difficult for users to get help when they have a problem: theres no customer-service number. Regulators also face a challenge when it comes to identifying ownership and responsibility in a Web3 world. Governments already struggle to suppress harmful or illegal online content and identify cybercriminals. Yet Congress can at least summon Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to answer for his companys actions. Imagine never knowing who to blame when something goes wrong. Web3s supporters argue it cant be any worse than the status quo, in which the tech giants track our every move online. They say handing responsibility to communities of users and developers will drive up standards. Not everyone is convinced. In a January blog, ex-Signal CEO Matthew Rosenfeld questioned whether the current dapps are better or different enough from Web 2.0, though he didnt dismiss Web3 entirely. It is, at the very least, something new on the nerd level -- and that creates a space for creativity/exploration that is somewhat reminiscent of early internet days, he wrote.

6. Whos investing in Web3?

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It depends on who you ask. To Web3s earliest proponents, one becomes a financial backer by building something and buying or earning ownership of it as it grows. The reality today is that the big money is coming from investment firms such as Andreessen Horowitz. VCs invested $30 billion in crypto-related projects including Web3 in 2021, according to research company PitchBook. The growing involvement of venture capitalists has led some important industry figures to dismiss the idea of Web3 as a democratic online utopia that benefits only users. Jack Dorsey, Twitters former chief executive, has mocked it as the creature of Silicon Valley VC firms and limited partnerships. You dont own web3, he tweeted in December. The VCs and their LPs do. It will never escape their incentives.

7. How are the big tech firms responding?

They are trying to create services that offer Web3 features but arent really decentralized. Twitter has been looking at ways to let you tweet from a crypto account. In December, Metas newly-designated technology chief Andrew Bosworth laid out a vision for its social networks to achieve deep compatibility with blockchain or cryptocurrency technologies ahead of rivals, according to an internal post cited by the New York Times. Norwegian web developer Opera said in January it was releasing a Web3 browser compatible with major operating systems with features like built-in crypto wallets and support for dapps. Web3 is also driving mergers and acquisitions: In January, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. announced an $11 billion deal to acquire Zynga Inc., a mobile game maker thats been exploring blockchain-backed games. The deal, said Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, is an opportunity to address new Web3 opportunities.

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John K. Singlaub, a two-star general with a record of wartime derring-do who resigned from the Army in 1978 after openly criticizing President Jimmy Carters defense policy, and who later battled communism as a private citizen by funneling weapons and money to rightist insurgents around the world, died Jan. 29 at his home in Franklin, Tenn. He was 100.

His daughter Mary Ann Singlaub confirmed the death but did not cite a cause.

To his admirers, Gen. Singlaub was the consummate warrior  a brawny, ramrod-straight man of action with the wounds and decorations to prove the truth of the lore that surrounded him. He rose to the rank of major general, and in the course of three wars, he became known as a stealthy commander with a knack for leading death-defying missions in mountains and jungles.

During World War II, he distinguished himself in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to the CIA, parachuting into German-occupied France and later into China to support anti-Japanese guerrilla forces. He also was the mastermind of a bluff that helped liberate nearly 400 Allied prisoners from a Japanese prison camp.

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For the nascent CIA, he headed agency operations in postwar Manchuria, served as a high-level agency official in Korea during the Korean War and organized covert combat operations along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam and in neighboring Laos during the Vietnam War.

Although revered by many military colleagues, he was largely unknown to the public until May 1977, when he was catapulted to the front page of The Washington Post. Serving at the time as chief of staff of U.S. forces in South Korea  the third-ranking Army official on the Korean Peninsula  he did something unusual, even shocking, for a military officer to do. He publicly disagreed with the president.

Carter made a campaign pledge the year before to bring home 32,000 U.S. ground troops stationed in the region over five years. Many officials in the diplomatic and defense establishment had called for more troops to reinforce South Koreas border with North Korea. They said the border was a vital line of defense against aggressive communist regimes in North Korea and China.

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Gen. Singlaub, however, aired his objections in a particularly visible fashion, alarming the White House. He told a Post reporter that Carters proposed retrenchment will lead to war as a previous drawdown of American forces had done in 1950.

Gen. Singlaub, who later said the interview had been off the record, was ordered to Washington for a meeting with Carter, after which the president said at a news conference that the general had committed a very serious breach of the propriety that ought to exist among military officers after a policy has been made.

Carter, Gen. Singlaub liked to note, eventually discarded his plans to remove the troops.

The incident was reminiscent of President Harry S. Trumans showdown with Gen. Douglas MacArthur over the conduct of the Korean War. MacArthur was relieved of command, and he retired to New York.

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Gen. Singlaub was reassigned to Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Ga., as chief of staff, but he continued on a collision course with Carter. He aired further policy differences with the president during a speech at Georgia Tech that hastened his retirement from the Army after 35 years of service.

He was lauded as a hero by conservative politicians such as Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and became a speaker on the far-right lecture circuit, lambasting Carters cancellation of the B-1A bomber program.

Staunch anti-communist

Gen. Singlaub started the U.S. Council for World Freedom, an affiliate of the World Anti-Communist League. Later, as president of the international organization, he made what the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith called substantial progress in purging the group of neo-Nazis, antisemites and Latin American death-squad leaders.

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We had a Mexican chapter that was really kooky, he told The Post in 1986. Blamed everything on the Jews. Even accused Pope John Paul of being a Jew. They were thrown out.

In addition, Gen. Singlaub was involved with the Western Goals Foundation, a private domestic intelligence group bankrolled by the archconservative Texas oil tycoon Nelson Bunker Hunt to gather information on leftist groups and their leaders.

Gen. Singlaubs chief function in what the Los Angeles Times called the business of private-enterprise insurgency was raising millions of dollars to supply arms to anti-communist irregulars in places such as Nicaragua, Angola, Afghanistan and Laos.

In the early 1980s, as Congress began curtailing U.S. funding of efforts to overthrow leftist regimes in Nicaragua and elsewhere, Gen. Singlaub and his organizations remained an important conduit of materiel and financial assistance, reportedly with the help of deep-pocketed conservatives and foreign governments.

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He was often compared to Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L. North and other major figures in the Reagan administrations Iran-contra affair. North was among the national security officials who had authorized illegal arms sales to Iran to win the release of U.S. hostages in the Middle East and used some of the profits to support right-wing Nicaraguan rebels known as the contras.

In his memoir, Hazardous Duty (1991), written with Malcolm McConnell, Gen. Singlaub reserved special contempt for North (a gullible dupe) and the shady arms dealers who he said had inflated prices of inferior weapons and pocketed the difference. Their motive, he wrote, had been profit, not patriotism.

Gen. Singlaub was never the subject of a criminal investigation. He spent six years and hundreds of thousands of dollars battling a lawsuit  filed by a leftist nonprofit group, the Christic Institute  that promoted conspiracy theories about him and dozens of others with ties to the contras. The lawsuit was resolved in his favor in 1992.

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Meanwhile, he opened an office in the Philippines, intending to hunt, he said, for a treasure of gold bullion. He told the Los Angeles Times that his hope was to use the gold to finance anti-communist insurgencies in Southeast Asia. He abandoned the effort after local newspaper reports described the effort as a cover for mercenary training.

Born to march

John Kirk Singlaub was born on his grandfathers homestead in what is now Independence, Calif., on July 10, 1921. During the summer, young Jack hiked with friends in the eastern Sierra Nevadas, and they tested their fortitude by finding out how many days they could march on what they carried in their rucksacks.

His father worked for the city of Los Angeles, and the Singlaubs eventually settled in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood.

Jack Singlaub, who said his ambition had always been to join the military, enrolled in an ROTC program at the University of California at Los Angeles. With the United States at war, he set aside his studies in 1943, just shy of graduation, to receive an Army commission as a second lieutenant.

Their mission was to help French Resistance fighters prepare for the Allied invasion of the occupied countrys Mediterranean coast, launched about two months after the D-Day invasion of Normandy. (William Casey, the future CIA director, was his case officer. When Casey offered him cyanide pills for use in the event of capture, Gen. Singlaub recalled replying, No, sir, I dont intend to get captured.)

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At one point, in a fight against a German garrison, he was wounded in the face by sniper fire. He grabbed a Bren light machine gun and emptied two full magazines on the enemy nest, silencing it. We didnt hear from that gun again, he said.

It was not all bad, he later told the Warfare History Network, describing the action he saw in France. He said there were families, still living in castles, who would celebrate with the advancing Americans by uncorking fine wine or 50-year-old cognac that they had managed to hide from the Germans. There was stress, strain, and pain, but you could survive.

With the Allied march to Berlin underway, Gen. Singlaub volunteered for service in the Pacific to help end the war there. His most intrepid undertaking of the war came on Aug. 27, 1945, after the Americans leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs but before the official Japanese surrender on Sept. 2.

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It was feared that Allied prisoners of war would be executed en masse in retribution for the bombings, and Gen. Singlaub headed an eight-man rescue team sent to free American, Australian and Dutch POWs on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. After parachuting in, they were met at the guardhouse by bayonet-wielding Japanese soldiers who attempted to take them prisoner.

Gen. Singlaub was a captain at the time, but he had been advised by an OSS specialist on the Japanese military to pose as a major, the rank above his. With swagger that astonished the Japanese guards, he recalled, he ordered them to watch over the medical and food supplies his team had brought with it.

There was a Japanese captain there, and I told him he didnt have enough rank to talk with me, Gen. Singlaub told the Warfare History Network. He got on the telephone line and screamed to get connected to his colonel. We listened outside his door, and . . . could hear the captain saying, But, sir, they jumped in broad daylight, the major insists that Japan is surrendering  and he will talk only with you! 

The next day, after the OSS crew spent an unnerving night in a hospital building, the colonel arrived, and Gen. Singlaub negotiated an agreement to provide food and medical attention to the emaciated POWs and arranged for their eventual evacuation.

On brief home leave earlier that year, he married Mary Osborne, with whom he had three children before divorcing. In 1992, he married Joan Lafferty.

In addition to his daughter Mary Ann, of Vienna, Va., and his wife, of Franklin, survivors include his other children, Lis DAntoni of Davie, Fla., and John O. Singlaub of Zephyr Cove, Nev.; three stepdaughters, Jody Ball of Columbia, Tenn., Sara Guest of Arlington, Tenn., and Debra Satterfield of Franklin; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

After the war, Gen. Singlaub was based at Mukden before the Manchurian city fell to Chinese Communists forces in 1948 and Americans were expelled. He escaped with his cocker spaniel on the last possible flight  under artillery attack, passing a reconnaissance plane with a red star insignia, knowing this battle of the cold war was lost, author Tim Weiner wrote in his CIA history Legacy of Ashes.

During the Korean War, Gen. Singlaub served as deputy chief of the CIA mission on the peninsula and later as an Army battalion commander, for which he received the Silver Star for valor in combat. He then joined the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He completed his UCLA degree in 1958, majoring in political science.

His other military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Soldiers Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Nicknamed Jumping Jack Singlaub, he chaired the board of a forerunner to the U.S. Parachute Association and led the Army parachute team in international competitions. He was chairman of the OSS Society, a group that seeks to preserve the spy agencys legacy.

Years after leaving the Army, he started wearing his dog tags again  a decision he made when he returned to war, this time allied with the contras, and faced possible ambush, he wrote in his memoir.

That would be one way to at least identify my body, he added. Then I understood that the gesture was also symbolic of my commitment. Once I put those worn old steel tags back around my neck, I decided to keep them on until the war was over. I am still wearing them today.

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Hundreds mark Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight killing of Thai father On Sunday, Monthanus Ratanapakdee marked the first anniversary of her fathers death with a rally in the San Francisco neighborhood where the 84-year-old was killed. She was joined by Mayor London Breed, local leaders and several hundred people who came out to say they would stay silent no more.

Hundreds of people in San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles joined in the national event, all of them seeking justice for Asian Americans who have been harassed, assaulted and killed in alarming numbers since the start of the pandemic.

Vicha Ratanapakdee encouraged his oldest daughter to move to the United States more than two decades ago to pursue a masters degree. He and his wife were living with Ratanapakdee, her husband and the couples two sons, now 9 and 12. He was on his usual morning walk when authorities say Antoine Watson, 19 at the time, charged at him and knocked him to the ground. Ratanapakdees father died two days later, never regaining consciousness.

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On Sunday, Ratanapakdee and Breed led a short chant-filled march to the house where her father fell, and where flowers marked the pavement.

I know people are scared about anti-Asian hate in the community, and we must demand action for justice and all human rights, Ratanapakdee said Sunday. Please be strong in memory of my father.

 Associated Press

Dozens of guns raided from trains, police say

Dozens of handguns and shotguns were among items stolen by thieves who raided cargo containers aboard trains near downtown Los Angeles for months, authorities said.

Police arrested three people last summer carrying new .22-caliber handguns, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. One of the suspects said the guns had come from cargo trains in L.A.s Lincoln Heights rail yards, where widespread thefts have been reported.

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Only a handful of the 82 guns known to have been stolen from trains passing through Lincoln Heights have been recovered. Investigators are not yet sure how many other weapons may have been pilfered, Capt. German Hurtado told the Times.

These guns were unguarded, unprotected. . . . God knows how many guns have been stolen that way, Hurtado said.

 Associated Press

At least nine killed

in six-vehicle collision

A six-vehicle crash killed nine people and left one person in critical condition, and police are trying to determine whether a driver was impaired before running a red light, causing the collision.

Las Vegas police said that the driver and his passenger were among the dead after Saturdays crash and that the ages of the other victims ranged from minors to middle-aged adults.

Two people were taken to a hospital where one died and the other was in critical condition, according to North Las Vegas police. In all, 15 people were involved in the crash.

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We have not seen a mass casualty traffic collision like this before, police spokesman Alexander Cuevas said at a news conference. Cuevas said the crash was reported at 3 p.m., after the driver struck multiple vehicles, causing a chaotic event. Some of the vehicles struck were pushed into a vacant lot at an intersection, which was reopened by Sunday afternoon.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is coordinating an investigative team with North Las Vegas police.

 Associated Press

Officials rescue 60 dogs from 'inhumane' conditions in N.C.: Forty-seven dogs and 14 puppies were found in "unsanitary and inhumane living conditions" at Bentwood Labradors in Moyock, not far from the Outer Banks, Currituck County officials wrote on Facebook on Friday. They were rescued by Currituck Animal Services. Officials said the dogs' owner is facing charges. One dog was found dead and "several others were taken for emergency medical treatment," officials said. "More information on the dogs' health and any possible adoptions will be announced as it is determined."

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Carbon monoxide poisoning in Ohio sends at least 11 to hospital: Authorities are trying to find the source of carbon monoxide at a hotel that sent at least 11 people, including five adults and six children, to a hospital. Marysville Fire Chief Jay Riley told the Columbus Dispatch that everyone who was hospitalized had been in the pool area of the Hampton Inn. Authorities said a 911 call Saturday evening said a 2-year-old girl fell into the pool or was found unconscious there. More 911 calls soon followed about people unconscious or feeling such symptoms as dizziness and a burning in the throat, Marysville Police Chief Tony Brooks said. Officials said the building was evacuated, and Riley said any potential sources of carbon monoxide had been shut off.

 From news services

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By Trend

A trilateral meeting of Iranian, Azerbaijani and Turkish officials will be held in Tehran in the near future, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Saeed Khatibzadeh said, Trend reports citing the ministry.

According to Khatibzadeh, a number of issues, including regional cooperation will be discussed at the meeting.

The spokesman did not disclose the date of the meeting.
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Real estate entrepreneur Antony Catalano and backer Alex Waislitz will exclude their publishing business from an ASX listing as part of a lengthy proposal that involves a takeover of multiple assets and a shell company that once held regional broadcaster Prime Media Group.

Mr Catalano is expected to increase his stake in classifieds business Real Estate View to 72 per cent by the end of the week as he prepares to bring together a range of companies controlled by investment vehicle, IMP, and list them on the ASX by the end of this financial year. Mr Catalano said he can offer investors a competitive alternative to real-estate giants News Corps REA Group and Nine Entertainment Cos Domain.

Former Domain boss Antony Catalano is preparing to bring together his real-estate assets and list publicly. Credit:Peter Braig

But the pairs regional publishing business Australian Community Media, which houses The Canberra Times and The Newcastle Herald, will not be listed, according to a proposal which is expected to be discussed with the board of PRT Company Ltd (formerly Prime) in the next few weeks.

The details of his plan have come to light after The Australian Financial Review reported earlier this month that Mr Catalano, former CEO of real-estate listings portal Domain, was pursuing a listing on the ASX for the second time. Mr Catalano was CEO of Domain when it publicly listed in 2017. He abruptly left the business two months later.
Visconti, meanwhile, was experimenting with the latest technology. A new machine called an Eventide Harmoniser let him capture sound samples and repeat them at different pitches throughout a song (the machine f---s with the fabric of time, Visconti said at the time). The Harmoniser created Lows oft-imitated snare-drum sound, which can be best described as a spacey splat. The Low chateau sessions were upbeat and relaxed, according to Bowie biographer Seabrook, and the musicians would spend the evenings watching tapes of Fawlty Towers. Lows second side is an altogether different beast. Its a series of largely lyric-free, free-form instrumentals. Atmosphere replaces structure, layers replace melody. This is, to simplify, Enos side of the album. The tracks were recorded as the band were decamping from France to Berlin (Bowie and others believed the chateaus master bedroom was haunted by the ghost of Frederic Chopin). Eno crafted two ambient tracks, Warszawa and Art Decade, while Bowie was away meeting lawyers due to a legal spat with a former manager. The other two tracks, Weeping Wall and Subterraneans, were Bowies babies. The man was still frail  he looked, Bowie himself admitted, like hed just stepped out of a grave on the cover of 1974s album David Live  and this was reflected in the music: spectral, unsettling and weird. On top of this, Enos approach in the studio confused his fellow musicians. Eno was famously interested in abstract methodologies. Hed record tracks by counting out the required number of bars onto a tape and using this as a metronomic framework into which to record, says Seabrook. Alomar describes Enos approach as dismantling a songs structure, forming a little chaos and reassembling it. For Alomar, who cut his teeth playing guitar for James Brown at Harlems Apollo Theater, this was initially baffling. He recalls Eno counting to a thousand and telling him to come in between the numbers 27 and 32. Im, like, play what? He says, Anything you want.

And then there was Enos studio game of Oblique Strategies, in which cards printed with seemingly random instructions were shown to musicians (such as Try faking it). Alomar didnt get it. I found that my methodology and his methodology, in the beginning, clashed, he says. Because I couldnt wrap my mind around the absurdity of randomness. [The cards] are so damn disjointed and theyre so stupid. So were like, Dude, man this sucks. It sounds horrible. Its not even a song. From left, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno and David Bowie in the Berlin studio in 1977. Low, the first of the Berlin Trilogy, turns 45 this month. Credit:Getty Images But Alomar came round once he started seeing the tracks as classical pieces played by electronic instruments. Alomar says Eno taught him that pop music didnt simply have to be about groove and repetition; it could be symphonic. It all made sense when the tracks were played back. You have to rise to the occasion and meet the challenge, Alomar says, before demonstrating his point by playing a round of Oblique Strategies with me over Zoom. (I approached Eno for this piece, but he didnt respond.) Despite all the big characters in the studio  Bowie, Visconti, Eno and Alomar  the guitarist insists that everyone had a defined role. Bowie co-ordinated and co-produced with Visconti, Alomar arranged, and Eno experimented. The strangeness of life in the Berlin studio was mirrored by life outside. Hansa stood next to the citys dividing wall, with Soviet-run East Berlin in the distance. It was unsettling. Out of the studio window, Alomar says, was the wall, then sand. Everything had been removed. Then, for about a mile, was rolled-up barbed wire. Then you saw the shadowy silhouette of houses in the background. It was pretty much a battle environment. That is solely depressing. Theyd record with the blinds down to block out the views of gunners and watchtowers. The landscape got under the skin of the musicians, Alomar remembers; Low is at times bleak.

Levity was found in West Berlins nightlife, which sounds as decadent and furtive as that depicted in Cabaret, set in 1929 Berlin. Bowies entourage included Iggy Pop, whose 1977 album The Idiot he had just produced. David took us to the underground places, the speakeasies, Alomar says. It was like the German movies you see on television  we were there. I wasnt wearing a tuxedo like they do in the movies, but you got the air of the forbidden underground. I couldnt wrap my mind around the absurdity of randomness. Carlos Alomar Low was finished in October 1976 and was immediately rejected by Bowies label, RCA, who pleaded for another commercial album like Young Americans. Bowie refused. Low was released three months later, but with little promotion. The album existed entirely apart from the eras prevailing trends, as if occupying a musical no mans land itself. Bowie himself didnt promote Low either  instead, he joined Pops live band as keyboardist  but he was aware that it challenged people. He was also aware that some fans didnt think his heart was in it (presumably because he only sang on five of the 11 tracks). He told Melody Maker in October 1977, however, that he believed in Low and its follow-up, Heroes, more than anything Ive done before. He also countered criticism that his new music was cold compared to his earlier work. Theres a lot more heart and emotion in Low, and especially [Heroes]. And if I can convince people of that, Im prepared to be stuck in this room on the end of a conveyor-belt of questions that Ill do my best to answer, he told Melody Maker.

Loading Low confounded many critics, some of whom found it banal, uncommercial, pretentious and depressing. But it wasnt universally panned. NME described it as the sound of Sinatra reproduced by Martian computers. Low did, as Bowie hoped, forge a new musical language. For a while this language was so fresh it remained uncodified. That didnt last long. In November 1977, Sounds magazine journalist Jane Suck wrote that Low was the watershed of an emerging movement that she dubbed New Musick. Addressing Bowie by his real surname, Suck ended her piece: Check out the charts and youll see that something is happening, Mr Jones, even if you dont know what it is. New Musick became known as post-punk, and Lows influence was soon everywhere. Joy Division were initially called Warsaw, after the albums song Warszawa. Long soundscapey tracts became acceptable on mainstream albums. Meanwhile, that distinctive spacey-splat became the defining drum sound of the 1980s; it was best replicated in Phil Collins mega-hit In the Air Tonight, although Collins himself was already part of the New Musick movement, having played drums on Enos Another Green World, along with future Bowie collaborator Robert Fripp. Speaking in 1983 and describing the percussion effect with typically idiosyncratic language, Bowie lamented its popularity: That depressive gorilla effect was something I wish wed never created, having had to live through four years of it with other English bands. With his back to the wall, in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, deploying recording techniques that were decidedly off-the wall, the pioneering Bowie redefined what it was to make a modern album. Low remains arguably his career high.
As a result, The Australian Brewhouse co-owner Aaron Soos said his venue didnt stand for discrimination and he and his business partner Tanya Cobban had decided to shut indefinitely, only 18 months into the venture.

From Monday the state governments proof of vaccination requirements expanded to become the strictest in the country, with the unjabbed banned from hospitality venues, indoor entertainment venues, gyms, major events and bottleshops.

It comes after the venue was embroiled in a social media storm over an anti-mandate party planned at the sports bar on Monday, which was also the day the vaccination status mandate was to be enforced.

The post was shared widely and quickly gained hundreds of reactions, with many criticising the business as being anti-vaxx.

Mr Soos soon pulled down the post after he was made aware the mandate would be in effect.

When we posted that we thought the mandates werent coming in until [Tuesday] February 1  we had this idea that we were going to have to shut our doors due to these mandates being put in place and us being in the position we have been put in, he said.

We werent segregating people that are vaccinated or non vaccinated, we were just saying lets have bit of a party to empty our kegs because we have a bunch of kegs that we need to get rid of before we shut the doors.
Think of this as a kind of medical detective story. Start with this: The percentage of Americans who are nearsighted has gone way up in 30 years.

That's according to a study published last month in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Susan Vitale, an epidemiologist at the National Eye Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, and her co-authors looked at a national survey that gave vision tests to Americans in the early 1970s. It was then repeated with a similar group of people 30 years later. "The prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, in people age 12 to 54 went from 25 percent to 41.6 percent," explains Vitale. "So that's about a 66 percent increase."

The question is: Why? And in a mystery story, you've got suspects. Says Vitale, "Some of the risk factors that we know about for myopia are things like genetics, which is whether you have a family history of myopia. Things, possibly, like the amount of near-work that you do."

Near-Work Is A Prime Suspect

Genetics  or heredity  is by far the main thing that determines who becomes nearsighted. But then there's what scientists like Vitale call near-work. That's the things you do close up with your eyes, like reading or watching television or playing video games.

Susan Vitale, an epidemiologist at the National Eye Institute, and her co-authors looked at a national survey that gave vision tests to Americans in the early 1970s, and between 1999 and 2004. (Joe Shapiro/NPR)

Near-work has been a suspect for hundreds of years. Even Johannes Kepler, the German astronomer and mathematician who came up with modern ideas for the lenses that correct nearsightedness, blamed his own fuzzy eyesight on all the reading he did.

"Kepler wrote about it, about 400 years ago, that he thought his nearsightedness was due to his intense study of astronomical tables and so forth," says Dr. Don Mutti, of the College of Optometry at the Ohio State University.

Mutti is a kind of detective of myopia. Like other scientists researching this, he too suspected that after genetics, things like reading were probably a big cause.

"It's the popular stereotype," he says, recalling the warnings of generations of parents. "Don't watch too much TV, or don't read under the covers with a flashlight."

A Long-Term Investigation

For the past 20 years, Mutti has followed a group  from childhood to adulthood  to see who develops myopia. He found something significant: Time spent outdoors during childhood was important.

"If you have two nearsighted parents and you engage in a low level of outdoor activity, your chances of becoming myopic by the eighth grade are about 60 percent," he says. "If children engaged in over 14 hours per week of outdoor activity, their chances of becoming nearsighted were now only about 20 percent. So it was quite a dramatic reduction in the risk of becoming myopic."

At first, that seems to support the theory that near-work causes nearsightedness: The more time kids spend indoors, the more likely they're watching TV or reading a book.

But then Mutti and his colleagues looked closely at the kids before they became nearsighted. And the reading and close-up things they did didn't predict who'd be nearsighted later. "What we found is that near-work had no influence at all," he says. "Children really aren't doing any more or less near-work  the children who are becoming nearsighted."

So that's another mystery. Why, then, does spending time outdoors make a difference? At first, scientists thought the outdoor exercise was the key. But it turned out kids who get indoor exercise don't get the benefits of reduced myopia.
Harrison Jozefowicz quit his job as a Chicago police officer and headed overseas soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. An Army veteran, he said h
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A Kentucky State Police trooper was taken to the hospital after being shot in Harrison County on Friday.
Today, (Saturday, January 29, 2022), the funeral service for Dr. Sweeting was held at Trinity Methodist Church.

I have known Uncle Sid, as I affectionately called him, since I was but a toddler, visiting him in his professional capacity as our family dentist.

Later in life, 1988 to be precise, I got to know him better as an adult when as President of The Rotary Club of East Nassau he inducted me into membership of that great organisation.

For some reason, Uncle Sid and I clicked and became closer and closer as the years progressed. His dignified demeanor and wonderful sense of humour no doubt drew me to him.

When he took an interest in The Nassau Institute and economics we became even closer friends. Driving each other to events and sharing books on lifes bigger topics. At least we thought they were/are the important things affecting life and living.

At Rotary or The Nassau Institute he was always there to help when called upon.

He leaves behind his beautiful and supportive wife Thiry and their four children, Jennifer, Andrew, Karen and Diane and their families. May the fond memories they have of Uncle Sid provide comfort in the tough weeks ahead. As time passes, I am sure any thoughts of him will bring a smile to their faces.

I am honoured to have known Uncle Sid and have the privilege of calling him friend.

You are never to be forgotten my friend.

Read Dr. Sweetings blogs here
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With Valentine's Day falling on a Monday this year, many restaurants are making a weekend out of the love holiday. Check out these special dinner options around Connecticut.

Bernards in Ridgefield offers a special Valentine's dinner throughout the weekend from Feb. 11 to 14, with a three-course menu offering entree choices like beef Wellington with truffle sauce, sauteed filet of bronzini, rack of lamb and pheasant breast stuffed with foie gras. Cost is $125. Reservations: 203-438-8282 (credit card required.)

The Cottage in Westport will celebrate Valentines Day eve on Feb. 13 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. A special four-course prix-fixe menu will be offered for $85 per guest, with entree choices like wild mushroom farrotto, king salmon in cedar paper, Atlantic cod roasted in garlic and Wagyu beef tenderloin. Seatings are available in the main dining room and bar area only. Reservations: 203-557-3701.

LEscale in Greenwich offers a special Valentine's menu Feb. 14 from 5 to 10 p.m., with entrees like foraged mushroom risotto, Maine lobster fra diavolo, Scottish salmon, seared sea scallops and filet mignon. Cost is $95 per person. Make reservations online or call 203-661-4600.

Waters Edge at Giovanni's in Darien offers its Valentine's menu Feb. 11 to 14, with steaks, chops, pastas, fish and seafood entrees. Make reservations online or call 203-325-9979.

Adriana Morga/ Hearst Connecticut Media

Washington Prime in Norwalk offers a three-course, prix-fixe Valentine's menu Feb. 11, 12 and 14 for $75, with entree choices like halibut, scallops, Colorado rack of lamb, roasted duck, short ribs and NY strip. The regular menu will not be served this weekend; Washington Prime is only open for brunch from noon to 3 p.m. on Feb. 13. Reservations are available via OpenTable or by calling 203-857-1314.

The Boathouse Restaurant at Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport offers a three-course Valentine's dinner Feb. 14, featuring Duckhorn wine pairings and chocolates from Saugatuck Sweets. Cost is $95 per person. Reservations: 203-227-3399.

Foundry Kitchen & Bar in Sandy Hook will be open for dinner Feb. 14, with Valentine's specials like French kiss oysters, Angus ribeye steak, scallops with brown butter and chocolate beet cake with rosewater buttercream frosting. Enjoy complimentary prosecco with dinner. 203-491-2030.

Quartiere in Stamford offers a special $45 Valentine's menu Feb. 14 with 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. seatings, with choices of appetizer, salad, pizza or pasta, and gelato. Call 203-892-6757 for reservations.

The Wheel in Stamford offers an $85 Valentine's prix-fixe menu with entree choices of red snapper with forbidden rice, petite filet mignon or pomegranate chicken. Dessert options include a chocolate raspberry tart or sundae with salted caramel ice cream and caramel peanut popcorn, and the bar features special Valentine's cocktails. 475-270-1300.

Andrew Dominick / For Connecticut Magazine

Shell & Bones in New Haven will be celebrating Valentines Day from Feb. 11 to 14, with specials in addition to the full menu. Specials include Shells & Bubbles (a whole lobster, lump crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, ceviche, crudo and a bottle of Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs for $165), a Lonely Heart cocktail ($14), pistachio-crusted beet salad ($16), swordfish chop ($42), conchiglie ($39) and dessert for two options ($13-$18). Make reservations online or call 203-787-3466.



A special carryout package for two is available for $149, including charred eggplant soup and pistachio-crusted beet salad, choice of Shell & Bones surf n turf or conchiglie and chocolate-dipped long stem strawberries. Packages also include roses and candles. A wine add-on ($40) includes two 187ml bottles of Freixenet and one 750ml bottle of Les Darons. A beverage add-on includes a Pink Mule cocktail kit ($11) and additional wine features. Take-out orders must be placed and paid for by Feb. 9 for curbside pick-up. Call 203-787-3466 to order.

Barcelona Wine Bar, with locations in Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, New Haven and West Hartford, offers chef's specials for Valentine's Day.

The restaurant group also offers Barcelona experiences as gift ideas. An Aperitivo Experience ($65) includes a glass of Cava per person, an Aperitivo board, two tapas and a bottle of Barcava to take home. The Barcelona Wine Bar Experience ($130) includes two flights of three Spanish wines per person, paired with six Chef-created signature tapas, a half paella, and a take-home gift of a bottle of Barcava.

LobsterCraft, with locations in Greenwich and West Hartford, offers a Valentine's special Feb. 10 to 14, a dinner-for-two for $75 including choice of soup, a salad, choice of lobster roll and chocolate cake for dessert. Pre-orders are required. Call Greenwich at 203-900-1555 or West Hartford at 860-310-2973.

Winter Caplanson for Hearst Connecticut Media

Sherkaan in New Haven offers a Tiffin Full of Love, with a kachumbar salad, Gujarati dal, basmati rice, tandoori roti, two entrees of your choice, and one dessert of choice. The meal is presented in a stainless steel tiffin  a traditional Indian lunchbox, as a keepsake. Each order will include a Sherkaan candle. Cost is $110; order by Feb. 11 to be picked up on Feb. 14. 203-405-5808.

The Griswold Inn in Essex offers its Valentine's Day menu Feb. 11 through Feb. 14. Reservations: 860-767-1776.

The Wharf at Madison Beach Hotel in Madison offers its Valentine's Day menu Feb. 11 to 13, with a la carte specials like baked Black Mission figs, duck confit salad, grilled veal chop, New Zealand roasted rack of lamb and special desserts. Reserve online or call 203-350-0014.

Saybrook Point Resort & Marina in Old Saybrook serves a Valentine's Day menu Feb. 11 to 14, with a la carte entrees like cioppino, sea scallops, beef Wellington, paella for two, grilled venison tenderloin and lobster pot pie. Reservations: 860-388-1111.

Foxwoods Resort Casino offers Valentine's dining specials at several of its restaurants, including Caputo Trattoria, Cedars Steaks & Oysters, Juniors and Sugar Factory. Other experiences include a sushi-making class at Red Lantern and "Lovers Lane" dinner and bowling package at High Rollers.

Lisa Nichols / Connecticut Magazine

Shipwrights Daughter in Mystic offers a special $65 prix-fixe menu Feb. 11 to Feb. 14, with dishes like poached RI squid, organic Berkshire pork agnolotti, cacio e pepe, roasted organic chicken, NY strip, roasted monkfish, dark chocolate pot de creme and passion fruit cheesecake. A la carte ordering is also available. Reservations: 860-536-7605.

Wood-n-Tap, with nine locations around Connecticut, offers a $35 three-course, prix-fixe menu Feb. 11 to 14. The Valentines special includes choice of soup or salad, an entree of either grilled swordfish, penne alla vodka with shrimp or beef filet medallions, and choice of a shared creme brulee or warm chocolate cake dessert. Meals are available for dine-in or to-go, and restaurant diners will receive a complimentary glass of prosecco. On Feb. 14, Wood-n-Tap will also feature half-price bottles of wine or prosecco with in-house and to-go orders.
COVID-19 hospitalizations, driven to a near-record pandemic high in the past month, may be slow to decline given the spread of the omicron variant, an expert said Monday.

This is going to be a long tail. This is going to be a long saw-tooth pattern, Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist for Hartford HealthCare, said of the decline in hospitalizations, which could rise and fall day-by-day.

Over the weekend, Connecticut saw a net decline of 141 COVID-19 patients in the hospitals for a total of 1,051, more than 400 fewer than last Monday, state data shows. The positivity rate through the weekend was 7.33 percent with 3,330 new COVID-19 cases found in 45,449 tests.

However, the arrival of a new omicron subvariant known as BA.2, which has been dubbed as stealth omicron because of its suspected ability to avoid testing, may influence the rate of decline, Wu said.

I think omicron by itself was going to contribute to a longer tail, especially since we are in the winter season, Wu said.

Wu said theres a trend across the Northeast, among the first parts of the nation hit by the omicron variant, in declining hospitalizations.

We do know that other parts of the country are still experiencing some surges and deaths do unfortunately remain high, not just in the state of Connecticut, but also across the country, Wu said.

Despite what Wu described as the number of hospitalizations coming down very nicely, he cautioned that an overall look still shows that this metric is much higher than it has been earlier in the pandemic.

For example, we have a total of 334 patients in the hospital across HHC at this point, thats still high, even though the numbers are down from the mid-500s. Even though its dropped almost 40 percent, its all relative because they are still high, he said.

While the number of patients has dropped, it still remains nearly triple the amount of people in Connecticut hospitals in December, just before omicron swept through the state.

With hospitalizations and other key metrics still high, officials and health care providers have continued to stress an urgent need for residents to get vaccinated and receive a booster shot. Both, they said, have shown a substantial result in minimizing the severity of COVID-19 infections, despite a growing rate of fully vaccinated patients in the hospital.

The emphasis should really be placed on getting boosted at this point, Wu said. The studies are clearly showing your protection, not just necessarily from just getting omicron, but its main purpose is avoiding severe hospitalizations at this point.

Gov. Ned Lamont, whose emergency powers end in about two weeks, took steps in January to increase boosters among those working directly with patients. He first issued an executive order mandating that nursing home employees get a booster shot. He then issued a similar mandate for those working in hospital settings.

Thats how we keep our hospitals safe, Lamont said in January. Thats how we have the capacity to take care of each and every one of you.
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Proteus Theatre's stage adaptation of Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber (and Other Stories) will head out on a UK tour this spring.

The production, which enjoyed a successful run in Worthing last June, is billed as "an erotic, heady and feminist re-telling of Carter's dark fantasy fairy tales", combining physical theatre and aerial circus performance.

The cast is led by Rosie Rowlands (The Little Mermaid), Megan Brooks (Igloo), Ashley Christmas (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice), Anesta Mathurin (Aida) and Lorraine Moynehan (Trapeze).

Adapted and directed by Mary Swan, the piece features design by Sam Pine, lighting design by Peter Harrison, musical direction, arrangements, sound design and production by Max Reinhardt, original composition by Paul Wild, dramaturgy by Saul Jaffe, production support by Turtle Key Arts, design and illustration by Alexander Innes, acrobalance choreography by Silvia Fratelli, aerial choreography by Charlotte Mooney, hand balance choreography, aerial and acrobalance rehearsal direction by Tamzen Moulding and production management by Callum Thoma.

Swan commented: "Like so many female writers Angela Carter has long been overlooked in the canon of great British literature, but happily this is finally beginning to change. Using circus as the chief physical language of the piece enables us to create the surreal, Escher type worlds of the castle in "The Bloody Chamber", the landscapes of "Wolf-Alice" and the nightmarish home of the vampire in "The Lady of the House of Love". Her work is sadly more relevant now than ever; the advice contained in the tales to young women is all too reminiscent of the list published by the Metropolitan Police in 2020 following the murder of Sarah Everard. The Reclaim the Night movement started in the late 1970s when Carter was writing "The Bloody Chamber", prompted by outrage at the murder of women on Britain's streets, and that we are still marching in 2022 is a depressing validation of all the warnings contained within these tales."

The 80-minute show is recommended for those aged 15 and over due to strong sexual references and some representations of violence.

The tour kicks off in Harlow on 23 March 2022, before visiting Sheffield, Harrograte, Lancaster, Sale, Basingstoke, Petersfield, Maidenhead and Norwich.




Quincy, IL (62301)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the Tilbury Docks in Tilbury, England, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. The port, located on the River Thames, handles a variety of bulk cargo and container traffic is one of Britain's three major container ports. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)

LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic

Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the partygate scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. But he faced criticism from some of his own Conservative colleagues, who have the power to oust a leader some fear has become damaged goods. One Conservative lawmaker accused the prime minister of taking him for a fool.

I get it, and I will fix it, Johnson said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021 while the U.K. was under government-imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Gray found that failures of leadership and judgment allowed events to occur that should not have been allowed to take place.

The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the governments regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well, Gray wrote.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson drives a forklift as he visits the Tilbury Docks in Tilbury, England, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. The port, located on the River Thames, handles a variety of bulk cargo and container traffic is one of Britain's three major container ports. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify, she added.

Gray's glimpse inside a 10 Downing St. marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Gray's conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated.

Her findings on 12 others have been withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police force, to avoid any prejudice to a criminal investigation launched last week into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The force said Monday that it would be interviewing party attendees and looking at more than 300 photos and over 500 pages of documents it had received from Gray's team. Anyone found guilty, including the prime minister, could face a fine.

Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021  a service at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone.

The allegations that the prime minister and his staff flouted restrictions imposed on the country  holding bring your own booze office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays  have caused public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to call for Johnsons resignation and triggered intense infighting inside the governing party.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public had made heart-wrenching sacrifices and endured a collective trauma during the pandemic.

He said the prime minister "held peoples sacrifice in contempt. He showed himself unfit for office.

Johnson can ignore opposition criticism, because the Conservatives have a large majority in Parliament. His fate rests on how Conservative lawmakers respond to his apology. Some previously said they would push for a no-confidence vote if Gray found Johnson was at serious fault or had misled Parliament with his previous insistence that no rules had been broken. If Johnson lost such a vote, he would be replaced as party leader and prime minister.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Johnson urged his critics to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation.

But one Conservative legislator, Andrew Mitchell, said in the House of Commons that Johnson no longer has my support.

Another, Aaron Bell, recalled attending his grandmother's small, socially distanced funeral in May 2020 and asked: Does the prime minister think Im a fool?

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May said that either Johnson and those around him had not read the rules, or didnt understand what they meant.  Or they didnt think the rules applied to No. 10. Which was it?

Gray did not criticize the prime minister directly, but said there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government.

That is unlikely to satisfy many of Johnson's critics, some of whom accused the government of an attempted cover-up.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

This whole thing is a whitewash, there is no intent for anyone to tell the truth or be held accountable, said David Garfinkel, a member of the group COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. We have a prime minister who lies, who lies about lies and he is utterly insincere and incapable of leading."

The government initially refused to promise that it would publish Gray's full findings once the police investigation is finished. But after pressure from Conservative lawmakers, Johnson's office committed to publishing her updated report.

Johnson, meanwhile, sought to change the subject from his personal woes, marking the second anniversary of Brexit on Monday by touting economic opportunities outside the European Union.

A reporter works outside 10 Downing Street, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Social gatherings held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff while Britain was in lockdown represent a 'serious failure' to observe the standards expected of government, an investigation found Monday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The U.K. officially left the now 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, though it remained part of the EUs economic structures for another 11 months.

Johnson announced a Brexit Freedoms Bill that the government says will slash red tape for British businesses by amending laws that were carried over from the U.K.s years as an EU member.

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Johnson also plans a diplomatic push to try to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. He is expected to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone later Monday or Tuesday and to visit Ukraine on Tuesday as part of efforts to deter Russia from invading its neighbor.

This image of 10 pages of a document made available by the Cabinet Office on Monday Jan. 31, 2022, shows a senior civil servant's report into social gatherings held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff, when the U.K. was in coronavirus lockdown. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized for lockdown-flouting parties in Downing Street. (Cabinet Office via AP)

Some political observers said Gray's circumscribed and partial report may give Johnson at least a temporary reprieve from calls for his ouster.

Its too soon to tell, said Alex Thomas, program director at the Institute for Government think-tank.

It avoided some of the most damaging outcomes that we might have expected. ... But in a way the more you read it, the more you look at the descriptions of the culture and the failings of leadership, the more damaging it was.

___

Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui and video journalist Jo Kearney contributed to this story.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Prosecutors in southern Poland are probing the death of a 37-year-old woman in a hospital who had been pregnant with twins, a situation in which her family and women's rights groups blame Polands strict anti-abortion law, alleging it fatally delayed doctors decision to terminate the pregnancy.

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Prosecutors in southern Poland are probing the death of a 37-year-old woman in a hospital who had been pregnant with twins, a situation in which her family and women's rights groups blame Polands strict anti-abortion law, alleging it fatally delayed doctors decision to terminate the pregnancy.

Prosecutors in Katowice said Monday they were awaiting the results of three autopsies to determine the cause of the Jan. 25 death of the woman, identified only as Agnieszka T., and the late December deaths of her two fetuses, after which the pregnancy was terminated.

The prosecutors are questioning the woman's husband, her twin sister and the doctors and hospital staff in a probe into potential medical mistakes, a spokesman for the prosecutors, Ireneusz Kunert told The Associated Press.

The woman's family issued a statement saying they suspect sepsis was the cause of the woman's death and allege it was caused by the doctors' decision to continue her pregnancy despite the death of one of the fetuses, and allege the abortion was also delayed after the other fetus' death.

The family, as well as women's rights group, the All-Poland Women's Strike, blame the death on the 2020 strict anti-abortion verdict by a top constitutional court passed under Poland's right-wing government. They say it has a chilling effect on doctors, leading to wrong medical decisions.

"Another victim of the ban on abortion in Poland: 37-year-old Agnieszka of Czestochowa," the women's group said on Facebook. "We keep shouting #NotOneMore, but the ban on abortion is killing more and more women."

Under the court's verdict, which drew massive protests, it's illegal in Poland to terminate pregnancy with congenital defects, as was previously possible. It means that an abortion is only possible when the pregnancy threatens the woman's health or life, or if it results from crime like rape or incest.

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The specialized hospital in Czestochowa says all necessary and available treatment procedures have been applied in efforts to save the three lives and that no other factors influenced its medical decisions.

It said that two days before her death the woman tested positive for COVID-19 and her condition was deteriorating. She was rushed to another hospital but died there several hours later.

The mother of three, in her first trimester of pregnancy, was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 21 with pain and vomiting. Two days later one of the fetuses died, but the pregnancy was continued to save the other fetus, which, however, died Dec. 29. The pregnancy was terminated on Dec. 31 and the woman remained hospitalized, but was later moved to the neurology ward, the hospital said.

An expert in gynecology, Maciej W. Socha, told the OKO.press portal that the pregnancy could not have been terminated sooner and that the doctors' decisions were right.

"This nightmarish verdict of the Constitutional Court had no influence or connection to this particular situation," Socha said.

But he added that Poland's near-ban on abortion has had a very stressing effect on women.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Rescue helicopters evacuated all 18 crew members from a ship that was left drifting rudderless in a wind turbine park off the Dutch North Sea coast Monday after it collided with another ship and began taking on water during a powerful storm, emergency services said.

Workers remove an uprooted tree in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, after a storm swept over the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Rescue helicopters evacuated all 18 crew members from a ship that was left drifting rudderless in a wind turbine park off the Dutch North Sea coast Monday after it collided with another ship and began taking on water during a powerful storm, emergency services said.

The collision happened as Storm Corrie lashed parts of the northern Europe. It came after Storm Malik killed at least four people over the weekend, destroying houses, unleashing flooding and leaving thousands of households without electricity.

A freighter called the Julietta D collided with another boat about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of the port of Ijmuiden, said Edward Zwitser, a spokesman for the Royal Dutch Lifeboat Company. The other boat, the Pechora Star, also was damaged, but was able to continue its voyage.

The Dutch coast guard said that all crew members were rescued. It didn't immediately provide more details of the rescue on the high seas amid powerful winds. Dutch television showed the rescued crew arriving in a helicopter at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

Three helicopters, including one from Belgium, were involved in the rescue operation.

A car is surrounded by flood water in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday Jan. 30, 2022, after a powerful winter storm swept through northern Europe over the weekend. (Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa via AP)

The Juliette D suffered damage that poses direct danger for the 18 crew on board, spokesman Edward Zwitser told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

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Both ships had been anchored off the coast, but the Julietta D's anchor did not hold, the coast guard said.

Hours later, with winds easing in the Netherlands, the Julietta D was still drifting and the coast guard said efforts were underway to attach a line to a tugboat so that the vessel could be towed to safety.

Workers remove an uprooted tree in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, after a storm swept over the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Thousands of homes in the Nordic region remained without power Monday and there were reports of flooding in North Sea and Baltic Sea harbors in the region. The western Netherlands were hard hit Monday morning with powerful gusts uprooting trees and causing traffic problems.

Storm Corrie also hit Scotland late Sunday, hot on the heels of Storm Malik, which left thousands in Scotland and northern England without power as it blew down trees, damaged power lines and ripped roofs off homes.

A nine-year-old boy in the English county of Staffordshire and a 60-year-old woman in the Scottish city of Aberdeen died after trees were torn down on Saturday.

Also over the weekend, Danish media reported that a 78-year-old woman died from severe injuries after falling in strong winds. In neighboring Germany, local media reported that a man was killed on Saturday after being hit by a billboard that was loosened by the storm.
Women and gender-diverse people who have experienced gender-based violence will soon have a new place to call home.

Women and gender-diverse people who have experienced gender-based violence will soon have a new place to call home.

West Central Womens Resource Centre recently announced it received funding to buy and refurbish an apartment building at 590 Victor St. through the second phase of the federal governments Rapid Housing Initiative.

The WCWRC plans to transform the space, located two blocks away from its 640 Ellice Ave. office, into a mix of 16 new 3-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 1-bedroom units for individuals and families.

The building was built from 1913 to 1914 and has been vacant since at least 2015, writes West End Dumplings blogger Christian Cassidy.

Lorie English, the executive director of WCWRC, said the new residence will fill a critical need in the community.

"Winnipeg has some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence against women in the country. One of our biggest struggles over the years has been finding safe, affordable, and supported transitional housing where women and gender diverse people can heal and work on their goals for the future," English said in a statement.

Up to 35 women and gender-diverse people and their children can stay at the residence for at least two years. The WCWRC will then work with clients to find long-term housing solutions. The organization anticipates a stay of up to two years will give residents ample time to access the organizations supports.

Tammy Leask is the director of WCWRCs Strengthening the Circle program. Strengthening the Circle provides resources to Indigenous women, newcomer women, and 2SLGBTQ+ folks who are experiencing violence or are at risk of experiencing violence.

Through this program, participants can access a family support worker, a gender-based violence crisis worker, a trauma counsellor, and a cultural co-ordinator who offers programs through an Indigenous lens.

"Were here for them as they make that first step," Leask said. Were here to walk with them and support them and advocate for them."

Rent at 590 Victor St. will be geared-to-income.

"This building will be affordable," Leask said. "Three-bedroom apartments are really not on the market, and if they are, its probably $2,000. I dont think anybody can really afford that  Sometimes you have to choose rent or food."

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WCWRC staff will use the buildings basement for programming and administration work. The rooftop will be transformed into a childrens play area and ceremonial space.

The federal government will invest $12.7 million in roughly 59 new affordable residences in Winnipeg

through the Major Cities Steam of its Rapid Housing Initiative. The federal government launched the RHI in October 2020 through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which falls under the National Housing Strategy.

The NHS is a 10-year, $72-billion plan to build and refurbish units into affordable housing.

Apart from the 590 Victor St. housing project, the city will use the second round of its NHS funding to convert an existing building at 670 Main St. into 22 units for Indigenous residents. The Manitoba Metis Federation will operate this initiative. The third project, run by the Westminster Housing Society, will see 21 new homes for LGBTQ2+ people at 545 Broadway Ave.

WCWRC anticipates 590 Victor St. will welcome its new occupants in February 2023.
LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the Tilbury Docks in Tilbury, England, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. The port, located on the River Thames, handles a variety of bulk cargo and container traffic is one of Britain's three major container ports. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)

LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic

Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the partygate scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. But he faced criticism from some of his own Conservative colleagues, who have the power to oust a leader some fear has become damaged goods. One Conservative lawmaker accused the prime minister of taking him for a fool.

I get it, and I will fix it, Johnson said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021 while the U.K. was under government-imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Gray found that failures of leadership and judgment allowed events to occur that should not have been allowed to take place.

The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the governments regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well, Gray wrote.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson drives a forklift as he visits the Tilbury Docks in Tilbury, England, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. The port, located on the River Thames, handles a variety of bulk cargo and container traffic is one of Britain's three major container ports. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify, she added.

Gray's glimpse inside a 10 Downing St. marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Gray's conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated.

Her findings on 12 others have been withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police force, to avoid any prejudice to a criminal investigation launched last week into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The force said Monday that it would be interviewing party attendees and looking at more than 300 photos and over 500 pages of documents it had received from Gray's team. Anyone found guilty, including the prime minister, could face a fine.

Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021  a service at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone.

The allegations that the prime minister and his staff flouted restrictions imposed on the country  holding bring your own booze office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays  have caused public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to call for Johnsons resignation and triggered intense infighting inside the governing party.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public had made heart-wrenching sacrifices and endured a collective trauma during the pandemic.

He said the prime minister "held peoples sacrifice in contempt. He showed himself unfit for office.

Johnson can ignore opposition criticism, because the Conservatives have a large majority in Parliament. His fate rests on how Conservative lawmakers respond to his apology. Some previously said they would push for a no-confidence vote if Gray found Johnson was at serious fault or had misled Parliament with his previous insistence that no rules had been broken. If Johnson lost such a vote, he would be replaced as party leader and prime minister.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Johnson urged his critics to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation.

But one Conservative legislator, Andrew Mitchell, said in the House of Commons that Johnson no longer has my support.

Another, Aaron Bell, recalled attending his grandmother's small, socially distanced funeral in May 2020 and asked: Does the prime minister think Im a fool?

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May said that either Johnson and those around him had not read the rules, or didnt understand what they meant.  Or they didnt think the rules applied to No. 10. Which was it?

Gray did not criticize the prime minister directly, but said there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government.

That is unlikely to satisfy many of Johnson's critics, some of whom accused the government of an attempted cover-up.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. An investigation says lockdown-breaching parties by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff represent a serious failure to observe the standards expected of government. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

This whole thing is a whitewash, there is no intent for anyone to tell the truth or be held accountable, said David Garfinkel, a member of the group COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. We have a prime minister who lies, who lies about lies and he is utterly insincere and incapable of leading."

The government initially refused to promise that it would publish Gray's full findings once the police investigation is finished. But after pressure from Conservative lawmakers, Johnson's office committed to publishing her updated report.

Johnson, meanwhile, sought to change the subject from his personal woes, marking the second anniversary of Brexit on Monday by touting economic opportunities outside the European Union.

A reporter works outside 10 Downing Street, in London, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Social gatherings held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff while Britain was in lockdown represent a 'serious failure' to observe the standards expected of government, an investigation found Monday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The U.K. officially left the now 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, though it remained part of the EUs economic structures for another 11 months.

Johnson announced a Brexit Freedoms Bill that the government says will slash red tape for British businesses by amending laws that were carried over from the U.K.s years as an EU member.

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Johnson also plans a diplomatic push to try to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. He is expected to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone later Monday or Tuesday and to visit Ukraine on Tuesday as part of efforts to deter Russia from invading its neighbor.

This image of 10 pages of a document made available by the Cabinet Office on Monday Jan. 31, 2022, shows a senior civil servant's report into social gatherings held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff, when the U.K. was in coronavirus lockdown. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized for lockdown-flouting parties in Downing Street. (Cabinet Office via AP)

Some political observers said Gray's circumscribed and partial report may give Johnson at least a temporary reprieve from calls for his ouster.

Its too soon to tell, said Alex Thomas, program director at the Institute for Government think-tank.

It avoided some of the most damaging outcomes that we might have expected. ... But in a way the more you read it, the more you look at the descriptions of the culture and the failings of leadership, the more damaging it was.

___

Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui and video journalist Jo Kearney contributed to this story.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who three years ago placed a moratorium on executions, now is moving to dismantle the United States' largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons within two years.

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2016, file photo a condemned inmate is led out of his east block cell on death row at San Quentin State Prison, in San Quentin, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving to dismantle the nation's largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons with in two years. The goal is to turn the section of San Quentin State Prison into "a positive, healing environment." (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who three years ago placed a moratorium on executions, now is moving to dismantle the United States' largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons within two years.

The goal is to turn the section at San Quentin State Prison into a "positive, healing environment. Newsom said Monday it's an outgrowth of his opposition to what he believes is a deeply flawed system, one that "gets my blood boiling."

The prospect of your ending up on death row has more to do with your wealth and race than it does your guilt or innocence, he said. We talk about justice, we preach justice, but as a nation, we dont practice it on death row.

California, which last carried out an execution in 2006, is one of 28 states that maintain death rows, along with the U.S. government, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. While other states like Illinois have abolished executions, California is merging its condemned inmates into the general prison population with no expectation that any will face execution anytime in the near future.

We are starting the process of closing death row to repurpose and transform the current housing units into something innovative and anchored in rehabilitation, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Vicky Waters told The Associated Press.

Oregon similarly transferred its much smaller condemned population to other inmate housing two years ago.

Newsom, a Democrat, imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019 and shut down the states execution chamber at San Quentin, north of San Francisco. Now his administration is turning on its head a 2016 voter-approved initiative intended to expedite executions by capitalizing on one provision that allowed inmates to be moved off death row.

The underlying motive of the administration is to mainstream as many of these condemned murderers as possible, said Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which backed the initiative. Our objective was to speed up the process.

FILE - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation a chair is removed from the death penalty chamber at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Calif., March 13, 2019. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who three years ago placed a moratorium on executions, now is moving to dismantle the United States' largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons within two years. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP, File)

He added he doesn't think victims are happy with the administration's decision.

Theyre moving condemned murderers into facilities that are going to make their lives better and offer them more amenities, while the victims still mourn the death of their family member, Rushford said.

Newsom said voters approved the move, though he doubts many understood the provision.

When they affirmed the death penalty, they also affirmed a responsibility ... to actually move that population on death row out and to get them working, Newsom said.

Corrections officials began a voluntary two-year pilot program in January 2020 that as of Friday had moved 116 of the states 673 condemned male inmates to one of seven other prisons that have maximum security facilities and are surrounded by lethal electrified fences.

They intend to submit permanent proposed regulations within weeks that would make the transfers mandatory and allow for the repurposing of all death row housing units, Waters said.

The ballot measure approved six years ago also required condemned inmates to participate in prison jobs, with 70% of the money going for restitution to their victims, and corrections officials said thats their goal with the transfers. By the end of last year, more than $49,000 in restitution had been collected under the pilot program.

Newsoms proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 seeks $1.5 million to find new uses for the vacant condemned housing.

It notes that death row and its supporting activities are in the same area as facilities used for rehabilitation programs for medium-security San Quentin inmates. The money would be used to hire a consultant to develop options for (the) space focused on creating a positive, healing environment to provide increased rehabilitative, educational and health care opportunities.

San Quentins never-used $853,000 execution chamber is in a separate area of the prison, and there are no plans to repurpose that area, Waters said.

California voters supported the death penalty in 2012 and 2016, though legislative opponents have said they hope to put the issue before voters again in coming years. An advisory panel to Newsom and lawmakers, the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code, in November became the latest to recommend repealing the death penalty, calling it beyond repair.

Under the states transfer program, condemned inmates moved to other prisons can be housed in solitary or disciplinary confinement if officials decide they cannot be safely housed with others, although they are supposed to be interspersed with other inmates. Inmates on death row are housed one to a cell, but the transferred inmates can be housed with others if its deemed safe.

There have been no safety concerns, and no major disciplinary issues have occurred, Waters said.

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When it comes to jobs and other rehabilitation activities, condemned inmates outside death row are treated similarly to inmates serving sentences of life without parole. That includes a variety of jobs such as maintenance and administrative duties, according to prison officials.

The condemned inmates are counted more often and are constantly supervised during activities, officials said.

Under current rules, condemned inmates can be transferred unless they are in restricted housing for disciplinary reasons, have pending charges, or have been found guilty of certain disciplinary offenses in the past five years.

But they also are carefully screened to determine whether they can safely participate in the program, according to the department. That includes things like each inmates security level, medical, psychiatric and other needs, their behavior, safety concerns and notoriety.

Female condemned inmates are housed at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla. They can transfer to less restrictive housing within the same prison, and eight of the 21 have done so.

The men can be moved to California Correctional Institution; California Medical Facility; California State Prison, Corcoran; Centinela State Prison; Kern Valley State Prison; Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility; or Salinas Valley State Prison.
BOSTON (AP)  Pharmaceutical distributor Cardinal Health Inc. has agreed to pay more than $13 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by paying kickbacks to some doctors' offices, federal authorities said Monday.

FILE - A sign is displayed Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, at the Cardinal Health, Inc. corporate office, in Dublin, Ohio. Pharmaceutical distributor Cardinal Health Inc. has agreed to pay more than $13 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by paying some doctors' offices kickbacks, federal authorities said Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

BOSTON (AP)  Pharmaceutical distributor Cardinal Health Inc. has agreed to pay more than $13 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by paying kickbacks to some doctors' offices, federal authorities said Monday.

Cardinal Health induced physician practices to buy medications from Cardinal rather than from competitors by paying those practices in advance of any drug purchases, and not in connection with any specific purchases, according to the settlement.

Those upfront payments either were not attributable to identifiable sales of pharmaceutical products or were purported rebates that the customers had not actually earned, the settlement said.

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A voicemail seeking comment was left with a spokesperson for Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health.

The payments were a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits pharmaceutical distributors from offering or paying compensation to induce physicians to purchase drugs for use by Medicare patients, authorities said.

Cardinal Health thought it hit upon a surefire moneymaker by paying kickbacks to doctors, which cost health benefit programs millions of dollars in potentially fraudulent claims, Joseph Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBIs Boston office said in a statement.

The payments were made to more than three dozen physician practices across the nation from February 2013 until mid-January, authorities said.

The settlement resolves allegations originally brought in lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under a legal provision that allows private parties to sue on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. Those whistleblowers will receive about $2.6 million of the settlement.

Cardinal Health recruited new customers by offering and paying cash bonuses in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act. Kickback schemes, such as this one, have the potential to pervert clinical decision making and are detrimental to our federal health care system and taxpayers, said Rachael Rollins, U.S. attorney for Boston.
WASHINGTON (AP)  In yet another reversal of a Trump-era action, the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will resume enforcement of a rule that limits power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan speaks during a press conference on President Biden's Building a Better America agenda at the Shockoe Retention Basin in Richmond, Va., Friday, January 28, 2022. (Alexa Welch Edlund/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP)  In yet another reversal of a Trump-era action, the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will resume enforcement of a rule that limits power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants.

The EPA action restores a 2012 rule imposed under President Barack Obama that was credited with curbing mercurys devastating neurological damage to children and prevented thousands of premature deaths while reducing the risk of heart attacks and cancer, among other public health benefits.

Sound science makes it clear that we need to limit mercury and toxins in the air to protect children and vulnerable communities from dangerous pollution, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. EPA is committed to aggressively reducing pollution from the power sector so that all people, regardless of ZIP code or amount of money in their pocket, can breathe clean air and live healthy and productive lives.

The action is another example of the Biden administration reinstating environmental protections loosened under President Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden has set a goal to make the U.S. electricity sector carbon-neutral by 2035, but a sweeping, $555 billion plan to promote clean energy such as wind and solar power remains stalled in Congress, following an objection by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

Even without legislation, Biden can pursue his climate agenda through rules and regulations. But those can be undone by subsequent presidents, as demonstrated by the mercury rule and other environmental actions taken under Trump.

The EPA has announced a series of regulatory actions under Regan, including a plan to impose stronger limits on tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks and tighten restrictions on emissions of methane, a leading contributor to global warming.

The Interior Department also has announced approval of large-scale solar projects in California and other states and backed major offshore wind projects along the East Coast.

Still, Biden's agenda remains at risk and could be jeopardized further by a Supreme Court case scheduled to be heard in late February. Justices will hear arguments in a case brought by West Virginia that could undercut EPAs ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants under the Clean Air Act.

The Trump administration gutted the mercury rule on power plants in 2020, saying the earlier rule amounted to regulatory overreach that imposed undue harm on the power sector. Andrew Wheeler, the former coal lobbyist who headed the EPA under Trump, said the 2020 action balanced the rule's cost to utilities with public safety.

In reversing that decision, the EPA said the Trump-era action was based on a fundamentally flawed interpretation of the Clean Air Act that improperly ignored or undervalued vital health benefits from reducing hazardous air pollution from power plants.''

Based on a thorough review of the benefits, the reasonable costs of controls and other factors, "EPA is proposing to reaffirm that it is appropriate and necessary to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants,'' the agency said.

Environmental groups welcomed the change, which they had been urging for months.

EPA has a clear authority and responsibility to protect Americans from mercury and other toxic pollution from power plants, and todays finding reflects that,'' said Michael Panfil, a lawyer for the Environmental Defense Fund.

The next step is to strengthen the Obama-era rule, Panfil and other environmentalists said.

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"While the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards have been successful, there are still many coal plants that release significant amounts of mercury pollution and put American families at risk,'' he said.

The Obama-era rule led to what electric utilities say was an $18 billion cleanup of mercury and other toxins from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants.

Most coal-fired power plants have already made the technological upgrades required by the 2012 rule. A group representing investor-owned electric companies hailed EPA's action to restore a legal determination that the mercury rule was appropriate and necessary.

"Since 2010, our industry has reduced its mercury emissions by more than 91%,'' said Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, an industry lobbying group.

"Restoring the appropriate and necessary finding enables electric companies to remain focused on getting the energy we provide as clean as we can as fast as we can,'' while maintaining reliability and affordability, Kuhn said.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest single manmade source of mercury pollutants, which enter the food chain through fish and other items that people consume.
BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union nations often still tax and subsidize their energy sources in contradiction with their committed climate goals, and a majority spend more supporting fossil fuels than renewables.

A woman walks across the courtyard from the European Commission building, left, to the European Council building, right, as the fog settles in Brussels, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union nations often still tax and subsidize their energy sources in contradiction with their committed climate goals, and a majority spend more supporting fossil fuels than renewables.

After reviewing carbon pricing measures, energy taxation levels and energy subsidies in the 27-country region, the EUs external auditor warned Monday that the amount that energy sources are taxed does not mirror their greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Court of Auditors found that more polluting energy sources may get a tax advantage compared with others with better carbon efficiency. Coal, for instance, is on average taxed less than natural gas  which is more carbon efficient  and some fossil fuels are taxed less than electricity, which could be produced by low-carbon sources.

Auditors said their review aims to contribute to the debate around the European Commission proposal to change the bloc's energy tax directive, which sets minimum tax levels.

They noted that while a majority of EU countries impose high taxes on fuels, several others keep taxes close to the minimum.

Low carbon prices and low energy taxes on fossil fuels increase the relative cost of greener technologies and delay the energy transition," they said.

Within the EU, energy taxes make up 78% of total environmental taxes worth 330 billion euros ($370 billion) per year.

Fossil fuel subsidies in the EU have remained largely constant over the past 10 years  around 55 billion to 58 billion euros (about $62 billion to $65 billion) per year  which auditors say has hindered the transition toward a greener economy.

Member countries provided about two-thirds of the aid through tax exemptions or reductions.

While renewable energy subsidies are higher across the bloc, 15 EU countries spend more supporting fossil fuels than renewables.

The European Commission and some member countries have committed to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, but the auditors said it will be a challenging social and economic transition.

The European Court of Auditors, however, said renewable energy subsidies almost quadrupled between 2008 and 2019 and that the use of renewables to produce electricity went up in all member countries over the last decade.

As part of the European Green Deal," the EU has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. Brussels also is aiming to become climate neutral by midcentury. Scientists say this goal needs to be achieved to keep average global temperatures from rising above 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) by 2100.

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The EU's executive branch has proposed creating a carbon market for buildings and vehicles, which would not be tied to the current EU emission trading system that it wants to extend to ships. The EU also is considering a carbon tax on imports from countries that dont have the same environmental restrictions.

The commission says a carbon market for buildings and vehicles should contribute to a 43% decrease in emissions in those sectors by 2030 compared with 2005. The proposal has proved divisive as critics warned about the social risks in the wake of the yellow vest" protests over a planned fuel tax that rocked France in 2018.

Among the challenges in revising the EU legislation, auditors highlighted the need for unanimity on taxation issues and to reconcile climate objectives with social needs.

The social impact of the different initiatives can be significant and can have a negative impact on the transition to a greener economy if not addressed," they said. Perception of unfair treatment for some groups or sectors may result in resistance to progress in this area."

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LISBON, Portugal (AP)  Portugals center-left Socialist Party won a third straight general election Sunday, returning it to power as the country prepares to deploy billions of euros (dollars) of European Union aid for the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andre Ventura, leader of the populist party Chega shows his voting slip before voting at a polling station in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Portuguese voters went to the polls Sunday, two years earlier than scheduled after a political crisis over a blocked spending bill brought down the country's minority Socialist government and triggered a snap election. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

LISBON, Portugal (AP)  Portugals center-left Socialist Party won a third straight general election Sunday, returning it to power as the country prepares to deploy billions of euros (dollars) of European Union aid for the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a ballot that took place amid a surge of coronavirus cases blamed on the omicron variant, and with around 1 million infected voters allowed to leave home to cast their ballots, the Socialists elected at least 112 lawmakers in the 230-seat parliament.

With 98.7% of votes counted, the Socialists had 41%, compared with 28% for their main rival, the center-right Social Democratic Party, which took at least 68 parliamentary seats. Eighteen seats remained to be allocated.

It was unclear whether the Socialists would reach 116 lawmakers, allowing it to enact legislation alone, or whether it would fall short of that number and need to cut deals for the support of smaller parties. Late results could come Monday.

Socialist leader Antonio Costa, expected to return to his post as prime minister, immediately offered an olive branch to his adversaries. He said he would encourage alliances with other parties in parliament to overcome the countrys pandemic-inspired economic difficulties.

Portuguese Prime Minister and Socialist Party Secretary General Antonio Costa speaks to journalists after arriving at a hotel to wait for the election results in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Portuguese voters went to the polls Sunday, two years earlier than scheduled after a political crisis over a blocked spending bill brought down the country's minority Socialist government and triggered a snap election. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

The mission is to turn the page on the pandemic and bring affected sectors back to life, Costa said in a victory speech.

The stakes are high for the next administration. Portugal, a country of 10.3 million people and the poorest in Western Europe, is poised to begin deploying 45 billion euros ($50 billion) of aid as a member of the EU to help spur the economy after the pandemic.

Two-thirds of that sum is intended for public projects, such as major infrastructure, giving the next government a financial bonanza. The other third is to be awarded to private companies.

Socialist party supporters react after an exit poll in Portugal's general election suggests the center-left Socialist Party has been reelected, beating its main rival, the center-right Social Democratic Party, in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Portuguese voters went to the polls Sunday, two years earlier than scheduled after a political crisis over a blocked spending bill brought down the country's minority Socialist government and triggered a snap election. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

A parliamentary majority would smooth the next governments path in allocating those funds in a country whose economy has struggled to gain traction since the turn of the century.

The past two Socialist administrations were minority governments. Since coming to power in 2015, the Socialist Party relied on the support of their smaller allies in parliament  the Left Bloc and the Portuguese Communist Party  to ensure the annual state budget had enough votes to pass.

But two months ago their differences, especially over public health spending and workers rights, were insurmountable, leaving prime minister Costa short of votes in parliament to pass his partys plan and triggering a snap election.

Socialist party supporters react after an exit poll in Portugal's general election suggests the center-left Socialist Party has been reelected, beating its main rival, the center-right Social Democratic Party, in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Portuguese voters went to the polls Sunday, two years earlier than scheduled after a political crisis over a blocked spending bill brought down the country's minority Socialist government and triggered a snap election. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Costa may need to repeat his political shrewdness to forge another cross-party alliance in a fragmented parliament.

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Some 10.8 million voters  1.5 million of them living abroad  were eligible to choose lawmakers in the Republican Assembly, Portugals parliament, where political parties then decide who forms a government.

Chega! (Enough!), a populist and nationalist party founded less than three years ago, collected around 7% of the vote. That might give it a dozen lawmakers, up from only one in the last parliament.

The Left Bloc captured some 4% of the vote, with about the same going to the Portuguese Communist Party. Other smaller parties could get one or more parliamentary seats and offer Costa their support.

Portugals economy needs a shot in the arm, which the EU funds may provide.

The country has been falling behind the rest of the 27-nation EU since 2000, when its real annual gross domestic product per capita was 16,230 euros ($18,300) compared with an EU average of 22,460 ($25,330). By 2020, Portugal had edged higher to 17,070 euros ($19,250) while the blocs average surged to 26,380 euros ($29,750).

The Socialists promised to increase the minimum monthly wage, earned by more than 800,000 people, to 900 euros ($1,020) by 2026. It is currently 705 euros ($800). The Socialists also want to start a national conversation about working four days a week instead of five.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  For teachers at a middle school in New Mexico's largest city, the first inkling of a widespread tech problem came during an early morning staff call.

Art teacher Sarah Hager poses outside her classroom at Cleveland Middle School on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Albuquerque, N.M. Public school systems  which often have limited budgets and cybersecurity expertise -- have become an inviting target for ransomware gangs. The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  For teachers at a middle school in New Mexico's largest city, the first inkling of a widespread tech problem came during an early morning staff call.

On the video, there were shout-outs for a new custodian for his hard work, and the typical announcements from administrators and the union rep. But in the chat, there were hints of a looming crisis. Nobody could open attendance records, and everyone was locked out of class rosters and grades.

Albuquerque administrators later confirmed the outage that blocked access to the district's student database  which also includes emergency contacts and lists of which adults are authorized to pick up which children  was due to a ransomware attack.

I didnt realize how important it was until I couldnt use it, said Sarah Hager, a Cleveland Middle School art teacher.

Cyberattacks like the one that canceled classes for two days in Albuquerque's biggest school district have become a growing threat to U.S. schools, with several high-profile incidents reported since last year. And the coronavirus pandemic has compounded their effects: More money has been demanded, and more schools have had to shut down as they scramble to recover data or even manually wipe all laptops.

Pretty much any way that you cut it, incidents have both been growing more frequent and more significant, said Doug Levin, director of the K12 Security Information Exchange, a Virginia-based nonprofit that helps schools defend against cybersecurity risk.

Precise data is hard to come by since most schools are not required to publicly report cyberattacks. But experts say public school systems  which often have limited budgets for cybersecurity expertise  have become an inviting target for ransomware gangs.

The pandemic also has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. School systems that have had instruction disrupted include those in Baltimore County and Miami-Dade County, along with districts in New Jersey, Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Levin's group has tracked well over 1,200 cyber security incidents since 2016 at public school districts across the country. They included 209 ransomware attacks, when hackers lock data up and charge to unlock it; 53 denial of service attacks, where attackers sabotage or slow a network by faking server requests; 156 Zoombombing incidents, where an unauthorized person intrudes on a video call; and more than 110 phishing attacks, where a deceptive message tricks a user to let a hacker into their network.

Recent attacks also come as schools grapple with multiple other challenges related to the pandemic. Teachers get sick, and there aren't substitutes to cover them. Where there are strict virus testing protocols, there aren't always tests or people to give them.

In New York City, an attack this month on third-party software vendor Illuminate Education didnt result in canceled classes, but teachers across the city couldnt access grades. Local media reported the outage added to stress for educators already juggling instruction with enforcing COVID-19 protocols and covering for colleagues who were sick or in quarantine.

Albuquerque Superintendent Scott Elder said getting all students and staff online during the pandemic created additional avenues for hackers to access the district's system. He cited that as a factor in the Jan. 12 ransomware attack that canceled classes for some 75,000 students.

Art teacher Sarah Hager poses in her classroom at Cleveland Middle School on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Albuquerque, N.M. Public school systems  which often have limited budgets and cybersecurity expertise -- have become an inviting target for ransomware gangs. The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)

The cancellations  which Elder called cyber snow days  gave technicians a five-day window to reset the databases over a holiday weekend.

Elder said there's no evidence student information was obtained by hackers. He declined to say whether the district paid a ransom but noted there would be a public process if it did.

Hager, the art teacher, said the cyberattack increased stress on campus in ways that parents didnt see.

Fire drills were canceled because fire alarms didnt work. Intercoms stopped working.

Nurses couldn't find which kids were where as positive test results came in, Hager said. So potentially there were students on campus that probably were sick. It also appears the hack permanently wiped out a few days worth of attendance records and grades.

Edupoint, the vendor for Albuquerques student information database, called Synergy, declined to comment.

Many schools choose to keep attacks under wraps or release minimal information to prevent revealing additional weaknesses in their security systems.

Its very difficult for the school districts to learn from each other, because theyre really not supposed to talk to each other about it because you might share vulnerabilities, Elder said.

Last year, the FBI issued a warning about a group called PYSA, or Protect Your System, Amigo, saying it was seeing an increase in attacks by the group on schools, colleges and seminaries. Other ransomware gangs include Conti, which last year demanded $40 million from Broward County Public Schools, one of the nations largest.

Most are Russian-speaking groups that are based in Eastern Europe and enjoy safe harbor from tolerant governments. Some will post files on the dark web, including highly sensitive information, if they dont get paid.

While attacks on larger districts garner more headlines, ransomware gangs tended to target smaller school districts in 2021 than in 2020, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the firm Emsisoft. He said that could indicate bigger districts are increasing their spending on cybersecurity while smaller districts, which have less money, remain more vulnerable.

A few days after Christmas, the 1,285-student district of Truth or Consequences, south of Albuquerque, had its student information system shut down by a ransomware attack. Officials there compared it to having their house robbed.

Its just that feeling of helplessness, of confusion as to why somebody would do something like this because at the end of the day, its taking away from our kids. And to me thats just a disgusting way to try to, to get money, Superintendent Channell Segura said.

The school didnt have to cancel classes because the attack happened on break, but the network remains down, including keyless entry locks on school building doors. Teachers are still carrying around the physical keys they had to track down at the start of the year, Segura said.

In October, President Joe Biden signed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act, which calls for the federal cyber security agency to make recommendations about how to help school systems better protect themselves.

New Mexico lawmakers have been slow to expand internet usage in the state, let alone support schools on cyber security. Last week, state representatives introduced a bill that would allocate $45 million to the state education department to build a cybersecurity program by 2027.

Ideas on how to prevent future hacks and recover from existing ones usually require more work from teachers.

In the days following the Albuquerque attack, parents argued on Facebook over why schools couldnt simply switch to pen and paper for things like attendance and grades.

Hager said she even heard the criticism from her mother, a retired school teacher.

I said, Mom, you can only take attendance on paper if you have printed out your roster to begin with, Hager said.

Teachers could also keep duplicate paper copies of all records  but that would double the clerical work that already bogs them down.

In an era where administrators increasingly require teachers to record everything digitally, Hager says, these systems should work.

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Associated Press writers Michael Melia in Hartford, Connecticut, and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.

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Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.

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This version has been updated to correct that Truth or Consequence does not use the software product Synergy.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Department of Housing and Urban Development has laid out new guidelines for the disbursal of $2 billion in disaster-relief block grants, with an emphasis on climate-change mitigation and equity for underserved communities.

FILE - A house is under water near the Sanford Dam, May 20, 2020. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has laid out new guidelines for the disbursal of $2 billion in disaster-relief bloc grants, with an emphasis on climate-change mitigation and equity for underserved communities. The new guidelines spell out priorities for the use of the funds by state and local agencies that receive the Community Development Block Grants. The funds were allocated last year to aid in relief efforts for disasters that took place in 2020 in 10 states and territories. (Kaytie Boomer/The Bay City Times via AP, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Department of Housing and Urban Development has laid out new guidelines for the disbursal of $2 billion in disaster-relief block grants, with an emphasis on climate-change mitigation and equity for underserved communities.

The new guidelines, published Monday in the Federal Register, spell out specific priorities for the use of the funds by state and local agencies that receive the Community Development Block Grants.

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The funds were allocated last year to aid in relief efforts for disasters that took place in 2020 in 10 states and territories. These include: wildfires in California, a dam collapse in Michigan, Hurricane Zeta in Mississippi, and earthquakes and Tropical Storm Isaias in Puerto Rico.

These block grants traditionally come with a great deal of flexibility for local authorities and recipient agencies to decide where best to target the funds depending on the nature of the disaster. For example, wildfires tend to largely destroy buildings and residences, while storms and hurricanes often do the most damage to infrastructure like bridges, sewers and electrical grids.

Most of that flexibility will remain, but HUD is now directing recipient agencies to prioritize long-term environmental resilience and serving traditionally marginalized populations. The guidelines have been largely expected, and HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge spoke of these specific priorities when then grants were first announced in November 2021.

Fudge said at the time that the disbursal of the funds would reflect President Joe Biden's emphasis on addressing climate justice in hard-hit communities, and "building long-term and inclusive resilience to the impacts of climate change, particularly for underserved and marginalized communities.

HUD spokesman Michael Burns said the agency is defining underserved communities as areas that were economically distressed before the disaster and populations that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.

All new construction funded by the grants will need to be built to green standards that emphasis energy efficiency and resilience against similar disasters down the line.
Many people believe one of two common myths when a parent dies in debt, says Chicago estate planning attorney Michael Whitty. The first myth is that an adult child will become liable for their parents debt. The second myth is that they cant.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by NerdWallet shows Liz Weston, a columnist for personal finance website NerdWallet.com. Many people believe one of two common myths when a parent dies in debt, says Chicago estate planning attorney Michael Whitty. The first myth is that an adult child will become liable for their parents debt. The second myth is that they cant. (NerdWallet via AP, File)

Many people believe one of two common myths when a parent dies in debt, says Chicago estate planning attorney Michael Whitty. The first myth is that an adult child will become liable for their parents debt. The second myth is that they cant.

Adult children typically dont have to pay their parents bills, but there are exceptions. And even when a child doesnt have to pay directly, debt could reduce what they inherit.

Debt doesnt simply disappear when someone dies, Whitty explains. Creditors can file claims against the estate, and those claims usually have to be paid before anything is distributed to heirs. Creditors also are allowed to contact relatives about the dead persons debts, even if those family members have no legal obligation to pay.

If youre concerned that your parents debt might outlive them, consider talking to an estate planning attorney for personalized legal advice. Here are some issues to explore.

WHEN YOU CAN AND CANT BE HELD PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE

Generally, family members dont have to use their own money to pay a dead relatives debts unless they:

 Co-signed a loan, were a joint account holder or otherwise agreed to be held responsible for the debt.

 Are the surviving spouse and live in a community property state or a state that requires surviving spouses to pay debts such as medical bills.

 Were legally responsible for settling the estate and didnt follow state law.

For example, if youre the executor of your parents estate and distribute money to yourself or other heirs before paying off creditors, the creditors could sue you to get the money back.

SHOULD YOU FEAR FILIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWS?

More than half of the states still have filial responsibility laws on the books that technically could require adult children to pay their impoverished parents bills, says estate and elder law attorney Letha McDowell of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

These laws are holdovers from a time when debtors prisons existed, says McDowell, who is president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Their use has faded since the 1965 creation of Medicare  the health coverage program for people 65 and over  and Medicaid, the health coverage program for the poor.

Filial responsibility statutes are rarely enforced, although in 2012, a nursing home chain used Pennsylvanias law to successfully sue a son for his mothers $93,000 bill. Some legal experts have predicted more such lawsuits as long-term care costs rise, but so far that hasnt materialized, McDowell says.

HOW CREDITORS GET PAID  INCLUDING MEDICAID

If someone dies with more debt than assets, their estate is considered insolvent and state law typically determines the order in which the bills get paid.

Legal and other fees for administering the estate are paid, as well as funeral and burial expenses. A temporary living allowance may be provided for dependent spouses and children, depending on state law. Secured debt such as mortgages or car loans must also be repaid or refinanced, or the lender can claim the property. Federal taxes and other federal debts have a high priority for repayment, followed by state taxes and debts, Whitty says.

If Medicaid paid for someones nursing home expenses, for example, the state can file a claim against the estate or a lien against the persons home, McDowell says. Medicaid eligibility and recovery rules can be complex and vary by state, which is why it can help to consult an elder law attorney if a parent may need Medicaid to cover nursing home bills, McDowell says.

She urges planning appropriately to make sure that your family doesnt wind up without a house.

The last debts to be paid include unsecured debt, such as credit card bills or personal loans. If theres not enough money to pay those debts, the creditors get a share of whatever is left. Only after creditors are paid in full can any remaining assets be distributed to heirs.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN COLLECTORS CALL

Often, creditors wont even file a claim against an insolvent estate if theres little hope theyll collect, Whitty says. But that doesnt mean they wont ask surviving family members to pay.

Legally, debt collection agencies are allowed to contact a surviving spouse or executor to request payment, and to contact relatives to ask how to reach a spouse or executor. However, collection agencies arent allowed to say that the debt is legally owed by a survivor if it isnt, Whitty says.

One of the reforms that has been noticeable over the time Ive been practicing is that collection agencies now must affirmatively state that the surviving family members are not obligated on the debt, he says.

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Of course, collection agencies arent known for always following the law. If youre contacted by an unethical or abusive collector, consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You can do that, and learn more about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, at the CFPB website.

___________________________________

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of Your Credit Score. Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: How to deal with debt collectors in 3 steps https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-how-to-deal-with-debt-collectors

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Debt collection https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/debt-collection/
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the Ganja regional ASAN xidmet Center No 2 on January 30, Azertag reported on January 31.

Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ulvi Mehdiyev informed the head of state of the conditions created at the Center.

President Ilham Aliyev launched the Ganja regional ASAN xidmet Center No2.

Since its inception, ASAN has distinguished itself in terms of citizen satisfaction. So far, the centers have received about 50 million applications from more than 7,710,000 citizens. The approval rating is 99.5 percent.

Ulvi Mehdiyev: Mr. President, I would like to introduce a local product related to innovations. Installed outside, it is a security scanner for strategic facilities and the state border. It is powered by solar panels, has a camera and light.

President Ilham Aliyev: So, it goes off automatically once approached...

Ulvi Mehdiyev: An alarm goes off immediately and indicates where it happened.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are there sensors?

Ulvi Mehdiyev: Yes, there are sensors. So if the block is cut, torn apart or damaged, an alarm goes off immediately. Even if it is down or if there is an interference in the system, then it sounds an interference alarm.

Another innovative innovation is the ASAN Assistance mobile application, which can be used by citizens traveling abroad, as well as in case of emergency and evacuation.

Using the Estimation-Normative and Pricing Information System, it will be possible to collect, analyze information in various areas, transfer it to other relevant government information systems and ensure accountability for relevant agencies.

Ulvi Mehdiyev: Mr. President, with this digital executive authority system, we both physically ensure that executive authorities comply with the ASAN standard and, at the same time, we have digitalized all the services of the executive bodies through this system. Launched in November, it has already been used by more than 2,437 users.

President Ilham Aliyev: Do you have it here? Installed?

Head of Ganja City Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov: Our employees will be working from here, Mr. President. Representatives of the executive authority, Nizami and Kapaz districts will be here.

Ulvi Mehdiyev: As a pilot project, we started this in Ganja, Guba and Masalli.

President Ilham Aliyev: Is it effective?

Niyazi Bayramov: It will be, yes.




NEW YORK (AP)  Michael Avenatti wavered Monday when asked whether he plans to take the witness stand in his own defense at a fraud trial in which he's accused of stealing $300,000 in book proceeds from porn actor Stormy Daniels.

FILE - 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 Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Michael Avenatti wavered Monday when asked whether he plans to take the witness stand in his own defense at a fraud trial in which he's accused of stealing $300,000 in book proceeds from porn actor Stormy Daniels.

Avenatti, who is acting as his own attorney, first told U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman he hadn't made up his mind about testifying. A few minutes later, he said, "At this point in time, Im not intending on testifying."

The exchange came after the government rested its case in federal court in Manhattan in which Avenatti is expected to put on the bulk of his defense case Tuesday. If he doesnt take the stand, closing arguments could come as early as Wednesday.

Daniels was the prosecution's star witness, telling jurors last week that she had hired the California lawyer in early 2018 to represent her in her claims against former President Donald Trump.

Daniels wanted out of a nondisclosure deal with Trump so she could speak publicly about having a sexual tryst with him. Trump has denied the claims.

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Michael Avenatti, far left, cross examines St. Martin's Press executive editor Elizabeth Beier, far right, who acquired the autobiography of Stormy Daniels for publication by St Martin's Press, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 in Manhattan federal court. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Prosecutors say Avenatti ended up cheating the entertainer out of nearly $300,000 of her $800,000 publishers advance on her tell-all 2018 autobiography, "Full Disclosure." They say the lawyer spent some of the money on airfare, food and payroll for his debt-ridden law firm.

When Daniels was asked her reaction when she learned in February 2019 that payments from her publisher that were made months earlier had never been passed along to her, she said she was "very, very angry. Shocked. Disbelief. Hurt, and I felt very betrayed and stupid."

Avenatti had told her "that he would never take a penny from the book," she added.

Among the final prosecution witnesses on Monday was Elizabeth Beier, an executive editor for Daniels autobiography. On cross-examination by Avenatti, Beier said only about 40,000 copies of the book were sold, well short of the 150,000 the publisher had expected.

"We lost money on the book," she said.

Avenatti was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison last year after being convicted of trying to extort up to $25 million from sportswear giant Nike. He has not yet begun serving the sentence. He is also awaiting retrial in a California case  on charges that he cheated clients of millions of dollars  after a mistrial last year.
CHICAGO (AP)  The combination of two storied Chicago news brands has created one of the country's largest local nonprofit news organizations.

CHICAGO (AP)  The combination of two storied Chicago news brands has created one of the country's largest local nonprofit news organizations.

Chicago Public Media, which owns WBEZ, the local NPR affiliate, announced Monday it completed a deal to buy the Chicago Sun-Times, the punchy tabloid with roots that stretch back to the mid-19th century. Final terms were not disclosed.

The Sun-Times will be an independent subsidiary of Chicago Public Media, and the paper and the radio station will have separate newsrooms. But they will share content across their platforms, and will combine to reach more than 2 million Chicago residents weekly via print, broadcast and digital platforms, Chicago Public Media said. And in an era when many local newsrooms have bled staff, particularly after mergers, the head of Chicago Public Media, Matt Moog, told WBEZ there will be 50 open positions at the two organizations and they will be hiring.

Chicago Public Media said it raised $61 million for the deal, with funding coming from local foundations and individual donors via multi-year commitments. Most commitments are pledged over a five-year period, and the funds will be invested in the Sun-Times to expand its journalism, invest in its digital product and maintain the print paper, the company said.

Moog called the response from the philanthropic community tremendous. The company noted 60% of WBEZ's support comes from listeners, with nearly 90,000 members making mostly modest, affordable individual donations."

People are willing to support news they value and trust, Moog said. We hope to grow our community of members and donors who will invest in journalism from both WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times so we can expand our service and deepen our impact for the public good in Chicago.

While nonprofit local newsrooms remain rare in U.S. media, there has been a growing push to create them as the pressures of a declining business model force consolidation and increasing ownership by hedge funds and private equity.

The decline of local news organizations as print-ad dollars dwindle and tech giants suck up digital advertising money has attracted the attention of philanthropic foundations and public officials worried about news deserts, the growing number of communities without a local news source.

The Sun-Times is getting a boost as its rival, the Chicago Tribune, had dozens of staff take buyouts after hedge fund Alden bought its owner, the Tribune Publishing, last year.

Chicago is going to become, is on the precipice of becoming, a largely nonprofit-driven local news ecosystem, which is also something that is pretty rare in the country, said Tim Franklin, senior associate dean of Northwestern University's Medill journalism school and the former president of the Poynter Institute, the media think tank and nonprofit owner of the Tampa Bay Times. It's kind of hard to overstate how profound this development is. I think in some ways could be a model for the nation.

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He noted other nonprofit outlets in Chicago like Block Club Chicago, which covers neighborhoods, and investigative organization Better Government Association, which just got a $10 million grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Another former Tribune paper is also getting a nonprofit rival. In Baltimore, hotel mogul Stewart Bainum is launching the Baltimore Banner in the next several months with 50 hires. He had tried and failed to buy the Baltimore Sun and then its owner, the Tribune chain, before Alden eventually won it.

The Texas Tribune, which launched in 2009, may be the single most successful model for digital news, Franklin said, assuring investors and philanthropies that a nonprofit model can work when done correctly. The Philadelphia Inquirer remained for-profit but is now owned by a non-profit organization, as the Tampa Bay Times in Florida has been for decades, while the Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City, Utah, itself went nonprofit in 2019.

Among those contributing to Chicago Public Media's aquisition of the Sun-Times deal are Sun-Times investor Michael Sachs, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Joyce Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and an anonymous donor.

___

Arbel reported from New York.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  The sun was shining when Kim Williams hopped in her Honda Odyssey to visit a friend at a nursing home. But an unexpected downpour on the drive back left her trapped in a maze of flooded streets.

A stalled vehicle is pushed from flood waters following a rainstorm in Norfolk, Va., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The increasing threat of sea-level rise on Virginias coast means that an afternoon rainstorm can strand drivers for hours and damage cars beyond repair. The city of Norfolk is trying to do something about that. Officials have partnered with the tech firm FloodMapp and the Waze traffic app to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  The sun was shining when Kim Williams hopped in her Honda Odyssey to visit a friend at a nursing home. But an unexpected downpour on the drive back left her trapped in a maze of flooded streets.

Williams made turn after turn to avoid rising waters in a century-old neighborhood in Norfolk before shutting off her minivan.

I knew that I would kill the car if I kept driving, Williams said of the storm from a few years ago. I called the tow company and they said, Well get to it when we can. Weve got a very long list.

The increasing threat of sea-level rise on Virginias coast means that an afternoon rainstorm can strand drivers for hours, delay parents from picking up children and damage cars beyond repair  all without a tropical storm on the radar.

The city of Norfolk is trying to do something about that: Officials have partnered with the tech firm FloodMapp and the Waze traffic app to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. The project is being launched at a time when cities around the world are trying to adapt to climate change. And its an example of how new technology will likely play an increasing role.

The pilot program in Norfolk went live this month after two years of development. FloodMapp CEO Juliette Murphy said the firm's modeling has proved to be incredibly accurate along the streets of this low-lying city on the Chesapeake Bay.

FloodMapp feeds data from rain forecasts, tide gauges and Norfolk's terrain into an algorithm. Drivers are warned on Waze when at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) of water has likely pooled on a specific roadway. New flood information is updated every 15 minutes.

This image provided by Kyle Spencer, acting chief resilience officer for the city of Norfolk, shows a flooded intersection along with a screenshot of the traffic app Waze depiction of the flood area in Norfolk, Va. An Australian tech firm has partnered with the Waze traffic app and the city of Norfolk to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. (Kyle Spencer via AP)

Kyle Spencer, who is helping Norfolk adapt to sea-level rise as its acting chief resilience officer, said a single storm can strand hundreds of vehicles. The plan is for Waze to eventually reroute drivers when a road floods with 12 inches (30 centimeters) of water.

The apps accuracy will improve, Spencer said, because drivers will validate Wazes warnings.

Its kind of like a living thing, Spencer said. The feedback loop can help make these models even better.

Norfolk, a city of nearly 250,000 people, is an ideal testing ground. It's more threatened than any other place on the Atlantic Coast by the combination of sinking land and rising seas, said Molly Mitchell, a Virginia Institute of Marine Science professor.

Water levels have risen by about 1.5 feet (.5 meters) since 1928. They're projected to rise by close to another 1.5 feet by 2050  or more depending on the Earths rising temperatures.

The Chesapeake Bay and the Elizabeth River form a crescent of water around three sides of the city, while other tributaries flow into its interior. During high tides, rains can overwhelm sewers and have nowhere to go but low-lying streets. Flooding affects truck traffic heading to and from port terminals. And it impedes the ability of U.S. Navy sailors to quickly reach the world's largest naval base, where piers are lined with aircraft carriers.

Marc Rabinowitz, a now-retired psychoanalyst, lost his Saab in a noreaster several years ago. Floodwaters blocked his commute to work. He turned down a one-way street the wrong way because it looked clear.

I got about halfway down, and water just starts filling up the car, he said. The car clogs. It stops running. Luckily, a colleague who was walking to work starts pushing me off to the side.

Norfolk resident Kim Williams poses with her van that got stuck on flooded roadway near her house several years ago Wednesday Jan. 19, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. An Australian tech firm has partnered with the Waze traffic app and the city of Norfolk to warn residents of flooded roadways in real time. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Drivers also face unpredictable rain bombs, which can dump an inch of water in 30 minutes on an isolated area.

Marc Vigeant, a project manager for a marine construction company, was caught in one in 2020 when he left work.

Water pooled around him. He searched Google Earth for higher elevation and quickly drove his Toyota Corolla to a nearby parking lot.

By that time, I was trapped in there, Vigeant said.

Williams, the driver stranded after a nursing home visit, said Norfolk's flooding can scuttle impromptu, but important plans.

There have been times when Ive thought to visit my mother, but its raining," she said. "I drive one or two blocks and the water is high. And I forgo the trip.

The project in Norfolk shows how new technologies can help people adapt to climate change but it fails to address the root causes, said Jesse Goldstein, a Virginia Commonwealth University sociology professor who studies the green economy.

It's allowing the fossil-fuel-burning economy to try and hold on a little bit longer, Goldstein said.

The economy that makes Waze possible is creating the flooding. And now Waze is helping us adapt," Goldstein continued. "I dont say that to be holier than thou. It's just that we've got a deeply entrenched problem."

More than half of all flood-related deaths in the U.S. in recent years happened in motor vehicles, said Andrew Stober, head of public partnerships for Waze, which has 140 million monthly users worldwide.

Making sure that people can steer clear of flooding is saving lives, Stober said.

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FloodMapp was recruited to Norfolk by city officials and RISE Resilience Innovations, a Virginia-based nonprofit that finances climate-related technologies with federal and state dollars.

RISE gave FloodMapp a $300,000 grant following a contest that challenged companies to tackle the problem of navigating flooded roads.

A lot of people say, Well, why hasnt this been done before? But its not a simple task, it's not easy, said Paul Robinson, the executive director of RISE.

Robinson said Norfolk is a fitting place for FloodMapp to work out any problems before entering "big markets like Philadelphia and Boston and New York.

FloodMapp, which was founded in Australia, said it's already expanding in the U.S. and plans to sell its services to transit agencies, delivery companies and utilities.

Were seeing floods become more frequent and more severe," said Murphy, the firms CEO. Unfortunately, this is only getting worse.
A round table at a Chinese restaurant, with a lazy Susan rotating tray at the centre, isnt just a convenient way to share food, but a motif for the values 20,000 Chinese Winnipeggers will celebrate Tuesday on the first day of the Lunar New Year: unity, companionship, and respect.

A round table at a Chinese restaurant, with a lazy Susan rotating tray at the centre, isnt just a convenient way to share food, but a motif for the values 20,000 Chinese Winnipeggers will celebrate Tuesday on the first day of the Lunar New Year: unity, companionship, and respect.

"Its always about that kind of relationship, of everyone being kind of together in that grouping, rather than looking down the table, so theres a real sense of building community," said Tina Chen, who sits on the board of directors and the program committee for the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre.

The holiday is the most important on the Chinese lunar calendar, occurring on the second new moon after the winter solstice. It is celebrated by over one billion people around the world.

The evening before the new year is traditionally meant to be spent at a dinner reuniting with loved ones. In Winnipeg, banquets are held at Chinese restaurants around the city. This year, celebrants will have to find new ways to connect for the second year in a row.

"I think a lot of us miss eating together  eating, the traditions, the foods that are part of a Lunar New Year banquet, but just eating together, and that kind of noise and energy of the room," Chen said. "Thats what I miss."

Chen has been busy preparing for the traditions she and her family can still do. She has to clean her home (meant to sweep out bad luck and create space for good luck) and prep for making dumplings (a symbol of coming together).

"Theres always new ways, and everyones found new ways to do this, but that interpersonal connection thats often at the centre, its very different in this moment," she said.

Other traditions that have moved to the virtual realm or been cancelled range from the lion dance, considered to be good luck, the trading of Mandarin oranges and red paper envelopes filled with cash to extended family members.

It can be a lonely experience for some in Winnipegs large Chinese community, Chen suggested. Many come to Winnipeg without family or friends, including some of the international students at the University of Manitoba.

"Its not really that different than when its Christmas or various other holidays  people want to come to the family, and its hard," she said. "Many people here, their family may not be here, and I think, particularly, one of the ways that not having in-person events impacts them is those who are here apart from family dont then have an opportunity to find another physical space to go to celebrate."

Keeping loneliness at bay is one of the many goals the Winnipeg Chinese Seniors Association tries to keep at the forefront of its programming. The group, which holds around 80 events a year for its membership of over 1,000 Chinese seniors, will host its own online New Years event for the second year in a row.

"For us, the majority of people are seniors, 55-plus. So were really worried, theres COVID and the variants," said vice-president Songyan Liu. "Probably next year, we will have celebrations in person. Thats our plan. This year, we want to be cautious."

The events were planned months in advance; some pre-recorded, and some livestreamed. Performances include tai chi, square dancing, poetry readings and songs.

"Its tradition, you know. Even when we leave our home, our motherland, still we dont want to forget our tradition," he said.

One upcoming event is unique to the seniors group  a lecture for members who are less technology-savvy on how to take a photo of yourself or your family and how to send it to loved ones in China. More than 400 people have already registered.

"Its kind of fun. We just want to keep people busy, thats it," Liu said.

Some of their membership are frustrated they wont be able to take part in the typical large-scale celebrations of the Lunar New Year for the second time, but Liu said most understand safety is a priority.

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Its important to keep traditions alive, no matter how theyre carried out, Liu said.

"We dont want to miss this, we want to keep our kids remembering Chinese tradition, we dont want them to forget those things," he said. "(The way) they celebrate Christmas, we also want them to remember, Chinese New Year is an important day for them."

This years Lunar New Year marks the year of the tiger, the third of the Chinese Zodiacs 12-year astrological cycle. People have already taken the year of the tiger to symbolize myriad things to come, from good news for the Cincinnati Bengals to extra luck for anyone born under the same sign.

Chen laughed and said she just hopes that with the tiger comes some good news.

"I think theres much hope that the energy and vitality of the tiger will at least sustain us through whatever this year has to come," she said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
A Winnipeg family has been reduced to tears and left in distress, after their elderly loved one was transferred to a hospital hundreds of kilometres away from home to make space for COVID-19 patients.

A Winnipeg family has been reduced to tears and left in distress, after their elderly loved one was transferred to a hospital hundreds of kilometres away from home to make space for COVID-19 patients.

"Im so heartbroken," a tearful Florinda Apalit told reporters at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Monday afternoon. "They just separated us."

Florindas husband of 50 years, Elias Apalit, was transferred Jan. 26 to Minnedosa Health Centre, after a month spent recovering at Concordia Hospital from a head injury and broken leg he suffered while admitted for dehydration.

Elias, who has advanced dementia, lost his ability to speak in English while in hospital and can only communicate in Tagalog, his first language. Fortunately, many health-care aides at Concordia were able to interpret for him, daughter Melissa Carter said.

Carter said the transfer to the rural health centre has left her father unable to speak with most of his care providers, disoriented, scared and pleading with his family for help.

"As my dad was being loaded into the ambulance for transfer, he was confused, and was crying and his departing words to my mom were, What did I do wrong? I want to go home, please help me. Why am I being punished?" Carter said, speaking through tears.

"Whats happening in our hospitals and in our medical system right now is wrong."

The Apalit family reached out to local MLA Nello Altomare to try to postpone the transfer while they arranged supports for an early discharge, but were unable to get home care in place before Elias was shipped west.

On Monday, the family joined Altomare and NDP Leader Wab Kinew to share their story on behalf of hundreds of patients who have been impacted by the transfer protocol.

"Even in a pandemic, we should never have to put one persons care over another," Carter said. "We need a health-care system that is strong enough to care for everyone."

Since October, more than 250 patients have been transferred to health centres outside of their home region to make space in higher acuity hospitals during COVID-19 surges.

The pandemic-era transfer protocol has been widely criticized by families who have received little or no notice loved ones would be transferred. For months, families travelling to visit their loved ones have done so on their own dime.

Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon said Jan. 28 the province would begin to reimburse some expenses families have incurred to visit transferred patients. The new program is retroactive and co-ordinated through the regional health authorities.

However, Carter said her mother cannot make the roughly 220-km drive to Minnedosa to see her husband alone. The family is now looking at all available options to reunite the couple.

"My dad is not well, and my mom is worried that if his health were to decline further while in Minnedosa that she would not be able to get there in time to see him," Carter said. "My mom is desperate to see him and be close to him."

Carter said her father also missed his brothers virtual funeral service Monday, as no one could make it to Minnedosa to be at his bedside.

"This has been a nightmare," she said.

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Kinew called on the provincial government to cease sending patients out of their home region and to find a bed for Elias in Winnipeg.

"For him to be recovering far away from family, far away from the supports socially, culturally, emotionally that can help him heal is just not right," Kinew said. "This issue needs to be top of mind for people everywhere in our province because this is certainly not the dignity that we should be affording seniors."

According to the province, inter-regional patient transfers are required to meet COVID-19 demand. A record-setting 735 people were in hospital with the disease Monday.

During a briefing Jan. 28, health system co-lead for the provinces incident command Dr. David Matear said the transfers will continue for the foreseeable future.

In a Monday statement to the Free Press, a spokesperson for Manitoba Health said patient transfers are based on decisions made by clinicians and the government cannot discuss details about patients or their care.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
Actor Howard Hesseman has died at age 81. Members of Generation X such as myself grew up watching him play disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati and a teacher on Head of the Class.

A winter storm watch is in effect for most of southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg.

Members of Parliament will meet in the House of Commons as protests against COVID-19 measures that started with a convoy across Canada enter their third day. No arrests had been made as of Sunday, but critics say calling the protests "peaceful" downplays their dangers . Niigaan Sinclairs latest column is about driving through a stream of vehicles in Winnipeg supporting the protests.
For years, critics have sounded the alarm on targeted airstrike campaigns carried out by the U.S. Now, investigations published in December by the New York Times reveal how a secret U.S. air campaign against the Islamic State was riddled with imprecise targeting and flawed intelligence  further proof of a larger pattern of reckless strikes by the U.S. that have killed thousands of innocent civilians.

Opinion

For years, critics have sounded the alarm on targeted airstrike campaigns carried out by the U.S. Now, investigations published in December by the New York Times reveal how a secret U.S. air campaign against the Islamic State was riddled with imprecise targeting and flawed intelligence  further proof of a larger pattern of reckless strikes by the U.S. that have killed thousands of innocent civilians.

The mounting evidence contradicts the promise of precision championed by several presidential administrations that claimed airstrikes were an effective way to wage war against terrorism because they hit their targets while minimizing civilian casualties. The latest reports raise more questions as the Biden administration, while promising to impose targeting rules and civilian safeguards, has signalled a commitment to continue strikes by drones or piloted planes.

Over the past two decades, American presidents have increasingly relied on targeted strikes as a central feature of their counterterrorism strategy. President George W. Bush was the first to use armed drones in the aftermath of Sept. 11. President Barack Obama expanded the use of drone strikes and maintained a kill list of potential targets that he personally vetted.

President Donald Trump, who believed that bureaucracy reduced the speed and effectiveness of airstrikes, loosened restrictions on organizations conducting strikes and their reporting requirements. President Joe Bidens policies, so far, appear to return to the Obama-era playbook of 2016 that established an interagency checklist to conduct a strike. Yet the August 2021 drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians revealed a still deeply flawed process.

Time and again, the U.S. has stretched operational definitions to the point where any strike could loosely be categorized as self-defence  even those that took place tens if not hundreds of miles from the actual combat zone, or far removed in time from a possible attack.

For example, Attorney General Eric Holder of the Obama administration offered a definition of imminent threat that stretched common understandings of imminence:

The evaluation of whether an individual presents an imminent threat incorporates considerations of the relevant window of opportunity to act, the possible harm that missing the window would cause civilians, and the likelihood of heading off future disastrous attacks on the United States.

Holders standard suggests that if American forces have a fleeting chance to take a shot, the notion of imminence applies, even if a suspected attack might be months or years away.

Self-defence became the catch-all that allowed targeting teams to justify their attacks. These strikes became the norm, and internal investigations have not stopped them.

It may be true that airstrikes have weakened the Islamic State, but at a terrible cost to civilians. And the militant group and terrorism remain challenges, calling into question the strategic value of airstrikes.

In addition to the civilian toll, it is difficult to ignore the precedents set. Given that the U.S. has already fallen short of its own standards of transparency and care in targeted strikes, it cannot expect other states  especially less democratic ones  to be more transparent and careful in conducting similar missions.

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Indeed, the U.S. has arguably fed a cycle that airstrikes were meant to stop. By pioneering and normalizing drone use and targeted killings, the U.S. has, in effect, greenlit a new international system of unrestrained warfare.

This approach to war is a model that other countries are now following, and not just in the narrow area of counterterrorism. Amid conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory in the fall of 2020, Azerbaijans drones transformed the battlefield as infantry, tanks and air defence systems were vulnerable to drone attacks. The Ethiopian government has used drones in its ongoing civil conflict, and a growing number of states are exporting drones to other countries. Militant groups are deploying drones, including reportedly to attack U.S. troops, while Mexican cartels are using drones in turf wars.

As an unintended consequence of shortsighted American actions, the U.S. military now is at risk from the very types of technology and tactics that it developed. Meanwhile, American citizens face the bitter irony that the next 9/11 could involve the use of drones, and the whole world faces the great threat of global drone wars.

Its time that Congress reclaimed the blank cheque it gave the executive branch to conduct strikes and, however difficult, repeal or modify the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force that launched too broad a mandate for counter-terrorism efforts. For its part, the executive branch needs to stop claiming self-defence as the fallback justification for any questionable strike. For too long, the military has legitimized the expanded use of these attacks  made possible by a culture of unaccountability and impunity.

We have to remember that the foremost principle of self-defence is that you must not destroy that which you are trying to defend.

 Los Angeles Times
ARE we now staring nervously at another October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis scenario? Is the unfolding situation in Cuba today tantamount to that unforgettable East-West nuclear standoff of 60 years ago  or worse? Lets hope not.

Opinion

ARE we now staring nervously at another October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis scenario? Is the unfolding situation in Cuba today tantamount to that unforgettable East-West nuclear standoff of 60 years ago  or worse? Lets hope not.

Recently, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said he could neither confirm nor exclude the possibility of Russian troops and military hardware being sent to Cuba and Venezuela in the coming days. He appeared to link the deployment to U.S. and European military activities in Ukraine and all along the eastern border of Russia.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. government was quick to respond to such a not-so-veiled threat from Moscow. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was quick to point out: We are not going to respond to bluster. If Russia actually started moving in that direction, we would deal with it decisively.

It is worth noting that the Kremlin already has a small contingent of Russian soldiers, perhaps 150 or so, on the ground in Venezuela. Vladimir Putin has also made it clear to the Maduro government in Caracas that Russia will assist it in subverting Washingtons oil sanctions and provide Venezuela with additional loans and financial resources.

It is also true that the Cuban government has been strengthening bilateral relations with Putins Russia since 2014 (just after the normalization of relations between Cuba and the U.S. under the former Obama administration). And there have been some discussions between the two countries about enhancing and deepening their military co-operation.

Yes, there could be millions in Russian military spending in Cuba for infrastructure upgrades at ports and airports. There could also be hosting fees if the Russians ever do get around to modernizing their Lourdes listening station south of Havana. But these measures are far from certain.

So, what is really going on here? And lets leave the Venezuelans out of this entirely.

More than likely, this is Moscow simply trying to make mischief in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its a thinly disguised attempt by Russia to say to the United States: You can mess around in our backyard and we can meddle in yours. Stated differently, its a rather unsophisticated signalling exercise to highlight the obvious  namely, that Russia has regional options, too.

In addition, one thing is for certain: the Russians arent actively seeking out a military dust-up with the U.S. over Cuba. More to the point, the Cubans are not anxious to antagonize the Joe Biden administration, either. Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba are already strained enough, and Cubas internal situation is very precarious at the moment.

Its possible that this is another floating of a Russian trial balloon or a test for the Biden White House. But I doubt it. This is probably Putins idea of having some fun via geopolitics. Indeed, this is more about the Kremlin blowing smoke than anything else.

The Americans would be wise not to take the Russian bait. It may even be a signal of Putins weakness (or desperation) in trying to stop the westernization of Ukraine. In any event, the Biden team would be well served by largely ignoring what the Russians are up to in Cuba.

But they may wish to rethink their odd continuation of Donald Trumps ill-informed and hard-line Cuba policy. To be sure, officialdom in Washington would be better off improving relations with Havana as a means of blunting any further Russian incursions in Cuba (or the wider hemisphere).

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Might the Cubans also be sending a pointed message to Washington? Youd have to think so. Over the years, they have become masters at it.

They mostly want to remind their superpower neighbours that Cuban sovereignty, independence and autonomy in its foreign policy is paramount, pragmatic and domestically popular. More importantly, they are once again reminding the Americans that poor relations with Cuba opens up the door for Russia (and China) to make political, economic and security inroads in the Caribbean country.

Having said that, the Cubans are not about to be played by the Russians again. They remember all too well how Moscow cut an unsatisfactory deal with the United States behind their backs in order to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis. To be honest, Havana doesnt trust the Russians any more than they trust the Americans.

While there are some similarities between whats happening now and the 1962 missile crisis, the two situations are very different. And theres no need to blow this current Russia-Cuba entente out of proportion.

Moreover, there is little chance that the Cubans, Venezuelans or even the Russians want to trigger a military confrontation with the U.S. over a troop deployment. So you might expect that a few hundred Russian troops will be sent to Cuba and Venezuela, but there will be nothing like the 5,000 or so that would be needed to pose a serious security threat to the U.S. Relax, and take a breath.

Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
It was early Saturday evening when I got a text from my friend Erin.

Opinion

It was early Saturday evening when I got a text from my friend Erin.

"I never thought Id see swastikas in downtown Winnipeg," she wrote.

Erin is Jewish. Her grandfather hid from the Nazis in a barn in the Netherlands before making a life here on Treaty One territory.

"He would be devastated if he saw swastikas flying on Broadway."

My daughter and I drove through the stream of vehicles in Winnipeg supporting the "Freedom Convoy" in Ottawa Saturday afternoon.

At one point, she asked me why so many anti-vaxxers have beards  a lighter moment in an otherwise dark afternoon.

We saw swastikas. We also saw dozens of signs chanting homophobic and Islamophobic slurs, threats against politicians, and near-endless messages about "freedom."

I saw lots of sign-less people alongside children and elders.

I hope everyone I saw realizes that theres no point chanting "freedom" when you stand beside someone calling for violence.

No one credits someone with a "differing opinion" while watching violence. The watcher is as complicit as the doer. Ask the German people if you want to know what I mean.

So, two days after International Holocaust Memorial Day (Jan. 27), Nazi symbols were brandished openly in downtown Winnipeg  and nobody stopped it.

Thats the most important message about the convoy this past weekend, in which just over 10,000 protesters shuttled to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, calling for an end to vaccine mandates and COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Notice I didnt say this was about truckers, because it wasnt. Nearly every single trucking association said the mandatory vaccination policy implemented Jan. 15 at the United States and Canadian border is fine and over 85 per cent of truckers are already vaccinated.

This is not to mention that truckers already allow government regulations on their trucks, including what they can transport and laws governing their physical and mental health to stave off disasters like the Humboldt Broncos tragedy.

So, what was the "Freedom Convoy" all about then?

Well, the date organizers chose was significant.

Saturday was Canadas National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.

Five years ago a terrorist attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre Mosque in Quebec City killed six people and seriously injured thirteen others.

The hero on Jan. 29, 2017 was Azzedine Soufiane, a 57-year-old grocery store owner, who was killed while grappling with the shooter until others could stop him.

Saturday should have been about Soufiane.

Instead, it was about non-truckers co-opting truckers for political purposes.

Dont get me wrong, the mandatory vaccinations for truckers is an issue. Around 15,000 Canadian truckers are not vaccinated and may lose their jobs, impacting the supply chain.

For most Canadians though, its not a crisis. Its a longer wait for groceries mostly.

No, Saturday was about people who used frustration with the COVID-19 pandemic to spread hate, sow division, and try to intimidate people they disagree with.

Im not so sure people in attendance on Saturday realize that though. If they do, they had better decide if theyre willing to participate in violence. Period.

Simply put: there is no "other side" if that side is based in racism, xenophobia and violence.

Its just racism, xenophobia and violence. Period.

Truth be told, I dont know if anyone during Saturdays rally in Winnipeg or Ottawa had the courage to speak up against those waving swastikas. Id like to hope there were a few.

Back in 2013, during my activist days of Idle No More Winnipeg, about a dozen of us organized most of the public events  like round dances in malls, marches down Portage Avenue, and traffic slow-downs  "teach-ins"  at Portage and Main.

The vast majority of these events were joyous and intended to teach Canadians what it means to be a treaty person  a person who cares for all in this place.

One day, we had a group who decided to burn a Canadian flag at a "teach-in" and yell obscenities to upset drivers.

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I understood this groups anger. I share it. I actually felt it again while watching bearded men draped in flags and cruising in their trucks around Treaty One like they own the place.

After that "teach-in" though, Idle No More Winnipeg had a big meeting, deciding collectively that burning flags is not a message we wanted to send and there were better, more clear ways to do it.

Some from that group who burnt the flag continued to come to our events. Others held alternative, separate events. People could choose which one they wanted to attend.

It takes courage to stand up for what one believes in.

It takes much more courage though to stand up for whats right.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will neither meet with nor be intimidated by the convoy of Canadians he says spent the last few days harassing local businesses, waving Nazi flags and stealing food from the homeless.

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will neither meet with nor be intimidated by the convoy of Canadians he says spent the last few days harassing local businesses, waving Nazi flags and stealing food from the homeless.

Speaking to Canadians from isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 Monday, Trudeau said "freedom of expression, assembly and association are cornerstones of democracy."

"But Nazi symbolism, racist imagery, and desecration of war memorials are not," he said Monday from a location in the National Capital Region that is not being made public for security reasons.

"It is an insult to memory and truth. Hate can never be the answer."

Trudeau and his family were moved Saturday as thousands of people converged all over Ottawa, including some near his official residence on the grounds of Rideau Hall.

On Monday, he said Canadians were "shocked and frankly disgusted" by some of the behaviour of individuals participating in a massive protest in Ottawa over the weekend. He said "it has to stop."

"Freedom of expression, assembly and association are cornerstones of democracy. But Nazi symbolism, racist imagery, and desecration of war memorials are not." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

"I want to be very clear: We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse small-business workers and steal food from the homeless," he said. "We won't give in to those who fly racist flags. We won't cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonour the memory of our veterans."

Canada Unity, the group behind the convoy, originated during the 2019 pro-pipeline convoy to Ottawa but morphed into an anti-COVID restrictions protest after the pandemic began. It has been holding protests in and around Ottawa for months and demanding Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and the Senate force federal and provincial governments to lift all restrictions, which is a constitutional impossibility.

A man who removed the tires from his pickup truck stands in front of West Block on Parliament Hill as a rally against COVID-19 restrictions, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa, on Monday, January 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

The vaccine mandate for truckers that took effect on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border earlier this month added more fire to the demands and helped trigger the bigger convoy that descended on Ottawa in the last week.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole spoke live on Facebook Monday afternoon and said the protesters were motivated by "fear that the world is changing."

"Fear that they will be left behind. Fear that they have no voice in this society. Fear that life will never return to normal."

He also accused Trudeau of fearmongering when there were only "a handful of unacceptable incidents this weekend.

Those included, he said, people waving hateful flags  including swastikas and the Confederate flag  and reports of people disrespecting the National War Memorial. Those reports included that people urinated on the site and danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

"To the protesters remaining  youve been heard  please go home." Ottawa Coun. Catherine McKenney

Ottawa Police Service is investigating those reports, as well as numerous others. An Ottawa homeless shelter said Saturday that one of its clients was assaulted by convoy participants, who also entered their facility and threatened and intimidated staff into serving them food.

The Ottawa Paramedic Association reported that paramedics asked for police escorts after rocks were hurled at an ambulance from a truck in the convoy.

Local residents reported witnessing convoy members defecating and urinating in their yards, and one said they came across a protester using their backyard for a bathroom while availing himself of their outdoor outlet to charge his phone.

Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association, said that some protesters have been extending their stays at hotels, or are asking to rebook for the coming weekend.

Cameras record Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he speaks during a media availability held at a secure location, Monday, January 31, 2022 in National Capital Region. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

He also said a few protesters had been rude and unruly, with a large proportion objecting to being told to wear masks.

"Its been a mixed picture. The majority of people have been very respectful but there are individuals who are taking it to another place, he said.

Several local businesses and workers reported being intimidated by some participants, and many eventually locked their doors and closed for safety reasons.

"This is not a fringe minority. Although the prime minister might not agree with their views he should be listening to them and giving them some respect." MP Candice Bergen

They remained closed Monday, even as provincial restrictions that had prevented them from any in-person dining were lifted.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said Monday nobody wants lockdown rules eased more than small-business owners but now they can't open because of this protest.

"It is so disappointing to see," Kelly said.

Kelly said a downtown spa owner, who did not want to be identified, was despondent when up to 90 per cent of clients cancelled their bookings for this week out of fear of the protesters.

An elementary school and two city-run daycares downtown were closed Monday for safety reasons, and the Rideau Centre shopping mall remained shuttered for a third day after Canada Unity told convoy members to flood area malls without face masks.

Ottawa City Coun. Catherine McKenney said residents had been resigned to the disruptions on the weekend but are now fed up. Ontario Heritage Minister Lisa MacLeod, who represents an Ottawa riding, said on Twitter Monday it was time for things to end.

Nathan (Jacko) Jack, an Australian living in Toronto, waves flags in front of trucks that are parked in front of Parliament Hill as a rally against COVID-19 restrictions, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa, on Monday, January 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

"The residents and families of Ottawa need to return to work and school," she wrote. "To the protesters remaining  youve been heard  please go home."

The crowds thinned considerably Monday, with a few hundred people outside Parliament Hill, but those that remain say they intend to stay until all COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. That includes vaccine passports and gathering limits, which are the purview of provincial governments.

One convoy leader addressing the crowd Monday said the trucks that have been idling for days along Wellington Street were running low on fuel, but people are being dispatched to bring in jerry cans to keep them going.

Several MPs skirted the protest to attend the first sitting of the House of Commons since mid-December Monday, though most MPs are still participating virtually because of COVID-19.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault looked stricken as he spoke of the harassment and intimidation people felt over the weekend. NDP MP Charlie Angus said Ottawa was being held hostage and Quebec Conservative Pierre Paul-Hus said he didn't like what had happened at the National War Memorial.

But Conservative Deputy Leader Candice Bergen said Trudeau was "gaslighting" the protesters, who deserve the chance to be heard. She said the protesters she met with from her home province of Manitoba Sunday are "good people, patriotic, peace-loving."

"They want to be heard," she said, as truck horns blared in the background. "This is not a fringe minority. Although the prime minister might not agree with their views he should be listening to them and giving them some respect."

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The protest also triggered some hot tempers and shouting matches during the first question period of 2022 Monday.

Trudeau said during his news conference he will not meet with anyone involved. He said he has attended protests on the Hill in the past, including taking a knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. But he said he attends when he agrees with a cause or supports a group's right to express their concerns.

"I have also chosen to not go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric, violence toward fellow citizens, and a disrespect not just of science, but of the front-line health workers and quite frankly, the 90 per cent of truckers who have been doing the right thing to keep Canadians safe, to put food on our tables," he said.

"Canadians know where I stand. This is a moment for responsible leaders to think carefully about where they stand and who they stand with."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2022.

 With files from Marie Woolf.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the man convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery.

FILE - This combo of booking photos provided by the Glynn County, Ga., Detention Center, shows from left, Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. The man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery and his father have reached a plea deal that could avoid their trial on federal hate crime charges. Arbery's parents denounced the deal as a betrayal, and called on the judge to reject it. Court documents filed late Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, by prosecutors for the U.S. Justice Department say plea agreements were reached with Travis and Greg McMichael. There was no mention of a deal with the third defendant in the case, William Roddie Bryan.(Glynn County Detention Center via AP, File)

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the man convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery.

Arberys parents denounced the proposed deal for Travis McMichael, with mother Wanda Cooper-Jones and father Marcus Arbery emotionally asking the judge to reject agreements filed for McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael.

In rejecting the deal, U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said it would have locked her into specific terms  including 30 years in federal prison  at sentencing. Wood said that in this case it would only be appropriate to consider the familys wishes at sentencing, which the proposed deal wouldnt allow.

Travis and his lawyer asked for a 10 minute break to discuss whether he moves ahead with pleading guilty. The judge had yet to rule on his father's proposed deal.

Marcus Arbery told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick that hes mad as hell over the deal, which lawyer Lee Merritt said could enable Travis and Greg McMichael to spend the first 30 years of their life sentences in federal prison, rather than state prison where conditions are tougher.

Ahmaud is a kid you cannot replace," Arbery said. He was killed racially and we want 100% justice, not no half justice."

Cooper-Jones described the U.S. Justice Departments decision to propose the plea deal despite her objections as disrespectful.

I fought so hard to get these guys in the state prison, she said. I told them very, very adamantly that I wanted them to go to state prison and do their time. ... Then I got up this morning and found out they had accepted this ridiculous plea.

Wood continued preparations to summon summoning the first 50 potential jurors to the courthouse on Feb. 7 for questioning.

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The proposed plea agreements were filed with the court late Sunday. There was no mention of a deal with their co-defendant, William Roddie Bryan. No details were disclosed in court Monday morning. Federal prosecutors didn't mention the deals in the court's morning session.

Federal deals would not affect state murder convictions in Arbery's killing. All three men were sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 7 after a trial last fall.

The hate crime charges accuse McMichaels and Bryan of violating the 25-year-old Black man's civil rights by chasing him through their neighborhood in coastal Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020. The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in one pickup truck while Bryan joined the chase in another and recorded video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery with a shotgun.

A national outcry erupted when the graphic video leaked online two months later. Georgia was one of just four U.S. states without a hate crimes law at the time. Legislators quickly approved one, but it came too late for state hate crime charges in Arbery's killing.

During the state trial in Glynn County Superior Court, the defense argued that the white men had authority to chase Arbery because they reasonably suspected he had been committing crimes in their neighborhood. Travis McMichael testified he opened fire only after Arbery attacked him with fists and tried to grab his shotgun.

The federal judge ordered that a jury pool be chosen from throughout the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 counties, to improve odds of seating a fair and unbiased jury.
WAUPUN  Timeless messages of love are being highlighted in February at the Waupun Heritage Museum.

On display are about 100 valentines dates back to the 1870s, some of which were first showcased when the museum opened in February 1972 in the former Carnegie Library at 22 S. Madison St.

The museums Facebook page invites all to come and see the collection: The language of love has changed quite a bit in the last century and a half. The tradition of Valentines Day became more commercialized as people sought out cards that could express their feelings better than their own words ever could. Come visit, maybe bring a date, and see how the cards may have changed, but the feelings are timeless.

The museums assortment of Valentines dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

According to Waupun Historical Society President Zac Dickhut, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the consort of Queen Victoria from their marriage on Feb. 10, 1840 until his death in 1861. Starting at that time German customs (including the Christmas tree) spread across the British Empire. Soon German-printed love notes became popular around the world. Cupids arrows were popular themes, along with hearts, birds, animals and flowers.

Valentines are grouped by age, showing distinct styles for each period.

In the relatively short time span that were sharing the meaning of those messages changed significantly, said Dickhut. In the 1890s and in the 1930s the intent was drastically different. Early on those messages were part of the courtship process  part of becoming betrothed and then getting married. Early cards were more of an investment. By the 1930s you could send a Valentine to a friend or someone you liked. By then it was more of a childrens thing.

Elaborately printed two- and three-part valentines were first linked with delicate ribbons. They were called charms and were meant to be worn or saved discreetly as keepsakes.

Greetings then took on a three-dimensional look as elaborate embossed and layered cards were produced. They were not inexpensive.

German printers produced elaborate cards that cornered the market from after the Civil War and continuing after World War I, said Dickhut. Only after World War II was it considered unpatriotic to want German things, and the United States began to produce its own valentines.

Other styles included pop-ups, mechanical valentines with moving parts and crepe paper fold-outs. Valentines became brighter, more cartoon-like and less serious.

Not that a childs sentiments are any less serious than an adults.

By far the most affordable valentines were postcards, which cost just a penny to send. Although messages were short, and far from confidential, they did attract a large customer base.

They were fun. They were convenient. They were humorous. Some were maybe a little offensive by todays standards, Dickhut said. Most had a printed message, although you could include a sentence or two of your own if you so desired.

An interactive part of the exhibit is using a miniature press to print your name onto a calling card  a Victorian practice that had its own conventions and rules.

Were very excited. I dont believe weve had it on display since 1972 when a Valentines Tea was held. Maybe bring a date! Its all very interesting and a lot of fun to see.

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FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2021 file photo, Sarah Gonzalez of New York, a Nurse Practitioner, displays a COVID-19 vaccine card at a New York Health and Hospitals vaccine clinic in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Workers in New York City-run hospitals and health clinics will have to get vaccinated or get tested weekly under a policy announced Wednesday, July 21, to battle a rise in COVID-19 cases fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)
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. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected a thermal power plant on Thursday during his trip to north China's Shanxi Province, his third visit to energy-based enterprises during the past few months.

It followed visits to the Shengli Oilfield in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province, in October last year, and a chemical enterprise under the China Energy Investment Corporation in Yulin City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in September.

These visits shed light on where China's energy development is heading as the country strives to safeguard energy security and pursues a green path to advance energy revolution.

Energy Supply Vital to People's Livelihood

During his Shanxi trip, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for strengthening domestic energy production, ensuring the supply of coal and facilitating the clean and low-carbon development of the coal industry.

The supply of power and heat is vital to the overall economic development and social stability, Xi said, urging 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.

The words echoed the remarks Xi made when he visited a drilling platform in the Shengli Oilfield last October.

China, as a manufacturing powerhouse, must enhance self-reliance in energy amid efforts to develop the real economy, Xi said during that visit.

It is necessary that coal serves as the main source of energy for a considerable period of time to support the country's modernization, he noted when inspecting Shaanxi in September.

Facing a coal and electricity supply shortage in the third quarter last year, Chinese authorities ramped up energy production and reined in price hikes to secure sufficient energy for factories and support the economy.

China should consolidate the foundation for domestic energy production, ensure coal supply security, and keep steady growth of crude oil and natural gas output, said Xi on Monday while addressing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Last year, China's total output of raw coal increased by 4.7 percent year on year to 4.07 billion tonnes, and natural gas output increased by 8.2 percent year on year to 205.3 billion cubic meters.

Carbon Goals at Steady Pace

While coal supply is important to China's development, the clean use of coal is high on the agenda as the country aims to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

While inspecting the power plant featuring clean and efficient utilization of coal in Shanxi, Xi was briefed about the reform progress made in the coal-rich province on energy revolution and the latest developments by local enterprises in the clean use of coal and industrial upgrading.

He called for accelerating green and low-carbon technological breakthroughs and continuously upgrading the industrial structure to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and neutrality proactively and steadily.

"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.

During the September visit to Shaanxi, Xi said the coal industry should follow a green and low-carbon path of development, and coal consumption needs to be transformed and upgraded.

The gradual exit of traditional energy sources should be based on the safe and reliable substitution of new energy sources, Xi said on Monday's group study session.

Cutting emissions is not aimed at curbing productivity or no emissions at all, he noted, stressing that the economic development and green transition should be mutually reinforcing.

While China's economic rise over the past decades was largely powered by coal, the country, now among the world's biggest investors in green energy, is increasing pace to shift to other renewables including wind and solar.

The country has formulated and released a top-level design document for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030.

It is necessary to accelerate the development of new energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and hydrogen energy that have scale and benefits, coordinate hydropower development and ecological protection, and actively develop nuclear power in a safe and orderly manner, Xi said at the group study session.

Efforts should be made to increase the proportion of green and low-carbon sector in the Chinese economy while strictly curbing the blind expansion of energy-intensive, high emission and low-standard projects, noted Xi.

(Source: Xinhua)
Wolfeboro is a small town located in the US state of New Hampshire. Founded not long before the United States declared independence, the town has been popular with tourists since the mid-19th century. In fact, Wolfeboro claims to be the oldest summer resort town in the entire United States. Famous individuals like former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney have made the town their permanent or temporary vacation residence. Today, the town remains popular with tourists, who come to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.

Geography Of Wolfeboro

The boat dock in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

Wolfeboro is situated at the head of Wolfeboro Bay in Lake Winnipesaukee, in east-central New Hampshire. Lake Winnipesaukee flanks the main area of the town to the west and Lake Wentworth in the east. Two smaller lakes, Crescent Lake and Back Bay, are located in the central part of town. A brook or small stream named Harvey Brook flows in the northern part of central Wolfeboro. The greater city limits of Wolfeboro include Wentworth State Park, which is situated on the northern shore of Lake Wentworth. Also within the greater city limits are several small lakes and ponds and numerous brooks. Mirror Lake and Lower Beech Pond border Wolfeboro's greater city limits to the west. The towns of Ossipee and Tuftonboro border Wolfeboro to the north and northwest, respectively. To the east of Wolfeboro is the small village of Brookfield. The total area of Wolfeboro is 151.4 sq. km.

Population Of Wolfeboro

Downtown Wolfeboro. Editorial credit: Jaminnbenji / Shutterstock.com

The greater city limits of Wolfeboro, which include Wolfeboro, Wolfeboro Falls, and the surrounding area, contain 6,416 residents. However, the town of Wolfeboro itself is home to just 2,845 residents. Nearly the entire population of the town, 99.6%, comprises non-Hispanic whites. The rest are of mixed racial heritage. Around 97% of Wolfeboro's residents speak only English. Most of the rest speak other Indo-European languages. Almost 95% of the town's population was born in the United States, while 28.65% were born in the town itself. The entire foreign-born population hails from Europe.

Economy Of Wolfeboro

The average household income in Wolfeboro is $86,160, the poverty rate is a low 4.37%, and there is no recorded unemployment. In terms of the number of employees, the top industries in the town are construction, healthcare & social services, and educational services.

History Of Wolfeboro

Aerial view of Wolfeboro.

Before the arrival of Europeans in what is now Wolfeboro, the area was home to Native Americans of the Abenaki nation, whose trails circled Lake Winnipesaukee and fanned out to other lakes and river valleys where fish and game were plentiful. By the mid-18th century, however, most of the Native American population disappeared from the area. In 1759, a few men petitioned the Masonian Proprietors, who owned the land in which Wolfeboro is now situated, for land on which to settle. Their petition was granted, and the new town that they were to create was dubbed Wolfeboro in honor of General James Wolfe, who defeated the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in present-day Quebec, which led to the fall of New France and its conquest by the British.

However, the first white settlers did not arrive in Wolfeboro until 1768, when the British colonial governor, James Wentworth, began clearing land in the area to build his estate. His estate was the first summer estate built in northern New England. Wolfeboro's claim to be the oldest summer resort town in the United States is based on the establishment of Wentworth's estate in 1769. In 1770, the town's residents petitioned for its incorporation, which was granted, and by 1775, the town's population numbered 211. Among the first commercial establishments in the town were a sawmill and a grist mill. During the American Revolution, Wentworth, a Loyalist (a term used for those who supported the British during the war) was forced to flee his 3,600-acre Wolfeboro estate. The first census taken after the American Revolutionary War, in 1790, reported a population of 447.

The tourism industry began to take off in Wolfeboro in the mid-19th century when the Lake Winnipesaukee area was an important commercial route for steamboats. The Pavilion Hotel was built in 1850 to accommodate tourists in the area. In 1872, the railroad arrived in Wolfeboro, forever changing the town's economic fortunes. The spur line from Sanbornville provided transportation and freight service directly to the town's docks, linking with steamer service there. More tourists came to spend time in the area, more hotels were built, and people gradually began buying lakeshore and island lots to build summer cottages and camps.

Despite establishing other types of businesses in the area, tourism proved to be the only lucrative industry in Wolfeboro. The town went through a period of hardship from World War I through the Great Depression. In fact, during the 1910s and 20s, the population declined to 2,200. It also did not help that passenger rail service to the town ended in the 1930s. However, Wolfeboro again began to grow in the period between World War II and the 1960s. Tourism was back on the upswing, commercial development expanded, and the town's population increased significantly. Wolfeboro adopted its latest master plan in 2007. Since then, the town has strengthened its reputation as a desirable place to live and vacation, especially for retirees.

Attractions In And Around Wolfeboro

View of Lake Winnipesauke from the gazebo at Wolfeboro Marina. Editorial credit: Pernelle Voyage / Shutterstock.com

Wolfeboro and its surroundings host a myriad of indoor and outdoor attractions. Indoor attractions include several museums, namely the Wright Museum of World War II, the Libby Museum of Natural History, the New Hampshire Boat Museum, and the Clark Museum Complex. For those seeking an outdoor adventure, the Wolfeboro area provides a natural environment for many outdoor activities throughout the year. For example, during the winter, visitors can enjoy the town's community-owned Abenaki Ski Area, one of the ten oldest ski areas in the country. Visitors can take advantage of Wolfeboro's many parks, beaches, and trails in the warmer months, including the Wentworth State Park.
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Appeal to turn former police station into nursery dismissed by planning inspectorate

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 31st, 2022

An appeal to turn a former village police station into a nursery has been dismissed by the planning inspectorate.

Plans to convert the building on Chester Road in Gresford into a day nursery for a maximum of 39 children were submitted to the local authority in October 2020.

Gresford Police Station was closed due to being used less frequently by officers and costing North Wales Police 12,000 a year to maintain.

The property was later put on the market for almost 230,000 to generate funds to be reinvested into other buildings owned by the regional force.

However, the application to convert the building into a nursery was rejected by planning officers over concerns about the extra traffic it would generate and the impact on road safety.

Last year the BBC Local Democracy Service reported that an appeal was submitted on behalf of the new owner of the building after an agent representing her argued it would not put peoples safety at risk.

But the appeal has now been dismissed by the Welsh Government planning inspectorate, which described the proposals as harmful to highway safety contrary to Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP) Policy GDP1.

N Jones, the inspector appointed by the Welsh Government, found that whilst the evidence concerning the former and proposed uses does not allow for a robust comparison of parking demand, it is reasonable to expect that vehicular movements associated with the nature of the proposal would follow a different pattern to the former police station.

As part of their findings the inspectorate concluded: LPGN 16 states that changes of use will be judged on their own merits and that additional spaces may be required where the demand for parking arising from a new use is likely to be greater than that from the existing use, particularly where this is likely to cause highway problems in the locality.

The appellant suggest that the traffic generated by the proposed use of the site would be comparable to the previous use as a police station.

Whilst I acknowledge that the Council provides no comparable evidence, the appellants estimate is based only on a Google Streetview image showing five vehicles parked to the front of the building and an assertion that five staff may have been employed.

No substantive evidence is provided to support the figures. Similarly, the Councils evidence of parking demand from the proposal is based on a single visit to observe the car park at the appellants other nursery, rather than an objective analysis of trip generation, or which considers other site specific factors such as accessibility to public transport.

Given the nature of the use and the age of the children, parents and carers would be likely to wish to park as close as possible to the facility.

On the available evidence and having regard to the large number of children that would be cared for and associated staffing requirements, I find that it has not been demonstrated that the proposal would make adequate provision for parking.

The proposal would therefore result in a risk of conflicts and congestion within the site itself as well as overspill parking in the vicinity.

Indiscriminate parking on the cycle lanes would risk danger to their users and parking on the carriageway on Chester Road as well as on or near the junction with Annefield Park would risk obstruction to the free flow of traffic on Chester Road and its environs.

I have taken into account the appellants suggested methods of controlling and reducing the length of stays.

Their use however would be difficult to regulate or enforce. I have also taken into account the appellants suggestion that the transfer of staff from the nearby nursery facility would increase opportunities for sustainable travel in accordance with national planning policy, given the accessibility of the appeal site.

I do not consider however that any benefit accruing would outweigh the harm I have identified in relation to the appeal proposal.

I conclude that the proposal would be harmful to highway safety contrary to Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP) Policy GDP1 which requires all new development to ensure safe and convenient pedestrian and vehicular access to and from development sites, both on site and in the nearby locality.
Pledge event raises over 2000 to help save Brymbo Church  however more support is needed

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 31st, 2022

An event to help secure the future of a Brymbo church has raised over 2000 in donations and pledges.

St Marys Church has been at risk of closure after it suffered significant damage during Storm Arwen last year, which could have resulted in the closure of the churchyard on health and safety grounds.

As a result of the efforts of local Councillor Paul Rogers and the Diocese of St Asaph authorised emergency funds to carry our roof repairs.

In December Cllr Rogers, along with church wardens and members of the congregation, held a pledge event for local resident to help raise funds to secure the future of the building.

More than 2,000 has now been raised in donations and pledges, with Cllr Rogers saying he has been encouraged by the response so far.

However more funds are needed to help with the repairs and to keep the church open.

Cllr Rogers said: I was overwhelmed by the generosity at the pledge event in December.

It was a cold December day in the run up to Christmas and we secured 2000 in donations and pledges despite many being unable to attend.

I would like to thank all those people who have supported this cause last year, however unfortunately we need to go further.

Since the event I have held further meetings with the church and it is clear more needs to be done to keep the church open

Throughout the next couple of months there will be further community events and meetings where residents can donate and pledge to get involved with and support St Marys.

I will continue to fight to secure its future and I know that the people of Brymbo and those with connections with the church will do what they can.
Warning issued after Wrexham residents targeted by Openreach fraudsters

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 31st, 2022

A warning has been issued following reports that several residents in the Wrexham area have been targeted by scammers claiming to be from Openreach.

The fraudsters claim that the homeowners router is showing some problems.

This is a scam.

Openreach states clearly on its website that it will never ask you for personal information like bank details  either in person, over the phone or by email.

Theyll also never ask to remotely access your computer, phone or tablet.

If someone gets in touch saying theyre from Openreach and asks for any personal information, dont give it to them  hang up and report it to Action Fraud.

Roger Mapleson, Trading Standards and Licensing Lead, said: Whilst many people are continuing to work from home scammers are busy trying to steal their hard earned money or personal information.

Please always be alert to such calls, texts or messages and advise others of the risks.

They could be saying they are from any organisation, either connected to your internet provider, your bank, HMRC or similar large and trusted organisation.

Always be alert to any caller thats unexpected and hang up or forward any suspicious scam emails to Action Fraud then delete them.
Wrexham woman first to undergo Laparoscopic Nephrectomy Surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 31st, 2022

A Wrexham woman has praised her surgical team at Ysbyty Gwynedd after they successfully removed her cancerous kidney using keyhole surgery.

Until recently, Laparoscopic Nephrectomy Surgery was only performed at Glan Clwyd Hospital due to capacity issues.

However this service has now been extended to Ysbyty Gwynedd for patients across North Wales who require this procedure.

The surgery, which is performed under a general anaesthetic, involves three small key-hole incisions being made in the abdomen to provide access for surgical instruments that are used to detach the kidney, ligate blood vessels and remove the kidney through a small surgical wound.

The advantages of this technique over traditional open surgery include a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time, less pain and bleeding after the operation and reduced scarring.

Previously many patients in the region would have been sent to hospitals in the North West of England and London for a Laparoscopic Nephrectomy.

Marie Leach, from Wrexham, was the first patient to undergo the surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

The 56-year-old initially visited her GP after she was experiencing severe stomach pain and was referred for a scan at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. The scan showed an abnormal mass on her kidney and her surgeon, Mr Mohamed Abdulmajed, recommended surgery for this to be removed.

She said: At the time of the scan I was told it was possible Id need to go to London to have the surgery so I was really pleased when I was told I could have it in North Wales.

Even though I live in Wrexham, it was much closer going to Bangor and not too far for my husband to collect me. Its brilliant that this surgery has now been expanded to another hospital so more patients can receive it in North Wales.

Consultant Urological and Pelvic Oncology Surgeon, Mr Abdulmajed, who successfully re-introduced the radical cystectomy (surgery to remove the urinary bladder due to cancer) service in North Wales in 2020, said: We have been developing our Urology services across North Wales and re-introducing major bladder cancer surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd was a major step forward and a proven success.

We also see around 15 to 20 patients a year requiring Laparoscopic Nephrectomy who are sent to London to have their surgery.

Now we are able to offer this surgery at another one of our hospitals and this means more patients are now able to have their surgery closer to their home and have access to the same specialist team who carried out that operation for their follow-ups and continued care.

This surgery is currently under a period of direct mentorship, and I was pleased to be joined by Professor Philip Cornford from Royal Liverpool Hospitals who is there to assist if required.

Laparoscopic and minimally-invasive surgery provides many benefits including shorter stay in hospital and ability to return to normal activities quicker and in Maries case this was certainly beneficial as she wanted to get back to running her busy cafe as soon as possible.

Marie, who runs the Fresh and Tasty Cafe in Gresford, said she was delighted with her recovery following the operation.

My recovery time has been fantastic. Within two weeks, I was back at work on light duties and now back to full time following the Christmas break.

I cant thank the team at Ysbyty Gwynedd enough for their fantastic work, I felt in very safe hands the whole time I was there, she added.

Mr Kyriacos Alexandrou, Clinical Lead for Urology for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: I welcome the introduction of this service to Ysbyty Gwynedd, and would like to thank Mr Abdulmajed who, through his persistence and determination, has set up this local service which will improve cancer care for the whole of the North Wales population.
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.
Today and tomorrow, students and teachers are returning to in-person classes in Australias most populous-states New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, despite the highest infection and death rates since the pandemic began.

Other states are proceeding with the school reopenings over the coming weeks. This includes a staggered return in South Australia from Wednesday, after the Australian Education Union subverted a two-thirds vote by teachers for strike action on that day. In NSW, Victoria and every other state, the unions are functioning as enforcers of the resumption, without even pretending to give their members a say.

Striking teachers in Sydney, December 2021 [Source: WSWS Media]

Omicron is continuing to result in tens of thousands of infections every day, a direct result of the live with the virus program of every government. The reopening of the schools will lead to a further surge in deaths, which have exceeded 1,500 this month, compared with around 2,200 in the previous two years.

The mass hostility to this program is finding stark expression among teachers and educators, who are on the frontlines of the homicidal and profit-driven pandemic policies. Several spoke to the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), a rank-and-file teachers group fighting against the reopening, the past week.

Diane is a relief teacher in Adelaide, South Australia. Last year, she taught at a range of schools, including some small country schools with a total of only 30 or 40 students, and a large public school with several hundred pupils. Most of the schools where she relieved were in low socio-economic areas, where students often suffered from a variety of behavioral problems and special needs. Some class sizes were up to 30 students.

Diana said: I feel very nervous about going back. COVID is going to spread through schools pretty quickly. But I have little choice in the matter because of money. I also have a six-month-old baby at home. All I can think about is, If I go to work and pick up this virus and bring it home and she catches it, is she going to be, OK? But we cant afford for me not to work. My partner does not earn enough to support us both and his other two children.

The rules they are putting in place are what I call loosey goosey. They are not even mandating masks; they are just saying that We suggest masks for Years 3 and above. And they are telling teachers, We would like you to wear masks in the classroom, but you dont have to.

The government in South Australia acted against medical advice to reopen the borders. The health system here was not prepared for this. They keep saying the daily numbers are going down, weve passed the peak, but you cant say weve reached the peak before schools are reopened.

We know whats going to happen. How anyone could deny this is beyond me. They say: But it didnt spread last year. Well, 1) we didnt have the same case numbers last year, 2) the borders were closed so we were able to keep things under control when we did have outbreaks, and 3) no other variant of the virus was targeting children anywhere near as much as Omicron. Why are we not taking the avenues that we have available to us to avoid opening schools as much as we can?

It is not like we are in the 60s and 70s where there were no computers, no internet. We have access to this technology that would save so many people and so many kids from getting sick, and God forbid, from anything worse, and we are just completely ignoring that. It might only take a few months; it might even be less. Why are we avoiding using what we have at our disposal to stop this becoming an absolute disaster?

They are doing this because if they dont reopen schools parents are going to have to stay home to look after their kids, so there is more expense to the government to support these parents to be staying home with their children. It all comes down to lining the pockets of the rich no matter how much we suffer.

I havent joined the teachers union; I dont see them benefiting us at all. They tell us to strike, and then we strike, and get nowhere with it. We need organisations that are going to listen to teachers and support us. An organisation that will benefit us is what is needed. The union is not doing that. So, whats the next step? That is a matter for teachers coming together and doing that. The hard part is getting that to happen. But there are many teachers who are not impressed with the government's scenario, there is going to be opposition for sure.

Michelle is a secondary teacher in Melbourne, Victoria. She told the CFPE: Ive taken this term off because I was terrified about getting COVID and then not recovering. I am nearly 70, and you go to hospital and you are then put in ICU I know its fair, but they would look after the young people first. They have made it quite clear that there arent enough ventilators to go around. I am a bit scared of that. I still feel really lively, I feel very healthy, and I want to continue that way.

Im still pretty energetic, and I didnt want to give up work. I liked my classes, and I liked spreading the environmental message and the equity and fairness message at school. It made me feel as if I was helping the community in some way. I want to keep on living and going to hospital would not be good for me.

Barbara is an education support worker in Melbourne: Education support staff were back on Monday [24 January] and we have heard nothing. No one has any idea about what will happen. Our bosses, the union, and the government havent provided us with any information. Its not safe especially for primary school kids and they are really stressed. They dont want to bring coronavirus home to their families. Theyve only had one dose of vaccination, if that, and it is not enough. The AEU [Australian Education Union] has done nothing. They dont publish data on the number of infections at all.

I wasnt surprised when the Andrews government changed its tune. Governments are not run by politicians but by advocates for big business. The lobbyists for business were desperate for a resumption of work. These policies are criminal. They tell people its fine and its not. I know with the air filters that the government has said are coming, it will work out that there are about 10 for each school. That will not do anything.

They tell people its fine and its not. I know many people now who know someone who has died of COVID.

Pam, a teacher in Melbourne, commented: It is COVID roulette for teachers. Is the plan that we take classes, catch COVID from a student or colleague, take a rapid antigen test (RAT) at home (whenever they arrive), isolate for seven days if positive and when it has worked through the whole school population everything will be fine? And just hope that no one gets really sick? Is it OK to make people sick as part of their job?

Kim is an education assistant at a special needs school in New South Wales enrolling children from 4-12 years. She is a mother of two teenagers.

The way the government is dealing with the virus doesnt give me any feelings of safety about returning to school. The whole thing is chaotic. They are changing the rules to suit their agenda and not caring about how it might affect people. Now they are saying its okay to get the booster shots after three months, before that you were told you had to wait six months. Then they changed about the close contact rules. The whole thing is scary.

The situation in my special needs school in 2020 and 2021 was really hard for all of us because not only did we have to keep our own hygiene up but the kids hygiene as well. We had to tell them to wash their hands, to keep them clean because they touch everything and they eat everything, they put everything into their mouths. We tried our best to keep things clean and sanitise, but we were always worried that anything could happen to us. Luckily our school didnt have any real problems or cases and it was managed well.

In 2021 when we had 600 people in the state who contracted the virus, we went into lockdown, but now we are around the 30,000 mark every day! There is now this scary idea that everyone is going to get the virus one way or another, so lets just do it! Everything has changed since [NSW Premier Dominic] Perrottet opened up after December 15.

It was more controlled before, with shops checking peoples vaccination status and QR codes. People were more aware of where hotspots were. Now theres nothing of that. The RATs are not even free, and they are not accurate. Now they are using them as the main way of keeping schools safe. There must be a different way of dealing with the pandemic.
Hundreds of thousands of students and teachers are being forced into schools in Australia this week. Children are returning in Victoria, the second-most populous state, today. In New South Wales (NSW), with the greatest number of people and COVID infections, teachers have a pupil free day to try to prepare dilapidated classrooms for the influx tomorrow.

Media commentators and several medical experts who have volunteered to take on the role of government propagandists continue to falsely claim that the return is motivated by concern for childrens mental health and their learning.

Students sitting the HSC in 2019 (Credit: ABC News)

But the mask has largely come off. Unlike in previous waves, government leaders admit there will be mass infections in the schools. Modelling from both states, leaked to the media, indicates that as many as 20 percent of teachers could be off sick at any one time. A replacement workforce numbering in the thousands has been assembled, including vulnerable retired teachers and unqualified university students who are to function essentially as child minders amid school outbreaks.

Governments, when they lifted all restrictions last month, and proclaimed the need to live with the virus, invoked high vaccination rates as their justification, ignoring warnings from epidemiologists that inoculation, as critical as it is, cannot end the illness and death. But now, they are sending children into crowded classrooms when fewer than 40 percent of 511-year-olds have had even a single vaccine dose.

The real agenda was spelled out earlier this month by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who declared: It is absolutely essential for schools to go back, safely, and to remain safely open if we are not to see any further exacerbation of the workforce challenges we are currently facing Schools open means shops open.

In other words, the resumption of in-person learning is the spearhead of a campaign to force broad sections of the working class back to places of employment, in order to generate profits. The aim is to break what the corporate press has labelled a shadow lockdownthe attempts of ordinary people to protect their health, amid the open adoption of let it rip policies by the governments.

Together with Morrison and his Liberal-National colleague NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, the Labor Partys Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is spearheading this charge.

Andrews, who previously identified himself with public health measures, is providing essential political cover for the two widely-despised right-wing politicians. He is collaborating on a daily basis with Perrottet, among the most zealous proponents of herd immunity in Australian politics, including through private text messages and phone calls.

In both states, there will be no contact-tracing in the schools. This will serve to hide outbreaks, ensure that the schools remain open and limit the liability of the governments when teachers and children become grievously-ill or die as a result of in-school transmission.

The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) last night issued an appeal for teachers and parents to inform it of school outbreaks. Last term, the group of rank-and-file educators helped to expose transmission at over 920 schools in Victoria and more than 550 in NSW, cutting across a coverup by the governments, education departments and teacher unions.

Those outbreaks were primarily of the Delta strain. Amid a COVID explosion driven by Omicron, there have been over 2.1 million confirmed infections in Australia this month, compared with several hundred thousand in the first two years of the pandemic. With rampant untracked transmission, some epidemiologists estimate that as many as 25 percent of the population could have caught the virus in NSW and Victoria.

This vast spread has occurred with the schools largely shut for the summer holiday. According to the partial listing of infections on official websites, this month at least 104,829 children aged 0-9 have caught the virus, as well as 155,882 aged 1019. These unprecedented figures will surge further. In the US, with the schools reopened, over a million child infections are being recorded each week. Omicron, which appears to have a more severe reaction in children than some previous variants, has resulted in record pediatric hospitalisations there.

A hint of what is to come was provided in a number of Twitter posts last night. In NSW and Victoria, students are supposed to have two non-mandatory rapid antigen tests a week for the first four weeks of term. The measure is already a shambles and will do nothing to halt transmission, instead providing a false veneer of safety.

Nevertheless, multiple parents posted pictures of their childrens positive tests, taken the night before classes return.

In Australia, there have been 1,501 deaths in January, compared with 2,253 in the previous 24 months. Three of the victims were aged 09. Responding to over 50 COVID deaths in his state yesterday, Perrottet declared: This is the new world. We expect those numbers to stay pretty consistent.

This homicidal profit-driven agenda, and the school reopening, is encountering growing opposition, including from teachers and parents. A survey by The Parenthood group earlier this month found two-thirds of parents did not think it was safe to send children back to schools as scheduled.

A meeting of the NSW Parents and Citizens Association last Tuesday night had a record attendance of almost 2,000. Numerous parents voiced their fears in the chat. The consensus was that reassurances from the education department were vague and inadequate.

Among teachers, there is widespread hostility, reflected in interviews published on the WSWS today.

The teacher unions are playing the central role in enforcing the dangerous reopening, as they have during every previous wave. In Victoria, the state branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) signed off on the reopening plans, including the end of contact-tracing and of closures during mass outbreaks. I think the measures are reasonable, I think they do place health and safety at the forefront, AEU Victoria president Meredith Peace claimed, prompting surprise even from her Australian Broadcasting Corporation interviewer.

In NSW, the Teachers Federation mumbled about its concerns over aspects of the return, including the absence of a mask mandate for primary school children. But the union would only closely monitor the effectiveness of the risk mitigation strategies in the words of its president Angelo Gavrielatos.

The reopenings in NSW and Victoria are serving as a model for every state. Labor and Liberal, all the governments are planning a return in the coming weeks, which the teacher unions' support.

In South Australia, the only state where the unions called a ballot, two thirds of teachers voted for a strike against reopening. The state AEU leadership rushed through another vote to postpone the strike days later, while saying there were many unresolved issues that will have to be addressed at the local level, when the staggered reopening begins on Wednesday.

The role of the unions is not an aberration. It flows from their character as a corporatised arm of the governments and education departments. The unions serve the interests of their privileged executives, who invariably make six figures a year, and have presided over one sell-out enterprise agreement after another, making the conditions of public school teachers intolerable, even prior to the pandemic.

The school reopenings mark a new stage in the ruling elites campaign to normalise indefinite mass infection, sickness and death, to ensure an economic recovery that will extend only to corporate profits.

In the schools, students, parents and teachers should unite in rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, to protect their health and lives. A campaign must be mounted, including of industrial action, to close the schools and force a return to online learning, before tens of thousands of teachers, children and their relatives are struck down by a potentially deadly virus. Online learning must be accompanied by full income compensation for all affected parents.

The official endangerment of children and teachers, who perform one of the most critical roles in society, is an issue for the entire working class.

The fight against reopenings should be the spearhead of a broader fight for a repudiation of the let it rip policies and the adoption of a scientifically-grounded public health program aimed at the elimination of the virus. The experiences of the past month and more demonstrate that such a struggle can go forward only if it is directed against the entire political establishment, including the unions, and the capitalist system, which subordinates everything to the profit interests of the corporate elite.

Contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
Canadas opposition parties have lined up squarely behind the imperialist war drive against Russia, which is being spearheaded by the Biden administration in Washington and backed to the hilt by the Trudeau Liberal government. There is not a single principled opponent of imperialist aggression to be found in Canadas Parliament, only cheerleaders for war. From the left New Democrats to the avowedly right-wing Conservatives, the Greens and the pro-Quebec independence Bloc Quebecois, all the opposition parties are whipping up war fever.

The Trudeau government announced last Wednesday that it is extending its participation in NATOs training mission for the Ukrainian military, Operation Unifier, for three years until 2025. Ottawa will send 60 additional Canadian Armed Forces personnel, raising the Ukraine deployment to 260, provide a $120 million loan and grant Kiev access to Canadian signals intelligence. The troop deployment, Ottawa has added, could be increased to 400 at any time.

In his announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau struck a provocative tone, declaring that his government supports the Ukrainian people in their struggle to choose the course of their country and defend their territorial integrity. This was a reference to the Trudeau governments support for Kievs reconquest of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia following a referendum in 2014. The annexation was Russias response to the fascist-spearheaded coup in Kiev, orchestrated by the US, Germany and Canada to overthrow pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovitch and install a pro-Western puppet regime.

Trudeaus remarks came as top Biden administration officials ratcheted up pressure on Russia by refusing to rule out Ukraines admission to NATO, sending massive amounts of military gear to Kiev and preparing to deploy up to 50,000 troops to Eastern Europe. As the World Socialist Web Site noted in a statement Friday, Washingtons primary goal is to goad President Vladimir Putin into attacking Ukraine and triggering a military conflict. The conflict that Washington is provoking with Russia over Ukraine threatens the globe with a catastrophe beyond measure, the statement warned. Driven by insoluble internal crisis and rapacious geopolitical ambition, US imperialism is recklessly marching to the brink of World War III.

Canadian imperialism fully endorses this reckless policy for the same reasons.

On her arrival in Kiev yesterday for talks with top Ukrainian leaders, Canadas Defense Minister Anita Anand said Canada stood by the claims of Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other NATO leaders that a Russian invasion is imminent, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called them unhelpful and untrue. Later in the week Anand is to travel to Latvia, the Baltic republic where Canada has deployed over 500 soldiers since 2017, to lead NATOs new Forward Presence Battle Group against Russia.

Speaking alongside Trudeau, Anand and Foreign Minister Melane Joly last Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, a longtime supporter of the Ukrainian far right, stood reality on its head and accused Russia of attempting to create a world in which might makes right and where the great powers ... have the authority to redraw the borders, dictate the foreign policies... This comes from a representative of the Western imperialist powers whose wars of aggression have razed Yugoslavia, Iraq, Haiti, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya and imposed murderous sanctions on governments who refuse to obey their diktats.

In so far as the opposition parties have criticized the Liberal governments role in NATOs war threats and preparations against Russia, it is for not providing Ukraine more fulsome support. The Conservatives have complained that the Trudeau government is only sending non-lethal support to Ukraine. They are demanding that Ottawa provide Ukraine with offensive weapons originally intended for the Kurdish Peshmerga guerrillas in Iraq. Ukraine has been clear in its request to the Trudeau government of what it needs to defend itself: Lethal defensive weapons, declared a statement signed by three Tory frontbench MPs. The time for half-measures has long passed. Ukraine needs Canadas support, and today Mr. Trudeau let them down.

This position was backed up by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), which has its origins in the pro-Nazi Ukrainian nationalist movement of the 1930 and 1940s. The UCC declared, It is disappointing that Canada has not joined our allies in providing Ukraine with weapons.

Full support for Canadas continued military deployment to the Ukraine was extended by the New Democrats. In a statement on Ukraine, the party declared, New Democrats stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We are alarmed by escalating threats of further Russian invasion. Canada was the first country to recognize Ukraines independence 30 years ago, and we must continue to support an independent and democratic Ukraine.

To cover its support for imperialist violence in a progressive garb, the NDP said it opposed Ottawa providing lethal aid to Kievleaving that, for the moment, to the US, Britain and other allies it wants Canada to work in close concert with; expressed concern about extremists in Ukraines military; and concluded with an appeal for a diplomatic solution with Russia.

This is all hogwash. Ukraine today is neither democratic nor independent. The current regime has its origins in the imperialist-sponsored 2014 coup, in which far-right and outright neo-Nazi elements such as Svoboda (Freedom), Right Sector and the Azov Battalion played key roles. These fascists provide the Ukrainian state with its shock troops on the front line against Russian speakers in Donetsk and Lugansk, regions that only attempted to separate from Ukraine after the far-right government passed legislation suppressing the Russian language and launched hysterical campaigns targeting ethnic Russians.

Ukraine is governed by some of the most corrupt oligarchs to emerge from the Stalinist bureaucracy, which liquidated the Soviet Union in order to enrich themselves. The top 10 percent of the population controls 60 percent of national wealth.

Independent Ukraine is, in fact, a political dependency of American, Canadian, British and German imperialism, whose collective will is expressed through NATO and the IMF, and to which Ukraine says, Yes, sir.

As for its professed commitment to diplomacy, the NDP supports economic sanctions on Russia under the 2015 Magnitsky Act, which would target Russias political leadership. The Russian government has declared that such sanctions would result in the severing of all diplomatic relations, a development associated historically with the commencement of military hostilities. In calling for these sanctions, the NDP is thus seeking to provoke an end to diplomatic efforts.

The bogus character of the NDPs concern about extremists in the Ukrainian military was underscored by its participation in a bellicose mobilization organized by the far-right UCC on January 23.

NDP Foreign Affairs critic Heather McPherson and Blake Desjarlais, the deputy chair of the partys parliamentary caucus, joined the UCC-initiated Stand with Ukraine mobilization. Also participating were former Defense Minister Harjit Sajan, Mary Ng, and Marco Mendicino from the Liberals, Dave Epp and others from the Conservatives and the BQs Foreign Affairs and National Security critic Stephane Bergeron.

NDP Foreign Affairs critic Heather McPherson and other NDP MPs joined the bellicose "Stand with Ukraine" mobilization mounted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

McPhersons and Desjarlais tweets of support for the UCC and the right-wing Kiev regime are in keeping with their partys support for Canadian imperialisms participation in a long series of US-led wars of aggression. From the 1999 NATO assault on Yugoslavia, through the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, the 2011 regime change war in Libya and the ongoing interventions in Iraq and Syria, Canadas social democrats have dressed up their support for imperialist war and intrigue in phoney human rights and responsibility to protect rhetoric.

The NDPs visceral hostility to any opposition to Canadian imperialism and its far-right allies was underscored by the party leaderships refusal to defend MPs Leah Gazan, Nikki Ashton and Don Davies, after they came under vicious attack from the UCC for posting tweets critical of Canadas full-throated support for NATOs provocative and threatening stance on Ukraine.

Gazan, who counts Holocaust survivors among her relatives, came under special attack for pointing to Canadas support of an anti-Semitic, neo-nazi [sic] and fascist militia, referring to the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, whose members have received training from Canadas government. (See Canadian Armed Forces providing military training to Ukrainian neo-Nazis.)

The UCC, along with the Zionist Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, preposterously accused Gazan of trivializing the Holocaust, claiming her tweet was ignorant, inaccurate and hurtful and could provoke attacks against our community.

Gazan quickly walked back her comments and voiced her support for the Canadian imperialist-NATO narrative that Ukraine is a victim of Russian aggression, when it is the NATO powers that have encircled Russia and are intent on using Ukraine as an economic vassal and geostrategic outpost.

Of course, Gazan said nothing about the political origins and record of the UCC, which has long enjoyed the sponsorship of the Canadian state and, like the contemporary far-right and neo-Nazi militia groups in the Ukraine, celebrates the Ukrainian ultra-nationalists and fascists who collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War, including in the mass murder of Jews and Poles. The UCC recently saluted the 70th anniversary of the creation of the League for the Liberation of Ukraine, which was founded by members of Stepan Banderas fascist and Nazi collaborationist Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists who were given safe haven in Canada after the Third Reichs defeat.

Meanwhile, in its official statement of last week on Ukraine, the NDP top brass went out of its way to downplay the significant role fascists play in Ukraines security forces and allied militia, saying it was concerned about reports of extremism within a small part of the Ukrainian military, a problem, that it hastened to add many militaries, including our own, have faced.

The enthusiasm for the drive to war with Russia within all sections of Canadas political establishment, from ostensible left to right, underscores that the only social force capable of opposing the eruption of a catastrophic conflict is the international working class. Workers in Canada must build an international anti-war movement alongside their class brothers and sisters in the United States, Russia, Ukraine and throughout Europe to put an end to the imperialists mad push for war by fighting for the socialist transformation of society.
In Chinas most forthright yet comments on the mounting US confrontation with Russia over Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Washington and its allies not to hype the crisis. He called on all parties to remain calm and refrain from doing things that stimulate tension.

Wang made the remarks in a virtual meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last Thursday. The Biden administration and American media have deliberately manufactured extreme tensions over Ukraine by repeatedly declaring that Russia is on the point of invasiona claim that even the Ukrainian president has publicly denied.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Manezh, Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Wang clearly signalled Beijings support for Moscow, declaring that Russias reasonable security concerns should be taken seriously and resolved. Russia has repeatedly called on the US and its European allies to guarantee that Ukraine will not be inducted as a NATO membera move that would bring the US-led military alliance to the Russian border.

Indirectly referring to NATOs expansion into Eastern Europe since the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, Wang pointedly told Blinken that European security could not be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs.

Chinas opposition to aggressive US moves in Ukraine is connected to concerns about Washingtons warnings of a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwanclaims, which like those directed against Russia, have been manufactured out of thin air. The Biden administration has exploited these unsubstantiated allegations of Chinese aggression as the pretext for strengthening ties with Taiwan, breaching longstanding US diplomatic protocols on the status of the island.

Wang declared that the US attitude toward China had not substantially changed since President Biden met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in November. The Chinese foreign minister accused the US of continuing to make mistakes in relation to China, causing new shocks to the relationship between the two countries. He warned the US against playing with fire over Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, and against interference in the Beijing Winter Olympics, due to start on Friday.

Later this week, Xi is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is flying to Beijing to attend the Olympics in part to demonstrate his opposition to the US-led diplomatic boycott of the event. It will be Xis first in-person meeting with a foreign head of state since March 2020 when he met with Pakistans president.

As tensions mounted over Ukraine, Putin and Xi held an online meeting in mid-December in which the Russian president reportedly called Xi his dear friend and said relations between the two countries had reached an unprecedented high level.

Xi called for greater joint efforts to effectively safeguard the security interests of both countries as certain international forces were interfering in the internal affairs of China and Russia and trampling on international law under the guise of human rights.

A steady stream of commentary in the US and European media speculates on the growing strength of relations between Moscow and Beijing, the consequences for a US-led conflict with Russia, and the prospect of China taking advantage of the Ukraine crisis to invade Taiwan.

A Financial Times article today along these lines is entitled Ukraine conflict shines light on deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow. Its evidence for Chinas intentions is the rantings of a right-wing Chinese nationalist blogger who declares that the Ukraine crisis will be a historic opportunity for us to solve the Taiwan problem.

The flimsy character of the argument reflects the topsy-turvy world of US propaganda in which concocted threats of Russian and Chinese invasions are used to justify US military provocations against both countries. As the US and its allies put troops on alert and provided arms to Ukraine, the US Navy mounted a series of major military drills in the South China Sea and waters off Taiwan.

As the Financial Times itself acknowledged, the 2014 Ukraine crisis, ruptured Russias relations with the west and drove Moscow into Chinas arms. Or to put it more accurately, mounting US threats and provocations against both Russia and China, aimed ultimately at their break-up and subordination, has driven the two countries into a quasi-alliance.

Chinas backing for Russia is in contrast to its equivocal response to the 2014 conflict, which was provoked by a US-backed far-right coup in Kiev that ousted a pro-Russian Ukrainian government. China blamed Western foreign interference for causing the crisis, but did not back Russias annexation of Crimea or its support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine.

In 2014, China abstained on UN resolutions regarding the Russian annexation of Crimea and still does not recognise Crimea as part of Russian territory. At the same time, while it rejected US and European sanctions on Russia, China tacitly allowed Chinese corporations, including its huge state-owned banks, to abide by the sanctions, to avoid being cut off from US financial markets and the international banking system.

Since 2014, however, Russia and China have steadily strengthened their diplomatic, economic and strategic relations. According to the Financial Times, between 2013 and 2021, Chinas share of Russia external trade doubled from 10 to 20 percent. At their meeting in December, Xi and Putin noted that bilateral trade in the first three quarters of 2021 exceeded $US100 billion for the first time, and was expected to hit a new record for the full year.

Russia and China have strengthened their military ties through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established in 2001. Starting on January 21, China, Russia and Iran held their third joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman to strengthen security and multilateral cooperation. This followed naval drills by Russia and China off the Russian coast in the Far East in October and joint military exercises in northwestern China in August, involving some 13,000 troops and hundreds of aircraft as well as artillery, anti-aircraft batteries and armoured vehicles.

Alexander Korolev, an analyst based at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, told the Financial Times that more frequent and substantive joint exercises, collaboration on weapons development, regular consultations on military and security issues and long-running military personnel exchanges were enabling the Russian and Chinese militaries to jointly operate in real wars in the future.

At his press briefing last Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian declared that China and Russia see their relations as a priority. There is no ceiling to China-Russia mutual trust, no forbidden zone in our strategic cooperation and no limit on how far our longstanding friendship can go, he said.

Zhao Mingwen, a former Chinese diplomat, made a similar point to the Financial Times, even though Russia and China are not formal allies. You could say we are even more allies than allies, he said. The two countries would support each other in conflicts if provoked by external powers. If China were forced to unify Taiwan by force and the US intervened, I believe Russia would not sit by idly, Zhao said.

The strengthening military ties between China and Russia in the face of US threats highlights the utter recklessness of US foreign policy. Having driven China, now the worlds second largest economy, and Russia, with its huge nuclear arsenal, into each others arms, the US is deliberately stoking a conflict over Ukraine. Any war in Ukraine, far from being a local affair, would threaten to rapidly escalate into a catastrophic war on a global scale.
Many of the largest American states have officially ended their contact tracing programs as part of a coordinated nationwide policy to allow virtually the entire American population to be infected with the potentially deadly and debilitating COVID-19.

In recent weeks, over a dozen states have ended or reduced contact tracing, including Michigan, New York, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire, Indiana and others.

In this Aug. 6. 2020, file photo, Joseph Ortiz, a contact tracer with New York City's Health + Hospitals battling the coronavirus pandemic, uses his tablet to gather information as he heads to a potential patient's home, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

This sea change in policy, closely coordinated with the White House, has been carried out quietly, receiving no national news coverage, with the only coverage coming from local newspapers and trade publications.

Contact tracing ending in New York State, reported Albany local ABC News 10 on January 13, writing, As of this week, New York will no longer expect local health departments to conduct COVID contact tracing for most cases. New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer receive a call from a county or even the state health department.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that tracing will be optional for counties, but counties throughout the state immediately moved to end their contact tracing programs. The days of widespread contact tracing are coming to an end across New York State, including in Onondaga [home to Syracuse] and Oneida Counties, reported local Syracuse, New York TV station WSYR.

The station reported:

The significant change in policy was made quietly in Onondaga County. In an email, obtained by NewsChannel 9, the states contact tracing coordinator assigned to Onondaga County schools emailed local superintendents with the changes. She writes: Onondaga County has asked us to change our interview and processes due to the new guidance Starting 1/6/22 we are no longer registering any contact for any Onondaga County cases.

On January 30, local Richmond news station WTKR reported that the Virginia state health department is phasing out contact tracing and no longer attempting to investigate every case of COVID-19.

On January 27, local Ohio station WKYC reported that The Ohio Department of Health is no longer asking K-12 schools and local health departments to contact trace after each positive coronavirus case at school.

Broad community contract [sic] tracing for COVID in Michigan is coming to an end in most cases, reported Bridge Michigan on January 14. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has shifted away from performing individual-level case investigation and contact tracing, reported MLive on January 29.

MLive noted that, even before the end of contact tracing efforts by the state, less than two percent of cases had their contacts reached out to by health agencies.

State Health Departments transition away from contact tracing, reported News 2 Oklahoma on January 28. Up until now, individuals who had been tested for COVID at a facility and tested positive would get a call from a disease investigator. However, that will no longer be the case.

On January 21, the Indianapolis Star reported that Indianas health department issued new guidance this week that allows schools to end contract [sic] tracing programs and individual notification of close contacts.

There is no medical basis for ending the contact tracing programs, and nothing about COVID-19 that has made contact tracing less important, as demonstrated by Chinas enormously successful efforts to save the lives of its population, which rely heavily on contact tracing.

With the highly contagious Omicron variant capable of overcoming vaccination and spreading more rapidly, keeping infected people away from others is the single most effective way to stop the spread of the disease, and, by implication, save lives.

Contact tracing is, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a key strategy for interrupting chains of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and reducing COVID-19-associated mortality.

The WHO recommended that countries Prioritize active, exhaustive case finding and immediate testing and isolation, painstaking contact tracing and rigorous quarantine of close contacts.

The decision by states to end contact tracing is a decision not to interrupt chains of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and not to reduce COVID-19-associated mortality. This will open up the entire population to infection.

While COVID-19 is potentially debilitating for all people, is especially dangerous to people who do not respond to vaccination due to having compromised immune systems, including those suffering from HIV or those who have had organ transplants, who must take immunosuppressants to keep their bodies from rejecting the transplanted organs.

Allowing the deadly disease to spread will be a death sentence to this substantial section of the population, condemning them to a life of fear, perpetual social isolation and early death. It will likewise mean that millions of people will be affected by Long COVID, potentially for the rest of their lives.

The White House has seized upon the Omicron variant to claim that nothing can be done to stop the spread of COVID-19, claiming that everyone will get infected, in the words of FDA Director Janet Woodcock.

As part of this effort, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cut the recommended isolation period for people with COVID-19 in half, and last week, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky called for an end to masking and isolation altogether, triggering an anti-masking campaign in the US media.

The end of contact tracing is accompanied by a systematic effort to end the reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths. On February 2, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will end its requirement for daily COVID-19 death reporting by hospitals, while states are slashing the frequency of their data reporting. Tennessee ended daily reporting in early January, and Pew reports that experts expect other states to follow.

These moves are taking place behind the backs of the population, with no discussion or input from the public, which according to polls overwhelmingly supports public health measures to stop the spread of the disease.

The mass infection of the population is dictated by the interests of the financial oligarchy, which sees isolation and quarantine as impediments to getting workers on the job and keeping them there, even when they are sick and an active threat to public health.

The moves by states and local health officials will facilitate efforts by employers to cover up COVID-19 cases, denying workers sick leave and forcing workers to work through major outbreaks.

These developments raise the urgent necessity for workers to form rank-and-file committees to monitor safety conditions at workplaces and force the closure of schools and workplaces in the event of outbreaks.

The struggle against mass infection is a political struggle against the financial oligarchy and the entire capitalist system. The most critical task is to build a revolutionary socialist leadership in the working class, fighting for a unified global strategy to stop the pandemic and save lives.
On January 17, the Socialist Equality Party in Australia sent the statement below to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), objecting in the strongest terms to the AECs notification of its intention to deregister the SEP.

The AEC is preparing to do so under the provisions of the anti-democratic new electoral laws that were jointly rammed through parliament last August by the Liberal-National Coalition government and the opposition Labor Party.

As the letter to the AEC says, this legislation is a naked attempt to prop up the existing parliamentary parties and stifle popular rising discontent, which has been intensified by the disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheryl Crisp addressing 2019 federal election meeting in Sydney [WSWS Media]

The SEPs letter was filed amid an intensifying public health and political crisis. Anger and loathing toward both the government and Labor, which was already seething last August, is continuing to mount.

The underlying disgust, which has built up over decades of soaring social inequality, has been deepened by outrage over the rising toll of COVID infections, hospitalisations and deaths. This disaster has been directly produced by the profit-driven let it rip program adopted by the bipartisan National Cabinet of federal, state and territory government leaders.

The political establishment fears that any eruption of working-class struggle or explosion of political disaffection in the looming federal election, which is due by May, would shatter not just Prime Minister Scott Morrisons unstable Coalition government but the capacity of any Labor government to impose the requirements of the corporate boardrooms.

The SEP is demanding the basic democratic right to stand candidates in its name at the election in order to advance, in the broadest possible way, the necessary socialist perspective, based on the protection of health and lives, not private profit. This includes the fight for a scientific program to eradicate the coronavirus pandemic against the criminal, live with the virus offensive by the ruling elite. Only the SEP fights for this perspective, together with our sister parties internationally.

As the statement explains, the sudden and arbitrary three-month deadline set by the legislation to recruit 1,000 new members was clearly calculated to block the SEP and other parties with no current parliamentary members from contesting the election. The deadline was imposed knowing that the raging pandemic made it highly unsafe, a risk to public health and at times illegal, for our members to conduct normal political campaigns and public meetings, including to recruit the extra members needed to submit to the AEC.

Already, as of January 27, the AEC has notified 10 parties, including the SEP, of its intention to deregister them. That is nearly one-third of the registered parties with no parliamentary members, and further such deregistration moves are likely.

The SEPs statement to the AEC sets out key legal reasons for suspending any deregistration process until after the election. These include that the legislation itself violates the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. The recent re-registration of the Seniors United Party, with 550 members, by way of a successful appeal to the full AEC, despite the new 1,500-membership rule, would also otherwise create an electoral inequality and anomaly.

The SEP is further insisting that any deregistration decision be stayed to allow the party to fully exercise its rights of appeal, if necessary, to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Federal Court.

We appeal to all our electoral members, WSWS readers and workers and youth more broadly: Support our campaign against the deregistration laws and our fight to retain our registration. If you have not already done so, become an electoral member of the SEP. Help us push ahead to recruit the extra electoral members that we need, not just to retain our party registration but to take forward the fight for a genuine socialist alternative, and consider applying to become full members of the SEP.

***

The Socialist Equality Party's Statement in Response to the AEC's Notice under s 137(1A) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

To the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC),

The Socialist Equality Party strongly objects to the AECs notification of intention to deregister the SEP following the passage of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Party Registration Integrity) Bill 2021.

This anti-democratic legislation was pushed through both houses of parliament on August 25-26 by the Liberal-National Coalition with the support of the Labor Party. It is a naked attempt to prop up the existing parliamentary parties and stifle popular rising discontent, which has been intensified by the disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clearly, the concern within the parliamentary establishment is that this hostility will be expressed in the next federal election in votes for other political parties.

The legislation seeks to strip party registration from political parties, including the SEP, that do not currently have parliamentary representation, by suddenly trebling the number of members required from 500 to 1,500 to be officially recognised.

Moreover, the legislation imposed an arbitrary three-month deadline for the submission of such expanded membership lists. This deadline was manifestly timed to exclude parties from contesting the impending federal election, which must be held by May 2022.

The legislation also gave first-registered parties, such as the Liberal, National, Labor and Greens parties, an effective veto over party names that contain common words in their titles. The timing of the legislation means that affected parties are unlikely to be able to register under modified names in time for the election.

Both these aspects of the legislation make a mockery of the holding of elections. Voters are meant to have the right to freely choose their representatives, not have the government or governmental agencies determine which parties can contest elections with their candidates identified.

In particular, these provisions serve to rob voters of the right to cast informed ballots for candidates of parties that oppose the current political establishment.

For all these reasons, this legislation violates the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. Far from overcoming alleged voter confusion, as officially claimed, it both discriminates against other parties and reduces the capacity of voters to know the political identities and platforms of candidates.

Furthermore, the anti-democratic nature of the legislations requirements has been magnified by the worst public health crisis in a century, which has made it highly unsafe, and a risk to public health, for our members to conduct normal political campaigns and public meetings, including to recruit the 1,000 extra members needed to submit to the AEC.

In fact, for a substantial part of the three-month period, it was illegal to campaign in person in the two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, due to safety stay-at-home restrictions, as well as being dangerous.

When the SEP, because of the pandemic, objected to these requirements and twice applied to the AEC for extensions of the December 2 deadline, we asked the AEC: Are you declaring that members of minor parties, including the SEP, must be placed at serious risk of infection, possible long-term illness or death to reach the arbitrary number of members determined by the new Act?

Nevertheless, the AEC rejected those applications, stating that it had no discretion to extend the deadline, despite having done so during our earlier re-registration process in 2020. To justify its stance, the AEC cited the fact that an election was shortly due to be called.

That statement underscored the connection between the timing of the legislation and the looming election. As the AEC is aware, once the writs for the election are issued, any procedures underway to deregister parties must cease.

Between the December 2 deadline and the lodging of this objection, the COVID-19 disaster has worsened to an unprecedented degree, fuelled by both the Delta and Omicron mutations. This has vastly heightened the dangers to our members and the entire population, as well as having a dramatic impact on every facet of economic and social life, making political campaigning even more difficult.

If and when an election is called, it will be held under conditions of an extraordinary public health and political crisis, with a terrible toll of illness, hospitalisations and deaths. Millions of people, including voters in this country, will be aware that this catastrophe is directly the outcome of the profit-driven policies of governments, federal, state and territory, both Liberal-National and Labor.

These conditions make it all the more essential that other parties have the right to advance opposed programs, and that voters have the right to identify and cast ballots in favour of these parties candidates. That includes the SEP, the only party advancing a genuine socialist alternative, based on the protection of health and lives, not the interests of the wealthy corporate elite.

In addition, the SEP has since become aware that the Seniors United Party has been able to retain its registration, with 550 members, by way of a successful appeal to the full AEC, despite the new 1,500-membership rule, and evidently will be allowed to contest the election.

If other parties, such as the SEP, are deregistered and prevented from contesting the election, despite having submitted more than 550 members names and details, that will create a clear electoral inequality and anomaly.

Therefore, the SEP not only objects to deregistration and to the legislation itself but calls on the AEC to suspend the deregistration of all parties until after the federal election can be held.

If the AEC intends to proceed to deregister the Socialist Equality Party, we will seek review by the full AEC and, if necessary, by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Federal Court. In that case, we request that the AEC suspend deregistration of the SEP from coming into legal effect until those appeals can be heard.

In light of all the foregoing matters we consider that deregistration of the party as notified would be highly inappropriate and indeed unlawful. The review process, pursuant to the legislation and regulations, has not concluded, and accordingly our rights should not be abridged prior to the review process. The matters raised and our request for review are matters of fundamental importance, clearly both to our party which has been a registered and active political party since 2007, and more broadly. We consider that deregistration of our party at this point would be an extremely unreasonable act by the AEC considering the continuing review process, and conduct which would be actionable in law.

Yours sincerely,

Cheryl Crisp

National Secretary and Registered Officer

Socialist Equality Party
The following statement, originally published in German, was issued by a rank-and-file committee of Ford workers in Europe which is organizing a struggle against concessions.

**

To Ford workers in Saarlouis, Germany; Valencia, Spain; and all other locations:

We are a group of Ford workers who are no longer prepared to accept the systematic sellout of our jobs and the constant deterioration of our wages and working conditions without a fight.

On Thursday, plant management in Saarlouis and Valencia handed over their plans for cuts to Ford of Europe headquarters in Cologne. They have been working out these cuts with the union-dominated works councils over the previous weeks. All this has happened behind our backs. We have not been consulted, and we firmly reject these concessions.

Shift change at Ford Saarlouis (WSWS)

Concessions do not save jobs! That is the bitter experience of the recent years. All our concessions in the past and all the concessions already made at all Ford locations count for nothing today. The trade unions and works councils claim the opposite. But it is their cowardly subordination to the profit interests of management that has created the misery we find ourselves in today.

On principle, we reject the blackmail and brutal competition being instigated between us and workers at other plants. Playing one off against the other leads to disaster, because it would not be long before the so-called winner would then have to compete against lower wages in Romania or Turkey. There is no end to this downward spiral.

It must end! We are workers, not slaves. We have rights!

We demand an immediate end to the secret negotiations by works councils and management at all worksites and call for the immediate publication of the offers made and all agreements concluded.

We strongly reject claims by the works councils that there is no alternative to the blackmail of the intra-company bidding war and to wage and social cuts. In reality, all the rights and social achievements won by workersbe it the eight-hour day, the regulated wage system, paid holidays, sick pay, safety at work and much morewere fought for in the common struggle of all workers against the capitalists. The terms workers solidarity and international cooperation are deeply embedded in workers collective consciousness because of fierce and often bloody class battles.

But the lackeys of the corporate masters in the union halls and works council offices only recognise the arguments of the managers and act like social demolition contractors. They play the different factories off against each other and suppress any common struggle to defend jobs, wages, and social standards in principle.

The two works council chairmenMarkus Thal (Saarlouis) and Jose Luis Parra (Valencia)know each other very well through the joint European Ford works council, which has so far been led by the German General Works Council Chairman Martin Hennig. They belong to Germanys IG Metall union and Spains social democratic majority union UGT (the General Union of Workers) respectively, both of which are members of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). But they are not using these international links to unite workers but to pit them against each other and divide them in the interests of the corporation.

That is why it is important that we organise ourselves in independent rank-and-file committees and prepare joint, coordinated struggle actions at all plants.

We are not alone. Everywhere, resistance is growing against increasingly brutal forms of exploitation, mass layoffs, plant closures and social attacks. Our struggle at Ford is part of the worldwide crisis of the capitalist system. The coronavirus pandemic has clearly accelerated and intensified this crisis.

The same inhumane approach of the intra-company bidding war at Ford also characterises the criminal policy of deliberate mass infection in all workplaces. Without regard for the growing risk of infection, production is being maintainedeven in those workplaces and departments where it is impossible to maintain safety measures and hygiene standards. Schools and kindergartens are kept open so that parents can work, without the slightest consideration for the disastrous consequences.

The defence of jobs therefore goes hand in hand with the fight against mass infection. We demand accurate information about sick leave and infection levels in every workplace and department.

The attacks on jobs, wages, working conditions and health are the result of an unrestrained pursuit of profit. The top managers and shareholders at Fordthe second largest carmaker in the USare part of a financial aristocracy that is completely out of control and bases all its decisions on personal enrichment. Last summer, the Ford group reported a surprising profit explosion and announced a profit of between $9-10 billion for 2021. That was about $3.5 billion more than had been forecast at the beginning of the year.

Since then, the orgy of enrichment has increased. A few days ago, the British aid and development organisation Oxfam published a report saying: A new billionaire has been created every 26 hours since the pandemic began. The worlds 10 richest men have doubled their fortunes, while over 160 million people are projected to have been pushed into poverty.

All talk by the works council representatives and trade union officials that there is no money and therefore drastic savings measures must be accepted is just lies and deceit.

More and more workers in many countries are breaking through the grip of union control and organising independently. In the US, there was a significant growth of strikes and other struggles last year. At truck and bus manufacturer Volvo Trucks, auto parts supplier Dana Inc. and agricultural machinery maker John Deere, tens of thousands of workers voted down concessions contracts agreed to by the United Auto Workers union and voted to strike. Metalworkers went on strike in South Africa, health care workers in Sri Lanka, and in Turkey, workers occupied a factory of auto parts supplier Mitsuba and organised spontaneous strikes in mines and engineering plants.

Time is short. It is important to take action now!

The decision on which Ford plant will produce a new electric vehicle is to be made in the summer. Before then, the initiative must be taken out of the hands of the works councils and trade unions.

To resist the blackmail of management and the works councils, a new political orientation is necessary, which starts from the common interests of all workers at all locations and opposes the logic of the capitalist profit system.

We call on Ford workers at all locations to support and spread this call.

We demand:

Stop the intra-company bidding war!

No concessionsneither in Saarlouis nor in Valencia.

Defend all jobs at all locations!

Get in touch with us. Send a WhatsApp message to the following number: +491633378340

Register here to participate anonymously in our meeting next Saturday, February 5, at 6:00 p.m. Central European Time. And sign up to join us in building rank-and-file committees at all workplaces and companies.
Escalating US-NATO war threats against Russia on the false pretext of defending Ukraine from an imminent Russian invasion have exposed the reactionary role of the Indian bourgeoisie.

The Ukrainian governments public denials of US allegations that a Russian invasion is imminent has exposed the NATO powers case for a military build-up as a blatant fraud. While New Delhi clumsily tries to balance between its military-strategic partnership with Washington and its longstanding military ties to Moscow, Washington and its NATO allies are driving towards a global military confrontation with Russia.

Indias strategic partnership with the US has developed over the last two decades under successive governments led by both the ruling Hindu-supremacist Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) and the Congress. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP government, India has become a front-line state of the US war drive against China. However, Washington is pressing India to line up with it not only against China but also against Russia.

Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi addresses a gathering ahead of Bihar state Assembly elections in Patna, India, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui)

While New Delhi enthusiastically lined up with Washington against China, as it has a decades-long rivalry with China and its main South Asian ally, Pakistan, it has resisted growing US demands that it break ties with Russia. Indeed, for decades, starting in the time of the Soviet Union, New Delhi had close economic, political and military ties with Moscow. The US-India partnership developed rapidly, on the other hand, after the Stalinist bureaucracys dissolution of the Soviet Union.

As US war threats against Russia over Ukraine intensified, Washingtons pressure on India to align with its war drive against Moscow has also increased.

In a telephone conversation held with Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on January 19, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed Russias concerning military build-up on Ukraines borders, according to a US State Department statement.

Indicating the dilemma confronting India, the Modi government has not made any clear official statement on talks or its attitude towards US accusations against Russia and associated war preparations. Instead, India kept silent on the issue for weeks. Indian officials cited by the media said that with key strategic partners on both sides, any hasty moves may shrink the already tight diplomatic space New Delhi has.

When total silence became untenable, Indian officials cautiously remarked on the issue on January 28. Arindram Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said in a media briefing: We have been closely following the developments relating to Ukraine, including ongoing high-level discussions between Russia and the US.  We call for a peaceful resolution of the situation through sustained diplomatic efforts for long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Indian calls for peaceful resolution of US-Russia conflict do not constitute a peace policy from New Delhi. Rather, it sees stepped-up tensions between Washington and Moscow, and eruption of military conflict between them, as cutting across its own geopolitical interests and war plans in the region.

Moreover, a US military intervention against Russia exploiting Ukraine as a pretext risks drawing China into the conflict on Russias side. Indicating the discussions in Chinas political establishment, Chinas Global Times, which is known to be close to the Chinese army, carried an opinion piece by its former editor, Hu Xijin, titled, If US provoked China or Russia, the other wont be indifferent. The article openly warned Washington that its moves for strategically squeezing China and Russia at the same time will push China and Russia together to strike back.

A conflict between the NATO alliance and Russia in Europe would rapidly spread to Asia. India and China have been in a tense military stand-off along their border known as Line of Actual Control (LAC) since mid-2020, and opposes any further consolidation of the existing partnership between China and one of Indias traditional strategic partners, Russia.

While India has developed its military-strategic partnership with the US to a much higher level, signing three foundational agreements, including securing US military access to Indian air and sea ports, and having the designation of major defence partner from the US, it still largely depends on Russian military supplies. According to a study by the Stimson Center, Russia remains the origin of over almost 86 percent of military equipment used by India. India signed a major agreement in October 2018 to purchase five S-400 air defence systems from Russia.

The US has been raising concerns over Indias moves to purchase the S-400 systems from Russia, with the possibility of invoking US sanctions under CAATSA (Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Although the US earlier hinted that India might get an exception from sanctions for the S-400 deal, US officials have now again raised the possibility of the S-400 deal coming under sanctions they plan to impose on Russia.

At his daily press briefing last Thursday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, I think it [Indias procurement of S-400s] shines a spotlight on the destabilising role that Russia is playing not only in the region but potentially beyond as well.  When it comes to CAATSA sanctions, youve heard me say before, we havent made a determination with regard to this transaction, but its something we continue to discuss with the government of India given the risk of sanctions for this particular transaction under CAATSA.

This increasing pressure underscores one central point. Whatever reluctance New Delhi has had in lining up with Washington against Moscow, the Modi governments moves to turn India into a front-line state against China have clearly strengthened Washingtons hand in its preparation for war with Russia.

Moreover, deliberate official policies of mass infection in the COVID-19 pandemic, which have led to millions of deaths in the NATO countries and in India, have massively intensified internal class tensions and accelerated the imperialist powers resort to war hysteria to direct mounting social tensions outwards.

This underscores the significance of the campaign launched by the International Committee of the Fourth International to build an anti-war movement of the international working class based on international socialism, and the urgency of mobilizing the working class in South Asia in such a movement with their class brothers and sisters globally.
The Biden administration and the Democratic Party are spearheading a campaign for war against Russia that is bringing the entire globe to the brink of World War III.

On CNNs Sunday television interview program State of the Union, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the ranking Republican on the committee, James Risch of Idaho, appeared side by side to demonstrate the bipartisan unity of the two big business parties against Russia.

SSO fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during training [Credit: Wikipedia/ArmyInform]

Menendez dismissed the warning by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that US talk about an imminent Russian invasion of his country was unwarranted. He wants to create a semblance of calm as it relates to his economy, the Democrat said, So I understand that.

He hailed the bipartisan legislation authorizing the Biden administration to impose the mother of all sanctions that ultimately would crush Russia's economy, and the continuing lethal aid that we are going to send, which means Putin has to decide how many body bags of Russian sons... are going to return to Russia.

This is beyond Ukraine, Menendez warned. We cannot have a Munich moment again. Putin will not stop with Ukraine if he believes that the West will not respond.

The top congressional Democrat on foreign policy was only one of dozens of Democrats comparing Putin to Hitler and advocating measures that lead inexorably to a military confrontation between Russia and the United States, the countries which possess the two largest arsenals of nuclear weapons.

There are two interrelated political and social processes at work in the increasingly hysterical campaign against Russia: 1) The disintegration of the anti-war faction of the Democratic Party that emerged during and in the aftermath of the Vietnam War; and 2) the pro-imperialist evolution of the affluent middle class, which, beyond Wall Street and the military itself, forms a principal social base for the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party has always been a party of the American capitalist class. A Democrat was president and commander-in-chief in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the first half of the Vietnam War. But as the mass antiwar movement gathered strength in the course of the 1960s, the Democratic Party took on the role of co-opting and containing antiwar sentiment within the framework of bourgeois politics.

A substantial faction of the Democratic Party came out against the Vietnam War, associated with figures like Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee J. William Fulbright (Arkansas); Indiana Senator Vance Hartke; Minnesota Senator and 1968 presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy; Idaho Senator Frank Church; Connecticut Senator Abe Ribicoff; and Tennessee Senator Al Gore, Sr. In 1972, South Dakota Senator George McGovern won the Democratic Party nomination for president on an anti-war program.

Senator Church headed the Church Committee, established in 1975 to investigate abuses and illegal activities carried out by US intelligence agencies throughout the world. Even into the 1980s, most Democrats opposed US military intervention against the Nicaraguan revolution and other radical movements in Central America. As late as January 1991, 45 Democrats in the Senate voted against the resolution authorizing George H. W. Bush to launch the first Gulf War against Iraq, although 10 supported it, just enough to ensure passage by a 52-47 margin.

The administration of Bill Clinton (1993-2001) marked a significant shift. Clinton picked Al Gore, Jr., one of the 10 Democratic senators who had voted for the Gulf War, as his running mate, and his administration used military force aggressively in Bosnia, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia and Haiti. When Gore became the Democratic presidential nominee in 2000, he chose another hawkish senator, Joe Lieberman, as his running mate.

By 2002, when the Authorization for Use of Military Force came before the Senate, authorizing the administration of George W. Bush to wage a second US war against Iraq, the balance within the Democratic Party had been reversed.

The vote among Senate Democrats was 29-21 in favor of the resolution, compared to 45-10 against the equivalent resolution in 1991. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who backed the resolution and managed its passage, was Joe Biden of Delawarenow the US president. When mass antiwar demonstrations erupted in America and throughout the world, the Democratic Party turned its back on them and embraced the war drive of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Powell.

Two more significant steps to the right followed. In the 2008 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama attacked Hillary Clinton incessantly over her 2002 vote for the Iraq war. He was silent about his own close ties to the US intelligence agencies, which personified the deep connections between the Democratic Party and the Wall Street-military-intelligence complex.

President Obama quickly ditched the antiwar rhetoric of candidate Obama, using US military power just as aggressively as previous administrations. He escalated the war in Afghanistan as he carried out the drawdown in Iraq at the pace set by Bush, and launched new wars via NATO in Libya and via Islamic proxies in Syria and Yemen. Obama then sent US forces back into Iraq against ISIS. US forces conducted drone missile warfare on an ever wider geographic scale, from Pakistan through Central Asia and the Middle East and across North Africa.

The Obama administration was part of a broader elevation within the Democratic Party of candidates with a background in the intelligence agencies and the military, whom the World Socialist Web Site refers to as the CIA Democrats.

The final chapter in the Democratic Partys abandonment of any pretense of opposition to war came in the course of the Trump administration. The principal, even the sole, axis of the Democratic opposition to Trump was the anti-Russia campaign, based on the bogus claim that Trump was either a Russian stooge or an outright agent of Vladimir Putin. This campaign led to the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which turned up no evidence, and then to the first impeachment of Trump, based on his pressuring Ukraine to dig up dirt on the Bidens by withholding a shipment of US weapons, which disrupted long-running US plans to escalate the conflict with Russia.

Alongside and connected to the transformation of the Democratic Party is the pro-imperialist shift that took place in the middle class, particularly its most privileged layers. As it emerged in the 1960s, the antiwar movement was dominated by sections of the middle class, particularly on the campuses. The end of the military draft in 1973 was part of a broader strategy of the ruling class to integrate a section of the middle class into the political establishment, including through the cultivation of identity politics.

Beyond the corporate and financial aristocracy, a section of the upper middle classthe top 5 or 10 percent of American societyhas enriched itself in the course of the four-decades-long Wall Street boom, which is dependent on the dominant global position of American capitalism. The Balkan War of the 1990s, promoted by the Clinton administration as a war for human rights, was a turning point. As the WSWS wrote at the time:

The objective modus operandi and social implications of the protracted stock market boom have enabled imperialism to recruit from among sections of the upper-middle class a new and devoted constituency. The reactionary, conformist and cynical intellectual climate that prevails in the United States and Europepromoted by the media and adapted to by a largely servile and corrupted academic communityreflects the social outlook of a highly privileged stratum of the population that is not in the least interested in encouraging a critical examination of the economic and political bases of its newly-acquired riches.

These social processes find their reflection in all the official institutions of the ruling class. In the media, one cannot find a single voice that questions, let alone opposes, the official government lies being used to justify war against Russia from a left-wing standpoint. There is no equivalent to CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, who famously declared his opposition to the Vietnam War in the wake of the 1968 Tet offensive. Among the well-paid media talking heads, as well as the privileged layers in academia, imperialism finds an absolutely devoted constituency.

Pseudo-left organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America play a central role in supporting American imperialism and channeling opposition behind the Democratic Party. The liberal magazine American Prospect reported on the weekend that in response to questions about US policy in Ukraine, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib either declined to answer or did not return calls.

Such transformations are a worldwide phenomenon. In Germany, the Green Party, formed by environmentalists and antiwar activists in the 1970s, finally came to power as part of a coalition government in 1998, and the Green foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, a former radical street fighter, spearheaded the dispatch of troops to the former Yugoslavia in the first deployment of German forces outside the country since the Third Reich. Similar political metamorphoses took place in France, Britain, Italy, Canada, Australia, Spain and other countries.

Opposition to war is and must be centered in the working class. Opinion polls show overwhelming popular opposition to US intervention in any military operations in Ukraine or Eastern Europe. But this opposition finds no expression within the official US two-party system. The struggle against imperialist war cannot be waged through the Democratic Party or through any of the institutions of the capitalist political establishment. It requires the independent mobilization of the working class, on the basis of a socialist and internationalist program.
The pseudo-left Morenoite Revolutionary Workers Current (CRT) is agitating against Chinas Zero COVID policy, as the pandemic rages out of control in Spain, Europe and internationally. Spain is nearing the grim milestone of 10 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, over a fifth of the population. Yet the CRT is denouncing China for adopting scientific health policies designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus and thus save millions of lives.

In a January 17 article on its online publication Izquierda Diario, titled Beijing tightens restrictions for cases of Omicron two weeks before the Olympic Games, the CRT denounces China, implying that necessary restrictions are an intolerable encroachment on personal liberties.

A healthcare worker stands near a COVID-19 patient at the University Hospital of Torrejon in Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez]

In its opening lines directly beneath the title, the CRT summarises its opposition to Chinas elimination strategy, depicting it as repressive and authoritarian. It states: The Chinese government has backed a zero tolerance policy that includes police persecution, repression and total closures. However, the Omicron variant seems to be avoiding these measures and infiltrating into the large cities, two weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics.

Taken in contrast with its hostile presentation of Chinas attempts to combat the pandemic, the CRTs acknowledgment that coronavirus cases are nonetheless being imported into China can only be read as an indication that the Morenoites view the renewed contagion as a good thing. This casual acceptance or even celebration of the reentry of the virus into a territory where it had been all but eliminated is a demonstration of the CRTs indifference to the deaths and long-term health consequences that COVID-19 brings with it.

China has remained ruthless in their zero-tolerance policy against COVID, the CRT continues later in the article, with strict restrictions on mobility, repression and persecution, selective or complete lockdowns to contain the outbreaks, and the practical total closure of its borders.

What have been the results of the policy that the CRT denounces? China, by contrast, a mass society of over 1.4 billion people, has recorded only slightly more than 100,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, and fewer than 5,000 deaths. In the whole of 2021, only two people died from the virus in this country.

This extraordinary contrast is a testament to the fact that a successful elimination strategy can be pursued. Despite being the birthplace of the virus, China was rapidly able to bring the outbreak under control with a raft of public health measures, including the closure of non-essential businesses, widespread testing, contact tracing, safe isolation of infected patients, and strict travel restrictions.

As the example of China and a few other capitalist countries shows, there is nothing inevitable about continuing lethal waves of the pandemic. The potential exists to mobilise social resources to eradicate COVID-19. If measures were implemented in a globally coordinated manner across the world, the pandemic could rapidly be ended.

It is such a policy, which could have saved countless thousands of lives, that the Morenoites in the CRT oppose. What have been the consequences of the rejection of such policies by the European Union (EU) and the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government in Spain?

After over 1.6 million COVID-19 deaths across Europe, the seven-day moving average fatality count continues to rise in Spain, where over 1,100 people died last week. Excess death figures show that Spains total COVID-19 fatalities are well over 100,000. More than 4,000 of these came since mid-November, as the Omicron variant began to make its presence felt, giving the lie to the claim that the virus has been rendered harmless due to widespread vaccination. Around half of the total number of cases have occurred in this latest wave alone.

Nearly 20,000 people are currently in hospital with COVID-19, a level not seen since February of last year. Around 2,300 people are in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), the highest number since May 2021.

The enormous death toll and incalculable wider effect on health is the direct result of the criminal and murderous policy pursued by the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government. They have refused to follow a scientifically-guided policy to eliminate the pandemic, instead prioritising the interests of Spains banks and big business over the health and lives of its population.

Throughout the pandemic, the Morenoites have consistently agitated against lockdown measures. In January of last year, as the catastrophic third wave of the pandemic took hundreds of lives a day, the CRT published a statement denouncing social distancing restrictions as authoritarian and palliative measures, declaring, As if it were a tap, they [the PSOE-Podemos government] are limiting our liberties and movements at their will.

At other key junctures in the pandemic, such as when the PSOE-Podemos government lifted its limited restrictions in April last year, the CRT downplayed the risk of infection. It reacted with silence to the reactionary ruling in August of Spains Constitutional Court that COVID-19 lockdown measures imposed in spring of 2020 were unconstitutional. At the end of summer, it called for in-person education in universities.

As 2021 drew to a close and the Omicron variant began to sweep through the country, causing mass infections, CRT leader Santiago Lupe added his own reactionary piece to the Morenoites growing body of anti-scientific, anti-lockdown material. Attacking the PSOE-Podemos government from the right, Lupe presented his opposition to measures to control the pandemic as a defence of individual liberties, echoing the positions of the neo-fascist right. He wrote:

[The PSOE-Podemos governments] answer today is the same as other times. ... New restrictions, measures without proven impactlike outdoor mask mandatesand, significantly, new limitations on fundamental rights such as those represented by the COVID-19 passport or calls for new curfews.  With these restrictions, the state reinforces its coercive, Bonapartist mechanisms, even though many of these measures have no proven effect to limit contagion.

The CRTs opposition to measures to fight COVID-19 is an exposure of its hostility to the working class. Its position is neither a misreading of the danger posed by the pandemic nor an accident. It reflects the material class interests upon which the CRT is based. Speaking for well-off layers of the upper-middle class and union bureaucrats, whose posts and lifestyles depend on the upward movement of stock markets and the exploitation of workers, the CRT aims to keep profits flowing into the coffers of the banks, whatever the cost in lives.

It functions as a tool of Podemos to contain growing opposition among workers and youth to the governments policies and dissipates it into harmless channels. Its reactionary role is a warning that the working class cannot rely on any faction of the union bureaucracy or the political establishment.

By backing the ruling elites reactionary campaign against Chinas Zero COVID policy, the CRT is not only demonstrating its disregard for the lives and health of workers, but also aligning itself with the anti-China warmongering of the imperialist powers. Ruling elites and media around the world endlessly demonise and malign China, blaming it for the emergence and spread of the pandemic and pressuring it to abandon health restrictions. This is part of a campaign to poison public opinion against the Chinese people and prepare the ground for war.

The working class must make a decisive break from the unions, Podemos and their props in organisations like the CRT, and take matters into their own hands to fight the spread of infection and the drive to war. This requires the building of sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International in Spain and internationally.
At a campaign-style rally Saturday night in Conroe, Texas, located 40 miles north of Houston, former President Donald Trump pledged to pardon those facing charges for storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to overthrow the election of Joe Biden.

If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly, Trump told the crowd at the Save America event. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.

Donald Trump speaks during the 'Save America' rally at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on January 29, 2022 in Conroe, Texas. (C-SPAN)

This pledge to pardon the violent mob that laid siege to the Capitol and nearly succeeded in capturing and possibly killing Democratic lawmakers in order to block congressional certification of Bidens election victory marks a new step in Trumps embrace of the attempted coup. Trump has repeatedly declared Bidens victoryby a wide margina stolen election and the real insurrection, while portraying the attack on Congress, led by fascist militia paramilitaries, as a justified popular protest.

A large majority of the Republican Party has followed suit, as evidenced by the lineup of top Texas Republicans who appeared alongside Trump at Saturdays event. Six days before the Texas rally, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told Fox News that members of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 coup were criminals and would face imprisonment if the Republicans regained control of Congress.

I think when you have a Republican Congress, this is all going to come crashing down and the wolves will find out that they are now sheep, Gingrich told the far-right host of the Sunday talk show, Maria Bartiromo.

Trumps talk of pardoning the insurrectionists came on top of his by now routine litany of fascist incitements and falsehoods concerning immigrants, the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 presidential election.

Of the over 725 people charged so far in participating in Trumps failed coup, at least 64 hail from Texas. The founder and leader of the Oath Keepers militia group, Stewart Rhodes, is one of 11 members of the militia group facing 20-year sentences after being charged with seditious conspiracy for their role in the siege of the Capitol. Rhodes was arrested earlier this month at his home in Granbury, Texas, some four hours north of Conroe.

Trumps pledge to pardon militia members, who formed the bulk of the paramilitary elements in the attempted coup, follows his embrace of Air Force veteran and QAnon adherent Ashli Babbitt. Babbitt was shot and killed by police while trying to breach the interior of the Capitol on January 6.

The World Socialist Web Site has drawn attention to Trumps promotion of Babbitt. A student of Adolf Hitlers speeches, Trump mirrors Hitlers promotion of Horst Wessel, a Nazi stormtrooper who was killed in a clash with Communist Party members and proclaimed a martyr of the Third Reich.

In the course of his rambling, more than hour-long rant, Trump also threatened to go after prosecutors in Atlanta and New York who have been investigating his past criminal activity.

If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protest we have ever had in Washington D.C., in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere, he said, because our country and our elections are corrupt.

Last week in Georgia, Fulton County Superior Court judges approved Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis request to seat a special grand jury to be charged with gathering evidence in pursuit of possible criminal charges related to Trumps efforts to muscle Georgia officials into overthrowing Bidens victory in the state.

In New York, recent court filings by Attorney General Letitia James have revealed massive levels of criminality and fraud at the center of the Trump business empire. Had a common worker attempted to engage in anything like the tax fraud and chicanery on which Trump based his unearned wealth, he or she would already have been charged and imprisoned decades ago.

Trumps pledges to pardon his insurrectionists and go after his political and legal enemies are part of his and the ruling classs ongoing efforts to cultivate a fascist movement in the United States through the Republican Party. More than two years into the pandemic, which has thoroughly discredited the capitalist system in the eyes of millions, the ruling class, unable to resolve the contradictions of the capitalist system or provide a progressive solution, increasingly turns to fascism and war in a desperate attempt to extricate itself from its myriad of crises.

That Trumps words are the dominant position of the Republican Party was made clear by the audience at Trumps rally. It included dozens of Texas Republican politicians, including Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton, former Governor Rick Perry and US House members Louie Gohmert, Ronnie Jackson and Kevin Brady.

However, it was not only Texas politicians who made the trip to Conroe. Trump thanked attorney generals Eric Schmitt (Missouri), Leslie Rutledge (Arkansas), Todd Rokita (Indiana) and Jason Ravnsborg (South Dakota) for making the trip and supporting his fascistic agenda.

While the skyrocketing coronavirus death toll was omitted from virtually all of the Sunday morning talk shows, Trumps pledge to pardon his far-right foot soldiers did come up briefly on a few programs.

On CBSs Face the Nation, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump sycophant, said he did not want to send any signals that it was OK to defile the Capitol, but refused to denounce Trump, instead calling his remarks inappropriate.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican who voted to convict Trump in the Senate impeachment trial that followed the January 6 attack, refused to affirm that she would not support Trump were he to be nominated by the GOP in 2024.

In an appearance Sunday on ABCs This Week program, Collins said Trump should not have made that pledge to do pardons. We should let the judicial process proceed. But when asked by host George Stephanopoulos why she would not rule out supporting Trump in 2024, Collins deflected, saying:

Well, certainly its not likely given the many other qualified candidates that we have that have expressed interest in running. So its very unlikely.

As the Republicans coalesce around Trumps fascist movement, the Democratic-controlled US House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack meekly continues to subpoena figures connected to Trumps multi-faceted coup attempt.

On Friday, the committee issued 14 subpoenas to Republicans from seven states who participated in the scheme by fraudulently filing as electors, even though their states had voted for Biden and whose elector slates had been certified by state election officials. Earlier this month, the committee subpoenaed Rudy Giuliani and three other Trump lawyers who, among other things, oversaw the effort to pressure Republican-controlled state legislatures in swing states won by Biden to override the certified elector slates and instead authorize pro-Trump slates.

All of those subpoenaed by the committee last Friday listed themselves on the fraudulent filing as either the chair or secretary of the fake elector slate. Those subpoenaed include Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald and the chair of the Georgia Republican Party, David Shafer.

Also subpoenaed was Jewll Powdrell from New Mexico. In an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, Powdrell said he signed his name to the fake slate at the insistence of former Republican Rep. Steve Pearce, the current leader of the New Mexico Republican Party.
25 years ago: Constitutional coup removes Ecuador president

On February 6, 1997, Ecuadorian President Abdala Bucaram was ousted by a congressional vote charging him with mental incapacity. In the course of the week, three different people claimed to be legitimately in charge of the South American country.

Rosalea Arteaga, who succeeded Abdala Bucaram as Ecuadorian president

Bucaram, who referred to himself as El Loco, or the crazy one, because of his unconventional behavior on the campaign trail and in office, refused to recognize the vote. The move came after a month of street protests and a two-day general strike against austerity measures that had been imposed on orders from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Both his Vice President, Rosalia Arteaga, and Fabian Alarcon, the head of Congress, claimed the right of succession to Bucaram, who himself denounced the congressional vote as illegal.

As in most political crises in Ecuadors modern history, the dispute was resolved through the intervention of the military and behind-the-scenes machinations of the United States embassy. The army announced that it would no longer accept Bucarams orders, Arteaga was installed for two days, and Alarcon then formed a new government.

Elected six months earlier on the basis of a populist campaign, Bucaram quickly adopted an extremely stringent economic austerity package, raising electricity, telephone and public transit prices while proposing the wholesale privatization of state-owned enterprises. Banks and investment firms hailed the measures, bidding up the price of government bonds.

Bucaram apparently antagonized the multinational corporations, however, with demands for bribes and the imposition of new tariff duties. This prompted an all but open demand from the US embassy for his ouster. Speaking to a group of Ecuadorian businessmen in January, US Ambassador Leslie Alexander denounced the government and declared, Unless a dramatic attack is rapidly made on the systematic corruption now afflicting this country, it will be my duty to officially warn my fellow citizens of the dangers of investing here.

While Alarcon temporarily rescinded some of Bucarams most extreme economic policies, there was little doubt that he would quickly move to impose another restructuring plan that would meet the requirements of the IMF.

50 years ago: Massive blizzard devastates Iran

Beginning on February 3, 1972, the deadliest blizzard in recorded history hit Iran. An estimated 4,000 people were killed by the storm, and tens of thousands were made refugees. Hundreds of towns were completely buried in snow. Three villagesKakkan, Kumar, and Sheklabwere totally destroyed, with no survivors.

Iran

The blizzard came after an extended period of drought that had lasted four years. But rather than being relieved by rain, the drought was followed by a weeklong snowstorm that covered the entire country. In areas typically known for their arid and warm climate, temperatures dropped to as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit, with snow accumulating to a depth of 10 feet and even as much as 26 feet.

After a week of constant snowfall, rescue teams were deployed by helicopter to villages. But storms resumed on February 11, forcing rescue teams to evacuate. Rather than continue attempts to dig out survivors, the teams resorted to dropping containers of food and other supplies in hopes survivors could recover them.

The blizzard exposed the deep poverty and economic backwardness of Iranian society, after decades of US domination under the brutal regime of the Shah, Reza Pahlavi, which siphoned off the nations oil and gas wealth to international corporations and a thin layer of the Iranian elite. Lacking infrastructure to deal with a winter storm, villagers were left with no option but to shelter in their homes while the snow piled up around, trapping them inside. Surviving Iranians then faced food shortages as transportation and shipping was held back for weeks after the storm.

75 years ago: Top Stalinist agent arrested in the US in early stages of Cold War

On February 4, 1947 Gerhart Eisler was arrested at his New York home and taken to Ellis Island prison as an enemy alien. Two days later, he was brought before the House Un-American Affairs Committee (HUAC), which demanded that he answer questions about his relationship with the US Communist Party (CP). When he refused, Eisler was charged with trumped-up immigration offenses. The German citizen was alleged to be one of the leading agents of the Soviet Union in the US.

Gerhart Eisler

Eisler had been in Europe during the war and was detained in Nazi-occupied France. Shortly after the Nazis annulled the Stalin-Hitler pact with their 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, Eisler escaped Europe and was granted refuge in the US. His entry, under conditions of restrictive immigration policies which would have ordinarily prevented him from admission, coincided with the beginning of a wartime alliance between the Soviet Union and the Allied imperialist powers.

The FBI closely monitored Eisler, but made no attempt to block his activities. He was a well-known political figure, having in 1919 helped to establish the Austrian Communist Party, then a genuine revolutionary organization. He was involved in significant factional conflicts in the German Communist Party in the 1920s.

Eisler aligned himself with the Stalinist bureaucracy, which usurped power from the Soviet working class and carried out a brutal campaign against those who had led the Russian Revolution, including Leon Trotsky. In the mid-1920s, Eisler was dispatched by Stalin to China, where he oversaw purges of Trotskys supporters from the Communist Party and assisted in imposing a class collaborationist program that led to the defeat of the 1925-27 Chinese Revolution. He was reportedly dubbed the executioner.

In October 1946, Louis Budenz, a former Stalinist turned right-wing anti-communist, publicly claimed that Eisler, though not a member of the American CP, controlled it with directives right from the Kremlins mouth.

The apparent shift in the US governments attitude to Eisler coincided with the first stages of the Cold War, as American imperialism sought to guarantee its hegemony in war-ravaged Europe and worldwide, including through aggressive confrontation with the Soviet Union. Eisler was charged with several offenses. With his legal appeals exhausted, he fled to Britain in 1949, and then on to East Germany, in whose Stalinist regime he served as a functionary until his death two decades later.

100 years ago: James Joyces Ulysses published

On February 2, 1922, Sylvia Beachs Shakespeare and Co. in Paris published James Joyces modernist novel, Ulysses. The book was printed in an edition of 2,000 by Maurice Darantiere in Lyon. February 2 was also the Irish novelists 40th birthday.

James Joyce, sketch by Djuna Barnes, 1922

The novel is widely regarded as one of the main works of the modernist movement in literature that included a wide range of authors of several nationalities: Andre Gide in France, the Americans T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, as well as Virginia Woolf, E. M. Forster and D.H. Lawrence in the United Kingdom, among others. Literary modernism often emphasized the disjunctive states of consciousness of characters. The movement was powerfully affected by the carnage of the First World War, in addition to the work of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and the irrationalism of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

Ulysses takes place in a single day, June 16, 1904, in Dublin, and shows the internal lives of several characters such as Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom, and Stephen Dedalus, the protagonist of Joyces novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). Chapters of Ulysses are modeled on books of the ancient Greek epic poem, Homers Odyssey (Ulysses is the Latin version of the name of the protagonist of the Odyssey, Odysseus).

Because of the novels sexual frankness, it encountered frequent censorship and was the cause of lawsuits. It also became a cause celebre in the defense of freedom of expression. Ulysses was banned in 1921 in the United States after a part of it was published in the Little Review, and it was not until a judge in the United States ruled that the work was not obscene, after a second trial in 1934, that the work could be circulated in an English-speaking country. It was banned in the United Kingdom until 1936, and it was not available in Ireland until the 1960s.
The Corbynite Labour left, the trade union bureaucracy and the pseudo-left groups are opposing mandatory vaccination in the National Health Service (NHS), claiming to defend the democratic rights of health workers.

But the real social interests behind this campaign are made plain by its alignment with the Conservative Partys right-wing and anti-vax protest leaders, and by the increasing likelihood of its success courtesy of the Johnson government as it moves to end all efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.

The deadline for booking a first vaccination for frontline NHS staff dealing with the public is February 3, but Health Secretary Sajid Javid already said last Wednesday that the policy was under review and that the government was reflecting on this. The Telegraph reports this morning that he will scrap the plans imminently.

Spurred by the Tory backbenches, the government has moved from a vaccine-only strategy, which has collapsed under the pressure of the more transmissible and immune-evasive Omicron variant it helped produce, to a policy of endemic COVID-19.

The government has abandoned all anti-COVID public health measures and decided that everyone will at some stage be infected with either Omicron or another variant. Even the requirement to self-isolate after a positive test is due to end no later than March.

None of this has met with any opposition from ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his allies, the trade unions and groups such as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and Socialist Party (SP). Instead, they have collectively decided to oppose one measure onlycompulsory vaccination in the NHS.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking on Double Down News about his vote against mandatory vaccination of National Health Service workers (screenshot: Double Down News/YouTube)

The way was pointed by Corbyns vote against what are routinely referred to as vaccine passports along with mandatory vaccines in the NHS on December 14, joining forces with anti-lockdown, anti-mask Tory backbenchers. There was never in fact a requirement to prove vaccination status to gain entry into bars, clubs and sporting events, as proof of a negative test was also accepted.

On January 18, Corbyn released a YouTube video restating that something doesnt fit right with the idea you have to be compulsorily vaccinated. He did so knowing that Johnson planned to announce the end of all measures to combat the pandemic, including restrictions on entering social venues, which he did the very next day.

An adaptation to the policy of mass infection

Corbyn is backed by the SWP and SP, with the SWP authoring an open letter against mandatory vaccines.

Their stated justifications are, firstly, that the mandate will exacerbate the staffing crisis in the NHS, plunging the health service into its biggest crisis yet and tipping an already overwhelmed service and stretched workforce over the edge. Secondly, that the government is in no position to convince workers to get the vaccine.

The SWP's "Open letter against mandatory vaccines"

This is deeply cynical. The crisis in the NHS and the undermining of the vaccine programme are a product of the governments herd immunity strategy which neither Corbyn nor these organisations ever did anything to oppose.

Corbyn even admitted to sitting through government meetings discussing herd immunity in spring 2020, while still Labour leader, and saying nothing for months. He began the de facto coalition with Johnsons Tory government which current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has maintained. The pseudo-left have likewise refused to organise any serious campaign for the closure of unsafe workplaces and the suppression of the virus.

To do so would have brought them into conflict with a trade union bureaucracy, in which they are deeply ensconced and to which they are slavishly oriented. Throughout the pandemic, the unions, led by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), have enforced Johnsons every effort to keep workers on the job and children in schools in unsafe conditions, in service to corporate profits.

The campaign against the NHS mandate is a deepening of this adaptation to the policy of mass infection. Earlier this month, the TUC issued a statement calling for the mandatory vaccine scheme to be delay[ed] with immediate effect. A few weeks later, TUC General Secretary Frances OGrady wrote that workers must now learn to live with COVID. She continued, At long last a new normal is emerging in workplaces across the UK as we enter this new stage of transition from pandemic to endemic.

Like the Tory right, the union bureaucracy, their spokesperson Corbyn and their backers in the pseudo-left see no sense in requiring vaccination against a disease which they have accepted will be widespread throughout society forever.

A false appeal to democratic rights

Corbyn and the pseudo-left even leap ahead of Johnson by not only warning of the possible consequences of a vaccine mandate but opposing it in principle.

The opening criticism made of the mandate in Corbyns January 18 video is telling. Boris Johnson claims to be a libertarian he seems to be burying the libertarian bit at the moment, he states.

This is the criticism made of Johnson by the Tory hard right. It appeals not to the working class who have lived under the tyranny of the virus for two years, suffering disproportionate rates of death, illness and financial hardship, but to the most backward sections of the petty-bourgeoise who find intolerable the restrictions and demands on their lifestyles necessary in a pandemic to safeguard the health and lives of societys most vulnerable.

The most revolting defence offered for this anti-scientific, anti-socialist position is the patronising invocation of ethnic differences in vaccine take-up. The SWP write in their open letter, Those who are sceptical of the vaccine are more likely to be black and other minority ethnicities and in the lower grades of NHS staff. This is presumably also the meaning of the TUCs claim that a vaccine mandate may be discriminatory.

Vaccine mandates target no one based on their ethnicity; the policy is conditioned by the need for society to collectively combat a virulent and deadly disease. Mandatory vaccination for care home and NHS workers is made more urgent still by their duty of care to patients who are most vulnerable to COVID. The real threat to BAME individuals, the majority of whom, as with every ethnicity, have taken up the vaccine, is not the discrimination of a mandate but their disproportionate suffering at the hands of the virus against which it protects.

For a multitude of reasons, primarily associated with social inequality, BAME groups are significantly more likely to be killed by the virus. In the second wave, Bangladeshi men were five times more likely than White, Pakistani men 3.1 times, Black African 2.4 times, Indian 2.1 times and Black Caribbean 2 times. The figures are similar, with slightly smaller differences, for women.

The SWP write that scepticism is not irrationalblack people in the US, the UK and in the Global South have historically been subjected to utterly unethical experiments for medical science.

There is a world of difference between understanding someones concern and accepting it as legitimate, let alone a basis for opposing a lifesaving vaccine mandate.

The suggestion that the current vaccines are unsafe has no scientific merit, let alone any suggestion that their use can be compared with an unethical experiment. More than 10.1 billion shots have been given worldwide to people of every ethnic background. The percentage of vaccinations that result in serious side effects is miniscule and, more importantly, significantly less than the risk of the same symptoms if infected with COVID.

The pandemic has claimed around 18 million lives worldwide, the majority in poor countries with immensely restricted access to vaccines. To lend credence to policies and ideologies seeking to restrict vaccine uptake is politically shameful.

Vaccine mandates can create the conditions for overcoming unfounded concerns. Once a deadline is decided, following a serious public information campaign, the opportunity can be given to everyone to raise any worries with a trusted colleague or medical professional and have them dispelled.

There are genuine concerns within the medical profession that the Tories have created conditions in which up to 120,000 workers could be sacked in health and social care services (77,000 in the NHS) already reeling under the combined impact of decades of cuts and the pandemic. But the only legitimate response would be to demand a properly implemented mandate.

It remains the case, moreover, that even vaccine requirements implemented by widely discredited capitalist governments have had a positive impact in encouraging vaccine uptake, so that apocalyptic warnings of mass sackings did not materialise.

Research reported by the Financial Times found that Covid certificates in France, Germany and Italy increased the vaccination rate in those countries by 13, 6.2 and 9.7 percentage points respectively. In France, a country with high levels of vaccine hesitancy heading into the pandemic, just 3,000 health workers out of 2.7 million were suspended after the deadline passed for mandatory immunisation last September and many of these were temporary as they had agreed to get the jab.

It is not the case that those who refuse to be vaccinated have a democratic right to care for clinically vulnerable people. The World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board issued a statement last July, Oppose the right-wing campaign against vaccination!, which explained, no individual has the right to infect others and endanger their lives. Vaccine requirements are protections against death and severe illness, not infringements on personal liberty.

Countless laws, especially in the field of health and safety, restrict a persons actions to protect them and those around them. People must not drive a car without working brake lights, for example, or while drunk. Within the NHS, many workers are already required to be vaccinated against viruses like Hepatitis B and Measles, Mumps and Rubella for precisely the same reasons as the COVID-19 vaccination.

Working-class, socialist versus petty-bourgeois, libertarian politics

These vaccine requirements have been accepted for years. The battle over the COVID vaccine specifically expresses another, more fundamental conflict over which class response to the pandemic will prevail.

Responding to journalist Glenn Greenwalds endorsement of Corbyns position last December, World Socialist Web Site International Editorial Board Chairman David North wrote :

Corbyns opposition to vaccine mandatesa necessary public health measure in a pandemicis not a defiant and courageous stance on principle, as it is called by Greenwald. It is, rather, a capitulation to the fascistic right.

Greenwald legitimizes his rightwing trajectory by claiming that opposition to vaccination is based on long-standing left-wing values of bodily autonomy and anti-authoritarianism... This is rubbish. He is spouting the anti-authoritarianism of petty-bourgeois anarchism.

All of Greenwalds arguments can be found in Bakunin's 1871 tract, What is Authority, which specifically argues against individual subordination to laws developed on the basis of sciencewhich include all laws and regulations that protect public health.

Friedrich Engels replied to Bakunin in his 1872 essay, On Authority. Engels explained that the complexity of modern production displaces independent action by individuals. Organization implies collective and collaborative activity, and, thus, the exercise of authority.

Friedrich Engels

Hence it is absurd to speak of the principle of authority as being absolutely evil, and of the principle of autonomy as being absolutely good. Authority and autonomy are relative things whose spheres vary with the various phases of the development of society.

Greenwalds anarchistic principle of bodily autonomy ignores not only the reality of modern social organization. It is oblivious to the reality of the class struggle. A strike is a form of collective action that involves the exercise of authority and disciplined action.

The traditional purpose of a picket line is to enforce the shutdown of a plant. This involves, to the extent that the strike is conducted with the intention of winning, dissuading individuals from entering the plant, by force if necessary.

Thus, a picket line is an extreme exercise of authority, involving a direct and physical infringement on the bodily autonomy of the would be strikebreaker. The greater the mass action, the greater the restrictions imposed on bodily autonomy.

Engels wrote: A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is... One part of the population imposes its will on another part.

Confronted with a virus that is infecting and killing thousands of people every day, public health takes precedent over individual interestsand especially when the individuals are undermining the fight to suppress the pandemic.

Moreover, the fight for vaccinations combined with absolutely essential public health measures like school closings and lockdownsmeasures opposed by Greenwaldinvolves a struggle against corporate-financial interests, backed by the capitalist state.

Spouting reactionary anarchistic nonsense, Greenwalds petty-bourgeois anti-authoritarianism is a fraud that serves the interests of the ruling class.

The task of socialists in the pandemic is to help the working class enforce a scientific policy that protects the lives, health, livelihoods and liberties of the population against the policy of social murder enacted and ferociously defended by the ruling class. To do otherwise is to cede everything to the anti-vax positions of the right-wing libertarians, the far right, and innumerable conspiracy theorists.

Endorsing their insistence on bodily autonomy regarding vaccination cannot be separated from claims that lockdowns, enforced social distancing, mask wearing, and test-and-trace measures are also an unacceptable infringement on individual liberties. Corbyn says so explicitly in his YouTube video, drawing a line between COVID passports, compulsory identification when you go to vote and a massive data bank of all our information, in terms virtually identical to his brother, Piers, one of the leading lights of the anti-vax protests.

Within a few days of announcing their open letter against the NHS vaccine mandate, the SWP were forced to acknowledge anti-vax demonstrations the previous weekend, attended by a handful of health workers, where the trajectory was to the right Far from a fringe element, those pushing harder conspiratorial ideas, often rooted in antisemitism, are at the core.

The NHS 100k group in attendance casts doubt on the effectiveness of the vaccine and promotes false anti-mask research, and encouraged its supporters to join the right wing English Workers Union, which is run by the leader of the far right English Democrats party.

The SWPs answer to this malignant development it encouraged was to double-down on calls for the trade unions to lead anti-mandate protests.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) supports all necessary measures to control, suppress and eliminate SARS-CoV-2, including universal vaccination, but as part of a global strategy to be implemented by the working class in struggle against all capitalist governments and their political allies, including the self-proclaimed left apologists for herd immunity.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTHI) - A new Indiana house bill could impact your kids in the classroom.

Indiana House Bill 1134 just passed the House and is moving on for discussion in the Senate.

If passed, this bill would change school curriculums across the street state in many different ways. One of the biggest is how teachers may be limited in teaching certain concepts, like race, gender and ethnicity.

Also, in the bill, parents of students may be able to opt-in and out of certain curricular materials.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Wabash River from Lafayette to Montezuma. White River at Elliston and Edwardsport. .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. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. 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 TUESDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...Until Tuesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:45 PM EDT Wednesday the stage was 13.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tomorrow evening to a crest of 18.0 feet Saturday evening. It will then fall below flood stage early Tuesday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
Update Feb. 1

Update Jan. 31, 9:18 a.m.

Police detained a suspect; however, police did not identify the suspect.

Tupelo police is expected to release more information soon.

Original article below

TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA)  Police in Tupelo are looking into a Sunday morning shooting that sent a man to the hospital in critical condition.

Captain Chuck McDougald said someone called officers to an apartment in the 1300 block of Mitchell Road around 4:30 a.m.

When they showed up, they found the man with gunshot wounds.

An ambulance took him to the emergency room at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.

McDougald did not release the man's name and did not reveal if police had an idea who shot the man.

You can call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at 1-800-773-TIPS if you have information that could help police solve this case.
Federal prosecutors have reached plea agreements with Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael, on hate crime charges they faced in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.
PANAMA CITY BEACH  There's only one place this weekend you'll find Japanese-style fried chicken in the same venue as grilled cheese spaghetti sandwiches  the Panama City Beach Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival.

The festival returns for its fifth year to Aaron Bessant Park, 500 W. Park Drive, from 12 p.m. noon to 5 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 6. Ticket holders will have access to more than 30 food trucks and 50 craft beer selections.

From last year: 1 stop, 20 trucks: Panama City Beach Food Truck Festival is where you want to be on Sunday

New PCB restaurant: Atlanta-based Sombreros Tacos and Bar opens new restaurant in Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach Food Truck Festival will be held Feb. 5 and 6 at Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach.

Voted "the 2021 Finest Food Truck on the Emerald Coast," My Ohana will make its first appearance at the festival with handmade sauces for its pan-Asian cuisine, which includes Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Hawaiian.

Owner Michael Ledford plans to feature one of My Ohana's most popular dishes at the festival  karaage, Japanese-style fried chicken tossed in a homemade Korean sauce and topped with Kewpie mayo, a Japanese mayonnaise.

Im looking forward to meeting other vendors in the food truck community," Ledford said. "Its always nice to meet other people that share the same logic."

Founded in 2012, Food Truck Festivals of America has created 80 festivals throughout the U.S., combining dozens of food trucks and craft breweries. According to the FTFA website, the company has a goal to introduce communities across the country to the phenomenon of gourmet food trucks and support the small business owners who run them.

Two years ago, our event attracted 10,000 people and this year we are expecting 5,000 to 10,000 attendees, FTFA Marketing Director Bethany DaSilva said of the Panama City Beach festival, which is planned for rain or shine.

The fifth annual Panama City Beach Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival returns Feb. 5 and 6 at Aaron Bessant Park.

Family-friendly activities for all ages will commence throughout the festival, including music, axe throwing, face painting, a mechanical bull and other outdoor activities. Attendees are encouraged to follow social distancing and other health-related safety recommendations.

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We will be handing out masks to those who don't have one but would like one, there will be hand sanitizer provided at all of our stations and tents. We are asking the trucks to have hand sanitizer ready and available for guests as well, DaSilva said. We will also be taking precautions of spacing the trucks so attendees can stand a comfortable distance of 6 feet apart while standing in line.

Tickets to the festival are available online; purchase in advance for a discounted price. General admission are $5 for a single day and $8 for both days if purchased online; $10 per day at the gate on the day of the festival. All first responders and active or retired military are free with valid ID at the gate. Children age 12 and under are also free. Admission price does not cover the cost of food and drinks.

Specialty beer, foodies, and VIP packages are available online, and include a range of perks, such as, signature koozies, unlimited bottled water at the festival, early admission, beer tickets, free desserts, and more. For more information on tickets, bundle deals, and more, visit www.showpass.com/ftfa-pcb/.

FTFA doesn't only pull food trucks from across the region. Local trucks will be on scene serving up the bounty of food truck cuisine from across Bay County; to name a few: El Weirdo's unique spin on Mexican street food (Sunday only), RibCrib's Memphis-style barbeque, fresh pineapple drinks from Pineapple Island, and Curry in a Hurry's Indian cuisine.

More festival food trucks

Bee Smoothie

Blackflamingo Culture Cuisine

Cafe Rico

Chazitos Latin Cuisine

Copper Grille

Ernie's Hot Dog Stand

Fier Thai Fusion

GetChewaBox

Lydia's Mexican Food

Maria's Kitchen

Melissas Kusina

Patches On the Go

Scoops, Sweets, and Treats (Saturday only)

Smokin Butts

South Coast Grill

Sunshine Asian Fusion

Thai 2 Go

Thai Taste Express

Thats What Cheese Said

The SnoBar Truck

The Spice is Right

Tropical Paradise Cuisine

Who Cut the Grilled Cheese and Cheesecake

50 + craft beers from these companies

Drift

Anheuser-Busch

Back Forty Beer Co.

Elysian Brewing Co.

Fairhope Brewing Co.

Faubourg Brewing/Dixie

Funky Buddha

Grayton Beer Co.

Islamorada Beverages

Oyster City Brewing Co.

Proof Brewing Co.

Props Brewery

Swamp Head

Vermont Hard Cider

Wicked Week

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach Food Truck, Craft Beer Fest returns with 30 trucks
The Home Depot is trying to help close the growing labor gap in Arizonas construction industry.

Lee en espanol

Metro Phoenix has recouped all of the jobs lost in the last recession, and the area's unemployment rate has dipped to 2.4%. This has made it difficult for many employers to fill current openings.

But they're still trying, with some employers seeking to hire dozens if not hundreds of workers locally. Here are some openings in the Valley:

Credit-card company expands

Discover Financial Services plans to add more than 1,000 jobs this year across Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Ohio and Utah as it expands its credit card and banking businesses.

Open positions include customer service and collections representatives, underwriters, personal-loan specialists and managers.

The company said full-time employees will receive starting wages of at least $16 an hour plus benefits that include paid time off, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and 401(k) matching funds. Also, employees may choose to work from home, in the office or a combination. Visit jobs.discover.com for more information.

The company didnt specify the number of Arizona openings, but Discover already counts roughly 3,000 employees in the state.

Insurer Blue Cross to fill openings

Health insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is seeking to fill more than 100 full-time positions in clinical and customer service, information technology, medical coding, project management and other areas.

The company, which employs roughly 2,550 people in Arizona, offers competitive pay and benefits that include medical insurance, a retirement plan, paid vacations, wellness programs, Zoom fitness classes, virtual cooking classes and more.

For more information, prospective applicants can visit jobs.azblue.com.

Security firm will hold hiring event

Allied Universal, a leading security and building-services company, is seeking to hire 250 or more security employees in the Valley and will hold a hiring event on Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at its office at 3030 N. Central Ave., Suite 407, in Phoenix.

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Allied Universal is offering hiring bonuses of up to $1,000 for applicants who hold an Arizona Guard Card. The company will pay for the card for new hires who lack one.

Applicants may complete an online application at jobs.aus.com, which also lists company openings nationally.

For full-time positions, benefits include medical and dental coverage, life insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits, paid holidays and tuition reimbursement.

Mexican restaurant hiring

New Scottsdale restaurant Call Her Martina plans to hire 35 workers including cooks, servers, bartenders and hostesses, with bilingual employees preferred. The restaurant originally announced it will hold a job fair on Feb. 3 but pushed it back to Feb. 9.

The Mexico City-style eatery is set to open in February. Interested applicants may send a resume to callhermartina@gmail.com or call 253-335-3332 to set up an interview.

The Feb. 9 job fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. at 7135 E. Camelback Road, #165, in Scottsdale.

Home Depot offers job training

The Home Depot is trying to help close the growing labor gap in Arizonas construction industry with a free job training and networking program. The Path to Pro program features online courses and other assistance for those 18 and older hoping to begin a career in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and other fields.

The courses cover job site safety, correct use of tools, construction materials, communication skills and other topics.

Potential applicants can visit PathtoPro.com to learn more and register.

Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Discover Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield among employers hiring in AZ
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission.

Vanessa Hudgens defied winter by visiting the beach with friends GG Magree and Vince Rossi on a trip for her cactus water brand, Caliwater.

More from Footwear News

The TickTickBoom! actress posed on the sand in a bright green bikini and matching sarong by White Fox Swim. The swimwear featured thin shoulder straps and a long front tie, while the sarong included a knotted waist detail. Hudgens paired the set with a gold Cartier Love bracelet, hoop earrings, delicate rings and cat-eye sunglasses. She also added summer-worthy elements to the look with a beaded necklace and printed scarf, as well as a green bucket hat.

@caliwater adventures, Hudgens captioned the post.

For footwear, the High School Musical alumni slipped on a pair of tan thong sandals. Her style featured flat, thin soles and thin thong straps. The footwear added a relaxed element to her look. It also remained ideal for the beach and warmer weather with its minimalist silhouette and ease to slip on and off.

Thong sandals like Hudgens have evolved past their beach-worthy silhouette in recent seasons. The style, known for its angular straps and warm weather-worthy shape, has transformed into ankle-wrap and heeled styles in the last year from brands like Gianvito Rossi, Schutz and Jeffrey Campbell. In recent weeks, stars like Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid and Kendall have also worn thong sandals by Miu Miu, Proenza Schouler and Dries Van Noten. Hudgens regularly wears the style, like the $50 Tkees pair she donned with a Patbo maxi dress in Italy last summer.

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Vanessa Hudgens on Instagram Stories, July 20, 2021. - Credit: @vanessahudgens

@vanessahudgens

When it comes to shoes, Hudgens preferred styles vary between sleek and sporty. The Gimme Shelter actress often wears chunky sneakers for off-duty looks and the gym, from brands including Naked Wolfe, Mercer Amsterdam and Balenciaga. When hitting the red carpet, she usually wears pointed-toe pumps and platforms from Manolo Blahnik, Brian Atwood and Stuart Weitzman. Hudgens also mixes affordable styles into her off-duty wardrobe, such as Tkees flip-flops, Crocs clogs and Adidas slides that all retail for under $50. Shes also appeared in Savage X Fentys Vol. 3 fashion show, as well as front rows for brands like Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera and Anna Sui during New York Fashion Week.

Click through the gallery to see Hudgens boldest street style looks over the years.

Slip on thong sandals at the beach like Hudgens.

Credit: Courtesy of Target

Courtesy of Target

To Buy: Shade and Shore Ava sandals, $9 (was $10).

Credit: Courtesy of Nordstrom

Courtesy of Nordstrom

To Buy: Free People Ivy sandals, $98.

Credit: Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

To Buy: Tory Burch Studded Jelly sandals, $128.

Launch Gallery: Vanessa Hudgens' Standout Street Style Looks Through the Years

Best of Footwear News

Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Instagram

A pair of Bridgeport detectives involved in probing the Dec. 12 deaths of two Black women have been suspended over their handling of the cases, the citys mayor announced Sunday.

I want you to know that I am extremely disappointed with the leadership of the Bridgeport Police Department and find actions taken up to this point unacceptable, Mayor Joe Ganim wrote in a statement.

Ganim said he had ordered the Bridgeport Police Departments leadership to place both Det. Angel Llanos and Det. Kevin Cronin on administrative leave. Both officers would remain suspended until an internal investigation over lack of sensitivity to the public and failure to follow police policy had been concluded, the mayor added.

The conduct of the Bridgeport police has been under scrutiny since both the families of Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls began demanding answers in the wake of their deaths. Both women were found dead on the same day, and neither family was informed by police. Both families have alleged authorities havent taken the cases seriously, treating them with racialized insensitivity.

#BREAKING: @CityofBptCT Mayor Gamin has @bptpolice suspend both Detectives Cronin & Illanos, putting them on admin leave over allegations on their handling of cases involving deaths of #LaurenSmithFields & #BrendaLeeRawls. Internal affairs is investigating the detectives @wtnh pic.twitter.com/jl10sTdvXR  Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) January 31, 2022

Rawls, 53, died on Dec. 12 after going over to a mans house who lived near her in Bridgeport, her family told NBC News earlier this week.

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Nobody ever notified us that she died, Dorothy Rawls Washington, Rawls sister, told NBC News. We had to do our own investigation and find out where she was.

Washington said family members walked to the mans house on Dec. 14 after days of unsuccessfully attempting to contact Rawls. The man told them that he hadnt been able to wake Rawls up and that she had died.

Another sister, Angela Rawls Martin, said the man then passed her Rawls clothing and shoes. I dont understand why that was left behind, Martin told NBC.

Washington alleged that Rawls had been treated by the police like she was a Jane Doe, adding that it was like they found her on the side of the road with no identification. They have no respect. She explained that she had attempted to call an unnamed detective, whose name she had been given by the Bridgeport Police Department, at least four times. She never heard back from him, she said.

Family members of Smith-Fields, 23, raised similar alarm bells after she was found dead following a date with a 37-year-old man shed met on the dating app Bumble. It was only 48 hours later that her family found out, though, after Smith-Fields concerned mother drove to her home. A note, pinned to the door by Smith-Fields landlord, instructed her to call this number, Shantell Fields told CBS News.

She Died After a Bumble Date Six Weeks Ago. Cops Just Opened a Criminal Probe.

Tavar Gray-Smith, Smith-Fields brother, also told CBS that a detective had said the family hadnt been contacted since authorities had her passport and her ID, so we knew who she was.

The family has accused the police of a racially insensitive mishandling of the case, writing in a recent notice of claim that the department had treated them with no respect and violated their civil rights. Similarly to the initial probe into Rawls death, potentially crucial physical evidence was not collected from Smith-Fields home, her family said.

The notice also condemned authorities refusal to consider Smith-Fields Bumble date a person of interest in their probe, declining to interview him after one detective told Smith-Fields father the date had been a nice guy, according to a local outlet.

The Daily Beast is not naming the man, as he has not been charged with a crime.

Amid the 23-year-olds familys calls for answers, public interest in the case snowballed, crescendoing when the rapper Cardi B tweeted last Sunday, Justice for Lauren. Connecticut you have failed that young lady!!!

A day later, the Connecticut chief medical examiner ruled Smith-Fields death an accident, finding shed overdosed on a lethal combination of fentanyl, prescription medication, and alcohol. The family immediately challenged the ruling, and on Jan. 25, acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia said the department would be opening a criminal investigation into the factors that [led to Smith-Fields] untimely death.

Darnell Crosland, an attorney representing Smith-Fields family, told TMZ that Cardi B had been instrumental in getting the investigation opened.

In the wake of the outcry over Smith-Fields death, Ganim had also announced that he would be working with Chief Garcia to make appropriate changes to police policies regarding death notifications. He added in a statement last Monday that sensitivity and care is of utmost importance when working with the family of a victim.

Rawls family said they sent multiple letters to both Ganim and Garcia after their discovery of her death, pleading for justice. Neither the mayor nor the chief had responded to the letters by Thursday, when NBC published its story.

The Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity especially in matters involving the death of a family member, Ganim said on Sunday. It is an unacceptable failure if policies were not followed. He added that Smith-Fields and Rawls deaths remained under active investigation, having been reassigned to other members of the department. Ganim also said an unnamed supervisory officer, who oversaw these matters, had retired from the department on Friday.

Llanos began his career with the Bridgeport police force in 1988, while Cronin started at the department in 2000. With Garcia apparently away from her post, Ganim said he had directed Deputy Chief James Baraja to institute the suspensions. The mayor did not elaborate on a reason for Garcias absence.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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NEW YORK  Gabriela Hearst saw an opening and she plunged right in  and its turned out to be the right move.

The designer  who has made a mark in fashion with her own chic, luxurious collection of environmentally and socially conscious womens wear  is also carving out a niche in mens.

More from WWD

Hearst, who launched her first womens collection in fall 2015, started offering mens pieces six seasons ago, but we started very small, she said during a visit to her studio in Manhattan.

For the fall 2022 season, the mens offering has been dramatically expanded to become a full lifestyle collection  everything from suits, sweaters and outerwear to shoes and accessories.

And the customers are responding.

Were seeing the numbers grow organically. The business is driven by knits and smart tailoring and its becoming more and more important, Hearst said.

Thierry Colin, who joined the Gabriela Hearst company as chief executive officer last July, said that although mens wear currently represents a little under 10 percent of the brands overall sales, over the next two to three years, we expect to double the business. Its still small, but its an important segment from an image point of view.

Hearst believes her mens wear has found a home because it fills a void in the market. We saw there was a window between extremely fashion forward and traditional, classic luxury brands, she said. Our niche is somewhere in between.

Hearst has coined a phrase to describe her collection: honest luxury. That two-word phrase packs a lot of meaning since Hearst is unwavering in her commitment to using as much upcycled or recycled material as possible and also employing skilled artisans from impoverished communities around the world to create her collections.

Hearst, who grew up on a 17,000-acre ranch in Uruguay that her family still owns and she now runs, uses its wool in her line, along with natural fruit dyes, recycled cashmere and other sustainable materials. She proudly says that 57 percent of her collection is made from upcycled or recycled yarns, and she has used a co-op of women in Uruguay for a decade to help create her line. We take a less-industrialized process to clothing, she said.

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Her goal is to create products with care and detail where tradition is more important than trend, where there is a purpose to every piece, according to her brands mission statement. For instance, womens coats are lined with a special silver fabric that prevents cell phone radiation from reaching reproductive organs, and she opts for linen because it absorbs less water than cotton and is derived from flax seeds that can be eaten.

This commitment is evident in her mens wear as well. She uses a deadstock wide-wale corduroy for a trench coat, a military-inspired M65 cardigan is made from recycled cashmere and a boucle coat is created from 50 percent recycled cashmere.

We had our first womens show in 2017 in New York and used all repurposed fabrics. It was strange to use deadstock in luxury then, but now its a common practice, she said.

Among her most striking mens pieces is a green suit in double-face recycled cashmere, a linen wool melange overcoat made from recycled fabrics, a bright yellow waxed linen wool suit and a raw denim hooded coat.

Her suits, offered in both single- and double-breasted options, are quite traditional, she said. Theyre not super sharp, but more casual and answers the need of todays man to look sophisticated but still feel comfortable. I like the psychology of clothing, it has a transformative power, she explained. It empowers you but you also have to make sure the person feels sharp and comfortable. So we make things that look good and feel good.

The design of the pieces is intended to serve a variety of purposes, such as the reversible shirt-jacket, created from vegetable overdyed recycled cashmere. Im a sucker for a two-fer, she said with a laugh. Functionality is one of the things I love about mens wear. The silhouettes are quite restrained, understated and utilitarian, but you see the luxury in the fabrics and colors.

A preview look from the Gabriela Hearst Mens Fall 2022 collection. - Credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD

Lexie Moreland for WWD

Several of the pieces, such as the knitwear and the tote bags, are intended to be dual-gender. A speckled sweater, for example, was created from a special yarn developed from cashmere, and is offered as both mens and womens wear. Anyone can wear it, the genders are blurring today, fusing and becoming one. Case in point: She tells a story about how the first customer to buy one of her mens suits was a woman, which she embraced.

As a result, she will showcase a few mens pieces in her runway show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 15.

Hearst said that overall, shes super happy with how the mens fall collection came out, and shes sure it will also appeal to her intentionally small number of wholesale accounts: Bergdorf Goodman, Mr Porter, Mytheresa, Matchesfashion and the newest addition, Ssense. She believes that many luxury brands are over-distributed, so the company is careful to ensure the Gabriela Hearst brand doesnt fall into that same trap. We want to grow slowly, but only with the right people, she said.

But she does want to grow  as long as she can hold fast to her vision. Eventually she hopes to add more accessories and footwear to her mens offering as she moves closer to her goal. We want to be one of the luxury brands occupying a prominent place in the next 10 years, she said.

Thats one of the reasons Hearst brought in Colin as CEO. His resume includes stints at Burberry, Brioni, Bottega Veneta and Fendi. Although his background has been in large brands, Colin felt there was an opportunity to apply his skills to help the Gabriela Hearst business move to the next stage of its growth.

He said Hearst has a very uncompromising view of what a luxury house can be, which appealed to him. Her sustainability goals, social responsibility and use of traditional, artisanal craftsmanship all combined to lure him to the job.

Its all core to who she is as a person and a designer, he said.

On top of that, she has a recognizable stylistic identify that attracts high-end clients who are seeking understated luxury rather than logo-driven statement pieces. Thats whats resonating at the moment, Colin said. She has the right balance of elevated sophistication and a rustic feel, which is rooted in her own identity and life.

These are the attributes he plans to capitalize on as he maps out a slow but steady growth strategy for the brand. Much of that will be centered around adding to the companys retail footprint. Right now there are three Gabriela Hearst stores: one on Madison Avenue in New York and two in London. Over the next two years, he said, the brand expects to open its first location in Asia and add to its store count in the U.S., including on the West Coast.

Colin said its hard to put a number on how many stores the company hopes to open within the next few years, but said its likely the number will more than double within two years.

Retail is our main focus, but its a very demanding process, he said. We have to be very fiscally responsible.

What he doesnt expect to do is add a lot of wholesale distribution, especially in North America. Instead, the plan is to grow the business with the existing customers.

Gabriela Hearst - Credit: Courtesy of Gabriela Hearst

Courtesy of Gabriela Hearst

That includes bringing the mens wear to higher prominence.

Colin said the mens offering fits very naturally into the aesthetic Hearst has created, with its elegant, casual silhouette. Its not forced, its a natural extension.

He said her very responsible approach to clothing and the consumption of luxury goods, the quality and warmth of the materials and the very strong knitwear and outerwear identity are what were trying to bring to the male customer.

As more retail stores open, Colin said the plan is to make sure mens wear has a home in the stores where it can be showcased properly.

Even though the company expects to continue on a path to growth, there are no plans to sell to a larger luxury house, Colin said. The business is funded by Hearst and her husband, Austin Hearst, the grandson of William Randolph Hearst, and in early 2019, LVMH Luxury Ventures, an investment arm of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, took a minority stake.

And even though Hearst also serves as creative director at Chloe, a division of Compagnie Financiere Richemont, the two remain separate.

She has a long-term view to how she approaches the business that is attached to the ownership and her vision, Colin said. So we will build a growth plan that will preserve this ownership structure.

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Even though Mindy Kaling is raising her two children in California, she calls Cambridge, Massachusetts home. During a recent visit to her home state, Kaling ended up getting stuck as a massive snowstorm hit the Northeast, but the delay turned out to be an unexpectedly emotional one as her kids got to see snow for the very first time  an experience the actress called so beautiful in a touching Instagram post.

Kaling shared snaps of daughter Katherine, 4, and son Spencer, 1, all bundled up in their colorful winter gear and having a blast during their very first snow day. She shared a photo as the white stuff was coming down and a video of Katherine trudging through the snow in her boots, reflecting on the joy of the moment  as well as her kids getting to visit her home state for the first time  in her caption.

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The upside of this noreaster is that my kids got to see snow and be in my home state for the first time, she wrote. They could hardly believe it. I sound like a bad greeting card, but its so beautiful seeing experiences from my own childhood through their eyes. The joy, the surprise. Sometimes its such a powerful feeling I want to cry. So yeah, Im just that weird emotional Indian woman lugging a sled up the hill.

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Kaling also took to Instagram to share an adorable selfie outside as she was enjoying the snow, captioning the shot, Ms. Blizz 22.

It seems she enjoyed an extended stay in Massachusetts, sharing another video of the snow-covered outdoors to her Instagram Stories a day later. Heres hoping that she and her little ones enjoyed their unexpected snow days and return home to sunny California safely.

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Launch Gallery: 15+ Printable Snowflake Templates That Will Get Your Kids Through Any Snow Day

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A rare silver coin from the earliest years of the United States increased in value by $11,999,999 when a man from Las Vegas sold it to GreatCollections Coin Auctions, a company based in Irvine, California. Now valued at $12 million, the silver dollar from 1794 is believed to be the first such coin ever made by the US Mint, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and was intended to help replace Spanish, English, Dutch and French coins that were in circulation in the countrys post-Colonial era. Bruce Morelan, a business executive in Las Vegas, paid $10,016,875 for the treasure in 2013 and exhibited it across the country and in Europe before selling it.

In a statement, Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, said, Because of its significance, it was likely seen by President George Washington, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson who oversaw the young United States Mint. Without question, this is Americas most coveted silver dollar, a numismatic national treasure.

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Of 1,758 such coins made in Philadelphia on a hand-turned press, only some 140 survive. And the condition of coin most recently sold is substantially better than the examples in the Smithsonian Institutions National Numismatic Collection and the American Numismatic Association museum, according to Russell.

A collector since the age of six, Morelan, the seller, said, Coins are in my blood, and the 1794 dollar was a lifelong dream. Im truly blessed to have owned it and hope the new owner has as much joy, pride, and satisfaction as I did.

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Ukraines ambassador warned of the far-reaching effects of a potential Russian invasion of his countrys territory on Sunday as top figures in the US foreign policy sphere reiterated that Vladimir Putin had options on the table to avert war.

Oksana Markarova made the comments during an interview with CBSs Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation on Sunday.

She warned that Russian forces would not stop at claiming Ukraines territory, and would threaten all of eastern Europe if the west did not oppose them.

"I believe nobody's safe if Ukraine will be attacked," the ambassador told CBS News.

She added: [I]f Ukraine will be further attacked by Russia, of course, they will not stop after Ukraine. So that's why it's in the interest of Europe and all democratic world, to help us to defend ourselves but also to show that the international rule of law still works.

The ambassador did not portray the issue as one of Ukraines potential membership in NATO, the Soviet-era alliance formed to deter Russia and its allies, but rather one of Moscows supposed disapproval of the idea of having a pro-western democracy on its doorstep.

The reason why Putin attacked us is not because he wants Ukraine, or only Ukraine. The reason he attacked us is because we have chosen to be a democracy and we have the Atlantic and European aspirations, said Ms Markarova.

A top official in the US State Department, Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, reiterated in her own interview with Ms Brennan that Mr Putin still had all options on the table, including both invasion as well as a peaceful retreat from Ukraines borders.

We dont believe [Putin]s made a decision, but as hes done in the past hes given himself every option, including ... a massive potential invasion of all of Ukraine, including cyber attacks, including incursion from Belarus, said Ms Nuland.

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee agreed. Sen Dick Durbin told NBCs Meet the Press that while any decision on Ukraine will be made by Ukraine, he thought that Ukraine and Russia could come to a way out of this short of military action.

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Mr Durbin went on to suggest that if Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, were to accept a deal that limited his countrys future engagement with the NATO military alliance it could be the first step at easing such tensions.

The comments represent a slight change in tone from several parties involved; Ukrainian officials had been said last week, particularly surrounding a call between Mr Zelensky and President Joe Biden, that the US needed to tone down its rhetoric regarding the likelihood of a Russian invasion.

US officials, meanwhile, had been reportedly describing the potential of an invasion as all but inevitable in the coming weeks, a marked difference than the suggestions from both Ms Nuland and Mr Durbin on Sunday.

Mr Biden even reportedly told Mr Zelensky on that phone call last week that Kiev, Ukraines capital, could be sacked during the fighting, a Ukrainian government official who remained anonymous told several news outlets.

Russian officials have continued to demand that Ukraine be barred from joining the NATO alliance and have refused allegations from the west including the US regarding their supposed plans to invade, even as tens of thousands of troops amass near Ukrainian territory and the country retains control of territory seized during the 2014 invasion of Crimea.

US lawmakers in Congress are in the meantime working on a new package of sanctions targeting top Russian officials, an effort that Ms Nuland confirmed to CBS News was being done in conjunction with the White House and broader Biden administration. Its not yet clear whether more sanctions will be implemented against Russia if the situation remains as it is in the coming weeks.

Mr Biden has vowed to personally sanction Mr Putin if conflict breaks out. A US official told The Independent last week that the Biden administrations plan is to maximise pain in the Kremlin if invasion occurs, including potentially via measures targeting the countrys largest financial institutions.
President Joe Bidens Supreme Court nominee doesnt need Republican votes to be confirmed. And this past years judicial confirmations suggest shes unlikely to get many.

But Democrats have one heartening statistic in their corner: The three GOP senators who most frequently backed Bidens picks for the federal bench over the past year did so at a rate similar to the three Democrats who most often crossed the aisle to support Donald Trumps judicial nominees during his first year in office, according to a POLITICO analysis.

Three Republican senators  Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  have all voted to confirm at least 60 percent of Bidens judges since his term began. During Trumps first year as president, centrist Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota were their partys most frequent backers of the former president's judicial nominees, with all three voting for roughly 70 percent of Trumps judges during his first year.



Of course, it's far too early to tell whether Biden's pick could see a confirmation vote closer to Justice Neil Gorsuch's (he won over Manchin, Donnelly and Heitkamp in 2017) or that of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the first high court justice in more than 150 years not to receive a single vote from a member of the minority party. Either way, the numbers indicate that whomever Biden picks to fill the shoes of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer likely won't see substantial bipartisan support.

Conservative hard-liner Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who hasnt supported any of Bidens judicial picks, said in an interview that hes not making a judgment call yet on the unnamed nominee. But he added that if Biden goes down the path he has been going on judicial nominees, hell have trouble getting Republican votes.

It deserves thorough scrutiny, and I hope that whoever it is Republicans will be committed to doing that  and it wont just be a rubber stamp process, Hawley said.

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Senate Republicans are keeping their powder dry on the coming confirmation battle, noting that its too early to weigh in without a nominee. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Biden last week not to "outsource the decision to the radical left.

Yet Democrats acknowledge that Collins, Murkowski and Graham are their most likely candidates for GOP support of the high court nominee, even as they caution against making any predictions. So far this Congress, Collins has backed 86 percent of Bidens judicial nominees, Murkowski has backed 79 percent of them and Graham voted for 62 percent of them.



The higher rate at which Collins, Murkowski and Graham backed Bidens initial judicial slate could give Democrats some hope of avoiding the first 50-50 Supreme Court confirmation vote in history. And any GOP support could provide a potential cushion, in the event of a Democratic absence.

Nan Aron, founder of the liberal advocacy group Alliance for Justice, estimated the odds that those three Republicans support Bidens pick at more likely than not, but not a guarantee.

Graham has taken the position that the Senate should defer to the president, Aron said. But, she added, "things could certainly change."

The days of Supreme Court confirmations by large bipartisan margins appear over for the moment, in part due to a 2017 GOP rules change that allowed justices to be confirmed by a simple majority. (Republicans view that as a response to a 2013 rules change from Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that nixed the filibuster for district and circuit court judges.)

But just as senators' records on confirming presidential nominees can prove a valuable metric for how theyll address the Supreme Court, vote counts in the Judiciary Committee provide their own vantage point on the level of Republican cooperation with Biden judges  even if they dont necessarily translate to yes votes on the floor.

Graham, a member of the committee, has voted to move forward on 48 Biden judges, by far the highest rate of approval. Graham is followed by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who has agreed to move forward on 25 judges, and top Judiciary Committee Republican Chuck Grassley (Iowa), who supported advancing 20. By contrast, Hawley, along with Sens. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), has supported none.

Some of the people that are being considered have already been considered by the Judiciary Committee and did receive some Republican votes, said former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), now president of American Constitution Society, a liberal legal group. I think it could be a less contentious situation than some people expect.

When Biden's judicial picks get to the floor, the fourth most common GOP vote for them so far has been Grassley. Grassley has supported 36 percent of the presidents choices for district and circuit court judgeships.

A vote for circuit or district court judge, of course, doesnt guarantee a vote for a Supreme Court nominee. Manchin and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) supported Barretts nomination to become a circuit court judge but voted against her Supreme Court nomination.

Nevertheless, the fact that Murkowski, Collins and Graham were the only three Republicans to vote yes on the floor for the circuit nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is prompting speculation about whether theyd support her for the high court; Jackson remains a frontrunner for Biden's nod.



Murkowski last week cautioned against drawing any conclusions about her Jackson vote when it comes to the Supreme Court.

There is a pretty tangible difference between being on a district court, a circuit court and then this Supreme Court, Murkowski said, according to KDLL. These are lifetime appointments. My role in the advice and consent is one that I take very, very seriously.

Murkowski and Collins both said that the Senate shouldnt rush the process. Collins indicated that she wouldnt make a decision until hearings are held, giving her a chance to meet with and research the nominee.

Graham said upon Breyer's retirement that elections have consequences, alluding to Democrats' lack of need for GOP votes to confirm the pick. Democratic centrists Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have so far supported every Biden judicial nominee.

On Sunday, Graham said he understood Biden's rationale for wanting to add a Black woman to the Supreme Court and touted a District Court judge from his home state, J. Michelle Childs. "Lets make the court more like America," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "But qualifications have to be the biggest consideration, and as to Michelle Childs, I think shes qualified by every measure.

Collins has voted for six of the nine current Supreme Court justices, while Graham has voted for seven of them. Both backed former President Barack Obamas nominees, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, while Murkowski voted against both.

Notably, Collins voted against Barrett, citing the proximity to the 2020 election, and Murkowski didnt support Kavanaugh amid accusations of sexual misconduct against him from Christine Blasey Ford.
John Donegan/Getty

Christopher Hitchensthe legendary journalist, author, and contrarian who made his name as a leftist firebrand, then became almost as well-known for his turn as a post-9/11 hawkdied 10 years ago last month.

The anniversary of his passing coincided with numerous invocations of his legacy on behalf of many causes. But Hitchens continues to loom particularly large among anti-woke culture warriorsthe types who argue that Critical Race Theory and Cultural Marxism are existential threats to Western civilization.

I wrote a book about Hitchens that came out a few weeks ago, and in that time have fielded a lot of questions about how Hitch (as his friends called him, and he called himself) might have reacted to any number of events of the past decade.

Given his intense hatred of Bill and Hillary Clinton, would Hitchens have been able to bring himself to endorse Hillary when she was running against Donald Trumpa man Hitchens once called a nutball narcissistic tycoon?

Christopher Hitchenss Best Zingers: From Sarah Palin to Barack Obama

How about Afghanistan and Iraq? After the wars hed supported in those countries dragged on through year after year of dismal failure, would Hitch ever have been able to admit that he was wrong?

In some of these cases, the only honest answer is, Your guess is as good as mine.

There are a few issues, though, on which theres very little room for doubt about where he would have stood.

Had Hitchens somehow survived the cancer that took his life in December 2011, hed certainly have thoughts about the culture war being waged by right-wing activists like James Lindsay and Christopher Rufo over Critical Race Theory and its alleged presence in K-12 classrooms.

Hed also have a say on the many Republican-written anti-CRT billslike the one introduced in Virginia last week that mandates teachers who teach or incorporate into any course or class a divisive concept be fired, and that schools publicly disclose all instructional materials and activities before the beginning of the school year to make sure no such concepts are present.

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A writer as prolific as Hitchenswho once defended himself against the charge that he was a raging drunk by pointing out that he wrote at least a thousand words of printable copy every day on top of his packaged schedule of speaking and teaching and debateswouldnt only comment on these developments, hed do so in a way that left a mark.

For specificity, the list of banned divisive concepts in the aforementioned Virginia bill includes the claim that either the Commonwealth of Virginia or the United States as a whole is fundamentally or systematically racist.

Presumably, different school boards and different groups of parents would parse this requirement with varying degrees of leniency, but if I were a teacher in Virginia who wanted to keep his job after this law was passed, I would be very careful about certain topics I might sympathetically discuss with my students.

This would include any reading assignments that might hint that (a) Black people in the United States are disproportionately worse off than white people, financially, and (b) this situation isnt a result only of individual decisions made in the present but by the sort of historical patterns of economic distribution that could be construed as, well, fundamental.

To surmise what Hitchens might have made of all of this, its useful to look at two of his public debates. In one such conversation at the end of 2001, he argued in favor of reparations for the descendants of slaves. Dismissing what he called the white whine that always greets this demand, he insisted that however limited present-day compensation might be in healing the devastation wrought by slavery and Jim Crow, we have a duty to do what we can. That puts Hitchens far closer to the Ta-Nehisi Coates wing of the discourse than to Chris Rufo.

In a 2006 debate at the University of Toronto on the importance of free speech and the open discussion of controversial ideas, Hitchens led off with one of his all-time great openings: FIRE! Fire fire fire. OK. Now youve heard it. Not shouted in a crowded theater, admittedly

Hitchens reminded us that the line hes mocking comes from Oliver Wendell Holmess justification for upholding the imprisonment of a group of Yiddish-speaking socialists passing out literature opposing President Wilsons participation in the First World War. Given the horrors of that war, it could be plausibly argued that these dissidents were trying to save lives by shouting fire in a theater that really was on going up in flames.

More importantly, Hitchens argued, the vital questions are always, first, who gets to decide what counts as a fire and, second, how much you trust them to make the right decisions.

Those who feel a society-saving duty to ban what an unsympathetic parent or school board member could construe as CRT ought to understand that theyre empowering government bureaucrats to peer over the shoulders of classroom teachers. They should also have the humility to understand that any number of ideas they hold dear could also be defined as divisive concepts.

Remembering the Real Genius of Christopher Hitchens, Not the Caricature

The actual connection between actual academic Critical Race Theory and any reading likely to be assigned in a Virginia classroom is tentative at best. But imagine that, for example, The Space Traders by Derrick Bell was regularly assigned in high school classes. Bell is one of the founders of CRT and the books story is designed to illustrate his understanding of ongoing structural racism through an analogy about aliens.

Would students reading and discussing this story really constitute a crisis? Are we supposed to believe that Virginia teenagers are so fragile that they cant read about divisive concepts without automatically agreeing with the authors point of view? Why not trust them to think it all through and make up their own minds?

I dont claim that Christopher Hitchens would have reserved all his contempt for the conservative side of the race-related culture wars raging in 2022.

Hitchens could be a sharp critic of identity politicsin particular, he wasnt particularly fond of identitarian deference, which the leftist writer Matt Bruenig described as the idea that people outside of less-privileged identity categories should automatically defer to people within those groups on any question pertaining to their oppression. Hitchens, too, might have criticized progressive opponents of CRT bans over their indifference or outright hostility in other contexts to free expression and the right to say offensive things (a.k.a. divisive concepts).

But I have absolutely no doubt Hitch would have abhorred the anti-CRT laws themselvesand he would have been right.

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An Uncasville business owner was sentenced on Monday to just more than a year in prison on a federal tax evasion charge.

In addition to the 12-months-and-one-day sentence, Kathryn Pocock, 59, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Meyer to serve a year of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Connecticut.

Pocock, the owner of Sunshine Cleaners, LLC, pleaded guilty in September to withdrawing approximately $855,000 from her home cleaning business between 2015-19 and failing to report the money on tax forms and returns, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

An investigation found Pocock cashed numerous client checks, depositing some into her personal bank account while paying her employees under the table. Authorities said Pocock wrote checks payable to herself from her personal and business accounts and paid workers in cash without collecting or paying employment taxes to the IRS or the sales and use taxes due to the state of Connecticut.

In court: Norwich narcotics dealer sentenced to 43 months

Prosecutors said Pocock provided her tax preparer with false spreadsheets and supporting documentation that significantly understated her income and employee-related expenses.

Authorities estimate Pococks conduct resulted in a total tax loss of $213,900, including $180,450 worth of unreported taxes to the IRS and $33,514 due to the state. She was ordered to pay full restitution on the owed money.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Services criminal investigation division.

John Penney can be reached at jpenney@norwichbulletin.com or at (860) 857-6965

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Uncasville cleaning company owner to serve a year for tax evasion
Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images

SEOULThe specter of U.S. troops in combat on the European mainland is a blessing for North Koreas Kim Jong Un.

Washingtons preoccupation with Ukraine evokes the nightmare of wars on either side of the globe, and Kim seems pretty sure the U.S. is not about to risk that.

Not since World War II, when American forces battled Nazi Germany in Europe and imperial Japan in Asia, has the U.S. been so close to shooting wars in regions that are geographically so far apart against forces that are so menacing. In Europe, its the Russians whom the Americans are up against, and in Asia its the Chinese supporting the North Korean dictator as he orders missile tests at an unprecedentedly rapid clip while hinting at another nuclear test.

The Biden team is way over its head, flailing and struggling, Nicholas Eberstadt, long-time Korea-watcher at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., told The Daily Beast. Anyone can recognize that, including our friend in Pyongyang.

Putin Is So Dangerous Now Because This Is His Last Chance to Seize Ukraine

Kim clearly stands to benefit from the growing antagonism between the U.S. and North Koreas greatest benefactors, China and Russia. The U.S. cannot engage in two wars at the same time, Ahn Cheol-soo, a wealthy entrepreneur and third-party candidate in South Koreas hotly contested presidential election in March, said in response to The Daily Beasts question at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club. The U.S. does not have sufficient resources.

In a game of intimidation while his country writhes under the pandemic and sanctions placed by the U.S. and UN, Kim ordered seven missile tests off the east coast in January. On Sunday an intermediate-range shot, the strongest in four years, soared 2,000 kilometers before splashing down 500 kilometers from the launch site.

Pyongyangs Korean Central News Agency said Monday the test confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness of the Hwasong 12 now under production. In the fifth and sixth tests last week, the North fired pairs of long-range cruise missiles and short-range models, said KCNA, to update the cruise system and confirm the power of conventional warheads.

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Never before has North Korea conducted so many tests in a single month. The meaning is obvious: Kim is gearing up for the first test of an ICBM since November 2017 and the first of a nuclear warhead since the North exploded its sixth in September 2017.

Bruce Bechtol, author of books and studies on North Korea's leadership and armed forces, predicted, North Korea is likely to test BOTH its nuclear weapons and to do test launches of ICBM's, that is intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads to the U.S.

The reasons are simple, Bechtol told The Dail Beast. These systems have recently been upgraded, but the Hwasong-14 has only been tested twice and the Hwasong-15 has only been tested once. Of course, these tests will also be timed to increase tensions and to push the USA/ROK (Republic of Korea, South Korea) into talks that Pyongyang wants to use to ease sanctions.

Evans Revere, former senior U.S. diplomat in Seoul and Washington, agreed. U.S. relations with three key adversariesRussia, China, and North Koreaare as bad as they have been for many years, and there's a serious prospect they will get even worse in the months to come, he told The Daily Beast. This begs the question of whether each of these three actors now sees an advantage to be gained because of the worsening ties between Washington and the other two.

Moreover, Revere added, It also gives rise to concern that there may be some cooperation or coordination between and among them designed to distract the United States as it faces multiple, simultaneous international challenges.

On Thursday, China unequivocally supported Russias President Vladimir Putin by publicly announcing that Beijings foreign minister had told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the legitimate security concerns of Russia should be taken seriously. Coincidentally, Kim and his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, visited a munitions factory where Pyongyangs Korean Central News Agency said Friday he admired leaping progress in producing major weapons.

Right now Kim is watching and waiting while revving up what he calls North Koreas defense against U.S. invasion. As he told a meeting of the politburo of his ruling Workers Party, the time had come to consider more thorough preparation against the U.S. imperialists by restarting temporarily suspended activities.

Koreas Risky Missile-Measuring Contest Shows Lack of Faith in the U.S.

With the U.S. placing 8,500 troops on alert to deploy to Europe and Biden threatening strong sanctions if Russias President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, Kims missile tests are a stark reminder of his potential to ignite a second Korean war. He would still need approval and support from China, just as his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, relied on Chinas Mao Zedong to turn back U.S. and South Korean troops during the Korean War. The overwhelming difference between now and then, though, is the proliferation of nuclear weapons and North Koreas success as the latest unacknowledged member of the nine-nation nuclear clubunacknowledged, that is, by the U.S., which refuses to see the North as a nuclear power.

The regions now threatened in Eastern Europe and Northeast Asia are far smaller than the vast territories over which U.S. forces ranged eight decades ago, but the danger exists of wider wars with weaponry far more advanced than in those dark days. The U.S. has 55,000 troops in Japan, mostly in Okinawa, and 28,500 in South Koreanot nearly enough to defend either country if war were to break out.

To Choi Jin-wook, president of the Center for Strategic and Cultural Studies in Seoul, Ukraine tension clearly reduces the hope for any breakthrough on the North Korea issue. As he told The Daily Beast, Growing conflict between the U.S. and Russia will be another burden. Thats on top of rivalries between the U.S. and China, said Choi, that keep the U.S. from devoting itself to North Korea, both militarily and diplomatically.

Intrinsic in the potential danger facing the U.S. in Northeast Asia is Chinas persistence in claiming its right to rule Taiwan, the off-shore island redoubt to which forces under Chiang Kai-shek fled before the victory of Maos Red Army on the Chinese mainland in 1949. South Korea, under the liberal government of President Moon Jae-in, would not want U.S. troops in South Korea to rush to Taiwans defense. Nor would Moon be likely to commit South Korean troops to defending Taiwan while China could easily retaliate by encouraging North Korea to attack the South.

The bigger concern is a China-Taiwan conflict that could involve the U.S., said Steve Tharp, whos spent more than 40 years in Korea as an army officer and civilian official with US Forces Korea. The U.S. needs regional alliance partners to effectively deal with these two and three simultaneous war scenarios. We can't do it alone without much more air and naval resources than the American taxpayers should be paying for.

The timing is all the more propitious for Kim while South Korea is embroiled in a campaign for a new president in which the leading candidates take diametrically opposed views on dealing with him. The left-leaning Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Minjoo or Democratic Party calls for reconciliation and dialogue, playing down the historic U.S alliance and the need for military exercises with South Koreans; his conservative foe, Yoon Suk-yeol, says its time to rebuild ties with the U.S., at odds with the Souths on concluding an end-of-war agreement with the North.

The Norths saber-rattling has posed an unsettling setback for Seoul striving to salvage its fragile peace drive, said Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, with Washington preoccupied with tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and Beijing setting the mood for its successful hosting of the Winter Olympics set to begin Friday.

As Kims missile tests make clear, hes eager to exploit divisions in the South as well as U.S. involvement in Ukraine. A sign of conflict between Washington and Seoul is that Biden has waited for more than a year to designate a new ambassador to South Korea as a successor to Harry Harris, a retired U.S. admiral who previously commanded U.S. forces in the Pacific and upset Moons administration by a hardline position on North Korea and the need for military exercises involving U.S. and South Korean troops.

Philip Goldberg, reportedly the ambassador-designate, who once aided in enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea and has served as ambassador to several countries, has yet to jump through the hoops of a hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and then get the approval of the full senate. That should be routine, but the Texas Republican Ted Cruz has been holding up appointments while demanding Biden pressure Germany not to let the Russians ship in natural gas via a new pipeline.

In the intersection of politics and diplomacy in Washington, Team Biden, waiting to see how the South Korean presidential election turns out, wasnt too eager to get a new ambassador to South Korea before a new Korean president takes office. Washington and Seoul have long opposed South Koreas call for an end-of-war agreement with North Korea that outgoing President Moon wants as his legacy. The new ambassador will have to walk a fine line delivering the message to the man who follows Moon, who cant run for a second term under Koreas constitution.

All of which adds to distractions over Ukraine and Taiwan that indeed give Kim the chance to support his objective and strategy, said David Maxwell, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

Hes preparing for a warfighting campaign to be able to attack South Korea, said Maxwell, a retired U.S. army officer who served five tours in the South with the special forces. Whatever Kim does, militarily or diplomatically, Maxwell told The Daily Beast, the goal is to force U.S. forces from the peninsula and unify the peninsula by force.

At the American Enterprise Institute, however, Nick Eberstadt said Kim might not go too much beyond rhetoric while struggling with COVID-19. The North Korean regime has been all but incapacitated by the pandemic, he said. We can be quite confident, when the regime recovers, well see a more aggressive stance from Pyongyang.

As for Team Biden, Eberstadt said that they have so little bandwidth, theyre deferring the problem of the Korean peninsula.

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NEW YORK, January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lightsmith Group ("Lightsmith"), a global sustainable private equity firm, is pleased to announce the final closing of Lightsmith Climate Resilience Partners SCSp RAIF ("Lightsmith Climate Resilience" or the "Fund") with $186 million of commitments. Lightsmith Climate Resilience is the first private equity fund to have focused on climate resilience and adaptation, investing in growth-stage technology companies that address the effects of climate change. In the Fund, Lightsmith has brought together leading investors from around the world, including PNC Insurance Group, The Rockefeller Foundation, Kinneret Group, and Caprock Impact Partners, as well as the Green Climate Fund ("GCF"), European Investment Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, KfW on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Nordic Development Fund, the Government of Luxembourg and other investors.

Lightsmiths two founding partners, Jay Koh and Sanjay Wagle, each have over 20 years of experience in direct investing at The Carlyle Group and VantagePoint Capital Partners as well as at US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), International Finance Corporation (IFC), US Department of Energy, and New York Green Bank. Lightsmiths global investment team draws from experience at Goldman Sachs, True North Partners, Baring Private Equity Asia, IFC, and US DFC. Richard Kauffman, the Former Chairman of Energy and Finance for New York State, serves as Chairman of the investment committee for Lightsmith Climate Resilience.

Lightsmith Climate Resilience invests in growth-stage companies whose technologies can address the growing physical impacts of climate change, which represents an estimated total addressable market of over $170 billion today. Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) has concluded that Lightsmith Climate Resilience is the first private equity fund focused on climate resilience, and reported that until now, less than $500 million per year of private investment has targeted climate change adaptation.

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Lightsmith Climate Resilience is focusing on six initial technology areas: water efficiency and smart water management, resilient food systems, agricultural analytics, geospatial intelligence, supply chain analytics, and catastrophe risk modeling and risk transfer. Lightsmith Climate Resilience helps companies scale up by applying their technologies to help businesses and communities adapt to climate change, by expanding internationally, particularly in emerging markets, and by partnering with Lightsmiths global network of companies and governments. To date, Lightsmith Climate Resilience has made investments in SOURCE Global, a water harvesting technology company with an off-grid solution to produce affordable drinking water from sunlight and air, and WayCool Foods, an India-based agriculture and food supply chain services company applying physical automation and digital technology to reduce food wastage and improve farm output.

Lightsmith Climate Resilience is committed to delivering economic returns while adhering to global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and providing impact assessment through its Impact Measurement System (IMS).

"Lightsmith Climate Resilience is the first private equity fund to focus on investing in solutions to the effects of climate change," said Kauffman. "Lightsmith has brought together a team with a unique combination of experience in direct investment and climate change and has secured the commitment of leading global investors to invest in climate resilience."

"Climate resilience technologies are an overlooked, multi-billion dollar investment opportunity that will just keep growing," said Koh. "Increasing drought, agriculture stress, and supply chain disruption linked to climate change will drive demand for data and analytics to understand those risks and for the solutions to manage them."

"As investors, we know very little about the future with any certainty. One thing we do know is that companies that have smart solutions to respond to climate change will be increasingly in demand. Investing in climate resilience solutions can deliver both financial returns and real benefits to companies, communities, and individuals," said Wagle. "Climate resilience technology is an opportunity for investors and for us all."

Lightsmith Climate Resilience is based on an investment strategy (referred to as "CRAFT", the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Finance and Technology-transfer facility) developed with the support of the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, Nordic Development Fund, the Global Environment Facility, Conservation International, and the International Climate Finance Accelerator (Luxembourg).

The GCF, established by 194 countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2010, has committed $46 million to become the largest investor in Lightsmith Climate Resilience. Pegasus Capital Advisors, a leading global private markets impact investment manager, serves as the accredited entity to GCF for its commitment. "GCF is extremely proud to make this investment in CRAFT. By committing to the first private sector investment fund for adaptation, GCFs catalytic investment will accelerate the transfer of private sector technologies to developing countries, boosting climate adaptation efforts and resilience, while promoting a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," said Yannick Glemarec, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund. "It is a game changer and a strong example of the role the private sector can play in mobilizing adaptation finance and delivering innovative solutions to complex climate challenges."

ABOUT THE LIGHTSMITH GROUP

The Lightsmith Group is a sustainable private equity firm that invests in companies that address critical societal needs. Lightsmith invests in growth-stage companies providing technology-enabled business services and solutions in the areas of energy, water, food and agriculture, and climate resilience. For more information on The Lightsmith Group, please see: www.lightsmithgp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005665/en/

Contacts

Jill Xu

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Semis and a car make their way down I-90 on the west side of the summit after a heavy snow fall Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at Snoqualmie Pass.
Why do Floridians have to pay the steep price for the insecurities of white, straight males of the extreme-right Republican persuasion?

Because theyre running the state.

Their latest assault on individual rights targets gay and transgender children in our schools with a bill dubbed Dont Say Gay.

In other words, get back in the closet, kids.

Suffer in silence, kids.

See your suicide rates go up, kids.

Endure guilt, shame and bullying just to please a so-called pro-life sector of the population that only cares for children when a sperm cell penetrates and fertilizes an egg, combining inside a womans body to form a zygote.

The bill is hurtful to human beings already in this world, children as well as grow-ups.

For too long, the world told me to hide my sexual orientation. Because of stigma, I was scared to be who I knew I am, Manny Orozco, digital director and aide to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, tweeted on Tuesday.

The Dont Say Gay Bill is evil and will only injure a new generation of children. They dont need to be pushed back into the closet, they need our support.

Indeed, evil is the perfect adjective to describe this attempt to return to the dark ages of sexuality.

Under the guise of the name Parental Rights in Education, House Bill 1557 seeks to silence gay children, their teachers and education advocates by banning the discussion of sexuality and gender identification topics in Florida schools.

Introduced by Rep. Joe Harding, a Republican from the small town (pop. 3,000) of Williston in Levy County, the bill has passed in the GOP-led House Education and Employment Committee largely along party lines and, as of this writing, was in the Judiciary Committee.

The Senate companion bill is sponsored by another rural, Central Florida Republican, Sen. Dennis Baxley, and would ban teachers from talking about LGBTQ topics that are not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.

The attempt to quash gay students rights is discrimination camouflaged as parental rights.

And the level of appropriateness, of course, is measured by whom?

Legislators who live absent from the modern, internet-connected world and dive under a rock of conservativism for political expedience? To cater, for sure, in a midterm election year to a voter group as devoid of critical thought as these legislators are.

So, if its approved by the full House and the Senate, say goodbye, perhaps, to clubs like the Gay-Straight Alliance in high schools that provide companionship, emotional shelter and collegiality to teens in need of support.

Say goodbye to quality sex education that has proven through decades of studies to contribute to the mental health well-being of both LGBTQ and straight students. Itll be the GOP-seal-of-approval brand of education.

You know, the one that leaves people thinking theyre above moral reproach when case after case of sexual misconduct in real life so often comes attached to the R word. Congressman Matt Gaetz and the allegations that he sex-trafficked a minor come to mind.

The legislation is so restrictive, discriminatory and outrageous  and gives off such a pile-on stench, given all the other fascist measures under consideration by the Legislature  that it has made headlines across the Atlantic in British media.

Because this, too, is part of Gov. Ron DeSantis fascist agenda.

Because even when the most retrograde of regimes is being forced to confront the rainbow of sexuality in humanity, Florida decides to step it back to the days when Anita Bryant peddled orange juice with a heavy dose of hatred against gay citizens.

This isnt the only anti-LGBTQ bill making its way through the Legislature this session.

House Bill 747 expanding doctors abilities to refuse to treat some patients also would lead to transgender discrimination. It would impact people who have transitioned and are seeking health care, says Rep. Carlos Guillermo-Smith, Floridas first openly LGBTQ Latino legislator.

They could be going to seek care for something unrelated and being REFUSED their meds and being REFUSED the Rx they need because the health care provider has a moral or ethical objection to their EXISTENCE, the Democrat tweeted.

The bill is outrageous! he added.

Outrageous is a word well hear again and again this legislative season when, for Floridas GOP legislators and DeSantis, its not enough just to forbid racial inequality lessons, another disgraceful initiative.

Where will the social engineering end for Floridas Republicans?

Immigrants, gays, Black people, all are facing the ire of the party.

This one attacking gay children, cuts deep, and none of us should for one moment stand for it.
Greensboro, NC (27407)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 78F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
A liberal media expert and a highly opinionated right-wing pundit equally believe that Prime Minister Orban will not agree to a televised debate with the opposition front-runner in the run-up to the April election.

In Heti Vilaggazdasag, Gabor Polyak argues that the public would be highly interested in a duel between the two main candidates before the election, and points out that a similar debate preceding the opposition primary was viewed by a record audience on the opposition-leaning ATV channel, although ATV is only received by households with a cable connection.



Remarkably, that debate was the 13th most followed programme among all television shows in Hungary over the past year. Nevertheless, he understands the Prime Ministers reluctance to debate with Marki-Zay.



Such a show would carry the message that he can lose the election, and that he was not appointed Hungarian Prime Minister by either God, or Providence. Polyak also believes such a debate would show that Fidesz has no programme and is practising what he calls intuitive governance.



In his customary weekly editorial in Demokrata, Andras Bencsik opines that Mr Marki-Zay is a weightless personality. If the opposition wins, DK leader Ferenc Gyurcsany will never allow him to be elected Prime Minister, while if they lose, he will be a grey MP without even a Parliamentary group behind him.



Therefore, he continues, Prime Minister Orban has no interest in elevating him to the position of an equal.



Public debates tend to equalise the positions of the contenders, Bencsik explains, therefore he would find it highly irrational on the part of the Prime Minister to agree to such a televised duel.



This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online.

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The two main teacher unions, the Democratic Union of Teachers (PDSZ) and the Teachers Union (PSZ), are planning to hold a two-hour warning strike on Monday morning. But if its up to the Ministry of Human Resources (Emmi), it wont happen.

The unions announced on Friday afternoon that the court of first instance had ruled in their favor on the matter of providing sufficient service, ruling that Mondays strike would be legal under the rules put forward by PDSZ and PSZ.



Emmi also put out a statement of its own to say that Mondays teacher strike can not be considered legal due to time required to appeal.



A ruling from the court at first instance could become final if neither party appealed. The unions told the court that they were waiving their right to appeal, so it is up to the government whether the ruling can be considered final on Monday.



However, the ministry has indicated that the deadline to appeal the case is five days, meaning that they do not at all appear to have told the court that that they are waiving their right to appeal. According to Emmis statement:



Due to deadlines related to court proceedings, it became clear several days ago that there would be no final court ruling by January 31, meaning that Mondays teacher strike is certainly not legal.



PDSZ and PSZ have been negotiating their strike demands with the government for months with little success. They last sat at the negotiating table on Monday to agree on the terms of the strike, but the two sides werent able to reach consensus.



The main source of disagreement at the moment is what counts as providing sufficient service during a strike. Laszlo Kisfaludy, the deputy state secretary negotiating on behalf of the government, waited two days after Mondays strike talks to finally announce the governments position on Wednesday afternoon.



They maintain their previous stance that only providing child care violates students right to education, and sufficient service, which is what must be provided during a strike, also includes teaching activities.



Despite this, the unions announced after the first instance decision that they would not call off the strike, encouraging everyone to continue organizing, and calling on school administrators and staff to work with local strike organizers.



The ministry, on the other hand, believes that under the strike law, a strike can only be held if an agreement between the government and the unions on sufficient service can be made, or if the courts have made a final decision. At the moment, neither of these exist.



On behalf of the government, the ministry then called on the unions organizing Mondays strike to attest to law-abiding behavior and postpone Mondays strike.



They also referred to the coronavirus epidemic, because of which children and parents have had more absences and burdens recently. We ask the unions not to make parents job even harder.



Finally, the familiar refrain of the government and Fidesz was also expressed:

In our view, the strike planned for Monday, in addition to being illegal, is clearly part of the left-wing election campaign. Left-wing parties are once again leading the unions on a string as the election approaches. They are encouraged to take political action and wear political symbols. This is what the left has done, which sent thousands of teachers to the streets when it was in power, froze their salaries and even deprived them of a months pay.





MTI Photo: Janos Nemes
Mercedes-Benzs soft-close doors are now found on a number of models, but a recent lawsuit has branded them as a "modern-day guillotine". Plaintiff Richard J. Kastigar, Jr., the deputy sheriff of Pima County Sheriff Department in Arizona, has filed a lawsuit alleging a power closing door caused the loss of part of his thumb, according to Car Complaints.

Plaintiff exited a vehicle in October last year with his back to the vehicle and his right hand behind his back near the B-pillar with his back to the vehicle. In the report, the door unexpectedly shut on his right thumb as his right thumb was placed on the inside door column.

According to Kastiger, he felt that his right thumb was being crushed by the door and couldn't help watching as the door severed the tip of his thumb. His thumb could not be restored to its pre-injury condition after the incident.

Read also: 2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno facelift launch expected on February 10

In the lawsuit, the plaintiff says that his thumb injury required him to undergo emergency surgery, which included removing the protruding distal phalanx bone and surrounding soft tissue and nerves. The lawsuit continues to say he will lose at least $500,000 in wages due to the thumb injury.

A once proud and independent man now relies on his wife to assist him He has great difficulties holding a pen, feeding himself, tying his own shoes," the lawsuit read.

Despite the fact that the Mercedes-Benz soft-close doors work as designed, the lawsuit claims they lack safeguards such as sensors to detect fingers and hands that may get in the way.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims the carmaker should not market or sell any vehicles equipped with soft-close doors and also alleges the carmaker fails to warn its customers about the dangers of such doors.

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Prem Ale, Nepal's Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation on January 30, announced the commencement of Nepals second international airport. As per officials, Nepal's second international airport will begin its operations in May.

All international flights can take off and land at the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) from May 26, the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, Ale informed while inspecting the airport under construction in Bhairahawa, situated in Western Nepal.

If there is any technical problem in the plane flying in the Nepali sky, the situation of diverting the airplane to Kathmandu for emergency landing will come to an end. At present, there is no alternative to returning to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for an emergency landing.

Read also: Economic Survey 2022: Aviation sector recovery headed in the right direction

For emergency landings, the planes will not have to be either diverted to India or head to the Kathmandu airport once GBIA comes into operation. Currently, only TIA has emergency landing facilities with foam and fire' vehicles. Arrangements have been made at GBIA for its operation.

The GBIA, which is being prepared for operation, also has minimum standards required for an emergency landing as per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Aircraft that could not land in Kathmandu due to problems and adverse weather will now be able to land safely in Bhairahawa.

An expert team of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AeroThai) has already arrived in Nepal to prepare for a mechanical test flight (calibration flight) to verify whether the new airport is technically sound or not. The construction work of the physical infrastructure of the airport has been completed by the Chinese company Northwest Civil Aviation Construction Group.

A team of AeroThai experts will fly the calibration flight to find out if the flight equipment is working. According to airport officials, the calibration and test flight will be carried out within a month. "A team of AeroThai experts is working to bring the airport into operation on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti," the officials informed.

With inputs from PTI

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Vistara cancelled and rescheduled a significant number of its February flights during the last few days. In recent days, many of the affected passengers have expressed their difficulty getting in touch with Vistara customer service on social media. Vistara has now announced waiver of change fee for one-time rescheduling on all direct bookings with travel until 31 March. They do not include tickets booked through travel agents like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip, etc.

"After a sharp decline in demand for air travel, due to the surge in COVID19 numbers and restrictions imposed by various state governments, we are observing a marginal increase in traffic in February compared to the previous month", said Vistara spokesperson. "However, in view of volatility we continue to closely monitor situation&adjust capacity to demand."

During the last 48 hours, ISRO scientist Shibasish Prusty has tweeted that his flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar has been cancelled and that Vistara's customer care number has been busy. Vistara has cancelled another passenger's flight for Delhi-Kolkata for February 12 and unresponsive customer service representatives are answering his calls. This report comes from Arpit Singh Khurana on Twitter.

Also read: Passengers complain as Vistara cancels and reschedules several flights

Cancer patient Pronab Kumar Mandal said on Saturday that he will need chemotherapy on February 9, but Vistara cancelled his flight from Kolkata to Mumbai on February 8. Throughout the last two days, Mandal said he has been trying to contact the airline.

According to Mohammed Dawood, his Delhi-Kolkata flight for February 10 has been cancelled without any option for rescheduling. "Now, fare cost is double and your customer service is extremely unhelpful, even the call doesn't get connected," he told. The airline has not responded to his calls, tweets, emails, and tweets since Sunday afternoon, he tweeted.

Sanjit Kumar Das, a Vistara passenger, said on Sunday afternoon that his Bhubaneswar-Delhi flight has been cancelled and he has attempted to reach customer service "without any luck".

With inputs from PTI

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New Delhi: In its second acquisition of a PSU in recent weeks, Tata group firm beat the likes of Jindal Stel and JSW Steel to snap loss-making Odisha-based Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL) for Rs 12,100 crore.

In a statement, the finance ministry said Tata Steel Long Products Ltd's (TSLP) bid of more than double the reserve or base price, for NINL, whose 1.1 million tonnes a year capacity steel plant at Kalinganagar in Odisha was shut in March 2020 due to continued losses, has been accepted.

Just last week, a Tata Group firm completed the takeover of Air India - the first state-owned company to be privatised in nearly two decades. Tata Group had bid Rs 18,000 crore for Air India, higher than the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore.

The NINL deal, which will be the second successful privatisation by the Modi government, will take at least a couple of months to conclude.

The finance ministry said TSLP outbid a consortium of Jindal Steel & Power Limited and Nalwa Steel and Power Ltd; and JSW Steel Ltd, in financial bid put for buying NINL, which is a joint venture of 4 CPSEs -- MMTC, NMDC, BHEL, MECON and 2 Odisha Government PSUs -- OMC and IPICOL.

The bid by TSLP was double the reserve price of Rs 5,616.97 crore set by the government based on the valuation of transaction adviser and asset valuer.

Since the government does not hold any equity in the company, hence the sale proceeds would not accrue to the exchequer and would instead go to the 4 CPSEs and 2 state government PSU.

"Government approves strategic buyer for Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd located in Odisha. The highest bid of Rs 12,100 crore by M /s Tata Steel Long Products Ltd is accepted," DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted.

NINL is the second successful privatisation by the current BJP Government. Incidentally, Air India -- the first company in privatisation list -- too has been bought by Tata group. Tata Group bid for Rs 18,000 crore for Air India, higher than the reserve price of Rs 12,100 crore.

The ministry said TSLP has emerged as highest bidder, whose bid has been accepted by the 'Alternative Mechanism' comprising Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari,

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

The transaction is on a "going concern" basis and the employees of NINL will continue to be the employees of the company in terms of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA), which binds the buyer to have a lock-in period of one year. The strategic buyer will also be bound to follow the terms of VRS applicable to CPSEs whenever such a decision is taken.

"Letter of Intent (LoI) is being issued to TSLP inviting them to sign the SPA. At this stage, 10 per cent of the bid amount shall be paid by the successful bidder into the Escrow account," the ministry added.

NINL has huge debt and liabilities exceeding Rs. 6,600 crore as on March 31, 2021, including huge overdue of promoters (Rs 4,116 crore), banks (Rs 1,741 crore), other creditors and employees.

The company has a negative net worth of Rs 3,487 crore and accumulated losses of Rs 4,228 crore as of March 31, 2021. This is the first instance of privatisation of a public sector steel manufacturing enterprise in India.

"The success of the transaction is a win-win situation for all. The biggest advantage of privatisation will be to the local economy of the region as the strategic buyer will be able to revive a closed plant, bring in modern technology, best managerial practices and make an infusion of fresh capital, which will help in augmenting the capacity of the plant," the ministry said.

On the request of the boards of selling shareholders and on concurrence by the Government of Odisha, the Cabinet had in January 2020 gave 'in-principle' approval for strategic disinvestment of NINL, and authorised the Department of Disinvestment & Public Asset Management (DIPAM) to undertake the transaction. Following this, Expressions of Interest (EoI) were invited on January 25, 2021, and multiple EoIs were received by the due date of March 29, 2021. Also Read: Facebook owner Meta to lift veil off its metaverse business on February 2

"Keeping in view the best interest of the serving employees, it was decided to keep the employees' dues as the topmost ranking liability in the Waterfall Agreement to be satisfied first before any other liability... Post-sale consideration will go towards settling of the liabilities of the company, in the order provided in Waterfall Agreement," the ministry said. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S22 Series to launch on February 9: All you need to know

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New Delhi: GST collection in January crossed Rs 1.38 lakh crore in January, a growth of 15 per cent over the year-ago period.

Total number of GSTR-3B returns filed up to January 30, 2022 is 1.05 crore that includes 36 lakh quarterly returns, the Finance Ministry said.

January is the fourth straight month when Goods and Services Tax collection has crossed Rs 1.30 lakh crore.

"The gross GST revenue collected in the month of January 2022 till 3 PM on 31.01.2022 is Rs 1,38,394 crore of which CGST is Rs 24,674 crore, SGST is Rs 32,016 crore, IGST is Rs 72,030 crore (including Rs 35,181 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 9,674 crore (including Rs 517 crore collected on import of goods)," the ministry said.

The highest monthly GST collection has been Rs 1,39,708 crore in the month of April 2021.

The revenues for the month of January 2022 are 15 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year and 25 per cent higher than the GST revenues in January 2020.

"Coupled with economic recovery, anti-evasion activities, especially action against fake billers have been contributing to the enhanced GST. The improvement in revenue has also been due to various rate rationalisation measures undertaken by the Council to correct inverted duty structure," the ministry said.

It is expected that the positive trend in the revenues will continue in the coming months as well, it added.

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By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Nature reserves and national parks exist solely to protect endangered species and are often the only way to prevent the extinction of fauna and flora today, preserving up to 80 percent of species.

Azerbaijan places a high value on the preservation of its unique natural environment, as evidenced by its numerous national parks and reservoirs.

Since 1997, January 11 is celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Reserves and National Parks at the initiative of the Biodiversity Conservation Center and the World Wildlife Fund. Azerbaijan also follows this tradition.

The choice of the day was no coincidence as it all started January 11, 1917, when the Barguzin Nature Reserve was established on Lake Baikal to protect rare animals in Russia.

According to the Ecology and National Resources Ministry, Azerbaijan has 10 national parks, 10 state reservoirs, and 24 state nature sanctuaries working toward this goal. The total area of specially protected natural areas is 893,000 hectares, accounting for 10.31percent of the country's total land area. The Goygol State Nature Reserve was established in 1925 as Azerbaijan's first reserve.

The Zagatala-Balakan biosphere reserve, which will be established in Azerbaijan, will be the first in the South Caucasus region.

The reserve, which will be established on the basis of the Zagatala State Nature Reserve, will create conditions for the development of ecotourism while also increasing employment in the region. The entrance to the biosphere reserve will be open to ecotourists.

The ministry is still working to establish new specially protected natural areas and expand existing ones.

During the 30 years of occupation, Armenians have vandalized Azerbaijani lands, destroying all historical monuments, mosques, residential buildings, and houses, as well as cutting down and burning forests. Unfortunately, as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, valuable trees and other rare biodiversity samples were destroyed in state nature reserves such as Basitchay, Garagol, Arazboyu, Lachin, Gubadli, and Dashalti.

However, the state is continuing to monitor the areas, as well as the reconstruction and restoration efforts. It is planned to expand specially protected natural areas in liberated areas and to establish new specially protected natural areas.

According to reports in local media, 1,884 people visited national parks on Azerbaijani solidarity day and New Year's Eve.

Specifically, due to the snowy weather in the mountainous areas, the tourist flow to the Goygol and Shahdag national parks was noted.

The Gabala State Historical-Artistic Reserve is one of the most visited historical sites by both local and foreign tourists throughout 2021. For example, 3,903 people visited the reserve in 2021. There were 3,657 local visitors and 246 foreign tourists.

Arzu Samadova, a representative of the Biodiversity Protection Service, said that propaganda of national parks located in beautiful corners of our country, interesting, colorful video, and photographs reflecting biodiversity and different seasons play an important role in attracting tourists to the reserves. She noted that far more citizens and tourists prefer to visit national parks during the holidays, and thus the number of tourists increases year after year.
New Delhi: There has been a lot of buzz suggesting that Deepika Padukone and Instagram influencer Freddy Birdy are in a feud, especially after the latter's direct post for DP. It all started when an Instagram influencer, popular for insult humour, shared a post on how women's clothes from Gehraiyaan will get shorter as the release date for the film approaches.

After this post, Deepika Padukone shared a post on 'morons' which wasn't directed to anyone in particular. However, Freddy assumed it was for him. So, in response, he wrote a direct post addressing Deepika in it.

He wrote, "Dear Deepika, Im not mocking you for wearing tiny clothes. You can wear your hemlines till your toes or your ears. For all I care. And thank you for calling me a moron. Its the only non-fake thing youve uttered in your entire career." He had tagged Deepika in the post as well.

After this, he made his Instagram account private, limiting users from viewing his post.

Earlier, when Deepika Padukone had arrived at the sets of The Kapil Sharma Show, she was trolled online for her short black dress after pictures from the sets emerged on social media.

Meanwhile, the Amazon Original movie Gehraiyaan is directed by Shakun Batra. The much-awaited film starring Ananya Panday, Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi looks beneath the surface of complex modern relationships, adulting, letting go and taking control of ones life path.

The film will have its World Premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on February 11, 2022.
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Monday (January 31, 2022) extended the ban on physical rallies in the five poll-bound states till February 11, 2022. The decision to extend the ban on physical rallies came after the commission reviewed the Covid-19 situation in poll-bound states.

The new guidelines were announced after Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey held another comprehensive review of the present COVID-19 situation in the poll-bound states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

EC has, however, relaxed some curbs on a number of people that can attend physical public meetings, indoor meetings and door-to-door campaigning.

Election Commission said that it will permit physical rallies with a maximum capacity of 1000 people, indoor meetings to have a maximum capacity of 500 people. Twenty people allowed for the door-to-door campaign.

The Commission has now granted relaxation for political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of a maximum of 500 persons (instead of existing 300 persons) or 50% of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA is allowed, the official statement of ECI reads pic.twitter.com/3PArODK1ns  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

"All the State Chief secretaries informed the Commission about reports of Covid 19 infection either plateauing out or tapering as on date. They also said that the positivity rate is showing a decline with the number of hospitalisation cases also registering a declining trend," a release from the EC said.

Here are the revised guidelines issued by EC:

- The Commission has decided that no roadshows, 'padyatras', and cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions shall be allowed till February 11, 2022.

- EC also decided to allow physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 1,000 people, instead of existing 500 people, or 50 percent of the capacity of the ground, or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from February 1, 2022 for all phases.

- The Commission has also enhanced the limit for door-to-door campaigns and instead of 10 persons, now 20, excluding security personnel, will be allowed.

- Political parties and contesting candidates shall ensure the compliance of COVID appropriate behaviour & guidelines and Model Code of Conduct at all occasions during the activities connected with elections.

- All remaining restrictions as contained in the Revised Broad Guidelines for Conduct of Elections, 2022 issued on 8 January 2022 shall continue to operate.

While announcing dates for elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur on January 8, the poll panel had announced a ban on physical rallies, road and bike shows, and similar campaigning events till January 15. On January 15, the commission extended the ban until January 22 and then again till January 31. The progress on vaccination will be a key factor in allowing relaxations.

Assembly elections in five states will be held between February 10 and March 7, the Election Commission of India said as it announced the poll schedule for the states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand last month. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.

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New Delhi: The Budget Session of Parliament, which will commence from Monday, is likely to be stormy with Opposition parties all geared up to corner the Narendra Modi government by raising the Pegasus snooping allegations, farmers' issues and the border row with China.

The session is being held in the midst of crucial assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP is locked in a bitter electoral contest with its rivals, and with the campaigning in full swing, it will have an effect on Parliament proceedings.

The opposition is preparing to unitedly take on the government on the Pegasus snooping row after the New York Times claimed that India purchased the snooping spyware as part of a defence deal with Israel in 2017.

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has already written to Speaker Om Birla for moving a privilege motion against the government and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for "misleading" the House, as the government had denied the charges of "spying" in a statement in Parliament last year.

The Pegasus row had led to a washout of the last Monsoon session when a united opposition did not allow both houses to function and sought a discussion on the matter. Sources said the government is unlikely to agree to a discussion on the issue and will focus on getting its legislative business cleared.

The principal opposition Congress has said that it will reach out to like-minded parties to raise issues such as farm distress, Chinese "incursions", demand for a relief package for COVID-19 victims, sale of Air India and the Pegasus snooping row during the session.

The opposition parties will try to raise the pitch on farmers issues which are in spotlight in assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, two states which saw major protests against the centre's farm laws that were repealed during the last session.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu are set to chair separate meetings with floor leaders of political parties on Monday to ensure smooth functioning of the House during the session.

The session will begin with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of both houses in the Central Hall and chambers of both the Houses in view of the COVID-19 situation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2021-22 on Monday and the Union Budget on Tuesday.

The Budget session is being held in the shadow of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will return to separate timings with members seated in the chambers of both houses to ensure social distancing norms. While the upper house will sit from 10 AM to 3 PM, the lower house will sit from 4 PM to 9 PM.

The Lok Sabha will take up the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address from Wednesday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the debate on February seven.

Lok Sabha secretariat officials said four days beginning February 2 have been provisionally allotted for the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. The first part of the Budget Session will be held from January 31 to February 11 after which it will go into a recess to examine the budgetary allocations for different departments.

The Session would resume on March 14 and conclude on April 8. The first part of the session will have 10 sittings while 19 sittings are scheduled for the second part.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla this evening took stock of arrangements for the Budget session. The two met at the residence of the Vice President and both the presiding officers went over various issues for about 40 minutes.

The session offers only a seventy-nine and a half hours window for the government's legislative agenda and for taking up issues of immediate public concern over the scheduled 29 sittings of both the Houses.

A total of 135 hours of sitting time is available for Rajya Sabha for transacting various items of business during the 27 sittings scheduled during February 2 to April 8, 2022 with 5 hours per day.

Of this, the first part of the session with 40 hours accounts for about 30 percent of the total scheduled sitting time while the second part with 95 hours accounts for about 70 percent.

Rajya Sabha will have Zero Hour reduced by half to 30 minutes per day with a total time of 13 hours 30 minutes for raising issues of public importance besides laying of papers and reports during 27 sittings.

The timeshare of Question Hour will be 27 hours. A total of 15 hours' time is scheduled for Private Members' Business on six days.

During the first week of the second part of the session, Private Members' Bills will be taken up on Thursday as Friday is a holiday.

This leaves only 79 hours 30 minutes for considering and passing Bills to be proposed by the Government besides discussing issues of immediate public concern under Calling Attention Notices and as Short Duration Discussions.

The Budget session beginning from today is the sixth to be held since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. The Budget session of 2020 was curtailed by eight sittings and the Budget session of 2021 was shortened by 10 sittings.

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PM Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a virtual rally aiming to woo Uttar Pradesh's Jat voters. PM Narendra Modi's virtual address was targeted on the issues that matter on 21 Jat community-dominated seats in the state's western region. The Opposition parties in the state - Samajwadi Party and Jayant Chaudhary-led RLD - are contesting the election in alliance in this region. The SP and RLD are trying to combine the Jat and Muslim vote banks, while the BJP is trying to convince the community that they are 'Jats first, farmers later'.

In today's DNA Exclusive, Zee News Editor-In-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary analyses the significance of Jat vote bank in Uttar Pradesh's western region.

The 21 Jat community-dominated seats fall under 5 districts - Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Gautam Budh Nagar. Most of the UP farmers, who participated in the movement against three agricultural laws, come from this region only.

While addressing the rally, PM Narendra Modi also touched upon the glorious history of Jat participation in the 1857 anti-British moment. The Prime Miniter also discussed the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots between Jat and the Muslim community.

The SP and Mayawati-led BSP used to be the dominant forces in this region before the 2012 assembly elections. However, the BJP changed all the caste dynamics after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls here. The Jat voters are present in between 50,000 - 1,50,000 number on 29 seats here. They, it is believed, voted overwhelmingly for the BJP during 2014 Lok Sabha, 2017 Vidhan Sabha, and 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

However, the scenario has changed after farmer agitation. The Jats in the region account for 15 per cent of total voters, while the Muslims here account for around 26 per cent. It is believed that Muslims might vote in the name Akhilesh Yadav, while Jats may rally behind Jayant Chaudhary this time. However, the situation may change as well.

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Thane: Hailing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Kapil Patil expressed hope that Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is integrated with India by 2024.

"Hope PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is integrated in India by 2024 as these things can be done only by PM Modi. For this we`ll have to come out of (the mindset for) potato, onions, pulses," Patil said while addressing an event in Kalyan city in Maharashtra`s Thane district on Saturday.

#WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra: Union Minister & BJP leader Kapil Patil says, "...Hope PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is integrated in India by 2024 as these things can be done only by PM Modi. For this we'll have to come out of (the mindset for) potato, onions, pulses." (29.01.22) pic.twitter.com/H3dKO5aBd6  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

Patil, who is a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bhiwandi, recalled the Prime Minister`s statement in Rajya Sabha on the Kashmir issue in 2015.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given such assurance in the Rajya Sabha wherein he had said that former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had called a joint session of Parliament and in it, he (Rao) had said that PoK is the biggest problem of the country. The Kashmir will have to be taken by India at some point or the other, only then can a permanent solution be found. The Prime Minister had then pointed to the Congress and said that you could not do this, but I am doing it," the BJP MP said.

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New Delhi: The current Union cabinet of India will hold a meeting on Tuesday (February 1) ahead of the presentation of Budget 2022-23. According to ANI, the meeting will be held at 10:10 am with the purpose to approve the Union Budget.

Once approved, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would present a paperless budget for the second time in the history of the country.

Budget 2022-23

Union Budget on February 1, 2022, which is going to be Sitharamans fourth, will focus more on how the government balances out populist measures while walking the tightrope of fiscal consolidation.

While Indian corporates are expecting some key announcements which will enable them to reset their growth agenda, individual taxpayers are expecting some more disposable income in their hands to invest and consume more.

Budget Session schedule

The Budget session 2022-23, starting Monday offers only a seventy-nine and a half hours window for the government`s legislative agenda and for taking up issues of immediate public concern. There will be a total of 29 sittings, divided into two phases.

The first part of the Budget session will have 10 sittings between January 31 and February 11 while 19 sittings are scheduled for the second part between March 14 and April 8.

On the first day on Monday, the President will address the Members of both the Houses after which copies of his address will be laid on the Table.

Covid-19

"Keeping in view the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic, elaborate arrangements have been made in the Lok Sabha Chamber and other parts of Parliament House Complex," the release stated.

"To ensure the norms of social distancing, members will be allotted seats in Lok Sabha Chamber (282), Lok Sabha Galleries (except Press Gallery) (148), Rajya Sabha Chamber (60) and Rajya Sabha Gallery (51)," it added.

It was also informed that arrangements have been made for COVID vaccination and testing in the Complex for Members of Parliament and other visitors.

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United Nations: India on Monday (January 31) abstained from a procedural vote taken in the UN Security Council ahead of a meeting to discuss the situation on the Ukraine border and underlined that 'quiet and constructive' diplomacy is the need of the hour and any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security.

The 15-nation Council held a meeting to discuss the Ukraine crisis amid the build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders. The action by Moscow has stoked fears of an invasion. Russia denies it is planning an attack.

Ahead of the meeting, Russia called for a procedural vote to determine if the open meeting can go through. The Council needed 9 votes in favour to go ahead with the meeting held at the request of the US.

India, Gabon and Kenya abstained from the vote, while Russia and China voted against it. All other Council members, including the US, the UK and France, voted in favour of the meeting.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said in the Council that New Delhi has been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine, including through ongoing high-level security talks between Russia and the United States, as well as under the Normandy format in Paris.

India's interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond, Tirumurti said.

Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour. Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security, he underlined.

Tirumurti also told the Council that more than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us, he said. India said it has also been in touch with all concerned parties.

It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue,? Tirumurti said, adding that in this context, New Delhi welcomes the efforts underway including under the Minsk Agreement and the Normandy format.

The Normandy format talks involve Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France whose representatives first met informally in Normandy (France) in 2014 in an effort to resolve the war in Donbass, a small region in eastern Ukraine adjoining the Russian border.

The Minsk protocol is a 2014 agreement reached in the Belarusian capital that sought to end the war in Ukraine. It was mediated by France and Germany under the Normandy format. But it failed to stop the fighting, and a new package of measures - known as Minsk II - was signed in February 2015, after a fraught 16 hours of negotiations. This also did not end the fighting.

Tirumurti said, "Flowing from the recently concluded meeting in Paris under the Normandy format, we also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire (in Donbass) and reaffirmation of Minsk Agreements as the basis of work under the ongoing Normandy format, in particular, commitment of all sides to reduce disagreements on the way forward. We also welcome their agreement to meet in Berlin in two weeks."

New Delhi urged all parties to continue to engage through all diplomatic channels and to keep working towards the full implementation of the 'Minsk Package'.

India reiterated its call for the peaceful resolution of the situation by sincere and sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure that concerns of all sides are resolved through constructive dialogue.

Russia is reported to have massed an estimated 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine has brought increasingly strong warnings from the West that Moscow intends to invade. Russia has repeatedly denied that it plans to invade Ukraine.

However, Moscow is demanding that NATO promise never to allow Ukraine to join the military alliance, and to stop the deployment of NATO weapons near Russian borders and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe.

The US and NATO have rejected Russia's demands but have not ruled out more talks to address the security concerns of Moscow and ease the crisis.

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Kashmir: Jammu Kashmir police drive against drug peddlers continues. In a sustained derive against drugs peddlers, Kupwara police here has arrested two smugglers and recovered 500gm of Heroin from them.

The recovery was made by a team of Police Station Karnah near the line of control when both smugglers tried to jump a police check post. Noticing the suspicious movement and deliberate intention to jump the check post, the police team apprehended both and on personal search recovered 230gm of Heroin from Ishtiyaq Ahmad Qureshi and 270gm from Basharat Hussain.

From the preliminary investigations, it has transpired that the drugs have been smuggled to this side of LoC by the duo in conspiracy with the Pakistani nationals.

Jammu Kashmir police have already said that narcotic smuggling across the border has remained the big challenge for security forces for years as the money earned by this smuggling is provided to terrorists.

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New Delhi: In what marks the latest development in the sensational murder of Kishan Bharvad for uploading an alleged social media video against the Muslim community, the Gujarat ATS on Sunday (January 30) arrested a Delhi cleric Maulana Qamar Gani Islami pertaining to the crime, ANI reported.

Soon after being arrested in the national capital, Gani was produced before a local court which sent him on transit remand.

The accused will also be produced before the concerned court in Gujarat. The ATS is likely to seek ten days remand for interrogation.

Heres all you need to know about the Kishan Bharwad murder case in key points:

Kishan was murdered on January 25 by two-bike borne assailants.

Bharwad allegedly uploaded a video on social media against Muslims after which he came on the radar of Islamic extremists.

It has been alleged that Qamar Gani made a provocative speech against Kishan after which the main accused Shabbir shot dead Kishan with the help of his aide.

During interrogation, both the accused told Gujarat Police that they met Qamar Gani in Mumbai.

Gani told them that whosoever speaks against Islam and Muslims should be eliminated. After this, they hatched a conspiracy to kill Kishan.

So far, six people have been arrested in this case.

The Gujarat ATS has claimed that Gani is connected to Tehrik-e-Farog.

On January 29, the Gujarat Government directed the state ATS to probe the matter. The ATS arrested Kamar Gani from Delhi within twenty-four hours.

(With agency inputs)

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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (January 31) said she has blocked Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Twitter, "disturbed" by his regular posts against her government on the microblogging platform.

Banerjee also said that Dhankhar has threatened the chief secretary and the director general of police on several occasions.

"I have been forced to block Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Twitter. Everyday he was issuing tweets targeting and threatening govt officials as if we're his bonded labourers," said Mamata Banerjee.

Addressing a press meet here, the CM said she has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times, seeking the removal of Dhankhar.

"However, no action has been taken so far," Banerjee, who shares an acrimonious relationship with the governor, said.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 30th National Commission for Women (NCW) Foundation Day programme on Monday (January 31), at 4:30 pm via video conferencing, the leader announced on Twitter.

In the tweet today, the Prime Minister wrote, "At 4:30 PM this evening, will address the 30th NCW Foundation Day programme."

At 4:30 PM this evening, will address the 30th NCW Foundation Day programme. @NCWIndia  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 31, 2022

The theme of the programme is `She The Change Maker`, aimed at celebrating the achievements of women in different fields, the Prime Minister`s office informed on Sunday.

The State Commissions for Women, Department of Women and Child Development in State Governments, University and College teaching faculty and students, voluntary organisations, women entrepreneurs and business associations will be a part of the event.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani will also be present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister will also set the ground running for Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 as he is set to hold a virtual rally in five districts The Prime Minister's virtual rally in the poll-bound state will cover the districts of Shamli, Muzzafarnagar, Baghpat, Saharanpur, Gautambuddh Nagar (Dadri/Jewar) and 21 Vidhan sabha seats.

This, notably, will be the first address by PM Modi for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the dates were announced for the Assembly elections. Mod is BJPs topmost star campaigner for the upcoming polls.

Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases. The first phase of the election will take place on February 10 and the last phase on March 7. The counting will take place on March 10.

(With agency inputs)

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NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday highlighted the achievements of the Narendra Modi government's mega COVID-19 vaccination drive and noted that 150 crore doses were administered to the country's citizens in a record time.

In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session, President Kovind said the Rs 64,000 crore PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will prepare the country for a health crisis in the future.

The Budget Session of Parliament formally began with President Ram Nath Kovinds joint address to both Houses in the Central Hall.

Addressing the joint sitting of the two houses, the President said, I bow down to the lakhs of freedom fighters who prioritised their duties and helped India get its rights. I also respectfully remember the personalities who contributed to the development journey of India in the 75 years of independence."

The Budget Session, which commences from today, is likely to be stormy affair as Congress-led Opposition has decided to corner the BJP-led Centre over several key issues, including the recent report in The New York Times on the Pegasus matter.

The session comes amid the third COVID wave and a high-octane election campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, and Manipur. These five states will hold polls in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.

On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union budget for the year 2022-23. The Budget Session of Parliament is scheduled to conclude on April 8 where the first part of the session will extend up to February 11, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said.

Here are the key highlights of Presidents speech: -

I bow down to India's freedom heroes

"I bow down to the lakhs of freedom fighters who prioritised their duties and helped India get its rights. I also respectfully remember the personalities who contributed to the development journey of India," said President Kovind.

President hails Indias fight against Covid-19 pandemic

Lauding Centre-State coalition during COVID pandemic, he added, "'Covid-19 pandemic has affected everyone around the world. India has too lost many people during this time. But Centre, States, Sanitation Workers worked as a unit. This is a good example of Democracy.''

Mentioning India's mass vaccination drive, he said, "We have crossed 150 cr vaccinations in less than a year. Over 90% eligible people have taken 1st dose of vaccination. Precautionary dose has also begun. Indian vaccines have saved lives of crores of people".

'Padma awards an example of unity in diversity'

Shifting his focus to Padma awards presented by the Centre recently, the President said, "Democracy means feeling of respect for all people. Our govt is working to ensure justice to all people. Padma Awards is an example of this unity. The awards are being given irrespective of religion, caste.''

NEP promoting local languages

In his speech, the President hailed the Centre's New Education Policy and said that local languages are being promoted as part of NEP. "Emphasis is being laid to conduct entrance examinations in Indian languages. 19 engineering colleges across 10 states to teach in 6 Indian languages this year.''

President hails Tokyo Olympic winners

In his joint address to both houses of Parliament, the President, "India won 7 medals in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. India also set a record in Tokyo Paralympics by winning 19 medals. There are also several Khelo India centres being installed across India."

'Har Ghar Jal initiative

Flagging other achievements of the central government, President Kovind said ''over six crore rural households are getting tap water under 'Har Ghar Jal initiative''.

'India's agriculture exports beyond Rs three lakh crore'

President Kovind said India's agriculture exports have also crossed Rs three lakh crore. He said despite the pandemic, the country's farmers produced 30 crore tonnes of food grains and 33 crore horticulture produce in 2020-21.

'PM-KISAN a big game changer'

The President said more than 11 crore farmer families received Rs 1.80 lakh crore through PM-KISAN and big changes have been seen in the farm sector. He said the Government procured more than 433 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, which benefited more than 50 lakh farmers.

'Indian women empowering the nation'

President Ram Nath Kovind said ''Women are playing an essential role in empowering the nation...we are encouraging Banking Sakhis to take banking services to remotest regions; schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao empower our Nari Shakti.''

'Mission Karmayogi'

President Ram Nath Kovind said that the Narendra Modi government has introduced capacity building programmes under the 'Mission Karmayogi' campaign to strengthen & boost the participation of civil servants in the government sector.

'Yoga, Ayurveda becoming popular'

The President acknowledged that as a result of the efforts made by the central government, the popularity of Yoga, Ayurveda, and traditional medicine is increasing day by day.

'Relentless efforts by my government has led to India emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world,'' President Kovind said, adding, ''India received USD 48 billion in FDI in first seven months of this fiscal. This is proof of investor confidence in the country.''

'Make In India a top priority in Defence contracts'

The President said that the government is a priority to 'Make in India' in awarding defence contracts. As many as 209 items used by armed forces will not be imported, said President Kovind.

President hails 'Gatishakti' masterplan

The President said that the 'Gatishakti' master plan is ushering the country in a new era of multi-modal transport. 'In last seven years, 24,000 km of railway route electrified. India's longest expressway linking Delhi to Mumbai to be completed soon; the government has also approved 21 greenfield airports,'' President Kovind said.

He added that eleven new metro rail lines have started which are benefiting lakhs of passengers across eight states. "India now has a network of more than 1.40 lakh km of national highways as against 90,000 km in March 2014,'' President Kovind said.

The Budget Session, which commences from today, is likely to be a stormy affair as Congress-led Opposition has decided to corner the BJP-led Centre over several key issues, including the recent report in The New York Times on the Pegasus matter.

The session comes amid the third COVID wave and a high-octane election campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, and Manipur. These five states will hold polls in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.

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New Delhi: Former Chief Minister of Punjab and Punjab Lok Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday (January 31) filed his nomination for the upcoming state assembly polls from the Patiala constituency.

Before heading to the election commission office for filing the nomination, Captain Singh sought Guru Gobind Singh Jis blessings by touching his sword.

Punjab Lok Congress founder and chief, Capt Amarinder Singh files his nomination from Patiala.#PunjabElections2022 pic.twitter.com/ZNjy12PcgI  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

Visuals released by news agency ANI shows former CM bowing down to the sword of Lord Guru Gobind Singh.

Punjab Lok Congress founder and chief, Capt Amarinder Singh seeks blessings from the sword of Guru Gobind Singh before heading for filing the nomination from Patiala.#PunjabElections2022 pic.twitter.com/kS2Dnhxi2L  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

Captain Singhs Punjab Lok Congress, will contest the assembly polls in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. (BJP)

The leader quit Congress last year after a high voltage political tussle between him and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu led to his resignation as CM.

Later, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also reached the EC office to file his nomination for the upcoming Punjab Assembly Polls. Badal will contest elections from Jalalabad.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal files nomination from Jalalabad. #PunjabElections2022 pic.twitter.com/9Yde2fcYyY  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

However, Punjab Assembly Polls will be held in one phase on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government after 10 years.

Aam Aadmi Party had emerged as the second-largest party winning 20 seats in 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly.

The SAD could manage to win only 15 seats while the BJP secured 3 seats.

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (January 31, 2022) granted protection from arrest to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia till February 23, 2022, in the drug case in the view of the assembly polls in Punjab which will be held on February 20.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli asked the SAD leader to surrender before the concerned trial court on February 23 and apply for regular bail.

The apex court also directed senior advocate P Chidambaram to appear for the Punjab government to make sure and advise the State that such cases are not filed before elections.

The observation of the Supreme Court came when it told Punjab government about another anticipatory bail plea filed by an MLA who complained of FIR being registered ahead of elections.

"There was another mentioning today regarding anticipatory bail of Simarjit Singh Bains where a case has been registered against him. That case will be heard tomorrow. Sorry to say suddenly these criminal cases are coming out before elections...," the Bench said.

It added, "We are in a democracy, at least allow them to file nomination."

The senior advocate said that he can assure the apex court that there will be no politically vindictive action in Punjab.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Majithia, during the hearing, argued that this is a classic case of political humiliation and vendetta.

Chidambaram told the Bench that this is a gross case of an international drug racket.

"Punjab now is sinking under a drug trail and we have to send a message that drug trafficking will not be taken lightly else the future of Punjab youth is damned," Chidambaram added. He also added that custodial interrogation of Majithia is required in the case.

While replying to this the SC bench said that it is not asking the government to hold its hands and not control drug mafias, but let the elections take place on February 20.

Chidambaram said let him surrender on February 21 and then the government can move the trial court for his custody.

The Bench, however, said Majithia will get protection from arrest till February 23 and thereafter he will surrender.

Earlier last week, the Bench asked the Punjab government not to arrest Majithia till January 31, when his plea for anticipatory bail will be heard. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 24 had dismissed Majithia`s anticipatory bail plea.

The High Court had granted three-day protection from arrest to Majithia for approaching the top court to challenge its order in which the anticipatory bail plea of the former minister was dismissed.

Majithia, who is facing an FIR by Punjab Police in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) case, was earlier granted interim bail by the High Court on a condition of cooperating in the investigation.

Majithia was apprehending arrest after a case under the provisions of the NDPS Act was registered at Mohali on December 20, last year.

The petition filed through Karanjawala law firm, stated that "the present case is blatantly political in nature and has been registered with the malafide objective to target the petitioner who is the mainstream leader of the opposition party, one month prior to the polls in the State."

"The current dispensation i.e. the Congress-led government has left no stone unturned to misuse its powers and position for wreaking vengeance against its political opponents and the Petitioner is one such target. The gross abuse of the process of law and the vindicative nature of the FIR. No. 0002, dated December 20, 2021, is evident from the fact that the FIR has been registered in 2021 in respect of allegations/incidents of 2014. Thus there is a gross and unexplained delay," the plea in the apex court stated.

It said the FIR has been deliberately registered at a time just prior to the elections with the oblique motive to remove the Majithia, who is the prime face of the opposition party, to gain political mileage.

The filing of nominations has started in the State of Punjab from January 25, 2022, and would continue till February 1, 2022, said the plea, adding that the purity of the electoral process is at stake.

In the High Court, Majithia alleged that the sole intention to register the FIR against him is to take him in custody and torture him. Majithia had contended that the FIR was registered against him keeping an eye on the upcoming elections and his fundamental rights are at stake.

Punjab, before the High Court, had opposed his bail plea contending that Majithia has not extended full cooperation during the investigation.

(With ANI inputs)

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BENGALURU: All schools and colleges in Bengaluru will resume physical classes from Monday amid a slight decline in Covid-19 cases in Karnataka. The Karnataka government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had earlier eased restrictions in view of low hospitalisation rates and declining Covid-19 caseload in the state.

The Karnataka government had on Saturday lifted most of the restrictions in the state following the high-level meeting with Covid experts. Revenue Minister R Ashok announced that the government has decided to end the night curfew from January 31 onwards.

He further stated that the 50 per cent cap on seating capacity in pubs, restaurants, bars, meeting halls has been withdrawn. Minister for Education BC Nagesh stated that schools in Bengaluru from Class 1 to 9 which had been closed in the backdrop of Covid third wave, will reopen from Monday.

"All Covid appropriate behaviours and SOPs will have to be followed by schools. If any student tests positive, that particular classroom will be sealed and the school will function normally. All students of that particular class would be tested," he explained.

"Concerned DC will take decision on closing the class or school depending on the cases for three days or five days. All public institutes of learning have been allowed to function by following Covid guidelines in the state," Minister Nagesh stated.

Minister for Tourism Anand Singh stated that all tourist spots including safari will be open for tourists.

However, the seating cap in theatres, malls, gyms and swimming pools will remain for 50 per cent in the state. All government offices are allowed to function with 100 per cent staff from Monday onwards. The limit on the number of guests at marriage halls has been increased to 300 from 200 persons.

The government continued the rule of carrying mandatory negative RT-PCR reports for the people who come into the state from neighbouring states of Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra. It also continued prohibition on religious fares, protests, and rallies in the state.

The government has also lifted restrictions on places of worship. Permission has been granted to conduct special pujas at temples. Open meeting places are also allowed to function with full capacity.

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New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday said legal action would be taken against those found revealing the identity and spreading rumours about a woman who was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and paraded by her attackers in east Delhis Kasturba Nagar recently.

The Delhi Polices appeal came after several tweets were posted on social media platforms claiming that the victim had allegedly committed suicide. Some posts also allegedly revealed the identity of the victim.

Asking people not to reveal the identity of the victim and spread misleading facts, the police said necessary action is being taken by identifying those who have been spreading rumours.

Last week, a 20-year-old woman was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and paraded by her attackers on the streets of east Delhis Kasturba Nagar with her hair chopped, face blackened and a shoe garland around her neck.

Police said they have arrested eight women and a man as well as apprehended three (boys) juveniles in connection with the case. Police said the accused were arrested on the basis of the victims complaint and the videos that surfaced online soon after the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) R Sathiyasundaram took to Twitter and posted a video of himself urging people to not share rumours and false information through social media platforms.

In the Kasturba Nagar sexual assault case, some people are spreading rumours about the victim and the incident through social media platforms. False information is being posted. Some of them are also found revealing the identity of the victim and also trying to give a communal angle to the incident, he said.

Some of them are spreading rumours that the victim has committed suicide. This is false information. The victim is doing fine and safe. The officers of the team have also met her, he added.

He said if anyone is found spreading rumours or wrong information through social media or any other platforms, we will surely take legal action against such people. Till now, whoever has shared such posts on the incident, we are taking legal action against them.

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New Delhi: In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shashi Tharoor on Monday (January 31, 2022) said that 'O Mitron' is far more dangerous than the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, the senior Congress leader said, "Far more dangerous than Omicron is O Mitron! We are measuring the consequences of the latter every day in increased polarisation, promotion of hatred & bigotry, insidious assaults on the Constitution & the weakening of our democracy. There is no milder variant of this virus."

Far more dangerous than #Omicron is O Mitron! We are measuring the consequences of the latter every day in increased polarisation, promotion of hatred & bigotry, insidious assaults on the Constitution & the weakening of our democracy. There is no milder variant of this virus.  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 31, 2022

His tweet came minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media ahead of the start of the Parliament's Budget session.

"True that polls affect sessions and debates. But I request all MPs that elections will go on but Budget Session draws a blueprint for an entire year and therefore, it is very important," Modi had said.

"The more fruitful we make this session, the better opportunity there would be in the coming year to take the country to new economic heights," he had said.

The Prime Minister had also called for discussions with an open mind to help take the country on the path to development swiftly.

Speaking at the start of the Budget Session. https://t.co/nijuHzfoIm  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 31, 2022

Tharoor's comments also come in the backdrop of the recent New York Times report which claimed that India bought Pegasus spyware as part of a USD 2 billion defence deal with Israel in 2017.

Earlier when asked about the issue, Tharoor, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary panel on communications and information technology, had said that the government has chosen not to be responsive to the IT Committee about Pegasus, and the stand was taken by a number of BJP members - not to permit a quorum when the issue was to be discussed - has also meant that the Committee has made no headway in establishing the facts.

"The Supreme Court is pursuing the matter and I wish it well. If our government has used Pegasus in the manner alleged it would be a very grave threat to our democracy," Tharoor had said.

The media report had said that Pegasus and a missile system were the "centerpieces" of a roughly USD 2 billion deal of sophisticated weapons and intelligence gear between India and Israel in 2017.

It is noteworthy that an international investigative consortium had claimed last year that many Indian ministers, politicians, activists, businessmen and journalists were potentially targeted by the software.

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Mumbai: Several hundred students protested on Monday (January 31) near the residence of Maharashtra school education minister Varsha Gaikwad in Mumbai demanding that offline exams for classes X to XII be canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The protest took place in Ashok Mill Naka in Dharavi and police had to resort to a mild baton charge to stop them from moving towards the minister's residence in the vicinity, an official said.

The students, who had assembled from areas like Thane and Nashik besides the metropolis on the basis of information shared on social media, did not have permission for the protest, the police official added.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Students protested outside State School Education Minster Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad's house, against offline exams Students' demand is online exams for classes 10th & 12th, in view of #COVID19 crisis. We tried convincing & dispersing them:DCP Pranay Ashok pic.twitter.com/ieqAmhq0rs  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

"No student was injured in the lathicharge. Some of them were brought to the local police station and released soon after," he said.

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New Delhi: In what comes as one of the major developments in Taliban-led Afghanistan, all the public universities that have been closed since the power seizure in August, are set to reopen in February, the acting higher education minister in the current regime said on Sunday. (January 30)

Universities in warmer provinces of Afghanistan will reopen from February 2, while those in colder areas would reopen on February 26, the minister, Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani, told a news conference in Kabul.

The Taliban leader, however, remained silent on its controversial call to ban education for female students or whether or not girls will be allowed to attend university.

The leader also failed to add if arrangements if any would be made for female students.

The possibility for female attendees arose as in the past, Taliban officials have suggested that there could be room for a provision for women to be taught in separate classes in the current regime.

So far, the Taliban government has reopened high schools for boys only in most parts of the country. Some private universities have reopened, but in many cases, female students have not been able to return to class.

Western governments have made education for female students a part of their demands as the Taliban seek more foreign aid and the unfreezing of overseas assets.

The hard-line group took over the country on August 15 last year after the United States withdrew its troop from the territory.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday (Jnauary 31, 2022) filed his nomination papers from Karhal seat of UP's Mainpuri and said the upcoming state Assembly polls will write the country's history for next century as he appealed to people to defeat negative politics.

Yadav said his "mission" is positive politics with progressive thinking.

The Samajwadi Party has declared Akhilesh Yadav as its candidate from the Karhal Assembly seat, which is part of the Mainpuri parliamentary constituency represented by party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"This nomination is a mission as this UP election will write the country's history for the next century. Let's take part in this movement of positive politics with progressive thinking. Defeat negative politics, remove it. Jai Hind!," Yadav said in a Hindi tweet.

He also shared a picture of his leaving on the Samajwadi Vijay Rath bus for Mainpuri from his native place Saifai in Etawah.

Karhal will go to polls on February 20 in the third of the seven-phase elections in the state.

Later Yadav told reporters, "First of all, I want to thank the people of Mainpuri and people of the organisation, who have given me a chance that today I am nominated from Karhal for contesting the elections."

"Positive politics has been carried forward and I hope people of Uttar Pradesh will remove those who do negative politics in this election. Therefore, I appeal to people to give opportunity to the SP not only in Karhal but in every area. The party will take the state on the path of development, prosperity and progress," he said.

On being asked whether he will come to the constituency for campaigning, Akhilesh said, "I have left my election to party leaders and people here. I will certainly come, if I get a chance. But people here have assured me that there is no need for me to come here. Yes, I will certainly come after winning."

"The result here will be historic and it will be a message for those practicising negative politics," he said.

The Karhal constituency is just four kilometres from Saifai, the native village of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Except for 2002, the constituency is with the SP since 1993.

In the 2002 Assembly polls, sitting MLA Sobaran Singh had contested on the BJP ticket.

Thereafter, he joined the SP and won three times consecutively.

Karhal has about 3.7 lakh electorate, including 1.4 lakh (37 per cent) Yadavs, 34,000 Shakhyas (OBCs) and around 14,000 Muslims.

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New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (Januray 31, 2022) said the schools for classes 8 to 12 will reopen in the state from 3 February. The decision to relax Covid-19 curbs and reopen schools, colleges in West Bengal comes as the Covid-19 pandemic situation improves in the state.

However, CM Mamata Banerjee announced that the night curfew in the state is being relaxed by an hour, instead of being in force from 10 pm to 5 am, now the curfew will remain in place from 11 pm to 5 am.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announces relaxation in COVID restrictions: Night curfew to be in force between 11pm-5am instead of 10pm-5am. Restaurants, bars, and cinema halls to operate at 75% capacity. Parks & tourist places to reopen with COVID safety protocols." pic.twitter.com/F3JjHqMru0  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2022

Colleges and universities will also restart their offline classes from Thursday, CM Banerjee has said. Work force can be increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent in private offices, CM Banerjee added.

While addressing a press conference today CM Mamata Banerjee said, Restaurants, bars and cinema halls can now operate at 75 per cent capacity compared to the earlier 50 per cent. The same applies to sports arenas, which can now operate at 75 per cent seating capacity.

Banerjee said the COVID-19 situation in the state has improved a lot, because of which certain relaxations are being given.

Meanwhile, West Bengal's Covid-19 caseload increased to 19,93,606 on Sunday after 3,427 more people tested positive for the virus, 85 less than the previous day's figure, the health department said in a bulletin. The state recorded 33 fresh coronavirus fatalities which pushed the death toll to 20,583.

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New Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday (January 31) announced that now local trains and Metro will run with 75% capacity from February 1 that are presently running with 50% capacity.

Mamata Banerjee also announced relaxation in Covid restrictions and changed the timings of Night curfew to between 11pm-5am instead of 10pm-5am.

After the new relaxations, restaurants, bars, and cinema halls to operate at 75% capacity. Parks and tourist places will also reopen with Covid safety protocols.

The schools for classes 8 to 12 will also reopen in the state from 3 February. The decision to relax Covid-19 curbs and reopen schools, colleges in West Bengal comes as the Covid-19 pandemic situation improves in the state.

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Pune: Social activist Anna Hazare on Monday said it was unfortunate that the Maharashtra government was giving priority to liquor sales for financial gains. The Gandhian social crusaders remarks came days after the state government allowed the sale of wine in supermarkets and walk-in shops.

Maharashtra Skill Development Minister Nawab Malik had last Thursday said the state cabinet took the decision to give a boost to fruit-based wineries which provide additional income to farmers.

In a statement, Hazare said on Monday that it is the government's duty to discourage people from drugs, alcohol and addiction. It is sad to see that decisions are being made to promote alcohol and addiction only for revenue generation, he said.

"The Maharashtra government recently decided to allow the sale of wine in supermarkets and grocery stores. This decision is very unfortunate for the people of Maharashtra. The state government said the decision was taken in the interest of farmers. The state government also said wine is not alcohol. The real question is where will such a decision take the state?" the activist asked.

While people of the state are protesting against the government's decision, those in the government are supporting it, he said. "It is unfortunate for the people of this state that the government has given priority to the sale of liquor in this way only to generate revenue," Hazare said.

Talking about the interest of farmers, he said the state and central governments should provide a fair price for what ordinary cultivators grow in their fields. "But, what exactly the government wants to achieve by setting a target of selling 1,000 crore litres of wine a year? This means the government is okay with people getting addicted, but it (government) will insist that its revenue should increase," he said.

Hazare also said that in November last year, the Maharashtra government reduced the Excise duty on imported Scotch whiskey by 50 per cent. The government plans to increase the sale of such liquor and increase its revenue from Rs 100 crore to Rs 250 crore, he added.

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SEOUL: North Korea on Monday confirmed that it had tested a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which is capable of striking the US territory. It was the seventh missile test conducted by Pyongyang this month and the first time that a nuclear-capable missile was fired since 2017.

North Korean state news agency KCNA said, "The inspection firing test was conducted for the purpose of selectively inspecting the ground-to-ground mid-range long-range ballistic missile Hwasong-12 and verifying the overall accuracy of this weapon system."

According to KCNA, North Korea has previously said the Hwasong-12 can carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead." The test "confirmed the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the produced Hwasong-12 type weapon system," KCNA said.

How was the missile test conducted?

KCNA said the missile launch was conducted in such a way as to ensure the safety of neighbouring countries, and that the test warhead was fitted with a camera that took photos while it was in space. Photos released by state media showed space-based images of North Korea and the surrounding areas through a round camera lens. North Korea first took such photos in 2017, analysts said.

Leader Kim Jong Un was not reported to have attended the test, which was at least the seventh launch in January, one of the busiest ever for North Korea`s advancing missile programme.

Global concerns over North Korean missile test

The US and South Korean officials have warned that Pyongyangs launch could lead to resumed testing of long-range weapons and nuclear bombs. The launch was first reported by South Korean and Japanese authorities on Sunday, who condemned it as a threat to regional security.

On Sunday South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the launch takes North Korea a step closer to fully scrapping a self-imposed moratorium on testing its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

What does North Korea say?

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said he is no longer bound by that moratorium, which included a stop to nuclear weapons tests and was announced in 2018 amid a flurry of diplomacy and summits with then-US President Donald Trump.

North Korea suggested this month it could restart those testing activities because the United States and its allies had shown no sign of dropping their "hostile policies."

January`s testing schedule began with the launch of a new "hypersonic missile," and went on to include long-range cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles launched from railcars and airports, underscoring the nuclear-armed state`s rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal amid stalled denuclearisation talks.

Bigger missiles

The United States shares the concerns that North Korea`s escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and ICBMs, a senior US official said on Sunday night, while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.

"They are looking to take actions, which we believe are fundamentally destabilizing, as a way to increase pressure," the official told a briefing of journalists in Washington. "I think that there probably is a component that is also to validate the systems that they`ve developed and further refine them."

It is unclear if IRBMs such as the Hwasong-12 were included in Kim`s moratorium, but those, too, have not been tested since 2017.

That year North Korea flight-tested the Hwasong-12 at least six times, achieving three successful flights and three failures.

Different types of weapons tested by N Korea so far this month

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 km per hour (3,850mph).

Despite their name, analysts say the main feature of hypersonic weapons is not the speed, but their manoeuvrability, which can help them evade missile defence systems. South Korean officials questioned the claimed capabilities of the missile after the first test but said the second test appeared to demonstrate greater performance.

Analysts said if Pyongyang can perfect such weapons, it would represent a potentially major upgrade in its striking power against its nearby adversaries.

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.

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 later fired another pair of KN-23 missiles 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 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 U.S. MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and, like the KN-23, is designed to evade missile defences by flying on a flatter trajectory than traditional ballistic missiles.

Long-range cruise missiles

State media reported two long-range cruise missiles were fired on Jan. 25, travelling 1,800 km before hitting a target 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 U.N. Security Council Resolutions, but analysts say land-attack cruise missiles can be no less a threat than ballistic missiles.

HWASONG-12

North Korea first launched the Hwasong-12 IRBM in April 2017, in a test that pinwheeled out of control and was considered a failure by U.S. and South Korean officials. Two more test flights that month also ended in apparent failure, with the missiles exploding seconds after launch or breaking up in flight.

The first successful flight was in May 2017, and North Korea went on to launch two more Hwasong-12s that year, flying them over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. In Sunday`s test, North Korea said it fired the missile on an elevated trajectory "in consideration of the safety of neighbouring countries."

The test "confirmed the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the produced Hwasong-12 type weapon system," KCNA said. South Korea reported the missile reached an altitude of about 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and flew to a distance of 800 km.

The Hwasong-12 has an estimated range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles), which would put the U.S. territory of Guam and the far western tip of Alaska`s Aleutian Islands chain within reach, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

It can carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead," according to state media, and in 2017 North Korea threatened to use it to target Guam with "enveloping fire."

(With Reuters inputs)

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New Delhi: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan recently shared a video of his son Abhishek Bachchan talking about the family's financial woes and when they were almost bankrupt.

The 'Chehre' actor was really proud of his son and along with the video wrote, "Yo baby...That's the way we do it."

In the video, Abhishek Bachchan was talking about how he left college to financially support his family and get into acting. He also spoke about how his father Amitabh Bachchan was at a point once where his movies and his business were not working out and he had approached director Yash Chopra for work.

Later, Amitabh Bachchan was offered 'Mohabbatein' with Shah Rukh Khan which helped him at the time.

Politician Milind Deora had first shared the video on Twitter with the caption - "In case you missed it, sharing these words of wisdom from my friend @juniorbachchan  Bollywoods most underrated actor whose best is yet to come" and Big B later reshared it on Twitter with a motivational caption.

Watch the video here:

yo baby .. thats the way we do it !! https://t.co/D2msMtI8Eu  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 31, 2022

Earlier last year, Abhishek had spoken about his family's financial woes in a podcast as well.

In The Ranveer Show podcast, Abhishek said, "I spoke to my father from college. My family was going through a difficult financial time. And I just felt like a son, although I might not have been qualified at that point in time, that I needed to be with my father. Even for moral support. Hes a big guy on moral support. He likes to know his familys around."

I said I cant be here sitting in Boston when my father doesnt know how hes going to get dinner. And thats how bad it was. And he said it publicly. He had to borrow money from his staff to put food on the table. I just felt morally obliged to be with him. I called him and I said You know dad, I think I want to leave college halfway and come back and just be with you, try and help you in whatever way. At least youll know that your boy is next to you and hes there for you, he added.

On the work front, he was last seen in 'Bob Biswas' in which he played a deadly contract killer.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss 13 runner up Asim Riaz, who is busy promoting his music video Dur Hua that features him opposite Bigg Boss OTT winner Divya Agarwal ditched a question on Bigg Boss 13 fellow contestant Shehnaaz Gill during a promoting event. One of the media guy informed Asim that it is Shehnaazs birthday but before he could finish his sentence, Asim cut him off in the middle and asked him to focus.

Aur aisa kya ho gaya ke life mein, you just gotta focus (What has happened in life is you need to focus). Okay bro, you know what I am talking about. Abhi gaane ki baat kare, Dur Hua, toh abhi wo bahut acha (Our new song has been released, it is good)" Asim said.

On being asked again on the topic, he replied, Divya ke baare mein pucho, Divya kitni khoobsurat lag rahi hai. Come on guys, dyaan kahaan pe hai bro? Agar tu dimag ghar pe chod ke aaya hai toh galat hai. (Ask about Divya, shes looking so beautiful. Come on guys, wheres your attention? If youve left your brain at home, then its wrong,)".

Earlier, fans had trolled Asim Riaz for his tweet that they thought was an indirect dig at Shehnaaz Gill. Just saw few dancing clips  seriously people get over loved ones so soon Kya baat kya baat... #Newworld, Asim Riaz had tweeted on December 27, 2021. His tweet came after videos of Shehnaaz Gill surfaced dancing at her managers engagement.

Just saw few dancing clips  seriously people get over loved ones so soon

Kya baat

kya baat... #Newworld  Asim Riaz (@imrealasim) December 27, 2021

Asim however later clarified and said that the tweet was not directed at Shehnaaz but his group of friends from Jammu. I lost one of my good friends last month from Jammu and a few of my friends from the same group are partying right now in Goa. So I was actually telling them not who you all are assuming and remember if I wanna say anything I have those guts to come up to say it directly," read Asims explanation.

Bigg Boss 13 winner and Shehnaaz Gills rumoured boyfriend Sidharth Shukla died of a cardiac arrest on September 2, last year at the age of 40. The news left his family, friends and fans shocked and devastated.

Both Shehnaaz and Asim were seen during his last rites. Asim, who had some bitter fights with Sidharth during Bigg Boss 13 called him brother and see you in heaven in his condolence post for him on Instagram.

On the other hand, Shehnaaz for a long time becme inactive on social media and made only rare public appearances. She however later paid him a tribute with the song Tu Yahin Hai. Shehnaaz also performed on the song on Bigg Boss 15 Grand Finale on Sunday (January 30). Asims brother Umar Riaz was also a contestant in the 15th season of the show but was later evicted for indulging in physical violence with fellow contestant Pratik Sehajpal. Both Asim and Umar have called the eviction unfair.
New Delhi: Ashwin Saravanan, who is directing the Nayanthara-starrer 'Connect', has married his co-writer Kaavya Ramkumar in a simple ceremony that was attended by close friends and family at a temple at Acharapakkam.

Talking to IANS, the young director, who has delivered critically acclaimed hits like 'Maya' and 'Game Over', said: "We got married at a small temple in Acharapakkam on Thursday. The place is on the way from Chennai to Pondicherry. What we had originally planned was for an event to which we could invite everyone. However, the pandemic forced us to keep pushing the event. Eventually, both families felt that we should have a simple wedding first and then later have a reception when things become normal."

Talking about Kaavya, the director said: "Kaavya is a doctor by profession. She also used to write short stories which she would put out on the web. I liked those stories and got in touch with her to see if we could work together. We worked on 'Game Over' and felt our relationship was very comfortable."

The director also announced his wedding on Twitter. Posting pictures of their wedding, he said: "It started with pen and paper. It has ended in poetry Heart suit Kaavya Ramkumar, thank you for riding out the storm with me every single time. Doing this with you, especially during the third wave, was an adventure by itself."
NEW DELHI: The Miss USA 2019 pageant winner, Cheslie Kryst, has passed away. She was 30.

The beauty queen, lawyer, fashion blogger and Extra TV correspondent fell from a "higher elevation" of a 60-story condominium in New York City just after 7 am on Sunday, January 30, and was pronounced dead at the scene, an NYPD spokesperson told E! News.

They added that the death of Kryst, who lived on the ninth floor, appears to be a suicide, adding that a medical examiner has yet to determine the official cause.

"In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie," her family said in a statement to Extra. "Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined."

The statement continued, "Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on Extra. But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague -- we know her impact will live on. As we reflect on our loss, the family asks for privacy at this time."

Kryst was active on social media as recently as hours before her passing. Earlier on Sunday, Kryst posted a glamorous photo of herself looking to the side on her Instagram page, writing, "May this day bring you rest and peace."

Kryst was born in Jackson, Michigan in 1991 and grew up in South Carolina. Kryst attended the University of South Carolina and in 2017, she graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law. She worked as a lawyer at North Carolina firm Poyner Spruill LLP as a civil litigator. She also founded the women's business apparel blog White Collar Glam.

In 2019, she won the title of Miss North Carolina USA and after being crowned Miss USA 2019, she took a sabbatical from work. In 2020, her firm appointed her its first diversity advisor.

Also in 2019, Kryst began working as a New York correspondent for Extra.

Taking to her Instagram Story on Monday, Harnaaz Sandhu also shared a beautiful picture in which she can be seen sharing smiles with Cheslie after her victory at the 70th Miss Universe 2021, held in Eilat, Israel.

Further, she penned, "This is heartbreaking and unbelievable, you were always an inspiration to many. Rest In Peace Cheslie."
New Delhi: Shamita Shetty has been receiving immense appreciation and praise for her stint in 'Bigg Boss 15'. Her beau and actor Raqesh Bapat also took to social media to shower her with love.

He shared an adorable picture with Shamita which was clicked post the 'Bigg Boss 15' grand finale. Alongside the image, Raqesh penned a heartfelt note in which he talked about how he is proud of Shamita's journey on the reality show.

"Learning, Un learning and learning again is a circle of our existence where Victory is subjective but Growth is certain. You experienced, you learnt, you evolved and you won almost everyone's heart. I am so proud of you @shamitashetty_official. #ShaRa," he wrote.

For the unversed, Shamita was in the top 5 of 'Bigg Boss 15' and took the fourth spot. She met and fell in love with Raqesh in 'Bigg Boss OTT'.
The first freight train arrived at the Rani Gaidinliu station in the north-eastern state on January 27, days after a passenger train from Silchar in Assam reached the Vangaichungpao railway station in Manipur, where assembly polls will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3.

With the first freight train reaching Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 29 said this will enhance the state's commerce and connectivity as goods from there will reach all parts of the country.

"Transformation of the Northeast continues. Manipur's connectivity will be enhanced and commerce will be boosted. Wonderful products from the state can travel all over the nation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter tagging a post of Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy. The Union Minister along with his tweet also shared a video of the freight train arriving at the station.

Read also: Railway Budget 2022: Better facilities, high speed trains, electrification  What to expect?

"Historic day for Manipur and the entire North East, after 75 years of India's Independence, first goods train reaches Rani Gaidinliu Railway Station, Tamenglong in Manipur. The Narendra Modi government is committed to enhancing infrastructure connectivity and economic prosperity in the NER (northeast region)," Reddy tweeted.

Earlier this month, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw did an aerial survey of the Jiribam-Imphal new line project in Manipur. The project, which includes the country's longest train tunnel, will connect Imphal with Guwahati.

He said that Rs 7,000 crore has been allocated this year for ongoing railway projects in the northeast. He further added, Goods trains will start rolling by the end of this month up to Kaimai Road railway station.

Taking to Twitter, the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on January 29 said, In yet another milestone, the first-ever goods train reached Rani Gaidinliu Railway Station, Tamenglong yesterday. The improvement in railway connectivity, under the close supervision of Hon' PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji, will immensely improve the socio-economic condition of Manipur.

With inputs from PTI

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#mute
New Delhi: Paytm is always improving its services to meet the needs of as many people as possible in a range of situations. The platform recently announced the introduction of the 'Tap to Pay' feature, which allows users to perform exceptionally fast transactions by simply tapping their phones on the PoS machine.

Even if there is no internet connection, the Paytm service that makes payments using NFC can work. However, for the time being, the service is only available to Android users. This service is unavailable to iOS users because the NFC-enabled 'Tap to Pay' capability for iPhones is only available through Apple Pay, which is currently unavailable in India.

Follow these simple steps if you're an Android user and want to enable the Tap to Pay feature on your phone.

Step 1: Open the Paytm app on your phone. Check to see if the application is up to date. If you haven't already, go to the Google Play Store.

Step 2: Choose Tap to Pay after the app is open.

Step 3: If you don't have a card saved yet, select Add New Card at the bottom of the screen. If you already have, you can skip this step.

Step 4: Select the card you want to enable the feature on and then press Proceed to Card Verification.

Step 5: A One-Time Password will be sent to you (OTP). When you enter it, your Tap To Pay feature will be enabled.

Step 6: Make sure your phone's NFC is turned on before using the Tap To Pay feature. The amount that can be paid utilising this feature has a limit of Rs.5,000. If the transaction value exceeds Rs.5000, the PIN on the PoS machine must be entered.

The functionality was created using technology that converts a card's 16-digit Primary Account Number (PAN) into a digital transaction code. This code allows the user to pay the amount at the PoS machine without having to share any card information.

Live TV

#mute
New Delhi: WhatsApp allows users to erase messages for 'everyone,' although this might be inconvenient because we all want to know what was transmitted. There appears to be a WAMR app on the Google Play app store that allows users to check deleted texts. The 'drilens' app is still available for download on the app store and had over 50 million installs at the time of writing this article. Experts are now recommending against using this software because it jeopardizes users' internet privacy.

According to WARM's official Google Play page, the app requires Android 5 or higher and is 16MB in size. WAMR does not have access to WhatsApp chats, according to the developer, because communications are encrypted. WAMR, on the other hand, retains track of notifications, thus if a message is removed before the users view it, WAMR will keep track of the notification history. It will also "attempt to save any media linked to the message, and you will be notified if the sender deletes it."

There are certain limits listed on the Google Play page for the app. For example, if a chat is preserved indefinitely, WAMR will not function because no notifications will be received. "If messages aren't being saved, it could be due to Android disabling WAMR," the description continues. WAMR should be removed from all battery optimization services."

According to a report in a security daily, the app is problematic since it requires access to different settings, according to cybersecurity specialists from the International Institute of Cyber Security (IICS). The risk of data leakage grows as users grant access to Gallery, Network, and Notifications. The programme is not "malicious," according to the report, but access to Notifications might reveal any important information.

Users who install this programme [WAMR] must grant you wide permissions, which could compromise data controlled by other apps, files saved in the device's memory, Internet search history, and even the device users' contact list, according to the research.

Live TV

#mute
NEW DELHI: Will Salman Khan host "Bigg Boss 16"? When Deepika Padukone, who joined the "Bigg Boss 15" grand finale with the other lead players of the upcoming film "Gehraiyaan" asked this question to the superstar host on Sunday night, Salman said he would not repeat his association with the show if his fee is not increased.

"Price increase nahi hoga toh nahi karunga," he said emphatically. Only time will tell whether this declaration needs to be taken with a bucketful of salt.

Deepika also played a round of truth and dare with Salman. When asked the name of the celebrity whom she stalks, Deepika said it was none other than Salman Khan. She said she even knew who the actor was with at Panvel (his family's farmhouse outside Mumbai).

All eyes, in fact, are on Deepika, for she will announce which one among the four finalists left in the fray -- Pratik Sehajpal, Shamita Shetty, Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash -- will be eliminated from the final race.
New Delhi: Actress Shilpa Shetty, who was constantly rooting for her sister Shamita Shetty to win the coveted Bigg Boss 15 trophy reacts to her elimination during the finale. Shamita became the third runner-up, while Tejasswi Prakash emerged as the winner, Pratik Sehajpal as the first runner-up and Karan Kundrra as the second runner-up. Spotted outside Bigg Boss 15 finale sets, Shilpa was asked by paparazzi about Shamitas eviction after getting so close to the trophy. The actress gracefully responded and said God is great and placed her trust in his plans.

Watch Shilpas reaction:

Later, the paps also tried to know Shilpa's views on Tejasswi Prakashs win, but by that time the actress sat in her car and didnt take questions.

Shamita Shetty was also spotted outside the Bigg Boss house with boyfriend Raqesh Bapat. She smiled at the media and thanked everyone for their support. Raqesh held Shamita protectively and also gave her a peck on a cheek.

This was Shamitas third outing in the Bigg Boss house. The Mohabbatein actress first participated in Amitabh Bachchan hosted Bigg Boss season 3 that she opted out of just a few weeks before the finale as her sister Shilpa Shetty was getting married. Last year, she also participated in Karan Johars hosted Bigg Boss OTT - where she emerged as the second runner-up. Salman Khan hosted Bigg Boss 15 was her third outing.

Bigg Boss 15 winner Tejasswi Prakash won the trophy and also got Rs 40 lakhs. The Swaragini actress will also headline Ekta Kapoors immensely popular and must awaited Naagin shows latest season.
Taipei: Beijing officials said Sunday they sealed off several residential communities in the city's northern district after new cases of COVID-19 were found.

Residents in the Anzhenli neighborhood in Chaoyang district were sealed off on Saturday, and will not be allowed to leave their compound.

Beijing is on high alert as it prepares to host the Olympic Games opening on Friday.

While the cases are low compared to other countries in the region, China has doubled down on its 'zero-tolerance' policy, which includes breaking the chain of transmission as soon as it is found.

The city is also setting up 19 points in the area to test residents every day until Friday, officials said at a briefing on the pandemic, according to state-backed Beijing News.

The Chinese capital reported a total of 12 cases of COVID-19 between 4 pm Saturday and 4 pm Sunday, said Pang Xinghuo, the vice head of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control. All those cases came from people who were already under some kind of pandemic control measures.

The city conducted multiple rounds of testing for millions of residents this past week in Fengtai district, where some residential compounds were locked down.

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United Nations: The United Nations has received "credible allegations" that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban took over the country August 15, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says.

In a report obtained Sunday by The Associated Press, Guterres said that "more than two-thirds" of the victims were alleged to result from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates, despite the Taliban's announcement of "general amnesties" for those affiliated with the former government and US-led coalition forces.

The UN political mission in Afghanistan also received "credible allegations of extrajudicial killings of at least 50 individuals suspected of affiliation with ISIL-KP," the Islamic State extremist group operating in Afghanistan, Guterres said in the report to UN Security Council.

He added that despite Taliban assurances, the UN political mission has also received credible allegations "of enforced disappearances and other violations impacting the right to life and physical integrity" of former government and coalition members.

Guterres said human rights defenders and media workers also continue "to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings." Eight civil society activists were killed, including three by the Taliban and three by Islamic State extremists, and 10 were subjected to temporary arrests, beatings and threats by the Taliban, he said.

Two journalists were killed, one by IS, and two were injured by unknown armed men. The secretary-general said the UN missions documented 44 cases of temporary arrests, beatings and threats of intimidation, 42 of them by the Taliban.

The Taliban overran most of Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. They entered Kabul on August 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country's president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled. The Taliban initially promised a general amnesty for those linked to the former government and international forces, and tolerance and inclusiveness toward women and ethnic minorities.

However, the Taliban have renewed restrictions on women and appointed an all-male government, which have met with dismay by the international community.

Afghanistan's aid-dependent economy was already stumbling when the Taliban seized power, and the international community froze Afghanistan's assets abroad and halted economic support, recalling the Taliban's reputation for brutality during its 1996-2001 rule and refusal to educate girls and allow women to work.

Guterres said: "The situation in Afghanistan remains precarious and uncertain six months after the Taliban takeover as the multiple political, socio-economic and humanitarian shocks reverberate across the country."

He said Afghanistan today faces multiple crises: a growing humanitarian emergency, a massive economic contraction, the crippling of its banking and financial systems, the worst drought in 27 years, and the Taliban's failure to form an inclusive government and restore the rights of girls to education and women to work.

"An estimated 22.8 million people are projected to be in `crisis' and `emergency' levels of food insecurity until March 2022," the UN chief said. "Almost 9 million of these will be at `emergency' levels of food insecurity - the highest number in the world. Half of all children under five are facing acute malnutrition."

On a positive note, Guterres reported "a significant decline" in the overall number of conflict-related security incidents as well as civilian casualties since the Taliban takeover. The UN recorded 985 security-related incidents between August 19 and December 31, a 91 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2020, he said.

The eastern, central, southern and western regions accounted for 75 per cent of all recorded incidents, he said, with Nangarhar, Kabul, Kunar and Kandahar ranking as the most conflict-affected provinces. Despite the reduction in violence, Guterres said the Taliban face several challenges, including rising attacks against their members.

"Some are attributed to the National Resistance Front comprising some Afghan opposition figures, and those associated with the former government," he said. "These groups have been primarily operating in Panjshir Province and Baghlan's Andarab District but have not made significant territorial inroads" though "armed clashes are regularly documented, along with forced displacement and communication outages."

Guterres said intra-Taliban tensions along ethnic lines and competition over jobs have also resulted in violence, pointing to armed clashes on November 4 between between Taliban forces in Bamyan city.

In the report, the secretary-general proposed priorities for the UN political mission in the current environment urged international support to prevent widespread hunger and the country's economic collapse, and urged the Taliban to guarantee women's rights and human rights.

Live TV
Cairo: The United Arab Emirates said on Monday it had intercepted a ballistic missile that was fired by Yemen`s Houthi as the Gulf state hosted Israel`s President Isaac Herzog in a first such visit.

The Emirati defence ministry said the missile was intercepted and destroyed, adding that its debris fell on an uninhabited area. It did not say whether the missile was targeting the UAE`s capital Abu Dhabi or Dubai, the Middle East`s business and tourism hub.

The UAE civil aviation authority said air traffic in the Gulf country was going as usual and all flights operations were operating normally despite the attack, the state news agency (WAM) reported.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen in a seven-year-old conflict that has killed tens of thousands and pushed the impoverished country to the verge of starvation.

Yemen`s Houthi military spokesman said late on Sunday on Twitter that the group would disclose within hours details of a new military operation deep inside the UAE. He gave no further details.

The Houthis launched a deadly strike on Abu Dhabi on Jan. 17 and a second foiled missile assault on Monday, after UAE-backed Yemeni militias intervened along frontlines where the Houthis had made inroads last year.

The UAE`s defence ministry said coalition warplanes had destroyed missile launchers that were located in Yemen.

Last week, the Gulf state`s public prosecutor said it had summoned several people for sharing videos showing defence systems intercepting a previous missile attack by the Houthis. There were no social media posts on this interception.

Monday`s attack came as Herzog discussed security and bilateral relations with the UAE`s de facto ruler, Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi.

Herzog spent the night in Abu Dhabi, an Israeli official told Reuters. He will continue his UAE visit despite the Houthi attack, his office said.

The United States condemned the attack.

"While Israel`s president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet.

The UAE, along with Bahrain, signed U.S.-brokered normalisation agreements with Israel, dubbed the "Abraham Accords", in 2020.

The UAE has reduced significantly its military presence in Yemen since 2019, but it still holds sway via large local forces that it has built and armed.

The war in Yemen has escalated dramatically over the last months with the coalition intensifying airstrikes on Yemeni cities, and the Houthis stepping up cross-border attacks.

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LONDON: Britain will impose sanctions on businesses and people with the closest links to the Kremlin if Russia takes "further action" against Ukraine, a senior British official said on Monday.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, London has become the pre-eminent global centre for a vast outflow of money from former Soviet republics.

Opponents of President Vladimir Putin, who has massed troops near Ukraine, have repeatedly called on the West to get tough How Western economic sanctions might target Russia on Russian money, though oligarchs and Russian officials continue to flaunt their wealth at Europe`s most luxurious destinations.

"We are very clear that if Russia takes further action against the Ukraine, then we will further tighten the sanctions regime targeting those businesses and people with the closest links to the Kremlin," Simon Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News.

The United States, the European Union and Britain have warned Putin against attacking Ukraine.

Russia denies planning to attack Ukraine and is demanding security guarantees including a promise by NATO never to let Kyiv join the alliance. Russian officials say the West is gripped by Russophobia and has no right to lecture Moscow on how to act after NATO`s eastward expansion since the Cold War ended.

The British government will introduce new legislation this week to broaden the scope of sanctions it can apply to Russia to try to deter aggression towards Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Sunday.

Britain has imposed sanctions on about 180 people and 48 entities since Russia annexed Crimea form Ukraine in 2014.

On the sanctions list are six people Britain says are close to Putin: businessmen Yuri Kovalchuk, Arkady Rotenberg and Nikolai Shamalov, former KGB officer Sergei Chemezov, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and Federal Security Service (FSB) chief Alexander Bortnikov.

The sanctions allow Britain to freeze individual assets and ban individual from entering the United Kingdom.

They also prohibit any individual from dealing with a post-2014 transferable security or money market instrument of a maturity over 30 days issued by Sberbank, VTB bank, Gazprombank, Vnesheconombank (VEB), Rosselkhozbank, OPK Oboronprom, United Aircraft Corporation, Uralvagonzavod, Rosneft, Transneft or Gazprom Neft.



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New Delhi: Joe Biden, President of the United States on Sunday (January 30) called on Afghanistans Taliban rulers to release an American hostage who was abducted two years ago and is believed to be the last American hostage held by the Taliban.

"Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice," Biden said in a statement.

"The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable."

Who is the hostage?

Mark Frerichs, a 59-year-old civil engineer is said to be held captive in Afghanistan for two years and is believed to be the last American hostage in the war-torn country led by the Taliban.

Frerichs is a US Navy veteran from Lombard, Illinois, who worked in Afghanistan for a decade on development projects. He was kidnapped a month before the February 2020 US troop pullout deal was signed and was transferred to the Haqqani network, a brutal Taliban faction accused of some of the deadliest attacks of the war.

Frerichs` family has criticized the US government for not pressing harder to secure his release. Last week, his sister, Charlene Cakora, made a personal plea to Biden in a Washington Post opinion piece titled, "President Biden, please bring home my brother, the last American held hostage in Afghanistan."

Monday marks his second year in captivity.

US pullout from Afghanistan

Months after Joe Biden came into power, his administration pulled US troops out of Afghanistan in August in a chaotic withdrawal that drew sharp criticism from Republicans and his own Democrats as well as foreign allies and punctured his approval ratings.

The pull out marked the end of the longest war in history after the infamous 9/11 terror attacks.

US and Taliban officials met for the first time since the pullout in October in Doha, Qatar, which had hosted talks on Afghanistan that led to the troop withdrawal.

The Qatari emir was due to visit the White House on Monday on a range of issues that will include global energy security, the White House said last week. Qatar represents US interests in Kabul.

(With PTI inputs)

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By Trend

So far, 12 trips to Azerbaijans Shusha and Aghdam districts liberated from Armenias occupation have been successfully made, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Digital Development and Transport told Trend .

Citizens purchased more than 1,100 tickets for the trips.

Regular bus trips to Shusha and Aghdam cities, which are of great historical significance and cultural value for the Azerbaijani people, have been launched since Jan. 24.

Considering the increased demand for the Baku-Shusha-Baku trip, a decision was made to launch an additional trip on this route.

The Baku-Shusha-Baku bus trip will be made three times a week, rather than two times, from February 16.
Dubai attracted AED15.9 billion ($4.3 billion) of foreign direct investment (FDI) capital inflow from 378 projects in the first nine months of 2021, a significant increase from the same period of 2020, according to data from the Dubai FDI Monitor released by Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai.



The positive growth places Dubai third globally in key metrics including attracting greenfield foreign direct investment capital and projects, for FDI into reinvestment projects and for being among the top global FDI locations of the future, according to the ranking by Financial Times fDi Markets, which captures and compares FDI data across the world, reported Emirates News Agency WAM.



FDI reinvestment projects accounted for 11% of the total FDI projects in the emirate. FDI job creation witnessed a huge growth of 36% during the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period last year, as 16,430 new jobs were created compared to 12,090 jobs in the same period prior to last year.



The total number of FDI projects increased by 16%, from 326 in the first nine months of 2020 to 378 in the same period of 2021. As much as 58% of the inbound FDI is in strategic sectors and 52% is in greenfield projects. High and medium technology investments comprise 64% of inbound FDI capital, with an increase of 2% over the same period in the previous year.



Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: "Dubai has continued to introduce and implement initiatives that improve business confidence. Global investors have placed their faith in Dubais business ecosystem, making it among the most attractive FDI locations in the world. Initiatives such as full foreign ownership, an evolving visa administration, and the alignment of the work week with global markets demonstrate Dubai and the UAEs responsiveness to business needs.



FDI source countries according to Dubai FDI Monitor puts the United Kingdom on the lead with 29% of FDI capital inflows into Dubai during the first nine months of 2021, followed by France with 19%, the United States at 14%, Saudi Arabia at 6%, and India at 4%.



These five countries together accounted for 72% of the total capital inflow into Dubai. In terms of the number of FDI projects, the UK ranked first with 20%, followed by the US with 19%, India with 11%, France with 6%, and Germany with 5%.



Helal Al Marri, Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, said the positive FDI trends in the first nine months of 2021 showcase the efficacy of Dubais future-forward policies in creating new investment opportunities and continuous improvement in the ease of doing business.



Al Marri praised the contributions of all Dubai agencies, including the public and private sectors, in welcoming the world to Expo 2020 Dubai.



Notably, the FDI Global Cities of the Future 2021/2022 report published by fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, ranked Dubai third among the top global FDI locations of the future in 2021. Dubai also ranked second globally in the Major Cities for FDI subcategory as well as in Economic Potential and Business-friendly Environment, with third position in the Connectivity subcategory, highlighting the high level of investor confidence in Dubai and its future-readiness.



Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of Dubai FDI, said: "We have been successful in consistently conveying the Dubai Advantage  as one of the worlds best cities in which to live, work, and play  to global investors. Many elements have come together as the result of collaboration between government entities, free zones, and private sector partners to enhance the attractiveness and stability of the investment environment in Dubai. Job creation and strategic growth remain at the centre of FDI investments, underscoring a global approach that ties in with a local advantage.



"At Dubai FDI, we have continued to support existing and potential investors in their journey throughout the pandemic period. The Expo 2020 Dubai has proven to be an excellent platform for attracting global business, ensuring that economic growth gathers momentum," Al Gergawi added.
Dubai-based home maintenance specialist Hitches & Glitches (H&G), has adopted a new strategy for its burgeoning customer service division. The company has introduced relationship managers that will be given a specific portfolio of loyal customers to take care of.

It complements H&Gs Uber-style home maintenance tracking app. The smart technology platform, which is available to all of Hitches & Glitches customers, was the first of its kind in the region, when it was launched in 2020.

The restructure enables owners and tenants to follow the progress of their home maintenance service requests and track the exact arrival time of the technician live on google maps.

It also affords customers the convenience of approving the cost of materials to complete their home repair online, if required.

The home maintenance expert said the relationship managers will also be responsible for managing contract renewals, upselling H&G services, managing customer queries, handling quotations and service requests, as well as liaison during maintenance visits.

Senior Director (TFM) Kelvin Vargheese said: "Customer service is essential to the success of our business and as such we wanted our customers to have the most satisfying experience possible."

It was at that point we decided to overhaul our customer service delivery and introduce relationship "managers to be responsible for those customers with executive annual maintenance contracts, creating a win-win situation," noted Vargheese.

"Firstly, our customers benefit because they have a human being to talk to and it is one point of contact, irrespective of the nature of their call, whether it is an accounting query, service delivery issue or booking a service request," he noted.

"Secondly, over time we will be able to develop a closer business relationship with them, a clear advantage, especially in this digital age of virtual assistants, endless telephone options and online chat rooms which can be incredibly frustrating," he added.

In total more than 750 Hitches & Glitches home maintenance customers which have existing executive annual maintenance contracts, will be assigned a new relationship manager, with customer allocation based on current preferences such as preferred language and geographical location.

The programme will also be rolled out to Hitches & Glitches small business customers in due course, stated Vargheese.

"We are now active in all seven emirates, so it is also very important that we plan and schedule visits accordingly, especially when travelling to isolated locations in the Northern Emirates for example," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi-based Acwa Power, a leading developer, investor and operator of power generation, desalinated water and green hydrogen plants, has signed a MoU with Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM), for co-operation on knowledge sharing initiatives in the area of project finance.

Acwa Pwer said the extensive agreement involves knowledge transfer in the realm of credit issuance, with the objective of facilitating and growing Saudi exports and overseas investments by Saudi institutions and organisations.

The MoU will also bolster the growth of local content and Saudi exports in international projects and capital investments overseas, which will, in turn, create new jobs and foster economic growth within the Kingdom and beyond, it stated.

On the strategic deal, CEO Engineer Saad bin Abdulaziz Al Khalb said: "At Saudi EXIM, we are working to expand partnerships with local and international entities to support and diversify innovative financing products and credit solutions that meet the objectives of our partners and beneficiaries."

"These developments will enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, increase the economic impact of non-oil exports on the GDP, and reinforce the growth of the alternative economy in support of the Vision 2030 goals of building a prosperous and sustainable economy," he stated.

Acwa Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan said: "As a Saudi national champion with extensive expertise in project finance, including working with export credit agencies from across the world, we have firsthand experience in driving knowledge transfer and using it effectively to build national project financing capabilities."

"We value this agreement with Saudi EXIM and look forward to partnering with their teams on our projects, as we continue on delivering solutions that create economic benefits within the country and support the ambitious Saudi Vison 2030 goals," he stated.

Saudi Exim provides export financing, guarantees, credit insurance and other facilities to enhance confidence in Saudi exports and facilitate entry into new markets, he added.
What's on Jan 31-Feb 6/2022 (Daily updated)

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE

HCMC - Book Street Festival opens during Tet holiday





Until Feb 4

Ho Chi Minh Citys Book Street Festival opens in some streets including Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue, Ngo Duc Ke, and Nguyen Van Binh.



On display in each street are various publications, documents, and photos which aim to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and mirror Ho Chi Minh City in its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.



Portrait





Feb 19  26, 8 pm

Online



A play inspried from 1st act of Antigone



From the original screenplay by Sophocles, Saigon Theatreland finds the affinities in the social context and peoples suffering in the heart of Saigon in the pre 1970s. Therefore, we decide to conduct a Vietnamese version.



In the midst of receiving the brothers death news and hopelessly asking for her sisters companion in bringing the corpse back to their hometown, An finds out that her father decreed the command. Distraughtly, An tries to query the distant father but it turns out that she cannot only count on herself and do what she believed in.



Hanoi-Classic Greek play performed by Vietnamese contemporary dancers















Until March 19,



Vietnam National Opera & Ballet



Contemporary dance Antigone is a part of Antigone project which is funded by Goethe Institute in Hanoi. Under the project, Vietnamese artists in Hanoi and HCM City are invited to perform Antigone.



Hoi An-Lantern Festival















Until Feb 15, 2022,



Hoi An Memories Island, Quang Nam Province



The 2022 Hoi An Lantern Festival, a special cultural and art event held to celebrate Christmas and welcome in the New Year.



Featuring a series of cultural performances and art celebrations, marking the start of post-COVID-19 tourism events for 2022.

____________________________________________________



EXHIBITION



Hanoi-Exhibition reproduces traditional Lunar New Year Festival















January 14-March 15



National Archives Centre No.1



An exhibition featuring more than 100 unique and rare documents and images, that highlight the traditional Lunar New Year or Tet Festival, imbued with national cultural identities.



The exhibits will be arranged in three themes: Spring Market, Celebration of New Spring and Traveling in Spring.



Hanoi-Loong Koong















Until Feb 15, 2022 , 10 am  8 pm

Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA)

B1  R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai Street

From VCCA:



Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) opens the contemporary ceramic exhibition Loong Koong introducing nearly 50 artworks by two artists Trinh Vu Hieu and Bui Quoc Khanh, with the theme from traditional images to reflections of todays society.



Well-known as an artist who restores traditional cultural values, Trinh Vu Hieu is passionate and eager to convey Vietnamese historical stories through different mediums. The artist has imbued between folk materials from the Hang Trong paintings and the technique of handmade ceramics of the Northern people to create this series of works. Going beyond a mere art form serving beliefs, these artworks with sophisticated craftsmanship still have the appearance of gods in the spiritual life since archaic times but become closer as if there were no barriers. Each of these devotional paintings on sustainable ceramics creates a different visual effect, as an old story told in a different way, interesting and full of charm.



Hanoi- Exhibition on typical Vietnamese women throughout history

















Until May 30, 2022



Hoa Lo Prison Relic



An exhibition displaying the images of typical Vietnamese women throughout history.



Hanoi- Exhibition spotlights tigers in Vietnams ancient art















Until August 31,



Vietnam National Museum of History,



Featuring more than 30 exhibits, documents and images featuring tigers throughout over 2,000 years of the country's art history, showing that the image of tigers was widely portrayed in Vietnams ancient pottery, carving and folk paintings, among others.



________________________________________________________________________________



CINEMA



Hanoi- French films to be screened online free















January 14 to February 14,



Thirteen French famous films are set to be screened free of charge via DANET.VN, an online movie platform, during an event called CINE-TET 2022 avec MyFFF!.



The movies on offer include Lamant (Lover), which was filmed in Vietnam in 1986, Lucky Luke, Tous Les Soleils, Ex De Ma Vie (L), Gaston Lagaffe, and Cigare Au Miel. These movies are selected from MyFFF (My French Film Festival) - an annual film festival in France.
Leading players from the construction and contracting sectors as well as senior government officials will be taking part in the inaugural edition of the Saudi Infrastructure Expo, which will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from September 6 to 8.

The event, being organised by dmg events, comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is embarking on a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure boom.

The Saudi Infrastructure Expo will see leading figures from across the industry share valuable insights into how new projects will progress and where new opportunities will emerge.

According to experts, Vision 2030s bold plan to boost and diversify the nations economic activity is sparking an unprecedented infrastructure drive.

In October last year the government established a $53.4 billion infrastructure investment fund to catalyse private sector involvement in major infrastructure projects.

This follows the announcement in January 2019 of the $425 billion National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, aimed at transforming the Kingdom into a leading industrial powerhouse and a global logistics hub, it stated.

"Were creating an opportunity for the most important suppliers, contractors and government officials involved in the Kingdoms infrastructure development to connect," said Matt Denton, President dmg events.

"Their networking and the business they conduct will contribute to industry thought leadership and drive projects crucial to Saudi Arabias Vision 2030," he noted.

"These significant sums are just a portion of the government funding being allocated to infrastructure projects across the kingdom," noted Denton.

"Continued investment will attract more private sector funding, creating even more opportunities for exhibitors at Saudi Infrastructure Expo," he added.

With offices in Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as other centres across the Middle East and Africa, dmg events said it is ideally placed to deliver Saudi Infrastructure Expo.

The company has spent a decade successfully staging events in the kingdom, including The Big 5 Saudi, the countrys largest construction event, it added.
Leading Dubai real estate developer Damac is integrating the latest VMS (Visitors Management System) and ANPR (Automatic Number-Plate Recognition) technologies at its key projects to enhance customer experience.

This comes as part of Damacs dedicated vision towards digitisation and commitment to listen to and address customer needs, stated the developer.

Under Phase One, 48 buildings have already been tested and are ready to go, while five buildings have already successfully implemented ANPR, including Park Towers, Ocean Heights, Damac Heights, Damac Towers by Paramount and Upper Crest Tower.

Damac said its Technology Department has implemented a variety of new tech-features to simplify processes for residents within its properties.

Entry into Damac towers and communities will become easier and more efficient with the roll out of VMS, it stated.

Under VMS, there will no longer be any need to carry a physical access card. Personal identification documents such as Emirates IDs or passports can be linked to the entrance gate, automatically granting residents or visitors access to the building or neighbourhood. Additionally, residents can send visitors a digital QR code which can also grant access to entry, it added.

Additionally, Damac has introduced ANPR which automatically links to residents vehicle number plates granting them access to parking garages.

Residents can register their vehicles through the Damac Living App, in just few quick steps and no longer need to worry about carrying around access cards. This enhancement further eliminates costs for issuance and loss of access cards.

Under the easy come, easy go system, smart cameras installed at garage entrances recognise number plates of residents vehicles and communicate the same to Command Centre to verify the level of access given to the resident or owner, which will grant or deny access accordingly.

The Damac Living App features community-related services for residents and tenants - which seeks to make a number of services and processes easier and more seamless for homeowners - from settling payments, to uploading documents for property handover, making amenity bookings and getting special discounts on services, among others.

The app has become a one-stop shop and a single convenient platform for community-related services for residents and tenants.

"The successful roll-out of VMS and ANPR technologies are aimed at making the lives our residents easier, hassle-free and reduces the need to hold multiple access cards for our towers and communities," remarked Ali Sajwani, Damac General Manager (Operations).

In November, VMS was implemented in Upper Crest Tower. Suburbia, Ocean Heights and Paramount Towers are next in line to implement this technology.

"It also adds provides a more sophisticated security system for the residents who live in our towers and communities," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Spanish infrastructure company Abengoa, along with its consortium partners SepcoIII (Power China) and Sidem (Veolia), has handed over Rabigh 3 desalination plant to Acwa Power following its completion.

It is currently the world largest reverse osmosis desalination plant in commercial operation, with a capacity of 600,000 cu m per day.

The desalination plant has successfully passed the start-up phase and is already supplying water to the network at full capacity to Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).

Rabigh 3 will ensure the supply of drinking water to more than three million people in the cities of Makkah Al Mokarramah, Jeddah and Mastorah.

The contract for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of this project was awarded in 2018 to the consortium led by Abengoa.

Commending the plant's construction team for achieving this major milestone despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Abengoa said the Rabigh 3 is an important reference in the desalination sector worldwide not only because of its size, but also because it is an example of efficiency, innovation and sustainability in its design and construction, which allows it to reduce energy consumption and increase the plant's availability.

"Rabigh 3 project has exceeded six million working hours without lost-time accidents, achieving the highest levels of occupational risk prevention standards and complying with the established health and safety objectives," said a company spokesman.

"Abengoa, a leader in the international desalination market, currently has five plants under construction and a total installed capacity of 2.4 million cu m/day, spread over more than 30 desalination plants in 13 countries, which will be increased to 4.3 million when the portfolio under execution is completed," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Given the overwhelming response from nurses worldwide, Aster has extended the deadline for applications till February 15 to the $250,000 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award.

Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award has started receiving nominations from nurses based in Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Africa, North and South America, Central Asia, Europe, and Oceania. So far, 17,300-plus registrations have been received from 175 countries.

Given the huge response, the last date for accepting nominations has been extended from the earlier announced date of January 30, 2022.

Launched on International Nurses Day in May 2021 by Aster DM Healthcare, with the aim to recognising the phenomenal contribution of nurses to the healthcare delivery system globally, Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is a prestigious award for the nursing profession.

Encouraging nurses from around the world to apply and nominate nurses for the award, Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said: Nurses are the unsung heroes of the healthcare system which has been proven undoubtedly during the Covid-19 pandemic. They continue to play a pivotal role and are the backbone of the healthcare delivery system working under tremendous pressure with huge commitment.

Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is our effort to recognise the phenomenal work being done by the nursing community worldwide. With over 7,000 nurses in the Group, we consider it our obligation to recognise and celebrate the contribution of nurses across the world.

After the initial review based on the set criteria, shortlisted nominations will undergo a voting process. Subsequently 10 finalists would be selected for the award ceremony, interview, and interactions with the jury. The final Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award winner will be announced on May 12 International Nurses Day in 2022 at a grand ceremony in Dubai. Apart from the substantial first prize of $250,000, the 9 finalists will also be presented with monetary prize and awards.-- TradeArabia News Service
Dubai is set to host the world premiere of The Jet, a clean-energy, hydrogen-powered flying boat manufactured by Swiss start-up The Jet ZeroEmission, which has inked an agreement with UAEs Zenith Marine Services and Dwyn.



The announcement reflects Dubais leading position as a global hub for future industries, reported Emirates News Agency Wam, adding that Dubais robust infrastructure and supportive investment environment has made it an ideal launchpad for innovative companies to reach their global ambitions.



The Jet features cutting-edge characteristics and technologies, making it capable of flying in silence over the waters at a cruising speed of 40 knots. The luxurious boat has a capacity of 8/12 passengers, and is equipped with two fuel cells and an air conditioner as well as other clean-tech, environmentally friendly technologies that help reduce carbon emissions.



Commenting on the occasion, Alain Thebault, Founder of The Jet ZeroEmission and a previously world sailing speed record holder in 2009 & electric Seabubbles prototypes inventor in 2016, said: "We are pleased to make this announcement from Dubai, and be able to manufacture and launch The Jet, which is going to be the worlds first boat to sail without noise, waves, or emissions and have the capability of flying 80cm above the waters."



"Dubai is an ideal destination for innovators and companies from around the world to develop their innovative projects and reach their desired success, which is why we have announced The Jet, a project that I had the privilege of conceiving with the team. We look forward to meeting with those interested in this amazing flying boat at the 28th International Climate Summit (COP28 UAE) that will be hosted in the UAE," said Thebault.



The announcement is a step forward for the clean-tech industry and for the start-up itself. The start-up has also been able to secure part of the required funding of 10 million Euros.



The cooperation agreement between The Jet and UAE business partners is good news for the environment and the future of clean-energy maritime transport. The Jets cutting-edge fuel cell technology will be delivered in Dubai for a historic inaugural flight, during the next COP28 UAE preparatory meetings, which will be held in November 2023.



Clean and renewable energy is a key requirement to sustainability, and stands at the forefront of Dubai and the UAEs strategic priorities. Dubai has become an international pioneer in developing the clean and renewable energy sector. The city has also launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. Under this Strategy, Dubai aims to produce 75 per cent of its energy requirements from clean sources by 2050.



The Strategy also aims to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and green economy. It consists of five main pillars: infrastructure, legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, and environment friendly energy mix.
Ampo Poyam Valves has recently signed a Corporate Procurement Agreement (CPA) with Aramco covering partnership on the development and supply of highly engineered valves as well as ad-hoc and highly added value services.

The deal also provides for rendering technical support in start-up stages, commissioning, engineered solutions, equipment selection, preventive, and predictive maintenance, troubleshooting and training. Further, this partnership will support technology joint-development of new solutions relevant to Aramcos operational needs.

Ampo Poyam Valves, through its new local manufacturing and servicing plant Ampo Arabia, will help Aramco in its local content programme, becoming a key industry player and providing highly engineered gate, globe, check, ball, butterfly, lift plug, switch plug and angle valves and Integrated Smart Solutions to the world leading company.

This extensive range of solutions will offer the highest level of reliability hand in hand with minimum operating and maintenance costs for the most critical applications.

In addition, this investment will contribute to the overall valve manufacturing eco-system, supporting current and future suppliers in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region.

Ampo Poyam Valves, together with Dar Massader Group, established Ampo Aabia, a joint local subsidiary for the manufacturing and servicing of highly engineered valves in the region, and it is almost ready to commence manufacturing as early as the first quarter of 2022 in Dammam 2nd Industrial City in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Ampo has been in Saudi Arabia since 1998 and during all those years it has supplied more than 20,000 valves for strategic projects such as Marjan Field Expansion, Berri Field development, South Berri Water Injection Plant, Upgrade Water Disposal Facilities at Qatif and Abqaiq Water Injection Project, amongst others. From now on, however, valves will be manufactured and locally supplied from Ampo Arabia, covering applications in the oil, gas, petrochemicals, chemical, water, mining, and power sectors.

The deal was signed during the 6th edition of the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Forum and Exhibition hosted by the leading Saudi energy company.

Aramcos strategic IKTVA programme aims to drive domestic value creation, maximise long-term economic growth and diversification, and build a world-class supply chain that facilitates the development of a diverse, sustainable, and globally competitive energy sector in Saudi Arabia.

Through this long-term agreement, Ampo Poyam Valves will become a strategic partner, sharing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 and its IKTVA programme, and aligning its future to become part of the local industrial cluster in KSA.

Ampo Poyam Valves is well known for having the most reliable and safest valves in the market, and is backed by nearly 60 years of experience, technology, know-how, references, operating time of the valves and a fully in-house manufacturing process that starts from its own foundry.

Moreover, Ampo Poyam Valves has also one of the widest ranges of valves and solutions in the market and is always at the technological forefront, with cutting edge technologies and a significant engineering team dedicated to the development of new products, technologies, systems, and solutions.

-- TradeArabia News Service
Leading global air and travel services provider dnata has announced a major, over 200 million ($223.42 million) investment in a fully automated cargo centre at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).

As one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will significantly enhance cargo capacity in The Netherlands and create new, direct jobs with dnata. It will enable dnata and its customers to substantially expand operations and business, stimulating local economy and trade.

Located at Schiphol South-East, the 61,000 sq m facility will include increased, 19,000 sq m warehouse space, and be capable of processing over 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It will comply with the highest industry standards ensuring efficient and safe handling of all types of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, mail, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles. The facility is scheduled to become operational in 2024, the company said.

dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be developed by Schiphol Commercial Real Estate and equipped by Lodige Industries with cutting-edge technologies. The project is Schiphol Real Estates largest ever commercial property development at AMS. Furthermore, the project will earn BREEAM excellent certification for sustainability and eco-friendly design of the facility.

Todays announcement underlines dnatas relentless commitment to providing world-class safety and services through the latest technologies, under all market conditions. Over the past years, dnata has continued to make strategic investments in its operations to further enhance its service offering. This included the opening of new, state-of-the-art cargo facilities in Manchester (UK), Karachi and Lahore (Pakistan), and additional cargo capacity and infrastructure in Brussels (Belgium), Sydney (Australia) and Toronto (Canada). In addition, this March dnata will open the second phase of the dnata City East project at London Heathrow (UK).

dnata currently provides passenger, ground handling and cargo services to 29 airlines at AMS. dnata The Netherlands' customer-oriented team consists of 1,000 aviation professionals, who assist over 1.5 million passengers, ensure the smooth operations of some 8,000 flights, and handle 580,000 tons of cargo annually.

David Barker, dnatas Divisional Senior Vice President for Airport Operations, said: "We are thrilled to announce a massive, long-term investment in our cargo operations. dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be a game changer in the regional cargo industry, delivering significant commercial benefits for our partners, their customers and the local economy.

"Our new cargo facility will enable us to meet the rapidly growing demand for our efficient and reliable services, providing best-in-class solutions to our customers. In addition, it will help us continue to consistently deliver on our two core promises of quality and safety. We thank Schiphol Airports teams for their support and are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership to strengthen Amsterdams position as a leading cargo hub in the continent.

"We continue to invest in infrastructure, equipment and cutting-edge technologies with a clear focus on sustainability to further enhance our offering and offset our carbon footprint across our global network."

Jan Willem Weissink, Managing Director, Schiphol Commercial, said: "Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is Europes best-connected airport, with the most direct air destinations. The cargo operation is of critical importance to our airports network which became even more evident during the COVID pandemic. Together with dnata and other partners, Schiphol is working on a highly successful, efficient and sustainable cargo operation. We are delighted to have started the construction of dnata Cargo City Amsterdam for one of our most important partners in the cargo operation at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol."

dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be equipped with two separate automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), using the latest technology from Lodige Industries, for import and export with twelve stacker cranes. A total of up to 2,500 pallets will be stored here. In addition, a separate storage for ULDs will be serviced by four elevating transport vehicles (ETV).

dnata will also make use of seven intelligent automated guided vehicles (AGV) to enable flexible and scalable ULD transport within the terminal. These AGVs, which represent a recent product innovation of Lodige Industries, will be applied here for the first time on a large scale. Another special feature will be the implementation of smart gates, which automatically record the volume and weight of all incoming consignments by scanning them in 3D, thus significantly speeding up handling and improving the quality of service, the company said.

All elements will be integrated into a comprehensive high performance warehouse management system to enable dnata to further grow its operations and service at Schiphol. The high level of automation will not only save dnata space and time, but will also increase safety and free up staff for higher-value tasks.

As one of the worlds leading air services providers, dnata provides quality and reliable ground handling, cargo, catering and retail services at over 120 airports in 14 countries. - TradeArabia News Service
More than 200 experts from several ministries and industries and 30 expert speakers will brainstorm on new ideas and discuss the roadmap for the future of digital transformation of the country at the 2nd Digital Transformation Jordan.

Under the patronage of Ahmad Al Hanandeh, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, the event that takes place on March 14 and 15, 2022, Kempinski Convention Centre, Amman, Jordan, and organised by Great Minds Events Management

Digital infrastructure, skills, entrepreneurship, and digital financial services and platforms are the main areas of focus for the Jordanian government to reach its vision of creating a secure and inclusive digital economy that achieves sustainable economic and social development.

Al-Hanandeh, confirmed the importance of the ministrys participation in such conferences to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the kingdom regarding how to implement digital transformation, and how it is possible to take advantage of current opportunities to achieve achievements in ideal time.

He says: Digital transformation is an important role for economic and social development because of its solutions in many financial, agricultural, industrial, health care, security services and other sectors and the development of new business models that could not have been developed in isolation from digital transformation and modern technologies. Among the government's priorities is to make digital technologies available and to ensure their efficient provision.

Digitisation improves the outcomes of both the private and public sectors by streamlining business operations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are enabled to enter the market and access finance and human talents. Digital transformation also provides the government the ability to distribute services and support to its citizens via digital mediums.

Jordan which ranked 104th out of 193 countries in the Open Government Data Index (OGDI) in the UN E-Government Survey 2020, will start deploying 5G Network in the country in 2022 which is expected to be operational within 18 months, and currently implementing a major programme to transform public service delivery on the digital channels.

Realising that the country needs to catch up, the government launched Jordan Digital Transformation Strategy in 2020 that represents a strategic framework for Jordans digital transformation that outlines the changes and strategic requirements needed to keep pace with the progress of digital transformation globally, improve the delivery of government services, and enhance the efficiency of government performance. This also includes meeting the needs of beneficiaries (i.e. the government, citizens, residents, tourists, private sector, entrepreneurs, and civil society), improving the quality of life more effectively, sustainably and reliably, and achieving well-being.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship has developed this strategy based on the Jordan Vision 2025, as well as applicable international deliverables, trends, and practices adopted in this regard, and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030.

In 2020, World Bank approved a $200 million project to increase access for Jordanian youth to jobs and expand government digital services. The Youth, Technology and Jobs project adopted an integrated approach to capitalise on Jordans potential to grow its digital economy and absorb skilled labour to address two main challenges facing the country, economic growth and job creation.

The project is expected to provide professional skills to 30,000 youth, a technology curriculum in public school grades 7 to 12, and workspaces in underserved communities. The project also supports access to markets for entrepreneurs and incentivise businesses to expand their operations in underserved communities. It will also improve access for youth to freelancing platforms and improve government digital services and digital payments.

The project aims to generate 10,000 new income opportunities for youth in the coming five years, including women (30%) and Syrian refugees in freelance opportunities (15%). It aims to digitize more than 80 percent of government payments and mobilise around $20 million in new private sector investments in digital services.

Information technology activities achieved a growth of 11.64% between 2014 and 2018 in Jordan, where annual revenues increased by about $300 million. Mobile and internet penetration rates reached 85% and 88.8% respectively in 2018.

The 2nd Digital Transformation Jordan will focus on the legislative and regulatory framework needed to keep pace with the rapid development of digital platforms, as well as the strategy and technologies to be adopted to drive innovation forward.

There will be industry discussion sessions, presentations by delegates and panel discussion on Jordans digital transformation strategy, data and digital transformation, cloud adoption and integration etc. Delegates and experts from several industries such as government sectors, banking sector, retail, telecom, transport and logistics, education, healthcare, utilities etc. will take part in this event.

The profile of the delegates includes government officials and CEOs, directors, heads and specialists from important departments such as: Digital Transformation, Information Technology, Data Science, Data Analytics, Corporate Planning, Strategy Planning, Business Analytics, Business Intelligence, Innovation, Smart Services, Cyber Security, Cloud etc.

With the newly approved National Strategy for Digital Transformation, Jordan aims to improve the transparency, flexibility, reliability, and sustainability of digital services, as well as reduce digital services time and costs, all consistent with Royal directives, and all consistent with global trends and national policies.

The opening ministerial keynote speech will be delivered by Al-Hanandeh.

The speakers list for the event includes top names such as, Eng Belal Al-Hafnawi, Commissioner & Board Member, Jordan Telecommunication Regulatory Commission  TRC; Abdelkader Al Batayneh, Director of Policy and Strategy Department, Policy and Strategy Directorate, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship; Nada Khater, Head of Digital Transformation Policies and Strategies, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship; Lama Arabiat, Head of Artificial Intelligence, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship; Dr Nisreen Al Sayyed, Director of National Information System, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship; Mohammad J Sear, Digital Government & Public Sector Consulting Leader, Middle East and Africa (Mena), EY and many other experts.

The event will help all the industries involved to get access to key digital transformation stakeholders of ongoing and upcoming projects in Jordan and get insight into their plans to invest in new technologies and spot opportunities.

The 2nd Digital Transformation Jordan will study and discuss the changing dynamics of the countrys digital transformation, with the experts sharing their views, opinions, and insights on the transformations they are witnessing and incorporating in the different sectors and industries.

Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management and organiser of the 2nd Digital Transformation Jordan, says: Jordan is on a journey to position itself as a technology hub serving the world. It has increased digital consumption, promoting digitisation of businesses and public services, building on digital infrastructure and skills, which is helping the country to achieve their goal of becoming a regional tech leader.

In the 2nd Digital Transformation Jordan, the insightful speeches and panel discussions by some of the biggest leaders from the government sector of Jordan will make the event the most important event in Jordan to cover the entire digital ecosystem and guide the attendees to the right way toward digital transformation.

Al Hafnawi says: 5G will provide emerged networks of high speed with low latency and massive capacity, and will be an enabler to transform different sectors including health, education, agriculture, e-commerce, industry factories and other sectors. And 5G will pave the way to use heavily the internet of things, Artificial intelligence, mission critical solutions and will drive smart cities initiatives and implications, with will result in an enhanced user and citizen experience, and will strongly form the future real digital economy.

To conclude a power-packed day, the chairman will give a closing speech and set the scene for how the 3rd edition will approach 2023.

The 2nd Digital Transformation Jordan, is endorsed by Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Jordan and supported by  Dell Technologies, Nutanix and Network.-- TradeArabia News Service
Como jefe de Estado, he decidido dar por concluida la designacion del comandante general de la @PoliciaPeru, Javier Gallardo Mendoza. Asimismo, acepto la renuncia del ministro del Interior, Avelino Guillen, a quien agradezco por los servicios prestados a la Nacion.




In an interview with La Noticia, the Head of State said that he will summon governors, as well as regional directors of health and education, to a working meeting with ministers of Health, Education, Economy, and himself, so as to address the return to school classes.





"We will give responsibilities during this work meeting, so that the return to face-to-face classes can be without problems," he stated.





"We all have to be responsible and work thinking that it is an issue or the most important issue for the country at the moment," Mr. Castillo added.





"The stage of contradictions is over, and we seek national unity, but focusing on our brothers from rural areas, farmers, teachers, and workers. These issues are on my agenda," the President.

On the other hand, when asked about the resignation of Interior Minister Avelino Guillen, he noted that ministers are continually evaluated and that "it is time to share the results of the work for the benefit of the people."





"They (the ministers) know that they are under evaluation and that I only ask for transparency and work for our brothers from remote areas in Peru; they cannot wait any longer," the dignitary expressed.

Additionally, he explained that the concept of granting sea access to Bolivia is the same as that of other former presidents, on the condition that the Bolivian sea areas be expanded while benefiting from developing a pole of economic and tourist growth with investments from that country.

Furthermore, the country's top official apologized for not expressing himself correctly on the matter.





(END) VVS/RMB

The President of the Republic Pedro Castillo on Monday affirmed that the vaccination against COVID-19, the return to face-to-face classes, as well as the creation of jobs and investments are the priority of the current Government.Published: 1/31/2022
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of High-Tech Industry Vahagn Khachaturyan reiterated the Armenian governments position on the role of artificial intelligence, noting that without AI application it is impossible to develop the economy.

Speaking at the Prospects of AI in Armenia conference in Yerevan, Khachaturyan mentioned the Information Systems Management Board, a body created at the decision of PM Pashinyan and headed by his deputy Mher Grigoryan.

There is an organization in Armenia which must implement this process of digital reforms or changes, and understandably this work cannot be carried out without support from the public sector and professional circles. This event is highly important for us in this context, Khachaturyan said.

He added that the projects implemented by his ministry are simply unsolvable without artificial intelligence.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ambassador to Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan met on January 31 with Minister of Rural Development and Food Spilios Livanos, the Embassy reports.

Congratulating the Armenian Ambassador on appointment, the Greek Minister expressed hope that during his tenure the Armenian-Greek bilateral relations in the field of agriculture will become more active and productive.

Ambassador Mkrtchyan presented the current situation of agricultural sector in Armenia, stating that there is a progress in the field and that the export and sales of Armenian agricultural goods abroad, as well as the investment opportunities in this area are quite big.

The Minister praised the fact that on January 19 the Greek Parliament ratified the cooperation agreement between the Armenian and Greek ministries of agriculture signed in Yerevan on September 30, 2014, and expressed hope that this agreement will be an important launch for the partnership between the two countries.

The trade turnover between Armenia and Greece was also discussed.

The Ambassador assured that during his tenure in Greece he will do the utmost to further intensify and strengthen the ties between the two countries.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Germany are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

On this occasion the foreign ministry of Armenia shared a post on Twitter, which says: On this day 30 years ago Armenia and Germany established diplomatic relations, continuously evolving and expanding close cooperation in the spheres of mutual interest. We are keen to further promote our friendly relations based on common values and historic ties.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Germany were established on January 31,1992.

Germany is a key partner for Armenia both in bilateral relations and in the formats of multilateral cooperation, such as within the frames of the UN, OSCE, etc.

43 agreements and contracts, 5 protocols, 9 memorandums have been signed and two joint statements have been adopted by Armenia and Germany during the past 30 years.
The European Union is negotiating gas supplies with the United States, as well as Qatar, and Azerbaijan, in case Russia decides to cut or stop supplies, as Tass informs, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell wrote in his blog.

January 31, 2022, 14:16 EU talks possible gas supplies with US, Qatar, Azerbaijan

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARTSAKHPRESS: "We are prepared in case diplomacy fails and we are looking at all options. This includes improving our resilience, including by working with partners like the US, Qatar, and Azerbaijan, on the issue of gas supply in case Russia decides to reduce or halt deliveries," he wrote.
The Vaghuhas community of Artsakhs Martakert region has a very old history. The 7th century tombstone in the village testifies it.

January 31, 2022, 14:49 11 displaced families settled in Vaghuhas

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARTSAKHPRESS: The head of the community Hovhannes Petrosyan told "Artsakhpress".

"The name of the village means 'long established'. In the past, the position of the village was higher than now. During the years of Artsakh Libaration War, the enemy occupied it, burned it and razed it to the ground. However, after the liberation of the village, the residents returned and started rebuilding it.

Today Vaghuhas has 709 residents. 230 of them are children. There are many large families. After the 44-day war, 11 displaced families have settled here. We have a school designed for 240 students, which was built by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund and put into operation in 2012.

The foundation also established a computer classroom at the school in 2013 with funding from a local affiliate in the Eastern District of the United States.

The kindergarten building is also newly built. 63 children attend the kindergarten. There are many large families in the village, said the head of the community.

Our interlocutor informed that the community has hall, an aid station, a club and a hall for celebrations. Intra-community roads have been asphalted by their own efforts. The population is provided with electricity, water supply, but the village is not gasified.

"The villagers are hardworking. The majority of the population works at Base Metals and some at the Kashen mine. There are also engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture.
The UAEs Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Monday that its air defence forces had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile targeting the UAE, which launched by the Houthi militia.



There were no casualties resulting from the attack and the fragments of the ballistic missile fell outside of populated areas, reported state news agency Wam, citing a ministry statement.



"The UAE air defence forces and the Coalition Command had succeeded in destroying the missile launcher in Yemen after identifying locations of the sites, the statement said.



The ministry affirmed its "full readiness to deal with any threats," adding that it will "take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks."



The ministry also called on the public to follow the news from the UAEs official authorities.



No impact on air traffic in UAE



Meanwhile, the countrys General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) affirmed that the air traffic movement is normal and all flights are operating as usual.



In a statement on Monday, the GCAA affirmed that ''There is no impact on flights and airports resulting from the interception of the ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia on the country.''



The GCAA also called on the public to refer to official sources for all information and udpates.
ALBANY  When threatened by an aggressor outside their homes, people in New York, under current law, have a duty to retreat  if possible  before resorting to force.

Now, an upstate lawmaker, state Sen. George Borrello, R-Chautauqua County, has introduced a measure that would scrap the duty to retreat requirement, framing his proposal as a public safety measure that will extend the right of self-defense and provide potential legal immunity in civil lawsuits against people who shoot those threatening to do harm.

New York law, as written now, imposes no duty to retreat on people when they are in their dwellings. Borrello said there should be no inconsistency in the law. His bill would remove the self-defense restrictions in instances when people face a violent aggressor outside the home setting, as long as the person facing the threat is at a location where she or he can legally be.

Borrello, contacted by CNHI, said New York "has become a much more dangerous place" as a result of changes to the bail law that prevent judges from jailing defendants on the basis of their potential danger to public safety.

"This is something I think is incredibly important, right at this moment, because we have seen New York's public safety degrade so much," the senator said.

He also explained that individuals, when confronted by a dangerous assailant, have to react quickly.

"The purpose of this is to ensure that in that split second you have to make a decision that the state of New York will back up your right to defend yourself," he said.

New York is one of 12 states that impose a duty to retreat, which requires individuals, when not at home, to try to escape from a confrontation with a person behaving aggressively.

It is now among several states where the right to self defense is getting a fresh look. Last year, Ohio rewrote its laws to eliminate the duty to retreat. The change puts the onus on prosecutors to prove a claim of self-defense may not be justified.

Wisconsin, a state with a duty-to-retreat requirement, was the site last year of a highly-publicized trial that culminated with the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse in connection with shooting three people, two of them fatally, at a racial justice protest in Kenosha. Rittenhouse claimed he was defending himself. Prosecutors had argued Rittenhouse lost the right to self defense when he allegedly provoked the fateful encounter.

One upstate law enforcement official, Clinton County Sheriff David Favro, said it is not uncommon for situations involving the use of deadly force to produce claims of self-defense and justifications that can be "vague," depending on a variety of circumstances.

"I don't think society as a whole just needs a carte blanche to shoot somebody if they think that they're doing something wrong." Favro said when reached in Plattsburgh. "But you certainly have a right to protect your property, your family and yourself."

He said he is reluctant to take a stand on the proposal until he has a chance to review the bill thoroughly.

Offering a perspective from a region of the state experiencing a spike in gun crimes, David Caba, senior program director of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence, linked the wave of recent shootings to the same pandemic forces that have driven up drug overdoses, suicides and domestic violence incidents.

Caba, noting shootings had been on the decline for a decade prior to the pandemic, suggested the new legislation could cause more problems than it would solve.

Caba said public frustration with gun crimes is warranted, particularly in the aftermath of the fatal shootings of two New York City Police Officers in Harlem earlier this month.

"It's absolutely human to have reactions to what's going on, and it makes complete sense," he said. "But what we have to be careful about is going in the direction of fanning the flames."

In upstate Delhi, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond said he strongly supports Borrello's proposal to strip away the duty to retreat requirement.

As a result of the more lenient bail law, legislation that would allow for the expungement of certain criminal records and other measures advanced by downstate progressives at the statehouse, DuMond said, "People are feeling more emboldened to do and act in any way they want."

But the sheriff said he doubts the Borrello bill will advance.

"Unfortunately, our state leaders seem to be more infatuated with criminals' rights than they are with the rights of victims of crime," DuMond said.

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Ford started the production of first-generation F-Series Trucks 75 years ago, in 1947. The company's F-1, F-2, F-3 and F-4 models went on sale in 1948.

Ford Motor Company is celebrating the production of the 40-millionth F-Series model for its US customers. The 40 millionth truck that rolled off the production line at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan was a 2022 F-150 Tremor in Iconic Silver paint. The truck is headed to its new owner in Texas.

Ford started the production of first-generation F-Series Trucks 75 years ago, in 1947. The company's F-1, F-2, F-3 and F-4 models went on sale in 1948 and the first-generation F-Series production spanned from 1948 to 1950.

Ford's F-Series models are one of the most popular vehicles in the US and the company recently announced that it will nearly double the annual production capacity of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup to 150,000 units. The union-built Ford F-150 Lightning pickup has already garnered nearly 200,000 reservations ahead of its arrival at the dealerships this spring.

(Also read | Ford warns dealers taking undue advantage of strong demand for F-150 Lightning)

More than 75 per cent of reservation holders are new to the brand. Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley told CNBC host Jim Cramer that the company had to stop taking reservations for the 2022 Lightning because it had already garnered a large number of reservations. In the interview, Farley had also hinted at doubling the production capacity for the model over the next two years at the company's Rouge factory near its Dearborn, Michigan headquarters.

Further, the automaker will have the annual capacity to build 600,000 units of electric vehicles globally within 24 months, and that is when it aims to become the No. 2 electric vehicle maker in North America, behind Tesla. The carmaker plans to build its future electric vehicles in places include the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Germany, as per industry researcher AutoForecast Solutions.

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2021 marks the 20th anniversary for Chinas well-known automaker, Chery Holdings exploration in the overseas auto market. From new energy development to overseas expansion, the company accomplished remarkable results in the past year. With a slew of new models coming successively, the companys annual sales volume and export volume reached new high in 2021.

OMODA 5; photo credit: Chery Auto



Heres a list of the noteworthy accomplishment that Chery Holding achieved in 2021.

Chery Holdings 2021 sales jump 32% YoY, targets to sell 1.5 million vehicles in 2022

Chery Holding released its 2021 annual sales performance report on January 7th, illustrating its historic sales record, drawing an impressive conclusion for the year.

According to the companys report, Chery Holding sold 112,015 vehicles in December. The group saw a 31.7% year-on-year surge in its cumulative sales volume, for the entire year of 2021, with 961,926 vehicles sold.

Domestically, Chery managed to sell 692,772 vehicles in 2021, increasing 12.38% from a year ago. As to the new energy sector of the group, with its intensive layout in the field, Chery Holding saw a 144.6% year-on-year soar in its cumulative new energy vehicle sales in 2021, at 109,028 vehicles.

Chery Holding sets annual sales target of 1.5 million units for 2022

December 18th, 2021, marks the 22nd anniversary of the first Chery vehicle rolling off the production line. The automaker finds the day especially significant considering its prominent achievement this year.

The coming year 2022 is the 25th birthday of Chery Holding. The automaker announced a new target of selling at least 1.5 million vehicles, striving for 2 million vehicles in 2022, with annual revenue of RMB200 billion.

Chery Holding believed that the intelligent, digital, connected reformation is the future of the auto industry. Phase I of the groups future intelligent connected plant project has completed construction and is going to start production in 2022.

Chery Holding completes 200,000 annual export target with three months to spare

Chery Holding celebrated another new record of monthly passenger vehicle export volume in October.

The group has finished its annual export target of 200,000 vehicles ahead of time. It successfully became the first Chinese brand that exported over 200,000 vehicles overseas annually, at 212,959 vehicles to be specific, skyrocketing 145.7% year on year. In October alone, the company shipped 25,049 vehicles, surging 92.7% from a year ago and setting another new monthly export record for Chinese passenger vehicle brands.

Chery Auto celebrates 20 years of exportation, introducing global line at Auto Guangzhou 2021

On November 25th 2021, Chinas major automaker Chery Auto celebrated its 20th anniversary of branching out overseas, with almost 2 million international users to date.

During the sixteen years of commitment in the Russian market, Chery Auto was rated the most popular Chinese auto brand for five consecutive times. In Brazil, it held a place in the top ten monthly sales list among all auto brands for five consecutive months, soaring 84.7% year on year. In Chile, Chery Auto managed to sell 16,986 vehicles from January to September this year, ranking No.5 among all auto brands, and No.1 among Chinese brands.

Notably, during the Auto Guangzhou 2021, Chery Auto officially introduced its all-new globalized product line, the OMODA, and showcased its first model, the OMODA 5.

Chery Auto said to file for IPO in 2022

Chery Auto is reported to pursue an IPO in Chinas A share market in 2022, for it is projected to gain profit over RMB1.3 billion this year.

Records show, Chery Auto, an independent brand from Chery Holding, reported RMB34.76 billion in revenue in 2020, edging up year on year. However, the company only saw an annual net profit of RMB7.37 million, significantly plummeting from 2019s RMB392 million, losing RMB288 million in the first half of the year.

Cherys Lion Tech joins hands with location service provider, Dayou Pi for ICV development

Cherys automotive intelligence arm, Lion Tech joined hands with location service provider, Dayou Pi, to build a united work group for intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) R&D and mass production.

The partnership specifies that the two parties will form a joint work force, and cooperate in various automotive intelligence aspects, including V2X, high-precision maps, high-precision locating, and simulation tests for autonomous driving.

Chery, Haier build joint venture for building automotive IoT platform

Chery Holding said the strategic cooperation with Haier Group, a Chinese multinational home appliances and consumer electronics company, has been further firmed up following the registration of a joint venture.

Founded on August 6, the joint venture, named Anhui Haixingyun Internet of Things Technology Co.,Ltd., involves a registered capital of 50 million yuan ($7.72 million). It is 51% owned by Wuhu Chery Information Technology Co.,Ltd., whose majority shareholder is Chery Automobile Co.,Ltd., and 49% held by Haier Digital Technology (Qingdao) Co.,Ltd.

Chery Holding, BOE to ally on smart in-car cockpit solutions

Chery Holding and Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. (BOE) inked an agreement on July 15 to carry out cooperation on smart in-car cockpit solutions, IoV (Internet of Vehicles) business, and the solutions for multiple smart IoT (Internet of Things) scenarios, according to Chery Holding's WeChat account.

As part of joint efforts to develop in-car smart cockpit solutions, both parties will leverage their industrial resources and technical strengths to build a joint innovation lab dedicated to the development of application scenarios and market demands.

Chery Auto, iFLYTEK enhance cooperation on smart speech products, digital transition

Chinese automaker Chery Automobile and the speech intelligence company iFLYTEK agreed to comprehensively cement their strategic partnership on May 24, intending to jointly develop intelligence products and promote the corporate digital transition.

Under the agreement, the two parties will step up their collaboration on automotive intelligent cockpit, smart sound effect, sales service, multilingual voice assistant, intelligent driving, industrial intelligence, and corporate digitalization, and be deeply involved in each other's future strategic planning.

Former FAW VW executive joins Chery Jaguar Land Rover

On September 14th, Chery Jaguar Land Rover (CJLR), the joint venture between Chinese automaker Chery Automobile and UK auto manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, announced that Ma Zhenshan would immediately take on the executive vice president position of CJLR and the Integrated Marketing Sales and Service Organisation between CJLR and Jaguar Land Rover China.

Ma Zhenshan joined FAW-Volkswagen twenty-one years ago as a market researcher and worked his way up to the companys central China market business division manager in 2013. Three years later, Ma Zhenshan was promoted to vice manager of FAW-VW Sales Company (FAW-VWs subsidiary), responsible for marketing of the VW brand. From 2020, Ma came up as executive vice manager of FAW-VW Sales Company, executive director of the VW brand, fully responsible for FAW-VWs VW brands marketing and promoting works.
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Western leaders and their media outlets have fear-mongered about closer Chinese-Afghan ties since the Taliban's rapid takeover of that country earlier this month. They misportray such an outcome as being aggressively-intentioned on China's part and against their own interests there, which is a false assessment.

What few of those commentators acknowledge is that closer Chinese-Afghan ties are natural since these neighboring countries share the same mutually beneficial developmental interests that aren't aimed against anyone else, and even less have realized that their own governments' policies are accelerating this trend.

In particular, the U.S. recently froze the Afghan Central Bank's $9.5 billion assets around the same time as the IMF suspended the country's access to funds. This was followed up by the World Bank halting its aid to Afghanistan. The realistic recourse for its internationally unrecognized but de facto Taliban-led government is to rely on other sources of funding, which could lead to China playing a pivotal role in this respect.

Either way, it appears inevitable that Chinese-Afghan ties will become even closer than before and at an unexpected pace as well in light of the West's efforts to isolate the war-torn country's Taliban-led government through unilateral financial means. They wanted to punish the Taliban for seizing power but inexplicably expected that it wouldn't seek alternative sources of financing in response, particularly from China as seems bound to happen sooner than later. This makes the West's prediction about closer bilateral ties between those two a self-fulfilling prophecy to a certain extent despite their natural impetus as explained.

There are three important lessons to be learned from this observation. The first is that Western-controlled financial institutions are unreliable and arbitrarily discriminate against some of their partners for political reasons.

They also sometimes attach political strings to their assistance, which reduces the sovereign decision making of those who receive them. In this context, the West intends to punish the Taliban, but it's really just worsening the socio-economic suffering of average Afghans as always happens whenever it weaponizes these financial instruments for political reasons.

The second lesson is cliche and it's that every action of these sort provokes an equal and opposite reaction even if it's unintended or unexpected by those who initiate these dynamics. Although Afghanistan's de facto Taliban-led government has yet to officially request similar aid from alternative sources, it seems to only be a matter of time before they do since they don't have any other choice if they truly aspire to rebuild their country.

This means that the West is counterproductively accelerating the same process that it fearmongered about with respect to closer Chinese-Afghan ties, which to be clear, aren't at anyone else's expense.

Third, China doesn't attach any political strings to the aid that it or the institutions that it founded extend to their partners. That's actually one of the primary appeals of the country worldwide and the reason why so many countries want to cooperate with it.

They understandably want to retain their sovereignty in line with international law and justifiably feel uncomfortable sacrificing some of it to receive much-needed aid from Western countries and Western-led organizations. No matter how much the West denies that it weaponizes these instruments, the whole world knows that they're lying after they cut off financial support for Afghanistan.

Looking forward, Afghanistan's future remains bright in spite of the West's attempts to sabotage it through their weaponization of financial instruments against the Taliban, which will only worsen the living standards of average Afghans whether they intend to or not. China is a reliable partner for all since it doesn't attach political strings to its support for anyone.

There's no doubt that Chinese-Afghan relations will continue improving and that this will be mutually beneficial. What's most interesting about that though is that this trend will likely be accelerated by the West, but hopefully they'll realize that they have nothing to fear from such an outcome.

By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst. (Source: CGTN)
Toronto physician Dr. Ira Bernstein, co-founder of the Canadian Covid Care Alliance, is under investigation by the provinces medical regulator.

Shae Greenfield, a spokesperson for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, confirmed the investigation Friday, but said he could not disclose further details.

Bernstein, who has a family practice on Lawrence Ave. W in Toronto, co-founded the Canadian Covid Care Alliance, a group known for spreading anti-vaccine misinformation and promoting unproven COVID-19 treatments, such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
Dr. Ivette Trentini is the new associate dean for Business/CIT/Trades on Southeast Community Colleges Lincoln Campus. Shes spent the past 12 years as a speech instructor at the College and is looking forward to her new role.

I want to build relationships with faculty and make sure they dont burn out of their important roles as educators, she said. I feel this is an important aspect of serving our students, our community and the world.

Trentini was raised in Lincoln by two immigrant parents; her mother is from Guatemala and her father is from Brazil. Growing up, there were three different languages circulating in her household.

My mother is quite upset at me for not remembering enough Spanish, she joked.

Trentini received her degree in Environmental Laboratory Technology from SCC in 1997. She went on to work at Molex in the chemistry lab adjusting chemicals for the manufacturing lines. She then went on to work at Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo. First, she supervised and trained employees and later worked in research conservation.

I worked with endangered animals and frequently I would work in cages with the big cats. They were sedated, but not so much that they didnt growl at us, she recalled.

She then switched gears and worked in the non-profit field, both in fundraising and administration. She started teaching part-time as an adjunct and decided that it was something she wanted to do.

She earned her bachelors degree in Business Management at Bellevue University in 2006 and her masters in Communication in 2008. She started in 2009 as an adjunct at SCC, and full-time in 2011. She then received her Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University in 2018. She will continue to keep teaching in her new role.

Ive taught several different classes under the realm of communication, she said. I try not to broadcast the speech teacher role because people become self-conscious.

One of the reasons she decided to pursue this new position is when she retires she would like to work and/or develop international education for the underserved. She believes this is a natural step toward that goal.

She readily acknowledges the benefits of the community college education because she is living proof of its benefits, said Dr. Kathy Eitzmann, dean of SCCs Business and Community Services divisions.

When shes not working, Trentini enjoys cooking and spending time with her boyfriend and two cats. Her office is in T-101 on the Lincoln Campus.

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Seven University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate students are spearheading the development of a Beatrice downtown revitalization plan.

Right now, theyre asking community members to fill out a survey for the plan.

We want to hear from the people of Beatrice, UNL Professor Zhenghong Tang said. We want as much community involvement as possible.

Tang is the faculty advisor for the project, part of a class for community and regional planning students. Tang said the program accomplishes two things at once: on the one hand, it provides Beatrice with a comprehensive revitalization plan, and on the other hand, it gives students experience with urban planning and allows them to interact with community members.

We want to serve the communities, he said. Thats part of our mission. Thats part of being a land grant university. We want to use student and faculty knowledge to help the community.

City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said the plan will center on only a part of Beatrice.

Its only going to focus on the downtown, Tempelmeyer said. Largely, when you think of the downtown, youre thinking 1st or 2nd Street to 10th Street, roughly Ella to Market.

The plan will look at all aspects of the downtown, but Tempelmeyer said the City is especially interested in making the area more walkable.

A couple of things we want to focus on with this particular plan is streetscape is always one of them, Tempelmeyer said. How do you make the downtown pedestrian friendly? How do you make it so people want to be downtown, shop downtown, live downtown? One of the aspects we want to look at this time is we know well end up with another one or two at least open lots downtown.

Tempelmeyer said the City always takes its plans seriously, using it to shape future policy.

At least in the last decade, the city has adopted parts of those plans, he said. Maybe not everything Usually the city will look at those and they will certainly adopt parts and pieces of them. Some of the ideas that were out there in the plans were 6 months of implementation and 10 years of implementation For those 10 year ones, its still a work in progress.

Tempelmeyer said he encourages all community members to take the survey.

The survey is fairly short, he said. Its your community. Talk to us, and let us know what you want to see in your downtown.

A link to the survey can be found on the city's website and Facebook page.

The class will carry on through the spring semester, and Tang said they will deliver the plan by May. For more information, contact Professor Tang at Ztang2@unl.edu.

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A jury has found Canyon Creek Memory Care in Billings was negligent in the 2018 death of resident Owen Daniel Shively.

Shively arrived at the care center on Dec. 13 and was assaulted by another patient Dec. 17 and died five days later.

The patient pushed the 72-year-old Shively to the floor causing a fatal skull fracture, the victims family stated in a lawsuit.

A Billings District Court jury on Jan. 28 awarded Tana Shively, the victims spouse, $310,000. The jury found that Canyon Creek was negligent in not managing the violent patient who pushed Shively, and that the negligence led to his death.

The jury found that prior to admission, Canyon Creek failed to assess the patient who pushed Shively. State law requires that patients prone to violence not be admitted, the suit said. The suit was filed by Torger Oaas, an attorney in Lewistown.

The care home was also careless in not assigning Shively to the separate dining room for residents who could not feed themselves.

In a separate case, Oaas filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Canyon Creek in January, 2021. In that case, the family of Edeltraud Kron claims the woman was so neglected at the care center she weighed just over 100 pounds at her death.

Caretakers failed to help her brush her teeth so long that six of her teeth had to be pulled. That necessitated that she be provided only with soft food. Canyon Creek failed to comply with that, the suit claims. The center also failed to treat her for an unrelated illness that left her in serious pain, dehydrated and with seizures.

During the COVID pandemic beginning in 2020, the care facility at 1785 Majestic Lane in Billings experienced 17 patient deaths related to the virus. At one point, so many residents and members of Canyon Creek staff were sick from the virus, the National Guard and volunteers from Billings Clinic were deployed to staff the center.

Last month, the family of one of those COVID victims sued Canyon Creeks owners alleging the company intentionally understaffed the center in order to save money. That limited staff was overwhelmed by the pandemic causing patients to be neglected, the suit filed by the Heenan & Cook law firm in Billings claims.

The family of the 74-year-old patient who died in September, 2020, said they were barred by COVID protocols from visiting their father. When they finally did get to visit, he had lost a significant amount of weight and was no longer able to talk, swallow, or stand, the suit claims. One family member said she once found him soaked in his own urine.

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French energy giant Engie said it has handed over another major energy efficiency project to Saudi Arabias National Energy Services Company, Tarshid.

After concluding a detailed audit of the facilities with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, Engie has successfully completed the implementation of six energy saving measures, designed to reduce energy usage and guarantee energy efficiency of over 32%, equivalent to 5.6 GWh per year, for 10 years.

The energy saving performance contract was awarded to Engie by Tarshid in late 2020, with handover completed in the summer of 2021 and certification of Energy Conservation Measurements received this week.

Engie brought its global experience in energy efficiency to provide innovative and cost-effective retrofit solutions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supporting Tarshids mandate to develop, fund and manage impactful energy efficiency projects in government and commercial sectors that achieve significant energy savings for the kingdom.

Energy efficiency measures include the retrofitting of chilled water systems with cooling on demand; smart chiller plant management using advanced optimization, diagnostic and analytics software; and installing controllers to schedule and optimize air handling units and exhaust fans, based on cooling demand, building occupancy, and ambient conditions.

Engie said it will continue operating and maintaining the implemented energy savings solutions for 10 years, consistently monitoring and controlling the consumption through an advanced energy management platform.

This marks the third project handover between Engie and Tarshid, following completion of energy efficiency initiatives with the Institute of Public Administration and Medical City King Saud University in the last year.

Tarshids CEO Waled Al Ghreri said the project completion marks another significant milestone in its journey to develop the energy efficiency sector, and one of many projects executed through its collaborative partnership model with the private sector.

Engie KSA CEO Turki Al Shehri said: "We commend Tarshid for showcasing how innovative, low-cost solutions can deliver high-impact energy savings. As sustainability remains a top priority in the kingdom, the role of the private sector is more important than ever in supporting the transition to a sustainable future.

"We are committed to the Private-Public Partnership models such as this one in place with Tarshid, recognizing the added value they can bring in terms of global expertise delivered to the local economy," he added.
Former President Donald Trump won bigger in Wyoming than any other state in 2020. But there are those who still believe fraud occurred here during the last election.

Secretary of State Ed Buchanan, Wyoming chief elections official, is setting out to dispel the myth of election fraud in Wyoming, and says he is planning to eventually throw some money behind the effort.

At the Natrona County Republican State Central Committee meeting on Monday, Buchanan gave a 45-minute presentation seeking to debunk four major myths about Wyomings 2020 elections:

Myth No. 1: Wyoming elections were rigged; the election results were inaccurate, and the election was not conducted with integrity.

Buchanan denied every aspect of this statement.

Myth No. 2: Wyoming machines were connected to the internet, which means the results can be hacked.

We are not connected to the internet in any way, Buchanan told the room.

Myth No. 3: The states machines can still be physically breached even though theyre not connected to the internet.

While he acknowledged that such a scenario is possible, Buchanan explained that state takes various steps to prevent that from happening, including using tamper seals and keeping equipment under lock and key.

Myth No. 4: Wyoming uses Dominion Voting Systems, which were the subject of conspiracy theories by some of Trumps allies including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Prior to 2020, only three Wyoming counties used Dominion voting machines: Goshen, Laramie and Carbon. The entire state now uses ES&S equipment, Buchanan said.

Buchanan told the committee he is working with the University of Wyoming to put into place audits on portions of ballots in all of Wyomings 23 counties to restore and maintain voters confidence in the 2022 elections. Its unclear how much this effort will cost.

Before Election Day 2020 had even arrived, Trump started questioning the validity of the future outcome. He claimed without evidence that his rightful votes were stolen and given to President Joe Biden. After the results showed hed lost, Trump challenged the results in various courts 62 times and was defeated in 61 of those.

The large majority of the lawsuits occurred in six crucial battleground states that Biden won: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Buchanan kept his focus on Wyoming. There was no reason for concern here, he said.

[Elections] are not routine anymore because of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. Now its easy to cry foul with no real evidence, at least in Wyoming, Buchanan said.

Buchanan gave the same type of presentation to the entire Republican State Central Committee a couple months back. The reception has been a little tepid, Buchanan said. People still maintain their skepticism.

The same was true for the Natrona County meeting, which brought 41 guests, far more than usual.

I think its a little bit of misplaced confidence when you say it cant be hacked, said one of the guests. Its always possible for it to be hacked.

Buchanan didnt deny that.

Anythings possible, not probable, he said.

Chirps also came from one of the back corners of the room whenever Buchanan would mention the counties that used to use Dominion machines.

The secretary of state been invited to a handful of other counties to deliver his presentation.

This is really all we can do at this point, he said afterward.

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The federal government is launching new rounds of Conservation Reserve Program signups.

The program pays landowners to idle cropland or grassland to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat. The program also is part of the Biden administration's efforts to address climate change.

The general CRP signup began Monday and runs through March 11. The Grassland CRP signup will run from April 4 to May 13.

We highly encourage farmers, ranchers and private landowners to consider the enrollment options available through CRP, Farm Service Agency Acting State Director Brian Haugen said. Last year, we rolled out a better, bolder program, and we highly encourage you to consider its higher payment rates and other incentives."

There are 22.1 million acres enrolled in CRP nationwide, including 4.6 million acres enrolled last year. There were 2.5 million acres enrolled in Grassland CRP in 2021, the largest signup in history.

There were just under 1.3 million acres of North Dakota land enrolled in CRP programs as of September 2020, involving 10,647 farms, according to federal Agriculture Department data.

For more information on the program, go to fsa.usda.gov/crp.

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The state Agriculture Department has awarded 51 grants totaling more than $7 million to boost specialty crops in North Dakota.

North Dakota is already a leading producer of several specialty crops, such as dry edible beans, dry peas, potatoes and lentils, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. As our farmers seek to diversify their production, these grants help provide important information through specialty crop research, education and trade missions."

The grants are distributed based on a formula that takes into account specialty crop acreage and production value. North Dakota State University is getting the bulk of the grants, for projects involving everything from crop genetics to disease research.

Various commodity groups also are getting money, along with the National Agricultural Genotyping Center in Fargo. A full list of grants can be found at https://bit.ly/34juYOg.

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Funeral services for North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem will be broadcast live on KFYR-TV.

Stenehjem, 68, died Friday following his hospitalization after being found unresponsive that morning at his home in Bismarck. A cause of death has not been made public.

His funeral is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at the Bismarck Event Center Exhibit Hall. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Hall of the state Capitol. Both events are open to the public.

A live broadcast of the funeral will be available on all statewide NBC stations, and livestreamed on KFYR-TV's Facebook page and at yournewsleader.com.

Cremation will take place after the service. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Gov. Doug Burgum has directed all government agencies to continue flying the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff until sunset on Thursday. He encourages residents to do the same at their homes and businesses in honor of Stenehjem.

The attorney general's office will be closed to the public at 10 a.m. Thursday so employees can attend the funeral. The office will reopen on Friday.

Stenehjem, who had served as attorney general since 2001, had announced in December his plans to retire after his term ends Dec. 31, 2022, so he could spend time with his wife, travel, bicycle and be involved with charitable organizations.

The state's longest-serving attorney general said at the time that he was in good health and was "not in any way hampered."

He served in the state House of Representatives from 1976-80 and in the state Senate from 1980-2000 before his election to attorney general.

Stenehjem in December cited a number of accomplishments during his more than 40 years in elected office, including combating illegal drugs, establishing the state crime lab, developing a human trafficking commission and advancing new natural gas flaring goals.

Stenehjem is the first statewide elected official to die in office since U.S. Sen. Quentin Burdick, D-N.D., in 1992. Burgum will appoint a successor to serve out the remainder of Stenehjem's term. Republican former U.S. Attorney and former Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley is the only candidate to announce a bid for attorney general in the 2022 election.

In lieu of flowers, Stenehjem's family suggests donations be made to Northern Lights Council Boy Scouts of America, Bismarck State College Foundation, the Abused Adult Resource Center, UNDs Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Ministry or another charity.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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A system moving out of the Pacific Northwest will bring warmth and wind to North Dakota as the workweek begins before giving way to another arctic air mass midweek.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for western and central North Dakota through 6 a.m. Central time Tuesday, with gusts up to 60 mph forecast. A winter storm warning was posted for eastern North Dakota through midafternoon Tuesday, with up to 2 inches of snow, possible freezing rain or sleet, wind gusts over 50 mph and blizzard conditions possible.

"Warm air will spread across the Plains and Mississippi Valley out ahead of this system (Monday) and on Tuesday," the weather service's Weather Prediction Center said in a weather wrapup. "This system will deepen quite a bit as it moves across southern Canada (Monday), leading to light snow and high winds across portions of the Northern Plains where high wind warnings are in effect."

High temperatures in Bismarck-Mandan were forecast to be in the lower 40s on Monday but then drop into the single digits overnight and stay there on Tuesday. Overnight lows Tuesday into Wednesday were forecast around 10 below zero, with Wednesday's high in the lower single digits and Thursday morning's low around 15 below.

Wind chills Tuesday night through Thursday morning are forecast in the minus 30s and minus 40s over most of North Dakota. In Bismarck-Mandan, it could feel as cold as minus 29.

"There will be plenty of cold air to work with overnight as strong high pressure over the Northern Plains funnels cold air down across the center of the country," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said.

This week's roller coaster weather follows a pattern that's been in place for a few weeks. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jason Anglin last week said it's the result of a series of Alberta clipper systems interspaced with brief periods of warm westerly air pushing east over the Rockies.

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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When the wind chill is 35 below on a January morning and you're shoveling snow in the dark at 6 a.m. so you can go to work, it's easy to reminisce about grilling steaks on your patio just a few months before, beverage in hand, basking in the warmth from a cozy summer sun.

How cold has it been? Well, Thursday, Jan. 6, is a great example. The four major cities in western and central North Dakota all had high temperatures in the teens below zero that day. Bismarck's minus 11 was the city's fifth-coldest high temp this century, according to the National Weather Service.

But it's easy for your mind to let the frigid arctic air this month mask the fact that for much of 2021, many of us were, well, just plain hot and miserable.

The reality is that Bismarck was hotter last year than it's ever been. And given that the capital city is turning 150 years old this year, that's saying something.

New numbers

Recently released climate data is shedding even more light on the extreme nature of the hot, dry weather that blanketed western and central North Dakota in 2021.

The average temperature during the year in Minot and Dickinson was more than 2 degrees above normal, and in Jamestown and Bismarck it was about 4 degrees above normal, according to the weather service. Bismarck's average temperature of 47.2 degrees was a record, beating the previous mark of 46.5 degrees in 2016.

And last year wasn't an anomaly -- six of the hottest years on record in the capital city have occurred this century; five of them have been in the last 10 years.

But Bismarck residents didn't bake alone last year. It's impossible to deny that the entire planet is getting warmer. And even amid the teeth-chattering cold this month, that's not a good thing.

The 2021 National Climate Report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information says the average annual temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 54.5 degrees, 2.5 degrees above the 20th-century average and the fourth-warmest year in the 127 years of record-keeping. The six warmest years on record all have occurred since 2012.

Most U.S. states experienced above-average temperatures during 2021; North Dakota was in the "much above average" category, with temperatures as much as 5 degrees above normal. Bismarck, in addition to observing its warmest year ever, also experienced a record number of days at or above 100 degrees -- 15.

State Climatologist and North Dakota State University professor Adnan Akyuz has researched global warming and climate change. His quarterly reports in the North Dakota Climate Bulletin show that last winter was the 15th warmest on record in the state, the spring was the 22nd warmest, and the summer and fall both were the third-warmest.

March through November of last year also was the warmest nine-month period on record since 1895.

Hot weather records spanned the entire year -- Bismarck's records began with 52 degrees on Jan. 12 and ended on Dec. 1 with a high of 66 -- tied for the warmest temp ever recorded in the city in the month of December. To the west, Dickinson on Sept. 28 soared to 100 degrees -- the latest in the year that any weather station in the state has recorded a triple-digit temperature, according to the weather service.

Akyuz told me that last year's statewide drought -- which set several records for scope and longevity -- "had a significant impact on warmer-than-average temperatures.

"Combined with the long-term warming trend, it is not surprising that we have had record temperatures in locations that suffered extreme drought," he said.

Bismarck was definitely one of those locations. The area was in extreme drought for much of the year, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Conditions in western and central North Dakota improved greatly late last year thanks to ample snowfall, but the northwestern corner of the state is still in extreme drought, and much of the western half of North Dakota is still in moderate or severe drought.

Positive signs

The latest drought briefing from the weather service, issued earlier this month, says above-normal precipitation so far this winter has helped improve drought in the central and eastern parts of the state.

"While not everyone may appreciate shoveling snow in subzero temperatures, we now find ourselves with a normal to well above normal snowpack across most of the state," the weather service says. "So even though we are just approaching the halfway point of our snow accumulation season, the trend (no matter how tenuous it may be) is of continued improvement in hydrologic conditions."

Count me among the "not everyone" in the first part of that quote. But I acknowledge we need the moisture, even if I don't like laboriously moving it from my driveway to my lawn. And the drought briefing has more good news -- near-normal to below-normal temps are favored to continue through the rest of winter and into early spring.

So let's let last year's heat remain a distant memory ... at least for a few more months. I'll take 35 below over 100 above any day.

Newsroom Notebook is a periodic column written by members of the Tribune newsroom that focuses on our community and everyday life.

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Gov. Doug Burgum on Wednesday will deliver a State of the State address -- his third such speech in 13 months.

Past governors typically did not give the address in off-years of the biennial Legislature. Burgum did so in 2018 in Minot and in 2020 in Grand Forks.

Wednesday's event begins at 10 a.m. at the Fargo Theatre in downtown Fargo. The governor's office will broadcast the speech at governor.nd.gov.

The speech was initially set for Jan. 19, but it was postponed due to the governor having laryngitis. He also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, and isolated for several days.

Last year Burgum delivered the speech to the Legislature in January and again in November for state lawmakers' five-day special session.

The second-term Republican discussed what challenges and opportunities he sees for North Dakota, such as the coronavirus pandemic and the state's growing population, respectively.

Governor's spokesman Mike Nowatzki said Burgum's even-year speeches in cities outside of Bismarck "bring the address to other parts of the state and make it easier for people in those areas to attend, and (Wednesday's) address will continue that tradition."

He also said Burgum's special session speech "was a shorter and more narrowly focused speech that largely addressed the task at hand."

The special session was for reapportioning the Legislature with new census data and deciding how to spend $1 billion of federal coronavirus aid, though lawmakers strayed to divisive topics such as a ban on teaching critical race theory in public schools.

Nowatzki declined to provide details of the content of Wednesday's address, but he said "it will cover progress made in recent years and major challenges facing the state this year and beyond."

Costs of the event will be available afterward when the governor's office receives invoices, he said.

Former Gov. Ed Schafer said the State of the State helps to detail the issues at hand and develop support for public policy.

He too gave the speech in off-years of the Legislature, to generate public support for his administration's policy direction and also to offer hope and comfort in difficult times. He supports the event.

"I think, in my opinion, the more the merrier," Schafer said. "And I think especially it was important for the governor to be out there in the last couple of years with the pandemic going on, with the economy being volatile ...

"I applaud him for going out there and doing the work that needs to be done, and three in a 12-month period, under the circumstances we're living today, I think it's appropriate," Schafer said prior to the speech's scheduling change.

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, plans to attend the speech. He said the address "gives us a pulse of what the governors office is thinking in terms of how things are going in the state," though some may view it as "more of a campaign tactic."

As for the frequency of the speech, "I don't think anything is dramatically changed" since November, Boschee said last month.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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North Dakota is challenging the federal governments awarding of lucrative mineral rights under a Missouri River reservoir to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, otherwise known as the Three Affiliated Tribes. The state attorney generals office said Friday that it notified the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that it plans to intervene in the tribes lawsuit against the federal government. The Interior Department ruled in February that the tribes own the rights, in what has been a long-running dispute. At stake is an estimated $100 million in unpaid royalties and future payments certain to come from oil drilling. The government dammed the river in the 1950s, flooding more than a tenth of the tribes' reservation and creating the reservoir.
North Dakotans have $104 million in unclaimed property registered with the state, and officials would like to return it to its rightful owners.

State data shows an uptick in abandoned property reported to the Department of Trust Lands over the past decade, including $29 million during the most recent two-year budget cycle. The amount of property returned to owners also has grown as awareness spreads about the program amid the department's education efforts, Land Commissioner Jodi Smith said. The department returned nearly $13 million over the past two years, up from $7 million the previous cycle.

Unclaimed property can range from unpaid life insurance benefits to forgotten bank accounts. The state becomes involved when companies holding the property cannot locate the owner, so they submit it to the state.

Its our goal to return unclaimed property to its owner no matter how long it takes, Smith said.

Interest on unclaimed property benefits the Common Schools Trust Fund, which is managed by the Department of Trust Lands. North Dakota is one of four states with such a setup -- most other states place interest into their general funds, according to Smith.

She said the program "can make a meaningful difference for people." One woman who thought she had about $10,000 in unclaimed property was shocked to find out recently that the amount was actually $500,000, Smith said.

People can go to unclaimedproperty.nd.gov to search to see if they have unclaimed property and make a claim.

Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.

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This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week.

Up

There are signs that North Dakotas economy is moving in a positive direction despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Taxable sales and purchases in the third quarter of 2021 were up 12.1% from the same three months the previous year. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus says he's optimistic the trend will continue, as the economy stabilizes from the impacts of the pandemic. Bank CEOs who took part in the monthly Rural Mainstreet survey, which covers rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states including North Dakota, largely said they're optimistic about the next six months. The surveys confidence index rose from December. And a quarterly outlook from North Dakota State University also says the state's economy is showing signs of recovery and growth. The report says the outlook for Bismarck is positive, with wages expected to continue rising and the labor force forecast to grow.

Down

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's withdrawal from its role as a cooperating agency in the ongoing environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline is a curious move. Tribal leaders cite in part what they consider to be a lack of transparency surrounding the pipeline developer's oil spill emergency response plans. That might be a legitimate gripe, but the tribe has faced past accusations by developer Energy Transfer and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about being difficult to work with. The Corps is the agency doing the environmental study, and if the tribe removes itself from the process now, that might cause the back-and-forth criticism to resurface. The judge overseeing an ongoing tribal lawsuit over the pipeline refused to take sides four years ago, noting that the parties were engaging in "a lengthy dispute over who is refusing to talk to whom, and that he didn't think inserting himself into that disagreement was "either permissible or wise.

Up

The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum recently had a 140-year-old portrait restored in time for Bismarcks 150th anniversary. The oil portrait of Linda Slaughter, a prominent Bismarck woman and great-grandmother of Gov. Doug Burgum, was gifted to the museum in 1924. Slaughter was the first Bismarck postmistress, taught at the citys first school and also served as superintendent of schools. Among her other roles, she was a member of the Ladies Historical Society, which later became the State Historical Society. The portrait was restored at the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis.

Down

Deaths related to COVID-19 surpassed 1,000 last week in North Dakota long-term care facilities. Christopher Larson, who lives in a nursing home in Mayville and leads the Reuniting Residents and Families Task Force, called it "a grim moment during this COVID-19 pandemic." Deaths in the state's 217 skilled nursing, basic care and assisted living facilities make up almost half of North Dakota's pandemic toll. But there's a silver lining -- North Dakota Long Term Care Association President Shelly Peterson says vaccines are slowing the pace of deaths in the elderly population. Federal data shows that 93% of long-term care residents in the state are considered fully vaccinated, among the highest rates in the country. And the booster rate for nursing home residents in North Dakota is the highest in the nation.

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Foreign enterprises confident in Chinas economic prospects

10:33, January 31, 2022 By Qu Song, Yang Xun ( People's Daily

Photo taken on Oct. 22, 2021 shows the Tesla Gigafactory in Lingang Industrial Area, Shanghai. (Photo by Ji Haixin/Peoples Daily Online)

Many foreign enterprises in China said they are optimistic about Chinas economic prospects given what the country has done to further open up and improve business environment. They said they are willing to further develop in the Chinese market and share development opportunities.

Chinas total foreign trade in goods hit $6.05 trillion the last year, occupying an increasingly larger share in the global market. The countrys actual use of foreign capital surged 14.9 percent year-on-year to a historic high of about 1.15 trillion yuan ($181 billion).

According to statistics released by Chinas Ministry of Commerce, China had been the worlds second largest destination of foreign capital for four years in a row between 2017 and 2020, and ranked first globally in outbound direct investment in 2020.

Last March, materials science leader Dow signed a memorandum of cooperation to build a manufacturing base in Zhanjiang, south Chinas Guangdong province, with initial investment of $250 million.

Xu Yang, vice-president of Dow Greater China said the inking of more and more multilateral and bilateral trade and investment pacts, as well as the continuously facilitated cross-border trade have made China an important part on the global and regional supply chains, and the companys second largest market globally.

According to an HSBC survey, 97 percent of the interviewed enterprises are planning to expand their investment in China, saying the country boasts a huge market, prospects for long-term growth, and a complete supply chain system.

A recent report issued by PricewaterhouseCoopers showed that Japanese enterprises in China attach high importance to the Chinese market and are generally satisfied with the business environment in the country. Ninety-one percent of the respondents said they will keep expanding their investment in China in the next three to five years.

The attraction of the Chinese market for foreign capital comes from the countrys efforts to expand opening-up and improve business environment. In the newly released 2021 version of the national negative list and pilot free trade zone negative list, the number of items has been cut by 6.1 percent and 10 percent, respectively. This marked the fifth year in a row for China to shorten the lists, which mirrored the continuous efforts made by China to make its business environment more market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

A study by the Union Bank of Switzerland said that the gigantic and rapidly expanding Chinese market, as well as Chinas continuous opening-up, will keep attracting foreign investment. As the global supply chain restructures, the role of Chinese upper-stream suppliers will be further underlined.

Honeywell is one of the earliest American enterprises to enter the Chinese market. Now, China has grown into the largest single market outside the U.S., as well as the fastest growing market of the company.

Steven Lien, president of Honeywell China noted that China is opening its market both extensively and intensively, and ensuring national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises to further release the markets vitality of innovation. China has offered perfect development opportunities for Honeywell and other transnationals, reinforcing the companys confidence in developing in China, Lien added.

Citing a report by Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler, Reuters said in an article published on its Chinese website that China will continue to attract foreign investors in the new year, particularly in the wealth management, new energy, and high technology sectors.

In recent years, Epson has seen sound development of its businesses in China. The multinational electronics company estimates that China will be one of its fastest-growing markets in the years to come. Akihiro Fukaishi, president of Epson China, said the companys confidence in China comes from the countrys energy that drives technological innovation. China is leading in multiple sectors globally, such as software and the internet, he added.

Liu Chang, chair of the government affairs forum of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said China has made remarkable progress in building innovation ecology in the recent years.

According to a survey released by the chamber, 72 percent of the respondents thought Chinese enterprises were competent innovators, and the countrys sound environment for innovation was spurring multinationals to enhance their R&D efforts and establish innovation centers in China.

Multinationals will take full advantage of Chinas innovation resources, exert their strengths in technology, and enhance cooperation with their Chinese partners for win-win results, Liu said.

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Emirates has signed a new agreement with Amadeus, extending their partnership to offer the travel trade community more flexibility, choice, and future capabilities.

From February 1, all trade partners on Amadeus will be able to access Emirates content free of surcharge, Emirates said.

The new agreement will also see Emirates NDC (new distribution capability) content integrated into the Amadeus Travel Platform, with NDC content being made available to travel sellers over the course of 2022.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates Chief Commercial Officer, said: "We are pleased to refresh our partnership with Amadeus. This is another step forward in our goal to empower our trade partners in delivering even better customer experiences. In todays environment, and particularly as the industry rebuilds post pandemic, everyone in the travel services chain will benefit from flexible models of engagement, multiple means to access to dynamic rich content, and the ability to offer differentiated products and services."

Decius Valmorbida, President, Travel, Amadeus, said: "This renewal is another major milestone in our distribution strategy and our ongoing retailing journey. With this new agreement with Emirates, we start 2022 building on the momentum made over the years to support modern retailing and once more demonstrating our commitment to continue offering through the Amadeus Travel Platform more travel content globally and at scale."

Catering to a dynamic marketplace, Emirates aims to provide its trade partners with a choice of connection options and differentiated products and benefits across channels, including via its own NDC-enabled direct connect platform, Emirates Gateway. - TradeArabia News Service
Fed up with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion machine that was making his life and work increasingly difficult, the celebrated/reviled clinical psychologist has quit his tenured position at the University of Toronto. Is this a model for the like-minded or a move to be lamented? []

Jordan Peterson, the bete noire of the left, resigned his position at the University of Toronto in enviable fashion: on his own terms while issuing a blistering condemnation of the ideological corruption of the academy. Petersons critics have responded in predictable fashion, by ignoring his arguments and accusing him of throwing a tantrum, telling outrageous lies, and displaying the usual smugness by which he tries to compensate for being completely incorrect.

Those who have paid attention to Peterson in the past five years, particularly since the incendiary interview he gave with Channel 4 News in England that vaulted him to fame, understand the hatred he generates. Rewatching that video indicates just how incorrect Peterson is, particularly when it comes to issues of the constitution of manhood, the nature of hierarchies, and the quest for meaning. His main sins, however, have been his fearlessness in the face of attacks and his unwillingness to say things he doesnt believe are true, and these characteristics drive his critics to distraction because they expose the ideological powers that have captured our campuses. It should be remembered that Petersons moral imagination was shaped by his reading of Solzhenitsyns work, specifically its diagnosis of ideology and its capacity to get people to live by lies.

This observation, however, in a way begs the question because it assumes Petersons accuracy in his criticisms, and any fair judgment of Petersons resignation letter must put his claims in the balance. As an academic myself, I can assess his claims both experientially (have I observed the same things?) and in terms of the broader social science. The online journal Inside Higher Education (IHE), one of the two main sources for information in the academy, covered Petersons retirement by, predictably, interviewing the people Peterson called out in his resignation essay who, not surprisingly, disputed his charges. Peterson, however, has not been the only social scientist to criticize their work, specifically their studies on implicit biases (and their Implicit Association Test).

The main object of Petersons criticisms are campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, their reliance on tools such as implicit bias tests and trainings, and their imperious overreach into other campus processes such as hiring faculty. In particular, Peterson scoffed at the assumption that faculty will allow hidden biases to skew the hiring process in favor of white males unless those biases can be made explicit. (And I assure the reader, having sat in on many searches, that all the explicit standards are overwhelmingly not in the favor of white males.) These implicit biases, in turn, require the intervention of professionals who will properly train faculty and staff to acknowledge their biases and hire accordingly. Whether the training is meant to purge us of our biases or replace them with correct ones is a moot question. The more important question involves demonstrating a strong link between hidden biases and discriminatory hiring practices, which in turn would require that we ask the vexing question of what measures we might use to prove that discrimination has occurred.

Social science aspires to two fundamental standards: validity and reliability. The former asks whether youre actually examining the thing you say you are, while the latter wants to know if the results are consistent across multiple tests. (For example, a scale that is 10 pounds off may be reliable but not valid.) Complete consistency receives a score of 1, while a score of 0 means no consistency. Social scientists typically have a .8 minimum threshold for reliability scores.

Part of the problem involves the ways in which we use measurements, because all too often the method or tool of measurement creates the thing being measured, thus rendering the entire process tautological: an implicit bias is that which is measured by the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and the IAT is that which measures implicit biases; in other words, it is creating the thing its looking for. There is no way to get at the thing being measured other than the method employed, which means that we can never know if the measuring device is doing what it claims to do. One way forward might be to look at test-retest reliability, and at this the IAT fails miserably. Not coming anywhere close to the .8 threshold, the test often comes in somewhere between .2 and .4. And this is not even taking into consideration the ways in which people can game the test, incentivized as they are by the fact they dont want to be thought of as having bad biases.

The IAT has the further problem of not showing any positive effect in preventing discriminatory behavior. Moreover, Ive yet to read any serious account as to what such discrimination might actually look like. The general assumption that racial disparities are evidence of racial discrimination is a remarkably weak one. Like the IAT itself, this assumption makes the mistake of looking at only one variable, which in social science is typically a no-no. And neither is any effort made to connect biases to experience. Dont take candy from a stranger is a bias, but its a reasonable one.

Furthermore, the training sessions based on IAT results demonstrate no positive effects either on subsequent takings of the test or on post-test conduct. In fact, some studies have argued that the training produces a negative backlash effect that may actually lessen commitment to diversity initiatives. It may also trigger stereotypes. One white college professor I know was told that she was 25% black because she didnt get upset about being late to things and 25% Asian because she valued her own family to others. Whatever positive effects there are dissipate quickly, and the result is that training sessions end up being little more than preaching to the choir. Countless time and money is wasted annually on these initiatives.

IHE, in its report on Petersons retirement, could have drawn attention to the abundant literature that disclaims the IAT and shows the problems with diversity training. Instead, they interviewed the tests creators, who have a vested interest in protecting their reputation. My own dealings with IHE have led me to believe it cannot be considered a fair broker concerning academic controversies that involve diversity. Take a look at its website to gauge their commitment to the ideology.

The social science thus backing up Petersons complaints, how do those complaints stack up against the experiences of other people in the academy? Like Peterson, I long envisioned myself being taken out of my office feet first, but that desire has waned. I still love what I teach and who I teach, but the distractions, noise, and ideological nonsense on campus wear on one, precisely because they distract you from doing your job. Calling it out for what it is leaves one on the outside looking in when it comes to matters such as involvement in decision-making, merit increases, and institutional support.

As to Petersons specifics:

Requiring DEI statements as part of hiring, promotion, and tenure? Check.

Relentless and almost exclusive attention to race issues? Check.

Mentored students disadvantaged in the academic labor market? Check.

Anti-bias training as a condition for participating in hires and serving on committees? Check.

Intentionally redefining excellence so it (paternalistically) advantages BIPOCs? Check.

Attempting to establish coercive measures to mandate pronoun usage? Check.

Treating conservativism as if its a pathology? Check.

Encouraging faculty and staff to listen to or repeat lies either to get along or to advance themselves? Check.

Part of the problemand I know no gentle way to say thisis the outsize influence of the discipline of psychology on our campuses, both in terms of setting the academic agenda and of occupying positions of authority. Psychologists are more inclined than those in other disciplines to see their role as solving social problems, and also more inclined to be blind to the limits of social science itself. The field has been wracked by replication crises and other limitations they refuse to recognize, and none of that has humbled the practitioners. Thus it should garner more attention when one of their own calls them out.

The great question facing conservatives in the academy today is whether to stick with it and deal with a constant sense of siege and its effects on character and ones well-being, or to leave for something more hospitable. When stalwarts such as Jordan Peterson abandon the traditional university in order to reach more people with less interference, it becomes that much harder for those of us left behind to keep going into the breach, and it will be that much easier for the corruption of the academy to continue apace. I wish Peterson well, but I wish even more that he had stayed to fight the good fight.
Last week, the Russian Navy announced plans to execute a series of military exercises in the waters off the western coast of Ireland. As CNN reported on Monday, January 24, 2022:

Russian naval exercises are due to take place in early February, approximately 240 kilometers (149 miles) off Ireland's southwest coast, [Irish Foreign Affairs Minister] Simon Coveney said in a statement late Sunday. The area is in Ireland's EEZ but not its territorial waters. Under international law, states are entitled to carry out naval exercises in another state's EEZ, Coveney said. He said the Irish Aviation Authority had been informed of the exercise via standard procedures.

Things were tense there for a while. But diplomacy ultimately prevailed  thanks to a small group of stubborn Irish fishermen who weren't having any of it. Members of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organization intervened, explaining to everyone they could how the military demonstration would cause long-term damage to the marine ecosystem that sustains them. This ultimately got them a meeting with the Russian ambassador to Ireland, who later released a statement saying:

In response to the requests from the Irish government as well as from the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu has made a decision. As a gesture of goodwill, to relocate the exercises by the Russian Navy, planned for February 3 to 8, outside the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with the aim not to hinder fishing activities by the Irish vessels in the traditional fishing areas.

That being said, The Irish Mirror also reported that the Russian embassy disputed their own statement:

That claim was partially disputed by a spokesperson for the Russian embassy, who said it was "not true" that an agreement had been reached on "buffer zones" in the area for fishing boats. [] It is not yet known where the exercises will take place but Mr Coveney said that is now a matter for the Russians, adding: "This is a good result for diplomacy."

Here are some interviews with the badass fishermen:

Some happy fishermen  we are live tonight from Castletownbere where the fishermen who were prepared to stand up to the Russian navy are celebrating. pic.twitter.com/Ay9dEiZZF8  Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) January 29, 2022
Anti-vaxxers who were part of the "Freedom Convoy" that flooded Ottawa, Canada harassed a nearby homeless shelter, eating their food and assaulting someone at the shelter. The so-called "peaceful protestors," fighting against Covid-19 mandates, also blocked the drop-off entrance meant for paramedics who need to enter the shelter.

"It's been an incredibly difficult weekend for our downtown shelter and soup kitchen programs," the Shepherds of Good Hope said in a statement, which was attached to a tweet (see below).

"The staff and volunteers at our soup kitchen experienced verbal harassment and pressure from protestors seeking meals," part of the statement said. "the demands for meals and verbal altercations continued for several hours over the dinner period. One member of our shelter community was assaulted by protestors."

CTVnews:

"One of the people who used services in the shelter was assaulted," she said. "My understanding is that our security guard was able to diffuse the situation. Unfortunately, that person was subjected to racial slurs from the people who were assaulting the person who is using our services, but they were able to bring that person back to the shelter."  Ottawa police said Sunday that "several criminal investigations" were underway into a number of incidents related to activities on Saturday. In a tweet Sunday evening, police said officers were aware of the reported incidents, "and have actively reached out to @sghottawa to investigate." Freiheit said staff and volunteers described a "mob mentality" in the area on Saturday. "For people who are working really hard to support those who are most vulnerable in our community, who are experiencing homelessness, it was a very tough day for them." The protest, which drew in people from across the country, created gridlock and noise throughout the downtown core Saturday. Many people returned to the downtown core to continue to protest Sunday. News of the incident at the Shepherds of Good Hope had some residents pledging to donate to the shelter in response.

In better news, the Shepherds of Good Hope was "overwhelmed" with the donations they received after Saturday's incident, calling it "staggering."
Trump watchdog Marjorie Taylor Greene ripped apart Senator Lindsey Graham (RSC) in a Gab post Sunday after he dared to call Trump's comments on pardoning the Capitol rioters "inappropriate."

On Saturday the ex-president said that if he became president again, "We will treat those people from Jan. 6 fairly  And if it requires pardons we will give them pardons. Because they are being treated so unfairly."

To which Graham responded, "I don't want to send any signal that it was OK to defile the Capitol. There are other groups with causes that may want to go down to the violent path that these people get pardoned."

Greene's teeth-baring post attacked her "RINO" colleague with a list of all the injustices the senator doesn't "care" about, such as the "abuse" the rioters in jail must endure "in the DC jail because they are white, male, and voted for the very President that he supposedly supports."

"He refused to object on J6 to Joe Biden's electoral college votes," she says in her post. "He doesn't care about our justice system being completely violated by Democrats in their political war against Republicans and President Trump."

"Americans are being treated worst [sic] than Islamic terrorists at Gitmo and Lindsey Graham doesn't care," she continues, adding that Graham doesn't care that "pre-trial Americans" (term used only for white defendants) are denied hair cuts, among other atrocities.

Although her post is, unsurprisingly, filled with misinformation, it accomplishes its goal: readers explode with anger, pitchforks in hand, as they rabidly tear into Graham, calling him a fraud, "spineless," "a little bitch," and saying he should "rot in hell," and "should be hung by the neck," among many other grievances.

Anyone who even slightly criticizes Trump will get the dogpile treatment by Marge and her cohorts, because, as she herself believes, "The party is his. It doesn't belong to anyone else."
Why are Julie DeVuono (left) and Marissa Urraro smiling in this photo? Because they were arrested for selling forged Covid vaccination cards.

From the Suffolk County Police Department:

Two healthcare officials have been arrested for forging COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards and entering the false information into the New York State Immunization Information System ("NYSIIS") to indicate a vaccine was given.

The pair, Julie DeVuono and Marissa Urraro, charged $220 for adults and $85 for children per false entry.

"As nurses, these two individuals should understand the importance of legitimate vaccination cards as we all work together to protect public health," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison. "This is another example of great investigative police work by the SCPD, and I commend District Attorney Tierney for his partnership."

DeVuono, 49, and Urraro, 44, were each charged with one count of Forgery 2nd Degree. DeVuono was also charged with an additional count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st Degree.
Stay away from St. Luke's Hospital in Cabo San Lucas, warns the U.S. Consulate. If you get treated there, you'll have the same kind of nightmarish experience you could expect from a hospital in the United States: "withholding care for payment, failing to provide itemized lists of charges, ordering unnecessary procedures, withholding U.S. passports, obstructing medical evacuations, and refusing to discharge patients without payment."

The Los Angeles Times reports that Scott Lairson took his wife to St. Luke's after she contracted Covid in June. Lairson said the hospital demanded $50,000 or they would transfer his wife to a community hospital and he wouldn't be allowed to see her. He didn't have enough money and flew his wife home to Arizona, where she died. Lairson says that the hospital director Mario Trejo Becerril bullied and threatened him for cash:

Lairson wrote that Mario Trejo Becerril, the hospital director, told him, "I want that deposit today, you go outside and call your family, whoever you need to call or don't come back to this hospital." "And if I ever hear about you recording conversations with your phone, you will never see your wife again!" Lairson recounted.

[via Fark]
In Florida, teachers are not allowed to teach students the facts about racism in America. But the Sunshine State welcomes AM talk show hosts to "teach" children US government and related topics, whether fact or fiction  as long as it adheres to conservative talking points.

Take the pop-up lesson by radio's Ben Shapiro for example, who recently visited a group of elementary students at a public library in Florida. Playing teacher with a stack of index cards in his hand, he bashed Biden, called taxes "theft," and referred to California residents as "monsters." Fortunately, some of the kids were onto him.

"The government takes all your money and gives you very little in return," Shapiro told the children sitting around him on the floor.

"That is not true," one boy said.

"I mean, it's kind of true," Shapiro argued.

"That's what taxes are for!" another kid said.

"Taxes are theft," Shapiro shot back. He explained that taxes should be for police, but instead are used for "random projects" or "silly things they have in their head. But they tend to spend it on silly things."

"Yeah, he's way off base about that," one of the kids said about Shapiro.

The blowhard then said he was from California, "where monsters roam the streets and garbage is strewn everywhere." And about President Biden: "He kind of makes up the rules as he goes. I don't think, unfortunately, that he cares very much"

Of all the intelligent, objective, real teachers they could have found to enlighten children on US government, it's fascinating that a Florida library would choose a two-bit entertainer to do the job.

get sniped by a kid pic.twitter.com/Q6Er1hI6QM  Dylan Burns (@DylanBurns1776) January 30, 2022

Via Yahoo!
A Buffalo man who police say tried to make an ATM withdrawal Saturday morning has been charged with four felonies.

The reason: They say he tried to withdraw the entire ATM.

Buffalo police made the arrest following a report of a burglary at a CVS pharmacy on Dingens Street near South Ogden Street, according to a police report.

Police responded to the pharmacy at 2:48 a.m. Saturday for the report of a burglary in progress.

The first officers on the scene followed a trail of glass from the scene and spotted a man trying to load an ATM into a dark-colored pickup, according to the report.

The man ran from the scene and the pickup drove away, but left its tailgate near the corner of Old South Ogden and Willett streets.

The man who ran was taken into custody on Willett, just south of Dingens. Police identified him as Shane Wulff, 49, of Buffalo.

Surveillance video showed the pickup backed up through the front door of the business multiple times, according to the report. The thieves then hooked up a chain to the ATM and dragged it out of the building.

Wulff pleaded not guilty later that morning in Buffalo City Court to four felony charges, second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, according to court records.

He was released on his own recognizance, according to court records.

A broken tail light and a door from CVS were recovered later in the day near railroad tracks, according to the report.

The pickup used in the burglary was recovered Saturday night along railroad tracks about a half-mile from Howard Street.

Police are still looking for two other male suspects, according to the report.

Reach Aaron at abesecker[at]buffnews.com or 716-849-4602.

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The need for substitute teachers in New Mexico is so great that the National Guard has been called to pitch in. One state to the east, a school district in Texas has taken to asking parents to become fill-in teachers.

It hasn't quite gotten to that point yet in Western New York, but school districts are opening their wallets and creating incentives to fill what is quickly becoming a pandemic-fueled desperate need.

"It's an issue for everyone," West Seneca Superintendent Matthew Bystrak said.

Ken-Ton said it wants to be a "destination" for substitute teachers. The Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School Board approved a pay raise for them last month, and the district started a campaign to attract substitute teachers.

"It's very competitive in the region," said Jeffery Richards, assistant superintendent for human resources. "We really wanted to increase our pool."

The district has a list of about 75 substitute teachers, and about 65 of them work each week. Even before the Omicron variant surge earlier this month caused an overwhelming deluge in requests for substitutes, the district was looking to increase the number of substitutes.

Pay increased from $90 to $105 per day for uncertified teachers and from $115 to $146.28 for certified teachers. And substitute teachers can earn an additional $2,000 each year by completing staff development coursework. The district also has building based substitutes in each school, earning $27,500 per year, with seven days of paid leave and dental and vision coverage. The district also will reimburse the teacher for the cost of fingerprinting.

The campaign seems to be working. There have been 35 applications since December, and the district is interviewing candidates, Richards said.

Making the job more attractive is how local school districts are trying to attract substitute teachers in the midst of a national shortage of substitutes. But it's not just local schools having trouble filling the substitute slots.

West Seneca pays uncertified substitute teachers $115 per day, retired certified teachers $130 a day, and created the "preferred building substitute" position, committing to have the person substitute teach every day. Subs are invited to professional development opportunities throughout the year, said Jonathan Cervoni, the district's assistant superintendent of administrative operations.

"It helps when you have last-minute absences," Cervoni said. "In the event there isn't a teacher absent, that is an extra educator to push into the classroom."

Williamsville Central pays $115 for uncertified substitute teachers and $125 for certified teachers, while substitutes dedicated to a particular building earn $10 more per day. And if substitute teachers work 55 days per semester, they receive a $250 bonus at the end of the semester.

Springville Griffith Institute School District raised the pay in November to $130 per day for uncertified teachers and $150 per day for certified teachers.

"We raised all of our rates because we're short subs, like everybody else in the area," Springville Superintendent James Bialasik said.

He said the $150 rate was set to target some of the district's teachers who have retired.

"Substitute teaching is an important position to fill every day. Its not the days of old where you just gave the kids a study hall," Bialasik said. "We really want our substitute teachers helping to continue the learning, so we felt we needed to have the pay commensurate with that expectation."

Substitute teachers are in short supply, partly because of the general teacher shortage, and some retired teachers who used to sub are reluctant to return to the classroom during the pandemic.

There are advantages to substitute teaching: No nights, holidays, weekends or summer work, and you don't have to work every day.

"It takes a certain kind of person to become a good sub," said Shirley Sapp-Burgess, president of Substitutes United of Buffalo, the union representing 500 substitute teachers in Buffalo Public Schools.

She should know, she's been substitute teaching since 1980.

"You have to walk in, you have to introduce yourself and let the kids know you are there to work with them and they are there to work with you," she said. "I try to boost their morale, and let them know this day is going to be a good day."

Sapp-Burgess said the union and Buffalo Public Schools approved a new four-year contract that will have subs making $127 to $164 per day in 2024, depending on how long they worked in Buffalo and whether they are certified teachers.

"I do like the idea that I can have my summers free. I like the idea I can set up my own schedule," Sapp-Burgess said, adding, "It's a good way for young people to get their foot in the door."

Schools also think it is a good idea for those who want to become full-time teachers to be substitutes. It gives the teacher a chance to learn the culture of the school, as well as valuable teaching experience, and it gives the school the opportunity to get to know the teacher, who could be applying for a full-time job in the future.

Richards said there could be about 100 retirements in Ken-Ton in the next three years, and potentially 300 retirements by 2030, so it makes sense to get a good substitute pool today.

He said offering professional development helps the district and the substitutes.

"If it doesnt help us down the road, it's going to help kids in another district, hopefully, and help those aspiring teachers to grow," Richards said.

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WASHINGTON  Rep. Chris Jacobs, who moved to Orchard Park from Buffalo two years ago to run for Congress from New York's sprawling 27th Congressional District, will have to move again because he plans on running for re-election in that district's even more sprawling replacement.

Two sources close to Jacobs said early Monday that Jacobs plans to run for re-election from the newly proposed 24th District, which would meander from the northernmost shores of the Niagara River to the Thousand Islands region  a driving distance of 256 miles  while bypassing most of metro Rochester.

Erie County would be split among three congressional districts under remap While the Buffalo-based district in the proposed plan would be largely Democratic, the other two districts including parts of Erie County consist largely of smaller communities and rural territory and are most likely to be represented by Republicans.

That is the redrawn district most like the one Jacobs represents now, but it doesn't include the town in which he now lives. Orchard Park and the rest of southern Erie County have been added to the Southern Tier's 23rd District in the congressional remap that Democratic state legislators proposed Sunday, a few days before they plan to vote on it.

One of the sources close to Jacobs noted that the new 24th District includes all or part of eight counties that the congressman currently represents, along with about 400,000 of his current constituents.

In contrast, the redrawn 23rd District consists mostly of territory Jacobs has never represented, either in Congress or as a state senator.

The new 24th District, however, also includes plenty of new territory for Jacobs on the far side of Rochester and running up Interstate 81 north of Syracuse. It is one of four largely Republican districts in the Democrat-drawn map.

Like Jacobs' current district, the new 24th District includes plenty of rural territory. But it also includes some unfamiliar turf, such as Fort Drum, the state's largest military base.

Jacobs' decision means there may be a Republican primary in the redrawn 23rd District, given that Rep. Tom Reed, a Corning Republican, is retiring at the end of the year.

A former Reed aide from Steuben County, Joe Sempolinski, has already started his campaign in that district. But State Sen. George Borrello, a Republican from Irving, is also widely seen as a possible candidate, as is former State Sen. Cathy Young, a Republican from Olean. That primary also could conceivably attract Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Utica-area Republican whose district was eliminated as Democrats trimmed the number of congressional districts in the state from 27 to 26.

Republicans will have an enrollment edge in the 23rd District as well as the 24th.

The 24th appears likely to be one of the most controversial districts on the Democrat-drawn map.

It's conceivable that the 24th will be central to an expected Republican legal challenge to the new congressional map. That's because New York law calls for districts to be "as compact in form as practicable," and there's nothing obviously compact about a district that includes all or parts of 13 counties.

But New York State Republican Chairman Nicholas A. Langworthy didn't single out the 24th in his critique of the district map, in which he threatened legal action and dismissed the remap as a "textbook filthy, partisan gerrymandering that is clearly in violation of the New York State Constitution."

The remap drew some criticism from Democrats, too. Cynthia Appleton, the Democratic chairwoman in Wyoming County, lamented that her county and Livingston County would be split between the 23rd and 24th districts.

"It is an absolute travesty," she said on Twitter. "Two rural counties split in two. Underserved already, this just makes it worse."

And Nate McMurray, the three-time Democratic congressional candidate who lost to Jacobs twice, offered a more succinct description of the 24th District.

"It's nuts," he said on Twitter.

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Priority Pass, a global leading airport lounge and experiences programme, owned and operated by Collinson, said it has added a total of183 airport lounges and premium experiences to its global network in 2021.



The latest additions mean that Priority Pass has at least one experience covering 95% of all international flights from the top 100 airports, with new additions in airports worldwide, including the US, Russia and China. There have been new additional lounges and experiences in the Middle East, with three new lounges across Alexandria Borg El Arab International and Hurghada International Airports in Egypt and sleep pods in Bahrain International Airport.



The brand has also focused on adding more accessible experiences to their programme for Members by adding further dining, sleep and spa offerings to its network as well as recently announcing a partnership with CarTrawler.



As part of its dedication to growing its premium lounge network, Priority Pass added 134 new premium lounges in 2021, each designed to be a luxurious oasis for travellers pre-flight. As part of this, through its sister company, Airport Dimensions, Priority Pass members were also given access to a new lounge concept in partnership with VIP Ambaar Lounge brand.



The exciting, new, premium Ambaar Club launched at Viracopos International Airport (VCP) and has since been rolled out to two further airports in Brazil this year, with more to come.



Separately, as previously announced in June 2021, a relationship with JPMorgan Chase will give Priority Pass Members access to lounges within the brand new, premium airport lounge Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. Three lounges are already in development at Hong Kong International, Boston Logan and New York La Guardia airports.



Adding new airport experiences



As part of its commitment to expanding the range of options available for Members beyond airport lounges, Priority Pass introduced 49 new experiences in 2021. These include: Sleeping Pods at airports including Moscow Sheremetyevo, New York La Guardia and Bahrain International; nine new spas, including in destinations such as Istanbul, Lagos and Dallas; and even a brand new gaming experience at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Further premium dining experiences were added, where guests can dine on delicious local cuisines and, in some cases, enjoy the scenery nearby with expansive window views.



Be Relax also joined the Priority Pass network, offering Members the opportunity for a relaxing spa experience before or after their flight. With numerous locations across the US and around the world, Be Relax offers a large range of wellness services, including chair massages, loungers, and aromatherapy. Priority Pass Members can visit Be Relax locations at San Diego International Airport (SAN), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Airport (DTW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Dallas International Airport (DFW), and New York Airport (JFK and La Guardia), with more locations coming soon to the network.



Providing New and Exciting Services



As well as expanding its airport experiences, Priority Pass added a range of new Travel Services to its app, allowing Members access to more things to enhance their overall travel experience, including a global partnership with CarTrawler. The partnership gives all Members access to competitively priced car rental and airport transfers through CarTrawlers network of over 2,200 vehicle partners across 50,000 locations worldwide. The partnership is a result of Priority Pass desire to constantly evolve its propositions in accordance with travellers evolving needs and wants and joins COVID-19 travel testing and Duty Free Shopping services.



Rebuilding traveller confidence



Priority Pass launched a number of innovations last year to help rebuild traveller confidence and welcome passengers back safely. During the pandemic, the company launched a ground-breaking new Ready 2 Order food and beverage system in recognition of the challenges traditional Food & Beverage (F&B) models in lounges faced as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. The solution meant a number of lounges were able to protect the provision of F&B for guests, whilst ensuring all Members and lounge staff could stay safe via a contactless ordering process. To date, over143,000 orders have been placed via the app and in November, following this incredible response, Priority Pass announced it was expanding its Ready 2 Order footprint from 16 lounges to 46, with a view to be up and running throughout 2022.



Priority Pass Members were also offered COVID-19 travel testing discounts on both PCR and Antigen tests for arrivals and departure to help make taking to the skies again more accessible.



2021 has been a massive year for Priority Pass, said Christopher Evans, Joint CEO, Collinson. Not only have we expanded the network into more locations, but weve expanded with a whole host of new experiences and services. One of our key goals this year was to bring more premium, digitally-enabled travel experiences to our Members, to help them feel a bit of luxury and boost their confidence while travelling during what has been a difficult time. Our aim has always been to enhance the experience of getting from A to B and make access to these benefits more seamless. I am delighted with the incredible range and quality of the additional lounges, experiences and partners that our customers now have access to.



As we move into 2022, thanks to innovations like COVID-19 PCR testing, the roll-out of vaccines and increased health and safety measures across the industry, we can expect confidence in travel to return. Our lounges will be ready and waiting to welcome passengers when they take to the skies again.



Priority Pass recent expansion of lounges and experiences around the world, including across the Middle East, comes at an opportune time. We are seeing steady signs of recovery in the airline industry as Omicron-related restrictions are eased or removed. As travel around the world slowly increases, there is a definite need for premium lounge access, said Priyanka Lakhani, Senior Vice President Commercial, EMEA.



According to our recent The Return Journey report, more than half of the travellers (62%) in the UAE expect travel to be more stressful now than in the past. More than a third of travellers in KSA (34%) said that their mental health is the most important part of their wellbeing. When posed with the question of what would help ease their stress, it is no surprise that 37% of travellers in KSA and 30% in UAE responded by saying they would pay for upgrade options such as airport lounge access.



Moreover, we have witnessed a soaring demand for private spaces, such as sleep pods, in two of the GCCs biggest travel hubs  Doha and Dubai. Combined, these lounges have provided travellers with over 100,000 hours to rest to date. As travel continues to recover, Priority Pass is ready to welcome travellers back and looking forward to providing them with a rich airport experience that prioritises their safety and wellbeing, Lakhani added.  TradeArabia News Service
WASHINGTON Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Utica-area Republican whose district was divided up in a redistricting plan released by Democrats on Sunday, said Monday that she plans to run for re-election in the newly redrawn district that stretches from southern Erie County nearly to Binghamton.

"I have a strong conservative record of advocating for our upstate values, fighting for our small business community including our local farmers, defending election integrity, fighting for our Second Amendment Rights, supporting the natural gas industry, and holding the Biden Administration accountable," said Tenney, 60, of New Hartford, in Oneida County. "I look forward to meeting and earning the support of even more New Yorkers and getting to work for our region in Congress."

Tenney, an attorney and small business owner, won the congressional election in New York's current 22nd District in 2016, only to lose it two years later. But in 2020, she reclaimed the seat in a narrow victory over Democratic Rep. Anthony Brindisi.

Chris Jacobs to run in district stretching from Lewiston to Watertown Two sources close to Jacobs said early Monday that Jacobs plans to run for re-election from the newly proposed 24th District, which would meander from the northernmost shores of the Niagara River to the Thousand Islands region  a driving distance of 256 miles  while bypassing most of metro Rochester.

The current district Tenney serves stretches from Oswego in the north through Binghamton and to the Pennsylvania line.

The new 23rd District, in contrast, is a horizontal Southern Tier district similar to, but larger than, the current 23rd District served by Rep. Tom Reed, a Corning Republican who is retiring from Congress. The new district includes Hamburg, Orchard Park and the rest of the Erie County Southtowns.

And while it might seem surprising for a Utica-area representative to want to serve the Southern Tier and the Buffalo suburbs, Tenney noted in a news release that she has ties to the eastern end of the new district.

"My family business has been owned and operated in Chenango County since 1946, creating jobs for hundreds of people in our community over the years and contributing to our Southern Tier economy," Tenney said.

Tenney is the co-owner of Mid-York Press, a commercial printing and manufacturing firm that employs about 80 people in Sherburne, in Chenango County. Sherburne is in the proposed 19th District, a heavily Democratic enclave that stretches from Binghamton eastward all the way to the state line.

That's an expanded version of the current district now served by Rep. Antonio Delgado, a Hudson Valley Democrat.

Democratic mapmakers essentially split up Tenney's old district, leaving her with the possibility of opposing Delgado or running for a heavily Democratic open seat that includes Syracuse and Ithaca.

Instead, Tenney enters the 23rd District race with one huge advantage: money. She enters the race with $1.15 million in her campaign account, her campaign said Monday.

It's unclear whether Tenney's entrance into the race might deter other hopefuls in the heavily Republican Southern Tier district. Joe Sempolinski, a former Reed aide, has already announced his candidacy and has Reed's endorsement. And former State Sen. Cathy Young of Olean is believed to be eyeing the race.

Cattaraugus County Republican Chairman Robert Keis said he has talked with Young and there is definitely interest there.

She has my full support, he said. Cathy checks all the boxes. I have not talked to anybody who says she should not run.

News political reporter Robert J. McCarthy contributed to this report.

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Erie County is one of the few counties outside of New York City to maintain an uninterrupted state of emergency that includes the extension of powers to suspend local laws due to Covid-19 since the health crisis began in March 2020.

Some county legislators say that needs to change.

Republican-supported legislators say it's time for County Executive Mark Poloncarz to return his emergency powers to the elected, 11-member County Legislature. On Monday, they are submitting two separate Legislature resolutions to that effect.

"We were all willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at the beginning," said Minority Leader Joseph Lorigo. "We all said that we were in this together and were willing to do anything we could to help. That was two years ago, and he has refused to relinquish control the entire time. He doesn't want to work with the Legislature. He doesn't want to work with anyone."

A number of counties, including Monroe County, have reinstated their states of emergency within the past few months due to the holiday and Omicron-related surge in Covid cases. In addition, of state counties that are run by county executives, Albany and Suffolk counties are among those that have also maintained states of emergency due to Covid-19, according to the Albany County Executive's Office and Suffolk County documents.

New York City counties leave public health emergency powers to the mayor, city health commissioner and Board of Health and have also kept their state of emergencies active. The Buffalo News has requested a list of all counties with uninterrupted states of emergency from the New York Department of State.

But members of the Legislature's Minority Caucus say most other county executives in Upstate New York have let their states of emergency, even intermittently, expire.

Poloncarz said his emergency powers are conferred by the state and that the Erie County Legislature has no authority to revoke his emergency declarations. He and his administration have also repeatedly stated that the ability to respond quickly to the public health crisis remains vital. That includes accepting, distributing and coordinating equipment, tests and vaccination sites.

Moreover, as long as the county is under a state of emergency, it qualifies for any federal, disaster-related funding and keeps the county eligible for federal reimbursements, said Peter Anderson, a spokesman for the county executive.

Republican-supported legislators say there is no strong evidence to suggest that Poloncarz's unchecked authority is making things better.

Poloncarz has pointed to a leveling off and decline of hospital capacity percentages in recent weeks due to his indoor mask mandate. He and Health Commissioner Gale Burstein have also highlighted other proactive efforts, such as expanded vaccination sites and testing options countywide.

Republican-supported county legislators, however, point to the county's high Covid-related death rate.

The death rate per 100,000 residents, both in recent weeks and over the course of the entire pandemic, is higher than other major New York State counties outside of New York City. The county's positive test rates are also higher than the state average. Comparatively, Monroe County has been doing better than Erie County has.

"The facts are, our numbers are worse with an emergency status," said Republican Legislator Christopher Greene, who tracks data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I dont know how you can feel this is anything but a power grab. Its not providing better results for the residents of Erie County, and thats not how our government is designed to work long term."

The four members of the minority caucus are introducing Legislature resolutions demanding Poloncarz either immediately end the declared state of emergency or that he end it within a couple of weeks of the Legislature passing the resolution for a more gradual transition.

Lorigo said that while he thinks the state of emergency should end immediately, he expects that the Democrat-controlled Legislature won't agree. The last time the minority caucus attempted to pass a similar resolution in December asking that the state end Poloncarz's emergency powers, the vote failed 7-4 along party lines.

Poloncarz's emergency spending powers terminated as Covid-19 crisis wanes "We got to common ground, and I think everyone was good with that," said Democratic Majority Leader Timothy Meyers.

The Legislature did unanimously support a resolution last June ending Poloncarz's sweeping emergency spending authority, which had allowed the administration to bypass the County Legislature when entering into Covid-related contracts and purchases.

The minority caucus pointed to the administration's failure to purchase take-home rapid tests for public distribution prior to the holiday season as a key reason why the administration's emergency authority should end.

Minority caucus members noted that when Greene, R-Clarence, asked Burstein about the county investing in rapid tests in September, she said they weren't accurate enough to be the focus of the Health Department's Covid response plans.

Comparatively, by December, Monroe County was distributing 750,000 of these tests, enough for every single resident. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced that the city would distribute 500,000 of the at-home tests. That same month, the Legislature voted on party lines to send a minority caucus request regarding a county rapid testing program to committee.

Given the reluctance of many residents to take extra steps to get tested when they have only minor symptoms, the lack of forward thinking by the Poloncarz administration regarding the purchase and distribution of free rapid tests was a costly mistake, say minority caucus members.

"We are two years into one-man control," said Lorigo, C-West Seneca. "And unfortunately, we're dealing with an administration that refuses to acknowledge when it hasn't done something successfully."

Poloncarz told The Buffalo News earlier this month that Erie County has ordered 250,000 rapid tests to distribute directly to residents and to support the county's test-to-stay school program, but those tests have not yet been delivered. The state is also providing rapid tests to counties and to schools, though not in such high numbers.

The county administration has said it's inefficient to wait on the County Legislature, which only meets weekly and holds formal sessions twice a month, when making swift decisions and coordinating efforts that need to be made to keep the public safe.

"I think we all agree that a quick, coordinated response to get these materials in the public's hands as fast as possible is best for all, and having emergency powers in place greatly aids that," Anderson said in an email to The Buffalo News.

In December, former Democratic County Legislator Kevin Hardwick, who now serves as county comptroller, said that while it was too soon to expect Poloncarz to end the state of emergency in light of the growing number of Covid cases, it was appropriate for the County Legislature to have an in-depth discussion about when would be an appropriate time to expect Poloncarz to do so.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Erie County was the only county outside of New York City that had ongoing states of emergency. Albany and Suffolk counties have maintained continuous states of emergency during the Covid-19 pandemic. The story has been updated to correct the error.

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As lawmakers take up the 2022-23 state budget, they should think hard about funding to protect school districts from cyberattacks.

The bad actors behind such attacks go after just about any sector, as a former FBI agent recently told The News. As Western New Yorkers have seen, that includes public school districts.

School districts should have access to the know-how and the funding to prevent cyberattacks and infection by ransomware. There may be several ways to make that happen, but its essential and Albany must play a prominent role. Smaller, rural districts need to be included, not just the larger urban ones like Buffalo.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is on board. In a recent editorial board meeting with The Buffalo News, she offered assurances that the state will assist school districts in fighting against cybercriminals. Legislators must also step up.

Ignoring the threat invites trouble. Cybercriminals view school districts as soft targets. Buffalo learned the lesson in painful fashion last year in a March ransomware attack. The district wisely refused to pay the money demanded, but as of October, it had spent nearly $10 million to respond to the attack, in addition to meeting the ongoing expense of strengthening the security of its computer network.

Nathaniel Kuzma, the districts general counsel said the district alerted about 110,000 current and former teachers, other school employees, current and former students and vendors that their information may have been compromised in that attack. About 1,500 people took advantage of 12 months of free fraud monitoring services offered by a district cybersecurity consultant, although it remained unclear how much information was exposed or what data, if any, was lost and not recovered.

The FBI is investigating the attack, seeking to determine who is responsible and, critically, how the ransomware infiltrated the schools computer system. In addition, Superintendent Kriner Cash approved an emergency contract with GreyCastle Security, a cybersecurity service that is helping in the investigation.

SUNY Erie Community College also suffered a malware attack in 2020, though no ransom was demanded. And its not just schools that are vulnerable. Erie County Medical Center also spent about $10 million after a ransomware attack in 2017. Like Buffalo Schools, it refused to pay any ransom.

There may be no foolproof protection against such nefarious criminals, but New York can do better. Albany needs to act.

  

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.
It seems more and more of us, especially Generations Jones and X, are returning to the where we grew up here in Western New York. Though each of us came to the decision based on unique circumstances, I can imagine a number of factors contributing to the trend, most having to do with family, friends, finances and lifestyle changes. In the minds of many pilgrims, I would guess, there is an idealized perception of the past that serves to justify such a bold move.

Family members who held down the fort are likely the biggest reason for our return. And there are friends and acquaintances who never left the area, or who had returned as part of an earlier wave. There would be a reunion of sorts. There is also hope of becoming part of a community based on common values and interests. Bills Mafia, the Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation, various local halls of fame and cultural groups come to mind.

Yet nostalgia can be a tricky thing, especially when built on flimsy generalizations about the kind of people living in a particular area. All it takes is one road rage incident, or one display of animal or child abuse to remind us that there are good and ugly people everywhere. Regarding family and old acquaintances, we might soon recognize that leopards dont change their spots, and we become sharply aware of why we left in the first place.

So, if not necessarily the people, perhaps it has something to do with the place that draws us back. While its hard to sell Western New York as a friendly climate, I can say that after living 10 years in Colorado and suffering through two catastrophic forest fires, I am one who greatly appreciates the abundance of precipitation in all its forms, as well as the green life it begets.

For some, the notion of returning to a place that has barely changed over the years is alluring  those streets and parks where we once walked and rode bikes still exist. There is a sense of stability and perpetuity  that the soul is connected to the landscape. And while the spiritualists of Lily Dale might promulgate that spirits move unfettered by physical locations, cemeteries offer a chance to meditate on those who came before us.

On the other hand, the City of Buffalo has become an attraction largely because it has changed so much. It has risen from the ashes of the previous century to stand proud as an example of how rubble can be turned into art, and how old can become new.

For many of us, there will be times when we feel like a stranger in a familiar land. Thomas Wolfe, Sigmund Freud, H.G. Wells and the Bible all tell us through their respective insights that we can never go back to our origins. Life is a one-way ticket, and the ride is a rough one. So maybe its better not to think of it as the old home, but rather a place of respite on a greater journey.

For my part, I will try to enjoy whatever company Im in as I go about appreciating what is special about our little spot on the planet. Mostly Ill keep eyes and ears on Lake Erie. It is not just one of the worlds greatest natural resources, but also a source of great inspiration. From the phantasmagoric summer sunsets on Van Buren Bay to the armies of white waves that assault the pier in Dunkirk in the fall and spring, there is something for all my moods.

Pete Howard teaches at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has released her separate opinion explaining why she voted to disqualify presidential bet Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos based on the consolidated petitions challenging his candidacy.

In a 24-page document released on Monday afternoon, Guanzon noted that his non-filing of income tax returns from 1982 to 1985 when he was governor and vice governor of Ilocos Norte constitutes moral turpitude  a ground for disqualification.

"After an assiduous analysis of the arguments of the parties and the evidence on record, I find that Respondent's repeated and persistent non-filing of income tax returns in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, which resulted in his conviction, constitutes an offense involving moral turpitude," she said.

Guanzon noted that while the absolute sum of the deficiency taxes may not seem very large today, Marcos "appears to have evaded payment" of 100% of his income taxes in 1982, 40% in 1983, 28.7% in 1984, and 29.2% in 1985.

Despite the Marcos camp showing a receipt for a 67,000 payment supposedly certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Guanzon said she finds more weight in the non-compliance certification of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, since it was the court that issued the penalties. The payment should have been made in the same court as well.

"Taken together, all of these circumstances reveal that Respondent's failure to file his income tax returns for almost half a decade is reflective of a serious defect in one's moral fiber," she added.

Fellow commissioner Aimee Ferolino, the ponente in the consolidated disqualification petitions filed by Akbayan Citizens Action Party, Bonifacio Ilagan, and Abubakar Mangelen against Marcos, has not yet penned the decision, which was supposed to be out by Jan. 17.

Earlier in the day, Guanzon challenged Ferolino to step down with her following the alleged delay in the release of the resolution. Ferolino has refused to comment on the matter, saying it "might be against the sub judice rule."

In a memorandum later in the day, Ferolino responded to Guanzon's allegations, noting that she is "judiciously scrutinizing all the attached evidence" and substance of the documents related to the case.

"I am asking you to please stop conditioning the minds of the people that there is a delay because there is none...spare the Commission from all these controversies because you are destroying the credibility of the agency," Ferolino said.

Not retroactive

Guanzon is set to retire on Feb. 2 and Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said if the decision is not released by then, her vote to disqualify Marcos could be invalidated.

LIST: Petitions against Bongbong Marcos' 2022 presidential bid

"Concurring opinions, dissenting opinions do not form part of the case. They are just persuasive, instructional, enlightening, and sometimes can be the basis for jurisprudence," Jimenez noted.

What now?

Jimenez explained that pending the decision, Marcos can still campaign for the presidency.

If he gets disqualified before he can be proclaimed president, votes to his name will be considered stray votes and will not reflect in the canvassing tally.

However, if he secures the presidency but gets disqualified after, he will be removed from office and the vice president will take over his post.

"Actions will have to be taken to remove him from office. There will be lawyers who will tell what the actions will be, but in effect, that will invalidate his win...Sisipa rin diyan ang rules of succession [Rules of succession would still apply], from president to vice president," Jimenez noted.

CNN Philippines' Glee Jalea and Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
(CNN)  A string of provocations from North Korea  including its most powerful ballistic missile test in years over the weekend  could be designed to extract concessions from the United States ahead of potential negotiations, a senior US administration official suggested on Sunday.

"Of course we're concerned," the official said of the latest round of launches from North Korea, which have unnerved US allies after a stretch of relative quiet.

The Biden administration has long sought to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang, extending the invitation for talks without any preconditions. While there has been "no serious discussion internally" of a meeting between President Joe Biden and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, officials are eager for talks at a lower level "anytime, any place."

Yet while officials are confident their messages are being received, they still await a response from North Korea.

As it begins testing missiles at a hurried clip, officials say the new posture could be a way to force the US into a weaker negotiating position.

"This is classic negotiation in some ways, and the pre-steps to a negotiation, where they're trying to see what are we willing to do ... as a precondition? And are we willing to essentially pay them to come to the table?" the senior administration official said. "Anytime you need to pay someone to come to the table, you can be pretty sure that they're not going to stay there."

The White House has been watching with concern as North Korea resumes its tests, which on Sunday included an intermediate range ballistic missile. It was an escalation of North Korea's weapons program and a possible sign of larger tests to come, according to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in. It came at a moment when Biden is focused on another international crisis: the buildup of Russian troops along Ukraine's border.

The US official, speaking to reporters on Sunday, said North Korea has been following a pattern of testing its latest systems as a demonstration of its capabilities to the rest of the world. North Korea is looking to increase pressure and validate and refine its weapons systems, the official said.

"They have done a variety of systems that have tended to be shorter range systems up until now," the official said. "They've claimed a hypersonic glide vehicle. And I think that this is in keeping with things that we've seen them doing in the past where they've sought to show and demonstrate that they've developed new systems and capabilities and then to test them."

Still, the official conceded the US track record on guessing North Korea's motivations is poor, even as it remains evident Kim is intent on ramping up his weapons.

"The reality is that the North Koreans almost always have reasons for what they do. And our track record of understanding those ahead of time is not always so great," the official said.

The US is "still looking forward to a response" from North Korea to invitations for talks, though the official said those would begin at a level lower than a direct meeting between Biden and Kim.

"We want to sit down and have a discussion with them. I think that the idea that this can only be done at that level, we reject. I think that that's not serious, and that we have a great deal of respect for the professionalism of our North Korean interlocutors," the official said.

In the meantime, the official did not preview a major shift in strategy from the White House in confronting North Korea, despite the latest developments. Instead, the US will take steps meant to emphasize American commitment to its allies in the region.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "White House still eager for talks with North Korea, but sees missile tests as destabilizing."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  The Filipino-Chinese community ushers in the Year of Thundering Water Tiger on a positive note and a more upbeat attitude.

I sense a feeling among the businessmen, theres nowhere to go but up for the PhilippinesAfter two years of struggles with the pandemic and all these other crises, nowhere to go but up ang Pilipinas, ang economy, Filipino-Chinese businessman Wilson Lee Flores told CNN Philippines.

In 2021, the Philippine economy recorded a growth of 5.6%, which exceeded the economic teams 5% to 5.5% target band for the year. The performance was a vast improvement from 2020s 9.6% contraction.

With the 2022 elections coming up, Filipino-Chinese businessmen are also expecting at least a 1-2% addition to the countrys economic growth, Flores added.

He said the timing of the Chinese New Year is "fantastic for the Philippines" after the government approved easing to Alert Level 2 several areas, including the National Capital Region, from Feb. 1-15. He also cited the OCTA Research group, which said the worst is over for most parts of the country, where COVID-19 infections already passed their peak.

The government placed some areas, including Metro Manila, under Alert Level 3 this month due to rising COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant. Despite this, the National Economic and Development Authority said the impact of the shift was much tamer and that the economy could dodge a major blow.

For 2022, the government is targeting a growth of 7-9%.
The need to shift towards a more traveller-centric marketing approach from a destination-centric one was highlighted at a forum organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The forum focused on the future of travel and tourism, including the importance of sustainability in attracting the next generation traveller.

Organised in partnership with Intelligence Squared, the forum was part of STBs SingapoReimagine Global Conversations series.

The session last Saturday (Jan 22), brought global industry leaders together to exchange ideas and explore collaboration opportunities to reshape travel for Singapore and the world.

Titled Reimagined Cities: Can cities leverage urban design and technology to attract the next generation traveller?, the conversations provided insights into the recent shifts in global travel trends, and ideas on how to appeal to travellers in the new world.

The event shone a spotlight on urban design and technology, and featured insights from industry experts, such as Dr Barkathunnisha, Co-Founder, World Women Tourism and Founder of Elevated Consultancy & Training, as well as Xavier Anglada, Managing Director at Accenture - Innovation, Digital Transformation, Energy Transition, who were joined virtually by Michael Magill, Managing Director of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd Middle East.

Attendees were encouraged to take the time to understand the new generation traveller and how best to meet their needs such as through sustainably-designed cities that feel authentic, yet eco-friendly, smart and convenient.

The session was moderated by Sarah Khan, the recently appointed Editor-in-Chief of Conde Nast Traveller Middle East, and covered a variety of topics, including how the tourism sector can adapt to changing consumer preferences by employing artificial intelligence and technological innovations; how cities are creatively deploying architecture to design tourist attractions of the future and, ; how sustainability is influencing where people choose to travel to, where they stay, and how destinations like Singapore are transforming in tandem with these needs.

Dr Barkathunnish said: I learnt so much about sustainable urban design during this fascinating forum and I felt so honoured to be a part of it. Together we raised pertinent issues and challenges and also came up with strategic ways that cities can stand out from the competition and lure in the next-gen traveller.

Meanwhile, Anglada commented: The session presented audiences with a thought-provoking debate about how travel and tourism is being reinvented in the new Covid-19 world. We explored how travellers needs have evolved, and the role technology is playing in providing hyper-personalized experiences for the new traveller.

Magill added: Overall, the event was an inspiring fusion of ideas about how we can integrate cities and enable them to live in harmony with the natural environment. As well as being essential for the future of our planet, this shift has also been inspired by the average travellers desire to live a more sustainable life. - TradeArabia News Service
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  Its that time of year again. The Chinese New Year approaches. Streets are decorated with red lanterns and customers flock to shops selling lucky charms.

One may also make prosperity baskets" and other charms to attract good luck this new lunar year. Here are some tips from a feng shui expert.

Feng Shui expert Johnson Chua told CNN Philippines' New Day on Monday that prosperity baskets must mainly contain uncooked rice with other charms and ornaments that signify different manifestations to usher in a new year.

"We can put all of these kinds of charms. Include metal ornaments because metal is one of the lucky ornaments for the year 2022 to cure negative energies," he said.

On top of the rice, put a Wu Lou charm which represents money luck, a plum blossom coin for longevity and good health, a love luck ornament, and some prosperity leaves to expand investments or business opportunities.

Do not forget to put in "lucky money" amounting to 888 or 999 inside an ang pao or red envelope, he added.

Chua noted that part of the ritual is closing the basket on the midnight of Feb. 1, then opening it only on Feb. 9, the day of the "birth of heaven." By then, cook the rice from the basket and keep the charms in your pockets or wallets "to use up all the good energies."

DIY prosperity bowl

For those who do not have the required ornaments and materials, a do-it-yourself prosperity bowl will work just as fine, too. Just put rice on a bowl and put in some red elements such as the ang pao or a 50 paper bill on top.

"50 has a red color. Put any amount of money or something red, like a red envelope. Kasi pag red, ibig sabihin kinukuha mo yung energy from the heaven (red color means you are receiving energy from the heaven)," he said.

Lucky food for the new year

For the Chinese New Year celebration, Chua recommended preparing noodles or pasta at home because these represent longevity. These can be mixed with round food items like meatballs or siomai to manifest "a bulk of money."

Serving a whole fish is also recommended to attract wealth. One can also serve some vegetables to manifest growing money.

Pork represents opportunities. Tikoy, on the other hand, represents harmony.

Lucky colors

Chua also recommended wearing red or yellow to attract luck while welcoming the New Year.

"Red is the color of passion and strong energy, while yellow is the color of stability and money," he said. "That means if you're wearing either of the two, you're attracting good energy already."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 30)  Senatorial aspirants Neri Colmenares, Chel Diokno, and Samira Gutoc expressed strong disapproval of the proposal to require adult Filipinos to serve in the military, saying the government should instead focus on improving the country's education and employment programs.

In the CNN Philippines Senatorial Forum on Sunday, Colmenares said it violates the peoples free will and may be used to promote repression.

I disagree with that completely, he said of the proposal pushed for by vice presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Even just for high school ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps), the students don't need military training, especially if the teachings for the youth is for repression," he added.

Lawyer Diokno raised a similar concern, as he noted how the military was used during the martial law regime to put people in line and to stifle criticism.

I am totally against the mandatory military enlistment, Diokno said. Hindi na ba tayo nadala doon sa mga nangyari noon na mga hazing, mga corruption? [Didnt we learn from past incidents of hazing and corruption?] This is not going to be good for our country.

Marawi civic leader Gutoc, meanwhile, pointed out the potential challenges the move may pose on certain groups.

One of the comments on this proposal is that for instance, from the Muslim Filipinos, that will be a bit insensitive to our women who have certain limitations in physicality of movement and even publicly mixing with our men, she said.

Colmenares argued the job situation in the country requires more immediate attention and that mandatory enlistment may be an added burden to Filipinos, as some are their families' main providers.

The two other senatorial hopefuls stressed the need to instead improve the Philippine education system. Gutoc, in particular, pushed for a strengthened program in schools geared towards disaster preparedness.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31)  If elected to the country's top post, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he would not hand over President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Crime Court (ICC) should he be found guilty of crimes he is accused of.

"Hand him over? No," said the Manila mayor and presidential aspirant on Monday.

While Moreno says the ICC is welcome to enter the country and investigate, he also noted that the country has its own courts and its justice system is "intact."

"The way I understand, [for the] ICC to function, to interfere, merong panga-abuso sa karapatang pantao ng isang bansa sa kanyang mamamayan na walang makamit na hustisya at di tumatakbo ang justice system nila," he said, adding this isn't the case for the Philippines.

[Translation: The way I understand, [for the] ICC to function, to interfere, citizens should be experiencing human rights violations in their country and justice cannot be achieved because their justice system isn't working.]

Moreno likewise assured that anyone facing criminal complaints will have a day in Philippine courts.

Duterte has consistently refused to face the ICC, which had earlier ordered a probe into his administration's bloody war on drugs. The international body, however, had temporarily suspended the investigation last November. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/11/19/ICC-temporarily-suspends-probe-on-Duterte-drug-war.html

RELATED: PH won't cooperate as ICC opens drug war probe, Duterte's counsel says

Still, Moreno said he is open to holding a similar probe on the issue.

"Yes, why not? Bakit hindi? Kung talagang mapapanatag ko lang ang damdamin ng bawat isa, why not?" he said.

[Translation: If it would really put everyone's feelings at ease, why not?]

Duterte has yet to anoint his presidential bet for the 2022 polls.
(CNN)  New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has entered self-isolation until Tuesday after being deemed a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case.

"The exposure event took place on Saturday 22 January during flight NZ8273 from Kerikeri to Auckland," the New Zealand government said in a press release Saturday.

The statement added that the country's Governor-General -- Dame Cindy Kiro -- and members of her staff were also on board this flight and are following the same isolation instructions.

It added that Ardern was exposed as a close contact when she and the Governor-General were in Northland "undertaking advance filming at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds" for the Waitangi Day broadcast.

The genome sequencing result for the case is due on Sunday and it is expected to indicate "that the case has been infected with the Omicron variant," the press release added.

Ardern remains asymptomatic and "is feeling well."

All other passengers on board flight NZ8273, including the Governor-General and members of her staff are also getting tested and self-isolating for 10 days.

Ardern enters self-isolation just a week after she canceled her own wedding plans amid a rise in Omicron cases across New Zealand. The country is at the highest "red light" setting of its Covid response -- and, in December, it announced that it would be pushing back its phased border reopening plans until February as concerns over the Omicron variant grew.

Chris Hipkins -- the nation's minister for Covid-19 response -- said at the time: "Waiting till the end of February will increase New Zealand's overall protection and slow Omicron's eventual spread. There's no doubt this is disappointing and will upset many holiday plans, but it's important to set these changes out clearly today so they can have time to consider those plans."

New Zealand has recorded 16,288 Covid-19 cases and 52 deaths over the course of the pandemic.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Jacinda Ardern in self-isolation as Covid cases rise in New Zealand"
(CNN)  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile in the third such incident this month, according to authorities, while the Israeli President was in the country on a historic visit.

The attack caused no damage, the UAE defense ministry said, but follows a series of unprecedented strikes on the country this month by the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

A Houthi spokesman said the group launched "missiles and aircraft" at "important and sensitive" targets in the UAE and indicated that the attack was intended to disrupt the Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit.

The President and his entourage were in no danger, an Israeli presidential spokesman said, and the visit continued as planned. Herzog visited Expo 2020 in Dubai -- the UAE's commercial hub -- on Monday and met with UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

"The UAE ceases to be a safe place so long as the tools of the Israeli enemy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are used against our people and our country," said Houthi spokesman Yahya Al Saree on the group's Al Masirah TV, hours after the attack.

The UAE said it responded to Monday's attack by destroying a ballistic missile platform and launch site in Yemen's Al Jawf.

On January 17, the Houthis launched a drone attack, killing three foreign workers in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis responded with a week-long offensive in Yemen, killing scores of people and knocking out the internet.

The Houthis launched missiles again on January 24, but the UAE intercepted those with support from the United States. After that attack, a Houthi spokesperson warned the group would "expand their operations over the next phase," and called on foreign companies to leave the UAE.

On Sunday, Herzog met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, and condemned terrorist attacks targeting the UAE, according to the UAE's state news agency WAM.

Herzog's visit is the first official trip to the UAE by an Israeli President. The two countries signed a historic accord normalizing relations between the Arab and Jewish states in August 2020, setting the stage for a robust trade and security partnership.

The UAE is a leading partner in the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war for years with the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, which control much of Yemen.

The offensive began in 2015 to restore Yemen's internationally recognized government, after it was ousted by the Houthis.

In 2019, the UAE pulled most of its troops from Yemen, after privately deeming the war unwinnable. The campaign failed to crush the rebels but exacted a huge humanitarian toll, with thousands of Yemenis dead and malnourishment and disease widespread.

More recently, the UAE has returned to the conflict, backing Yemeni groups in flashpoints like the oil-rich provinces of Shabwa and Marib.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "UAE intercepts ballistic missile during Israeli President's visit"
Each week, we'll navigate through Curiocity with a variety of directions:

RENDEZVOUS

Meet a person or group from the capital and get to know them through conversation, tunes and more

INTERSECTIONS

Discover a mix of familiar songs made unfamiliar, from covers to demos to mashups

DETOURS

Shift up the trip with new directions or discoveries via someone  or something!

SPIN THE CITY

Join Erik as he bikes across Ottawa, discovering people, places and sounds along the way

OTTAWAY

Take directions exclusively through fresh local releases, notices about upcoming events and more

Follow producer/host Erik on Instagram to stay updated on upcoming directions & discoveries: instagram.com/StolpRightNow

Want to rendezvous on Curiocity? Or do you have a direction you'd like to have explored? Get in touch and let's connect on the airwaves: curiocity@ckcufm.com
In the first five days of its operation, 20 to 30 people have used the COVID-19 test site on the South Middleton School District campus, director of student services Alex Smith said Friday morning.

They have been a mix of district staff members and students as young as elementary school-age accompanied by parents, Smith said. Due to privacy restrictions, he had no data on how many have tested positive.

Located next to the district maintenance building, the site is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It consists of a modular office unit that houses medical personnel who come out to parked vehicles to collect samples that are sent to Criterion Chemistries, a lab in Alabama.

Test site employees monitor vehicles in three designated parking spaces, Smith said. Each staff member or parent is given a release form to sign and is asked to provide insurance information.

In December, school board members approved an agreement with EMS Medical Management of Schwenksville, Montgomery County, to provide the on-site personnel to collect samples for rapid and PCR tests.

Weeks later, on Jan. 10, the board approved a lease with Mobile Mini Storage Solutions of Etters, York County, for the modular unit.

The unit was set up and ready for use on Jan. 11, its first day in operation. Since then, the site was open on Jan. 13, 18, 20 and 26. It was also open Friday, but no updated data on use counts was available.

We did get feedback that staff members and students appreciate the availability of this site, Smith said. It has been efficient. They have gotten the results back in sufficient time.

Its just another service our district is providing to the community, he said. Its nice to know that it will give our community peace of mind.

On the downside, the same labor shortage issues that have affected other segments of society are impacting the ability of EMS Medical to schedule a consistent staff to man the site, Smith said. We are making it work regardless of the instability. The coordinator that I have been working with at EMS Medical has been doing an excellent job of communicating that to me.

For its first two weeks, the test site operated on a two-day cycle of Tuesday and Thursday. The intent all along was for the service to switch over to a three-day cycle of Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The first day of the switchover was Jan. 24, but the site was closed because EMS Medical could not find a substitute to replace an employee who called off from work, Smith said.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) report, a Mineral Point man was killed in an early Sunday morning crash. He was said to be a passenger on a UTV traveling on the shoulder of Highway 8 at Stoney Point Road in Washington County.

According to the MSHP, the accident occurred at 2:20 a.m. when a 2021 Polaris RZR driven by Sikeston L. Bingham, 25, of Bonne Terre, was traveling west on the right shoulder of Highway 8. When Bingham made a left turn in an attempt to travel up a rock wall, the UTV rolled backward and overturned, partially ejecting Bingham's passenger, Gene E. Skaggs, 28, of Mineral Point.

Skaggs, who was reportedly not wearing a safety device at the time of the wreck, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:44 a.m. by Washington County Coroner Steve Hatfield, assisted by MSgt. D.F. Isringhausen and Washington County deputies. Skaggs was transported to the Washington County Morgue by Hatfield, the MSHP crash report states.

The report also states that Bingham, who was not injured, was not wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred and was also uninsured. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, resulting in the death of another, and placed on 24-hour hold at the Washington County Jail.

The vehicle was listed as totaled and towed away by Elliott Motor Company Towing.

Kevin R. Jenkins is the managing editor of the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-783-9667 or kjenkins@farmingtonpressonline.com

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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.

Jack Suntrup covers state government and politics for the Post-Dispatch.

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When the state announced in 2020 that it would launch a new high school-level African American history course, Dianne Carter de Mayo quickly volunteered to teach it.

The Gloucester County history teacher, who as a Virginia school child was taught from a textbook that framed enslaved people as content under oppression, said she is excited to take her students on a deep dive into the history of Black people in the U.S.

When the class launches in the coming weeks, de Mayos excitement will be tempered by the ongoing pushback from conservatives about how teachers should frame lessons on discrimination and racism, including a new tip line Gov. Glenn Youngkin launched for parents to report lessons on divisive concepts.

News of the tip line, which Youngkin casually publicized during a radio interview, prompted swift fury from Democrats. On social media, critics of the tip line proposed to flood it with spam. In the legislature, Democrats assailed Youngkin-backed legislation that would codify a ban on divisive concepts.

I understand you found a winning issue in critical race theory, once again, using the old Southern strategy to use race as a wedge issue, to use Black bodies as a prop in your campaigns, Del. Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, said Wednesday during a speech on the House floor. Later on Wednesday, Youngkin met with Scott in the delegates office.

Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for the governor, said the email address was set up as a resource for parents, teachers, and students to relay any questions or concerns. Porter described the email address as customary constituent service.

De Mayo said that among the educators she knows, reaction to the news was mostly fear: Someones career and livelihood could be endangered, she said. Its scaring people to death.

The Black educator said she recently got a call from an elementary school teacher who was second-guessing her work amid news of the tip line.

She had been assigned the bulletin board of the month, which in February would usually be themed for Black History Month, de Mayo said. She was saying, What if I get reported to the governor for what I put up? Its horrifying.

De Mayo, a local Democratic activist, said her curriculum is focused on primary sources and that the students in her overwhelmingly white district often walk away inspired by her history lessons on topics like freedom of speech, even when you disagree.

Still, some lessons are tough. Im going to teach about Nazis, slavery. These ideas are hard. And not because of who you are, she said.

Over the summer, as strife reached her district over critical race theory, de Mayo participated in a panel at a local church to help assuage parent concerns, and laid out her curriculum for examination. Gloucester, she noted, was one of the first counties in Virginia to desegregate its schools. The building where she teaches was built to make enough room for both white and Black students.

We have history here, she said.

One key criticism of Youngkins plan is that it lacks clarity. On the campaign trail, Youngkin called for a ban on critical race theory, an academic concept education officials say isnt taught in public schools. When the governor took office, his administration tailored the ban to cover inherently divisive concepts.

In legislation backed by the administration, the definition of inherently divisive includes teaching that one race is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously, and that meritocracy or traits, such as a hard work ethic, are racist or sexist or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.

During a hearing on the bill, the sponsor, Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, was pressed by Democrats on the panel to more clearly define the concept. Kiggans said, Anything thats dividing, thats making one group think that theyre superior to the other.

Kiggans pointed to a classroom exercise in Fairfax County asking students to highlight aspects about their life that made them more privileged.

The exercise, titled Privilege Bingo, included boxes like White, a Native English speaker, Able-bodied and Military Kid.

The school district apologized for any offense it may have unintentionally caused, but said it remains committed to equipping students to analyze bias and examine privilege.

Kiggans, who is running for Congress in an effort to unseat Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, said the intent behind the legislation is unity. The former Navy helicopter pilot said that during her time in the military, she cherished that, We really dont mind what you look like, what your religion is, what your political affiliation is, what your gender is.

Were on the same team and we do the same mission. I loved that, she said.

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said she opposes divisive concepts being prohibited when I dont even know how that is being defined.

All of a sudden we have a problem with instruction in our schools, when all throughout my high school career, I was taught that I was inherently inferior, said Locke, one of the highest-ranking Black lawmakers in the legislature.

And now all of a sudden you have a problem with divisive concepts.

The panel, a Senate subcommittee on K-12 education controlled by Democrats, recommended that the bill die when it reaches the full committee next week. Similar legislation, introduced by Del. A.C. Cordoza, R-Hampton, is moving through the GOP-controlled House.

Twitter: @MelLeonor_

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A multimillion-dollar settlement between an engineering firm and Albany could help expand a future composting site at the Albany-Millersburg Water Treatment Plant.

Members of the Albany/Millersburg Joint Water and Wastewater Management Committee discussed how to spend the windfall at their Thursday, Jan. 27 meeting.

The lawsuits

Last year, Jacobs Engineering, which owns CH2M Hill wastewater engineering firm, paid the cities of Lebanon, Albany and Millersburg a $20 million settlement for faulty wastewater treatment technology.

The lawsuits stem from failed wastewater treatment plant technology. They alleged that CH2M Hill, contracted to design new and upgraded facilities, essentially conducted science experiments using unproven technology, wasting millions of taxpayer dollars.

The cities alleged the technology failed, leaving millions of gallons of partially digested solids to remain in holding tanks and forcing the disposal of untreated sewage in a landfill.

Albany was awarded $12 million in the settlement with 10% of that money going to Millersburg. The money went toward Albany and Millersburg's wastewater enterprise fund to pay for large projects at the plant. One such project includes a composting site five years in the making.

The project

The project was conceived as part of a 2016 study. In March, the Albany City Council awarded a $6.9 million contract to Pacific Excavation Inc. of Eugene to build a compost facility at the plant to compost solids produced in the treatment process.

According to Albany Public Works Operation Manager Kristin Preston, the compost site will recycle 25% of the solid waste produced at the plant. The other 75% will be disposed of in designated landfills. More solids could be composted as the operation progresses, Preston said.

On Thursday, Preston told the Albany-Millersburg Joint Water/Wastewater Management Committee that Albany's $10.8 million share of the settlement is intended by plant management to expand the plant's compost site going forward.

"Those funds are sitting there until we are able to and decide to expand," Preston said.

Each year, the compost operation will grind tons of plant-based solids or green waste with solids from the wastewater treatment process to produce free commercial compost. The operation will help reduce the plant's solids and build partnerships with local businesses, Preston said.

The future

"The places where we visited throughout the region who have biocell compost, their demand outpaces the supply," Preston said. "We know this is going to be a good program, but it's going to take some time."

The plant will soon be home to a 90-foot-wide and 145-feet-deep compost storage site next to a 130-foot-wide and 50-foot-deep composting building.

Albany Waste Water Superintendent Craig Prosser said Thursday the site is set for completion by April at the latest. A Roto-Mix feed mixer and a John Deere wheel loader have been ordered for the site, which began construction in June.

"Along with any great project, there's a lot of ground work and research that goes into it," Prosser said. "It's monumental right now."

Regular testing will be performed at the site for rocks, metals and other biohazards per standards set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

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.

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The federal government is seeking to take over a 5.15-acre Lebanon property after suspecting the owners of illegally growing nearly $10 million worth of marijuana.

Cai Fen Pan and Ying Xiu Ye are accused of running an illegal cannabis operation out of their Lebanon home, according to a court document filed Jan. 25 by a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The property contains a 4,000-square-foot house, a 4,200-square-foot barn, an additional 1,344-square-foot building and a 1,440 square-foot machine shed.

On Nov. 16, 2020, a Linn County Sheriffs Office deputy was dispatched to the Lebanon to investigate a potentially illegal marijuana grow.

According to the court document, the deputy approached Ye, who consented to showing the deputy the marijuana plants being grown at the residence.

The deputy took note of multiple rooms full of marijuana plants, heat lamps and ventilation systems. According to the deputy, Ye said she grew marijuana for her and her husband to use as well as some friends.

Ye said the couple only gave away the marijuana to friends and did not sell it, according to the court document. Ye admitted neither her nor her husband had permits or licenses from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program or Oregon Department of Agriculture to grow marijuana.

Based on the size and sophistication of the operation, the deputy passed the information to a lieutenant and detective with the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement task force. The deputy provided LINE with photos from the property.

A detective then obtained a search warrant for the property.

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All the buildings on the property had been subdivided into multiple growing and processing rooms, according to the court document, and had separate areas for storing chemicals.

During the search of the home, detectives found around $7,320 in cash in Yes jacket. They seized some 1,096 marijuana plants (including clones) from the home, 2,051 from the machine shed (including clones) and 1,266 from the barn.

In total, LINE seized around 4,400 marijuana plants, weighing 1,260 pounds and valued at an estimated $9,870,709.99.

According to the court document, each grow location had intricate ventilation, watering, power and optimal growing environment designed for marijuana.

Based on the amount of chemicals, water diversion products, power, and processing equipment on the property, detectives deemed the location to be a large-scale marijuana manufacturing operation.

The house itself appeared to be a short stay location and hardly lived in, detectives noted. The couple bought the house on or around July 3, 2019, for the sole purpose of growing and harvesting marijuana for distribution, according to the court document.

As a part of the search warrant, a 2020 Dodge pickup truck, a trailer and $8,982 were seized by law enforcement.

Ye and Pan relocated to Oregon from Georgia, where they still operate a for-hire transportation business, according to the court document.

Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_

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I want to start by saying hello to all of the loyal Mid-Valley Scam Alert readers. My name is Maddie Pfeifer, and I will be taking over this column from my former colleague Troy Shinn.

I know you are all probably sad to see Troy go  I know I am  but I hope youll give me the chance to carry on this interesting, important and helpful column.

I am Mid-Valley Medias public safety reporter. I specialize in breaking news and all things crime, so this column naturally fell into my lap upon Troys departure.

I am excited to help local readers avoid all sorts of scams. I will be learning along with you, and I hope youll join me on this new journey.

So what do you say? Lets jump into the deep end and expand our knowledge and toolkit for avoiding scams, schemes and everything in between.

Job verification scams

The coronavirus pandemic has drastically altered the job market, making it the perfect time for job verification scams.

In a January edition of Oregon FBIs Tech Tuesday newsletter, the agency said its seeing an increase in reporting of these types of scams.

In Oregon, the FBI has been receiving more and more reports from people getting scammed as they try to apply for jobs or unemployment benefits, the newsletter says. The reports, from the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center, show that bad actors are targeting victims who are already in financially difficult situations.

After applying for a job, businesses tend to use private, third-party companies to verify your identity. The goal is to decrease instances of fraud. While many of these verification companies are legitimate, fraud-focused fiends are taking advantage of citizens searching for employment amid the pandemic.

These scam artists can also use similar methods against those trying to apply for unemployment benefits. With these scams, criminals are targeting those who may already be financially vulnerable.

If you fall victim to one of these scams, it can go a couple of different ways.

A scam artist may post a fake job online and direct you to a verification company. Youll complete the process, and the fraudster will ask for your login or verification information to complete your application. Next, the scammer will access your account and use your profile to apply for unemployment in one or more states.

Another situation that could happen: A scam artist may post a job online, direct you to a fake verification company and then take your information and commit all sorts of identity theft-related crimes.

If youre currently looking for a job, you may be at risk of encountering one of these job verification scams. Now that we know what these scams look like, its time to figure out how we can fight back and protect ourselves and our information.

The Tech Tuesday newsletter provided the following tips for avoiding job verification scams:

Make sure the job you are applying for is real. Research the company, and call a publicly available number to confirm that it is.

Make sure that the verification company you are dealing with is legitimate. Research the company. Know exactly what information is required, how that company will communicate with you, and what the official channels through which it will communicate are.

Be wary of social media contacts that ask for information to verify your identity. Legitimate companies will not ask for your highly personal or financial information this way.

Following these steps can make a big difference when it comes to protecting your identity.

Any time youre asked to fill out personal and/or financial information, its good practice to always research the company or organization beforehand so you can be sure your information isnt falling into the wrong hands. A quick internet search or phone call may save you a future headache (and your identity).

If you are the victim of an online scam, report the incident to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office at 503-224-4181.

Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_

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From an early age, Matine Khalighi has wanted to make an impact in the world.

His parents encouraged him to get involved in the community and learn the importance of giving back. While attending Campus Middle School in Greenwood Village, he took a community service class and completed a service project on homelessness.

During his senior year at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, he helped launch EEqual, a nonprofit that provides scholarships and other assistance to homeless students.

"Growing up, I'd always see these people under the street lamps with the sign and I'd ask why this was the case and reality for people," said Khalighi, 19. "In middle school it was an issue that felt really close, and thought we could do something about it with the limited resources available to us."

The Varkey Foundation and Chegg.org recently named him one of 10 finalists for the Global Student Prize for his contributions and commitment to building a brighter future for others. More than 3,500 people from over 90 countries applied for the honor, officials said.

"I'm really thankful, amazed and felt good to have our work be recognized," Khalighi said. "Young people all over the world are doing incredible things and to (be) recognized alongside them is humbling."

Since its inception in 2020, EEqual has raised about half a million dollars and awarded over $70,000 in scholarships, Khalighi said.

He founded EEqual with his friend Alyssa Gorkin. They volunteered at a local homeless shelter and gathered unwanted hygiene products to provide to the homeless. They also noticed an alarming number of people their age asking for help.

"We realized these were young people like me, Alyssa and the rest of the team," Khalighi said. "We felt a closer connection to them because these people were our age."

During the 2019-20 school year, more than 1.2 million students attending public schools in the United States were considered homeless, according to a report by the National Center for Homeless Education.

In Colorado, 11,830 students in seven metro counties were considered homeless in 2021, according to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative.

Because of these numbers, Khalighi and Gorkin decided to launch their own nonprofit.

"We were on FaceTime one night and (he) said we should do this and try, so we did," Gorkin said.

Throughout high school, Khalighi and Gorkin relied on their friends to help them with their nonprofit work. They determined that improving access to education could help break the cycle of homelessness, Khalighi said.

"We saw a gap of opportunity for these young people and that higher education could be a way to get them out of this cycle," Khalighi said. "We knew this was where we should be investing our time and our support."

At first, Khalighi and Gorkin had challenges getting through all of the paperwork needed to register and launch the nonprofit, but they were determined to see their idea through.

Scott Cohen, one of Khalighi's teachers at Smoky Hill High School, said in his 27-year career he's seen students do plenty of amazing things, but nothing that's topped EEqual.

"It's incredible," Cohen said. "They really got everything going with just their group of friends. A lot of students will say they're going to do something, but back out at the end. They didn't do that and are still making a difference today."

During his senior year, Khalighi was accepted into Harvard, but he decided to take a gap year to focus on EEqual. As a result, EEqual has reached more than 15 million youth and has chapters in 20 states.

The organization is working to bring more awareness to the issue, while also raising money for scholarships for homeless students. Students admitted into the program are paired with student mentors and others to help them graduate from school and navigate everyday life.

And while scholarships are important, Khalighi said the most important work has occurred through the nonprofit's public service announcements and campaigns to try to break the stigma surrounding homelessness.

"We're definitely still in the starting phases, but we've had a lot of success so far," Khalighi said. "As great as a scholarship is, it isn't going to solve the student homelessness issue in America. This is a system failure and there has to be advocacy for change on a systematic way that makes these problems exists."

Khalighi's work has been recognized by presidents Obama and Trump and most recently with the Global Student Prize. Although he appreciates the recognition, he says it's more important for EEqual.

"All of these awards and opportunities are great for me, but also they provide a larger platform for EEqual," Khalighi said. "That's really, really important because it highlights our work and helps build credibility and recognition that people can support."

Khalighi, who is halfway through his first year at Harvard, said his immediate goals are to expand EEqual's scholarship program and continue developing new, effective marketing and fundraising opportunities.

But for Khalighi, who was recently named chairman of the nonprofit's board, he wants other young people to act on their ideas to create a positive change in the world.

"When we're young, we're always told to wait until we're older. But we grew up with this initiative in eighth grade," Khalighi. "Over the years we've realized how much of an impact young people can have and want others to seize that opportunity."
Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA) has seen a 17.7 percent decrease in net profit in 2021 as COVID-19 driven repercussions weighed on revenues.

Net profit dropped to SR214 million ($57 million) on an annual basis, compared to SAR 260 million in 2020, as shown by the company's consolidated financials for the year ended 31 December 2021.

According to a filing to Saudi Exchange, Tadawul, the decline was due to a 22 percent rise in revenue cost, resulting in a cumulative 10.3 percent decrease in gross profit.

Revenues remained almost unchanged, weighed down by the pandemic limiting Umrah visits, but compensated by a growth in business to business and 5G network revenues, it added.

However, the Riyadh-headquartered firm managed to narrow operating expenses by SR247 million and limit finance costs by SR409 million, buoyed by debt restructuring.

Total Capex investment for the full year 2021 was SAR 1 billion, to further expand the 5G network, enhance the quality of services provided to customers.

In Q4 2021, the company reported a net profit of SAR 71.1 million, a rise of 98% year-on-year (YoY), due to higher B2B and 5G revenues, despite the increase in the cost of revenue by 12% to SAR 78 million. Compared with the previous quarter, net profit rose 17.7% from SAR 60.39 million.

Meanwhile, shareholders' equity, excluding minority interest, amounted to SAR 9.04 billion in 2021, up 3.56% compared to SAR 8.72 billion a year earlier.
China Mobile (CMCC), Nokia, and MediaTek have successfully verified the world's first 3 Components (3CC) Carrier Aggregation (CA) technology in Shanghai, China.

"Achieved a new 5G Standalone speed record of almost 3Gbps in downlink throughput using Nokias commercial 5G Airscale portfolio, China Mobiles network, and MediaTeks mobile platform in Shanghai," said a press release from the vendor.

The move will enable communication service providers to deliver higher throughputs and better coverage to more customers such as superior mobile broadband services and HD video, it said.

The trial, which utilized Nokias AirScale 5G baseband and MediaTeks Dimensity 9000 5G flagship mobile platform on CMCCs network, is the first time the n28 (700MHz band; 30MHz) and n41 (2.6GHz band; 100+60MHz) frequency bands have been successfully combined to reach 190Mhz bandwidth (n28 + n41) with carrier aggregation technology.

The trial saw the user experience increase under a 700MHz/2.6GHz converged network to reach a peak downlink speed rate of 2.94Gbps. "CA uses Primary Cell Switch functionality which works by combining frequency bands to offer superior network capacity by maximizing the spectral efficiency of 5G networks resulting in higher data rates, increased coverage area, and superior indoor performance," the release claimed. The test activities will continue using CMCCs network in Shanghai.

According to the release, CA combines frequency bands for higher data rates and increased coverage, delivering superior network capacity by maximizing the spectral efficiency of 5G networks.

The combination of 5G FDD and TDD bands, supplemented by carrier aggregation, can give full play to the advantages of spectrum synergy, greatly reducing the cost of network construction while improving network coverage and user experience.

Nokia has been a strategic partner of CMCC, the worlds largest mobile operator, for over 20 years. CMCC is building out its network with the convergence of the 700MHz and 2.6GHz band. "With CA technology, the spectrum advantages of these bands can be used to greatly improve the network performance and deliver a superior customer experience," it claimed.
Mobile innovation continues to bring new money services to Africans, most recently in the form of mobile life insurance in Ghana and remittance from Europe for mobile money account holders in Cameroon.

Mobile Money Limited, a subsidiary of operator MTN, has partnered the Allianz Life Insurance company to support Ghanaian families with affordable life insurance cover through a product called Allianz4life.

Through this partnership Allianz will be able to provide services to over 10 million Ghanaians on the MTN Ghana mobile money platform.

The partnership aims to solve the problem of accessibility to insurance companies. The partners add that limiting face-to-face interaction could save time and resources while proving more convenient to customers.

Meanwhile, pan-African operator Orange has rolled out a new remittance corridor from Europe to mobile money account holders in Cameroon.

Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money account holders in Cameroon will be able to directly receive deposits from France and Belgium thanks to Orange Money Europe. According to Orange, users in France and Belgium will be able to remit a maximum of 400 to Cameroon with their identification document. Those who carry out transactions using the Orange Money Europe app can send as much as 800. Sums from 800 to 2,000 will require proof of residence as well as ID.

The money can be withdrawn from distributors of interconnected banks via GIMAC (Interbank Electronic Banking Group of Central Africa). Transaction charges are said to be among the lowest on the market: 1.99 up to 100 and 2.99 from 100.01 to 800. Customers can also use the Orange Money Europe offer to top up voice, text and data on the phones of users in Cameroon.
Statement by Amb. Byrne Nason at the UNSC Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security

Statement

Thank you very much, Madam President.

Thanks also to USG Di Carlo for your briefing.

Madam President,

Todays discussion is an important opportunity for the Council to address the developing situation at Ukraines borders, which has become a matter of profound international concern.

Let me underline at the outset that Ireland, along with our EU partners, is a strong and unwavering supporter of Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

At this moment of rising tension on Ukraines frontiers, arising from Russias military build-up, Ireland calls for calm, de-escalation and the pursuit of diplomacy.

We call also for constructive and determined engagement on all dialogue tracks, including the Normandy format and the OSCE.

Ireland is fully committed to the core principles enshrined in the UN Charter. These include the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States. We recall today that these principles were agreed, collectively and freely, by all members of the United Nations.

Moreover, European security is built on a series of essential commitments and obligations. It is the fundamental right of a sovereign and independent State to chart its own path in the world; to choose its own foreign policy and to make arrangements for the security and defence of its territory. The Helsinki Final Act, one of the foundational documents of the OSCE, confirms the obligation of States, and I quote, to respect each others sovereign equality  and the right of every State to juridical equality, to territorial integrity and to freedom and political independence. Subsequent agreements, including the Charter of Paris and the Charter of European Security agreed in Istanbul in 1999, reaffirm the core principles underpinning collective European security.

Madam President,

Earlier this month, Ireland marked 100 years of a hard-won independence. Just as we would not accept another state determining our foreign and security policy, Ukraine similarly has the sovereign right to choose its own policies.

In this Council, we are too often faced with the terrible humanitarian consequences of violent conflict, usually where diplomacy and dialogue have failed. Force is never the answer. It is not the answer now. What is needed now above all is a negotiated, diplomatic solution that reinforces our collective security in Europe. We have the institutions and the mechanisms within which to pursue this solution. Let us use them.

Absent that, it will be innocent civilians who once again pay the awful price of conflict.

Madam President, that is not a prospect any of us wish to contemplate.

Thank you.

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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.
The Jackson County Sheriffs Office reports the arrest of an inmate that had reportedly failed to return to custody in an Alabama work camp program and was at large when he then allegedly stole a car in Jackson County.

Officials, in pursuing him, also wound up arresting a second individual in an unrelated matter. The second was a man, wanted in Jackson County, who was at the residence where the first man was apprehended.

JCSO issued the following press release about the incident: On Saturday, January 29, at approximately 5 p.m., the Jackson County Sheriffs Office (JCSO) responded to a stolen vehicle complaint. The complainant stated that the suspect, later identified as Michael Hamilton, had stolen her vehicle and left the residence headed north on Highway 73 South, the release states.

The victim also disclosed that the suspect had escaped from prison in Houston County, Alabama. The responding deputy relayed this information to dispatch, who was able to confirm that the suspect was indeed Hamilton and that he had an active warrant for Failure to Return to a Work Camp in their jurisdiction. Hamilton also had two active warrants out of Jackson County, the release continued.

During the course of their investigation, deputies gathered information on the possible whereabouts of Hamilton and the vehicle, and learned that a separate wanted subject, John Wayne Mills, was known to reside at this residence. Deputies arrived at the residence and the stolen vehicle was immediately spotted, the release states.

After a short time, Hamilton was taken into custody without incident and charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Fugitive From Justice, Escape Two, Two Counts of Petit Theft, and Two Counts of Uttering a Forged Instrument, the release continued.

Also, while on scene, deputies were approached by another male subject, who was identified as John Wayne Mills, who was taken into custody without incident for his active warrants out of Jackson County and charged with Violation of Probation, the release stated.
A Dothan woman is accused of kicking and punching a pregnant woman in the stomach, leading to the death of the victims unborn child.

Iveonna Samone Lashay Turner, 20, is charged with murder and is being held in the Houston County jail on a $500,000 bond.

Dothan police said they responded to a disturbance call on Jan. 24 in the 100 block of Shadowlawn Drive, the address of Turners ex-boyfriend with whom she shares a child. Witnesses said the suspect and pregnant victim got into a physical altercation during which Turner punched and kicked her several times in the stomach.

After the incident, the victim sought medical treatment for pain in her abdomen.

During a medical examination, doctor determined that the assault led to injuries that left the fetus unviable and unable to survive, according to the Dothan Police Department. Lt. Scott Owens told Al.com that the woman in her 30s was in the early stages of pregnancy.

In Alabama, a fetus is considered a person regardless of its viability.

After the altercation, court records show that Turner, a college student, filed a protection order against her 32-year-old ex-boyfriend, claiming she was the victim of assault while at his residence on Jan. 24. She was also asking for protection for their infant child.

In the petition, she said her childs father and his mother jumped her while she was there to pick up their eight-week-old daughter.

Turner was arrested and booked into jail on Friday.

Sable Riley is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at sriley@dothaneagle.com or 334.712.7915. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com .
Many expats are choosing to go out of cities to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year, glad for the recharge opportunity after the social distancing experiences of 2021.

The holiday to mark the Year of the Tiger in Vietnam runs from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, 2022, giving everyone a nine-day break.

Jamie Osnes Edwards, an American living in Hanoi, said her family planned to visit the Phu Quoc Island for their Lunar New Year vacation.

Edwards said it was not that she was not anxious about Covid at a time when the number of new cases was high in many places in Vietnam. She decided to go ahead with the travel plan because her family could really use the break and enjoy warm and fresh air outside the city after the long social distancing of last summer.

In 2021, Hanoi had applied strict lockdowns for several months to contain Covid-19 transmission as the Delta variant wreaked havoc.

Therefore, it was "a hard year of missing family in the U.S." Edwards has not met them in almost four years and her kids have not been able to attend school for a long time as well.

In mid Jan, Edwards decided to book a flight when airlines lifted Covid test requirement for unvaccinated kids flying within the country.

In fact, Edwards said, this would be the first time her family has not stayed in Hanoi for Tet. In 2021, as they'd done over the last 10 years, they remained in the capital city to enjoy the peace of quiet Tet. In addition, they wanted to take the holiday before her oldest child would return to school on Feb 8.

"It has been one year since we last flew as a family, so the kids are all very excited."

On the current pandemic situation in Vietnam, Edwards said she has tried to arrange the plan in the safest way as she can, when four kids have not been vaccinated. She, her husband and the eldest son are fully vaccinated.

Her family will fly to and return on weekdays, not on weekends, to avoid crowds, she said.

"We will wear masks most of the time and not gather around other people as much as possible to be safe."

Jamie Osnes Edwards and her family in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, March 2021, before the fourth Covid-19 wave struck the country. Photo courtesy of Jamie Osnes Edwards

Safe and cautious

Jerry Wang, a Chinese living in Hanoi, said he would go to Da Nang and Hue for the Lunar New Year holiday. He was confident about traveling because he was fully vaccinated and most infections now were very mild compared to those getting infected last year.

Wang said he wished to go back to China and see his family but he canceled that plan because he would have to quarantine in a hotel for three weeks. Also, there are few flights between Vietnam and China at present.

"Not going home to spend Tet with family is the biggest difference for me this year."

Wang said he would wear a mask almost all the time, be careful in public spaces, sleep early and maintain good hygiene to keep his immune system strong.

South African Bianca Jayde said she would spend the holiday with her best friend in Hoi An and Phu Quoc, enjoying the beautiful displays of the Lunar New Year decorations and "recharge and relax" after the stress of last year.

"I feel secure traveling this year as the majority of the population in Vietnam is vaccinated and have received their booster shots."

It seems that people in the country have confidence to celebrate Tet with their friends and families. Also, people were taking necessary precautions to limit the virus transmission, she felt.

Comparing the present situation to Tet last year, Jayde recalled that it was a time of uncertainty as it was the beginning of another Covid wave. She had spent most of her break inside her apartment.

Meanwhile, HCMC resident Linda Miller (name changed) from the U.S. said she and her husband would go to Phu Quoc to enjoy fresh air on the beach.

The couple did not want to return to their home countries and take the risk of getting infected, so they chose a domestic trip "to make some sort of city escape."

Miller said she felt secure about traveling because most people in Vietnam were vaccinated and the number of new cases in her departure and destination locations was low. Both HCMC and Kien Giang Province, home to Phu Quoc, have been classified as at low Covid risk for weeks.

Also, the couple had got their third vaccine doses.

During Tet last year, Miller stayed home because she did not feel comfortable traveling. To reduce the risk of being infected, the couple will use a private car, not a flight, to stay away from crowded places without adequate spacing.

"And well bring lots of masks and hand sanitizer."

Not much worried

Frenchman Ilyes Tyler said he would continue to travel during Tet with his friends as he was not very worried about Covid at a time when people were learning to live with the virus.

The difference this year from his trip in 2021, Tyler said, is that he will have fewer destination choices. He has managed to organize a road trip covering Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan and Da Nang. He said he would take all precautions including wearing masks and avoiding crowded places, which are key measures to have a safe holiday now.

Ilyes Tyler in Da Lat, Lam Dong province in December 2021. Photo courtesy of Ilyes Tyler

In a rare case, Sang Rok Kwon, a South Korean, said he was not going out of HCMC and will spending Tet at home as hed done last year. Fully vaccinated, he wanted to return home and see his family after two years of separation, but he remained concerned about pandemic developments.

Kwon said he had to be more cautious than others because he was responsible for his company and could not afford to get infected.

Tyler said he expected that he and other people would be less bothered by the pandemic and would look to travel abroad freely like before.

Other foreigners living in Vietnam also said they hoped it would become easy to travel between Vietnam and their home countries, which was the case at present.

Jayde said people have more things to look forward to this Lunar New Year as they return to work, kids go back to school and borders open up to welcome tourists.

"I hope 2022 brings everyone peace of mind and less stress. This Tet holiday gives a lot more hope and optimism for an auspicious year ahead."
A staff member shows one of the local leading crypto exchange Bitkub's logo at a cafe which has dozens of screens showing the latest trends and prices on various cryptocurrencies for their crypto investors' customers in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, January 21, 2022. Photo by Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

A cafe in northeast Thailand has become home to cryptocurrency traders, adding banks of screens showing the latest market moves and dishing out investment advice alongside coffee and cake.

Behind a calm exterior of cherry blossom trees, customers of HIP Coffee & Restaurant stare at their laptops, supping nervously on iced coffee - part of a surging interest in digital assets in Thailand that has regulators worried.

"It's exciting for me to be here because I get to meet people who share the same interests," said Detnarong Satianphut, a 35-year-old crypto trader.

"We (traders) get to exchange information because in the trading world we are coming up against millions of people."

Cryptocurrencies have been gaining momentum in Thailand, with as much as 251 billion baht ($7.62 billion) in digital asset traded in November, according to the latest official data.

Earlier this month, Thailand said it would start to regulate the use of digital assets as payments, warning of potential risks to financial stability and the overall economic system.

HIP cafe, which has been around since 2013, got its crypto makeover in 2020.

Since then, according to staff, its customers have doubled. Manager Oakkharawat Yongsakuljinda said the cafe provides alternative investment opportunities for people in the surrounding Nakhon Ratchasima province.

It offers free investment consulting and is planning on starting its own cryptocurrency coin.

Its customers say trading in the cafe offers them the best chance of success in a volatile market, in which the most well known cryptocurrency, bitcoin, hit six-month lows this week.

"Having so many screens helps a lot ... We immediately know and get to analyze crashing factors and whether we should buy," said 23-year-old trader Apakon Putnok.
When evidence emerges, the United States identifies certain individuals that are crucial to the operation of terrorist organizations. Many of them set up and operate elaborate networks to help finance these terrorist organizations.

Oftentimes, when such individuals are identified, the U.S. Government adds their names to the Specially Designated Nationals List. Their assets within U.S. reach are immediately frozen. No U.S. citizen or company may conduct business with a designated individual. In this way, the United States disrupts financial support networks for terrorists and terrorist organizations.

In late December, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, identified three men as members of a Brazil-based network of al-Qaida-affiliated individuals. The Treasury Department designated them as Specially Designated Global Terrorists pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for providing support to the terrorist group.

Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Al-Maghrabi, al-Qaidas special operative and one of the networks original members, arrived in Brazil in 2015. Working with another network member, al-Maghrabi conducted various business dealings and purchased foreign currency.

Al-Maghrabi was designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Qaida.

Mohamed Sherif Mohamed Mohamed Awadd arrived in Brazil in mid-2018.He received financial bank transfers from other al-Qaida associates in Brazil and became involved in printing counterfeit currency. Awadd owns and partly manages the Home Elegance Comercio de Moveis EIRELI furniture enterprise in Sao Paulo.

Ahmad Al-Khatib owns and partly manages the Sao Paulo-based furniture business Enterprise Comercio de Moveis e Intermediacao de Negocios EIRELI.

Both Awadd and al-Khatib have been designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed Ahmed Ibrahim. Ibrahim was himself designated on September 10, 2019 for having acted for or on behalf of al-Qaida.

The two Sao Paulo furniture companies have been designated for being owned or controlled by Awadd and al-Khatib, respectively.

The activities of this Brazil-based network demonstrate that al-Qaida remains a pervasive global terrorist threat, and todays designations will help deny the groups access to the formal financial system, said Under Secretary of the Treasury Brian E. Nelson. The United States is committed to working with our foreign partners, including Brazil, to dismantle al-Qaidas financial support networks.
The United States supports the actions taken by the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, in defense of democracy and stability in Mali.

In a special summit on January 9th, the 15-member regional block imposed additional sanctions on Mali, in light of the years-long delay in holding elections proposed by the countrys military leaders. The sanctions include suspension of non-essential financial transactions, closing of ECOWAS members land and air borders with Mali, and recalling their ambassadors from Bamako.

Malis current military leadership, headed by Assimi Goita, came to power after a coup detat in August 2020. which overthrew Malian President Ibraham Keita. In May 2021, Goita pushed out Malis interim president and took over the presidency himself. Originally, Malis interim government promised to hold elections in February 2022. In December, the leadership proposed extending the timeline until 2026.

In the communique announcing the new sanctions, the leaders of ECOWAS called the new timeline totally unacceptable. They emphasized they were imposing sanctions to facilitate the return to democratic rule.

The European Union, France, and the United Kingdom are among those in the international community who joined the United States in supporting the ECOWAS action.

Speaking at a recent UN Security Council briefing on Mali, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, We share ECOWASs deep disappointment with the blatant lack of political will shown by the Mali transition government to make progress toward organizing elections, as it committed to do following the August 2020 coup detat. We urge the transitional government to keep its pledge to the Malian people to return their country to democracy. It is what the people of Mali have asked for; its what they want; it is what they deserve. A five-year transition is not in their interest and extends the pain of the people.

Ambassador Thomas Greenfield also deplored the increasingly volatile security situation in Mali. She warned, however, of the destabilizing impact of Russia-backed Wagner Group forces, with their pattern of human rights abuses, which pose a danger to MINUSMA peacekeepers and to the people of Mali, as well.

Speaking directly to Malis UN Ambassador Issa Konfourou, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said, Our goal is to work with you. . . .Lets work together to bring stability to Mali and its people and to bring Mali back into the community of nations where Mali belongs.
Vietnamese staff members of level-2 field hospital No. 3 in South Sudan erect the Neu tree. (Photo: qdnd.vn)



Vietnamese people in the old days put up tall bamboo poles with red garment strips hanging on them during Tet, believing that the poles prevented ghosts and monsters from entering the community during the holiday. The tradition of raising the Neu pole remains alive today in many villages and homes around the country.



Neu tree is a sacred symbol that wards off evil spirits and misfortunes of the old year and prays for a lucky and auspicious new year.



The Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan used a discarded antenna pole to make the 10-metre Neu tree and decorated it with strings of colorful flags and ornaments recycled from nylon. A national flag was placed atop the Neu tree with a wind chime made of bamboo hung beneath.



The traditional tree can be seen from far away, capturing the interest of local people, UN staff at the mission, patients, and visitors./.
Ikpeoha Nkiru Joy from Nigeria performs Peking Opera during a celebration for the Chinese New Year at the Haikou international talent home in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

HAIKOU, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Making dumplings, writing Chinese characters, and viewing traditional shows... as the Spring Festival is just around the corner, a special celebration for the Chinese New Year has been held at the international talent home in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province.

About 30 foreigners in the Hainan Free Trade Port enjoyed traditional activities. Wearing a traditional Chinese costume, Ikpeoha Nkiru Joy from Nigeria performed Peking Opera, a highlight of the celebratory event.

"I like Peking Opera because it's cultural and related to Chinese traditions," said Joy, a postgraduate of Hainan University. In 2020, she was picked by her teacher to join a Chinese talent competition for foreigners held in Hainan. It took her about two weeks to learn the Peking Opera under a teacher's guidance.

"I didn't really have the courage to do it at first. But my passion for it made me become more interested in learning it," she said.

"The Chinese Spring Festival, like Christmas in foreign countries, is a time for family and friends to get together, and it's a happy time for everyone," said Joy, adding that the celebratory event was awesome, especially the Chinese art performances such as the flute and Chinese zither.

"We watched different shows, played games, and made food," said Daria Lebedianskaia from Russia.

When making dumplings, Daria taught her 4-year-old daughter how to wrap a dumpling. She said dumplings in Russia are shaped differently and use other flavors.

"Though the flavors are different, I like them both," said Daria, adding that she likes Chinese dumplings filled with chive, meat and eggs best.

Daria has been in Hainan for almost 10 years and now works as the project manager of Hainan College of Economics and Business. Because her husband is Chinese, the family celebrates the Spring Festival each year. "It's a good reason for the family to get together," she said.

The Haikou international talent home, which opened its doors in September 2021, is the brainchild of the Haikou Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs and a local human resource company. Nearly 200 foreign talents have joined the family.

The purpose of the international talent home is to create a platform for foreigners to feel at home, said Pi Jinyu, general manager of Fu'an Talent Human Resources (Hainan). "We provide services and help them alleviate any issues or difficulties, like visa problems or job issues," he said.

In order to better help the foreign talents start their businesses, the talent home offered a business incubation training class lasting for four months. Nearly 20 foreigners from different countries and areas including the United States, Russia and Africa participated in the course, and Joy was one of them.

"The training is the best thing that has happened to me," said Joy, noting it was quite different from what she learned in university.

"The particular training has given me a lot of ideas. It has opened up my thoughts on what to do in the future, how to plan my way, how to plan my life and how to become a better entrepreneur," she said, adding that the Haikou talent home really did a nice job organizing such training for foreigners.

"We hope to make contributions to the construction of the Hainan free trade port in this way, and attract more international talents to work in Hainan," Pi said.

Chen Lanfang, an official with the Haikou Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs, said the talent home will continue to play a better role in introducing foreign talents and boosting exchanges.

Foreigners make dumplings during a celebration for the Chinese New Year at the Haikou international talent home in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- A tourist bus, decorated with images of tigers and the logo of the Beijing Winter Olympics, left Chinatown for the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires, where a dragon and lion dance as well as a tango demonstration took place, marking the beginning of celebrations.

This is part of the celebrations which will run from Friday to Feb. 12 in the Argentinean capital for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year of the Tiger and the opening of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, after a year without celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carlos Lin, a well-known proponent of Chinese culture in Argentina, told Xinhua that the project aims to "bring Chinese culture to the streets of Buenos Aires" through performances of traditional dance, martial arts and music.

At 8 p.m. on Monday, Lin said, "all of these in the heart of Buenos Aires at the Obelisk will light up in red so that everyone knows that the Year of the Tiger has arrived."

For Argentineans, the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations have attracted the attention of people interested in ancient Chinese culture and customs, and with the Beijing Winter Olympics approaching, this year's event becomes even more appealing.

"In the heart of Buenos Aires, something historic happened today. There had never been a dragon dance at the Obelisk," Lin said, adding when people saw the drums and the dragon dance, they took photos with their phones and shared them on social media.

Lin said that "this year is special for the Chinese people in Argentina, and especially in Buenos Aires, because we are coming, like everyone else, out of the pandemic, out of quarantine."

"This year, with everyone vaccinated, we want to celebrate, but celebrate responsibly," he added.

The two-week celebrations in Buenos Aires will be held under the theme "Encounter for a Future of Prosperity," with artistic activities and cultural tours.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on Russia to pull its troops back from Ukraine's border and continue diplomatic engagement.

"If Russian officials are serious when they say they don't want a new war, Russia must continue diplomatic engagement and pull back military forces it amassed along Ukraine's borders and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," Kuleba said on Twitter on Sunday evening.

Diplomacy is the only way to resolve the crisis, he said.
British FM going to visit Ukraine this week

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she intends to visit Ukraine.

"Looking forward to visiting Ukraine this week to support," - she said on Twitter.

Earlier on Sunday, Truss announced London's intention to actively help Ukraine counter the threat coming from Russia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada announced the withdrawal of secondary employees and family members of Embassy employees in Ukraine, but the diplomatic mission will continue to work, the press service of the Canadian Foreign Ministry has reported.

"Canada has made the decision to temporarily withdraw non-essential Canadian employees and remaining dependants from the Canadian embassy in Ukraine," a statement reads.

At the same time they said that the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine remains open. Canada will be reinforcing the team at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, with officials with expertise in areas such as security sector reform, conflict management, democratic reform, consular services and diplomacy.
KYIV. Jan 31 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The G7 Ambassadors' Support Group for Ukraine has announced priority areas of cooperation in 2022, one of which is to intensify efforts to reform the judicial system, prevent and combat corruption in the judicial system, in particular by properly reforming the High Council of Justice and ensuring the effective and unhindered work of the Ethics Council.

Also, the priority is enabling the selection commission for the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) to work effectively, preparing the ground for a relaunched HQCJ that enjoys wide public trust, and fills judicial vacancies with qualified and independent candidates.

In addition, the G7 ambassadors consider it a priority to carry out a comprehensive reform of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, including a new, transparent and competitive selection procedure for its judges and further improvement of its procedural code, as well as the restructuring of the Kyiv Administrative District Court.

Another priority for this year is continued reform of the Office of the Prosecutor-General and the State Bureau of Investigation as part of supporting effective cooperation between law-enforcement bodies.

In the fight against corruption, the priorities are adoption and implementation of an ambitious National Anti-Corruption Strategy; supporting the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption, including its effective verification of electronic asset declarations, control of political finance and corruption risk management.

The G7 Ambassadors also mentioned among the priorities Increasing the effectiveness, independence, and integrity of anti-corruption institutions, including NABU, SAPO and ARMA, in particular by ensuring timely, transparent and meritbased selection procedures for their leadership; enhancing the independence and operational effectiveness of the High Anti-Corruption Court; preserving the progress made by Ukraine in reducing corruption in public procurement, by supporting the expansion and systematisation of standardised procurement procedures and e-procurement platforms, and encouraging a reduction in public procurement outside standard frameworks.
Ukraine is grateful to Israel for supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation in Donbas. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel Yevhen Korniychuk stated this at Channel 13.

We are grateful to Israel for its full support, including our sovereignty and territorial integrity, including in the United Nations. Our politicians and diplomats are in contact with the Israeli authorities. As you know, Ukraine has a large community of Jews, we have a great common history with the Jewish people and Israel is a friendly country and partner. We are grateful for the efforts of the previous and current governments on possible mediation between Ukraine and Russia. Unfortunately, this idea has not been implemented and not because Ukraine is not interested. Unfortunately, only Ukraine wants negotiations, - he said.

The head of the diplomatic mission stressed that in the situation with security on the Ukrainian borders, official Kyiv relies on the Armed Forces and diplomatic efforts.

Ukraine is taking all measures to avoid the worst, if the invasion can be avoided, it means that diplomacy has done its job. I very much hope that we will be able to avoid this. We rely on ourselves and therefore we must be strong. In recent years, we have done much to make our Armed Forces much stronger than they were 8 years ago at the beginning of the Russian invasion. Russian aggression has been going on in Ukraine for 7 years, nothing new is happening today, there is an escalation and we continue to be ready, - Yevhen Korniychuk said.

The Ambassador added: Diplomats are successful when guns do not fire. I hope we will be successful diplomats.
In the next few weeks, two African cheetahs living at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will walk to the edge of their habitat, sit like house pets and allow a keeper to pull their tails through an opening in the fence.

This is how the cheetahs, Bud and Davis, will get their COVID-19 vaccines.

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Two or three weeks later, they will repeat the process so their keeper can get a blood sample.

There will be another vaccination and blood will be taken six times in all during the year. The samples will become part of a nationwide study seeking to understand how well the particularly vulnerable species is protected against the deadly coronavirus.

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The study involves at least 40 U.S. zoos and is organized by the Maryland Zoos chief veterinarian on behalf of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Davis, one of two African cheetahs living at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, will be among 32 animals at the zoo to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

The trial is only for big and small cats. At the Maryland Zoo, it only includes those with tails long enough to extend through the fence and trained (with food) to tolerate the blood draws.

But 32 animals at the zoo in Baltimores Druid Hill Park will receive donated vaccines. Also getting shots will be primates such as chimpanzees, otters and badgers, and other species of animals that somewhere and sometime during the pandemic caught COVID-19.

Its the big cats that seem so susceptible, and we dont really know a lot about why, said Dr. Ellen Bronson, the zoos senior director of animal health, conservation and research. We know a lot of nondomestic cats have gotten sick with COVID-19.

Bronson will send batches of blood from the animals to the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center in Ithaca, New York, where researchers hope the study shows the vaccines produce enough antibodies to fight off more serious or repeated infections from the coronavirus in the animals.

They also hope this and subsequent studies will give them clues about protecting other threatened or endangered species housed at the zoos, as well as other wild and domestic animals  and the humans who come in contact with them, she said.

[ Maryland Zoo reopens to public with precautions for people and animals ]

The trial method is similar to how scientists assess vaccines for children, by measuring the antibodies rather than counting those infected after they are inoculated, though they will monitor that too. Antibodies are proteins produced by the body after exposure to the virus or a vaccine that fight off infection.

So far, the cheetahs and other animals have been kept safe by deploying many of the same precautions most humans are taking. Zoo visitors must wear masks when indoors and in some areas, additional barriers have been installed to keep people farther from animals.

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There are no reports of infection in Maryland Zoo animals, or pets in the state for that matter. But various animals around the country and world have become sick and some have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, likely after being infected by humans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported 346 cases of COVID-19 in zoo animals and pets. Cats lead the pack at 110 cases, followed by infections in dogs, tigers, lions, gorillas, snow leopards, otters and a few others. A small number of U.S. farmed minks also have been infected.

Dr. Ellen Bronson, the Maryland Zoos senior director of animal health, conservation and research, is leading a study to better understand COVID-19 in big cats. Its the big cats that seem so susceptible, and we dont really know a lot about why. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

For now, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk that animals transmit COVID-19 back to people remains low.

But they do seem to give the virus to one another. Globally, there have been outbreaks on mink farms in Denmark, and earlier this month, hamsters from pet stores in Hong Kong tested positive, leading to mass culling of the animals.

Animal and coronavirus experts say more studies are needed to see how and which animals are most likely to get infected so they can be protected  and prevent them from harboring viruses that can mutate and be potentially transmitted back to people in a new or more dangerous form.

The possibility is there, said Matthew Frieman, a longtime coronavirus researcher and professor of microbiology and immunology in the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

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He noted a major theory of the pandemics origin involves the virus passing from an animal, likely a bat, to another animal commonly sold to people in the food markets of Wuhan, China.

[ How are Maryland COVID cases, vaccinations and other metrics trending? ]

Previous coronaviruses also likely jumped from animals to people and caused other outbreaks, including one involving SARS first identified in China in 2002 and MERS first found in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Still, Frieman said, with this coronavirus, there is not a lot of evidence of additional animal-to-human spread.

The wide-ranging species of animals found to have COVID-19, however, causes some concern because thats different from past coronaviruses.

We certainly want to protect vulnerable animals as much as possible, he said. And we need to know more about the kinds of animals infected, using zoos as sentinels for wild animals.

Piper, a North American river otter at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, will be among 32 animals at the zoo to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Many of the animals in the Maryland Zoo and elsewhere are threatened or endangered, Bronson said, making their protection especially important. Around the country, zoos have reported infections in many animals, but cat species account for most: lions, tigers, snow leopards, cougars and lynx.

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The scientists said infections in the wild are far tougher to count.

The concern is that wildlife doesnt always stay in the wild, with deer, squirrels, foxes and rabbits, for example, often coming in contact with humans. If deer are infected with a variant from people and it mutates enough and poses a new threat, existing vaccines may not be protective.

Thats why the studies are so important, said Frieman, who informally consults with the Maryland Zoo and has been known to stop by over the years and collect bat droppings to check for coronaviruses.

If there is a wildlife outbreak, he said, many animals could be inoculated by leaving vaccine-infused bait in nearby woods.

An additional barrier was added to keep visitors even farther from the lions at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore because of their susceptibility to COVID-19. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Other researchers are monitoring wildlife infections. Those at the University of Minnesota announced Wednesday that they had tested 600 wild animals and found coronavirus only in white-tailed deer, and not in bats, coyotes, squirrels and mice.

Nine of 142 deer were positive.

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As new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge, it is important to monitor wildlife for the virus in areas where the animals may contract infections from human contact, and consequently, become reservoirs and sources of future infections, said veterinarian Jeff Bender, the studys lead author and also a professor at the University of Minnesotas School of Public Health.

Well especially need to determine which animals are susceptible, if they show signs of disease, and if they are capable of transmitting the virus to other animals or people, he said in a statement.

The research follows similar studies in Canada, Iowa and Ohio, where the virus was found in about a third of deer samples, according to the Minnesota researchers.

Officials are now coordinating around the country on further deer studies to ensure new variants dont behave differently and lead to reinfections in humans or spread to new species.

Back at the Maryland Zoo, the big cats are ready to assist in the research, even if they appear unaware of their role in advancing science and perpetuating their species and others.

On a recent day, a lion pair lounged together and ignored the only visitors of the day. Bud and Davis, the cheetahs, took turns surveying their territory from atop a giant rock.

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As Bronson looked in on her study volunteers, she said: Im hopeful well have a tool to use, like in people, to protect this sensitive species.
Johnson plans to talk with Putin on Monday, travel to Ukraine on Tuesday  media

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to have a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin later on Monday, The Daily Mirror publication has said.

In addition, according to the publication, Johnson on Tuesday, February 1, will travel to Ukraine to "step up a diplomatic push to resolve the growing crisis." He will be accompanied by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

During his trip to Ukraine, Johnson is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Head of the Polish National Security Bureau Pawe Soloch announced Warsaw's readiness to transfer defensive weapons to Ukraine, the Zet News radio station said on Monday.

"In close contact with the president, a decision was made to transfer defensive ammunition to the Ukrainian side," the radio station said, citing Solokha's statement. This decision is being finalized by the national defense minister.

According to him, now the Polish side is waiting for a response from Ukraine. "We made a proposal, we are waiting for a response from the Ukrainian side," he said.

"A number of meetings were held with government representatives, ministers, heads of special services, I spoke directly with the prime minister. We discussed both political and material support [of Ukraine], both in the humanitarian and military areas. The President after consultations with President [of Ukraine] Zelensky and with the government [of Poland] supported the idea of supporting Ukraine with weapons," Solokh said.

He said that "we are talking about defensive weapons, not offensive ones."
Mobile operators Kyivstar and Vodafone Ukraine have not recorded an increase in the number of hacker attacks over the past few weeks.

"We have very strict rules and procedures in terms of cybersecurity. There are rules for employees on what files can or cannot be opened. We have a strong protective circuit. After the last incident, we checked everything again, but so far we see that everything is working well," Olha Ustynova, CEO of Vodafone Ukraine, said in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine.

According to her, recently Vodafone Ukraine has not recorded an increase in the number of attacks on its own networks.

Ustynova also recalled that Vodafone Ukraine systems were not affected after the launch of the Petya virus.

In turn, Kyivstar President Alexander Komarov also stressed that in recent weeks the company has not experienced any changes in the standard background of cyber threats for the network.

"The Kyivstar perimeter is very well protected. Given the scale of the risks that any mobile operator bears, everything related to cybersecurity is our No. 1 priority," he told the agency.

As Komarov noted, in addition to the regular background of cyber threats, Kyivstar has quite serious incidents several times a year, which the operator copes well with.

"We have certain accumulated experience, which is confirmed by the fact that the entire cybersecurity system of Kyivstar is certified according to the international standard ISO/IEC 27001:2013. In addition, we have a certain set of active systems and procedures that allows us to perceive our perimeter as protected. Of course, a risk is always a risk, but we do our best to keep our perimeter as secure as possible," the Kyivstar President said.

As reported, on the night of January 14, there was a global hacker attack on the websites of the government of Ukraine. The websites of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Emergency Service, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Energy, as well as the Diia website did not work.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine denied the leak of a personal data base of Ukrainians, considering this information a provocation and a continuation of the hybrid war.

Earlier, information appeared on the Internet that a new user of one of the thematic forums under the nickname FreeCivillian posted an advertisement for the sale of a database of personal data of citizens of Ukraine, which, according to him, contains 2.6 million records from the register of the state portal Diia.

According to the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, from January 13 to January 14, some 22 websites of state authorities suffered from a cyberattack, another 70 were disabled by order of cybersecurity.

The State Special Communications Service also announced the likely involvement of Russian hacker groups in a cyberattack on Ukrainian government websites that occurred on the night of January 13-14.
The Ukrainian President's Office has positively assessed statements from Russia about the possibility of direct contacts between the presidents of the two countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov has said.

"We welcome the fact that the Kremlin has eventually started to realize the lack of any alternative to direct contacts and has begun talking about the possibility of a meeting between the presidents," Nykyforov told Interfax-Ukraine.

For now, Zelensky's calendar does not include a visit to China for the Winter Olympics, he said.

"Within the next few days, the president is expected to hold meetings in Kyiv with Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It [these meetings] is crucial today in order to consolidate international support around our country," he said.

As reported, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on January 28 that a meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian presidents could be held in Moscow, Sochi or St. Petersburg to discuss bilateral relations. At the same time, all issues concerning options for settling the situation in Donbas must be discussed within the Trilateral Contact Group, Lavrov said.
On Monday, January 31, Poland sent over 120 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine has said.

"From the checkpoint at the Dorohusk-Yahodyn border, the cargo is escorted by rescuers of the State Emergency Service. Thus, a convoy of 29 trucks going to Kyiv delivers medical supplies, camp beds, blankets and bed linen," the service said in the Telegram channel.

In addition, Ukraine will receive 2 million masks to protect against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. The cargo is expected to arrive in the Ukrainian capital on February 1.

The Polish side, in a letter to the State Emergency Service, expressed the hope that this support will help the citizens of Ukraine in the current crisis situation, as well as the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
The United States hopes that Russia will agree to a dialogue to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, but at the same time, Washington and its allies are preparing for every scenario, U.S. President Joe Biden has said on Monday.

"If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our Allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith," Biden said in a White House statement on Monday's UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

" If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences," the U.S. President said.
Bowie State Universitys campus closed Monday as a result of a bomb threat, officials said. The school in Prince Georges County was among several other historically Black colleges to receive threats Monday.

After a campuswide search, no explosives were found, and the campus was cleared at about 1:30 Monday afternoon, Maryland State Police said.

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A university lockdown was lifted a short time later, said Bowie State spokeswoman Cassandra Robinson, and students and staff were able to move about the campus. The threat forced classes online for the day, and forced the university to make plans to feed students stuck in on-campus residences.

Just before 6 a.m., the Bowie Police Department received a phone call with the threat, according to a news release from Maryland State Police, which is leading the investigation.

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OSFM Bomb Technicians and explosive detection K9s are assisting @BowieState PD with a telephonic bomb threat. We are being assisted by @MDSP, @PGFDNews. K9s will conduct sweeps of buildings and if discovered, mitigate any devices. This is reported bomb threat ONLY at this time. pic.twitter.com/J1MBoeeDpn  Maryland State Fire Marshal (@MarylandOSFM) January 31, 2022

Explosive detection dogs were used to conduct a full search of campus, according to the state police news release. Officials from the state police Criminal Enforcement Division were on hand, alongside representatives from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and a number of other law enforcement agencies.

While the credibility of the phone call is in question, Maryland State Police take all bomb threats seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation, read the news release from state police.

Due to an Emergency on campus BSU will be closed temporarily today, 1/31/22. Emergency personnel are evaluating the situation. All persons on campus are advised to shelter in place until more information is available. Classes will be virtual. pic.twitter.com/GSBJUAmFtP  Bowie State University (@BowieState) January 31, 2022

Around 9 a.m., the Maryland Transit Administration advised that MARC Penn Line trains would not stop at Bowie Station due to the policy activity.

As many as five other historically Black colleges also received bomb threats Monday morning, including nearby Howard University, according to a CNN report. A Washington Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson told CNN that no explosives were found at Howard. Jan. 5, Howard University was among three campuses that received bomb threats, but no explosives were located.
The Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday said a hearing survey has been conducted for 2,971,000 children as part of a presidential initiative for early detection and treatment of hearing loss and impairment for newborns nationwide.
Mali's junta said France no longer has a "legal basis" for carrying out military operations in the country after Bamako quit key defence accords, in the latest round of a spat between the two former allies.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore announced Sunday that it has suspended a priest from his duties while it investigates allegations that he sexually abused a minor in the 1970s.

Rev. Samuel Lupico was retired but had been assisting at St. Mary of the Assumption in North Baltimores Govans and St. Pius X in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood of Towson, the archdiocese said in a news release.

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The alleged abuse took place in the mid-1970s, when Lupico was serving at St. Anns Catholic Church in Baltimore, according to the archdiocese. He served there from 1974 to 1982, the archdiocese said.

The archdiocese said Sunday that Lupico denies the allegations. The Baltimore Suns efforts to reach him Sunday afternoon were not successful.

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This matter is in an early stage of investigation, and thus no determination of credibility has been made by the Archdiocese at this time, the archdiocese said in the news release. However, the Archdiocese is making this communication in order to solicit any relevant information as part of its investigation and in order to fulfill its commitment to open communication with affected communities.

The archdiocese said it has reported the allegation to law enforcement, but also will conduct its own investigation.

Baltimore Police spokeswoman Chakia Fennoy could not confirm Sunday whether the department is conducting its own investigation.

According to the archdiocese, Lupico served at a number of other local parishes dating back to the early 1970s, including St. Edward Catholic Church, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and Holy Family Catholic Church. He also worked at a number of local institutions over the years, including St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Stella Maris in Timonium, Loyola University of Maryland, St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Marys Seminary.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation into Lupico is asked to call the Archdiocese Office of Child and Youth Protection at 410-547-5348.
Amnesty International on Wednesday accused a powerful Libyan armed group of abuses against migrants and Tripoli residents.
Egyptian film critic Ahmed Shawky was chosen last week to head the jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) competition at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has condemned North Korea's latest missile launch, saying it violates Security Council resolutions, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Condemning the latest missile launch, the Japanese prime minister said it "violated UN Security Council resolutions."

"We strongly condemned it and lodged a strong protest" with North Korea, Kishida told reporters in Tokyo.

The US military's Indo-Pacific Command condemned the launch and urged North Korea to "refrain from further destabilizing acts."

The command said in a statement it will continue to monitor the situation and that US commitment to the defense of allies Japan and South Korea "remains ironclad."

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Italian President Sergio Mattarella was elected to a second term, Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico announced early on Sunday after the parliament gathered in a joint session and concluded its eighth round of voting.

Mattarella was reconfirmed with a broad majority, namely 759 votes in favor of a total of 983 lawmakers and regional representatives actively taking part in the ballot.

"I wish to thank lawmakers and regional representatives for the faith they have put in me," Mattarella, 80, said in a declaration broadcast live from the Quirinale presidential palace immediately after receiving the official notice of his re-election.

"The difficult days of this election, taking place during the serious health, economic, and social emergency we are still going through, call for a sense of responsibility and for the respect of the parliament's decisions," he said.

"These conditions require (us) to not avoid duties, which must prevail over other thoughts and different personal perspectives," he added.

Mattarella's candidacy emerged prominently at the end of a tense week in which the two major political blocs -- the center-left and the center-right -- failed to agree on a different common candidature.

As a consequence, seven rounds of voting were held since Monday, all delivering inconclusive results and exposing deep fractures within both coalitions.

After the leaders of the largest parties from center-right and center-left acknowledged the stalemate on Saturday morning and agreed on Mattarella's possible second term, a direct request was submitted to the president by all parties' whips.

After a brief talk with Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Mattarella made himself available, despite having repeatedly made clear prior to the election that he would not serve a second term.

The re-election of a head of state is rare in Italy. So far, only Giorgio Napolitano, Mattarella's predecessor, had served a second term, and only for less than two years.

All major political leaders thanked Mattarella for his availability. "This is a great news for Italians, and I am grateful to the president for choosing to oblige to the strong will expressed by the parliament to reconfirm him to a second term," Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a note.

Enrico Letta, leader of the center-left Democratic Party, hailed Mattarella for taking a choice "of great generosity toward the country."

Meanwhile, Letta noted the fact that parties were unable to find an alternative common candidature should not be neglected.

Right-wing League's leader Matteo Salvini said he was "comforted" by Mattarella's choice. "I also feel very serene, because I have made (prior to the re-election) all possible proposals."

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, also a leading figure of the Five Star Movement, told reporters the re-election was "a victory for the country."

The pledging ceremony to reconfirm Mattarella is expected to take place next Thursday when his first term officially ends.

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The United Arab Emirates intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels early Monday, the authorities said, the third such attack in as many weeks.

The UAE's state-run WAM news agency reported Monday's interception, saying ``the attack did not result in any losses, as the remnants of the ballistic missile fell outside the populated areas.''

It wasn't immediately clear where the remnants fell. The country's civilian air traffic control agency said there was no effect on air travel in the UAE, home to the long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad.

The Emirati Defense Ministry released black-and-white footage it described as showing the destruction of a ballistic missile launcher in Yemen's al-Jawf province some 30 minutes after the attack.

Al-Jawf is some 1,350 kilometers (840 miles) southwest of Abu Dhabi.

Houthi military spokesman Yehia Sarei gave a press conference later Monday, claiming that the rebels had targeted ``sensitive sites'' in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with both Zulfiqar ballistic missiles and drones, without offering evidence for his assertions.

He repeated the group's warnings that the headquarters of international companies will be targeted in further attacks.

``The Emirates will remain an adversary as long as the actions of the Israeli enemy continue in Abu Dhabi and Dubai,'' Sarei shouted from the podium.

Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, was visiting the UAE on Monday.

The day before, he held extensive talks with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the capital, where he condemned the recent attacks.

Herzog on Monday visited Dubai's Expo 2020 world's fair, which the Houthis had previously threatened to target. From the site's centerpiece dome, he delivered a carefully worded speech extolling Israel's innovations, its presence at the fair and growing economic cooperation with the UAE.

He arrived at the Israeli flag-raising ceremony surrounded by some dozen close protection officers in dark suits.

``Israelis and Emiratis are standing together, learning each other's cultures and languages,'' Herzog said, rattling off figures about the countries' cooperation: $1 billion in trade, the establishment of a $100 million research and development fund, 250,000 Israelis who so far have visited the UAE's coastal cities.

``I look forward to the great accomplishments that will undoubtedly emerge from the seeds planted right here, together,'' he added. ``This was a decision not only to normalize ties but to shape a new tomorrow.''

He urged more nations to recognize Israel as part of the so-called Abraham Accords before being swiftly shepherded away.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price condemned the Houthi attack. ``While Israel's president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians,'' Price wrote on Twitter.

Last week, a similar attack saw both Emirati and U.S. forces fire interceptor missiles bring down a Houthi missile near Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, which hosts some 2,000 American troops. The U.S. military did not respond to requests for comment on Monday's missile interception.

The week before, a Houthi drone-and-missile attack struck an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. fuel depot, killing three people and wounding six as South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited the UAE.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Twelve people who have been held for four years over a 2018 massacre in a troubled Senegalese region have been released, their lawyer said on Monday.

The 12, held in a jail in Ziguinchor, the main town in Casamance region, have been declared "innocent and freed" by an examining magistrate, while 13 others will be put on trial, said attorney Cire Cledor Ly.

Fourteen men were rounded up and executed in January 2018 as they went to cut down wood in a protected forest near Ziguinchor.

The finger of blame was rapidly pointed at a separatist group, the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC), but the organisation denied all involvement and instead blamed corrupt local officials.

The 13 who will be put on trial include Omar Ampoi Bodian, a member of the MFDC's political wing, and journalist Rene Capain Bassene, said Ly.

They face an array of charges, including murder, attempted murder, criminal association and illegal possession of weapons, he said, lashing the accusations as a "parody of justice".

The date for the trial has yet to be set.

Home to 1.9 million people, Casamance is the theatre of a low-intensity but long-running separatist conflict that has claimed thousands of lives since it began in 1982.

Casamance was once among Portugal's colonies in West Africa along with what is today Guinea-Bissau.

In 1888, Portugal ceded it to colonial France, and it became part of Senegal after independence in 1960.

However, the region has a distinct culture and language, and geographically is almost separated from the rest of Senegal by the Gambia River, around which the tiny state of The Gambia is built.

Last week, the army announced that two soldiers in a West African military mission in The Gambia had died, and nine others were missing, following clashes with suspected MFDC rebels.

The incident happened while troops were carrying out operations against illegal logging in The Gambia.

The nine missing are believed to be in the hands of the MFDC, the Senegalese army says.

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The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank body, is set to pump $20 million in investments in Egypt-based Ezdehar, a private equity fund manager focused on Egypt.

Established in 2015, Ezdehar has over $250 million under management, partnering with companies seeking to invest to accelerate growth and unlock value.

The IFC said that its investment is meant to help medium-sized businesses in the Egyptian market access the financing and tools they need to grow, create jobs, and overcome COVID-19 challenges.

Through the IFCs $20 million investment in the Ezdehar Mid-Cap Fund II (EMF II), the funds total commitments will reach $168 million at first close.

EMF II will invest in businesses across important growth sectors in Egypt, including consumer and retail, business services, education, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Besides capital, the fund will provide businesses with operational and management support to help them execute best-in-class environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and develop into market-leading enterprises.

With this fund, Ezdehar was able to significantly expand its investor base to include a unique set of reputable regional and global institutions. This fund is setting Ezdehar as the preferred partner for deploying development capital to build homegrown private sector champions in Egypt, said Emad Barsoum, Ezdehars founder and managing director.

Shruti Chandrasekhar, IFCs Africa Regional Lead for Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds, stated IFC remains committed to providing funding and support to businesses that need them most, as the pandemic continues to present companies with unprecedented challenges.

Our investment in Ezdehar will help sustain and create jobs and promote entrepreneurship in Egypt, she explained.

A number of international investors support the fund, including: the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries; CDC Group PLC; the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the European Investment Bank; and FMO, the Entrepreneurial Development Bank.

Private equity and venture capital play a critical role providing funding in markets where it is scarce, helping build dynamic, job-creating companies that drive growth and development, according to the IFC.

It added that this investment reflects the IFCs strategy to provide growth capital in Egypt and other emerging markets across Africa.

Over the past two fiscal years, IFC has committed and mobilised more than $716 million in Egypt, supporting private businesses and economic activity through the COVID-19 pandemic, according to IFC.

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Egyptian and French air forces began on Monday a joint air training exercise at several air bases in Egypt, a statement by the Egyptian armed forces said.

According to the statement, the training  named Amun-22  includes several theoretical lectures and practical exercises on planning and managing joint air combat operations with the aim of unifying aerial combat methods between the two countries.

It also includes executing various air combat methods to enhance the combat capacities of participating Egyptian and French forces.

Amun-22 aims to achieve the maximum benefit for the participating forces in executing and managing joint aerial operations and maximising shared experiences to reflect on the capacities of both countries air forces and readiness to carry out assigned missions under different circumstances, the statement said.

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Egypt condemned on Monday the latest ballistic missile attack by Yemens Houthi militia against the United Arab Emirates.

In an official statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry denounced what it described as cowardly acts of terrorism and their threat to the security and stability of the region.

The foreign ministry affirmed solidarity with the UAE in measures undertaken to preserve its security and stability.

The statement comes hours after the UAE said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels over a non-populated area in the Gulf country.

No casualties have been reported in the Houthi-claimed attack, according to the UAEs defense ministry. Civilian air operations also resumed services, according to the UAEs civil aviation authority.

This is the third attack by Houthi rebels against the UAE this month, with the first on January 17 killing three people.

It also comes during Israeli President Isaac Herzogs first official visit to the UAE, nearly a month after a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennetts visit to the country.

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The first batch of AstraZenecas Evusheld  a monoclonal antibody drug that resists the coronavirus  comprising 15,000 doses arrived in Egypt, the company announced on Monday.

The shipment arrived at the Cairo International Airport on Saturday, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca added.

The company stated that further deliveries are expected in the coming weeks as part of a total supply of 50,000 doses in 2022.

Egypt is the first African country and the fourth globally to receive Evusheld, AstraZeneca said.

On 16 January, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) granted AstraZenecas Evusheld an emergency use authorisation. Evusheld also obtained an emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration in December.

Evusheld is taken for pre-exposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19, especially to those whose immunity system may not mount a defence despite taking the required COVID-19 vaccine shots.

The drug can reduce the risk of severe illness or death from the coronavirus by 88 percent when administered to patients suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19 within three days of the onset of symptoms, AstraZeneca said, citing the results of its phase-three clinical trials on the drug.

AstraZeneca says Evusheld neutralises all coronavirus variants based on clinical trials. The company also cited studies from Oxford and Washington universities that found that Evusheld retains neutralising activity against the Omicron variant.

Egypt has become one of the first countries in the world to receive Evusheld, a breakthrough medication to protect the most vulnerable groups, said Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the spokesperson of Egypts Ministry of Health and Population.

He added that collaboration between the health ministry and AstraZeneca played a key role in efforts to respond to the pandemic through the provision of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

With Evusheld, we now have better capabilities to protect immunocompromised patients in Egypt.

Hatem Werdany, AstraZenecas country president for Egypt, noted that AstraZeneca remains committed to supporting the ministrys efforts in fighting COVID-19 by bringing innovative medicines and breakthrough solutions to the Egyptian people.

About two percent of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a COVID-19 vaccine, according to AstraZeneca.

This includes people with blood cancers or other cancers being treated with chemotherapy, patients on dialysis, those taking medications after an organ transplant or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, the company explained.

Last week, the EDA issued an emergency use authorisation for Mercks COVID-19 drug Molnupiravir and has allowed five national companies to manufacture the oral antiviral as a first stage.

Earlier in January, Abdel-Ghaffar said that Egypt is also expected to receive Pfizers new drug Paxlovid by the end of the month. The shipment is expected to have enough packages to treat 20,000 coronavirus patients.

No announcement has been made by the ministry as to whether the shipment has been received yet.

Paxlovid and Molnupiravir pills are both used to treat cases with mild-to-moderate symptoms during the early days of infection.

Some studies have found that when taken in the early days of infection, Paxlovid can reduce the risk of hospitalisation or death by up to 89 percent, while Molnupiravir can cut the risk by 30 percent.

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A 66-year-old man was fatally shot and two other men were injured in separate shootings Sunday in Baltimore, police said.

Baltimore Police said they were called to the 3300 block of Rueckert Ave. just before 6 p.m. for a shooting.

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When officers arrived in the Waltherson neighborhood, they found a 66-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he later died, police said.

[ Baltimore homicides interactive map ]

About two hours before, Northwest District patrol officers were called to an area hospital for a walk-in shooting victim.

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Police said they found a 40-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh. His injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening, police said.

It is believed the man might have been shot in the area of West Park Heights and Rogers avenues in the Pimlico Good Neighbors neighborhood.

Western District patrol officers were called to an area hospital just after 4 p.m. for a walk-in shooting victim.

Police said a 21-year-old man was shot in his foot and told officers that he was injured in the 1700 block of N. Smallwood St. in the Coppin Heights/Ash-Co-East neighborhood.
Egypts Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar stressed the need to make available to the public the outcomes of the African development satellite project, which was set up to measure the repercussions of climate change, during the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) that Egypt will host in November.

Abdel-Ghaffar made the remarks in a meeting that was hosted by the Cairo-based Egyptian State Agency (EgSA) to discuss the mechanisms of the project on Sunday.

The gathering was attended by heads and delegations of national space agencies in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan -- the five countries participating in the project with Egypt.

Egypt announced the establishment of the project during the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) that took place in Japans Yokohama in August 2019.

The project seeks to bring African countries together to develop a space system that is capable of monitoring climate change, Egyptian Space Agency CEO Mohamed El-Koosy said in 2020.

The system, the integration of which is set to take place in Egypt, should also act as a disaster monitoring tool and be used to observe and manage agriculture and water resources, El-Koosy added.

The project comprises a small satellite as well as a satellite subsystem in each of the participating countries, he stated.

Egypt has been selected to host COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh city in November of 2022 with ambitions to advance African priorities regarding climate change and to ensure the availability of sustainable investments required for developing countries to face the climate change impacts.

In a speech during COP26 in Glasgow last November, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi hailed Africa as a "role model for serious climate action, adding that the continent suffers most from the negative consequences [of climate change] although it is not responsible for the climate crisis.

El-Sisi also called on developed countries during a speech delivered to the Glasgow conference to fulfil their pledge to provide $100 billion annually to developing countries to address the repercussions of climate change and to allocate at least half of all public climate finance to adaptation measures.

Egypt has vowed to build on the outcomes of COP26 from the stage of making pledges regarding climate action to actual action on the ground.

Supporting African satellite project

Abdel-Ghaffar said at the meeting on Sunday that Egypt is well prepared to provide training and technical support to scientific teams from the African countries involved in the project.

The participants signed a working document and agreed on the role of the countries engaged in the project regarding building the space systems of the satellite.

They also agreed on the formation of an administrative and technical committee for the project.

The heads of the space agencies in the five countries highlighted the vitality of the project for ensuring capacity-building of the participating scientific teams and monitoring climate effects on different fields in Africa, read a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Egypt has been working along with African countries to develop space programmes and provide training to teams from African countries on space technology.

In October, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Airbus Defence and Space announced granting a team of specialists from Egypt, Uganda, and Kenya a one-year free mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to evaluate the impact of climate change on East Africa.

In 2019, Egypt allocated $10 million to support the establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA) through construction and operation costs for five years.

The African Union (AU) approved that Egypt, the chair of the AU that year, hosts the AfSA in Cairo.

AfSA is an African initiative dedicated to promoting, advising and coordinating the development and utilisation of space science and technology in Africa and forging intra-African and international cooperation.

Egypt has launched several satellites over the past years, including EgyptSat-2A and Tiba-1 satellites in 2019. It presented three educational satellites to the laboratories of Egyptian universities earlier this month.

Egypt is also scheduled to launch four satellites for scientific research in 2022 to upgrade the peaceful use of sciences and space technology, El-Koosy said in August.

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Novelist Alaa Khaled spoke to Ahram Online about the completion of his testimony of his city, Alexandria, in his latest novel: Matahet Al-Iskandariyah (Mazes of Alexandria).

This voluminous novel is the third by Khaled about his city. It came out in the summer of last year, almost 12 years after the publication of his first volume on Alexandria in 2009, Alam Khafif Karishat Taeir (Pain as Light as a Birds Feather) and less than 10 years after his non-fiction title Wogouh Skandariyah (Faces from Alexandria).

In his most recent literary work, which was published like the two previous titles by Dar El-Shorouk, Khaled is giving his testimony on the city he lived, loved and now fears to be losing.

The Alexandria of the first volume is, in a way, a concise history of a middle-class family faced with unexpected challenges caused by a sudden socio-economic and intellectual upheaval, bringing about a decay of life as had been for almost five generations. The second volume revealed a wider sense of decay that was forcing into oblivion some of the main features of the city as it had been for over half a century. Then, with this third volume, Khaled is looking at the decay of the soul of the city in which he was born in 1960.

However, speaking to Ahram Online on the eve of the Cairo International Book Fair, six months after the novel was released, Khaled avoids calling his recent work an epitaph of the Alexandria he knew.

he close to 500-page volume is a walk through the roads, and for that matter history, of Alexandria. It is a walk of a group of young men and women who are all students of the arts. They come from different parts of the city and together, or independently, they walk through the city. They walk the known, and not-so-trodden, paths of Alexandria.

With every walk there are flashes of memories  some of the protagonists and many of the city. They go through tough moments exactly as the city is going through consequential transformations that would end up changing what the city has been about forever, or almost.

Still, Khaled would argue that he was not planning to lament the city or to sob over the failure of his generation to stand for the city as they knew it or for the dreams they had.

I am not thinking of the novel in this way; I am rather thinking of it as re-introducing Alexandria from the lens of a group university students who loved art and loved the city  not strictly as the celebrated cosmopolitan entity it is taken for, because Alexandria was never just that in the first place, Khaled said.

In fact, he added that in the narrative he is offering in Matahet Al-Iskandaria, he is aiming to revisit the widely debated concept of the Alexandria cosmopolitanism.

Well, let us say that I am putting it in context  at least in terms of what it has come down to; this is why it is essentially there now in the cemeteries, he said.

Khaled argued that it is absurd to attempt to negate the Alexandria of Laurance Durrell or to overlook the Alexandria of Edourd Kharrat. Alexandria is a city of so many faces and it inspired so many texts; this is partially why I was thinking of it at times as a maze. Ultimately it is really and literally a city of many layers, he said.

And, he said, even if the city that he lived and knew is falling into decay, this would not at all mean that that the symbolism of what Alexandria has been all about is going to be all erased. I think the multiple faces of Alexandria that had inspired multiple narratives of the city will make it eternal  as it was and has been, he argued.

In Matahet Al-Iskandariyah the protagonists are obsessed with questions of identity  theirs and that of their city. They are in pursuit of a dream that would make their bond continue to bypass, or even cross, all boundaries, just like the parallel quarters of Alexandria have been able to co-exist, both in unity and in separation at the same time, Khaled explained.

There is this dream of a certain type of homogeneity that is inspired by the association with the city and with art rather than with any other association; this dream saw its last day in the 1970s, and then came the 1980s with the shocking transformations that put an end to the dream and started the end of the story of the city as it was for our generation, Khaled said.

Like other writers of his generation, Khaled takes exception at the economic changes that were introduced towards the end of the 1970s and blames the open-door policy that was coupled by an ultra-reactionary narrative of Islam for an unfortunate shift in the social and cultural fabric of the country. For Khaled, Alexandria in particular has suffered a lot due to these changes.

Then one is almost lost in the Alexandria that he knew; lost in what it has become as opposed to what it was and has been, he said.

This transformation is not just about what has become of the city, in the material sense of the word, I mean; it is actually more about the end of the ability of the city to be able to inspire and fulfill the dreams of togetherness, he argued. For Alexandria and for Alexandrians of my generation, this is certainly a moment of defeat and of decline.

For the younger generation, Khaled said, the city is certainly a maze where they would often get lost between a history celebrated and a present that is only unclear.

This is why we now live in the peak of the moment of separation and isolation; each of us is confined in a city that he has in his mind  whether he likes it or not, he added.

For Khaled, Alexandria today is not the same city for everyone and not the city that was shared even with some clear demarcation lines.

As Khaled embarked on writing this novel, a little over a decade ago, he was obsessed with a question: would Alexandria succumb to the inevitable decline or would it, as it has done so often before, conquer death in being a city immortal?

The novel is not offering a clear answer  not even when it shows moments of unexpected reunions and rejuvenated love that occur at the heart of the cemeteries. This is not a question that the novel answers; it tries to though because when I think of Alexandria, I am always thinking of the beginnings that come after the ends, Khaled said.

However, he said that without a new dream of co-existence of sorts, the city he knew does not stand a chance to live on. Today, I find no trace of this idea of co-existence; I just cannot trace it, he said.

Whatever the future of the city, Khaled argued, its images of the 20th century cannot be erased. Alexandria, he said, is a city with a strong visual identity. It was perhaps this thinking that got him to make sure that a key protagonist of Matahet Al-Iskandariyah is a photographer who moves around with her camera and takes endless shots of the city and its people one after the other. Even those blind protagonists in the novel are not without a visual emotion.

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A local official in northeastern Kenya says at least 10 people are dead after their vehicle ran over an explosive device on a highway Monday morning.

North Eastern regional commander George Seda said the blast occurred outside Mandera town. It was not clear how many people were in the vehicle. Witnesses said the toll could rise because others had serious injuries.

Police suspect the explosive device was placed by al-Shabab extremists operating in the area after crossing from nearby Somalia. The extremists are often blamed for such attacks in the border region, targeting both security forces and civilians.

A police report on Monday's blast said the attackers fled toward the border.

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Mali is expelling the French ambassador in the light of "hostile statements" by officials of its former colonial ruler, state TV announced Monday, in a new escalation of bilateral tensions following a coup.

"The government of the Republic of Mali informs the national and international public that today... the ambassador of France in Bamako, his excellency Joel Meyer... was notified of the decision of the government asking him to leave the national territory within 72 hours," a statement read over state television said.

Relations between Mali and France have frayed since the army seized power in August 2020.

Last week, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters that Mali's junta was "illegitimate" and its decisions "irresponsible."

Defence Minister Florence Parly accused the country's rulers of stepping up "provocations" of France.

Monday's statement said remarks had been made that were "hostile and outrageous," and had been uttered "despite repeated protests" by Mali.

"The Malian government vigorously condemns and rejects these remarks, which are contrary to the development of friendly relations between nations," it said.

However, it added, the Malian government "reiterates its readiness to maintain dialogue and pursue cooperation with all its international partners, including France, in mutual respect and on the basis of the cardinal principle of non-interference."

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop on Friday accused France of selective outrage when it came to military rule.

"France, which says it defends democracy, has gone to other countries and installed heads of state who have carried out coups, it has applauded them," he said.

France has thousands of troops deployed in the Sahel to support Mali, as well as Niger and Burkina Faso, facing a bloody jihadist insurgency.

Tensions have also risen since the West Africa bloc ECOWAS imposed a trade embargo and border closures this month, in a move backed by France, the United States and the European Union.

The sanctions followed a junta proposal to stay in power for up to five years before staging elections, despite an earlier commitment to hold a vote by the end of February 2022.

Rebel officers led a coup in August 2020 that toppled Mali's elected leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was facing angry protests at failures to stem the jihadists.

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Burkina Faso's military junta said Monday it had restored the constitution a week after taking power and appointed the coup's leader as head of state for a transitional period.

The move came shortly after the African Union suspended Burkina for the takeover and diplomats from West Africa and the UN pressed demands for a return to civilian rule.

In a statement read on television, the junta announced it had approved a "fundamental act" that "lifts the suspension of the constitution," a move that had been declared after the January 24 coup.

The 37-article document guarantees independence of the judiciary and presumption of innocence, as well as basic liberties spelled out in the constitution such as freedom of movement and freedom of speech, according to the statement.

Under the "fundamental act", it said, the junta -- officially named the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) -- "ensures the continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies."

The statement did not give a timeline for the transition period.

It formally identified coup leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as president of the MPSR.

This role also encompasses "president of Burkina Faso, head of state (and) supreme leader of the armed forces," the statement said.

The MPSR has two vice presidents, the statement added, but it did not mention any names.

A separate decree read on television said that the armed forces chief of staff, Gilbert Ouedraogo, was leaving the job.

AU Suspension

Just hours earlier, the AU's 15-member Peace and Security Council said on Twitter it had voted "to suspend the participation of Burkina Faso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country".

On Friday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also suspended Burkina Faso from its ranks and warned of possible sanctions pending the outcome of meetings with the junta.

An ECOWAS mission headed by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway arrived in Ouagadougou, where it was joined by the UN's special representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif.

After meeting members of the junta, some of the delegations visited ousted president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who is under house arrest, a delegate said.

His wellbeing and demands for his release have been major issues since the coup.

ECOWAS sent military chiefs to confer with Damiba on Saturday.

Leaders from the bloc will hold a summit in Accra on Thursday to assess its two missions to see whether they should impose sanctions.

They have previously suspended and enforced sanctions against two other members -- Mali and Guinea -- which have also seen military overthrows in the past 18 months.

Troubled Country

On January 24, mutineering soldiers detained Kabore amid rising public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence ravaging the impoverished nation.

They later released a handwritten letter in which he announced his resignation -- a document that a member of his party said was authentic.

The junta also said it had dissolved the government and parliament and suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time".

The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Kabore was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore.

Compaore himself had seized power in 1987 during a coup in which the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, was gunned down.

He was re-elected in 2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over his handling of a jihadist insurgency that has swept in from neighboring Mali.

Since 2015, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP toll, while the country's emergency agency says 1.5 million people, in a population of 21 million, have fled their homes.

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She reported on the difficult conditions mothers and babies face just to survive in desperate Afghanistan. Now, a pregnant New Zealand reporter has chosen Kabul as a temporary base for her uphill fight to return home because of her country's strict COVID-19 entry rules.

Charlotte Bellis, 35, is expecting her first child with her partner, freelance photographer Jim Huylebroek, a Belgium native who has lived in Afghanistan for two years. Bellis, who is 25 weeks pregnant with a daughter, told The Associated Press on Sunday that each day is a battle.

She said she has been vaccinated three times and is ready to isolate herself upon her return to New Zealand. ``This is ridiculous. It is my legal right to go to New Zealand, where I have health care, where I have family. All my support is there,`` she said.

Bellis first wrote about her difficulties in a column published in The New Zealand Herald on Saturday. She had tried without success to enter New Zealand via a lottery-style system and then applied for an emergency return, but was rejected.

Thousands of New Zealand citizens wanting to return home have faced delays due to a bottleneck of people in the country's border quarantine system.

On Monday, New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said officials had suggested Bellis amend her application or try again under different criteria.

``I want to be clear, there is a place in Managed Isolation and Quarantine for people with special circumstances like Ms Bellis. No one's saying there is not,`` Hipkins said. He said while officials had needed to make some difficult choices, the quarantine system had worked well overall by saving lives and preventing the health system from getting swamped.

Bellis had worked as an Afghanistan correspondent for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news network. In November, she resigned, because it is illegal to be pregnant and unmarried in Qatar. Al Jazeera did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bellis then flew to Belgium, trying to get residency there, but said the length of the process would have left her in the country with an expired visa. She said she could have hopped from country to country on tourist visas while she waited to have her baby. She said this would have meant spending money on hotels without support or health care, while she fought to return to New Zealand.

In the end, she and her partner returned to Afghanistan because they had a visa, felt welcome and from there could wage her battle to return to her home. They have a house in Afghanistan and after ``evaluating all of our options,'' returned to Kabul, she said.

Bellis said she has set herself a deadline for leaving Afghanistan once she is 30 weeks pregnant, to protect the health of herself and her baby. ``I am giving myself to the end of February,'' she said. At that time, she will still have more than a month left on her Belgium visa so that she can re-enter the country, if she fails to get back to New Zealand by that time.

She said she tries to stay calm as she wages a paper war with New Zealand's quarantine system, but that she worries about how the stress she has been under will impact her baby.

``I am very concerned about a premature birth and ... also the implication of stress,'' she said.

Bellis has found an Afghan gynecologist, who promised she could call her if she wakes up in the night with a problem. Bellis toured the doctor's clinic which has basic facilities, including one incubator. The doctor told her the incubator is often occupied.

Bellis has found a lawyer who is handling her case pro bono and has submitted over 60 documents to the New Zealand government, answered countless questions, only to be rejected twice for entry to her home country.

On Sunday, she received another email from the New Zealand government, this one telling her to apply as a person in danger and that this will get her home, she said. Bellis said she was rejected earlier because her pregnancy didn't meet the criteria of ``threshold of critical time threat.''

``If I don't meet the threshold as a pregnant woman then who does?`` she asked.

Bellis said that prior to returning to Afghanistan, she sought permission from the Taliban. She said she had feared arriving ``with a little bump and not married'' could be problematic.

Instead, the Taliban response was immediate and positive.

``I appreciate this isn't official Taliban policy, but they were very generous and kind. They said `you are safe here, congratulations, we welcome you',`` said Bellis.

The Taliban have come under international criticism for repressive rules they imposed on women since sweeping to power in mid-August, including denying girls education beyond sixth grade. However, they have said that all girls and women will be allowed to attend school after the Afghan New Year at the end of March. While women have returned to work in the health and education ministries, thousands of female civil servants have not been allowed to return to their jobs.

As she ponders her next move, Bellis said she is contemplating whether to take the latest option offered by New Zealand _ applying as a person in danger _ because it would exonerate the government of responsibility for her earlier rejections.

``It gives them an opportunity to deny any responsibility and frankly that is not true,'' she said. The government's current COVID-19 policy has left ``how many stranded around the world with no pathways to get home.''

Hipkins, the New Zealand minister, said officials had offered Bellis several options.

``I encourage her to take these offers seriously,'' he said.

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Iran said Monday that differences with the United States remain over the issues of lifting sanctions and obtaining guarantees in Vienna talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

"Important and significant issues remain regarding the removal of sanctions that have not made an agreement possible so far," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a news conference.

He reiterated calls for guarantees that the US will not withdraw from the 2015 deal, which was derailed in 2018 when the administration of then-president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the pact.

Khatibzadeh's remarks came as the eighth round of negations to restore the agreement -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- has been on pause since Friday, with the negotiators returning to their capitals for consultations.

The European Union's coordinator for the talks, Enrique Mora, said at the time that "political decisions" are required to break the deadlock, and that talks are expected to resume this week.

The drive to salvage the nuclear deal resumed in late November, after talks were suspended in June as Iran elected ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi.

The deal -- agreed by Iran, the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany -- offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

But the US reimposed severe economic sanctions after the 2018 withdrawal, prompting Tehran to begin rolling back on its commitments under the deal.

Khatibzadeh nonetheless noted "very significant progress" over the previous three weeks in negotiations over the lifting of sanctions and nuclear commitments, as well as obtaining guarantees.

"We suggest that after returning from their capitals, (other parties) come with necessary decisions so that we can conclude quickly what has been prepared in drafts," he said.

"The other parties know the differences clearly. They need to make political decisions, especially in Washington," he added.

"We await political decisions by Washington upon the return of the US delegation."

The US has participated only indirectly in the talks, which seek to bring Washington back to the accord and to ensure Iran returns to its commitments under the deal.

"We can reach a lasting, reliable and good agreement the day after the return of the negotiators to Vienna" if the other parties make the "right" political decisions, he added.

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The United States and Russia squared off Monday in the UN Security Council, where Moscow lost an attempt to block a public meeting on Moscow's troop buildup near Ukraine's borders and Western fears of an invasion

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield dismissed a charge by Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia that Washington was trying ``to whip up hysterics'' and use ``megaphone diplomacy'' by calling the first Security Council meeting on the crisis.

``Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops on your border,'' Thomas-Greenfield said.

The vote on holding an open meeting passed 10-2, with Russia and China opposed, and three abstentions. The vote needed nine votes to be approved.

UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo then went ahead with an open briefing, to be followed by speeches from the 15 council members.

US President Joe Biden said in a statement that the meeting was ``a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice'' to reject the use of force, seek military de-escalation, support diplomacy, and demand accountability from every member ``to refrain from military aggression against its neighbors.''

The session kicked off more high-level diplomacy this week, although talks between the US and Russia have so far failed to ease tensions in the crisis. Russia has massed the estimated 100,000 troops near the borders of its southern neighbor, stoking fears in the West of an invasion.

Russia denies it intends to launch an attack but demanded that NATO promise never to allow Ukraine to join the alliance, halt the deployment of NATO weapons near Russian borders, and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. NATO and the US call those demands impossible.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken didn't make any visible progress in easing the tensions at their meeting in Geneva earlier this month. They are expected to speak by phone Tuesday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call Thursday that there is a ``distinct possibility'' Russia could begin an incursion in February, but the Ukrainian leader sought to play down the war fears, saying Western alarm over an imminent invasion has prompted many investors in the country's financial markets to cash out.

Zelenskyy said Friday that ``we aren't seeing any escalation bigger than before,'' and charged that the Russian buildup could be an attempt by Moscow to exert ``psychological pressure'' and sow panic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with Zelenskyy, and will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later Monday, to urge him to ``step back,'' Johnson's office said. Johnson says he is considering sending hundreds of British troops to NATO countries in the Baltic region as a show of strength.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that ``hysteria promoted by Washington triggers hysteria in Ukraine, where people are almost starting to pack their bags for the front line.''

While Russia could try to block the Security Council meeting if it gets the support of nine of the 15 members, the US was confident it had ``more than sufficient support'' to hold it, according to a senior official in the Biden administration who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly.

Any formal action by the Security Council is extremely unlikely, given Russia's veto power and its ties with others on the council, including China.

Speaking Sunday on ABC's ``This Week,'' Thomas-Greenfield said of Russia: ''We're going into the room prepared to listen to them, but we're not going to be distracted by their propaganda.''

She said last week that council members ``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.''

On Friday, China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said both sides have shown a willingness to continue negotiations and should be allowed to continue.

``Russia has said clearly they have no intention to have a war'' and the Security Council should ``help to deescalate the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire,'' Zhang said.

On Sunday, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, said that in the event of an attack, lawmakers want Russia to face ``the mother of all sanctions.'' That includes actions against Russian banks that could severely undermine the Russian economy and increased lethal aid to Ukraine's military.

The sanctions under consideration would apparently be significantly stronger than those imposed after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Those penalties have been seen as ineffective.

Menendez also raised the prospect of imposing some punishments preemptively, before any invasion.

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Denmark on Monday said it is prepared to send military equipment to Ukraine, as the West intensifies diplomacy and threatens harsh economic sanctions on Russia to prevent an invasion.

"I am ready to send military equipment to Ukraine. We are already giving advice," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference.

"We know there is a request for advice over cybersecurity," she added, after a major cyberattack, attributed to Russia by Kyiv, hacked Ukrainian government websites earlier this month.

But Frederiksen said deploying Danish troops to the ex-Soviet nation was "not under discussion".

"Like others, we want to help. We agreed at the international level to resort to sanctions if Russia attacks Ukraine."

NATO member Denmark last week committed to granting Kyiv around 80 million euros in annual aid when Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited Copenhagen.

The money is in addition to a support program worth 22 million euros announced in mid-January by Denmark's top diplomat.

The United States and Russia on Monday were due to clash at the UN Security Council over the invasion fears sparked by Moscow's deployment of more than 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov will speak by telephone on Tuesday.

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Egypt was relisted on Monday 31 January in the JP Morgan Index for government bonds of emerging markets (GBI-EM), ending 10 years of absence .

The relisting of Egypt in the JP index came after three years of consultations, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced in a statement.

This makes Egypt and South Africa the only two countries in the Middle East and Africa that are listed in this index.

Egypt was removed from the GBI-EM in June 2011 on the back of economic and political instability following the 25 January Revolution, which eroded the countrys ability to meet its requirements.

Egypts weight in the index is around 1.8 percent, representing 14 Egyptian government bonds with a total value of around $26 billion with an average yield of 14.9 percent and a maturity of 2.9 years, according to Maait.

Egypt also joined other indices of JP Morgan, including the GBI-EM Broad Diversified Index with a weight of 1.4 percent, the GBI-AGG Diversified Index with a weight of 0.24 percent, and the JESG Index with a weight of 1.1 percent based on Egypts green bond issuance.

The issuance of Egypts green bonds took place in 2020 and was the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa; it is part of the countrys Strategy for Sustainable economic development under Egypts 2030 Vision.

The minister said that this relisting confirms the confidence of the foreign investment community in Egypts improved foundations and that Egypt is being put on the international radar as an investment destination.

Egypt joined the watch list of the JP Morgan Index in April 2021 as a preliminary step before being included in the index, whereby most investors surveyed by JP Morgans team during 2021 confirmed that they were able to access the market and transact bonds and foreign exchange without any hurdles, the minister indicated.

As a result, 90 percent of investors in the consultation voted for the inclusion of the Egyptian market in the index, which came as another reassuring factor that Egypt is conforming to international standards, Maait explained.

According to the minister, $1 billion in new investments are expected to be pumped in the Egyptian governmental equity market as a result of the relisting.

He added that being included in the index is considered a milestone regarding debt management reforms.

He highlighted the ministrys efforts to fulfil the requirements of being relisted, including reshaping the yield curve, extending debt maturity, and increasing the issuance size per auction, in addition to streamlining the process of taxation and applying double taxation rates.

For his part, Ahmed Kouchouk, the vice minister of finance for financial policies, expounded that Egypts economic reform programme has led to robust economic resilience and a notable improvement in key macro fiscal indicators that also enabled the country to meet the index inclusion requirements on the economic front.

In line with our medium-term debt strategy, the Ministry of Finance adopted many initiatives to develop the debt capital market to increase foreign investors participation that would increase the demand, which should lower the cost of borrowing, Kouchouk said.

The finance ministrys medium-term debt management strategy centres on reducing debt services, prolonging their maturity, and improving governmental security in markets to expand the base of investors that will in turn provide the required liquidity to support the budget.

According to this strategy, the external debt trajectory will be capped in accordance with the expected cash inflows to the country to a maximum of 37 percent of GDP, which will be put on a downturn path per year.

It also targets decreasing external debt to GDP ratio to below 30 percent over the medium term.

The total external debt that Egypt needs to repay in 2022  including medium- and long-term debt  is $17.9 billion, $11.9 billion of which will be repaid in the first half of the year, according to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).

The CBEs data also showed that Egypts external debt size is in the safe zone  at 34.2 percent of the countrys GDP by the end of June.

Additionally, Nevine Mansour, the adviser to the vice minister of finance , noted that over three years, the team of the Ministry of Finance was in continuous communication with the JP Morgan team to update and align them about all data and information related to the government debt market.

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Xi exchanges congratulations with Maltese president on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Xinhua) 13:39, January 31, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday exchanged congratulations with Maltese President George Vella on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malta diplomatic ties.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Maltese counterpart, Robert Abela.

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Baltimore police are investigating a pair of homicides that pushed the city to its deadliest January ever.

The latest victim was found shot at around 1:51 a.m. Monday in the first block of Morris Road in Southwest Baltimores Rosemont neighborhood, near Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, police said. The man, who has not been identified by police, was later pronounced dead.

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The victim is the 36th counted this month, marking the deadliest January in nearly 50 years. Thirty-five people were killed in January 1973, when the citys population was much larger. The monthly death toll includes those injured by shootings in prior months who died in January.

Just before 6 p.m. Sunday, a 66-year-old Clarence Joseph Buckner was found shot in the 3300 block of Rueckert Ave., police said. He was taken to an area hospital where he later died.

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The motivation appeared to be robbery, said Detective Nicole Monroe, a police spokeswoman.

Monroe said Buckner had gone to a casino earlier in the day and detectives have not ruled out the possibility that there may have been a connection.

Later Sunday evening, a 31-year-old man was injured in a shooting in the 400 block of North Highland Ave. near E. Monument St. in East Baltimore. The victim, who was shot in the knee, was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The shootings continued into Monday night when two men were shot in South Baltimore.

Police said officers were called to the 3500 block of Hanover St. around 9:45 p.m. to investigate a shooting.

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Once there, officers found a 26-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck and a 53-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to both legs. The men, who told police they ran into a store for cover from the gunshots, were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Police did not provide any suspect information in those incidents.

Police and city leadership are coming under further pressure to curb the unrelenting violence in the city. There were nine people killed last week, including the husband of a police internal affairs lieutenant, who was waiting for a refrigerator delivery at home in Northeast Baltimore, and the general manager of a Little Italy restaurant.

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The department released a statement Monday morning noting that officers made 58 arrests over the weekend, including: two individuals who were charged with murder, 11 for handgun-related offenses and five for robberies. Police also said officers served 55 warrants, including one for murder, one for attempted murder, seven for robberies and one handgun warrant.

The Baltimore Police Department continues to work with area law enforcement partners to increase visibility and with community organizations to identify and apprehend violent offenders, the statement said.

A goal of Mayor Brandon Scotts administration is to reduce gun violence by 15% over a year. But so far, homicides are up by nine victims compared to this date last year, and nonfatal shootings are up by 11, with 56 people injured in shootings this year.

Baltimore Sun reporters Alex Mann and McKenna Oxenden contributed to this article.
The Netherlands has received its first ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment from Egypt since the beginning of operations at its sole LNG terminal in 2011, Al-Ahram reported on Monday.

The 174,000-cubic-metre shipment of LNG, shipped from Egypts Damietta LNG Plant days ago through LNG tanker Gaslog Glasgow, arrived at the Netherlands Gate Terminal in Rotterdam.

The Dutch terminal has an annual capacity of 12 billion cubic metres of gas per year, covering approximately a third of the national gas consumption in the country.

The shipment comes as Europe seeks to fill its needs for gas amid fears of a gas supply crisis due to rising tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border.

The cargo is one of several recent shipments made by the Damietta plant, one of the countrys two liquefaction plants, since its resumption of operations in February 2021 after a near nine-year closure over legal disputes.

Egypt has made a series of oil and gas discoveries in recent years, most notably the giant Zohr gas field off the Mediterranean. The gas field, which holds an estimated reservoir of 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, has drawn the interest of investors to the countrys energy sector.

It has also helped Egypt reach self-sufficiency in natural gas and pursue becoming a regional hub for gas exports by hosting the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, which seeks to promote gas exports from the region.

In December, Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla told Reuters that natural gas exports are at full capacity of about 1.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) from its two terminals.

The minister said that natural gas production is stable, currently ranging between 6.5 and 7 bcf/d, yet said that exports are expected to drop to 1 bcf/d over the spring due to regular seasonal fluctuations.

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Those statistics indicate a so-called "lofted trajectory" that can allow North Korea to test longer-range missiles without overflying their neighbors.

Japan's government, which also tracks North Korea's launches, provided similar figures, adding the missile flew for about 30 minutes.

South Korea's military said the North Korean missile was launched at a steep angle from the northern province of Chagang -- flying 800 kilometers but reaching a maximum altitude of about 2,000 kilometers.

North Korea launched an intermediate range ballistic missile early Sunday, according to South Korea's military, Pyongyang's longest-range missile test in over four years.

Many defense analysts said the test may have involved a missile such as the North's Hwasong-12, which has a range of 4,500 km.

"It matches pretty closely [with the Hwasong-12]," Melissa Hanham, an affiliate with the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation, told VOA. "Of course, we can't rule out something with a similar flight profile. Without any more info it's a good bet."

North Korea typically does not announce its launches until its state-run newspapers are published the following morning.

If confirmed, it would be the longest-range missile North Korea has tested since 2017, when it launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles during the height of tensions between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and former U.S. President Donald Trump. It is the 11th North Korean missile launched this month, setting a new monthly record.

In a statement, the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command condemned the test and called for North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing acts. In response to the latest launch, Japan and South Korea held urgent sessions of their national security councils.

In a statement, South Korean President Moon Jae-in condemned the launch as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The test, he said, takes North Korea a step closer toward making good on its threat to abandon its voluntary suspension of longer-range missile tests.

North Korea's missile frenzy appears at least partly aimed at pressuring the United States and South Korea amid an extended pause in nuclear talks. North Korea has several other possible motivations for testing missiles, including shoring up domestic political support for leader Kim Jong-un, ensuring the performance of new weapons and demonstrating deterrence.
LIVE Razboi in Ucraina: Trupele ruse au intrat in uzina Azovstal / Noi sanctiuni impuse de UE Rusiei, intre care embargo pe importurile de titei / Apropiat al lui Putin, trimis la Mariupol pentru a pregati o parada de 9 mai
By Ko Hirano, KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2022 - 08:48 | World, Feature, All

Whether he is studying at a vocational school in Tokyo or doing a part-time job, Lian Ceu always worries about his parents and younger brother in Myanmar who survived but became displaced after his family's house in Chin State was destroyed by the country's military during an air strike last September.

Showing his mobile phone containing a photo of the devastated site in Myanmar's northwest, the 26-year-old ethnic Chin says, "This is not what humans should do. The Tatmadaw takes this kind of action to instill a feeling of terror into people in an attempt to curb protests against the junta."

Lian Ceu's parents and 14-year-old brother are among an estimated 320,900 people who, according to U.N. data, are internally displaced across Myanmar due to clashes and unrest since the military, known as the Tatmadaw, detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and overthrew her democratically elected government in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021.

Of the total, 132,200 are in Chin and two neighboring regions, reflecting hostilities between the military and the Chinland Defense Force, an armed group of anti-coup protestors, which, together with other resistance forces, the junta labels as "terrorists" for undermining peace and stability in the country.

Critics and independent analysts, however, blame the junta for causing a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, citing a U.N. estimate that the number of people requiring aid such as food and medical supplies will jump to 14.4 million -- or about a quarter of the country's population -- in 2022 from 1 million before the coup.

The junta, led by army chief Min Aung Hlaing, has also killed about 1,500 peaceful demonstrators and other citizens, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group.

"Every day, I'm worried that security forces may detain -- or even kill -- my parents and brother, claiming they have ties with the CDF even though they do not," Lian Ceu said in an interview in Tokyo. "I won't say where they are now but I'm concerned the Tatmadaw may conduct another air strike over them."

He was speaking on Jan. 9 at Spring Revolution Restaurant in the Ikebukuro commercial district. A group of pro-democracy Myanmar residents in Japan opened the eatery last June with the aim of contributing to the cause of restoring freedom and democracy back home.

On that day, the restaurant served a buffet featuring ethnic Chin food, with the proceeds, including donations, to be used to help displaced people in the region, said Lae Lae Lwin, a staffer who also works as a nurse at a Tokyo hospital.

"While enjoying Chin home cooking, I would like Myanmar residents in Japan from other ethnic groups to better understand the situation in Chin State and build a sense of solidarity among us in protest against the Tatmadaw," said Lae Lae Lwin, one of about 32,000 Myanmar residents in Japan.

She and other restaurant staff also want Japanese customers to know what is happening in Myanmar, including the killing of nonviolent demonstrators, women and children, and seek effective measures from Japan to pressure the military to reverse course.

"The CDF is not a terrorist group as the junta claims," Lae Lae Lwin, 31, said. "It involves students, doctors and nurses and other citizens, and members are fighting for peace, freedom, democracy and human rights."

She was surprised -- and very much encouraged -- that one Japanese customer donated 100,000 yen ($870) to support the restaurant's mission. The eatery is planning another event featuring local dishes of the Karen ethnic group in Kayin State, eastern Myanmar, on Feb. 13.

"Myanmar is a multiethnic country and decades of ethnic conflicts have made it difficult to create a genuinely inclusive federal state," she said. "But we are now having a unique opportunity since the majority Bamar and ethnic minorities have joined forces in the fight against the junta."

Lae Lae Lwin was referring to the National Unity Government, an organization launched last April by deposed pro-democracy parliamentarians, anti-coup protest leaders and representatives of ethnic minority groups in opposition to military rule.

Led by Duwa Lashi La, an ethnic Kachin lawyer and former political leader of Kachin State, northern Myanmar, the NUG is demanding that the junta halt violence, release Suu Kyi and other detainees, and restore the democratically elected government.

Suu Kyi has been convicted on several charges, including incitement, a move her supporters and independent analysts say the junta intends to use as an excuse to legitimize the military takeover of the government and prevent the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from returning to politics.

Lae Lae Lwin and Lian Ceu are urging the Japanese government to recognize the NUG as Myanmar's legitimate governing body and go beyond the suspension of new official development assistance projects, such as the withdrawal of all non-humanitarian aid and imposing sanctions on senior generals and the companies they control.

Related coverage:

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Myanmar's deposed leader Suu Kyi faces additional corruption charges

Myanmar military chief to assure ASEAN envoy he can meet all parties

While applying pressure on the junta in concert with the United States and other countries, Japan -- which unlike Western powers has ties with both the military and the NUG -- is seeking to influence the generals without publicly humiliating them.

Such a strategy, however, has not been effective in addressing the crisis. No longer wanting to see violence and bloodshed in Myanmar, a country also hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Lae Lae Lwin and Lian Ceu called on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to side with Myanmar citizens and the NUG they support, not the military.

"The Tatmadaw has not only shattered my dream to develop regional areas in Myanmar through the hotel business, which I'm studying in Tokyo, but robbed my family of their home," Lian Ceu said. "Until military rule ends, I have no choice but to work in Japan to support my family and NUG activity from here."
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2022 - 14:51 | All, Japan

The British government has canceled Prime Minister Boris Johnson's planned visit to Japan in February due to growing tensions over Ukraine and his alleged participation in COVID lockdown-breaking parties, Japanese government sources said Monday.

Tokyo and London had been arranging for his visit in mid-February for talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, but the sources said the British government had canceled the plan.

"It is not true that a visit by British Prime Minister Johnson is being arranged," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno at a regular news conference in Tokyo.

Related coverage:

British PM Johnson eyeing visit to Japan in mid-Feb.

Matsuno added "Japan places great weight on its relations with Britain, which is a global strategic partner of our country, and hopes to strengthen ties through various efforts."

It would have been Johnson's first visit to Japan since he took office in 2019.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2022 - 22:04 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

The Japanese government reopened a mass COVID-19 vaccination center in Tokyo on Monday to speed up administering third shots to cope with the new wave of infections driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

The center, which opened amid criticism that the government has been slow to offer booster shots, is being run by the Self-Defense Forces and will offer people aged 18 or above U.S. pharmaceutical firm Moderna Inc.'s vaccine.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited the site on Monday, said his administration "will explain in detail about the importance of booster shots and the effectiveness of mixing and matching vaccines" to the public.

Kishida urged people to get jabbed speedily after receiving their vaccine tickets from local municipalities.

The center, however, is unlikely to contribute drastically to accelerating the pace of inoculations. Capacity is initially limited to 720 slots per day, much fewer than the 10,000 available at the same venue from May to November last year, with the malfunctioning of an elevator in the aging facility reducing available space to one floor.

Responding to criticism on the low availability of such slots, Kishida told parliament his government will "make thorough efforts to expand the numbers," adding he has also been seeking the cooperation of municipalities to set up such mass inoculation centers.

In Japan, only 2.7 percent of the population as of last Friday had received the third shot, according to the government, a much lower ratio than in Britain, France and Germany, where over 50 percent of the population has been given booster shots.

Japan is facing a resurgence of infections, with new cases nationwide reaching 84,000 Saturday, a record high for the fifth straight day.

The nationwide count on Monday totaled 60,836, with patients having severe symptoms up 16 at 783, according to a Kyodo News tally based on local government releases.

The number of daily COVID cases in Tokyo on Monday topped 10,000 for the seventh straight day with 11,751 infections, while the ratio of designated hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in the capital hit 49.2 percent the same day, nearly reaching the 50 percent threshold above which the metropolitan government will consider seeking a state of emergency declaration.

Daily cases on Mondays tend to be lower due to less testing over the weekend.

The Tokyo center will expand slots to 2,160 on Feb. 7, while an Osaka mass vaccination center will start operation on the same day with 960 slots per day.

The number of slots at the Osaka venue is down from 5,000 available at an SDF-run facility in a different location in the city last year due to constraints on the size of the building the government could secure this time.

The Tokyo and Osaka venues will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Those who want to receive the shots need to have vaccination tickets issued by local governments and make reservations on the designated website.

People can make reservations from anywhere in Japan, but six months must have passed since their second vaccination. The slots from Monday through Saturday have all been filled, according to the government.

"I am thankful as I wanted to take the shot as soon as possible, but I could not receive it in my hometown. I feel relieved because I don't want to spread the virus to my family," said Hiroshi Ito, a 57-year-old resident of Tokyo's Sumida Ward who came to the Tokyo venue in the morning.

People head to a facility in Tokyo's Otemachi business district on Jan. 31, 2022, for COVID-19 vaccinations. Mass vaccinations operated by the Japan Self-Defense Forces began the same day for people aged 18 or older getting their third shots. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
By Hiroki Okuno, KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2022 - 18:11 | All, Japan, Feature

Music and video streaming, free shipping for online shopping and funerals are among the services of companies named in 2021 as subject to antitrust investigations by Japanese authorities.

From global tech giant Apple Inc. to local online services, these firms provide digital platforms that are arguably credited with life-changing innovations but also posed concerns for their monopolistic influence in the market.

Amid regulatory efforts worldwide to deal with providers of such basic platforms as internet search engine, online shopping, operating systems and social networking services, the Japan Fair Trade Commission's scrutiny of Apple came to light last September.

In a press release titled "Japan Fair Trade Commission closes App Store investigation," Apple said it will allow developers of "reader" apps on the Apple Store to include an in-app link to their website where users can set up or manage an account.

The Japanese antimonopoly watchdog had been negotiating with Apple for nearly five years, an official told a press conference at the time.

Until the change goes into effect in early 2022, all apps were required to use Apple's in-app payment system for a commission of 15 to 30 percent.

The charge amounting to a significant share of developers' income brought about huge revenues to the iPhone maker but was questioned by governments in various countries as well as developers.

Now apps providing digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music and video around the world would be able to include a link to an external website where users can make purchases, and hence bypass Apple's payment system.

It is believed to be the first time Apple has accepted an issue raised by a government authority, a "compromise" widely taken as surprising even though the change does not apply to gaming apps.

Related coverage:

Apple to let apps bypass commissions by linking to websites

U.S. gov't, states sue Facebook over anticompetitive conduct

Amazon's Japan unit to return 2 bil. yen to suppliers

In December, the JFTC said Japan's leading e-commerce platform Rakuten Group Inc. is suspected of antitrust law violation over its free shipping program designed to rival Amazon.com Inc.

Rakuten tried in March 2020 to require free shipping of all shops on its Rakuten Ichiba online mall, prompting the JFTC to step in and resulting in launching the program on a non-compulsory basis.

But Rakuten's sales staff was still unduly pressuring shop owners to adopt the program, abusing the shopping platform's dominant bargaining position, the commission said 21 months later, causing Rakuten to improve the situation.

Such scrutiny covers not only large companies but smaller firms can also wield anti-competitive power in digital markets, the JFTC showed when it named Uniquest Inc., which runs a funeral intermediary website, also in December.

The Osaka-based IT firm has a questionable contract system that prohibits funeral operators that use its website "Chiisana Ososhiki," meaning compact funeral, from doing business with rival websites, the commission said.

The move "came as a surprise," said a Uniquest official, suggesting that the company had not considered its business a digital platform -- something perceived to do with tech giants such as GAFA as Google LLC, Apple, Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com were collectively referred to.

Uniquest, which has also received the commission's on-site inspection, subsequently abolished the contract system.

These recent cases against digital platforms have borne fruits in terms of improving their business practices but also point to challenges faced by the JFTC, officials and experts say.

Antitrust investigations are usually aimed at imposing an administrative disciplinary action such as a cease-and-desist order to prevent recurrence and an order to pay surcharges.

If a swift action is called for, the authority may make the target company promise a future preventive step or reparation to affected firms instead.

But the probes on digital platforms last year were closed without any such prescribed action because the companies proposed to take voluntary measures to resolve the suspected violations.

On the backdrop of such lackluster consequences is time taken to confirm violations or calculate surcharges in elusive digital markets.

The five years spent for Apple's case and two years for Rakuten's were apparently insufficient for the JFTC to issue an administrative order, and a commission official admitted the results were "not satisfying."

JFTC Chairman Kazuyuki Furuya said in a press conference in October taking an administrative measure against digital platforms is "very difficult, that's true."

"It must be acceptable that we take various steps when they lead to concrete improvements in their business models," Furuya added.

A senior JFTC official said, "It is difficult to earn a reputation when there are no visible results that are easy to understand," as the JFTC issued no cease-and-desist order in 2021 due partly to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As for digital platforms, there is an aspect that we've chosen to bring about real improvements over making our name with administrative actions," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Lawyer Kentaro Hirayama, who is versed in antimonopoly laws, said the Japanese authority's unhesitating stance to tackle digital platforms is welcome and encouraged, but challenges such as the subdued end to the recent probes need to be addressed quickly.

"Since the cases resulted in no clear recognition of illegal acts, it is difficult to refer to them in future lawsuits and other cases," he said, adding that many details remain not clarified.

"Authorities in other countries are issuing formal orders while trying to take swift actions such as through an injunction" in a nod to the rapidly changing market environment, he said, adding, "The JFTC's response seems not necessarily riding the global tide and peculiar."

The Japanese watchdog may have problems with its workforce for investigation or collaboration with experts, and needs to nail them down and solve them, Hirayama said.
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2022 - 13:16 | World, All

Speculation is mounting that North Korea's latest spate of missile launches, apparently aimed at getting the United States to resume talks over sanctions relief, may eventually irk China, Pyongyang's most influential economic and security ally.

North Korea has recently hinted at restarting nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests to put more pressure on the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, which is unlikely to readily make concessions on its demands for denuclearization and the sanctions measures imposed on Pyongyang.

But if it goes too far, North Korea could lose the backing of China, which for years has been calling for the lifting of the sanctions set by the U.N. Security Council on the grounds that the country has suspended nuclear and ICBM tests.

The Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping would especially not tolerate new North Korean nuclear tests, given that China has long been worried about potential radioactive contamination from the neighboring nation, foreign affairs experts say.

China, seen as keen to successfully host the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics slated to start Friday to enhance national prestige, has also been concerned at the prospect of a North Korean nuclear or ICBM test disrupting the global sporting event, they say.

North Korea claims no COVID-19 infections have been found in the country, having kept its borders largely sealed for more than two years in a bid to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.

While the resumption of freight train operations between the neighbors was announced Jan. 17, land traffic restrictions have dragged down North Korea's trade with China, dealing a crushing blow to the country's broader economy.

In addition to a plunge in trade with China, agricultural devastation caused by powerful typhoons and flooding has cemented the view that North Korea has suffered a serious food crisis and that its citizens have not received adequate daily necessities.

As North Korea faces economic difficulties, strengthening the country's "national defense capabilities" will enable leader Kim Jong Un to bolster his grip on power, said Junya Nishino, a professor at Keio University.

North Korea, meanwhile, has put emphasis on deepening relations with China to overcome several challenges including the economic deterioration, Nishino said in a report for the Nakasone Peace Institute in Tokyo.

Pyongyang has launched projectiles seven times since early 2022. On Sunday, it fired its longest-range ballistic missile since 2017. South Korea reacted by accusing the North of moving closer to scrapping its moratorium on nuclear and ICBM tests.

In November 2017, North Korea launched what it said was its "most powerful" ICBM, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to anywhere in the continental United States. Pyongyang's last nuclear test, its sixth, took place in September that year.

North Korea formally declared in April 2018, two months ahead of the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit, that it would discontinue nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic rocket firings.

By unveiling its upgraded weapons and intensifying security tensions in the region, home to U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, the North might be trying to bring Washington back to the negotiating table to discuss sanctions relief, pundits say.

So long as the Biden administration remains preoccupied by Russia's massive military buildup on the Ukrainian border and is indifferent to issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang will not stop efforts to develop its arsenal, they say.

On Jan. 20, Biden's first anniversary in the White House, North Korea said it may restart all "activities" that it had temporarily suspended to build trust with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who held talks with Kim three times starting in June 2018.

A key ruling party meeting convened on Jan. 19 concluded that North Korea should take "practical action to more reliably and effectively increase our physical strength" to counter the United States, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Stephen Nagy, a senior associate professor at International Christian University, said, "The recent tests are a demonstration of the expanding missile capabilities of North Korea and a warning to the United States that ignoring North Korea will put them in peril."

"It might be an effort to get sanctions and COVID-19 relief as the combination of U.N. sanctions and the pandemic are stressing Pyongyang's ability to feed its people and generate economic growth," Nagy said.

Nevertheless, it is "unlikely we will see a major shift in the dynamics between Pyongyang and Washington with these tests unless Pyongyang agrees to some kind of freeze in testing and development," he added.

Indeed, the Biden administration, which had expressed eagerness to hold talks with North Korea, has begun to impose additional sanctions against Pyongyang in the wake of its ballistic missile tests in January, seen as violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

To turn around the economic situation in North Korea, Kim has to concentrate on boosting cooperation with China under the current circumstances, a diplomatic source said. North Korea relies on China for over 90 percent of its trade.

China and North Korea fought together in the 1950-1953 Korean War against the U.S.-led United Nations forces and have been described as "blood brothers."

China, however, would shy away from stretching out a helping hand to North Korea if it dares to carry out ICBM or nuclear tests, since Beijing is "proud" of having prevented Pyongyang from "running out of control," the source said.

If North Korea conducts such tests, "China would lose face and be forced to be wary of radioactive contamination," he said.

"Should North Korea test-fire an ICBM or stage a nuclear test during the Beijing Olympics, Xi would get very angry and may stop providing economic assistance to North Korea. This is the worst-case scenario for Kim," he added.

Some observers say North Korea has been attempting to steadily develop new weapons based on the decisions made in January 2021 at the first congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in nearly five years.

Kim has pledged to develop ICBMs with the use of solid fuel, which can shorten the time required for prelaunch preparations.

According to another diplomatic source, North Korea seems to be upgrading its existing weapons rather than developing new ones, meaning "we do not have to be careful about the quality too much."

Nevertheless, Pyongyang "will continue testing weapons and threaten peace and stability in East Asia," the source added.

North Korea will mark the anniversary of the founding of the country's army on Feb. 8 and the birthday of the late leader Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un, on Feb. 16, during the Beijing Olympics through Feb. 20.

Related coverage:

North Korea test-fired long-range ballistic missile Jan. 30: KCNA

Japan, U.S., S. Korea foreign ministers may meet in Feb. on N. Korea

North Korea hints at resuming nuclear, ICBM tests to counter U.S.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 1, 2022 - 04:27 | All, World

The United States on Monday announced more sanctions on Myanmar officials and entities with ties to the military regime, marking the one-year anniversary of the Feb. 1 coup that has led to unrest and violence in the Southeast Asian country.

The sanctions, taken in coordination with Britain and Canada, are intended to "demonstrate the international community's strong support for the people of Burma and to further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the regime," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, referring to the country by its former name.

A total of seven individuals were targeted by the sanctions including the junta's attorney general Thida Oo, who, according to the Treasury Department, crafted the regime's "politically motivated" charges against ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The country's icon of democracy has been convicted of some charges and faces several more in a total of more than a dozen cases. If convicted on all charges, she could be sentenced to over 100 years in prison.

Myanmar's Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo and Tin Oo, the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, were also hit with sanctions for their roles in the prosecution of Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy leaders.

An entity that has provided arms and equipment to the Myanmar military regime and a company operating a port in Yangon in support of the junta were also placed under the sanctions.

The penalized individuals and entities will face asset freezes in the United States. Americans will generally be prohibited from transactions involving those blacklisted.

Britain and Canada are each imposing sanctions on two Myanmar government officials, the Treasury Department said.

According to the State Department, the Myanmar military has killed nearly 1,500 people, including women and children, and detained some 10,000 more, including journalists and foreign citizens.

The U.S. government has also recently issued a business advisory for Myanmar, citing the "heightened risks" associated with engaging in activities that could benefit the military regime.

It warned of possible "illicit finance and money laundering risks, as well as reputational and legal risks, of conducting business and utilizing supply chains under military control."

State-owned enterprises as well as gems and precious metals are among the industries providing sources of income for the military regime, the advisory said.
DHAKA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has continued to decline for the fifth consecutive day in Bangladesh, with over 12,000 new cases reported Sunday.

According to figures published by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the country confirmed 12,183 new COVID-19 cases and 34 more deaths on Sunday, which has brought the death toll to 28,363.

The current positivity rate dropped to 28.33 percent in the past 24 hours until 8:00 a.m. local time Sunday, according to the latest official data, taking the total caseload to 1,785,332.

The official data showed that 43,006 samples were tested in the last 24 hours to Sunday morning. The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 1,565,645, including 2,167 new recoveries, said the DGHS.

According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is 1.59 percent and the current recovery rate is 87.69 percent.

On Sunday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said they decided to offer COVID-19 vaccines to everyone over 12 and booster shots to all above 40 years of age.

He said the country has a comparatively low fatality rate from COVID-19 due to the government's vaccination efforts.

Also on Sunday, DGHS lowered the COVID-19-related quarantine period from 14 to 10 days, considering the current infection rate.

Case counts began to decrease from Wednesday after surging for weeks.

Bangladesh confirmed 16,033 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, nearing the country's all-time record last year. It recorded its highest daily new cases of 16,230 on July 28 last year and the highest number of 264 deaths from the pandemic on Aug. 5 and again on Aug. 10, 2021. 
In the wake of two shooting incidents this month at an off-campus student apartment building and with students returning for the spring semester Monday, Towson University is taking steps to help bolster security downtown near the campus.

The university plans to send grant money to the Baltimore County Police Department to fund two additional overnight patrol shifts in the downtown area, the university announced last week.

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The full scale of the grant is still being determined, university spokesman Matt Palmer said Friday, but the school has committed to sending money through the end of the semester.

A Baltimore County police spokeswoman said the funding would go toward overtime for existing patrol officers, rather than new police hires.

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Earlier this month, a Towson student and aspiring musician was found shot and killed off campus around 2 a.m. in the unit block of W. Susquehanna Ave., the same block as the new Altus apartment building in the Towson Row development. Another college student, who went to Morgan State University, was shot to death in Towson in October in a parking lot at The Shops at Kenilworth.

Then, around 10:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Baltimore County Police responded to the Altus for a reported shooting. No victim was located, though police said the investigation is ongoing.

The two recent incidents occurring at the Altus apartment building are absolutely unacceptable, Chief Melissa Hyatt said in a statement provided to The Baltimore Sun, referencing the Jan. 11 homicide of Ikemefuna Eguh, a 23-year-old senior, and the Jan. 22 shooting with no identified victim.

While each is believed to be a targeted act of violence, the actions of the individuals involved were reckless and endangered the lives of the entire community, said Hyatt, adding that investigations into both January shootings are ongoing and police would continue to work tirelessly to hold people accountable for their actions.

Eric Bronstein, an executive vice president with The Scion Group, which manages the Altus, said the buildings security has been expanded in response to the two incidents to include more of the property and more hours. It also now requires guests of residents to check-in with security at the front desk and be escorted in during non-business hours.

Bronstein said the Jan. 11 homicide victim, who was fatally shot down the street from the apartments, was a resident of the complex. The Jan. 22 incident, meanwhile, took place inside the apartment building and involved multiple people, some of whom were not residents of the building. Bronstein said it appears shots were fired from inside and outside one apartment unit.

The company has begun eviction proceedings on a handful of people, including against at least one resident who police said had firearms on the property, which is barred by the apartment lease.

Bronstein emphasized the company is working collaboratively with county police.

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Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce, who praised Towson University for the grant funding, said the two shootings this month brought things to a head, but noted that Towson isnt in a position where crime has gotten out of control.

When you have almost 100 restaurants and bars within a one-mile radius, theres a lot to draw people here, Hafford said. But people feel safe here. They do feel safe here. And were going to keep it that way.

The chamber has applied for a community safety grant from the state of Maryland that could go toward a community ambassador  another pair of eyes on the street  and additional security cameras for property and business owners, Hafford said. She said she hopes to hear back about the grant application in the next month or so.

The great thing about this community is we have such a good relationship with our police department and our local government and our business community and the residential community and the university, Hafford said. We all sit down at the table to say, What can we do collaboratively, to make this a great place for all?

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Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican who represents the Towson area, also said the additional public safety funding would be a positive, noting that in any other county, downtown Towson likely would be its own city with its own police force.

Anything we can do to increase police presence in the county seat is going to be welcome, Marks said. I will say, I generally regard downtown Towson as safe, compared to many urban areas of its size. Every few years, we seem to get incidents like this. All we want to do is ease the peace of mind of residents.

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Towson University did not share the total dollar figure for the grant.

The universitys president, Kim Schatzel, said in a news release that public safety is a priority for the university and its partners, calling public-private cooperation critical to the success and vibrancy of our Towson community.

The university has its own police force that works very closely with the Baltimore County Police every day, said Joe Herring, the schools police chief and director of public safety, in the news release.

The Fraternal Order of Police lodge that represents Baltimore County Police, noted in a tweet on Friday that with over 100 vacancies in the police agency, the grant would not result in any actual new police positions.

Still, the police union thanked Towson for the grant: We appreciate the support of the community and [Towson] as we continue to combat the rise in crime.
UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefs a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Ethiopia at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 8, 2021. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"We, therefore, welcome the steps taken so far by all involved to maintain dialogue. We urge and expect all actors to build on these efforts and to remain focused on pursuing diplomatic solutions by engaging in good faith," UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday called for dialogue to defuse the current tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

It is reported that over 100,000 troops and heavy weaponry from Russia are positioned along the border with Ukraine. Unspecified numbers of Russian troops and weaponry are also reportedly being deployed to Belarus ahead of large-scale joint military exercises in February on the borders with Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states. NATO members are reportedly planning additional deployments in Eastern European member states, and NATO has advised that 8,500 troops are now on high alert, DiCarlo told the Security Council in a briefing.

"Accusations and recriminations among the various actors involved in the ongoing discussions have created uncertainty and apprehension for many that a military confrontation is impending," she said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made clear that there can be no alternative to diplomacy and dialogue to deal with the complex, longstanding security concerns and threat perceptions that have been raised. He has expressed his strong belief that there should not be any military intervention in this context and that diplomacy should prevail. He has been equally explicit that any such intervention by one country in another would be against international law and the UN Charter. His expectation is that all sides contribute to avoiding confrontation and to creating conditions for a diplomatic solution to end this crisis, said DiCarlo.

"We, therefore, welcome the steps taken so far by all involved to maintain dialogue. We urge and expect all actors to build on these efforts and to remain focused on pursuing diplomatic solutions by engaging in good faith," she said. "We further urge all actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions to maximize the chance for diplomacy to succeed. Achieving mutual understanding and lasting, mutually acceptable arrangements is the best way to safeguard regional and international peace and security in the interests of all."

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The United Nations is closely following the ongoing diplomatic discussions on the future of European peace and security architecture among representatives of Russia, the United States, NATO members, the European Union, and the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe. The United Nations hopes the outcome of these talks will strengthen peace and security in Europe, including for Ukraine, she said.

No one is watching the current diplomatic efforts more than the people of Ukraine. They have endured a conflict in eastern Ukraine that has taken over 14,000 lives since 2014 and that tragically is still far from resolution. It is painfully obvious that any new escalation in or around Ukraine would mean more needless killing and destruction, said DiCarlo.

She stressed the UN secretary-general's appeal to all concerned to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and continue on the diplomatic path, saying the United Nations stands ready to support all efforts to that end. 
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed in an attack in Hangu district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, police and rescue teams said.

The incident happened in a busy market area of the district, where two unknown gunmen riding on a motorbike, shot the policemen dead and fled the scene, the police said.

The two victims were associated with the traffic police department and were performing their duty on a road adjacent to the marketplace when they were attacked.

The police termed the attack an incident of targeted killing, saying that an investigation into it is underway.

A search operation has also been kicked off in the area to nab the on-the-run militants.

No group or individual has claimed the attack. 
New Delhi:

A jail in Buxar district of Bihar, known for its expertise in manufacturing execution ropes, has been directed to keep 10 pieces ready by the end of this week, triggering speculations that these might be meant for the 2012 Nirbhaya case convicts.

The Buxar jail, the only prison in the state having the required knowhow, received an instruction to the effect last week, though it was not known where these ropes -- strong with a short shelf-life -- would be dispatched.

"We received instructions from the prison directorate to keep 10 ropes ready by December 14. We do not know where these will be used. But the Buxar jail has a long tradition of manufacturing execution ropes," Buxar jail superintendent Vijay Kumar Arora told PTI-Bhasha over phone.

It takes about three days to prepare one rope and mainly involves manual labour, with a little use of motorised machinery, he said.

"It is from this jail a rope was sent for executing Parliament attack case-accused Afzal Guru. In 2016-17 we had also received orders from Patiala jail, though we do not know the purpose," Arora stated.

The last time when a rope was supplied from Buxar, it was priced at Rs 1,725, he said.

"The rate varies from time to time mainly on account of fluctuations in prices of iron and brass. These metals are used to make bushes that are fastened around the rope to ensure that the noose remains firm around the neck and the knot does not come undone when a human body is suspended from it," the jail superintendent explained.

Asked about the manpower required for the job, he said, "Normally five to six persons are engaged in making one rope. Yarns made of 152 strands of thread each are plaited together to come up with a rope of desired dimensions. Each rope uses up close to 7000 such strands," he said.

Meeting the deadline is not going to be a problem as there are sufficient numbers of able-bodied prisoners who can withstand the rigour as well as the experienced ones who can provide supervision and advice, Arora noted.

"One thing about these ropes is that if stored for long after manufacture, these become unfit for use," he added.

Speculation was rife in a section of the media that four convicts of the gang-rape case of December 16 2012, when a young woman died after being raped and brutalised inside a moving bus in Delhi, could be hanged later this month.

The recent sexual assault and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad and the subsequent killing of the accused in a police encounter have evoked a fresh clamour -- including appeals by family members of the Delhi victim -- for the execution of the convicts whose death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court more than a year ago.

Last week, Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts in the Delhi gangrape case, had sought immediate withdrawal of his mercy plea from President Ram Nath Kovind, saying it was sent without his consent.

Incidentally, another convict in the case, Akshay Thakur, who worked as a cleaner on the bus, hails from Aurangabad district in Bihar.

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New Delhi:

Days after the horrific incident of Unnao, another girl was set on fire in Bihars Muzaffarpur. The incident took place on December 7 and came to light after the girls mother filed a police complaint. The girl has suffered 90 per cent burn injuries and is currently battling for her life at an ICU in the Shrikrishna Medical College & Hospital in Muzaffarpur. Talking to News Nation, the girls mother said that the accused was after her daughter for last three years. She said that the girl had complained about the neighbours indecent behaviour number of times.

On Saturday, the man entered the girls house and attempted to rape her. After failing to rape her, the accused set her on fire. The mother of the girl has alleged that the family had approached the local police station, but the cops didnt pay heed and refused to file the complaint. The police only sprung into action after the girl was set ablaze. The accused has now been arrested.

Last week, a woman was set ablaze on December 5 by five people, including two who are accused of raping her. She had suffered 90 per cent burns and was airlifted from Lucknow to the Delhi-based hospital where she died on Friday night. She was set on fire when she was on her way to Raebareli in connection with the court case filed by her. She was laid to rest in the fields belonging to her family, where the mausoleum (mazaar) of her grandparents is situated. A large number of local residents and officials were present.

The latest data released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in August showed Bihar at eleventh position among the states and Union Territories in terms of crime against women. In 2014, the state was ranked eighth. Altogether 13,891 cases of crime against women were reported to police in Bihar in 2015 comparing to 15,383 cases in 2014. Like previous years, kidnapping of women with an intent to compel them for marriage saw a sharp increase in 2015.

Altogether 4,444 women were kidnapped from across the state for marriage in 2015. Bihar came second in this category while Uttar Pradesh topped with 8,290 women kidnapping cases. According to the NCRB data, 1,041 incidents of rape were reported to police in 2015 comparing to 1,127 such incidents in 2014. Of the 1,041 rape cases in 2015, the offenders were known to the victims in 954 cases. In 315 additional rape cases, the offenders committed the crime with a false promise to marry the victims.

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New Delhi:

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Unnao and met the family of rape survivor who died in Delhis Safdurjung Hospital on late Friday night. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Unnao in the afternoon. Earlier in the day, she had lashed out at Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over poor law and order situation in the state. In a tweet, Priyanka Gandhi said: "Why the victim of Unnao gangrape case was not given security keeping in mind an earlier incident of Unnao? What action has been taken on the police official who refused to register an FIR? What steps are being taken by the government to stop crime against the women, which take place on a daily basis?" She was referring to another alleged attack in the district in July, when the car in which a woman, who had accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar of raping her, was hit by a truck.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visits family of Unnao rape victim#AakhirKabTak@priyankagandhi



Read full story: https://t.co/PqEgy5G7RO pic.twitter.com/1MnAGOC1zr  News Nation (@NewsNationTV) December 7, 2019

In another tweet Priyanka Gandhi said: "I pray to God to give courage to the family members of Unnao victim." She also went on to say that it is everyone's collective failure as a society that the victim was not able to get justice. "At the social level, we all are guilty, but at the same time, this also points out to the hollow law and order mechanism in UP," she tweeted.

The Congress party demanded strict action against the accused in the Unnao case, saying the Uttar Pradesh government has to wake up to realise that the state is becoming the rape capital of the country. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said responsibility in the Unnao case lies at the "doorstep" of the UP government where law and order has completely collapsed.

"We demand strict action in the matter. The UP government has to wake up to realise that the state is becoming the rape capital of the country," she said.

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New Delhi:

In another chilling incident of crime against women, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly set on fire and killed by her fiance and his mother in South Tripura district, a police officer said on Sunday. Reason: Her parents failed to cough up a dowry of Rs 50,000. The teenager, who suffered 90 per cent burns, was early on Saturday admitted to GP Pant Hospital in Agartala, where she succumbed to her injuries, he said.

Ajoy Rudra Pal, 21, and his mother, Minati, were arrested, based on a complaint filed by the girl's family with Santirbazar police station in South Tripura, officer-in-charge Narayan Chandra Saha said.

They would be produced before a local court in district headquarters Belonia, he said.

"Pal eloped with Shukla Choudhury, a resident of Khowai district, on October 28 and had sought to formalise their marriage on December 11. His mother, however, met the girl's parents on December 6 and allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from them. Shukla's parents could cough up only Rs 15,000, citing their poor financial condition," Saha said.

Hours later, the 17-year-old was admitted to the hospital with 90 per cent burns, the officer said. Pal, on his part, said the girl committed suicide, a claim refuted by her family.

"I was in the other room, when I heard Shukla screaming. I along with other villagers rescued her and rushed her to the hospital," Pal, a daily wager, told reporters before being whisked away by police.

Sabita Choudhury, the victim's mother, said Pal's mother had sought Rs 50,000.

"She was just 17-year-old, my elder daughter... She fled with Ajoy to his house, following which we decided that their marriage be solemnised. Pal's mother sought Rs 50,000, but we could gather only Rs 15,000. That night itself, I wanted to talk to my daughter, but Pal did not allow her.

"The next thing we know is that she has been admitted to a hospital with burn injuries," the victim's mother said.

Condemning the incident, Papia Datta, the president of BJP Mahila Morcha (women's wing) demanded "exemplary punishment for the culprits".

"We condemn this heinous crime and seek exemplary punishment. Our party is holding campaigns across the state to create awareness on crimes against women," she added.

Also Read | Unnao Rape And Murder Case: Victim Buried In Village After Govt Assures Security, Job To Family

The incident comes days after the Unnao rape victim, who was airlifted to Delhi, died at the Safdarjung Hospital after she was set on fire when she was on her way to Raebareli in connection with the court case filed by her. Five accused persons, including two who had allegedly raped her, were arrested soon after.

She died on the day the four accused in the gang rape and murder case of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad were killed in an 'encounter' with the Telangana police, triggering a tsunami of reactions across the spectrum -- ranging from appreciation to condemnation.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi:

Civic authorities had last week surveyed the four-storey building housing illegal manufacturing units, where 43 lives were lost in a massive fire on Sunday, but the upper floors were found to be locked due to which the entire structure could not be inspected, according to official sources.

Officials were to visit the building again to survey the upper floors and accordingly issue a show-cause notice, a source said.

A preliminary probe by authorities suggested that a short-circuit triggered the fire which started on the buildings second floor.

The building was surveyed last week by civic authorities, but upper floors were found locked so the entire building could not be surveyed, an official source claimed.

The building is under Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 which protects unauthorised construction from being sealed.

The unit would have been closed by authorities if not found to be permissible as a household unit under provisions of the Master Plan of Delhi, the source said.

The building, spanning an area of 600 sq yards, had just one door. Fire department personnel had to cut window grills and metal meshes to enter to rescue trapped people, the Delhi Fire Services officials said.

Only one fire tender could be sent at a time through the narrow congested lanes, he said.

It took over 150 fire fighters nearly five hours to douse the blaze. As many as 63 people were pulled out from the building. While 43, including one minor, died, 16 were injured. Two fire department personnel were hurt while carrying out the rescue work, officials said.

The massive fire ripped through the building housing illegal manufacturing units in north Delhis crammed Anaj Mandi area on Sunday morning, in the deadliest blaze in the national capital since the Uphaar tragedy in 1997 in which 59 people were killed and over 100 injured.

Almost all the deceased in the Anaj Mandi fire were migrant labourers hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Police and fire department officials said many of the fatalities occurred due to suffocation as people were sleeping when the fire started at around 5 am on the second floor of the building that did not have fire safety clearance and was packed with combustible material like cardboards, plastic sheets and rexine.

The Supreme Court in its order in the MC Mehta Vs Union of India and others case had observed that under the Master Plan of Delhi, non-residential activities in residential premises are permitted only under certain conditions as laid down in the Master Plan.
New Delhi:

With Union Home Minister Amit Shah set to introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill on Monday, the ruling BJP has issued whip to all its Lok Sabha members to remain present in the House for three days starting from December 9, sources in the party said on Sunday.

The bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there. The whip, asking all BJP MPs to be present in the House, has been issued, a source said.

The bill to amend the six-decade-old Citizenship Act will be introduced in Parliament in the afternoon, and later in the day it will be taken up for discussion and passage, according to the Lok Sabha's List of Business for Monday.

The bill is set to sail through smoothly in the Lok Sabha, as the BJP has 303 MPs in the 545-member House. Earlier, the Union Cabinet approved the draft law that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan if they faced religious persecution there.

The nod paved way for the parliament to take up the contentious bill.

Slammed by the Opposition as divisive and communal, the bill is a key part of the BJPs ideological project as it proposes citizenship to non-Muslim, mostly Hindus, refugees living in India and will protect them from the nation-wide NRC drive the central government is planning to identify illegal immigrants.

At the Cabinet briefing, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the government has taken care of the interests of everyone and the interest of India.

People will welcome it as it is in the interest of the nation, he said when asked about the protests by different groups, especially in northeastern states where refugees from the three neighbouring countries have been living in large numbers.

The government is likely to introduce the bill in the next two days and may push for its passage the next week. Key opposition parties like the Congress and Trinamool Congress have severely criticised the bill. Congresss Shashi Tharoor said it violates the basic idea of India that religion can never be a reason for citizenship.

Those who believe that religion should determine nationhood...that was the idea of Pakistan, they created Pakistan. We have always argued that our idea of nation was what Mahatma Gandhi, Nehruji, Maluana Azad, Dr Ambedkar have said, that religion cannot determine nationhood, Tharoor told reporters in Parliament premises.

Ours is a country for everybody and everybody, irrespective of religion, has equal rights in this country, and the Constitution that they wrote reflected that. Today, this bill undermines this fundamental tenet of the Constitution, he added.

The draft legislation is expected to sail through Lok Sabha, where the BJP has a big majority, and is unlikely to face serious hurdles in Rajya Sabha as well as the ruling party has often managed the support of parties like the BJD, TRS and YSR Congress for its flagship agenda.

Top BJP leaders, including its president and Home Minister Amit Shah, have held extensive parleys with political parties and citizen groups from the Northeast to assuage their concerns by incorporating some of their major concerns to protect the local ethnic and tribal interests.

The Modi government had tabled the bill in Parliament in the last year of its previous term as well. Lok Sabha had passed it but it was blocked by Rajya Sabha. The government is believed to have effected certain changes in the previous version of the bill in its new avatar.

Despite facing serious opposition, including from allies, the ruling BJP has expressed its determination time and again to the bill. Senior party leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had on Tuesday asked BJP MPs to be present in large numbers in Parliament when the bill is tabled.

This bill is as important as the move to nullify Article 370, he had said to underscore its ideological importance for the saffron party.

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi:

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday submitted a notice in the Lok Sabha to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill at the introduction stage on the grounds that it "violates" the fundamental right to equality. Tharoor submitted the notice this morning under under Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. The Bill violates the Fundamental Right to Equality prescribed by Article 14 since it infringes upon the principle of "equality before law" and the "equal protection of laws" guaranteed to all persons, including non-citizens, Tharoor said in his notice.

The Bill endorses the idea of religious discrimination by allowing individuals of only six religious identities to acquire citizenship while excluding the individuals belonging to other religious identities, he said.

It is, therefore, beyond the legislative competence of the House to enact a "legislation of this nature" since Article 13 clearly states that "the State shall not make any law which takes away or abridges the rights conferred" by Part III of the Constitution, Tharoor argued.

Citing these reasons, Tharoor said he wishes to oppose the proposed Bill and request the permission of the Speaker, to elaborate upon these submissions before the House in a "full discussion" so that the motion for introduction is not allowed, the notice read.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there.

The Congress has said it will oppose "tooth and nail" the Bill in Parliament as it is against the country's Constitution and its secular ethos. In an interview to PTI on Sunday, Tharoor had said the passage of the Bill will mark the definitive victory of Mohammed Ali Jinnah's thinking over that of Mahatma Gandhi's, asserting that the exercise of granting citizenship on the basis of religion will reduce India to a "Hindutva version of Pakistan".

The former Union minister also alleged that the BJP government wants to single out "one community" and refuses to grant its members asylum from oppression on the same conditions as other communities. Tharoor said even if the Bill is passed by both the Houses of Parliament, he is confident that no bench of the Supreme Court will allow such a "blatant violation" of the fundamental tenets of India's Constitution to go unchecked.

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Lahore:

Pakistan's ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently undergoing treatment in London, may be shifted to the US next week for better medical care for his multiple diseases, a media report said on Monday. Sharif, 69, left for London from Pakistan on November 19 in an air ambulance for medical treatment after the Lahore High Court allowed him to travel abroad for four weeks. The four-week duration can be extended further on his doctors' recommendations. The three-time prime minister and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML-N supremo is suffering from multiple health ailments, including an immune system disorder causing low platelet count.

"Nawaz Sharif is likely to fly to the US on December 16 for medical treatment of his ailment there," the Dawn quoted Sharif's family sources as saying.

The medical tests conducted in London revealed that blood supply to a part of Sharif's brain was obstructed causing low platelet count issue and the surgical procedure facility required to treat it was available only in Boston, USA, the report said.

A group of senior PML-N leaders is in London, but they were so far not allowed to visit him and briefed on Sharif's condition by his personal physician Adnan Khan, it said.

The PML-N supreme leader has been residing at the Avenfield flats owned by his son Hasan Nawaz in London since November 20.

The doctors in Pakistan had recommended that Sharif should go abroad for treatment after his condition continued to deteriorate despite the best possible care in the country.

Sharif was accompanied by his younger brother and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, his personal physician Khan and other paramedical personnel when he left from Lahore airport for London via Qatar in the air ambulance which had arrived from Doha and was equipped with an intensive care unit and an operation theatre.

Last month, the Lahore High Court ordered the Imran Khan government to remove Sharif's name from the no-fly list or the Exit Control List (ECL).

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government granted a one-time permission to Sharif for four weeks to travel abroad for his treatment provided he submitted indemnity bonds worth Rs 700 crore.

Sharif challenged this condition in the court terming it 'illegal' and a "trap" of prime minister Khan to use them (bonds) for his political gains.

Sharif had secured eight weeks bail on medical grounds in October from the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving seven years imprisonment. He also got bail from the Lahore High Court in the money laundering case.

He agreed to go to the UK for treatment, heeding doctors' advice and accepting his family's request. He was scheduled to leave for London on November 10. However, he could not leave as his name figured in the no fly-list.

The former prime minister was lodged in the Kot Lakhpat jail but was later shifted to the custody of the National Accountability Bureau which is probing the Sharif family in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption case.

In December last year, an accountability court had sentenced Sharif to seven years in prison in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case and acquitted him in the Flagship case.

The Sharif family has denied all corruption charges and termed them as politically motivated.

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The Biden administration and Illinois two U.S. senators marked the second year of captivity for a former U.S. Navy diver from Lombard abducted by Taliban associates while working in Afghanistan.

Mark Frerichs, a 59-year-old civil engineer, remains missing despite early searches and rescue attempts by American intelligence agencies and armed forces following his sudden disappearance from Kabul in late January 2020. Frerichs is believed to be in the custody of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

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Mark Frerichs, a Lombard native who was kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2020, poses in an undated photo. (Charlene Cakora)

In a statement released on Sunday, the president demanded that the Taliban release Frerichs, but gave no indication of whether his administration was negotiating the terms of his release.

Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice, President Joe Biden said in a statement to mark the second anniversary of the kidnapping on Monday. The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable.

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The statement came as Afghanistan faces a thorny humanitarian crisis following the U.S. withdrawal in August. The Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country and the foreign aid that been flowing into the country largely halted, putting at risk the lives of millions of Afghans, who could starve or freeze to death.

Frerichs family has expressed frustration over the slow pace of diplomats working for his release. His sister Charlene Cakora, who couldnt be reached for comment Monday, released a statement saying that her family is grateful for Bidens words. But what we really want is to have Mark home, she said. We know the president has options in front of him to make that happen and hope Marks safe return will become a priority for him personally.

In a joint statement released Monday, Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, both Illinois Democrats, said the U.S. would do whatever it can to secure his safe return from the Taliban.

Securing the safe return of potentially the only remaining U.S. hostage of the war in Afghanistan, a Navy Veteran who served this nation honorably, is an urgent matter and we were glad to see President Bidens statement acknowledging the situation and forcefully calling for Mark Frerichs immediate release, Duckworth and Durbin said in the statement. Our attention must be devoted to continuing to push on every reasonable lever to secure the safe return of Mark Frerichs to his family.

Frerichs, who graduated from Glenbard East High School in Lombard and trained to be a diver during his six years in the Navy, spent more than a decade in Afghanistan working on numerous civil engineering projects, according to his family.

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Mark is a civil engineer who was helping with construction projects for the benefit of the Afghan people when he was taken captive, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement over the weekend. Despite his innocence, he remains held hostage by the Taliban and its affiliates.

Frerichs was taken captive by someone who met with him in Kabul under the false pretense that they would hire him on a project, according to his family and U.S. officials. Navy SEALs and U.S. intelligence agencies assisted in trying to locate and free Frerichs, including a raid by Navy commandos days after his Jan. 31, 2020, abduction, but his trail went cold, an Associated Press investigation found.

In May 2020, the FBI released a poster in multiple languages seeking information on Frerichs kidnapping, the same month that an AP investigation found no public indications that Frerichs had been part of the peace negotiations with the Taliban.

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According to published reports, the Taliban has offered to exchange Frerichs for Bashir Noorzai, a convicted Afghan drug trafficker who is serving a life sentence in the U.S.

In a Washington Post op-ed published last week, Cakora appealed to Biden to do whatever was necessary to bring her brother home, including exchanging him for Noorzai.

I understand Noorzai is a convicted criminal, and I cannot speak to whether he deserves to be released. But I know we have held him for more than 16 years and that others who have done a lot worse have been sent home. Its normal for prisoners to be returned after wars end, she wrote.
New Delhi:

Congress Legislative Party leader in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah on Monday took responsibility of the partys poor show in the Assembly bypolls and tendered his resignation. The ruling BJP swept the Karnataka Assembly bypolls by wining 12 of the 15 seats where byelections were held on December 5. The Congress party could manage to win just two seats while the remaining one seat was bagged by an independent candidate.

"As a leader of legislative party, I need to respect democracy. I have resigned as Congress Legislative Party leader. I have submitted my resignation to Sonia Gandhi Ji," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru. He has also resigned as the Leader Of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly.

Senior Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar also conceded defeat, saying that people have accepted defectors and the Congress party agrees with their mandate. "We have to agree with the mandate of the voters of these 15 constituencies. People have accepted the defectors. We have accepted defeat. I don't think we have to be disheartened," Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar said.

Interestingly, 12 of the 15 seats were held by the Congress and the remaining three by its alliance partner JDS. However, the legislators of these constituencies revolted against their respective parties, which led to the collapse of the HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS government. The MLAs later disqualified by the Speaker.

However, they joined the BJP and fought on the saffron party's ticket. After the victory, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that these leaders will be made ministers in his government. "We had given assurance to all the disqualified (Congress-JDS) MLAs that they will be made ministers. So there is no question of backtracking from what we promised them. We will make them ministers and give them responsibility to grow our party base in their area."

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New Delhi:

The Telangana High Court on Monday ordered the state government to preserve the bodies of the four Hyderabad rape suspects, killed by police in an alleged encounter, till December 13. The court will hear the matter again on December 12. Earlier on Friday, the High Court had directed the Telangana government to conduct the autopsy of the accused on camera and preserve their bodies till 8:00 pm on December 9 after representation received in the office of the Chief Justice, requesting judicial intervention into the incident, alleging they were extra-judicial killings.

On Friday morning, the four suspects in the rape and murder of the veterinarian, that triggered nation-wide outrage, were shot dead while in police custody. According to the police, the four men were taken to the crime scene as part of investigation. They alleged attacked police personnel accompanying them with sticks, snatched their weapons and opened fire. All of them were shot dead in the "cross firing," the police caimed.

However, questions were raised on the police theory with several activists alleging "extra judicial killings". The police, on the other hand, said that they acted in self-defence. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also took cognisance of the encounter killings of the four accused in the case and ordered a probe. A seven member NHRC committee visited the mortuary at a state-run hospital in Mahabubnagar district, where their bodies have been kept after post-mortem.

The team, including a forensic medicine expert, examined the bodies and also visited Chattanpalli village, about 50 kms from here, the spot where the charred remains of the woman were found beneath a culvert on November 28, and also the encounter site nearby.

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New Delhi:

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday accused the Congress of looting the nation during its regimes and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ushered in several developmental works. The BJP reiterates its pledge to serve the poor of the country, she said while addressing an election meeting here.

Narendra Modi ji was born in a poor family. But with your blessings, he became the pradhan sevak and initiated several developmental works, the Union minister for women and child development said.

Without taking names, Irani said big leaders go to the homes of the poor during elections for photo op.

But Modi ji knows how women had been suffering from smoke in kitchens. They could not afford an LPG connection. Modi ji introduced the Ujjwala Yojana and now the poor families have started getting free LPG connections, she said.

The BJP leader alleged that the Congress only indulged in looting the country.

The BJP has fielded Laxman Prasad Singh from Dhanwar assembly seat, which goes to polls on December 12 during the third phase of the five-phase Jharkhand elections.

The elections will conclude on December 20 and counting will take place on December 23.

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New Delhi :

Any country discriminating against Indian companies in the award of contracts would not be allowed to participate in public procurement contracts, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.

"Free and equal access" is the policy adopted by this government two years ago, he said at an event organised by EXIM Bank here.

"When we took the stand not to be a part of RCEP, one of the major stumbling blocks was also the fact that our businesses in the areas of our strength do not get an equal and fair opportunity when it comes to engaging with contracts or businesses in other geographies," he said.

The minister said he had not heard that China ever opens up any of their government contracts. "They are never opened up for international competition in the garb of being public procurement. And a country like China will be largely public procurement. Many other ASEAN countries, even Japan and Korea, the kind of conditionalities that are put, don't allow too many of our Indian companies to participate in tenders in those countries," he said.

He urged the EXIM Bank to study these and give the feedback so that when the government engages with them, the issue can be brought up for discussion.

"After all, in India, we allow companies from all over to come and participate. If our oil company opens up a contract or our coal company or our power company, more often than not, we allow international bidders to come in but unless we get reciprocal access to those markets, the government has decided that we will stop giving them an opportunity to participate in contracts in India. That is a part of the policy of the Narendra Modi government," he said.

"Today it is in our policy that if our companies are not allowed to do business or opportunities emerging in any country, I can assure you that we will not allow them to participate here," he said.

This was introduced two years ago and it is fair by all global standards, he added. Noting that project export has huge potential for growth, Goyal said it is such a business India clearly has an edge and the government is ready to address all the concerns of the sector. India can improve its position in global trade aided by project export as the country is far behind its potential, he added. He emphasised on expanding the footprint of Indian companies in newer geographies of the world.

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New Delhi:

Twitter has come up with its annual account of top Twitter activity for the year. Twitter India handle has released the list of 2019's top tweets and users. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tweet celebrating the BJP-led NDA's victory in the Lok Sabha Election 2019 is the most liked and retweeted post of the year. The post termed India's "Golden Tweet of 2019" has more than 4,20,000 likes and 1,17,100 retweets so far. Earlier this year, Twitter said the Prime Minister had crossed 50 million followers - the first Indian to do so - and retained his position as the third-most followed person on its platform.

In the post the Prime Minister said India had "won again" and "together we will build a strong and inclusive India". He referenced the "sabka saath..." slogan he coined after the election. He wrote: "Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat".

aaaa aaa + aaaa aaaaa + aaaa aaaaAAAaaa = aaaaa aaaa



Together we grow.



Together we prosper.



Together we will build a strong and inclusive India.



India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

India's "Golden Tweet of 2019" was posted by PM Modi at 2.42 pm on May 23 - shortly after it became clear that BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was heading for a big win in the 2019 General Election. The BJP swept to victory in the Lok Sabha elections by claiming 303 seats on its own; this was only the second time in over three decades that a single party had claimed a majority on its own. The NDA claimed 353 seats in total.

The #loksabhaelections2019 was the most tweeted about hashtags in India this year. The results saw Narendra Modi return for a second term as prime minister with greater popularity and majority.

There was perhaps no surprise PM Modi was the most Tweeted about political leader in India. Among the male politicians, Modi is followed by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and UP CM Yogi Adityanath in terms of most mentions on Twitter in 2019.

And these men were the most Tweeted about leaders in India.#ThisHappened2019 pic.twitter.com/UX8XxU5Ffd  Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) December 10, 2019

Among the female politicians, the most mentioned handles were Union Minister Smriti Irani, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

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New Delhi:

A Delhi Court on Monday allowed Robert Vadra, son-in-law of interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, to travel abroad for a his medical treatment and business purposes. He is currently on anticipatory bail in a money laundering case. Earlier in October, Vadra was admitted in Noidas Metro Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital after his complained of severe neck and back pain. He was admitted to the hospital on the medical advice.

Earlier in June, the businessman was allowed by a Delhi court to travel abroad for six weeks for treatment of an illness. The court had told Vadra to give his travel schedule and to return to India before the deadline. He has been allowed to go to the US and the Netherlands. At an prior instance, brother-in-law of Rahul Gandhi had skipped his appearance before the Enforcement Directorate citing bad health as the reason.

Previously, the Enforcement Directorate had told the Delhi High Court that it wanted custodial interrogation of Robert Vadra because the "money chain" in a case of money laundering was allegedly directly linked to him. Vadra, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, was not cooperating with the investigation in the case, the agency added before Justice Chandra Shekhar. Vadra is facing allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property -- at 12, Bryanston Square -- estimated at 1.9 million pounds (over Rs 17 crore). The case is being probed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million GBP (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him. The agency had told a Delhi court that it has received information about various new properties in London which belong to Vadra. These include two houses--one worth 5 million GBP and the other valued at 4 million GBP, six other flats and more properties. The agency, meanwhile, appointed a new IO for the case as the incumbent Rajiv Sharma is set to be promoted.

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New Delhi:

A year after having made a splash in Patna University Students Union polls, the students wing of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) bit the dust on Sunday failing to win any of the key posts, while RSS affiliate ABVP came up with a diminished performance, holding on to only the general secretarys post.

Last year, the Chhatra JD(U) had bagged the posts of president and treasurer while the ABVPs Priyanka Srivastava had won general secretarys post which she has retained for the outfit even as its candidates lost the battle for vice president and joint secretary.

The student wing of Jan Adhikar Party (JAP), a fledgling outfit floated by former Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and backed by the Leftist AISF, came out with a stunning performance as its candidates Manish Kumar and Amir Raza were elected as president and joint secretary.

Ultra-left AISA made a comeback of sorts as Komal Kumari, fighting for the post of the treasurer, emerged victorious. Nishant Kumar, the candidate of Chhatra RJD - students wing of Lalu Prasads party - bagged the vice presidents post.

Pappu Yadav, left high and dry since his defeat in the Lok Sabha polls held this year, rejoiced at the victory of his candidates and remarked on his official twitter handle, This is not just a victory but a huge responsibility. We dedicate our success to mathematician Vashishth Narayan Singh.

Singh, who died last month after spending years in penury and fighting mental illness, was an alumnus of the Patna University.

The Bihar BJP sought to downplay the poor show of the ABVP, which came less than a year before assembly elections are scheduled in the state.

The ABVP is not a student organization of the BJP, but ideologically we correlate with each other.Congratulations to all winners and participants, party spokesman Nikhil Anand tweeted.

A studied silence was maintained over the results by the chief ministers party, in contrast with the jubilations that had erupted following Chhatra JD(U)s stunning victory last year, which had caused bad blood between the party as well as its alliance partner BJP.

A visit to the vice-chancellors office, just ahead of the elections, by poll strategist-turned- JD(U) national vice president Prashant Kishor had triggered a major controversy and ABVP supporters had pelted his vehicle with stones alleging that he was trying to influence the student body elections.

After some ABVP leaders were rounded up by police in connection with the attack on the car, a delegation of BJP MLAs had rushed to the Raj Bhavan late in the night before staging a dharna in front of the police station concerned, which was discontinued only after the detained student activists were let off.
Lucknow:

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Monday cleared a proposal to set up 218 fast-track courts for hearing cases pertaining to crimes against children and rapes. State law minister Brajesh Pathak told reporters that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed concern over crimes against women. "The UP Cabinet has decided that for hearing of cases of rapes and crimes committed on children, 218 fast-track courts will be set up. Of these, 144 courts will hear cases of rape, while 74 courts will hear cases in which POCSO Act has been slapped," he said. For these fast-track courts, 218 posts of additional session judge have been created, and staff posts for the court will also be created. "As far as the costs incurred in running the courts, 60 per cent will be borne by the Centre, while the state government will spend 40 per cent. An estimated expenditure of Rs 63 lakh will be incurred on each of the new fast-track court," Pathak also said.

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New Delhi:

In the last 5 years, more than 7,000 students have dropped out of India's premier Engineering Insititute, IIT. The dropout data was revealed by the MHRD in the Lok Sabha while talking about the recently launched exit option system that allows students of top Engineering Institutes like IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) and IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology) to switch from BTech to BSc courses after the 2nd semester.

Meanwhile, the exact number of dropouts from IIITs were not available, and according to sources, Indian Institute of Information Technology unlike IIT has not welcomed the idea of exit option to students who find it difficult with the academic pressure and choose to switch courses in the process.

Earlier, IIT Council had left it to the individual institutes to have a say on the exit option that was proposed by the MHRD. In addition, Ministry of Human Resource Development held a forum meeting on October 16 where the proposal was approved, authorizing the IIITs Board of Governors to decide on the modules for the implementation of the Exit Option Programme. As of now, India has 24 IIITs wherein 19 runs on the public-private partnership model

According to some IIITs, the exit option is not the solution to curb the dropout rate at the prestigious engineering institutions. In the meantime, S Sadagopan, director of IIIT-Bangalore has said that the exit option will leave bad effect on the students switching from one course to another and the feeling will stay with them forever. Further, he said that rather than following the path of exit option system students should have trust on the faculty who have decades ofA professionalA experience and know what is best for the students.

On similar lines, IIIT-Hyderabad too rejected the plan to implement the exit option at the institute. PJ Narayanan, director of the institute said that IIIT closely monitors students' performance, particularly in the first year and prepare them to cope comfortably in the 2nd year as well. He further said that the institute follows a flexible learning approach and students can also take fewer credits in a semester according to requirement. Nevertheless, he also said that the exit option might help some struggling students.
New Delhi:

At least 43 people were killed when a massive fire ripped through a four-storey building housing illegal manufacturing units in north Delhi's congested Anaj Mandi area on Sunday morning, in the second deadliest blaze in the national capital. Almost all the deceased were migrant labourers hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. A preliminary probe suggested that a short-circuit triggered the blaze. Power discom BYPL said the fire began due to "internal system" trouble. According to officials the building did not have fire safety clearance and was packed with combustible material like cardboards. Police have arrested the property owner Rehan and his manager.

1. The Anaj Mandi fire tragedy is the worst fire accident in the national capital since the 1997 Uphaar cinema blaze that claimed 59 lives.

2. About 35 fire tenders were rushed after the blaze was reported at 5.22 am in the Anaj Mandi building which housed manufacturing units for glass items, cardboards, handbags and other goods. The building was packed with cardboards, plastic wrappings, garments, rexine, plastic toys and packaging items, aggravating the fire and resulting in dense smoke which suffocated the people trapped inside, they said.

3. It took over 150 firefighters nearly five hours to douse the blaze. As many as 63 people were pulled out of the building. While 43, including one minor, died, 16 were injured. Two fire department personnel were hurt while carrying out rescue work, officials said.

4. Police and fire department officials said many of the fatalities occurred due to suffocation as the people were sleeping when the fire started at around 5 am on the second floor of the building. Those awakened by the fire, suspected by officials to have been triggered by a short-circuit, had to struggle to escape as the exit routes were partially blocked and several windows were found sealed.

5. The narrow lanes of Anaj Mandi area made rescue operations difficult for firefighters, who had to cut window-grills to get access to the building. Some injured were carried to the hospital in auto rickshaws. Firemen made their way through narrow lanes to rescue those trapped inside the blackened building and carried many unconscious labourers on their backs.

6. Police have arrested the property owner Rehan and his manager Furkan and a case has been registered under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) of the IPC. The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

7. The Delhi government ordered a magisterial probe into the tragedy and sought a report within seven days. North Delhi Mayor Avtar Singh said he has asked the municipal commissioner to form a team to probe the exact cause of the fire.

8. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was a "very, very tragic" incident and an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each will be given to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 1 lakh to the injured. Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased. The Prime Minister approved Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured. The amount will be paid from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund, the PMO said in a tweet. BJP, announced Rs 5 lakh to the families of each of the deceased and Rs 25,000 for treatment of the injured.

9. Official sources claimed civic authorities had last week "surveyed" the Anaj Mandi building but the upper floors were found to be locked due to which the entire structure could not be inspected. Officials were to visit the building again to survey the upper floors and accordingly issue a show-cause notice, they said.

10. An intense political blame game erupted over the incident, with the BJP holding the Kejriwal government responsible for the incident and the AAP alleging that the saffron party was doing politics over dead bodies. The Congress found fault with both the BJP, which is power in all three municipal corporations here, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

(With PTI Inputs)
A Black woman has never served on the U.S. Supreme Court, but there is no shortage of well-qualified individuals available to break that shameful barrier. This was made clear enough last week with the announcement that Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring and President Joe Biden is keeping his campaign promise to appoint a Black woman to the nations highest court. Speculation quickly turned to a handful of judges who have served with distinction, including, perhaps most prominently, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a former clerk to Justice Breyer who now sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Her resume is impeccable, as are the resumes of at least a half-dozen others, including Leondra Kruger of the California Supreme Court and Minnesota U.S. District Court Judge Wilhelmina Wright.

But when it comes to this historic opportunity to right a longstanding wrong, one of the possible nominees stands out for the leadership shes shown in the cause of civil rights. She has been one of this nations most important voices for voting rights. She has taught a generation of law students in Maryland, is a deeply respected advocate for Baltimore City and understands issues facing the nations disenfranchised. And though she was born and raised in New York City, she has long lived in the Baltimore area, and continues to do so, despite her national prominence.

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That person is Sherrilyn Ifill, outgoing head of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and we urge President Biden to fill his promise to nominate someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity by submitting her name. Just as Baltimores Thurgood Marshall, the former chief counsel to the NAACP, became the first Black man to be nominated to the Supreme Court in 1967, Ms. Ifill would be the ideal to break a similar barrier in 2022.

Certain Republicans in Congress and the right-wing media have already attempted to characterize Mr. Bidens approach to the nomination as some sort of unseemly new politicization of the court, ignoring how past presidents have made similar promises of diversity. That list includes Ronald Reagan and, most recently, Donald Trump, who pledged to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat with a woman, which he did with Amy Coney Barrett. Or is it race that upsets these critics so? If so, they ought to consider how past presidents stuck exclusively with white men from 1789 until Mr. Marshalls belated arrival 55 years ago.

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Not all Republicans find fault with the effort to diversify the court. In an interview over the weekend with CBS Face the Nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham, endorsed South Carolina U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs, a Black woman, as a nominee and said he was in the camp of making sure the court and other institutions look like America. In fact, he said that was a goal of the GOP, to recruit women and people of color to make the party look more like America.

Still, should Ms. Ifill become the nominee, you can bet many conservatives will attempt to dismiss her as firebrand, a vocal special interest advocate lacking in judicial experience. But not having served on the bench would put the lawyer in good company among justices, including William Rehnquist, Earl Warren and William O. Douglas, none of whom were judges prior to their joining the U.S. Supreme Court. Choosing an appellate judge might be a safe pick, sure, but President Biden should understand this is not the moment for half-heartedness.

One of the more glaring failures of the Biden administration to date has been its inability to make progress on voting rights, even as states with checkered histories in race relations seek to limit ballot access. Republicans have frequently mischaracterized efforts to protect the voting franchise as a federal takeover of elections, which it is not. Ms. Ifill understands this as well as anyone, and we would look forward to the moment when certain Senate Judiciary Committee members  Josh Hawley of Missouri and Tom Cotton of Arkansas come to mind  try to peddle their specious arguments on the nominee. That kind of gaslighting may fly on Fox News, but it wouldnt get them a passing grade in Professor Ifills University of Maryland School of Law class.

Ms. Ifill has spent a career as a civil rights advocate and is highly qualified for this unique moment. Her addition to the court cant change the balance of power. Conservatives hold a 6-3 majority now. That will no doubt continue no matter whom the president nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms. But she can make the argument for voting rights that Americans need to hear right now. And in so doing, help all of us better understand the constitutional values the nation so desperately needs to rediscover and reaffirm.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
New Delhi:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will table the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Opposition has slammed the Bill as divisive and communal in nature. Now, a latest report suggests that even RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) had raised concerns over the Bill. The officials at Indias external spy agency reportedly told the lawmakers back in January that Pakistan may exploit the legal framework of the Bill to push its own people. A Deccan Chronicle report said that the R&AW's concerns were placed before a Joint Parliamentary Committee, which scrutinised the now lapsed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 earlier when one of its Joint Secretary deposed before the panel headed by BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal.

Our only concern has been that the agencies who are inimical to us should not have a legal framework within which they can exploit our situation and infiltrate their own people into our own country. That is a matter of great concern for us," the R&AW official was quoted as saying in the panel report placed in Parliament.

In their deposition before the panel, the Intelligence Bureau officials had said that the immediate beneficiaries of the Bill would be 31,313 people Hindus and other minority community members from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Now, it is believed that the Modi Government tweaked to the Bill, which will also help the Centre to tackle the pressure from the North-East. The new Bill, which will be tabled in the Lok Sabha, will take specifically address the concerns raised by Manipur. This means that the new Bill will exclude areas, which are under the Inner Line Permit regime and those currently placed under the Sixth Schedule.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, which proposes to ease the citizenship process for non-Muslim illegal immigrants, will not be applicable on entire North-East.

Key opposition parties like the Congress and Trinamool Congress have severely criticised the bill. Congresss Shashi Tharoor said it violates the basic idea of India that religion can never be a reason for citizenship.

Those who believe that religion should determine nationhood...that was the idea of Pakistan, they created Pakistan. We have always argued that our idea of nation was what Mahatma Gandhi, Nehruji, Maluana Azad, Dr Ambedkar have said, that religion cannot determine nationhood, Tharoor told reporters in Parliament premises.

Ours is a country for everybody and everybody, irrespective of religion, has equal rights in this country, and the Constitution that they wrote reflected that. Today, this bill undermines this fundamental tenet of the Constitution, he added.

The draft legislation is expected to sail through Lok Sabha, where the BJP has a big majority, and is unlikely to face serious hurdles in Rajya Sabha as well as the ruling party has often managed the support of parties like the BJD, TRS and YSR Congress for its flagship agenda.

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New Delhi:

Fuel Rates Today: After remaining unchanged for two consecutive days, the prices of petrol and diesel witnessed a marginal hike on Monday, December 9. As per the Indian Oil website, the petrol rates are Rs 75.00 per litre in Delhi, Rs 80.65 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 77.67 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 77.97 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, diesel prices in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai remained at Rs 66.04, Rs 69.27, Rs 68.45 and Rs 69.81 per litre respectively.

In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.29 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 66.35 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 74.49 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 65.35 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.

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New Delhi:

The 11-hour Northeast bandh called by an umbrella body of students' organisations of the region to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill began at 5 am on Tuesday. The North East Students' Organisation (NESO), backed by various other bodies and political parties, will observe the shutdown till 4 pm. Security was beefed up in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan if they faced religious persecution there, was passed in the Lok Sabha with 311-80 votes on Monday night, after more than seven hours of debate and discussions. The Bill will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha for its nod.

Indigenous people of the Northeastern states are scared that the entry of these people will endanger their identity and livelihood.

Assam: All Assam Students' Union (AASU) holds a protest in Dibrugarh against #CitizenshipAmendmentBill which was passed in Lok Sabha, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/En1Zl7IgzE  ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2019

Various organisations of the region have launched a series of agitations against the Bill.

Parties and organisations such as the Congress, AIUDF, All Assam Students Union, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union, Khasi Students Union and the Naga Students Federation are backing the NESO to observe the bandh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night expressed delight over the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, saying the proposed law is in line with India's centuries old ethos of assimilation and belief in humanitarian values.

"Delighted that the Lok Sabha has passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 after a rich and extensive debate. I thank the various MPs and parties that supported the Bill. This Bill is in line with India's centuries old ethos of assimilation and belief in humanitarian values," he tweeted.

He said he would like to specially applaud Home Minister Amit Shah for lucidly explaining all aspects of the measure. "He also gave elaborate answers to the various points raised by respective MPs during the discussion in Lok Sabha," Modi said.

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New Delhi :

Hours after the last rites of Unnao rape victim, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday suspended seven policemen for negligence of duty. The action against the policemen was taken after taking cognizance of the death of the Unnao rape victim, who was set on fire allegedly by the men accused of raping her a year ago.

"Ajay Kumar Tripathi, SHO of Unnaos Bihar police station, along with six other police personnel, has been suspended, for negligence during duty in connection with the death of rape victim," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi told PTI.

The development came hours after the last rites of the 23-year-old Unnao rape victim were performed at her native village on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. She was laid to rest in the fields belonging to her family, where the mausoleum (mazaar) of her grandparents is situated.

A large number of local residents and officials were present. Villagers from all walks of life paid their last respects. Earlier, the family members had refused to perform the last rites until Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths visit. However, they agreed after government assured them of 24X7 security and job for her sister. Her brother will also be allowed license to hold arms for self defense.

Also Read | After Unnao Victim's Death, On Hunger Strike, Swati Maliwal Says Ashamed Of Modi Govt

The woman was set afire by five men, including two of her alleged rapists, on Thursday morning when she was going to Rae Bareli to attend a court hearing in the rape case. She sustained 90 per cent burn. After being set on fire, the woman ran for a kilometre shouting for help but nobody came to her rescue. According to reports, she had to call thr ambulance herself. She died at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital during the treatment.

Following her death, massive protests broke out in Lucknow and a candle march was carried out in the national capital. Locals at her village reportedly heckled Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj and two state Cabinet ministers when they visited her family.

(With PTI inputs)

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Washington:

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has introduced a Congressional resolution urging India to end the restrictions on communications in Jammu and Kashmir as swiftly as possible and preserve religious freedom for all residents. The resolution, introduced in the House of Representatives after several weeks of efforts by Jayapal on Friday, has only one co-sponsor - Republican Congressman Steve Watkins from Kansas. Its a simple resolution, which cannot be voted in the other chamber, Senate, and does not has the force of law.

Ahead of the introduction of the resolution, Indian-Americans from across the US urged her in various settings against it. Her office is believed to have received more than 25,000 emails from Indian-Americans in addition to in-person meetings by several representations of Indian-Americans.

Indian-Americans held peaceful demonstrations outside her office against her move to table the resolution on Kashmir.

The resolution urges India to lift the remaining restrictions on communication and to restore internet access across all of Jammu and Kashmir as swiftly as possible.

India has defended imposition of restrictions in the Kashmir Valley on the grounds that they were put to prevent Pakistan from creating more mischief through proxies and terrorists following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.

While the resolution recognises the dire security challenges faced by India in Jammu and Kashmir and the continuing threat of state-supported cross-border terrorism, the resolution urges India to refrain from the use of threats and excessive force against detained people and peaceful protesters.

It requests India to swiftly release arbitrarily detained people and refrain from conditioning the release of detained people on their willingness to sign bonds prohibiting any political activities and speeches.

The resolution claims that there is photographic evidence indicating that detained people have been required to sign surety bonds forbidding them from making statements or participating in political activities as a condition of their release.

India has denied these allegations. India maintains that the revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs special status was its sovereign decision and it cannot accept any interference in its internal affairs.

The Indian government has said that the abrogation of Article 370 was in the interests of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. It maintains the move will help them get rights that have been denied to them for many decades.

Among other things, the resolution urges India to allow international human rights observers and journalists to access Jammu and Kashmir and operate freely throughout India, without threats.

Noting that Indias Constitution mandates a secular state that upholds the rights of all citizens to the freedoms of religion, expression, and speech and to equal treatment before the law, the resolution also condemns all religiously motivated violence, including against religious minorities.

The resolution introduced by Jayapal, the first-ever Indian-American woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, is the second such resolution in the US Congress on Kashmir.

The first one introduced by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib on November 21 failed to get even a single co-sponsor. Her resolution was announced on Twitter by a Pakistani American and a senior official of Council on American?Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights, and advocacy group.

Congressional observers point that Tlaib, Jayapal along with Ilhan Omar, are the three lawmakers to be taking the lead on anti-India stand inside the House of Representatives.

Despite intense efforts post-August 5, this group has managed to get just three lawmakers, including one outside their circle, for two resolutions on Kashmir, is reflective that their stand on Kashmir has gained little traction inside the Congress.

Ravi Batra, an eminent Indian American attorney from New York, on Saturday accused Jayapal of being unprincipled, anti-Hindu, pro-terror and shamelessly pandering for political advantage.

I reject with extreme prejudice - unprincipled self-promoting liberal lunatics who have never governed - folks like Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, who merely pander for political advantage shamelessly, Batra said in a statement.

Batra had testified before House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia, the Pacific and Non-Proliferation on October 22, which essentially ended up being in an anti-India tirade by a small group of lawmakers.

Testifying before the Congressional sub-committee at the invitation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Eliott Engel, Batra had said terror needs to be eradicated to protect human rights.

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New Delhi:

In an attempt to resist crippling US trade embargoes, Irans president said on Sunday his country will depend less on oil revenue next year. Iran is in the grip of an economic crisis. The US re-imposed sanctions that block Iran from selling its crude oil abroad. The budget sends a message to the world that despite the sanctions, we will manage the country, President Hassan Rouhani told the opening session of Parliament.

The proposed budget will counter maximum pressure and sanctions by the US, he said. Rouhani added that Iran will also benefit from a USD 5 billion loan from Russia thats being finalized.

He said the US and Israel will remain hopeless despite their goal of weakening Iran through sanctions.

In his speech, Rouhani only touched on a few areas of the draft budget for the financial year starting late March 2020, which must be scrutinised and voted on by parliament. All our efforts are geared towards reducing these hardships to some extent so it can be more tolerable, he told deputies.

I deem it necessary here to tell the honourable representatives that the criteria of our budget is still based on maximum pressure and continuation of Americas sanctions, he said.

Irans economic woes in part fueled the anger seen in widespread protests last month that Iranian security forces violently put down. Amnesty International says the unrest killed over 200 people. Iran has not given any nationwide death toll so far.

Irans economy has primarily been battered since the country has been locked in a standoff with the United States and its Gulf Arab allies after US President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 deal that gave it relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Irans sovereign wealth fund, whose board of trustees includes President Hassan Rouhani, as well as Etemad Tejarate Pars, a company that the Treasury Department said had sent money internationally on behalf of Irans defence ministry.

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New Delhi:

A massive fire at a Delhi factory claimed at least 43 lives, mostly labourers, early on Sunday. Soon after the fire broke out at the Anaj Mandi, a man in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor woke up to a frantic call from his close friend around 5 am, telling him that he was going to die. A

In the last chilling call, the 30-year-old worker -- identified as Musharraf Ali -- who also belonged to Bijnor -- can be heard requesting his friend, Monu Aggarwal (33), to "take care of things at home". The audio recording of the entire conversation is available with News Nation.

Musharraf Ali is also heard pleading with his friend to take care of his wife and four children after he was gone.

"Monu, khatm hone wala hoon aaj (Monu, I am going to die today). There is fire everywhere. Brother, please come to Delhi tomorrow and take me. There is fire everywhere and no way to escape," Ali told his brother.

"I will not survive today. Please take care of my family, brother... I am not able to breathe... just come and take me...take care of the family," he further said.

Ali also told his brother to break the news of his death to the elders of the house first.

When his brother asked him to try save himself, he said: "Ab koi raasta nahi bachaA (there is no way now)".

"I am about to die brother, just three-four minutes remain...even if I die, I will be with you," he said.

India Today reported that recently, both of them had attended the wedding of a common acquaintance in Bijnore. As the news of a fire at Delhi Anaj Mandi broke, Monu rushed to Delhi with Musharaf's cousin. It took them six hours to reach the LNJP Hospital.

"I have lost a brother. I will live by my commitment to help his family but I have lost everything today. My best friend is gone forever," Monu told India Today.

Ali is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. He had been working at the factory for the last four years.

The scene was equally grim at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital (LHMC Hospital) where nine of the victims were brought dead, besides one injured person.

Family members, fellow villagers and acquaintances were frantically looking for survivors, from one hospital to another, and urged police authorities to help in tracing them.

Bihar native Wajid Ali sank down to the floor in front of the mortuary at LHMC Hospital after seeing the body of his young cousin and learning that his two brothers are untraceable after the massive blaze.

Ali, in his 20s, said he works in a bag-making unit in the same area. He woke up to the sad news and rushed from one hospital to another looking for his family members, only to find his cousin's body at the Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital (LHMC),

Ten victims were brought to this hospital in central Delhi, nine of them dead and one survivor who was admitted in the ICU. As many as 34 people were brought dead at LNJP Hospital, where 15 injured were admitted. Most of the victims were labourers, doctors said.

At LHMC Hospital, friends and relatives were looking for 14-year-old Mohammed Sahmat and 13-year-old Mohamed Mahbub, who were present in the factory during the fire.

Mahbub's uncle Mohammed Hakim, who is a rickshawpuller and lives in Hari Nagar, was left in despair as he saw the body of his nephew with burn injuries in the mortuary.

"If Allah is merciful, we will find Sahmat," Arman said, still nursing hope of finding the teenager alive.

The tragic incident prompted visit from high-profile politicians, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union ministers Hardeep Puri and Harsh Vardhan, Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Delhi Industry Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa to the LNJP Hospital.

The BJP leaders also visited the LHMC Hospital and met the victims' families. The heart-rending incident brought back tragic memories of the Uphaar cinema hall blaze in 1997.

"This is perhaps the biggest tragedy of this nature after the Uphaar mishap," Puri told reporters at LHMC Hospital.

A large number of security personnel were deployed at the two facilities, even as emotions ran high and relatives wailed in grief ruing the fate of their family members.

"I saw my 22-year-old brother in a body bag. What will I tell my parents in Bihar," said a grieving Haider Ali, as he broke down after visiting the mortuary.

Also Read |A 'Abbu, Please Save Me': From Frantic Phone Calls For Help To Family Reunions That Won't Happen

Mohammed Mustaqeen, 18, from Saharsa, Bihar, said, his elder brother Mohammed Afsad, 24, died in the incident.

"Afsad worked on the third floor in the jacket manufacturing unit. He had been working there for six years. Afsad couldn't celebrate Eid this year with his family. He had last visited home three months ago. Now, he would never come home for Eid," a mourning brother said.

"My brother was to leave for home town in Bihar tomorrow morning. He had asked me to buy items of daily use for house," said Mustaqeen, who had come to Delhi a few months ago.

Almost all the deceased were migrant labourers hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Police and fire department officials said many of the fatalities occurred due to suffocation as the people were sleeping when the fire started at around 5 am on the second floor of the building that did not have fire safety clearance and was packed with combustible material like card boards.

It took over 150 firefighters nearly five hours to douse the blaze. As many as 63 people were pulled out from the building. While 43, including one minor, died, 16 were injured. Two fire department personnel were hurt while carrying out rescue work, officials said.

Lok Sabha MP Verma demanded that a "high-level inquiry should be done in 48 hours and tell us what were the lapses, and the people responsible for it"

Sirsa said, "We have learnt no lesson from Uphaar tragedy. We stand with the families in the hour of grief".
ISLAMABAD: Following the killing of a pastor by armed gunmen, the Christian community in Peshawar has shut down all educational institutions and churches.

According to police reports, William Siraj, a pastor at a church within the Chamkani police station borders, was with a colleague priest on Sunday near the Ring Road area when unknown gunmen opened fire. Siraj died on the scene, while the priest who was with him was transferred to Lady Reading Hospital.

"Within the Gulbahar police station's jurisdiction, the event occurred along Ring Road. A large police detachment had arrived on the location, and a search was underway. Evidence was gathered at the crime scene, and CCTV cameras were examined as well "According to a statement released by the police authorities.

"While further inquiry was underway, the body was transported to the hospital for an autopsy." According to preliminary investigative findings, at least two perpetrators were involved in the assault, which authorities have labelled a terrorist act.

"It was a sad attack on the Christian community. A thorough investigation has been initiated. Members of the minority community were allegedly targeted. As a result, it was a terrorist attack "Abbas Ahsan, a police officer of the Capital City Police Department, remarked (CCPO).

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Islamabad: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chairman of Pakistan's main opposition alliance PDM and chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, said on Sunday that Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), should not expect any from Pakistan's PM Imran Khan. He has accused Imran Khan's government of making Kashmir deal.

Fazlur Rehman said that Imran Khan will not do anything for Kashmiris, the international community should pay attention to it. He has appealed to the international community to take strong steps against the action of the Indian Army in Kashmir. Talking to the media, Fazlur Rehman said that Pakistan itself has handed over Kashmir to India with its own hands. He said, 'It is very unfortunate that we ourselves have given Kashmir to India. I suggest to the people of Kashmir that they should not expect anything from the Government of Pakistan. This government has made a deal regarding Kashmir. But we will not let you down.

He said that JUI-F will organize various programs across the country on the upcoming Kashmir Day on February 5. He said that his party will mobilize the people on the Kashmir issue on this day.

Japan PM Kishida not considering Covid state of emergency for Tokyo

Popular Support for Australian Govt has plummets a three-year low: Poll survey.

China harassing foreign reporters severely: Report
The United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees stated on Monday that it has begun disbursing monetary help to Gaza Strip residents for the rehabilitation of homes destroyed during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in May 2021.

According to media reports, the UN agency reported that from January to April this year, $1.9 million was given to repair 602 partially damaged dwellings and sustain 555 families in the region through transitional shelter cash assistance. UNRWA also said that its staff have contacted around 700 new families to sign up for their repair entitlement of up to $1.5 million, which will be distributed through banks next week.

Egypt brokered a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in May 2021, ending 11 days of violence between Israel and militant organisations led by Hamas, during which roughly 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of buildings, destroying 1,650 homes and causing severe and moderate damage to 60,000 others.

UNICEF asks US to reevaluate its Afghanistan policy

Worldwide Covid caseload tops 374.3 Million

The peak of Omicron wave Soon to End In Israel: PM Naftali Bennett
Clubs located on The Block, an adult entertainment district in Baltimore, could be forced to comply with a 10 p.m. curfew under legislation that is expected to be considered by the Maryland General Assembly this session. File. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun) (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun)

As theres probably not much demand for lunchtime services at the bars on The Block, if our political leaders get their way and legislate a 10 p.m. curfew on those establishments, what are those politicians redevelopment plans for that several-block strip if those businesses have to permanently close because of the curfew (Owners from other Baltimore business districts join effort to oppose early closing time for The Block, Jan. 25)?

And what about the tax revenue and jobs lost with employees lives devastated? And though some people may be glad to see those types of jobs disappear, what goes on in the backrooms in The Blocks clubs are offenses that Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby would likely refuse to prosecute and right now, shes busy with her own defense attorneys anyway.

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Is there really more serious crime on The Block than other areas of Baltimore? Do these same politicians want to place early curfews on Little Italy and Canton where restaurants recently lost beloved employees to truly horrible city violence? Cant the police assign a few patrols to The Block at closing time to work in conjunction with the clubs private security?

No one is condoning the melees occurring on The Block, but shut the place down? I bet Blaze Starrs G-strings, garters, fur coats and rose petals are spinning, wherever they may be now.

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Bernard Haske, Catonsville

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New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has shown Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, an integral part of India, in the world map, as part of Pakistan and China. This was revealed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shantanu Sen by posting a screenshot of the map of the world. He has written a letter to PM Modi on the issue, urging him to intervene at the earliest.

In his letter to PM Modi, Shantanu Sen has said, "When I opened the WHO's COVID-19 site, I saw a map of India, in which Jammu and Kashmir had a different colour and a small part of it was also of a different colour. When I zoomed in and clicked on them, the Covid statistics of Pakistan and China showed up. ' Sen has reported that India's data came in the map when he clicked on the blue part, but on clicking on the different part, he was showing the Covid data of Pakistan. Shantanu Sen says that a part of Arunachal Pradesh has also been shown as part of China apart from India. Describing the issue as an international issue, Sen has sought immediate intervention from the Indian government in the matter.

.#WHO COVID https://t.co/HSTaKkj0Yc site shows map of #India with a separate colour for Jammu & Kashmir&inside that there is another small portion of a separate colour.

If they are clicked,#Covid datas of #Pakistan & #China are coming.@narendramodi must take up.@MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/prSoZ2IsJg  DR SANTANU SEN (@SantanuSenMP) January 30, 2022

In the year 2021, Twitter tried to remove Jammu and Kashmir from the map of India. In addition, in the year 2020, Leh was shown as part of China by Twitter. Apart from Twitter, Google had shown a wrong map of India in its 'Trends' section, removing parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. After this, people on social media had protested against google being shown the wrong map of India and instructed it to correct the map as soon as possible. People also shared the map put up by the Government of India during this period. The Indian government had released a clear map of both of them after Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were declared as Union Territories, but even after this, platforms like Google and Twitter are not showing them as part of India.

India Corona Updates: 2,09,918 new cases, 959 deaths in last 24 hours

GDP projected at 9% in fy 2022-23, economic survey to be tabled today

Cold wave havoc from MP to Jammu and Kashmir, there will be rain in some areas
NATOs Stoltenberg denies alliance plans to deploy combat troops in Ukraine if Russia invades 31 January, 13:23 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Photo:REUTERS/Johanna Geron)

NATO has no plans to deploy combat troops in Ukraine if Russia invades more Ukrainian territory, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with BBC News on Jan. 30.

In the interview, he called for a balanced approach with regard to rising tensions over Ukraine.

Stoltenberg also said the situation posed a real danger and that nations should continue to work for a political solution.

Russia has been massing troops at the Russian-Ukrainian border since late October.

 

More than 130,000 Russian troops and offensive weapons have been deployed near Ukraines borders and in the temporarily occupied territories, according to the latest intelligence estimate from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

International media have speculated that Russia may invade Ukraine in early 2022, in an operation that could involve up to 175,000 Russian soldiers.

Both U.S. and European officials have expressed concern over the situation. U.S. President Joe Biden in December declared that the White House was working out the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.

The proposed measures include cutting Russia off from the SWIFT international banking system, personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle, and a ban on U.S. dollar transactions with Russia.

On Jan. 14, the U.K.-based Guardian newspaper and the U.S.-based CNN news channel reported that Russia had positioned covert operatives in Ukraine to carry out a false flag operation to use as a pretext for a Russian attack.

While Russia has denied plans to invade, it has also refused to provide assurances that it would not do so, instead demanding that it be provided with security guarantees by the United States and NATO.

In turn, the Ukrainian authorities call on for calm amid the ongoing buildup of Russian troops to the Ukrainian border.

In a video message on Jan. 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine had not increased, but the hype had significantly risen.

He urged not to panic and not succumb to provocations.

Read also: Canada withdraws its military trainers in Ukraine west across the Dnipro River

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraines Security and Defense Council, earlier said that Russia would need more than a million soldiers for a full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov claimed that as of Jan. 24, Russia had not deployed any strike group of troops along the Ukrainian border that could indicate the threat of a large-scale invasion.

He urged Ukrainians not to panic and said they didnt need to pack a go bag.

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Kathmandu, January 31

Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk, on Monday paid a courtesy call on Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Pampha Bhusal at the latters office in Singhadurbar.

The meeting between the duo focused on matters of bilateral interest and concerns of both the countries, it has been said.

On the occasion, mentioning that Nepal has accorded high importance to its partnership with Australia, Minister Bhusal stressed the need for further expanding close bilateral relations between the two countries since 1960.

She underscored the need for increasing mutual cooperation among countries to deal with the ongoing global Covid-19 crisis and climate change challenges.

Praising the ambassadors role in further strengthening the Nepal-Australia partnership, the minister thanked the Government of Australia for its help in Nepals economic and social development.

In response, Ambassador Volk ensured that the Government of Australia would continue its assistance for the enhancement of Nepals economic and humanitarian capacity.

During the meeting, the ambassador said the Australian government was interested in providing its support and cooperation in hydropower, renewable energy and the promotion of electric vehicles in Nepal.

It may be noted that the water resource development strategy for the Kamala river basin conducted by the Government of Nepal in partnership with the Australian government is underway. The strategy was prepared jointly by the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat of Nepal, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation of Australia.
Kathmandu, January 31

The government has launched fresh efforts to list Tilaurakot that had the palace of Lord Buddhas father as per mythology, as a World Heritage site.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation says a new round of efforts are being made to list Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu of the Lumbini region as a new World Heritage site as per its announcement last fiscal year.

The government has recently prepared a map of the area and it is preparing to announce it as a preserved area, according to the ministry. The ministry is preparing to table a proposal at a cabinet meeting for this.

Previously, the government had also announced to make efforts to list Ramgram of Kapilvastu and the Janaki temple of Dhanusha also. However, the announcement is yet to be implemented.
Austin Bolsters Engineering Capabilities with Strategic Acquisition

CLEVELAND, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Austin Company, a design-builder established more than 140 years ago, has acquired Gala & Associates, Beverly Hills, Michigan. Founded in 1987, Gala provides architectural engineering, design, and project management services for automotive assembly and heavy industrial facilities.

The Austin Company

"Gala & Associates is an exceptional business. I have a high regard for Chuni Gala and his leadership team. The relationships and trust they have earned from the major automotive manufacturers is testament to their values and integrity. Those values align completely with Austin's," said Austin's president and CEO, Mike Pierce. "Gala has a great name, culture, and business model. We are treating this as an acquisition, not a merger."

The acquisition of Gala & Associates compliments The Austin Company's strategy to expand its design and engineering share of the automotive and heavy industrial facilities market. Austin expands Gala's capacity by providing additional structure and support through its network of offices, including its parent company Kajima USA.

"With over 35 years of service and the creation of many treasured relationships throughout the industry, our reputation for design and engineering for the automotive industry is unparalleled. We take pride in our hands-on approach to every project and look forward to continuing to serve our clients while incorporating the resources Austin and Kajima provide to expand our market base and build new relationships," said Chuni Gala, Gala and Associates President.

Austin was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1878. Its headquarters remain in Cleveland, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Irvine, California; Kalamazoo, Michigan; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and London, England.

To learn more, visit The Austin Company  http://theaustin.com , Gala & Associates Inc. https://galaandassociates.com/, and Kajima https://kajimausa.com/ .



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Gala & Associates, Inc.

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Company seeks to advance public understanding of bitcoin mining, while dispelling misinformation, and advocating against building new fossil fuel energy generation

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bit Digital (NASDAQ: BTBT), a leading digital mining company headquartered in New York City with facilities across North America, today reiterated its proactive environmental track-record. The Company will shortly submit a formal written testimony to the New York State Senate Standing Committees on Environmental Conservation, Energy and Telecommunications, and Internet and Technology. The company also announced its intention to provide similar information to certain Members of Congress, following an information request by the office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and several of her colleagues.

Company Logo (PRNewsfoto/Bit Digital, Inc.)

"Our company has made it a point to take a leadership position regarding sustainable practices in the crypto mining industry," said Bryan Bullett, Chief Executive Officer, Bit Digital. "It is at the core of what we do and who we are, because Bit Digital understands that to be successful, our operations must drive innovation and economic opportunity for all members of societywhile doing so in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner."

Bit Digital recently participated in a New York State legislative roundtable regarding the environmental impacts of crypto mining and the industry's long-term role in the State economy. The roundtable was organized by New York State Senate committee chairs Senator Todd Kaminsky, Senator Kevin Parker, and Senator Diane Savino. The panel was an opportunity for key stakeholders and experts to examine and discuss various issues related to digital mining. During that discussion, Bit Digital focused on the company's commitment to environmentally conscious business practices and vowed to assist policymakers in their efforts to better understand benefits and best practices of crypto mining.

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Bit Digital's commitment to sustainability is highlighted in three simple ways:

Utilizing clean energy in their operations

Signing on to the Crypto Climate Accord (CCA)

Joining and embracing the clean energy goals of the Bitcoin Mining Council (BMC)

"We welcome this high-level dialogue that is beginning to take shape in Albany and Washington, and at other levels of government regarding the future of crypto mining," continued Bullett. "Now is the moment for the many aligned actors within our industry to step up."

Bit Digital has strategically sought to increasingly pursue and deploy clean energy in its operations. Hydroelectric, solar, and wind power have helped mitigate the environmental impact of its operations. The Company also seeks to participate in load balancing / voluntary curtailment programs that can help the grid accommodate intermittent renewables.

The Company currently works with an independent ESG consultant, APEX, to self-monitor, set targets, provide transparency, and help improve Bit Digital's percentage of green electricity and other sustainability initiatives. Apex's ESG Ratings and Advisory tools allow Bit Digital to benchmark its ESG performance against international standards and peer performance, and to identify opportunities for improvement and progress over time. By measuring the sustainability and footprint of Bit Digital's mining through this process, the company develops targets to continuously enhance its clean energy usage.

In addition to proactive, eco-focused operations, Bit Digital has aligned itself with the future of technology and crypto mining as a signatory of the Crypto Climate Accord (CCA). The CCA is a private sector-led initiative to decarbonize the crypto and blockchain sector. The CCA brings together organizations that inform, develop, test, and implement new solutions to accelerate crypto's transition to renewable energy. The Accord provides an open space to address challenges, gather requirements, showcase solutions, share learnings, and promote best industry practices.

By becoming a CCA Signatory, Bit Digital made an important public commitment to supporting the "#MakeCryptoGreen" movement. And as a CCA Signatory, Bit Digital has committed to achieve net-zero emissions from the electricity consumption associated with its respective crypto-related operations by 2030 and to report progress toward this net-zero emissions target using best industry practices.

Bit Digital is also a member of The Bitcoin Mining Council (BMC), a voluntary and open forum of bitcoin mining companies and other companies in the bitcoin industry that are committed to the bitcoin network and its core principles. The BMC promotes transparency, shares best practices, and educates the public on the benefits of bitcoin and bitcoin mining. The company has participated in the latest BMC survey of sustainable power and is refining its strategy to further prioritize the use of carbon-free energy in its operations. In the future, Bit Digital intends to operate on 100% carbon-free power.

Several major media outlets have recently chronicled Bit Digital's leading practices, including The Wall Street Journal Magazine (https://bit-digital.com/press-releases/bit-digital-featured-in-the-wall-street-journal-in-depth-video-report/), Bloomberg (https://bit-digital.com/press-releases/bit-digital-featured-in-bloomberg-in-depth-video-report/), and NBC New York (https://www.nbcnewyork.com/lx/tour-a-bitcoin-mining-facility-run-on-clean-energy-thanks-to-niagara-falls/3488485/).

About Bit Digital

Bit Digital, Inc. is a bitcoin mining company headquartered in New York City. Our mining operations are located across North America. For additional information, please visit www.bit-digital.com.

Investor Notice

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under "Risk Factors" in Item 3.D of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. If any material risk was to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. Future changes in the network-wide mining difficulty rate or Bitcoin hash rate may also materially affect the future performance of Bit Digital's production of bitcoin. Additionally, all discussions of financial metrics assume mining difficulty rates as of September 2021. See "Safe Harbor Statement" below.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Bit Digital, Inc., and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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WATERLOO, ON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB), announced today that it has entered into a patent sale agreement with Catapult IP Innovations Inc., a Delaware company, pursuant to which BlackBerry has agreed to sell substantially all of its non-core patent assets to Catapult for total consideration of $600 million.

BlackBerry Logo Black (PRNewsfoto/Blackberry Limited)

Patents that are essential to BlackBerry's current core business operations are excluded from the transaction. BlackBerry will receive a license back to the patents being sold, which relate primarily to mobile devices, messaging and wireless networking. This transaction will not impact customers' use of any of BlackBerry's products, solutions or services.

Catapult is a special purpose vehicle formed to acquire the BlackBerry patent assets. Catapult's principal funding for the acquisition will be a $450 million senior secured term loan, for which it has received $400 million of conditional commitments from a lending syndicate led by Toronto-based Third Eye Capital that includes a Canadian pension fund.

At closing, BlackBerry will receive $450 million in cash and a promissory note in the principal amount of $150 million. The promissory note will be secured by a second lien on the assets of the purchaser and will be subordinated to the rights of the senior lending syndicate. The promissory note will be payable in five equal annual installments of $30 million in cash commencing on the third anniversary of the closing date, provided that the senior loan is not in default.

Completion of the transaction is conditional upon, among other things, satisfaction of all regulatory conditions under the HartScottRodino Antitrust Improvements Act in the United States and the Investment Canada Act. This process could take up to 210 days.

BlackBerry has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its entry into the patent sale agreement, which contains further information including a description of the financing conditions relating to the transaction.

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About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including 195M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.

BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

Investor Contact:

BlackBerry Investor Relations

+1 (519) 888-7465

investor_relations@blackberry.com

Media Contact:

BlackBerry Media Relations

+1 (519) 597-7273

mediarelations@blackberry.com

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the proposed transaction between BlackBerry and Catapult, the amount of consideration BlackBerry will receive in connection therewith, the anticipated timing and results of the proposed transaction and regulatory approvals, the potential impact of the proposed transaction on BlackBerry's customers, the expectations and beliefs of BlackBerry, and other statements that are not historical facts.

The words "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "could", "intend", "believe", "target", "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on BlackBerry's current plans, objectives, estimates, assumptions, expectations and intentions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond BlackBerry's control. Many factors could cause actual achievements with respect to the transaction and the timing of events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainty associated with Catapult's and BlackBerry's ability to complete the proposed transaction on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all; risks and uncertainties related to the required financing and the satisfaction of the regulatory and other conditions to consummate the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the patent sale agreement relating to the proposed transaction; effects relating to the announcement of the proposed transaction or any further announcements or the consummation of the proposed transaction on the market price of BlackBerry's common shares; failure to realize the expected benefits of the proposed transaction, including risks associated with the payment of consideration post-closing and the availability of funds therefor; risks related to future opportunities and plans for BlackBerry's business and results of BlackBerry following completion of the proposed transaction; the risk of litigation in connection with the proposed transaction, including resulting expense or delay; significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; risks related to diverting the attention of BlackBerry management from ongoing business operations; risks related to the proposed transaction disrupting BlackBerry's operations and making it more difficult to conduct business as usual or for BlackBerry to maintain relationships with consumers, resellers, channel partners or other third parties; tax provision changes, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities and other changes in laws and regulatory initiatives; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic; adverse economic, geopolitical and environmental conditions; and other risks and uncertainties affecting BlackBerry, including those described from time to time under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in BlackBerry's SEC filings and reports, including those discussed in BlackBerry's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" section of BlackBerry's MD&A, as well as BlackBerry's Current Report on Form 8-K filed today which contains further details on the patent sale agreement (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). All of these factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on BlackBerry's forward-looking statements. Moreover, other risks and uncertainties of which BlackBerry is not currently aware may also affect its forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements made in this news release are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements and reflect the views stated therein with respect to future events as at such dates. BlackBerry has no intention and undertakes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

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ST. LOUIS, January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cass Information Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASS), the leading provider of transportation, energy, telecom and waste invoice payment and information services, has promoted Martin Resch to president, in addition to his current role as chief operating officer. Eric Brunngraber, previously chairman, president and chief executive officer, will remain as chairman and chief executive officer.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005222/en/

Martin Resch, Cass Information Systems, Inc. (Photo: Business Wire)

"In his short time at Cass, Martin has proven his ability to implement strategic objectives with respect to our invoice payment and information services business," said Brunngraber. "The addition of the president role will provide Martin enhanced responsibilities over technology and other revenue sources."

Prior to joining Cass in November 2020, Resch was senior manager of the commercial banking group of Bank of the West, BNP Paribas in San Francisco, Calif. As executive vice president, Resch functioned as the groups chief administrative officer/chief operating officer with responsibility for strategy, operations, finance, technology and human resources. Other roles included corporate treasurer and leader of a B2B FinTech incubator.

Previously, he engaged in multiple entrepreneurial initiatives related to FinTech and financial markets. For example, Resch founded three equity and index option funds on the Pacific Exchange and, as a member of the board, actively participated in the sale of the Pacific Exchange to Archipelago which was subsequently acquired by the New York Stock Exchange.

Resch, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Austria and speaks fluent German, earned his bachelors degree in computer science from Oregon State University and masters degree in business administration from Cornell University. He is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Graduate School of Banking in Seattle, Washington.

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About Cass Information Systems

Cass Information Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated information and payment management solutions. Cass enables enterprises to achieve visibility, control and efficiency in their supply chains, communications networks, facilities and other operations. Disbursing over $80 billion annually on behalf of clients, and with total assets in excess of $2.5 billion, Cass is uniquely supported by Cass Commercial Bank. Founded in 1906 and a wholly owned subsidiary, Cass Commercial Bank provides sophisticated financial exchange services to the parent organization and its clients. Cass is part of the Russell 2000. More information is available at www.cassinfo.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005222/en/

Contacts

Kenn Entringer at Casey Communications, Inc., (314) 721-2828

kentringer@caseycomm.com
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and BlackRock Renewable Power (BlackRock) today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to lay the foundation for a proposed joint venture (JV) to design, develop, install and operate a nationwide, high-performance charging network for medium- and heavy-duty battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the U.S. With the goal of accelerating the rollout of carbon-neutral freight transportation, start of operations for the future JV is planned for 2022. Initial funding is expected to be comprised of approximately $650 million divided equally among the three parties.

Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and BlackRock Renewable Power (BlackRock) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to lay the foundation for a proposed joint venture to design, develop, install and operate a nationwide, high-performance charging network for medium- and heavy-duty battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the U.S.

Lack of a publicly available, nationwide electric charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles, especially those used for long-haul freight operations, remains one of the biggest barriers for widespread deployment of electric trucks. With formation of this JV, the three parties will be pooling their resources to address this challenge. The parties plan to build a network of charging sites on critical freight routes along the east and west coasts and in Texas by 2026, leveraging existing infrastructure and amenities while adding complementary greenfield sites to fulfill anticipated customer demand. First phase is set to begin construction in 2023.

Initial focus will be on battery electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles followed by hydrogen fueling stations for fuel cell trucks; the sites will also be available for light-duty vehicles to serve the greater goal of electrifying mobility.

The proposed JV will benefit from the broad experience and knowledge of its founding members. NextEra Energy Resources, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, is also a significant investor in electric and charging infrastructure and brings experience optimizing renewable energy, resiliency and grid integration. DTNA offers the expertise of developing electric trucks (start of production of battery electric Freightliner eCascadia and eM2 in 2022/23), walk-in vans and school buses, and the experience of providing consultant services to its customers, the nation's fleet operators. In cooperation with the local utility company Portland General Electric (PGE), DTNA opened the first-of-its-kind public charging site for commercial vehicles in the U.S. BlackRock's Renewable Power group is one of the largest renewable power equity investment platforms in the world. The group seeks to invest across the spectrum of renewable power and energy transition supporting infrastructure globally, with over $9.5 billion in total commitments and investments in over 350 wind and solar projects, in addition to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and battery energy storage systems, across 15 countries and 5 continents. BlackRock's Renewable Power group is a part of BlackRock Real Assets.

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John O'Leary, president and CEO DTNA, said: "This planned joint venture, and our collaboration with BlackRock and NextEra Energy Resources, will address the urgent need for a nationwide battery electric and hydrogen fuel charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles to reach shared climate goals. Our joint investment will act as a catalyst to make a carbon-neutral trucking industry a reality. This project is a critical step toward developing a sustainable ZEV ecosystem across North America, and we look forward to including additional partners as it progresses. We are committed to providing access to this network not only for the DTNA vehicle brands, but also for any manufacturers using predominant industry charging standards and communication protocols."

"Working with Daimler Truck North America and BlackRock, we expect to accelerate the transformation of the transportation sector and make future investments in electrification upgrades, charging stations and renewables," said John Ketchum, president and CEO, NextEra Energy Resources. "This collaboration builds on our market-leading eIQ Mobility software platform for quantifying the value and timing of fleet conversions and our decarbonization-as-a-service platform that help fleets execute on their plans to transition to zero emission electric and hydrogen vehicles."

David Giordano, Global Head of BlackRock's Renewable Power Group, said, "The commercial transportation sector is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and we firmly believe that decarbonization of transportation will be a critical societal focus for the next decade. Having already made several investments in the EV charging infrastructure space around the globe, we also believe that investments in the sector are highly complementary to our renewable power generation investment strategy. We are pleased to collaborate with NextEra Energy Resources and Daimler Truck North America on this proposed joint venture, which has the potential to provide our clients with access to compelling opportunities that support the energy transition."

ABOUT DAIMLER TRUCK NORTH AMERICA

Daimler Truck North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. Daimler Truck North America designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. For more information, visit www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com.

ABOUT NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (together with its affiliated entities, "NextEra Energy Resources") is a clean energy leader and is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., with approximately 23,900 megawatts of total net generating capacity, primarily in 38 states and Canada as of year-end 2020. NextEra Energy Resources, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun based on 2020 megawatt hours produced on a net generation basis, and a world leader in battery storage. The business operates clean, emissions-free nuclear power generation facilities in New Hampshire and Wisconsin as part of the NextEra Energy nuclear fleet. NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

ABOUT BLACKROCK REAL ASSETS

In today's dynamic and complex global investing market, BlackRock Real Assets seeks to help clients access real assets that could help meet their investment goals by providing a distinct range of well defined, outcome orientated strategies, along the investment risk-return spectrum.

BlackRock Real Assets' dedicated teams of industry and sector specialists deliver global reach, with deep local expertise. They have decades of relevant experience, are deeply embedded in their operating industries by sector and geography and have developed strong partnership networks over time. BlackRock's culture of risk management, knowledge sharing and investment discipline sets BlackRock Real Assets apart and underpins all that they do. With over 400 professionals in 30 offices managing over $65 billion in client commitments as of September 30, 2021, BlackRock Real Assets partners with clients to provide solutions tailored to individual portfolio needs such as income, growth, liquid, or balanced real assets outcomes.

Media contacts:

Anja Weinert, anja.weinert@daimler.com

Steven Stengel, steven.stengel@nexteraenergy.com

Cision

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SOURCE Daimler Truck North America LLC
Baltimore will undertake a citywide review of its operations related to vacant properties following the death of three city firefighters last week who were battling a blaze in a vacant rowhouse.

Announced Monday by Mayor Brandon Scott, the review will require officials across all city agencies to report on their efforts to mitigate the citys stubborn vacant property problem. Scott pledged to make the review one of the most consequential undertakings of his administration.

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Under Scotts directive, city agencies and departments have 30 days to provide City Administrator Chris Shorter with a full accounting of efforts to reduce the number of vacant properties and ideas to enhance those programs.

Anything less than our very best attempt at solving the problem would be a discredit to the lives of the brave firefighters we lost last week and the residents we serve day in and day out, Scott said in a news release.

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Last week, fire lieutenants Paul Butrim and Kelsey Sadler and paramedic/firefighter Kenny Lacayo were killed during an early morning fire in the 200 block of S. Stricker St. that is among the most deadly in city history. The crew was trapped when the home they were inside, vacant since at least 2010, partially collapsed. A fourth firefighter, John McMaster, was seriously injured but was released from the hospital three days later.

The fire has drawn attention to the issue of the citys more than 15,000 vacant properties, a persistent problem in depopulating Baltimore that poses a danger to city residents and emergency personnel when fires are reported inside.

As of last week, the city had 15,032 vacant houses, 13,560 of which are privately owned. About one-third are undergoing some kind of transformation, a broad categorization by the city:

being privately rehabilitated;

involved in a receivership action;

slated for inclusion in a larger redevelopment plan;

being prepared for demolition;

city-owned and available for immediate sale.

Scott said the citys Department of Housing and Community Development is on track to file 500 receivership cases during the fiscal year, which ends June 30. Receivership is a legal process by which the city asks for the appointment of a receiver to rehabilitate, sell or demolish a vacant property.

Scott said he would like to increase that figure substantially with the recommendations that come from the review ordered Monday.

The city also aims to improve interdepartmental communications with the review. Baltimore City Fire Department and Department of Housing and Community Development have coordinated previously on efforts to mark properties as unsafe for first responders, but city officials said during a news conference Monday they will look to improve communication.

Fire Chief Niles Ford said the fire department has moved away from marking properties with an X symbol to indicate danger to emergency crews in favor of having a computer system on board emergency vehicles to provide details about the condition of a property.

Within that program, certain structures are marked unsafe, Ford said. Asked whether the system has been updated regularly, Ford said, It should be.

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Were trying to evaluate how recently its been updated, he said.

The home involved in last weeks deadly fire was the scene of a blaze six years ago that injured 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. Efforts by The Baltimore Sun to reach the owners were unsuccessful.

Ford said he has been in contact with officials in Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., since last weeks events to discuss their approaches to vacant properties. The chief said he has also reached out to officials in St. Louis where a firefighter was killed earlier this month battling a blaze in a vacant home when the roof collapsed.

Were evaluating how we can do this more effectively to make sure we expose our officers to as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions when they get on the scene, Ford said.

City Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy has been leading an ongoing effort to acquire and convert, stabilize or demolish vacant houses. Scott said he wants to accelerate and expand the existing program to reduce the number of vacant homes in Baltimore.

Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. >

Scott reiterated a pledge Monday to spend a portion of the citys $641 million in American Rescue Plan dollars on city housing issues. Scott said during a Baltimore Sun Editorial Board meeting in January that $100 million will be dedicated, though he has yet to elaborate on that plan. He declined to answer questions about the funding Monday.

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Scott said the city will investigate legislative solutions on the local and state level as a part of the review process. Council President Nick Mosby has a proposal on the table to revive the citys former Dollar House program, which gave away city-owned vacant homes in exchange for homeowners renovating and living in them.

Unlike the original Dollar House program, Mosbys plan calls for targeting longtime residents who have been renting rather than owning. The plan also is targeted at homes in underserved areas of the city left behind by the racist mortgage lending policies of the past.

Officials across Scotts administration have opposed the proposal, arguing it duplicates existing city services, doesnt offer enough financial support for homebuyers, and runs afoul of the citys charter.

Fewer than 1,500 of Baltimores vacant homes are city-owned, according to city data.

Councilman Ryan Dorsey said last week that the city currently has the ability to issue $900 citations 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 has not received such a citation, he said.

Scott said Monday the Stricker Street property would not have been eligible for such a citation because it was properly secured when it was inspected earlier this month.
In Colombia:

2021 Certified 2P Reserves of 136 Million BOE

With Net Present Value (After Tax) of $2.0 Billion

117% Reserve Replacement of Proven Developed Reserves

BOGOTA, Colombia, January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GeoPark Limited ("GeoPark" or the "Company") (NYSE: GPRK), a leading independent Latin American oil and gas explorer, operator and consolidator, today announced its independent oil and gas reserves assessment, certified by DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M), under PRMS methodology, as of December 31, 2021.

All reserves included in this release refer to GeoPark working interest reserves before royalties paid in kind, except when specified. All figures are expressed in US Dollars. Definitions of terms are provided in the Glossary on page 12.

2021 Year-End D&M Certified Oil and Gas Reserves and Highlights:

Building on GeoParks core base in the Llanos 34 (GeoPark operated, 45% WI) and CPO-5 (GeoPark non-operated, 30% WI) blocks, the Company reports:

Colombia Reserves

PD Reserves: Proven developed (PD) reserves in Colombia of 49.9 mmboe, with a PD reserve life index (RLI) of 4.4 years

1P Reserves: Proven (1P) reserves in Colombia of 82.2 mmboe, with a 1P RLI of 7.2 years. Net present value after tax discounted at 10% (NPV10 after tax) of 1P reserves of $1.3 billion

2P Reserves: Proven and probable (2P) reserves in Colombia of 135.8 mmboe, with a 2P RLI of 11.9 years. NPV10 after tax of 2P reserves of $2.0 billion

3P Reserves: Proven, probable and possible (3P) reserves in Colombia of 211.0 mmboe, with a 3P RLI of 18.5 years. NPV10 after tax of 3P reserves of $2.9 billion

Development Capital: Future development capital to develop 1P, 2P and 3P reserves in Colombia of $1.9 per barrel, $1.7 per barrel and $1.6 per barrel, respectively

Llanos 34 Block: Low risk development and new field extensions with reserve upside potential to be tested in 2022 Net PD reserve additions of 12.0 mmbbl (a 131% PD reserve replacement) Net 2P reserve additions of 7.3 mmbbl (a 78% 2P reserve replacement) Net 3P reserve additions of 9.5 mmbbl (a 100% 3P reserve replacement) 1P RLI of 7.9 years, 2P RLI of 11.5 years and 3P RLI of 16.0 years Average gross production in 2021 was 55,971 bopd with an exit rate above 60,000 bopd

CPO-5 Block 1 : Continued strong reservoir performance in the Indico oil field Net 1P reserves of 5.1 mmbbl, Net 2P reserves of 20.0 mmbbl and Net 3P reserves of 48.8 mmbbl (1P RLI of 3.6 years, 2P RLI of 14.7 years and 3P RLI of 36.1 years) The 2021 drilling campaign initiated in December 2021 with the spud of the Indico 4 development well The operator, ONGC Videsh, is accelerating drilling activities in 2022 targeting to drill 7-8 gross wells (1-2 development wells and 6-7 exploration wells) with two contracted drilling rigs



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Consolidated Reserves2

PD Reserves: PD reserves of 58.1 mmboe, with a PD RLI of 4.2 years

1P Reserves: 1P reserves of 91.6 mmboe, with a 1P RLI of 6.7 years. NPV10 after tax of 1P reserves of $1.4 billion

2P Reserves: 2P reserves of 159.2 mmboe, with a 2P RLI of 11.6 years. NPV10 after tax of 2P reserves of $2.3 billion

3P Reserves: 3P reserves of 248.3 mmboe, with a 2P RLI of 18.1 years. NPV10 after tax of 3P reserves of $3.4 billion

Future Development Capital: Future development capital to develop 1P, 2P and 3P reserves of $2.0 per barrel, $2.3 per barrel and $2.2 per barrel, respectively

Portfolio Management: Divestment of non-core Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet (GeoPark operated, 100% WI) blocks in Argentina and of the Manati gas field (GeoPark non-operated, 10% WI) in Brazil are currently underway, representing 100% of GeoParks reserves in Argentina and Brazil Excluding reserves from Argentina and Brazil, GeoParks consolidated reserves would amount to 53.7 mmboe, 86.6 mmboe, 153.1 mmboe and 241.4 mmboe of PD, 1P, 2P and 3P reserves, respectively



Net Present Value and Value Per Share

GeoParks 2P NPV10 after tax of $2.3 billion

GeoParks net debt-adjusted 2P NPV10 after tax of $28.9 per share ($24.0 per share corresponding to Colombia)

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1 GeoPark non-operated, 30% WI, ONGC Videsh operated, 70% WI. 2 Consolidated figures include reserves in the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks in Argentina and in the Manati gas field in Brazil that are being divested. The Argentina transaction is expected to close in late January or early February 2022, whereas the Brazil transaction is still subject to several conditions that should be met before March 31, 2022 and that have not been met as of the date of this release.

2022 Work Program: Superior Free Cash Flow3 Plus Multiple Catalysts to Grow Production and Test High Potential Prospects

Self-funded 2022 capital expenditures program of $160-180 million to drill 40-48 gross wells, including an extensive exploration drilling program of 15-20 gross wells that targets high-potential, short-cycle and near-field projects adjacent to the Llanos 34 block plus other exploration targets in Colombia and Ecuador

At $65-70/bbl Brent the program would generate $90-140 million free cash flow, or 11-18% free cash flow yields

At $75-80/bbl Brent the program would generate $170-210 million free cash flow, or 21-26% free cash flow yields

At $80-85/bbl Brent the program would generate $210-250 million free cash flow, or 26-32% free cash flow yields

GeoPark intends to use free cash flow for continued deleveraging, incremental shareholder returns through cash dividends and share buybacks, and other corporate purposes, subject to prevailing oil price conditions in 2022

Recent Events (Not included in the 2021 Year-End D&M Certification)

Perico Block (GeoPark non-operated, 50% WI): In January 2022, GeoPark announced its first discovery in Ecuador after drilling and testing the Jandaya 1 exploration well. Initial production tests had a rate of 750 bopd of 28 degrees API and 0.8 mmcfpd, for a combined 890 boepd. Production is already tied-in and being delivered. The second exploration well, Tui 1, has spudded and is expected to reach TD in late February 2022

CPO-5 Block: The Indico 4 development well was spudded in December 2021 and tested in January 2022. Initial tests showed a production rate of 3,840 bopd (on a restricted 32/64 inch choke) of light oil (35 degrees API) with an estimated payback of approximately 2 months4. Oil production is already tied-in and being delivered. Rig down activities are currently underway and the operator is expecting to spud the Indico 5 development well in February 2022

James F. Park, Chief Executive Officer of GeoPark, said: "Thanks and congratulations to our team for these strong 2021 results  in a year with little exploration investment. Once again, we were able to continue developing and adding reserves in our core and big cash-generating Llanos 34 block where we replaced 131% of Proven Developed, 79% of 2P and 100% of 3P reserves. Our large profitable reserve base in Colombia provides us with a steady growth fairway and large inventory of low-risk, low-cost development drilling projects to continue generating and growing production and cash flow. On top of this secure foundation, we have just kicked off our 2022 work program with an extensive drilling campaign of 40-48 wells, including 15-20 low-cost exploration wells on our high-impact proven acreage that can quickly be converted to production and cash flow, as demonstrated by our recent discovery in Ecuador and the new development well in the CPO-5 block."

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3 Please refer to section "2022 Free Cash Flow Calculation and Sensitivities to Different Brent Oil Prices" included in this press release. 4 Assuming $75-80/bbl Brent.

2020 Year-End to 2021 Year-End D&M Certified Reserves Evolution

Colombia (mmboe) PD 1P 2P 3P 2020 Year-End Reserves 48.0 95.2 141.0 216.4 2021 Production -11.4 -11.4 -11.4 -11.4 Net Change5 13.3 -1.7 6.2 6.0 2021 Year-End Reserves 49.9 82.2 135.8 211.0 2021 Reserve Life (years) 4.4 7.2 11.9 18.5 2020 Reserve Life (years) 3.9 7.8 11.6 17.8

Total (mmboe) PD 1P 2P 3P 2020 Year-End Reserves 58.5 109.3 174.7 270.9 2021 Production -13.7 -13.7 -13.7 -13.7 Net Change5 13.3 -4.0 -1.8 -8.9 2021 Year-End Reserves 58.1 91.6 159.2 248.3 2021 Reserve Life (years) 4.2 6.7 11.6 18.1 2020 Reserve Life (years) 4.0 7.4 11.9 18.4

Net Present Value per Share by Country

The table below presents GeoParks 2P NPV per share, by country, as of December 31, 2021.

2021 Net Present Value per Share Colombia Chile Brazil Argentina Total6 2P Reserves (mmboe) 135.8 17.3 2.6 3.5 159.2 2P NPV10 after tax 2021 ($ mm) 2,019 223 51 20 2,313 Shares Outstanding (mm) 60.2 60.2 60.2 60.2 60.2 ($/share) 33.5 3.7 0.8 0.3 38.4

The table below illustrates the details of the net debt adjusted 2P NPV10 after tax per share:

2021 Net Debt Adjusted 2P NPV10 After Tax per Share Colombia Total 2P NPV10 after tax ($ mm) 2,019 2,313 Shares Outstanding (mm) 60.2 60.2 Subtotal ($/share) 33.5 38.4 Net Debta/Share ($/share) -9.5 -9.5 Net Debt Adjusted 2P NPV10 After Tax per Share ($/share) 24.0 28.9

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5 Includes extensions, improved recoveries, discoveries, technical revisions and economic factors. 6 Consolidated figures include reserves in the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks in Argentina and in the Manati gas field in Brazil that are being divested. The Argentina transaction is expected to close in late January or early February 2022, whereas the Brazil transaction is still subject to several conditions that should be met before March 31, 2022 and that have not been met as of the date of this release. (a) Net debt adjusted 2P NPV10 after tax per share is shown on a consolidated basis. Net debt considers financial debt of $674 million less $100 million of cash & cash equivalents (both figures unaudited and as of December 31, 2021).

Future Development Capital  D&M Report (Undiscounted)

The tables below present D&Ms best estimate of future development capital (undiscounted) and the unit value per boe by category of certified reserves as of December 31, 2021:

Colombia PD 1P 2P 3P Future Development Capital ($ mm) 23.1 154.8 225.7 333.4 Reserves (mmboe) 49.9 82.2 135.8 211.0 Future Development Capital ($/boe) 0.5 1.9 1.7 1.6 Total PD 1P 2P 3P Future Development Capital ($ mm) 23.1 187.4 361.9 541.7 Reserves (mmboe) 58.1 91.6 159.2 248.3 Future Development Capital ($/boe) 0.4 2.0 2.3 2.2

2021 Year-End Reserves Summary

Following oil and gas production of 13.7 mmboe in 2021, D&M certified 2P reserves of 159.2 mmboe (90% oil and 10% gas) as of December 31, 2021. By country, the 2P reserves were 85% in Colombia, 11% in Chile, 2% in Brazil and 2% in Argentina.

Reserves Summary by Country and Category

Country Reserves

Category December 2021

(mmboe) % Oil December 2020

(mmboe) % Change Colombia PD 49.9 100% 48.0 4% 1P 82.2 100% 95.2 -14% 2P 135.8 100% 141.0 -4% 3P 211.0 100% 216.4 -2% Chile PD 3.8 23% 5.1 -25% 1P 4.4 32% 7.3 -40% 2P 17.3 30% 25.5 -32% 3P 30.4 31% 44.2 -31% Brazil PD 2.5 2% 2.5 0% 1P 2.5 2% 2.5 0% 2P 2.6 2% 2.6 0% 3P 2.8 2% 3.0 0% Argentina PD 2.0 60% 3.0 -33% 1P 2.6 67% 4.3 -40% 2P 3.5 63% 5.5 -36% 3P 4.1 61% 7.3 -44% Total7 PD 58.1 89% 58.5 -1% (D&M Certified) 1P 91.6 93% 109.3 -16% 2P 159.2 90% 174.7 -9% 3P 248.3 90% 270.9 -8%

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7 Consolidated figures include reserves in the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks in Argentina and in the Manati gas field in Brazil that are being divested. The Argentina transaction is expected to close in late January or early February 2022, whereas the Brazil transaction is still subject to several conditions that should be met before March 31, 2022 and that have not been met as of the date of this release.

Analysis by Country

Colombia

Llanos 34 block

The Llanos 34 block represented 89%, 78% and 70% of GeoPark 1P, 2P and 3P D&M certified reserves in Colombia, respectively.

GeoParks drilling plan in 2021 in its core Llanos 34 block was mainly focused on low risk development projects that resulted in net PD reserve additions with a reserve replacement of 131%, and to a lesser extent on successful field extensions that added 2P and 3P reserves and opened new development and appraisal drilling opportunities to be tested in 2022.

GeoParks 2P D&M certified reserves in the Llanos 34 block in Colombia totaled 105.8 mmbbl in 2021 compared to 107.7 mmbbl in 2020, resulting from 9.2 mmbbl production that was partially offset by 7.3 mmbbl of reserve additions due to field extensions in the Tigui area, with a reserve replacement of 79%.

As of December 31, 2021, the Llanos 34 block included approximately 688 future development drilling locations (2P, gross).

The 1P RLI was 7.9 years, while the 2P RLI was 11.5 years.

Gross original oil in place in the Llanos 34 is estimated to be 0.8-1 billion barrels9. Cumulative production since 2012 to 2021 totaled 139 mmbbl gross, representing a recovery of 15% of the original oil in place, whereas the 2P reserves consider an ultimate recovery factor of approximately 40%.

CPO-5 block

The CPO-5 block is located to the southwest and is adjacent to and on trend with the Llanos 34 block. The block has 400-900 mmbbl gross recoverable exploration resources10, or 120-270 mmbbl net to GeoPark. During 2021, the operator, ONGC, acquired 250 sq km of 3D seismic in the central part of the block that is currently being interpreted and analyzed and which could add incremental exploration resources.

The CPO-5 block represented 6%, 15% and 23%, of GeoPark 1P, 2P and 3P D&M certified reserves in Colombia, respectively.

GeoParks 2P D&M certified reserves in CPO-5 totaled 20.0 mmbbl in 2021 compared to 21.2 mmbbl in 2020, reflecting 1.4 mmbbl production, partially offset by positive technical revisions due to strong reservoir performance in the Indico oil field in 2021.

The 1P RLI was 3.8 years, while the 2P RLI was 14.7 years.

The operator suffered delays in the execution of the 2021 drilling campaign in the CPO-5 block which started in mid-December 2021 with the spudding of the Indico 4 development well. The campaign originally included drilling of 5-6 gross wells, including development and exploration projects that were deferred to 2022.

The Indico 4 development well was spudded in December 2021 and initiated production tests in January 2022. The operator drilled and completed Indico 4 well to a total depth of 10,495 feet. Initial production tests show a production rate of 3,840 bopd of 35 degrees API, with a 0.25% water cut. Additional production history is required to determine stabilized flow rates of the well. Rig down activities are currently underway and the operator expects to spud the Indico 5 development well in February 2022.

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8 D&M best estimate. 9 D&M best estimate of 1P-3P gross original oil in place. 10 Corresponds to GeoParks aggregate Mean-P10 unrisked recoverable oil volumes in leads and prospects individually audited by Gaffney & Cline as of December 31, 2020.

The 2022 drilling campaign includes the drilling of 7-8 gross wells, including 1-2 development wells and 6-7 exploration wells. The exploration program targets high potential nearfield projects adjacent to and on trend with the Llanos 34 block. The drilling campaign is being executed with two drilling rigs, with one rig currently active in the block and the second to join in 1H2022.

Total Colombia (including reserves in the Llanos 34, CPO-5, Platanillo and Llanos 32 blocks)

GeoParks 2P D&M certified reserves in Colombia totaled 135.8 mmbbl in 2021 compared to 141.0 mmbbl in 2020, resulting from 11.4 mmboe production and negative technical revisions of 1.7 mmboe in the Llanos 32 block, partially offset by reserve additions in the Llanos 34 block and to a lesser extent, positive technical revisions in the CPO-5 and Platanillo blocks due to strong reservoir performance.

As of December 31, 2021, GeoPark blocks in Colombia included approximately 8811 future development drilling locations (2P, gross).

The 1P RLI was 7.2 years, while the 2P RLI was 11.9 years.

Chile

GeoParks 2P D&M certified reserves in Chile totaled 17.3 mmboe in 2021 compared to 25.5 mmboe in 2020, with lower reserves resulting from negative revisions due to delayed development plans in smaller fields and oil and gas production of 0.9 mmboe.

The 1P RLI was 5.1 years and the 2P RLI was 19.8 years.

The Fell block represented 100% of GeoPark 2P D&M certified reserves in Chile.

The 2P D&M reserves in Chile were 30% oil and 70% gas.

The 2022 drilling campaign includes drilling of two gas wells in the Jauke/Dicky geological structure, targeting to spud the first well in March 2022.

Brazil

GeoParks 2P D&M certified reserves in Brazil totaled 2.5 mmboe compared to 2.6 mmboe in 2020, reflecting production of 0.7 mmboe during 2021 that was partially offset by positive technical revisions of 0.6 mmboe resulting from strong reservoir performance in the Manati gas field.

The 1P RLI was 3.5 years and the 2P RLI was 3.7 years.

The Manati field represented 100% of GeoPark Brazil 2P D&M certified reserves.

The 2P D&M reserves in Brazil were 2% oil and condensate, and 98% gas.

Manati Gas Field Divestment Process Update

In November 2020 GeoPark signed an agreement to sell its 10% non-operated WI in the Manati gas field to Gas Bridge S.A. for a total consideration of R$144.4 million (approximately $26 million at an exchange rate of R$5.5 per dollar), including a fixed payment of R$124.4 million plus an earn-out of R$20.0 million, subject to obtaining certain regulatory approvals.

The transaction is subject to several conditions that should be met before March 31, 2022 and that have not been met as of the date of this release.

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11 D&M best estimate.

Argentina

GeoParks 2P D&M certified reserves in Argentina decreased to 3.5 mmboe in 2021 compared to 5.5 mmboe in 2020, resulting from delayed development plans, technical revisions and oil and gas production of 0.8 mmboe in 2021.

The 1P RLI was 3.4 years, while the 2P RLI was 4.6 years.

The Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks represented 100% of GeoPark Argentina 2P D&M certified reserves.

The 2P D&M reserves in Argentina were 63% oil and 37% gas.

Argentina Divestment Process Update

In November 2021, GeoPark accepted an offer to divest its non-core Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks for a total consideration of $16 million. The process is currently underway with closing expected in late January or early February 2022.

Net Present Value After Tax Summary

The table below details D&M certified NPV10 after tax as of December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020:

Country Reserves

Category NPV10 After Tax

2021 ($ mm) NPV10 After Tax

2020 ($ mm) Colombia 1P 1,274 1,477 2P 2,019 2,136 3P 2,918 3,094 Chile 1P 52 71 2P 223 291 3P 409 533 Brazil 1P 46 27 2P 52 29 3P 54 32 Argentina 1P 12 28 2P 20 38 3P 28 45 Total12 1P 1,384 1,603 (D&M Certified) 2P 2,313 2,493 3P 3,409 3,703

____________

12 Consolidated figures include the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks in Argentina and in the Manati gas field in Brazil that are being divested. The Argentina transaction is expected to close in late January or early February 2022, whereas the Brazil transaction is still subject to several conditions that should be met before March 31, 2022 and that have not been met as of the date of this release.

Oil Price Forecast

The price assumptions used to estimate the feasibility of PRMS reserves and NPV10 after tax in 2021 and 2020 D&M reports are detailed in the table below:

Brent Oil Price

($/bbl) 2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027 and

forward 2021 Reserves Report 74.9 66.4 67.7 69.1 70.5 71.9-80.0 2020 Reserves Report 60.0 65.0 67.5 68.8 70.2 71.5-80.4

2022 Free Cash Flow Calculation and Sensitivities to Different Brent Oil Prices

The table below provides sensitivities to different Brent oil prices using the 2022 base work program:

2022 Free Cash Flow (Base Case) $65-70 per bbl $75-80 per bbl $80-85 per bbl (in $ million) Operating Netback $400-450 $480-530 $530-560 Adjusted EBITDA $350-400 $430-480 $480-510 Cash Taxes $40-45 $40-45 $40-45 Capital Expenditures $160-180 $160-180 $160-180 Mandatory Debt Service Payments13 $38-42 $38-42 $38-42 Free Cash Flow $90-140 $170-210 $210-250 Free Cash Flow Yield (in %) 11-18% 21-26% 26-32%

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit for the period (determined as if IFRS 16 Leases has not been adopted), before net finance cost, income tax, depreciation, amortization, certain non-cash items such as impairments and write-offs of unsuccessful exploration efforts, accrual of share-based payment, unrealized result on commodity risk management contracts, geological and geophysical expenses allocated to capitalized projects, and other non-recurring events. Operating Netback is equivalent to Adjusted EBITDA before cash expenses included in Administrative, Geological and Geophysical and Other operating expenses.

Free cash flow is used here as Adjusted EBITDA less income tax paid included in cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures included in cash flows used in investing activities, less mandatory interest payments included in cash flows used in financing activities.

Free cash flow yield is calculated as free cash flow divided by GeoParks average market capitalization from January 3 to January 29, 2022.

____________

13 Excluding potential and voluntary prepayments on existing financial debt.

OTHER NEWS / RECENT EVENTS

Reporting Date for 4Q2021 Results Release, Conference Call and Webcast

GeoPark will report its 4Q2021 and Annual 2021 financial results on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 after the market close.

In conjunction with the 4Q2021 results press release, GeoPark management will host a conference call on March 10, 2022 at 10:00 am (Eastern Standard Time) to discuss the 4Q2021 financial results.

To listen to the call, participants can access the webcast located in the Investor Support section of the Companys website at www.geo-park.com, or by clicking below:

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3575585/D8C22C704081598319ACA0C7BF36387F

Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing the numbers provided below:

United States Participants: 844-200-6205

International Participants: +1 929-526-1599

Passcode: 376830

Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the website and download any streaming media software that might be required to listen to the webcast.

An archive of the webcast replay will be made available in the Investor Support section of the Companys website at www.geo-park.com after the conclusion of the live call.

GLOSSARY

1P Proven Reserves 2P Proven plus Probable Reserves 3P Proven plus Probable plus Possible Reserves boe Barrels of oil equivalent (6,000 cf marketable gas per bbl of oil equivalent) boepd Barrels of oil equivalent per day bopd Barrels of oil per day Certified Reserves Refers to GeoPark working interest reserves before royalties paid in kind, independently evaluated by the petroleum consulting firm, DeGolyer and MacNaughton Corp. (D&M) EUR Estimated Ultimate Recovery F&D Cost Finding and Development Cost, calculated as the unaudited cash flow from investing activities divided by the applicable net reserves additions before changes in Future Development Capital mboed Thousands of Barrels of oil equivalent per day mmboed Millions of Barrels of oil equivalent per day mmbbl Millions of Barrels of oil mcfpd Thousands of standard cubic feet per day mmcfpd Millions of standard cubic feet per day NPV10 After Tax Net Present Value after tax discounted at 10% rate PD Proven Developed Reserves PUD Proven Undeveloped Reserves PRMS Petroleum Resources Management System RLI Reserve Life Index RRR Reserve Replacement Ratio sq km Square kilometers WI Working Interest

NOTICE

Additional information about GeoPark can be found in the "Investor Support" section of the website at www.geo-park.com

The reserve estimates provided in this release are estimates only, and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Actual reserves may eventually prove to be greater than, or less than, the estimates provided herein. Statements relating to reserves are by their nature forward-looking statements.

Gas quantities estimated herein are reserves to be produced from the reservoirs, available to be delivered to the gas pipeline after field separation prior to compression. Gas reserves estimated herein include fuel gas.

Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages included in this press release have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.

Oil and gas production figures included in this release are stated before the effect of royalties paid in kind, consumption and losses.

All evaluations of future net revenue contained in the D&M Reports are after the deduction of cash royalties, development costs, operating expenses, production and profit taxes, fees, earn out payments, well abandonment costs, and country income taxes from the future gross revenue. It should not be assumed that the estimates of future net revenues presented in the tables represent the fair market value of the reserves. The actual production, revenues, taxes and development, and operating expenditures with respect to the reserves associated with the Company's properties may vary from the information presented herein, and such variations could be material. In addition, there is no assurance that the forecast price and cost assumptions contained in the D&M Report will be attained, and variances could be material.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, believe, could, expect, should, plan, intend, will, estimate and potential, among others.

Forward-looking statements that appear in a number of places in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, regarding various matters including NPV10 after tax and NPV10 after tax/share estimations, our reserves, the divestment process of the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks and the Manati Gas Field, the estimated future revenues, free cash flows and oil price forecast. Forward-looking statements are based on managements beliefs and assumptions, and on information currently available to the management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a discussion of the risks facing the Company which could affect whether these forward-looking statements are realized, see the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Information about oil and gas reserves: The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proven, probable and possible reserves that meet the SEC's definitions for such terms. GeoPark uses certain terms in this press release, such as "PRMS Reserves" that SEC guidelines do not permit GeoPark from including in filings with the SEC. As a result, the information in the Companys SEC filings with respect to reserves will differ significantly from the information in this press release. NPV10 after tax for PRMS 1P, 2P and 3P reserves is not a substitute for the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows for SEC proved reserves.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220130005033/en/

Contacts

INVESTORS:

Stacy Steimel

ssteimel@geo-park.com

Shareholder Value Director

T: +562 2242 9600



Miguel Bello

mbello@geo-park.com

Market Access Director

T: +562 2242 9600



Diego Gully

dgully@geo-park.com

Investor Relations Director

T: +5411 4312 9400



MEDIA:

Communications Department

communications@geo-park.com
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Finance magazine recently named ICD Best Investment Management Solution for its innovation supporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments and its seamless integration of cash management and investment workflows using APIs. ICD is an independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments, serving thousands of treasury professionals from more than 450 organizations, globally.

Visit ICD at https://icdportal.com (PRNewsfoto/ICD)

"The breadth of market input that Global Finance solicits to determine its winners makes this award all the more humbling," says ICD Tory Hazard. "The recognition reflects our singular focus on treasury and our commitment to co-innovating with our clients to meet their specialized needs."

According to Global Finance, judges consider a variety of criteria, including "the extent to which treasury and cash management providers have successfully differentiated themselves from their competitors and core service provision." They also solicit input from industry analysts, corporate executives, technology experts and independent research.

"Our awards honor the organizations that have best served their clients in an unprecedented and ongoing crisis," says Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance. Coverage of the World's Best Treasury & Cash Management Systems and Services awards is expected in the March issue of the magazine.

To learn more about ICD Portal, visit icdportal.com or contact info@icdportal.com.

About ICD

ICD is treasury's trusted, independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments. We provide intuitive technology and unbiased access to over 350 investment products through ICD Portal, a model in the industry for trading, reporting and analysis. Through our Global Trade Desk, located in London, Boston and San Francisco, we offer follow-the-sun support and expert service.

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ICD Media Contact

Zoe Sochor

+1 646.581.3277

zoe.sochor@icdportal.com

Cision

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SOURCE Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC
RICHMOND, Va., January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it advised Ntiva, a portfolio company of Southfield Capital, on its sale to PSP Partners (PSP). Ntiva is a leading provider of managed IT services, strategic consulting, cybersecurity services, cloud services and telecom solutions. The transaction was led by the Harris Williams Business Services Group and Technology Group, including Derek Lewis, Anthony Basmajian, Priyanka Naithani, Jenson Dunn and Phil Ashkenaz.

"Ntiva has established itself as an industry leading provider of managed IT services offering a broad range of critical cyber, cloud and IT consulting solutions," said Anthony Basmajian, a managing director at Harris Williams. "As the industry continues to evolve, small- and medium-sized businesses lacking the required internal resources and expertise are turning to professional outsourced managed IT providers to help navigate todays technology complexities and increased cybersecurity threats. Ntiva, with its broad suite of IT services, is well positioned to help customers address those challenges."

"The company thrived in partnership with Southfield Capital, and we are excited to watch Ntivas next chapter unfold with PSP," said Derek Lewis, a managing director at Harris Williams. "PSPs strategic investment will enable Ntiva to further accelerate its technology investments, expand into new verticals and further execute its robust M&A strategy."

Ntiva is a leading IT services company that provides businesses across the U.S. with advanced technology expertise and support, including managed IT services, strategic consulting, cybersecurity services, cloud services, and telecom solutions. Ntivas ultimate objective is to help clients leverage their technology investments to improve business performance.

Southfield Capital is a private equity firm that invests in high-growth, lower-middle market companies in the outsourced business services sector. The firm targets companies with $4 million to $12 million in EBITDA and partners with management to scale the business through a combination of organic and acquisition growth strategies.

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PSP Partners is a Chicago-based private investment firm founded by its Chairman Penny Pritzker, an entrepreneur, civic leader, philanthropist, and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The firm is comprised of a highly experienced team of investment professionals and business builders focused on partnering with entrepreneurs, business owners, and management teams to build market-leading businesses and develop valuable assets.

Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

The Harris Williams Business Services Group has experience advising companies that provide a range of commercial, industrial and professional services. For more information on the firms Business Services Group and other recent transactions, visit the Business Services Groups section of the Harris Williams website.

The Harris Williams Technology Group advises leading private and public companies, founders, and private equity, growth equity, and venture capital firms on mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions worldwide. The Technology Group has deep domain expertise in software and technology-enabled services and dedicated focus areas across a variety of vertical software applications and end markets. For more information on the Technology Group and its recent transactions, visit the Technology Groups section of the Harris Williams website.

Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005873/en/

Contacts

Julia Moore media@harriswilliams.com
LIMERICK, IRELAND, Jan. 31, 2022 /CNW/ - kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) ("Kneat or the Company") a leader in digitizing and automating validation processes, announced today that Paul Breen has stepped down as a director of the Company and Carol Leaman, CEO of Axonify, has been appointed to the Board of Directors.

kneat.com, inc. Logo (CNW Group/kneat.com, inc.)

Resignation of Paul Breen from the Board

Mr. Breen joined the Board in 2007 and served as its Chairman until 2016. Mr. Breen also served as Chair of the Nominating and Compensation Committee.

Kneat's Chairman, Ian Ainsworth MBA, said, "As an early supporter of the Company, Paul contributed to Kneat's success and thus to improving quality processes in life sciences. His advice and support over the years, based on his extensive management experience in life sciences, is much appreciated."

Paul Breen commented, "Being on Kneat's Board has been an incredible opportunity and I am proud to have played a role in the Company's development. I have every confidence in the Company's leadership and look forward to watching Kneat's continued success."

Appointment of Carol Leaman to the Board

Ian Ainsworth MBA, Kneat's Chairman, commented on the appointment, "Carol joins Kneat's Board with a strong background in building fast growth enterprise SAAS companies. We are pleased to welcome her to Kneat and look forward to her perspective and invaluable experience in scaling innovative technology platforms."

Carol Leaman is the CEO of Axonify, a SaaS based training and communications platform for the frontline used in over 150 countries. Over the past 20 years, Carol has built a track record of successfully leading technology companies. Prior to Axonify, Carol was the CEO of PostRack Inc., a social engagement analytics platform that she sold to Google. She was also the CEO at a number of other technology firms, including RSS Solutions and Fakespace Systems. Carol is a celebrated entrepreneur and award-winning thought leader whose articles appear in leading learning, business and technology publications. Carol sits on the Boards of several Canadian high-tech organizations. Carol holds a BA, a Masters of Accounting (MAcc) and a Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) designation.

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"I am thrilled to join Kneat's Board as the Company diversifies and grows their customer base. I look forward to contributing my expertise to Kneat as they continue to deploy their industry-leading validation platform," commented Carol Leaman.

About Kneat

Kneat, a Canadian company with operational headquarters in Limerick, Ireland, develops and markets the next generation Kneat Gx SaaS platform. Multiple business work processes can be configured on the platform from equipment to computer system validation, through to quality document management. Kneat's software allows users to author, review, approve, execute testing online, manage any exceptions, and post approve final deliverables in a controlled FDA 21 CFR Part 11/ Eudralex Annex 11 compliant platform. Macro and micro report dashboards enable powerful oversight into all systems, projects and processes globally. Customer case studies are reporting productivity improvements in excess of 100% and a higher data integrity and compliance standard. For more information visit www.kneat.com.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information, includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat's business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat's software within the customer's validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat's software within the customer's organization and the compliance of Kneat's platform under regulatory audit and inspection. While such forward-looking statements are expressed by Kneat, as stated in this release, in good faith and believed by Kneat to have a reasonable basis, they are subject to important risks and uncertainties. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, given that they involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information in this press release does not include a full assessment or reflection of the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic occurring since the first quarter of 2020 and the ongoing and developing resulting indirect global and regional economic impacts. This has resulted in significant economic uncertainty and even though the Company has to date experienced no significant impact to its operations, any potential impact on our future is difficult to understand or measure at this time. Kneat does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at an investors' own risk.

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 kneat.com, inc.

Cision

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DC-based organizations lead mentorship and entrepreneurship program to empower underserved youth to rise to success through educational opportunities.

Black & Brown Coffee House Founders and Farmers

Black & Brown Coffee House Founders and Farmers

Black & Brown Coffee House Founders and Farmers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Youth Leadership Foundation, a leading Washington, D.C., non-profit organization that provides mentorship and extracurricular programming for students, announced today that Black & Brown Coffee House will lead its 2022 high school business plan competition, the Spirit of Service Challenge.

The Spirit of Service Challenge is a month-long mentorship and entrepreneurship program that provides an opportunity for both organizations to expose students to lessons about marketing, labor, production, and other aspects of business development. During the program, students will gain the business acumen to develop their own business plans and solve issues surrounding the start-up of any business enterprise.

The Youth Leadership Foundation and Black & Brown Coffee House seek to promote the development of young future leaders. In doing this, they hope to spark change by empowering underserved communities to rise to success through education.

"As an organization whose founders also come from humble beginnings, we are excited to be able to create programs that will help District youth reach their full potential," said Karel Leon, founder of Black & Brown Coffee House. "We've seen firsthand how being equipped with the right tools and mentorship can change the trajectory of someone's life towards a better future."

The Spirit of Service Challenge will run from July 5 through July 29, with the judging to take place on July 26.

Key highlights:

- Black & Brown Coffee House donates 5% of its sales to underserved communities. From this community fund, a portion will be donated to the Youth Leadership Foundation.

- Customers ordering coffee from Black & Brown Coffee House will be presented with an option to donate to the Youth Leadership Foundation.

- At the sixth annual Spirit of Service Challenge held by the Youth Leadership Foundation, Black & Brown Coffee House will provide workshops and presentations on production, labor, and marketing to youth leaders.

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About YLF - Founded in 1997, the Youth Leadership Foundation serves 350 students annually with its quality mentoring programs in seven school partners across the city. No matter the format, YLF programs feature one-on-one mentoring, formative talks about character, intentional engagement of parents, and dedicated time for community-making.

About Black & Brown Coffee House - Based in Washington, D.C., Black & Brown Coffee House is a Black & Latino-owned coffee roaster. The roastery was created as an answer to the lack of coffee options that prioritize health, sustainability, and fair treatment of coffee farmers. By working directly with producers to create naturally-sweet blends that are full of antioxidants, the roastery serves coffee that tastes good, does good, and feels good too.

Media Contact:

Marissa Strang

marissa@blackbrowncoffeehouse.com

571-292-7600

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Image 1: Black & Brown Coffee House Founders and Farmers





Black & Brown Coffee House founders Javier LLano (far left) and Karel Leon (yellow shirt, right) work hand-in-hand with their farmers in Colombia to produce single-origin coffee.









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Tularosa Municipal Schools Superintendent Todd Lindsay said the district's smaller schools and improved internet access made it easier to keep track of its students while they were learning from home.

Tularosa Municipal Schools (TMS) was one of only six of the state's 89 school districts that saw a decrease in habitual student truancy from 38% during the 2019-2020 school year to 17% in the 2020-2021 school year, according to a report published by New Mexico Voices for Children on Jan. 19.

The 2021 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book found that habitual school absenteeism increased statewide from 9% during the 2019-2020 school year, to 27% during the 2020-2021 school year.

Emily Wildau, KIDS COUNT's director and research and policy analyst, said truancy and absenteeism became an issue in New Mexico due to COVID-19.

"We all know with students going back and forth between remote and in-person (learning), you know it kept them safe largely from the virus, but it also resulted in some issues with attendance," Wildau said.

Carlsbad Early College High School students line up to get on the bus to leave the first day of school.

While Lindsay's district saw improvements in attendance, many other school districts struggled to keep students in classes.

Cuba Independent School and Deming Public schools reported the highest truancy rate in the state at 62% each during the 2020-2021 school year.

Ruidoso Municipals Schools had one of the highest increases of truancy in New Mexico from 13% in the 2019-2020 school year to 43% in the 2020-2021 school year. The district has a population of just over 1,800 students.

More: Carlsbad Middle School students promote outdoor learning bill during legislative session

Carlsbad Municipal Schools  with a population of over 8,800 students  saw habitual truancy increase from 14% to 29% in that same time period. Alamogordo Public Schools saw an increase from 7% to 23% with a population of about 5,500 students.

Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS)  one of southern New Mexico's largest districts with over 23,000 students  saw truancy increase from 10% to 17%.

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LCPS Student Attendance and Engagement Support Coordinator Kathy Vigil said the move to remote learning was one of the many reasons truancy increased.

"We have students who needed face-to-face instruction to maintain their educational focus. Students addressed their educational frustrations by not logging on to remote learning; the result was chronic absenteeism and more importantly, gaps in their learning," Vigil told the Current-Argus in an email.

Richard Parra walks the halls at Jornada Elementary School in Las Cruces on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.

Despite the challenge of keeping up attendance during remote learning, Vigil said some parents refused to let students return to face-to-face learning because of fear of the coronavirus.

"Weve also seen an increase in chronic absenteeism when parents or students become frustrated with the COVID (-19) safety protocols," Vigil said.

She said that mask, social distancing and contact tracing requirements were among the reasons parents gave her for allowing their students to stay home.

Education briefs: Loving High School honor roll

The New Mexico KIDS COUNT provided various recommendations to improve attendance such as expanding the number of community schools, school-based health centers, before- and after-school programs, service learning and classes for parents.

The organization also recommended schools revisit zero-tolerance policies and penalties in order to keep more students in school and provide adequate transportation to and from school.

Some schools districts across the state have already taken action to address absenteeism. LCPS and CMS provided students with computers and internet hotspots to access class remotely. Some districts have also offered online classes for students that prefer remote learning.

Chromebook ready for distribution during the first day of school at Belton Honea Path High School in Honea Path, S.C. Tuesday, August 17, 2021.

Vigil said LCPS also worked directly with parents to help remove obstacles that keep their students from attending school.

"Ive seen an increase in attendance with students after focused educational conversations occur and Student Attendance Intervention Plans are written. Student attendance has increased when parents, students and staff all take a role in supporting student success," Vigil said.

Lindsay became superintendent of TMS in 2021. He said he was not able to see how the early part of the pandemic affected attendance but thinks the switch to online learning in March 2020 was the likely culprit for the district's truancy rate.

Lindsay said the district implemented "wildcat Fridays" last year, which has improved attendance by allowing students to get an extra day off if they finish all their work by Thursday afternoon.

"The kids that come to school Friday morning are just the ones that need extra help or enrichment and I think that has helped us a lot," Lindsay said.

Artesia High School along with other schools in Eddy County has been quiet for nearly a year due to COVID-19 restrictions. School officials across the county are working on plans after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham relaxed restrictions allowing students to head back to class Feb. 8.

The five other schools that saw a drop in truancy include Artesia Public Schools Grady Municipal Schools, Lake Arthur Municipal Schools, Quemado Independent Schools and Floyd Municipal Schools (FMS).

In 2021 FMS faced controversy after its board voted against the Public Education Department COVID-19 requirements. In response the Public Education Commission suspended all five members of the board. The suspension was dismissed in mid January.

Truancy at FMS dropped from 10% during the 2019-2020 school year to 9% in the 2020-2021 school year.

Cloudcroft Municipal Schools  a district with a population of just 396 students  saw one of the smallest increases in truancy during that time frame from 0% to 4%.

More: Enrollment growth, school construction among challenges for the new Carlsbad School Board

Claudia Silva is a reporter from the UNM Local Reporting Fellowship. She can be reached at csilva2@currentargus.com, by phone at 575-628-5506 or on Twitter @thewatchpup.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico truancy rate rises amid COVID-19 pandemic
Academic agreement supports pathway for students from community college to higher degrees at the University

PHOENIX, January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of Phoenix announces a new academic agreement with Casper College that supports building pathways from community college courses to higher degrees at the University. The agreement allows Casper College students to take advantage of transfer pathways as well as concurrent enrollment for specific degree programs: RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Management, and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management.

The agreement also allows nursing students at Casper College to save on the cost of their education. Under the agreement, University of Phoenix waives the tuition of every sixth course for Casper College students who enroll in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.

"We are excited to partner with the University of Phoenix and provide another accredited transfer option for our students after their associate degree," stated Dr. Brandon Kosine, vice president of Academic Affairs at Casper College. "Given the frontier nature of Wyoming, having online transfer options not only allows students to work while they finish their chosen degree programs, but also helps retain employees in high-demand jobs."

University of Phoenix has established community college education service agreements across the U.S.

"This new agreement with Casper College opens up opportunities for students to earn degrees related to in-demand industries such as nursing, IT, and healthcare," said University of Phoenix Provost John Woods. "Our goal is to collaborate with community colleges and help busy working adult students make more efficient use of their studies, time, and money to gain the degree they seek for their chosen career path."

University of Phoenix has generous transfer policies and provides a supportive transfer pathway to all students, including students of community colleges. Prior eligible credits can cover up to 75% of a students bachelors degree. Additionally, Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) fees have been waived for students going forward; this assessment evaluates on-the-job training, workplace certifications, military service and experiences for college credit. It can help students save money and graduate faster.

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Community college students transferring into University of Phoenix can save $144 on every 3-credit course at the University, and lock in with the fixed tuition rate for the completion of their degree program. For more information about the community college transfer rate, visit www.phoenix.edu/communitycollege.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About Casper College

Casper College is one of the largest and most comprehensive community colleges in the region. Students from Wyoming, the United States and beyond attend Casper College. Our students transfer or join the work force having received a quality education. Casper College has more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs. Learn more at www.caspercollege.edu/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005608/en/

Contacts

Sharla Hooper

University of Phoenix

sharla.hooper@phoenix.edu
KELOWNA, BC, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The Valens Company Inc. (TSX: VLNS) (NASDAQ: VLNS) (the "Company" or "The Valens Company" or "Valens"), a leading manufacturer of cannabis products, is pleased to announce that it will host a virtual Investor Day on February 7, 2022, at 11:00 AM ET. Registration for the webcast will start at 10:45 AM ET and the presentation will begin at 11:00 AM ET.

The Valens Company Logo (CNW Group/The Valens Company Inc.)

Valens executive management team will discuss 2022 corporate initiatives including recent developments, financial objectives, acquisition updates, and will provide insights into the Company's operations followed by a Q&A session. Investors who are interested in attending the event should register via the link provided below. For investors that would like to ask questions on the call, please email your questions to ir@thevalenscompany.com twenty-four hours prior to the call.

DATE: February 7, 2022

TIME: 11:00 AM ET

REGISTRATION LINK: https://bit.ly/3G3US69

Q&A EMAIL: ir@thevalenscompany.com

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN: Toll Free - 1-877-407-0792 or Toll/International - 1-201-689-8263

If attendees are not able to join the live event, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event has concluded on the Company's website at https://thevalenscompany.com/investors/.

At Valens, it's Personal.

About The Valens Company

The Valens Company is a leading manufacturer of cannabis products with a mission to bring the benefits of cannabis to the world. The Company provides proprietary cannabis processing services, in addition to best-in-class product development, manufacturing, and commercialization of cannabis consumer packaged goods. The Valens Company's high-quality products are formulated for the medical, health and wellness, and recreational consumer segments, and are offered across all cannabis product categories with a focus on quality and innovation. The Company also manufactures, distributes, and sells a wide range of CBD products in the United States through its subsidiary Green Roads, and distributes medicinal cannabis products to Australia through its subsidiary Valens Australia. In partnership with brand houses, consumer packaged goods companies and licensed cannabis producers around the globe, the Company continues to grow its diverse product portfolio in alignment with evolving cannabis consumer preferences in key markets. Through Valens Labs, the Company is setting the standard in cannabis testing and research and development with Canada's only ISO17025 accredited analytical services lab, named The Centre of Excellence in Plant-Based Science by partner and scientific world leader Thermo Fisher Scientific. Discover more on The Valens Company at http://www.thevalenscompany.com.

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Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements

All information included in this press release, including any information as to the future financial or operating performance and other statements of The Valens Company that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "trends", "forecasts", "future", "indications", "potential", "estimates", "predicts", "anticipate", "to establish", "believe", "intend", "ability to", or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of these words or other variations thereof, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all disclosure regarding future results of operations, future outcomes of transactions, economic conditions, and anticipated courses of action. Investors and other parties are advised that there is not necessarily any correlation between the number of SKUs manufactured and shipped and revenue and profit, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others, Canadian regulatory risk, Australian regulatory risk, U.S. regulatory risk, U.S. border crossing and travel bans, the uncertainties, effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on licenses, expansion of facilities, competition, dependence on supply of cannabis and reliance on other key inputs, dependence on senior management and key personnel, general business risk and liability, regulation of the cannabis industry, change in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, limited operating history, vulnerability to rising energy costs, unfavourable publicity or consumer perception, product liability, risks related to intellectual property, product recalls, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth and litigation, many of which are beyond the control of The Valens Company. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by The Valens Company, and which may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of The Valens Company to be materially different from estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, please refer to The Valens Company's latest Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com or on The Valens Company's website at www.thevalenscompany.com. The risks described in such Annual Information Form are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Although the forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management's current beliefs and reasonable assumptions based upon information available to management as of the date hereof, The Valens Company cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. The Valens Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Valens Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Nothing herein should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell securities of The Valens Company.

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SOURCE The Valens Company Inc.
(Adds context, analyst comment pars 9, 10; edits first par)

By Josh Smith

SEOUL, Jan 31 (Reuters) - North Korea confirmed on Monday it had launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, the same weapon it had once threatened to target the U.S. territory of Guam with, sparking fears the nuclear-armed state could resume long-range testing.

The launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was first reported https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-projectiles-into-sea-off-east-coast-yonhap-2022-01-29 by South Korean and Japanese authorities on Sunday. It was the seventh test conducted by North Korea this month https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/flurry-missile-tests-displays-nkoreas-increasingly-diverse-arsenal-2022-01-28 and the first time a nuclear-capable missile of that size has been launched since 2017.

The United States is concerned North Korea's escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and vowed an unspecified response "designed to show our commitment to our allies," a senior U.S. official told reporters in Washington.

"It's not just what they did yesterday, it's the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month," the official said, while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.

North Korea has said it is open to diplomacy, but that Washington's overtures are undermined by its support for sanctions and joint military drills and arms buildups in South Korea and the region.

Amid a flurry of diplomacy in 2018, including summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his nuclear force complete and said he would suspend nuclear testing and launches of the country's longest-range missiles.

Kim said he was no longer bound by that moratorium after talks stalled in 2019, and North Korea suggested this month it could restart those testing activities because the United States had shown no sign of dropping its "hostile policies."

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It is unclear if IRBMs such as the Hwasong-12 were included in Kim's moratorium, but none had been tested since 2017.

North Korea analysts said the tests appear aimed at securing global acceptance of its weapons programmes, whether through concessions or simply winning tired acquiescence from a distracted world.

"The worlds distraction on other issues actually seems to be working to North Koreas benefit right now," Markus Garlauskas, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council think tank and former U.S. national intelligence officer for North Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the recent flurry of North Korean missile tests was reminiscent of heightened tensions in 2017, when North Korea conducted multiple nuclear tests, launched its largest missiles, and drew threats of "fire and fury" from the United States.

South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook visited his country's Army Missile Command on Monday to check its readiness in the face of the North Korean launches, the ministry said in a statement.

"North Koreas series of missile test-fires, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles, pose a direct and serious threat to us and a grave challenge to international peace and stability," Suh said after being briefed. "We will maintain a full military readiness posture that can respond immediately to any situation."

Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters North Korea was escalating its provocation of the international community and said its "remarkable improvement" in missile technology "cannot be tolerated".

BOOSTING MISSILE CAPABILITIES

Sunday's test "confirmed the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the produced Hwasong-12 type weapon system," North Korean state news agency KCNA reported.

State media coverage of the launch made no mention of the United States, and Kim was not reported to have attended. North Korean officials said this month the tests are for self defence and not targeted at any specific country.

Kim vowed ahead of the New Year to bolster North Korea's military capabilities in the face of international uncertainties caused by "hostile policies" by the United States and its allies.

North Korea has previously said the Hwasong-12 can carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead," and analysts estimate it has a range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles).

In August 2017, just hours after Trump told the North that any threat to the United States would be met with fire and fury, the commander of the Norths Strategic Forces said it was seriously considering a plan of enveloping fire involving a simultaneous launch of four Hwasong-12 missiles toward Guam.

That year North Korea flight-tested the Hwasong-12 at least six times, including flying it over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido twice.

KCNA said Sunday's missile launch was conducted in such a way as to ensure the safety of neighbouring countries, and that the test warhead was fitted with a camera that took photos while it was in space. (Reporting by Josh Smith and Jack Kim; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Satoshi Sugiyama in Tokyo; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
When the state announced in 2020 that it would launch a new high school-level African American history course, Dianne Carter de Mayo quickly volunteered to teach it.

The Gloucester County history teacher, who as a Virginia school child was taught from a textbook that framed slaves as content under oppression, said she is excited to take her students on a deep dive into the history of Black people in the U.S.

When the class launches in the coming weeks, de Mayos excitement will be tempered by the ongoing pushback from conservatives about how teachers should frame lessons on discrimination and racism, including a new tip line Gov. Glenn Youngkin launched for parents to report lessons on divisive concepts.

News of the tip line, which Youngkin casually publicized during a radio interview, prompted swift fury from Democrats. On social media, critics of the tip line proposed to flood it with spam. In the legislature, Democrats assailed Youngkin-backed legislation that would codify a ban on divisive concepts.

I understand you found a winning issue in critical race theory, once again, using the old Southern strategy to use race as a wedge issue, to use Black bodies as a prop in your campaigns, Del. Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, said Wednesday during a speech on the House floor. Later on Wednesday, Youngkin met with Scott in the delegates office.

Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for the governor, said the email address was set up as a resource for parents, teachers, and students to relay any questions or concerns. Porter described the email address as customary constituent service.

De Mayo said that among the educators she knows, reaction to the news was mostly fear: Someones career and livelihood could be endangered, she said. Its scaring people to death.

The Black educator said she recently got a call from an elementary school teacher who was second-guessing her work amid news of the tip line.

She had been assigned the bulletin board of the month, which in February would usually be themed for Black History Month, de Mayo said. She was saying, What if I get reported to the governor for what I put up? Its horrifying.

De Mayo, a local Democratic activist, said her curriculum is focused on primary sources and that the students in her overwhelmingly white district often walk away inspired by her history lessons on topics like freedom of speech, even when you disagree.

Still, some lessons are tough. Im going to teach about Nazis, slavery. These ideas are hard. And not because of who you are, she said.

Over the summer, as strife reached her district over critical race theory, de Mayo participated in a panel at a local church to help assuage parent concerns, and laid out her curriculum for examination. Gloucester, she noted, was one of the first counties in Virginia to desegregate its schools. The building where she teaches was built to make enough room for both white and Black students.

We have history here, she said.

One key criticism of Youngkins plan is that it lacks clarity. On the campaign trail, Youngkin called for a ban on critical race theory, an academic concept education officials say isnt taught in public schools. When the governor took office, his administration tailored the ban to cover inherently divisive concepts.

In legislation backed by the administration, the definition of inherently divisive includes teaching that one race is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously, and that meritocracy or traits, such as a hard work ethic, are racist or sexist or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.

During a hearing on the bill, the sponsor, Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, was pressed by Democrats on the panel to more clearly define the concept. Kiggans said, Anything thats dividing, thats making one group think that theyre superior to the other.

Kiggans pointed to a classroom exercise in Fairfax County asking students to highlight aspects about their life that made them more privileged.

The exercise, titled Privilege Bingo, included boxes like White, a Native English speaker, Able-bodied and Military Kid.

The school district apologized for any offense it may have unintentionally caused, but said it remains committed to equipping students to analyze bias and examine privilege.

Kiggans, who is running for Congress in an effort to unseat Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, said the intent behind the legislation is unity. The former Navy helicopter pilot said that during her time in the military, she cherished that, We really dont mind what you look like, what your religion is, what your political affiliation is, what your gender is.

Were on the same team and we do the same mission. I loved that, she said.

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said she opposes divisive concepts being prohibited when I dont even know how that is being defined.

All of a sudden we have a problem with instruction in our schools, when all throughout my high school career, I was taught that I was inherently inferior, said Locke, one of the highest-ranking Black lawmakers in the legislature.

And now all of a sudden you have a problem with divisive concepts.

The panel, a Senate subcommittee on K-12 education controlled by Democrats, recommended that the bill die when it reaches the full committee next week. Similar legislation, introduced by Del. A.C. Cordoza, R-Hampton, is moving through the GOP-controlled House.
A grand jury has completed the reviews of the deaths of eight inmates, half of whom had COVID-19, and found no criminal wrongdoing.

Three of the men  David Fredrick Munsey, Robert Lewis and Jaime Rivera Jr.  had refused the vaccine when the prison offered it, according to transcripts filed recently in the Lancaster County District Court.

Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Amanda DeFreece said Munsey, 59, declined vaccination on July 15, and died of COVID-19 less than a month later, Aug. 12, at Bryan West in Lincoln.

He had just started serving a 12- to 24-year sentence out of Box Butte County on child pornography charges.

State Patrol Investigator Henry Dimitroff said Lewis, 61, initially declined, too, then asked for the vaccine after he tested positive, which by then was too late.

Lewis spent three days on a ventilator at Bryan West before he died Sept. 10.

He had been serving a two- to three-year sentence out of Platte County for possession of methamphetamine and attempted possession of a deadly weapon, and had been eligible for parole in August.

Jaime Rivera Jr., 38, who was serving 20 to 30 years for attempted sexual assault of a child, died at Bryan West the same day as Lewis.

Dimitroff said Rivera ended up on a ventilator with pneumonia and respiratory failure due to an underlying condition brought on by COVID-19.

DeFreece said a fourth inmate, 40-year-old William Lassek Jr., was admitted to the hospital eight days after testing positive at the prison, previously called the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, and ended up on a ventilator. He died there Aug. 12.

Lassek was serving 70 years to life in connection to a murder in Douglas County.

In addition to the COVID-19 related deaths, the grand jury also reviewed the deaths of three other prison inmates and one county jail inmate, all of whom had health issues, including:

* Michael Kirchhoff, 58, who died of a brain aneurysm, suddenly collapsing on the yard at the Nebraska State Penitentiary on May 22. Prison workers attempted CPR but couldn't save him. He had been serving a 10- to 12-year sentence out of Lancaster County for possession of methamphetamine, with a habitual criminal enhancement.

* Patrick Russell, 64, who had lung cancer and died April 25 at the hospital. He was serving a sentence of 110-126 years for first-degree murder in Douglas County.

* Xavier Valentine, 22, who had been diagnosed earlier in the year with an inoperable brain tumor and died Aug. 18 at the hospital. He had been serving a 10- to 30-year sentence out of Douglas County for second-degree assault and a gun charge.

* Nuha Farid, 51, who died at the hospital Sept. 13. Lancaster County Sheriff's Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said Farid had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before going into custody at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections. He was awaiting sentencing for an armed robbery at a gas station in Lincoln.

The grand jury heard the cases on Nov. 30, and a transcript of its findings later was filed with the court. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Dan Zieg said the panel reviewed a total of 35 deaths of people in law enforcement custody last year, which was double a "normal" year.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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The Talibans takeover of Afghanistan has increased the threat posed by Islamist forces in neighboring Pakistan, experts say.



The Afghan militants' victory has not only bolstered Pakistani Islamist insurgents but also strengthened religious political parties that share the Talibans extremist views.



Analysts say the rising popularity of some Islamist parties could even pose an electoral threat to Prime Minister Imran Khans ruling Tehrik-e Insaf in the 2023 general elections.



There is no doubt that with the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, support for the religious parties will increase in Pakistan, Islamabad-based political analyst Nazr-ul Islam told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal.

Electoral support for Islamist hard-liners remains relatively limited in Pakistan, a predominately Islamic country of some 220 million. But the power base of Islamist parties -- which can mobilize mass street protests and control Pakistans vast network of madrasahs, or religious seminaries -- is growing.



Violent Street Protests



In November, Khans government released the jailed leader of the extremist Tehrik-e Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and lifted a ban on the party under a deal to end weeks of violent clashes between security forces and TLP supporters.



More than 2,000 jailed TLP activists were freed, and the group was allowed to contest elections again.



In exchange, the TLP promised to renounce violence and drop its longstanding demand for the expulsion of Frances ambassador over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were published by a French satirical magazine.

The TLP continues to oppose any change to Pakistans controversial blasphemy laws --particularly reforms that would eliminate the death penalty in blasphemy cases.



It also continues to demand that, like in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Sharia law be implemented across Pakistan.

Husain Haqqani, a South and Central Asia expert at the Hudson Institute who previously served as Pakistans ambassador to the United States, recently told the Financial Times of London that Taliban beliefs and ideas spill over to Pakistan every time the Taliban is in power in Afghanistan.



Rising Political Clout



The Afghan Talibans victory has unleashed a surge of support for other hard-line political forces in Pakistan.



The Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI-F) party won a major victory in local elections held in December in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan.

The JUI-F won more than half of the available seats, including the mayors office in the provincial capital, Peshawar.



Islam, the Pakistani analyst, says part of that election victory can be attributed to the fact that JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman is an outspoken supporter of the Afghan Taliban. Rehman is also a vocal member of an opposition coalition against the prime minister.



Khan blamed his partys poor showing on bad candidate selection. But observers say the JUI-Fs victory suggests the possibility of a more sustained political challenge in the months and years ahead from Islamist parties.



We cannot ignore the fact that the change in neighboring Afghanistan has definitely had effects on the politics here, Islam told RFE/RL.



Hafiz Hamdullah, a JUI-F leader from the southwestern province of Balochistan, says his party demands the Pakistani government and the international community recognize the Taliban-led government in Kabul. No country has yet done so.



For his part, the Pakistani prime minister welcomed the Talibans military victory in Afghanistan in August and has lobbied for more international assistance to the Taliban-led government. But his government also has said Islamabad should not damage its international relations by recognizing the Taliban before the United States and the European Union.



Hamdullah told RFE/RL that the United States should accept the Taliban as a just government and help them to bring stability and ensure peace and security in the region.

Shamim Shahid, a political analyst in the northwestern city of Peshawar, says many Pakistanis sympathize with that view -- particularly in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.



He says that has helped the JUI-F benefit the most so far in terms of the growing support of Pakistani voters for Islamist parties.



The JUI-F is cashing in on the situation and will have an increase in its support, Shahid says.



By comparison, Shahid says, the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam faction of the late cleric Sami-ul Haq (JUI-S) has yet to capitalize on the growing support for Islamist parties in Pakistan.

Like the JUI-F, the JUI-S has demanded that Pakistan preserve the death penalty in blasphemy cases, establish Sharia law in Pakistan, and recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.



The JUI-S does not have any representatives in Pakistans parliament. But analysts are closely monitoring popular support for the party.



That is because the JUI-S runs the Darul Uloom Haqqania religious seminary, located in the northwestern town of Akora Khattak, which has earned a reputation as Pakistan's so-called university of jihad.

The seminary is known for preaching a fundamentalist brand of Islam and schooling a generation of fighters for both the Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan militant group.

Written by Ron Synovitz with reporting by Radio Mashaals Daud Khattak
A Pakistani media mogul whose group of newspapers and television stations has been critical of the government has been acquitted of graft charges relating to allegations dating back more than 30 years.

Mir Shakilur Rahman of the Jang Group was tried on charges alleging corruption related to a land transaction in 1986. Rahman had been specifically accused of evading taxes related to the purchase a property in the city of Lahore.

A court in Lahore said in its ruling released on January 31 that "not even (an) iota of evidence regarding abetting any offence by accused/petitioner [Rahman] is available on record." It added that the prosecution's case "lies in presumptions and assumptions."

Rahman is the owner and editor in chief of the country's largest independent media group. He was arrested and detained in March 2020 by the anti-graft National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Eight months later he was released on a 10 million rupee ($63,000) bail order granted by the Pakistani Supreme Court after a lower court in Lahore rejected his request.

Media freedom watchdogs in Pakistan and abroad had expressed concerns over Rahman's detention, saying it was part of a larger crackdown on those critical of the government and the military.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said at the time of his arrest and detention that he was being held on a "spurious charge" because his journalists "dare to tackle stories that are supposed to be off-limits."

Rana Jawad, Geo TV's director of news, welcomed the verdict.

"It's a clean acquittal which is a victory of not only Jang Group, but whole media fraternity around the globe," Jawad told AFP.

Based on reporting by AFP
Unidentified armed gunmen shot and killed two police officers in northwestern Pakistan on January 31, police and local residents told RFE/RL.

The attack occurred in the Doaba area of the Hangu district. Police spokesman Muhammad Tahir told RFE/RL by phone that the motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire at the two police officers before fleeing the scene.

The two victims were controlling traffic in Doaba Bazaar when they came under attack. No group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack.

The incident happened just a day after armed men killed a pastor and wounded another in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's volatile northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

On January 25, a police officer deployed with a polio vaccination team was attacked and killed in the Jarma area of Kohat, a neighboring district of Hangu.

On January 27, unidentified gunmen attacked the site of an oil exploration company in the Tall area of Hangu, which resulted in the killing of one security guard.

The Pakistani military has carried out several operations against militants in Khyber Pakthunkwa in the recent years.
The Democratic establishment quickly lined up behind recommendations to spend roughly a billion dollars in federal aid on a slew of housing and behavioral health programs, notably money for a revolving loan fund and increasing adult inpatient and residential care.

The recommendations, which two legislative task forces unveiled on Monday, will be turned into legislation that is expected to be introduced during the 2022 session. The Polis administration strongly signaled the governor would sign the package when it reaches his desk.

The Governor's Office this afternoon sent a news release citing Democratic leaders, including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and their support for the proposed spending plan.

The task forces, charged under 2021 legislation with crafting the recommendations to spend $1.1 billion in federal aid, issued their reports Friday and Democratic lawmakers touted their proposals in a press conference Monday morning.

In its report, the Affordable Housing Task Force, which House Bill 21-1329 authorized, suggested investing $150 million to $227 million in a revolving loan fund; the same amount for nonprofit and local government grants; $35 million to $51 million for "resident-owned communities," mobile home parks and land grants; $40 million to $48 million for innovative housing incentives; and $25 million to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to assist middle-income borrowers with home financing.

The total for those recommendations: about $400 million. Policymakers had allocated an additional $100 million from the affordable housing cash fund during the 2021-22 budget year on emergency assistance.

American Rescue Plan Act guidelines call for the affordable housing aid to be weighted toward those who have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic, notably people of color, tribal nations and low-income individuals. ARPA guidelines also allow for assistance to "other populations, households, or geographic areas disproportionately impacted by the pandemic."

A separate Behavioral Health Task Force, which Senate Bill 21-137 authorized, also issued its report Friday. Their eight recommendations include:

Addressing residential behavioral health needs of Native American Tribes  $5 million to $10 million

Youth and family residential care, community services, and school and pediatric behavioral health care integrations  $110.5 million to $141.5 million

Increasing adult inpatient and residential care  $65 million to $71 million

Ensuring people arent arrested and jailed for behavioral health conditions  $65 million to $70 million

Expanding and support Colorados behavioral health workforce  $80.3 million to $82.7 million

The total recommended by the task force is $450 million; another $114 million (including additional marijuana cash funds) were spent in 2021-22 to jump-start some of the programs identified in the 2021 legislation.

The deadline for spending that money is Dec. 31, 2024.

A mix of lawmakers and state agency experts, with a subpanel for each, comprised both task forces, which also included representatives of a variety of issues and regions of the state.

Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, joined by Democratic lawmakers, said at Monday's press conference that behind the policy, politics and big numbers "are real people who need help" and need it fast. Behavioral health is a priority for herself and Gov. Jared Polis, and ARPA money will help address structural gaps in the behavioral health system.

Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, the vice chair of the affordable housing group, said she's seen firsthand the transformation that takes place when someone attains housing security. She noted that she lives in an affordable housing unit.

Her group took the "once in a generation" opportunity to speak to experts around the state, rural and suburban, on how to transform the housing crisis, she said, adding, "If you're at risk for homelessness" help is available.

Sen. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, who chaired the behavioral health group, pointed out that, over the last decade, youth suicide has risen 51%. She said that's unacceptable and noted behavioral health is not paid for at the same parity as physical health.

While the proposed spending is substantial, it's not enough, lawmakers said.

Given TABOR's constraints on the budget, the money felt like a gift, Gonzales said.

"We recognize the pandemic laid bare structural inequities" in the system, and while $400 million is a lot of money, it's only part of the solution, she said, adding lawmakers will be working with local governments, which received separate ARPA funding, to figure out how to best allocate those dollars.

Lawmakers intend to send out money local governments and private housing developers can leverage to start building affordable housing, according to Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Eagle, who chaired the affordable housing group.

"The state can't do it alone," he added.

Roberts said some housing projects have already broken ground, including buying land.

Recommendations from a third task force, on economic recovery, are expected later in the year, according to House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. That gives the task force more time to look at economic relief, including allowing economists an opportunity to weigh in, he said.

Gonzales, as well as several other task force members, said the recommendations were driven by consensus and bipartisanship and adopted unanimously.

However, no Republican attended the news conference  several told Colorado Politics they were unaware it was taking place.

Democrats also told the minority party via email Republicans would not be allowed to speak, given the number of people initially scheduled to attend, which included members of Colorado's congressional delegation. Those Congressional lawmakers bowed out at the last moment. One Democratic staffer said the minority should have asked for an opportunity to speak.

Republicans earlier asked for an opportunity to issue a minority report should they disagree with the task forces' suggestions, but none was submitted with the final report.

Senate GOP spokesman Sage Naumann told Colorado Politics since Republicans were invited but not allowed to speak, they did not want to be part of a photo op for two Democratic lawmakers  Roberts and Pettersen  who are on the campaign trail.

Petersen is running for the 7th Congressional District while Roberts is gunning for the state Senate.

"It's not appropriate" for Republicans to be part of the Democrats' election campaigns, especially since the majority assigns Republican bills, including those dealing with housing, to "kill" committees, he said.
Colorado Springs police are investigating two more robberies over the weekend that were reported several miles from each other but about an hour apart.

The robberies took place after police said they believe the same suspects are responsible for at least two smash-and-grabs that occurred late Saturday night and early Sunday during a 90-minute period that saw thieves hit four stores overall across a wide swath of the city.

The first of Sunday's robberies was reported just before 10 p.m. at a store on the 1400 block of North Academy Boulevard on the city's north side. Police said a robber entered the store and stole items after threatening the clerk with a handgun before leaving.

About an hour later, another robbery was reported at a business on the 200 block of West Rockrimmon Boulevard  about nine miles from the first reported robbery that day. Police said a robber went inside and threatened an employee before leaving with an unknown amount of merchandise.

Both robberies are under investigation.
A series of decisions determined the end of Anna Marie Garduno's life.

There was the decision to place her on a ventilator. It was Nov. 16, a week since she was diagnosed with COVID-19, five days since she was admitted to Evans Army Community Hospital. It was 78 years to the day since she'd been born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, to a homemaker and a railroad worker.

This decision was thrown on her daughter, Sheryl Abeyta, as it has been and will continue to be thrown onto countless other children and families. Abeyta felt rushed: It was morning when the hospital called and told her Anna Marie  she went by Lorraine  could die, her oxygen levels had fallen so low. They needed direction. Abeyta told them she had to think.

She'd just been with her mom the night before. Garduno was in a chair and talking. Her speech was labored, but she was still talking. That was maybe 12 hours ago.

"How could she turn so quickly?" Abeyta wondered.

Two hours after the first call, the hospital called again. Abeyta relented, grappled with this call coming on Garduno's birthday. She was outgoing, an Army wife during Vietnam, a mother hen to her two children and a frequent hostess for the other wives. She still sang the Everly Brothers at karaoke every Thursday. And somehow, now, she was unable to breathe on her own.

Abeyta wonders  will always wonder  if she should've waited. She didn't know at the time, but more time would pass before the anesthesiologist arrived to sedate Garduno. Could her mother have held on another day? Could Abeyta have held off for a few more hours, so she could've gone to see her mom, to try to talk to her? If Abeyta had seen her, maybe she could've said, "See, look. She's sitting up, just like she was last night. She's OK."

"It was her birthday, and if I didn't put her on a ventilator and she died, that would be awful," Abeyta said. "But if I did put her on the ventilator, was that depriving her of one more day on oxygen and letting her talk to me one more time?"

There was Garduno's decision to not get vaccinated, despite Abeyta's urging. Garduno had strong phobias, and she worried about the side effects  her companion had chills and a fever after getting his vaccine. Garduno had gotten her flu shot in mid-October. If she'd received her COVID vaccine then, too, she would've gotten her second dose that same week she was hospitalized.

Back in early September, the family gathered in Abeyta's backyard for her daughter's birthday. Over Papa Murphy's pizza and cake, Abeyta told Garduno to get vaccinated. Her mom had taken the pandemic seriously: She'd masked up, she played bingo in her car, she briefly stopped going to the 11 o'clock Saturday Mass. Her mother's friends would later tell Abeyta they urged her mom to get vaccinated, too.

Two weeks after Garduno was intubated, the hospital called again and laid another decision at Abeyta's feet. There had been some positive signs in the two weeks since Garduno had been intubated, hope that had bolstered Abeyta. Her ex-mother-in-law had been on a ventilator, and when the doctors removed it, she drew breath again.

But Garduno wasn't getting better. Did her daughter want to keep her on the ventilator? Abeyta went back to the hospital on Nov. 28. She'd arranged for a Catholic priest to come and perform last rites. Her mom's hands were strapped down, to prevent her from pulling out the tubes pumping air into her lungs.

The next day, Abeyta and her daughter, bedecked in protective gear, stood on either side of Garduno's bed. Abeyta could see her reflection in the window, could see the doctors and the nurses and the machines, her mom and her daughter.

"Was this us?" she wondered. "Is this happening? Or is it a dream?"

By 9:30 p.m., the providers had taken Garduno off the ventilator. Abeyta tried to absorb what was happening, looked at her reflection again. She hoped her mother would breathe on her own. If she couldn't, then at least let her hear them saying goodbye.

There are more decisions now, bringing the others into sharper relief. What should she do with her parents' brick house in Security-Widefield? The one her dad, Larry, bought back in the '70s, where her mom would sit and watch the neighborhood from the living room window and where her dad would work in the woodshop. What does she do with her parents' classic cars, the 1970 Chevelle Super Sport and the '71 Lincoln Continental?

How should she process this grief? December was hard. Her mom loved to celebrate holidays, but she spent Thanksgiving on a ventilator and Christmas came too late. For weeks, Abeyta was numb, in a daze, going through the motions, all of those inadequate euphemisms for living while shattered. She ground her teeth so hard she cracked a tooth.

Abeyta's trying not to be angry, but she is. She's angry at the doctors for not giving her more time to see her mom before they intubated her. She's angry at the stress placed on the health care system. If her mom had gotten sick in the summer, would she still be here?

Her father died eight years ago, and now she was an orphan.

"I lost part of my heart when my dad died," she said, "and the rest of my heart when my mom died."

She's frustrated, and reeling, and grieving. But she's beginning to shift her eyes forward. She has a family around her, a granddaughter. Garduno had lived a full life: She was a dancer, a lover of Mexican music and food, an active Catholic, a protective mother who followed her husband's military career across the world. She twirled and sang up until she got sick.

Those were decisions, too.
The son of Academy School District 20 school board member Heather Cloninger has gone missing, officials with the district announced Saturday.

Jake Cloninger, 17, was last seen Jan. 26 in Temecula, California driving a white Kia Soul heading south toward San Diego. He is listed as 6-foot-3-inches tall with brown hair.

Anyone with knowledge of Cloninger's whereabouts is encouraged to call Colorado Springs police at 719-444-7000.

Click here for more local public safety news.
A 34-year-old Trinidad woman was killed Sunday in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 near the New Mexico border, Colorado State Patrol said.

The woman was possibly speeding when she lost control of her 1990 Buick LeSabre on a curve between mile markers No. 1 and 2 on north I-25, State Patrol said. The crash was reported just before 4 p.m.

State Patrol said the driver, who was not identified, failed to negotiate a left curve.

"Tire marks indicate that the driver braked and steered the vehicle hard to the left, losing control," State Patrol said in a report. "The vehicle traveled into the center median where it began to roll over. The vehicle rolled through the median, over a guardrail and into the southbound lanes where it came to rest on its wheels."

The driver was found partially ejected out of the driver's window and unresponsive. She died at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed this crash is asked to call Colorado State Patrol at 719-544-2424; the case number is 2D220204.
From black bears to potato beetles, there are a number diverse species that call Colorado home. Unfortunately, due to factors like habitat loss and overhunting, some of them have made their way to the state's endangered species list.
UB exhibit on Attica uprising open to public

The traveling exhibition, "Open Wounds: The Fifty-Year Legacy of the Attica Prison Uprising," in Abbott Library at UB. The exhibition was developed by the New York State Museum. Credit: Douglas Levere / University at Buffalo

The traveling exhibition, "Open Wounds: The Fifty-Year Legacy of the Attica Prison Uprising," in Abbott Library at UB. The exhibition was developed by the New York State Museum. Credit: Douglas Levere / University at Buffalo

The exhibit serves as a reminder of the issues of a flawed justice system, organizers say

By Tessie Mar

I wanted to keep in mind prison reform and the ongoing debates taking place now. We imprison people for decades. What about rehabilitation and alternatives? What are conditions like for those prisoners? 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  The University at Buffalo Department of Africana and American Studies and UB Libraries are hosting the exhibit, Open Wounds: The Fifty-Year Legacy of the Attica Prison Uprising.

In September 1971, inmate frustration over inhumane living situations in the Attica Correctional Facility culminated in the uprising that the exhibit acknowledges today. 2021 marked the 50-year anniversary of the riots, which left 43 people dead, almost all of them killed by law enforcement officers retaking the prison.

The panel display is located on UBs South Campus on the first floor of Abbott Library. It is a traveling exhibition developed by the New York State Museum, and it will remain at UB at least through the spring 2022 semester.

All of UBs libraries, including Abbott, are open to the public, with hours of operation listed on the UB Libraries website.

Lillian S. Williams, PhD, associate professor of Africana and American studies in the UB College of Arts and Sciences, and Scott Hollander, UBs associate university librarian for administration and distinctive collections, reflect on the exhibits significance.

I wanted that story to be told, Williams says. This is about trying to get people to think about what we do as an American democracy to perpetuate our goals, our democratic principles, and how we treat people. I wanted to have conversations around such issues: What is incarceration and what does it mean in a democratic society? What about educational opportunities, and the disparities that we still see? What does it mean for our society when we lock up prisoners and throw away the key?

I wanted to keep in mind prison reform and the ongoing debates taking place now. We imprison people for decades. What about rehabilitation and alternatives? What are conditions like for those prisoners? I remember the Buffalo newspapers coverage when the riots took place at Attica. While conducting research at the Library of Congress some years ago, I found a letter from a Buffalo Attica inmate in the 1930s complaining about the same conditions for which Attica prisoners were seeking redress in 1971. It dealt with racism, it dealt with the paucity of supplies, just basic food, health. Taking a bath was an issue.

Attica serves as a reminder of the issues of a flawed justice system, Williams says. Younger generations that may be unaware of the uprising are offered an opportunity to familiarize themselves with it, as the exhibits panels recount the history.

Attica was incredibly complicated and tragic, Hollander says. The intent of the exhibition was to present and bring back the history into the publics consciousness and encourage conversation, however uncomfortable it may be.

The exhibit location in Abbott Library is a short distance from the UB Stampede Main Circle shuttle stop, and from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authoritys University Station Metro Rail stop, where many public buses arrive and depart.

It's a wonderful space because it also allows faculty to bring classes in, and focus upon those issues, Williams says of the library. It also has public access, which is one of the reasons I wanted it there, and people from the community can come to see it.
Gov. Kim Reynolds began the 2022 legislative session with a comprehensive proposal to cut the states income tax, retirement income tax and corporate tax rates.

All of these tax cuts have one thing in common  they reward work, Reynolds said in prepared remarks for her Jan. 11 Condition of the State speech. Work to be done and a lifetime of work to be proud of.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds pitches 4% income tax DES MOINES  A four-year transition to a flat state income tax rate of 4 percent, shortening

But although Reynolds, a Republican, enjoys Republican majorities in the House and Senate, her plan is far from final. Legislative leadership released their own tax bills this week, each using the governors proposal as a template but making their own significant changes.

Senate leaders want an even more significant income tax cut than Reynolds proposed and they would adopt a mechanism to eventually eliminate the income tax altogether. Meanwhile, the House stuck close to Reynolds initial proposal on income tax, but they scrapped a $300 million corporate tax cut.

Lawmakers will need to find a compromise among the three proposals before the legislative session ends in the spring. Heres where theyre starting out:

Senate proposes lower income taxes, with goal to eliminate

Republican leaders are taking roughly the same approach to income tax this year. All three proposals would reduce the states income tax rates over several years. Ultimately, leaders say it would be a flat tax, with every income bracket paying the same rate.

Governor: Reynolds proposed a 4% tax for all income brackets, which she described as flat and fair.

The new income tax rate would phase in over four years, beginning in tax year 2023 and ending in tax year 2026. Each year, the state would essentially eliminate the highest tax bracket until all Iowans are paying the same rate.

The governors office projects the plan will eliminate nearly $1.6 billion in taxes by 2026. Reynolds does not plan to use the Taxpayer Relief Fund for the tax cuts, instead relying on continued revenue growth in the state.

House: House Republicans endorsed Reynolds proposal for lowering the income tax to 4%.

I think the 4% is a very bold plan that the governor laid out, and thats why youre seeing the House is working off of that, as far as where we want to get to, House Speaker Pat Grassley said Thursday.

However, the House would tap into the Taxpayer Relief Fund to offset the cuts. Grassley emphasized that both proposals were sustainable, but explained House Republicans wanted to commit the money that had been set aside specifically for the purpose of tax cuts.

Senate: The Senate GOP plan would lower income tax rates over five years, eventually paring the rate back to 3.6% for all taxpayers. That will eliminate more than $2 billion in taxes, according to Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver.

Senate leaders said theyre still working toward an ultimate goal of eliminating the income tax altogether. Their proposal creates an automatic mechanism to eventually bring the income tax down to zero: The Taxpayer Relief Fund would become the Income Tax Elimination Fund. If the state brings in a surplus, money would go toward the fund and allow the state to continue lowering the income tax over time.

House proposes no corporate tax cuts

Governor: Reynolds proposed a plan to reduce the top corporate tax rate gradually, based on how much surplus corporate tax the state collects each year. The goal is to work down to a 5.5% rate for all corporations, which is significantly lower than the current top-bracket rate of 9.8%.

The Department of Revenue estimated the corporate cuts would reduce state revenues about $300 million over five years.

House: The House plan does not include changes to the corporate tax rate or to corporate tax exemptions.

Grassley said he was open to discussions about eliminating some of the states corporate tax credits, but that those talks should be separate from the main tax proposal. He said making significant changes to tax credits could be difficult.

Democrats' answer Democrats were not enthusiastic about any of the three Republican tax proposals. Leaders in the House and Senate argued the income tax changes unfairly advantage higher earners, and they objected to corporate tax cuts. The latest GOP tax scheme will leave too many Iowans behind, said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst of the House tax plan. We dont need more tax giveaways to the special interests, corporations, and millionaires. Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls raised concerns that, with fewer dollars coming into the state, the Legislature would need to cut essential programs. Senate Republicans wont solve the Reynolds Workforce Crisis with another tax giveaway to millionaires and big corporations, Wahls said in a statement. The Republican plan would result in higher taxes for hardworking Iowans and the defunding of public education, public safety, and health care services.

If thats the route that the Legislature decides to go, we obviously are going to be at the table, Grassley said.

Senate: Senate leaders are closer to Reynolds on the corporate piece. They want to reduce the corporate income tax to 7.8% and eliminate $141 million worth of corporate tax credits.

Some of these are exemptions weve had in our code for 30 or 40 years, but we lack the political courage around here to lower our rate and actually deal with those credits, said Sen. Dan Dawson, chair of the Senate Ways and Means committee.

Leadership agrees on eliminating retirement income tax

Governor: Reynolds proposed removing the state tax on retirement income, beginning in tax year 2023. She also proposed new exemptions for retired farmers.

Youve worked hard all your life, saving for retirement and paying your fair share in taxes, she said in the Condition of the State address. Its time you get a break from the tax collector; youve earned it, now you should enjoy it.

House: The House proposed the same retirement income tax changes as Reynolds.

Rep. Lee Hein, chair of the House Ways and Means committee, told reporters earlier in the week that the House would push for the changes to take effect in tax year 2022, but the House proposal enacts them instead in 2023.

I dont think there was a significant amount of pushback on what the year was, Grassley said. The important piece is making sure that it was part of the tax bill.

Senate: The Senate also proposed the same language on retirement income taxes.

We understand theres going to be a lot of conversation about that, and some details that need to be worked out, but really, thats the legislative process, said Whitver, promising to get started on negotiations next week.

Senate proposes sales tax change for preservation

The Senate added one extra thing to their tax plan: a change to the local option sales tax that would fund water quality and trail improvement.

The proposal would classify the local option sales tax, which already exists in a majority of Iowa communities, to a statewide tax. That change would allow them to use some of the money to fund Iowas Water Land and Legacy program (IWILL).

Dawson said it was the most conservative and constitutional solution to IWILL.

Its a vision to improve Iowas water qualities, its a vision to improve Iowas trail system, Dawson said. You know, those placemaking things that are going to attract people to Iowa.

This story is reprinted with permission under creative commons licensing from Iowa Capital Dispatch.

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Three local florists have the same message for people with plans to order flowers for their sweeties on Valentines Day.

Order as soon as possible.

They agree flowers will be available, but vases and other supplies are another matter.

The supply chain is a mess, said Terry Shadrick, owner of H.W. Brown Florist. Im thinking fresh flowers will be OK, maybe just a little spotty, but the hard items like vases and the oases are a mess.

The oasis is the foam in the bottom of a container that the flowers are stuck into.

Oases are completely gone. There are none, Shadrick said. They have disappeared from the marketplace.

He said he had heard that a factory in Ohio that made the foam they like to use had burned down, but he wasnt sure on the details. He just knows he is trying to do floral arrangements without Styrofoam.

Red satin ribbon is also scarce, but he hopes to get some before Valentines Day.

He said the funeral home orders have been the most impacted by the shortages.

But he suggests for Valentines Day that customers order early.

Problems

One problem this year is that Valentines Day falls on a Monday, making the weekend a busy time for the florists.

We probably wont deliver on Sunday since businesses are closed and people arent home, Shadrick said.

He suggested people have flowers delivered on Friday or Saturday.

If they are delivered on Monday, it might not get there until the end of the day, and then [the recipient] will think they have been forgotten, he said. So order early  at least a week ahead  and be flexible with what you want.

Mel Goad, whose mother, Nancy Goad, owns Motley Florist also suggested ordering early. In the past their business has had lines snaking down past to the next building on Valentines Day.

Order early, he said. Just like with anything else. We have already ordered vases and supplies and are just waiting for them to get here.

He agreed that the day of the week makes a difference with Valentines Day business since people prefer to get flowers at work and show them off.

Vickie Brown, the owner of Giles-Flowerland, said they are hoping they will get all the supplies they need for Valentines Day.

So far we have been able to get all the flowers we need, but we are still trying to get vases, she said.

Their supplies and flowers come from wholesalers in Kernersville, North Carolina.

She plans on the employees working the whole weekend since Valentines Day is on Monday.

And, hopefully, theres no snow, she said.

Effect of the pandemic

Brown said the biggest effect of the pandemic was getting plants during the first part of it.

Weve also had trouble finding someone to work, she said.

Shadrick said that the pandemic particularly impacted funeral orders with the lack of supplies for arrangements.

He also had trouble getting plants early in the pandemic, but fresh flowers were just a spotty, not a chronic problem.

Their flowers come from South America through Miami and then are either flown or trucked up to wholesalers in Greensboro and Graham, North Carolina.

Goad said that the pandemic affected getting flowers into nursing homes.

One nursing home didnt allow any deliveries for a year, he said. People got upset when nursing homes shut down. But most facilities were accommodating, and I understood and did what they wanted me to do.

Most of the nursing homes accepted deliveries but had the flowers dropped off at the front door.

I havent seen where COVID affected business for either Valentines Day or Mothers Day, he said, noting that the two holidays are usually neck-in-neck for business.

He said that online sales have also increased during the pandemic.

Shadrick and Brown are expecting a good demand for flowers this Valentines Day.

Just order early, they all agreed.

Elzey is a freelance writer for the Register & Bee. She can be reached at susanelzey@yahoo.com or (434) 791-7991.
After an initial denial, the Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals has approved another solar farm for Axton.

The Rocky Ford Solar Energy LLCs large scale solar energy facility on the east end of Henry County would be the countys fourth, but its not the last one in the works.

It follows one set for Bassett, one at the old Lynwood Country Club off DuPont Road and another already in operation in Axton. More companies also are courting the county to turn land over to solar energy panels.

On Nov. 25 the board turned down petitions from both Rocky Ford and Axton Solar LLCs to transform thousands of acres to solar energy facilities.

Rocky Ford pared down its initial request to have 800 acres rezoned to 378 acres, and the single request for rezoning to accommodate a solar farm operation on Thursday was less than a third of the size of the two requests combined by both companies that had petitioned the Board in November.

This addressed the initial objection that Director of Planning, Zoning and Inspection Director Lee Clark had that Henry County was not opposed to solar projects, but was opposed to those of such size that they would alter a large part of the landscape.

The complaint from Mountain Valley Brewery, which hosts outdoor events in the area, had also vanished when Rocky Ford said it would protect the brewerys country-landscape view from solar panels.

In addition to addressing specific issues at Novembers meeting, Rocky Ford proposed to pay the County $1 million as a siting agreement, to be satisfied in payments of $250,000 within 30 days after the Board of Zoning Appeals approval, $500,000 upon receipt of the building permit, and $250,000 when construction is complete.

The company also estimates $270,000 would be derived by the County from Rocky Ford in the first year from a machinery and tools tax and then about $180,000 a year for the assumed duration of 30 years of operation.

We are pleased to present to you the revised and updated Special Use Permit Application (SUP) for Rocky Ford Solar Energy, LLC in Henry County, Virginia, a letter from the company to Clark stated. Rocky Fords initial SUP application, submitted October 18, 2021, was denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals on November 24, 2021, based on the Countys interpretation of the solar density threshold and what constitutes existing solar projects. We appreciate your statement at the hearing that the Rocky Ford project and presentation were the best you had seen for any project in the County. With that said, we were disappointed by the decision that the Rocky Ford and Axton Solar, LLC projects could not co-exist as presented without exceeding the existing solar project density threshold.

While we disagree with that interpretation of existing (in the absence of any other definition in the Countys ordinance, under accepted rules of statutory construction the plain meaning of existing can only be built, and since Axton Solar has neither commenced construction nor is built, it should not be counted in the density threshold under any definition.

Before voting, Board Chair Paul Setliff read verbatim four additional conditions that would be required of Rocky Ford:

setbacks

conservation easements

areas not to be developed with panels

vegetative buffer areas.

Additional screening must be provided on the western boundary of Sandy River Farms and the area that abuts Dees Road and three residences off the eastern side of Mountain Valley Road.

The company must complete construction within three years or risk going through the approval process again from the beginning. A plan to mitigate the noise during construction must be submitted to Clark and approved before it begins.

Setliff told the residents and business owners in attendance that he realized it must seem to them like they were having to force the Board to come kicking and screaming into the age of modern operations, but it was out of an over abundance of caution on the Boards part to insure the obligations of the Countys responsibility to the landowners at large.

The Board then approved the request for a Special Use Permit to Rocky Ford for the construction of its solar energy facility on the properties located generally in the north east vicinity of Mountain Valley Road and Dees Road, and along Summerset Drive and Rufus Road.

The proposal is to develop a 90 MW facility cover approximately 378 acres in the Iriswood District.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.

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CHAPEL HILL  There are encouraging signs about the latest wave of COVID-19. New cases in South Africa, where the omicron variant of the coronavirus was first identified, have fallen steeply since late December, and the same is starting to happen in parts of the United States.

But Katie Creran isn't confident that an end to the pandemic is in sight. Creran is a registered nurse in the surgical/trauma intensive care unit at UNC Medical Center, where the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients are treated.

Here, the patients receive what's known as ECMO or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. They're heavily sedated and hooked up to ECMO machines that provide oxygen directly to their blood because the virus has so damaged their lungs that even mechanical ventilation isn't enough.

Patients on ECMO require round-the-clock attention from people like Creran, who has worked in this ICU for six years. Like many who care for COVID-19 patients, she thought the arrival of vaccines last year meant an end to the pandemic was coming.

Then came a backlash to the vaccines, and vaccination rates stalled. Fewer than half of adults 18 and older in North Carolina are fully vaccinated and boosted against the coronavirus, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Creran says she's "kind of given up hoping" the pandemic will end.

"Things might get better for a little while, and then a new variant comes out and we still don't have the herd immunity we need to be able to keep people out of the ICU," she said Thursday, standing outside the room of a COVID-19 patient receiving ECMO. "I just guard my hope pretty close to the chest."

Where to find ECMO treatment in NC?

ECMO is only available at large medical centers; in the Triangle, Duke and WakeMed also offer the treatment for COVID-19.

UNC has one of the nation's largest programs, said Dr. Lauren Raff, a surgeon and trauma doctor on the team that treats patients with ECMO. Before COVID-19, UNC used the procedure with heart and lung patients about two dozen times a year, Raff said.

About 160 COVID-19 patients have required ECMO at UNC since the pandemic began in spring 2020. At the peak of last summer's surge of the delta variant, 13 of the 16 beds in the surgical/trauma ICU were filled with patients on ECMO.

On Jan. 27, four patients in the ICU were receiving ECMO for COVID-19. Like those who came before, they had underlying health problems, such as hypertension or diabetes, that made them vulnerable to the virus, and none of them had been vaccinated against the virus, Raff said.

Though there are exceptions, it's rare that a vaccinated patient will get sick enough to need a ventilator, let alone ECMO.

"Everything has shown, since the advent of the vaccine, that generally it is very safe and is exceedingly effective at preventing severe illness from COVID," Raff said.

The omicron variant has fueled a spike in hospitalizations for COVID-19, hitting a record 5,158 patients statewide on Wednesday, according to DHHS. But in general, the variant causes less severe illness; fewer than 16% of those patients were in hospital ICUs, compared to nearly a third during the delta surge last summer.

The UNC Medical Center had 160 COVID-19 patients Jan. 27, including 25 who needed intensive care.

Raff knows of only two UNC patients infected with the omicron variant who have needed ECMO; the rest in her ICU were hit by the delta variant, which is still circulating, she said. Doctors hope the prevalence of omicron will reduce the number of severely ill patients even further, Raff said.

"But the fear that we have is what is coming after omicron," she said. "So long as there's a large unvaccinated population, this virus can mutate and can change very quickly and can spread very quickly. It's proven that over and over again."

Most COVID patients on ECMO won't survive

For COVID-19 patients, ECMO is a treatment of last resort. A patient can remain on the machine for anywhere from 10 days to seven weeks while their body tries to heal the damage to their lungs, Raff said. About 60% of ECMO patients won't survive.

Creran said people who work in the ICU normally get to see "a decent amount of happy endings" as patients recover from surgery or trauma and go home. It's hard watching so many die of COVID-19, she said.

"We have to build up a certain wall against these emotions," she said. "We all have to come up with our own way coping to deal with it and try to distance ourselves from it, unfortunately. Just for our own self-preservation."

When COVID-19 patients arrive in the ICU, they're already heavily sedated and on ventilators. If ECMO is successful, the patients are still sedated when they leave.

That means Creran and her co-workers never see their COVID-19 patients when they're conscious. What they know about them comes only from medical charts and what visiting family members tell them.

Creran works three 12-hour shifts a week, often caring for the same patient each time. She monitors her patient and the ECMO machine almost constantly; makes sure that food and liquids are going in and urine and feces are coming out, all through tubes; moves the patient every two hours to prevent skin damage; and gives them a sponge bath once a day.

On Thursday morning, Raff, Creran and a half dozen others involved with her patient huddled outside his room to go over his progress and update their strategy. Raff suggested they adjust his sedation and consider another "trial," where the amount of blood flowing through the ECMO machine is scaled back to see if he's able to get enough oxygen from the ventilator alone.

A previous trial two days earlier showed that he wasn't ready.

Ongoing coronavirus fight is 'frustrating'

Like many health care workers who treat COVID-19 patients, Creran and Raff are disheartened that so many people distrust the science behind the vaccines and refuse to get vaccinated.

"It's frustrating to walk around in the world and be on social media and see that people are not believing in it or are still hesitant," Creran said.

Raff said not knowing when the pandemic will end has worn on doctors, nurses and other health care providers. It has to end sometime, she said.

"We hope it's over soon," she said. "We'll obviously keep going if it's not."
Fire guts North Main Street building in High Point

A fire early Saturday caused extensive damage to a building that was being used for warehouse storage by a High Point cabinetry wholesale business.

Firefighters were called to 2515 N. Main St. at 12:18 a.m. and found heavy fire within the structure upon arrival, said High Point Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Foster.

The building was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported.

It took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. It caused significant damage to the building, which doesn't appear to be salvageable, Foster said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and is undetermined at this point, he said.

The 2,460-square-foot building is leased for warehouse space by U.S. Cabinets Express, which has a showroom in the adjacent commercial strip center at 2505 N. Main St.

Employees at the showroom said it appeared the fire destroyed all of the contents within the neighboring building.

It was previously the longtime location of Company's Coming, a prepared foods retailer and gourmet kitchen shop that moved last year to the retail complex at 1800 N. Main St.

It's one of three parcels that comprise a corner property at North Main Street and West Peachtree Drive that was sold to Kotis Properties of Greensboro in June 2021.

Long lines lead to early distribution of face masks in High Point, and frustration for those left out of the giveaway

HIGH POINT  Many people who showed up Friday morning at the former Oak Hollow Mall for a free COVID-19 mask distribution left angry and frustrated because the event began early and all 10,000 free N95 masks were given away even before the announced start time.

The Guilford County Division of Public Health planned to hold the mask giveaway from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Roy B. Culler Jr. Senior Center. But people wanting masks began showing up as early as 9 a.m.

So many showed up early that the cars lined up on the loop road around the former mall and toward intersections at Eastchester Drive and University Parkway, formerly Hartley Drive, which began to affect traffic on Eastchester and University.

Guilford County public health officials apologize for the inconvenience, said Kenya Smith Godette, communications manager for the Guilford County Division of Public Health.

"Due to an overwhelming response to the N95 mask giveaway event ... , we made the decision to begin earlier than the scheduled time," she said. "Due to the amount of cars that arrived before the 11 a.m. start time, the line was beginning to impede regular street traffic and posed a number of safety and accessibility concerns."

Jamestown names Matthew Johnson manager

JAMESTOWN  A familiar face will be leading the government helm in Jamestown.

Town officials announced last week that Matthew Johnson was to be promoted to town manager effective Jan. 29.

Johnson previously served as assistant manager and planning director for the town, roles he had held since 2017. Johnson has been working in Jamestown since 2006 excluding a two-year period where he worked in Virginia. He also has previously worked with the city of Greensboro.

Johnson has more than 21 years of local government experience. In Jamestown, he was instrumental in helping the town land a $5 million grant that funded projects like Wrenn Miller Park, a new pedestrian bridge at East Fork Road and a new pedestrian walkway along East Main Street.

Johnson was picked after the town searched for candidates through the Piedmont Triad Regional Council.

"After a thorough search, the Town Council feels that Matthew's experience and nearly 15 years of service to the town of Jamestown have prepared him to lead the Town into the future," according to a press release from the town.
Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina has announced that the Trailblaze Challenge, an endurance event in which participants tackle 28.3 miles of the Foothills Trail, is set for May 20-22 and June 3-5.

Each trailblazer will be asked to raise funds to cover their expenses and to help Make-A-Wish continue its mission of granting wishes of children who are diagnosed with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish staff will assist with fundraising.

All hikers must attend an information session to participate.

The following sessions will be offered over Zoom: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 3.

For information, visit wish.org/nc/trailblaze-challenge or contact Emily Gibson at events@nc.wish.org or 704-469-4663.

Also, the nonprofits Wish Ball is set for Feb. 25 at The Westin in Charlotte and the Kentucky Derby Classic will be May 7 at Summerfield Farms.

* * * *

Creative Aging Network-NC, at 2400 Summit Ave. in Greensboro, will offer a Bas-Relief/Low Relief Sculpture Class from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 18.

Participants will upcycle matboard and/or corrugated cardboard by transforming the material into 8 x 8 low relief sculptures that can be painted.

Register at tinyurl.com/39kty45a.

Other planned classes include:

Self Portrait Workshop with Oil Paints: 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 14. Learn how to use oil paints to create a self-portrait using your own reflection in a mirror. Register at tinyurl.com/mw9h8cpe.

Acrylic Pour Painting and String Pulling Techniques: 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 25. Kathy Eaton will be teaching acrylic pour painting and string pulling techniques. Register at tinyurl.com/yckry2we.

Each class is $40.

For information, call 336-303-9963 or visit www.can-nc.org.

* * * *

Louisa Raisbeck, UNCG department of kinesiology, talked about balance strategies for older adults during a recent lunch-and-learn event.

The presentation explored the effect of a 12-week postural control training program (wobble board training) that focuses on retention of posture control in healthy, older adults who reported falling in a 12-month period.

To see the presentation, visit tinyurl.com/mu7kx6yd.

The next workshop is set for noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 2. Dayna Touron will present, Multiple Pathways of Cognitive Aging: Motivational and Contextual Influences.

For information, call 336-334-5000.

* * * *

This spring, Relay for Life of the Triad is bringing its cancer-fighting event to a new location  Creekside Park in Archdale.

Last year, Relay for Life of Guilford County combined forces with its sister organizations in Randolph, Davidson and Forsyth counties to create a Triad-wide event.

This years event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. May 13.

Residents from across the Triad are encouraged to create relay teams with family members and friends. On the day of the event, each team will host a campsite where they can raise money by doing anything from selling meals to hosting games.

Registration is free and can be completed at relayforlife.org/triadnc.

* * * *

JDRFs TypeOneNation Virtual Summit is now a yearlong program, offering a free educational session the first Thursday of every month to help people live well with Type 1 diabetes. Each summit will be hosted from 6 to 7 p.m.

Experts from across the country will share their knowledge on different topics that affect those living with or caring for someone with Type 1 diabetes. This includes everything from research and technology advancements to mental health and nutrition. Meet and learn from new speakers and engage with other families and individuals with Type 1 diabetes.

To register, visit tinyurl.com/2p8ehr83.

Send press releases to people@greensboro.com.
In 1939, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees does not play against the Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium, ending his streak of 2,130 consecutive
The Firat News Agency reported that the Iranian authorities arrested the Kurdish teacher and activist Shayban Mohammadi, from the city of Marivan in Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan), and took him to an unknown destination, in the absence of any information about the reason for the arrest.

The day before yesterday, Saturday, the Kurdish activist, Ziman Zioya, was arrested in the city of Saqqaz in Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan).

Ziman Zioya, 29, studied law at Biamenor University in Saqqaz, where she was arrested and tortured several times.

Without any details of the reason for the arrest and the place she was taken to, according to the Firat News Agency.

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ANHA
Spirit of solidarity urgently needed before Olympics, says UN chief

Xinhua) 13:40, January 31, 2022

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefs the UN General Assembly on his priorities for 2022 at the UN headquarters in New York on Jan. 21, 2022. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The Olympic spirit, which represents a spirit of solidarity, is urgently needed for the international community to address the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Xinhua in a written interview on Friday.

The Olympics and Paralympics send a fantastic message of "peace and of mutual respect between people of all cultures, all civilizations and all ethnicities," said Guterres, days before his trip to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

It is necessary to shine a light on the Olympic spirit, which also means mutual understanding, tolerance, respect and dialogue, said Guterres, adding that the spirit "is very much in line with the values of the UN."

The spirit is "absolutely essential" to face increasing xenophobia and racism, spreading white supremacy, rising geopolitical tensions, and the unacceptable ways that migrants and refugees are being treated, he said.

Unity and solidarity are especially important during the pandemic, said the UN chief, noting that developing countries are in need of vaccines and financial help. He also urged developed countries to help those who are most vulnerable.

Commenting on the Global Development Initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year, Guterres said that China's experience of lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty can provide valuable lessons to other developing countries.

"I sincerely hope that this initiative will provide an opportunity to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals globally and especially in other developing countries," he said.

As the Chinese New Year is approaching, Guterres also extended his wishes to the Chinese people for the Lunar New Year of the Tiger.

"The tiger denotes strength, vitality, courage, tenacity, and boldness. These are qualities we need as we face the unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis," he said.

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Empire Discovery Institute partners with Novo Nordisk

Its our mission to support early-stage research. Through incubating and providing resources to accelerate innovative drug discovery and development projects, we will ensure scientific and operational success and move drugs to market at a faster rate. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  The Empire Discovery Institute and global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S have formed a five-year partnership to commercialize life sciences research from the institutes academic partners, including the University at Buffalo.

The new initiative, called LeapRx, aims to accelerate the speed in which academic research discoveries are turned into pharmaceuticals. It will involve Empire Discovery Institutes two other partners, the University of Rochester and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Its our mission to support early-stage research. Through incubating and providing resources to accelerate innovative drug discovery and development projects, we will ensure scientific and operational success and move drugs to market at a faster rate, says Rick Gardner, UB associate vice president for economic development.

LeapRx will provide financial support and pharmaceutical industry expertise to researchers at UB, Rochester and Roswell. Through the initiative, Empire Discovery Institute will work closely with the recently formed Novo Nordisk Bio Innovation Hub in Massachusetts.

We look forward to working with our R&D collaboration partners at Novo Nordisk. By bringing together scientific innovation, pharmaceutical industry expertise and funding, our mission is to facilitate the efficient translation of fundamental scientific discoveries into important new medicines for commercialization, said Martin Graham, CEO of Empire Discovery Institute.

For Novo Nordisk, the partnership represents a continuation of its dedication to support life science ecosystems in the Northeast U.S.

The intersection between fundamental academic research and pharmaceutical R&D is where we believe we can uncover the innovation that will lead to medicines of the future. We are excited to see what early-stage research projects we can support the development of through our collaboration with [Empire Discovery Institute] and participating academic institutions, said Uli Stilz, vice president of Novo Nordisk Bio Innovation Hub.

LeapRx will focus on areas of mutual interest to Empire Discovery Institute and Novo Nordisk, specifically therapies for diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), obesity, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic kidney disease and rare blood disorders.

Empire Discovery Institutes early-stage drug discovery and development expertise  along with Novo Nordisks scientific, regulatory, clinical, commercial and marketing capabilities  will help advance the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative, breakthrough medicines, leaders say.

Development of promising drug targets or novel compounds will benefit from this co-investment and accelerate breakthrough medicines that could reach patients faster. UB investigators will co-develop milestone-based work plans with LeapRx pharmaceutical experts designed to add patient and commercial value, says Jeff Dunbar, director of technology transfer at UB.
This came during a statement issued by US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, about Syria Democratic Forces' restoration of full control of Al-Sina'a Prison in Ghweran neighborhood of Hasaka city in Syria.

Sullivan said: "United States commends the Syria Democratic Forces, which, along with coalition forces, have completed their operations to restore full control of Hasaka prison in Syria."

He added in statement published by White House on Sunday on its website: "Thanks to the courage and determination of Syria Democratic Forces, many of whom paid sacrifice, and ISIS failed in its efforts to break the prison to reconstitute its ranks."

On January20, ISIS mercenaries launched an attack on Al-Sina'a prison, which contains 5,000 prisoners, to release them.

By Drawing attention to joint efforts to address the issue of ISIS prisoners, Sullivan said, "The brutality of ISIS's actions during this attack underscores why this group has been denied the ability to renew, and why states must work together to treat thousands of ISIS prisoners in inadequate detention facilities."

He confirmed that "ISIS still represents a global threat that requires a global solution." And he expressed that his country "remains committed to working with our partners in Iraq and north east Syria, to confront the threat of ISIS."

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ANHA
Helena firefighters were called Saturday to a report of a condominium fire that injured one of the residents.

The call came in at 6:28 p.m. of a blaze inside a triplex at 2437 Sunlight Circle, Helena Fire Department Battalion Chief Cory OBrian said. The fire had spread to the outside of the structure by the time firefighters arrived.

He said off-duty fire personnel and mutual aid agencies were called in as well.

The fire was extinguished about 6:45 p.m. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Assistant fire Chief Mike Chambers said a condo resident was injured in the fire and was transported to St. Peter's Health. No further details were immediately available. There were no additional injuries reported.

Helena police reported they responded as well and assisted the fire department by evacuating nearby residences.

Other agencies that assisted include the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office and volunteer fire departments from Baxendale, East Valley, West Valley and Montana City. Veterans Affairs Fire Department, St. Peter's Ambulance and NorthWestern Energy also assisted, officials said.

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There will be an interfaith service Feb. 3 at the chapel behind the military museum at Fort Harrison in honor of the Four Chaplains, who died 79 years ago in World War II aboard the S.S. Dorchester after giving their life jackets to others.

The event will be at 1 p.m. and will be conducted by members of the American Legion. The public may attend.

The Dorchester, a U.S. Army transport, sunk after being hit by a torpedo as it was bound for Greenland in the North Atlantic on Feb. 3, 1943. It killed 672 military men, merchant seamen and civilian workers. Of the 902 men on board, 230 survived, according to the website army.mil.com.

Father John P. Washington (Roman Catholic), Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Jewish) and the Revs. George L. Fox (Methodist) and Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reform) calmed the frightened men, got them into the spare life jackets and urged them over the side. The supply of extra jackets ran out with men still waiting. Having decided to remain with the sinking ship, the four chaplains gave away their own life jackets.

They were last seen standing together on the deck leading the men in prayer. With arms linked and heads bowed.

Observances honoring the four are held nationwide. The Helena event is sponsored by the American Legion Department of Montana, American Legion Lewis and Clark Post No. 2, Lewis and Clark Auxiliary Unit No. 2 and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 2.

There is a Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation at http://fourchaplains.org/. The foundation promotes interfaith cooperation and selfless service.

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Sen. Steve Daines presented Vietnam veteran John Quintrell with a tribute that he entered into the Congressional Record and honored the Helena resident's service to his country Friday in front of other veterans and Capital High School students who handcrafted a personalized knife for Quintrell last year.

Quintrell served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 with the Wolfhounds in the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was honored with the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart.

Daines also honored the Helena resident known as Big John Quintrell on Jan. 12 on the floor of the U.S. Senate with a tribute that is now part of the Congressional Record.

The Montana Republican said Quintrell was shamed for his sacrifice in Vietnam by his fellow Americans upon returning home from the war and kept that pain to himself for 35 years.

In 2004, Quintrell opened a box filled with items that brought back memories of Vietnam and was inspired to host a reunion for his fellow Vietnam veterans.

The reunion gave these veterans a sense of peace, acceptance, friendship and healing, Daines said. And Quintrell and his fellow Wolfhounds began a mission to find others who served beside them.

He has since connected with more than 125 Wolfhounds, and many have attended the nine reunions Quintrell planned, Daines said, adding Quintrell has documented the stories of the Wolfhounds and has done over 90 video interviews since 2018.

In 2021, Quintrell published a book, My 365 Days With the Wolfhounds in Vietnam, recounting his wartime experiences.

He shares his story with others and encourages them to share their own experience and find their own path to healing, Daines said.

You see, John epitomizes the heart of a Montana veteran, whose selfless service has reached far beyond the battlefield, Daines said in his Jan. 12 tribute. So I want to thank John. I want to thank John for his service to our great country and for the kindness he has shown to the heroes who served alongside him.

Staff writer Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021 or philip.drake@helenair.com.

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A District Court Judge has denied the request of two wildlife advocacy groups to suspend parts of Montanas wolf hunting regulations while litigation plays out.

In setting a Feb. 10 hearing, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Michael McMahon denied a temporary restraining order requested by Trap Free Montana Public Lands and Wolves of the Rockies. The groups in December sued Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission over discrepancies in the states wolf hunting and trapping regulations.

The groups allege that the agency and commission failed to abide by the legally required process when it adopted the regulations in August. Specifically, the lawsuit states that in the commissions allowance of hunting wolves at night on private land, the agency unilaterally added tools including artificial light, and thermal or infrared scopes when it published regulations. The lawsuit also notes that absent from this years regulations is mention of the prohibition against using aircraft to hunt wolves.

The groups are asking the court to prohibit allowance of artificial light or other technologies for night hunting wolves and to prevent FWP from permitting aerial hunting for wolves. As part of the litigation, the groups filed for a temporary restraining order which would have halted those regulations immediately until the court could consider a preliminary injunction.

In denying the request the judge pointed to exceptions under the Montana Administrative Procedures Act which the lawsuit alleges was violated. The exceptions include seasonal rules adopted annually or biennially related to hunting, fishing, and trapping when there is a statutory requirement for the publication of the rules.

McMahon further pointed to the section of code specific to fish and wildlife issues, which states that regulations must be published in a pamphlet format that is made available to the public.

The judge also wrote that while the wolf regulations appeared to be excluded from MAPA, it also appears the processes followed by the Commission in adopting these wolf hunting regulations complied with MAPAs principles in providing notice and holding public comment and a hearing.

Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources.

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One of the major talking points currently promoted by thousands of parents is that public education should not teach children to hate white Anglo-Saxon culture. But as I see it, the argument against teaching critical race theory (CRT) is faulty.

First of all, in my 40 years of teaching  from Melbourne, Australia, to Eureka, Montana  I have never come across a teacher or a public school that did such a thing. If a history teacher were to do as the critics of CRT proposed, they would or should be summarily fired. No educator should ever have the audacity to teach their students that some races of people are superior or inferior to others. Full stop.

Secondly, parents who advocate the elimination of CRT from the school curriculum likely don't know what it is. CRT is a dog-whistle argument perpetuated by the propaganda arm of the GOP  such as Fox "News," One American News, Newsmax and social media  to create animosity towards groups such as Black Lives Matter, or liberals in the teaching profession.

Opponents of CRT also want to ban books they disapprove of, such as "Huckleberry Finn," "Anne Frank," "Brave New World," "Fahrenheit 451," "The Color Purple," or "The Grapes of Wrath." All classics. Banning books is "cancel culture" at its worst and ominous in its implications. In Texas, lawmakers compiled a list of over 800 books to be reviewed by the same lawmakers. Or, in New Hampshire, any teacher who discusses racism could be turned in by students or parents. Moms of Liberty offers a $500 bounty to the first person to catch a teacher-perpetrator of violating the states new restrictions. Teachers could then be fired or stripped of their teaching licenses.

In other places, parents are demanding children's books about Martin Luther King or other civil rights figures be removed from their library because they cast white people in a bad light. According to the arguments against CRT, the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" is too divisive because it takes place in 1930 Alabama and tells the truth about America during segregation.

In the final analysis, the community groups that want to stop critical race theory from being taught in their schools are hurting the very people they profess to be protecting: their children. They are limiting the ability of their teachers to impart to their students one of the main tools they will need in their lifetime  the ability to think critically to analyze differing viewpoints in this world of social media and complex problems.

David James of Eureka is a retired history/political science teacher.

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DECATUR  One thing that people always said about the Rev. Miley Palmer: when you were talking to him, you had his complete attention.

Miley had the ability to treat everyone as if they were his only and best friend, said Chris Brodnicki. I met Miley when I joined the Decatur Rotary club in spring of 2014. He greeted me as though he had always known me.

Palmer, 84, died Jan. 24 after a battle with cancer. His visitation is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, with a memorial service at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Decatur. Due to COVID-19 concerns, seating will be limited and masks required, but the service will be live-streamed, with a link on decaturfirstumc.org.

A favorite story about Palmer, a native of Texas, was the day that Lana Hoey was giving the children's message at First United Methodist and asked the kids if they'd ever met a real cowboy. When they said no, Palmer, wearing his ministerial robes and seated in the congregation, stood up, took off the robes and revealed a Western shirt, jeans, and boots underneath, produced a Stetson cowboy hat and put it on. He told the kids about growing up on a spread and riding a horse to round up cattle, which both the children and the adults enjoyed. When he finished, he took off the Stetson, put the ministerial robes back on and continued the service as if nothing had happened.

The Rev. Bill Keagle, a friend of decades, said he grew up in Wyoming, so one of the topics of their many conversations together was always living in ranch country.

I was interim pastor at First Presbyterian while he was serving as minister of visitation, Keagle said. We were colleagues and friends. We used to really enjoy our interaction while team teaching. We could both be very honest, and the people in congregations at both churches enjoyed the fact that we could disagree with each other in class. We had many, many, regular and interesting conversations over the years. We were very free in our conversations to be honest and talk about important issues.

Palmer had served as pastor at a number of churches, including Grace United Methodist, as well as interim minister at both United Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and retired on Dec. 31 as visitation pastor at First United Methodist in Decatur. He continued to make calls to parishioners right up until that day in spite of his illness.

Palmer and his family had a close acquaintance with grief, after his granddaughter, Ryanne Mace, was killed in a mass shooting at Northern Illinois University on Feb. 14, 2008. Palmer helped institute the annual Blue Christmas services in Decatur, held for those missing a lost loved one during the holidays.

Miley was a servant-hearted pastor who loved the Lords people, said Ron Rector, formerly of Decatur. I knew him in the context of attending Grace United Methodist Church and later serving in the United Methodist Church ministry. He was always congenial, cooperative, and open to new ideas to the cause of Christ.

He was the first recipient of the Peter Cartwright Lifetime Evangelism Award from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church. He received the Peter Akers Award for professional success in recognition of his outstanding service and loyalty to his alma mater, McKendree University, the highest honor an alumnus of McKendree can receive. He served on the alumni board, including as president. He was a trustee for 24 years, and was recently named trustee emeritus, and served on the board of Methodist Medical Center in Peoria for 30 years. He helped guide Decaturs Racial Taboo initiative and received the Joe Slaw Civil Rights Award from the Decatur branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. A Rotarian for 43 years, he was a Paul Harris Fellow and held every local leadership role in the Rotary Club.

Family was a high priority for Palmer, said the Rev. Danny Cox, who was pastor of Grace following Palmer's departure.

Miley was a person with a keen intellect, wisdom and curiosity, Cox said. He wanted to know what others thought and the way they thought. He always challenged me to look deeper into my understanding of the faith. I was blessed to have had Miley as a friend, colleague, mentor, predecessor and district superintendent. It was little known that Miley had a difficult childhood, raised in what we would consider today as poverty and was adopted. I am sure he would say if asked that his achievements and position in life was due to his faith and the grace of God.

Palmer is survived by his wife, Janet; four children, Elizabeth (James) Best, Mary Kay (Eric) Mace, Michael (Teresa), and Patricia (David) Wegeng; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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KANKAKEE  An Illinois man accused in a shooting that killed one police officer and critically wounded another is seeking a new attorney.

Darius D. Sullivan of Bourbonnais appeared in court Friday via video feed for what was supposed to be a scheduled arraignment. But during the hearing his defense attorney, Bart Beals, filed a motion to withdraw without giving an explanation, according to The (Kankakee) Daily Journal.

Sullivan's next court date is March 7.

Sullivan, 25, and 26-year-old Xandria Harris are charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Both have pleaded not guilty. They were being held at Kankakee County jail without bond.

Prosecutors have said the two officers were shot as they were investigating a complaint about dogs that were barking in a car parked outside a hotel in Bradley. Authorities arrested Sullivan in Indiana on New Year's Eve and Harris surrendered to police hours later in Bradley, which is outside Chicago.

The shooting left 49-year-old Bradley police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic dead and wounded her partner, Officer Tyler Bailey, who was recently released from the intensive care unit.

Harris, who did not speak during her arraignment Thursday, is due back in court on Monday.

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A recent Rasmussen Reports poll revealed a significant percentage of the public agrees with punitive actions for people who decline COVID-19 vaccines, such as fines, confinement or imprisonment. This mindset reflects a power strategy designed to chip away at the rule of law and spur divisiveness among the public.

Based on the poll, this strategy has successfully  and deeply  influenced public opinion. Viewing people as inherently dangerous based on their status rather than their actions poses grave risks to everyones human rights.

According to the poll: 59% of Democratic voters would favor a government policy requiring that citizens remain confined to their homes at all times, except for emergencies, if they decline a COVID-19 vaccine. Forty-five percent of Democratic voters favored removing people from their homes to reside in a designated facility if they decline the vaccination.

Today, many progressives view aggressive mitigation policies as a smart hedge against COVID-19. Notably, allegiance to this strategy would have been labeled conservative during influenza and Ebola pandemic concerns. In fact, in reaction to the rise of a deadly strain of avian flu in 2008, law professors writing for the American Civil Liberties Union explicitly cautioned against an expansive quarantine, coercive medical interventions and treatment of people as a threat.

Quarantine law attempts to balance restricting a persons movement and liberty with protecting society from that person potentially spreading a dangerous disease. By definition, quarantine applies only to deadly or very serious communicable diseases, traditionally including diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS; Ebola; or tuberculosis. It applies only to people with a known exposure, such as all people in one school or one ship, not an entire state or class of people.

Quarantine lasts only for the period of disease incubation, not for months on end. Importantly, quarantine is not designed as a punitive measure, but rather a method for monitoring and facilitating agreed-upon medical care.

This poll proposition is not a quarantine, but a penalty designed to coerce people to submit to medical intervention.

Broadly closing businesses, schools and places of worship and restricting travel did not merely revise the name for quarantine, but overlooked well-settled principles behind it. Health officials and policymakers exerted power over all businesses, all schools and all people under the presumption that everyone could possibly be exposed or acting as potential asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

This dismantled the laws delicate balance: To exert control over a person or place exposed to communicable disease requires narrow precision, not attenuated or distant possibilities. These requirements exist as a built-in mechanism to balance the important coexisting rights at stake.

The constraints imposed by stay-at-home orders and theoretical poll scenarios are not merely inconveniences, but also contravene human rights law and constitutional law. This encompasses a variety of rights, such as the right to go to work and earn a living; the right to preserve ones business and property; the right to congregate in groups to socialize, protest or worship; the right to travel; and the right to make ones own medical decisions.

Importantly, these are naturally existing rights. They are not granted by the government but must be shielded from governmental attempts to infringe upon them.

World leaders and media commentators have expressed animosity toward people based on vaccine status, with calls to condemn and exclude them from public spaces such as workplaces, restaurants, and theaters.

But what happens if those in power mandate compliance with another directive or medical intervention with which people do not agree?

Katherine Drabiak is a professor of public health law, health law and medical ethics at the University of South Florida.

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LINCOLN  The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch that will take effect Tuesday evening.

The major storm will impact Central and Southeast Illinois. Heavy rain is expected in the Southeastern areas of Illinois before the ice arrives. After the storm exits, another round of cold weather will follow. Travel is expected to be difficult to impossible.

According to meteorologists, heavy snow is possible with a brief period of sleet and freezing rain beginning Tuesday night.

Meteorologist Matt Holiner has been studying the track of the storm for nearly a week. Its looking pretty significant for Central and Southern Illinois, but it does vary, he said. What Carbondales going to see is going to be different than Bloomington.

According to Holiner, Tuesday evening will start out as rain, particularly in Southern Illinois, before the conditions change to snow. Thats the trickiest part to this forecast, he said. When does it change to snow for various locations across the state?

The Northern area, including Bloomington, should see snow first. Holiner expects Carbondale will be the last to see the white flakes. The entire lower half of Illinois is expected to see all types of precipitations, including rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow. Bloomingtons conditions are expected to change rapidly. It looks like it will be a pretty quick transition from rain to snow, Holiner said. Then theres going to be a whole lot of snow.

The transition to snow for Decatur and Mattoon should arrive later. Carbondale may not see snow until early Thursday, according to Holiner.

Once it starts Tuesday evening, the end of the storm isnt expected until Thursday evening.

The concern for meteorologists is the potential for ice in the Southern areas of the state. In Carbondale, were looking at just ice that will accumulate on power lines, on cars, on roads, Holiner said. Anywhere from a tenth of an inch to three-tenths of an inch.

The conditions can affect roads, bridges and overpasses, as well as trees and power lines. Theres probably going to be power outages, Holiner said.

The snow should arrive around Carbondale on Thursday, but how much is still uncertain, according to meteorologists. Bloomington, however, is expected to receive more snow than ice. Nearly a foot is expected.

The layers of snow and ice will affect Mattoon and Decatur as well, but in different amounts. The ice is going to be more of an issue on sidewalks and driveways, Holiner said. The bigger story for the area is going to be the snow that falls after the period of ice.

Although measurable ice is not a concern for Bloomington, Mattoon and Decatur will experience the slick conditions.

Holiner said the weather models predictions range from five to 16 inches of snow in Central Illinois. Along with the amount of snow, the other concern includes the high winds expected at nearly 30 mph. Blizzard conditions start at 35 mph.

Its safe to say, from Tuesday evening to Thursday evening, theres going to be travel problems across Central Illinois, Holiner said. Travel should be avoided.

Bruce Bird, Macon County Engineer, made the same suggestion. The best way to prepare is to stay home until we get through it, he said.

Working in 12-hour shifts, Birds crews will be removing the snow and ice from Macon County roads. The trucks, plows and motor graders will be used in various areas of the county. We anticipate well probably use those some time within this week in order to get the roads open, Bird said. When we have to get up and go sometime tomorrow, well be ready to do so.

On Monday, Rick Baker, a municipal services operations supervisor, also had crews preparing the equipment for the upcoming storm. Weve got crews on the lots, getting plows mounted, checking out all the equipment, getting it ready, he said. So were ready to go.

The city is also prepared with nearly 2,000 tons of salt ready to spread across Decatur streets. The crews have dipped into the road salt a little this year. This is kind of late in the year for the first major snow, Baker said. But weve put salt down a few times. We get an inch of snow and weve got to salt the roads.

Although the street crews are doing their best to prepare for the ice and snow, they require assistance from the community.

If they could just give us room, he said. Well be out there doing it until were done.

Emergency rooms typically tend to injuries due to extreme winter weather, said Daniel Ferguson, HSHS St. Mary's Hospital interim emergency department manager. We see everything from frostbite and hypothermia to broken bones and other injuries from falls, he said. "However, some of the most concerning patients we see are individuals who overexert themselves while shoveling snow or removing ice from their car. We suggest taking things slow in the snow.

The street crews suggest people stay inside and off the streets if possible. Also park vehicles in driveways. It just makes it easier on us, Baker said. The less traffic that we have to deal with, the quicker we can get it done.

Schools require their students and staff to stay home during the storm. Decatur Public School will utilize e-learning in the event of an emergency day, according to Denise Swarthout, spokeswoman for DPS. So we would shift to virtual learning for the entire district in lieu of an emergency snow day, she said.

Students in the Warrensburg-Latham district utilize e-learning options when safety is a concern. The parents were notified of this policy: If school needs to transition to an e-Learning Day (remote instruction) due to weather, we try to let you know as soon as we can.

Although many students have become accustomed to online classroom settings, some administrations will be cashing in their snow days.

We firmly believe in snow days, said LSA Principal Allison Nolen.

Other schools utilizing the traditional format include Mount Zion, Argenta-Oreana and Meridian School Districts.

We are taking the position that any snow day will be the traditional snow day and made up at the end of the year if needed, said Travis Roundcount, Mount Zion Superintendent. We will give the kids a day to play in the snow without completing any additional assignments or virtual instruction.

The Decatur Christian School students have plenty of school days on their calendar, according to Pastor Steve Hohm. So we can afford to call Snow Days without hurting our educational hours, he said. We would go ahead and have a snow day.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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USDA awards Veggie Van study $750,000 to expand resources for mobile market operators

We are excited to work with an amazing team of mobile market operators. Our goal is to support their work so that they can continue to help expand access to locally grown and produced foods in underserved communities, and connect producers with new markets. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  The University at Buffalos Veggie Van team has received $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the expansion of the Veggie Van Training Center and the Mobile Market Coalition, resources that are used by mobile markets across the country.

A team led by Lucia Leone, PhD, associate professor of community health and health behavior in UBs School of Public Health and Health Professions, designed the Veggie Van Training Center to help mobile markets become more effective and sustainable by providing them training on evidence-based practices.

The team also supported the creation of the Mobile Market Coalition with mobile market practitioners across the country in an effort to encourage networking and support. The coalition grew out of the Mobile Market Summit, which began at UB in 2019  it was the first-ever such summit  and has brought together practitioners from across North America each year since.

The USDA funding will allow the Veggie Van team to work with mobile market leaders across the U.S. to develop and implement a strategic plan and charter for the Mobile Market Coalition to connect and support mobile market operators, while establishing standards of operation and promoting best practices. In addition, it will support the Mobile Market Summit for the next three years. (This years summit is scheduled for March 29-30 with in-person and virtual options available.)

The grant will also go toward expanding the Veggie Van Training Center to provide training and technical assistance for new and established mobile markets through the Veggie Van Toolkit, which offers step-by-step instructions for starting and running a mobile produce market. The training center also offers a Mobile Market 101 course for organizations looking to start or expand a mobile market program. Funding will also support a mentoring program and webinars or connection with other training resources.

The team also plans to create regional mobile market networks to facilitate operator training, resource sharing and obtaining food from local sources.

We are excited to work with an amazing team of mobile market operators. Our goal is to support their work so that they can continue to help expand access to locally grown and produced foods in underserved communities, and connect producers with new markets, said Leone.

Leone and her team have been researching the benefits of mobile markets for the past decade. She previously received $3.1 million from the National Cancer Institute to expand the Veggie Van model to mobile markets in Buffalo and other parts of the U.S., while also studying whether mobile markets prove effective in helping people in underserved neighborhoods eat more fruits and vegetables.

The Veggie Van study began in 2011 when Leone was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where a pilot Veggie Van program was developed in partnership with the Community Nutrition Partnership, for which Leone serves as president.
Chic-A-Sea was once a fried chicken kingdom with more than 50 franchised stores throughout Virginia.

Now, just two remain.

William Sledd, owner of the family-operated business, publicly announced that the 2702 Chestnut Ave. location in the Newport News Southeast Community was closing its doors this past weekend. The other locations at 4400 Jefferson Ave. and 1417 W. Pembroke Ave. in Hampton remain in operation.

The no-frills fast-food chain best known for its fried chicken sandwiches  above all the Big Chic  also serves up mixed greens, corn fritters and breaded and deep-fried okra.

Throughout the years, it has become not only a beloved spot for the Newport News Black community but also an integral part.

Linda Joyner, Chic-A-Seas regional manager said a combination of rising costs for products and labor shortages led to the closure.

I wish we could keep it  but we got to do what we got to do to keep from losing the other ones, she said.

Joyners late father, Wadell Parker, operated the business and brought several of his children on board including Joyner. Her twin sister, Brenda Wiggins, manages the Jefferson Avenue store and sister Maxine Fogg joined the family business to manage the Chestnut Avenue location. Parkers granddaughter, Lisa Parker, manages the West Pembroke Avenue spot.

Joyner, with the company for 50 years, said the coronavirus pandemic led to the hard decision.

Prices have tripled on us and its hurt the bottom line; they cant operate it like that, she said.

At one point the business had 35 employees between the three locations, but only has 17 now, Joyner said. Employees from the Chestnut Avenue store will merge into the other stores, she said.

Andrew Shannon, community organizer, said Chic-A-Sea has been a wonderful partner for more than three decades always helping with his annual event, Feeding 5000.

Its really devastating; its an anchor business on that corridor, Shannon said. Its a rallying cry to the community that they must support our area regional businesses.

Word of the closing spread quickly on social media and loyal customers such as Jon Kelly found themselves speechless. Kelly said he was shocked that the Chestnut Avenue location was closing because it was always the one to go to.

The real sad part is this is another Black business in downtown Newport News thats closing thats been here for years and nobody is up in arms to say, What can we do to help them? Kelly said.

Now, Kelly said he hopes the community will rally to support the two remaining Chic-A-Seas.

That is Shannons hope, too.

Chic-A-Sea has been there for the community, and Im asking the community to be there for Chic-A-Sea in the future even more, Shannon said. They are the heart and soul of the community.
Democrats now in the minority in the House of Delegates have discovered a form of tax relief that Gov. Glenn Youngkin doesn't support - one meant to directly benefit low-income working families.

Minutes after endorsing $1.2 billion in one-time taxpayer rebates on Monday, a House Finance subcommittee shot down a proposal to make a portion of the federal earned income tax credit refundable to low-income families, allowing them to receive the benefit even if they don't pay the full amount in off-setting taxes.

The administration's contrasting positions - delivered by Deputy Secretary of Finance Charles Kennington - struck a nerve with Del. Candi King, D-Prince William.

"So what it appears is that you really oppose anything that specifically benefits low-income families, and that is extremely problematic for me and my district," King told Kennington.

"If we are going to talk about lifting all boats, then the low-income boat should be one of those," she said.

Her remark drew a rebuke Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, who then made the motion to kill the tax credit bill introduced by Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News.

"That's not a fair statement," Byron said before the subcommittee killed the bill on a 5-2 party-line vote, arguing that the governor's tax relief package also would benefit low-income families.

The centerpiece of the governor's $4 billion package is a one-time refund of $300 to each individual taxpayer and $600 for each couple filing jointly.

Youngkin also proposes to: double the standard deduction on state income taxes, which would reduce state revenues by more than $2 billion over two years; eliminate the sales tax on groceries, which would cut funding for local school divisions and state transportation; exempt up to $40,000 in military retirement benefits from income tax; and suspend a 5-cent-increase in the gas tax for 12 months.

Democrats say the governor's proposals would do less for low-income families with children, who would receive direct payment of the refundable tax credit, much as they did with the federal child tax credit paid through federal emergency aid last year.

"We're doing a lot of things for Virginia taxpayers this year. ... Let's ensure we include everyone, particularly our little ones," said Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, who called the refundable tax credit "the most effective tool in our toolbox for helping low-income Virginians" and their children.

In a meeting dominated by party-line votes, former House Finance Chair Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, took a bipartisan approach to Youngkin's tax rebate proposal, which current Finance Chair Roxann Robinson, R-Chesterfield, introduced on behalf of the governor.

Watts said supports the one-time tax refunds as a form of relief that would mean more to those who have less.

"It is a much bigger help for someone at low income," she said, joining with Republicans on a 6-2 vote to endorse the proposal and refer it to the House Appropriations Committee to assess its effect on the state budget.

Former Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, included about $1 billion in his parting two-year budget to provide one-time refunds of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for couples. Robinson's legislation would increase the amounts to $300 and $600, respectively, at an additional cost to the state of more than $200 million.

Subcommittee Chairman Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County, said the cost would be covered by the $2.6 billion revenue surplus that Virginia recorded in the fiscal year that ended on June 30.

Sullivan said he "prefer to see something a little more targeted," rather than the same amount of refund to all taxpayers, regardless of income.

"There are a lot of wealthy people in Virginia who really don't need $300," he said.

Former House Finance Chairman Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, called the tax rebate proposal "the best of the choices presently before us," and said its inclusion in Northam's budget is evidence of "bipartisan support for this measure moving forward."

There was no Republican support for Price's proposal to make 15% of the earned income tax credit refundable, even though she estimated the number of people in each delegate's district who would benefit from it, including about 7,400 in Robinson's district in Chesterfield.

The idea received public support from the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis and Voices for Virginia's Children.

"We've seen how these direct payments can really help low-income families," said Emily Griffey, policy director at Voices for Virginia's Children.

Price said the distinction by income is relevant to the broader effort to provide tax relief to all Virginians.

"We're hearing that word 'all' a lot," she said. "I would just say that equality and equity are very different in these proposals."
When Russell Hedrick started farming in 2011, he thought it would just be a part-time gig, something he would do during his days off as a full-time firefighter.

As he acquired more land and the farm demanded more attention, he switched over to farming as his sole profession in 2015. He now oversees more than 500 acres of land in North Carolina and Georgia, including about 300 acres in Catawba County.

Hedrick, 36, is a first-generation farmer, the first in his family to make a career out of developing crops for market. He did, however, gain some experience in the field early in life.

He traces his interest back to his childhood when he would help his mill worker grandfather, who owned some cattle.

I was essentially his tractor buddy and rode on a step board of a tractor making hay and that kind of got me interested in going into agriculture, Hedrick said.

In a little more than a decade in farming, Hedrick has already received accolades for his work. Earlier this month, he was recognized as having the highest soybean yield in the state  117.1 bushels per acre  by the N.C. Soybean Producers Association.

Hedrick credits those yields to a set of techniques he refers to as regenerative farming. One emphasis of the approach is the use of cover crops such as cereal rye or crimson clover outside of the peak growing season to recycle soil nutrients.

Hedrick sees his position as a newcomer to agriculture to be an advantage.

I didnt know how to run a combine, he said. I didnt know how to run a corn planter, and if somebody told me an idea that I thought was valid, I was willing to try it because we didnt have that backdated knowledge of how somebody else did it before us. As times change, so do techniques.

Hedrick recently discussed the ups and downs of farming, his desire to share knowledge about farming with others in the profession and his involvement in the busy business of making bourbon through his association with Conover-based Foothills Distillery.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

On his relationship with Conover-based Foothills Distillery:

We won the Innovative Young Farmer Award, and I think the Hickory Daily Record actually published that and (distillery founder) Zack (Cranford)s dad just saw the article and Zacks dad was the first person to contact me.

He said, Hey, my sons opening up a distillery. Would you be interested in working with us? We heard that you farm a little differently.

I just went over there with some of my grains and explained to (distillery co-owner) Tim (Weaver) and Zack why they were different. With the grain varieties we farm, we can get a higher return of alcohol per run versus traditional farmers.

Just really started really organically like that.

Since Tim passed away, Zacks needed help every now and then. Ive been over there a few times, either helping grind or making sure we move stuff around.

Its a busy business to be in, making bourbon.

On his desire to assist others in the business:I guess our plan moving forward for the future is, we do a lot of research with N.C. State, the University of Georgia. Were really looking to help other farmers understand return on investment.

Were putting on one-day field days  ones in Hickory and ones going to be in Wilmington  where were bringing some of the leading world experts in fertility management, crop management in for farmers to be able to come.

Im willing to share anything we do on our farm with other farmers because I want to see them succeed just like we have.

On his favorite part of being a farmer:

Just being outdoors. Its something new every day.

Both of my parents work in furniture factories, and I dont think I could go to the same spot and do the same thing every day.

And being out in the outdoors, being able to take Emma, my daughter, with me and kind of see that spark in her eyes.

She likes to pick corn, and for her to be 8 years old and to be able to run a combine is pretty neat to me.

On his least favorite part of being a farmer:

The weather.

It doesnt matter if we put hundreds of hours into picking the right seed, putting out the right fertilizer.

We could do everything in our power on time but 2015 here we had 4 inches of rain from March to September and a lot of farmers here in the state really got hurt with that drought.

Youre always dependent on the weather. Everything that can go bad in farming is outside of your control.

On coping with the uncertainties of farming:

I think most farmers just learn to let go of it.

You prepare the best you can. You work as hard as you can and you pretty much leave the rest of it up to faith.

Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record.

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" " In his short, 39-year lifetime, Frederic Chopin wrote two concertos, four ballades, 24 etudes, 57 mazurkas and many other pieces of music, including sonatas, waltzes, nocturnes, etudes and scherzos. Photos.com-Getty Images/ZU_09-Getty Images/Howstuffworks

Writer Ted Libby may have said it best in his 2010 NPR article celebrating 200 years of the musical genius Frederic Chopin. Libby argues that no one before or since Chopin has contributed as many significant piano works and writes that Chopin's impact on other musicians is "entirely out of proportion to the number of concerts he gave  only 30 public performances in 30 years of concertizing." In his surprisingly short career, Chopin managed to leave a lasting mark on the classical genre and the music world at large.

Born on March 1, 1810, in Zelazowa Wola, Poland, Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen, who went on to be known as Frederic Chopin, developed an early ear for music. His parents, Justyna Krzyzanowska and Nicholas Szopen, moved to Warsaw soon after their son's birth when Nicholas found a job as a tutor for aristocratic families. By age 6, Chopin was already playing the piano and toying with composition, so his parents jumped at the opportunity to hone his early talent. They hired professional musician Wojciech Zywny to provide their young son piano lessons, but Chopin quickly outgrew the kid-level classes.

"The education Chopin received in Poland included composition lessons, literature, mathematics, science, instruction in six languages, logic, philosophy, geography and more," Roza Kostrzewska Yoder, artistic director of Los Angeles piano studio, Chopin Academy, writes via email. "It served as a basis for his entire life."

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Chopin Debuts in Vienna at 19

By the time he was 8 years old, Chopin was fully writing his own compositions and performing for audiences in salons. By age 16, he had several original piano compositions of varying styles under belt, and his parents enrolled him in the Warsaw Conservatory of Music. After three years there, studying under Polish composer Josef Elsner, Chopin moved on again, thanks to his parents' recognition of his unique mastery and talent. In 1929, he made his debut in Vienna, and over the next few years, played for audiences throughout Poland, Austria and Germany. In 1832, he found a new home in Paris, France.

"The Chopin we know wouldn't have been if not for the superb upbringing of family, the high level of education he received from his insightful teachers, the influence of his friends and the general political and intellectual atmosphere in Poland before he left his home for Paris at the age of 19," Yoder says. "Franz Liszt said, 'the atmosphere in which Chopin saw the light of day and was brought up, like a secure and cozy nest, was filled with a sense of harmony, tranquility, and hard work; those examples of simplicity, piety and delicacy were always the most sweet and dear to him.'"

In addition to Liszt, Chopin became close with other young composers, including Vincenzo Bellini and Felix Mendelssohn, but he soon discovered Parisian audiences weren't always prepared for his more delicate piano stylings since artists like Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven had reigned supreme prior to his debut. But soon, Chopin crossed paths with a wealthy banking family known as the Rothschilds, and new opportunities emerged as they introduced him to Paris' high society as a well-mannered and sensitive recitalist and teacher. It was during this point in his career that Chopin penned some of his most famous piano works including the "Ballade in G Minor," the "Fantaisie-Impromptu," "Nocturne of Op. 9" and "Nocturne of Op. 15," the "Scherzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 31" and the "Sonata in B-flat Minor, Op. 35."

" " This imposing monument to Frederic Chopin, designed in 1918 by sculptor Waclaw Szymanowski (1859-1930), stands in the upper part of Warsaw's Royal Baths Park. Jacek Kadaj/Getty Images

"Chopin's music was based on a classical tradition of composition and he always pledged his allegiance to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and others," Yoder says. "Often (as with his scherzos and sonatas), he adopted classical forms and poured into them a new spirit. His understanding of the fluidity of tempo in rubato, his sensitivity to the beauty of the sound in cantabile, his revolutionary approach to a technique based on naturalness and flexibility, and his aesthetics based on the honesty of sharing deep feelings characterizes his unique style and makes him a pioneer of new pianistic idiom."

A quick and general breakdown of Chopin's varying genres: He composed ballades (single-movement piano pieces), sonatas (solo pieces usually written in three or four movements), mazurkas (Polish folk pieces), waltzes (dance music in triple meter, often written in 3/4 time), nocturnes (composition inspired by the night), etudes (short compositions to demonstrate the skill of a player), scherzos (light, playful compositions), and many, many more styles.

"My favorite pieces by Chopin (and most likely his as well) are the mazurkas," Yoder says. "He wrote two concertos, four ballades, twenty-four etudes, but fifty-seven mazurkas. They were written by him throughout his life as a sort of diary. The mazurkas composed in Poland show direct influence of Polish folk music while the latest ones are more a recollection of it, but all of them result from his intimate connection with his source of his emotions  his family and friends as well as the country of his origin."

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Chopin's Romantic Life

As his musical career thrived, Chopin's romantic life had some twists and turns. He was involved with Constantia Gladkowska in Warsaw and later became engaged to Maria Wodzinska in Dresden, but broke off the relationship before they married. However, in 1836, he met novelist Aurore Dudevant, famously known by her pseudonym, George Sand. Two years later, Chopin accompanied Sand and her children to the island of Majorca, but the vacation took a turn when the musician became ill. The group moved to Marseille where doctors diagnosed Chopin with tuberculosis.

After three months, Chopin made a full recovery, and he and Sand planned their return to Paris. But first, they spent the summer of 1839 at Sand's country house. They returned to the home every summer over the next seven years, a period that many say was "the happiest and most productive of Chopin's life." During his time in the country, Chopin composed some of his greatest masterpieces.

" " The grave of Polish composer and pianist Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) (white statue, bottom right) in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, France. Bruno De Hogues/Getty Images

However, by the mid-1940s, Chopin and Sand's relationship fell apart, and his health declined again. Following their breakup, he toured the British Isles, and the fast-paced schedule appeared to take a toll on him and his behavior became "erratic," possibly due to an undiagnosed form of epilepsy. He made his last public appearance on Nov. 16, 1848, and returned to Paris, where he died at age 39 on Oct. 17, 1849.

"Chopin did not live just for his own pleasure or fame, but to the end of his difficult and sickness-ridden life he strived to communicate the unique language of his romantic soul to others," Yoder says. "Chopin well understood his calling as a composer. He understood that even his sickness could help him better express the depth of emotion in his pieces."

Chopin's body was buried at Pere Lachaise cemetery, but his heart was interred at a Warsaw church, near his birthplace. There is still a fair amount of mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death, but in his short life, Chopin made a lasting mark on the world of arts and culture, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by musicians and audiences alike.

If you are unfamiliar with the music of Chopin and would like somewhere to start, this performance by Vadim Chaimovich of his Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1 is a good place to begin:

Now That's Interesting He may have been a renowned child prodigy-turned-adult superstar, but Chopin was apparently very shy and preferred to play piano in the dark throughout his entire career. Before beginning a performance, he blew out the candles in the room and often asked his hosts to extinguish any light.
" " Queen Elizabeth II of England is in the 70th year of her reign, still going strong and pretty in pink. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Some jobs are meant to be short-term, temporary gigs and some are meant to last a lifetime. Athelstan of the House of Wessex was the first king of England and he had one of those jobs.

Athelstan ruled from 895 to 939 C.E., and, because he defeated the last of the Viking invaders and was responsible for consolidating Britain, his actions  and his life  still impact the British monarchy today. And to put his life in perspective, Athelstan was the 30th great-granduncle to Queen Elizabeth II, who is currently one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs of all time.

Read more about Queen Elizabeth below and learn the fascinating stories of 25 of the world's longest-reigning monarchs. The dates of rule of each are noted in parentheses.

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1. Sobhuza II, Swaziland (Eswatini) (1899-1982), 82 years

When the king of Swaziland (now Eswatini) died at age 23, his 4-month-old son ascended to power and spent the remainder of his life, first as Paramount Chief and later King of Swaziland, navigating the ambiguities and conflicts of his country's place in the world. Swaziland at the time was part of the British Protectorate, and Sobhuza II's responsibilities and reach as king were viewed through different lenses by his people and by the British. The people of Swaziland saw him as one who could both maintain tradition and keep the British at bay.

" " Commonwealth delegates Kghari Seghela, chief of the Bakwena tribe (left), Sobhuza II, Paramount Chief and later King of Swaziland (center), and future King of Lesotho Moshoeshoe II arrive at Waterloo Station to attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth April 15, 1953 in London, England. Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

2. Louis XIV, France (1643-1715), 72 years

Louis XIV, the son of Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria, was only four years old when he ascended to the throne in May 1643. Although Louis XIV would end his reign in 1715, succeeded by his great-grandson Louis XV, his time on the throne was signified by outfitting Versailles into a luxurious palace, showing his unflagging support of the arts (the king himself trained in ballet, which was powerful political currency at the time) and starting several wars. He was an absolute monarch who referred to himself as the Sun King, imitating the Greek god of the sun Apollo in art and life, believing himself to the be the star of France's universe.

3. Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand (1946-2016), 70 years

A monarch who lived in modern times, Bhumibol Adulyadej reigned for 70 years as the ninth king in Thailand's Chakkri dynasty until his death in 2016 at age 88. He was born in the United States in 1927 as his father was studying at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Adulyadej's rule earned him the distinction of being Thailand's longest-reigning monarch. During his time at the helm, Bhumibol Adulyadej had little political power but become a symbol of unity and stability among Thai citizens for ushering the country through years of military coups.

" " King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, shown here in 1984, ruled until his death in 2016. Alex Bowie/Getty Images

4. Elizabeth II, England (1952-present), 70 years ... and counting

In 1952, Queen Elizabeth was named Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and her coronation took place in 1953. In 2007, she became the longest-lived British monarch, and on Sept. 9, 2015, surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, to become the longest-reigning British monarch in history. During Queen Elizabeth's reign, she has worked with more than a dozen British prime ministers and U.S. presidents, as well as many other world leaders, even though at birth she was never meant to take the throne. In 1936, when her grandfather, King George V, died, her uncle Edward VIII was slated for the monarchy. Edward, however, abdicated the throne to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. This meant that Elizabeth's father, George VI (brother of Edward VIII), took the throne, which passed to Elizabeth upon his death.

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5. Johan II, Liechtenstein (1858-1929), 70 years

As far as records go, Johan II takes third for longest-reigning monarch in Europe (Louis XIV is in the top spot and Queen Elizabeth II comes in second). Johan II, ruler of Liechtenstein, neither married nor had children during his reign, which was passed to his brother Francis I upon Johan II's death. He did, however, institute a series of crucial reforms that resulted in the country's independence, the dissolution of its army and its declaration as a neutral state. He also set up a parliamentary government and the country's banking system. He created museums and art galleries and supported the arts and sciences.

6. K'inich Janaab' Pakal, Mayan Civilization (615-683 C.E.), 68 years

Also known as Pakal the Great, K'inich Janaab' Pakal was the longest-reigning king of the ancient Mayan world. He ascended to the throne at 12 years old during an uncertain and precarious time and is believed to have been assisted by his mother, from whom his right to rule passed. During his rule of Palenque, an ancient Maya city located about 500 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City in modern-day Chiapas, he built the Temple of the Inscriptions  stunning architecture that would one day encapsulate his sarcophagus.

7. Franz Joseph I, Austria-Hungary (1848-1916), 68 years

Upon his 18th birthday, Franz Joseph I was named emperor of the Austrian Empire, a move that fueled hopes of a resurgence in goodwill toward the monarchy due, in no small part, to Franz Joseph's youthful appearance. In 1853, an attempted assassination occurred when a tailor tried to stab the ruler in the neck as he was out for a stroll. Franz Joseph was, however, saved from taking the brunt of the attack by a woman nearby who cried out upon seeing a weapon. No motive was ever uncovered. Franz Joseph went on to rule as emperor of Austria, and in 1867 accepted a dual post as king of Hungary, ruling until his death in 1916. Notably, two years before his death in 1916, Franz Joseph led Austria-Hungary into World War I.

" " Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary (right) rides through Vienna with German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1911. ullstein bild/Getty Images

8. Constantine VIII, Byzantine Empire (960-1028 C.E.), 68 years

About the time he was due to celebrate his first birthday in about 960, Constantine VIII was named co-ruler of the Byzantine Empire, along with his brother Basil. Although the brothers had little actual political sway, they were able to make a power grab in 976, when they wrested control from the empire's acting leader. Constantine VIII is remembered as being more interested in luxurious and leisurely pursuits than his brother Basil, who used war to bankroll and expand the empire. Nonetheless, Constantine VIII remained co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire until his death in 1028.

" " Victoria (1819-1901) ruled as the Queen of England from 1837-1901. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

9. Victoria, England (1837-1901), 64 years

One of the longest-reigning monarchs in British history, Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 at age 18. During her reign, Queen Victoria survived several assassination attempts to usher in the "Victorian era," so-named for the monarch. The Victorian era was marked by sweeping advancements in science and technology, including the smallpox vaccine and the telegraph.

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10. James I, Aragon (1213-1276), 63 years

A kingdom called Aragon sounds like a fantasy realm in which dragons roam, but it was a real-life place on the Iberian peninsula that now encompasses present-day Portugal and Spain. In 1212, James I led the medieval kingdom's army, along with a neighboring army, as it invaded and defeated regional kingdoms. In 1213, James I began his 63-year rule, which became the longest of any Iberian monarch. During his reign, James I brought the Balearic Islands and Valencia under Iberian rule and began decades of expansion.

11. Hirohito, Japan (1926-1989), 63 years

Michinomiya Hirohito, Japan's 124th emperor, is known for being the longest-reigning monarch in the country's history. Before accepting the throne, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, which was an unusual move at the time. After his father's death in 1926, Hirohito adopted Showa  meaning "enlightened harmony"  as the chief tenet of his reign. During World War II, he allied the country with Nazi Germany, but later surrendered the country after a defeat by the Allied powers. He then became the first Japanese monarch to visit the United States and wrote several books on marine biology before his death in 1989.

12. Kangxi Emperor, China (1661-1722), 61 years

At age 7, Kangxi became the second emperor of the Chinese Qing Dynasty after his father died of smallpox. Kangxi's reign began in earnest during his teen years, and he is best remembered for the significant expansion of the Chinese empire into areas of Mongolia, Tibet and Heilong Jiang. He also worked to open international trade ports, which helped usher in an era of economic prosperity. Kangxi supported the arts and believed that education was important; he was fascinated by map-making and European painting techniques.

13. Christian IV, Denmark and Norway (1588-1648), 60 years

Christian IV became King of Denmark and Norway at the tender age of 11, but was not officially crowned until 1596, when he was 19. He is remembered for his multiple forays into unsuccessful wars against Sweden, as well as the disastrous Thirty Years War. When he wasn't warring, Christian IV had an eye for architecture, constructing several new towns and still-beloved buildings, including Frederiksborg Castle. His private life was productive; he married twice and had 20 children with five different women before his death in 1648.

14. Friedrich Gunther, Schwarzburg, Germany (1807-1867), 60 years

In 1807, when he was just 13 years old, Friedrich Gunther became prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, which is now an area in modern-day Thuringa, Germany. His ascension to the throne followed the death of his father, but it was his mother who made the crown's decisions until the fresh-faced ruler turned 21. Gunther ruled for the rest of his life and became known as the final head of the House of Schwarzburg.

" " Chinese emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) is pictured on the 10 yuan banknote. DeAgostini/Getty Images

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15. Qianlong, China (1735-1796), 60 years

The grandson of long-time Chinese ruler Kangxi, Qianlong also reigned over China for decades. At age 24, in 1735, Qianlong began a series of notable acts that included the creation of the Sikuquanshu or Siku Quanshu, a vast catalog of all the books known to be in existence in China. Some suspect this was a natural outgrowth of Qianlong's personal interests in calligraphy and poetry, and his efforts as a patron of the arts. Until his reign ended upon his death in 1796, Qianlong worked to successfully expand China's territory with the New Province, known as the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang today.

16. Honore III, Monaco (1733-1793), 59 years

There are monarchs who roll up their sleeves and monarchs who would rather observe from a distance. Honore III, who ascended the Monegasque throne at age 13, spent the majority of his time as ruler fighting in the Royal French Army during the War of the Austrian Succession, although Monaco took an officially neutral stance. During his reign, he improved Monaco's economy through trade, which was largely dependent on the growth of citrus fruits, and established the country's first printing press and newspaper.

17. George III, England (1760-1820), 59 years

Before Queen Victoria and current British ruler Queen Elizabeth were on the royal scene, George III was known as England's longest-reigning monarch. He ascended the throne to Great Britain and Ireland in 1760 after his grandfather's death. He married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the daughter of a German duke, for the union's political strength. The marriage was a productive one, bringing 15 children into palace life. His reign is notable for Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War, as well as Britain's resistance to Napoleon's France. George III is believed to have had an acute mental illness, which stayed with him the last 10 years of his life.

18. Honore I, Monaco (1523-1581), 58 years

To be a long-reigning monarch, it's best to start early  and Honore I did it in spades. He was named the Lord of Monaco in 1523, at just 9 months old, after his father Lucien Grimaldi was assassinated. Honore I was assisted, naturally, in the decision-making by a series of regents and reportedly left the governing to one of these regents. During the final 20 years of his life, however, Honore I took on more of the day-to-day operations, and became known for both a series of battles and for inviting Pope Paul III to Monaco.

19. Nicholas I, Montenegro (1860-1918), 58 years

When Nicholas I became the Crown Prince of Montenegro in 1860, it was a small nation without purchase on the world stage. Under his rule, however, Montenegro doubled in geographical size and became not only a sovereign state, but a country with considerable diplomatic power. After years of popular reign, Nicholas I became increasingly despotic, but reluctantly installed a constitution in 1905 that limited his power. After an unsuccessful entree into World War I, Nicholas I went into exile in Italy until his death in 1918.

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20. Pedro II, Brazil (1831-1889), 58 years

Pedro II became the second emperor of Brazil when he took up the throne in 1831 at 5 years old and, by age 10, had been officially declared as ruler. He was seen as a benevolent ruler and became adept at leveraging Brazil's natural resources to bolster its then-struggling economy. Pedro II turned the country's focus from sugar production to coffee beans and made significant progress in constructing a network of railroad, telegraph and cable lines. By the time of his death in 1889, his popularity had waned because of his anti-slavery actions and support of the Masons, the latter of which upset the Roman Catholic Church.

21. Wilhelmina I, Netherlands (1890-1948), 58 years

" " Wilhelmina I (1880-1962) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

As Queen of the Netherlands, Wilhelmina made clear her opposition to the German Occupation at the beginning of World War II. Although she fled, along with members of her cabinet, to London, she became the symbol of Dutch resistance through a BBC radio broadcast that reached the Netherlands, known as Radio Orange. She famously aired the phrase, "Knock the Kraut on the head," which raised morale for her people. In 1948, she abdicated the throne and lived a private life until her death in 1962.

22. Ludovico I, Italy (1416-1475), 58 years

Not much is known about Ludovico I, who was the marquess of Saluzzo, Italy, until his death in 1476, a reign that encompassed much of the 15th century. Ludovico I is remembered for facilitating a prosperous era for Saluzzo residents and forging positive relationships with neighboring areas  all of this well before the Italian Wars took hold. The historic city center of Saluzzo, situated on a hill with views of cultivated plains and nearby mountains, has become a popular tourist destination for its cobblestone streets, historic churches and medieval palace.

23. Louis XV, France (1715-1774), 58 years

Louis XV, born in 1710, was never expected to become king of France. By the time he reached his fifth birthday, however, his grandfather, father and two older brothers had died, making him the heir apparent. By age 10, he was attending cabinet meetings, but his interest in being a ruling monarch flagged over time as he focused on botany and a series of mistresses. Although known for a time as "Louis the Beloved," his entree into several expensive wars and the French Revolution caused his popularity to wane.

24. James VI, Scotland (1567-1625), 57 years

As the only son of Mary Queen of Scots, James VI ascended the Scottish throne in 1567 after his mother's forced abdication. While a board of regents ruled until he reached his teens, James VI believed in royal absolutism, which is a monarchy without constitutional limits and one in which a royal believes themself to be a divine ruler on Earth. In 1603, he also became James I of England after the death of Queen Elizabeth I and this duality became known as "the union of the crowns" as he strove to bring the two countries under one rule.

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25. Athelstan, England (895-939 C.E.), 44 years

Athelstan was the first king of England (not to be confused with the monk Athelstan on the History Channel's "Vikings"  a character who is a fictional amalgamation of his time). The real-life Athelstan, who died in Gloucester, England, in 939 at age 47, was a warrior who beat back invading Danes and Scots to expand and then create the kingdom now called England. Throughout Athelstan's reign he founded churches across the realm, brought about legal and social reform and created a cosmopolitan court comprised of intellectuals from throughout Europe. He also used strategic family marriages to forge strong contacts with mainland Europe and, after sending military aid to Norway, was known as "Athelstan the Good."

Now That's Interesting Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun, was once known by the name Georgium sidus, Latin for "Georgian Star." The name was an homage to King George III of England, the patron who funded the 40-foot (12-meter) telescope used by William Herschel in the discovery of the planet.
How often do we hear or use the phrase that people want to know where their food comes from? Though it can sometimes feel overused, we know that its the truth as shoppers become less and less familiar with modern farming and there is more need for producers to connect with consumers.

The sentiment becomes especially true when people are purchasing food that was produced thousands of miles away. Marilyn Hershey shared that thought on the January 19 Hoards Dairyman DairyLivestream as she described the value of meeting dairy buyers and users on a recent U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) trade mission to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

I think other countries and other areas of the world do a good job with that, and we really had to step it up and showcase U.S. cheeses to make sure that people know that the quality product theyre getting is from the United States, the Pennsylvania dairy farmer said.

Roughly 17% of U.S. milk production was exported to other countries in 2021, and all of the panelists of the webcast emphasized that connecting with the people doing that buying is critical to strengthen the relationship and help both parties thrive. Thats precisely why USDEC facilitates trade missions that showcase U.S. dairy farmers and the work they do.

Texas dairy farmer Larry Hancock, who also chairs the USDEC board of directors, described that one of his favorite parts of the five-day visit in Dubai was stopping by the U.S. consulate and meeting with the agricultural staff there. I thought it was really important that they knew we were there and cared enough to take off the time and the effort to travel there, he said. It showed that we were committed to exporting and that we supported the USDEC staff that were in-country.

Delivering quality

Throughout the trip, there was a common theme among those that met the Americans, from chefs in culinary school to food bloggers and many in between.

Everywhere I went, I was told about the quality of the U.S. dairy products that they get, Hancock said.

Becky Levzow, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, echoed that comment and added that those who bought U.S. dairy were also impressed with the variety available. She talked to people who were surprised to learn that more than 1,000 types of cheeses are produced in the U.S. We have a lot to offer, she emphasized.

In the field of food, which is full of competition among products with different characteristics, developing relationships goes hand in hand with quality and variety to make strong partnerships and opportunities for the people making and processing dairy foods. Now youre building relationships that give people a reason to look at your product, summarized Cornell University economist Andy Novakovic.

To watch the recording of the January 19 DairyLivestream, go to the link above. The program recording is also available as an audio-only podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and downloadable from the Hoards Dairyman website.

Re-register to continue receiving updates

The next broadcast of DairyLivestream will be on Wednesday, February 23 at 11 a.m. CDT. In the new year, we have moved to a new system, and you will need to re-register to continue receiving email updates and links to the webcasts. You can sign up here now. Registering once will sign you up you for all future events.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2022

January 27, 2022
Customer experience automation company ActiveCampaign appoints Shahid Nizami to the role of regional vice president, APAC and Japan.

Based in Singapore, he will lead ActiveCampaigns continued success in Australia and expanding it to broader APAC region.

Prior to this role, Nizami was Hubspot managing director of APAC where he led the companys performance across the region. He was also Google Workplace APAC and Japan head and worked for more than ten years at Oracle in several leadership roles.

Nizami has 20 years experience in leadership and senior management roles in the technology industry across APAC with a track record of growing businesses and developing new markets from scratch.

Its an incredible opportunity for me to join ActiveCampaign as we experience hyper-growth for the business, says Nizami.

APAC presents a huge untapped potential for ActiveCampaign especially in the SMB space with more than 100 million SMBs fuelling the APAC economy, comments Nizami.

I am honoured and privileged to lead the APAC and Japan business and help ActiveCampaign to expand its footprint across the region and help customers to realise the power of customer experience automation.

ActiveCampaign was recognised over the past year for its culture, benefits, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. It earned distinction such as the Australia Great Places to Work certification.

The achievements come timely as the company also secured a US$240 million in funding and is now valued at US$3 billion.

Our growth in APAC this past year has contributed so much success to our customers, partners and employees, comments ActiveCampaign founder and CEO Jason VandeBoom. All of our stakeholders in this region have really rallied together to thrive in a market thats constantly evolving. I look forward to our continued growth in APAC by helping new businesses in the region grow themselves.
It is well known that a lack of adequate staffing is impacting businesses across the country and is the top challenge for many of our area businesses.

Not only is that negatively impacting business operations, but customers are also frustrated. Heck, how bummed were people that they couldnt get their Starbucks Latte or Smokeys BBQ due to lack of staff? I get it.

We are trying to understand what caused this issue. From what I read, there are multiple reasons. COVID of course, but also retirements, resignations, population loss, availability of remote employment, high child care costs, and the list goes on and on.

Now before we all say woe is us, the good news is there are multiple initiatives to help us alleviate and solve the problem, just as multiple sources created this predicament.

Training programs at the Charleston schools, Mattoon schools, Lake Land, and others are preparing the workforce of tomorrow.

Also, these programs provide exposure to opportunities in Coles County, keeping our future business leaders in the area. Businesses are offering incentives and implementing programs to improve productivity, worker satisfaction, and workplace culture.

Coles Together has planned and organized tours of area businesses to help highlight their operations and opportunities while building relationships with future employees.

The Chamber of Commerce, including local, state, and national leaders, are very involved in promoting solutions. For example, Senate Bill 3719 is the Illinois Chambers initiative to help solve the shortage of CDL truck drivers by offering incentives to both the employee and the employer.

Locally, the Charleston Chamber has partnered with Eastern Illinois University to place marketing interns at area businesses. Manpower just established an office within our Chamber building. Their presence in Charleston simplifies the process of recruiting for Charleston-based businesses.

And last but not least, our team is working on a webinar with Manpower that will focus on how companies can close the gap with their hiring needs considering the candidate/labor shortage they are experiencing.

Its purpose is to help prepare businesses for a candidate-driven labor market, which is causing challenges with the recruiting and hiring processes.

If you really enjoy your work and want to share ways you believe the culture in your office could help other businesses, we want to hear from you. What could other local businesses learn from your experience?

Doug Abolt is president and CEO for the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce.

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CHICAGO - After two years of pandemic stasis, crime stories and a broadly battered image, Chicago is going on the offensive, launching a guerrilla marketing campaign Monday to promote itself as a more influential world city than many realize.

Created by Chicago ad agency Energy BBDO, the pro bono Chicago Not in Chicago campaign touts a long list of homegrown creations  from the cellphone to the skyscraper  that have changed the world, but with little credit given to the city of origin.

Since its founding, Chicago has influenced the most important cities across the globe, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in an introductory video to the campaign. The high-rises, mobile phone, Ferris wheel, house music, coffee maker, soap opera and many other things were all created here in Chicago. However, only a few people know that  until now.

The campaign will live on a new website featuring quirky videos that the city hopes will be widely shared on social media. The inaugural video features a double-decker bus that descended on New York City in October to stage a tour pointing out Chicago innovations integral to the Big Apple.

In the video, the faux tour guide takes passengers past the Empire State Building and other iconic buildings, reminding them the skyscraper was invented in Chicago. Most architectural historians credit the 10-story red brick and granite Home Insurance Building, built in 1885 at the corner of La Salle and Adams streets, as the first modern skyscraper.

They next drive by the trendy Le Bain dance club where house music, born in Chicago during the 1980s, is apparently all the rage. The tour guide also mentions cellphones, which were invented by Motorola in 1973 and brought to market 10 years later with the bricklike DynaTAC. He then ticks off everything from coffee makers to softball as Chicago creations, ultimately chanting the citys name for the balance of the three-minute video as the bus rides the streets of New York.

Michael Fassnacht, president and CEO of World Business Chicago and the citys chief marketing officer since April 2020, said the campaign will produce similar videos in other cities, starting with a London tour later this year.

If you look at big cities in the world, they could not exist without Chicago, Fassnacht said. Each of them have Chicago stories in their city.

The Chicago Not in Chicago campaign will include national advertisements in newspapers and magazines, but will rely primarily on social media to spread the word, Fassnacht said. There are also plans to put a billboard in New York, he said.

While the budget is low, it is the first comprehensive branding campaign for Chicago since the pandemic hit nearly two years ago. Like many major cities, Chicago has faced a sharp decline in everything from tourism to mass transit usage as remote work, social distancing and commercial closures made it something less than a toddlin town for many.

Chicago, which welcomed nearly 61 million visitors in 2019, fell to 16 million in 2020 and was projected to attract just under 29 million last year, according to data provided by Choose Chicago, the citys official tourism arm.

The citys image as a crime capital, which dates back to the days of Al Capone, has also flared up during the pandemic  fairly or unfairly  as Chicago saw upward of 800 homicides last year, the deadliest total since 1996, according to Chicago Police Department data and other sources.

We have been facing tremendous headwinds, Fassnacht said. We are in a little bit of a downward cycle, but Im very optimistic about our recovery.

Fassnacht said the campaign will be the first step to rebuilding Chicagos image as a tourist and business destination. He cites some improving trends in hotel occupancy, transit usage and event attendance  before omicron hit in December  as signs the city is poised for a robust recovery when the pandemic wanes.

He also sees it as a morale builder for Chicagoans, and a call to action to patronize and promote the citys attractions, such as restaurants, museums and theaters.

In headier days, Chicago had more ambitious marketing campaigns, such as Chicago Epic, a 2015 national TV commercial targeting far-flung markets such as San Francisco and Denver in a bid to broaden the citys appeal as a tourist destination. The city also extended the campaign overseas, with translated versions of the spots running in China. The multimillion-dollar campaign was created by ad agency FCB Chicago, then headed up by Fassnacht.

The new campaign has simpler goals: recasting Chicago and raising awareness for the post-pandemic future.

Its like a brand, you have to be top of mind, you have to be out there, Fassnacht said. Its never too early to promote Chicago. We should promote Chicago every single day.

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CHICAGO - A group of city leaders will lead a pilot effort to help create more pathways for young adults with developmental disabilities, officials announced.

Several individuals and organizations are coming together in support of Chicago residents who, upon turning 22, no longer are eligible for special education transition services, to help expand their educational, employment and enrichment opportunities, according to a news release. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Ald. Matt OShea, 19th, City Colleges of Chicago, the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center and the Special Olympics Chicago-Special Childrens Charities are among its backers.

The initiative is called the After 22 Project and it will be recognized as a comprehensive transition program aimed at connecting participants with postsecondary programs  including flexible learning opportunities, leadership development, and job skills training. Students also can participate in special recreation, internship and job opportunities.

Far too often, people with disabilities fall through the cracks in our system and are left without access to opportunities to achieve upward mobility, Lightfoot said. With the After 22 Project, we will be able to create the social safety net they deserve as well as move Chicago one step closer to become the most accessible city in the country.

Daley College will provide support to students through its Occupational, Life, and Academic Skills program.

The college will work with students to gauge their interest in order to craft a plan based on interest and skill level. Without the program, students have had to wait an average of seven years to access funding for such services after reaching age 22, according to the news release.

Rebecca Clark, president and CEO at Anixter Center  an organization that provides day services for adults with developmental disabilities  said she believes the After 22 program will change the lives of the people it serves at the center for years to come.

After 22 is the missing piece that equalizes the pathway for young adults with developmental disabilities to access college and thrive, Clark said. This historic step bridges the gap, creating opportunities for students to secure meaningful work, and positively engage in, and contribute to their communities.

During the first year, the program will serve as many as 20 students through noncredit job skill development courses. Daley College and Anixter Center team members will join forces to create customized educational plans to bolster communication strategies, self-advocacy skills, professionalism and to offer help navigating institutions, among other workplace skills.

Students can practice applying these skills at the food pantry, professional clothing closet, and other service areas around the Daley campus.

Daley College President Janine Janosky will lead the After 22 program at City Colleges of Chicago.

One of the greatest strengths of Daley City College is our students diversity, Janosky said. We welcome all students and look forward to the vibrancy these new students will bring to our campus life.

Daley College and the Anixter Center will build an advisory council comprised of business leaders, students, parents, faculty and special education experts and advocates who will provide guidance on program development, expanding external connections and funding sources, according to the release.

The Anixter Center will match 10 participants with jobs or internships at a community employer who will provide support to ensure success and retention. The aim is to weave together public and private partnerships so students can have a meaningful experience.

In the long term, Daley College will develop a certificate program for students with disabilities. Having the program will satisfy one of the larger goals for City Colleges to provide more expansive access to education for the community.

Carolyn Daley, president of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics ChicagoSpecial Childrens Charities, said the organization looks forward to its partnership with Anixter and City Colleges of Chicago.

The After 22 program opens new doors of opportunity for our athletes by empowering them with continuing education, important life and job skills, and a readiness for the future, Daley said. It is my hope that the After 22 program is an incredible success, and continues to grow throughout the years to come.

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CHICAGO  Gerald Berry is serving a life sentence for murder, even though he didn't kill anyone.

On Dec. 27, 2001, Berry said he and three friends drove to Country Club Hills, in Chicago's south suburbs, to case a house that they planned to burglarize later. Berry, then a certified HVAC technician, was 20 years old and married with three children. He often hung around with an older friend, Loree Scott Young, 35. Berry said sometimes Young suggested ways for them to make quick money.

After Berry, Young, and the other two men in their crew arrived at the house in Country Club Hills they realized that one of the homeowners was there, so they considered targeting other residences, according to court records. Berry said that Young still encouraged them to go through with the robbery. Young and Trumaine McClure, 18, went inside the house, while Berry waited in the getaway car and kept a lookout with 27-year-old John McGowan, according to court records.

Things quickly went south after another person who lived in the house, Torrey James, returned home. Young demanded money from the man, who drew a gun and shot Young twice. Court records state that McClure returned fire, hitting James once.

James and Young died from their injuries.

"It was just shocking," said Berry in an interview with Injustice Watch from Menard Correctional Center. "It was unbelievable because that's not what we thought was going to happen."

McClure, who shot the homeowner, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years. He was released on parole in November 2021. McGowan, the other lookout, was acquitted at trial. But Berry was charged with and convicted of both murders under the so-called felony murder rule.

The felony murder rule is a legal doctrine that allows prosecutors to bring murder charges against anyone who participates in committing certain felonies, such as robbery, burglary, or sexual assault, if a death happens during the crime. The doctrine applies even if the defendant wasn't directly responsible for the killing. Most U.S. states have felony murder laws.

Steven Drizin, co-director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University, has represented several people accused of felony murder.

"The felony murder rule has a lot of mischief attached to it," Drizin said. "It imposes punishments that do not fit the crime for a lot of accomplices."

Last January, Illinois legislators changed the state's felony murder statute as part of the landmark criminal justice reform bill known as the SAFE-T Act, short for the Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today Act. The law removed the possibility that prosecutors charge defendants with murder in cases when a third party who was not involved in the felony, such as a homeowner or a police officer, is responsible for the killing.

Advocates say the reform didn't go far enough.

If the new law had been in place in 2001, prosecutors couldn't have charged Berry for Young's murder, but he could have still faced charges for the death of James, the homeowner. Advocates want lawmakers to go further, so someone such as Berry, who didn't anticipate that violence might happen and didn't participate in the violence, could not be charged with murder.

"It's still mind-blowing that I ended up getting a mandatory life sentence," Berry said. "I'm not angry, but I know it's wrong. I'm disappointed in the system."

The SAFE-T Act also did not apply the felony murder reform retroactively. At least dozens of people are serving time in Illinois prisons on murder charges that likely wouldn't have been filed if the crime happened today, according to an Injustice Watch analysis.

The state doesn't track how many people have been charged under the felony murder doctrine because court data systems across Illinois don't specify the circumstances behind a murder charge. So Injustice Watch created a database to better understand how many people were left behind by the new reforms. (Scroll to the end of this article to read our methodology and learn more about how we made our database)

We found at least 198 people currently serving time in the Illinois Department of Corrections who were charged with felony murder, though that number is almost certainly an undercount. Our analysis also omits people who were originally charged with felony murder but pleaded guilty to lesser charges, such as manslaughter.

At least 38 of those people were charged with murder in cases in which third parties  not their co-defendants in the original felony  were responsible for the killings. Of the 38 felony murder cases that Injustice Watch identified involving a third party, a police officer was the shooter in more than half. Drizin argues that the felony murder rule "often provides cover for police officers who use deadly force when it is not justified and enables these officers to avoid being disciplined for violating their own guidelines."

If the felony murder reform had been made retroactive, many of the people charged for murders committed by third parties might have been given a chance at resentencing.

Jobi Cates, executive director and founder of the criminal justice reform group Restore Justice, which has lobbied for further changes to felony murder, said she would like to see "a wholesale reform of the statute" ensuring that it applies to old cases.

"The people who are going to get relief from this legislation have not been convicted yet  they're fictional people, they're hypothetical people," Cates said. "But when you go back and you look at the cases that are there, now you're talking about actual people."

A disproportionate impact on young people and women

Injustice Watch's data on felony murder cases, though limited, mirrors what other research has shown: Felony murder laws disproportionately impact young people of color and women.

Black men 25 years old and younger made up about 40% of those charged with felony murder, according to our analysis.

James Garbarino, a psychology professor at Loyola University of Chicago who studies child development and youth violence, said people age 25 and younger are particularly vulnerable to laws such as felony murder that punish people for being accomplices to crimes that play out in violent ways that they may not have foreseen.

Various research studies suggest that the brains of teenagers and young adults are not fully developed, making them more susceptible to peer pressure and unable to understand or anticipate the potential consequences of their actions.

Alexis Mansfield, senior advisor at the Women's Justice Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing the harm and incarceration of women, said women are also particularly vulnerable to being pressured to participate in crimes, especially survivors of domestic violence. About one-quarter of the people we identified as serving time for felony murder were women, compared with 5% of women incarcerated on murder charges in Illinois overall.

"I really think that so much of that leads back to domestic violence and histories of trauma, which make the ability to say no much more difficult," Mansfield said.

It's unclear what percentage of the women in our data are survivors of domestic violence or how many were coerced by an abuser into committing the underlying crime. But a 2019 study by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority found that practically all the women in Illinois prisons had experienced domestic violence or abuse. In Illinois, compulsion and coercion are not legal defenses for first-degree murder, Mansfield said.

Late last year, the Women's Justice Institute hosted a virtual event with 22 survivors of gender-based violence inside Logan Correctional Center, Illinois' largest women's prison. The women shared poems, monologues, and performances about their experiences. Three of the performers sat down together for a live panel and spoke about the impact that gender-based violence had on their lives.

"The mind of someone who is surviving abuse is very different than someone who is not experienced in that," said Erika Ray, 40, during the panel. "A lot of times, people that are making laws like the felony murder rule or accountability, people that are sentencing women that are survivors, they haven't walked in those shoes, so it's a little difficult for them to empathize with people who survive abuse and then are incarcerated."

During the panel, Ray said felony murder laws harm survivors and should be changed to only hold people accountable for their actions and not those of others who may commit a severe offense, such as murder.

Court records show that Ray was sentenced to 42 years in prison for the 2006 armed robbery and murder of the assistant manager of a restaurant that she used to work at. Ray said at trial that she only drove her co-defendants to the crime scene, and that, while they didn't force her to drive them, she didn't know that they had planned to rob and kill the assistant manager, who had fired her earlier that day, according to court records.

She argued in an appeal that the judge who sentenced her overlooked mitigating factors, such as her age, lack of criminal history, and experiences with physical and sexual abuse when he ordered her to serve more than four decades behind bars.

'Legislating is about the art of the possible'

Other states have gone further than Illinois to limit their felony murder statutes.

Last year, Colorado enacted a law that eliminated third-party felony murder charges and also reduced felony murder from first-degree murder to second-degree murder. That change decreased the mandatory sentence from life without the possibility of parole to a term of between 16 and 48 years in prison.

In 2018, California legislators changed the state's murder statute to focus on a defendant's intent to kill. That provision eliminated felony murder liability for co-defendants in the underlying felony who did not actively participate in the killing or act with "reckless indifference to human life." The legislation also allowed people who were still in prison on felony murder convictions that happened before the law was changed to seek resentencing under the new statute.

Last year, California state lawmakers expanded the reform's reach to people who were charged with felony murder but pleaded guilty to lesser crimes, such as manslaughter.

California State Sen. Josh Becker, who introduced the bill, said in an interview with Injustice Watch his colleagues aimed to balance between punishing people for participating in serious crimes and hitting defendants with sentences that are unreasonably long given their role in the offense.

"We're going to show that there's consequences for people who commit serious offenses, but at the same time, we want to be smart about it and make sure we're not locking people up for much longer than it's helpful for society," Becker said.

The California Assembly Appropriations Committee found that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation could save at least $56 million annually in incarceration-related costs under the new law.

In 2019, Illinois State Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) introduced a bill that would have gone almost as far as California's bill. The bill proposed applying felony murder only to people who commited a felony with another person and "knew that the other participant would engage in conduct that would result in death or great bodily harm."

That bill died in committee, but it became the basis for changes to the felony murder rule included in the SAFE-T Act.

But by the time the law passed last January, the felony murder section had been pared down to focus only on third-party cases. Advocates said the changes happened as part of late-night negotiations with opponents of the large criminal justice reform package.

Illinois State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago), one of the co-sponsors of the SAFE-T Act, acknowledged that the law left people previously charged with felony murder behind. He said it is difficult to make reform retroactive because of "fear mongering" from law enforcement and other special interest groups.

John Rekowski, the former chief public defender in Madison County, Illinois, who helped push for the SAFE-T Act in the legislature, said supporters of the bill were aware that they had to make concessions so opponents of the bill would not have ammunition to stop it.

"Legislating is about the art of the possible," Rekowski said.

'I just want to come home'

Peters said there are no current plans to make the felony murder changes retroactive or to broaden the reform to include more people.

If the law had been made retroactive, then Tevin Louis might have been given a chance to be resentenced for his 2012 murder conviction. Instead, he's hoping that the governor grants him freedom after eventually deciding on the clemency petition that Louis filed in 2019

"If y'all changed the rule and still got me sitting here and don't want to give me an opportunity or at least take off some of these years, you're contradicting everything," said Louis, referring to state lawmakers.

On July 7, 2012, Louis and his best friend, Marquise Sampson, both 19 years old, robbed a gyros shop on the South Side of Chicago. Chicago police officer Antonio Dicarlo ran after Sampson and shot him multiple times as the assailants fled the crime scene, according to news reports and Louis' account. News outlets reported that the officer claimed Sampson pointed a gun at him.

Louis was charged with armed robbery and his friend's murder under the felony murder rule and sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Louis said he thinks that it's unjust for him to be held responsible for the actions of the cop who killed Sampson.

"I feel like a sacrificial lamb," Louis said. "I feel like my head was chopped off, and I was served on a platter."

He's already making plans for what he'll do with his freedom, even without the guarantee that his sentence will be reduced or commuted. During his time in prison, Louis has become passionate about fitness and nutrition and wants to open a gym to help young people stay off the streets.

Berry, who is now 40, also has young people whom he wants to support. After spending half his life in prison under a felony murder conviction, he's now a grandfather of four.

Berry said a reprieve from his life sentence would help him one day realize his dream of working with community organizations and grassroots campaigns to push for criminal justice reform and help deter the youth, including young people in his family, from getting in trouble with the law.

"I just want to come home and live a viable life and help my grandchildren, so they don't go down the same path I did," Berry said.

___

This article was produced in partnership with Report for America. Emily Hoerner, Emanuella Evans, and Olivia Louthen contributed research.

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Multiple Jewish businesses and synagogues were vandalized in the West Rogers Park neighborhood during the weekend, according to Chicago police and reports from the Concerned Citizens League.

A man spray-painted a synagogue and a cargo container near the 2900 block of West Devon Avenue Sunday around 4:40 p.m., officials said. The graffiti appeared to be yellow swastikas, according to a post on Facebook by the Concerned Citizens League, a Jewish nonprofit.

The vandal also reportedly yelled at a man before running south, according to the police report. Investigators initially said the victim had been physically harmed but later updated the report to say he was verbally assaulted.

One person of interest is being questioned in connection with the vandalism, authorities said.

Officers also responded to a report of shattered windows at a synagogue in the 3600 block of West Devon Avenue Sunday morning, officials said. A man kicked out the side window of the Pulaski Park neighborhood synagogue, a witness reportedly told officers.

No arrests had been made in connection with the destruction of property, police said, and detectives are investigating both incidents.

There were additional cases of vandalism reported at Jewish businesses in the West Rogers Park neighborhood Saturday, according to the Concerned Citizens League. Kol Tuv Kosher Foods and Tel Aviv Bakery, both on 2900 block of West Devon Avenue, each had windows broken out, the Concerned Citizens League posted on social media.

Police confirmed vandalism reports were filed by the businesses, though the damage was confined to the outside of the stores.

In a statement, Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th, said she was very upset about the vandalism.

These incidents are particularly upsetting as they come mere days after Holocaust Remembrance Day, Silverstein said, and in light of a worrying increase in antisemitism across the nation.

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Q: How do I order the free at-home COVID tests provided by the government for my household?  YM

Answer: Having immediate access to an at-home test for COVID-19 can go a long way in helping individuals who have been directly exposed or are exhibiting symptoms to get rapid test results. The more quickly you know if you have COVID-19, the more quickly you can isolate to help minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

The federal government is making at-home rapid COVID-19 tests available to residential households in the United States at no cost. The test will be distributed through the United States Postal Service and can be ordered by visiting their website at special.usps.com/testkits. Each residential household can request a maximum of four tests. The website asks for basic contact information and the residents shipping address. Individuals who do not have Internet access or who need additional assistance with ordering can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to place their orders.

Orders are scheduled to begin shipping at the end of January, for both people who placed their orders via the online form or by telephone.

Q: As I get older, some of the health challenges that I experience make it more difficult for me to keep up with basic housekeeping chores. Are there any services available that provide seniors with housekeeping assistance?  AW

Answer: As we age, taking care of housekeeping responsibilities can become even more of a challenge. Physical limitations may make it more difficult to do things like bending to clean a toilet or bathtub, reaching high places to dust, or lifting and moving heavy items. However, keeping a clean and tidy home can play an important role in helping an older adult continue to live safely in their own home for as long as possible.

Fortunately, there are in-home aide services available to assist seniors with home management tasks and personal care services if needed. Home management assistance includes tasks like cleaning, laundry and light meal preparation. It is important to keep in mind that these services are not designed to assist with heavy-duty cleaning tasks like carpet cleaning but can be instrumental in helping older adults keep up with basic housekeeping chores.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services provides a list of licensed Home Care agencies that provide In-home aides and home management services at ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/data/hclist.pdf. Be sure to contact the agency directly for information about fees and availability.

Forsyth County Department of Social Services also offers In-Home Aide/Home Management Services for Forsyth County residents, who do not have a responsible person available to help with tasks like cleaning, laundering and meal preparation, and who would not be able to safely remain in their own home without assistance. Adults who are eligible to receive these services are given the opportunity to make voluntary contributions to offset the cost of services. However, they will not be denied service because of an inability to pay.

For more information about eligibility criteria and wait lists contact Forsyth County Department of Social Services Adult Intake at (336) 703-3501.

AgeWise is a weekly column compiled by staff of Senior Services Inc., a nonprofit organization in Winston-Salem. If you have a question, email agewise@seniorservicesinc.org or mail to Senior Services, 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.
COVID-19 has been blamed for more Forsyth County deaths in January than in any month since the pandemic began.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported seven more deaths among Forsyth residents over the weekend.

That puts the countys total COVID-related deaths at 68 for January. The previous monthly high was 67 in February 2021.

DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so individuals may have been infected or may have died days or weeks before their cases were counted.

Local and state health officials caution that an elevated number of COVID-19-related deaths could persist through early February, even as health experts say case numbers appear to be dropping.

COVID-19 related deaths in Forsyth 394 COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in Forsyth County in 2021 225 COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in Forsyth County in 2020

Meanwhile, DHHS reported 312 new cases in Forsyth on Monday. It is the lowest daily case count in Forsyth since the omicron variant began spreading in late December.

The total case count for the weekend was 1,741.

The record daily case count is 1,318 on Jan. 18. For the pandemic, Forsyth has had 86,213 cases.

Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was at 37.2% as of noon Monday, down slightly from a record 38.4% as of noon Thursday. The statewide rate was 26.9%.

With Fridays report, Forsyth is averaging 187 cases per 100,000 people over the most recent two-week period.

Thats up from the 67.6 cases per 100,000 reported as recently as Dec. 31, but down from a pandemic high of 259 cases per 100,000 reported on Jan. 21.

Peak surge reached?

Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, said Thursday he is confident that community spread of the omicron variant has peaked.

Meanwhile, Ohl said that omicron has so completely enveloped the local COVID-19 case count that delta barely exists anymore.

Case numbers have been coming down in the states three metro areas, Ohl said.

But, Ohl said, the daily case counts remain high, particularly compared with the delta variant peaks.

I would think they would decrease fairly rapidly for a while before reaching a (plateau) on the curve like we saw with delta, Ohl said.

Ohl said it is likely that a subvariant of omicron  known as ba.2 will become a local factor, being a tad bit more infectious ... but it doesnt seem to be an increase in transmission.

He said it is possible that the subvariant could supplant omicron but said he wasnt concerned about its overall effect.

Yes, cases are leveling off, but still near all-time highs, so continuing to take precautions remains key to fighting the virus, Swift said. Swift said having additional testing options in the county is working to decrease the wait time during the omicron surge.

Statewide update

North Carolina reported 7,327 new cases Monday  also the lowest daily total since the onset of the omicron surge.

There were 17,213 new cases reported Sunday and 22,383 Saturday.

The record-high statewide count stands at 35,759 cases, reported Jan. 14.

Meanwhile, the statewide fully vaccinated rate reached 71% over the weekend, or 6.32 million North Carolinians. The percentage of North Carolinians that have gotten a booster shot is at 46.7%, or 2.95 million.

North Carolina has recorded 2.42 million cases and 20,757 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began. The number of deaths statewide was up 162 from Friday.

There were 4,882 COVID-19 hospital patients statewide as of noon Monday, down 202 from Friday and down 276 from a record high of 5,158 on Thursday.

The statewide hospitalization count has dropped over four consecutive days.

Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region reported a combined 1,087 COVID-19 patients as of noon Monday, down 36 from the previous report.

Statewide, 489 patients are on ventilators, including 109 in the Triad region. There were 97 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including 22 in the Triad region.

Unvaccinated impact

As of Jan. 22, DHHS reports that 71.6% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in North Carolina are unvaccinated. Among ICU patients, about 83% are unvaccinated.

Swift said Forsyth is experiencing breakthrough cases at similar levels to the state, but stressed that those individuals are dealing with milder cases, particularly if they had a booster shot.

Swift and Dr. David Priest, an infectious diseases expert with Novant, have said the number of COVID-19 cases likely is underreported.

Most at-home test results arent reported to county health officials, and some infected individuals have mild cases and dont seek care, they say.

Priest said that if someone tests positive with an at-home testing kit, they should stay at home for at least five days even if they begin to feel better. If their symptoms worsen during that period, they should seek another test and medical care.

If you have symptoms of COVID, you likely have COVID given the high level of positivity right now, Priest said.

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GREENSBORO  Two concert tours coming to Guilford County this week will take Boomer audiences down a musical memory lane.

Rock band The Beach Boys will sing Thursday at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts.

Their 1960s songs of summer, surfing, cars and romance remind audiences that warmer days, beaches and vacations are just a few months away.

Then on Saturday in High Point, John Ford Coley and Jim Stafford will play their 1970s hits and more at the High Point Theatre.

Coley came to fame as one half of the soft rock duo England Dan & John Ford Coley. They gained stardom with 1976s, Id Really Love to See You Tonight. It led to six Top 20 hits.

Stafford is known for 70s songs such as Spiders & Snakes and My Girl Bill.

They will give audiences what they want: their top songs of yesteryear, perhaps with a newer song or two.

If people come to see me, theyre going to go down memory lane, Coley said last week from his home in Franklin, Tenn. They want to hear a lot of the songs that they remembered back during that time period.

During two hours of music that displays their harmonies and arrangements, the Beach Boys draw on some 300 to 400 songs in their catalog.

They plan to perform hits including California Girls, I Get Around, Fun, Fun, Fun, Surfin U.S.A., Good Vibrations and Kokomo.

They love to hear our hits, Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love said in a phone interview last week from his Lake Tahoe home. And we always try to deliver what they hope for and expect.

Im not one of these performers who doesnt want to do anything except our new album, Love said. Ive heard of people doing that, but that disappoints a heck of a lot of people. Maybe their favorite song was something you did years ago, and why not do it?

Perhaps the Beach Boys shows most popular song is Kokomo, which hit No. 1 on the charts in 1988. Crowds join to sing the chorus, Love said.

His son, Christian Love, sings God Only Knows, a song that Paul McCartney and others consider their favorite. Carl Wilson had sung it on their Pet Sounds album.

About to turn 81 in March, Love co-founded the Beach Boys nearly 61 years ago with his cousins Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine.

Dennis and Carl are now deceased. Brian Wilson and Mike Love dont get along, and Brian Wilson and Jardine dont tour with the band. Love and Brian Wilson havent toured together since the Beach Boys 2012 reunion tour.

Following Carl Wilsons death in 1998, the band members and their corporation granted Love an exclusive license to tour under the Beach Boys name.

He performs with Bruce Johnston, who has played with the band since 1965 (except for a six-year break); son Christian; John Cowsill, who performed with his siblings 1960s band The Cowsills; musical director Scott Totten, Brian Eichenberger, Tim Bonhomme, Keith Hubacher and Randy Leago.

Thursdays concert is expected to feature another famous face: John Stamos.

The stage and screen actor and musician starred in the ABC sitcom Full House and TV medical dramas.

Stamos frequently performs on drums and guitar in Beach Boys concerts.

He tells me that he used to bicycle by my parents house in Cypress, Calif., and look in the window and see the gold albums on the wall, Love said.

They met years later. When Stamos came to Beach Boys shows, Love said, I noticed how the girls screamed for him and I said, Whoa, get him up on stage. As it turns out, before he was an actor on TV, he was a drummer in a little three-piece band.

Love says that he still enjoys touring and performing.

The people who started with us in the 60s are now in their 60s, 70s or even 80s, Love said. Its really fascinating that multiple generations can turn out to see your shows. We have fans who are young kids, who are just getting aware of music, and then we have their parents and grandparents.

The Beach Boys will play several venues this month. They are in Virginia this week before the Tanger Center concert, and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sunday.

From March 25 to 27, they will perform on a cruise between Miami and the Bahamas with acts such as The Temptations, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees and Yacht Rock Revue.

Traveling to perform has become easier since the Beach Boys began touring in 1962.

When we first started out, we had a station wagon and a U-Haul, and we would set up and break down our own equipment and do four sets a night, Love said.

Nowadays, the production is so much better  the lights, the sound, even the transportation, he said. They and the crew arrive on tour buses, the crew sets up equipment, and the group does a quick rehearsal.

Aside from Beach Boys hits, they perform a few of Loves songs from his solo albums  including Beatle George Harrisons Here Comes the Sun and Pisces Brothers that Love wrote.

A concert ticket includes a download of his solo album, 12 Sides of Summer, released in 2019.

Here Comes the Sun reminds Love of spending time with The Beatles in India in 1968. He became a student of transcendental meditation that year under Maharishi Manesh Yogi, then later a teacher. He meditates daily.

It hasnt been all smooth sailing.

Love is often criticized because of his history of conflicts with the band.

Many of Loves contributions to the groups hits werent recognized until the 1990s, when he sued Brian Wilson for writing credits on 35 songs.

In 2016, he wrote the memoir Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy, where he said he addressed inaccuracies that had been said about him.

Thats been more than 20 years ago, he said about the lawsuit. I dealt with it in the book. Its pretty much rectified.

When people ask Love how he does everything that he does, he cites transcendental meditation.

That trip to India and learning transcendental meditation has been a huge help in giving me the energy and clarity and the ability to eliminate fatigue and tension and accentuate the positive, Love said.

He focuses his stage energy on the music.

Its a pretty wonderful thing that something we started 60 years ago, we still get the chance to do what we love to do, which is music, he said.

For audiences, that sounds like fun, fun, fun.

Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at 336-373-5204 and follow @dawndkaneNR on Twitter.

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Remote work started for CF Design (above) during the pandemic. Now, said Owner Cheryl Fosdick, I believe it will always be like this going forward.
I was a senior in college when I learned a gay man helped save the world.

True story.

Even after years of history lessons about World War II, I was well into my 20s before hearing of Alan Turing, the man most credited with creating the algorithms that enabled the Allies to crack the Enigma code used by the Nazis in World War II.

Before the Turing-led discovery, German submarines were able to find and destroy Allied ships in the Atlantic, crippling efforts to get much-needed supplies to Europe. In the first three months of 1942 alone, German subs sank more than 100 ships off the coast of North America and in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

And yet, instead of Turing being celebrated at the end of the war, this mathematician was arrested for gross indecency under anti-homosexuality laws and ultimately was given a choice between prison or hormonal chemical castration. Publicly outed and persecuted, he died by cyanide poisoning at 41 and was all but erased from the history books.

During the dont ask, dont tell debate of the Clinton era, I often wondered how many members of Congress knew how important a gay man working for British intelligence had been to the Allies success in Normandy. Perhaps they would have been less hostile to gays and lesbians in the modern military.

Britons have redeemed the memory of Alan Turing in recent decades. Today the historical record credits him as crucial to the Allies victory in World War II, and calls him the father of computer science.

But some Americans have picked up the eraser.

Three weeks ago, Republican legislators in Florida advanced HB 1557  affectionately dubbed the dont say gay bill  which would ban discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools, effectively erasing LGBTQ history, culture and people from the classroom.

It would appear that Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida Republicans want to make Turings little-known story a complete unknown under the guise of protecting the children. As if Florida schoolchildren had no sexual orientation until they were handed a cap and gown at graduation, and as if ignorance of history could turn people straight. Such a law would be ludicrous in many ways, even making it hard for teachers to talk about Pete Buttigieg, should he run for president again.

And yet we shouldnt put it past DeSantis to sign this bill. Last June, as the five-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando approached, the governor vetoed funding for mental health programs for survivors of the attack.

Hypocrisy has been a hallmark of American government ever since the founders branded a nation full of enslaved people as the land of the free.

Perhaps backers of the dont say gay bill believe that if you stop teachers from talking about LGBTQ people, then eventually the public wont remember events like the Pulse shooting. Thats how the race massacres in Tulsa and Wilmington were swept under the rug until the murder of George Floyd.

After all, the attempt to erase Alan Turing worked for decades, as gay people continued to be marginalized and persecuted in the U.K. even though one of their own had thwarted the Nazis and laid the foundation for modern life.

Therein lies the danger in efforts like dont say gay and the Republicans nationwide war on critical race theory, which examines how policies such as redlining perpetuate systemic racism.

DeSantis banned CRT from being taught in Floridas public schools last year, not that it was part of the state curriculum in the first place. Last month he announced the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (Stop W.O.K.E.) Act, which would allow parents to sue the school district if they so much as smell a lesson plan about systemic racism coming from their childs backpack.

The hypocrisy grows ever more astounding. DeSantis said: We wont allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other, as if he were somehow protecting Florida tax dollars while introducing a law that would force school districts to settle lawsuits. The governor also somehow managed to invoke the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. while introducing a bill that discourages teachers from talking about his work.

We dont have to let the governor get away with pretending to defend the truth or American values. Whether its the long arc of systemic racism, or the mere existence of gay people, telling the truth about our history isnt a political statement. Denying our history is.

LZ Granderson is an opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
Eva Grassau's encounter with COVID-19 started with a notification from her son's child care center.

A case had been identified in his classroom, and Leo, 2, had been exposed.

The next day, Jan. 15, the youngster woke with a fever and cough. "I thought, 'Oh, great, here we go,' " said Grassau, who lives in Bennington.

Leo tested positive for COVID-19 at a doctor's office that day. Later that afternoon, Grassau's husband, Bobby, began feeling ill, with a cough and headache. Both Grassau and her husband are fully vaccinated and boosted.

Several days later, Grassau and her 4-month-old daughter, Elouise, began feeling ill. Baby Elouise ran fevers for several days and suffered from congestion and a terrible cough.

Grassau said the disruption caused by the family's outbreak has been frustrating. But she's still glad that she is vaccinated and boosted. An oncology nurse who works with vulnerable people, getting the shots was important to her. She also plans to vaccinate her children when the shots are approved for kids under 5.

"I feel like it kept my symptoms fairly mild," she said. "I think it was worse for my children who were not vaccinated. They seemed to be sicker, and that makes me sad."

Breakthrough infections like the ones the Grassaus experienced have increased among the vaccinated  including the boosted  as the highly transmissible omicron variant has swept through Nebraska. Omicron, with its 50-plus mutations, has the ability to evade some of the immunity provided by prior infections and the vaccines, researchers say.

The breakthroughs have some people questioning the value of the vaccines in protecting people, as well as the nation's reliance on vaccines as a tool in the fight against COVID-19.

But health officials say the vaccines continue to protect many people from infection. More importantly, they're providing significant protection against serious illness and death.

Many of the breakthrough cases among the vaccinated are relatively mild. And increases in breakthroughs are to be expected as more of the population is vaccinated. No vaccine, experts say, is 100% effective at preventing infection.

"What the vaccines are really doing is preventing hospitalizations and deaths," said Dr. Anne O'Keefe, the Douglas County Health Department's senior epidemiologist.

In Douglas County alone, the number of vaccine breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated residents increased by 10,555 between Jan. 13 and Thursday, according to the Health Department's COVID-19 dashboard. The percentage of breakthroughs among fully vaccinated residents increased from 5.8% to 8.6%.

O'Keefe said the department reports the percentage of vaccinated people who have had a breakthrough infection to show how rare they are in that group. The percentages are based only on cases among fully vaccinated people, not on all cases.

Of all breakthrough infections, 70% are in people who were vaccinated at least six months before. Boosters are recommended after that time to address waning immunity from the original series.

Only 96, or .026%, of the almost 373,000 fully vaccinated Douglas County residents have died of COVID-19. O'Keefe said 85% of those deaths were in people older than 65. All of those younger than 65 had a severe underlying condition. Deaths among the vaccinated make up a similarly small percentage of total coronavirus-related deaths in Nebraska.

Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers infectious diseases division, said data recently released by state health officials demonstrate the vaccines' ongoing protection.

In December, Nebraskans who were fully vaccinated and boosted were 46 times less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who weren't fully immunized, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Nebraskans who were vaccinated but not boosted were 11 times less likely to be hospitalized than those who weren't vaccinated.

"That's strong information to suggest to people that vaccination is still protective but it is not necessarily preventing some of these breakthrough mild cases that we're seeing so frequently," Rupp said.

Part of the reason, he said, is that the omicron variant is so much more transmissible than past variants and appears to have a shorter incubation period.

"I think the virus is able to get a foothold and cause illness more quickly than the immune response is able to completely prevent illness," he said.

Recent studies support the importance of vaccination and of boosters, in particular, in protecting against the worse effects of omicron. One recent study published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that the extra shot is 90% effective in preventing hospitalization with omicron. Another study posted by the agency found that cases and deaths were lower among people who had received a booster compared with those who were fully vaccinated but not boosted. Boosters provided the greatest gains in protection to people 65 and older.

"As the variants have shifted and the vaccines are not quite as effective, we're seeing people have breakthrough infections but continuing to have prevention of the more serious manifestations of illness," Rupp said. "Severe illness, hospitalization and death are still very well prevented through vaccination."

By and large, the patients in the hospital fighting for their lives continue to be those who are not vaccinated, he said. Most hospitalized patients who are vaccinated are very old or have compromised immune systems. In October, the CDC authorized fourth shots for the immunocompromised.

"The vaccine overall continues to be people's best bet," Rupp said.

Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, chief of infectious disease at CHI Health and Creighton University, said most cases among the vaccinated are not as severe.

"The goal is making the illness milder," she said of the vaccines. "With omicron, you hear it's milder. I think it's milder for the patients who have received the vaccines."

Rupp said questions about the vaccines' effectiveness may come down to what people want vaccines to do.

"In a perfect world, you would want it to completely prevent any sort of acquisition of disease or illness," he said.

The COVID-19 vaccines initially held up well against symptomatic infection. But researchers learned that their effectiveness waned over time. The virus also developed ways of escaping human immune systems.

While they're no longer preventing all illness, Rupp said, the vaccines give people a head start that allows them to mount a response more quickly and ward off serious illness, hospitalization and death.

In the final analysis, Rupp said, that's what you really want from a vaccine.

"We're still pleased with the response (with regard to) serious illness," he said, "but I don't want folks to have an unrealistic expectation of the vaccine."

According to the Jan. 21-24 Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index, 72% of vaccinated Americans surveyed were satisfied with the protection the vaccines provide from catching the virus and 81% were satisfied with the protection the shots provide from serious illness or death.

Recent studies point to other benefits. The vaccines appear to reduce the incidence of long COVID-19, which has manifested even in people with mild cases. In children, Rupp said, vaccination prevents the rare inflammatory syndrome known as MIS-C, which also tends to occur in kids with mild cases.

At the same time, treatments effective against omicron remain in short supply nationally, with available doses prioritized for those who don't mount adequate immune responses even with vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration has pulled authorization for two commonly used monoclonal antibody therapies because they aren't effective against omicron, which now makes up 99% of infections in the U.S.

Meanwhile, omicron's ability to break through vaccine protection has added to workforce woes for hospitals, nursing homes, schools and businesses. For many, the infections have occurred despite months of best efforts to avoid the virus.

Grassau said she had been back at work after maternity leave for only two months when the family became ill. She has no paid leave left to cover her time in quarantine. Co-workers with young children also are feeling the burden, she said, both financially and socially.

While the CDC recently changed the isolation requirement for COVID-19 to five days, she said, young children like her son can't mask effectively, so recommendations call for them to remain out of child care centers for 10 days. The family had to quarantine after another day care exposure just before Christmas.

Grassau knows that the infections will protect her children for a time, but she still worries that another exposure will mean more missed work and school.

"The more we vaccinate and protect ourselves and other people, this will end," she said.

For Ann Gray, a nurse at an Omaha-area long-term care facility, the positive COVID-19 test result she received on Jan. 17  her first of the pandemic  came as a shock.

She was fully vaccinated and boosted and had been careful with her protective gear throughout the pandemic.

"I cried," she said. "I was so traumatized because I made it through the whole, whole pandemic."

But she had few symptoms, mostly a bit of a headache.

"I'm fine," she said. "That's what I need to remember."
Preston Yager, like many teenage boys, loved his car.

But unlike most of his peers, his car was bought with money from his father who died serving in Iraq almost 15 years ago. Yager said the car was like his fathers gift to him.

So when he found out it had been stolen from the Lincoln Northeast school parking lot on the evening of Jan. 24, the junior was understandably upset.

The material part is replaceable, Preston said. But because the money came from him it wont be 100% fixed and good.

The students who stole the car are suspected of entering a school locker room while Yager was at wrestling practice and stealing his keys, phone, IDs and debit card. When he returned and couldn't find his belongings, he searched the parking lot and realized his Chevy Malibu was also gone.

Prestons mother, Mary Jo Yager, received a call around 1 a.m. the following morning from the Lincoln Police Department. The car was found totaled and abandoned in a Lincoln residents yard. The car only had liability insurance, so it would be on the family to find the money for a new vehicle.

Mary Jo took to Facebook to share her frustrations, catching the eye of longtime family friend Stephanie Dowding, who had the idea to start a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a new car.

I knew he was a nice kid and I hated that this happened to him, so I just wanted to show him theres still good in the world, Dowding said. Some people will do bad things, but other people will come and support you also."

Dowding had no idea how much her message of human kindness would ring true. Initially, she expected the page would help contribute a few hundred dollars toward a new car, but the donations have far surpassed that.

The pages goal was set at $7,000, but as of Sunday the monetary gifts had amounted to more than $10,000.

I didnt really think of how many people would be able to lend a helping hand to me, Preston Yager said. I didnt think it would go like that.

But rather than buying a nicer car with the extra money, Preston Yager wants to pay it forward by giving back to the community somehow.

Mary Jo Yager said that attitude is typical of her son, as he's always looking to do things for others.

When hes going to make a decision about what to do or not do, he says, I gotta make Dad proud, Mary Jo said.

Three students, whose names haven't been released because they are minors, were cited  two on suspicion of theft and one on suspicion of aiding and abetting theft, Lincoln Police Department Sgt. Jason Wesch said. No citations have been issued regarding the crash because it is still under investigation, Wesch said.

Preston Yager said the students used his bank card to make a few purchases before he reported his card missing. One of those purchases was at a school vending machine, and security cameras were able to identify the students.

Even with the heartbreak of losing an irreplaceable item, the family is seeing the event as something positive.

For Preston Yager, his new car will have a different meaning.

Ill look at this new car Im gonna get as: My community helped me get this. People who didnt know me helped me get this, he said.

Preston Yager is involved in the ROTC program, and he plans to follow a family tradition and join the military after graduation, just like his father.

Mary Jo Yager said she wishes she could hug and thank each donor personally. The acts of kindness have not only helped lift her son's spirits, but her own as well.

It gives me faith again that there is more good than bad out there, she said.

Reach the writer at jthompson@journalstar.com

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The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is investigating after an 18-year-old Lincoln man showed up at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his foot.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said the teen went to CHI St. Elizabeth sometime late Sunday night, where Lincoln Police learned the shooting occurred in Bennet, sending the case to Wagner's office.

"The victim is not forthcoming about what happened," Wagner said. "And the people with him are not forthcoming about what happened.

"So guess what?" the sheriff said. "We don't know what happened."

Wagner said it's unclear what kind of weapon was used in the shooting, or what led up to the incident.

An investigation is ongoing.

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The turkey vulture, Betsy Finch said, had no business being in Nebraska in January.

Stunned by the cold, it was transported to the Raptor Conservation Alliance rehabilitation center in Elmwood, where it will stay until springs warmer temperatures arrive.

Weve already gotten 20 birds in for 2022 and January isnt actually one of our busy months, she said.

That busy start follows a record 2021 in which Finch, husband Doug and a crew of volunteers cared for 664 birds at their five-acre farm, which includes three large outbuildings and several large flight pens.

Injured eagles, red-tailed hawks, owls and northern harriers have found refuge at the nonprofit. Extreme weather, wind storms and drought, as well as encroachment by humans, are to blame, Finch said. Collision injuries are the most common.

Finch thinks one of two snowy owls at the facility might have been clipped by a car. Rehabilitation time could be three to six months.

One of the newest residents, an adult eagle, was caught in an illegally baited trap. A Nebraska Game and Parks game warden was called in, who then brought it to one of Finchs volunteers. He took it to the Bellevue Animal Hospital, where it was cared for by Dr. David Gordon.

It might have a happy ending. A dozen birds are permanent residents because they cant survive on their own in the wild. Other nonreleasable birds are donated or transferred to other organizations or nature centers such as Fontenelle Forest for display or education.

Its doing great, Gordon said. Its eating for Betsy.

Keeping more than 50 animals fed with rats and mice or fish for the eagles is one of the most difficult parts of the job for Finch, who has been caring for injured raptors for 46 years, 26 of them at Elmwood.

Its not just the expenses involved for the nonprofit, but the daily effort, too.

Going out in a blizzard to feed and take care of birds is not the fun part, Finch said. Some need to be fed more than once a day.

Its a calling for Finch, who said she began when her Lincoln Audubon group was looking for volunteer work in the 1970s. She started organizing state and local permits, food supplies and housing for raptors.

Once we got the birds in, I got so interested and I stayed with it, she said. Its really very rewarding for me.

Her rescue is unique, she said, in that it has volunteers spread all over the state, who come together to relay injured birds to the facility.

Staff from Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and Lincoln Childrens Zoo, as well as volunteer veterinarians like Gordon, provide care for the birds.

Dr. Christina Ploog from Henry Doorly said theyve been working with the rehabilitation center for more than 10 years, providing physical exams, radiographs, wound management and fracture repairs.

Our team enjoys supporting Betsys efforts in providing outstanding care to injured raptors, and we are always thrilled to hear that a patient has been returned to its natural habitat, she said. These opportunities allow our veterinary staff to give back to the community and to the ecosystem we care so much about. It is an amazing feeling to know that you helped an injured bird be released back into the wild.

Finch hasnt slowed down despite turning 75 this week. She knows she needs to develop a plan that keeps a steady supply of funds coming in to feed and care for the birds as well as finding an eventual replacement. As much as she loves it, she doesnt want to be doing this when shes 90.

We had so many birds this year I havent been able to work on any of that, she said.

As well as the veterinarians and volunteers, she said Doug has been a big support through the 21 years of their marriage. They met when his son did an Eagle Scout project at the facility.

There are ups and downs to their efforts. Theres the amazing part when a once-injured bird is released and the challenging part when a raptor has to be euthanized because its injuries are too great or its in pain.

If someone cant do that, they have no business in rehabilitation, Finch said. You always have to do whats best for the bird.

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A former Racine alderman and mayoral candidate, along with one of the women who helped organize the failed 2020 recall of Gov. Tony Evers, have filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, alleging that the grants the City of Racine and other Wisconsin cities received prior to the 2020 presidential election constituted bribery.

Courts, including the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, have continually found that localities accepting donations to conduct elections is legal. But, complaints and allegations of wrongdoing have continued.

The new complaint, from former alderman Sandy Weidner and Kim Morrison, is dated Thursday, Jan. 27.

The complaint focuses on how the city, along with Wisconsins four other biggest cities, collectively received millions to fund get-out-the-vote efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The money came from the Centers for Tech and Civil Life, a Chicago-based nonprofit largely funded by Priscilla Chan and her husband, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Numerous complaints have been raised about CTCL money, but no court has ever found the contributions to be illegal. A municipality encouraging its citizens to vote is not illegal.

Hundreds of municipalities in Wisconsin, both in Republican and Democratic strongholds, received money from CTCL. But the protests have been focused on how the CTCL money was funneled primarily to Democratic-leaning cities: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine.

For example, among those five cities, CTCL provided between $8.30 per 2016 voter (for Madison) to $53.41 per 2016 voter (for Racine). In traditionally conservative Waukesha, CTCL provided $1.18 per 2016 voter.

It is fully our intention to take this before the circuit court, Weidner said in a social media video posted Thursday. We cannot have a two-tier voting system.

Morrison and Weidner asserted in their complaint that this constitutes an election bribery scheme. In a brief phone interview Friday, Weidner said this is because CTCL provided money to Racine in order to apply for their own grant. That just does not happen.

Dozens of complaints have been filed with the WEC leading up to and since the 2020 presidential election, which President Joe Biden won by 20,682 votes over incumbent Donald Trump in Wisconsin. None of them have led to any substantive change in Wisconsin election law or practices, as the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has repeatedly deadlocked regarding its guidance and Evers has vetoed proposed changes from the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Both Democratic and Republican members of the WEC, despite their disagreements over how election laws should be applied or changed, have agreed that no crimes were committed by elections officials in the state regarding the election.

There was no crime, Dean Knudson, a Republican member of the WEC and former elected official, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sunday. The constitutional right to vote supersedes state laws and this is long standing Supreme Court precedent. Its really a distraction  the fact is we have clean and fair elections in Wisconsin.

On Friday, Racine City Attorney Scott Letteney said that the city was unaware the complaint had been filed. As of Sunday, the complaint still does not appear on WECs webpage listing all filed complaints.

The city has contested, since complaints were first raised prior to the 2020 election, that the money was accepted to help pay for the costs of the election after its budget was drained by the unexpected increased costs of the years prior election, which saw increased precautions taken due to the newly arrived COVID-19 pandemic.

The CTCL grant has been incredibly helpful in a very difficult time, Shannon Powell, city spokesman and chief of staff to Mason, said in email in October 2020. It has allowed us to bring on more staff and poll workers, to communicate more with residents, to buy the necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), to purchase the drop boxes that are now located throughout the city, and to be able to rent the mobile offices to do the in-person absentee voting that starts Oct. 20. The city, in part because of the grant, is able to give more options to residents to vote safely this election.

CTCL has written off complaints as conspiracy theories. As the nonprofit notes on its website Every judge  conservative, liberal, and two Republican-appointed Supreme Court Justices  rejected these challenges.

Weidners and Morrisons complaint was signed by Erick Kaardal, a Minnesota attorney who has filed numerous complaints in several states regarding the 2020 election.

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RACINE  A new in-home senior care option is now available in Racine.

Senior Helpers, which provides specialized care for those with diseases and personal and companion care for those who need help with daily activities, is now open at 6211 Durand Ave., Suite 101. The franchise office will service Racine and Kenosha counties and their surrounding areas.

The franchise owners are couple Jennifer and Ivan Payes, and Jennifers brother, Gil Atanasoff. Jennifer and Atanasoff were born and raised in Kenosha. The Payeses reside in Mount Pleasant.

After reflecting when an opportunity arose to expand this service in our hometown area, my husband, brother and I jumped at the opportunity  It is incredibly important to us that we are able to serve the community that truly is home to us, said Jennifer in a press release. We were drawn to Senior Helpers by the quality service it offers, and the potential to be a part of a company that is known as the first in the industry to provide specialized caregiver training in Alzheimers, Dementia and Parkinsons disease care.

Atanasoff has seven years of experience in the senior care industry. He was formerly the executive director of Senior Helpers in Madison. He owns three additional Senior Helpers franchises in Colorado and Wyoming.

Ive seen the positive impact hes created in these communities and the burden hes alleviated on countless families, Jennifer stated.

This powerful trio brings a passion for their community and an understanding of the importance of in-home senior care to their new roles, said Peter Ross, chief executive officer of Senior Helpers in the release. Gils knowledge of the senior care industry paired with Ivans background in people and sales mixed with Jennifers project management and finance background will serve them well and be rewarding for seniors and families living in Racine and the surrounding area.

What they offer

According to the release, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves. Its staff in Racine is trained to offer care based on the companys Alzheimers and Dementia care program.

The program was developed in conjunction with Teepa Snow, a specialist and author who owns Positive Approach to Care, an organization dedicated to advocating for those living with dementia or brain changes.

Senior Helpers also offers the Parkinsons Care Program, a specialized training program for its staff, created alongside the Parkinsons Foundations Centers of Excellence network.

For more information on Senior Helpers of Racine, visit seniorhelpers.com/wi/racine, call 262-554-7783 or email ivan@seniorhelpers.com. Senior Helpers of Racine is also hiring caregivers. For more information on available jobs call 262-232-6977 or email ivan@seniorhelpers.com.

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KENOSHA COUNTY  A Republican-led bill that passed through the state Assembly last week and is headed to the state Senate is targeted at a disturbing trend when it comes to shoplifters and the damage they do to retail outlets.

But in southeastern Wisconsin, where the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets has been a target of flash mobs, nothing much will change in how those cases are prosecuted moving forward.

The bill, which passed the Assembly 59-33 without a debate, will allow prosecutors to determine the severity of penalties based on the total value of all the stolen items. Penalties under the current law vary from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the total value.

Legislators here drafted the proposal in response to reports last year of gangs of shoplifters running rampant through high-end department stores in California, according to earlier published media reports. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law in July that re-established the crime of organized crime theft.

While violent attacks such as those in California havent happened here, the issue of flash mob attacks, when a group of people storm a retail location and take as many items as they can in a short amount of time, certainly continues to be a concern here.

This is a problem in Kenosha County, District Attorney Michael Graveley said. Weve had multiple incidents per year of individuals coming from other locations and going to our outlet mall. I havent seen it at other places other than the outlet mall, but that has been a problem (in Pleasant Prairie).

This is something, where theres been a significant use of our resources, both from in the county from prosecution, and then the Pleasant Prairie Police Department, and obviously, the merchants at the mall have all suffered in this situation, Graveley continued.

Graveley said his office already has been prosecuting cases using the guidelines of the new proposed law.

So from that standpoint, nothing much will change, he said.

The way we charge those cases is, whenever we can show theres coordination, multiple people who come in the same car or multiple people who are on video doing the same thing, we charge those as a party to a crime, Graveley said. That allows us to add all the values together.

That is the way we achieve the same thing that it looks like to me the legislation is hoping to do. There is a way that can be accomplished and is being used by our office currently in these cases.

Safety as well as violence concerns

Reports out of California indicated one particular mob in November included a group of 80 people, and similar incidents have been reported throughout the country.

And while violent acts always arent a part of the incident, Graveley said there are other safety concerns to innocent bystanders and motorists who shop in Pleasant Prairie.

Even if theres not out and out violence, a further threat is that its a busy mall, he said. So if somebody tries to make a getaway, that in its own is a really dangerous situation, where youre driving through, and the last thing somebody is thinking about is they have to worry about being killed in the parking lot.

Regardless if theres any big change in Kenosha County, Graveley said hes always in favor of any way to shine a light on the situation.

Any law that brings more attention to how serious this is, and a law that asks prosecutors and the community to pay particular attention and emphasize those cases is probably a good law, he said. It may not have a huge substantive effect because were already using these existing laws to achieve much of the same (thing).

It also should come as no surprise that many of the people who have been prosecuted locally have a long criminal background, Graveley said.

Any large retail location is plagued by this now, he said. There are clearly organized groups of people. Well find these individuals, and many times, theyll have multiple prior arrests. These are professional criminals involved in these cases.

More than legislation

Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana said legislation that targets retail theft specifically is a good start, but other things must occur, too. While the Assembly bill doesnt specifically use language spelling out retail theft, the intent of the proposed legislation targets organized criminal theft.

If were specifically talking about retail theft, fantastic, but we all need to be on board, Smetana said. The retailers need to follow through and file charges and prosecute. Thats one of the problems youre seeing nationwide now, just people walking out, authorities not being called. And, all that does is it feeds on itself. It makes the problem bigger because groups of thieves or organized groups of thieves know who is going to prosecute and who isnt; who theyre going to be able to walk out on with (goods) and who theyre not.

Smetana said oftentimes businesses dont take the next step en route to prosecution.

Its not an issue, necessarily with the employees, but the employees are following company policy and when a corporate policy directs that we wont prosecute on, say, amounts under $1,000 or under $2,000, then that becomes an issue, Smetana said. That word gets around on the street very quickly of whos going to prosecute and who isnt.

Smetana said, sometimes, a retailer will call police to report the crime, but well after it has happened.

Well get a call later on down the line from the retailer saying, We need to report this (incident), but were reporting it for insurance purposes, the chief said. That doesnt help us, or the community, because in the minds of the thieves, thats still a soft target. Theyre recording the loss, but were not doing any investigation on how it happened or what happened because theyre not reporting it at the time.

They may not want to file a lengthy theft report and go through all the problems of getting us video and doing all that, or theyre just not going to prosecute, he said.

The second part of that is, obviously, the police are going to need to do their job. And, we respond. We take the information. We gather evidence. If we hear of somebody doing shoplifting we are trying to get as much information as we can. We have officers looking for them if theyve left the property. Weve even had pursuits involving these people. So, it can turn into a very dangerous situation very quickly. The police need to do the best job they can, Smetana said.

Attempts last week to reach representatives from the mall and the property owner, Simon Properties, for comment for this report were unsuccessful.

A perfect scenario

Smetana said the apprehension of members of the so-called North Face Flash Mob remains the best example locally, of how each party did its part in bringing the criminals to justice. On July 1, a group of 10 men stormed the North Face store in the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets absconding with $30,000 in jackets and other outerwear in less than 15 seconds. As soon as the theft occurred store officials supplied police with video surveillance, which went viral soon after being posted by news outlets and shared on social media.

Because of the quality of the video, the stores cooperation and aggressive prosecution from the DAs office, that case wrapped up, Smetana said. Thats what I would term successful. The retailer cooperates and supplies (police) with what we need to bring it forth and investigate it. We investigate it properly and we did, thanks other jurisdictions helping us out and we presented an investigation to the DAs office which allow them to successfully prosecute. I mean, thats a perfect scenario.

You can propose and enact any legislation you want, but if one of those pieces arent in place, its not going to have the desired effect, he said.

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WASHINGTON, DC  Congressman Bryan Steil recently nominated 15 high school students from Wisconsins First Congressional District for appointments to attend U.S. service academies. Racine County students nominated by Steil include Summer Peterson of Burlington and Devin Stoltenberg of Racine.

Each year it is an honor to nominate Wisconsin students to serve our nation at a U.S. service academy, said Steil in a statement. The nomination process recognizes the character, leadership and academic achievements of Wisconsin high school students eager to serve our country, and I am proud to nominate 15 students to our nations service academies.

Part of the U.S. service academy application process is obtaining a nomination from an authorized nominating source, such as a member of Congress. Acceptance to the academies is highly competitive. Receiving a nomination is the important first step; however, the actual appointment to a service academy is determined by each academy itself. Appointments for Wisconsins First Congressional District will be announced at a later date.

Peterson has been nominated for appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Stoltenberg has been nominated for appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., and the U.S. Naval Academy.

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Three southeast Wisconsin farmers markets have been named recipients of grants from a regional farm credit cooperative-giving program.

Highway 11 Outdoor Market in Sturtevant, Kenosha HarborMarket and Saturdays on the Square in Elkhorn were among 28 farmers market organizations in the state that Compeer Financials Fund for Rural America awarded with funding of up to $1,000 for marketing, technology or educational efforts.

The grant program serves markets in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. In the tri-state region the program awarded grants to 80 farmers market organizations, according Compeer Financial officials.

Grants to farmers markets will directly assist 3,122 people and benefit 4.2 million shoppers who use the markets. In addition, to the farmers market organization, 24 vendors also received up to $500.

Farmers markets bring fresh, healthy foods directly to communities in an accessible way, said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer Financial. Many markets have had to make changes and navigate the challenges presented during the pandemic. Through these grants, we hope to recognize the huge asset that farmers markets are to our communities  rural, suburban and urban alike.

The Highway 11 Outdoor Market was open in 2021 from June 7 through Nov. 1. Call 262-583-1696 for more information.

Kenosha HarborMarket is located at Second Avenue and 56th Street, one block west of the museums, every Saturday from May through Oct. 30. It also operates its Winter HarborMarket every Saturday through April 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., within Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39th Ave.

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The Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County will distribute approximately 35,000 N95 masks to its members this week.

President Russell Leone said the union purchased the masks after winter break with money allocated by its board of directors. A few weeks later, the shipment arrived in boxes. The union has prepared a brown paper bag package for each school, with five masks for every Unit I employee at that school, Leone said. The union has about 7,000 members, he said.

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This is a small step for our colleagues to provide them peace of mind, Leone said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance Jan. 14 to specify that some types of masks provide more protection against COVID-19. Layered, finely woven cloth provides more protection than loosely woven cloth, according to the CDC website. Well-fitting surgical masks and KN95 masks provide more protection than cloth masks, and respirators like N95s offer the highest level of protection. The guidance was updated to clarify that people can choose N95s as the CDC is no longer concerned about supply shortage.

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[ Anne Arundel County Public Schools to give $1,000 bonuses to full-time permanent employees ]

Leone said the school system does not provide N95 masks to all teachers, and the union saw a chance to fill a void for those who want the option. Leone said the unions board has allocated $50,000 to provide personal protective equipment for members.

He did not have an estimate for how much was spent on the masks being sent out this week but said it was not the whole $50,000, leaving money for future equipment purchases.

We are saying, Here is another tool, Leone said.

Schools spokesperson Bob Mosier said the system stocks a supply of surgical masks and cloth masks, as well as face shields.

The county department of health told us surgical masks are fine, Mosier said.

The system purchased the surgical masks, he said, while it received the cloth masks and face shields from the state of Maryland.

The state has indicated that they are in the process of procuring and distributing KN95 masks to local school districts, but we are awaiting further information on that state-led initiative, Mosier wrote in an email.

He said the system has distributed N95 masks at developmental centers where staff need to work closely with students who are more regularly unable to consistently and correctly wear a mask.
The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department continues to investigate a head-on crash that killed a 23-year-old Kenosha man late Sunday night.

Sheriffs Department deputies, along with fire and rescue personnel from the villages of Bristol, Pleasant Prairie and Newport, Illinois, responded to the crash in the 8000 block of Interstate 94 at 11:33 p.m. Sunday.

Initial reports indicated that a gray 2013 Toyota Scion, driven by the Kenosha man, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-94 at a high rate of speed when it struck a United Parcel Service semitrailer head-on.

The Kenosha man, the sole occupant of the Toyota, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Kenosha County Medical Examiners Office. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending proper notification, the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department indicated.

A 45-year-old Greendale man, the operator of the semitrailer, was transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Both the Toyota and the semi sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene.

The investigation remains active, and the public is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Department with any information at 262-605-5100.
RACINE  Before Angela Haney applied for a full-time position as community organizer with Racine Interfaith Coalition, she was a bit afraid.

She had never stepped into a leadership role like that one before. About 20 years ago, she was interested in being a radio or TV journalist, but was discouraged to join the industry because of her skin color.

As a black woman, youre not encouraged to do certain things, she said. You sometimes get imposter syndrome and feel like youre not good enough.

However, after praying and speaking to God, she said, she knew she belonged where she wanted to be. She applied for the spot and RIC hired her. Haneys first day on the job was Jan. 17.

RIC is a nonprofit organization made up of 28 congregations or affiliates hoping to create a fairer, more equitable and just community. RIC works on issues ranging from immigration, criminal justice reform, education and racial equity. Co-President Linda Boyle said in a statement that shes excited to welcome Haney to RIC.

Her life experiences, drive and faith will be a great addition to the advocacy work of our organization as we continue to support our beloved community, Boyle said in the statement.

Second-ever Angela Haney replaced Prentiss Robbins Jr., who was the Racine Interfaith Coalition's first-ever community organizer. Robbins was forced to retire last year after COVID-19 nearly took his life. As he awaits a lung transplant, he must live tethered to an oxygen tanks.

Completing college

'COVID destroyed my lungs': Racine pastor/organizer was healthy before coronavirus, now may have 5 years to live Six months ago, Prentiss Robbins Jr. felt healthier than hed ever been. His days were busy, filled with feeding the homeless, pastoring and speaking about social justice. Now he's tethered to an oxygen tank as he suffers from potentially fatal long-term COVID-19 side effects.

Haney, her husband and her three daughters  ages 19, 15 and 6  have bounced from Kenosha to Racine and are now back living in Kenosha.

Before taking the RIC position, Haney, 37, served as an ally and a fellow for Public Allies Racine/Kenosha, a member of the AmeriCorps national service network.

Haney earned her associates degree in human services and six related certificates in 2020 from Gateway Technical College.

But her degree was a long time coming.

She comes from a family where half of its members are drug addicts. Neither of her parents have a college education. Her father is an alcoholic and her mother is a drug addict.

She initially started taking college courses in 2002 after she completed high school on the south side of Chicago. However, she was a teenage mother at that time and didnt have enough support to continue classes, she said. Additionally, as she was taking care of her daughter, she lacked a drive to further her education.

In 2015, after she moved out of Chicago to escape gun violence there, she birthed her third daughter, which she described as traumatic. She had a placental abruption, a rare but serious pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta partly or completely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Haney felt a lot of sharp pain and heavily bled. Her babys supply of oxygen and nutrients were greatly decreased.

Luckily, both mother and child survived, but Haney experienced postpartum depression immediately afterwards. Going back to college felt like the right transition, she said.

Now shes working toward a bachelors degree from Alverno College in the leadership accelerate program and is set to graduate in May.

Im a continuous learner, Haney said. Im always following something that piques my interest.

Haney is hoping to help her parents with their own schooling. Her mother wants to be in office administration and her father wants to be a surgical technologist.

They still talk about it. Its something still on their mind. They never followed their dreams, Haney said. I want to show my daughters its possible. Even when working, you can still get this done. No matter what obstacle, no matter what barriers you may encounter, you can dust yourself off. Life is full of obstacles. Theres no easy path. Youre always going to get knocked down.

Goals for the organization

RIC was the perfect combination of her faith and purpose to do social justice work, Haney said. She was raised in the Baptist faith, a branch of Protestant Christianity  even though now, she said she doesnt identify with any particular church.

Her first week and a half at RIC consisted of training, networking and learning her new responsibilities.

Haneys goals include fundraising, spreading awareness of RIC and growing the organization. She hopes to foster relationships with religious leaders and help them with what they as well as their congregation are interested in.

My role is to be the person thats helping everyone else, Haney said.

She will be working with the many task forces within the nonprofit, but has a stronger interest in the Youth Task Force, Mental Health and Wellness Task Force, and Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing Task Force.

She hopes to get more youth involved in the organization. Because of her childhood, she knows how important it is for youth to have people that understand them.

Her life experience is what makes her perfect for the job, she said. But it also helps knowing God is on her side.

Im excited and Im nervous, Haney said, describing how she feels in her new position. I really enjoy the community organizations Ive met, everyone is very inspiring. Everyone has a story. That really shows Racines diversity.

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Two years into COVID, businesses are continuing to struggle to fill open positions.

Weve seen lots of businesses opt to close early and others decide to close on certain days of the week.

To help struggling businesses, Republican legislators proposed to extend the hours that teens ages 14 and 15 could work at some jobs.

The bill passed through the state Senate in October and through the Assembly on Jan. 20 and now its waiting the governors action. While its good to see the Senate and Assembly are able to pass a bill, this is one that the governor should veto.

The law currently stipulates 14 and 15 year olds cannot work beyond 9 p.m. during the summer and 7 p.m. during the school year.

Legislators proposed to expand the allowable work hours for 14 and 15 year olds to between 6 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on a day preceding a school day, and between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on a day preceding a non-school day, as long as the employer and employee are not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

The idea was that would allow businesses to stay open longer.

But todays worker shortage crisis shouldnt be put on the backs of 14 and 15 year olds.

When youth are just starting their first jobs they are still learning, they shouldnt be in charge of things like locking up a business. Its also a matter of safety for those young people, if they are working late into the night.

9 p.m. is late enough for teens 14 and 15 to be working. It doesnt need to be extended into 11 p.m.

If its moved to 11 p.m., that pushes the time the worker gets out the door even later. Before you know it, it could be midnight or later.

Once the teen turns 16, then let the work time extend a little. By that point they are older and have more experience.

If anything it could have made sense to allow shifts to go longer on the weekend during the school year  to 9 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. But 11 p.m. is too late.

Changing the state law, as the bill proposes, would also add confusion. The law would only apply to small businesses not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act  businesses with annual sales under $500,000.

Larger businesses covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards would still have to cut hours for 14 and 15 year olds at the earlier times.

Its great now that teens now can so easily get jobs  and high paying jobs at that. They can make $15 to wash dishes in some places. They should take advantage of the market and parents should encourage their young teens to get job experience especially in the summer.

But at the same time, laws need to be in effect to protect those young workers.

Gov. Tony Evers should veto this bill to protect those just starting out in the workforce.

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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.

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KEARNEY  With a mission to preserve, celebrate and perpetuate the art of storytelling, the annual Kearney Area Storytelling Festival will present four days of storytelling in central Nebraska starting Feb. 9 at various locations.

National tellers Megan Hicks and Tim Lowry will headline the festival that usually includes public programs, workshops and in-school presentations.

Hicks describes herself as a teller-without-a-niche. On her website, Hicks writes that she dives heart-first into every story she tells  fairy tale, personal story, American history, humor, parody, ghost and horror  and magically, her listeners are happy to follow. She performs throughout the United States, and she recently completed a month-long tour of China, adding a fourth continent, Asia, to her international storytelling credits.

Her awards include a Parents Choice Silver for the CD, What Was Civil About That War which was also a 2005 Finalist for an Audies award in the category of Best Original Work. She received the Parents Guide to Childrens Media Award and Storytelling World Honor for Groundhogs Meet Grimm, a collection of her original parodies that was also tapped for Honors by NAPPA. Her collection of fairy tales, No Tricks. Just Magic, received a Storytelling World Award, as did her recording Like Youre Really There: Megan Hicks Live at Jonesborough.

Lowrys love for show business began when he was 6 years old, watching a thrilling performance of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus. He discovered a love for oral storytelling after taking an elective class in storytelling in college. After a short-lived career of teaching, Lowry devoted himself to telling stories and began touring nationally in 2012.

Admission to all events in the festival are free.

The Kearney Area Storytelling Festival began in 1988 when Kearney resident Germelina Salumbides brought together a group of storytellers under a large tent in her backyard. Two years later, Nancy Duncan began a yearly tradition of bringing professional storytellers to central Nebraska. She scheduled a time for audiences to listen. From there the festival has grown over the years to include national tellers, opportunities for tellers to present their stories in schools, libraries and churches.

The storytelling events on Saturday at Kearney Public Library will also include two local tellers, which is part of the groups mission to nurture, develop and sustain the local community of tellers and listeners.

For more information visit KearneyStoryTellingFestival.org.
KEARNEY  When it comes to death rituals, Carol Lilly understands the need for them, but questions the way we do them in this country.

Death rituals help us overcome our grief, to remember the dead and to think what it is that we loved about them, she said. And it helps us to hold that memory and then move forward. To be honest, I would say that Americans have poorly developed death rituals. I think we do a terrible job of dealing with death.

Lilly notes that for the last century, the funeral industry began sanitizing death and keeping it away from people.

People used to wash and prepare the dead for burial in their homes and then also have funerals in their homes, she said. That is still done in a lot of the world; its not generally an unsanitary practice. But now in this country the bodies are swept away the minute people die, in part because most people even die in hospitals. But even if your loved one wants to die at home, the bodies are out of there instantly. And you hardly ever see them again.

So many of our cultures death practices revolve around a sense of denial.

They pump them full of chemicals, with embalming fluid, to try and make them look like they are not dead  which they are, Lilly said. Theyre dead! And survivors have very little contact with the bodies again except when they are seen with lots of makeup at the funeral.

One thing Lilly acknowledges: Gathering of loved ones helps share the grief of the loss.

In most countries, its a community event to gather for a funeral, she said. You should have people around you who know you and love you  and who loved the person who died  so you can share your sadness.

Lilly, a professor in the History Department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, will talk about these rituals in a more global context when she gives a lecture as part of the Kearney Public Librarys Brown Bag series. Admission to her talk, Death and Cemeteries, at noon Wednesday at the library is free. The Brown Bag series is presented as a partnership between Kearney Public Library and the UNK History Department.

Most of Lillys 30-year career in history has focused on researching Yugoslavia. She studied cemeteries in socialist Yugoslavia as sites of ethnic identity and ethnic conflict. She currently teaches a class on death and cemetery culture at UNK.

If you know anything about Yugoslavia, you know that the country included multiple nations and they all had their own religions, she said.

Lilly looked to the cemeteries in the mostly Slavic country as a representation of how the different populations integrate and considers how differing political systems influence burial culture. She sees many differences but also some similarities to the death rituals in this country.

Cemeteries and gravestones in the U.S. are becoming increasingly personalized, she said. They are far more personalized now than they used to be. You are starting to see people putting photographs on gravestones along with personal messages on them. That helps you find out more and more about the identity and personality of the person who is buried there, which makes them a lot more interesting.

Lilly, 62, first connected with death at her grandmothers funeral.

I was about 20, she said. It was the first time I had been to an actual funeral. We went to the funeral and there was a very short service and I was sort of waiting for the moment I had seen in so many movies and novels where they would lower the coffin into the ground and then you would throw a handful of dirt onto it and these emotions would wave over you  and you get a sense of closure, right?

That didnt happen.

They left the coffin above the ground and then we all left, Lilly said. I thought, wait a minute. When are they going to bury her? We walked away and shes just sitting there above ground because they dont think we can handle the fact that shes actually dead? I found it totally bizarre and creepy.

Lilly recently lost three close members of her family and had to deal with these rituals.

We have a lot of rules in this country about what you can do with dead bodies, she said. My mom insisted on keeping my dad at home for 24 hours after he died. And then we also kept my mom at home for 24 hours after she died. It was a big deal. It was not easy to do. We had to get special permission from the coroner. This should not be so difficult.

All of these rules, customs and rituals often disguise the true situation of death, Lilly believes.

I feel like we are so afraid of dealing with death, or weve been told that we should be, that we dont want to have anything to do with it, she said. We pretend that its not going to happen to us. But there is a strong movement in a completely different direction. Theres a fabulous woman named Caitlin Doughty who started something called the Death Positive Movement. She works with green burials and home funerals, trying to make the process of the funerals and the death rituals more communal and more natural.
When Leanne Kruse began work as development coordinator for the Mississippi Valley Conservancy last year, she was far from an outsider  in fact, shes been a volunteer with the organization since 2014.

The Mississippi Valley Conservancy works to conserve the forests, prairies, wetlands, streams and farms that support native wildlife and enrich its communities for the health and well-being of current and future generations. It does this by partnering with individuals and local communities to permanently protect and maintain public and private land throughout its nine-county service area.

Aside from funding, whats the biggest challenge facing your organization?

Our biggest challenge is meeting the rapidly increasing demand for land and water protection! Currently, we have a year-long waitlist for landowners that want to partner with us and we simply dont have the staffing or equipment to maintain all the land we protect. Protecting this land is so important too, with our changing climate threatening the land, wildlife and water we all depend on.

What would you get for your nonprofit if a genie were to grant you three wishes?

Wow  three wishes, where do I even start!

First off, a new truck! Just last week our only truck died as our land protection team was on their way to conduct fieldwork at Tunnelcliffe Cliffs in La Farge. We cant do the work if we cant get there!

This leads me to my next wish  more people and more equipment! There is so much work to be done and not enough time or resources for us to make it happen. We have hopes of establishing a second intern crew to conduct habitat restoration activities, but with that comes the need for additional large equipment, like utility terrain vehicles and lawnmowers.

My last wish is a big one: community support and awareness. I hope that everyone understands their role in combating our changing climate, both on an individual level and as a whole community. Ultimately, I wish that we can all come together to protect our precious corner of the planet.

What legislation in the past year has had the biggest impact on your organization?

On June 10, 2021, the Wisconsin legislatures Joint Committee on Finance voted to renew the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program for four years at $32 million per year. The stewardship fund supports land acquisition by land trusts and municipalities in Wisconsin. It was created to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Many of our public projects, like the beloved La Crosse Blufflands, were only possible thanks to support from this program. While this outcome didnt reach the long-term goal that we aimed for, we appreciate all the hard work and bipartisan support that went into this hard-fought campaign.

For more information on how to get involved and support the conservancys work, please visit our website at www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org.

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There are eight candidates vying for three seats on the La Crosse Board of Education, and voters will narrow them down in the Feb. 15 primary.

Two incumbents, Juan Jimenez and Dawn Comeau, are running for another term, while the remaining six candidates are newcomers that come from a variety of backgrounds including parents and one college student.

Six of the candidates will move on to the April 5 spring election.

The Tribune asked each of the school board candidates a series of questions about the race and their platforms. Their responses are below:

Mary LaMothe

Age: Not given

Education: UW-La Crosse, B.S.; UM-Earl Brown, St. Paul, Minn., Master's

Occupation: Retired; president of S.T.A.T. (caregiver training company); vice president of operations for chains of Assisted Livings; licensed nursing home administrator; former board member, Wisconsin Assisted Living Association

Political experience: Past advocate, State Capital for Assisted Living Regulations

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

I am a strong advocate for quality education. As a health care trainer, I noticed students had a good intuitive sense for personal care, but reading basics was an issue. Many students could not read beyond fifth-grade level. This observation was mirrored by declining national achievement test scores. My students struggled with basic words and comprehension. I started my caregiver training company to improve their ability to read and comprehend medical terminology and techniques. Effective reading and writing skills are essential for most aspects of caregiving and documentation as well as with other occupations.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

I am a strong supporter of law enforcement and school resource officers. SROs play an important role in the school system. SROs perform as a law enforcer, mentor/counselor, safety trainer, perform safety assessments and consultations, respond to threat situations and engage and plan for emergency preparedness. We must retain and support our SROs and utilize their expertise for everyone's benefit.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

Masks have been ineffective in stopping COVID-19 and the variants. Additionally, per the CDC, children under 18 are at much lower risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. The death rate for children under 18 is about 0.01, compared to other age groups. The utility and necessity of masks is questionable, especially when compared to the negative effects of masking. I believe that parents should be making the decisions about their child's physical and psychological health based on recommendations from their pediatrician, not from school mandates. Mask wearing should be voluntary.

Editor's note: Federal, state and local health agencies recommend masks as an effective and science-backed way to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Juan F. Jimenez (i)

Age: 42

Education: B.S. Mathematics Education and MAEd Educational Leadership and Certificate in Ethical Leadership from Viterbo University; Ed.D. Developmental Education Administration from Sam Houston State University

Occupation: Associate dean of General Studies at Western Technical College

Political experience: School District of La Crosse Board of Education (2019-present)

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

Strong communities begin with strong public schools. I am running for this office because I believe in the power of education to break barriers  academic as well as financial  so that students and families can achieve whatever goals they have. My father worked in the construction trades; my mother was a laundry aide at a hospital. Because of their sacrifice and dedication, and with teachers and educational employees who believed in me, I have been able to accomplish what my parents believed was not possible for them.

As the product of public education, born to Mexican immigrants, and a first-generation college student. I have been involved in education for over 20 years and have taught in both a rural public and affluent private school, served as a director of two urban teachers' unions, a higher education administrator, director of a learning center, and school board member. I have also served on many local, state and national boards, including the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation, the accreditation body for P-12 teacher education preparation programs across the United States of America. I have also been recognized as a 2018 La Crosse Tribune Rising Star Under 40.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

The board voted to accept the superintendent's recommendation to reduce the number of school officers after conducting a program review, which had not been done in over 20 years. We found the SROs were being used outside their scope of employment  as disciplinarians and counselors  and students from underrepresented populations shared their concerns regarding police within schools. Having police work outside their scope of employment does not make sense and listening to student voices is a critical component of problem solving within a school district. I feel the right decision was made given the information provided at the time.

Currently, there is an SRO Advisory Committee working on determining what next steps make the most sense. The committee members are parents, a school board member, and representatives from diverse community and local government groups. I believe a school board member should always take the most recent information to make the best decision possible. So, once we must make that decision, I will take the best information we have at the time, including the analysis from the SRO Advisory Committee, and decide what is best for our students and community.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

We have been consistent in our use of the Harvard Global Health Institute guidelines during the pandemic. I believe our consistency has been a critical component of our success in keeping case rates low within the School District of La Crosse. I support maintaining consistency of our pandemic policies, only making changes as case rates warrant them (just as we did this past summer).

Katie Berkedal

Age: 40

Education: Graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1999; B.F.A in Social Advocacy and Communication in 2003 from Pacific Lutheran University

Occupation: Program director at La Crosse Community Foundation, where my primary role is to run the competitive grant program for local nonprofits

Political experience: None

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

I was born and raised in La Crosse and chose to come back here after college and teaching abroad to raise a family. I have two children who are students at Longfellow Middle School and come from a family of educators. I'm running for the La Crosse Board of Education because I hope to honor the great education I received here in service to the board.

I'm not driven by a single issue. I'm aware of many important issues facing the district and was asked to run by several community members whom I admire and respect. I am ready to study and learn about the issues and make the best decisions I can. I would love to join the current board and be part of such a thoughtful, dedicated governing body.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

From what I understand, the SRO program is not being phased out, but reduced. The district had five SROs, and currently has three, and may be reduced further to two. I understand the arguments for and against SRO in schools. I think our district has done a great job addressing many of the concerns: Our SROs dress in plain clothes, do not carry weapons, have been trained in trauma informed care and adverse childhood experiences, and no longer ticket students for truancy. An SRO Advisory Committee is working to gather and review data and the program and I look forward to learning from them. Given the information currently available, I support the plan moving forward.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

As a parent, my children do better socially and academically when they are in school, surrounded by trained educators and staff who care about them. We know the majority of COVID's spread has not occurred in schools, but in the community. I wish community partners had a handle on COVID as well as the school district does. I've so far been impressed with how the school district has handled the pandemic and am so thankful for all the teachers and staff who continue to show up for our children despite feeling overwhelmed and undervalued.

Dawn Comeau (i)

Age: 50

Education: B.S. in Biology with minor in Psychology

Occupation: IAM administrator

Political experience: Two terms on the La Crosse School District Board of Education

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

I believe that children are our future and that I would like the future to be better than our past. We can't accomplish that without education. The opportunity to learn should not be for just certain races, identities or socio-economic status', but for ALL students. I feel school is a place where kids have the ability to learn about many different subjects. This knowledge can unlock unknown passions or interests for a student and can allow them to follow a path to fulfill their dreams. The La Crosse School District has those opportunities. They have many choices for kids at all levels. I have also made connections with students, staff, administrators and taxpayers over the years. It has allowed me to get different perspectives about situations which has helped to influence my decisions.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

I have always supported the reason behind having SROs in the school. They are not there to police the students and to make them feel uncomfortable. The goal of the program was an is exactly the opposite. To build relationships. To have kids feel more comfortable with talking to an officer. It also gives the SRO the opportunity to get to know the kids, get to know what is happening in their lives. This allows the SRO to react differently to situations. They may understand that a child may be having a rough day at school because of an incident that happened at home. They can then adjust the conversation they may have with that student to help de-escalate a situation versus making it worse. I understand I voted yes to reducing the number of SROs in December of [2020]. However, it was not because I don't believe in the SRO program. It was because we were not sure what our budget would be with the pandemic that we were in the midst of. We were spending more on our SROs than other school districts of comparable size and I had to look at all aspects of running the school district and not just focusing on one subject.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

First, I can say hindsight is 20/20. Could we have done things differently. Sure. However, I feel the school district tried to do the best that they could at the time things were happening so quickly. They looked to the health care experts within our community for guidance. They communicated with parents, staff and community as best that they could. Things were changing weekly, daily and sometimes hourly. With such a large system to consider, the district had to think about students, staff, parents and families at home. They tried as best they could to follow what the experts suggested.

Merideth Garcia

Age: 48

Education: Ph.D., English & Education, University of Michigan; M.A., English Literature, Middlebury College; M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction, University of Texas at Austin; B.A., English, University of Texas at Austin

Occupation: Assistant professor of English at UW-La Crosse

Political experience: None

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

I prepare young people to become teachers in our community, and I care deeply about the experience of students, staff and teachers. Serving on the La Crosse School Board would be my way of advocating for meaningful learning environments supported by the necessary resources.

I specialize in trauma-informed pedagogy, which I implemented as a high school English teacher in Austin, Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Given the scale of the pandemic, my early training has become more relevant than I ever imagined possible. More recently, my work has turned to the research and practice of sustainable teaching, which is built on the belief that students receive the best education from instructors who are supported enough to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

I've worked in public high schools with SROs and have seen some build genuine rapport with students. I've also read research about the negative impact that SRO programs have on marginalized communities, and I would like to see data collected on our local SRO program before changing any policies that the current board has put in place. My sense is that budgeting for mental health resources would ease the burden on police who are currently operating as first responders in situations that would be more properly addressed by people in social services with mental health or restorative justice training.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

Teachers, parents and students overwhelmingly prefer in-person learning, and I have been impressed by how the school district has managed to keep students in school in spite of community spread and overwhelmed hospitals. Common sense precautions like masking and staying home when sick protect our ability to keep students in school. I'd be interested in exploring ways to address the substitute crisis and to provide respite for teachers who are currently teaching their own classes and covering for colleagues who are out quarantining, often while trying to balance their commitment to teaching with their commitments to family members who may be at risk of serious complications if exposed to COVID (for example, very young, elderly or immunocompromised individuals).

Jake Williams

Age: 19

Education: Current UW-La Crosse undergraduate

Occupation: UW-L committee chairperson and full-time student

Political experience: None

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

My age uniquely qualifies me to serve on the La Crosse Board of Education. I have a deep understanding of issues that current K-12 students face, and I have firsthand experience as a lifelong public school student (including during COVID). Older candidates will bring their own attributes to the table, but they're likely to be further removed from the classroom environment/student life than I am. I'll translate this into effective policy, because my No. 1 priority is to provide students with a high quality education! In addition to my youth, my time as a UW-L committee chairperson has given me experience in overseeing a public budget, using parliamentary procedure, and bridging gaps between students and educational administrators.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

Student safety should be one of our district's most important concerns in 2022, and I think every member of our community can agree that violence has should not be anywhere near a place of learning. In certain instances, that might mean that SROs and local police are needed to respond to a threat or situation in one of our schools. In general; however, we need to ensure that we aren't treating K-12 like criminals. An SRO presence in our schools could have serious unintended (and potentially negative) consequences instead of ensuring a safer learning environment. At the end of the day, all members of the La Crosse Board of Education will have to be willing to approach the conversation about SROs in a frank, good faith manner, and I promise to do exactly that.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

A motivating factor of why I am in this race is because the La Crosse Board of Education needs leadership that is committed to keeping students in the classroom (with safety measures in place, of course). Ensuring a safe, in-person learning environment for our students and teachers is critical. I have a lot of experience with virtual education throughout the course of COVID-19, and I think that it typically falls short of what our community members deserve from their school district. At the most basic level, we can't expect elementary and middle schoolers to be able to teach themselves! Similarly, we can't expect parents to stay home from work every day to make sure their child is attending class. As a member of the School Board, I will work hard to make sure we take COVID seriously while keeping students healthy.

Kimberly Krejchik

Age: Not given

Education: Physician assistant, certified

Occupation: I worked as a physician assistant for almost 12 years in the areas of Urgent Care, Family Medicine and Internal Medicine. I am a mother of two daughters, 11 and 17.

Political experience: I served as president of the PTO for two years

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

I decided to run because I don't like what I am seeing being taught to our children and want to affect change. The school district is focused too much on trying to divide our children rather than showing them what they have in common. Teachers are being forced to create equity lessons rather than being allowed to focus on the basics which is needed. Our local math and reading comprehension scores are below the state average, therefore, that should be teachers' focus. Parents send their children to school to learn sharing, cooperation, and the skills of math, history and reading. There is no accountability for our students, they need deadlines and consequences for not turning in homework or misbehaving in class. We should be holding all our students to a high standard and encourage them to succeed.

I think that the fact that I am a parent and community member who wants to see our children succeed is all that is needed.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

I support the school resource officer program. They form positive connections with the students. Students are more likely to talk to their SRO if they run into a problem because of the established relationship. I think they play a vital role in our schools for safety and the education they provide.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

I don't think it should be the unilateral decision of the superintendent. There has been no accountability for his dictates. I think the school boards should have been more involved making sure we were truly doing the right measures for the children. I have been to two school board meetings where the children have come in to talk about mental health. The students are not okay with what is being put upon them, but no one wants to look at how the COVID policies could be contributing to them.

Kent Stein

Age: 40

Education: M.S. in EHS Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology; B.S. in Marine Science from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy; A.A.S. Paramedic Tech from Western Technical College

Occupation: Medical communications

Political experience: None

Why have you decided to run for La Crosse Board of Education, and what experience sets you apart?

As a father of young children, I view education as one of the most important opportunities you can give a child. To give each child the best chance to take advantage of this opportunity, we have a responsibility to ensure an environment that is safe, teaches objective truth, and works directly with parents who are entrusting schools with their most valuable possession. The trends I have seen on a local and national level have been moving counter to those principles and I want to help bring education back to these foundational principles.

In 2020, the board voted to phase out the district's school resource officer program. Do you support continuing with that plan or would you like to bring SROs back?

I do not support that plan and am strongly in favor of bringing SROs back into our schools. Having worked in EMS alongside law enforcement with direct experience of the demands currently placed on our public safety systems, the minutes of response time added by not having an officer present at the school canmake a very real difference to life and safety. In addition, the SROs working for La Crosse PD are exemplary people of integrity that are servants of their community. Having them in the schools provides excellent role models for our kids and builds a positive relationship with law enforcement early on dramatically decreasing chances of negative interactions later in life.

What would you change about the school district's pandemic policies?

Policy should reflect solid research based on underlying data that is objective unbiased. Families and teachers should have the choice to wear a mask if they so desire, but the current data from the WHO and the CDC indicate that children are the lowest risk group for all variants of COVID. With vaccines widely available, those that are eligible have the choice to receive them, both student and teacher alike. Kids learn best in person. Parents and teachers should be able to freely choose the measures they take against COVID.

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A UW-La Crosse psychology major is among the 13 students from each campus in the UW System to earn a Tommy G. Thompson Leadership Scholarship.

Abby Kuna, a junior from Brookfield, has been awarded $2,300 as the UW-L recipient of the prestigious honor.

Scholarship recipients were awarded for exemplifying Thompsons spirit of tackling big problems through teamwork and determination to make Wisconsin a better place. They display dedication, inventiveness and leadership, and are expected to impact their communities.

Kuna knew she wanted to pursue a degree in psychology and work with older adults after being influenced by her grandmother, who attended many of Kunas events during her K-12 education.

Because I was around my grandma so much growing up, I believe that it led me to become interested in older adults, Kuna says. I want to pursue a career in geriatrics because it is important to me, and I enjoy spending time with older adults.

She says since coming to college, she has become more independent and open minded, as well as better in addressing conflict. Kuna attributes much of that growth to serving as a resident assistant, where she has learned patience and understanding while helping roommates experiencing conflict.

I help people communicate with their roommates in a respectful and productive way, she explains. This can help me in my future career when I work with older adults such as those who have dementia. I can communicate with them in a positive way and be more open minded about their situation.

Kuna expects to take what she has learned about leadership from her job as a resident assistant and as president of the Gerontology Club into her career.

It is important to assess the needs of others when being a leader, she notes. I focus on my residents and take into consideration their needs and wants when making decisions.

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Wisconsins ratepayer advocate is asking utility regulators to halt construction of a $492 million power line while its fate is decided in the courts.

The Citizens Utility Board said utilities are recklessly spending ratepayer money by continuing construction of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line between Dubuque and Middleton in spite of a court ruling that the line cannot cross the Mississippi River as planned.

The Project can no longer be built as proposed and approved by the Commission, CUB states in its letter. In short, the Utilities are knowingly building a bridge to nowhere.

In a Jan. 14 ruling, Judge William Conley sided with four conservation groups that sued two federal agencies over the 102-mile line, saying the environmental review was inadequate and that the line is not allowed to cross the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which covers 261 miles of river from Wabasha, Minnesota, to Rock Island, Illinois.

Yet the owners, American Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power, reported last week that they have so far spent $161 million as construction continues on either side of the river.

CUB argues the river crossing is essential to the projects stated goal: increasing the flow of electricity between Iowa and southern Wisconsin, which the utilities say will improve reliability and open the door to more cheap wind energy.

The loss of the refuge permit jeopardizes the lines value to the Midwestern grid, and as such CUB says it would leave Wisconsin ratepayers on the hook for the vast majority of the projects cost  plus a 10% utility profit  rather it being spread over a 15-state region.

The group says the utilities are knowingly and intentionally spending Wisconsin customer dollars not just imprudently, but recklessly.

In his Jan. 14 order, Conley said continued construction in the face of the challenges amounts to little more than an orchestrated train wreck at some later point in this lawsuit.

CUB asked the PSC to take the extraordinary step of immediately suspending construction and reopening the project docket, something the commission declined to do in July after utilities requested they rescind and reissue the permit in light of secret communications between a former regulator and utility executives.

Commissioner Ellen Nowak favored a quick re-vote to expedite construction, but Chair Rebecca Valcq opposed the request, saying there was nothing wrong with the PSCs original permit.

The utilities responded Monday with a statement saying CUBs opinion does not negate our regulatory authorization to move forward with a majority of construction activities for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Project, which provides a critical pathway for renewable generation in our region.

They previously said Conleys order has no immediate impact on their ability to continue construction outside of federally protected waters but have not said how the project could achieve its objectives without crossing the river.

The nearest gaps in the refuge are more than 20 miles downstream in Dubuque, where the City Council voted to bar the line, or more than 20 miles upstream at Prairie du Chien.

The utilities began construction of the Iowa portion in April and in November began clearing the route along Highway 14 near Cross Plains. According to a report filed last week, they plan to begin pouring foundations this spring for the Wisconsin portion.

Utilities, federal agencies and plaintiffs in the lawsuits have until Monday to advise Conley on any next steps.

The case was filed by the Environmental Law and Policy Center on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and Defenders of Wildlife.

A separate federal lawsuit challenging the PSC permit is on hold while the Wisconsin Supreme Court considers whether former Commissioner Mike Huebsch must submit to questioning and whether his private communications with utility executives created an appearance of bias that could invalidate the permit.

The utilities have separately appealed a federal court injunction barring construction in wetlands and other federally protected waters.

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Since the start of Damaris Rau's seven-year tenure as superintendent of the largest and most economically disadvantaged school district in Lancaster County, she has pushed educators to improve PSSA scores, increase graduation rates and address inequities.

Rau, a Brooklyn, New York, native with nearly 40 years of experience in education, will retire from the School District of Lancaster in July. She sat down with the LNP | LancasterOnline to discuss the successes and challenges she faced, including in implementing an equity team and an initiative to improve student reading levels.

Guided by the belief that education is a gateway out of poverty, Rau fought for fair funding for her students. As Rau closes her career, a decision looms in a 2014 lawsuit over whether Pennsylvanias public-school funding formula should be changed. Though the suit predates Raus tenure in Lancaster, she recently testified in Commonwealth Court on the ways in which a lack of funding shortchanges Lancaster students.

A positive outcome could mean $30 million more a year for the district.

By the Numbers For the 2020-21 school year 87% of the 10,384 students enrolled at SDL came from low-income families,according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

In this interview, which has been edited for length and clarity, Rau stressed that she isnt quite done making changes and spoke freely about the impacts of COVID-19 on Lancaster County superintendents, as well as what goals remain unaccomplished.

[Click here to watch a livestream roundtable with Rau and other Lancaster County superintendents in April 2020 about the early impact of COVID on shut-down schools.]

What drew you into education, and what kept you coming back year after year?

I was a foster-care child, and that foster-care agency constantly emphasized the importance of education.  When I went to college and volunteered in a classroom, that's when I got that aha moment, that Oh, I want to be a teacher

What made me continue is that I believe that education can get children out of poverty.  Oftentimes when there are poor students, people may not have high expectations of them. I wanted to serve as a role model to show kids, especially poor kids and kids of color, that it doesn't matter where you come from, that you can go on to be successful in life, but you need your education in order to do that.

What was one persistent challenge facing the School District of Lancaster that you were unable to change but really wanted to?

Right now, the focus has been on funding, on getting equitable funding for children. We are close to that decision. Hopefully, the trial will end on a positive note for the school districts and the children.

That really has been the one thing that has been consistent across my seven years is always fighting for equity, so participating in the funding trial is just one of the strategies in order to achieve equity.

In 2021, you introduced a Theory of Action, with a goal of 55% of students in grades K-2 reading at grade level by June 30 and going up to 62.7% after the 2024-25 school year, and with similar goals for middle school and high school. What's the percentage of students reading at grade level now, and do you anticipate hitting that goal before you leave? Are you on track?

Do I anticipate getting them on track to achieve those goals? Yes, I do.

We want to do everything.  But if you continue to do everything, you're not going to necessarily master certain areas. We believe that if we really focus on early childhood and develop those foundation skills, that those kids will grow up being more proficient in reading, math and all areas.

One of the things I'm most proud of is our [high school] dual-enrollment program. When I first got here, there were about 20 kids who were taking college courses while in high school. Now there are over 250 kids taking college courses while they're in high school. We pay for that. We do that because we really believe that if a child takes a college course while in high school, it gives them that sense of, I can do this. It builds your confidence  so the Theory of Action for high school is to make sure that all kids, especially kids of color, are taking those high-level courses.

[Editors note: Data provided by SDOL shows 56.1% of kindergarteners, 39.4% of first-graders and 46.7% of second-graders were reading at or above grade level in 2021.]

Another thing you wanted to improve in your time here was PSSA scores. What ways did you succeed with that, and what can still be done or still needs to be done?

There's still a lot of work to be done in that area. It's one of the things that I feel I will be leaving this district unfinished. We have made gains, especially in reading. Part of those gains came about because we changed our reading  We started with this independent reading where kids could choose the books they want to read  I think that really has helped inspire more kids to be hooked on reading 

Math continues to be a big problem, and we're trying to figure out what's the disconnect between elementary math and when they go to middle school.  There's a couple of reasons. We're looking at the academic parts, but I also think partly it's the social development part. You're just becoming a teenager, you're just exploring your true self, and so kids at that middle school age, we need to treat them as sixth-graders not as kids getting ready for high school. You're in sixth grade, you're learning to be a sixth-grader. You shouldn't be learning what it means to be a ninth-grader. You're not there yet psychologically, developmentally. 

You also wanted to see graduation rates go up and, looking at the data, it looks like it stayed around 80% from the time you started to now.

It has gone up. It has gone down recently, I believe, because of the pandemic. It's gone down nationally.  We know that when we were in virtual school, kids were not interested in doing virtual school. There were a lot of social-emotional things that were happening with kids, especially teenagers, whose development really is around developing social skills with friends and figuring out who they are.

We also found a lot of kids were going to work full-time to help their families during the pandemic  many of our kids, especially our poorest kids, ended up working many more hours than they should have been  so we are working on reaching out to every single one of those kids to help them graduate because I really believe graduation from high school is the minimum that kids should have 

I think we've been doing a really good job until this pandemic hit, in terms of graduation. And that was not for lack of trying 

[Editors note: Data provided by SDOL shows the graduation rate for McCaskey High School was 89.02% in 2016-17, the first year provided. It decreased in 2017-18 to 82.95% and spiked to 86.77% in 2018-19 then decreased to 84.68% in 2019-20 and 83.9% in 2020-21.]

How did the equity design team you developed [in 2018] address racial biases in the School District of Lancaster, and what work do they still have to do?

The equity steering committee started several years ago. What we did is we conducted a lot of focus groups.  We asked them, Why do you think our students, particularly our Black male students, are not performing at the same level as their peers? What came out from all of those focus groups was that people needed education on what culturally responsive instruction looked like and what diversity is and what's inclusion, and why those things are important. 

That equity design team decided that we needed to do something about this. We wrote up a request for proposals for training staff all across the whole district on equity and inclusion  that is aligned with how we are redoing our curriculum to make sure that all of our students are represented in books that they read, for instance. And, that when were teaching science, were talking about scientists of color as well and that when were reading stories its around topics that interest students around equity and social justice.

Weve done a lot of work. We're really proud of that. Where we are right now is at the end to ensure that equity remains a focus area in the district, and that is through writing a policy. When you have a policy that says equity is important, it sends a message to the community and to our students and staff that equity is important and were going to be looking for equitable opportunities

We're creating what we're calling an equity scorecard. We're looking at our data. We're saying OK, let's look at, for instance, dual enrollment for college credit: How many of our students of color are participating? 

We will be looking at our data around teachers and other staff of color. We know that the research says that when students see people who look like them in positions of authority, like teachers, that that is a good role model for them. We want to make sure that we are consistently working on that, trying to get more and more people of color to become teachers. 

[Editors note: According to Kelly Burkholder, coordinator of community relations for the district, of the districts 10,190 students: 62% are Hispanic, 16% are Black, 12% are Caucasian, and 10% are Asian or other. A total of 71 countries are represented in the district and 57 different native languages are spoken.]

What successes and challenges did you face in implementing more technology in schools, and how did COVID impact that?

Before COVID, we had a five-year technology plan. And I believe we were in year two at that time. So that meant that sixth grade had one-on-one devices, seventh grade had them, and we were ready to go to eighth grade. we never anticipated having a one-on-one program for elementary students.

When COVID hit, our kids were behind so many other school districts in our county and in the Commonwealth We had to order devices, and the rest of the world was ordering devices too. We couldn't get them on a timely basis so we had to take all of the devices we had in the elementary school and we just started giving them out to secondary students who didn't have devices

[A year in the School District of Lancaster: A superintendent fought to supercharge learning. She didn't plan on COVID.]

Now, all of our kids K-12 have a one-on-one device. We went from a plan of a five-year technology rollout to an immediate rollout once COVID hit, but one of the challenges was that for many of our students, they were not accustomed to working on iPads.  That was particularly true for children with significant disabilities who receive special-education services. Working on an iPad was not giving them the type of instruction they needed to be successful. The other kids that this really hurt were our students who didn't speak English. We have 500 refugee families in our community. We also have 20% of our students who are not proficient in English.

We had tons and tons of teachers and parents and just everyone going to children's homes, teaching them how to use the iPad to access their learning.  It was one of the important reasons that we had to bring children back as soon as we could, as soon as it was safe.

One of the things that we're proud of that we did for those kids and for others.  we created hubs in our schools with children who didn't have someone to help them access it because of the language. They could come and work in our schools, and we had volunteers, teachers and support staff volunteering, helping kids. We had kids who didn't have internet access come to our hubs. We also worked with our partners like The Mix and the Boys and Girls clubs  enabling kids to do their work there.

You recently testified in the fair-funding trial for public schools. What could a better allocation of funds to public schools like the School District of Lancaster do for students?

One of the things we want to do  hopefully we win this lawsuit  is we want to reduce class sizes.  When you have children who are coming from poverty, they're facing obstacles that your more affluent children may never face. Many of our children  don't have books at home unless we provide it, and it's really important for children, especially even before they get to school, that they are read to and that they hear stories. That's how kids develop language. We know that when a lot of our students come to us as kindergarteners, they don't have that academic language that other kids might have  so reducing class sizes would really help those kids get the attention they need from teachers and support staff 

Another big area that we have looked at is our transportation.  For high schoolers, you don't get a bus to take you to school unless you live more than 2 miles away  Part of the reason is because we just don't have enough funds, and what that does to poor districts like SDoL is it forces us to triage. We have a certain amount of money that is insufficient to get the kids everything that they really need to do well in school.

We have to look at the money and say  Where can we make the greatest impact with the money that we have, knowing that there will be other areas such as transportation that we can't fund the way we want to fund it. ...

What do you want to get done before you leave in July?

I want to make sure that equity policy is complete because it tells everyone that equity, access, inclusion is important and that we're going to look at all areas through an equity lens 

The other thing I want to get done is hiring a director of equity. There has to be someone, besides the superintendent, who is really looking at the different areas of the organization and ensuring that equity is part of that lens 

The other one is I want to make sure we follow through on is the Theory of Action work that we've been doing 

Youve spent upwards of 40 years in education. Whats next for you - do you plan to fully stay out of education, are you going to do something else?

I really havent made any plans. I just want to kind of recharge my battery. But, what I can say is I will always be an advocate for children and for fair funding and for equity. I will always do that, wherever I am.

Why are you retiring now - did COVID burnout have anything to do with that?

So, I dont know if Id call it burnout but, definitely COVID had to do with it. But, other things, too. I had a good friend who passed away, and he talked about enjoying your life while you still were healthy and while you could enjoy other things because when youre a superintendent or a principal, teacher, theres a stress that you live with.

Weve had more teachers retire than ever. Nationally, theres the big resignation thing going on. And, the same thing could be said for superintendents. Theres a large number of superintendents who are retiring because it is really, really stressful. We were often forced to make medical decisions that we were not ready to make but we had to make them 

It was really stressful to see how the pandemic impacted our students and our staff.  we really take that to heart when students and staff are suffering. 

I hope  fingers crossed  that we are moving out of the pandemic and that the coronavirus will become more like the flu.  Im hopeful the worst has happened already and that things will get better. Yeah, the pandemic definitely played a role in making the job much more difficult, but I also want to be able to enjoy some time as a retiree while Im still healthy.
The chairman of the Lancaster Township Republican Committee resigned Friday, less than one week after publishing an opinion piece that criticized plans by the county GOP to provide election training to members of a local conservative activist group known for spreading disinformation.

Joe Mohler, 24, stepped down from his position as members of the township committee prepared a resolution to remove him from his leadership role.

The target of his Jan. 23 column in the pages of LNP | LancasterOnline was FreePA, a conservative group with three active chapters in Lancaster County that emerged in 2020 in reaction to pandemic lockdowns and former President Donald Trumps election loss.

Having voters who are educated and involved is a keystone to Pennsylvania and American democracy, Mohler wrote. However, who a political party aligns itself with matters. FreePA is not an organization the county GOP has any business associating itself with. Its website has been a hub for spreading inflammatory and verifiably false information.

For a news story on the FreePA training event, Mohler told LNP, FreePA has said inflammatory things that are completely false, and fear mongers about the vaccine I dont think theyre an organization that demonstrates integrity.

Three days after Mohlers piece was published, Kurt Dock, a member of the townships area committee, put forward a resolution declaring Mohler could no longer fulfill the responsibility to foster an environment in which Republicans with different priorities and perspectives can work together.

Mohler removal resolution by Kurt Dock by Gillian on Scribd

Dock could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. Mohler was not available for comment Monday.

Mohler joined the committee last year and soon was selected as chair of the Lancaster Township local Republican committee after its former chairman, Terry Christopher, moved out of the township. Leaders of the Republican Partys area committees hold important positions, as they and their committees play major roles in making endorsements, gathering signatures to get candidates on the ballot, and getting Republican voters to the polls.

Mohler, in a profile story about his leadership published in LNP | LancasterOnline in September, said he wanted to join the committee in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in hopes of redirecting the party back to its traditional conservative values and recruiting a more diverse membership.

According to the resolution drafted last week by Dock, Mohler was warned about speaking with LNP after the September article and was told he would benefit from consulting with the Lancaster Township Republican Committee prior to any additional articles being submitted to or published in the paper.

By publishing the op-ed critical of FreePA without consulting with the committee first, Mohler compromised his ability to serve in a position that must encourage an environment in which Republicans with different priorities and perspectives can work to resolve disagreements in a respectful and effective manner, Dock wrote.

Mohler rebuffed Docks claims in the letter of resignation he submitted Friday, saying he sought to diversify the committee to accurately represent Lancaster Township, and have demonstrated my ability to work with Republicans across the political spectrum.

Mohler was replaced by Rich Myers, another Lancaster Township committeeman. Myers declined to comment. Kirk Radanovic, the chairman of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Joe Mohler resignation letter by Gillian on Scribd

Mohler also complained that he and Christopher were held to different standards. When Christopher was still chairman of the Lancaster Township committee, he often criticized county Republican leaders when contacted by LNP | LancasterOnline reporters.

I stand by what I wrote and by my right to say it as a way of exercising free speech, Mohler wrote.
South Coatesville officials began preliminary discussions with an alternative power company about the possibility of leasing 80 acres on borough-owned property on Upper Gap Road to develop a solar farm.

Borough Council did not reach any final decisions during the Jan. 25 virtual meeting held on Zoom. Currently, the boroughs composting and leaf collection facilities are at the site. Pro-Tech Energy Solutions would like to lease the remaining acreage to develop a five- to seven-megawatt solar power system.

Scott Layne, vice president of development for Pro-Tech, told borough officials the project would not involve water or sewer connections. The solar farm would be unoccupied, meaning no additional road traffic will be generated from the property. The project will also go through an engineering and permitting process prior to constructing the solar farm.

The energy firm, based in Moorestown, New Jersey, has constructed over 290 solar forms across the East Coast as far west as Illinois.

Council Vice President Ken Bond asked how much money a potential lease would generate as income for the borough. Layne said within the first year, the borough could generate $35,000-$50,000.

Solar leases such as the one being proposed typically last for 20 years with an option to renew for an additional 10 years. Council member Sylvia Washington asked if the borough could acquire the solar farm after the lease expires. Layne said it was an interesting concept and didnt see why it could not be a term of the lease. Normally, solar farms are disassembled, and the land is returned to the landowner the way it was, Layne said.

We need to own our own solar farm, Washington said.

Another council member Renee Carey asked whether Pro-Tech has liability insurance, citing concerns of the solar farm interfering with electronic medical devices such as pacemakers. Lane said his company is fully insured, with its products meeting Federal Communications Commission and Underwriting Laboratories regulations.

Youll be right next to me, said Carey, who lives a half-mile away from the property.

In other business, officials announced the first of quarterly town hall meetings to be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 on Zoom. Council will hold its next regular meeting to be livestreamed on Feb. 8.
Jan. 6, 2021, will go down as a day that will live in infamy. There was, however, an opportunity for Democrats and Republicans in Congress to come together, one year later, in solidarity to the principles of democracy.

That did not happen. Other than U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, I could see no Republicans gathered in the U.S. Capitol to stand together with Democrats, as a sign of unity over what we, as Americans, believe.

That includes our own U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker. Where was he? Do their absences send a message that they will not stand for democracy unless they win?

What a shame and what a missed opportunity.

Tim Mackey

Lancaster




The United Nations is trying to help hundreds of thousands of people in critical need of food and other aid this year in Afghanistan. Severe winter weather in the country is adding to a growing economic crisis under Taliban leadership.

Gulnaz is one of the many suffering Afghans. The 28-year-old sits on the rocky ground along a busy road in the eastern part of the country. She asks for help from strangers.

She is not alone. In her arms, she holds close her 18-month-old son. A blanket and small fire is all they have to stay warm. She is also joined by her sister Khalida.

Sometimes a driver will stop and give her some money. She waits all day along the 70 kilometer road between Kabul and Pul-e-Alam, the capital of Logar province.

Gulnaz says she has gotten close to three dollars in a day before, but the usual total is far lower.

Afghanistan was already struggling when the Taliban overthrew the government in August. International agencies suspended billions of dollars worth of aid programs to the country over concerns that the extremist government would misuse it. The U.N. says more than a half-million people have lost their jobs since the takeover.

It is estimated that about 90 percent of Afghanistans 38 million people are dependent on aid. The U.N. says nearly 3 million there are displaced in their own country, driven from their homes by war, hunger and severe weather.

In 2020 alone, 700,000 Afghans became displaced, many living in public places like parks.

The spokeswoman for the World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan, called the problem dire. Shelley Thakral said the U.N. agency will need $2.6 billion to help the people of Afghanistan this year. She called the WFP effort in Afghanistan a race against time.

The United Nations recently asked for $5 billion to help Afghanistan.

Gulnaz had lived in Kunduz with her husband, a shoemaker. But his business did not survive the warring and takeover by the Taliban. So, Gulnaz moved to Logar.

She said there is no way to heat her home and she and her sister end up in the same place each day waiting for drivers to stop and give them money.

In Pul-e-Alam, temperatures in January and February can drop to lows of minus-6 degrees Celsius. Still, thousands of people wait in the cold to collect WFP flour, oil, salt and beans.

The World Food Program searched for the neediest people in the city and gave them food vouchers. However, the system broke down when others heard of the food giveaway and came without the papers. They started fights and security forces had to get involved to keep order.

Hussain Andisha of the WFP said the group gave food to 500 families per day during one week in January. He said people are desperate.

As he talked with reporters, four women came by asking for food. One said her husband is a drug addict.

I dont know where he is. I have no food for my children. Please I need something, the woman said.

The U.N. says drug dependence is a growing problem in Afghanistan. The nation produces more than 3 million kilograms of the powerful drug opium each year. The U.N. says it estimates about one million of the 38-million Afghans are addicted to drugs.

The women all said their families have no money. Another woman said her husband earns only $1 per day on the days he can find work.

Andisha said the situation is getting worse in Pul-e-Alam even as the WFP gives food to thousands of families per month.

He said people have no jobs and women are no longer permitted to work now that the Taliban is back in power.

Andisha did say, however, that the Taliban is helping with security at places where the WFP is giving out food.

Thakral, the agency spokesperson, said anyone who gives money to the food program should remember that the organization is separate from the government and the people get the aid directly.

People come first, she said, and thats important to remember in this humanitarian crisis.

Im Caty Weaver. And Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Kathy Gannon of the Associated Press.

Do you plan to send money to help people in Afghanistan? What makes you want to do that? Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

dire adj. very bad, or causing great fear or worry

desperate  adj. very sad or upset; a feeling of having little hope

voucher  n. a document that gives you the right to get something without paying for it

addict  n. a person who is not able to stop using drugs
Facebooks parent Meta says it has created a powerful supercomputer that it expects to be the worlds fastest when it is completed later this year.

The company recently announced the computer will be used to create better artificial intelligence (AI) models and to improve operations that process huge amounts of data.

Supercomputers are made up of hundreds or thousands of powerful machines. They work together to perform complex operations that are not possible with normal computing systems.

Metas supercomputer is currently operating. The company calls it the AI Research SuperCluster, or RSC. In a statement, the company said RSC will help Metas AI researchers build better AI models that can learn from trillions of examples.

The company did not provide information on where the computer is kept or how much money is being spent to build it.

An AI system can be trained to recognize different kinds of content and perform actions examining huge amounts of data. Such systems require very powerful computers.

Meta said its supercomputer will be able to process written information, images and video that is in hundreds of different languages. Meta said the computing system can process images and video up to 20 times faster than current systems. The company is expected to use the system for its Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp services.

The company said it believes RSC is currently one of the worlds five fastest supercomputers. It said RSC would become the fastest when it is fully operating.

In addition, Meta said it hopes RSC will help in the development of completely new AI systems. One example is a planned tool that would permit real-time voice translations to large groups of people interacting in business or social situations.

Such an operation fits with Metas stated goal of developing technologies to be used in a future metaverse. Metaverse is a term used to describe a non-physical world in which individuals interact through different kinds of digital technology.

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook message: The experiences we're building for the metaverse require enormous compute power (quintillions of operations [a] second!)

Meta uses a combination of human moderators and AI to identify and remove, what it considers, harmful content and misinformation. Some critics say the company is not doing enough to block bad content. It has also faced government scrutiny over its privacy and business methods in the United States and Europe.

In a statement, the company said its supercomputer will be helpful in critical use cases like identifying harmful content.

Diego Naranjo is the head of policy for European Digital Rights. It is a group of non-governmental organizations seeking to restrict the power of large technology companies. He told the French press agency AFP that he recognizes Facebook has made some efforts to protect users privacy and limit harmful content.

But he questioned what the company might do with such a powerful new tool. "Nothing good can come from all that computer power in the hands of such a tech superpower," Naranjo said.

Meta said its supercomputer will use real-world examples from its own systems during the process to train its AI.

They are going to, for the first time, put their customer data on their AI research computer, said Tuomas Sandholm. He is a computer science professor and co-director of the AI center at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Sandholm said it marked a really big change for Facebook to give its AI researchers and computing systems access to all that data.

Meta said the data used to train AI models will go through a privacy review process to ensure that it is not linked to individual users. It added that the data will also be encrypted before entering the training process.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Facebook.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - Facebooks Meta Says New Supercomputer Will Be Worlds Fastest Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

artificial intelligence  n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence

translation  n. the changing of written or spoken words from one language into another

enormous  adj. very large

moderator  n. someone who makes sure that a formal discussion happens without problems and follows the rules

scrutiny  n. careful examination in a critical way

customer  n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

access  n. the right or chance to use of look at something

encrypt  v. to change (information) from one form to another especially to hide its meaning


The United States Supreme Court has again placed itself in the middle of Americas most divisive issues.

Last week, the nations highest court agreed to hear a case on the admissions policies of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The two universities use race as one of many things they consider in admissions decisions. A ruling against the universities, however, could seriously damage affirmative action.

Affirmative action is a practice or policy of helping individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously. It is a policy long criticized by conservative Americans.

The court has already reviewed cases looking to restrict abortion rights and expand gun rights. Both are major goals of conservatives.

The courts rulings on abortions and guns will come in June. And a ruling in college admissions is expected next year.

A more forceful court

The court has become more forceful since the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. She was the third conservative justice nominated by former President Donald Trump.

Barretts seat gave the nations highest court a 6-3 conservative majority and changed its balance of power.

"This particular six-justice majority seems willing to push ahead in an aggressively conservative direction on multiple fronts, said Elizabeth Wydra. She is president of the liberal group Constitutional Accountability Center.

She added that the majority is ignoring the ideas of judicial restraint and stare decisis.

Judicial restraint leaves policy-making decisions to the executive and legislative branches of government. And stare decisis is the legal belief of respecting past court rulings.

Observers say that based on oral arguments from a case brought by the state of Mississippi last year, the court's conservatives seem prepared to weaken or even overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The Roe v. Wade ruling effectively legalized abortion in the U.S. The court also appeared ready to rule against a New York state law that limits the right to carry guns in public.

Others say the courts willingness to hear these cases is a sign of how the conservative majority is moving the court to the political right.

Political appearance

Four justices are needed for the Supreme Court to hear a case. And it has at least that many who are not worried about being seen as politically motivated, said Joshua Wilson. He is a professor at the University of Denver and is an expert on conservative law and politics.

"Given the political appearance of the kinds of cases they hear, it's all the more remarkable given that they have to know how much the public is paying attention," Wilson said.

The high courts conservative majority has been critical of the power of federal agencies. The action could be described by conservatives as a war on the administrative state.

The court, for example, this month blocked the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing requirement for companies with at least 100 workers. The justices also heard two cases challenging environmental laws aimed at reducing air and water pollution. They did so even though Biden's administration asked them to wait while agencies write new rules.

Ian Fein is a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council environmental group. He said the court was "incredibly aggressive" in taking up the two cases.

The court also seems to support religious rights. It has ruled in favor of religious groups challenging COVID-19 restrictions. And last week, the court heard a case from Maine that could expand public funding of religious groups.

Im Dan Novak.

Reuters reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. ____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

aggressive  adj. using forceful methods to succeed or to do something

multiple  adj. more than one 

motivate  v. to give a reason for doing something

remarkable  adj. unusual or surprising 

challenge  v. to question the action or authority of

incredible  adj. difficult or impossible to believe
BRUNSWICK, Ga.  A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the man convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery.

Arberys parents denounced the proposed deal for Travis McMichael, with mother Wanda Cooper-Jones and father Marcus Arbery emotionally asking the judge to reject agreements filed for McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael.

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Travis McMichael is shown during the sentencing of he and his father Greg McMichael and neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Brunswick, Ga. (Stephen B. Morton/AP)

In rejecting the deal, U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said it would have locked her into specific terms  including 30 years in federal prison  at sentencing. Wood said that in this case it would only be appropriate to consider the familys wishes at sentencing, which the proposed deal wouldnt allow.

Travis and his lawyer asked for a 10 minute break to discuss whether he moves ahead with pleading guilty. The judge had yet to rule on his fathers proposed deal.

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Marcus Arbery told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick that hes mad as hell over the deal, which lawyer Lee Merritt said could enable Travis and Greg McMichael to spend the first 30 years of their life sentences in federal prison, rather than state prison where conditions are tougher.

Ahmaud is a kid you cannot replace, Arbery said. He was killed racially and we want 100% justice, not no half justice.

Cooper-Jones described the U.S. Justice Departments decision to propose the plea deal despite her objections as disrespectful.

I fought so hard to get these guys in the state prison, she said. I told them very, very adamantly that I wanted them to go to state prison and do their time. ... Then I got up this morning and found out they had accepted this ridiculous plea.

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Wood continued preparations to summon summoning the first 50 potential jurors to the courthouse on Feb. 7 for questioning.

The proposed plea agreements were filed with the court late Sunday. There was no mention of a deal with their co-defendant, William Roddie Bryan. No details were disclosed in court Monday morning. Federal prosecutors didnt mention the deals in the courts morning session.

Federal deals would not affect state murder convictions in Arberys killing. All three men were sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 7 after a trial last fall.

The hate crime charges accuse McMichaels and Bryan of violating the 25-year-old Black mans civil rights by chasing him through their neighborhood in coastal Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020. The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in one pickup truck while Bryan joined the chase in another and recorded video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery with a shotgun.

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A national outcry erupted when the graphic video leaked online two months later. Georgia was one of just four U.S. states without a hate crimes law at the time. Legislators quickly approved one, but it came too late for state hate crime charges in Arberys killing.

During the state trial in Glynn County Superior Court, the defense argued that the white men had authority to chase Arbery because they reasonably suspected he had been committing crimes in their neighborhood. Travis McMichael testified he opened fire only after Arbery attacked him with fists and tried to grab his shotgun.

The federal judge ordered that a jury pool be chosen from throughout the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 counties, to improve odds of seating a fair and unbiased jury.
Walmart, Americas largest goods store, recently announced that it bought a share of the agriculture company, Plenty.

Plenty specializes in vertical farming. In a statement, Walmart official Charles Redfield said the partnership will help the company offer the highest-quality foods at the best prices. Plenty is based in San Francisco, California. Walmart is an international company based in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Vertical farmers praise their methods. They say vertical farming grows more food while using less water and land. The method also does not use chemical insect control. It also permits produce to be grown all year near transportation centers, which increases the dependability of supply.

Walmart did not comment on the size of its investment or the financial terms of the deal. The company said a Walmart representative will join Plentys board of directors when the deal is completed.

Plenty is one of several companies in the fast-growing field of indoor farming. Other vertical farming companies include AppHarvest in Morehead, Kentucky and Gotham Greens based in New York City.

The company Agritecture is a business advisor. It recently said at least 74 indoor farming companies were established around the world in 2020.

Plenty was founded in 2014. It has a vertical farm in South San Francisco. It also operates an indoor science research center in Laramie, Wyoming.

Plenty is now building a center in Compton, California. It said the project will be the worlds most productive vertical indoor farm. It is expected to open in the second half of this year.

Plenty said its vertical farming towers are designed to grow several crops on one floor in a building the size of a large store. Its systems include vertical plant towers, special lighting, and robots to plant, feed, and harvest the crops.

Plenty says its farms use one percent of the land that an outdoor farm requires. At the same time, the farm can produce anywhere from 150 to 350 times more food per hectare.

Walmart said that under the deal, Plentys Compton farm will send leafy vegetables, like lettuce, to Walmarts California stores beginning later this year. Walmart said the vertical farms will add to, not replace, traditional farming methods. It added that the vertical farms will increase the food supply in a way that is good for the environment and that does not waste resources.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Anne DInnocenzio reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

vertical  adj. positioned up and down rather than from side to side: going straight up

board  n. a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization

grocery store  phr. n. a store that sells food and household supplies

tower  n. a tall, narrow building or structure that may stand apart from or be attached to another building or structure

leaf  n. one of the flat and typically green parts of a plant that grow from a stem or twig

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The federal government is seeking to take over a 5.15-acre Lebanon property after suspecting the owners of illegally growing nearly $10 million worth of marijuana.

Cai Fen Pan and Ying Xiu Ye are accused of running an illegal cannabis operation out of their Lebanon home, according to a court document filed Jan. 25 by a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The property contains a 4,000-square-foot house, a 4,200-square-foot barn, an additional 1,344-square-foot building and a 1,440 square-foot machine shed.

On Nov. 16, 2020, a Linn County Sheriffs Office deputy was dispatched to the Lebanon to investigate a potentially illegal marijuana grow.

According to the court document, the deputy approached Ye, who consented to showing the deputy the marijuana plants being grown at the residence.

The deputy took note of multiple rooms full of marijuana plants, heat lamps and ventilation systems. According to the deputy, Ye said she grew marijuana for her and her husband to use as well as some friends.

Ye said the couple only gave away the marijuana to friends and did not sell it, according to the court document. Ye admitted neither her nor her husband had permits or licenses from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program or Oregon Department of Agriculture to grow marijuana.

Based on the size and sophistication of the operation, the deputy passed the information to a lieutenant and detective with the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement task force. The deputy provided LINE with photos from the property.

A detective then obtained a search warrant for the property.

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All the buildings on the property had been subdivided into multiple growing and processing rooms, according to the court document, and had separate areas for storing chemicals.

During the search of the home, detectives found around $7,320 in cash in Yes jacket. They seized some 1,096 marijuana plants (including clones) from the home, 2,051 from the machine shed (including clones) and 1,266 from the barn.

In total, LINE seized around 4,400 marijuana plants, weighing 1,260 pounds and valued at an estimated $9,870,709.99.

According to the court document, each grow location had intricate ventilation, watering, power and optimal growing environment designed for marijuana.

Based on the amount of chemicals, water diversion products, power, and processing equipment on the property, detectives deemed the location to be a large-scale marijuana manufacturing operation.

The house itself appeared to be a short stay location and hardly lived in, detectives noted. The couple bought the house on or around July 3, 2019, for the sole purpose of growing and harvesting marijuana for distribution, according to the court document.

As a part of the search warrant, a 2020 Dodge pickup truck, a trailer and $8,982 were seized by law enforcement.

Ye and Pan relocated to Oregon from Georgia, where they still operate a for-hire transportation business, according to the court document.

Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_

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More than two years after the first cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed, people are exhausted by the coronavirus pandemic, ready for all this to end. When  if ever  is it realistic to expect SARS-CoV-2 will recede from the headlines and daily life?

Thats the unspoken question beneath the surface of many of The Conversations articles about COVID-19. None of our authors can see the future, but many do have expertise that offers insights about whats reasonable to expect. Here are four such stories from our archive. Written by historians and scientists, they each suggest a way to think about whats at the end of the pandemic tunnel  and paths to get there.

1. Past pandemics are not a perfect prediction

Almost as soon as it hit, people were trying to figure out how the COVID-19 pandemic would proceed. It was tempting to look for clues in the course of the 1918 flu pandemic that killed as many as 50 million people worldwide. Could the waves of disease seen in the 1900s provide a road map for what could be expected a century later?

Daily deaths from COVID-19 were declining in the U.S. when historian Mari Webel and virologist Megan Culler Freeman from University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences cautioned against reading too much into how things had gone for people generations ago.

It was so tempting to superimpose a timeline of flu surges on the modern calendar to get even a blurry forecast of what the coronavirus might have in store for us. Scanning the historical record is one way to draw our own lives into focus and perspective, wrote Webel and Culler Freeman. Unfortunately, the end of influenza in summer 1919 does not portend the end of COVID-19 in the summer of 2020.

And for reasons ranging from biology to demographics to politics, that is one prediction that most certainly came true.

2. Calling it over before its really over

While the 1918 flu pandemic wasnt an exact template for how the coronavirus would sweep the world, the earlier pandemic provided plenty of parallels when it came to human behavior.

University of Michigan historian J. Alexander Navarro described how in the early 20th century Americans essentially quit on effective social distancing precautions when they got fed up with living constrained lives. Sound familiar?

As case numbers declined, People clamored to return to their normal lives. Businesses pressed officials to be allowed to reopen, Navarro wrote. Believing the pandemic was over, state and local authorities began rescinding public health edicts.

With the burden of public health resting on individual choices, additional waves of flu crashed over the population. Some amount of wishful thinking, along with a premature return to normal, was likely to blame. Peoples choices can affect whether an infectious disease outbreak ends or drags on.

3. Once a virus comes, it never really leaves

Infectious diseases are as old as humanity. Pointing to examples such as malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy and measles, Rutgers University  Newark historian Nukhet Varlik wrote, Once added to the repertoire of pathogens that affect human societies, most infectious diseases are here to stay. Only smallpox has been completely eradicated, thanks to an intense global vaccination campaign.

Varliks own research has focused on plague, a bacterial disease thats caused at least three pandemics in the past 5,000 years  including the 14th centurys Black Death  along with many more localized outbreaks over the years. Outbreaks wound down based on factors like changes in temperature, humidity and the availability of hosts, vectors and a sufficient number of susceptible individuals, Varlik wrote. Some societies recovered relatively quickly from their losses caused by the Black Death. Others never did.

The responsible bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is still with us today.

4. The endemic endgame

A post-pandemic world may still have COVID-19 in it. Many researchers suspect that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will become endemic, meaning its always around, with some level of constant ongoing transmission. The viruses that cause the flu and the common cold, for instance, are endemic.

Sara Sawyer, Arturo Barbachano-Guerrero and Cody Warren, a team of virologists and immunologists from the University of Colorado Boulder, wrote that SARS-CoV-2 might hit the sweet spot for a virus to become endemic by being just the right degree of transmissible: Generally speaking, viruses that are highly contagious, meaning that they spread really well from one person to the next, may never die out on their own because they are so good at finding new people to infect.

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SARS-CoV-2 spreads easily through the air. Even people who arent experiencing any symptoms can pass the coronavirus to others. These factors, along with todays heavily interconnected global society, make it unlikely COVID-19 is going away completely anytime soon.

For now, these scholars write, the best we can likely hope for is stabilized rates of SARS-CoV-2 that settle down into predictable patterns, like flu season. If you want to help hurry things along toward this end stage, do what you can to make yourself an inhospitable host for the coronavirus  most notably, keep up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.

Editors note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversations archives.

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Lapwai, ID (83501)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
The annual program aims to make local communities in Connecticut more livable



AARP Connecticut invites local organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2022 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 22, 2022. Grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public spaces, transportation, housing, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Now in its sixth year, the grant program is part of AARPs nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live.



AARP Connecticut is excited to kick-off the Community Challenge again in 2022 to continue helping communities across Connecticut become great places for people of all backgrounds, abilities and ages, especially people 50-plus, said Nora Duncan, AARP Connecticut State Director. The program has proven that quick-action projects can lead to long-lasting improvements right where Connecticut residents live.



AARP will prioritize proposals that are inclusive, address disparities, directly engage volunteers, support residents age 50 and older and aim to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:





Support communities efforts to build engagement and leverage funding available under new federal programs through laws like the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act , and more.

, and more. Create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities.

that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities. Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability, wayfinding, access to transportation options and roadway improvements.

that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability, wayfinding, access to transportation options and roadway improvements. Support a range of housing options that increases the availability of accessible and affordable choices.

that increases the availability of accessible and affordable choices. Ensure a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion while improving the built and social environment of a community.

while improving the built and social environment of a community. Increase civic engagement with innovative and tangible projects that bring residents and local leaders together to address challenges and facilitate a greater sense of inclusion.

with innovative and tangible projects that bring residents and local leaders together to address challenges and facilitate a greater sense of inclusion. Other community improvements ; including health services, community development, and coronavirus pandemic recovery.

Since 2017, AARP has awarded over 800 grants  including 12 in Connecticut  through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program provides direct support to all community types, including rural, suburban and urban communities. Previous projects have enabled long-term progress by garnering additional support from public and private funders, encouraging similar improvements throughout the community, advancing local policy, and generating engagement among residents and local leaders to advocate for change.



The Community Challenge is open to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects.



The application deadline is 5:00 p.m., March 22, 2022. All projects must be completed by November 30, 2022. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge.



AARP Connecticut works in collaboration with communities across the state, bringing people together, and providing resources and expertise to help make Connecticut counties, towns and cities great places to live for people of all ages. AARP Connecticut has worked in recent years to improve pedestrian safety, support the development of an Open Streets Program in Hartford, and encourage communities to develop more affordable housing options such as accessory dwelling units.
It may wellbe the next parenting trend  possessing a personalized manual that, despite being small enough to fit in your pocket, tells you what to expect when youre expecting.

And it might just change the way Sauk Prairie Healthcare Birth Center gynecologists and nurses help patients navigate bringing a new life into the world  during a time that birth rates are on the decline, providers face burnout, hospitals are short-staffed and in-person interactions are minimal amid the ongoing pandemic.

Founded a decade ago, Madison-based health technology startup Wellbe has equipped health care institutions across the nation with digital self-service tools (called ConnectedCare) that help patients understand the conditions they face, and continuously engage with their doctor for treatment and surgeries  even after in-person appointments conclude. The institutions, specializing in neurology, obstetrics, orthopedics, spine, bariatrics and more, each use a customized ConnectedCare program.

Wellbe, with 26 full-time employees, has produced 50 of those programs to date.

In many cases, providers fall back on giving paper forms (for patients) ... Here are all the things you need to do for the next six months ... Check in with us, said Wellbe CEO James Dias. (Those arent) the most effective ways to get patients to engage (with their doctors).

What weve seen (among patients and providers) using our (digital) platform is high levels of engagement ... at 96-98%, Dias added.

For 67 new parents out of the Sauk Prairie Healthcare Birth Center, the cloud-based ConnectedCare application aims to provide forms for appointments, as well as educational materials and assessments pertaining to pregnancy and newborn care, Dias said, adding all are accessible on a mobile device.

The center has just over 30 employees, including nurses, gynecologists and other medical staff.

The partnership between Sauk Prairie Healthcare and Wellbe is the first of its kind in Wisconsin and the Midwest, Dias said. But the institution has for years used the startups software for orthopedic providers and patients.

Philanthropist Lea Culver, co-founder of fast food restaurant chain Culvers, provided funding to help bring the app to the center. The funding amount could not be disclosed.

And so it became the next space for Wellbe to innovate last November, having delivered 402 babies in 2021 compared to 350 in 2020, said director of birth and womens care Sue Shafranksi, adding the increase counters that of hospitals around the U.S.

The number of births in the country has declined every year since 2008, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Between 2000 and 2019, daily births went down an average of 0.39 per year. That decrease was more stark in 2020, when daily births dipped 4.06% lower than in 2019.

From car seats to pediatricians

The app guides pregnant patients through the 10 weeks leading up to and after the birthing event, Shafranski said.

The software is especially critical at the beginning of the patients third trimester, she said, when logistical, medical and personal preparations are necessary for their babys delivery  the app tells new moms what to expect during the experience.

It also instructs a parent how to care for their newborn  education is available for breastfeeding, and even selecting the right car seat or pediatrician, she said.

Most of our patients have been very happy with (the app), said Sauk Prairie Healthcare Birth Center gynecologist Todd Schad, adding that while software has only been available to staff for a few months, it provides us a checklist for being able to visually see what kind of homework assignments the patient has (and hasnt) done.

The technology not only helps Sauk Prairie Healthcare Birth Center staff identify gaps in patient care, he said, its freed up more of his time to interact with new moms face to face.

Schad said hes had less extraneous paperwork to do because of the app, and anticipates that circumstance is the same for colleagues. To truly measure the impact the app has had on providers and their patients, more data is needed, Shafranski said, adding the birth center will be studying that in the months ahead. Schads experience is the goal, she said, as well as a reduced need to hire new staff.

But for providers in other specialties, Dias said, time saved amounts to hundreds of hours.

More growth expected

Last summer, Wellbe received a $2 million funding round led by Madison-based investment firms HealthX Ventures and WISC Partners.

Back then, ConnectedCare was used by 21 health care systems in 16 states.

The money was meant to help the startup grow into new markets, which it has indeed done, Dias said, adding that the company added cancer as a specialty to its digital repertoire 18 months ago.

Maternal care and weight loss provide the latest growth prospects, he said, adding that the startups technology employs a versatile and modular approach.

Going forward, Wellbe will continue to look for new ways to diversify, Dias said.

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A Nebraska man was arrested for inappropriately touching a UW student at a campus residence hall early Sunday, UW police said.

Maxwell D. Sanders, 19, of Omaha, was apprehended at a different residence hall around 3:20 a.m. after assaulting the resident at a southeast dorm, police said in a statement. Sanders might have also assaulted other residents at the dorm, police said.

Sanders had been invited to campus by a friend and is not affiliated with the university. After the assault, Sanders tried to go into other rooms at the dorm before leaving the premises and going to the second residence hall where his friend lived, police said.

Sanders was taken to the Dane County Jail on tentative charges of fourth-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct, police said.

Police asked any other victims to contact police at 608-276-2677.

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When Sara Lenz first proposed the idea of teaching art classes to children, some were skeptical that it would go over.

The hesitancy came from wondering if there was enough interest in art because so many students are involved in sports. But Lenz figured there would be enough who would want to come even if not all youngsters are into art.

She has not been disappointed and now runs a number of art classes and camps including an after-school program through the Mount Horeb Recreation Department and the Community Education and Recreation Department in Oregon.

Ive always felt it is important for kids to have an opportunity to do art just because it is such a wonderful way to express themselves and I think it gives them self-confidence when they see what they are able to create, Lenz said.

Four five-week After School Drawing classes run throughout the school year in Mount Horeb and Oregon. Each week features a different type of drawing project that might involve using oil pastels, markers, crayons and pencils. Sometimes watercolor painting also is incorporated.

Eli McLean, a second grader at the Mount Horeb Primary Center, said art is fun.

I was excited because I like art, I like drawing, Eli said about signing up for the class.

Avi Laeser, a fifth-grader at the Mount Horeb Intermediate Center, said she has attended the class before.

It was really fun the first time, she said. I love that I finally get to do oil pastels and watercolors.

Millie Erickson, a first-grader at the Mount Horeb Primary Center, said she liked a recent lesson working with watercolor because she likes how it just spreads around.

Daisy Simms, a kindergartner at the Mount Horeb Early Learning Center, liked the watercolor lesson because she often does that art form.

What I like about art is that my grandma does it, she said.

Lenz runs the classes in the building housing the Mount Horeb Recreation Department and Netherwood Knoll Elementary School in Oregon. There is a resident fee and a nonresident fee at each place.

Her current classes and summer camps are designed for youths ages 5 to 12. The next series will run on Mondays from April 11 to May 9 in Mount Horeb and on Tuesdays from April 12 to May 10 in Oregon.

Later this year Lenz will offer a class in Mount Horeb for middle-schoolers. Summer art camps also will run in June in DeForest, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton and Verona.

Lenz, who has a masters degree in architecture but left the field when her first child was born, often did art with her four children when they were growing up.

I always loved doing art with kids. I did a lot with my own kids and neighborhood kids, she said.

For the past eight years, Lenz has been running art classes and camps in various communities. At times she taught out of her house because parents were interested in having Lenz work with their children. She also has worked with adults.

She subbed in schools for a while and taught for a time at St. Ann School in Stoughton where she was living at the time. She was also teaching after-school art classes in Oregon and some Saturday classes and summer camps in Mount Horeb and elsewhere.

When she moved to Blue Mounds, she reached out to the recreation department in Mount Horeb about running the after-school classes.

I just love working with kids ... They dont judge themselves. They just love doing it, Lenz said. Its great just to see their faces light up when they see what they make and when they share it with their parents.
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.

New York took a big step Friday toward lowering that threshold when a state board voted to recommend that a 40-hour overtime rule for farm workers be phased in over the next 10 years.

If the recommendation is approved by the state labor commissioner, New York would join California and Washington state in phasing in an overtime threshold common in other industries.

The vote by the three-member wage board capped a series of public hearings this month that heated up debate over compensation for agricultural workers in New York, many from Mexico, Guatemala and other foreign countries.

We need a better quality of life, veteran dairy worker Lazaro Alvarez said this week. He is among those who say the change is long overdue for an estimated 55,000 agricultural workers in New York.

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 the wage board to consider whether to recommend a lower threshold.

The board voted Friday to lower the farm threshold by four hours every other year, starting with overtime after 56 hours on or after Jan. 1, 2024.

Farmworkers would be able to earn overtime after 40 hours in 2032 under the recommendation. The board still needs to make a formal recommendation to Gov. Kathy Hochuls labor commissioner, who can accept, reject or modify them.

We did something very historical today, said board chairperson Brenda McDuffie.

The recommendations were approved in a series of 2-1 votes, with member David Fisher, representing the New York Farm Bureau, opposing 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, 63, of 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.

California has already been lowering 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 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 with 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. Farmers are worried about losing workers to other states, he said.

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.

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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will deliver his final State of the State speech on Wednesday, the second time in a row hes opting not to give the address directly to state lawmakers.

The Republican plans to deliver the speech via video from the Old Senate Chamber in the State House in Annapolis, starting at 7 p.m.

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Typically, governors give the annual address to a joint session of the General Assembly, with delegates, senators and dignitaries crammed into the House of Delegates chamber at the State House. Last year, as the coronavirus pandemic surged and vaccines were just starting to be administered, Hogan chose to deliver his speech from a near-empty Governors Reception Room.

This year, Hogan is using one of the most historic spots in Annapolis  the room where Gen. George Washington resigned his military commission  as the backdrop for his eighth and final State of the State speech. There will be no in-person audience.

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Sen. William C. Smith Jr., a Montgomery County Democrat, will offer a Democratic response to the speech. Smith chairs the Senates Judicial Proceedings Committee.

The Maryland constitution requires only that a governor shall, from time to time, inform the Legislature of the condition of the State and recommend to their consideration such measures as he may judge necessary and expedient.

Breaking News Alerts As it happens When big news breaks in our area, be the first to know. >

Marylands General Assembly continues to have altered protocols as the coronavirus continues to infect, sicken and hospitalize Marylanders. State lawmakers have been meeting in person, masked, in the House of Delegates and Senate chambers, though most committee work and public hearings are still being held over video.

When lawmakers met in a special session in December, they were tasked with electing a new treasurer, which is typically done in a joint session in the House chamber. Rather than squeeze all 188 lawmakers into one chamber, the two chambers were linked via video for the casting and counting of ballots.

The State of the State gives governors the opportunity to discuss state issues broadly, as well as a chance to champion their initiatives. Hogan is currently pressing lawmakers to agree to spend a historic budget surplus on broad tax relief for retirees as well as more generous tax credits for low-income workers.

He also is again pushing for changes to the criminal justice system, including tougher sentences for those convicted of certain violent crimes and more transparency in sentences handed out by judges.

Last year, Hogan devoted much of his speech to the coronavirus pandemic, urging Marylanders to get vaccinated.

Hogan is term-limited and may use his final speech to highlight his accomplishments during his gubernatorial career. As a popular Republican governor in a Democrat-dominated state, Hogan also has his eyes on his political future. Hogan has been courted to run for U.S. Senate this year or president in 2024, but he has not announced any plans.

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Hogans speech will be streamed on the governors social media channels and broadcast on Maryland Public Television. A video feed will be made available to news organizations to carry.
BOISE  A Senate panel on Monday rejected a proposed law modeled after a Texas law that would have outlawed nearly all abortions in conservative Idaho by banning them as soon as fetal heartbeats are detectable.

Backers said that a revised version of the bill will be brought before lawmakers later in the current legislative session.

Idaho already has two anti-abortion laws, but they need favorable federal court rulings to become active.

The new proposal sought to amend one of those laws to make it active now by allowing family members to sue doctors who performed abortions after fetal heartbeats are detected.

Fetal cardiac activity can be detected as early as six weeks, before many women discover they are pregnant.

The Senate State Affairs Committee deadlocked 4-4, which killed the bill.

Like the Texas law, it would have created a private enforcement mechanism allowing civil lawsuits against abortion providers. Unlike the Texas law, the Idaho law limited the legal standing to sue to family members and not to the general public.

Idaho lawmakers opposing the plan said it conflicted with existing state laws that focus on health and welfare, and custody.

As I look at aunts and uncles, no matter how tangential that relationship is, that someone could come in and have standing, is a difficult piece for me, said Republican Sen. Abby Lee, noting she was against abortion but couldnt support the bill.

She added: I think its early enough in the session that we need to get this right. That this is not about just modeling legislation to put something on the books.

Democratic Sen. Grant Burgoyne questioned whether possible fathers involving in unmarried couples would be allowed to sue.

With respect to the gray areas in that law, what will be the import of legislation on those issues? he said.

Blaine Conzatti, president of the Idaho Family Policy Center group that is against abortions, presented the bill to lawmakers. In a text message to The Associated Press after the vote, he said he would try to introduce a revised version later this session.

This legislation follows in the footsteps of the winning strategy pioneered by Texas, where 19,000 preborn lives have been saved in the last few months alone, Conzatti said. Therefore, we will keep pushing to move this legislation forward so that preborn babies with beating hearts are protected in Idaho.

Conzatti didnt offer specifics on the possible revisions.

Idaho has two anti-abortion laws. One passed in 2020, bans all abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother. That law would take effect in Idaho 30 days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe V. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that declared a nationwide right to abortion.

The court has a 6-3 conservative majority, and its possible the court will overturn Roe V. Wade in a decision expected this summer. That would revert regulation of abortions back to the states and trigger the 2020 Idaho law to go into force.

More than 20 states already have laws on the books to ban or dramatically restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

But Conzatti said the Idaho law could face a lengthy challenge in state courts, so the legislation he proposed could act as a way to stop abortions sooner.

The law his bill sought to amend is Idahos other anti-abortion law, the fetal heartbeat law passed in 2021.

It is not in effect because, like the 2020 law, it contains a trigger provision and will not go into effect unless a federal appeals court somewhere in the country upholds similar legislation from another state. That trigger hasnt so far been tripped.

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BOISE  Its a pandemic, and the Idaho Legislature is about to lose the only medical doctor left in its chambers.

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, told the Idaho Capital Sun on Jan. 21 that he plans to retire.

Wood attended medical school at Tulane University in New Orleans and trained as a physician at major medical centers, including at a military base, before returning to Idaho in the 1970s to practice medicine in the Magic Valley.

He was elected to his first term in the Legislature in 2006.

Sixteen years is long enough, he said in a phone interview. Its time for somebody else to take the seat.

Ive got things I want to do, and Im still in good health, he said, adding that he wants to spend some of his retirement traveling with his wife.

At the intersection of health and politics, during a politicized pandemic

Wood is chairman of the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee.

During the pandemic, he has been one of few Republicans in the Legislature to follow public health recommendations to wear a mask. Several of his committee members also wore masks when meeting in person this month.

When the House reconvened in Boise in November to consider a slew of bills mainly related to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, Woods committee did not consider any of the bills.

Wood told Idaho Reports then that he profoundly disagreed with the nine bills that were assigned to his committee. His decision not to hold hearings on the bills kept them from moving forward.

Wood told the Sun that, so far this session, he hasnt seen any draft legislation to address employer vaccine requirements.

Six years ago, the Legislature included two other physicians. Rep. Mike Kingsley, R-Lewiston, defeated John Rusche, D-Lewiston, a retired pediatrician and health insurance executive, in the 2016 election. Former senator Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, defeated Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, a family physician, in the 2016 election.

Before them, other health care providers and health care workers served in Idahos part-time, citizen legislature.

For example, Margaret Henbest, a pediatric nurse practitioner, was elected in 1996 to the Idaho House and served as a legislator for 12 years, changing laws to expand the profession of nurse practitioners in Idaho.

Rep. Greg Ferch, R-Boise, is a licensed chiropractor. He is in his first term representing District 21, which includes southwest Boise.

Other longtime legislators have said the 2022 session will be their last, including Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, who has served 11 terms, and Rep. Clark Kauffman, R-Filer, who has served five terms.

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When the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the Biden administrations vaccinate-or-test rule for private employers last Thursday, the response from the three dissenters was familiar. Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan argued that courts should not override the judgment of the government experts who know best how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dissenters were right that the courts are not charged with formulating public health policies. But the courts are charged with deciding whether those policies are legal, and they forsake that responsibility when they reflexively defer to politicians and bureaucrats who claim an emergency justifies unprecedented restrictions on freedom.

In this case, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an emergency temporary standard demanding that companies with 100 or more employees require them to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or wear face masks and submit to weekly virus testing. An ETS allows OSHA to avoid the notice, comment and hearing requirements of the usual rule-making process, but only if the agency shows that its regulations are necessary to protect employees from a grave danger in the workplace.

Courts have not been elected (and) have no epidemiological expertise, Kagan said during oral arguments on Jan. 7. Why in the world would courts decide this question?

As Justice Neil Gorsuch noted then and in his concurring opinion last week, this question was not how to respond to the pandemic, but who holds the power to do so. Two years into the pandemic, Congress has not addressed the issue of vaccine mandates, except for a Dec. 8 Senate resolution aimed at overturning OSHAs edict.

In the half-century since it was established, OSHA has never before encouraged or required employers to make vaccination mandatory  a solution that, unlike other workplace safeguards, extends beyond the workplace. And while OSHA usually requires employers to pay for workplace safeguards, its COVID-19 ETS allows them to make employees foot the bill for virus testing, the better to encourage vaccination.

The crux of the legal argument between the majority and the dissenters in this case was the question of when COVID-19 qualifies as a workplace hazard, as opposed to a risk that Americans face throughout the day, which goes beyond OSHAs statutory mission. While the dissenters were willing to let OSHA define that hazard in general terms, justifying a broad solution covering 84 million employees, the majority thought the agency was obliged to be more specific and discriminating, taking into account the wide variation in risk across industries and workplaces.

The Court confronted a similar issue last August, when it blocked the eviction moratorium that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had imposed on landlords across the country. The question was not whether the policy was a wise response to COVID-19 but whether Congress had given the agency the authority it claimed, as required by the separation of powers and the rule of law.

Unlike federal agencies, states have broad authority to protect public health under the police power they retained when the Constitution was ratified. But that power has limits, as illustrated by the Supreme Courts injunctions against pandemic-inspired restrictions on religious gatherings.

As in the OSHA and CDC cases, the issue was not whether the challenged policies were sensible or effective; it was whether they violated the First Amendment by discriminating against religious activities.

Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan dissented in all these cases, arguing that the Court lacked the requisite expertise to evaluate policies addressing a public health emergency. Justices of this Court play a deadly game in second guessing the expert judgment of health officials, Sotomayor warned when the Court blocked New Yorks restrictions on houses of worship in 2020.

Members of this Court are not public health experts, and we should respect the judgment of those with special expertise and responsibility in this area, the majority conceded in that case. But even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten.

REPRINTED FROM CREATORS DAILY EDITORIALS BY JACOB SULLUM

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Be prepared for yet another fight over higher education funding in Idaho and the paranoid hunt for critical race theory.

Idaho Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, grilled Boise State University President Marlene Tromp on Tuesday over whether the university had cut any programs that had anything to do with what he termed social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion, calling them wasteful spending.

Last year, legislators approved a budget for higher education that included a reduction in the amount approved of $2.5 million to remove state support for social justice programming at Boise State University, Idaho State University and University of Idaho. That included a $1.5 million reduction in the funds to Boise State.

On Tuesday, Nate asked Tromp three times what the university had cut. Essentially, Tromp told him, nothing.

Good for her.

Nate and the other state legislators obsessed with fears of a Marxist takeover of the United States should keep their noses out of trying to micromanage how universities conduct their business.

Especially when its part of their witch hunt over critical race theory, which, even after a year of debate and a one-sided education indoctrination task force, they couldnt even define.

Nate simply references social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a dramatic shift in scope for the search for critical race theory.

We understand the concerns over critical race theory, but the almost maniacal search for it has come to conflate it with necessary diversity and inclusion efforts. But efforts that simply help to attract and retain students of different races, backgrounds and experiences are not critical race theory.

Part of the reason colleges and universities focus on diversity and inclusion, in addition to the fact that its the right thing to do, is that businesses are demanding it.

One of the programs that Nate cited as offensive was the Blue Sky Institute, which is funded, in part, by Boise Cascade and KeyBank.

Leaders of major businesses in Idaho, including Micron, Kount, Cradlepoint, Clearwater Analytics and Albertsons, have come together to extol the importance and success of diversity and inclusion programs.

Its not just because theyre woke. They want employees ready to come into diverse workplaces and they want Idahos institutions of higher education to graduate future employees who have different backgrounds and experiences.

Our companies know that antidiscrimination and inclusion policies are good for business, several CEOs wrote in a guest opinion to the Idaho Statesman last year. When you know that your talents matter and your individual needs are cared for by your colleagues and company leaders, you bring your best self to work  driving innovation, promoting collaboration and increasing company revenues.

Nate, who is an economics professor at BYU-Idaho, cited a laundry list of programs in Boise States budget that he said include what are arguably social justice principles.

What constitutes a social justice program? Isnt Boise States Veterans Services Center, which seeks to help veterans attend Boise State and successfully graduate, a form of social justice? Isnt the Community Impact Program, which reaches out to students living in rural Idaho, a social justice program?

As a clear indication of the dangers of state legislators putting their fingers in the pie of choosing what is and what isnt acceptable in higher education, Nate also cited Boise State Public Radio and the Center for Learning and Teaching, which helps professors and instructors improve their teaching, as social justice programs.

What about this course? ED 312Culture and Diversity in Education is designed to help you reach a certain level of cultural sensitivity.

In this course you will consider individual and circumstantial responsiveness to differences that exist in language, race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, ability and religion.  This class will analyze historic and present day relationships between American educational systems and existing cultural dynamics. You will be encouraged to identify biases and discriminatory practices along with their possible causes and influences on the education process.

Sounds like it might be social justice.

Where can you find that course? BYU-Idaho, where Nate teaches.

We know that legislators like Nate are going to argue on the House floor that Boise States funding should be cut over diversity, equity and inclusion programs. We expect it of them. But we expect more reasonable legislators, such as Reps. Megan Blanksma, John Vander Woude, Matthew Bundy, Greg Chaney, Ron Furniss, Julie Yamamoto, Rick Youngblood and Laurie Lickley, to not fall for the scare tactics.

Legislators this year should avoid micromanaging the budgets of Boise State and other universities, especially over bogeyman fears about programs that are not critical race theory.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members J.J. Saldana and Christy Perry. McIntosh teaches a class at Boise State University.

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There was a line, in the middle of a well-crafted Politico story about the increasingly bitter conflict among Idaho Republicans, that highlighted an idea most Idahoans today would dismiss as fantasy. But the thought got at least some backup from Idahos state Republican leadership.

The idea is that Idahos Republican split might have the result of moving the state toward something closer to politically competitive.

It came in a discussion of the heated intra-party battles familiar in recent years to Idaho Republicans: That threat, that ruby-red Idaho could somehow turn purple, may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. As recently as the mid-1990s, Democrats were still competitive in Idaho, even as many other western states, including Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, were more strongly Republican. Those three are now blue spots on the electoral map.

Before you dismiss that as just an ill-founded media report, consider the pointa smart analysisfrom state Republican Chair Tom Luna, who noted that those three states back in the 90s, like Idaho today, could be described as a fast-growing state where Republicans were fighting with each other.

In further support, Ill throw out as well a bit of history from a generation before that.

Its found in a new book (disclosure: I have just published it) called An Idaho Democrat, written by a Democrat who, years ago, won major office in the state and did well politically when that wasnt supposed to happen. He describes the shifts and transitions in Idaho politics over the last few generations, and some of the granular detail that made Idaho politics different in the middle of the last century.

The Democrat is Tony Park, once the states attorney general (he held that office when I moved to Idaho in 1974) and has been active in the states politics since the 50s. The title of his book isnt inadvertent: It is very much about what running and serving as a Democrat in Idaho is like and about.

He had some interest in politics from his high-school days and was a regular contributor of irritated letters to the editor of the Idaho Statesman, which was staunchly conservative then; Park had come up as an admirer of Frank Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

After starting his law practice in Boise, he got involved in local politics, and quickly realized he hadnt chosen an easy path: I was extremely ambitious, but the prospects for a Democrat in Boise in the early to mid-sixties were not promising. Ada County was solidly Republican, as was the state. Ada County had not elected a Democrat to the legislature or the county courthouse in decades, and those places were his initial targets. Ada County was a sufficiently tough nut to crack for Democrats in those days that Frank Church lost a race for the state legislature before, a few years later, winning statewide for the U.S. Senate.

So he doesnt sound surprisednot in retrospect but probably not at the time eitherthat he didnt win those early races, for Ada County prosecutor in 1964 and the Idaho House in 1966. He learned about campaigning, however, and kept his losses closer than Ada County Democrats usually had. He also became involved in intensively organizing local Democrats well beyond what theyd done before.

In a day when voters were willing to split their ballots, as many did, steady campaigning and organizing made a difference. In 1970 Park saw enough progress that as Democrats looked around for a candidate to oppose an appointed Republican attorney general, he said he was interested. The Republicans, who had seen their party fractured in 1966, remained so in 1970, while the Democratswho had been split significantly in 1966largely had patched up their differences.

The more I looked at it, the better I liked it, Park wrote, and he wound up winning; most of the statewide offices would go to Democrats that year.

Is there a lesson here for politics now?

It matters whether youre organized, whether youre campaigning hard on the ground and keeping in close touch with people, and whether your side or your opposition is united or divided.

Even in these odd days for politics, some of the basics are eternal.

Randy Stapilus is a former Idaho newspaper reporter and editor and blogs at ridenbaugh.com. He can be reached at stapilus@ridenbaugh.com. His new book What Do You Mean by That? has just been released and can be found at ridenbaugh.com/whatdoyoumeanbythat and on Amazon.com.

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MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP)  As he embarks on a massive data collection project, Ecdysis Foundation Director Jonathan Lundgren is confident farmers are very interested in learning more about regenerative agriculture and are willing to help collect the necessary data.

We did one Facebook post on it, and so far, weve gotten 350 farmers, he said. The interest is there. This movement is very real right now, and the farmers are demonstrating that by their interest in gathering primary data on their farming operations.

The South Dakota-based nonprofit research organization has been studying regenerative agriculture for several years and finding that regenerative principles increase biodiversity and profits, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.

Scaling up that research to 1,000 farms across the country is a big challenge, but Lundgren said a large database is needed to answer questions about whether the systemic, sustainable changes in farming work and can be profitable if implemented broadly.

The status quo in science and in farming isnt getting us where we need to go, he said. We need bold action, and the farmers are doing their part. Theyre changing. Now its time for the science to catch up.

Researchers will look at farms with varying levels of adoption of regenerative principles.

Regenerative practices include planting cover crops, growing a more diverse mix of crops, grazing livestock on harvested fields and reducing pesticide use.

Researchers have divided the country into 10 eco-regions and will gather large amounts of data from farms in each region.

Well be looking at soils and carbon down to a meter deep. Well be looking at micronutrient status of the soil. Well be looking at soil microbiology, water quality and dynamics within the water profile, said Lundgren. Well be looking at insects and plants and birds and the nutrition of the food, and well also be looking at the economics of the operation.

To manage the data, Lundgren said the research team has devised new tools, including the use of artificial intelligence to identify thousands of insects collected in fields.

Farmers will collect some of the raw data, and researchers will use automated data collection sensors in addition to on-farm visits.

Lundgren estimates it will cost about $7,500 for each field studied, and the full cost of the ten-year project is expected to reach $80 million.

A variety of partners have signed on including General Mills, Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Geological Survey and several philanthropic organizations. Lundgren said farmers and farm organizations are also donating to the project.

Lundgren expects to start the research next month, with the goal of having 1,000 farms enrolled by next year. There are two overarching goals for the research.

Number one will be testing whether regenerative agriculture works no matter what you grow and where you grow it, said Lundgren. And then we also will be providing road maps that farmers develop for successful transitioning to regenerative systems.

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There are exactly 100 dams in Martinsville, Henry and Patrick counties, inventoried in a recently updated national list available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The National Inventory of Dams (NID) documents all known dams in the U.S. and its territories and is designed to provide the ability to search for data about dams throughout the United States and also serves as a resource to support awareness of dams and actions to prepare for a dam-related emergency, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website.

The updated list now available shows 54 dams in Patrick County, 44 in Henry County and two in Martinsville.

Dams in the database are more than 25 feet high with more than 15 acre-feet in storage or at least 6 feet high with more than 50 acre-feet storage, as well as situated so that downstream flooding would likely result in loss of human life and/or disrupt access to critical facilities.

Perhaps the most scenic and well-known dam in the area that is on the list is Phillpott Dam.

The NID shows this dam was built in 1948 and began hydropower production in 1953. It stands 220 feet high at an elevation of 1,148 feet.

The primary purpose of Philpott Dam is to reduce the risk of flooding, but it also provides hydroelectric production, recreation, a water supply and a fish and wildlife pond, the NID shows.

Spanning 3,000 acres of water, the lake created by Philpott Dam is surrounded by lands that are managed by the Corps of Engineers, the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the DWR states.

The Corps of Engineers also operates a visitor center offering information, interpretive displays and spectacular views of the lake and the dam.

There is also a system of water trails called The Philpott Blueway that is easily accessible from surrounding parks, boat launches and campgrounds, the DWR states.

The Philpott Lake boasts good populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie and catfish, according to Virginia Outdoors, a resource for Virginia anglers and hunters and the DWR 2021 Smith River fisheries report shows 85% of reported catches were brown trout and the rest were rainbow trout.

The complete national inventory of dams available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lists at total of 92,071 dams across the country.

The database contains information about a dams location, type, size, purpose, uses and benefits, date of last inspections and other structural and geographical information.

The NID is used to assist federal, state, and local agencies develop safety policies, but also available to the public over the internet.

Congress charged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s to identify, inspect and inventory all dams nationwide, the website states.

The first inventory was published in 1975 and by 1982, records for more than 68,153 dams had been gathered.

The current list shows dams that meet the criteria have an average age of 61 years.

While 75% of the dams are considered of high hazard potential, only 3% are equipped to provide hydropower.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.

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After four consecutive weeks of increases in the number of COVID-19 cases in the region, the new numbers are now in a decline, and officials say that trend should continue throughout the remainder of the winter and into the warmer months.

Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell, assigned to the New River Valley Public Health Task Force, said during a virtual Virginia Department of Health briefing on Monday that it appears the omicron variant has mostly played itself out in Virginia.

Were still here, but the number of COVID cases across the state are dropping, hospitalizations are dropping and we hope next week it will be a much sharper decline, said Bissell. Were headed in the right direction, but we have to be prepared for another variant. We will see Covid again.

In Henry County, the new numbers have been in a decline since Jan. 15 but are still more than four times the number of new cases before the last uptick began on Dec. 21.

The increase in Martinsville began on Dec. 26 and also peaked on Jan. 15, but the drop has been more dramatic with the number of new cases slightly more than double those just after Christmas.

Patrick and Franklin counties mirror Henry County in the dates where increases began and peaked.

At some point it will be determined whether the continued fight against Covid will require an annual booster shot, like the flu, Bissell said, but more and varied therapeutics and vaccines may make it unnecessary.

Those who have had Covid do have some immunity, and if they have been vaccinated they have the best immunity, said Bissell. Our officials were concerned that the vaccine was being developed too quickly, then we found out that it wasnt stopping the transmission of omicron, but omicron is not as severe [as other variants].

The Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard showed three new deaths in the district due to COVID19 since Friday: one in Martinsville and one each in Henry and Patrick counties.

Henry County continues to lead the district in deaths due to COVID-19 with 217, followed by Franklin County with 140, Martinsville at 101 and Patrick County with 74.

Henry County has had 498 Covid-related hospitalizations since the pandemic began, followed by Franklin County with 317, Martinsville at 190 and Patrick County with 140.

Since Friday, Henry County has had 225 new Covid cases, Franklin County had 152, and there were 51 in Patrick County and 33 in Martinsville, according to the VDH dashboard.

In total, Henry County has had 10,281 COVID-19 cases, followed by Franklin County with 9,793, Patrick County 3,179, and Martinsville with 2,927 total.

The 7-day average number of new daily cases reported per 100,000 population statewide has dropped from 123 to 107. Henry County is at 152, down from 179, Franklin County dropped from 131 to 105, Patrick County is slightly lower from 114 to 111, and Martinsville boasts the lowest average in the district at 85, down from 108.

In the state, 68% of the population is fully vaccinated. Martinsville is at 55%, Henry and Franklin counties are at 48%, and Patrick County 40%.

We need to realize that there will be future variants, and we need to live with that, and we have found that the vaccination helps, said Bissell. We need to empower people to make their own decisions about it, because people have different levels of risk tolerance.

While the entire state is classified at a high level of transmission of the virus, meaning that the percentage of COVID-19 tests that returned a positive is greater than 10, Henry Countys rate is 38%, Franklin County is 37%, Martinsville is 20% and Patrick County is 15%

Of the 6,734 outbreaks statewide, 67 are in the West Piedmont Health District.

Although there have been outbreaks in area schools, no school in Martinsville, Henry or Patrick counties have had to close due to the spread of the virus.

Masks were not made for children

The curve for children has followed the community they are in, said Bissell. Mask mandates showed a lower incident of disease, but masking also depends on the quality of the mask and how it fits. Masks were not made for children.

To be quite honest, if children are wearing them all day, they become less effective. There are a lot of things that go into it, and we need to pivot and ask if you feel the mask is right for your child and if you do, then get a good quality mask and a good fit.

Bissell said children continue to be at an extremely low risk of developing life-threatening complications from Covid, and with vaccinations now available for ages 5 and up, the risk continues to go down.

Cases in schools appear to have peaked and are coming down, said Bissell. Some schools have gone to optional masking, and were not seeing surges in those districts.

The Martinsville City School Board announced at its Jan. 24 meeting that they will continue with their current policy requiring the use of masks in schools, while Henry County Public Schools opted to make masking optional. Patrick County Public Schools say they will continue masking while affording some flexibility among students and their parents or guardians.

The West Piedmont Health District includes Martinsville, Henry, Franklin and Patrick counties. On Monday the VDH dashboard showed the district has had 26,180 total Covid cases, 1,145 hospitalizations and 532 COVID-19 deaths.

Statewide, there have been 1,545,636 cases, 47,708 hospitalizations and 16,217 deaths due to COVID-19.

In the U.S. there have been 74 million COVID-19 cases and 884,265 deaths. Worldwide there have been 375 million cases and 5.6 million deaths as reported by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.

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The City of Martinsville recently issued a proclamation thanking the Sons of the Revolution for preserving Fraunces Tavern at 54 Pearl St., New York, NY.

The recognition of a tavern in New York by the City of Martinsville, over 500 miles apart, might seem a bit confusing at first, but with a little curiosity, a dollar bill and a natural interest in American history, the connection becomes clear.

It all started with Council Member Danny Turners two-year old hobby of checking the serial numbers on dollar bills.

Its just something I started doing, said Turner. Sometimes you find numbers with certain combinations that are more valuable than others.

A quick look on eBay and other similar sites reveals, generally, the lower the serial number the higher the value among collectors.

But in this case, it wasnt the lower number that gave Turners finding added value; it was the number itself.

If the serial number is a date, I look it up on my phone and see what happened on that day, Turner said.

Turner discovered he had a dollar bill with the serial number 17620115.

So the year would be 1762, and the date would be Jan. 15, said Turner. I looked it up and found out that Fraunces Tavern opened on that date in New York City.

Fraunces Tavern not only served as a watering hole for many of the Founding Fathers of the United States, but it is still open today, making it New Yorks most historic bar and restaurant and the citys oldest standing structure, according to the restaurants website.

The building is most famous as the site where, on Dec. 4, 1783, George Washington gathered a group of his officers, nine days after the last of the British troops left American soil, to thank them for their service and bid them an emotional farewell before returning home, wrote Col. Benjamin Tallmadge in his memoirs, the only first-hand account of Washingtons farewell.

Tallmadges account is on display in the museum portion above the restaurant and bar.

Danny has a knack for finding interesting information on dollar bills, said Mayor Kathy Lawson. When he found this one he called me proposing to send it to the museum along with a proclamation signed by the two of us.

Lawson said Assistant City Manager and Attorney Eric Monday was very familiar with the historic tavern and, knowing its history, prepared a proclamation of recognition.

Fraunces Tavern was where George Washington said farewell to all his Revolutionary War officers, in 1783, so its particularly appropriate, and pretty awesome, frankly, that Mr. Turner found that dollar and figured out the historical importance the serial number corresponded to, given all the patriotic work he does on behalf of veterans, said Monday who is a history buff of the period, and is on the board of directors of the MHC Historical Society and its past president.

City Manager Leon Towarnicki prepared a cover letter to go with the proclamation that says, in part: In recognition of the 260th anniversary of Fraunces Tavern, please find enclosed a Proclamation from the City of Martinsville, Virginia signed by current Mayor Kathy C. Lawson, and former Mayor Danny Turner. The Proclamation acknowledges the historical significance of Fraunces Tavern as well as the efforts that have occurred to preserve this historical landmark.

The Proclamation resolves that the City of Martinsville, Virginia, named for a hero of the Revolution, General Joseph Martin, offers its sincere congratulations to Fraunces Tavern on the occasion of its 260th anniversary.

After receiving the Proclamation, along with the framed dollar bill discovered by Turner, New York Sons of the Revolution Director Scott Dwyer wrote back by email on Jan. 14 thanking the City of Martinsville for the gift.

Your package arrived just in time to include as part of our own acknowledgement of the anniversary, wrote Dwyer.

We sincerely thank the City of Martinsville for joining us in celebrating the 260th anniversary of patriot and tavern keeper Samuel Fraunces purchasing 54 Pearl Street, a building which played an important role in laying the foundation for the American Revolution, Dwyer told the Bulletin. Were honored to hold in common with Martinsville a commitment to preserving and commemorating the history of the American Revolutionary Era.

Said Lawson: Its these interesting things we can do paying tribute to others that sets us above others. We are most grateful to Council Member Turner for finding the currency and making this recognition happen.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.

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Egypts Ministry of Transport is close to signing a contract with Siemens for the construction of the countrys second high-speed train, Arab Finance reports.

The project, to connect 6th of October city to Aswan with a length of 925 kilometers (km), will serve passengers and goods, where Egyptian contracting companies will carry out civil and construction works, while Siemens will implement signaling and communication systems and supply trains.

The date for the start is not known yet but the talks hint at a soon start.

The project will be financed through a soft foreign government loan and the states general budget.

The new line includes, Arab Finance notes, 28 stations (9 express and 19 regional) along the route from October to Aswan, and that its stations will be located in the areas of intersection with the upper axes connecting the east and west of the Nile.

Egypt and the German company signed last year a $4.5 billion contract for the implementation of the countrys first high-speed train, to connect Cairo to the New Administrative Capital and surrounding new cities. Egypt is planning to build a 1,800-kilometer network of high-speed train lines.

The first line, 660km, will link the port cities of Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Marsa Matrouh and Alexandria on the Mediterranean. The line is expected to be operational next year.
Kenyan authorities are on high alert after the French embassy warned of an imminent terrorist attack in the country.

The French embassy has called on Westerners to avoid places where foreigners gather this weekend, such as hotels and shopping malls, especially in the capital, Nairobi.

The German embassy sent a less specific terrorist alert to its citizens, urging them to be cautious. The Kenyan police said they were aware of the terrorist alert and had increased security.

In response, Kenyan authorities have deployed a security detail in hopes of thwarting any planned terrorist attack in the country.

Kenyan police spokesman Bruno Shioso said they had seen the alert on social media and there was no need to be afraid.

The Horn of Africa region faces both political and security challenges. The Ethiopian government is embroiled in a war with its northern region of Tigray. Somalia is facing a political crisis as a result of postponed elections, and Kenya is preparing for general elections in August.

According to Khannenje, the region needs to be on high alert to deal with those who want to take advantage of its political volatility.

On Wednesday in Lamu, suspected al-Shabab fighters sprayed bullets at a convoy carrying judicial officials, injuring several people.
Rwandas Foreign Ministry announced Friday that the main border crossing with Uganda, closed since February 2019, will reopen on Jan. 31, formalizing a thaw in relations between the two East African neighbors.

The announcement comes less than a week after the visit of Ugandan President Yoweri Musevenis son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to Kigali where he and Rwandan President Paul Kagame displayed their desire to restore bilateral relations.

After the visit to Rwanda of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba () on January 22, the government of Rwanda has taken note that there is a process to resolve the issues raised by Rwanda, as well as the commitments of the government of Uganda to remove the remaining obstacles, the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued early Friday morning.

In this regard (), the government would like to inform the public that the Gatuna border post between Rwanda and Uganda will be reopened from January 31, the ministry added.

Rwanda had abruptly closed the Gatuna border post -called Katuna in Uganda- in February 2019, cutting off an important land trade route, amid growing tensions between the two countries.

Kigali accused Uganda of abducting its nationals and supporting rebels seeking to overthrow Mr. Kagame.

Kampala, for its part, has accused Rwanda of spying and killing two men during an incursion into its territory in May 2019, which Kigali has disputed.

Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni were close allies during the 1980s-1990s in the quest for power in their respective countries, before becoming bitter rivals.
Burkina Faso was suspended after the coup by the Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the end of a virtual summit of the organization, which has not yet decided on other sanctions.

ECOWAS, which has called for the release of the overthrown president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, placed under house arrest, as well as other arrested officials, will hold a new summit on February 3 in Accra, this time in the presence of the heads of state of the region, according to this source speaking on condition of anonymity.

The virtual summit, which lasted about three hours, also decided to send a mission of the chiefs of staff of armies to Ouagadougou on Saturday, to be followed on Monday by a ministerial mission.

On Thursday evening, in his first speech since taking power on Monday, Burkinas new strongman, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, said on national television that his country needs its partners more than ever.

Saying he understood the legitimate doubts raised by the coup, he assured that Burkina will continue to respect its international commitments, particularly with regard to respect for human rights, specifying that the independence of the judiciary would also be assured.

Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba also pledged to return to normal constitutional life, when the conditions are met, without specifying an agenda.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Cerebral palsy, or CP, has widely been viewed as the result of perinatal oxygen deprivation or other birth-related factors like prematurity.

"In CP, the first thing that comes to many physicians' minds is birth injury or asphyxia," said Siddharth Srivastava, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, who specializes in neurogenetic disorders. "That idea has become pervasive, in both neurology and orthopedics training and among the general public."

For many children, this is true. But of the more than 700,000 individuals in the United States diagnosed with CP, about 20 percent have no clear explanation for the disorder's origin.

Now, a first-of-its-kind study by Srivastava and colleagues has found that up to 1 in 4 patients with CP have an underlying genetic condition.

The findings, published Jan. 24 in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, have the potential to change the approach to patient care.

Benjamin Shore, HMS associate professor of orthopedic surgery and co-director of the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center at Boston Children's, is excited by the research implications of the study.

"Historically, clinicians have assigned the diagnosis of CP to many children who have elements of muscle tightness and developmental delay without really understanding the cause," he said. "We can now investigate these causes with much more detail."

Homing in on genetic contributors to CP should help doctors make more specific diagnoses and could lead to new treatment plans for some patients, said co-senior author Annapurna Poduri, HMS professor of neurology at Boston Children's.

"We now have the scientific knowledge to pursue a precise diagnosis for children with CP that is not just descriptive, but that provides answers and may open a door to treating some of the underlying conditions we uncover," she said.

The findings could also alleviate feelings of guilt that are sometimes associated with a child's CP diagnosis. The idea that birth factors are the cause of CP has led some families to feel at fault. Parents often wonder whether something that happened during pregnancy caused their child's condition.

"One mother of an adult with CP told us that his genetic diagnosis absolved her of more than three decades of guilt," said Srivastava, who is also a neurologist in the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center. "Many families felt they finally had a sense of closure."

Genetic findings in cerebral palsy

Through the Children's Rare Disease Cohorts genomics initiative, the research team sequenced the DNA of 50 patients with CP. The patients' average age was 10 years. All had clinical exams and brain MRIs.

The patients fell into three groups.

20 had a known risk factor for CP, such as prematurity, a brain bleed, or perinatal asphyxia or hypoxia.

24 had no known CP risk factors.

Five were "CP masqueraders"meeting most of the criteria for CP but whose condition was deteriorating. (By definition, CP is a non-progressing disease.)

"We wanted to reflect the breadth of patients we see," explained Srivastava.

Overall, sequencing identified causative or "likely causative" genetic variants in 13 patients, or 26 percent. The highest yield was in the CP masqueraders, flagging mutations in three of five patients, or 60 percent. Next were patients with CP and no known risk factors: seven of 24, or 29 percent, had a genetic cause.

Surprisingly, sequencing also identified mutations in three of 20 patients, or 15 percent, with established CP risk factors. One had a rare genetic disorder that predisposes to early stroke, and two had genetic conditions not previously associated with CP.

"These three patients are particularly intriguing," said first author Maya Chopra, director of translational genomic medicine at the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children's. "Could genetic disorders have made them more vulnerable to early brain injury? We have much to learn about the interplay between rare gene variants and perinatal events in the development of CP."

Implications of a genetic diagnosis in CP

In some cases, the genetic findings led to changes in the patient's care plan.

One had a mutation in a gene linked to a metabolic disorder and was referred to the metabolism clinic. Another was referred for ocular and kidney evaluations based on his mutation. A third had a mutation linked to a progressive neurological disorder. This alerted his care team to watch for worsening of his condition.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommend the following:

Consider a genetic cause for any child who has CP without known risk factors or who has CP-like features but whose condition is worsening; refer accordingly.

Consider genetic testing in children with known risk factors for CP if they have clinical features suggestive of a genetic condition, such as congenital anomalies or other affected family members.

Reevaluate children with CP periodically to ensure that other aspects of their condition haven't been missed or to see if new features have emerged over time.

From precision diagnosis to precision treatments

Shore said he hopes that in the future, physicians and researchers will be able to "provide genetic diagnoses for many more children, particularly CP masqueraders. This research is just the tip of the iceberg."

Poduri, who directs the Epilepsy Genetics Program and the CRDC's Epilepsy Cohort Study at Boston Children's, sees a parallel with epilepsy. The program has identified dozens of genetic causes for epilepsy, some of which are treatable.

"With precision diagnosis will come precision treatments for more and more children with CP, epilepsy, and other neurodevelopmental disorders," she said.

Explore further Contrary to the common view, cerebral palsy can be genetic

More information: Maya Chopra et al, Mendelian etiologies identified with whole exome sequencing in cerebral palsy, Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology (2022). Maya Chopra et al, Mendelian etiologies identified with whole exome sequencing in cerebral palsy,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51506
Crystal structure: An antibody (red and green) binds to the HCV surface protein "E2" (purple). Credit: Timm Weber/UK Koln

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a genetically highly variable virus that mutates extensively. An effective vaccine would therefore need to evoke broadly neutralizing antibodies that not only neutralize one HCV strain, but as many of the worldwide circulating genotypes as possible. To date, all attempts to develop a vaccine have failed. A better understanding of the antibody response to HCV is needed in order to provide new impetus to the development of a vaccine. The initial question for the study was therefore: What particular properties of the antibodies against HCV lead to broad neutralization of the virus?

The study

First authors Timm Weber and Julian Potthoff, of the Cologne University Hospital, explained that, "For this work, we took our expertise from our HIV research into account. We studied a large patient cohort in our lab in order to identify so-called 'elite neutralisers'. These are individuals whose antibodies can neutralize different HCV genotypes." In order to carry out this work, the scientists cooperated within the German Center for Infection Research with the team of Prof. Thomas Pietschmann and Prof. Thomas Krey, two experts in the area of HCV research. "We have already been working a long time in Hannover on methods to measure antibodymediated neutralization of globally circulating HCV strains in the lab as close to physiological conditions as possible," says Pietschmann.

In a cohort of 435 hepatitis C patients, up to five percent showed extraordinary HCV neutralizing activity. The team isolated more than 300 antibodies from the blood of four of these elite neutralisers, among which were some that were able to render the hepatitis C virus harmless with particular efficiency. With the help of structural and mutation analyses, the researchers characterized these special antibodies and were able to, for example, recognize which amino acid sequences influenced the neutralizing ability. A laboratory at the renowned California Institute of Technology in Pasadena contributed the structural biological analyses and visualized where exactly the antibodies bind to the virus.

A synthetic antibody resulting from machine learning

The scientists went a step further after they characterized the antibodies. Computer scientists working with Prof. Nico Pfeiffer in Tubingen developed a computer program that was supplied with amino acid sequences of highly and poorly neutralizing HCV antibodies and was then able to predict whether an antibody could neutralize the virus effectively. This method of machine learning allowed the researchers to artificially assemble a synthetic, broadly HCV neutralizing antibody.

"This artificially assembled antibody against hepatitis C can represent an important basis for vaccine development," reported the study leader Prof. Florian Klein, a scientist at the German Center for Infection Research at the Cologne University Hospital.

As a next step, the scientists now plan to test the most potent antibodies in animal models. Coordinated by Thomas Pietschmann and Thomas Krey, the German Center for Infection Research is additionally already researching new vaccination strategies against HCV; the new discoveries are already being incorporated for this.

The research was published in Immunity.

Explore further Neutralizing antibodies in the battle against COVID-19

More information: Timm Weber et al, Analysis of antibodies from HCV elite neutralizers identifies genetic determinants of broad neutralization, Immunity (2022). Journal information: Immunity Timm Weber et al, Analysis of antibodies from HCV elite neutralizers identifies genetic determinants of broad neutralization,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.12.003

Provided by German Center for Infection Research
A woman in Moldova with a youth volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: 2020 Dan Gutu/UNFPA Moldova

Providing tangible support to older people for carrying out day-to-day tasks like grocery shopping is essential for addressing loneliness, according to a new survey published today by UNFPA and led by a UCL researcher.

The survey was conducted in mid-2021 among people aged 65 to 85 in six countries and territories in Eastern EuropeAlbania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Serbia, and Kosovo.

Professor Tara Keck (UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology), who led the survey, said: "The finding that a lack of tangible support is a prominent risk factor for loneliness provides a clear focus for targeted interventions to address loneliness in this population of older people. By addressing these needs, we can help support healthy aging for older people in the region."

The survey reveals that, in addition to lack of tangible support, risk factors for loneliness include a small social network, not having someone to do enjoyable things with, and a low level of social confidence.

On the other hand, the survey found limited association between levels of emotional support and loneliness.

Giulia Vallese, UNFPA Director a.i. for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, commented: "Loneliness presents a major risk for the physical and mental health of older people, and undermines efforts to promote healthy and active aging.

"This survey helps us better understand the risk factors for loneliness and what we can do to ensure that people feel less lonely in older age."

The spotlight the COVID-19 pandemic has put on the challenges many older people face is an opportunity for generating the political will to tackle loneliness and make progress in creating societies for all ages, Ms. Vallese added.

In Eastern Europe, populations are aging rapidly, due to a combination of increasing life expectancy, low fertility rates and high levels of outward migration. In this context, ensuring that people can age in good health and as active participants in society is key. However, eight in ten older people (79%) say they are moderately or extremely lonely, according to the survey.

Several risk factors were only mildly associated with loneliness: living alone, overall level of happiness, having sought support for mental health, hearing difficulties, lack of affectionate support, and closeness of relationships.

A number of other demographic measures were also not associated with loneliness, including marital status, gender, living in urban or rural areas, satisfaction with financial situation, overall health status, Internet access and usage, or the types of social activities undertaken before or during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk factors vary by country and territory, even though loneliness levels were similar across all six countries and territories included in the survey.

The survey report recommends the adoption of national policies that protect the rights and dignity of older people, with an emphasis on their health and well-being, and stresses the need for programming, both locally and nationally, to provide targeted tangible support for older people.

This could include mobile medical visits at home, community volunteers to provide day-to-day support, or phone or virtual medical and social support. Developing targeted group activities, in day centers or similar venues for healthy and active aging, can be one effective way to create and expand social networks for older people and provide community-based tangible support.

Explore further Social isolation among older adults linked to having fewer teeth

More information: Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older People in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region. Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older People in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region. eeca.unfpa.org/en/publications  ope-and-central-asia
FIG. 1. Schematic representation of the multiple imputation process for an example household.Each infected household member is associated with: (A and D) a distribution for time from onset of infectiousness to testing; (B and E) a distribution for the infectious period; and (C and F) a distribution for the latent period to infer the time of infection. The filled ovals represent observed events, and the circles and stars represent unobserved events in the infection timeline. Panels (A to C) and (D to F) represent two possible sample sets from the delay distributions, each with a different index case, who is not necessarily the first person to test positive in the household. We generated 100 samples of the latent data for each infected individual. Credit: DOI: 10.1126/science.abl4292

A new study by Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) researchers suggests that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was more than 91 percent effective at reducing transmission of coronavirus in Israeli households before the emergence of the delta variant. However, the combined effect of the new variant and waning vaccine-induced immunity considerably reduced the vaccine's effectiveness against transmission over time.

The findings are based on an analysis of medical information from 2.5 million peopleabout a quarter of Israel's populationcontained in a centralized database maintained by Maccabi Health Services, a state-mandated, not-for-profit health care delivery organization in Israel.

Between June 1, 2020 and July 28, 2021, nearly 1.5 million people in the dataset received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and only about 6,500 tested positive for coronavirus following the second dose.

Using this information, the scientists developed a household transmission model to assess the risk of infection based on an individual's vaccination status and that of other household members. Before the emergence of the delta variant in Israel, vaccination reduced the risk of being infected by 89 percent and lowered the risk that people with breakthrough infections would transmit the virus to other household members by 23 percent. After the emergence of the delta variant, however, vaccination no longer reduced the infectiousness of breakthrough cases and provided slightly less protection against infection, the scientists found. Instead, people who had received their second dose of vaccine more than 3 months ago were only 40 percent less likely to be infected compared to an unvaccinated person and may have actually been more likely to transmit the delta variant to other household members if they were infected.

"Our analysis suggests that while vaccines provide good protection against coronavirus infection, this protection wanes over time," said Virginia Pitzer, an associate professor at YSPH and the study's senior author. "Moreover, vaccinated people who got infected with the delta variant were just as infectious as unvaccinated cases. This emphasizes the need for booster doses and for people who are infected to isolate regardless of whether or not they are vaccinated."

The findings are published in the journal Science.

The results mirror other studies performed in different parts of the world. In England, researchers found that both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines halved the risk of transmission from a household member with a breakthrough infection during the period when the alpha variant was dominant, but another study found vaccinated and unvaccinated cases with the delta variant infected a similar proportion of their household contacts.

More information: Ottavia Prunas et al, Vaccination with BNT162b2 reduces transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to household contacts in Israel, Science (2022). Journal information: Science Ottavia Prunas et al, Vaccination with BNT162b2 reduces transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to household contacts in Israel,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abl4292
Chicago announced a $38.4 million redevelopment project to turn a vacant 21-acre site along Roosevelt Road in North Lawndale into a sprawling industrial and innovation center as part of the citys Invest South/West initiative.

Selected from among eight proposals, the joint project by 548 Development and Related Midwest seeks to redevelop city-owned land along Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue into a 302,000-square-foot industrial complex, with two adjacent buildings for job training and other community-related uses.

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The city is selling the land  one of the largest vacant industrial sites on the West Side  to the developers for $1 as part of the project, which still requires approval from the City Council. Located in the Roosevelt/Cicero industrial corridor, just south of the Eisenhower Expressway, the site was once home to a Copenhagen snuff plant and other manufacturers.

Uncovered as an illegal dumping ground for hazardous construction waste during the federal Operation Silver Shovel political corruption investigation during the 1990s, the site was previously suggested as a home for the Obama Presidential Center, which instead went to Jackson Park.

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The city announced a joint project by 548 Development and Related Midwest to redevelop a vacant 21-acre, city-owned site along Roosevelt Road into a $38 million industrial and innovation center as part of its Invest South/West initiative. (City of Chicago)

Mayor Lori Lightfoot praised the redevelopment of the long-fallow site, which is expected to bring 700 permanent and temporary jobs and a logistics-fueled economic engine to the West Side.

Its hard to believe that the site ... that once hurt North Lawndale so greatly and profoundly, will now revolutionize this corner of our West Side and positively change the lives of residents here for the better, she said at a news conference Monday.

The project includes two industrial buildings with 62 docking spaces, looking to leverage the location for potential freight and logistics applications. To improve access for trucks off the Eisenhower Expressway, the Chicago Department of Transportation plans to increase roadway clearance under the nearby rail viaduct on Kostner Avenue. The $8.4 million road project is partially funded through a $4.8 million grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, better known as the CARES Act.

Selected from among eight proposals, the joint project by 548 Development and Related Midwest seeks to redevelop city-owned land along Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue into a 302,000-square-foot industrial complex, with two adjacent buildings for job training and other community-related uses. (City of Chicago)

The broader redevelopment will also include an adjoining community park, while a portion of an active railroad line bisecting the site may be adapted to provide an adjacent recreational trail. The city plans to use tax increment financing to help pay for environmental remediation and other site preparation costs.

From inclusive economic opportunity to environmentally-conscious development and operation, the industrial sites future will look a lot different from its past, said A.J. Patton, managing partner and CEO of Black-owned 548 Development.

We care a lot about the community, Patton said. We care a lot about sustainability. And we care a lot about that the coalition that participates in these deals looks like the community that were investing in.

This is the 11th project announced in the Invest South/West initiative, a three-year program to invest $750 million in developments across 10 disadvantaged neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

In March 2021, Lightfoot announced $67 million in investment proposals for the first three developments to be built in the Austin, Auburn Gresham and Englewood neighborhoods. In August, the city announced four mixed-use projects and three peripheral developments valued at $200 million for South Chicago, North Lawndale, Bronzeville and New City.

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The city announced three mixed-use projects in November totaling $126 million for Humboldt Park and South Shore.

Several of the projects are expected to break ground later this year, the city said.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
A woman walks past the entrance of the vaccination center in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. German government is set to miss a target of giving at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine to 80% of the population by the end of January. With one day to go before the end of the month, official statistics on Monday showed that 75.8% of Germany's 83 million residents have received at least one shot, 74% are fully vaccinated and 52.8% have also received a booster. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst,file

The German government is set to miss a target of giving at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine to 80% of the population by the end of January.

With one day to go before the end of the month, official statistics on Monday showed that 75.8% of Germany's 83 million residents have received at least one shot, 74% are fully vaccinated and 52.8% have also received a booster.

The target "has been missed," government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit acknowledged at a regular news conference. The vaccination rate is "significantly better than it was before, but it isn't 80%."

Causes include unwillingness to get vaccinated and "perhaps also communication weaknesses," Hebestreit said. He noted that the pace of vaccinations, which in December sometimes topped 1 million per day, slowed over Christmas and hasn't recovered as much as officials hoped. Over the past week, an average 351,000 shots per day were administered.

While the number of people getting boosters has risen quickly, the proportion of the population getting a first shot has only crept higher in recent weeks.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germany's 16 state governors decided a week ago to keep various restrictions in place in the face of rising infections, but not to expand them. Scholz also announced a new advertising campaign to encourage vaccination.

People queue in front of a vaccination center at the City's fairground in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. German government is set to miss a target of giving at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine to 80% of the population by the end of January. With one day to go before the end of the month, official statistics on Monday showed that 75.8% of Germany's 83 million residents have received at least one shot, 74% are fully vaccinated and 52.8% have also received a booster. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Sohn,file

The health minister has said that a wave caused by the omicron variant is likely to peak in mid- to late February. "At the moment, I would warn against thinking too early that it's over," Hebestreit said.

German lawmakers last week debated a possible universal vaccination mandate, which Scholz supports but has left to parliament to design. It's unclear when any legislation will go to a vote, but it will be spring at least before any mandate comes into effect.

Explore further Germany keeps COVID restrictions as omicron infections soar

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Disinformation around COVID vaccines has existed as long as the jabs themselves.

Unverified studies, unproven claims and out-of-context data are regularly shared on websites and social media across the globefuelling dangerous myths about the virus and the vaccines.

As Austria becomes the first European Union country to make vaccines mandatory this week, AFP looks at some common disinformation surrounding the jabs:

Causation vs chronology

A common concern about the COVID vaccines is that they can cause harm, or even death, to those who get them.

Some websites claim to link health risks to the jabs. Others offer information that is then used by people as alleged proof that vaccines are dangerous.

The US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a database that reports alleged harm caused by vaccines.

The website is open to the public, and anyone can submit a report.

But VAERS makes it clear that it cannot be used as proof of vaccine harm.

"A VAERS report does not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused the health problem, only that the symptoms occurred after vaccination," it says in its search engine training video.

If a symptom occurs after vaccination, it does not necessarily mean that the symptom occurred as a result of the vaccinationa matter of causation versus chronology.

The VAERS site makes it clear that reports "may contain information that is incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental, or unverifiable".

But VAERS data has been used by French politician Martine Wonner to claim 54 American children had died as a result of COVID jabs.

Wonner used the data to argue that French children should not be vaccinated.

Leading medical bodies in the United States and Europe have said that rare side effects can occur as a result of some of the vaccinesblood clots or myocarditis, for examplebut that the benefits of taking the jabs outweigh the risks.

Immune system and infertility

Other common medical myths have no scientific proof but persist, for example that the vaccines can weaken the immune system, cause infertility or modify our DNA.

A December post from a US website claimed COVID-19 shots caused something called "vaccine acquired immune deficiency syndrome", citing a study.

But the study in questionwhich covered waning effects of vaccines over timemade no mention of any such "syndrome".

One of its authors confirmed to AFP that the post amounts to "misinformation".

The bogus health claims don't end there.

One video created in 2020 that continued to be shared online into 2021 claimed that "97 percent of corona vaccine recipients will become infertile", citing a "Big Pharma whistleblower".

But infertility is not cited as a side effect in any vaccine so farfor coronavirus or anything else.

"There's no vaccine in the world that can cause infertility," Katharine White, an obstetrics and gynaecology professor at Boston University School of Medicine, told AFP when asked about the matter last year.

Claims about some vaccines altering DNA have also taken hold online.

They involve mRNA vaccines, which tell the body to produce proteins that resemble those of the virus instead of using a component or modified virus, as seen in the flu vaccine, for example.

The technology has led some to believe untrue claims that the vaccines interfere with people's genes.

But our genes are located in a special part of our cells called the nucleus, and mRNA jab material does not access that part of our bodies.

That means it is impossible for the material to reach our DNA.

Stretched statistics

Statistics surrounding vaccines are often taken out of context or distorted to show they are ineffective.

In France, for example, some people point to official figures that say there are more COVID cases in vaccinated people than in unvaccinated people.

But since such a large portion of France's population is vaccinatedmore than 75 percentit is not surprising that COVID cases are occurring among the vaccinated.

COVID vaccines are known to help prevent severe illness and deathbut they do not necessarily prevent the virus from spreading.

That means that cases still occur among the vaccinated, and there will be more cases among the vaccinated if a greater number of people are vaccinated.

And if, for example, 100 percent of a population is vaccinated, any occurrence of infection or hospitalisations will be among the vaccinated.

It is not a reflection of the vaccines, but rather a well-known phenomenon among statisticians known as "Simpson's paradox".

 2022 AFP
Sensitive single-molecule detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomic RNA in infected cells. (A) Schematic illustration of single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridisation (smFISH) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 positive strand genomic RNA (+gRNA) within infected cells. (B) Reference spatial profile of a diffraction-limited +ORF1a smFISH spot. The calibration bar represents relative fluorescence intensity (top). Frequency distribution of smFISH spot intensities, exhibiting a unimodal distribution (bottom). (C) Assessment of smFISH detection sensitivity by a dual-color co-detection method. Maximum intensity projected images and corresponding FISH-quant spot detection views of ODD and EVEN probe sets are shown. Scale bar = 5 m. Density histogram of nearest-neighbor distance from one spectral channel to another (top). Vertical line indicates 300 nm distance. Percentage overlap between spots detected by ODD and EVEN split probes, calculated bidirectionally (bottom). (D) Heatmap of probe sequence alignment against various Coronaviridae and host transcriptomes. Each column represents individual 20 nt + ORF1a probe sequences. The minimum edit distance represents mismatch scores, where 0 indicates a perfect match. Melting temperatures of each probe at the smFISH hybridisation condition are shown. (E) smFISH against +ORF1a in SARS-CoV-2-infected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung tissue from Golden Syrian hamster at 4 days post infection. Hamsters were infected intranasally with 5  104 plaque-forming unit (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 BVICO1. At necropsy, lung samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin wax. Red arrows in magnified panels indicate single-molecule RNA spots. Scale bars = 1000, 10, or 2 m. (F) Experimental design for visualizing SARS-CoV-2 gRNA with smFISH at different timepoints after infection of Vero E6 cells. Cells were seeded on cover-glass and 24 hr later inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 (Victoria [VIC] strain at multiplicity of infection [MOI] 1) for 2 hr. Non-internalized viruses were removed by trypsin digestion and cells fixed at the timepoints shown. Representative 4 m maximum intensity projection confocal images are shown. The calibration bar labeled with the symbol # is used to display wider dynamic contrast range. Magnified view of insets in the upper panels is shown in lower panels. Scale bars = 10 m or 2 m. Credit: DOI: 10.7554/eLife.74153

Research led by scientists at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research and the University of Oxford, in collaboration with UKHSA and Brighton NHS have revealed new insights into transmissibility of variants and susceptibility to infection.

RNA, a central molecule to the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, encodes the genetic information required to generate new viral proteins and infectious particles. Therefore, it is vital to understand how SARS-CoV-2 RNA multiplies in infected cells. This new study, published in eLife, has developed a new approach to quantify each individual molecule of SARS-CoV-2 RNA within infected cells with greater precision and sensitivity than previously possible. This approach allowed the researchers to study the very first stages of infection and to estimate the speed in which different variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 replicates in cells in culture.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was identified at the end of 2019 in the city of Wuhan. Since then, the virus has spread across all continents causing a pandemic with millions of deaths and leading to a global health and socioeconomic crisis. Thanks to the extensive effort of researchers and health workers, our knowledge on this pathogen accumulated at unprecedented rate, leading to successful vaccine programs that have reduced the burden of COVID-19. However, the emergence of variants with increased infectivity and potential to evade protective antibodies produced by vaccination, is a major current concern.

The study showed that the alpha variant, detected months ago in the UK, has a slower replication kinetics than the original virus, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern might not only differ in their ability to enter the cells, but also in the speed in which they multiply their RNA.

Dr. Alfredo Castello, said: "Most of the attention has been centered on the mutations detected in the virus spike protein, as they can influence the ability of the virus to enter the cell or to escape vaccine induced or natural antibody responses. However, we should not ignore that there are many other mutations occurring in other viral proteins that can influence virus growth and transmission."

This study pioneered the use of single molecule analysis to study SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells. Applying this approach to other variants of concern such as OMICRON will shed light into their replication dynamics and how these may affect clinical outcomes.

Professor Ilan Davis said: "Most of the available techniques to study viral replication rely on studies of cell populations, providing data that is an average between all cells within the culture or tissue. While useful, it does not allow us to see differences between cells or to study the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle with enough detail.

"Our approach surpasses these 'in bulk' techniques because it provides accurate information for each individual cell from the very first time point of infection to the point at which the cell is completely overwhelmed with viral RNA. We were also able to show that the technique works in sections from infected lungs of animals, which opens up possibilities in the future to study samples from infected patients."

Thanks to this technical tour-the-force and close cooperation between a diverse team of researchers, this study revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection varies across cells, with the majority of cells showing low levels of viral RNAs. However, in a minority (10%) of cells contained extremely high levels of virus RNA.

Jeff Lee, co-author of the study, said: "This level of cell heterogeneity is surprising because these cells were clones. In other words, they are in principle near-identical. "I would expect similar or greater variation between cells in complex tissues, which are heterogenous and contain many different cell types."

Peter Wing, co-author, said: "The high variation in SARS-CoV-2 replication in clonal cell lines implies that the cellular state, such as the cell cycle or the response to stress, may define the speed in which the virus replicates. It would be of great therapeutic interest to discover the determinants of cell susceptibility to infection."

The study also revealed that SARS-CoV-2 RNAs are long-lived within infected cells.

Professor Jane McKeating, said: "When we treated the cells with remdesivir to inhibit viral replication, we observed that the viral RNA persisted for a long time, being detectable for many hours after the treatment. "This could explain why SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in some patients long after the clinical symptoms have resolved."

The paper, "Absolute quantitation of individual SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecules provides a new paradigm for infection dynamics and variant differences," is published in eLife.

Explore further Persistent T cell response to omicron after infection and vaccination

More information: Jeffrey Y Lee et al, Absolute quantitation of individual SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecules provides a new paradigm for infection dynamics and variant differences, eLife (2022). Journal information: eLife Jeffrey Y Lee et al, Absolute quantitation of individual SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecules provides a new paradigm for infection dynamics and variant differences,(2022). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.74153
A local resident receives the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

Tokyo has launched a mass inoculation drive for COVID-19 booster shots at a temporary center operated by the military as Japan tries to speed up delayed third jabs to counter surging infections.

Japan began administering booster shots to medical workers in December, but has only provided such inoculations to 2.7% of the population after delaying a decision to cut the interval between the first two coronavirus shots and a booster to six months from the initial eight.

Demand for the shots is intense: Online reservations that started on Friday resulted in all all slots for about 4,300 doses to be given at the center this week being filled within 9 minutes. The center is providing the vaccine made by Moderna, Inc.

On a smaller scale, people 65 and older can get booster shots elsewhere.

The center run by the Self-Defense Force in downtown Tokyo reopened Monday after closing down in late November. It will be vaccinating about 720 people aged 18 or older per day this week, ramping up to more than 2,000 a day next month. Another military-run center will begin booster shots next week in Osaka.

The omicron variant has been spreading quickly, pushing new reported infections to much higher than earlier waves of coronavirus. Tokyo reported 15,895 new cases Sunday, a new high for a Sunday. Nearly half of its hospital capacity is filled. Nationwide, Japan recorded some 78,000 cases for an accumulated total of 2.68 million, with about 18,700 deaths.

A local resident receives the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

A male resident in his 50s said in an interview with Japanese media that vaccination rollouts in his area were slow and he was relieved to get his shot. Another, in his 40s, said he was anxious to be vaccinated because omicron infections were spreading at his son's elementary school.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Tokyo vaccination center on Monday and said most cities are expected to finish providing booster shots for Japanese over 65 by the end of February. Younger Japanese are next in line, but many haven't received the coupons required to apply for the shots and are unlikely to get boosters until March or later.

Kishida said a decision to close Japan's borders to most new foreign travelers in late November had helped to slow the latest upsurge in infections.

The government has resisted imposing strict lockdowns to curb the pandemic, largely relying on requests to restaurants to shorten their opening hours and exhorting the public to wear face masks and observe social distancing.

A local resident is guided to receive the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines being administered for local residents sit in a tray at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

A staff member of Defense Ministry guides local residents who received the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

A local resident receives the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

Local residents register to receive the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

A local resident receives the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

A local resident receives the booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination center operated by Japanese Self-Defense Force Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool

Security guards wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk with public notice signs saying in Japanese, "No bicycles allowed on the sidewalk," Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Even though such practices kept the number of cases relatively low in most parts of Japan, and contributed to a sharp drop in infections in the autumn, the pandemic is taking a long, steady economic toll.

"Japan's overwhelmingly slow booster shots are very likely to significantly delay its economic recovery compared to many other countries," said Toshihiro Nagahama, a chief economist at the Dai-Ichi Life research Institute.

Pandemic restrictions are now in effect in much of Japan, including Tokyo and other big cities like Osaka and Kyoto, for the first time since September.

The government has faced harsh criticism over delays in its pandemic response, especially the slow start for the initial first two COVID-19 shots last year amid a shortage of imported vaccines. The inoculation rate reached nearly 80% after Kishida's predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, set a goal of providing 1 million jabs daily to finish inoculating most of the elderly population before last year's Tokyo Olympics.

Explore further Japan extends strict border measures as coronavirus cases soar

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The development of drugs and other medical treatments usually begins with basic research, followed by experiments in the laboratory, pre-clinical trials and, finally, clinical trials that confirm both the treatment's efficacy in humans and its safety. Clinical trials are long and expensive processes that seal the fate of the proposed treatmentwhether it will receive approval from the FDA or other authorities or be rejected. As a result, they play a central and critical role in the development of medical treatments.

A new article by researchers at the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science at the TechnionIsrael Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Dr. Eric Horvitz of Microsoft Research, describes a specific bias that affects the implementation of these trials' findings: underrepresentation of women in many clinical trials. The article, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA), depicts this bias and presents a special tool that can help compensate for this gender gap, thereby improving medical treatments for women.

According to Technion Ph.D. candidate Shunit Agmon, who conducted the research together with Technion alumna and visiting professor Dr. Kira Radinsky, "Nowadays, we know that different population groups react differently to a given treatmentin particular, women can have a different reaction than men to a treatment. For example, Zolpidem, a drug used to treat sleeping problems, clears more slowly in women and therefore it is important to prescribe a smaller dose for women than for menwhich was discovered only after the drug was released to the market. The underrepresentation of women in clinical trials creates a problematic bias that harms the quality of women's healthcare, including misdiagnosed diseases and adverse drug reactions."

Gender bias in clinical trials is not new, and it has in fact worsened following traumatic events, including the Thalidomide affaira drug that caused numerous birth defects when prescribed to pregnant women to alleviate morning sickness. That tragic episode, which took place in the early 1960s, led to a drastic decline in female participants in clinical trials.

In 1993, laws were passed in the United States that mandated the inclusion of women in these trials and the analysis of results with regards to gender. Yet, female underrepresentation remained a prevalent phenomenon, especially for trials that took place prior to 1993. Agmon points out that other population groups are also underrepresented, including certain age groups, ethnic groups, and other demographics. In some cases, there is also an underrepresentation of men, such as for diseases that are considered more "feminine," such as fibromyalgia.

In recent years, machine learning models have been introduced to the world of medicine, aiming to improve medical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. However, Agmon claims that "many of these models are based on biased trials and therefore they 'inherit' their biases, and in some cases even amplify them."

The researchers explored this issue using machine learning tools, including natural language programming (NLP), and vector representation of words (word embeddings)  approaches that enable computers to "understand" texts. They used these methods on 16,772 articles from the PubMed database and allotted each one a "weight" based on the percentage of women in the clinical trials described in each article. This way, they developed an algorithmic tool that enables gender-sensitive use of clinical literature. This algorithm corrects the gender bias and improves the treatments' suitability for female patients.

The algorithm succeeded in substantially improving predictions for women in various situations, including length of hospitalization, re-hospitalization within a month, and correlation between various diseases. Although the model focused on improving predictions for women, it also significantly improved overall clinical predictions (for men as well).

The researchers expect the JAMIA article to increase awareness of the problems of underrepresentation in research in general and in clinical trials in particular and will lead to additional solutions to improve the quality of personalized medicine.
Nancy Rose, center in mirror, speaks with her mother, Amy Russell, right, who both contracted COVID-19 in 2021, in their dining room surrounded by pictures of relatives and family, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. More than a third of COVID-19 survivors by some estimates develop lingering problems. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

More than a year after a bout with COVID-19, Rebekah Hogan still suffers from severe brain fog, pain and fatigue that leave her unable to do her nursing job or handle household activities.

Long COVID has her questioning her worth as a wife and mother.

"Is this permanent? Is this the new norm?'' said the 41-year-old Latham, New York, woman, whose three children and husband also have signs of the condition. "I want my life back.''

More than a third of COVID-19 survivors by some estimates will develop such lingering problems. Now, with omicron sweeping across the globe, scientists are racing to pinpoint the cause of the bedeviling condition and find treatments before a potential explosion in long COVID cases.

Could it be an autoimmune disorder? That could help explain why long COVID-19 disproportionately affects women, who are more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases. Could microclots be the cause of symptoms ranging from memory lapses to discolored toes? That could make sense, since abnormal blood clotting can occur in COVID-19.

As these theories and others are tested, there is fresh evidence that vaccination may reduce the chances of developing long COVID.

It's too soon to know whether people infected with the highly contagious omicron variant will develop the mysterious constellation of symptoms, usually diagnosed many weeks after the initial illness. But some experts think a wave of long COVID is likely and say doctors need to be prepared for it.

Nancy Rose, who contracted COVID-19 in 2021 and continues to exhibit long-haul symptoms including brain fog and memory difficulties, pauses while organizing her desk space, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Rose, 67, said many of her symptoms waned after she got vaccinated, though she still has bouts of fatigue and memory loss. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

With $1 billion from Congress, the National Institutes of Health is funding a vast array of research on the condition. And clinics devoted to studying and treating it are popping up around the world, affiliated with places such as Stanford University in California and University College London.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Momentum is building around a few key theories.

One is that the infection or remnants of the virus persist past the initial illness, triggering inflammation that leads to long COVID.

Another is that latent viruses in the body, such as the Epstein-Barr virus that causes mononucleosis, are reactivated. A recent study in the journal Cell pointed to Epstein-Barr in the blood as one of four possible risk factors, which also include pre-existing Type 2 diabetes and the levels of coronavirus RNA and certain antibodies in the blood. Those findings must be confirmed with more research.

A third theory is that autoimmune responses develop after acute COVID-19.

In a normal immune response, viral infections activate antibodies that fight invading virus proteins. But sometimes in the aftermath, antibodies remain revved up and mistakenly attack normal cells. That phenomenon is thought to play a role in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.

This Jan. 21, 2022 photo provided by Rebekah Hogan, center, shows her with her family next to their Christmas tree at their home in Latham, N.Y. More than a year after a bout with COVID-19, Hogan still suffers from severe brain fog, pain and fatigue that leave her unable to do her nursing job or handle household activities. "Is this permanent? Is this the new norm?'' said the 41-year-old mother, whose three children and husband also have signs of the condition. "I want my life back.'' Credit: Courtesy Rebekah Hogan via AP

Justyna Fert-Bober and Dr. Susan Cheng were among researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles who found that some people who have had COVID-19, including cases without symptoms, have a variety of these elevated "autoantibodies" up to six months after recovering. Some are the same ones found in people with autoimmune diseases.

Another possibility is that tiny clots play a role in long COVID. Many COVID-19 patients develop elevated levels of inflammatory molecules that promote abnormal clotting. That can lead to blood clots throughout the body that can cause strokes, heart attacks and dangerous blockages in the legs and arms.

In her lab at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, scientist Resia Pretorius has found microclots in blood samples from patients with COVID-19 and in those who later developed long COVID. She also found elevated levels of proteins in blood plasma that prevented the normal breakdown of these clots.

She believes that these clotting abnormalities persist in many patients after an initial coronavirus infection and that they reduce oxygen distribution to cells and tissue throughout the body, leading to most if not all symptoms that have been linked to long COVID.

IT CAN HIT NEARLY ANYONE

While there's no firm list of symptoms that define the condition, the most common include fatigue, problems with memory and thinking, loss of taste and smell, shortness of breath, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

Some of these symptoms may first appear during an initial infection but linger or recur a month or more later. Or new ones may develop, lasting for weeks, months or over a year.

Knickknacks and keepsakes are displayed in the home of Nancy Rose and her mother, Amy Russell, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. They both contracted COVID-19 in 2021. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

Because so many of the symptoms occur with other illnesses, some scientists question whether the coronavirus is always the trigger. Researchers hope their work will provide definitive answers.

Long COVID affects adults of all ages as well as children. Research shows it is more prevalent among those who were hospitalized, but also strikes a significant portion who weren't.

Retired flight attendant Jacki Graham's bout with COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic wasn't bad enough to put her in the hospital. But months later, she experienced breathlessness and a racing heart. She couldn't taste or smell. Her blood pressure shot up.

In the fall of 2020, she became so fatigued that her morning yoga would send her back to bed.

"I'm an early riser, so I'd get up and push myself, but then I was done for the day," said Graham, 64, of Studio City, California. "Six months ago, I would have told you COVID has ruined my life."

Hogan, the New York nurse, also wasn't hospitalized with COVID-19 but has been debilitated since her diagnosis. Her husband, a disabled veteran, and children ages 9, 13 and 15 fell ill soon after and were sick with fever, stomach pains and weakness for about a month. Then all seemed to get a little better until new symptoms appeared.

Hogan's doctors think autoimmune abnormalities and a pre-existing connective tissue disorder that causes joint pain may have made her prone to developing the condition.

Nancy Rose, right, who contracted COVID-19 in 2021 and continues to exhibit long-haul symptoms including brain fog and memory difficulties, cooks for her mother, Amy Russell, left, at their home, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Rose, 67, said many of her symptoms waned after she got vaccinated, though she still has bouts of fatigue and memory loss. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

POTENTIAL ANSWERS

There are no treatments specifically approved for long COVID, though some patients get relief from painkillers, drugs used for other conditions, and physical therapy. But more help may be on the horizon.

Immunobiologist Akiko Iwasaki is studying the tantalizing possibility that COVID-19 vaccination might reduce long COVID symptoms. Her team at Yale University is collaborating with a patient group called Survivor Corps on a study that involves vaccinating previously unvaccinated long COVID patients as a possible treatment.

Iwasaki, who is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which supports The Associated Press' Health and Science Department, said she is doing this study because patient groups have reported improvement in some people's long COVID symptoms after they got their shots.

Study participant Nancy Rose, 67, of Port Jefferson, New York, said many of her symptoms waned after she got vaccinated, though she still has bouts of fatigue and memory loss.

Two recently released studies, one from the U.S. and one from Israel, offer preliminary evidence that being vaccinated before getting COVID-19 could help prevent the lingering illness or at least reduce its severity. Both were done before omicron emerged.

Neither has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but outside experts say the results are encouraging.

Jacki Graham, a 64-year-old COVID survivor, sits for a photo in her home in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Her bout with COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic wasn't bad enough to put her in the hospital. But months later, she experienced breathlessness and a racing heart. She couldn't taste or smell. Her blood pressure shot up. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

In the Israeli study, about two-thirds of participants received one or two Pfizer shots; the others were unvaccinated. Those who had received two shots were at least half as likely to report fatigue, headache, muscle weakness or pain and other common long COVID symptoms as the unvaccinated group.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

With few clear answers yet, the future is murky for patients.

Many, like Graham, see improvement over time. She sought help through a long COVID program at Cedars-Sinai, enrolled in a study there in April 2021, and was vaccinated and boosted.

Today, she said, her blood pressure is normal, and her sense of smell and energy level are getting closer to pre-COVID levels. Still, she wound up retiring early because of her ordeal.

Hogan still struggles with symptoms that include agonizing nerve pain and "spaghetti legs,'' or limbs that suddenly become limp and unable to bear weight, a condition that also affects her 13-year-old son.

Some scientists worry that long COVID in certain patients might become a form of chronic fatigue syndrome, a poorly understood, long-lasting condition that has no cure or approved treatment.

Jacki Graham, a 64-year-old COVID survivor, sits for a photo outside her home in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. In the fall of 2020, she became so fatigued that her morning yoga would send her back to bed. "I'm an early riser, so I'd get up and push myself, but then I was done for the day. ... Six months ago, I would have told you COVID has ruined my life." Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

One thing's for sure, some experts say: Long COVID will have a huge effect on individuals, health care systems and economies around the world, costing many billions of dollars.

Even with insurance, patients can be out thousands of dollars at a time when they're too sick to work. Graham, for example, said she paid about $6,000 out of pocket for things like scans, labs, doctor visits and chiropractic care.

Pretorius, the scientist in South Africa, said there is real worry things could get worse.

"So many people are losing their livelihoods, their homes. They can't work anymore," she said. "Long COVID will probably have a more severe impact on our economy than acute COVID."

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

While COVID-19 disease significantly impacts many pregnant women, the rates of transmission from mother to baby in pregnancy are very low. A new study from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) has demonstrated that ACE-2, the receptor that allows SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells, is found in lower levels in the placentas of women with COVID-19 in pregnancy compared to women with normal (COVID negative) pregnancies.

"We think that when a woman has COVID-19 in pregnancy, the placenta is shedding off ACE-2 as a way to block SARS-CoV-2 from being passed to the fetus," explained co-corresponding author Elizabeth S. Taglauer, MD, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at BUSM.

The study is a collaborative effort between placental/perinatal researchers at BUSM, Boston Medical Center (BMC), Ke Yuan, Ph.D. a lung vascular biologist at Boston Children's Hospital and Hongpeng Jia, Ph.D., an ACE-2 expert at Johns Hopkins University. It involved collecting placentas from two groups of women who delivered at BMC from July 2020-April 2021, an effort led by study co-author Elisha Wachman, MD, an associate professor of pediatrics at BUSM and a neonatologist at BMC. The first group was women who had normal pregnancies and no report of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The second group of women were SARS-CoV-2 positive and had active COVID-19 disease during pregnancy. They then observed the ACE-2 expression in their placentas under the microscope and compared placental ACE-2 expression using genetic and protein analysis techniques.

According to the researchers, the placenta has many similarities with the lung, so this study also highlights the importance of studying the placenta to help understand a variety of lung diseases and highlights the important role of controlling ACE-2 as a way to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections.

"The placenta is one of the few "success stories" of the pandemic. If we understand how the placenta is naturally protecting babies from COVID-19, this may provide important information for therapies and strategies to help prevent other SARS-CoV-2 infections from continuing to spread," adds Taglauer, a neonatologist at BMC.

These findings appear online in the American Journal of Pathology.

Explore further SARS-CoV-2 may cause fetal inflammation even in the absence of placental infection

More information: Elizabeth S. Taglauer et al, Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with placental ACE2 shedding., The American Journal of Pathology (2022). Journal information: American Journal of Pathology Elizabeth S. Taglauer et al, Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with placental ACE2 shedding.,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.12.011
Credit: Northwestern University

Ten-year analysis links police complaints with hospital records, suggesting that the consequences of police misconduct may begin in utero and persist across the life course.

It is well known that Black women experience disproportionately high rates of preterm delivery and cardiovascular disease. New research from Northwestern University suggests that one contributor to these inequities may be the stress created by police violence occurring in Black women's neighborhoods.

The study, "Complaints about the excessive use of police force in women's neighborhoods and subsequent perinatal and cardiovascular health," was published Jan. 19 in Science Advances.

The multidisciplinary study conducted by experts in the fields of psychology, sociology, epidemiology, anthropology and medicine is the first to look at everyday forms of police misconduct and the health outcomes of women, adding to growing evidence that suggests police violence adversely affects the health of Black communities.

Motivated by frequent, high-profile police violence in Black communities, corresponding author Alexa Freedman, a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern, said the research team wanted to investigate whether formal complaints about excessive force by police (EFP) were associated with the health of women in Chicago.

To do so, the researchers used data on complaints filed against Chicago police for excessive force, compiled by the Invisible Institute. The researchers calculated the frequency of EFP complaints in each of Chicago's neighborhoods. These data were then linked to the electronic health records of two separate groups: pregnant patients (67,976) and healthy adults (6,773) who did not have cardiovascular disease at their initial visit with a doctor.

"We were encouraged that our findings were consistent across multiple sensitivity analyses, especially the ones that compared pregnancy outcomes among patients with multiple deliveries. These analyses improved control of individual and neighborhood characteristics that might confound the results," Freedman said.

The findings also speak to the potential public health impact of police misconduct.

"The results suggest that police misconduct may have implications for health beginning at the earliest stages of development, which we know has important repercussions for long-term health," said Andrew V. Papachristos, professor of sociology and director of the Northwestern Neighborhood & Network (N3) Initiative.

The senior study author is Greg Miller, the Louis W. Menk Professor of Psychology and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern. Co-authors of the study include other Northwestern faculty Andrew V. Papachristos, Dr. Sadiya S. Kahn, and Kiarri N. Kershaw, and collaborators at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Britney P. Smart, Lauren S. Keenan-Devlin and Dr. Ann Borders.

"These studies are an important step forward for research on health inequity," Miller said. "It's long been clear that excessive police force in the neighborhood is a potent and persistent stressor for Black residents of Chicago. These studies extend knowledge by suggesting there may consequences for women's reproductive and cardiovascular health."

The researchers' next step is to plan a deeper look at medical records to try and understand the biological mechanisms.

Explore further Police officers' exposure to peers accused of misconduct shapes their subsequent behavior

More information: Alexa A. Freedman et al, Complaints about excessive use of police force in women's neighborhoods and subsequent perinatal and cardiovascular health, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Alexa A. Freedman et al, Complaints about excessive use of police force in women's neighborhoods and subsequent perinatal and cardiovascular health,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl5417
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Wariness and outright hostility to vaccines did not start with COVID-19 but date back to the 18th century when the first shots were given.

From real fears sparked by side effects to fake studies and conspiracy theories, we take a look at anti-vax sentiment over the ages:

1796: First jab, first fears

Smallpox killed or disfigured countless millions for centuries before it was eradicated in 1980 through vaccination.

In 1796 the English physician Edward Jenner came up with the idea of using the milder cowpox virus on a child to stimulate immune response after he noticed milkmaids rarely got smallpox.

The processcoined "vaccinus" by Jenner (from cow in Latin)was successful, but from the outset it provoked scepticism and fear.

One cartoon in 1802 showed vaccinated people turning into monsters that were half man, half cow.

Before Jenner, a riskier method of inoculation known as "variolation" existed for smallpox, introduced to Europe from Ottoman Turkey by the English writer Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.

Dried smallpox scabs or fluid from pustules were injected or rubbed into cuts on the skin. The resulting infection was usually mild but gave the person immunity.

1853: Mandatory shot

Britain became the first world power to make the smallpox vaccine compulsory for children in 1853, following the example of Bavaria and Denmark, who introduced mandatory jabs more than three decades before.

Just like today, it triggered strong resistance.

Opponents objected on religious grounds, raised concerns over the dangers of injecting animal products, and claimed individual freedoms were being infringed.

Such was the clamour that a "conscience clause" was introduced in 1898 allowing sceptics to avoid vaccination.

1885: Pasteur and rabies

At the end of the 19th century, the French biologist Louis Pasteur developed a vaccine against rabies by infecting rabbits with a weakened form of the virus.

But again the process sparked mistrust and Pasteur was accused of seeking to profit from his discovery and for creating a "laboratory rabies".

1920s: Vaccines' heyday

Vaccines flourished in the 1920sshots were rolled out against tuberculosis with the BCG (1921), with vaccines for diphtheria (1923), tetanus (1924) and whooping cough (1926) also developed throughout the decade.

It was also when aluminium salts began to be used to increase the effectiveness of vaccines.

But more than half a century later these salts became the source of suspicion, with a condition causing lesions and fatigue called macrophagic myofasciitis thought to be caused by them.

1998: Fake autism study

A study published in top medical journal The Lancet in 1998 suggested there was a link between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella shotknown as the MMR vaccine.

The paper by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues was revealed years later to be a fraud and retracted by the journal, with Wakefield struck off the medical register.

Despite subsequent studies demonstrating the absence of any such link, the bogus paper is still a reference for anti-vaxxers and left its mark.

Wakefield's study re-emerged in the United States in 2016 in a controversial conspiracy theory film called "Vaxxed".

Measles killed 207,500 people in 2019, a jump of 50 percent since 2016, with the World Health Organization warning that vaccine coverage is falling globally.

2009: Swine flu scare

The discovery in 2009 of "Swine flu", or H1N1, caused by a virus of the same family as the deadly Spanish flu, caused great alarm.

But H1N1 was not as deadly as first feared and millions of vaccine doses produced to fight it were destroyed, fuelling mistrust towards vaccination campaigns.

Matters were made worse by the discovery that one of the vaccines, Pandemrix, increased the risk of narcolepsy.

Of 5.5 million people given the vaccine in Sweden, 440 had to be compensated after developing the sleep disorder.

2020: Polio conspiracy theories

Eradicated in Africa since August 2020 thanks to vaccines, polio is still a scourge in Pakistan and Afghanistan where the diseasewhich causes paralysis in young childrenremains endemic.

Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories have allowed it to continue to destroy lives.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban were against vaccine campaigns, calling them a Western plot to sterilise Muslim children.

However, when they returned to power last year they decided to cooperate with the WHO and UNICEF.

Explore further Vaccines: Two centuries of scepticism

 2022 AFP
MONDAY, Jan. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Most American adults don't know that alcohol boosts cancer risk, but a majority support steps to increase awareness of the link, a new nationwide survey shows.

""It is important that people are made fully aware of the potential harms of alcohol so that they may make informed decisions about alcohol consumption," said study author Kara Wiseman. She's an assistant professor of public health sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, in Charlottesville.

Alcohol has been found to increase the risk of seven cancers, including breast, colon and mouth cancer. Alcohol-related cancers caused about 378,000 deaths worldwide in 2016, a study published last year found.

For the new study, Wiseman's team surveyed nearly 3,900 Americans.

Only 20% were aware that wine increases cancer risk; 25% knew beer did so; and 31% knew that liquor increased cancer risk, the findings showed.

In all, 65% of respondents supported warning labels on alcohol, 64% were in favor of drinking guidelines and 34% backed a ban on outdoor alcohol advertising.

Such measures were more likely to have the support of people who were aware that alcohol increased cancer risk than respondents who were unaware of the link, thought drinking reduced cancer risk, and heavy drinkers, according to the report published in the Feb. 1 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

"An important next step in this research will be to determine what types of messages are able to best convey information about alcohol's harms as they relate to cancer," Wiseman said in a university news release.

Besides breast, colon and mouth cancers, alcohol use has also been linked to cancers of the throat, voice box, esophagus and liver, according to the American Cancer Society.

One way to increase awareness could be for doctors to talk to their patients. But in a previous survey by Wiseman's team, only 44% of patients said their doctor had discussed the harms of alcohol in the last 12 months.

By, "developing messaging about the potential harms of alcohol, we may be able to begin to address an important cancer risk factor," Wiseman said.

More information

To learn more about alcohol and cancer, go to the American Cancer Society.

SOURCE: University of Virginia, news release, Jan. 20, 2022

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Xi exchanges congratulations with Maltese president on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Xinhua) 15:41, January 31, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday exchanged congratulations with Maltese President George Vella on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malta diplomatic ties.

In his message, Xi pointed out that over the past half century, no matter how the international situation changes, China and Malta have always enjoyed friendly coexistence and helped each other, and firmly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

Now the two countries boast an increasingly close relationship, and have put up an effective joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fully demonstrated the profound bond between the Chinese and Maltese people, he said.

Xi said he stands ready to work with Vella to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to deepen traditional friendship, expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and push for more outcomes in China-Malta relations for the benefit of the two nations.

For his part, Vella said that over the past 50 years, Malta-China relations have been developing at a high level all along and yielded fruitful results, bringing benefits to the people of both countries.

Malta will continue to support the European Union (EU) strengthening cooperation with China and inject new vitality into the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, he said.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Maltese counterpart, Robert Abela.

Li said China stands ready to work with Malta to take the 50th anniversary as a new starting point to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen win-win cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges, so as to lift bilateral relations to new levels.

For his part, Abela said Malta will continue to play a constructive role in the EU, commit itself to maintaining stability and promoting cooperation, and strive for substantial progress and greater development of Malta-China friendly relations.

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On the phone recently, Rebecca Fons was discussing the 1987 one-night-stand-like-hell-it-is thriller Fatal Attraction, and its place in the upcoming Bad Romance retrospective at the Gene Siskel Film Center, where Fons has been director of programming for a year now.

There Fons was, at home last November, rewatching Glenn Close terrorize Michael Douglas and set feminism back a generation while demonizing frizzy Reagan-era blowouts for all eternity. Fons husband, filmmaker and educator Jack C. Newell, hadnt tried director Adrian Lynes smash hit before. She felt he should.

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Fons hadnt seen it since my 20s, probably. I was fascinated with all the sexy crazy woman energy of it, and just how poorly matched those two were. She started thinking about the beleaguered horndog vs. predatory she-wolf thrillers Douglas made after Fatal Attraction, notably Basic Instinct and Disclosure. The formula, in four words: When Scary met Clenchy.

Glenn Close leads Michael Douglas into temptation and delivers him into evil in 1987's "Fatal Attraction." (Paramount Pictures)

Running Feb. 1-27, the nine-film Bad Romance series celebrates Valentines Day its own special way. Seven of the nine will screen in 35mm prints, starting with the Feb. 1 presentation of the title that became a verb: Gaslight, directed by George Cukor, starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotten.

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In the 1944 film, adapted from the 1940 British version Gas Light and Patrick Hamiltons stage success produced in America as Angel Street, grief-stricken Paula and charming, highly motivated Gregory embark on a whirlwind romance in Italy. Back home in London and now married, Paula and her husband settle into Paulas family residence. In short but subtle order, Gregory instigates a campaign of sly psychological torture for his own nefarious purposes. Example A: lowering the light in the interior gas fixtures and then denying it, blaming Paulas misperceptions on her fragile and unstable mind.

Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman star in "Gaslight," the movie that became shorthand for willfully distorting someone's sense of reality. It's part of the Gene Siskel Film Center's February series "Bad Romance." (Handout)

On the strength of the film, gaslight, the verb, soon came into existence  shorthand for to mess with someones sense of verified reality. The word enjoyed a massive resurgence in usage around the time of Donald Trumps presidential victory, and with the ongoing Republican characterization of the 2020 election as illegitimate, gaslighting has become our new national pastime. Just last week, Saturday Night Live spoofed Gaslight.

Across all the February Bad Romance selections, says Fons, the Film Center is striving for a full reflection of dynamics inherent in all kinds of high-stakes relationships, unhealthy or not. Other titles range from Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to the perpetually undervalued Elaine May tour de force A New Leaf to the ripping film noir classic Leave Her to Heaven.

My hope, Fons says, is that couples will go to this series and have some conversations afterward. Its a unique date night opportunity.

Over at Facets, meanwhile, February brings a four-film screening series, its title borrowed from Parks and Recreations Leslie Knope. Galentines Weekend will offer contrasting tales of female friendship, starting Feb. 11 with the 1996 Set It Off with the stunning quartet of Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith and Kimberly Elise.

From left, Queen Latifah, Kimberly Elise, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith star in the 1996 action drama "Set It Off." (New Line Cinema)

Mulholland Drive (Feb. 12), David Lynchs hypnotic Hollywood reminder that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere in your delusional fantasies, will be followed by two very different comedies on Feb. 13: Frances Ha (a Greta Gerwig/Noah Baumbach joint) and Romy and Micheles High School Reunion, starring Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino.

You can see all of these films at home, of course, by way of various streaming platforms. Or, at the Film Center and Facets this month, you can opt for the in-person experience.

For Bad Romance information and tickets, go to siskelfilmcenter.org. For Galentines Weekend information and tickets, go to facets.org.

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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.
MONDAY, Jan. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It's crucial to keep preschoolers away from screens and other sources of light in the hour before bedtime if you want them to get a good night's sleep, researchers say.

That's because even a little bit of light exposure can trigger a sharp drop in the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, according to the research team at the University of Colorado Boulder.

"Our previous work showed that one, fairly high intensity of bright light before bedtime dampens melatonin levels by about 90% in young children," said study first author Lauren Hartstein. She is a postdoctoral fellow in the university's Sleep and Development Lab.

"With this study, we were very surprised to find high melatonin suppression across all intensities of light, even dim ones," Hartstein said in a university news release.

For the study, Hartstein and her colleagues had 36 healthy children, aged 3 to 5, wear a wrist monitor that tracked their sleep and light exposure for nine days.

For the first seven days, parents kept the children on a stable sleep schedule to normalize their body clocks. On the eighth day, the researchers placed black plastic on the windows and kept the lights dimmed in the children's homes to create an environment with minimal light.

On the last day of the study, the children were asked to play games on an illuminated table in the hour before bedtime. The table's light intensity varied between children, ranging from 5 lux to 5,000 lux. (One lux is defined as the light from a candle that is about 3 feet away.)

Saliva samples revealed that melatonin was 70% to 99% lower on the night when children were exposed to the light table than on the previous nights with minimal light, the study authors said.

There was little-to-no association between how bright the light was on the last night and the declines in melatonin levels, according to the study published recently in the Journal of Pineal Research.

The findings showed that melatonin fell an average of 78% in response to light at 5 to 40 lux, which is much dimmer than typical room light. Even 50 minutes after the light was turned off, melatonin did not rebound in most of the children.

Why are children so sensitive to light?

Because children's eyes have larger pupils and more transparent lenses than adults, light streams into them more freely, the researchers noted.

"Kids are not just little adults," said senior study author Monique LeBourgeois, an associate professor of integrative physiology. "This heightened sensitivity to light may make them even more susceptible to dysregulation of sleep and the circadian system."

The study authors pointed out that half of children use screen media before bed, and said these findings are a reminder to parents to turn off electronic gadgets and keep light to a minimum before bedtime to help children get a good night's sleep.

More information

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on healthy sleep habits.

SOURCE: University of Colorado Boulder, news release, Jan. 25, 2022

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Gov. Greg Gianfortes office announced on Monday a partnership between Town Pump and the LifeGuard Group to further address the human trafficking crisis in Montana.

Town Pump will display the LifeGuard Groups human trafficking hotline in its locations across the state so victims can get support. The company is also giving a $30,000 grant to Lifeguard to support the organization's efforts to fight human trafficking, according to a Monday news release.

Lifeguard Group is a Missoula-based nonprofit with a mission of fighting human trafficking. They launched the hotline in 2020 and provide training, resources and classes on the issue.

Town Pump is pleased to be partnering with Governor Gianforte and state agencies to provide resources, including a grant of $30,000 to the LifeGuard Group, to raise public awareness of human trafficking in Montana, Mike Kenneally, spokesperson for Town Pump said in the news release. We are committed to helping educate people on this issue. The more we can educate, the more we can save.

In the last year, the states Division of Criminal Investigations department has seen a 65% uptick in human trafficking investigations  41 were investigated in 2020, with a jump to 68 in 2021. This does not include whats going on at local levels, Attorney General Austin Knudsen said at a roundtable event discussing trafficking in Montana earlier this month.

Also at the roundtable, hosted at the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula, Missoula Police Detective Guy Baker urged officials to get posters with the hotline up in rest areas, convenience stores and truck stop restrooms.

Gianforte has directed the Montana Department of Transportation to get LifeGuard's posters with the hotline number posted in the state's rest areas, the release said.

Millions of people travel our roads and highways each year, and we want them to be extra sets of eyes to end human trafficking in Montana, MDT Director Mack Long said in the release. Through the governors new partnership with Town Pump, we can make an even greater impact to promote awareness and help save lives.

Roundtable participants universally stressed that combating trafficking is a team effort.

Addressing this issue is going to take all of us, Gianforte said at the event.

Neither urban, rural nor tribal communities are immune to the human trafficking crisis, Gianforte said. Tribal communities are especially impacted by trafficking, since cases contributed to rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call the Montana Human Trafficking Hotline at 833-406-STOP or your local law enforcement agency.

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As Montanas housing crisis grows, more local officials are staking out broad goals of zoning code reform to reduce regulations that impede affordable housing development.

Missoula is one city that plans a code reform process in 2022. Missoulas city planner stated in a recent interview There are ways our current regulations arent adequately meeting what our policy and vision is for the city.

Missoula officials should be applauded for finally recognizing the need to legalize affordable housing and embrace regulatory reform. But what regulations specifically impact affordability?

Unfortunately, there is no one silver bullet regulation officials can repeal to tame the housing crisis. Instead, local officials need to use a silver shotgun, with repealing minimum lot area requirements loaded as part of the shot in each shell.

For those unfamiliar with complicated zoning codes, let me take a moment to explain. Minimum lot area requirements are common local government regulations which say that a certain type of home can only be built on a certain size of property within a particular zoning district.

For example, local regulations may allow a developer to build a variety of home types on a plot of land but require a minimum 2,700 square feet of lot space for each dwelling unit built. This means a single-family home could be built on a lot as small as 2,700 square feet, while a duplex would need a minimum of 5,400, a triplex 8,100, and so on. Additional lot space would be required even if the actual building takes up no more lot space than a single-family home, as observed in modern stacked duplex and triplex designs.

Land doesnt come cheap, so requiring larger lots over the standard minimum effectively penalizes multi-family homes by making them more costly to build compared to traditional single-family homes. Since multi-family homes are typically built to be more affordable options for renters and young families, minimum lot area penalties can have an outsized impact on affordability. Research shows that mandating especially large lot sizes over 5,000 square feet can significantly drive up housing costs and restrict housing supply.

Montanas fastest-growing cities such as Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell and Billings all maintain minimum lot area requirements which impact affordability. Bozemans 2021 code audit called the citys minimum lot area requirements a significant contributor to high housing prices for non-single-household development and recommended Bozeman completely eliminate minimum lot area requirements for all multi-family housing.

While several major cities and states around the country are reforming zoning codes to allow duplexes and triplexes where previously only single-family homes were allowed, housing supply continues to be stifled due to numerous other regulations imposed on housing like minimum lot area requirements, parking mandates and building height limits. When minimum lot area requirements are addressed along with zoning reform, cities tend to see a much larger increase in housing development.

In Montana, Helena recently repealed almost all minimum lot area requirements and Billings moved from a lot area requirement to a simpler lot width requirement. These changes may be one factor keeping average home prices in those cities relatively affordable compared to cities with minimum lot area requirements like Bozeman, Missoula and Kalispell.

If the goal is legalizing affordable housing, tweaks to zoning districts just wont cut it. Eliminating minimum lot area requirements must be an important consideration for local Montana officials when looking at zoning code reform to boost affordable housing.

Kendall Cotton is president and CEO of the Frontier Institute, a think tank dedicated to breaking down government barriers so all Montanans can thrive.

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The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting public comment  until Feb. 8  on a new proposed rule attempting to limit the impact of nutrient pollution on Montanas waterways.

The rulemaking is the result of Senate Bill 358, which passed the legislature in 2021. SB 358 sought to repeal Montanas existing numeric nutrient standards, which set quantifiable limits on the amount of nutrient pollution that can be discharged to waterways, and directed DEQ to go back to using so-called narrative standards, which say, rather vaguely, that discharges should not create problems in our waterways.

The changes proposed by SB 358 were resisted by clean water advocates because in the past, these vague, narrative standards often failed to protect Montanas high-quality waters from nutrient pollution, leading to nuisance and toxic algae blooms, low oxygen levels and negative impacts to our fisheries. The narrative standards also resulted in inefficient, incremental efforts to clean up degraded waterways. Wastewater engineers working for regulated dischargers would design and build a system that reduced nutrients somewhat, but turned out to be insufficient to correct the problem. So engineers would have to redesign and rebuild. Sound expensive? You bet it was.

To address this problem, engineers told water scientists that a numeric target was needed so they could design for that. Montanas water scientists, including myself, spent decades studying nutrient levels, algae levels and other water quality measures in healthy water bodies and nutrient-impacted water bodies throughout Montana. Using this data and lab studies that related these measures to one another, the scientists developed numeric nutrient standards. These standards were reviewed and endorsed by other scientists, accepted by the EPA, and ultimately Montanas approach was seen as a model and adopted by other states grappling with nutrient pollution.

Recently, the Montana Legislature proposed to reverse course. While the specifics of a new narrative rule have yet to be fleshed out, one thing is certain: without numeric targets, Montana will go back to allowing our high-quality waters to degrade until problems are obvious, and engineers will go back to guessing what might work, and trying over and over again.

A better way would be to continue to use the scientific information we already have to develop nutrient load targets for water bodies. This approach could divide water bodies into 3 groups: 1) water bodies where nutrient targets are being met and should be maintained; 2) water bodies where targets are not being met and resulting water quality problems require a management plan to reduce loads; and 3) water bodies where nutrient targets are not being met, but do not have water quality problems connected to nutrients and can simply continue to monitor for problems. In some water bodies, other factors limit algae growth, which explains the third group. For water bodies in the second group, additional site-specific data are needed to inform management plans so that they are as effective as possible.

Such an approach would make use of existing, relevant scientific information to prioritize which waterbodies are most susceptible to nutrient-related problems, and most likely to respond to management for nutrients. It would also give engineers and land managers a meaningful target when designing systems to address an existing problem or to prevent degradation when new development occurs  as required by the Clean Water Act.

There are more technical issues being debated, but the big picture is this: Montana should not abandon decades of science-based nutrient targets developed to protect high-quality waters and restore degraded waters. You can voice your views in writing or orally  this DEQ website explains how: bit.ly/DEQ-comment.

Vicki Watson is an emeritus professor at the University of Montana. This column represents her views.

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Perhaps the bestand most obviousfeature of yachts is their ability to travel anywhere with deep water. That means going far beyond the usual cruising grounds like the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. It means bypassing Cancun and Cozumel and instead traveling to Costa Ricas Pacific Coast, with its abundant marine life, rainforests and beaches. The Bahamas is a busy destination, but if you avoid Freeport and head south for the Exumas, youll see islands like Stocking, where time stands still. The San Blas Islands in Panama are even more rewarding for natural beauty and cultural diversity. Outliers like the Galapagos and much farther afield, the Seychelles, are maritime crossroads for multiple species. The good news is that luxury charter yachts can reach these cruising grounds, serving as a comfortable home in even the most remote waters.

Endless Summer

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This countrys primal attractions include helicoptering over volcanoes to land beside untamed rivers, zip-lining virgin rain forests and free diving with whales, sea turtles and mega-pods of dolphins as well as navigating shivers of sharks in a submersible off Cocos Island. Taking you to the action, Endless Summers treasure trove includes kiteboards, dinghies and snorkeling equipment, plusnaturallya generous wine cellar. From $250,000 per week via Y.CO

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San Blas Islands, Panama

The remote San Blas feature some of the worlds richest marine life among 365 mostly uninhabited islands. Thanks to adventure firm Pelorus, all areas are accessible aboard the 165-foot Trending. That means solo-exploring Coibas diverse ecosystem, snorkeling the Holandes Cays, kayaking rain forest rivers in Cerro Hoya and hiking Pipeline Road in Gamboa for exceptional bird-watching. From $210,000 per week via Pelorus

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Bold

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This narrow out island has a population of 10 but rewards charterers with sea caves and empty beaches. At 280 feet, charter yacht Bold has a stunning interior and a large, open stern with water toys including electric foilers and transparent kayaks; theres even a helipad. And its nine-foot draft provides entree to the other local islands. From 875,000 per week via Hill Robinson

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Home to 150,000 giant sea turtles, the Aldabra Atoll is the worlds second-largest coral atoll, made up of 55,000 acres of outer islands. Recently renovated, the 13-stateroom Bleu de Nimes is no stranger to the Seychelles. With an itinerary organized by Cookson Adventures, its helicopter delivers quick access to out islands and dive sites, as well as beachside cafes serving local Creole cuisine. From $486,500 per week via Edmiston

Aqua Mare

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Explore one of the planets richest nature reserves aboard the 164-foot Aqua Mare. The archipelago offers giant tortoises, iguana colonies and multiple bird species. Adventurers can kayak above giant Galapagos sharks, snorkel with sea lions and explore lavascapes before returning for a dip in the Jacuzzi and a gourmet meal. From $196,000 per week via Northrop & Johnson

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Grenadas southernmost location in the Windwards defines secluded Caribbean cruising. Aboard the 203-foot Flag, guests can watch leatherback turtles from the sundeck pool, then explore shipwrecks, dive the marine sanctuary, hike rain forests in the Grand Etang preserve and land on the Spice Islands copious beaches, including Black Bay Beach for a private barbecue on black sand. From $427,600 per week via Burgess

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Sen Elizabeth Warren told The Independent former president Donald Trump was trying to commit insurrection in public after the former president said he would likely pardon rioters from the January 6 Capitol insurrection if he runs for president again and wins.

Trump appears to be trying to commit insurrection out in public and dare law enforcement officials to call him out for it, Ms Warren, a former Harvard Law School professor, said. I hope they do.

Mr Trump told supporters in Conroe, Texas over the weekend that he would consider pardoning those who were responsible for the riot.

If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly, he said at a rally on Saturday. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.

The House of Representatives impeached Mr Trump after the riot on the Capitol wherein his supporters broke into the complex in an attempt to overturn the results from the 2020 electoral college.

Some Republican Senators dismissed the question.

I wish would ask me something on policy once in a while, Sen Deb Fischer of Nebraska told The Independent.
While the battle over redistricting maps are being fought in the courts, elections officials and potential candidates for 2022 are waiting.

The North Carolina Supreme Court is expected to take up the case over redistricting on Wednesday. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the North Carolina General Assembly House Bill 605 on Friday, saying it was an attempt by Republican legislators to control the election timeline and undermine the voting process. The bill would have moved the primary election to June 7.

The primary election was originally set to take place in March but because of challenges to redistricting was then moved to May 17.

The N.C. Supreme Court suspended candidate filing on Dec. 8 for all offices for the 2022 primary election and pushed back the 2022 primary while legal challenges to the new districts were considered.

After an order from a three-judge panel of the Superior Court of Wake County upheld state legislative and congressional district maps being challenged in redistricting-related lawsuits, candidate filing was set to resume on Feb. 24.

In the meantime, elections officials are waiting.

Were on standstill, said Debbie Mace, director of elections for Burke County.

She said there have been people calling her office wanting to know when they can file for office.

Mace said because of the court battles, her office cant do anything to prepare the ballots or order supplies for absentee mail ballots.

Our hands are tied, Mace said.

However, two people recently opened campaign committees in preparation of filing and running for office, Mace said.

On Jan. 25, Democrat Kyle Whisnant and Republican Phil Smith each opened a campaign committee to run for a county commissioner seat.

Candidates in Burke County who filed for election before it was stopped on Dec. 8 are:

Republicans for county commissioners (2 seats open)  Tom Johnson, Jennie Cook and Randy Burns

Republicans for sheriff  Richard Epley and Banks Hinceman

Republicans for Clerk of Court  Bryan Steen and Crystal Carpenter

Democrats for Clerk of Court  Becky Weatherman

Republicans for NC House Seat 86  Hugh Blackwell

Republicans for NC Senate Seat 46  Warren Daniel

Candidates in Burke County who have opened campaign committees but have not filed are:

Republicans for county commissioners  Beth Heile, who opened a campaign committee on Jan. 10; Pam Deloach, who opened a campaign committee on Aug. 24.

Republicans for Clerk of Court  Eric Duckworth

Filing for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor in Burke County (two seats) starts June 13 and ends July 1.

The 2022 General Election is scheduled to take place Nov. 8.
The United States and Russia squared off Monday in the U.N. Security Council, where Moscow lost an attempt to block a public meeting on Moscows troop buildup near Ukraines borders and Western fears of an invasion.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield dismissed a charge by Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia that Washington was trying to whip up hysterics and use megaphone diplomacy by calling the first Security Council meeting on the crisis.

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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks to reporters during a news conference at United Nations headquarters on March 1, 2021. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 for the first time on Russias troop buildup and threatening actions against Ukraine at the request of the United States, and all key players are expected to square off in public over the possibility of a Russian invasion and its global impact. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops on your border, Thomas-Greenfield said.

The vote on holding an open meeting passed 10-2, with Russia and China opposed, and three abstentions. The vote needed nine votes to be approved.

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U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo then went ahead with an open briefing, to be followed by speeches from the 15 council members.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the meeting was a critical step in rallying the world to speak out in one voice to reject the use of force, seek military de-escalation, support diplomacy and demand accountability from every member to refrain from military aggression against its neighbors.

The session kicked off more high-level diplomacy this week, although talks between the U.S. and Russia have so far failed to ease tensions in the crisis. Russia has massed the estimated 100,000 troops near the borders of its southern neighbor, stoking fears in the West of an invasion.

Russia denies it intends to launch an attack but demanded that NATO promise never to allow Ukraine to join the alliance, halt the deployment of NATO weapons near Russian borders, and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. NATO and the U.S. call those demands impossible.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken didnt make any visible progress in easing the tensions at their meeting in Geneva earlier this month. They are expected to speak by phone Tuesday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call Thursday that there is a distinct possibility Russia could begin an incursion in February, but the Ukrainian leader 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.

Zelenskyy said Friday that we arent seeing any escalation bigger than before, and charged that the Russian buildup could be an attempt by Moscow to exert psychological pressure and sow panic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with Zelenskyy, and will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later Monday, to urge him to step back, Johnsons office said. Johnson says he is considering sending hundreds of British troops to NATO countries in the Baltic region as a show of strength.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that hysteria promoted by Washington triggers hysteria in Ukraine, where people are almost starting to pack their bags for the front line.

While Russia could try to block the Security Council meeting if it gets the support of nine of the 15 members, the U.S. was confident it had more than sufficient support to hold it, according to a senior official in the Biden administration who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly.

Any formal action by the Security Council is extremely unlikely, given Russias veto power and its ties with others on the council, including China.

Speaking Sunday on ABCs This Week, Thomas-Greenfield said of Russia: Were going into the room prepared to listen to them, but were not going to be distracted by their propaganda.

She said last week that council members 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.

On Friday, Chinas U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said both sides have shown willingness to continue negotiations and should be allowed to continue.

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Russia has said clearly they have no intention to have a war and the Security Council should help to deescalate the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire, Zhang said.

On Sunday, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, said that in the event of an attack, lawmakers want Russia to face the mother of all sanctions. That includes actions against Russian banks that could severely undermine the Russian economy and increased lethal aid to Ukraines military.

The sanctions under consideration would apparently be significantly stronger than those imposed after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Those penalties have been seen as ineffective.

Menendez also raised the prospect of imposing some punishments preemptively, before any invasion.
Burke County added 207 new cases of COVID-19 from Friday to Sunday but the number of active cases has declined.

The Burke County COVID-19 dashboard showed 23,009 total cases on Monday, up from 22,802 cases on Friday. The dashboard also showed the county has 1,637 active cases on Monday, down from 2,159 active cases on Friday.

But hospitalizations due to the virus in the county remain high.

UNC Health Blue Ridge reported it had 39 COVID-19 patients  16 vaccinated  with seven of those patients in the intensive care unit  two vaccinated  on Monday. The health systems COVID-19 virtual hospital had 152 patients.

The virus has, so far, claimed 290 lives in Burke County.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 7,327 new cases with a daily percent positive rate of 26.9% and 4,882 people hospitalized across the state on Monday. The virus has claimed 162 lives over the weekend for a total of 20,757 North Carolinians by Monday, up from 20,595 people on Friday.

As the county is seeing a high number of virus cases, the state is conducting a testing clinic in the county.

The health department said it will not be conducting COVID-19 testing for the next three weeks. Instead, it said until further notice, testing will be conducted through the state with a mass testing clinic in the parking lot of Burkemont Baptist Church, located at 4668 Burkemont Road, Morganton.

The testing clinic will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are not required, and testing is on a first-come, first-served basis. PCR tests will be the only tests administered at the clinic and results will be given in two days or less, the health department said in a release. The health department is asking for patience from those coming to the large-scale testing event.

Burke County community, we need your help in slowing the spread of this virus. As we have seen, the Omicron variant is very contagious, the health department said in its release on Friday. You can help in several different ways: getting your COVID vaccine and booster dose if eligible, wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth to help protect you and others, staying 6 feet apart from others who do not live with you, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, washing hands with soap and water, and using hand sanitizer if soap and water arent available.

CDC guidance

The Burke County Health Department said it will be following the most recent guidance provided from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Dec. 27 for quarantining and isolating. The guidance says:

If you are unvaccinated and have been exposed to COVID-19:

Stay home for five days only if no symptoms develop. After that continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days.

Get a COVID-19 test five days after your last exposure.

If you are fully vaccinated but have not received your booster and are exposed to COVID-19:

Stay home for five days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.

If you cant quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.

Get a COVID-19 test five days after your last exposure, if possible.

If symptoms develop, you should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms your symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

If you are fully vaccinated plus boosted and you are exposed to COVID-19:

You do not have to quarantine but wear a mask properly for the next 10 days.

Get a COVID-19 test five days after your last exposure date, if possible.

If symptoms occur, you should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms your symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

If you test positive for COVID-19 regardless of your vaccination status:

Stay home for five days.

If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave your house.

Continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.

For general questions about COVID-19, call the Burke County Health Department public information line at 828-764-9150 or visit the COVID-19 webpage at burkenc.org/COVID-19.
The following charges were served on Sunday, December 12:

 Pedro Lopez, 24, of 321 Center St., in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor injury to real property. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $500 secured bond. His court date was set for March 14.

 Gary Lee Harris, 32, of 2615 Hartland Trail, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. His court date was set for March 24.

 Ashley Nicole Dunford, 30, of 225 VFW Road, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,500 secured bond.

The following charges were served on Monday, December 13:

 Ashley Nicole Hartley, 37, of 3005 Fred Bentley Road, in Granite Falls, was charged with felony fugitive from justice. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and held without bond awaiting extradition.

 Kasey Hice, 38, of 3004 Grace View Place, in Granite Falls, was charged with two felony counts of possession of schedule II controlled substances and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises. She was served at the Burke County Jail where she was being held pending other charges. She was issued an additional $15,000 secured bond.

 Brandon James Triplett, 35, of 2707 Edwards Circle, in Connelly Springs, was charged with an out of county misdemeanor warrant. He was served with a criminal summons to appear.

 Randy Scott Oates, 33, of 102 Catawba St., in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor larceny. He was served with a criminal summons to appear.

 David Allen Tate, 65, of 300 1/2 Roper St., in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon. He was served with a criminal summons to appear for a court date set for Feb. 4.

 Erik Joseph Pennycuff, 24, of 3546 E. Homestead Lane, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor second-degree trespassing. He was released with a written promise to appear for a court date set for Feb. 21.

 Dustin Rick Durham, 36, of 5000 Silver Creek Church Road Ext., in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was issued a $1,000 secured bond and released.

 Jacob Ryan Pearson, 28, of 621 Hopewell Road, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $3,000 secured bond.

 Amber Renae Matthews, 26, of 304 N. Main St., in Morganton, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of failure to appear or comply. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $3,000 secured bond.

The following charges were served on Tuesday, December 14:

 Gonzalez Jose Rodriguez, 45, of 2728 Mill Race Road, in Morganton, was charged with felony trafficking cocaine and felony maintaining a dwelling, vehicle or place for drugs or controlled substances. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $100,000 secured bond.

 Shasta Nicole Stroupe, 38, of 1569 Devinney St., in Morganton, was charged with felony breaking or entering into a motor vehicle and one misdemeanor count each of failure to pay monies, second-degree trespassing, larceny, injury to personal property and larceny of property; receiving or possessing stolen goods . She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $3,500 secured bond.

 Megan Renee Morehead, 29, of 2596 Rose Lane, in Morganton, was charged with felony larceny of property; receiving or possessing stolen goods. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

 Donna Marie Tanzi, 69, of 135 Ribet Ave. S.W., A1, in Valdese, was charged with misdemeanor simple worthless check. She was released with a written promise to appear.

 Ilan Steven Velaquez-Soto, 18, of 708 Jamestown Road, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor second-degree trespassing and consuming an alcoholic beverage under the legal age. He was granted a custody release.

 Ian David Smith, 27, of 205 New Orleans Blvd., in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor violation of a domestic violence protection order. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a 48-hour hold.

 Bethany Susanne Kelly, 47, of Morganton, was charged with felony probation violation. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond.

 Alexander Colon Class, 21, of 141 Stonebridge Drive, C, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. His court date was set for Feb. 10.

 Jimenez Oscar Martinez, 22, of 805 Old N.C. 18, B, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor possession of a schedule VI controlled substance. He was cited and released.

The following charges were served on Wednesday, December 15:

 Jonathan Michael Ryan, 34, of 5078 Millstone Ave., in Valdese, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $500,000 secured bond.

 Holly Renee Saulman, 43, of 108 Hamp St., in Morganton, was charged with two felony counts of probation violation. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $50,000 secured bond.

 Travis Nathaniel Hylemon, 21, of 105 Walker Lane, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor probation violation and nine misdemeanor counts of failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $28,500 secured bond.

 Sarah Brooke Weedman, 26, of 51 Overlook Park Lane, in Marion, was charged with misdemeanor driving while impaired. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $3,000 secured bond. Her court date was set for Feb. 7.

 Joseph Charon Miller, 34, of 1630 Roy Caldwell St., in Morganton, was charged with one misdemeanor count each of speeding in excess of 15 mph over the posted limit, reckless driving to endanger and driving during revocation. He was released with a written promise to appear for a court date set for Feb. 4.

 Ronald Caswell Allen, 62, of 115 Oakland Ave., Apt. 103, in Drexel, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $4,000 secured bond.

 Darrel Landis Bentley, 62, of 4306 Belmont Drive, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor communicating threats. He was issued a $1,000 unsecured bond.

 Sabrina Lynn Church, 30, of 1881 Stoneheaven Road, in Conover, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

 David Smith, 60, of 511 Malcolm Blvd., in Rutherford College, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. His court date was set for March 28.

 Caleb Brince Yelton, 27, of 4151 River Road, in Morganton, was charged with felony defeating an antishoplifting device by concealment. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

 Cobey Lee Lowman, 32, of 280 Hilltop St., in Connelly Springs, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He was issued a $2,000 secured bond and released. His court date was set for Jan. 31.

The following charges were served on Thursday, December 16:

 Matthew Charles Schlottman, 42, of Morganton, was charged with one misdemeanor count each of possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and littering. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond. His court date was set for Feb. 28.

 Christopher Ray Pauley, 38, of Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a 48-hour hold.

 David Allen Michaels, 42, of 4750 Crystal Creek Road, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor larceny of property; receiving or possessing stolen goods. He was cited and released. His court date was set for Feb. 1.

 Clarence Eugene Teems, 59, of 1705 Bethel Road, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a 48-hour hold.

 Meghann Meckenzie Bollinger, 30, of 724 W. Union St., F, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor breaking or entering. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. Her court date was set for Feb. 17.

 David Kelly Franklin, 47, of 3731 Harry Brittain Drive, in Morganton, was charged with felony assault by strangulation and misdemeanor assault on a female. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a 48-hour hold. His court date was set for Feb. 17.

The following charges were served on Friday, December 17:

 Willie Charles Davis, 47, of 4363 Homer Burns Ave., in Hickory, was charged with misdemeanor probation violation and three counts of misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under an $80,000 secured bond.

 Sean Paul Carswell, 49, of 4855 Joe Carswell Road, in Morganton, was charged with one count each of felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $10,000 secured bond.

 Ashley Louise Eller, 35, of 3680 Berry Road, Lot 7, in Connelly Springs, was charged with three misdemeanor counts of failure to appear or comply. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $248 cash bond.

 Billy Joe Collins Jr., 50, of 2000 Wicker Mobile Home Park, Lot 10, in Lenoir, was charged with misdemeanor probation violation. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond.

 Jeffrey Lynn Branch, 50, of 3324 Barus Pond Loop, in Valdese, was charged with three misdemeanor counts of failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $2,500 secured bond.

 Arthur Lee Monte Sexton, 25, of 7934 Old N.C. 10, in Hickory, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault on a female. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a 48-hour hold.

 Danny Tildon Harris, 59, of 8950 Weaver Road, in Connelly Springs, was charged with misdemeanor larceny. He was issued a $500 unsecured bond.

 Dylan Wayne McBryar, 28, of 403 Dogwood Drive, in Hickory, was charged with an out of county misdemeanor warrant. He was released with a written promise to appear.

 Derreck Kane Carswell, 28, of 4728 Mount Gilead Church Road, in Connelly Springs, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was issued a $1,000 secured bond and released.

 Jesse John Speaks, 30, of 1515 S. Sterling St., D, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

 Lester Daniel McClendon, 25, of 100 Hitt Park Drive, in Marion, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a 48-hour hold.

 Teresa Walker Cannon, 55, of 3403 U.S. 64, in Morganton, was charged with felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance. She was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond.

The following charges were served on Saturday, December 18:

 Gustavo Antonio Euceda-Maldonado, 27, of 508 Vine Arden Road, in Morganton, was charged with felony first or second-degree forced burglary. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $25,000 secured bond.

 David Kent Lipe, 62, of 173 Oakdale Drive, in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor driving while impaired. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

 William Lee Lipford, 36, of 3450 Jamestown Road, in Morganton, was charged with one misdemeanor count each of failure to appear or comply and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $500 secured bond. His court date was set for Feb. 7.

 Travis Andrew Edmunds, 24, of 3717 Kathy Road, in Morganton, was charged with one misdemeanor count each of driving while impaired, no operators license and possession of a schedule VI controlled substance. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $2,000 secured bond.
Possible arson damages Rock House Cafe

The Rock House Cafe, located on NC 181 just north of the Oak Hill community in Morganton, sustained nearly $1,500 in damage in a blaze Monday at 1 a.m. Oak Hill Fire Department officials and the county fire marshal, Marvin Sawyer, noted there was considerable evidence that the fire was set. It appeared that a flammable liquid was used to start four small fires in the building. A neighbor, Victor Miller, spotted the blaze and called the fire department. Two fire trucks and 15 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. The fire was estimated to have reached 1,400 degrees and melted some of the window glass. It is not known yet if the building is insured. The cafe was the scene of a shooting Oct. 17 when a shotgun was fired into the building, and the scene of another shoot-out on Aug. 10.

Sting reveals alcohol, gambling devices at popular hangouts

Deputies with the Burke County Sheriffs Office and ABC officers staged a double-whammy in the Glen Alpine area Saturday night. The officers raided a pool hall on US 70 operated by Bill South and found gambling devices in the pool room and beer for sale in a vending machine. Five people were arrested. Law enforcement also raided Willies Party House on Jamestown Road, operated by Major Van Ayers, and found gambling devices and beer and whiskey for sale. South and Van Ayers each posted $600 bond and are expected to appear in district court March 21.

Hospital debuts new clinic

Valdese General Hospital will showcase its new professional building and clinic during an open house set for Sunday from 2-5 p.m., hosted by the hospitals board of trustees and medical staff. Doctors and nurses will guide visitors through the complex.

Construction began on the building in 1970. It cost $650,000 to build, which was financed by donations and reserve fund appreciation.

The building has been in use for some time, but giving the public a chance to visit the structure, called a triumph in architectural design with its four-leaf clover style layout, has been delayed due to last minute changes.

We are tremendously proud of the new medical clinic, for not only does it give us much-needed space for outpatient work, but it is a beautiful building to look at, said Earl Spencer, chair of the board of trustees for Valdese General Hospital.

Local students prepare for regional choir program

Seven members of the Hildebran High School choir attended a rehearsal Tuesday to prepare to participate in the Mars Hill Choral Clinic scheduled to take place this weekend. High school students from all over central and western North Carolina and parts of Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia have participated in the clinic for the last 23 years, according to Jim Jerome Williams, music director at Hildebran High School. The Mars Hill Choral Clinic is conducted by a nationally-known choral director each year and is considered a great learning opportunity for the participants. Williams said the Hildebran students have prepared for weeks to learn the music that will be performed at the choral clinic.

Joint concert to feature college musicians

The auditorium at Western Piedmont Community College will be the setting for a joint recital Monday performed by soprano Jayne Wilkins and pianist Loren Tice. Tice is a musician in residence at WPCC for the academic year as part of a program sponsored in part by the North Carolina Arts Council. Wilkins, a music teacher and choir director at WPCC, serves as music director for the Horn in the West outdoor drama in Boone. Tice, who plays piano, organ and harpsicord, will perform selections by Chopin, Debussy, Hindemith and Bartok. Wilkins will sing selections by Mozart, Mendelsohn, Brahms and Strauss, as well as a composition by local musician Millicent Gordon. Gordon wrote both the words and music for the piece and will accompany Wilkins during the performance of the song.

This article is sponsored by the History Museum of Burke County, where the archives of The News Herald are stored.
With at least 234 named shafts in 1912, its no surprise that some of Buttes mines are largely forgotten.

The Poulin lode claim was located March 19, 1877, by Chastine Humphrey and William McNamara. It was east of Montana Street and between Buffalo and Pacific Streets near the southern edge of Centerville, open space today. Little was done on the claim for the next 15 years, but by 1892 the shaft was down about 400 feet and crosscuts were being driven to several veins. This almost immediately led to lawsuits from the owners of the adjacent Pacific Lode, who claimed the proprietors of the Poulin were mining from their Pacific vein. It became a classic apex case, hinging on where the veins ran in the subsurface.

The Andrew Jackson Davis estate, heir to the founder of the First National bank of Butte, alleged in 1893 that $250,000 worth of ore had been taken from the Pacific through the Poulin shaft. The case was complicated by McNamaras death in June 1893 at his home at 411 West Quartz (still standing), and it seemed that his widow, Kate, just didnt care, but the case dragged on through 1894.

The Pacific-Poulin case became largely moot in September 1894 when Silas King, on behalf of Marcus Dalys Washoe Copper Company, purchased the Poulin for $137,000, the Pacific for $90,000, and two other nearby claims. An additional suit brought by the administrator of the Davis estate charged that the purchase price of the Pacific was too low, but that went nowhere. The four claims were operated for a time as the Poulin Copper Company subsidiary of Washoe, but it soon became an integral part of Washoe.

In 1895, using one of the largest cylindrical hoist engines in the west, rated for 4,000 feet, the Poulin shaft became one of the deepest in Butte at 1,275 feet. It was supported by massive fir timbers imported from Washington State. That hoist engine moved in 1896 to the Moonlight Mine, another Washoe property on the south side of the Butte hill.

The Washoe Copper Company came under the umbrella of the Amalgamated in 1899 but operated as a technically separate company until the Anaconda Copper Mining Company succeeded the Amalgamated in 1915. The opening of the Poulin shaft was largely disused and ore was taken out the nearby interconnected Buffalo shaft, technically owned by Dalys Anaconda Company but effectively, they were all one and the same.

In 1910 the Poulin shaft was reported down to 1,500 feet, and the air in this mine is good.

By 1916, the Poulin had become one of the Anaconda Companys most important zinc producers, employing 300 of the 9,600 miners on the Anaconda payroll, and moving 500 tons of zinc ore each day. It became a model for safety within the Anaconda system, with manager Herbert Tonkin winning a $750 prize in 1917 for the mine with fewest accidents, even though in April 1917 John Pekkari, who lived at 478 East Park Street, died when a charge he was tamping on the 300 level exploded. The Poulin first-aid team also tied with the High Ore in a competition judged by four Butte physicians.

William McNamara, who was co-owner of the original Poulin lode, also established the McNamara House, a lodging on West Copper directly north of todays Archives buildings, touted as the only place in Butte where ladies can go for a bath away from home.

McNamara owned land in the first block of West Granite where new buildings were going up in 1889 when a huge fire destroyed that block and several nearby buildings, but McNamara proceeded to construct a massive building there after the fire. Although he died before it was completed, he left enough money in his will to see the construction of the Silver Bow Block to fruition. The first two stories were done while he was alive, in 1890-91, and the three upper stories were added in 1896-97 under the direction of architect Henry Patterson. Together with the adjacent Inter Mountain and Professional (Lewisohn) Buildings, the Silver Bow Block was destroyed by fire in 1978, leaving a parking lot across from the Montana Standard office on Granite Street today.

Local geologist and historian Dick Gibson has lived in Butte since 2003 and has worked as a tour guide for various organizations and museums. He can be reached at rigibson@earthlink.net.

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Politicians and investor-owned utilities are now proposing small nuclear reactors in Montana to replace the old coal-fired power plants at Colstrip. For the last 44 years a successful citizens initiative banned nuclear power in Montana unless approved by the voters. But Republican majorities in the 2021 Montana legislature repealed the initiative and Governor Gianforte signed the bill into law. There are similar proposals in Wyoming and Idaho.

But the rush to nukes suffered a major setback this month when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission denied Oklo's application to build and operate the nations first small modular nuclear 720-megawatt reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory. The commission cited "significant information gaps" in the company's application, including details on potential accidents and on safety systems and components. This is no surprise considering the Union of Concerned Scientists has strong reservations about the sodium-cooled Natrium design.

Of the 27 Utah cities that initially committed to buy electricity from Idahos nuclear reactor, at least seven have already backed out after the Utah Taxpayers Association raised concerns about serious financial overruns in the future, which would stick ratepayers with the costs. The concerns are well-founded since other advanced reactor projects across the country have been over budget, behind schedule, and have yet to produce any power.

For example, Duke Energy dropped a nuclear energy project after the estimated cost of $5 billion exploded to $22 billion. Yet ratepayers were still burned when the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to stick ratepayers for $800 million in excess costs for a reactor that never generated any electricity. South Carolinas PSC approved a $9 billion nuclear project  but the utilities abandoned the project, never produced any electricity and left ratepayers to pick up the costs. Meanwhile, the Vogtle plant in Georgia  currently under construction and six years behind schedule  was initially estimated to cost $14 billion, but is now at least $30 billion. Last October, Georgias PSC approved Vogtles request to pass on $2.1 billion in construction costs to ratepayers without producing a single kilowatt of energy.

These small nuclear reactors are theoretically less prone to meltdown than conventional nuclear reactors because they use liquid sodium metal as coolant rather than water. Since sodiums boiling point is much higher than the reactors operational temperature, the coolant wont boil or vaporize so the system does not need to be pressurized.

But liquid sodium catches fire if exposed to air or water. The sodium-cooled reactors at the Monju project in Japan and the Superphenix in France have experienced leaks leading to fires and shutdowns.

Due to late Senator Harry Reids successful effort to halt construction of a national nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, all nuclear waste in the US must now be stored on site in concrete casks. Attempts to build "temporary" national waste repository sites in remote parts of the West  such as the west desert in Utah and rural Wyoming  have been stopped by local and congressional opposition.

Initially, TerraPower, Bill Gatess company that would build the Montana reactors, proposed a breed and burn reactor that recycled its own waste by burning depleted uranium. Those plans have been discarded, however, in favor of storing the nuclear waste on site.

The shocking costs go on even after the reactors have been shut down. Decommissioning cost for the Colstrip reactor was recently estimated at as much as $5 billion.

The bottom line is pretty clear: Its time to say goodbye and good riddance not only to coal, but also to nuclear power.

Mike Garrity is executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.

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ARCHIVED - Black boxes compulsory in new cars in Spain



The devices will record data before and after road traffic accidents

Newly manufactured cars in Spain and the rest of the European Union from this year will have to be fitted with an EDR device, more commonly known as a black box, that will register vital details in the event of an accident. Several driving assistants will become mandatory as of 2022 , and the European Parliament predicts that these systems could help prevent more than 25,000 deaths and 140,000 injuries from road traffic accidents over the next 18 years.

The black boxes or EDR (Event Data Recorder) will be installed under the drivers seat and will use 15 parameters to record everything that happens before and after the unfortunate event of an accident. To ensure data protection, the device will not record audio or video of the driver or passengers.

So what does it record?

Roughly the size of a mobile phone, the black box is usually connected to the control unit of the vehicles airbag. The data saving mechanism will be activated during the 15 seconds immediately before a traffic accident and the five seconds after.

The parameters that will be recorded are vehicle speed, braking, engine revolutions, front and side impact force, steering movements, accelerator position, operation of safety systems such as airbags, belts or certain assistants, the time of the accident, the route, whether it was day or night.

The collected data can then be accessed by removing the black box and connecting it to a computer.

Accessing the information contained in these EDRs is complicated and specific knowledge is required to be able to access the data, which is encrypted.

How will the information be used?

For the time being, all data collected will be used anonymously, purely for statistical purposes with the intention of improving road safety. Therefore, the information gathered cannot be used to establish blame in the event of an accident, although insurance companies and the police will be entitled to access the data.

The overall hope is that black boxes will help to clarify the conditions in which a traffic accident has occurred.

Image: Archive
Jeans arent just the great unifier. Theyre a garment designed to tell others about you.

Cheap versions? Expensive versions?

They say something about us as a culture and where we are and where weve been, says Anna Lee Strachan, the producer of Riveted: The History of Jeans.

Originally viewed as workwear, denim pants morphed over time and became a symbol of protest. According to Tanisha Ford, author of Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style and the Global Politics of Soul, jeans were worn at protest marches to symbolize struggle. At the march on Washington, people were dressed in their Sunday best and here were these two sisters  the Ladner sisters  who were dressed in denim overalls.

From the early civil rights movement to the hip-hop explosion, jeans served as a symbol of racial protests within the Black community, she says. They also helped certain generations wage their own battles against schools with dress codes. At my boarding school, they said we couldnt wear denim jeans, so we wore colored jeans. That was a way around that now-outdated dress code.

In the 1990s, hip-hop culture embraced denim  baggy denim  as an expression of freedom. It became a way to be bold and brave and brazen in a world where we were once enslaved, Ford says.

In the new PBS special, Strachan traces denims route from workwear to high fashion.

Designer jeans, Ford says, became a marker of success or participation in the American dream. Weve arrived to a degree where we have the income to buy these jeans.

Outrageous prices were set by companies as a way to say what they consider their brand to be worth, says Emma McClendon, a fashion historian. Tom Ford, for example, produced jeans that were priced at $2,800. The press just couldnt fathom this price tag. But what shocked everybody even more was that the jeans sold out. People want that, people are excited about that and people keep purchasing the garment at these levels.

Today, stretch fibers have given jeans the ability to feel and look good.

Stretch gets this really bad rap, McClendon says. But the reality is its really hard to get a good fit with ready-to-wear sized clothing. Stretch changed that. If you look at fiber tags across all types of pants, all types of shirts, a huge percentage of clothing now has stretch in it and I dont see that changing any time soon.

What will vary are the wear patterns and cuts. The difference between cheap and expensive jeans are the cuts designers offer.

Theres a lot of different types of denim out there and the fiber and dyes theyre using and how they finish them, McClendon adds. But another thing that goes into the price tag is where they make them. What are the conditions of not just the place that farms the cotton or weaves the fabric but the finishing washhouses that create all those distress marks that we love so much? Rips, for example, could be hand-done. You will have that fade in the same place across the product line.

To maintain denims integrity, some denimheads dont wash them, McClendon says. Every time you wash it and put it in the tumble dryer, it is taking off a uniform amount of the dye. But if you wear it for a really long time and then put it into the washing machine, youre going to start to see uneven spaces where the dye has rubbed off just from how you wear it.

If you dont wash your jeans, they will build up a friction from your body and become more personalized. To keep them from smelling, those denimheads put them in the freezer. Thats how youre supposed to get rid of the odor.

When Ford got her masters degree in 2005, Black women were keen to buy Seven for All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity jeans because they were symbols of luxury. Things that have a particular monetary value or luxury value mean something extra special to African-Americans because of the way we have been barred from high fashion, she says. We have had to experience red-lining  not having access to home loans.

That history  from its days in the fields to its time on runways  cant be claimed by any other fabric. Why? No one knows. Whats really fascinating about jeans is how much they say about us, us as a culture and kind of where we are and where weve been, Strachan says. Thats something really interesting about denim that other garments dont necessarily do.

Riveted: The History of Jeans, an American Experience documentary, airs Feb. 7 on PBS.

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Chicagoans have the chance to see the original 13th Amendment along with other Civil War-era artifacts until Friday at Heritage Auctions Chicago, 222 W. Hubbard St.

In honor of Black History Month and Abraham Lincolns birthday, Heritage Auctions, a multinational auction house, will have some of the rarest artifacts of the Civil War era on display before the historical items head to Heritages Dallas headquarters for bidding.

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The Chicago preview will include vaulted lots of 530 artifacts from the Lincoln era.

Written on vellum animal skin with iron gall ink, one of 12 to 14 examples of the 13th Amendment for the abolition of slavery hangs on a wall for a public auction preview at the Heritage Auctions showroom, Jan. 27, 2022, in Chicago. The starting bid for the piece is $200,000. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Those who want to take a chance at keeping a copy of the original 13th Amendment or other collectibles such as letters written by Abraham Lincoln and an engraved pocket knife once owned by the 16th president will have the opportunity to do so.

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People can bid interactively on our website, said Curtis Linder, a director of Americana at Heritage in Dallas and an expert in collecting areas of Americana, political memorabilia and the Civil War.

On Feb. 12, Lincolns birthday, bidders can also attend the auction in person in Dallas, or dial in by phone.

The auction will be online only on Feb. 13.

Both events start at 11 a.m.

Linder highlighted some of the Civil War-era artifacts that will be up for action.

Among them is the original 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution signed by more than 109 members of Congress.

The one-page document is on parchment in the manuscript with a ruled border marked Duplicate at the heading, according to a description on the website.

Some of the text and signatures are hard to read as the vellum used for the documents absorbed the ink. Four faint senators signatures, including Charles Sumner and John P. Hale, are written on the left margin.

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We have a letter written here by Abraham Lincoln to the Army of the Potomac, which is the Union Army, Linder said.

He said the letter was written after the Union Army was defeated at the Battle of Fredricksburg. The Union Army, Linder explained, believed the Confederates were a ragtag bunch but were proven wrong in Fredricksburg, Virginia, when the Union Army had twice the number of casualties compared with the Confederate army.

So, Lincoln wrote this letter to the Army of the Potomac just basically saying youre still a great army, the country is proud of you (and) you will prevail, Linder said. He knew he had to do something like that to build their morale back up because they were expected to win in that battle.

Linder said it is one of the most historic letters Lincoln penned.

One of 12 to 14 examples of the 13th Amendment on display for public auction at the Heritage Auctions showroom as seen Jan. 28, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Another collectible is from the United States Sanitary Commission, an agency that aided families of soldiers who died or were wounded. The group supported families by helping with finances, food and boarding.

Between 1863 and 1865, an event called the Sanitary Fair would take place in populated cities including New York, Chicago and Boston to help raise funds for the commission.

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In 1864, Lincoln went to the Sanitary Fair in Philadelphia.

There, a gentleman presented him with a beautiful pocket knife with beautiful engravings on the blade, Linder said.

The knife, which will be up for auction, will come with a letter from Lincoln thanking the gentleman who presented the gift to him.

So when you hold this knife in your hand, youre holding something that our 16th president held at one time, Linder said. When someone buys something like this, it may not be seen for another 50 years. You may never know.

Abraham Lincoln's bloodstained shirt cuff behind glass during a public auction preview at the Heritage Auctions showroom. The starting bid for the piece is $10,000. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Linder explained that some buyers may pass their collectibles on to their children and they can get passed along from generation to generation without any public viewing.

Others may set up a private display for their local area.

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When someone wins something from our office, they take possession of it and then some people donate things to museums and other institutions while other people build their own museums, Linder explained. Most people put it in their collection and they put it in a safety deposit box or they frame it and put it on the wall and they enjoy it that way.

But for now, Chicagoans have a few more days to see the public display before the historical items become private possessions.

For those interested in visiting Heritage Auctions to see the Civil War-era artifacts, the office will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All are welcome to our office on Hubbard Street, Linder said.

tatturner@chicagotribune.com
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Nov. 10, 2021.
The National Research Foundations South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland in the Northern Cape now hosts one of four telescopes that form part of the Nasa-funded Atlas asteroid alert system.

Atlas, or Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System, is specially designed to detect objects that approach very close to Earth  closer than the distance to the Moon, up to about 240,000 km away.

A $5-million grant to the University of Hawaii from Nasas Near-Earth Objects Observations programme, now called the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, kicked off the systems development back in 2013.

The first two telescopes on the islands of Haleakala and Maunaloa, which are about 160km apart, became fully operational in 2017.

The South Africa-based telescope, Atlas 3, and another installation at El Sauce Observatory in Chile resulted from a further $3.8 million in funding granted in August 2018.

The two locations were selected for their access to the southern part of the sky as well as their time zones, which allow for night observation when it is daytime in Hawaii, the Department of Science and Innovation explained.

Combined, the four telescopes will now be able to scan the entire night sky around the clock for objects that could collide with the Earth.

Atlas 3 was installed in November 2021 by an SAAO team that included Electronic Technician Willie Koorts.

Koorts published a detailed video of the process on YouTube.

After arriving in two large crates, the mount and telescope had to be lifted into a dome at the Sutherland facility and fitted precisely.

He explained the system combined a relatively simple telescope with a powerful 110MP CCD camera capable of detecting a match flame in New York when viewed from San Franciso.

The telescopes field of view is also 15 times the diameter of the full Moon.

Koorts said the system could provide a one-day warning for a 30-kilotonne town killer, a weeks notice for a 5-megatonne city killer, or three weeks forewarning for a 100-megatonne county or province killer.

Atlas can also search for dwarf planets, supernova explosions, and flashes of light when a star is consumed by a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy.

As of November 2021, Atlas had discovered around 700 near-earth asteroids, 70 potentially hazardous asteroids, 65 comets, and nearly 10,000 supernovae.

Science and innovation minister Blade Nzimande said the South African installation had already discovered its first near-Earth object, as shown in the image below.

Now read: Square Kilometre Array vs James Webb Space Telescope
Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) is encouraging students to apply for nine scholarship opportunities made available each year thanks to the generosity of local donors. The deadline for the 2022-2023 academic year is March 7, and awards range in size from $350 to more than $5,000 per year.

Scholarships are available for: local military veterans, or the dependents of military veterans who were wounded or died while in active service; graduating seniors from Napa County public high schools, and transfer students from Napa Valley College; teachers throughout the valley who are pursuing further education; and Calistoga youth studying music.

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Four of the funds require or prefer students who will be first in their families to attend college, and all of NVCFs scholarship funds are either automatically renewable for each year of a students educational journey, or open for subsequent year support by application.

NVCFs newest two scholarship funds are the Changemaker Scholarship and the Committed Scholarship, both established by a Napa resident whose goal is to support exceptional, first-generation or middle-income graduating seniors who have demonstrated leadership qualities and heavy involvement in the community.

In 2021, NVCF awarded $321,351 to 100 local students. Approximately 25 percent of last years scholarship recipients attended University of California campuses; 13 percent went to private universities; 27 percent enrolled in the California State University system; 22 percent attended Napa Valley College and the balance attended community colleges in other regions of California, or public colleges and universities outside of California. Notably, 85 percent of last years recipients were the first in their families to attend college. Since inception, the Foundation has made 555 awards totaling $1.4 million to Napa County residents.

For more information, and to apply, visit www.napavalleycf.org/im-astudent/scholarship-opportunities/, or contact Napa Valley Community Foundation at scholarships@napavalleycf.org or 707.254.9565. To learn more about setting up or contributing to a scholarship fund at NVCF, contact Terence Mulligan, president, at 707-254-9565 ext. 11.
Fewer people are going to community college this year in California and nationwide, and Napa Valley College is no exception.

As of Saturday, the two-year community college reported an enrollment fall-off of 13.2% from its spring 2021 level, a drop from 4,968 to 4,309 students, according to NVC spokesperson Holly Dawson.

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Combined with attendance declines seen before the coronavirus pandemic began halting and disrupting education nearly two years ago, the shrinking inflow of students has forced NVC to cancel more than a tenth of its usual course offerings for the spring semester, school officials reported recently.

Amid a wintertime surge in COVID-19 cases and a stronger job market siphoning off would-be students, NVC has been forced to pare back its spring schedule while also starting to ponder how to stem the losses in the future, Sara Parker, the colleges assistant superintendent for academic affairs, told the NVC board at a meeting earlier this month.

Community colleges across California and the country are seeing significant declines in enrollment and Napa Valley College is no exception, she said in an email Sunday. There are many factors at play: increased work and family demands due to the impact of the pandemic, decline in population growth, (and a) strong job market, to name a few.

Due to the smaller headcount, NVC is opening the semester with 464 course sections, down from 519 a year ago.

While NVC offered varying amounts of in-person teaching for 45% of its spring courses, enrollment for classes taught remotely is drawing higher enrollment, a trend that a staff report linked to the surge of COVID-19 cases driven by the virus more contagious Omicron variant. Further, the college switched 40 course sections to virtual instruction for the spring semesters first three weeks, through Feb. 9.

(The weekly number of new cases in Napa County, which had dipped as low as 72 in late October, has exceeded 1,000 in each of the last three weeks, reaching a new high of 1,993 for the week ending Thursday.)

The declines in Napa largely mirror the falling student counts reported throughout U.S. higher education since 2020, when COVID-19s arrival forced the wholesale shutdown of campus and a hasty switch to virtual learning.

The effect has been more drastic at community colleges, according to a report earlier this month by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which collects data from about 3,600 higher learning institutions. While the number of students working toward four-year bachelors degrees dropped by 3.9% from the fall of 2019 to 2021, the number of people seeking two-year associate degrees plunged 14.1%  some 713,000 students  in the same two-year period.

The 116-school California Community Colleges system reported a nearly 15% enrollment fall-off last fall from the same semester in 2020, from about 2.15 million to 1.83 million students, the systems lowest count in more than 30 years.

At NVCs Jan. 18 board meeting, the schools newly appointed interim superintendent-president Rob Frost described the enrollment fall-off as a problem that as brewed for nearly a decade, well before COVID-19, as birth rates have slowed and fewer youths pass through local schools into the college.

I think its important that folks understand the decrease in enrollment is not about any one person here, but its something we cant allow to continue, he said during the virtual meeting. We have to make it one of our highest priorities; its got to be more than a conversation. Despite the demographics, despite the drop in high school graduation rates, despite the drop in birth rates, weve got to look at ways of restoring some of our enrollment to secure our future.

One early response by NVC has been a $4,000 investment to boost advertising on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The effort led to about 250,000 online ad impressions, and 2,700 additional clicks on NVCs landing website, according to spokesperson Dawson, who said the college plans to follow up with increases to direct mail and display ads on public buses.

NVC also is using some of its share of federal pandemic relief funding to lower college attendance roadblocks, Dawson said. Such steps have included $500 cash grants for each student taking at least six course units, which can be used for books, food, rent, or other needs. The school also is offering mental wellness resources, and in November expanded its student food pantry into a Basic Needs Center that offers various kinds of assistance in addition to free groceries.

Late Sunday, superintendent Frost said NVC this week will announce the creation of a task force to deal with the school's enrollment challenges.

While NVC has a more diverse well of funding sources that is less dependent on state per-student funding formulas than at other community colleges, "we need to be good stewards of those funds and align our offerings with the needs of our community," he said. "Declining enrollment impacts our community and its future investment in the college. Additionally, Napa Valley College is staffed and operating based on past enrollment numbers. We need to step back and look at everything we are doing in context."

Also central to NVC's ability to attract students in and out of the county, Frost added, is the student housing complex scheduled to open on campus in the fall of 2024  particularly in a community with some of California's stiffest housing costs. "We know that a large portion of our student body suffers from housing insecurity, which is one of the reasons Napa Valley College has made student housing a priority." he said.

Information from EdSource was used in this report.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com

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California high school graduation rates didn't change much last school year compared with the previous year, according to data released by the California Department of Education earlier this month. The state graduation rate increased less than 1 percentage point -- from 90.7 percent to 91.3 percent.

That number excludes schools with Dashboard Alternative School Status, which are county Office of Education-run jail and special education programs, continuation schools and other schools, including charter schools, that serve a high percentage of students at risk of dropping out of school because of credit deficiencies, a high level of transience or various other obstacles in their lives.

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The state has determined that schools with this designation are not comparable to other K-12 public and charter schools. If the graduation rate of DASS schools is factored into the total, the statewide graduation rate would be 84.2 percent.

The numbers might seem surprising considering the 2020-21 school year consisted primarily of students attending class at home over Zoom, but state flexibility may have helped keep the graduation rates from falling. State lawmakers allowed parents to request that D's and F's earned that school year be changed to pass or no-pass grades and offered students the option to take a fifth year of high school if needed.

Many districts also allowed last year's juniors and seniors to graduate by meeting the state's minimum requirements -- made up of 13 courses totaling about 130 units -- rather than the higher number of units most districts require.

"It's quite diminished requirements," said Russell Rumberger, a professor emeritus of education at UC Santa Barbara. "In a way, that has always been the case. I've looked at it nationally. California has one of the lowest state requirements of any state in the country."

California school districts historically add their own prerequisites to the state minimum, generally requiring students to take 22 to 26 courses to earn a diploma, earning about 10 units for each class.

During the pandemic, districts allowed students who could prove hardship to graduate with the state's minimum number of units, although some required more. Nevada Joint Union High School District, for example, allowed students who were struggling academically last school year to petition the district to allow them to graduate with 160 units, instead of the 210 units the district usually requires.

The disparity in graduation requirements among districts makes it difficult to know what a student's diploma represents, Rumberger said. A person with the same number of units could be a graduate in one district and a dropout in another, he said.

Students already struggling academically were more likely to take advantage of the graduation flexibilities offered last year, and college-bound seniors overall continued to excel academically, according to district officials interviewed by EdSource.

This bears out in the state data, which shows that the percentage of students completing A-G courses -- the set of classes that makes them eligible to attend California State University or the University of California -- actually increased slightly. Last school year, 43.6 percent of all California students completed A-G courses -- up from 42.8 percent the previous year.

Despite that, Rumberger said, he is concerned about the impact of lower diploma and course requirements on college-bound students. He worries some won't have the content knowledge to be successful.

It's not clear how many students requested pass/no pass grades or to graduate with fewer units because the California Department of Education does not track that information.

"It is true that the academic experience during the pandemic is different, absolutely, but we don't know if there is any way to know if there is a dip in preparation," said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond.

An increase in the state's five-year graduation rate showed that many students took advantage of expanded summer school programs and added credit recovery programs offered by their school districts to get their diplomas, Darling-Hammond said. The five-year graduation rate tracks all the non-graduates from the preceding year to determine how many graduated after a fifth year of high school.

California's five-year graduation rate increased slightly from 87 percent in 2019 to 87.3 percent last year, with about half of the 429,000 students who graduated completing their A-G requirements both years.

California spent $4.6 billion for summer school and extra learning time to confront the academic setbacks most students, particularly low-income students and those with limited internet access, faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

District leaders say state flexibilities weren't the only reason graduation rates stayed stable. Most schools instituted a number of other measures to help seniors graduate, including moving to block schedules that allow students to take more classes and add tutoring sessions into their school days, as well as meeting with students to set up graduation plans and expanding after-school tutoring programs.

Western Placer Unified, a 10,653-student district east of Sacramento, had one of the largest percentage point decreases in graduation rates in the state last school year. The district's graduation rate dropped 7.6 percentage points - from 92.9 percent in 2019-20 to 85.3 percent last school year. The graduation rate at Lincoln High, with 2,131 students, decreased by 6.8 percentage points, and the graduation rate at Phoenix High, a continuation school with 81 students, increased by 14.1 percentage points, according to the district.

District officials attribute the overall decrease in the graduation rate to more students moving out of the school district and more students with moderate to severe disabilities receiving a Certificate of Completion instead of a diploma.

Eighteen of the district's students opted to take a fifth year of high school last year, according to Kathleen Leehane, director of supplemental programs and accountability at the district. Nine students were exempted from local graduation requirements and allowed to graduate with the state minimum requirement, and about 125 students had at least one grade from the 2020-21 year changed to pass/no pass, she said.

State Smarter Balanced assessments and diagnostic tests given at schools show that high school students last year did as well as or better than students in prior years, Darling-Hammond said. She said the pandemic and accompanying distance learning took more of a toll on younger students than on high school students.

"We can wring our hands a lot, and there are a lot of reasons to be worried, but I don't think we have a lot of evidence that they are substantially behind," she said.
Finally, the Panama Canal!

I'd been hoping to get here for over 50 years as a travel writer, but realized how little I really know about it, other than its one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Thats roughly all I know about the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the original Seven.

Fortunately, I was on the Viking Star cruising to the canal and a guest lecturer was giving a sort of Panama Canal for Dummies crash course for those like me who didnt pay attention in school.

Its the mother of all shortcuts, he began, linking the two mighty oceans of the world, the Atlantic and Pacic.

Actually, its a 47-mile series of locks that connect the two oceans and it takes 8 to 10 hours to pass through them.

But consider the alternative. Without the canal, ships would have to circle all of South America sailing east to west, and the journey could take five to seven months. So along with uniting the two oceans, the canal connects the entire world in commerce and cruising-- huge cargo ships from Europe with perishable goods passing through to North American markets, the same from the Pacic ports to Asian buyers.

And then those mammoth cruise ships that carry several thousands of passengers and have guratively become oating villages. It aint cheap. The crossing cost for some of the Godzilla-like ships could reach $600,000 (you read right) and an average of 40 ships a day pass through. Our vessel, the Viking Star, carried about 700 passengers. We were told it would cost $138 a head to make the full crossing but we only passed the rst lock, sort of like a practice run. Before the canal came the Panama Railroad, which the U.S. started constructing in 1850. France was the rst country to tackle the canal in 1881, led by the same developers who constructed the Eiffel Tower.

There were some scandalous money problems, however, involving kickbacks and fraud, and the French were eventually forced to throw in the towel on the canal, while the railroad continued. But between both projects carried on through the dense Panama jungles, more than 22,000 men died in accidents or sickness. Yellow fever, malaria and poisonous snakes caused the most fatalities.

After nishing the railroad, the U.S. began its construction of the canal in 1904 during Teddy Roosevelts presidency. Teddy even went down and pitched in, posing in a giant bulldozer cab. On Aug. 15, 1914, the rst ship passed through the canal from one ocean to the other. On Dec. 31, 1999, the U.S. turned over full control of the Canal to Panama, and its been a cash cow for that countrys economy ever since.

But because of the increasing cost of passing, its beginning to go back to square one, the railroad. Some huge cargo ships are now sailing to the canal, unloading their cargo onto railroad cars and then reloading them to sister ships waiting on the other side. Beats $600,000!

Our 14-day Viking cruise began and ended in Fort Lauderdale and included ve other countries besides Panama  Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica and Jamaica. It was a nice blend of seven sea days and seven port stops. The Viking Star can carry almost 1,000 passengers but because of the pandemic, there were roughly 700 on board and more than 400 crew members. With numbers like that, service was more than plentiful. We were tested daily and masks were required unless you were seated or walking about the ship with safe distancing. Crew members wore masks at all times.

Sanitation was constant, including robot cleaning machines that were turned loose as we slept. Nary a pillow, book or railing missed being sanitized once touched. In some respects, cruising felt like as safe as it gets.

Of course, port tours have been adversely affected. Each country had its own restrictions and were subject to daily change. No more wandering about on your own, only organized tours under that countrys policy. The Viking Star had a comfortable elegance about it, with nice little hideaways on each of the eight decks. There were four main restaurants, a pool grill and five lounges and bars. In addition to that passenger-crew ratio, many crew members were doing double or triple duty...our lady concert pianist was a tour guide by day, the Transylvanian waiter (rst Transylvanian Ive ever met) sang ABBA hits at night and the Filipino bartender played a mean country guitar.

It being the Christmas season, the ship was adorned with nativity scenes and gingerbread houses. All edible and hand-made by a Hindu pastry chef from Bombay. I wonder if he plays a sitar on the side.

Dominick and Susan Merle are travel writers based in Montreal. Dominick is Co-Founder of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Assn. Email: dmerle@videotron.ca
Ruben Melikyan, a human rights activist, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) former Human Rights Ombudsman, and co-founder of the Legal Path NGO of Armenia, considers the drafting of the Artsakh National Assembly (NA) factions bill "On the Occupied Territories of Artsakh" as welcome and important.

"The idea itself is welcome. If the first Armenian state [i.e., Armenia] seems to have washed its hands of the issues related to the Artsakh issue, then the second Armenian state [i.e., Artsakh] should at least take some steps.

This law [proposal] has two components: political and legal. The political [one] has announced to the international community that we do not reconcile with the results of the [44-day Artsakh] war [in the fall of 2020], consider that it was illegal, and the constitutional territories of the Artsakh Republic must be returned.

The second is the legal component, and it will provide some starting points for the residents of those territories, which is also important from the point of view of protecting their rights.

As for their practical significance in international relations, we must be honest and realize that the demands made by an unrecognized state cannot have the same weight as those of a recognized state, for example. When Azerbaijan was doing similar actions at the time, those actions really were creating some inconveniences for investors, and so on. In any case, similar actions of recognized and unrecognized countries, unfortunately, do not have the same force and impact," Melikyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the former ombudsman of Artsakh, the aforesaid initiative is important at the political level, so that future policy can announce to the world that it considers those territories occupied.

"This in itself has important significance in terms of the future negotiation process," he added.

Melikyan does not believe that the current authorities of Armenia can hinder this initiative in any way.

Earlier we informed that the leaders of the five factions of the Artsakh NA have drafted a joint bill "On the Occupied Territories of Artsakh," and they will table it at the NA for the first reading on Wednesday.
There is a need to go with the option of radical solutions to ensure border security and carry out effective service. Tigran Abrahamyan, an MP from the opposition "With Honor" Faction in the National Assembly of Armenia and a security expert, wrote this on Facebook Monday morning. He added as follows:

"The border protection/defense models which existed before the 44-day [Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war [in the fall of 2020] will either not work or will work very inefficiently in these conditions.

The priority task of ensuring border security is not the [military] tent/shack/stone shelter discourse, but what kind of a baseline possibility you have when carrying out combat duty, switching to defense, carrying out counterattacking or attacking action? How do you ensure the course of the battle of the military basefrom intelligence, infrastructure to logistics, rear support, safe movements, etc.?

The [Armenian border protection] way chosen today is wrong in terms of model, ideology, and the [respective] changes are inertial."
Police officers lift perimeter tape at the scene of a multiple shooting in the 700 block of North Trumbull Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago on Oct. 27, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The shooting of Laquan McDonald triggered a momentous police reform effort that spawned a scathing Justice Department report and an extensive consent decree and for the first time added community members directly into Chicago police oversight.

But more than seven years later, the pace of reforms remains slow, stymied by a resistant department, an antagonistic police union and leadership that has fielded criticism for checking boxes rather than pursuing meaningful reform, critics say  all while the city is still notoriously violent and still seeing police misconduct cases.

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McDonalds killer, former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, was tried and convicted and has nearly finished serving his sentence. But as the city awaits his release from prison Thursday, it reckons with a police department that while changed in some ways, is struggling with many of the same problems that contributed to the teens 2014 killing and the response to it.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Jan. 18, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

When the video of McDonalds death became public, residents saw how the Police Departments official narrative vastly differed from the events that unfolded on their screens.

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And despite efforts on reform, evidence of problem policing is still present. A multimillion-dollar settlement is in the works for Anjanette Young, a woman who was forced into handcuffs while undressed as police raided her home based on a bad tip. An inspector generals investigation found a troubling series of unfounded statements on the raid were made by Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration.

The video led to the police superintendents dismissal and highlighted how Chicago police officers handle officer shootings and citizen complaints, especially when they involve Black and brown residents.

Craig Futterman, director of the Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project at the University of Chicago, is seen at the university's law school in Chicago on March 17, 2014. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Craig Futterman, a police accountability expert and law professor at the University of Chicago, pointed to some imperfect but significant changes in policing in the years since McDonalds killing, mostly due to the consent decree and lawsuits that have forced CPD to make changes. Still, the department is largely unwilling to alter its course and submit to public scrutiny, Futterman said, a failing that continues to hold it back even as it works to meet reform deadlines.

The Chicago Police Department remains resistant to change in its orientation and actually actively fights change, Futterman said.

A troubling narrative

The initial news reports of the McDonald shooting on Oct. 20, 2014, repeated a narrative put out by the Police Department and the police union: A 17-year-old Black teen had a knife, he refused to put it down, stabbed a squad cars tire and lunged at an officer.

Hes got a 100-yard stare. Hes staring blankly, Pat Camden, who was then a spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police, told the Tribune immediately after the shooting. (He) walked up to a car and stabbed the tire of the car and kept walking.

Officers were forced to defend themselves, Camden said.

The city initially declined to make video of the shooting public, doing so only after a request by journalist Brandon Smith led to a court challenge and judges order for the city to release it.

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The video showed that the police narrative was flawed. Images captured the teen moving away from officers before Van Dyke shot him 16 times, including when he had already fallen to the ground.

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)

On Nov. 24, 2015, Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder. Protesters marched in the Loop the next day.

Later, the Tribune found through a request of 3,000 pages of emails that then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuels aides knew about the video nearly a year before it was publicly released, raising questions about when the mayor and police leadership realized the exposure the case represented.

Political fallout

Emanuel declined to run for reelection in the wake of the scandal, making his announcement as Van Dyke was about to go to trial. He opposed federal intervention, saying Chicago could handle the problem on its own.

One of his first proposals was to increase the number of officers wearing body cameras. And on the same day that Emanuel fired then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, he created the Police Accountability Task Force, which was chaired by Lightfoot, who was also the president of the Chicago Police Board.

The task forces first report said that the Chicago Police Department must acknowledge its racist history and overhaul its handling of excessive force allegations before true reforms could take place. It recommended abolishing the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigated allegations of officer misconduct, and implementing a citywide reconciliation process.

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel at OHare International Airport on April 22, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability was created after the elimination of IPRA, though experts have pointed to flaws there too.

Futterman said the city should bolster the resources and independence of COPA so the police oversight agency can conduct more meaningful investigations. Investigators should be allowed access to officers after shootings without a waiting period, he said, and videos should be released within 24 to 48 hours as a matter of course.

Emanuels task force also recommended creating a community safety oversight committee, which became the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, expected to begin this year.

The community commission came out of the long work done by the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability, or GAPA, and Mecole Jordan-McBride, who worked in advocacy and community organizing, was selected as the coordinator. GAPA was made up of many community organizations across Chicago.

Jordan-McBride said that when she initially saw the video it was a shocker and provoked a lot of emotions, but it was a reminder of what communities of color, specifically Black community members, have been saying for a long time about police misconduct.

We all know that historically community members stories, and particularly, a young Black man ... their stories arent always taken as truth, she said. And so, for this case, in particular, the story that was told versus the reality of what happened was so drastically different.

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Jordan-McBride said GAPA put out a report after having 19 community conversations on the North, West and South sides of the city over a six-week period. She said the communitys reactions were a pendulum swing from one end to the other, but there was a revelation that there needed to be a change in how officers interacted with community members, how they were trained and the level of support they received, and to have the departments demographics better reflect the city.

Police officers are silhouetted against the outside light during a Chicago Police Department graduation and promotion ceremony at Navy Pier on Oct. 20, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Although the city was slow to create the community commission itself, Jordan-McBride said, she said she hopes that city leaders will now give the commission every opportunity available to thrive.

Im grateful that it passed, but still, we have to do things a little bit quicker in Chicago to actually see gains while within some peoples lives, she said.

Doubts remain

Despite Emanuels initial opposition to outside input, he changed course, offering support for a federal investigation, which began in late 2015.

Calls for federal oversight of the Chicago Police Department began nearly immediately after a judge forced the city to release the McDonald video, with then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan among politicians clamoring for a Justice Department investigation.

Two years later, the Justice Department released a scathing 164-page report, detailing a broken police department plagued by a lack of accountability for officers, a pervasive code of silence and disproportionate use of force against the citys Black and Latino residents. The report not only found that police officers used force almost 10 times more often against Black citizens than white, but also that the department failed to responsibly investigate such instances.

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CPD does not give its officers the training they need to do their jobs safely, effectively and lawfully, then-U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said when the 2017 report was released. It fails to properly collect and analyze data, including data on misconduct complaints and training deficiencies, and it does not adequately review use-of-force incidents to determine whether force was appropriate or lawful or whether the use of force couldve been avoided altogether.

Robert Boik, executive director of the Office of Constitutional Policing & Reform at the Chicago Police Department, addresses reporters during an interview about the department's progress in meeting consent decree deadlines, at police headquarters on Sept. 8, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Emanuel agreed to enter into a court-enforced agreement with the Justice Department to enact wide-ranging reforms to how the department trains its officers, keeps data and holds members accountable. U.S. District Judge Robert Dow Jr. in 2019 approved the consent decree, which mandates reforms in training, use of force, data management and transparency, community interactions, officer wellness and other areas.

It generally takes years for cities to come into full compliance with consent decrees. But the Police Department has struggled with missed deadlines and sluggish compliance, and it has faced criticism from high-ranking employees about their strategies for meeting the consent decrees requirements.

Futterman, though, noted that CPD has made some progress, mostly in response to consent-decree mandates and lawsuits. It created new training requirements that focus on de-escalation, he said, and retooled its use-of-force policies. It is also in the process of overhauling its First Amendment policies, he said, in part due to lawsuits that stemmed from police treatment of protesters in 2020.

Chicago police Superintendent David Brown has said the department is more quickly reaching reform goals set in the consent decree after a slower start.

I dont think its a small thing that we achieved 52% compliance, Brown has told the Tribune, referring to the percentage of consent decree goals that the department preliminarily met. This is significant, although we have much much more work to do to be where we want to be.

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Chicago police Superintendent David Brown speaks on Jan. 4, 2022, at Chicago police headquarters. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Recent reports from Maggie Hickey, the independent monitor overseeing the consent decree, have highlighted some areas of improvement. The department made progress in developing a hate-crimes policy and finalized a policy on interactions with transgender, intersex and gender-nonconforming people, a recent report said. CPD is also now delivering refresher training for its Crisis Intervention Team, which responds to calls for people in a mental-health crisis.

But experts have criticized the pace and substance of the reforms.

Cara Hendrickson, executive director of BPI Chicago, a nonprofit law and policy center, said the departments overall pace in complying with the consent decree has been slow. Hendrickson negotiated the consent decree when she worked for the Illinois attorney general.

Progress on the consent decree should proceed at a pace as if lives depend on the success of consent decree, she said. This is critical for the safety of our city.

Changing the direction of a steam liner

A prominent criticism from those who evaluate CPDs reform progress is one of culture. Less tangible than data about whether the department is meeting assigned mandates is buy-in from its leadership and the rank and file.

I think the department continues to wrestle with its willingness to make the fundamental structural changes that would be required to see the kind of fundamental change that communities have been demanding for decades, Hendrickson said. Were still waiting to see that kind of change in the department.

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The Chicago police logo is illuminated on Jan. 4, 2022, at Public Safety Headquarters. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

CPDs culture problems have been blasted by former employees, who have said the leadership is more concerned with headlines than substantive reform.

A former civilian commander who worked on reform efforts resigned last year, writing to Mayor Lightfoot that the departments leaders were unable to even feign interest in pursuing reform in a meaningful manner has made it impossible for me to remain involved. Susan Lee, a former public safety adviser to the mayor, similarly raised concerns about the departments ability to keep moving the ball forward as she resigned.

Hickey, the independent monitor, has recently echoed those concerns.

I do think the policies are being reformed and that is maybe working a little quicker than the culture being reformed, Hickey said in a Q&A in November. Im not going away anytime soon, unfortunately.

Futterman, who with activist Will Calloway pushed for the release of the dashcam video that captured McDonalds shooting, said he questioned whether the city had learned lessons from the McDonald cover-up, when officials fought the release of video of the shooting. He pointed to the similar circumstances of the botched raid at the home of Young.

Community activist Will Calloway speaks on Jan. 27, 2022, at St. Sabina Church with other leaders and family members of Laquan McDonald to demand federal charges against former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Lightfoot fought release of the video, which was eventually broadcast by CBS-2.

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Weve seen some real backsliding, Futterman said.

Hendrickson said the pending release of Van Dyke underscores the need for a much more robust system of accountability within CPD for police misconduct. The former officer is expected to leave prison Thursday.

She noted that the departments most recent consent-decree progress report showed that CPD was only in compliance with about 8% of its accountability provisions.

The lack of accountability was a critical finding of the U.S. Department of Justice when it issued its report, Hendrickson said. And it is the area in which CPD is perhaps the most behind in its progress in the consent decree.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversees a City Hall meeting and vote on Dec. 15, 2021, on a $2.9 million settlement for the botched police raid on the home of Anjanette Young by Chicago police. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Mecole Jordan-McBride said the biggest thing is that the city needs a cultural change.

Weve had a culture that has created very strained at best relationships, particularly in communities of color, she said.  ... Do I think that were probably on the cusp of cultural change? I will say yes. Would I say that we are light years from where we were six years ago? I would definitely say no, but I think that thats also very indicative of what change looks like when youre shifting something as big as the Police Department. Its like changing the direction of a steam liner.

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Sheila Bedi, a Northwestern University law professor and an attorney involved in the litigation over the decree, said the video of McDonald was devastating because of not only the act of brutal violence that was caught on tape but also because it became public how many people from the Police Department were involved in lying about the shooting, showing a deep intentional cover-up at the highest levels and a lack of accountability.

Communities have been organizing around racialized police violence in Chicago for generations but there are these flashpoints of police violence that are caught on video, like the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a white police officer, Bedi said. Those flashpoints can create momentum and outcry for change.

Bedi said its a foundational issue that the culture of the Police Department still includes racism and violence, which was seen during CPDs response to uprising after Floyds killing. Since the release of the McDonald dashcam video, Bedi said, a number of officers have been caught on video engaging in violations of CPD policy who have escaped any kind of accountability.

I think the fact that Jason Van Dyke is being released from prison, its a reminder that the work of transforming policing in the city of Chicago is far from done, Bedi said.

pfry@chicagotribune.com

mabuckley@chicagotribune.com
The chairman of the True Path Party (DYP) of Turkey has made a statement in connection with Armenian-Turkish relations.

Cetin Ozacikgoz noted that Turkey is getting ready to normalize relations with Armenia, Anadolu Gazete reported.

But he insisted that establishing relations with Armenia without the latter refusing from demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is against Turkish patriotism, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry should discuss this matter well.
Two policemen were fatally wounded after a shooting by intruders in the region of Kusel (Rhineland-Palatinate) in the southwest of Germany, police in the city of Kaiserslautern reported.

The circumstances of what happened are being investigated.

"Two police officers, a man and a woman, were shot and killed this morning while patrolling traffic between Mayweilerhof and Ulmet in the Kusel district," the report said.

At the same time it is pointed out that nothing is known about the perpetrators. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

The incident happened at around 4:20 a.m. The road was entirely closed afterward, DPA reports.

The search for the criminals is currently underway. According to the agency, one of them is armed.
The government of Armenia on Monday made changes in its decision on declaring quarantine due to the coronavirus, and, accordingly, it has eased the respective strict restrictions that have been in place at the countrys airports for the past 1.5 years.

According to the new changes, the period of self-isolation for airline passengers arriving in Armenia has been reduced from 14 days to 7 days, and for those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19to 10 calendar days, but which can be reduced to up to 7 calendar days in case of a negative PCR test result.

In addition, in order to avoid acute respiratory infections at Armenias airports, it is now proposed to allow greeters of those arriving at these airports to enter the arrival hallsbut provided that the anti-epidemic rules are strictly observed.

And to avoid possible overcrowding, the National Security Service, the Police, and the Health and Labor Inspectorate of Armenia will be permitted to apply measures to restrict the movement of persons.

The new regulations will take effect as of Tuesday, but will not apply to those who are self-isolated as of that day.
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A coronavirus testing center in Copenhagen was destroyed by a natural disaster, Euronews reported.

Over the weekend, storm Malik brought strong winds and heavy rain and snow to northern Europe. Several people were killed by falling trees and heavy objects. Bad weather paralyzed transport in a number of countries.

In Estonia, experts on Sunday eliminated the consequences of several thousand failures on power lines, rescue workers went out more than a hundred times to help motorists stuck in the snow.

When the storm reached Poland, more than 600 thousand people were left without power supply in the country. Here emergency workers had to rescue people out of trouble about 15 thousand times. The most affected areas were the areas on the Baltic Sea coast.

The strength of the hurricane in the mountainous areas in northern Bohemia reached 188 kilometers per hour Debris made of trees uprooted by the violent winds stopped the movement of trains. Tens of thousands of families lost access to electricity.

Meanwhile, storm Corrie is heading north of Europe and could bring more devastation, prompting several governments to hold emergency meetings and tighten security measures.
A protest is being staged in front of the Yerevan Zoo Mondayand against the ongoing death of its animals, as well as against its management.

The picketers are a group of specialists who used to work at the Yerevan Zoo.

Anush Rafayelyan, a former employee of the zoo, told reporters that they are dissatisfied with the work of Arevik Mkrtchyan, the Director of the Yerevan Zoo.

"The death of many animals [in the zoo] has been recorded during these six months, which is not being voiced. I believe this is done deliberately to vacate the zoo area. Rumors are circulating since 2011 that they want to make this area an elite [residential] district," Rafayelyan said, in particular.

Five vulturesfour of which were white-headeddied recently at Yerevan Zoo. There were press reports that the cause of death of these animals was famine. But the zoo management board denied these reports, noting that respective laboratory tests are being conducted.
Community activist Will Calloway speaks on Jan. 27, 2022, at St. Sabina Church with other leaders and family members of Laquan McDonald to demand federal charges against former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Community activists in recent days have reflected on police reform and its shortcomings in Chicago since the video of Laquan McDonalds shooting was released and say the three years Jason Van Dyke spent behind bars was not long enough.

In recent weeks, Black leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, Congressional candidate Kina Collins and community organizer William Calloway have called on the U.S. Justice Department to bring federal civil rights charges against Van Dyke that could land him back in prison.

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The group is calling for a continuation of a federal investigation that was opened in 2015 and remained open until at least August 2019, Calloway said. Federal charges were never filed in that case, and sources have said they are unlikely.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson leads a news conference Jan. 24, 2022, at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters about the release of former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Calloway said he and other organizers dont know what came of that investigation and are asking U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to file charges against Van Dyke, who is expected to be released Thursday after serving more than three years behind bars.

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Calloway, who pushed for the release of the video of Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old McDonald 16 times, said there have been some highs and lows in police reform since the video was released.

He pointed to changes like mandatory body-worn cameras, every officer having a Taser, and the departments requirement that police vehicle dashboard video cameras always be turned on as policy wins that can be enforced.

But the Police Department has fallen short of its promises for reform, Calloway said.

Theyre not keeping up with deadlines and milestones, when it comes to the consent decree, Calloway said. And Im not sure whats going on with the federal judge or the independent monitor, but I believe that the Chicago Police Department should be sanctioned more for failing to meet a lot of these deadlines.

He said McDonalds killing was not an isolated issue  McDonald is one of many people who have been killed by police. Calloway listed a few names of other people who have been killed by Chicago police, including Dakota Bright, Ronald Johnson, Michael Westley, Flint Farmer and Roshad McIntosh.

We havent seen justice and this is why its imperative to hold Jason Van Dyke fully accountable to the full extent of the law because he represents the epitome of everything that is wrong with Chicago Police Department, Calloway said. He represents all the officers who we could not hold accountable or that the justice system has not held accountable yet.

Community activist Will Calloway speaks on Jan. 27, 2022, at St. Sabina Church with other leaders and family members of Laquan McDonald to demand federal charges against former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

McDonalds shooting moved Kina Collins to start organizing community. Collins, who is now running for the Illinois 7th Congressional District seat, was a lead organizer in protests after the video of McDonalds shooting was released.

We believe (the) 81-month sentence was a sham to begin with, Collins told the Tribune.

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Collins joined other activists last week in calling for federal charges. We want them to send a clear message that this is unacceptable and that that was not policing. That was excessive use of force, she said.

The protests she helped organize were productive in getting the then-police superintendent, Garry McCarthy, fired, seeing that then-states attorney Anita Alvarez lost her reelection bid and perhaps helping then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to make a choice not to seek a third term, Collins said.

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)

But I think that we have way further to go and that this justice cant just happen here on the city and municipal level, Collins said. We want to see justice being enacted federally. You know, we need action on the federal level to address police brutality and ensure that we have systems of accountability to prevent this from happening anywhere.

Like Calloway, Collins decried the Police Departments shortcomings on meeting consent decree requirement deadlines.

She also said Emanuels appointment as the U.S. ambassador to Japan and a letter of support from Chicagos City Council members was disappointing.

To see them standing in support of Rahm Emanuel is a broken promise for the community that we will hold folks accountable who are committing this injustice in our communities, she said.

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Rush, a Democratic congressman from Chicago, also condemned Emanuels recent appointment.

Where are the other folks who played a part in the lack of justice, in the denial of justice for the crime committed against McDonald and his family and his community? Rush said last week. Where are the rest of them? Where is the cover-up king? You know who Im talking about: the former mayor of this city. Where is he at now? He is somewhere in Japan, living life as an ambassador for this nation. Something is wrong with that picture.

We need justice here in Chicago for all of the Black men, women and children who were killed by the Chicago Police Department.
Mondays protest being staged outside Yerevan Zooand against the ongoing death of its animalshas ended.

The picketers are a group of specialists who used to work at the zoo, and they are dissatisfied with the work of Arevik Mkrtchyan, the Director of Yerevan Zoo..

Sargis Sharamanyan, an employee of the operations department at the zoo, told reporters that he was being subjected to psychological pressure there.

"It is done to make me fed up, leave [the zoo]," he added, in particular.

The demonstrators said that they had applied to the Yerevan Municipality regarding this matter, but there was no response yet.

Five vulturesfour of which were white-headeddied recently at Yerevan Zoo. There were press reports that the cause of death of these animals was food shortage. But the zoo management board denied these reports, noting that respective laboratory tests are being conducted.
As at the moment there is no decision of the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia whereby the powers of the incumbent President of Armenia are terminated, it would not be nice to make any comments today. Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, told this to reporters Monday.

"The man [i.e., incumbent President Armen Sarkissian] still has a chance [to remain in office]. He can withdraw the letter [of resignation]," he added.

Commenting on the reports being circulated that the parliamentary faction of the ruling Civil Contract Party will submit his candidacy as the next President of Armenia, Khachaturyan said. "Theoretically, it would be circulated, taking into account all the [respective] criteria that existed: [being] over 40 years old, an Armenian citizen, a person who has experience, as well as a current minister. Under these conditions, it seems possible to assume that I can end up on that list, given that I can be nominated [as President] also as a member of todays government, also as a member of the political team."

He added that it was a surprise for him that President Armen Sarkissian submitted his resignation.

"Before that, I could not even imagine that I could become a person who at least considers that position," Vahagn Khachaturyan noted, in particular.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan threatened to punish Turkish media for distributing content that harms the country's "fundamental values" in a notice published in the Official Gazette.

The notice mentions measures needed to maintain the country's "national culture" and prevent "negative impact on children due to exposure to harmful content" in all forms of media, Time Turk reported.

The Turkish leader's decree states that "necessary measures must be taken to protect (families, children and youth) from harmful media content." He called on authorities to take "legal measures" against the "destructive impact" of certain media content, without disclosing what that would entail.

Critics said it was another attempt to suppress free speech in the run-up to next year's elections.

Faruk Bildirici, veteran journalist and media ombudsman, accused Erdogan of declaring a "state of emergency against the media."

Human rights organizations regularly accuse Turkish authorities of undermining media freedom by arresting journalists and shutting down critical media outlets, especially after Erdogan survived a failed coup attempt in July 2016.

Erdogan's government plans to increase its crackdown on social media, citing what it calls fake news and disinformation.

His government is currently drafting a bill that would punish "fake news, disinformation, and provocation" violations on social media with fines and up to five years in prison.

Freedom House called Turkey "unfree" in its 2021 World Freedom Index. The organization said the government has continued to expand its attempts to control online news and information sources.
Why is Pakistan a concern for Armenia? Primarily, it is a regular supplier of arms and ammunition to the Azerbaijani armed forces since its inception as an independent nation following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, Paul Antonopoulos writes in his article in the Greek City Times.

Here is the full text of the article:

Secondly, Pakistan is the only State which has not recognised Armenia, to show its solidarity with Turkey and Azerbaijan, since its independence from the Soviet Union.

In exchange these countries support Pakistan at international forums on conflicting issues, including its removal from the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) grey list and Kashmir.

Pakistans partnership strengthened with Azerbaijan in 2017 when the former signed a contract for the purchase of 10 PAC MFI-17 Mushshak training aircraft, whose delivery was made in 2018.

Vice versa, Azerbaijan is also negotiating with Pakistan for the purchase of JF-17s Block 3 variant, originally designed by China with Russian-made RD-33 engines.

This came out to be a road-block for both parties as any JF-17 deal needs a clearance from Russia before exporting it to a buyer country.

This will continue until China replaces the RD-33 engine from indigenously developed one.

There arises a question on why Pakistan is antagonised with Armenia and supports Turkey and Azerbaijan. One of the simple replies to this is that Armenia enjoys good relations with India, a distressing point for Pakistan.

It, thus, embroiled a tri-lateral relationship with Turkey and Azerbaijan to offset any growing association with its neighbours.

During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Pakistan overtly maintained its support to Azerbaijan. Its direct and/or indirect actions towards Armenia poses the risk of developing conflicting issue into a war.

Russia had rightly warned that the involvement of Turkey or other nations might spark World War III if the hostilities in Karabakh are not addressed.

The growing trilateral cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan in terms of defence ties would only result in a tense West Asia as their alliance would weaken Armenia until major powers like Russia stands tall for it.

Armenias position is more secure only because of the deployment of a Russian military base and its membership into the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and in the Eurasian Economic Union.

Pakistan is a staunch supporter of Azerbaijani position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, whilst Turkey provides training to Azerbaijani military officers at their institutes and give first-hand experience in combat operations against militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

To counter the alliance or to balance its position, Armenia needs to carry out more strategic alliances with Russia and others to hold joint military drills to enhance troop capabilities in war-like situations.

Armenia considers the cause of its defeat in November 2020 war to the trilateral alliance of Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan but it feels that there is a scope to reset relations and normalisation.

To take Turkey on board, the first round of talks between Turkey and Armenia began in Moscow on January 14, 2022 with the possibility of launching commercial flights between Istanbul and Yerevan by the first week of February 2022.

Of late it is seen that Armenia is willing to amend its ties with Pakistan as well.

Armenia delivered a message to Pakistan to initiate a dialogue without contradicting its good and deep relations with India.

Earlier, Pakistan was not replying to Armenian overtures but with Turkey working on advancing the dialogue, it may soon consider the proposition of having diplomatic relations.

Time will tell whether Pakistan maintains its position of not recognising Armenia as an independent State to appease Turkey or would initiate dialogue on behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bil Salman who was approached by the former Armenian President in October 2021 to reach out to Pakistan.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Ukraine on 3 February for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that are designed to reduce tensions between Kyiv and Moscow, Reuters reported, citing a senior Turkish official.

"Erdogan will convey messages to Zelenskiy on maintaining peace in the region and preventing a rise in tension and hot conflict," the official said.

He said plans were also being made for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Turkey following the Winter Olympics, being held in China between February 4-20.

"We expect both the talks to be effective in lowering tensions between Russia and Ukraine," the official said, requesting anonymity.

Erdogan said last week that Russia would be unwise to attack Ukraine, in which case Turkey as a NATO member will do what is necessary.
Rabbi Levi Notik and members of his synagogue had just finished packing food bank meals for Holocaust survivors and seniors Sunday, when they walked outside to a disturbing sight, Notik said: a yellow swastika spray-painted on their building.

Then, as the group dealt with the graffiti, a young man on his way to synagogue services arrived distraught, saying he had just been jumped by someone screaming racial slurs, Notik said Monday.

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Multiple Jewish businesses and synagogues were vandalized in the West Rogers Park neighborhood over the weekend, according to Chicago police and reports from the Concerned Citizens League.

Make no mistake: this attack, as well as the deep hatred and bigotry that drives other anti-Semitic acts like it, is an attack on our citys Jewish community and social fabric, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement Monday. Those responsible must be held accountable.

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In this incident, a man spray-painted Notiks synagogue, F.R.E.E. Synagogue, and a cargo container near the 2900 block of West Devon Avenue Sunday around 4:40 p.m., officials said.

The vandal also reportedly yelled at a man before running south, according to the police report. Investigators initially said the victim had been physically harmed but later updated the report to say he was verbally assaulted.

The F.R.E.E. Synagogue in the 2900 block of West Devon Avenue was vandalized on Jan. 30, 2022, with spray-painted graffiti. The damage has since been covered over by paint. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

One person of interest was in custody and being questioned in connection with the vandalism Monday, Lightfoot and Chicago police spokesperson Rocco Alioto said. No charges have been made, Alioto said.

The man who was attacked is recovering fine at home, Notik said.

Speaking at a West Side news conference Monday with a largely Black audience, Lightfoot said, If its happening on the North Side to a Jewish community, it will happen to us as well and we must stand united and say: Not in our city, not in this time, will we tolerate that kind of hatred.

Officers also responded to a report of shattered windows at a synagogue in the 3600 block of West Devon Avenue Sunday morning, officials said. A man kicked out the side window of the Pulaski Park neighborhood synagogue, a witness reportedly told officers.

No arrests had been made in connection with the destruction of property, police said, and detectives are investigating both incidents.

A man kicked out the side window at Yeshivas Meor Hatorah of Chicago School in the 3600 block of West Devon Avenue Jan. 30, 2022, a witness told officers. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

There were additional cases of vandalism reported at Jewish businesses in the West Rogers Park neighborhood Saturday, according to the Concerned Citizens League. Kol Tuv Kosher Foods and Tel Aviv Bakery, both on 2900 block of West Devon Avenue, each had windows broken, the Concerned Citizens League posted on social media.

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Police confirmed vandalism reports were filed by the businesses, though the damage was confined to the outside of the stores.

A boarded-up window at Kol Tuv Kosher Foods, which had its storefront vandalized, in the 2900 block of West Devon Avenue, on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Other places in the community, including bridge overpasses, also had similar yellow swastikas painted on them, according to Carmi Lawrence, director of community safety and security for the Concerned Citizens League.

The group shares intelligence and security advice within the Jewish community and has been in contact with law enforcement, Lawrence said.

Anytime something like this happens, its shocking. Its jarring, he said. Lawrence sees recent violence against the Jewish community as mostly crimes of opportunity against a vulnerable group, related to a lack of prosecution, he said.

The community should respond to the incidents by spreading positivity and kindness, Notik said.

The way that Judaism and the Torah combats evil and darkness is with positivity and light. Love is the solution to hate, he said, adding that his congregation will be doing even more food packaging in response to the attacks.

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Rabbi Levi Notik outside F.R.E.E. Synagogue in West Rogers Park Jan. 31, 2022, after multiple Jewish businesses and synagogues were vandalized over the weekend. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

In a statement, Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th, said she was very upset about the vandalism.

These incidents are particularly upsetting as they come mere days after Holocaust Remembrance Day, Silverstein said, and in light of a worrying increase in antisemitism across the nation.

Silverstein planned to host an online briefing related to the incidents at 6 p.m. Monday, according to her Twitter feed.

The Anti-Defamation League Midwest was also alarmed by the incidents, and said in a statement Monday that its working with law enforcement.

Antisemitic and racist graffiti was discovered on the wall of a synagogue in Highland Park late last year, prompting a hate crime investigation.

Chicago police spokesperson Kellie Bartoli would not say whether the vandalism over the weekend would be investigated as a hate crime, and said the incidents are still under investigation.

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Editors note: An earlier version of this story included an erroneous address for one of the synagogue locations.
The Indonesian resort island of Bali will begin accepting travelers from all countries from the end of this week, officials said, Reuters reported.

Although Bali officially opened to visitors from China, New Zealand and Japan in mid-October, there have been no direct flights since then, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said at a briefing.

The reopening followed similar announcements by Thailand and the Philippines, which suspended the quarantine waiver in December due to initial uncertainty over the effectiveness of the omicron strain vaccine.

The decision came despite a steady rise in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia this month, despite the fact that outbreaks were brought under control in the second half of last year. Health authorities attributed the increase to Omicron.

Singapore Airlines said they will resume flights to Bali from Singapore starting 16 February.

Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said that foreign visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will still have to be quarantined for five to seven days starting.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of top news as 31.01.22:

Vahagn Khachaturyan, Minister of High Technologies Industry, was chosen by the Civil Contract party as a candidate for the post of Armenian President.

In 1996-1998 Vahagn Khachaturyan was a political associate of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Vahagn Khachaturyan held the position of advisor to RA President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

After the revolution of 2018, he began to work closely with the ruling Civil Contract party.

On August 4, 2021, Vahagn Khachaturyan was appointed Minister of High-Tech Industry.

Turkey has long way spoken about establishing relations with Armenia 'unconditionally.' However, so far, inside their political circle, there are other opinions.

For example, lately, the chairman of the True Path Party (DYP) of Turkey has made a statement in connection with Armenian-Turkish relations and noted that relations should not be established without Armenia refusing Genocide recognition demand.

Cetin Ozacikgoz noted that Turkey is getting ready to normalize relations with Armenia. But he insisted that establishing relations with Armenia without the latter refusing from demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is against Turkish patriotism, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry should discuss this matter well.

Armenian opposition representatives slammed the resolution adopted by PACE on the Armenian democracy.

Although, the authors noted some shortcomings, in its resolution PACE noted that Armenia has made progress in the development of democracy.

"PACE did not react in any way to the use of administrative resources and other violations recorded during the pre-election period and on election day, the illegal arrest of three opposition deputies, the unconstitutional restriction on the movement of opposition deputies, and political persecution," the opposition party noted.

In its resolution, PACE touched upon several issues, including Armenian elections.

Although the Assembly praised the national elections held in December 2018 and June 2021, PACE deplores the political climate in which the June 2021 elections were held, which was characterized by strong polarization and marred by increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from the main participants..

PACE did not bypass the topic of disinformation after the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to them, Armenia also faced an unprecedented level of disinformation and hate speech during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan gave an exclusive interview and touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

The interview will be presented in detail in our next digest.

Fehmi Koru, a former journalist of Turkeys Zaman daily, has stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may change his current foreign minister.

Koru wrote in his personal blog that Erdogan, who makes all his decisions by considering elections, may change his ministers before the next elections.

According to the Turkish journalist, taking into account the foreign policy realities, Erdogan may replace serving Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu due to these elections.
We are not fascists and we are not racists to say that the parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh must consist only of Armenians, the third president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said this in an exclusive interview, countering arguments by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that if elections were held in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijanis participated in them too and were elected, it means that Artsakh would not be purely Armenian.

Are there only Armenians elected in the Armenian National Assembly today? What does it all mean? If this is yet another manipulation, its a failed one. If this is  what can I say  an issue about lack of knowledge, then its ridiculous. What I am saying is, of course, also a message to the international community, because the very same co-chairmen, even after the disastrous war still were speaking about the basic principles, he said.

In response to a comment that it had been a long time since the co-chairs had spoken, Serzh Sargsyan said, Its been a while because no one is speaking about that any more. Have you come across any clear answer by the incumbent Armenian officials about the future of the Karabakh issue? The most they do is making references to their government program adopted still before or maybe after the war. Why is that the case? Are they shy? Are they afraid? Or, as they say, they have some verbal agreements that impede making such statements?
Absolutely, there have been no pressure or no any concession, no written or verbal agreement or arrangement, said Armenia's third President Serzh Sargsyan when asked whether the Armenian side was forced to make any concessions in the negotiation process on the interim or final status of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2016.

Recall that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that in 2016 there was a radical break in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which can be called a catastrophe. He also claimed that at that time Nagorno-Karabakh had lost all practical and theoretical possibilities of being outside of Azerbaijan.

When I was speaking about the April war and when there was the Commission of Inquiry etc, I had very openly said that there had been only a verbal agreement to stop the war, while they were claiming that maybe there had been some written document, or some concession etc., he said.

Asked if a new cease-fire agreement was proposed in 2016, Sargsyan said: Absolutely. We had not agreed to any new document or any verbal agreement. That had been confirmed by the co-chairmen, when they publicly stated that there was no new document and that the trilateral agreement signed in 1994 remained in force.

What regards to the 2016 document, if you noticed, inbetween the lines there he was speaking about some letters and what not, and would not clearly say exactly what proposals were made by the co-chairmen in 2016, when those proposals were tabled, etc.

Indeed, in 2016  that is after the April war  we did receive some proposals by the co-chairmen. And those proposals in no ways violated the red lines that we had always had. Let me reiterate again, that those red lines were the following: first  self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh, second  land border between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, third  recognition of Nagorno Karabakh authorities by the international community as legitimately elected officials, and many other such [features] that was [in entirety] called interim status. In one place it was called Nagorno Karabakh interim status, in other file it was called temporary status, somewhere else it was called recognised status. And fourth  something that was based on or was uniting the preceding three aspects in one  was the security guarantees.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, according to these proposals, peacekeeping forces were to stand between the two conflicting sides.

According to him, the introduction of monitoring mechanisms was discussed in the form of a statement in Vienna and St. Petersburg in 2016, which was certainly very beneficial for the Armenian side, but was not a solution to the problem.

That was very specific means which would exclude future hostilities.

Pertaining to the UN Security Council, which to my bemusement is called 'catastrophe, I have to say that it has always been the perception that a UN Security Council resolution [would be necessary]. If someone, who wants to speak about this topic, got detailed understanding of the Kazan document, they would see that the document, or that declaration, had it been accepted, it would need to be approved by the UN Security Council, since it included certain provisions that are generally within the powers of the UN, while the OSCE and moreover its Minsk Group, would not have been in the position of adopting such decisions.

When asked if this meant that before the April war there was talk of a UN Security Council resolution, he said: This idea or such a concept was featured in all of the documents. It was not inscribed in any of the documents that exactly that one has to be sent to the UN Security Council. Why am I putting it this way? Because in 2016 we were offered a docket with three different documents in it. I have already spoken about this in other occasions: one was meant to be a Declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The second one was to be a joint statement adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the co-chairing countries, which had to include certain elements that were not acceptable for Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani President did not want those to be part of the bilateral document; and third document was a draft UN Security Council resolution which was wrapping up or was interweaving the other two documents and was also adding some other provisions on its own behalf.
The pie wedge-shaped, two-bedroom house near downtown Deerfield that sits on an oddly shaped lot sold in May for $295,000  some 13.5% more than it sold for in August 2020. (HANDOUT)

The pie wedge-shaped, two-bedroom house near downtown Deerfield that sits on an oddly shaped lot sold in May for $295,000  some 13.5% more than it sold for in August 2020.

That marked a stark turnaround from the loss that a previous set of owners had taken. Those prior owners had paid $284,441 in 2007 for the house, which is known locally as the pie house, and then sold it at a loss for $260,000 in August 2020.

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Why did the houses owners sell it after just nine months of ownership? Blame local regulations.

The Village of Deerfield enacted a limitation on transient rentals, which was the purpose of the (2020) buyer, real estate agent Alan Berlow of Coldwell Banker, who has represented parties in several transactions involving the home, told Elite Street. They had it as a VRBO (rental) and then found out that the Village of Deerfield had a 30-day minimum on transient rentals, which didnt fit in their needs, so then a buyer came along a few months later, and she bought the house and loves it.

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Built in 2003, the home predated the tiny house movement, although at a size of 1,122 square feet, it is technically larger than the 1,000-square-foot maximum size for that movement.

The pie houses size  it has just one bedroom upstairs and another in its finished basement  was born out of necessity. The house sits on a 0.09-acre lot at the corner of Chestnut Street and Hazel Avenue in Deerfield. That lot size actually is larger than most standard single-family home lots in Chicago, but its unusually small for the suburbs.

The lots oblong shape meant that its builder created a house with one wall that is just three feet wide. The houses construction initially led to some local outrage, and the villages mayor and trustees at the time were peppered with complaints that the home is an architectural pie-in-the-face, the Tribune wrote in 2003.

Over the years, however, the house has become accepted  if not outright embraced  in the area for its uniqueness. The house has 2 baths, hardwood floors, a paver brick walkway and a storage shed. It has no garage but it does have a parking pad that can hold six cars.

Berlow represented the most recent buyer.

The new buyer is just thrilled with the home, he said.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance writer.

Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news.
Serzh Sargsyan touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh issues and documents to resolve the situation.

According to him, in Kazan, they did not accept the document. There should have been a declaration, that is, even without signatures, to declare, since the main document would be an interstate agreement - such a comprehensive agreement on the peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, which would include everything. It was an agreement on the settlement of the Artsakh problem by peaceful means. Moreover, with the participation of the representative of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"But I have been a negotiator, right? I have been a partner for those people. I would say  a trusted partner. Is it worth to do that now?



Indeed, I have all the papers, all the proposals by the co-chairs in my disposal. But without coordination  I do not think that it is a good idea. When there is an extreme necessity, I will do that. But since he has that experience already, I would suggest him to go on and publish.

First and foremost, the manpulations will not be prevented. Making manipulations is the workstyle of these people. They wont be prevented. Secondly, of course that will give a chance to many-many people to read and make up their own mind around it. But the Minsk Group has not vanished, you know? Independent of the fact that this person is the one negotiating now. Tomorrow there will be a different negotiator. That is not a second rate structure. Let me remind everyone that we deal with Russia, United States and France. If we lose their trust fully, what will be our gain? If our people have doubts, let them follow the statements made by the co-chairs. A few times these people attempted to misinterpret the proposals made by the co-chairs. They reacted swiftly. Reacted several times. Isnt that enough for the doubtful people to realize where is the truth, and what is just an attempt to justify own failures of these people?

I want this to be very clear. First and foremost, there could not be any document that would fully be only in the interests of Armenia. It would be in Armenias interest if the territories in the entire security zone, and maybe even more, were reunited with Armenia. Am I right? These [issues] cannot be formulated in that manner.

I also want to add something. I want to be very clear and say that despite the fact the declaration it was not signed or adopted in Kazan, it had been the last document, titled as a working document. I said in the past and will reiterate again that those documents are called working which is being accepted by the parties involved as a basis for discussion, is being negotiated for a long while and either is being signed, or is not being signed and is dispatched to the OSCE Depository. Kazan was the last one.



This is one aspect.



Secondly, after the negotiations in Kazan and after the documents tabled in Kazan there had been no other paper, no other proposal by the co-chairs which in some ways or another would not maintain those main provisions that were present in the Kazan document, simply because Kazan document was based on the Madrid Principles. Of course, some issues were being further clarified, corrected etc. No single other [working] document. Including the docket with three documents never became a working document and never dispatched to the OSCE Depository, since Azerbaijan did not accept those. Even though I am supporting those now, we neither gave our agreement to that. I mean  we did not say we were against, neither we gave our agreement. And in general, after Kazan we did not give our approval to any document and neither expressed any opinion. Instead, we would tell the following: given that the Kazan document, approved by you, we were ready to sign, if you have any modifications to make, please, first seek approval by Azerbaijan, and if the Azeris agree to accept your modified proposals as a basis for future negotiations, we would then proceed to respond," he said.
The details of the referendum on the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh were never discussed because those details were left until the main agreement, said third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

According to him, the main parameters were fixed, which is of vital importance for us.

To clarify, that is, the wording of the question was not discussed, he said: No, of course not. All this, I repeat again, was provided for in this agreement. This is clear. You will see no place in these documents, at least in the proposals that concerned the basic principles, in any document, even a hint that before the final settlement of the problem, the Azerbaijanis must return to the very territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

There is no such thing ... Let them show at least one document where there is a hint of this ... I say again, it was a problem of a big agreement, where our position would be as follows: Azerbaijanis can participate in a referendum exactly the same way as they participate as residents of Nagorny Karabakh in the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. They don't come to vote. Let them, wherever they are, vote and vote in favor of Azerbaijan. And our population would vote in favor of Armenia."

Asked that the proportions would be according to the situation in 1988, Sargsyan said: Yes. We have always said, and this in no way belittles our work, that yes, we accept that the temporarily displaced must return to their places of permanent residence. But this can take place only if and only if the issue of the authorities in the given territory, which will be responsible for the safety of these people, is resolved. Well, you dont recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as a state, but who will provide if these people return. For example, who will ensure that the few Azerbaijanis living in Stepanakert return to Stepanakert.

You can't assign a policeman or a peacekeeper to every Azerbaijani or Armenian. Not? That is, we will return again to 1988. And this is the reason why none of the co-chairs has ever said that you are wrong in response to what we said. We are talking about the return of those Azerbaijanis who lived in those territories that were transferred to Azerbaijan as a compromise.

However, with certain conditions. I don't want to go into details... I don't know if they live with us now or not. But after the war, this was already the subject of Azerbaijan's decision. Then it was not the subject of Azerbaijan's decision. This is stated in the draft resolution of the UN Security Council, and in other documents. So these are very obvious things."

"That is, I do not understand - what does he want? He wants us to say, no, not a single Azerbaijani should be in the territory of Karabakh at all. Does he want us to say it? We have never had such an approach. I simply do not understand a person who literally repeats the words of the one who humiliated him as a person, humiliated him as a head of state, humiliated him as a representative of the Armenian people.

Well, if at the initial stage, when he naively believed that now, bypassing the co-chairs, he would come to some agreements with Azerbaijan, okay, you can understand this somewhere. But after a disastrous war, when you were called a drunk clown (I dont want to repeat insults even against him), but after such humiliation by this person, do you repeat his words? Do you repeat what he said, citing it as an argument? I don't understand it."

Commenting on the Prime Minister's statement that Armenia and Azerbaijan have never managed to agree on the timing of the referendum, Sargsyan noted: Yes, because we had no particular desire to agree on the timing issue, and I spoke, and now I repeat that Azerbaijan could never even agree to a referendum. But that's why I say that the only way to resolve the problem is a package solution. And the package solution does not give one of the parties the opportunity to get what it wants, and then say, you know, the rest with conditions ... That is why five districts surrendered, and two remained. Until the referendum passed, these two - Lachin and Kelbajar should have remained ...

Aliyev, not only admitted this. Aliyev, after the April war, those documents received, which this one calls a catastrophe, Aliyev believed that he was being forced to recognize independence behind closed doors. So their opinions still differ, probably, but I am sure that in these circumstances Aliyev changed his mind.

So the Azerbaijanis had a choice: either hold a referendum, release Karabakh as a very legitimate member of its composition, or leave Lachin and Kelbajar there. And if it was beneficial for them, let them do it, but Lachin and Kelbajar - you saw, the Armenians forcibly resettled from other places moved there, and from those five regions they also moved there and would live as long as the Azerbaijanis would want hold a referendum. Peacekeepers would stand, the Armenian army, the self-defense forces of Nagorno-Karabakh - all this would be, and there would be the approval of the international community. Then the resumption of hostilities would be much more painful for Azerbaijan.

Commenting on Pashinyan's statement that he sent a letter to the co-chairs, in which they asked to restore the provision on the national composition according to the situation in 1988, Sargsyan said: Yes, I sent letters. I sent letters a year before the Kazan document, substantiating our corrections, corrections in the existing document. And as a result, the Kazan document became more acceptable to us than the previous document was. And here I have no arrogance to assert that it was this letter that served as the basis for it to be so. But the result was this.

I sent the second letter after the April war, and we received proposals that were in no way inferior to those contained in the Kazan document. And I do not even have those expectations that if I send this letter to the powerful of the world, then 10 out of 10 of my proposals should be fulfilled. This is also, so to speak, a matter of negotiation, so ... if these are bad letters, let them publish. Let's see if these letters will bring us honor or damnation. Let him publish. Let him write a couple of such letters."

To clarify, this provision, related to the national composition of 1988, existed at some time, then disappeared, Sargsyan noted that this provision has never disappeared."

"Never. And those documents that he considers pernicious, in these documents it is very clearly noted that all those issues that are not included here are included in previous documents that have been deposited with the OSCE depository. That is, this must be understood very clearly: see the Kazan document. What else should be?"
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 31 (ANI/NewsVoir): Making at-home gym set-up affordable for all, the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store has announced heavy discounts and cashback offers on the purchase of PowerMax Fitness equipment. India's largest hyperlocal shopping store is letting customers save up to 72% on all PowerMax Fitness equipment, with EMIs starting at Rs. 1,250. Shoppers can now avail of additional benefits when buying these models on easy EMIs and get them home-delivered free of cost. By using the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card, customers can purchase PowerMax Fitness equipment at No Cost EMI and opt for a flexible repayment tenor with no extra charge. If the selected PowerMax Fitness equipment is covered by the zero down payment policy of the EMI Store, customers can take it home without depositing a down payment at checkout. PowerMax Fitness is an American gym equipment brand that supplies quality fitness gear to individual fitness enthusiasts and professional training centres. From treadmills and elliptical cross trainers to exercise bikes and weights, PowerMax Fitness has a wide range of fitness equipment to suit the customer's every need. Some of the top selling PowerMax Fitness models available on the EMI Store include: PowerMax Fitness TDA-150 Auto Lubricating Treadmill with Auto Incline & Smart Run Function with No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 4,500, zero down payment and 38% off PowerMax Fitness TDA-150 Auto Lubricating Treadmill with Auto Incline & Smart Run Function with No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 2,000, zero down payment and 43% off PowerMax Fitness EH-850 Elliptical Cross Trainer with Hand Pulse, Water Bottle Cage, Preset Programs for Beginner, Advance, Sporty Cardio Training Home Workout Machine with No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 4,166, zero down payment and 52% off PowerMax WalkPad 5 Ultra-Thin Walking Fitness Treadmill with Remote Control with No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 3,166, zero down payment and 49% off PowerMax X Marvel MTA-1000 Captain America Motorized Treadmill for Home Use with No Cost EMI starting from Rs. 3,411, zero down payment and 43% off Shop for PowerMax Fitness Equipment on EMI from the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store in 5 easy steps Log on to the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store using the registered mobile number Choose the desired PowerMax Fitness model and add it to the shopping cart, select a suitable EMI repayment tenor and proceed to checkout Enter the required details like name and delivery address and then click on the 'Generate OTP' option Complete the purchase by entering the OTP received on the registered mobile number A confirmation SMS will be sent to the registered mobile number, along with the date and time of delivery *Terms and Conditions apply Finserv MARKETS is an online digital marketplace by Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv. Finserv MARKETS is a one-stop digital marketplace, that assist consumers to compare and choose from a wide range of financial products. Its core proposition is driven by a strong intent to deliver tailor made financial products to the consumers. It offers customers abundance in choices in offering the required financial products to achieve all their financial and personal goal. Finserv MARKETS has partnered with leading financial providers in the Lending, Insurance, Investments and Payments space to provide 500+ financial and lifestyle products, all in one place. For further information, please visit: www.bajajfinservmarkets.in or download Finserv MARKETS App on Google Play Store or App Store. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Kota (Rajasthan) [India], January 31 (ANI/NewsVoir): The Union Budget for the year 2022-23 will be presented by Government of India on February 1, 2022 and expectations are building up from different corporates including educationist. Education Industry Expert, Nitin Vijay, MD & CEO, Motion Education Pvt. Ltd., Kota, Rajasthan - India's leading organization which excels in Ed-Tech landscape and prepares students for JEE, NEET, NTSE, KVPY, Olympiads, and other competitive exams in India since 2007, decode what is needed for the education sector from Budget 2022-2023 in the current fragile state of economy. The Indian education sector is currently going through disruptive and revolutionary changes. It is also struggling with infrastructural and financial challenges. But it remains one of the priority sectors for the country. The 2022 Union budget has the potential to provide a platform to the education sector to launch itself into an era of exponential growth. The pandemic wreaked havoc on several businesses. Education, Healthcare, Finance have all undergone major changes. The Indian education sector too went through major transformation in last two years. According to UNICEF, 1.5 million schools in India's primary and secondary schools were closed during this pandemic, affecting 247 million children. Hybrid learning culture played a huge role in sustaining the momentum and we saw a huge rise in tech start-ups that are now contributing to the country's economic growth. Ed-Tech institutes are forerunners in offering vital skills to aspiring professionals and also bridging the gap between demand and supply. One of the key expectations from Ed-Tech industry is to reduce the GST slab of 18 per cent to 5 per cent for financial assistance. This will make the industry an attractive proposition for driving investments. The NEP 2020 was a visionary step for the industry, we expect moves on such lines that can bring about pivotal change in the remote learning sector. Also for the Ed-Tech to realize its true potential, the government should invest heavily in laying digital infrastructure in tier 2 and tier 3 cities along with rural areas. We already saw many students in smaller towns and rural areas struggled to get them. In our country where 70% of population lives in rural areas, just one out of four students have access to internet and digital assets. The deeper internet penetration will help institutions to take classrooms to the remotest part of the country and will help the underprivileged. There is an urgent need to develop infrastructures for better connectivity and access to mobile devices or computers to bridge the digital divide. We expect that the government will also make announcements that will encourage online learning and especially on models that will focus on learning of new-age skills and employability. We are living in a digital era and learning models that focus on concepts like AI, VR, Machine learning should also remain in focus. However, technology is expensive and requires heavy investment. The education sector hopes that the government will provide support to the educational institution in the adoption of technology. An increased focus on promoting R&D is another expectation of the sector from the upcoming budget. The country has seen a surge in new research, developments, and innovations. However, there is still a lot of gap for the R&D in the country. Besides increasing the spending on basic education, the education sector also expects the budget 2022 to focus on short-term learning courses, promotion of local languages, increased capital expenditure on the creation of infrastructure for practical skill development. It will indeed be a welcome step and produce enough number of skilled professionals to keep our country's industries fed. Motion Education and Way Forward in 2022 (www.motion.ac.in) Nitin Vijay is the MD & CEO of Motion Education Private Ltd., India's leading Ed-Tech brand based out of Kota, Rajasthan and prepares students for JEE-MAIN & ADVANCED, NEET, NTSE, KVPY, Olympiads, and other competitive exams in India since 2007. Nitin Vijay started his entrepreneurial journey with only 10, 000 rupees when he was just 23-year-old. After 14 years of indomitable efforts, Motion Education along with its study centres in 44 cities across India, is all set to achieve over Rs. 100 crores revenue in the current fiscal (FY 2021-22). For the last couple of years, Motion Education is witnessing steep growth in admissions. From 9,000-plus in 2020 to 12,000-plus in 2021, there was a growth of 33 per cent in students' strength. With 50 new centres, the institution expects 25,000 admissions in this year. The COVID-19 crisis hit revenue of the education industry. However, Motion Education swiftly adapted to the Ed-Tech and students enthusiastically welcome the change. Thereby making up revenue by increasing the number of students by 32 per cent. Today, the organisation excels in the Ed-Tech landscape with the launch of many customized courses backed by hybrid learning models. Recently, on Motion Education's 15th Foundation Day, Nitin Vijay announced the opening of more than 50 centres all over India in the coming financial year to bring the total to 100 and revenue to around Rs. 300 crore. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Sonipat (Haryana) [India], January 31 (ANI/OP Jindal University): Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) announced the launch of a new, fully residential One Year Global MBA (Business Analytics) degree programme for experienced business professionals. This degree programme has been designed based on an extensive discussion with top analytics recruiters and understanding their underlying need for professionals with an integrated view of both analytics and management. The students will acquire globally relevant business and analytical skills through an intensive experiential immersion programme at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Understanding the current need for an industry integrated curriculum, this programme will be led by industry experts, bringing their deep knowledge of cutting-edge technology platforms and industry domains into the MBA classroom. The analytics-focused curriculum of this one-year MBA will bridge the technical expertise of data analytics with the essential skill of translating solutions into executable insights. For this programme, JGBS has also collaborated with top companies to provide action learning projects, allowing students to have hands-on experience of resolving real-life business problems. The training and certifications from Amazon Web Services Academy and SAP University Alliance will train students with the necessary tools and techniques for business analytics, thereby helping make them industry-ready. Announcing the launch of the One Year Global MBA in Business Analytics, Founding Vice-Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Professor (Dr) C Raj Kumar said, "With a distinctively designed curriculum, our One Year Global MBA in Business Analytics is all set to create a benchmark in the education sector with a comprehensive approach towards delivery of the curriculum related to business analytics. After the successful completion of the programme, the students will be able to address and analyse a wide range of issues in the context of business analytics". Organizations are increasingly using data and its analysis to make strategic decisions in various areas, including product development, marketing, sales, operations, and even customer service. Consequently, there is a dire need for professionals who can address this rapidly growing demand from the industry. Students who complete the one-year MBA degree programme's analytics-focused curriculum, will have a much better understanding of how to analyse, comprehend, and work with data to make business-critical decisions, thereby helping establish, and sustain, competitive advantages for organizations. Professor (Dr) Mayank Dhaundiyal, Dean of Jindal Global Business School said, "This high-impact one-year MBA programme will be co-delivered by top industry practitioners and our research-active in-house faculty members, ensuring cutting-edge content in our MBA classrooms. Our one-year Global MBA would not only prepare its participants for a great career in the rapidly growing area of business analytics, but it would also provide a solid return-on-investment for the participants". Professor Meenakshi Tomar, Associate Dean of the One Year Global MBA in Business Analytics at Jindal Global Business School said, "The unique One Year Global MBA in Business Analytics offers engaged learning for leadership and influencing skills with exclusive collaborations with top industry practitioners and corporates. The sector remains promising from a job perspective, and the programme delivery assures a comprehensive curriculum". The programme will be delivered as a one-year fully residential MBA programme for experienced professionals at the JGU campus in Sonipat, Haryana. This story is provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/OP Jindal University)
Mumbai [India], January 31 (ANI/NewsVoir): Great Place to Work India has announced India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2022 on January 28, 2022. This milestone year is the 5th edition of India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing representing the voice of more than 3 lakh employees. 132 organizations were assessed as a part of this research and Top 30 have been identified as India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2022. As a global authority on workplace culture, Great Place to Work has been studying employee experience and people practices across organizations for over three decades. Every year, more than 10,000 organizations from over 60 countries partner with Great Place to Work Institute for assessment, benchmarking and planning of actions to strengthen their workplace culture. In its 5th edition this year, Great Place to Work Institute's study of India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing finds that employee engagement in the industry has seen a significant improvement since the previous year. The rapidly changing and evolving landscape in the manufacturing sector, has also been a test of character, especially when it comes to the torchbearers, the leaders. The research shows that Leaders that demonstrate care, are honest and ethical, and perceived as competent are successful in creating and sustaining a great workplace culture. The need of the hour is a deep understanding of the business, a clear vision of where the organization is headed, how the vision is communicated internally and recognizing the right set of people who can deliver the vision. The Institute shares that it is a welcoming sign that competence of the leaders and the management, have seen a significant improvement in this study. As an outcome of their study on India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2022, Great Place to Work India has released their research report that identifies what sets the Best Workplaces apart from the rest. The report and the complete list of India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2022 can be viewed here. The organizations that made it to the Top 30 - India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2022 are (in alphabetical order): Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Apollo Tyres Limited Ashirvad by Aliaxis Bharat Aluminium Company Limited Bridgestone India Private Limited Brillon Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd.(formerly known as SC Johnson Products Pvt. Ltd.) CEAT Limited CESC Limited GHCL Limited Godfrey Phillips India Limited Godrej Consumer Products Limited HIL Limited Hygienic Research Institute Private Limited Indian Oil Corporation Limited JK Tyre & Industries Limited LUCAS TVS LTD Mahindra & Mahindra Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors Mahindra Accelo - India National Engineering Industries Limited (NBC Bearings) NTPC Limited PepsiCo India PGP Glass Private Limited Pidilite Industries Limited Shree Cement Limited Signify Innovations India Ltd. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited Tata Steel Limited UNO Minda Group Vaibhav Global Limited Whirlpool of India Ltd. In India, the Institute partners with more than 1200 organizations annually, across over 22 industries, to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a great place to work FOR ALL. Learn more at www.greatplacetowork.in and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 31 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Holcim India and its two leading cement companies--Ambuja Cements and ACC have launched their first corporate campaign #ChangeTheStory that highlights the plastic removal efforts of the cement majors in the country. The first joint integrated Sustainability campaign of Holcim India is about its efforts to clean the river Yamuna through the non-invasive technology called Bubble Barrier. Both companies have deployed a non-invasive Bubble Barrier technology for the removal of around 2,400 tonnes of plastic waste from Agra's Mantola canal before they enter into Yamuna River. This river cleaning initiative is being taken care of by Geocycle, the in-house waste management arm of Ambuja Cements and ACC. Neeraj Akhoury, CEO, India, Holcim and MD & CEO Ambuja Cements, said, "This campaign of Holcim India aims to write a new story strengthened by hope, optimism and action. Ambuja Cements and ACC are committed to co-authoring the story of a new India that sees sustainability as an integral part of our success in the country. #ChangeTheStory campaign is a vital step to amplify solutions for a better tomorrow." The #ChangeTheStory campaign expects to elevate the narrative around sustainability challenges with a sense of urgency by showcasing technology-backed solutions that offer effective and measurable outcomes. This campaign aims to rewrite the problems of the present and create solutions that will benefit the future of society. "It's time to write a new story for the challenges that we face today. We are excited to create impactful change for the environment and society through our sustainability initiatives. We are working with the ecosystem to create a better and brighter future," said Mr Sridhar Balakrishnan, MD & CEO, ACC. This integrated campaign comprises films, press and digital campaigns to talk about the first sustainability initiative - revolutionary bubble barrier technology that removes plastic waste in rivers. The campaign will be rolled out across the platforms, including print and digital. Through a video film, the campaign drives a message through the lens of a scientist that it is time to change the story by taking out the plastic and freeing our rivers from the polluted past. It uses a mix of both humour and impactful pieces of communication to bring out the challenges and the eco-friendly solutions. One of the lead films has the bubble itself brought to life to explain its role and methods, through song and wit. 'Change the Story' is set to expand its scope to include more stories of impactful change for the environment and society. Because yesterday's story doesn't have to be today's. Driving awareness across digital channels, ACC and Ambuja will be introducing their first-ever rap song across their owned platforms featuring the campaign mnemonic 'Bubble Sharma'. ACC and Ambuja have leveraged the power of music through rap's foot tapping beats and original purpose-driven lyrics, to showcase how the company is pushing out plastic from the rivers using bubble barrier technology. The campaign will be followed by a bouquet of informative posts and videos on social media. ACC and Ambuja would also be collaborating with a bunch of micro and Nano influencers to drive further engagement around the bubble barrier technology. Holcim India will be further launching its other sustainability led initiatives in the upcoming quarters. This call to action initiative will act as a catalyst for encouraging people to be agents of change to transform today into a sustainable tomorrow by pledging on the microsite and sharing their own change the story moment. #ChangeTheStory has been conceptualized with the expertise of Alok Nanda and Company, India's leading brand consultancy firm. Alok Nanda, the founder of ANC, the agency that crafted the campaign, said, "The campaign shines a light on the noteworthy initiatives taken up by Ambuja and ACC for a sustainable future. 'Change The Story is a platform that seeks to inspire others in creating positive, impactful change. It was a delight working on communication that was equally entertaining and informative." The 'call to action campaign 'Change the story' has been launched today through leading print publication followed by a digital AV and other elements launched across India. The campaign will see the two major cement companies (ACC and Ambuja Cements) join hands for the first time to address some of the most pressing challenges around sustainability faced by the planet. This campaign will act as a catalyst for encouraging people to be agents of change to transform today into a sustainable tomorrow. The campaign urges the audience to embrace sustainable practices by encouraging them to take a pledge on https://www.changethestory.co.in/ Enclosed is the campaign advertisements.Video: https://youtu.be/VyYfJe0TkYEMicrosite: https://www.changethestory.co.in/ This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 31 (ANI/BusinessWire India): The sixth graduation ceremony of Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU) was recently organised virtually. Dr Ajeenkya D Y Patil, President of Ajeenkya DY Patil University and Hrridaysh Deshpande, Vice-Chancellor were present for the occasion. Dr Gregg L Semenza, Nobel Prize winner for Medicine in 2019, delivered the convocation address at the ceremony. Delivering the Convocation address, Dr Gregg L Semenza, the Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine for 2019 said, "That world needs leaders to recognise the climate crisis and be prepared to respond with the science and tech tools. The world needs young leaders who understand that the major challenges like the pandemic and climate crisis require a global response and international cooperation and I am optimistic that the younger generation will succeed with their firm resolve to make a difference." Ajeenkya DY Patil, President, ADYPU said, "The pandemic has been the most shared event in history. There are many unsung heroes working in the background during the pandemic, be it doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, police, or drivers. Every student must take inspiration from them. I always believe that campuses are great levellers where every individual comes as an equal student and share their thoughts and joys. Every student has the potential to change the world and everyone must do their bit for society. Humanity needs to get together, with more compassion. Humans need love, affection and healing. This is the best time to do something for the society and create happiness for the world when it needs the most." Danny Gaekwad, American Entrepreneur and Community Leader, Nagraj Manjule-Noted Film Director, Sudhir Mehta Chairman-Pinnacle Industries, Dr R Vasudevan Padma Shri Awardee, Dean ECA and Professor, Thiagarajar College of Engineering were conferred with The Degree of Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa (D.Litt.). In his welcome address Hridayesh Deshpande, Vice-Chancellor at Ajeenkya DY Patil University presented the University report including achievements and activities conducted this year. Around 763 students from various streams including Management, Design, Engineering, Law, Hotel Management, Film and Media were conferred degrees. At the graduation ceremony, 50 students from various courses were honoured with medals for academic excellence. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)
New Delhi [India], January 31(ANI/NewsVoir): BASES, a NielsenIQ business, has released the findings of their latest study that highlights how open consumers are to new business models in the durables and electronics industry in India and other countries post the pandemic. With the objective to understand how durable goods manufacturers can keep consumers engaged and enhance their experience post the pandemic, NielsenIQ BASES finds among different business models, Product Service Systems (PSS) to be the most future proof for consumer durable brands. The global study, conducted in US, Germany, Brazil and India, highlights that engaging the customer throughout the product's lifecycle by adopting new business models will prove to be beneficial for brands. "Extending the relationship between a company and its customer, beyond point of sale, opens up new opportunities for brands to interact with customers to understand customer demographics, gather important performance and usage feedback, and deepen the customer relationship by better responding to their needs," said Vidya Sen, South Asia Lead, NielsenIQ BASES. In order to deliver personalized services for their customers, brands must look at options that are fulfilling a user's needs. The study talks about two variations of product-service systems (PSS). -Product-orientedOwnership of a product is transferred but additional services are offered to consumers. -Use-orientedOwnership of a product remains unchanged, but usage is made available to consumers. In India, the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced that consumer goods companies need to evolve how they engage with distributors, retailers, and end-consumers to drive growth and boost profits in the coming years. The study finds out that, from investing in new digital capabilities to updating business models, to making CX a critical competitive differentiator, could help brands keep consumers engaged and deliver on their expectations. "In India, adding services, customization, automation, or leasing options provide manufacturers the opportunity to introduce more on-going revenue streams. Depending on the business model, manufacturers can add small additional revenue throughout the product life-cycle or shift part of the investment to the usage period as is the case of leasing models," said Vidya. Product automation is universally appealing Product automation model ranked number one not only in India but also USA, Germany and Brazil. Indian consumers, for whom having the latest technology is always important believed that product automation is the way to go for consumer durable brands as it will allow personalization and provide an efficient outcome. While Pricing was important for consumers in USA, Germany and Brazil, product quality, support and aftersales service stood out as crucial factors for Indian consumers when it came to automated products. Personalized beauty care products are of interest to consumers across the world Within the personalisation space, personalised beauty focussed devices generate maximum focus in India while oral care and cooking appeal in the US and Germany. A personal care appliance that collects info and suggests improvements to the personal care routine or a toothbrush that analyses teeth and suggests products for oral health needs or even a hair dryer that analyses hair and suggests treatments/styling product is what appeals global consumers. The study also reveals that, contrary to belief, consumers do not rely on celebrities and influencers while making decisions of buying such products. The research finds that communities of like-minded consumers and professionals appeal to consumers equally. Embracing circular economy model As consumers become more discerning and more demanding of businesses to be responsible, they're pivoting towards companies that engage in circular practices. For consumers this means buying durable products that are recyclable or made with recycled materials; keeping them in use for a long time through effective maintenance and repair, or ensuring responsible end-of-life actions so that little to no waste is generated. For businesses, this includes developing products and business models that eliminate waste by design, reducing the use of raw materials, and planning for return/recovery of products and packaging, among other actions. In India, consumers see manufacturers of large durables, electronics and small kitchen appliances as a better fit for the circular economy. However, pricing remains a great concern for them as they are not comfortable spending an extravagant amount on sustainable products. Pay per Use is Preferred While the Pay per Use model has been tried and tested successfully in the technology sector, NielsenIQ BASES research suggests that the model holds the potential to be accepted by brands in the consumer durables sector too. With more and more consumers demanding flexible payment options and innovative yet cost-efficient products, the consumer durable brands in India have the opportunity to offer products that cater to the customer demand and at the same time have a unique payment model. NielsenIQ BASES is a leader in helping companies build brands through innovation, renovation, strategy, and go-to-market optimisation, and is a trusted partner globally, and across industries. BASES helps maximise brand success end-to-end through advanced predictive analytics, behavioural science, proprietary databases, expert advice, and agile, digital technology platform. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
You are here: China

Beijing on Sunday classified three areas in Fengtai District as high-risk for COVID-19, local anti-epidemic authorities told a press conference.

From 4 p.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday, the city reported 12 new locally transmitted cases attributable to the Delta variant. No new Omicron infections have been reported for seven consecutive days, according to the press conference.

The Chinese capital currently has three high-risk areas for COVID-19 and seven medium-risk areas, said Li Ang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

Since Jan. 15, Beijing has reported a total of 96 confirmed local COVID-19 cases and 12 asymptomatic carriers.
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI/PR Newswire): The 8th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad is back with a bang and that was evident at the glamorous and grand online Opening Ceremony on the evening of January 30, 2022. A continuation of last year's immensely successful season, YCO22 Opening Ceremony conveyed the same excitement, enthusiasm, glamour and spirit of the International Young Chef Olympiad on the virtual platform as its offline predecessors. The World's Biggest Virtual Culinary Battle, organised by the International Hospitality Council and hosted by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and the International Hospitality Council (IHC) London, will have over 50 countries participating and 40 of the world's most talented young chefs, before 176 cameras, with 200 iconic chef judges and 150 hospitality stalwarts sharing their views. The YCO 2022 virtual webcast is completely being controlled from the IIHM Kolkata Global Campus in Salt Lake. This technically advanced and equipped campus has become the headquarter of the culinary heats this year; with the entire technical team geared up to organise and support this massive event through a complex system of web connectivity through seven days. The Opening Ceremony kicked off from the YCO Global Studio at the Global Campus from where the YCO participants, mentors, judges, students and all well-wishers from across the world were connected on the same platform at the same time. The Opening Ceremony commenced with the introduction of the 50 countries participating with their young chef and mentor representatives. The spirit of the Young Chef Olympiad is held high at the YCO 2022, as this Culinary competition sets an example across the world as far as educational technologies are concerned. "We feel proud to be able to organise YCO 2022 through these difficult times. Being able to host this huge competition is a celebration of the spirit of the Young Chef Olympiad. YCO has revolutionised educational technologies in the Culinary Arts. Thanks to the YCO and team and technological advancement, YCO 22 is going to be one of the biggest in scale in so many years with such huge participation from all quarters of the hospitality and culinary world," said Dr Suborno Bose, the CEO of the International Hospitality Council and Chairman of IIHM. "Over 176 cameras placed across the world in over 40 countries day and night, monitoring everything, checking everything. All minute details while every judge's eyes will be on them. I am used to cameras but YCO is a battle of cameras. Nothing can stop excellence in hospitality, excellence in culinary arts and YCO stands testament to that resolve," said Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Principal Judge of YCO. "YCO has shown to us that we can conquer the unpredictable. Dr Bose and his team have shown 'light' in an age that has been full of darkness. YCO has created hope for the Youth of the world. This competition is about uniting the world and the youth of the world through hospitality and the culinary arts," said Prof David Foskett, the Chairman of IHC and the Chairman of the Jury of YCO 2021. "The fact that YCO22 is happening is purely perseverance and magic that technology can do. I am super excited for everyone across the world. This is a true celebration of people who believe in the magic of food," said celebrity chef Ranveer Brar. The Opening Ceremony further showcased the unveiling of the winner's trophy by Dr Suborno Bose and also unfurling of the Young Chef Olympiad flag. Against the backdrop of the YCO anthem, mentors and judges took the YCO oath on the online platform. This officially announced the opening of the 8th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad that will be followed by six days of nail-biting competition. Opening Ceremony can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmpUmFnrFTg IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across eleven National and International cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Worlds biggest Culinary Olympiad Young Chef Olympiad, with participation of over 50 countries, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world. It has MOU's with over 50 countries for student and faculty exchange bringing the best of education for its students from around the World. The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 - 2019 and 2019 - 2020. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736831/Opening_Ceremony_Pic.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1572818/IIHM_Logo.jpg This story is provided by PR Newswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PR Newswire)
After 'The Family Man', filmmakers Raj and DK are all set to come up with another interesting series titled 'Guns & Gulaabs', which will stream on Netflix. Inspired by the misfits of the world, 'Guns & Gulaabs' is a story that depicts love and innocence, set in a world of crime. The series is set to uniquely blend the romance of the 90s with a crime thriller while effortlessly lacing it in humour. Speaking about the series and their collaboration with Netflix, Raj and DK said, "Netflix has always been a pioneering service offering constantly cutting edge content. And we are super thrilled to associate with them on our latest venture! Last year, we had a great outing on Netflix with our indie gem, Cinema Bandi. And now we look forward to a larger collaboration on our first Netflix series, Guns & Gulaabs. We are especially thrilled to roll out this wicked genre mash with some of the finest cast and crew from our country." Created, directed and produced by Raj and DK, 'Guns & Gulaabs' will reportedly feature Rajkummar Rao and Dulquer Salmaan in the lead roles. (ANI)
American-Irish actor Saoirse Ronan is set to star in 'The Outrun', the latest film from 'The Unforgivable' director Nora Fingscheidt. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, will play Rona, a woman fresh out of rehab who, after more than a decade away, returns to Scotland's wild Orkney Islands and to the sheep farm of her childhood, in the adaptation of Amy Liptrot's best-selling memoir of the same name. Fingscheidt and Liptrot have adapted the book for the screen. Protagonist Pictures will introduce the project to buyers at Berlin's European Film Market next month. Protagonist will handle world sales, co-repping North American sales with CAA Media Finance. Sarah Brocklehurst's Brock Media optioned 'The Outrun' and will produce the film alongside Ronan, Jack Lowden and Dominic Norris under their new shingle Arcade Pictures together with Ignacio Salazar-Simpson and Ricardo Marco of Mogambo. Jonas Weydemann and Jakob D. Weydemann of Germany's Weydemann Bros. will co-produce together with BBC Film and Screen Scotland, which supported the project's development. Protagonist is executive producing and has arranged the financing. Liptrot's memoir, a top ten bestseller, won the 2016 Wainwright Prize and the 2017 PEN Ackerley Prize. The book was translated into 15 languages and has sold more than 110,000 copies in the U.K. alone. Rebecca Watson of VHA negotiated the film deal for the book on behalf of James Macdonald Lockhart of Antony Harwood Ltd. "It was Amy's voice that first drew me to The Outrun. Her unusual way of seeing things in a way that perhaps you only can when you've been to the darkest place you can go within yourself. I have been waiting to play a part like this, the messiness, hopefulness, dreaminess, authenticity and humour we want to achieve, I've been scared of it, but with Nora, I feel ready," said Ronan in a statement. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Fingscheidt added, "There are wonderful gifts already in place to make this a powerful and immersive film. One is the setting, the vast and cinematic landscapes of the Orkney islands; the other is our main actress, Saoirse Ronan, who brings magic to the screen with her unique mix of charisma and emotional depth." Fingscheidt's debut feature, 'System Crasher', premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2019, winning the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize, and sweeping the German Film Awards, winning eight Lolas, including best picture and best director for Fingscheidt. His English-language follow-up was the Netflix hit 'The Unforgivable' starring Sandra Bullock, a feature adaptation of a UK TV series about a woman navigating her freedom after 20 years in prison. (ANI)
A recent study has found that disabled adults have worse outcomes when hospitalised for COVID-19 when compared to patients without disabilities. The study has been published in the 'Canadian Medical Association Journal'. The differences were especially pronounced in people younger than 65 years. "Consideration of disability-related needs has largely been absent from the COVID-19 response, with vaccine eligibility driven primarily by age and medical comorbidity, limited accommodations made for patients with disabilities who are in hospital, and disability data often not being captured in surveillance programs," wrote Dr Hilary Brown, University of Toronto Scarborough, with coauthors. The study included data on 1279 patients aged 18 years or older hospitalized for COVID-19 at seven teaching hospitals in Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario, between January 1 and November 30, 2020. Researchers found that people with disabilities had 36 per cent longer hospital stays and were 77 per cent more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their first hospitalization. These higher rates persisted after the researchers accounted for age and other factors that might explain differences. The highest risks for poor outcomes were in patients with traumatic brain injury, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and multiple disabilities. "Our findings suggest disability-related needs must be included in plans for COVID-19 response, in particular, to support patients in hospital and immediately after hospitalization, including community supports to ensure safe transitions home and reduce risk of unplanned return to the hospital," said Dr Amol Verma, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto. The findings are consistent with studies from the United States and the United Kingdom showing worse outcomes from COVID-19 in people with disabilities. Disability advocates welcome the contribution of new data to highlight the importance of supporting people with disabilities during the pandemic. "There are two and a half million Ontarians who have disabilities, which is a significant proportion of the population, and includes our family members, our friends, our co-workers, and people in our communities," said disability advocate Sandi Bell, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Health Care Standards Development Committee and member of the Board of Directors of ARCH Disability Law Centre. "Yet throughout COVID-19, people with disabilities have been made to feel invisible. We have become even more vulnerable, as manoeuvring [through] the health care system has been difficult, confusing, and scary. There is genuine demand for this type of data to help prioritize the needs of people with disabilities, which is what we believe Canadians would want to see," she added. Steps to address the needs of people with disabilities included accommodations for patients who need support persons, training of clinicians on the needs and rights of people with disabilities, introducing patient-oriented discharge planning to home, and inclusion of disability-related data in COVID-19 surveillance. "Such efforts should be prioritized in the pandemic response to ensure equitable care for patients with disabilities who have COVID-19," the authors urged. (ANI)
While Hepatitis C can be now cured with the help of modern drugs, some patients go on to develop liver cancer after that. A research team has now developed a new tool that can determine patients' cancer risk in a single examination. The study has been 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 per cent 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. 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, said 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 personalised follow-up care in patients cured of hepatitis C," added Mattias Mandorfer. (ANI)
Congress MLA and husband of former Congress leader Aditi Singh, Angad Singh has called a meeting of his supporters on Monday to decide his future political course of action after Congress denied him a ticket for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls. Angad Singh on Sunday was not named in the new list of candidates of Congress. "Angad Singh has called in a meeting of his supporters on Monday morning to decide his next political step," said a source. Congress on Sunday announced the name Satbir Singh Saini Balichiki from Nawan Shahr assembly seat instead of sitting MLA Angad Singh. It is worth mentioning that Raebareli Sadar MLA Aditi Singh, wife of Angad Singh, resigned from the Congress party before the Uttar Pradesh polls. She has now been given a ticket from Bharatiya Janata Party to contest from Rae Bareli assembly seat in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls. Punjab will go to Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. The Congress party on Sunday released its third list of eight candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab which revealed that sitting Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will contest from two seats. The party has fielded the Chief Minister from the Bhadaur constituency also. As Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu are unwilling to give up claims for the chief ministerial post, the development comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi assured that despite the party's tradition of not announcing a CM face generally, the party will be announcing the CM face this time in Punjab, after consulting with the party workers. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal said his party's survey found out that Channi is going to lose from Chamkaur Sahib. "I already told that according to our survey Channiji is going to lose from Chamkaur Sahib. Today, Congress announced that he would be contesting from two seats. Does this mean that the survey was true?" Kejriwal tweeted.(ANI)
Karnataka Congress senior leader CM Ibrahim who recently announced that he will be quitting his party said that he is in talks with Janata Dal (Secular), Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party. "There are three options for me currently, JDS, TMC, and Samajwadi Party. People from TMC and Samajwadi Party are contacting me. Many people will leave Congress before the election in Karnataka," said Ibrahim. Talking about new political combinations in the state, Ibrahim said, "We will start a new movement called Alinga (Alpa Sankhyata-Lingayat). They will join together and give a call to take all the other backward classes and Dalit community to join them. It will start from Kudalasangama from the month of February." Earlier this month, while expressing his unhappiness with the appointment of BK Hariprasad as the new leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Ibrahim said: "Goodbye to the party." "Congress and I have ended the relationship. When there's no respect, the party has taken a different view what's the situation? People leaving. People like GN Azad and Kapil Sibal coming out," Ibrahim told ANI. He said, "Congress is destroying itself. People cannot work without money in Congress. At the time of Indira Ji and Nehru Ji, Congress was a socialistic party but now it is only a 'Lena bank'. Congress will be defeated in Karnataka." "The party has sunk. When it came to 80 from 120, I spoke. Today I am saying again. It will again be like what happened in Tamil Nadu, in Andhra Pradesh, in Telangana. They are suffering due to their bad decisions," he added. (ANI)
The candidate list has left many disappointed, and their anger manifested in form of resignations and burning effigies of BJP leaders.

Two candidates, who were sitting MLAs, have been denied party tickets. While the sitting Chief Minister N Biren Singh will be contesting the election from Heingang, PWD minister in the government Thangom Biswajit Singh will contest from Thongju.

The BJP has set itself a target of winning a two-thirds majority with at least 40 seats out of 60 seats.

Currently, the NDA, led by the BJP, is in majority in the assembly. This includes 30 BJP MLAs and three MLAs from NPP and four NDF and three independents.

Leading the NDA government, Biren Singh on March 15, 2017, formed the government in Manipur.

It, however, got a major jolt in June 2020, when nine MLAs, including ministers, withdrew their support from the government, reducing it to a minority. An intervention by the central leadership within a week resulted in four NPP MLAs coming back to the NDA fold, thereby averting the fall of the government.

Manipur goes into polls in two phases-February 27 and March 3 for polling on 60 Assembly seats. Results will be announced on March 10. (ANI)
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttarakhand has said that 150 FIRs have been registered under various sections for violating the Model Code of Conduct for Assembly elections since January 8. A toll-free number is in place for people to submit complaints related to elections. "For election-related complaints contact on toll-free number 180033001950. The complaints center numbers of the control room are - 0135-2644303; 0135-2664304. According to Uttarakhand CEO, 150 FIRs have been registered under various sections for violation of model code of conduct since January 8," Uttarakhand PIB tweeted. Of these FIRs, 44 were filed for defacement of property, one for misuse of vehicle, 22 for illegal meeting/speech, etc, four for inducement/gratification to electors/cash distribution, and 79 were other complaints related to the elections. The Uttarakhand government has informed that so far 25,302 litres of liquor worth more than Rs 1,30,33,000, smack of more than Rs 1, 72, 46,000, charas worth more than Rs 26,50,000, Rs 1,82,10,000 of heroin, and ganja worth over Rs 33,32,000 has been seized. A total of 3,90,675 publicity materials have been removed so far from public places in the context of Assembly elections. Also, a total of more than Rs 2,45,20,000 cash and more than 20,69,000 silver have been recovered so far. As per the state government, so far, 24,537 licensed arms have been confiscated and three licenses have been cancelled by the government. Total 303 illegal weapons have been seized so far. Under CrPC section 107/116, 24,617 people have been booked and 39,722 have been challaned. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into immediate effect, following the announcement of the Assembly poll dates in five states by the Elections Commission of India (ECI) on January 8. Uttarakhand is slated to go to the Assembly polls on February 14 and the counting of the votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Vistara airline had cancelled several flights for the month of February while many more were rescheduled due to low demand, sources in aviation disclosed on Sunday. The cancellation and rescheduling of flights have led to several complaints from affected passengers. Taking to Twitter, a passenger also raised concern over the unavailability of Vistara's customer care. "Dear Vistara airlines You have cancelled a ticket from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar on February 5. Your customer care number is a cheap gimmick I think. No one responds and It's been busy since 48 hours. Please refund the full amount ASAP," Shibashis Prusti, a scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tweeted. Furnishing a reply on the same, Vistara Spokesperson on Monday informed that they are offering a waiver of change fee for one-time rescheduling on all direct bookings with travel until March 31. "After a sharp decline in demand for air travel, due to the surge in COVID-19 numbers and restrictions imposed by various state governments, we are observing a marginal increase in traffic in February compared to the previous month," Vistara Spokesperson said. "However, in view of volatility, we continue to closely monitor the situation and adjust capacity to demand. With the objective of minimising inconvenience to customers, we're offering a waiver of change fee for one-time rescheduling on all direct bookings with travel until 31 March," they added. Vistara also said that they will be assisting the impacted customers with rescheduling, refunds etc., as applicable. Due to surge in Covid Omicron cases, the demand for air travel was slashed, forcing airlines to rework their domestic schedules - and even cancel flights. Recently, the country's largest airline IndiGo had announced the withdrawal of 20 per cent of its scheduled flights due to low demand. Full-service carrier Vistara had said it is adjusting capacity with changing demand, and, an Air India official said that some flights on routes with multiple daily services are being merged based on load factor. (ANI)
Mohanty assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on February 1, 2021.

Lt Gen CP Mohanty, an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on 12 June 1982.

In a career spanning four decades, the General officer served across a wide spectrum of conflicts and terrain profiles and tenanted a host of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He commanded a battalion on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and later in the North East.

He has the unique distinction of commanding two brigades: first on the Line of Actual Control and later on, the multinational UN Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Later, he commanded the Rangiya based Division in a counter-insurgency environment and the Sikkim-based Trishakti Corps immediately after the Doklam incident.

The General officer also has a unique distinction of commanding two Administrative formations as well: the Jodhpur Sub Area as a Major General and Uttar Bharat Area as a Lieutenant General.

An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Higher Defence Management Course Secunderabad and the National Defence College New Delhi, the General Officer's staff and instructional assignments include an instructional tenure at NDA, Brigade Major of an Armoured Brigade, Military Advisor in Seychelles, Colonel Military Secretary (Selection) in the MS Branch, Brigadier General Staff (Operations) of a Corps in the Eastern Theatre and Director General, Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement. (ANI)
Meanwhile, India reported 2,09,918 fresh COVID-19 cases and 959 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Monday.

With this, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country moved up to 4,13,02,440 including 18,31,268 active cases which account for 4.43 per cent of the total cases.

However, the COVID-19 fatalities reported an upsurge as the country's total death toll rose to 4,95,050. On Monday, the country logged 893 deaths from this virus.

As many as 2,62,628 recoveries were added in the last 24 hours, taking the total recoveries to 3,89,76,122. The recovery rate is currently at 94.37 per cent.

Of the 13,31,198 COVID-19 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, a daily positivity rate of 15.77 per cent was reported. Moreover, the weekly positivity rate stood at 15.75 per cent. (ANI)
The Congress MP from Wayanad appealed to all Congress workers to help in every possible way.

"The road accident in Kanpur is very sad. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. I appeal all my Congress colleagues to help in every possible way," he tweeted in Hindi today.

At least five people have been killed and several injured after an electric bus lost control and mowed down several bystanders near the Tat Mill crossroad in Kanpur on Sunday, informed local police.

"Three cars and many bikes have been destroyed by the bus in the accident. The driver of the bus is absconding. We are looking for him," said Pramod Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Kanpur.

"Injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital and the probe in the matter has been initiated," the DCP added.

Further probe into the matter is underway. (ANI)
Economic Survey 2021-22 and the Statistical Appendix will be laid on the table of the Lok Sabha at around 12.45 pm by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

While it will be tabled in Upper House a few minutes after the House assembles at 2.30 pm.

Sitharaman will lay a copy of the Economic Survey, 2021-22 along with Statistical Appendix both in English and Hindi, mentioned the list of business of Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, Secretary General will lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the President's Address to both the Houses of Parliament assembled together.

Besides, obituary references to the passing away of sitting member Dr Mahendra Prasad; ex-members Jayanta Roy, Debendra Nath Barman, M Moses, Ganeshwar Kusum; and legendary Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj will be made by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu.

Secretary-General will also lay on the table, a statement (in English and Hindi) showing the Bills passed by the Houses of Parliament during the Two Hundred and Fifty-fifth Session of the Rajya Sabha and assented to by the President.

The Eighth Session of Seventeenth Lok Sabha commenced on Monday. Subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session is likely to conclude on April 8, 2022.

The President will address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at 11 am on Monday. Following which Rajya Sabha will assemble at 2.30 am, unlike its 11 am timing, due to COVID-19 precautionary measures. (ANI)
One of the most commonly used ways of interactions, other than verbal, with younger children, is using social cues (such as eye-gaze and joint attention). A new study focused on how caregiver-child interactions differ across cultural groups beyond infancy. The study, published in 'Child Development', by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Waseda University, examined caregiver-child interaction in the United States and Japan to connect the learning experiences and precise changes in cognitive development among preschool-aged children. Using the eye-tracking paradigm, the study found that children in both the United States and Japan looked at images similarly by focusing on objects before they interacted with their mothers. However, mothers in these two countries directed their children's attention differently and Japanese children shifted their attention to become more sensitive to contextual background after interacting with their mothers. These findings provide new insights into the role of social interaction and cultural diversity in the development of attention. "Comparing caregiver-child interactions in the United States and Japan enabled the testing of cultural groups that are similar in terms of economy, education, and technology while having different cultural values," said Sawa Senzaki, associate professor of psychology and Director of Child's Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. "We targeted preschool--age children because they are unlikely to exhibit culturally unique patterns of attention without parental influence. This study was the first to demonstrate changes in attention in children measured directly via eye tracking before and after engagement in social interaction with caregivers across cultures." The study included sixty 3-4-year-old children and their mothers in the U.S. and Japan. The majority of participating mothers attained at least an associate degree. Based on parental reports, all U.S. children and mothers identified as White/European American, were born in United States, and spoke English as their first language. All the Japanese children and mothers were born in Japan and spoke Japanese as the first language. Children were instructed to engage in a scene description task while looking at cartoon images of a rabbit against a backdrop, such as a farm or a field, on a laptop in three conditions: independently, jointly with their mothers, and then independently again. During the independent scene description task, children's gaze fixation was recorded via an eye tracker. Verbal descriptions of the children and mothers were coded separately through object-oriented talk (focal objects and their features), and social-relation talk (for example, "The bunny wants to play with bees" and "Birds are saying hello to the bunny" instead of "There are butterflies and a bunny.") The findings showed that mothers in the United States directed their children's attention to focal objects (such as "There butterflies and a bunny") at a higher rate than did Japanese mothers whereas Japanese mothers directed children's attention to social relations among objects (such as "The bunny wants to play with bees") more than U.S. mothers. "Prior research tells us that children tend to focus more attention on main objects and ignore the background in a scene," said Yuki Shimizu, professor of faculty of letters, arts and sciences and Director of Cognitive and Culture Lab at Waseda University. "However, our study suggests that mothers' talk focusing on social-relations play an important role in attentional processes that may vary by different cultures. This type of research shows that everyday socialization in childhood primes attention and learning processes that may have lasting effects on cognitive development and learning." (ANI)
"We have reopened schools with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. LKG & UKG classes yet to be started," says Sujata, Headmistress of Government Primary Scool, Shivaji Nagar.

She added that it is difficult for the teachers also to teach offline. "Physical classes are necessary for a child's education and I am happy that the government has allowed the offline classes to resume", she said.

"I am happy to resume school as I can finally play with my friends," says Ayza, a student on Monday.

Besides the schools, degree colleges would also reopen in Bengaluru, stated Education Minister BC Nagesh on Saturday.

One of the teachers while speaking to ANI said, "We were missing the students in the classrooms and were waiting to start classes offline."

The educational institutions in Karnataka were earlier closed in view of the alarming rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

The Karnataka government also decided to lift the night curfew across the state from today.

Schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu, Pune, Haryana and Rajasthan would reopen for physical classes from February 1. (ANI)
At the beginning of the proceedings today in the Supreme Court, CJI Ramana called it an "unfortunate incident" and conveyed deep condolences to the family of Rupinder Suri on behalf of him and all judges of the top court.

"I and my brother and sister judges express deepest condolences. We are very sorry," he said.

CJI Ramana also said that a full-court reference will be held in due course. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list for hearing a plea by former Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb for contempt action against Haryana officers for their alleged failure to prevent incidents revolving around Friday namaz prayers in plots in Gurugram. The case was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana for urgent listing of the matter by senior advocate Indira Jaising. The Bench also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli said it will list the matter before the appropriate Bench. "This is a contempt action against Haryana officers for inaction to curb communal incidents. This is not based on newspaper reports. There are preventive measures laid down," Jaisingh said. The contempt petition was filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb stating that Haryana authorities have failed to comply with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the case, where it had issued a slew of directions in 2018 to control and prevent the increasing number of hate crimes, including mob violence and lynching. The contempt plea had said that in the few recent months, there has been a constant rise in incidents revolving around the Friday prayers offered by Muslims at the behest of certain "identifiable hooligans", who portray themselves falsely in the name of religion and seek to create an atmosphere of hatred and prejudice against one community across the city. The contempt petition had sought action against the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police of State of Haryana, Sanjeev Kaushal IAS and PK Agrawal IPS respectively. Later, Surjit Singh Yadav, Vice President of Hindu Sena, filed an application opposing the contempt action against officers of the Haryana government for their alleged inaction against the disruptions of namaz prayers in Gurugram. Yadav, filing intervention also sought directions on refreshment from offering namaz on public property in the Districts of Gurugram, Haryana. "That the judgement rendered by this Court in the case of Tehseen S. Poonawalla is law of the land and each and every citizen in respective caste and religion have to follow. Therefore, in grab of offering namaz prayer, they cannot create a situation which sets out a platform for others to lodge a protest," the application had stated. It had added, "Indian society is a society of multi-religious people and therefore, members of each community have to follow the principle of self-restraint to maintain law and order situation. The Applicant has experienced that the assembly of a large number of people at one place to show religious supremacy creates a situation for law and order problems. Therefore, the Petitioner and his associate must impose upon themselves self restrain from encroaching public land or public property for offering namaz prayer." (ANI)
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Monday granted bail to Maharasthra's former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's lawyer Anand Daga and his social media Manager Vaibhav Gajendra Tumane in the document leak case. Special CBI Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal granted bail in the matter. During arguments, CBI had opposed the bail plea saying Tumane was the one who collected the sensitive report from Lawyer Anand Daga, prepared its copies and couriered it to various addresses in Delhi. "The applicant Tumane, despite being served a notice to join the investigation, did not join the investigation. The applicant has a history of evading the process of law. Further, in view of the severity of punishment prescribed by the Law for the offences committed by him, there is every possibility that he may escape to evade the process of this Court if enlarged on the bail as prayed by him," the plea stated. Anil Deshmukh's Social Media handler and lawyer Daga played a crucial role in the planning of posting illegally accessed copy of the enquiry report to sabotage the investigation, said CBI's Chargesheet. CBI said that it was revealed that the illegally accessed/obtained enquiry report was already available with Daga, which he, in conspiracy with Vaibhav Gajendra Tumane, got circulated/posted with a note on the background of the Preliminary Enquiry to a number of addressees, as a part of their larger conspiracy to subvert the investigation. CBI has named then its official Abhishek Tiwari, lawyer Anand Dilip Daga and Vaibhav Gajendra Tumane in the chargesheet. Abhishek Tiwari, in conspiracy with the lawyer, was accused of leaking sensitive documents to subvert investigation of the case against Deshmukh, said CBI. CBI said that the investigation has revealed that Abhishek Tiwari and Anand Dilip Daga met in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune physically and had been in regular touch through Whatsapp Calls/messages and SMS after April 14, 2021. The probe has revealed that Deshmukh's lawyer Anand Daga had bought an iPhone worth Rs 95,000 for CBI official Abhishek Tiwari and gave it to him as illegal gratification in lieu of sharing case sensitive and confidential documents. "Illegally obtained enquiry report of the Preliminary Enquiry against Deshmukh was already available with Anand Dilip Daga, which, he, in conspiracy with Vaibhav Gajendra Tumane, Social Media Handler of Anil Deshmukh and Unknown others, got circulated/posted with a note on the background of the Preliminary Enquiry to a number of addressees which included many constitutional dignitaries and media houses, as a part of their larger conspiracy to subvert the investigation," the chargesheet said. The chargesheet further disclosed that Tumane roped in services of various other people to circulate the illegally accessed documents to various important and influential people. "Gajendra Tumane, in conspiracy with Anand Dilip Daga, played a crucial and active role in planning and execution of posting/circulating an illegally accessed/obtained copy of Enquiry Report with an intent to sabotage the investigation," said the chargesheet. Earlier CBI has arrested then CBI's Sub Inspector Abhishek Tiwari and lawyer Anand Daga, in connection with an alleged corruption case for leaking information of a separate case against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with the extortion case. The arrests of CBI officials and lawyers had come after the CBI registered an FIR against the sub-inspector, a Nagpur-based Advocate, and unknown persons on certain allegations, including illegal gratification. On August 29, 2021, a report that was allegedly part of a preliminary inquiry conducted by CBI got leaked in media. The report mentions that the agency had concluded that "no cognizable offence has been committed by Anil Deshmukh". The CBI in its internal inquiry found that Deshmukh's legal team tried to bribe some lower-ranked CBI officials in its preliminary inquiry. Strict action will be taken against the staff who were involved in the case. The investigation is underway to find out if more people were involved in the conspiracy to manipulate the documents. (ANI)
Amarinder Singh resigned as chief minister in September last year, subsequently left the Congress party and formed the Punjab Lok Congress.

After the Central government withdrew the three contentious farm laws, Amarinder Singh joined hands with BJP to contest the election in the state.

The PLC is contesting on 37 seats along with BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

Punjab will go to the poll on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government after 10 years.

Aam Aadmi Party had emerged as the second-largest party winning 20 seats in 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly. The SAD could manage to win only 15 seats while the BJP secured 3 seats. (ANI)
Ahead of the presentation of the Union budget 2022-23 on February 1 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the healthcare industry has urged for the improvement of investments and incentivizing of capital expenditure of healthcare sector. In an exclusive interview to ANI, Rajesh Jain, Panacea Biotech MD, CII & Chairman, National Committee on Biotechnology said, "CII has a pretty strong focus on investments and incentivizing capital expenditure in healthcare. We all know that healthcare expenditure today is around 1.2 per cent annually, if you just leave the last year aside, where the majority of the expense was done to prevent COVID-19 infections. The Government did a good job, no doubt about it." He further said, "I believe we need to increase this healthcare expenditure from 1.2 per cent to almost 2.5 per cent every year, in a phased manner programme, and this expenditure should be invested to create and modernize our public healthcare infrastructure, upgrade and optimize efficiencies of the primary health care centres." "Upskilling in health, as well as further rebuilding on digital health should be of a priority as part of this expenditure of 2.5 per cent of the GDP and declare health care as a national priority and incentivize creating the capacity and infrastructure to a comprehensive set of measures. For example, capital subsidy on how 25 to 30 per cent of the total project cost can be provided, especially in priority geographies, to improve the healthcare infrastructure, especially in tier 2 or tier 3 cities." According to Rajesh Jain, meeting vaccine demand is another target of pharma companies that are producing COVID-19 vaccines in 2022. Rajesh Jain said, "Biotechnology industry, in general, has been looking at research incentives to help the private sector research and the private sector vaccine industry in the last few years came forward of course, along with the academia, from India, to bring COVID-19 vaccine, as a tool to fight this pandemic, and very successfully not only in India but across the developing countries as part of the vaccine Maitri, we saw the Indian COVID-19 vaccine crossing the borders and helping other countries." He said that the Biotechnology industry is also looking for research in the vaccine area. "Biotechnology industry is now looking for research in the vaccine area to help the private sector with incentive schemes that the government sector also enjoys. It will help us in vaccine production and help each other within the healthcare continuum. We are right now researching innovative products which are challenging but taking that research to the clinics is another part of the challenge. Currently, tax authorities do not count the expenditure done on outhouse clinical trials as part of the investments and this has been our work for the last several years that all clinical trials done outside the company should also be part of the VAT tax reduction scheme that we have and this will increase to almost 200 per cent from the current plans." (ANI)
Speaking with ANI, Joshi said, "Privilege Motion isn't strong enough. The matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court."

When asked for a comment on the issue, Joshi said, "It is not right for anybody to make a comment, not right for me either."

Congress and CPI MPs have issued a privilege motion against Union Minister of Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw for "deliberately misleading the House on Pegasus issue".

Notably, after the US newspaper report regarding the alleged Pegasus spyware purchase deal surfaced, lawyer ML Sharma moved the Supreme Court seeking direction to register FIR and probe the matter.

The petition said the alleged India-Israel deal was not approved by Parliament and, therefore, needs to be cancelled and money recovered.

In July 2021, names of several Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and over 40 Indian journalists appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware, according to a report published in The Wire.

However, the Union IT Minister had said there is 'no substance' in the media report regarding the use of Pegasus on WhatsApp, adding that the report was an attempt to malign Indian democracy and its well-established institutions. (ANI)
While observing that the election in Punjab will be held on February 20, the Supreme Court on Monday granted protection from arrest to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia till February 23 in the drug case. A Bench of Chief Justice of India Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli asked Majithia to surrender before the concerned trial court on February 23 and apply for regular bail. It also asked senior advocate P Chidambaram appearing for the Punjab government to advise the State that such cases are not filed before elections. The observation of the top court came when it told Punjab government about another anticipatory bail plea filed by an MLA who complained of FIR being registered ahead of elections. "There was another mentioning today regarding anticipatory bail of Simarjit Singh Bains where a case has been registered against him. That case will be heard tomorrow. Sorry to say suddenly these criminal cases are coming out before elections...," the Bench said. It added, "We are in a democracy, at least allow them to file nomination." Chidambaram said that he can assure the apex court that there will be no politically vindictive action in Punjab. During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Majithia argued that this is a classic case of political humiliation and vendetta. Chidambaram told the Bench that this is a gross case of an international drug racket. "Punjab now is sinking under a drug trail and we have to send a message that drug trafficking will not be taken lightly else the future of Punjab youth is damned," Chidambaram added. He added that custodial interrogation of Majithia is required in the case. The Bench said it is not asking the government to hold its hands and not control drug mafias, but let the elections take place on February 20. Chidambaram said let him surrender on February 21 and then the government can move the trial court for his custody. The Bench, however, said Majithia will get protection from arrest till February 23 and thereafter he will surrender. Last week, the Bench asked the Punjab government not to arrest Majithia till January 31, when his plea for anticipatory bail will be heard. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 24 had dismissed Majithia's anticipatory bail plea. The High Court had granted three-day protection from arrest to Majithia for approaching the top court to challenge its order in which the anticipatory bail plea of the former minister was dismissed. Majithia, who is facing an FIR by Punjab Police in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) case, was earlier granted interim bail by the High Court on a condition of cooperating in the investigation. Majithia was apprehending arrest after a case under the provisions of the NDPS Act was registered at Mohali on December 20, last year. The petition filed through Karanjawala law firm, stated that "the present case is blatantly political in nature and has been registered with the malafide objective to target the petitioner who is the mainstream leader of the opposition party, one month prior to the polls in the State." "The current dispensation i.e. the Congress-led government has left no stone unturned to misuse its powers and position for wreaking vengeance against its political opponents and the Petitioner is one such target. The gross abuse of the process of law and the vindicative nature of the FIR. No. 0002, dated December 20, 2021, is evident from the fact that the FIR has been registered in 2021 in respect of allegations/incidents of 2014. Thus there is a gross and unexplained delay," the plea in the apex court stated. It said the FIR has been deliberately registered at a time just prior to the elections with the oblique motive to remove the Majithia, who is the prime face of the opposition party, to gain political mileage. The filing of nominations has started in the State of Punjab from January 25, 2022, and would continue till February 1, 2022, said the plea, adding that the purity of the electoral process is at stake. In the High Court, Majithia alleged that the sole intention to register the FIR against him is to take him in custody and torture him. Majithia had contended that the FIR was registered against him keeping an eye on the upcoming elections and his fundamental rights are at stake. Punjab, before the High Court, had opposed his bail plea contending that Majithia has not extended full cooperation during the investigation. (ANI)
Kerala High Court on Monday posted the further hearing in the anticipatory bail plea of Malayalam Actor Dileep in an alleged case of threatening the investigation officials probing the 2017 actress assault case on February 1. Single Bench of Justice P Gopinath will hear the matter at 1.45 pm tomorrow. During the hearing on Monday, Prosecution stated, "they will not cooperate with the investigation and we do not expect them to cooperate with us either. We have travelled a long way, collected several materials and evidence. In such circumstances, my question is whether they are entitled to pre-arrest bail?" "Are they are not only unworthy of pre-arrest bail but regular bail as well? The accused is dictating the terms and said that he has all the phones but will not hand them over to the investigating agency," the Prosecution added. The Prosecution further said that the actor has made history in several offences and if anticipatory bail is granted to him, this will set a bad precedent. "The phones should be handed over to the Crime Branch," stated the Prosecution. "They cannot be allowed to take the court and the prosecution for a ride. Let them surrender to the investigation. Nobody in this state gets such a privilege and he cannot also. They didn't even reveal about the phones. We found out about them through investigation of CDR," the Prosecution added. Earlier in the day, Dileep and the other accused handed over their mobile phones to the registrar general of the High Court in a sealed packet as per the Court's order. Crime Branch of Kerala Police registered the case against Dileep and five others on January 9 for allegedly threatening the investigating officials probing the 2017 actress assault case. Dileep is named as the first accused in the FIR. Anoop, who is Dileep's brother, and Suraj, Dileep's brother-in-law, are the second and third accused. Appu, Babu Chengamanad are the other accused. One more accused has not been identified yet. Dileep is also the eighth accused in the actress assault case for alleged conspiracy. The case pertains that an actress who worked in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu films was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been doing aggressive campaigning in order to return to the dais of power in Uttar Pradesh. Party's top leadership is engaged in holding public meetings and powerpack campaigns. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also held door-to-door campaigns in support of party candidates.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his first virtual rally 'Jan Chaupal' in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

The last date of campaigning for the first phase of UP polls is February 8.

Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
In view of the COVID situation, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday requested all the members of the House to follow new seating arrangements and avoid sitting close to each other. Unlike earlier arrangements in normal days, the new seating arrangements for the members have been fixed in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha chambers as well as the galleries of both the Houses. This seating arrangement was implemented in Parliament first time when COVID spread across India in 2020. There was a relaxation in the seating arrangement in the Monsoon Session of Parliament but it was again resumed in view of the COVID third wave. The Rajya Sabha Chairman's request came during the first sitting of the Budget Session of Parliament on Monday. "I like to make the request to the members to stick to the seat that is allotted to your party and you. I have already asked the Secretary-General to speak to the leaders of different parties to see that their members are informed about their seating arrangements so that members can sit on their seats. Even today, I saw some members sitting close. This should be avoided at any cost," Naidu said. For the Budget Session, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said the number of seats for each party in Rajya Sabha chamber, Rajya Sabha galleries, and Lok Sabha chamber has been fixed as per their numerical strength. "Members sitting in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha chambers are requested to raise their hands, introduce themselves before taking part in the discussion so that they can be identified. For the sake of reaching out to people through proper voice, members are permitted to speak where they are sitting," Naidu further said. The Chairman then adjourned the House till February 1, 2022 after the government on Monday tabled Economic Survey 2021-22 along with Statistical Appendix in the Rajya Sabha on day one of the Budget Session of Parliament. "The sitting of the Rajya Sabha will commence after one hour of the conclusion of the presentation of the Union Budget in Lok Sabha on February 1," Naidu said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2021-22 and the Statistical Appendix a few minutes after the House assembled assemble at 2.30 pm. Earlier in the day, Economic Survey 2021-22 was tabled by Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha. Sitharaman laid a copy of the Economic Survey, 2021-22 along with Statistical Appendix both in English and Hindi following which Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House for the day. Soon after the Upper House assembled at 2.30 pm, Secretary General laid on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the President's Address to both the Houses of Parliament assembled together. Obituary references to the passing away of sitting member Dr Mahendra Prasad; ex-members Joyanta Roy, Debendra Nath Barman, M. Moses, Ganeshwar Kusum; and legendary Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj were also made by Rajya Sabha Chairman. Secretary-General later laid on the table, a statement (in English and Hindi) showing the Bills passed by the Houses of Parliament during the Two Hundred and Fifty-fifth Session of the Rajya Sabha and assented to by the President. (ANI)
Following the Opposition raising the Pegasus spyware issue in the budget session of the Parliament, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday said there is no scope for a separate discussion on the issue since the matter is sub-judice. "We have told the opposition that during the first part of the budget session we can only discuss the budget and the presidential address. Therefore, it would not be possible to hold a separate discussion. In any case, the matter is under courts jurisdiction right now," Joshi said. "Whatever needed to be said on the issue was already said by Information and Technology Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw on the floor of the House during the Monsoon Session last year," he added. Several members of the opposition have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker wanting to file a breach of Privilege Motion against the IT Minister. On this, Joshi added, "They can go ahead. It is up to the speaker to admit it or not but there seems to be no merit in this." The Union Minister also said that leaders can raise all possible issues that want while speaking on the Presidential motion and they will be getting a reply from the Prime Minister. Several opposition parties accused the government of perjury on the issue of Pegasus adding that the Centre had lied in Parliament and also to the Supreme Court. MPs from Congress and the Left parties have issued a privilege motion against Union Minister of Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw for "deliberately misleading the House on Pegasus issue". Notably, after the US newspaper report regarding the alleged Pegasus spyware purchase deal surfaced, lawyer ML Sharma moved the Supreme Court seeking direction to register FIR and probe the matter. The petition said the alleged India-Israel deal was not approved by Parliament and, therefore, needs to be cancelled and money recovered. In July 2021, names of several Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and over 40 Indian journalists appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware, according to a news report. However, the Union IT Minister had said there is 'no substance' in the media report regarding the use of Pegasus on WhatsApp, adding that the report was an attempt to malign Indian democracy and its well-established institutions. (ANI)
Students staged a protest outside State School Education Minster Professor Varsha Eknath Gaikwad's residence in Maharashtra's Mumbai, against offline exams. The protesting students demand online exams for classes 10 and 12 in view of the COVID-19 situation. Following the protest, police lathi-charged the students and tried to bring the situation under control. Cases are also being registered for violating COVID-19 protocols. "We tried convincing and dispersing them (students)," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pranay Ashok. The protest took place after a video by a youtuber Vikas Fhatak, alias Hindustani Bhau went viral on the internet in which he raised his voice over the concerns of class 10 and 12 students' health for the issue of offline examination. In the video, he can be heard saying, "Many deaths took place due to COVID-19. People have not come out of its fear, now the Omicron variant has come. The government itself is saying to stay at home and take precautions." He said that the professors are also holding meetings via online mode, so why the risk is being taken with children's health by taking offline exams. "I would like to request you (government) to cancel the offline exams. If not then, my students and I would take to protest at the doorstep of the Varsha Gaikwad. I won't stop until they get justice...," Bhau said in the video. After this video surfaced on the internet, DCP Pranay Ashok was asked whether the crowd gathered on the direction of Hindustani Bhau. He said, "An inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken." Meanwhile, Maharashtra School Education Minster Prof Varsha Eknath Gaikwad also said, "We've been continuously discussing students' health and safety. I told students to have discussions with me. I'll decide further. But we also have to keep in mind the two-year loss in school students' education." (ANI)
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday held a virtual meeting with the floor leaders of 15 political parties. According to sources, Naidu stated that during the ten sittings in the first part of the Budget Session till February 11, only 23 hours of time will be available for business other than Zero Hour, Question Hour and Private Members' Business. "Discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to members of both the Houses today and discussion on Union Budget 2022-23 to be presented tomorrow will get priority during the first part of the session," sources said. He informed the leaders that these two major items of business took a total time of over 26 hours during the last budget session and 23 hours time is available for the same in the first part of this budget session. Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal informed the members that due to the time constraint, there would be no legislative business in this part of the session. Many leaders mentioned the same priorities for the first part of this budget session and called for a disruption-free session. The meeting of the Rajya Sabha's Business Advisory Committee would take place tomorrow after the presentation of the Union Budget to allocate time for the two discussions that would take place in this first part of the Budget Session. Meanwhile, Opposition party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Prasanna Acharya urged all parties and members of respective parties not to disrupt Zero Hour and Question Hour since Chairman Naidu has been endeavouring to give opportunities to as many members as possible thereby enabling wider participation of members of Rajya Sabha. Stating that Rajya Sabha loses an hour per each sitting due to the staggered sitting of both Houses, Naidu said, "The Budget session provides guidance to help the national economy recover from the impact of COVID pandemic over the last two years which continues with the third wave." "I earnestly appeal to all the leaders to enable a productive budget session by urging members of respective parties so as to make meaningful contributions for economic recovery and all-around development at this hour of challenge," he added. The Upper House has been at the centre of disruption in the last two sessions including the Monsoon and the Winter Session of Parliament in 2021. In last year's Winter Sessions, 12 members of the Opposition were suspended for the entire session for unruly behaviour during last year's Monsoon Session. The Opposition united and had refused to participate in a major part of the proceedings in the last session in protest. Today's meeting was attended by Anand Sharma, Bhupendra Yadav, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Derek O'Brien, Tiruchi Siva, Prasanna Acharya, Premchand Gupta, Dr K Kesava Rao, Ramnath Thakur, Praful Patel, Vijayasai Reddy, Kanakamedala, Ravindra Kumar, Birendra Prasad Baishya and Abdul Wahab. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday blocked Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on microblogging site Twitter alleging that the latter makes unethical and unconstitutional statements against the state administration. Banerjee held a cabinet meeting at the state secretariat 'Nabanna' on Monday. Following the meeting, the chief minister said, "Every day, the Governor abuses my administration. Makes unethical and unconstitutional statements. We have to listen to him as if we are his servants. He treats the elected government as bonded labour. Today I blocked him. I am sorry but I was forced to do this. I had written to Prime Minister several times on this issue." "He calls my officers daily. From DMs, SPs to the chief secretary, he is threatening everyone. People of Bengal do not fear anyone and bow down heads. He should not interfere in policy decisions. Pegasus is happening from Raj Bhawan. The Pegasus is used by the Centre as well as the Raj Bhawan," she added. Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar hit back at chief minister Banerjee saying that dialogue amongst constitutional functionaries is the essence and spirit of democracy and mandate of the constitution. Taking to Twitter, the Governor said, "Under Article 167 it is Constitution 'duty' of the Chief Minister to furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the State and proposals for legislation as the Governor may call for. Why 'block' information to Governor now for two years?" Referring to constitutional provisions, the Governor said Article 159 of the Constitution mandates to ensure none in the state "blocks" Constitutional Norms and Rules of Law and those in authority "bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India." Dhankhar also shared his WhatsApp message to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent on Monday morning. "Dialogue and harmony amongst constitutional functionaries is essence and spirit of democracy and mandate of the constitution. This can blossom with mutual regard and respect. There has been all through highest personal regard for you from my side. Am sure this will receive your thoughtful consideration. Regards," reads the message. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar are at loggerheads after the latter took office. The chief minister had several times alleged that the Governor makes statements in political interest and interferes in the business of State government. Governor Dhankhar on other hand accused the state government of mishandling the law and order situation. (ANI)